rock nyc

This isn’t a Bill Maher type thing but Rollins will stand up on a stage with a few bottles of water and a chair he wont use and discuss everything from politics to foreign policy and pop culture.

Remember the red leathers and bandana’s? This Canadian band were the darlings of MTV back in the music video days. “Everybody’s Working For The Weekend” was nearly and anthem and I can say that their saturation of the radio waves made me skip commercial radio to avoid it.

Five CDs worth and a DVD but fuck that. Around $80 bucks and that’s a no brainer as well. The only problem is the eagerly anticipated The Kinks At The BBC won’t arrive till August 21st and I CAN’T WAIT THAT LONG.

The beat is very martial and Bebe is accentuating on the beat all the way through, so there is a faint echo of armed conflict buried deep, and the axiomatic “Let freedom ring” – not about slavery, it is a rebuttal to “God save the Queen”) rings like the stirrings from where Gospel would lead the Black Church – Grade: B

I slept in the van last night while Jon (bass) Joe (guitar) and Scooter (tour manager) cuddled up close on a strangers floor barely big enough for them. We haven’t showered since Delaware

Owens’ decision must have been quite precipitated since, in a May interview with the Huffington Post, he was talking about his plans for a third album, explaining he wanted to record it ‘basically as soon as possible. As soon as we can find a little break.’

In a Twitter post at around midnight Melbourne time Gotye posted, ‘I’m not dead. #Pinkalbumtitles’. Well then, that’ll show ya. I like that his response was so simple but wtf is ‘pinkalbumtitles’, was this whole death rumor a publicity act? If so.. did I just fall for it?

If you’re a rock journalist – first, you will never get paid much. But you will get free records from the record company. And they’ll buy you drinks, you’ll meet girls, they’ll try to fly you places for free, offer you drugs… I know. It sounds great.

Fiona Apple at Randall’s Island wins most improved hands down, playing selections from all four albums, and beaming, smiling, dancing and then singing so intensely. the woman was a joy. # 4 out of the 104 sets I’ve seen in the first half of 2012

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IS AT STAKE. This story is worse than a shaggy dog story it is shag story. Only Woody Allen, who directed it, could get away with this stuff. And, it is harmless and what the hell it is Allen.

A gimmick band such as they, really should attempt to keep up the momentum if only to pay the rent. I would have expected a mega US tour supporting the single but that simply didn’t happen East of the heartland.

In all sincerity if you record day time shows you have to fast forward through so much nonsense and cleaning tips its not worth the blurb. These past prime time shows are way cooler and you can watch them in the morning while you’re eating your cereal or something

Half a year in and lotsa individual achievements and June itself belonged to Fiona Apple, great videos, great album and one of the bests sets of the year

If I ever had a band, I’d be like Bing Crosby in Holiday Inn and only release my albums on national holidays. I mean, right or right? Look at it this way: The View are a Scottish Wombats, a pretty clever, fairly witty little rock band who I am sure have a pretty good following in the UK. Do you think if Kanye had released a new album I’d be writing about em?

Vacanze Romane – Gentri Noantri – Italian band who make sweet updates of mainstream Italian pop ballads. This is one is just lovely, it’s like they recruited Samantha Urbani if she sang light opera to front a muzak band – Grade: B+

It was my first experience with the we-are-the-99%/Occupy LA movement, and even though I care about these things (Walmart is an evil corporation which treats its employees like shit, I know!) the big attraction was the free improvised concert by Tom Morello and Ben Harper, turning the event into a new level.

Layna Cloud and I got the chance to talk to lead singer David Schmitt and he seemed completely blown away by how successful “Blackout” and Hell Is What You Make It had become. Now,this incredible electro rock sensation is going to do it again with there-release of Hell Is What You Make It under the name Hell Is What You Make It:Reloaded.

What I find most astounding is Dave Wakefield’s voice never ever falters. C’mon the guy has been at it for over 30 years and there is no weakening in the pipes? That to me is the most noteworthy aspect of The Beat. There has to be a voodoo element.

if 2009 was a transitional year both technology and musically (and decade wise), 2010 was more exciting as dance fused with anything that moved, and the technology began to expand. 2011 was about streaming and 2012 is about… nothing so far.

While on his way to New York this morning to celebrate the publication of his long-awaited memoir SoulaCoaster, multi-platinum R&B superstar R. Kelly was taken ill and had to return to Chicago for medical treatment

here they were again, this time touring with Russian Circles and playing their unique mix of black metal grindcore, hardcore – can we even talk about a genre for this kind of music? – in front of the large public of the El Rey theater, last Friday night.

With their first album, Manifest, out their, and their hip quota out the park, the beat based indie band with the little knock out lead singer Friends is the one to catch this week. AT Bowery Ballroom on Saturday. PS All the bands hang out at the bat before gigs at Bowery Ballroom so you can stalk her… maybe a certain bad boy with only one direction will be there.

Linkin Park are terrible, Maroon 5 aren’t terrible, Ed is still around. The Throne are touring the UK, Flo Rida’s newbie hasn’t dropped here yet, and Rihanna CAN NOT have any more singles off this album.

Not released Stateside yet, they played “This Is Love” at the LMFAO concert after Eva Simons set. Seemed to me like Will I Am may have finally gotten the BEP monkey off his back and join Fergie as a solo artist.

Add Some Music To Your Day A Capella – The Beach Boys – From the excellent Hawthorne, Ca, album, and the best moment on their current 50th anniversary tour, this is the distance between TM hippie hug a tree and the doo wop roots they had come from – Grade: A

The composition is packed with incredible riffs and bits of musicianshipthat I didn’t know the band was capable of. It is entirely unique toanything they’ve ever done, exploring both the quick and entertainingly musically clever chorus, to a passionate, charged bridge.

Bon is on tour and what was just a two night stay at New Yorks Radio City Music Hall is now a four day squat. Someone call security Bony wont leave. This is all addition to his current East Coast tour that is interrupted by a brief stint in Europe

‘I’m delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together,” she wrote. “I wanted you to hear the news direct from me, obviously we’re over the moon and very excited but please respect our privacy at this precious time.’

Adam Levine’s high tight voice is well loathed but he can sing his songs very well and yet again his band have collected a steady, not spectacular but consistent collection of pop rock for a dance beat society. Perhaps Adam is overexposed, but when your deep album tracks are dance jazz gems like “Wasted Years”, get used to him – Grade: B+

Say It Loud I’m Black And I’m Proud – James Brown – If the sentiment is a little antiquated, it sure wasn’t at the time. And the sound is anything but old, it is fresh today, it’ll be fresh in ten years time. You can’t rely that heavily on the bass and go out of style – Grade: A+

Now, Lamb of God enters the country to be met by authorities, lead singer Randy Blythe cuffed and removed, charged with manslaughter. What I find odd, is there has been no previous mention of this and legal justice had not been sought.

I thnk this is just another way that Warped is making music festivals a more dynamic experience. I have been raving about this traveling circus for years now and this years line up coupled with fantastic opportunities such as this just add to my cred.

Do not miss this tour- the lineup is insane, and will never be this great again. These incredible bands all in one night is crazy; it should be one of the best concerts of the fall!

With the song-teaser of the album, ‘Groundhog Day’, she is back in great form, and, after a rather slow departure, she goes back to total assault mode with her very recognizable girlie howl and cascades of raging guitar riffs escalating during the song