Matt Pinfield @ RXP concert in 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

Last month it was announced that "RXP TakLiberty Festival" would take place on September 18 at NJ's PNC Banks Arts Center with Coldplay, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Two Door Cinema Club, The Kooks, and more. According to RXP's website, the show is now cancelled "due to unforseen circumstances". Refunds are available at the point of purchase.

According to "Barry",

"It was so strange that the concert was announced a day before the news that WRXP was being sold. Then it was promoted for over a week. I'm surprised Emmis let this happen. This must represent a lot of work down the drain for some of WRXP's staff. I feel bad for them."

Back on June 21st the Daily News reported:

The future of New York's only contemporary rock radio station, WRXP (101.9 FM), was tossed into the mosh pit today when Emmis sold a controlling interest to a new radio group run by ultra-colorful radio entrepreneur Randy Michaels.

WRXP has been a rock station since Feb. 5, 2008, when Emmis terminated its former smooth jazz format. The station has struggled to find an audience in a town not known for rock radio, but in recent months had shown significant ratings gains.

Merlin Media, which is paying $110-$130 million for a controlling interest in WRXP and two Chicago stations, made no announcement today on the format at WRXP.

Leslie Fram, program director, said that for now the station will continue rocking.

The Village Voice then said that, "It's not too much of a stretch to assume....that the station will change formats before the RXP Takliberty Festival's scheduled date of September 18, hence the cancellation."

Well, they were right. The Daily News has reported today:

Don't tell Leslie Fram a contemporary rock station can't work on New York radio - even though the one she has programmed for the last 3-1/2 years ends its run Thursday, apparently to be replaced by news aimed at soccer moms.

WRXP (101.9 FM), which switched from smooth jazz to rock in February 2008, is being sold by Emmis to Merlin Media, and while the deal hasn't closed yet, Merlin takes over the programming Friday.

Listeners will hear music for a couple of weeks until Merlin launches its new format, expected to be all or mostly news targeting women in their 30s and 40s.

On the surface, this change might seem to again support the often-heard mantra that when it comes to radio music, New York is a rhythm town, not a rock town.

Fram, a WRXP host as well as program director, says she sees every indication that's not true.

She notes that for the last three months, an average of about 2.3 million people per week at some point tuned to WRXP. While that's about half the audience for WHTZ, WLTW or WKTU, it's not a small number.

"There are a lot of rock fans in this area," Fram says. "[Classic rock] WAXQ is a fine station, but there was room for us, too.

"We wanted to be the heritage rock station for people who grew up in the '90s or later, and we could have. Without us now, where will you hear a new Eddie Vedder or Mumford and Son?"

RIP WRXP

The RXP TakLiberty Fetival will take place on two stages on September 18 at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. The radio station (current home of Pinfield) festival features performances by Coldplay, Richard Ashcroft (The Verve), Two Door Cinema Club, The Kooks, Graffiti 6, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and more to be announced. Ticket pre-sale begins Tuesday (6/21) and general sale starts Friday (6/24) at noon.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart also have upcoming shows including August 8 and 9 at Terminal 5 with The Kills and A Place to Bury Strangers. Tickets for both shows are available. The Kooks play a sold out show at Bowery Ballroom on June 27th. Richard Ashcroft recently played Bowery Ballroom.

Coldplay play Austin City Limits two days before the NJ show. They're also on the lineup of Lollapalooza. All of their other dates are overseas at the moment.

Coldplay have a new single awesomely named "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall." According to Coldplay's YouTube account, the song contains compositional elements of "I Go To Rio" by Peter Allen, and was produced by Markus Dravs, Dan Green and Rik Simpson with additional composition by Brian Eno. Listen to the song below...

Continue reading "Coldplay, TPOBPAH, Richard Ashcroft, The Kooks & others playing RXP TakLiberty Fest in NJ & stuff"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

For United, Richard Ashcroft recruited hip-hop producer No I.D., best known for Jay-Richard Ashcroft singles like "D.O.A." and "Run This Town." At its best, it kind of sounds like Big Audio Dynamite, and mixes up Jigga-worthy beats, noisy guitars, and cinematic strings courtesy of Barry White arranger Benjamin Wright.

