photos by Tim Griffin

"Tony Award-winning orchestrator and composer Tom Kitt, whose Next to Normal is playing Broadway, has joined the creative team of the new Green Day musical American Idiot, as music supervisor.

On July 28, Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California announced the creative team for the September-October world premiere of American Idiot, inspired by Green Day's Grammy Award-winning album of the same name and directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, who collaborated with Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong on the project's story." [Playbill]

Continue reading "Green Day & Kaiser Chiefs @ MSG (night 2) - pics & setlist "

Bruce Springsteen @ Izod Center in May (more by Tim Griffin)

Reports on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary show have been confirmed. The two-night event will be happening at Madison Square Garden on October 29th & 30th. The lineup for those shows will include...

October 29:
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Simon & Garfunkel
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Friends
Paul Simon
Stevie Wonder

October 30:
Eric Clapton
Aretha Franklin
Metallica
U2

"American Express cardmembers have access to advance tickets Monday, July 27 at 9AM to Sunday, August 2 at 9PM, before they go on sale to the general public on Monday, August 3 at 9AM. For once-in-a-lifetime VIP Benefit Packages priced from $25,000 to $100,000, email rockhall@eventassociatesinc.com. For other Special VIP Benefit Packages priced from $750 to $5,000, go to ticketmaster.com." The cheapest ticket price is $79.50.

More info on the show's various sets and collaborations from Rolling Stone, who is helping to produce it, below...

Continue reading "Hall of fame shows @ MSG confirmed - tickets, lineup (U2, Bruce, Metallica, Simon, Garfunkel, Clapton, Stevie, Aretha) "

Leonard Cohen @ Red Rocks in June (more by Lori Baily)

Leonard Cohen is currently in the midst of a four night run in Dublin as part of his summer-long European/world tour. That trip picks up again in the fall with a series of US gigs that includes a show at NYC's Madison Square Garden on October 23rd! There's no ticket info yet.

He recently played NYC in May at Radio City Music Hall, as well as in February at the Beacon Theater. We also caught him at one of his last North American tour stops in June in Colorado.

One place Leonard Cohen won't be playing is Ramallah, where a scheduled gig was recently cancelled...

A Leonard Cohen concert planned in Ramallah on the West Bank in September has been cancelled after the artist became embroiled in a campaign to boycott Israel.

The 74-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter announced he would perform in Tel Aviv as part of his world tour. The Ramallah date was added later, allegedly in response to pro-Palestinian campaigners who had tried to dissuade Cohen from appearing in Israel.

Now his Palestinian hosts have cancelled the West Bank concert, amid claims that the planned gig was a hollow attempt to "balance" performances.

"Ramallah will not receive Cohen as long as he is intent on whitewashing Israel's colonial apartheid regime by performing in Israel," the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) said in a statement. [Guardian UK]

Continue reading "Leonard Cohen - more 2009 tour dates - MSG, not Ramallah"

UPDATE: These shows are confirmed

Bruce Springsteen @ Izod Center (more by Tim Griffin)

Reports are circling around the web about a 25th Anniversary Event of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame slated to take place at Madison Square Garden on Oct 29-30. Although so far unconfirmed by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame site showbiz411.com reports...

Tentatively scheduled for the Thursday show are Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon as a solo act, Stevie Wonder, and the whole posse that includes Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young and friends.

Then on Friday: Aretha Franklin headlines, with U2, Metallica, and Eric Clapton. Those are the names I've heard so far, but we won't be surprised if Paul McCartney, Sting, the Rolling Stones and a few other big names like Bob Dylan.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the most famous rock and roll institution in the world. In 2009, the Hall of Fame celebrates its twenty-fifth year with numerous events in Cleveland and a two-day anniversary concert on October 29 and 30 at Madison Square Garden that will be filmed. A four-hour edited version will appear on HBO in mid-November. While we are not a liberty yet to give out the names of the artists confirmed, you can be assured that the top names in music will appear. Artists that have been approached include Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, U2, The Eagles, Prince, Stevie Wonder, and other artists of this calibre. The event is being produced with Tom Hanks' company Playtone; Tom and award-winning writer and director Cameron Crowe will be involved in the creative. The Hall of Fame is just beginning to reach out to sponsors. The publication of this book is timed to release with the HBO television special and the induction of the 2009 nominees.

