Call your mothers and have them pull the pants outta moth balls, MC *F'in* Hammer will perform this weekend at North Avenue Beach. It's all part of Chicago Sport and Social Club's annual Volleywood event. If you aren't familiar it's the cities largest beach volleyball tourney with over 200 teams competing for over $5,000 in prizes. Volleyball action starts at 9 a.m. and for those that feel like sleeping in the Beach Bash gets underway at noon. Have fun and please don't hurt 'em.

UPDATE: Since the King of Pop's passing, we thought we'd re-post everything we've done that's MJ related in the past...

You read that right....I have officially taken over for Michael Jackson in his classic video for "Thriller!" Check out my unbelievably good performance!

And you can do the same! Just log onto Mike's website here, then click on the link to insert yourself into the video. You'll need a digital camera and a few minutes to waste and never get back. The final product comes out a bit bizarre and extremely creepy...but when your taking about Michael Jackson....what did you really expect, people?!

We know you've been worrying that the Beastie Boys will play at the same time as Care Bears On Fire at this year's Lollapalooza. But worry no more! The official lineup for all three days is available here - so you can start planning your rocking out down to the minute. (And for the record, Beastie Boys and Care Bears on Fire - play the same day, just not at the same time.)

This weekend is the official start to our favorite season: Festival Season! Usually when you think of summer fun, scenes of The Taste and sounds of Lollapalooza come to mind, but it all starts with Mayfest.

The 14th annual gala rolls into Lakeview Friday and runs through Sunday. Five dollars will get you past the gate, where you can enjoy beer, food, live music -- and be sure not to miss the pet parade (believe it!) on Sunday.

It was a night for the ages, as the brilliance of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. were channeled through celebrity mentor Jamie Foxx? No, I'm not making this up. It was an American Idol you had to see to believe, or you can watch my recap instead!

And when you're done there, don't forget to click on over to Curt Wagner's Show Patrol blog for RedEye. He live blogs every episode, and thinks I'm way to hard on Kara. So please, click over and tell him how wrong he is.

Results tonight, and I'll see you all right here next week.

Didn't disco die a long time ago at Comiskey? Well, our American Idol contestants did their best to bring it back last night. Why? Who knows. But at least it gave America a chance to see what I would look like with an afro. My predictions on who's going home tonight are in my recap below. Enjoy!

And for photos of last night's performances, check out the Idol Gallery.

It's going to be the summer of hair for NBC. Access Hollywood says former American Idol finalist Sanjaya Malakar will be another contestant on "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Outta Here."

Joining Sanjaya will be former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, along with Geraldo Rivera, Dog the Bounty Hunter, and Spencer and Heidi from "The Hills." The show kicks off on NBC June 1st.

I was getting my Blago "dead-racoon-do" ready, but I might have to shake it into a Sanjaya mohawk. Here's a refresher in case you're new to Earth:

First up, Quentin Tarantino is one of my favorite directors, so when I found out that he was going to be a celebrity mentor on the show I couldn't believe it. Also, it made me feel a little less ashamed to be so obsessed with this particular TV program. Yeah, Quentin's a little nuts, but aren't we all sometimes? Speaking of crazy, watch my recap of last night's Top 7 performances....

And for more photo, check out last night's performance gallery.

American Idol's Top 9 faced off in Hollywood last night, and I watched it all right here in Chicago. I'm proud to announce that my Emmy nominated American Idol Video Recaps are back, but I'm not to proud to say that last night's episode didn't give me too much excitement to work with. Maybe Paula will end up under the table again next week. Oh well, enjoy and behold who will be in the bottom 3, and who will get eliminated.....

People said it after they showed up in an iPod commercial a few years ago, but now it's official: U2 is a sellout. At Soldier Field, that is.
Tickets for their September show in Chicago - the new tour's first stop in North America - sold out in a matter of minutes Monday. According to Greg Kott at the Trib all 65,000 tickets we gone just after the show went on sale at 10 AM. Of course with several different pre-sales - including one for Bears season ticket holders - and those evil ticket broker firms, it's debatable how many of those seats were gone even before they went on sale. Kott also added that "tickets for the first show were popping up on secondary ticket sites, selling for as high as $3,000."
Jim DeRogatis at the Sun-Times also has a take on this - and his comment board is none-to-pleased with the outcome.
But those left out in the cold will have another chance at tickets - or another opportunity to get screwed over, depending on how you look at it. The band has added a second show in Chicago. They will play again Sunday Sept 13, and tickets for that show go on sale (to the general public) at 10 AM Monday (April 6). Tickets are $250, $95, $55, $30. More info at U2.com

Get your shopping done, grab a bite to eat, and bump elbows with one of music's all-time legends. That could be your April 18th at the 900 Shops on Michigan Avenue. According to a press release, the public will get a chance to watch a "special Magnificent Mile arrival followed by an opportunity to see legendary music icon Frankie Valli and cast members from JERSEY BOYS share a special Italian feast."

