Yesterday night I braved the impossibly miserable weather to check out the record release party for Mandy Moore’s new album, Amanda Leigh, at Joe’s Pub here in NYC. The new Mrs. Ryan Adams (to my knowledge sans Ryan Adams in the audience), who was dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt with a slim fitting leather blazer, looked radiant as she, her band, and a guest string trio featuring opener Tracy Bonham, glided through a number of songs off her new album. All the while, the massive all-diamond wedding band sparkling on her ring finger nearly blinded the front row.

The new tunes show a more sophisticated side to the songbird, some of the tunes seemingly inspired by Joni Mitchell, and yes–even a little dash of Ryan Adams, all the while showcasing Mandy’s incredible voice. (Seriously, why hasn’t she ever done a Broadway musical?)

Continue reading ‘Mandy Moore Is Simply Delightful’ »

Longtime readers will remember that my mom loves Keane. So who else could I take to the Keane show at Radio City tonight but my mommy dearest? The show, with its long set, and multiple (two) encores clocked it at nearly one hour and a half long—that’s 90 minutes of sheer happiness for my mom.

I’ll admit, there’s a bit of a twinge of teenage angst that goes along with bringing Mom to a concert—especially when my mom starts to dance along to the music (“Mom! You’re embarrassing me in front of all my friends!,” I mentally shout.)—but as a whole it’s a fun time taking my mom to see one of her favorite bands (aka Keane or Coldplay).

For me, one of the best part of going to see a show with my mom is that unlike my regular concert companions, who like me go to shows on a weekly basis and are completely jaded/spoiled by it all, my mom is genuinely excited about nearly everything involving the concert. Her reaction reminds me a lot of what I was like as a teenager going to see Alanis Morissette at Jones Beach, or say Duncan Sheik at a Virgin Megastore Instore.

Mom gets really pumped up about going, often calling me up the night before to say that she “just can’t wait” for the show and that she’s been listening to the new album non-stop. And when she gets there she’s super interested in buying some of the merch so she can show it off to all her friends at work the next day. And forget about when the actual concert starts—Mom is literally jumping up and down and clapping her hands.

Crappy cellphone photo: There’s a band on stage, I swear.

So to say the least, my mom really really really enjoyed Keane’s performance tonight—and I’ll admit, I enjoyed quite a bit of it myself. As I’ve noted before, Keane fans are particularly excited about being at the show, as displayed by the eruption of thunderous cheers and applause that sprung up as soon as the lights went down and the band took the stage.
Continue reading ‘Keane Encores Again and Again at Radio City’ »

Even though the band has only played one public live show (right here in NYC), The Dead Weather have managed to swing their first music magazine cover–the brand new issue of SPIN magazine.

Continue reading ‘The Dead Weather Claim SPIN Cover’ »

Last night the budding British pop diva Little Boots played a rowdy show at Le Poisson Rouge here in NYC. I’ll be updating this space later with more information, but I believe a good time was had by all.

Some photos below. And yes, the stage was set up in the round!!

Continue reading ‘Little Boots @ Le Poisson Rouge, NYC’ »

Little Boots has steadily become one of the rising stars of the independent British female pop star phenomenon. In preparation of the June 9th UK release of her first full-length album, Hands (and a US-only EP called “Illuminations”), she will be performing a special show here in NYC on May 18th at Le Poisson Rouge. This is the only US performance currently scheduled for the new queen of electropop over the next few months.

Want to win a pair of tickets to the NYC show? Just answer the following (super easy) question:

What US late night talk show devoted an entire episode to Little Boots earlier this year?

Just send an email with the answer and your full name to contest @ themodernage.org with “LITTLE BOOTS” in the subject line.

The first two people to answer the question correctly will each win a pair of tickets to the concert!
Continue reading ‘Giveaway: Tickets to Little Boots at Le Poisson Rouge, May 18th’ »

Quickly, the charity performance of artists who have appeared on Dark Was the Night compilation was at Radio City Music Hall last night. Amidst rumors of Blonde Redhead and Sufjan Stevens playing, neither group/performer got onstage at the event.

