W♥M

Photos / Recap: 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Concert - Barclays Center, Brooklyn NY

2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Read More Starkey Hearing Foundation Once again, on a Sunday July afternoon, St. Paul became Tinseltown if only for an evening as the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s So The World May Hear 18th Annual Gala, in support ...

Happy 2024 from W♥M!

We’re humbled and thankful for another year out on the worldwide web (since 2007!) and were proud to have brought you coverage just over 250 shows and events! That total approaches some of our pre-pandemic years like in 2015 when we covered an average of almost one per day and 2024 is already shaping up to be a very busy year as well.

===

One of the events we managed to attend was this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, a true end-of-year music highlight.

The ceremony (which rotates locations between Brooklyn, Cleveland, and Los Angeles) was as noteworthy for the inductee absences (Kate Bush, Rage Against the Machine) as much as for those who did show, and the ceremony was one of the shorter ones in history (with no end jam), perhaps because it was streaming live on Disney+ for the first time.

An abbreviated version will be broadcast on January 1 on ABC at 8pm/7pm Central, streaming next day on Hulu, with the original 4 ½ hour broadcast still archived on Disney+ for their subscribers.

The evening opened strong with Sheryl Crow dueting with Olivia Rodrigo and Stevie Nicks with Laura Dern doing the induction duties before Peter Frampton joined onstage.

The godfather of hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc was visibly moved by his induction, following a passionate speech from LL Cool J.

Chaka Khan was also excited and in fine voice, singing alongside Common, H.E.R., and a still-big wigged Sia, before bringing up her Rufus band mate, to acknowledge the band’s essential contribution to her fifty-year career.

Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley appeared to posthumously induct George Michael, with musical tributes from Miguel feat Jake Clemons, a trench coat-clad Adam Levine, and Country’s Carrie Underwood, an unexpectedly diehard fan of Michael.

A breathlessly exciting in-step tribute from New Edition helped induct The Spinners and Soul Train creator Don Cornelius.

Longtime super fan Big Boi from Outkast inducted no-show Kate Bush, who was paid tribute by St. Vincent, who sang a note-perfect version of “Running Up That Hill”, a thirty-five-year-old hit which found new life on Netflix series, “Stranger Things” (which undoubtedly helped with her voting totals).

90-year-old legend Willie Nelson was given proper royal treatment, singing alongside Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, and Sheryl Crow, who all stuck around with Elton John and Brittany Howard to pay tribute to the departed Robbie Robertson with a Band classic song.

Guitarist Jimmy Page was perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening, first appearing on-screen paying homage to innovator Link Wray, before the screen rose to reveal Page himself.

Elton John was present to induct his longtime lyrical collaborator Bernie Taupin, who spoke of diversity and change in his speech, with Elton then playing just one of their many classics.

The ever-political Rage Against the Machine also decided not to appear, except for guitarist Tom Morello, who realized how to use the platform to enunciate the band’s message after their induction by Ice-T, with the most soulful and call-to-action speech of the evening, but the band went without any musical tribute (even though side group Prophets of Rage members were present and rappers like Denzel Curry and Machine Gun Kelly have done worthy cover versions).

If the scale of the stage performance was any barometer of how grateful an artist was to be inducted, Missy Elliott would win that, hands down, with a massive medley performance featuring countless dancers, special effects and routines. Elliott herself was emotionally overcome as Queen Latifah inducted the first female hip-hop artist into the Hall.

(click on any image to see in full / pictures shot without any provided media access)

BARCLAYS CENTER	SHERYL CROW w OLIVIA RODRIGO	SHERYL CROW w STEVIE NICKS
LAURA DERN INDUCTS SHERYL CROW	CROW, NICKS w PETER FRAMPTON	SHERYL CROW SPEECH
LL COOL J INDUCTS DJ KOOL HERC	DJ KOOL HERC	CHAKA KHAN w COMMON
CHAKA KHAN w H.E.R.	CHAKA KHAN w SIA	ANDREW RIDGELEY
MIGUEL w JAKE CLEMONS	ADAM LEVINE	CARRIE UNDERWOOD
NEW EDITION	SOUL TRAIN TRIBUTE	BIG BOI INDUCTS KATE BUSH
ST. VINCENT	DAVE MATTHEWS- WILLIE TRIBUTE	WILLIE, DAVE, CHRIS STAPLETON
CHRIS, WILLIE, SHERYL, DAVE	JAMES PATRICK PAGE	ELTON JOHN INDUCTS BERNIE TAUPIN
BERNIE TAUPIN	ELTON JOHN	ICE-T INDUCTS RATM- TOM MORELLO
QUEEN LATIFAH INDUCTS MISSY	MISSY ELLIOTT	MISSY ELLIOTT SPEECH

