Monday, September 30, 2013

Eagle Rock Entertainment to issue 'Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers Live' on October 15

Wow, had a blast covering Gary Clark Jr. at the House of Blues in Anaheim last night. I thought the Austin singer and guitarist was fantastic when I caught him at Coachellafest in April 2012, but he has even gotten much better over the past 18 months. My review will be posted on this blog tomorrow. In the meantime, here is some very exciting breaking news for fans of Deep Purple. I caught Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers" tour at Long Beach in 1984 and it was an incredible night.


New York, NY (September 30, 2013)-- On October 15, 2013, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers Live on DVD, 2CD/DVD, DVD/2CD/2LP, and Digital Audio and Video. The DVD contains the only footage available from the “Perfect Strangers” tour plus a bonus tour documentary. The second available format offers 2CDs and the DVD of the live show packaged in a 3-disc slimline CD jewel case. The third format offers 2LPs, 2CDs and the DVD of the live show packaged in a 3-panel gatefold sleeve.

Recorded in Melbourne, Australia in 1984, Perfect Strangers live is the only full-length concert film of the band at this time. The long-awaited reunion of the classic Deep Purple line-up Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice, who re-united for the first time since 1973, had recorded a brand new studio album Perfect Strangers, and subsequently headed out on tour. The setlist mixes then new tracks from the Perfect Strangers album with favorites from the early seventies: “Highway Star,” “Strange Kind Of Woman,” “Perfect Strangers,” “Knocking At Your Back Door,” “Child In Time,” “Black Night,” “Speed King,” “Smoke On The Water,” and many more, which are brilliantly performed as only Deep Purple can deliver.
Deep Purple is a musical force with a rich history, having boasted a wealth of incredible musicians and memorable eras. Perfect Strangers Live is a welcome addition to Eagle Rock’s extensive Deep Purple collection.

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world. Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:
TRACK LISTING
1) Highway Star
2) Nobody’s Home
3) Strange Kind Of Woman
4) A Gypsy’s Kiss
5) Perfect Strangers*
6) Under The Gun
7) Knocking At Your Back Door
8) Lazy (inc Ian Paice Drum Solo)
9) Child In Time**
10) Difficult To Cure
11) Jon Lord Keyboard Solo
12) Space Truckin’ (in Ritchie Blackmore Guitar Solo)
13) Black Night***
14) Speed King
15) Smoke On The Water
*Start of Side B of LP format
** Start of Side C of LP format and Start of Disc2 on CD format
***Start of Side D of LP format

The Lumineers brightly light up the Greek Theatre

My concert review was originally posted on The Orange County Register site on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013.

Rapidly rising neo-folk outfit proves worthy of its two sold-out shows at the L.A. landmark.