The guys are going to be dining at Frankie's Scallopine & 5th Floor Pizzeria, also located inside the shops at 900 N. Michigan. Guests can make reservations now, they include Frankie’s four-course, “Four Seasons” menu at $19.63, with one Italian dish for every season of the year. All guests also receive a Jersey Boys gift.

I'm sure these reservations will go fast, you can make one by calling (312) 266-2500. I wouldn't expect Mr. Valli to be singing, however. Although I understand he's fairly good with a fork and spoon.

Greetings from paradise! That's right, I'm writing this recap from the sunny shores of Cancun, Mexico! This easily makes me the most devoted Idol recaper alive. Thanks for reading.

Tonight the contestants will be singing the hits of Motown. Last week I pegged the bottom two correctly, although America once again got it wrong by sending Alexis Grace home and hanging on to Michael Sarver. Who will be going home tonight? Here we go!

So you think your band rocks? And we're not talking about plastic guitars.

Metromix is gearing up for its' annual Rock 'N' Vote concert and we need you to get your music in. We're looking for the best unsigned band in the city, and the top four bands will get to play a show at the soon to open LaSalle Power Co.

Click here for more info about the show and where to send your demos.

Nothing says St. Patrick's Day like Randy Travis, right? What's a matter Idol producers, couldn't get Bono on the line? Randy was here (and looking a little upset) to try and teach our contestants how to put a little twang in their tune. My best, good, and just plain ugly singers....after the jump!

U2 will be invading Soldier Field on September 12th, and they'll be setting up this ridiculous 360 degree stage. You can see an interactive version of it here. The one issue I have are the upper deck seats. If you land a ticket with one of those large beams right in your line of vision, you are out of luck. Hopefully they label those seats obstructed view. Otherwise it's pretty awesome, especially that outer ring where Bono can thrust his loins right into his fans' faces. Those tix will cost you extra!

U2 has always been known for its mind-blowing arena setups. I remember being at the "All That You Can't Leave Behind" tour at the United Center (they used the heart-themed stage seen above). It looked fairly bare-bones, but hid some neat extras in the scaffolding.

Do you have a favorite U2 backdrop? Maybe the Pop Tour? Zooropa? Let us know, leave a comment!

An unlucky number. A new stage. An embarrasing entrance for the judges. And the music of Michael Jackson. It was the first big night of American Idol (did I mention they have a new stage?). The Top 13 faced off and sang the difficult tunes of M.J.

"Will he come and help the contestants?" my wife asked.

"I think there might be some kind of law against that," I answered.

My best, good, bad, and just plain ugly after the jump!

Yesterday Billboard magazine broke the news that Soldier Field will once again be home to a concert, and it's a big one. The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot says U2 will announce they are playing the stadium on September 12th. Because Soldier Field fits a lot of people, tickets will vary in price, from $30 all the way to $250. They'll go on sale later this month.

U2 will also be in town on Tuesday as part of a cross-country radio promotion for their new album No Line On The Horizon. They won't be performing, but the location of their top-secret appearance still remains, well, a secret. Rumors have indicated it could be at the Metro. Greg Kot is warning us not to "be surprised if you bump into Bono on Clark Street." And guess what street the Metro is on? Hmmmm.

But back to the Soldier Field show. I am excited about this one and hope I might get a chance to go. But did U2 really have to pick the home of my beloved Chicago Bears, right in the middle of their season? What will a mega-concert like that do to the natural turf? I mean, how good are Terrell Owens and T.J. Houshmandzadeh going to be when they can't even break the line of scrimmage without tearing a hamstring?

I'm sorry y'all, but I'm coming down with a horrible cold and a raging fever, probably from the Watchmen screening I just sat through. Anyways, I will be back and STRONGER than ever next week, when if all goes well, my Emmy-nominated American Idol Video Recaps will return. *Cue Angelic Hum Sound.* See you then, *cough.*

I'm sure this guy was FURIOUS The Dark Knight wasn't nominated for Best Picture. But at least we got this fun interactive dance-off game featuring the scar-faced Joker and Gotham's Dark Knight. Enjoy Batman VS. The Joker - BBOY style!

Hello again everybody! After a brief break due to some guy giving a speech in Congress, American Idol is back on the air! I'll be hanging out with you LIVE blogging during the broadcast, so keep up with my thoughts after the jump!

This....

*Touch hair and make stupid face*

Now that we're past Ryan Seacrest's prompter notes, it's time to break down the results of the first group of 36. 24 million votes poured into American Idol headquarters last night, but was your favorite contestant booted? And how right was I on my picks? Find out after the jump!

