Sunday, November 27, 2011

Sights and Sounds: The Beatles, Coldplay, VCMG, Omnivore Recordings

Anytime you can work in exciting news and updates about The Beatles, Coldplay and two of the original members of Depeche Mode, well the day looks like a good one.

Louise Harrison To Discuss The Early Years of The Beatles and The Beatles With Tony Sheridan: First Recordings: 50th Anniversary Edition


2-CD Set This Week on CBS Early Show, NPR’s The Takeaway,
VH1 Classic Rock Nights with Eddie Webb, SiriusXM, and more


Louise Harrison will travel to New York this week to promote the recent release of THE BEATLES WITH TONY SHERIDAN: FIRST RECORDINGS: 50th Anniversary Edition and share her memories of The Beatles and her brother, George. An integral part of the band’s breakthrough in America, where she had been living when the group released their first single, Louise is credited with working tirelessly to get their song played on American radio for the first time. Her interviews in New York with media outlets including the CBS Early Show, NPR program The Takeaway, VH1’s Classic Rock Nights with Eddie Webb, SiriusXM, The Fox Business Channel, Better TV, and many more will coincide with the 10th anniversary of George Harrison’s death.

As one of the earliest supporters of The Beatles, it is fitting that Louise Harrison speak about their first recordings, captured in the new double-disc collection. Released by Time Life on November 8, 2011, THE BEATLES WITH TONY SHERIDAN: FIRST RECORDINGS: 50th Anniversary Edition is a remarkable story, told through music, mementos and words, of a band on the cusp of changing music and pop culture forever. The collection is a fascinating and comprehensive view of one of the most important yet overlooked moments in Beatles history.

Entertainment Weekly noted that the set “hints at the greatness to come” while calling Harrison’s “Cry For a Shadow” one of its best tracks. Along with the songs, the box set includes a deluxe booklet which presents an in-depth look into the beginnings of one of the greatest and most influential groups in pop music history. The historical text by Beatles scholar Hans Olaf Gottfridsson is brought to life with rare and candid photos by Astrid Kirchherr, copies of contracts, and personal biographies handwritten by each member in 1961. The earliest days of The Beatles have never been revisited in such detail.

The set includes every recording they made for German producer Bert Kaempfert and Polydor in 1961 and 1962 and feature Tony Sheridan on lead vocals, a decision made by Kaempfert. However, John Lennon sings lead vocals on “Ain’t She Sweet,” and George Harrison plays an instrumental, “Cry For A Shadow.” Multiple versions have been released throughout the past several decades – some in mono, some in stereo – each with distinctly different sounds. Most notably, the US versions of these tracks were overdubbed with another guitar player and drummer in an attempt to mirror the edgier sound the group had evolved into, unbeknownst to American fans at the time of their release in 1964. All versions of every track, including mono and stereo mixes, are included in the double disc set, remarkable in their difference but all bearing the same unmistakable sound of a wholly new kind of band.


RING IN 2012 WITH COLDPLAY!

Photo credit: Sarah Lee

COLDPLAY NEW YEAR'S EVE: AN AUSTIN CITY LIMITS SPECIAL

90-MINUTE PBS CONCERT EXTRAVAGANZA IS AUSTIN CITY LIMITS' FIRST-EVER NEW YEAR'S EVE SPECIAL


Austin City Limits (ACL), the world's longest-running live music television series, is ringing in the new year with a stunning performance by Coldplay. The first-ever ACL New Year's Eve special -- a rare 90-minute episode -- is viewable on PBS stations nationwide on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011 at 11 p.m. (check local listings). Coldplay New Year's Eve: An Austin City Limits Special can also be viewed on demand on pbs.org starting at 11 p.m. ET on Dec. 31, 2011.

Coldplay's second appearance on ACL's stage is another milestone for the historic show and a one-of-a- kind episode with the band's unique production.

"We decided to go big with Coldplay - really big. So we came up with the idea of celebrating New Year's Eve with a 90-minute special. All the hits plus their brand new songs," said Executive Producer Terry Lickona. "It'll be a great way to kick off 2012!"

The New Year's Eve special comes on the heels of the release of the band's new album, Mylo Xyloto, which has charted at No. 1 in 32 countries. It also hit the No. 1 spot in all 35 iTunes stores around the world, breaking the record for the highest number of download sales in one week - a milestone Coldplay first achieved in 2008 with the release of Viva La Vida. Mylo Xyloto is Coldplay's third consecutive studio album to debut atop both The Billboard 200 and the U.K. album chart.

The ACL New Year's special highlights the mid-point of season 37 -- the first season taped entirely in ACL's new home, ACL Live at The Moody Theater, a full-time music venue and state-of the-art production facility. The remaining five episodes of the season will air in early 2012.

Learn more about Austin City Limits, programming and history at www.austincitylimits.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and our blog for up-to-date information.

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS SEASON 37 BROADCAST SCHEDULE

(Check local listings for exact dates and times.)
December 31, 2011 Coldplay
January 7, 2012 The Head and The Heart / Gomez
January 14, 2012 Arcade Fire
January 21, 2012 Fleet Foxes / Joanna Newsom
January 28, 2012 Florence + the Machine / Lykke Li
February 4, 2012 Wilco


VCMG

VINCE CLARKE AND MARTIN L. GORE ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF BRAND NEW COLLABORATION

After 30 years working their retrospective ongoing music projects Vince Clarke (Erasure / Yazoo / Depeche Mode) and Martin L. Gore (Depeche Mode) come together for the first time since 1991 as VCMG to release a brand new album preceded by a series of EPs.

VCMG is the fruit of initially tentative discussion and subsequent enthused collaboration where Vince and Martin, both influential as pioneers in electronic music, get to exercise their lifelong love of the genre as the techno inspired VCMG.

As Vince explains: “I’ve been getting into and listening to a lot of minimal dance music and I got really intrigued by all the sounds… I realised I needed a collaborator… so it occurred to me to talk to Martin.”

Says Gore: "Out of the blue I got an e-mail from Vince just saying, 'I'm interested in making a techno album. Are you interested in collaborating?' This was maybe a year ago. He said, 'No pressure, no deadlines,' so I said, 'OK’.”


The writing and recording of the album was done in a typically unique way with the pair working alone in their respective studios, communicating only via email, exchanging files until the album was ready. It was in May 2011 that the pair met for the first time to discuss the project when they both performed at Short Circuit presents Mute festival in London.

The album (title to be announced soon) was produced by Vince Clarke and Martin L. Gore and mixed by the influential Californian electronic artist Überzone / Q and will be released in early 2012.
The first release is an EP entitled Spock. EP1 / SPOCK will feature remixes from Edit-Select, aka Tony Scott, the UK DJ / producer and founder of EditSelect Records whose previous remix credits include Speedy J, Death In Vegas and Gary Beck; Regis, British techno musician Karl O’Connor, member of the Sandwell District collective and co-founder of Downwards Records); Zak aka DVS1, founder of Hush Records and one of the most prominent figures in US dance music counts techno innovator Derrick May amongst his biggest fans, with his second ever release on May's own Transmat plus XOQ, the alter ego of Überzone / Q, who mixed the VCMG album.

EP1/SPOCK will be available initially as a global exclusive on Beatport on November 30, 2011 and then on all DSPs December 13, 2011.


OMNIVORE RECORDINGS TO RELEASE TRIO OF NEW RECORDINGS

30th ANNIVERSARY REISSUE OF RICHARD THOMPSON'S LONG OUT-OF-PRINT INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM STRICT TEMPO! CD AND DIGITAL RELEASE NOVEMBER 29



INFLUENTIAL POWER-POP BAND JELLYFISH'S ONLY TWO STUDIO ALBUMS

BELLYBUTTON AND SPILT MILK LIMITED EDITION LP RELEASE JANUARY 10



ALEX CHILTON'S FIRST SOLO RECORDINGS FREE AGAIN: THE "1970" SESSIONS

LIMITED EDITION LP, OPEN EDITION LP, CD AND DIGITAL RELEASE JANUARY 10


OMNIVORE RECORDINGS WEBSTORE NOW OPEN

LIMITED EDITION BIG STAR THIRD [TEST PRESSING EDITION] LP ON SALE NOW!


Omnivore Recordings has announced the upcoming releases for a trio of new recordings including the 30th Anniversary reissue of Richard Thompson's long out-of-print instrumental recording Strict Tempo! on November 29; followed on January 10, 2012 by influential power-pop band Jellyfish's two studio albums Bellybutton and Spilt Milk; and also on January 10, 2012, Free Again: The "1970" Sessions by Alex Chilton - the musical architect of The Box Tops and Big Star.



