New York Concerts on Sale: Sting at the Met, Public Image Ltd. (2nd Show), Modest Mouse, John Mayer, More

Above: John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) and Public Image Ltd. play a second show at Terminal 5 on May 19th. Photo: Flickr user Ed Vill.

More summer concerts are going on sale, and more summer festivals are showing up on the schedules. Here's a look at some of the in-demand events and other shows of interest going on sale this weekend, along with a few that went on sale today or recently.

Now on sale: 
* Diane Birch - Highland Ballroom - Tues., June 1 (went on sale April 16)
* David Johansen - Highland Ballroom - Sun., June 27, (on sale now)
(Performing the songs of the New York Dolls, David Johansen, Buster Poindexter, and more)
* B-52s - Highland Ballroom - Tues., July 6 (on sale now)

On sale Friday, April 16: (times in parentheses, if known)
* Public Image Limited (PiL), 2nd show added - Terminal 5 - Wed., May 19 (on sale 12 p.m.)
* Toby Keith's American Ride Tour - PNC Bank Arts Center - Sat., June 19 (on sale 10 a.m.)
(with Trace Adkins and James Otto)
* Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra - The Metropolitan Opera - Tues., July 13 and Wed., July 14th (on sale 10 a.m.)
("Performing his most celebrated songs," the site says)
* Modest Mouse - Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ - Thurs., July 22 (on sale 12 p.m.)
* Modest Mouse - Williamsburg Waterfront - Fri., July 23 (on sale 12 p.m.)
* Rockstar Energy Drink Festival - PNC Bank Arts Center - Wed., July 28 (starts 2:15 p.m.) (on sale 10 a.m.)
(featuring KORN, Rob Zombie, Lamb of God, Five Finger Death Punch)
* Lyle Lovett - Wellmont Theatre, Montclair, NJ - Sun., Aug. 15 (on sale 12 p.m.)
* Heart - Hammerstein Ballroom - Tues., Aug. 3 (on sale 10 a.m.)
* Dirty Projectors - Terminal 5 - Sat., Sept. 11 (on sale 12 p.m.)

On sale Saturday, April 17:
* John Mayer - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater - Wed., July 21 (on sale 11 a.m.)
* John Mayer - PNC Bank Arts Center - Tues., Aug. 3 (on sale 11 a.m.)

Modest Mouse's New "King Rat" Video, Directed by Heath Ledger, is Released

Besides being an actor, the late Heath Ledger also directed several music videos, and his last one was released today. Ledger's six-minute video for Modest Mouse's song "King Rat" made its debut today exclusively on MySpace Video. (Embedding the video was disabled, but I've put a screen cap above and you can view the video at the link.)

Although the animated video features fish and other sea creatures piloting a fishing boat, which seems like standard cartoon fare, the video takes a dark turn as we see the "fishermen" hunting for (and killing) humans. (Which may explain why the video has a positive rating of only 25%.) It's said that the video reflects Ledger's interest in the issue of illegal commercial whaling, which is a controversial issue in the late actor's native Australia.

A press release says that Ledger had proposed the idea for the video in 2007, according to a blog post at SeattlePI.com. The video was unfinished at the time of his death, but was completed by a company that Ledger had worked with, in honor of the actor.

The release also said that, in keeping with Ledger's interests in protecting ocean life, proceeds from sales of the first month of the video's iTunes sales will go to an international marine wildlife organization.