Backstage Pass

After the unfortunate elimination of Alexandrea Lushington and before Robbie Carrico mercifully went away, Ryan Seacrest accidentally on-purpose let slip this year's "Idol Gives Back" headliners, which include Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus (Hey, a duet from them would be MC-squared. Hmm.) Snoop Dogg, Daughtry and Carrie Underwood, with Brad Pitt and Reese Witherspoon helping out as well.

Carey's 'Idol' appearance could set up quite the massive debut for her forthcoming "E=MC2" album, which arrives in stores the Tuesday after the "Idol Gives Back" air date of April 9.  Combine that with the warm reception lead single "Touch My Body" is getting at radio (not to mention the fun video featuring Jack McBrayer from "30 Rock") and Mimi's emancipation from her early-naughts slump should be complete. Where's that EMI dude who paid her millions to get out of her contract again? Oh right, booted from the company last year.

PHOTO: Island Records 

Dream Theater, the Long Island prog-rock stalwarts, will launch a 21-date North American tour beginning May 2. The band will play two shows at the new Manhattan nightclub Terminal 5 on May 21 and 22.

The tour coincides with the April 1 release of a two-disc Rhino compilation, cheekily titled "Dream Theater's Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)," a reference to the band's 1992 track "Pull Me Under," which peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. The album marks the band's first best-of collection.

On tour with the band are Opeth, Between the Buried and Me, and the up-and-coming metal act 3.

For more information, visit www.dreamtheater.net.

PHOTO: TrialOfTears.net 

Toby Keith announced he'll break from touring to act in his second feature film, "Beer for My Horses."

The film, which follows a group of small-town deputies on a road-trip to save a girl from a band of drug lords, features Willie Nelson, Ted Nugent, the comedian Rodney Carrington, Claire Forlani of "CSI: NY" and Tom Skerritt.

Keith has been shooting in Los Cerrillos, NM, according to the Website of the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, which also reported that '70s singer-actor Mac Davis appeared on the set in Las Vegas to make a cameo as a preacher.

Produced by CMT Films, which also handled Keith's first movie outing, "Broken Bridges" in 2006, "Beer for My Horses" is to be released theatrically this summer.

PHOTO: Ed Rode/CMT

The “Idol” gals had a rough week, with nearly all the top performers either stumbling or playing it too safe. In the end, it became more like a gymnastics event, coming down to degree of difficulty and execution on that difficulty. Asia’h Epperson had some glitches in a really tough song, but she stuck the landing. Brooke White and Ramiele Malubay were mistake-free in some relatively easy songs. So who was better? Well, the slight edge should go to the ambitious.   

The problems really came with Amanda Overmeyer’s misguided “Carry On My Wayward Son” and Kady Malloy’s troubled, messed-up “Magic Man.” Randy and Simon hit the nail on the head with Kady, who does look fantastic on tape and then totally amateur live. After a few years where the gals dominated the show, this may be a year where the guys take control.

Asia’h Epperson, “All by Myself”
Brooke White, “You’re So Vain”
Ramiele Malubay, “Don’t Leave Me This Way”
Carly Smithson, “Crazy on You”
Alexandrea Lushington, “If You Leave Me Now”
Kristy Lee Cook, “You’re No Good”
Syesha Mercado, “Me and Mr. Jones”
Alaina Whitaker, “Hopelessly Devoted You”
Kady Malloy, “Magic Man”
Amanda Overmeyer, “Carry On My Wayward Son”

WILL BE CUT: Amanda and Kady
SHOULD BE CUT: Amanda and Kady

ACTUALLY CUT: Alaina and Alexandrea (the first elimination mistake of the season)

Nightmare of You drummer Sammy Siegler has been replaced by Mike Fleischmann, formerly of Permanent Me. Guitarist Joseph McCaffrey announced the news on the band's blog last night.

McCaffrey described Siegler's split as amicable, noting that the drummer -- whose previous bands include Youth of Today, CIV and Glassjaw -- was "starting a family." McCaffrey added: "The rest of us are very happy for them. Sammy is an amazing friend and drummer and we are lucky we were able to create music together that we are all very proud of and will hold onto forever."

