Friday, June 17, 2011

Upcoming releases: Deep Purple, Sonia Leigh, The Dwarves, Bandana Splits

While I wait for tonight, and the arrival of U2's performance in Anaheim, here are a few things from my inbox I wanted to share.

Last weekend I caught an excellent show featuring supergroup Black County Communion, which includes lead singer-bassist Glenn Hughes.

Now the legendary Hughes will be featured in a stunning release set to arrive on June 28. Read on friends...


On June 28, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Deep Purple’s Phoenix Rising – a two-hour-plus revelatory documentary including 30 minutes of never-before-seen (not even on bootleg) onstage footage from Japan. Phoenix Rising will be released on DVD, Blu-ray, and in a special two-disc DVD/CD package [MSRP $19.98 for DVD/CD, $14.98 for DVD, and $19.98 for Blu-ray].


The release is cause for celebration amongst Purple fans due to the rarity of material. Extensive interviews with keyboardist Jon Lord and bassist Glenn Hughes tell the tale of a band caught by circumstance into one of its most controversial, extreme and exciting eras of its long career. Ian Gillan and Roger Glover were gone. A young unknown singer by the name of David Coverdale was recruited as was bassist Hughes. The results were the albums Burn and Stormbringer (both released in 1974). But then Ritchie Blackmore left the band. Against all odds, they rocked on, recruiting Tommy Bolin (from Zephyr and The James Gang). The album Come Taste The Band (1975) documents the short-lived Bolin era, an era that all came crashing down when the band announced in July of 1976 that it was breaking up. By December, Bolin would be dead due to a heroin overdose. Nine years of silence would ensue.

The never-before-seen 30 minutes, “Rises Over Japan,” has the Coverdale/Lord/Bolin/Hughes/Paice lineup delivering the goods in 1976 on eight songs: “Burn,” “Getting Tighter,” “Love Child,” “Smoke On The Water,” “Lazy,” “Homeward Strut,” “You Keep On Moving” and “Stormbringer.” (The double-disc package contains these eight songs on CD.) This segment is some of the only video footage that showcases Tommy Bolin performing in Deep Purple.

The 90-minute documentary portion, “Getting Tighter,” recounts the trials and tribulations of a band in turmoil, riding the rock’n’roll roller coaster to total excess. With its live images, backstage footage, never-before-told stories and original video material carefully culled from years of research, it’s a veritable bonanza for Purple fans and fans of Rock History. No stone is left unturned…and sometimes it’s not pretty. Gritty, truthful, wild, this is the story of an era in the 1970s that is simply unforgettable.

Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international media production and distribution company operating across audiovisual entertainment programming. Eagle Rock Entertainment works directly alongside talent to produce the highest quality programming output covering film, general entertainment and musical performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices based in London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hamburg, & Paris.

Click here to visit Eagle Rock Entertainment online.


Sonia Leigh Rouses 50K New Fans at CMA Fest with "My Name is Money"



Georgia troubadour Sonia Leigh, whose gritty brand of southern blues is abuzz on the touring circuit, shows off her powerful pipes on debut single "My Name is Money," a bright, brash track that gives new life to dusty soul rock with nods to Joan Jett and Sheryl Crow. Listen to "My Name is Money" at: bit.ly/SoniaLeigh

Leigh performed the single several times at CMA Festival last week, including once with the Zac Brown Band at LP field in front of 50K fans. With its upbeat swagger, "My Name is Money" (out now on iTunes, hitting radio July 25) is sparking country, roots, and rock fans alike to get down with the "young, hot vintage" songstress.

Watch Sonia perform "My Name is Money" http://bit.ly/SoniaLeigh-Money

Said Leigh of the inspiration, "I wrote this song about how powerful money is and how impactful it can be to people's lives. I'm not for it or against it but I was just thinking if money could talk, what would it say?"

Leigh's national debut 1978 December (Southern Ground Artists, Inc.) is out August 30, 2011.

