Blur drummer Dave Rowntree announces "Radio Songs" out January 23, 2023

Very exciting news that famed Blur drummer Dave Rowntree is set to release his full-length debut album in early 2023. Check out the official media release and video links to hear advance music from the forthcoming album...Robert Kinsler 

Photo credit: Paul Postle

DAVE ROWNTREE ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM RADIO SONGS

LISTEN TO NEW SINGLE "DEVIL’S ISLAND" BLUR Drummer's Debut Album  Out January 23 via Cooking Vinyl

DAVE ROWNTREE "Devil's Island" Link: https://lnk.to/DevilsIsland_Video

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 (London, UK) -- BLUR drummer DAVE ROWNTREE is excited to announce details of his debut album, RADIO SONGS which will be released on January 20, 2023 via Cooking Vinyl. Its announcement coincides with the release of a new single, "Devil's Island," his second from the debut record, and its opener too. The album was produced by Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno, Wild Beasts, Ghostpoet). Dave Rowntree on "Devil’s Island":  "I grew up in the UK in the 1970s and while there were definitely good points about the decade, I also remember how toxic it could be. The country was deeply divided, and racism and misogyny were the norm. The economy was a basket case, and at one point we had to be bailed out by the IMF [International Monetary Fund]. However, listening to some people, you'd think it was a golden age to which we should yearn to return. This song is a note to self, to remind me how far we've come in forty years." DAVE ROWNTREE - RADIO SONGS TRACKLISTING 1. Devil’s Island 2. Downtown 3. London Bridge 4. 1000 Miles 5. HK 6. Tape Measure  7. Machines Like Me 8. Black Sheep 9. Volcano 10. Who’s Asking   Listen to the previously released first single "London Bridge" HERE. Pre-order Radio Songs HERE. DAVE ROWNTREE "London Bridge" Link: https://youtu.be/fwlXJ1mC3x0

Blur triumphant in first-ever Hollywood Bowl appearance

Blur in action at The Hollywood Bowl on October 20, 2015. / Photo: Kim Kinsler

Few English rock legends have been as criminally ignored in the U.S. as Blur.

Singer/guitarist/keyboardist Damon Albarn, lead guitarist/singer Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree originally formed as Seymour in the late 1980s and became Blur in London in 1990. They then rose to fame in the the early 1990s releasing a number of outstanding albums including Leisure (1991), Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993), Parklife (1994) and The Great Escape (1995).

Blur found its greatest success on this side of the Atlantic following the release of their self-titled 1997 album which included the hit "Song 2." However, even the undeniable hard-rocking "woo-hoo!" sing-along never brought the quartet enough success to see them headlining at the likes of prime-time venues such as the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Blur's artistic track record is decidedly in step with the group's success in virtually every other civilized corner of the planet where they are rightfully appreciated including Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, as well as South and Central America.

A headlining appearance at Coachella in 2013 and the release of the highly-anticipated and critically-praised The Magic Whip (the band's first new studio album in 12 years was issued in early 2015) finally helped provide the momentum to inspire Blur to give the U.S. another try and schedule shows at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday, Oct. 20 and at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 23.

The adage "Better late than never" certainly rang true at the Hollywood Bowl on the most magic of nights. Performing before an enthusiastic crowd that was eager to take in the Britpop champion's much-beloved older songs as well as outstanding tracks from "The Magic Whip," the members of Blur and their touring ensemble (including back-up singers, a keyboardist and horn section) seemed to be trying to take in the spirit of the night as much as the members of the audience.

Damon Albarn playing his Taylor guitar at The Bowl.
Photo: Kim Kinsler

In this live setting, with Blur performing material from across its career, the band's magic couldn't have been more apparent. From the lush and melodic "Badhead" to the world music-tinged "Caravan" and decidedly-British sounding "Coffee & TV" (the latter featuring one of many times for Coxon to unleash his impressive guitar playing), Blur delivered the vast range of material with musical precision and emotional power. "Out of Time" was another early highlight, with Albarn adding shades to the song with his acoustic guitar playing, while Coxon infused his solo with a flamenco style. 