Wesley Schultz of the Lumineers on Sept. 27, 2013 at the Greek Theatre
Summer extended its reach in more ways than on Friday night (Sept. 27, 2013). While warm Santa Ana winds moved through the Greek Theatre, a triple bill featuring the Lumineers, Dr. Dog and Nathaniel Rateliff served up a seasonal celebration that had the diverse, capacity crowd – ranging from youngsters to hip baby boomers – reveling all night long.
Set list: The Lumineers at the Greek Theatre
Main set: Submarines / Ain't Nobody's Problem / Flowers in Your Hair / Ho Hey / Classy Girls / Subterranean Homesick Blues (Bob Dylan cover) / Dead Sea / Slow It Down / Falling in Love / Charlie Boy / Darlene / Elouise / Stubborn Love / Flapper Girl
Encore: Morning Song / New Song / Big Parade
Next at the Greek: Furthur, Oct. 4-6, $34.75-$69.75; the Rascals, Oct. 10, $35-$100; Cristian Castro, Oct. 11, $30-$75; Above & Beyond, Oct. 12-13, $35-$55; Eros Ramazzotti, Oct. 17, $39.50-$129.50
Call: 714-745-3000
Little more than a week into a month-long tour that kicked off in Salt Lake City, the blend of Americana (served via openers Rateliff and the Lumineers) and a bit of everything else (courtesy of Dr. Dog's mix of psychedelic, roots-rock and old-school funk) proved a perfect union.
It may seem unlikely that a young outfit that released its Grammy-nominated debut less than 18 months ago could sell out two nights at the Greek; even the band seemed astounded, recalling having performed at the intimate Hotel Café early last year. Yet the Lumineers' 80-minute set explained the band’s appeal.
Frontman Wesley Schultz (above) was a perfect master of ceremonies, leading the quintet in zestful versions of most of the songs from their self-titled 2012 debut. "Ho Hey," their trendy breakthrough sing-along, was offered up early, but it was only one of many highlights, as Schultz, Jeremiah Fraites (drums, percussion), Neyla Pekarek (cello, bass, vocals), Stelth Ulvang (piano) and Ben Wahamaki (bass, guitar) each brought their gifts to the 16-song appearance.
The ambitious "Dead Sea," with Schultz's solo acoustic guitar intro gradually flowering into a nuanced piece enhanced by Pekarek's tender cello and Ulvang's inspired piano playing, led into an equally moving "Slow It Down" made even sparser, with Schultz joined by Fraites on tambourine and harmonies.
Neyla Pekarek of the Lumineers.
Toward the end of their main portion, the band did something you regularly see at arena shows but not often at this Griffith Park venue: much to the delight of the crowd, they moved halfway back into the seats to offer two acoustic numbers, "Darlene" and "Elouise," both bonus tracks on the recent deluxe edition of their album. Even if the sound wasn't perfect, the intent was admirable, and the energy it brought to the night was palpable.
The Lumineers closed with a wonderfully grand "Big Parade," a mix of folk and traditional country strains fused into rolling sections of slow strumming and shining vocal harmonies. Its finale, in which rock drumming and an undeniable chorus led many fans to clap along, ended the evening on a high note.
Those unfamiliar with Philadelphia's Dr. Dog at the start of its 45-minute turn are likely catching up now, downloading or ordering copies of the band’s bevy of albums (including B-Room, arriving Tuesday). If Neil Young collaborated with the Felice Brothers, it might sound something like this six-man ensemble, whose genre-busting manner couldn't help but draw attention. Most everyone near me seemed drawn to the troupe's compelling approach and strong lead singers, bassist Toby Leaman and guitarist Scott McMicken.
Toby Leaman of Dr. Dog on Sept. 27.
The retro R&B of "The Truth" was textured and pretty, the tandem lead guitar attack of "These Days" exhilarating. But Dr. Dog's power comes from playing with freewheeling, authentic passion, with an energy grounded to an emotional core. "Too Weak to Ramble" proved that point, as Leaman's convincing vocals combined with organ and conjured memories of the Band. The upbeat "Shadow People," with McMicken on lead, built from a straightforward acoustic kickoff into a full-throttle rocker with sterling three-part singing.
Though Rateliff had the challenge of taking the stage while the majority of seats were still empty, that didn't stop him and his great backing quartet from thoroughly impressing. The Denver singer-songwriter showcased his excellent crop of potent songs, which frequently began as folk ballads, then ratcheted up to majestically rootsy ends.
From his opening salvo, the haunting "I Am," it was clear Rateliff is someone who knows how to squeeze the best out of his terrific material. That number, as well as the equally stirring "Still Trying," began with his emotive voice front and center. Then harmonies and layers of keys, bass and percussion would enter, bringing more riches.
"Don't Get Too Close" was propulsive from its start, the harmonies, rolling percussion and sublime voices of the other instruments finally erupting during a short but impressive segue. "We have nothing but hits for you all night long," the so-far-hit-less newcomer mused after a superb performance of "Don't Get Too Close." Let's hope his joking can foretell his future.
Photos: Kelly A. Swift

Thursday, September 26, 2013

'The Last Show' features Alvin Lee's final performance

Just received this about 30 minutes ago so I had to race and post this on Rock 'n' Roll Truth. For those who missed my initial tribute in the wake of the passing of the great Alvin Lee earlier this year, click here. I've posted the official media release on the aptly-titled The Last Show below...


