Rihanna

Battleship: Liam Neeson Versus the Aliens

The-Dream

Nicki Minaj Is Bringing Her Tacoma-Born Beats to the Paramount on August 11

It was announced this morning that painted pop star Nicki Minaj will bring her Pink Friday tour to the Paramount on Saturday, August 11. Tucked inside here bag of tricks is, of course, "Fly," her hit with Rihanna. Regular readers of Reverb Monthly will remember that Fly was written by Tacoma's own W ... More >>

Take Away Elicit Drug Abuse and a Rihanna Collaboration and Seattle's Impossible Bird is the Next Big Musical Duo

Impossible Bird self-titled April 28 Musical duos come in many shapes and forms. Sonny and Cher. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Rihanna and every radio pop-star since 2007. An internationally known fiddler and an acoustic guitarist formerly of Seattle's The Senate? Sure, why not. Impossible Bird, compos ... More >>

Recommended Reading: The New Yorker's "Song Machine" (And How It's Related to the Worst Song in the World)

Fans of Erin's Nice Hits! column will definitely want to peruse this New Yorker story by the great journalist John Seabrook that follows Swedish production team Stargate and their "top-liner," Ester Dean. As the article explains, the "top-liner" writes the melody and lyrics after Stargate writes the ... More >>

Lucky 2012 with Calvin Harris

Fans of Erin's Nice Hits! column will definitely want to peruse this New Yorker story by the great journalist John Seabrook that follows Swedish production team Stargate and their "top-liner," Ester Dean. As the article explains, the "top-liner" writes the melody and lyrics after Stargate writes the ... More >>

Calvin Harris' Unconventional "Feel So Close" Is Cool and Club-Ready

Nice Hits! is a Reverb column that unironically dissects, reviews, and appreciates the best songs of the current Top 40. It is unsnobbishly premised on the logic that just because a lot of the music on the radio is crap doesn't mean all the music on the radio is crap. The hit: "Feel So Close," Calv ... More >>

The Writers Block: Tacoma's Hitmaking Ghosts

From behind the curtain, two songwriters are topping the charts. 2012 could be the year they finally get the credit(s) they deserve.

The Biebs Proves to Have Survived Puberty on His Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You" Duet

Nice Hits! is a Reverb column that unironically dissects, reviews, and appreciates the best songs of the current Top 40. It is unsnobbishly premised on the logic that just because a lot of the music on the radio is crap doesn't mean all the music on the radio is crap. ​The hit: "All I Want Fo ... More >>

Drake's "Take Care" Modernizes a 50-Year-Old Song, With a Little Help From Rihanna, Jamie xx, and Gil Scott-Heron

Nice Hits! is a Reverb column that unironically dissects, reviews, and appreciates the best songs of the current Top 40. It is unsnobbishly premised on the logic that just because a lot of the music on the radio is crap doesn't mean all the music on the radio is crap. ​ Drake Feat. Rihan ... More >>

Nice Hits! Rihanna's Calvin Harris Collaboration, "We Found Love," Is a Light and Simple Dance Gem

Nice Hits! is a Reverb column that unironically dissects, reviews, and appreciates the best songs of the current Top 40. It is unsnobbishly premised on the logic that just because a lot of the music on the radio is crap doesn't mean all the music on the radio is crap. The hit: "We Found Love," Ri ... More >>

Ke$ha

Nice Hits! is a Reverb column that unironically dissects, reviews, and appreciates the best songs of the current Top 40. It is unsnobbishly premised on the logic that just because a lot of the music on the radio is crap doesn't mean all the music on the radio is crap. The hit: "We Found Love," Ri ... More >>

Dreya Weber: Aerial Pink

Why the biggest names in pop want to get high with Teatro ZinZanni's "Hail Caesar!" star.

The 6 Best YouTube Cover Songs

Photo by ilikeyourshirt.com​ Many try. Few succeed. Making a cover of a hit song takes more than just talent. It's really a hit-or-miss situation. Either you hit the high note or you miss the next day at work due to sheer embarrassment. No worries. In a couple days, a new video will be the tal ... More >>

Today Reverb Recommends You Get Acquainted With Natalia Kills

​Far East Movement, Lady Gaga, La Roux, Robyn - when it comes to hot dance music, Cherrytree Records is leading the momentum. The up-and-coming act it has added to an already impressive list of artists: Natalia Kills. A British songstress who specializes in dark and sexy pop music, Kills' debu ... More >>

Today Reverb Recommends You Vote for Go Periscope to Grace the Cover of Rolling Stone

Given that Joshua Frazier and Florin Merano of electro-pop duo Go Periscope have only been active in the local music scene for two years, it is impressive--ridiculous even--that their accomplishments thus far already put more their experienced peers to shame. Go Periscope is one of the only unsigne ... More >>

