Celebrated veterans return with ace efforts

by Robert Kinsler

Brian Setzer, Ruthie Foster, Justin Hayward and Dr. John celebrate and expand their legacies on masterful new releases.

Artist: Brian Setzer
Title: Rockabilly Riot: All Original (Surfdog Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Stray Cats, Lee Rocker

Tell me more: What’s not to love about Brian Setzer’s blazing return-to-retro-form Rockabilly Riot: All Original? From the opening rockabilly blast on “Let’s Shake” to the autobiographical portrait of the singer-guitarist’s life-long passion for early rock (“Rockabilly Blues”) to the Stray Cats-styled “Nothing is a Sure Thing,” the New York native proves his rich baritone and heated guitar playing remain a potent combination often overlooked on his ‘90s and ‘00s Brian Setzer Orchestra titles. Rockabilly Riot: All Original will please fans ignited by Setzer’s fiery blend of rockabilly and classic rock ‘n’ roll. Information: BrianSetzer.com.

Purchase 'Rockabilly Riot! All Original' here

Artist: Ruthie Foster
Title: Promise of a Brand New Day (Blue Corn Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Shelby Lynne, Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi

Tell me more: Armed with a dazzling soprano able to deliver ballads and uptempo material with equal zeal, Austin singer-songwriter Ruthie Foster shines across her newly-issued dozen-song LP Promise of a Brand New Day. From soulful blues (“Singing the Blues,” “It Might Not Be Right,” “Let Me Know,” the latter featuring guitar great Doyle Bramhall II) to gospel (“The Ghetto,” “Second Coming”), the strength of the material and Meshell Ndegeocello’s production brings additional focus to Foster’s superb singing. Information:bluecornmusic.com.

Get 'Promise of a Brand New Day' here

Artist: Justin Hayward
Album: Spirits…Live — Live at the Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: The Moody Blues, David Crosby, Gram Parsons

Tell me more: Singer-songwriter-guitarist Justin Hayward will forever be best known as one of the principal players with the Moody Blues, but discerning listeners should seek out his latest effort Spirits…Live — Live at the Buckhead Theatre, Atlanta, a wonderful live collection recorded on Aug. 17, 2013 on the final night of his tour in support of his recently released solo album Spirits of the Western Sky. The idea of the tour was to present audiences with intimate, acoustic-styled versions of classic and recent songs. The audience was treated to a terrific concert via the sweeping country-western folk epic “The Western Sky,” the gentle acoustic guitar-backed ballad “The Eastern Sun” (that ends with Hayward singing in an impressive extended falsetto) and an emotive reading of the alt-country original “It’s Cold Outside Of Your Heart.” Additionally, Moody Blues fans will be pleased with the intimate and emotive takes on that band’s “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Question,” “Nights in White Satin” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere.” Information: JustinHayward.com.

Purchase 'Spirits...Live - Live At The Buckhead Theater, Atlanta' here

Artist: Dr. John
Title: Ske-Dat-De-Day: The Spirit of Satch (Concord Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The McCrary Sisters, Shemekia Copeland, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John’s previous albums

Tell me more: As New Orleans’ best known living musical icon, Dr. John continues to extend his sonic reach on the ambitious Ske-Dat-De-Day: The Spirit of Satch, which finds the 73-year-old singer and multi-instrumentalist tackling a wide range of songs with an illustrious group of friends in a tribute to trumpeter-vocalist Louis Armstrong. Kicking things off with a celebrative version of “What a Wonderful World” where his own distinctive voice is joined by the astounding Blind Boys of Alabama, elsewhere Dr. John juggles piano and guitar on a playful vocal duet with Bonnie Raitt on a tender “I’ve Got the World on a String.” Dr. John has always been able to blend New Orleans blues, R&B, jazz and a myriad of other styles, and brings that approach to this tribute. The jazzy-blues of “Sweet Hunk O’Trash” (featuring singer Shemekia Copeland) and lovely “Memories of You” (with trumpet great Arturo Sandoval’s solo lines weaving around Dr. John’s winning vocals) add additional weight to a bountiful collection. Information: ConcordMusicGroup.com.

