Sotheby's is hosting "An Evening of Spoken Word and Performance by Patti Smith" on Tuesday, May 17, 2011. It's a benefit for the Archives of American Art, and $100 tickets are on sale.

$100 tickets are also still on sale for the benefit at Le Poisson Rouge tonight (3/29) which has expanded its lineup even further. You get: Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band with special guest Antony , Patti Smith with Tony Shanahan, Cibo Matto and (as previously mentioned) Lou Reed.. who also plays a 12 hour Japan benefit with Phillip Glass, and many others (the Lou Reed portion is sold out) on April 9th.

In unrelated news, Elvis Costello is playing a small show at Gramercy Theatre on April 1st which is now sold out, but tickets are on presale (usename Elvis, password Costello) now for newly added shows in MN, ME, MA and Red Bank, NJ.

You can also catch Elvis on TV on April 1st, as a show he taped at the New York Public Library is the first episode of this season's Live From the Artist's Den...

"On the evening of November 2, Elvis Costello gave a private concert for five hundred lucky fans in celebration of his new album's release that day. Within the ornate and awe-inspiring Celeste Bartos Forum in The New York Public Library's world-famous Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Costello - along with The Sugarcanes and Pete Thomas on drums -- performed new songs from National Ransom as well as hits spanning his three-decades-and-counting career."

As you can see on the poster above, Robert Plant, Squeeze, Grace Potter and others will also be the subject of other episodes this season.

Bonnaroo (June 9-12 in Manchester Tennessee) has announced the 2011 lineup (slightly early), and like the rumored Lollapalooza lineup, Eminem is among the headliners. Bonnaroo also has Grammy winners Arcade Fire and the Black Keys, in addition to Lil Wayne, Mumford & Sons, the Strokes, The Decemberists, Florence & the Machine, Girl Talk, Beirut (haven't seen them in a while), and many more. Full list below...

Continue reading "Bonnaroo 2011 lineup is here"

Robert Plant & Patty Griffin at Bowery Ballroom (more by Andrew St. Clair)

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy have announced a 15-date winter tour. There probably won't be another show the size of their Bowery Ballroom show for a while, but you can catch the legend next in NYC at Beacon Theater on January 29th, 2011 (tickets not listed yet).

"The touring band will once again be the same that made the record: Patty Griffin, vocals; Darrell Scott, multi instrumentalist/vocals; Byron House, bass/vocals; Marco Giovino, drums and percussion/vocals, and co-producer Buddy Miller, guitar/vocals. North Mississippi Allstars will be supporting on all the dates."

All tour dates and video of Plant's full Electric Proms set below....

Continue reading "Robert Plant bring 'Band of Joy' on the road (2011 dates) "

Robert Plant @ Bowery Ballroom on 9/12 (more by Andrew St. Clair)

Missed Robert Plant's recent show at Bowery Ballroom? Listen to the whole thing below courtesy of NPR...

Continue reading "listen to Robert Plant's recent Bowery Ballroom show"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

"The doors opened at 7:30 and Robert Plant and the Band of Joy hit the stage just after 9 pm. I stood front row, center stage (my usual spot), but tonight this spot was extra magical. I was inches from where Robert Plant's lyric book was and for the entire show, I was less than 2 feet away from him. During the concert, my brain would suddenly shout out - "you are close enough to reach out and touch the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, a band whose music has shaped your life." Needless to say, I broke into tears many times during the night." [According to G]

While many were watching a mildly-amusing and vodka-soaked host introduce a woman in a meatsuit, Robert Plant and fans squeezed their way into Bowery Ballroom last night (9/12) for a rare appearance at the venue in preparation for Band of Joy, the legendary frontman's latest solo LP (he spent the last few years dabbling in country rhythms with Alison Krauss). Band of Joy is not just Robert Plant's latest post-Zep LP/moniker, but a calling card to his olden days with Bonzo; before joining Jimmy Page & John Paul Jones in Led Zeppelin, Plant and John Bonham served in a psychedelic folk band called Band of Joy.

