SXSW 2009

From March 13 to March 22, the South by Southwest Festival was in full swing in Austin, Texas. While many bands performed, here are some of the reported highlights.

- Indie rock band The Decemberists performed their upcoming album The Hazards of Love in its entirety. The album has been viewed as a rock opera in the vein of Tommy.

- Jane's Addiction, who recently reunited and will hit the road with Nine Inch Nails this year, played a ten song set in the strange venue of a former supermarket. The group ripped through several hits from their first decade, ignoring their post-Ritual de lo Habitual material. The setlist included "Mountain Song," "Stop!" and "Been Caught Stealing."

- Metallica played a 90 minute greatest hits set that surprisingly didn't include Enter Sandman. Probably one of the strangest factors of the show was the band's opening act. Instead of a traditional band playing, three contest winners played Guitar Hero: Metallica tracks.

- Other acts that performed at the show included Kayne West, Ben Harper and the Relentless7, Devo, Fleet Foxes, Ra Ra Riot, Silversun Pickups, The Duke Spirit, The Morning Light, The Used, and Tori Amos.

Guitar Hero Metallica: News for the week of 1/25/09

This week has been a little slower compared to all of last week's info. But there's still some news to go through. I've also decided to inject a little bit of my own opinion about the news updates. Comment if you think it works.

- Metallica has revealed the tracklisting for their upcoming Guitar Hero videogame. It contains 28 songs from Metallica's entire career as well as 21 of their favorite tracks by other artists like the Foo Fighters, Queen, and Alice in Chains. The game will also contain a difficulty level higher than expert. Have a bucket of ice nearby for your hands. You're gonna need it.

- The Academy Awards nominees for Best Song were whittled down to only three tracks. WALL-E's "Down to Earth" by Peter Gabriel and Slumdog Millionaire's "O...Saya" by M.I.A & "Jai Ho" by A.H. Rahman were the three songs to be nominated. Springsteen, who one the Golden Globe for Best Song, was surprisingly snubbed by the Oscars. Big mistake by the Academy in my opinion. What was wrong with the original 5 nominations?

- AC/DC have denied a report that they will perform at Wrestlemania XXV.

- Death Cab for Cutie have annouced a spring tour that will begin on March 7 in Miami and end on May 6 in Atlanta.

- The Moody Blues will play a series of shows on the West Coast, starting on March 27 in Rancho Mirage, CA and ending on April 7 in Santa Rosa, CA.

- Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is in development to become a musical on Broadway. No theater dates or location have been given yet. A musical based on "Thriller"...really? Broadway really does seem to be running out of ideas.

- Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, T.I., Kayne West, and Jay-Z will all perform at this year’s Grammys ceremony. Other performers include Coldplay, Jonas Brothers, Jennifer Hudson, Katy Perry, and Kenny Chesney. I am really surprised that Radiohead is actually going to perform at the Grammys given their general anti-record label philosophy. But I'm not complaining. Radiohead is one of the best live bands around and I look forward to their performence.

- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs new album will be titled It's Blitz and will be released sometime this spring.

- Concert tickets that go on sale this week (in the tri-state area):
-> The Ting Tings on March 15 at the Music Hall of Williamsberg, on sale on 01/30 at noon
-> The Cave Singers on April 2 at the Mercury Lounge, on sale on 01/30 at noon
-> Dan Deacon on May 16 at Bowery Ballroom, on sale on 01/30 at noon

- Rock album releases this week (always Tuesday unless stated otherwise)
-> Tonight: Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand
-> Working on a Dream by Bruce Springsteen
-> Fornever by Hoobastank
-> Crooked X by Crooked X
-> Lividity by It Dies Today

Get On Your Boots: News for the week of 01/19/09

Sorry this update is a couple of days later than usual. I've been a little busy. Anyway, I forgot to add that if you enjoy this blog, please tell your friends to check it out as well. Now, on to news.

- U2's new single, "Get On Your Boots," was released to radio and digitally on Monday, 01/19. It is their first new single since 2006's "Window in the Skies."

- Metallica, Run-DMC, and Jeff Beck are three of the many 2009 inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Other performers to be inducted on April 4th in Cleveland are Wanda Jackson, Little Anothony and the Imperials, and Bobby Womack.

- Bruce Springsteen picked up a Golden Globe for his track, "The Wrestler," which was written for the movie of the same name.

- Capitol/EMI plan to re-release Radiohead's first three album, Pablo Honey, The Bends, and OK Computer as 2-CD and 2-CD/1-DVD sets. The reissues will contain the original album along with all of the group's b-sides for each respective era. The DVDs will include live footage and music videos. They will be released on March 24th.

- Bruce Springsteen, U2, Beyonce, and James Taylor were a few of many performers to play at a inaugural concert on 01/19 for President Obama.

- In other inaugural news, Obama selected The Dead to perform at the Inaugural Ball.

- U2 has released the tracklisting and album cover for their upcoming album, No Line On The Horizon. The tracklisting is : 1. “No Line On The Horizon”
2. “Magnificent”
3. “Moment of Surrender”
4. “Unknown Caller”
5. “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight”
6. “Get On Your Boots”
7. “Stand Up Comedy”
8. “Fez – Being Born”
9. “White As Snow”
10. “Breathe”
11. “Cedars Of Lebanon”

- Kings of Leon, U2, Duffy, and Girls Aloud have all been confirmed to perform at this year's BRIT Awards on February 18th.

- Pete Doherty's first solo album, Grace/Wasteland, will be released on March 24th.

- Concert tickets that go on sale this week (in the tri-state area):
-> Kris Kristofferson at The Concert Hall, on sale on 01/24 at 10 am
-> Rick Springfield at the Nokia Theatre Times Square, on sale on 01/24 at 12 pm
-> Say Hi at Mercury Lounge, on sale on 01/23 at 12 pm
-> Van Morrison at WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, on sale on 01/25 at 10 am
-> Tom Jones at Terminal 5, on sale on 01/23 at 12 pm

- Album releases this week (always Tuesday unless stated otherwise)
-> Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective
-> Grand by Matt and Kim
-> Noble Beast by Andrew Bird
-> The Empyrean by John Frusciante
-> Mantis by Umphrey's McGee
-> A-Lex by Sepultura (January 23)