N.E.R.D. album captures energy

When the trio of Shay Haley, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo -- better known as N.E.R.D. -- completed touring behind their album Fly Or Die, the rap-rock band was happy but thought the record was too "consistent," not truly encapsulating the diversity, energy and drive found in its live performances.

Published: 2008-06-18 Provider: Canoe

Animated Band Dethklok Plays Real Live Metal in New York

Going into Wednesday night’s show at New York’s Nokia Theater, it was plausible that Dethklok — the human incarnation of the cartoon band featured on Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse — could come across like a metal Josie and the Pussycats: all in good fun and a competent aping of a genre, but not quite the total package. But once the band kicked off their blistering set with the show’s theme song and a mosh pit the length of the stage opened up, things suddenly became pretty damn legitimate. Featuring Metalocalypse creator Brendon Small on guitar and vocals, Zappa family associates Mike Keneally and Bryan Beller on guitar and bass, respectively, and legendary metal drummer Gene Hoglan keeping time, the songs were given a weight that is lacking on the comparatively thin studio album. The performances of songs like “Murmaider” — a ditty about being killed by mermaids, in case it isn’t clear — and “Briefcase Full of Guts” were mostly stripped of their winking humor and laid out as a full-on metal attack. The comedy was handled by monitors displaying synchronized video of the band’s cartoon alter egos playing the same songs. Dethklok’s lyrics and caricatures of metal’s institutions may be in loving parody, but the fans slamming to “Bloodrocuted” didn’t seem to care. Set List: Deththeme Briefcase Full of Guts Birthday Dethday Awaken Bloodrocuted Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle Dethharmonic Castratikon Go Forth and Die Hatredcopter Murmaider Thunderhorse Go Into The Water Fansong Hatredy [Photo: Adult Swim]

Published: 2008-06-26 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Live Shows

New Kids on the Block Return to “Today” for First Show in 15 Years

Last month, the New Kids on the Block caused fan mayhem when they resurfaced on the Today show on a windy and rainy New York morning, and similarly dreary conditions awaited the estimated 4,000 who crowded into the show’s plaza early today for the five singers’ first performance together in 15 years. Surrounded by a hysterical throng of fans toting mementos of their adolescent obsession (old tour jackets, photographs, umbrellas and caps), the group played a short medley of their hits from the late Eighties and early Nineties — “Step by Step,” “Hangin’ Tough,” “Please Don’t Go Girl” and “You’ve Got It (The Right Stuff)” — their new single “Summertime” and a song recalling the good old days, “Tonight.” “It’s a little bit like Al Roker in a hurricane,” joked Donnie Wahlberg, referring to the band’s somewhat awkward attempt at dancing on the wet, slippery stage. Sporting his signature half-cocked baseball cap, Wahlberg went on to say that it wasn’t he who reunited the band, but “the brotherhood … and the friendship” that remained through the years. “If the fans didn’t want it, it wouldn’t have happened.” The turnout, despite the soggy weather, is one of the largest in Today show history, approaching the massive numbers of fans who flocked to Bruce Springsteen’s performance last September, as well as those at sets by Ricky Martin and ‘NSYNC. However, a spokesperson for the show said she’d never seen fans waiting on the street more than 48 hours in advance as many die-hards did for today’s New Kids show. “The story today is the fans more than it is us.” said Joey McIntyre, who elicited screams when he tossed his old-school wide-brimmed hat into the crowd during his solo on “Please Don’t Go Girl.” The Today show crew passed out new ver

Published: 2008-05-17 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Tiger Army burning bright

"Tiger Army never die" is a motto that's been habitually tested for the California psychobilly band.

Published: 2008-04-30 Provider: Canoe

Trey Anastasio Hints at Phish Reunion

Nearly four years after their break-up, the four members of Phish may have some unfinished business together. In an interview with Rolling Stone last week, Trey Anastasio didn’t exactly say the band has talked about a reunion, but he did drop some heavy hints. “When Phish broke up, I made some comment about how I’m not gonna go around playing ‘You Enjoy Myself’ for the rest of my life,” Anastasio said with a laugh. “And it’s so funny because Fish and Mike and Page have been talking to each other a lot lately and now — it’s not that I can’t believe that I said that, but its symbolic of how much I lost my mind or how much I lost my bearings or something. Because at this point in time I would give my left nut to play that song five times in a row every day until I die. I certainly thought about that while I was in jail.” Anastasio spoke to RS on May 21st, the same day he received some good news: He was sentenced to probation on charges of possessing painkillers without a prescription, which had been reduced to a misdemeanor after he completed a drug treatment program. Earlier in May, Anastasio and the other members of Phish stood onstage together in New York to accept a lifetime achievement award at the Jammies. [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-05-28 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Too Old To Die Young by Tall Firs

The sophomore album for the Brooklyn, New York band now includes Ryan Sawyer as its full-time drummer. [Rock, Indie]

Published: 2008-04-18 Provider: Metacritic

Tokio Hotel To Perform On 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien'; Check Out 'Ready Set Go!'

Tokio Hotel have just announced they will perform their new single, "Ready, Set, Go!" on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" on May 9th. Thanks to the massive amounts of on-line votes, the die hard Tokio Hotel fans booked the band another spot on TV with a #2 video ("Ready, Set, Go!") on yesterday's TRL on MTV. [...] Read more!

Published: 2008-04-17 Provider: StarPulse

Bruce Willis - Unemployed Willis Joins Lettermans Band

BRUCE WILLIS has found an unlikely employer in lieu of the ongoing writers strike - talk show host DAVID LETTERMAN. The "happily unemployed" Die Hard actor made a ...

Published: 2008-01-18 Provider: Contact Music

Riley Terrified Of Playing Curtis In Biopic

British actor SAM RILEY was terrified to emulate late JOY DIVISION frontman IAN CURTIS onscreen - because he was scared the band's die-hard fans would

Published: 2007-12-03 Provider: Contact Music

Nelly, Panic Bassist, Cee-Lo And Kevin Smith Playing Poker Together? What Are The Odds?!

Nelly, Panic! at the Disco bassist Jon Walker, Kevin Smith and Cee-Lo made for an unlikely crew at a pre-VMA poker game.

Published: 2007-09-08 Provider: VH1 Keywords: Sweatsuit, Artist, Album, Nelly, VH1, Knuckles<i&gt;, Categories, Interviews, Nellyville, Performers, Ringtones, <i&gt;Brass, Greatest, Nominees, Shooting, Artists, Culture, Gaining, Grammys, Mission, Behind, Grillz, Honors, Movies, Nellys, Photos, Rapper, Series, Videos, Hoops, Movie, Music, Radio, Snoop, World, Yards, Akon, Band, News, Past, Pimp, Rock, That, Whos, and, A-Z, Die,

Oasis Releases Concert Documentary

For those of you die-hard Anglophiles keeping track of the never-ending career of Oasis, the band announced today that they will be releasing a tour documentary due on October 29 internationally,

Published: 2007-08-13 Provider: Artist Direct

We'll Live and Die in These Towns by The Enemy

Formally known as The Bridges, the British band returns with a label, a new name, and a new album. [Indie, Rock]

Published: 2007-07-27 Provider: Metacritic