Alvin Lee's 'The Last Show' is set for release Oct. 1, 2013.
LAST PERFORMANCE OF LEGENDARY BLUES ROCKER
ALVIN LEE CAPTURED ON "THE LAST SHOW" CD
TO BE RELEASED OCTOBER 1 VIA RAINMAN RECORDS
**********************************************************************
FOURTEEN SONG "GEM" FEATURES COMBINATION OF
TEN YEARS AFTER CLASSICS ALONG WITH SOLO SONGS AND RARITIES
*********************************************************************************************
On Sunday, August 17, 1969, Alvin Lee and his band mates from Ten Years After hit the stage at the legendary Woodstock Festival for what would be one of the most electrifying performances of the three day event... a moment that catapulted the band into superstardom.
On March 6, 2013, Alvin prematurely left "the stage" when he unexpectedly passed away at the age of 68.
What he left behind was some of the greatest rock and blues licks known to mankind... gone, but definitely not forgotten.
As fate would have it, the last show Alvin Lee would ever play, Raalte, Holland on May 28, 2012, would be recorded. It was never intended to be released but, after Alvin heard it, he decided it was so truly special that he should make it available to his fans.
That recording, THE LAST SHOW, is now here.
Coming out on Tuesday, October 1 for all fans to enjoy and further remember him by, THE LAST SHOW (on Rainman Records) features fourteen live cuts including such Ten Years After classics as "I'm Going Home" and "I Can't Keep from Crying Sometimes" (both performed at Woodstock) along with "Hear Me Calling," "Love Like A Man" and a host of others.
The CD (see below for track listing) is a beautifully packaged audio scrapbook documenting the culmination of a legend's career. The music is brilliant and there are plenty of photos of the show along with personal notes from his wife, band and fans, all of whom were at the show.
"Possibly my favourite memory of Alvin in recent years: to see him walking off stage in Raalte with his red Gibson slung to the side and a big grin on his face," states his wife, Evi. "Not usually one to be easily satisfied with his live performances, he was exhilarated and proud of having given the crowd his best on that evening. He would have been very happy with this unadulterated authentic release of the show."
As the story goes, in 1967, four young musicians from Nottinghamshire, England -- Alvin Lee, Leo Lyons, Ric Lee and Chick Churchill -- formed Ten Years After and became one of the biggest names in music and one of the most explosive quartets on the world stage.
After promoter Bill Graham took notice of the band after hearing their self-titled debut album on San Francisco's "underground" radio stations, he invited them to tour the States for the first time in 1968. So well received, the band would ultimately tour the U.S. twenty-eight times from '68 to '74, more than any other UK band.
In a short five year span, Ten Years After would enjoy considerable chart success with eight albums entering the Top 40 on the UK Albums Chart.
Over the course of their career, twelve of their albums reached the Top 200 on the Billboard charts in the United States.
Their now legendary encore, "I'm Going Home," performed at Woodstock in August 1969, was captured on film and exposed their jazz, blues, rock amalgam to a large audience, who were blown away by the intensity of the band's performance when the Academy Award winning documentary was released. Their ten-minute appearance in the film is an acknowledged highlight and established Ten Years After a place in rock history.
From that third day of Woodstock in '69 to his last day on that sixth day of March earlier this year, Alvin Lee undeniably left an imprint.
In 1974, he departed the band and went on to collaborate with such music notables as George Harrison, Ronnie Wood, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Winwood, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo DiddleyMick Taylor and others.
He would reunite with his band mates from Ten Years After for various events and occasions in the years to come.
The band scored their biggest hit in 1971 with a song written and sung by Alvin called, "I'd Love To Change The World."
When it comes to the world of music, he certainly did just that...

ALVIN LEE - THE LAST SHOW
Track Listing
Hear Me Calling
I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes
How Do You Do It
My Baby Left Me
Country Thing
I Don't Give A Damn
I'm Writing You A Letter
Slow Blues in 'C'
I'm Gonna Make It
Scat Encounter
I Woke Up This Morning
Love Like A Man
Going Home
Rip It Up


For more information on Alvin Lee and this particular project, please visit:

'Springsteen & I' on to be released on DVD, Blu-ray and Visual Digital Formats on October 29, 2013

I have not yet seen Springsteen & I but I've heard so many great things about the  full-length documentary film that I can't wait to view this upon its release...Having caught Bruce Springsteen countless times in concert dating back to 1980, I am sure I will fully relate to the thrust of this film when I get a chance to view it next month.


