Thursday, June 30, 2011

Sights & Sounds: Aimee Mann, Antigone Rising, Amy Stroup


Aimee Mann has announced West Coast tour dates, including an upcoming show in San Juan Capistrano on Aug. 12, 2011

What follows are several recent media releases that have landed in my inbox. I hope you all have a great 4th of July weekend!

Fresh from playing the ultimate house concert of the year, The White House, Aimee Mann returns to the road for a string of West Coast tour dates in August. Kicking off her tour at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on August 12, Aimee will make a stop at the Hollywood Bowl to perform in Joni’s Jazz, alongside Herbie Hancock, Clen Hansard, Chaka Khan, Cassandra Wilson and Wayne Shorter and then continue north for a stop at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, along with dates at the Portland Zoo and Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo.

To be clear, Aimee Mann doesn’t usually play house parties, however she decided to make an exception when she was invited by President Barack Obama and first lady, Michelle Obama, to perform for Poetry Night at the White House on May 11th. Aimee was honored to join a prestigious cast of poets, musicians and artists to celebrate the art of American poetry and prose.

Currently working on her 8th solo album, set to release in 2012, Aimee is also writing a new musical production based upon her critically acclaimed concept album The Forgotten Arm, her first foray into the realm of musical theatre. Set in the 1970’s, The Forgotten Arm follows the story of John, a Vietnam vet and boxer struggling with addiction, and Caroline, a young woman trying to escape the dead end world she lives in, as they meet, fall in love and road trip across America. In a review of the original release, Magnet magazine proclaimed “Aimee Mann has emerged as one of the finest songwriters of her generation.”

Never one to rest on the laurels of her past, Aimee has been busy releasing albums and touring for the better part of the last decade. Ending the millennium with a bang, Mann was nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe and three Grammys for the Magnolia Soundtrack which released simultaneously alongside her solo album Bachelor No. 2. Mann continued her solo career with the 2002’s Lost in Space the second release on SuperEgo Records and then on to her first live CD and DVD Live at St. Ann’s Warehouse. With her 5th solo album The Forgotten Arm, Mann delved head first into the realm of the concept album, following up the next year with a turn at a Christmas album One More Drifter In The Snow, an unexpected homage to the spooky beauty of the holiday season.

Mann’s most recent release @#%&! Smilers was hailed by Mojo magazine as “a masterpiece,” while People Magazine pronounced “trends may come and go, but real artists, like this singer-songwriter remain.” With the upbeat single “Freeway” garnering a solid amount of radio play across the country, Mann has followed with sold-out Summer, Fall and Christmas tours, along with appearances on The View and The Tonight Show, and a concert filmed for the Ovation channel’s Live from the Artist’s Den performance series. In addition, Aimee has also been brushing up her comedic acting skills, with a recent guest starring appearance on the new IFC TV series Portlandia, featuring comedians Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein. In the episode titled “Pinata”, a comedic commentary on the state of the music industry, Aimee portrays herself as a singer-songwriter who has had to take a second job as Armisen and Brownstein’s cleaning lady. Aimee’s comedic timing is also gaining notoriety on Twitter with the Huffington Post just naming her one of the “13 Funny Musicians You Should Be Following on Twitter.” Aimee made the list at #5 on the Huffington Post’s “short list” of their “favorite musicians who have a habit of tweeting comedy gold on a regular basis.”
Find more about Aimee at www.aimeemann.com, www.facebook.com/AimeeMann, www.twitter.com/aimeemann,www.youtube.com/aimeemann,and www.myspace.com/aimeemann

Tour Dates:
August 12 The Coach House San Juan Capistrano, CA August 13 Burton Chase Park Marina Del Rey, CA
August 14 The Belly Up Solana Beach, CA
August 17 The Hollywood Bowl Joni’s Jazz- A Tribute to Joni Mitchell
Los Angeles, CA
August 18 The Mountain Winery Saratoga, CA
August 19 The Center For Arts Grass Valley, CA
August 20 Oregon Zoo Portland, OR
August 21 Woodland Park Zoo Seattle, WA
August 23 Britt Pavilion Medford, OR



Antigone Rising Signs w/ Blackheart Records/MMD



Antigone Rising has signed with Meryl Music Distribution, the distribution arm of Blackheart Records Group, home to an eclectic group of artists (including Joan Jett & The Blackhearts & The Dollyrots). The vibe at Blackheart/MMD is totally artist-centric, with a group of caring, competent and trustworthy people who love music, and want to support the new album from Antigone Rising, 23 Red, in every way.



23 Red will be available in record stores everywhere and available for download at iTunes and various other online retailers on Tuesday, August 2, 2011.

Antigone Rising, the all female rock band known for relentless grass roots touring, is currently working on their latest studio CD, 23 Red with producer Gary Phillips. The new single from their anticipated album, "Everywhere is Home", is already in heavy rotation on several US radio stations.



Known for their driving and vivacious live show, Antigone Rising has toured with The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, The Allman Brothers Band, Rob Thomas, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Lucinda Williams and The Bangles among others.



Since their inception, the band has released four independent albums. In 2004, they were signed to Lava Records, leading to a partnership with Starbucks. With the release of their album, From The Ground Up, Antigone Rising was catapulted in the spotlight with their Starbucks "Hear Music Debut" series in 2006. A major line-up shift in 2008 led to a brief hiatus, but after a few months on the sidelines, drummer Dena Tauriello & The Henderson sisters (Kristina and Cathy) made the decision to keep moving forward with new member Nini Camps as lead singer -- a vocal force that holds her own in the musical landscape of the band.



With the addition of Camps as lead singer, Antigone Rising continues to turn heads and gain popularity with their poignant lyrics, catchy melodies and soaring three-part harmonies.



They have appeared in national print (Cosmo, Elle, Vanity Fair) and in a television campaign for designer clothing company 7 Jeans. They have enjoyed sponsorships with Mustang and Motorola. VH1 aired a half-hour special featuring the band and both VH-1 & CMT also embraced them by playing the video of their single, "Don't Look Back" on heavy rotation. The band has also appeared on The Today Show, The Tonight Show, Emeril Live, A&E's Breakfast with the Arts & several other VH-1 programs including "I Love the 70s" & "I Love the 80s" episodes.


www.antigonerising.com



Amy Stroup's 'The Other Side Of Love Sessions to land on July 12

Amy Stroup's The other Side Of Love Sessions is a collection of songs previously available on her digital only EPs. Each song on this record has been featured in a TV show; major shows like Grey's Anatomy, Army Wives, Drop Dead Diva and a bunch of others. She will also be a part of the Ten Out Of Tenn Tour happening this fall.




Amy will be bringing her incredible live show to your city (dates and venue info below). This woman is amazing and is going to be HUGE.


Listen to her music at: www.amystroup.com, see the video for "Hold Onto Hope Love" at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdO6zd8dhQk

'The Other Side Of Love Sessions' Tour Dates


Wednesday, July 13th @ 6 PM

The Other Side Of Love CD Release Party/In Store

Music Millennium

3158 E. Burnside

Portland, Oregon, OR 97214

All Ages · Free



Wednesday, July 13th @ 7 PM

Backspace

115 Northwest 5th Avenue

Portland, OR

All Ages · $10



Friday, July 15th @ 8 PM

Cafe Coda

265 Humboldt Avenue

Chico, CA

All Ages



Saturday, July 16th @ 8 PM

Room 5

143 N La Brea Ave.

2nd Fl.

Los Angeles, CA

All Ages · $10



Sunday, July 17th

Live In Store Performace

Lou's Records

434 North Coast Highway 101

Encinitas, CA

www.lousrecords.com



Sunday, July 17th @ 8 PM

LeStat's Coffee House

3343 Adams Ave.

San Diego, CA

All Ages · $7





Tuesday, July 19th @ 7 PM

The Other Side Of Love Release Party

Good Records

1808 Lower Greenville Avenue

Dallas, Texas

All Ages



Thursday, July 21st @ 9:30 PM

The Village Café

210 W. 26th Street

Bryan, TX



Friday, July 22nd @ 8 PM

Flipnotics

1801 Barton Springs Road

Austin, TX



Friday, July 29th @ 6 PM

In Store Performance

Grimey's

1604 8th Avenue South

Nashville, TN



Saturday, July 30th @ 7 PM

Eddie's Attic

515-B North McDonough Street

Decatur, GA

All Ages · $10



Sunday, July 31st @ 7 PM

Music City Unsigned & Live on Lightening 100 Presents:

Amy Stroup - The Other Side Of Love Release Show

Third & Lindsely

816 3rd Avenue South

Nashville, TN

18 + · $10 (includes copy of new CD)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Sights & Sounds: Guy Clark tribute, Wrecking Crew, Sly Stone, Avett Brothers

Here are highlights of some of the most news releases to land in my packed inbox. I'm especially excited by an just-announced upcoming tribute to Guy Clark with recordings by the likes of Ron Sexsmith, Rosanne Cash, Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris. Read on friends!

