Pop Music

Posted by Heather Larson

Countdown to Zeppelin on iTunes

There’s less than a month until you can buy Led Zeppelin’s music on iTunes. November 13 is d-day for Zep’s digital arrival.

R. Kelly’s and Keyshia Cole On Tour

Keyshia Cole is joining R. Kelly’s tour November 14 in Columbus, GA. Here’s a link to her new song featuring Amina, “Shoulda Let You Go.”

Check out the video too. You probably don’t want to miss this one; the lady looks HOT! Yes, it’s Keyshia Cole on the beach in a pink bathing suit. Fellas, you’re welcome.

Keyshia Cole Tour Dates:?

Wed Nov 14 Columbus, GA Columbus Civic Center ?

Thurs Nov 15 Atlanta Phillips Arena?

Fri Nov 16 Greensboro Greensboro Coliseum?

Sat Nov 17 Birmingham BJCC?

Sun Nov 18 Charlotte Bobcat Arena?

Wed Nov 21 Philadelphia Wachovia Center?

Thurs Nov 22 Newark Prudential Center?

Fri Nov 23 New York Nassau Coliseum?

Sat Nov 24 Baltimore 1st Mariner?

Sun Nov 25 Washington DC Verizon Center?

Thurs Nov 29 Little Rock Alltel Arena?

Fri Nov 30 New Orleans New Orleans Arena?

Sat Dec 1 Dallas American AirlinesArena?

Sun Dec 2 Houston Toyota Center?

Thurs Dec 6 Minneapolis Target Center?

Fri Dec 7 Kansas City Sprint Center?

Sat Dec 8 Indianapolis Conseco Fieldhouse?

Sun Dec 9 Memphis Fed Ex Forum

Thurs Dec 13 Las Vegas Mandalay Bay?

Fri Dec 14 Los Angeles Staples Center?

Sat Dec 15 Oakland Oakland Arena(Oracle)

Sun Dec 16 Sacramento ARCO Arena?

Thurs Dec 20 Chicago United Center?

Fri Dec 21 Chicago United Center

Sat Dec 22 Detroit Joe Louis Arena?

Sun Dec 23 Detroit Joe Louis Arena?

Thurs Dec 27 Charleston North Charleston Coliseum?

Fri Dec 28 Orlando Amway?

Sat Dec 29 Columbia Colonial Center?

Sun Dec 30 Jacksonville Veteran Memorial?

Mon Dec 31 Miami American AirlinesArena

Fri Jan 4 Cleveland Wolstein Center?

Sat Jan 5 Louisvile Kentucky Expo Center?

Sun Jan 6 St Louis Scottrade?Wed Jan 9 Savannah Savannah Civic Center?

Thurs Jan 10 Greenville Bi-Lo Center?

Fri Jan 11 Richmond Richmond Coliseum ?

Sun Jan 13 Hampton Coliseum Hampton Coliseum

Posted by Heather Larson

Everyone is getting in on the pre-holiday music releases, all hoping to be under your Christmas tree or sitting next to your Menorah. Mary J. Blige’s Growing Pains is set for release on November 27. A week later, you can get your hands on Wyclef’s Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant.

www.myspace.com/wyclefjean

First, there was an Internet-only montage of “Sweetest Girl” put on YouTube. It’s a song featuring ‘Lil Wayne, Akon, and newcomer NIIA. Now you can enjoy the real video online.

The song’s hook makes reference to a decade old Wu-Tang Clan song, “C.R.E.A.M.,” with the lyrics: "I'ma tell you like Wu told me / Cash rules everything around me..."

It’s an essential hip-hop song; if you haven’t heard it before, you better check it out now on the Wu MySpace.

Besides giving homage to some classic hip hop, ‘Clef’s new joint will feature some of today’s best stars. Guests on the album include Mary J. Blige, Chamillionaire, Lil' Wayne, and TI. What a dream team!

Check out the video for Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)

Posted by Heather Larson

I thought we’d be safe once we found our spot on the lawn to spread out our beach towels. I was wrong.

