BREAKING NEWS: Police Reunion for Grammys, World Tour Not Far Behind

Yes, it's true! Both Billboard.com and LiveDaily.com have confirmed it. The Police are staging a historic reunion that will open the Grammy Awards on February 11 at the Staples Center in LA. It's their first appearance together since they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, and that 2003 performance was the first in eons. Decades even?

The really interesting part of the news is this little sentence that Billboard.com let slip:
"...the Grammy appearance is widely expected to kick off a year's worth of reunion shows throughout the world."

That rumor was corroborated by LiveDaily.com in this little ditty:
"However, the rumor mill is abuzz that The Police are gearing up for a major tour to celebrate the band's 30th anniversary. A local news radio station in Vancouver, British Columbia, recently reported that the musicians have been spotted around town and that large semi trucks were seen unloading gear adorned with Police logos at Lion's Gate Studios."
And later in the same article:
"According to Copeland's website, no live shows are confirmed as of yet, but 'A&M (Records) will release some new interesting and great items that will see the light during the year.'"

I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for any new announcements or confirmations of a world tour, with a particular eye out for on-sale dates.

Mom, you wouldn't let me go to the Synchronicity Tour when I was 13. But dammit, you can't stop me this time around!

While we wait with baited breath, here are some other bloggers sharing the news to keep you occupied:
>>Drop The Lute: This Is The Police! post by MagicSmoke Blog
>>Police Mull Reunion Tour post by Stereogum.com
>>Police Reunion to Kick Off in Vancouver? post by Starpulse News Blog
>>The official press release post by DMRegister Blog
>>Police to Play Grammy's post by Courant.com
>>Police Reunion Getting Closer post by Sam The Butcher Blog

Tags: the police, police, sting, stewart copeland, andy summers, concerts, tours, touring, music, live music, grammys, grammy awards, grammy performers, breaking news, tixgirl

FESTIVAL NEWS: New Orleans Jazz Fest 2007 Lineup Announced

Can't wait all the way til Halloween for the Voodoo Fest before you need a little fix of that classic Nawlins music and mischief? I'm thinking Jazz Fest 2007 might do you right.

Taking place over two weekends, April 27 - 29 and May 4 - 6, the fest features a wide array of artists from every genre. There's the Nawlins music you'd expect, like cajun, creole, zydeco, brass and blues (Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Preservation Hall Blues Band, Buckwheat Zydeco). But you also get a vast array of superstars from R&B (John Legend, Joss Stone), hip-hop (Luda!),  reggae (Stephen Marley & Junior Gong), country (Brad Paisley, Lucinda Williams), classic rockers (Allmans, Rod Stewart, Van Morrison), jazz legends (Mose Allison, Branford Marsalis), and alt rockers alike (Counting Crows, Better Than Ezra). For God's sake, Jerry Lee Lewis will be there.

Like the proverbial 'good times', the summer concert season is just getting rolling. So laissez les bon temps roulez, and check out the newly announced festival lineup:



Artists include:

Harry Connick Jr., Rod Stewart, Steely Dan, Norah Jones, ZZ Top, John Legend, Van Morrison, Brad Paisley, Jill Scott, Ludacris, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, New Edition, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Irma Thomas, Jerry Lee Lewis, Counting Crows, Allman Brothers Band, Allen Toussaint, George Benson, Pharoah Sanders, George Thorogood, Stephen Marley featuring Jr. Gong, Better Than Ezra, Joss Stone, Banda el Recodo, Calexico, Taj Mahal, Johnny Rivers, Lucinda Williams, Branford Marsalis, Richie Havens, Soulive, Cowboy Mouth, Percy Sledge, Gillian Welch, Bobby Jones & the Nashville Super Choir, T-Bone Burnett, Galactic, Mose Allison, Marcia Ball, Roy Hargrove, Chuck Leavell, Arturo Sandoval, The Radiators, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Lucky Peterson, Darrell McFadden, Sonny Landreth, Danilo Perez, Ivan Neville, Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, Tab Benoit, Les Amazones of Guinea, Buckwheat Zydeco, Deacon John, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Ellis Marsalis and over 500 more groups.

Click here for the weekend by weekend schedule.


Watch out, Harry, here I come...

Tags: new orleans jazz fest, jazz fest, nola, nawlins, louisiana, festivals, concerts, music, live music, Harry Connick Jr., Rod Stewart, Steely Dan, Norah Jones, ZZ Top, John Legend, Van Morrison, Brad Paisley, Jill Scott, Ludacris, Bonnie Raitt, New Edition, Irma Thomas, Jerry Lee Lewis, Counting Crows, Allman Brothers Band, Allen Toussaint, George Benson, George Thorogood, Stephen Marley, Jr. Gong, Better Than Ezra, Joss Stone, Calexico, Taj Mahal, Lucinda Williams, Branford Marsalis, Richie Havens, Soulive, Cowboy Mouth, Percy Sledge, T-Bone Burnett, Mose Allison, Preservation Hall, Preservation Hall Brass Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Dirty Dozen Brass Band

NEW CA FEST: Paid Dues Indie Hip-Hop Fest w/ Jean Grae, Blackalicious, Murs, Mr. Lif, more

Mainstream, commercial Hip-Hop not as interesting to you as it used to be? I totally know how you feel. But there's no denying that there's an underground, independent realm of Hip-Hop that's still driving the genre forward, producing some of the more unique artists we've seen. And that's exactly what Paid Dues Festival organizer, Murs, set out to prove with the first fest last year in LA. It was such a success that he's decided to turn it into an annual event, and eventually even a national tour.