Eagle Rock Entertainment, Black Dog Films, and Mr. Wolf Proudly Presents
Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen & I
~On DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital Formats October 29, 2013~
New York, NY (September 26, 2013)— Eagle Rock Entertainment, Black Dog Films and Mr. Wolf are delighted to announce the release on October 29, 2013 of Springsteen & I on DVD, Blu-ray and Visual Digital Formats.
Fully endorsed and supported by Bruce Springsteen, Springsteen & I is a unique feature music documentary celebrating a rock ‘n’ roll icon. The film has already enjoyed a very successful theatrical release grossing over $2.5 million in cinemas in 50 countries since July 2013. Working with the filmmakers, Springsteen’s fans have helped create a film that reflects on their personal experiences to explore what this timeless artist means to them amidst amazing performance footage.
The experiences that form the emotional core of this compelling film are touching, at times humorous and frequently extraordinary insights and stories that all come from the heart. Springsteen & I is a film by the fans and for the fans, created with the full support of Bruce Springsteen, which tracks his career to date.
Ridley Scott, Executive Producer, commented, “This beautifully crafted film provides a unique insight into the powerful bond between a recording artist and those who connect so profoundly with his music.”
USA Today highlighted the “plethora of unseen material even the die-hards haven't laid eyes on yet” which includes footage of unseen Springsteen performances of classics such as “Dancing In The Dark,” “Born In The USA,” “I’m On Fire,” “Born To Run,” “The River,” “Thunder Road,” “Spirits In The Night,” and many more. As Bonus Features we also include six tracks from Bruce Springsteen’s 2012 Hyde Park performance: “Thunder Road”; “Because The Night”; “Shackled & Drawn” and “We Are Alive”, and “Twist and Shout” and “I Saw Her Standing There” accompanied by Paul McCartney sharing vocals. There is also additional fan contributions not included in the film.
Springsteen & I is a celebratory experience that wears its heart on its sleeve. The NME said the film perfectly captured “the stomach-flipping feeling you get when Springsteen straps on a guitar”. Director Judd Apatow called the film “a great music doc. Really moving, it rocked. There is nobody like Springsteen.”
Click here to view trailer:

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Sights and Sounds: Jeff Healey Band, New Model Army, Rosanne Cash

Big news today on several high-profile upcoming releases...

EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS
 
JEFF HEALEY BAND
LIVE FROM NYC
 
~CD AND DIGITAL AUDIO OUT OCTOBER 15, 2013~
 
 
New York, NY (September 25, 2013)—Eagle Records is delighted to announce the October 15 release of the Live From NYC album from the Jeff Healey Band on CD and Audio Digital formats.
 
Live From NYC continues Eagle’s series of gems drawn from the vaults of the Jeff Healey Band. Recorded at The Bottom Line in New York City on December 13, 1988, this early show by the band, follows the release of their debut album See The Light (Arista Records). Several tracks from that album, are included along with classic covers such as ZZ Top’s “Blue Jean Blues” and Cream’s “White Room.”
 
Jeff Healey had a unique style and presence that was clearly already well developed at this early stage in his career, which Live From NYC captures beautifully. Having lost his sight at the age of one, he crafted himself into a master guitarist, championing the lap pedal-steel style. Able to deftly traverse genre styles with ease, his soulful vocals and instrumental dexterity won the hearts of blues and blues-rock fans worldwide. An incredible talent gone too soon (he passed away in 2008), Jeff Healey created music that still thrills and inspires fans to this day.
 
Eagle Rock Entertainment has also re-issued the Jeff Healey Band’s Get Me Some and House On Fire, and released Live At Grossman’s 1994 CD and Full Circle – The Live Anthology boxed set.
 
Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world.  Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide.  Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.
 

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:
 
TRACK LISTING
1) The Better It Gets  
2) Further On Up The Road  
3) My Little Girl         
4) Blue Jean Blues  
5) Confidence Man  
6) I Need To Be Loved  
7) White Room  
8) See The Light  
9) Good Morning Blues   
 

New Model Army
Between Dog And Wolf
earMusic / Eagle Rock Entertainment
30 September 2013
New Model Army and earMUSIC/ Eagle Rock Entertainment are excited to announce the release of their much-heralded new album 

Between Dog And Wolf
~September 30, 2013~

New York, NY (August 20, 2013)—Experience the passion of UK post punk visionaries New Model Army with the release of their new studio album, Between Dog And Wolf on September 30, 2013, via earMusic / Eagle Rock Entertainment. A rich, vibrant and multi-layered work with a deep and soulful atmosphere, the album promises to be something “very different” from previous releases and demonstrates how the band is enjoying an exciting phase in their long and successful career. [MSRP $13.98]

Originally as a three piece, New Model Army were formed in Bradford, UK in 1980 by Justin Sullivan. With hits like “51st State” and “Vagabonds,” to name just a few, New Model Army built a reputation for dealing with challenging topics in their lyrics such as justice, the meaning of life,nature or grievances in society. The band established themselves as having an uncanny ability to convey and trigger powerful emotions, particularly through the distinctive voice of Justin Sullivan.

