Kanye West & Big Sean @ Irving Plaza Tuesday (Joshua Laboy)

Maybe it was all the excitement of summer finally arriving, but for whatever reason, NYC shows have been pretty heavy on the special guests lately. Here's a few we know about.

Reggie Watts was the secret guest that joined Glenn Kotche and Buke & Gass during 'Wilco weekend' at NYU for the Jab Abumrad's Radiolab Concert on Saturday (6/18). Reggie was a secret because of the two Summerstage shows he's playing this week including the one in Red Hook Park TONIGHT (6/24).

Reptar was a secret guest at the Thee Oh Sees Brooklyn Bowl show on Saturday (Reptar played Governors Ball earlier that day). And as predicted, Thee Oh Sees themselves were the secret headliner at Death by Audio the previous night (6/17).

Reptar, who also opened for Art Brut at Music Hall last night, will open for Foster the People at Terminal 5 on September 27th. The only mystery here is how Foster the People are big enough to headline Terminal 5 already! Tickets are on sale.

Ted Leo showed up as a special guest at the Eleanor Friedberger show at Europa during Northside. Bradford Cox was in the Audience. Catch Ted again at the free South Street Seaport kickoff party for the 4Knots Festival that Eleanor plays at the South Street Seaport a week later. It was just announced that Eleanor will also open for Deerhunter at their Webster Hall shows in August. (Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox must have really liked her set) Tickets for both Deerhunter shows are still available.

As also recently mentioned both Clams Casino and Neon Indian (DJ) were added as last minute surprises guests to the Northside show at Cameo on Sunday (6/19). The show was one day after Neon Indian played Governors Ball. Monday night Cameo hosted semi-secret DJ sets by YACHT, The Miracles Club & Midnight Magic, all who played MHOW on Sunday.

Kanye West showed up at Big Sean's Irving Plaza show on Tuesday (6/21), the same night Big Sean appeared on the Bon Iver episode of Fallon. Despite two of Kanye's friends being on Fallon on the same night however, Kanye did not make an appearance on the show (not even backstage). Videos from Irving Plaza below.

Justin Vernon did not show up at the S. Carey/David Bazan show at Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday (6/22), as we hoped he would. S. Carey is a member of Bon Iver's band and played with Justin the two days previous on both Fallon and Colbert.

Speaking of Fallon, Bob Mould (who DJs his Blowoff party at Highline Ballroom tonight) showed up and surprised people by playing a Sugar song backed by the Roots on the show. Mould recently performed live with the Foo Fighters during their set at Sasquatch. Video of that special guest appearance is below.

Lenny Kravtiz's daughter Zoë Kravitz and her band Elevator Fight played Southpaw with J*Davey on Tuesday (6/21). Lenny showed up to watch his daughter, but he wasn't the only crowd member blowing up Twitter. Drake was also in the audience to catch the show. FADER grabbed him outside the Park Slope venue for a quick video interview which you can watch below.

Flying Lotus & Just Blaze @ Music Hall (via the Comedian)

Flying Lotus headlined two Brainfeeder showcases (his label) this week. The first was at Bowery Ballroom on Monday (6/20) and the second at MHOW on Wednesday (6/22). Apparently trippy instrumentals aren't the only thing FlyLo digs when it comes to hip hop producers, because Just Blaze (Jay-Z, T.I.) showed up to play with him at the MHOW show. Flying Lotus also surprised NYC by playing a free late show at Le Poisson Rouge too.

Following in FlyLo's footsteps, Ivan & Alyosha gave NYC a gift in the form of a last-minute free late show at Mercury Lounge.

Crowded House frontman Neil Finn played with Eddie Vedder at Beacon Theatre on his tour with Glen Hansard.

And while opener Glen Hansard (Swell Season, the Frames) helped Vedder recreate "Sleepless Nights," the tender duet the pair shared on "Ukulele Songs," and the crowd found their voices and their feet for several of he night's tunes -- "Porch," "Unthought Known" -- the biggest roar erupted when Vedder invited Crowded House/Split Enz frontman Neil Finn to the stage for an impromptu collaboration Vedder jokingly called an "unrehearsed collision." With longtime friend Finn on organ, the twosome blended delicate harmonies on Hunters And Collectors' "Throw Your Arms Around Me." Finn took up a guitar and sat down next to Vedder to trade verses on Finn's Split Enz hit "I Got You," which found Finn playfully calling out chords to Vedder during the bridge. "It turns out we play that song differently," Vedder quipped, "But since he wrote it, he's right."

