Showing posts with label Daryl Hall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daryl Hall. Show all posts

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Daryl Hall & John Oates finalize 2021 Tour Dates

 So nice to see major tours coming back in 2021! Among the upcoming dates on the tour is a stop at Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio (check out my review of the duo's wonderful performance there in 2014 HERE). Robert Kinsler 


Daryl Hall & John Oates Finalize 
2021 Tour Dates

Special Guests Squeeze And KT Tunstall To Support

Tickets On-Sale Now at LiveNation.com

HoagieNation Festival 2021 Set For August 7 In Philly; 
Hollywood Bowl Set for October 1
Photo Credit: Mick Rock
(New York, NY - June 24, 2021): On February 28, 2020, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Daryl Hall & John Oates were looking ahead to a busy year. That evening they would play a sold out show at NYC’s Madison Square Garden, with a massive nationwide spring and summer tour set to launch the following month. But as March dawned, the world transformed, and within weeks their entire tour had been cancelled. Now, the best-selling duo in music history have rescheduled many of those shows, finalizing a twenty-five date tour produced by Live Nation, launching August 5 in Mansfield, MA, and including the HoagieNation Festival Presented by Daryl Hall and John Oates on August 7 in Philadelphia, an October 1 performance at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, and much more. Special guests Squeeze and KT Tunstall, who were slated for the 2020 tour, will support in most markets. See below for a full list of dates.

VIP and general tickets for the tour are available now at LiveNation.com
“For a lot of our fans, we may have been the last ticket they bought before lockdown,” says Daryl Hall. “Now we want to be the first show they look forward to as the world reopens.”

“The world needs live music and playing live has been an important part of my life,” adds John Oates. “The fans miss it and I miss it and it's going to be exciting and emotional to get back on tour again.”  
 

ABOUT DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
Daryl Hall & John Oates are legends who continue to inspire today’s musical trailblazers. Their influence on multiple generations of musicians and songwriters is perhaps best summarized by SPIN who claimed “Hall and Oates are the new Velvet Underground.” On-the-record fans include: Cameron Crowe, Mark Ronson, Questlove, Adam Sandler, John Mayer, Booker T. Jones, Rob Thomas, Brandon Flowers, Amos Lee, Ben Gibbard and Nick Lowe.
In 1987, the RIAA recognized Daryl Hall & John Oates as the number-one selling duo in music history, a record they hold to this day. In 2003, the legendary duo were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2008, they were honored at BMI’s Pop Awards with the Icon Award, and in 2014, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2016, they together received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
 
ABOUT SQUEEZE
Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford have been compared to Lennon and McCartney since “Take Me I’m Yours,” their first release in 1978, blasted the band into the forefront of the UK music scene. The legendary duo have since written all of their hits as well as recorded 15 studio albums, 14 compilation albums, four live albums, one extended play and 48 singles. Following their hits including “Tempted,” “Black Coffee in Bed,” “Hourglass,” “Cool For Cats”, “Up The Junction” and “Pulling Mussels From The Shell,” they established themselves as two of the most prolific songwriters of their time with each amassing a wealth of melody-rich earworms over the past four decades as both Squeeze and solo artists. They have also received an Ivor Novello award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music, the Nordoff-Robbins Icon Award and the Mojo Icon Award.
 
ABOUT KT TUNSTALL
Singer-songwriter, KT Tunstall enchants and engages with every song, and that’s why she continues to resonate not only among fans, but throughout pop culture at large. Scotland born and now Los Angeles based, KT Tunstall emerged with her 2004 classic debut Eye To The Telescope spawning such international hits as “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” and “Suddenly I See”, which won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song in 2006. That same year she won her first BRIT Award for Best British Female Artist, and earned Grammy and Mercury Prize nominations in 2007. KT has released six albums internationally, to date: Eye to the Telescope (2004), Drastic Fantastic (2007), Tiger Suit (2010), Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon(2013), KIN (2016) and WAX (2018), cementing her reputation as a major recording talent, as well as a mesmerizing live artist.
 
