photos by Chris La Putt

"New York City was feeling the love! We've earned it and have certainly much to celebrate - but no one could have expected the party that Kylie Minogue was preparing to unleash on the Big Apple when her Aphrodite Live Tour touched down on North America - the show officially arrived in Boston over the weekend, then DC, before 3 unprecedented nights at the Hammerstein Ballroom in the heart of Manhattan. The Goddess of Love radiates in a two-hour extravaganza unlike anything the pop icon has ever attempted before. Kylie Minogue has out-shined herself...if that's possible! This time the Impossible Princess comes close!

Minogue's shows have always been elaborate dance and fashion spectaculars but she has never attempted something having this dimension before. This show is bigger than her last visit to the States, a much tighter production with amazing aesthetic, and a non-stop dance escapade with death defying aerialists and a winged horse...and this is a scaled down version of the arena show the rest of the world gets to see! Celebrating the success of her latest album, last fall's Aphrodite, the stage venture takes its lead from the overall tone set by that release - co-produced by Stuart Price the album is a wildly futuristic foray into modern, electro rhythms & beats which Kylie has always mastered. Minogue has proven herself again and again a master minstrel of dance music.

Her song list on the tour features tracks from Aphrodite appropriately enough, and opens with the title track, since the mythological theme of the show situates Minogue as the embodiment of muses of myths and legends. Amidst the ruins of a Greek pantheon Kylie opens the show surrounded by her gorgeously assembled court singing "The One" before a rousing battle in the arena set to "Wow". Seamlessly transported by a powerful pegasus, the next act features "Illusion" and "I Believe In You." [edge]

Continue reading "Kylie Minogue returned to Hammerstein Ballroom (pics,setlist)"

Kylie Minogue is preparing a musical based on her long career which should be ready by next year.

Her creative director and stylist, William Baker, is co-writing the show with the Aphrodite star. "We're both working on the Kylie musical, using all her songs, which will hopefully be done next year some time. I can't wait!"

The Spinning Around singer added: "It's definitely happening. We've brought a scriptwriter in and are working on a few synopses.

But she admitted she was wary about reaction from the critics to the stage show. "Music critics are one thing but theatre critics are something else. I suppose if it doesn't work then that's it - it's a closed book.

As for a venue, "I think it will be here," she said, meaning London's West End.

The pop princess is midway through her second American tour, after finally playing the country for the first time in 2009. She is playing smaller venues to crowds of around 3,000, but has spared no expense bringing the full Aphrodite Les Folies stage spectacle to the US." [MTV UK]

AND:

"To celebrate the tour, Astralwerks Records will release a new exclusive digital EP North American Tour Bonus Edition on May 3rd. The EP consists of 5 live recordings, three from a semi-acoustic BBC Live Lounge session - "Can't Get You Out Of My Head," "All The Lovers" and "Get Outta My Way", and two recorded live in New York in October 2009 during Kylie's first North American Tour - "Better Than Today" and "Confide In Me". As a special fan treat the EP also includes a short film featuring behind the scenes footage of Kylie on tour plus original tour wardrobe sketches by Dolce & Gabbana. "

Continue reading "Kylie Minogue on tour w/ a new live EP, working on a musical"

"The PS22 Chorus is an elementary school chorus from Public School 22 in Graniteville, Staten Island (New York). It is composed of 60-70 fifth-graders, and is directed by Gregg Breinberg. Students are assigned to the chorus after an annual auditioning process at the beginning of each school year. PS22 is the largest elementary school in Staten Island which draws students from a wide cross section of ethnic groups and socio-economic levels. The chorus meets twice a week during school hours to practice, and performs throughout the year at school functions, local events, and on special requests. It has been featured on several major national news and music networks after its videos had gained international attention within the popular video-sharing site YouTube. As of January, 2011 the chorus's videos have been watched more than 27,000,000 times." [Wikipedia]

Their first appearance on this site came when they appeared on stage with Crowded House at Wellmont Theater. You might also know them as the children's chorus you hear on Passion Pit's "The Reeling."