San Bernardino's Nos Events Center will play host to the second annual Paid Dues Festival, on March 24. Here's the deets from their press peeps...

Presented by MURS 3:16 in association with Guerilla Union, PAID DUES promises to prove itself as the premiere festival for independent hip-hop with billing that includes talents like Felt, Sage Francis, Brother Ali and more.

2007 PAID DUES line-up
FELT (MURS [Living Legends] w/ Slug & Ant [Atmosphere]), SAGE FRANCIS, BROTHER ALI, BLACKALICIOUS, JEAN GRAE, VISIONARIES, MR LIF, CAGE, ZION I & THE GROUCH, DEVIN THE DUDE, EVIDENCE w/ ALCHEMIST, PIGEON JOHN, LOS NATIVOS, and HANGAR 18 with DJ's MR LEN and MAJI.  The event will be hosted by LUCKY I AM and surprise guests are in the works.    "It's not just an event.  It's an experience," states organizer Murs, "…a family reunion of sorts for the independent hip- hop community."

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 2nd for $30.00.
PAID DUES TICKETS


>> Mr. Lif

Tags: paid dues festival, independent hip-hop, hip-hop, indie hip-hop, music, live music, concerts, festivals, california, san bernardino, Jean Grae, Blackalicious, Murs, Mr. Lif, Sage Francis, Brother Ali, Visionaries, Cage, Zion I & the Grouch, Devin the Dude, Evidence, Alchemist, Pigeon John, Los Nativos, Hangar 18, Mr Len, Maji, Guerilla Union, Living Legends, Nos Events Center, Felt

BREAKING NEWS: Gwen Stefani to put tour on sale 2/10

Here's the latest from Gwen's fan club newsletter:

Joining Gwen on tour is the platinum-selling singer Akon (www.akononline.com), who also sings on and produced the new single "The Sweet Escape." Rounding out the bill is British MC Lady Sovereign (www.ladysovereign.com)... Tickets for The Sweet Escape Tour go on sale nationwide Saturday, February 10th.

Apr-22 San Diego, CA - Coors Amphitheatre**
Apr-24 Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center**
Apr-25 Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena**
Apr-27 Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre***
Apr-28 Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion
Apr-30 Salt Lake City, UT - The "E" Center
May-02 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
May-03 Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
May-05 Dallas, TX - Smirnoff Music Centre
May-06 Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
May-08 Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheatre
May-09 West Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Amphitheatre
May-11 Atlanta, GA - HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
May-12 Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
May-14 Raleigh, NC - Alltel Pavilion
May-15 Virginia Beach, VA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
May-17 Washington DC - Nissan Pavilion
May-18 Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
May-20 Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
May-21 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
May-23 Boston, MA - Tweeter Center
May-24 Philadelphia, PA - Tweeter Center at The Waterfront
May-27 Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel and Casino***
May-29 Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
May-30 Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
Jun-01 Detroit, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
Jun-02 Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
Jun-04 Omaha, NE - Qwest Center
Jun-05 St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
Jun-07 Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
Jun-08 Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Jun-10 Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
Jun-12 Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
Jun-13 Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome
Jun-15 Vancouver, BC - General Motors Place
Jun-16 Seattle, WA - White River Amphitheatre
Jun-18 Sacramento, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Jun-19 San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
Jun-22 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Jun-23 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

** Akon only
*** Lady Sovereign only

International fans, look for Central America, South America, Australia,
Asia and Europe tour dates to be announced in 2007.

Tags: gwen stefani, the sweet escape, tour, touring, concerts, live music, music, tours going on sale, akon, lady sovereign, tixgirl, announcements

BUZZ BAND: Teddybears

Who are the Teddybears?
1. A trio of Swedes who met in art school.

2. Reformed grindcore musicians.

3. Born again dance-riot inciters, with a punk rock heart pumping electronica through their veins.

4. Dancehall afficionadoes, with Elephant Man on speed dial.

5. Sweet-talkers who like their pop tarts Neneh Cherry-flavored.

6. Three men who only appear in public wearing huge bear heads.

7. Gents who know Iggy Pop as the 'best dressed chicken in town.'



8. Recipients of the Word of sweet sweet music from the dance groove Gods.

9. Musicians awed by the odd experience of working with Ebbot Lundberg, of The Soundtrack of Our Lives:
"Ebbot...is, as everybody knows, the psychedelic shaman-master of the apocalypse. A genuine modern day Alistair Crowley. He spent the first two hours in our studio reading out loud to us from some weird Kabbalah book, all the while insisting that the three of us sit completely still on the floor. He wouldn't let us start recording him until we had freed ourselves from all our 'petty bourgeois mind frames.'"

