Click Track - November 28, 2010

B-sides: Paul McCartney on winning prizes and supporting the president

McCartney accepting one of his many awards, this one from President Obama. (Yuri Gripas/AFP/Getty Images) Our friend and colleague J. Freedom du Lac interviewed Kennedy Center Honoree Paul McCartney -- and a slew of others who witnessed the Beatles first...

By Click Track | December 4, 2010; 5:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: B-sides | Tags: Paul McCartney
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B-sides: Merle Haggard on Johnny Cash, Rick Rubin, Richard Nixon, Ralph Nader

Merle Haggard doesn't quite understand Rick Rubin. (Dave Eisnel/FTWP) In Sunday's Washington Post, Kennedy Center Honoree Merle Haggard speaks candidly about the hardships of the road and his inability to settle down at the age of 73. In addition to...

By Click Track | December 4, 2010; 5:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: B-sides | Tags: Merle Haggard
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Be specific: An instant interview with Deerhunter's Bradford Cox

Bradford Cox of Deerhunter, doing interviews when Netflix doesn't work. (Kyle Gustafson/FTWP) At 5:30 p.m., a tweet appeared from Motourmouth Media: First 5 writer/blog peeps to call my office can do 5 min interview w Bradford Cox - right now!...

By David Malitz | December 3, 2010; 6:13 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Be specific | Tags: Deerhunter
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Coda: Grammys, Buble and Kennedy Center Honors

Chuck Brown scored his first Grammy nomination. (John Shore) Grammy nominations were announced on Wednesday night and Eminem led the way with 10 nods. Locals were also well-represented, with Raheem DeVaughn and Chuck Brown scoring nominations. We predicted winners and...

By Click Track | December 3, 2010; 6:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Coda
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Merle Haggard was pardoned for the second time by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2009

He fought the law, and he won. (Dave Eisnel/FTWP) In Sunday's Washington Post feature story about Kennedy Center honoree Merle Haggard, the country legend said that his 1972 pardon from then-California Governor Ronald Reagan was the greatest award he'd ever...

By Chris Richards | December 3, 2010; 3:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: News | Tags: Merle Haggard
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For Merle Haggard, music is a life sentence

Merle Haggard continues on the only way he knows how. (All photos by Dave Einsel/FTWP) IN LAKE CHARLES, LA. -- At 73, two years removed from lung surgery and two months from a related chest infection, Merle Haggard should be...

By Chris Richards | December 3, 2010; 2:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: In today's Post | Tags: Merle Haggard
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More than 45 years later, screams still echo: Paul McCartney, Al Gore, Tommy Roe and more recall Beatles' first U.S. concert in D.C.

The Beatles perform at Washington Coliseum in February 1964. (Rowland Scherman) On Feb. 11, 1964, Beatlemania blasted Washington, all shrieks and Arthur haircuts and songs that nobody could quite make out. Two nights after a hysteria-inducing appearance on “The Ed...

By J. Freedom du Lac | December 3, 2010; 1:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: In today's Post | Tags: Paul McCartney
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Riffs: Grammys 2011 -- 5 artists who were robbed

Sade, snubbed. The Grammys aren't as embarrassing as they used to be. Remember when Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Sheryl Crow and Steely Dan would be nominated for just about anything? Or the year Jethro Tull beat out Metallica for Best...

By Allison Stewart | December 3, 2010; 12:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Grammys, Riffs | Tags: Big Boi, Cee Lo Green, Florence and the Machine, Grammys, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Sade
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In concert: David Guetta at Fur

After midnight, David Guetta brought arena-rock flourishes to his DJ set at Fur. (All photos by Evy Mages/FTWP) French composer-producer David Guetta, who appeared early Thursday morning at Fur, has brought house music to the mainstream, scoring radio hits with...

By Mark Jenkins | December 3, 2010; 11:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: In concert | Tags: David Guetta
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Aretha Franklin recovering from surgery; Justin Bieber actually surprised by Grammy nods?; 9:30 Club is raffling for charity

Lady Soul is on the mend. (Tracy Woodward/Washington Post) - Aretha Franklin underwent surgery on Thursday, calling the procedure "highly successful" in a statement released to the Associated Press. "God is still in control," Franklin said in the statement. "I...

