Hot on the heels of winning the award that is closest to the Nobel Peace Prize, U2's Bono and The Edge are scheduled to perform on American Idol's Wednesday finale with the cast of everyone's favorite Broadway musical, Spider- Man: Please Make The Pain Stop Turn Off the Dark. more ›

With a price tag of $70 million and counting, by far the most expensive musical ever, Spider-Man: Dead And Loving It Turn Off The Dark is on hiatus for an overhaul until May 12. But you wouldn't know it from the press the show has been pushing out the past few days. First came the announcement that injured actor/stuntman Christopher Tierney would be returning when the show reopens and now two of the shows producers have turned to the AP to flagellate themselves in public. more ›

After speculation the expensive Julie Taymor-directed Spider-Man musical might be on the ropes, it turns out there's a new lead producer. The NY Times reports that Michael Cohl, a rock promoter, "was taking command of the financially troubled project at the behest of U2’s Bono and the Edge, who together wrote the music and lyrics for the show" and said the show would go on next year. While he's never been a lead producer, he did co-produce Spamalot and "is widely regarded in the entertainment community as a man with deep pockets, a Rolodex packed with investors and a knack for presenting entertainment spectacles." more ›

The massive project is falling further behind schedule, it's millions of dollars in the hole, and will need a miracle to meet a looming make-or-break deadline. All we need now are a string of eminent-domain lawsuits, and Julie Taymor's wildly ambitious Broadway adaptation of Spider-Man might as well change its name to Atlantic Yards: The Musical. (Starring Harvey Fierstein as embattled developer Bruce Ratner!) Today Taymor is meeting with producers to decide whether to proceed or postpone the technically insane project, which is hemorrhaging money like Mr. Orange gushing blood in the back seat of Mr. White's car. Is it gonna be okaaay? more ›

Some reporter was disgraceful enough to ask Mayor Bloomberg about his choice to take a helicopter to the U2 concert at Giants Stadium Thursday, when he could have, say, taken NJ Transit (ha) and left a smaller carbon footprint. more ›

As if Mayor Bloomberg didn't already have a lock on the election, now he's got U2 fans in his pocket. Bono, who's never been afraid to look like a tool to get on a politician's good side, took almost a minute out of last night's concert at Giants Stadium to praise Hizzoner. Bono told the crowd that because Bloomberg uses "his enormous wallet to research new treatments for malaria and stuff, he makes me very proud, he also makes me laugh out loud." Bono gave the mayor major props before performing "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." more ›

The buzz was severely harshed last night for thousands of U2 fans making their way back from the Meadowlands to Manhattan. According to multiple reports, the post-concert scene was a total nightmare, with a packed mob left stranded for hours on the platforms. NJT officials tell 1010WINS there were plenty of trains, but there were too few ticket machines to accommodate the throngs of people. But one Gothamist reader describes a different scenario:

It was incredibly disorganized as there were not enough trains to accommodate the amount of concert-goers... At least a couple hundred people left during the encore in hopes of catching an earlier train and avoid the crowd, only to be met with a closed gate at the tracks. The staff didn't open the gates until people were completely pushed up against each other and 500 deep. When they finally allowed us on the platform, people shoved and pushed their way in. It was really unsafe.

This morning U2 headed up to Fordham University to wake up the faculty and students with a relatively small, and very early concert. CityRoom reports that security was tight, but five hairdressers from Michigan managed to smooth talk their way in. more ›

It's official: The city deemed part of West 53rd Street U2 Way, coincidentally timed with the release of the group's latest album. U2's members helped make sure the street was clear of snow yesterday and noted how they were honored with this temporary distinction (it'll last a week, as they'll promote their music for NYC for about that long). Bono said, "The Beatles had Penny Lane, Elvis lived on the end of Lonely Street. We're here somewhere between 10th Avenue and funky, funky Broadway, somewhere south of Duke Ellington Way and north of Joey Ramone Place we find ourselves ... where the streets have no name." He added, "New York is a place that people come to [and] feel at home. And we truly do feel at home here in New York." more ›

Bono & Co. kicked off their week long residency on Letterman last night, and because they are such a Big Deal, Mayor Bloomberg has declared that part of West 53rd Street (leading up to the Ed Sullivan Theater) is now temporarily renamed U2 Way. And, perhaps grasping how litigious New Yorkers can be when it comes to icy sidewalks, the supergroup was out there yesterday keeping their new street snow-free. (Letterman also addressed the white stuff in his Top Ten.) more ›

Bono & Co. really love popping up and playing unusual shows in New York. Well U2 is back, and this time they're playing in the Bronx! A student at Fordham confirms (through a WFUV exec) that the band will be playing a show for staff and faculty there on March 6th (follow a week long stint on Letterman) at the bright n' early hour of 8 a.m. Word is that "Professors have reportedly been told by the administration to cancel morning classes for security reasons." more ›

U2 frontman and political activist Bono has a new gig! Radar is reporting that the New York Times editorial page editor Andrew Rosenthal has hired him to write a handful of the paper's Op-Ed pages next year. He announced the news last night to students of Columbia's School of Journalism, following the "suspicious package" that was delivered to his office yesterday. Radar wonders if the news will off-set the recent right-leaning columns devoted to Sarah Palin, written by Bill Kristol (who Rosenthal dodged questions about last night), but a bigger question is whether Bono will be able to help keep the sinking Gray Lady afloat? more ›

Forget The Dark Knight – the hype is already giving way to disappointment. It’s time to start getting really, really excited about Spider-Man the Musical, which will feature a score by U2’s Bono and the Edge and direction from Julie Taymor of Lion King fame. In May, Marvel Executive Peter Cuneo announced that the show could open as soon as next year, with Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood – Taymor’s stars in Across the Universe – playing Peter Parker and Mary Jane. more ›

MUSIC: If you aren't at your local hometown bar this Thanksgiving-eve, drinking with old high school buddies -- we suggest a sonic alternative. Tonight The Hold Steady and Art Brut do their best at making Terminal 5 feel a little bit cozier this holiday season. Buy tickets here. 7:30pm // Terminal 5 [610 W 56th St] // $30 MUSIC MOVIES: If you're sick and tired of the bands playing around town, go check out two... more ›

The Observer revisits The Hotel Chelsea in a piece about a long-time resident who runs a salon out of the building. more ›

Senator Hillary Clinton is asking the public for some advice on what may very well be the most important part of her campaign: The Song. more ›

The Sanitation Chronicles, a new play by and about New York’s Strongest, premiered on Wednesday. Actor/playwright Paul Brno, who’s been moonlighting for the Department of Sanitation for the past 17 years, says “every day is still a great day to be on a garbage truck.” The “slice of life” play explores the daily prejudices, anger and violence faced by “Sanmen”, all of which is exacerbated when one of the guys shows up for work dressed as a lady. [Tickets.] more ›

As we mentioned yesterday, MTV is sending in their reality crew troops to Brooklyn Tech for a new series. more ›

Just listening to a lot of records, getting emotional about them, falling in love with them. more ›

Stereogum reports (via Angry Citizen) that this weekend David Cross and Johnny Marr opened the Modest Mouse show at Bowery Ballroom...with Ethan's version of "One". Cross is even all decked out in the appropriate attire. Luckily this was caught on tape (watch above), this is why YouTube won "Invention of the Year", and not some silly disease preventing vaccine. more ›

Bryan Bruchman, of New York band Man in Gray, and his girlfriend Mary, have started a site to pay homage to all of those ruined songs in life. You know how often a song will stick itself to a situation, an event, a memory...making music a sonic earmark, and the first few notes of a song leading you on an unwanted trip down memory lane. more ›

Brooklyn Vegan (via Reuters) reports that New York's Hit Factory studio will be turned into condos. The building, which is on West 54th Street between Ninth and 10th, closed in 2005. Prior to that musicians like John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Madonna and U2 recorded there. This place should be a museum, not someone's $1 million bachelor pad. more ›

In order to make sure everyone knows how wacky New York is, the press descended upon Improv Everywhere's No Pants 2k6 ride yesterday afternoon. The NY Post, Daily News and Newsday - as well as the AP - all filed reports about pranksters trying to make people crack a smile on a subway during an otherwise routine Sunday afternoon. The press was probably disappointed there wasn't another transit strike, so this was a good second option ("Human interest angle - should people really wear pants if they don't want to? Or are your legs too winter-white?"). However, the police got involved, "detaining" some of the pantless (but not naked) and saying it was because "People couldn't get on and off the train and [the stunt] created a hazardous condition." Gothamist finds that NYPD claim to be BS, because if that really were the case, the NYPD should be arresting people at 59th Street Columbus Circle and tourists at Times Square on a very regular basis - they do not understand the unspoken subway contract of letting people GET OFF the subway car first before piling in. more ›

Wow, Apple puts U2 on an iPod and all of a sudden, U.S. politicans want a piece of the Irishmen! The New York Times says that the globally conscious band is "distancing" itself from campaign fundraising, as Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Rick Santorum are both planning fundraising events tied to U2 concerts. According to the article, in response to a report from NewsMax about Bono "teaming up" with Santorum, Bono's Debt AIDS Trade Africa group issued a statement saying U2 wasn't connected to any political fundraising events. Even if the fundraiser's husband is a fellow ubersexual? (For the record, Gothamist hates the term "ubersexual" - we're sticking with "a man's man.") While Gothamist understands that U2 would be attractive to politicians because Bono has become an eloquent spokesperson on behalf of many issues, but we wonder why there aren't any American bands that good enough? Surely, there must be an indie rock band with the right kind of convictions that the senators could try to associate themselves with! more ›

Antony and the Johnsons will play their first NYC show since winning the UK's Mercury Music Prize last month. The past year has seen Antony rise from a relatively unknown eccentric NYC club performer to an international superstar. His headlining show at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, and his upcoming appearance on Letterman, are two signs of his well deserved success. Those attending the Carnegie show will also be treated to a rare opening set by vocalist Jimmy Scott, "the man whom Joseph Hooper, in a New York Times Magazine profile, called 'perhaps the most unjustly ignored American singer of the 20th century.' [Fantasy Jazz]. more ›

# "The Boxer" by Simon and GarfunkelHowever, it's also a little alarming when you find out that Kenny G has penned a song called "Tribeca." Check out some of our other favorite Wikipedia NYC pages: official NYC page, list of NYC lists page, and NYC travel page from WikiTravel. more ›

We don't know where to begin with show recommendations this week. Emily Haines is in town with her band Metric for shows at Bowery Ballroom and Southpaw. Today Pitchfork declared the new Broken Social Scene album, on which she appears, "best new music." Broken Social Scene's new label-mates, The Most Serene Republic, are opening both shows. Then there's the Decemberists. Back in town once again, they're also playing two shows - Webster Hall tonight (Tuesday) and Wednesday. Nada Surf, Beck, U2, Keane, Robbers on High Street, King of France, Paul McCartney, Social Distortion, Zap Mama, David Gray, East Village Opera Company, Sufjan Stevens, Sons & Daughters, The Raveonettes, Radio 4, The Working Title, and even Jethro Tull are ALL playing two shows each in or around town this week. At least you've got options. more ›

Charlie Todd, Prankster more ›

In the spirit of excellent passenger-cab driver connection, which might be in support for friendlier taxi cab partitions, Gothamist suggests you check out the latest from Improv Everywhere: Mission: Romantic Comedy Cab. We don't want to give anything away, but it has the makings of a great romantic comedy meets Comedy Central show. It's less interactive then, say, IE's staging of a fake U2 concert, but it's still extremely satisfying. more ›

We couldn't help but notice the abundance of talented white male rockers invading NYC this week. New and old and originating from various corners of the Earth, the white boys of rock n' roll are invading. Let us be your guide. more ›