Music news, reviews, albums, concerts, and downloads | The Music Mix

The Music Mix Music news, reviews, albums, concerts, and downloads

Archive: March 2010 (41-50 of 106)

Mar 19 2010 07:03 PM ET

Lady Gaga lawsuit reads like a 'Behind the Music' script: Check out excerpts here

Categories: Lady Gaga, Legal Troubles, Music

lady-gaga Image Credit: Albert L. Ortega / PR PhotosMusic producer Rob Fusari has filed a $35 million lawsuit against Lady Gaga claiming that after he helped develop her into a viable artist and cowrote several tunes (including “Paparazzi”), she failed to make good on an agreement that awarded him 20 percent of her earnings. (UPDATE: Lady Gaga responded to the suit in a court filing made public on Friday.)

We got a copy of the lawsuit, and it’s the best read we’ve had in a long time, beginning with the introduction, a quote from William Congreve’s The Mourning Bride (“Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned”) and a foreboding prologue: “All business is personal. When those personal relationships evolve into romantic entanglements, any corresponding business relationship usually follows the same trajectory so that when one crashes they all burn. That is what happened here.”

So here’s the story Fusari is telling (all quotes taken directly from the suit): READ FULL STORY »

Mar 19 2010 05:02 PM ET

SXSW exclusive: Courtney Love, Hole to headline Perez Hilton's party

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Hole, SXSW Festival

Image Credit: Love: Amanda Schwab/Startraksphoto.com, Hilton: Albert L. Ortega / PR PhotosFor the third year in a row, gossip blog magnate Perez Hilton is throwing a “One Night in Austin” party on SXSW’s final evening (presented by SWAGG; thanks, sponsors). He recently announced the artists who will perform at the Saturday night event, an eclectic bunch including his label signee Sliimy, Macy Gray, Snoop Dogg, Estelle — and an unnamed “surprise guest” going on last of all at 1:20 A.M.

Who could it be? Rumors have flown around Austin this week. The most intriguing one I heard was that the surprise guest might be Perez’s pal Lady Gaga. That would have been pretty cool, but sadly, it’s not the case. (Unless Gaga is an unannounced fake-out double-surprise guest? Holding out hope!)

Reps for Perez Hilton’s party tell the Music Mix that the surprise headliner will, in fact, be Courtney Love and Hole. Love is already set to introduce the band’s new lineup at a daytime event this afternoon, as well as another show late tonight, so if I’m counting correctly Perez’s party will be this iteration of Hole’s third live gig ever in the U.S. I’ll be at “One Night in Austin” all Saturday night; check back here on Sunday for a full report.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Mar 19 2010 04:31 PM ET

Chasing She & Him: Zooey Deschanel's band proves elusive at SXSW

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: M. Ward, SXSW Festival, Zooey Deschanel

One paradox of a hyper-cross-scheduled festival like SXSW is that even an artist with multiple gigs booked can be difficult to catch in the act of performing. By the time I got to Austin’s Cedar Street Courtyard last night to see Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward’s band She & Him, the badge-holders’ line was already snaking around the block. I loitered by the entrance a few minutes to see if I could see or hear their set from outside. Deschanel’s winsome vocals were soon wafting to the sidewalk where I stood, but not clearly enough to be worth sticking around. I resolved to see their day gig this afternoon.

When I arrived at the IFC Crossroads House shortly before their 1 P.M. show time, attendees were grumbling at the announcement that — unlike the other bands playing live streaming sets there for IFC.com — She & Him had banished all observers from their studio space. I settled into a seat near a large observation window, through which members of the press were told we’d be able watch the performance. Only, after waiting 40 minutes, we were apologetically informed that the band now insisted on keeping those studio windows curtained. The band finally started playing at 1:49 P.M. Those of us who hadn’t left in annoyance had no option but to direct our attention to several TV screens showing the action taking place mere inches behind us in the veiled studio.

