Everything to do with sports, live games, music and live concerts.
Sports
& Music Blog Everything
to do with sports, live games, tickets, music and live concerts.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Boyz II Men Mark 20 Years with Album, Tour
Time marches on for all of us and the fact that Boyz II Men are celebrating their 20th anniversary is a testament to that inescapable law of physics. To mark the occasion, the Boyz are releasing Twenty, a double-disc collection of 12 new tunes and eight more re-recorded tracks. Band member Shawn Stockman said the effort offers “a new mentality, a new idea, and a new way of thinking about music” for the trio.
Wanya Morris and Nathan Morris round out the threesome that has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide and won four Grammy Awards over the span of those 20 years together. For their efforts, they were just awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the first of 2012. Their new geographical spot in history is entrenched near Motown greats like the Supremes, the Temptations, and Stevie Wonder.
Producer Terry Lewis, who was at the ceremony, proclaimed, “These guys are music. These guys love music ... They can sing anything under the sun.”
Boyz II Men Hits:
CooleyHighHarmony (1991) – "Motownphilly," "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday," "Uhh Ahh," "Please Don't Go," "End of the Road," "In the Still of the Nite (I'll Remember)"
Christmas Interpretations (1993) – "Let It Snow" featuring Brian McKnight
II (1994) – "I'll Make Love to You," "On Bended Knee," "Thank You," "Water Runs Dry," "Vibin'"
The Remix Collection (1995) – "I Remember"
Evolution (1997) – "4 Seasons of Loneliness," "A Song for Mama," "Can't Let Her Go," "Doin' Just Fine"
The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack (1999) – "I Will Get There"
Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya (2000) – "Pass You By," "Thank You in Advance"
Full Circle (2002) – "The Color of Love," "Relax Your Mind" featuring Faith Evans
Throwback, Vol. 1 (2004) – "What You Won't Do for Love"
Motown: Hitsville USA (2007) – "The Tracks of My Tears," "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)," "War," "Mercy Mercy Me"
Love (2009) – "I Can't Make You Love Me," “Iris"
Twenty (2011) – "More Than You'll Ever Know" featuring Charlie Wilson, "One Up for Love," "Flow"
In addition to the multitude of hits Boyz II Men have had on their own, they also contributed to the massive success of two other singles in 1995 – Mariah Carey's “One Sweet Day” and LL Cool J's “Hey Lover.” The former hit stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 16 weeks, setting and holding a record that stands to this day.
Add on the chart-topping runs enjoyed by “I'll Make Love to You” and “End of the Road,” and Boyz II Men can be heard on three out of four of the longest-running number one singles ever. That's awfully special stuff for a group of hard-scrabble kids from Philadelphia.
As Boyz II Men continue to make beautiful music together for, quite possibly another 20 years, they'll also continue to share it with their fans. Their 2012 tour is currently underway in the UK, landing back in the U.S. next week and running through the summer.
Boyz II Men 2012 Tour Dates:
Feb 1, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Gateshead, United Kingdom – The Sage
Feb 2, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Manchester, United Kingdom – Manchester Apollo
Feb 3, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Bridlington, United Kingdom – The Spa Bridlington
Feb 5, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Glasgow, United Kingdom – O2 ABC
Feb 9, 2012 – Boyz II Men in New York, NY – Carnegie Hall
Feb 10, 2012 – Boyz II Men in San Felipe, NM – San Felipe Casino
Feb 17, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Chandler, AZ – Wild Horse Pass Casino
Feb 18, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Primm, NV – Star of the Desert Arena
Feb 19, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Orlando, FL – Universal Studios
Feb 25, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Nice, CA – Robinson Rancheria Casino & Hotel
Mar 2, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
Mar 3, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
Mar 4, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Convention Center
Mar 5, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
Mar 8, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Sao Paulo Brazil – Skyline Alphaville
Mar 10, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Houston, TX – House of Blues
Mar 11, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Dallas, TX – House of Blues
Mar 16, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Mar 17, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Rama, ON– Casino Rama Entertainment Centre
Mar 22, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Detroit, MI – MotorCity Casino Hotel
Mar 23, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Milwaukee, WI – Potawatomi Bingo Casino
Mar 24, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Bettendorf, IA – Isle @ Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center
Mar 25, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Chicago, IL – House of Blues
Mar 31, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Austin, TX – Town Lake Auditorium Shores
Apr 6, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Grand Ronde, OR – Spirit Mountain Casino
Apr 13, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort & Spa
Apr 21, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Lincoln, NE – Lied Center For the Performing Arts - University of Nebraska
Apr 22, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Tucson, AZ – Pima County Fair
Apr 28, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Forrest City, AR – EACC Fine Arts Center
Apr 29, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Paducah, KY – Carson Center
May 17, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Worcester, MA – The Hanover Theater
May 18, 2012 – Boyz II Men in New Bedford, MA – Zeiterion Theatre
May 19, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Atlantic City, NJ – Resorts Casino Atlantic City
May 31, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Peekskill, NY – Paramount Center For The Arts
June 1, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center
June 2, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Richmond, VA – Stone Soul Music Festival @ Browns Island
June 3, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Easton, MD – Avalon Theater
June 9, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park @ North Shore
June 12, 2012 – Boyz II Men in San Mateo, CA – San Mateo County Fairgrounds
June 28, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Lincolnville, ME – Cellardoor Winery
July 6, 2012 – Boyz II Men in West Wendover, NV – Peppermill Hotel & Casino
Aug 10, 2012 – Boyz II Men in Ventura, CA – Ventura County Fair
Oh that Jimmy Buffett. He just never stops. He and the Coral Reefer Band have been trucking along all these years, and pounding out a current batch of tour dates to which they just added some more stops. Keeping with the tropical themes, as Buffett so loves to do, the trek is dubbed the Welcome to Fin Land Tour.