Paul McCartney is playing Citi Field tonight (7/21) (assuming it is rain or shine), one of three shows at the venue from the legend (pics from night one here).

Metallica are also playing Madison Square Garden, just a couple weeks after the supposed Hall of Fame show. Those sold-out shows, slated for 11/14 and 11/15, will feature support from Lamb of God (who are headlining a show at Wellmont Theater with Gwar).

Metallica were inducted into the Hall of Fame in April. Videos below...

Continue reading "Rock n Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concerts @ MSG?"

"A previous article explored why Michael Jackson, musically, is not even in the same league as Prince. Another artist Michael Jackson can never touch is Bruce Springsteen, a far better vocalist, songwriter and singer than Michael Jackson can ever dream to be.

In the early 1980s, Michael Jackson might have sold more than the Boss. But Bruce Springsteen was the critical favorite. Even before his mainstream breakout album Born in the USA, Bruce was on the top of every critic's list. When Born in the USA was released, he not only overshadowed Michael Jackson, but made other stars seem irrelevant. The Boss had more dedicated fans than any artist of the 1980s." [Memphis Celebrity Examiner]

Continue reading "Bruce Springsteen - 2009 tour dates (2 nights @ MSG & more) "

MSG photos & words by Jacob Blickenstaff, Columbia photos by Jens Schott Knudsen

Pete Seeger @ Columbia in April...

"Clearwater conducts innovative environmental programs, advocacy and celebrations in order to inspire and energize the next generation of environmental leaders.

Clearwater was founded in 1969 by music legend and environmental activist Pete Seeger." [Clearwater]

This summer Pete Seeger is scheduled to play the Newport Folk Festival (August 1st and 2nd), and will perform at his own Clearwater Festival, taking place in Croton-on-the-Hudson, NY this weekend (June 20th and 21st). The Clearwater Fest lineup includes Dr. Dog, A.C. Newman, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Richie Havens, Old Crow Medicine Show, Alejandro Escovedo, Arlo Guthrie and others. Its full schedule is below. Tickets are still sale at the gate.

UPDATE: we can confirm that Pete played his scheduled Saturday morning Clearwater Fest performance "with kids" for those who braved the rain. Pete will perform again at the festival on Sunday afternoon with his grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger.

A review of Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday Celebration at MSG, and all above-mentioned photos, with the full Clearwater Festival lineup & schedule, below...

Continue reading "Clearwater Festival this weekend - full schedule ++ Pete Seeger pics (from his 90th birthday & Columbia University)"

July 27th went on sale at 10, and I guess sold right out, so they added a 2nd show. Tickets are on sale for July 28th at Madison Square Garden.

Leftover Crack fan in Texas (more)

Leftover Crack, Star Fucking Hipsters, Trash Talk, and The Casualties are playing Irving Plaza on July 3rd. Assuming Irving Plaza doesn't get shut down (unlikely) (or even if it does), this punk show is sure to be a good time. Tickets are on sale.

Less of a good time will probably be had at the punk show happening at Madison Square Garden on July 27th. Tickets for Green Day's big NYC show are on sale (@ 10am). They are also playing a few shows at much smaller venues, and Saturday Night Live this weekend.

The opposite of a good time will probably be had at the same big venue on October 5th. The Ting Tings are playing MSG with Pink. Tickets are on presale (@ 10am). PASSWORD = LEAPFROG

Probably fun, but still kind of lame? Aerosmith and ZZ Top play MSG on September 14th. Tickets are on AmEx and Internet presale now, and go on general sale Monday, May 18th, at 10am. It's the same day Kings of Leon play Nassau Coliseum.

