The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival opening night announcement has been the buzz of the city for the past few weeks, with lots of questions circling about how New Yorkers can get a seat at the free outdoor screening of Cameron Crowe's documentary, The Union.

Set to premiere at 8:15 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, The Union chronicles the making of the 2010 album of the same name, a collaboration between pop icon Elton John and legendary rock 'n' roll keyboardist Leon Russell. Crowe is, of course, known for making classic music narratives, including Singles (1992) and Almost Famous (2000), and fans can't wait to see what he does in the documentary format with Elton and Leon.

We've been working hard on a plan for the opening night event, which will be co-sponsored by AOL, supported by Goldman Sachs, and hosted by Brookfield Properties, the owner of the World Financial Center, the location of the outdoor festivities. And special thanks to ESPN.

Here's the scoop:

• A TFF wristband is required to be seated at the event.

• Wristbands will be distributed to the public on a first-come, first-served basis on April 20 at 4:00 pm.

• The distribution site is the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center--at the West Side Highway entrance, just north of Chambers. (See #4 on our Maps page.)

• There will be a limit of two wristbands per person.

• When you get your wristband, you will also get a list of details about how, when, and where to find your seat.

• The screening will begin at 8:15 pm on April 20.

• Details are still being firmed up, but programming at the Plaza may begin at approximately 7:30.

• Note: Venue access and capacity are at the discretion of the NYPD.

Elton John announced today that he'll be playing at Ceasars in Vegas for at last another three years. Tickets for the first 16 shows go on sale April 25th.

Continue reading "Elton John announces another Vegas residency, playing free NYC show tonight (here's how to get in)"

As that little banner I grabbed off their site says, tickets go on AmEx presale today (4/12) for Tribeca Film Festival movies. To be more exact, starting at 11am, "Single Tickets on sale exclusively for American Express® Cardmembers (Online, Phone, and Ticket Outlets)." Tickets then go on sale to "downtown residents" starting at the same time on Sunday. General public can grab tickets starting Monday, April 18th.

Music-related films this year include Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, Mama Africa (about Miriam Makeba), The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye, Crash&Burn, God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, Sing Your Song (about Harry Belafonte who will also be on hand for a conversation moderated by "noted broadcaster" Tavis Smiley), The Swell Season (a documentary about Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova and their film Once), The Union (about Elton John & Leon Russell), When the Drum is Beating (about Haiti's 20-member band Septentrional), Roadie (about a roadie for Blue Oyster Cult), and Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon.

Elton John will also be performing live on opening night, April 20th...

"The first big piece of news about the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival has broken, and it's a doozy. To open the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by American Express®, we've assembled some serious talent: award-winning director Cameron Crowe, seminal rock keyboardist Leon Russell, and Elton John, with the latter performing live on April 20!

What do these three men have in common? Well, in 2009, Elton John teamed up with his longtime idol Russell to make an album called The Union, produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnett. Director Crowe--himself an avid music fan, having explored the musician's life in such classics as Almost Famous and Singles--decided to film their collaborative process, from writing through recording. The result is a documentary of the same name, the world premiere of which will be shown as the opening night film on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

"As a longtime fan of both artists, it was a pleasure to spend a year filming their collaboration," said Cameron Crowe. "We can't wait to show it to one of the greatest audiences in the world, the Tribeca Film Festival."

What's more, with this year being the 10th edition of the Festival, opening night will be a free, outdoor screening--as a sincere thank-you to the New York City community for its ongoing support. After the film screens at the North Cove at the World Financial Plaza, the legendary Elton John will perform live for the audience. How cool is that?...

....Details will follow about how YOU can join us on opening night. We can't wait to share The Union with you!" [Tribeca Film Fest]

According to comments on the fest's blog, they're working out a wristband distribution system for the free concert.

Other special events include the Tribeca Drive-In with free films at the World Financial Center Plaza, and the April 30th Family Festival. A clip from "The Union" is below...