JohnC ♥ johnc@weheartmusic.com ♥ X / twitter.com

Low Cut Connie at First Avenue, Minneapolis (07 Oct 2023)

10/07 Low Cut Connie with Matthew Logan Vasquez and Mik Cool at First Avenue Low Cut Connie Setlist Me n Annie Rio Sleaze Me On Big Boy Dirty Water Full of Joy All These Kids Are Way Too High / Shotgun / Total Destruction to Your Mind / Cream / Get It On (medley) Don't Get Fresh With Me Charyse Are You Gonna Run Revolution Rock n Roll KING OF THE JEWS I Don't Understand You Patch It Up Shake It Little Tina Death and Destruction Take Me to the Place Beverly If I Die Nobody Else Will Believe You Boozophilia The Party's Over WHIPS AND CHAINS Tour Dates 10/9 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark 10/11 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop 10/13 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall 10/14 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall 10/15 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre Read More Low Cut Connie Low Cut Connie (Adam Weiner, James Everhart, Will Donnelly, Larry Scotton, and Lucas Rinz) will be in town in support of their latest Dirty Pictures (Part 1) via Contender Records. … Matthew Logan Vasquez Delta Spirit’s Matthew Logan Vasquez is playing the Icehouse in Minneapolis on May 9th. As usual with these Icehouse shows, because it’s a regular business in the daytime, that the show don’t actually start until after 10pm . ..

One of the best rock ‘n roll acts, Low Cut Connie rocked the First Avenue’s mainroom last night, Saturday, October 7th, in support of their new album Art Dealers (Contender Records).

Opening the show was Minneapolis’ Mik Cool (aka Mikayla Coulombe), with her seven-piece indie pop/rock band: guitarist Sam, guitarist Spencer, backup vocalist Nicole, keyboardist Joe, drummer Alec, and bassist Calvin.

Mik made it no secret that she is a massive Low Cut Connie fan, and when this show was originally announced, she instantly purchased tickets.

“Who’s coming to the show with me?,” she asks her friends, and everyone was like, ask me in six months. When they were asked to open the show, she was so happy! She ended up giving her tickets to her friends and family… which her father was in attendance, celebrating his birthday.

The group played tracks from their debut album, I Wanna Be Cool, including “I’m Not That Fond of Compliments”, which started their 30-min set.

They were really fun, Mik being the center of attention, would bounce around a lot and just seems to really love being on stage.

The band’s next gig is at the Amsterdam Bar & Hall, in St Paul, on December 5th.

“We’ve been coming here for years,” stated Matthew Logan Vasquez, for those who weren’t familiar with his music. We’ve been writing about MLV since his days as the frontsman of California’s Delta Spirit. The band originally formed in San Diego in 2005, but MLV decided to do solo projects in-between Delta Spirit’s albums.

Matthew Logan Vasquez (19 April 2016)

Matthew Logan Vasquez’s first solo album Solicitor Returns came out in 2016, which we were happy to see his solo tour in April 2016, writing, “Some of his songs were super upbeat and had a very prominent rockabilly feel to them. Matthew explained that the first concert he ever went to was The Old 97's opening up for Reverend Horton Heat. It was a life changing experience for him and that was made clear in the influence it had on his music and writing style. Each song had a story behind it and that just added to the comfortability you felt at this show. With the way he told each story, you almost felt as if you were just sitting around with a good friend shooting the sh** only that good friend happened to have an amazing voice and great songwriting abilities.”

He did play some songs from his debut album, including “Maria”, which he dedicated the song to anyone named Maria. As for new songs, there’s “Trailer Park”, from his latest, Light’n Up, came out just prior to the pandemic in 2019. He never got a chance to perform them on tour until now. Commenting about the two-year pandemic, he said it meant the world to him to be back on stage.

South Philadelphia-based Low Cut Connie (aka Adam Weiner) closed out the night. Weiner told us on stage that he was a school teacher until the age of 31, when he started his band. He never thought that one day he would be playing his songs around the world.

Low Cut Connie (16 Jun 2018)

Most of Low Cut Connie’s fanbase was because they’ve seen the band play live, as we mentioned when we first saw him play at Rock the Garden in 16 Jun 2018: “Low Cut Connie blew us away.”

Again, Low Cut Connie blew us away with their highly energetic show, playing gospel, soul, country, and blues, all in a unique LCC style. Adam played the piano (named “Nellie”) with great showmanship, reminding you of Sir Elton John (who is a fan of Low Cut Connie), Little Richard, or Jerry Lee Lewis.

Low Cut Connie’s Art Dealers is out now on Contender Records.