That hip-hop ethos came through in New York, as Ashcroft -- wearing a hip-hop-appropriate puffed out, multi-pocketed jacket and backed by a crack outfit dubbed the United Nation of Sound -- uncorked the thick, rattling rhythms of new songs like "Are You Ready" and "Born Again" with excitement. Sometimes too much so, actually, as there were many instances of him making awkward b-boy hand gestures (aggressively pointing to the crowd, pointing to his eye, and then pointing up wards) while performing. -[Spin]

Richard Ashcroft played a sold-out Bowery Ballroom last night (3/23) with The Postelles, a day after he performed his new single "Are You Ready?" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. In addition, the former Verve frontman recently made a stop at RXP for an in-studio performance.

Ashcroft's new LP, United Nations of Sound is out now and currently streaming in full.

More pictures from Bowery (including the setlist) and video from Fallon & RXP, below...

Continue reading "Richard Ashcroft played Bowery Ballroom, Fallon & an RXP thing (pics, video & setlist)"

photos by Alexander Stein

Are you in the holiday spirit yet? Last night (12/1) was the first of the 101.9 RXP "Yule Rock Holiday Concert Series" featuring Broken Bells (whose member Danger Mouse recently collaborated with Jack White) and Karen Elson (who is married to Jack White), a series that continues tommorrow night (12/3) with My Chemical Romance at the sold-out Hammerstein Ballroom (one of three upcoming NYC MY Chemical Romance shows). The show was also the start of a short stint of Broken Bells tour dates that will last through the middle of the month, hitting nine cities before closing up shop at Gibson Amphitheatre Universal City, California.

Karen Elson next appears in NYC as part of her group the Citizens Band at Highline Ballroom on December 18th...

"Equal parts show-stopping performers, political activists, eclectic tastemakers and headstrong personalities, The Citizens Band has been one of the most lauded and prominent staples of New York City nightlife for the past few years - a potent combination of the city's urban smarts, diverse style and forward-thinking attitude. Performers for "The Past is a Foreign Country" include Chelsea Bacon, Mr. Blue, Ian Buchanan, Michael Cavadias, Adam Crystal, Jorjee Douglass, Karen Elson, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Rachelle Garniez, Mike Jackson, Dave Lebleu, Mark McAdam, Angela McCluskey, Amy Miles, Jon Natchez, Jeff Palmiotti, Rain Phoenix, Kelly Pratt, Matt Ray, Ronin and Leah Siegel with direction by Calla Videt."

The show "promotes the new Blue Key campaign, tackling the topic of refugees and displaced people. The Blue Key campaign, organized by USA for UNHCR draws attention to the work of the UN Refugee Agency and the global refugee crisis." Tickets are on sale.

Were you at the Irving Plaza show? Did Broken Bells mention their Grammy nomination from the stage? Maybe RXP morning host Matt Pinfield said something about it?

More pictures from the show, with both setlists, below...

Continue reading "Broken Bells & Karen Elson played Irving Plaza (pics, setlists), Citizens Band playing Highline Ballroom"

After a couple of shows in Texas, The Drums (who recently lost a member) ("we are sorry to say that Adam has left The Drums. Jonny, Jacob and Connor are devastated") will kick off their tour with Surfer Blood on September 27th in Phoenix, AZ. That's the same tour that makes its way to Webster Hall in NYC on October 20th (a show that is also part of CMJ, and which will feature an opening set by The Dewars). That tour ends two days later, October 22nd, in Philly.

Eight days after that, on mischief night, the Drums will share a bill with Devo and Neon Trees at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. The "second annual RXP Halloween Concert" is on sale now (for the low low price of $55-with-fees a ticket).

For Devo, it's one of just three shows they have coming up at the moment. The other two are Moogfest and Fun Fun Fun Fest.

And speaking of Surfer Blood,

"According to a Brightest Young Things interview with Surfer Blood lead singer JP Pitts, the indie rock upstarts recently signed a record deal with Warner Bros. The group plan to release an EP on current label Kanine next year before making a jump to the majors with an as-yet-unscheduled LP to be released by Warners and Kanine." [Pitchfork]

The Drums' debut, self-titled album was recently released by Downtown.

