A lot of great variety of shows on sale today and tomorrow. Brit ska-band The Specials are back and on tour and stop at Terminal 5 on April 21, Sharon Jones is playing the Apollo and has a new album coming out, and Ringo Starr will grace us with his presence at Radio City Music Hall on July 7. And another summer park concert has been announced, this one on the same day as The National and Beach House play Celebrate Brooklyn: Also on July 27. The Black Keys will be at Central Park Summerstage. And don’t forget about Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene, who are putting out their first album in FOUR years and will be at Webster Hall on May 7.

• Japanther at Mercury Lounge on March 4. Tickets
• Heloise & the Savoir Faire at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 5. Tickets
• Evan Dando (Lemonheads) at Mercury Lounge on March 6. Tickets
• The Wood Brothers at Bowery Ballroom on March 19. Tickets
• The Donnas at Highline Ballroom on March 24. Tickets
• Clogs at The Bell House on March 24. Tickets
• The Grates at Brooklyn Bowl on March 27. Tickets
• Michachu & the Shapes at (le) Poisson Rouge on March 30. Tickets
• Abe Vigoda at Mercury Lounge on March 31. Tickets
• Drive-By Truckers and Langhorne Slim at Webster Hall on April 1. Tickets
• The Soft Pack (fka The Muslims) at Maxwell’s on March 31, Mercury Lounge on April 1, and Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 3. Tickets
• The Bronx and Japanther at Maxwell’s on March 31, Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 2 and Bowery Ballroon on April 4. Tickets
• Girls and Dum Dum Girls at Webster Hall on April 3. Tickets
• The Smith Westerns at Mercury Lounge on April 4. Tickets. They are also at Market Hotel on April 3 (no advance tickets)
• Washed Out and Small Black at Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 10. Tickets
• Monotonix, Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, and Old Time Relijun at Brooklyn Bowl on April 14. Tickets
• Aloha and Pomegranates at Knitting Factory on April 17. Tickets
• The Specials at Terminal 5 on April 21. Tickets
• The Mary Onettes at Mercury Lounge on April 21. Tickets
• The Apples in Stereo at Bowery Ballroom on April 21. Tickets
• Owen Pallett (fka Final Fantasy) at Webster Hall on April 22. Tickets
• Jason Collett at Mercury Lounge on April 23 and Union Hall on April 24. Tickets
• Elvis Perkins in Dearland at The Bell House on April 23 and 24. Tickets
• Frightened Rabbit at Webster Hall on April 28. Tickets
• Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings at the Apollo Theater on April 30. Tickets
• The Album Leaf and Sea Wolf at Bowery Ballroom on May 1. Tickets
• Sia at Terminal 5 on May 6. Tickets
• Local H at Gramercy Theater on May 18. Tickets
• Alo at Brooklyn Bowl on May 20. Tickets
• Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band at Radio City Music Hall on July 7. Tickets
• The Black Keys at Central Park Summerstage on July 27. Tickets

On sale Saturday:

• The Allman Brothers have added more dates to their United Palace run: March 23, 25, 26, 27. Tickets
• Bonobo are at Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 4 and Bowery Ballroom on April 5. Tickets
• Broken Social Scene at Webster Hall on May 7. Tickets
• Porcupine Tree at Radio City Music Hall on September 24. Tickets

As many of you know, the infamous JellyNYC summer Pool Parties were yet again in danger of not happening. Last summer the mostly free concert series were in danger of being discontinued after the venue they had been taking place for 3 years, McCarren Park Pool, was going to be under going construction to become a functioning pool again. Just in the nick of time, the concerts were moved to Williamsburg’s East River Park, which proved to be a wonderful venue as well, with an amazing view to boot. However, there was no guarantee that the shows could continue there this summer, until Senator Chuck Schumer and others became vocal about the matter. Jelly and Open Space Alliance have finally reached an agreement and 8 concerts will happen at the East River Park this summer. Woohoo! Read more details here.

East River Park at a Pool Party in 2009. Image: Devorah Klein

And speaking of outdoor summer concerts, another show has been announced for Prospect Park’s Celebrate Brooklyn series (the first was Passion Pit and Tokyo Police Club on June 29). Another non-free one, The National and Beach House will be there on July 27. Tickets go on sale at noon today.

In addition to their shows at Music Hall of Williamsburg (February 6) and Terminal 5 (April 22 & 23), if you prefer standing on line to buying tickets, you can see Hot Chip on Friday, February 5 at the Highline Ballroom for a free Myspace show. According to the Highline website, “Please get there early and stay in line.” The doors open at 7 pm. I’d suggest getting in line by 3 pm. Bring a warm coat! Oh, and P.S., their new album, One Life Stand, is awesome.