And his fans seem to appreciate the effort in return. Buffett's last studio set, 2009's Buffet Hotel, was released on his own independent imprint, but still managed to make its way up to number 17 on the Billboard 200. More recently, he issued Volcano – Live 2011 via iTunes last September. The collection is just what the title suggests – a recording of Buffett and company playing his 1988 Volcano album live.
Another of his releases over the past couple of years is 2010's Encores. The double-disc, acoustic set includes 22 of Buffett's (you guessed it) encores, all captured over the span of his 2008 and 2009 tours. A dozen of the tunes find Jimmy banging it out alone, and the other 10 feature various special guests. Among the guests are Allen Toussaint on "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" recorded at Jazz Fest in New Orleans and Jake Shimabukuro on "A Pirate Looks at Forty" captured in Waikiki.
Encores Track Listing:
Disc One
1. Come Monday
2. Tin Cup Chalice
3. Growing Older but Not Up
4. Coast of Carolina
5. Paradise
6. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans
7. Nautical Wheeler
8. Trying To Reason with Hurricane Season
9. Banana Republics
10. He Went to Paris
11. Last Mango In Paris
Disc Two
1. L'air De La Louisiane
2. Reggaebilly Hill
3. Coast of Marseilles
4. Lovely Cruise
5. Oyster and Pearls
6. Wildflowers
7. Defying Gravity
8. It's a Big Old Goofy World
9. Death of an Unpopular Poet
10. Blowin' in the Wind
11. A Pirate Looks at 40
Those very same Buffett-loving fans also waste no time snatching up tickets to his shows. Jimmy Buffett's North Little Rock gig on March 1 at the Verizon Arena “was one of the fastest sell-outs in [the venue's] 12-year history. We knew we had lots of Razorback fans in Arkansas, but today we found out we may actually have more Parrotheads," offered Michael Marion, Verizon Arena's general manager.
There's more to the Fin Land Tour than Little Rock, though. Being a Key West resident, it's no surprise that Jimmy Buffett starts in Miami on January 28. Other Florida plays find Buffett in Jacksonville on January 31 before he heads up the coast for a one-off date in South Carolina which lands Buffett in North Charleston at the Coliseum on February 2.
As the anticipation builds toward the upcoming release of Van Halen's A Different Kind of Truth, some folks have not been anywhere near shy about voicing their opinions. Former Van Halen front man Sammy Hagar, for example, has a lot to say about the new single, “Tattoo.”
He offered, "I personally don’t think that what they have just released, what I have seen and heard, is great at all. It should be better than it is but hey, it is what it is...”
While Hagar thinks band founder Eddie Van Halen “is a genius guitar player,” he doesn't think his songwriting chops are really up to par. He also doesn't think his decision-making prowess is anything to write home about.
You see, the latest Van Halen line-up finds David Lee Roth back at the mic with Eddie's son Wolfgang taking over duties for long-time bassist Michael Anthony. Alex Van Halen still occupies the drum throne, though.
In Hagar's not-so-humble opinion, “Wolfie, Dave, and Ed are not the Van Halen that the world wants to see. To do it with David without Mike was a horrible decision, but those guys haven’t made a good decision since I left the band.”
Fortunately, the world gets a chance to weigh in on the matter when A Different Kind of Truth is released on February 7. As for the lead single, “Tattoo” came out just last week and came out strong with 78 radio adds and a number 16 placement on Billboard rock chart.