Richard Thompson "Strict Tempo!" CD/Digital - November 29, 2011

For more than 40 years Richard Thompson has been the guitarists' guitarist, the songwriters' songwriter, and a consummate artist. As a founder of the legendary British folk-rock group Fairport Convention, through the '70s releases with his then-wife, Linda Thompson, to his highly successful solo career and work as a session player for other artists, Thompson has left behind a trail of recordings and compositions nearly unequaled in modern music history. His solo career can be traced to 1972's Henry The Human Fly, after which he went on to record a string of critically acclaimed albums with Linda Thompson. It wasn't until 1981 that Thompson released another solo album, this time it was called Strict Tempo! and, not surprisingly, due to his gifts as an instrumentalist, was an instrumental album that showcased his extraordinary talents by Thompson playing all instruments himself, accompanied only by former Fairport bandmate Dave Mattacks on drums/percussion.

Strict Tempo! was originally released on Thompson's own imprint, Elixir, in 1981 and later reissued by the Hannibal label but has been out of print for some time. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of this dexterous collection of traditional jigs and reels-with an original Thompson composition and a Duke Ellington cover thrown in for good measure. Omnivore Recordings is proud to celebrate the reissue of this recording with a CD release packaged in a special limited edition "greeting card" digipack (after which will be available in standard jewel case), featuring new notes on each song by Thompson. Additionally, Strict Tempo! will be made available for the first time digitally, all on November 29th.


Jellyfish "Bellybutton" LP and "Spilt Milk" LP - January 10, 2012

On January 10, Omnivore Recordings will release influential power pop band Jellyfish's debut album Bellybutton and follow up Spilt Milk exclusively on vinyl LP.The only two full-length studio albums in the band's short, storied history, each release has been cut directly from the album's original analog masters. Distributed by EMI, this will be the first time Bellybutton and Spilt Milk will be made commercially available in the U.S. on vinyl.


Bellybutton, originally released at retail in the U.S. only on CD, will be limited to 1500 copies pressed on 180-gram translucent blue vinylcomplete with replicated original album tri-fold sleeve. The bands 1990 debut album was released to rave critical reviews, hailed for its fresh, effervescent, power pop sound, and charted three singles. Spilt Milk, originally released at retail in the U.S. only on CD, will also be limited to 1500 copies pressed on 180-gram translucent green vinyl. The bands follow up release took up where Bellybutton left off, an elaborate and complex studio creation described as a "flawless pop gem" with comparisons to The Beatles and The Beach Boys for its lush vocal harmonies.

Formed in San Francisco by singer/songwriter Andy Sturmer and singer/songwriter Roger Manning, the duo rounded out the band's initial lineup with guitarist Jason Falkner (The Three O'Clock, The Grays) and Roger's brother Chris Manning on bass. Following Bellybutton's support tour, Falkner and (Chris) Manning left the band due to creative differences and exhaustion from life on the road. Their next album Spilt Milk was created by Andy and Roger with help from then session men Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Spoon), Lyle Workman (Beck, Todd Rundgren) and T-Bone Wolk (Hall & Oates). Following a tour in support, the group disbanded in 1994.

Alex Chilton "Free Again: The '1970' Sessions" LP/CD/Digital - January 10, 2012

In the latter months of 1969, somewhere between the moon landing and the start of the Vietnam draft, the concerts at Woodstock and Altamont, Alex Chilton decided to take back his life. During that annus mirabilis, while the world experienced a generationally sparked social, political, and cultural upheaval, the 18-year-old Chilton was in the midst of a revolution of his own. For the past year, Chilton had been strapped in a creative, professional, and personal straitjacket. He was the lead singer of a million-selling band, The Box Tops, but felt like little more than a puppet of the group's producers. In the era of free love, he'd been pressured into a shotgun marriage and fatherhood. And he'd ultimately come to see himself as the pawn of an unscrupulous business machine, sent to grind it out on the road in a series of silly lip-synched TV performances and one-night stands while someone else cashed his checks. As he entered the studio that summer to make his first solo recordings, the man who would come to define the very spirit of musical independence was still bound in chains. At a time where liberation and self-expression were rallying cries, Alex Chilton was about to break free.

"Free Again: The '1970' Sessions" are the first solo recordings from a post-Box Tops/pre-Big Star Alex Chilton. The album, mixed and engineered by Terry Manning (CREDITS), will be released as a 20-track CD featuring six previously unreleased songs, and 12-track LP. The first 1,500 LPs will be pressed on limited-edition clear vinyl (black vinyl thereafter). The first 500 LP orders from the Omnivore Recordings webstore will come with a bonus 7" that includes two additional versions of the previously unreleased "All We Ever Got From Them Was Pain" - the original mix and the demo. The album will also be available digitally at all major online retailers, as well as the Omnivore Recordings webstore.


You can now pre-order and purchase all Omnivore Recordings titles direct at their all new online webstore: http://omnivorerecordings.com/shop. Omnivore is currently offering an online exclusive of the Big Star Third [Test Pressing Edition] as a clear vinyl version. This is your second chance to grab the wildly popular album that instantly flew off shelves, selling out during Record Store Day this past April. The webstore's Big Star Third [Test Pressing Edition] is limited to just 500 copies and features the same cut and packaging, manufactured at the same time as the 2000 black vinyl copies for Record Store Day. Don't miss out!

About Omnivore Recordings:

Founded in 2010 by longtime, highly respected industry veterans Cheryl Pawelski, Greg Allen, and Brad Rosenberger, Omnivore Recordings' vision is to preserve the legacies and music created by historical, heritage, and catalog artists while also releasing previously unissued, newly found "lost" recordings and making them available for music-loving audiences to discover. Omnivore Recordings is distributed by EMI in North America and Ace Records UK in Europe. The label's first releases included the limited LP release of Big Star Third, a limited edition Buck Owens 7" of previously unreleased material, The Motels shelved third album Apocalypso, the first official stateside release of Leon Russell's 1971 Live in Japan album originally released and available only in Japan, original soundtrack score to the documentary Magic Trip: Ken Kesey's Search for a Kool Place, and legendary Bay Area soul singer Darondo's unreleased Music City Sessions and Bay Area teen soul and funk combo The Two Things In One Together Forever: The Music City Sessions.


Omnivore Recordings official website: http://omnivorerecordings.com/

The Cure conjures up magic at the Pantages Theatre


Robert Smith leads The Cure through "The Weedy Burton" at The Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, Nov. 23.


My wife and I knew the traffic driving from Orange County to Los Angeles on Thanksgiving Eve would be horrendous. But with this our first chance to see The Cure since 2000 - and likely our only chance to see the band on its special Reflections tour - we jumped (or rather crawled up the 5 Freeway) at the chance.

Are we glad we did too.

For anyone even somewhat interested in Robert Smith and company, the Reflections tour dates are among the most celebrated live shows of the goth pioneers' 30+ year career. On Nov. 23, The Cure again delivered their first three albums in their entirety and then three strong encores offering up just about every gem crafted during the band's earliest period.

While casual alt music fans likely would have appreciated the handful of so-called modern rock "hits" ("Boys Don't Cry," "Let's Go To Bed," "The Lovecats") performed across the three-hour, eight-minute concert, the discerning fans who filled the relatively-intimate Pantages Theatre cheered after each of the 45 selections.

The band sounded terrific, and adding to the magic of the night were the wonderful acoustics of the venue. From the opening salvo of "10:15 Saturday Night" and intoxicating cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Foxy Lady" to the propulsive mystique of "A Forest" and weighty "Charlotte Sometimes," Smith led the band (whose line-up shifted throughout the night as a trio, a quartet or quintet depending on the set/encore) throughout so many highlights I am among several thousands of others at the sold-out show who hope a DVD of one of the Reflections dates arrives soon. For now, I hope you enjoy the short clips available to view on this post. I also recommend you read writer Ben Wener's review on the Orange County Register site.

Setlist: The Cure at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011:

Three Imaginary Boys
1. 10:15 Saturday Night
2. Accuracy
3. Grinding Halt
4. Another Day
5. Object
6. Subway Song (see below for the video of this song)
7. Foxy Lady
8. Meathook
9. So What
10. Fire In Cairo
11. It's Not You
12. Three Imaginary Boys
13. The Weedy Burton


Robert Smith leads The Cure through "Subway Song" at The Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, Nov. 23.

