Thursday, August 29, 2002
Eminem leads MTV video awards with four wins
Eminem took home four awards to lead the charge at the MTV Video Music Awards Thursday at Radio City Music Hall, and also managed get embroiled in yet another controversy.
Eminem took home four awards to lead the charge at the MTV Video Music Awards Thursday at Radio City Music Hall, and also managed get embroiled in yet another controversy.
The controversy began during a bit in which Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, a puppet that regularly appears on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, was talking with Moby. Triumph brought up the negative comments that Eminem made about the techno star on his CD. When the puppet moved on to confront Eminem, the rapper waved the puppet off, refusing to take its trademark verbal barbs.
Shortly thereafter, Eminem won Best Male Video for “Without Me"--presented to him by Christina Aguilera, about whom he made unflattering comments on his last album. She was visibly uncomfortable, quickly giving him the award and scooting away.
“I don’t know what to say when I’m getting these awards, man,” Eminem said while accepting the award. “I got a list of people I cannot forget to thank. Sorry that whole Moby [thing] threw me out of my zone.”
Eminem quickly returned to the Moby feud, though, apparently calling Moby “a girl.” When many in the audience started booing, he said, “Yeah, keep booing, little girl. I will hit a man with glasses"--a comment that elicited even louder boos from the crowd.
Shortly thereafter, Eminem took the stage to accept the video of the year award for his clip for “Without Me,” and seemed to apologize for his outburst. After all, he said, he was going through classes in anger management.
Eminem’s fellow Detroiters The White Stripes picked up three awards on the night, and Pink and No Doubt took home two apiece.
Handed one of her awards by Avril Lavigne and Lisa Marie Presley (who was wearing a “Bite Me” T-shirt), Pink brought a posse on stage that included her boyfriend, extreme-sports athlete Carey Hart.
“That’s my entourage. I’ve always wanted to be a rapper,” said Pink, who was continually pulling up her pants. “I’m too drunk for this. … Thank you to my fans because you guys stuck by me and you’re open minded and you believe music is freedom.”
As Pink left the stage, Fallon imitated a drunken Pink. When she passed through the curtain he asked, “Isn’t that annoying?”
Rising from within a giant boom box, ‘NSync’s Justin Timberlake made his solo debut with his Michael Jackson-inspired single “Like I Love You.”
In an apparent effort to show that the group is still intact despite Timberlake’s solo effort, ‘NSync (sans Lance Bass who is training for a Russian space flight) announced the next award.
The most touching moment came when Carson Daly announced the formation of the Lisa Lopes AIDS scholarship, named after the late TLC member who died in a car crash earlier this year. The scholarship will grant $25,000 to a young person committed to the fight against the disease. After a video montage, TLC’s surviving members, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, approached the podium, hand in hand, with tears in their eyes.
“Thank you. I want to start out by saying God is good. That’s the only reason we’re able to stand here tonight,” T-Boz said nervously. “Also, I want to thank Lisa’s family. … Her mother, brother and sister have given us tremendous strength. Thank you MTV. Lisa would have been very happy. TLC’s fans, we have the best fans in the world and because of the fans, that’s the big part of the reason why we’re able to remain.”
The duo walked away from the stage, but Daly gently encouraged Chilli to speak.
“Um, this is so hard because it’s a such a reality check,” said Chilli, who was near sobbing and holding a tissue in her hand. “There’s only two of us up here and she’s so missed but we want to thank everybody for your support and being there for us. We really thank you. We love you guys. We know that Lisa is smiling and we just hope she’s proud of us right now.”
Two “American Idol” finalists gave Avril Lavigne her best new artist video award. When one of the finalists tried to hug her, Lavigne jerked away, apparently trying to avoid her. But she was thankful for the prize.
“Dude, this is amazing,” Lavigne said. “My dreams are coming true. This is something that I won’t take for granted. I’ve had this dream for a very long time,” she added, letting out a large scream before leaving the stage.
Jack and Meg White from the White Stripes thanked presenters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, from whom they received the prize for Breakthrough Video, during their nonchalant speech.
