What?

The industrial, EBM band Nitzer Ebb is still around? Apparently so, and they are playing Irving Plaza on September 17th. Tickets are on sale today at noon.

And she plays guitar?

I'll admit it. I saw Madonna last night at Madison Square Garden. And I had great seats. As much as I like Confessions on a Dance Floor, I never thought I'd ever go see her live. But, she was outstanding. Really knows how to put on a show and give you your money's worth (sort of - those tickets were expen$ive!). Primarily played new songs, but threw in some classics as well. Best song of the night was "Get Together." Most surprising was that she played a couple of chords on an electric guitar during "I Love NY" and "Ray of Light." I didn't know she could play?

It was probably the most insane crowd I've ever seen. Loud and jumping the whole time (except during the downer "Live to Tell", which I thought was the only misstep of the night). People were going especially nuts during the "Lucky Star" + "Hung Up" mix that closed the show. And for those of you scoring at home, here's the setlist:

Future Lovers / I Feel Love (Medley)
Get Together
Like A Virgin
Jump
Live To Tell
Forbidden Love
Issac
Sorry
Like It Or Not
Sorry Remix (Video Interlude)
I Love New York
Ray Of Light
Let It Will Be
Drowned World/Substitute For Love
Paradise (Not For Me)
Music / Disco Inferno (Medley)
Erotica/You Thrill Me
La Isla Bonita
Lucky Star
Hung Up

Oh, and apparently Madonna asks that the air conditioning is turned off during her show - something about her vocal chords. Christ, it was hot in there!

That'll sell a few downloads

Nice work by White Rose Movement's label - "Alsation" was prominently featured in Entourage tonight, during the key scene of the show and over the closing credits. Good for them. While their album Kick is worth picking up (at least for "Alsation" and "Love Is a Number" alone), don't waste your money on a ticket to see their show. They are absolutely horrendous live - a lot of style and no substance.

Portishead back at it

Great news from the Portishead camp - they are back to work on a new album and it won't sound like coffee table chill-out shit. They haven't released anything since the self-titled Portishead in 1997 and subsequent live album Portishead Live at Roseland in 1998. As the band notes in their Myspace blog: "the tracks are in a right mess but sounding like a album for the first time in yearstheir fukin a bit weird though.........its great its nice to think us old gits have a few tunes in us without sounding like coffie table zero 7 - moby - chill out shit!!" Well said.

Sometimes it's better to live in London...

...Because Cut Copy is playing a very "intimate" live show there as part of the Modular Party on Thursday, July 6th. Featuring Cut Copy (live), New Young Pony Club (live), Lo Fi Fnk (live, Sweden), Modular DJs, Tramp DJs, Everything you do is Baboon DJs, & other very special international guests.

Modular UK says "Each band could ram the room so we're keeping promo very low key...and you're the very first to know. So...as a thankyou for your support, if you and your friends would like to attend the show please send an email to laura@modularpeople.com. We will guarantee the first 200 names on the door, although you MUST ARRIVE BEFORE 9:30pm. After that it'll be a first in, first served. You will receive an email confirming you're in. It's £8 entry, which is super cheap for a gig like this and the music is going to be insanely brilliant over the two rooms. Plus we have cheap booze and a 3am close."

I don't mind the 8 pound ticket, but the $1000 flight over to London is a bit pricey. I'd love to see Cut Copy and New Young Pony Club at the same show though.

Muse / Kasabian / Every Move A Picture

Muse

Muse is playing the Hammerstein Ballroom on August 3. There's a pre-sale here (password ARCANA), but the pre-sale may have been sold out already. Tickets are $32. Some people think Muse are the greatest band not named Radiohead. I personally have a love/hate relationship with them. I love "Bliss" but hate most everything else, especially their new single "Supermassive Black Hole", which has some sort of R&B feel to it.

Kasabian

Kasabian is putting out their first material in a long time. On July 24th they are releasing new single "Empire," which will be backed by a cover of Bowie's "Heros." This will be followed by the album Empire on September 4th. Realllly looking forward to this new album.

Every Move a Picture

I really like Every Move a Picture when I bought their Signs of Life EP. "Signs of Life" and "You're So Predictable" are especially good synth-rock numbers. I'm kinda over them now though. Anyway, their debut album, Heart = Weapon, is getting its U.S. release on July 11th. It's probably worth picking up. They are also playing the Bowery on July 5th, which is part of a tour with The Rakes.

I Might Be Wrong

What can you say. Radiohead are just incredible. Tore through their set tonight (June 14, 2006) at the Theater. A nice mix of every album (except Pablo Honey) and threw in some new tracks (the best of which are "15 Step", "Videotape" and "Down Is the New Up"). Every band member has his role - Jonny gets to play the moody rock star, Colin and Phil the backbone, Ed is the rock of the band, and Thom...well Thom just dances like an alien (most notably during "15 Step," "Kid A," and "Idioteque."). "Thank you for listening...especially to our new songs." Absoulutely Thom, absolutely.

Highlights of the set were "I Might Be Wrong," "The National Anthem," "Pyramid Song," and "Paranoid Android."

Full setlist:

1. The Gloaming
2. National Anthem
3. 15 Step
4. Arpeggi
5. Kid A
6. Dollars and Cents
7. Videotape
8. Nude
9. I Might Be Wrong
10. Paranoid Android
11. Bangers 'n Mash
12. Pyramid Song
13. My Iron Lung
14. Bodysnatchers
15. Myxomatosis
16. No Surprises (dedicated to Michael Stipe - huh?)
17. Everything in it's Right Place

Encore 1:
18. A Wolf at the Door
19. Down is the New Up
20. Like Spinning Plates
21. Spooks
22. Idioteque

Encore 2:
23. Just
24. The Tourist

I wasn't a fan of opening with "The Gloaming" or closing with "The Tourist" - both are kind of downers - but everything else was excellent.

For extra credit, check out New York Mag's interview with Ed regarding how the band picks the setlists for their show. They go over the list for the Tuesday night show. And Ed throws in a barb towards Alanis Morrisette in the process, who apparently played 15 straight shows with the same exact set every night back in 1996.

Radiohead!

The week we've all been waiting for - Radiohead at the Theater at MSG! A "small" venue at 5,200 people, and I'll take it, considering that I last saw them at 17,000 seat MSG and before that at 60,000 seat Giants Stadium. The setlists for this small venue tour have looked great - a nice mix of all the old albums (sans Pablo Honey, thankfully) mixed in with the new tracks. Should be a great show.

Frankly, Mr. Shankly

The Queen is Dead came out 20 years ago this week. As expected, the NME is all about celebrating this ground breaking record. They have a "special" Queen Is Dead issue this week and have a lot of stuff on their Queen Is Dead dedicated webpage, including a Moz quote generator.

I can't believe it's been 20 years since the album came out - it still sounds great. Probably one of my top 3 all time albums.

The Rapture at Loaded at Element at Bank

Gabe and Matty of The Rapture are guest DJ'ing at the reletively new party Loaded at Element (the former bank next to the Mercury Lounge on Houston at Essex). Michael T. will also be there along with resident Melody Nelson. Expect an evening of dirty disco and dancerock.