Music news from metro.us/newyork

'Hip Hop Squares' host Peter Rosenberg on finding 'the real gold'

PAT HEALY, BOSTON — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:21:24 -0400

When considering entertainers like Ghostface Killah, Fat Joe, Amber Rose and Bam Margera, the first word that comes to mind is not usually "square." But when Peter Rosenberg, host of the new MTV2 show, "Hip Hop Squares," talks about the celebrity participants on the show, this is the word he most often uses.

"There are all of these cool people in a situation where they don't have to try to be cool," says Rosenberg, who is best known as a DJ on New York City's Hot 97. "We had the hottest street and radio artist, 2 Chainz, and based on his persona, the idea of seeing him having fun and being casual is just awesome."

"Hip Hop Squares" is based on the classic game show, "Hollywood Squares." As was the case with that show, which reached peak popularity in the 1970s, nine famous personalities sit in the squares of a tic-tac-toe board. In this case though, most are affiliated with the world of hip-hop. While two contestants play tic-tac-toe against each other, they consult the celebs on trivia questions and can decide to take their advice or disregard it.

In one episode, Rosenberg poses the question: "Who is the female recording artist with the most No. 1 hits?" to which Nick Cannon, seated in the center square, excitedly shouts, "That would be my baby mama, Mariah Carey!"

The contestant disagrees.

"Those moments were awesome," laughs Rosenberg. "Every once in a while, we get moments where it's this no-brainer. ... And yet, people would still get it wrong. When those moments happen, that's when I think you get the real gold of the show."

It's hip-hop to be square

One of the slogans for "Hip Hop Squares" is "when the game show becomes a party," and it isn't unusual to see one of the "squares" with a drink in his or her hand.

"There was some partying," Rosenberg acknowledges. "There were episodes where it was out of control, but I don't know if I'd blame it on the partying so much as the cast of characters we had. It certainly had a feel that reminded me of the original ['Hollywood Squares']."

Tune in

"Hip Hop Squares" premieres Tuesday at 11 on MTV2.

Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb dies

REUTERS — Sun, 20 May 2012 19:18:30 -0400

Robin Gibb, who with his brothers Barry and Maurice formed the disco-era hit machine the Bee Gees, has died aged 62, his official website said on Sunday.

The singer had been battling colon and liver cancer.

"The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery," a statement posted on his official website said.

"The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time."

The Bee Gees achieved superstardom in the 1960s and 1970s with a string of catchy love ballads and disco hits including "Stayin' Alive", "How Deep Is Your Love" and "Night Fever".

The band achieved album sales of up to 200 million copies, putting them in the same league as the likes of the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd.

Chico Mann: Globetrot freestyle

EVE HYMAN — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:39:47 -0400

Music that crosses cultures is a broad topic where we get to peep all continents. Next week features what happens when Romania and Japan join forces. But not all hybrids are happy listening, not to my taste. I just got an earful of Beirut jazz meets hard rock guitar solos with extra reverb. So painful. Skip the electric guitar self-pleasuring and on to something more sociable. Synth, bass, minimal production, good times on the dance floor, I'm talking about NYC's own Chico Mann.

Chico Mann is the alter ego of Marcos Garcia and he plays what he coined electro-afrobeat. His first record came out in 2007, synth-heavy, electronic, paying homage to Fela. Most cuts sound like what would come out of the perfect beach shack dance club. Palm fronds dress up your speakers while listening to a Chico Mann record. Garcia grew up in a Cuban household, with musician parents. He sings on some tracks, in Spanish. But his latest EP stirs up images of Central Park roller skater and is strictly instrumental.

The song "Ease On Out," off of Manifest Tone Volume 3 EP from 2009, leads with a slinky guitar and drum combo. It edges into '70s porn territory until a chorus in Spanish and some Moog intervene, settling in for a classic funk groove. Chico honed his guitar chops as a member of Antibalas and started a side project after showing his daughter some childhood Casio keyboards. His latest record, released in February on Wax Poetics and titled Instrumental EP, is post-disco with allusions to freestyle. Dancing to songs that sound retro and crisscross continents is as fun live as the video-game aesthetic suggests.