During one of the night’s more surreal moments, Britney Spears made a short birthday presentation to Michael Jackson, during which she said that he was one of her favorite artists of the millennium. Jackson mistakenly interpreted the remark to mean that he was being presented with an Artist of the Millennium award (which does not exist). Jackson gave an acceptance speech and expressed disbelief that he had been named “Artist of the Millennium,” not realizing that it was simply a presentation celebrating his 44th birthday.
In a somber moment, Jennifer Lopez--who made a point of stressing that she is a native New Yorker--introduced former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani.
Guiliani brought on stage Sheryl Crow who performed “Safe and Sound” at a piano with a string section nearby. A slideshow of New York City sights accompanied her, ending with the “I Love New York” logo.
Guns N’ Roses was the surprise guest this year, and performed a medley of its songs that included “Welcome to the Jungle.”
Later in the evening, GN’R lead-singer Axl Rose, spoke to MTV about his group’s long-delayed new album.
“It will come out,” he said. “I wouldn’t say soon. We’ll go back and do some recording and start an American leg of the tour. It’s always hard to rebuild something that got so big and replace virtually every [former band member] with a whole bunch of guys that are something else.”
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off the ceremony with the Sept. 11-inspired “The Rising,” the title-track from his latest album.
Best Video of the Year
Eminem, “Without Me”
Best Male Video
Eminem, “Without Me”
Best Female Video
Pink, “Get This Party Started”
Best Group Video
No Doubt featuring Bounty Killer, “Hey Baby”
Best Rap Video
Eminem, “Without Me”
Best R&B Video
Mary J. Blige, “No More Drama”
Best Hip-Hop Video
Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule, “I’m Real (Remix)”
Best Dance Video
Pink, “Let’s Get This Party Started”
Best Rock Video
Linkin Park, “In the End”
Best Pop Video
No Doubt featuring Bounty Killer, “Hey Baby”
Best New Artist
Avril Lavigne, “Complicated”
Best Video from a Film
Chad Kroeger featuring Josey Scott, “Hero” from “Spider-Man”
Breakthrough Video
The White Stripes, “Fell in Love with a Girl”
MTV2 Award
Dashboard Confessional, “Screaming Infidelities”
Viewer’s Choice Award
Michelle Branch, “Everywhere”
Best Direction in a Video
Eminem, “Without Me” (director Joseph Kahn)
Best Choreography
Kylie Minogue “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”
Best Special Effects
The White Stripes, “Fell in Love with a Girl”
Best Editing in a Video
The White Stripes, “Fell in Love with a Girl”
Best Art Direction in a Video
Coldplay, “Trouble”
Best Cinematography
Moby, “We’re all Made of Stars”
Wednesday, August 28, 2002
Live Review: Sprite Liquid Mix tour with Jay-Z, 311 and others in Michigan
CLARKSTON, Mich. - The late R&B singer Aaliyah, who was killed in a plane crash last year, became the focus of rapper Jay-Z’s performance on Sunday (8/25) during the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour’s stop at the DTE Energy Music Theatre.
CLARKSTON, Mich. - The late R&B singer Aaliyah, who was killed in a plane crash last year, became the focus of rapper Jay-Z’s performance on Sunday (8/25) during the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour’s stop at the DTE Energy Music Theatre.
Without explanation, Jay-Z halted his hit “Hard Knock Life” shortly after 10 p.m. to ask the production staff to turn off the lights. He encouraged fans to spark their lighters as the Detroit native’s hit “Try Again” played softly over the speakers.
Jay-Z and the rest of his Roc-a-Fella family--including co-CEO Damon Dash, who reportedly was engaged to Aaliyah at the time of her death--turned their backs and walked to the rear of the stage for the 30-second memorial.
“We love you,” Jay-Z said as the lights went up. “We miss y’all.”
The solemn moment was a stark contrast to the rest of the daylong festival, which was filled with tension. Pavilion seating, generally assigned to ticket-holders, was dubbed general admission from the start of the show until 5:45 p.m. During opening sets from rappers Nappy Roots and rap-rockers N.E.R.D., fans jumped over rows of seats in waves to get closer to the stage. They stepped on the heads, backs and shoulders of fellow ticket-holders, including children, to slap hands with the bands, both of which encouraged fans to come closer.
