Lilith Fair 2010

This summer's revived Lilith Tour has added teen sensation Selena Gomez and Mexican singer/songwriter Jenni Rivera to the extensive lineup. BPD has now confirmed a total of 10 US shows for the summer run.

Cities for which dates and/or venues remain pending are: Austin, TX; Birmingham, AL; Boston; Charlotte, NC; Dallas, TX; Detroit; Hartford, CT; Houston; Kansas City; Las Vegas; London; Minneapolis; Montreal; Nashville; New York; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Raleigh, NC; Salt Lake City; San Francisco; St. Louis and Tampa.

As previously reported, Lilith organizers have revealed a lengthy list of performers who will rotate through the event's lineup at various stops, including Indigo Girls, Jill Scott, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Martina McBride, Brandi Carlile, Colbie Caillat, Sheryl Crow and Sugarland.

Details about which acts will appear at each of the various tour stops is available at the Lilith website. A complete list of confirmed artists is:

• A Fine Frenzy
• Anjulie
• Ann Atomic
• Anya Marina
• Ash Koley
• The Bangles
• Beth Orton
• Brandi Carlile
• Butterfly Boucher
• Cat Power
• Ceci Bastida
• Chairlift
• Chantal Kreviazuk
• Colbie Caillat
• Corinne Bailey Rae
• Court Yard Hounds
• Donna Delory
• Elizaveta
• Emmylou Harris
• Erin McCarley
• Erykah Badu
• Frazey Ford
• The Go-Go’s
• Gossip
• Grace Potter and The Nocturnals
• Heart
• Ima
• Indigo Girls
• Ingrid Michaelson
• Janelle Monae
• Jenni Rivera
• Jennifer Knapp
• Jesca Hoop
• Jill Hennessy
• Jill Scott
• Julia Othmer
• Kate Miller-Heidke
• Kate Nash Katzenjammer
• Kelly Clarkson
• Ke$ha
• La Roux
• Lights
• Lissie
• Loretta Lynn
• Lucy Schwartz
• Marina & The Diamonds
• Martina McBride
• Mary J. Blige
• Meaghan Smith
• Melissa McClelland
• Metric
• Miranda Lambert
• Miranda Lee Richards
• Missy Higgins
• Nikki Jean
• Nneka
• Norah Jones
• Priscilla Renea
• The Rescues
• Rosie Thomas
• Sara Bareilles
• Sarah McLachlan
• Selena Gomez
• Serena Ryder
• Sheryl Crow
• Sia
• Sugarland
• Susan Justice
• Suzanne Vega
• Tara MacLean
• Tegan and Sara
• Toby Lightman
• Vedera
• Vita Chambers
• The Submarines
• The Weepies
• Ximena Sarinana
• Zee Avi

(whew!!)

Now, here are the confirmed US venues:

July 2010
2 - Ridgefield, WA - The Amphitheatre at Clark County
3 - George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheatre
7 - San Diego, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
10 - Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
13 - Denver, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
17 - Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
20 - Noblesville, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
27 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center

August 2010
8 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Amphitheatre
10 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre

We're expecting considerable demand for passes; don't delay requesting yours. Remember, all passes are awarded first-come, first served.

Member Review: Carrie Underwood

Luvstruk just came back from seeing Carrie Underwood. Here's her report:

Carrie's Play On tour, named for her third album, uses an eight-piece band, including fiddle and pedal steel players, and a noticeably bigger production than Underwood's first headlining tour in 2008.

This time, the American Idol/Season Four winner performed on a huge stage, dominated by a circular lighting rig, a large video screen backdrop and a front-of-stage platform that rose up and down with the vocalist front and centre.

There were also numerous changes into some questionable costumes - she still needs a stylist! - and an ultra-cheesy moment where she rode in the back of an electric blue pickup truck that moved slowly over the top of the crowd while she sang John Denver's Country Roads Take Me Home, and her own This Time.

"Oh, yeah - the only way to fly," said Underwood, who was actually tethered to a matching blue microphone stand so she didn't fall out of the vehicle.

And I don't even know how to describe a large leafy tree limb that repeatedly descended over Underwood to evoke a countryside or forest setting with accompanying video backdrops or when she felt like sitting on a swing.

If you've ever watched American Idol, judges like Simon Cowell are constantly talking about the fledgling singers' struggle to figure out what kind of artist they want to be.

I think that Underwood, who unquestionably possesses powerful pipes, is getting closer to establishing an identity but she's still not quite there.

