The 11th American Idol Live! tour begins July 6 in Detroit, Michigan and ends Sept. 11 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The trek stars the 10 finalists from season 11 of the Fox television network’s popular singing competition, American Idol. This year the ten finalists are Colton Dixon, DeAndre Brackensick, Elise Testone, Erika Van Pelt, Heejun Han, Hollie Cavanagh, Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips, and Skylar Laine. If you have American Idol tickets expect a song, or a medley, from each singer and at least one group number.

Anyone of the aforementioned singers could go on to have big time careers like their fellow A.I. alums: Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, and Chris Daughtry. American Idol is definitely the preeminent talent contest in the world but it’s not the only one. Below, Land of Punt looks at other popular artists that have gotten their start, or participated in, musical competitions other than American Idol.

Andrea Bocelli
It’s hard to believe that Andrea Bocelli would ever need to enter a singing competition. Of course, the competition he entered was a bit classier than those judged by Steven Tyler or Howard Stern. In 1994, Bocelli entered the Sanremo Festival’s music competition and won the newcomers section with record high scores. All he’s really done since is sell 75 million albums and become the best-selling artist in the history of classical music.

Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud was fairly silent in the United States but the all-female quintet put together a nice run in their native Great Britain. Over there, G.A. placed 20 consecutive singles inside the top 20, were nominated for five Brit Awards, and saw all of their albums certified platinum. All this success came after being created on the British television show, Popstars The Rivals in 2002.

Il Volo
Il Volo, the teen version of Il Divo, formed in 2009 after meeting on the set of an Italian music competition television show called “Ti lascio una canzone” (yes, it’s in my Netflix queue). They sang together during the competition and enjoyed it so much that they continued performing as a group after the show ended.

Katrina and the Waves
Long after their successes of the mid-1980s, Katrina and the Waves scored a major victory by winning the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest. Their champion song was “Love Shine a Light.” More than a decade after “Walking on Sunshine” went to number eight on the U.K. charts, “Love Shine a Light” peaked at number three.

Highlights of the American Idols Live! Tour –
July 7 – American Idols Live plays the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois
July 23 – American Idols visit Los Angeles California for a show at the Nokia Theatre Live
July 26 – San Diego, California hosts American Idols Live at the Valley View Casino
Aug. 2 – American Idols Live tickets for Orlando, Florida
Aug. 21 – American Idols Live comes to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Wells Fargo Center
Sept. 2 – Mohegan Sun Arena welcomes the American Idol finalists to Uncasville, Connecticut
Sept 7 – American Idols Live! in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Leona Lewis
In 2006, Leona Lewis won the third season (excuse me, they’re called “series” in the U.K.) of the British television show, The X-Factor. She has followed her victory with three Grammy nominations, being named “Top New Artist” by Billboard magazine, and performing with Jimmy Page at the 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.

Lulu
Scottish singer Lulu broke into the music business long before “Idols,” “Factors,” and “Got Talents” were around. However, she did represent the United Kingdom in the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest. She won the competition singing the dreadful “Boom Bang-a-Bang.” We should probably mention that Lulu was a big star even before entering the contest.

One Direction
Amazingly, One Direction finished third in the seventh series of the British X-Factor. It’s ”amazing” because their debut album, Up All Night, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. That made 1D the first UK group to have their first album debut at the top of the charts in the United States. It’s a feat that the Beatles didn’t even accomplish.

Paul Potts
Paul Potts may not have had the success of the other performers on our list but the tenor does have one really big feather in his cap, he appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Potts won the first series of Britain’s Got Talent and his 2007 debut album went to number one in the U.K. and number 23 in the States.

Sons of Sylvia
Sons of Sylvia are a family act featuring the three Clark brothers; Adam, Ashley, and Austin. Originally performing as The Clark Family Experience (what an awful name) they won the hideous Fox show The Next Great American Band in 2007. Since then they’ve played with Carrie Underwood and worked with Ryan Tedder, who just happens to be their cousin.

Susan Boyle
Thank heavens for television talent shows. If it wasn’t for them the world may have never known Susan Boyle. She was 48 years old when she sang “I Dreamed a Dream” on Britain’s Got Talent. The juxtaposition of her lovely voice and frumpy appearance made it was one of the most shocking moments in TV history.

The Vans Warped Tour is turning 18.

That means attendees at the first couple of festivals might now be buying Vans Warped Tour tickets for their offspring. Perhaps, in 2012, there will be families attending the Vans Warped Tour when it comes to Las Vegas on June 20 or when the Vans Warped Tour comes to Houston on July 1. After all, nothing says family time like a set from Motionless In White or Chelsea Grin. By the way, the tour launches June 16 in Salt Lake City and wraps Aug. 5 in Portland Oregon.

