What are the 500 best albums? Rolling Stone has an answer
NEW YORK — Is Fleetwood Mac’s landmark album “Rumours” better than “To Pimp a Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar? Should “Tapestry” by Carole King be ranked higher or lower than “Thriller” by Michael Jackson? Rolling Stone magazine has some answers in a new book that’s sure to spark conversations — “The...
Joan Jett to headline Light Up Night 2022 in Pittsburgh
For the second time in three months, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will be performing in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership announced at a press conference Wednesday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will be the headline performers at Light Up Night on Nov. 19. Jett and her...
How Lainey Wilson, an ’11-year overnight sensation,’ became country music’s brightest new starVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lainey Wilson’s first paying gig as a singer was the grand opening of a convenience store in her tiny hometown of Baskin, Louisiana. She was 9 years old, and the job paid 20 bucks. “My daddy took me up there — no guitar, no microphone, no nothing...
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra paid $15K to take 2 Pa. lawmakers to Europe
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — In the waning days of summer, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra embarked on a whirlwind, nine-city European tour — its...
Takeoff, dead at 28 in shooting, was ‘chill’ Migos member
At just 28, rapper Takeoff had cultivated a rich hip-hop legacy with Migos — along with a reputation as the trio’s most lowkey member — before he was killed in a shooting early Tuesday. Takeoff was pronounced dead at the scene outside a Houston bowling alley, police there said at...
Amazon Music expands catalog to 100M songs for members
LOS ANGELES — Amazon Music is gearing up for a massive content expansion: The streaming giant will offer a full catalog of music with more than 100 million songs for members. The streaming service told The Associated Press that members will gain hundreds of millions of songs — a huge...
Migos rapper Takeoff fatally shot outside Houston bowling alleyVideo
The rapper Takeoff, best known for his work with the Grammy-nominated trio Migos, is dead after a shooting early Tuesday outside a bowling alley in Houston, a representative confirmed. He was 28. Kirsnick Khari Ball, known as Takeoff, was part of Migos along with Quavo and Offset. A representative for...
Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ includes Pittsburgh Acrisure Stadium dateVideo
Taylor Swift has a June 17 date at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh as part of her just-announced “Eras Tour.” Swift will be touring stadiums across the country beginning March 18 in Glendale, Ariz., and continuing into August. International dates will be revealed later. Joining Swift on the road will be...
Blairsville’s Black Ridge will host album release party in BlawnoxVideo
Even if they don’t know the band by name, Pittsburgh sports fans are probably familiar with Blairsville rockers Black Ridge. Their songs, “New Day” and “Celebration” have been featured regularly during televised Pirates and Penguins games, and the tune “You’ll Never Stop This Machine” was used during the 2021-‘22 NHL...
Lys Scott’s ‘Squashed Dreams & Broken Wings’ charts rapper’s journey of self-discoveryVideo
Lys Scott had quite a birthday this year. Scott, a first-generation Thai-American who identifies as queer, turned 32 on Oct. 24 — the same day that she released her debut album “Squashed Dreams & Broken Wings.” After losing a restaurant job as the covid-19 pandemic ramped up in 2020, Scott...
Babyface doesn’t rest on his laurels with ‘Girls Night Out’Video
NEW YORK — Art can be inspired by even the most mundane experiences, and for iconic singer-songwriter Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, the idea for his latest creation, “Girls Night Out,” was sparked while running an errand at the drugstore. “I went to Walgreens and as I was in there, this younger...
Jerry Lee Lewis, outrageous rock ‘n’ roll star, dies at 87
Jerry Lee Lewis, the untamable rock ‘n’ roll pioneer whose outrageous talent, energy and ego collided on such definitive records as “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and sustained a career otherwise upended by personal scandal, died Friday morning at 87. The last survivor of a...
Jane’s Addiction cancels more concerts following Pittsburgh no-show
If you’re a Jane’s Addiction fan still disappointed about the cancellation of their show scheduled for last Saturday in Pittsburgh, you are not alone. The ‘90s alternative rockers, who were set to open for the Smashing Pumpkins as part of the “Spirits on Fire” tour, have also announced the cancellation...
