Josh Kelley
Petrillo Music Shell - Chicago, IL
6/29/08

Josh Kelley was nothing like what I had expected from a singer/songwriter type of guy. I was expecting him to be just like all the other singer/songwriter guys that play guitar while singing about girls and love. But to my pleasant surprise, he stuck out from all of the rest! I laughed out loud multiple times during his commentary between songs. This guy is FUNNY and is not afraid to make fun of himself in front of thousands of people. No wonder Katherine Heigl married the man. I would too if he was available (and I somehow ended up dating him). I didn’t know any of Josh’s music before his show. It was a first for me to see him live in concert.

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O.A.R.
House of Blues - San Diego, CA
6/28/08

We walked into a sold-out performance at the House of Blues in San Diego. If you wanted to try and get tickets you were out of luck. The hardcore O.A.R. packed the intimate venue to see O.A.R. in support of their new album All Sides.

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Entire Rock Band Downloadable Content Music Catalog Compatible with Rock Band 2

More Music, Online Modes, Features Than Ever Before With New and Improved Drum and Guitar Peripherals
Rock Band Online Music Store Passes 15 Million Paid Downloads
Rock Band 2 Makes Exclusive Debut on Xbox 360 This September

Cambridge, Mass. – June 30, 2008 – Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game company in the world, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with marketing and distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), are taking the groundbreaking music platform that forever changed the face of music video games to the next level this September with the release of Rock Band 2. With the original providing millions of players a new way to interact with the music and artists they love, Rock Band 2 is the next evolution of the franchise that redefined the standard for music games.

Rock Band is the groundbreaking platform that allows music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before - challenging players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals.

Rock Band 2 builds upon its foundation as the first music game to introduce co-operative band gameplay, multiple instruments, a robust online multiplayer experience, an unrivaled offering of downloadable content and raises the bar by delivering an entirely new level of depth, connectivity, authenticity and features including:

* Backwards compatibility with Rock Band downloadable music content. All previously purchased tracks will immediately load into your Rock Band 2 song list. No need to re-purchase or re-download.
* The biggest and most diverse soundtrack ever featuring some of rock’s most prolific acts, comprised entirely of master recordings.
* Major new and dynamic online modes that will connect the entire Rock Band community in more ways than ever before both locally and globally.
* More variety of instrument choices than ever before with new and improved drum and guitar peripherals, enhanced functionality and innovative new designs - all fully compatible with the original Rock Band instruments.
* And much more.

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The Unity Tour Featuring: Fiction Plane, Snoop Dogg, 311
Cricket Wireless Amphitheater - San Diego, CA
6/28/2008

UPDATED: Due to Popular Demand More Pictures of Fiction Plane have been added.

Here are some pictures from the Unity Tour when it stopped at the Cricket Wireless Amphitheater in San Diego.

311

Snoop Dogg

More Pictures after the jump.

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The Pink Spiders
Reggies Rock Club - Chicago, IL
6/27/08

I have to admit, Matt Friction gets some credit in my book for carrying on with his band, The Pink Spiders, minus the other two founding members at Friday’s show. The band’s original bassist, Jon, and drummer, Bob, are officially not in the band anymore. I just found this out on Friday - the day of the show! So my first time seeing The Pink Spiders in concert doesn’t really count because I didn’t even get to see the real band like all of my friends have in the past. But unlike many other bands who completely fall apart when one or two members leave so unexpectedly (in the middle of a tour), Matt Friction, guitarist/vocalist, carried on with three very new members to back him up.

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Brice Woodall & the Positrons
Schubas - Chicago, IL
6/26/08

Brice Woodall & the Positrons just signed with AEMMP Records in March 2008. AEMMP Records is Columbia College Chicago’s student-managed, not-for-profit record company. AEMMP (Arts, Entertainment & Media Management Program) Records was founded in 1982 for the soul purpose providing a real-life, hands-on experience in the professional operation of a recording company. The company is managed by graduate and qualified undergraduate students in the music business concentration. The students are required to follow established business procedures, and make business decisions for talent selection, manufacturing, distribution, promotion and marketing.

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Parachute Musical
Schubas - Chicago, IL
6/26/08

The band formed in Maryland with a revolving door of band members before they decided to reform in Nashville. What can I say about this little indie band from Nashville…absolutely AMAZING!!!! They were so much fun. I can’t even begin to describe their style. It’s a mixture of jazz, poly-rhythmic, with piano plinks and a jingle like sound. It was a completely and utterly fantastic show. It was so hard to take pictures without dancing in between shots. Everyone in the room danced and clapped along effortlessly. Parachute Musical is out promoting their new CD Everything is Working Out Fine in Some Town.

Keep on reading for photos and tour dates….

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UPCOMING EVENTS AND ON-SALE NOW

Tickets can be purchased online at www.viperroom.com
Or by phone at 310-358-1881 during box office hours, 10am-6pm

The Viper Room is located at
8852 W. Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069

FRI. JUN 27
Sunset Strip Music Festival
JULIETTE & THE LICKS
Love Lies Sleeping / Lady Sinatra / Looner
Advance: $20.00
Day of Show: $20.00
Doors: 8:00pm
www.myspace.com/julietteandthelicks
www.myspace.com/lovelies
www.myspace.com/ladysinatra
www.myspace.com/looner

More Dates after the jump.

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CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED GAME HITS TOWNS ACROSS AMERICA
AND GOES ON-TOUR WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN MUSIC

New York, NY – June 27, 2008 – Harmonix and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), have turned up the heat on this summer’s concert season by putting Rock Band™ on the road. The best-selling video game is going mobile and bringing music to the masses – hitting State Fairs across the country and some of this year’s biggest tours and festivals, including Bonnaroo, the Vans Warped Tour and Crüe Fest, to name a few.

So grab your family and friends and live out your own rock ‘n roll fantasies at the following locations:

Rock Band Truck Tour

Rock Band will begin appearing at State Fairs across the country from North Carolina to California, Minnesota to Arizona and everywhere in between. Sponsored by Energizer®, Stride® Gum and Hot Topic, fans will be able to rock out on main stages that will feature the authentic concert experience complete with lighting and a monster sound system. For example, fans can sign up to participate in the Energizer® “Head-to-Head Drum Competition” that will be held on the Rock Band stage at each event. While going head-to-head in the drum competition, contestants will compete for an opportunity to win a “Rock Band” Drum Kit and other gifts courtesy of Energizer®. At the same time, Stride® will be looking for those who can rock for a ridiculously long time by giving Rock Band stage bands the chance to rock the longest songs in the Rock Band catalog six times every day. Computer kiosks and a merchandise area will also feature Rock Band products, plus a sweepstakes offer.

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Jesca Hoop kicked off her USA/Canada tour with Mark Knopfler on Tuesday at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver. Check her Myspace out for a full list of dates.

Show dates coming up:

06/26/08 Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint

06/27/08 Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre

06/28/08 Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre

06/29/08 Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Pavilion

07/01/08 Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall