Pearl Jam Closes Down Philadelphia's Spectrum Tonight

After 42 years, Philadelphia's famed Spectrum arena will be demolished later this year to make room for a new entertainment complex. Sports teams the 76ers and Flyers have long moved over to a sister venue, but a lot of bands decided to make stops at the Spectrum over the past several months to say goodbye. The Dead, who played the Spectrum more than any other band (50+ times), visited this spring. And another frequent guest, Bruce Springsteen, played four sold-out shows earlier this month. But it's Pearl Jam who will close the Spectrum down tonight with the last of its four concerts this week.

Eddie Vedder was quoted this week as saying he'd be happy to play until 2am tonight -- but will the venue allow it? I hope so! There are also a ton of internet rumors about special guests tonight including Billy Joel, Elton John and Bono -- but the most believable is Bruce Springsteen.

And all the concert fun happens tonight while the Phillies are playing in the World Series across the street. Quite a memorable Halloween here in Philadelphia.

To learn more about the Spectrum's history, click here and view the video below. This highlight reel has been opening each of the Pearl Jam shows this week. And one final note -- don't forget to check back here Monday for my review of the final concert in the weekly MusicMonday column.

View Whitney's New Video -- and Vote!

Six-time Grammy winner Whitney Houston's comeback album, I Look to You, was #1 on this week’s Billboard 200 chart after selling 305,000 copies. Not an amazing figure -- but it’s considerably more than the underwhelming 205,000 that her last album managed in its first week. And it's Houston's first studio album to reach #1 since 1987's Whitney.

Now the title track video has been released. So what do you think -- after seven years away -- is it a good comeback? Click the video below to view -- and then vote in the poll at left.




Note:

• Watch Oprah Winfrey's two-part interview with Whitney Houston on the talk show's season premiere this coming Monday and Tuesday. The interview is billed as "the most anticipated music interview of the decade."

View Madonna's New Video -- and Vote!

The video for Madonna’s new single "Celebration" is here! The song is off of her upcoming new greatest hits collection. No matter if you like or dislike her music, you have to admit Madonna is a marketing genius and has amazing staying power in a tough industry.

About two minutes into the video, Madonna's new boy toy Jesus Luz enters. He is playing a DJ, which is his real-life dream. And Lourdes, her 12-year-old daughter, also makes a cameo as a dancer towards the end of the video.

So what do you think -- does the old lady still have it? Click the video below to view -- and then vote in the poll at left.

Notes:

• The video is available as a FREE download on iTunes through tomorrow (Weds. 9/2) only. After that you have to pay.
• Tired of Madonna? Looking for new pop artists? Maybe you should check out Selena Gomez. Download her single "Falling Down" for free with code 'debutselena' here.
• Pop music not your style? I hear ya. Well there's also still time to view Pearl Jam's new video here -- and share your thoughts on it by voting in the poll at left.

View Pearl Jam's New Video -- Directed by Cameron Crowe!

As an addendum to yesterday's MusicMonday post on Pearl Jam, we now have the band’s latest video. It features a live performance, directed by a guy who has something of a soft spot for rock & roll, Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous). The video is for the song “The Fixer," a track off their upcoming album Backspacer, which they performed live at a secret show at Seattle’s Showbox in May.

• First, watch below -- and yes, the dizzying effects are on purpose!
• Then vote in the poll at upper left!
  

MusicMonday -- Free Downloads

I've come across three FREE music downloads to add to recent posts on:

• Nine Inch Nails
• Coldplay
• Eddie Vedder

Just click on the names above and follow posts to the end to get download links.

Also, while here -- please vote in the music poll at right. What are your thoughts on Coldplay plagiarism accusation?

NIN's 'Last Show Ever' in United States?

Nine Inch Nails performed Saturday at Tennessee's annual Bonnaroo Festival -- and band leader Trent Reznor shared a big announcement from the stage: that the show would be NIN's last on U.S. soil.

