The spirit and energy of the 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards — the madcap awards show that celebrates independent music and college radio across the country — was distilled entirely in the show’s opening performance.
Hard at work on its fourth album, rock band Linkin Park has kept busy on a number of other fronts as well, among them its first movie soundtrack. In addition to the group’s contributions to the new “Transformers” film, some of its members have solo projects in the works. As for the new Linkin Park album, it likely will come out in 2010, according to co-frontman Mike Shinoda. “It’s moving,” said Shinoda. “I feel like we’ve been writing a lot. I’d say we’ve got about half the music done, though I shouldn’t say halfway, because who knows how long the… Read more »
With his spiky mohawk, cluttered canvas of tattooed skin and punk rock pedigree stretching back to childhood, Travis Barker isn’t exactly pleading to be taken seriously as a hip-hop head. A former drummer for the multi-platinum-selling power pop trio Blink-182 who also has done turns behind the kit for rock outfits including the Aquabats, +44 and Box Car Racer, he boasts impeccable Warped Tour credentials and critical props as one of modern rock’s most exciting, exacting percussion players. But a funny thing happened when Barker posted a video of himself on YouTube last September drumming thunderously in time with Southern… Read more »
31 minutes ago Avril Lavigne’s soundtrack pit stop “Keep Holding On” from “Eragon” — top 10 at adult top 40 and top 20 at mainstream top 40 — shows the softer side of the artist . . . and basically a lady-in-waiting before reigniting her full-on persona via third full-length “The Best Damn Thing,” due April 17. Its launch single, the signature pop-punk anthem “Girlfriend,” spits beats per minute like a chainsaw, as Lavigne fires off, “Hey! Hey! You! You!/I don’t like your girlfriend/I think you need a new one/Hey! Hey! You! You!/I could be your girlfriend.” Although she has… 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 »
You know the saying “you’re always the last to know”? On Monday evening, radio listeners in New York were privy to news that the G-Unit were severing ties with the Game before he even knew. Late that afternoon, Game had been a guest of Hot 97’s Angie Martinez and downplayed the rumors of problems between himself and 50 Cent. Simultaneously, 50 and the rest of the G-Unit were telling a different story on rival station Power 105.1. “Where does he stand with your camp?” Power 105.1’s Ed Lover asked 50. “Across the street or around the corner,” he answered. “He’s… Read more »
Los Angeles – Kid Rock took fans on a wild ride through the history of rock ‘n’ roll by jamming with guitarists from Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top and the Allman Brothers Band during a Hollywood club show on Thursday designed to raise money for music education in schools. Grammy nominee Gretchen Wilson and former sidekick Uncle Kracker also joined Kid Rock on stage at the House of Blues, while music industry denizens such as Ahmet Ertegun and Rick Rubin bobbed their heads to the beat from the balcony. “It’s hillbilly night in Hollywood tonight,” Kid Rock said midway through the… Read more »
It wasn’t a very good night for openers Killswitch Engage, as they announced right before their set that their singer had “blown his voice” and Unearth’s frontman (who already sang that night) would be filling in. Fortunately, no angry rioting ensued, not even when they cut their set short and promised to bring a better show through town next time. Their technical defeat was accepted gracefully by the pierced-and-tattooed hordes, who gave KE a roomful of raised metal horns as a salute. Without a doubt, the night belonged to Slipknot. With Number 8 (Corey Taylor) holding up a framed award… Read more »
Toronto’s ACC was packed to the brim with people of all ages, ready to check out the Beasties. After a stripped-down set by Talib Kweli, The Beastie Boys touched down. Wearing old school uniforms (Mike D rocking archetypal Cazal shades) and hysterically oversized mesh caps, the B-Boys kicked an opening set that never seemed to quit. As bizarre images and camera shots of Mike, Adam and Adam floated around on massive screens, the three were in constant motion, seeming to tag each other as they traded verses. After about 15 minutes of this, they took a moment to catch their… Read more »
Recently boasting about how she always sings live, Avril Lavigne had to make good on her claims and put Ashlee Simpson, in her place. After all, some of Lavigne’s past performances have been less than on-key. Quite expertly, Napanee’s pint-sized hero delivered the vocal goods, save for her “Complicated” encore in which she still struggled with the verses’ low notes. But otherwise, the nearly packed house at the Hanger had someone worth screaming for (ear-deafeningly, of course). Lavigne’s mall-punk compadres from Ajax, Not By Choice, riled up the tykes – a group of mostly parental accompanied 10 to 17 year… Read more »