Back to good times... Ween are playing the Stone Pony's Summerstage in Asbury Park on July 18th. Tickets go on sale Saturday at noon. Gene Ween is playing Brooklyn on May 21st.

Same venue, same summer (move over Blondie, Pat Benatar and The Donnas): The Pretenders, Cat Power and Juliette (and the Licks) Lewis are playing the Stone Pony's Summerstage on August 9th. Tickets are currently on Ticket Rush presale (password = live), and they go on general sale Saturday at noon. The same three ladies (bands) have an August 22nd Colorado show scheduled, so let's home for a full tour with NYC date too.

Peter Frampton plays Stone Pony Summerstage on August 30th. Tickets are currently on Ticket Rush presale (password = live), and go on general sale Saturday at noon.

And don't forget Kylie Minogue tickets go on sale Saturday at 10am.

The Clearwater Concert: Creating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders, a star-studded, one night only concert event celebrating Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday, will be held on Sunday, May 3, at 7PM, at Madison Square Garden. This once-in-a-lifetime concert event will benefit and raise awareness for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, founded by Pete Seeger, which strives to preserve and protect the Hudson River. Seeger, a legendary folk singer, political activist and avid environmentalist, has long inspired social change through his extraordinary life and music. The Clearwater Concert: Creating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders will feature over 40 artists representing a wide variety of musical genres and generations, including Joan Baez, Ben Harper, Ani DiFranco, Dave Matthews, Michael Franti, Emmylou Harris, Juanes, John Mellencamp, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, Taj Mahal, Eddie Vedder, and Keller Williams. The evening, hosted by Clearwater, will focus on ensemble renditions of musical treasures inspired by Pete Seeger.

American Express pre-sale tickets will be available starting Monday, March 23 at 9AM. Public on-sale will begin Monday, March 30 at 9AM. Tickets are available via ticketmaster.com and range from $19.19-$250, with a majority priced at $90 to honor Pete's birthday. Special Clearwater Legacy Tickets will also be available. For more information, please visit www.Seeger90.com.

Continue reading "Pete Seeger's 90th birthday concert happening at MSG - Bruce Springsteen & many more on the bill"

The August 3rd show is either sold out or close to it. August 4th was just added, and Tickets are on sale now.

Peter Bjorn and John are opening both shows and the whole tour.

"EMI Music today the debut of the first iTunes Pass with groundbreaking electro legends Depeche Mode. With iTunes Pass, music fans can get new and exclusive singles, remixes, video and other content from their favorite artists over a set period of time, delivered to their libraries as soon as they're available.

The first iTunes Pass [debuted February 24th] in conjunction with Depeche Mode's forthcoming 12th studio album, "Sounds of the Universe," to be released on April 21 in the US. Fans who sign up starting [that day] get the alternative/dance pioneers' new single, "Wrong," as well as the Black Light Odyssey Dub Remix of the new track "Oh Well." They will also receive the new album on its street date plus great music and video exclusives before and after the album's release over the next fifteen weeks. The Depeche Mode iTunes Pass can be purchased starting [that day] for $18.99.

"As we work to better understand music consumers and help create stronger connections between fans and artists, we are pleased to work with Apple and Depeche Mode to kick off iTunes Pass," said Ronn Werre, president, Music Services for EMI Music. "We think it's a great new platform that will change the way artists engage with their audiences and also a powerful new way for us to build value for our artists' music. And with iTunes Pass, Depeche Mode are once again demonstrating that they are true trailblazers and innovators when it comes to creating amazing music and connecting with their fans."

