Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Sights and Sounds: Michael Ubaldini, Pete Yorn, STYX, The Killers

Lots of super cool news to share about a wide range of great artists... Robert Kinsler


Michael Ubaldini celebrates reissue of 'Austin Texas Overnight For A Year' today in celebration of his birthday 

Michael Ubaldini / Photo credit: Jesse Navarro


Acclaimed singer-songwriter Michael Ubaldini has reissued his timeless single "Austin Texas Overnight For A Year" from his 2008 masterwork Portable Record Player today (Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021). 

Ubaldini recently shared a post on why the track  along with the newly-posted official music video available to see HERE  is being reissued today. You can also stream the memorable song via SoundCloud HERE.

"The song is being reissued pre-album (reissue) because it has become for some reason extremely popular with new music listeners and younger songwriters and musicians  some who request it live at shows we play together," Ubaldini said.

Ubaldini, who celebrates his birthday today, noted that the song's descriptive lyrics come from a seven-page poem he honed down to fit into the Americana-meets-rock sound of the song, which fuses a roots-rock vibe with a bridge bolstered by Beach Boys-styled harmonies.

For more information on Ubaldini, visit his official website HERE.


Singer-songwriter Pete Yorn celebrates 15th anniversary of 'Nightcrawler' via Veeps livestream on August 29, 2021




Pete Yorn’s next livestream is set for Aug. 29, 2021; the artist will be performing his third record, “soothing and vociferous” (PopMattersNightcrawler in full. 


Get tickets for the show, plus pre and post show zooms at peteyorn.veeps.com


On the upcoming show, Yorn says:


I picked up a guitar the other day here at the house. The first song that I reflexively started to play was “The Man”. I wondered when that record had come out. When I looked it up, the answer led me here...


This Sunday is the 15th anniversary of the release of my third record, “Nightcrawler”. To celebrate, on its “birthday”, August 29th, at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET,  I will be performing that record from start to finish from my home via Veeps. I have a lot of memories connected to these songs and that moment in time. Looking forward to sharing them with you. Xx PY


STYX teams up with Voodoo Brewing Co. for creation of signature lager, Oh Mama

 
AVAILABLE NOW AT SELECT BARS AND GIANT EAGLE; NATIONWIDE DISTRIBUTION VIA TAVOUR COMING SOON
August 23, 2021 -- “Time to play ‘Renegade!’”
 
The smash hit by legendary and multi-Platinum rockers STYX has become the adopted theme song of the Pittsburgh Steelers that’s heard during the third quarter at every home game as part of a video compilation of defensive plays. It helps to boost the energy of both players and fans. As soon as those renowned opening words are sung, “Oh Mama…,” the crowd knows what’s coming and is instantly exhilarated.  
 
Now, that connection between STYX and Steeler Nation gets even more solidified, as they team up with Voodoo Brewing Co. to bring fans their latest creation, Oh Mama, a Traditional Golden American Lager especially brewed for their fans in the Steel City. 
 
Sold as a four-pack of 16 oz. cans or as 50 liter kegs, Oh Mama is currently available at Voodoo’s corporate pubs and franchised locations, online for Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C home delivery, Tavour via their app (using the code “renegade”) for other states throughout the U.S., and in the greater Erie, PA (Allegheny Beverage) and Pittsburgh, PA (Vecenie’s) areas. Folks can be on the lookout for it at their favorite watering hole or grocery store (including Giant Eagle where it’s already available) and they can request it at a bar near them.
 
“Hello Friends!
We are excited to announce that STYX, in partnership with Voodoo Brewing Co., is bringing our Oh Mama beer to a frosty mug near you. 
We think you’re gonna love it as much as we do. Cheers!!!”
 
--Tommy Shaw
 
"As we have our tradition with ‘Renegade’ and the Steelers, we are excited to announce our Oh Mama beer. We look forward to bringing a part of Steeler tradition to our fans that they can enjoy from home." 
 
