Mark Ronson NYC Concert Recap Round-Up

As reviewed by Puja Patel / Village Voice

Mark Ronson & the Business Intl. played their second homecoming show last night (Tuesday - October 12, 2010) at Webster Hall. The cast of characters for both Ronson's new album and last night's show includes vocalists Alex Greenwald (of Phantom Planet) and Rose Elinor Dougall (of the Pipettes), Amanda Warner (a/k/a MNDR), rappers Q-Tip and Pill, and the surprising, warmly welcomed return of MC Spank Rock. It's an even weirder mix than his first full-length attempt, but if the new one's title, Record Collection, says anything, it's that his mash-up-DJ know-how has continued to translate into a smooth pop sensibility. Basically, if you can do a little bit of everything, and as long as it sounds cool, why not try?

Read the full concert review

Set-list:

Circuit Breaker
Just
Lose It
Ooh Wee
Oh My God
California
The Night Last Night
--- DJ Set---
Bump
Race Riot
Introducing the Business
Sparrow
Bang Bang Bang
Hey Boy
God Put A Smile
You Gave Me Nothing
Stop Me
Record Collection
------------------------
Bike Song
Valerie

Photos:
Flickr
Facebook pt.1
Facebook pt.2

(video courtesy of oxywally, FrostoEnt, TLCblogtube and terrence20)

Wu-Tang Clan London, UK Concert Recap

via NME

Wu Tang Clan covered The Beatles classic 'Come Together' as they rounded off their UK tour in London tonight (Wednesday, August 4).

Lead singer RZA rapped over the opener to the Fab Four's 1969 album 'Abbey Road' at the end of their show at Brixton Academy for the band's first show in three years.

The rap collective played a host of tracks from their back catalogue with much of their material leaning towards their 1993 debut album 'Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'.

Setting out their stall early on, RZA declared: "It is the year 2010 and Wu Tang Clan are on tour. Manchester was off the hook last night (August 3). This is the last night of our tour so we're going to save the best for last."

The tour was their first since 2007 and was meant to include the full line-up. But Method Man pulled out due to filming commitments for an episode of CSI. The rapper previously appeared in The Wire as Calvin 'Cheese' Wagstaff.

RZA acknowledged his absence, apologising to the throng towards the end. "We're sorry Method Man couldn't make it," he said. "He's in Hollywood. We're going to let him know how loud you were though."

RZA also announced his own forthcoming movie project The Man With The Iron Fist to the crowd.

Earlier the band paid tribute to late member Ol' Dirty Bastard, who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2004, by asking the audience to lift up lighters and mobile phones in his honour.

But the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for their only UK hit single 'Gravel Pit', which you can watch below.

Wu Tang Clan played:

'Protect Ya Neck'
'Clan In Da Front'
'Bring Da Ruckus'
'Tearz'
'Triumph'
'Ice Cream'
'Liquid Swords'
'U God'
'Reunited'
'It's Yourz'
'One Blood Under W'
'Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta Fuck Wit'
'Da Mystery of Chessboxin'
'C.R.E.A.M.'
'Baby C'mon'
'Can It All Be So Simple'
'Gravel Pit'
'Come Together'

(video courtesy of kateit17)

Jay-Z European Festival Performance At Rock Am Ring, Germany

Jay-Z kicked off his summer festival appearance yesterday at the Rock am Ring in Nurburg, Germany performing in front of a exuberant European concert crowd.

Set list:
Dynasty Intro
Run This Town
Diamonds Remix (Verse)
On To The Next One
D.O.A.
Takeover (Bleek Introduction)
U Don’t Know
99 Problems
Is That Yo Bitch
Can I Get A…
Mundian To Bach Ke (Beware…)
I Just Wanna Love You (Give It To Me)
P.S.A.
Heart Of The City (“Sunday Bloody Sunday” Version)
Empire State Of Mind
A Dream [Verse] (over “Sing for the Moment”)
Dirt Off Your Shoulders
Hovi Baby
Jigga What/Jigga Who
Swagger Like Us x Jockin Jay-Z
Thank You
Medley (I.Z.Z.O/Big Pimpin/Hard Knock Life and more)
Encore
(source)