Fleischmann, 20, of Merrick, had split from Permanent Me -- which was once managed by McCaffrey -- several months ago. He'll perform with Nightmare of You on March 13 at the Crazy Donkey. Also on that bill: Camera-Head Shark, Heavy Rescue and Aeroplane Pageant.

PHOTO: Nightmare of You, with new member Fleischmann, far right.

Local music maven Rick Eberle is trying to drum up support for The Village Pub, the Port Jefferson live music venue that served as home to Nine Days and other fledgling bands before closing last April. At a town planning board meeting tomorrow night, the bar's owners will seek permission to re-open.

The pub was forced to close when the town passed an ordinance in April banning taverns within 250 feet from a church.

"Help us keep live music alive in Suffolk County and on Long Island in general!" Eberle wrote in an email sent out to potential supporters. "Stand up for your love of the cultural history of Port Jefferson and let the board know they are making a terrible mistake."

Eberle even included a quote from Nine Days guitarist Brian Desveaux: "The Village Pub was and really still is like a second home to us and our fans. It would be quite a sad day to see it go."

The planning board meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28th at Port Jefferson Village Hall, 121 W. Broadway. See www.PopCore.net for more information.

Photo of Nine Days: MTV.com 

By which we mean Timberlake and Ciccone, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, to be held Mar. 10 at Manhattan's Waldorf-Astoria hotel.

The two recently collaborated on a song and video, "4 Minutes to Save the World," for Madonna's next album.

Also on tap for the Hall of Fame ceremony: Tom Hanks inducting The Dave Clark Five, Lou Reed doing the honors for Leonard Cohen, Billy Joel ushering in John Mellencamp, Ben Harper inducting the harmonica man Little Walter, Jerry Butler honoring the soul producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and John Fogerty saluting The Ventures.

Taking Back Sunday will take a break from recording the follow-up to "Louder Now" to open for My Chemical Romance at Madison Square Garden on May 9.

Pre-sale starts Thursday and tickets go on sale to the public at noon Saturday through Ticketmaster. Of course, this one-off show generates a whole lot of questions. Who (if anyone) is replacing guitarist/singer Fred Mascherino? Will they be playing any new stuff? Will they reveal a release date? Will the My Chem guys appear during their set or vice versa? Will there be more shows?

Guess we'll wait for answers.

PHOTO: Warner Bros. 

Perhaps Edison Glass's new tour will pick up some of the golden glow from the two Oscars won by "There Will Be Blood" last night. At any rate, note the tour poster below that lists a few shows with Nightmare of You, plus a stop with "others" at 3MB, a recording studio in Smithtown, on March 7.

Check MySpace for more information and songs from the band's fine new album, "Time is Fiction."

Janet Jackson will be all over Times Square all day tomorrow, rolling out her new "Discipline" album. And all the events will be open to the public if you do some preparation tonight.

She will do a concert at the Nokia Theatre at Times Square, 1515 Broadway, with appearances starting around 7 a.m. To get tickets to that, you need to buy "Discipline" at the Virgn Megastore in Times Square at tonight's midnight sale.

Jackson will be on "TRL" at 3 p.m. and, as every MTV fan knows, you may be able to get a peek at her if you line up outside 1515 Broadway and scream a lot.

And she will wrap up her day with an appearance at Best Buy, 529 5th Ave., at 6 p.m. if you buy "Discipline" at that store's midnight sale tonight.

Since its debut in June, 1996, “VH1 Storytellers” has been a way for artists to give their fans a deeper insight into how songs developed. The franchise has expanded to include “SoulStage,” an R&B-focused “Storytellers,” which will debut an episode featuring Erykah Badu tomorrow night on VH1 Soul. And the VH1 website storytellers.vh1.com is expanding to provide more from the shows, including footage that didn’t make the special, starting with Mary J. Blige.

Mary J. Blige, "Real Love"

video.vh1.com

And here’s a look at some of “Storytellers” best guests:

Jay-Z (2007): Jay debuted songs from his album “American Gangster” for the first time with a live band and enjoyed himself so much, he decided to go on a lengthy tour.

Radiohead is set to headline the first two days of the All Points West Music & Arts Festival on Aug. 8 and 9 at Liberty State Park. Jack Johnson will headline the third day. Tickets are $89 a day or $258 for all three days and go on sale at noon Friday through Ticketmaster.

