New Tunes For You Loons

Pop

Kelly Clarkson - "Mr. Know It All"



Flo Rida - "Good Feeling"



Nicki Minaj - "Fly" (ft. Rihanna)



Country

Ashley Gearing - "Me, My Heart, And I"



Eric Church - "Drink In My Hand"



Chris Young - "You"



Rock

Volbeat - "A Warrior's Call"



Aranda - "Undone"



Kyng - "Falling Down"

Welcome Back, Music Blog

Again, my apologies for not keeping up with this blog. I just got a new job, and that has been taking up much of my time.

Anywho, here is this week's concert calendar.

Tuesday

Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Wednesday

Kevin Devine, with The Features
Musica (Akron), 7 PM

MC Chris, with Random A.K.A. Mega Ran, Adam WarRock, MC Lars
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Black Moth Super Rainbow
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Thursday

Elton John, with 2cellos
Blossom Music Center, 8 PM

Elliot Yamin, with Mikey Wax
Musica, 7 PM

"Rock The Bells Presents Tour"
House of Blues, 8 PM

The David Mayfield Parade, with One Way Rider
The Kent Stage, 8 PM

Friday

Lee Brice, with LoCash Cowboys
Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds

Male Bonding, with Love Inks
Grog Shop, 8 PM

John Ford Coley, with The Cryers
The Winchester, 8:30 PM

Asleep At The Wheel
The Kent Stage, 8 PM

Saturday

Darius Rucker, with Little Big Town, Randy Houser
Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds

Red Wanting Blue
Musica, 8 PM

7 Walkers, with Bill Kreutzmann
The Kent Stage, 8 PM

Sam Roberts Band
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Sunday

Joe Jonas, with Jay Sean
House of Blues, 8 PM

The Dirt Daubers, with Wagons
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Samiam
Grog Shop, 8 PM

More New Music, Buddy Boy

Pop

Lloyd - "Dedication To My Ex (Miss That)" (ft. Andre 3000)



The Cab - "Bad"



Jay-Z and Kanye West - "Why I Love You" (f. Mr. Hudson)



Country

Reba - "Somebody's Chelsea"



Vince Gill - "Threaten Me With Heaven"



The JaneDear Girls - "Merry Go Round"



Rock

Adelitas Way - "The Collapse"



Jane's Addiction - "Irresistible Force"



Mastadon - "Curl of the Burl"

Good Ol' Friday Roundup

It's Friday, and just to forewarn you all, I'm in a sour mood today. This blog will be riddled with blistering sarcasm and mean-spirited humor.

Of course, we begin with the headlines.

Some gentleman came up with 89 things he learned at an Insane Clown Posse gathering. If I ever attended one, I'd probably only come up with one thing: why hasn't an atom bomb dropped out of the sky and murdered us all?

Tony Bennett says that Lady Gaga will be as big as Elvis Presley. Good, then I'm looking forward to her clutching her chest while turtling.

Will Smith is planning a comeback album. Personally, I hope it's a "going away" album.

Kevin Federline is now the father of five. Five, as in children, not failed music ventures.

NPR came up with a list of songs that make them feel good. You know what makes me feel good? When I turn NPR off my radio.

A parent regrets taking her daughter to a Taylor Swift concert. I regret ever having read the article.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple turns 66 today. I'm feeling a little "Lazy" today.

Katy Perry and Michael Jackson have two things in common: Both have had five singles off one album top the charts, and both have dreams about teenagers.

John Mellencamp and his wife are officially divorced. Apparently, he was messing around with Diane, while his wife was with Jack, and now it hurts so good.

Rumor has it that David Bowie has retired. This would have been helpful if he did so before "China Girl".

Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week:

Berlin - "Sex (I'm A...)"

Suggesting Some Songs

Pop

Jason Derulo - "It Girl"



Adele - "Someone Like You"



LMFAO - "Sexy And I Know It"



Country

Steel Magnolia - "Bulletproof"



Chris Cagle - "Got My Country On"



The Band Perry - "All Your Life"



Rock

Evanescence - "What You Want"



Art Of Dying - "Get Thru This"



Sixx A.M. - "This Is Gonna Hurt"

Overdue For A Concert Post

Yeah, hi....

I'm really sorry for being MIA since the first week of August. I've been hard at work with some stuff lately that I shan't divulge, but I am back for another full week of blogging.