Mik Cool

Mik Cool Mik Cool Mik Cool

Matthew Logan Vasquez

Matthew Logan Vasquez Matthew Logan Vasquez Matthew Logan Vasquez

Low Cut Connie

Low Cut Connie Low Cut Connie Low Cut Connie Low Cut Connie Low Cut Connie

Low Cut Connie at First Avenue, Minneapolis (07 Oct 2023)

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥KC - February 1-15 Upcoming Shows (Kansas City / Lawrence KS)

Read more Kansas City Music Guide.

February is upon us and other than a mostly mild winter, there’s not too much to celebrate.

Our KC Chiefs were bounced out of the playoffs in an overtime thriller and the pandemic is still putting a lot of tours on hold, but the good news is that many acts are still carrying on and the season is starting to get busier.

Luke Bryan, Slipknot, Decemberists, and Poppy all have had recent show announcements, though navigating through the postponements and cancellations is like being an air traffic controller, but everything below is current as of press time.

02/01 Elton John at T-Mobile Read More Elton John Two of the world’s biggest recording artists, Ed Sheeran and Elton John, just released their charity single “Merry Christmas”, via Atlantic Records. Watch the official music video on YouTube (directed by …

Given the current public health state, assume masks and/or vaccination proof are required for entry.

Here’s what’s happening in the Kansas City/Lawrence area for the First half of February:

Tuesday February 1Elton John, T-Mobile Center. $66-$1,038

Despite the piano man recently catching Covid and having to cancel his Dallas shows, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour is determined to continue (look at that top ticket price!) and the show is on (as of this writing), with attendees recommended to arrive early and be seated by 8pm. 

El Ten Eleven, RecordBar. $15

Wednesday February 2

02/02 Magic City Hippies w courtship at Madrid Read More Magic City Hippies Miami’s Magic City Hippies is currently on tour in support of their forthcoming album Water Your Garden. This new album is the first album that the trio were in various locations in the USA …

Wale, Uptown. $30-$40

UPDATE: CANCELED Magic City Hippies w courtship, Madrid

The Miami trio’s new AM rock/poolside pop record, Water Your Garden was just released, with member Robby Hunter saying, “Water Your Garden is the first album we created while all three of us were in separate places around the US. Completely remote and sending songs back and forth throughout quarantine- while everyone was locked down in their respective homes. Pat finally moved out to LA- locked down in his studio. Robby moved out into the mountains of Montana, and John held down the home base in Miami.”

Make sure to arrive early for courtship, who we caught last fall with Dayglow.

Thursday February 3Gabriel Iglesias, Cable Dahmer Arena. $48-$79

The extra fluffy comedian hits the road once again, playing this small suburban arena. 

UPDATE: POSTPONED to Feb. 18 Josh Abbott Band, Granada – Lawrence, $22-$25

Friday February 4

02/04 Hembree with Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear and Dreamgirl at The Truman Read More Hembree Kansas City’s hometown indie-rock heroes return for a Black Friday headlining show, that is the perfect palette finisher after a day of shopping for holiday deals. Latest album is 2019’s House on Fire … …

Hippie Sabotage, Uptown, $35

This Sacramento EDM duo should maybe collaborate with Magic City Hippies, but in the meantime have brought along Daisy Guttridge and promise some fun Covid-era dancing. 

UPDATE: CANCELED Hembree with Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear and Dreamgirl, The Truman. $15-$20 (postponed from Nov. 26)

Hometown heroes’ second album, It’s a Dream! Is finally released this coming Friday and the band has a solid three-act release party to celebrate.  Of the new record lyricist Isaac Flynn says“This album is a fully-realized vision for the band. I want this record to lift people up, and for the music to be a positive experience in their own lives.”

Sounds like the affirmation we can all use. 

Galactic, Knuckleheads. $28-$38.50

Augustana (solo tour), Granada Lawrence, $22.

Iliza Shlesinger, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland POSTPONED TO APRIL 8

Smile Empty Soul, Bottleneck - Lawrence POSTPONED
Saturday February 5

02/05 The Wombats w/ Clubhouse at The Truman Read More The Wombats Fix Yourself, Not The World is the forthcoming album from The Wombats. The popular band will be heading out on tour to promote the record in 2022 ...

The Wombats w/ Clubhouse, The Truman. $25-$50.

WHM loves this Liverpool trio and we’ve had them on our radar since 2006, when they only had secured a small record contract in Japan.  Flash forward a decade-and-a-half and the band is still going strong, despite being located in separate corners of the world. 

The new album is Fix Yourself, Not the World, a result of files being shared back and forth, and a handful of producers including Jacknife (U2, Killers) Lee putting their finishing touches on things.  A previous Oliver Nelson remix went viral on TikTok as well, introducing them to an even wider audience. 

