Archive for November, 2007

posted by Alex on Nov 13

After recording a new solo album and a successful tour, Rob Thomas is hitting the road again together with Matchbox Twenty. The tour is set for February 4, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. It will be the band’s 1st tour in 4 years. The tour will coincide with MB20’s hits package, “Exile on Mainstream,” that includes 6 new compositions. The tour will feature MuteMath and Alanis Morissette as openers.

posted by Alex on Nov 9

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One of the hottest tour of the year is coming to the Valley tonight. It is a must to have tickets in case you have children younger that 14. The stunning Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus have at last come to your town. I can now vividly imagine Glendale’s Jobing.com Arena filled with screaming kids of all ages and their parents taking them there. Tickets were all sold out in a matter of minutes, and $60 seats are being hawked for over $900 online.

Showcasing Disney pop star Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus, the fourteen-year-old singer and actress, who plays the character on TV, the 54-date concert tour has sparked a ticket-buying frenzy. It managed to outpace such major rock acts as Van Halen, the Police, and Bruce Springsteen. Parents, who failed to get Hannah Montana tickets at face value, have the dilemma of paying big bucks on the resale market or having to deliver sad news to their children.

The Hannah Montana phenomenon, which is based on the series about a high-school student, who has a secret life as a singer, extends far beyond the concert stage.

The Hannah Montana show was launched last year, and it has become hugely popular with kids up to age fourteen. Over two million watch each episode. 2 records tied to the series have topped the charts and sold over five million copies. DVD sales have already passed two million. A clothing line is a top seller at stores, and one could buy Hannah Montana Halloween costumes last month.

Hannah and Miley adorn everything from post cards and party favors to mobile and iPod accessories and karaoke machines. A 3-D concert film is on its way.

posted by Alex on Nov 8

The Top Twenty Concert Tours ranks performers by average box office gross per city taking into account the average ticket price for shows in the United States and Canada. The list is headlined by Justin Timberlake ($1,724,905; $82.64), then go Kenny Chesney ($1,500,484; $59.82), Dave Matthews Band ($1,303,784; $47.63), Mana ($1,221,236; $73.73), and Tim McGraw / Faith Hill ($1,131,154; $88.91) at No. Five. Toby Keith, Rush, Def Leppard, Bob Dylan, Incubus, and more, are also on the list.

posted by Alex on Nov 7

Meat Loaf, one of the greatest rock singers, has cancelled his tour across Europe after he was diagnosed with a cyst on the vocal cords. The 60-year-old canceled 2 shows this week on doctor’s orders, and was due to perform later at Wembley Arena. Speculation has surrounded the whole Loaf’s tour since he cut short a concert in Newcastle last week, calling it “the last show” he may ever do in his life.

posted by Alex on Nov 6

stevie-wonder.jpgWhen some great musician announces plans to embark on his 1st major tour in twelve years, you can be sure the whole world sits up and takes notice. Stevie Wonder is one such musician, and his much-anticipated itinerary began in San Diego in late August, 2007. The Wonder 2007 concert tour includes many cities, like San Diego, Santa Barbara, Concord, Saratoga, and LA, all California. Oregon, Portland, Washington, and Woodinville will also see the legendary Master Blaster take his sumptuous bop along the west coast of the country.

posted by Alex on Nov 5

Bruce Springsteen is back on tour! The latest tour brings a hundred years old hits from myriad genres to the live stage. On his last tour, the performer was accompanied by the seventeen-member Seeger Sessions Band, and the wealth of folk, gospel, bluegrass, and jazz performers. Drawing influence from the man featured in the 2006 record title, the music oozed homage to Seeger, and beautiful compositions like “Old Dan Trucker” and “Eyes on the Prize.”

posted by Alex on Nov 2

The benefit show for United Way of the Lakeshore on November 9 at Frauenthal Theater will feature Ruth and Max Bloomquist, The Oat Bran Boys, and Anisa Hayes.

The artists will all be interacting and performing with each other.

Ruth and Max Bloomquist have been performing together since they met over thirty years ago and discovered a common love for practically any style music featuring acoustic instruments and lyrics that touch the heart. Together they play contemporary country, folk, traditional country, bluegrass, and folk rock.

The Oat Bran Boys have performed together since 1988. John King, Dan Seabolt, Rich King, and Steve Albert’s mastery of the guitar, string bass, violin, mandolin, and a banjo can make you smile with their stunning bluegrass music.

The talented Anisa Hayes has a voice that is as haunting as her stories. Her great lyrics are very honest, simple, and rich in details. She has been entertaining audiences for the past decade.

Ruth and Max Bloomquist are friends and neighbors of Scolnik, the concert promoter, who heads Mona Lake Productions. He is also chairman of this year’s United Way fund drive. Together, they worked on many music projects in the past and were happy to participate in A Concert with Friends. Ruth and Max Bloomquist have performed on the same bill as The Oat Bran Boys.

Scolnik is a county commissioner and community philanthropist. Together with his wife, Merle, they were major donors for the Muskegon County Museum’s Depression Era house and their home was named in Bob’s parents’ honor last year.

posted by Alex on Nov 1

The world famous death metal titans Immolation has kicked off a massive North American tour this week. Together with Suffocation and Skinless the band will be touring for nearly a month. Returning with the same lineup as the band’s previous release, entitled “Harnessing Ruin”, Immolation finds itself uncharacteristically stable, allowing for chemistry that cannot be traced in their formative years. Immolation founding members vocalist and bass guitarist Ross Dolan and guitarist Robert Vigna join Bill Taylor and Steve Shalaty to form the band’s most consistently punishing lineup yet.