Tribune Blogs -- Burger with Relish: Pop Culture and music by David Burger

Katt who?

Comedian Katt Williams is bringing his "It's Pimpin', Pimpin' Tour" to the University of Utah's Kinsgbury Hall on Feb. 23.

Tickets go on sale Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Hall's box office, www.kingsburyhall.org or by calling 581-7100. Tickets are $50.50 and $55.50, and that's not even counting service charges.

$50.50 and $55.50? For who?

I guess I'm not hip, because I have never heard of this guy. After some research, I found that he's in "First Sunday" with Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan. In 2007, his tour was the second highest-grossing comedy act in the country. Who knew?

I guess I need to go out more often. Or not. I'm going to see the Blue Man Group this Saturday, and all of a sudden I feel like the whitest person in the world.

Spell "Queensryche"? Can you use that in a sentence?

Want to sing with Queensryche?

They are coming to The Depot on Feb. 19, and giving super fans another reason to go to their show on a Tuesday night.

They are holding a contest in each city, where three local folks will compete onstage minutes before the great Seattle band takes the stage. The local singer who gets the loudest applause gets to come back onstage later to sing with the band during their set.

Details are here. Utah residents must turn in an MP3 of them singing by Feb. 12. The three best performances will be judged on pitch, tone and overall vocal performance.

In an extra-special treat, the best singing fan in the U.S. will be invited to the studio with the band to sing on their next album. It's like that time I sang on the Milli Vanilli album, but I believe Queensryche will give the fan a credit.

All We'll Get is LOVE

Now that it is official that the Grammys won't be derailed by the Writers' Strike, performers and presenters are being announced at a quick rate.

Among the most anticipated parts of the show -- the 50th anniversary edition -- is a performance by the casts of "The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil" and "Across The Universe" in a special Beatles segment. I'm not so much excited about "Across the Universe" (which our TV reviewer panned) as about seeing a portion of "LOVE" without paying $150 a ticket.

Other newly announced performers are Feist, Alicia Keys and Brad Paisley, the latter who just appeared in Salt Lake City.

Presenters include Natalie Cole, Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler and Bonnie Raitt. Thank God they're presenters and not performers. Boooooring.

New Release Tuesday I'm in Love

It's New Release Tuesday, and these albums drop today:

Sarah Brightman, "Symphony"
Shelby Lynne, "Just a Little Lovin'"
The Mars Volta, "The Bedlam in Goliath"
Willie Nelson, "Moment of Forever"
Joe Jackson, "Rain"
Pat Metheny Trio, "Day Trip"
Idina Menzel, "I Stand"
Vampire Weekend, "Vampire Weekend"
Miley Cyrus, "Hannah Montana 2: Non-Stop Dance Party"
Yoav, "Charmed and Strange"

We're beginning to get out of the January doldrums, the worst month of new album releases. If an album is buzz-worthy, artists want the records to come out Thanksgiving weekend, so Christmas shoppers will buy them (Hence: Josh Groban's "Noel").

But Yoav's new album is exciting, and The Mars Volta are always up to something weird and interesting. Shelby Lynne returns with an album of Dusty Springfield covers. But I don't know who Miley Cyrus is.

No, it's not Dee Snider in the picture

The AP reports today that Jimmy Page, guitarist for Led Zeppelin, wants to take the band on a world tour after a successful reunion concert in London in December.

He has long been the main reason Led Zeppelin hasn't toured since the death of drummer John Bonham, although he has reunited several times with singer Robert Plant (and left out bassist John Paul Jones, to Jones' dismay).

The main problem, though, is that Robert Plant is riding the success of his latest album "Raising Sand," a collaboration with bluegrass queen Alison Krauss. Plant is committed to a tour with Krauss until September.

But Page said September would be fine, the AP reported.

His main apprehension was that the band wouldn't be able to recreate the magic they had at their peak.

"We wanted people who might not have even been alive in 1980 when we finished to understand what we were," he said Monday in Japan. "We did the show, and it was great," he said. "It was instant in terms of chemistry."

Who cares about Rascal Flatts? It's Kellie Pickler -- if you like that sort of thing

Rascal Flatts, with opening act Kellie Pickler, is coming to EnergySolutions Arena on March 7 at 8 p.m.

Pickler, at left, has done pretty well after her stint on "American Idol." Last year, she toured with Brad Paisley.

From the Live Nation press release: "They were, for starters, the top-selling artist of 2006, in all genres of music. They scanned five million units, meaning that 1 of every 14 country CDs sold last year was a Rascal Flatts record ... Their 2006 tour played to over 1 million fans in 74 cities, with 61 of those appearances sellouts ... Rascal Flatts has also become one of the most consistently awarded acts in history, with their 2007 ACM Vocal Group of the Year award, their fifth, tying them with all-time super-group Alabama for most consecutive wins in that category."