Rising openers Clubhouse are Columbus, OH-based (and probably itching to tell the KC crowd how the Bengals are Super Bowl-bound and the Chiefs are not). 

Hailey Whitters , Knuckleheads, $17-$20

(Your) Baroness, Bottleneck- Lawrence POSTPONED to APRIL 2

                                                               Tuesday, February 8
UPDATE: Canceled Devotchka,  recordBar, $25

Marcus King, Uptown Theater, $35-$59

Set It Off, Granada- Lawrence. $25

Jamestown Revival with Robert Ellis Knuckleheads POSTPONED (?)

02/10 Dark Tranquillity with Kataklysm and Nailed to Obscurity at Granada Read More Dark Tranquillity Fans of Scandinavian death metal will want to check out Swedish band Dark Tranquillity on their USA 2015 tour, in support of 2013's Construct. … 02/09 Everything Is Terrible! at RecordBar Read More Everything is Terrible! I can’t tell you if I’ve seen the first Everything is Terrible! movie, I’ve either seen a knock off or another Everything is Terrible! film, but I can tell you that they’re a collection of weird found VHS footage. …

Wednesday, February 9Dark Tranquillity with Kataklysm and Nailed to Obscurity, Granada- Lawrence. $25

Sweden comes to the heartland as the Gothenburg death metallers are out in support of their seventh studio album, Moments, which was mixed/mastered by the acclaimed Jens Bogren. 

The band brings with them Canadians Kataklysm and Essen, Germany’s Nailed to Obscurity for a rare and truly international head-banging affair.

The Beach Boys, Kauffman Center. $54-$104

Fun, fun, fun will undoubtedly be had as the band plays hits from six decades of music. 

We caught the band’s good vibrations back in 2019. 

The Black Angels, Bottleneck - Lawrence POSTPONED

Thursday February 10Beth Hart w/Quinn Sullivan, Uptown. $35-$227

Blues rock with a touch of Zep – the lauded singer takes on Robert Plant and company as she releases A Tribute to Led Zeppelin on Feb. 25, via Provogue/Mascot Label Group, so expect some familiar classics. 

Arrive early for the talented and Buddy Guy-mentored young guitarist Quinn Sullivan. 

Everything Is Terrible! RecordBar, $15 

Now this might be the ideal remedy for any Covid blues we’re all having- the video and performance art collective has unearthed thousands of forgotten DVD & VHS tapes aimed at yesterday’s youth to bring you their most mind-melting movie to date.

Watch in awe as all colors of the rainbow join forces to destroy the tyranny of adult civilization!  A feature film, live performance (with likely life-size puppets) and need we say, the unexpected, make this potentially the most talked-about show of the new year. 

Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, Kauffman Center POSTPONED

Friday February 11Lee Brice, Ameristar. $78-$95

Kyle with Col3trane and Leven Kali, Granada. $29

Todd Barry(comedian),  recordBar, $20

Skillet, Tauren Wells, KB, Colton Dixon, T-Mobile Center, $10/door

                          Saturday February 12

Anat Cohen Quartetinho, Folly. $20-$55

Sleigh Bells, The Truman. $30-$60 UPDATE: Postponed to August 10

Kolby Cooper, Uptown. $22

Rosanne Cash, Lied Center. POSTPONED TO MAY 5

02/14 The Backseat Lovers w Over Under at The Truman Read More Backseat Lovers We caught The Backseat Lovers in Oct 2021 and was blown away at their massive fanbase. We even talked about how they sold out with many fans outside the venues, looking for a way ...

Monday February 14The Backseat Lovers w Over Under, The Truman. $25-$50

The Salt Lake City quartet recently released a new live record, Live from the Troubadour recorded at the legendary LA venue and bring their guitar-heavy indie rock style to songs like “Kilby Girl” and “Heavy” and the young band has already played festivals like Lollapalooza, ACL, Ohana, and others.  Nothing says a Valentine’s night out like a Backseat Lovers show.

Opening are friends and fellow Utah-based indie rockers Over Under.

Guardin, Bottleneck-Lawrence, $20-$23

Wednesday February 15Hot Tuna (acoustic), Knuckleheads. $35

Erasure, Uptown. POSTPONED

The Kid Laroi, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland POSTPONED TO AUGUST 31

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

The Merriest Christmas

Read More Ed Sheeran Musically, “Black and White” is a pop rock ballad… fans of Ed Sheeran (the other One Direction guy) will love it. Sample lyrics: Yeah, I see us in black and white …

Read more Christmas.