Photo links:
Getty Images
Wire Image

more Jay-Z upcoming live dates:
June 5 - Rock im Park, Germany
June 6 - Paris Bercy, France
June 7 - Manchester Arena, U.K.
June 9 - Birmingham LG Arena, U.K.
June 11 - Isle of Wright Festival, U.K.
June 12 - Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN
July 2 - Eurockeennes Belfort, France
July 4 - Wireless Festival, U.K.
July 9 - Oxygen, Ireland
July 10 - Frauenfeld, Switzerland
July 11 - T in the Park, Scotland
Sept. 2 - Comerica Park, Detroit, MI (with Eminem)
Sept. 13 - Yankee Stadium, Staten Island, NY (with Eminem)

Alicia Keys Plays The KEYtar At 'Freedom' Tour Stop In Baltimore + Concert Recap

As reported by Sam Sessa / Baltimore Sun

Alicia Keys came uncaged (Wednesday, March 24) at 1st Mariner Arena.

With images of barbed wire fences flashing on the big digital screens around her, Keys was wheeled out in a rectangular cage for the opening number, "Love is Blind."

Keys sang most of the song inside her personal prison, before dramatically bending back the bars and stepping out to freedom.

In case concertgoers didn't get the point, Keys would spend the next hour dropping inspirational lines between songs while the screens displayed words like "Rise Up" and "Fight."

"I don't want anybody to hold you back," said Keys, her legs shimmering in tight silver sequined pants. "Everything you need is right here inside of you." ...

Might as well add "motivational speaker," to her resume, which already includes armfuls of Grammys and millions upon millions of albums sold. Still, all the uplifting messages got old quick. We get it, Alicia -- love ourselves and break free of the chains that bind us. You don't need to beat us over the head with it.

It was a relief when, in the last third of her 90-minute set, Keys put an end to all the positive messages and let the music speak for itself.

"You Don't Know My Name" was a synth-driven high-stepper, and the James Bond theme "Another Way to Die" was built on singeing guitar riffs. But the show's most poignant moments came when Keys sat down at her black Yamaha baby grand and tickled the ivories. She's got a diva's talents without the attitude, and last night, she had a few toys, too.



During "Fallin'," she played what looked like some kind of electronic auto harp, and for "Go Head," she strapped on a silver, key-shaped keytar (how awesome is that?) and traded solos with her guitarist (the guitarist won). Even the piano was tricked out with a wrap-around digital screen, which said "PLAY ME," and when she did, it read "THANK YOU." Heh.

Keys' accomplished six-piece band and a well-paced set list helped the 19-song show fly by. The harmonies of her three backup singers were air tight; Monte Gill showed and proved on "Diary" and one of the female backup singers surprised the audience with an impressive rendition of "Feeling Good" while Keys slipped into a white evening gown backstage.

The show ended on a strong note, with "If I Ain't Got You," a modern classic, and the 2007 mega hit "No One." The encore was "Empire State of Mind (Part II)," a spine-tingling ode to the Big Apple.

In an age when radio is saturated with Auto-tuned anthems and outrageous outfits, it was such a treat to sit down with an undeniably talented singer and songwriter for an evening of liberating R&B, gospel and pop.

Photo links:
Rex Features

Set List:

1. Love is Blind
2. You Don't Know My Name
3. Fallin'
4. Another Way to Die
5. Karma
6. Like the Sea
7. I Need You
8. Pray For Forgiveness
9. Diary
10. Like You'll Never See Me Again
11. Wait Til You See My Smile
12. Go Ahead
13. Put It in a Love Song
14. Unthinkable (I'm Ready)
15. Feeling Good
16. Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart
17. Superwoman
18. If I Ain't Got You
19. No One

Encore:

Empire State of Mind (Part II)

more fan shot footage below.



Alicia Keys 2010 Element of Freedom Tour Dates:

3/27 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
3/28 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times-Forum
3/30 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
4/2 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theater (Grand Prairie)
4/3 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
4/6 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
4/7 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
4/9 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay
4/10 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Coliseum
4/29 - Lisbon, Portugal - Pavilhao Atlantico
5/1 - Ischgl, Austria - Ski Resort
5/2 - Verona, Italy - Arena
5/4 - Marseille, France - Le Dome
5/7 - Berlin, Germany - O2 Arena
5/8 - Arnhem, Netherlands - Gelredome
5/9 - Frankfurt, Germany - Festhalle - Messe Frankfurt
5/12 - Hamburg, Germany - Color Line Arena
5/13 - Oberhausen, Germany - Konig - Pilsener Arena
5/15 - Merksem, Belgium - Sportpaleis Antwerpen
5/17 - Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion Zurich
5/19 - Birmingham, UK - The NIA
5/21 - Dublin, Ireland - The O2 Dublin
5/23 - Glasgow, UK - S.E.C.C.
5/25 - London, UK - The O2 - London
5/26 - London, UK - The O2 - London
5/29 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Evening News Arena
5/31 - Paris, France - Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
6/2 - Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
6/4 - Lyon, France - Halle Tony Garnier

