Sights and Sounds: The Church, The Lone Bellow, Rising Appalachia

Here is a roundup of some of the week's biggest news, including today's announcement from Steve Kilbey of The Church. That item leads off this roundup...

14,600 Nights of Space RocknRoll

the first 40 years....

A band is like a family and over 40 years it is only natural that families will change and that members will come and go. Therefore it is with great sadness that we must announce the departure of Peter Koppes from our ranks to explore his own musical path. Peter has made the hugest contribution to the Church's sound and he will be sorely missed. However the remaining members have decided to carry on with this immense body of work which Peter, as well as Richard Ploog, Jay dee Daugherty and of course Marty Willson-Piper, have been invaluable in creating.

We wish Peter all the success with whatever he pursues from now on. 

The good news is The Church are delighted to announce Jeffrey Cain will be staying on as a permanent member with Ian Haug and Tim Powles and we are very happy to welcome Melbournian guitar slinger Ashley Naylor into the band.

We are already under way creating a brand new album which so far is turning out to be a beautiful thing. "

Steve Kilbey
Coogee
01.02.2020

The Lone Bellow release "Just Enough to Get By"

The Lone Bellow's 'Half Moon Light' arrives via Dualtone Records on Feb. 7, 2020

The Lone Bellow performing at the Stagecoach Festival in 2013.
Photo: Robert Kinsler

The Lone Bellow has released a new song, the powerful and deeply personal "Just Enough To Get By." The song, written by Kanene Donehey Pipkin, is the latest song from the band's eagerly awaited new album, Half Moon Light, due next Friday, February 7 from Dualtone Records (An Entertainment One Company); pre–orders – including limited edition gold vinyl and autographed merchandise bundles – are available now. You can read my review of the band's breakout performance at the Stagecoach Festival back in April 2013 here.

"I wrote this song when I heard a secret kept by someone close to me," says Pipkin. "It was a secret about a trauma they had experienced decades ago, and had kept hidden from nearly everyone they could, until everything unexpectedly came out into the open. Even then, she didn’t know if anyone she’d told believed her. I wanted to put myself in her shoes. When I began to imagine the years of burying this secret, I heard words of advice from all sides; cross-stitch clichés, culture, my confidants, my own mind. Mostly, they told me to get over it, keep it to myself, protect my reputation, and to never discomfort others with the truth of my past. I realized that living that way would only give me just enough to get by; I’d never be free."

LISTEN TO "JUST ENOUGH TO GET BY"

WATCH "JUST ENOUGH TO GET BY (BEHIND THE SCENES)" VIDEO

PRE–ORDER HALF MOON LIGHT

Earlier in the month, The Lone Bellow unveiled their super-charged muscle-car lovin’ lyric video for their chart–topping single, “Count On Me,” streaming now at the band’s official YouTube channel. “Count On Me” – which recently hit #1 at Americana radio outlets nationwide, with spins on over 70 Triple A and Americana stations across the country – is but one of the indelible highlights of HALF MOON LIGHT, alongside the song, “Good Times,” streaming now following an exclusive premiere via Billboard, which praised the song as “rhythmic, joyous.” A special teaser video detailing the writing and recording of “Good Times” is streaming now via YouTube.

WATCH “COUNT ON ME”

LISTEN TO “GOOD TIMES”

WATCH “GOOD TIMES (TEASER VIDEO)”

Half Moon Light marks the fourth studio album from and first new LP since 2017 from The Lone Bellow. The Brooklyn, NY-based band – Zach Williams, Kanene Donehey Pipkin, and Brian Elmquist – first heralded the album last November with the transcendent “Wonder,” streaming now after an exclusive premiere via Relix, which hailed the track as “moving, wistful.”

LISTEN TO “WONDER”

Produced at The National’s Aaron Dessner, Half Moon Light is an artistic triumph worked toward for years, earned not by individual posturing, but by collective determination and natural growth. Recorded at Dessner’s Long Pond Studio in Upper Hudson Valley, NY and featuring guitarist Josh Kaufman and drummer J.T. Baites, the album finds The Lone Bellow pushing their acoustic storytelling prowess past new horizons, experimenting with textures and instrumentation to create their most sophisticated work to date. With earthy three–part harmonies and songwriting as provocative as it is honest, the trio – made up of guitarist Elmquist, lead vocalist Williams, and multi–instrumentalist Pipkin – creates sparks that make a stranger’s life matter or bring our sense of childlike wonder roaring back. With Half Moon Light, The Lone Bellow have returned, unified and invigorated with boundless ambition.

