Barenaked Ladies singer/guitarist Stephen Page has a good shot at having felony drug charges against him dropped. Page was caught with a vial of coke in July and charged with felony possession. Yesterday a New York court ruled that charges will be dropped down to misdemeanor status if he steers clear of Columbian booger sugar for six months.

We suggest a trial for sucking musically in the third degree.

Photo: Poujoulat/AFP/Getty

Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix announced Monday that he'll be quitting films to pursue a career in music. According to Phoenix's camp, the born again musician is collaborating on a debut record with British rocker Tim Burgess of the Charlatans.

The actor told People back in 2004, "I don't sing. I don't even hum in the shower", but of course took vocal lessons and learned guitar for his decent turn as Johnny Cash in 2005's biopic Walk The Line. 

Check out the  pseudo-psychedelic new video for Beck's "Gamma Ray," featuring a lot of dancing by actress/clown Chloe Sevigny.

The clip was directed by fashion designer Jess Holzworth. The solar system shit is pretty impressive.

Photo: Mosenfelder/Getty

The annual Bridge School Benefit concert was held this past weekend in Bay Area's Shoreline Amphitheater.  Joining founder Neil Young were Jack Johnson, Cat Power, Wilco, Smashing Pumpkins, Death Cab for Cutie, Josh Groban and more.

• Josh Groban performing "Disarm" with Smashing Pumpkins
• A Neil Young and Cat Power duet on Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son."
• Two new tracks from Smashing Pumpkins: "Owata" and "A Song For A Son."
• And then... Neil Young's acoustic cover of the Beatles' "A Day in the Life."

(more...)

Photo: Miller/Getty

The Killers will begin to tour behind their new album, Day and Age (out Nov. 25th), beginning in early 2009. Here are the North American dates:

Jan. 17 - Ritchie Center - Denver, CO
Jan. 19 - Northrop Auditorium - Minneapolis, MN
Jan. 20 - UIC Pavilion - Chicago, IL
Jan. 22 - EMU Convocation Center - Ypsilanti, MI
Jan. 23 - Air Canada Centre - Toronto, ON
Jan. 25 - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
Jan. 26 - Agganis Arena - Boston, MA
Jan. 28 - Patriot Center - Fairfax, VA
Jan. 29 - House of Blues - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Jan. 30 - Civic Center - Atlanta, GA
Jan. 31 - Grand Ole Opry - Nashville, TN
Feb. 2 - Verison Wireless Theater - Houston, TX
Feb. 3 - Erwin Center - Austin, TX
Feb. 4 - Nokia Theatre - Grand Prairie, TX

Photo: Winter/Getty

During a radio interview, Slash got the chance to hear "Chinese Democracy" -- the single off the new GnR album -- for the first time. After he heard a brief clip of the song's chorus the guitarist said, "That sounds cool. It's good to hear [Axl's] voice again."

Slash added that he had known all along that the decade-in-the-making album would eventually be released, noting that "Axl has his own timeframe for how he wants to do things. Everybody said 'It's not going to come out.' But I said, 'That's not true, it will come out.'"

He added that he probably won't personally go to Best Buy to pick up the album. "I don't hang at Best Buy too often, but I have friends who can get me a copy."

Chinese Democracy is slated for a November 23rd release and will be sold exclusively at Best Buy stores. 

Are you excited?

Photo: Peyton/Getty

Bob Dylan kicked off a Canadian leg of his Never Ending Tour last night in Victoria, British Columbia. He stuck to the piano for most of the show, but played electric guitar on "Rainy Day Women," and an acoustic on "Just Like A Woman." It was the first time Dylan has played guitar onstage since August 24th in Indiana, where he strapped on for "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat." 

The tour continues through Canada, dropping into Wisconsin, and a highly anticipated gig on election night at the University of Minnesota. 

Opening Night Set List:

1. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
2. Man In The Long Black Coat
3. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
4. Girl Of The North Country
5. High Water (For Charlie Patton)
6. Chimes Of Freedom
7. 'Til I Fell In Love With You
8. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
9. Honest With Me
10. Just Like A Woman
11. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
12. Beyond The Horizon
13. Highway 61 Revisited
14. Ain't Talkin'
15. Thunder On The Mountain

ENCORE

16. Like A Rolling Stone
17. All Along The Watchtower 

(more...)

Photograph courtesy of Mel D.Cole/VillageSlum.Com

On Tuesday night we hung out at New York's S.O.B.'s to catch Mark Ronson's showcase for his label, Allido Records. Kicking off the night was a set by DJs Jus Ske and Doug Grayson, followed by performances from rappers Wale and Rhymefest, London rockers the Rumble Strips, Aussie soul sensation Daniel Merriweather, and a collaboration between the Dap Kings and the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. 

We invited the Rumble Strips up to our headquarters to play for us. Check 'em out below, performing "Alarm Clock".

Click here to watch more of the Rumble Strips in the Smoking Section.

[Video: Pete Maiden/Eric Helton; Editing by Pete Maiden]

Photo: Getty

For the second time this year the original Jane's Addiction lineup will gig together. Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins will converge at L.A.'s La Cita bar (390 capacity) bar tonight. According to Avery's blog, the band will play "roughly 10 tracks." Tickets were only $5 bucks and sold out quick.

"We never know what the future has in store for us, especially with this band," Avery wrote. "But, at least right now Jane's Addiction has a future that one would have to call somewhat promising. We have been rehearsing and we have been sounding really solid. We are a great band."

Crazy!

UPDATE: The set featured all classic cuts. Here's the list:

1. Up The Beach
2. Trip Away
3. Whores
4. One Percent
5. Ain't No Right
6. Pigs In Zen
7. Ted, Just Admit It
8. Ocean Size
9. Had A Dad
10. Been Caught Stealing

(more...)

Photo: Getty

Neil Halstead -- the dude behind Mojave 3 and Slowdrive -- has announced a short tour through the US in support of his fine solo album, Oh! Mighty Engine, out on Jack Johnson's label, Brushfire Records:

Nov. 6 - Schuba's Tavern - Chicago, IL
Nov. 8 - The Drake Hotel - Toronto, ON
Nov. 10 - Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ
Nov. 11 - The Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
Nov 12 - Music Hall of Williamsburg (w/Mark Kozelek) - Brooklyn, NY
Nov. 17 - Jammin' Java - Vienna, VA
Nov. 18 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 20 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA

Check out this new video for "Paint A Face."

(more...)