Arcade Fire @ Obama Staff Ball (more by Bao Nguyen)

A list of celebrities, reportedly created by Obama's campaign, sent out on December 5, and acquired by the Tennessean (PDF HERE), is being passed around the internet. The list, heavily populated with people who we already know support Obama, is supposedly a wishlist of people the Obama administration hopes to get public support from again in this upcoming election. Among the names on the list: Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, Wilco Regina Spektor, Janelle Monae, The Roots, Jay-Z, will.i.am, Jessica Alba, Laila Ali, Marc Anthony, India.Arie, Sara Bareilles, Jigga, Chelsea Clinton, George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell, Fergie, America Ferrera, Jamie Foxx, Whoopi Goldberg, Al Green, Josh Groban, Neil Patrick Harris, Anne Hathaway, Jack Johnson, the Jonas Brothers, Jewel, Mila Kunis, Blake Lively, Ricky Martin, "Glee" star Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Pine, B.o.B, the Band Perry, Train, and Kate Walsh.

Speaking of Regina Spektor, who has played the White House, she has a benefit show coming up at Lincoln Center in NYC and is playing some shows with Tom Petty including one in Austin. All of her dates are listed below.

Speaking of Wilco, they're currently out on the road with White Denim who played a warm-up show at Hotel Vegas in Austin before leaving. All Wilco dates are listed below.

Speaking of Obama, he delivers a State of The Union speech this Tuesday.

Speaking of politicians, Stephen Colbert was spotted singing along at the Jeff Mangum show at BAM on Saturday night.

Continue reading "Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, Wilco Regina Spektor & others on Obama wishlist"

Gucci Mane at the last (?) Pool Party (more by Chris Doss)

Rapper Gucci Mane has been ordered to undergo psychiatric tests, following an Atlanta court appearance on a charge he violated terms of his probation. Radric Davis, the rapper's real name, appeared before Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger on Monday. Davis' attorney, Michael Holmes, filed a special plea of mental incompetency on behalf of Davis, who has battled drug problems in the past. The rapper was sent to Anchor Hospital, a 111-bed psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment facility in Atlanta. Records show Davis has been in the Fulton County Jail at least five times since 2005 on drug, aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges. His court appearance stemmed from a November altercation. [AP]

It also hasn't been the greatest of days for Gucci Mane's protege Wacka Flocka Flame, who surrendered to the police in connection with drugs and weapons charges. Wacka Flocka Flame's "No Hands" currently sits at #4 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Chart.

As previously mentioned, Questlove never rests, and in addition to all of his upcoming DJ gigs we just posted, you can also catch him this Friday, 1/7, at BB King's with special guest Rakim.

Also coming up at BB King's: Ice Cube.

SOB's hosts Joe Budden on on January 23rd.

Those on the West Coast can catch Joe, along with Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Royce Da 5'9" on Saturday, April 2, 2011, as Slaughterhouse have been added to the the sixth annual Paid Dues Festival along with Black Star, Immortal Technique and Murs. Slaughterhouse will drop a six song EP on E1 next month.

And last but not least, two humourous Kanye West-related videos are making the rounds, and you can watch both of them, below...

Continue reading "Rakim @ BB King's, Gucci Mane @ a treatment facility, Kanye vs muppets, Slaughterhouse @ Paid Dues & other hip hop news"

The Greenhornes @ ATP NY 2010 (more by BBG)

today in NYC
* Honey Ear Trio @ Barbes
* Zim Ngqawana @ The Stone
* Gil Scott-Heron @ BB King's
* Dayna Kurtz @ The Living Room
* El DeBarge @ Highline Ballroom
* Waking Lights, Linfinity @ Maxwell's
* Darcy James Argue Society @ Joe's Pub
* The Greenhornes, The Ettes @ Bowery Ballroom
* Matisyahu, Tally Hall @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* The Radio Dept., High Highs, Braids @ Knitting Factory
* Sean Flinn w/ Jolie Holland, Lone Wolf & Cub @ Union Pool
* Spanglish Fly, Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra @ Cameo Gallery
* The Sway Machinery, DeLeon, Soulico (JDub Benefit) @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Autodrone, The Brother Kite, Ambassadors, Sneaky Legend @ Mercury Lounge
* Charles Bissell & Kevin Whelan of the Wrens, Palomar, Bird of Youth @ Rock Shop
* Candles of Paradise, Grey Gersten, Love-In, Daniel Carter, Shahzad Ismaily, Indigo Street, Ches Smith @ Zebulon

Check out This Week in Indie

It's almost Hanukkah.