A Different Kind of Truth Tracklisting:
"Tattoo"
"She's the Woman"
"You and Your Blues"
"China Town"
"Blood and Fire"
"Bullethead"
"As Is"
"Honeybabysweetiedoll"
"The Trouble With Never"
"Outta Space"
"Stay Frosty"
"Big River"
"Beats Workin' "
The week before that, Van Halen turned up at Cafe Wha? in New York City to play for a packed club. It was their first gig together in four years. Roth got the fun going right off the bat: “Welcome to Occupy Van Halen, ladies and gentlemen!”
According to a reviewer from Rolling Stone, “the crowd ... went absolutely bonkers. Over the next hour, the group played a stunningly tight set of songs ...”
As for Eddie's performance that night, it seems he “played absolutely flawlessly. It was a beautiful sight.”
That's great news because the rockers hit the road come February 18 with Van Halen in Louisville, Kentucky, at the KFC Yum! Center for an itinerary that takes them through June 26.
Folks who couldn't squeeze into the industry-heavy gig at Cafe Wha? will get another couple of chances when Van Halen rocks Madison Square Garden in New York City on February 28 and March 1. Sure, you won't be five feet away from Diamond Dave, but his charisma is big and bold enough to fill the Garden.
The routing hits pretty much all areas of the U.S. with a number of dates in Canada, as well. Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg host Van Halen north of the border. Other big-city stops find Van Halen in Boston, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, Nashville, Denver, and Washington, D.C.
The expansive Sunshine State gets four shows to make sure coverage is tight. Van Halen hits Fort Lauderdale on April 10, with Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville following every other day after that until April 16.
However, California wins with five options. June 1 finds Van Halen in Los Angeles to start the run. Oakland, San Jose, Anaheim, and San Diego fill out the quintet.
Texas also gets multiple dates with Dallas first, on June 20. San Antonio lands Van Halen on June 22 with Houston following on June 24, for the penultimate concert of the tour ahead of the big finish in New Orleans on June 26.
Classic rock icons The Moody Blues plan to mark the 45th anniversary their Days of Future Passed release by hitting the road. A 32-city U.S. tour dubbed The Moody Blues: The Voyage Continues – Highway 45 kicks off on March 11 with The Moody Blues in Hollywood, Florida, at the Hard Rock Hotel.
The 2012 North American tour stays in Florida for a handful of shows. After Hollywood, The Moody Blues play Fort Myers, Clearwater, Melbourne, Sarasota, and St. Augustine. Sticking around the Southeast for a bit longer, The Moody Blues hit Charleston, South Carolina, before two shows in Tennessee – Knoxville, and Nashville.
Robinsonville, Mississippi, and Atlanta, Georgia, host The Moody Blues as they duck back down into the South for two more dates before making a slow ascent of the Eastern Seaboard.
Three stops in North Carolina put The Moody Blues in Durham, Charlotte, and Cherokee. Another handful of Mid-Atlantic performances take the band up into the Northeast where they'll hit a number of states prior to the April 21 finale which finds The Moody Blues in Niagara Falls, New York.
After wrapping the North American dates, the English band will also make a jaunt down to South Africa with 10cc and Procol Harum.
All told, The Moody Blues have sold more than 70 million records, earning 14 gold and platinum albums along the way. In 1967, Days of Future Passed marked the band of Englishmen's entrance on the scene with a style that blended classical music into rock.
Some of the band's notable hits include “Nights in White Satin,” “Isn't Life Strange,” “I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band),” and “I Know You're Out There Somewhere.” Despite all of their quite estimable success and innovative style, The Moody Blues have never been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a fact that cuts deep among their fans.
True, the band's line-up has shifted over the decades, but the core has remained strong. Though drummer/vocalist Graeme Edge is the only man left standing from the original 1964 roster, current bassist/vocalist John Lodge and guitarist/vocalist Justin Hayward were on board by the time Days of Future Passed was recorded.
Other touring members include percussionist Gordon Marshall, flutist/guitarist Norda Mullen, keyboardist Julie Ragins, and keyboardist Alan Hewitt.
While an induction into the Hall of Fame would be a great validation, The Moody Blues boast other indicators of their staying power – they consistently sell strong numbers and earn solid reviews on their tours.
The New York Post noted of a show, ”The rockers played a set that reminded the sold-out Music Hall why they one of the most important rock acts to ever come out of the UK … the trio looked remarkably sound and sounded untouched by time…”
Another pat on the back came from USA Weekend, which observed, “Fans were on their feet applauding great music from a great rock n’ roll band with staying power beyond anybody’s ‘wildest dreams.’”
