Member Review: Chris Brown

BPD member TPine writes:

Chris Brown's already lived a lifetime of achievements and less flattering headlines, but through it all, he's endured to the point of being one of the brightest stars of the R&B, pop and hip-hop scenes.

On this stop of The F.A.M.E. Tour, the all around entertainer proved his popularity is not only surviving but realigning with a massive spectacle that certainly took cues from the "King of Pop." Though he has a long way to go before eclipsing that late great influence, Brown has no trouble keeping the contemporary company of Usher, Ne-Yo or Robin Thicke.

Besides the double-decker stage, a live backing band, fleet of dancers and loads of blinding lights, the singer/part time rapper switched up styles with regularity, from the beat blaster "Say It With Me," to the robust R&B of "Wall To Wall," the smooth soul jam "She Ain't You" and the down and dirty grinder "Deuces." Regardless of the format, his slick choreography took center spotlight, which accompanied by a slew of outfit changes that ranged between military garb to formalwear, hinted he's trying to adapt a classier attitude.

Yet even with some extra sophistication, Brown still knew how to throw a party, with call and response cuts like and "Yeah 3x" and "Beautiful People". Though the reaction to his full-throttled set was nothing short of frenzied, the newly redeemed star seemed fairly humble throughout the 90 minute performance, which suggests that all's been forgiven and perhaps even forgotten thanks to an unhindered ability to throw a captivating concert.

It didn't hurt that the opening act cast featured several favorites, with direct support coming from rapper T-Pain and his circus-like cast of over the top hip-hop characters. Former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland also demonstrated a new found R&B edge, though a brief, overly beat-driven set failed to highlight her past vocal dynamite. Tyga was even shorter with just a few quick cuts, but offered a promising glimpse of rap and hip-hop's future, also serving as a welcome warm-up to the like-minded marathon.

Had one helluva good time.

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Member Review: Coldplay

As promised, here's the followup to the setlist from BPD member Ralfie21 last week:

Backstage, I asked Coldplay frontman Chris Martin if they still get jitters after all these years before a show. He said, "Ya know, we’re English, we’re very insecure. Also, I have to admit that it’s a strange time in a man’s life when he realizes he’s old enough to be Justin Bieber’s dad."

Coldplay, rounded out by guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion is touring in preparation to release its fifth studio album, the tongue-twisting-titled Mylo Xyloto on Oct. 24.

The show was also big on videos, laser lights, circular backdrops, and butterfly shaped confetti and most poignant moment occurred when Martin elected to open the band’s signature ballad Fix You, with a snippet of Amy Winehouse’s Rehab.

I found the crowd strangely subdued for a lot of the concert as about a half-dozen songs off Mylo Xloto were performed, the most promising new anthems being Paradise and Charlie Brown, in terms of inducing crowd singalongs, and the touching show ending ballad, Us Against The World, featuring Martin and Champion on lovely harmonies.

It was, as you might expect, older songs like Yellow, In My Place (with that special confetti), God Put A Smile Upon Your Face, Viva la Vida, The Scientist, and Clocks (their best song ever), that really revved up the audience.

That and Martin’s dance moves, including twirling his jacket wildly over his head like a rodeo champion fixing to lasso a calf during Fix You.

It was great to be with the guys backstage. As for the show itself, I'd give it a B grade.

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Setlist: Coldplay

With the promise of a full show review to follow, BPD member Ralfie21 sent this Coldplay setlist:

Mylo Xyloto
Hurts Like Heaven
Yellow
In My Place
Major minus
Paradise
God Put A Smile Upon Your Place
Viva la vida
Charlie Brown
The Scientist
Clocks
Fix You
Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall

ENCORE:

Us Against The World

My Morning Jacket: New U.S. Dates

My Morning Jacket is closing out the year with an additional run of U.S. dates in December.

The rock band spent the summer touring the U.S. in support of the group’s sixth album, Circuital. The album was released in May as the follow-up to 2008’s Evil Urges.

The new dates are:

Thu 12/01/11 Universal City, CA Gibson Amph. At Univ. CityWalk

Tue 12/06/11 Tulsa, OK Brady Theater

Wed 12/07/11 Grand Prairie, TX Verizon Theatre At Grand Prairie

Thu 12/08/11 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theater

Sat 12/10/11 Boca Raton, FL Sunset Cove Amphitheater

Sun 12/11/11 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Cafe / Hard Rock Live

Mon 12/12/11 Greensboro, NC War Memorial Auditorium

Wed 12/14/11 New York, NY Madison Square Garden Arena

Backstage with the boys would be a great way to close out 2011. Request your passes today.

