Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Sights and Sounds: Paul McCartney, Elbow, The Kooks

It's nice to see Paul McCartney continuing to be honored for both his music, and efforts to make the world a better place. Since catching Elbow at Coachella earlier this year, I have been growing ever-fonder of the band's amazing recordings and can't wait to catch them at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles next month. And there is plenty of news from The Kooks' camp too. Read on friends...

PAUL MCCARTNEY TO BE HONORED AS 2012 MUSICARES PERSON OF THE YEAR


FOURTEEN-TIME GRAMMY® WINNER
PAUL MCCARTNEY
TO BE HONORED AS
2012 MUSICARES® PERSON OF THE YEAR


Annual Gala Benefiting the MusiCares Foundation®
And Its Health And Human Services Programs For Music People
Will Be Held Feb. 10, 2012, During GRAMMY® Week

SANTA MONICA, Calif. —Paul McCartney, legendary singer/songwriter and 14-time GRAMMY® winner (as well as Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement and Trustees Award recipient), will be honored as the 2012 MusiCares® Person of the Year at its 22nd annual benefit gala, it was announced today (Sept. 13) by Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the MusiCares Foundation® and The Recording Academy®, and Scott Pascucci, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board. Proceeds from the dinner and concert — to be held in Los Angeles during GRAMMY Week on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, two days prior to the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards — will provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.

The legendary performer is being honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year in recognition of his singular creative accomplishments as well as his charitable work, which has included an extraordinary range of philanthropic activities over the years.

"Paul McCartney exemplifies the phrase 'artist/philanthropist,' and his extraordinary career is certainly a testament to the multifaceted power of his creative genius," said Portnow. "The unique talent, dedication, and spontaneity he brings to his projects and live performances are unsurpassed, but are equaled by the impressive generosity and commitment he consistently devotes to a range of important charitable causes."

"Paul immediately brings to mind artistic excellence and passion for causes that are dear to him," said Pascucci. "It is very inspiring that one of music's true icons makes philanthropy such a force in his life."

"I've been given a great gift — a life making music — and it's my privilege to try to make the world a better place by giving back," said McCartney. "For more than 20 years, MusiCares has helped so many music people in times of crisis — whether with emergency financial assistance or access to addiction recovery resources — and it is an honor to be recognized as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year."

The 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year gala will begin with a reception and silent auction offering an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences and one-of-a-kindcelebrity memorabilia for bidding guests. The reception and silent auction will be followed by a dinner, the award presentation and a star-studded tribute concert. The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute ceremony is one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY Week. The celebration culminates with the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012. The telecast will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.

For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thegrammys), Twitter (www.twitter.com/thegrammys), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/thegrammys).

For information on purchasing tables and tickets to the event, please contact Dana Tomarken at MusiCares, 310.392.3777.




ELBOW'S 'LIPPY KIDS' SINGLE RELEASED TODAY

US TOUR COMMENCING THIS WEEK AT AUSTIN CITY LIMITS


Following their third Mercury Music Prize Nomination for Best Album of 2011 earlier this month (and having won the award already back in 2008), the Manchester five-piece are about to embark of a full North American tour this Fall to continue promoting their wildly popular and critically acclaimed fifth studio full-length Build A Rocket Boys!

To coincide with the tour that takes them from Austin City Limits on Sept. 18 all the way west to The Greek Theater on Oct. 1st, the band are releasing their brand new single 'Lippy Kids' today in the States on iTunes with the added bonus track 'Open Arms' which was recently recorded live at the historic St. Paul's Cathedral in Manchester this summer.