The Lone Bellow just started celebrating Half Moon Light with an extensive world tour that got underway January 22 and 23 with a sold out two-night-stand at London’s St. Pancras Old Church. North American dates begin with a two-night-stand at Los Angeles, CA’s famed Troubadour on February 12 and 13 and continue through the band’s first–ever headlining show at Nashville, TN’s historic Ryman Auditorium on April 24. Additional European tour dates and an array of festival appearances are also slated. For complete details, updates, and ticket information, please visit www.thelonebellow.com/tour.

# # #

THE LONE BELLOW

HALF MOON LIGHT

(Dualtone)

Release date: February 7, 2020

Tracklisting:

Intro

I Can Feel You Dancing

Good Times

Wonder

Count On Me

Wash It Clean

Enemies

Interlude

Just Enough To Get By

Martingales

Illegal Immigrant

Friends

Dust Settles

August

Finale

# # #

THE LONE BELLOW 2020 TOUR

FEBRUARY

12 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour 

13 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour 

26 - Houston, TX - The Heights Theater

27 - Austin, TX - Scoot Inn

28 - New Braunfels, TX - Gruene Hall

29 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater

MARCH

2 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads

4 - Denver, CO - Bluebird

6 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Commonwealth

7 - Boise, ID - The Olympic

9 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial

10 - Seattle, WA - Neptune

11 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall

13 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore

14 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriets

APRIL

2 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater

3 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre

4 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall

5 - Louisville, KY - Headliners

7 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn

8 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse

10 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom

11 - Washington DC - 9:30 Club

14 - Toronto, ON - Opera House

15 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer

16 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club

17 - New York, NY - Webster Hall

24 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

Rising Appalachia featured on NPR Tiny Desk Concert

Nashville, TN - Adored world-folk music group, Rising Appalachia, are pleased to invite viewers, both new fans and old, to their NPR Tiny Desk Concert which was filmed in November of last year while the band was routing through Washington D.C. for their sold out show at The Hamilton Theatre. Known for broadening the definition of, and educating listeners on folk music, the band is led by sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith, who are joined by longtime members David Brown (stand-up bass, baritone guitar) and Biko Casini (world percussion), as well as two new members: West African musician Arouna Diarra (n’goni, talking drum), and Irish musician Duncan Wickel (fiddle, cello). The sonic textures of these two cultures are woven into Leylines, the band’s latest album, enhancing the stunning blend of folk, world, and urban music that has become Rising Appalachia’s calling card. Watch Rising Appalachia’s Tiny Desk Concert here. 

Leylines has been a defining record for Rising Appalachia, garnering praise from a wide swath of critics and solidifying their place in the greater Americana musical movement. Brooklyn Vegan called “Speak Out,” one of the album's standout tunes featuring Ani DiFranco, “an appealing dose of fiddle-fueled folk and close harmonies.” NPR praised album closer, “Resilient,” as an “uplifting, original folk anthem” and Rolling Stone called their sound “protest music for the modern age bolstered by delicate, skillful musicianship and otherworldly vocal harmonies.” They topped off 2019 ranking #8 on the NACC Top Albums Chart, holding the #1 spot for over 6 weeks this past summer. Most recently, Billboard featured the video for “Cuckoo,” calling the song a “perception changer,” and noting that it “channels their southern roots.” Redefining and widening the circles of what it means to be a southern-based band is something Leah and Chloe are constantly exploring. Leah put her thoughts on this on paper for The Bitter Southerner’s Folklore Project, identifying and exploring common threads that run from Peru to the American south. 