Also on the bill for Day One, Underworld, New Pornographers, Go! Team and Girl Talk. Day Two includes Kings of Leon, Metric, The Roots and Chromeo. And Day Three features Cat Power, Secret Machines, Youssou N'Dour, and Black Kids. The full lineup is here.

PHOTO: Jonny Greenwood 

The two hip-hop superstars are bringing their "Heart of the City" tour to Madison Square Garden May 6, thereby blanketing the New York area with a total of three big-venue shows. They had already announced dates on May 27 at Nassau Coliseum and May 28 at New Jersey's Izod Center.

Tickets range from $69.75 to $199.75 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday Feb. 25 through Ticketmaster.

Top 10 Things Said at Last Night’s Magnetic Fields Show

10. Stephin Merritt: No requests please.
9. Claudia Gonson, introducing “I Looked All Over Town”: This is a song on the former album “I”
Merritt: It’s still an album
8. Stephin Merritt: Always take the earplugs out before you start to sing. Don’t forget.
7. Merritt, introducing “All Dressed Up in Dreams”) It’s not obscure. It was all over television. This was an American Eagle commercial I believe.
6. Gonson, on “2001: A Space Odyssey” theories: After the show, I’m going home and read the Internet
5. Merritt, after tuning his bouzouki: Close enough for folk or whatever this is.
4. Merritt: Remain in silence while we tune.
3. All: Three-way!
2. Merritt, after “Three-Way”: We really should have dedicated that song. What a missed opportunity.
1. Gonson: I saw “Black Sheep” last weekend.
Merritt: Now that you know what movies we’ve been seeing.. It’s just like a blog.
Gonson: Only much slower

SETLIST: When I’m Out of Town / No One Will Ever Love You / California Girls / The Abandoned Castle of My Soul / The Nun’s Litany / I Looked All Over Town / Epitaph for My Heart / I Don’t Believe You / Dreams Anymore / This Little Ukelele / All Dressed Up in Dreams / Zombie Boy // SECOND SET: Take Ecstacy With Me / Courtesans / Crows Everywhere / Too Drunk to Dream / The Book of Love / No River / Drive On, Driver / What a (expletive) Lovely Day / Yeah, Oh Yeah / It’s Only Time // ENCORES: Three-Way / As You Turn to Go / Grand Canyon

Full review here 

PHOTO: Magnetic Fields by Newsday's Ari Mintz.

Nearly three years after their 2005 major-label debut "Plans" for Atlantic Records, Death Cab For Cutie will release "Narrow Stairs" on May 13. The first single will be "I Will Possess Your Heart," an eight-minute track with a lengthy instrumental prelude.

That may not sound like a recipe for success, but "Plans" sold an unexpected 90,000 copies in its first week to debut at No. 4 on the Billboard chart.

Produced by guitarist Chris Walla, who also produced "Plans," the new disc features a mix of upbeat rockers ("No Sunlight," "Long Division") and more pensive numbers like "3 Days" and the voice-and-guitar finale "The Ice is Getting Thinner," according to a report in Billboard.

Here's the full tracklist, announced on Death Cab's Website:

1.    Bixby Canyon Bridge
2.    I Will Possess Your Heart
3.    No Sunlight
4.    Cath…
5.    Talking Bird
6.    You Can Do Better Than Me
7.    Grapevine Fires
8.    Your New Twin Sized Bed
9.    Long Division
10.  Pity and Fear
11.  The Ice Is Getting Thinner

An eight-date West Coast tour, including a stop at Coachella on Apr. 26, begins in Bremerton, Wash. on Apr. 18. No other dates have yet been announced.

PHOTO: Ryan Russell, DeathCabForCutie.com. 

Maybe it was the flu that was going around, but there were loads of surprises for the first female round.

Early favorites Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook came up a bit short of expectations, which Simon Cowell was quick to point out, while Ramiele Malubay and Alexandrea Lushington stepped up their games and seized the spotlight.

It was also hard to miss that several women – especially Asia’h Epperson, Syesha Mercado and Amanda Overmeyer – took more chances with their performances than the rockingest guys, which may lead to another season where the guys get knocked out early and often once the competition is combined.

