words by Nick Masi

photo from the Jones Beach show (more by Eric Townsend)

The Police played what was being billed as their final concert ever last night at Madison Square Garden (August 7, 2008). The 150th show of their reunion tour, which started in 2007, wrapped up at New York City's famed arena.

They opened with a cover of Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love," and then went into their own catalog...with a bang! The group brought out the NYPD marching band and had them line the front of the stage. Banging their drums in unison with Stewart Copeland, they all went into a raucous version of "Message In A Bottle." From that point on the show never slowed down. All the hits were played, except for "Spirits In The Material World"(my favorite Police song) and "Man In A Suitcase." They also covered Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze" and Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy," which led into their own, "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da." Sting took time out to thank his band mates for their companionship and support, even added some comic relief by saying, "The real triumph of this tour is that we haven't strangled each other."

During the encore, the video screens showed Sting backstage, shirtless, getting his full beard shaved by two women while crew members shined his shoes and Stewart kissed him! The crowd ate it up, laughing and screaming until they came back onstage. After playing "So Lonely" and a few others, The Police let the crowd know that they were officially done. They brought out a "Fat Lady" (actually not a lady) to sing (lip sync) opera on stage, which then turned into the Looney Toons theme and Porky Pig saying, "That's All Folks!" If the "Fat Lady" did indeed sing and this really was the final performance by The Police, they did it not only with energy, class and flair, but with humor.

Lots of videos and the setlist below...

Continue reading "The Police (last show ever) @ MSG - videos, setlist, NYPD"

They are selling tickets at Ticketmaster for the Police's final show at MSG.

photos by Eric M. Townsend

Pearl Jam have the best fans in the world, no questions asked. What an amazing experience, I don't think I can say which night it was better. [Metro Distortion]

I heard Ted Leo and the Pharmacists sounded great playing their opening set in the large room. No pictures unfortunately because MSG is strict and confusing with the credentials and Eric was only allowed in during Pearl Jam's set. More of those pics and some oher stuff below.....

Continue reading "Pearl Jam @ Madison Square Garden, NYC - pics"

photos by Ryan Muir

Christy Turlington (and opener Ed Burns) enjoying Chris Martin @ MSG

Actresses Charlize Theron and Kirsten Dunst joined supermodel Helena Christensen in the 10,000-strong audience.

The New York event was the band's third free show, following gigs in London and Barcelona, to promote new album Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends.

They gave away thousands of tickets through their website - although some were said to be changing hands for up to $800 a pair on eBay. The title track, Viva La Vida, has given the band their first ever number one single in both the US and the UK. Its popularity has been boosted by its use as the soundtrack to an iTunes advert. [Telegraph]

Continue reading "Coldplay @ Madison Square Garden, NYC - pics"

The Cure (Robert Smith) @ MSG, NYC - June 20, 2008 (oddangles)

The setlist from last night's show at Madison Square Garden is below....

Continue reading "The Cure played MSG (pic & setlist) --- Radio City tonight"

The Cure @ Sasquatch 2008 (more by Chris Graham)

It's all about MSG lately. Love them or hate them, there is/was....Iron Maiden, Tom Petty, R.E.M. (last night), The Cure (TONIGHT), Coldplay (Monday), and Pearl Jam (Tuesday and Wednesday) - all right after one another. And all that coincided with the announcement that My Morning Jacket are playing that venue too which coincided with My Morning Jacket's Radio City show tonight. Radio City is also where where the Cure are playing tomorrow (note: Radio City & MSG are owned by the same company).

The big difference between Coldplay and all those other shows is that Coldplay tickets were free...to those who were able to "win" them. If you weren't able to win them, I've got one more chance for you. One person who emails BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Coldplay) will be selected and awarded a pair of free tickets to the free show.

In other Coldplay news, Brooklyn's Creaky Boards are now really famous, and Santogold will soon be more famous, you can stream Coldplay's new album, and tickets for their NJ show go on sale Saturday.

ALSO, The Police are playing MSG.

ALSO, Coldplay rescheduled a bunch of dates, so their latest ones are below...

