At last year’s True Colors gig, I was mesmerized by nearly every act on the bill (including but not limited to The Gossip, Dresden Dolls & Erasure). This time around, the brightest moments of the evening undoubtedly emanated from the two legendary headliners.

Cyndi Lauper’s 75 minute set featured everything you’d hope to hear (‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, ‘Time After Time’, ‘She Bop’, ‘When You Were Mine’, ‘Money Changes Everything’) alongside a handful of tracks from her new LP, Bring Ya To The Brink. The latter tunes transport Cyndi back to her early dance roots. Each and every Brink ditty sounded tremendous and defiant in the 6000 capacity auditorium. Perhaps my personal highlight of the evening would be the encore opening collaboration on Hedwig & The Angry Inch‘s ‘Midnight Radio’ with John Cameron Mitchell. JCM very rarely performs the cult classic’s selections anymore and to hear the anthem sung so passionately was an immense treat. Visit Cyndi at her MySpace page. Enjoy a duo of up close & personal photos below.

MP3: Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

While I’ve been a long time fan of The B-52′s, last night was my first time seeing the Athens based quartet in a live setting. With their fifty minutes, they bounced back & forth between their trademark cuts (‘Roam’, ‘Mesopotamia’, ‘Private Idaho’) and picks from Funplex – most notably the leisurely title track. While ‘World’s Greatest Party Band’ is a tough term to live up to, The B-52′s did not disappoint. In fact, they far exceeded my expectations. As could be predicted, the final two songs (‘Rock Lobster’ & ‘Love Shack’) were the most well received. Watch a clip of the band performing ‘Juliet…’ on R&K here.

MP3: The B-52′s – Hot Corner

At last year’s True Colors gig, I was mesmerized by nearly every act on the bill (including but not limited to The Gossip, Dresden Dolls & Erasure). This time around, the brightest moments of the evening undoubtedly emanated from the two legendary headliners.

Cyndi Lauper’s 75 minute set featured everything you’d hope to hear (‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, ‘Time After Time’, ‘She Bop’, ‘When You Were Mine’, ‘Money Changes Everything’) alongside a handful of tracks from her new LP, Bring Ya To The Brink. The latter tunes transport Cyndi back to her early dance roots. Each and every Brink ditty sounded tremendous and defiant in the 6000 capacity auditorium. Perhaps my personal highlight of the evening would be the encore opening collaboration on Hedwig & The Angry Inch‘s ‘Midnight Radio’ with John Cameron Mitchell. JCM very rarely performs the cult classic’s selections anymore and to hear the anthem sung so passionately was an immense treat. Visit Cyndi at her MySpace page. Enjoy a duo of up close & personal photos below.

MP3: Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

While I’ve been a long time fan of The B-52′s, last night was my first time seeing the Athens based quartet in a live setting. With their fifty minutes, they bounced back & forth between their trademark cuts (‘Roam’, ‘Mesopotamia’, ‘Private Idaho’) and picks from Funplex – most notably the leisurely title track. While ‘World’s Greatest Party Band’ is a tough term to live up to, The B-52′s did not disappoint. In fact, they far exceeded my expectations. As could be predicted, the final two songs (‘Rock Lobster’ & ‘Love Shack’) were the most well received. Watch a clip of the band performing ‘Juliet…’ on R&K here.

MP3: The B-52′s – Hot Corner

At last year’s True Colors gig, I was mesmerized by nearly every act on the bill (including but not limited to The Gossip, Dresden Dolls & Erasure). This time around, the brightest moments of the evening undoubtedly emanated from the two legendary headliners.

Cyndi Lauper’s 75 minute set featured everything you’d hope to hear (‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, ‘Time After Time’, ‘She Bop’, ‘When You Were Mine’, ‘Money Changes Everything’) alongside a handful of tracks from her new LP, Bring Ya To The Brink. The latter tunes transport Cyndi back to her early dance roots. Each and every Brink ditty sounded tremendous and defiant in the 6000 capacity auditorium. Perhaps my personal highlight of the evening would be the encore opening collaboration on Hedwig & The Angry Inch‘s ‘Midnight Radio’ with John Cameron Mitchell. JCM very rarely performs the cult classic’s selections anymore and to hear the anthem sung so passionately was an immense treat. Visit Cyndi at her MySpace page. Enjoy a duo of up close & personal photos below.

MP3: Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

While I’ve been a long time fan of The B-52′s, last night was my first time seeing the Athens based quartet in a live setting. With their fifty minutes, they bounced back & forth between their trademark cuts (‘Roam’, ‘Mesopotamia’, ‘Private Idaho’) and picks from Funplex – most notably the leisurely title track. While ‘World’s Greatest Party Band’ is a tough term to live up to, The B-52′s did not disappoint. In fact, they far exceeded my expectations. As could be predicted, the final two songs (‘Rock Lobster’ & ‘Love Shack’) were the most well received. Watch a clip of the band performing ‘Juliet…’ on R&K here.

MP3: The B-52′s – Hot Corner

Sunday, 6/1 @ Jones Beach Theater.

The gig is part of 2008′s True Colors tour.

Full line-up is as follows:

The B-52s
Cyndi Lauper
Indigo Girls
The Cliks
Mary McBride

E-mail us for a chance to win!