Buy 'Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch' here

Keb' Mo' offers free download of "America the Beautiful" in honor of Labor Day Holiday

Keb' Mo' / Photo Credit: Andrea Lucero

Keb’ Mo’ Offers Free Download Of “America The Beautiful” In Honor Of Labor Day Holiday

(Nashville, Tenn. – Aug. 29, 2014) -  In honor of the Labor Day holiday, three-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist and contemporary blues artist, Keb’ Mo’, is offering a free download of his song, “America The Beautiful.”  Available on his official website, www.kebmo.com/atb, the track will only be offered through Monday, Sept. 1, 2014.

This is the second time “America The Beautiful” has been offered as a free download.  Due to the reaction and popularity of the offer surrounding the 4^th of July holiday, Keb’ Mo’ chose to provide the offer once again over the holiday in which we celebrate our country's labor movement.

Keb’ Mo’ originally recorded “America The Beautiful” for his 2001 GRAMMY nominated album, Big Wide Grin.  The song went on to garner national attention and aired on the final episode of the hit-TV drama The West Wing. Keb’ Mo’ was also invited to perform the song at the White House.

This past April, Keb’ Mo’ released his 12^th studio album, titled BLUESAmericana, on Kind of Blue Music.  Since it’s release, the album has spent several weeks at #1 on the Soundscan Blues Album chart, including a return to the #1 spot after a period of time following it’s release.

Over the past two decades, Keb’ has cultivated a reputation as a modern master of American roots music through the understated excellence of his live and studio performances. B.B. King, Buddy Guy, the Dixie Chicks, Joe Cocker, Robert Palmer and Tom Jones have all recorded his songs. His guitar playing has inspired leading instrument makers Gibson Brands to issue the Keb’ Mo’ Signature Bluesmaster acoustic guitar and Martin Guitars to issue the HD-28KM Keb’ Mo’ Limited Edition Signature model.

He’s collaborated with a host of artists including Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown, Cassandra Wilson, Buddy Guy, Amy Grant, Solomon Burke, Little Milton and many others. Keb’ also wrote and performs the theme song for the smash sit-com, Mike & Molly and was music composer for TV’s Memphis Beat.  He has also been featured in TV and film, playing Robert Johnson in the 1998 documentary “Can’t You Hear The Wind Howl,” appeared three times on the television series, “Touched By an Angel,” and was the ghostly bluesman Possum in John Sayles’ 2007 movie, “Honeydripper.” Most recently, Keb joined the Playing For Change movement, which was created to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music. Keb’ is featured on the Playing For Change album: Playing for Change 3: Songs Around the World, which was released June 17, and features over 180 musicians from 31 countries, including Keith Richards, Sara Bareilles, David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas, Taj Mahal and many others.

For more information on Keb’ Mo’ or to view a list of upcoming tour dates, please visit http://www.kebmo.com/and follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

For a complete list of upcoming tour dates, please visit www.kebmo.com.

Sights and Sounds: Ringo Starr, Robert Plant, The Bayonets

Here is a quick roundup of late breaking news...

Ringo Starr and an All Starr Band will be featured in a special performance in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 21, 2014. John Varvatos and Ringo Starr will celebrate International Day of Peace in Los Angeles where Ringo and an All Starr Band will perform. The John Varvatos Peace & Love Event in support of #peacerocks encourages people to participate by taking a peace selfie and using the hashtag to post on Twitter, Instagram, and Vine. For every upload, $1 will be donated to the The Ringo Starr Peace & Love Fund (a part of the David Lynch Foundation).

Robert Plant is excited about his next solo album, which is being issued 45 years or so after Led Zep's launch! Wow, that is hard to believe...Click here to read more

The Bayonets' debut LP Crash Boom Bang! has just been released on Robo Records. The first single off the band's new album, "So Easy Rider" hits next week (Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014).It follows previous successes with their first three singles, which all reached the Top 10 on the Classic Rock Mediabase radio chart. They recently released the title track and single with accompanying video and Little Steven’s Underground Garage premiered the tune, singling it out as a “Coolest Song in the World” track.