Seventeen Seconds
14. A Reflection
15. Play For Today
16. Secrets
17. In Your House
18. Three
19. The Final Sound
20. A Forest
21. M
22. At Night
23. Seventeen Seconds

Faith
24. The Holy Hour
25. Primary
26. Other Voices
27. All Cats Are Grey
28. The Funeral Party
29. Doubt
30. The Drowning Man
31. Faith

Encore:
32. World War
33. I'm Cold
34. Plastic Passion
35. Boys Don't Cry
36. Killing An Arab
37. Jumping Someone Else's Train
38. Another Journey By Train

Encore 2:
39. Descent
40. Splintered In Her Head
41. Charlotte Sometimes
42. The Hanging Garden

Encore 3:
43. Let's Go To Bed
44. The Walk
45. The Lovecats

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Sights and Sounds: Paul Weller, Bob Dylan tribute

Before I get ready to get on my freeway survival gear and get set to make the long trek up to Los Angeles to catch The Cure at The Pantages tonight, I wanted to share a few highlights that arrived in my inbox today. Enjoy!

Paul Weller set to release 'Sonik Kicks' on March 27, 2012


Special London shows scheduled for March, with shows in the U.S. to follow

First Single “Around The Lake” Available On iTunes Next Week


Enjoying a constant critical high and a never ending creative peak, Paul Weller continues to push the boundaries with his forthcoming new album Sonik Kicks, scheduled for release on March 27, 2012 on Yep Roc Records. The album is the follow up to the Mercury Prize Award nominated Wake Up The Nation and is also Paul’s eleventh solo album. Once again, it's his best yet.

For fans eager to hear a taste of what’s to come, RollingStone.com will be previewing the first single “Around The Lake” beginning today. The song will also be available for purchase on iTunes beginning next week.

Sonik Kicks features fourteen brand new tracks: “Green,” “The Attic,” “Kling I Klang,” “Sleep of the Serene,” “By the Waters,” “That Dangerous Age,” “Study in Blue,” “Dragonfly,” “When Your Garden’s Overgrown,” “Around The Lake,” “Twilight,” “Drifters,” “Paperchase,” and “Be Happy Children.” Both Noel Gallagher and Graham Coxon appear as special guests on the album.

Since Weller isn’t one to wait 20 years to be invited to perform his “classic” album, he has decided to do so now. Sonik Knicks will be performed in full at The Roundhouse in London, England on March 18th & 19th. Tickets go on sale 9 a.m. on Friday Nov 25. US shows are in the works for Weller and will be announced at a later date.

2012 will also mark two important anniversaries for Paul Weller. In 1977 (35 years ago) The Jam burst on to the music scene with their debut album In The City, which without question was one of the most important punk albums to ever be released. Since then Weller consistently changed and evolved his sound through his work with The Style Council and as a solo artist. It was 20 years ago in 1992 when Weller released his self-titled first ever solo album.

With Sonik Kicks Paul Weller once again shakes up his palate and stirs his influences anew. He mixes pop art punch with soulful communication; jazzy explorations into psychedelia and dub with razor-sharp melodies and abstract soundscapes with clear-eyed forest-folk.


Chimes of Freedom - 75 Newly Recorded Bob Dylan Songs by Over 80 Artists Scheduled for January 24, 2012 Release -- Salutes Amnesty International's 50th Anniversary and Life-Saving Human Rights Work




The Collection Features Songs By

* Adele * The Airborne Toxic Event * Joan Baez * Natasha Bedingfield * Jackson Browne * Cage the Elephant * Elvis Costello * Darren Criss * Miley Cyrus * Dave Matthews Band * K'NAAN * Ke$ha * Mark Knopfler * Diana Krall * Lenny Kravitz * Kris Kristofferson * Ziggy Marley * Maroon 5 * Tom Morello * My Chemical Romance * Joe Perry * Queens Of The Stone Age * Raphael Saadiq * Seal & Jeff Beck * Silversun Pickups * Patti Smith * Sting * Sugarland * Pete Townshend * Lucinda Williams * Evan Rachel Wood



Two iconic forces that have impacted the past 50 years - the life-saving human rights activism of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Amnesty International and the incomparable artistry of Bob Dylan - are being saluted by 80 musicians who contributed new or previously unreleased recordings to Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International.



Chimes of Freedom is Executive Produced by legendary music executive Jeff Ayeroff and Julie Yannatta, who spearheaded Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur - a 2007 collection of John Lennon solo compositions performed by major artists including U2, Green Day and R.E.M.

The collection is scheduled for physical (4 discs) and digital release in North America on January 24, 2012 through Fontana Distribution. It will be distributed internationally through Fontana International, a Universal Music company, on January 30.



Chimes of Freedom features a stellar and diverse group of artists across the generational and musical spectrum. The performers, including many of Amnesty International's longtime supporters, range in age from teenage pop star Miley Cyrus, 19, to folk music legend Pete Seeger, who, at 92, records Dylan's poignant "Forever Young," with a children's chorus.



The diversity of the musicians and musical genres - from rock, rap, hip-hop to pop, folk, country, jazz and blues -- attests to Amnesty's depth of support in the music community, the universal appeal of the core message of human rights, and the breadth of Dylan's impact on culture. Almost every track on the album is being released for sale for the first time* - except for the title song, Dylan's original 1964 recording of "Chimes of Freedom." Seventy songs were recorded especially for this release - with the addition of a few previously unreleased recordings.



"This album is a powerful fusion of the music community's respect for Amnesty's life-affirming work and for Bob Dylan's enduring brilliance," said Ayeroff and Yannatta. "We are proud to have worked with Amnesty to produce this remarkable project."


In 1962, Amnesty International evolved from a one-year campaign to free political prisoners into a worldwide movement fighting for justice, freedom and human dignity; today the organization has more than three million supporters in 150 countries. In March of that same year Bob Dylan's debut album was released, launching an unparalleled recording career.

"Over the half century, Dylan's art has explored and expressed the anguish and hope of the modern human condition," observed Sean Wilentz, the noted historian, in the album liner notes.


"Bob Dylan's music endures because he so brilliantly captures our heartbreak, our joy, our frailty, our confusion, our courage and our struggles," said Karen Scott Amnesty International's Manager of Music Relations. "His words convey a depth of meaning that few artists can equal, inspiring us and always moving ahead of our expectations. We at Amnesty International are deeply grateful to this legendary musician and to all of the artists who have contributed to this project."



All of the artists, session musicians, arrangers, engineers, producers and recording studios worked pro-bono to support the human rights cause. Almost 30 tracks on the album were mixed gratis by famed engineer Bob Clearmountain. Bob Ludwig and Adam Ayan of Gateway Mastering donated their mastering services. The album cover illustration is by Grammy Award winning artist Mick Haggerty. Eight tracks were produced or executive produced by Martin Lewis, who as co-creator/producer in the 1970s of Amnesty's ongoing "Secret Policeman's Ball" benefit series, instigated Amnesty's outreach to rock musicians by recruiting and producing Pete Townshend, Sting, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Bob Geldof and others. Executive Producers for Amnesty International are Helen Garrett, director of special projects, and Karen Scott, manager of music relations.



Through Chimes of Freedom, Amnesty International seeks to enlist support for its fight against censorship and attacks on free speech - whether involving artists, writers, musicians, political activists or bloggers. In this campaign, Amnesty is fighting for people such as the imprisoned Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in China, a scholar and human rights defender imprisoned since 2009 for writing about corruption and criticizing China's political system. In addition to purchasing the album at www.amnestyusa.org/chimes, supporters will find actions they can take to help individuals whose freedom of expression is under threat.