Coming this fall - This One's For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark



This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark to be released November 1, 2011

Loving tribute celebrates Clark's 70th birthday

Double CD set includes recordings by Rodney Crowell, Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely, Shawn Colvin, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris & John Prine, Patty Griffin, Ron Sexsmith, Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle, Vince Gill, Jerry Jeff Walker, Robert Earl Keen, and more.

Produced by Tamara Saviano and Shawn Camp


Houston's Icehouse Music will release This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark on November 1, 2011 to celebrate Clark's 70th birthday. Clark was born in Monahans, Texas on November 6, 1941.

Lovingly produced by Tamara Saviano—who is also working with Clark on his definitive biography—and frequent Clark co-writer Shawn Camp, the tribute includes 30 tracks by 33 Americana artists who are friends and colleagues of Clark or who have been influenced by his remarkable compositions. The collection was mixed and mastered by Austin engineer Fred Remmert. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.


Guy Clark’s poetry resonates deeply with his fellow songwriters.

“Guy’s songs are literature,” says Lyle Lovett, among the venerable artists who eagerly gathered for This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark. “The first time I heard Guy Clark, I thought it made everything I’d heard up to that point something other than a song. His ability to translate the emotional into the written word is extraordinary.”

Accordingly, Clark’s most vibrant (“Instant Coffee Blues”) and vivid vignettes (“Desperadoes Waiting for a Train”) reel with cinematic landscapes (“The Last Gunfighter Ballad,” “The Cape”). Novellas frequently unfold within minutes (“Better Days,” “She Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”).

Clark’s singular storytelling chills with striking familiarity (“The Dark”). “Songs are like Japanese painting,” he explains. “Less is more. One brushstroke takes the place of many if you put it in the right place. I’m trying to get whoever is listening to think, ‘Oh, man, I was there. I did that. I know what that’s about.’ Too many details take away.” Clark’s add volumes. Remember that old blue shirt? Mad Dog margarita? June bug on the window screen?

Of course, our passions forever burn brighter for the flour sack cape. Few capture courage as timelessly. “Guy Clark is a like dancer with the way he talks and a photographer with the way he writes,” noted Texas indie artist Terri Hendrix says. “He’s the epitome of American songwriting.”

Clark’s watercolor imagery blueprints his legend, but generosity ultimately cements his legacy. For four decades, the longtime Nashville resident, whose own Grammy-nominated Somedays the Song Writes You (2009) soars as seamlessly as his hallmark debut Old No. 1 (1975), has cultivated songwriting talent enthusiastically. His matchless eye yields high dividends: Americana royalty Shawn Camp, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Vince Gill and Lovett barely begin the list he’s given sea legs. Young writers today immediately earn credibility with his stamp.

“Guy is the king in a lot of ways,” says rising songwriter Hayes Carll, who has split pages in the storied basement workshop where Clark writes and builds guitars. “I think everybody who was around Guy learned a lot from him and I think the entire music world is indebted to him for what he taught other writers. Everybody who had a chance to learn from him came away a better writer. He gave me a shot before I deserved one.” As friends say, Clark’s a curator, a creative caretaker. He celebrates high watermarks that others achieve.

This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark returns the favor. Artists brought two key instruments: a guitar and profound reverence. Individual investments quickly emerged. Perhaps most notably, Gill claims a haunting bond. “Giant tears were falling all over my guitar as we were playing,” the country star remembers about serving as guitarist on Clark’s original “Randall Knife” recording nearly thirty years ago. “My dad was a lawyer, and he died when I was forty. Guy and I are tied at the hip through that song.”

“Let’s give her a good go and make ol’ Guy proud of us…” said Rodney Crowell kicking off the collection on the first day as he readied to record "That Old Time Feeling." The double CD set was recorded live in studio with a core house band that included multi-instrumentalist Shawn Camp, guitarist Verlon Thompson, & pianist Jen Gunderman. The tribute was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee and Austin, Texas with a rotating cast of other musicians including multi-instrumentalist Lloyd Maines, bass players Glenn Fukunaga, Mike Bub and Glenn Worf, and drummers Kenny Malone and Larry Atamanuik.

Folks mostly laughed throughout the sessions. Swapped stories. Enjoyed company. Picked and grinned like those dusky evenings over at Guy and Susanna’s near Old Hickory Lake in the 1970s. Fittingly, Crowell issued our collective mission statement the very first day. We think you’ll agree everyone succeeded.

Volume 1

1. That Old Time Feeling – Rodney Crowell
2. Anyhow I Love You – Lyle Lovett
3. All He Wants Is You – Shawn Colvin
4. Homeless – Shawn Camp
5. Broken Hearted People – Ron Sexsmith
6. Better Days – Rosanne Cash
7. Desperadoes Waiting For A Train – Willie Nelson
8. Baby Took A Limo To Memphis – Rosie Flores
9. Magdalene – Kevin Welch
10. Instant Coffee Blues – Suzy Bogguss
11. Homegrown Tomatoes – Ray Wylie Hubbard
12. Let Him Roll – John Townes Van Zandt II
13. The Guitar – Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
14. Cold Dog Soup – James McMurtry
15. Worry B Gone – Hayes Carll

Volume 2

1. Dublin Blues – Joe Ely
2. Magnolia Wind – Emmylou Harris & John Prine
3. The Last Gunfighter Ballad – Steve Earle
4. All Through Throwing Good Love After Bad – Verlon Thompson
5. The Dark – Terri Hendrix
6. LA Freeway – Radney Foster
7. The Cape – Patty Griffin
8. Hemingway’s Whiskey – Kris Kristofferson
9. Texas Cookin’ – Gary Nicholson, Darrell Scott & Tim O’Brien
10. Stuff That Works – Jack Ingram
11. Randall Knife – Vince Gill
12. Texas 1947 – Robert Earl Keen
13. Old Friends – Terry Allen
14. She Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere – The Trishas
15. My Favorite Picture of You – Jerry Jeff Walker


Lord of the Strings to host screening of Wrecking Crew documentary on Saturday, June 25 in Mission Viejo, California


Fans of the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, the Monkees, the Byrds and Simon & Garfunkel might be surprised to know that a special group of top-notch instrumentalists known famously as the Wrecking Crew were featured on many of those artists' most beloved recordings. Read on to learn about a special screening of a new documentary on the Wrecking Crew set to be screened in Mission Viejo on Saturday evening.

In the 1960s people said that rock and roll was going to wreck the music business. This is the story of the amazing studio musicians that were to become known as “The Wrecking Crew”. These were THE guys and girls that made all the great music happen during this golden era of music of the 1960s in Los Angeles. The film is a fun, touching and moving tribute to the music, to the times and to these secret power hitters of the West Coast recording scene.

The only reason the film has not been widely released is the cost of licensing the music. It has one of the biggest soundtracks ever for a 90 minute documentary. So film maker Denny Tedesco’s mission is to raise the final funds to help pay for the $300,000 licensing. Your ticket purchase will help Denny Tedesco fulfill his dream of getting this story out.

As featured on hit records by:

· The Beach Boys

· Mamas and Papas

· Righteous Brothers

· The Byrds

· Cher

· The Monkees

· The Ronettes

· The Ventures

· Mason Williams

· Harry Nilsson

· Simon & Garfunkel

· Paul Revere and the Raiders

· Ricky Nelson

· Nat King Cole

· Frank Sinatra

· Sam Cooke

· The Association

· Jan & Dean

· And Many, Many more!




Sponsored by:

Lord Of The Strings Concerts

June 25th – 7:00 PM- Donation $15.00

Mission Viejo Civic Center

200 Civic Center Drive

Mission Viejo, CA 92629

949-842-2227 for reservations or go to: www.LordOfTheStringsConcerts.com

If you have not gone to the web site at www.wreckingcrewfilm.com please do so. A trailer for the movie will automatically come up (make sure your sound is on) and be prepared for a treat. Call for your reservations now at 949-842-2227 or go to www.LordOfTheStringsConcerts.com $15 admission. Call some friends and get ready for a good time!


SLY STONE RELEASES FIRST NEW RECORD IN ALMOST THIRTY YEARS 'I’M BACK! FAMILY & FRIENDS' out August 16 via Cleopatra Records



Los Angeles, CA…Sly Stone is releasing his first new record since 1982 on August 16, 2011 via Cleopatra Records. I’M BACK! FAMILY & FRIENDS is an 11-track celebration of Sly’s best-loved hits featuring guest appearances by music legends.