When is it appropriate to play Soft Machine, by Teddybears?
1. Next time you decide to throw your own dance party in defiant rejection of the criminal lack of any good dance rock shows on a given night. With a strikingly different vocalist and a decidedly varied musical vibe from one song to the next, it's like having your very own in-house DJ for 45 minutes of sheer party bliss.

2. Next time you need something to keep your energy up for the subway ride home from a show. I challenge you not to strut as you walk from the station to your front door. By the time you get home, their pulsing grooves will have you amped up and considering heading right back out again.

3. Next time you consider using your carpet as a makeshift dance studio, jazzercizing your way to buns of steel, sweat flying in slow-mo from your forehead like Jennifer Beals in Flashdance.

4. Next time you turn on that trusty lustly lava lamp at 3am, by the light of which you hope to find something electronigroovy to chill out to in your living room, masquerading as faux opium den of sin.

5. Next time you catch yourself fantasizing about your fellow commuters as extras in a music video to accompany the soundtrack of your life. Oh wait, you're already listening to the Teddybears...

Tags: teddybears, soft machine, buzz bands, music, new music, bands, tixgirl, great albums, recommendations

COACHELLA UPDATE: Full Day-By-Day Lineup Including Jesus & Mary Chain & Happy Mondays Reunio

And the good news just keeps on coming!

Needed more reasons to start checking out airfare to the SoCal festival? Well, the Coachella folks are here to please. They've decided to pack this year's event full of historic reunions and rarer than rare appearances, so you'd be completely unable to pass up the 3-day pass. 
BUY COACHELLA TICKETS

A couple of buzz-worthy highlights to whet the appetite, before the nitty-gritty details of the 3 day lineup (at bottom)...




1. Jesus & Mary Chain: Making their first appearance since disbanding after their 1999 tour, the groundbreaking Noise Pop pioneers from Glasgow are back.  This is huge. It's a shame that the younger set may not even remember their seminal 1984 release, Psychocandy, which went on to influence a whole generation of groundbreakers in the 90s. Think My Bloody Valentine. Think Dino Jr. Their fuzzed out, feedback-drenched pop was darker than their American counterparts, Sonic Youth, so they are often associated with the Goth brethren like Bauhaus. But it is wonderfully apropos that they'll share the SoCal sun with Sonic Youth, just the same. It's an opportunity to see them live that most of us never thought we'd live to see.

2. Rage Against the Machine & Zack de la Rocha: This is the shocker that the Coachella publicity machine came out of the gate with. And justifiably so, as it's just perfectly jaw-dropping enough to send shockwaves rippling across all news outlets, both broadly pop and defiantly indie. But the real news here is Zack de la Rocha. Though Tom Morello may be the most adorable socialist activist ever, his return to Rage material is slightly old news, being that he pulled out a handful Rage classics on both of the tours behind Audioslave's first and second albums. But Zack? He's been mysteriously among the missing for years! In fact, his inexplicable absence has merely served to deepen the outspoken frontman's mystique. Yes, we've heard rumors of a solo album from time to time. But nothing came of them. So this is both a Rage reunion and a reintroduction of de la Rocha to the world stage.

3. Crowded House: Something so strong as the nostalgia for Neil Finn's gorgeous pop melodies couldn't long be denied in this bring-everybody-back-from-the-dead-for-another-tour era.  And what better way to reintroduce themselves to American audiences (who have always been the slowest to catch on to Crowded House, in comparison to their platinum-hood in NZ, Oz & the UK) than reunion/reappearance/reinvention convention, Coachella 2007? According toBillboard,  their Coachella appearance is the precursor to a brand new album and full world tour, but Split Enz fans will be saddened to learn from Australia's Undercover.com that Neil's brother Tim Finn is not part of this reunion.

4. Happy Mondays: After Shaun Ryder's reignition in the public consciousness with the Gorillaz' uber-hit, D.A.R.E., it was just a matter of time before he got the itch to get back in the game. Seriously, I remember wondering when the Happy Mondays reunion would happen as I watched him dance around the stage of the Apollo, lollipop dangling from his cheek while he sang his bit in Damon Albarn's masterful recreation of the second Gorillaz album, in its entirety, live. Not sure why the reunion of the fathers of the Manchester Scene isn't creating as much of a hub-bub on the wires as the rest. I think this one's about as shocking as the Jesus & Mary Chain announcement -- particularly considering all the drug addictions that had to be overcome to make it a reality. Or at least, let us hope they've been overcome.



5. Bjork: No, you can't really call this a comeback, as the nymph from Iceland has never paused more than a few years between records. But it IS the first time in countless moons that I can remember actually having an opportunity to see her here in the states. Can I get an Amen?!

6. James: They've reformed, too. Up to you how excited you get about this one. I have no beef with the band,I'm just indifferent. But I certainly recognize that this is a big deal to a lot of people.