The extremely bad-mannered Dave Matthews fans walked right over our beach towels. They stepped on my feet. They tripped on my feet. They spilled beer on my feet. Garbage was kicked at us. Loud, drunken people surrounded us having loud conversations. Dave Matthews Band fans are white trash of the highest order. Caucasian debris. In all my years of going to concerts, I have never had such an experience.

The music was fantastic and Dave and the fellas didn’t disappoint. Seeing the band was worth putting up with a sold-out crowd of jerks. But the ultimate example of stupidity came during the encore.

A dancing couple moved into the real estate right behind us on the lawn. The drunken couple danced wildly, and in the beginning, I was actually watching them for laughs as was everyone else in the vicinity. Let face it, drunk people dancing are always a hit. It was especially funny when he twirled her right into a passing fat woman. I laughed pretty hard at that -- until he twirled her into me and almost knocked me over.

I’d rather go to Country Thunder where the “rednecks” are rich and well-behaved. That was the most fun, laid-back crowd I have ever seen. I’d also rather go see Maná any day in any country. Hispanics also have great manners and are very welcoming, even to a loco gringa like me. But a Dave Matthews Band show I could skip just because of the fans. Maybe I’d go if I could buy a seat and avoid the lawn. I’d definitely go see them at another venue in another city. But Cricket Wireless Pavilion I’ll avoid as much as I can.

Posted by Heather Larson

So I go to see the Dave Matthews Band concert at Phoenix’s Cricket Wireless Pavilion. It’s the old Desert Sky Pavilion, at least that’s what we called it when I was a kid. That will give you an idea of how old it is. So the place is a dump, quite literally. Every moment I am there, I am hating the experience. The place needs a serious upgrade. It’s completely cramped.

Once inside after a completely inefficient pat down/purse search where girls go in one line and boys go in the other and everyone is confused, I head to the ladies room. The line goes on for eternity and some drunk chick comes up behind me and starts grabbing on me asking if this is the end of the line. Well, duh. This was the beginning of what would be a night of bad behavior.

Dave Matthews Band fans have absolutely no manners.

A chick blatantly cut in the bathroom line right in front of me, but at least she sang for her supper and carried on an intelligent conversation about Dave and Jimmy Buffet with me. This is very much unlike the drunk chick behind me who kept grabbing me and cursing, yelling at the girls in line to, “Just pick a f***ing stall already!”

There was also a chance meeting between us at the bathroom sink, which had definitely seen better days as it splattered all the nearby ladies with water. I’ve never seen a sink splatter so far before. Note to Cricket: bulldoze your cramped, sagging, dilapidated Pavilion and build something that will handle our growing population.

Next in part two: My trip into hell, or sitting on the lawn at a Dave Matthews Band show.

Posted by Heather Larson

Mana is huge in the States because we have a huge Latin population here, especially here in the Southwest. It’s the biggest band the mainstream doesn’t know about – and that’s OK with me. Mana is a band real music fans know about, regardless of their cultural heritage. I don’t see any reason why Mana can’t go mainstream in the U.S. They were already on the Grammy-winning Carlos Santana album Supernatural and have even won their own Grammy as a band. You may remember their song Corazon Espinado with Santana. If not, that’s OK.

Just like soccer, Mana is the biggest Latin thing in the U.S. that the white folks don’t know about. The only thing that will change that is if Mana does an English language album. I’m not sure if I see that day ever coming, but I wouldn’t be the least upset if it did. But I love them in any language and can’t wait to see them play tonight!

Posted by Heather Larson

As a freelance music journalist, I get to attend a great many concerts. Friday night, I was at Phoenix’s Chase Field to watch a Smashmouth concert after the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the St. Louis Cardinals. My radio station 98-7 The Peak (KPKX), where I am a weekend on-air personality, presented Smashmouth after the game. It was the first time I had seen them in concert in probably 12 years! They were still great, though a little older and a tad on the heavy side. But then again, so am I!

Sometimes it is easy to get jaded when you go to so many concerts, or to feel unexcited. Usually I do feel excited when going to any live show because I never know what to expect. But tonight I am especially excited to be attending the Mana concert at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix for Batanga.com because I have been a fan for a few years and I am finally getting to see them live.