Blur are all about connecting with audiences and the band did that in full during the electronica-mining "Thought I Was a Spaceman" (off "The Magic Whip") when Albarn went far into the crowd to greet fans. Meanwhile, the other musicians steered the song ever onward into symphonic splendor. Coxon shared lead vocals on the song, and the stage itself was dazzled with artful beams of light adding to the effect.

There were wonderful touches throughout the show all night, including the neo-psychedelic "To the End" and regular set-ending "This is a Low," a potent theatrical rocker with Coxon firing up his guitar for the finish.

Albarn started the encore saying "Thank you so much. I was somewhat nervous about tonight," noting the band has long been aware of "underachieving in America."

But the festive sing- and clap-along tune "Girls & Boys," horn section-anchored "For Tomorrow" and grand "The Universal" closed the night in a way to ensure everyone in the crowd will long remember Blur's top-tier place in rock.

Courtney Barnett on Oct. 20. / Photo: Kim Kinsler

Opener Courtney Barnett opened the bill with a 35-minute set of original indie rock rooted around her rambling lyrics and freewheeling electric guitar playing. The 27-year-old Australian songstress is a unique voice in modern music, and showcased songs from her latest album "Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit." Among the most memorable songs in her set were the anxious "Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go to the Party" and jazzy "Small Poppies." Also effective was the melodic rocker "Dead Fox."

Blur setlist at The Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 20, 2015

Cool Blur stuff! / Photo: Kim Kinsler

Go Out / There's No Other Way / Lonesome Street / Badhead / Ghost Ship / Coffee & TV / Out of Time / Caravan / Beetlebum / Thought I Was a Spaceman / Trimm Trabb / Tender (outro - "Don't Fall for Trump..." / Parklife (with Fred Armisen) / Song 2 / To the End / This is a Low

Encore
Stereotypes / Girls & Boys / For Tomorrow / The Universal

Robert Kinsler

Sights and Sounds: Blur, Erasure, Carbon Leaf's Ragtime Carnival

Cover art for Blur's 'The Magic Whip'

What a great day for fans of the groundbreaking British rock band Blur. Here are the highlights of what we know following today's announcement about the group's forthcoming album The Magic Whip, which is due to arrive on April 27, 2015 (and likely Tuesday, April 28th here in the U.S.). This will mark the quartet's first new full-length studio album since 2003's Think Tank. 

Blur (singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, drummer Dave Rowntree and bassist Alex James) will headline the aptly-named British Summer Time concert in Hyde Park in London on June 20, 2015; this will mark the fourth time Blur has performed at the event.

Read a full-length story on Blur and the band's upcoming album The Magic Whip in The Guardian here for much more.

ERASURE (Andy Bell and Vince Clarke) have unveiled a new remix from the forthcoming single, "Sacred," out on March 17, 2015 (St. Patrick's Day). Listen to Black Light Odyssey's take on Erasure's track here.

The original version of "Sacred" features the legendary duo's latest, Richard X-produced album, The Violet Flame. The single, the third to have been added to the BBC Radio 2 playlist, will feature the single mix and a live rehearsal version of "Sacred" alongside remixes from the likes of Grammy-nominated Chris Cox, Rich B & Phil Marriott, Vibora Park, 88Ninety and Black Light Odyssey.

The live rehearsal version of "Sacred" comes from rehearsals from the band's recent sell out tour. 

For more information: http://www.erasureinfo.com/

Finally, Carbon Leaf (in partnership with The Virginia Museum of Radio & Concert Entertainment) have announced the 2nd Annual Carbon Leaf's Ragtime Carnival at Pocahontas State Park.

This year the festival will be held May 15 and 16, 2015, and feature 13 bands on two stages. Carbon Leaf will perform three sets over the two-day weekend; an acoustic set Saturday morning, and full-band performances closing out each night. Additional artists performing at the event include actor/director Jeff Daniels with the Ben Daniels Band, Trigger Hippy featuring Joan Osborne and Jackie Greene, as well as Charlottesville-based band Sons of Bill.

for more information, visit www.pocahontaslive.com or email info@pocahontaslive.com.