Wednesday News

This is Joe from IA here on this hot and humid Wednesday. After carefully checking every dark corner of the Internet, here is today's news...

- DC tickets for The Cure go on presale tomorrow. I already got mine for the Philly date and now you can get yours too. Here is the information...

THE CURE
w/ 65daysofstatic
September 19
@ G.M.U. Patriot Center • Fairfax, VA

Presale is Thursday, July 12 from 10am-10pm
Password is 5TS4U9X
There is a 4 ticket limit.

Public On Sale is Saturday, July 14 at 10am

click here for the presale

- Apparently The Police are still fighting. Stewart Copeland admits that him and Sting are at each other's throats every couple of days. I don't think this comes as a shock to anyone. This thing has been a ticking time bomb since they reunited. It's obvious that they are only tolerating each other for the paycheck. I think it's just a matter of time before this thing blows and they have it out on stage. Personally, I think that getting to witness that is the one thing that would justify their ridiculous ticket prices.

Alright,that seriously is the only "news" that I can find today. Since you really do not want to see me make shit up, I'll leave you with a video. Baltimore's Thrushes had this recorded at a show earlier in the year. Enjoy!

Thrushes - Heartbeats

Live Earth Reveals Performers for USA and UK; Tickets On Sale April 16

Al Gore has made it clear he won't let Washington keep him down. Organizers today announced sixteen of the headliners who will perform at the U.S. leg of the 7-continent, 24-hour Live Earth concerts on 7/7/07. The concert will be held at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, according to Live Earth Founder and Executive Producer Kevin Wall. Tickets for the show go on sale Monday, April 16 at 10 a.m. EDT. All proceeds will go to The Alliance for Climate Protection and other international NGOs (non-governmental organizations).

“We hope the energy created by Live Earth will jump start a massive public education effort,” Live Earth Co-Chair Vice President Al Gore said. “Live Earth will help us reach a tipping point that’s needed to move corporations and governments to take decisive action to solve the climate crisis.”

The U.S. show will feature live on stage:
AFI
Akon
Alicia Keys
Bon Jovi
Dave Matthews Band
Fall Out Boy (if they settle their differences in time...)
John Mayer
Kanye West ("George Bush hates the planet")

Kelly Clarkson
KT Tunstall
Ludacris
Melissa Etheridge
Rihanna
Roger Waters
Smashing Pumpkins
The Police

Are the Pumpkins and the Police just playing every possible show they can get their hands on?

The following artists will perform at the London leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium:

Beastie Boys
Black Eyed Peas
Bloc Party
Corinne Bailey Rae
Damien Rice (without Lisa Hannigan, of course)
David Gray
Duran Duran
Foo Fighters
Genesis
James Blunt
John Legend
Keane
Madonna
Paolo Nutine
Razorlight
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Snow Patrol

Virgin Festival 2007 Back In Baltimore

The US Virgin Festival will take place August 4-5, 2007, right here in Baltimore, MD, again! As last year, the event will be at Pimlico Race Course.

Confirmed to play are The Police, Beastie Boys, and Smashing Pumpkins. I'm also predicting a Sutherland Brothers & Quiver comeback full on with Tim Renwick, along with Tupac pulling off a collab with Biggie, but I'm dreaming.

The best news about this so far is that the festival is expanding to two days. More acts, as well as the ticket on-sale date, are TBA.

Last years Virgin Festival at Pimlico was one day, had twenty bands, and 45,000 fans showed up.

I.M.F., a company formed by the principals of I.M.P., owners of DC's 9:30 Club, are handling promotions and plan to "[put] together the lineup that will just be A-list from start to finish, on both stages and in the dance tent."

Even Mayor Sheila Dixon got in on the Festival fever, saying "On behalf of the City of Baltimore, I'd like to say thank you to Mr. Branson and Virgin for bringing this world class event back to our city. We are excited and proud to, once again, host the Virgin Festival By Virgin Mobile and some of the music industry's biggest talent."

Bonnaroo Lineup Officially Announced: The Police, Tool, The White Stripes, and more! Tickets Available Next Week

It's out. Bonnaroo's lineup is, of course, sick. You can view it at the Bonnaroo website, or look here:

