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MTV's Musical March Madness: Panic! At The Disco Vs. Avril Lavigne, Florence And The Machine Vs. Brandon Flowers

Posted 3/15/11 11:30 am EST by in Music

It's MTV's second annual Musical March Madness! MTV News took the 64 biggest names in rock, split them up into four regions, assigned them seeds and puts them up against one another in a single-elimination series of match-ups in a winner-take-all contest. We're leaving it to you to decide an actual champ in this field of 64, so over the next few weeks, fan voting will determine who will emerge as this year's champion. It's all about the fans, and the artist with the most passionate fan base will score the awesome Musical March Madness trophy!

The voting continues in the West bracket, with 30 Seconds to Mars jumping out to an early lead over Yellowcard and Pearl Jam and Train trading blows in a tight early race. There are two more match-ups below between some real heavy hitters, which should keep the action hot.

As always, first round voting continues through Sunday night (March 20), and you can catch up with any match-ups you might have missed here.

(5) Panic! at the Disco vs. (12) Avril Lavigne
Panic! at the Disco have climbed back to the upper echelons of the rock world with their hotly-anticipated new album Vices & Virtues. The group's third release already has one hit single in "The Ballad of Mona Lisa," with more to come when the album finally hits the streets on March 22. They square off against a feisty Avril Lavigne, who is back on the scene with an excellent new album Goodbye Lullaby. Will the chart dominance of "What the Hell" be enough to topple the Panic boys? Only you can decide!

(4) Florence and the Machine vs. (13) Brandon Flowers
Florence & the Machine have climbed up the rock ladder thanks to a number of high profile TV performances and the greatness of "Dog Days Are Over." Meanwhile, Brandon Flowers put out one of the most underrated albums of 2010 in Flamingo and is primed for another run to the top of the rock world. Who will emerge victorious? Your votes will decide it!

Watch Dick Bagwell and Vincent Twice break down this year's bracket!

Check out the Musical March Madness bracket and be take a look at the hoops-centric photos of some of the tournament's biggest bands.

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Snooki Visits 'WWE Raw,' Gets A Spot At WrestleMania

Posted 3/15/11 10:30 am EST by in Television

Having already made a name for herself as one of the breakout stars of MTV's hit show "Jersey Shore" and scoring herself a spot on the New York Times Bestseller list, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi will now attempt to conquer the world of professional wrestling.

Snooki was the special guest on Monday night's (March 14) episode of WWE's flagship show "Raw," and she managed to get involved during a match between Vickie Guerrero and returning former WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus. Guerrero won the match with some assistance from boyfriend Dolph Ziggler and pals Layla and Michelle McCool, and once the match was over, the women called out Snooki, letting her know that she was now in their world (and not in a club on the shore). Snooki apparently took exception to their rant and attacked McCool. Stratus and John Morrison (who is currently feuding with Ziggler) helped Snooki clear the ring, and when all was said and done, Guerrero laid down a challenge that Snooki gladly accepted.

That means that at WrestleMania XXVII (which airs live from Atlanta on Sunday, April 3), Snooki will team up with Stratus and Morrison to take on Ziggler, McCool and Layla in a six person mixed tag match. It should be noted that Snooki held her own against the more experienced (and taller) ladies of the WWE (she perfectly executed a Lou Thesz press and threw some mounted punches), and the match should only add to a wildly entertaining evening that also features the return of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and marquee bouts featuring John Cena, the Miz, the Undertaker and Triple H.

Snooki is the latest member of the "Jersey Shore" cast to get involved in pro wrestling in some way, as both Angelina Pivarnick and Jenni "JWoww" Farley have made appearances with Total Nonstop Action wrestling.

What did you think of Snooki's performance on "Raw"? Let us know in the comments!

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MTV's Musical March Madness: 30 Seconds To Mars Vs. Yellowcard, Pearl Jam Vs. Train

Posted 3/15/11 9:30 am EST by in Music

It's MTV's second annual Musical March Madness! MTV News took the 64 biggest names in rock, split them up into four regions, assigned them seeds and puts them up against one another in a single-elimination series of match-ups in a winner-take-all contest. We're leaving it to you to decide an actual champ in this field of 64, so over the next few weeks, fan voting will determine who will emerge as this year's champion. It's all about the fans, and the artist with the most passionate fan base will score the awesome Musical March Madness trophy!

On Monday (March 14), MTV's Musical March Madness launched with the Midwest bracket. Today (Tuesday, March 15), we move into the West, where some of the biggest names in music reside. Each of the 16 artists contained within the West bracket could win this tournament, but only the votes of the fans will decide who moves on and who stays home.

A reminder: First round voting continues through Sunday night (March 20), and you can catch up with any match-ups you might have missed here.

