Hot Tickets

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In case you were wondering what this year's official summer jam might be, wonder no more: A few days ago, People unveiled a taste of New Kids On the Block's comeback single, "Summertime," and as the title suggests, it is indeed all about the summertime, or, perhaps more accurately, meeting hot chicks in the summertime. Some of our favorite lines include, "I played it cool / The weather was hot / You had the beauty and the beach on lock" and "You wasn't lookin' for a man / When you saw me in the sand / But you fell for a boy from the city," and (here's the best one) "I was like, 'Hey girl, can i getch' yo' number?'" NKOTB plays the Meadowlands' Izod Arena on Sept. 23. (Pre-sale is on now, public sale starts Monday.) [On Sale: Monday, May 12]

The Smoking Popes never hit it much bigger than having one great song ("Need You Around") on the soundtrack to Clueless. But as far as '90s power pop bands go, it doesn't get much better. They play The Blender Theater at Gramercy on July 5. [On Sale: Friday, May 9 at noon]  read more »

It seemed odd enough when the 80's Texas psych-punk band The Butthole Surfers made something of comeback in 1996 with an album that got lots of mainstream airplay. Now they're making a comeback from their comeback? You be the judge—they're playing Webster Hall on July 29. [On Sale: Friday, May 2 at noon]  read more »

In case you haven’t heard, a lineup has been announced for this year’s New York installment of the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival, and it’s the kind of lineup that makes the Pitchfork set scream. The legendary My Bloody Valentine is headlining, marking the band’s first U.S. performance in 16 years. And in keeping with the recent trend of classic bands doing entire sets of classic albums, Thurston Moore will perform 1995’s Psychic Hearts, Built to Spill will do 1997’s Perfect From Now On, Tortoise will play 1997’s Millions Now Living Will Never Die and going all the way back to 1984, the Meat Puppets will perform Meat Puppets II. Also on the bill for the three-day, 30-act festival in Monticello, N.Y., are indie rock faves like Shellac, Mogwai, Polvo and Low. Here’s the catch: There are only 3,000 tickets available (none of them are for single days) and they are sure to sell out on the quick. [On Sale: Friday, April 25 at 10 a.m.]  read more »

CONCERTS
Don’t act like you didn’t watch MTV’s Making the Band 4, like you weren’t right there with the girls of Danity Kane and the guys of Day26 (and that other kid no one really seemed to care about) as they stressed to get those vocal tracks down just right, else they faced the cold wrath of P. Diddy. Cast your irony aside and watch these B-list reality T.V. celebs (er … talented musicians?) “bring it” on May 28 when the Making the Band Tour comes to the Hammerstein Ballroom. [On Sale: Friday, April 18 at 9 a.m.]

Hot Tickets is admittedly a bit light this week, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t plug Bon Jovi’s July 14 performance at MSG. It’s now or never: Break out your best bridge-and-tunnel attire, down a few cans of Coors, and be ready to pump those fists as you sing along to “You Give Love a Bad Name.” [On Sale Now]  read more »

CONCERTS

If you've ever wondered what it's like to see about 20 dudes on a single stage pumping out feel good rock 'n' roll anthems that would make Axl Rose jealous, then you don't want to miss Boston's Bang Camaro June 12 at The Bowery Ballroom. [On Sale: Friday April 11 at noon]

There seems to be a trend these days of seminal indie bands playing entire sets of classic albums. (Did you catch Sonic Youth doing Daydream Nation last summer at McCarren Park Pool?) Add Mission of Burma to that list. The 80s punk rock legends are scheduled to perform the album Signals, Calls, and Marches on June 14 at The Bowery Ballroom, and the album VS the following night. [On Sale: Friday, April 11 at noon]

Calling all former Goth kids: Peter Murphy of Bauhaus is coming to The Blender Theater at Gramercy on June 26 and 27. [On Sale: Saturday, April 12 at 10 a.m.]

First R.E.M., then the Breeders, and now Pearl Jam! When will the comebacks end? The Seattle grunge progenitors play MSG June 24 and 25. [On Sale: Friday, April 11 at 10 a.m.]  read more »

CONCERTS

As if it wasn't exciting enough that power-duo Gnarls Barkley has released its much-anticipated followup to 2006's St. Elsewhere (just in time to get the hype rolling for some summer jams), now we get news that Messrs. Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse are playing the Highline Ballroom on April 10. Yes, that's one week from today! [On Sale: Friday, April 4 at noon]

So R.E.M. is making a comeback, huh. They've got a new album, a new look and a new tour with Modest Mouse and Brooklyn it-band The National, which comes to MSG on June 19. [On Sale: Saturday, April 5 at noon]  read more »

CONCERTS

Cyndi Lauper is bringing her True Colors to Radio City Music Hall on June 1 (and to Jones Beach on June 3), along with fellow new wavers the B-52s, Rosie O'Donnell, and the Indigo Girls, in a Logo channel-sponsored benefit for the LGBT lobbying organization the Human Rights Campaign. Icing on the cake: Queer Eye's Carson Kressley is hosting. [On Sale: Friday, March 14 at 10 a.m.]

From the "bands it's hard to believe are still around" vault come New York hardcore legends H20, performing Friday, May 30, 1995...er, we mean 2008, at the Blender Theater at Gramercy. [On Sale: Friday, March 14 at noon]  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 »

CONCERTS:

The Zombies (file under hip '60s rock bands made popular anew by Wes Anderson movies and TV commercials) are playing Irving Plaza on July 11. The group will have just come off an extensive European stint with fellow British invaders the Yardbirds, though they only seem to have two U.S. dates lined up at the moment (the other is in Virginia). [On Sale: Friday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m.]

'90s indie rock preservation alert: The Breeders are playing Webster Hall on June 10! Not as major as the Pixies reunion tour, but this is your chance to relive "Cannonball" in all of its Alternative Nation glory. [On Sale: Friday, Feb. 15 at noon]  read more »

MUSIC:

People just loooove indie musicians who bill themselves under catchy band-name monikers: Cat Power, Bright Eyes, Beirut, etc. And Vancouver’s Destroyer (nee Dan Bejar, of the New Pornographers) is no exception. The Merge Records artist will bring his glam- and folk-infused lo-fi pop to the Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 22 and to the Bowery Ballroom on April 23. [On Sale: Feb. 2 at noon]

There are various reasons why all the cool kids love the sludgy and psychadelic drone-punk trio Boris. They got their name from a Melvins song. They have a solid back catalogue of hard to find records under their belts. They're from Japan. See for yourself what all the fuss is all about on March 4 when they play the Knitting Factory. [On Sale: Friday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m.]  read more »

CONCERTS:

For a band whose members are barely old enough to vote, let alone drink, the Nashville-based garage-punk quartet Be Your Own Pet has made quite a name for itself, garnering praise from Sonic Youth and comparisons to beloved riot grrrl groups of yore. Tickets for their Feb. 20 Mercury Lounge show just went on sale Wednesday, so grab them before it's too late -- notable shows at the tiny Mercury Lounge tend to sell out. Also on sale as of Wednesday are tickets for a March 26 Bowery Ballroom performance by Jesus and Mary Chain-influenced duo the Raveonettes.  read more »