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Barry Manilow was back on stage at the London Palladium on Tuesday night (May 28) after cancelling one of his farewell shows at the legendary venue on Monday on “doctor’s orders.” According to Metro UK, singer, 80, called off Monday night’s gig with just hours to go, writing on Instagram, “Unfortunately, under doctor’s orders, we […]
Coldplay had a special surprise in store for fans on Sunday (May 26) during their headlining set closing out BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend Festival. While preparing to perform the Ghost Stories favorite “Magic,” singer Chris Martin alluded to the fact that his band has been a staple of the event for the past decade.
“We’ve been playing this, one Big Weekend since we were basically children,” Martin said. “And the reason we play one Big Weekend is because without Radio 1, we would never have kept our jobs.” Then, the singer self-deprecatingly introduced one of the festival’s other performers, Sabrina Carpenter, telling the crowd, “What we’d like to do, to say thank you to you for being so wonderful for the whole three days is bring on a singer who’s much younger, more beautiful, more successful, better in every way, and sing a song of ours that is okay but make it really good.”
With the crowd properly hyped, Martin added, “Welcome, from America, U.S.A., Sabrina Carpenter, let’s go!” Carpenter seemed as jazzed as the audience, responding, “Give it up for Coldplay! What the hell?”
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The band — who have frequently invited guest stars up to join them during the epic two-year Music of the Spheres road trip — leaned into the song’s spare intro, as Martin and Carpenter harmonized, “Call it magic/ Call it true/ I call it magic/ When I’m with you,” while a graphic of a man trapped inside a top hat struggling to hold on to a woman blowing away from him screened behind them.
It wasn’t the only time during the Coldplay set that the 25-year-old singer/actress made her way into their repertoire. While playing their beloved ballad “Fix You,” a few songs earlier, Martin playfully slipped in a shot of Carpenter’s hit “Espresso” into the song to the crowd’s delight, as he sang, “That’s that me, espresso.”
Watch Carpenter join Coldplay for “Magic” below.
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When The Rolling Stones launched their latest album, Hackney Diamonds, at the intimate Manhattan rock club Racket NYC last October, it was a celebrity-studded affair (boasting a surprise Lady Gaga duet) at a venue that caps at 650 people. Thursday night (May 23) at New Jersey’s gargantuan MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., the Stones brought their Hackney Diamonds Tour to the tri-state area and performed at a stadium that seats more than 80,000. And while the star-to-civilian ratio was understandably lower than that album launch party seven months earlier, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood seemed looser, happier and more at ease performing a two-hour set for tens of thousands than a seven-song underplay for the lucky and the elite.
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Jagger was at his hip-swiveling, finger flailing finest as he gave “Shattered” its tour debut, ripped through new tunes like “Angry” and wailed on the harp for “Miss You”; Richards, as usual, found his guitar groove and fixated on it, occasionally cracking a smile or sharing a laugh with his bandmates; and Wood, still the new guy after 48 years, seemed a bit awestruck as he sized up the sea of people dancing (with varying degrees of versatility) and singing along.
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While introducing the band, Jagger cheekily hailed Wood as the “Botticelli of the Bronx, the Monet of Manhattan, the Basquiat of Brooklyn” – none of which really apply to a guitarist born in Middlesex, England, but Wood did demonstrate his artistic flair during a fervent solo spotlight on “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (a song title that probably held a deeper resonance for those tucked away in the nosebleeds).
Before trotting out the fan-voted song in the setlist, “Wild Horses,” Jagger made a point of telling the crowd, “There’s a much bigger vote happening in November.” Later on in the night, he couldn’t resist a jibe at the expense of a former president. “I was a bit worried about the weather – I thought we were going to get a bit of a Stormy Daniels,” he said slyly, referring to the adult star involved in the criminal hush money trial against Trump.
