Friday, May 09, 2025

Influential alternative rock band Garbage unveil new song “Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty”

Check out the fantastic new advance track "Get Out My Face ADA Bad Kitty" from Garbage's forthcoming album "Let All That We Imagine Be The Light". You can revisit Garbage's groundbreaking legacy via my October 2018 review of the band's 2018 concert in Las Vegas HERE...Robert Kinsler


INFLUENTIAL ALTERNATIVE ROCK
BAND GARBAGE UNVEIL NEW SONG
“GET OUT MY FACE AKA BAD KITTY”

Second Song taken from their forthcoming album, Let All That
We Imagine Be The Light out May 30, 2025

North American "Happy Endings" Performances include stops
in Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dana Point and more!

Photo credit: Joseph Cultice
May 9, 2025—Influential alternative rock band Garbage today unveil a new song, “Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty,” the second taken from their highly anticipated new studio album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light—listen/share here.
“Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty” sees Shirley Manson questioning the patriarchal structures of the world, against a sonic backdrop of sharp guitars, driving bass, and a characteristically powerful vocal performance. The song’s title comes from the original instrumental the band sent to Manson, which was titled AKA Bad Kitty.
“When I was young, I didn’t really notice how things worked,” says Manson. “People like to shuffle older women off the lot, because you start to see the chessboard in a way you didn’t when you were younger. When you’re young, you’re wanting to get on with your life, have an adventure, do what you love, and you’re conditioned by the society that you grew up in, so a lot of the time you don’t see what’s going on. Then, as you get older, you start to see how things are stacked up against some of us – not all of us.
I am outraged by the way the world treats blacks and browns and gays and trans peoples and animals and women. Living in America over the last couple of years, the absolute war on women in America is astounding. All the rights that we felt had been secured are starting to get pushed back into the Middle Ages. It is something that I can no longer tolerate silently. It’s not just infuriating, it’s alarming. It’s frightening.”
The powerful new song follows, “There’s No Future In Optimism,” which is already drawing critical acclaim; Rolling Stone praises, "Far from enervating, the song is an energetic call for love and compassion during dark times.”
Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, set for release May 30, is the follow-up to 2021’s critically acclaimed No Gods No Masters, praised in The New York Times as a “thrumming mix of goth and orchestral pop.” According to Manson, the new album was forged out of the need to find an uplifting thread amidst the swell of chaos and extraordinary upheaval in the world.
In support of the record, the band will embark on a 31-city tour across North America this fall: “Happy Endings” will see stops at New York’s Brooklyn ParamountWashington D.C.’s The AnthemSan Francisco’s The Warfield and more—tickets are on sale now here.
For over thirty years, Garbage’s powerful live show has captivated audiences and continues to inspire worldwide adoration. “Happy Endings” marks Garbage’s first extensive headline tour in the U.S. in almost ten years.
Garbage consists of all four original band members: Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig. Over the 30 years since their inception in 1995, they have sold over 20 million albums. Their unique sound, songwriting and electric live performances have cultivated global admiration, chart success and critical acclaim. They are considered one of the most influential bands of their generation.
LET ALL THAT WE IMAGINE BE THE LIGHT
 
TRACKLIST
1. There’s No Future In Optimism
2. Chinese Fire Horse
3. Hold
4. Have We Met (The Void)
5. Sisyphus
6. Radical
7. Love To Give
8. Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty
9. R U Happy Now
10. The Day That I Met God
Album art
HAPPY ENDINGS
September 3—Orlando, FL—Hard Rock Café
September 5—Pompano Beach, FL—Pompano Beach Amphitheatre
September 6—St Petersburg, FL—Jannus Live
September 8—Atlanta, GA—The Eastern
September 10—Nashville, TN—The Pinnacle
September 12—Cleveland, OH—Agora Theatre and Ballroom
September 13—Detroit, MI—Masonic Temple - Cathedral Theatre
September 16—Philadelphia, PA—Franklin Music Hall
September 17—Washington, DC—The Anthem
September 18—Boston, MA—Roadrunner
September 20—Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Paramount
September 23—Pittsburgh, PA—Stage AE
September 24—Toronto, ON—History
September 27—Dana Point, CA—Ohana Festival
September 29—Chicago, IL—The Salt Shed (The Shed)
September 30—Newport, KY—MegaCorp Pavilion
October 1—Columbus, OH—Kemba Live!
October 3—Madison, WI—The Sylvee
October 4—Minneapolis, MN—First Avenue
October 6—Kansas City, MO—Midland Theatre
October 7—Dallas, TX—The Factory in Deep Ellum
October 12—Denver, CO—The Mission Ballroom
October 15—Seattle, WA—Paramount Theatre
October 18—Spokane, WA—Knitting Factory Spokane
October 20—Vancouver, BC—Orpheum
October 21—Portland, OR—McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
October 23—Saratoga, CA—The Mountain Winery
October 24—San Francisco, CA—The Warfield
October 26—Reno, NV—Silver Legacy Resort Casino - Grande Exposition Hall
October 29—Salt Lake City, UT—Rockwell at The Complex
October 31—Las Vegas, NV—The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas - The Chelsea
November 2—Phoenix, AZ—The Van Buren
November 4—Los Angeles, CA—Hollywood Palladium