--James “JY” Young
 
Inspiration for the beer’s name and artwork comes from one of the band’s signature hits, “Renegade,” which is regularly played at Heinz Field as an adopted theme song for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. The band has also sung the national anthem and performed “Renegade” at many Steelers games in recent years.
 
The love for “Renegade” at all Steelers games started at a playoff game against the Cleveland Browns on January 5, 2002. The Steelers were down 24-7 well into the third quarter. During a commercial break, a crew member at Heinz Field (home of the Steelers) decided to play “Renegade” in an effort to get the fans riled up and boost the momentum of the team. It was a moment that helped the team come back to win the game 36-33 and subsequently change Steelers history.
 
“Voodoo Brewing Co. has always had a strong connection to music, not only playing it for our beers as they ferment, but also in most of the beer brands we’ve created and our good vibes Beer Festival,” says Voodoo CEO Matteo Rachocki. “When approached by Tommy and his team about a beer, we jumped at the opportunity to collaborate on something authentic to Pittsburgh, while also paying homage to a legendary rock band! We couldn’t be happier with the result, and we’re stoked to share this amazing product, not only on a national scale, but specifically through our local Pittsburgh market and our mutual connection with the city and its sports teams.”
 
“This beer was long overdue,” continues Joshua Rothstein from Primary Wave, Tommy Shaw’s music publisher. “We’re thrilled to make it happen.”
 
STYX released their 17th album, Crash Of The Crown, on the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, which is available as clear vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and on digital platforms and at Styxworld.com. It debuted on Billboard’s “Rock Albums” chart at #1 its first week out. Read my review of the album HERE.
 
In early reviews, Vintage Guitar raved, “Returning to their guitar/keyboard-fueled ’70s style, the band takes prog’s grandest elements and condenses them into punchy songs – no question, that classic STYX crunch is present.” While SonicPerspectives.com praised the album’s “…fantastic three part harmonies, widdly, bombastic synths, blue-collar working man electric guitar solos and memorable melodic rock songs that flirt with prog elements just enough to have a little extra edge…This record exudes massive musicianship…The road tested warhorse of STYX shows remarkable resilience and capacity to generate energized new music that retains the proven classic elements of the band’s signature sound and straddles the lines of American prog, arena rock and a little bit of acoustic folk.” While Insite called it, “…a passionately relatable sonic parable, tailor-made for openminded 2021 listeners.”
 
Crash Of The Crown is the follow-up to STYX’s 16th studio album, The Mission (their first in 14 years at the time, which critics called “a masterpiece”) which was released June 16, 2017 on the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe. The highly anticipated two-disc reissue of The Mission was released on July 27, 2018 via Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, which includes a CD of the original album, as well as a Blu-ray of the album mixed in 5.1 surround sound accompanied by stunning visualizations for each of the album’s 14 songs based on the album artwork (Read my review of this special edition HERE). It originally debuted on various Billboard charts, including: #6 Top Rock Albums, #11 Physical Albums, #11 Vinyl Albums, #13 Current Albums, #14 Billboard Top Albums, #16 Retail, #17 Mass Merch/Non-Traditional, #29 Digital Albums, and #45 Billboard 200 (includes catalog and streaming).
 
www.instagram.com/styxtheband
 



The Killers secure seventh #1 album on official UK Albums chart with 'Pressure Machine,' extending UK Chart record for most consecutive #1 Studio Albums by an international group in chart history


7TH CONSECUTIVE TOP 10 ON BILLBOARD 200


#1 ALBUM ON THE US AMERICANA CHART AND ROCK CHART

 

29-CITY NORTH AMERICAN TOUR OF 2022 SET TO OPEN AUGUST 19TH IN VANCOUVER

 

“The band’s seventh album is their most reflective, emotional and intimate ever, but it’s also underpinned by real darkness” - “THE DAILY TELEGRAPH ★★★★★

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(Aug. 23, 2021 – New York, NY) The Killers earn critical acclaim and explode onto charts worldwide with their studio album, PRESSURE MACHINE, landing their 7th consecutive #1 album on the UK album chart (and Brandon Flowers’ 9th #1 in the UK overall including his two solo albums). In addition it’s the band’s 7th consec­utive Top 10 album in the U.S.  