Also on the menu for stage banter: The Tick Tock Diner in Clifton, N.J. Back in 2019, Jagger was on the very same stage for the band’s No Filter Tour and shouted out the aforementioned diner, telling the crowd he snagged a “Taylor ham with disco fries – and sloppy joe to go” at the regional hot spot. On Thursday night, we got the follow-up. “Last time [we played here] I mentioned I went to this diner called the Tick Tock Diner. So on the way to the show, I stopped in there, and I found out they got a new sandwich — and it’s called the Mick Jagger. I’ve never had a f–king sandwich named after me before, so I’m very, very proud. And me and Keith and Ronnie are going to eat it after the show.”
The Glimmer Twins are still shining at 80, but who knows if and when England’s longest running hitmakers will return on a tour of this magnitude. At the very least, their Hackney Diamonds Tour (and the Tick Tock Diner) is giving fans something savory and satiating to celebrate the living legends.
Just days after the New York Knicks were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Semifinals by the Indiana Pacers, the mood in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night (May 21) was instantly transformed. Once heavy with gloom and despair, the air became charged with anticipation. The World’s Most Famous Arena not only hosted a double-shot of raps and twerk-filled stunts by Megan Thee Stallion‘s Hot Girl Summer Tour, but also celebrated a warm homecoming for some of the city’s brightest stars, including Cardi B and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.
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The anticipation was palpable as fans streamed in, eager to rally behind The Captain of the Hotties. They adorned themselves with cowboy hats, skin-tight shorts, and T-shirts emblazoned with Megan’s name, a testament to their fervent support. By 8:10, the party kicked off with CMG’s GloRilla, who was clearly ready to go. Though she was billed as Meg’s opener, Big Glo had the charisma of a headliner, oozing with swagger. The extra pep in her step was felt by The Garden crowd as they reveled in her hard-hitting performance of “Lick Or Sum.”
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With an army of dancers in tow, they looked to match Glo’s bulldog energy with hard stomps and twerks strong enough to reverberate through the stage set. Glo dug deep into her catalog and performed songs such as “Bop,” “All Dere,” and “In My Mode.” She even had time to joke with the crowd while dealing with a minor wardrobe malfunction. “I’m not gonna try to cause an earthquake with all this ass,” she quipped.
Before steamrolling through her Hot 100 hits “Tomorrow” and “Yeah Glo,” Glo brought out A Boogie, who she said was initially set to perform three songs but was left to only do one because of his tardiness. Despite the lateness, fans cheered Boogie, who dove deep in his bag to perform his 2017 track “Jungle.” Quickly after, Boogie passed the baton back to Glo, who revved up the energy level when she dived into “FNF (Let’s Go).” Glo relished the NYC atmosphere with a toothy grin as fans standing at the edge of the staircase used the rail to support their twerking theatrics.
Following Glo’s impressive outing, it was Meg’s turn. Considering the Hot Girl Summer Tour is her first headlining trek, Meg savored the moment and proved exacttly why she’s an arena-caliber superstar. Dressed in a bright red outfit, Meg’s fiery intentions were clear from the jump as she was ready to party. From the onset, Meg sought to create separation between her and her adversaries as she performed her Hot 100 chart-topper “HISS.” Rapping every bar with vigor and intent, Meg applied pressure, looking to see if fans could match her swagger. And when she wasn’t in attack mode, she tested her stamina, flaunting her flexibility and elite twerk abilities. The self-proclaimed “Megan Knees” were on display, most notably during throwback anthems like “Freak Nasty” and “Kitty Kat.” And when she finally got a breather, she took in the crowd’s electric energy, exclaiming: “This my first tour, y’all.”
Megan also had brilliant spots during certain songs. When she performed “Gift And a Curse,” she reiterated her stance on abortion laws, rapping, “My mother–king body, my choice,” with her fist in the air. The three-act set hosted many nostalgic moments for day-one fans as Meg revisited songs including “Big Ol Freak,” “Girls in the Hood,” and more. She even quizzed fans by rapping a capella to see if they could rap alongside her. Later, she placed a pseudo-Instagram Live filter on the big screen to gauge who had the best twerking moves, regardless of gender.