Classics from “Everyday People” and “Family Affair” to “Dance to the Music” and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" are given updates, sounding fresh and continually meaningful, while retaining the patented Stone rock-funk infusion. Adding to the interpretations are contributions from icons Ray Manzarek, Bootsy Collins, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck, Ann Wilson and more. The album is topped off with three previously unreleased tracks, including Sly’s take on the traditional “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” The CD version also adds three club mixes. I’M BACK! FAMILY & FRIENDS was produced by Jurgen Engler, Chris Leitz and Sly Stone.

"It was an honor and a pleasure to work with a legend. We think that these reinterpreted musical masterpieces, and the contributions of so many icons, makes a terrific new album and we are thrilled with the final product!" said Brian Perera, Founder and President of Cleopatra Records.



In 1967, Sly and the Family Stone changed the look and sound of music as one of the first interracial, mixed gender bands that dared to fuse rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, jazz and soul. This new funk sound kept people on their feet, but the lyrics promoting peace and love and universal consciousness kept them thinking. That powerful combination has made Sly Stone an innovator, influencer and an artist with never-ending relevance.

Sly has been sampled by modern artists such as Janet Jackson, Beastie Boys, Kid Rock, Ice Cube and Public Enemy. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1992, and is the recipient of the 2002 R&B Foundation Pioneer Award.

I’M BACK! Family & FRIENDS will be available on iTunes, amazon.com, and at your favorite record store. The CD is $16.98 and limited 12” vinyl $19.98.



cleopatrarecords.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cleopatra-Records/351143685265



I’M BACK! FAMILY & FRIENDS TRACK LIST:



1. Dance To The Music feat. Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
2. Everyday People feat. Ann Wilson (Heart)
3. Family Affair
4. Stand! feat. Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge/Rod Stewart) & Ernie Watts (Frank Zappa/The Rolling

Stones)
5. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) feat. Johnny Winter
6. (I Want To Take You) Higher feat. Jeff Beck
7. Hot Fun In The Summertime feat. Bootsy Collins
8. Dance To The Music (Extended Mix)
9. Plain Jane
10. His Eye Is On The Sparrow
11. Get Away


BONUS MIXES [CD ONLY]


12. Dance To The Music (Club Mix)
13. Family Affair (Dubstep Mix)
14. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Electro Club Mix)


Avett Brothers July 9 Concert from Red Rocks to be Simulcast Live
On World’s Largest HDTV at Charlotte Motor Speedway


The Live Performance Will Also Be Available For Streaming at www.iclips.net


Charlotte Motor Speedway will add another fabulous first to its legacy on July 9 when the world’s largest HDTV airs a live simulcast concert by American Recordings artists, the Avett Brothers, from the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

Photo credit: Todd Roeth


(June 23, 2011; Columbia Records; New York, NY) - The Avett Brothers sold-out show on July 9, 2011 from Colorado’s famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre will be broadcast live via satellite to the band’s hometown of Concord, NC on the planets largest HDTV screen. AEG Network LIVE is responsible for producing and shooting the entire event in HD and delivering it via iClips to Charlotte Motor Speedway. Charlotte Motor Speedway, home to the massive 80’ x 200’ Panasonic HDTV, will host Avett Brothers fans from near and far for a chance to be part of this exciting show as it happens live. Fans who can't make it to Colorado or North Carolina on July 9 will be able stream the show on iclips.net.

The live simulcast will give the Avett Brothers’ rabid local fan base the opportunity to view their historical show from Red Rocks on the speedway’s massive 80-foot-by-200-foot HD video board. The speedway will supply concert-grade speakers to turn the infield area in front of the video board into a one-of-a-kind concert venue. Tickets for the July 9 simulcast on the world’s largest HDTV at Charlotte Motor Speedway are on sale now and can be purchased at the speedway ticket office or by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Tickets are only $10 until July 1, when they will increase to $15 until July 8. Tickets purchased the day of the event, July 9, will cost $20.

“The speedway has been a hometown landmark for us our whole lives and we're proud to have an opportunity for our music to echo through that historical infield,” said Seth Avett. “For us, performing at Red Rocks and airing live in Concord is about the most ideal situation for being in two amazing places at once.”

The Avett Brothers front men, Scott and Seth Avett, who grew up on their father’s farm in Concord, quickly grew their fan base throughout the region with memorable energetic shows, which has become the band’s trademark.

The Avetts’ popularity skyrocketed on the heels on their major label debut, the 2009 album “I and Love and You.” Recently, the band has become accustomed to performing sold out concerts and in February they performed at the 53rd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles alongside Bob Dylan.

“We are so fortunate to travel and play the many places we do,” said Scott Avett. “To have an opportunity to share that with our supportive home town in a setting where great men like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and David Pearson competed adds to the sense of pride that we feel to be a part of the Charlotte community and this event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.”

“This is going to be an unbelievable event,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “This is something that would have never been possible without the world’s largest HD video board. But, now we’re going to simulcast a live sold out show from one of the most famous concert venues in the world, featuring our home-town boys, the Avett Brothers, to their loyal fan following here in Charlotte. It’s going to be awesome!”

About AEG Live Rocky Mountains
AEG Live, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based AEG, is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring for a variety of programming and multi-media production. AEG Live, the nation’s second largest concert promotion and touring company is comprised of special event, broadcast and exhibition divisions, fourteen regional offices and numerous state of the art venues nationwide. AEG Live Rocky Mountains promotes Colorado’s Mile High Music Festival. They produce events at the 1STBANK Center, Bluebird Theater, Ogden Theatre, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Pepsi Center and more in Denver, Colorado as well as produce shows in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.

About AEG Network Live
AEG Network LIVE is the worlds largest multi-media company focused on producing live, branded entertainment. Network LIVE is committed to delivering top quality entertainment across all platforms including 3-D, broadband, digital cinema, cable/satellite, VOD, mobile and HDTV. Network LIVE connects brands with consumers any time, anywhere they want to be

About iClips
iClips has been a leader in live music broadcast and complete high definition broadcast production for almost ten years. From the world’s most iconic music festivals and events to and endless list of performers, iClips is the music industry’s go to production company. Past clients include events such as Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, The Michael Jackson Memorial, Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday and artists such artists as MUSE, Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Band of Horses, Phish, Weezer, and Katy Perry, among many others. iclips.net

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Glen Campbell Says Farewell With Final Album, "Ghost On The Canvas," Out August 30


GLEN CAMPBELL SAYS FAREWELL WITH FINAL ALBUM; "GHOST ON THE CANVAS" SEES THE MUSICAL LEGEND OFFERING ONE OF HIS MOST POWERFUL WORKS TO DATE; COLLECTION FEATURES NEW SONGS PENNED BY PAUL WESTERBERG, JAKOB DYLAN, ROBERT POLLARD, AND CAMPBELL HIMSELF;


FOLLOWING RECENT DIAGNOSIS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE; EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW FEATURED IN CURRENT ISSUE OF PEOPLE;"GHOST ON THE CANVAS" ARRIVES EVERYWHERE ON AUGUST 30th


MULTIPLE GRAMMY-WINNING ICON TO EMBARK ON "THE GLEN CAMPBELL GOODBYE TOUR"


Surfdog Records has announced the upcoming release of Ghost On The Canvas, the remarkable new album from the legendary Glen Campbell. The album - which marks the iconic singer/guitarist/songwriter's final studio recording - arrives everywhere on August 30, 2011.

Ghost On The Canvas sees Campbell capping his brilliant career with one of his most moving and energized works to date, a powerfully emotional song cycle that sees him accompanied by a truly dazzling line-up of songwriters and musicians. Among the tunesmiths contributing original songs to the collection are such modern luminaries as Paul Westerberg, Jakob Dylan, Robert Pollard, and Teddy Thompson, backed by a roster of players that includes Chris Isaak, Dick Dale, Billy Corgan, Brian Setzer, Rick Nielsen, Roger Manning, and The Dandy Warhols. The album is produced by Julian Raymond, who also co-wrote a number of new songs with Campbell.

Campbell will celebrate the new album as well as his extraordinary five-decade-plus career with a valedictory Worldwide concert tour, dubbed "The Glen Campbell Goodbye Tour." A complete itinerary will be announced shortly.

Sadly, Campbell was recently diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer's Disease. The multiple Grammy Award-winner discusses his health and his long career in an exclusive interview with People, available on newsstands now as well as via People.com.