The tracklisting for Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International is as follows:


DISC 1


Raphael Saadiq
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

Patti Smith
Drifter's Escape

Rise Against
Ballad of Hollis Brown

Tom Morello The Nightwatchman
Blind Willie McTell

Pete Townshend
Corrina, Corrina

Bettye LaVette
Most of the Time

Charlie Winston
This Wheel's On Fire

Diana Krall
Simple Twist of Fate

Brett Dennen
You Ain't Goin' Nowhere

Mariachi El Bronx
Love Sick

Ziggy Marley
Blowin' in the Wind

The Gaslight Anthem
Changing of the Guards

Silversun Pickups
Not Dark Yet

My Morning Jacket
You're A Big Girl Now

The Airborne Toxic Event
Boots of Spanish Leather

Sting
Girl from the North Country

Mark Knopfler
Restless Farewell






DISC 2


Queens Of The Stone Age
Outlaw Blues

Lenny Kravitz
Rainy Day Woman # 12 & 35

Steve Earle & Lucia Micarelli
One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)

Blake Mills
Heart Of Mine

Miley Cyrus
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go

Billy Bragg
Lay Down Your Weary Tune

Elvis Costello
License to Kill

Angelique Kidjo
Lay, Lady, Lay

Natasha Bedingfield
Ring Them Bells

Jackson Browne
Love Minus Zero/No Limit

Joan Baez
Seven Curses (Live)

The Belle Brigade
No Time To Think

Sugarland
Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You (Live)

Jack's Mannequin
Mr. Tambourine Man

Oren Lavie
4th Time Around

Sussan Deyhim
All I Really Want To Do

Adele
Make You Feel My Love (Recorded Live at WXPN)






DISC 3


K'NAAN
With God On Our Side

Ximena Sariñana
I Want You

Neil Finn with Pajama Club
She Belongs to Me

Bryan Ferry
Bob Dylan's Dream

Zee Avi
Tomorrow Is A Long Time

Carly Simon
Just Like a Woman

Flogging Molly
The Times They Are A-Changin'

Fistful Of Mercy
Buckets Of Rain

Joe Perry
Man Of Peace

Bad Religion
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

My Chemical Romance
Desolation Row (Live)

RedOne featuring Nabil Khayat
Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Paul Rodgers & Nils Lofgren
Abandoned Love

Darren Criss featuring Chuck Criss and Freelance Whales
New Morning

Cage the Elephant
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll

Band of Skulls
It Ain't Me, Babe

Sinéad O'Connor
Property of Jesus

Ed Roland and The Sweet Tea Project
Shelter From The Storm

Ke$ha
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

Kronos Quartet
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right




DISC 4


Maroon 5
I Shall Be Released

Carolina Chocolate Drops
Political World

Seal & Jeff Beck
Like A Rolling Stone

Taj Mahal
Bob Dylan's 115th Dream

Dierks Bentley
Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) (Live)

Mick Hucknall
One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)

Thea Gilmore
I'll Remember You

State Radio
John Brown

Dave Matthews Band
All Along the Watchtower (Live)

Michael Franti
Subterranean Homesick Blues

We Are Augustines
Mama, You Been On My Mind

Lucinda Williams
Tryin' To Get To Heaven

Kris Kristofferson
Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)

Eric Burdon
Gotta Serve Somebody

Evan Rachel Wood
I'd Have You Anytime

Marianne Faithfull
Baby Let Me Follow You Down (Live)

Pete Seeger
Forever Young

Bob Dylan
Chimes Of Freedom






DIGITAL ONLY


Outernational
When The Ship Comes In

Silverstein
Song To Woody

Daniel Bedingfield
Man In The Long Black Coat

The Doors celebrate the 40th anniversary reissue of 'L.A. Woman'



Here it is on the eve of Thanksgiving, so why not provide everybody with even more reason to be thankful. The Doors are truly one of the greatest rock bands of all time and their music continues to resonate more than 40 years after Jim Morrison's tragic death. Now there is big news I want to share here.


THE DOORS LAUNCH "THE YEAR OF THE DOORS" WITH 40TH ANNIVERSARY REISSUE OF ICONIC 'L.A. WOMAN' ALBUM AND NEW DVD/BLU-RAY 'MR. MOJO RISIN THE STORY OF L.A. WOMAN'


Includes debut of "She Smells So Nice," a newly-discovered original song from the 'L.A. Woman' sessions

Fans of iconic rock band THE DOORS are in for something special. The group's final album--1971's L.A. WOMAN, with the signature hits "L.A. Woman," "Love Her Madly" and "Riders On The Storm"--is being celebrated with a special two-CD release from Rhino and a behind-the-scenes DVD/Blu-ray from Eagle Rock Entertainment.


The L.A. WOMAN 40th anniversary edition (Rhino 2-CD) features a never-before-heard song, "She Smells So Nice," which captures the band--organist RAY MANZAREK, guitarist ROBBY KRIEGER, drummer JOHN DENSMORE and late singer JIM MORRISON--joyfully barreling through a full-throttle original before segueing into the blues standard "Rock Me." As the song closes, Morrison can be heard chanting, "Mr. Mojo Risin'"--an anagram of his name that was made famous during the bridge of "L.A. Woman." Recently discovered by producer Bruce Botnick while reviewing the L.A. WOMAN session tapes, a teaser clip of "She Smells So Nice" can be heard here: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-preview-newly-unearthed-doors-track-she-smells-so-nice-20111117


In addition to "She Smells So Nice," the second disc of the L.A. WOMAN reissue includes eight never-before-heard versions of songs from the album. Alternate takes of "L.A. Woman," "Love Her Madly" and "Riders On The Storm" offer a fresh view on this landmark album, which was the group's sixth straight Top 10. The studio chatter between the songs is a revelation, transporting listeners to The Doors Workshop: the West Hollywood rehearsal space where they recorded the album with Botnick. One segment in particular captures a fascinating moment of inspiration when Morrison suggests they add the now-iconic thunderstorm sound effects to the beginning of "Riders On The Storm." Rhino will also release L.A. WOMAN: THE WORKSHOP SESSIONS, a double LP featuring all of the previously unreleased material found on the CD collection on three sides of vinyl, with the fourth side featuring a laser etching of the original "Electric Woman" art originally included with the L.A. WOMAN album.

Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman(Eagle Rock Entertainment DVD/Blu-ray) is told through new interviews with MANZAREK, KRIEGER and DENSMORE as well as Elektra Records founder JAC HOLZMAN, original manager BILL SIDDONS, engineer/co-producer BRUCE BOTNICK and others. The high-definition video also features live and studio performances as well as rare archival photos. This fascinating documentary contains rare footage of THE DOORSin the studio and on stage. The documentary was made with the full involvement, approval and cooperation of THE DOORS. [Pre-book Order Date December 20, 2011, MSRP $14.98 for DVD, $19.98 for Blu-ray].


"The Year of The Doors" will be marked by other special releases, with details to be announced soon.


L.A. WOMAN marked THE DOORS' swan song, as MORRISON would pass away a few months after its release. At the time, Rolling Stone's Robert Meltzer called it "The Doors' greatest album...A landmark worthy of dancing in the streets (5/27/71)." The first band to release eight consecutive platinum albums, THE DOORS were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.


MR. MOJO RISIN': THE STORY OF L.A. WOMAN

DVD and Blu-ray Track Listing

MAIN PROGRAM -

Intro

Early Doors

The Changeling

Been Down So Long / The Miami Effect

The Doors Workshop

Crawling King Snake

Love Her Madly

L.A. Woman

The Wasp (Texas Radio & The Big Beat)

Riders On The Storm

Cars Hiss By My Window / Jim In Paris

Hyacinth House

Closing Doors



BONUS FOOTAGE -

John Densmore On L.A. Woman



Riders On The Storm

The Doors Guide To L.A.

Thoughts On Performing Live


Crawling King Snake





L.A. WOMAN: 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

CD Track Listing



Disc One

1. "The Changeling"

2. "Love Her Madly"

3. "Been Down So Long"

4. "Cars Hiss By My Window"

5. "L.A. Woman"

6. "L'America"

7. "Hyacinth House"

8. "Crawling King Snake"

9. "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)"

10. "Riders On The Storm"

Disc Two: All Selections Previously Unissued

1. "The Changeling" - Alternate Version*

2. "Love Her Madly" - Alternate Version*

3. "Cars Hiss By My Window" - Alternate Version*

4. "L.A. Woman" - Alternate Version*

5. "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)" - Alternate Version*

6. "Been Down So Long" - Alternate Version*

7. "Riders On The Storm" - Alternate Version*

8. "She Smells So Nice"

9. "Rock Me"*



L.A. WOMAN: THE WORKSHOP SESSIONS

LP Track Listing



Side One

1. "The Changeling" - Alternate Version*

2. "Love Her Madly" - Alternate Version*

3. "Cars Hiss By My Window" - Alternate Version*

4. "L.A. Woman" - Alternate Version*



Side Two

1. "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)" - Alternate Version*

2. "Been Down So Long" - Alternate Version*

3. "Riders On The Storm" - Alternate Version*

Side Three

1. "She Smells So Nice / Rock Me"*



* Previously unreleased

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Sights and Sounds: The Chieftains, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Rodgers

I was away most of last week and my inbox runneth over for sure...Enjoy everybody!