7. Jarvis Cocker: Where you been, man? Last time I saw your face, you were dressed in full-on wizard-rocker gear for Harry Potter's ball scene. And Pulp fans haven't seen you since you went off the radar after the accolades for your last album (2002) died away. I trust you'll be as coolly stylish, wry and smug as always. And that's exactly how we like you. Don't change a thing.

8. The Good, The Bad & The Queen: This band is like a reunion of people who've never been in bands together. So, no, it doesn't officially belong in this category. But with this lineup, it's undiable that this is a future renion in the making. Two words... Damon Albarn. OK, fine, the Blur and Gorillaz mastermind is not the only noteworthy member of this supergroup. On the contrary, they've got Paul Simonon (bassist for The Clash), Simon Tong (guitarist for The Verve), and Tony Allen (Fela Kuti's drummer). And Danger Mouse does mix-master duty, just as he did for the Gorillaz' last album. But whether he'll make an appearance, sans Donnie Darko bunny suit or not, is anyone's guess, considering his continent-hopping success in Gnarls Barkley. One can only hope.

9. The New Pornographers: Yes, this is another band that doesn't officially belong in the reunion category. But it's our first shot at seeing Neko Case back with her band after jaunting around the country in support of her (amazing) solo album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. (Go buy it!)

And as Fader Mag so eloquently pointed out...
• Willie Nelson is playing both Coachella and Stagecoach, because dude is so dude...
• The possibility of The Rapture, LCD Soundsystem, !!! and Hot Chip playing right after each other on Saturday would be insane...
• Explosions in the Sky's set on Sunday will hopefully be on the second stage as the sun sets and will hopefully totally destroy us and turn us into little weeping babies.

And lastly, here's the full 3-day lineup, direct from the Coachella peeps.

Tags: coachella, coachella valley music and arts festival, festivals, indio, CA, music, live music, concerts, tixgirl, jesus and mary chain, happy mondays, rage against the machine, zack de la rocha, crowded house, neil finn, tim finn, split enz, happy mondays, shaun ryder, bjork, james, jarvis cocker, pulp, the good the bad and the queen, damon albarn, gorillaz, paul simonon, the clash, simon tong, the verve, tony allen, fela kuti, danger mouse, gnarls barkley, new pornographers, neko case, willie nelson, stagecoach festival, the rapture, lcd soundsystem, !!!, Hot Chip, Explosions in the Sky

HOT TIP: Erin McKeown Is Just The Ticket

Looking for a low-key night at an intimate club with a little, pixiesque ball
of talent? Erin McKeown is just the thing for you, my friend. Her upbeat
brand of indie swing is light, fun, and meaty, all at the same time. Check
out "Sing You Sinners" at her Myspace page, and you'll immediately see
what I mean.

See what I mean?

Now go see her live...

Jan 23,  7:00P  -  Joe's Pub [SOLD OUT]  -  New York, NY
Jan 24,  9:30P  -  Joe's Pub [SOLD OUT]  -  New York, NY
Jan 25,  7:30P  -  Tin Angel  -  Philadelphia, PA
Jan 26,  7:30P  -  Tin Angel [SOLD OUT]  -  Philadelphia, PA
Jan 27,  8:00P  -  IOTA  -  Arlington, VA
Jan 28,  6:00P  -  Mountain Stage  -  Charleston, West Virginia
Jan 29,  7:00P  -  Gravity Lounge  -  Charlottesville, VA
Jan 30,  8:00P  -  Local 506  -  Chapel Hill, NC
Jan 31,  8:00P  -  Eddies Attic  -  Decatur, GA
Feb 1,  8:00P  -  The Basement  -  Nashville, TN
Feb 6,  8:00P  -  Bosque House Concerts  -  Albuquerque, NM
Feb 8,  7:00P  -  Amoeba Music  -  Los Angeles. CA
Feb 9,  8:00P  -  Hotel Cafe  -  Los Angeles, CA
Feb 10,  8:00P  -  Monterey Live  -  Monterey, CA
Feb 11,  8:00P  -  Cafe Du Nord  -  San Francisco, CA
Feb 13,  8:00P  -  Wow Hall  -  Eugene, OR
Feb 14,  8:00P  -  Doug Fir  -  Portland, OR
Feb 15,  8:00P  -  Tractor Tavern  -  Seattle, WA
Feb 16,  8:00P  -  St. James Hall  -  Vancouver, BC
Feb 18,  8:00P  -  Jake's  -  Olympia, WA
Feb 21,  8:00P  -  University Theater  -  Missoula, Montana
Feb 24,  8:00P  -  Cedar Cultural Center  -  Minneapolis. MN
Feb 25,  8:00P  -  High Noon Saloon  -  Madison, Wisconsin
Feb 27,  9:00P  -  Mad Planet  -  Milwaukee, WI
Feb 28,  8:00P  -  CSPS  -  Cedar Rapids, IA
Mar 1,  8:00P  -  Schubas  -  Chicago, IL
Mar 2,  12:00P  -  WFPK Live Lunch  -  Louisville, Kentucky
Mar 2,  8:00P  -  Phoenix Hill Tavern  -  Louisville, Kentucky
Mar 3,  7:00P  -  Club Cafe  -  Pittsburgh, PA
Mar 3,  10:00P  -  Club Cafe  -  Pittsburgh, PA
Mar 9,  8:00P  -  The Pilgrim  -  Liverpool
Mar 10,  8:00P  -  The Stables  -  Milton Keynes
Mar 11,  8:00P  -  South Hill Park  -  Bracknell
Mar 12,  8:00P  -  Chequer Mills Arts Center  -  East Grinstead
Mar 14,  8:00P  -  Pacific Road Arts Center  -  Birkenhead
Mar 15,  8:00P  -  The Point  -  Cardiff
Mar 17,  8:00P  -  Guildhall  -  Gloucester
Mar 18,  8:00P  -  The Brook  -  Southampton
Mar 20,  8:00P  -  Komedia  -  Brighton
Mar 21,  8:00P  -  Dingwall's  -  London
Mar 22,  8:00P  -  Cox's Yard  -  Stratford
Mar 23,  8:00P  -  The Sage Gateshead  -  Gateshead
Mar 25,  8:00P  -  The Faversham  -  Leeds
Mar 26,  8:00P  -  King Tut's  -  Glasgow
Mar 27,  8:00P  -  The Lemon Tree  -  Aberdeen
Mar 29,  8:00P  -  The Met  -  Bury
Mar 30,  8:00P  -  Theater Gwynedd  -  Bangor
Mar 31,  8:00P  -  Little Civic  -  Wolverhampton
Apr 1,  8:00P  -  Arts Centre  -  Norwich
Apr 2,  8:00P  -  Telford's Warehouse  -  Chester
Apr 3,  8:00P  -  Roisin Dubh  -  Galway
Apr 4,  8:00P  -  Cyprus Avenue  -  Cork
Apr 5,  8:00P  -  Whelan's  -  Dublin
Apr 20,  8:30P  -  Southpaw  -  Brooklyn, NY
Apr 21,  7:00P  -  Iron Horse  -  Northampton, MA
Apr 26,  7:00P  -  Sellersville Theater  -  Sellersville, PA