At 5:45 p.m., the crowd was asked to leave the pavilion and sit in the assigned seats--a process that didn’t go smoothly.
A second stage, which housed bands such as Nonpoint, Blackalicous and Talib Kweli, was an awkward walk. Fans who had already gone through security were able to pass through a wooded walkway to enter the second-stage area. However, to return to the main stage area, ticket-holders were forced to pass again through the main gates.
From a strictly performance aspect, most of the show was top-notch. Nonpoint added gripping rock to the second stage, as Blackalicious provided backbeats for the extreme sports athletes and basketball players under the 80-degree sun.
N.E.R.D.--the Neptunes production team plus MC Shay (Sheldon Hailey)--fell flat with the main stage crowd, despite the eclectic nature of its music. Lead singer Pharrell Williams strolled across the stage offering samples of his band’s debut “In Search Of.” To hype up the fans, he encouraged them to dance in the aisles.
“There’s some room in the aisle here. Just don’t hurt anyone,” Williams said.
The second stage was sparsely attended; Nonpoint singer Elias Soriano said it was because tour promoters improperly pushed the bands performing there. Kweli, a strong performer with masterful rhyming skills, managed to bring in a fair number of spectators, but it wasn’t proportional to the hype he’s received.
Reggae-popsters 311 added a touch of positivity to the main stage. Singer-guitarist Nick Hexum and singer-rapper S.A. Martinez tailed each other around the stage and seamlessly traded lines in their co-headlining spot.
Hexum, wearing a Descendents T-shirt and black wrist bands, lead the crowd in a chant of “down for the diversity/down to the unity” before heading into the song “Unity.”
His set didn’t focus on the music fans came to see, however, instead focusing on material from his Roc-A-Fella family. By the end of his set, many in the crowd had already headed for the exits.
Live Review: Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth near Boston
MANSFIELD, Mass.--Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth squared off on Wednesday night (8/28) at the Tweeter Center, and Hagar delivered a combination of punches that Roth just couldn’t counter.
MANSFIELD, Mass.--Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth squared off on Wednesday night (8/28) at the Tweeter Center, and Hagar delivered a combination of punches that Roth just couldn’t counter.
The two former Van Halen frontmen--whose tour is dubbed “The Sammy Hagar & David Lee Roth Tour 2002: Song for Song the World Heavyweight Champs of Rock"--have been alternating the opening and closing slots at each tour stop, and have framed the outing as a head-to-head competition.
Hagar took the stage first, backed by his band, the Waboritas. The shaggy-maned singer’s stage set-up--which normally features a large-scale replica of the interior of his Mexico-based Cabo Wabo nightclub--was scaled down to a simple array of red-cased speakers and a small pair of bleachers filled with contest winners.
The group kicked things off with “Shaka Doobie,” one of Hagar’s most-recent, least-known solo tunes. The setlist also featured other Hagar solo-fare, including “There’s Only One Way to Rock,” “Three Lock Box,” “Heavy Metal,” “I Can’t Drive 55” and “Mas Tequila.”
But the success of the novelty-pairing of Hagar and Roth is due largely to the fact that fans of Van Halen--a band that has been in semi-retirement for the past four years--are showing up to get the next best thing.
It is in that regard that Hagar-era Van Halen fans got the night’s largest payoff, as Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony--who has been popping up at a number of this tour’s stops--strolled on stage mid-set and sent much of the crowd into a cheering, screaming frenzy. Anthony, Hagar and company then tore through a batch of VH hits that included “Top of the World,” “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Best of Both Worlds” and “Finish What Ya Started.” Hagar’s voice hasn’t waned a bit in the years since he first recorded those tracks, Anthony nailed the thunderous bass lines and supersonic harmonies, and the Waboritas did an admirable job of replicating the classic tunes.
Hagar upped the ante during his encore, when he, Anthony and the Waboritas were joined by the night’s second surprise guest, local favorite Gary Cherone, Hagar’s short-lived replacement in Van Halen. The two swapped verses during renditions of Van Halen’s “When It’s Love” and “Dreams,” and were also joined by Cherone’s former Extreme (and current Tribe of Judah) bandmate, bassist Pat Badger, as well as several members of the band Boston.
