Posts Tagged ‘Live Performance’

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This is seriously beautiful.

That is all.

Suck it, Taylor Swift haters!

[Related Post: The Civil Wars Cover 'Disarm' By The Smashing Pumpkins]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Opening her debut performance at Radio City with Dark Side, Kelly Clarkson stood behind a sheer curtain that flashed a negative light of images and words — all tabloid fodder surrounding her professional career and personal life. The one word in particular that stood out the most, in bold red letters, was the word FAT. It was a touching moment to open the show in such a vulnerable way, in a way that most certainly fits the theme of Dark Side – a way that has lead everyone in the audience to feel connected to her, to cheer her on with a force to be reckoned with. Kelly Clarkson not only represents the girl next door who can rip a song a new one, she also represents a piece of all of us — that part of us that’s human and f*cking normal and real. This is why we, as fans, and as people, love and cling to Kelly Clarkson.

To keep it brief, after the show I updated my personal Facebook with this:

“On a high from Kelly Clarkson’s show. She was bloody amazing! I especially loved her cover of Florence + The Machine’s ‘Heavy In Your Arms’ — goosebumps! Vocally the best show I’ve seen in quite some time. Oh yeah, and Fancy herself (Reba McEntire) was in the audience. I will definitely be seeing her again. Unf*ckingbelievable!”

That pretty much sums up the show, except I did leave out the fact that besides her huge pop records, she also performed a cover of Etta James’ hit I’d Rather Go Blind (as a tribute to the iconic singer’s recent passing), and a wonderful rendition of My Man, taken from the huge Broadway favorite Funny Girl.

But since Kelly’s ballads have always hit home runs in my eyes, those particular numbers stole the show in my opinion. Below you will find an acoustic, stripped-down version of the angst-ridden Never Again, the beautiful rendition of Florence + The Machine’s Heavy In Your Arms, and a lovely ballad that Kelly wrote to help the children of Africa entitled You Still Won’t Know What It’s Like.

Get ready to feel your heart skip a beat.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Happy 2012; I hope you all had a magic New Year’s Eve, filled with champagne wishes and caviar dreams. I am never one to look back, but sometimes we need to reflect on the positive things in life; things like music. Way back when in 2011, some fortunate Chicago music buffs got to spend the night with one of my favorite groups, Cage the Elephant (the band also spent their New Year’s in the same town, only this time playing with friends at Aragon Ballroom). Now, if you have never seen this band live, please do yourself a favor and stop what you are doing to look up some tour dates; it is worth every penny. Then, please proceed so I can give you what you need.

I have heard time after time from several friends that Cage tore down The Vic in Chicago with one of their best performances to date. As I sat in utter jealousy crying the blues wishing I had taken some vacation time and been on site, it then took me by pleasant surprise that the band released the entire show, not only on DVD, but on iTunes as well. Happy New Year to me? I think so!

The energy of Cage the Elephant is like nothing out in the modern concert scene. Song by song on the DVD takes you closer and closer, making you feel not only as if you are front and center, but like you are surfing along the waves of the crowd. Nineteen tracks of pure adrenaline and head bobbing is a great way to start off the new year if you ask me. They were even nice enough to release their performance of Aberdeen (one of the many numbers from their Live From The Vic In Chicago DVD) to help convince us even more to own it.

Do yourself a favor in 2012; make it out to a live Cage the Elephant show. But in the meantime, purchase the band’s Live From The Vic In Chicago on iTunes for your ears, and the live DVD set for your eyes. In fact, do all three. Enjoy!

Cage The Elephant – Aberdeen (Live) – Music – More Music Videos

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

BTB favorites, The Gaslight Anthem, are currently working on new album. But in the meantime they have recently released an iTunes session with great covers, alternative sessions, and some new material that you will probably want to check out.

On that note, this past weekend I saw the New Jersey success story live. I have seen the guys a few times, and they’re never dull, always rocking out so hard — but this show was something special. Compacted with a two-and-a-half-hour set of various tunes from The ‘59 Sound and American Slang, not only did they bring it, but they brought a legendary guest as well. After wishing the crowd a happy holiday, lead singer Brian Fallon brought out every Jersey girl’s hero, Bruce Springsteen. The crowd went bananas, and the two forces sang the hit single American Slang. Now, if that isn’t a Christmas gift, I don’t know what is.

Do yourself (and your loved ones) a favor and pick up the new Gaslight iTunes session now.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Get ready for chills down the spine.

Can’t wait to see Kelly kick it live in January, here in the Big Apple!

