Sights and Sounds: Paul McCartney, Kennedy Center Honors, Gov't Mule, Jason Falkner

Wow! Lots of big news to share...

Paul McCartney has announced plans to compose his first-ever musical, an adaptation of "It's a Wonderful Life." 


McCartney has partnered with British theatre and film impresario Bill Kenwright who will produce the show. Get all the details about the upcoming musical on Sir Paul's website here.

I have seen McCartney a number of times over the years. You can read my most recent concert review here.

Earth, Wind & Fire performing at the Pacific Amphitheatre in
Costa Mesa, CA, on July 27, 2018.
Photo courtesy of the Orange County Fair.

Linda Ronstadt and Earth, Wind and Fire are among the recipients announced to be honored at the next Kennedy Center Honors. I am especially thrilled to see Earth, Wind & Fire perform. I am a huge fan of the group and have seen them a number of times, including in Costa Mesa a year ago (you can read my review of that show here). The 42nd annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala will be held on Dec. 7, 2019. Get all the details on Billboard:

Gov't Mule have released the video to the title track "Bring On The Music" ahead of tomorrow's release of their new live film and album Bring On The Music - Live at The Capitol Theatre (Provogue / Mascot Label Group), directed by renowned music photographer and director Danny Clinch (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Phish). PRESS HERE to watch and check out the first look via Guitar Player. The video evolves from an intimateacoustic jam to an electrifying stage performance showcasing Gov't Mule in all their rock glory. 

"'Bring On The Music' is a song about loss and inevitable change, and also about the relationship between the band and our audience which we feel extremely lucky to have," shares Gov't Mule frontman and GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, producer, and revered guitarist Warren Haynes.

PRESS HERE to watch the trailer for the film, and check out previously released video cuts "Mr. Man," "The Man I Want To Be," and "Life Before Insanity."

Check out the band's website for more information.

Finally, last night I was at FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine to catch the "Night Running Tour." After catching Spoon's impressive set I ran into Jason Falkner, a long-time member of Beck's touring band and famed artist known for his work with Jellyfish, The Grays, Pugwash and more! A true honor to meet one of the most talented artists on the planet!

Jason Falkner, left, with Robert Kinsler.
Photo: Ron Bronsgeest

If the "Night Running Tour" is coming to your town, make sure to go. Spoon, Cage The Elephant and Beck were all terrific last night. Next stop for the tour is in Las Vegas on Friday night, July 19th...

Information: https://www.cagetheelephant.com/2019/02/11/co-headline-tour-with-beck/


Robert Kinsler

New Music Essentials: Santana, Johnny Shines and Buck Owens

Trailblazing guitarist/band leader Carlos Santana is back with one of the most exciting albums of his long career while an unreleased live recording featuring bluesman Johnny Shines and an important collection highlighting Buck Owens & the Buckaroos are also worth discovering. 

Artist: Santana
Title: Africa Speaks (Concord Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Santana, Gary Clark Jr., Buika
Tell me more: Africa Speaks (released on June 7, 2019) marks yet another incredible artistic step forward for legendary guitarist Carlos Santana. Long recognized and celebrated for his groundbreaking blend of rock, Latin, blues and jazz fusion, the 71-years-young Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has now added the signature sounds of Africa to his band Santana's approach for a joyful and spirited sonic adventure. The powerful production of Rick Rubin is notable here; just listen to Santana's fiery and bristling fret work on "Batonga," "Yo Me Lo Merezco" and the affecting "Breaking Down the Door." Equally important is the role of Spanish singer Buika, whose dynamic vocals are a match for Santana's amped-up guitar play. The ambitious "Oye Este Mi Canto" begins gracefully and builds to an explosive peak before descending into tranquil bliss. "Blue Skies" blends jazz with African rhythms with bona fide style; the track finds Laura Mvula adding backing vocals to the ambitious track. "Paraisos Quemados is bolstered by Benny Rietveld's funky baseline. "Africa Speaks" finds lyrics for some songs being sung in English and others in Spanish but to be sure the power and spirit of this album quickly casts its spell and doesn't let go. Please note: if you plan to purchase the album on audio CD, plan to get it at a Target store where there is an exclusive version of the album that features two bonus tracks ("Mientras Tanto," "Dios Bendiga Tu Interior"). Santana will headline at the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine on June 20, and at the Hollywood Bowl on June 24. Information: concordrecords.com.

