Snow Patrol announces first North American Tour since 2019

Just weeks after the release of the band's outstanding new album The Forest Is The Path, Snow Patrol is set to return to the U.S. - this marks their first tour in five years! Check out my review of The Forest Is The Path on the Desert Local News website HERE...Robert Kinsler

ANNOUNCES FIRST NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SINCE 2019   BEGINNING MARCH 2025 – SEE BELOW FOR DATES   NEW ALBUM THE FOREST IS THE PATH OUT NOW BAND’S FIRST U.K. #1 ALBUM IN 18 YEARS

LISTEN ORDER ALBUM   “Gary Lightbody lays himself bare in terrifyingly tender songs” – The Irish Times “Full of soaring choruses and future classics” – Hot Press “★★★★” – The Telegraph   Today, Snow Patrol announce their first North American tour since 2019. The first date is on March 21, 2025 in Vancouver, after which the band will work down to the Wiltern in Los Angeles on March 25, and venture eastward through April. Fans can register for artist presale access by signing up for the band’s mailing list on their website. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 27 at 10am local time. See below for the full list of dates or visit the band’s official website for more details. “We’re so excited to get back to tour in North America again! For the first ten years of our career, we didn’t get to play in the US or Canada and even though, now, we have been touring there for twenty years we still feel like we’re making up for lost time. We grew up listening to so much music from the US and Canada so we feel like it’s in our blood. We can’t wait to come back again next year and discover more of the continent and have new adventures with a brand-new album” – Gary Lightbody     On September 13th, the band released their stunning new album The Forest Is The Path  featuring the new single “Everything’s Here And Nothing’s Lost.” The album landed at #1 on the U.K. Official Charts. They previously held the #1 spot with Eyes Open (2006).   The Forest is the Path is the Northern Irish band’s eighth studio album and marks their eagerly awaited return following 2018’s Wildness. It is produced by Fraser T Smith (Adele/Dave/Stormzy) and the band. Now comprising the trio of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid, Snow Patrol offered the first tastes of their extraordinary new album with singles “The Beginning,” “This Is The Sound Of Your Voice” and “All.”   The Forest Is The Path was written by Nathan Connolly, Gary Lightbody and Johnny McDaid and features contributions from Fraser T Smith, Will Reynolds, Roy Kerr and Troy Van Leeuwen (QOTSA). Artwork for the album and single are paintings by the band’s  Lightbody.   The Forest is the Path is an album of contrasts. At times epically joyous, life-affirming and giant - in fact Lightbody calls the album “the biggest sounding record we have ever made” - and the first four tracks are some of the mightiest choruses they have released in their now thirty-year career. But it also holds space for moments that are pin-drop quiet and earth-shatteringly devastating.   Lyrically, it’s by far the most laid-bare and most unsparing of the band’s albums Phrases leap out and ambush you, constantly. “I’m only lost if you don’t look for me.” “I’m not going to lie to you anymore, after these lies. Then no more.” “I want to be in love without being loved in return.” “I’ve told myself a million times who you weren’t, so I can finally forget who you were.” “Love is just pain in reverse.” It’s not a record for the faint-hearted, to be sure - but it may just be a salve for the heart that hurts.   The recording sessions with Fraser T Smith were intense and cathartic. All three members describe them as utterly transformative, not least Gary, for whom they were like looking in the mirror and refusing to turn away. Listening to The Forest is the Path, you feel that his whole journey as a songwriter was fated to arrive at this point. No filter, total honesty and humility, a deep and untiring excavation of the past. Hearing his lyrics and his singing - the best and most beautiful of his career – you feel as if you’re staring into his soul.   Snow Patrol kicked off their return in the summer with a stunning performance at Rock Werchter in Belgium before playing to 30,000 fans at a sold-out Thomond Park Stadium in Limerick. After headlining a run of festivals, the band will play two intimate shows at KOKO in London and Ulster Hall in Belfast in the week of album release. Ahead of the US dates the band will do an arena tour throughout the UK and Ireland Arena in February 2025.