Land of Punt thinks it’s about time that someone culls through the hundreds of bands and performers that have taken part in the Warped Tour over the years and come up with a list of the ten greatest. Fortunately, someone accepted our challenge. That someone was of course us. We used a variety of criteria to whittle our list down to just ten acts: album sales, industry awards, critical acclaim, and musical influence, significance, and historical impact. We understand that you may have seen a five-piece metalcore outfit on an auxiliary stage in 2004 that blew your mind away, but our list isn’t about the greatest performance at a Vans Warped Tour stop. Our list is about the greatest bands that have made at least one appearance on the Vans Warped Tour.

10. Bad Religion (1998, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009)
Bad Religion is one of the most influential American punk rock bands of all-time. Whenever it looked like punk rock was going away, Bad Religion was there to keep it going. Through their 30–plus year career, Bad Religion has influenced countless punk and rock bands. They’ve also sold more than 5 million albums and charted a few singles. That’s not bad for an independent band.

9. Blink-182 (1996, 1997, 1999, 2001)
Blink-182 has sold nearly 30 million albums during their career and practically invented the sub-genre of pop punk. Bands that have been influenced by Blink 182 include Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, and New Found Glory, just to name a few. Their 1999 album, Enema of the State, is their best-selling studio work while their follow up, 2001’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, went to number one on the Billboard 200.

8. Dick Dale (1997)
Dick Dale is probably the oldest performer to ever step foot on a Vans Warped Tour stage—he was born in 1937. Dale is known as the “King of the Surf Guitar.” With his adroit staccato picking, and his innovated use of reverb, Dale pioneered both guitar playing and guitar technology. When you hear surf guitar music, chances are good you’re either hearing Dale or someone ripping him off.

7. Billy Idol (2005)
Before launching his solo career, Billy Idol was a member of a rather important punk rock band, Generation X. After the group disbanded, he released a string of successful, radio-friendly, punk-esque singles. Four of which peaked inside the top ten and one, “Mony, Mony” (Live), went all the way to number one. His memorable music videos made him one of MTV’s early superstars.

6. Weezer (2000)
Weezer is a highly influential alternative rock band that has crossed-over into several sub-genres including pop punk, power pop, and emo. The band released their first album in 1994 and since that time they’ve sold more than 50 million records. Weezer’s most successful singles include “Buddy Holly,” “Island in the Sun,” and “Hash Pipe.” They are one of the greatest rock bands of their generation.

Highlights of the 2012 Vans Warped Tour
June 17 – Vans Warped Tour tickets for Denver
June 23 – Vans Warped Tour tickets for San Francisco
July 6 – Vans Warped Tour tickets for Auburn Hills
July 13 – Vans Warped Tour tickets for Holmdel

5. The Black Eyed Peas (1999)
The Black Eyed Peas are one of only three Warped Tour veterans to play at a Super Bowl halftime show (the other two being No Doubt and M.I.A.). However, BEP are the only band to ever headline (Super Bowl XLV). That alone puts them on our list. They’ve also sold 60 million albums, won six Grammy Awards, and are one of a few artists to simultaneously hold the top two spots on the Billboard Hot 100.

4. Green Day (2000)
As far as we can tell, Green Day is the only Vans Warped Tour band whose music was turned into a Tony Award winning Broadway musical. “American Idiot” ran for a year on the Great White Way. Green Day has sold 65 million albums and received five Grammy Award noms. Despite releasing their debut album in 1990, the band is often mentioned in the same breath as The Clash, Sex Pistols, and The Ramones.

3. Sublime (1995)
Sublime makes the list for what they’ve accomplished and is placed third for what they could have been. Frontman Bradley Nowell had “it,” and had he lived Sublime would have been one of the greatest bands of all-time. During their run, Sublime sold 17 million albums and helped revitalized both punk and Ska in the mid-1990s. Years after Nowell’s death, Sublime’s music is still a source of inspiration.

2. Katy Perry (2008)
Katy Perry’s third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010), produced five number one singles. The only other artist to do that is Michael Jackson. Perry also set a record by being in the top ten of the billboard 200 for 52 weeks—it was later stretched to 69 weeks. Her albums, One of The Boys and Teenage Dream, have combined to sell more than 8.5 million copies. The amazing success of her music, coupled with her acting and celebrity appearances, have made Perry one of the biggest stars in the world.

1. No Doubt (1995, 2000)
No Doubt has been commercially successful, highly influential, and critically acclaimed. Led by the stunningly beautiful Gwen Stefani, the third wave ska band has sold 35 million albums, earned 10 Grammy Award nominations, and launched one successful tour after another. Their 1995 opus, Tragic Kingdom, is their masterpiece and one of the greatest albums of all-time.

Fiona Apple returns to the spotlight with a new album—it’s her first since 2004’s Extraordinary Machine—and a new tour.

The fresh studio opus is titled The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do and it drops June 19. That’s the same day she launches a 27-date trek of the U.S. and Canada.

Her concert schedule includes stops in New York City (June 24), Boston (June 30), and Chicago (July 10). Twice she’ll visit the Great White North and oddly enough she’ll perform there on July 4. The evening before, she’ll be in Montreal for a concert at the Olympia Theatre. On the night of America’s birthday she has a gig in Toronto at the Sound Academy.

The last show on Fiona’s docket is set for July 29 at the Hollywood Palladium.

Since the sultry and sexy songstress has been away for quite a while her upcoming concerts are likely to be some of the most anticipated events of 2012.

Fans should look for the first single from The Idler Wheel, “Every Single Night,” to be on iTunes come April 24.

If you think The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do is a long title then you haven’t checked out Fiona’s 1999 album title which is usually truncated to “When The Pawn.” When it was released, the work captured the world record for the longest album title of all-time.

Here’s the full title, and as you might imagine, it filled the entire album cover:

When the pawn hits the conflicts he thinks like a king
What he knows throws the blows when he goes to the fight
And he’ll win the whole thing ‘fore he enters the ring
There’s no body to batter when your mind is your might
So when you go solo, you hold your own hand
And remember that depth is the greatest of heights
And if you know where you stand, then you know where to land
And if you fall it won’t matter, cause you’ll know that you’re right

Fiona held the record for longest album title until 2007. She was bested by a two-CD set from Soulwax affectionately known as “Most of the Remixes.”

The full title is as follows:

Most of the remixes we’ve made for other people over the years except for the one for Einstürzende Neubauten because we lost it and a few we didn’t think sounded good enough or just didn’t fit in length-wise, but including some that are hard to find because either people forgot about them or simply because they haven’t been released yet, a few we really love, one we think is just ok, some we did for free, some we did for money, some for ourselves without permission and some for friends

They both have the same amount of words but Soulwax’s title has 51 more characters. Both were surpassed in words and characters by Chumbawamba’s 2008 release, commonly shortened to “The Boy Bands Have Won.” The title contains 865 characters.

Here it is in full:

The Boy Bands Have Won, and All the Copyists and the Tribute Bands and the TV Talent Show Producers Have Won, If We Allow Our Culture to Be Shaped by Mimicry, Whether from Lack of Ideas or From Exaggerated Respect. You Should Never Try to Freeze Culture. What You Can Do Is Recycle That Culture. Take Your Older Brother’s Hand-Me-Down Jacket and Re-Style It, Re-Fashion It to the Point Where It Becomes Your Own. But Don’t Just Regurgitate Creative History, or Hold Art and Music and Literature as Fixed, Untouchable and Kept Under Glass. The People Who Try to ‘Guard’ Any Particular Form of Music Are, Like the Copyists and Manufactured Bands, Doing It the Worst Disservice, Because the Only Thing That You Can Do to Music That Will Damage It Is Not Change It, Not Make It Your Own. Because Then It Dies, Then It’s Over, Then It’s Done, and the Boy Bands Have Won.

Additional Lengthy Album Titles

• The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars – David Bowie (1973)
• Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out) – Happy Mondays (1987)
• The Day They Shot a Hole in the Jesus Egg – The Priest Driven Ambulance Album, Demos and Outtakes – The Flaming Lips (1989)
• Astro Creep: 2000 — Songs of Love, Destruction, and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head – White Zombie (1995)
• This Is a Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About – Modest Mouse (1996)
• Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales of Cadaverous Cavorting Inside the Spookshow International – Rob Zombie (1998)
• A Collection of Songs Representing an Enthusiasm for Recording… by Amateurs – The Flaming Lips (1999)
• He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms – Silver Mount Zion (2000)
• Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant – Belle & Sebastian (2000)
• Oh Me Oh My The Way The Day Goes By The Sun Is Setting Dogs Are Dreaming Lovesongs Of The Christmas Spirit – Devendra Banhart (2002)
• Lifted Or The Story Is in the Soil Keep Your Ear to the Ground – Bright Eyes (2005)
• The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do – Fiona Apple (2012)

Madonna is transforming her image… again.

This time, her reconstruction has nothing to do with hair color, clothes, or pointed bras. Instead, Madge is softening. She’s becoming a kinder, gentler Madonna.

In a recent interview with Sirius Radio, the Queen of Pop expressed her utter dissatisfaction with people labeling her a “control freak.” She said her creative process is a total collaboration and she needs input from other artists and performers.