Alligator Records artists receive nine awards at 46th Annual Blues Music Awards

Tommy Castro performing at the
Doheny Blues Festival.
Photo credit: Daryl Weisser




Check out the official media release that just arrived in my inbox. Congrats to the strong field of blues greats who earned top honors at the 46th Annual Blues Music Awards last night. I've had a chance to catch most of the award winners in concert over the years and each is definitely deserving of these honors. Learn more about Alligator Records and visit the record label's official website HERE...Robert Kinsler



Christone "Kingfish" Ingram performing at The Coach
House in San Juan Capistrano, CA on Sept. 10, 2021.
Photo credit: Bob Steshetz


ALLIGATOR RECORDS ARTISTS RECEIVE NINE
BLUES MUSIC AWARDS


Ronnie Baker Brooks Wins Three Awards, Including
Song Of The Year For Blues In My DNA

Shemekia Copeland, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Tommy Castro, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Billy Branch And Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith (Of The Cash Box Kings) Each Receive One Award

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Blues Foundation announced the winners for the 46th Annual Blues Music Awards. Seven Alligator Records artists were honored with nine Blues Music Awards.

Leading all artists with three wins is Ronnie Baker Brooks. Brooks won Song Of The Year for Blues In My DNA, the title track from his Alligator Records debut. He also won the awards for Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year (for Blues In My DNA) and for Contemporary Artist Of The Year (Male).

Multiple GRAMMY-nominee Shemekia Copeland won the top Album Of The Year Award for her 2024 release, Blame It On Eve. Copeland now holds 16 Blues Music Awards

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats took home the coveted award for Band Of The Year. This is the third time the band has received this high honor.
 
GRAMMY Award-winner Christone "Kingfish" Ingram won Instrumentalist--Guitar, his 10th Blues Music Award.

Tommy Castro won Blues Rock Artist. Billy Branch won Instrumentalist--Harmonica, and drummer Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith (of The Cash Box Kings) was awarded Instrumentalist--Drums.

The 46th Annual Blues Music Awards were held in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday, May 8 at The Renasant Convention Center.

Click here for a full list of award winners. Alligator artists and their Blues Music Awards follow:
Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Contemporary Blues Album (Blues In My DNA)
Song Of The Year -- Blues In My DNA, performed and written by Ronnie Baker Brooks
Album Of The Year (Blame It On Eve)

 
Band Of The Year
 
Blues Rock Artist
 
Instrumentalist -- Guitar
 
Instrumentalist -- Harmonica
 
Instrumentalist -- Drums: Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith
 
###

Wednesday, May 07, 2025

The Waterboys documentary 'A Wild and Beautiful Ride' to premiere exclusively on Night Flight Plus on Friday, May 9

It's fantastic to hear that a music documentary focused on the creation of The Waterboys' latest album is going to premiere this weekend. Be sure to read my review of the album "Life, Death and Dennis HopperHERE...Robert Kinsler


The Waterboys Documentary A Wild and Beautiful Ride to Premiere Exclusively on Night Flight Plus May 9


Film Chronicles the Making of the Critically Acclaimed Album Life, Death and Dennis Hopper Featuring Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, Steve Earle, and Taylor Goldsmith




(May 7, 2025) — A Wild and Beautiful Ride, a new 48-minute documentary exploring the creation of The Waterboys’ latest album Life, Death and Dennis Hopper, will premiere exclusively on Night Flight Plus (nightflightplus.com) on Friday, May 9. The film will be released globally on YouTube the following Friday, May 16.