6 Things the Black Eyed Peas Could Do to Make Their Super Bowl Gig Tolerable

​We probably should have seen this coming. In the six years since the infamous Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" incident, Super Bowl viewers have been treated with classic, safe acts like The Who, the Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen. But back in June, over 700 million people watched ... More >>

Karaoke Korrespondent Impresses Daddy & a Beyoncé Wannabe at The Dungeon in the Philippines

Even Filapinas want to be her.​Things settled down during my second and final week in the Philippines. One big Sunday of brandy, Red Horse, and Johnnie Walker Blue with my cousin stopped us dead in our tracks. We spent the next day at his cousin's house in Parañaque. I didn't want to get off ... More >>

Today Reverb Recommends You Support the Station that First Played Lady Gaga

Rihanna and Lady Gaga owe some of their success to C89.5 FM. ​Diehard dance music fans already respect C89.5 FM as one of the genre's most influential forces. Those less familiar should check it out because, as it gears up to celebrate its 40th birthday, what it's accomplished is phenomenal an ... More >>

Lady Gaga, Rihanna Hot Magazine Sellers in 2010; Taylor Swift, Not So Much

​ If entertainment magazines could only take one lesson from 2010, it should be: Put Lady Gaga on your cover. Gaga's gun-strapping, bare-assed July Rolling Stone cover, seen at left, sold 245,000 copies by late September (these numbers come from the Audit Bureau of Circulations, who've so far ... More >>

Band of Horses' Dancing Cowboys "Dilly" Is One Of VEVO's Best Videos of 2010

VEVO's created a playlist of their Best Videos of 2010, and Band of Horses' bizarre "Dilly" is among their picks. The clip was shot by Philip Andelman (whose work includes Beyonce's "Halo," John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change," and more videos by the Jonas Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, Jay-Z, ... More >>

Slash Dance: You've Heard His Axe, But My Friend's Dance Moves Will Shred You to Pieces

Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about what music is circulating through his space every Monday.​The first time I heard Slash play guitar was in 1984 in the basement of the Los Angeles townhome belonging to his mother, Ola, a woman who would later become like a su ... More >>

Slash Dance

You've heard his axe, but my friend's dance moves will shred you to pieces.

Best Weekend Ever at the Doe Bay Music Festival...No, Really.

Until photos become available to me, please enjoy this video of Drew Grow and the Pastors' Wives, whose set was one of my favorites of Doe Bay, playing my favorite song of theirs in Portland last month As a rule, I don't particularly enjoy music festivals. I've learned to expect and anticipate the ... More >>

A.M. Music News: Rihanna Bails, Dark Night of the Soul Surfaces, Radiohead Surprises, and Deftones Tour

​ -- Live Nation: Rihanna has canceled her scheduled concert at the White River Amphitheatre for this Friday, July 2. Live Nation cites "production changes" for the cancellation. Read: Not enough of us were willing to shell out $25-$100 to see Ke$ha flail around on stage. I'm proud of you, Sea ... More >>

The Flaming Lips Are Coming to The Paramount, Plus Notes On Eminem, Trent Reznor, Aerosmith and Other Classic Rock

Marcella D. Volpintesta​-- STG: The Flaming Lips are coming to the Paramount on September 27. -- NME: Eminem says he worked with Rihanna and Pink on his new album, Recovery, due June 21. -- SPIN: Trent Reznor's new band, How to Destroy Angels, will release its debut full-length in early 2011 ... More >>

Question: Where Would You Rather See a Show: White River Amp Or Memorial Stadium?

Renee McMahonHappy to be at Memorial Stadium.​Anyone else find it strange that the Seattle Center's Memorial Stadium -- basically the same capacity in the early 20,000 range as The Gorge and White River -- doesn't get used for shows unless it's Bumbershoot? Historically, there have been some g ... More >>

Tonight: The xx, Sia at the Showboxes, Beach House at Neumos

​The xx, with JJ, Nosaj Thing. Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 382-7877. 7 p.m. $20. All ages. The last time The xx was in Seattle, they were opening for the Friendly Fires at Chop Suey. That show sold out, but since then, the British trio's debut record, xx, has been met with just about una ... More >>

The xx

​The xx, with JJ, Nosaj Thing. Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., 382-7877. 7 p.m. $20. All ages. The last time The xx was in Seattle, they were opening for the Friendly Fires at Chop Suey. That show sold out, but since then, the British trio's debut record, xx, has been met with just about una ... More >>

Seattle Loves Lady Gaga and Susan Boyle, Just Like the Rest of the Country

Lady Gaga moved more than 300,000 units around the country last week.​I didn't start the year thinking that an unknown Scottish singer's record would sell more units its first week than Eminem's would. But, damn, Susan Boyle just parlayed her 15 minutes into the biggest debut from a female art ... More >>