Between Dog And Wolf features the current line-up of Sullivan,Michael Dean on drums, Dean White on keyboards, Marshall Gill on guitar and 26-year-old new bass player, Ceri Monger, whose presence has added to the band’s creative and live resurgence. The self-produced set was finished earlier this yearand was mixed by Joe Barresi in his Los Angeles studio, best known for his work with ToolQueens Of The Stone AgeBad Religion and Soundgarden.

“After a series of purist ‘rock-band-in-a-room’ albums over the last eight years, we felt it was time to do something a bit different,” statesSullivan. “Sonically this is the best album we’ve ever made. The title comes from a medieval French expression for dusk – when it’s hard to distinguish between dog and wolf, friend or foe. That sense of contradiction represents the band very well and there’s also something of this sense of transformation in the album. It has been a stormy four years since the release of the last album. With the sudden death of our manager, the loss of our studio in a fire, subsequent theft of remaining equipment and our old bass player Nelson’s departure, we, in essence, lost everything. We used this to make a new beginning and part of the change was effected with the arrival of Ceri and the refreshing energy and musical influences he brought.  We are very excited about the new album and what the future holds for the band.”

Ceri adds  “I have loved New Model Army’s music for many years and am chuffed to be a part of this incredible album.  I think the record is pretty unique and I look forward to hearing what peoplethink when they hear it.”

The album’s stunning artwork is based around a painting by long time artistic collaborator Joolz.

Said Joolz, ”I always hear the albums being created from the first acoustic strum onwards and it quickly became obvious that this album was going to be different in sound from previous records.  Early on Justinsaw some artwork I had designed originally for a tattoo client of mine, an image of Herne the Hunter and the Herlathing, and the primitive tribal paganism of the picture really symbolized to him the heavy pounding drum rhythms and passions that are at the heart of this album.”

Track Listing:
1. Horsemen
2. March In September
3. Seven Times
4. Did You Make It Safe?
5. I Need More Time
6. Pull The Sun
7. Lean Back And Fall
8. Knievel
9. Stormclouds
10. Between Dog And Wolf
11. Qasr El Nil Bridge
12. Tomorrow Came
13. Summer Moors
14. Ghosts

Rosanne Cash
Rosanne Cash to release 'The River & The Thread' in January 2014

Finally, Rosanne Cash will release her first full-length album of new material on Jan. 14, 2014.

Cash wrote all of the album's 11 original songs with her long-time collaborator/husband John Leventhal, who also served as guitarist, producer and arranger. Check out writer George A. Paul's extensive post on the forthcoming project by clicking here.


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Inbox Update: Sting, CLANNAD, First Aid Kit, Joanne Shaw Taylor

All sorts of things have landed in my inbox this week, including reminders about two eagerly-anticipated titles out today...


STING'S NEW ALBUM,
THE LAST SHIP,
To Be Released Today, September 24, 2013
10 Concerts To Benefit The Public Theater in NYC From September 25 - October 9
Performing Songs From The Last Ship
Cherrytree/Interscope/A&M Records is pleased to announce a new album of original material from Sting entitled The Last Ship to be released today, September 24, featuring "And Yet" and "Practical Arrangement," both available now for digital download.
The new album is inspired by Sting's forthcoming play of the same name, which will debut on Broadway in 2014. A paean to the shipbuilding community in the North East of England where he was born and raised, The Last Ship explores themes of homecoming, self-discovery and the complexity of love and familial relationships, drawing upon Sting's childhood memories growing up in the shadow of the Swan Hunter Shipyard in Wallsend.
In celebration of the album's release, Sting will perform a limited 10-night run (September 25 - October 9) to benefit The Public Theater in New York City. An evening of music and storytelling in the intimate 260-seat Anspacher Theater, these performances will offer insight into the creative process of both the new album and forthcoming play. A lottery drawing for a limited number of free tickets will be held before each concert. For more information, please visit http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/296.
Sting is also scheduled to perform on The Today Show (Tuesday, September 24), the Late Show with David Letterman (Monday, September 30), and Charlie Rose on PBS next month. On October 30, he will sit down with Rolling Stone contributing editor Anthony DeCurtis as part of the 92Y Talks series (details at http://www.92y.org/Event/Sting-with-Anthony-DeCurtis.aspx). For the latest information on upcoming TV appearances, please visit www.sting.com.
Produced by Rob Mathes (Sting, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Lou Reed, Carly Simon) and engineered and mixed by Donal Hodgson, The Last Ship also features several musicians hailing from the North East of England, including Kathryn Tickell, Peter Tickell, Julian Sutton, The Wilson Family, The Unthanks and special guests Jimmy Nail and Brian Johnson.
The Last Ship will be available as both a digital and physical release in two configurations - a 12-song album and a 2-disc deluxe version featuring 5 additional tracks. (The 12-song version will also be available on vinyl.) A super deluxe edition, containing 2 discs comprised of 20 tracks within special packaging, will also be sold as a physical product exclusively at Amazon.com. AmazonMP3 will be the exclusive retailer for the 20-track, super deluxe digital edition.
All physical CD formats, including the vinyl edition, are now available for pre-order at Amazon.com (www.amazon.com/sting).
For more information, visit:
www.sting.com