ERIN MCKEOWN TICKETS

Tags: erin mckeown, clubs, music, live music, concerts, tours, tixgirl, swing, indie

BREAKING NEWS: The Decemberists' Spring Tour On Sale This Weekend

O Colin! O Valencia! O Joy!

The incomparable Decemberists have announced that they'll head back out on the road to tour behind their recent release, The Crane Wife -- one of the best albums of 2006, hands down. And I must say, their performance at NY's Hammerstein Ballroom during CMJ was probably one of the 3 best shows I saw in 2006. And that's saying something, considering the competition.

So if you're even remotely on the fence about whether or not you should catch Colin Meloy and Co., banish all doubt, and dive in. This is one tour you will seriously regret missing. I mean it. There, you've been warned. I've done everything I can. Now it's on you.

Presale begins 1/23 and shows go on sale to the general public starting 1/26-27.
FIND DECEMBERISTS TICKETS HERE

Here's the full tour listing, from their publicity peeps...

DECEMBERISTS SPRING 2007 TOUR

3/21  -  Jersey City, NJ  -  Loews Theater
3/22  -  Jersey City, NJ  -  Loews Theater
3/23  -  Boston, MA  -  Avalon
3/24  -  Boston, MA  -  Avalon
3/26  -  N. Bethesda, MD  -    -  Strathmore Music Center
3/27  -  Upper Darby, PA  -    -  Tower Theater
3/30  -  Buffalo, NY  -  Center for the Arts
3/21  -  Grantham, PA  -  Messiah College
4/01  -  Norfolk, VA  -  The Norva
4/02  -  Raleigh, NC  -  Meymendi Concert Hall
4/04  -  Knoxville, TN  -  Tennessee Theater
4/05  -  Nashville, TN  -  City Hall
4/06  -  Atlanta, GA  -  Tabernacle
4/08  -  Orlando, FL  -  Hard Rock Live
4/09  -  Tallahassee, FL  -  The Moon
4/10  -  Birmingham, AL  -  Alabama Theater
4/11  -  Memphis, TN  -  New Daisy Theater
4/13  -  Louisville, KY  -  Brown Theater
4/14  -  St. Louis, MO  -  The Pageant
4/15  -  Champaign, IL  -  Foellinger Auditorium/University of Illinois
4/16  -  Milwaukee, WI  -  Pabst Theater
4/18  -  Chicago, IL  -  Riviera Theater
4/19  -  Chicago, IL  -  Riviera Theater
4/20  -  Madison, WI  -  Orpheum Theater
4/21  -  Kansas City, MO  -    -  Uptown Theater
4/22  -  Denver, CO  -  Fillmore Auditorium
4/25  -  San Francisco, CA  -    -  Warfield Theater
4/26  -  San Francsico, CA  -    -  Warfield Theater
5/03  -  Eugene, OR  -  McDonald Theater
5/04  -  Seattle, WA  -  Paramount Theater
5/05  -  Bellingham, WA  -  Western Washington University

 * My Brightest Diamond supports all dates except April 4-6.