I’m not sure why She & Him were so shy. Joined by five backing musicians, Deschanel and Ward gave perfectly lovely renditions of “Black Hole” (from 2008′s Volume One) and “Thieves” (from next week’s Volume Two; below). They are a very capable live act! And that was that. Two slices of reverb-soaked folk-pop in ten minutes, and She & Him exited the building. I suppose I’d have liked to see them play for longer — or, you know, actually observe their set with my own eyes — but perhaps that would have been asking too much.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Mar 19 2010 03:20 PM ET

Craig Finn of the Hold Steady talks new album, 'Heaven is Whenever,' at SXSW

by Whitney Pastorek

Categories: Indie Rock, Q&A, SXSW Festival, The Hold Steady

Image Credit: Whitney Pastorek/EW.comCraig Finn of the Hold Steady has to be one of the most gregarious guys in rock, a characteristic that’s always more than apparent in their fist-pumping, fast-clapping live shows. Now he’s getting to put his genuinely friendly nature to a different use, interviewing bands and serving as a sort of in-studio anchor for IFC’s Crossroads House, an outpost for web-streamed live performances here in Austin. We caught up with the always-positive bandleader on Thursday for a chat about surviving South-By as an adult, and the band’s fifth album, Heaven is Whenever, due out March 4 (with a limited-edition vinyl preview on Record Store Day, April 17, available only at your local non-box-store music retailer). He also had some kind words for the words of the late Alex Chilton; read those here, and check out IFC.com for their live webcasts of his work throughout the weekend…

Entertainment Weekly: You guys are finishing a new album, and not playing SXSW this year. Why are you here? Can you just not keep yourself away?
Craig Finn: It just seemed fun. I love music. It was a reason to be down here and check out things and see a lot of people but not have the hassles. We did four shows last year — the shows are actually the easy part. Getting between the shows is the hard part. I’m talking to all these bands — I think Dawes said they’re doing 10 shows and I’m like, Oh my god. There’s a million bands, you can’t park anywhere. There’s so much stress about all that, and it’s hard to make it about the music. And it’s funny, I’ve been asking a lot of people how they get into the headspace to play their shows, and everyone has their answer which is, “No, you just do it!” But it is kinda hard. So, we’ve been working on this record a lot, and this is kind of a little vacation for me.

How are you as an interviewer?
Um. Getting better. My second one was with Lemmy [from Motörhead], so that was — I’ve been trying to talk to people as a peer, you know? As a musician. Lemmy’s not really my peer. Nor is he anyone alive’s peer, really. So that one was intimidating. I’m not even sure they got anything they could use. He kind of mumbles, and he’s drunk, and there’s not much connection there. The other ones are pretty cool, and a lot of them are my friends — you know, the [Drive-By] Truckers were here, and Jakob [Dylan] and Neko [Case]. Comfort level helps a lot. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 19 2010 01:15 PM ET

SXSW: Paul Dano talks about his band, Mook

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: SXSW Festival

Image Credit: Amanda Schwab/Startraksphoto.comEveryone in Austin is talking about Zooey Deschanel’s She & Him (more on them soon!), but they’re not the only band playing SXSW this year that counts a movie star as a member. Case in point: Last night I ran into Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood, Little Miss Sunshine), who was kind enough to stop and chat for a few minutes on the sidewalk. Turns out Dano was in town with Mook, the band he sings and plays guitar with.

Dano, 25, told me he was having a blast at SXSW so far. Mook performed their only scheduled gig on Wednesday night, so now he’s just enjoying the festival. “I have to say, this is not the music I normally go to see, but I saw Dillinger Escape Plan earlier today, and that was really sick to see live,” Dano said. “Everybody comes through New York, where I live, so I go see the bands that I know about [there], but here I’m trying to see the stuff I probably wouldn’t make it out to see. That was my favorite show so far.” Later on he hoped to catch sets by the Kinks’ Ray Davies and the Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA.

Mook, made up of Dano and three of his best friends from high school, recently finished recording their debut album. They haven’t titled it yet, but they hope to shop the set to labels soon. “I would rather probably [self-release the album], but, you know, I’m an actor as well,” Dano said. “If I could dedicate all my time to this, I might try that. We’ll see.” Asked to describe Mook’s sound, he said, “It’s some kind of rock music, but it’s a little left-of-center. Some people have referred to it as ‘carny rock.’ Some people say [we sound] like the Doors, some people say Primus. But Neil Young is my favorite, so I don’t know what it is.” You can check out Mook’s music for yourself on their MySpace.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Mar 19 2010 11:51 AM ET

SXSW: Stone Temple Pilots bring old hits, new material to packed Austin Music Hall

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: About Last Night, Attack of the '90s, Grunge, Misc., Stone Temple Pilots, SXSW Festival

Every year, SXSW drops a rock monster (Metallica, R.E.M., Jane’s Addiction) or two amidst the hordes of baby bands and rising indie stars, and this year, one of those slots belonged to the reunited ’90s alt-radio kings Stone Temple Pilots.

