Trans-Siberian Orchestra Hitting The Road With 'Beethoven'

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Hitting The Road With 'Beethoven'

Don't panic.

Just because Trans-Siberian Orchestra is touring doesn't mean the holidays are back. However, I'm a 36-regular and I could really use some tube socks.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a concert-staple around the merry months of November and December, are preparing to embark on their first ever non-holiday, spring trek. The 31-market tour begins March 25 with a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert in Cincinnati. The outing is scheduled to conclude May 2 in Grand Prairie.

For this musical voyage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra will eschew the large arenas that usually host their holiday shows and instead they will visit more intimate setting like theatres, music halls, and performing arts centers.

Highlights of their sojourn include an April 1 performance in Boston, an April 9 concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and a May 1 show in Houston, Texas.

TSO plays just once in the Great White North. On April 13 Trans-Siberian Orchestra performs in Toronto at Massey Hall.

What brings Trans-Siberian Orchestra out of their spring hibernation? The outfit is performing their 2000 album "Beethoven's Last Night" in its entirety and with storytelling devices.

“Beethoven was the world’s first heavy metal musician,” said TSO front man Paul O’Neill. “The main theme in Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony could easily have been written by Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath.”

In addition to the "dramatized" Beethoven story, TSO will also play selections from their 2009 release "Night Castle," which went gold in less than eight weeks.

Insiders believe this tour will eventually lead to a European leg. The band has never toured that continent. As it stands now, Euros will have to come to the States, to places like Chicago or Washington, to see their favorite heavy metal symphony.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is the creative offspring of producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neil. He started the group, along with collaborators Robert Kinkel, Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli, back in 1996.

TSO comprises a hard-rock band, a complete orchestra, and a bevy of vocalists. They cover a wide range of genres in a distinct style that blends classical music with heavy metal.

Yo Gabba Gabba Touring In 2010

Yo Gabba Gabba is a children's show that airs on the cable network Nick Jr. It was created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz and debuted in August of 2007. Its third season is set to premiere in June of the 2010.

At first glance, Yo Gabba Gabba appears to be no ordinary kids show. Its name is a chant taken from a Ramones song and it's hosted by a character named DJ Lance Rock.

The show doesn't feature songs from failed pop composers and appearances from washed-up actors that chose to work in the kid's entertainment field rather than in the porn industry. Instead, Yo Gabba Gabba has welcomed the likes of Jack Black, The Shins, Elijah Wood, Rahzel, Andy Samberg, The Roots, MGMT, and Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh.

Yes, Yo Gabba Gabba is the kid's show for "the cool." Actually it's the kid's show for parents who want their kids to be cool. Kids like what they like. They don't care about the politics of media. They have no clue that music is identity. They watch what they want to watch or what their hipster parents put in front of them.

Therefore, Yo Gabba Gabba only appears to be a "different" type of kids' programming. Ultimately, it's exactly the same as Barney or the Wiggles or Sesame Street. That's not a bad thing as those shows have delighted kids for decades. It's just that Yo Gabba Gabba caters to parents who still dye their hair blue and pretend to like movies with subtitles.

In 2009, Yo Gabba Gabba launched a tour called Yo Gabba Gabba Live!: There's A Party In My City. It was such a success that the show is hitting the road again in 2010. This time playing seven dates in six cities.

The 2010 trek begins March 13 with a Yo Gabba Gabba concert in Minneapolis. That's followed by a Yo Gabba Gabba show in Milwaukee (March 14) and then two Yo Gabba Gabba dates in Toronto (March 16 and 17).

The 2010 Yo Gabba Gabba tour concludes with shows in Fort Wayne, Cincinnati, and St. Louis.

Also of note, DJ Lance Rock is set to perform at the Coachella Music Festival in April.

Parents should expect a state-of-the-art production with music, singing, dancing, and animation. The show is hailed as an interactive experience and has received positive reviews from critics and parents alike.

Generally, Yo Gabba Gabba performs two shows a day, one in the early afternoon and another in the early evening. The live show features DJ Lance Rock, Biz Markie's Beat of the Day, and the Aquabats (Christian Jacobs' band).

NFL Playoffs 2010

Wildcard weekend is over and now there are only 8 teams left. In the NFC you've got the Vikings Cowboys game and the Saints Cardinals game. And over in the AFC you've got the Chargers Jets game and the Colts Ravens game.

This weekend you can expect to see each of these games. After that, you've got the NFC and the AFC championship and then the big game, the 2010 Super Bowl 44.

It is sure to be an excellent end to the 2010 NFL season.

Carrie Underwood Reveals 'Play On' Tour For 2010

Carrie Underwood Reveals 'Play On' Tour For 2010

How do you know when you're no longer just a singer but a celebrity? When your engagement ring makes headlines.

This Christmas season (actually Dec. 20) Carrie Underwood became engaged to hockey player Mike Fisher (apparently she likes athletes remember her fling with Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo).