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES 2021 TOUR DATES
August 5 – Xfinity Center – Mansfield, MA *^
August 7 – HoagieNation – TD Pavilion at the Mann – Philadelphia, PA *
August 9 – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH *^
August 11 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY *^
August 13 – PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ *^
August 15 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY *^
August 19 – Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN *^
August 21 – DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI *^
August 23 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH *^
August 26 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL *^
August 28 – American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Milwaukee, WI *^
August 30 – Xcel Energy Center – St. Paul, MN *^
September 1 – Ball Arena – Denver, CO *^
September 18 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD *^
September 20 – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL *^
September 22 – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood, FL *
September 24 – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – Alpharetta, GA *^
September 26 – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman – Woodlands, TX *^
September 28 – Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, TX *^
October 1 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA *^
November 6 – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino – Indio, CA
November 9 – Maui Arts & Cultural Center – Kahului, HI
November 13 – Neal S. Blaisdell Center – Honolulu, HI
December 3 – Foxwoods – Mashantucket, CT
December 4 – Foxwoods – Mashantucket, CT
* w/ Squeeze
^ w/ KT Tunstall
Daryl Hall and John Oates:

About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com

Wednesday, December 09, 2020

Sights and Sounds: Joe Walsh's Fourth Annual VetsAid 2020 Lineup; Creedence Clearwater Revival 180-Gram Vinyl reissues; Béla Fleck documentary

 More than a little news here to share!! Robert Kinsler


Joe Walsh presents updated final lineup and details for this Saturday's Festival Livestream –
His Fourth Annual VetsAid 2020 - Home For The Holidays:
 
NEARLY 50 PERFORMANCES AND APPEARANCES
FROM ARTISTS ACROSS THE USA INCLUDING:
 
NEVER BEFORE BROADCAST FROM THE VETSAID ARCHIVES:
SHERYL CROW, THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, HAIM, DON HENLEY,
JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT, BRAD PAISLEY, RINGO STARR,
JAMES TAYLOR, KEITH URBAN, JOE WALSH AND ZZ TOP
 
AND NEW PERFORMANCES AND/OR APPEARANCES FROM:
RYAN BINGHAM, JON BON JOVI, THE 5 BROWNS, JIMMY BUFFETT, 
DREW CAREY, KENNY CHESNEY, ALICE COOPER,
KENNY “BABYFACE” EDMONDS, MELISSA ETHERIDGE,
BRANDON FLOWERS, MARY GAUTHIER, VINCE GILL,
PATTY GRIFFIN, DARYL HALL, BEN HARPER,
JAMES HETFIELD, JEWEL, AMJAD ALI KHAN, AMAAN AND AYAAN, THE LUMINEERS, RICHARD MARX, TIM MCGRAW,
WILLIE NELSON AND THE BOYS, PHILLIP PHILLIPS,
NATHANIEL RATELIFF, JOSH RITTER, BLAKE SHELTON,
JAKE SHIMABUKURO, AMANDA SHIRES, GWEN STEFANI,
BILLY BOB THORNTON/THE BOXMASTERS, STEVEN VAN ZANDT,
EDDIE VEDDER, RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, 
JOE WALSH AND VERDINE WHITE 
  
VETSAID 2020: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
TO BE STREAMED ONLINE DECEMBER 12, 2020
AND AVAILABLE FOR RESTREAM THROUGH DECEMBER 14, 2020
 
Tickets on-sale now at vetsaid.veeps.com






Wednesday, December 9, 2020 (Los Angeles, CA.) – Joe Walsh reveals the final artist lineup and details for this Saturday’s VetsAid 2020: Home for the Holidays today, boasting nearly 50 performances and appearances, the multi-hour music festival will raise sorely needed funds to veterans services groups across the country. Join Joe and his friends December 12 for a worldwide broadcast of unique performances, never-before-seen VetsAid footage from years past and great stories from some of the greatest musicians in the world. VetsAid is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and multi-GRAMMY Award winning musician's national 501(c)3 non-profit veterans organization.
 