Sting: Back to Bass

This fall, Sting will embark on the Back to Bass Tour throughout North America as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his solo career by taking it back to bass… all the hits, stripped down, as they haven't been played in years. In support of his forthcoming box set collection Sting: 25 Years, the tour features Sting backed by a 5-piece band in intimate theatre settings.

Back to Bass finds Sting performing songs spanning his dynamic and enduring solo career, from his 1985 debut The Dream Of The Blue Turtles to his latest release, Live in Berlin, plus a selection of The Police's greatest hits. Highlights include the Grammy winners "Brand New Day" and "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" plus fan-favorites "Englishman In New York," "Desert Rose" and "Roxanne." Sting will be joined by a band including his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller, Rufus Miller (guitarist), Vinnie Colaiuta (drummer), Peter Tickell (electric fiddle), and Jo Lawry (vocalist).

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Sting's solo career, the definitive box set Sting: 25 Years, will be released on September 27, 2011 and features three CDs and a previously unreleased live DVD, Rough, Raw & Unreleased: Live at Irving Plaza. The discs are housed in a hardcover book featuring rare photos, complete lyrics and newly written commentary by Sting.

In addition, Sting: The Best Of 25 Years, comprised of 12 remastered tracks including several remixes and newly unearthed live recordings, will be released on October 18, 2011.

Venues and dates:

October 21 Boston, MA The Wang Theatre at the Citi Performing Arts Center
October 26 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater
October 29 Washington, DC Constitution Hall
November 5 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
November 6 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
November 12 Miami, FL The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater
November 16 Dallas, TV Verizon Theatre
November 17 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theater
November 20 Denver, CO Wells Fargo Theatre
November 22 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre
November 28-9 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
December 2 San Francisco, CA Nob Hill Masonic Center
December 5 Seattle, WA The Paramount Theatre

This is a biggie and we expect Sting loyalists to quickly be making requests. Don't wait; make yours today.

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Setlist: Incubus

BPD member BlindBobbyBling forwarded this Incubus setlist to us:

Megalomaniac
Wish You Were Here
Adolescents
Anna Molly
Promises, Promises
If Not Now, When?
Privilege
Consequence
A Certain Shade of Green
In the Company of Wolves
Defiance
Talk Shows on Mute
(Acoustic)
The Warmth
A Kiss to Send Us Off
Dig
(With "Riders on the Storm" … more)
Drive
Switchblade
Nice to Know You

Encore:

Pardon Me
Are You In?
Tomorrow's Food

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band: Part 2

The 2nd leg of Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band’s tour begins Nov. 2 and wraps Dec. 3.

The road trip kicks off in Seger’s own backyard when he launches his tour in Ypsilanti, Mich., Nov. 2. Here's the entire schedule:

Wed 11/02/11 Ypsilanti, MI Eastern Michigan University

Fri 11/04/11 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena

Wed 11/09/11 Evansville, IN Ford Center

Fri 11/11/11 Greenville, SC Bi-Lo Center

Sun 11/13/11 Orlando, FL Citrus Bowl

Tue 11/15/11 Birmingham, AL BJCC Arena

Thu 11/17/11 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center

Sat 11/19/11 Pittsburgh, PA Consol Energy Center

Fri 11/25/11 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena

Sat 11/26/11 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena

Tue 11/29/11 Worcester, MA DCU Center

Thu 12/01/11 New York, NY Madison Square Garden Arena

Sat 12/03/11 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center

Few dates, few passes. Don't wait; request yours today.

Setlist: Red Hot Chili Peppers

BPD member Cumftably Num sent this Red Hot Chili Peppers setlist:

Monarchy of Roses
Can't Stop
Ethiopia
Charlie
Meet Me at the Corner
I Like Dirt
The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
Throw Away Your Television
Factory of Faith
Right On Time
Did I Let You Know
Californication
Look Around
Soul to Squeeze
By the Way

Encore:

Chad Drum Solo
Jam
Sir Psycho Sexy
They're Red Hot (Robert Johnson cover)
Give It Away