SLIPKNOT @ MADISON SQUARE GARDEN: FEBRUARY 5, 2009

The members of Slipknot made their dreams come true when they hit New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden for the very first time on Feb. 5. Playing to a near-sold out crowd (proving that metal still lives in NYC), the 9-piece masked band put on a 90-minute show featuring their one-of-a-kind blend of extreme metal music and high-energy performances.

As fans moshed in the pit, Slipknot performed favorites like “Wait and Bleed,” “Duality” and “People=Shit,” as well as new tunes from their latest album, 2008’s All Hope Is Gone, like “Psychosocial” and “Dead Memories.”

The always entertaining band supplemented the music with crazy percussionists on platforms that go up and down while they pound trash cans with bats and other objects; turntabilist Sid Wilson’s Cirque du Soleil-esque antics hanging and doing tricks from the aforementioned platforms; and Joey Jordison drumming while spinning around in the air on a contraption that resembled an amusement park ride.

Slipknot @ MSG

Slipknot’s current U.S. tour—also featuring Coheed and Cambria and Trivium—ends in mid March. Visit Slipknot's website for more info.

MUSIC AT THE KNICKS GAME

I went to Tuesday night's Knicks game (where they lost to the Celtics... but that's another story). What I would like to discuss is the music played over the PA at Madison Square Garden.

Except for the instrumental theme songs to The Addams Family and Green Acres, every single musical selection was either a rap or an R&B tune.

Now, I know that the majority of the players in the NBA are African-American and, most likely, enjoy those genres of music, but not every basketball fan in attendance wants to hear only those types of music for the 3+ hours they are at the arena.

How come well-known songs that have become sports' anthems—like Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll (Pt. 2)" or Queen's "We Will Rock You"—weren't played? 

What about more mainstream pop songs—both old and new—that everybody knows and can sing/dance along to?

I'm not against rap/R&B music. In fact, I did enjoy hearing the classic Michael Jackson song "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and Naughty By Nature's "Hip Hop Hooray." That's not my point.

My point is that there should have been more of a variety of music at the game. There should have been selections from all musical genres—be it pop, metal, jazz, country, rockabilly or polka.

Agreed?

~Cheryl

P.S.—LL Cool J was at the game I went to. He was interviewed on the court and was shown up on the Jumbotron. Do you think they played any of his music? Of course not. That would make too much sense.