Concert Dates, Concert Tour News, Artist Information

The ongoing Kanye West show

Oh, Kanye. Is there nothing you won’t say? A recent concert sponsored by VH1, part of their Storytellers series, prompted Kanye to talk to his audience and share more thoughts with them then he usually would in a concert. The trouble is, Kanye shares too much even when he’s not in a concert. Reuters has a story about what got cut, which included slamming Thom Yorke, encouraging everyone to give Chris Brown a pass and calling O.J. Simpson “amazing” in a vaugely positive way.

Reuters notes that most of what got cut just wasn’t as interesting, or were stories that were just a little too long. But there were also some choice comments that probably would have rivaled his post-Katrina condemnation of President George Bush. Stereogum boiled it down for us: Apparently, Yorke snubbed Kanye at the Grammy’s backstage. Kanye was clear that in response, he didn’t stand when everyone else did during Radiohead’s performance that night. He also asked everyone to give Chris Brown a break—“I know I’ve made mistakes in life,” Kanye said. And the coup de grace: “O.J. Simpson, amazing. Is he not? What he did, when he did, what he did. Was he not amazing though?”

It’s actually Kanye who ceases to amaze. Just ask anyone holding Kanye West tickets. If you want concert tickets, go to StubHub.com.

AV Club interviews Zach Condon of Beirut

Beirut’s gorgeous, lush chamber pop blew away critics when the band—the heart of which is singer/songwriter Zach Condon—debuted in 2006 with Gulag Orkestar. Hailed widely as a fresh folk voice, the Eastern European flair that showed on on that record was a hint of the international taste Condon would exhibit on future records, including 2007’s The Flying Cup Club. A recent interview with the A.V. Club reveals   that Condon has been keeping busy, working on a sountrack for a film that’s unfortunately been scrapped. It’s also proved to be a further exploration of that international taste, as Condon traveled to Oaxaca to record with a Mexican marching band.

There was certainly a cultural exchange that went with the experience. Besides trying crickets—apparently a local specialty—Condon realized that more than a mere language barrier separate him from the band. Music is an international language, right? Not quite. His sense of melody wasn’t always the same as there’s, and vice versa. There were times when they couldn’t try things at all because a musical experiment would get lost in translation. And there were times when things just clicked.

If you haven’t had the chance to hear Beirut live, you should consider getting concert tickets. Beirut tickets can be purchased at StubHub.com.

Morrissey Cancels Four Shows

Unfortunately for fans in the Sunshine State, Morrisey has canceled four of his shows scheduled to be held there.  The musician is on a worldwide trek in support of Years of Refusal this weekend.  Apparently he has fallen ill, according to his tour promoter, Live Nation.  The locations where he was forced to pull out of include: Boca Raton, Orlando, Jacksonville and Saint Petersburg.  He is however, expected to recover in time for his next live show at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. on March 6th.

His tour has been widely anticipated by fans and luckily he has many dates ahead of him.  If you want to see this popular musician show his stuff onstage, be sure to get your own pair of Morrisey tickets from Stubhub.com and get to the show early so that you don’t miss a single second of the song set.  You will love his energetic and electic style onstage!

MGMT, Fleet Foxes and Kraftwerk Head Bestival Bill

Bestival will be held on the Isle Of Wight on Saturday Sept. 12 and the U.K. festival will feature German electropop vets Kraftwerk as headliners. Organized by DJ Rob da Bank, Bestival will be held on Sept. 11 to 13 at Robin Hill Country Park with U.K. electronic act Massive Attack headlining Sept. 11. Massive Attack is due to release their anxiously awaited album aroung the same time. Also Sept. 11, Bat For Lashes will be headlining the Big Top stage; their new album, Two Suns, arrives April 6.

Brooklyn-bred electro-rock outfit MGMT will cross the pond to play Bestival along with Seattle Sup Pop act Fleet Foxes, whose eponymous debut has reached platinum status in the U.K. New-ravers the Klaxons will take the stage at Bestival, delivering tunes from the follow-up album to their debut, Myths Of The Near Future, which won the Nationwide Mercury Prize in 2007. The Beat, Future Sound Of London, Squarepusher, Florence & The Machine, Friendly Fired, Passion Pit, Hockey and Little Boots will also perform, scattered around the festival’s 14 stages, along with Micheal Nyman.

If you can’t make it to Bestival, get your concert tickets to see the headliners right here in the States at StubHub.com.

Def Leppard to Tour This Summer

Def Leppard will return to the road in the U.S. this summer for 40 dates supported by Poison and Cheap Trick. The Live Nation-produced tour begins June 23 in Camden, N.J. and vocalist Joe Elliot recently told Billboard.com, “We’ll probably start rehearsing at the end of May and do a Monday to Friday thing. We like to have those be as civilized as we possible can. There’s no point in leading up to the first gig and having no voice or your finges bleeding.”

Def Leppard’s tour dates (venues will be announced at a later date):

June 23: Camden, N.J.

June 25: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

June 26: Darien Center, N.Y.

June 28: Scranton, Pa.

June 30: Mansfield, Mass.

July 1: Holmdel, N.J.

July 3: Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

July 4: Toronto, Ontario

July 7: Hartford, Conn.

July 8: Wantagh, N.Y.

July 10: Burgettstown, Penn.

July 11: Virginia Beach, Va.

July 12: Bristow, Va.

July 15: Cincinnati

July 17: Tinley Park, Ill.

July 21: Kansas City, Mo.

July 23: Noblesville, Ind.

July 24: Clarkton, Mich.

