Month: February 2024

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

CBS to air Billy Joel’s 100th Madison Square Garden residency concert

Billy Joel performs in concert at Allegiant Stadium on February 26^ 2022 in Las Vegas^ Nevada.

CBS announced they will air Billy Joel’s 100th consecutive Madison Square Garden concert with a special on Sunday, April 14th, posting the news on social media with the caption: “You’re invited to celebrate the 100th milestone. Sunday, April 14th on CBS!”

The concert special will be shot at Joel’s record-breaking 100th consecutive performance at Madison Square Garden as part of his franchise run on March 28th, and also marks his first broadcast network concert. The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Graden – The Greatest Arena Run of All Time celebrates Joel’s historic run at MSG, which concludes in July with his 150th lifetime performance at the historic New York City venue. Since making his debut in December 1978, Joel has sold out every performance at Madison Square Garden, making him the artist with the most sell-outs at the arena.

The 74-year-old Joel will headline a series of stadiums throughout 2024 — among them will be solo dates, as well as co-headlining concerts with Stevie Nicks and Sting, scheduled through the fall.

The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Graden – The Greatest Arena Run of All Time will also stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Mastodon & Lamb of God launching 2024 tour with Kerry King

Singer/bass guitarist Troy Sanders of Mastodon at festival Rock for People in Hradec Kralove^ Czech republic^ July 5^ 2017.

Lamb of God and Mastodon have announced they will embark on the 2024 “Ashes of Leviathan Tour,” celebrating the 20th anniversary of each of their landmark albums this year. Lamb of God will play Ashes of the Wake in full, and Mastodon will performing Leviathan in its entirety.  Former Slayer guitarist Kerry King, Malevolence and Unearth will serve as support on select dates.

The Ashes of Leviathan Tour marks the tour featuring King’s new project; his band is rounded out by drummer Paul Bostaph (Slayer), bassist Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah), guitarist Phil Demmel (ex-Machine Head), and lead singer Mark Osegueda (Death Angel). Unearth will replace Malevolence as opening act at three August tour dates.

The Ashes of Leviathan Tour kicks off July 19th in Grand Prairie, Texas, running through August 31st in Omaha, Nebraska. Both band’s 2004 albums — Ashes of the Wake and Leviathan — are considered classics in their discographies, with the final stop of the tour (August 31st)  marking the exact date that Ashes of the Wake and Leviathan were both released in 2004.

Tickets are on sale now via the link: here.

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Categories
Pop Daypop

Yungblud and Lil Yachty team up for the single ‘When We Die (Can We Still Get High?)’

Lil Yachty performs; San Francisco^ CA/USA - 3/31/18

Yungblud and Lil Yachty have released the single ‘When We Die (Can We Still Get High?)’. The track is also accompanied by the official video, directed by Logan Fields and Yussef Haridy. You can take a look at the video – here.

In a press release, Yungblud spoke wanting to collaborate with Lil Yachty for years: “When we die (can we still get high?)’ was one of the first songs I wrote when I got to New Orleans to make new music. Me and Yachty have been talking since 2019 and I’ve always thought we were on the same trip – f**k the rules, push things forward. So, when I wrote the song I knew he’d add something amazing. I wanted this moment to be a collision of each other’s imagination and sound. I’m really excited about it and for what it could potentially inspire between the future of alternative and hip-hop. Press play.”

Yungblud’s latest album is his 2022 self-titled LP, and last year he dropped Happier, his second collaboration with Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Sykes. Lil Yachty dropped ‘The Secret Recipe’ EP in September 2023, which followed the release of his album, ‘Let’s Start Here’.

To stream ‘When We Die (Can We Still Get High?)’, head here.