Following a quick set change, Roth and his power-trio of hired guns--which includes a guitarist recruited from a Van Halen cover band--fired off a barrage of classic Roth-era Van Halen tunes that opened with the visceral “Hot for Teacher.” Other crowd pleasers that the quartet rolled out included “Dance the Night Away,” “Pretty Woman,” “Ice Cream Man,” “Beautiful Girls” and “Jump.”
Dressed in purple-and-black-checkered spandex bellbottoms and an open shirt that showed off his ripped physique, the athletic Roth delivered his nostalgic set on a black, stripped-down stage featuring nothing more than a drum riser and a wall of black speakers. Almost all of the numbers were peppered with ample helpings of his trademark--though age-worn--screech, and frequent spinning high kicks.
The down-and-dirty set was an excellent display of his band’s musical ability--as well as a reminder of just how strong Van Halen’s catalog of hits is--and Roth showed that he still knows how to exude the sleazy rock-and-roll-frontman vibe that he perfected in the ‘70s and ‘80s. His voice hasn’t quite stood the test of time, but Roth gave the audience what they came to see; “Yankee Rose,” a hit from his 1986 solo album “Eat ‘em and Smile,” was the only non-VH song that surfaced.
Where Roth fell short was in botching many of the songs’ lyrics--often replacing them with nonsensical babble--and in generally exuding an uncomfortable aura. The California-beach-bum good looks and affable party-host demeanor of his heyday with Van Halen have been replaced by an eerie, Crypt Keeper-like countenance and a non-stop cycle of painfully forced-looking, sardonic, face-splitting smiles. He is not the David Lee Roth of his youth; he is an older David Lee Roth trying--perhaps too hard--to be the David Lee Roth of yesterday.
Roth’s set also stumbled a bit when he took shots at Van Halen, Cherone and Hagar, including the comment that Hagar now “works for me.” The crowd reacted to that jab with a strong chorus of boos.
Low points aside, Roth delivered what his fans wanted: the best impersonation of the original Van Halen lineup that he could muster without having the original Van Halen lineup.
In fairness, comparing Roth and Hagar is like comparing apples and oranges. The only thing that the two have in common is that they’ve both fronted--and been spurned by--Van Halen. That, and the fact that their marketability in 2002 has been greatly enhanced by joining forces.
Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth are scheduled to appear together as presenters at Thursday (8/29) night’s MTV Video Music Awards.
Photo by Adam Bielawski
Alan Jackson dominates 36th Annual CMA Awards nominations
Alan Jackson picked up a record 10 CMA award nominations on Thursday (8/29), topping the old record of nine nominations in a single year set by Merle Haggard in 1970.
Alan Jackson picked up a record 10 CMA award nominations on Thursday (8/29), topping the old record of nine nominations in a single year set by Merle Haggard in 1970.
Jackson could win awards for top entertainer and male vocalist, and is also nominated in the top album category (for “Drive") and top vocal event (for “Designated Drinker,” a duet with George Strait). Jackson songs “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” and “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” are each nominated in the top single, song and video categories.
Strait still holds the title of having the most career CMA nominations with 70 to Jackson’s 60.
A dozen artists picked up multiple nominations, including Toby Keith with six; Brad Paisley and George Strait with four each; Kenny Chesney and Alison Krauss with three each; and Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Willie Nelson, Lee Ann Womack, Nickel Creek and Rascal Flatts with two apiece.
The 36th Annual CMA awards, which Vince Gill will host for the 11th consecutive year, will be broadcast live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Nov. 6 on CBS network.