Continue reading "The Cure are here. MSG is hot. Win Coldplay tickets"

(most) photos by Eric M. Townsend

Stipe, Buck, Mills, and their two amigos came out whaling and they never let up. Playing only a couple of ballads, and everything being short and sweet, R.E.M. made the case for arena rock to live on just a little bit longer. The hypnotic goings on behind the band - a series of screens that relayed the scene on stage as if it was an already edited and produced performance video - were not only beyond impressive, they were actually distracting. At one point, it was even safe to wonder if the show would have been half as interesting without it. But the ferocity of "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" and "Bad Day" easily silenced that. Other highlights included the Mike Mills-led "Don't Go Back to Rockville", the Johnny Marr-joined "Fall on Me", "Losing My Religion", "Supernatural Superserious", "The One I Love", and "Man on the Moon". Michael Stipe did something I never thought he did...ever: He smiled and laughed a lot. In his dapper striped suit, the ever chatty, chrome domed Stipe had his usual political things to say but had even more to say in the field of being friendly, open, and inviting. Like the band's music.
[Sonic Parthenon]

Continue reading "R.E.M. @ Madison Square Garden, NYC - pics & setlist"

photos by Eric M. Townsend

Early on in Tom Petty's sold-out Madison Square Garden gig last night he uttered words rarely heard at his shows: "You probably don't know this next one." The band then launched into the super obscure 1999 Europe-only B side "Sweet William." The bluesy, organ-heavy number was a clear indication this wasn't going to be the typical nothing-but-the-hits Petty show he's done on recent tours. With no new album to support, Petty was free to drag out the gems. [Rolling Stone]

Continue reading "Tom Petty & Steve Winwood @ MSG, NYC - pics"

Iron Maiden kicking a ball after blowing the speakers

The sound suddenly and unexpectedly went off during Iron Maiden's set at their sold out show in NYC last night (June 15, 2008). One second there was really loud heavy metal blasting out to 20,000 headbanging fans at Madison Square Garden. The next second it got really quiet from the stage and then stayed that way for about 10 minutes. With music out of the question and technicians scrambling around the stage, the band entertained us by showing off their (and their mummy's) skills at football (they're from the UK)....

Continue reading "Iron Maiden played soccer (and rocked) @ MSG (video) "

MMJ @ Coachella 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

"An Evening With" My Morning Jacket: Dec. 31, 2008 @ Madison Square Garden in NYC. $49.50 tickets go on sale Friday June 27 at 10 AM. No openers.

More tour dates HERE.

photos by Eric M. Townsend

The extroverted Plant and introverted Krauss met halfway on the album, and they did so onstage at the Borgata Sunday night, entering with big smiles from opposite sides as the band kicked into "Rich Woman," the New Orleans hit from the mid-1950s.

What followed was a two-hour, country music-style revue, with the two singing in unison sometimes, but with Plant taking the lead for a few songs, then Krauss, then both stepping aside for Burnett to sing a few. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Continue reading "Robert Plant & Alison Krauss @ MSG Theater, NYC - pics"

M.I.A. & Kanye & friends (via Kanye's blog)

Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and N.E.R.D. are playing Madison Square Garden again on August 5th. Tickets go on sale Friday June 13 @ 10am. I didn't forget about Rihanna - her name doesn't seem to be on the bill this time around.

Kanye has a new video for "Flashing Lights". N.E.R.D. has a new video. Their last show at MSG was in May. Kanye then played another NYC show the next night and surrounded himself with half-naked girls dressed as astronauts. Video from that below....

Continue reading "Kanye West finally adds that 2nd NYC show at MSG "

Tickets Only Available Through New York Public Television Stations

Continue reading "The Police's final concert will be @ Madison Square Garden"

It's May 23rd. That means Phil Selway is 41 years old, and that Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth will be returning to NYC this evening.

Some photos of last night's show at MSG courtesy of ATHLETE Director Dave...

At Tuesday night's Madison Square Garden stop on his national "Glow in the Dark" tour, West rapped and roamed around an otherwise empty stage, assuring that all focus would land entirely on himself.

The vast staging mimicked a lunar landscape in a world far away, underscoring "Glow's" intergalactic theme, which served the star's ego as well. At one point in the night's "Lost in Space" scenario, West met a female space alien who, naturally, recognized him.