For more than 50 years, Glen Campbell has been among popular music's most successful and significant artists, a multi-talented superstar who can rightfully be declared a living legend and a true American treasure. The Arkansas-born Campbell took up guitar at an early age and in 1958, relocated to Los Angeles where he immediately became an in-demand session musician. He joined forces with the legendary Wrecking Crew, a group of session players whose work can be heard on a stunning range of recordings spanning from the 1960's thru the seventies. The Wrecking Crew played with such artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Presley, and most famously, Phil Spector, with whom they helped create the famed "Wall of Sound." In 1964, Campbell was invited to become a touring member of The Beach Boys, playing bass and singing falsetto harmonies, then later contributing guitar to 1966's seminal Pet Sounds.

Campbell achieved his first major success as a solo artist with "Gentle On My Mind," which proved a crossover smash upon its 1967 release. He followed it that same year with "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," marking the first in a string of collaborative hits penned by renowned songwriter Jimmy Webb that also includes such classics as "Wichita Lineman," "Where's The Playground, Susie," and "Galveston."

In addition to hit singles, Campbell also released a remarkable run of gold and platinum certified albums, including 1967's Gentle On My Mind, the first of seven consecutive collections to hit #1 on Billboard's "Country Albums" chart. Among them are full-length favorites like 1967's By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Bobbie Gentry & Glen Campbell and the 2x-platinum certified Wichita Lineman (both released in 1968), and 1969's Galveston.

As if his musical career weren't enough, Campbell also drew acclaim as an actor and TV personality, with credits that include 1969's True Grit (earning him a Golden Globe nomination as "Most Promising Newcomer") and four seasons as host of CBS' The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. The highly rated variety series saw Campbell joined by a spectacular assortment of stars - including John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ray Charles, and Cream - while also introducing some of country music's greatest artists (Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard) to a wide national audience.

1975 saw the release of Campbell's biggest crossover triumph, "Rhinestone Cowboy," which earned RIAA gold certification while topping both Billboard's "Hot 100" and "Hot Country Singles" charts. Two years later saw Campbell repeating the feat with the gold certified, #1 smash, "Southern Nights," marking his fifth-ever country chart-topper as well as his seventh on Billboard's "Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks" tally.

Though Campbell's life has taken many difficult turns, his faith and family have long enabled him to keep pushing forward, both as a touring superstar and acclaimed recording artist. In 2008, he united with Ghost On The Canvas producer Julian Raymond for one of the most unique albums in his canon, Meet Glen Campbell. The album found Campbell putting his inimitable stamp on songs by such artists as U2, Green Day, Tom Petty, Foo Fighters, and Jackson Browne, supported by members of Jane's Addiction, Jellyfish, and Cheap Trick.

Over the course of his astonishing career, Campbell can lay claim to six Top 20 albums and 21 Top 40 hit singles. His track record as one of country music's greatest stars includes 27 Top 10 country classics spanning 22 years, as well as nine #1 country albums.

Campbell has also received a stunning array of honors, beginning in 1967 when he made history by winning multiple Grammy Awards in both the Country & Western and Pop categories: "Gentle On My Mind" was honored as "Best Country & Western Vocal Performance, Male" and "Best Country & Western Recording," while "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" was named "Best Vocal Performance, Male" and "Best Contemporary Male Solo Vocal Performance." The following year saw Campbell earning yet another Grammy when By The Time I Get To Phoenix was named "Album of the Year" - the first country album to win the top award. What's more, "Gentle On My Mind," "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," and "Wichita Lineman" have all since received the "Grammy Hall of Fame Award."

Among Campbell's many other honors are seven Academy of Country Music Awards (including "Top Male Vocalist" and "Album of the Year" in both 1967 and 1968), three American Music Awards (celebrating "Rhinestone Cowboy" and the album that bears its name), three Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, two Country Music Association Awards, and the UK's Q Award for "Q Legend." In addition, Campbell has received the Academy of Country Music's prestigious "Pioneer Award" and has been inducted to both the Country Music Hall of Fame as well as the Musicians Hall of Fame (honoring his membership in The Wrecking Crew).

Monday, June 20, 2011

Remastered reissues: The Motels, Leon Russell, Carly Simon, Bad Company

This has been a very strong year in terms of reissues, rarities and remastered releases. Read on to hear about exciting re-releases from Carly Simon and Bad Company, as well as releases from The Motels and Leon Russell coming in early August 2011. The following text and images are taken directly from releases sent to my inbox.


Omnivore Recordings to release The Motels 1981 lost album 'Apocalypso' on August 9, 2011


30th ANNIVERSARY ALBUM RELEASE TO BE ISSUED ON CD, LP (ORANGE VINYL), AND DIGITAL BUNDLE INCLUDING ORIGINAL 4-TRACK DEMO RECORDINGS


Los Angeles, CA - June 20, 2011 - Omnivore Recordings has announced they will officially release The Motels' 1981 legendary, lost album Apocalypso on August 9 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of its recording. Apocalypso will be released in its intended original form as a 10-track LP (on limited-edition orange vinyl). In addition, Omnivore Recordings will release Apocalypso as an expanded 17-track CD version that includes previously unissued original demos and outtakes. A digital EP of the five 4-track demo recordings will also be made available through all digital retailers (these tracks are included on the CD configuration). Martha Davis and The Motels will announce a set of live shows in support of the official release.

In 1981, Los Angeles band The Motels convened to record the follow-up to their 1980 release Careful. The band's lineup consisted of Davis (vocals/guitar), Marty Jourard (sax/keys), Michael Goodroe (bass), Brian Glascock (drums), and Davis' then boyfriend, Tim McGovern (guitar), who had recently replaced founding member Jeff Jourard.

"So it was" says Davis, "a band, on their third attempt to gain some commercial success in the U.S. A relationship quantified by music and qualified by its abusive nature-and of course there was the Art, that most magical place of expression-'tear down the walls,' 'piss in the face of tradition,' 'make something no one has ever heard before'-and in the '80s there were a lot of drugs, which might explain all of the above. We did as all bands do-locked ourselves away in a room with a tape machine and started making demos, a heady, wonderful experience, where we made up the rules. Tim's influence and command over the process is not to be overlooked."

"On the last day of March we met with producer Val Garay at his Record One studio in Sherman Oaks," recalls Marty Jourard. "After listening to a couple of the songs on the cassette, he immediately agreed to produce the album. He was coming off a huge success with 'Bette Davis Eyes' and was the hot producer of the month. In my recollection it was Tim making most of the production decisions and Val engineering, but opinions may vary. We recorded from April to August. On July 23rd the album cover was shot. It was fun watching Martha being photographed surrounded by fire. The final album session was August 9th from 1 p.m. to 7 a.m.-we drank a lot of coffee!-recording overdubs for 'Art Fails.' We were done."

"When we were convinced we had amassed the perfect collection of what were obvious hits or at least great album tracks, we went to the label," says Davis.

As Capitol A&R man Bruce Ravid recalls, "having cosigned the band, I was one of the A&R guys who thought that this album was 'too strange, too dark, and where's the single?' It was very much a Tim McGovern record that seemed like too great a departure for The Motels. This was a crucial release for the band, as we knew we needed to get them on radio in a big way. There was an unusual amount of love for The Motels at Capitol from the day we signed them, and we really needed consensus from the promotion, sales, and marketing people downstairs. It's true, our promotion execs didn't feel they had a shot with Apocalypso. We dreaded the thought of telling the band they needed to return to the well."

"When Capitol heard the album the reaction was something like, 'We'll release it if you really want us to, but the promotion department will not work it,' says Davis.

Davis sums up what happened next: "After the bruising of egos, and some time to reflect, it was apparent that this was actually a good thing. It was long past time for Tim and I to part ways and this was the opportunity to get out of a bad relationship. So Tim was gone and with him the album Capitol didn't want to release."

The resulting album All Four One was released in 1982 as The Motels' official third studio record and was the band's first commercial success, featuring the timeless "Only The Lonely," which would go Top 10 on the Billboard charts; the subsequent video would become a staple of rotation on the burgeoning music television network MTV.

"With the hindsight that only 30 years can bring, I hear Apocalypso a sort of wild sonic ride," says Jourard. "All Four One was our first real commercial success, but it was born of these sessions."

"All Four One came out, and we had our first real chart success in the U.S.-we were mainstream, baby...But something was lost with Apocalypso, the album that got away," says Davis. "I look at it as the last time The Motels were uninhibited, wild, and not worried about our place on the charts. In my heart, I think I've always liked Apocalypso more."

Apocalypso CD track list:
1) Art Fails *
2) Tragic Surf
3) Only The Lonely
4) Schneekin'
5) So L.A.
6) Apocalypso *
7) Mission Of Mercy
8) Lost But Not Forgotten
9) Who Could Resist That Face *
10) Sweet Destiny *

Bonus Tracks
11) Art Fails (alternate version) *
12) Don't You Remember (4-track demo) *
13) Tragic Surf (4-track demo) *
14) Fiasco (4-track demo) *
15) Obvioso (4-track demo) *
16) Only The Lonely (4-track demo) *
17) Only The Lonely (TV Mix - hidden track) *

(*) previously unissued track

Apocalypso LP track list:

Side One:

1) Art Fails *
2) Tragic Surf
3) Only The Lonely
4) Schneekin'
5) So L.A.