“Wow – what a show we have this year! Such a diverse and wonderful line up!” Walsh explains, “When you have something like this you humbly ask your friends and colleagues and hope a couple will sign on – kind of like going fishing – but this year everyone I asked said yes! And now it’s turned into a virtual music festival like no other. We know the plight of our vets is hard enough in the best of times, and they are especially vulnerable during this pandemic.
 
“I am proud of this nationwide tradition we’ve created and I’m so glad we can have this show during the holidays featuring all these artists that I love. I’ve got a great feeling about it and know fans will too. I hope it shows the Vets how many people care and want to help - I can’t think of a better way to remember and honor the men and women who have served our country this holiday season than by helping us raise funds to support their essential and basic needs.”   
  
This ticketed event will be streamed on December 12 starting at 6pm ET via vetsaid.veeps.com and will also be available for restream through December 14.
 
Tickets and merch bundles are available now at vetsaid.veeps.com and will be priced from $20 with discounts available for active duty military and veterans using the promo code VALOR.
 
Joe Walsh launched VetsAid on September 20, 2017 with an inaugural concert at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA. The second festival event was in Tacoma, WA and the third in Houston, TX.  VetsAid typically seeks to host the events in cities across the country with large veteran populations. The shows have included performances by musicians including James Taylor, Chris Stapleton, Don Henley, ZZ Top, Sheryl Crow, The Doobie Brothers, Zac Brown Band, Jason Isbell, Keith Urban, Haim, Gary Clark Jr. and Joe’s brother-in-law Ringo.
 
VetsAid has raised nearly 1.5 million dollars and supports veterans and their families.

All net proceeds from the 2020 festival will go directly to the veterans’ services charities selected through a vetting process coordinated in tandem with the Combined Arms Institute.
 
For more information, please visit www.vetsaid.org.


CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL’S PENDULUM AND MARDI GRAS
SET FOR HALF-SPEED MASTERED 180-GRAM VINYL REISSUES

Band’s sixth and seventh studio albums include classic hits
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “Hey Tonight,” and “Sweet Hitch-Hiker”


Click here to pre-order


Los Angeles, CA (December 9, 2020)—Craft Recordings continues their salute to the enduring musical legacy of Creedence Clearwater Revival with the release of half-speed mastered editions of the band’s two final albums: Pendulum, which was released exactly 50 years ago today (December 9, 1970), and their closing studio album, 1972’s Mardi Gras. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl and set for release February 12thboth records were mastered by the award-winning engineer Miles Showell at Abbey Road StudiosAvailable for pre-order beginning today, these audiophile-quality LPs come housed in beautifully crafted jackets (tip-on gatefold for Pendulum and embossed for Mardi Gras), replicating the albums’ original packaging.

Pendulum, which marked CCR’s second release of 1970—following Cosmo’s Factory—was a unique title in the band’s catalog for several reasons. First, the album was the group’s sole LP to feature all original material. Typically, CCR sprinkled covers of blues songs, traditional material, and rock ‘n’ roll standards into each of their albums, putting their own spin on classic favorites. Pendulum also found the guitar-heavy group expanding their sonic palate—experimenting with new sounds (including the use of saxophones, vocal choirs, and keyboards) and even venturing into psychedelia.

The quartet’s musical explorations paid off. Not only was Pendulum a critical success, but it also spawned two global Top Ten hits: the reflective “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and the upbeat “Hey Tonight. The singles, released as a double A-side in 1971, peaked at No.8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other highlights included the stomper “Molina, the bluesy “Pagan’s Groove” and the twangy “Sailor’s Lament.” Recently, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” gained renewed popularity with the 2018 launch of a new official music video featuring Sasha Frolova, Jack Quaid, and Erin Moriarty (the latter two also featuring in Amazon’s smash hit series, The Boys), introducing the song to a new generation. To date, the video—available on the official CCR YouTube channel—has received over 61 million plays.