READ MORE: http://ymlp265.net/ztisXT  

Rory Gallagher Irish Tour '74 - 2CD and 7-Disc Digital Set Out October 21, 2014

Wow! This forthcoming collection sounds amazing! For those not familiar with the late great Rory Gallagher (1948-1995), this is likely an impressive introduction. And for long-time fans of the singer-guitarist, October 20th can't come soon enough. Eagle Rock has long been at the forefront of helping champion Gallagher's music and you can read their latest media release below...

The 2011 DVD/Blu-ray release of 'Irish Tour '74
was one of the top releases of the year.

Rory Gallagher

Irish Tour ‘74

October 20^th 2014 will see the 40^th anniversary expanded deluxe edition release of one of Rory Gallagher’s most celebrated recordings.

Sony Music / Legacy Recordings is proud to announce the release of Rory Gallagher’s legendary Irish Tour ‘74.  The most expansive edition to date, of this landmark album.  Featured for the first time on record, all three shows.  Packaged in a special deluxe edition 8 disc 10” boxset and including 43 previously unreleased tracks, remastered audio, photos, extensive liner notes, feature length documentary, memorabilia and more.

On October 21, 2014, Eagle Rock Entertainment To Issue North American Release of Irish Tour 40^th Anniversary Deluxe 7-disc digital set and Irish Tour Special Edition on 2CD.

New York, NY (August 26, 2014)—By 1974 Rory Gallagher had already established a formidable reputation as one of the finest recording artists and exciting live performers of his generation. He was four years in to a successful solo career following his departure from his critically acclaimed outfit, Taste. 1970 to 1974 had produced five albums and an almost continuous schedule of touring, Rory had gone from strength to strength. He was mid-way in to what would be the most prolific decade of his career and was at the absolute top of his game. By sad contrast, Gallagher’s homeland and his beloved adopted city, Belfast in particular had taken a battering.  The political climate of Northern Ireland in the late 60s/early 70s saw Belfast ripped apart by some of the most devastating violence in the country’s history.  By 1973 and the winter of Gallagher’s landmark tour, Belfast was on its knees.  Roy Hollingworth, a journalist for Melody Maker in attendance at the Ulster Hall show would describe the city as a shattered, deserted and frightened place. The live music scene was non-existent with all but Gallagher willing to tour during the height of the Troubles tearing the country apart.  While his contemporaries turned their back on the city, it was Rory’s refusal to do so that forever won him the hearts of thousands of fans across the country.  “I see no reason for not playing Belfast. Kids still live here,” said Gallagher of his decision to repeatedly play in Belfast.  And so, Rory and his band, Gerry McAvoy (bass), Rod De’ath (drums) and Lou Martin (keys) returned again in the winter of 1973 for what would become the celebrated Irish Tour.  Acclaimed filmmaker Tony Palmer was drafted in to document the tour.  Palmer had first met Gallagher six years before in 1968 when Taste supported Cream at their famous farewell show at the Royal Albert Hall. Palmer has been on hand to record the super groups’ final performance but hadn’t failed to notice the extraordinary standout talents of the young Gallagher. When asked to accompany Rory on the Irish tour in the winter of 1973, Palmer seized the opportunity. More than aware of the socio-political situation in the North of the country at the time and Rory’s refusal to be drawn on either side of the argument, Palmer knew “this [was] a very interesting proposition.”  “Rory was at pains to point out he wasn’t active in any sense politically,” Palmer tells us, but felt very strongly that he should be allowed to play both Northern Ireland and the Republic. “I don’t want to make a movie with any political content but it will be self evident” said Gallagher. 

Both the Dublin and Cork shows also feature heavily on the subsequent documentary but it was Rory’s dignified but defiant impartial stance in Belfast that helped make this recording such a watershed moment for Rory’s

legions of devoted fans.