A frenzied crew of badge holders and contest winners filtered into the Austin Music Hall Thursday night to hear Scott Weiland and co., on haitus from 2001 up until 2008′s summer reunion tour (true confession: I wrote a feature about that), dip into their hits catalog, and pull out four new tracks from their upcoming album, due May 25. The first song of the set? Why, let us give you a hint:

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 19 2010 11:05 AM ET

Dixie Chicks side project Court Yard Hounds debut at SXSW: Music Mix was on the scene!

by Whitney Pastorek

Categories: Court Yard Hounds, Dixie Chicks, SXSW Festival

“It was mellow until about 5 minutes ago,” said a man to my left, mid-jostle, as the wide floor of Antone’s became a no-moving zone late last night. The spectacular Americana Music Association SXSW showcase had been rolling since 8 p.m., with expert sets from Jim Lauderdale, Elizabeth Cook, and Hayes Carll, plus special guests Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller — all of whom deserve posts of their own. But when the clock struck 11, the walls began to split at their seams as half of Austin packed in to see the debut of the Court Yard Hounds, a.k.a. Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks.

It’s the most anyone’s really seen of the sisters since Taking the Long Way swept the Grammys in 2007; the pair said they’ve embarked on the project after getting restless waiting for third Chick Natalie Maines to be ready to run again. Their self-titled debut doesn’t hit stores until May 4, but when Robison and Maguire took the stage in front of a five-piece band, flashed calm, confident smiles, and began the harmony-soaked “Delight (Something New Under the Sun)” without ceremony, their music already felt broken in, and the room swelled with attentive joy. “We only have an hour, so we’re going to try and get as much music in as we can,” said Robison. Besides a quick San Antonio joke later on, it was almost all the talking she’d do. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 19 2010 10:00 AM ET

Train's Pat Monahan is a Joanna Newsom fan. Really!

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Current Listening, Joanna Newsom, Strange Bedfellows, The Script, Train, Uncle Kracker

Train is riding high right now with “Hey, Soul Sister,” their biggest chart hit since 2001′s “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me).” I spoke to frontman Pat Monahan about the band’s surprising comeback for the new issue of EW, on stands today. While I had him on the phone, I asked Monahan what’s in heavy rotation on his iPod these days.

Turns out he’s been getting into Have One on Me, the three-CD indie-folk opus Joanna Newsom released last month — an impressively left-field pick coming from a mainstream pop-rocker like him. “That’s new for me,” Monahan told me. “She has a new record, and I was like, ‘Man, what’s this Joanna Newsom thing?’ She’s super hip. All the kids love her.”

Read on for five tunes from Monahan’s iPod playlist, including Newsom and more.

1. Joni Mitchell, “Both Sides Now”: “I always loved so many singer-songwriters. This song is so complexly amazing that I can’t tell you enough good things about it. I’ve been listening to that over and over again. It’s the best writing, word-wise. The song is about how this woman would look up at the clouds and see circus creatures and all this fun, beautiful, magnificent possibility in every cloud — and then later in life, see those clouds as just mechanisms to rain and snow on everyone. What a heartbreaking change. Wow, that’s profound.”

2. Joanna Newsom, “Good Intentions Paving Company”: “She’s really interesting. Even the title is amazing. What a great play on how you say ‘good intentions pave the road to hell.’ What a smart thing to say. Maybe she’s the next Joni Mitchell, I dunno.”

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 18 2010 07:24 PM ET

SXSW: Sleigh Bells, Surfer Blood rock NPR party

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Buzzworthy, Misc., SXSW Festival, YouTube Delights

If the crowd at NPR’s annual SXSW showcase/broadcast were still hurting from last night’s green beer, they barely showed it. And if much-hyped headliners Sleigh Bells (just signed to M.I.A.’s upstart imprint NEET) were thrown by their set’s recurring technical difficulties, the co-ed Brooklyn duo still pulled off one of the most contagious, sloppy-fun moments of the festival so far.

The Sleigh Bells stage experience is pretty straightforward: A girl, a boy, and a MacBook Pro. Ripping through raucous renditions of “A/B Machines” and “Infinity Guitars,” frontwoman Alexis Krauss writhed her body and whipped her hair around like a cat on ecstasy, pressing her voice through multiple foot-pedal effects as her bandmate Derek Miller distorted and shredded his guitar; together, the chaotic, melodic noise they make is pretty hard to describe—kind of like NWA meets Le Tigre, with Sabbath riffs and ESG on backup. (Not helping?)

Despite several false starts and computer-glitch do-overs, the pair wrapped up with clear fan-kid favorite (and EW 2009 Top Singles pick) “Crown on the Ground” to wild hoots, chant-alongs and applause:

READ FULL STORY »