(video courtesy of kbaby82)

Estelle SXSW 2010 Performance At British Embassy At Latitude 30

On Thursday, March 18, Estelle (along with VV Brown, Master Shortie, Maverick Sabre, Bubbz) performed at the SXSW Official British Embassy Showcase at Latitude 30 hosted by Ras Kwame (BBC Radio 1 & 1 Xtra) in association with UKTI (United Kingdom Trade Investment).

You can also catch Estelle and V.V. Brown at the Perez Hilton showcase on Saturday at SXSW.

Photos from Estelle's Thursday night performance:
Getty Images

Estelle set-list:

One Love
Sub Lover
Come Over
Freak
Lil Bit
Back In Love
Pretty Please/Get Ready
Shine
American Boy

(video courtesy of thedramadiaries)

Alicia Keys Is Evermore Elegant & Mature In Toronto On 'Freedom' Tour Concert Recap

As reported by Jane Stevenson at Canoe / QMI Agency

TORONTO - I know why the Caged Bird sings.

Or in the case of neo-soul star Alicia Keys, who initially appeared inside a silver cage at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night (March 10), singing Caged Bird, why she sings: Because she sounds so good.

Keys brought her biggest production to date for the occasion: a dazzling gigantic video screen that broke into many smaller screens, a large gleaming silver staircase, a nine-piece band, and three dancers.

Touring in support of her fourth album, The Element Of Freedom, the 29-year-old New York singer-songwriter-pianist also made a good glamazon, appearing in silver sequined pants, a black shirt, a blood red blazer, and high heels, with her hair in soft curls.

Her first hit, Fallin', prompted major applause, as she stood at the front of stage playing a tiny white piano - and the song ended with the words, "Rise Up" on the enormous video screen above her.

But she delivered a more dramatic performance with her Bond theme (a collaboration with Jack White), Another Way To Die, losing the blazer and seductively prowling the staircase and her large stage with her dancers.

For her next song, Karma, Keys added some of the lyrics of Talking Heads' Once In A Lifetime, but it was her own, I Need You, that proved to be a stronger follow-up tune.

And when she sat down to play Prayer For Forgiveness, her piano flashed the words: "Play Me," and then, "Thank You," before it began rotating during, Diary, which prompted a crowd singalong and some mighty high notes from her male back up singer.

"We're excited to be here in Toronto," said Keys, who hit a few big notes of her own during Like You'll Never See Me Again. "God bless you."

After a brief band interlude, Keys re-appeared lying on top of the piano, now moving from the back of the stage to the front, for another uplifting number, Wait Til You See My Smile.

But the mid-show highlight proved to be the uber-soulful and funky Go Ahead featuring Keys playing a portable keyboard strapped around her neck, while her guitar player traded licks alongside her.

Finally elegant in a floor length white gown for Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart, the first single from The Element Of Freedom, there simply was no stopping Keys in the last half-hour of her 90-minute show.

Hit after hit followed: the female empowerment anthem, Superwoman; the heart-on-her-sleeve songs, If I Ain't Got You and No One; and the crowd-pleasing encore number, Empire State Of Mind Part II (Broken Down).

Earlier in the show, the bouncy Put It In A Love Song, Keys' collaboration with Beyonce, and the R&B ballad, Un-thinkable (I'm Ready), her duet with Drake, came across too calculated for the more mature Keys, who has always been an amazing songwriter and singer but is only now hitting her stride as a live performer.