Irish Tour ’74 was a world class, matchless, blistering live performance. It is one of the greatest live albums of all time. No studio trickery, no overdubs. A truly live album. The stuff of legend.  This new deluxe edition features, for the first time on record, each of these iconic shows. Seven albums worth of fully remastered audio including 43 previously unreleased recordings, plus the Tony Palmer directed feature length documentary and large full color booklet. All presented in deluxe packaging.

“Only he could play the guitar off the fucking planet.” Tony Palmer

“Rory Gallagher brought hope and musical inspiration to his war-torn spiritual hometown of Belfast.”

“It was within the walls of the venue on ‘bomb alley’ that the tender-hearted, soft-spoken, dogged determination and captivating presence of Ireland’s guitar warrior poet and people’s hero found

its fullest flowering.”

“While Ulster teetered towards the brink, Rory’s rock hit with righteous affirmation”

Gavin Martin for Blues Magazine

“I've never seen anything quite so wonderful, so stirring, so uplifting, so joyous as when Gallagher and the band walked on stage. The whole place erupted, they all stood and they cheered and they yelled, and screamed, and they put their arms up, and they embraced. Then as one unit they put their arms into the air and gave peace signs. Without being silly, or overemotional, it was one of the most memorable moments of my life. It all meant something, it meant more than just rock n' roll, it was something bigger, something more valid than just that.”  Roy Hollingworth for Melody Maker

“Rory loved Belfast.  Just loved it.  Anytime we hit the stage after 1971 you were aware that, apart from the odd cabaret turn at the Abercorn (site of a 1972 bomb blast killing two and injuring 130), none of the bigger bands would come back to play Belfast, it was starved of music. Obviously after The Miami Showband tragedy it just got worse. We’re professionals. We play as well as we could wherever we played but it was a special situation in Belfast, something you could never acquire or attain at any other gig.”  Gerry McAvoy

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:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: www.twitter.com/EagleRockNews

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/eaglerocktv

Disc 1 & 2

Cork (5th of January 1974)

            •           Messin’ With The Kid*

            •           Cradle Rock

            •           I Wonder Who

            •           Tattoo’d Lady

            •           Walk On Hot Coals

            •           Laundromat*

            •           A Million Miles Away

            •           Hands Off*

            •           Too Much Alcohol

            •           As The Crow Flies

            •           Pistol Slapper Blues*

            •           Unmilitary Two-Step*

            •           Bankers Blues*

            •           Going To My Hometown*

            •           Who’s That Coming

            •           In Your Town*

Disc 3 & 4

Dublin (2nd of January 1974)

            •           Cradle Rock*

            •           Tattoo’d Lady*

            •           Hands Off*

            •           Walk On Hot Coals*

            •           Laundromat*

            •           Too Much Alcohol*

            •           A Million Miles Away*

            •           As The Crow Flies*

            •           Pistol Slapper Blues*

            •           Bankers Blues*

            •           Unmilitary Two-Step*

            •           Going To My Hometown*

            •           In Your Town*

            •           Bullfrog Blues*

Disc 5 & 6

Belfast (29th of December 1973)

            •           Messin’ With The Kid*

            •           Cradle Rock*

            •           I Wonder Who*

            •           Tattoo’d Lady*

            •           Walk On Hot Coals*

            •           Hands Off*

            •           A Million Miles Away*

            •           Laundromat*

            •           As The Crow Flies*

            •           Pistol Slapper Blues*

            •           Unmilitary Two-Step*

            •           Bankers Blues*

            •           Going To My Hometown*

            •           Who’s That Coming*

            •           In Your Town*

            •           Bullfrog Blues*

Disc 7

City Hall in Session (3rd of January 1974)

            •           Maritime (The Edgar Lustgarden Cut)

            •           I Want You  / Raunchy Medley*

            •           Treat Her Right

            •           I Wonder Who*

            •           Too Much Alcohol*

            •           Just A Little Bit

            •           I Can’t Be Satisfied*

            •           Acoustic Medley*

            •           Back On My Stompin' Ground (After Hours)