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. at the arena box office or Ticketmaster. To get tickets by phone, call 801-325-SEAT or go online at ticketmaster.com.

Tickets are $66.00 and $55.75 plus applicable service charges.

Scream for Ice Cream

Dreyer's "Slow Churned Light Ice Cream," for the second year in a row, will have "American Idol"-themed flavors in the supermarket freezer section.

The five flavors are:

Cheescake Diva, Cookies N Dreamz, Mint Karaoke Cookie, Most Orange-inal, and One Split Wonder (banana-flavored ice cream with fruit and fudge).

Fans can vote for their favorite flavors at slowchurned.com. until May 31. Fans who cast a vote before April 29 will be entered in a chance to win a trip to the "Idol" finale, and the winning flavor will earn a permanent spot in the "Slow Churned" lineup.

One note about the picture attached to this blog: I can neither confirm or deny that the Light Ice Cream Bars are "fantastic," as advertised. And this blog post is not supported by Dreyer's. Unfortunately.

Writers Strike to cancel Grammys?

Carrie Underwood, the Foo Fighters and Beyonce were named today as performers at the 50th Grammy Awards, to be held on Feb. 10.

It is still up in the air, though, if the awards will be canceled and replaced with a press conference -- the same fate the Golden Globes suffered.

From USA Today: "The Grammy show's producers petitioned the [Writers Guild of America] for an interim waiver, despite a guild statement declaring a waiver unlikely ... No decision has been made to picket the Feb. 10 show, which is scheduled to air live on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles ... Star wattage could dim dramatically if musicians bow to Screen Actors Guild pressure to skip the Grammys or refuse to cross picket lines. Nominees with movie or TV credits include Justin Timberlake, Queen Latifah, Beyoncé, Tim McGraw, Fantasia, Jack White and Jon Bon Jovi."

While Carrie or Dave Grohl don't act -- at least yet -- Beyonce is the biggest surprise to be announced as a performer. She has several screen credits, including the Austin Powers franchise and "Dream Girls," and likely wants to act in the future. But would she be considered a scab, or black-listed, if she crosses the picket line?

Slamdancing to the music

Above is Wesley Willis, featured in the only Slamdance film I'll see this year. I saw "Wesley Willis's Joyride" at Slamdance Wednesday, and it was a look at this eccentric, obese, speech-impeded, and mentally ill late performer. He wrote hundreds of hundreds of songs like the one shown above, and he gained a cult following before and after his 2003 death.

Not Enchanted

The Academy Award nominations are out, and there is one pleasant surprise and one upsetting surprise as far as the Best Original Song noms go.

The nominees are "Falling Slowly" from "Once," "Raise It Up" from "August Rush," and three songs from "Enchanted" ("Happy Working Song," "So Close," "That's How You Know").

The pleasant surprise is that a song from "Once" got nominated. It was an iffy proposition considering it was a smaller film that many ballot-voters likely didn't see.

The execrable surprise is that no fewer than three songs from "Enchanted" got nominated. Three!?

It is just upsetting that Eddie Vedder, who wrote and re-recorded songs for "Into the Wild," didn't get nominated. Although the Oscar ceremony will likely be cancelled, it would have been great to see Vedder perform. Vedder even won the Golden Globe for his song "Guaranteed," but was snubbed. Lame.

Akon man

Akon headlined Harry O's at 427 Main St. Thursday night, for perhaps the biggest musical event of the first night of the Sundance festival.

It was a madhouse outside of the club at 10 p.m., when the show was supposed to start. (Of course, being a hip hop show, performers usually show up about two hours after a show is supposed to start -- if you're lucky.) There were several different lines to get in, with the "VIP" line moving considerably quicker than the line for people who had bought $100 tickets. The people clutching the tickets began chanting, "Let Us In" over and over again, to which someone at Harry O's shouted, "That's not going to get you in any quicker."

Outside, there were plenty of scenes of young people shouting at other young people for screwing up their attempts to get on the guest list. It would have amusing to observe, it only it wasn't 0 degrees.

Once inside the club, it was transf0rmed to look like the infamous Club Tao in Las Vegas, with large portraits of poor Chinese people on the walls while four young ladies in bikinis gyrated on top of the bar. Every 20 minutes, some guy would come on stage and yell, "Are you ready to see Akon?!" The crowd, packed in like sardines, would scream back, but nothing would happen.

