Sights and Sounds: Goo Goo Dolls, Steven Wilson, The National, Staci Griesbach

 A roundup of what's going on in the music world today...

GOO GOO DOLLS & FANTRACKS PRESENT

THE FIRST-EVER AUGMENTED-REALITY MOVIE MUSICAL “IT’S CHRISTMAS ALL OVER” 

TUNE IN DECEMBER 12TH AT 4:00 PM PT / 7:00 PM ET FOR THE WORLDWIDE PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE VIP MEET-AND-GREET OPPORTUNITIES

GENERAL ONSALE TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW HERE

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE 

November 24, 2020 (Los Angeles, CA) - Today, multi-platinum, four-time GRAMMY-nominated rock band Goo Goo Dolls, debuts the trailer for It’s Christmas All Over, the first-ever augmented-reality movie musical, created and presented by the livestreaming platform FanTracks. It’s Christmas All Over will feature Goo Goo Dolls performing music from their brand-new holiday album of the same name (Warner Records), but goes beyond the realm of a live concert to transport viewers through an unparalleled music journey, all taking place within a surreal virtual world. This movie also marks the second time that the band has worked with FanTracks, the first being a livestream concert in October, which is currently available on-demand to subscribers on the FanTracks website.   Directed and produced by FanTracks President Barry Summers, the full hour-long program will first air as an exclusive sneak-peak for FanTracks subscribers only on December 11 at 4pm PT/7pm ET. The official global release, which will be free to all viewers, will happen at 4pm PT/7pm ET on December 12 along with additional VIP private video Meet-and-Greets and a Q&A with the band. The program will remain available on-demand for free for 48 hours after the conclusion of the premiere. "It was such an amazing experience getting to play songs from our new record live for the first time," says John Rzeznik. "We can’t wait for everyone to see and hear these Christmas tunes in this unique way, and we hope they bring some cheer to this peculiar holiday season. Happy holidays from all of us to every single one of you!!” Inner Machine (the official Goo Goo Dolls fan-club) began exclusive pre-sale access on November 23, while general on-sale tickets are available now HERE. The “Ultimate Goo Goo Dolls Christmas VIP Package” not only includes a private Meet & Greet with band founders John Rzeznik and Robby Takac, but also a fantastic array of Goo Goo Dolls gear including a limited edition Crosley Record Player, a Christmas sweater, holiday ornaments, stockings, and much more. Exclusive VIP Packages are available HERE and other Meet & Greet and Q&A session opportunities will be offered, which will take place live on December 12. FanTracks subscribers also gain early access and on-demand access to It’s Christmas All Over as well as FanTracks’ full catalog of classic concerts. In this AR movie musical adventure, Goo Goo Dolls travel through past, present, and future searching for the lost “Spirit of Christmas”; from wintery city street scenes, subways, and taxis; to a 1940s speakeasy and the classic set of The Ed Sullivan Show; and beyond. As the band travels between settings, fans will follow along for an intimate and festive musical experience, unlike anything they’ve ever seen. Throughout, they treat fans to classic holiday standards as well as their new holiday music, and discover that although people are separated by current events, we remain unified by the true nature of the holiday.   On the journey, the band takes a moment to remind us all to "Give A Little Bit" - with two autographed guitars to be auctioned to benefit Music Gives to St Jude Kids - St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.    Writer, director, and producer Barry Summers, Co-Founder & President of FanTracks Digital LLC, says, “We built all these scenes from the live footage we captured of the Goo Goo Dolls along with special guest performers in October, and then using augmented reality, layered in the environments, animation, and more to create something really special that the world has not seen before. The band’s performance is outstanding, and It’s Christmas All Over is sure to become an instant holiday classic.”    To create the It’s Christmas All Over, FanTracks created a new digital format, Music Adventures using their proprietary Augmented Reality Film Capturing system utilizing 12 Unreal game engine servers, three GreenHippo servers, immersive Hi Lum LED Screens in FanTracks new custom build LED Mixed Reality Studio, built specifically for live music with virtual environments designed for Mixed Reality imaginative storytelling. Goo Goo Dolls’ album It’s Christmas All Over was created during lockdown earlier this year, and was produced by Goo Goo Dolls’ frontman John Rzeznik alongside the band’s frequent collaborators Brad Fernquist and Jimmy McGorman. Released October 30th via Warner Records, it boasts a diverse collection of songs that capture the warmth and spirit of classic Christmas music. The record is packed with iconic tracks such as “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Let It Snow” and the brand new original “This Is Christmas,” all three of which currently rank in the top 40 at AC radio. It’s Christmas All Over is available now via all digital streaming platforms here, and exclusive merch offers including a red vinyl LP, a Goo Goo Dolls Crosley record player and additional limited edition holiday items are available via the band’s website HERE.

