Live Earth played the center of the music world for more than 24 hours this weekend. While we can’t really say if the concerts saved the world — actually, we can say it: they didn’t – we did enjoy much of the music. And since this blog is about music, and not, say, harmful greenhouse gases, that’s cool with us.

We’ll have a full non-Al Gore batch of links on the heels of this special edition, but for now, let’s take one last look at what people are saying about Live Earth:

• Live Earth set a new streaming record
• Call Kanye: Bob Lefsetz doesn’t care about Live Earth
• Some people liked Kanye West and John Mayer sitting in on Message In A Bottle, and some people just hated the shit out of it
• The nearly cancelled event in Rio drew the biggest attendance
• Spinal Tap rounded up most of the bass players in London for Big Bottom
• Austin Scaggs’ Smoking Section brings us backstage at Wembley
• Spinner did a great job of covering the festival, including a great live blog
• Here’s a neutral piece from the WashPost about how it’ll take 100,000 trees to offset the effects of Live Earth…yaaaay, environment!
• Former farmer Pablo Fajardo came from Ecuador to Giants Stadium to bring attention to his lawsuit against Chevron Corp.

And if you haven’t seen our giant collection of Live Earth videos that we culled from the wild, wild Internets, click here for a full treasure trove of goodies…

Here’s the way I see it: Various webcasts and television channels brought us a constant stream of top-drawer artists rocking crowds across continents and oceans. How on (live) Earth could Al Gore’s latest invention be anything but entertaining for the average viewer? Every time I turned back to it someone relatively cool straddled the stage. The artists may not have given their best performances to date (understatement of the year), yet I still enjoyed the day/night in toto.

That’s not to say I understood the point of this grandiose endeavor. Why would you fly hundreds of artists more than 220,000 miles around the world to make an old point everyone’s been hearing already for years? Will Lenny Kravitz and his directive of letting love rule really get me to take a shorter shower? Still, a global concert’s a global concert, and I ain’t complaining.

So read on after the jump for a slew of videos from yesterday’s intergalactic, 24-hour Live Earth concert, and check out what you may have missed. But before you do that, watch this backstage interview with the specially re-united Spinal Tap — did Rob Reiner just say Al Gore invented The Tap Reunion?

After months of intense planning, Al Gore’s Live Earth invention is set to begin tonight at 9 pm Eastern. The Police, Dave Matthews Band, Roger Waters, and Smashing Pumpkins are slated to headline Live Earth New Jersey. If you can’t make it to one of the event sites, you won’t have a problem tuning in. Live Earth programming will be taking over a number of television and radio networks, and MSN will provide full coverage of the whole event starting at 9.

If the Live Earth lineup is too commercial for ya, check out the High Sierra Music Festival webcast all weekend long. Otherwise, link these:

• Only best wishes for Mark Karan, who has a big fight ahead of him
• Eddie Vedder is working on new material for the Into The Wild soundtrack
• Former Guns N Roses bass player Duff McKagan is a savvy businessman
• The AV/Club brings us Wayne Coyne’s guide to festival survival
• On Saturday, Prince will perform at First Avenue in Minneapolis for the first time since 1987
• Check out preview videos for the new Zappa Plays Zappa DVD
• Bruce Springsteen is teaming up with Pete Seeger for two new albums
• Largehearted Boy offers another round of Smashing Pumpkins downloads
• Eric Clapton covers Buddy Holly and the Crickets
• Former groupies have advice for future Band-Aids
• The newly reunited Asia have plans to record an album of new material
• Umphrey’s McGee rocked the mitten on Wednesday night
• Leo Kottke talks with Jam! about his career
• Jack Bruce is alright, ’cause he’s gotta degree
• Wednesday’s fire at the Hampton Beach Casino won’t affect moe.’s shows at the venue

Enjoy your weekend everyone…go outside and do something fun.

The newly reunited Smashing Pumpkins have given the Live Music Archive permission to store their live shows, and they’ve reiterated that taping is allowed at all of their concerts. In the five days since Saturday’s decision, 55 Pumpkins shows have been uploaded to the LMArchive. Largehearted Boy has done a nice job of compiling the best of what’s been upped thus far. I’d love to see more bands follow their lead ::cough:: Pearl Jam, Phish, Neil Young ::cough::

While you line up and wait for the iPhone, here’s the best of the rest for you:

• Will Prince be the special guest at Live Earth next week?
• RatDog line changes: Steve Kimock in for the temporarily ill Mark Karan 
• The NY Times reviews Wilco’s recent Hammerstein Ballroom concert
• A full transcript of Larry King’s interview with Yoko Ono, Olivia Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney — Cheboygan, you’re on!
• Robert Plant denies rumors of a Led Zep reunion
• Who does a better job with Uncle Pen: Goldie Hawn or Phish?
• The Mooney Suzuki stopped by the Relix offices for some Cold Turkey
• Disco Biscuits‘ Aron Magner sits for an interview with the New Times
• The Slip are trying to overcome the jamband label
• What approach will Arcade Fire take towards their new album?
• Bonnie Raitt sat in with Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs on Tuesday
• The Beastie Boys have updated their Flickr feed will all sorts of new photos
• Kiss is releasing the second Kissology compilation
• Record labels are turning to their old stars to sell new records [via Music For Grownups]