Her gaudy engagement ring quickly became fodder for gossip sites and blogs. According to sources, the ring costs $150,000 and is comprised of a 5-plus carat flawless yellow diamond replete with diamond sidestones.

The ring was made by jeweler to the stars, Jonathon Arndt.

Since Fisher is a hockey player he obviously had help in choosing the ring, paying for it, and finding his way out of the jeweler's store. He probably had to be taught how to put the ring on her finger too.

Fisher, 29, plays center for the Ottawa Senators. Amazingly, he still has all of his teeth.

The two lovebirds met in 2008 at one of her shows in Ottawa. We wonder if Fisher bought a ticket to see Carrie Underwood in concert?

Probably not.

Since he most certainly got in for free we can't help but wonder: why buy the singer when you can get the music for free?

The couple has not set a date for their wedding nor have they named a place for the ceremony. We suggest Atlantic City, Las Vegas, or Worchester. You know, some place romantic.

While we have no idea when the couple WILL get married, we do know when they won't be exchanging vows.

Underwood has announced plans for a 45-city tour in 2010. The outing will support her latest studio release, Play On.

This is her third album since winning "American Idol" in 2005. It dropped Nov. 3 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. A few weeks later, it was overtaken by the juggernaut that is Susan Boyle and her debut album, I Dreamed A Dream.

Carrie's North America trek begins March 11 in Reading, Pennsylvania and finishes May 30 in Spokane, Washington.

Some of the cities Underwood will be visiting include Austin, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and New Orleans.

"I am getting so excited about next year as we are currently working through all the big plans for the tour," Underwood told reporters. "I cannot wait to perform new music and see familiar faces across the U.S. and Canada!"

Joining Underwood for tour will be Craig Morgan and a band called Songs of Sylvia. The latter were formerly known as the Clark Brothers and they did some worked on Underwood's latest release.

There will also be a Carrie Underwood show in Pittsburgh as well as an Underwood concert in Portland. Also look for Carrie Underwood to perform in Providence.

Eric Clapton Hitting The Road In 2010

Eric Clapton Hitting The Road In 2010

Of all the Sixties icons still kicking Eric Clapton has probably had the most consistent career. Yes, his popularity has waned a bit and yes he's had his share of clunkers. But when you're a guitar god and one of the world's preeminent blues men it's easy to stay relevant.

While some duffers have to worry about writing music or keeping their voice in shape, all "Slowhand" has to do is play some blues. He can cover anyone from the Brady Bunch to the Yeahs Yeahs Yeahs and as long as he keeps true to his roots fans will still buy his albums and flock to see Eric Clapton in concert.

In 2010, the only three-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is planning to tour both North America and Europe.

Clapton's tour of the States commences Feb. 15 in Pittsburgh and ends March 13 in Orlando.

Those on the Left Coast will miss out. The furthest west Clapton ventures is Tulsa and Kansas City. His dates are mainly confined to the south, places like Nashville, Birmingham and Raleigh.

The Who's Roger Daltrey will open. Remember The Who is the halftime show at Super Bowl XLIV taking place in Miami on Feb. 7.

Backing up Clapton for this excursion will be drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Willie Weeks, keyboardists Chris Stainton and Walt Richmond, and background vocalists Michelle John and Sharon White.

Clapton is also set to play three shows with a fellow guitar legend, as well as a fellow former member of The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck.

The two will trade licks during three shows: Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck in New York on Feb. 18; Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck in Toronto on Feb. 21; and Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck in Montreal on Feb. 22.

Clapton and Beck performed together in Tokyo in February of 2009. Look for each guitarist to play about an hour followed by a combined jam session lasting around 30 minutes.

There are some rumors circulating that Jeff Beck may join Clapton's U.S. tour full time. It's probably less of a rumor and more wishful thinking on the part of fans.

After his North American road trip, Clapton is off to Europe for a series of shows with Steve Winwood. That trek begins May 18 in Birmingham and concludes June 13 in Istanbul.

Earlier this year, Clapton and Winwood released a live album of a Madison Square Garden concert recorded in February of 2008. At that concert, the duo performed several Blind Faith songs (of course there are only about a dozen to begin with). Blind Faith was a supergroup that released one album in 1969.

Clapton and Winwood also teamed up for a 14-date tour of the United Summer this past summer.

At 64-years of age it's hard to say how many more tours "Slowhand" has left. So if you have the chance to see Clapton live take it.

Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck
February 13, 14 - London, UK - O2 Arena
February 18 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
February 21 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Center
February 22 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Center

Eric Clapton
Feb. 15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mellon Arena
Feb. 27 – Nashville, TN @ Sommett Center
Feb. 28 – Birmingham, AL @ Birmingham Jefferson
Mar. 2 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK
Mar. 3 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
Mar. 5 – Memphis, TN @ FedEx Forum
Mar. 6 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
Mar. 8 – Raleigh, NC @ RBC Center
Mar. 9 – Atlanta, GA @ Gwinnett Center
Mar. 11 – Ft. Lauderdale Bank Atlantic Center
Mar. 13 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Arena

Bon Jovi Set To Launch 2-Year World Tour

Rock band Bon Jovi is set to launch a two-year world tour to support their new album The Circle. This is the band's 11th studio album and it's scheduled to drop Nov. 12.

