photos by Colin Kerrigan

Earth, Wind & Fire help Philly celebrate Independence Day

A little after 1 p.m., the Parkway was already jammed with people who had come from near and far for the Fourth of July celebration in Philadelphia - and it stayed that way well into the night as the Roots repeatedly rocked the stage, and Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey hit some stratospheric high notes.

Many came in red, white, and blue attire, with their children, their spouses, and their dogs.

Courtney Beckett, 22, a medical assistant from West Chester, even brought her six-foot boa constrictor, Sampson.

"They're cold-blooded, so they need heat," she explained as her cousin, Zhabree Jacobs, 8, let the reptile curl around her shoulders.

And, boy, did that snake get grilled.

Temperatures pushed 90 most of the day at the Wawa Welcome America celebration Monday, as people ate gyros and cheesesteaks, swayed to music, and reunited with friends and family to party Philadelphia-style.

Organizers had no official crowd count, although Mayor Nutter said, "This might be the largest Fourth of July event ever." The event has been known to draw a million or more people.

With a pink-and-orange sunset in the background and Sara Bareilles and the Roots performing. [Philly.com]

The Roots hosted and performed at their Fourth of July Jam in Philly with Earth Wind and Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Sara Bareilles, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Boyz II Men and others. The concert, which was billed as "the largest free concert in America," lived up to its title, though as expected at a concert that big, not everyone has a positive experience. According to Anthony Sbarro, "Way too many people at the Roots Fourth Of July on the Parkway concert. Good luck to whomever is going! I'd recommend against it." Tamika Chandler posted a video to her YouTube account of what she dubbed the "4th of July Jam Fiasco." The video description and tags read:

People arguing & fighting. I wanted to enjoy the concert but because so many people were trying to budge in front of those who were smart enough to be early and sitting down in their own seats, I ended up filming the entertaining arguments/fights that arose from this.

Parkway, Philadelphia, Philly, Jam, Concert, Fourth, 4th, of, July, Fireworks, Fights, Beer, Drunk, Arguing, Arguments, yelling, crowded, crowds, kids, pot, marijuana, smoking, wild, fiasco, rude, the roots, earth, wind, fire, &, and, PA, pennsylvania, city, mayor, nutter, police, popo, smh, penn's landing, downtown, city, delaware river, wawa, michael mcdonald, sarah bareilles

Check out her video work, and a video of Estelle and Michael McDonald performing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" together, below.

In other Roots news, Black Thought plays Brooklyn Bowl tonight (7/5) with J. Period, Mr. Mecca, Skotch Davis, Boogie Blind and DJ Suga Ray. Questlove DJs the same venue every Thursday. This Thursday is a "special free edition".

More pictures and videos from the 4th of July Jam below...

Continue reading "The Roots celebrated 4th of July in Philly w/ Earth, Wind & Fire, Estelle, Michael McDonald & more (pics & video)"

The Roots at Prospect Park in 2010 (more by David Andrako)

Although musical options in NYC are limited on the 4th of July, you could head to Philly for the Philly Fourth of July Jam. This year's show, which is being billed as the "largest free concert in America," will feature The Roots and special guests including Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Sara Bareilles, and DJ Jazzy Jeff. It runs from 7-10pm at Benjamin Franklin Parkway and will be followed by fireworks (naturally).

Meanwhile you can catch Earth, Wind and Fire in NYC tonight tonight (6/28) and Wednesday (6/29) at Beacon Theatre. It's been forty years since Earth, Wind and Fire first hit the scene, and...

Forty years later, Bailey says Earth, Wind & Fire is still in pursuit of being the best band in the world.

"We're just being the best we can be and seizing the moment we've been given," he says.

"We still practice and we still hone our craft, though we've been playing these songs thousands and thousands of times. We make sure we go back and pay attention to the little details, and our audience appreciates the attention we put into stuff."

Throughout its storied career, Earth, Wind & Fire mixed funk-seared dance jams such as "September," "Boogie Wonderland" and "Serpentine Fire" with Quiet Storm classics such as "Devotion," "Can't Hide Love" and "Keep Your Head to the Sky." Often, the Grammy-winning band stoked its sound with African and Brazilian rhythms on its way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [Calgary Herald]

Earth, Wind and Fire also have shows scheduled in Atlantic City and CT before Philly on the 4th. All dates are listed below.

