"Superfly Presents and A.C. Entertainment are excited to announce the initial lineup for the 2012 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. The 11th annual four-day camping and music festival will be held on June 7 - 10 on the same beautiful 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles south of Nashville. A full list of confirmed acts follows, and more will be announced in the coming weeks. The final Bonnaroo 2012 lineup will total over 125 bands and over 20 comedians performing on 13 stages over four days.Tickets for the event will go on sale on this Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 12 noon EST exclusively at bonnaroo.com."

Radiohead, Beach Boys, Phish, Little Dragon, SBTRKT, The Antlers, Bad Brains, Laura Marling, St. Vinent, Tune-Yards, Flying Lotus, and many more are playing Bonnaroo this year. Full list below...

Continue reading "Bonnaroo 2012 lineup announced"

Brian Wilson played the Highline Ballroom [Sunday] night as part of its sister club's month-long Blue Note Jazz Festival, and though the two-set show featured his entire current Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin album of Gershwin standards, it wasn't jazz, really, but no less demanding--and rewarding.

The Beach Boys' beloved creative genius brought a 12-piece band of multi-instrumentalists/vocalists--and a local female string section--and all lived up to his contention that it's one of his best bands ever.

The Gershwin album, which was conceived under the aegis of his hero George Gershwin's estate, led off the second set--the first being a breathtaking recreation of Beach Boys classics ranging from the ultra-romantic 1963 ballad "Surfer Girl," his first composition, to the symphonic "Heroes And Villains" of 1967. While Wilson's ability to sing his signature falsetto vocal leads and harmonies is long gone, guitarist Jeff Foskett was downright spooky in mimicking it on hits like "Don't Worry Baby" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice." [Examiner]

As mentioned in that review, Brian Wilson's three shows at Highline Ballroom this week are part of the ongoing and inaugural Blue Note Jazz Festival, a month-long celebration of Blue Note's 30th Anniversary. The fest includes a ton of shows including the recent Aloe Blacc, Idle Warship, and Larry Graham gigs. Brian finished his run Tuesday night, while, Dave Brubeck (who just turned 90) and George Wein & the Newport All-Stars each began their own three-night run at Blue Note Jazz Club. Advanced tickets to the Dave Brubeck shows are sold out, but you can line up to sit be at the bar on a first come, first served basis (if you're 21+). Tickets are still on sale for George Wein.

The festival also includes many other shows we've mentioned before including the Jimmy Scott shows at The Blue Note on June 23. Tickets are still on sale.

The recently mentioned Bjorkestra show at Highline Ballroom on June 14 is also part of the festival. As discussed, tickets are on sale and can be purchased with a 50% discount by using the access code "BIGBAND."

The Chaka Khan shows at BB King's on June 18 are also part of the festival. Tickets are still on sale.

The festival also includes the Roy Ayers and Pete Rock show at Highline Ballroom on June 22. Tickets are still on sale.

Bootsy Collins

Bootsy Collins, who just played Bonnaroo, brings his previously announced Blue Note festival show to BB King's on June 26....

"Bootsy Collins was just one more band on our to-do list -- we didn't expect him to nearly steal the whole festival. After an annoying hour-plus wait that had the crowd chanting "bullshit," Collins instantly won the fans back in his favor by bringing THA FUNK. Everything was on the one after that. Lead guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight melted minds, while original P-Funk keyboardist Bernie Worrell provided the ballast. A special mid-set run found the band tackling classics by P-Funk, Jimi Hendrix, and Sly and The Family Stone." [American Songwriter]

Tickets are still available for the NYC show.

Tickets are also still on sale for the two Roberta Flack shows at BB King's on June 24.

Questlove is presenting Mo' Meta Blues I at The Blue Note on June 20 and 21. Both days consist of an early show and a late show. Mo' Meta Blues I features Questlove on drums/electronics, Booker T on organ/keyboards/vocals, Eric Krasno on guitar, and Christian McBridge on bass. Tickets are on sale.