THE CHIEFTAINS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS WITH STAR STUDDED 'VOICE OF AGES' DUE FEBRUARY 21, 2012

BON IVER, THE DECEMBERISTS, THE CIVIL WARS AND MORE CELEBRATE THE LEGENDARY IRISH GROUP ON THE PADDY MOLONEY AND T BONE BURNETT PRODUCED 50TH ANNIVERSARY ALBUM VIA HEAR/CONCORD



The Chieftains, the world's most celebrated traditional Irish band, will mark their 50th anniversary with the release of Voice of Ages on February 21st 2012 (Hear/Concord). An imaginative collaboration featuring a dazzling collection of like-minded musical visionaries and kindred spirits, Voice of Ages, produced by Paddy Moloney and T Bone Burnett, features The Chieftains teaming with stars from the worlds of indie-rock (Bon Iver, The Decemberists, The Low Anthem), country and Americana (The Civil Wars, Pistol Annies, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Punch Brothers), Irish and Scottish folk (Imelda May, Lisa Hannigan, Paolo Nutini) and more. "With 50 years of glorious music behind us," Paddy Moloney says, "I can think of nothing more exciting than to spend another 50 years collaborating with the best voices of the future."
Founded in 1962, winners of 6 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award, The Chieftains: founder and leader Paddy Moloney (Uilleann pipes, tin whistle), Matt Molloy (flute), Seán Keane (fiddle) and Kevin Conneff (bodhrán, vocals), have popularized traditional Irish music world-wide during their astonishing 50 year career. Over the years, some of the biggest names in music have worked with the legendary band: Sting, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell,
Joni Mitchell, and The Rolling Stones among many others. Voice of Ages is a bold affirmation that their inspiring influence, musical brilliance and enduring legacy are more relevant than ever.

The Chieftains 2012 US tour will kick off in Santa Barbara, CA February 17 and will culminate with a special 50th Anniversary St. Patrick's Day show at New York's Carnegie Hall March 17. For tour information is available on the group's official Web site.

Artists featured on Voice of Ages:
The Decemberists
Punch Brothers
The Secret Sisters
The Low Anthem
The Civil Wars
Pistol Annies
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Lisa Hannigan
Carlos Nunez
Paolo Nutini
Imelda May
Bon Iver

The Chieftains on the web:
http://www.thechieftains.com/



American Express Presents 'Reel to Reel: Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix At The Isle of Wight' at The GRAMMY Museum

All-Star Panel To Discuss Essential Hendrix Documentary On Dec. 8, 2011



Jimi Hendrix is recognized as one of the most creative and influential musicians of the 20th century. His innovative style and explosive abilities on the electric guitar captivated a worldwide audience. During the early morning hours of August 31, 1970, during his last tour, Hendrix headlined the Isle of Wight Festival and performed before an audience of 600,000--the largest of his career. Three weeks later, Hendrix was gone. Academy Award-winner Murray Lerner captured the historic performance of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, including Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox. Join us as we present Lerner's film, Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live At The Isle of Wight. The film, a testimony to Hendrix's incomparable musicianship and showmanship as well as Lerner's cinematic artistry, will be introduced by Janie Hendrix, the late guitarist's sister and President of Experience Hendrix LLC. Following the screening there will be a panel discussion moderated by the GRAMMY Museum's Executive Director Bob Santelli with Billy Cox, bassist of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys, filmmaker Murray Lerner and John McDermott, Producer and Catalog Director of the Experience Hendrix catalog and co-author of Jimi Hendrix: Sessions: The Complete Studio Recording Sessions, 1963-1970 and Ultimate Hendrix: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of live Concerts & Sessions

WHO: Billy Cox: Bassist, Jimi Hendrix Experience

Janie Hendrix: President, Experience Hendrix LLC and sister to Jimi Hendrix

Murray Lerner: Director, Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix At The Isle of Wight

John McDermott: Producer and Catalog Director, Experience Hendrix Catalogue Bob Santelli: Moderator / Executive Director, The GRAMMY Museum

WHEN: Thursday, December 8, 2011; 7:30 p.m.


WHERE: The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE
800 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(Near the corner of Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard)


TICKET INFO: Doors open at 7 p.m. Public onsale is Friday, December 2, at noon. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, call 213-765-6803.



PAUL RODGERS RECEIVES ASCAP AWARD FOR "BAD COMPANY"

SINGER/SONGWRITER/MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST BEGINS WORK ON FORTHCOMING SOLO STUDIO ALBUM


The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) has proudly presented the 2010 Songwriting Award in recognition of the hit song "Bad Company" to Paul Rodgers. The song hit #1 on the charts this past year when Five Finger Death Punch recorded and released their version of the timeless hit. When Rodgers wrote the song he was the first to write a self-titled song, where a band's name was also the title of a composition. Other acts to follow Rodgers concept include Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Motorhead. The award was given out in London on November 2, 2011 and was accepted by Rodgers son, musician Steve Rodgers. The iconic Rodgers was in New York City due to a prior commitment to appear with Joe Bonamassa at the Beacon Theater back-to-back nights.


Rodgers will be the featured guest on an upcoming episode of VH1 Classic's That Metal Show, set to air on January 14, 2012 at 11 p.m. This is his first television appearance since appearing on the national program Canada AM the morning of September 6th prior to embarking on his first major Canadian tour in several years. Rodgers also recently became a dual citizen of Canada and the United Kingdom, and will kick off his limited 2012 tour dates March 17 at the Red Robinson Show Theatre in Coquitlam, British Columbia Canada.

The Grammy nominated, multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter & self-taught instrumentalist has written, recorded, produced and released more than 30 albums since 1968 and has sold over 90 million records. Rodgers formed and led three separate bands to worldwide success: Free, Bad Company & The Firm and recently fronted Queen and toured as Queen + Paul Rodgers. Always looking forward, Rodgers has begun work on a solo studio record earmarked for the new year. He shared, "In 2012, I'll be focused on writing and recording so I'll only play a few select shows, and I may well include a new song or two just to play them in before they are recorded. This is something I like to do because playing live gives me a somewhat different perspective on the dynamics of the song."

Over the years Rodgers has recorded/performed with a who's who of rock including: Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Brian May, Buddy Guy, Joe Walsh, Slash, Nils Lofgren, Charlie Watts, Bryan Adams, Motown's Sam Moore and The Four Tops to name just a select few.

The Civil Wars bring harmony to Wiltern

There are countless modern music makers who can rock with force. Indeed, punk, alt rock and metal outfits share that pedal-to-the-metal approach in spades.
Rarer is the contemporary artist who can touch audiences with artful songcraft, stunning harmonies and heartfelt performances.
The Civil Wars - singer-keyboardist Joy Williams and singer-guitarist John Paul White - are that rare young duo able to have somehow found a large audience despite having a musical approach rooted in folk and Americana.
Over the course of 75 wonderful minutes at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday (Nov. 19), the Civil Wars performed 17 songs that offered up nearly flawless artistry from two musicians who only began playing together three years ago. In addition to performing more than a dozen original songs, they reworked (and I mean REWORKED) The Smashing Pumpkins' “Disarm” and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" to add additional power to the night. Impressive.

I would encourage everyone to read writer George Paul's comprehensive review of the show that was posted on the Orange County Register's Soundcheck blog today.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Sights and Sounds: Kate Bush, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Mondays aren't all bad. Today comes word that Kate Bush is releasing her second album of 2011, and NPR is streaming the disc now. And Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds are set to return to the U.S. in spring 2012 (good news for those who can't catch any of their dates this week in New York or California)...

KATE BUSH TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM NOVEMBER 21

Stream 50 Words For Snow On NPR’s First Listen 11-14-11



The legendary singer KATE BUSH will release her brand new studio album 50 Words For Snow via Anti-Records this November 21st. You can preview the record beginning today, November 14 when it streams in its entirety care of NPR’s First Listen series.

To hear the new record at NPR just go to:
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/13/142133269/first-listen-kate-bush-50-words-for-snow?ps=mh_frhdl1

50 Words For Snow features 7 new tracks set against a background of falling snow, with a total running time of 65 minutes; through a highly evocative musical and lyrical landscape this haunting album once again pushes the boundaries. This is KATE’s second album release of 2011, following Director’s Cut which was released in May to massive critical acclaim.

The new album features a small number of special guest musicians including Elton John. KATE BUSH is an original and iconic musical figure who has influenced a range of artists from newcomers like Florence and the Machine and Feist to established artists like Tori Amos, Bjork and Sex Pistol/PIL legend John Lydon, who proclaimed; “Kate Bush supplies me with all the clues and it’s up to me to put the answers together, and that surely is what we are all looking for”.