Akon didn't show up until 1 a.m. Besides him, the only other celebrity in sight was Alex Smith, the former University of Utah quarterback who now plays for the 49ers. He was the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Maroon 5 is scheduled to play Friday night, 50 Cent is scheduled for Saturday (with Paris Hilton) and Sunday night Velvet Revolver is playing. The latter is the only one on sale to the public -- $150 per head. Unless you're Alex Smith.

Drugs are expensive

If you thought tonight's show to see Akon at Harry O's was bad with it being $100 a ticket, Slash and Duff have upped the ante.

Their band Velvet Revolver has just announced their Sunday ( Jan. 20) show is open to the public. Open to the public if the public wants to buy tickets at $150. The band plays Harry O's at 427 Main St.

The doors open at 9 p.m.

Tickets are available at SmithsTix. Money is available in your kid's trust fund.

This blog post not sponsored by Old Navy

I don't read the Wall Street Journal because it's boring, but at the very least they're offering a decent showcase during Sundance that's free to the public. Yes, Free!

The "Point of View Cafe from the Wall Street Journal" is on the second floor of 333 Main St. in Park City.

This Friday, between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Pat Monahan, pictured, of Train, will perform in an acoustic session. Later that same day, Randy Quaid will be at a cocktail reception at 4 p.m.

On Saturday, Ingrid Michaelson performs in an acoustic session between noon and 1 p.m. I know the name isn't familiar, but her song "The Way I Am" is featured in an Old Navy commerical about sweaters. Y'know, the song that goes, "If you are chilly, here take my sweater." The commerical doesn't feature later lines of the song, including, "I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair." I don't know why.

Here's the commercial:

Pretty in Paisley

Amid the Sundance Film Festival, X-Dance, Slamdance, Schmoozedance and the David Burger Toilet Festival, there is one big event going on next week that deserves some attention.

Brad Paisley comes to EnergySolutions Arena Thursday, Jan. 24 for a high-octane show with openers Rodney ("If You're Hoing Through Hell") Atkins and Chuck "Stealing Cinderella") Wicks. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.

I was able to see Paisley in Bakersfield when the show began in mid-2007, and while I've always found Paisley to not have too much of a personality, he knows how to put on a show. He's an inventive guitarist, which adds immeasurably to country shows that too often are draped in schmaltz.

Long band-name alert

During the crazy 11 days of Sundance, it's not easy to find free, good entertainment.

Your best best is to go to Music on Main on Thursday, Jan. 24. It's a free concert on lower Main Street that aims to be one large block party. It begins at 6 p.m.

Meridianwest, above, will headline the show after two other lesser-known openers. Meridianwest is an Austin band that although it's a mere trio, makes big-sounding music that recalls, of all bands, U2 with the Edge. All three members told The Salt Lake Tribune today that their main influence is the Irish band, who will reportedly be at Sundance themselves as part of the promotion associated with "U2 3D."

See No Groban, Hear No Groban

Josh Groban will be performing an intimate acoustic set at the ZonePerfect Bar (427 Main St.) in Park City during the Sundance Film Festival, but most of us will have to settle for the televised version in February.

Other Warner Bros. Records artists to perform at the bar include Michelle Branch, Tyler Hilton and Eisley.

It will be a three-night event, called "Where Music Meets Film," from Jan. 24 to Jan. 26.

Portions from the show will be shown on FUSE TV on Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

ZonePerfect make "All-Natural Nutrition Bars," by the way. And Josh Groban will probably not be laughing alongside a rock, but who knows. It's an invitation-only event.

"Down" Up

311, at left, have quickly sold out their concert at The Depot, scheduled for Feb. 25.

That follows a recent sell-out at the same venue for the B-52's, who are releasing their next album very shortly -- their first in more than 16 years.

As for other hot shows, the Jonas Brothers show at the E Center the first week of February sold very well on Saturday ... but it is NOT sold out. What is going on, parents!?!

Not as much skin as "Girls Next Door"

This is the trailer for a new reality series being shopped around to networks based on Salt Lake City's hip hop radio station KUUU-FM (U92). The show is billed as a show that "follows the drama of the only hip hop station in one of the most conservative states in the country. Viewers will finally see what happens when the microphones are turned off and how a radio station in ... Utah is breaking new music before major cities such as Los Angeles and New York City.

The trailer is being pitched to networks. How do you like it?

Get up early if you want Jonas Bros. tix

The Jonas Brothers will be at the E Center in West Valley City Feb. 8, and heavy-duty preparations are being made for the ticket sale, beginning this Saturday at 10 a.m.

