Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Future releases: Journey, Jeff Healey Band, Owl City, Michael Grimm





In recent weeks, there have been a number of welcome announcements about artists who rose to fame in the 1970s and '80s set to release new albums in 2011. Previously-announced discs from the Steve Miller Band, the Smithereens and the Cars immediately come to mind.

Now comes word, as evidenced by my flooded inbox, that Journey and a number of other emerging artists are getting into the act. In addition, an exciting release from the Jeff Healey Band is finally set to arrive in the U.S. Read on music friends...


JOURNEY'S 'ECLIPSE' SET FOR RELEASE MAY 24 IN THE U.S. AND CANADA
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JOURNEY AND SPECIAL GUEST FOREIGNER LAUNCH
THE "ECLIPSE TOUR" JULY 21 IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
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Tickets on sale beginning March 11


JOURNEY, one of the most popular American rock bands of all time, is gearing up to unleash their latest album of brand new material, Eclipse. The album will be released in the U.S. and Canada on May 24, 2011 exclusively at Walmart and beginning June 3 in Europe on Frontiers Records. To follow the release of Eclipse, Journey will launch the "Eclipse Tour" with Foreigner, and special guest Night Ranger, beginning July 21 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT. Fans can expect to hear new songs from Eclipse as well as classics such as Don't Stop Believin', Any Way You Want It, Faithfully, Lights, Separate Ways, Wheel In The Sky, and many more. The "Eclipse Tour" dates are listed below.

"I'm in love with this record, which I haven't said about one of our albums for a long time," says founding member and lead guitarist, Neal Schon. "It's a rock record and it sounds amazing." Commenting on the upcoming tour, Schon continued, "We've got a lot of hits to play and there's plenty of time to do some new stuff too, so we're gonna mix it up. We haven't toured with Foreigner for over 10 years, so we're really looking forward to this run."

Tickets for "The Eclipse Tour" go on sale beginning Friday March 11, at all the usual online, phone and physical retail outlets, including select Walmart Ticketmaster locations across the country. Check www.journeymusic.com for complete ticket onsale information.

Journey has once again teamed up with iloveallaccess.com to offer their fans a variety of VIP ticket packages. For more details go to www.journeymusic.com.

In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, keyboardist Jonathan Cain recently described Eclipse as "a concept record with some spiritual themes to it...pretty tough, hard-hitting stuff." Jonathan continued, "We just felt like it was time to send a message to the world about how we feel about life in general."

Journey toured the world for two years in support of their 2008 release, Revelation. More than a million fans attended the shows, and welcomed new lead singer Arnel Pineda. Completing the Journey lineup is Schon (guitars, backing vocals), Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Ross Valory (bass, backing vocals) and Deen Castronovo (drums, percussion, backing vocals). Revelation marked the band's biggest first week's sales in more than a decade, debuting at #5 on the Billboard 200 in June 2008 and taking the top spot on the Independent Albums chart. Revelation earned the band their 11th Platinum album certification to date, leading The New York Times to declare that "the band...feels alive."

Since its formation in 1973, Journey has earned 19 Top 40 singles and 25 gold and platinum albums. The band's Greatest Hits album is certified 15 times platinum, bringing Journey into the elite club of Diamond-certified album holders. The group also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.

For more information, visit www.journeymusic.com.

Initial Eclipse Tour dates:

Thurs. Jul 21 Salt Lake City, UT Rio Tinto Stadium
Sat. Jul 23 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Sun. Jul 24 Phoenix, AZ Desert Sky Pavilion
Wed. Jul 27 Maryland Heights, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Sat. Jul 30 Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Sun. Jul. 31 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Tues. Aug 02 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
Wed. Aug 03 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
Fri. Aug 05 Columbus, OH Crew Stadium, Ohio State Fair
Sat. Aug 06 Noblesville, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
Wed. Aug 10 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Sat. Aug 13 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
Tues. Aug 16 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
Wed. Aug 17 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Fri. Aug 19 Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater
Sat. Aug 20 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
Sun. Aug 21 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
Wed. Aug 24 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Sat. Aug 27 Burgettstown, PA First Niagara Pavilion
Tues. Aug 30 Syracuse, NY New York State Fair
Wed. Aug 31 Allentown, PA The Great Allentown Fair
Fri. Sept 02 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Sat. Sept 10 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena
Fri. Sept 16 Atlanta, GA Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Sat. Sept 17 Tampa, FL 1-800 Ask-Gary Amphitheatre
Sun. Sept 18 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
Sat. Sept 24 Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavilion
Sun. Sept 25 The Woodlands, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Wed. Sept 28 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre
Sat. Oct 01 Englewood, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
Fri. Oct 07 Chula Vista, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
Fri. Oct 14 Wheatland, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Sat. Oct 15 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
Wed. Oct 19 Portland, OR Rose Garden Arena
Fri. Oct 21 Seattle, WA KeyArena


Eagle Rock to Issue Stateside Release of THE JEFF HEALEY BAND's 'GET ME SOME' on Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Originally released internationally in 2000, Get Me Some, the fifth studio album from the phenomenal Jeff Healey Band is finally making its way stateside, courtesy of Eagle Rock Entertainment. This CD hits shelves March 29, 2011. [MSRP $13.98]

A master guitarist and vocalist, Canadian-born singer-songwriter Jeff Healey formed his band in 1985, with drummer Tom Stephen and bassist Joe Rockman. Known for playing the guitar flat on his lap, Healey perfected a unique, vibrato-infused resonance that solidified the band’s signature sound. The trio’s blend of jazz, rock, and blues scored them platinum sales, and hit singles like “Angel Eyes.”

Get Me Some continues to thrive in this versatile style, packed with 13 tracks of electrified boogie and blues-rock. The dynamic quality of these musicians is evident on tracks like “Which One,” “My Life Story,” and “Rachel’s Song.” Topped with supreme fret work, stylistic solos, and memorable hooks, Get Me Some proves it was definitely worth the 10-year wait for American fans.

A multi-faceted musician, who also pursued old-time jazz and played clarinet and trumpet, Healey passed away in 2008, at the age of 41.

Track Listing:
1.) Which One
2.) Hey Hey
3.) Love Is The Answer
4.) My Life Story
5.) I Tried
6.) The Damage Is Done
7.) Feel Better
8.) Holding On
9.) I Should Have Told You
10.) Macon Georgia Blue
11.) House Is Burning Down
12.) Runaway Heart
13.) Rachel’s Song



Owl City Emerges from the Cold Winter With new Full-Length Studio Album – All Things Bright And Beautiful – out May 17th on Universal Republic ;

Follow-Up to Platinum Debut 'Ocean Eyes'


Also Announces Headlining Tour of the World Kicking Off in North America on June 13, 2011 at the Historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville , TN


Owl City is back after a long cold winter with a new full-length studio album – All Things Bright And Beautiful – due out May 17th Worldwide on Universal Republic . Produced by Owl City’s Adam Young and recorded at Sky Harbor Studios in Owatonna, MN, All Things Bright And Beautiful features twelve new songs and was mixed by Young along with Grammy Award-winning engineer and producer Jack Joseph Puig whose credits include Beck, Mary J. Blige, Green Day and John Mayer to name a few.



All Things Bright And Beautiful is the follow-up full-length studio album to Owl City ’s platinum-selling debut Ocean Eyes. Released in July 2009, Ocean Eyes was certified platinum in just eight short months and earned Owl City a slew of critical acclaim (New York Times, Rolling Stone, People, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, etc.). Ocean Eyes’ sales were led by the runaway single “Fireflies” which is currently quadruple platinum in the US . “Fireflies” hit #1 on the Hot 100 twice and found its’ way to the #1 spot in 24 countries around the world – making this a huge International hit song and leading to several sold out worldwide tours – keeping Owl City on the road for over a year and a half.



In support of the new album – All Things Bright And Beautiful – Owl City will be kicking off a headlining tour of the World in North America on June 13th at the historic Ryman Auditorium – confirmed dates below. For the most up-to-date information, please visit www.owlcitymusic.com.



