CNN has footage of Michael Jackson's final rehearsals for what would have been his big comeback shows in London. Looks like he still had the magic touch, too.

By David Beard, Globe Staff

Minutes after word that Michael Jackson had died, tributes poured in -- and radio stations in Boston and elsewhere switched to playing wall-to-wall Jackson songs and mining memories of the boy idol of the Jackson 5 who became the King of Pop.

Related

• The influence of his music
• His moonwalk to hyperstardom
• A persona that floated above reality
• His odd role as a father
• The other Jacksons? bad.

Complete Michael Jackson coverage

The morning DJs at Boston's WODS -- Oldies 103.3 -- rushed in to join regular programmers for a special Thursday evening show, with evening DJ JJ noting the bizarre final chapters of Jackson's life but also his talent for infectious, danceable music that crossed genres.

Shortly after 7 p.m., the station played "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough,'' the first single off Jackson's wildly successful 1979 solo "Off The Wall'' album. It followed that up with "Thriller,'' the theme of his followup -- and best-selling-ever -- album. Then it went deep into the singer's past, playing "I'll Be There.'' Other songs it played were The Jacksons' "Dancing Machine'' and Michael's creepy but syrupy solo debut, "Ben,'' from a 1970s movie about a rat.

He's an artist who will be forever remembered for his music, morning DJ Zito told listeners.

Over at Mix 98.5 FM, Lady D held her own tribute to Jackson, playing songs like "Man in the Mirror'' and "I Want You Back'' and reminiscing about growing up with his music.

Similar programs took place in Philadelphia and New York. By 7:30 p.m., all but one of the Top 10 Twitter trending topics were about Michael Jackson. Boston media critic Dan Kennedy Tweeted that Jackson, embroiled in legal financial troubles in later years, was the biggest wasted talent since Elvis.

MSNBC quoted Quincy Jones, a longtime friend and producer of Jackson's "Thiller'' album, as saying: "I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. ...... I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."

Jackson was preparing to embark on a sold-out 50-concert tour that would represent a long-awaited comeback. Here's a look at Jackson throughout his career.

In May, The Times had reported that Jackson had rented a home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles and was rehearsing for the series of shows in London's O2 Arena. Jackson had won the backing of two billionaires to get the so-called "King of Pop" back on stage.

According to the Times:

His backers envisioned the shows at AEG's O2 as an audition for a career rebirth that could ultimately encompass a three-year world tour, a new album, movies, a Graceland-like museum, musical revues in Las Vegas and Macau, and even a "Thriller" casino. Such a rebound could wipe out Jackson's massive debt.

The non-Amy Lee members from the original line-up of Evanescence are teaming up with "American Idol" season 7 contestant Carly Smithson to form a new band called the Fallen. (If that rings a bell it's because Evanescence's first album was called "Fallen.") The band plans to make a formal announcement on Monday and simultaneously release their first single "Bury Me Alive" at their new website. Read all about the pop-goth-lite-metal that will no doubt result here.

[Erik Jacobs/Globe Staff Photo]

Wanna see Wilco at LeLacheur Park in Lowell for free next month? Got chalk? Got a sidewalk?

The band is sponsoring a contest for all you aspiring artists.

Here's the info from Wilco HQ:
Enter to win tickets to see Wilco at any of the following minor league ball parks this summer: July 10 (Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, DE), July 11 (LaLacheur Park in Lowell, MA), July 13 (Keyspan Park in Brooklyn, NY) and July 18 (Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, NY). Plus, the grand prize winner scores a pair of tickets to all 4 shows. All you have to do is draw a picture in chalk on the sidewalk that incorporates information about one of the 4 shows (date, location and wilcoworld.net), take a picture and send it to us at ballparks@wilcoworld.net (please no files larger than 1MB in size) with your name, location and phone number. We'll judge entries based on their creativity and informativeness. Contest ends June 30.

For more info check out the Wilco website.

