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Lana Del Rey Brings Her Sultry, Tortured Love Songs To New York's Bowery Ballroom

Posted 12/6/11 10:32 am EST by in Concerts, Music

Lana Del Rey

By Rya Backer

NEW YORK – It's hard to know what to make of Lana Del Rey at first glance. Is she as Jools Holland once dubbed her an "Internet phenomenon" worth no more than a few salacious blog posts? Or is she a legitimate chanteuse wrapped in the hyper feminine, yet innately American (and admittedly well-curated) image she's projected in videos for such tracks as "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans"?

Regardless of where one stands on the issue, last night at her sold-out show at Bowery Ballroom, Del Rey offered skeptics and fans alike a recital in the most literal sense: she played all the songs she'd practiced, hoping to show both the crowd how much she's improved since she first appeared – seemingly out of nowhere – less than six months ago.

Arriving on stage shortly after 9:15, looking like a Real Housewife (perfect makeup and blow-out? Check) dressed up for a night downtown, pairing her low-top Chuck Taylors with a tailored, white pleated dress, Del Rey sauntered onto a stage aglow with white balloons projecting the stock footage and vintage-treated videos that would look familiar to those privy to her YouTube account. Read More...

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Keith Urban Joins Adele And John Mayer As Latest Star To Tackle Vocal Chord Issues

Posted 11/4/11 12:10 pm EST by in Adele, Concerts, Music

Keith Urban

By Zachary Swickey

Country star Keith Urban is the latest in a long list of musicians to require throat surgery to remove a polyp from his vocal cords. The singer made the announcement on his website, stating the surgery will be minor, although it is undetermined how much vocal rest he will actually need.

This has forced Urban to postpone his "All for the Hall" benefit concert for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which was scheduled for Jan. 18 in Nashville. It was to include performances from Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill and Allison Krauss with Urban acting as emcee for the evening. Urban will still honor any one-song performances leading up to his surgery later this month.

There seems to be some sort of throat epidemic going around considering the growing list of musicians facing serious vocal ailments. Adele, the best selling artist in the U.S. this year, has nixed her tour of the states twice (which had been selling tickets like hotcakes) due to her persisting vocal problems that now require the amazing British songbird to undergo surgery. (Word of advice: lay off the cigs my dear). But trust us; she’s just as bummed as we are about it.

Who else is on doctor-ordered vocal rest? Read on for more. Read More...

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Joe Jonas Isn't The Only Hottie To Get A Lap Dance From Britney Spears

Posted 11/1/11 3:30 pm EST by in Britney Spears, Concerts, Jonas Brothers

She's taken the stage with her kids, but it's the guys that Britney Spears brings on stage to perform lap dances on that really make headlines. On Monday night, Joe Jonas ended his run opening for Spears in Europe and she rewarded the singer for all his hard work with a private lap dance during her song "Lace and Leather."

"What a great night! LONDON! you rule! what a way to end the @britneyspears tour," he tweeted, before this shout out for his Femme Fatale, "And.. @britneyspears thanks for the strip tease.. ;) "

Joe is, of course, only the latest recipient of Spears' sexy dances. Over the course of her last two tours, the singer has given some of her high-profile pals – and pals with benefits – a lap dance. Read More...

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Beyonce's Roseland Live DVD: What To Look For

Posted 10/27/11 12:12 pm EST by in Beyonce, Concerts

Beyonce

Beyonce is set to drop her live DVD special "Live At Roseland" on November 21. Filmed over four nights in August, the special will take fans right inside the venue for B's intimate string of sold out shows in New York City. Not many had the chance to see it for themselves, so this is a nice holiday treat from the expectant singer.

We got the chance to be there (you're so jealous, aren't you?) and since the night remains ingrained on our memories forever, we decided to share the few moments you should be most excited to see once it drops. Read More...

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CMJ Week: A Roundup Of The Best Shows

Posted 10/24/11 1:19 pm EST by in Concerts

Lamar

By Steven Roberts

Way back in 20 aught 7 when I started interning at MTV News, CMJ Week was one of the things that got me noticed and helped me stick around. The annual music showcase sees dozens of artists descend – well, some just take the L from Brooklyn – on New York City to try and prove themselves. As an intern, I loved the chance to run around my hometown to cover music. I was doing that already, but this time it was free and I could tell girls I was working for MTV News.

Fast-forward four years, I'm old and jaded, and CMJ isn't that big of a deal. Well, that isn't entirely true. It still provides kids an opportunity to see plenty of up-and-coming acts and it gives those acts a chance to broaden their fanbase. And I wasn't mad at all of those invites in my inbox either.

My co-worker CJ and I decided to compile a list of some of our favorite shows this weekend, read on for more. Read More...

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Florence Welch Can't Handle Hangovers On The Road

Posted 10/21/11 10:54 am EST by in Concerts, tour

Florence

By Zachary Swickey

Florence Welch, the fiery frontwoman of Florence + the Machine, has admitted to adopting sober living while on tour. The group was an opening act on U2’s record-shattering roadshow this summer, and the demanding schedule required a lot from the singer, which led her to choose sobriety on the road.

Welch explained to UK’s The Sun, saying, “I have stopped drinking on tour. I feel a bit more responsibility for my body and for fans who come to see us. When we toured with U2 it was such a grueling schedule and I had shows every day and I can’t do that with a hangover.”

We’ve seen firsthand how delicate a voice can be with Adele axing two U.S. tours this year due to her crazy schedule, and Welch doesn’t seem keen on running into the same problem as she elaborated, stating, “This is the best job in the world and I don’t want to spoil it. Stopping drinking has made a huge difference in my vocal range too.”

The singer even got a pep talk about performing in high heels from Bono himself: “Bono was great. He gave me advice on how to perform even when I’m wearing huge high-heeled shoes. He told me how to keep my feet on the spot and use my arms.” (Sidenote: Bono is actually known to wear shoes with heels several inches thick due to his short stature, but he’s kind of sensitive about it so don’t tease him).

Check out our recent interview with Welch after the jump for more details about life on the road with the Machine, as well as her culinary skills (or lack thereof). Read More...

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Girls Still Sleeping On The Street For Hanson Tickets Nearly 15 Years After 'Mmmbop'

Posted 10/18/11 3:07 pm EST by in Concerts

By Dionne Buxton

What group do you know of that can basically disappear from mainstream, nearly 15 years removed from the hit most people know them for, and still have diehard fans sleeping outside for concert tickets?

Hanson, of course.

The trio of brothers performs tonight at the Best Buy Theatre in Times Square (right next door to the MTV offices), and there are already more than 30 fans with sleeping bags waiting outside for a chance to get as close as possible to the group.

The band, best known for their 1997 hit “Mmmbop,” haven’t been able to reach that top spot again since their label merged with another and left them without a label that understood them “creatively,” according the fans we talked to. But they don’t need a popular label backing them; they never stopped making music.

“They put out their fifth album last year, they’ve been doing tours almost every year,” said Amber Hopper, 27, who’s been on-site since 3 AM. “People haven’t heard so much because they haven’t been on the radio, because of the fact that they left the major record label. But they’ve never stopped making music. They haven’t taken any breaks, they’ve still been going.” Read More...

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Radiohead Finally Reveal Plans To Tour Behind 'King of Limbs'

Posted 10/18/11 1:53 pm EST by in Concerts, Radiohead

Radiohead

By Zachary Swickey

Many Radiohead fans have been scratching their heads wondering when the experimental group plans on hitting the road for their first proper tour following the release of their last album, King of Limbs, which came out way back in February. Well, rest easy folks, because the group has finally shed some light on their future touring plans.

Talking to Britain’s BBC 6Music, Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien revealed the band will be on the road for the majority of 2012. “We’re finalizing dates now, we’ll be on the road from the end of February to November and we’ll be playing in both the UK and US, the usual ports of call,” he said.

