“Do what you, what you, want,” chants Amy Lee as she strides back onto a UK stage for the first time, after an absence which feels far too long. It's a gig any alternative rock fan will want to check out – Evanescence have been well-known since the chart-topping Bring Me to Life from 2003, and they're still relevant nine years later with their recent album – the imaginatively-entitled Evanescence.

Slick, sophisticated and downright rocky, the performance is focused largely on the new material. What You Want serves as a great energetic introduction to get the audience going, while great catchy ballads Made of Stone and My Heart is Broken are also welcome. The grand piano is wheeled onto the stage for Lost in Paradise, which Lee performs with passion and elegance. A few favourites from previous albums also resurface, including The Open Door (2006) favourite Call Me When You're Sober and from Fallen (2003) catchy ballad Imaginary.

Although Lee hasn't lost her incredible vocals, nor her stage presence and energy, it was a tad disappointing that the headline act were only on for an hour, which looks pathetic next to their mammoth Anywhere but Home tour. Further disappointment came in that someone had clearly forgotten to pick Paul McCoy up from the airport, and so the male vocals were absent from Bring Me to Life. The audience didn't mind too much though – they even graciously filled in the missing words themselves.

The headliners were supported by Taylor Momson-led rock band The Pretty Reckless, who provided a fantastic contrast to their dark sound with a more up-beat approach to rock. Make Me Wanna Die and Zombie were great additions to their set, with Momson's characteristically growly vocals soaring through the auditorium.

Paul Simon has long been the poster boy for a certain type of Americana, with his guitar in hand, and his reticent style before the mic stand, he is accredited as writing some of the most powerful songs in the history rock and roll. His music is impactful, and full of insight into language and word combinations of lifted from everyday life, and placed within beautifully crafted melodies. Staggeringly, Paul Simon is still touring today some 40 years after first hitting the big time with Art Garfunkel.

2012 is a special year for Paul Simon as it marks the 25 year anniversary of his ground-breaking record Graceland. To mark this momentous occasion a new documentary has been released entitled "Under African Skies", which has been directed by Joe Berlinger and chronicles the creative process that went into making it and the subsequent genesis of the album. Graceland is a testament to Paul Simon's unrivalled ear and ability to bring disparate sounds together, he plucked the traditional South African music from obscurity and added his own style to make something brand new. There was a great controversy back when Simon first travelled to South Africa to record with local artists, as this was during the period of apartheid. But the political strife that surrounded the albums conception did not stop it from becoming an instant classic. It historical value cannot be understated and it has been very important in the proliferation of world music ever since.

Like so many breakthrough artists, it takes just one song to propel unknown names into the realms of superstardom, with a song that transcends genre divides and makes everyone hum to the same tune for a short while. So many try, but seldom achieve this complete nexus with a mainstream audience. One example being Coldplay, who shot to fame and fortune when their song Yellow hit a chord with the public and sold millions, making Chris Martin a household name.

Another band who seems to have achieved this status is Foster the People, a band making waves both sides of the pond with their hit Pumped up Kicks.

The band hail from Los Angeles and formed back in 2009, after lead singer and creative visionary Mark Foster gave up his life as a jingle writer to start a new, ambitious project. He touched base with friends Cubbie Fink and Mark Pontius who were drafted in to play the bass and drums respectively, as well as lending their vocal chords for backing duty. Their success has been founded on the nature of sharing on the web, as their lead track Pumped up Kicks went viral on YouTube. This caught the attention of execs at Columbia Records' Imprint Startime International in 2010, who signed them to their label.

The US three piece has enjoyed a massive festival season since then, playing high end shows at Coachella and SXSW, both of which are huge milestones. In mid-2011 they reached another landmark, when they hit the number 1 spot in the Alternative Songs Billboard, and number 3 in the Rock Songs category. Following this they charted at three on the Billboard Hot 100 and they were also well placed in the Mainstream Top 40 Charts.

There are certain bands and artists out there who relish and shine during live performance more than anybody else. These are bands that it would be crime to die before seeing – their performance and live singing is simply that incredible. After all, to listen to a CD on your own is one thing. To listen to the music, live, screaming out the lyrics with several thousand other people is quite another experience. So here is Livejam's quick guide for who to see live before you die.

Muse has continually wowed live audiences since their rise to prominence. Possessing an almost Freddie Mercury-like level of showmanship and entertainer, front man Matt Bellamy knows how to whip an audience up into frenzy. His talent with both the piano and the guitar is something to be marvelled at, but the show is usually stolen by the band's alien approach to set design. The combination of great music, consistent vocals and an awesome set makes this one of the top bands to see before you die. 

Lady Gaga also knows how to put on a spectacle. Outlandish costumes, unusual dance routines and bizarre set pieces, the audience will be transfixed by the entire show. In 2011, Gaga famously performed inside and around the edge of a gigantic bathtub. But beneath the spectacle and splendour, there's something a little more fundamental to music going on there. Gaga's voice is absolutely incredible live – strong, seductive and raw. Definitely one to see.

Kerry Ellis has been adapting songs for the rock scene for several years, and with the release of her debut album Anthems, she's managed to tap into her existing fanbase, as well as develop a larger one. Having booked the Royal Albert Hall and a slew of concert venues all over the country, the hype surrounding Anthems is something quite incredible. Fortunately, the hype was met with gusto from Kerry, and her leading guitarist and mentor Brian May (ex-guitarist of Queen).