(1) 30 Seconds to Mars vs. (16) Yellowcard
The men of 30 Seconds to Mars earned themselves a number one seed in this year's tournament through consistent performances and dominance over the competition. Plus, they have one of the strongest fan bases in all of music (that would be the Echelon, which guitarist Tomo Milicevic shouted out in his Musical March Madness promo video). In the opposite corner, Yellowcard are back from their hiatus, have a new album called When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes and seem primed to get back to the top of the rock world. Will 30 Seconds to Mars be their first conquest on the comeback? You vote to decide!

(8) Pearl Jam vs. (9) Train
The West bracket is full of veterans like these — squads who have been to the dance before and could become dangerous at any time. Train are coming off one of their biggest years ever on the back of the success of "Hey Soul Sister," while Pearl Jam continue to deliver year after year (and as their new concert album Live on Ten Legs proves, they remain one of the stoutest guitar bands in the planet on stage). Which of these groups will scratch and claw their way to the next round? You tell us!

Watch Dick Bagwell and Vincent Twice break down this year's bracket!

Check out the Musical March Madness bracket and be take a look at the hoops-centric photos of some of the tournament's biggest bands.

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Daft Punk Become Human: Wake-Up Video

Posted 3/15/11 8:30 am EST by in Wake-Up Video

The legacy of Daft Punk, perhaps the greatest dance music act of the 21st century, is loaded down with irony. The two Frenchmen who make up Daft Punk — Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo — have spent the last 15 years or so crafting some of the world's biggest dance floor anthems, and they have done it in relative self-imposed obscurity. Their public appearances (including concerts) are conducted under the cover of helmets or masks, they rarely grant interviews and they don't even work that often. In trying to stay anonymous, Daft Punk have become exceptionally famous for not wanted to be recognized, and because of the scarcity of their work, each of their new releases is greeted with twitchy enthusiasm. Such was the case on this day in 2005, when Daft Punk dropped their third album Human After All.

After the full-bodied sound of their previous album (2001's Discovery), Daft Punk decided to make Human After All a more "minimalist" release. The entire thing was constructed in only two weeks and the basic tracks were crafted using a pair of guitars and a drum machine. While there are plenty of post-production bells and whistles, the tracks on Human After All do sound raw and immediate — a perfect backdrop to flailing at a club.

None of the songs on Human After All became as big as previous hits "One More Time" or "Harder Better Faster Stronger," but "Robot Rock" is a worthy entry into the Daft Punk catalog and is a good jump start to the day.


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MTV's Musical March Madness: Avenged Sevenfold Vs. Taylor Swift, Black Keys Vs. Bret Michaels

Posted 3/14/11 4:00 pm EST by in Music

It's MTV's second annual Musical March Madness! MTV News took the 64 biggest names in rock, split them up into four regions, assigned them seeds and puts them up against one another in a single-elimination series of match-ups in a winner-take-all contest. We're leaving it to you to decide an actual champ in this field of 64, so over the next few weeks, fan voting will determine who will emerge as this year's champion. It's all about the fans, and the artist with the most passionate fan base will score the awesome Musical March Madness trophy!

As of this posting, the Midwest bracket in the 2011 MTV Musical March Madness tournament has been completely rolled out. Catch up with any of the polls you might have missed here, and remember that the voting for all the first round match-ups ends on Sunday night (March 20). We'll round up the first round winners on Monday, March 21. Here are the final first round match-ups in the Midwest, including some notable dark horses.

(7) Avenged Sevenfold vs. (10) Taylor Swift
Perhaps the most intriguing head-to-head in the entire first round of the tournament, A7X take their chart-topping album and their loud-and-powerful stage show up against the country crossover monster that is Taylor Swift. Swift has tens of millions in album sales at her back, but will she be drowned out by Avenged Sevenfold's arena-sized crunch? Your votes will decide!

(2) Black Keys vs. (15) Bret Michaels
Michaels scored himself an automatic bid when he won the last season of "The Celebrity Apprentice" but also compounded his credibility as a challenger with his revival of "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." In the year between tournaments, the Black Keys have elevated themselves to elite status in the rock world (and have the Grammys to show for it). Which will stand taller when all the votes are counted? Only you know for sure!

Watch Dick Bagwell and Vincent Twice break down this year's bracket!

Check out the Musical March Madness bracket and be take a look at the hoops-centric photos of some of the tournament's biggest bands.

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MTV's Musical March Madness: Coheed And Cambria Vs. Crystal Bowersox, Vampire Weekend Vs. Bright Eyes

Posted 3/14/11 2:30 pm EST by in Music

It's MTV's second annual Musical March Madness! MTV News took the 64 biggest names in rock, split them up into four regions, assigned them seeds and puts them up against one another in a single-elimination series of match-ups in a winner-take-all contest. We're leaving it to you to decide an actual champ in this field of 64, so over the next few weeks, fan voting will determine who will emerge as this year's champion. It's all about the fans, and the artist with the most passionate fan base will score the awesome Musical March Madness trophy!