            •           Stompin’ Ground (Alt version)

Disc 8 (DVD)

The Tony Palmer directed documentary Irish Tour ’74

(courtesy of Eagle Rock Entertainment)

* Previously unreleased

Irish Tour ’74 Expanded Deluxe Edition is available to pre-order now at 
http://smarturl.it/IrishTour_Store

https://www.facebook.com/IrishTour74 

http://www.rorygallagher.com/

Queensryche Starring Geoff Tate to Auction Stage Backdrop for Fan Bryan Stow

There is not often a lot to celebrate when turning on the news nowadays. Here is a great story worth sharing courtesy of a media release that landed in my inbox...

QUEENSRYCHE STARRING GEOFF TATE TO AUCTION OFF

QUEENSRYCHE STAGE BACKDROP FEATURED ON SEVERAL TOURS

WITH PROCEEDS GOING TO DEVOUT FAN, BRYAN STOW

 

GEOFF TATE TO ALSO DONATE PROCEEDS OF SONG,

"FACING MY DEMONS," TO STOW, WHO CONTINUES TO MAKE

PROGRESS AFTER BEATING AT DODGER STADIUM IN 2011

 

 

Geoff Tate / Photo credit: Mick McDonald

On opening day of the baseball season in 2011, San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was beaten in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium by two individuals, who are currently serving a sentence for their actions.

 

Stow, a proud father of two and a paramedic, sustained severe injuries to his brain and was placed into a medically-induced coma after the incident.

 

It would be months before he would go outside and, ultimately, more than two years before he would go home.

 

Shortly after the occurrence, while Stow was in the hospital, Queensryche became aware that he was one of their biggest fans, sporting a sizable tattoo of the Queensryche logo on his left arm.

 

At the request of a friend, the band made a surprise visit to Bryan in the hospital that September, which ended up being an experience that both will never forget.

 

"We were incredibly inspired by his love for life, his love for his family and his love for our music," states original Queensryche lead singer, Geoff Tate.

 

With a week remaining in their Farewell tour, Geoff's version of Queensryche (which will continue on as Operation: Mindcrime after the tour ends) will be auctioning off the Queensryche stage backdrop that has been featured on several tours. "It's truly a special part of our musical history and we'd like to raise some much-needed funds for Bryan so he can continue his progress."

 

The auction will begin at 3:00pm PDT on Sunday, August 31, the day after the very last performance of Queensryche Starring Geoff Tate - The Farewell Tour, and will end at 3:00pm PDT the following Sunday, September 7, 2014. "We're honored and thankful to have fans like Bryan in our life and would like to present him with a check just prior to Thanksgiving. Every little bit helps at this point and we hope to continue our efforts for Bryan and his family down the road."

 

Come Sunday, fans desiring to bid can enter "Queenryche Stage Backdrop" on eBay or go to the direct link at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261574477081.

 

In addition to the money raised from the auction of the backdrop, Geoff will, personally, be donating his proceeds from a song titled, "Facing My Demons," that he sings with The Voodoos, who are currently out on tour with him. The song can be downloaded athttps://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/facing-my-demons-single/id788709857.

 

Earlier this month, Bryan came out for the Queensryche Starring Geoff Tate performance in Morgan Hill, California and, more recently, made a clubhouse visit with his son to the San Francisco Giants clubhouse on Sunday, August 17, where he was guided by longtime third base coach Tim Flannery and Giants relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt.

 

Flannery, a musician himself, has performed a series of Northern California concerts over the past three years to raise money for Bryan, and plans to continue his efforts as well.

 

To all music fans... to all sports fans... to all those who just want to do some good...

 

Get out there and bid!

 

For specific information about Bryan and his progress, please see www.support4bryanstow.com.

