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Archive: June 2010 (81-90 of 135)

Jun 11 2010 01:03 PM ET

Bonnaroo ’10 Thursday: The xx are a glum, glum band

by Whitney Pastorek

Categories: Bonnaroo, On the Scene

the-xx Image Credit: Whitney Pastorek for EW.com“BONNAROOOOOOOO!”

It was about 11 p.m. on Thursday night when I had my first run-in with a random screamer, a pretty blond coed in a hippie headband who got right in my face while I was taking notes on the white-boy soul of Mayer Hawthorne and the County, because I suppose I looked insufficiently engaged in my surroundings. But trust me, Mixers, from the galoshes on my feet to the humidity-matted hair on my head, I knew exactly which field was playing host to me and thousands of others this weekend. It is Bonnaroo. It is tie-dyed. And it is unmistakable.

Thursday is always a bit of a warmup day, as campers sit in traffic on the highway for hours and newbies try to get their bearings. The festival organizers did a nice job programming the half-day with bands you don’t necessarily have to know to enjoy: Here We Go Magic, Local Natives, Miike Snow, Neon Indian, The Temper Trap, and the aforementioned xx (note: “glum” [pictured] is not necessarily a bad thing) all have devoted followings, but they also work extremely well as ambient noise. Follow me after the jump for those acts and more on Day One of Tennessee’s Extreme Festival Experience. READ FULL STORY »

Jun 11 2010 12:00 PM ET

Backstreet Boys at NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom: Aggressive fans, tears, and, oh yeah, a concert

by Sandra Gonzalez

Categories: About Last Night, Ah, Youth, Backstreet Boys, Concert Reviews, Music, On the Scene

Image Credit: Larry Marano/Getty ImagesAnyone doubting the seemingly eternal appeal of the boy band era needed only to scope out the line wrapping around the block outside Manhattan’s Hammerstein Ballroom shortly before 6:30 p.m. last night, hours before a Backstreet Boys show. In the battle of fans’ evolved musical taste vs. nostalgia, nostalgia will always come out on top. The man behind me in line was so bemused by the fans braving the rain for a chance to be eight inches closer to Nick, Howie, A.J., and Brian that he turned to his girlfriend to say, “There are going to be crazy girls, of course. It’s a boy band.”

His statement echoed in my head as I walked ever-so-confidently into the general admission ballroom. Having been to three Backstreet Boys concerts in my youth (if you consider five years ago “my youth”), I felt like I had grown up since those days. I was sure that much of the obnoxiousness, fan bickering, and “crazy girls” I had encountered in the past would be subdued, if not completely absent. I was wrong. It was, in fact, worse than before. READ FULL STORY »

Jun 11 2010 11:27 AM ET

Conan O'Brien jams with Jack White in Nashville

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Supergroups, Television, White Stripes

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com; Douglas Mason/Getty ImagesConan O’Brien stopped by his buddy Jack White’s Third Man Records in Nashville last night to play an impromptu rockabilly covers set. An audience of just 300 people, who had been alerted by a tweet and a YouTube clip the night before, crowded into the label headquarters to see O’Brien rock out on guitar and vocals, joined by his own band and occasionally White. The Associated Press, the New York Times, and TeamCoco.com have more on the set, which included covers of songs by Elvis Presley, the Stray Cats, Willie Nelson, Eddie Cochran, and Radiohead. Conan changed some of the songs’ lyrics for comedic effect and told a few jokes; top hats were worn. All in all, sounds very fun and pretty funny to boot.

TeamCoco says the show “is going to be pressed into a record that people at the show could buy.” We’ll update you as soon as we get some more solid information on that release plan. (UPDATE: Third Man has announced that a live album recorded at the show will be released on vinyl “VERY SOON.” Preorders can be placed online.) For now, check out a clip of Jack White introducing O’Brien (via the NYT) after the jump. Were any of you lucky enough to be there at Third Man? Would you buy this live album if it ever comes out?

READ FULL STORY »

Jun 11 2010 09:43 AM ET

The Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, Alicia Keys kick off the World Cup: Watch clips here

by Archana Ram

Categories: About Last Night, Black Eyed Peas, Fergie, Music, Wyclef Jean

Image Credit: Paul Gilham/Getty ImagesLast night marked the grand kick-off to soccer’s premier event, the World Cup, which holds its first match today in South Africa. To get the month-long party started, the Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, and Shakira — who sang this year’s World Cup anthem, “Waka, Waka” — took to the stage in Soweto, Johannesburg for an inaugural concert. Miss the star-studded event? Check out the clips after the jump:
READ FULL STORY »

Jun 10 2010 07:02 PM ET

Drake says his fling with Rihanna left him feeling 'terrible'

by Brad Wete

Categories: Drake, Hip-Hop/Rap, Rihanna

Image Credit: Rui M. Leal/PR Photos; Christopher Polk/Getty ImagesIn a new interview with the New York Times, young hip-hop stud Drake confirms that he briefly dated pop starlet Rihanna last summer, as was widely rumored at the time. Big deal, right? As you might expect from any young pair (he was 22, she 21), the relationship fizzled as fast as it sparked. More surprising, though, is the candor with which Drake is now speaking of its conclusion.

The Times cites one verse from “Fireworks,” the opening track from Drake’s forthcoming debut Thank Me Later, as being about their time together. “I could tell it wasn’t love,” Drake raps on the song, which doesn’t mention Rihanna by name. “I just thought you f—– with me/Who’d have predicted that Lucky Strike would have you stuck with me?/I kept my wits about me, luckily/What happened between us that night, it always seems to trouble me/Now all of a sudden, these gossip rags wanna cover me/And you making it seem that it happened that way because of me/But I was curious, and I’ll never forget it, baby, what an experience/You could’ve been the one, but it wasn’t that serious.”