Editorial credit: Sterling Munksgard / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Supreme Court sets deadline for special counsel response in Trump immunity case for Feb. 20

Former President Donald Trump at civil fraud trial at New York State Court on October 25^ 2023

The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday asked for special counsel Jack Smith to file his response in former President Donald Trump’s immunity case by the afternoon of Feb. 20. The former president has pleaded not guilty to charges of undertaking a “criminal scheme” to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The high court’s request comes just one day after Trump filed an emergency application asking the justices to stay last week’s appeals court decision that rejected his claim of absolute immunity from prosecution in the election interference case. In Trump’s application to the Supreme Court his attorneys argued that the high court should allow the appellate process to play out — and effectively delay any possible trial indefinitely — given the magnitude of the issues and the stakes for the upcoming presidential election. His attorneys wrote: “allowing President Trump to pursue en banc review in the D.C. Circuit will provide an opportunity for similar thoughtful consideration in the lower court before this Court addresses the novel, complex, and momentous issues at stake in this appeal.”

Trump is seeking the dismissal of the case on the grounds that he has “absolute immunity” from prosecution for actions taken while serving in the nation’s highest office. Last week a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s claim of presidential immunity, clearing the way for Trump to seek to appeal the issue to the Supreme Court.

The appellate panel dismissed Trump’s claims last week to legal immunity, saying that affording him such protection “would collapse our system of separated powers by placing the President beyond the reach of all three Branches.” U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has postponed that start date of Trump’s trial while waiting for his immunity appeal to play out; it was originally scheduled to start on March 4.

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Categories
News Daypop

Pres. Biden says Trump’s NATO remarks ‘bow down to Vladimir Putin,’ are ‘un-American’

US President Joe Biden speaks at White House Washington^ DC US - Mar 13^ 2023

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden slammed former President Donald Trump for recently saying that he would encourage Russia to attack NATO nations that he thought had insufficiently spent on defense as part of the mutual protection agreement.

Biden said in remarks from the White House: “The former president has sent a dangerous, and shockingly, frankly, un-American signal to the world. Just a few days ago, Trump gave an invitation to Putin to invade some of our NATO allies. He said if an ally didn’t spend enough money on defense, he would encourage Russia to, ‘Do whatever the hell it wants.’ Can you imagine? A former president of the United States saying that. The whole world heard it, and the worst thing is he means it. No other president in history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator. Let me say this as clearly as I can: I never will. For God’s sake, it’s shameful, it’s dangerous, it’s un-American.”

The NATO treaty requires that if one member nation is attacked, the other members will aid in their defense. The only time the clause has been invoked was after the 9/11 attack.  Biden said that Trump views NATO as a “burden, and doesn’t see the alliance that protects America and the world.”  He added that Russian leaders likely “cheered” when they heard Trump’s comments, saying:  “As long as I’m president, if Putin attacks a NATO ally, the United States will defend every inch of NATO territory.”

Since his remarks Saturday at a rally in South Carolina. Trump has faced backlash. The former president said he would urge Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” if it attacked a NATO country that didn’t contribute enough toward the alliance’s defense spending: “Let’s say that happened. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want, you got to pay your bills.”

Editorial credit: Consolidated News Photos / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Phoenix Suns to sign veteran forward Thaddeus Young for remainder of season

NBA team logo;. team logo of Phoenix Suns

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the and veteran forward Thaddeus Young are finalizing an agreement for Young to join the Suns for the remainder of the season. Young, 35, had been traded from the Toronto Raptors to Brooklyn at the deadline as part of the Dennis Schroder/Spencer Dinwiddie deal, then the Nets waived him, making Young a free agent.

The Raptors initially acquired Young in 2021 in a trade deadline deal with the San Antonio Spurs in which Toronto sent a first-round pick and Goran Dragic to San Antonio for Young and an early second-round pick. Young’s signing would bring the Suns up to the league-required 14-man roster (the team’s trade that brought in Royce O’Neale and David Roddy at the deadline left them below that threshold).

Young played a limited role this season for the Raptors with only 23 games, averaging 5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 62.1% from the floor.

Editorial credit: EstetStudio / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

San Francisco Giants and outfielder Jorge Soler agree to 3-year, $42 million contract

San Francisco Giants logo^ MLB Team

According to multiple reports from sports outlets including ESPN, the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract with free agent outfielder Jorge Soler. The 31-year-old, two-time World Series champion signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Marlins before the 2022 season, but later declined the third-year option of that pact.