In the meantime…

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This is probably the best P!nk song you’ve never heard…

Love Song, taken from her 2003 album Try This, is probably one of the most beautiful and understated songs of her career. Real talk though, I still blame the album cover for this album not doing as well as her other efforts. Nonetheless, this track is flawless and I’m in reminiscent mode lately.

Watch. Tear up. Repeat.

It’s a cleansing process!

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

If you follow this blog, you will see Florence + the Machine (and Drake) on a consistent basis. They’re just that damn good. Once again, they’ve gone and outdone themselves. At BBC Radio One’s Live Lounge, the band broke out with a cover of Take Care by Drake featuring Rihanna. I was a fan of this track before, but now, it’s an absolute love affair.

Check it out for yourself.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I was lucky enough to be in the audience while this was being shot. Yup, I was there! Get it? I was there! Anyways, I totally cried. The song is Beyonce’s most moving, in my opinion — so feeling that, while being there in the moment was emotional overload. I’m not even kidding.

Beyonce’s Live At Roseland: Elements of 4 DVD is out now!

See the beautiful moment transpire below.

[Related Post: Beyonce Loves Her 'Brave' Gay Fans]

[Related Post: Beyonce Gets Intimate With '4' Showcase]

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Some people collect things. I collect concert memories. It’s rare that I take the time to actually write about a show, but I just cannot allow this one to go by. On Monday night, I saw the Foo Fighters for the first time. Yes, shame on me for being a virgin to this band’s live experience for all of these years, but trust me, it was well worth the wait.

Foo Fighters played for over three hours. In my 25 years of life, I have been to countless shows, and even with the combined three to four bands, sometimes full shows don’t even last that long. The bottom line, two words: Dave Grohl. This dude has more energy than a rechargeable battery. It amazes me how his voice doesn’t even fade out, for he is not only an amazing vocalist, but a screamer on top of it. I sometimes have to remind myself that Dave used to be all about the drums (now having someone like Taylor Hawkins, it is easy to forget). As one-third of Nirvana, Dave kept the beat while late frontman Kurt Cobain kept a crowd engrossed. Back to present times, Grohl is virtually a guitar god and the indisputable star of his own show, and it’s hard to imagine a time when that wasn’t the situation. Just sayin’.

Foo Fighters played SO much from their amazing discography, compressed with everything from The Pretender and Everlong, to newer tunes like Dear Rosemary and Walk. As odd as this may sound, it was like I was reborn a rock and roll fan and heard music for the first time (and busting out brief covers of Pink Floyd was just the icing on the cake).

Even if you aren’t a supporter of the rock n’ roll genre, you can’t deny pure talent when it’s obvious. Seeing Foo Fighers in concert helped to re-establish the fact that good music still exists. I was sitting in an enormous arena, and it felt as if Foo Fighters were playing in a high school auditorium. Do yourself a favor and check out their tour schedule.

Thank you, Foo Fighters, for an amazing night.

Salud.

[Related Post: Foo Fighters Shine 'Wasting Light']

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

NY rapper Outasight is out with the music video for his debut single Tonight Is The Night. The energetic track is currently being featured in Pepsi’s “Who’s Next” campaign, which will later feature the winner of The X Factor.

Directed by Dori Oskowitz, the video depicts Outasight smack dab in the middle of a crazy night out in New York City. What what!

This track is undeniably fun!

Download Outasight’s brand new mixtape, Get It Together, for free, HERE.

Just-released video + recent performance via X Factor below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Seriously, Jay-Z? SMDH!

“Jay-Z, as talented as he is, has the political sensibility of a hood rat and is a scrotum. To attempt to profit off of the first important social moment of 50 years with an overpriced piece of cotton is an insult to the fight for economic civil rights known as #occupywallstreet.”

-GRIM / Occupy Wall Street Leader

[On Jay-Z profiting from Rocawear's OWS t-shirts, in which the rapper donated zero percent of the proceeds to the cause]

BTW, the video below is jawesome.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

“I have not known anyone personally that has committed suicide because of their sexuality. But the stories from fans always make me appreciate and love what I do even more and drive me at the end of the day, because I feel like to touch someone through my music is the ultimate thing for me, especially if I’ve written it. I’ve had many people say, “I was thinking about committing suicide and your song came on the radio and I just decided not to do it, that life was worth living.” It’s unfathomable to, I guess, really understand the impact I’ve had on some people’s lives. It does affect me. It deeply, deeply affects me. Obviously you can tell by that performance.”