Have any interesting plans this weekend? Make us jealous with a comment…

Mr. Girl Talk Goes to Washington: Gregg Gillis sat down for a lunch meeting with Congressman Mike Doyle to discuss the copyright issues that have made it difficult for Girl Talk to sell records. Doyle, who represents Gillis’ hometown of Pittsburgh, is trying to figure out a way for mash-up artists to practice their art without getting sued. While Gillis and Doyle face an uphill battle against the fat wallets of the major labels, it’s good to see a politician trying to actually understand all sides of an issue. So what do you think? Should Girl Talk be allowed to use other artists’ copyrighted material outside the live setting, for profit?

• Strong reviews for Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks’ Soul Stew Revival
• Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem will play Red Rocks on Sept. 17th
• Motley Crue are suing one of their managers for $20 million
• Amy Winehouse and Paolo Nutini are touring together this summer
• Live Earth promoters try to practice what the festival is preaching
• Smashing Pumpkins will make two appearances on Letterman in July
• The Atlantic City Press lists the essential prog-rock albums
• The Athens music scene is still thriving
• Ted Nugent is mad at Paul McCartney
• A Deeper Shade of Soul may be right by calling When Something Is Wrong With My Baby “the most beautiful love song ever”
• Dark Star > Eyes > China Doll is the headiest of all heady nuggets in this week’s Grateful Dead Taper’s Section
• Bonnaroo is making dollar dollar bills y’all
• Speaking of ‘Roo, check out Muckworld’s awesome coverage
• Jay Gershuny interviewed the promoters of High Sierra for Glide
• Napster tops USA Today’s list of the 25 most memorable musical moments over the past 25 years
• R.I.P. keyboard great Richard Bell
• A guest poster at The Passion of the Weiss lists his 10 favorite Indie-Pop songs of the year so far

Please make us feel bad if we missed anything by leaving a comment below…

When Al Gore invented the upcoming 24-hour Live Earth concert event, many people questioned whether he’d fulfill his ambition of putting a band on every continent. Can you actually arrange for a band to fly or sail in and out of heady Antarctica in July, where its winter and shit is frozen solid?

The answer, according to the British Antarctic Survey, is no. But have no fear, Gorebrahh, the show must go on, even if the chicks are freezing their tits off:

But all was not lost. BAS officials told Gore that a band was already in place on the South Pole. BAS press representative Linda Capper told blogger Tim Slagle, “We have a house band — five of our science team. They are very good indie rock-folk fusion. The remaining 17 will be the audience on location.”

Good fucking lord. Even in Antarctica you can’t escape the indie rock-folk fusion trend that’s been taking popular music by storm. Will we see a Devendra Banhart sit-in? Play whatcha want, Scientist, but at least gimme an It’s Ice encore.

• Previously on HT: Live Earth Lands at Shea Giants Stadium; This Live Earth Goes To 11: The Tap and Al Gore Invents a Rock Concert

(By the way, if you read through the comments section of that Antarctica article, you’ll find this gem: “AL GORE IS GAY ———————————–: I saw him sucking Bill Clinton’s cock on a tour of the White House in ‘96! Fucking funny shit!”)

Lollapalooza brings some big acts to Chicago every year, but does the festival wield a double-edged sword? Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jim DeRogatis takes a look at how performers signing Lollapalooza’s exclusive contracts actually hurts the city’s sheds. Also, buried within this piece is the news that Jam Productions plans to open a new venue in Hoffman Estates next summer.

Let’s check in on some other news and interesting links on the world wide web:

• Arcade Fire owned Chicago this weekend
• Roger Daltrey is not a fan of the upcoming Live Earth concerts
• Good news: Levon’s ready to travel!
• Passion of the Weiss lists the 10 bands he’s most excited to see at Bonnaroo (girls in sun dresses do not count, Jeff)
• Classic Rock bootleg time: Rush - 1978, Journey - 1986, Nirvana - Various, and Tom Petty - 1980
• Stewart Copeland has high hopes for The Police’s reunion tour, which kicks off on Sunday
• Lady Sovereign lost it during her concert at Studio B on Friday night
• Bruce Hornsby takes a new path
• The NY Post looks at reunions that aren’t
• It’s Mule Monday over at Rock Music Daily
• Adrian Belew blogs about recording Paul Simon’s Graceland
• A new podcast of Widespread Panic tunes from the EC crew
• Rochester’s Party in the Park and Buffalo’s Thursdays at the Square are two amazing free concert series that just released their summer lineups
• M. Ward played Chinese Translation on Conan last week with fellow beloved indie heroes Neko Case, MMJ’s Jim James, Kelly Hogan, Mike Coykendall, Than Luu, & Adam Selzer
• Neddy presents the concerts of the week

As is our Monday custom, let’s take a look at some setlists from the weekend, including but not limited to Arcade Fire in Chicago, Steely Dan, Brock Butler, Tool, Damien Rice, Disco Biscuits, The Sea & Cake, ZZ Top and many more…

Spinal Tap will make its triumphant return to the stage as part of inventor Al Gore’s inaugural Live Earth concert event on July 7th. Original members Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls will look to be fitted like a flesh tuxedo as they rock all the Big Bottoms at Wembley Stadium in London.