The American Idol live shows are finally here....with a TWIST! See if you can follow me here. The Top 36 have been broken down into three groups of 12. The highest vote of the men will move on. The highest vote of the women will move on. And one wild card will move on. That gives us 9 spots. The remaining contestants will compete in a Wild Card round, where the top 3 will move on, making our Top 12. Thanks for making Season 8 much easier to understand, American Idol.

It was the first LIVE broadcast of the season, and there were more than a few strange occurances, including Ryan Seacrest being barked at by a producer.

Ladies and gentlemen...we may already have a winner! It's the dreaded "herd the hopefuls into the slaugtering room night." The contestants were put to a final test. After performing in front of the judges one last time, all 72 singers were rounded up into four different rooms. Then, the judges gave the news as to who stays and who goes. There was a little bit of singing - just enough to put together my BEST, WORST, and final verdict.

Elton John & Billy Joel will follow in the footsteps of DMB, Jimmy Buffett & The Police as they will tickle the ivory in front of the ivy at Wrigley Field this summer. Look for them July 21, tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m.

It makes sense right? Two big names with followings that can spend money on tickets that range from $55 to $175 bucks. The show is sure to be very entertaining and a huge hit, but aren't there like 10 other bands you'd rather see in Wrigleyville on a warm summer night?

We think there are.. Hit the jump for our headliners...

Week 10: Linda Ronstat feat. Aaron Neville: "I Don't Know Much"

Last nights Grammy performances, or lack thereof, got us to thinking about other performances that stuck with us. So 20 years later how's a little Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt? Pick a partner in the office and rock this duet out. Your co-workers will thank us later.

It was time to celebrate THE BEST in music, which I guess means EVERYONE, at the 51st annual Grammy Awards! As usual the Recording Industry gave out a trillion awards tonight for all kinds of different categories. Ryan Seacrest and company tried to keep it all straight with note cards on the red carpet. But the awards only mean so much, there were plenty of bizarre/exciting moments to remember. My thoughts on the show and a complete list of winners after the jump!

"American Idol" producers figured something out - group work sucks. Welcome to Hollywood Group Night, easily the biggest drama to go down every season. We get to see how our favorite (or not so favorite) contestants react when they have to rely on each other. It was a night of music, meltdowns, and plenty of teases about meltdowns coming up later. Let the catfight begin and the excuses fly with my BEST, WORST, and FINAL VERDICT!

"This will no doubt be the most important day or your life." - Simon Cowell to the contestants on the opening of Hollywood Week.

Easy there Margaret Thatcher. It's a reality show singing contest, not the Battle of the Bulge. But getting serious, Hollywood Week is my favorite portion of "American Idol," and I was excited to see all the changes. They let the contestants sing whatever they wanted acapella. They gave them voice coaches and stylists. And they even brought Barry Manilow back from whatever planet he was on, to help them become as weird as possible.

My BEST, WORST, and FINAL VERDICT after the jump!

Marcus Leshock here. Jennifer Hudson sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIII, and she blew the sails off the pirate ship at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium. After her performance, I found myself in a conversation about where it ranked in the history books. After a little perusing around the internets, I have compiled my list of the Top 10 Star Spangled Banner performances of all time - from sporting events to concerts. We start with number 10.....

Tonight's "American Idol" pitted New York against Puerto Rico. It's your regular "West Side Story," but with a crazy rocker in retro hipster sunglasses. Only in Ah-meer-ee-kah!

Now I have to mention how stupid I am. I completely forgot "American Idol" was on tonight, something more than one of you readers pointed out after my "see you next week" line on Wednesday. You have my deepest apology....but keep reading for my BEST, WORST, OBAMA, and FINAL VERDICT!

Week 9: Hakuna Matata - The Lion King.

We know the choice is a little juvenile. But we had to raise morale here in Illinois with Blago's fate hanging in the balance this is the best way to remember the phrase "It means no worries for the rest of your days."

So enjoy and support your local Lion King. Do you have a song that you hate to hear? Let us know...

Welcome to Utah, the friendliest place on Earth! Where's Mitt Romney when you need him? Tonight "American Idol" invaded the hometown of David Archuleta, and they found a few special singers who might make it just as far. That said, it's time to put these formulaic audition shows to bed - for GOOD! The bad singers aren't as humorous, the post-production gags are all getting stale, and the judges' antics are about as exciting as a night in, well, Utah.

Keep reading for my BEST, WORST, OBAMA WINNER and FINAL VERDICT.....

All season long, “American Idol” has showcased stories of hope, inspiration, and vomit-inducing upliftness. No, it’s not a word. Tonight, that would all change, because “American Idol” took the show to Jacksonville. That’s right – there would be no OBAMA AWARD winner for “hope and inspiration” tonight. Instead, we got more weird moments with the judges, a few GREAT auditions, and the rebirth of the flat top. Let’s get to my breakdown of THE GOOD, THE BAD, and my FINAL VERDICT.

