Concert Dates, Concert Tour News, Artist Information

Beastie Boys Rockin’ the Vote

The Beastie Boys have announced a special tour in which they’ll perform in swing states before the November presidential election.  Dubbed the “Get Out and Vote Tour,” the string of concerts is meant to inspire people who live in states that generally decide presidential elections to make sure to hit the voting booth come November 4th.  “This election is too important to stay at home.  We hope that you can come out, have a nice night, dance, sing, get your freak on, and then wake up the next morning and get everyone that you possibly can to get out and vote.” The Beasties said in an e-mail blast.  “We are very excited about Obama.  Hope you all feel the same.”

Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and Tenacious D are just some of the artists expected to join the Beasties in spreading the intent to vote.  So far, three official dates have been announced, October 28 at Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, VA, November 1 at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, MN and November 2 at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, WI.  This is not the first time that musicians have stepped up to the plate and encouraged America’s young adults to exercise their right to vote.  Campaigns such as Rock the Vote and Vote or Die have received endorsements from a number of musical heavyweights

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Guns ’N’ Roses album coming out! You might get free Dr. Pepper!

Here’s a two-fer for you music news junkies. First and most importantly, Reuters is reporting that Chinese Democracy, Guns ’N’ Roses’ first album in almost 20 years, is due out Nov. 23. It’ll be sold exclusively through Best Buy, but the hardcore GNR fans out there have already sought out two singles from the album, which have been released through both Rock Band 2 (“Shackler’s Revenge”) and the new film Body of Lies (“If the World”).

This has been a long time coming. The record has been a punchline for most of its rumored existence. Work began on it in the early ’90s, but internal dissention between band members derailed it’s production.

Now for the second part of the story: In the spring, Dr. Pepper released a statement that the company would issue one free can of soda to “everyone in America” if the album actually came out this year. Sadly, no one from Dr. Pepper got back to the Reuters reporter.

If you’re hoping to see GNR live, get concert tickets now. Guns ’N’ Roses tickets are at Stubhub.com.

Franz Ferdinand plays with human bones

An unusual story from the Guardian this morn’ points out that Franz Ferdinand enjoys experimenting with new instruments. Instruments like human bones.

While working on their new album, the band needed a dry, percussive sound.

“We had this skeleton in a box that just ended up sitting in the corner of the studio, and we all sort of looked at it, and decided to experiment with it,” said frontman Alex Kapranos. They apparently bought the remains at a doctor’s auction on a lark, thinking they could decorate their recording spaces. They found more practical uses for it, clapping the hands together, smacking the pelvis against the femur, and rattling teeth about in a jar. Take that into consideration if you hear some interesting “drumming” on the new album.

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Franz Ferdinand Treats Brooklyn Fans to New Songs

On Oct. 8 Franz Ferdinand fans present at the Scottish rock band’s show at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Willaimsburg were treated to a string of new songs that will appear on Franz Feridand’s forthcoming album. Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos told the audience that the band recently wrapped up their upcoming release, called Tonight, which will be issued via Epic in Jan. 2009. Among the new songs were the guitar-laden “Ulysses” and keyboard jam “Ride Together.” Franz Ferdinand is taking their brand of artsy post-punk rock in a slightly different direction on their third album, experimenting with R&B and funk sounds.

Tonight is the follow-up to their 2005 album, You Could Have It So Much Better, from which Franz Ferdinand played “Outsiders” and “The Fallen” at their Brooklyn show. Kapranos and company also played their breakout single, “Take Me Out,” as well as “Michael” and “Tell Her Tonight” all from their 2004 eponymous debut album. The band, who begins a short European tour in Paris on Nov. 13, played the same Brooklyn venue one night earlier as part of the Barack Obama fundraiser Barack Rock along with Les Savy Fav, Andrew Bird and Guster.

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