The 2011 MTV Musical March Madness tournament is only a few hours old, but there are already heated contests going on between some heavy hitters (there are already upsets brewing, as the Damned Things have jumped out to an early lead against top-seeded Foo Fighters). Of course, voting will continue through this Sunday (March 20), with the winners revealed on Monday (March 21). In the meantime, let's move on to the next batch of match-ups, which feature some of the biggest names in the whole contest.

(6) Coheed and Cambria vs. (11) Crystal Bowersox
The 2010 MTV Musical March Madness champions Coheed and Cambria made an improbable run through that tournament, proving that their fans were a force to be reckoned with. They probably would have had a higher seed had they not been so quiet over the past few months. But they remain one of the tournament favorites. Still, they have a challenging draw in Crystal Bowersox, the "American Idol" runner-up who has managed to galvanize an impressive online following since the release of her album Farmer's Daughter. Will she have enough to overthrow the reigning champs? Only your votes can decide!

(3) Vampire Weekend vs. (14) Bright Eyes
Two of the most literate acts in indie rock take it to the mat in the first round, and both are riding high. Vampire Weekend are still basking in the glow of their chart-topping second album Contra, while Bright Eyes just released their best album in years. Will Conor Oberst be able to topple the Vampire Weekend juggernaut? Vote and find out!

Watch Dick Bagwell and Vincent Twice break down this year's bracket!

Check out the Musical March Madness bracket and be take a look at the hoops-centric photos of some of the tournament's biggest bands.

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Green Day Smoke'Em For MTV News' #MusicMonday

Posted 3/14/11 1:30 pm EST by in Music

Really, you should be listening to music every day, but thanks to Twitter, Monday has become the best day of the week to discover new songs, show some love to the tune currently dominating your iPod playlist and quietly judge the listening habits of your closest friends. Yes, it's #MusicMonday, one of Twitter's most enduring trending topics. Hence "MTV News' #MusicMonday," a weekly look at the songs we are currently crushing on.

This week, Green Day do it live.

Like many bands, Green Day got their start playing shambling songs to mostly empty clubs in out of the way places. But unlike most bands, the group has used its 20 years of experience to evolve into one of the tightest, most engaging live bands on the planet. This week sees the release of their latest live project, an album and DVD combo that is appropriately titled Awesome As F---. The compilation brings together 17 of the band's biggest tracks recorded all around the world during their 21st Century Breakdown World Tour that kept them on the road for most of 2009 and 2010. The DVD is a full-length concert live from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Both on the album and in the video, Green Day show off their boundless energy, stellar execution and impeccable relationship with the crowd. There is a true energy exchange that goes on between the band and its audience, and there's a palpable buzz in the air throughout each song performed. To get you ready for Awesome As F--- (which hits store shelves next Tuesday, March 22), crank up the band's live version of "Cigarettes & Valentines," one of the few rescued remnants from the lost album of the same name.

What's your #MusicMonday jam? Let us know in the comments!

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MTV's Musical March Madness: Neon Trees Vs. Patrick Stump, Rise Against Vs. Pete Wentz/Black Cards

Posted 3/14/11 12:30 pm EST by in Music

It's MTV's second annual Musical March Madness! MTV News took the 64 biggest names in rock, split them up into four regions, assigned them seeds and puts them up against one another in a single-elimination series of match-ups in a winner-take-all contest. We're leaving it to you to decide an actual champ in this field of 64, so over the next few weeks, fan voting will determine who will emerge as this year's champion. It's all about the fans, and the artist with the most passionate fan base will score the awesome Musical March Madness trophy!

The first round of voting in the 2011 MTV Musical March Madness tournament is underway, with heated competitions already dividing fans of Foo Fighters, Disturbed, Dave Matthews Band and the Damned Things. Continuing in the Midwest bracket, we bring you four more top-shelf competitors trying to fight their way through the tournament. Once again, the voting will close on Sunday night (March 20), with the new match-ups revealed next Monday, March 21. Vote on!

(5) Neon Trees vs. (12) Patrick Stump
Neon Trees have spent the last year building buzz and establishing themselves as players on the rock scene (mostly thanks to the chart-topping single "Animal"). Also, they're from Utah, just like BYU. Meanwhile, Patrick Stump has spent that same year reinventing himself as a solo artist, and he surges into the tournament on the strength of his well-received solo EP Truant Wave. Will the upstarts upend the veteran? Vote and see!

