Sights and Sounds: Atoms for Peace, Def Leppard, Stagecoach Festival, 'Battle of the Blues Harps'

I'm still weary, having made the long trek up to Los Angeles last night to catch Atoms for Peace at the Hollywood Bowl. My short review: fantastic performance (Thom Yorke and Flea led the genre-busting electronica rock quintet), lousy crowd. We had the chatterbox hipsters seated behind us, so we moved to some empty seats elsewhere in our row. Still could hear them. Not nice.

Now on with more positive news...

VIVA! HYSTERIA LIVE DOUBLE ALBUM AND DVD OUT OCTOBER 22^nd ON FRONTIERS RECORDS

Limited Edition of VIVA! Hysteria Sold Exclusively Via Best Buy 

Def Leppard’s anticipated live double album and DVD - VIVA! Hysteria - will be released on October 22, 2013 in North America on Frontiers Records.  In addition to the previously announced 2CD/DVD, DVD, Blu-Ray digital editions, the band has recently revealed that a limited edition of VIVA! Hysteria will be available via Best Buy that  includes the live double album and concert on Blu-Ray. Fans wishing to pre-order this edition can do so at www.bestbuy.com.

The VIVA! Hysteria concert was filmed over two nights during the band's Spring 2013 residency at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas’ intimate music venue – The Joint. The concert features the band performing their classic, 12x platinum album Hysteria in its entirety, plus many of the band's greatest hits.

Earlier this month, the concert was shown in theaters nationwide courtesy of Fathom Events. Thousands of fans experienced the concert as special theatrical event, taking them on nostalgic ride of the band’s high energy performance and showcasing their elaborate set design created only for the Las Vegas residency.  Guitarist Phil Collen told the Associated Press, "It was fun, actually, and a totally different way of doing it." He continues to say, "It was a different dynamic doing the album in full, and it was much more theatrical."

PRESS HERE to read the exclusive story and watch the trailer for Viva! Hysteria concert on Billboard.com 

Fans can pre-order VIVA! Hysteria now by visiting www.defleppard.com, amazon.com, iTunes and as previously mentioned www.bestbuy.com

Praise for VIVA! Hysteria concert:

“Def Leppard were one of the biggest rock bands on the planet, dominating radio with their polished arena-rock. But as they demonstrated earlier this year with their Viva Hysteria! concert series (at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas), the band's diehard fans remain loyal and rabid.” – RollingStone.com

“I appreciate how tightly and powerfully it's played, and also the interesting echoes of Queen.” – The Guardian

Def Leppard brought Hysteria cuts like “Animal,” “Love Bites,” and “Run Riot” to life again with precision and a sonic clarity that would make the album’s producer (and infamous studio perfectionist) Robert “Mutt” Lange gleam with pride.  - Noisecreep

The full track listing for Viva! Hysteria: 
Cd1

“Women;” “Rocket;” “Animal;” “Love Bites;” “Pour Some Sugar on Me;” “Armageddon It;” “Gods of War;” “Don't Shoot Shotgun;” “Run Riot;” “Hysteria;” “Excitable;” “Love and Affection;” “Rock of Ages*;” “Photograph*.”

*extra non Hysteria tracks

Cd2

Ded Flatbird - night 1

“Good Morning Freedom;” “Wasted;” “Stagefright;” “Mirror Mirror (Look Into My Eyes);” “Action Not Words;” “Rock Brigade;” “Undefeated;” “Promises

Ded Flatbird - night 2;” “On Through The Night;” “Slang;” “Let It Go;” “Another Hit And Run;” “High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night);” “Bringin' On The Heartbreak;” “Switch 625.”

The VD tracklisting is as above but also includes bonus content of the acoustic medley: “Where does love go when it dies”/”Now”/”When Love & Hate Collide”/”Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad”/”Two Steps Behind.”

DVD / Blu Ray menu

- Viva Hysteria

- Ded Flatbird Night 1

- Ded Flatbird Night 2

- Acoustic Set

- Photo Montage

Stagecoach Fest tickets update

Just an important reminder that Stagecoach Festival tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. (Pacific Time) on Friday, Oct. 18 (that's tomorrow!). The annual event to be held Friday - Sunday, April 25-27, 2014, will feature Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Shelby Lynne, John Prine, Michael Nesmith, Susanna Hoffs, Trampled by Turtles, Loretta Lynn, I See Hawks in L.A. and so many other country music/Americana artists. Visit the official Stagecoach Festival Web site for artist and ticket information. You can also view a much larger version of the poster seen here on the right!

Top Four Blues Harmonica Bands Compete in Finals this Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013

On Saturday, Oct. 19 four blues harmonica based bands will vie for cash awards and the opportunity to perform as the opening act at Southland Blues Magazine’s 26th Annual Battle of the Blues Harps, Southern California’s longest running blues harmonica event held on Thanksgiving Eve at Golden Sails Hotel in Long Beach. Top name bands such as Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, White Boy James and the Blues Express and the 44’s are slated for the Nov. 27 show.

The competing bands are first place winners from four Saturday qualifying rounds which kicked off Sat. Sept. 21 as part of the 4th Annual Road to the Battle of the Blues Harps held at the Orange County Market Place, the weekend swap meet at the O.C. Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California.

Twelve bands were selected from electronic auditions to perform, with three bands competing each Saturday.  First place winners from each qualifying round return for the finals.  The first place winner receives $1,000 cash in addition to opening at the Thanksgiving Eve event.  Second place winner receives $750, third place, $500 and fourth place, $250.

Three of the top four bands landed in the finals last year.

San Diego based Red Lotus Revue, the Sept. 21 winner and third place last year, performs at noon and features Karl Cabbage on harmonica.Cabbage is known for playing with West of Memphis (SDMA nominated Best Blues Band in 2009), and the Smokin’ Knights, voted by Blues Lovers United of San Diego to represent their organization in the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. 

H. T. Richmond and The Southland Jukes, a contemporary blues band with Tom Richmond on harp and vocals, the Sept. 28 winners, will follow at 1 p.m. The band placed fourth in last year’s finals.

Chef Denis aka Denis Depoitre, an executive chef at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena who is as comfortable in the kitchen as he is on harmonica placed second last year.   This year he won the third round of competition on October 12 and will be on stage at 2 p.m.

New to the contest is Catfish and the Hollywood Hound Dogs, the fourth round winner on October 12, performs at 3 p.m.  But Gilbert Mares, the band’s harmonica player, is not new to the harp. His band formed in 2009 and recently released a new CD Rite On! Right Now!

Judging is based on harmonica artistry and proficiency, lead vocals, band musicianship, showmanship, song selections and audience response.

“We had a very strong lineup of bands this year. Competition is tough but it isn’t just about that.  This contest is really more of a coming together of the blues community. It’s also a way of keeping the blues alive and well while exposing it to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to see this kind of talent in one setting, “said Mark Liddell, coordinator for the Road to the Battle of the Blues Harps.

Other harp players and bands participating this year included Dan Forte’s Juke Joint Freak Show, Slick & The BBQ Kings, The Silver Kings, Satin Blue, The Juke Joint Preachers, Jon Garner & The Humor Kings, and 60 Grit Blues Band.

Last year’s winner was Jumpin’ Jack Benny.   

The Saturday Oct. 19 finals are free with swap meet admission which is $2 or free for children 12 and under. Free parking is available and preferred parking is $5.

More information may be found at www.ocmarketplace.com or by calling 949-723-6616.  For details on the Battle of the Blues Harp Thanksgiving Eve event visit www.southlandblues.com/harpbattle.htm or call 714-423-5525.