Robert Plant's band included vocalist Patty Griffin, guitarist Buddy Miller, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Daryl Scott, bassist-vocalist Byron House, and drummer-percussionist-vocalist Marco Giovino.

"The Band of Joy played songs from their self-titled album, 2 of my favorite tracks off "Raising Sand," Plant's Grammy winning album with Alison Krauss, ("Please Read the Letter" and "Rich Woman,") and they also reinterpreted 4 Led Zeppelin songs ("Misty Mountain Hop," "Houses of the Holy," "Gallows Pole," and "Rock and Roll.")" [According to G]

The whole setlist, with more pictures and some videos (including two of the reworked Zep classics), below...

Continue reading "Robert Plant, Patty Griffin & Band (Of Joy) played Bowery Ballroom (pics, video, setlist) "

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club played the Fashion Week party at Don Hill's on Thursday. Iggy Pop and The Stooges played there Friday, and according to the above Tweet by Eli Mizrahi, Courtney Love is playing there tonight.

Eli's Tweet also reminds us that tonight is the John Varvatos's 10th Anniversary party in the store previously known as CBGB. There will be a concert from: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. Supposedly confirmed performers include Alejandro Escovedo, Alice Cooper, Wayne Kramer, Ian Hunter, ZZ Top, Black Country Communion, Camp Freddy, Cherie Currie, Darling Stillettos, Handsome Dick Manitoba, Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social, and Perry Farrell . Rumored performers include Iggy Pop and (thanks John) Robert Plant (who plays Bowery Ballroom Sunday).

Who else is playing fashion week parties tonight?

Robert Plant throws his hood up

"Burlington, MA - Rounder Records is pleased to announce that Robert Plant is back with Band of Joy, his first album since 2007's six time Grammy® Award winning Raising Sand (Rounder). Band of Joy was recorded in Nashville with a stellar cast of musicians and will be released on September 14.

A timeless plunge into authentic Americana, the album was co-produced by Plant and Nashville legend and guitarist Buddy Miller. "Buddy's integral to this album, you can hear his taste all over the instrumentation," enthuses Plant. "Buddy's zone is beautiful, with a lot of reflections going back into mid-Fifties rockabilly, the singing fishermen and all the great country stuff, along with the soul and R&B from Memphis."

As well as Miller, the Band of Joy is made up of multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott, who provides the mandolin, guitar, accordion, pedal, lap steel and banjo lines, country singer-songwriter Patty Griffin who adds the main vocal foils to Plant's lead parts, while Byron House plays bass and percussion comes from Marco Giovino."

Robert Plant will celebrate the release of that new album by playing a special show AT BOWERY BALLROOM in NYC on September 12th. Limited tickets will go on sale via Ticketmaster on Saturday at noon.

More North American dates to be announced, but for now there are a set of European ones. They are listed, with more album info, below...

Continue reading "Robert Plant releasing 'Band of Joy', playing Bowery Ballroom"

"Grammy Award winning roots-rock band Los Lobos has decided to cancel their scheduled performance at The Talking Stick Resort on June 10th, 2010. The band has made this decision based on the current call to boycott Arizona in response to SB 1070.

Through their management, Los Lobos issued the following statement: "We support the boycott of Arizona. The new law will inevitably lead to unfair racial profiling and possible abuse of people who just happen to look Latino. As a result, in good conscience, we could not see ourselves performing in Arizona. We regret the inconvenience this may have caused the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, Casino Arizona, Talking Stick Resort and our fans, but we feel strongly that it is the right thing to do."

The members of Los Lobos are Steve Berlin, David Hidalgo, Conrad Lozano, Cesar Rosas and Louie Perez."

The Mexican-American band are longtime supporters of immigration rights: Their 2006 LP The Town And The City touches on the subject pretty directly. When that album came out, this is what the band's Louie Perez has to say about the immigration issue...

Well, I can't ignore it. I don't think anyone can not be affected by it. Of course, Mexican-American people are more sensitive to it, but you just turn on the news at 11, I don't care where you live, you're going to know about what's going on.