Willie Nelson Forges on after Passing of Longtime Bassist
About a month ago, on December 8, Willie Nelson's longtime bassist Dan “Bee” Spears, 62, passed away unexpectedly. Spears slipped and fell outside his motorhome in Nashville and died from exposure.
In response to losing Spears, who had played with Nelson for more than 40 years, a statement was posted on Willie's website: “We are deeply saddened by the death of Family member Dan ‘Bee’ Spears, long-time friend and bassist for Willie Nelson and Family. We are still in shock and gathering details as the day continues. He apparently died of accidental exposure at his property near Nashville, Tenn.”
Fellow Family Band member Mickey Raphael chimed in, “He was a troubled soul, and he just left way too early. It’s not going to be the same. ... He’d been with Willie since he was 17. He was Willie’s right-hand man, really the rock of this band. When all else failed, we’d always look at Bee for some constancy, some consistency.”
Because the show must go on, so it is with a heavy heart that Nelson, 78, and his Family Band embark on a round of tour dates in 2012. Someone will eventually be selected to fill the hole left by Spears. As Raphael noted, “Willie isn’t known for going out and hiring the hottest musicians on the planet. He just likes to have his friends around.”
For recent tours, Willie's friends/band members have included his sister Bobbie Nelson (keyboards), Paul English (drums), Billy English (drums), Raphael (harmonica), and Jody Payne (guitar). A recent New Year's Eve gig in Austin, Texas, also included his sons Lukas and Micah, and daught Amy as additional musicians.
No news as of yet about who might be in the running to replace Spears. The current leg of the tour runs from now until March 17 where it winds down in Reno, Nevada.
Willie Nelson 2011 Set List:
• “Whiskey River”
• “Still Is Still Moving”
• “Beer For My Horses”
• “Funny How Time Slips Away”
• “Crazy”
• instrumental
• “Me and Paul”
• “If You've Got The Money I've Got The Time”
• “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”
• “Georgia On My Mind”
• instrumental
• “A Good Hearted Woman”
• “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground”
• “On The Road Again”
• “Always On My Mind”
• “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”-”I'll Fly Away” medley
• “Nobody's Fault But Mine”
• “Jambalaya (On The Bayou)”
• “Hey Good Lookin'”
• “Move It On Over”
• “Bloody March y Morning”
• “You Don't Think I'm Funny Anymore”
• “City of New Orleans”
• “To All The Girls I've Loved Before”
• “Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys”
• “Till I Gain Control Again”
• “I Saw The Light”
• “A Peaceful Solution”
Willie Nelson 2012 Tour Dates:
January 5 - Amarillo, TX - Amarillo Civic Center
January 6 - Ft. Worth, TX - Billy Bob's
January 7 - Winnie, TX - Nutty Jerry's
January 8 - Texarkana, AR - Perot Theatre
January 10 - Baton Rouge, LA - The Varsity Theatre
January 12 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
January 13 - Robinsonville, MS - Gold Strike Millenium Theatre
January 14 - Bossier City, LA - Horseshoe Casino and Hotel
January 15 - San Antonio, TX - Majestic Theatre
February 1 - Fort Pierce, FL - Sunrise Theatre
February 2 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
February 3 - Sarasota, FL - Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
February 7 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Broward Center for the Performing Arts
February 8 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre
February 9 - Rome, GA - Forum Civic Center
February 10 - Biloxi, MS - Beau Rivage Theatre
February 11 - Hiawassee, GA - Anderson Music Hall
February 12 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
March 6 - Sahuarita, AZ - Desert Diamond Casino
March 8 - Santa Ynez, CA - Chumash Casino
March 9 - Indio, CA - Fantasy Springs Resort Hotel & Casino
March 10 - Las Vegas, NV - Grand Opening: The Smith Center (Private- Invite Only)
March 12 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
March 13 - Los Angeles, CA - Walt Disney Concert Hall
March 16 - Reno, NV - Silver Legacy Resort Casino
March 17 - Reno, NV - Silver Legacy Resort Casino
In August of 2006, all MTV did to celebrate their 25th anniversary was mention the occasion on their program “TRL.” Five years later, the network took it one step further and did absolutely nothing to commemorate its 30th birthday.
Thankfully, MTV is not in charge of The Beach Boys 50th anniversary. If they were, fans might not have the opportunity to purchase Beach Boys tickets.
In 2012, the legendary pioneers of the California surf sound will celebrate five decades of making great music with a 50-date international trek, a new studio album, and of course, a slew of the prerequisite commemorative reissues.
As of the waning moments of 2011, The Beach Boys have only announced their tour’s starting date. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers begin their laudatory outing on April 27 in New Orleans, Louisiana. They will headline the opening weekend at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.
