Even if you’re not going to Tuesday’s Jimmy Buffett concert at John Paul Jones Arena, you can still hear it — if you’ve got satellite radio.

Sirius XM’s Radio Margaritaville channel will broadcast the final four concerts from Buffett’s tour, starting with the C’ville show. Other dates being broadcast are Nov. 19 (Toronto), Nov. 21 (Uncasville, Conn.) and Nov. 24 (New York).

The concerts will air live and commercial free.

Some tickets are still available for Buffett’s JPJ date. Check http://www.johnpauljonesarena.com for more info.

By Hays Davis

    An audience that is prepared to watch a group of early musical heroes take the stage roughly 20 years from their heyday generally has an idea of what to expect without having to bother with suspension of disbelief.  There is a tenuous but positive bond of mutual agreement involved between artist and admirer. 

    Following is the formula for threatening the strength of said bond:  Take a building full of music fans, tell them the doors open at 7 p.m. and the headliners go on at 8.  No opening act - it’s an entire evening with your objects of affection.  And then make everyone stand or sit still for a full hour and fifteen minutes.  The common cry heard throughout the audience as the minutes passed was “Do you think I still have time to go to the restroom before they come out?”

    The Cult finally rolled onstage at 9:15 and began a performance of their entire 1985 album “Love.”  Guitarist Billy Duffy was fighting fit, and for the entire night he reminded everyone present what made the band’s best music so enduring.  A huge screen behind the players offered a steady stream of dreamlike images and song-relevant photos that complemented the set nicely. 

    Singer Ian Astbury seemed to have a difficult go of it, unfortunately.  While 2008’s Richmond show saw Astbury deliver a performance that matched or exceeded the hopes or expectations of those who hadn’t seen them in years, on this night he seemed to be flagging.  Looking startlingly like a “Riders On The Storm”-period Jim Morrison, he was game for the occasion, but at times it was a toss-up as to whether he could have used a pre-show nap or that he might have been concerned with saving his vocals. 

    Still, the performance of “Love” in its entirety was a treat for their fans, and the encore set that included favorites like “Wild Flower,” “Fire Woman,” “Sun King” and the closing “Love Removal Machine” probably sold the crowd on catching the band at their next stop in town.  The bassist, drummer and second guitarist that rounded out the group were solid throughout, and the locked-down groove between the drummer and Duffy as the guitarist riffed during “Wild Flower” provided one of the biggest buzzes of the night.

    For next year’s gig:  tack on an opener, give Ian an uninterrupted few hours of shut-eye, and everyone goes home happy.

Not only did she turn out one of the pluckiest “Saturday Night Live” hosting stints in recent memory (her Shakira parody was dead-on hilarious), but Taylor Swift isn’t doing so badly in her day job, either.

Tickets to the 15 U.S. 2010 shows for the 19-year-old country/pop singer sold out within minutes last week, including her March 20 date at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville.

What’s a ticketless parent who was planning on giving tix as a holiday gift to do?

Wait.

Keep checking Ticketmaster (or for JPJ, the arena Web site, http://www.johnpauljones.com) because there is always a chance that tickets will pop up. Sometimes, people’s credit cards weren’t accepted and their order canceled. Those tickets go back into the pot. Same with those who disregarded the ticket limit rules and purchased more than the permitted amount. Those orders are canceled, and the tickets released, too.

Of course there is always Stub Hub and eBay, but really, do you want to spend $300 on a ticket with a face value of $45?

Started making your holiday gift lists yet? If the answer is yes and you’re a music fan who appreciates keepsakes, here is a trio of books you might want to add.

Of course, you’ll only want them if you’re a devout follower of Neil Diamond, Bon Jovi or Michael Jackson – and believe me, I know you’re out there, especially you Diamond fans.

But of the dozens of music books released each year, what makes these three so special? Well, they landed on my desk, for starters. But seriously, they all share handsome packaging, rare photos and a keen insight into their respective topics.

Here’s a look.

“Neil Diamond is Forever: The Illustrated History of the Man and His Music” (Voyageur Press, retail price $25)

Since it’s written by Jon Bream, the pop music critic at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune since 1975, this one boasts the pedigree of a reporter who has followed Diamond from his early career.

Bream (and, full disclosure, I’ve known him for years and contributed to “Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin,” his book released last year) is also one of those rare unpretentious critics who isn’t so much concerned with what is cool, but with what is good. And enduring. I wouldn’t hold my breath for the MGMT coffee table tome – would you?