I didn't set out for the record to be about immigration, but it started to go into that direction. I always go back to my neighborhood when I write songs, and in this case it was tempered by what was going on in the news. I was also thinking of the sacrifices my parents made when they came to the U.S. and the fact that if they hadn't crossed the border, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you. I wouldn't have a career. I wouldn't have Grammys. I wouldn't have all these things that have happened in the spirit of the American dream.

Los Lobos will be releasing a new album, Tin Can Trust, on August 3rd through Shout! Factory. That's the artwork above. On that same Tuesday, they will play a record release show at Bowery Ballroom in NYC. Tickets are on sale at noon.

Robert Plant is also coming out with a new album this year, a David Hidalgo-Louie Pérez song included...

Robert Plant takes an eclectic dive into Americana roots music on Band of Joy, his first new album since 2007's surprise hit, Raising Sand with Allison Krauss. The album was recorded in Nashville with an all-star group of musicians and is due Sept. 14 on Rounder Records.

Band of Joy finds Plant putting his unique stamp on a wide variety of source material, including versions of Los Lobos' "Angel Dance," "Silver Rider" and "Monkey," both by Minnesota indie "slowcore" band Low, and the Kelly Brothers' 1960s soul classic "Falling in Love Again." [The Star]

Los Lobos will be touring this summer across North America. All tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Los Lobos are releasing an album (Robert Plant too), playing a release show in NYC & other dates (but not in Arizona) "

1. Paul McCartney - Great Day
2. Coconut Records - Wires
3. Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation - All The King's Horses
4. James Taylor - Carolina On My Mind [live]
5. Warren Zevon - Keep Me In Your Heart
6. Adam Sandler - Real Love [live]
7. Neil Diamond - We [early take]
8. Wilco with Andrew Bird - Jesus, etc. [Live Summer '08]
9. Adam Sandler - George Simmons Soon Will Be Gone
10. Coconut Records - I Am Young
11. Maude Apatow & Larry Goldings - Memory (from Cats)
12. Warren Zevon - Numb As A Statue
13. Ringo Starr - Photograph
14. John Lennon - Watching The Wheels [acoustic]

There was a screening of "Funny People" in NYC yesterday. "Funny People is the new Judd Apatow movie that stars Seth Rogan, Adam Sandler, Leslie Mann, and Raaaaaaaandy. As you can see in the track listing above, the soundtrack features a live Wilco song that was recorded when they were playing shows last year with Andrew Bird who joined them on stage. Some video examples of that below.

Wilco came to NYC this week to play a big show at Keyspan Park in Coney Island (7/13). That show also featured many special guests including Leslie Feist who most likely flew in mainly to join Wilco for their appearance on the David Letterman show which aired last night (7/14), but was recorded yesterday afternoon which gave Jeff Tweedy plenty of time to make it over to the movie screening (which he was spotted at). Letterman video below...

Continue reading "Wilco - w/ Feist on Letterman (video), w/ Andrew Bird on the Funny People Soundtrack (Raaaaaaaandy.......)"

Alison Krauss & Robert Plant @ ACL 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Rounder Records, a venerable independent label based in the Northeast, released "Raising Sand," and it has become one of its biggest hits. Its multiple nominations were old hat for Alison Krauss, who before Sunday had already won 21 Grammy Awards. But none was for a project quite this adventurous.

"We ostensibly come from such different places on the musical map," Robert Plant said in a media conference backstage Sunday. "Alison showed me so much I had never been exposed to."

That Plant is still learning new tricks is a testament to his artistry. That he's not touring with a reunited Led Zeppelin is a sign of enduring integrity. That's a lot of money to be passing up, even if "Raising Sand" did win five Grammys.

But Plant was having none of it. The singer again was confronted with the inevitable question Sunday about his future involvement in any Zeppelin tour.

"How old are you, man?" Plant responded. "Because you look older than me. You try to do 'Communication Breakdown' in these pants." [Chicago Tribune]

Pics from their MSG Theater show, HERE.

TMZ can confirm that Chris Brown just entered an LAPD station, where he turned himself in to police.