Directed by Mick Puck and Duende VisionsA Wild and Beautiful Ride takes viewers behind the scenes of a bold musical and spiritual journey. The film includes music from the album, location footage shot in New Mexico, and intimate reflections from the band’s lead singer and guitarist Mike Scott, who spent four years crafting the record.


Released on Sun Records on April 4, Life, Death and Dennis Hopper is a 25-track epic that traces the arc of a cultural icon while tackling the deeper questions of existence. Written and produced primarily by Scott alongside bandmates Famous James and Brother Paul, the album features guest appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, Steve Earle and Taylor Goldsmith.


“It begins in his childhood,” says Scott. “It ends the morning after his death, and I get to say a whole lot along the way—not just about Dennis, but about the whole strange adventure of being a human soul on planet Earth. The arc of his life was the story of our times. He was at the big bang of youth culture in Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean; the beginnings of Pop Art with the young Andy Warhol. He was part of the counterculture, hippie, civil rights, and psychedelic scenes of the '60s. In the '70s and '80s, he went on a wild 10-year rip, almost died, came back, got straight, and became a five-movies-a-year character actor—without losing the sparkle in his eye or the sense of danger or unpredictability that always gathered around him.”


The album has received widespread acclaim in the U.K., Europe, and the United States — just ahead of The Waterboys launching a worldwide tour on May 2 in support of the release.


Night Flight Plus, the exclusive streaming home for the documentary, is a premium subscription service inspired by the legendary 1980s TV series Night Flight, created by Stuart S. Shapiro. Described by Pitchfork as “the Punk Criterion Collection” and named “the best overall value among the subscription streamers” by The New York Times, Night Flight Plus offers a curated trove of cult classics, music documentaries, and hard-to-find cultural gems.


For more information on the film, visit nightflightplus.com. For more information on The Waterboys and dates for their 2025 tour, visit mikescottwaterboys.com


About Sun Records: 

Established in 1952 by Sam Phillips, Sun Records is renowned for discovering music legends including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The label moved to Nashville in 1969 where it continued cultivating acclaimed artists Jeannie C. Riley, The Dixie Cups, Linda Martell, and many others. As a member of the newly-formed Sun Label Group under Primary Wave, Sun Records continues to foster musical innovation while honoring its rich history of shaping American music culture.

For more information, visit https://sunrecords.com

Tuesday, May 06, 2025

Pure Imagination Festival preview: Cheap Trick, Matisyahu, The English Beat, Arrested Development, more


The Pure Imagination Festival
arrives in beautiful Prescott, AZ on May 17. Planning on attending the event at Watson Lake? Read my review of 2024's event for a flavor of how unique this family friendly event is HERE. Read on for an overview of what to know before you go to this year's fest...Robert Kinsler 

Artists: Cheap Trick, Matisyahu, The English Beat, Arrested Development, Kelsey Waldon, Ponderosa Grove, Gone Gone Beyond, Bird and Byron, more!

When: Saturday, May 17, 2025

Where: Watson Lake in Prescott, AZ

Tickets and additional information: https://www.pureimaginationfestival.com/


Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen.
Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

This will mark the fourth running of the Pure Imagination Festival, a one-of-a-kind event staged amidst the natural beauty of Watson Lake located in Prescott, Arizona. 

Headlining the event will be Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick, which includes original members guitarist Rick Nielsen, singer-guitarist Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson

The band's recent concert setlists are a dream for fans of the classic rock heroes, with enduring favorites such as "Surrender," "The Flame," "California Man," "Dream Police," "I Want You To Want Me" and their fiery cover of Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame" frequently played by Cheap Trick.

Also on the bill is Matisyahu, a Grammy-nominated singer, rapper, beatboxer and musician. Known for blending spiritual themes with a musical brew including rock, reggae and hip hop, Matisyahu's 2005 single "King Without a Crown" was a Top 40 hit in the U.S. He has since gone on to release a score of studio albums, as well as several live albums.