SNOW PATROL LIVE DATES NORTH AMERICA MARCH 21 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre 22 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre 24 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater 25 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern 28 – Salt Lake City, UT – Union 29 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre 31 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre   APRIL 1 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed 3 – Toronto, ON – History 4 – Montreal, QC – Olympia de Montreal 5 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall 8 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount 11 – Washington, DC – The Anthem 12 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met

(Credit Tom Beard) Connect with Snow Patrol Facebook Instagram Twitter

New music: Tab Benoit, Snow Patrol, Biscuit Rouse

In this column, the latest album releases from Louisiana bluesman Tab Benoit, Northern Irish trio Snow Patrol and Philadelphia native Biscuit Rouse are reviewed.

Artist: Tab Benoit

Title: I Hear Thunder (Whiskey Bayou Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Tinsley Ellis, Anders Osborne, George Porter Jr.

Tell me more: Singer-songwriter/guitar great Tab Benoit is back with his first new studio album in 13 years, the wonderful I Hear Thunder. A first-rate singer and guitar master, Benoit's return is a glorious listen filled with his signature mix of Louisiana-soaked Swamp blues, soul and Chicago blues; guitar legend Anders Osborne is featured across the release and his work enhances the stunning collection of original material. The winning title track, bouncy Cajun blues rocker "The Ghost of Gatemouth Brown," soulful ballad "Still Gray" and heavy Hendrix-flavored blues rocker "Inner Child" are early highlights on the album. The sparse "Overdue" (showcasing Benoit's expressive vocals), Southern blues rock nugget "I'm A Write That Down" and sizzling aptly-titled closer "Bayou Man" shine on the album's last half. Information: tabbenoit.com.

Artist: Snow Patrol

Title: The Forest Is The Path (Republic Records)

You might like if you enjoy: U2, Keane, Doves

Tell me more: Snow Patrol is back with their first new album since 2018's Wildness. The Northern Irish trio (Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid) offers a decidedly mature take on the mystery of love beautifully painted with an immersive and mood swept sonic palate that builds on the territory established on the band's previous seven albums.  The 12-track disc is a wonderful return, stretching from the bewitching opener "All," reflective "The Beginning" and explosive art rocker "Everything's Here And Nothing's Lost" to the expansive "This Is The Sound Of Your Voice," impenetrable "Years That Fall" and heartbreaking confessional "These Lies." Other standouts include the electronica-styled "Your Heart Home," the driving "Hold Me In The Fire" and tender "Talking About Hope." Information: snowpatrol.com.

Artist: Biscuit Rouse

Title: Biscuit and Buddy (Leopard Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Buddy Miles, Prince, Jimi Hendrix

Tell me more: The late George Allen "Buddy" Miles Jr. (Sept. 5, 1947 - Feb. 26, 2008) was a musical titan, earning accolades as a composer, drummer, guitarist, singer and producer. In addition to his stint as a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys, he was a founding member of the Electric Flag, leader of the Buddy Miles Express and other musical groups. Now, James "Biscuit" Rouse (Lauryn Hill, Vivian Green, Sylvan Johnson) has released the first ever tribute album dedicated to the late Buddy Miles, the wonderful Biscuit and Buddy. Early standouts on the album include the infectious dance-minded "Don't Mess With Cupid," shimmering R&B take on Neil Young's "Down By The River," grooving funk-fueled original "Gi-Gina," inspired dance rock version of Miles "Them Changes," horns-adorned rocker "Train" and funk-blues version of the Isaac Hayes-David Porter classic "Wrap It Up." Later highlights include the soulful "Life Is What You Make It" and the mesmerizing Rouse original "Shine." Rouse will accept the award for the late Miles at the R&B Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Oct. 6. Information: jamesbiscuitrouse.com.

Robert Kinsler

New music: Lainey Wilson, Mark Bacino, Colman Gota

In this column I review the latest titles from Lainey Wilson, Mark Bacino and Colman Gota.