ED SHEERAN
edsheeran.com

Two of the world’s biggest recording artists, Ed Sheeran and Elton John, just released their charity single “Merry Christmas”, via Atlantic Records.

Watch the official music video on YouTube (directed by Jason Koenig).

The video features homage to scenes from legacy Number 1 Christmas music videos and iconic Christmas films, plus cameos from Mr Blobby, Jonathan Ross, Big Narstie, Michael McIntyre and The Darkness.

The joyful, fun-filled song will sure be an instant classic… maybe we can hear it every year, you know, right alongside with Wham!’s “Last Christmas” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”.

If you decide to purchase the song, profits from the sale will be donated equally between the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation & The Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Read More ABBA I will confess to liking, no, loving ABBA. As you may have suspected, I actually love eurodisco and especially Swedish music. …

ABBA
abbasite.com

One of the most successful band of all time (we’re talking 17 #1 hits, 400 million albums sold!), ABBA (Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid) is back with a new Christmas single called “Little Things”. The song is taken from their recent Voyage album.

Talking about the holiday single (and music video), the band wrote, “This is the very first Christmas song from ABBA, and no Christmas song would be complete without a festive video!”

They also add, “We think it is impossible to eradicate poverty without the empowerment of women. That's why we support Unicef in protecting girls from sexual violence and empowering them through the Global Child Protection Fund. We have done so for many years with our song Chiquitita and now we have decided to give Unicef a Christmas gift in the form of a second song: Little Things from our album Voyage.”

Although the song (and certainly the music video) was sweet enough, I just felt it wasn’t exactly a “Christmas” song. For me, I want to hear all the things you normally associate with Xmas, including snow, Santa, and presents, etc.

Still, despite my not loving the song, the band is still very successful, as noted with their global launch of Voyage:

● Voyage achieved worldwide sales in excess of 1 million copies in its first week, and has received more than 190 million combined streams to date.
● In the U.K. Voyage became ABBA’s 10th UK Number 1, and their first to top the Official Albums Chart in 40 years. It is 2021’s fastest-selling album to date and registered the biggest first week sales in four years (203,909). It is also the fastest-selling vinyl release of the century.
● In the U.S. – Voyage debuted at #1 on the Top Albums chart, as the band achieved their biggest ever US chart debut. ABBA also claimed the highest sales week in 2021 for a group.
● The album achieved multiple gold and platinum certifications around the world.
● Voyage is the biggest international debut of the year in Japan, Germany, Australia, U.K. & France.

Say what you will, but the world still loves ABBA.

MATT DORRIEN
mattdorrien.com

Los Angeles, by the way of Portland, Matt Dorrien recently shared “Christmas in LA,” a song about his recent life changes, full of melancholy and hope. You can hear it for yourself on YouTube.

Dorrien says, “I wrote and recorded this song less than a month ago after moving to Los Angeles from my home of the last eight years, Portland, Oregon. My wife and I decided to relocate after discovering that my father, who lives with my mother just outside of LA, had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. It’s a song of comfort and hope during some pretty uncertain times. I hope it brings some semblance of peace to those feeling similarly lost and burdened by uncertainty as we approach the second holiday of this pandemic.”

Look for Dorrien’s sophomore full-length in 2022.

Live:

Dec. 11th - Portland, OR - Mama Bird’s Winter Wassail @ Polaris Hall *

*w/ Haley Heynderickx, Vetiver, Skyway Man,
Johanna Samuels, Barna Howard & more

MODESTY BLAISE
modestyblaise.net

Named after a famous British comic stripe, Bristol’s Modesty Blaise (not to be confused with the progpop band from Norway), started in 1993 when they scored a hit single called “Christina Terrace” with Edwyn Collins at the helm. Collins had a massive international hit called “A Girl Like You”, and I thought perhaps the band knew him because one of Blaise member, Jonny Collins, was related to the famed singer/songwriter.

Anyway, Modesty Blaise’s new holiday single is called “I’ll Be Home For Xmas”, which they said is like “Wham! meets Frankie Valli / Annette Funicello” … which got me intrigued.

I did end up listening to the song, and it’s pretty good... if you like that uplifting British 60s pop songs.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

We♥Movies: Rocketman / Yesterday / Shaft / Men in Black International

Rocketman Synopsis Rocketman is an epic musical fantasy about the incredible human story of Elton John's breakthrough years. The film follows the fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into international superstar Elton John. This inspirational story- set to Elton John's most beloved songs and performed by star Taron Egerton - tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture. Rocketman also stars Jamie Bell as Elton's longtime lyricist and writing partner Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden as Elton's first manager, John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Elton's mother Sheila Farebrother. Rating: R (for language throughout, some drug use and sexual content) Directed By: Dexter Fletcher Written By: Lee Hall In Theaters: May 31, 2019 Runtime: 121 minutes Studio: Paramount Pictures Read More Elton John Elton John's 40th Anniversary of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is being re-released. You can read all the various formats here. Also, Sir John is turning 67 this March 25th, the same date that Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is being re-released. …

Rocketman

Although the film is well-made and features Taron (Eddie the Eagle, Kingsman) Edgerton in an all-in, committee, and star-making performance as singer Elton John, the movie comes off somewhat mixed and ultimately plays like the film of a musical version that is yet to be (though inevitably will be) made.