Aug. 7: Raleigh, N.C.

Aug. 8: Charlotte, N.C.

Aug. 10: Nashville

Aug. 11: Birmingham, Al.

Aug. 13: West Palm Beach, Fla.

Aug. 14: Tampa, Fla.

Aug. 15: Atlanta

Aug. 18: New Orleans

Aug. 19: Houston

Aug. 21: Dallas

Aug. 22: Tulsa, Ok.

Aug. 24: Englewood, Colo.

Aug. 25: Slat Lake City

Aug. 28: Albuquerque, N.M.

Aug. 29: Phoenix

Aug. 30: Irvine, Calif.

Sept. 2: Mountain View, Calif.

Sept. 3: Sacramento, Calif.

Sept. 5: Las Vegas

Sept 7: San Bernadino, Calif.

Get all your Def Leppard tickets at StubHub.com.

Stevie Wonder honored by President Obama

For several generations of Americans, Stevie Wonder has been a musical icon. His work has made an immense impact on black America especially, and President Barack Obama has called Wonder the man responsible for the soundtrack of his youth. This week, Obama celebrated Wonder as not just a personal inspiration, but as an American one, as well.

AP reports that Wonder received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song—the highest honor a pop star can be bequeathed by the government of the United States. Tony Bennet and Martina McBride performed in tribute to Wonder, and Wonder himself even did a few of the prez’ favorites. Obama called them “the most accomplished Stevie Wonder cover band in history.”

It’s awesome that the artist is receiving so much attention these days, which is assuredly deserved after the many years of recording. Fans everywhere are sure to agree that the award was deserved, and will probably be jonesing for Stevie Wonder tickets, as the man is currently on tour. Concert tickets can be purchased at StubHub.com.

Even Trashier

Everyone’s favorite bad boys of rock-Motley Crue are heading out this summer on Crue Fest 2: The White Trash Circus.  They will ultimately bring a satisfying blend of good old rock ’n’ roll and crazy mayhem to a stadium or arena near you.  The official lineup for this concert tour has yet to be announced, but last time around Motley Crue dragged around Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:AM and Trapt.  Fans will likely be clamoring to get to one of the many shows held throughout the year because seeing Motley Crue live onstage is an experience that one will surely never forget.

Motley Crue is perhaps just as well-known for their numerous controversies over the years.  Between small run-ins with the law, fatal car accidents and bizarre sex videos, the group has had its fair share of time in the press.  They certainly are not boring.  Be sure to get some of the best spots near the front of the stage, so that you can rock out with Tommy Lee and the gang.  Get your Motley Crue tickets from Stubhub.com.

New Spider-Man musical has a score—by U2

Across the blogosphere, chatter is near constant about the upcoming Broadway musical based on the origin story of Spider-Man. If rumor is to be believed, the Julie Taymor-directed musical will be taking a pretty artsy and unconventional (read: weird) tack on the classic superhero tropes. For one, it’s a musical, something that usually doesn’t go with superheroes. For another, Taymor is connected—which could be a saving grace to what sounds to some bloggers as a misconceived project. Taymor is famously responsible for a colorful production of The Lion King that drew rave reviews in the late ’90s, as well as for imaginative retellings of Shakespeare’s Titus. There’s even going to be a “geek chorus” in the new Spider-Man musical.

But there’s one more interesting quirk about this Broadway play that will surely draw in viewers: Pitchfork reports that it was scored by Bono and the Edge (okay, okay—it’s not quite U2). That’s rather unexpected. Apparently Bono has been multi-tasking, seeing as the band has also been working on a new album.

If you’re looking to hear that music live, get U2 tickets. Find concert tickets online at StubHub.com.

No Doubt Summer Tour Update

No Doubt will actually kick off their summer tour this spring, playing their first show at New Jersey’s Bamboozle Festival May 3. Next, the band will play Tiger Jam in Las Vegas May 16 followed by an appearance at the Save Mart Center in Fresno May 19. Gwen and the guys will stop in Bakersfield at the Rabobank Arena on May 20, in San Diego at Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre on May 22, in Denver at Fiddler’s on May 27, in Atlanta at Lakewood on June 5, in Virginia Beach at Verizon Wireless on June 10, in Boston at the Comcast Center on June 20 and at Milwaukee’s Summerfest on July 2, among other stops.

No Doubt will also take the stage in Detroit (July 3), Kansas City (July 6) and Seattle (July 19) and will reportedly wrap up their tour in So Cal, playing a pair of shows at Irvine’s Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (July 31 and Aug. 1). Paramore will support No Doubt with The Sounds, Bedouin Soundclash and Janelle Monae also making special appearances.

Get your No Doubt tickets at StubHub.com.

Atmosphere: On the Road

Atmosphere is celebrating the reissue of the critically acclaimed album, God Loves Ugly, by hitting the road!  The tour will officially kick off at the Wilma Theatre in Missoula, Montana on April 9 and will wind down at Slowdown in Omaha, Nebraska on May 22.  Other dates on the books include stops at The Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff, Arizona; the Showbox SoDo in Seattle; the MacEwan Hall Ballroom in Calgary, Alberta and the House of Blues in Boston.  In addition P.O.S. is scheduled to come along for the ride as an opening act (though only for select dates).

God Loves Ugly is the second full-length album for the hip hop duo, it was released January 20 after being out of print for over one year.  If you are a fan of their eclectic sound and style be sure to peruse Stubhub’s list of dates and get your pair of Atmosphere tickets as soon as possible.  You won’t want to miss out on a great show!