"It just dawned on me that this is our last show ever in the United States," the Associated Press quoted Reznor as saying. "Don't be sad. I'll keep going. But I think I'm going to lose my ... mind if I keep doing this, and I have to stop." Reznor, NIN's only constant member since its inception in the late 1980s, has been recording, releasing new music and touring almost non-stop since 2005.

Reznor's remarks shouldn't come as too much of a shock; the musician announced in December that the group's just-completed North American outing, dubbed the "Wave Goodbye" tour, would be its last for the "foreseeable future." Co-headlining with Jane's Addiction, they're now slated to play a series of shows in Europe and Asia that end in August (note: click on the image above for more information on the tour).

Still to this day, the band's hit "Closer"gets to me every time. WARNING: uncensored video version here.

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Photo: Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor performs at Bonnaroo 2009 on Saturday;

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

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Free Download

As a thank you to their fans for their continued support, NIN is giving away their new album, The Slip, for free. Click on the image of Reznor above to link to the free download.

Coldplay Debate: Did the Band Plagiarize?

The potentially enormous plagiarism case involving Coldplay and guitarist Joe Satriani (now in the band, Chickenfoot) has taken another twist, with lawyers admitting that YouTube evidence could be used in court.

Coldplay released their new album 'Viva La Vida (Or Death And All His Friends)' last year -- and it later became the best selling album of 2008. With over 7.82 million copies sold worldwide, it has gone double-platinum here in the US. The band won three Grammy Awards for the effort, including song of the year for the album's title track. However some were not pleased by the group's success. Rock guitarist Joe Satriani claims that the title track borrows sections from his 2004 song 'If I Could Fly.' A legal battle has ensued, with Coldplay denying any wrongdoing.

Some musicologists believe that YouTube comparisons of the two songs could be Coldplay's undoing. While others think certain videos could strengthen Coldplay's claim, with some pointing out similarities between Satriani's song and even older works. Another musician who has pointed out commonality between the song and his own work is Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens). In a recent interview, the singer/songwriter claims that 'Viva La Vida' bears more than a passing resemblance to his song 'Foreigner Suite' - written back in the 1970s.

Islam stated that he has no intentions of suing Coldplay. The case between Satriani and Coldplay is ongoing. And so is the debate.

As a fan of Coldplay, I find it hard to believe that Chris Martin and his bandmates purposefully stole music from others. Let's face it, many songs sound familiar. There are a limited number of chords - and just so many ways to string the music together. Similarities between songs have happened before, and they'll happen again. But what do you think?

Click here to see a recent CNN story on the matter -- which includes the YouTube comparison. And then tell me where you stand. Comment below and/or take the poll (update: results below).

Note: For a limited time, Coldplay is offering a FREE download of their live cd, "LeftRightLeftRightLeft." Click on the band's image above to link to the download.

Poll results:

Do you think the band Coldplay is guilty of plagiarism?

Yes 10 (37%)

No 17 (62%)

Total votes: 27

September 16, 2009 update:

Guitar hero Joe Satriani and British pop-rock band Coldplay have settled their legal entanglements and the guitarist's lawsuit alleging copyright infringement has been dismissed, Satriani's representative confirmed to Billboard today. While details of the case remain sealed, legal sources tell Billboard a financial settlement between the two parties may have been reached. Coldplay will not be required to admit to any wrongdoing.

Adam Lambert's Rolling Stone Interview -- The Truth Comes Out

"American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert has landed the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, where he talks about sex, drugs and his "Idol" experiences.

Drumroll, please...in the June 25 issue, the 27-year-old singer from San Diego acknowledges that he's gay, and says it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Says Lambert, "I'm proud of my sexuality. I embrace it. It's just another part of me."

He also reveals that he began smoking pot and tried Ecstasy for the first time while performing in a European production of "Hair" in his early twenties. Lambert says he was inspired to audition for the Fox network singing competition after having a "psychedelic experience" at the Burning Man festival in Nevada.

Lambert says he knew "American Idol" was his "only shot to be taken seriously in the recording industry, because it's fast and broad." Huh?

Meanwhile, a day after announcing season 8 champ Kris Allen's deal, 19 Recordings revealed it has also signed Lambert, and that, as widely rumored on the Internet, his debut album will be licensed to RCA Records for a fall release.