June 13 Ryman Auditorium Nashville , TN

14 Tabernacle Atlanta , GA

16 House of Blues Orlando , FL

17 Fillmore Charlotte , NC

18 Pier Six Baltimore , MD

20 Olympia Montreal , QC

21 Kool Haus Toronto , QC

23 Roseland Ballroom New York , NY

25 The Mann Philadelphia , PA

26 House of Blues Boston , MA

28 Egyptian Room Indianapolis , IN

29 Fillmore Detroit , MI

30 Summerfest Milwaukee , WI

July 1 LC Pavilion Columbus , OH

11 Uptown Theatre Kansas City, MO

12 Fillmore Denver, CO

13 MacKay Event Center Salt Lake City , UT

15 Paramount Theatre Seattle , WA

16 The Center Vancouver , BC

17 Roseland Ballroom Portland , OR

19 Warfield Theatre San Francisco , CA

21 Club Nokia Los Angeles , CA

23 Fox Theatre Pomona , CA

25 Verizon Theatre Houston , TX

26 Verizon Theatre Dallas , TX

27 ACL Live Austin , TX

29 Aragon Ballroom Chicago, IL

30 Roy Wilkins Auditorium Minneapolis , MN


MICHAEL GRIMM, WINNER OF NBC’S AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, TO RELEASE SELF-TITLED ALBUM ON EPIC RECORDS MAY 17th


New Album Features Legendary Talent


Prize Money Used to Build Home Destroyed in Hurricane Katrina for Grandparents


New York, NY – March 10, 2011 – The attributes that led Michael Grimm to win season five of NBC’s America’s Got Talent (AGT), including his sincere humility and undeniable talent has earned him a devoted fanbase of millions eagerly anticipating the release of his first major label debut with Epic Records due out on May 17th. The southern crooner goes back to his roots for his self-titled album, working with Grammy-award winning producer Don Was, (The Rolling Stones, Elton John and Bonnie Raitt among others) staying true to his Americana meets blue-eyed soul sound, creating carefully crafted rock songs with a mature soulful delivery.



“I became aware of Michael Grimm several years ago and jumped at the chance to work with him after he won AGT,” says producer Don Was. “Michael is one of the greatest vocalists I have ever had the privilege to record. He is a world class singer with a level of professionalism that is extremely rare.”



There is no denying the talent of Michael Grimm since winning AGT with a record number of votes, this album will feature both original music written by Grimm as well as some classic covers and sounds that earned him the title of fan favorite on AGT. Lending their legendary talents to Grimm’s record include Ann Wilson (Heart), Ian McLagan (Faces and work with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer), Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello, Cracker) and Greg Leisz (Avenged Sevenfold, The Eagles). Also, having played on over 30 Grammy-nominated albums, Kenny Aronoff provides drums on the album and the famous Waddy Wachtel, best know for his work with Keith Richards, Stevie Nicks and James Taylor, on guitar.


“It’s me,” describes Michael Grimm of his self-titled album. “I am extremely proud of this album, it really showcases my love for different genres of music from country to soul R&B to rock, the classic Americana that I grew up with.”



Self described as “just a boy from Mississippi ,” Grimm has close ties to his southern roots. His decision to audition for America ’s Got Talent came from having grandparents who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina, Grimm has said he is committed to using a portion of his prize money to give them a new home which was lost in the storm. Grimm was raised by his grandparents who encouraged his musical talents from an early age. By the time Grimm was 12 years old, he was performing locally with his grandmother applauding him at every show. At 15 Grimm was writing and playing his own music when he began to blend the two genres of country and soul. In years since, he has moved to Las Vegas , where he has maintained a busy performance schedule, perfecting his soulful sound and remains committed to creating real music.


Judge Piers Morgan insisted Grimm's victory was well deserved: "Michael's genuine, he's sincere, he's very talented…He'll have a huge career. I think he's like a young Van Morrison."

http://www.michaelgrimmmusic.com/

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