By Chris Richards | December 3, 2010; 9:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Morning click | Tags: 9:30 Club, Aretha Franklin, Dismemberment Plan, Justin Bieber, Poor But Sexy, Taylor Swift
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Clicky shuffle: Random songs for Friday morning

Vintage Kraftwerk concert footage is the best. They look like they're operating an air traffic control tower. Kraftwerk, "The Model" Slim Thug, "I Ain't Heard of That" Noel, "Silent Morning" Judee Sill, "Crayon Angels" Wolves in the Throne Room,...

By Chris Richards | December 3, 2010; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Clicky shuffle | Tags: Clicky shuffle
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Local news: Chuck Brown up for his first Grammy; other area artists also nominated

The godfather is up for his first Grammy. (John Shore) Raheem DeVaughn isn't the only hometowner up for a Grammy on Feb. 13. A handful of other area artists are hoping to win trophies, too. MoCo native BT was nominated...

By Chris Richards | December 2, 2010; 1:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Local news | Tags: BT, Chuck Brown, Raheem DeVaughn
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Taking sides: Who will win at the Grammys?

Will Gaga take home album of the year? (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) THE GRAMMYS USER POLL: Your Grammy Award picks GALLERY: A look at the top categories • Blog Post: Grammy nominations 2010: The good, the bad, the who?• Video: Eminem...

By Click Track | December 2, 2010; 1:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Grammys, Taking sides | Tags: Alicia Keys, Arcade Fire, Cee-Lo Green, Drake, Eminem, Florence and the Machine, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, Rihanna
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On air: Washington Post pop music critic Chris Richards talks Grammys on WNYC's Soundcheck

This guy has been nominated for ten Grammys. (Gary Malerba/Associated Press) Check the ticker -- only 73 days until the 53rd annual Grammy Awards unfold in sunny Los Angeles. On Click Track, we're off to the races. We recapped the...

By Chris Richards | December 2, 2010; 12:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Grammys | Tags: Grammys
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Speculation: Predicting Pitchfork's top 10 of 2010

Are these Pitchfork's four favorites artists of 2010? One of our favorite December rituals is trying to predict Pitchfork’s year-end Top 10 list. They’ve made it much easier in recent years -- pretty much anyone can click through the site's...

By David Malitz and Chris Richards | December 2, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Speculation | Tags: Big Boi, Deerhunter, Joanna Newsom, Kanye West, LCD Soundsystem, Pitchfork, Sleigh Bells
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Grammy nominees announced; Raheem DeVaughn nominated for best R&B album; DC9 to reopen; Fans hold vigil for Aretha Franklin; Bono speaks on World AIDS Day

Raheem DeVaughn: Grammy nominated! (Dayna Smith For The Washington Post) - Eminem topped the pile of last night's Grammy nominees with ten, earning a nod in three most prestigious categories: record of the year, song of the year and album...

By Chris Richards | December 2, 2010; 9:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Morning click | Tags: Aretha Franklin, Bono, DC9, Eminem, Justin Bieber, Raheem DeVaughn
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Clicky shuffle: Random songs for Thursday morning

This song remains incredibly creepy -- but check out Oran's apartment! Oran "Juice" Jones, "The Rain" Belkis Akkale, "Daglar" Archers of Loaf, "Web in Front" Cassie, "Me & U" Thin Lizzy, "Romeo and the Lonely Girl"...

By Chris Richards | December 2, 2010; 9:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Clicky shuffle | Tags: Clicky shuffle
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Grammy nominees to be announced tonight

Miranda Lambert won big at the CMAs. She performs at tonight's Grammy concert -- will nominations be far behind? (AP Photo/Josh Anderson) The nominees for the the 53rd annual Grammy Awards will be announced during a televised concert tonight on...

By David Malitz | December 1, 2010; 4:08 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Grammys | Tags: B.o.B., Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Miranda Lambert
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In concert: Michael Buble at Verizon Center

Michael Buble crooned and charmed his way through a Tuesday concert at Verizon Center. (All photos by Tracy Woodward/TWP) Before taking his leave of the throngs of smiling ladies and, yes, gentlemen who came to see him at Verizon Center...

By Chris Klimek | December 1, 2010; 12:50 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: In concert | Tags: Michael Buble
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Polls: What long-awaited album have you given up waiting for?

When -- make that if -- Lauryn Hill releases her next album, will people still care? (Kyle Gustafson/FTWP) Call it the Curse Of Chinese Democracy: If rock history teaches us anything, it's that long-awaited albums often aren't worth waiting for....