Side Two:

1) Apocalypso * 2) Mission Of Mercy
3) Lost But Not Forgotten
4) Who Could Resist That Face *
5) Sweet Destiny *

(*) previously unissued track
About Omnivore Recordings:
Founded in 2010 by longtime, highly respected industry veterans Cheryl Pawelski, Greg Allen, and Brad Rosenberger, Omnivore Recordings' vision is to preserve the legacies and music created by historical, heritage, and catalog artists while also releasing previously unissued, newly found "lost" recordings and making them available for music-loving audiences to discover. Omnivore Recordings is distributed by EMI in North America and Ace Records UK in Europe. The label's first releases early this year on "Record Store Day" included the limited LP release of the test pressing edition of the Big Star album Third and a limited-edition Buck Owens 7" of previously unreleased material - both editions sold out immediately.


Omnivore Recordings official website: http://omnivorerecordings.com/
Become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/omnivorerecordings


OMNIVORE RECORDINGS TO RELEASE LEON RUSSELL'S 1974 LIVE IN JAPAN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE U.S.-AUGUST 9, 2011



BONUS TRACKS INCLUDE A PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED
1971 LIVE SET RECORDED AT SAM HOUSTON COLISEUM, HOUSTON, TX


Los Angeles, CA - June 20, 2011 - Omnivore Recordings has announced the release of Leon Russell Live In Japan. This will mark the historic album's first release outside of Japan and its first time on CD anywhere. The original album was recorded live on November 8, 1973, at the historic Nippon Bukokan Hall and will see its nine tracks complemented by a bonus set of an additional seven previously unissued live performances recorded at the Sam Houston Coliseum on April 22, 1971. Liner notes for this package were penned by Leon Russell historian Steve Todoroff-author of the upcoming book Longhair Music: The Songs And Sessions Of Leon Russell-and by Rev. Patrick Henderson-a member of the touring band for the 1973 Japan tour.

In 1973, Shelter Records released the triple album Leon Live, which reached #9 on the charts in the U.S. and earned Russell a gold record. Unbeknownst to all but the most diehard Russell fans was the fact that in 1974, Shelter released a completely different live album that was available only in Japan and appropriately titled Live In Japan. This recording was drawn from the first of two back-to-back dates recorded in 1973 at the Budokan, at a time when Leon was at the top of his game as a rock performer.

Opening with the Rev. Patrick Henderson composition "Heaven," featuring Henderson's driving piano, the backup vocals of the group Black Grass, and Russell's super-tight Shelter People band, Russell saunters out on the stage partway through the song (listen for the applause), grabs his Les Paul guitar, then jumps atop Henderson's piano, and joins in with his distinctive guitar licks. Tutored by legendary guitarist James Burton in the early '60s, and perhaps inspired by the work of Jimmy Page, Russell's guitar style has always sounded unique.

The mood shifts with the next song, a medley that begins with the familiar Harburg/Arlen standard "Over The Rainbow," performed by the Black Grass background singers, which then transitions into the obscure Russell composition "God Put A Rainbow," with Russell finally joining in on an occasional vocal.

Before the overly-polite Japanese audience has much time to applaud, Russell jumps right into "Queen Of The Roller Derby," one of the more popular songs from the original Leon Live release, and the show starts to rock "Leon style," transitioning into the familiar "Proud Mary" intro to the Russell/Greg Dempsey composition "Roll Away The Stone."

Next comes a rare live version of Russell's classic rock anthem, "Tight Rope." "Sweet Emily" is next, followed by the driving "Alcatraz," which features some blistering guitar licks by guitarist Wayne Perkins. A Jimmy Reed composition follows, "You Don't Have To Go," a personal favorite of Russell's that he began performing publicly early on in his solo career.

For the show's encore, Russell performs another medley, beginning with a portion of his classic composition "A Song For You," before breaking into his "Of Thee I Sing," and finishing up with the Lester Flatt standard, "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms," which incidentally was the opening track from Russell's 1973 album featuring his country persona, Hank Wilson's Back Vol. 1, and a song he still performs in concert to this day.

"The concert was amazing. The concertgoers were with us from the start. Leon had earned his reputation as a great bandleader; yet to me, he was more-he was a great Pentecostal preacher in the black tradition," said Rev. Patrick Henderson. "His cadence was impeccable, his voice rising and dropping, flowing with full power, seducing and commanding, his leadership undeniable, taking no prisoners. The concert quickly became a revival of sorts; the usually staid Japanese youth were dancing in the aisles."

"I am excited to hear the Live In Japan album myself, having not heard these tapes in so many years," said Russell. "The band on the show was very inspiring to me, and I think this is the kind of Leon Russell show that fans remember best. Japan is one of my favorite places on Earth."

The historic Sam Houston Coliseum, up until its demolition in 1998, hosted some of the biggest acts in the history of rock 'n' roll. The Beatles had their only Houston appearance at the Coliseum. Jimi Hendrix played the Coliseum three months before he died. Cream played the Coliseum on their Farewell Tour. Elvis Presley's 1956 concert at the Coliseum ended abruptly, as he and his band were taken away by police escort just before the end of the show, after which a mob of about a 1,000 teenagers rushed the stage and destroyed the band's instruments. And singer Johnny Ace shot himself playing Russian roulette backstage at the Coliseum on Christmas Eve, 1954.

When Leon Russell performed at the Sam Houston Coliseum on April 22, 1971, it was the first show of his 1971 U.S. tour, after he and the newly formed Shelter People band had honed their road-performing skills in late 1970 at venues up and down the West Coast, including an occasional show with fledgling singer/pianist Elton John.

These bonus tracks are extraordinary in many respects. They show a raw, gritty singer and his band just as they are taking off, making great, original music, while loving every minute of it. They also show why Russell was considered one of the greatest live acts in the annals of rock music. The bonus tracks are a great addition to an already great album, and the fact that they are of such a high quality for the era is nothing short of remarkable. The combination of Live In Japan and the Live in Houston '71 tracks make this is a must-have for any Leon Russell fan.

LEON RUSSELL - LIVE IN JAPAN

Live In Japan - Original Album
Recorded in 1973, released on LP in Japan, 1974
[Previously unissued in the U.S. and never-before on CD]

1) Heaven
2) Over The Rainbow/God Put A Rainbow (medley)
3) Queen Of The Roller Derby
4) Roll Away The Stone
5) Tight Rope
6) Sweet Emily
7) Alcatraz
8) You Don't Have To Go
9) A Song For You/Of Thee I Sing/Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms (medley)

Bonus Tracks: Live In Houston
Recorded in 1971
[Previously unissued]

10) Alcatraz
11) Stranger In A Strange Land
12) Groupie (Superstar)
13) Roll Over Beethoven
14) Blues Power/Shoot Out On The Plantation/As The Years Go By/The Woman I Love (medley)
15) Jumpin' Jack Flash
16) Of Thee I Sing/Yes I Am (medley)
About Omnivore Recordings:
Founded in 2010 by longtime, highly respected industry veterans Cheryl Pawelski, Greg Allen, and Brad Rosenberger, Omnivore Recordings' vision is to preserve the legacies and music created by historical, heritage, and catalog artists while also releasing previously unissued, newly found "lost" recordings and making them available for music-loving audiences to discover. Omnivore Recordings is distributed by EMI in North America and Ace Records UK in Europe. The label's first releases early this year on "Record Store Day" included the limited LP release of the test pressing edition of the Big Star album Third and a limited-edition Buck Owens 7" of previously unreleased material - both editions sold out immediately.


Omnivore Recordings official website: http://omnivorerecordings.com/
Become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/omnivorerecordings


AUDIO FIDELITY GOES FOR THE GOLD WITH 24 KARAT REISSUES OF TWO CLASSIC '70S ALBUMS


Carly Simon's 'No Secrets' and Bad Company's 'Straight Shooter' get deluxe treatment in Limited-Edition Gold CDs from the Premier Audiophile Imprint


In its ongoing program of reissuing classic rock and pop albums, Audio Fidelity will release 24 Karat Gold CD versions of Carly Simon's 1972 NO SECRETS and Bad Company's 1975 STRAIGHT SHOOTER on June 21. The discs will be issued as numbered, limited editions that will be retired after their initial runs have sold out, and will be available from both online and brick-and-mortar retail outlets.