The rest of their itinerary will be announced in the near future. When it is finally revealed you’ll be able to peruse it here at Best Show Tickets Las Vegas.
Details of The Beach Boys new studio album are just as murky. The band is apparently in the studio working on tracks but a title and a release date have yet to be announced.
The Beach Boys released their inaugural album, Surfin’ Safari, in 1962. They then went on to release a bunch of hits in the 1960s including “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations,” “Surfin’ USA,” and “California Girls.”
The band was formed 1961 by the Wilson brothers—Brian, Dennis, and Carl—their cousin Mike Love, and Al Jaradine. Dennis passed away in 1983 and Carl in 1998.
The upcoming tour will feature the aforementioned Brian Wilson, Love, Jaradine as well as David Marks and Bruce Johnston. Marks joined the band in 1962 and worked on the group’s first album. Starting in 1965, Johnston took Brian’s spot on all Beach Boys tours. Brian was unable to perform live due to mental health issues (although that is no longer the case).
The approaching Beach Boys tour is a bit of a Christmas miracle. For most of 2011, Wilson’s public remarks about a Beach Boys reunion tour were lukewarm or worse. In fact, the mercurial songwriter and arranger told Rolling Stone Magazine that he doesn’t enjoy working with the other members of the band and would only do so if venture was lucrative.
The Beach Boys are also planning on performing at the 2012 Grammy Awards on Feb. 12.
Canadian rap star Drake recently announced a whirlwind of tour dates for 2012. Dubbed The Club Paradise Tour, the trek was intended to target smaller venues and college campuses, rather than huge stadiums. That intention was all Drake's.
As he told MTV News, "I fought really hard for this tour because, of course, they want me to go get the big bucks, go into the stadiums and cash out.”
He confessed further, "I'm still at the beginning of my career so, watching me from the 500 level of an arena, I don't know if I'm mentally there yet. I don't know if I can mentally accept that.
"I don't want them to ever feel like I left them or like we're disconnected, so I'm just gonna go back and I'm gonna bring them a real tour into those college spaces."
Supporting acts on the U.S. run that kicks off on Valentine's Day are Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky. No dates in Canada were included in the itinerary.
Also on tap for next year is a new Drake/Rick Ross mixtape, Y.O.L.O. (You Only Live Once) as a follow up to his Take Care album.
Drake is coming off a pretty huge high as he recently performed at Stevie Wonder's House Full of Toys benefit in Los Angeles. Also on the bill was Drake's fellow Canadian and collaborator Justin Bieber. While in L.A. doing the holiday show circuit, Drake and Bieber joined Big Sean, J. Cole, Lil Wayne, and Tyga for the Power 106 Cali Christmas Concert the night before.
Before the Club Paradise adventure begins, Drake plays Las Vegas on January 1. Then, he and the Bieb will hit the studio to work on the latter's new album, Believe, which is slated for release next summer.
The two seem to have continually intersecting paths as Bieber has been covering Drake's “Trust Issues” cut, but cleaning up the lyrics in his version. Also, they have both been nominated for Best New Artist at next year's Grammy Awards. The two are up against Florence + the Machine, Mumford and Sons, and Esperanza Spalding
Of course, it hasn't all been Stevie Wonder and Grammy nominations for Drake. He's also come under considerable fire from other rappers. Common and Ludacris have both called him out in tracks. Common used “Sweet” to hit at hip hop artists who, in his opinion, were soft.
Drake punched back at one of his concerts saying, "I might sing, but I ain't no b***h. If Common got something to say, say it to my face."
Luda's “Badaboom” took Drake and Big Sean to task for claiming they created the Supa Dupa flow style that had been pioneered long ago. Drake stood his ground there, too, using Twitter. While Sean insisted, “I ain’t got no problems with Luda, I never did,” Drake wasn't so respectful and wrote to Big Sean, “You awlready [sic] know. I wish they’d just let young niggas live…respect always.”
As for his tour, Drake hits Miami on February 14 to get things going. After a stop in Gainesville, Drake rocks Nashville, Columbus, Columbia, Lexington, and Tallahassee.
Then, it's down to New Orleans where Drake plays the UNO Lakefront Arena on February 25. Hopping through Texas, the plains, and Southwest, Drake lands in Los Angeles before winding things down in San Jose and San Diego.