Early Critical Acclaim For 50 Words For Snow:

“After the domestic bliss of ‘Aerial,’ it’s a deep joy to have Kate roam the narrative wiles of her imagination.” - NME
“It lifts the heart and transcends your world.” – The Word Magazine
“50 Words For Snow is a masterclass in song writing by of the UK’s most indomitable and peerless artists.” – TheQuietus.com




NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS ANNOUNCE 2012 TOUR DATES

BAND TO TOUR U.S. THIS SPRING


Conan Appearance set for December 12th

November 14, 2011 - NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS will return to the U.S. in Spring next year launching their tour in Washington, DC on March 28, 2012 and make stops in Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee and Atlanta. Tickets for the spring tour go on sale November 18.(Complete tour dates below) Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds are in the midst of a sold-out North American tour and a week into the release of their self titled debut album.


On November 8, NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS was released in the US on Sour Mash/Mercury Records followed by their network television debut on The Late Show with David Letterman on November 10th. The band will make a special appearance on Conan on December 12th.


NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS was recorded in London and completed in Los Angeles during 2010 and the first half of 2011. The album was co-produced by Noel Gallagher and Dave Sardy, who produced the last Oasis album, Dig Out Your Soul (2008).


NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS went straight to the #1 spot in the United Kingdom, selling an impressive 240,000 & going Platinum in its first 3 weeks of release. Gallagher's debut solo album, which was released in Europe on October 18, ranks among the highest selling debuts of 2011.

Beginning in August, with the UK debut of "The Death of You and Me", Gallagher has released a trilogy of videos including "If I Had a Gun" and culminating with an amazing video for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds new UK single 'AKA... What A Life!'. The video was co-directed by Mike Bruce and Blake West, who worked with Noel on the video for 'The Death Of You And Me'. Filmed in California, Arizona and New Mexico, the video features an outrageous performance by actor / comedian Russell Brand.

Visit Gallagher's Web site for more details and to view the video.

NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS 2012 SPRING U.S. TOUR DATES

March 28 Washington,DC @ Warner Theatre

March 29 Columbus, OH @ LC Pavillion

March 31 Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre

April 1 Chicago, IL @ The Riviera

April 3 Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater

April 4 Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room

April 6 Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle



NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS REMAINING FALL U.S TOUR DATES

November 14 & 15 New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre

November 17 & 18 Los Angeles, CA @ Royce Hall

November 19 San Francisco, CA @ Orpheum Theatre

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Sights and Sounds: The Cure, Ladysmith Black Mambazo

There are several interesting updates related to forthcoming releases from opposite ends of the sonic universe, so best to just jump right in...

The Cure set to release live album on Dec. 6


On Dec. 6, 2011, The Cure: Bestival Live 2011 will be issued, available in stores and online. The release will feature Robert Smith's outfit performing a set comprised of material from throughout the Cure's long career. The collection is being issued by Belgium-based Play It Again Sam, and is available for pre-order through Amazon.com.

The double album, which will also be available as a digital download, will feature 32 Cure classics. In a statement, Robert Smith said: "We had such a great time in the Isle of Wight at Bestival, that we wanted to release this show as a way of thanking fans and islanders alike. Bestival is the best!"

All proceeds from the album go to the Isle of Wight Youth Trust. The charitable organization offers counseling, advice, information and support services to people age 25 and under on the Isle of Wight (the home of Bestival).

For more information on The Isle of Wight Youth Trust, visit: http://www.iowyouthtrust.co.uk/


LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO JOINS HANDS WITH DOZENS OF FRIENDS ON NEW TWO-DISC COLLECTION

Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Friends set for release on Jan. 10, 2012

The 132 Minute, Thirty Track Ultimate Collection Includes Collaborations With
Paul Simon, Emmylou Harris, Josh Groban, Taj Mahal, Natalie Merchant,
Sarah McLachlan, Dolly Parton, Lou Rawls And Many More


Since their earliest days in the 1960s, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has shared the studio and stage with scores of artists from around the world, representing just about every possible musical genre. The South African a cappella gospel ensemble's appearance on Paul Simon's landmark Graceland album is probably the most widely-recognized of the group's cross-cultural collaborations, but Simon's 1986 Grammy-winning recording is merely the tip of a much larger iceberg. Over the years, the group has demonstrated its melodic, harmonic and rhythmic versatility in recordings with an array of artists representing folk, rock, pop, soul, country, classical, hip-hop and world music. In each case, they have taken the work of a great artist and made it even better.

The group assembled a two-disc set of recordings that capture Ladysmith Black Mambazo reaching across the cultural divide and joining hands with musicians from around the globe. Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Friends - set for release on January 10, 2012 (as part of the Listen 2 Africa Series / Razor & Tie) contains 30 tracks featuring the world renowned South African group in collaboration with some of the most esteemed and influential recording artists, choirs and orchestras of the past several decades: Paul Simon, Lucky Dube, Emmylou Harris, Hugh Masekela, Natalie Merchant, The English Chamber Orchestra, Sarah McLachlan, Phoebe Snow, Taj Mahal and many more.

"For the past half-century, we have used our music to promote goodwill, cultural understanding and spiritual awakening throughout the world," says Joseph Shabalala, founder of the group. "The fact that we've been able to perform and record with some of the most prominent musical voices representing so many different musical styles, so many different countries, so many different cultures, is proof of the unifying power of music. We're very fortunate to have made so many good friends along the way, and we're happy to have so many of these recordings with those friends gathered in a single collection."

Disc 1 of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Friends opens with Mambazo backing Dolly Parton in a simmering but impassioned rendition of Bob Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door." The track is followed immediately by "Weeping," a heart-rending ballad featuring Josh Groban and Vusi Mahlesala. Further into the sequence are the African sounding "Homeless" and the more pop-flavored "Diamonds on the Soles of their Shoes," both recorded with Paul Simon for Graceland.

Other highlights on the first disc include the stirring medley of "Amazing Grace/Nearer My God to Thee," recorded with Emmylou Harris; the Sam Cooke classic "Chain Gang," featuring the late velvet-voiced soul singer Lou Rawls; and the rousing "Bread of Heaven (Wales Forever)" with Michael Ball, the Lianelli Male Voice Choir and the Wales Squad Choir.

Disc 2 opens with a reprise of two songs from the first disc: "Homeless," this time with Sara McLachlen, and "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," featuring Melissa Etheridge and Joe McBride recorded originally on the group's Long Walk To Freedom album.

Other second-half highlights include a part-gospel, part-pop reading of the Curtis Mayfield spiritual, "People Get Ready," with emotionally charged lead vocals by Phoebe Snow; and the engaging "One Blood," featuring Mbongeni Ngema

Blues and world music titan Taj Mahal joins the fray by laying down gritty vocals and deft guitar accents atop the hypnotic chant of "Mbube," while The Golden Gospel Singers join Mambazo in the soaring Staple Singers classic, "I'll Take You There."

In the home stretch, the voices of the SABC Choir merge seamlessly with Mambazo in the infectious "Angimboni Ofana Naye," and the set closes with the "Mamizola," where the group is joined by its female counterpart, the Women of Mambazo, a parallel vocal group founded in the 1970s by Joseph Shabalala's late wife, Nellie.

"The many tracks on Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Friends were recorded at many different times throughout our career, in many different places," says Shabalala. "The thread that ties them all together is the mutual respect and understanding among the musicians on each recording, and the desire to use music as a tool to spread that same respect and understanding to our audiences and around the world. This collection captures the beauty that emerges when Ladysmith Black Mambazo gets together with friends.

For more information, visit www.listen2.com

Michael Olivieri, Michael Ubaldini and others to perform in benefit for Duchenne muscular dystrophy awareness on Nov. 11



From the Oval Office to the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, Disabled Newport Beach Teen Works Tirelessly for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness

Coalition Duchenne presents Music Power at 7 p.m. on 11.11.11 featuring great OC bands and musicians who have played with Santana, Alicia Keyes, Jordin Sparks, Ne Yo, Jonas Brothers, U2 and more to raise global awareness for Duchenne, the most common fatal childhood genetic disease


On November 11, 2011 at 7 p.m., at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, Coalition Duchenne, a Newport Beach Based charity that raises funding and awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy is holding a celebration of life and music featuring a diverse bill of local and international talent.

