Berlin Pictures

Klang by The Rakes

The third album for the British indie-rock band was recorded in Berlin. [Rock, Indie]

Published: 2009-03-30 Provider: Metacritic

Hype Monitor: Celeste, Jean on Jean, La Roux

The Band: Celeste The Buzz: Grim, grinding French metal band releases latest album for free, giving unlimited darkness and doom to all. Listen If: You consider Dillinger Escape Plan “soft rock.” Key Track: “Que Des Yeux Vides et Seches,” a knot of razor-wire guitars and seared-larynx vocals, the sound of an elevator ride to the underworld. The Band: Jean on Jean The Buzz: The inverse of Celeste: sweet, soft, female-fronted pop that blend shoegaze vocals with starry-eyed strumming. Listen If: You’re excited about the return of lo-fi, but wish some of the melodies were a bit stronger and a lot warmer. Key Track: “Cold Horse,” which sounds like it was rescued from the dusty archives of forgotten dreampoppers Lush. The Band: La Roux The Buzz: Dance dance revolution! Big beats and bright synths make for perky, catchy electropop. Listen If: You’re DJing a dance night in Berlin and you’ve run out of MGMT remixes Key Track: “In for the Kill,” where breathy female vocals float over morse code synths like cotton balls over a bed of nails.

Published: 2009-02-26 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Breaking

News Ticker: Them Crooked Vultures, MTV Europe Awards, Ryan Adams, Bob Dylan

Them Crooked Vultures have announced their first New York City show: an October 15th gig at Roseland Ballroom. According to the band’s Crooked Times newsletter, the presale begins September 24th at 4 pm ET. Lady Gaga and Kings of Leon lead MTV Europe Music Awards nominations with five nods apiece. So far Green Day, Leona Lewis and Tokio Hotel are set to perform at the November 5th show in Berlin, Reuters reports. Ryan Adams has responded to Courtney Love’s claims that he owes her money in a stat

Published: 2009-09-22 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Morning News Roundup

A Concert Gimmick We Can Support

Last year, Roger Waters mounted a tour in which he performed all of Dark Side Of the Moon in concert from start to finish. Then in December, Lou Reed caused a hubbub performing the entirety of his 1973 album Berlin live in Brooklyn. Now indie rockers are joining in on the fun. Just today we got word that beloved indie rock band Slint will do the same thing with their hugely influential 1991 album Spiderland for a number of dates this summer; Sonic Youth is jumping on the bandwagon too, playing

Published: 2007-03-20 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: General

Metallica - Metallica Announce Cut-price Gigs

Rockers METALLICA have announced plans to let their fans see them perform for just $10 (GBP5). The band will play two gigs - one in Berlin, Germany on 12 September (08) ...

Published: 2008-08-21 Provider: Contact Music

Queens of the Stone Age Team Up With Celeb Chef Anthony Bourdain For Weirdest Holiday Special Ever

If you are Anthony Bourdain, the punk-rock-loving world-renowned chef and star of the hit Travel Channel show No Reservations, sometimes you find yourself in Berlin boozing with Queens of the Stone Age. As the cocktails flow, the conversation morphs from the Ramones to kitsch, and before you know it you’re talking about super-cheesy Christmas variety-show specials in the Bing Crosby-hosts-David Bowie tradition. The result? Last week QOTSA played “Silver Bells” (renamed “Turkey Bells”) for a holiday-themed episode of No Reservations. “We just got a call saying, ‘Hey, we have a weird idea,’” frontman Josh Homme told us. “So when people come to us with that sort of a statement we are all ears.” Here’s the plot: While Bourdain cooks a traditional holiday feast at his Connecticut home, the Queens are rocking tracks including “Sick, Sick, Sick,” “3’s & 7’s” and “Make It Wit Chu” at an ungodly volume in the basement rec room. When the band emerges, they’re sporting appalling Christmas sweaters. “QVC graciously sent us the worst sweaters of all time,” Homme explains. “I think someone Googled the word ‘horrible’ and that’s how we found them.” Bourdain, ever the arbiter of good taste, hasn’t recovered: “Those Christmas sweaters were just the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen in my life. Beyond Sandra Lee on some really awful hallucinogen.” While Homme and Bourdain aren’t giving up the whole story, they revealed the episode will involve karaoke, surly adolescents and a Japanese businessman. “It’s a traditional Thanksgiving/Christmas meal with turkey, all the trimmings, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie … some Christmas carols … and a vicious brother-on-brother knife fight,” Bourdain said. “We spent a fair amount of time spraying stage blood onto my niece and nephew’s face. What’s a holiday special without violent mayhem? I think it’s an honest reflection of the holiday season.” Though Homme