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s seventh and final studio album, 1972’s Mardi Gras, followed the departure of founding member and rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty. The album, however, found the remaining trio of musicians taking a more collaborative approach to songwriting. Prior to Mardi Gras, frontman John Fogerty was the band’s creative leader—writing, arranging, and producing the majority of every album. For Mardi Gras, bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford not only penned many of the tracks (including Cook’s hard-driving “Door to Door,” and Clifford’s rollicking “Tearin’ Up the Country”) but also sang on them. Other highlights off the album include a cover of the rockabilly classic “Hello Mary Lou,” as well as the Fogerty-penned rocker “Sweet Hitch-Hiker”—a Top Ten hit in the US, Australia, Canada, and across Europe. The poignant “Someday Never Comes,” meanwhile, marked the group’s final single.

While the band members went their separate ways after Mardi Gras, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s legacy only continued to grow. Today, CCR remains one of the best-selling groups of all time, thanks to their trove of generation-defining hits and their singular, roots-rock sound.

Roughly half a century later, CCR fans can enjoy a new vibrancy when they revisit Pendulum and Mardi Gras, thanks to the exacting process of half-speed mastering. Using high-res transfers from the original analog tapes, the process involves playing back the audio at half its recorded speed while the cutting lathe is also turned to half the desired playback speed. The technique allows more time to cut a micro-precise groove, resulting in more accuracy with frequency extremes and dynamic contrasts. The result on the turntables is an exceptional level of sonic clarity and punch.

Both of these special pressings were previously released only as part of Creedence’s collectible, seven-LP The Studio Albums Collection box set, and follow standalone reissues of the band’s first five albums—available here.

Earlier this year, the three surviving members of CCR spoke with Uncut and reflected on their time in the band. “We didn’t get to where we got just falling off a log,” said John Fogerty, as he spoke of the band’s tireless work ethic. “It’s a wonderful thing to have a goal and then to attain it, more or less.” Stu Cook compared the band’s rise to “a rocket ride, we went up so fast. We burned until we burned out, in three-and-a-half years from start to finish.” But, while brief, those years together brought the group unparalleled creative achievement and global success. “We had a magic band,” recalled Doug Clifford. “We got high playing the music.” Fogerty added that he was “humbly pleased” knowing that, 50 years later, CCR’s music “is still relevant, that people still care about it. That’s just so satisfying.”

Pre-order Pendulum or Mardi Gras half-speed masters, with special bundles offered via the Craft Recordings store. A limited gold vinyl edition of Pendulum is also available exclusively via Vinyl, Me Please.


Tracklist - Pendulum:

Side A:
1. Pagan Baby
2. Sailor’s Lament
3. Chameleon
4. Have You Ever Seen the Rain
5. (Wish I Could) Hideaway

Side B:
6. Born to Move
7. Hey Tonight
8. It’s Just a Thought
9. Molina
10. Rude Awakening #2

Tracklist - Mardi Gras:

Side A:
1. Lookin’ for a Reason
2. Take It Like a Friend
3. Need Someone to Hold
4. Tearin’ Up the Country
5. Someday Never Comes

Side B:
1. What Are You Going to Do
2. Sail Away
4. Hello Mary Lou
5. Door to Door
6. Sweet Hitch-Hiker


FREE LIVESTREAM OF DOCUMENTARY FILM
THROW DOWN YOUR HEART
WITH Q&A FROM BÉLA AND DIRECTOR SASCHA PALADINO
 
TUNE IN FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 @ 7:00PM ET
 
CELEBRATING GRAMMY® NOMINATION FOR BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM




Los Angeles, CA (December 9, 2020)─Bringing good cheer for the holidays, Béla Fleck and his brother, director Sascha Paladino, will be hosting a live screening of their acclaimed documentary film Throw Down Your Heart this Friday (12/11) at 7:00 pm ET via Facebook Live and YouTube. The free event, in association with NPR Live Sessions, the Americana Music Association, and co-presenter Folk Alliance International, will include an introduction from Béla followed by an interactive Q&A with Béla joined by Sascha.