Photos:
Toronto Sun Newspaper
Getty Images
Wire Image

Alicia Keys 'Freedom' Tour Toronto Air Canada Centre - Wednesday, March 10th set list:

Caged Bird
Love Is Blind
You Don't Know My Name
Fallin'
Another Way To Die
Karma
Like the Sea
I Need You
Pray for Forgiveness
Diary
Like You'll Never See Me Again

Band interlude

Wait Til You See My Smile
Go Ahead
Put It in a Love Song
Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)
Feeling Good (performed by the band)
Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart
Superwoman
If I Ain't Got You
No One

ENCORE

Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down

Alicia Keys 2010 Element of Freedom Tour Dates:

3/11 - Verona, NY - Turning Stone
3/13 - Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods Casino
3/14 - Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods Casino
3/17 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
3/19 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Centre
3/20 - Atlantic City, NJ - Mark Etess Arena
3/22 - Boston, MA - Agganis Arena
3/24 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
3/25 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
3/27 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
3/28 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times-Forum
3/30 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
4/2 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theater (Grand Prairie)
4/3 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
4/6 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
4/7 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
4/9 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay
4/10 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Coliseum
4/29 - Lisbon, Portugal - Pavilhao Atlantico
5/1 - Ischgl, Austria - Ski Resort
5/2 - Verona, Italy - Arena
5/4 - Marseille, France - Le Dome
5/8 - Arnhem, Netherlands - Gelredome
5/9 - Frankfurt, Germany - Festhalle - Messe Frankfurt
5/12 - Hamburg, Germany - Color Line Arena
5/13 - Oberhausen, Germany - Konig - Pilsener Arena
5/15 - Merksem, Belgium - Sportpaleis Antwerpen
5/17 - Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion Zurich
5/19 - Birmingham, UK - The NIA
5/21 - Dublin, Ireland - The O2 Dublin
5/23 - Glasgow, UK - S.E.C.C.
5/25 - London, UK - The O2 - London
5/26 - London, UK - The O2 - London
5/29 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Evening News Arena
5/31 - Paris, France - Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
6/2 - Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
6/4 - Lyon, France - Halle Tony Garnier

(video courtesy of Canal de Vídeos do oitoronto)

Jay-Z BP-3 2010 Tour 1st Night BankAtlantic Center Sunrise, FL Concert Recap

(photo courtesy of Sayre Berman / Miami New Times)

As reported by Adrian Ruhi at the Miami Herald

Rarely do superstars Diddy, Beyonce Knowles and Alex Rodriguez experience what it's like to be on the other side of the big stage. But at the BankAtlantic Center Saturday (February 20), the three watched as Jay-Z kept a sold-out crowd on its feet for almost two hours.

The Sunrise, Fla. venue, renamed the Jay-Z Center for the first night of the rapper's nationwide BP3 Tour, pulsated with every bassline and guitar lick emitted from his 10-piece band, the Roc Boys.

The 40-year-old Brooklyn-bred mogul, born Shawn Carter, rose from under the stage to the brooding piano chords and rolling drum snares of Run This Town. As per the song's lyrics, Jay-Z and his band band wore ``all black everything.'' A New York Yankees fitted cap and Wayfarer sunglasses concealed the face of the rapper, who has tried to keep his personal life -- including his marriage to Beyonce -- as low-key as possible.

The show's staging was anything but subtle, though. The Grammy winner's backdrop was a giant screen shaped as New York City's skyline, with visuals reflecting the songs' music videos and lyrics.

Jay-Z's performance was worthy of his stature as an artist: He has the record for the most number one albums on the Billboard 200 charts, recently ousting Elvis Presley with his 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3, for which the tour is named after. Onstage, he commanded the band, the microphone and the audience.



The first half of the set was the strongest: He barreled through a mix of hits (99 Problems and I Just Wanna Love U), album cuts (Already Home and U Don't Know) and remixes to other artists' songs (Kanye West's Diamonds From Sierra Leone and Snoop Dogg's I Wanna Rock). He was assisted by long-time protege and sidekick Memphis Bleek for the early half, as well as up-and-coming singer Bridget Kelley. The latter, signed to Jay-Z's new Roc Nation label, provided vocals on the underrated 2001 soul jam, Heart of the City (Ain't No Love), and filled in for Alicia Keys on Empire State of Mind, the ode to New York City that was Jay-Z's first number one single as a solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

But the BP3 Tour wasn't without its flaws: Towards the end of the first half, he began losing his voice, and noticeably stopped to drink water. The three-piece horn section, crucial to songs like Show Me What You Got and D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune), was essentially muted.



The problems only continued as Atlanta-based rapper Young Jeezy emerged for Real As It Gets. Billed as a special guest of the tour, Jeezy should have been an opening act instead of a halftime sideshow for the vastly more talented and better performing Jay-Z. Whereas Jay clearly enunciated every word of every song, Jeezy rarely finished a line.