There's the feisty, often angry rocker chick - my personal favourite - on such songs as Cowboy Casanova, I Know You Won't, Undo It, Last Name and Before He Cheats; the power ballad diva who hits some mighty big notes on Just A Dream, So Small, Jesus, Take The Wheel, and Change; and the soulful singer who - finally - brought some real emotion to the heartfelt ballad Temporary Home and the anthemic All-American Girl.

Underwood also came alive during her duets - with opening act Sons Of Sylvia on What Can I Say and a video of Randy Travis on I Told You So which included a recreation of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

To her credit, she did seem to realize how ridiculous her numerous outfit changes were.

Before her set, she joked with me about it: "Wait until you see the number of times I have to strip."

Now I get it.

SET LIST:

1. Cowboy Casanova
2. Quitter
3. Wasted
4. I Know You Won't
5. Some Hearts
6. Just a Dream
7. Temporary Home
8. Someday When I Stop Loving You
9. All-American Girl
10. So Small
11. Country Roads Take Me Home
12. This Time
13. Undo It
14. Jesus, Take the Wheel
15. How Great Thou Art
16. What Can I Say (with opening act Sons of Sylvia)
17. Change
18. I Told You So (with a video of Randy Travis)
19. Mama's Song
20. Stand by Your Man
21. Last Name

ENCORE:

1. Before He Cheats
2. Songs Like These (with snippets of White Liar, Single Ladies)

The 2010 concert season is really starting to heat up and pass requests are keeping our little elves up later than normal. Don't miss out by not being one of our members. Sign up today.

Member Review: Norah Jones

BPD old-timer Trisha22 checks in:

With a tour supporting her 2009 album The Fall, singer Norah Jones showed us why she's so refreshingly tough to pigeonhole.

Although limited to a relatively short 22 rather delicate, dreamy songs, Jones was able to display her old-school country side in the encore, a somewhat pop-leaning style early on and a lot of jazz-tinged nuggets in the middle.

Backed by a five-piece band, Jones - decked out in a black dress and thick red belt -- opened the roughly 95-minute show with I Wouldn't Need You off the latest release, a song with bits of blues, pop and country neatly packaged together. Meanwhile Tell Your Mama was a slightly roots-y, Tom Waits-like effort in the vein of Sinkin' Soon, another quirky keeper doled out halfway through the show.

Veering between playing electric guitar and swaying behind a keyboard in the early portion, Jones seemed to hit her stride with Chasing Pirates, one of the more up-tempo selections which had the singer ending the tune with a pirate's "arrrrgh."

Spending time in the back with her was a complete joy. She told me "Ya know that quirky song Man Of The Hour? It's a tune dedicated to a dog."

Overall, there were few dogs in terms of filler material and when Jones was seated at her upright piano she shone. This was particularly apparent during a smart, jazzy reworking of Hank Williams' Cold Cold Heart and the tender ballad Back To Manhattan. The Williams cover wasn't the only one Jones offered up. A nice take on The Kinks' Stranger wrapped up the main set while Love Me - an Elvis staple on the album by Jones' other side project The Little Willies - definitely hit the mark.

Acknowledging she would play much of The Fall (11 of the 14 songs in fact), Jones doled out early favorites like the sultry, soothing Come Away With Me, Sunrise and Don't Know Why with such a delicate delivery it could've put many to sleep.

For the encore, Jones and guitarist/vocalist Sasha Dobson stood around a lone microphone for Neil Young's Tell Me Why before additional band members gathered round for How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart. The one-two combination proved why Jones would just as easily fit on a bill with Willie Nelson as she would with Diana Krall.

What else can I say? I had one helluva great time.

Glad to hear it Trisha22.

Wanna have experiences like hers? Join us today.

Green Day Summer Tour

Green Day has begun rolling out dates for a North American summer amphitheater tour as the band continues to support last spring's Grammy-winning "21st Century Breakdown."

The trek, featuring special guests AFI, gets underway Aug. 3 and wraps up on Sep 2. The US tour follows on the heels of Green Day's European outing, which will include stops in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Austria, England.

Green Day--singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool--released "21st Century Breakdown" last May, which represented the group's first new studio effort in five years. The album debuted in the top spot on The Billboard 200 and the set took home Best Rock Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards ceremony in January.

More dates may be added. Here's the agenda so far:

August 2010
3 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
5 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
9 - Alpharetta, GA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
11 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
12 - Hartford, CT - Comcast Theater
14 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
16 - Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center
23 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theater
26 - Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center
28 - Englewood, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheater
30 - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Wireless Pavilion
31 - Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

September 2010
2 - Chula Vista, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre

Passes will awarded beginning in June to BPD member "early birds". So don't delay.

