Search Results for: Dance Dance

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame swung open its doors Monday night to the latest batch of acts ticketed for music immortality, with the Georgia alt-rock icons and the dysfunctional Pasadena party band leading the way. They were joined by ’70s punk pioneer Patti Smith, ’60s girl group the Ronettes and the first hip-hop act to crash the party, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The 22nd annual induction ceremony–which per tradition was held at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel–felt like an I Love the ’80 special, thanks to its two biggest inductees. R.E.M. received a warm introduction… Read more »

Among the legions of acts booked for this year’s South by Southwest Music and Media Conference and Festival March 14-18 in Austin, here are 10 that people will be talking about. THE PIPETTES Sure, the Pipettes revel in the ’60s girl group sounds of the Ronettes and the Shangri-Las. And yes, they even conjure up cool memories of British sister-in-song, the beehived Mari Wilson, who covered similar musical ground in the ’80s. Still, the trio, who hail from the British seaside town of Brighton, manage to make songs like “Pull Shapes,” “Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me” and “Dirty Mind”… Read more »

CForget winning an Oscar, Grammy or, while we’re at it, even “American Idol.” You’re nobody until someone burns your image into a piece of toast. Controversial “Idol” semifinalist Antonella Barba joined Jesus, Mary and other members of that rarified group recently when someone posted on eBay a piece of Wonder Bread with a crudely rendered picture of the Jersey girl. It cemented Barba’s status as the most famous mediocre singing star on the planet … for this week . It was a refreshing break from the nonstop deluge of risqué Barba photos – real and fake – that were posted… Read more »

When Avril Lavigne released album No. 2 in 2004, the spunky teen pop star announced to the world that she was growing up. Gone were the baggy pants and skater-chick image that first earned Lavigne the media-christened nickname of “the anti-Britney.” On that year’s “Under My Skin,” punky anthems like “Sk8er Boi” were replaced largely with grammatically correct, midtempo teen-angst rockers. The album was released a few months shy of Lavigne’s 20th birthday, and the black-and-white Goth imagery made it clear that Lavigne was dealing with some intense late-teen issues. Today, Lavigne is done with all that. On April 17,… Read more »

NEW YORK – With a guest appearance from Alicia Keys, sing-alongs galore and an intimate two-song acoustic performance on a small stage in the middle of the crowd, John Mayer’s sold-out performance Wednesday night delivered everything a headlining spot at Madison Square Garden should. After a strong opening set from Mat Kearney, Mayer’s show began with the venue darkened before the sounds of Mayer’s guitar drowned out the screams from younger members of the audience. A blue spotlight revealed him as he began “Belief” solo before being joined by the rest of his band. As the 90-minute set (consisting primarily… Read more »

Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz is far more recognizable than the average rock band bassist. With jet-black asymmetrical bangs, slightly smeared eyeliner and a toothy grin, Wentz certainly makes for a memorable image, but it’s his public antics that have created such an unforgettable impression. “I honestly don’t care what the perception is of me to the world,” says the 27-year-old, while sipping on a Starbucks’ vanilla latte on a rainy day in New York City. “It’s a weird thing to have come to, but after you’ve gone through the ringer so many times you don’t care. But I do… Read more »

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire – Fellow marchers in The Black Parade : If you are like me, after being blown away last fall by the astounding musical achievement that is My Chemical Romance’s latest album, you thought to yourself, ‘How are they ever gonna do this live?’ The record – art rock meets glam rock meets punk, with a dash of vaudeville – is chock-full of death and hospitals and cancer and soldiers and scary teenagers, and it begs for an over-the-top live show. At long last, the boys have delivered. After months of teasing us with holiday radio sets and… Read more »

Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz is far more recognizable than the average rock band bassist. With jet-black asymmetrical bangs, slightly smeared eyeliner and a toothy grin, Wentz certainly makes for a memorable image, but it’s his public antics that have created such an unforgettable impression. “I honestly don’t care what the perception is of me to the world,” says the 27-year-old, while sipping on a Starbucks’ vanilla latte on a rainy day in New York City. “It’s a weird thing to have come to, but after you’ve gone through the ringer so many times you don’t care. But I do… Read more »

Last week, Fall Out Boy’s Infinity on High usurped Norah Jones’ Not Too Late – the previous week’s #1 – as the nation’s top-selling LP, relegating the jazzy songstress to the chart’s #2 position and scoring the Chicago rockers the first chart-crowning debut of their careers. This week, Jones returned the favor. With nearly 211,000 copies of Not Too Late sold during the album’s third week of release, Jones reclaims Billboard‘s coveted throne, leaving Fall Out Boy in the proverbial dust. Sales of Infinity on High dipped by more than 50 percent, dropping FOB to the chart’s #5 slot with… Read more »

Formerly affiliated with Sony BMG, New York-based Octone Records is shifting to the Universal Music Group and will be re-branded A&M/Octone. The new label’s first release will be the follow-up to Maroon 5’s debut album, “Songs About Jane,” which has sold 4.3 million units in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. A release date has not yet been announced, although it is expected to be in May. Guitarist James Valentine said during an online chat last Friday with fan club members that the project is titled “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long” and that the first single will be… Read more »