The Roots have been keeping super busy as usual. In addition to planning the biggest concert in America and collaborating with countless musicians, partially related to then playing Fallon on a daily basis, they played a series of interesting shows in NYC last week. At least Questlove is taking a day off from Brooklyn Bowl.

Most of those shows were part of the ongoing Blue Note Jazz Fest. Two of them, at the Blue Note, were The Roots and Rakim performing Paid in Full in its entirety...

"With an early show and a late show, the band ran through the 10 track of the classic album with funky flawlessness. During the first show, Nelson George asked Rakim and Black Thought questions about the album's legacy and Rakim's career at the beginning and half way points. The second show featured questions from Toure, and both Dave Chappelle and Talib Kweli were in the house who had their turn posing questions as well. Very dope stuff indeed." [Okayplayer]

Check out a video from this performance below. Estelle, also on the 4th of July show, played two shows at the Blue Note last week too.

The Roots also performed at the launch of Rebuild the Dream at Town Hall on Thursday (6/23). Rebuild the Dream is a new movement to bring back the American Dream and help Americans find jobs, go to college, etc. The Town Hall event consisted of a long motivational speech and call to action interspersed with a couple performances by The Roots. Learn more at the movement's website. Video of the entire event, and the other stuff, below.

Continue reading "The Roots played w/ Rakim, hosting giant 4th of July show in Philly w/ Estelle & Earth, Wind & Fire (who are on tour now)"

Say Hi headlines Bowery Ballroom on March 7th. Tickets go on sale at noon.

Noah & the Whale headlines Bowery Ballroom on March 22nd. Tickets go on sale at noon.

Tickets to both upcoming Jayhawks shows at Webster Hall are on AmEx presale now. General sale begins Friday at noon.

Tickets are on AmEx presale for the Royksopp show at Webster Hall. General sale begins Friday at noon.

The recently added (3rd) Decemberists show at Beacon Theater is now on AmEx presale.

The Decemberists play the Beacon on January 24th, 25th and 26th. BRYAN ADAMS plays there on the 27th and 28th. Have you ever really loved a woman? Tickets are on sale.

Speaking of sexy, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs and Donald Fagen are touring as "The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue." They play the Beacon on 12/6 and 12/7... one night after Hall & Oates who play one night after Hot Tuna finishes a two-night run.

Back to January, Robert Plant and the Band of Joy play the Beacon on January 29th and January 30th. Tickets are on sale.

Move over Banana Schpeel, tickets, still on presale, go on general sale Saturday at 11am for the many shows the Allman Brothers are playing at the Beacon in March.

Moving away from the Beacon, a show we know Bruce Springsteen would enjoy, Dropkick Murphys and Against Me! play Roseland Ballroom on March 10th - tickets are on sale.

Irish week continues at Terminal- 5 on March 15th, 16th and 17th with the Pogues. Tickets for all three shows are still on sale.

Radio City shows currently on sale or presale include Robyn, Interpol, Bright Eyes, Cold War Kids... and John Mellencamp.

Continue reading "Decemberists, Jayhawks, Noah & the Whale, Say Hi, Rokysopp, Dropkick Murphys, Michael Mcdonald & other tickets"

Only a fool would believe...

Michael McDonald (the comedian) plays Caroline's Comedy Club tonight through Sunday. Michael McDonald (the musician) plays PNC Bank Arts Center and Jones Beach on September 2nd and 3rd (and Atlantic City in August), but nothing in the area sooner, despite what Ticketmaster says.

Grizzly Bear and other videos below...

Continue reading "don't expect to hear I Keep Forgettin' @ Caroline's this week"

After meeting his biological father for the first time, GE powerhouse Jack Donaghy discovered his dad, professor Milton Greene, needed a kidney. Not being a potential organ donor himself, Mr. Donaghy turned to some very affluent friends in the entertainment world. This partnership created the phenomenon, "Kidney Now!' -- a benefit concert featuring some of the most recognizable names in the music industry. With the help of this song, Milton Green just might find the kidney match he needs and Jack Donaghy may be granted the gift of a father he never knew.

Video from last night's episode of 30 Rock below...

Continue reading "30 Rock 'Kidney Now' w/ Elvis Costello, Beastie Boys, Moby, Talib Kweli, Norah Jones, Steve Earle, Rhett Miller (video) "