Topic: Concert

Author Yeganeh Torbati discusses her book "Stolen Revolution," describing a surprising social scene in Tehran where rock concerts sell out and young hipsters frequent cafes. The hosts express skepticism toward this narrative, suggesting the reporting may be influenced by intelligence interests to downplay the severity of the situation in Iran.

The hosts review footage from a White House Juneteenth concert where President Biden appeared to stand motionless while others danced. They highlight a gaffe by Karine Jean-Pierre where she accidentally referred to the President's lack of dancing as a "mental" or "health issue" before correcting herself. The segment concludes with a comparison to the "Emperor's New Clothes" fable.

The U.S. State Department issued a public warning weeks before the Moscow attack regarding potential extremist targeting of large gatherings and concerts. Former CIA Director John Brennan explained the "duty-to-warn" protocol, while Vladimir Putin had previously dismissed the American warnings as "blackmail" intended to destabilize Russian society.

President Biden has directed his administration to eliminate "junk fees," which include hidden charges for concert tickets, hotel rooms, and bank overdrafts. The President highlighted the impact of these fees on low-income families, specifically citing unfair charges for bounced checks.

The "ABBA Voyage" concert in London utilizes high-resolution 2D avatars on a 65-million-pixel screen to create a 3D illusion of the band in their prime. This technology, which avoids the "green laser" look of traditional holograms, is seen as the future of live entertainment and may be adopted by the returning Ringling Bros. Circus.

A series of high-value donations are read, including a note from a concert worker who was dubbed "Sir Purr Spreader." The donor shared experiences of working on a music tour with an immunologist who gave "data-driven" advice like avoiding restaurants with low ceilings. Another donation from Zachary Kury led to a story about a famous bassist with the same name who once had a flight held for him due to his name's perceived power.

During a rally in Alabama, Donald Trump recommends that his supporters take the COVID-19 vaccine while emphasizing their individual freedoms. The segment also mentions the "I Love New York" homecoming concert in Central Park, which was cut short by a tropical storm.

Lady Gaga announces the "One World: Together at Home" virtual concert to support healthcare workers and the World Health Organization. The hosts criticize the event's production quality and the WHO's involvement, especially following President Trump's threats to pull U.S. funding from the organization. They also note a similar COVID-19 benefit being organized by the cast of *Frozen*.

An observation from a Led Zeppelin concert involves a perfectly timed, blood-curdling shriek during a musical break before a Jimmy Page guitar solo. Upon speaking with another attendee who heard the same shriek at a different show, the witness concluded that the band used shills in the audience to enhance the performance. This experience is cited as a foundational moment for lifelong skepticism.

Adam Curry shares a personal anecdote from a radio event in Holland involving soul singer Percy Sledge. During a performance of "When a Man Loves a Woman," Sledge stood directly under high-wattage stage lights, causing his "jerry curl" hair products to begin smoking. Curry describes intervening to move the singer away from the lights to prevent him from catching fire.

In the wake of the Bataclan massacre, major musical acts including U2 and Motorhead cancel their scheduled performances in Paris. Adam Curry criticizes Bono and U2 for what he perceives as cowardice, arguing that continuing the shows would have been a stronger statement against terrorism. The hosts discuss the cultural impact of these cancellations on the city's morale.

Adam Curry describes a trend of "zombification" among live theater audiences, noting a lack of physical engagement during performances of the Carole King musical and the Beatles tribute show, Rain. During a visit to the Bass Concert Hall in Austin with Nurse Tracy, Curry observed a crowd that remained motionless despite the high-energy music. He recounts a humorous incident involving a selfie that inadvertently captured developmentally delayed individuals in the background.

Paul McCartney canceled his scheduled performances in Tokyo after contracting norovirus. Adam Curry critiques the singer's public relations handling of the illness, suggesting that "pooping and puking" is a poor image for a former Beatle. The hosts compare McCartney's last-minute arrival to the Rolling Stones' practice of arriving early to acclimate to new environments.

A benefit concert in Austin, Texas, featuring Waylon Payne, son of Sammi Smith, is discussed in relation to local weather events. The host mentions being blamed by locals for rain during the outdoor event due to the show's recurring "rain stick" bit. The segment touches on Payne's portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in the film "Walk the Line."

The hosts criticize the "12-12-12" concert for Hurricane Sandy relief, noting it primarily benefits the Robin Hood Foundation rather than victims directly. They highlight the foundation's ties to Jamie Dimon and Chase Bank, questioning the ethics of a charity with over $300 million in net assets and high executive salaries.

A series of music industry anecdotes begins with a story about a Led Zeppelin concert in the Bay Area where a specific audience scream was revealed to be a plant. This leads to a discussion of Phil Spector's three-hour lecture at Berkeley and his stories regarding Little Richard's stage antics. The segment details Little Richard's "stretcher gag," where he would fake an injury during a performance only to run back on stage for a finale.

One of the hosts is suffering from a prolonged flu involving phlegm and congestion, which has lasted since Sunday. Despite the illness, a trip to San Francisco is planned for a benefit event for children. The discussion touches on the prevalence of drive-thru flu shot clinics being set up as part of emergency preparedness drills across several states.

Singer Madonna's comments during a concert, where she referred to President Obama as a "black Muslim," are played. The hosts use this as an example of celebrity political ignorance and the general confusion of the public.

The band Coldplay is using "XyloBands," which are RFID-equipped wristbands that light up in sync with their music during concerts. Reports from fans indicate that these bands can be remotely reactivated from up to two kilometers away. The technology is discussed as a precursor to more invasive wearable surveillance devices in public spaces.

The "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon, produced by Joel Gallen and featuring celebrities like Wyclef Jean and Bruce Springsteen, is criticized as an ego-driven exercise. The hosts argue that past benefit concerts like Live Aid and relief for Katrina victims failed to provide long-term solutions. They express frustration with the focus on international aid while domestic unemployment and homelessness remain high.