This coupled with the fact that her 15-year-old daughter, Lourdes, recorded a song on her latest album, MDNA, and is accompanying her mom on her upcoming world tour (in a non-performing role), reveals that Madonna is no longer the “Material Gil” she was in the 1980s.

Hearing the singer lash out against “control freak” accusations is interesting. Performers like Madonna are constantly selling themselves; they are a product. It’s only natural and logical for them to want to exert as much control as possible. Fans may be turned off by artists with “control freak” tendencies but when your image is your livelihood you have to be protective.

The other interesting aspect of Madonna denying her inner “control freak” is her music has always been dependent on others. In the interview, Madonna claims she’s not like Prince; she can’t go into the studio and write and record an entire album’s worth of songs. While this is partly a result of Madonna’s process it’s also a product of Madonna’s lack of talent. Madonna needs help creating music. She always has and always will (although she needs no help in entertaining and can teach a master’s class on the subject). In other words, Madonna isn’t in full control of making her own music.

At 53-years of age, and being part of a business dominated by young people, Madonna realizes that her days of kicking ass and taking names are over. Now, it’s all about having fun and getting people on the dance floor. Her 12th studio album tries to do just that. Half of MDNA is made up of delectable dance songs. The other half is nothing but catchy pop tunes.

Look at her recent performance during halftime of Super Bowl XLVI. It wasn’t a legend taking a victory lap, but a consummate performer delightfully entertaining 115 million people. Somewhere along the way, Madonna discovered that her greatest talent isn’t reinventing herself, but putting on one hell of a good show. And to do that you can’t be a control freak; you have to collaborate with others.

To hear and see what Land of Punt is talking about, you’ve got to check out Madge’s upcoming World Tour. Her trek begins May 29 in Tel Aviv, Israel and arrives on the shores of America in late August. On the 28th of that month, Madonna will perform in Philadelphia.

Noteworthy stops on her route include a Madonna concert in Boston on Sept. 4, a Madonna gig in Atlantic City on Sept. 15, a Madonna performance in Phoenix on Oct. 16, and a Madonna show in Atlanta on Nov. 17.

Madonna has two show planned for Toronto, New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Vancouver, Seattle, San Jose, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, Saint Paul, and Miami.

Her massive world jaunt ends Nov. 20. That’s when Madonna plays the second of back-to-back nights in Miami at the American Airlines Arena.

In 2012, Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Refer Band continue their “Welcome To Fin Land Tour.” The mayor of Margaritaville has nine dates scheduled for the first three months of the year. But if you want to attend any of Buffett’s upcoming shows you better hurry. Tickets to his concerts are selling faster than a cheeseburger in paradise.

In January, look for Jimmy Buffett in Miami (28th) and Jimmy Buffett in Jacksonville (31st).

Come February, there’s a Jimmy Buffett concert in North Charleston (2nd), a Jimmy Buffett performance in Orlando (4th), a Jimmy Buffett gig in Birmingham (25th), and a Jimmy Buffett show in Tallahassee (28th).

March opens and closes with a trio of Buffet concerts. Jimmy Buffett will be in North Little Rock on the first and then two days later Jimmy Buffett will be in Louisville. Finally, Jimmy Buffett has a show in Tampa on the 30th.

You can’t mention Jimmy Buffett without mentioning Parrot Heads, the colorful nickname for his rabid fans. Once the term “Parrot Heads” popped into the old noggin’ I began to think about all the other cute little appellations running around in fandom. The result of my intense rumination is a list of the top ten nicknames for fans of bands and artists. Keep reading to see exactly where “Parrot Heads” ranks.

Top Ten Nicknames For Diehard Fans Of Bands/Artists

1. Dead Heads
The nickname that started it all. “Dead Head” first appeared in 1971 on the linear notes of the Grateful Dead’s second live album. Oddly enough, the phrase is found in a section that begins “Dead Freaks Unite.” Obviously, that sobriquet didn’t catch on. Dead Heads were widely known for being smelly hippies high on drugs and veggie burritos.

2. Fanilows
Hardcore fans of Barry Manilow call themselves “Fanilows.” That name alone is enough to make you fall in love with Manilow and his music. I was first introduced to the clever nomenclature on Dec. 11, 2003 during an episode of Will & Grace. I’ve been calling myself a “Fanilow” ever since.

3. KISS Army
Kiss Army is the name of the band’s official fan club and the unofficial name for KISS fans all over the world. It’s a super cool term that combines a word that’s a little effeminate with a word that’s extremely masculine. By the way, it was coined in 1975.