Bon Jovi's mammoth world tour gets underway Feb. 19 in Seattle and ends 135 shows and 30 countries later. Highlights of the tour include being the first band to perform at the new Meadowlands football stadium and an extended stay at London's O2 arena.

Bon Jovi will rock concerts in Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Dallas (sorry that concert won't be held at the new Cowboys Stadium). The band will also venture to the Great White North for a pair of Bon Jovi shows in Montreal.

This is exciting news for rock fans as Bon Jovi is one of the world's great live bands. They are also extremely popular as fans find them easy to relate too, accessible, and unpretentious. Basically, Bon Jovi is one of us.

However, that standing might be in jeopardy.
Bon Jovi has recently made a deal with the devil and in this case the devil is NBC.

Bon Jovi has signed a promotional deal with NBC Universal that will feature them, as well as their music, on NBC and their family of cable networks.

We understand the need to promote their new album and sell Bon Jovi concert tickets, but we worry that this is nothing more than insidious corporate synergy.

If it means an appearance on the Jay Leno Show, and songs from The Circle used as background music in Heroes, than that's fine. But if the band suddenly starts working for Dunder Mifflin we'll be upset.

The question still remains how exactly will Bon Jovi be integrated into NBC Universal programming?

Will Richie Sambora be a suspect on Law and Order?

Will Tico Torres be Liz Lemon's love interest on 30 Rock?

Will Jon Bon Jovi break down Iran's nuclear program on MSNBC?

Obviously this one business arrangement won't turn fans, or this blogger, against Bon Jovi, but it is disconcerting and disappointing. While it seems natural to mix rock music with network television such a union must be organic. If it's forced, and/or lawyers are involved, than it's never a good thing.

There is one saving grace though. No one watches NBC. More people will see Bon Jovi on "The Circle World Tour" than on the Peacock Network.

Lady Gaga's The Monster Ball Tour Begins Nov. 27

Lady Gaga's The Monster Ball Tour Begins Nov. 27 in Montreal. From there, the 23-year-old pop singer from New York City will perform in Toronto and Ottawa before coming to America.

She will return to the Great White North on Dec. 9 and 10 for a couple of Lady Gaga concerts at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

The Diva is billing The Monster Ball Tour as a "pop-electro opera," whatever that means. The Monster Ball was thrown together after a planned outing with Kanye West was canceled in early October.

"I wanted to really put together a show that would be the most beautiful, expensive-looking, delicious show, but that my fans wouldn't have to pay a ton of money to come see.," Gaga told Rolling Stone magazine. "I've got super loyal fans, so I feel this tremendous obligation to take care of them."

A "beautiful, expensive-looking, delicious show" that fans won't "have to pay a ton of money to come see" is code for "cheap." However, Gaga is a consummate professional. She'll more than make up for any short comings in production with her energetic and captivating stage presence.

On Nov. 24 Lady Gaga is releasing a new album... kinda. This new opus is called The Fame Monster. It's a repackaging of her tremendously successful The Fame with an additional eight new songs.

We're not sure if this is laziness, greed, or a real treat for her fans.

On one hand, if you don't already own the album the eight extra songs are a great incentive to finally buy it.

If you already own the album are eight songs enough to make you want to buy it again (assuming you're not going to download the new tracks)?

And couldn't Gaga just add a few more songs to the eight and release an entirely new album?

Regardless, the newly repackaged album is being incorporated into her tour. "Monsters" will be a theme for some of her show's visuals. In particular, personal demons or the wrongs we've committed as flawed and fragile human beings.

"I believe, that innately we're all born with the monsters already inside of us — I guess in Christianity they call it original sin — the prospect that we will, at some point, sin in our lives, and we will, at some point, have to face our own demons, and they're already inside of us," preached Gaga.

The idea of original sin eventually developed into another source of inspiration for Gaga's upcoming tour, evolution.

"We started talking about evolution and the evolution of humanity and how we begin as one thing, and we become another,” Gaga waxed.

Fans will be able to see what the heck she's talking about when Lady Gaga performs in Los Angeles and San Francisco this fall. Lady Gaga is also selling tickets for a concert in Miami.

The Monster Ball Tour wraps up Jan. 21, 2010 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. In March, Gaga launches a tour of Australia.

Thanks to her on-line success—20 million downloads sold—Gaga is one of the biggest-selling artists of 2009. She just completed her first headlining trek, The Fame Ball Tour, at the end of September. Prior to that, Gaga opened for New Kids On The Block and The Pussycat Dolls.