Tuesday 8/16

Kid Rock, with Sheryl Crow
Blossom Music Center, 7 PM

Wednesday 8/17

Mr. Big
House of Blues, 8:30

Emancipator
Grog Shop, 9 PM

Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Beachland Ballroom, 9 PM

Thursday 8/18

Queensryche
House of Blues, 9 PM

Crossfade
Space Nite Club (Streetsboro), 7 PM

The Devastated, with The Browning, Allegaeon
House of Blues - Cambridge Room, 8 PM

Friday 8/19

Candlebox, with Red Sun Rising
House of Blues, 9 PM

Skid Row
The Cove (Geneva), 6 PM

LA Guns
Clay's Park Resort

Filter, with Saliva
Beachland Ballroom, 8 PM

Pentagram, with Jeff the Brotherhood, Valient Thorr
Peabody's, 7 PM

The Sunrise
The Winchester, 8 PM

Saturday 8/20

Pat Travers, Eric Gales, Rick Ray Band, Bobby Messano
Clay's Park Resort

The Steeldrivers
Beachland Ballroom, 8 PM

Sunday 8/21

Blue Oyster Cult, with Chuck Negron, Bobby Messano
Clay's Park Resort

Tim Kasher, with Aficionado
Grog Shop, 8 PM

The Alternate Routes, with The Scattered Trees
Beachland Ballroom, 8 PM

Making Up For Last Week

My apologies for missing last Friday's Friday blog. I took a brief sabbatical.

Actually, that's a lie. I just wasn't anywhere near a computer to complete this.

Kings Of Leon singer "urged" into rehab. For what, crappy music?

Miley Cyrus was caught smoking a cigarette on a boat. Leave your phony outrage in the comments section.

I don't know about you, but I've been listening to a ton of Amy Winehouse lately. I wonder why?

Mindy McCready sues the National Enquirer. Her and Roger Clemens would make a cute couple, after all.

Jay-Z's got 99 problems, and Kanye just may be one of them.

Matthew Caws celebrates his 44th birthday today. Here's the teenage anthem "Popular".

Taylor Swift tells all. Well, not really.

MTV turned 30 years young this week. Here is the SECOND video played on the network.

On noes! Is there trouble in paradise????

The fact that "Soulja Boy" and "$55 Million" are mentioned in the same article proves that I have done nothing with my life.

Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week

Rod Stewart - "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy"

Midweek Music

Pop

Nayer - "Suave (Kiss Me)" (ft. Pitbull and Mohombi)



Lady Gaga - "You And I"



Neon Hitch - "Bad Dog"



Country

Eric Paslay - "Never Really Wanted"



Martina McBride - "I'm Gonna Love You Through It"



Bomshel - "HalleluY’all"



Rock

Five Finger Death Punch - "Under And Over It"



Puddle Of Mudd - "Gimme Shelter"



Emphatic - "Bounce"

August Shows (Creative Title, I Know)

Monday 8/01

Toad The Wet Sprocket
The Kent Stage, 8 PM

Anarbor, with Valencia, Conditions
Grog Shop, 6 PM

Tuesday 8/02

Journey, with Foreigner, Night Ranger
Blossom Music Center, 7 PM

Bright Eyes, with The Mountain Goats
House of Blues, 9 PM

Paul Dempsey
Beachland Ballroom, 8 PM

Cold Cave
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Wednesday 8/03

Jill Scott, with Anthony Hamilton, Mint Condition, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Doug E. Fresh
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 7 PM

Eels, with The Submarines
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

The Joy Formidable
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Thursday 8/04

Ted Nugent
House of Blues, 9 PM

Tartan Terrors
The Kent Stage, 8 PM

Friday 8/05

O.A.R.
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 7 PM

Alkaline Trio, with mewithoutYou, River City Extension, Smoking Popes
House of Blues, 8 PM

Orla Fallon
Evans Amphitheatre, 8 PM

Andy Pratt
The Winchester, 9 PM

Iris DeMent
The Kent Stage, 8 PM

Saturday 8/06

Bob Dylan, with Leon Russell
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 8 PM

Kottonmouth Kings
Peabody's, 7 PM

Joseph Arthur
Musica (Akron), 8 PM

Eric Johnson, with Moreland & Arbuckle
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Marley's Ghost
The Winchester, 8 PM

Sunday 8/07

"The Fest", with Blessid Union Of Souls
Center For Pastoral Leadership (Wickliffe)

CJ Ramone, with Hostile Omish
Peabody's, 7 PM

J.J. Grey & Mofro
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

New Music For July 27th and Beyond

Pop

The Script - "Nothing"



Rihanna - "Cheers (Drink To Death)"



Alexandra Stan - "Mr. Saxobeat"



Country

Sonia Leigh - "My Name Is Money"



Justin Moore - "Bait A Hook"



Hali Hicks - "Last Night Of Spring"



Rock

Bush - "The Sound Of Winter"



Nine Left Dead - "Put Your Guns Down"



Middle Class Rut - "Busy Bein' Born"

Cool Concerts During a Hot Week

Monday 7/25

Hinder, with My Darkest Days
House of Blues, 7:30 PM

Tuesday 7/26

Britney Spears, with Nicki Minaj
Quicken Loans Arena, 7 PM

Pat Benatar, with Robin Stone
House of Blues, 8:30 PM

The Decemberists
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 8 PM

El Ten Eleven, with Tera Melos, The Globes
Beachland Ballroom, 9 PM

Frightened Rabbit, with Bad Veins
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Wednesday 7/27

