It’s been 17 years since Britt Daniels and Jim Eno formed Spoon but the indie-rockers are still getting better as a band. Spoon is one of the only bands in the last decade that churns out Rock N’ Roll that is both contemporary, yet, rooted in the genre. Daniels is one of the best rock songwriters in the business. The band struggled to gain the audience it deserved until a major label deal failed in 1998, and the band moved to indie label Merge Records at the turn of the century. Girls Can Tell was released in 2001 to critical acclaim and Spoon’s fan base at home and abroad began to grow. Spoon released their fifth album, Transference, with Merge Records this past January. Just in the last week, Spoon opened for Arcade Fire at Madison Square Garden and played a terrific set at Lollapolooza in Chicago. Spoon will tour the US into October before jumping across the pond in November to tour Europe.

Out of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Cage the Elephant are developing into a reputation for infectious punk rock both in the US and UK. Their debut album scored a surprise hit with the gritty storybook punk parable “Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked”. It’s rare that a rock song that touches on the desperate, dirty side of life gains traction on the charts, but Cage the Elephants single was a Top 40 hit in the UK and was Top Ten hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock and US Modern Rock charts. The young band led by lead singer Matthew Schultz has toured with bands like Silversun Pickups and The Pigeon Detectives.  Their sophomore album, Computer Says More, is expected in the near future. For now, the band heads out on tour with alternative rock legends Stone Temple Pilots.

Americans might not be aware of the Isle of Wight Festival, but the three day festival held on England’s largest island has developed into one of the best music festivals in the world. This year the show’s saw hip hop superstar Jay Z, the return of The Strokes, and the legendary Sir Paul McCartney perform. Despite the muddy conditions, concert goers poured into the festival with such big names on the bill. Jay Z headlined the show on Friday night which marked a special guest appearance from Kanye West. On Saturday fans tuned in on big screens to watch England and USA’s 1-1 World Cup tie and saw bands like Vampire Weekend, Blondie, and The Hold Steady. Sir Paul brought the festival to a epic crescendo on Sunday night with his rip-roaring set which included a cover of Jimmi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” and Beatles gems “Helter Skelter”, “Yesterday”, and “Let It Be”.

Broadway is flush will the sale of American Idiot tickets lately with the rock ‘n roll opera gaining steam towards the 2010 Tony Awards. On Sunday, American Idiot will be in the running to the win the Best Musical at the 64th Tony’s live from Radio City Music Hall. The musical based on the epic Green Day album of the same name has made Broadway finally relevant. The story of  young American dealing with war, desperation, addiction, and love with a punk rock edge won over critics from the moment American Idiot debuted at St. James Theater. American Idiot was nominated for Best Musical, Best Scenic Design of Musical, and Best Lighting Design of Musical. The rock opera is a dark horse to win Best Musical against the likes of Memphis and Million Dollar Quartet. Who knows? Green Day’s reign on Broadway may complete its dominance with a shiney Tony’s Award or two.

The Strokes lead singer has been making his rounds supporting his debut solo release, Phrazes for the Young, has toured the United States, Europe, and Australia the past few months. The 31-year-old will rejoin The Strokes for a number of dates in June and July including the Isle of Wight Festival in England, the Openair St. Gallen Festival in Switzerland, and Lollapalooza in Chicago all while continuing his solo tour in Europe. Stops at The Montreux Jazz Festival, The Peace in Love Festival in Sweden, and the Super Bock Super Rock, and T in the Park in Scotland. Phrazes for the Young has earned heaps of praise as well as being called Paul-Simon-esque. Fans can even download the album for the bargain price of $4.99 on ITunes. Casablancas is likely to the studio with his band mates soon to record another The Strokes album, but his solo career looks to be just taking off.

Everyone is looking for Chelsea Handler tickets right now as the hilarious stand-up is currently touring the country. When asked what she will talk about on her live tour, comedian Chelsea Handler told the press “It depends on how much I drink”. The E! Channel talk show host has become  a mini-mogul in her own right in the past few years. Her late night talk show, Chelsea Lately, has built up a huge following, her books continue to be best sellers, and her stand up comedy tours sell out night after night. She loves to dish on celebrities, drinking, and share humorous stories from her childhood. Chelsea got her start in comedy doing stand-up in little comedy cafes, and now she’s selling out theaters across the country. Her comedy comes off as if she’s just one of the ladies in the hair salon making fun of Britney Spears. She tears down pretentious stars without taking herself too seriously. Even the Obamas admitted they watch her talk show. Chelsea will be playing shows across the country from May to Novemeber.

Gorrilaz looks poised to have a huge year in 2010. Gorillaz, the genre-defying project of Blur front man Damon Albarn and cartoonist Jamie Hewlett, released their third album, Plastic Beach, last month. In the past Gorillaz has performed with big stage shows featuring numerous musicians huddled in the shadows why images of the four piece cartoon character band flashed on screens. In their first performance in London in nine years, Gorillaz rocked the Roundhouse last night in a show that featured more than 30 performers. Albarn acted as lead singer on a number of songs while playing piano, but De La Soul, Bobby Womack, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of the Clash, and a number of other surprise guests. Gorrilaz are a real testament to the beauty of collaboration in music. Keep your eyes pealed for US tour dates to be announced soon.

English Rock band Muse has quietly become one of the biggest bands in music quietly since forming 16 years ago in the English countryside town of Teignmouth. Now Muse tickets are selling out venues like the Staples Center in United States and mammoth soccer stadiums in Europe. Songwriter Matthew Bellamy’s operatic voice blends beautifully with the bands space rock sound. Now with five studio albums to their name, Muse has plenty of material in their songbook to lace their performances with numerous hits. Some early critics dismissed Muse as a wanna-be-Radiohead cover band, but the band quickly displayed their originality on Absolution, Black Holes & Revelations, and their most recent release The Resistance. Both singles off The Resistance “Uprising” and “Resistance” topped the charts in US, furthering the band into America’s Top 40 music scene. The band will be touring the United States playing mostly indoor arenas in the Fall, before returning to England to play a number of shows including a number shows at the massive Wembley Stadium.

The quartet from Columbia University, Vampire Weekend, is becoming almost impossible to ignore. The band’s self title release in 2008 garnered them praise as they became the “It” band, but also heaped a boatload of pressure for the band to follow up with a equally successful album. “Contra” (released this past January) has been a instant success and tracks like “Giving Up the Gun” and “Diplomat’s Son” have been burning up ITunes. Their most recent show at the Marquee Theater in Tempe, AZ earned great reviews from The Arizona Republic. The reviewer remarked about the growing up Vampire Weekend has done in the past two years, calling the band “full blown rock stars”. Their is a great enthusiasm for the band in young people across the country and by the next album I wouldn’t be surprised to see the band playing biggest venues…maybe even arenas.

Road warrior Neil Young will be going on a short tour this summer to play some solo shows in 2010. Opting not to tour with long time group Crazy Horse, Young will perform songs from some of the 33 albums he’s released in his career. Young will be playing shows at The Louisville Palace Theater, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, the Spartanburg Mem Auditorium in Spartainburg, South Carolina, and two shows at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. More shows could be added in time leading up to the tour’s kick off show in Louisville on May 26th. Scotish folk legend Bert Jansch will be opening for Neil on the Twister Road Tour. Jansch was a very influential artist in the 60’s and had a profound affect on Neil’s work. Neil Young tickets are still available, but they won’t last long so book your seats now if you want to be able to be in the audience at one of the shows.