Though billed as a rock bio, the two-hour feature really only explores the ten years or so, of Elton John’s musical rise and biggest popularity, and ironically, his most unhappiest time. Songs are all sung by Edgerton in the film, who does a mostly admirable job, though Elton’s particular vocal inflections on songs we all know by heart, are often missed.

And like a musical, the songs are selected more to fit the structure of the moment, rather than being historically accurate – in an early scene where he and songwriter Bernie Taupin are presenting demos to their publisher in 1967, ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues’ (from 1983) is played, and during John’s legendary 1970 run at L.A.’s Troubadour club, the movie shows him playing ‘Crocodile Rock’ (written more than two years later), with club owner Doug Weston mentioning Neil Young had sold out there two weeks prior (in fact, it was over a year plus, that Young had last played there).

Tidbits like Elton shown choosing his last name after spying a picture of The Beatles and focusing in on John Lennon (his last name was in fact, derived from UK Blues singer Long John Baldry) will only irritate the more devoted Elton fan, though casual moviegoers probably won’t give it a second thought.

The film also stays mostly sad until near the end, when John’s comeback is chronicled via a shot-for-shot remake of 1983 reborn hit, ‘I’m Still Standing’ (which Taupin actually wrote about surviving his rough divorce) and a montage of John becoming sober, getting married, and having two sons, something his musical colleague Freddie Mercury never got to see at the end of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Props to Elton John for helping insist the movie maintain its R-rating and staying mostly honest, “I didn’t live a PG-rated life” John has said. 

As a piece of pure movie entertainment, Rocketman ticks many of the boxes, but as a definitive and historically accurate record of the legendary piano-playing singer’s life, it falls somewhat short.

Rocketman is from Paramount Pictures and is in theatres currently

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (W♥M rating – 7 out of 10 hearts)

Yesterday Synopsis Jack Malik (Himesh Patel, BBC's Eastenders) is a struggling singer-songwriter in a tiny English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie (Lily James, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again). Then, after a freak bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up to discover that The Beatles have never existed... and he finds himself with a very complicated problem, indeed. Rating: PG-13 (for suggestive content and language) Directed By: Danny Boyle Written By: Richard Curtis In Theaters: Jun 28, 2019 Runtime: 112 minutes Studio: Universal Pictures Read More The Beatles The Beatles. Really, a giant of rock giants. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Apple Records/EMI recently re-released all of the Beatles albums re-mastered this past 9/9/09 ..…

Yesterday

Starting with one of the most original ideas in recent film – after a brief worldwide blackout, only one person on Earth apparently remembers The Beatles and their timeless songs – this crowd-pleasing charmer is a fun musical journey to follow, set in a what-if science fantasy reality.

Himesh Patel stars as Jack Malik, the unlikely benefactor of remembering the band and eventually adopts the songs as his own, though he has growing misgivings about claiming the work that is not his own. The effervescent Lily James plays his friend and first manager trying to keep him grounded, as his popularity grows exponentially because of the irresistible new music.

Director Danny (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire) Boyle is expert in providing a slow moment, multi-panel montage, or scrambling frantic pace when the scenes call for it, and writer Richard (Love Actually, Notting Hill) Curtis peppers this love story with his recognizable blend of whimsy, wry comedy, and heart-on-sleeve confessions, that makes this odd story one to invest in.

Singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran plays a main role in the film (also growing up very near Suffolk where much of it is set) and acting as Patel’s character’s mentor in some smaller funny scenes and sharing the stage together at the massive Wembley Stadium, and SNL’s Kate McKinnon plays Malik’s American manager, providing some too-honest comic relief.

An amazing and revelatory (sort-of) cameo towards the end helps Jack realize his need to be honest about everything, and Curtis’ romantic script tendencies go into overdrive, for the film’s satisfying conclusion, re-enforcing the Beatles lyric that “love is all you need”. 

Fun, funny, and romantic, should you see Yesterday? - Yeah, yeah, yeah!