Chico Mann plays this Friday, May 18 at Salon Hecho, 356 Bowery.

Reggie Watts: Footloose and hands-free

LINDA LABAN, BOSTON — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:39 -0400

Wisely, Reggie Watts puts on a Bluetooth headset to chat as he's driving to LAX. It's comforting that he's chosen to go hands-free; to know he's safe. Except he's not actually driving.

"No, I have a professional to do that," he says somewhat aghast, like driving the strange L.A. streets is a preposterous idea. "I'm just going hands-free ... for no reason. I like hands-free."

Hands-free and ready to multitask at any moment, because that's how he works: improvising music live via good, old-fashioned on-the-spot recording, looping and beat boxing, and riffing in comedic turns at will.

And it's working for him. This spring, Watts' tour zips through the U.S.; his May-released live CD/DVD "Reggie Watts: A Live In Central Park," which premiered on Comedy Central, is joined by a second release, "Reggie Watts Live at Third Man Records," which was recorded at Jack White's Nashville Studio. Next month, he's in the cast of IFC's "Comedy Bang! Bang!" performing music with "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm, among other things. He just finished a cameo role in Steven Soderbergh's upcoming film "Bitter Pill," too.

"I did a scene with Jude Law. That was very weird, surreal. I was the crazy person on the street yelling," Watts laughs. "I want to do more film. There are a lot of studios asking me if I have any ideas. But I don't want things to be too contracty. I want things to be simple. I want to just keep doing some fun stuff."

Conan the helper

Watts, a Montana native who cut his performing teeth in Seattle before moving to Brooklyn, got a career leg-up when Conan O'Brien took him under his wing a couple of years ago. "Yeah, he did give me a boost and that really helps,"?Watts says. "I just like to tinker around and be happy performing."

'Queen of Disco' Donna Summer dead at 63

PAT HEALY/CASSANDRA GARRISON, NEW YORK — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:42:13 -0400

After a battle with cancer, singer Donna Summer passed away Thursday morning at the age of 63.

The singer, who was born LaDonna Gaines in Dorchester, Mass. was known as the "Queen of Disco" because of her string of mega hits in the 1970s, which included "Hot Stuff," "Love to Love You Baby" and "Last Dance." In a little more than a year she charted four No. 1 singles.

Though she reached superstardom and earned most of her five Grammy awards in the disco era, Summer's success stretched into more contemporary times. She landed No. 1 singles in the '80s, '90s, 2000s and even this decade: "To Paris With Love" topped the Billboard Dance Charts in October of 2010.

The singer will probably best be remembered for not only her contribution to disco, but her help in inventing the genre with producer Giorgio Moroder. The songs were often long symphonic suites with relaxed funky back beats and Summer's sexy coo breezing on the top layer.

But as the trend faded, Summer was able to distance herself from disco. She had one of her strongest hits in 1983 with "She Works Hard For the Money," an anthem of female empowerment that showed Summer was ready for the MTV age.

The singer had been diagnosed with cancer but had reportedly been well enough to work on an album in Florida until her health took a turn for the worse.

VIDEO: 'Don't Let Me Die': Bobby Brown's song for Whitney Houston on 'The Tonight Show'

CASSANDRA GARRISON, NEW YORK — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:50:11 -0400

An emotional Bobby Brown took the stage on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and performed a song that was clearly about dealing with the death of his ex-wife Whitney Houston.

The heartfelt lyrics offered a glimpse into Brown's regret about their fractured relationship and the hope that he doesn't suffer the same fate as Houston. The song is featured on Brown's new album, set to be released in June.

Whitney Houston died in February after a long history of substance abuse. Since her death, Brown has said in interviews that Houston was hooked on drugs long before she met him and he claims he "didn't get high" before meeting her, contrary to the popular public opinion that he responsible for her downward spiral into addiction.

But between interviews, Brown has apparently been busy song-writing, as he demonstrated last night. His song for Whitney features lyrics like:

I didn’t realize that every breath I took was from you ... You were my air.

Don't let me die, girl.

I guess I messed up pretty bad, I didn’t know who you were, I didn’t know what we had. Now I’m stuck living in the past, trying to get the pieces back, but I guess now you’re gone.

