Filed under: News, Television

C Brandon, Redferns

As we learned last month, when Lana Del Rey's iffy 'Saturday Night Live' performance had everyone from indie snobs to Brian Williams crying foul, people like authenticity -- or at least what they perceive as such. Last night's guest, Bon Iver, have never been called out for their genuineness, and performing 'Holocene' and 'Beth/Rest,' singer Justin Vernon and his blazer-clad sidemen reclaimed the stage for fans of earnest, down-home indie-folk.

Or so they did on the first song, the decidedly un-Lana-like 'Holocene.' Over muted brass, fingerpicked guitar and a barely-there rhythm, Vernon sang with the gentle beauty of a sleepy librarian. The band was tight and poised, and the only guy showing much in the way of excitement was the headband-rocking percussionist, who shook his shaker for all it was worth.

Filed under: News, Video, Television

YouTube

Phil Villeneuve is something of a viral legend around Toronto for plugging in his iPod and filming himself dancing to pop songs in public places, from grocery stores to subways to royal museums. His jaw-dropping routine to Robyn's 'Fembot' at Toronto's Eaton Centre mall got tweeted by the Swedish pop start herself and Ke$ha even makes a personal appearance in a clip from last year, emerging from her tour bus to toss a champagne flute of glitter at Phil as 'Blow' blasts away on the soundtrack.

So if Villeneuve seems a little more professional than the other folks who took up Ellen's Dance Dare, well this is why. Basically, Ellen Degeneres dared people to dance behind other people without them knowing it and film the results.

"I like dancing and I like people," Villeneuve writes on his YouTube video, "so I thought, why not?!"

Filed under: News

Al Seib-Pool/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- A lawyer says the mother of the actress Phil Spector was convicted of killing has settled her wrongful death suit against the legendary music producer.

Attorney John Taylor tells the Los Angeles Times the terms of Friday's settlement were confidential, but says his client, Donna Clarkson, is pleased and relieved the suit is over.

Lana Clarkson was shot and killed in the foyer of Spector's Alhambra mansion nine years ago.

Donna Clarkson attended the 2009 trial daily, and testified that her daughter was upbeat and not at all suicidal, as Spector's defense alleged.

Filed under: Video of the Day

Artist: Cake
Video: 'Mustache Man (Wasted)'
Highlight: "We knew from the outset that we wanted a video that was exciting and funny -- but also a bit unnerving," guitarist Xan McCurdy tells Spinner. "Alicia (J. Rose, our director) delivered that -- and more." Singer John McCrea adds, "We wanted a video that was both creepy AND life-affirming. I think we got more than we bargained for here."

Watch Cake's 'Mustache Man (Wasted)' Video

Filed under: News, New Music, Exclusive

Jana Chillieno

Kami Thompson's path to a music career seems like a natural one given where she comes from: Her parents are the British folk rock performers Richard and Linda Thompson, and her brother Teddy is also a musical artist. Yet for Kami, joining the family profession started out with hesitation.

"I didn't think I'd be any good," she tells Spinner. "Yet to be disproved, but you either have to get stuck in at some point or stop harping on about it, consequences be damned."

Thompson released her debut album, 'Love Lies,' in the U.K. last October, and it's now out in the States. "I've been doing a little bit more singing," she says. "I've done a couple of tours and written enough songs. I figured I should record them. It was the right time because I had the songs and it was time to go."

Filed under: News

Getty Images

NORTH GREENFIELD, Ind. -- Steven Tyler says he meant to sing the national anthem like that.

The Aerosmith frontman and "American Idol" judge endured plenty of jabs after his rendition of the anthem at the AFC Championship game last month, but Tyler says he doesn't understand what all the fuss was about.

"I don't know. As I said before, I put emphasis on, `In the land of the free' and I went up," Tyler explained. "Oddly enough I hit the note so I don't know what they are talking about. I emphasized `free' which was for freedom. It was well thought out prior to. I wasn't messing with American tradition."

Filed under: News, New Music, New Releases

Ebru Yildiz

Brooklyn is home to some of music's best up-and-coming rock bands, and the Freshkills are no strangers to that scene. They've been pushing the limits of lyricism with spoonfuls of New York grit since the beginning of the Brooklyn musical renaissance. The band tapped Jim Sclavunos (Sonic Youth) to produce their third release, 'Raise Up the Sheets,' a raucous new indie record.

The album's first single 'Positive Vibes,' captures the band's unique attitude. Lead singer Zachary Lipez uses stunted rhythms to inject immediacy throughout the choruses, blending the breeziness of Jim Morrison and the snarling gravel of the Strokes.

Filed under: News, Exclusive

Charles Epting

At this year's NAMM convention in Anaheim, Calif., Martin Guitars unveiled a special model guitar in honor of one of the most iconic groups from the '60s, the Mamas and the Papas.