(4) Rise Against vs. (13) Pete Wentz/Black Cards
Political-minded aggro-punk outfit Rise Against snagged an impressively high seed in this year's Musical March Madness tournament thanks to the their excellent new album Endgame (which hits stores on Tuesday, March 15). Former Fall Out Boy bassist Wentz slipped a bit this year, but came on strong late with the establishment of the Black Cards, his new and still somewhat mysterious project. In this battle of modern punks, who will stand tallest?

Check out the Musical March Madness bracket and be take a look at the hoops-centric photos of some of the tournament's biggest bands.

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Robert Pattinson Is Bigger Than Basketball In This Week's 'Late Night Lineup'

Posted 3/14/11 11:00 am EST by in Television

Over the next few weeks, the NCAA men's basketball tournament is going to take up an awful lot of your time, money and useful bandwidth. It will also claim an awful lot of television time, which means that several late night shows will be running on limited schedules. Such is the case with "The Late Show With David Letterman," which will take off Thursday and Friday for the sake of hoops coverage. Luckily, Letterman is cramming in some top-shelf guests in three days, as he'll welcome Charles Barkley (Monday, March 14), Bradley Cooper (Tuesday, March 15) and Selena Gomez (Wednesday, March 15).

"Conan" will also be in reruns this week because TBS will be running NCAA tournament games for the first time. "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" will also be in repeats on Thursday (March 17) and Friday (March 18th), though he'll have on Martha Stewart (Tuesday) and Seth Rogen (Wednesday). And though their networks aren't showing basketball, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Chelsea Handler all decided to take the week off as well.

But that doesn't mean that everybody is slacking. On the contrary, "The Tonight Show" features visits from Jane Lynch and Avril Lavigne (Monday), Rainn Wilson (Thursday) and Robert Pattinson (Friday). Over on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Kimmel will talk to Mila Kunis (Monday), Jane Lynch (Tuesday) and Matthew McConaughey (Thursday). Jimmy Fallon will welcome a handful of heavy hitters, including Tiger Woods (Wednesday) and Howard Stern (Thursday). And in case you missed it, Monday's episode of "The Gayle King Show" is a repeat of King's interview with Lady Gaga, which was typically fascinating.

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MTV's Musical March Madness: Foo Fighters Vs. The Damned Things, Dave Matthews Band Vs. Disturbed

Posted 3/14/11 10:30 am EST by in Music

It's MTV's second annual Musical March Madness! MTV News took the 64 biggest names in rock, split them up into four regions, assigned them seeds and puts them up against one another in a single-elimination series of match-ups in a winner-take-all contest. We're leaving it to you to decide an actual champ in this field of 64, so over the next few weeks, fan voting will determine who will emerge as this year's champion. It's all about the fans, and the artist with the most passionate fan base will score the awesome Musical March Madness trophy!

On Sunday night (March 13), the NCAA men's basketball tournament bracket was revealed to the world. For hoops fans, it was one of the strangest in recent memory, as there were a number of teams who were considered locks that probably don't belong there (we're looking at you, Clemson and Illinois), while a handful of deserving clubs with superior pedigrees ended up on the outside looking in (the selection committee seemed to underrate the ACC this year, as both Virginia Tech and Boston College should have made it but did not).

Meanwhile, the 2011 MTV Musical March Madness bracket is finally here as well, with far fewer controversial choices embedded within it. The voting for this year's tournament kicks off with the Midwest region, which features some of the tournament's heaviest hitters (including defending champs Coheed and Cambria). Voting for all of the first round match-ups will go until Sunday night (March 20), and we'll reveal the next round of match-ups next Monday (March 21). Let's get to the action!

(1) Foo Fighters vs. (16) The Damned Things
Foo Fighters come into the bracket partially based on legacy (they have been one of the most consistent rock bands of the past decade, delivering hit after hit and sold-out stadium after sold-out stadium) but mostly based on the anticipation over their new album Wasting Light (which just had its first video premiere on MTV last week). Meanwhile, the Damned Things are a pack of upstarts looking for an upset, hoping to galvanize fans of hard music as well as the followers of their individual source bands (including Anthrax, Every Time I Die and Fall Out Boy). Can they upend one of the biggest names in rock? Only you can decide!

(8) Dave Matthews Band vs. (9) Disturbed
Though Dave Matthews Band have decided to take most of 2011 off, they still command a ton of respect and remain one of the most successful touring bands in the world. In the opposite corner stands Disturbed, one of the few bands from the nü-metal era to not only survive but also evolve into a modern rock juggernaut. Will DMB score a victory for jam enthusiasts, or does Disturbed simply rock too hard? You make the call!

Check out the Musical March Madness bracket and be sure to check in on photos of some of the biggest bands in the tournament.

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