Everclear’s Art Alexakis reflects on the band’s 30th anniversary ahead of Southern California shows
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Art Alexakis went from being flipped off on the highways of Portland, Oregon, for having California license plates to becoming the frontman of one of the city’s most notable rock bands. After moving from Los Angeles to Portland and disbanding his previous project, Colorfinger, he searched for...
Ye dropped by talent agency, documentary on him scrapped
NEW YORK — A completed documentary about the rapper formerly known as Kanye West has been shelved amid his recent slew of antisemitic remarks. MRC studio executives Modi Wiczyk, Asif Satchu and Scott Tenley announced in a memo Monday: “We cannot support any content that amplifies his platform.” Ye was...
AC/DC’s Brian Johnson writes about his Cinderella lives
Before he began tearing the roof off arenas as lead singer of hard rock icon AC/DC, Brian Johnson was fixing roofs. In his new memoir, the “Hells Bells” singer recounts how he went from being a vinyl car roof fitter in the northeast of England to leading one of the...
After ‘America’s Got Talent’ run, singer Aubrey Burchell settles into life after the limelightVideo
After spending the summer performing under Hollywood’s bright lights, Aubrey Burchell quietly finds herself back in the fluorescent glow of the North Huntingdon Target store. The 2019 Norwin High School graduate who wowed national NBC audiences on “America’s Got Talent” and prompted Simon Cowell to crow, “We are just witnessing...
Smashing Pumpkins pick up slack in Pittsburgh concert after Jane’s Addiction cancelsVideo
The aptly named “Spirits on Fire” tour, starring alternative rock icons Smashing Pumpkins and Jane’s Addiction was easily one of the most anticipated rock shows scheduled to hit Pittsburgh in 2022. But many Jane’s Addiction fans left PPG Paints Arena disappointed Saturday night, because the Perry Farrell led band, scheduled...
Jane’s Addiction cancels Pittsburgh show
Jane’s Addiction did not take the stage Saturday at PPG Paints Arena as a scheduled opening act for Smashing Pumpkins. The band also canceled its Philadelphia show Friday night, citing “personal injury.” Announcement pic.twitter.com/IK6ieZTTai— Jane's Addiction (@janesaddiction) October 21, 2022 Jane’s Addiction is fronted by singer frontman Perry Farrell and...
Review: Taylor Swift gets dark, electric on ‘Midnights’
Taylor Swift “Midnights,” (Republic Records) “All of me changed like midnight,” Taylor Swift confesses halfway through her latest album, the aptly named and moody “Midnights.” It’s a moment on the electric “Midnight Rain” that finds lyricist Swift at her best, reminding you of her unparalleled ability to make any emotion...
Here’s how Taylor Swift’s prolific run of albums stacks up against the all-time greats
Taylor Swift is on a tear. On Friday, the pop superstar is set to release her new album, “Midnights,” which she’s described as “a journey through terrors and sweet dreams” that features 13 tracks including a duet with Lana Del Rey. The LP will be the fourth set of new...
After Kanye West disputes cause of death, George Floyd’s family sues rapper for $250 million
After weeks of spewing antisemitic and controversial remarks, Kanye West has found himself at the center of a $250 million lawsuit filed by the family of police brutality victim George Floyd. According to a news release obtained by The Times on Tuesday, Roxie Washington, the mother of Floyd’s daughter, will...
Review: The 1975’s new album is great until it’s exceptionalVideo
The 1975, “Being Funny in a Foreign Language” (Dirty Hit/Interscope) There is plenty to like about The 1975’s new album until there’s something to really admire. “Part of the Band” is the kind of song — is it post-pop, prog-pop, post-prog pop? — that refuses to follow a tempo pattern...
Reunited once again, Pavement is more popular than ever
NEW YORK — Four sold-out shows at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre. A new band member and an expanded live set. Momentum from unlikely followers gained while the band was on hiatus. Pavement, reunited for the first time in 12 years, is back at it — again — and more popular than...
Westmoreland Symphony season opener features classical saxophonist
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra will display its full range and power in its 2022-23 season-opening concert, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. “I wanted to choose a big piece with a lot of instrumental color, to capitalize on the sound the orchestra can make and the...