Yesterday is from Universal Pictures and opens on June 28-

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (W♥M rating – 8 out of 10 hearts)

Shaft No one is more at home than a cocky Samuel L. Jackson wise-cracking in an R-rated movie, and he is the standout reason to consider seeing this. The film’s plot (and often the dialogue), are just plain dumb, but Jackson, Jessie Usher as his son, and the O.G. legend Richard Roundtree, somewhat redeem this surprisingly light-hearted film. Shaft is from New Line Cinema and opens June 14 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (W♥M rating – 6 out of 10 hearts)

Men in Black International Whatever chemistry Chris (Thor) Hemsworth and Tessa (Valkyrie) Thompson had in those Avengers film, is completely buried in this way-too-late and ultimately unnecessary, next chapter of the franchise. Left without Will Smith’s energetic humor, Kumail Nanjiani voices a mostly unfunny small CGI character and the lifeless plot is moved about pretty locations to re-enforce the “international” in the film’s title.  Somebody hit me with a neuralyzer to forget watching this badly conceived two hours. Men in Black International is from Columbia Pictures and opens June 14 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (W♥M rating – 5 out of 10 hearts)

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

W♥M210: Video #17

W♥M210: Video #17 (19 mins) Read More DJ Cassidy DJ Cassidy's single "Calling All Hearts" hits iTunes today (February 18th). I just heard the song via soundcloud.com. The track is the preceding single his debut album Paradise Royale …

This is a special Video edition of W♥M Radio. If you're a YouTube user, subscribe to us at youtube.com/user/successlessness.

Please note that due to YouTube aggressive automatic copyright robot, that the file has been altered from the audio podcast.

Some topics:

ERICA BLINN
ericablinn.com

Erica Blinn and her band, The Handsome Machine, have been touring around in support of their new album Lovers In The Dust.

Dates below:

03/25/14 World of Beer Lakewood, Lakewood, OH
03/27/14 Brew-Stirs Clintonville Pub, Columbus, OH
03/29/14 World of Beer Brewery District, Columbus, OH
04/03/14 Blarney Stone Tavern, Worthington, OH
04/04/14 Woodlands Backyard, Columbus, OH 43215
04/11/14 O'Nelly's Pub, Lewis Center, OH
04/18/14 Eldorado's Food & Spirits, Columbus, OH
04/19/14 The Pit Stop Lounge, Columbus, OH
04/25/14 World Of Beer Easton, Columbus, OH
04/26/14 World of Beer Brewery District, Columbus, OH
05/01/14 Blarney Stone Tavern, Worthington, OH
05/16/14 World Of Beer Easton, Columbus, OH
05/17/14 Weasel Boy Brewery, Zanesville, OH
05/23/14 O'Nelly's Pub, Lewis Center, OH
05/24/14 World of Beer Brewery District, Columbus, OH
06/20/14 World Of Beer Easton, Columbus, OH
06/21/14 World of Beer Brewery District, Columbus, OH

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Universal/Island

ELTON JOHN
eltonjohn.com

Elton John's 40th Anniversary of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is being re-released. You can read all the various formats here.

Also, Sir John is turning 67 this March 25th, the same date that Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is being re-released.

Elton John is doing a long residency at The Colosseum At Caesars Palace for this month until April.

NEIL GAIMAN
neilgaiman.com

I didn't see Neil Gaiman on his last-ever book tour, but my sister did. She got my Sandman: Absolute book signed.

Gaiman was last seen recording music with his wife Amanda Palmer, you can read my review of An Evening With Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer here.

DJ CASSIDY
djcassidy.com

As I've previously written, what set DJ Cassidy apart from all the DJs in the world, is that he prefers to compose and write (and even sing) on his songs.

DJ Cassidy is opening up for Robin Thicke (who is seen on his song and video for "Calling All Hearts").

Sun 03/23/14 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium
Wed 03/26/14 Phoenix, AZ Phoenix Convention Center & Venues
Sat 03/29/14 San Francisco, CA Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

BONUS: Game of Thrones Season 3 on Bluray and Ryan Webster.

--
W♥M Radio is available on iTunes, please subscribe!

Subscription Options
Subscribe on iTunes
Subscribe via RSS
Add to Google
Add to Yahoo
____
Archive of this show at archive.org. More information on podomatic.com

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

It was all yellow!

"Look at the stars, look how they shine for you and everything you do. Yeah, they were all yellow." - Coldplay

Read more Going for Gold.

Read More Yellow Ostrich Yellow Ostrich just premiered their video for "Ghost" on Stereogum. You can also download the free MP3 of "Ghost" at yellowostrich.com. "Ghost" is the title track from the band's recent 6-track EP. …

YELLOW OSTRICH
yellowostrich.com

New York's Yellow Ostrich will be heading out on tour this March in support of their latest album, Cosmos (due out Feb. 25 on Barsuk Records).