New Kids On The Block, with Backstreet Boys
Quicken Loans Arena, 7:30 PM

Poison, with Warrant
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 8 PM

"All Stars Tour"
Agora Theatre

Johnny Winter
Beachland Ballroom, 9 PM

The Swellers, with Fake Problems, Daytrader
Musica (Akron), 7 PM

Obscura
Peabody's, 7 PM

Anvil
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Thursday 7/28

Flogging Molly, with Clutch
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 6:30 PM

Carbon leaf, with The Giving Tree Band
The Kent Stage, 8 PM

Mean Tangerine
Musica, 7 PM

Gentleman Hall
House of Blues - Cambridge Room, 7:30 PM

Friday 7/29

Cold, with Volbeat
House of Blues, 7:30 PM

Bucktown Kickback
The Winchester, 9 PM

Impending Doom
Peabody's, 6:30 PM

Los Straightjackets, with Hi Risers
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

The Dear Hunter
Grog Shop, 6 PM

Saturday 7/30

Taylor Swift, with Needtobreathe, Hunter Hayes
Quicken Loans Arena, 7:30

Puddle Of Mudd, with Rev Theory
House of Blues, 8 PM

Chris Robinson Brotherhood, with Band Of Heathens
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Sunday 7/31

Steve Earle, with Allison Moorer
The Kent Stage, 7:30 PM

The Downtown Fiction, with Action Item, The Summer Set
Musica, 7 PM

Phantogram, The Glitch Mob, Com Truise
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Music/Entertainment Rundown

It's been a hot one this week, ladies and germs. I'll cool you off with some of this week's music headlines.

It wouldn't be Friday without Rebecca Black, right? RIGHT?

Bette Midler accuses Lady Gaga of plagiarism. Lay off her, Bette. She was born this way.

Katy Perry has been nominated for nine MTV VMA awards. This just in, the VMAs are newsworthy?

What songs make you cry?

Rihanna is doing her best Ke$ha impersonation.

Happy 64th birthday to Don Henley. Let's hang a little "Dirty Laundry."

J-Lo and Marc Anthony split this week. How the universe hasn't crashed down upon us is one of life's biggest mysteries.

Ja Rule to live it up in jail for the next 28 months.

Weird Al disappointed over lagging album sales. Is Coolio returning his calls yet?

Avril Lavigne has a pizza named after her. I wonder if the pizza is overrated and has no substance, as well.

Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week

Willa Ford - "I Wanna Be Bad"

Willa has since hung up her microphone, and apparently her clothes, as she has taken it off for Playboy and two movies. I can safely say I prefer her post-music career, but that's just me.

Hump Day Tunes

Uh oh, it's Wednesday again. That must mean it's time for some new music suggestions.

Pop

Kelly Rowland - "Motivation" (ft. Lil' Wayne) (NSFW)

I wonder if the writing process for Kelly here was a Dilemma.



Demi Lovato - "Skyscraper"



Ke$ha - "Shots on the Hood of My Car"

Ke$ha will do shots on the hood of a car...and in a bar...and in a home...and in a church vestibule...



Country

Marlee Scott - "Beautiful Maybe"



Jason Cassidy - "Honky Tonk Heaven"



Kristin Chenoweth - "I Want Somebody"



Rock

Red Hot Chili Peppers - "The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie"



Staind - "Not Again"



Blink-182 - "Up All Night"

Summer Shows

Monday 7/18

Interpol, with The Soft Moon
House of Blues, 8 PM

Truckfighters, with Valley Of The Sun, Venomin James, Forged In Flame
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Tuesday 7/19

Jimmy Buffett
Blossom Music Center, 8 PM

Stone Temple Pilots, with Rose Hill Drive
Classic Park (Eastlake), 6:30 PM

Buckcherry, with Duff McKagan's Loaded, Taddy Porter
House of Blues, 7:30 PM

Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social, with The Biters
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Dala
Evans Amphitheatre (Cleveland Heights), 8 PM

Wednesday 7/20

Vans Warped Tour
Blossom Music Center, 12 PM

Thomas Dybdahl
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Thursday 7/21

Keith Urban, with Jake Owen
Quicken Loans Arena, 7:30

Koji, with Jeff Pianki
Musica (Akron), 8 PM

The Life And Times
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Friday 7/22

Lil' Wayne, with Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Far East Movement, Lloyd
Blossom Music Center, 7 PM

"Blues Caravan", with Samantha Fish, Dani Wilde, Cassie Taylor
The Winchester (Lakewood), 9 PM

Broccoli Samurai
Beachland Ballroom, 9 PM

Saturday 7/23

Taking Back Sunday, with Thursday
House of Blues, 7 PM

Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
The Kent Stage (Kent), 8 PM

Rockapella
Evans Amphitheatre, 8 PM

Kenny Zimlinghaus
The Winchester, 9 PM

Torche, with Big Business, Helms Alee
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Sunday 7/24

"Closer To My Dreams Tour", with Tyga, Mindless Behavior, Diggy Simmons, Lil Twist, Jawan Harris, Trevante
House of Blues, 7 PM

Callers, with Nat Baldwin
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Gotta Gotta Gotta...