First issued in November of 1972, NO SECRETS was Simon's breakthrough LP and remains her best-selling recording to date, having held the No. 1 position on Billboard's album chart for five weeks and ultimately gone Platinum five times over. Her third long-player, NO SECRETS contains Simon's signature single, the chart-topping "You're So Vain," which features Mick Jagger on backing vocals, as well as its follow-up, "The Right Thing to Do." The album introduced eight new Simon originals, as well as a cover of James Taylor's "Night Owl," and enlisted an all-star cast of support players. Taylor joins Simon on vocals for "Waited So Long," which also boasts contributions from Little Feat's Lowell George (slide guitar) and Bill Payne (organ), while Paul McCartney, Bonnie Bramlett and Doris Troy (of "Just One Look" fame) lend vocal assists on "Night Owl." Richard Perry (Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, Ringo, Tiny Tim) produced NO SECRETS, and Paul Buckmaster, best known for his work with Elton John, provided string and woodwind arrangements on "When You Close Your Eyes" and the choral arrangement on "Embrace Me, You Child."


STRAIGHT SHOOTER was the sophomore album by British hard-rockers Bad Company. Released in April of 1975, it earned the quartet of Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell its third and fourth hit singles: "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" (penned by guitarist Ralphs) and "Feel Like Makin' Love" (a Ralphs co-write with vocalist/guitarist Rodgers). The latter track was a Top 10 hit and has enjoyed a storied pop-culture legacy, having been covered by, among others, Kid Rock, ska-punkers Goldfinger and country singer Philip Claypool, and used on episodes of The Simpsons and South Park. In addition to the singles, the album contained the FM-rock-radio staples "Deal with the Preacher" and "Shooting Star" (which Simon Kirke and Mick Ralphs have explained was inspired by the deaths of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison). STRAIGHT SHOOTER climbed to No. 3 on both the U.S. and U.K. charts and was subsequently certified for triple-Platinum status. Bad Company produced the album, which was engineered and mixed by Ron Nevison, whose credits include The Who's Quadrophenia and the Rolling Stones' It's Only Rock 'N Roll.


Audio Fidelity, founded in 2002 by entertainment-industry executive Marshall Blonstein, specializes in deluxe reissues of classic popular-music recordings for the audiophile and collector markets. Blonstein created Audio Fidelity after departing the pioneering DCC Compact Classics audiophile label that he started in 1986, and it has since assumed a similarly prestigious perch among imprints serving the audiophile and music-collecting communities. Based in Camarillo, California-based, Audio Fidelity is best known for its 24 Karat Gold CDs and its 180-gram virgin-vinyl album editions, though it also releases compilation CDs, a variety of reissues and DVDs, such as Soupy Sales, Elvis Presley, Tim Allen and Hugh Hefner's legendary series Playboy After Dark.

For more information, visit Audio Fidelity's official Web site at: www.audiofidelity.net

Sunday, June 19, 2011

U2 dazzles on second night in Anaheim



There is little doubt that while U2's performance in Anaheim on Friday night (June 17) was a good one, the Saturday show that arrived a day later was even better. The band's performance was a big factor, as was a more notably involved audience that made a big difference to be sure.

There were also obvious changes to the setlist from the previous night. The band performed a high-powered version of "The Fly" (the first time the song has reportedly been played during the 360 Tour), and several riveting songs that show up toward the end of most U2 concert sets (the one-two punch of "One" and "Where The Streets Have No Name" with a bit of "Amazing Grace" sandwiched between) showed up here very early in the show in front of 50,000+ fans packed into Angel Stadium and added a dynamic to the proceedings that worked wonders.

The gospel-flavored "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (dedicated to Quincy Jones) was especially moving, as was the soaring "Beautiful Day" and "With Or Without You."

I had heard via a text from a friend just prior to U2 taking the stage that Clarence Clemons (the long-time sax player with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) had just died from compilations from a recent stroke, but the inclusion of several lines from "Jungleland" still hurt with the realization that the Big Man was gone.

Just an additional note that Orange County Register writer Ben Wener wrote a wonderful review of both the first show and second show, and I recommend both reviews.

Setlist: U2 at Angel Stadium, June 18, 2011

Main set: Even Better Than the Real Thing / The Fly / (“James Brown!” quote from Tom Tom Club’s Genius of Love) > Mysterious Ways / Until the End of the World (bit of Anthem) / One > Amazing Grace (snippet) > Where the Streets Have No Name (with reference to All You Need Is Love) / I Will Follow / Get On Your Boots / (Snippet of She Loves You) > I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (dedicated to Quincy Jones) / Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of (for Michael Hutchence and the Edge’s wife) / Beautiful Day (dedicated to Gabrielle Giffords, featuring video of Cmdr. Mark Kelly and references to Space Oddity) / Elevation (quote from California Soul) / Pride (In the Name of Love) / Miss Sarajevo > Zooropa > City of Blinding Light / Vertigo (with references to the Stones' It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll and Miss You) / I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (with quotes from Discotheque and Please) > Sunday Bloody Sunday > Walk On (with You’ll Never Walk Alone coda)
Encore: Ultra Violet (Light My Way) / With or Without You / Moment of Surrender (with Jungleland reference)

Saturday, June 18, 2011

In battle of U2 vs. Anaheim crowd, band is the big winner




U2 singer Bono, as photographed from our seats on Friday, June 17.

I've seen U2 so many times since I first caught them at the US Festival back in May 1983, it's almost easy for this jaded old scribe to take another one of their concerts for granted. But that changed for me earlier this week, when I almost suddenly got very excited and couldn't wait to see them again when they landed to perform at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Friday night, June 17.
My excitement about the band remains firm some 12 hours or so after the sold-out show ended (and I am set to see the band perform for a second night in a row later today). But the audience that filled the "Big A" was 50 percent or more a bona fide big dud. Beer runs, check. Needless and ceaseless screaming, check. Less-than-discerning listeners aplenty, check.
There is no doubt that the fans that began lining up several days before the show and were standing close to the stage displayed the same passion that U2 fans have displayed for the Irish quartet since the early 1980s.
But the cell phone-armed, party-minded majority seated around me had only a casual interest in the concert and the music making. How sad.
I thought Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. were in fine form, and since our seats were much closer than when we saw the band at the Rose Bowl in October 2009, I was more than happy with the views of the band and stage.
The band's two-hour performance featured a mix of old and new. Although I wish I band would take a break from playing "I Will Follow" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday," at least there were energetic versions of "Magnificent " (from No Line on the Horizon), "Beautiful Day" and the wonderful "Stay (Faraway, So Close)".
I'll have more thoughts and a stronger review tomorrow about the second show, and compare/contrast that with this oh-so-quick review of the Friday performance.
As far as Lenny Kravitz's set, the sound was very muddy and I don't feel I can really offer up a solid review.


Setlist: U2 at Angel Stadium, Anaheim, June 17, 2011
Main set: Intro music: David Bowie’s Space Oddity / Even Better Than the Real Thing / I Will Follow / Get On Your Boots / Magnificent / Mysterious Ways / Elevation / Until the End of the World (with lines from Where Have All the Flowers Gones?) / Happy Birthday to You (for Paul McGuinness) / All I Want Is You / Stay (Faraway, So Close!!) (with a touch of In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning) (acoustic; dedicated to Chris Blackwell) / Beautiful Day (with Space Oddity references, including one from Cmdr. Mark Kelly; dedicated to Gabrielle Giffords) / Pride (In the Name of Love) (dedicated to Maria Shriver) / Miss Sarajevo > Zooropa > City of Blinding Lights > Vertigo (with Are You Gonna Go My Way reference) / I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (with quotes from Discothèque and Talking Heads’ Life During Wartime and Psycho Killer) / Sunday Bloody Sunday / Scarlet > Walk On (with You’ll Never Walk Alone coda)
First encore: One (with bit from United We Stand) > snippet of Will You Love Me Tomorrow? > Where the Streets Have No Name
Second encore: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me / With or Without You / Moment of Surrender

Lenny Kravitz: Come On and Get It / It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over / Always on the Run / American Woman / Fly Away / Let Love Rule / Are You Gonna Go My Way

Friday, June 17, 2011

Upcoming releases: Deep Purple, Sonia Leigh, The Dwarves, Bandana Splits

While I wait for tonight, and the arrival of U2's performance in Anaheim, here are a few things from my inbox I wanted to share.

Last weekend I caught an excellent show featuring supergroup Black County Communion, which includes lead singer-bassist Glenn Hughes.

Now the legendary Hughes will be featured in a stunning release set to arrive on June 28. Read on friends...