ABOUT GOO GOO DOLLS: Formed in Buffalo, NY during 1986 by John Rzeznik and Robby Takac, Goo Goo Dolls quietly broke records, contributed a string of staples to the American songbook, connected to millions of fans, and indelibly impacted popular music for three-plus decades. Beyond selling 12 million records worldwide, the group garnered four GRAMMY® Award nominations and seized a page in the history books by achieving 14 number one and Top 10 hits at Hot AC—"the most of any artist.” As a result, they hold the all-time radio record for “Most Top 10 Singles.” Among a string of hits, “Iris” clutched #1 on the Hot 100 for 18 straight weeks and would be named “#1 Top 40 Song of the Last 20 Years.” Thus far, A Boy Named Goo [1995] went double-platinum, Dizzy Up The Girl went quadruple-platinum, and Gutterflower [2002] and Let Love In [2006] both went gold as Something for the Rest of Us [2010] and Magnetic [2013] bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200. 2016’s Boxes attracted the praise of People and Huffington Post as Noisey, Consequence of Sound, and more featured them. Their music has been covered by everyone from Taylor Swift to Leona Lewis. Among many accolades, John received the prestigious “Hal David Starlight Award” in 2008 as well. Following a sold-out 2018 twentieth anniversary tour in celebration of Dizzy Up The Girl, Goo Goo Dolls wrote and recorded their twelfth full-length album, Miracle Pill [Warner Records]—igniting a bold and bright new era in the process. On October 30th, the band began a new chapter with the release of their first-ever holiday record, It’s Christmas All Over. ABOUT FANTRACKS FanTracks is a live streaming and fan engagement platform. The company was founded by Barry Summers and Ty Roberts in May of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to allow consumers to continue enjoying the live music experience and gain access to their favorite artists in a personal and safe way. FanTracks is a departure from services that digitally mimic traditional ticketing approaches. The platform offers music lovers access to high-quality, carefully curated, and professionally produced live shows. Its proprietary technology creates a new world of virtual music and fan experiences, from a range of group chat modes to hosted “hang out” spaces and parties, to interactive features that bring musicians and music lovers together. FanTracks' President/Executive Producer Barry Summers is an award-winning veteran live concert/music film/TV producer, President of World Live Shows LLC, and Rock Fuel Media. In the '90s, he worked personally with Dick Clark as Executive Producer of many successful live shows and has produced award-winning concert films/live TV Specials and numerous Billboard #1 chart-topping DVDs, CDs, and vinyl consumer product releases featuring some of the world's biggest artists. Ty Roberts, FanTracks' CEO and CTO is a proven serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. As a technologist, he developed technologies and data that power products like iTunes, Comcast Xfinity, and Ford Sync that are used by hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide. He holds dozens of patents for his inventions and has created multiple technical standards across the industry.