The complete list of nominees for the 2002 CMA Awards are:
Entertainer of the Year:
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
George Strait
Male Vocalist of the Year:
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Female Vocalist of the Year:
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride
Lee Ann Womack
Trisha Yearwood
Horizon Award:
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Nickel Creek
Rascal Flatts
Phil Vassar
Darryl Worley
Vocal Group of the Year:
Diamond Rio
Dixie Chicks
Lonestar
Nickel Creek
Rascal Flatts
Vocal Duo of the Year:
Bellamy Brothers
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sons of the Desert
The Warren Brothers
Single of the Year:
“Blessed," Martina McBride (produced by Martina McBride / Paul Worley)
“Courtesy Of The Red, White & Blue (The Angry American),” Toby Keith (James Stroud / Toby Keith)
“Drive (For Daddy Gene),” Alan Jackson (Keith Stegall)
“I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” Brad Paisley (Frank Rogers)
“Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning),” Alan Jackson (Keith Stegall)
Album of the Year:
“Drive," Alan Jackson (produced by Keith Stegall)
“New Favorite,” Alison Krauss & Union Station (Alison Krauss)
“No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem,” Kenny Chesney (Buddy Cannon / Norro Wilson / Kenny Chesney)
“Pull My Chain,” Toby Keith (James Stroud / Toby Keith
“The Great Divide,” Willie Nelson (Matt Serletic)
“The Road Less Traveled,” George Strait (Tony Brown / George Strait)
Song of the Year:
“Courtesy Of The Red, White & Blue (The Angry American),” Toby Keith (Tokeco Tunes, publisher)
“Drive (For Daddy Gene),” Alan Jackson (EMI April Music / Tri-Angels Music)
“I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” arranged by Carter Stanley (Peer International Corp.)
“I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” Brad Paisley / Frank Rogers (EMI April Music / Sea Gayle Music)
“Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning),” Alan Jackson (EMI April Music / Tri-Angels Music)
Vocal Event of the Year:
Garth Brooks (duet with George Jones), “Beer Run (B-double E-double Are You In?)”
Jo Dee Messina with Tim McGraw, “Bring On the Rain”
Alan Jackson (duet with George Strait), “Designated Drinker”
Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch – “I’ll Fly Away” (live)
Willie Nelson with Lee Ann Womack, “Mendocino County Line”
Musician of the Year:
Jerry Douglas – dobro
Glen Duncan – fiddle
Paul Franklin – steel guitar
Dann Huff – guitar
Brent Mason – guitar
Music Video of the Year:
“Drive (For Daddy Gene), Alan Jackson (Steven Goldmann, director)
“I Wanna Talk About Me,” Toby Keith (Michael Salomon)
“I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” Brad Paisley (Peter Zavadil)
“Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde,” Travis Tritt (Michael Merriman)
“Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning),” Alan Jackson (Paul Miller)
Tuesday, August 27, 2002
Live Review: Wynonna at the Clio Area Amphitheatre in Michigan
CLIO, Mich.—During a flashy performance on Friday at the Clio Area Amphitheatre, singer Wynonna Judd defied simple labels.
CLIO, Mich.—During a flashy performance on Friday at the Clio Area Amphitheatre, singer Wynonna Judd defied simple labels.
Amid flashing lights and an energetic eight-piece band that included three back-up singers, Judd briskly walked on stage to a Motown medley. The near-capacity crowd hooted and hollered as she quickly segued into “A Little Bit of Love (Goes A Long Long Way),” from her self-titled latest album.
The 70-minute show was a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll with noticeably strong soul influences. However, for the first 45 minutes, Judd appeared uneasy on stage, going through the motions of numbers like “Somebody to Love You” and “Old Enough to Know Better.”
After the latter song, something inside of Judd seemed to click. She spoke at length about her family and the meaning of fame.
“Thank you for taking a chance on this redhead tonight,” she said with rising enthusiasm. “I’m in a good mood. I’m feeling kind of sassy tonight.
“I’ll be doing this for 20 years next year,” she continued. “It ain’t about the fame or the money anymore. I did that with my momma. I don’t take it for granted. Let me tell you, I am my mother’s daughter. I’m a woman with an attitude. That’s what brought me here--that and 13 hours on a bus.”
She celebrated her career with her mother in The Judds by singing “She is His Only Need,” a song that showcases her unfaltering vocal range. As the rain gently fell, Judd’s “sassy” behavior returned.
“This weather’s not doing anything for my hair,” Judd said before the audience sang along to “Tell Me Why.”
Music took a back seat for much of the concert; Judd spent about 30 minutes pontificating about her life and her career.