The Living Room is hosting a film/TV songwriter showcase before Dayna Kurtz plays tonight, and a mysterious "Danman and the LC" after her. Does anyone know who "Daman and the LC" is?

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting is tonight:

"Iconic Tree Event to Kick-Off Holidays in New York City The 2010 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be lit for the first time on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 with live and taped performances from 7 P.M. - 9 P.M., at Rockefeller Plaza, between West 48th & West 51st Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues, Manhattan. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a world-wide symbol of the holidays in New York City. The tree, traditionally a Norway Spruce, is illuminated by 30,000 environmentally friendly LED lights on five miles of wire, and crowned by a Swarovski crystal star. Tens of thousands crowd the sidewalks for the event and hundreds of millions watch the Tree Lighting Ceremony broadcast live across the globe."

Performers include Mariah Carey, Susan Boyle, Jessica Simpson, Josh Groban, Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, and Slayer.

Ok, fine. Slayer isn't actually performing, but it would be amazing if they would (somewhat related video below)...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Emiliana Torrini

Emiliana Torrini is playing Highline Ballroom on August 14th. Tickets are on sale (@ noon).

America are playing Nokia Theatre on October 16th. Tickets are on sale (@ noon).

Satanicide are headlining Bowery Ballroom on July 25th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on sale for the Tori Amos show at Radio City.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the show Seasick Steve is playing at Mercury Lounge. Tickets are on sale for the show he's playing at Southpaw too.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the show Los Campesinos! and Girls are playing at Webster Hall.

Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on July 7th. Tickets are on sale.

"DAVE STEWART, ARETHA FRANKLIN, WYCLEF JEAN, QUEEN LATIFAH, CARLA BRUNI-SARKOZY, JOSH GROBAN, CYNDI LAUPER, ANGELIQUE KIDJO, BAABA MAAL, JESSE MCCARTNEY, TLC, THE SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR, AND OTHER GUESTS" are celebrating Nelson Madela's 91st birthday at Madison Square Garden on July 18th. Tickets are on sale.

The Black Crowes are playing Central Park Summerstage on September 2nd. Tickets go on sale June 12.

Bruce Springsteen tickets go on sale Monday.

Friday night 'dance' events in The Week In Dance.

No tickets needed for Monday's David Byrne show.

Check out some Emiliana Torrino videos below...

Continue reading "America, Emiliana Torrini, Satanicide, Tori Amos, Seasick Steve & other tickets"

Paul Simon, David Byrne & friends @ BAM, April 12, 2008 (judester1213)

Nobody sings a Paul Simon song better than Paul Simon - except maybe David Byrne. The former Talking Head front man burned down the house at Wednesday's Brooklyn Academy of Music gala, bringing his signature wiggles and yelps to "You Can Call Me Al" and "I Know What I Know." Simon told us: "David's the only person I could think of, besides me, who has a New York sensibility and knows those African grooves." Simon, who also performed with Brazilian chanteuse Luciana Souza and may take his "Capeman" songs on tour, added, "I've known David for years, but we've become close friends in the last six months." Byrne told us he's collaborating with their mutual friend Brian Eno "for the first time in 20 years. Brian had written a lot of music, but needed some words, which I know how to do. What's it sound like? Electronic gospel. That's all I'm saying." [Daily News]

Sunday night was the last "UNDER AFRICAN SKIES" show (the David Byrne ones). "SONGS FROM THE CAPEMAN" happened in early April. The third and final of week of Paul Simon's residency is called "AMERICAN TUNES". That kicks off April 23rd with the hilarious (to me) bill that includes both Grizzly Bear (one of my favorites) AND Josh Groban (one of my mom's favorites). More pics and stuff below....

Continue reading "David Byrne played, Paul Simon's BAM shows continue"

Continue reading "now Jimmy Kimmel Is f*cking Ben Affleck"