'The B-52s: Live At The US Festival' on DVD and Digital coming Sept. 4, 2020

What a thrill! The B-52s' legendary performance at the 1982 US Festival is coming to DVD and digital later this summer! Here is the official media release and title artwork...

Los Angeles, CA – Travel back in time to a carefree Labor Day weekend in 1982, when The B-52s: Live At The US Festival comes to DVD and digital platforms on September 4, 2020 from Shout! Factory. The performance features all five founding band members, and the film is dedicated to Ricky Wilson, who passed away 5 years after the US Festival performance. In brand-new interviews included in The B-52s: Live At The US Festival, band members Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, and Cindy Wilson talk about Ricky, and what he meant to their unique sound, along with memories of performing at the US Festival. 

Dance this mess around with the all-time, good-time party band The B-52s in a wild and unforgettable live performance. This hour-long set, recorded at the inaugural US Festival in 1982, had the crowd dancing from start to finish, and was considered to be one of the best of the entire festival. 

"It was hot as hell in the desert but as soon as we got going we had the audience dancing up a dust storm,” says Fred Schneider.

This rare footage shows off the joyous energy and unique spirit that has been a hallmark of their music and live performances for over 40 years. 

Packed with 13 hits and favorites from the group’s early years, including “Rock Lobster,” “Planet Claire,” Private Idaho,” and others, Live At US Festival is the first-ever live concert DVD release from The B-52s’ classic era, and a tasty slice of rock history that’s an absolute must-see for anyone who likes to party out of bounds! 

The B-52s: Live At The US Festival is available for pre-order now at Shoutfactory.com and amazon.com. 

The B-52s: Live At The US Festival Performances:

Party Out Of Bounds

Give Me Back My Man                                                                               

Planet Claire

Throw That Beat In The Garbage Can                            

Lava

Mesopotamia

6060-842

Big Bird

52 Girls

Dance This Mess Around

Private Idaho

Rock Lobster

Strobe Light

 

About Shout! Factory

Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s entertainment offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials. In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast entertainment distribution network which delivers culturally relevant programming, movie and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America and across multiple platforms. Shout! Factory owns and operates Shout! Studios, Scream Factory, Shout! Factory Kids, Shout! Factory Films, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Timeless Media Group and Shout! Factory TV. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Los Angeles, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.

About The B-52s

Selling over 20 million albums worldwide, The B-52s—Fred Schneider [vocals], Kate Pierson [vocals], Cindy Wilson [vocals], — have quietly impacted alternative music, fashion, and culture over the course of four-plus decades. They count John Lennon, Madonna, James Murphy, and Michael Stipe among their disciples. Panic! At The Disco, Blood Orange, The Offspring, Pitbull, Roger Sanchez, and DJ Shadow have sampled classics from the band’s discography as Seth MacFarlane’s Family Guy, The Simpsons, Sugarland, and more offered up covers of their own. They inched towards the forefront of the post-punk movement in America codified by 1979’s self-titled The B-52s. Not only did the record go gold, but it also placed at #152 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and #99 on VH1’s “Greatest Albums of All Time.” The gold-selling Wild Planet arrived hot on its heels in 1980. With Keith Strickland brilliantly filling the void in with music composition and live show guitar duties, 1989’s watershed Cosmic Thing elevated the B-52s to another galaxy altogether. It moved 5 million-plus units and spawned a string of Top 10 smashes in the form of the GRAMMY®-nominated “Roam” and “Love Shack”—which Rolling Stone lauded on the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Winter NAMM Show News: OK Go, Yamaha All-Star Concert, Andy Grammer, B-52s Members Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, Melissa Etheridge

With The NAMM Show is only three weeks away, there are exciting announcements about the upcoming event being released...

OK Go, The Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand 2018 and Andy Grammer Set to Perform at The NAMM Show

OK Go / Photo credit: Makoto Kubota

CARLSBAD, Calif. – January 3, 2018 – With only 22 days until the start of The 2018 NAMM Show, The NAMM Campus is set to come alive with a variety of Bands@NAMM performers, and at night, talent that includes groundbreaking multimedia artists, legendary performers and a multi-platinum pop singer-songwriter, all performing on The NAMM Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage.