Fans should stay tuned for announcements on new music, and in the meantime make plans to seek the band out on tour. New tour dates were announced this morning including a stop at every band’s bucket list venue, Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

On tour:

4.17.20 - Reeves Theater - Elkin, NC

4.19.20 - Charleston Music Hall - Charleston, SC

4.21.20 - Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC

5.1.20 - Red Rocks Amphitheatre- Morrison, CO (with Trevor Hall and Citizen Cope)

5.3.20 - The Commonwealth Room - Salt Lake City, UT

5.7.20 - Top Hat Lounge - Missoula, MT

6.11.20 - 6.13.20 - Blue Ox Music Festival- Eau Claire, WI

7.10.20 - Green River Festival- Greenfield, MA

Visit https://www.risingappalachia.com/ for more information and tickets. 

Sights and Sounds: The Church, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Marillion

Here is a roundup of some major news in the world of music from three super great artists from across the music spectrum...

the church Release 26th Album

Man Woman Life Death Infinity out Friday, October 6th

On Tour in North America now

"…the music of the church still sounds vital and challenging. They sound just as hungry and exciting as they did three decades ago."
ABC News 

"There is nothing, or not much, that is obvious and instant about the church. Songs that at first pass you by flare into life once you've paid them proper respect and attention…no doubt why people care so deeply about them."
news.com.au
 
"Arguably one of the greatest Australian bands of all time."
Tone Deaf

One of the most indelible, progressive and passionately admired rock bands of our time, the church release another masterpiece of sonic exploration, Man Woman Life Death Infinity. The ARIA Hall of Fame band's 26^th album is their second with the rejuvenated line-up - Steve Kilbey, Peter Koppes, Tim Powles and Ian Haug - and is released this Friday worldwide. 

The past several years have been wildly successful for the church, pulling a 20,000 strong crowd at at Primavera Sound, a performance at SXSW, four North American tours and their first European tour in almost a decade. The band is presently touring in support of their new album in the states. Woven with classics spanning almost 50 years of underground glory, the set will feature selections from Man Woman Life Death Infinity, including the shape-shifting dreamscape of the first, exhilarating cut, 'Another Century', and its imminent follow-up, new single 'Undersea': yet another new dimension of chiming strings and kaleidoscopic images.

Man Woman Life Death Infinity is where the revitalized quartet's freshly tuned chemistry reaches a new potency and precision: ten songs, 45 minutes, and a quantum leap into unexplored territory as strange as it is irresistible. Written in two separate sessions in March across Ian Haug's Airlock Studios in Brisbane and Tim Powles' Space Junk Studios in Sydney Man Woman Life Death Infinity is the first full length since the early 90s where the band have collected their song ideas before hitting the record light and just 'going with the flow'.  Co-produced alongside long-term audio accomplice Ted Howard at Rancom Street Studios, Man Woman Life Death Infinity delivers a more succinct release than 2014's Further/Deeper. 

Singer, lyricist and bassist Steve Kilbey explains this 26th full length offering is the church's 'water record'.  "I guess water is my element. I've always marveled at the sea and rivers and rain. It wasn't conscious at all but on reflection, it definitely is a preoccupation on this record. What that means, I don't know," he says. "This is an album we’re really looking forward to exploring live," he says. "The way I write lyrics is very stream-of-consciousness. I never question them until we perform live, so I discover them in time as much as the audience."

Tour Dates:

10.03.2017     Philadelphia PA      Union Transfer

10.05.2017     Detroit MI                Magic Stick

10.06.2017     Chicago IL                Park West

10.08.2017     Minneapolis MN    Cedar Cultural Center

10.10.2017      Omaha NE              The Waiting Room

10.11.2017      Englewood CO        Gothic Theatre

10.12.2017      Salt Lake City UT   The State Room

10.13.2017      Las Vegas NV          Brooklyn Bowl

10.14.2017      Phoenix AZ              The Press Room

Site: https://thechurchband.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechurchband
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thechurchband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ZfogSsOWP4mVfEqfpLXCt

BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS CONFIRM U.S. TOUR DATES

UPCOMING ALBUM NEW WORLD ARISIN’ OUT NOVEMBER 3 ON BIG RECORDS

photo credit: Jason Siegel

Colorado band Big Head Todd and the Monsters are set to tour the U.S. throughout the fall/winter in support of their forthcoming eleventh studio album, New World Arisin’, due November 3 on their own Big Records imprint. See below for a complete list of dates.