The story behind it is special, as is the woman who was on hand to sit and play the guitar, the lone surviving member of the group, Michelle Phillips. The project began when Martin's CEO saw a PBS documentary on the Mamas and the Papas and noticed how many of the company's guitars they used. They focused on a specific guitar that was featured on an old 45 sleeve, and recreated it with inlays featuring the signatures of Phillips and her late bandmates. Spinner sat down with Michelle to discuss the limited-edition guitar and her band's legacy.

Tell us about the guitar.

This is the guitar that John Phillips always played onstage all the time. It's a big, full-bodied guitar. I was really touched that Martin decided to do this. John always played Martins in the Journeymen, his other folk group, then on to the Mamas and the Papas. Always Martins. I was so touched when Martin called me to say they wanted to do a special series to commemorate the Mamas and the Papas. And can you believe they put out little figures in mother of pearl?

I gave one to my daughter Chynna and one to my son Austin with the promise that they can never be lent out or sold! And I still have a 1926 Martin at home

Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News

AFP/Getty Images

Adam Lambert is on a roll! After premiering the amazing new music video for his 'Trespassing' lead single 'Better Than I Know Myself' today (Feb. 3), the singer has confirmed that he's set to join legendary rock band Queen as the group's new frontman!

Rumors of Lambert's candidacy first started circulating back in December when drummer Roger Taylor sung the 'American Idol' star's praises in an interview with Billboard. "He has grown into a really great performer with an astonishing voice with a range that's great. We would like to work with him again. There's nothing signed just yet but we're talking about live dates. It could be very exciting." Lambert teamed up with the rockers for a live performance on the 'American Idol' Season 8 finale, and again at the 2011 MTV EMAs.

Filed under: News

Ebet Roberts, Redferns

The lead singer of Question Mark and the Mysterians, the garage rock titans best known for their 1966 hit '96 Tears,' is outraged that a 17-year-old cancer survivor has been suspended from his Michigan high school for having hair longer than school rules permit.

This is not a case of teen rebellion, either -- J.T. Gaskins was growing out his hair for Locks of Love, a charity that makes hairpieces for young cancer patients who have lost their hair from chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment.

"I think it's kind of stupid, because the school really should have made bandanas to get the hair out of eyes for Locks of Love," Question Mark told The Flint Journal on Feb. 2. "I think all the students should get involved and not just one student. I think it would be a whole lot better if the school got behind him and promoted this."

Filed under: News, Video, Television

YouTube.com

By this time, you either love Lana Del Rey or you can't stand her. Either way, there's no chance of the puffy-lipped lady leaving the spotlight anytime soon -- she still has the rest of the world to conquer. On Thursday night, Del Rey made a powerful ally in funnyman David Letterman, as the talk show host was positively smitten with the Internet sensation.

"Can you come back tomorrow?" Letterman asked an extremely shy, yet oddly flirtatious Del Rey. The singer brushed off Letterman's compliments of her performance but willfully agreed to be Letterman's muse for the moment. "And Monday?" he asked. Despite her self-conscious appearance on 'SNL,' Del Rey's performance last night definitely was not terrible.

But you be the judge of that. Check out the video below and let us know what you think in the nifty poll.

Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News

Getty|WireImage|Redferns

Washington's Sasquatch! Music Festival has just announced its 2012 lineup, featuring headliners Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins and more.

The four-day festival, which takes place over May 25-28 (Memorial Day Weekend) at The Gorge, a venue in the cliffs above the Columbia River Gorge in Quincy, Wash., is known for the variety of musical styles represented at its annual events, and this year is no exception.

Filed under: Video of the Day

Artist: Imelda May
Video: 'Inside Out'
Highlight: Throwback burlesque imagery and classic blues instrumentation make up the core of Imelda May's 'Inside Out' video. The track is the fourth single from the Irish rockabilly artist's latest release, 'Mayhem'

Watch Imelda May's 'Inside Out' Video

Filed under: Exclusive, RPM, New Music

Olivia Hemaratanatorn

Artist: Princeton
Hails From: L.A.
Song: 'Florida,' 'Florida (Cosmic Kids Remix)'
Sounds Like: Whitest Boy AlivePhoenix
In Their Words: "'Florida' is a funny, dark story about a delusional guy living in Florida. He lives in this s---ty sort of 'Stranger Than Paradise' motel with his wife and commutes to this generic job in Miami once or twice a week to do some mindless pushing-paper job. He was an actor in L.A. for a spell, but he's moved back to Florida, so in the song there's this line about him waiting out in the pool for a phone call from his agent that creates an absurd visual of this guy in his swim trunks, in this dingy motel with the phone near the pool, like he doesn't want to go swim because he thinks the call is going to be coming. But there's not going to be a call. That ship has sailed." -- Jesse Kivel, singer.
Listen to Princeton's 'Florida'


Download 'Florida'

Listen to Princeton's 'Florida (Cosmic Kids Remix'

Download 'Florida (Cosmic Kids Remix)'

Filed under: News, Exclusive, New Releases

Caitlin Durlak | AFP/Getty Images

The Constantines always projected a working-class vibe, but no one could have predicted that, after the band went on extended hiatus in 2010, frontman Bry Webb would nearly give up music completely to join the working class.

