Pop & Hiss

The L.A. Times music blog

Category: Gerrick D. Kennedy

Gibson Amphitheatre offers limited discount tickets for L.A. 'Glee' tour dates

May 19, 2010 |  4:45 pm
Gleeeee Not lucky enough to score tickets to the highly anticipated “Glee” tour the first time around?

Don’t worry. The Gibson Amphitheatre has decided to make a limited number of seats available for the Los Angeles shows, a rep for the theater said.

One hundred tickets for each of the four shows will be sold  Thursday at the Gibson Amphitheatre’s main box office for $25 on a first-come, first-serve basis -- a steal considering ticket prices ranged from $39.50 to $89.50. The main box office is the only place Gleeks can score these special tickets.

The deal is limited to two per person and available when the box office opens at 1 p.m. prior to Thursday's show. 

The Gibson Amphitheatre main box office is located at the corner of Universal Hollywood Drive and Hotel Drive near the Hilton Hotel.

The seven-show limited engagement is hitting only four cities.

Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Amber Riley (Mercedes), Chris Colfer (Kurt), Kevin McHale (Artie), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Mark Salling (Puck), Dianna Agron (Quinn), Naya Rivera (Santana), Heather Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum Jr. (Mike) and Dijon Talton (Matt) are all scheduled to appear.

Some of the songs on the set list for the concert, conceived by Murphy, are “Don’t Stop Believin,’ ” “Somebody to Love,” “Jump” and, of course, “Bad Romance.”

The "Glee" tour rolls into Los Angeles from Thursday through Saturday.

-- Gerrick D. Kennedy

twitter.com/GerrickKennedy

Photo:Fox

Related:

Complete Showtracker coverage of 'Glee'


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Mike Posner is on a quest to be pop's next best thing

May 18, 2010 |  2:59 pm
PosnerDanteBW After playing a sold-out show, it’s customary for most hip-hop artists to retreat to the VIP section of an after party or partake in a bit of debauchery on a tour bus. But not Mike Posner. After shows, he’s usually en route to another city, homework in tow. In the case of a recent sold-out opening slot for Drake in Los Angeles, he had to jet back to North Carolina the next day to pick up his degree in a sea of cap and gown-clad undergrads.

The 22-year-old Southfield, Mich., native is quick to tell you he’s not like any artist on the scene. And he makes for a pretty convincing case.

Once he inked a deal with J Records the summer after his junior year at Duke University (he majored in business and sociology), he did the exact opposite of what would be expected -- he stayed enrolled. He led the same double life as most undergrads: classes during weekdays and working during the weekends. Except as opposed to making smoothies, being a resident adviser or scanning books in the library, he spent his weekends touring the country, often playing in front of sold-out crowds, and no, there wasn’t any beer pong playing on the road.

Like many artists before him, Posner caught the attention of label execs after releasing his debut mixtape, “A Matter of Time” -- which he recorded in his dorm room -- for free on iTunes in 2009. The mixtape rose to the No. 1 slot on iTunesU. After a bidding war with a handful of major labels, the singer, songwriter and producer signed with J Records and went into senior year. With a second mixtape, “One Foot Out the Door” and buzz-worthy singles “Cooler Than Me” and "Drug Dealer Girl” under his belt, Posner is on a quest to dominate pop, and with a raspy voice that brings to mind Macy Gray or Jason Mraz. 

Continue reading »

Live review: Drake at Club Nokia

May 17, 2010 | 11:17 am

DRAKE_LIVE Drake made a proclamation midway through his sold out show at Club Nokia on Thursday night.

“This is the most important show I’m gonna do on this tour,” he shouted as the crowd -- ecstatic to be included in the audience of importance -- cheered him on.

Who could fault the 23-year-old Canadian rapper/singer for feeling pressure to deliver? At the moment Drake, who uses his middle name and not a Lil’ or Young as his moniker, is certainly a hot commodity in hip-hop, and his debut album isn’t even on shelves yet.

After releasing three mixtapes, including 2009’s critically lauded “So Far Gone,” he’s riding a wave of buzz. With a co-sign from Lil Wayne as part of his Young Money crew and collaborations from Jay-Z, Eminem and, of course, his mentor (let’s not forget that impressive live showing at this year Grammy Awards), it’s easy to think of him as the next best thing.

But judging by an impressive track record of recent guest appearances on singles from Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Timbaland and Trey Songz, the title is already his. Though he mentioned the importance of Thursday’s stop more than once, any pressure he felt didn’t show.

Backed by an impressive five-piece live band, which included a DJ, he transformed Club Nokia into Club Drake during his 75-minute performance, which prominently featured tracks from “So Far Gone.”