Tool
At the Verizon Wireless Arena
Sunday, August 2, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $39.50 and $52.50
Tickets go on-sale Friday, June 19, 2009 at NOON

The Pretenders
With Cat Power and Juliette Lewis
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $25.00, $35.00 and $45.00*
*plus $5.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets are on-sale NOW

Jamie Foxx
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $44.50 and $64.50*
*plus $5.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets are on-sale NOW

Tickets are available online through Live Nation and by phone at 877-598-8689

Regina Spektor
At the Orpheum Theater
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $29.50 and $35.00
Tickets go on-sale Friday, June 19, 2009 at 10:00 am

Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster and by phone at 800-745-3000.

Tracy Chapman
The House of Blues
Friday, July 31, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $29.00, $39.00 and $88.00 4-pack ticket special
Tickets go on-sale Friday, June 19, 2009 at NOON

Mitchel Musso
At the House of Blues
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $20.00, $22.00, $30.00 and $50.00
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 10:00 am

Regina Spektor
At the House of Blues
Monday, September 21, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $29.50 and $35.00
Tickets go on-sale Friday, June 19, 2009 at 10:00 am

Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster, the House of Blues, and by phone at 800-745-3000.

If you're thinking about buying tickets to any Live Nation show at an amphitheatre this summer, tomorrow is the day to do it. For 24 hours the promoter is dropping all service charges on all seats at its outdoor sheds across the country including the Comcast Center in Mansfield.

As anyone who has bought a ticket recently and paid almost half again as much in service charges can tell you, this is welcome news. (It follows on last week's "No Service Fee Wednesdays" experiment for lawn seats.) The sale starts at 12:01 a.m. Go to the Live Nation site for details.

Whitney Houston has finally announced a release date for her next album: Sept. 1, 2009. No other info - producers, song titles, styles- have been announced yet. But you can click here for a fun walk down the lane of Whitney's past.

(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

"Ameican Idol" auditions are coming to Gillette Stadium next weekend. Click here for more information.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
At the Comcast Center
Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $65.00 and $95.00*
* plus $7.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 10:00 am at Live Nation, by calling 877-598-8689 or at the Comcast Center box office.

Kings of Leon
With Glasvegas
At the Comcast Center
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $25.00 and $42.50*
*plus $7.00 venue charge and applicable convenience fees per ticket
Tickets go on-sale Friday, June 5, 2009 at 10:00 am at Live Nation, by calling 877-598-8689 or at the Comcast Center box office.

Honor Society
With Potus
At the House of Blues
Friday, July 17, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Tickets are $24.50 and $40.00
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 10:00 am

Pete Yorn
At the House of Blues
Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $25.00 and $35.00
Tickets go on-sale Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 10:00 am

Nat & Alex Wolff
At the House of Blues
Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Tickets are $25.00 and $50.00
Tickets go on-sale Friday, June 5, 2009 at 10:00 am

Mardi Gras Mambo - The Neville Brothers with Dr. John & The Lower 911
At the House of Blues
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $35.00
Tickets go on-sale Friday, June 5, 2009 at 10:00 am

Stryper with guest appearance by Tom Scholz and Gary Pihl of BOSTON
With Flight Patterns
At the House of Blues
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $25.00 and $30.00
Tickets go on-sale Friday, June 5, 2009 at 10:00 am

KMFDM
At the House of Blues
Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $22.00
Tickets go on sale Friday, June 5, 2009 at 10:00 am

Tickets are available online through the House of Blues, Ticketmaster, and by calling 800-745-3000.

It goes from the Cavern Club to Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road to the rooftop, and for Beatle-maniacs like "Sound Effects," it looks like a lot of fun.

For those who can't wait until 9/9/09 to get a look at "The Beatles: Rock Band," here's a peek at the "trailer" for the game.

(LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)

It looks like Beyoncé's "I Am..." tour is just too big for the Comcast Center. Following an earlier announcement that her show there on July 22 was postponed, it has now been canceled due to "production and logistical issues," according to a Live Nation statement. Refunds are available at point of purchase, and there's no word yet on whether the tour could possibly move to the TD Banknorth Garden.

Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

By Sarah Rodman
Globe Staff

A review of Leonard Cohen in concert could consist of nothing but perfect couplets from his esteemed body of songs, each a world unto itself, and still not get at the depths of what transpired onstage. The quiet power, the original hipster cool, the resonant voice simultaneously evoking angels and demons, the unerringly tasteful nine-piece band attuned to Cohen's every lyrical nuance, the mordant humor, and amazing grace.

Stepping into the Citi Wang Theatre last night (the show repeats tonight) was like crossing the threshold of a grand and elaborately decorated mansion mid-party, where each room housed a guest offering wicked, witty, or wise advice on the ways of the world.

The only piece of advice the impressively lithe 74-year-old, who occasionally skipped about the stage and frequently went down to his knees, imparted during the bountiful three-hour-plus performance was to stay away from those lighted, magnifying hotel mirrors. Good advice.

Otherwise, 15 years after his last visit to Boston, Cohen and his band -- operating in the same lite jazz-rock neighborhood as Steely Dan but with more focus on ambience than groove -- dedicated themselves to the music.

Although he's generally not lauded as a vocalist but rather for his songwriting skills, Cohen's deep, chalky voice was a glorious thing. Whether he was pushing it to its limits on his most famous song, the majestic and oft-covered "Hallelujah"; applying sinister edges for the cynic's anthem "Everybody Knows"; or simply reciting the dark poetics of "A Thousand Kisses Deep," it was the perfect instrument for the job.

The attentive crowd bathed him in ovations and cheers at the ends of classic lines in famous songs including the vivid and devastating epistolary "Famous Blue Raincoat," the suddenly hopeful sounding "Democracy," and the dark sweep of "First We Take Manhattan." Cohen reciprocated with hat-on-his-heart gratitude.

If there's a quibble to be made, it's that, as tastefully as it was played, the music sometimes felt edgeless and occasionally alarmingly close to smooth jazz. But given the sharp lyrical shards roiling beneath the placid surface, maybe that was a necessity. There was no quibbling, however, with the band, which played with suppleness and telepathy, especially the chameleon-voiced trio of backing vocalists.

Part of the impetus for this tour stemmed from Cohen's recent financial problems, yet never has a performer seemed less like he was doing it for the money. As he told the crowd, "With so much of the world plunged into suffering and chaos, it is a real privilege to gather with you and the music." The feeling was mutual.

Sarah Rodman can be reached at srodman@globe.com.

Staind
With Shinedown, Chevelle, Halestorm and Lo-Pro
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $20.00 and $35.00*
*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees

Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 10:00 am

Tori Amos
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Monday, August 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $35.00, $39.50 and 45.00*
*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees

Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 10:00 am

The Killers
At the TD Banknorth Garden
Friday, September 4, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $27.50 and $47.50

Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 10:00 am

Xavier Rudd
At House of Blues
Sunday, August 2, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $22.00

Tickets go on-sale Friday, May 29, 2009 at 10:00 am

The Cult
At House of Blues
Wednesday, September 12, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Tickets are $29.00 and $39.00

Tickets go on-sale Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 10:00 am

Tickets are available online through Live Nation, the House of Blues, and Ticketmaster or by phone at 800-745-3000. Tickets are also available in advance at the Orpheum Theatre box office (One Hamilton Place, Boston MA). Tickets will be available at the House of Blues box office on the day of show only (starting 1 hour prior to door time).

Steely Dan is coming to Boston and the famed jazz-rockers are going to set a spell. In the course of their upcoming "Rent Party '09" tour, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are doing a series of special set list residencies in four cities and Boston is one. (New York, L.A., and Chicago are the others).

The shows will be July 22, 24, and 25 at the Citi Wang Theatre and each night will offer a different menu. On the 22nd the Dan will play *"Aja" in its entirety, on the 24th "Gaucho," and on the 25th they'll do "Takin' It to the Seats Internet Request Night," where the set list is determined by online votes from ticket-holders for that show.

Ticket prices are yet-to-come but there will be multi-night packages available when tickets go on sale June 6. For more info, head over to the Steely Dan website.

