Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Sights and Sounds: Band of Skulls, Twisted Sister, 'Led Zeppelin IV' at 40

Band of Skulls delivered a powerful, hard rocking set when I caught the trio at Coachella in 2010. Today's hard rock-minded post kicks off with a press release dated today detailing the band's forthcoming sophomore release and a related tour. I'm also hoping the band is back rocking out in Indio in April 2012!

Band Of Skulls To Release Second Album 'Sweet Sour' On February 21 2012


Band of Skulls to kick off U.S. tour in Austin on the Eve of SXSW 2012

First U.S. Single 'Sweet Sour' To Be Released In December


November 8, 2011 - Band of Skulls will release their highly anticipated second album Sweet Sour on February 21, 2012 via their own label, Electric Blues Records under exclusive license in the U.S. to Vagrant Records. Sweet Sour is the follow-up to their debut album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey which was universally embraced by the U.S. media with early supporters at Entertainment Weekly naming them "Your Next Favorite Band."

Following the success of Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, the band retreated to a studio in Norfolk UK to begin writing Sweet Sour. They returned to their home studio in Southampton to start the recording which they completed in Wales at Rockfield Studios. Sweet Sour was produced by Ian Davenport (Supergrass, Badly Drawn Boy) and mixed by Nick Launay (Grinderman, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire). Please see below for the complete Sweet Sour tracklisting.

On March 13, 2012, the band returns to Austin, TX on the eve of the SXSW Music Festival with a show at Antone's to kick off their first U.S. tour in support of Sweet Sour. The band's live show has been a constant highlight at previous festivals by the likes of SPIN (Best of Coachella) and Rolling Stone (Best of SXSW) amongst many others.

This past summer the band play the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee as well as two sold-out shows in Los Angeles and two sold-out shows in New York City. Nylon Guys was front and center at the first sold-out NYC gig and weighed in on the new album "based on the new tracks they played at Mercury Lounge last week, the Skulls want to show the alt-kids how real music should sound." Please see below for complete tour itinerary.

In December, the band will release the first U.S. single 'Sweet Sour' off of the new album which will be available as a download at iTunes and other digital download stores. Fans can click here for a first look and listen of a track from the new album 'The Devil Takes Care Of His Own.' The band created the unique kung-fu themed video to accompany this first listen from Sweet Sour.

Band Of Skulls are: Russell Marsden (guitar & vocals), Emma Richardson (bass & vocals) & Matt Hayward (drums).

BAND OF SKULLS 2012 TOUR DATES:
13-Mar TUE Austin, TX Antone's
16-Mar FRI Houston, TX Fitzgerald's
17-Mar SAT Dallas, TX Granada Theater
19-Mar MON Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
20-Mar TUE Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom
22-Mar THU New York, NY Webster Hall
23-Mar FRI Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
24-Mar SAT Washington, DC 9:30 Club
26-Mar MON Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
27-Mar TUE Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
28-Mar WED Providence, RI The Met
30-Mar FRI Toronto, ONT Phoenix Concert Theatre
31-Mar SAT Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
2-Apr MON Detroit, MI St. Andrew's Hall
3-Apr TUE Chicago, IL House of Blues
4-Apr WED Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
6-Apr FRI Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
7-Apr SAT Salt Lake City, UT The Complex (Grand Room)
9-Apr MON Seattle, WA Neptune
10-Apr TUE Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
11-Apr WED Portland, OR Dante's
12-Apr THU San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

* We Are Augustines Support All Dates

Sweet Sour Tracklisting

1. Sweet Sour

2. Bruises

3. Wanderluster

4. Devil Takes Care Of His Own

5. Lay My Head Down

6. You Aren't Pretty But You Got It Going On

7. Navigate

8. Hometowns

9. Lies

10. Close To Nowhere



EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE THE ULTIMATE TWISTED SISTER BOX

TWISTED SISTER FROM THE BARS TO THE STARS: THREE DECADES LIVE


New York, NY (November 8, 2011)— Eagle Rock Entertainment will celebrate Christmas early this year with the release of Twisted Sister From The Bars To The Stars: Three Decades Live, a 5-DVD boxed set, on November 8 [MSRP $59.98]. The lavish package comes complete with curios such as a Twisted Sister Christmas ornament, an official “New York Steel” backstage pass, a classic two and a half-inch Twisted Sister pin and a reproduction of the first-ever SMF Fan Club letter.

Over eight hours long, From The Bars To The Stars has to be considered the ultimate Twisted Sister boxed set. One of the five DVDs, Twisted Xmas: Live In Las Vegas, is a total exclusive, having never before been released in any format. This 2009 concert showcases the band performing such beloved holiday fare as “White Christmas” and “Come All Ye Faithful” next to “Burn In Hell” and “Deck The Halls” as only Twisted Sister can. In fact, Jay Jay French, Dee Snider, Mark Mendoza, A.J. Perro and Eddie Ojeda, have made this holiday merriment a metal tradition for the past few years.

Live At Reading was filmed in 1982 at England’s biggest rock festival. A bonus 2011 band interview is included.


Double Live juxtaposes an early Long Island, New York show (North Stage ’82), filmed just prior to the band breaking internationally, and NY Steel ’01, the New York City 9/11 benefit they headlined.

Live At Wacken documents the band’s 2003 Wacken Open Air Festival reunion appearance in Germany. Complete with behind-the-scenes backstage footage and band interviews about their 1980s rise to world domination, break-up and reunion, it also contains their entire set on the big stage at this most prestigious of European Heavy Metal festivals.

Any SMF would agree – This is one boxed set no Twisted Sister fan can do without!


Finally, I got the following item from Rhino Records. I can't believe it has been 40 years since Led Zeppelin issued its fourth album (we won't even go into how long since the quartet's debut was released!)

Led Zeppelin IV at 40 - On Sale This Week on iTunes


40 years ago today, the greatest rock band of all-time released the greatest rock album of all-time, Led Zeppelin IV. A powerhouse from the legendary opening vocal intro of "Black Dog" to the final notes of the hypnotic Mississippi blues-infused "When The Levee Breaks," IV contains eight radio classics including "Rock And Roll," "The Battle Of Evermore," "Misty Mountain Hop," "Four Sticks," "Going To California," and, of course, the ultimate rock anthem, "Stairway To Heaven." "Hats Off" to Jimmy, Robert, John Paul, and John for creating a true work of art that only gets better with age.

For more details on getting the remastered masterpiece via iTunes, click here.

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