See the performance in the video below. Go to 38:42 to hear "Don't let me die."

Who would replace Jennifer Lopez on 'American Idol'?

CASSANDRA GARRISON/METRO, NEW YORK — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:40:00 -0400

Jennifer Lopez could be taking her final bow as a judge on Fox's "American Idol." E! is reporting that sources close to J.Lo told reporter Mark Malkin that she is planning on leaving the world-famous singing competition because she is "too busy."

Lopez's schedule certainly is a packed one — between filming for "Idol," shooting movies like "What to Expect When You're Expecting," raising twins, going through a divorce with estranged husband Marc Anthony, and dating younger backup dancer Casper Smart, she's one busy lady.

While Fox has yet to confirm the rumor that J.Lo is leaving "Idol," show executives are very aware that she's been wishy washy about continuing.

After she admitted she might not have a third season of "America Idol" in her, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe hoped to win her over.

"I know how much she loves doing the show and how much she cares for the kids," he told TMZ. "We want her back. I want her back."

But if she does decide the leave the show, then we can really only focus on one thing: who will replace her? We've come up with a list of celebrity ladies we think would be suited for the role, given their current professional status and past involvement with these types of singing contests.

Mariah Carey. She's one of pop's biggest names, but her name isn't quite as big as it used to be. She hasn't had a surge of press since her unexpected (but still in tact) marriage to Nick Cannon. We think she's the perfect balance of sass and honesty, plus she's had a couple public meltdowns in the past, so we're betting on a few off-the-cuff remarks from her, especially during auditions. Her kids are old enough for day care now, so it's time for Mimi to get back to work.

Jessica Simpson. She is the perfect example of someone who is still a household name, but hasn't done a whole lot of work recently (much like J.Lo before she took the judge's chair). Now that Simpson has had her baby (finally!), she'll be looking to reclaim the limelight. She's already had experience in television with her show "Fashion Star." Was that just the beginning of Simpson's new career in reality TV? Plus, we picture her as the perfect "I'm too nice to say you suck" replacement of Paula Abdul.

Miley Cyrus. Yes, she is old enough to be a judge, actually. In fact, she came close to the position already on "Idol" rival show "The X-Factor," but Demi Lovato beat her out for the job. We were surprised to hear that Cyrus was even a contender, given her hugely active music career, and no apparent need for extra exposure, but she's proven that she'd consider a shift to television, at least temporarily.

Mandy Moore. While we've seen more of her on the big screen than the concert stage in recent years, let's not forget her fame began with a pop music career. She's another example of a once A-list celebrity who could use a good opportunity to stay relevant and "Idol" might just be it for her. We imagine she'd give off the same genuine vibe of wanting to coach people that former judge Kara DioGuardi seemed to radiate. The only question is whether Moore is just too... neutral.. for "Idol."

Carrie Underwood. She took a year off from music after marrying pro hockey player Mike Fisher, but now she's back on the scene. In recent interviews, though, she's talked about how she enjoys her low-key lifestyle with her husband. "Idol" may not be our idea of low-key, but it's probably a little less demanding than life on tour. She's a huge name in music so this would be a big get for Fox. And who can forget that she's arguably the most successful "Idol" graduate? Who better to judge other contestants than someone who has been through it herself?

Strange Boys are afoot and they 'Live Music'

PAT HEALY — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:52:51 -0400

Every time you read about a band sounding like another band, chances are that the so-called derivative band doesn't even listen to the act to which they're being compared. Such is the case with the Austin, Texas-based garage revivalists, The Strange Boys, whose singer Ryan Sambol has ceaselessly been compared to Tom Petty.

"We've never really listened to him," says Sambol. "Maybe it’s a Dylan thing. Both Tom and I trying a Bob job."

Sambol's demeanor in-person is one of quiet confidence and charm, but when it comes to playing live, he and his bandmates, which includes his brother Phil on bass, Greg Enlow on guitar and Mike La Franchi on drums, tear it up.

The latest Strange Boys album is called "Live Music," which is not to say it was recorded in concert, but that it rhymes with "give music," an appropriate code for the band and the exchange they have with their audience.

