NEW YORK (Billboard) - Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel joined forces for a surprise reunion in New York on Friday, performing three songs during the encore of Simon's show at the newly renovated Beacon Theater.

The occasional adversaries dueted on "The Sound of Silence," "The Boxer" and "Old Friends," in what is believed to be just their third appearance together since concluding a 2004 reunion tour. Garfunkel had flown in from Florida, where he played in Key Largo the night before, and he returned to play in Fort Pierce the next night.

The reunion added extra glitz to an evening attended by celebrities such as New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, Paul McCartney, Jon Bon Jovi and Jimmy Fallon, and showcased the Beacon's refurbished interior and new sound system.

Simon played an eclectic two-set show, drawing equally from classics such as "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard," "Slip Slidin' Away" and "Graceland" as he did songs from his ill-fated Broadway musical "The Capeman" and newer material such as "Father and Daughter" and "Amulet," a collaboration with Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza.

Also featured were off-the-beaten-path cuts such as "Duncan," which hearkened back to Simon's folk roots, "Train in the Distance," from the critically maligned 1983 album "Hearts & Bones," and "Loves Me Like a Rock," a 1973 precursor to Simon's future dabbling in African music.

Simon also performed at the Beacon on Saturday.

(Editing by Dean Goodman at Reuters)

Source Routers

Peter Gabriel has pulled out of a scheduled performance at the forthcoming Academy Awards ceremony, set for 22 February, in protest of a time limit imposed upon him.

Originally, Gabriel agreed to perform the Oscar-nominated song Down To Earth (which he co-wrote with Thomas Newman), used in the film Wall-E, under the impression that he would be singing the number in its entirety.

But when the singer learned he would be performing Down To Earth in a 60-65 second medley of the nominated songs, he found the time limit unacceptable.

Posts decision on his website

Speaking in a video posted on his official website, PeterGabriel.com, he said, "We'd assumed, as there are only three nominees, that the songs would be performed [in full]. But the producers came in to revamp it as audience figures were falling off.

"One of the things they've decided to cut is the songs. So we've only been offered 65 seconds as part of a medley. So I've now decided to withdraw from the ceremony.

"I do think it's a bit unfortunate," he continued. "The songwriters are a very small part of the filmmaking process but we still work bloody hard and deserve a place in the ceremony."

"A boring old fart"

Joking somewhat, Gabriel called himself a "boring old fart" who can afford "to make a little protest." But he was quick to add that he would still attend the awards event as was "looking forward to it."

The other nominated songs this year are both from the film Slumdog Millionaire: Jai Ho and O Sava.

No word yet on who will replace Gabriel in the medley. So far, there has been no comment from the Academy onthe singer's exit. Perhaps they can get Vampire Weekend?

Source musicradar

In a week of reunions the latest band to get back together, albeit for one show, is the J. Geils Band.

Peter Wolf, Magic Dick, Seth Justman, Danny Klein and John Geils will play their first show in a decade at the House of Blues in Boston on Feb 19. The band last played in 1999 in public for a benefit show for their hometown of Worcester, MA but did reunite for the 60th birthday of Klein in 2006.

This show is to raise money for the International House of Blues Foundation and will be a one-off.

J. Geils Band formed in 1967 but it was their 1982 hit ‘Centrefold’ that was the big international hit.

Singer Peter Wolf left the band in 1983 and the band did record one more album ‘You’re Getting’ Even While I’m Getting Odd’ without him in 1984. Seth Justman sang vocals on that record.

Source undercover.com.au

Metallica have been announced as co-headliners for a new touring festival which is to visit Knebworth over the weekend of August 1 and 2.

The Sonisphere Festival will be a 60,000 capacity event calling at a number of European locations with dates in Holland, Germany and Spain among others.

Metallica will headline the Sunday night show (August 2) with Linkin Park topping the bill on the Saturday.

"We're stoked to be touring England and Europe with Sonisphere”, said Metallica’s Lars Ulrich. “Summer festivals in Europe are what Metallica do best."

Further names on the bill, which will feature performers on two stages, will be announced in the near future.

Knebworth has been home to some of the biggest – and renowned - concerts over the years including performances by Led Zeppelin, Pink floyd and Oasis as well as a record-breaking run by Robbie Williams. Organisers intend to make the tour a global event from next year.

More here: www.Sonispherefestivals.com/

Source qthemusic

As the Smoking Section reported yesterday, the Blind Faith duo of Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood are reuniting again for a 2009 tour. Last year the pair kept their shows limited to New York’s Madison Square Garden, but this time around the pair are hitting the road, starting with a June 10th show in East Rutherford, New Jersey and wrapping up with a June 30th performance at Los Angeles’ storied Hollywood Bowl.