Continue reading "Depeche Mode - 2009 tour dates WITH VENUES, new video & the iTunes Pass debut"

Kings of Leon @ Madison Square Garden - Jan 29, 2009 (spochat)

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has revealed that people often mistake him for singer James Blunt or an insurance salesman. The singer said a woman who works next door to the band's Bakery recording studios in London is convinced that he is a door-to-door salesman. "She asked me the other day if I was in insurance," he told XFM. "And if it's not insurance or a lawyer, it's another singer. "The other ones I get are James Morrison and James Blunt and I always say, 'Yep!' because you should never disappoint somebody." Martin joked that he would rather be confused for Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill. "If I could sing like that I'd be massive," he said. [Gigwise]

Continue reading "Kings of Leon & The Whigs played MSG (setlist)"

photos by Toby Tenenbaum

"Songs are almost afterthoughts for Anthony Gonzalez, the songwriter, singer, guitarist and keyboardist behind the French band M83. He's after enthrallment instead, and on Saturday night at Irving Plaza he had time to be sweeping. M83 is touring as the opening act for the Killers, and was on the bill at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night. But as the headliner at the club, M83 opened for itself with an introductory set of ambient music, pulling listeners further into its otherworldly domain. The band is named after a galaxy." [NY Times]

Continue reading "M83 played MSG w/ the Killers & Irving Plaza (pics & setlist)"

DOWNLOAD: My Morning Jacket - Move On Up (Curtis Mayfield) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: My Morning Jacket - You're All I Need (marvin gaye) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: My Morning Jacket - Express Yourself (charles wright) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: My Morning Jacket - Celebration (kool & the gang) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: My Morning Jacket - Get Down On It (kool & the gang) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: My Morning Jacket - Islands in the Stream (Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: My Morning Jacket - Bring It on Home to Me (Sam Cooke) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: My Morning Jacket - Cold Sweat (James Brown) (MP3)

My Morning Jacket @ MSG on New Years Eve (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

You saw the pictures and the setlist. Now, if you didn't already, go grab all the audio from My Morning Jacket's massive New Years Eve show. Some videos below...

Continue reading "Download My Morning Jacket NYE audio (MP3, Ogg or FLAC) "

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

My Morning Jacket rocked the Garden in New York City on New Years Eve. Nicole Atkins was a special guest and she sang on two songs. Kyle was only there at the very beggining of their 3+ hour show, so keep that in mind when checking out his pictures from the show. More of them, and the full MSG setlist, below...

Continue reading "My Morning Jacket @ Madison Square Garden on New Years Eve, NYC - pics & setlist"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

More pictures from last night's show at the Garden, below...

Continue reading "Oasis & Ryan Adams @ MSG, NYC - pics & setlist"

photos by Paul Searing

hugs @ MSG in NYC - Dec 16, 2008

[Wilco] were no match for Mr. Young and crew: Mr. Keith, the bassist Rick Rosas, the keyboardist-guitarist Anthony Crawford and especially the drummer Chad Cromwell, whose time feel suggested the perfect blend of slouch and surge. Mr. Crawford sang background vocals with Pegi Young, Mr. Young's wife, sounding strong on standards like "Cinnamon Girl" and fine on chugging new fare like "When Worlds Collide."
[NY Times @ night one]

Wilco (including Jeff Tweedy), Jeff Tweedy's son and Everest joined Neil at the end of the pre-encore set to help sing the chorus of Rockin in the Free World. The tour ended with hugs all around (see above). Some more pictures (kindly submitted by Paul Searing), and the setlist, below...

Continue reading "Neil Young & Wilco @ Madison Square Garden - pics & setlist"

Neil Young @ MSG, NYC - Dec 15, 2008 (penfifteenclub)

Neil Young, Wilco and Everest played their first of two shows together at Madison Square Garden in NYC last night (12/15). They do it again tonight. Neil's set list from last night, below...

Continue reading "Neil Young @ MSG, NYC (night one) - pic & setlist"

M83 @ Webster Hall (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Following a sold-out US tour throughout North America that continues through the end of November, Mute Records and M83 are proud to announce that the band is confirmed to open for The Killers during their arena tour in January and February 2009. The tour is still in support of M83's fifth album Saturdays = Youth released April 2008 on Mute.

