Before singing “Can We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart,” the first song during a powerhouse, two-and-a-half–hour concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, Stevie Wonder had a few things he needed to get off his chest. “Tonight I want us to celebrate the spirit of love,” he …
Read More »Neil Young, Stephen Stills, John Mayer Dig Deep at Scorching Hot Painted Turtle Concert
After serving nearly a decade in Dead and Co. and sharing the stage with everyone from Eric Clapton to the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, and Jeff Beck, there are not many situations likely to overwhelm John Mayer. But when he came onstage for “Rockin’ In The Free World” at the …
Read More »Sabrina Carpenter's Madison Square Garden Debut Was a Dazzling Slumber Party
It’s Sunday evening in Manhattan, and someone is working late. They’re about five feet tall and perched over a heart-shaped toilet, inside the most sensual Barbie Dreamhouse you’ve ever seen. Wearing a lacy black jumpsuit that would put Sandy from Grease to shame, they’re about to sing about an ex …
Read More »The Best Things We Saw at Life Is Beautiful 2024: Day 2
Under the looming eyes of the Plaza and Golden Nugget hotels, Life Is Beautiful returned for the second night of its “Big Beautiful Block Party,” and this night was all about the tracks: music tracks and train tracks. The festival grounds sit adjacent to an active rail line, giving several …
Read More »The Best Things We Saw at Life Is Beautiful 2024: Day 1
The more things change, the more they stay the same. The 11th annual Life Is Beautiful Festival kicked off on Friday, but the downtown Las Vegas staple looked a little different this year. In previous iterations, the festival has taken over 18 city blocks of downtown Las Vegas — located …
Read More »Charli XCX and Troye Sivan Send Off Brat Summer With a Bang
Across the U.S., teens are preparing for high school homecoming football games and dances. Last night at Madison Square Garden saw a homecoming of a different sort: New York teenagers (a.k.a. 27-31-year-olds) donned wraparound sunglasses and baby tees to dance out the final gasps of Brat Summer — Brautumn, if …
Read More »Watch the Black Crowes' Chris Robinson Cover the Faces with Chad Smith and Andrew Watt
As his recent work with Pearl Jam and the Rolling Stones suggests, mega-producer Andrew Watt really, really loves classic rock —and he’s clearly a little tired of being holed up in the studio. So Watt teamed up with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith to form Smith and Watt …
Read More »'Jimmy Carter 100' Concert Unites the B-52's, Drive-By Truckers, India Arie in Atlanta
Jimmy Carter loves music, and on Tuesday night at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre an unlikely cast of admirers let the “rock and roll president” know they love him too. Carter, who turns 100 on Oct. 1., was at home in Plains, Ga., but that didn’t stop Angelique Kidjo, the B-52s, …
Read More »Let's All Meet Up in the Year 2024: Why Pulp's Reunion Tour Is Pure Brit-Pop Magic
“A concert is no good unless there’s some magic,” Jarvis Cocker told the crowd, soon after Pulp hit the stage in Brooklyn. “You react to us, we react to you — that summons the magic.” The Britpop gods reached New York last weekend, for two glorious nights, on their long-awaited …
Read More »Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra Create 'Strange Magic' at New York City Farewell Gig
When Electric Light Orchestra made their Madison Square Garden debut on Feb. 11, 1977, they were near the zenith of their popularity due to a string of hits over the previous couple of years that included “Livin’ Thing,” “Rockaria!,” “Do Ya,” “Strange Magic,” and “Evil Woman.” But most critics were …
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