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Behind all that Gaga lurks a singer/songwriter

She is coming to the Sprint Center on Tuesday, where she will unleash a spectacle. Here's a look into the personae who evokes as much resentment as she does admiration.

Review: Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube

Slain at 25 in 1996, Tupac Shakur will remain forever young to his fans. The icon's name was ritualistically invoked Thursday at the VooDoo Lounge by hip hop star Snoop Dogg. While Tupac never had the opportunity to deal with the challenge of remaining artistically relevant and commercially viable as he aged, Snoop Dogg and current tour mate Ice Cube are successfully navigating that tricky feat.

Review: Old 97s, Lucero

The 16-year history of the Texas-born Old 97s follows a trajectory well worn by other bands: start out with plenty of youthful energy and fire in the belly and gradually grow more mellow and/or pop-oriented. For theirThursday night’s performance at Crossroads, the alto-country quartet shrugged off its pop trappings and attacked their material with vibrant intensity.

How do you like your live music served?

Bob Dylan is in town next weekend for a show at Starlight, the same night as Bettye Lavette performs at the Folly Theatre. LaVette is touring off "Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook." Dylan is touring off his whole career. 

Review: Justin Bieber

Photos by Sue Pfannmuller/Special to The Star 

The main event lasted around 90 minutes. It featured lots of dancing, some aerial acts, video footage of the star -- from tot to teen -- and a fusillade of Top 40 pop/dance songs, most of them about  puppy love and school-boy crushes. 

Arcade Fire, with a Python twist

Look on the bright side of life: On Aug. 5, a Thursday, the band will web cast its concert from Madison Square Garden, starting at 9 p.m. our time. The live web cast -- via YouTube's Vevo -- will be produced by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame. Above: "Empty Room" from "The Suburbs," due Aug. 3.

Farewell, Ben Keith

He was Neil Young's longtime pedal steel player. He died this week.

Pigeon dung: The prequel

A member of the Stills, the band who opened for Kings of Leon right before a pigeon dropped a load into the mouth of Jared Followill, talks about how his band got carpet-bombed during its set. ... The humanity.

Review: New Pornographers

Above: The New Pornographers, Monday night at Liberty Hall.

Two days after Paul McCartney thrilled an audience at the Sprint Center, the New Pornographers demonstrated that the brilliant legacy of the former member of the Beatles endures during their riveting set at Liberty Hall.  The 80-minute performance was a rousing recital of intelligent pop music, and by extension, the influence of McCartney.

Your favorite Sprint Center shows

I said the McCartney show was one of the best ever at the Sprint Center since it opened in October 2007. A few readers asked what that list of best SC shows might look like. Here's mine. I'll call them "favorites," not "the best." (These are off the top of my head, so I may forget one or two.) Feel welcome to add yours.