Clad in all black, he breezed through the set list aiming to please his eager fans. And please them he did. One woman next to me shrieked when he walked on stage with the swagger of a veteran performer. By his fourth song, “Lust for Life” (the opening track of his breakthrough mixtape), she literally had her undies in a bunch -- it wouldn’t be the last bra to hit the stage during the evening either.

Continue reading »

Kelly Rowland offers behind-the-scenes glimpse of 'Commander' video

May 10, 2010 | 12:09 pm

Rowland_2

Kelly Rowland flirts with the camera in front of her. With a black beaded, laced and jeweled form-fitting number that shimmers in the light, hair blowing in the artificial wind and picture perfect makeup, she looks every bit the pop diva as she mimes in front of the camera.

For some, it may be tough to picture Rowland outside of Destiny’s Child, the multi-platinum selling group that dominated the charts until it disbanded in 2006 and took on solo projects. In that time, Rowland released a second solo album and ventured in film, Michelle Williams released her third album and took on Broadway and Beyoncé Knowles solidified her position as a single-named force in pop music.

Rowland_1 After 2007’s underperforming “Ms. Kelly,” Rowland ended her professional relationship with both manager Matthew Knowles and Columbia Records and is now prepping her Universal Motown debut.   

On the heels of her Grammy Award-winning collaboration with David Guetta (the two released “When Love Takes Over”), Rowland teamed up with the producer for the first single, “Commander,” off her third solo album -- pegged for a September release.

As the single blares over the loudspeakers for her video shoot, she gets tips on her moves from choreographer Fatima Robinson before director Masashi Muto calls for another take.

In between takes, and a surprise visit from Williams, who was in town starring in “Chicago,” Rowland caught up with Pop & Hiss on the Hollywood set of the video.

Continue reading »

Alicia Keys at Staples Center: From 'Caged Bird' to 'Freedom' fighter

April 7, 2010 |  3:24 pm
A_keys

Alicia Keys has said her “Freedom” tour is all about liberation, finding yourself, letting go of anything that may be holding you back, self-love and possibilities. She made sure those themes were heard loud and clear at her concert Tuesday night at Staples Center.

As images of barbed wire fences flashed on multiple screens, Keys slowly emerged onstage, trapped in a cage adorned with heavy chains. She teased the audience with “Caged Bird” from her debut album before launching into the opening number, “Love Is Blind,” from her newest album, “The Element of Freedom.”

Playing every bit the pop diva, Keys, in form-fitting silver sequined pants and a red blazer, dramatically broke from the cage, turning her new-found freedom into an instant celebration. She sang and danced with a small arsenal of dancers to the opening and “You Don’t Know My Name,” the Kanye West-produced hit from her second album, which she infused with West’s own “Flashing Lights.” Although the audience might not have recognized the electronic-tinged original, Keys commanded the concertgoers with moves and vocal acrobatics befitting a pop diva.

But unlike many of her contemporaries, she had an inspirational message attached to the glitzy production. Whether it was “peace,” “love” or “unity” (all of which flooded the screens at some point or other), Keys came to entertain and uplift.

Continue reading »

Robin Thicke pulls out of Staples Center show with Alicia Keys [Updated]

April 6, 2010 |  6:06 pm
Robin_2 Fans making their way to the Staples Center Tuesday night for Alicia Keys' "Freedom" tour won't be seeing one of the show's scheduled openers.

Robin Thicke won't be performing at the show, a rep for Keys said.

No reason for Thicke pulling out of the show was given.

Thicke, who opens along with Melanie Fiona, is on the North American leg of the tour which started began in March and concludes Saturday at Oakland’s Oracle Coliseum.

The 33-year-old is riding high professionally, with his fourth album, “Sex Therapy,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard R&B/Hop-Hop albums charts, and personally -- he is expecting his first child with his wife, actress Paula Patton, who is reportedly due in May.

His latest album, to which we gave two and a half stars (out of four), is a departure from his previous work, and showcases his more playful and frisky side with songs such as “Shakin' It 4 Daddy” and “Meiplé” emphasizing the first three letters of "sexy."

A rep for Thicke could not be reached for comment.

[Updated 6:15 p.m. A rep for Thicke confirmed via e-mail he will not be at the show for "personal reasons."]

[Updated 10:16 p.m. During her performance at Staples Center a few minutes ago, Keys acknowledged that her tourmate Robin Thicke was not present. She then announced that the reason was that he and his wife Paula Patton welcomed a baby boy Tuesday. The audience cheered. Keys did not say if Thicke was returning to the tour that concludes Saturday in Oakland.]