 

Pressure Machine via Island Records follows last year’s critically-acclaimed Imploding The Mirage, which gave the band a record-breaking sixth consecutive UK #1. Like its predecessor, the album was co-produced by the band, Shawn Everett, and Jonathan Rado (of Foxygen). 

 

When the promotional run and worldwide tour for Imploding the Mirage was shut down in 2020 by the pandemic, “everything came to this grinding halt,” Brandon said.  “And it was the first time in a long time for me that I was faced with silence. And out of that silence this record began to bloom, full of songs that would have otherwise been too quiet and drowned out by the noise of typical Killers records.”  Pressure Machine has now cast a view into the everyday realities of a small American town with a stark, tough beauty, as it became the Killers’ most restrained and resonant album yet.

 

PRESSURE MACHINE arrives as the Killers make plans to head back out on the road across the U.S. and Canada next year, to celebrate their new album and Imploding the Mirage, along with their much-loved catalogue of global hits. The 7-week, 29-city tour opens August 19, 2022, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, and will wrap up at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on October 8th. (Please see tour dates below.)

 

The Killers have sold nearly 30 million albums since the release of Hot Fuss, their 2004 debut on Island Records, and have headlined sold-out stadiums and festivals in more than 50 countries on six continents.  

 

PRAISE FOR PRESSURE MACHINE

 

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH - ★★★★★

THE DAILY MAIL - ★★★★★

THE SUN - ★★★★★

THE GUARDIAN - ★★★★

THE TIMES - ★★★★

NME - ★★★★

DAILY STAR - ★★★★

THE LINE OF BEST FIT – (9/10)

 

 

THE KILLERS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2022

 

Date                                       City                            Venue                      

Fri August 19, 2022               Vancouver BC           Rogers Arena

Sat August 20, 2022              Seattle WA                Climate Pledge Arena

Sun August 21, 2022             Portland OR              Moda Center

Tues August 23, 2022           San Francisco CA     Chase Center

Wed August 24, 2022            San Diego CA           Pechanga Arena

Fri August 26, 2022               Las Vegas NV           T-Mobile Arena

Sat August 27, 2022              Los Angeles CA        Banc of California Stadium

Tues August 30, 2022           Salt Lake City UT      Vivint Arena

Wed August 31, 2022            Denver CO                Ball Arena

Thurs September 8, 2022     Houston TX                Toyota Center

Fri September 9, 2022           Austin TX                  Moody Center

Sat September 10, 2022       Fort Worth TX            Dickies Arena

Tues September 13, 2022     Miami FL                   FTX Arena

Wed September 14, 2022     Orlando FL                Amway Center

Fri September 16, 2022         Atlanta GA State       Farm Arena

Sat September 17, 2022       Nashville TN              Bridgestone Arena

Sun September 18, 2022      St. Louis MO              Chaifetz Arena

Tues September 20, 2022     St. Paul MN               Xcel Energy Center

Wed September 21, 2022     Chicago IL                 United Center

Fri September 23, 2022         Toronto ON               Scotiabank Arena

Sat September 24, 2022       Montreal QC              Bell Centre

Sun September 25, 2022      Verona NY                 Turning Stone Event Center

Thurs September 29, 2022   Washington DC          Capital One Arena

Fri September 30, 2022         New York NY             Madison Square Garden

Sat October 1, 2022              New York NY              Madison Square Garden

Mon October 3, 2022             Boston MA                 TD Garden

Tues October 4, 2022            University Park PA     Bryce Jordan Center

Thurs October 6, 2022          Pittsburgh PA              Petersen Events Center

Fri October 7, 2022               Cleveland OH             Wolstein Center

Sat October 8, 2022              Detroit MI                    Little Caesars Arena


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