On Thursday, The NAMM Foundation Celebration of Music Education will celebrate the advocacy and dedication of NAMM members with a performance from indie/pop rockers, OK Go. Members Damian Kulash (vocals/video director), Tim Nordwind (bass), Dan Konopa (percussion) and Andy Ross (guitar) have built a unique career at the intersection of music, visual art, technology and science. The band has emerging at the forefront of a class of artists whose 21st-century brand of experimental creativity dissolves the traditional boundaries between disciplines, garnering them millions of fans along the way. Videos like 2007’s GRAMMY^®-winning video “Here it Goes Again” featured the act on synchronized treadmills; “Upside Down & Inside Out” showed the band achieving zero-gravity status as they filming the video on a reduced gravity aircraft; and their recent release, “Obsession,” which utilized 567 printers and a ton of paper and later recycled and the profits donated, have all made OK Go a standout act.

On Friday, an all-star line-up from Yamaha promises an unforgettable multi-artist extravaganza with the “Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand 2018,” set to crank up the volume to 11. With the concert performers still under wraps, the evening promises a dazzling array of seasoned performers to delight The NAMM Show audience. Past performers at Yamaha’s annual NAMM event include luminaries such as Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, John Legend, Earth, Wind & Fire, U2 founder and drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. and many others.

Andy Grammer / Photo credit: Chris Phelps

Saturday evening at the annual “Imagine Party,” The NAMM Foundation and The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus presented by Other World Computing will welcome acclaimed multi-platinum pop singer and songwriter, Andy Grammer. Best known for his upbeat, positive musical stylings and prolific, honest songwriting, Grammer has built a career connecting with his audience and fans in a refreshing, clear voice. In 2011, he became the first male pop star in a decade to reach the Top 10 on Adult Pop Radio with "Keep Your Head Up" and "Fine By Me," from his 2011 self-titled debut. His second album, Magazines or Novels, featured the triple-platinum infectious smash hit, "Honey, I'm Good," which was one of the best-selling songs of 2015, and the certified gold anthem "Good to be Alive (Hallelujah)." Most recently, Andy released his third studio album, The Good Parts, in December which features the hit singles “Smoke Clears” and “Fresh Eyes,” which has become a streaming phenomenon with over 350 million total streams. In addition to his performance in the evening, Grammer will spend part of his afternoon on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus with young musicians from local area schools.

Each act will start at 6 p.m. and be preceded by a variety of performers throughout the day as part of the Bands@NAMM program. The schedule for both The NAMM Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage and The NAMM Arena Plaza Stage Presented by Pioneer Pro Audio is available at https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2018/bands-at-namm.

The B-52s Members Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, and Melissa Etheridge to be Honored at 2018 She Rocks Awards 

Melissa Etheridge

From left, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson of the B-52s

The Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN) announces that Melissa Etheridge and The B-52s band members Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson will be honored at the 6th annual She Rocks Awards on Friday, January 26, 2018, during the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. 

Best known for her hit songs “I’m the Only One,” “Come to My Window,” and the song that first propelled her career, “Bring Me Some Water,” Grammy® Award- and Academy® Award-winning artist Melissa Etheridge has been tearing up the charts and tearing off the roof since 1988 with her signature sound. Her current album, MEmphis Rock and Soul, was released in 2016 to critical acclaim, and features original songs as well as her interpretation of classics. For more info, visit www.melissaetheridge.com.

Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson are original members of one of the most beloved party rock bands, The B-52s. Known for their unique musical and performance style, the band has made a permanent mark on the musical world with hits such as “Rock Lobster,” “Roam,” “Love Shack,” and many more. Celebrating The B-52s’ 40th anniversary, Kate and Cindy continue to perform with the band, in addition to working on solo projects. For more info, visit www.theb52s.com. 

The WiMN Founder, Laura B. Whitmore, comments, “We are so excited to honor these pioneering women who represent the diversity of musical styles we embrace at the She Rocks Awards. Each has made lasting contributions to music, and has influenced countless female musicians and fans alike.” 

Melissa Etheridge, Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson join a host of 2018 honorees that includes the pioneering all-girl band Fanny and Exene Cervenka of X plus a collection of role models from all walks of the music and audio industries. View the full list of this year’s honorees here. 

Gearing up for its sixth consecutive year, the She Rocks Awards pays tribute to women who display leadership and stand out within the music industry, and has become a standard at the NAMM Show. Previous award recipients include female industry leaders such as Colbie Caillat, Ronnie Spector, Sheila E, The Bangles, Shirley Manson, Esperanza Spalding, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Batten, Karmin, Orianthi, Dinah Gretsch, Craigie Zildjian, and more. 