4. Phamily/Phans
While “Phamily and “Phans” are great nicknames they don’t quite work well in normal speech. “I’m part of the Phish Phamily.” “I’m a huge Phan of Phish.” A quick aside: “Phan” is also used by fans of the Broadway musical “Phantom of the Opera.” Phish followers are sometimes called “Phish Heads.”

5. Parrot Heads
The term “Parrot Head” was coined by Timothy B. Schmit in 1985—he was once a member of the Coral Reefer Band but left to become a member of Eagles. You’ll sometimes see the term written as one word, “Parrotheads.” What’s even better than “Parrot Head” is what Buffett calls his young fans, “Parakeets.” Parrot Heads don’t buy every Jimmy Buffet ticket but they buy most of them.

6. Little Monsters/Monsters
Fans of Lady Gaga are called “Little Monsters” or just “Monsters.” Her Gaganess began calling her fans “monsters” in the summer of 2009. Conversely, Gaga calls herself “Mother Monster.” That moniker was suggested to her by a fan she met while visiting Chicago.

7. Blue Army
Coined in the same year as “KISS Army,” “Blue Army” refers to fans of Aerosmith. The band from Boston invented the phrase and chose the word “blue” because their fans wore blue jeans and had blue collar jobs. The name of the band’s official fan club is “Aero Force One.”

8. Gleeks
“Gleeks” describe hardcore fans of the popular FOX musical drama, Glee. The word is a portmanteau of the show’s title and the pejorative “geek.” Despite the use of a slur, fans of the show happily and proudly call themselves “Gleeks.”

9. MCRmy
It’s pronounced “M-C-army” and it’s a label used by the devoted fans of the emo band My Chemical Romance. It’s one of those titles you initially mispronounced which gives the nearest member of MCRmy the opportunity to correct you in the snarkiest way possible. I bet that was done on purpose.

10. Maggots
It comes as no surprise that “maggots” is in tenth on a list of nicknames for fan bases. The term is used for supporters of Iowa’s most famous heavy metal band, Slipknot. Judging from some colorful posts on the internet it’s hard to determine if “maggots” is a welcomed epithet or a derogatory remark.

The New Year is nary a month old and even if you live under a rock there are three things you know: Tim Tebow is out of the NFL Playoffs, Mitt Romney is gaining momentum, and Van Halen is launching a huge tour of North America.

Van Halen kicks off a 45-date tour of North America beginning Feb. 18 in Louisville, Kentucky at the KFC Yum! Center. Highlights of their much-anticipated outing include stops in Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Toronto, and Los Angeles.

On March 11, Van Halen travels to Boston for a show at TD Garden. The iconic rock band will also play two shows in New York City (Feb. 28 and March 1) at Madison Square Garden.

Their jaunt, launched to support the group’s latest album, A Different Kind of Truth, concludes June 26 in New Orleans. Opening for Van Halen, on a part-time basis, will be Kool and the Gang.

No rock hut or stone teepee could keep this next tidbit from the consciousness of any self-respecting hermit. That tidbit is David Lee Roth is back with Van Halen. This means that three-fourths of the band that recorded the seminal album 1984 is together again and ready to tour. The missing fourth is bassist Michael Anthony. He’s replaced by Alex Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang.

A Diamond Dave-led Van Halen has a lot of people excited. After all, Roth and Eddie are one of the greatest frontman/lead guitarist combinations in the history of rock music.

Their place in history is undeniable but I think there’s another reason people are happy that Van Halen is back. That reason is Van Halen is happy (or at least they appear to be happy).

Especially with Roth at the helm, Van Halen is one of the few great rock bands that are known more for their smile than their sneer.

Most bands of Van Halen’s renown are serious, somber, frustrated, angry and/or depressed. Yet, when you think of Van Halen what is likely to come to mind is an exultant Roth kicking the sky or a grinning Eddie Van Halen merrily finger tapping his guitar.

Take the band’s video to their breakthrough single, “Jump.” In almost every shot Eddie is wearing a huge smile. You don’t generally think of Jimmy Page or Keith Richards as smilers.

Roth, on the other hand, is just plain comical—a jester if you will. You have his flamboyant dance moves, his interactions with the audience at Van Halen concerts, and his antics in videos like “Hot For Teacher” and “Panama.” A picture gets painted of Roth as a fairly content dude. If you closely examine the lead singers of other rock bands you eventually come to the conclusion, “what did his parents do to him?”

Now, Van Halen isn’t the only band that looks happy and appears to be enjoying themselves. There were plenty of hair bands in the 1980s that were jolly but they neither transcended the decade nor did they go to become one of the greatest rock bands of all-time.