The album’s first single “Damaged One” is currently at #26 and rising on the AAA Chart. Listen HERE.

New World Arisin’ was written and produced by vocalist/guitarist Todd Park Mohr with original members Rob Squires on bass and Brian Nevin on drums and percussions. Plus, Jeremy Lawton on keyboards, lap and petal steel guitar and backing vocals. It was recorded at E-Town Studios in Boulder, Colorado and mixed by Mark Needham with engineering by James Tuttle.

Mohr explains that the songs were written over a twenty-year period. He describes that “some songs fell into place immediately, while others took many years to materialize. Yet after such a long gestating process for the writing, the recording was completed in just six days.”

Having played Denver’s historic Red Rocks Amphitheater more than nineteen times with recent dates sold out this summer, the band is part of the fabric of the Colorado music scene. The trio of Mohr, Nevin and Squires founded the band in the early ’80s in Boulder and quickly built a strong reputation in the local club circuit. The band’s debut album, Another Mayberry, arrived in 1989, though it would be another four years before their breakthrough platinum-selling third full length Sister Sweetly made them a national phenomenon with the single “Bittersweet,” which remains a rock radio staple to this day. The only personnel change in these three decades has been the addition of a fourth member, putative “new guy” Lawton, in 2004

The band has released music steadily throughout the decades leading to their most recent release 2014’s BlackBeehive. They have also released two live albums Live Monsters, Live at the Fillmore and 2015 Live at Red Rocks.

The band has proudly controlled its own business dealings and marketing from the start, releasing 2007’s All the Love You Need via their fan email list. In 2011, they formed a new project under the name Big Head Blues Clubrecording two albums under the moniker. The first 100 Years of Robert Johnson celebrates the songs of the late blues great and features legends such as B. B. King, Charlie Musselwhite, Cedric Burnside, David“Honeyboy” Edwards, Hubert Sumlin, Ruthie Forster and Lightin’ Malcolm. Their second LP Way Down Inside: Songs of Willie Dixon is a tribute to Willie Dixon featuring Mud Morganfield, Billy Branch, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and Erica Brown. The album was produced by multiple Grammy winner Chris Goldsmith and Todd Park Mohr. The band has gone on to play shows under the name Big Head Blues Club moniker inviting some of the legends featured on the album to perform with them.

Recently, band composed the theme song to programs including “NCIS: New Orleans” and “Swamp Wars.” Their music has also been included in Contraband, The To Do List, Grudge Match, Garden Party, “So You Think You Can Dance” and many more.

New World Arisin’ Track listing

1. Glow

2. New World Arisin’

3. Damaged One

4. Trip

5. Mind

6. Detonator

7. Wipeout Turn

8. Long Coal Train

9. Under Your Wings

10. Room Full of Mirrors

Big Head Todd and the Monsters Tour Dates

October 5—Kenny’s Westside Pub—Peoria, IL
October 7—Breckenridge Brewery—Littleton, CO
October 11—Jackson Hole Fireman’s Ball—Jackson, WY
November 29—Avalon Theatre—Grand Junction, CO
November 30—Park City Live—Park City, UT
December 1—Pub Station—Billings, MT
December 2—The Wilma—Missoula, MT
December 5—Revolution Event Center—Garden City, ID
December 7—Revolution Hall—Portland, OR
December 8—Hifi Music Hall—Eugene, OR
December 9—Showbox—Seattle, WA
December 12— Crest Theatre—Sacramento, CA
December 14—House of Blues—Anaheim, CA
December 15—Troubadour—West Hollywood, CA
December 16—Warfield Theatre—San Francisco, CA
December 17—Crystal Bay Club/Crown Room—Crystal Bay, NV
December 21—Aggie Theatre—Ft. Collins, CO
December 31—Belly Up Tavern—Solana Beach, CA
January 12—The Pageant—St. Louis, MO
January 13—Palace Theatre—St. Paul, MN
January 14—Pabst Theater—Milwaukee, WI
January 16—Vogue Theatre—Indianapolis, IN
January 18—State Theatre—Kalamazoo, MI
January 19—Vic Theatre—Chicago, IL
January 20—Vic Theatre—Chicago, IL
January 23—House of Blues—Cleveland, OH
January 25—9:30 Club—Washington, DC
January 26—Theatre of the Living Arts—Philadelphia, PA
January 27—Capitol Theatre—Port Chester, NY
January 28—Wilbur Theatre—Boston, MA
January 31—The National—Richmond, VA
February 1—The Ritz—Raleigh, NC
February 2—The Fillmore—Charlotte, NC
February 3—Variety Playhouse—Atlanta, GA