Continue reading "Tribeca Film Fest begins 4/20, tix on sale today, Elton John to perform live, lots of music-related films"

T Bone Burnett will premiere The Speaking Clock Revue - a multi-artist concert extravaganza - on October 16 at the Wang Center in Boston and October 20 at the Beacon Theater in New York City. Both evenings of the Revue will feature performances by Elton John & Leon Russell, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, Gregg Allman, Ralph Stanley, Jeff Bridges, Punch Brothers, Karen Elson, and newcomers The Secret Sisters. In addition, Neko Case and Jim James from My Morning Jacket will join the lineup in Boston and New York respectively.

The concerts will be presented in a revue format with a house band consisting of the players featured on numerous Burnett-produced recordings. Tickets for The Speaking Clock Revue will go on sale Monday, September 27 at noon, through Ticketmaster.

All net proceeds from these shows will be donated to The Participant Foundation to support music and arts education programming in public schools."

Elton John & Leon Russell will release a T Bone-produced collaborative album entitled The Union on October 19th which is the same day they play another show at Beacon Theater (making the Speaking Clock show their second at the NYC venue in two days). All dates below.

The T Bone benefits were inspired by the new documentary, Waiting for "Superman". More info on that and the shows in general, with the documentary trailer and tour dates, below...

Continue reading "T Bone Burnett hosting multi-artist benefit concerts, Elton John & Leon Russell playing shows (dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Army Navy - Saints (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Army Navy - My Thin Sides (MP3)

Man Man @ Bumbershoot in Seattle (more by Chris Graham)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* FREE STUFF
* Cordero @ Joe's Pub
* Ringo Deathstarr @ Cake Shop
* Psychic Paramount at the Stone
* Fischerspooner @ Santos Party House
* NinjaSonik & Envelope @ Club Europa
* Tricky & Telepathique @ Irving Plaza
* Army Navy & Frankpollis @ Union Pool
* Kayo Dot Auxilliary Unit @ The Stone
* Delta Spirit & Peasant @ Mercury Lounge
* Windsor for the Derby & Mr Gnome @ Union Hall
* Does It Offend You, Yeah? (DJ) @ Hiro Ballroom
* Liam Finn, The Veils & Alberta Cross @ Bowery Ballroom
* Ellen Allien & Modeleselekesekelektorktor @ Highline Ballroom

We interviewed Tricky.

Kayo Dot is going on tour with Pelican. Kayo Dot Auxillary is playing The Stone tonight (thanks JG Thirwell).

The Sea & Cake tickets went on sale.

Don't forget about the free Wire tickets.

Elton John can snort Lily Allen under the table. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Experience is central to Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid, and Wednesday night she tapped one of pop music's most venerable rockers to help fill her campaign coffers with $2.5 million. Elton John, who has sold records and filled arenas for four decades, played a benefit concert for Clinton at Radio City Music Hall.

"I've always been a Hillary supporter," John, 61, said before launching into his 1970 breakthrough hits, "Your Song" and "Border Song." "There is no one more qualified to lead America."

The English singer, composer and pianist added: "I'm amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the people in this country. And I say to hell with them .... I love you Hillary, I'll be there for you." [AP]

Singer Elton John will help Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton raise cash for her presidential campaign with a solo concert next month at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

"I'm not a politician but I believe in the work that Hillary Clinton does," the British musician said in a statement released by the Clinton campaign on Monday.

Tickets for the "Elton and Hillary: One Night Only" performance on April 9 go on sale Wednesday. Prices start at $125 for mezzanine seats, $250 for seats near the orchestra.

Last October, Clinton held a star-studded fundraiser to celebrate her 60th birthday. Comedian Billy Crystal and rockers Elvis Costello and the Wallflowers headlined the event at New York's historic Beacon Theater, which raked in more than $1.5 million for Clinton's presidential bid. [AP]

Currently Elton is in the middle of a Las Vegas residency. All dates below....

Continue reading "Elton John playing Radio City Music Hall for Hillary Clinton "