Artist: Johnny Shines
Title: The Blues Came Falling Down – Live 1973 (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Robert Johnson, Keb' Mo'
Tell me more: Countless historic performances have been lost over time but thanks to Omnivore Recordings a previously-unheard 1973 concert recording featuring Memphis-born bluesman Johnny Shines is available for all to hear today. Born in 1915, singer-guitarist-songwriter Shines toured with Robert Johnson in the 1930s and played blues with the legendary likes of Robert Lockwood Jr., Little Walter, Willie Dixon and Mississippi Fred McDowell. Recorded live at Washington University in St. Louis, The Blues Came Falling Down – Live 1973 is a 20-track set that fully captures the spirit and freewheeling Southern acoustic blues that Shines had mastered decades before. Listening to Shines' version of Robert Johnson's "Kind Hearted Woman Blues," "I'm A Steady Rollin' Man" and "Sweet Home Chicago" – the latter enhanced by Leroy Jodie Pierson's acoustic guitar work – is to hear the magic of those blues classics come fully to life. Shines' own material is just as formidable, as evidenced by the vocals-anchored "Have You Ever Loved A Woman," and nuanced "The Blues Came Falling Down" and "Big Star Falling." The aforementioned Pierson's insightful liner notes provide a revealing look at the life and career of Shines (who passed away in 1992). Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Buck Owens & the Buckaroos
Title: The Complete Capitol Singles, 1971-1975 (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Buck Owens, Dwight Yoakam, Susan Raye
Tell me more: Buck Owens & the Buckaroos' newly-released The Complete Capitol Singles, 1971-1975 is actually the third and final in a series of wonderful titles featuring the legendary country artist's Capitol singles from the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Taken from the original stereo masters, the 42-song collection also includes the B-side to all 21 singles from that span. The breadth of material on the new set extends from a heartfelt reworking of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and the bluegrass gem "Ruby (Are You Mad)" to the winning country waltz "Great Expectations" and a number of fun musical curios (including "Too Old to Cut the Mustard," "Full Time Daddy," "On the Cover Of The Music City News" and "Big Game Hunter"). There are a score of terrific duets with Susan Raye (including the novelty cut "Santa's Gonna Come in a Stagecoach," joyful "One of Everything You Got" and tender "Cryin' Time") that showcase the pair's top-tier vocals. The detailed liner notes penned by author/country music historian Scott B. Bomar provide welcome insight to this outstanding two-disc set. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.


Robert Kinsler

Ann Wilson releases "I Am the Highway" off forthcoming album 'Immortal' today

If you are planning to hit the highly-anticipated "Stars Align Tour" with Jeff Beck, Paul Rodgers and Ann Wilson this summer, make sure to catch up on Ann Wilson's new solo work, including the first single from her forthcoming LP Immortal...

ANN WILSON OF HEART

TODAY RELEASES "I AM THE HIGHWAY"

AS FIRST TRACK FROM HER NEW ALBUM

'IMMORTAL'

DUE OUT SEPTEMBER 14 ON BMG

ANN'S HEADLINING DATES START TONIGHT,

AFTER WHICH SHE JOINS THE SUMMER-LONG 

"STARS ALIGN TOUR"

WITH JEFF BECK AND PAUL RODGERS BEGINNING JULY 18

Photo Credit: Kimberly Adamis

Ann Wilson of HEART, one of rock's most distinctive and powerful vocalists, has released "I Am the Highway" as the first track from her new album that's due out September 14 on BMG. Fittingly titled Immortal, the album features 10 musically diverse tracks that pay tribute to some of Wilson's influences and friends who've recently passed and whose music poignantly lives on.

"I Am The Highway"--originally an Audioslave song that was sung by the late Chris Cornell and written with his bandmates--was released today (July 6) across all digital platform safter its premiere yesterday at RollingStone.com. The song is also available as an instant-grat track with album pre-orders, starting today; click here to access.

"The song is strong, confident, spiritual," says the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee of "I Am The Highway." "It's about a person who refuses to be tied down to the mundane, who is constantly looking for freedom and independence on a more universal scale, not just ordinary everyday reality. It was the cry of a soul, and it's a beautiful song. Chris and I were friends; we had a lot in common, we were both outsiders in a way. He left us with amazing music."