Purchase "My Name is Money" on iTunes at: http://budurl.com/mnim

http://www.sonialeigh.com


The Dwarves Are Born Again

THE DWARVES 25th Anniversary Tour:

A celebration of the most bizarre and misunderstood punk rock band of all time.




New release The Dwarves Are Born Again in deluxe CD or vinyl package (with bonus DVD) getting rave reviews from critics and fans alike...

The Dwarves are currently touring Europe, but will soon be back in the states to celebrate 25 years of pure punk rock insanity. There remains a great deal of unknown stories and anecdotes regarding the most bizarre and misunderstood band of all time...



For instance, did you know of the stabbings, bannings, arrests, assaults and secret peccadilloes of the last punk band standing?

Did you know that The Dwarves have been members of groups as diverse as KMFDM, Gnarls Barkley, Excel, The Queers and Scream?

Did you know their music has been featured in dozens of television shows from Viva La Bam and Jackass to Spongebob Squarepants or feature films like Hostel and Ghostworld?



Click HERE to see all 25 things you don't know about the Dwarves!

As for the tour, the fun starts in Baltimore on July 13:



Wednesday, July 13, 2011 10:00 PM

Baltimore, MD - Ottobar



Thursday, July 14, 2011 07:00 PM

Pittsburgh, PA - Altar Bar



Friday, July 15, 2011 08:30 PM

Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory Brooklyn



Saturday, July 16, 2011 10:00 PM

New York, NY - Studio at Webster Hall



Sunday, July 17, 2011 10:00 PM

Cambridge, MA - Middle East



Monday, July 18, 2011 10:00 PM

Newport, RI - Newport Blues Cafe


And as for the new record, The Dwarves Are Born Again features all your favorite heroes from the Dwarves long and twisted saga. Blag the Ripper, HeWhoCanNotBeNamed, Rex Everything and a cast of thousands return to crush the ears of a desperate public. Teamed with Top Ten producer Eric Valentine (Slash, All American Rejects) they have created a perfect mix of hardcore punk, ear soothing pop, and everything in between. Damaged celebrity cameos mix with twisted phone messages, ear splitting noise with dance friendly grooves, all delivered with the Dwarves trademark humor and intensity.


Website: http://www.thedwarves.com/



Brooklyn Based Trio, The Bandana Splits Release Self-Titled Debut Album Aug 16, 2011 via Tummy Touch Records




**New York City Summer Shows Announced!**



Sometimes all that glitters IS gold.

At first glance, The Bandana Splits look like a pin-up girl group from the early 60s, yet behind the cutesy façade lurks a serious power pop trio. Annie Nero, Dawn Landes, and Lauren Balthrop were brought together by geography and their love of The Andrews Sisters charm and Spector-like musicality. Along with producer Sam Cohen (Apollo Sunshine/Yellowbirds) The Splits have effortlessly crafted your new favorite record.

The Bandana Splits’ self-titled debut album sends listeners whirling through the space/time continuum, conjuring images of soda jerks and varsity jackets. However, they’re much more than a throwback piece. Recorded at Landes’ Saltlands Studio in DUMBO, Brooklyn, the record displays their unique songwriting and sweet 3-part harmonies performed live around an old RCA ribbon microphone. Accompanied by spastic guitar, Muppetesque drum and bass jams, and slinky organ riffs, Cohen sonically infused the record with Motown grooves, Brazilian psychedelia, and a tasteful dash of classic country schmaltz.

In support of their debut release, the girls are excited to be performing a bunch of shows around NYC this summer. You can feast your eyes and ears on the Bandana Splits at any, or preferably all, of the scheduled happenings below.
Tour dates:
June 18th – Brooklyn, NY - Littlefield (Farewell to Normal Scene Party)
June 21st – New York, NY - Joe's Pub (part of Make Music New York)
July 9th – New York, NY - The Mercury Lounge (7 pm w/ Elizabeth & the Catapult and Harper Blynn)

For more information, visit the Bandana Splits' official Web site.

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