Hot Chip at Terminal 5 in 2008. Image: Devorah Klein

Brooklyn promoter Todd P, who is responsible for the shows that happen at Market Hotel, Monster Island Basement, and many others, is hoping to start a new tradition: A post-SXSW music festival in Monterrey, Mexico called MtyMx. After years of having a free show at Ms. Bea’s in Austin the day after SXSW ends, this year he’s bringing out all the stops. Aside from a cheap ($30 for 3 days!) music festival with 75 bands in a beautiful setting (an old drive-in movie venue overlooking  a cliff), Todd P in collaboration with Mexican promoters Yo Garage, hopes to increase awareness about Mexican bands that often have a very difficult time getting visas into the U.S. The festival will feature an international line-up, with 1/3 of the bands from Mexico.

Mexican bands Los Fancy Free, Los Margaritos, Quiero Club, and Los Llamarada are confirmed. Other bands confirmed to play are: No Age, Fucked Up, Lemonade, Dan Deacon, Neon Indian, Washed Out, Thee Oh Sees, Pocahaunted, Indian Jewelry, Male Bonding, Best Fwends, Banjo or Freakout, Das Racist, dd/mm/yyyy, Toro y Moi, Small Black, Liturgy, and more. Also, the band sets will be staggered (no overlapping performances!) so you can really see them all. There will be bus transportation from Austin provided. There will also be a discounted hotel available nearby, as well as an on-site campground. You can buy festival tickets here. For complete details, go here.

Alan Sparhawk of Low has released a new album with his other band, Retribution Gospel Choir, called 2, on Sub Pop. I interviewed Alan a few weeks ago about the album, and now the Duluth, Minnesota-based group is on tour. They played Mercury Lounge last night, and boy did they rock the house.

Even though the crowd was a bit sparse, Sparhawk and Co. did not go easy at all. After the third or fourth song the three were drenched in sweat. I haven’t heard a bona fide rock show in a long time and let me tell you it was great. These guys had such amazing energy and passion as they went through songs mostly off the new album but playing extended jams that even had Sparhawk playing the guitar with his mouth at one point. Highlights included “Hide It Away,” “Poor Man’s Daughter,” and “Electric Guitar,” which Sparhawk mentioned was about Duluth.

The group is playing at Union Hall tonight. Tickets are still available. If you are in the mood for some passionate rock, head on over.

The rest of their tour is as follows:

• Wednesday, February 3, 2010
  Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia PA
• Thursday, February 4, 2010
  Rock and Roll Hotel, Washington DC
• Friday, February 5, 2010
  Local 506, Chapel Hill NC
• Saturday, February 6, 2010
  The Earl, Atlanta GA
• Monday, February 8, 2010
  The Engine Room, Tallahassee FL
• Tuesday, February 9, 2010
  Proud Larry’s, Oxford MS
• Wednesday, February 10, 2010
  The Meridian, Houston TX
• Thursday, February 11, 2010
  Stubb’s BBQ, Austin TX
• Friday, February 12, 2010
  Cavern, Dallas TX
• Saturday, February 13, 2010
  Hi-Tone, Memphis TN

All Images: Devorah Klein

Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Kings of Leon all won multiple Grammy awards last night. As usual, the show was pretty boring, but a highlight was seeing Michael Jackson’s kids accept his Lifetime Achievement award. Below is a list of the big winners:

Lady Gaga at the 2010 Grammy Awards. Image: Revolutionpix/Fame Pictures

Album of the Year

“I Am…Sasha Fierce,” Beyoncé
“The E.N.D.,” The Black Eyed Peas
“The Fame,” Lady Gaga
“Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King,” Dave Matthews Band
“Fearless,” Taylor Swift *

Record of the Year

“Halo,” Beyoncé
“I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas
“Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon *
“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga
“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

Song of the Year

“Poker Face,” Lady Gaga and RedOne, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
“Pretty Wings,” Hod David and Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” Thaddis Harrell, Beyonce Knowles, Terius Nash and Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé) *
“Use Somebody,” Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill, Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings of Leon)
“You Belong With Me,” Liz Rose and Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)

Best New Artist

Zac Brown Band *
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

“Hometown Glory,” Adele
“Halo,” Beyoncé *
“Hot N Cold,” Katy Perry
“Sober,” Pink
“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift

Best Rock Album

“Black Ice,” AC/DC
“Live from Madison Square Garden,” Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
“21st Century Breakdown,” Green Day *
“Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King,” Dave Matthews Band
“No Line on the Horizon,” U2

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

“Ego,” Beyonce and Kanye West
“Knock You Down,” Keri Hilson, Kanye West and Ne-Yo
“Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna *
“I’m On a Boat,” The Lonely Island and T-Pain
“Dead and Gone,” T.I. and Justin Timberlake

Best Country Album

“The Foundation,” Zac Brown Band
“Twang,” George Strait
“Fearless,” Taylor Swift *
“Defying Gravity,” Keith Urban
“Call Me Crazy,” Lee Ann Womack

Other winners:

Best male pop vocal performance:
Jason Mraz, “Make It Mine”
Best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals:
The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling”
Best pop collaboration with vocals:
Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, “Lucky”
Best pop vocal album:
The Black Eyed Peas, “The E.N.D.”