Artist: Lainey Wilson

Title: Whirlwind (Broken Bow Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Miranda Lambert, Ashley McBryde, Lainey Wilson 

Tell me more: Rising country music singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson's new album Whirlwind is sure to please fans with its infectious blend of uptempo material and heartfelt ballads. Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Jay Joyce, the 14 tracks on Whirlwind showcase the Baskin, Louisiana native's knack for tapping into both traditional and contemporary strains of country music. From the high stepping opener "Keep Up With Jones" and aptly-aimed "Country's Cool Again" to the acoustic-flavored "Good Horses," aching ballad "Broken Hearts Still Beat" and lovely "Whiskey Colored Crayon," the album marks another bold step forward for Wilson. The rock mining title track, poetic power ballad "Call A Cowboy" (the latter featuring Wilson's top-flight vocals) and country rocker "Bar In Baton Rouge" are among the most ambitious tracks on the stellar release. Information: laineywilson.com.

Artist: Mark Bacino

Title: Top of the World (Parasol Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Randy Newman, Squeeze, Paul McCartney

Tell me more: New York-based singer-songwriter Mark Bacino has released his new full-length album Top of the World, a disc that offers up songs that blend melodic pop, music hall, Tin Pan Alley and other retro-aimed styles with a contemporary zeal; Bacino's winning vocals deliver insightful lyrics that bolster the musical strength of the album (available via audio CD, vinyl and all major streaming platforms). Enticing originals include the R&B-tinged "Kaylee Hughes," the retro-mining foray "Flop Of The World," lush "Shaky Hand," vaudeville-rock instrumental "He Never Saw It Coming" and breezy folk rocker "Young Heart." A who's who of guest players enhance the music making including Michael Leonhart (Steely Dan, Elvis Costello) on horns, Steve Peffer (Sara Evans, Martina McBride) on piano, Joe McGinty (Psychedelic Furs, Ryan Adams) on piano, Tim Horsley (Keith Urban) on drums and more. Top of the World was produced by Bacino and mastered by legendary engineer Greg Calbi (Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie). Information: markbacino.com.

Artist: Colman Gota

Title: Don't Stop Playing Guitar (Kool Kat)

You might like if you enjoy: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs

Tell me more: Crank it up! Spain's Colman Gota's aptly-titled fifth album Don't Stop Playing Guitar is a mostly rocking set of 17 tracks that find the talented singer-guitarist conjuring up classic rock stylings of pioneering greats ranging from Tom Petty and the Knack to Matthew Sweet and Weezer. The sizzling opener "Big In Taiwan," propulsive power pop gem "Always Late," introspective folk rocker "Glad That You Are Alive," fiery "Enemy," reflective "Check On Someone Else" and "Waning Light" explode with a single listen. A more nuanced listen awaits via the mid tempo "Crack The Code," shimmering title track, sumptuous "Higher Calling" and Americana sortie "If I Only Could." The disc closes with the otherworldly "Like You Always Have," a glistening track showcasing the artist's songwriting as well as his nuanced talents on guitar and wonderful lead vocals. Don't Stop Playing Guitar is one of the most exciting releases of 2024. Information: koolkatmusik.com.

Robert Kinsler

'The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums In Mono' vinyl out Nov. 22, 2024

Exciting news for Beatles fans! How amazing is it that after 60 years, The Beatles are still the gold standard, and the most important rock artist ever. Read on music friends!...Robert Kinsler

The Beatles creating magic in the studio.
Photo courtesy of The Beatles/Apple Corps Ltd.

