In advance of Tenacious D's new album "Rize of the Fenix," the comedic band posted a very funny, very explicit short film (viewers, be warned) last week to accompany the song "Roadie," starring "Eastbound & Down" actor Danny McBride as the stagehand. Last night, Jack Black and Kyle Gass cleaned up their act and performed the song on the "Late Show With David Letterman."

With a lot of clever substitutions, the clean version may be even funnier than the original. However, the duo's normally foul mouths apparently inspired Letterman's own naughty language, as he is bleeped during the band's introduction. Take a look at the clean performance.

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Entertainer Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, right, shook hands with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on May 14. The rapper announced plans for a two-day music festival at Fairmount Park, featuring nearly 30 acts "that embody the American spirit."

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Hip-hop veteran Jay-Z will headline and curate the Budweiser Made in America festival in Philadelphia on Sept. 1 and 2, Rolling Stone reports. The rap star will perform during the event, alongside roughly 30 other acts representing a range of musical genres.

Tickets go on sale on May 23, and proceeds will benefit the United Way.

(Larry C. Morris/The New York Times; Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Jimi Hendrix (left) at the Woodstock festival in 1969. Andre Benjamin, also known as Andre 3000 of rap duo Outkast, is set to play the legendary guitarist in a proposed biopic.

A proposed Jimi Hendrix biopic could possibly feature no original songs from the legendary guitarist after his estate released a statement speaking out against the film's production and the use of Hendrix material, according to Billboard.

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Tipping their scally caps to Fenway Park's 100th anniversary, Boston punks the Dropkick Murphys will take the stage at Symphony Hall on May 24, joining conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops for "Red Sox Night."

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As if losing the third member of their crew wasn't enough, the Beastie Boys have been slapped with a lawsuit.

AP Photo/Capitol Records

In this 1989 file photo originally provided by Capitol Records, members of the Beastie Boys, from left, Adam Horovitz, known as Adrock, Michael Diamond, known as Mike D, and Adam Yauch, known as MCA, are shown. Yauch, the gravelly voiced Beastie Boys rapper who co-founded the seminal hip-hop group, died, Friday, May 4, 2012, at age 47 after a nearly three-year battle with cancer. Yauch was diagnosed with a cancerous salivary gland in 2009.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, who lost Adam Yauch a.k.a. MCA to cancer last week, were sued by record label TufAmerica the day before Yauch's death on May 4.

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YouTube sensation Rebecca Black is trying to extend her 15 minutes of fame with her new summery single "Sing It."

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[Saturday night, Boston-based band Mean Creek finished up their US tour with Counting Crows, and band members have been offering a glimpse of life on stage and in the van on the band's biggest tour yet. Read the first post from bassist Erik Wormwood about returning to Boston, a second installment from drummer Mikey Holland about Foxwoods and Atlantic City, a check-in from the south by singer and guitarist Chris Keene, and some thoughts heading into the final show from Holland. Below, singer-guitarist Aurore Ounjian follows up with this wrap-up on the drive home.]

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When it comes to releasing videos, never expect the expected from Kanye West.

The MC recently dropped the video for "Lost in the World," the first part of the finale to his critically acclaimed 2010 album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," even though he already released another album, "Watch the Throne," with Jay-Z, and wrapped up a multi-city tour in support of that project.

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Justin Bieber's YouTube domination continues.

"Boyfriend," the latest visual offering from the teen megastar, broke a YouTube record just a day after hitting the site, racking up more than 8 million views within 24 hours. As of Monday, May 7, the clip has notched a three-day tally of more than 17 million views.

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[Tonight, Boston-based band Mean Creek finish up the final leg of their US tour with Counting Crows, and band members are offering a glimpse of life on stage and in the van on the band's biggest tour yet. Read the first post from bassist Erik Wormwood about returning to Boston, a second installment from drummer Mikey Holland about Foxwoods and Atlantic City, and then a check-in from the south by singer and guitarist Chris Keene. Holland follows up with this dispatch from the Tabernacle in Atlanta, Ga., where the band played Friday night.]

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While the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was certainly celebratory, tomorrow's 9 p.m. premiere of the footage on HBO will be met by a somber tone in the wake of today's news that Beastie Boys founding member Adam "MCA" Yauch has died. The seminal rap group was immortalized at the musical shrine during the April 14 ceremony, though Yauch was reportedly too ill to attend. HBO is now planning to dedicate the show to Yauch, according to Billboard.

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Marc Andrew Deley/Getty Images

Leonard Cohen during the 2012 Awards for Lyrics of Literary Excellence at The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library And Museum on Feb. 26, 2012 in Boston.

The legendary troubadour is hitting the road this fall in support of his album "Old Ideas." Tickets for the US dates will go on sale on May 18, and the singer-songwriter is slated to touch down in Boston at the Wang Theatre on Dec. 15.

Here's the list of North American dates on the "Old Ideas World Tour" from Cohen's website.

Oct. 31, Austin, Texas, Bass Concert Hall
Nov. 3, Denver, 1st Bank Center
Nov. 5, Los Angeles, Nokia Theatre
Nov. 7, San Jose, Calif., HP Pavilion
Nov. 9, Seattle, Key Arena
Nov. 11, Portland, Ore., Rose Garden
Nov. 12, Vancouver, B.C., Rogers Arena
Nov. 16, Calgary, Scotiabank Saddledome
Nov. 18, Edmonton, Rexall Place
Nov. 20, Saskatoon, Credit Union Centre
Nov. 23, Chicago, Akoo Theatre
Nov. 26, Detroit, Fox Theatre
Nov. 28, Montreal, Bell Centre
Dec. 2, Quebec City, Colisee Pepsi
Dec. 4, Toronto, Air Canada Centre
Dec. 7, Ottawa, Scotiabank Place
Dec. 11, London, John Labatt Centre
Dec. 13, Kingston, K-Rock Centre
Dec. 15, Boston, The Wang Theatre
Dec. 18, New York, Madison Square Garden
Dec. 20, Brooklyn, Barclays Center

(Aram Boghosian for the Boston Globe)

We've seen Ed Helms show off his banjo chops as Andy Bernard on "The Office," including in this backstage clip. Now the man who was once the boss at Dunder Mifflin is planning the debut album of his bluegrass group The Lonesome Trio, which features two of his former classmates from Oberlin College. Of course, Helms isn't the only fast-picking funnyman. Steve Martin has won two Grammy Awards for his banjo recordings. Martin will join Helms on Saturday, May 5, at a festival Helms organizes, The L.A. Bluegrass Situation.

Hip-shaking Colombian vixen Shakira is back with a visual to the merengue-inflected "Addicted To You," from her latest album "Sale El Sol." The Anthony Mandler-directed clip was shot in California, and it's a lot of Shak shaking it in skin-baring looks and getting steamy in a bath.

Check it out below, and then tell us what you think.

[This week, Boston-based band Mean Creek finish up the final leg of their US tour with Counting Crows, and band members are offering a glimpse of life on stage and in the van on the band's biggest tour yet. Read the band's first post from bassist Erik Wormwood about returning to Boston and a follow-up from drummer Mikey Holland about Foxwoods and Atlantic City. The following post is from singer and guitarist Chris Keene.]

It was a long drive to Jacksonville from Atlantic City, but I didn’t mind. We had two days off and I needed it. I have been battling a cold and sore throat since our Connecticut show,
so it was nice to spend the last day of April hanging out with the Counting Crows and the entire crew at [CC's lead singer Adam Duritz’s] friend’s house in Jacksonville.

Spending time with the Counting Crows, the crew, and my fellow band mates, taking a short rest, reflecting on where we‘ve been, where we are, and where we’re headed. All of these people have been amazing to us and this whole experience has been the greatest thing I’ve ever done with my life. I took a walk alone by the water in the nighttime warmth of Florida and thanked whoever was listening for this blessing. I’ve worked my whole life to do what I’m doing right now. It’s been a long hard road, with a lot of long hard roads ahead of me, but I’m beyond thankful to be where I’m at right now at this moment in time.

I woke up the next day feeling better. Still sick, but my sore throat had subsided, my voice felt strong. We heard rumors that the old Florida Theatre was allegedly haunted. I’m not sure if it was ghosts, but there was something unearthly in that theater that night creating a mood. We played better than we ever had as a band. It was a set full of emotion, energy, and by the end, redemption. My voice was back, we were totally in sync, and we got the seated audience off their asses and onto their feet! It was pure magic. This is what rock 'n' roll is all about. I had a revelation on stage. All of the pain, struggle, and work I put in, it’s all for this. All of the joy, happiness, and love I feel, it’s all for this, and I’m not afraid anymore. I’m not afraid to be myself, to let people in, to let everything out. Tonight is the night I let go of all these years of fear and felt totally open. I’m never going back again. If you know who you are, and you know what you want, as long as you’re honest, then you’ve got nothing to be afraid of.

- Chris Keene

Josh Haner/The New York Times

Twin Shadow at Fader Fort by Fiat. Wednesday March 16th at The South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX.

George Lewis Jr., who dispenses lo-fi pop goodness as Twin Shadow, has announced he will release his second album, "Confess," which will be released by indie label 4ad in the states on July 10. The album will drop in the United Kingdom on July 9.

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Palmer gives info about her new album in this video, which she posted on Kickstarter.