Sharing my excitement hasn’t been so easy though. I am finding my white friends have no idea what I’m talking about when I say, “I’m getting ready to go see Mana tonight and tomorrow night and I’m so excited!” They say, “You’re going to see who?” Then I have to try to explain Mana to someone who has never heard of them.

Mana is one of the biggest rock bands in the world. If you’re Mexican, they are your U2, The Rolling Stones of the Latin world. The band has been around since the 1970s and like all legendary bands, has gone through many incarnations with members coming and going through the years.

More in part 2...

Posted by Heather Larson

I attended two shows last week. But the two concerts were a striking dichotomy. How many people can say they saw Don Henley, The Pretenders, The Stray Cats, and the Paid Dues independent hip-hop festival with acts like Brother Ali and Murs all in the same week? I did it, and I’ve lived to tell.

The radio station I work for here in Phoenix, Arizona put on its first ever “Festivus.” Our three-act show included Brian Setzer and a reunited group of Stray Cats that hadn’t played together in this incarnation in a good 15 years. Then there was Chrissie Hynde and her Pretenders. Our headliner was Don Henley of the Eagles.

Both The Eagles and the Pretenders are currently working on new albums, by the way.

Then I went to the Paid Dues independent hip hop festival for Melodytrip.com, a site for which I produce a weekly podcast. We cover music festivals of all genres all over the world.

I was really hoping Rock The Bells would come through Phoenix, but like many hot tours, it isn’t. But it’s sister fest, Paid Dues, was set to come through town. On a 107-degree day, the outdoor festival was the kind you attend because you love independent hip-hop. Around 1,500 showed up to show their love for hip-hop’s emerging acts like Brother Ali, Living Legends, Felt, and Murs.

I came away from the festival with Drunken Immortals (a local hip-hop act) on vinyl, a CD from The Insects, and later bought Brother Ali on iTunes because I just couldn’t stop thinking about his music after seeing him play live.

From The Peak’s Festivus, I came away knowing that anytime The Pretenders, Stray Cats, or Don Henley come through town again, they are not to be missed.

Posted by Heather Larson

Here are my three favorite news stories for today! I’ll explain why after each story.

Kanye Track Makes Strong Billboard Debut

Kanye West has the strongest debut on the Billboard chart this week. His song, “Stronger” debuted at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100.

I have loved Kanye West since the very beginning of his career and it’s always good that he keeps coming back with something unique each time around. “Stronger” is a great song. It also marks the first time the Daft Punk sound has merged with hip-hop. I can imagine most people into their hip-hop have never bothered to listen to the dance music of Daft Punk. Maybe now that will change. I’m always an advocate for keeping an opening listening mind and think it’s great to hear Kanye and Daft Punk together.

Usher’s Wife Tameka Puts Hit Out On Sister Via National Enquirer

Tameka’s sister supposedly gave up the goods on her criminal past to Usher before the marriage. Now Tameka is mad and gave this quote to the National Enquirer:

“You are one dead bitch and you better watch your back, cause I’m putting a hit out on you!”

This is a pretty delicious rumor going around and I had to indulge. The Tameka bashing has been going on for some time now at various blogs and I don’t think I have anything to say that hasn’t already been said. So I’m just going to leave it at one simple thought directed at Usher: your fans will get over the Tameka thing if you provide us with a good album sometime soon. Don’t be known as the guy who became nothing more than tabloid fodder.

Madonna’s Adoption Not Going So Well

The adoption of David Banda from Malawi by Madonna isn’t going so well. An official who was supposed to travel to London to check on Madonna was denied travel to the country. Said official has dismissed suggestions that he personally asked Madonna for an air ticket. The adoption now has a chance of falling through.

This is the first story I’ve seen in ages where Madonna seemed vulnerable, whether the story is true or not. She always is on top of the world, always a winner. It isn’t often a story pops up that exposes any of weakness of hers, if she even has any.

Posted by Heather Larson

DNA Tests Discover Two More James Brown Children

Who says major music headlines don’t pop up over the weekend? Two more children of James Brown have been discovered through DNA tests done on 12 people. The battle over the legend’s estate continues – now with this added wrinkle.