...Get down, as Murray Saul once said.

Once again, it is Friday. Time for some headlines and the like.

The Top 23 Fake Bands of All-Time. Apparently, Spinal Tap was a real band?

Bush plans to make a comeback. I thought there was a two term limit?

Again, Morrissey, please reunite with Johnny Marr. You have officially lost your mind.

Dave Grohl calls out an audience member, and promptly tosses him out of the concert. (NSFW-ish language)

Oh, good, I was afraid I was the only one.

Joe Satriani celebrates his 55th birthday today. Here's a little "Satch Boogie".

A different take on country music. Do you agree, or is the article a little biased?

And Nick Oliveri wonders why he is banned from Queens Of The Stone Age?

How is Lynne Spears, 56, in better shape than her pop star daughter?

The most overused songs in movies. Can they throw in "Don't Bring Me Down" by ELO, as it was used in the horrible new Adam Sandler movie?

Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week

Deadeye Dick - "New Age Girl"

Truthfully, this may be one of the worst songs ever created. However, because I'm an enormous Dumb and Dumber fan, I will not change this song when it appears on my iTunes.

Sorry This Is A Day Late...

Time for some new music suggestions. Got a good crop this week, I tell you.

Pop

Beyonce - "Best Thing I Never Had"



Selena Gomez & The Scene - "Love You Like A Love Song"



Andy Grammer - "Keep Your Head Up"



Country

Taylor Swift - "Sparks Fly"



Craig Morgan - "This Ole Boy"



Blake Shelton - "God Gave Me You"



Rock

Incubus - "Promises, Promises"



Falling In Reverse - "The Drug in Me is You"



The Nightwatchman - "It Begins Tonight"

This Week's Show Schedule

Monday 7/11

Gang Gang Dance
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Tuesday 7/12

Aaron Lewis, with Alexa Carter
House of Blues, 8 PM

Wednesday 7/13

Ambrosia
The Winchester, 8 PM

Lizzy Borden, with Shok Paris
Peabody's, 7 PM

Mary Chapin Carpenter
The Kent Stage, 8 PM

Thursday 7/14

Insane Clown Posse
Peabody's, 7 PM

Kurt Vile & The Violators
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Lubriphonic
Beachland Ballroom, 9 PM

Friday 7/15

Toby Keith, with Eric Church, JT Hodges
Blossom Music Center, 7 PM

Insane Clown Posse
Peabody's, 7 PM

"7 Bridges" - The Ultimate Eagles Experience, with Blue Lunch
Rockin' on the River

Free Energy
Beachland Ballroom, 9 PM

Iain Matthews
The Winchester, 8:30 PM

Saturday 7/16

Lucinda Williams, with Amos Lee
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 8 PM

The Flip Side
The Winchester, 8 PM

Sunday 7/17

Tech N9ne
Agora Theatre, 7 PM

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, with Sons Of Bill
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Easy Like Friday Morning

Oh, look, it's Friday again.

Yes, I would like to know what celebrities are saying about the Casey Anthony verdict. Ugh.

Hanson is allowing their fans to choose the set list for their upcoming tour. The setlist will be "MMMBop", "MMMBop", "MMMBop", and will have an encore medley of "MMMBop".

Jamie Cook, guitarist for the Arctic Monkeys, celebrates a birthday today. Here is "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor".

Justin Timberlake's mother once caught him making whoopee. With the amount of women he's been with, the odds of that happening are pretty good.

Muse wants to record an album in space. Didn't Zager & Evans try to do that?

Maybe Lenny Kravitz was right that rock n' roll is dead.

Bow Wow is troubled that his daughter lives so far away, and I am troubled over his poor grammar.

Ben Folds recruits fifteen thousand people to sing for him.

Milli planning a comeback without Vanilli. Or is it other way around?

Hey, Katy Perry, about your hair...

Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week

Monica - "Angel of Mine"

New Road Trippin' Tunes

I am heading out to Cedar Point today, and I was looking to put some new tunes onto my iPod Touch.

Then it dawned on me. "Dummy, you write a music blog! How about taking your own advice?!"

So here are some songs that I'll be listening to as I make the drive to Sandusky, Ohio.

Pop

Javier Colon - "Stitch by Stitch"



Katy Perry - "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)"



Mann - "The Mack" (ft. Snoop Dogg and Iyaz)

Being a huge fan of "Return of the Mack" by Mark Morrison, this song makes me sad.



Country

Phil Vassar - Let's Get Together



Justin Haigh - "All My Best Friends (Are Behind Bars)"

If all your friends are behind bars, then maybe it's time time find some new friends. Unless Justin means they're all bartenders, which may be a good thing!