After celebrating the Ontario band's 10 anniversary with a series of shows in 2010, the Constantines announced they would be taking time off to focus on other pursuits. While most of the members started up side projects, Webb admits he was burned out on music completely, and so he went to join the lunch pail crowd he spent so many years singing about.

"I worked in construction in Montreal for a while to focus on other things, and then my wife and I found out we were going to have a baby," Webb tells Spinner. "I didn't even really listen to music much, I was listening to talk radio, podcasts and stuff while I was doing construction. I just couldn't think about it."

Webb and his wife decided to pack up and move to Guelph, Ont. -- where the Constantines first began -- and Webb took a job as program coordinator at the local community radio station, calling it "the best job a transitioning ex-professional musician could ask for." He wasn't even thinking about returning to music until he got a message from an old friend.

Filed under: Concerts and Tours, The Hit List

Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

It's hard to criticize anyone who has to perform during the Super Bowl halftime show: They're live (mostly) in front of an absurdly large audience on a stage that's set up in under 10 minutes. That said, we'll gladly pick apart the performances and bring you the 10 best bloopers of all time. Lip-syncing, flashing, technical errors and downright bad judgment -- it's all here! Check out our picks below for the best-worst bloopers in Super Bowl halftime history.

Black Eyed Peas, 2011
A minute into the Black Eyed Peas' performance, Fergie's microphone started cutting out, and it was all downhill from there. Oddly enough, it seemed that the AutoTuned Peas were singing in at least two different keys. Then there was Fergie bleating out 'Sweet Child O Mine' next to Slash, sounding like one of our drunken coworkers at a karaoke bar. Then, at the climax of the performance, BEP's stage was supposed to transform into the word "LOVE," but the letter V wouldn't fully light up. Suffice it to say, we didn't "LOIE" this one.

Filed under: News, Exclusive, New Music

Chromewaves

When Rich Aucoin puts on a show, it's less of a concert than it is a wild party that Aucoin happily provides the soundtrack for. Confetti, projections and, yes, even a parachute keep his audiences entertained. But that's just the beginning; the Halifax popster behind 2011's 'We're All Dying to Live' plans on stepping it up this summer.

"When I play festivals this year, I'm going to have three parachutes," he tells Spinner. "I've been going to a lot of big spectacle shows in the last year -- Flaming Lips and Prince -- and it's funny when I go to a show now because I can't turn off the fact that I'm there taking notes on everything."

Filed under: News, Video, New Music

Martin Sanmiguel | Joel Saget, AFP

With Leonard Cohen fans poring over his just-released 'Old Ideas' album (which you can stream here), we knew it was just a matter of time before more Cohen covers came in. New York indie darlings Cults were quick on the draw here, too -- though they opted for an older track from the legendary singer-songwriter's expansive catalogue.

The pop-minded duo have revamped Leonard Cohen's 1988 track 'Everybody Knows,' and you can watch them perform it below courtesy of The Guardian. Check out Cults couple Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin tackle the wonderfully cynical song from Cohen's 'I'm Your Man' album, joining the ranks of artists like Rufus Wainwright and Concrete Blonde who've reinterpreted the classic.

Filed under: News

Dave M. Benett, Getty Images

George Harrison's talented son Dhani Harrison is engaged, according to the Toronto Sun. The singer and guitarist recently proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Icelandic beauty Solveig Karadottir, a former model and psychologist.

The 33-year-old Harrison is the son of the famous Beatle and his second wife Olivia, and has been a professional musician since the death of his father. After finishing George's final album 'Brainwashed,' Dhani formed his own band thenewno2. He has since taken up ranks with Ben Harper and Joseph Arthur in Fistful of Mercy.

Filed under: News

Eamonn McCabe, Redferns

NFL bosses have banned Gary Glitter songs from being playing at this Sunday's Super Bowl. The pedophile pop star created a stir when fans believed he stood to rake in thousands of dollars if his 1972 anthem 'Rock and Roll Part 2' was blasted at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium.

It was also recently reported that Super Bowl contestants the New England Patriots use the song to celebrate touchdowns, but they haven't done so since 2006. After all the hoopla, NFL representatives confirmed that the Glitter song will not be played, nor was it ever intended to appear during this most wholesome of sporting events.