Howdy, y’all! “American Idol” went down to Lou-uhl-ville, Kentucky and found a few good singers, some strange birds, and apparently a guy in a port-a-potty. So before you ask why I wasn’t watching “Lost,” let’s get to my BEST, WORST, OBAMA AWARD WINNER, and FINAL VERDICT!

Welcome to your Inauguration Night American Idol Recap! This season, “Idol” producers promised us “change we can believe in,” meaning they were going to show us more “good” talent and stop promoting the train wrecks. Well, let’s hope our new Commander-In-Chief is a little bit better with his word. On the one-hour San Francisco audition night spectacular, “American Idol” breezed through a few yellow tickets, and spent most of the time on the biggest freaks in flower town.

Keep reading for my BEST, WORST, and the winner of the coveted OBAMA Award!

The album "No Line on the Horizon" drops on March 3rd, and if U2's new single "Get on your Boots" is any indication, it's going to be a bit different:

It's got a great riff but I'm not sure the song is all that great. I will admit that it's in my head now, for whatever that's worth. Will it be a mega-hit like "Vertigo" or "Beautiful Day?" I doubt it.....but as more time passes, I think I like it better than both of those songs.

What do you all think?

So you caught "Notorious" this weekend, loved it, and now you want to know more. I have a confession, I'm actually a junkie when it comes to both Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. I've read dozens of books, tried to see all the movies, and I'm still fascinated by how complex and intriguing both of these characters are. So if you're new to the game, I have four great options for you to check out in your spare time, starting with this fantastic documentary.....

It's been a couple months since Joaquin Phoenix retired from the acting game. He's apparently been really busy polishing his musical skills in with all of his free time.

Friday at LAVO in Vegas, the world saw him sing a song that wasn't written by Johnny Cash. The best part... well all of it is gold. Hit the jump to see Joaquin jump and then fall.

If Episode 1 of Season 8 is any indication, it’s time we replace the term “jump the shark” with “add a judge.” “American Idol” finally pulled back the curtain on Kara “Khemistry Killing” Dioguardi. Watching the episode, I felt I was witnessing history. Analysts will someday look back at this tape as the day “Idol” finally threw on the waterskis and let her rip! The show spent WAY too much time introducing another unnecessary voice, another person to suck valuable time away from Simon Cowell.

It was also the first post-Obama “Idol,” packed full of buzzwords like “hope,” “courage,” and “strength.” This year will feature young chicks in bikinis, right next to 16 year olds who create charities for seniors. Seriously, do you want proof that we’re not in another Great Depression? A 16 year old with enough time and financial support to create her own charity also has time to audition for “American Idol.”

My full breakdown is right after the jump....

Week 8: t.A.T.u.: "All The Things She Said"

Admittedly we have a minor obsession with this song. But we hate to hear it because it sticks with you worse than the rumors of t.A.T.u.'s alleged lesbianism. You may be hearing more from t.A.T.u. in the near future, the motion picture "You and I" is slated to hit U.S. theatres in March with Mischa Barton in the lead role.

Hit the jump for our other fave t.A.T.u. song...

Last August we stumbled upon local band Par Avion at one of their shows at the Beat Kitchen. We immediately became hooked on their unique electro-pop sound. During our interview with them they talked to us about putting out an album and a few months later that day is here.

Head to the Beat Kitchen tonight at 5:30 for their record release party. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.

Well not physically, musically. The Brit songstress has covered Britney's latest number 1 "Womanizer." It's not a club banger but when sung without multiple synthesizers and layering it's a decent track.

Week 5: The Chipmunks Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)

OK Christmas will be here before you can say "Alvin & the Chipmunks," and to add to the holiday spirit we thought it would be nice to stick a song about A Hula Hoop in your head.
So enjoy and don't send us any coal, we've got enough already.

A terrible remake after the jump:

Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan, who has gotten mixed reviews during the band's stint in Chicago this week, was actually quite amiable after the show on Nov. 19. Ahhh.... cold weather, Billy Corgan in a goofy hat, the El rolling by in the background.....that's Chicago

Take me down to the paradise city, where the grass is green and the soda is free.

For one day only that is. Dr. Pepper is celebrating the release of Guns n' Roses highly anticipated (and by "highly" we mean "long, agonizing, very doubtful, believe it when we see it") new album Chinese Democracy by giving away free Dr. Pepper. The album supposedly drops on Sunday and if...we mean when it does, you, the soda guzzling, guitar god worshiping public is entitled to a free 20 oz. And you don't even need to be buy the album.

How does it work?

Now I know what it was like to introduce Elvis. Or maybe The Beatles make a better analogy. Last night I had the pleasure in "moderating" a question and answer session with "Twilight" star Rob Pattinson at the Orland Square Mall. Hundreds of screaming/crying fans packed the mall to get an in-person look at the actor. The Chicago Tribune took some amazing photos. See them here.

