tonight in NYC
* Scorpions @ Jones Beach
* Cross-Pollination @ Pianos
* 50 Cent @ Hammerstein Ballroom
* Ana Lola Roman, YOU @ Glasslands
* Steel Train, Hymns @ Mercury Lounge
* Eddie Palmieri Y La Perfecta II @ Soundview Park
* Drumadics, Ed Vallance, Neckbeard Telecaster @ The Cameo
* Baby Gramps, Peter Stampfel, Sour Mash Hug Band @ Zebulon
* The Field Recordings, Animals Hands, Dixon, Hyperpotamus @ Pianos
* Holiday Band, AcHT(eN), Kate Ferencz, Emilyn Brodsky @ Death By Audio
* Balene, Pearl & The Beard, Carl Hauck, Tricia Scully @ Knitting Factory
* Adrian Belew's One Man Electric Show Painting with a Guitar @ Joe's Pub
* Darwin Deez, Scary Mansion, Mixel Pixel, Gordon Voidwell @ Santos Party House

"Atlantic recording artist Phil Collins has revised the schedule for his upcoming series of concerts at New York City's Roseland Ballroom. Due to scheduling and production difficulties, the first show, originally slated for June 22, has been cancelled. The remaining shows, on June 23, 24 & 25, will go on as scheduled. Tickets purchased for the June 22 show can either be refunded or will be good for one of the other shows. Those wishing refunds or exchanges should go to their point of purchase or call 800-745-3000."

João Gilberto canceled his CareFusion Jazz Festival show tonight at Carnegie Hall because of "international travel restrictions."

Cyndi Lauper is signing autographs at J&R at 12:30pm.

Baby Gramps is (still) in town

Darwin Deez, who is at Santos tonight, has a new video for "Up in the Clouds". Check it out below...

Suckers' new video for "Black Sheep", also below...

What else?a

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Rocker Phil Collins has spoken out about the difficulties he faces in drumming after undergoing surgery to correct a spinal cord injury and nerve damage caused by years of playing.

"My vertebrae has been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in," he told Rolling Stone. "It comes from years of playing. I can't even hold the sticks properly without it being painful."

Collins has, however, found a new way to drum.

"The first time I picked up the drumsticks after my neck surgery, they flew across the room because I couldn't grip them," he said. When I play, I've had to tape the sticks to my hand. It's like wearing a condom. It's very strange. It really cramps your style."

The drummer added that he hopes another upcoming surgery will help him regain full use of his hands.

Due to Collins' injury, talks of another Genesis reunion have been suspended. The drummer did note, however, that he hopes to perform with a Peter Gabriel-led lineup of Genesis again some day [they toured in 2007 without Peter Gabriel]. [RTT News]

With the Genesis reunion on the shelf for now, Phil Collins is putting together an album of Motown covers to come out this September. To promote the record, he'll be playing four nights at NYC's Roseland Ballroom on June 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th with a 19-piece band. Tickets to those are on Citibank presale now. General sale starts Friday, April 23rd at 10am. More info below.

Serious Genesis fans may want to think twice about seeing Phil on June 23rd (unless they plan to go all four nights). Another Genesis member plays a (free) show in NYC on the same day...

Steve Hackett and Renaissance
Presented by Battery Park City Authority
Steve Hackett, best know as the Genesis guitarist, continues to shine as a star performer and composer in his own right with an original and extraordinary acoustic and electric playing style. Art-rock ensemble Renaissance, led by vocalist Annie Haslam, perfected a synthesis of folk pop and symphonic influence on their classic albums Prologue, Turn of the Cards, and the remade Scheherazade.
Free, 7pm, Rockefeller Park, River Terrace and Warren Streets 212.417.2000

Peter Gabriel, like Phil, has his own new album of covers and shows coming up too. He plays two nights in May at Radio City Music Hall. Tickets are still on sale.

More about Phil Collins' live band and some videos below....

Continue reading "this week in Genesis - Phil Collins releasing Motown covers & playing 4 NYC shows, Steve Hackett playing free summer show "

"Let's see how long it takes BV to mention that Phil Collins will never drum again." - Anonymous

In the UK press today, there appeared some articles about Phil's physical state, with some slightly misleading headlines. Here, in Phil's own words, are how he describes his situation:

"There isn't any drama regarding my 'disability' and playing drums.
Somehow during the last Genesis tour I dislocated some vertebrae in my upper neck and that affected my hands. After a successful operation on my neck, my hands still can't function normally.

"Maybe in a year or so it will change, but for now it is impossible for me to play drums or piano. I am not in any 'distressed' state, stuff happens in life."

Phil [Collins]

In other drummers named Phil news, NME reports that "Radiohead drummer Phil Selway has announced that he is set to release a solo album."

Selway, who sings on the album, is currently in the process of recording the as-yet untitled record in his band's Oxfordshire studio.

He enlisted the services of Wilco members Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone to play on the project, and multi-instrumentalist solo artist Lisa Germano and bass player Sebastian Steinberg have also contributed.

No release date or any more details yet. A video of Phil McKenna playing drums, below...

Continue reading "Radiohead's Phil Selway to release solo album while Phil Collins is recovering so he can hopefully drum again"

Phil Collins told Playboy in 1986, "I've always liked the idea of Springsteen - everyman's music for every-man, you know; it captures the imagina-tion of the workingman. Chuck Berry did the same thing. I don't know that much about Springsteen's older songs, but I like what he stands for. Born in the U.S.A. is just fantastic. It has great atmosphere and it's a great song."

Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band @ Giants Stadium (more by Eric Townsend)

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND will perform in the BRIDGESTONE SUPER BOWL XLIII HALFTIME SHOW on NBC Sports at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Sunday, February 1, the NFL announced today.

The Super Bowl halftime show is annually the most-watched musical performance. More than 148 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year's show. The Super Bowl and halftime show will be broadcast worldwide in more than 230 countries and territories.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band join an esteemed list of recent halftime acts that includes the Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, Prince and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. [The Boss]

Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, an 80-person choir and Phil Collins performed at the Superbowl in 2000. Sufjan Stevens and St Vincent performed a Phil Collins song this past Saturday night. Video of Bruce Springsteen and Axl Rose performing together below...

Continue reading "Bruce Springsteen to play 2009 Superbowl halftime show"

Tickets go on sale Monday for the September 25th Genesis show at Madison Square Garden in NYC. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "updated Phil Collins Genesis 2007 reunion Tour Dates, tix"