“I’ve had my 15 minutes but I’m going to push it to 20 because I can,” she said. “Look at the Judd women. If we can do it, anyone can do it,” she said, adding that her sister, Ashley, is filming a movie, while her mother, Naomi--who is recovering from a bout with hepatitis--is penning a book.
Album Chart: Eminem rises back to the top
"The Eminem Show” struts its staying power this week by switching places with “Nellyville” to reclaim the No. 1 spot on the album charts.
"The Eminem Show” struts its staying power this week by switching places with “Nellyville” to reclaim the No. 1 spot on the album charts.
After spending its first five weeks of release at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart, Eminem’s latest was unseated by Nelly’s “Nellyville,” which has stayed ahead of “The Eminem Show” ever since. During its latest week out, though, “The Eminem Show” sold more than 170,000 copies, about 10,000 more than “Nellyville,” according to industry sources.
Avril Lavigne, whose “Let Go” had slipped to No. 9 two weeks back, continues to claw its way higher with a two-spot jump to No. 3. The album’s hit single “Complicated” is spending its sixth week atop Billboard’s Top 40 Tracks chart.
The only Top 10 debut this week is the Neptunes-produced “Lord Willin’,” the first album from rap duo Clipse. The album features the singles “Grindin’” and “When the Last Time,” which sit at No. 14 and No. 45, respectively, on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
Slipping two spots each are Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising,” to No. 5, and James Taylor’s “October Road"--which debuted at No. 4 last week--to No. 6.
The “Now That’s What I Call Music! 10” compilations loses another spot to land at No. 7, Linkin Park’s “Reanimation” stays put at No. 8 and Toby Keith’s “Unleashed” drops two places to No. 9.
Entering the Top 10 for the first time since its February release is Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me.” The album, which has spent every week since its release in the No. 1 slot on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Album’s chart, features the hit “Don’t Know Why.”
Falling just shy of a Top 10 debut is Angie Martinez’s “Animal House,” sales of which were spurred by its hit single “If I Could Go,” a track that features Lil’ Mo & Sacario.
Lee Ann Womack’s “Something Worth Leaving Behind” debuts at No. 16, and Beenie Man’s “Tropical Storm” checks in at No. 18.
Among the albums debuting outside the Top 20 are Mana’s “Revolucion De Amor” at No. 22, Diamond Rio’s “Completely” at No. 23, Kidz Bop’s “Kidz Bop 2” at No. 37, Eva Cassidy’s “Imagine” at No. 62, Blindside’s “Silence” at No. 83, Seether’s “Disclaimer” at No. 92, Big Tray Deee’s “General’s List” at No. 95, Cash Money Millionaires “Undisputed” soundtrack at No. 101, Murderdolls’ “Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls” at No. 102, Sleater-Kinney’s “One Beat” at No. 107, Black Sabbath’s “Past Lives” at No. 114 and Black Crowes’ “Live” at No. 137.
India.Arie lines up support for fall tour
R&B singer India.Arie will be joined on her fall tour by hip-hop act Slum Village, rap-soul duo Floetry and Canadian rapper-vocalist K-OS.
R&B singer India.Arie will be joined on her fall tour by hip-hop act Slum Village, rap-soul duo Floetry and Canadian rapper-vocalist K-OS.
India.Arie’s sophomore album, “Voyage to India,” is due in stores on Sept. 24. “Little Things,” the album’s first single, already is receiving airplay on R&B and hip-hop stations.
Her debut, “Acoustic Soul,” garnered seven Grammy Award nominations in 2001, but the singer didn’t take home any awards. “Acoustic Soul” has sold 1.8 million records to date, according to Motown Records.
Slum Village’s latest release, “Trinity (Past, Present and Future),” hit stores on Aug. 13 and debuted at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Floetry’s debut, “Floetic,” is due in stores on Oct. 1, while K-OS is supporting his new album “Exit,” which was released in Canada this March.
Monday, August 26, 2002
James Taylor sets fall tour behind ‘October Road’
James Taylor backs his first new studio album in five years with a fall tour that kicks off in late November.
James Taylor backs his first new studio album in five years with a fall tour that kicks off in late November.