Published: 2007-09-14 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Scorsese Rolling Stones Doc Gets IMAX Release, Britney Spears’ Divorce Is Finalized, ‘Idol’ Audition Madness Begins

On September 21, Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones documentary Shine a Light will be released in both regular movie theaters and in IMAX. Light follows the band during their two shows at New York City’s Beacon Theater last fall. Britney Spears is officially divorced from Kevin Federline, though he may continue fighting for full custody of their two sons. Frank Zappa has been honored with his own street in Berlin, while Deadheads are prepping for the fifth annual Jerry Day to pay tribute to Jerry Garcia, who would have celebrated his sixty-fifth birthday tomorrow. Auditions for the seventh season of American Idol kicked off yesterday in San Diego, drawing 12,000 aspiring Aikens and Clarksons. Dashboard Confessional’s Chris Carrabba will embark on his first solo tour in five years this fall. Dates after the jump. Dashboard Confessional Tour Dates: 9/14 - Rochester, MI (O’Rena Athletic Complex) 9/28 - Baltimore (Rams Head Live!) 9/29 - Norfolk, VA (NorVa) 9/30 - Raleigh, NC (Meymanid Concert Hall) 10/2 - Atlanta (Center Stage) 10/3 - Nashville (Ryman Auditorium) 10/5 - Orlando, Fla. (House of Blues) 10/8 - Austin, Texas (La Zona Rosa) 10/9 - Houston (Warehouse Live) 10/10 - Dallas (Palladium) 10/12 - Las Vegas (House of Blues) 10/13 - Tempe, Ariz. (Marquee Theatre) 10/14 - San Diego, Calif. (SOMA) 10/16-17 - Los Angeles (Orpheum Theatre) 10/19 - San Francisco (Warfield) 10/20 - Portland, Ore. (Wonder Ballroom) 10/25 - Denver (Ogden Theatre) 10/26 - Kansas City, Mo. (Uptown Theater) 10/29-30 - Chicago (House of Blues) 11/1 - Toronto (Kool Haus) 11/2 - Pontiac, Mich. (Clutch Cargo’s) 11/3 - Columbus, Ohio (Newport Music Hall) 11/5-6 - New York (Webster Hall) 11/8-9 - Worcester, Mass. (Palladium) 11/10 - Atlantic City, N.J. (House of Blues) 11/12-13 - Philadelphia (Electric Factory) 11/14 - New York (Blender Theater at Gramercy) Photo: AFP/Bouys/Getty

Published: 2007-08-01 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Morning News Roundup

Scorsese Unveils Rolling Stones Doc at Berlin Film Fest

The Rolling Stones and Martin Scorsese opened the Berlin International Film Festival today with the world premiere of the Stones concert film Shine a Light. After a screening, the band and the director met with an overflow crowd of reporters for a press conference full of mutual admiration. Mick Jagger pointed out that “Shine a Light is the only Martin Scorsese movie I know that doesn’t have ‘Gimme Shelter’ in it!” In other rock movie news, Scorsese said that he is currently “looking at footage” for his upcoming George Harrison movie, and that it’s going to be a “straight documentary.” [Photo: Kate Burton]

Published: 2008-02-07 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Rolling Stones

Metallica Stir Up a Mosh Pit at “Death Magnetic” Show for BBC

Fresh off a launch party/concert for Death Magnetic in Berlin, Metallica checked into London’s BBC Theatre last night to record a one-hour live radio broadcast that saw the band test five new tracks and rifle through a handful of old favorites. “Do you like?” Metallica frontman James Hetfield asked of 300-plus fan club members after the band ripped through “That Was Just Your Life” and “End of the Line,” two cuts from the new album. The Metallica faithful were well acquainted with Death Magnetic and obliged Hetfield when asked to “Sing along, if you know the words” on the first two singles “Cyanide” and “The Day That Never Comes.” After 45 minutes of nonstop speed metal, Metallica produced a thundering conclusion (and perhaps the first-ever mosh pit at the BBC) with classics “Master of Puppets” and “Blackened.” Metallica stuck around for a few moments after the show as Hetfield high-fived fans while Lars Ulrich tossed drumsticks into the crowd. For those in the U.K., the concert will be broadcast tonight on Radio One at 9:00 PM GMT. Following the radio broadcast, the full gig will be available for streaming on the BBC’s Website. Metallica play in London again tonight at the O2 Arena and will kick off their 35-date North American tour on October 21st in Glendale, Arizona. Set List: “That Was Just Your Life” “End of the Line” “Until it Sleeps” “Broken Beat Scarred” “Cyanide” “Frantic” “For Whom the Bell Tolls” “The Day That Never Comes” “Master of Puppets” “Blackened” Related Stories: • Metallica Expected to Sell 500K Copies of Death Magnetic Despite Short Sales Week • Album Review: Metallica, Death Magnetic (4 stars) • Metallica Premiere Video For “The Day That Never Comes” • More Metallica News at Rock & Roll Daily