Toad the Wet Sprocket releases concept video for 'California Wasted'

As long-time readers know, Toad the Wet Sprocket is one of my all-time favorite bands. Today brings word that the quartet has released another video from its latest album, the wonderful 'New Constellation.' I just watched the video and it's great! Here is the official media release...

TOAD THE WET SPROCKET'S VIDEO FOR 'CALIFORNIA WASTED'

PREMIERED ON PASTE

From left: Dean Dinning, Todd Nichols, Randy Guss, Glen Phillips

Yesterday, Toad the Wet Sprocket's video for "California Wasted" premiered on Paste Magazine online. The video, directed by Matthew Ward and Ryan Chan, shows the band members in beautiful California setting, unable to be present, distracted by phones and newspapers. Said Ward, " The concept came from what the song implied: wasting away in California."Said Glen Phillips from Toad, "Enjoy, and make sure you occasionally look up from your smartphone and see the world around you."

New Constellation, Toad the Wet Sprocket's first independent album since their debut LP was released 25 years ago, came out of the gate with premiere items on Rolling Stone and Billboard, and was crowd-funded with a campaign that reached its goal amount in less than 24 hours and went on to reach 5 times the original goal amount. The fans continue to fuel the engine as they hit the road, coast-to-coast with friends and fan-favorites Counting Crows. The first three singles from the album have seen a strong response at radio, and received rave reviews, and their recent activity has seen their timeless hits such as "All I Want," "Something's Always Wrong," "Walk on The Ocean," and "Fall Down" return to the charts. Their most recent single, "California Wasted," was released last week and is already on the top 10 most added list at AC.

In celebration of their 25th Anniversary, and in conjunction with the summer tour, Toad is featuring new items on their site including 25th Anniversary Toad merchandise. They will also be posting lyric videos to some of the classic Toad hits on their YouTube channel. Fans should also check the band’s new website for additional dates around the Counting Crows tour.

“We’re honored to be on the road with Counting Crows on the summer of our 25th anniversary. We recently released New Constellation, our first album in 16 years. Adam Duritzis partially responsible - five years after we broke up, he asked us to reform and play a few shows opening for Counting Crows,” said lead vocalist and guitarist Glen Phillips. “That tour was the first crack in the ice, and now we are back together, touring again with the band that first encouraged us to give it another go.”

Toad the Wet Sprocket (Glen Phillips on lead vocals and guitar, Dean Dinning on bass and vocals, Todd Nichols on lead guitar and vocals, and Randy Guss on the drums) share in the kind of musical chemistry that can only come from meeting in high school and writing, recording and touring on albums over the course of those 25 years. After Bread & Circus, they followed with Pale in 1990, fear in ’91, Dulcinea in 1994, and Coil in 1997, as well as some compilation and rarities compilations along the way. While most will feel the comforting familiarity of the Billboard-charting hits, “Walk on the Ocean”, “All I Want”, “Something’s Always Wrong”, and “Fall Down”, new fans will also be well familiar with their new hits such as “California Wasted” which continues to climb the charts as well. Even with a period of the band members weaving in and out of each other’s musical lives, the same creative curiosity that inspired the band to form in 1986 has brought them full circle to come back together again. It’s official: TOAD IS BACK.

TOAD THE WET SPROCKET TOUR DATES:

Aug 27- WELLFLEET, MA- Beachcomber
Aug 28- HARTFORD, CT- Infinity Hall
Aug 29- NORWALK, CT- Norwalk Concert Hall
Aug 30- NEWBURYPORT, MA- Riverfront Music Festival
Oct 11- SOLVANG, CA- Solvang Festival Theater
Nov 8- SOLANA BEACH, CA- Belly Up Tavern
Nov 14- LAS VEGAS, NV- Brooklyn Bowl Vegas
Nov 15- SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA- Coach House
Nov 20- KANSAS CITY, MO- Uptown Theater
Nov 21- WICHITA, KS- Orpheum Theatre
Nov 22- DENVER, CO- Ogden Theatre
Nov 23- ASPEN, CO- Wheeler Opera House
Nov 29- LOS ANGELES, CA- The Fonda Theatre

Sights and Sounds: Gary Calamar, Americana Music Association, Justin Currie

Happy Tuesday morning everybody! Here is a quick roundup of several items pulled from my inbox first thing today...

