Author: Mike Farley (Page 40 of 63)

Road Warriors 31

September 14, 2007 / Mike Farley

Meg White of the White Stripes is suffering from “acute anxiety,” prompting the band to cancel its upcoming US tour that was set to begin this week. Refunds are available at points of purchase. So far, the Stripes are still planning to tour the UK beginning October 24.

Word is that this year’s American Idol tour of the top 10 finalists didn’t do so well. Maybe it was the cost of concert tickets, or maybe it was the declining interest in the show as a whole. But the fact is, this show keeps pumping new pop artists into the system like no other medium. A few of the more popular alumni from the show are now in the early stages of planning a spring 2008 tour: Season 2 champ Ruben Studdard, as well as Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke.

After winning the VMA for Best Group, Fall Out Boy is planning some intimate shows to give back to their fans. Since the shows are unannounced, we have no information to announce, but that’s the beauty of events like this. Bassist Pete Wentz says that the shows will be in some small venues, and will be primarily acoustic versions of FOB songs as well as some covers.

After being on the road for two years, The Fray are taking a break and recharging their batteries. Plans are in place to tour Europe in the fall, and the band is also working on their next album.

After postponing a bunch of tour dates this fall because they wanted to finish recording, The Cure has announced it will head back to the US in the spring of 2008 beginning May 9 in Washington DC. Tickets for the postponed dates will be honored for the newly scheduled shows. In addition, shows were added to the tour including stops in Kansas City, Phoenix, Austin, Fort Lauderdale and Cleveland.

The concert to raise funs for a Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial at the National Mall in Washington DC this coming Tuesday has added a few more high profile artists: Ludacris, Talib Kweli, and Wyclef Jean. Among the other acts already confirmed are John Legend, Robin Thicke, Stevie Wonder and Joss Stone.

Another band foregoing a US tour to work on new material is the Kaiser Chiefs, who will still be playing their New York and Austin shows but canceling the dates in between. Here is the updated Continue reading »

Alternative, American Idol, Concerts, Hip Hop, Indie Labels, Pop, Radio

Ruby Tuesday: Novo Combo, “Welcome Innervision”

September 11, 2007 / Mike Farley

You might remember the band Novo Combo from their modest MTV hit, “Tattoo,” which was from the band’s self-titled debut album on Polydor. But you may not recognize anything from their followup album, Animation Generation, that came out one year later (1982, for those of you keeping score). And after Animation Generation, the band unceremoniously split up. But after doing a Lost Bands feature on Bullz-Eye.com, I interviewed lead vocalist Pete Hewlett and was re-introduced to Novo Combo’s music.

“Welcome Innervision” was the first song I heard off of Animation Generation, once upon a time when you heard new music on the radio that was worth a damn. And I remember almost driving off the road because not only was this a great song, but the guitar solo by axe man Carlos Rios (who was making his Novo Combo debut) was one of the best I’d ever heard. In fact, it’s still one of the best I’ve ever heard, 25 years later.

Novo Combo’s two albums are out of print, but I managed to find copies of both. So for your listening pleasure, I give to you “Welcome Innervision.” And I trust that you’re sitting at your computer and will not drive off the road.

Novo Combo — “Welcome Innervision”

Lost Bands, Pop, Rock, Ruby Tuesday, Songs

Road Warriors 30

September 7, 2007 / Mike Farley

The Young Wild Things Tour kicks off October 18 in Columbus, Ohio and features kid hero bands Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, Plain White T’s and Cute Is What We Aim For. It’s a 34-date tour that winds up on Las Vegas on December 2.

Alt rocker chick PJ Harvey has announced two exclusive US performances in New York (October 10 at Beacon Theatre) and Los Angeles (October 15 at Orpheum). Harvey’s new album, White Chalk, is due out on September 25. No other US dates are confirmed yet.

Their live show has been called “riveting,” and now the Decemberists are back with their “Long and Short of It Tour” that starts October 28 in Chicago. The long performances will be just that, with epic, progressive songs from the band’s catalog, while the short ones will focus on their more pop leaning material. Here are Continue reading »

Alternative, American Idol, Concerts, Pop, Rock

Road Warriors 29

August 23, 2007 / Mike Farley

Oh, the drama. Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse both burst onto the music scene back in the spring, and whether or not you like one or both of the British singer/songwriters, you have to marvel at the ease with which they cancel tour dates. Winehouse in particular, whose alcohol and drug issues are well-documented, keeps missing shows and now she is postponing her North American fall tour in order to get her health in order. Allen, meanwhile is postponing a series of upcoming US West Coast dates after authorities revoked her work visa. Um, okay.

After having to cancel some summer tour dates in the US, Morrissey will be back in the fall, including residencies in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. The tour kicks off September 21 in Las Vegas.

Buzz band The Cold War Kids are still touring in support of their debut, Robbers & Cowards, including upcoming dates with The White Stripes. Here is the band’s current US itinerary Continue reading »

Alternative, Concerts, Country, Electronica, Hip Hop, Indie Labels, Pop, Rock

Road Warriors 28

August 16, 2007 / Mike Farley

Rock band Blue October had what is being called a “successful show” at Lollapalooza (exactly what does that mean at a festival with a captive audience?), and the band has added more tour dates to their upcoming fall run, including shows in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. For a complete list of dates, check out www.blueoctoberfan.com.

Pop stars The Backstreet Boys are set to release their new album, Inconsolable, on October 30, and plans are tentatively in place for a world tour in 2008, one that would have them in the States next spring or summer.

Farm Aid is set for September 9 on New York’s Randall Island, and this year a special acoustic performance is planned featuring Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews and Gregg Allman. Others scheduled to perform at the annual event are Neil Young, Counting Crows and John Mellencamp.

Arcade Fire is back with their second album, Neon Bible, and has added dates to their fall US tour with LCD Soundsystem. The new dates include Salt Lake City and Seattle, and all confirmed dates so far Continue reading »

Alternative, Concerts, Lollapalooza, Pop, Rock