Jay-Z

Lady Gaga moved more than 300,000 units around the country last week.​I didn't start the year thinking that an unknown Scottish singer's record would sell more units its first week than Eminem's would. But, damn, Susan Boyle just parlayed her 15 minutes into the biggest debut from a female art ... More >>

I've Been Listening to... David Guetta, Starfucker, & Kristinia Debarge

​David Guetta; One Love: I've been obsessed with Guetta since getting a hold of his 2003 club mix disk Fuck Me I'm Famous! The Parisian DJ combines French house and American hip-hop to make killer dance records. It's a no-brainer why his new album, One Love, has gotten ample airplay on dance r ... More >>

Kanye and Rihanna Release a New Video

At some point earlier this week, Kanye West's latest video for his song, "Paranoid," allegedly leaked on the internet. I doubt it was actually stolen and posted illegally but rather his record company put it out there early to help build a buzz. As of yesterday, they've released an "official" vers ... More >>

Mike Seely, Karaoke Happy Hour, Sunset Tavern

Join our managing editor, Mike Seely, for a book signing and happy hour at Ballard's Sunset Tavern this Friday celebrating his awesome new book, Seattle's Best Dive Bars: Drinking & Diving in the Emerald City (Ig Publishing, $12.95). Every section of prose seems to capture a little bit of its sub ... More >>

Facebook Fails on Facelift

If you're one of the fellow online denizens addicted to Facebook, you're probably well aware of its new look. And are pissed off because of it. A simple Google search of the move brings up dozens of articles citing "mixed reviews" or worse. The social networking site was redesigned so that users ar ... More >>

Is Chris Brown the Next Ike Turner?

Chris Brown turning himself in to LAPD.And the winner of the best Grammy no-show goes to... Chris Brown and Rihanna, who were unable to attend last night's Grammy festivities because they were involved in a lovers quarrel turned physical. While details are sketchy, it appears that Brown assaulted Ri ... More >>

Watch the Ripples Change Their Size

Chris Brown turning himself in to LAPD.And the winner of the best Grammy no-show goes to... Chris Brown and Rihanna, who were unable to attend last night's Grammy festivities because they were involved in a lovers quarrel turned physical. While details are sketchy, it appears that Brown assaulted Ri ... More >>

Sara Bareilles

Chris Brown turning himself in to LAPD.And the winner of the best Grammy no-show goes to... Chris Brown and Rihanna, who were unable to attend last night's Grammy festivities because they were involved in a lovers quarrel turned physical. While details are sketchy, it appears that Brown assaulted Ri ... More >>

New Music From T.I. and Growing

Chris Brown turning himself in to LAPD.And the winner of the best Grammy no-show goes to... Chris Brown and Rihanna, who were unable to attend last night's Grammy festivities because they were involved in a lovers quarrel turned physical. While details are sketchy, it appears that Brown assaulted Ri ... More >>

Marié Digby

Chris Brown turning himself in to LAPD.And the winner of the best Grammy no-show goes to... Chris Brown and Rihanna, who were unable to attend last night's Grammy festivities because they were involved in a lovers quarrel turned physical. While details are sketchy, it appears that Brown assaulted Ri ... More >>

STIFF

Chris Brown turning himself in to LAPD.And the winner of the best Grammy no-show goes to... Chris Brown and Rihanna, who were unable to attend last night's Grammy festivities because they were involved in a lovers quarrel turned physical. While details are sketchy, it appears that Brown assaulted Ri ... More >>

Last Night: Kanye West at the Key

Chris Brown turning himself in to LAPD.And the winner of the best Grammy no-show goes to... Chris Brown and Rihanna, who were unable to attend last night's Grammy festivities because they were involved in a lovers quarrel turned physical. While details are sketchy, it appears that Brown assaulted Ri ... More >>

Tonight's Fiasco

Chris Brown turning himself in to LAPD.And the winner of the best Grammy no-show goes to... Chris Brown and Rihanna, who were unable to attend last night's Grammy festivities because they were involved in a lovers quarrel turned physical. While details are sketchy, it appears that Brown assaulted Ri ... More >>

Do We Really Need “Greatest Hits” Records Anymore?

I mean, from anyone other than the Goo Goo Dolls.

ANTM Final 4: Blacks v. Blondes

I mean, from anyone other than the Goo Goo Dolls.

Top Model Distaff: And Then There Were Six

I mean, from anyone other than the Goo Goo Dolls.

Under My Bum-ber-ella

I mean, from anyone other than the Goo Goo Dolls.

Under my Bum-ber-ella

Someone had to make that joke

Carly Nicklaus Cuts Hair to Keep Rockin'

Payin' the bills with Seattle's musicians.

Weekly Notable Shows

Highlights-and otherwise-from this week's music calendar.