Dusty Brandom, the 18-year-old son of Coalition Duchenne founder Catherine Jayasuriya (seen in the photo at the top of this post), is hosting the event. Dusty who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and has been wheelchair bound since age ten has fired the charitable passion of the participating musicians who range from his younger brother’s band, Final Crush to local favorites, and Newport Harbor High School alumni, Kings Road featuring Terry Lawless who has recorded and toured extensively with U2.

Also playing on the night, The Lucky Lonely have a strong connection to Dusty and the Brandom family’s struggle with Duchenne. The band’s drummer Michael Bedard (American Idol Jordin Sparks) accompanied Dusty in Lincoln Elementary School talent show performances. When he was younger, Dusty was an aspiring guitarist and songwriter nurtured by Bedard. Now he does not have the strength to hold a musical instrument.

Long time family friend Michael Olivieri is also playing with his band M.O.B. featuring past members of Santana, Scorpions, Social Distortion, Walter Trout Band, the Turtles, Rhythm Lords, and others. Michael was the driving force behind the success of seminal major label hard rock band, Leatherwolf.


One of the most acclaimed Orange County acts is also donating his talents. The Los Angeles Times said Michael Ubaldini (pictured on left) is ‘Better than Springsteen at probing the national soul’. He has won numerous awards such as: 2005 and 2006 Best Roots, Best Male Performer in the Orange County Music Awards and Best Live Performer/Songwriter in the Los Angeles Southern California Music Awards and his recording Portable Record Player was Nominated for Album of the Year in the OC Music Awards and named one of the best releases of the decade by Ben Wener of the OC Register.

MC for the event is Scotty Granger, keyboard player and vocal accompaniment for Jordin Sparks. Scotty featured recently in Kara Dioguardi’s ‘Platinum Hit’ (Bravo).

Completing the lineup is family friend Dave (Doc) Pittillo and his band Space Rockets. Doc owns the Guitar Doctor in Fountain Valley and is a ubiquitous presence in the OC music scene as one of the countries premiere luthiers.

Dusty’s 16-year-old brother Lucas Brandom who plays bass for opening act Final Crush said, “It’s great to play for Dusty. This summer we climbed a mountain in Borneo for awareness and now we are doing this concert. We just do everything we can.” Brandom is referring to Coalition Duchenne’s Expedition Mt Kinabalu which in August brought together 35 international climbers from nine countries to climb Mt Kinabalu (13,455ft) the second highest mountain in SE Asia.

Dusty and his family made the most of 2011. In addition to travelling to Borneo, in June he travelled with his family to Washington D.C. to visit President Obama. The trip was arranged by the Orange County Chapter of the Make A Wish Foundation. “It was exciting. We had an all access tour of the White House ending up outside the Oval Office. Hilary Clinton came out from meeting with the President and said ‘Hi’. Then the President said: ‘Come on in Dusty, I’ve heard all about you’. We spent 20 minutes with President Obama and told him all about Duchenne and our family background and adventures.”

Catherine Jayasuriya, the Coalition Duchenne founder said: “20,000 boys are born each year with Duchenne, more than 50 each day. One afternoon Dusty and I were talking about how cool it would be
to finally find a cure for Duchenne, so that boys like him could live longer lives. We reflected on the last few years and realized that what we needed most was global awareness and money for research.” Said “We decided that moving forward, we are stronger if we all come together as humans, as a force, as a coalition, bringing together not just Duchenne charities, but everyone. We need to focus on changing the course, taking our quest to another level.”

“It is wonderful that everyone is coming together to support Dusty. He faces tremendous challenges but has is buoyed by the spirit in these events. After this the musicians will all go into the studio or on tour. I know they will take a bit of Dusty with them. Meanwhile Dusty will be checking into the CHOC ICU as his doctors introduce new heart meds. He will take some of their music with him.”
Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased online (www.galaxytheatre.com). The event also will include a raffle. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Jayasuriya founded Coalition Duchenne in 2010 (www.coalitionduchenne.org) to raise global awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, to fund research and to find a cure for Duchenne. Coalition Duchenne is a 501c3 non-profit corporation.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive muscle wasting disease. It is the most common fatal disease that affects children. Duchenne occurs in 1 in 3,500 male births, across all races, cultures and countries. Duchenne is caused by a defect in the gene that codes for the protein dystrophin. This is a vital protein that helps connect the muscle fiber to the cell membranes. Without dystrophin the muscle cells become unstable, are weakened and lose their functionality. Life expectancy ranges from the mid teenage years to the mid 20's. Their minds are unaffected.

For more information on the benefit concert, visit: http://www.coalitionduchenne.org/html/musicPower.html

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Sights and Sounds: Band of Skulls, Twisted Sister, 'Led Zeppelin IV' at 40

Band of Skulls delivered a powerful, hard rocking set when I caught the trio at Coachella in 2010. Today's hard rock-minded post kicks off with a press release dated today detailing the band's forthcoming sophomore release and a related tour. I'm also hoping the band is back rocking out in Indio in April 2012!

Band Of Skulls To Release Second Album 'Sweet Sour' On February 21 2012


Band of Skulls to kick off U.S. tour in Austin on the Eve of SXSW 2012

First U.S. Single 'Sweet Sour' To Be Released In December


November 8, 2011 - Band of Skulls will release their highly anticipated second album Sweet Sour on February 21, 2012 via their own label, Electric Blues Records under exclusive license in the U.S. to Vagrant Records. Sweet Sour is the follow-up to their debut album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey which was universally embraced by the U.S. media with early supporters at Entertainment Weekly naming them "Your Next Favorite Band."

Following the success of Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, the band retreated to a studio in Norfolk UK to begin writing Sweet Sour. They returned to their home studio in Southampton to start the recording which they completed in Wales at Rockfield Studios. Sweet Sour was produced by Ian Davenport (Supergrass, Badly Drawn Boy) and mixed by Nick Launay (Grinderman, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire). Please see below for the complete Sweet Sour tracklisting.

On March 13, 2012, the band returns to Austin, TX on the eve of the SXSW Music Festival with a show at Antone's to kick off their first U.S. tour in support of Sweet Sour. The band's live show has been a constant highlight at previous festivals by the likes of SPIN (Best of Coachella) and Rolling Stone (Best of SXSW) amongst many others.

This past summer the band play the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee as well as two sold-out shows in Los Angeles and two sold-out shows in New York City. Nylon Guys was front and center at the first sold-out NYC gig and weighed in on the new album "based on the new tracks they played at Mercury Lounge last week, the Skulls want to show the alt-kids how real music should sound." Please see below for complete tour itinerary.

In December, the band will release the first U.S. single 'Sweet Sour' off of the new album which will be available as a download at iTunes and other digital download stores. Fans can click here for a first look and listen of a track from the new album 'The Devil Takes Care Of His Own.' The band created the unique kung-fu themed video to accompany this first listen from Sweet Sour.

Band Of Skulls are: Russell Marsden (guitar & vocals), Emma Richardson (bass & vocals) & Matt Hayward (drums).

BAND OF SKULLS 2012 TOUR DATES:
13-Mar TUE Austin, TX Antone's
16-Mar FRI Houston, TX Fitzgerald's
17-Mar SAT Dallas, TX Granada Theater
19-Mar MON Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
20-Mar TUE Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom
22-Mar THU New York, NY Webster Hall
23-Mar FRI Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
24-Mar SAT Washington, DC 9:30 Club
26-Mar MON Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
27-Mar TUE Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
28-Mar WED Providence, RI The Met
30-Mar FRI Toronto, ONT Phoenix Concert Theatre
31-Mar SAT Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
2-Apr MON Detroit, MI St. Andrew's Hall
3-Apr TUE Chicago, IL House of Blues
4-Apr WED Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
6-Apr FRI Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
7-Apr SAT Salt Lake City, UT The Complex (Grand Room)
9-Apr MON Seattle, WA Neptune
10-Apr TUE Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
11-Apr WED Portland, OR Dante's
12-Apr THU San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

* We Are Augustines Support All Dates

Sweet Sour Tracklisting

1. Sweet Sour

2. Bruises

3. Wanderluster

4. Devil Takes Care Of His Own

5. Lay My Head Down

6. You Aren't Pretty But You Got It Going On

7. Navigate

8. Hometowns

9. Lies

10. Close To Nowhere



EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE THE ULTIMATE TWISTED SISTER BOX

TWISTED SISTER FROM THE BARS TO THE STARS: THREE DECADES LIVE


New York, NY (November 8, 2011)— Eagle Rock Entertainment will celebrate Christmas early this year with the release of Twisted Sister From The Bars To The Stars: Three Decades Live, a 5-DVD boxed set, on November 8 [MSRP $59.98]. The lavish package comes complete with curios such as a Twisted Sister Christmas ornament, an official “New York Steel” backstage pass, a classic two and a half-inch Twisted Sister pin and a reproduction of the first-ever SMF Fan Club letter.