"You're the biggest star in the universe," she exclaimed.
[Jim Farber - Daily News]

N.E.R.D. are opening for Kanye West at MSG tonight. I hope they play a much smaller venue in NYC before their new album comes out next month. Check out their performance from Letterman last night.....

Continue reading "N.E.R.D. on Letterman (video) -- @ MSG tonight, ACL later"

George Michael & Brooke Shields, 1985 (Whamerica)

When a usually reliable source told me that George Michael was going to play two nights at Madison Square Garden this summer, I believed him, but not enough to go ahead and post it before I heard knew it was really true. Now that it's confirmed, I'm still a little amazed. Coming here to support his "new retrospective record", it will be George's first North American tour in 17 years. All dates below.....

Continue reading "George Michael - 2008 Tour Dates (2 nights @ MSG)"

Tickets sold to the general public will go on sale through Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. Public on-sale information will be posted on pearljam.com in the near future.

A Ten Club pre-sale for eligible members will begin on Monday, March 24th at 9am PDT on www.pearljam.com. You must be an active member of the Ten Club by Wednesday March 19, 2008 to qualify for the pre-sale ticket opportunity. We will stagger ticket sales to control web traffic, so please pay attention to the corresponding pre-sale dates and times. Pre-sale tickets are first come first serve, while supplies last. Pre-sales for any available tickets will remain open until Friday, March 28th at 5pm PDT.

Click here for information on the official rules, policies, and procedures for purchasing tickets from the Ten Club. We highly recommend that you read these details before purchasing tickets to a show so you are aware of how the ticketing system will work for you!

Continue reading "Pearl Jam - 2008 tour dates ** 2 nights @ MSG w/ Ted Leo"

One (sold out), two (sold out), three... Jay Z & Mary J Blige - May 2nd @ MSG, tickets ($199.75, $129.75, $99.75 & $69.75) on sale March 7th at 10 am.

Kanye West is still only playing one.

"An in depth look at the very disturbing truth behind some of mainstream music's most 'popular' celebrities and their occult practices" below....

Continue reading "Jay-Z & Mary J, a 3rd NYC show at MSG, Kanye, the occult"

Continue reading "Jay-Z & Mary J Blige add 2nd NYC show @ MSG"

photos by Bao Nguyen

Continue reading "Foo Fighters @ Madison Square Garden, NYC - pics"

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss are announced their 2008 U.S tour today. That includes Bonnaroo, and a show at the Theater At Madison Square Garden in NYC on June 10th. Tickets ($99.50, $79.50, $59.50 & $39.50) are cheaper (not that they'll be that cheap when and if Robert plays NYC with Led Zeppelin) than tickets to see Kanye West who is playing in the larger stadium next door (where Led Zeppelin will probably play if and when they decide to again). NYC show details, and more dates, below...

Continue reading "Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - 2008 Tour Dates "

Tickets (154.50, $99.50 & $49.50) go on sale Wednesday (presale) and Saturday (regular) for the upcoming Kanye West/Rihanna/N.E.R.D/Lupe Fiasco show at MSG.

Speaking of pre-teenagers, I couldn't help but notice (see above) that The Spice Girls (like Norwegians, Les Savy Fav and Matisyahu) know about those flourescent noise-proof headphones too. More photos of last night's show at the Garden (Feb 18, 2008), HERE.

Craig Wedren & Nicole Atkins @ Bowery Ballroom, Jan 25, 2008 (music snob)

* Supergrass signs to Astralwerks
* U2's manager says take away your Internet
* Led Zeppelin may tour, but not yet
* Robert Plant talked/stuttered about MSG, at MSG
* Rap mogul "Suge" Knight named in gang crackdown
* Lil Wayne Addresses Drug Charges
* Arctic Monkeys get record seven NME nominations
* Imeem Buys Social Music Service Anywhere.FM
* Sony Ericsson cuts deals with 10 music labels
* Qtrax didn't make a deal with any

Super Furry Animals @ Music Hall, Jan 25, 2008 (Ryan Dombal)