There is no confirmation on who the two kids are, but a South Carolina newspaper The Augusta Chronicle says one is 45-year-old Rhonda Petitt. Petitt apparently showed the publication a document which said there was a 99% probability she was Brown's daughter. She claims the singer picked her mother out of the audience during a Los Angeles concert in the early 1960s, thus beginning the hookup that led to her existence.

They broke up when her mother became pregnant and moved to Houston. Petitt's two daughters may at least be eligible for a trust the musician set up to pay for his grandchildren's education.

Brown’s will is currently being contested in court by his six kids… Add on two more plus grandchildren!

Countdown to Divorce: Usher Has Married Tameka

The single life is over for R&B superstar Usher who married his very pregnant (and much older) girlfriend Tameka Foster Friday. They did a civil ceremony in his lawyer’s office with his mother present. The wedding was supposed to have taken place last weekend in New York. Word is it got called off because Tameka wasn’t down with Usher’s pre-nup agreement. His mother, however, liked that pre-nup very much!

Why Beyonce Is Still Single

Jay-Z told New York’s Angie Martinez of Hot 97 that he hasn’t married Beyonce yet because he doesn’t like to make mistakes. That’s a fancy way of saying “I’m afraid of commitment.” But then again, he always had a great way of putting things otherwise he wouldn’t be the MC he is today.

Lauryn Hill on a Possible Fuguees Reunion

Lauryn Hill, formerly every B-girl’s fashion icon back in the days of The Fugees or “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” wears some crazy drag-queen type make up and has been looking less than fabulous lately. But she gave a interview recently in which she gave up this little nugget of info on any Fugees reunion that may or may not be in the works:

“I don’t know. I’m not going to say never because…I’m not going to feed anything either…It was a beautiful moment and we were able to do some really beautiful things…it was a special thing. It was a very special time. As far as a reunion, I don’t have the answer.”

Good News Gentlemen, Rihanna Is Single

She’s also never really had many relationships to put on her romantic resume. Oh, and she’s never been drunk either. So much for that whole “Good Girl Gone Bad” façade! Those tasty little factoids come courtesy of MAXIM Magazine.

Posted by Heather Larson

Isley was convicted of five counts of tax evasion and one count of failing to file a tax return.

He’s also extremely ill.

He’s also one of our cultural icons.

Does he deserve three years of incarceration?

I received the following letter from Def Jam:

LEND YOUR SUPPORT TO AN EXECUTIVE PRESIDENTIAL PARDON FOR THE LEGENDARY RON ISLEY AKA MR. BIGGS.

Join Def Jam today in helping to spread the word for the pardon of legendary American musician Ronald Isley. As a member of The Isley Brothers, Ronald Isley's career spans over 50 years, with countless accomplishments and a legacy of uniquely American music that has influenced everyone from the Beatles to Notorious B.I.G.

In an effort to protect Mr. Isley from incarceration for non-payment of taxes, we urge his fans to call, fax or email the White House immediately to help Ronald stay out of prison.

The situation is especially urgent because Mr. Isley is currently scheduled to report to begin serving a 3 year sentence on August 7th of this year.

In lieu of the recent charges brought against Mr. Isley, he is currently in the process of a total restitution of his financial obligations to the IRS. Mr. Isley has also offered to perform for troops at various military bases to help heal the country and show his support for their tireless efforts to protect this country.

It is important to point out that Ronald Isley has no prior criminal record, and has been a law-abiding, taxpaying employer since 1956. There is also concern that due to a variety of health issues, (Mr. Isley suffered a stroke in 2004 and was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2006) without proper care Mr. Isley's health could decline further and there is genuine concern as to whether he could survive a lengthy incarceration.

Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers are an important part of this country's musical history and a part of the Def Jam family so let's band together to keep one of our living legends out of jail.

See the links and numbers below for ways you can show your support:

1. To contact the President of the United States:

Call: 1-202-456-1414

Fax: 1-202-456-2461

Email: president@whitehouse.gov

2. To contact The Congressional Black Caucus:

Go to www.congressionalblackcaucus.net

Click on “meet reps” and find your representatives.

3. To contact your local senator or congressperson: www.congress.org

Take Action

There is, at this point, little over a week to take action if you want to help Ron Isley avoid prison time. If Scooter Libby can be pardoned, why not Ron Isley? Hasn’t Isley done more for our society?