The first 20 rows will be available exclusively at the E Center Box Office located at 3200 South Decker Lake Drive. There is a four-ticket-per person limit. The box office accepts cash, credit cards and personalized local checks with a Utah driver's license. Tickets at the box office are $49.50.

That's not all. A lottery to determine the first-in-line will take place at the venue's box office. Beginning at 7:30 a.m. numbered wristbands will be given out. At 9 a.m. a random number will be drawn and fans with wristbands will line up in sequential order beginning with the random number selected. Important: having a wristband does not guarantee that you will get a ticket.

All other reserved tickets can be purchased at www.livenation.com or at SmithsTix Outlets. To charge by phone, call 467-TIXX or 1-800-888-TIXX or go to smithstix.com. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, and service and handling fees.

Whew!

If you don't know who the Jonas Brothers are, don't worry and sleep in. (They opened for Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus last year and are one of the hottest boy bands around.)

Are you ready for some Williams relative?

Yet another relative of the legendary Hank Williams Sr. is coming to the Wasatch Front this Saturday.

Holly Williams, 26, is a singer-songwriter slated to perform at the Eccles Center in Park City Saturday. Tickets are available at www.parkcitytickets.com and they range from $18 to $65.

She's the brother of Hank III and daughter of Hank Williams Jr. I don't think she has had any hand in composing the "Monday Night Football" theme, but I'll check on that.

The Eccles Center has lined up some great acts in the coming month, including Duncan Sheik on Feb. 2. About two years ago, Sheik would have been lucky to be booked in my carport, but since then he's won Tonys for his Broadway score of "Spring Awakening."

In addition, Rufus Wainwright is coming to the Eccles Center March 15.

50 and 5, plus some Goo

50 Cent and Maroon 5 are the musicians rumored -- but not confirmed -- to be coming to Park City during Sundance, which begins Feb. 17 and ends Feb. 27.

But the confirmed artists aren't too shabby, most notably Patti Smith (at left), who will be performing at the Star Bar (268 Main St.) at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21. She's the subject of one of the documentaries at the festival.

Other performers at the Star Bar include:
Pat Monahan of Train, 5:10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 19 and Jan 20; Motion City Soundtrack, 3:50 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20; Ingrid Michaelson, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19; Gavin DeGraw, 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24; and John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls), 4:30 p.m. Jan. 25.

As you can see, you need to play hooky from work to see any of these performers.

Shows tonite, tonite

Kilby Court is the place to be tonight for a lineup of good, local bands. The show is $9.75 through 24tix.

Alt-country Band of Annuals, at right, headlines tonight's show, which starts at 7 p.m. (That means Band of Annuals won't appear until about 11 p.m. at the earliest, in my estimation.) It will be one of their last shows with drummer Jordan Badger, who is moving to Spain. Although Kilby Court does not allow covers, Band of Annuals should try to incorporate am appropriately themed cover of Dylan's "Boots of Spanish Leather" into their set. (They said their favorite Dylan cover is "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," one of the worst songs Dylan ever wrote, but I won't hold it against them. Too much.)

Another good show to check out tonight if Kilby Claustrophobia isn't your thing is the first Intermountain Acoustic Music Association concert of the year at 7:30 p.m. at the South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, 6876 s. Highland Drive, Cottonwood Heights. Moab singer-songwriter Cosy Sheridan plays with TR Ritchie, with Westminster College's Rauber-Prinz Ensemble opening. It's $5 at the door.

If you didn't get Hannah Montana tix ...

The Jonas Brothers, who opened for the wildly successful "Hannah Montana" tour, are coming to the area on their own headlining tour in February.

They are playing the E Center in West Valley City on Feb. 8. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 12 at www.livenation.com.

The tour is called the "Look Me in the Eyes" tour, and it follows a very successful 2007 for them. Last year, they scored their first platinum album and Billboard named them the pop tour break-out pick for 2008.

They also just played "Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve."

I may smirk now, but I bet that if I was 13 again, I'd love to be the fourth Jonas brother.

Really. $100.

The Sundance Film Festival begins on Jan. 17, and as usual, musicians are coming to gain the attention of the media and crowds that descend on Park City.

Just announced is a show by Akon, whose video "Don't Matter" is attached. He performs at Harry O's, at 427 Main St., on the opening night of the festival. Tickets, at SmithsTix, are $100. Yes, $100.

Akon toured with Gwen Stefani earlier this year and is riding high because of the success of his protege, T-Pain.

And yes, I swear the tickets are $100.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

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Friday, January 25, 2008

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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Friday, January 18, 2008

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Monday, January 14, 2008

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Monday, January 07, 2008

Friday, January 04, 2008

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Wednesday, January 02, 2008