From the introduction, Bream outs himself as a Diamond fan because “he connects with his fans the way that my great rock heroes do with theirs” and “his life is the compelling story of a shy, quiet guy who overcame agonizing self-doubts … to reign as the uncrowned king of pop for how many decades now?”

Bream is correct, of course. Diamond is one of the most easily mock-able pop legends still performing, but only the most insecure music fan would argue that “Sweet Caroline” isn’t a brilliant anthem or “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” the epitome of heartbreak.

But the beauty of the 160-page “Neil Diamond is Forever” is that it not only gives Diamond a voice, but shares the seldom heard accolades from music stars ranging from Paul McCartney (“I must admit, in the early days, I wasn’t the biggest fan. But I am now. I love him…I think he’s fantastic. I almost got his autograph.”) to Kid Rock, who likens Diamond to “the Jewish Elvis.”

The accompanying visuals will be worth the purchase alone for some fans: old ticket stubs that will make you cringe when you see the ‘80s-era price of $15.50 stamped on them; a nostalgic portrait of a young Diamond alone in a Times Square subway station; and, of course, plenty of live shots that pop from all of the sequins glimmering on Diamond’s clothes.

Make sure to check out the fencing shot, too (page 59). Priceless.

“Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful” (HarperCollins, retail price $30)

The companion to the band’s new documentary that recently aired on Showtime (and will be available on DVD for deluxe versions of new album, “The Circle”), this book is the one Bon Jovi fans have waited years to possess.

Considering the band’s mainstream success, not many (authorized) products exist to give an inside glance into their empire. The documentary nudged in the door a smidgen, but this beautiful, glossy hardcover achieves a new level of revelation.

To celebrate their 25th anniversary last year, Bon Jovi gave photographer Phil Griffin unfettered access to their lives onstage and in more intimate moments (though with Jon Bon Jovi, you get the impression that he not only always knows where the camera is, but is subtly directing the shoot).

That doesn’t mean that these 184 pages are filled with nothing but photos from last year’s “Lost Highway” tour. It’s a true retrospective of the band’s career, starting with those early days of trench coats and bouffant hair and, on its final pages, offering the ultimate exposure – pics of the guys with their kids, families and/or spouses (still no sign of Jon’s children, though, and you really have to respect his tenacity in keeping them out of the spotlight).

Sprinkled throughout are interviews with the band, who discuss their relationships, their songwriting process and the difficulties of spending most of their lives in hotel rooms.

Love ‘em or wish they’d gone the route of Cinderella and Skid Row, there is no denying that Bon Jovi defines success.

“Michael” (HarperStudio, retail price $29.99)

The book jacket doesn’t even contain a title, just a close-up of a grinning young singer clad in a sequined jacket and shimmery tie, shyly glancing down as if humbled by the attention.

Obviously, a photo is all that is necessary to identify Michael Jackson (though the book is officially dubbed, simply, “Michael”). But, with Rolling Stone magazine behind this loving tribute, there is going to be some insightful writing, and in 221 pages, the magazine’s editors might have crafted the most comprehensive Jackson package since his untimely death this summer.
As an immediate method of pointing out Jackson’s influence throughout generations, the foreword of the book is penned by Will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas, who calls Jackson “the Wall Street of music.”

Then, we go back. From Motown to “Thriller,” Neverland to “Captain Emo,” this anthology thoroughly analyzes the timeline of Jackson’s unprecedented career.

But what makes “Michael” a de facto memento are the additional layers that could only be provided by Rolling Stone’s resources: the vividly written overview of Jackson’s videos and “Essential Moments” (both from Rob Sheffield); pages of tributes from Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and Slash; a collection of Jackson’s Rolling Stone covers; and, of course, an unparalled collection of photos, including one showing his brothers bent over his rose-adored coffin at his Staples Center memorial service.

It’s a tragic story told by the right voices.

Chris Brown and Rihanna are seemingly testing fans’ loyalty with dueling specials airing Friday night.

Brown sat down earlier this week at Richmond’s In Your Ear Studios with MTV’s Sway to discuss – what else? – his altercation with Rihanna.

In a brief preview clip (http://www.mtv.com/videos/?id=1625460), Sway asks the singer what thoughts go through his head about the events of that violent February night. Brown responds,  “Why’d it happen? Like, what was I thinking?”

In the 30-minute special, airing at 6 p.m. Friday,  Brown reportedly talks about his rightfully maligned Larry King interview, how it feels to be pelted with comments such as “woman beater” and how he intends to right his career.