All dates below...

Continue reading "The Drums playing a NYC show w/ Devo after their tour w/ the Warner Brothers-signed Surfer Blood (dates) "

photos by Tim Griffin

Passion Pit / Phoenix

Phoenix and Passion Pit shared a NYC concert bill for the third time this year last night at Hammerstein Ballroom (12/2). The WRXP-sponsored holiday show also included sets by Jack's Mannequin and Manchester Orchestra, as well as hosting by the radio station's morning host Matt Pinfield.

It was a big night for Phoenix who were nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Alternative Album" category on the same evening.

Best Alternative Album nominess
David Byrne & Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Death Cab For Cutie, The Open Door
Depeche Mode, Sounds Of The Universe
Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It's Blitz!

For Passion Pit, it was their 2nd recent show in one of the big NYC venues. They played the Woodies at Roseland last month. They complete the trifecta when they hit Terminal 5 (for three nights in a row) in January.

For Phoenix and WRXP, it was their first of two NYC shows this week. More pictures with setlists, below...

Continue reading "Phoenix & Passion Pit played Hammerstein Ballroom w/ Jack's Mannequin & Manchester Orchestra - pics & setlists"

Phoenix @ The Apple Store in September (more by Ryan Muir)

Phoenix and Passion Pit played two big NYC shows together in September. Phoenix also played their own shows at Terminal 5 that same month (a benefit), and a few months before that (which they accompanied with a smaller show at MHOW). Meanwhile, Passion Pit, who played two shows at Bowery in June, now have THREE headlining shows of their own coming up at Terminal 5 in January.

It seems unreasonable to believe at this point that Phoenix and Passion Pit would be teaming up for yet another NYC show that will happen before 2010 even gets here, but it's true! They are two bands on a four band bill that also includes Jack's Mannequin and Manchester Orchestra at Hammerstein Ballroom on December 2nd. Tickets for Matt Pinfield's Holiday Extravaganza go on sale Friday at 10am with a Live Nation presale starting Wednesday at the same time (password = 1019RXP).

After NYC, Phoenix will head up to Canada for a few shows. All dates below...

Continue reading "Phoenix & Passion Pit playing RXP show @ Hammerstein w/ Jack's Mannequin & Manchester Orchestra"

U2 on a London roof (BBC)

They've sung about a place "Where the Streets Have No Name," but Irish rockers U2 will have a street named for them in Times Square Tuesday.

Mayor Bloomberg is expected to rename part of W.53rd St. at Broadway "U2 Way."

The temporary street renaming coincides with the release of the band's new CD, "No Line on the Horizon," and the kickoff last night of their five-night gig on "Late Show With David Letterman."

Besides winning Grammys and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bono and his bandmates are known worldwide for fighting for human rights and social justice. [Daily News]

U2 are really good at getting attention when they have a new album coming out. On Friday they played on a London roof. You can watch the whole thing at BBC's site. The first of five Letterman episodes aired last night. Today they get the street named after them. This coming Friday they'll be on Good Morning America (Bryant Park?), and then they'll play a show at Fordham University. Today is also U2 day on RXP.

Then next week: "U2 3 Nights Live"

Monday, March 9 - LIVE from Los Angeles An Inside Look At No Line On The Horizon
Time: 9-10pm Eastern, 8-9pm Central, 7-8pm Mountain, 6-7pm Pacific -- Hosted by Shirley Manson

Tuesday, March 10 - LIVE from Chicago Radio Takeover featuring a deejay set by U2
Time: 9-10pm Eastern, 8-9pm Central, 7-8pm Mountain, 6-7pm Pacific -- Hosted by Shirley Manson

Wednesday, March 11 - LIVE from Boston Featuring live performance and audience Q&A with U2
Time: 9-10m Eastern, 8-9pm Central, 7-8pm Mountain, 6-7pm Pacific -- Hosted by TBA

U2 3 Nights Live will be delivered via satellite on ABC Satellite Services and Westwood One in the United States.

Each of those cities will also get a small club show.