Monday, March 03, 2003
Toby Keith is frontrunner in ACM nominations
Singer Toby Keith has the best shot at winning a trophy during this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards, thanks to a total of eight nominations. Alan Jackson trails with six nominations; Kenny Chesney and Trick Pony scored five; the Dixie Chicks and Willie Nelson each landed four; and Brooks & Dunn, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and Lee Ann Womack each picked up a pair.
The awards ceremony, which takes place on May 21 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, will air live on CBS. Complete details are available at the Academy of Country Music website.
Singer Toby Keith has the best shot at winning a trophy during this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards, thanks to a total of eight nominations. Alan Jackson trails with six nominations; Kenny Chesney and Trick Pony scored five; the Dixie Chicks and Willie Nelson each landed four; and Brooks & Dunn, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and Lee Ann Womack each picked up a pair.
The awards ceremony, which takes place on May 21 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, will air live on CBS. Complete details are available at the Academy of Country Music website.
_________________________
Norah Jones drops live DVD
Singer-songwriter Norah Jones--who cleaned house at last month’s Grammy awards thanks to her debut album “Come Away With Me"--on Tuesday (3/4) released a new DVD titled “Norah Jones Live in New Orleans.” The set, which was shot at the House of Blues last August, includes five tracks that don’t appear on “Come Away With Me.”
Jones will spend the next few months working on new material before heading out on a summer tour, VH1.com reports.
_________________________
Investigators focus on R.I. nightclub’s soundproofing materials
The egg-crate-like foam material glued to the walls and ceiling of the Rhode Island nightclub that burned to the ground last month is getting increased attention as the investigation into the blaze that claimed a total of 98 lives continues, Reuters reports.
Fire and building inspectors who checked out the club in late 2002 noted a number of problems with the building--including malfunctioning exit signs, improperly tagged fire extinguishers and exit doors that swung in the wrong direction--but reportedly failed to note flammable foam material.
_________________________
Michael Moore directs System of a Down video
Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore--the hell raiser behind “Bowling for Columbine” and “Roger & Me,” has directed the video for “Boom,” a track from System of a Down’s “Steal This Album,” NME.com reports.
The video reportedly shows the band interviewing people who turned out at a Feb. 15 peace rally in Los Angeles.
_________________________
Peter Gabriel plots amphitheater dates
Peter Gabriel, who continues to back his 2002 album “Up,” will tour the North American amphitheater circuit this summer, according to Gabriel’s official website. A tentative itinerary is posted on the site.
_________________________
B.B. King keeps singing the blues
Bernard Weinraub penned a fascinating feature on blues great B.B. King for the New York Times. “If I don’t keep doing it, keep going, they’ll forget me,” 77-year-old King said of the 200 days that he spends touring each year.
Sunday, March 02, 2003
Bruce Springsteen expands Giants Stadium run to seven shows
After tickets moved quickly this weekend for three announced Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band dates at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., promoters added four more shows. Dates are now set for July 15, 17, 18, 21, 24, 26 and 27. The first three shows have sold out, and only upper-level seats remained on Monday (3/3) for the remaining gigs.
After tickets moved quickly this weekend for three announced Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band dates at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., promoters added four more shows. Dates are now set for July 15, 17, 18, 21, 24, 26 and 27. The first three shows have sold out, and only upper-level seats remained on Monday (3/3) for the remaining gigs.
_________________________
Matchbox Twenty, Sugar Ray, touring, lots
Matchbox Twenty takes to the road this spring and summer for a lengthy tour with fellow pop-rock favorites Sugar Ray, Billboard.com reports. A new Sugar Ray album is due on June 3, while Matchbox Twenty continues to support last year’s “More Than You Think You Are.”
_________________________
Another Rhode Island club fire death
The death toll from the last month’s blaze at a Rhode Island nightclub grew to 98 over the weekend when a hospitalized victim died of injuries she suffered in the blaze, according to the Providence Journal. Kelly L. Vieira, 40, of West Warwick died Saturday (3/1).
_________________________
Madonna pens series of children’s books
Perhaps as a counterpoint to her coffee-table book “Sex,” Penguin will distribute a series of five illustrated children’s storybooks by Madonna. The books--all of which have been written--chronicle the adventures of a red fox and a little prince. The first, titled “The English Roses,” is scheduled to be published in hardback in September.
_________________________
Anastacia to undergo radiation therapy
Singer/songwriter Anastacia will soon begin six weeks of radiation therapy as she continues to battle breast cancer, according to a statement issued by her publicist on Monday (3/3). She underwent 7 hours of surgery on Feb. 10 to remove the cancer and reconstruct her breast, and doctors termed the surgery a success.
“Although what Anastacia has is serious, she is very lucky,” Anastacia’s surgeon, Dr. Alexander Swistel, said in a statement. “Due to the aggressive nature of her cancer, she was month’s away from a more immediate life-threatening condition. However, her prognosis is good, as are her spirits, which figures into any patient’s successful recovery.”
_________________________
The Donnas crack Lollapalooza’s main stage
The Donnas will join previously announced acts Jane’s Addiction, Queens Of The Stone Age, Audioslave, Incubus and Jurassic 5 on the bill of this year’s resurrected Lollapalooza tour, organizers announced on Monday (3/3).