Looking back on their relationship, Drake told the Times, ”I was a pawn…You know what she was doing to me? She was doing exactly what I’ve done to so many women throughout my life, which is show them quality time, then disappear. I was like, wow, this feels terrible.”

I’m amazed at that quote. How many rappers do you think would openly say a girl stomped on their heart? This is what makes Drake an incredible artist. I don’t appreciate him because he hurts just like us. He’s human. I knew that. He’s special because in a realm where guys are Teflon tough, he’s confident enough to say he’s weak.

Off the top of my head, Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” (targeted at Britney Spears) and Travie McCoy’s “Don’t Pretend” (shot at Katy Perry) are two songs I can think of about guys hurt by their real-life exes. What are your some of your favorite songs with guys going in depth about being hurt in a relationship? Let us know.

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

Jun 10 2010 03:11 PM ET

Go-Go's cancel summer tour after guitarist Jane Wiedlin suffers hiking fall

by Leah Greenblatt

Categories: Lilith Tour, Things That Bum Us Out

Image Credit: George Rose/Getty ImagesBad news for Go Go’s fans today: The new-wave girl group icons have been forced to cancel a summer-long reunion tour—including the July 7 Lilith Fair kick-off in San Diego—following rhythm guitarist Jane Wiedlin‘s 20-foot fall from a mountain near her home in Northern California. A scheduled ACL replacement surgery on her knee will take Wiedlin out of commission for up to a year, according to a statement posted on her website.

That means the group’s appearance on Good Morning America, scheduled for July 16 in Central Park, is off as well. Their formal statement: “The band is heartbroken and hopes their fans will send best wishes for Jane’s speedy recovery. In the meantime, tickets can be refunded at point of purchase.”

Jun 10 2010 12:29 PM ET

Katy Perry leads Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, Black Eyed Peas return to top 10

by Brad Wete

Categories: Black Eyed Peas, Charts, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, Travie McCoy, Usher

Like we said yesterday, Katy Perry is queen of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with “California Gurls” landing at No. 1 this week. Usher gets pushed aside. His “OMG” steps back a spot to No. 2. B.o.B’s Hayley Williams-assisted “Airplanes” sits at No. 3 again. Ke$ha’s “Your Love Is My Drug” remains at No. 4.

Travie McCoy jumps into the top 10 for the first time as a solo act with “Billionaire.” It moves from No. 11 to No. 5. Singer Bruno Mars is secretly the big winner in the top 10. He’s the featured vocalist and producer on McCoy’s “Billionaire” and B.o.B’s No. 8 hit “Nothin’ On You.”

Taio Cruz’s “Break Your Heart” slips a place to No. 6. Lady Gaga‘s “Alejandro” also falls a spot to No. 7. After a brief vacation from the top 10, the Black Eyed Peas return with their fifth top 10 single from their multi-platinum set The E.N.D. The latest, “Rock That Body,” leaps from no. 19 to No. 9. La Roux‘s “Bulletproof” closes out the top 10, dropping from No. 8 to No. 10.

What do you think of this week’s results? Happy the Peas are back to their old ways? How long do you think Katy Perry will be at No. 1? Let us know.

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

Jun 10 2010 12:00 PM ET

Susan Boyle in talks to sing for the Pope

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle could soon be singing for Pope Benedict XVI, Reuters reports. According to reports, Boyle is in talks to perform at a Papal Mass when the Pope visits her native Scotland this fall. The singer’s team has yet to confirm the gig, telling Reuters that “Susan’s management are currently looking at the possibility of this happening.” Boyle, of course, has lots of experience singing in church, having performed in local choirs for years before Britain’s Got Talent rocketed her to fame last spring.

What do you think of this news? More or less cool than the possibility that SuBo might be coming to Glee?

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

Jun 10 2010 11:18 AM ET

The Strokes return for first gig since 2006

by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Reunions, The Strokes

Image Credit: Kelly A. Swift/Retna Ltd.The Strokes are officially back. The NYC rockers ended a three-and-a-half-year vacation yesterday with a surprise show in London, their first public performance since October 2006. (Pictured in this post is another concert from shortly before their hiatus.) The NME has a full report on the set, which was booked under the tasty fake name “Venison” and lasted 18 songs. No new material, but this certainly seems like a good sign for that long-promised fourth album of theirs.

Last nite‘s audience was fairly small: just 500 people or so. Thanks to the magic of YouTube, you can now pretend you were among the lucky Londoners. Check out grainy audience footage of 2001 favorite “Is This It” after the jump (clip via Stereogum, which also has a few more songs). The guys are sounding pretty good!

The Strokes are headlining two U.K. festivals this weekend, and they’ll play Lollapalooza in August. Anyone looking forward to seeing them?

READ FULL STORY »

Jun 9 2010 10:51 PM ET

CMT Music Awards: Get the list of winners here!

by Whitney Pastorek

Categories: CMT Awards, Country, Y'all!

Image Credit: Bob Charlotte/PR PhotosTonight’s CMT Music Awards just wrapped up — if you missed it, you can check out the replay of my liveblog here, during which no one at all drank anything other than Capri Sun — and here’s your full list of winners, in bold, after the jump. Carrie Underwood, whose fans are very good at voting for her, took home two as the night’s big winner (Video of the Year and CMT Performance), yet found herself defeated by Miranda Lambert and “White Liar” in the Female Video category. If you can figure that discrepancy out, or have any further comments about tonight’s show, leave ‘em in the comments! READ FULL STORY »