Before leaving for the mall, there was a lively discussion in our office about who this guy was, and why people are so crazed about him. After speaking with the fans, it's clear that it has as much to do with the character as it does with the actor. "Twilight's" Edward has become a mythical figure for teenage girls. He's a supermodel with superpowers, ready to fight off the bad guys, while still being a little bad himself (he's a vampire, in case you're new to the party).

Hey all. I cut this little video together using the reaction footage I shot on election night. Seeing so many people emotional involved with our political system was a pretty moving experience.

Anyhow, I hope your Election 2008 withdrawl isn't too rough. And don't worry, there are plenty of moose to hunt up there in ANWAR, so you-know-who should be just fine!

Week 2: Ace of Base"The Sign"
Always a fan favorite, Ace of Base's: The Sign is the song we're trying to stick in your head this week. It's pretty much the best thing to ever come of pop music back in 1994. After all it spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

Good luck getting it out of your head.

Ever have someone put a song in your head and it just won't go away? In the Metromix office we try to stick crappy songs in each others heads on a daily basis.

To spread the agony we thought it would be a good idea every Wednesday to burn a song into your subconscious. This week is a good one, Patrick Swayze's "She's Like the Wind."

You can thank Marcus for this one... He actually thinks Swayze can sing.

Video of our favorite actor / singer after the jump.

A lot of records come across the Metromix desk. The one we're spinning this week is Meaghan Smith. She just dropped an EP, "The Cricket's Quartet" last week on iTunes. Check out the videos for "I Know" & "A Little Love" and let us know what you think.

Animator / film-maker Dustin McLean is a really funny guy. He's been featured on G4, Rollingstone & Bravo. In his latest projects he's taking old music videos and writing words to literally go with what is happening. Check out his takes on Tears For Fears & A-Ha

Weird Al is back! This time putting rapper T.I. through the parody machine. There isn't a music video for this one yet, we'll keep you posted when it hits YouTube.

The real song & video after the jump...

Yes she is - according to the National Enquirer. They've got breaking news running on their website about the matter. As the stock market continues to tumble, apparently the Spears family isn't too worried about their retirement assests and college funds!

Bear in mind this is the National Enquirer here, but as of late, they seem to be hitting it big with some bombshell stories. And I apologize for writing about this, but with all of this "looming great depression" coverage we've been hammered with lately, we could use the break!

Who's got the looks? Who's got the brains? Who's got everything?
Why you do! If you have tickets to Ben Folds at the Congress Theater on Friday night. And - bonus! - Aussie songstress Missy Higgins is opening for the loquacious piano man. Higgins' earthy sound and personal lyrics could be the background songs for scenes on The Hills - if, you know, The Hills was a show of substance. So save your mascara tears for whatever band Audrina is 'discovering' and instead, head to the Congress Friday for a fun night - and don't forget to wear your black t-shirt.

Chicago native Billy Corgan is bringing his band home in November for a whopping four night stand - two nights at the Chicago Theater and two at the Auditorium Theater. Each night at each venue will feature an entirely new set list.

Whaaaa?

Dueling Wonderwalls?

Dates for Oasis's American leg of their world tour were announced today and the Brothers Gallager plan to make a stop at the Allstate on Dec. 12th. Touring with them is another poster boy for congenial showmanship - Ryan Adams.

Ticket info after the jump.

Yes, I know. It was reported by Fox Sports about a month ago, but Bob Costas just "officially" announced that Bruce Springstein will be the halftime act at this year's NFL Super Bowl on NBC. It all goes down when the Chicago Bears face the New York Jets in Tampa on February 1st, 2009.

It's been a rough week for news concerning your wallet, so Saturday's Hyde Park Jazz Festival is arriving just in time. The second annual, free (yes, we said free) starts at noon at the DuSable Museum of African American History. Organizers are providing free (there's that word again) shuttles to different performance venues throughout the day. For more information including a schedule of performers and to sample some of the music, visit the fest's website at hydeparkjazzfestival.org.

As the Cubbies make their push for the playoffs, it's a good time to revisit this tribute song that Eddie Vedder debuted last month at the Auditorium Theatre. Vedder, Pearl Jam's uber angsty frontman and lifelong Cubs fan (they really go hand in hand, don't they?) is an Evanston native and for once, a song of his isn't full of rage and destruction. Which, considering the topic, he'd totally be in his rights if it were. No, 'We'll Go All The Way,' is spirited and folky with an Irish drinking song vibe. He certainly knows his audience. For more on the song, check out this fan's blog.

Update: Eddie is planning to make the track available on the Pearl Jam site soon, so check there for updates.

Fresh off his altercation at LAX, Kanye West is previewing his new single (off his upcoming and apparently not-school-related-named album due out mid-December) on his web site. We think it's pretty dope but you can judge for yourself here.

Chicago hip hop artists Kanye West was arrested this afternoon at LAX airport for felony vandalism. He confronted a photographer and smashed his camera on the ground. Leave it to TMZ to have the video and an eyewitness account.. According to TMZ, Kanye's the one in the grey hoodie.