It's still just $49 for a full year's membership with unlimited pass requests. For more, visit us.

Member Review: Vampire Weekend

BPD member Biglips checks in:

New York City's Vampire Weekend made a perfect blend of afropop, dub, reggae and indie rock.

Despite more frenetic tracks such as Walcott and the hit A-Punk, the vibe was laid-back. There was the odd crowd surfer and the usual fist-pumpers and dorks among fans near the front, but for the most part the audience was happy to just gently groove and sway along to even the most upbeat of Vampire Weekend songs.

The band kicked off with White Sky from its recently released sophomore record, Contra.

Singer Ezra Koenig's vocals lolled and rolled atop African soukous-style guitar work, orchestral keyboard layers and rhythmic beats, all magnificently arranged into a nice, neat, danceable package.

All four members of Vampire Weekend are exceptional players, but drummer Chris Tomson was great. I'm not sure these songs would pack as much of a punch without his well-honed playing style.

As a frontman Koenig doesn't set the stage on fire, but, to his credit, he also doesn't spend much time making lame banter preferring to let the music take centre stage.

It's hard to believe these Ivy Leaguesters can produce such intricate sounds that transcend so many genres.

I'd never seen a show from the back before. It's amazing and I recommend it to anyone who hasn't. I'll be requesting more passes real soon.

Yes, seeing shows from backstage is a unique experience. Wanna do it too? Join us today.

10 Cities, 1 Jam

Pearl Jam has announced new dates in support of the band's latest studio album, last fall's "Backspacer," lining up shows in 10 US cities this May.

Band of Horses will open all dates except the first night of the New York City engagement, when The Black Keys will open.

"Backspacer," Pearl Jam's ninth studio set and first since an eponymous 2006 release, hit stores last Sepetmber, featuring lead single "The Fixer." Released in the US through the group's own label, Monkeywrench Records, the album debuted in the No. 1 slot on The Billboard 200, and in January continued the band's streak of achieving gold-record status on all of its full-length studio releases.

Here are the dates in May:

3 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
4 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
6 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
7 - Noblesville, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
9 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
10 - Buffalo, NY - HSBC Arena
13 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube
15 - Hartford, CT - XL Center
17 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden
20, 21 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden

If you're not yet a member, you'll need to join to request backstage passes for this great show. If you're already a member, what are you waiting for?

Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television

Rumors of Conan O'Brien hitting the road are no longer rumors, as the comedian and former late-night talk show host has unveiled an extensive theater tour that kicks off next month.

O'Brien will premiere "The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour" April 12 in Eugene, OR, eventually working his way from the West Coast to the East Coast.

The revue, which Conan describes as "a night of music, comedy, hugging, and the occasional awkward silence," will also feature the comedian's longtime sidekick Andy Richter and the band from his eight-month run on the "Tonight Show."

The tour's name stems from his $32.5 million payout from NBC, which included the provision that he cannot appear on television until Sept. 1. Dates and venues as follows:

April 2010
12 - Eugene, OR - Hult Center for the Performing Arts
16 - Spokane, WA - INB Performing Arts Center
18, 19 - Seattle, WA - Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
22, 23 - San Francisco, CA - Nob Hill Masonic Center
24, 25 - Universal City, CA - Gibson Amphitheater at Universal CityWalk
29 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Civic Theatre
30 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre

May 2010
1 - Las Vegas, NV - Pearl Concert Theater
4 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
5 - San Jose, CA - Event Center at San Jose State University
6 - Sacramento, CA - Memorial Auditorium
9 - Boulder, CO - Macky Auditorium Concert Hall
13 - Dallas, TX - McFarlin Memorial Auditorium
14 - Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall
15 - Tulsa, OK - Brady Theater
16 - Kansas City, MO - The Midland by AMC
18 - Minneapolis, MN - The Orpheum Theatre
19, 20 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
30 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa

June 2010
1, 2 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
4, 5 - Boston, MA - Wang Theatre
6 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
7 - Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
8 - Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
11 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music Festival
14 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre

Backstage pass availability is limited for this tour, so act quickly. Wanna join? Visit us.

Take an American Ride with Toby Keith

Country superstar Toby Keith has filled out his summertime schedule behind last year's "American Ride," confirming dates and venues for more US concerts.

The award-winning musician continues to support last year's "American Ride," which surfaced in October and marked the performer's 13th studio release. The effort's title track--the only song on the album that Keith did not write--served as its lead single, landing the musician his 19th No. 1 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.

