Live Entertainment Blog

U2 will be releasing a new album at the beginning of March 2009, and it will be a very interesting release. Usually, you don’t have to expect a big release, just a CD. But U2 will be releasing several different versions of the same CD. There will be the regular CD, a vinyl release, a boxed set, a magazine version, and several of them include some version of an Anton Corbijn film that features their music. Find more information here.

As explained by her latest blog entry on ashleesimpsonmusic.com, Ashlee is extremely happy being a mother. Calling it “the most fantastic experience I have ever been thru [sic],” it seems that she and Bronx (her baby boy), are just having the time of their lives, especially since they get to go to all the free Fall Out Ball concerts they could ever want! Congratulations Ashlee!

The Decemberists’ show has, at the moment, a very fun feel to it. Perhaps it has to do with Barack Obama, like the reviewer in Variety says, but perhaps it was just the show that this person happened to see. But their music, though produced as a quintet nowadays, is still as dynamic as ever, with several different musical styles represented and great dynamic flow from one song to the next. I wish I could’ve seen them, and perhaps I will someday soon. I’ll bet they’re playing other gigs around the country. I don’t know though.

Not since Vanilla Ice has a rapper been THIS huge. Lil Wayne seems to be omnipresent. Despite his admittedly excessive use of marijuana, which for most people has a “lazy-fying” affect, Lil Wayne is one of the most prolific (as well as consistent) rappers around today. And rightfully so, he is highly acclaimed by critics and fans alike. He’s been nominated for several AMA and Grammy Awards, including best solo rap performance, best rap collaboration, and best performance by a group. He’s in his prime and there’s never been a better time to get your Lil Wayne concert tickets.

Tony Bennett is still performing shows every couple of months. This guy has been one of the most popular singers in the world for many years now. It’s always great to hear from him and to hear a great rendition of hit songs. He is like the new Frank Sinatra, but not so skinny as Sinatra was a long time ago. You like jazz? You like easy listening? Then you should totally go see Tony Bennett when he comes to town! I love listening to his soft tones and the great relaxing feel of his music. Who can forget his “When the moon hits your eye…” song. I don’t know what that song is called, to be honest, but it’s always a great song for any Italian restaurant!

Exactly forty years ago on this date, one of the greatest shows in rock n’ roll history took place: The Rolling Stones Rock n’ Roll Circus. Though it was a taped concert, the release of the DVD/VHS was delayed until 1996 because the Stones did not particularly enjoy their own performace, expecially since The Who basically stole the entire show. Other acts included Eric Clapton, John Lennon with Yoko Ono, and Jethro Tull. You can find the dvd for it right here.

In a story released by the Boston Herald on December 4th, it was reported that Jamie Lynn Spears (famous for…huh, I’ll get back to you on this one) had liposuction while she was pregnant. To her credit, she did not know at the time that she was pregnant. She acted as any normal teenager would when they discover they are putting on massive weight gains, and begged her mother for plastic surgery. Naturally, her mother agreed and was able to assist in the process of providing liposuction to an underage patient.

Rachael Yamagata is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter. This is a little bit misleading, however, as her family came from Japan several generations ago. And since then, in very American fashion, her family has included people of German and Italian descent. Anyway, her music is known in a rather small circle of groups, even though it has appeared in several different television shows and movies. Last October, a couple more songs by Yamagata came out on internet video sites and she released an album earlier this year. It has been well received and you should take a look at it.