Roger Joseph Manning Jr. shares new single "Just Lust" / new LP 'Hopium' out Sept. 18 via Omnivore Recordings

September 18 marks the date that acclaimed singer-songwriter/keyboardist Roger Joseph Manning Jr. will release his forthcoming album "Hopium" Listen to the sumptuous advance track "Just Lust" and learn more via the official media release. Additionally, check out my coverage of the artist's memorable appearance at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on May 17, 2018 HERE..Robert Kinsler

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. shares new single "Just Lust"

Upcoming album 'Hopium' featuring new music and live tracks from the Jellyfish and Imperial Drag co-founder

Out September 18,  2026 via Omnivore Recordings

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. / Photo courtesy of the artist

August 28, 2026: Today, Roger Joseph Manning Jr. has shared his new single “Just Lust,” the next offering from his upcoming album Hopium, out September 18, 2026 on Omnivore Recordings. Available on vinyl, CD and digital, the forthcoming LP features five new songs and five live tracks from the beloved Jellyfish and Imperial Drag co-founder.

Roger on the new single: “‘Just Lust’ was actually written towards the final days of Jellyfish. Because it had to wait in line behind lots of songs contending for the third unrealized album, it didn’t see the light of day at that time. So many years later, I met the daunting task of writing and singing my own lyrics because I believed in it so much. While I did play all the instruments on this song, I didn’t believe in my guitar skills enough to take on the guitar solo the song was begging for. So my intention became to compose the greatest guitar solo ever but pull it off with a synthesizer. The end result is more exciting than I could have ever imagined. Hope you agree!”

 

Stream "Just Lust" HERE

Pre-order Hopium HERE

Side one of Hopium features five new songs, including “Modern Dance (The After School Specials),” some of which have been in the works for over 15 years. Across the ensuing years, Manning worked with musician friends Victor Indrizzo (drums), Steve Shane McDonald (bass), Jim Wilson (electric guitars), Ken Sluiter (mixing, mastering) and Jason Falkner (additional electric guitars) to perfectly craft the basis of the new album.

 

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. performing
at the Grammy Museum in 2018.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

About the songs on Hopium, Roger says, “I remember writing the lyrics in a hotel room in Germany. Out on tour, especially in the middle of the night when you’re jetlagging, you have all this time to think about lyrics that take forever to take shape. It’s a huge sense of personal victory when you realize you’ve got something. This collection of songs is like that, ideas that developed over time that I believed in enough to take the time and resources to flesh out and record thinking, ‘Somebody’s got to hear this someday.’ So I just keep going and it’s a method that’s worked for me over the years because as a freelance musician, we’re all so busy trying to make ends meet, the songs that make it through have a special place in my heart.”

 

The flipside of Hopium is drawn from Manning’s live appearance at the 2018 International Pop Overthrow Festival at Molly Malone’s in Los Angeles. Those five songs include a pair from his 2006 album The Land Of Pure Imagination, one from his previous Omnivore release, 2023’s Radio Daze & Glamping, and another pair from his former band, Jellyfish. The live band appearing alongside him for the IPO date includes Chris Price, Dan Rothchild, Ben Lecourt, Alex Jules, and Emeen Zarookian.

 

Music fans worldwide know Roger Joseph Manning Jr. as co-founder or member of the bands Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, The Moog Cookbook, TV Eyes and The Lickerish Quartet, in addition to being a member of Beck’s band and an in-demand session player. Over the years, he’s contributed to albums by Beck, Morrissey, Lana Del Rey, Blink-182, Johnny Cash, Cheap Trick and Adele, among many others.

 

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. – Hopium:

1. Modern Dance (The After School Specials)

2. Just Lust

3. My Magic Bicycle

4. Wish Away

5. The Lords Of Altamont

6. That Is Why (Live at International Pop Overthrow 2018)

7. The Loser (Live at International Pop Overthrow 2018)

8. Pray For The Many (Live at International Pop Overthrow 2018)

9. Funhouse (Live at International Pop Overthrow 2018)

10. The King Is Half-Undressed (Live at International Pop Overthrow 2018)

Visit Manning's official website HERE.

Catching up on 2025: Turnpike Troubadours, Cheap Trick, Edward Rogers, The Black Keys, The Iveys

Before the arrival of 2026, I wanted to highlight a handful of the year's best albums I hadn't yet celebrated in previous columns. The latest full-length discs from Cheap Trick, Turnpike Troubadours, The Black Keys and Edward Rogers as well as a new anthology featuring The Iveys are among my favorite audio releases of the year.