Furthermore, Van Halen was able to be happy without losing their credibility, their edge, or their respectability. The band still had a sense of happiness in the Sammy Hagar era but not as much as when Roth was on the mic.

It goes without saying that you can’t attribute happiness, or even smiling, to other great rock bands. U2 has their moments but most of the time they’re rather serious. Coldplay is as fun-loving as the common cold and the Red Hot Chili Peppers definitely have a sense of humor but usually opt for staid posturing and solemn brooding.

We don’t even need to compare Van Halen to rock bands from the 1960s and 1970s. The biggies like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, and AC/DC could be light-hearted and even funny at times but you wouldn’t mistake any of them for being happy.

Granted, most of the aforementioned bands had their roots in the blues—not a happy genre of music—but beyond that they exhibited more misery and sorrow than mirth and cheer.

This doesn’t mean the members of Van Halen have no personal problems or inner demons. All it means is when they’re performing, whether in concert or during a video, they look and act like they’re blissful.

Van Halen’s ability to appear happy makes them a novelty not a novelty act. Better yet, this talent of theirs makes Van Halen concerts a real blast.

Van Halen’s 2012 Tour Itinerary
>>Feb. 18 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
>>Feb. 20 – Auburn Hills, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
>>Feb. 22 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
>>Feb. 24 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
>>Feb. 28 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden Arena
>>March 1 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden Arena
>>March 3 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
>>March 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
>>March 9 – Buffalo, NY @ First Niagara Center
>>March 11 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
>>March 15 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
>>March 17 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
>>March 21 – Kanata, ON @ Scotiabank Place
>>March 24 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
>>March 28 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
>>March 30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Consol Energy Center
>>April 1 – Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
>>April 10 – Sunrise, FL @ BankAtlantic Center
>>April 12 – Tampa, FL @ Tampa Bay Times Forum
>>April 14 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
>>April 16 – Jacksonville, FL @ Veterans Memorial Arena
>>April 19 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
>>April 21 – Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum Complex
>>April 25 – Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena
>>April 27 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
>>May 1 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
>>May 5 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
>>May 7 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
>>May 9 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
>>May 11 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
>>May 17 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
>>May 19 – Saint Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
>>May 22 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
>>May 24 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
>>May 27 – Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
>>June 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
>>June 3 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
>>June 5 – San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion at San Jose
>>June 12 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
>>June 14 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
>>June 16 – Phoenix, AZ @ U.S. Airways Center
>>June 20 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
>>June 22 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
>>June 24 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
>>June 26 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena

When Drake announced that he was launching a tour of North America in 2012 many of his fans wanted to know who was going to open for him. After all, most of the Young Money stable is busy with other projects.

For example, Drake’s “Club Paradise Tour” kicks off on the exact same day as Nicki Minaj releases her second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. That day is of course Feb. 14, 2012.

To make sure each Drake concert starts on the right foot, Dizzy has tapped rappers Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky for his openers.

Kendrick Lamar, who used to go by the stage name “K. Dot,” released his first digital album, Section.80 in 2011. His first studio work is set to hit store shelves sometime next year.

A$AP Rocky, who recently signed a lucrative recording contract with Sony/RCA, released a mixtape called LiveLoveA$AP back in October. While A$AP has no studio album to promote, the Harlem-based rapper is currently enjoying the success of his first single, “Peso.”

Drake selected the two up-and-coming rappers because he’s a big fan of their work. He even went so far as to say he “loves” their music. Basically, he’s listening to Lamar and A$AP Rocky and he wants his fans to do the same.

Drake’s 17-date trek begins in Miami, Florida at the Bank United Center. It ends on March 11 in San Diego, California at the Viejas Arena. Highlights of his cross-country trek include New Orleans, Arlington, and Los Angeles.

Dizzy’s itinerary is listed below and you’ll notice that most of the venues are relatively intimate. Record executives wanted Drake to perform in large arenas but the Canadian would have none it. He wants his longtime fans—the ones that have been with him from the beginning—to experience his live music up close and personal.

Drake is selling concert tickets to support his sophomore effect, Take Care. The album debuted at number one and features contributions from Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Minaj, and Andre 3000.

Before launching his world tour, Drake will delight fans in Las Vegas, Nevada. Look for the “Best I Ever had” singer at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel for a special New Year’s Day concert.

After his North America dates are through, Drake has a slew of shows planned for Europe. His first performance in the New World is set for March 24 in Dublin and his last is scheduled for April 25 in Nottingham. Drake is also planning concerts in London, Paris, Berlin, and Stockholm.
 

