Big K.R.I.T. misses mark with debut album Big K.R.I.T. “Live from the Underground” (Cinematic Music Group/Def Jam) Big K.R.I.T. is an up-and-coming rapper from Mississippi. He’s built up anticipation for his debut with his soulful social commentary and slick Southern rhymes on several mixtapes, including “Return of 4Eva.” Unfortunately, Big K.R.I.T. -- whose initials stand for King Remembere...

Classic rock ballads and a bout of nostalgia color ‘Purple Wave’ As South Korean rock band Boohwal crowned their 28th year with their 13th full length album at the band’s showcase in Seoul, Thursday, leader Kim Tae-won put the historic moment into perspective. “Living during a time when the old is discarded for the new, I am not so sure if we should celebrate or mourn the fact that we are one o...

Big-name stars participate in upcoming celebration of folksong Though considered the unofficial national anthem of Korea, it’s hard to see “Arirang” being performed by today’s popular contemporary musicians. Korea’s Culture Ministry, however, is throwing a special event this month ― offering a rare opportunity for Seoulites to experience a one of a kind Arirang-themed concert performed by some ...

TOKYO (AFP) ― The election debate that raged across Japan for weeks has been settled, campaigners are packing up their things and TV pundits are moving on to different topics ― all-girl group AKB48 has a new president. Pictures of teary-eyed 23-year-old Yuko Oshima dominated Thursday’s newspapers after her victory in a popular ballot for the top spot in one of the world’s highest grossing acts. ...

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― An Oscar-winning U.S. firm is to create a “virtual” Elvis Presley to bring the King of Rock and Roll back to life for today’s music audiences, it announced Wednesday. Digital Domain Media Group, which helped late rapper Tupak Shakur rise from the grave in an eye-popping music festival performance recently, has signed a deal to resurrect the swivel-hipped music icon. “This is...

U.S. singer-songwriter Jason Mraz is planning to perform new songs and a new sound with his new band for his “special Korean fans” at his upcoming concerts in Korea this weekend. He has chosen Korea to kick off his world tour this year. “I always tell people that for some reason, audiences in Korea are the most insane, they go absolutely bananas. I don’t know what that is. I hope to find it out ...

LONDON (AFP) ― Paul McCartney rounded off a fireworks-filled concert outside Buckingham Palace on Monday, where hundreds of thousands of people partied to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee. The Beatles star closed the show in style with a blazing rendition of “Live And Let Die” and a mass singalong of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” as revellers turned the heart of London into a sea of Union J...

Korean artists offer diverse musical genres such as Brazilian bossa nova, Irish folk and Jamaican reggae Breaking the cultural barrier and giving up on potential fame, some indie bands and soloists here are bringing diverse musical genres from different parts of the world to Korea where K-pop culture predominates. For singer songwriter Na Hee-kyung, one of the Korean artists pursing world music...

Australian production receives standing ovation for the first Seoul show Some 1,700 people, many dressed in “witch-like” green and black, packed Seoul’s major musical theater venue on Thursday night. The huge crowd was in attendance of the opening night of “Wicked” in Seoul, one of the most highly anticipated musicals this year. The show is another ambitious project by musical production house ...

Also planning to take to the stage are Beady Eye, Elvis Costello and the Imposters, James Blake, Nell, Apollo18, the Black Skirts and Hollow Jan. Tickets run at 250,000 won for a 3-day pass and 150,000 won for a one-day pass at the gate. Starting May 30, there will be 1,000 one-day tickets available for 130,000 won. Official internet booking starts on June 5 and three-day tickets are 225,000 won...

Theater “La Cage aux Folles”: Award-winning musical star Jung Sung-hwa (“Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Hero: the Musical”) is returning as a gay man in the first Korean run of the 1983 Broadway musical “La Cage aux Folles.” The six-time Tony Award-winning musical pivots around the story of gay couple Georges, who owns a nightclub called “La Cage aux Folles,” and Albin, the star drag queen of his p...

Spektor charms despite missteps on new CD Regina Spektor “What We Saw from the Cheap Seats” (Sire/Warner) From the opening moment of “What We Saw from the Cheap Seats,” Regina Spektor enchants. On the first song, “Small Town Moon,” her beautiful vocal range is buoyed by rock-heavy interludes and coupled with uplifting lyrics that give the song a surprising amount of depth. But there are a co...