Taylor is supporting “October Road,” which features the single “On the 4th of July.” The album is the singer-songwriter’s first collection of new material since 1997’s “Hourglass,” which won that year’s Grammy award for Best Pop Album.
“All of these songs come from my life,” Taylor said of the new album in a press release. “I feel as though my life is full. It’s full of a lot of different stuff…family and friends and it feels about right. The reason I can talk about these songs as though they’re someone else’s is that I don’t feel as though I wrote them. I feel as though I heard them. I waited and waited and then I heard them first. I feel great about this batch of songs and that it was worth waiting for.”
A limited-edition version of “October Road” is packaged with a bonus disc that features three previously released tracks that have never been included on any of Taylor’s albums, as well as interviews and studio footage shot while Taylor was recording the new album.
The complete “October Road” track listing, as well as streaming samples of all of the album’s songs, are posted at Taylor’s official website.
Prior to launching his fall headlining tour, Taylor is scheduled to perform in Boston at an Oct. 7 concert to benefit the family of Billboard magazine editor Timothy White; White recently died of a heart attack at age 50.
The benefit will also feature Sheryl Crow, Don Henley, John Mellencamp, Sting and Billy Joel.
Trey Anastasio precedes Phish reunion with fall solo tour
Before his popular band reunites on New Year’s Eve, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio will lead his solo group on a nine-city tour of the East Coast.
Before his popular band reunites on New Year’s Eve, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio will lead his solo group on a nine-city tour of the East Coast.
The solo run opens with an Oct. 22 benefit show in his hometown of Burlington, Vt. The concert will raise funds for Burlington City Arts, a group chartered to sustain and enhance that city’s cultural life.
Anastasio, who released his self-titled solo debut in April, will be backed by the same group that joined him on his summer tour: bassist Tony Markellis, drummer Russ Lawton, keyboardist Ray Paczkowsi, trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick, alto saxophonist Dave Grippo, saxophonist and flutist Peter Apfelbaum, trombonist Andy Moroz, tenor saxophonist Russell Remington and percussionist Cyro Baptista.
Phish, which has been on hiatus for two years, will return to the fold with a Dec. 31 show at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The following week, the group will play three concerts in Hampton, Va.
Korn plots ‘Pop Sux!’ tour
Korn, which earlier this summer wrapped up the first leg of its tour behind this year’s “Untouchables,” will set out on another round of dates this fall.
Korn, which earlier this summer wrapped up the first leg of its tour behind this year’s “Untouchables,” will set out on another round of dates this fall.
Dubbed the Pop Sux! tour, the outing kicks off in early October, and is set to make stops in 35 cities over seven weeks, according to the group’s publicist. Roughly half of the dates have been confirmed so far. Tickets for the first 12 dates hit the box office the weekend of Sept. 6. (Details will appear in SoundSpike’s Sept. 3 ”Ticket Window” feature, which is updated every Thursday.)
Fans who are under the age of 20 will get a break on ticket prices; a limited number of tickets in each market will be sold to teenagers at a $10-off discount. The full-price cost was not available at press time.
Korn frontman Jonathan Davis explained the band’s decision to offer the discount tickets in a press release.
“We just think that right now, because the economy is so screwed, kids are getting it the worst,” he said. “And we know that there aren’t that many parents buying Korn tickets for kids right now, so we wanted to do something for our younger fans.”
Davis also said that Korn will not be using the same in-the-round stage featured during the tour’s first leg.
“It’s not as elaborate as the other one,” he said. “We’re making it more about the band than the huge light shows and all that other stuff. Overall, we like it a lot better.”
The group will perform in front of video screens that will feature footage shot by video-director and longtime Korn collaborator Nathan “Karma” Cox. The stage set will also include a new lighting rig.
Fellow rock acts Disturbed and Trust Company will open for Korn on the upcoming run.
“Untouchables,” Korn’s fifth album, hit stores in June, and features the singles “Here to Stay” and “Thoughtless.”
Disturbed’s “Believe,” featuring the single “Prayer,” arrives in stores on Sept. 17. Trust Company’s “The Lonely Position of Neutral,” featuring the hit “Downfall,” surfaced in July.