Thompson Square - "I Got You"



Rock

Every Avenue - "No One But You"



3 Doors Down - "Every Time You Go"

My apologies for the poor quality. I could not find anything clearer. Sue me.



Seether - "Tonight"

Fourth of July Concert Calendar

Tuesday 7/05

Katy Perry, with Marina And The Diamonds, Skeet Skeet
Quicken Loans Arena, 7:30 PM

David Gray
Akron Civic Theater, 8 PM

Taj Weekes & Adowa
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Wednesday 7/06

R. Kelly, with Keyshia Cole, Marsha Ambrosius
Wolstein Center, 7:30 PM

Urge Overkill
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Origin, with Hate Eternal
Peabody's, 6:30 PM

Thursday 7/07

Delicate Steve
Musica, 7:15 PM

Liturgy, with Dope Body
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Chris Webby, with Matrimony
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Friday 7/08

Rascal Flatts, with Sara Evans
Blossom Music Center, 7 PM

New Found Glory, with Third Eye Blind
Clay's Park Resort, 6 PM

100 Monkeys, with The Kissing Club, The Bleeding Horse Express
House of Blues, 7 PM

"Almost Queen" - A Tribute to Queen, with Skinny Moo
Rockin' on the River

"Wounded Hand" - A Tribute to Stone Temple Pilots
The Winchester, 9 PM

Hawthorne Heights
Peabody's, 6:30 PM

Another Hero Dies, with Sleep City, Spies Like Us
Roc Bar, 8 PM

Saturday 7/09

Sade, with John Legend
Quicken Loans Arena, 8 PM

Three Days Grace, with My Darkest Days, Saving Abel
Clay's Park Resort, 5 PM

Caravan Of Thieves
The Winchester, 9 PM

Sunday 7/10

Wiz Khalifa
Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, 3 PM

Blame Sally
Beachland Ballroom, 7 PM

Phenomenal Phriday

And so we begin a holiday weekend. I hope everyone will enjoy their three-day weekend, and if you have to work (like yours truly...all weekend long...), then I hope you can make it to Tuesday without blowing your fingers off with a firecracker.

Just a quick note, I will still post my concert calendar on Monday. I will not be taking the day off from you, my loyal blog-viewers.

Now I'm rambling. Here are the top stories from the week.

Michele Bachmann was denied usage of a song by multiple Grammy Award winning group Katrina & The Waves.

Danzig was forced to cancel their South American tour. Sadly, it's not because he plans on rejoining The Misfits.

This is the revised transcript of The Boss's eulogy to the Big Man.

Happy 48th birthday to Roddy Bottum, keyboardist of Faith No More. Here's "Midlife Crisis".

Vince Neil gets a lifetime achievement award. For what? Breathing heavily on stage? Not being able to hold a note since the '80s?

Hey, Morrissey, how about a Smiths reunion already???

Chuck Berry has a statue erected in his honor, presumably for being Goode.

Ooh, look at Lenny Kravitz. How avant-garde of him! What a rebel!

Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic play "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for the first time in seventeen years. In those seventeen years, 72,000 musicians have tried and all have failed.

Justin Bieber says he will not 'limit himself' on his next album, and says he just wants to make music. Okay, so what has he been doing the past two years, then?

Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week

The All-American Rejects - "Gives You Hell"

I first saw The All-American Rejects back in 2003, and again in 2005. And both by complete accident (Warped Tour). Not saying they put on a bad show, mainly because the screams of teenage girls drowned out the music.

Oh, Only 12 Hours Late...

Normally, I try to post these blogs around noonish, but due to more unforeseen circumstances, this is another delayed post.

My goal was to get these new songs posted before midnight, or else I'll turn into a pumpkin.

Pop

Maroon 5 - "Moves Like Jagger" (ft. Christina Aguilera) (NSFW)

If Maroon 5's attempt was to get a song stuck in your head until you want to lance your eardrum with a Ginsu knife, then they succeeded.



Chris Brown - "Next to You" (ft. Justin Bieber)

Last weekend's entire BET Awards show was centered around Chris Brown. Apparently, everyone has forgotten about that whole "Rihanna" thing...



Theory Of A Deadman - "Lowlife" (NSFW)

Talk about some of the nicest guys in the music business. I had the pleasure of meeting them back in 2008, and they certainly are not lowlifes.



Country

Shania Twain - "Today is Your Day"

Yup, I used to have a major crush on Shania Twain, all the way back when "You're Still the One" was topping the charts.



Ashton Shepherd - "Where Country Grows"

I'm not sure where country grows, but I have a feeling it's somewhere between the Atlantic and Pacific.



Attwater - "Never Gonna Happen"

This song is so brand new that it has that "new song" smell to it.



Rock

Black Veil Brides - "The Legacy"

If you are into a double bass pedal, then this song is for you.



Red Line Chemistry - "Ultragigantor"

This is a cool new band to check out. They have a high energy show (so I'm told), and a new album out.