Clapton has been reconnecting with former bandmates recently. He hooked up with Cream a few years back for a successful string of concerts, then reunited with Winwood last year — and next he’ll share the stage with fellow Yardbird Jeff Beck for a pair of concerts in Japan on February 21st and 22nd.

“It’s a great, enjoyable thing for me to play with Eric,” Winwood told Rolling Stone at last year’s MSG show when asked about the hoopla surrounding these historic gigs. “It’s a little bit surprising, the way there seems to be this big amount of anticipation — but I’m certainly very excited about it.” That night’s set featured five out of the six tracks from Blind Faith’s lone album, as well as a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child” and “Little Wing.”

If you missed last year’s performance at MSG and for some reason can’t make it to any of the 2009 dates, there is a silver lining: A CD/DVD documenting the 2008 Clapton/Winwood shows is due out this spring. For all the 2009 dates, check out the Smoking Section now.

Source RollingStone

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Lil Wayne and Coldplay were the big winners at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on a night of all-star performances, big surprises and some pre-ceremony drama. Plant & Krauss grabbed five Grammys, including the night’s biggest award, Album of the Year for Raising Sand. “In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it’s a good way to spend a Sunday,” Plant said while accepting the show’s final honor. The Led Zeppelin frontman and bluegrass singer also won Record of the Year for “Please Read the Letter” and Best Pop Collaboration for “Rich Woman,” both tracks from Raising Sand. Coldplay scooped up three awards, including Best Rock Album and Song of the Year for “Viva La Vida.” During their Song acceptance speech, the band half-joked, “Thank you and sorry to Paul McCartney for blatantly recycling the Sgt. Pepper outfits.”

The man with the most nominations, Lil Wayne, took home four awards, most notably (and predictably) Best Rap Album for Tha Carter III, but also Best Rap Song for “Lollipop,” Best Rap Solo Performance for “A Milli” and his verse on “Swagga Like Us” scored him Best Rap Performance By A Group. Radiohead nabbed the prize for Best Alternative Album for In Rainbows, which also won Best Deluxe Packaging. (Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor, whose Ghosts I-IV was up for the latter category, responded via Twitter: “Ghosts DESTROYS In Rainbows deluxe package. No debate.”) Metallica won Best Metal Performance, while the Mars Volta grabbed the prize for Hard Rock Performance and Kings of Leon received the honor for Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Weezer, Justice, Bruce Springsteen, Ne-Yo, Duffy and John Mayer also left the Staples Center with new Grammy hardware.

Aside from blink-182’s announcement that they are indeed reuniting, the show’s performances were the night’s biggest stories, and there were plenty of them. (For photos of all the show’s winners and performances, check our 2009 Grammy gallery.)

U2 kicked off the show with their new “Get On Your Boots,” which strangely segued into Whitney Houston’s introduction for Best R&B Album (won by Jennifer Hudson). After Chris Brown and Rihanna dropped out of the show Sunday afternoon under unclear circumstances, the next performers were their emergency fill-ins: Al Green, Justin Timberlake, Boyz II Men and Keith Urban. Coldplay’s Chris Martin performed Viva’s “Lost!” with a cameo by Jay-Z before the rest of the band joined in for “Viva La Vida.” Carrie Underwood, who rocked out “Last Name,” also took the stage, along with Jennifer Hudson, Kid Rock — who broke out a medley of “Amen” and “All Summer Long” (dedicated to Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell) — Katy Perry, who emerged from a banana with “I Kissed A Girl” and Kenny Chesney.

The night was stocked with A-list collaborations, and none was bigger than Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl taking on the Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There.” Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus sang the former’s “Fifteen,” the Jonas Brothers and Stevie Wonder teamed for “Burnin’ Up” and “Superstition,” Kanye West and Estelle dueted on “American Boy” and Justin Timberlake and T.I. hit the stage for “Dead and Gone.”

T.I. also took part in the night’s huge rap showcase (dubbed the Rap Pack by Queen Latifah, who made references to the famous Rat Pack) as Tip, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and an extremely pregnant M.I.A. performed an extended “Swagga Like Us.” The legacy of the Four Tops was honored as Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo, Smokey Robinson and original member Duke Fakir sang a medley of the quartet’s hits, including “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).” Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood then had the Staples Center jaws dropping with their rousing performance of In Rainbows‘ “15 Step” with a huge assist from the USC Marching Band.

Wrapping up the all-star night of performances was MusiCares Person of the Year Neil Diamond, strolling deep into the audience for “Sweet Caroline,” while John Mayer, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Keith Urban paid tribute to Bo Diddley. Finally, Lil Wayne wowed the crowd with his Tha Carter III track “Tie My Hands,” featuring Robin Thicke and fellow New Orleans native Allen Toussaint. Wayne then started a rave-up for his beleaguered hometown, featuring Terence Blanchard and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss rounded out the performances with Raising Sand’s “Rich Woman” and “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On).”

Read the full article & 2009 Grammy Winners list at RollingStone