Plan B

Ben Drew, better known as Plan B won 3 Ivor Novello Awards in England yesterday.  I really love his album “The Defamation of Strickland Banks.”  It’s got so many styles of music including soul, rap, pop, jazz and I think every song on it is great.  Most of the world has caught on, but not surprisingly, the album is too genre defying for America.  Plan B spoke about not making it big in America and he said this:

“I’m too white for the black radio stations and I’m too black for white radio stations so nobody knows where to place me.  It just seems to be a lot of cock sucking that has to go on in order to get your music to get played to the masses and I’m just not prepared to suck cock really.” – Plan B

I really hope he enjoys success in the States. I’ve seen a lot of bands over the last few years that I think are really great and they can’t seem to make a splash here.  It’s very sad considering some of the drivel that is chart topping, but the old adage rings true once again – the masses are asses.

In other Plan B news, his track “Hard Times” has been re-released featuring guest vocals from Elton John and Paloma Faith.  The proceeds of the single will be donated to relief efforts in Japan and Pakistan.

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Elton John

Set to premiere at 8:15 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, The Union chronicles the making of the 2010 album of the same name, a collaboration between pop icon Elton John and legendary rock ‘n’ roll keyboardist Leon Russell. Crowe is, of course, known for making classic music narratives, including Singles (1992) and Almost Famous (2000), and fans can’t wait to see what he does in the documentary format with Elton and Leon.

We’ve been working hard on a plan for the opening night event, which will be co-sponsored by AOL, supported by Goldman Sachs, and hosted by Brookfield Properties, the owner of the World Financial Center, the location of the outdoor festivities. And special thanks to ESPN.

Here’s the scoop:

• A TFF wristband is required to be seated at the event.

• Wristbands will be distributed to the public on a first-come, first-served basis on April 20 at 4:00 pm.

• The distribution site is the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center–at the West Side Highway entrance, just north of Chambers.

• There will be a limit of two wristbands per person.

• When you get your wristband, you will also get a list of details about how, when, and where to find your seat.

• The screening will begin at 8:15 pm on April 20, 2011

• Details are still being firmed up, but programming at the Plaza may begin at approximately 7:30.

• Note: Venue access and capacity are at the discretion of the NYPD.

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Elton John

Obviously, if you are a rock and roll giant, today is the day to be born!  Elton John is 64 today!  Like Aretha Franklin who also celebrates her birthday today, I love Elton John so much!  Which Elton songs are going to be the soundtrack of your day?  I’m going to dig through the non-singles today and bust out “Better off Dead,” “We All Fall In Love Sometimes,” “Curtains,” “The North,” and “All the Young Girls Love Alice.”  Happy birthday Elton!

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Elton John

Billed as “Elton John – All The Hits,” the legendary Sir Elton played a sold out show at New York’s Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2011.  The set began on a perfect note at 8:15 pm with “Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” and for the first hour of the 3 hour show, Elton played hit after hit including “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting,” “Levon,” “Madman Across the Water,” “Tiny Dancer” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues,” and “Rocket Man.”  The air was let out of the shows’ tires when recently inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell came out to play 8 songs in a row from the most recent Elton John album “The Union” which is a collaboration with Leon Russell.  The songs weren’t bad and Elton even explained to the crowd that he has to play new stuff so he doesn’t get bored with just playing hits.  Fair enough.  But it derailed the momentum of the show and people were leaving in droves to get alcohol and snacks.

Leon Russell

During “The Union” section of the show, Gregg Allman was also brought out on stage for “Gone To Shiloh.”  To make room for this portion of the “All the Hits” show, “Honky Cat,” “Daniel,” “I’m Still Standing,” “Border Song,” “The One,” “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word,” “Someone Saved My Life Tonight,” “Skyline Pigeon,” “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” “Pinball Wizard,” and “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” had to be cut.  Still, a review of an Elton John concert could be summed up in 2 simple words:  Elton John!  He’s always the showman – playing great and sounding great, so I hardly feel ripped off.  When he came back on stage for the lone encore “Your Song,” he signed autographs for about 10 people that were in the front row.  He also dedicated “Your Song” to the people of New York who’ve allowed the singer to play over 60 shows at The Garden in his career!  Whoa!  This was my first time seeing Elton on the East Coast. I think it is interesting that the first time I ever saw him perform on the West Coast, he opened with “Your Song,” and tonight he finished with it.

Elton John

See the setlist for the 3 hour show after the jump.

The setlist for Elton John at Madison Square Garden on March 16, 2011 was:

Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding / Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting / Levon / Madman Across The Water / Tiny Dancer / Philadelphia Freedom / Goodbye Yellow Brick Road / I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues / Rocket Man / If It Wasn’t For Bad (with Leon Russell) / Hey Ahab (with Leon Russell) / The Best Part of the Day (with Leon Russell) / Gone To Shiloh (with Gregg Allman and Leon Russell) / Monkey Suit (with Leon Russell) / When Love Is Dying (with Leon Russell) / Band Intro / Never Too Old (To Hold Somebody) (with Leon Russell) / A Dream Come True (with Leon Russell) / Sad Songs (Say So Much) / Piano Intro – Take Me To The Pilot / Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me / Candle In The Wind / Burn Down The Mission / Benny and the Jets / The Bitch Is Back / Crocodile Rock.

Encore:

Your Song

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Hint: The Megastar is in the middle surrounded by bodyguards.

Who can this megastar be?  Take 3 guesses and find the answer after the jump.

The answer: Elton John!

Prior to my encounter with the lovely Lady Gaga, I saw another megastar – Elton John.  Sadly, Sir Elton didn’t stop for a photo, but I could vaguely hear him mumble “According2g.com Rules!” as he ran past.  Elton was in New York performing at a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall on May 13, 2010.

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