This Is Spinal Tap director Rob Reiner explained Spinal Tap’s involvement:

“They’re not that environmentally conscious, but they’ve heard of global warming,” Reiner says of Spinal Tap’s often clueless members. “Nigel thought it was just because he was wearing too much clothing — that if he just took his jacket off it would be cooler.”

As an added bonus the boys will be recording the aptly named single Warmer Than Hell. Reiner gives us a little preview of the lyrics: “The devil went to Devon, it felt like the fourth degree / He said, ‘Is it hot in here, or is it only me?’”

Spinal Tap played and recorded new material in 1992 for the Break Like The Wind album, so this isn’t the first reunion for the Brits. Although we fear for the unfortunate and yet unnamed soul who will be stepping in to play drums.

• Previously on HT: Al Gore Invents A Rock Concert, Three Big Names Added to Live Earth, and Live Earth Lands at Giants Stadium
• The complete guide to Spinal Tap: A to Zed

Al Gore’s been quite successful so far in inventing a seven-continent, 24-hour rock concert, and today he’s sticking it to Hidden Track. A month ago we relayed a reliable double-sourced rumor that Live Earth would take place at Shea Stadium, and our sources maintain that was the case. Only today, the Live Earth folks kicked us in the shins and said it will set up shop at Giants Stadium. Sorry ’bout that.

The U.S. leg taking place at the Meadowlands in good ol’ Jets Stadium will feature The Police, Roger Waters, Smashing Pumpkins, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, Alicia Keys, Fall Out Boy, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Kanye West, Kelly Clarkson, John Mayer, KT Tunstall, Ludacris, Melissa Etheridge, Rihanna, AFI, and Akon. A couple stinkers, but that’s actually a pretty sweet lineup. Pink Floyd non-re-reunion?

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday, April 16 and will be available at livenation.com/liveearth or by calling Ticketmaster at (212) 307-7171. All ticket information is available at LiveEarth.MSN.com. All proceeds will go to The Alliance for Climate Protection and other international NGOs.

The London leg of Live Earth was also announced today, and the lineup includes Genesis, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Beastie Boys, Corinne Bailey Rae, Madonna, Duran Duran and many more. Click here for more details on the Wembley scene.

• Previously on Hidden Track: Al Gore Invents A Rock Concert, Three Big Names Added to Live Earth

Wilco has announced some North American dates in June at some of the best venues in the country. The Pines in Northampton is one of the coolest places I’ve ever seen a concert outdoors. The Count Basie Theater in Red Bank is another great room: They don’t often have rock shows at the newly restored theater that was built in 1926. Check out the dates, and check out today’s batch o’ links:

• The 2007 Newport Folk Festival has an eclectic lineup including the Allman Brothers Band, Rage’s Tom Morello, Grace Potter, and Alison Krauss
• Sharon Jones will perform with Booker T. and the MGs as part of the River to River Festival
• The Jennifer Hartswick Trio makes their debut tonight in Burlington as part of a benefit for the Dale P. Camara Breast Cancer Foundation
• Mike McCready talks about Pearl Jam’s future with Billboard Magazine
• Andy Summers hints at a new Police album
• Ween has announced a warmup gig in Allentown, PA
• AthFest confirmed that Perpetual Groove, The Whigs and the Drive-By Truckers will headline this year’s festival
• Sanctuary Records is dunzo
• It is hard to believe Johnny Van Zant has led Lynyrd Skynyrd for 20 years
• This video of Frank Zappa on Dance Fever is classic
• Wow…Live Earth at Shea…what a great idea!
• Many bands have been added to the Gathering of the Vibes lineup
• The unsexiest album covers
• Rolling Stone’s guide to the festival season
• Double J Jesse Jarnow’s latest edition of his Frow Show podcast is up
• Joe Zawinul is still kicking ass (via News, Traffic, Weather)
• For the techies in the crowd here is the inside story of the production of Phish’s Colorado ‘88
• The Roots, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Ky-Mani Marley are among the artists playing this year’s Reggae on the River

Another Allman Brothers Band run at the Beacon Theater comes to a close this weekend. It seems like just yesterday that the 78-show homestand started. The band took a while to warm up, but all the recent reports have been outstanding. It should be interesting to see where they play next year, with the Beacon closed for renovations. Showing no signs of fatigue, the ABB also announced summer tour dates, including a number of shows with RatDog.