Oh those Simpson sisters. Will they ever sing on live TV without a problem? Jessica Simpson performed on Good Morning America Tuesday morning and shortly into the performance of 'With You,' she stopped her band, complained that she couldn't hear, then started back up. When you watch the video below - mercifully, the flub comes quick at the 30-second mark - note two things: 1) How absolutely pissed she sounds when she says 'HOLD on' and how quick her band is to start up when she counts them back in.

In case you missed tonight's show, or just wanted to see my take on celebrity news one more time, here is this week's Hollywood Jolt! Who knew that a Republican convention could be so much fun, my friends!

Hometown heroes Fall Out Boy rocked the Nike Human Race post-run concert at Solider Field on Sunday. Kind of like Rock n' Roll potassium - easing weary muscles with their cover of Micheal Jackson's 'Beat It.'

Have you done your good deed for the summer yet? Well time is a'wastin - you only have one weekend left. Luckily, this Sunday Aug. 31st, Chicago's own Treaty of Paris is teaming up with the Metro (at the Metro funny enough) and is presenting Cancel Out Cancer: A Benefit for The American Brain Tumor Association. You'll be ending your summer on a rockin' note for charity.

Quietdrive, Company of Thieves, House of Heroes and Scott Sweeny will also play. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of show. The show is all ages and starts at 6pm. Check out the Metro's website for more info.

A great summer song is much like a great summer fling – fun and insignificant with a very short shelf life. With Labor Day ( a little too) near, signally the end of summer and the break-up deadline for summer songs, MetromixTV presents its Top 8 of Summer ’08.

Punch yourself in the face before you watch the new music video from Hills star Heidi Montag. Because that is what you are going to wish you had done right after its over.
The song is called "Overdosin'" and clearly Heidi has taken one too many "ME" pills.

How far did you make it into the video before becoming ill? Post your time in the comments section.

LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and one of the founding members of the Dave Matthews Band, died yesterday "from complications stemming from injuries he sustained in an ATV accident."

The band's official site is honoring him today with a message to fans. Here is CNN's story on the death and below is CLTV's report from this morning's news broadcast.

You might recognize him as the guy who sings the hook on Lupe Fiasco's "Superstar," but Matthew has certainly made his own mark on the music biz. While studying at Columbia College, both painting and music, he got in touch with Lupe. Between their partnership and the grassroots following he gathered playing Chicago coffee shops, he's now an internationally known musician. Check out our entire interview with Matthew on this Friday's "metromix" at 7, 8, and 9 p.m. For now, here he is performing "Days Like This" in Millenium Park...

Wow. Just wow. I know everybody and their mother has written about this show by now, but I had to throw my two cents in. I finally gathered a few moments to sit down in the tent here at Lolla and reflect on last night's Radiohead show. There was one unbelievable moment (probably the best concert moment I've been a part of to this point).....and a few irritations. But overall, it was everything it was built up to be. Just phenomenal. Keep reading!

We didn't have the time to show you Par Avion's performance of La Da Da in it's entirety so here it is the whole song. They rocked it @ Beat Kitchen July 24th and we were there.
Make sure to check out metromix this weekend for more from Par Avion

You may have seen these local guys on this weekend's "metromix." The Giving Tree Band is so much more than just your regular bluegrass band. In fact, they wouldn't consider themselves to be bluegrass much at all. But the music simply speaks for itself. We caught up with them right as they were wrapping up production on their first ever carbon neutral album. Here's an exclusive performance of the song "Teaspoon of Sugar." More on the band here. Enjoy the show!

Happy Monday everyone! A close source tells me that singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw is filming a new music video in Schaumburg RIGHT NOW! He's at the Bonefish Grill in Schaumburg's Town Square, on the corner of Schaumburg and Roselle Road. A trusted source spoke with police guarding the scene, who said that Gavin will be filming there for the majority of the day. So if you're in the area, snap some pix and send them in to metromixtv@tribune.com!

I first saw Mer at Northern Illinois University a few years ago. After growing up in the suburbs and attending NIU, Mer left DeKalb to pursue a full time gig in music. Today, he packs the biggest venues in Chicago, including the Cubbie Bear, the Double Door, the House of Blues, Schuba's, etc. He also about to embark on a European tour. We had Mer perform some acoustic versions of his original songs for tonight's "metromix" weekend. The above song is called "Here," and tune in tonight to hear more about Mer.

If you know of a local musician we should feature on the show, be sure to let us know!

We made our way to Hotel Indigo last night for a lil' Josh Kelley fix!
He played a five song acoustic set to a house of only about 50 (I mean we could practically touch him!).