Drake 2012 Club Paradise Tour North American Dates:
2/14/2012 - Miami, FL - Bank United Center
2/15/2012 - Gainesville, FL - Stephen C. O’Connell Center
2/17/2012 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
2/18/2012 - Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center
2/21/2012 - Columbia, SC - Colonial Life Arena
2/22/2012 - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena
2/24/2012 - Tallahassee, FL - Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center
2/25/2012 - New Orleans, LA - UNO Lakefront Arena
2/27/2012 - Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center
2/28/2012 - Oklahoma City, OK - Chesapeake Energy Arena
3/01/2012 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
3/02/2012 - Arlington, TX - College Park Center
3/04/2012 - Tuscon, AZ - Tucson Arena
3/05/2012 - Los Angeles, CA - Galen Center
3/08/2012 - Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center
3/10/2012 - San Jose, CA - Event Center
3/11/2012 - San Diego, CA - Viejas Arena
2012 The Club Paradise Tour European Dates:
3/24/2012 - Dublin, Ireland - O2 Arena
3/26/2012 - London, UK - London 02 Arena
3/29/2012 - Sheffield, UK - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
3/30/2012 - Cardiff, UK - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
4/01/2012 - Manchester, UK - Manchester MEN Arena
4/02/2012 - Glasgow, Scotland - Glasgow SECC – Hall 4
4/05/2012 - Paris, France - Palais Omnisport de Bercy
4/07/2012 - Brussels, Belgium - Forest National / Vorst Nationaal
4/08/2012 - Amsterdam, Holland - Heineken Music Hall
4/10/2012 - Frankfurt Germany - Jahrhunderthalle
4/12/2012 - Berlin, Germany - Max Schleming Halle
4/13/2012 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Valby Hallen
4/15/2012 - Stockholm, Sweden - Ericsson Globe
4/16/2012 - Oslo, Norway - Oslo Spektrum
4/19/2012 - Birmingham, England - Birmingham LG Arena
4/22/2012 - Liverpool, England - Liverpool Echo Arena
4/23/2012 - Newcastle, England - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
4/25/2012 - Nottingham, England - Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Coldplay Launches North American Tour In Mid-April
Coldplay Launches North American Tour In Mid-April
Coldplay is an unusual band. They sell millions of albums and thousands of Coldplay concert tickets but you can't dance, sing, or bang your head to their music. Furthermore, they don't appeal to tweens like Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber. So how does this English foursome do it?
Coldplay released their fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto, in October. It debuted at number one in both the U.S. and the U.K. On April 17, the band launches their "Mylo Xyloto North American Tour" in Edmonton, Alberta. There's more than 20 dates on their schedule with the highlight being a two-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on May 1 and 2. Their final date in the New World is scheduled for Aug. 11 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Below, BSTLV looks at five reasons why Coldplay is one of the world's most popular and successful bands. We may not unravel the entire mysterious behind the group but at the very least we shed light on their phenomenal fame and accomplishments.
Coldplay Makes Great Background Music Despite what we said about not being able to dance, sing, or bang your head to their songs, there is one thing Coldplay is good for and that's providing background music. Their albums, including A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), X&Y (2005), Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), are great to spin when guests are arriving for a cocktail party or while you're making dinner. Their music is soft enough to talk over and just bright enough to keep everyone's mood up.
Coldplay Is Cool & Accessible Coldplay and their music is much cooler than other "adult contemporary" acts (let's face it, Coldplay is adult contemporary) but far more accessible than really cools bands. For example, Coldplay is much cooler than Josh Groban or The Fray but far more accessible than Radiohead or Wilco. Think of Coldplay as West Elm, cooler than Target but not as out there as that vintage store on Front Avenue that only accepts cash.
Coldplay Is Talented We did not come here to bury Coldplay but to praise them. Their success is warranted. They are a very talented band. Their songs are well-written, well-recorded, and well-performed. Their lyrics are thought provoking without being distracting and their melodies are catchy without being effusive or mundane. Now, three bands accused Coldplay of plagiarism in regards to their 2008 single "Viva la Vida" but music fans that consume their albums don't really care about that kind of stuff.
Chris Martin Not only is Chris Martin's talent as a singer, musician, and songwriter responsible for the band's success, but so is his persona. He brings a certain "celebrity" to the band. He's married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow and actor Simon Pegg is the godfather of his daughter Apple. Martin is a non-smoker, a non-drinker, as well as an ardent supporter of fair trade and American democrats. He's also done a little acting. If Coldplay ever breaks up, Martin will be its breakout star.
Coldplay Is British If you tell someone there's a new piano-based alternative band from the Midwest that they just have to hear, they'll probably shrug their shoulders and ignore your suggestion. If you tell someone about a new piano-based alternative band from London they'll probably ask where they can buy their album and if they're going on tour anytime soon. Bottom line, there's a lot clout that comes from being a British rock band. Just like there's a lot of clout in being a Chinese gymnast, a Russian ballerina, or a French sommelier.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Have Huge 2012 on the Horizon
Fresh off a leg of European dates, the Red Hot Chili Peppers recently put five additional shows on their North American tour itinerary. The international and domestic runs are to promote I'm with You, the group's most recent album which debuted in August in the second seat on the Billboard Hot 200 album chart and the top spot on Billboard's Rock and Alternative album charts .