Chris is being investigated by the LAPD for an alleged domestic violence felony battery that occurred early this morning near Hancock Park in L.A. Police officials said earlier today they may arrest Brown when they found him. Well, now they know where he is.

According to the female victim -- who cops refuse to identify -- she and Chris got into an argument which turned violent. Cops say when they arrived to the scene, Brown had split, but the woman had "visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker."

Brown and his girlfriend Rihanna were together earlier last night, attending Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party -- and both canceled their scheduled performances at tonight's event.

Brown is currently being interviewed by detectives. [TMZ]

Radiohead did show up the Grammys, as did an even MORE pregnant M.I.A.. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss took best album (for an album that came out on indie label Rounder Records). Video of Radiohead and M.I.A.'s performances, and a list of all winners (including Daft Punk) below...

Continue reading "a list of all the 2009 Grammy winners, Radiohead, MIA video"

by Black Bubblegum

Led Zeppelin in Central Park, 1969

"As you probably know, Jimmy [Page], Jason [Bonham, son of John Bonham] and I are actually rehearsing and we've had the odd singer come in and have a bash. As soon as we know -- which we don't -- we will let you know. But we really hope that something is going to happen soon because we really want to do it and we're having a lot of fun, actually, just rehearsing. Jason is actually tremendous. . . We really wanna do something and Robert doesn't want to do this, at least for the moment. I don't really know what his plans are. He really doesn't want to make loud music anymore. We do. I mean, I love acoustic music, but it doesn't stop me from turning something up . . . And what we've done so far sounds absolutely fantastic. When it does come, it will come, and you'll know about it."

That quote is John Paul Jones speaking on the current status of Led Zeppelin. To that Robert would probably say he wishes them "nothing but success". Video of John's full statement below.

Led Zeppelin, Robert included, reunited in December of 2007 in tribute of Atlantic Records impresario Ahmet Ertegun.

Robert Plant has otherwise been keeping busy with the "acoustic" music he's making with Alison Krauss. Video below...

Continue reading "Led Zeppelin to tour with a new singer? John Jones speaks"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Robert Plant never said yes, and it looks like he won't.

The Led Zeppelin singer has quashed a report last Friday in the British newspaper The Sun that claimed he was rejoining guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham for a 2009 Led Zeppelin world tour. Later Friday, an Australian report said the tour would begin in May.

In a statement released on his behalf yesterday, however, handlers announced that Plant will take some time off from the road following his current trek with Alison Krauss -- in support of their Raising Sand album -- which concludes Sunday in Saratoga, Calif.

"After those dates, Robert has no intention whatsoever of touring with anyone for at least the next two years," the statement said. "Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin. Anyone buying tickets online to any such event will be buying bogus tickets."

Plant himself added his own remarks, stating it was time for everyone to get on with their own plans.

"It's both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward," he said. "I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects."
[Winnipeg Sun]

On Saturday, Robert & Alison played a set at the Austin City Limits music festival. More pictures from that below...

Continue reading "Robert Plant & Alison Krauss played Austin City Limits (pics), Led Zeppelin not touring in 2009 (says Robert)"

And this year's nominees are:

Adele - 19
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
Burial - Untrue
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Estelle - Shine
Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim
Neon Neon - Stainless Style
Portico Quartet - Knee Deep In The North Sea
Rachel Unthank - The Bairns
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement

Which album "album from the United Kingdom or Ireland" did they miss this year? Last year the award went to Klaxons and the year before that it went to Arctic Monkeys who were also nominated last year which makes Alex Turner 3 for 3.

Laura Marling was just here in NYC last month. Estelle played a show in Brooklyn last night. Pulp won in 1996. Jarvis Cocker also played a show in Brooklyn last night. Maybe Adele was there.

Will Burial win it this year? Roni Size won in 1997. He beat Ok Computer that year. In fact, Radiohead has never won. This year is the fourth time they're nominated. Maybe they'll finally give it to them.

T Bone Burnett w/ Robert & Alison, NYC - June 10, 2008 (more by Eric Townsend)

Buoyed by its success, the pair has launched a major tour that wafted through the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

Zeppelin fans may curse the day this tour was conceived, since it prevented - or at least delayed - a full-scale road show for Plant's storied band, something that has been rumored ever since that act floored the rock world with last year's one-off reunion gig in London.