Papa Roach - "No Matter What"

I've seen Papa Roach three times in concert, and they always put on a good show. I'm not the biggest fan of their new stuff, though I won't begrudge anyone for listening to them.

Late June/Early July Concert Calendar

Monday 6/27

Matisyahu, with Sub Swara
House of Blues, 7:30 PM

Lee Dewyze
Musica (Akron), 8 PM

Tim Easton, with Madison Square Gardeners
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Tuesday 6/28

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Peabody's, 6:30 PM

Mishka, with Anuhea, Mat McHugh
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Joe Purdy, with Milk Carton Kids
Beachland Ballroom, 8 PM

Chris Miller
Happy Dog

Wednesday 6/29

American Babies, with Dan McCoy & The Standing 8′s, The Press
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Friday 7/01

Kid Cudi, with Chip Tha Ripper
Quicken Loans Arena, 8 PM

Gypsy Relic, with Sound People, GAZ
House of Blues - Cambridge Room, 8:30 PM

Emery
Musica, 6:30 PM

Phunkhie Panduh Munkhieeez
The Winchester, 9 PM

The Elected, with Tristen, Mike Bloom
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Fins To The Left, with Uptown Cats
"Rockin' on the River" (Cuyahoga Falls)

Saturday 7/02

Idina Menzel
Severance Hall, 8 PM

Mushroomhead Old School Show
Peabody's, 7 PM

"Jersey" - Tribute to Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
The Winchester, 9 PM

Centro-Matic, with Sarah Jaffe, The David Mayfield Parade
Beachland Ballroom, 8 PM

Sunday 7/03

"All That Jazz Festival", with David Benoit
Wolstein Center, 4 PM

Stephen Marley
House of Blues, 7 PM

"Second Helping" - A Salute To Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lock 3 Live Amphitheater (Akron)

Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, with Scoliosis Jones, 45 Spider
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Putting a Bow on This Week

Is it Friday again? Thank heavens. Here are the headlines, yo.

Earth, Wind, and Fire cancel a performance due to earth, wind, and fire.

Blink-182 plans to finish their new album soon. All three fans stand up and applaud.

Happy 64th birthday to Mick Fleetwood, drummer from Fleetwood Mac. Here's "Rhiannon".

To commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind, a four CD/one DVD box set will be released later this year. Translation: Courtney Love smoked/drank her money away. Again.

Paris Hilton plans on releasing another album that will be used to torture inmates at Guantanamo Bay.

Amy Winehouse cancels part of her European tour. Still, I'd rather see her in concert than The Mars Volta.

Kings of Leon honored the life of Ryan Dunn at a recent concert in London. No word if they covered Sammy Hagar's "I Can't Drive 55".

Katy Perry began praying for breasts when she turned 11. Now, I don't want to say you can't have too much prayers, but...

Glen Campbell is suffering from Alzheimer's. He'll still be a rhinestone cowboy in my eyes.

MTV plans to ruin Footloose forever.

Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week

Monifah - "Touch It" (NSFW)

In order for me to post this song, I had to find out who recorded it. This was, like, a three-year search for this semi-popular song from 1998.

Summer Solstice Songs

I'm not sure where you are reading this blog from, but it is downright tropical out by me. As of this writing, it is 79 muggy degrees and overcast, with a good chance of rain. I might as well be living in the Amazon Basin.

I really don't feel like accomplishing anything outside, and neither should you. So stay inside, and add some of these new tracks to your iPod or MP3 player.

Pop

Bad Meets Evil - "Lighters" (ft. Bruno Mars) (NSFW)

The new craze in hip-hop music is to balance out hard-hitting verses with Bruno Mars's dulcet tones in the chorus. Hey, it worked for B.o.B.



Iyaz - "Pretty Girls" (ft. Travie McCoy)

I do hope Iyaz can find a pretty girl in this city. If not, he'll have to go solo.



"Weird Al" Yankovic - "Perform This Way"

I would be remiss if I didn't post Weird Al's new Lady Gaga parody. Is it cheesy? Of course. Is it funny? Of course.



Country

Brad Paisley - "Remind Me" (ft. Carrie Underwood)

I can't help it. I'm a sucker for some Carrie Underwood. Mike Fisher is pretty smitten as well.



Alan Jackson - "Long Way to Go"

A little bit of rockabilly twang from Alan Jackson here. Just some fun music to listen to on a boat after a few too many Coronas.



David Bradley - "Hard Time Movin' On" (ft. Rodney Crowell)

Plenty of people can relate to a song like this. For example, I have a hard time movin' on from the 1997 World Series...Ugh!!!



Rock

311 - "Sunset in July"

When summertime hits, 311 is my go-to band to not only listen to, but to see in concert. I've seen them four times, but, unfortunately, they aren't coming to my neck of the woods in 2011.



Hollywood Undead - "Been to Hell" (NSFW)

Huh. I kind of thought nu metal went by the wayside around 2003. But Hollywood Undead has quite a following, so who am I to be a curmudgeon?