PHOTO: American Idol/Fox

THE RANKINGS

Ramiele Malubay, “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”
Alexandrea Lushington, “Spinning Wheel”
Carly Smithson, “The Shadow of Your Smile”
Asia’h Epperson, “Piece of My Heart”
Syesha Mercado, “Tobacco Road”
Alaina Whitaker, “I Love You More Today Than Yesterday”
Brooke White, “Happy Together”
Amanda Overmeyer, “Baby, Please Don’t Go”
Kristy Lee Cook, “Rescue Me”
Kady Malloy, “Groovy Kind of Love”
Amy Davis, “Where the Boys Are”
Joanne Borgella, “I Say a Little Prayer”

WILL BE CUT: Joanne and Kady

SHOULD BE CUT: Joanne and Amy

ACTUALLY CUT: Joanne and Amy

Robert Plant is making that much-rumored trip to Madison Square Garden in June and he's bringing a band with him. But it's not that band.

Plant and Alison Krauss are set for the Garden on June 10, as part of their promotion tour for the Grammy-winning "Raising Sand" album. (Tickets go on sale March 3.)

The "Raising Sand" tour runs through July 1. Of course, after that Plant may be free to start touring with his other band, if they can all work things out.

PHOTO: Pamela Springsteen

The reissue of Michael Jackson's "Thriller," celebrating the album's 25th anniversary with reworked versions by Kanye West, Akon, will.i.am, and Fergie, sold 166,000 copies last week, enough to come in at No. 2 on Billboard's album chart behind last week's winner Jack Johnson's "Sleep Through the Static," which sold 180,000 copies.

However, because "Thriller" is considered a catalog release it is not eligible for Billboard's Top 200 albums chart. Instead, it moves to the top of the magazine's Pop Catalog Albums chart.

Boosted by her Grammy performance and five awards, Amy Winehouse moves into the No. 2 spot for the first time with her album "Back to Black," which sold 115,000 copies last week. Alicia Keys holds tight to the No. 3 spot with "As I Am" selling 109,000 copies.

Herbie Hancock enjoyed the biggest Grammy bump as "River: The Joni Letters," which won album of the year, shot into the Top 5, selling 54,000 copies.

Kanye West's "Glow in the Dark Tour" will come to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, May 13, with previously announced support acts Rihanna, N.E.R.D. and Lupe Fiasco.

Tickets range from $49.50 to $154.50 and go on sale at noon Saturday through Ticketmaster.

PHOTO: Chris-pix.blogspot.com 

As far as opening rounds go, it was pretty good. No one truly painful to watch or hear. There were the usual early-week mistakes. Bad song choices hurt Danny Noriega and Jason Yeager. Nerves hampered David Hernandez and Luke Menard. And Garrett Haley and Jason Yeager showed that there were reasons why they didn't get their closeups until now. (Hey judges, did you happen to catch Josiah Leming on "Ellen" today? Did you hear he's got a bunch of labels after him now and that he's sold $15,000 in music off his MySpace? Just wondering.)

On the plus side, Jason Castro proved himself a possible contender, despite his early lack of screen time. And David Cook turned out to be a gamer, ready to challenge early favorites David Archuleta and Michael Johns, who both proved to be savvy and strong performers.

THE RANKINGS

1. Michael Johns, “Light My Fire”
2. David Cook, “Happy Together”
3. David Archuleta, “Shop Around”
4. Jason Castro, “Daydream”
5. Colton Berry, “Suspicious Minds”
6. Danny Noriega, “Jailhouse Rock”
7. David Hernandez, “In the Midnight Hour”
8. Robbie Carrico, “One”
9. Luke Menard, “Everybody’s Talkin’”
10. Jason Yeager, “Moon River”
11. Chikezie, “Yesterday”
12. Garrett Haley, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do”

WILL BE CUT: Jason and Garrett

SHOULD BE CUT: Garrett and Chikezie

ACTUALLY CUT: Garrett and Colton

As expected, Billy Joel has added a second concert at Shea Stadium. The new Friday, July 18 date is being billed as the final date of Joel's "Last Play at Shea," making this the actual, for-really last concert there.

Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday at www.507tixx.com. The first Joel concert at Shea sold out in 48 minutes, a stadium record.

PHOTO: PomoMusings.com 

"It's not up to you," the message on Amplive's new website says. "It's free."

