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’ »

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’ »

I just got a chance to listen to “I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week,” the single off of Mandy Moore’s new album, Amanda Leigh, which is dropping on May26.

Is it just me, or is this song kinda catchy?

Mandy looks ridiculously pretty in the video. I’m gonna go stuff my face with cookies to cope.

Mandy plays a sold out show at Joe’s Pub on June 3rd.

You knew it couldn’t last long…that’s right, Ryan Adams’s addiction to the internet has called him back to the blogging world, this time complete with real-time updates via his new Twitter account @ryanada_ms.

Clearly he was inspired by the few minutes he hijacked wifey Mandy Moore’s Twitter account @themandymoore last week.

Guess who’s back…and who’s taking the photos…

In addition to the up-to-the minute tweets, everyone’s favorite oversharing musician has also unleashed a brand new website, ryanada.ms which features a pretty mean picture of Ry Ry shredding up some bowl or swimming pool whilst on a skateboard emblazoned with the word “WEREWOLPH” (see below).

The new site also includes some of the things we’ve grown to love about Ryan Adams’s websites…
Continue reading ‘Ryan Adams Rolls Out a New Website’ »

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

ARUUUGHHHH!

Mandy Moore’s rep has confirmed to E! News that she and Ryan Adams are currently engaged…you know, TO BE MARRIED.

Who knew that everyone’s favorite perma-bachelor had it in him to be prepared to tie the knot…however, he is the enternal romantic, and he DID just release an EP titled “Extra Cheese.”

…Still a little part of me just died.

Here they are shopping for groceries in LA today.

Do you think this love will last between the two former and current flames?

Thanks to Bao for ruining my bday.

…don’t ever make me watch the Jonas Brothers perform with Stevie Wonder ever again. It’s just too painful.

…watching a uber pregnant M.I.A. perform alongside T.I., Jay-Z, and Lil’ Wayne, was awesome. She is possibly the coolest woman in music EVER.

…make all of Coldplay wear the same purple outfits that Will Champion was wearing.

…keep giving Jennifer Hudson awards for her amazing singing, but make it a stipulation that she’s not allowed to wear outfits that cover her face anymore. (Luckily her makeup was gorgeous.)

…Katy Perry should not be allowed to perform anywhere, let alone as Chiquita Banana.

…Alison Krauss and Robert Plant doing “Rich Woman” = fantastic. It kinda was like this:

…don’t ever allow Gwyneth Paltrow to present again dressed up as a gold disco ball. Especially when she’s wearing some throwaway shiny tights from some high school cheerleader conference. Especially when she’s salivating over Radiohead. (Are you trying to make her British-obsessed lady boner explode? Granted, it’s hard to say who was more excited, her or her Radiohead-worshiping husband.)

Continue reading ‘Dear Grammys…’ »

Sure, in 2005 I called Jason Mraz an “annoying pop singer”. At that time he was best known for his debut Top 40 single “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry),” which he co-wrote with the once ubiquitous songwriting team The Matrix. And despite the fact the song was inspired by some very serious personal experiences, it remained one of the most irritating songs of 2002.

Well nearly four years later, I’m eating my words. Despite the fact that the Mraz song “I’m Yours” was apparently a huge hit in 2008 (and recently nominated for a 2009 Grammy Award for Song of the Year), I’d never heard it until his live performance on tonight’s SNL. Sure, Mraz has always leaned on the reggae-influenced, hippy dippy side, but surprisingly this song is incredibly charming and catchy.

The live version he did on SNL is actually superior than the version from the album:

Continue reading ‘Have I Underestimated Jason Mraz?’ »

Ok, so sometimes I’m a bit slow to catch on the things happening on the internets, but I semi-try to keep informed… here are some new music videos that have sprung up in the last week from some notable people who at one time could have been described as “hot messes” or “trainwrecks” but have seem to cleaned up their acts for the time being:

LILY ALLEN

Ultragrrrl linked to a video of Lily Allen’s new song “The Fear.” I think Lily looks AMAZING. With her jet black hair hanging long, and the bangs going across her face, I think she looks like a white Gogo from Kill Bill walking through a Gwen Stefani Harajuku Lovers TV commercial. It was directed by Nez.

Continue reading ‘Former Hot Messes Lily and Britney Clean Up Nice’ »

Recently I’ve been expressing my fascination/obsession with the Jonas Brothers to a few friends. Well, sometimes mentioning random musings to people yields hilarious results, as is the case this week. My friend who works at Neighborhoodies took it upon himself to pitch the below t-shirt in their daily idea meeting.

Get your credit cards ready… let me introduce…

THE BONUS JONAS T-SHIRT!

What is a “bonus Jonas,” you may ask? The Jonas Brothers is band comprised of three real-life brothers: Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas. But according to a recent New York Times article, they have a 7-year-old younger brother named Frankie–and for better or worse, their father touts him as “the Bonus Jonas.”

“Bonus Jonas” has since become a hilarious catchphrase among young adults and teens who are Jonas Brothers fans/detractors.

Seriously, how could you NOT love this face?