For Immortal, which marks her debut for BMG, Wilson has teamed with original Heart producer Mike Flicker (Dreamboat Annie, Magazine, Little Queen, Dog and Butterfly and Bebe Le Strange, among others). "Mike was the first producer to believe in me," Wilson says. "He was my first teacher in the studio and knows how to provide that special support needed to bring out my soul in the recording process. It is exciting to work with him for the first time since 1980. I have traveled many, many miles since then but the old feeling is still there and fresh on Immortal. He has fearlessly helped me bring my ideas to life once again and it's been a great collaboration."

ANN chose the album title Immortal after revealing some working titles early on in the project. "The original working titles evolved as the concept for the album evolved; a little bit at a time," explains ANN. "As my understanding of what I had undertaken grew and clarified, I realized a larger truth; that the souls may have departed but the songs will forever be their resonances. These are the poets of our time and their expressions must be handed down. Poetry is lasting and elemental like carvings in rock."

The finely etched tracks that comprise Immortal cover a lot of musical ground, with many highlights including songs by Leonard Cohen ("A Thousand Kisses Deep"),Amy Winehouse ("Back to Black"), David Bowie ("I'm Afraid of Americans"),Lesley Gore ("You Don't Own Me") and Tom Petty ("Luna"). ANN says the criteria for choosing this collection of songs was easy. "First of all, I had to LOVE them! They had to be songs I could get inside of authentically as a singer. Lyrics are important to me but the most important thing is always the marriage of words and melody that makes the song magic!"

With sexism at the forefront of the national conversation, ANN says this did factor into the inclusion of "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore. "'You Don't Own Me' was originally an early feminist anthem in the 1960's and '70's. Since then the idea of self possession has grown to be more universal...This song is about refusing to be objectified and owned. By anyone."

Immortal includes some very special guests as well. "Warren Haynes plays on Tom Petty's 'Luna' and 'You Don't Own Me,'" Wilson reveals. "Ben Mink is featured on Leonard Cohen's 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' and Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black.' They are both musicians and great people whom I admire. It's always a pleasure and an honor to work with them. Their souls shine through on these songs!"

The full IMMORTAL track listing is as follows:

"You Don't Own Me" (Lesley Gore)

"I Am the Highway" (Chris Cornell, Audioslave)

"Luna" (Tom Petty)

"I'm Afraid of Americans" (David Bowie)

"Politician" (Cream) in honor of Jack Bruce

"A Thousand Kisses Deep" (Leonard Cohen)

"Life in the Fast Lane" (Joe Walsh, The Eagles) in honor of Glenn Frey

"Back to Black" (Amy Winehouse)

"A Different Corner" (George Michael)

"Baker Street" (Gerry Rafferty)

ANN's headlining solo dates start tonight (July 6) in Snoqualmie, WA and run through July 15 in Aspen, CO. Then, she joins the much-anticipated "Stars Align Tour" with Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers, which kicks off July 18 in West Valley City, Utah and stops in over 20 cities across the U.S. and Canada including Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Toronto and Nashville, before wrapping August 26 in Tampa.ANN's set list this summer will include songs from IMMORTAL. The songs will also be featured in ANN's first-ever solo television special (details TBA), taped this past Aprilat the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL, to coincide with the album's release.

ANN WILSON's upcoming tour dates are as follows:

DATE		CITY	VENUE
Headlining Dates:
Fri	7/6	Snoqualmie, WA	Snoqualmie Casino
Sat	7/7	Bremerton, WA	Admiral Theatre
Mon	7/9	Salem, OR	Elsinore Theatre
Wed	7/11	Jacksonville, OR	Britt Pavilion
Thu	7/12	Lemoore, CA	Tachi Palace
Sat	7/14	Albuquerque, NM	Route 66 Casino
Sun	7/15	Aspen, CO	Belly Up
Stars Align Tour with Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers:
Wed	7/18	West Valley City, UT	USANA Amphitheatre
Fri	7/20	Irvine, CA	FivePoint Amphitheatre
Sun	7/22	Chula Vista, CA	Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
Tue	7/24	Houston, TX	Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
Wed	7/25	Dallas, TX	The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Sat	7/28	St. Louis, MO	Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sun	7/29	Chicago, IL	Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Tue	7/31	Detroit, MI	DTE Energy Music Theatre
Wed	8/1	Toronto, ON	Budweiser Stage
Fri	8/3	Boston, MA	Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
Sat	8/4	Camden, NJ	BB&T Pavilion
^Tue	8/7	Lewiston, NY	Artpark Amphitheatre
Wed	8/8	Cincinnati, OH	Riverbend Music Center
Fri	8/10	Indianapolis, IN	Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
^Sat	8/11	Pittsburgh, PA	Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts
Sun	8/12	Holmdel, NJ	PNC Bank Arts Center
Tue	8/14	Wantagh, NY	Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Fri	8/17	Nashville, TN	Nashville Municipal Auditorium
Sun	8/19	Charlotte, NC	PNC Music Pavilion
^Mon	8/20	Vienna, VA	Wolf Trap
Thu	8/23	Jacksonville, FL	Daily's Place
Sat	8/25	West Palm Beach, FL	Coral Sky Amphitheatre
Sun	8/26	Tampa, FL	MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
^with Jeff Beck only
with Cheap Trick
Fri	9/21	Lincoln, CA	Thunder Valley Casino Resort

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MEDIA RELEASE: Styx, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts to co-headline U.S. Summer Tour; Tesla to open shows

STYX, JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS TO CO-HEADLINE

U.S. SUMMER TOUR KICKING OFF MAY 30 WITH TESLA

 

TICKETS ON SALE STARTING FEBRUARY 16 ON LIVENATION.COM

 

 

 

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 13, 2018) – Legendary rockers STYX and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS are teaming up with TESLA for a summer U.S. tour that kicks off May 30 in Irvine, CA at the FivePoint Amphitheatre.

 

Tickets for various cities of the tour, produced by Live Nation, will go on sale starting Friday, February 16 at 10am local time at Livenation.com. STYX and TESLA will be offering VIP packages via their own exclusive pre-sales beginning Wednesday, February 14 at 10am local time at StyxWorld.com and Teslatheband.com.  Fans can explore JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS VIP packages available at the time of ticket purchase and at VIPNation.com.

 

Check out this video to learn more about the STYX/JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS/TESLA tour:

https://youtu.be/qelxkiMjhdk.

 

STYX / Photo credit: Jason Powell

STYX: Tommy Shaw (vocals, guitars), James “JY” Young (vocals, guitars), Lawrence Gowan (vocals, keyboards), Todd Sucherman (drums) and Ricky Phillips (bass), along with the occasional surprise appearance by original bassist Chuck Panozzo—would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late '70s and early '80s, due to a fondness for big rockers and soaring power ballads.  Over the course of their 40-year career they’ve released 15 studio albums, six best-of compilations and four live albums, garnering eight Top Ten singles. STYX has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Throughout their illustrious career, they’ve performed more live shows since 1999 than all of the previous years of its career combined. Two Super Bowl appearances, Pollstar box office chart-topping tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, and Bad Company (to name only a few), two more studio albums. September 2, 2016 marked the long-awaited release date of STYX: LIVE AT THE ORLEANS ARENA LAS VEGAS on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Formats via Eagle Rock Entertainment. It captures the band performing in July 2014 such fan favorites as:  “Too Much Time On My Hands,” Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man),” “Renegade,” and more. It also includes a special surprise visit from Don Felder—formerly of the Eagles—for a rousing performance of “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights).” It was released on CD July 24, 2015. After 14 years, STYX’s sonically sweet 16th studio album and its most ambitious, most challenging, and most rewarding album to date, THE MISSION, was finally released June 16, 2017 on the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe. It debuted on variousBillboard 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 Top 200 Albums (includes catalog and streaming).

