Ain't it good to know that James Taylor and Carole King will team up May 25 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul? The quintessential 1970s singer-songwriters are collaborating on the Troubadour Reunion Tour, a nod to a November 1970 gig at Hollywood's Troubadour club where King, then a famous songwriter who penned hits for Aretha Franklin, the Monkees and others, made the transition to performer by opening for Taylor. In 1971, her "Tapestry" album became a blockbuster; by then, he was already a big star known for King's "You've Got a Friend," his own "Fire and Rain" and other hits. At the X, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will share the same band. Tickets will go on sale Jan. 23. Details will be announced on Friday.
In other concert news, Maynard James Keenan, frontman of Tool and A Perfect Circle, brings his other side project, Puscifer, to the Pantages Theatre on April 2-3. Tickets ($39.50) will go on sale at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ticketmaster outlets. First Avenue has announced Spoon on April 2-3 and Black Lips at the Varsity on April 3. JON BREAM