On June 28, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Deep Purple’s Phoenix Rising – a two-hour-plus revelatory documentary including 30 minutes of never-before-seen (not even on bootleg) onstage footage from Japan. Phoenix Rising will be released on DVD, Blu-ray, and in a special two-disc DVD/CD package [MSRP $19.98 for DVD/CD, $14.98 for DVD, and $19.98 for Blu-ray].


The release is cause for celebration amongst Purple fans due to the rarity of material. Extensive interviews with keyboardist Jon Lord and bassist Glenn Hughes tell the tale of a band caught by circumstance into one of its most controversial, extreme and exciting eras of its long career. Ian Gillan and Roger Glover were gone. A young unknown singer by the name of David Coverdale was recruited as was bassist Hughes. The results were the albums Burn and Stormbringer (both released in 1974). But then Ritchie Blackmore left the band. Against all odds, they rocked on, recruiting Tommy Bolin (from Zephyr and The James Gang). The album Come Taste The Band (1975) documents the short-lived Bolin era, an era that all came crashing down when the band announced in July of 1976 that it was breaking up. By December, Bolin would be dead due to a heroin overdose. Nine years of silence would ensue.

The never-before-seen 30 minutes, “Rises Over Japan,” has the Coverdale/Lord/Bolin/Hughes/Paice lineup delivering the goods in 1976 on eight songs: “Burn,” “Getting Tighter,” “Love Child,” “Smoke On The Water,” “Lazy,” “Homeward Strut,” “You Keep On Moving” and “Stormbringer.” (The double-disc package contains these eight songs on CD.) This segment is some of the only video footage that showcases Tommy Bolin performing in Deep Purple.

The 90-minute documentary portion, “Getting Tighter,” recounts the trials and tribulations of a band in turmoil, riding the rock’n’roll roller coaster to total excess. With its live images, backstage footage, never-before-told stories and original video material carefully culled from years of research, it’s a veritable bonanza for Purple fans and fans of Rock History. No stone is left unturned…and sometimes it’s not pretty. Gritty, truthful, wild, this is the story of an era in the 1970s that is simply unforgettable.

Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international media production and distribution company operating across audiovisual entertainment programming. Eagle Rock Entertainment works directly alongside talent to produce the highest quality programming output covering film, general entertainment and musical performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices based in London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hamburg, & Paris.

Click here to visit Eagle Rock Entertainment online.


Sonia Leigh Rouses 50K New Fans at CMA Fest with "My Name is Money"



Georgia troubadour Sonia Leigh, whose gritty brand of southern blues is abuzz on the touring circuit, shows off her powerful pipes on debut single "My Name is Money," a bright, brash track that gives new life to dusty soul rock with nods to Joan Jett and Sheryl Crow. Listen to "My Name is Money" at: bit.ly/SoniaLeigh

Leigh performed the single several times at CMA Festival last week, including once with the Zac Brown Band at LP field in front of 50K fans. With its upbeat swagger, "My Name is Money" (out now on iTunes, hitting radio July 25) is sparking country, roots, and rock fans alike to get down with the "young, hot vintage" songstress.

Watch Sonia perform "My Name is Money" http://bit.ly/SoniaLeigh-Money

Said Leigh of the inspiration, "I wrote this song about how powerful money is and how impactful it can be to people's lives. I'm not for it or against it but I was just thinking if money could talk, what would it say?"

Leigh's national debut 1978 December (Southern Ground Artists, Inc.) is out August 30, 2011.

Purchase "My Name is Money" on iTunes at: http://budurl.com/mnim

http://www.sonialeigh.com


The Dwarves Are Born Again

THE DWARVES 25th Anniversary Tour:

A celebration of the most bizarre and misunderstood punk rock band of all time.




New release The Dwarves Are Born Again in deluxe CD or vinyl package (with bonus DVD) getting rave reviews from critics and fans alike...

The Dwarves are currently touring Europe, but will soon be back in the states to celebrate 25 years of pure punk rock insanity. There remains a great deal of unknown stories and anecdotes regarding the most bizarre and misunderstood band of all time...



For instance, did you know of the stabbings, bannings, arrests, assaults and secret peccadilloes of the last punk band standing?

Did you know that The Dwarves have been members of groups as diverse as KMFDM, Gnarls Barkley, Excel, The Queers and Scream?

Did you know their music has been featured in dozens of television shows from Viva La Bam and Jackass to Spongebob Squarepants or feature films like Hostel and Ghostworld?



Click HERE to see all 25 things you don't know about the Dwarves!

As for the tour, the fun starts in Baltimore on July 13:



Wednesday, July 13, 2011 10:00 PM

Baltimore, MD - Ottobar



Thursday, July 14, 2011 07:00 PM

Pittsburgh, PA - Altar Bar



Friday, July 15, 2011 08:30 PM

Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory Brooklyn



Saturday, July 16, 2011 10:00 PM

New York, NY - Studio at Webster Hall



Sunday, July 17, 2011 10:00 PM

Cambridge, MA - Middle East



Monday, July 18, 2011 10:00 PM

Newport, RI - Newport Blues Cafe


And as for the new record, The Dwarves Are Born Again features all your favorite heroes from the Dwarves long and twisted saga. Blag the Ripper, HeWhoCanNotBeNamed, Rex Everything and a cast of thousands return to crush the ears of a desperate public. Teamed with Top Ten producer Eric Valentine (Slash, All American Rejects) they have created a perfect mix of hardcore punk, ear soothing pop, and everything in between. Damaged celebrity cameos mix with twisted phone messages, ear splitting noise with dance friendly grooves, all delivered with the Dwarves trademark humor and intensity.


Website: http://www.thedwarves.com/



Brooklyn Based Trio, The Bandana Splits Release Self-Titled Debut Album Aug 16, 2011 via Tummy Touch Records




**New York City Summer Shows Announced!**



Sometimes all that glitters IS gold.

At first glance, The Bandana Splits look like a pin-up girl group from the early 60s, yet behind the cutesy façade lurks a serious power pop trio. Annie Nero, Dawn Landes, and Lauren Balthrop were brought together by geography and their love of The Andrews Sisters charm and Spector-like musicality. Along with producer Sam Cohen (Apollo Sunshine/Yellowbirds) The Splits have effortlessly crafted your new favorite record.

The Bandana Splits’ self-titled debut album sends listeners whirling through the space/time continuum, conjuring images of soda jerks and varsity jackets. However, they’re much more than a throwback piece. Recorded at Landes’ Saltlands Studio in DUMBO, Brooklyn, the record displays their unique songwriting and sweet 3-part harmonies performed live around an old RCA ribbon microphone. Accompanied by spastic guitar, Muppetesque drum and bass jams, and slinky organ riffs, Cohen sonically infused the record with Motown grooves, Brazilian psychedelia, and a tasteful dash of classic country schmaltz.

In support of their debut release, the girls are excited to be performing a bunch of shows around NYC this summer. You can feast your eyes and ears on the Bandana Splits at any, or preferably all, of the scheduled happenings below.
Tour dates:
June 18th – Brooklyn, NY - Littlefield (Farewell to Normal Scene Party)
June 21st – New York, NY - Joe's Pub (part of Make Music New York)
July 9th – New York, NY - The Mercury Lounge (7 pm w/ Elizabeth & the Catapult and Harper Blynn)

For more information, visit the Bandana Splits' official Web site.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Elbow, Imelda May, Yes & Styx announce upcoming tour dates


Elbow, who blew me away when they performed at Coachella earlier this year, has announced a number of North America tour dates in the U.S. this fall.

ELBOW TOUR DATES
09/18/11 - Austin City Limits, Zilker Park - Austin, TX
09/20/11 - Center Stage - Atlanta, GA BUY TICKETS
09/22/11 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC BUY TICKETS
09/23/11 - FDR Park - Philadelphia, PA
09/25/11 - Terminal 5 - New York , NY BUY TICKETS
09/26/11 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA - BUY TICKETS
09/28/11 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON BUY TICKETS
10/01/11 - The Greek Theater - Los Angeles, CA



Following the success of build a rocket boys!, Manchester’s multi-award, Mercury Music Prize winning five-piece are pleased to announce a North American tour this fall in support of their 5th critically acclaimed studio album.


Since the release of build a rocket boys! this spring, the band made a whirlwind trip to perform at this year's Coachella Festival. As the sun set, the band wowed the crowds and critics alike with their powerful performance, complete with strings on stage and an impressive catalogue of songs, garnering impressive reviews hailing them as the highlight act of this years festival by many major publications.

Now, due to an overwhelming response, the band has decided to honor the demand and set their sights across the Atlantic again. The tour kicks off in the sunny south at the prestigious Austin City Limits, then up to the north-east for select shows including New York City's Terminal 5 before venturing all the way west, ending up at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles.