 
GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING AND WORLD RENOWNED CELTIC FAMILY GROUP CLANNAD TEAM UP WITH ARC MUSIC/NAXOS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM NÁDÚR AVAILABLE TODAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Clannad, the legendary Irish family group responsible for the timeless hit “Harry’s Game”, which was prominently featured in the 1992 blockbusterPatriot Games and a Volkswagen commercial, make a welcome return to the U.S. with their new album, Nádúr (pronounced: Ned-dur), the Gaelic word for Nature. The album will be available September 24th on ARC Music/NAXOS. View the Nádúr EPK below:
 


Nádúr is a fitting title as the album sees the family band – siblings Moya, Ciarán and Pól Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Padraig Duggan – back together on record as the full original line-up for the first time since the 1989 albumPast Present. Following Pól’s departure after that album, the band continued to release four highly successful albums – the last being the Grammy-winning albumLandmarks in 1998. In an extended hiatus over the following decade, there was only the rare occasional performance.

In 2011, Clannad were invited to perform a series of concerts at Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral. With the intimate and historic nature of these shows, Pól was invited along to be part of the event. The concerts were a huge success and they were filmed and recorded for a DVD and CD which were released following airings on PBS in America. This event provided the catalyst for the five of them to start seriously considering a new album but before going into the recording studio they decided to embark on an extensive tour across North America and Europe. This time together on the road helped shape the ideas they had forNádúr.

"The fact that we'd toured quite extensively in the months leading up to recording really had an effect on the album,” says Moya Brennan. “Playing live across various countries gave us a really good indication of not just what we wanted from a new album but also what the audience out there wanted to hear. We feel this record touches on every aspect of our forty year career. Every track is different yet every track is pure Clannad".

Indeed, Nádúr is a very natural progression to the Clannad sound, which has been to fuse the traditional with the modern, the past and the future, with stunningly beautiful results.

It is perhaps best summarized by the Irish author Colum McCann, who concludes his liner notes for the album by saying, “Clannad – the family – have taken the local and made it universal once again. Is é seo nádúr dhúchasach ...this is their inherent nature.

“It will always be so.”
Track listing:
1. Vellum
8. Tobar an tSaoil
2. Rhapsody na gCrann
9. A Song in your Heart
3. TransAtlantic
10. A Quiet Town
4. Turas Domhsa chon na Galldachd
11. Hymn (To Her Love)
5. Brave Enough
12. Setanta
6. The Fishing Blues
13. Cití na gCumann
7. Lámh ar Lámh
Extra track for iTunes exclusive: River Of Dreams

First Aid Kit, photo credit: Annika Berglund
FIRST AID KIT
OCTOBER US TOUR DATES
HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS & WAY OVER YONDER FESTIVALS,
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL SHOW SUPPORTING RODRIGUEZ
DRUNKEN TREES DEBUT EP VINYL REISSUE OUT OCTOBER 15TH, 2013
VIA WICHITA RECORDINGS