Released earlier this year, Throw Down Your Heart: The Complete Africa Sessions is the comprehensive film and music collection from Béla Fleck’s remarkable journey across Africa to explore the roots of the banjo. The expanded collection includes the three-time GRAMMY®-winning albums Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3—Africa Sessions and Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks, as well as a previously unreleased duo album with kora master Toumani Diabaté, titled The Ripple Effect. The package also offers the complete film Throw Down Your Heart, with commentary from Fleck and Paladino, along with 14 bonus performances.

The 3-CD/1-DVD boxed set, also available digitally, has been nominated for the 2021 Best Historical Album GRAMMY® Award.

Watch the trailer for the Throw Down Your Heart film here, or stream/order Throw Down Your Heart: The Complete Africa Sessions album here.


“It’s about damn time somebody drew the line back!” 
 Pete Seeger

“This is a story of how Béla Fleck, America’s most celebrated banjoist, went on a quest in search of his musical soul mate’s African roots—and wound up discovering himself… Throw Down Your Heart is not just a stunning documentary and soundtrack, but an important work of artistic memory and conscience.” 
 Los Angeles Times

“Traditional African music turns out to suit him beautifully… At every turn Mr. Fleck works respectfully, learning and adapting, trusting sameness over difference.”
– The New York Times

“…a dazzling film. Throw Down Your Heart is proof positive that music is life.”
– Michael McKean

“With Throw Down Your Heart, Béla Fleck has contributed significantly to the history of the banjo, as well as inventing a style of music never before played on this great instrument.”
– Steve Martin

Throw Down Your Heart speaks to your heart all along the way, making the case, subtly but clearly, that we are connected… A beautiful, poignant and well-crafted film.”
– Zakir Hussain

“...inspiring, touching, and filled with moments that celebrate life. The connection between music and the essence of human existence has been beautifully captured…”
– Christopher Guest

“Today in the world everything seems to be about quantity, but I think the quality is the most important thing. This film is quality. I learned things that I did not know about Africa and African music. It will help social and cultural development... people without culture are people without soul!”
– Toumani Diabaté

“It’s the living of a dream. The genuine warmth, affinity, respect and love between Béla and the amazing African musicians he met is beautifully captured. Very inspiring and uplifting.”
– Chick Corea

“I thought it was so strange and moving and beautiful.”
– Neil Gaiman

“Love the movie! Beautiful and inspiring. In some of those improvs I asked myself, ‘How did he ever figure out where ‘one’ was?’... Great playing, and a stunning documentary.”
– Joe Satriani

Throw Down Your Heart is a passionate exploration of music and the connections it seems to instantly and effortlessly form between cultures. Hooray for Béla Fleck for packing up his banjo and taking it to Africa.”
– Ann Patchett

“It completely blew me away. I don’t think I have ever seen such a complete musician at work, what a joy it was to behold.”
– Billy Connolly


About Béla Fleck:
15-time GRAMMY® award winner Béla Fleck has reinvented the image and the sound of the banjo through a remarkable career in bluegrass, jazz, classical, pop and beyond, and has been nominated in more categories than any other artist in GRAMMY history.  

About Folk Alliance International:
Folk Alliance International (FAI) was founded in 1989 to connect folk music leaders aiming to sustain the community and genre. Today FAI is the leading international voice for folk music with a network of more than 3,000 members. Folk Alliance International’s mission is to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation, and promotion. FAI defines folk broadly as “the music of the people” (reflective of any community they are from), and programs a diverse array of subgenres including, but not limited to Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Global Roots, Hip-Hop, Old-Time, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Traditional, Zydeco, and various fusions.

About Rounder Records:
Rounder Records is one of the world's most historic Americana and bluegrass record labels. Rounder’s rich catalog includes critically-acclaimed offerings by iconic artists like Gregg Allman, Alison Krauss, and Steve Martin as well as rising stars Samantha Fish, Sierra Hull, I’m With Her, Sarah Jarosz, Ruston Kelly, the SteelDrivers, Billy Strings, and The War And Treaty. Rounder has consistently demonstrated a commitment to nurture and develop careers over the long haul—a number of artists who got their start at Rounder are still recording with the label today, including Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, and George Thorogood. A leader in the preservation of precious historic recordings, Rounder has brought the music of the Carter Family, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, and Jelly Roll Morton back to vibrant life and released epic anthologies from the Library of Congress and the Alan Lomax Collection that have been universally acclaimed.