LiveNation Announces Ticket Price Cut with "No Service Fee Wednesdays"

Beginning this Wednesday, June 3, LiveNation will offer, for the first time, no-fee concert tickets for hundreds of shows (bands included in the special are Coldplay, blink-182, the Killers, Dave Matthews Band, Kid Rock, No Doubt, Toby Keith, the Allman Brothers Band, and New Kids on the Block, among others).

LiveNation.com will be selling 5 million tickets starting this Wednesday (the special goes the full 24 hours), but there's a catch: all non-fee tickets are for lawn seating only. While other no-fee deals will continue on Wednesdays throughout the summer on LiveNation's site, it's a pretty safe bet this week's deal will spark a site crash!

I guess the ticket controllers are finally feeling some backlash in this economy. Fewer summer sell-outs for sure. Thoughts?


June 15 update:

Live Nation has taken all fees and taxes out of “No Service Fee Wednesday,” responding to complaints that hidden fees remained when it launched the ticket promotion two weeks ago.

All amphitheater lawn seats — except for Dave Matthews Band shows — will be $24.99 for 24 hours beginning at 12:01 a.m. this Wednesday, June 17. Dave Matthews Band lawn seats will be deeply discounted, but at a $34.99 flat rate, according to a Live Nation spokesman.

The promotion could save concert-goers more than $20 per ticket, an improvement over the initial “No Service Fee Wednesday” which still included some extra charges such as a $6 per-ticket parking fee.

It’s too early to tell if the summer “no service fee” promotions will stimulate overall ticket sales, or if fans will just shift the day they buy. However, a company spokesman has said that Live Nation saw a 500 percent increase in ticket sales the past two Wednesdays.

TMZ Reports that Danny Gokey Voters Sided with Kris Allen

TMZ is reporting that sources at "American Idol" have told them that the margin between Kris Allen and Adam Lambert "wasn't even close" -- and the biggest factor in Allen's win was Danny Gokey.

Although not given the exact vote count, here is what the celebrity news site found out:

• After Gokey was eliminated, the "lion's share" of his fans voted for Kris Allen in the finale
• The extent of the lopsidedness surprised a lot of the big wigs at Idol
• The AT&T texting "scandal" had no impact on the outcome -- the spread was that wide

So what do you think? Will this finally end the story? Do you think Idol should release the exact count? In earlier seasons, host Ryan Seacrest would announce the final vote count -- or at least the percentages. Should that policy be resurrected? And if revealed for this year, would the results match the percentage spread from last week's EntertainmentBlogger Idol poll (see left for results)?

Update: Poll now removed from side bar; here it is with results:

WHO DO YOU WANT TO WIN AMERICAN IDOL?

Kris Allen: 61 votes (57% of total votes)
Adam Lambert: 46 votes (43%)

Total votes: 107. Poll conducted over two days and closed before live airing of results finale.

Eminem is Back -- and on Top of the Charts

(AP) - Eminem's new album, "Relapse," has sold more copies in its first week of release than any other album this year. Nielsen SoundScan says the Detroit rapper's first album in nearly five years sold 608,000 copies.

"Relapse" is Eminem's fifth straight No. 1 album. His last disc, 2004's "Encore," sold 711,000 in its first week - though that was only across four days. It went on to sell 5.1 million copies.

Last week's chart topper, Green Day's "21st Century Breakdown," slid to No. 2, adding 166,000 copies sold to the 215,000 copies the band sold in its initial, abbreviated three-day sales week.

Latest Rankings from iTunes: Top 10 Selling Singles and Albums of the Week

Below are iTunes' top 10 selling singles and albums for the week ending yesterday, May 25. And it's a split result for the two finalists from season 8 of American Idol -- winner Kris Allen and runner-up Adam Lambert. Allen won the singles race between the two, but Lambert bested Allen in the album compilations of this past season's performances.