Check out some brand new videos below, shot by filmmaker Jonathan Kalafer, of the group during some improv sessions and one of them doing an acoustic version of MGMT's "Kids" (a song they were already famous for covering). A recent one of the chorus covering Freelance Whales and some other ones are down there too...

Continue reading "PS22 going to Academy Awards, covered MGMT (new videos) "

"As announced last week pop-superstar Kylie Minogue is hitting the road again with her brand new world tour and due to high demand for tickets she is already adding dates! A third show has just been added in NYC and advance tickets go on sale today. Originally scheduled to play two shows at the Manhattan Center's Hammerstein Ballroom on May 2nd and 3rd, Kylie's Aphrodite Live 2011 will now play three nights at the famed venue May 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Pre-sale tickets for the new date go on sale today for American Express card holders and Kylie fanclub members with general on sale beginning January 22nd." -PR

Continue reading "Kylie Minogue adds 3rd NYC show -- updated tour dates"

Kylie Minogue @ Hammerstein Ballroom, Oct 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

"International Pop Star Kylie Minogue has announced North American dates for her Aphrodite - Live 2011 Tour beginning April 28th in Montreal through May 22nd where Kylie will close the tour at the legendary Colosseum at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, NV (full schedule below). The world tour starts February 19th in Denmark and will play in arenas throughout Europe & Japan before hitting Canada, U.S. and Mexico. The Aphrodite - Live 2011 tour promises to be an absolute landmark in the career of Kylie Minogue who is renowned for her groundbreaking live shows. Pre-sale tickets for the U.S. leg of the tour begin on January 14th for American Express card holders and Kylie's fanbase with public on sale beginning January 22nd.

"The reaction to 'Aphrodite' has been absolutely incredible and has inspired me and my creative team to develop a new show that will take all of us on a euphoric journey of joy, excitement and glamour. I can't wait to get on the road and see all my fans in 2011," said Kylie."

Continue reading "Kylie Minogue --- 2011 Tour Dates"

Ken Ober, a brassy comedian best known as the host of the 1980s-era MTV game show "Remote Control," died on Sunday, Mark Measures, an agent at Abrams Artists who worked with him, said on Monday. Mr. Ober, who lived in Los Angeles, was 52. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Mr. Ober, who grew up in Boston idolizing game show hosts like Bob Barker and Bob Eubanks, went on to host four game shows of his own, including a revived version of "Make Me Laugh" in 1997. But his breakthrough came a decade earlier when Mr. Ober, a contestant on the televised talent show "Star Search," became the host of the MTV series "Remote Control" in 1987. [NY Times]

Continue reading "Ken Ober (host of Remote Control), RIP "

photos by Chris La Putt

"Hammerstein Ballroom is as packed as I've ever seen it... granted, only my third concert there to date. No opening act, light go down, Kylie descends from the rafters on a giant golden skull to "Light Years." She addresses the audience, "Please! Fasten your seatbelts. My name, is KYLIE. I will be your pursor." Yes, straight from her Showgirl tour, but a dazzling entrance as to be expected from Kylie.

Wrapping up her first North American tour in New York (the first of three shows at Hammerstein), Kylie covered much of her 20 year-long repertoire... "It's In Your Eyes," from Fever, "I Believe in You," from Ultimate Kylie, "Slow," from Body Language, and new songs from X, including "Wow" and "The One." She covered a lot of her old stuff including "Shocked," "Spinning Around," and "What Do I Have To Do," in a medley straight from the Showgirl Tour, as well as "Better The Devil You Know," and a sexy, sultry take on her classic, "The Locomotion."