The following night (6/23), The Roots will present Mo' Meta Blues II - Paid In Full 25th Anniversary featuring Black Thought and Rakim at The Blue Note. There will also be an early and a late show. Advance tickets for table reservations are sold out, but you can still get in at the bar on a first come, first served basis (if you're 21+).

English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer Estelle plays two shows at Blue Note on June 24, her only upcoming appearances. Tickets are still on sale.

Al Kooper & Organ-asm play BB King's on June 29. Tickets are on sale.

"The Music of Stax Records" featuring Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, Eddie Floyd and Lester Snell is happening on June 26 at Highline Ballroom. Tickets are on sale.

Last but not least, we want to highlight the Dances of Vice presentred Powerhouse Stomp II: a musical tribute to the classic cartoons of the 1920s, '30s, and '40s on June 29 at Highline Ballroom featuring Brian Carpenter's Ghost Train Orchestra. Sounds fun and tickets are on sale.

Check the Blue Note Jazz Festival's website for the full schedule. A selection of related videos below..

Continue reading "Blue Note Jazz Fest continues -- Brian Wilson, Dave Brubeck, Bootsy Collins, The Roots, Roberta Flack, Estelle & more"

Two days after he plays Wellmont Theater (on 6/9, tickets), Brian Wilson will start a three-night NYC run at Highline Ballroom with first-come-first-served seated shows on June 11th, 12th, & 13th. The performances, like at the Wellmont show, and a recently-added CT show, will see Brian performing "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin in its entirety, along with a selection of solo and Beach Boys classics." Tickets for all three shows are on sale.

Updated tour dates below...

Continue reading "Brian Wilson adds 3 NYC 'Gershwin' shows & other dates"

Brian Wilson released Brain Wilson Reimagines Gershwin last year, an LP that put his own spin on classics by the American composers. Now comes word that Wilson will take those revamped classics on the road and play the album in its entirety "as well as classics from the Beach Boys back-catalogue." He'll be doing that all across Canada in June and in Europe in September, but first he'll kick things off on June 9th at Wellmont Theater in NJ. Tickets for that one are currently on AMEX presale and go on regular sale March 4th at noon.

Wilson also recently completed a second "reimagining" LP, one where he revisits Disney songs, though no release date on that yet. A Gershwin video and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Brian Wilson performing 'Gershwin' in its entirety on tour (and Beach Boys songs too)"

"The Beach Boys continue to tour approximately 150 shows a year in multiple countries. At this time there are no plans for my cousin Brian to rejoin the tour. He has new solo projects on the horizon and I wish him love and success. We have had some discussions of writing and possibly recording together, but nothing has been planned." [Mike Love]

That statement comes in response to rumors that Brian Wilson would rejoin the group for a 50th Anniversary reunion performance.

The non-reunited Beach Boys play a free show in Coney Island on Thursday night.

All Beach Boys tour dates below...

Continue reading "Mike Love says Beach Boys not reuniting (though the "Beach Boys" are playing Brooklyn Thursday & other dates) "

Brian Wilson @ Hammerstein Ballroom last November (more by Tim Griffin)

Paul Zollo: You've been regarded as a musical genius throughout your career. Has that put too much pressure on you?

Brian Wilson: No, it doesn't put pressure on me. The only thing that puts the pressure on me is having to live up to my name, you know. As who I think I might be or should be or am. According to people, what they think I should be. You know, everybody goes through it. I'm not the only one who goes through that. Everybody goes through it.

PZ: But not everybody is the driving force of the Beach Boys. You had the pressure to produce sunny, happy songs, even if you didn't feel that way. What was that like?

BW: I was on the spot. You know what it was, though, that's when I was younger. Right? When I was in my twenties I was on the go all the time, producing, writing, you know, just creating all the time. It was such that it was a big burden on my shoulders. I took on a lot of karma and burdens on my shoulders. For some unknown reason, I just found myself involved in a name dilemma. After my twenties, when I was in my thirties and forties, I had age dilemma problems.