Singles:

1. "Boom Boom Pow," Black Eyed Peas
2. "Don't Stop Believin (Glee Cast Version)," Glee Cast
3. "New Divide," Linkin Park
4. "Heartless (American Idol Studio Version)," Kris Allen
5. "No Boundaries," Kris Allen
6. "Mad World (American Idol Studio Version)," Adam Lambert
7. "Waking Up In Vegas," Katy Perry
8. "Fire Burning," Sean Kingston
9. "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho, More English Extended Mix)," Pitbull
10. "Poker Face," Lady GaGa

Albums:

1. "Relapse," Eminem
2. "21st Century Breakdown," Green Day
3. "ISolated INcident," Dane Cook
4. "A Fine Mess," Kate Voegele
5. "Season 8 Favorite Performances," Adam Lambert
6. "City of Black & White," Mat Kearney
7. "Season 8 Favorite Performances," Kris Allen
8. "Blackout!," 2 Method Man, Redman
9. "The Fame," Lady GaGa
10. "Abnormally Attracted to Sin," Tori Amos

Yet Another Woodstock Anniversary Concert

Some performers from the 1969 Woodstock concert are heading back for the 40th anniversary show this summer. On the bill for August 15 are The Levon Helm Band, Jefferson Starship, Big Brother and the Holding Co., Ten Years After, Canned Heat, Mountain, and Country Joe McDonald. Helm performed at the original Woodstock concert with The Band.

This summer's concert will be held at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel. It was built on the site of the dairy farm trampled on by some 400,000 people on the weekend of August 15-17, 1969. It includes an amphitheater and a museum up the hill from the original stage. Let's hope it has wheelchair ramps -- for the concert-goers AND the performers.

Eddie Vedder Back Out on Solo Tour

Curious to know something specific about Entertainment Blogger's musical taste? Well wonder no longer. My favorite band for as long as I can remember is Pearl Jam. And now Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder is heading back out on another solo tour which will kick off on June 8 in Albany, NY and end on July 2 in Honolulu, HI. New Zealand singer-songwriter Liam Finn will open these shows.

Ticket sale information is forthcoming. TENTATIVE tour dates (some still unconfirmed) are as follows:

• Jun 8 - Albany, NY - Palace Theatre
• Jun 9 - Albany, NY - Palace Theatre
• Jun 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
• Jun 12 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
• Jun 14 - Baltimore, MD - Lyric Opera House
• Jun 15 - Baltimore, MD - Lyric Opera House
• Jun 18 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
• Jun 20 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum
• Jun 21 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum
• Jun 23 - Atlanta, GA - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Ctr
• Jun 24 - Atlanta, GA - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Ctr
• Jun 29 - Maui, HI - Arts & Cultural Ctr/Castle Theatre
• July 1 - Honolulu, HI - Hawaii Theatre Ctr
• July 2 - Honolulu, HI - Hawaii Theatre Ctr
  

If you are unfamiliar with Eddie Vedder's solo work, may I suggest listening to the soundtrack of the 2007 film, Into the Wild. While you're at it, rent the movie -- it's a great story. And you will see/hear why Eddie won a Golden Globe Award for his efforts.

PETA is Out of Control

As if we needed further proof that the People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) is going too far. Now the animal rights group has asked the British electro-pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys, to change its name. PETA sent a letter to Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe requesting they rename their band, the Rescue Shelter Boys. The duo, which has performed under its current name for more than 20 years, turned PETA down.

Today's Music News

Save the Date: 09/09/09 Will Mark New Beatles Invasion

Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music have announced that the entire original Beatles catalogue, digitally re-mastered, will be released on September 9. The release will include all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork. The release marks the first time that the first four Beatles albums are being made available in their entirety on compact disc.

This news comes on the heels of the two surviving Beatles members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, performing together at the "Change Begins Within Concert" last Saturday in New York.

Question: Are there any Beatles fans under the age of 40 out there?


iTunes Pricing Change

In today's other music news, Apple's practice of selling all songs for 99 cents each has ended. Starting today, Apple's iTunes Store officially began offering three-tiered pricing: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29. Record companies can pick the prices.

Question: Will you pay $1.29 for new tunes?