Slash & the Conspirators rocking ABC’s ’Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ this week

Slash & the Conspirators rocking ABC’s ’Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ this week
Slash & the Conspirators rocking ABC’s ’Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ this week
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Slash will be pulling double duty on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week.

The Guns N’ Roses icon and his solo band, Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, are set to perform on the ABC talk show this Wednesday, February 2. Additionally, Slash is listed separately as one of the episode’s guests to be interviewed by host Jimmy Kimmel.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.

Slash and the Conspirators are scheduled to drop a new album called 4, featuring the single “The River Is Rising,” on February 11. The group will launch a U.S. tour in support of the record February 8 in Portland.

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LCD Soundsystem performing on ’SNL’ in February

LCD Soundsystem performing on ’SNL’ in February
LCD Soundsystem performing on ’SNL’ in February
NBCUniversal

LCD Soundsystem is set to perform on Saturday Night Live next month.

James Murphy and company will take the stage on the long-running NBC sketch series February 26. Comedian John Mulaney will host.

The episode will mark LCD’s second SNL performance, following their debut in 2017. 

LCD may have been manifesting their SNL return with their Holiday Special last year, featuring an original sitcom based on the band called All My Friends.

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Halsey announces Love and Power Tour: “It’s been far too long and I could not be more excited”

Halsey announces Love and Power Tour: “It’s been far too long and I could not be more excited”
Halsey announces Love and Power Tour: “It’s been far too long and I could not be more excited”
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images For dcp

Halsey closed the month of January with the best news for their fans — they are going on tour.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, the “Without Me” singer unveiled their Love and Power Tour, which kicks off later this year. “It’s been far too long and I could not be more excited to see you all,” said Halsey while releasing the official poster as well as announcing the acts that’ll tag along on the multi-date tour.  

Halsey has tapped Wolf AliceAbby RobertsPinkPantheressThe Marias and Beabadoobee to open for their 22-date tour, which is in support of their Grammy nominated album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.

The outdoor summertime concert series kicks off in West Palm Beach, Florida, on May 17 and will take Halsey across North America’s biggest cities before wrapping on July 9 in Irvine, California.  Several stops had already been in the books, such as Halsey’s scheduled appearance at the Governors Ball on June 11 in New York City.

Tickets for the Love and Power Tour go on sale this Friday on the tour’s official website.  Those who previously purchased tickets to Halsey’s Manic Tour will be able to access the presale on Tuesday, February 1, starting at 10 a.m. EST.

In other Halsey news, the singer is nursing an injured foot after falling out of their chair during a sexy photo shoot.  The “Nightmare” singer shared footage of the bizarre injury to TikTok, which shows them seductively rising out of their chair before they lose balance and clatter to the ground.  

Halsey is heard screaming, “I’m fine” before the clip jump cuts to an X-ray of an injured toe.  The caption reads, “They were not okay,” while showing the singer being fitted with a big black boot.

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In new doc, Janet Jackson says she and Justin Timberlake are “very good friends,” and have “moved on”

In new doc, Janet Jackson says she and Justin Timberlake are “very good friends,” and have “moved on”
In new doc, Janet Jackson says she and Justin Timberlake are “very good friends,” and have “moved on”
Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Janet Jackson fans are still furious at Justin Timberlake for his role in the infamous 2004 Super Bowl “wardrobe malfunction,” which led to her career taking a hit while he emerged relatively unscathed. But it turns out that Janet herself isn’t angry at Justin, so she’d like her fans to move on, just as she and Justin have.

As Access Hollywood reports, in the second half of Janet’s new Lifetime documentary that aired on Saturday night, we see a video that Janet filmed for fans, in which she says, “This whole thing was blown way out of proportion. Of course, it was an accident that should not have happened, but everyone is looking for someone to blame and that’s got to stop.”

She adds, “Justin and I are very good friends and we will always be very good friends. We spoke just a few days ago and he and I have moved on, and it is time for everyone else to do the same.” 

About a year ago, Justin issued an apology via Instagram to both Janet and his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears, in which he admitted that he’d “benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.”

The documentary also reveals that in the aftermath of what’s now known as “Nipplegate,” Janet was “disinvited” from the Grammys, which led her then-boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri, to resign from the board of the Recording Academy. In addition, Janet shares that Justin did offer to speak out on her behalf, but she told him not to. 

Finally, the doc reveals that Justin asked Janet to perform with him when he headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2018.  She declined, saying that it would have been “stretching out the past, reliving something that happened over 10 years ago.”

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Luke Bryan sets sights on Raised Up Right tour

Luke Bryan sets sights on Raised Up Right tour
Luke Bryan sets sights on Raised Up Right tour
ABC

Luke Bryan proves he’s Raised Up Right with his new tour. 

On Monday, the superstar unveiled dates for his upcoming Raised Up Right tour that sees him headlining arenas across the country, beginning on June 9 at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center in West Virginia. 

