News Roundup: 11/20/2009
November 20th, 2009 | 4:50 pm est |
New Yorkers were treated to a rare performance by Big Star on Wednesday night, when the iconic power-pop band — whose touring lineup now comprises frontman Alex Chilton, longtime drummer Jody Stephens, and Posies members Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow — performed at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. Highlights included a cover of Todd Rundgren’s “Slut,” a rendition of “I Am the Cosmos” with Auer on lead vocals, and such Big Star staples as “Thirteen” and “The Ballad of El Goodo.” [RollingStone.com]
Dates for the annual Bonnaroo Festival have been announced. The festival will commence its ninth year on June 10th, 2010, and the 24-hour entertainment will run through the morning of the 13th. Start praying for dry weather and big-name headliners. [LiveMusicBlog.com]
BlueBeat owner Hank Risan, whose website was recently closed for illegally selling music by the Beatles, Lily Allen, and Coldplay, tells the Los Angeles Times that he secured a “secret agreement” with EMI and the RIAA before selling the Fab Four’s tracks. [LATimes.com]
The Gibson guitar company is under federal investigation for potentially using smuggled wood in its instruments. Federal agents raided a Gibson factory on Tuesday, claiming the company may have illegally shipped rosewood from Madagascar to help create its signature guitars. [Guardian.co.uk]
Miley Cyrus’ bus driver has been killed in a traffic accident in Virginia, although Cyrus was not aboard the bus when it overturned. The singer’s next concert — a Sunday evening gig in Greensboro, North Carolina — is still scheduled to take place. [RollingStone.com]
After smearing herself with blood at the 2009 VMAs and writhing atop a ladder during Monday’s episode of Gossip Girl, Lady Gaga has secured an even stranger gig: performing her dance-pop songs for the Queen of England. Gaga will join artists like Bette Midler, Alexandra Burke, and Michael Buble at this year’s Royal Variety Performance, which takes place at the Blackpool Opera House on December 7. [NME.com]
Actor Jason Segel joined the Swell Season during a recent gig in L.A., performing a self-penned song that included references to his nude scene in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and his involvement with the TV cult favorite “Freaks and Geeks.” Watch the performance here. [Spinner.com]
I just saw at rolling stone that The Dead Weather will actually record another album and they’re planning to release it next year. WTF ? Jack , dude you got to go into a studio with MEG WHITE! Remember your sister ? I’m really expecting this new album to be better than their debut. Such a weak album, such a big hype about that one.Jack is great with the stripes, but not with this one Alison is great with The Kills, but she sounds like a PJ Harvey wannabe on Horehound, please… There’s only one Polly Jean Harvey, and the rest is the rest. Oh, and i’m truly sorry if a Dead Weather fan starts feeling bad about my comment, it’s just my opinion, sorry.
You mean Molly cyrus is still alive? god damnit! Poor bus driver.
Really sorry for posting off topic, but have the reviews on this site disappeared for anyone else?
What is the story behind that?
pigeon! Glad I’m not alone! Where the hell are they? Where’s the New Release Newsletter?? (And what’s this about signing up for it all of a sudden? Tried that. Didn’t work. Frustration!) Where’s Writer’s Bloc??? (And what’s up with the awful black ‘n’ gray color scheme of the site map topics?) C’mon guys…I’m all for change – but let’s see some for the better! Clean up some of the clutter maybe, add some cool NEW features – something! How am I gonna get my Stephen Thomas Erlewine fix now? (Those Bright Eyes, Nickelback, etc. reviews are classic – gone! And Paul McCartney’s Ram was here this afternoon…) Please tell me I’m overreacting…I love you guys! Come back!!
Many reviews have disappeared, and many discographies have gotten messed up (regular albums ending up under ‘Compilations’ or even ‘Other’). Would it be possible for any member of the staff to comment on this, so we know they are aware of the problems and working to solve them?
I’m sorry to post this off-topic too, but then there’s no place to do so on-topic.
@HRS: Here’s a newsflash for you brother – Meg White isn’t Jack White’s sister. Look it up.
They should give My Morning Jacket a headlining slot. That is if MMJ will be playing shows in 2010.
omg, im a huge white stripes fan, since 2000 and i never thought that they were a couple, before they divorce of course, i really thought she was his sister. Im shocked, and feeling totally stupid! And i realized some reviews are gone too, i was like visiting some self titled albums and 8 of them were like gone, the link seemed like dead, i thought it was only with them, but i see that it is a bigger problem!