First Aid Kit return to the US for a handful of tour dates in October, marking Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg's first stateside shows since the fall of 2012. The four-show run will launch with a headlining show at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, CA on October 3rd ahead of two festival plays at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco on October 4th and Way Over Yonder Festival in Los Angeles, CA on October 6th. First Aid Kit will wrap up the tour by supporting Rodriguez at the historic Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY on October 10th. A current itinerary is below.
On October 15th, First Aid Kit's debut EP Drunken Trees will be reissued on vinyl in the US via Wichita Recordings. The EP will be pressed on 180 gram white vinyl and include an accompanying digital download card. The Drunken Trees EP was first released by The Knife-owned label Rabid in 2008 when the Söderbergs were only teenagers, and re-released by Wichita Recordings in 2009.
2012 was a breakout year for First Aid Kit around the January release of their acclaimed Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters Of Folk)-produced sophomore album The Lion's Roar, which has sold over 75,000 copies in the US to date. In addition to two North American headlining tours featuring multiple sell-out shows, the duo and their band performed at the Coachella, Newport Folk, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits festivals. The Lion's Roar reaped First Aid Kit praise from the press, including American Songwriter, BUST, Entertainment Weekly, Foam, The New York Daily News, The New York Times, NPR, Nylon, Paste, Pitchfork, Relix, Rolling Stone ('Band To Watch:' "The songs shuffle styles, but the voices transcend genre distinctions - you may not hear a more beautifully sung record this year"; "Emmylou" chosen as #10 'Single of the Year' 2012), Rookie, SPIN, Teen Vogue, Under The Radar, and Village Voice, among others, and the duo made their US television debut on Conan in April 2012. First Aid Kit also released an exclusive iTunes Session and limited edition deluxe package of The Lion's Roar - featuring additional tracks as well as a DVD of live on-the-road documentary Follow You Down and music videos for three album tracks, among other items - in September and October of last year.
First Aid Kit tour dates:
OCT. 3 BIG SUR, CA HENRY MILLER LIBRARY
OCT. 4 SAN FRANCISCO, CA HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS
OCT. 6 LOS ANGELES, CA WAY OVER YONDER FESTIVAL
OCT. 10 NEW YORK, NY RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL*
* supporting Rodriguez
"The Lion's Roar" official video: http://youtu.be/gekHV9DIjHc
"Emmylou" official video: http://youtu.be/PC57z-oDPLs
"Blue" official video: http://youtu.be/oRxZK17iCdI
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JST - Songs from the Road CD lo res art
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR
THE NEW LIVE ALBUM: SONGS FROM THE ROAD
2-Disc CD/DVD Set
U.S. Release Date on Ruf Records:
November 12, 2013
ATLANTA, GA - One night. One shot. No safety net. If there was pressure afoot as Joanne Shaw Taylor walked onstage at The Borderline club in the U.K. on May 12, 2013, then the bandleader used it as rocket-fuel, channeling the vibe into the set of her life. Now, that explosive performance is captured on Songs From The Road: a live album with the soul power to jostle the greats off the podium, coming November 12 on Ruf Records.
“I’m really pleased with it,” says Joanne. “It’s everything I wanted it to be.”
As the latest release in Ruf Records’ acclaimed Songs From The Road series, this CD/DVD set is the live album her fans have been screaming for. “The timing is good,” agrees Joanne. “My fans, and especially the blues fans, have been asking me for a live album for a while now. I’m glad that we waited, and didn’t do it two years ago, because hopefully I’ve improved. We’ve done three studio albums now, so I think the live album ties all the albums together.”
A seasoned road-warrior since 2009’s debut album, White Sugar, Joanne has nothing to fear from the stage, but the demands of her diary meant Songs From The Road presented a logistical challenge. “We only had one chance to do it because of my schedule,” she reflects. “If I’d have played terribly – which fortunately I don’t think I did – it would have been unusable. It worked out really well, and I think a big part of that is because the fans were so good.
“We wanted to do it in London,” Joanne continues, “and the reason for picking The Borderline was because I wanted something small and intimate. I grew up being inspired by those small Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Collins club gigs, and I wanted to have that same ‘everyone-packed-in-like-sardines’ vibe – as opposed to a big production and losing some of that intimacy.”
If the crowd brought the atmosphere, then Joanne brought the songs. While some bands merely sleepwalk through the hits live, Songs From The Road finds the bandleader pulling her back catalogue around by the hair, ensuring that from early favorites like Going Home to current roof-raisers like Soul Station, these songs are very different beasts to the studio originals.
