CONCERTS

"The live show is the new album cover," says David Tobias, singer/guitarist for Brooklyn's electro-funksters Apes & Androids. In a piece in July's Spin on the new vogue for psychadelic stage-shows, we learn that the Androids hand out kazoos to their audience so they can play along to Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll Part 2," and that the band's friends are known to dress up like zombies on-stage and perform a dead-on impression of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Sounds like a good time. Even better when you consider who the boys are playing with—the borough's most accomplished sonic terrorists, A Place To Bury Strangers.  read more »

Nearly 30 years after the original Germs lead singer died of a drug overdose at the age of 21, the Los Angeles snot-punks have a new lead-singer: actor Shane West. That's right, the former E.R. star is the new Darby Crash—he of the infamous appetite for peanut butter (spread on his chest) and heroin (injected squarely into his veins). Apparently, bassist Lorna Doom and guitarist Pat Smear (the remaining original members) were so impressed with West's recent turn as Crash in the biopic, What We Do Is Secret, that they invited him along on their reunion tour. Dr. Barnett—er, West and company will infect the Blender Theater on Aug.  read more »

COMEDY

Kathy Griffin—in appreciation of her gays, the fans of her hit Bravo reality series and anyone who just loves watching a hilarious comedian verbally brutalize celebrities who are more famous than herself—is bringing her notorious comedy routine to the area with a whopping four shows in two nights during the last weekend in May. And in true D-list fashion, they aren’t even in New York City! Instead, you’ll have to trek down to the Borgata in Atlantic City if you want to see Ms. Griffin perform, but fear not proud urbanites: Apparently A.C. is getting hipper by the minute! [On Sale: Saturday, March 8, at 10 a.m.]

CONCERTS

“If you want beef then bring the ruckus / Wu Tang Clan ain’t nothin’ ta…”; you get the idea. Yes, the seminal hip-hop group is back with a new(ish) album and a show at Irving Plaza on April 16. Don’t call it a comeback! [On Sale: Today!]  read more »

It’s taken the Wu-Tang Clan six years to release their new album, 8 Diagrams, but the last couple of months—for fans and members, alike—must have felt like they took the longest to pass. In October, the Clan had tongues wagging when they announced that their first single would sample the Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Apparently, this would have been a first. But, as it turns out—after a call from their lawyers, no doubt—they retracted their initial statement, calling the song an “interpolation,” not a sample. Still groundbreaking, but … Then Ghostface Killah, a Wu-Tang member, decided that he was going to release his new album on the same day as Diagrams. Despite rumored tensions, RZA, ever the chess master, decided to retreat, ensuring that everyone can make “mad cream.” All will be forgotten, however, if the album sells, which all indicators suggest that it will. Lap up that cream, fellas.

As if that weren’t enough for Wu-Tang fans, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah contributed to Cincinnati hip-hop producer cum rapper Hi-Tek’s new album, Hi-Teknology 3: Underground. These guys are the musical equivalent of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Learn to say no!  read more »

It was almost a disaster. Ghostface Killah's new album "The Big Doe Rehab" was slated for release today, and by chance so was the latest from Wu-Tang Clan (of which he is a member).

What a pickle! Ghost was upset. The rest of the group was upset. The fans... well they were just excited about the new music. After a few tense days things were set right, so we'll have to wait another week for that Wu-Tang album, but Ghost stands alone, and thank goodness.  read more »