Artist: Turnpike Troubadours
Title: The Price of Admission (Bossier City Records/Thirty Tigers)

You might like if you enjoy: Shooter Jennings, Trampled by Turtles

Tell me more: I was recently able to catch up with the Turnpike Troubadours' sixth album, The Price of Admission, released in April 2025. An 11-track masterwork where the timeless sounds of neotraditional country, honky-tonk and Americana are fused with songs of incredible lyrical depth, the Shooter Jennings-produced album immerses the listener upon a single listen. Singer-songwriter/guitarist Evan Felker's top-tier voice delivers the wide range of material with real world emotion while the rest of the ensemble delivers nuanced and virtuoso musical accompaniment at every turn. Highlights on the stellar album include the deeply affecting opener "On The Red River" (a powerful song that looks at loss and love for a late father), the countrified "Searching For A Light" that looks at remaining hopeful despite life's bona fide challenges, the uptempo bluegrass-fueled "The Devil Plies His Trade," the exuberant "Ruby Ann" celebrating the magic of new love, and the rousing roots rocker "What Was Advertised." Information: turnpiketroubadours.com.

Artist: Cheap Trick
Title: All Washed Up (BMG)

You might like if you enjoy: Cheap Trick, Matthew Sweet, Green Day

Tell me more: Cheap Trick returned in a big way in 2025 through a number of high profile appearances (including at the Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 7 where the quartet performed in honor of their "lifelong brothers" KISS), as well as via the release of the beloved American rock band's 21st studio album All Washed Up. On the 11-track All Washed Up, singer Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson and drummer Daxx X Nielsen deliver a bunch of killer originals with their signature zeal, blending power pop and alt rock with aplomb. They bust right out of the gate with the driving title track, and follow that up with the winning likes of the fiery "The Riff That Won't Quit," haunting "Bet It All" that looks at the dangers of gambling, the melodic romance-themed "The Best Thing," soaring "Twelve Gates," aptly-titled "Love Gone," bewitching "A Long Way to Worcester" and music hall-styled "Wham Boom Bang," the latter album closer really showcasing Zander's impressive tenor vocals. Information: cheaptrick.com. 

Artist: Edward Rogers
Title: Astor Place (Think Like A Key Music)

You might like if you enjoy: Badfinger, Bedsit Poets, Rogers and Butler, The Zombies

Tell me more: New York City-based singer-songwriter Edward Rogers is back with Astor Place, his first solo album in five years. Fans of '60s-era classic rock, modern power pop and literate singer-songwriter styles will all find something to love across the Don Fleming-produced 10-track disc. Among the winning parade of originals are the Baroque pop-styled "The Olde Church," melodic "Lies Cries and Alibis," enticing tuneful garage rocker "Romeo," acoustic foray "Diamonds Hidden in the Pearls," poetic "I Walk Behind Your Shadow," and evocative "On the Other Side of the Rainbow." Information: https://www.thinklikeakey.com/format/1758866-astor-place. 

Artist: The Black Keys
Title: No Rain, No Flowers (Warner Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Beck, The Black Keys, Gary Clark Jr.

Tell me more: The Black Keys returned this year with No Rain, No Flowers, an album showcasing the myriad of strengths of the ambitious Akron, Ohio-spawned duo (singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney). The shimmering opener "No Rain, No Flowers," soulful "Make You Mine," melodic indie rocker "A Little Too High," playful romantic romp "Babygirl," melancholy-filled "Down to Nothing," edgy "Man On A Mission," dance floor-ready "Kiss It" and roots ballad "Neon Moon" are among the standouts on the Black Keys' 13th album. Information: theblackkeys.com. 

Artist: The Iveys
Title: Miniskirts And Rainbows (Y&T Music)

You might like if you enjoy: Badfinger, The Beatles, the Hollies

Tell me more: Miniskirts And Rainbows is an important new collection that features 19 tracks recorded between 1966 and 1969 by The Iveys, a pioneering power pop band that would later rise to fame as Badfinger courtesy of a series of memorable hit singles (including "No Matter What," "Come and Get It" and "Baby Blue"). Although many of the tracks on Miniskirts And Rainbows are demos and not originally intended for commercial release, the historical importance and palpable spirit of the essential recordings shine across the set. Among the wonderful cuts are "Cleopatra In A Miniskirt" (featuring lead vocals from Tom Evans), the buoyant "I Love You" (sung by Pete Ham), countrified delight "Blodwyn [demo]" (featuring outstanding vocal harmonies from Ham and Ron Griffiths), the Baroque ballad "Angelique [demo]," the psychedelic "Black & White Rainbows [version 2]," poignant Ham-penned "Yesterday Ain't Coming Back [demo]," Beach Boys flavored "Love Means Happiness," nostalgic "All The Fun Of The Fair" and Ham's sentimental "I Miss You [demo]."  Information: badfingerlibrary.com. 