"If we're playing well and looking like we're having fun people usually loosen up and start to move around," says Sambol.

Crowds move around quite a bit at Strange Boys shows; certainly more than at a typical indie rock show. Sambol says of which cities are the dancingest, "Madrid dances, Paris moves, Fort Wayne Indiana gets way down."

Santigold: Art poise

EVE HYMAN — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:35:01 -0400

Santigold now belongs to pop, but she remains an art staple of the hybrid variety. The singer and song crafter Santi White has been cross-pollinating music since before she sang her own hits, seamlessly folding the Caribbean and Africa into indie rock and hip-hop. It's not a new recipe, everyone from Sting to Gwen Stefani have used reggae to beef up American pop. But Santi keeps it global, incorporating dancehall and dubstep on her first record and pooling a variety of cultural shout-outs on Master of My Make-Believe, her second album, released last week.

Like Bjork with a pinch of Missy Elliott, Santi saunters onstage with two-tone pedal pushers and singular confidence. On Jimmy Fallon last week she sang mostly low-register for an understated performance. The lyrics to "Disparate Youth" were the raucous bit; showcased on late-night TV the day after the NYPD revisited Occupy.

So let them say we can't do better / Lay out the rules that we can’t break / They want to sit and watch it wither / Their legacy's too hard to take

Two nights before, she performed at Bowery Ballroom for an adoring crowd. Opener Theophilus London turned up the crowd and Santi and her dancers raised the roof. I watched from the balcony, dancing next to Jay-Z and Beyonce’s hot bodyguard.

Before she dueted with MIA or sang with Kanye, Santigold worked with Wu-Tang and penned songs for Christina Aguilera and Ashlee Simpson. She produced and wrote most of an excellent record for the artist Res and then fronted her own rock band. I’d seen Santi play with Stiffed at SOBs circa 2002 and I got excited about her metamorphosis from rock to Santogold. A lawsuit, brought in 2009 by a defunct B-movie director with claims to the name, caused a shift of vowel into Santigold and here we are, second record.

At Bowery Ballroom, while her dancers pranced and pounced holding ruffled parasols, her band performed wearing white, melted-ice-cream, high-top-fade hats of a Devo persuasion. For one song, the band members ducked under a horse costume and made their way across the stage like a Chinese New-Year dragon. Geometric light projections and evocative sound combinations like tinkling keys and grinding bass tones kept the audience guessing. Art pop or global beat, Santigold creates musical cross-dressing that is easy to praise.

On ‘Blues Funeral,’ Mark Lanegan is as dark and snarling as ever

NOLAN GAWRON, BOSTON — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:23:21 -0400

Mark Lanegan is one of music's most formidable frontmen. Standing tall, he performs his dark blues ballads with a deep, gravelly voice and soulful, low-end snarl, constantly gripping the mic stand as if he were strangling it into submission. And when it comes to interviews, he is just as intimidating. Notoriously vague, and downright frustrating to talk to, he is short in his answers, divulging as little as possible.

Known through the '90s as the singer for Screaming Trees, Lanegan has become one of the most prolific survivors to rise from the ashes of grunge. Besides his seven solo records, he's made cameos with Queens of the Stone Age, co-wrote songs with Greg Dulli and participated in unlikely collaborations with the Soulsavers and Isobel Campbell.

"They were something I really enjoyed,"?he says. "Hope-fully that will continue. It may not be the things I worked on before, but with God willing, something else will pop up."

Releasing "Blues Funeral" last month, Lanegan returns to his solo project. Eight years after the release of his previous album, his bottom-dwelling bellow sounds like he's back from the grave to tell tales of death with the delivery of a gospel song sung by a sinner. More electronic than ever, his ballads seem to turn a darker shade of blue -- bordering on black. But not to Lanegan.

"I don't know, man, I've been singing about the same stuff for 25 years now," he says.

'Funeral' party

While Lanegan's solo records have always been backed by a collection of friends, this one has a skinnier lineup.

"I made my previous record with Alain Johannes," he says. "And after that I knew I would make the next one with him also. Honestly, we really didn't need anyone but him and Jack Irons, but I had a few other people stop." Most notably Greg Dulli and Josh Homme.