Need more convincing? Here's a hilarious outtake from that Hammerstein show, featuring the afore-name-dropped O Valencia!

Tags: the decemberists, the crane wife, touring, tour, spring tour, on tour, live music, music, concerts, hammerstein ballroom, colin meloy, my brightest diamond, tixgirl

BREAKING NEWS: Coachella on sale Sat, Reunited Rage Against the Machine/Bjork/Chili Peppers Headline

Yes, you read that right. Rage Against the Machine are reuniting for the first time in 6 years. And they're doing it at Coachella.

Ok, now that you've wrapped your head around that jaw-dropper, here's the pertinent info:

1. Coachella tickets go on sale Saturday, 1/27 at 10am PT:
FIND COACHELLA TICKETS HERE

2. The festival in Indio, CA (near Palm Springs) is expanding to 3 days for the first time in its history. Dates are: 4/27 - 4/29

3. The lineup is notable not only because of the historic reunion of Rage. Bjork will be making a rare appearance stateside as well. (Headliners are Rage, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bjork.)  Below is the preliminary lineup for the fest, courtesy of their publicity peeps. Feast your eyes, wipe the drool from your chin, and start making plans...

The preliminary line-up (as of January 22) is as follows, with the list growing in the months leading up to the festival.  Exact dates and times for the acts will also be confirmed at a later date.  Thus far the list of artists includes Tiesto, The Arcade Fire, Interpol, Manu Chao, Willie Nelson, Air, Happy Mondays, Decemberists, Faithless, Gotan Project, The Good, The Bad and The Queen, Paul Van Dyk, Arctic Monkeys, Roots, Jarvis Cocker, Sonic Youth, Crowded House, Placebo, Satellite Party, Stephen Marley feat Jr. Gong, Kings of Leon, DJ Shadow, Kaiser Chiefs, Kokono No. 1, LCD Soundsystem, Nickel Creek, Travis, Damien Rice, Black Keys, Blonde Redhead, Infected Mushroom, New Pornographers, Peeping Tom, Placebo, Rufus Wainwright, The Rapture, Explosions in the Sky, Richie Hawtin, !!!, Benny Benassy, Felix Da Housecat, Hot Chip, Jacks Mannequin, Julieta Venegas, Lily Allen, Lupe Fiasco, Ozomatli, Peaches, Ghostface Killah, Jose Gonzales, Amos Lee, Brazilian Girls, Fountains of Wayne, Regina Spektor, VNV Nation, Coco Rosie, Cornelius, Gillian Welch, Junior Boys, Pharaohe Monche, Roky Erickson and the Explosives, Soulwax, Sparklehorse, The Kooks, Tilly and the Wall, Andrew Bird, Peter, Bjorn & John, The Frames, Gogol Bordello, Comedians of Comedy, Justice, MSTRKRFT, We Are Scientists, Yeva, Grizzly Bear, Amy Winehouse, Avett Brothers, Circa Survive, The Coup, The Cribs, CSS, Digitalism, Erol Alkan, Evil Nine, Girl Talk, Klaxons, Noisettes, Spank Rock, Tapes 'n Tapes, The Fields, Tokyo Police Club, Rodrigo Y Gabriella, DJ Heather, The Feeling, Fratellis, Mike Relm, Silversun Pickups, Busdriver, Brother Ali, Nightwatchman, Bojones, Mika, Pop Levi, Anathallo and Fair to Midland.

Tags: coachella, coachella valley music and arts festival, rage against the machine, rage against the machine reunion, bjork, red hot chili peppers, concerts, festivals, music, live music, tixgirl, breaking news

HOT TIP: 3 New Must-See Tours -- Bright Eyes, The Apples In Stereo & Madeleine Peyroux

One of my favorite things about the start of the new year is the sheer volume of amazing indie tour announcements that start blanketing the early months of the year -- like the freshly fallen snow that would be covering the Northeast if the environment wasn't so royally effed by all the SUVs. (Sorry, musta left my internal editor at the office.)

Anywayzzz, the three I'm most thrilled to report today are announcements from the publicity peeps for Bright Eyes, The Apples In Stereo, and Madeleine Peyroux. Get a load of all these tremendous tour dates...

BRIGHT EYES
Conor's got a new album coming, called Cassadaga. Looks like it'll be avail April 10th. Fans will be interested to note that Conor's ever-changing list of band mates (including members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cursive and The Faint on his last tour) has been narrowed down! Here's the news from the press peeps:

With the once revolving line-up of musicians settled on the three constants of Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott, Bright Eyes spent much of 2006 in the studio working on their follow-up to the acclaimed simultaneous releases Digital Ash in a Digital Urn and I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning.

Touring for Cassadaga will begin on February 25 in Chicago. A full list of dates is below. Advance tickets for all dates will be available January 18 though a special online pre-sale. Further information on the pre-sale will be posted on the Saddle Creek news page this Wednesday evening. Tickets sold through the pre-sale will have reduced service charges. The regular on sale for each show will be on January 25 via each venue's regular ticketing outlets. This smaller tour will be followed by a full US tour in the spring.