–LeAnn Rimes
[In the new Pridesource]

[Related Post: LeAnn Rimes Beautifully Covers Adele]

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Guitar, people! Guitar.

Last week, passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight were given an extra scrumptious treat (damn them!) when singer/songwriter/uber-cutie, Mat Kearney, busted out an impromptu performance mid-air. Apparently this has been on Mat’s bucket list for quite some time.

Says Mat: “I’ve always actually wanted to pick up my guitar in the middle of a flight and just walk down the aisle and play songs, but this is the first time I’ve ever actually gotten the chance to do it.”

Here’s the proof!

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

One of my favorite alternative rock duos, The Kills, are back with a smashing new single entitled Baby Says. This is by far one of the strongest tracks off of their fourth album release, Blood Pressures. Not to focus on the whole album, but it is indeed a fine work in a progressive discography.

There is just something about The Kills’ Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart that gets my heart pounding. In order for a two piece band to work, there has to be a certain magic between the two performers and these two certainly get a passing mark.

Check out this rare acoustic performance of Baby Says below.

By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

ROB BRAYL: ‘True Colors’ is certainly one of the biggest anthems of the gay community. Are there any songs from your own collection or other artists that you consider to be your personal anthem?

CYNDI LAUPER: I have quite a few with my own catalog. To choose one is going to be tough. Changes from time to time. Anything from Joni Mitchell.

RB: It’s wonderful to see any artist, but specifically artists of your level really reaching out to their gay fan base and working on strengthening the community. How has working on projects like the Give A Damn Campaign, and opening the True Colors homeless shelter for LGBT youth affected you personally?

CL: I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to raise awareness about equality and issues impacting the community that do not get enough attention, especially homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth. To be able to do that through the Give a Damn Campaign and the True Colors Residence, which is actually permanent housing, not a shelter, means a great deal to me.

RB: Your video on YouTube speaking on bullying and on the flood of suicides with regards to gay teens was really touching. How have you handled those in the past who may have been punks in the way that they treated you?

CL: I think it is important to say that while the media has been focusing on the recent suicides of these young men as a result of anti-gay bullying, this has been an epidemic that has been growing and in dire need of attention for far too long. I do know what it is like to be viewed as ‘different’ and I have owned that about myself and have been unapologetic about it. We all have to be who we are. It can be hard to do that though as life has ways of knockin’ ya down time and time again. I would urge all the young people reading this to contact the Trevor Project at 1-866-4-U-TREVOR or the National Runaway Switchboard at 1-800-RUNAWAY if you are having a hard time and need someone to talk to.

RB: Your most recent record, ‘Memphis Blues’, is a beautiful piece of work and showcases a different side of yourself. What can we expect from your next album? Working on any new material?

CL: I don’t have a “next” CD planned — I’m living and enjoying this one! I am filming a live DVD in Memphis. Basically it’s the show we’ve been doing on the road since ‘Memphis Blues’ came out. It will include songs from ‘Memphis Blues’, my hits and a few new songs.

RB: Crazy but I’ve got to ask, do you listen to any rap music?

CL: I have a 13 year old son, what do you think? I listen to A LOT of rap!

TONY CORTOPASSI: Having many acting roles in: Vibes, Off & Running, Life with Mikey, Here & There, Section B, as well as an Emmy award winning role in Mad About You as “Marianne Lugasso” — Is there a type of role you’d love to do next?

CL: Love to revamp my style and genre with everything I do. Of course I‘d love to try something different, new and challenging.

TC: Since you’ve already done Threepenny Opera…any role you’d like to do on Broadway?

CL: My next Broadway project is as composer. I am writing songs for the Broadway adaptation of the film Kinky Boots. Harvey Fierstein is writing the book and Jerry Mitchell is the director. It’s very exciting.

TC: We are all excited to read your autobiography. When is that slated to be released? Can you give us a teaser from the book?

Cyndi: I am writing an autobiography that will be released via Simon & Schuster. I am in the middle of writing right now so ask me this question again next time we chat.

TC: Can you elaborate a little on your new reality show and what we can expect?

CL: Yes. I did a deal with Mark Burnett Productions before I signed on to Celebrity Apprentice. Mark Burnett Productions is probably the most successful producers of reality tv so I am really happy to be in partnership with them. The folks there are smart and creative and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to do. I love the medium, so I’m excited about it. It is going to be mostly about me and my day to day, focusing on my career.

TC: If you could travel to any time in history, who would you love to meet?

CL: John Lennon.

Watch the incredible Cyndi in action, during a recent performance, below.

[Via One Way Mag]