by Ryan Barkan

The Darkness played a Superbowl commercial

Another Super Bowl, another year where the Cowboys didn't win, and another year of music-filled commercials. The Patriots entered the field to "Crazy Train" by English metal god Ozzy Osbourne (who is currently having a feud of his own with an old bandmate). The Giants entered to "Written in the Stars" by English rapper Tinie Tempah.

Did you catch that map of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in the Samsung commercial for their Galaxy (with stylus!)? You know, the one that had a sweet use of The Darkness jam "I Believe In A Thing Called Love"? Yeah, it was there and showed a close up of Berry and N. 1st in Google Maps. Did I mention they also have a stylus? The Darkness are currently in NYC, played Irving Plaza on Superbowl eve and do so again tonight (2/6). Watch the ad which stars the band's Justin Hawkins, below.

My personal favorite music-based commercial of Super Bowl XLVI goes to the Mr. Sandman-induced dream sequence in a new Kia commercial that featured two great music choices.

The spot starts with the Chordettes' "Mr. Sandman" for the first few seconds of the commercial. That song makes way for something completely different, like Motley Crüe. The band actually shows up and plays inside the race track-themed dream of the alpha male hero. He drives the track to impress Adrianna Lima while the Crüe shred on "Kickstart My Heart". Watch "A Dream Car For Real Life" below.

In the "did I just hear Megafaun in a commercial" category, Megafaun wins one for the little guys and gets a song used in a new Toyota ad. The band's song "Hope You Know" sounds super good as the soundtrack to a story-esque spot for the Camry model. Watch it below.

Also of significant note was another brand-infused OK GO music video. The band collaborated with Chevrolet to make a commercial/music video for the song "Needing/Getting", off the 2010 album Of The Blue Colour Of the Sky. The band is filmed strapped inside a Chevy Sonic, singing and utilizing both the car and a strategically placed course sprinkled with over 1100 instruments that more or less sound like the studio version of the song. The set up is meticulous, as is the band's ability to show up in a paid advertisement in an easily-digestible, yet very memorable way.

My single most favorite lyric placed in a Super Bowl commercial goes to the lines I know it must be killing time / unknowingly mine. Audi tries to end the whole Vampire craze with its 2012 game day commercial featuring Echo & The Bunnymen's "Killing Moon." Watch below.

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Continue reading "music & commercials of Super Bowl XLVI (Darkness, Motley Crue, Megafaun, Art Brut, OK Go, Echo & the Bunnymen, Madonna & more)"

by BBG

New York Dolls have added another show at Bowery Ballroom on March 17th, the day after the band plays the previously announced show at the venue and two days after the band appears at Best Buy in Union Square to sign copies of their forthcoming LP Dancing Backward In High Heels. Tickets for the 3/16 show are still available, and tickets for the 3/17 date go on sale at noon today (3/2). Make Out opens both shows.

After the NYC dates and a stint overseas, New York Dolls will head out on a completely different tour, as support for (gulp) Motley Crue & Poison. The tour is scheduled to hit Nassau Coliseum on July 20th. The teacher is now the student, I guess.

All tour dates and some video below...

Continue reading "New York Dolls add 2nd Bowery Ballroom show, touring with... Motley Crue & Poison"

Lupe Fiasco is currently in Australia as part of the Big Day Out Festival, touring with names like Iggy Pop, Deftones, Grinderman, and countless others. After returning back to the states, he'll get ready to welcome his new LP Lasers into this world, due on March 8th. The Chicago MC will celebrate the release with a date at Webster Hall the night before it hits the streets and tickets go on sale at noon today (1/28). Lupe recently released the first single from the LP, the Modest Mouse-sampling "The Show Must Go On" via iTunes.

Tickets also go on sale at noon for Rick Ross at Best Buy Theater on March 4th, and fortunately if you can't make that show you can make it out to see him support Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj at Nassau Coliseum on March 27th as part of the I Am Music II tour. Ticket info for that show hasn't been released yet. All dates below.

Those of you who want to see Lil Wayne but might prefer to see him in a much (much) different setting than the third of three hip hop acts (instead with Motley Crue, Waka Flocka Flame, Insane Clown Posse & Bruno Mars?) can catch the recently freed MC at Bamboozle 2011 in New Jersey. Tickets are still available for the festival in multi-day, and single day pass increments.

