If you’re like me and biffed the onsale for Steven Malkmus’s previously announced NYC gigs at Bowery Ballroom and the Music Hall of Williamsburg, you’ll get one more chance later today. Tickets go on sale at noon for Malkmus and The Jicks’ newly added April Fools’ Day concert at the Bowery Ballroom. Malkmus hits many other big markets in the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast for his two-week jaunt supporting the March 4th release of Real Emotional Trash.

Let’s kill some time until those ducats go on sale by indulging in some linkage:

• Live Nation finally admits they will take on Ticketmaster, starting in 2009
• Jane’s Addiction looks to release a box set of video and rarities this year
• Record label woes continue: EMI plans to lay off up to 2,000 workers
• Phish keyboardist Page McConnell sits down with ABC’s Nightline to discuss some of his influences and favorite songs
• KyndMusic discovers Scarecrow Collection’s Radio Frequency Disaster
• Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones led a star-studded tribute to late pianist Oscar Peterson
• Engagdet shares a video of Gibson’s Robot Guitar from the CES
• Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs are hitting the road again in March
• Neddy runs down the shows of the week in New York City

Finally, a group of Zappa fans have teamed up to write a petition asking the Zappa Family Trust to stop threatening fan sites and tribute bands with litigation. For more about Gail Zappa’s evil ways, read MP3 Boot Camp: Zappa Sues ‘em All [via Here Comes The Flood]

Friends, there is love on the planet, and thy name is Herbie. The jazz master is like a slice of fresh picked orange in your mouth, a burst of sunshine in your ears. But let’s not waste words or sense-based descriptors; let’s get straight to the music.

Here we have the beginning of a 1993 set by the Herbie Hancock Trio, featuring Josh Littleton on bass and the amazing Gene Jackson on the kit, music that dares you not to smile. The opening track, I Love You, is a long, fluid, sparkling stream of music that flows right into a strutting Cantaloupe Island. Check out the drum solo about 10 minutes into the first tune, not to mention, of course, the piano that is simply everywhere. Unreal. This week’s edition closes with a stunning Maiden Voyage. No talking; just listen to it.

And as a bonus, another shade of Herbie’s genius: a short, four-song Head Hunters set from 1974. Everything from the super slick Butterfly opener to the jazzy jungle jam of a Chameleon closer drips with the funk. Enjoy!

• CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD STORMY HERBIE FROM 1993
• CLICK HERE FOR THE BONUS 1974 FOUR-SONG SET

MCA of the Beastie Boys is breaking into the virtual world, where he will be a character in the new Tony Hawk video game. Tony Hawk: Proving Ground will be released in October, and if you are good enough at the game you’ll be able to unlock MCA’s character. Jewish skateboarders…what will they think of next?

We ain’t just Beastie X Games…we’ve got plenty of other news to report:

• The Rolling Stones’ Bigger Bang World Tour came to an end last night in London after an incredible 146 performances
• The Cure have delayed their plans to tour North America in the fall
• Coachella 2008 will take place April 25th- 27th [via thedailyswarm]
• Ben Harper lists his favorite bands for the New York Times
• Rage Against The Machine packed Alpine Valley
• The Playlist talks to Royal Mountain Band about playing The Band in the new Dylan biopic, I’m Not There
• Bright Eyes will be touring this fall
• Part II of Randy Ray’s interview with Trey Anastasio and Tom Marshall
• Grace Potter and the Nocturnals recently stopped by WXPN’s World Cafe for an interview and performance
• Pitchfork interviews Daryl Hall…seriously
• Hometracked lists 10 Recording Bloopers That Made The Album [via Largehearted Boy]
• Check out some of these photos from Van Halen — hey, assless chaps!
• Herbie Hancock talks to the Chicago Sun-Times about why he recorded an album of Joni Mitchell’s music
• Tour dates from the Disco Biscuits, including Halloween in Boston
• AC/DC is releasing a three-DVD set on October 16th, a compilation featuring both Bon Scott and Brian Johnson on lead vox

And as usual on Mondays, read on after the jump for a full slate of setlists from the weekend, including but not limited to Arcade Fire, Black Crowes, Kings of Leon, Rage, Ratt, RAQ, TLG, Umphrey’s, Wilco and many more…

We’re welcoming a new weekly contributor into the fold today: Dan Alford’s been an audio guru on Jambands.com since the last millennium, but now he brings his craft to our little pretzel keg. Make him feel at home and download the goods.

“Herbie’s electric songbook? A treasure trove of crazy grooves. The first track here features a long and very funky Watermelon Man (originally on Head Hunters) by the one-off ensemble The Concept, featuring George Porter, Ivan Neville, Eric Krasno, Casey Benjamin, ?uestlove and Bill Summers recorded at BB King’s.

The second tune is the rarely covered Doin’ It (originally from Secrets) by AGP, and it seemed a shame to break up the slick jam, especially since the band’s final shows are next week. Track three, Hang Up Your Hang Ups (the opening track from Man Child), offers the most open interpretation here — no surprise it’s by the late, great Fat Mama. Finally, a straight ahead but totally satisfying Chameleon (also Head Hunters) by SCI features guest Darol Anger on fiddle. Enjoy.”

Watermelon Man - The Concept (9/26/02)
Doin’ It > SMB > Nuggets the Shaker - Addison Groove Project (10/22/04)
Hang Up Your Hang Ups - Fat Mama (Booty Quake Vol 1)
Chameleon - SCI (4/19/00 w/ Darol Anger)

• Download here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/er14rg

I’ve always been jealous of those people that know exactly how to tickle the ivories. Playing the piano has always been a dream of mine, yet for some reason I was always drawn to the guitar. This week’s edition of Grousing The Aisle features my favorite piano players, and while all of these men have adept skills at playing the clavinet, synthesizer, and organ, they are true piano men who most often are seen playing a regular ol’ acoustic. Check these shows out:

Stevie Wonder and Wonder Love 07/16/73 SBD (FLAC, MP3):

With his seminal album, Innervisions, about to be released, Stevie Wonder took his Wonder Love band to Europe for a series of promotional appearances. This show comes from Wonder’s appearance on German TV show Musikladen, where Stevie and his band started off by jamming before landing on Contusion.

The Higher Ground that follows is nothing short of intense, as Wonder pounds the rhythm on his Clavinet with authority. Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing takes the energy down briefly before the show-stopping (literally) closing combination of Living For The City and Superstition. This one’s a must-download…

320kbps MP3 = http://www.sendspace.com/file/0g3k6w

Read on for more piano greatness from Bruce, Herbie and Billy…