THE BEATLES’ 1964 U.S. ALBUMS COLLECTED FOR NEW MONO VINYL BOX SET & LP RELEASES, CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF GLOBAL BEATLEMANIA ‘The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums In Mono’ Spotlights Seven Albums Released in America Between January 1964 & March 1965; 180-gram Vinyl LPs Analog Cut from the Original Mono Masters

London - September 12, 2024 – Originally compiled for U.S. release between January 1964 and March 1965 by Capitol Records and United Artists, seven Beatles albums have been analog cut for 180-gram audiophile vinyl from their original mono master tapes for global release on November 22 by Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe. Out of print on vinyl since 1995, the seven mono albums are available now for preorder in a new eight-LP box set titled The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums In Mono, with six of the titles also available individually. All seven albums – Meet The Beatles!; The Beatles’ Second Album; A Hard Day’s Night (Original Motion Picture Sound Track); Something New; The Beatles’ Story (2LP); Beatles ’65; and The Early Beatles – feature faithfully replicated artwork and new four-panel inserts with essays written by American Beatles historian and author Bruce Spizer. The albums’ new vinyl lacquers were cut by Kevin Reeves at Nashville’s East Iris Studios. The box set collects the seven albums, and all except The Beatles’ Story are also available individually. Preorder The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums In Mono box set & individual LPs: https://thebeatles.lnk.to/1964USAlbumsPR Watch the brief trailer: https://thebeatles.lnk.to/1964USAlbumsUnboxingPR On February 7, 1964, scores of screaming, swooning fans gathered at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to catch a glimpse of John, Paul, George and Ringo as The Beatles took their first steps on American soil. Two nights later, on February 9, 73 million viewers in the U.S. and millions more in Canada tuned in to CBS to watch The Beatles make their American television debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show”. In this cultural watershed moment in American history, The Beatles performed five songs on the live broadcast. “Beatlemania”, already in full, feverish bloom in The Beatles’ native U.K. and developing in the U.S., exploded with blissful fervor across America and around the world. The British Invasion had begun. Shortly before The Beatles’ history-making Stateside visit, Capitol Records secured exclusive U.S. rights to release the band’s recordings in a deal with EMI. The storied, already iconic record label rush released Meet The Beatles! on January 20, 1964. The album features 12 tracks drawn largely from the band’s U.K. album With The Beatles (released November 22, 1963). Showcasing the band’s original songwriting, Capitol replaced five cover songs from the U.K. album with three originals: both sides of The Beatle’s first Capitol single (“I Want To Hold Your Hand”/“I Saw Her Standing There”) and the latest U.K. single’s B-side (“This Boy”). The album hit Number 1 and held the top spot for 11 weeks, launching a hitmaking string of Beatles albums compiled, titled and packaged by Capitol for the American market. By early April, more than 3.6 million Meet The Beatles! albums had been sold, and on the singles front, The Beatles swept the Billboard Hot 100’s top 5 positions on April 4, a stunning chart record that still stands. On April 10, Capitol released The Beatles’ Second Album. Its 11 tracks include the five covers not included on Meet The Beatles!, three songs previously released in the U.S. by the Swan and Vee-Jay labels, plus the B-side to the band’s U.S. “Can’t Buy Me Love” single (“You Can’t Do That”), and two new songs recorded in March during sessions for the band’s soon to be released debut film, A Hard Day’s Night (“I Call Your Name” and a cover of Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally”). Upon release, The Beatles’ Second Album replaced Meet The Beatles! atop Billboard’s albums chart for five weeks at Number 1. On June 26, United Artists rush released the U.S. soundtrack album for A Hard Day's Night, which the studio would release to theaters nationwide in August. Along with its buoyant title track, the album features “Can’t Buy Me Love”, “And I Love Her”, and five more Beatles originals, as well as four George Martin-arranged orchestral instrumentals of Beatles songs. The soundtrack topped Billboard’s albums chart at Number 1 for 14 consecutive weeks, tallying a