*Update: Oops, "Sound Effects" apologizes for its date dyslexia. This item originally had the "Aja" and "Gaucho" nights reversed. The above is correct.

Also, for those who expressed concern, on the nights where the band is doing a full album they're also doing "selected favorites."

Frequent Globe contributor Marc Hirsh fills us in on the Ben Lee show at the Paradise on Monday, with Low Vs. Diamond opening:

With 60 percent of openers Low Vs. Diamond (above) serving as his backing band, Ben Lee described the spectacle Monday night on the Paradise stage thusly: “This is Lee Vs. Diamond.” I think Diamond won. Lee's a man of modest, but not insubstantial, gifts as a singer-songwriter, and every time I see him live, I can't help but root for the guy. Then I go home and forget about him until the next time.

Which is sort of what happened, since I've rarely seen a band more effectively counter the low energy of a sparse crowd than Low Vs. Diamond's sharp, rousing, and good-natured set. Heck, Lee might even agree. Shushing a fan, his issue was one of focus: “I'm all for heckling, but stay on point.”

And in case you missed the show, here's a sense of Low Vs. Diamond's infectious power pop, courtesy of the new video for its latest single, "Don't Forget Sister":

A trio of local entrepreneurs has found a way to make some scratch and save some carbon emissions from anyone who has ever been annoyed at having to sit in the parking lot for hours after shows at the Comcast Center (formerly the Tweeter Center, nee Great Woods). Or just wants to leave the driving to someone else.

Rolling to Mansfield this summer and looking for passengers is the Rockbus. The newly unveiled service will pick up passengers bound for the amphitheatre from several "rally points" in the New England area.

Service to a given show from given "rally points" will depend on rider demand in those areas. Prices - from $22.50-$30- will be determined by distance from the venue. In concert with Reverb, the eco-touring company co-founded by Guster's Adam Gardner, Rockbus will purchase carbon-offset credits from Native Energy for every rider. For more details on tickets, ticket packages, and Rockbus tailgating click here.

Music returns to Suffolk Downs this summer. Gym Class Heroes and Boys Like Girls co-headline a bill that includes the Veronicas and Never Shout Never on July 24 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $27.50 and go on sale this Friday at 10 am at Tickets.com, FYE stores, and by calling 800-477-6849.

Apparently, the Comcast Center isn't ready for Beyonce's jelly. The former child of Destiny was set to take the stage in Mansfield on July 22 with tickets going on sale today. But "due to the size of the production," the show has been postponed. Live Nation hopes to confirm another Boston date as soon as possible.

In today's Globe, "Sound Effects" has a story about ways to save money on concert tickets this summer by doing a little searching around when you buy.

Some of the artists coming to town and promoter Live Nation are trying to ease the often high cost of a night out with a series of discounted specials on 4-packs of tickets and "Recession Rocker" prices for certain seats. Below is the complete list.

BANK OF AMERICA PAVILION

Keane
With Matt Kearney, The Helio Sequence
May 21
4 Pack ($85)

The Decemberists
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3
June 9
4 Pack ($99)

Diana Krall
With Federico Aubele
June 13
4 Pack ($150)

An Evening with Crosby, Stills & Nash
June 14
4 Pack ($150)

Andrew Bird
With Calexico
June 19
4 Pack ($90)

Boz Scaggs & Michael McDonald
June 25
4 Pack ($120)

Matisyahu & Umphrey’s McGee
July 7
4 Pack ($90)

Jackson Browne
With Special Guest Shawn Colvin
July 19
4 Pack ($120)

Tom Jones
July 25
4 Pack ($150)

Gov’t Mule
July 31
4 Pack ($90)

Dream Theatre & Queensryche
With Fates Warning
August 2
4 Pack ($150)

Pat Benatar & Blondie
With Special Guest The Donnas
August 8
4 Pack ($115)

O.A.R. (…of a revolution)
With Brett Dennen
August 13 & 14
4 Pack ($99)

Bonnie Raitt & Taj Mahal
August 15
4 Pack ($120)

