Live Entertainment Blog

Brandon Flowers has made the most of The Killers’ hiatus recording his debut solo album, Flamingo, and setting out on a tour by himself. The Las Vegas native will begin his short tour in Sin City with a show next week at the Las Vegas Hilton’s The Shimmer Room. Flowers will play the Troubadour in Los Angeles, Slim’s in San Francisco, Park West in Chicago, and the Highline Ballroom in New York. From there, Flowers will head overseas to tour Europe to play a number of shows in late September. Flamingo lead single, “Crossfire”, has been garnering some attention online for its video featuring Charlize Theron. Theron plays the part of a female hero who always has to save a beaten, tortured Flowers from sure danger. Flowers debut album will be out in the United States on September 14th.

New York City’s Milk Studios was turned into a three-level party of light, art, and music last Saturday night. In a joint venture with VICE magazine and Intel, MIA, Spike Jonze, and Interpol worked to together to create a one-of-a-kind experience. “Creators Project” guests were treated to interactive displays and numerous performances by Neon Indian, Die Antwoord, Mark Ronson, and Sleigh Bells. The massive NYC studio was full of interactive art including a giant Rubik’s Cube and multiple other art exhibits. There will be other “Creators Project” exhibitions in other cities around the world like Sao Paolo, London, and Beijing. Keep your eyes peeled for the next one to be announced by Vice and Intel.

Twenty two year old pop star Rihanna will have a busy summer this year. Her announced “Last Girl on Earth Tour” will be her biggest headlining tour to date yet, playing across the United States in July and August. American fans will have to wait until then to buy Rihanna tickets, because the Barbadian R&B hit maker will be in Europe from April 16th-June 5th.  Rihanna is destined to sell out arenas on both sides of the Atlantic, but she is also making stops at the Rock in Rio Festival in Madrid this summer and on the Lilith Fair Tour as well in Salt Lake City on July 12th. Rihanna is also on top of the charts currently with her single “Rude Boy” off her 2009 release Rated R.  Rihanna has achieved so much in her young career so far that one can only think that things will be even bigger for the Def Jam recording artist in 2010.

The summer is filled with great festivals all throughout the country, but one very special one in particular is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival held in New Orleans, Louisiana from April 23-May 2nd. The festival began in 1970 with only local acts being featured and has grown into one of the most popular festivals in the United States. Jazz Fest now attracts some of the biggest names in music such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews Band, and more. This year artists that are scheduled to perform include Lionel Ritchie, Simon & Garfunkel, My Morning Jacket, Darius Rucker, the Levon Helm Band, the Allman Brothers, Elvis Costello, Aretha Franklin, Pearl Jam, Van Morrison, the Neville Brothers, and more. Music fans also get to enjoy just visiting the unique town that is New Orleans. All the food vendors at the festival undergo strict screening so only authentic New Orleans food is sold. Head on down to New Orleans and have a ball this summer at New Orleans Jazz Fest.

Famed rock band, Stone Temple Pilots, put out some of the best alternative rock albums in the 1990’s. The band spent most of the 2000’s on hiatus, but has reunited to record a new album and tour the country. The band earned great reviews playing at South By Southwest this year to a small crowd of die-hard fans. Lead singer Scott Weiland spent five years with Velvet Revolver, but from all reports is happy to be back with STP. Bassist Robert DeLeo called the album “a great STP record… a really cohesive record with songs that are going to be lasting”. The band will be finishing up their tour this May in Camden, NJ before heading overseas and touring throughout Europe in June. This could be a big year for STP fans.

Nick Cannon and Perez Hilton have already dubbed Justin Bieber to the break out star of 2010 as the teenage sensation has been scoring hit singles and causing riots of teeny-boppers at shopping malls. The 15-year-old Canadian pop star was discovered on YouTube and former-teen idol Usher quickly helped him get a record deal. Bieber has worked with some of the biggest names in music producing his first record My World that has now gone platinum in both the United States in Canada. His upcoming March 2010 release My World 2.0 should be one of the year’s biggest sellers with its single “Baby” already #25 on the Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. The teen idol is planning a huge tour for this year as Justin Bieber tickets will be some of the hardest to find anywhere. Watch out Miley Cyrus there’s a new boy in town!