Robert Kinsler

Cheap Trick share new video for latest single; new album out this Friday

Check out the hard hitting track "The Riff That Won't Quit" off Cheap Trick's forthcoming new album "All Washed Up" and learn more about the band upcoming tour dates too...Robert Kinsler

CHEAP TRICK UNLEASH NEW OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR LATEST SINGLE, “THE RIFF THAT WON’T QUIT” – WATCH   PULSE-POUNDING NEW SINGLE HERALDS EAGERLY AWAITED 21ST STUDIO ALBUM FROM LEGENDARY ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMERS   NEW ALBUM, ALL WASHED UP, ARRIVES VIA BMG THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14   PRE-ORDERS/PRE-SAVES AVAILABLE NOW

Photo Credit: Jeff Daly

The one and only Cheap Trick have shared a video for their latest single, “The Riff That Won’t Quit.” The pulse-pounding latest single is from their eagerly awaited new album, which arrives this Friday, November 14, via BMG. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers’ eagerly anticipated 21st studio album will be available digitally as well as on standard black vinyl and CD. A collector’s edition Orange Marble vinyl variant limited to 1,000 units is available to pre-order exclusively via the band's new D2C store. The band's Robin Zander and Tom Petersson appeared on TalkShopLive last week to discuss the new album. WATCH "THE RIFF THAT WON'T QUIT" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE ALL WASHED UP PRE-ORDER ALL WASHED UP ORANGE MARBLE VINYL – D2C EXCLUSIVE Produced by Cheap Trick with longtime associate Julian Raymond and mixed by 5x GRAMMY® Award-winner Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, Dave Matthews Band), All Washed Up was recorded at various studios in Nashville and Los Angeles through 2024. The album was heralded this summer by the anthemic first single, “Twelve Gates,” joined by an official animated lyric video streaming now on YouTube. The instantly infectious track was met by praise from such outlets as Ultimate Classic Rock, which hailed it as “a sweet slab of psychedelic guitars, sugary pop-rock hooks and lush, Beatlesque vocal harmonies.” American Songwriter agreed, writing, “The mid-tempo rock song features psychedelic and power-pop elements reminiscent of The Beatles, not surprising for a group that’s always been so heavily and unrepentantly influenced by the Fab Four.” LISTEN TO "TWELVE GATES" WATCH "TWELVE GATES" ANIMATED LYRIC VIDEO CHEAP TRICK ALL WASHED UP (BMG) Release Date: November 14, 2025

Tracklisting: All Washed Up All Wrong Long Gone  The Riff That Won’t Quit Bet It All The Best Thing Twelve Gates Bad Blood Dancing With The Band Love Gone A Long Way To Worcester Wham Boom Bang # # # One of rock’s hardest working live acts, Cheap Trick will celebrate All Washed Up – as well as their iconic body of work thus far – with a typically busy tour schedule resuming tomorrow, October 11, with a co-headline festival performance at Styx’s Rockin’ in Paradise with Styx & Friends at Miramar Beach, FL’s Seascape Resort Golf Club & Tennis Resort and then traveling into December with headline shows, dates alongside Heart, and more. Additional dates will be announced. For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.cheaptrick.com/tour-dates.html.   CHEAP TRICK – TOUR 2025   OCTOBER 11 – Miramar Beach, FL – Seascape Resort Golf Club & Tennis Resort * 12 – Oxford, AL – Oxford Performing Arts Center 21 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount 22 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Bethlehem 24 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena 25 – Lynn, MA – Lynn Memorial Auditorium   NOVEMBER 9 – Chandler, AZ – Gila River Resorts & Casino – Wild Horse Pass 11 – Monterey, CA – Golden State Theatre 14 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino 16 – Turlock, CA – Turlock Community Theatre 18 – Anaheim, CA – HONDA Center + 21 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest 23 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena +   DECEMBER 2 – Omaha, NE – Baxter Arena + 4 – Green Bay, WI – Reach Center + 5 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee 7 – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall   * Rockin’ in Paradise with Styx & Friends + with Heart Royal Flush Tour 2025 # # # ABOUT CHEAP TRICK: Cheap Trick, the iconic rock band hailing from Illinois, has been rocking stages and winning over fans with their timeless sound for over five decades. Known for their electrifying live performances, catchy melodies, and innovative songwriting, Cheap Trick has become a staple in rock music history. With hits like “I Want You to Want Me”, “Dream Police”, “The Flame”, and “Surrender,” this legendary band continues to inspire and entertain audiences with their signature blend of hard rock and power-pop sensibilities. Cheap Trick is part of the very fiber of American music, inspiring and delighting generations with their unique union of massive melodies and razorblade riffs, their own special brand of mischievous wit and maximum rock ‘n’ roll. They achieved mainstream popularity in the US in 1979 with the triple-platinum live album At Budokan and a Top 10 single, a live recording of “I Want You to Want Me.” More success followed with the album Dream Police in 1979, which reached number 6 on the Billboard 200.The band experienced another resurgence in the late 1980s when they topped US charts with the power ballad, “The Flame.” Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016, Cheap Trick maintain an almost constant touring schedule, having performed live more than 5,000 times since their formation, selling more than 20 million albums and building a dedicated cult following.   CONNECT WITH CHEAP TRICK OFFICIAL | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