Drake’s 2012 “The Club Paradise Tour” Itinerary
>>Feb. 14 – Drake visits Miami, FL and the Bank United Center
>>Feb. 15 – Drake visits Gainesville, FL and the Stephen C. O’Connell Center
>>Feb. 17 – Drake visits Nashville, TN and the Bridgestone Arena
>>Feb. 18 – Drake visits Columbus, OH and the Schottenstein Center
>>Feb. 21 – Drake visits Columbia, SC and the Colonial Life Arena
>>Feb. 22 – Drake visits Lexington, KY and the Rupp Arena
>>Feb. 24 – Drake visits Tallahassee, FL and the Leon County Civic Center
>>Feb. 25 – Drake visits New Orleans, LA and the UNO Lakefront Arena
>>Feb. 27 – Drake visits Austin, TX and the Frank Erwin Center
>>Feb. 28 – Drake visits Oklahoma City, OK and the Chesapeake Energy Arena
>>March 1 – Drake visits Kansas City, MO and the Sprint Center
>>March 2 – Drake visits Arlington, TX and the College Park Center
>>March 4 – Drake visits Tucson, AZ and the Tucson Arena
>>March 5 – Drake visits Los Angeles, CA and the Galen Center
>>March 8 – Drake visits Fresno, CA and the Save Mart Center
>>March 10 – Drake visits San Jose, CA and the Event Center
>>March 11 – Drake visits San Diego, CA and the Viejas Arena

For smiles and giggles, I once compiled a playlist of all the number one songs of the 1960s. It was a musical exercise made possible by the internet and iTunes; hitherto it would have been an exercise in juggling compact discs (or cassette tapes).

In listening to the 230-plus song playlist there were a couple of things I noticed. First and foremost, being a number one song doesn’t necessarily make you a good song (“Moody River,” “Harper Valley PTA,” “In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)”).

The second thing I notice was how dull the number one songs were until the arrival of two bands. Obviously, one of those bands is The Beatles but the second might surprise you. It’s the Beach Boys.

While they failed to reach the legendary status of the Fab Four, The Beach Boys did make it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band released a bevy of hit songs in the 1960s including “Good Vibrations,” ”I Get Around” and “California Girls.” They defined the West Coast beach sound and more than solidified themselves as 1960s musical icons.

The Beach Boys released a lot of music through the years but they never matched their creative output of the 1960s. From the 1980s onward, the band was embroiled in legal battles and cheesy reunion shows. They did release their best-selling single, “Kokomo,” in 1988.

In 2012, the relics of your grandfather’s record collection are jumping off the vinyl and coming to a venue near you.

That’s right, the Beach Boys have announced plans for a 50-date tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

[Insert your joke about old musicians touring here].

The three original members of the group—Brian Wilson (69), Mike Love (70), and Al Jardine (69)—along with two longtime members—Bruce Johnston (63) and David Marks(69)—are reuniting for a world tour and a new album. The first Beach Boys concert on the schedule is set for April 27 at the renowned New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Before laying your hands on some primo Beach Boys tickets, you can always watch them at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 12. They are scheduled to make an appearance and from what I can tell it’s going to be a big production number featuring a lot of current bands so as to make the California geezers relevant to a younger audience.

I’m not a huge fan of the Beach Boys but I’ve always appreciated their contribution to popular music. As the years have gone by I’ve enjoyed their music more and more. Perhaps the best summation of their place in rock and roll history is this: “The Beatles transcend the 1960s, the Beach Boys do not.”

Red Hot Chili Peppers: “I’m With You Tour” Launches Jan. 20

The Red Hot Chili Peppers just confirmed five more dates for their upcoming “I’m With You Tour.”

Slowly confirming tour stops has been the band’s modus operandi. Of course their U.S. fans don’t care. They’re riding high on the recent announcement that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not to mention that next year, Chili Pepper concert tickets will be ripped for the first time since 2007 and their “Stadium Acradium Tour.”

The pioneering rock-funk quartet launches the U.S. leg of their world tour Jan. 20 in Sunrise, Florida. The outing wraps March 16 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Highlights of their itinerary, at least for now, include Red Hot Chili Peppers in Orlando, Florida on Jan. 21; Red Hot Chili Peppers in San Antonio, Texas on March 6; and Red Hot Chili Peppers in Dallas, Texas on March 9.

The band just verified stops in Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Glendale, and Denver. The Red Hot Chili Peppers show in Los Angeles is scheduled for Feb. 26 at the Staples Center. The Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in San Diego is planned for Feb. 29 at the Valley View Casino Center.