The vibe was super relaxed and so was Josh. He managed to break a guitar string during his very first song....but that didn't stop him from crooning! We even got to see a few Michael McDonald and R. Kelly impersonations! It was like Storytellers... you know, from the good ole' days... a song, a request, an anecdote, another song. He even chatted about his wifey, Katherine Heigl!

Marcus Leshock here with my last American Idol recap of the year. It was David versus David. Cook versus Archuleta. A bloody battle until the beginning of "Hell's Kitchen." Who would come out on top? A David? The audience? Me? Find out, here's my recap for ChicagoLive.com.....

It's been fun putting these together all year, and thanks for your viewership and feedback. Also, if you ever have the chance to work with confetti, I highly recommend against it. I'm still picking it out of my hair, and I have a date with a high powered vacuum a little bit later today.

Remember to check out my past American Idol recaps in the archive section of ChicagoLive here.

And for even more American Idol madness, check out the RedEye's American Idol blog Vital Idol. Find it here.

Ever see a grown man cry? Marcus Leshock here, admittedly going a little stir crazy, like I do towards the end of every American Idol season. Last night the contestants sang songs from the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. As always, I put together a little video recap for ChicagoLive.com. Here it is:

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And don't forget to check out the archive of my Idol recaps from weeks past. You can find them here.

Aaaannnnnd....if you STILL can't get enough American Idol, be sure to check out the latest musings from our good friends over at the RedEye. They put together a weekly American Idol recap with RedEye attitude. Find their Vital Idol blog here.

What's up folks, Marcus Leshock here! Fresh from a week OUT of America, it was fun to get back into town and watch Neil Diamond give the best 5 singers in the country a lesson in weirdness. My weekly recaps are back and (hopefully) better than ever! Who will get kicked off tonight? Here's my Top Five Recap....

Because nothing is more fun than taking a walk down memory lane, be sure to check out my past recaps in the Chicagolive.com American Idol archive....here.

And don't forget our friends over at the RedEye either! Brian Moore's "Vital Idol" blog is definitely worth checking out. Recaps, commentary and predictions with RedEye attitude can be found at redeyechicago.com/vitalidol.

We can't get this song out of our head this week. Apparently you are having a hard time stopping the Lollipop as well. It's #1 on the Billboard hot 100 this week.

What is with these successful rappers and early retirement? Word is the AARP is sick of printing out all of these new membership cards! But seriously, MTV News is reporting that Lupe is ready to hang up the mic for good. He tells MTV that his next album will probably be his last. Or I guess he's "85% sure" it will be. It's weird, but I think I remember somebody else breaking this news a long time ago. Hmmmmm.

What's up Idol freaks? Marcus Leshock here. Before you head to your Super-Bowl-like "Idol Gives Back" party, check out my recap of last night's performances by the Top 8! Funny that even though this was probably one of the lamer shows of the season, I'm still able to put together a 5 minute recap. Shows something about my sanity I guess. Enjoy!

"Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" drops on DVD tomorrow. If you haven't seen it, I thought it was one of the funnier films of 2007. It's definitely worth a look. I was given a few minutes to sit down and sit with the legend himself, Mr. John C. Reilly, before his concert appearance at the Cubby Bear in Wrigleyville. Here's the uncut interview:

Despite a leak from "industry sources" last Friday, this morning the official, and complete, Lollapalooza lineup was released. Click here to see the full list.

Pogo's hitting the streets to hear what you have to say about the 2008 artist roster, live tonight!

Madonna dropped her new video yesterday. Its the first single off her new album Hard Candy, which is due in stores April 24. What we don't get is if you're out of time, how do you have 4 minutes to save the world?

Nevertheless its catchy and ridiculous at the same time. Enjoy.

BTW: Madonna turns 50 later this year. She still looks good.

In January we reported New Kids on the Block may be reuniting. Well, wonder no more. It's true. We just received word from PMK-HBH that, "After more than a decade, the platinum-selling group that sparked a worldwide phenomenon, NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK has reunited for a new album and world tour."

This is their first group photo in 15 years.

That's alls we know. When a Chicago date gets set, we'll be sure to let you know.

TMZ has the scoop on this. Apparently rocker and Idol-favorite David Cook hasn't been feeling well lately, and after yesterday's show, Fox medics said his blood pressure was too high and he was experiencing heart palpatations. They rushed him to the hospital! More details and a link to the story after the jump....

Howdy, y'all! Marcus Leshock here to break down your American Idol Top 9 performances last night. Would Dolly Parton night be an ENORMOUS success? Here's is my video recap I put together for chicagolive.com. Enjoy!

George Michael is coming to the states for the first time in 17 years. Tickets as you may have guessed are at a premium some of them are going for over $400 bucks.

Well we scored a couple tickets and they can be yours, all you need to do is enter on the contest form on the right side of the page.

Watch the show on Friday to see if you won.

CALLING ALL MUSICIANS!!