Soler, who will turn 32 at the end of February, spent the last two seasons with the Miami Marlins and is heading into his 11th year in the majors. He hit 36 home runs with the Marlins in 2023, the second-highest total of his career, on a .250/.341/.512 batting line. Soler hit .243 with 170 home runs over his first 10 seasons in the majors.

Soler won his first World Series title in 2016 with the Cubs, later leading the American League with a career-high 48 home runs during the 2019 season, which he spent with the Royals. He earned World Series MVP honors in 2021 with the Atlanta Braves. He also played for the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals.

Editorial credit: WhoopieWhoopie / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Katy Perry reveals she’s leaving ‘American Idol’ after Season 22

Singer Katy Perry during her show at Rock in Rio 2015 in Rio de Janeiro^ Brazil

Katy Perry shared that she is exiting the reality-singing competition series American Idol as a judge at the conclusion of Season 2, which officially begin this Sunday, February 18th. Perry has been a judge on American Idol since 2018, alongside Lionel Richie a Luke Bryan.

During her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Perry revealed her upcoming plans and why she is bowing out after the end of this season: “Well, you know, this fall, this September, I’m going to be doing this huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio. It’s really exciting … it’s a big deal for people all over the world, especially my Brazilian fans .. So I think this will probably be my last season for Idol … I love ‘Idol’ so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America. But I need to feel that pulse of my own beat.”

Perry later shared that Bryan, 47, and Richie, 74, weren’t aware of her decision. When asked how they felt about her leaving the show, Perry teased: “Well, they’ll find out tonight. They know that I have some things planned for this year.”

Perry also posted the news on Instagram, sharing a post captioned: “Let’s play two truths and a lie: 1. I beat @usher at Monopoly Deal. 2. I’m headlining Rock in Rio this September. 3. This is my last season on @americanidol.”

Editorial credit: A.PAES / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Take a look at the video for Scotty McCreery’s ‘Cab in a Solo’

Scotty McCreery at the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 7^ 2019 in Las Vegas^ NV

Scotty McCreery has dropped the official music video for his current radio single, “Cab in a Solo,” written by McCreery, Rogers and Brent Anderson and produced by Rogers, Derek Wells, and Aaron Eshuis.

The video, directed by filmmaker (and frequent McCreery collaborator) Jeff Ray, gives fans a glimpse behind the scenes showing the singer in the studio with his son Avery and co-producer Frank Rogers while recording “Cab in a Solo.” It also showcases McCreery performance at the University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, NE last year following the Ladies Volleyball Team’s winning match against Omaha, which set a new women’s sporting event attendance world record of 92,003.

Said McCreery: “This video showcases both the quieter parts of my life like having my son Avery with me in the studio with Frank, as well as the wilder parts of my life such as performing in front of the biggest live audience of my career. I am looking forward to hearing what the fans think after they watch it premiere on CMT and YouTube.”

Take a look at the video for ‘Cab in a Solo’- here.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Netflix reveals ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 first look

Netflix logo on the display of a smartphone in front of a television with the new series "Squid Game" ( focus on Netflix logo )

Netflix is giving a first look at Season 2 of Squid Game, with new photos and a bit of footage.  The streaming service posted on X: “Introducing the very first look at SQUID GAME SEASON 2. Coming this year.” Season 1 of Squid Game still ranks as the most watched series in Netflix history.

The colorful photos from the new season are mainly centered on protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and the Recruiter (Gong Yoo), as well as a new character played by Park Gyu-young. There’s also a short amount of footage, picking-up right after the closing shot of the first Squid Game season.

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk previously said of Season 2: “I’ve seen many reactions from people about the show, but I don’t want to make season two as a response to those reactions. The philosophies I put in season one all naturally extend to season two. Instead of trying to meet the expectations of viewers, I just thought about the last moment when Gi-hun turned away from boarding the plane, and I thought about what he will do next. There will naturally be a flow of events that will lead all the way to the end of the season. I can’t share any details yet, but you know that Seong Gi-hun has become a totally new person by the end of season one, so season two is going to be about what that new Gi-hun is going to do and how things will unfold with this new kind of character.”

Season 2 of Squid Game does not yet have a premiere date. It’s game show spinoff, The Challenge, has also been renewed for another season.

Editorial credit: David Esser / Shutterstock.com