whopping 51 weeks on the chart. Capitol quickly released “A Hard Day’s Night” as a single, topping Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and selling more than a million copies in short order. Released by Capitol on July 20, The Beatles’ Something New album includes five songs featured in the band’s A Hard Day’s Night film and six tracks new for America, including “Things We Said Today” and “Any Time At All”. Something New held at Number 2 on Billboard’s albums chart for nine weeks, just below the soundtrack. Released in U.S. theaters in August, A Hard Day’s Night was a box office smash and a critics pick, earning two Academy Awardâ nominations. Within days of the film’s release, The Beatles returned to North America for a monthlong mad dash of 32 concerts across the U.S. and Canada from August 19 to September 20. Capitol’s next Beatles release was on November 23: The Beatles’ Story, described on its cover as “A Narrative and Music Biography of Beatlemania on 2 Long-Play Records.” A charming audio grab bag of band member interview clips and quips; Beatles song snips; instrumental versions of Beatles songs performed by the Hollyridge Strings; narration and Beatles storytelling by John Babcock and others; plus various other bits and bobs, the gatefold-packaged double album has a relatively short total runtime of 50 minutes across its four sides. Capitol capped 1964 with the forward-looking Beatles ’65 album, rush released on December 15 and promising “Great New Hits by John * Paul * George * Ringo” on its cover. The album plucks eight tracks from the U.K. Number 1 Beatles For Sale album (released December 4), plus three more songs new for America, including “I’ll Be Back” and both sides of the band’s latest U.K. single (“I Feel Fine”/“She’s A Woman”). Out in time for the holidays, Beatles ’65 sold nearly two million copies within its first two weeks of release and held Number 1 for nine of its 71 weeks on Billboard’s albums chart. 1964 was a banner year for The Beatles in the U.S. (and all around the world), even by the band’s own ‘toppermost of the poppermost’ standards. The Beatles racked up 17 U.S. Top 40 singles including six Number 1s, six Top 10 albums including four Number 1s, and a blockbuster film. By year’s end, Capitol had sold more than 15 million Beatles records. Capitol released The Early Beatles on March 22, 1965. The album’s 11 tracks were first released in the U.S. by Vee-Jay Records, starting in February 1963 with the “Please Please Me”/“Ask Me Why” single, with the rest issued in January 1964 on Vee-Jay’s Introducing The Beatles album. Vee-Jay also released three songs from that album as hitmaking U.S. singles in early 1964 (“Twist And Shout,” “Do You Want To Know A Secret,” and “Love Me Do”). Capitol’s exclusive American release rights for the tracks took effect in October 1964 upon settlement with Vee-Jay, and The Early Beatles collected them for their Capitol debut. Sixty years on, Beatlemania is timeless. The Beatles’ beacon is alight evermore, renewed with the wonder of each generation’s joyful discovery and in creative exploration of the band’s music and cultural eminence by musicians, filmmakers, writers, and other fans of all stripes. The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums In Mono (8LP 180g vinyl box set) [all albums except The Beatles’ Story also available individually] Meet The Beatles! [Capitol Records: released January 20, 1964; 11 weeks at No. 1] The Beatles’ Second Album [Capitol Records: released April 10, 1964; five weeks at No. 1] A Hard Day’s Night (Original Motion Picture Sound Track) [United Artists: released June 26, 1964; 14 weeks at No. 1] Something New [Capitol Records: released July 20, 1964; nine weeks at No. 2] The Beatles’ Story [2LP] [Capitol Records: released November 23, 1964; peaked at No. 7] Beatles ’65 [Capitol Records: released December 15, 1964; nine weeks at No. 1] The Early Beatles [Capitol Records: released March 22, 1965; peaked at No. 43] Mastering Notes: These albums were cut for vinyl from the original master tapes using a completely analog signal path and with constant reference to first generation pressings of the original albums. They were made using a Studer A80 master recorder with analog preview & program paths, and an Neumann VMS70 cutting lathe originally installed in Capitol Studios in 1971. This specific all-analog cutting technique allows faithful representation of the full musical range and dynamics present on the original tapes. TheBeatles.com #Beatles64 Facebook│X (Twitter)│Instagram│YouTube | TikTok