Throughout the five-month trek, Luke will also perform at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, the AT&T Center in San Antonio, and host two-night stays at the Bank of NH Pavilion in Gilford, New Hampshire and Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis before wrapping the tour on October 28 in Jacksonville, Florida. 

Riley Green, Mitchell Tenpenny and DJ Rock will open for the country superstar. The tour is named after a line in the chorus of Luke’s current single, “Up.” 

“My favorite place to be is on stage performing to country music fans. So thankful every time we get to do it!” Luke says on Instagram. “2022 is going to be a good one with @RileyDuckman, @M10penny, and @The_DJRock!” 

“Let’s go!!!! Can’t wait!” Mitchell comments on the post. “Can’t wait to hit the road later this year with @lukebryan and @m10penny on the Raised Up Right tour,” adds Riley. 

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time. Visit Luke’s website for a full list of dates. 

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The Black Keys announce North American headlining tour

The Black Keys announce North American headlining tour
The Black Keys announce North American headlining tour
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

The Black Keys have announced a North American headlining tour.

The 32-date trek, dubbed the Dropout Boogie tour, will kick off July 9 in Las Vegas, and will stretch all the way into the fall before wrapping up October 18 in Dallas. Band of Horses will provide support.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 4. If you’re a member of the Keys’ Lonely Boys & Girls fan club, you’ll have access to pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, February 1.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit TheBlackKeys.com.

The Black Keys released their latest album, the blues covers collection Delta Kream, last May. The duo’s most recent original album is 2019’s ”Let’s Rock”.

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Midwest braces for major snowfall, ice on roads: Forecast

Midwest braces for major snowfall, ice on roads: Forecast
Midwest braces for major snowfall, ice on roads: Forecast
Scott Olson/Getty Images

(NEW YORK) — The Midwest is bracing for a storm that could bring major snowfall and leave dangerous ice on roadways.

The storm is set to strike Tuesday through Thursday. A winter storm watch has been issued from Colorado to Michigan, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit.

More than 1 foot of snow is possible between Chicago and Indianapolis and also near Detroit.

This storm is expected to drop freezing rain and sleet — leaving dangerous, icy roads — in a huge part of the country, especially in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

By Thursday morning the wind chill — what temperature it feels like — is forecast to drop to 14 degrees in St. Louis, 0 degrees in Chicago, minus 25 degrees in Minneapolis, minus 17 degrees in Amarillo, Texas, and minus 16 in Denver.

Meanwhile, by the end of the week the Northeast will be thawing out, with temperatures rising to the mid 40’s in New York City and Boston.

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Lauv says he threw out his entire creative process when making his new album

Lauv says he threw out his entire creative process when making his new album
Lauv says he threw out his entire creative process when making his new album
Courtesy of Vince Aung

Lauv gave fans their first taste of his upcoming new album on Friday, when he released his vulnerable new single “26,” which finds the hitmaker realizing he chased after the wrong things in life.

Speaking to Billboard, Lauv says he completely overhauled his creative process when making his new album because he didn’t like the pace at which he was working.  “I didn’t even realize how much of a workaholic I was — because it’s like, obviously making music is so fun, but I had no balance in my life,” he admitted. 

That’s what inspired the depressive track “26,” where he acknowledges money and fame doesn’t equal happiness.  He compared that realization to climbing a mountain and finding the journey to the top was not worth the effort. “I was so detached from my center — so it’s not so much the view as it was just looking out and feeling so empty and groundless on the inside,” Lauv described. 

He says that life lesson is what inspired him to toss out everything he knew about songwriting and give freestyling a try. Lauv said the music began to flow because he stopped obsessing over the lyrics.

“Let the moments that are hooky be hooky, let the moments that are wordy be wordy,” said Lauv. “And I feel like writing this album was kind of an exercise of pushing out of that, [and] being like, ‘What happens if I don’t think at all what I’m going to say? I don’t plan on what I’m going to say, no one ever even needs to hear it, who cares!’ I really wrote every song from that place.”

Teased Lauv, “What I think is going to make this album really special is that it’s really raw.”  A release date is forthcoming.

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Josh Groban announces summer 2022 Harmony tour: “More than a concert for me”

Josh Groban announces summer 2022 Harmony tour: “More than a concert for me”
Josh Groban announces summer 2022 Harmony tour: “More than a concert for me”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CNN. A WarnerMedia Company. All Rights Reserved

Josh Groban released his album Harmony in November of 2020, but now, he’s finally getting a chance to bring those songs to fans live.

Josh has announced the Harmony Summer 2022 tour, kicking off June 17 in Detroit, MI and wrapping up at L.A.’s Greek Theater on August 2.  His special guests on the tour will be Big Easy legends The New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band, as well as violinist and singer Lucia Micarelli and singer/songwriter Eleri Ward.

After far too long feeling torn away from my favorite part of my musical life, live performance, it is with huge excitement and gratitude to announce that I’ll be back doing what I do best and love most with the Harmony Tour,” Josh says in a statement.

