Sights and Sounds: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Björk, Jenny Lewis

Here is a well-needed and aptly-timed roundup of a slew of news regarding upcoming album releases, special events and tours…

Noel Gallagher
Photo: Lawrence Watson

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds have announced their return to North America with upcoming dates in May and June of 2015. The sale happens this Friday, Jan. 23 with an exclusive fan pre-sale happening today (Jan. 21) on the former Oasis singer-guitarist's Web site. Gallagher and company will be touring in support of their upcoming album release Chasing Yesterday. Check out George A. Paul's excellent Music Minded blog here for more details.

On Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 7 p.m. Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Daryl Hall and John Oates will hit the big screen for a special one-night concert event -- “Daryl Hall & John Oates: Recorded Live From Dublin.” Recorded in July 2014 before a sellout crowd, and boasting a set list of smash hits such as “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do),” "Rich Girl, "Kiss on My List," "Private Eyes," "Maneater,"  “She’s Gone,” "Out of Touch” and more, this concert event from the number-one selling duo in music history promises be be great.

Daryl Hall & John Oates: Recorded Live From Dublin will be shown at movie threatens across the U.S. (including a number here in Orange County, CA where yours truly is based). For a list of theaters click here.

Björk's eighth studio album Vulnicura has been rolling out today via iTunes since yesterday afternoon (Pacific Time). The audio CD and vinyl versions of the LP will be released in March 2015 as originally planned. 

Vulnicura was written, produced and recorded in collaboration with Venezuelan producer Arcaand British musician The Haxan Cloak. Of the album’s nine tracks, six are written by Björk with two co-written with Arca and one co-written with Spaces. Six songs are produced by Björk and Arca, one by Björk, Arca and The Haxan Cloak and two by Björk. All string arrangements are by Björk. The album was mixed by The Haxan Cloak, except two songs mixed by The Haxan Cloak and Chris Elms, and mastered by Mandy Parnell. Vulnicura is Björk’s first release since the 2011 album and multimedia project Biophilia.

Here is a track listing for the new album:

VULNICURA

1. Stonemilker

2. Lionsong

3. History of Touches

4. Black Lake

5. Family

6. Notget

7. Atom Dance

8. Mouth Mantra

9. Quicksand

Visit Music Minded here for complete details on the new album, including several select performance dates.

Finally, Jenny Lewis has announced routing for her upcoming spring tour supporting The Voyager, her acclaimed current album. In addition to headlining a series of shows in May, Lewis will also support Ryan Adams on a string of shows and appear at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in April. Please see below for all upcoming tour dates.

Lewis' most deeply personal album to date, The Voyager is her first Top 10 album and highest chart debut ever, including the albums she released with her former band Rilo Kiley and with her side project Jenny and Johnny with Johnathan Rice. In addition, The Voyager debuted at No. 1 on the Vinyl Albums chart and No. 2 on the Alternative Albums chart. 

The Voyager earned 'Best of 2014' accolades from Rolling Stone, TIME, NPR, Spin,Billboard, The Guardian, American Songwriter, Stereogum, Paste, and many more, while its singles "She's Not Me" and "Just One of the Guys" (and the latter's gender-bending music video), appeared on Year End Top Songs lists from The New York Times,Slant, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, and more.

The Voyager's rootsy, golden glow comes courtesy of Lewis and the artists she chose to produce various tracks, including Ryan Adams (who, alongside Mike Viola, produced all but three of the tracks), Beck, and Lewis' longtime collaborator Johnathan Rice. The Voyager finds the always relatable songwriter at her sharp-witted best, singing about her recent experiences with honesty and incisiveness.

Lewis has also debuted a song she wrote with Johnathan Rice for Song One, a film that will be released January 23 starring Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn and Mary Steenburgen, and directed by Kate Barker-Froyland. Listen to "In April' here.

Catch Lewis appearing on Austin City Limits TV with Ryan Adams on January 24.

Jenny Lewis' upcoming tour dates:

01/31  Austin, TX                 KUTX 2^nd Birthday @ Bass Concert Hall

04/12  Indio, CA                   Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival

04/19  Indio, CA                   Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival

04/30  Louisville, KY              Iroquios Amphitheatre*

05/03  Charlottesville, VA       nTelos Wireless Pavilion*

05/04  Saxahphaw, NC          Haw River Ballroom

05/05  Charleston, SC           N. Charleston PAC*

05/07  Miami, FL                   The Fillmore Miami Beach @ Jackie Gleason*

05/08  Tampa, FL                 Big Guava Music Festival

05/09  Ponte Vedra, FL          Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

05/10  Orlando, FL                The Beacham

05/12  Knoxville, TN              Bijou Theatre

05/13  Athens, GA                Georgia Theatre

05/15  Gulf Shores, AL          Hangout Music Festival

05/17  St. Louis, MO             The Ready Room

05/18  Chicago, IL                The Vic

05/19  Milwaukee, WI            Turner Hall Ballroom

05/20  Sioux Falls, SD           The District

05/22  Missoula, MT              Wilma Theater

*Supporting Ryan Adams