
A superb Saturday ahead: ► The Rolling Stones are back for another night of their "50 and Counting Tour" at the Honda Center. ► The annual KROQ Weenie Roast goes off at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, featuring the Black Keys, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Vampire Weekend, Of Monsters and Men, Jimmy Eat World, Silversun Pickups, Imagine Dragons, AWOLNATION, Atlas Genius, Fitz & the Tantrums, the Neighbourhood, C2C, Capital Cities, New Politics and Twenty One Pilots. It'll be webcast too . ► Danish duo Quadron [pictured] does 20132s [...]

OvertureCon , an event combining panel discussions, fans-and-bands meet-and-greets and live performances, makes it debut this weekend at the Mint, highlighted by headlining performances by rockers Semi Precious Weapons on Saturday and Honor Society on Sunday. The brainchild of self-professed "überfans" Sabrina Greenwood-Briggs and Stacey Lawson, OvertureCon offers panel discussions on fashion, women in rock and DIY funding on the first afternoon. On Sunday, topics include new music discovery, touring logistics and "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of Being A Music Super Fan." Each day's headliner will also be featured on a [...]

Lady Gaga openers and festival mainstays Semi Precious Weapons wax poetic on the best festival performances and more in the video below. Directed and edited by Nicky Digital
As one of the scene's most coveted and unpredictable talents, Dirty Dutch ringleader Chuckie has always kept fans wondering what's next when he's mixing behind the decks or working diligently in the studio. Well, wonder no more. The Dutch aficionado has decided to hand out a few of his latest gems through his SoundCloud , including a wild electro/rock collaboration with Betatraxx and Slash that bridges the gap between contemporary electro and good ol' rock and roll. First up, Chuckie works his magic with Aviation High , the first single off [...]
The SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS have surprised me with their r-n-b infused new single AVIATION HIGH . If you're expecting glam-synth-camp-of-the-urgh-po p-degree then this is exactly wot you won't be getting from the NYC quartet. Third view in and loving this.

"I find myself counting the days" To be honest, I always wanted to love Semi Precious Weapons instead of just liking them. They've got a fantastic image, a charismatic front man, and a clear love of classic glam rock/punk. For me, though, something has always been missing. But now the band are back with a complete reinvention of sound, which is enough to pique my interest again. They've gone from brash punk to mellow, new wavey synth pop. It's an interesting transition, though not altogether unexpected (they had been touring with Lady Gaga, after all). The [...]
It's no trade secret that the best cover songs find a way to honor the original while adding a new twist, which is exactly what Jarell Perry does with his soaring version of "Aviation High." Providing the Semi Precious Weapons' high octane original its just due is a difficult task, but Jarell Perry is able to inject some soul into his cover while adding even more of the track's big room electronics. Produced by Hassan, Perry's version is layered pop bliss that accentuates the LA-based singer/songwriter's towering vocals. "Aviation High" is a terrific gateway into the world of Jarell Perry, [...]
Five years ago, MTV Logo asked me to nominate artists for the " ArjanWrites.com Brink of Fame Award " at the inaugural NewNowNext Awards. I picked young up and comers Lady Gaga, Janelle Monae and Semi Precious Weapons who all went on to achieve big things following that year (little known fact: My nomination of Gaga let to her very first television appearance when she performed "Just Dance" at the telecast together with Space Cowboy). Semi Precious Weapons ended up winning the "ArjanWrites.com Brink of Fame" award for "Magnetic Baby" with the support of their fans [...]

Semi Precious Weapons have been out on the other coast writing, being glamorous and doing whatever people do when in Cali. Now, we get to hear a taste of what they've been working on. They have unveiled a new song, "Aviation High", which they're offering up for free. It's a little different than what we're used to hearing from them. It will be interesting to hear what the rest of the music they've been working on sounds like. Check it out and grab it below.

St. Patty's Day marked my final day in Austin. Although I forgot to wear green, I still maintained a festive attitude as I headed "uptown" to the Victory Grill for an outside show hosted by Sol Collective, highlighting several multi-cultural artists, including Zuzuka Poderosa and Los Rakas . A very far walk to the Auditorium Shores, I arrived to see the final half of Shiny Toy Guys . Following the dance-pop troupe, Austin's infamous funky dance-blues group, The Bright Light Social Hour , had the honor of supporting legendary act, The Cult, who are still churning [...]

Christina Milian and Tricky Stewart - Getty Grammy weekend is underway, and that means only one thing: parties, parties, and more parties. More than a few music stars were snapped getting their party on at a couple bashes held last night. A glittery Kelly Rowland , newly blonde Ciara , Semi Precious Weapons , and new The Voice social media correspondent Christina Milian were photographed at Greystone Manor helping producer Tricky Stewart celebrate music's biggest night at his annual pre-Grammy party. [...]
Check out the concerts happening around the Bay Area over St. Patty's Day weekend — after the jump. Thursday, March 17 As I Lay Dying, Winds of Plague, After the Burial at Oakland Metro Operahouse www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxaoA3 V8Kjk Friday, March 18 Catie Curtis at Freight & Salvage www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQJ5Us BBuJY CeCe Peniston at The Rrazz Room www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk8mm1 Qmt-Y Devo, The [...]

For a while now I have wanted to write a dual music review on comparing a band’s independent debut album versus their major record label release. However I have struggled to find a band that would be perfect for this type of review. Well, that’s partially true. As a matter of fact I have been wanting to write a review about a glam rock band I admire, Semi Precious Weapons , but have had trouble finding their major record label release. Ironic I know, but I had no trouble buying their indie CD at a local Best Buy a [...]

We don't usually support too many things happenin' on the Sunset Strip, but rowdy thrusting humperific drippy eyeliner ball and boob grabbers Semi Precious Weapons puts on a good show, and the band will be playing every Wednesday at On The Rox between Feb 23 and March 30 while they're in town working on an album. The monthlong series is called EMPIRE, a rockNroll installation party. Then they return to touring with meat and eggs Lady Gaga. Perhaps Gaga will go gaga on stage a little bit with the band? Only one way to find out. RSVP required. Email RSVP@SEMIPRECIOUSWEAPONS.com

The longtime Lady Gaga amigos of Semi Precious Weapons are opening for Mama Monster during her 02 Arena gigs in London this week, but the tour support goes both ways — last night Gaga appeared at SPW's headlining gig at the O2 Academy Islington 2, a 250-capacity club in London. Wearing a beehive, a bra and a punk-rock snarl, Billboard 's Artist Of The Year played drums for her buds til she decided it was time for some crowd-surfing! It was basically Act 2 of her wild time at Lollapalooza . Live vids below! [...]
earlier today we gave you jpegs of the LADY GAGA rocking out with the SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS last PM in nodnoL town, now we give you the visual amateurish treat of the she-popper drumming with the band. wotyougot

Photographic Evidence by Kira Doucette We Take You There... Royale Boston, MA - 10/9/10 Semi Precious Weapons [...]
Lady Gaga is a rock star, an enigma, a cultural phenomenon and a chameleon. She's also an incredibly talented musician and performer, and her concerts are said to be spectacular, even life-changing. And I imagine that the Washington, DC, stop on the Monster Ball Tour would have been, had I actually been able to see anything. As a devoted Gaga fan (or "little monster," as she calls them), months ago I braved Ticketbastard.com and shelled out nearly $75 (about 50 quid) for what was quite possibly the worst seat in the history of mankind. It was so far [...]