"PBS and NPR, here we go again. Apparently the ever-lasting platform planks of the Republican Party are protect the unborn, protect the nation from bad guys and attack public broadcasting.

I could write about PBS's trusted journalism, about the minute slice of the federal budget pie it takes for the good it does or how the Republicans galvanize the left every time they do this. I won't. Instead, I'm going to interview Big Bird." [Forbes interviews Big Bird]

Visit 170 Million Americans For Public Broadcasting to find out how you can fight for public broadcasting like NPR and PBS.

Tickets go on AmEx, Fan Club, MSG & Bowery presale at 11am for the April 13th TV on the Radio show at Radio City Music Hall. You can of course use your American Express card or you can use the password "9light".

This happened...

Continue reading "video of Jack White, Dave Grohl & Paul McCartney playing the White House w/ Obama, Jerry Seinfeld, the Jonas Brothers"

Paul McCartney in Mexico City

"Terrified Sir Paul McCartney had to be rescued by cops after a mob attacked his tour bus in a dodgy no-go part of Mexico City.

Youths forced his driver to stop then started jumping up and down on the roof as the Beatles legend, 67, cowered inside.

A source said: "At first his security team thought it was just swarms of fans but when people started scaling the bus, the situation changed in a flash." They called cops who raced to the rescue. "Paul and the team were shaken up," the source added.

It happened after his gig at the Foro Sol stadium on Saturday at 1am. His management team are now reviewing security.

Macca, who was unhurt, was in Washington last night for a White House concert." [mirror.co.uk (via)]

Paul played two shows while in Mexico City. Both setlists are below. The White House concert takes place Wednesday June 2nd, and will be aired on PBS later this summer...

The program, to be taped by WETA Washington, D.C., as part of the "In Performance at the White House" series, will air on PBS stations nationwide on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at 8 p.m. EDT (check local listings) as "Paul McCartney: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song In Performance at the White House."

The concert will feature a tribute by major stars, many of whom will perform the songs that propelled McCartney to legendary status in music and humanitarianism around the world. The lineup of performers includes Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Jonas Brothers, Dave Grohl, Jack White, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Herbie Hancock, Corinne Bailey Rae and remarks by Jerry Seinfeld.

The Gershwin Prize for Popular Song was created by the Library of Congress to honor artists whose creative output transcends distinctions between musical styles and idioms, bringing diverse listeners together, and fostering mutual understanding and appreciation.

Paul's other upcoming dates include Salt Lake City and San Francisco. All dates below...

Continue reading "Paul McCartney's bus was "attacked" in Mexico (setlists), he's playing the White House w/ Jack White ++ other dates "

photos by Tim Griffin

Shot over 11 years by renowned fashion photographer Steven Sebring, Patti Smith: Dream of Life is an intimate portrait of the legendary rocker, poet and artist. Following Smith's personal reflections over a decade, the film explores her many art forms and the friends and poets who inspired her -- William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Bob Dylan, Robert Mapplethorpe and Michael Stipe. She emerges as a crucial, contemporary link between the Beats, punks and today's music. Shot in lush, dark tones, featuring rare performance clips and narrated by the artist herself, Patti Smith: Dream of Life is an impressionistic journal of a multi-faceted artist that underscores her unique place in American culture. Winner of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Excellence in Cinematography Award: Documentary. A production of Clean Socks and THIRTEEN. Produced by Steven Sebring, Margaret Smilow and Scott Vogel. [PBS]

Patti Smith turns 63 today (December 30th, 2009). Happy Birthday Patti! Today is also the date of her 2nd of three Bowery Ballroom shows this week. Everyone going should set their DVR (if they have it) because tonight is also when Patti Smith: Dream of Life premieres on PBS. Patti talked about it today on NPR.

More pictures from her first of three Bowery shows (12/29 aka last night), below...

Continue reading "Patti Smith played Bowery Ballroom (night one pics), catch her new documentary on PBS on her birthday (TODAY!) "

On 9.23.09, we invite you to New York City's Central Park, East Meadow for Feel Free, an event that celebrates and pays tribute to the National Parks. Feel Free is designed to engage you in celebrating what has been described as one of America's best ideas. Join Ken Burns, Alison Krauss, Carole King and [Eric Benet, Gavin DeGraw, Jose Feliciano and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas] for an evening of song and film. NO TICKETS REQUIRED. JUST ADDED: COUNTING CROWS AND AUGUSTANA

The event is the public premiere of Ken Burns's upcoming film The National Parks: America's Best Idea, and will be broadcast "via satellite to PBS affiliates and other partners assembled in various locations around the country." A video preview of the movie, and the event flyer, below...

Continue reading "Ken Burns' National Parks party in Central Park Wednesday - free show w/ Alison Krauss, Counting Crows & more "

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

Paul Simonon & David Bowie backstage @ Shea Stadium, Queens, NYC, 1982

Continue reading "The Clash played Shea too, new DVD & PBS special "