“I think there’s a very different energy live: that’s probably the main thing,” she notes. “I’m a live guitar player. There’s definitely more guitar in my live show than on any of the albums. I tend to lose all sense of control once I get onstage and everything is twenty beats faster than it’s meant to be! And there were no overdubs, so what you hear is what you get.”
Sold out venues. Screaming crowds. Her name in lights. Joanne Shaw Taylor never anticipated any of that at the start. Back then, she was just an ordinary “black country” schoolgirl, bored with the disposable pop she heard on the radio growing up in her native Birmingham, England, rifling through her father’s record collection for sunken treasure, and falling for albums by SRV, Albert Collins and Jimi Hendrix.
“Guitars were lying around the house,”recalls Joanne. At 13, she’d picked up her first electric and practiced every minute.
At 14, she defied her teachers to play at the legendary Marquee and Ronnie Scott’s clubs in London, and began to overcome insecurity about her voice. “I never set out to be a singer,” she modestly told Classic Rock. “I’ve always had a deep voice. I think it came from my influences as a kid. When I was singing to records, I was listening to Albert Collins and Freddie King. When I was a teenager, I became a big rock fan: Glenn Hughes, Skin, Doug Pinnick. I wouldn’t get far on The X Factor.”
Joanne left school at 16 and ran straight into her big break, as a twist of fate directed her demo into the hands of Eurythmics icon Dave Stewart after a charity gig.
Reflecting on his first impressions, Stewart recalls that “she made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.” His call the following day proved the start of a lasting friendship, with Joanne seeking his advice on the industry and even accompanying his DUP supergroup across Europe in 2002.
Stewart gave Joanne her first deal, but when the label ran into financial trouble, it gave her a chance to regroup and work on her songwriting. Until then, original material had perhaps been a neglected side of her talent.
“I never really wrote songs until I was 21.” Suddenly the dam broke. In 2008, Ruf won the rush for Joanne’s signature, and soon she was working with veteran producer Jim Gaines (Carlos Santana, Johnny Lang, SRV), bassist Dave Smith and drummer Steve Potts on the songs that became her debut album, White Sugar.
We recorded it in this little backwater town in Tennessee,” she recalls, “and if we needed a break, we’d walk to the shop and buy root beer.”
When White Sugar dropped the following year, taking in gems like “Bones” and “Kiss The Ground Goodbye,” it turned out the press had a sweet tooth, with Classic Rock crowning it Blues Album Of The Month and Guitarist noting “she plays with more attitude and flair than most – massive potential here.”
Soon enough, the buzz was building, with Joanne both raising her profile supporting Black Country Communion, and honing her craft on 2010’s Diamonds In The Dirt. This second album was another step up, from the explosive lead breaks on “Can’t Keep Living Like This” to the heavier influence of her adopted Detroit hometown on the crunching country-blues of “Dead And Gone.” Not bad, considering she had written the material in just two days and recorded it in less than a fortnight: “It’s the dreaded second album curse. You have ten years to do the first one, and ten days to do the second!”
By then, she was unstoppable, with Diamonds In The Dirt proving not only a classic record, but also a skeleton key to every door in the industry. Having received a nomination for “Best New Artist Debut” at the auspicious British Blues Awards for White Sugar, Joanne scooped consecutive wins in the “Best British Female Vocalist” bracket at both the 2010/2011 events: a haul that cements her position, as Blues Matters put it, as “the new face of the blues.”
Since then, it’s gone stratospheric, with Joanne breaking into the notoriously hard-to-crack U.S. market, beating the stereotypes of her age and gender, and being watched by 17 million viewers as she played an angel-winged solo during Annie Lennox’s set at Queen Elizabeth’s 2012 Diamond Jubilee Concert. That same summer gave us Almost Always Never: a bar-raising third album that found Joanne dodging expectations, writing the songs her muse dictated, and diving in at the deep end with just her talent to keep her afloat.
Recorded in Austin, Texas, those 12 cuts on Almost Always Never moved from the savage Les Paul solos of “Soul Station” and the strutting hooks of “Standing To Fall,” to the failed relationship achingly depicted on “You Should Stay, I Should Go” and the title track’s refrain of “You crash, you burn/you live, you learn.” She’d never sounded more open and honest. “I’ve loved every album I’ve made for many different reasons,” reflects Joanne. “But I’m so proud of these songs. It’s the perfect and truest example of who I am as an artist to date.”
Maybe so, but if you only know Joanne Shaw Taylor as the songwriter and studio magician, then it’s time you heard Songs From The Road. Released in November, 2013 on Ruf Records, it’s a candid snapshot from the road that makes your front room feel like the front row. “That night was just really good fun,” she reflects. “And I think that translates on the album.”
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