Staind - "The Bottom"

Wait. Staind came out with some hard-edged music? This is a pleasant change from the utter crap they've released since 2001 (one man's opinion).

Extremely Late Post

Sorry about the delay, folks. There are certain unmentionable cable companies who do not take enough pride in fixing their product, thus leaving me without internet connection.

But enough of my belaboring. Here is this week's Northeast Ohio concert calendar.

Tuesday 6/21

G. Love & Special Sauce
Kent Stage, 8 PM

Peelander-Z
Musica (Akron), 7 PM

The Parlotones, with The Daylights
Grog Shop (Cleveland Hts.), 8 PM

The Wronglers, with Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Beachland Ballroom

Wednesday 6/22

Forbidden, with Revocation, White Wizzard, Havok
Peabody's Down Under, 6:30 PM

Thursday 6/23

Kenny Chesney, with Billy Currington, Uncle Kracker
Blossom Music Center, 7 PM

Jonny Lang
House of Blues, 7 PM

Empires
Musica, 8 PM

People Under The Stairs
Grog Shop, 8 PM

We Are The Union, with I Call Fives, Handguns
Carriage House (Louisville)

Friday 6/24

Big Brother & The Holding Co., with The Swamp Boogie Band
Rockin' on the River (Cuyahoga Falls)

Scott H. Biram
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Saturday 6/25

The Reckoning (R.E.M. Tribute)
The Winchester (Lakewood), 9 PM

Joey Belladonna
Livewire Lounge (Mentor)

Not-So-Fastidious Friday

No dilly-dallying here today, folks. We have breaking and potentially upsetting news on this "Friday, Friday".

Rebecca Black has her "Friday" song taken off YouTube. NOW how will I be able to kick my Fridays off??

Cee Lo is annoyed by his recent success. It really must be difficult to sing a song all the time called "Forget You!".

Justin Timberlake tells Playboy magazine that "music is not a priority". Incidentally, reading the articles in Playboy isn't a priority, either.

Ke$ha shows off her stems at some event. Pardon me as I gouge my eyeballs with a mechanical pencil.

Pete Townshend auctions off his child por-, I mean, Les Paul guitar for $50,000.

While she may be aging, Fergie claims she is still "young at heart". When did Fergie contract Progeria?

After a recent trip to the hospital, Selena Gomez admits she needs to change her diet. That Bieber Fever is hazardous to one's health.

Clarence Clemons is in stable condition after a recent stroke.

Krayzie Bone from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony celebrates a birthday today. Here's "1st Of Tha Month".

Jack White and his wife get divorced on their six-year anniversary. Hmm, sounds pretty amicable to me.

Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week:

Hot Chelle Rae - "Tonight Tonight"

I'm not going to tell you where I work at, but I play this song constantly at live events. It's not a good song by any means, but it is a humiliatingly catchy tune that I find myself singing every now and then.

New Tunes From T-Maze

Your iPod is soooo two thousand-and-late. It's time for some New Music suggestions.

Pop

Gym Class Heroes - "Stereo Hearts" (ft. Adam Levine)

Being released to iTunes yesterday, this song is hot off the presses (or whatever they call it in the music biz; I'm in News-Herald mode right now).



Cee Lo Green - "Bright Lights Bigger City" (ft. Wiz Khalifa)

After a few quirky singles, Cee Lo has joined the world of fist-bumping club anthems. And has Wiz Khalifa turned into 2011's Pitbull? He seems to be featured in every song these days.



Foster The People - "Pumped Up Kicks"

I wanted a pair of pumped up kicks back in the early nineties, but my mom wouldn't buy them for me. Instead, I believe I settled for a pair of LA Gear's.



Country

Craig Campbell - "Fish"

I never got the appeal of fishing, but if I did, I wouldn't mind vibing to this tune as I cast a lure into Lake Erie. *Warning* This song includes a few nauseating puns and double entendres.



Brett Eldredge - "It Ain't Gotta Be Love"

I can't help it. I'm a sucker for an acoustic guitar solo.



The Dirt Drifters - "Always a Reason"

Not saying I don't like this song, but I recommend listening to these guys because I love their name.



Rock

Foo Fighters - "Walk"

I have seen Foo Fighters three times, and they have won a Grammy after I checked them out. I must be Dave Grohl's good luck charm.


Cold - "Wicked World"

This is a band I'm happy to see get back together. They are fantastic live, as I saw them when Year of the Spider was on the charts.



Skillet - "It's Not Me It's You"

I've had many a fight with previous girlfriends by just saying the name of this Skillet tune.

Mid-June NEO Concert Calendar

Ladies and gents, what I have posted below is the concert calendar for Northeast Ohio this week.

Again, if you don't live in the area, you can skip this post and rejoin me for my New Music Wednesday feature.