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New music: Johnnie Johnson, Cheap Trick, Florence + The Machine, The Flashcubes

In this column I feature a review of a full-length album featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Johnnie Johnson as well as advance singles from Cheap Trick, Florence + the Machine and The Flashcubes.

Artist: Johnnie Johnson

Title: I'm Just Johnnie (Missouri Morning Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Chuck Berry, Bruce Hornsby, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Rivers
Tell me more: More than two decades after his death at the age of 80, legendary rock 'n' roll pianist Johnnie Johnson's final collection of new recordings will be released by Missouri Morning Records on Aug. 29. The terrific Gene Ackmann-produced collection kicks off with the uptempo blues blaster "I'm Just Johnnie," featuring Johnson on lead vocals and piano. The inspired collection continues with a slew of great tracks including the Chicago-blues flavored "I Get Weary" (featuring St. Louis singer Charles Glenn), a buoyant "Every Day I Have the Blues" with Johnson sharing both lead vocals and masterful piano playing duties with Bruce Hornsby, and a lively take on "Let The Good Times Roll" featuring vocalist Kenny Rice and slide guitar virtuoso Bonnie Raitt. Late disc standouts include the blues-meet-jazz nugget "Three Handed Woman," the nuanced instrumental "Blues In G," and aptly-pegged "Johnnie Johnson Blues." The two-disc set includes a second disc of interviews with Johnson and Radio Hall of Fame and SiriusXM DJ Pat St. John discussing Johnson's career in one of the last interviews he gave before his passing on April 13, 2005. Johnson's signature piano playing is heard on a parade of Chuck Berry's beloved originals including "Maybellene," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Nadine," "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man," "Carol" and Too Much Monkey Business." Berry and Johnson played and toured together on and off, from 1952 until 1973. Information: johnniejohnson.net.

Advance Singles

Artist: Cheap Trick

Single title: "Twelve Gates" from the forthcoming album All Washed Up (BMG)

You might like if you enjoy: Cheap Trick, The Smithereens, The Beatles
Tell me more: Cheap Trick's shimmering new single "Twelve Gates" is the first music off the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band's forthcoming 21st studio album All Washed Up (arriving via BMG on Friday, Nov. 14). The song is a sumptuous listen, with singer Robin Zander's signature tenor vocals draped in a Beatlesque soundscape sure to please fans of the band. The 11-track All Washed Up will be available digitally as well as on standard black vinyl and audio CD. A limited-edition exclusive "Orange Marble" LP variant of the album, limited to 1,000 units, will be available to pre-order via the band's new D2C store. Information: cheaptrick.com.

Artist: Florence + the Machine

Single Title: "Everybody Scream" is the title track off Everybody Scream (Republic Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Florence + the Machine, Lady Gaga, Danny Elfman
Tell me more: "Everybody Scream" is the title track from the sixth album from Florence + the Machine. The album is set for release on Oct. 31. The dramatic single, as well as an accompanying video directed by Autumn de Wilde are available now. Florence Welch wrote and produced the album over the past two years with a close-knit circle of collaborators. Listen to the single via the following link: https://florence.lnk.to/everybodyscream-song. For more information or to pre-order Everybody Scream, visit florenceandthemachine.net.

Artist: The Flashcubes

Single Title: "If These Hands" (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Badfinger, Raspberries
Tell me more: Syracuse, New York-based power pop legends are set to issue the infectious new single "If These Hands," a track set for release on Aug. 29 as part of the highly-anticipated Make Something Happen! A Tribute to the Flashcubes. "If These Hands" and several other Flashcubes recordings will appear alongside 21 covers of their classics by other artists on the set coming courtesy of Big Stir Records. Information: BigStirRecords.com.