Bright Eyes - US Winter 2007
Sun-Feb-25, Chicago, IL, Metro
Tue-Feb-27, Toronto, ON, Opera House
Wed-Feb-28, Somerville, MA, Somerville Theatre
Fri-Mar-02, New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom
Sat-Mar-03, New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom
Mon-Mar-05, Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
Wed-Mar-07, Los Angeles, CA, El Rey
Thu-Mar-08, Los Angeles, CA. El Rey
Fri-Mar-09, San Francisco, CA, Great American Music Hall
Sat-Mar-10, San Francisco, CA, Great American Music Hall
Sun-Mar-11, Seattle, WA, Showbox

Check the tours page at saddle-creek.com for updates.
BRIGHT EYES TICKETS




THE APPLES IN STEREO
Remember the episode of the Colbert Report in which Stephen battled it out with The Decemberists' guitarist Chris Funk for the title of Master Shredder, after the beloved Portlanders copped his Green Screen Challenge for their own video? Well, that adorable bearded, balding dude who sang the Shred-athon's intro ode to Stephen - entitled, oddly enough, Stephen, Stephen - was Robert Schneider, frontman for The Apples In Stereo. See? You have heard of 'em, after all. (No? Listen to it at their MySpace page!)

Tasty tidbit from the publicity peeps: Their new album, New Magnetic Wonder, is the first recorded on Elijah Wood's new label, Simian Records. Frodo lives!

Suffering from that not-so-elite feeling because you won't be making it out to Sundance this week, where The Apples are playing for all the beautiful people at The Jane House? Alas, me neither. But fret not! We've got lots of other chances to catch The Apples... in stereo, even. Not only are they playing SxSW this year, but they're also launching a headlining tour for February, and then on to the UK for the All Tomorrow's Parties fest. Here are the US dates:

02/08/07  -  The Dame  -  Lexington, KY
02/09/07  -  Top Cat's Club  -  Cincinnati, OH
02/10/07  -  Grog Shop  -  Cleveland Heights, OH
02/11/07  -  The Buffalo Icon  -  Buffalo, NY
02/12/07  -  Diesel  -   Pittsburgh, PA
02/13/07  -  Black Cat  -   Washington, DC
02/15/07  -  Bowery Ballroom  -  New York, NY
02/16/07  -  North Star Bar  -  Philadelphia, PA
02/17/07  -  Paradise Rock Club  -  Boston, MA
02/21/07  -  Magic Stick  -  Detroit, MI
02/22/07  -  Little Brother's  -  Columbus, OH
02/23/07  -  Subterranean  -  Chicago, IL
02/24/07  -  Varsity Theater  -  Minneapolis, MN
02/25/07  -  Memorial Union  -  Madison, WI
02/27/07  -  The Maintenance Shop-Iowa Ames, IA
02/28/07  -  Sokol Underground  -  Omaha, NE
03/01/07  -  The Record Bar  -  Kansas City, MO
03/02/07  -  Blueberry Hill's Duck Room   -  St. Louis, MO
03/03/07  -  Blue Note  -   Columbia, MO
APPLES IN STEREO TICKETS




MADELEINE PEYROUX
Who's the one female artist I feel like I really missed out on seeing last year? Madeleine Peyroux. The Montreal-based chanteuse has been knocking socks off all across the 2006 leg of her tour. And thank goodness, there's a 2007 leg for her to sock it to us again.  Here's the word from her publicity peeps:

Acclaimed vocalist Madeleine Peyroux is starting strong in 2007 with a tour that will take her to many cities that have not yet heard Half The Perfect World (Rounder) in concert. The 17-city trek follows a late 2006 leg which sold out nearly every performance and drew rave reviews... Half The Perfect World has ranked in the top 5 on Billboard's Top Jazz Albums chart since its September release... A performance chat with NPR's Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep also aired this week. Check it out at: www.npr.org

Madeleine Peyroux Spring 2007 Tour
February 16  -  Santa Rosa, CA  -  Wells Fargo Center
February 18  -  Malibu, CA  -  Pepperdine University
February 20  -  Mesa, AZ  -  Ikeda Theatre/Meda Arts Centre
February 21  -  Santa Fe, NM  -  Lensic Performing Arts Center
February 22  -  Fort Worth, TX  -  Bass Performance Hall
February 24  -  Austin, TX  -  Paramount Theatre
February 25  -  Houston, TX  -  Club V
February 27  -  New Orleans, LA  -  House of Blues
March 1  -  Mobile, AL  -  Mobile Civic Center Theater
March 3  -  Atlanta, GA  -  Atlanta Symphony Hall
March 4  -  Nashville, TN  -  Polk Theater
March 6  -  Tampa, FL  -  Tampa Theatre
March 7  -  Fort Lauderdale, FL  -  Parker Playhouse
March 9  -  Durham, NC  -  Carolina Theatre
March 10  -  Asheville, NC  -  The Orange Peel
March 11  -  Chaleston, SC  -  Charleston Music Hall
March 13  -  Charlotte, NC  -  McGlohon Theatre/Spirit Square
MADELEINE PEYROUX TICKETS

Tags: bright eyes, conor oberst, the apples in stereo, madeleine peyroux, green screen challenge, stephen colbert, the colbert report, concerts, music, live music, tours, touring, tixgirl

BEST OF 2006: A Year In The Life of Live Music

The Year In Review
It was a very good year. At least in live music. I got an eye-full, an ear-full, and a drawer-full of ticket stubs. Traveling back in time, here's who rocked my world in 2006.