It will be more than a concert for me…it will be a celebration of connection with my friends, fans and colleagues who have been my anchors during the last couple of years and during the course of my career,” he adds. “I hope you’ll join us for these beautiful nights of music.”

Citi cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets beginning tomorrow, February 1 at 10 a.m. local time through February 3 at 10 p.m. local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For pre-sale details, visit citientertainment.com.  Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, February 4, at 10 a.m. via JoshGroban.com.

Fans will be required to provide either a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination.

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Russia has chance for ‘diplomatic way out’ of Ukraine crisis: US ambassador to UN

Russia has chance for ‘diplomatic way out’ of Ukraine crisis: US ambassador to UN
Russia has chance for ‘diplomatic way out’ of Ukraine crisis: US ambassador to UN
Mark Makela/Getty Images

(WASHINGTON) — U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned on Sunday that Russia’s menacing military troop buildup on Ukraine’s borders signals the Kremlin’s “intentions to use them,” noting that Russia still has a chance to “find a diplomatic way out.”

Thomas-Greenfield’s comment to ABC’s This Week anchor George Stephanopoulos came on the eve of an open U.N. Security Council meeting she requested to discuss Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine and what to do about it.

Stephanopoulos pressed Thomas-Greenfield, asking, “Does the U.S. believe an invasion is imminent?”

“You don’t amass 100,000 troops if you don’t have intentions to use them,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

She said Monday’s U.N. Security Council meeting “is one more opportunity to find a diplomatic way out for the Russians.” She added that Ukrainian officials have also asked for the meeting, which is expected to be heard in open session.

“We’ve made clear that we’re prepared to address our concerns, Ukrainian concerns and Russian concerns at the diplomatic table, but it cannot be done on the battlefield,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

Russia has maintained that it has no intentions to invade Ukraine and has objected to Monday’s U.N. Security Council meeting, threatening to move to try to block the gathering. Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s deputy permanent representative at the United Nations, posted on Twitter that the meeting was a “clear PR stunt shameful for the reputation of UN Security Council.”

“Can Russia block it?” Stephanopoulos asked Thomas-Greenfield of the U.S. Security Council meeting. “If not, what do you hope to achieve?”

“They know that they cannot block the meeting and I expect that, knowing what we’re dealing with, that they will make an attempt,” Thomas-Greenfield said. “But the Security Council is unified, our voices are unified in calling for the Russians to explain themselves. We’re going to go into the room prepared to listen to them, but we’re not going to be distracted by their propaganda and we’re going to be prepared to respond to any disinformation that they attempt to spread during this meeting.”

While Russia’s official line has been that it has no plans to invade, it has demanded promises that Ukraine will never be allowed to join NATO and that the Western alliance will pull its troops out of Eastern Europe. Both requests have been rejected by the United States and its Western allies.

Stephanopoulos noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team have “expressed some irritation, even alarm” that the U.S. and its allies are exaggerating the threat for political reasons.

“How do you respond to that?” Stephanopoulos asked Thomas-Greenfield.

She said the United States has engaged very closely with the Ukrainians, citing the call Biden had last week with Zelensky, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent trip to Ukraine and her meetings on a regular basis with the Ukrainian ambassador in New York.

“We’ve also been working with the Ukrainians on building up their defenses in the event of an attack,” Thomas-Greenfield said. “And … since 2014, we’ve provided close to $5 billion in support to them, $200 million of that was just provided in the past week.”

“We’ve seen the Russian playbook before,” she added. “They are using disinformation. They’re encouraging Ukrainians not to worry about an attack. But we know an attack is possible.”

Stephanopoulos pressed Thomas-Greenfield on what a diplomatic settlement would look like.

“You know, at first it would mean Russia making the decision to de-escalate, to pull their troops back and to come to the diplomatic table and to talk with the United States, with the Ukrainians and our NATO allies about their security concerns,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

Turning to concerns over seven ballistic missile tests North Korea has conducted this month alone — more than all it conducted in 2021, including Sunday’s launch of the longest-range missile it has tested since 2017 — Stephanopoulos asked about how the U.S. will respond.

“It is provocative and it is something that we have very very strongly condemned in the Security Council,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

She said the United States has imposed unilateral sanctions in the last few weeks against North Korea and has pushed for sanctions within the U.N. Security Council.

“I will be engaging with our allies, the (South) Koreans as well as the Japanese, who are also threatened by this, to look at other options for responding,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

Stephanopoulos followed: “Is it time for President Biden to engage personally with (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un?”

“You know, we have been clear on that from the beginning: We are open to having diplomatic discussions,” Thomas-Greenfield replied. “We’ve offered this over and over to the DPRK, and they’ve not accepted it.”

“But we’re absolutely open to a diplomatic engagement without pre-conditions,” she added. “Our goal is to end the threatening actions that the DPRK is taking against their neighbors.”

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