An Evening with The Moody Blues
August 25
4 Pack ($135)

COMCAST CENTER

George Strait
With very special guest Blake Shelton & Julianne Hough
May 30
4 Pack ($125)

Jane’s Addiction & Nine Inch Nails
With Street Sweeper Social Club
June 3
4 Pack ($75)

Aerosmith
With Dropkick Murphy’s
June 16
4 Pack ($99)

New Kids on the Block
June 19
4 Packs ($40)
$25 Recession Rocker

No Doubt
With Paramore
June 20
$25 Recession Rocker

The Fray
Jack’s Mannequin, Richard Swift
June 21
4 Packs ($40)
$25 Recession Rocker

311
With Ziggy Marley and The Expandables
June 24
$20 Recession Rocker

Def Leppard
With Poison, Cheap Trick
June 30
4 Packs ($99)
$20 Recession Rocker

Nickelback
With Hinder, Papa Roach
July 24
4 Packs ($99)
$22.50 Recession Rocker

Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd
July 29
$21 Recession Rocker

Depeche Mode
With Peter Bjorn & John
July 31
$25 Recession Rocker

Incubus
With The Duke Spirit
August 1
$20 Recession Rocker

Marilyn Manson and Slayer
August 4
4 Pack ($79)

Creed
August 18
$20 Recession Rocker

Crue Fest 2 starring Motley Crue
Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman
August 19
6 Pack ($99)

Allman Brothers with Special Guest Widespread Panic
August 29
$20 Recession Rocker

Tickets are available exclusively at www.livenation.com, by calling 877-598-8689, and at participating Blockbuster locations.

Green Day
At the TD Banknorth Garden
July 20, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $25-$49.50 and go on sale May 16 at 10 am

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Beyonce “I Am…” Tour 2009
At the Comcast Center
July 22, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $20.75-$200.75* and go on sale May 18 at 10 am. (*plus $7.00 venue and applicable convenience fees)

Tickets are available through Live Nation or by phone at 877-598-8689.

Dream Theater
With Zappa Plays Zappa
At the Bank of America Pavilion
August 2, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $30-$50.00 and $37.50 4-pack ticket special* and go on sale May 15 at 10 am. (*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees)

Tickets are available through Live Nation or by phone at 877-598-8689.

Jason Mraz
With G. Love & Special Sauce
At the Bank of America Pavilion
August 4 and August 5, 2009 at 7 pm
Tickets are $25-$50* and go on sale May 15 at 10 am. (*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees).

Tickets are available through Live Nation or by phone at 877-598-8689.

Tori Amos
At the Bank of America Pavilion
Monday, August 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are $35-$45* and go on sale May 30 at 10 am. (*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees).

Tickets are available through Live Nation or by phone at 877-598-8689.

Counting Crows
With Michael Franti & Spearhead and Augustana
At the Bank of America Pavilion
August 31, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Tickets are $30-$60* and go on sale May 15 at 10 am. (*plus $5.00 venue and applicable convenience fees).

Tickets are available through Live Nation or by phone at 877-598-8689.

CLUB SHOWS

Reel Big Fish
With The English Beat and Hepcat
At the House of Blues
July 7, 2009 at 8 pm
Tickets are $20-$30 and go on sale May 15 at 10 am

Asher Roth with Kid Cudi, B.O.B., 88-Keys
At the House of Blues
July 14, 2009 at 8 pm
Tickets are $25-$35 and go on sale May 15 at 10 am

The Dead Weather
At the House of Blues
July 18, 2009 at 8 pm
Tickets are $29 and go on sale May 15 at 10 am

Eagles of Death Metal
With Rival Schools
At the House of Blues
August 4, 2009 at 8 pm
Tickets are $20 and go on sale May 15 at 10 am

Tickets are available online from Live Nation, House of Blues, and Ticketmaster or by phone at 800-745-3000. Tickets are also available in advance at the Orpheum Theatre box office (One Hamilton Place, Boston MA). Tickets will be available at the House of Blues box office on day of show only (starting 1 hour prior to door time).