MARILLION RETURN LIVE IN THE USA

Fan Pre-Sale Available NOW; General On-Sale Friday, October 6

New Version of Single “Living In F E A R” Available Friday, October 6

Recently crowned Prog Band of the Year by their peers at PROG Magazine, legendary British prog pioneers Marillion, are set to return to the US in the new year announced today. Marillion will headline the next installment of Cruise to the Edge departing the port of Tampa on February 3, 2018, returning February 8, 2018, immediately followed by nine headlining dates beginning in Orlando at The Plaza Live on Friday, February 9. Complete routing below.

The nine-day run was curated in part by fans as the band will see many cities not visited in more than a decade, if ever.  Presale begins today with general onsale on Friday, October 6, 2017 (**unless noted below).  Fans can visit Marillion.com for more information.

The new single, “Living In F E A R” is available for pre-order now, releasing Friday, October 6.  With exclusive packaging, the single will include the newly recorded 4-track version, exclusive live edits of “Living In F E A R” and “The Leavers,” and two songs from the forthcoming limited live issue series.  The single will be available in multiple formats including Vinyl and CD on Amazon,  digitally on iTunes, and in the UK at HMV. The new video for “Living In F E A R” can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lNOv-QVeuo&feature=em-subs_digest.

Formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, in 1979, Marillion have sold more than 
18 million albums and are celebrated across the globe by a devoted following whom they share a most unique and intimate relationship. Hailed as Internet pioneers for their game-changing use of technology to unify and mobilize their global fan community, Marillion have been un-compromising with their music and vision. Their revolutionary presale campaigns, in-house label and their own Racket Records recording studio, Marillion have remained uniquely independent and paved the way for a new modern business. Marillion host a bi-annual “Marillion Weekend,” celebrated as the ‘Best Live Event’ by the Progressive Music Awards, wherein fans have an opportunity to not only see their favorite act perform different sets, multiple nights in a row, but also become immersed in the Marillion culture and history with various activities. Marillion released their critically acclaimed 18th studio album, F E A R (aka Fuck Everyone And Run) in 2016 and continue to tour an annual average of 100 sold-out shows and festival stops globally.

Marillion are Steve ‘h’ Hogarth (vocals), Steven Rothery (guitar), Pete Trewavas (bass), Mark Kelly (keyboard) and Ian Mosley (drums).

Find a better way of life at Marillion.com

Marillion by the numbers:

Studio Albums: 18

Live Albums: 9

Boxed Sets: 4

Singles: 36

Racket Records limited releases: 56

DVD and Home Video releases: 23

Front Row Club Live Releases: 43

Convention Weekends: 21

Fan Club Xmas CDs: 19

Longest Marillion Song: Ocean Cloud (17:23)

Marillion Live in the USA 2018:

February 3 – 8                              Cruise to the Edge                      Port of Miami

Friday, February 9                      The Plaza Live                               Orlando FL

Saturday, February 10               Variety Playhouse                      Atlanta GA

Monday, February 12                Carolina Theatre                         Durham NC (**October 13 onsale)

Tuesday, February 13                Palace Theatre                             Greensburg PA

Thursday, February 15              Town Ballroom                            Buffalo NY

Friday, February 16                    Royal Oak Music Theatre         Royal Oak MI

Sunday, February 18                  20 Monroe Live                           Grand Rapids MI

Monday, February 19                The Arcada Theatre                   St. Charles IL

Wednesday, February 21         Granada Theatre                        Dallas TX