I say to myself, "I miss the feeling of being young." I say, "OK, so I do. That's established." Then I go through that, I get back on the track, and I say, "Yeah, but I got a great brain. Maybe I don't feel like taking a sprint every ten seconds down the street, but I have a great brain." Know what I mean?

Brian and his brain will head out on a tour of Europe and the US this fall. While his November 2008 show at the Hammerstein Ballroom featured "50 minutes of Beach Boys stuff" along with the entirety of That Lucky Old Sun, these shows, billed as "Greatest Hits Live," will be sure to focus on more classic material.

There are no NYC shows on the tour (at this point), but four of the scheduled gigs are an NJ Transit or LIRR train ride away. Those dates are on sale now:

October 26 - Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ (tickets)
October 27 - Bergen Performing Arts Center Englewood, NJ (tickets)
November 8 - The Capital One Bank Theatre Westbury, NY (tickets)
November 13 - Community Theater at Mayo Morristown, NJ (tickets)

All tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Brian Wilson - fall US tour (4 NY metropolitan-area shows)"

photos by Tim Griffin

"Brian was really into the music and in command- He did about 50 minutes of Beach Boys stuff (including a great Marcella), than after intermission did the whole That Lucky Old Sun album-it was really good. Midnight's Just Another Day was better than the album. Encores of Johnny B Goode, Fun, Fun, Fun, Help Me Rhonda, Surfing USA and Love and Mercy- Truly a great show-Hammerstein Ballroom has great sound too- far better then the Beacon.
In all honesty-the show far exceeded my expectations." [ian rusten]

As advertised, Brian played hits in addtion to his entire new album last night (11/21) at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. His tour continues for three more shows (PA, NJ & Westbury). Thursday night he performed two songs on Conan O'Brien. You can watch the whole episode at Conan's site. More pictures from Hammerstein below...

Continue reading "Brian Wilson @ Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC - pics"

Tickets are on sale for a November 21st Brian Wilson show at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. He's going to perform his entire new album "That Lucky Old Sun" in addition to "hits" which hopefully means you won't leave asking for a refund. All dates and a video Brian did for the Black Cab Sessions, below....

Continue reading "Brian Wilson performing 'That Lucky Old Sun' - 2008 dates"

Janene Bushey, who is 53 and has seen Diamond 14 times, said, "I about fainted when he came out and said, 'Hello, Columbus,' because I knew something was wrong."

Neil Diamond @ MSG (more by Eric M. Townsend)

After a subpar performance Monday night in Value City Arena, Neil Diamond yesterday apologized and offered refunds to the 11,000 people who attended the concert.

"Dear Fans in Columbus," the singer said in a statement, "I haven't let you down before, and I won't let you down now. Until you hear from me again remember, You are the sun. I am the moon. You are the words. I am the tune. Forgive me. I love you. Neil."

Diamond, whose voice was extremely hoarse throughout the show, said yesterday that he is suffering from acute laryngitis. Ordered by doctors to rest his voice, he canceled his two other shows this week -- today in Green Bay, Wis., and Friday in St. Louis.

Some industry veterans said they'd never heard of a performer offering refunds because of the quality of the show.
[The Columbus Dispatch]

Remaining tour dates below...

Continue reading "Ailing Neil Diamond pledges refunds, cancels shows"

Brian Wilson @ Bluesfest in Canada - July 2008 (doraflood)

In response to several disgruntled fans, Brian Wilson and his wife and manager Melinda Wilson have decided to refund fans'tickets for his July 11th New York City concert at Hammerstein Ballroom.

Fans complained that the show, which was a benefit for the Stand Up For A Cure cancer benefit, ran up to several hundred dollars but had poor visibility for some seats, and only contained a 75-minute performance by Wilson. Wilson performed with a scaled-back band, and his setlist lacked Beach Boys or solo rarities.