Published: 2008-09-15 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Live Shows, Metallica

Rolling Stones “Shine a Light” on Universal, Tenure With EMI Likely Over

The Rolling Stones have signed a one-album deal with Universal Music Group for the release of their next album, the live soundtrack to Martin Scorsese’s concert film Shine a Light. The Universal deal likely spells the end of the Stones’ sixteen-year partnership with EMI, as the band’s record contract with that label expires next month. If they do sign a long-term deal with another label, the Stones would join Paul McCartney and Radiohead as the latest big-name artist to exit EMI in the wake of their tumultuous takeover by private equity firm Terra Firma. Earlier this week, EMI head Guy Hands announced that the label would allow for the corporating sponsoring of bands, as well as cut 1,500-2,000 jobs in order to free up $400 million. Still-contracted EMI artists like Robbie Williams, the Verve and Coldplay hinted at withholding new albums until EMI proved they were capable of appropriately promoting and distributing those releases. Scorsese filmed Shine A Light during two Stones gigs at New York City’s relatively intimate Beacon Theatre in 2006. Among the special guests who joined the band on stage were Jack White and Christina Aguilera. The film will debut at the Berlin Film Festival next month before hitting American cinemas on April 4th. Related Stories: EMI Chairman Confirms Cutbacks, Says Bands May Be Sponsored Like Football Teams Rolling Stones Doc Set to Drop Trailer for Scorsese’s Rolling Stones Documentary [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-01-17 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Rolling Stones, The Industry

Breaking Artist: Midnight Juggernauts

Who: Aussie new-rave trio Midnight Juggernauts, who just wrapped up their first U.S. tour supporting Summer ‘07 “It” band Justice. After tours of Europe and China, the group — guitarist-singer Andy Streetcrimes, singer-keyboardist Vin Vendetta and drummer Daniel Stricker — started accruing some major word of mouth thanks to MySpace. The dance-rockers ultimately scored their Justice gig the old-fashioned way: by cooking the French duo dinner. Sounds Like: David Bowie if his Berlin Trilogy was a collaboration with Kraftwerk and Faust. Their debut album Dystopia takes uplifting Numan synths, Daft Punk beats and Pink Floyd’s affinity for all things astronomical and Orwellian, then melts them all together with the help of some good psychedelics. Three Things You Should Know: 1. The band played fake Michael Jackson benefit shows to lure in unsuspecting fans. “He was having some some legal troubles and the idea was to give money to the show to fund legal expenses,” says Vincent. “It was just a joke, but I think some papers caught up on it and did some stories. They even got some child-abuse spokesperson to comment on it.” Some attending the event didn’t find the joke funny, as they complained when no actual Jacko covers were played. 2. The group’s rejected monikers include Dragon Lord and Warlords. “We had revolving names in the beginning and then there were other bands on the other side of the world who contacted us saying ‘We already had the title. We’ll sue you if you continue with that,’ ” Vincent explains. “So we just tried to come up with the most ridiculous thing. I guess Midnight Juggernauts is just literally an unstoppable force in the middle of the night, so we thought that may suit our music.” 3. The trio’s influences are wide-ranging — from Bowie and Floyd to Pixies and Slayer to old-school melancholy surf music — and their overall goal is lofty. “It’s not a

Published: 2007-11-01 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Videos, Breaking, Podcasts

Brooding band's singer wore what?

No, Gary Lightbody says, his father never dressed him in a suit of armor. But the band sometimes sounds likes it's wearing one: Snow Patrol is known for its less-than-cheery songs. That's changing with the new album, says Lightbody.

Published: 2009-01-03 Provider: CNN Keywords: Music, David Bowie, Wisconsin, Gary Lightbody, United States, Snow Patrol, United Kingdom, Grey\'s Anatomy, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., Iggy Pop, Music Reviews, New Music Releases, Lou Reed, Berlin, Entertainment, Ireland