Best dance recording:
Lady Gaga, “Poker Face”
Best electronic/dance album:
Lady Gaga, “The Fame”

Best solo rock vocal performance:
Bruce Springsteen, “Working On A Dream”

Best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals:
Kings of Leon, “Use Somebody”

Best hard rock performance:
AC/DC, “War Machine”

Best rock song:
Kings of Leon, “Use Somebody”

Best alternative music album:
Phoenix, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”

Best contemporary R&B album:
Beyonce, “I Am … Sasha Fierce”

Best rap solo performance:
Jay-Z, “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)”

Best rap performance by a duo or group:
Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, “Crack A Bottle”

Best rap song:
Jeff Bhasker, Shawn Carter, Robyn Fenty, Kanye West & Ernest Wilson, songwriters, “Run This Town” (Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West)

Best rap album:
Eminem, “Relapse”

Lots of new albums coming out, so that means lots of tours. On sale now:

• After Hot Chip’s Music Hall of Williamsburg on February 4, the after party will be at Brooklyn Bowl, with a live set by We Are Wolves and a DJ set by Hot Chip. Tickets
• Them Crooked Vultures are at Roseland Ballroom on February 8. Tickets
• Tegan & Sara have announced a special Brooklyn show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on February 15. Tickets
• Cage the Elephant is at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 4. Tickets
• The Magnetic Fields have added another date (March 12) at Town Hall to celebrate the release of their new album Realism. Tickets
• Yacht has a new album coming out and is playing Bowery Ballroom on March 11. Tickets
• The Chieftans are at Town Hall on March 17. Tickets
• Oneida is at the Knitting Factory on March 19. Tickets
• CMJ breakout band Surf City is playing Mercury Lounge on March 26. Tickets
• She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward) have a new album coming out and will be playing at Bowery Ballroom on March 29 and 30. Tickets
• Califone is at the Bell House on March 30. Tickets
• The Temper Trap is at Webster Hall on April 2. Tickets
• Bob Schneider is at Bowery Ballroom on April 3. Tickets
• Remember Bone Thugs-N-Harmony? Hell yeah, you do. They’re playing Irving Plaza on April 6. Tickets
• Florence & the Machine and Holy Hail is at Terminal 5 on April 9. Tickets
• The Flaming Lips will be at Wellmont Theatre in New Jersey on April 19. Tickets
• Sweet Apple, a band with J. Mascis, Cobra Verde, and Witch members, will be at Mercury Lounge on April 20. Tickets
• Los Campesinos! is at Irving Plaza on April 22. Tickets
• The Yardbirds are at B. B. Kings on May 26. Tickets
• The National has made it to Radio City Music Hall. They’ll be there on June 6. Tickets

On sale Saturday:

• New Kids on the Block! Yes! They are playing at Radio City Music Hall on June 18 and 19. Tickets
• Passion Pit and Tokyo Police Club at Prospect Park on June 29. Tickets

Baltimore group Beach House released their third album, Teen Dream, (first on Sub Pop) this week and celebrated with a show at The Bell House in Brooklyn.

Singer/organ player Victoria Legrand and guitarist Alex Scally were joined by a drummer, who added a lot to the show. They played mostly from the new album, which is wonderful. It includes a reworking of the 2008 song “Used to Be” that I am loving–it’s a little more rollicking and drawn out–and first single “Norway” is dreamy and beautiful and a little bit poppy. The show, as Legrand said, was “like a birthday party” and the fans there were more than happy to help celebrate. Legrand’s wild hair and throaty voice, along with furry Dr. Seuss-like trees on the stage created a quixotic and magical atmosphere that the new album demands.

Baltimore’s Jana Hunter opened the show and did a good job of forming the dreamy mood. Hunter also has a unique voice, but she is much quieter–which is saying a lot given how calm Beach House’s music is already.

Beach House is heading to Europe now, but returns to the States on March 26 for a cross-country tour behind the album and will be at Webster Hall on May 6. Tickets are on sale now.

All Images: Devorah Klein

Even though it’s freezing, concert promoters are already gearing up for summer shows. The first of the summer park shows has been announced: Passion Pit will be playing a Celebrate Brooklyn benefit (read: it’s not free) at Prospect Park on June 29. Tokyo Police Club are “very special guests.”

Image: Devorah Klein. Passion Pit at the much smaller Glasslands.

Tickets are on AmEx presale, as well as a radio presale (password = 1019RXP). They go on regular sale on Friday at noon.

Ticketing superpower Ticketmaster and mammoth concert promoter Live Nation have been trying to get a merger approved by the Department of Justice for about a year, and it looks like it finally went through, albeit with some concessions. Many artists, senators, and concerned citizens have been trying to block the merger because it will undoubtedly mean more money for the giant corporation and that money will be coming from us! What’s to stop them from charging even more exorbitant “processing” fees now?!?

Their press release says, “Through this merger, the parties believe that the combined company will have the tools to develop new products, expand access, improve transparency and deliver artists and fans more choice.” Yeah…we’ll see about that. What do you guys think?