By Allison Stewart | December 1, 2010; 12:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Polls | Tags: Avril Lavigne, Dixie Chicks, Dr. Dre, Guns N Roses, Lauryn Hill, My Bloody Valentine
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Henry Rollins turns '50' in D.C.; Snoop writes song for Prince William; Billie Joe back to Broadway

Henry Rollins will celebrate his 50th birthday in D.C. (Kyle Gustafson/FTWP) - Punk icon Henry Rollins is turning 50 and he's celebrating with a new spoken-word tour appropriately titled "50." There will be a handful of shows in New York...

By David Malitz | December 1, 2010; 10:20 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Morning click | Tags: Green Day, Henry Rollins, Snoop Dogg
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Clicky shuffle: Random songs for Wednesday morning

Usually YouTube comments are the lowest form of human communication, completely lacking in any insight, and often making you stupider for having read them. But the top comment for this song really nails it: "This [expletive] will never be...

By David Malitz | December 1, 2010; 9:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Clicky shuffle
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Riffs: Free Energy, Vampire Weekend and Lenny Kravitz, the inescapable songs on TV

As the days get shorter, the temperature gets colder, the local concert calendars become more bare and the NBA season kicks into high gear, we find ourselves entering hibernation mode and spending more time in front of the TV. (We've...

By David Malitz | November 30, 2010; 2:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Riffs | Tags: Free Energy, Lenny Kravitz, Vampire Weekend
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Singles file: Best Coast and Wavves, Keri Hilson, Iron & Wine

Best Coast and Wavves, winter loving. (Josh Sisk, Richard Lipski/FTWP) A weekly playlist for the listener with a one-track mind... Best Coast and Wavves: "Got Something for You" The inevitable collaboration between Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino and boyfriend/Wavves frontman...

By Allison Stewart | November 30, 2010; 11:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Singles file | Tags: Best Coast, David Lynch, Gil Scott-Heron, Iron & Wine, Kanye West, Keri Hilson, The xx, Wavves
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Album review: Black Eyed Peas, "The Beginning"

Black Eyed Peas: so bad it's bad. (Mark Gail/TWP) The Black Eyed Peas' new disc, "The Beginning," is one of only a few albums in history to be numbered among Oprah's Favorite Things, but she also chose Ugg sparkle boots,...

By Allison Stewart | November 30, 2010; 11:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Quick spins | Tags: Black Eyed Peas
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Album review: Calle 13, "Entren Los Que Quieran"

Calle 13 get political. Plenty of hubbub - everything from comedy to controversy - follows the Puerto Rican hip-hop duo Calle 13. Their penchant for high jinks notwithstanding, the stepbrothers have consistently given voice to an underlying ethic of resistance,...

By Bill Friskics-Warren | November 30, 2010; 10:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Quick spins | Tags: Calle 13
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Album review: Soulja Boy, "The DeAndre Way"

Soulja Boy's at his best when he keeps it simple. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen) The hip-hop boy king Soulja Boy is no longer a boy. Soulja, a.k.a. DeAndre Way, is 20 years old. And he's no longer a pop insurgent, either....

By Sean Fennessey | November 30, 2010; 10:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Quick spins | Tags: Soulja Boy
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Lady Gaga preps "greatest album of this decade"; David Lynch goes electro-pop; Raheem DeVaughn gets busy

Lady Gaga is setting lofty goals for her next album. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) - At a weekend concert in Poland, Lady Gaga told her fans that upcoming album "Born This Way" would be "the greatest album of this decade." Now...

By David Malitz | November 30, 2010; 9:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Morning click | Tags: Animal Collective, David Lynch, Lady Gaga, Raheem DeVaughn
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Clicky shuffle: Random songs for this morning

Pairing straightforward lyrics about his woman with some mean harmonica, Little Walter makes you feel his passion. Little Walter,"My Babe" Stevie Wonder, "It Ain't No Use" Kid Cudi, "Ashin Kusher" Stan Getz, "Autumn Leaves" Mystikal, "Bouncin' Back"...

By Erin Williams | November 30, 2010; 9:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Clicky shuffle
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Week ahead: Walkmen saunter into 9:30 Club; Ron Isley returns with new names; Deerhunter prep for top-ten list ubiquity on "Conan"

Homecoming kings: The Walkmen. (Photo By Gregg Harris) If you go to one concert this week, make it: The pride of St. Albans, The Walkmen, when the local-boys-done-good bring their billowy rock songs to the 9:30 Club on Saturday night....

By Chris Richards | November 29, 2010; 3:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Future days | Tags: Deerhunter, Lauryn Hill, Ronald Isley, Walkmen
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Click Track: November 28, 2010 - December 4, 2010