Gogol Bordello

Earlier this month, I told you that the CD/DVD set of the Live Earth concert would be one of my surefire must-haves for November. Well, the bad news is that it appears the release date for the package has been pushed back till Dec. 4 — but the good news is that we don't have to wait to check out the DVD-ready versions of some of the performances.

Linkin Park's "Bleed It Out" from the Japan concert — set to be the live album's first single — and Madonna's rendition of "La Isla Bonita" with Gogol Bordello in London are among the clips Warner Bros. is letting us see early. There's also a video of Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins performing at the Sydney concert, and while I didn't know Higgins' music before, I'm kind of digging her folksy song, "Steer" — I'm surprised it hasn't already turned up on an episode of Grey's Anatomy.

To check out those three performances, just read more

When I first saw these photos of Madonna walking with Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hutz, I couldn't help but wonder: How did this unlikely pair meet? And why was Hutz wearing kitten heels?

Though I haven't yet learned the answer to the second question, it turns out that Madonna and Hutz are quite the close collaborators these days. Hutz, who fronts the gypsy-punk Bordello and also stars in Everything Is Illuminated, is working on Madonna's forthcoming short film, Filth & Wisdom.

In addition to acting in the film, Hutz contributed to the script and will lend his music to soundtrack for the movie, which is expected to debut next year at Sundance. Apparently, Madonna really likes Gogol Bordello, because the band also joined her onstage at Live Earth in London for a polka-infused rendition of "La Isla Bonita." It's really a fun performance to watch, so check out the video (thanks, Pitchfork) when you read more