The M83 live setup includes Gonzalez on vocals, guitars and keyboards, Loic Maurin on Drums, Pierre-Marie Maulini on bass and guitar and featured album vocalist Morgan Kibby (of LA-based band The Romanovs) on vocals and keyboards.

Continue reading "M83 going on tour w/ The Killers (dates) (MSG included)"

photos by Ryan Muir

AC/DC played their third November NYC-area show at the Izod Center in NJ last night (11/20). One week earlier it was two nights at Madison Square Garden. Both of those setlists and a lot more pictures from Jersey, below...

Continue reading "AC/DC @ the Izod Center, NJ - pics + both MSG setlists"

Kings of Leon @ All Points West (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Kings of Leon will play MSG in NYC on January 29, 2009. Tickets go on sale October 24th at 10 AM. Their last NY show was a much smaller, record-release one at Webster Hall which came not long after their apperance at All Points West. Webster Hall setlist below...

Continue reading "Kings of Leon headlining Madison Square Garden"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds played the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in NYC on Saturday night, October 4th. The show was part of a short North American tour that ends in Philly on Tuesday. And though Nick doesn't come around that often, it was actually his second NYC show with the Bad Seeds this year. The first was at the Plug Awards at Terminal 5 in March which was less than a year after Nick was here with Grinderman to play the larger room at MSG with the White Stripes and Porter Wagoner (RIP). About Saturday night someone said...

So densely layered and deep and yet at the same time oh so sparse and simple, Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds are an encumbering mindfuck and a freewheeling fiesta all at the same time. Playing some maddeningly good classics like "Tupelo", "Red Right Hand", "Love Letter", "God is in the House", "The Lyre of Orpheus", "Deanna" and the big finale of "Stagger Lee", Nick, Warren, and the rest of the clan breathed life into their dark, rich, thundercrackers as well as Nick's restless hearted but nevertheless calming ballads. [Sonic Parthenon]

Continue reading "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds @ WaMu Theater - pics & setlist"

MSG pics by Chris La Putt, Maxwell's pics by Leia Jospe

DOWNLOAD: Tokyo Police Club - Juno (Ra Ra Riot / Andrew Maury remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tokyo Police Club on AOL's Interface (MP3)

MSG

Maxwell's

Tokyo Police Club opened for Weezer at Madison Square Garden in NYC on Wednesday (9/24). One day later they headlined their own show at the much, much smaller Maxwell's across the river in Hoboken. The NJ show was a night off from the Weezer tour that continues through October. More pictures from both shows below...

Continue reading "Tokyo Police Club @ MSG & Maxwell's, NY & NJ - pics"

Washington Mutual Inc. bondholders are likely to lose most of their money after the thrift was seized in the largest U.S. bank failure in history, according to CreditSights Inc.

WaMu was taken over after customers withdrew $16.7 billion from accounts since Sept. 16, leaving the Seattle-based bank ``unsound,'' the Office of Thrift Supervision said yesterday. New York-based JPMorgan Chase & Co. then bought WaMu's branch network for $1.9 billion to become the biggest U.S. bank by deposits. JPMorgan won't acquire WaMu's liabilities, including claims by senior and subordinated debt holders, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. [Bloomberg]

photos by Eric M. Townsend

"The power of the Jewish Elvis can not be denied. One of the best entertainers in rock 'n' roll, a living legend and a must-see for anyone who's an avid convert goers began night one of his four stand tonight at Madison Square Garden. It's everything I ever wanted to see from the man -- heartfelt classics, crowd pleasures and soul stirring epics in a two-hour show. He just didn't wear those shimmery, reflective shirts.

Before you ask, show started at 8:20pm. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the early bird special." [Music Snobbery]

Continue reading "Neil Diamond @ MSG (night 1 of 4), NYC - pics & setlist"