In October, Keith received the Songwriter/Artist of the Decade Award from the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

"If I am ever in a position to be in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, it won't mean any more than this," Keith explained in an interview BPD had with him last fall. "Any award given to me by songwriters is the ultimate. I'm completely at a loss for words to tell you how big it is to me."

Earlier this month, Keith was nominated for Entertainer of the Year at the 45th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which takes place in April in Las Vegas.

The musician has several awards already under his belt, including two American Music Awards for Favorite Country Male Artist (2003 and 2005) and two Academy of Country Music Awards for Entertainer of the Year (2002 and 2003), among others.

Dates and (some) venues below:

April 2010
25 - Indio, CA - Empire Polo Club

June 2010
19 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
20 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center
25 - Oshkosh, WI - Country USA
26 - Cadott, WI - Chippewa Valley Festival Grounds

July 2010
9 - Virginia Beach, VA - Virginia Beach Amphitheatre
10 - Raleigh, NC - Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
11 - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
15 - Sioux Falls, SD - To be announced
16 - Minneapolis, MN - To be announced
17 - Maryland Heights, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
18 - Des Moines, IA - To be announced
22 - Boise, ID - To be announced
23 - Portland, OR - To be announced
24 - Seattle, WA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre
29 - Wheatland, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre

August 2010
1 - Fresno, CA - To be announced
6 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
7 - San Diego, CA - To be announced
8 - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Wireless Pavilion
12 - Albuquerque, NM - The Pavilion
13 - Englewood, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
14 - Salt Lake City, UT - Usana Amphitheatre
20 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
21 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
22 - Burgettstown, PA - First Niagara Pavilion
26 - Moline, IL - iWireless Center
27 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
28 - Noblesville, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
29 - Detroit, MI - To be announced

September 2010
2 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood
3 - Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheatre
4 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre
10 - Scranton, PA - To be announced
11 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
16 - Kansas City, MO - To be announced
17 - Omaha, NE - To be announced
18 - Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
23 - Albany, NY - To be announceds
24 - Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre
25 - Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center

Request your passes now and hang out with Toby backstage. Don't wait. If you're still not a member, a full year's membership is still only $49. Sign up today.

Iron Maiden's Final Frontier

Get ready for 16 dates of bone-crunching sonic amazement as Iron Maiden begins its world tour in North America in June with special guests Dream Theater. Called “The Final Frontier” tour after the band’s upcoming album, the trek begins June 9 in Dallas.

Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson told us:

“We’re still working on the set list for these summer shows, but this time it will cover the whole history of the band, and I can hint that we will be playing a taster from the new album. We already have the designs for the new Final Frontier stage show which we are building to bring out with us, so this summer tour will be a bit of a preview for the fans. It’s certainly looking very spectacular at this stage with an amazing light show.”

Here are the announced dates:

Wed 06/09/10 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center

Fri 06/11/10 The Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Sat 06/12/10 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center

Mon 06/14/10 Englewood, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre

Wed 06/16/10 Albuquerque, NM The Pavilion

Thu 06/17/10 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Sat 06/19/10 Devore, CA San Manuel Amphitheater

Sun 06/20/10 Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion At Concord

Tue 06/22/10 Auburn, WA White River Amphitheatre

Sun 07/11/10 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center

Mon 07/12/10 New York, NY Madison Square Garden Arena

Wed 07/14/10 Burgettstown, PA First Niagara Pavilion

Thu 07/15/10 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center

Sat 07/17/10 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre

Sun 07/18/10 Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

Tue 07/20/10 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live

IM is always a BPD member favorite. So we're sure that the Iron Maniacs will be requesting passes en masse. Don't be left out; request yours today.

The Return of Jethro Tull

Veteran Brit rockers Jethro Tull will return to the U.S. this summer amid reports that the group is working on its first new studio album in 11 years.

The trek, which gets underway June 11 in Miami, will descend upon 9 American cities. More dates may be added later.

Jethro Tull's most recent studio album was 1999's J-Tull Dot Com, but the band has been playing new material during recent concerts, and has confirmed to various interviewers that work is progressing toward a new studio release.

Here's the complete schedule for June:

4 - Miami, FL - Bayfront Park Amphitheatre
8 - Vienna, VA - The Filene Center
10 - Ledyard, CT - Foxwoods Resort Casino
11 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Music Theater
12 - Atlantic City, NJ - Caesars Atlantic City
13 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
15 - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavillion
17 - Canandaigua, NY - Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
20 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Pavillon

Wanna hang with Ian Anderson and the boys? Request your passes early for what looks to be a limited engagement.