The English Beat, the groundbreaking band featuring Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), scored a number of hits in the 1980s by forging pop, ska, reggae, soul and punk rock into a signature brew. Hits that festival-goers can expect to hear include "Mirror in the Bathroom," "Save It for Later," "I Confess," "Too Nice to Talk To" and "Tenderness," the latter a cover of Wakeling's hit with the band General Public.

Arrested Development is another strong act set to perform at the festival. The American hip hop group formed in Atlanta in 1988. The group's debut album 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... was a huge hit selling more than six million copies worldwide; the group won two Grammy Awards in 1993 (including as "Best New Artist," making them the first hip hop artist to win the coveted award).


From left, Ponderosa Grove's Candace Devine and Drew Hall performing
at Pure Imagination Festival in May 2024.
Photo credit: Daryl Weisser


Ponderosa Grove turned in a wonderful set at Pure Imagination last year, with the Prescott-based troupe offering up a winning blend of '70s-styled folk rock and modern day Americana led by outstanding lead vocalist Candace Devine. Highlights of the group's set included the melodic folk rocker "Waterline," intoxicating R&B foray "Don't Worry Child" and rousing "Save My Soul," the latter showcasing Devine's powerful soprano and the exciting lead guitar work of Drew Hall.


Gone Gone Beyond, Kelsey Waldon, Bird and Byron, Kids In America, Pijama Piyama, and Dutch Holly are among the other artists set to perform at the fest.


An acrobat at Pure Imagination Music Festival.
Photo credit: Daryl Weisser


A FESTIVAL LIKE NO OTHER


Since its debut in 2022, the female-founded and curated Pure Imagination has become a standout experience, seamlessly merging music, nature, and culture with an eco-conscious ethos. Nestled in the stunning Granite Dells—the traditional lands of The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, The Yavapai-Apache Nation, and The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe—the festival fosters a minimal-impact, high-energy experience where attendees can immerse themselves in live music, interactive art, and nature-driven adventures.


A view of The Brummies performing on the Bucky's Stage against the
Granite Dells backdrop at the Pure Imagination Music Festival in Prescott, Arizona.
Photo credit: Daryl Weisser



Festival-goers can explore scenic hiking trails, on-site kayaking, and the vibrant Prescott Night Market, featuring artisan vendors, immersive art activations, and mesmerizing performances by aerial artists, fire dancers, and more.


The driving force behind Pure Imagination is Candace Devine, frontwoman of Ponderosa Grove and CEO of Further West, the company behind the festival. Inspired by a passion for arts, culture, and community, Devine created the festival to help position Prescott as a thriving creative hub in the Southwest. The city is surrounded by 1.25 million acres of the Prescott National Forest, offering a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with premier mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing.


“Pure Imagination is about more than just music—it’s about creating an unforgettable experience where people can connect, be inspired, and celebrate the power of art in one of the most beautiful places in the world.” shares Candace Devine, Founder


Last year’s lineup featured memorable performances from The Flaming Lips, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Ozomatli, Sylvan Esso, Tanya Tucker and The Pharcyde among others. In 2023, the festival boasted performances from Ziggy Marley, Lucinda Williams, Los Lobos, Capital Cities, Allison Russell, Nappy Roots, Dirtwire and others, while the inaugural event saw Dawes, Talib Kweli, Fantastic Negrito, Nikki Lane, Rising Appalachia, Phantom Planet, Katie Pruitt and more take to the stage. 


Visit the official Pure Imagination Festival website HERE.

Saturday, May 03, 2025

R.E.M. benefit EP for Radio Free Europe


 

R.E.M. Honors Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty with Never-Before-Released “Radio Free Europe 2025” Remix by Jacknife Lee

 

New remix is part of a five-track EP, with proceeds from the vinyl pressing to benefit RFE/RL on its 75th anniversary & World Press Freedom Day

 

The EP is also available to stream/download today



[L-R]: Artwork for the EP and packshot of the vinyl

 


Click here to stream/pre-order the EP


Click here to watch the video for “Radio Free Europe 2025 (Jacknife Lee Remix)”

 


Athens, GA (May 2, 2025)—Four decades after igniting college-radio airwaves and launching R.E.M.’s remarkable career, their 1981 debut single “Radio Free Europe” is broadcasting a new signal. On Friday, May 2, R.E.M. proudly announces Radio Free Europe 2025, a five-track benefit EP led by a never-before-released 2025 remix by the band's longtime collaborator Jacknife Lee. The release celebrates the 75th anniversary of the “OG” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and arrives just ahead of World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, May 3.

