Posts by Luke Sacks

A few weeks ago, my good friend DaveO dedicated his Friday Mix Tape playlist to songs that dropped the names of other songs in its lyrics. To take DaveO’s concept off on a little tangent, I am going with songs that name drop other artist names right there in the title. There seems to be a pattern […]

The awesome and ageless Emmylou Harris, who will release her new album Hard Bargain on April 26, will pay a visit to David Letterman on Wednesday evening. She also will perform at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom that same night for a sold out show billed as “Plus Special Guest.” Monday, April 25 [All times […]

Alison Krauss & Union Station will release their first studio album in nearly seven years, Paper Airplane, tomorrow. On Wednesday, the group will visit The Ed Sullivan Theater for a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman. Krauss heads off on a 50-city tour beginning June 4 in Louisville with Union Station featuring dobro legend Jerry […]

Robbie Robertson will make his first television appearances in 10 years this week with visits to David Letterman (Tuesday) and The View (Wednesday). Robertson will perform the single He Don’t Live Here No More from his new album How to Become Clairvoyant, which hits stores on Tuesday. It’s his first release since 1998’s Contact From the […]

On March 29, Blue Note will release Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles, a collection of 13 Charles classics performed by musical legends Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis and featuring Norah Jones. To celebrate the release, the trio will visit The Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday night. Nelson and […]

The Strokes will release their new album Angles on March 22 and the following night will visit David Letterman. The band also will appear at Madison Square Garden on April 1 and at three of the country’s most popular festivals in Coachella, New Orleans JazzFest and Bonnaroo. Monday, March 21 Metallica: Biography [BIO 8PM] Black Sabbath: Biography […]

There was a time in my life when five concerts in one week wasn’t all that rare. But those days are long gone and now I’ve reached a point where one show a week can be a lot to deal with on a regular basis. But I find myself especially excited about five shows I will be attending in the next five weeks.

This list also serves as proof just how spoiled someone living in NYC really is in terms of music. There really are dozens of choices on any given night and anytime you are looking to hear some great music, you can always find something. Alright, let’s get down to it…

1. Elton John – Madison Square Garden – Wednesday, March 30

Elton John has more hits than most artists have songs and he has been a longtime member on my “bucket list” of artists I need to see before they stop touring. That list also includes David Bowie and Jeff Mangum (see you in October at Town Hall). Elton had his “number” retired at MSG back in 2007 when he performed his 60th show at the venue on his 60th birthday.

Take away the good (Almost Famous) and bad (27 Dresses) Hollywood singalongs, and Elton is still one of the most prolific and productive rockers of all time. Playing his greatest hits and selections off his album with Leon Russell, this show should be well worth the somewhat steep price of admission.

READ ON for the other four show’s Luke will be hitting…

The MSG Network airs its first-ever live concert broadcast this evening at 8PM, when the Allman Brothers Band takes the stage at the Beacon. Monday, March 14 [All times ET] John Lennon: Live in NYC [VH1 Classic 4PM] Elton John: Biography [BIO 8PM] Allman Brothers Band: Live at the Beacon [MSG 8PM] Cold War Kids […]

The Allman Brothers Band and MSG Network team up on Monday, March 14 for the first-ever live broadcast in the 41-year history of the channel featuring a March Madness show at the legendary Beacon Theatre in New York City. In advance of that special night, MSG started airing highlights from the Allmans’ 2010 United Palace […]

Thursday night features a solid lineup of late-night talk show musical guests with Michael Franti spreading the love on Jimmy Kimmel, Michael Stipe visiting Jimmy Fallon and Cake performing on George Lopez. Cake also will appear on Jay Leno on Tuesday night. Monday, February 28 [All Times ET] Depeche Mode: Live in Barcelona [Palladia 5PM] […]

The phrase “’80s music” usually induces cringes and thoughts of hairspray, spandex and synthesizers. And for good cause. So much of the music produced in the ’80s is tremendously forgettable. But my Friday Mix Tape playlist features 10 songs from ’80s – one from each year of the decade – that helps prove it wasn’t […]

Bright Eyes, one of Conor Oberst’s more mellow projects, will visit David Letterman on Thursday night in support of new album The People’s Key and a national tour that  kicks off March 2 in Miami. Stops along the way include Radio City Music Hall on March 8-9 and Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium on St. Patrick’s Day. […]

James Murphy recently announced that LCD Soundsystem would play their final show ever on April 2 at Madison Square Garden. Tickets sold out in literally seconds last Friday leading the group to add four shows at Terminal 5. But on Monday, the group will make an additional NYC appearance with a visit to the Colbert […]

Sir Elton John will be all over the small screen this week with a series of appearances to promote…the adoption of his baby? It’s more likely Elton is promoting his World Tour which will take him from from British Columbia, Canada on Valentine’s Day to Pori, Finland in mid-July. US stops include a pair of dates […]

Can you believe it has been 20 years since Naughty by Nature’s self-titled platinum album, and the hit single O.P.P., took the world annoyingly by storm? Well, it’s been 19.5 years since I thought about Naughty by Nature until I saw they will visit David Letterman on Thursday night. Monday, January 31 [All times EST] […]

Sam Beam, better known as Iron & Wine, will bring his soothing sound to Conan on Monday night. At the complete opposite end of the musical spectrum, Motorhead will stop by Conan on Wednesday night. Monday, January 24 [All times EST] Lenny Kravitz: Live at V Fest 2008 [Palladia 5PM] Arcade Fire: Friday Night’s Alright […]

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Wanda Jackson, aka the First Lady of Rockabilly, will release her Jack White-produced album The Party Ain’t Over on January 25. In advance of that 11-track release, the duo will visit The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS this Thursday night. Monday, January 17 Film : Dazed and […]

Legendary nutjob Gary Busey was nominated for an Academy Award for his incredible portayal of the late, great Buddy Holly in the the 1978 film The Buddy Holly Story [TVLand – Monday, 9PM]. The movie chronicles Holly’s life from young upstart until his untimely death in February 1959. Monday, January 10 [All times EST] U2: At the […]

Six-time Grammy nominees the Black Keys will make their first appearance on Saturday Night Light this week. Funnyman Jim Carrey, who stars in the new flick  “I Love You Phillip Morris” will host for the second time in his career. Friday, January 7 Film: Dazed and Confused [VH1 Classic 3PM] Mary J. Blige: Storytellers [Palladia 4PM] Gnarls […]

While ScottyB is soaking in the rays and the tunes on the high seas, we are going to take a final look back at Phish’s monumental three-night run at Madison Square Garden.

1. The Band Still Has “It”
Some fans have felt this way for a while now. Some fans felt the band never recovered from their first hiatus. My feeling, and most fans probably felt this way, is that there have certainly been moments. And shows. And from time to time back-to-back shows. But there has not been a three-night run of this caliber (both song selection and playing) in a long long time. Like maybe Phish 1.0 long. The band confidently tore through 71 songs over the course of the stand and delivered, in my opinion, their three best start-to-finish shows of the year. If you aren’t impressed with what the band brought at MSG then you should just stop going to shows.

2. New Year’s Run Should be at MSG Every Year
I don’t give a fuck how nice the weather is in Miami. This band belongs at Madison Square Garden every year for New Year’s Eve. Something about the mix of that building, that band and New York City makes for magic. And next year the band should clean up and jam out Round Room as a proper nod. This year’s version, while very much appreciated, was one of the few tunes that showed its rust.

READ ON for eight more things Luke Learned from the run.