photos by Ryan Barkan

"His band is the same it's been for most of the last decade, with the guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray, the keyboardist Paul Wickens, and the drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.; in a way their canned grimaces and corny gestures seem perfect, because they illustrate how much of the audience might dream of playing if given the chance to get on stage with Mr. McCartney, showing off but hitting all the marks. It's a machine that doesn't change arrangements from year to year, mostly replicating the original versions, down to the string parts on "Eleanor Rigby" as recreated by Mr. Wickens' synthesizer. It's also a loud, clear, efficacious, and sometimes bashing band, aiming to the back rows." [NY Times]

Paul McCartney played the legendary Apollo last night, 12/13, to a house filled with Sirius XM subscribers and celebrties. If you are a satellite radio subscriber but didn't have a ticket, maybe you listened at home. Some pictures from the show and the full setlist below...

Continue reading "Paul McCartney played the Apollo Theater (pics & setlist)"

Phoenix @ MHOW (more by Bao Nguyen)

It might seem like the end of summer, but there's still a month left before they stop having concerts at Central Park Summerstage (though now the venue goes by its other name "Rumsey Playfield"). September 25th and 26th are when Phoenix play two shows there with Passion Pit. Both are sold out.

The two shows are part of a North American tour for Phoenix that was set to begin at the Monolith Festival on September 13th. Now that tour starts in NYC one day earlier.

In what may be the only time that Phoenix ever share a bill with Gary 'Baba Booey' Dell'Abate (the Howard Stern star is making a "special appearance"), Phoenix, Kid Cudi and DJ Clinton Sparks are playing a Lifebeat benefit show at 610 W 56th St (aka Terminal 5) in Manhattan on September 12th. MTV is hosting. $40 tickets are on sale. Flyer below...

Continue reading "Phoenix, Kid Cudi AND BABA BOOEY playing Lifebeat Benefit in NYC before the Monolith Festival (tix on sale) "