NOTED MUSIC SUPERVISOR AND KCRW DJ GARY CALAMAR’S DEBUT RELEASE YOU ARE WHAT YOU LISTEN TO CONFIRMED FOR OCTOBER 14, 2014 VIA ATLANTIC RECORDS

True Blood, Dexter, Six Feet Under Music Supervisor as well as Disc Jockey, Author and Former Record Store Manager’s Musical Evolution Continues with Solo Debut From a Rock and Roll Wordsmith

LOS ANGELES, CA (TUESDAY AUGUST 26, 2014) – Five-time Grammy nominated music supervisor and noted KCRW Disc Jockey Gary Calamar (www.garycalamar.com) announced today that his debut E.P. You Are What You listen To will be released October 14 via Atlantic Records.

You Are What You Listen To is Gary Calamar’s debut as a musician & songwriter of gloriously catchy, sparkly rock and roll songs, filled with abundant wit and melody. Drawing inspiration from his rock heroes, his tunes alternately crunch as well as caress. Produced by John Would (Fiona Apple), the six songs that compromise the E.P. jam their way directly into your head. They are:

1. I Got An Idea

2. Giddy

3. Minimum Day 

4. She’s So Mid-Century 

5. The Last Revolution

6. Back Door Man

So how does one go from music industry soldier to simply musician? Well, it’s actually more like an evolution than a career change. Known primarily as a five-time Grammy nominated music supervisor on shows like True Blood, Dexter, Six Feet Under as well as KCRW DJ, Gary Calamar has always been a songwriter. None other than Iggy Pop recorded his tune “Let’s Boot and Rally”. So after years of being a closeted songwriter with no time to record, up stepped Atlantic Records who heard a few demo tracks and asked to put the record out. And here we are, You Are What You Listen To. 

Gary’s humble beginnings in the music business began behind the counter at LA’s finest record stores: Licorice Pizza (RIP), Moby Disc (RIP) and Rhino (RIP). He managed the criminally underrated L.A. band, The Balancing Act who released 3 indie classics on IRS Records. From there he was offered a job at one of the world’s most influential radio stations, KCRW. He also co-authored the book Record Store Days: From Vinyl to Digital and Back Again. But all the while he’s been entertaining his inner circle of music pals with his own compositions. Catchy, sparkling, glorious bursts of rock and roll mischief and majesty, they are. Real, live, can’t-get-them-outta-yer-head songs that will be released in on October 14. 

Live dates to be announced shortly. 

Americana Music Association announces its 13th Annual Honors & Awards Performers and Presenters

(Nashville, Tenn.) August 26, 2014 – The Americana Music Association reveals an initial presenter and performer lineup for its 13th annual Honors & Awards Show. As anticipated, the list reflects Americana’s “spirit of eclecticism” (New York Times) through its diverse production/curation.

Hurray For The Riff Raff
is Alynda Lee Segarra /
Photo: Josh Shoemaker

In addition to previously announced performances by Loretta Lynn, Flaco Jimenez, Taj Mahal and Jackson Browne, the tastemaker event will feature Buddy Miller, Cassandra Wilson, Hard Working Americans, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Jason Isbell, Jim Lauderdale, Marty Stuart, Parker Millsap, Patty Griffin, Robert Ellis, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Ry Cooder, Sarah Jarosz, St. Paul & Broken Bones, Sturgill Simpson, The Devil Makes Three, The McCrary Sisters, The Milk Carton Kids and Valerie June with presentations by Amy Ray, Carlene Carter, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, JD Souther, Joe Henry, John Paul White, John Ritter, Keb Mo, Rhett Miller, Shovels and Rope, Todd Snider and Vince Gill.