Decked out in a trio of long white lab coats, Finn (organ) and Hansard (guitar) returned with Vedder for the second encore, the rousing "Big Hard Sun" from "Into The Wild." [Billboard]

Neil Finn plays his own show at Bowery Ballroom on 6/26. You can win two tickets on our Facebook.

As you know, Stephen Colbert was the special guest with The Black Belles on his own show last night (6/23). He performed with the band and also recorded a single with them which is now on sale via Third Man Records. Jack White actually also appeared on the show this time for his third and final appearance during StePhest Colbchella '011 and then appeared with Colbert again today (6/24) at The Lot at the High Line. Jack and the Black Belles were also spotted last night (6/23) bowling at Brooklyn Bowl. According to Questlove (who was DJing the venue), he "has bowling game."

Tonight (6/24) is the another Doveman show at LPR. Lisa Hannigan (who played 3 sold out NYC-area shows this week) and Mike Doughty are billed as openers, but according to Doveman, some secret special guests will be showing up as well (as usual).

Last but not least, as hinted, and confirmed earlier today, Fucked Up are the special guest at 285 Kent Saturday (6/26) with JEFF the Brotherhood and Iceage. Tickets are on sale at Record Grouch. Iceage also played a secret show at 538 Johnson while they were in town for Northside.

Any special appearances we left out?

Videos below...

Continue reading "This Week in Special Guests (Kanye West, Reggie Watts, Reptar, Neil Finn, Drake, Just Blaze, Doveman & more)"

Bruce Springsteen & Tom Morello @ MSG (BMoreSweet)

U2 closed the second night of the MSG Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shows on October 30th. At the first (10/29), it was Bruce Springsteen & Billy Joel (before one big group sing on Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher")...

After "Badlands" much of the drained audience began leaving and then rushed back to their seats when Billy Joel sat down at the piano and launched into "You May Be Right," "Only The Good Die Young" and "New York State Of Mind." (The pair were uniting the kindred spirits of New Jersey and Long Island, Springsteen explained.) "Higher and Higher" wrapped up the night. The official set list had the show ending at 11:36:55 (yes, they thought they had it down to the exact second), but the final notes rang out at 1:31 a.m. Six straight hours of music, and that was just the first of two nights. [Rolling Stone]

Bruce was actually there both nights (one of many possibly "filling in" for Eric Clapton, who canceled last minute on the second). Those in attendence on the 30th got to see U2, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith sing together on "Because the Night." (And U2 + Mick Jagger (another unannounced guest) + Fergie + Will.i.am sing "Gimme Shelter"...). Ray Davies, Lou Reed, and Ozzy Osbourne all performed with Metallica. Many played with Stevie Wonder. Full setlists below.

HBO will be airing four hours of highlights on Thanksgiving weekend.
(November 29th at 8PM ET).

Bruce's current tour wraps up November 22nd in Buffalo. He was at Giants Stadium earlier this fall, playing the last concerts ever there. U2 also played the venue for two nights in September, and will be back in Jersey in 2010 as part of their just-announced tour.

Set lists for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shows are below...

Continue reading "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame hosted 2 very long shows @ MSG (setlists), will air on HBO Thanksgiving weekend"

Little Leonard Cohen headlines the giant Madison Square Garden this evening (10/23). Van Morrison plays the smaller Theater on Sunday (10/25).

Van Morrison was actually scheduled to make an appearance in the bigger venue too this month, but...

The concerts celebrating the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are right around the corner on 29 and 30 October at the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. There has been a change in the guest lineup for 30 October, the evening Eric Clapton is scheduled to perform. Van Morrison is no longer on the show. Buddy Guy will now be performing. Other special guests for Friday include Ozzy Osbourne, Jeff Beck, Jerry Lee Lewis, Annie Lennox and Lenny Kravitz.

Speaking of cancellations and Lenny Kravitz, Lenny's recently cancelled show at Irving Plaza was rescheduled for October 28th.

"Lenny Kravitz has unfortunately been forced to cancel his performance tonight (Thursday, October 15th) in New York City. The artist's performance this evening was to be the fourth in a five show residency series at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza.

Said Lenny Kravitz "I'm sorry to make this announcement so late in the evening but there will be no show tonight. For those who were at my concert last night, you know that I blew my voice out. I have been working all day trying to get it to work but it is just too fatigued. I will reschedule this show immediately. New York has been so good to me. These shows have been a phenomenal experience for me. Being so close to my fans here has brought me back home!! I can't wait to get back on stage this Sunday.""

"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]

Blitzen Trapper @ Sasquatch Festival in May (more by Chris Graham)

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]

Kylie and Lenny dated according to the above quote, and "Who's Dated Who".

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)"