Robert Kinsler

Heart announces additional dates as Royal Flush Tour continues

Heart has just announced a number of new dates on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band's "Royal Flush Tour"...Robert Kinsler 

HEART ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL DATES AS ROYAL FLUSH TOUR 2025 CONTINUES  THE ICONIC ROCK BAND ADDS STOPS IN LAS VEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY, SEATTLE, CINCINNATI AND MORE  PUBLIC ON-SALE BEGINS FRIDAY, JULY 11 AT 10 AM LOCAL TIME

Photo credit by Criss Cain.

“...this is a group whose live appearances ought to compel  a mandatory pilgrimage.” – Variety   Los Angeles, CA – July 8, 2025: The Royal Flush Tour 2025 continues. Following a triumphant return to the stage with shows across North America 2024 and an electrifying run through the first half of 2025, HEART is set to carry their momentum into the fall with a continuation of their acclaimed Royal Flush Tour. Praised by critics and embraced by longtime fans, the tour has proven that the band remain a triumphant force of nature—delivering powerhouse performances that blend timeless hits with raw emotion, blistering musicianship, and undeniable stage chemistry. The full itinerary is below.  With a legendary career spanning more than five decades, HEART has cemented their place in music history, selling over 35 million albums worldwide and delivering 20 electrifying Top 40 singles, while racking up a well-deserved array of accolades and awards including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honor and a Lifetime Achievement Grammy. HEART continues to ignite the stage, performing their beloved, iconic and chart-dominating anthems—including “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You,” and “These Dreams.”  HEART’s current lineup features Ann Wilson (lead vocals and flute), Nancy Wilson (rhythm lead and acoustic guitar, mandolin, mandola, autoharp, blues harp, backing and lead vocals), Ryan Wariner (lead and rhythm guitar), Ryan Waters (lead and rhythm guitar), Paul Moak (lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards, mandolin, banjo and backing vocals), Tony Lucido (bass and backing vocals), and Sean T. Lane (drums and bike). Ann Wilson said, "Heart personifies rock. Its history is incendiary. While some of the best musicians in the country have played in this band over the years it has always remained up to the moment and true to its self. The music we are making at this moment has timeless teeth, muscle, bone and hair, also poetry, soul and emotion. I'm very proud to be a part of it all and I will give all of myself to it as long as we both shall live. It's magic!” Nancy Wilson shared, “This tour has been super exciting so far and it just keeps on expanding and enhancing as we go. Every generation has been showing up for the entirely live experience we bring to the stage. Covering everything from big rock energy to those intimate romantic songs we love, I like to say a Heart show is fun for the whole family!” HEART will be joined by Cheap Trick on the November + December dates unless otherwise indicated. ROYAL FLUSH TOUR 2025 - NEW DATES November 12 - Las Vegas, NV - Fontainebleau Las Vegas * November 14 - Las Vegas, NV - Fontainebleau Las Vegas * November 15 - Las Vegas, NV - Fontainebleau Las Vegas * November 18 - Anaheim, CA - HONDA Center # November 21 - Wheatland, CA - Hard Rock Live * November 23 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena # December 2 - Omaha, NE - Baxter Arena # December 4 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center # December 6 - Gary, IN - Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana * December 8 - Cincinnati, OH - The Andrew J Brady  Music Center * December 10 - Manchester, NH - SNHU Arena + December 12 - Wallingford, CT - Oakdale Theatre * December 17 - Richmond, VA - Altria Theater *  December 19 - Danville, VA - Caesars Virginia * December 21 - Nashville, TN - The Pinnacle  * Previously Announced ROYAL FLUSH TOUR 2025 August 10 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center ^ August 12 – Bakersfield, CA – Dignity Health Arena ^ August 13 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena ^ August 15 – Rancho Mirage, CA – Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage * August 16 – Prescott Valley, AZ – Findlay Toyota Center ^ August 18 – Loveland, CO – Blue Arena ^ August 19 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre ^ August 21 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center ^ August 23 – Des Moines, IA – Des Moines Civic Center * August 24 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena ^ August 26 – Akron, OH – The University of Akron - E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall * August 27 – Allentown, PA – The Allentown Fairgrounds - Grandstand * August 29 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC ^ August 30 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts + ^ with Todd Rundgren * An Evening With Heart # with Cheap Trick + Special Guest to Be Announced

Connect with HEART FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | WEBSITE