Writing about the Chili Peppers made Land of Punt hungry. Well, as hungry as a Web site can get. It also got us thinking about bands named after food (and only food). Below, is our list of the top ten bands named after victuals. Red Hot Chili Peppers fans will be happy to learn that their band came in second. To find out who came in number one keep reading…

10. Black Eyed Peas
We’ll be honest. We made this list and put the Black Eyed Peas at number ten just to illustrate their awfulness. They can’t even beat out Bread, The Cranberries, or Vanilla Fudge. As bad as BEP are, they know how to sell records. They’re at 31 million and counting.

9. Bread
In the 1970s, Bread charted 13 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Unfortunately, they were all adult contemporary pabulum like “Make It With You,” “If” and “Baby I’m-a Want You.” Sadly, three of the five original members of Bread are no longer with us. They’ve gone to the big AM station in the sky.

8. The Cranberries
The Cranberries are an Irish outfit fronted by Dolores O’Riordan who is married to the former tour manager of a little group called Duran Duran. The Cranberries’ debut album, Everybody Else is Doing, So Why Can’t We?, sold more than five million copies in the United States.

7. Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge’s first big hit was the 1968 reissue of “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” The band’s last big hit was 1968′s “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” In 1966, Vanilla Fudge was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Enough said!

6. Cracker
This may shock you but Cracker has released ten studio albums since breaking on to the scene in 1992 with Kerosene Hat. Their one big hit, from the aforementioned opus, is “Low.” The video for that song featured Sandra Bernhardt. And no, their opening act isn’t Cheese.

5. Cake
Cake is one of those bands you either love or hate. If you like frontman John McCrea’s straightforward vocals (that border on talking) and a lot of trumpet with your alternative rock you’re probably a big Cake fan. We love the name of their second album, Fashion Nugget.

4. Korn
Korn never would have made our list had their kept their original name, L.A.P.D. The heavy metal band from Bakersfield, California released their first album in 1994. Since then Korn has won two Grammy awards and sent two albums to the top of the Billboard 200.

3. The Jam
The Jam was headed by Paul Weller. He’s virtually unknown in the U.S. but a national treasure in the U.K. During their run from 1977 to 1982, The Jam had 18 straight Top 40 singles. Granted, it was the Top 40 in the U.K., but still. Their music was a mix of mod, new wave, and punk.

2. Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have gone through a few drummers and guitarists over the years but the band’s two constants have been bassist Flea and frontman Anthony Kiedis. The Peppers released their first studio opus in 1984 and their tenth in 2011. All total, they’ve sold more than 70 million albums.

1. Cream
You can’t go wrong with any band that includes Eric Clapton. You especially can’t go wrong if that band also includes Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Cream only released four albums, all in the 1960s, but their influence is still being felt. They were popular music’s first successful supergroup and their Wheels of Fire album was the first double-LP to be certified platinum.

Hugh Jackman is a throwback.

He’s one of the few modern day stars that could had made it 40, 50, even 60 years ago.

The guy can do it all: sing, dance, act, and sell tickets (either movie or Broadway tickets). His acting made him a household name but his voice is by far his greatest aptitude. He’s best known for playing a gruff superhero (Wolverine) but won a Tony Award for portraying singer-songwriter Peter Allen (The Boy from Oz). Best of all, his immense talents come wrapped in a countenance and physique perfectly designed for a leading man of the stage and screen.

In the 21st century, when performers use computers to sing on tune, and special effects to mask their inability to emote, Jackman is an anachronism. He’s an updated version of the Hollywood stars of old. In other words, he actually has talent.

Over the summer, Jackman delighted audience with his performance in the family-friendly, box office hit, Reel Steel. Currently, the 43-year-old Australian superstar is selling Hugh Jackman Broadway tickets to his 10-week run at the Broadhurst Theatre on the Great White Way.

Called “Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway,” the star culls materials from classic musicals like Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, Carousel, and The Boy From Oz. The show also includes a rousing tribute to the musical The Music Man replete with a rap.

The three-time host of the Tony Awards also laces up the dancing shoes. In fact, there are several numbers showcasing the actor’s hoofing skills. As you would expect, Jackman is a fantastic dancer.

Jackman is backed by an 18-piece orchestra and six dancing show girls. The production includes very few special effects. That was a wise move. Jackman doesn’t need theatre magic to dazzle the audience. All he needs is a microphone and a simple tune.

Be prepared for one or two corny jokes. Jackman has a few groaners sprinkled throughout his program but the actor is so suave and charming that he pulls them off. I love bad jokes so this wouldn’t bother me one iota.

Jackman’s powerhouse of a show is currently one of the hottest tickets in town. It’s right up there with The Book of Mormon tickets and War Horse tickets. It’s breaking box office records at the Broadhurst and is sold out every weekend of its two-and-half-month run.

When you go, make sure you scan the theatre. Many of the reviews I’ve read about Jackman’s “Back on Broadway” mention tons of celebrities in the audience.