About Craft Recordings:
Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most prestigious collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its rich and storied repertoire includes legendary artists such as Joan Baez, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, Nine Inch Nails, Thelonious Monk, Otis Redding, R.E.M. and Traveling Wilburys, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Concord, Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Milestone, Musart, Nitro, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Sugar Hill, Vanguard, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord Recorded Music. For more info, visitCraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,YouTube, and Spotify


Wednesday, October 14, 2020

The Bird and The Bee announce release of duo's first holiday music album

I had always hoped The Bird and The Bee might release a holiday album. Based on the two advance tracks, their own jazz-tinged "You And I At Christmas Time" and a artful rocking cover of "Little Drummer Boy" (featuring guest Dave Grohl) this will be one of the season's most festive releases...and couldn't we all use a little cheer in 2020? Robert Kinsler


THE BIRD AND THE BEE
ANNOUNCE FIRST HOLIDAY ALBUM
PUT UP THE LIGHTS

Out 10/23/20 Via No Expectations/ Release Me Records 

Release Original Track "You and I At Christmas Time" 
and 




The Bird and The Bee are thrilled to announce Put Up The Lights, a collection of the duo’s favorite holiday songs alongside new and original compositions, due out October 23 via No Expectation/Release Me Records. Pre-order the album HERE

Since forming in 2005, The Bird And The Bee have brought a breezy elegance to their music, putting their own idiosyncratic twist on time-bending indie-pop starting with their beloved Again and Again and Again and Again EP followed by 3 original studio albums. The duo have also mastered the art of the cover song. This mastery can be heard throughout their amazing takes on timeless tracks on 2010’s Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates and 2019’s bombastic Interpreting the Masters Volume 2: A Tribute to Van Halen, both of which garnered critical acclaim. With Put Up The Lights, The Bird And The Bee aim to spread holiday cheer by putting their own spin on classics like “Deck The Halls” and “Sleigh Ride” alongside originals like “Merry Merry” and “You and I At Christmas Time”.

“I’m so happy it’s finally here,” stated Greg Kurstin. “We included some of our favorite holiday songs and wrote a couple of originals too. One of my favorite songs we wrote is “You and I at Christmas Time” which was written through email. I sent Inara the piano part and I was blown away by what she sang over it.”

While the idea for Put Up The Lights dates back to 2007, it wasn’t until they released Interpreting the Masters Volume 2: A Tribute to Van Halen in 2019 that they committed to making the album. And then the pandemic hit. While the delightful duo have historically worked together in the studio, the current state of affairs would not allow for that. Instead, Greg would send a track recorded in his home studio in between borrowed moments away from his kids. In turn, Inara moved her recording operation into a closet and recorded all of the vocals on Garageband in between borrowed moments away from her kids. 

“Working on a holiday record during summer is always strange, no matter what the circumstance,” commented Inara George. “But working on a holiday album during the summer, and a global pandemic, worldwide civil rights protesting, historical wildfires and the lead up to the most important election of our lives is really, really strange. Although, I have to admit, it felt like such a sweet little momentary escape singing “Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire…” all alone in my closet. It was a little respite from reality.”

The recording of Put Up The Lights became an unexpected source of calm and joy for the songwriters and gave light to the power of holiday songs. 

“Holiday songs give us such an escape from a time of year that is supposed to be so jolly and happy, but a lot of times can be so stressful and even lonely,” added Inara. “And even more universally, how music in general, always offers that to the listener… an escape, a moment of joy, a feeling of belonging. There’s a song out there for every occasion."



Put Up The Lights
 Tracklist:

2. The Christmas Song
3. Sleigh Ride
4. Deck The Halls
6. Christmas Time Is Here
7. Merry Merry
8. Hallelujah Chorus

Follow The Bird and The Bee: