The Black Keys take their North American arena tour to the West Coast, starting with two shows in California this weekend, in Oakland and Sacramento, followed by shows in Portland and Seattle, following recent successes in the Rockies and in Tulsa. The band "surpassed the lofty heights they had achieved on their most recent album, El Camino, by unleashing a beat-heavy, surprisingly groovy set that resonated in the concrete under your feet," says the Salt Lake Tribune. Their Denver show proved "a voluminous triumph," Reverb raves. "A Black Keys concert radiates with what every rock show should," says Tulsa World: "very nearly blasphemous, raw, unbridled energy." The Black Keys will appear on an upcoming episode of Comedy Central's Workaholics.

Philip Glass and Robert Wilson's Einstein on the Beach, widely credited as one of the greatest artistic achievements of the 20th century, opens at the Barbican Theatre in London tonight, marking its UK premiere. It is the first of eight performances at the Barbican and part of a major international tour. Glass and Wilson recently spoke with the Guardian about the making of the piece and were interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today. Philip Glass is featured in The Fader's Icon Issue, which includes Wilson's reflections on Einstein on the Beach, an oral history of Glass's work, a look at his legacy, a photo essay of recent Glass performances around the world, and an interview with the composer.

Steve Reich made a rare visit to Australia for a residency at the Sydney Opera House that culminated in an all-Reich concert Sunday night. His Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet was performed "with brilliant edginess" by eighth blackbird, says the Sydney Morning Herald in a four-star review, and with "tight-knit playing and incisive attack," says The Australian. Of Reich's seminal Music for 18 Musicians, the latter paper writes: "Performed by a collective of Australia's finest contemporary music performers, this compelling account captured its exuberance while simultaneously revealing its inventive instrumental colours." On Monday, Reich participated in a conversation and concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

Shawn Colvin, whose new album, All Fall Down, is due out June 5, will preview tracks from the album at NYC’s City Winery on June 4. The show will be broadcast live on New York's WFUV, 90.7 FM, streaming live at wfuv.org. A consummate, natural and engaging performer, Colvin has a run of live shows leading up to and following the album’s release, including headlining shows, duo dates with Mary Chapin Carpenter, and shows as very special guest of Chris Isaak. Fans can expect to hear much loved favorites as well as songs from the new album. 

Carolina Chocolate Drops, who joined The Chieftains for a performance on Later ... with Jools Holland on BBC Two last Tuesday, were also featured on  Friday's full episode of Later. That show included an encore broadcast of The Chieftains performance as well as a solo performance from the Chocolate Drops of the song "No Man's Mama," off of their new album, Leaving Eden. Watch the performance here. Following the weekend's "joyous, emotionally committed show" (Times-Picayune) at New Orleans Jazz Fest, the band performs in the Midwest this week.

For the first time since his 1980 release 80/81, Pat Metheny has recorded with a band that features tenor saxophone. Unity Band, due out June 12, introduces a new Metheny ensemble with Chris Potter on sax and bass clarinet, longtime collaborator Antonio Sanchez on drums, and the up-and-coming Ben Williams on bass. The album features nine new Metheny compositions. The Pat Metheny Unity Band will tour the US this summer and fall, with stops in 39 cities. Pre-orders of Unity Band are available now in the Nonesuch Store with a signed print and an instant download of the opening track, “New Year.”

To mark the May 15 release of his Nonesuch label debut, pianist Jeremy Denk will make his first appearance at (Le) Poisson Rouge, taking over the downtown NYC venue for a one-night-only Ligeti/Beethoven celebration on Monday, May 21. The concert program comprises Book 1 of Ligeti’s Piano Études and Beethoven’s Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111. (The new album adds selections from Ligeti’s Piano Études, Book 2). Other spring tour highlights include concerts in DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The 2012 New Orleans Jazz Fest got under way last weekend. Carolina Chocolate Drops gave "a joyous, emotionally committed show," reports the Times-Picayune, which calls Cheikh Lô's set "as colorful and unique as his signature patchwork tunic," and notes that Dr. John sounded "newly invigorated" as on his new album, Locked Down. He also joined Bruce Springsteen on stage to help close the first weekend in style. This coming weekend sees Dr. John's return and a set from another favorite son of New Orleans, Allen Toussaint.

Though Here Lies Love, the new David Byrne and Fatboy Slim musical exploring the life of Imelda Marcos, opens at the Public Theater in New York City next year, theatergoers can catch an early look at the production next month at MASS MoCA, June 21–24, in association with the Public Theater and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Tickets for MASS MocA are available now. Nonesuch released the song cycle recording of Here Lies Love in 2010, featuring Florence + the Machine, Natalie Merchant, Santigold, St. Vincent, and others.

Sara Watkins' new album, Sun Midnight Sun, is due out next week, May 8. The album, which was produced by Blake Mills and features special guest appearances by Fiona Apple, Jackson Browne, Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Benmont Tench, and Sean Watkins, is streaming in full all this week as an NPR First Listen. "Sara Watkins paints on a canvas called roots music, only to delve into any number of adjacent genres," says NPR. "She's a subtle star, but a star nonetheless." Watkins, currently touring the US, will join Browne as his very special guest on his tour this summer.

Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau conclude their duo tour with performances in New Jersey and Boston ... Laurie Anderson is at the Donau Festival ... The Black Keys' arena tour hits St. Louis and Tulsa ... Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dr. John, Cheikh Lô, and Allen Toussaint are in Louisiana for Jazz Fest and more ... Shawn Colvin tours the Northeast with Mary Chapin Carpenter ... Richard Goode plays the Gilmore Keyboard Festival ... Jessica Lea Mayfield has two shows in Texas ... Punch Brothers are in DC, play MerleFest ... Steve Reich is in residence at the Sydney Opera House ... Dawn Upshaw is in NY with the Australian Chamber Orchestra ... Sara Watkins plays the Stagecoach Festival ... and more ...

The 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, better known as Jazz Fest, gets under way today and runs through this weekend and the next at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Among the performers set to take the various stage at the festival this year are four artists familiar to readers of the Nonesuch Journal: two New Orleans legends and hometown heroes, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint, plus two artists whose unique musical styles will make them feel right at home at Jazz Fest, Carolina Chocolate Drops and Cheikh Lô.