Live Performances

May
2
JoJo Performs ‘Like a Virgin’ at Charity Event

JoJo explored some new territory by performing a cover of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” at LACMA for the Harvard-Westlake Charity event in L.A. last month. Backed by a live band including songwriters Josh Alexander and Rick Nowels, the 21-year-old songbird put her soulful spin on the ’80s pop hit, which topped the charts six years before she was born.

What do you think of JoJo’s cover? Sound off below.

May
1
Robin Thicke Covers ‘Sexual Healing’ for VH1 Save the Music

Robin Thicke

The love doctor is in the house. Robin Thicke had the ladies swooning with his sultry cover of Marvin Gaye’s classic “Sexual Healing” at the launch of VH1 Save the Music Foundation’s 2012 Songwriters Music Series at the Paris Club in Chicago last month.

The R&B crooner will appear as a judge on ABC’s new singing competition “Duets,” premiering May 24, and is working on a screenplay, which he describes as a “thriller, adventure, romance” story.

Get your dose of Thicke’s sexual medicine below.

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Apr
27
Rita Ora Rocks the Viper Room in L.A.

Roc Nation’s newest star Rita Ora was glowing as she took the stage at a sold-out show at the Viper Room in West Hollywood on Thursday night. Donning a black bustier, the 21-year-old blonde bombshell charmed the intimate audience with new material off her upcoming debut including the reggae-tinged “Shine Your Light” and “Roc the Life,” plus her Drake-penned single “R.I.P.” before a crowd that included her Roc Nation family and Steven Tyler.

“I wanted to tell you guys what I get inspired by,” she said before performing a cover of Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name.” “I did this one time at an event back in New York and my idol [Beyoncé] was there, so I just thought it’s only right I do it again. This time she’s not here, but it takes the pressure off.”

She also shared her other diverse influences including Eric Clapton, TLC, and the Notorious B.I.G., who she paid homage to while performing “How We Do (Party),” which samples Biggie’s “Party and Bullshit.”

Watch Rita shine at her first L.A. show.

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Apr
23
Azealia Banks Returns to the Desert for Weekend 2 of Coachella

The sun wasn’t the only thing heating up the desert at Coachella this weekend. After earning rave reviews with her U.S. live debut, Azealia Banks returned for the second weekend of the festival. The strawberry-haired rapper ignited the stage in a jumper with netted neon top and tape covering her breasts as she performed songs including “1991,” “Barbie,” “Liquorice,” and her salacious single “212,” plus an acapella cover of The Zutons’ “Valerie.” Get your second helping of Banks below.

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Apr
22
A$AP Rocky Brings Out Master P, Pays Tribute to Trayvon Martin at Coachella

A$AP Rocky returned to Coachella for the second weekend, but this time he brought along some friends. During his late-night set on Saturday, the Harlem MC performed “Goldie,” the first single off his debut Long.Live.A$AP.

“And I’m so ’bout it, ’bout it, I might roll up in a tank,” rapped A$AP before Master P, Romeo, and the No Limit family joined the A$AP Mob onstage to perform their 1998 street anthem “Make Em Say Uhh!”

After surprising the crowd, they took a moment to pay tribute to slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin with “I Miss My Homies.”

“It was murder with the case of Trayvon Martin recently and me and P thought it would be right to dedicate something to him,” said A$AP as P called out the names of some fallen soldiers including Tupac, Whitney Houston, and Pimp C.

Apr
21
Dawn Richard Performs Live at the House of Blues in L.A.

Dawn Richard

“Ya’ll ready to dance?” asked Dawn Richard as she commanded the stage at the House of Blues in West Hollywood on Thursday night on PJ Morton’s tour.

During the 30-minute set, the former Danity Kane member thrilled with cuts off her EP Armor On including “Save Me From U” and “Change,” Dirty Money’s “Ass on the Floor,” and crowd-pleasing covers of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U” and “Purple Rain.”

She served up her own remixes to Frank Ocean’s “Novacane” and Kanye West and Jay-Z’s “Ni**as in Paris,” closing with her Druski-produced single “Bombs.”

Watch Dawn’s explosive set below.

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Apr
21
Frank Ocean Performs ‘American Wedding’ at Coachella

Frank Ocean returned to Coachella for the second weekend, serving up a strong set without the technical difficulties of the previous week. This time, he was backed by a new band including Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger. The Odd Future singer switched up his setlist, surprisingly adding the “Hotel California”-sampled “American Wedding” into the mix.

Just last month, Eagles founder Don Henley reportedly threatened to sue him for his unauthorized use of the 1977 classic. (For his part, Henley denies that any lawsuit has been filed, but the Eagles are considering legal action.)

“I guess if I play it at coachella it’ll cost me a couple hundred racks,” wrote Ocean, who decided to change up the melody when he performed the song live with Einziger in Indio on Friday night. However, the lyrics remained the same.

What do you think of Frank’s live version of “American Wedding”?

Apr
19
Dawn Richard Drops ‘Bombs’ Live on ‘What’s Trending’

Dawn Richard

During a day off from her tour with PJ Morton, Dawn Richard paid a visit to the “What’s Trending” studios in L.A. The New Orleans singer talked about her departure from Bad Boy, the success of her digital EP Armor On, and commanded the stage with a live performance of her explosive single “Bombs.” Dawn will perform at the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue in New York on April 30.

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