As a special preview, the band will be playing a private show in New York tomorrow, which W♥M will be covering, so stay tuned for a writeup and some photos.

Yellow Ostrich's tour dates:

02/27 Allston MA - Great Scott
03/03 Washington DC - DC9
03/04 Raleigh NC - Kings
03/05 Atlanta GA - The Earl
03/06 Nashville TN - The High Watt
03/07 Birmingham AL - The Bottletree
03/08 New Orleans LA - Circle Bar
03/09 Houston TX - Fitzgerald's
03/15 Scottsdale AZ - Pub Rock Live
03/16 San Diego CA - Casbah
03/18 Los Angeles CA - The Echo
03/19 San Francisco CA - Bottom of The Hill
03/21 Portland OR - Doug Fir Lounge
03/22 Seattle WA - Barboza
03/23 Vancouver BC - Media Club
03/25 Salt Lake City UT - Urban Lounge
03/26 Denver CO - Hi Dive
03/28 St. Paul MN - Turf Club
03/29 Madison WI - High Noon Saloon
03/30 Milwaukee WI - Turner Hall
03/31 Chicago IL - Schubas
04/01 Indianapolis IN - Do317 Lounge
04/03 Philadelphia PA - Boot & Saddle
04/04 New York NY - Bowery Ballroom

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (40th Anniversary) Universal/Island Read More Blu-Ray Pure Audio The Hurting never sounded so good. In the latest round of audiophile products, the Blu-Ray Pure Audio disc has surfaced as the new dominant format, with Tears for Fears seminal debut album, The Hurting, being part of …

ELTON JOHN
eltonjohn.com

Elton John's breakthrough album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, will be getting a special re-issue this March 25th, 2014. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road spent eight weeks at No.1 and went platinum seven times over in the U.S., thanks to the Marilyn Monroe song, "Candle in the Wind", dynamite "Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting", and the c-c-c-catchy "Bennie and the Jets".

I already own the 30th Anniversary Edition of this record on Double CD + DVD set, and I thought that was the ultimate collection... but clearly I am wrong because this upcoming release is really the grandmaster ultimate edition.

The upcoming 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road will be available in a variety of formats - including that new so-called "HD Pure Audio Blu-Ray", which we just previously reviewed the new format.

It sounds really expensive, so I may have to sit out on this new box set of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (even though that 100-page book sounds so cool).

Collectors! Here is a complete list of formats for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road:

1. 1-CD set: 2014 CD remaster of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering from the original analogue tapes. Digital equivalent editions: Remaster, Mastered For iTunes, HD Edition
2. 2-CD set: 2014 CD remaster of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road as above, 9 cover versions, best of Live At Hammersmith CD Digital equivalent editions: Remaster, Mastered For iTunes
3. Five Disc CD/DVD box set: containing standard album, 9 cover version disc, single B-sides and bonus tracks, complete “Live At Hammersmith” CD, DVD of Bryan Forbes’ 1973 film Elton John And Bernie Taupin Say Goodbye To Norma Jean and Other Things, and 100-page illustrated hardback book packed with rare photos, memorabilia and a new essay containing interviews with Elton John and Bernie Taupin). Digital editions for audio: Remaster, Mastered For iTunes
4. Standard 12” vinyl album. Mastered for vinyl by Doug Sax and Robert Hadley at The Mastering Lab, California. 180-gram audiophile quality vinyl with download card
5. Limited edition yellow vinyl available from store.eltonjohn.com
6. HD Pure Audio Blu-Ray album

Elton John is doing a ton of concert dates, but the one that I noticed right away is a long residency in Las Vegas at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace from 03/29/14 to 04/26/14. Don't live in Las Vegas, but still want to see the Rocket Man live? No problem! For two nights only in the U.S. on March 18 and March 26, 2014, CinemaLive.com, in association with Rocket Music Entertainment Group, Yamaha Entertainment Group of America and Universal Music Group will release a full concert in over 1,200 cinemas worldwide in over 40 countries.

YOUNG YELLER
youngyeller.com

Young Yeller (former Chrome Sparks keyboardist, Jesse Brickel) is from Brooklyn, and he has just released his self-titled debut album today (February 11th).

Young Yeller has been releasing music since 2011 with Make Me EP and steadily been working on his debut album. Expect him to play a few shows in support of the new release.

Track Listing:

01. War
02. 1st Love
03. Drive Me Wild
04. 4 Tonight
05. Wait
06. Ol' Gibbous
07. Cut Me Open
08. U Would Go
09. It's Ok, It's Ok
10. If I Only Knew
11. 2nd Sun
12. I Walked

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com