Victor will be selected randomly on Friday @ 10am.

Visit The B-52s on MySpace.

MP3: The B-52s – Hot Corner

Catch the San Antonian trio on 6/23 @ Oklahoma City’s Zoo Theater.

More dates to be revealed shortly.

View the entire 2008 True Colors bill here.

Visit Girl In A Coma on MySpace.

MP3: Girl In A Coma – Clumsy Sky

Andy Bell will be a special guest at this summer’s True Colors Tour. All dates on the 6-city trek can be found below:

21 June: Houston @ CW Mitchell Pavilion
22 June: Dallas @ Superpages.com Center
25 June: Phoenix @ Dodge Theater
27 June: Alpine @ Viejas Casino
28 June: Los Angeles @ Greek Theater
29 June: Berkeley @ Greek Theater

Read my review of Erasure in Brooklyn (2007) here.

MP3: Erasure – Oh L’Amour

This year’s acts:

Cyndi Lauper, The B-52′s, Tegan And Sara, Wanda Sykes, Regina Spektor, Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, Joan Armatrading, Indigo Girls, Nona Hendryx, Deborah Cox & The Cliks

This year’s gigs:

5.31 – Boston MA US BOA Pavilion
6.1 – Wantagh NY US Nikon @ Jones Beach
6.3 – New York NY US Radio City
6.4 – Toronto ON CA Molson Amphitheatre
6.6 – Mashantucket CT US Foxwoods Casino
6.7 – Washington DC US DAR
6.9 – Minneapolis MN US US Bank Theater
6.10 – Chicago IL US Chicago Theatre
6.11 – Clarkston MI US DTE Energy Theatre
6.13 – Atlantic City NJ US Borgata
6.14 – Bethel NY US Bethel Woods Center
6.16 – Atlanta GA US Chastain Park Amphitheatre
6.17 – Atlanta GA US Chastain Park Amphitheatre
6.18 – Clearwater FL US Ruth Eckerd Hall
6.19 – Fort Lauderdale FL US Sinatra Theatre
6.21 – Houston TX US CWM Pavillion
6.22 – Dallas TX US Superpages.com Center
6.25 – Phoenix AZ US Dodge Theatre
6.27 – Alpine CA US Viejas Casino
6.28 – Los Angeles CA US Greek Theatre
6.29 – Berkeley CA US Greek Theatre
7.1 – Seattle CA US WaMu Theater
7.2 – Vancouver BC CA Deer Lake Park
7.4 – Salt Lake City UT US USANA Amphitheatre
7.5 – Morrison CO US Red Rocks Amphitheatre

All tix on sale 3/15 (pre-sale on 3/10).

Further info can be found here.

MP3: Tegan & Sara – Monday Monday Monday

$1 from the profit of each CD and full album download is being donated to the Human Rights Campaign (learn more about the HRC here). Check out the album’s full track listing below. The physical record drops on August 7th – although it’s available digitally right now.

1. Cyndi Lauper – “True Colors”
2. The Dresden Dolls – “Shores Of California”
3. The Cliks – “Oh Yeah”
4. Indigo Girls – “Rock & Roll Heaven’s Gate”
5. Rufus Wainwright – “Gay Messiah”
6. Debbie Harry – “What Is Love”
7. Erasure featuring Cyndi Lauper – “Early Bird”
8. Jeffree Star – “Plastic Surgery Slumber Party”
9. The Gossip – “(Take Back) The Revolution”
10. Cazwell – “Watch My Mouth”

MP3: Dresden Dolls – Add It Up (Violent Femmes cover)

$1 from the profit of each CD and full album download is being donated to the Human Rights Campaign (learn more about the HRC here). Check out the album’s full track listing below. The physical record drops on August 7th – although it’s available digitally right now.

1. Cyndi Lauper – “True Colors”
2. The Dresden Dolls – “Shores Of California”
3. The Cliks – “Oh Yeah”
4. Indigo Girls – “Rock & Roll Heaven’s Gate”
5. Rufus Wainwright – “Gay Messiah”
6. Debbie Harry – “What Is Love”
7. Erasure featuring Cyndi Lauper – “Early Bird”
8. Jeffree Star – “Plastic Surgery Slumber Party”
9. The Gossip – “(Take Back) The Revolution”
10. Cazwell – “Watch My Mouth”

MP3: Dresden Dolls – Add It Up (Violent Femmes cover)

$1 from the profit of each CD and full album download is being donated to the Human Rights Campaign (learn more about the HRC here). Check out the album’s full track listing below. The physical record drops on August 7th – although it’s available digitally right now.

1. Cyndi Lauper – “True Colors”
2. The Dresden Dolls – “Shores Of California”
3. The Cliks – “Oh Yeah”
4. Indigo Girls – “Rock & Roll Heaven’s Gate”
5. Rufus Wainwright – “Gay Messiah”
6. Debbie Harry – “What Is Love”
7. Erasure featuring Cyndi Lauper – “Early Bird”
8. Jeffree Star – “Plastic Surgery Slumber Party”
9. The Gossip – “(Take Back) The Revolution”
10. Cazwell – “Watch My Mouth”

MP3: Dresden Dolls – Add It Up (Violent Femmes cover)