The usual ports of call indeed, as Radiohead’s scant appearances since KOL’s release have been a pair of much-hyped club shows in New York City and a semi-surprise gig at this year’s Glastonbury Music Festival. O’Brien then elaborated on the set list concert-goers can expect, saying, “Last time we went out it was In Rainbows and a greatest hits. It’s not going to be like that this time. It’s going to be predominantly from this record and the last one and then we’ll see which songs fit around that.” Read More...

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Justin Bieber Fans Get Loud As Pop Star Wraps Up Massive 'My World' Tour

Posted 10/17/11 9:24 am EST by in Behind The Scenes, Concerts, Justin Bieber

SANTIAGO, Chile — The screams started early, like around 1 PM, a full eight hours before Justin Bieber took the stage at the Estadio Nacional on Saturday night. Actually, they started well before that, like on Friday morning, when the first throngs of True Beliebers began setting up camp on the street outside, passing the hours chanting, singing ("Baby" was a particular favorite), and, of course, screaming. Always screaming.

If you've ever attended a Bieber concert, you know what I'm talking about. His fans, young and overwhelmingly female, seem incapable of containing their excitement, and as such emit a particular high-pitched squeal, one that is near constant (though it tends to flare up every so often, like whenever a car with tinted windows drives by, or when Justin bobs his shoulders just so). But on Saturday night in Chile, things seemed to have been taken to another level — by my estimation and according to several folks in his inner circle — because not only were the screams incredibly loud, and constant, but there was a general level of insanity that bordered on, well, insane.

Make no mistake about it, Chile was ready for some Justin Bieber. His face was shown on national news every hour on the hour, his fans shut down the W Hotel (thanks to a report that he was staying there on Friday night, despite the fact he didn’t arrive in the country until Saturday), and 55,000 packed inside the Estadio to catch his show … with several thousand more listening from the streets. Vendors hawked JB headbands and glossy photos, homemade hats and bootleg T-shirts. There were phalanxes of police, angry-looking German Shepherds, trucks festooned with riot-gear finery, and so many security guards milling about that you might’ve thought Barack Obama was in town. It was a very big thing. Read More...

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Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman Rally Around Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Passion Project

Posted 10/11/11 8:56 pm EST by in art, Concerts, Miscellaneous, Photos, reviews, Video

For those who only know Joseph Gordon-Levitt from his excellent work in television and film over the past 20 years or so, do yourself a favor and expand your fandom by heading over to hitRECord.org, Gordon-Levitt's collaborative production company/community and passion project. On Monday night, the roughly seven-year-old operation celebrated its creative success with the 2011 Fall Formal, a live performance event at which Gordon-Levitt served as emcee and performer, along with guest appearances by supporters and friends Anne Hathaway, Neil Patrick Harris, Gary Oldman and Sia, along with an audience full of hitRECord members and enthusiasts.

The spirit of the evening was lighthearted and welcoming, with a vaudeville-esque lineup of readings, short films and musical numbers. Also, everyone in attendance was encouraged to record however much of the show they wanted. The video below, which features Gordon-Levitt, hitRECord artist the Metafictionis and Hathaway, will give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

Admittedly, I expected to be further charmed by Gordon-Levitt. He is just so darn talented and passionate and genuine, it's irresistible and inspiring watching him move smoothly from narrating to dancing, to singing, to drumming to improv'ing. He's an artist in every sense of the word, and while his name is attached to hitRECord and he emceed the program, it is obvious that Gordon-Levitt truly enjoys creating art that comes from a collaboration and collection of other equally talented individuals.

Also, when you get Oldman, Hathaway, Harris and Sia to come in and play with you during their time off, you know you are loved.

It was hard to pick a favorite moment, but when Oldman got up onstage to read a "Tiny Story" called "The Man With a Turnip for a Head," written by hitRECord artist Metaphorest, he brought down the house.

"It's going to be hard to top that," Gordon-Levitt told the crowd as Oldman left the stage. Yet somehow, I'm sure he will figure out a way to do just that for next year's event.

What do you think of Gordon-Levitt's passion project, hitRECord? Tell us in the comments!

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