The 13th Annual Honors & Awards Show — held at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Wednesday, Sept. 17th — will be hosted by Jim Lauderdale and feature a house band led by Buddy Miller that includes Don Was, Joachim Cooder, Tim Lauer, The McCrary Sisters and legend, Ry Cooder.

Broadcast live with radio partners SiriusXM "Outlaw Country" and online via NPR's Folk Alley, and edited for television for PBS that will air November 22 in the Austin City Limits time slot. The Americana Honors & Awards, for the first time, will also air on Australia's CMC (Country Music Channel). The show kicks off the 15th Annual Festival and Conference that runs Wed. Sept, 17 through Sunday, Sept 21.

For a full list of performers, panels, and ticket and registration information, please visit americanamusic.org.

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The 15th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference, a “smaller, rootsier version of South by Southwest” (New York Times) will take place September 17-21, 2014 in Nashville, TN, kicked off by the 13th annual Americana Honors & Awards Show on Sept. 17 at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The Americana Music Association is a professional non-profit trade organization whose mission is to advocate for the authentic voice of American Roots Music around the world. The Association curates events throughout the year including the annual Americana Music Festival and Conference, presented by Nissan, the acclaimed Americana Honors & Awards program and most recently “Americana NYC” Aug. 4th – 11th — a partnership with Lincoln Center. For more information, please visit www.americanamusic.org.

JUSTIN CURRIE US TOUR IN SUPPORT OF LOWER REACHES

Justin Currie will tour the U.S. in September and October of 2014.

Justin Currie, the lead singer and songwriter of Scottish pop-rock band Del Amitri, is pleased to announce U.S. dates this fall in support of his newest release, Lower Reaches.

Watch Justin Currie's Video "Bend To My Will" here Visit Justin Currie's website here The new album is the follow-up to Currie's 2010 critically acclaimed project The Great War which garnered 4 star reviews and earned Currie the moniker of "a songwriter's songwriter" from Mojo.  On Lower Reaches, Currie's pop sensibilities and radio ready vocals are ever present, but it's his songwriting that is perhaps most striking.  The new set of self-penned songs show Currie emerging as a writer of great depth and sensitivity, deftly examining life, relationships and the human condition, albeit delivered with the healthy dose of cynicism and wit that his fans have come to count on. Currie wrote most of the songs on Lower Reaches during a solitary songwriting retreat on the Isle of Skye off the coast of Scotland.  Hunkered down in a remote cottage in the shadow of The Cuillins, the mountain range that dominates the Hebridean island, Currie had no internet and no mobile phone, just an acoustic guitar, a piano, and a ghetto-blaster on which to record his ideas.  "I suppose it was a bit like my Brill Building", he smiles. "You're being your own boss and putting yourself under pressure to write."  Currie wrote fifteen songs in eleven days, something of a personal best in terms of rapid-fire delivery. When it came time to capture the music in the studio Currie traveled to Austin, Texas to work with producer Mike McCarthy (Craig Finn [The Hold Steady], Spoon, Patty Griffin, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead).  The process was, in Currie's words, "a brilliant experience" and the resulting tracks have been heralded by the UK press as among the songwriter's recent best. Watch Justin Currie's Video "Bend to My Will" here As singer and main songwriter in Del Amitri, formed in Glasgow in 1983, Currie wrote many of their biggest hits including ‘Roll To Me’, ‘Always The Last To Know’, and ‘Nothing Ever Happens’. During their long and distinguished career, Del Amitri released four Top 10 albums, including ‘Waking Hours’ (1989), which sold over a million copies in the UK alone.

About Compass Records Billboard Magazine has touted Compass Records Group as one of the leading independent labels of the past decade. The label group is home to more than 500 releases across the Compass Records, Green Linnet and Mulligan Records imprints with a roster that boasts a variety of artists including Colin Hay, A.J. Croce, Victor Wooten, Claire Lynch, the Farewell Drifters, Peter Rowan, The Gibson Brothers, Darden Smith, BeauSoleil, Michael Cleveland, and label co-founder Alison Brown. For more information, visit www.compassrecords.com.