As has been widely reported, Prince played MSG last night.  What has not been widely reports is that I WAS THERE.  I had the incredible pleasure of attending my first ever Prince concert, and despite not having the best seats in the world (6 rows from the top of MSG! Woo!), it definitely goes down as one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.  Prince worked the crowd into a frenzy like no performer I’ve ever seen live in my 31 years.  Call and response!  Delicious boasts (“this is my city now”)! Women screaming! Men screaming (myself included)! Slow jams (oh the slow jams)!

After teasing the crowd with opening snippets of various classics, Prince opened with my #1 go to karaoke jam, “Kiss.”  Heaven.  From there it was a blur of brash dance moves, jaw-dropping guitar solos, the Twins (his dancers, not the baseball team), Sharon Jones and some of the Dap-Kings coming out to share the stage, Maceo Parker blowing his horn, Jimmy Fallon dancing on stage and I think playing some kind of electric drums, Questlove apparently taking pictures of Jimmy Fallon dancing on stage and I think playing some kind of electric drums, and in an odd twist, Prince bringing Leighton Meester on stage to serenade her.

It was most certainly a night to remember.  Even made me contemplate getting tickets for the upcoming Feb. 9 MSG show.  It was just that good.

I was lucky enough to spend a few days here in NYC with Ricky Skaggs and Gordon Kennedy, who were here doing press for Ricky’s new album ‘Mosaic’ (Gordon co-produced with Ricky and wrote or co-wrote all the songs).  As we traveled from interview to interview, it was incredible to hear Ricky talk about all the different collaborations he’s done with everyone from the Stanley Brothers to Emmylou Harris to Dolly Parton to Jack White.  In honor of Ricky’s inspiring stories, here’s a YouTube tour of some of Ricky’s coolest collaborations, I think some will definitely surprise you.

Here’s a 7-year-old Ricky performing “Ruby” on the Flatt and Scruggs show (two years after he first shared a stage with Bill Monroe)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhvDvMV4_FY]

Ricky and Emmylou Harris performing “Hello Stranger”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqd6ek9OCPk&feature=related]

Ricky and Dolly Parton doing “The Pain of Loving You”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKCmFzgaf0E]

Ricky, Geogre Jones and Elvis Costello on Ricky’s old TNN show

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbPeFsyZWXA]

Ricky and Bill Monroe doing “Uncle Pen”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpH8Wu9DbjM&feature=related]

Ricky and the Chieftans

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QZ0eZ196SM]

Ricky performing”Uncle Pen” with Phish and Del McCoury

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QShQjr-hiig]

Ricky and Brad Paisley performing “Highway 40 Blues”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWcIFRzqHVY&feature=related]

Ricky recording a bluegrass-inspired version of “Old Enough” with The Raconteurs and Ashley Monroe

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD2i9K03lt8]

Like a Southern boogie influenced Faces, The Auctioneers took to the stage at the Mercury Lounge last night and played a ferocious set, complete with big riffs, expert three part harmonies and even some fuzzed out feedback squall filled jams.

I’ve seen the band a bunch now, and each time they seem to get tighter and together. Erik Broberg is a monster on guitar, Ryan Alexander Gregg attacks his keyboard, and drummer Donovan Pyle and bassist Chris “The Monster” Kapica are completely locked in. Tying it all together is lead singer EB Sollis, whose soulful voice and infectious personality help wrap the crowd in The Auctioneers powerful rock and roll swagger.

Can’t wait for their show tomorrow night at Santos Party House, part of Dim Mak’s Cloak & Dagger party. Last month they played the party and brought out a horn section for a Band cover, wonder what surprises they’ll pull out Thursday night.

Check out this video of their track “Young Man’s Blues” to get a taste of the band live.

I may be overstating it slightly, but Marrow’s insanely creative packaging for their new album ‘Sunshine Enema’ may be the coolest I’ve ever seen.

The “Master Cleanse” version of the album comes on a pill shaped USB drive, which can be found in a pill bottle and prescription bag complete with “dosing instructions.

Here’s a look:

And the music on the album is equally as kick ass as the packaging it comes in, an electro/industrial hybrid filled with propulsive beats, desperate vocals and a dark pop sheen.

As we wrap up another week, I thought I’d post this incredible video of PS22 students doing a version of ‘Empire State of Mind.” Hard to keep the smile off my face watching it.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSf1Xudapyk]

UK siren Gemma Ray came to NYC over the holidays to do some recording for a new covers album with Matt Verta-Ray (Heavy Trash), and ended up staying into the new year to play a show and sit down with the Wall Street Journal and Vanity Fair.

Gemma played a solo show at Mercury Lounge on Monday the 4th, my first concert of 2010. The Village Voice was in the house and mightily impressed, saying Gemma is “truly talented.”

The next day Gemma sat down with John Jurgensen of the Wall Street Journal and Frank DiGiacomo of Vanity Fair to talk about her latest album ‘Lights Out Zoltar!’, working on the covers record and oh so much more. Keep your eyes peeled for both upcoming pieces.

(Gemma and Frank DiGiacomo from Vanity Fair)

(Gemma and John Jurgensen from the WSJ)

…and expects to just see a movie. Well, not the other night. Me and two of my friends went to see Big Fan at the Angelika, starring Patton Oswalt and written and directed by Robert Siegel. Right before the film was about to start, a voice came in over the loud speaker announcing that after the movie Robert Siegel himself would be there to answer questions! How cool is that?

Lo and behold after the movie ended, which I thought was excellent by the way, Robert came out and answered questions from the audience for about a half an hour.

It was fascinating to get insight from the writer/director. Topics touched on included how much the film cost to make, how a certain cast member auditioned for a part in a strip club VIP room and why Patton Oswalt was perfect for the lead role.

I unfortunately chickened out on asking Robert a question, so I’ll put it to him here.

Robert, if you’re reading, what was your inspiration for the 50 Cent birthday cake? Did you have a similar experience in real life?