The Police • Tool • Widespread Panic • The White Stripes • Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals • Wilco • The Flaming Lips • MANU CHAO & Radio Bemba Sound System • The String Cheese Incident • Franz Ferdinand • Bob Weir & Ratdog • Damien Rice • Ween • Gov't Mule • Ziggy Marley • The Decemberists • Kings of Leon • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Wolfmother • Regina Spektor • The Black Keys • Galactic • DJ Shadow • Gillian Welch • Spoon • Keller Williams (WMD'S) (read a review of Keller's new album, Dream, here • Sasha & John Digweed • STS9 • Old Crow Medicine Show • The Hold Steady • Lily Allen • North Mississippi Allstars • Fountains Of Wayne • Hot Tuna • Feist • Hot Chip • John Butler Trio • Dr. Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys • Aesop Rock • The Richard Thompson Band • Dierks Bentley • James Blood Ulmer • Xavier Rudd • Gogol Bordello • Junior Brown • Tortoise • T-Bone Burnett • Mavis Staples • Clutch • Cold War Kids • Dr. Dog • Paolo Nutini • Brazilian Girls • RX Bandits • The Nightwatchman • The Slip • Girl Talk • Railroad Earth • Martha Wainwright • Rodrigo y Gabriela • Annuals • Tea Leaf Green • Sam Roberts Band • Elvis Perkins in Dearland • Charlie Louvin • Sonya Kitchell • Mute Math • Apollo Sunshine • Uncle Earl • The National • The Little Ones • Black Angels • Ryan Shaw • Lewis Black & Friends • Dave Attell • David Cross •

And more to be announced later! Tickets go on sale next week, February 23. They will start at $184.50. Once that batch is sold out, they go up to $199.50 and then $214.50. Oh, and $21.85 service charge per ticket.

The Police Announce World Tour, Will Play Bonnaroo

The Police have made it official: there will be a reunion tour. Say, why don't you cruise on over and join the fan club, too?

Here are the confirmed dates, including Bonnaroo:

May 28, 2007 Vancouver BC CA GM Place
Jun 06, 2007 Seattle WA US Key Arena
Jun 09, 2007 Denver CO US Pepsi Center
Jun 15, 2007 Las Vegas NV US MGM Grand Garden Arena
Jun 16, 2007 Manchester TN US Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
Jun 18, 2007 Phoenix AZ US US Airways Arena
Jun 26, 2007 Dallas TX US American Airlines Center
Jun 30, 2007 New Orleans LA US New Orleans Arena
Jul 02, 2007 St. Louis MO US Scottrade Center
Jul 22, 2007 Toronto ON CA Air Canada Centre
Jul 25, 2007 Montreal QC CA Bell Centre
Jul 28, 2007 Boston MA US Fenway Park
Aug 01, 2007 New York City NY US Madison Square Garden
Aug 03, 2007 New York City NY US Madison Square Garden

A Baltimore/Washington, DC date is confirmed, but remains to be announced.

49th Annual Grammy Award Winners

Kicking off the 2007 Grammys were the Police with their much-awaited reunion (what a happy, loud crowd when Sting's voice was heard!) and a rousing performance of "Roxanne", an apt beginning to a stunning show. Other performances included The Dixie Chicks (introduced by Joan Baez and performing with a string section), Beyonce (3-word introduction by Prince, who also took out a commercial to thank the viewers of the Super Bowl halftime show), Corinne Bailey Rae/John Legend/John Mayer (introduced by Stevie Wonder), Shakira & Wyclef Jean, Gnarls Barkley (dressed as airline pilots), Mary J. Blige (introduced by Terrence Howard), Carrie Underwood/Rascal Flatts (introduced by Reba McEntire), Smokey Robinson/Lionel Richie/Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, Ludacris w/ Mary J. Blige, James Blunt (as if you could stand hearing "You're Beautiful" one more time. Couldn't play "No Bravery"?), Justin Timberlake, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (introduced by Chris Rock).

Here are your winners (the ones that were televised, anyway):

Album of the Year:
Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way

Record of the Year (Producer's award, not performer):
Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready To Make Nice"

Song of the Year (this is an award for the composer):
Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready To Make Nice"

Best New Artist:
Carrie Underwood

Best Pop Collaboration with vocals (presented by Jamie Foxx):
Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder - "For Once In My Life"

Male R&B Vocal Performance:
John Legend - "Heaven"

Best Rock Album:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

Best Rap Album (presented by Kanye West & Common):
Ludacris - Release Therapy

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance:
Christina Aguilera - "Ain't No Other Man"

Best Country Album:
Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance:
John Mayer - "Waiting On The World To Change"

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:
The Black Eyed Peas - "My Humps"

Best Pop Instrumental Performance:
George Benson (& Al Jarreau) - "Mornin'"

Best Pop Instrumental Album:
Peter Frampton - Fingerprints

Best Dance Recording:
Justin Timberlake & Timbaland - "Sexy Back"

Best Electronic/Dance Album:
Madonna - Confessions On A Dance Floor

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
Tony Bennett - Duets: An American Classic

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance:
Bob Dylan - "Somebody Baby"

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"

Best R&B Album:
Mary J. Blige - The Breakthrough

Best Hard Rock Performance:
Wolfmother - "Woman"

Best Metal Performance:
Slayer - "Eyes of the Insane"

Best Rock Instrumental Performance:
The Flaming Lips: "The Wizard Turns On..."