 

Radio Free Europe 2025 is available to stream and download today. A limited-edition 10-inch orange-vinyl pressing—available for pre-order now exclusively via the official R.E.M. store and independent record stores—lands September 12. Proceeds from all vinyl sales will go to RFE/RL, an editorially independent nonpartisan and nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation.

 

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was established by the United States 75 years ago and currently broadcasts news and information in 27 languages to 23 countries where a free press is either banned by the government or under threat. Throughout the Cold War and continuing today, RFE/RL is often the only lifeline to the outside world for people living under extreme censorship.

 

Members of R.E.M. say this mission of promoting free expression has always resonated with the band.

 

“Whether it’s music or a free press – censorship anywhere is a threat to the truth everywhere. On World Press Freedom Day, I’m sending a shout-out to the brave journalists at Radio Free Europe,” says Michael Stipe, lead singer and founding member of R.E.M.

 

“Radio Free Europe’s journalists have been pissing off dictators for 75 years. You know you’re doing your job when you make the right enemies. Happy World Press Freedom Day to the ‘OG Radio Free Europe,” says Mike Mills, bassist and founding member of R.E.M.

 

“To me, R.E.M.’s music has always embodied a celebration of freedom: freedom of expression, lyrics that make us think, and melodies that inspire action. Those are the very aims of our journalists at Radio Free Europe—to inform, inspire, and uphold freedoms often elusive to our audiences. We hold dictators accountable. They go to great lengths to silence us—blocking our websites, jamming our signals, and even imprisoning our colleagues,” says RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus.

 

Released through Craft Recordings, the Radio Free Europe 2025 EP was overseen by the band’s original producer Mitch Easter—who first captured R.E.M. at his Drive-In Studio during their maiden road trip to a professional studio in April 1981. That seminal session yielded the band’s earliest recordings of “Radio Free Europe,” “Sitting Still,” and the instrumental “Wh. Tornado,” all collected here.

 

The set opens with the 2025 remix by GRAMMY®-winner Jacknife Lee (U2, Snow Patrol, Taylor Swift, The Killers), who also produced R.E.M.’s final two studio albums, Accelerate and Collapse Into Now. Lee gives the track a fresh take while staying true to its indie-rock DNA. Completing the package are Mitch Easter’s original 1981 recordings—the sought-after Hib-Tone single mix of Radio Free Europe,” its flip-side Sitting Still,” the “Wh. Tornado demo, and Easter’s long-rumoured, never-before-released 1981 remix “Radio Free Dub.”

 

In 2009, “Radio Free Europe” was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry for “setting the pattern for later indie-rock releases.”

 

Click here to pre-order/stream Radio Free Europe 2025 now.

Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.



"Radio Free Europe 2025 (Jacknife Lee Remix) RFE/RL Dispatch"



TRACKLIST:

 

Radio Side:

  1. Radio Free Europe 2025 (Jacknife Lee Remix)*
  2. Radio Free Dub (Mitch Easter 1981 Remix)*

 

Liberty Side:

  1. Radio Free Europe (Original Hib-Tone Single)
  2. Sitting Still (Original Hib-Tone B-Side) 
  3. Wh. Tornado (From Cassette Set) ** 

 

*Never-before-released

**First time on digital and vinyl

 

 

About R.E.M.:

One of the most revered bands in popular music history, R.E.M. pioneered the alt-rock movement of the ’90s, influencing future acts like Radiohead, Nirvana, Pavement, and Pearl Jam. Formed in 1980, the group enjoyed an extraordinary three-decade-long run of creative vitality and multi-platinum sales before amicably disbanding in 2011. Despite great success, the band members never lost track of their core values—remaining outspoken in their views about political, social, and environmental issues, and never wavering when it came to artistic integrity. Throughout their career, R.E.M. released 15 studio albums, won three GRAMMY® Awards, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2007) as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2024).

 

About Craft Recordings:

Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Celia Cruz, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Isaac Hayes, John Coltrane, John Lee Hooker, Joan Baez, Joan Sebastian, Little Richard, Miles Davis, R.E.M., and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Alison Krauss, Daddy Yankee, Evanescence, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday, and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, HITCO, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation— ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness, and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers.

 

Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, X,Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.