Category: Artists (Page 155 of 262)

Video Vault – Go West

“We Close Our Eyes” from 1985. I remember buying the band’s great debut album the same day I bought Madonna’s Like a Virgin – at the local Wal-Mart, no less. Ah yes, Go West on vinyl and Madge on cassette. I believe I originally saw this video on Nickelodeon’s “Nick Rocks.” Good times.

Start getting psyched for Sir Tom

To prep you for our upcoming interview with Tom Jones, here are a few of the man’s performances to get you, shall we say, in the mood.

First, let’s start with a live performance…his last-ever for the late, great “Top of the Pops”…of his 2006 collaboration with Chicane, “Stoned in Love”:

Here are a few videos you may or may not have seen…

Sex Bomb
If I Only Knew

…as well as a few covers you might not have heard him perform…

St. James Infirmary” (with Jools Holland on piano)
Hoobastank’s “The Reason
The Manhattan Transfer’s “Boy from New York City” (as a duet with Donny Osmond, no less!)

…but, of course, we must close with an all-time classic, which sounds almost as good in 2007 as it did when he recorded it in 1965:

The Police @ the Honda Center in Anaheim (6/21/07)

After a short 21-year break, The Police are touring again, and Thursday night they stopped at the Honda Center in Anaheim, the second of three Southern California dates.

Though there was no official split, Sting left the band all those years ago to pursue a solo career, but it’s safe to say that his creative output in the five years with the band meets (or exceeds) his 16-year output as a solo artist. Even at 56 years old, his voice still sounds smooth, especially considering that the band played Staples Center the night before.

The set list played like a greatest hits compilation with a few lesser-known songs – such as “Next to You” and “The Bed’s Too Big Without You” – sprinkled in for good measure. The highlight of the night was “So Lonely,” a Outlandos d’Amour single that was left off the band’s first (and most well known) compilation, Every Breath You Take: The Singles. Andy Summers’ guitar work was solid, even if the minute-long solos seem a little dated given the current musical trends. But drummer Stewart Copeland, the backbone of the band, played with so much passion and ferocity that it looked like he had been locked in his basement playing Police songs for the last two and a half decades. He is one of rock’s underrated drummers so it’s good to see him playing in front of big crowds once again.

As well as they work as a duo, the two guitarists don’t seem to actually enjoy playing together. Twice, as Summers worked on a solo, Sting came over to play with him and the resulting camaraderie seemed forced at best. There were a couple of rough transitions from one part of a song to the another, so it’s clear that the trio doesn’t have all the kinks worked out quite yet. These were noticeable, but not distracting.

Ticket prices are pretty steep, but given the set list, the show is a solid value. The truce seems fragile, so fans better act quickly.

Let’s speculate on the Spice Girls

Do they need money? Or is just attention? Who knows? But The Spice Girls have announced that they’ll be making another announcement next week, leading some to speculate that they will be getting back together. Now I’m not here to bash; I actually enjoyed many of the tunes on the Girls’ first two albums (didn’t come along for the ride after Geri split for that third one). Besides, this is something commercially and artistically viable, unlike, say, The Who’s “comeback” which was about as exciting as watching cheese age.

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