STEVEN WILSON UNVEILS EPIC ONE-OF-A-KIND SPECIAL EDITION OF EAGERLY AWAITED NEW ALBUM GROUNDBREAKING ARTIST/PRODUCER HERALDS THE FUTURE BITES WITH BESPOKE BOX SET LIMITED TO 1 OF 1 ULTRA DELUXE MUSIC PRODUCT ON OBSOLETE MEDIA RETAILS FOR £10,000 WITH ALL PROCEEDS DIRECTLY BENEFITTING THE UK’S MUSIC VENUE TRUST SOARING NEW TRACK, “12 THINGS I FORGOT,” PREMIERES TODAY THE FUTURE BITES ARRIVES JANUARY 29, 2021 VIA TFB.COM/ARTS & CRAFTS Photo credit: Miles Skarin Groundbreaking musician/songwriter/producer Steven Wilson has announced a truly unique special edition of his eagerly awaited sixth album, THE FUTURE BITES. Limited to 1 of 1, ULTRA DELUXE MUSIC PRODUCT ON OBSOLETE MEDIA will retail for £10,000, with all proceeds directly benefitting the Music Venue Trust to help save grassroots music venues in the UK adversely affected by COVID-19. Simultaneously the apotheosis of modern consumerism and the ultimate Steven Wilson collectible, the bespoke package will collect the previously announced THE FUTURE BITES LIMITED EDITION DELUXE BOX SET alongside previously unheard music (including a one-sided 7-inch single with the exclusive track, “The Tastemaker,” limited to an edition of one and never to be released anywhere else), conceptual artwork, handwritten lyrics, and such rare items of personal ephemera from Wilson’s personal archive as six laminated AAA passes for various tours between 2011-18 and his GRAMMY® Award nomination certificate and medal honoring 2011’s GRACE BEFORE DROWNING for “Best Surround Sound Mix.” ULTRA DELUXE MUSIC PRODUCT ON OBSOLETE MEDIA will be available for a very limited time on Friday, November 27. THE FUTURE BITES arrives via TFB.com/Arts & Crafts on January 29, 2021. WATCH THE ULTRA DELUXE MUSIC PRODUCT ON OBSOLETE MEDIA BOXSET TRAILER “This edition of THE FUTURE BITES takes the whole notion of deluxe limited editions to its logical and fairly extreme conclusion as the ultimate limited edition will obviously end up being just one copy,” Wilson says. “In many ways, this edition is more analogous with the world of art than with those of music or luxury branding. Only one person can own an actual painting with the artist’s brush strokes on it. There is no variance, only the one original. “With regards to the contents of the 1 of 1 edition, it’s the purchaser’s choice as to whether they decide to share what they’ve bought or keep it to themselves. Do they want to exhibit ‘the painting’, or put it on display at home? If it was me, I’d probably keep it private but I’ll leave it entirely up to them as what they do with the contents of their purchase.” THE FUTURE BITES is further heralded by today’s premiere of the soaring new track, “12 Things I Forgot.” An official visualizer is streaming now at YouTube. Furthermore, “12 Things I Forgot” will be available on limited edition vinyl on Friday, November 27. LISTEN TO "12 THINGS I FORGOT" “12 Things I Forgot” marks the latest track premiere from THE FUTURE BITES, following the previous release of “King Ghost,” “Eminent Sleaze,” and “Personal Shopper,” the latter of which will be joined by an equally ambitious official video premiering this Friday, November 27. Both “King Ghost” and “Eminent Sleaze” are already accompanied by official videos, streaming now at Wilson’s official YouTube channel; a striking trailer previewing the album’s provocative themes of high-concept consumerism and post-internet evolution is also streaming now via YouTube. LISTEN TO “PERSONAL SHOPPER” WATCH “KING GHOST” WATCH “EMINENT SLEAZE” WATCH THE FUTURE BITES TRAILER THE FUTURE BITES will be available on all digital platforms, along with vinyl, CD, and a limited edition deluxe box set that contains CDs of the album, an instrumental version of the album, bonus material (including six additional songs and several reworked versions of album tracks, among them a 19-minute extended mix of “Personal Shopper”), a cassette of demos, and a Blu-ray featuring videos and Wilson’s own 5.1 surround sound and Dolby Atmos versions of the album (marking THE FUTURE BITES as the first contemporary album to be mixed and released in Dolby Atmos). Pre-orders are available now. PRE-ORDER THE FUTURE BITES Co-produced in London by Wilson with David Kosten (Bat For Lashes, Everything Everything), THE FUTURE BITES sees Wilson exploring contemporary addiction and the lasting effect of ever-increasing technology on our daily lives. The album marks his most inventive and far-reaching musical construction to date, spanning soaring acoustics, lush electronica, relentless bass-driven grooves, murky funk, and so much more, all linked through powerfully focused songcraft and this one-of-a-kind artist’s always unique creative vision. Hailed by Rolling Stone’s David Fricke for his “fighting spirit and truly progressive ideals in rock composition, group improvisation and emotionally authentic storytelling,” Wilson recently launched an official THE FUTURE BITES webstore, featuring a fully imagined consumer universe. The website will crack a door open onto a wonderful world of purchase power, a