The U.S. dates are of particular interest to fans as the Chili Peppers haven't played the homeland since 2007. The trek kicks off with the Chili Peppers in Sunrise, Florida, on January 20. The added performances include three shows in California – Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego – along with Denver, Colorado, and Glendale, Arizona. Because demand was so high for the L.A. concert at Staples Center on February 26, a second show was added on the following night.
The Chili Peppers have enjoyed two other recent newsflashes, as well. First, the Grammy Award nominations threw a nod to the Los Angeles rockers for Best Rock Album, a trophy they won for Stadium Arcadium, their last release. That victory was one of six Grammy awards they have received.
The second big doing came when the Red Hot Chili Peppers were listed among the 2012 inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with Donovan, Laura Nyro, The Faces, Guns N' Roses, Freddie King, Don Kirshner, and the Beastie Boys.
Discussing the appointment with Rolling Stone, front man Anthony Kiedis said, “it’s a ‘you never know’ kind of thing” in terms of whether guitarist John Frusciante will make an appearance at the induction.
While Kiedis noted that he thinks previous Chili Peppers drummers Jack Irons and Cliff Martinez will show up, the person he will miss the most is the late guitarist Hillel Slovak who was a founding member of the band: “The most emotional part for me was thinking about Hillel Slovak. ... there was something about going back and thinking about something that we started in a living room with Hillel Slovak. ... He’s a beautiful person that picked up a guitar in the 1970s and didn’t make it out of the 1980s, and he is getting honored for his beauty.”
Luckily enough, the Chili Peppers have carved out a hole in their schedule for the February 12 Grammy show in Los Angeles and the tour will be wrapped up by the April 14 Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio.
In less than five years, Lady Antebellum has risen to the top of the country music world. Though they formed the trio in 2006, things really got going for Lady A in 2008 and haven't shown any signs of letting up.
As singer Charles Kelley observed, "I feel like, I've reached this point, now let's really enjoy it. It's almost like you worked your butt off to get here. Not that you're not still working your butt off, but I feel like we've settled in more now."
Early in 2011, Lady Antebellum was awarded five Grammy statues for their efforts, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for Own the Night. Recently, they joined Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, and Brad Paisley in being anointed CMT Artists of the Year.
At the ceremony, Lady A's Hillary Scott enthused, "First of all, I'm so humbled. I mean, all the artists in this room are some of our biggest influences, some of our best friends and have all had spectacular years."
They also tore it up on the road with their We Own the Night Tour which has taken them all over the globe. Once again, it was hard work that paid off. Kelley noted, "We really put a lot of time into it and, for the first time, spent about a month honing in on the show, rehearsing and getting it right."
They'll keep on keeping on for 2012 with a whole other round of touring already on the books. To keep the momentum going, Lady A recently released the third single, “Dancin’ Away With My Heart,” from Own the Night.
Scott says of the track, “This song is definitely about looking back on a really special night that you shared with someone, but I also think there’s a timelessness about it.”
As for the ongoing We Own the Night Tour, Kelley's enthusiasm continues to know no bounds, "This is the tour we've always dreamed of putting together. I can't wait for the next nine months!"
Former Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker opens on the trek along with Thompson Square.