Over eight hours long, From The Bars To The Stars has to be considered the ultimate Twisted Sister boxed set. One of the five DVDs, Twisted Xmas: Live In Las Vegas, is a total exclusive, having never before been released in any format. This 2009 concert showcases the band performing such beloved holiday fare as “White Christmas” and “Come All Ye Faithful” next to “Burn In Hell” and “Deck The Halls” as only Twisted Sister can. In fact, Jay Jay French, Dee Snider, Mark Mendoza, A.J. Perro and Eddie Ojeda, have made this holiday merriment a metal tradition for the past few years.

Live At Reading was filmed in 1982 at England’s biggest rock festival. A bonus 2011 band interview is included.


Double Live juxtaposes an early Long Island, New York show (North Stage ’82), filmed just prior to the band breaking internationally, and NY Steel ’01, the New York City 9/11 benefit they headlined.

Live At Wacken documents the band’s 2003 Wacken Open Air Festival reunion appearance in Germany. Complete with behind-the-scenes backstage footage and band interviews about their 1980s rise to world domination, break-up and reunion, it also contains their entire set on the big stage at this most prestigious of European Heavy Metal festivals.

Any SMF would agree – This is one boxed set no Twisted Sister fan can do without!


Finally, I got the following item from Rhino Records. I can't believe it has been 40 years since Led Zeppelin issued its fourth album (we won't even go into how long since the quartet's debut was released!)

Led Zeppelin IV at 40 - On Sale This Week on iTunes


40 years ago today, the greatest rock band of all-time released the greatest rock album of all-time, Led Zeppelin IV. A powerhouse from the legendary opening vocal intro of "Black Dog" to the final notes of the hypnotic Mississippi blues-infused "When The Levee Breaks," IV contains eight radio classics including "Rock And Roll," "The Battle Of Evermore," "Misty Mountain Hop," "Four Sticks," "Going To California," and, of course, the ultimate rock anthem, "Stairway To Heaven." "Hats Off" to Jimmy, Robert, John Paul, and John for creating a true work of art that only gets better with age.

For more details on getting the remastered masterpiece via iTunes, click here.

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Sights and Sounds: Steven Wilson, Creed, Paladino


'Grace for Drowning' photography by Lasse Hoile, design by Carl Glover

Brit-Rock Auteur Steven Wilson Readies First Ever North American Solo Tour

US Dates in support of ‘Grace for Drowning’ (Kscope) begin November 8, 2011 in Orlando, FL


Rock Renaissance man Steven Wilson has begun the first-ever tour under his own name, and will reach the U.S. for a run of dates on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. Celebrating the release of his second solo album, Grace for Drowning, “a double album filled with excellent songs and exquisite musical textures--some of which recall the glory days of King Crimson during their Lizard era.” (Dave DiMartino, Yahoo! Music), these tour dates resemble nothing else Wilson that has ever done with Porcupine Tree, Blackfield, No-Man, or Bass Communion.

The Grace for Drowning tour submerges fans in a rich sensory experience: rear speakers provide surround-sound effects, giant screens show off filmmaker Lasse Hoile’s films made specifically to accompany these songs, and cutting-edge lighting designs give texture to each song. The heart of the performance is Wilson (on keys, guitar, and vocals) and his virtuoso band: Marco Minnemann (drums), Nick Beggs (bass), Theo Travis (flute and sax), Adam Holzman (keys), and a special guest, TBD, on guitars. They will perform most of Grace for Drowning as well as selections from Wilson’s first solo album, Insurgentes.

Grace for Drowning notched a #13 debut on the Billboard independent album chart, #19 on the rock album chart, a #34 debut on the UK charts, and top-50 debuts in Poland, Italy, Norway, Germany, Austria, and Finland.

Additionally, Wilson
-Will appear for an in-store at J&R Music World in NYC on Friday November 11.
-Just released his first-ever iPhone App, available here:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/steven-wilson/id471256674?mt=8
-Completed work on 5.1 surround re-mixes of Jethro Tull’s Aqualung and Thick as a Brick, both scheduled for release soon.
-Finished his groundbreaking album with Michael Akerfeldt of Opeth, under the name Storm Corrosion. Album release and tour are scheduled for 2012, exact dates still to be confirmed.
-Completed his 5.1 surround remixes of King Crimson’s ‘Starless and Bible Black,’ and ‘Discipline,’ out now.

Grace for Drowning North American Tour
Nov. 8 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
Nov. 10 - Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head
Nov. 11 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theater
Nov. 12 - Philadelphia, PA - Temple PAC
Nov. 13 - Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center
Nov. 14 - Montreal, QC - Corona
Nov. 16 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
Nov. 18 - Chicago, IL - Park West

Information: http://www.gracefordrowning.com


FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER CREED TO PERFORM 'MY OWN PRISON' AND 'HUMAN CLAY' IN THEIR ENTIRETY


Exclusive Back-to-Back Performance Events to be held in Chicago, New York and Philadelphia


Grammy winning rock giants Creed will hold special intimate two-night events in Chicago, New York and Philadelphia to perform their classic, multi-platinum selling albums My Own Prison and Human Clay in their entirety; front man Scott Stapp announced on “VH1 Big Morning Buzz Live.” The band will perform one album on each night of the special engagement along with hits from their albums Weathered and Full Circle. The events will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for Creed fans to see the band perform in an intimate setting. Tickets will be available on November 19, 2011 for more information and pre-sale info visit www.creed.com.


“My Own Prison and Human Clay are very special albums for us and I look forward to performing them for our fans. The songs bring back a lot of great memories for me and I hope for them too,” said front man Scott Stapp. 2012 marks the 15-year anniversary of Creed’s debut blockbuster album, My Own Prison, which has sold over 6 million copies to date. The follow-up, 1999’s massive global hit Human Clay has sold more than 11 million copies to date and features the rock radio mainstays “With Arms Wide Open” and “Higher.”

DATES:


April 13th Chicago Theatre (Chicago, IL) Creed performs My Own Prison

April 14th Chicago Theatre (Chicago, IL) Creed performs Human Clay

April 16th Tower Theatre (Philadelphia, PA) Creed performs My Own Prison

April 17th Tower Theatre (Philadelphia, PA) Creed performs Human Clay

April 19th Beacon Theatre (New York, NY) Creed performs My Own Prison

April 20th Beacon Theatre (New York, NY) Creed performs Human Clay

For more information visit www.creed.com.


RECORD RELEASE PARTY FOR PALADINO’S SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM!

Paladino’s rootsy Americana sound draws upon country, folk, the blues as well as retaining a punk rock spirit. This vibrant musical blend arises from Paladino’s family-style collaborative approach that allows everyone to contribute their own unique backgrounds and influences.

Jonathan Harkham, who has been writing songs for years, has produced three albums on his own, including Darkcho, a project of Jewish folk songs one of which was covered by folk musician, Will Oldham. Harkham, who is a prolific painter as well as a musician, hand drew the group’s website (www.paladinomusic.com ).
Chris Isom contributes mesmerizing guitar leads that touch upon Sun Records, Mexican balladry and modern psychedelia. Although he grew up in New York and played in Garage and Anti-Folk bands Mooney Suzuki and Adam Green, Isom’s family hails from Lubbock, Texas. Rhythm guitarist Adrienne Isom’s vocals recall Wanda Jackson and Moe Tucker and reflect the unbridled enthusiasm she has for playing music, singing and life in general. The charismatic Annie Rothschild lends eclectic energy and pure Southern soul to the band. Her deep love for music comes naturally as her dad runs the Southern music label, Landslide Records.
The other beat-keeper of the group, John Rygiewicz, or Ryggy to his friends, has developed his distinctive drumming style through a number of bands. The Gene Krupa-loving Wisconsin native brings a jazz vibe to the music of Paladino.

With their first album done, Paladino is looking forward to getting out and sharing their songs, new and old. Isom views the band as part of a larger family of American music. “I know that we'd like to think, in some dimension, Bob Wills could sit down and tap his foot to a lot of this music, and maybe even throw in a few ‘ah ha’s.”

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH
Paladino Record Release Party
Villains Tavern
FREE/10pm
http://www.villainstavern.com
1356 Palmetto St. LA, CA 90013