At 30 minutes, Jeezy's set was bloated and hampered the rhythm of the show (although it did give Jay an opportunity to rest his hoarse voice). Even with the Roc Boys doing a superb job of backing Jeezy for songs like Hard and Put On, it took Jay re-emerging for My President for the crowd to get back into pace.

Dirt Off Your Shoulder was preceded by a comical video clip of President Barack Obama quoting the song during a speech. As if to imply his dominance in hip-hop, Jay-Z instructed his DJ and studio engineer, Young Guru, to play more of his hits, which led to a brief medley of a dozen more songs he could have easily performed in his main set.

Between the crowd sing-along of Big Pimpin' and the show ending Encore, Jay-Z took time to acknowledge the audience.

``I'm not jaded, I appreciate every one of you being here,'' he said, as he removed his hat and sunglasses to reveal his face for the first time. He spent the next several minutes identifying individual fans and personally thanking them for supporting his career.

It was a surprisingly humble moment: One of the most successful -- and wealthy -- musicians of the modern era, showing his appreciation for the people that helped him get to this point in his career.

Earlier in the night, Virginia R&B singer Trey Songz and his five-piece band opened the show with a 35 minute set of hypersexual slow jams like I Invented Sex and Say Aah.

Photos:
Getty Images
Corbis Images
Film Magic
Wire Image
Miami New Times
WENN Photo 1
WENN Photo 2

More fan shot footage below.







(video courtesy of TheShayScene, bluefairy1971 & PressWrap)

Here is the setlist from the show:

Jay-Z set (first half)

Run This Town
Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix) (Interlude)
On To The Next One
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
U Don’t Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)
I Wanna Rock (Snoop Dogg remix)
Jigga My N****
Hovi Baby
N**** What, N**** Who (Originator 99)
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love) (featuring Bridget Kelly)
Dear Summer (Interlude)
Already Home
Empire State Of Mind (featuring Bridget Kelly)
Real As It Gets (featuring Young Jeezy)

Young Jeezy set:

Medley: (Get Ya Mind Right, Bottom Of The Map, Welcome Back, Dey Know [Remix], I’m Goin’ In, Who Dat, My Hood, Bang, Trap Star)
I Luv It
Go Crazy
Hard
Crazy World
Go Getta
Soul Survivor
Put On
My President (featuring Jay-Z)

Jay-Z set (second half)

Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Swagga Like Us
Thank You
Medley: (Fiesta [Remix], Excuse Me Miss, La-La-La [Excuse Me Miss Again], Venus vs. Mars, ‘03 Bonnie & Clyde, Ain’t No N****, The Best Of Me [Remix], Money Ain’t A Thang, Lucifer, Where I’m From, Some People Hate, Hate)
Can I Get A…
Big Pimpin’
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore

(source - Miami Herald)

Jay-Z's BP3 2010 Tour dates:

Feb 22 Houston, TX - Toyota Center
Feb 23 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
Feb 25 New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
Feb 27 Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
Feb 28 Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Mar 02 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
Mar 03 Washington, DC - Verizon Center
Mar 05 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
Mar 06 East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
Mar 07 Norfolk, VA - Scope Arena
Mar 11 Boston, MA - TD Garden
Mar 12 Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
Mar 14 Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
Mar 16 Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
Mar 18 Chicago, IL - United Center
Mar 19 St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
Mar 20 Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
Mar 22 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
Mar 24 San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
Mar 26 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center

Kid Cudi Returns To Cleveland For Concert Homecoming

As reported by John Soeder at The Plain Dealer / Cleveland.com (photo courtesy of John Soeder)

“On top of the dreams is where I’m found,” Kid Cudi intoned over a pulsating techno beat during “Cudi Zone,” a highlight of his sold-out performance Friday night (Jan. 15) at the Agora Theatre in Cleveland.

Here was living proof of a show-biz dream come true.

A few years ago, Scott Mescudi was just another struggling hip-hop artist. He was born in Cleveland and raised in Shaker Heights and Solon.

Now he’s up for three Grammy Awards, including best rap song for his breakthrough hit “Day n Nite.” The ceremony is set for Sunday, Jan. 31, in Los Angeles – the day after Cudi’s 26th birthday.

He moved to New York City in 2004, but Cudi remains a homeboy at heart. In concert, he sported a Cleveland Indians cap and liberally sprinkled local references into his tunes.