The show reached its apex when Megan brought out Bronx native Cardi B to perform “Bongos” and their 2020 Hot 100 chart-topper “WAP.” The crowd roared as the chemistry between Meg and Cardi was undeniable. Despite Cardi struggling to catch the beat due to sound delays, the crowd didn’t care, as they enjoyed watching two rap superstars in their prime adore each other. The lovefest didn’t stop there. Once Cardi unleashed her classic verse from “Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla returned on stage, creating a moment between all three female MCs. The thunderous crowd marveled at the camaraderie, especially after much of the year consisted of lyrical warfare in hip-hop. It was refreshing and a much-needed moment after months of contention in the genre.
After bulldozing through the song, Cardi sat back and watched Megan and GloRilla perform “Wanna Be.” Following the performance, Glo teased a surprise, which Meg later pulled out of her: an upcoming remix of “Wanna Be” featuring Cardi. Meg thanked Cardi and Glo while acknowledging the importance of banding together as women in hip-hop before returning back to her solo mission of conquering The Garden.
Following “Stalli Freestyle” and “Cash Sh-t,” Meg encouraged everyone of all sizes and shapes to embrace their “Body” as she feverishly rapped her signature 2020 hit. The proverbial cherry on top came when she closed the show with her Grammy-winning single “Savage.”
After conquering The Garden as a first-time headliner, Meg’s showmanship shouldn’t be questioned. She embodies the value of playing the long game and why, sometimes, good things come to those who wait.
Usher deeply believes in the old “show must go on” maxim. After the singer got the disappointing news that his headlining gig at this weekend’s planned Lovers & Friends Festival 2024 in Las Vegas was canceled due to the threat of dangerous weather conditions, the “Confessions” star found another way to celebrate.
According to the Las Vegas Journal-Review, after the festival slated to draw more than 65,000 fans to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on Saturday was scotched due to threats of high winds, Usher packed up his planned “Bad Girl: 20 Years of Confessions” celebration and moved it indoors to the more intimate 1,900-capacity Jewel at Aria Hotel club.
The paper said Ush’s first show in Vegas since his killer Super Bowl headlining show at Allegiant Stadium across town earlier this year found him playing a medley of hits to a packed club that including guest spots by his good friends Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon and Victoria Monét, who slipped into the DJ booth for a bit. The paper said other A-listers on hand included Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-star Crystal Kung Minkoff, as well as the Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean and Howie Dorough and Kandi Burruss, among others.
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TMZ reported that Usher arrived in an all-white outfit around three hours after the festival cancellation, with Lil Jon joining him for “Lovers and Friends,” the rapper’s 2004 Crunk Juice single that also featured Luda.
In addition to Usher, the Lovers show was slated to feature sets from the Backstreet Boys, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Nas, Ludacris and many more. Shortly after organizers said the one-day festival was going to be called of over weather, Usher shared a message with fans expressing his disappointment.
“Mannn… I’m just as disappointed as you are. We were getting ready to turn up and celebrate today. I have to follow the orders of city officials and the National Weather Service for everyone’s protection and stand strong in my belief that everything happens for a reason,” Usher tweeted. “I’m sorry we won’t get to see each other today, but know that I am always working on something to express my heartfelt gratitude for each and every one of you who continue to support me.”
Fans who purchased their Lovers & Friends tickets directly through Front Gate Tickets will receive a refund within 30 days, organizers said.
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Madonna wrapped her Celebration Tour with a massive free concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Queen of Pop closed her global trek with a record-breaking show at Rio’s Copacabana Beach on Saturday (May 4), drawing more than 1.6 million fans to the majestic site. Although Copacabana Beach has seen larger crowds during past New […]
The Lovers & Friends Festival in Las Vegas has been canceled due to dangerous weather conditions, organizers have announced.
The one-day music festival at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds was scheduled to take place on Saturday (May 4) with a star-studded lineup including headliners Usher, Janet Jackson and Backstreet Boys.
On Friday night (May 3), the festival’s organizers shared a message on social media explaining that the outdoor event was being called off because of a high wind warning issued by the National Weather Service.