 

Joan Jett
Photo credit: Roger Erickson

JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS:  Joan Jett is an originator, an innovator, and a visionary. As the leader of the hard-rocking Blackhearts, with whom she has become a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, she’s had eight Platinum and Gold albums and nine Top 40 singles, including the classics "Bad Reputation," "I Love Rock 'N' Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You," and "Crimson and Clover." Her independent record label, Blackheart, was founded in 1980 after she was rejected by no less than 23 labels. Blackheart is one of the longest running indie labels and continues to give voice to new bands. As a producer, she has overseen albums by Bikini Kill, Circus Lupus, as well as the Germs' LA punk masterpiece, GI. Jett’s music has become a permanent force in mainstream culture. Jett and the Blackhearts released their latest record, UNVARNISHED, in 2013 and continue touring the globe with headline shows alongside fellow rock icons like The Who, Green Day and the Foo Fighters. Additionally, Jett has acted and appeared in movies & television, including the film Light Of Day. Jett was also able to see her story told in The Runaways, the film based on (lead singer of The Runaways) Cherie Currie's book Neon Angel, starring Kristen Stewart as Jett, and Dakota Fanning as Currie. Jett was close to the project, serving as executive producer. In January, the documentary film based on Jett’s life, “Bad Reputation,” – produced by Blackheart’s SVP Carianne Brinkman and directed by Kevin Kerslake – premiered to critical acclaim at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, with the New York Post hailing that “‘Bad Reputation’ does it right, tracing Jett’s trailblazing path as one of the first, and still the hardest-rocking, women.”

 

Tesla / Photo credit: Ross Halfin

TESLA: Over the course of their thirty-five-year career, the iconic Sacramento melodic hard rock quintet—Frank Hannon (guitar), Brian Wheat (bass), Jeff Keith (lead vocals), Troy Luccketta (drums), and Dave Rude (guitar)—sold more than 25 million albums domestically and played globally to sold-out crowds far and wide. To say TESLA live is absolutely bombastic is an understatement, they are a hard rock band to beat all hard rock bands. TESLA’s ninth full-length album titled SHOCK is due out fall of 2018. The highly anticipated album features Phil Collen of Def Leppard in the producer’s chair and takes a big leap forward as they glance back on their MECHANICAL RESONANCE LIVE! album.

 

Check out the tour at any of the following stops:

 

DATE               CITY                             VENUE

 

* Wed 5/30        Irvine, CA                      FivePoint Amphitheatre

* Fri 6/1             Concord, CA                 Concord Pavilion

* Sat 6/2           Sacramento, CA            Toyota Amphitheatre

Mon 6/4            Salt Lake City, UT          USANA Amphitheatre

** Tue 6/5          Denver, CO                   Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

Thu 6/7             Oklahoma City, OK        Chesapeake Energy Arena

Sat 6/9              Houston, TX                  Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Presented by Huntsman

Sun 6/10           Dallas, TX                     The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

Tue 6/12            Nashville, TN                 Ascend Amphitheater

Wed 6/13          Charlotte, NC                PNC Music Pavilion

Thu 6/14            Raleigh, NC                   Costal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

** Sat 6/16        Atlanta, GA                   Verizon Amphitheatre

Sun 6/17           Tampa, FL                    MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Wed 6/27          Boston, MA                  Blue Hills Bank Pavilion

Thu 6/28            Syracuse, NY                Lakeview Amphitheater

Fri 6/29             Wantagh, NY                 Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

Sat 6/30            Hershey, PA                  GIANT Center

Tue 7/3             Montreal, QUE.             Place Bell at Laval

Wed 7/4            Toronto, ONT.               Budweiser Stage

Fri 7/6               Detroit, MI                     DTE Energy Music Theatre

Sat 7/7              Chicago, IL                   Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island

Sun 7/8             St. Louis, MO                Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Tue 7/10            Kansas City, MO           Starlight Theatre

Wed 7/11          Indianapolis, IN             Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center

* Fri 7/13           Bristow, VA                   Jiffy Lube Live

Sat 7/14            Pittsburgh, PA              KeyBank Pavilion

Sun 7/15           Holmdel, NJ                  PNC Bank Arts Center

 

* For these shows, VIP packages will be available starting Wednesday, February 21 at 10am local time, and general on-sale will be Friday, February 23 at 10am local time.

 

** Not a Live Nation show. Atlanta show’s general on-sale is February 16 at 9am local time.

 

 

www.styxworld.com

www.facebook.com/styxtheband

www.twitter.com/styxtheband

www.instagram.com/styxtheband

www.youtube.com/styxtheband

 

www.joanjett.com

www.facebook.com/joanjettandtheblackhearts

www.twitter.com/joanjett

www.instagram.com/joanjett

 

www.teslatheband.com

www.facebook.com/TeslaBand

www.twitter.com/TeslaBand

www.instagram.com/teslaband

 

 

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 Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.