It was also just announced that Brown’s album, “Graffiti,“ has been moved up for a Dec. 8 release (it was originally slated for Dec. 15).

Meanwhile, over on ABC Friday, Rihanna’s first candid sit-down, with Diane Sawyer, will re-air at 10 p.m. on “20/20.” The segment, during which Rihanna tells the newscaster that Brown was her “first big love,” will initially air during Thursday’s “Good Morning America.”

If you were holding off seeing “This Is It,” figuring you’d put the inevitable DVD on your Christmas list, thanks to the Grinch that is National Association of Theatre Owners, that’s not going to happen.

The L.A. Times reports today that the film company desperately wanted to release Jackson’s concert documentary in time for holiday sales, which, of course, makes perfect sense. But, since there is typically a 90-day-to-four-month window between a film release in theaters and its arrival on DVD to maximize ticket sales, theater owners raised concerns over such a quick turnaround – assuming the DVD would be out in early December.

Given the limited two-week run of “This Is It”—though don’t be shocked when Sony decides to extend that run, given the film’s tremendous worldwide take after one day—the film company remained hopeful that theater owners would understand the special circumstance. Not gonna happen. Don’t expect this one in stores until early 2010.

What do you think? Were you planning to skip the film in theaters, thinking you could ask for it as a holiday present, or does this time issue make no difference to you?

It’s a pity that all of the time, money and brainpower that went into what would have been Michael Jackson’s final concerts will never be fully realized.

But, “This Is It,” the concert film culled from more than 120 hours of rehearsal footage for Jackson’s 50 London shows that were slated to begin mere weeks after he died in June, is a worthwhile document of Jackson’s creativity.

The film opened worldwide today and is expected to be in theaters for only two weeks.

Fans will be moved to sing along to spirited performances of “Smooth Criminal” and “The Way You Make Me Feel” and simply moved by Jackson’s sweet falsetto on “Human Nature.” They’ll also get a glimpse into Jackson’s creative process and at what clearly would have been a spectacular production.

Along with the raw performance footage, the film captures Jackson practicing with his robust dancers, sharing his visions for the elaborate pre-taped videos to accompany the live performances and, of course, dancing.

Though painfully thin, Jackson usually appears spry as he effortlessly glides across the stage and pops and locks as heartily as his much younger dancers. Still, it’s often a sad realization that this is the last piece of history from the entertainment legend.

For a full review of “This Is It,” click here: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/entertainment/music/article/W-BEAT29_20091028-191006/302130/

With his “Fan Appreciation” tour kicking off in a couple of weeks, Chris Brown will also have an album to accompany his comeback.

Brown announced on his Twitter page tonight that “Graffiti” will drop Dec. 15.

His official return to the stage takes place Tuesday, when he headlines the Power 105.1 Powerhouse concert at New Jersey’s Izod Center (also on the bill: Petersburg native Trey Songz).

Brown’s tour will launch Nov. 14 in Houston and make a Nov. 22 stop at the Landmark Theater. Those tickets are on sale now with the password “hometown” for $44.50. Check http://www.landmarktheater.net for details or go to http://www.ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets.

Adding to the Bon Jovi blitz  is today’s announcement that the band is preparing another massive tour. “The Circle World Tour,” named after its forthcoming album (out Nov. 10), will kick off Feb. 19 in Seattle and hit 135 dates in 30 countries through 2011.

The closest date to us is March 29 at the Verizon Center in D.C. (tickets go on sale next month). Other drive-able shows are March 23-24 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia and April 22 in Charlotte.

As part of the “Circle” tour, the band will also play the opening concerts at the New Meadowlands Stadium in Jersey on May 24-25. Those tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. Oct. 31.

A video of the band’s press conference is set up at http://www.bonjovi.com though the player has been spotty.

As a way of saying “thanks” to fans, Chris Brown will embark on a 19-city tour next month.

A Nov. 22 date is slated for the Landmark Theater. A venue spokesperson said the date is on hold, but not confirmed.

The tour will launch Nov. 14 in Houston and wrap Dec. 13 in Philadelphia.

Brown is also expected to play the Warner Theatre in D.C. Dec. 4 and Sonar in Baltimore Dec. 11.

A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Best Buddies International, a non-profit organization devoted to providing opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as The Jenesse Center in Los Angeles, whose goal is “to empower and equip women and men, address the needs of the children and strengthen families for the next generation.”