Metromix is looking to crown Chicago's Best Band. Today is the last day you can submit your demos for our Rock 'N' Vote '08 challenge, so don't delay! Click here for details on how to enter. Hint: As long as your material is postmarked by March 26th, you have a chance!

We'll announce the Top 10 on April 9th, so be sure to voice your choice. The Top 4 will then play a FREE show at Double Door on April 30th.

The American Idol recap is back, and this time better than ever! Instead of a written entry, every week I will be putting together a video blog for chicagolive.com! Last night the Top Ten sang songs from the year they were born, and not one New Kids On The Block cut. I was disappointed...but I guess they're not THAT young. Here's my video recap....

Yep, the "American Idol" judge drives a car worth more money than most of us will see in a lifetime. A Bugatti Veyron to be exact. This photo comes from a great story in the London Evening Standard. And if you think the car is crazy, check out his $8 million house here.

Britney dropped her new video for the single "Break the Ice" this week.
And instead of full blown dance numbers we see a mash-up of anime and The Matrix.

Not gonna lie the song is catchy and the video is more enjoyable than just watching Brit do the same dance moves over and over again. I mean how many times can you see someone with their underwear on the outside of their pants?

The scientific answer is after the jump...

In case you stayed in Sunday because it was a school night I'll have you know you missed a great rock show. I got the privilege of meeting the great Bret Michaels, the 'Rock of Love' God performed a SOLD OUT show with his solo band at Joe's Bar & Grill. Now I know you're probably about to wet your pants, no need to freak out I'll give you the inside scoop...

Whitney Houston and Queen can hold their heads up high this morning. Everyone else on the American Idol stage? Not so much. The girls gave back another mediocre night of covers. But there had to be a winner and more than a few losers. My thoughts after the jump….

Who doesn’t love the 80’s? OK, please put your hands down. I was 2/4 on my predictions last week, well within the margin of error. Lots of drama going into last night’s show. Reports surfaced that David Hernandez worked as a male stripper, and in honor of that, they had each contestant reveal their most embarrassing moment. Hide the kids! My full recap after the jump….

OK – so my heart is only half-aching this morning. The 70s are dunzo, man. Let’s forget they ever existed. The American Idol girls tried their best to rock out last night. A few of my thoughts, including winners and losers, after the jump…

That's right, folks! Fox News is reporting that Michael Jackson's famed Neverland Ranch will be foreclosed and sold by March 19 if he doesn't pay up $25 million! Here's the listing I found online:

Beautiful designer ranch near gorgeous California coast! 2,800 acre paradise, complete with merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, giraffe, and monkey. Perfect for kids! Parking and criminal defense attorney located on property! Bizarre pop-star included for extra fee. Now taking bids, will go fast!

OK, I made that up. But the ranch is really for sale. Read about it here.

Hi all! I was lucky enough to crash Josh Kelley's CD release party at Rockit, and here's just a snippet of him performing "Tidal Wave". His new album came out February 5th. It's called Special Company and that "special" someone is none other than wifey Katherine Heigl. This guy is wicked talented and fantastic live... did you know he plays 14 instruments? You can check him out for yourself on February 21st when he's back in Chicago for a show at The Metro.

With Sweeney Todd and Walk Hard in theatres we started to think of the funniest musical moments in movies.

This is what we came up with...

If you want to see the blues legend you have until the end of January to get tickets.
For more info head to Buddy Guy's home page

Pogo actually interviewed Buddy Guy last year, take a look at his interview.

Marcus Leshock here. Saw this photo on the London Daily Mail website. One of my childhood heroes continues to amaze:

Michael Jackson was spotted shopping in a ridiculous disguise, and sporting surgical plasters all over his face. Either Michael's gearing up to kick off his "comeback" tour - or he's getting ready to play the killer in the next "I Know What You Did Last Summer" film. Read about it and see more depressing pictures here.

Marcus Leshock here. You may have caught it on Monday's show, but in honor of the release of the "Once" DVD, we re-aired Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's performance on the show! Since I've uploaded it, more than 35,000 people have checked it out. Pretty amazing, but then again, so are they. Back by popular demand, here's the entire performance. Glen and Marketa doing Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic":

Plenty of great new music to talk about this week...and this time it's both a religious and raunchy experience. Click for more...

Hey Metromixers,

It’s a light week in new music…well, unless you count Britney & Backstreet Boys. And, while her new record will likely go down as a smash hit in the clubs, do we really need to study it any further? I don’t think so.

More after the jump...

Today Variety announced they will be publishing their Top Movie Soundtracks of All Time in an upcoming issue. This prompted some thinking over here....what are the best movies when it comes to music? Be sure to post your comments after reading my list. It's after the jump:

She Wants Revenge, Electric Six & more...

Pogo sifts through the piles of new music releases and weighs in on the best ones for the week..

More after the jump...

Springsteen, The Pipettes & more...

Pogo sifts through the piles of new music releases and weighs in on the best ones for the week..

More after the jump...