Best Rock Song:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"

Best Alternative Music Album:
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
Sly & The Family Stone - "Family Affair"

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance:
George Benson & Al Jarreau w/ Jill Scott - "God Bless The Child"

Best Urban/Alternative Performance:
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere

Best R&B Song:
Mary J. Blige - "Be Without You"

Best Contemporary R&B Album:
Beyonce - "B'Day"

Best Rap Solo Performance:
T.I. - "What You Know"

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group:
Chamillionaire feat. Krazyie Bone - "Ridin'"

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
Justin Timberlake w/ T.I. - "My Love"

Best Rap Song:
Ludacris w/ Pharrell - "Money Maker"

Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
Carrie Underwood - Jesus, Take The Wheel

Best Male Country Vocal Performance:
Vince Gill - "The Reason Why"

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:
Dixie Chicks - "Not Ready To Make Nice"

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:
Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles - "Who Says You Can't Go Home"

Best Country Instrumental Performance:
Bryan Sutton & Doc Watson - "Whiskey Before Breakfast"

Best Country Song:
Carrie Underwood - "Jesus, Take The Wheel"

Best Bluegrass Album:
Ricky Scaggs & Kentucky Thunder - Instrumentals

Best New Age Album:
Enya - Amarantine

Best Contemporary Jazz Album:
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones - The Hidden Land

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
Nancy Wilson - Turned To Blue

Best Jazz Instrumental Solo:
Michael Brecker - "Some Skunk Funk"

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group:
Chick Corea - The Ultimate Adventure

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance:
Mary J. Blige - "Be Without You"

Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album:
Jonny Lang - Turn Around

Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album:
Randy Travis - Glory Train

Best Gospel Song:
Kirk Franklin - "Imagine Me"

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album:
Kirk Franklin - Hero

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album:
Third Day - Wherever You Are

Best Traditional Gospel Album:
Israel & New Breed - Alive In South Africa

Best Traditional Blues Album:
Ike Turner - Risin' With The Blues

Best Contemporary Blues Album:
Irma Thomas - After The Rain

Best Pop Vocal Album:
John Mayer - Continuum

Best Traditional Folk Album:
Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions

Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album:
Bob Dylan - Modern Times

Best Reggae Album:
Ziggy Marley - Love Is My Religion

Best Comedy Album:
Lewis Black - The Carnegie Hall Performance

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media:
Joaquin Phoenix (& Various Artists) - Walk The Line

Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media:
James Taylor (written by Randy Newman) - "Our Town" (From Cars)

Best Recording Package:
Adam Jones, art director (Tool) - 10,000 Days

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical:
Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:
Rick Rubin

Best Long Form Music Video:
Bruce Springsteen - "Wings For Wheels: The Making of Born To Run"

Best Short Form Music Video:
OK Go - "Here It Goes Again"

The Police To Announce "really big news" After Grammys

Pollstar reports that The Police have scheduled a morning press conference at L.A.'s Whisky A Go Go on February 12, the day after the Grammy Awards where they will open the show with their first reunited performance.

Expect tour dates to be announced. Bonnaroo? Anyone?

Bonnaroo Lineup Will Be Official On Valentine's Day; Police Reunion No Joke

So maybe the rumors about The Police reuniting at Bonnaroo or Coachella are a farce, maybe not. We'll find out February 14 when the lineup is announced officially.

But, while we wait for that, naysayers shall be silenced by the knowledge that a Police reunion, at Bonnaroo or not, is indeed true, if those Canucks who broke the story are right.

Bonnaroo UPDATE: Pearl Jam, The Police, Bob Dylan? Official Lineup Soon!

As good as the Coachella news is, there's more: Bonnaroo has allegedly confirmed Pearl Jam as well as a comeback of The Police, and even a showing by Bob Dylan.

The other names reported are Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, Umphrey's McGee, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, The Black Crowes, Ryan Adams, My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire, Keller Williams, Hot Chip, America, TV On The Radio, Fountains of Wayne, Modest Mouse, Les Claypool, The Shins, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Toots and the Maytals, The Roots, The Decemberists, Of Montreal, Cat Power, Ozomatli, Perpetual Groove, Band of Horses, John Butler Trio, Nickel Creek, Medeski Martin and Wood, Lily Allen, Neko Case, The Hold Steady, Earl Scruggs, Charlie Louvin, Man Man, Grizzly Bear, Konono #1, The Slip, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Uncle Earl, Annuals, Beirut, M. Ward, Cold War Kids and Girl Talk.

The official lineup is expected on January 31 for the June 14-17 festival. Source: Stereogum

UPDATE: Stereogum indicates that representatives for a number of the artists, Big Hassle, claim there is no truth to the above. Right now, we'll have to stick to whether the artists are reporting the same or not.