The act opened with an electronic fanfare, with the band filtering onto the stage as smoke filled the air. It was highly atmospheric, and when Brian May took his place whilst strumming out a highly distinctive riff, there was an almighty cheer from the stalls. Ms Ellis herself then stalked onto the stage in a haze of energy, belting out the first song Dangerland from her album. She certainly knows how to make an entrance, and as those incredibly powerful vocals rocked the stalls, we were treated to several more songs, including Queen's Somebody to Love and I Can't Be Your Friend, written for her by Brian.

After several more high-energy performances straight from the album, the pace was toned down for Brian's heart-warming performance of Love of my Life and Kerry's return in a different outfit for I Loved A Butterfly – both acoustic arrangements performed beautifully. Then it was back to the energy – Defying Gravity, the song from the smash-hit musical Wicked which made her name arrived at just the right time. And while the distinctive growls which made Kerry's version so prevalent were absent in this live performance, it was no less for power and energy.

There's a new band on the scene that music lovers and critics alike are keeping an eye on. The Temper Trap, a band from Australia, has recently emerged into the music world, making many of those interested in new prospects stop and listen. The band, recently moved to London, released an album in 2009, and continues releasing singles.

The Temper Trap has an upbeat, free sound in its music. Like many other indie rock bands, the Temper Trap's particular brand of music isn't duplicated or copied, but rather comes from the passions and differences of the members of the group. According to fans, the impressions that you get from the music is one of quiet, blissful tranquillity with an underlying thrill. Though not many have heard of the band at this point; those who like indie rock are starting to see more and more of the band's genius.

The band's lead singer, Dougy Mandagi, sings the group's songs with a passion that gives the music its own life. The music, which might lack somewhat as far as lyrics go, benefits greatly from Mandagi's interesting voice and singing style. Then there is the tripping keyboard, the complementary guitar, and the support of the rest of the band and assembly that makes the music stand out even more.

People who haven't heard the band's music, or haven't recognised it as theirs may know it from various commercials and advertisements. Their music has been used in ads for Chrysler, Sky Sports, Toyota, L'Oreal, and more. Despite the band's different and unique sound, it evidently has seen great commercial popularity, as evidenced by its use in commercials.

Coldplay has recently released their latest album, Mylo Xyloto. This is the fifth studio album the band has released; it has received rather mixed reviews. Coldplay fans everywhere rushed to the online stores and markets to get themselves a taste of the band's newest releases, and their reactions have been varied.

Some all-out Coldplay fans have issue with the new album because they feel that Coldplay's signature sound has been diluted or compromised with this most recent album. Many feel that Mylo Xyloto is just a collection of clichéd phrases and overused tactics, not really anything new or ground-breaking. The underlying electronic feel of the album is something that some think should have been best left alone, and which doesn't match with the band's style.

However, others can appreciate the passion and care put into the album. Coldplay didn't skimp on the aesthetic refinement of their music, and while it may not be brand-new, it certainly has a nice sound. Many fans enjoy the newest album for its sincerity and its attempts to “evolve” the band in a new direction. Some same the band strike a perfect balance of emotion, beauty, and a modern feel. The lyrics may be nothing new, but then again, everything under the sun has already been done before.

Some people choose certain songs in the album, such as “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,” to target criticism at. Some of the newest songs are like nothing Coldplay has done before, and it has some up in arms.

The sixties and the seventies were marked as the golden years in the history of rock. Legendary rock bands and music was produced during that era. The seventies were famous for rock concerts of a different league altogether. Back then, rock concerts were held in huge open stadia or grounds. A good rock band could easily gather a crowd of forty to fifty thousand people.

Some of the legendary rock bands of the sixties and the seventies were:

• The Beatles

• The Rolling Stones

• U2 (although they didn't really hit until the 1980s)

• The Grateful Dead

• Velvet Underground

• Led Zeppelin

• The Ramones

• Pink Floyd

• Bob Marley and the Wailers

Concerts are a celebration of music. It is every music lovers dream to watch their favourite musicians perform live. Earlier, concerts were the primary source of earning for a musician. The admission tickets were revenue earners in case of a concert. Nowadays, musicians can earn money from endorsements, record sales, concerts etc.

Most musicians these days do series of concerts. These tours are normally sponsored by some recording company. You may go online to check the concert tour schedule of your favourite artist.

Many artists are also entering the world of online music sales. They sell music; memorabilia etc online and earn huge amounts of money. Memorabilia of famous bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones etc sell for huge amounts of money. Collectors across the globe collect music memorabilia by famous rock bands.

There are many blogs related to music online. You may listen to latest tracks by your favourite stars, read about them, read reviews by other people etc. You may also go online to buy CDs of the tracks.

Companies that sell Music online:

www.amazon.com

www.apple.com/itunes_Store

You may sell your music at:

For all the music lovers in the world, a music concert is a great place to be. There are hundreds of music concerts happening every day. They range from classical music to contemporary music concerts which play huge volumes of music that is spellbinding. They play everything from Baroque and Beethoven to the rock stars of today.

It is not possible to attend all sorts of music concerts. You really need to decide upon the style of music you would like to listen to. Music concerts have over the past few decades become a very popular way of promoting, and making money for a cause.

Concerts are often held to promote charity. The performers who do concert for charity charge little or no fees. The proceeds of the ticket sales are donated to the organisation concerned. There are times when the concert is done with the intention of promoting a particular charity too. The charity's name is advertised on concert passes and other means of communications.