place where everything is marketable and nothing is too random or too moronic to be considered valuable. Inspired by notable 21st century artifacts like the Virgil Abloh ceramic block or Vitality Air’s canned Canadian oxygen, THE FUTURE BITES website is a fully imagined consumer universe (built in collaboration with Baby and Crystal Spotlight) designed to be accessible and addictive to anyone from the casual fan to the hardcore collector. The site will feature regular drops of limited edition merchandise over the coming months, showcasing anything from a slogan shirt to a branded hole punch. VISIT THE FUTURE BITES WEBSITE # # # STEVEN WILSON THE FUTURE BITES (Arts & Crafts) Release Date: January 29, 2021 TRACKLIST: Unself Self King Ghost 12 Things I Forgot Eminent Sleaze Personal Shopper Man of the People Follower Count of Unease # # # CONNECT WITH STEVEN WILSON: STEVENWILSONHQ.COM FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TWITTER THE NATIONAL The National To Reissue Remastered Early Catalogue: The National | Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers | Cherry Tree EP  Out February 26th 2021 Via 4AD   Twenty years on from the release of their self-titled debut album, The National are reissuing it along with 2003’s follow-up Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers and 2004’s Cherry Tree EP for release on February 26th, 2021 via 4AD. With all three records having been remastered at Abbey Road Studios, the 2021 represses stay faithful to their original artwork while their stunning new masters help make these much-loved records sound as vital as ever, further emphasising the early signs of the sound that would go on to make them one of the finest and most beloved alternative bands of their generation. Cherry Tree members can pre-order exclusive, limited split color versions here: https://cherrytreeshop.americanmary.com/. Pre-order on black vinyl and CD here: https://4ad.ffm.to/thenationalreissues. Visit americanmary.com for more information.   The National Originally Released July 2, 2001   Originally Released July 19 2004 Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021, The National’s self-titled debut album of sozzled Americana is a thing of beauty, laden with heavy hints that this was a special band in the making. Their first release, The National arrived two years after The National formed, a time when they were juggling bandlife with needing to hold down full-time jobs. And while nods to the alt.rock artists that inspired them (Pavement, Silver Jews) can be heard, so too are the beginnings of something all their own – Matt Berninger’s stunning and unexpected lyrics being pinned to melodies that stop you in your tracks.   The National marks the start point for one of the best bands of their generation with its new master helping elevate it to new levels. A great primer to a great band.   CD / LP (Black Vinyl) / Digital 4AD0312CD / 4AD0312LP / 4AD0312 1. / A1. Beautiful Head 2. / A2. Cold Girl Fever 3. / A3. The Perfect Song 4. / A4. American Mary 5. / A5. Son 6. / A6. Pay For Me 7. / B1. Bitters & Absolut 8. / B2. John’s Star 9. / B3. Watching You Well 10. / B4. Theory Of The Crows 11. / B5. 29 Years 12. / B6. Anna Freud   Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers Originally Released September 1, 2003   The National’s second album, Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers (2003) proved a leap forward from 2001’s eponymous debut, showing a band adept at delivering warm embraces and gut punches in equal measure. With word of mouth now spreading on the band, critics proved equally enthusiastic. Pitchfork in their glowing review called it a “Gorgeous train wreck” that “Lives up to its blunt title (with) Matt Berninger’s self-effacing barbs matched by the band’s equally potent hooks,” while Uncut also became early champions saying the album was “A genuine treasure... Livid as a bruise, this is brave, desperate, beautiful music.” No longer a secret among those that know, Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers is an important record in The National’s discography with this new remaster showing that it’s more than standing the test of time.   CD / LP (Black Vinyl) / Digital 4AD0313CD / 4AD0313LP / 4AD0313 1. / A1. Cardinal Song 2. / A2. Slipping Husband 3. / A3. 90-Mile Water Wall 4. / A4. It Never Happened 5. / A5. Murder Me Rachael 6. / B1. Thirsty 7. / B2. Available 8. / B3. Sugar Wife 9. / B4. Trophy Wife 10. / B5. Fashion Coat 11. / B6. Patterns Of Fairytales 12. / B7. Lucky You   Cherry Tree EP Originally Released July 19, 2004   Released a year before The National broke through with their third album Alligator, 2004’s Cherry Tree EP is a thrilling record which - thanks to its collection of delicate ballads and anthemic crowd-pleasers - sums up what they do best in under 30 minutes. Now a firm fan-favourite, among Cherry Tree’s seven tracks are now National classics “About Today” and “All The Wine”, plus a thrilling live version of “Murder Me Rachael” that reminds of the band’s fearsome early live performances. Cherry Tree can be seen as the record that marks the moment when The National had truly found themselves, a bridge from what went before to a band ready to conquer the World. And with this new master, it’s never sounded better too.   