Watch 'Lippy Kids'

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
09/18 - Austin City Limits, Zilker Park - Austin, TX
09/20 - Center Stage - Atlanta, GA
09/21 - Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
09/22 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
09/23 - Popped Festival, FDR Park - Philadelphia, PA
09/25 - Terminal 5 - New York , NY
09/26 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA -
09/28 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
10/01- The Greek Theater - Los Angeles, CA
BUY TICKETS IN YOUR AREA HERE


www.buildarocketboys.com

www.elbow.co.uk


THE KOOKS MUCH ANTICIPATED FULL LENGTH ALBUM,
JUNK OF THE HEART, RELEASED TODAY! SEPTEMBER 13TH!




Band Perfoms On The Tonight Show With Jay Leno September 21st
And Returns To The U.S. For Fall Tour!


Each Ticket Sold Online To Receive A Free Download Of Single
"Junk Of The Heart (Happy)"

Download Of The Acoustic Version Available At Spin.com

September 13, 2011 - New York, NY - The Kooks will release their eagerly anticipated new album, Junk of the Heart, today, September 13, 2011 on Astralwerks Records. Produced by Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air, Belle & Sebastian), and recorded in The Sound Factory (Los Angeles) and Sarm Studios (London), the band's third album sees The Kooks solidifying their position as a bona fide album band with trademark killer hooks from their undeniable first single "Junk Of The Heart" to the Bowie-esque "Mr. Nice Guy" and the electro dub of "Runaway."

"Junk Of The Heart (Happy)" kicks off the new album with a dramatic breakbeat, and builds across acoustic guitar and warm washes of synth before collapsing into a chorus that won't soon leave you.

Fans can catch The Kooks performing this track on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on September 21st and can click here to watch the video for the song:

http://www.vevo.com/watch/the-kooks/junk-of-the-heart-happy/GB1201100058

The Kooks will return to the U.S. for their first tour in three years beginning November 15 at the Trocadero in Philadelphia making stops in New York and Washington D.C. where both shows quickly sold out the week they were put on sale. In conjunction with their U.S. tour, the band will include a free mp3 download of the track "Junk Of The Heart (Happy)" with each ticket sold online. Additionally, an acoustic version of "Junk Of The Heart (Happy)" is now available via SPIN.

Last week, The Kooks partnered with Spin, Rolling Stone, KCRW, NYLON and Filter respectively to preview new tracks off of Junk Of The Heart:

http://www.spin.com

http://www.rollingstone.com

http://blogs.kcrw.com

http://www.nylonmag.com

http://filtermagazine.com

While Yours Truly captured a beautiful acoustic performance of "Eskimo Kiss" by Luke and Hugh in San Francisco, which can be viewed here: http://yourstru.ly/2011/09/12/video-the-kooks-eskimo-kiss/ and the band performed a sparkling cover of Foster The People's "Pumped Up Kicks" at a Radio 1 performance, which can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR1BN_aHEeU

"It's upbeat; an album to play in the sun" explains frontman Luke Pritchard of the forthcoming 12 song collection, "What we really wanted to do was build a proper, full album. Something you can listen to from front to back. We're an album band and this is a journey you come on with us."



Junk of the Heart follows The Kooks' multi-platinum debut, Inside In/Inside Out (2006) which peaked at number two in the UK Album Charts and its platinum selling UK number one follow-up, Konk (2008). The Kooks have sold over 2 million records globally.



The Kooks Tour Dates:

11/15 Philadelphia PA Trocadero

11/16 New York NY Webster Hall

11/17 New York NY Webster Hall

11/19 Boston MA House Of Blues

11/20 Washington DC 9.30 Club

11/22 Montreal QC Club Soda

11/23 Toronto ON Sound Academy

11/25 Columbus OH Newport Music Hall

11/26 Chicago IL Vic Theatre

11/27 Minneapolis MN First Avenue

11/29 Denver CO Ogden Theatre

11/30 Salt Lake City UT Club Sound

12/02 Seattle WA The Showbox @ The Market

12/04 Vancouver BC Commodore Ballroom

12/07 Los Angeles CA The Music Box

12/08 Los Angeles CA The Music Box

12/13 San Francisco CA The Fillmore



http://www.thekooks.com

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