In return, he got a hero’s welcome from an enthusiastic audience. In the crowd were his mother, Elsie Mescudi, and other family members.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been home,” said Cudi, last seen onstage here in July at House of Blues.

“I love where I’m from,” he said. “I represent when I can.”

The 80-minute show drew heavily from his 2009 debut album, “Man on the Moon: The End of Day,” including dynamic renditions of “Up Up & Away,” “Solo Dolo” and “Make Her Say.”

Cudi also worked in a few selections (including “Down & Out”) from his Internet-popularized 2008 mixtape, “A Kid Named Cudi,” as well as tastes of recent collaborations with Jay-Z (“Already Home”) and David Guetta (“Memories”).

With his wiry build and hungry attitude, Cudi resembled a shadow boxer as he paced restlessly around the stage, dramatically backlit by multi-colored spotlights.

“I’ve got some issues that nobody can see / And all of these emotions are pouring outta me,” he declared to the tune of “Soundtrack 2 My Life,” a hypnotic ballad.

Unlike a lot of hip-hop hits, Cudi’s songs transcended mere braggadocio. His introspective musings didn’t shy away from dwelling on insecurities and shortcomings.

“Embrace the Martian” and other sci-fi-flavored numbers portrayed him as the ultimate outsider, an otherworldly stranger in a strange land.

The music itself was out of this world, too. Cudi’s distinctive sing-song delivery was matched with futuristic grooves. He eschewed the usual samples of R&B oldies in favor of a forward-thinking, electronica-oriented sound.

Despite the intimations of vulnerability in his lyrics, Cudi revealed an indomitable spirit. It came across loud and clear in “Heart of a Lion,” a hard-charging anthem.

On “Ask About Me” and “Hyyerr,” he traded lines with another Cleveland MC, Chip tha Ripper.

Chip warmed up the crowd with an impressive set of his own. He struck a chord with “Movie” (from his new “The Cleveland Show” mixtape) and other raps delivered with a relaxed command.

SET LIST:
Already Home
Down & Out
Dat New New
Soundtrack 2 My Life
Simple as . . .
Man on the Moon
Embrace the Martian
Up Up & Away
Sky Might Fall
Ask About Me (with Chip tha Ripper)
Hyyerr (with Chip tha Ripper)
Heart of a Lion
Solo Dolo
Make Her Say
Cudi Zone
Memories
Day n Nite
ENCORE:
Pursuit of Happiness

PHOTOS here:
Film Magic
Getty Images

fan shot footage below.





(video courtesy of MaoieWowie)

The Roots: Drum Offs, Broken Sun Glasses & Tantrums Live In Reno, NV

via Metromix Reno

The first big show at the Knitting Factory (Friday January 1, 2010) seemed for a while ready to end abruptly, as the Root's MC Black Thought expressed anger at his monitor mix, ear buds and a broken pair of sunglasses.

Black Thought wore said sunglasses when he took the stage, giving some credibility to people I had mocked for wearing shades indoors at the venue. Early on, his headphones refused to stay in, leading to a few pairs being hurled angrily to the ground. In between songs, f-word-laced orders to the sound guys sought a mix where he could hear his own vocals — a reasonable request to be sure, but it painted a discordant picture.

Then, after a raucous number where guitarist, sousaphonist and bassist all jumped around the stage, Black Thought discovered his $500 pair of sunglasses (set down next to the drum kit) had been smashed. He angrily confronted his own band members about who had done this, seeming to direct much of his accusing fury at guitarist "Captain" Kirk Douglas. He made it very clear he was "not f---ing playing," and this apparently was the second night in a row that he'd lost a pair.

It seemed very possible when he left the stage during the drums duet that things might end early. But then there was this kid. When Black Thought came back out, gamely delivering as he had all night, he started to laugh.

He said he was trying hard to stay upset, but a young boy in the front row, who looked about 6, kept putting him in a better mood.

And so there was a happy ending for all: The band went on to play two quality hours and that kid got to be on stage, dance like a maniac and receive rapturous applause. Questlove agreed with Black Thought that this was the craziest show they had done — and for the Roots, that'd certainly be saying something.

As reported by Victor Calderon at the Reno Gazette-Journal

The Roots entertained a packed house Friday in the grand opening of the brand-new Knitting Factory in downtown Reno.

They began their two-hour set with "Thought at Work," their latest single "How I Got Over" and "Here I Come," the theme for "Late Night." Every song showcased the rapid-fire flow of rapper Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter.