-- Gerrick D. Kennedy


Alicia Keys finds her 'freedom' on tour

April 6, 2010 | 10:28 am

A_keysSince releasing her critically acclaimed debut album, “Songs in A Minor,” nearly nine years ago, Alicia Keys has shown no signs of slowing down. Over the years she has churned out chart-topping albums, dabbled in film and taken on philanthropic work by devoting time to Keep A Child Alive, a program for children and their families with HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The 12-time Grammy award winner’s fourth album, “The Element of Freedom,” debuted No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart -- appropriate given that she was named the R&B/hip hop artist of the decade in December by the magazine.

In support of the album, Keys has embarked on a tour that ends Saturday at Oakland’s Oracle Coliseum. On the eve of her show in Los Angeles at Staples Center Tuesday night (with Melanie Fiona and Robin Thicke as openers), Pop & Hiss spoke to Keys about the show, that highly anticipated video featuring Beyoncé, and her passionate “life-changing” charity work.

For those that have seen your previous tours, you’re heavy on storytelling. What did you want to create when you did the Freedom Tour?

There’s definitely a theme to this tour, and coming off of “The Element of Freedom” and calling this “The Freedom Tour,” it’s really a great theme. It’s a theme about liberation, about finding yourself, about finding your own way, about letting go of anything that may be holding you back, about self-love, about possibilities. It’s definitely themed along those lines. Although it’s a really heavily musical show and it’s really about the music first and foremost, that message comes through loud and clear, and that’s something that I really, really wanted to be a main part of the show so people not only leave with a musical experience and a visual experience, but an emotional experience.

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Robin Thicke: When I write my best, the soul is undeniable

April 5, 2010 |  5:13 pm

RobinIt’s safe to say that Robin Thicke is having a good year. The 33-year-old is riding high professionally, with his fourth album, “Sex Therapy,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard R&B/Hop-Hop albums charts, and personally -- he is expecting his first child with his wife, actress Paula Patton.

His latest album, to which we gave two and a half stars (out of four), is a departure from his previous work, and showcases his more playful and frisky side with songs such as “Shakin' It 4 Daddy” and “Meiplé” emphasizing the first three letters of "sexy."

Thicke, the son of "Growing Pains" TV dad Alan Thicke and singer and soap opera star Gloria Loring, is currently on tour with Alicia Keys, and will play Staples Center on Tuesday.

We caught up with Thicke when he called from his Atlanta hotel -- he was watching “Crazy Heart” for the first time -- to chat about the tour, those comparisons to Justin Timberlake and his inspirations.

The last time fans might have seen you live was on the Beyoncé tour. You co-headlined with Jennifer Hudson, but this is your second big tour. What’s it like going from touring with Beyoncé to now Alicia?

You know, it’s all the "big time" for me. Really, the difference for me is I have two more albums under my belt, and more experience performing. I feel a little more seasoned.

Continue reading »

Live review: Black Eyed Peas turn Staples Center into intergalactic playground

April 1, 2010 | 10:52 am
Blackeyedpeas

There was a moment at the Black Eyed Peas concert Tuesday night at Staples Center when the screams from the audience were enough to shatter glass and earlobes, and it had nothing to do with the powerhouse group.

In fact, the moment occurred during opener Ludacris’ set as the rapper introduced special guest Justin Bieber, the precocious pop sensation who dominates the trending topic stream of Twitter on a daily basis. The 16-year-old took the stage to perform his hit “Baby” with every bit of swagger as the single-named pop stars he is now bumping off the charts.

With the crowd at its feet, and a few girls close by tweeting their hearts out, this was the moment that set the tone for what would be a night of sensory overload as the group responsible for dominating the pop charts last year with its album “The E.N.D.” hit the stage.

Tuesday was the last of two dates the Peas played in Los Angeles, and there wasn’t a single sign of fatigue as they played hit after hit.

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Live review: Erykah Badu's surprise midnight show at the El Rey

March 31, 2010 |  5:10 pm

P3311358

“Had three babies by three different dudes, ran in the nude in Dallas,” Erykah Badu sang amid loud cheers from fans that packed into her not-so-secret show at the El Rey Theatre on Tuesday evening.

It would be the only time that Badu would make reference to the controversy she is facing surrounding her latest video, “Window Seat.” In the clip, which has gone viral, she is seen walking the streets of Dallas near the site where JFK was assassinated, slowly stripping; the moment after she takes off her last piece of clothing, the singer is shot by an unseen assassin.

On Monday, Badu took to her Twitter page to advertise the release party/concert celebrating the unveiling of her fifth album, “New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh),” tweeting, “secret show in los angeles at 9 pm 3/30/2010 shhh...” It might not have been much notice, but judging by the line stretching down Wilshire Boulevard, word had got out.

Fans waited patiently while she spent time greeting the crowd and posing for pics. She hit the stage at close to midnight.

Continue reading »


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