Boston-based singer Amanda Palmer is taking on a new solo record, tour, and other projects, including raising the funds to make it all happen. After the onetime Dresden Doll took to Kickstarter yesterday, she has raised more than $250,000 (yes, in one day). Palmer, whose initial goal was $100,000, is continuing to raise money through the month of May. She asks supporters for a minimum donation of $1 to back her, which gets them a digital download of the new album, and the rewards go up from there.

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[Boston-based band Mean Creek is on a U.S. tour with Counting Crows, and band members are offering a glimpse of life on stage and in the van on the band's biggest tour yet. Pictured: Mean Creek stopped in Atlantic City, N.J., with the Counting Crows.
Photo credit: Mikey Thomas Holland

Where:

4/28 Foxwoods Resort & Casino; Mashantucket, Conn.

4/29 Borgata Hotel, Casino, & Spa; Atlantic City, N.J.

Ten shows, 20 days and more than 4,000 miles. We have arrived at the "casino" leg of the tour.

We all knew these would be the largest shows (capacity wise), and the more interesting in general.

We are certainly not in our now familiar theater settings anymore. Rolling into each casino we were warmly greeted by the staff and our new best buds Ike and James, who help us sound great and make sure we are on time every night.

Within an hour of arrival, the Foxwoods green room was filled with friends, family, friends of friends, and what appeared to be complete strangers. All was well and the free beer and fresh veggies flowed!

Both venues are "sit down" shows. Always a little weird for our band that really works off of the energy and overall feedback from the crowd. We hit the stage at 8 p.m. both nights to a Warm introduction from Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz.

We played as we do every night.

Leave a pile of sweat and blood and hope people enjoy it.

They came around!!!!

Both shows went off great. The crowds LOVED us as they would mention to us later in the night While we were all losing the little money we have at the slots and black jack. We ultimately had a wonderful time and slept like babies in our punch-drunk-love states. We may not have won millions, or even a few dollars at the casinos, but when the five of us (including Mike Vera our tour manager/best bud) are in the same room, we always manage to have a wonderful time and make life long memories.

You're up next Florida!

— Mikey Thomas Holland

The visual for Nicki Minaj's new single has landed.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The clip starts with a massive UFO-like craft - presumably a starship - hovering over the ocean and then Minaj materializes in the water. The hip-hop diva prances about in a skimpy bikini on the tropical shores of Hawaii with plumes of colored smoke floating through the air and hulking male dancers with tribal markings grooving on the beach. There are people getting splashed with neon paint, flame-twirlers, hula dancers, and, goodness, there is so much more going on in this clip.

Check it out, but be warned there is some adult language, and Minaj is kinda on the naked side.

[This week, Boston-based band Mean Creek finish up the final leg of their U.S. tour with Counting Crows, and MC bassist Erik Wormwood will offer a glimpse of life on stage and in the van on the band's biggest tour yet.]

Mean Creek has been writing, recording, and playing shows for the better part of 6 years. In 2010, Adam Duritz saw us play a CMJ showcase put together by Ryan Spaulding and DigBoston. We became friends with Adam, he has come to see us play and let us crash at his apartment when we are in town

Of course we were ecstatic to open for the Counting Crows. We all have very powerful early memories of listening to their first record when we came to musical consciousness in the early 90’s.

Touring has long been a major goal for us, but there are aspects that are challenging as well. We all have jobs that are not easy to leave and we have to cross our fingers and work extra hard to make sure we don’t lose them to pursue our musical goals. We have had to make some pretty gnarly drives to keep up with the Crows’ buses on our jaunt across the country. We traveled across the U.S. in just over a week playing shows. We would see the desert one day and a snowstorm the next. Feeling exhausted and weary became the norm.

That being said, the reality is that this is an amazing tour for us. The crew and band have been unbelievably helpful and generous. The 45-minutes we get to share our music to a very open and supportive audience, as well as watching the Counting Crows perform, is the highlight of every day. This is why we bust our asses.

Playing Boston was a culmination of all these dichotomous feelings. Before each show, Adam is gracious enough to introduce us to the crowd, which gives us a tremendous boost of confidence. As the stage manager was trying to rush us on the stage last night, our singer/guitarist Chris Keene’s mom stopped us on the ramp. I introduced her to Adam. As she shook his hand, she thanked him for the opportunity he had given to us. She told him Chris has been playing in bands since he was 11 and that this was his dream. Her voice was sincere, full of emotion; she was on the verge of tears.

Adam graciously thanked her, and then looked at us as she left and said, “That was awesome.” Chris laughed with happiness and without embarrassment as we took the stage. Later in the set, Chris dedicated our new song ‘Young and Wild’ to three friends he had grown up playing music with. I thought I heard his voice waver with emotion and it was palpable how important this was to him, and to us all.