At one point, a drum-off ensued between bandleader Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and another drummer (Knuckles) on stage. Also given solos during the show were guitarist Kirk "Captain Kirk" Douglas, bassist Owen Biddle and sousaphone player Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr." Bryson.

Towards the end of the set, The Roots performed their breakthrough single "You Got Me," originally released with vocals by R&B singer Erykah Badu and rapper Eve.

The Roots also squeezed in covers of "Sweet Child of Mine" by Guns N' Roses and "Jungle Boogie" by Kool & The Gang.

The Roots crew wrapped up the show with an encore where they invited a young fan wearing a Golden State Warriors basketball jersey on the stage where he danced and jumped around much to the band's and the crowd's delight.

The Roots set list:

"Thought at Work"
"How I Got Over"
"Here I Come"
"Game Theory"
"Star"
"Respond/React"
"Proceed"
"Quills"
"The Realm"
"Mellow My Man"
"Criminal"
"You Got Me"
"Get Busy"
"Next Movement"
(Encore)
"Seed"
"Men at Work"

(video courtesy of 333lorelei)

Lady Gaga 'Monster Ball Tour' Steamrolls Through Canada Show Recaps

Opening night of the tour Friday, November 27 at Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada





As reported by T'Cha Dunlevy at the Gazette / Canada.com

Things got off to a slow start; the fashion icon was fashionably late. Cheers erupted when the lights finally dropped just before 10 p.m.

She wasn’t ready to come out just yet. A giant screen lit up with a futuristic, glowing green grid. Gaga finally appeared, striking an awkward pose, blond locks cascading over her shoulders, a shimmering mask around her eyes.

She opened with a new song, Dance In the Dark, off her new album The Fame Monster, before following with a string of hits off last year’s The Fame.



Lo and behold, Kid Cudi finally appeared, dropping an engaging freestyle. A vibe was taking hold. She dedicated the heartfelt ballad Speechless to her dad, who was in the audience.

Lady Gaga Montreal show photos:
WENN Photo

Saturday, November 28 2nd night of the tour at Air Canada Centre in Toronto





As reported by Jane Stevenson at Sun Media / Canoe

Yes, Lady Gaga is a sexually-charged performer with a major nod to Madonna, to whom she is most often compared, and physically resembles in a live setting.

As she got out of her ecto-skeleton outfit, she grabbed her breasts and stripped down to a silver bodysuit for another Fame Monster song, Alejandro, which saw her being carried by her crotch by one of her male dancers and lowered onto another male dancer.

Later in the show, she declared: "Everytime you scream my name, I get a teeny, tiny, mini-orgasm."

And she made a point of spreading her legs while stradling a white dentist chair during Paper Gangsta.



Toronto Lady Gaga Set list:
"Dance In The Dark"
"Just Dance"
"Love Game"
"Alejandro"
"Monster"
"So Happy I Could Die"
"Teeth"
"Speechless"
"Poker Face" (on piano)
"Fashion"
"The Fame"
"Money Honey"
"Beautiful Dirty Rich"
"Boys Boys Boys"
"Paper Gangsta"
"Poker Face" (with band)
"Paparazzi"
"Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)"
"Bad Romance"

Sunday, November 29 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Canada



As reported by Aedan Helmer at the Ottawa Sun

Lady Gaga oozed sexuality, channelling her obvious hero Madonna as dancers grooved and groped alongside the bleached blonde diva.

“I’m about to be very wicked,” she promised.

Then, lying prone at centre stage, her legs splayed in the air, she cooed, “I’m kinda like Tinkerbell.

“When Tinkerbell died, the only way to bring her back to life was if you come for her,” she said, feigning orgasm. “Scream for me Ottawa!”

The tender ballad Speechless gave way to a teasing, barely recognizable solo piano rendering of her name-making hit Poker Face, featuring an appearance from opening act Kid Cudi, who spliced his own Make Her Say in the mix as Gaga crooned.

Read each shows' full review here:
Gazette - Talented Lady Gaga needs time to grow (Montreal)
Canoe - Lady Gaga puts on a Monster show (Toronto)
Ottawa Sun - Review: Lady Gaga rules (Ottawa)

Montreal video courtesy of kasiekahne & kylemtl
Toronto video courtesy of Cybershotzz & cdngirl09
Ottawa video courtesy of AstroStarzz