CD / 12” (Black Vinyl) / Digital 4AD0314CD / 4AD0314T / 4AD0314 1. / A1. Wasp Nest 2. / A2. All The Wine 3. / A3. All Dolled-Up In Straps 4. / A4. Cherry Tree 5. / B1. About Today 6. / B2. Murder Me Rachael (Live) 7. / B3. Reasonable Man (I Don’t Mind)    4ad.com | americanmary.com My Shania Twain Songbook Jazz Album Celebrates 25th Anniversary Of The Woman In Me  Staci Griesbach Celebrates Country Music Icon Shania Twain with New Jazz Tribute Coming December 18th, 2020 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 23, 2020) – Known the world over for crossing genres between country music and pop, Shania Twain’s catalog is now being introduced to a jazz audience as Los Angeles-based singer Staci Griesbach interprets songs from Twain’s breakout album The Woman In Me. Celebrating the album’s 25th anniversary, Griesbach’s My Shania Twain Songbook album reimagines a selection of songs from Twain’s iconic album including the #1 hit and fan-favorite "Any Man of Mine." “When Shania released The Woman in Me in 1995, I was a junior in high school in rural Wisconsin, and that album very much represented a coming of age for me.  Shania demonstrated confidence in being a woman and really owning who she was as an artist,” Griesbach said. “Most importantly, she didn't shy away from her desire of pursuing her dream, and that was inspiring to me then and perhaps even moreso now.” My Shania Twain Songbook features collaborations with top jazz composers and arrangers as well as top musicians including Tamir Hendelman (Barbra Streisand, Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra), Michael O. Mitchell (Leslie Odom Jr.), Grammy winner Otmaro Ruiz (Diane Reeves), Rahsaan Barber (Kelly Clarkson) and Stuart Duncan (Diana Krall, Goat Rodeo). “It was refreshing to collaborate with Staci and reimagine Shania Twain’s repertoire. Staci taps into Shania’s heartfelt songwriting and carefree spirit, trusting her instincts in performances that invite the listener to hear Shania Twain’s music in a new light,” said Tamir Hendelman (Barbra Streisand, Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra), who arranged four of the songs on the album. This marks the second album for Griesbach after her 2019 release of My Patsy Cline Songbook.   Garnering attention from both the country music and jazz audiences, Griesbach hopes to reinforce potential in the intersection of the two genres.  “Shania crossed genres arguably better than any other female in country music at that time, and it's part of my exploration to bring her music into the jazz world,” Griesbach added.  “For me, looking at this music twenty-five years later is like going home and reconnecting to a little part of myself all over again.” My Shania Twain Songbook Track Listing: 1. No One Needs To Know  2. The Woman in Me (Needs the Man in You) 3. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under 4. Leavin’ Is The Only Way Out 5. Is There Life After Love 6. God Bless The Child 7. Any Man of Mine My Shania Twain Songbook features the following: -Tamir Hendelman on piano and arranging (Barbra Streisand, Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra -Chuck Berghoffer on upright bass (Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Mel Torme) -Jake Reed on drums (Seth MacFarlane, Bill Cunliffe, Johnny Mandel) -Otmaro Ruiz on piano and arranging (Dianne Reeves, Dori Caymmi, Arturo Sandoval) -Michael O. Mitchell on piano and arranging (Leslie Odom Jr., Musical Director for “Amateur Night at the Apollo,” Tony Bennett, Motown the Musical (assoc. conductor) -Rahsaan Barber on tenor saxophone and arranging (Kelly Clarkson, Lauren Daigle) -Willie Murrillo on trumpet and horn arranging (Michael Buble, Steve Wonder, Josh Groban) -Andrew Synowiec on guitar (Michael Buble, Bette Midler, Brett Eldridge) -Stuart Duncan on fiddle (“The Goat Rodeo Sessions” with Yo Yo Ma, Chris Thile, and Edgar Meyer, as well as Alan Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Diana Krall, Bela Fleck) -Kevin Axt on bass (Natalie Cole, Shelby Lynn) -Kirsten Edkins on clarinet (John Beasley’s Monkestra, Johnny Mandel, Seth MacFarlane) -Erik Hughes on trombone (Michael Buble, Bob Mintzer) -Justin Claveria on baritone, tenor saxophone (Kenny Loggins, David Foster) My Shania Twain Songbook is produced by Staci Griesbach. Recorded and engineered by Talley Sherwood (Tritone Recording) in Los Angeles, additional engineering and vocals recorded by Harriet Tam. Mixed by Steve Genewick. Mixed at the Stewart House. Mastered by Eric Boulanger at The Bakery in Los Angeles, CA.  For more, visit www.StaciGriesbach.com or follow Staci on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacigriesbachmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacigriesbach/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sagriesb