Melinda Wilson chatted with fans on brianwilson.com and said that Brian wanted to refund the money to fans who were unhappy by having them send their ticket stubs to their publicist for reimbursement.

Melinda said in her various messages: "Brian saw the posts and asked me to respond. He's really sensitive to all of your feelings and doesn't want to offending anyone. He wanted to make this offer to keep everyone cool (as he said)... With the exception of the charity show, most of these ticket prices are less than they have been in the past. On (July) 17th, the show (in Brooklyn, New York's Coney Island) is FREE please take advantage of that. Hope this clears the air for you. Thank you for being Brian's fan." [KBS Radio]

Brian Wilson is playing Hammerstein Ballroom, Brian Wilson is playing a free show in Coney Island (no, not Siren), and Brian Wilson is playing the Newport Folk Festival on Friday August 1st in Newport, Rhode Island. So is Cat Power, My Morning Jacket's Jim James and JIMMY BUFFETT. Full lineup below....

Continue reading "2008 Newport Folk Festival lineup - now with Brian Wilson "

The 30th Annual Seaside Summer Concert Series performances are held Thursday nights 7:30 pm Asser Levy/Seaside Park at West 5th Street and Surf Avenue in Coney Island/Brighton Beach, across the street from the New York Aquarium.

2008, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
July 10 - an evening with Michael Bolton
July 17 - an evening with Brian Wilson
July 24 - Smokey Robinson, Russell Thompkins Jr. & the New Stylistics
July 31 - classic rock night w/ "mystery guest" and Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
Aug 07 - an evening with Liza Minnelli
Aug 14 - Salsa by the Sea w/ TBA
Aug 21 - Huey Lewis & The News w/ special guest Paul Thorn

These FREE shows are in Brooklyn, NY (map below).

Brian Wilson is playing Hammerstein Ballroom six days earlier. He also has a new album coming out.

A Huey Lewis (!?) video, and Coney Island map below....

Continue reading "2008 Seaside Summer Concert Series lineup (Brian Wilson)"

Brian Wilson has upcoming shows at Hammerstein Ballroom and other places. Brian Wilson is releasing a new album in September....

Continue reading "Brian Wilson's new solo album: "That Lucky Old Sun""

New York-based non-profit, Stand Up For A Cure, has announced that Bon Jovi will kick off the Stand Up For A Cure 2008 Concert Series, which will also include performances by Andrea Bocelli, an evening with Jerry Seinfeld, and Brian Wilson over the upcoming year. In a year-long effort to raise funds towards eradicating lung cancer, the Concert Series will feature high-profile performances by some of world's most beloved artists in intimate settings. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's lung cancer research efforts will benefit from the Stand Up For A Cure 2008 Concert Series.

The Brian Wilson ("and friends) show is at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC on July 11th. Expensive tickets go on presale today, and on regular sale on April 18th. I have no idea what the show will be like, but for all his other upcoming tour dates he offers this description:

Brian and his formidable ten-piece band will be presenting a number of his classic compositions as well as a collection of his greatest hits that will please everyone in the room.

All dates below......

Continue reading "Brian Wilson - 2008 Tour Dates (Hammerstein Ballroom, charities, UK, Hollywood Bowl)"

1 2 3 4 (via)

May 8th @ Carnegie Hall.....

Continue reading "2008 Rainforest Benefit @ Carnegie Hall - Feist, Brian Wilson, Billy Joel, Sting, etc...."

DOWNLOAD: Brian Wilson - Heroes and Villains (MP3)

Fleisher, Scorcese, Diana Ross, Brian Wilson, Steve Martin & Bushs

Tickets go on sale this morning for the new Van Halen shows. A second Aretha Franklin show at Radio City goes on sale today too. Natalie Merchant is playing five nights at Hiro Ballroom.

Brian Wilson, Steven Martin, Martin Scorcese & George Bush? Weird, but true. Berkeley Place lists the top 10 political songs of 2007.