Brazilian Girls New Years:
Irving Plaza, 12/31
Review | Video | Photos



Sean Lennon:
Bowery Ballroom, 12/19
Review | Photos


  
Matisyahu's Festival of Lights:
Hammerstein Ballroom, 12/17
w/ Ben Kweller
Review | Video | Photos: Matis | Photos: Ben



Wainwright Family Christmas:
Carnegie Hall, 12/13
Martha & Rufus Wainwright & family w/ Jimmy Fallon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Teddy Thompson & Antony
Review | Video | Photos



NYC Gay Men's Chorus:
Carnegie Hall, 12/11
w/ Charles Busch
Review



Andrea Bocelli:
Madison Square Garden, 11/30
Review | Video | Photos



Sweet Honey in the Rock:
Carnegie Hall, 11/10



Death Cab for Cutie:
Theater at Madison Square Garden, 11/8 & 9
Video | Photos



The Decemberists:
Hammerstein Ballroom, 11/3
w/ Alasdair Roberts
Review | Video | Photos



Scissor Sisters:
Hammerstein Ballroom, 10/21
Video | Photos



Goldfrapp:
Roseland Ballroom, 10/18
Video | Photos



Massive Attack:
Roseland Ballroom, 10/5
w/ DJ Prince Language
Video | Photos



Regina Spektor:
Town Hall, 9/27
Video | Photos | More



The Raconteurs:
Roseland Ballroom, 9/25
Review | Video | Photos



Nouvelle Vague:
Webster Hall, 9/19
Review | Video | Photos



M. Ward:
Webster Hall, 9/14
Video


   
Martha Wainwright:
McCarren Park Pool, 8/24
w/ Neko Case
Review | Video | Photos



The Shins:
McCarren Park Pool, 8/23
Video | Photos



Iron & Wine:
McCarren Park Pool, 8/17
Video | Photos



Bloc Party:
McCarren Park Pool, 7/29
Review



-Editors:
Irving Plaza, 7/28



Madonna:
Madison Square Garden,
7/19 & 6/29
Review



Brazilian Girls:
Fort Greene Park, 7/11
Review



Rufus Wainwright:
Carnegie Hall, 6/15
w/ Martha Wainwright, Kate McGarrigle & Lorna Luft



Radiohead:
Theater at Madison Square Garden, 6/14
w/ The Black Keys
Review



Nine Inch Nails:
Nissan Pavilion, 6/13
w/ Bauhaus



The Roots:
Radio City, 5/19
w/ Mos Def & Erykah Badu
Review



Bloc Party:
Coachella Festival, 4/30
Review



Death Cab for Cutie:
Hammerstein Ballroom, 4/14
w/ Franz Ferdinand



-Gorillaz:
The Apollo, 4/6
w/ De La Soul, Dennis Hopper, Ike Turner, Shaun Ryder, Neneh Cherry, Bootie Brown, Roots Manuva, Martina Topley Bird, the Juilliard Strings & many more
Review



Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins:
Irving Plaza, 3/18
Review



Matisyahu:
Hammerstein Ballroom, 3/7
w/ Balkan Beat Box
Review

Best of 2007: Crystal Ball Predictions
Reigning Kings:
Will 2006 rulers The Decemberists, The Scissor Sisters, The Roots, M. Ward, Bloc Party and The Shins hold their titles in 2007?

The Challengers:
Will challengers The Hold Steady, The Apples in Stero, Of Montreal, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera stage an overthrow?

Power in Numbers:
Will wonder twin powers activate with double-headers like VietNam/Lemonheads and OK Go/Snow Patrol? Will fests like Coachella, featuring historic reunions of Rage Against the Machine and Crowded House, and the return of belles of the ball like Bjork trump everyone?

The Upstarts:
Will newcomers like Explosions in the Sky, Libby Johnson, Chris Glover or Paul Michel rule the day?

The Verdict?
Stay tuned! Only time will tell...

>>More: Top 11 of 2005

Tags: best of 2006, concerts, tixigirl, live music, brazilian girls, sean lennon, matisyahu, wainwright, andrea bocelli, death cab for cutie, decemberists, scissor sisters, goldfrapp, massive attack, regina spektor, raconteurs, nouvelle vague, m. ward, the shins, iron and wine, bloc party, editors, madonna, radiohead, nine inch nails, the roots, gorillaz, jenny lewis, jenny lewis and the watson twins, concert reviews, video, photos