A fully-Led'ed road show may yet happen. But in the meantime, no informed aficionado of Plant's talents - or Krauss' - would have felt betrayed by last night's tender display.
[Jim Farber - The Daily News]

I have a pair of tickets to give away for tonight's show (June 11, 2008). If you want them email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Plant). Include your name and mention which song Led Zeppelin opened with in London. One winner will be picked and contacted before 5pm.

We're also still giving away tickets to the festival in Staten Island this weekend.

photos by Eric M. Townsend

The extroverted Plant and introverted Krauss met halfway on the album, and they did so onstage at the Borgata Sunday night, entering with big smiles from opposite sides as the band kicked into "Rich Woman," the New Orleans hit from the mid-1950s.

What followed was a two-hour, country music-style revue, with the two singing in unison sometimes, but with Plant taking the lead for a few songs, then Krauss, then both stepping aside for Burnett to sing a few. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

These pictures are from the Tuesday night show at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden. The same show happens in the same venue again tonight (June 11, 2008). More tour dates HERE. More MSG pics below....

Continue reading "Robert Plant & Alison Krauss @ MSG Theater, NYC - pics"

N.E.R.D (last time they played Austin) (more)

"The 2008 Austin City Limits Music Festival will rock Zilker Park for the seventh time with a diverse showcase of 125-plus acts over three magical days, September 26-28. Leading the charge this year are Foo Fighters, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Beck, Manu Chao, John Fogerty, David Byrne, The Raconteurs, The Mars Volta, Gnarls Barkley, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and N.E.R.D."

Full lineup below....

Continue reading "Austin City Limits - 2008 lineup announcement"

Bradford Cox (CRED)

Tickets went on sale this morning for the June 10th Robert Plant/Anlison Krauss MSG Theatre show. They are just about sold out. Tickets go on sale Monday March 10th (11am) for a 2nd show at the same venue one day later (June 11th). Learn more about how Robert & Alison got together in the video below....

Continue reading "Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - 2nd NYC show added, video "

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss are announced their 2008 U.S tour today. That includes Bonnaroo, and a show at the Theater At Madison Square Garden in NYC on June 10th. Tickets ($99.50, $79.50, $59.50 & $39.50) are cheaper (not that they'll be that cheap when and if Robert plays NYC with Led Zeppelin) than tickets to see Kanye West who is playing in the larger stadium next door (where Led Zeppelin will probably play if and when they decide to again). NYC show details, and more dates, below...

Continue reading "Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - 2008 Tour Dates "

an Ahmet Ertegun Tribute....

continued below....

Continue reading "Led Zeppelin reunion concert photos & setlist"

The Noise Pop Festival returns in 2008 from February 26 to March 2. Over six nights, Noise Pop 16 will take over the best-loved venues in San Francisco, to host unforgettable performances by Magnetic Fields, The Mountain Goats, The Gutter Twins, Cursive and dozens of other important indie rock, electronic, punk and cutting edge musical artists, transforming the city into an almost week-long celebration of the finest that the underground and not-so-underground has to offer, nationally and locally.

Kelly Stoltz, Tilly & The Wall, Capgun Coup, Fleet Foxes, Fu Manchu, Saviours, Man/Miracle and Blitzen Trapper are also confirmed.

Not confirmed at all is this letter Bob Lefsetz sent out from someone he purposely left anonymous....

Zeppelin just confirmed for Bonnaroo. They can't officially announce until after the London gig so pass it on! Also Metallica is confirmed on the bill too!

In related news, Led Zeppelin denies that they're going on tour with the Cult (thx Hiro).

Like Bonnaroo, the new Vineland Music Festival in NJ will offer 3 days of music and camping (but much closer to home - my home anyway). I hope Led Zeppelin plays that too.

Magnetic Fields are also playing four NYC shows and have a new album coming out soon. The Mountain Goats just played NYU and also have a new album coming out soon. Robert Plant has a new album out, and it's selling really well.