The alternative rock band, Coldplay, released their latest album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, a few months ago, and in just a few days, it was at the top of the UK charts.  In the first three days, it sold 302,000 copies in the UK alone, one of the fastest selling albums in history.  In the US it also reached #1 on the Bilboard charts, selling over 1.8 million copies. The CD contains 12 tracks, including 2 bonus tracks.  Coldplay has also begun a tour of the same name, and will visit numerous locations in the US and around the world.

Should you be hungry like a wolf for fantasticly crafted 80s music, Duran Duran is planning to sate your appetite. Revitalizing the spirit that drove one of the 1980s most popular sounds, Duran Duran has scheduled a dozen or so shows for the first half of December, right after they return from their international tour of countries like Brazil, Peru, Mexico, and Argentina. If you were a fan of them back in their prime, the boys are back to show that they haven’t lost a step. In fact, they may have picked up a few extra ones since the last time you saw them. Check out their official fans’ webpage to properly stay up-to-date with Duran Duran news.

After releasing their new album “Fasciination” back in early August, the dance-punk/new-wave band The Faint is still touring throughout the US and is constantly adding more shows whenever they can.  The new single “The Geeks were Right” has recieved high laudation from fans and music critics and The Faint has decided to continue with more touring to support the album. They have scheduled tour dates that run right up until the Christmas season. Find out more about The Faint at their website.

The makers of Guitar Hero (now on version 4) have revealed that the new edition of the game will feature Billy Idol, among other huge bands like Sublime, Foo Fighters, and Van Halen. Idol’s “Rebel Yell” will allow punk fans the opportunity to emulate one of punk rock’s biggest poster boys. Do up your hair right, find a clip-on nose piercing, and start practicing on the red, yellow, and blue plastic buttons in anticipation of “Rebel Yell.” Learn more about the game on his official fan website.

Look at these guys in their posed “rockstar” stances. What is that, a machine gun drum stick? Is that an attempt at a Pete Townshend stance, oh wait, no he’s holding the guitar up to “balance” to the picture. And that’s not how you hold a guitar! Oh I forgot, Fall Out Boy wouldnt know how to do anything (from write music to hold instruments) on their own, my bad. Excuse me, make-up? Hey make-up we need more eyeliner on Pete Wentz!

Yeah, they are pretty big d-bags but for some reason America loves ‘em.  It’s just annoying when a crappy pop-punk bands ego gets so huge that you can see it manifest in a promotional picture.

They bang in their white tees, spit game in their white tees, and they look clean in their white tees- oh, wrong song- Hey, there Delilah, what’s it like in New York City…The Plain White T’s are back on tour following the release of their new album, Big Bad World.  Dont miss your chance to check out these cute as a button pop punkerswhen they come to your town.

Besides going to a GWAR or Misfits show, seeing Alice Cooper round Halloween is a perfect way to celebrate. As one of firsts to bring horror imagery to the stage, an Alice Cooper show brings rock and roll to its knees with blood, gore, and other shock rock antics that will have you biting the head of a chicken off in a frenzy…An Alice Cooper show also promises a delightful execution of their lead singer- it’s become a classic tradition.  With a new album out, the band is back on tour. For more information about Alice Cooper click here.

This upcoming February 1, 2009 will have Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band playing the Super Bowl XLIII. The game will be held down in sunny Tampa, FL at the Raymond James Stadium. Even though the warm weather promotes less clothing, don’t expect any halftime fops a la Janet Jackson from The Boss (also, there is a five second delay as preventive action). Instead you should expect the seemingly patriotic classics, from ‘Born In The USA” to “American Skin”- dont be fooled as many of Springsteen’s songs tell tales of crushed dreams in the land of the red, white and blue. So before you sing along under a false impression, find out what the songs are about here.

Super Bowl XLIII Halftime at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa

With rumors of a reunion abound, pHiSh fans everywhere are going crazy (and it’s not from the acid). But dont expect a full reunion anytime soon, ex-pHiSh frontman Trey Anastasio is currently on his fall tour performing some of his solo material and although it’s not pHiSh, it’s pretty darn close. pHiSh stemmed from Anastasio’s college-thesis, “The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday”, so who’s to say his solo stuff wont be as good? Grab your glowsticks, throw on your Birkenstocks, and go see guitar virtuoso and living legend, Trey Anastasio live!

The ‘genre’ of indie-syth-psychedelic-dance-pop is making it’s way over to the mainstream via the band MGMT (formerly known as The Management). Their music sounds a lot like the band Of Montreal and that is for a reason. MGMT had their first tour opening for Of Montreal in 2005, and as a brand new band, it’s easy to see where they derived their inspiration.  Columbia Records saw their chance for this next new band (after they realized their children no longer wanted to shop at Abercrombie & Fitch but at Urban Outfitters) and swept MGMT up into their corporate  hands with promises of fame and glory. So far, MGMT is climbing in popularity and this fall they are touring with Beck as he promtes his new album, Modern Guilt. But you can expect MGMT’s next album to be filled with samples, drum machines, and ironic lyrics. To give the band a little credit despite their selling-out and overly hip photo shoots, their hit song “Time To Pretend” is pretty good. It’s catchy but wait…a little too reminiscent of Bloc Party before they went sour. Hopefully MGMT’s managment can get them to find a tune of their own. If a band bases their music on hipster trends, we all know where they will be in a few months as trends have a swift death.