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“The National Weather Service has now issued a High Wind Warning, including dangerous 30-35 mph sustained winds with gusts potentially more than 60 mph,” organizers wrote. “Following advice from the National Weather Service and in consultation with local public officials, we must make the safest decision for our fans, artists, and staff, and cancel tomorrow’s Lovers & Friends Festival.”
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Organizers added, “This was an incredibly heartbreaking decision to make as we are aware that fans have traveled from all over the world to enjoy this incredible lineup of superstars and have been looking forward to this event for several months. We’ve worked hard to create an amazing event for you, and we are just as disappointed as you are.”
Fans who purchased their tickets directly through Front Gate Tickets will receive a refund within 30 days, organizers said.
The Lovers & Friends lineup also included Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Nas, Alicia Keys, Nelly Furtado, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, TLC and Timbaland. As part of the festivities, Lil Wayne was scheduled to perform Tha Carter III in its entirety and Usher was set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his classic album Confessions.
Read the full statement from the Lovers & Friends organizers on Instagram below.
Los Angeles-based musician mk.gee played back-to-back sold out shows this week at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood, and the performances were no-frills: no opener, no banter, no visuals.
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In fact, mk.gee could hardly be seen amidst the spotlight placed directly behind him for the entire show on Wednesday (April 24). He let his music do all of the talking instead, and while this description might sound uninspired, the real effect was anything but. mk.gee’s performance was more captivating and enigmatic than even his recorded music — a show that kept the spotlight fixed on the artist’s work rather than the artist himself.
After releasing his latest album, Two Star and the Dream Police, on Feb. 9, mk.gee (real name: Mike Gordon) has been amassing his own brand of mysterious indie stardom. He’s always been a musician’s musician, beloved by everyone from Frank Ocean to Anderson .Paak dating back to 2018’s sunnier album Pronounced McGee. But the singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer had yet to hit the radar of many current listeners until Two Star debuted.
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This is likely because he keeps to himself. It’s clear mk.gee is not chasing algorithms or clout or money. He rarely does interviews or shows his whole face in photos. The most he’s ever been seen really was when he played guitar in Dijon’s music videos for Absolutely, the acclaimed 2021 album that he co-wrote and co-produced, or the recent time he played on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Even then, viewers in the YouTube comment section were calling him a “Batman of Music.”
It’s refreshing — and shocking — to see a musician like mk.gee in 2024, and his elusiveness and focus on his craft is not something I believed could still work in an era of shameless and constant self-promotion. With mk.gee, the music is enough. What a relief that is.
He came with just two bandmates (Andrew Aged and Zack Sekof), a hard set-up to pull off, especially when the focal point of the performance is on the musicality of the artist on stage. Playing through songs from Two Star, the three musicians improvised over the tracks, patiently and incisively, bringing new emotional heft to songs that already oozed with it to begin with. Sometimes this would go on for minutes longer than the recorded version’s run time, especially after “Are You Looking Up” which marked the end of the set before he came back for an encore, and it was always felt like a gift to hear the trio keep going.
If the set could be compared to anyone else’s, it would probably be that of musical polymath James Blake or of Bon Iver’s 22, A Million performances, which have similarly used backlighting and an artful mix of programmed and ad-libbed playing.
While I was hoping to hear some tracks from Pronounced McGee and The Museum of Contradiction (2020), mk.gee’s set was much more uniform as simply a showcase of Two Star songs, and I could forgive those exclusions for the sonic consistency this choice brought to the show. All in all, mk.gee’s was an incredibly focused, sparse presentation that kept his musicianship centerstage at all times. It’s a must-see for concert lovers, especially those who seek live talent over visual pageantry.
See the setlist for mk.gee’s L.A. show on April 24 below.
“New Low”
“How Many Miles”
“Dream Police”
“You got It”
“Rylee & I”
“Dimeback”
“Candy”
“I Want”
“Are You Looking Up”
—
“Alesis”
“Candy”
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