All in all, a strong effort by Ms. Minogue, but I wish it was really tailored for her U.S. audience. It was a re-hash of her past tours with little unique twists for her U.S. debut. Still, I'm a fan, and she was fabulous. She commanded the room and left everyone wishing for more. " [Brian Burgess]

Continue reading "Kylie Minogue @ Hammerstein Ballroom (night 1) -pics, video "

"Lenny Kravitz has admitted that he's finding it hard to stick to his vow of celibacy. The rocker, who has previously been involved with Kylie Minogue, Madonna, and Nicole Kidman, has not dated anyone in four years." [oneindia]

tonight in NYC
* Lenny Kravitz @ Irving Plaza
* Kylie Minogue @ Hammerstein Ballroom
* Blitzen Trapper, Wye Oak @ Bowery Ballroom
* Terry Riley, Gyan Riley @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* White Rabbits, Glass Ghost, The Dig @ Maxwell's
* Om, Six Organs of Admittance, Lichens, Naam @ Europa
* Le Loup, Nurses, Freelance Whales, Backwords @ Mercury Lounge
* Los Lonely Boys, Alejandro Escovedo, Hacienda @ Highline Ballroom

Placebo is NOT playing Terminal 5 tonight.

Lenny Kravitz kicks off a five night run at Irving Plaza tonight.

Kylie Minogue kicks off three nights at Hammerstein Ballroom.

"Canada's a bit more tuned in than the States, but Kylie Minogue's audience in North America still largely seems to consist of gay men and geeky music writers who over the years have consistently found themselves as wooed by the wee Aussie superstar's classy brand of haute couture pop as they have her feminine wiles." [Toronto Star]

According to Facade, Lenny and Kylie are 71% emotionally compatible, but only 33% physically compatible.

Blitzen Trapper (Sub Pop) and Wye Oak (Merge) perform at Bowery Ballroom.

Europa hosts Om, Six Organs of Admittance, Lichens and Naam. The same lineup is at Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday.

Le Loup and Nurses are on tour. They play with Freelance Whales and Backwords tonight at Mercury Lounge.

Freelance Whales also have some CMJ shows coming up, one of which is with Fanfarlo who are also playing the official BrooklynVegan CMJ show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Freelance Whales are not to be confused with Vulture Whale who are also playing CMJ.

Heartonastick has "A Goddamned Guide to All These Goddamned Whale Bands (Part One, A - N)".

Built to Spill kick off a NYC run on Monday.

The Fresh & Onlys are no longer in town. Video from their Bell House show below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday? (Lenny Kravitz vs Kylie Minogue)"

DOWNLOAD: Emiliana Torrini - Me & Armini (MP3)

Emiliana Torrini has added a string of North American tour dates around her August 14th Highline Ballroom show. Tickets for the NYC show are still on sale. Opening that show and a few others will be singer-songwriter Anya Marina (whose Myspace features a cover of TI's "Whatever You Like")

Emiliana Torrini's latest LP, Me And Armini, was released in 2008 on Rough Trade. A track from that is above.

Emiliana recently performed on Belgian TV, where she mentioned adding Kylie Minogue's "Slow," a song she wrote, to her own live repertoire. That video, with all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Emiliana Torrini & Anya Marina - 2009 tour dates & stuff"

The October 11th show sold out completely during the pre-sale (why they let happen I'm not sure), so they added an October 12th show (still in AmEx & Artist presale), and then they added an October 13th show (currently in AmEx & Aritst presale). A Live Nation pre-sale starts for the 2nd two shows on Friday at 10am (the password might be "live"), and then general sale for the same two shows starts 24 hours later. More dates HERE.

North American fans of international pop superstar Kylie Minogue will finally get a chance to experience the icon live in concert when her 6-city tour kicks off in Oakland, CA on September 30th. One stop on this highly anticipated tour is New York City where Kylie will play at Manhattan Center's Hammerstein Ballroom on October 11th [and now October 12th was added too].

The Australian pop star, who is set to perform on NBC's "Today Show" this Friday (5/8), is supporting her 10th studio effort, "X," which surfaced stateside in April 2008. The 13-track set scaled the charts in several countries and earned the singer her fifth Grammy nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album.

All North American tour dates below...

Continue reading "Kylie Minogue tour dates (two NYC shows @ Hammerstein) "