That's not the only twist the Oakland DJ has put on Radiohead's recent work. He takes eight of the songs on the band's "In Rainbows" album and enhances their beats or provides them with new ones. Some of the chopping he does with Thom Yorke's vocals actually makes him sound even twitchier. And the cameo verses from the likes of Del the Funky Homosapien on "Videotapez" or Too Short on "Nudez" take the originals in an entirely new direction.

After initially being ordered to "cease and desist," Amplive eventually won approval from the band to release the songs for free.

Check them out here.

His explanation of the project is here. 

The Wu-Tang Clan's RZA will play a free show at Studio B nightclub in Brooklyn this Friday. Check out the club's website to put your name on the freebie list; all others will have to shell out $10.

Also on the bill: Team Facelift, The Stationary Set, Blood Red Sun, Murder Mystery Music and Paul Holmes and the Great Depression. Show time is at 8 p.m.

So “American Idol” has finally reached the point in the season where it becomes more about music and less about making fun of people, the point where everyone left can sing, more or less. Now, I my doubts that this is the most talented season ever, especially since Ryan Seacrest seems to be saying it every five minutes like clockwork, but the Top 24 does have a bunch of singers who have some potential.

But before we get to the pre-season rankings, let’s pause to remember Josiah Leming, the emo boy who lived in his car who cried a lot. Even though he didn’t make the Top 24 – probably because of his a capella, Bright Eyes-ian version of “Stand By Me,” – I’m gonna bet he gets a record deal (a good one, not a William Hung one) before the season’s over. His songs were good, his voice was good and he was interesting. And if the judges couldn’t figure out that he’s exactly what the show needed, it may go a ways at explaining why ratings are down this season. OK, rant over, on to the pre-season rankings before tomorrow night’s first round...

(PHOTO: Americam Idol/Fox) 

The Police will put out the red light at Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on Aug. 4.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers announced the final leg of their reunion, which was last year’s biggest-growing tour, and, though there has been no final announcement, the Jones Beach show is expected to be the end of the reunion of Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland.

“I think it’s done,” Sting told columnist Roger Friedman recently. “People came to see something from the past and it was great.”

Of course, when this much money is involved, never say never, but for now, Jones Beach is the final stop for The Police. Elvis Costello & The Imposters have signed on to open the shows on the final leg, which starts July 11 in Portland, Ore.

Tickets – ranging from $50 to $225 – for the Jones Beach show go on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 25 through Ticketmaster. Pre-sale tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday through Citi’s Private Pass Program at privatepass.citi.com.

PHOTO: The Police by Duane Michaels for thepolice.com

Director Vincent Moon divides the shoot into its various LES locations -- Inoteca, Bruscheterria, Babeland, Houston Street, the Bowery -- and shows the footage on Supernatural Superserious. The New York backdrop works well against the line, "Everybody here comes from somewhere."

The final cut

Yeah, that's Kanye West bound and gagged in the trunk of some lingerie-clad lady's car in his new, odd video for "Flashing Lights." It's clear 'Ye is looking to stretch a bit with the clip, which debuts on BET today. (You can watch it here now.) Not sure exactly what he's going for -- will there be a sequel? is this like a hip-hop "Lost"? -- but it's certainly different enough to gain some attention (the lingerie-clad lady doesn't hurt, either).

And, no, his kidnapper isn't Mrs. Vince Gill, a.k.a. Amy Grant.

Watch "Flashing Lights" here

Mariah Carey's new single "Touch My Body" hits radio tonight and it's nice to have her doing what she does best. “Touch My Body” (Island Def Jam) is in that “We Belong Together” sweet spot, a midtempo R&B ballad that lets MC show off her vocal abilities, but not too much.

Crafted by Carey, with help from The-Dream and C. “Tricky” Stewart, “Body” has just enough streetwise touches to sound current and just enough balladry to make a bid for timelessness. It’s probably the best opening single she’s had since “Heartbreaker” introduced “Rainbow” in 1999, which is a good sign for her much-anticipated album, now titled "E=MC2" (which is slightly better than the previously rumored "That Chick," I guess) and due in April.

UPDATE: Hear it here

Eagle-eyed reader Paul Berger, a salesman from Nassau County, dropped a bit of knowledge on me, after reading