NRBQ announce 'Brass Tacks' 10th Anniversary Edition out on Oct. 18 via Omnivore Recordings

NRBQ's wonderful album "Brass Tacks" is set to get an expanded 10th anniversary reissue next month. Learn more via the official media release below...Robert Kinsler 

NRBQ Announce Brass Tacks 10th Anniversary Edition on LP, CD, and Digital out on October 18 via Omnivore Recordings

CD and Digital Release Contain Three Bonus Tracks

Photo credit: Norm DeMoura

“What a KILLER record! Right up there with the Q’s best! Production, arrangements, performances and songs … just knocks me OUT!”  – Bonnie Raitt

September 10, 2024: NRBQ have announced a 10th Anniversary Edition of Brass Tacks to be released on October 18 via Omnivore Recordings. The acclaimed album returns with updated artwork including photos, new liner notes from John DeAngelis, and fresh remastering from Alan Stockwell, all fully approved by Terry Adams and the band. Plus there are three bonus tracks on the CD and Digital versions, two from the album recording sessions and a rare radio spot featuring Adams.   “If you look it up in your dictionary, you’ll find that ‘getting down to brass tacks’ means to get down to some sort of serious business,” writes DeAngelis in the liner notes. “But for NRBQ—in general, and specifically on this outstanding album from 2014—it means getting down to the business of making unique, memorable music while also having some serious fun.”

“Man, I love hearing a record that is not ironic or cynical. I love that the layers on it are musical and not a superficial spin on the top. Real emotion. It’s killing me.”  — Penn Jillette

With guitarist Scott Ligon, bassist Casey McDonough, and drummer Conrad Choucroun, the record starts out with a slamming beat from Choucroun on the fun “Waitin’ on My Sweetie Pie,” written by Ligon. Ligon also wrote one of the most touching songs, “It’ll Be Alright.” The band tears through originals, “I’d Like To Know” (written by long time Whole Wheat Horns member Jim Hoke), and a version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Getting To Know You” from The King And I. (Come on—it’s NRBQ!) The record also serves as the debut of new bassist and songwriter, Casey McDonough. He wrote and sang two of their most popular songs in recent years, “Fightin’ Back” and “Can’t Wait to Kiss You”. A hell of a debut!   With songs like “Greetings From Delaware,” “This Flat Tire” and “Places Far Away,” Brass Tacks features some of Terry Adams’ most inventive works both musically and lyrically in the band’s long history. Brass Tacks not only showed the band was back—but back with the songs and sounds and fun NRBQ has always been known, loved, and revered for.

“NRBQ’s Brass Tacks is pure heart and soul nonstop. Listen from start to finish. Music you’ll find nowhere else.”  –P.J. O’Connell

The album was widely praised by the likes of Rolling Stone who said, “Brass Tacks contains the fun, zest, humor and flat-out rock that has defined the band since their birth decades ago.” In PopMatters, Will Layman wrote, "All of the music might have appeared on an old NRBQ collection: it is tuneful, rootsy, rockabilly, sentimental, about cars or love or both, weird, interesting.” AllMusic said, "NRBQ's mix of rock ’n’ roll, jazz, and R&B is as singular and as satisfying as ever,” and the Los Angeles Daily News exclaimed, “Brass Tacks is as accomplished and as spirited an album as the band has ever made …is a terrific addition to the band’s catalog, one that might even act as a gateway drug to NRBQ’s long and rewarding back history.” The New York Times once called NRBQ “the world’s sloppiest virtuosos.” But, NRBQ are actually the world’s most fun-loving virtuosos. And the proof of that is all over Brass Tacks.

“Keep Rockin’ NRBQ!”  — Terry Adams

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/1gqHvYfktNE   Pre-order Brass Tacks: www.omnivorerecordings.com/shop/brass-tacks   Brass Tacks tracklist: 1. Waitin’ On My Sweetie Pie 2. Greetings From Delaware 3. Sit In My Lap 4. Fightin’ Back 5. It’ll Be Alright 6. Places Far Away 7. This Flat Tire 8. Can’t Wait To Kiss You 9. I’d Like To Know 10. I’m Not Here 11. Love This Love We Got 12. Getting To Know You   Bonus Tracks 13. That Makes Me A Fool (Early Version) 14. Yes I Have A Banana 15. Radio Spot - Rhodes All Over The Map