Monday 6/13

Foster The People, with Canon Blue, Gardens And Villa (Sold Out)
Grog Shop (Cleveland Heights), 8 PM

Tuesday 6/14

"Glee Live! In Concert"
Quicken Loans Arena, 7:30 PM

Kate Voegele (Sold Out)
House of Blues - Cambridge Room, 9:30

Against Me!, with Screaming Females, Lemuria, The Sidekicks
House of Blues, 8 PM

The Cave Singers
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Wednesday 6/15

Musiq Soulchild
House of Blues, 9 PM

Thursday 6/16

Art Brut
Beachland Ballroom, 8:30 PM

Rubblebucket
Beachland Ballroom, 9 PM

Janis Ian
Cain Park, 8 PM

Corey Smith
Musica, 8 PM

Friday 6/17

Warren Haynes Band
House of Blues, 9 PM

Miranda Lambert, with Joe Nichols, Josh Kelley
Clay's Park, 6 PM

Zoso (The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience)
Rockin' on the River

Taylor Eigsti, with Becca Stevens
Nighttown, 9 PM

Ian McLagan
The Winchester, 9 PM

Brothers Past
Grog Shop, 8 PM

Saturday 6/18

Gary Allen, with Montgomery Gentry
Clay's Park, 2:45 PM

Hotel California (Original Tribute to The Eagles)
Lock 3 Live Amphitheater

John Doyle, with Karan Casey
Evans Amphitheater, 8 PM

Title Fight
Now That's Class

Kevin Seconds
Beachland Ballroom, 8 PM

Waterband
The Winchester, 9 PM

Wrapping Up The Week That Was

That's right, folks, 'tis Friday.

I know you are all anxious to see what I post for my Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week. Hold your horses, I'll get to that in a jiffy.

But first, the headlines:

Flo Rida was popped for a DUI and driving under a suspended license. The club can't handle him, but the Miami Beach Police Department had no problem doing so.

Even Gwen Stefani thinks her solo career has gone bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

Red Hot Chili Peppers have a new album set for an August 30th relea- OH MY GOD, WHAT'S WITH THE MUSTACHE????

Will.i.am. forgets the lyrics to a Black Eyed Peas song, and used his cell phone as a cheat sheet. These kids today and their rap music and their mobile phones.

I think I look better in hot pants than Christina Aguilera.

Buzzcocks frontman tells a story of stealing cocaine from Kurt Cobain. Looking back, maybe he should have taken the heroin and a shotgun from Kurt as well.

Speaking of drugs, Aerosmith is recording their first album in ten years.

The biggest and hottest band coming to a town near you is......Maroon 5???

Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson: "We're better than Metallica...and it's true!" In fairness, everyone is better than Metallica since 1991.

Two A-list rappers and a bunch of indie rock bands you've never heard are headlining Bonnaroo this weekend.

And now, for my Guilty Pleasure Song of the Week:

Savage Garden - "Truly, Madly, Deeply"

This is a "roll your car windows up" song for me. This is also one of those tunes you haven't heard in years, yet you vividly remember all the lyrics. Or maybe it's just me. Who knows. Anywho, enjoy the ditty, and have a fun-filled weekend.

Hot New Tunes For A Hot Day

I have been informed that, at the time of this writing, it is about 95 degrees outside. I would not know, since I have chosen some new music for you to download, in the comfort of my air conditioned home.

Pop

Coldplay - "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall"

I could be wrong, but this may be the first time Coldplay will be bumping in the club. Never in my life would I hear Chris Martin's voice as I Moonwalk on the dance floor.



Big Sean - "My Last" (ft. Chris Brown)

Chris Brown is "gonna hit this drink up like...", well, make your own joke here. It's too easy for me.



Porcelain Black - "This is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" (ft. Lil' Wayne) (NSFW)

This song wins the award for "Most Misleading Song Title", because this isn't what rock n' roll looks or sounds like. Unless, of course, I'm old fashioned, which may or may not be the case.



Country

Scotty McCreery - "I Love You This Big"

I haven't watched American Idol since Brian Dunkleman was on, so I admittedly do not know much about Scotty McCreery. However, how does that voice come out of this 17-year-old kid??



Kellie Pickler - "Tough"

Here's another American Idol contestant gone bigtime. This song is catchy enough for the mainstream, but country enough for the genre.



JT Hodges - "Hunt You Down"

JT Hodges is a rising star in the country world. Probably more folksy than country, but nonetheless some good toe-tapping music.



Rock

Sick Puppies - "Riptide"

Another single off their album, Tri-Polar, the beginning sounds A LOT like Green Day's "Brain Stew". But I could be just nitpicking here...



Limp Bizkit - "Shotgun" (NSFW)

Many bands change their style over the years, but not Limp Bizkit. "Shotgun" sounds like it could have been released during the Clinton administration.



Blue October - "The Chills"

After touring the country with an acoustic set, Blue October is back with a full-length album entitled Any Man in America. They are definitely capitalizing on this recent revival of alternative rock.