http://www.concertlivewire.com Mon 8, Aug 2011 02:30:04 GMT Mon 8, Aug 2011 21:54:01 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/dailydish.htm The rap genre is known for rampantly running egos, but two of its mega stars seemed to have put them on the shelf for the collaborative collection Watch the Throne (Def Jam). Catch Jay-Z and Kanye West vying for the prize of the top man behind the mic with production from The RZA, The Neptunes and frequent West collaborator Mike Dean. The collection was recorded by both megastars in person throughout the UK, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Paris and New York City... ConcertLivewire Mon 8, Aug 2011 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/dailydish.htm Considering Lollapalooza turns 20 this year, it would seem obvious that organizers would pull out all the stops to reunite the key players from yesterday, grab all of today's top talents and simultaneously focus on the future. Though the current and upcoming bases are adequately covered, the line-up isn't the complete hole in one it could be, suggesting that the Chicago mainstay may be running out of steam. Just take a look at the first night's performers, which inexplicably pair Coldplay and Muse against one another as co-headliners (even if they share the exact same fan base) with an under card that's pretty unremarkable... ConcertLivewire Fri 5, Aug 2011 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/paul11.htm It's been six years since Paul McCartney has performed in Chicagoland and, surprisingly, 46 years since he last played in a Windy City baseball stadium (that was back in August 20, 1965 when he performed at Comiskey Park with his former band, The Beatles). But last night changed all that with the first of a two-night stint at the Chicago Cubs' home-park, Wrigley Field... ConcertLivewire Fri 5, Aug 2011 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/vans11.htm TThe Central Florida Fairgrounds smelled of hotdogs and pot. Shirtless guys and bra-donning girls milled among the tents erected on the patchy field. With a 106 degree heat index, it was unbearably hot, but music junkies from across the Sunshine State still came out to participate in the annual Vans Warped Tour. Volunteers at the Trojan tent handed out condoms to sheepish kids while non-profit organizations such as To Write Love on Her Arms and Boarding For Breast Cancer distributed promotional materials... ConcertLivewire Fri 5, Aug 2011 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/inxs11.htm Though it might be easy for skeptics to question the band's intentions about moving on, the Australian alternative rock favorites are extremely vocal about this tour serving as a tribute to Hutchence. In fact, the group's latest project Original Sin (Rhino) finds the fellas rearranging their best loved hits and some deeper album cuts with several guest vocalists as diverse as Ben Harper and Nikka Costa to Tricky and Train's Pat Monahan... ConcertLivewire Fri 5, Aug 2011 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/dailydish.htm The spirit of melodic power pop is alive and well on Fountains of Wayne's newest creation Sky Full of Holes (Yep Roc). Spread evenly between cuts with monstrous choruses and quirky acoustic ballads, the songwriting duo comprised of Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger shines, turning in a slew of tongue in cheek titles... ConcertLivewire Mon 1, Aug 2011 12:12:50 GMT http://www.concertlivewire.com/dolly11.htm There are very few artists, if any, who could be just as comfortable covering Led Zeppelin as Tina Turner or singing a duet with Kenny Rogers and then giving a song to Whitney Houston. But that's exactly why Dolly Parton's one of a kind, not to mention the fact that her personality (and other familiar assets) are downright larger than life. Across a brand new, two-plus hour stop at Chicagoland's Rosemont Theatre, the country turned pop (and everything in between) diva dived into an amazingly diverse song list... ConcertLivewire Mon 1, Aug 2011 12:12:50 GMT