Lady Antebellum 2012 Tour Dates:
1/27 -- Lady Antebellum in Tulsa, OK
1/28 -- Lady Antebellum in Des Moines, IA
1/29 -- Lady Antebellum in Bloomington, IL
2/3 -- Lady Antebellum in Huntington, WV
2/4 -- Lady Antebellum in State College, PA
2/14 -- Lady Antebellum in Salt Lake City, UT
2/15 -- Lady Antebellum in Denver, CO
2/18 -- Lady Antebellum in Dallas, TX
2/22 -- Lady Antebellum in Nashville, TN
2/25 -- Lady Antebellum in Detroit, MI
2/26 -- Lady Antebellum in Evansville, IN
3/2 -- Lady Antebellum in Bossier City, LA
3/3 -- Lady Antebellum in Lafayette, LA
3/9 -- Lady Antebellum in Chicago, IL
3/10 -- Lady Antebellum in Omaha, NE
3/11 -- Lady Antebellum in Minneapolis, MN
3/13 -- Lady Antebellum in Winnipeg, MN
3/14 -- Lady Antebellum in Saskatoon, SK
3/16 -- Lady Antebellum in Calgary, AB
3/17 -- Lady Antebellum in Edmonton, AB
3/19 -- Lady Antebellum in Vancouver, BC
3/20 -- Lady Antebellum in Seattle, WA
3/21 -- Lady Antebellum in Eugene, OR
3/23 -- Lady Antebellum in San Jose, CA
3/24 -- Lady Antebellum in San Diego, CA
3/27 -- Lady Antebellum in Los Angeles, CA
3/28 -- Lady Antebellum in Fresno, CA
3/29 -- Lady Antebellum in Sacramento, CA
4/5 -- Lady Antebellum in Moline, IL
4/6 -- Lady Antebellum in Kansas City, MO
4/7 -- Lady Antebellum in Norman, OK
5/3 -- Lady Antebellum in New York, NY
5/5 -- Lady Antebellum in Worcester, MA
5/6 -- Lady Antebellum in Hershey, PA
5/9 -- Lady Antebellum in Birmingham, AL
5/10 -- Lady Antebellum in Jacksonville, FL
5/11 -- Lady Antebellum in Tampa, FL
5/12 -- Lady Antebellum in West Palm Beach, FL
5/18 -- Lady Antebellum in Hartford, CT
5/19 -- Lady Antebellum in Philadelphia, PA
5/20 -- Lady Antebellum in Columbia, MD
5/22 -- Lady Antebellum in Augusta, GA
5/31 -- Lady Antebellum in Cleveland, OH
6/1 -- Lady Antebellum in Pittsburgh, PA
6/2 -- Lady Antebellum in Bethel, NY
6/3 -- Lady Antebellum in Rochester, NY
6/8 -- Lady Antebellum in Raleigh, NC
6/9 -- Lady Antebellum in Charlotte, NC
6/10 -- Lady Antebellum in Virginia Beach, VA
6/14 -- Lady Antebellum in Montreal, QC
6/15 -- Lady Antebellum in Ottawa, ON
6/16 -- Lady Antebellum in Toronto, ON
6/21 -- Lady Antebellum in St. Louis, MO
6/22 -- Lady Antebellum in Atlanta, GA
6/24 -- Lady Antebellum in Cincinnati, OH
6/27 -- Lady Antebellum in Little Rock, AR
6/28 -- Lady Antebellum in Memphis, TN
6/29 -- Lady Antebellum in Indianapolis, IN
Big Time Rush Launches 'Better With U' Tour In February 2012
Big Time Rush Launches 'Better With U' Tour In February 2012
Big Time Rush launches their "Better With U Tour" on February 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It's the boys' first-ever headlining trek. They'll wrap their excursion on March 9 with a concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
The outing is in support of the band's second studio album, Elevate. The record hit the proverbially stores shelves on Nov. 21.
If the previously mentioned ventures weren't enough, their Nickelodeon show, also called Big Time Rush, has been renewed for a third season. Production will begin sometime in January.
In anticipation of those three big events, the band has been showing up everywhere. In mid-November, they had their own 30-minute Nickelodeon special. The program featured behind-the-scenes footage of the quartet in the recording studio and on tour.
Then on Thanksgiving Day, the outfit sang the national anthem at Cowboys Stadium before the Cowboys-Dolphins game.
That was followed by a performance on the NBC special "Christmas in Rockefeller Center." Big Time Rush was part of a program that also starred Neil Diamond, Tony Bennett, Michael Bublé, Justin Bieber, and Cee Lo Green.
In early to mid-December, the band is slated to perform at several of Clear Channel's Jingle Ball concerts. Fans should look for the foursome in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Tampa, and Hershey.
Sometime in 2012, Nickelodeon will air the band's made-for-cable spectacular, "Big Time Movie." The flick was inspired by the Beatles and for the soundtrack BTR covered several of their songs. The movie also uses elements from James Bond and Austin Powers movies.
Due to all of the aforementioned events, we are predicting big things for Kendall Schmidt, Carlos Pena, Jr., James Maslow, and Logan Henderson in 2012. They're going to move a lot of albums, sell a lot of Big Time Rush tickets, and attract huge television ratings. They will accomplish all these things not because their faces are plastered everywhere but because their music has taken the next step.
BTR wrote, or were part of the song writing team on eight of Elevate's 12 tracks. While recording the album the group worked with several illustrious music producers including Ryan Tedder, JC Chasez, J.R. Totem, and Toby Gad. Their sophomore effort shows a lot of maturity both musically and lyrically. They may benefit from the media machine that's behind them, but they are talented musicians that are coming into their own.
During a recent interview with MTV, the band expressed a desire to work with superstar Justin Timberlake. With the year BTR is about to have that dream just might come true.
Opening for Big Time Rush on their upcoming North American leg will be British pop outfit One Direction.