Earlier this year, elbow completed their first headlining UK arena tour, including 2 sold out nights at London’s O2 arena, confirming them as one of the worlds most treasured live and studio artists of our time. Later this month, the band will also be performing alongside Coldplay on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury and support to Muse at Reading and Leeds festivals this summer.

Be sure to catch the band perform live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, September 21, 2011.


DECCA RECORDS TO RELEASE IMELDA MAY’S 'MAYHEM' ON JULY 19, 2011

U.S. TOUR DATES INCLUDE CENTRAL PARK SUMMER STAGE AND LOLLAPALOOZA



“Powerhouse…”—Dallas Morning News

“…an exceptional revivalist who is as retro-comley as she is robustly gifted…”—The Orange County Register

Decca is set to release Imelda May’s Mayhem on July 19. The release marks her second album in the states and her first on the label. America is already well acquainted with May through her performances on “The Tonight Show” in April, the 2010 Grammy Awards and a PBS Concert Special with Jeff Beck. With the release of Mayhem, she will embark on a string of summer dates including a July 21 album release party at New York’s Mercury Lounge, Central Park Summer Stage with Wanda Jackson and Lollapoolaza. (See dates on back)
May has achieved triple-platinum status in her native Ireland and gold status in the U.K., along with receiving numerous awards including Best Breakthrough Artist at the 2010 Classic Rock Awards, Best Female Artist of 2010 at the Irish Meteor Awards In the mean time, she’s graced TV screens in the U.K. performing on “Graham Norton” and a second time on “Jools Holland.” Mayhem has received four-star reviews from MOJO, The Daily Mirror, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph. The album reached number seven on the U.K. chart, remained in the Top Ten for two weeks and remained in the Top 50.
On Mayhem, May wrote 13 out of the 14 tracks including the title track and first single and U.K. hits “Inside Out” and “Psycho.” The album also contains a rendition of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love.” Her accomplished band includes husband Darrel Higham on guitars, Al Gare on double-bass, Dave Priseman on trumpet, and Steve Rushton on drums.
Performing a fusion of surf guitars, blues and rockabilly, May self-released her debut Love Tattoo, which went Triple Platinum. The album was picked up and released by Decca abroad and through Verve Forecast here. Since that time, May has shared stages with Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, David Gilmore, Shane Macgowan, Van Morrison, Lionel Richie, Wanda Jackson, Paul Brady, Jamie Cullum and Meatloaf. In 2009, Love Tattoo knocked Bruce Springsteen off the number one spot on the Irish album charts making May the first woman to grace the top spot in nearly 20 years. May feel in love with rockabilly and the blues at the age of nine. She went onto perform in burlesque clubs and was part of a swing troupe before breaking out on her own. She caught people’s attention not only musically but with her 50s look that has led her to grace the front cover of the Irish Sunday Times Style Magazine.

IMELDA MAY TOUR DATES
July 19 El Rey Theater Los Angeles
July 21 Mercury Lounge New York, NY
July 26 9:30 Club Washington, DC
July 27 Central Park Summerstage New York, NY
July 28 Trocadero Philadelphia
July 30 Brighton Music Hall Brighton, MA
August 7 Lollapalooza Chicago, IL
August 9 The Independent San Francisco, CA
August 11 Oregon Zoo Amphitheater Portland, OR
August 12 The Neptune Seattle, WA


YES AND STYX CO-HEADLINING U.S. SUMMER TOUR; SET TO KICK OFF JULY 4, 2011


The world's most quintessential prog-rock band YES joins forces with multi-platinum rock band STYX for a summer tour extravaganza. These two monster rock bands will embark on a 22-city summer tour starting July 4, 2011 and concluding August 3, 2011 in Mountain View, CA. Tickets are now on sale.



YES – The Legendary, Grammy® Award winning prog-rock band that has defined many a generation -- will be on tour in support of their new album FLY FROM HERE on Frontiers Records releasing July 12, 2011.



YES features a lineup of guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, drummer Alan White, and lead singer Benoit David. YES will be reuniting with keyboard player Geoff Downes for this tour.



STYX--Tommy Shaw (vocals, guitars), James “JY” Young (vocals, guitars), Lawrence Gowan (vocals, keyboards), Todd Sucherman (drums) and Ricky Phillips (bass), along with the occasional surprise appearance by original bassist Chuck Panozzo—has an unmistakable sound all their own, and they continue to prove that they’re one of the hardest working bands in the music world thanks to a vigorous tour schedule that keeps them constantly on the road all across the globe.



“We are excited to have STYX on tour with us. I consider them to be in the vein of YES and the cutting edge of prog-rock in America,” says YES founder/bassist Chris Squire.



"When I first heard YES, I knew that the music world was forever changed,” says STYX singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw. “They took progressive rock to a place that had never been expressed in such an impressive yet accessible way. Who among you didn't make it a point to learn the acoustic guitar intro to ‘Roundabout?’ We're very excited to tour with them for the very first time."



FLY FROM HERE is the first album YES has recorded for close to a decade and was produced by the legendary Trevor Horn in the spirit that YES was founded. The return of Horn along with the Maestro’s that make up YES has brought back the fluid freedom that their music’s ingenuity is best known for. YES holds a shrewd insight and creative vision that challenges audiences as they stretch the boundaries of music.



STYX is currently putting the finishing touches on REGENERATION, VOLUME 2, the follow-up to 2010’s seven-song EP, REGENERATION, VOLUME 1, which contains six newly re-recorded classics--"Come Sail Away,” "Crystal Ball," "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man),” “Lorelei,” “The Grand Illusion” and “Sing For The Day”—and a brand new track, “Difference In The World.” The track listing for REGENERATION, VOLUME 2 is: “Renegade,” “Blue Collar Man,” “Too Much Time On My Hands,” “Queen of Spades,” “Coming Of Age” (Damn Yankees), “High Enough” (Damn Yankees), “Snowblind,” “Miss America.” Both volumes will be available for sale at every stop along the tour route.



YES’ performance will feature the title track from their new album FLY FROM HERE as well as the hugely successful and indelible catalogue of music from hit albums such as DRAMA, FRAGILE, CLOSE TO THE EDGE and 90125. Classics such as “Roundabout,” a seminal hit which consistently appears on “the best songs of all-time” lists, and the group’s #1 hit “Owner of a Lonely Heart” are sure to be featured for an evening of music not to be missed.



YES’ remarkable career has served to re-define the boundaries of rock for more than four decades, YES has played the role as a dominant driving music force selling over 30 million albums, reaching platinum status multiple times worldwide. Their symphonic use of sound and innovative musical styles have made each of the group’s player’s a virtuoso in his own right.



Spawned from a suburban Chicago basement in the early ‘70s, STYX would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late '70s and early '80s, due to a fondness for big rockers and soaring power ballads. Over the course of their 38-year career they’ve released 15 studio albums, 6 best-of compilations and 4 live albums, garnering 8 Top Ten singles. STYX has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Throughout their illustrious career, they’ve performed more live shows since 1999 than all of the previous years of its career combined. Two Super-Bowl appearances, Pollstar box office chart-topping tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon and Bad Company (to name only a few), two more studio albums and no end in sight, STYX continues to conquer the planet, one venue at a time.



DATE VENUE CITY



**The tour kicks off with a July 4th show at Susquehanna Bank Center
in Camden, New Jersey.**



Tues, July 5 PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel , NJ+



Thur, July 7 CMAC Performing Arts Center Canandaigua , NY+



Fri, July 8 MGM Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Mashantucket , CT *



Sat, July 9 Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion Gilford , NH *



Mon, July 11 Nikon @ Jones Beach Theater Wantagh , NY+



Tues, July 12 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Bethel , NY+



Thur, July 14 Verizon Wireless Amp at Encore Park Alpharetta , GA *



Fri, July 15 Amphitheater at the Wharf Orange Beach , AL+



Sat, July 16 The Woods at Fontanel Nashville , TN *



Mon, July 18 Starlight Theatre Kansas City , MO *



Tue, July 19 Verizon Wireless Music Center Noblesville , IN *



Wed, July 20 DTE Energy Music Theatre Clarkston, MI+



Fri, July 22 Winstar Casino Thackerville , OK+



Sat, July 23 Zoo Amphitheatre Oklahoma City , OK *



Sun, July 24 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Maryland Heights , MO *



Tue, July 26 Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO*



Thur, July 28 Eagle River Pavilion Boise , ID *



Fri, July 29 Chateau Ste. Michelle Woodinville , WA+



Sat, July 30 Maryhill Winery Goldendale , WA+



Tue, August 2 Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA+



Wed, August 3 Shoreline Amphitheater Mountain View, CA*



+ Denotes YES closes

* Denotes STYX closes



For additional ticket information please visit: www.yesworld.com or www.styxworld.com.