The bands who actually did perform were:

Dirty Projectors
My Brightest Diamond
The National
Dave Sitek (from TV on the Radio)
David Byrne
[Intermission]
Bon Iver
Feist
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
[Encore] Tribute to Pete Seeger with all bands (and a random appearance by St. Vincent – aka Annie Clark) singing altogether a song Seeger made famous “This Land Is Your Land,” with Sharon Jones busting out solo into a sassy rendition of the song a quarter of the way through (below).

Continue reading ‘Dark Was the Night @ Radio City Music Hall Last Night’ »

As Brooklyn Vegan posted, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are rumored to be doing a “secret” show at Santos Party House tomorrow. The band, who are performing tonight on Saturday Night Live, have not posted anything about the show on their official site, nor have Santos.

If you choose to believe what has been written on Brooklyn Vegan, there are about a billion possible scenarios tomorrow, BUT I put a call in to some folks, and to the best of my knowledge this is what you can expect:

There will be a show tomorrow (Santos can’t officially say who is performing), and the headliner of said show will go on at 10pm. There will also be an opener band who goes on an hour before at 9pm. According to my sources the only way to get in (minus being on some super special list) will be purchasing tickets at the door tomorrow. No word just yet on how many tickets, or what the cost is per tickets but “that’s the only way to get in.”

However, if you would like some alternative options on how you can get into the YYYs show at Santos tomorrow (Easter Sunday!), here are some suggestions:

1. The Ol’ Hiding in the John. Pack a backpack full of rations and hide yourself in the bathrooms after the Apache Beat/Violens early show OR the Four Tet DJ set late show tonight (see flyer below). Pray no one finds you, and surface only after doors have opened for tomorrow night’s show:

2. Pull a Sitcom-Worthy Stunt. The BSB wrote in this option: Put on some cooking gear and a white chef’s hat. Don a crazy curly mustache and acquire an over-the-top French accent. Carry a silver plater with a food cover up to the Santos door. Tell the door people that you are there “too feed zee Yeah Yeah Yeahszz!” When they tell you that they have no idea what you are talking about, start getting aggitated. “Do you knowhh whhhooo I am!??! Look at zee band’s rider. Zee Karen O getz VERY mad if she does not get her fois-gras! Do you want to see an aggitated Karen O?!” then push your way through security.
Continue reading ‘Tickets for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs Secret Show @ Santos 4/12’ »

Razorlight is just one of those bands that kinda slipped through the cracks for me, but every time I catch one of their performances (usually on some kind of talk show), I’m always super-impressed by their music.

I just happened to catch a repeat of a performance of “Wire to Wire” that they did on Letterman last month, and once again Razorlight has captivated me. Sure the song sounds a little like a bigger, grander version of “A Horse With No Name” by America, but it’s still pretty rad IMHO. Check it:

Continue reading ‘Obsession of the Moment: Razorlight’ »

According to a recent interview with Johnjay & Rich, Miley Cyrus confessed that at the latest Grammy Awards she was snubbed by her most favorite band in the world, the group who made her love music…Radiohead, obviously.

The band, who was performing at the awards ceremony, was stationed in a dressing room four doors down from the pop princess. Miley had her manager request that she get an audience with the famously anti-social band. When they denied the request she was shocked and appalled, citing that she thought they were very “rude” for saying no.

According to Miley, she had already texted all her friends bragging that she was going to meet them, and when her wish did not come true she was so devastated by the experience that she left the awards ceremony immediately afterward and missed their live performance on the show.

In the interview Miley also states that her new mission is to “ruin” Radiohead as a result of their dis on her. Good luck with destroying the careers of one of the biggest recording artists in the world, Miley.

Listen to the full snippet of the interview in which Miley discusses her non-run in with Radiohead:

Methinks Miley comes off as a bit bratty in this interview…I can understand being upset that your favorite band does not want to meet you, even for a minute, but when that band is well-known for hating publicity, really Miley, are you that surprised?

On the upside, Miley finds Chris Martin to be supernice…

SOURCE: ONTD

In case the live blogging of the live tweets wasn’t enough to give you the full “I was almost there” experience, check out these videos of Lily Allen performing at last night’s “secret” Myspace Bowery Ballroom show:

“Never Gonna Happen”

“Littlest Things”

“I Could Say”

Continue reading ‘VIDEO: Lily Allen at Bowery Ballroom’ »