And lets say, for some godforsaken reason you felt like a double dose of Insane Clown Posse.... that can be arranged. Insane Clown Posse has taken time off of their busy wrestling schedule to shower New York City with Faygo on April 29th at Gramercy Theater. Tickets are still available all of you Juggalos and Juggalettes!

Full Bamboozle lineup and all Lil Wayne tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Lupe Fiasco adds record release show, Rick Ross playing NY before tour w/ Nicki Minaj & Lil Wayne (who plays Bamboozle w/ Insane Clown Posse) -- lineups & dates"

by BBG

Goatwhore classes up Ozzfest

Die, die, die already! After 2008's Ozzfest featured just a single date and 2009 was non-existent, I figured that maybe, just maybe, Ozzfest had finally been put to bed. I was sadly mistaken. Over six dates across the US, 2010's Ozzfest will feature appearances from (I think) an almost completely missable main stage of Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Halford, Devildriver, and Nonpoint along with a semi-respectable second stage featuring Black Label Society, Drowning Pool, Kingdom of Sorrow, Goatwhore, Skeletonwitch, Saviours, and Kataklysm. Ozzfest hits Hartford, CT on 8/21 and Camden, NJ on 8/22. Tickets go on sale 5/22. All dates and some videos are below.

Continue reading "Ozzfest 2010 (has a decent second stage) - dates, lineup..."

DO NOT BRING

Offensive weapons or anything that may be considered offensive, even if you're planning to use it for camping ( it won't be allowed in )

This includes: ANY glass containers, Prams or pushchairs ( the festival site is not suitable for them or their occupants!) ANY pets, Laser pens ( they are dangerous and may result in eviction without refund )

Gas cylinders and petrol fuelled cookers will not be permitted in the main campsite. Anyone found in possession of a gas cylinder or petrol may be asked to leave.

The suggested cooking stoves allowed are any solid fuel type such as Disposable BBQ's, Hexi Stove with solid fuel block

Standard compact cameras will be permitted, though you will not be able to take in a professional camera e.g. One with interchangeable lenses.

Faith No More's first confirmed 2009 appearance has been announced. As you can see above, they one of three headliners at this year's Download Festival in Donington Park ("where the three counties of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire meet. - The ley-lines of ROCK!!"). Take a look at that lineup... I guess the haters win round one on this reunion (thx Zach).

P.S. "Faith No More's appearance at Download 2009 will be their ONLY UK date this year."

Continue reading "Faith No More playing the 2009 UK Download Festival"

Girls Girls Girls

More tribute band news...

You thought Bowery Presents couldn't announce any more New Years Eve shows. Then you remember they can stay open super late that night which means they can host shows after other shows. Such is the case with the Mr. Brownstone show happening at Mercury Lounge. Doors are 2 AM - after the A Place to Bury Strangers show. The Guns N' Roses cover band will be playing "Appetite For Destruction" in its entirety (or until they pass out). Tickets are on sale.

Mr. Brownstone played Irving Plaza with Satanicide this past Friday, and recently appeared on Letterman. Last New Years Eve they did Music Hall of Williamsburg.

And speaking of cover bands performing entire albums, Pinktallica, an "All Chick Tribute to Metallica", will be performing "Kill Em All" right before Girls Girls Girls (all girls, Motley Crue), will be playing "Shout At The Devil". This all also happens at Mercury Lounge, but on January 17th. Tickets are on sale for that too. I can't find a website for Pinktallica, so I know nothing about them, but they're my favorite band, just based on their name (and their choice of album to cover), in this post.

Last but not least, the extremely popular Beatles cover band, The Fab Faux, has two shows coming up at Terminal 5. On December 26th they perform "Abbey Road" and "Let it Be" (tickets), and on December 27th, "The White Album" (tickets).
More dates at their site.

Girls Girls Girls videos below...

Continue reading "Tribute bands playing whole albums, Mr Brownstone New Years Eve, PINKTALLICA, Girls Girls Girls, Fab Faux.."

"An Illinois man who claims to have been beaten up by a Motley Crue band member and security during a concert is suing the promoter Live Nation." [Tampa Bay Online]