The 2018 She Rocks Awards is sponsored by Gretsch, Monster Energy, Sennheiser, Seymour Duncan, Martin Guitar, Reverb.com, Harman, Fishman, Roland, Zildjian, Guitar Center, Casio, Daisy Rock Girl Guitars, PRS Guitars, D’Angelico Guitars, Tech 21, PreSonus, D'Angelico Guitars, Berklee Online, 108 Rock Star Guitars, On-Stage Stands, M.A.C Cosmetics, Paul Mitchell, City National Bank, Bittree, NAMM, Music Inc., Music & Sound Retailer, Music-News.com, NewBay Media, Guitar World, Guitar Player, Bass Player, Electronic Musician, Guitar Girl Magazine, Gear Tech + Recording, KVR Audio, and more.

Tickets are on sale now. This event is open to the public and a NAMM show badge is not required to attend. And yes, men are welcome, too! Learn more at www.sherocksawards.com.

Sights and Sounds: Shania Twain, Record Store Day update, TJR "solo reviews"

Here is a roundup of today's music news...I'll continue to feature Record Store Day updates (a few included in this post) in the days and weeks ahead too!

Shania Twain to release 'Shania: Still The One Live From Vegas' on DVD and Blu-ray via Eagle Rock Entertainment

International superstar Shania Twain wrapped up her successful two-year residency in Las Vegas, NV as her SHANIA: Still the One stage show came to a close in December. The five-time GRAMMY winner entertained concert-goers from all over the world at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace during the course of her 105 performances and now, fans have an opportunity to bring the Vegas production home with the release of Twain’s live Blu-ray and DVD SHANIA: Still the One Live from Vegas via Eagle Rock Entertainment on April 7, 2015. 

Produced by Twain and directed by Raj Kapoor, Live from Vegas captures the full SHANIA: Still the One stage performance, plus the bonus feature “Backstage Pass,” which boasts over an hour of never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage tracking the conception, training, rehearsals, costumes and all decisions in-between that go into creating a one-of-a-kind experience for the audience. The show – a powerful journey through Shania’s biggest hits, country favorites, and beloved crossover songs – features a 13-piece live band, dancers, trained horses, a flying motorcycle and plenty of Vegas flash.

“This show has been my labor of love for over three years,” shares Twain. “It has meant so much to me and was such a privilege to live out my visions on that stage, and it is so exciting to now get to share the whole experience with the fans all over the world!”

With more than 75 million albums sold worldwide and U.S. sales topping 34.5 million, Twain remains the top-selling female country artist of all time. Her 1997 release Come On Over has sold in excess of 15.6 million making it the top-selling country album and places it in the Top 10 all-genre best sellers of all time.

For more information, visit www.ShaniaTwain.com. 

SHANIA: Still the One Live from Vegas Track Listing:

1.  Opening
2.  I’m Gonna Getcha Good!
3.  You Win My Love
4.  Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
5. Up!
6.  Good, Bad And Sexy (Interlude)
7.  I Ain’t No Quitter
8.  No One Needs To Know
9.  Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
10.  Any Man of Mine
11.  Shania Style (Interlude)
12.  That Don’t Impress Me Much
13.  Honey, I’m Home
14.  (If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here
15.  Carrie Anne
16.  Come On Over
17.  Love Gets Me Every Time
18.  Rock This Country!
19.  Today Is Your Day
20.  Black Horse, White Horse (Interlude)
21.  You’re Still The One
22.  From This Moment On
23.  Red Storm (Interlude)
24.  Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
25.  Rock This Country!  (Live From Calgary) – Credits 

Record Store Update

With Record Store Day's arrival on Saturday, April 18, 2015, it's no surprise I've been getting a ton of news releases related to the music-centric event. Record Store Day celebrates the culture of the independently owned record store and brings together artists, fans and thousands of independent record stores across the world. This is the first of many updates I'll post on this site over the next month.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band to release special EP

The KWSBand's latest release is a special one day event. A Little Something From the Road, Vol. 1 (EP) on CD and vinyl for Record Store Day, April 18, 2015. Recorded live at the State Theater in New Brunswick, New Jersey, A Little Something From The Road, Vol. 1 recordings were culled from the extensive 2014 tour following the release of the band's last studio album, Goin' Home. 

Merge Records artists to perform in Durham, NC on Record Store Day

Record Store Day is one of our favorite days of the year. To celebrate RSD 2015, Merge artists Ex Hex, Mac McCaughan, and William Tyler will treat us to live performances outside Bull City Records in Durham. Lagunitas Brewing Company will be on site, and we will be collecting donations to benefit Durham Public Schools via DonorsChoose.org.

The whole event is free, open to the public, and will be live-streamed on WXDU and archived by NYCTaper. Tell your friends and RSVP at the event's Facebook page.

Saturday, April 18
3–6 p.m.
Chaz’s Bull City Records
2600 Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC
Rain or shine

Whether or not you can make it to our party, be sure to visit your local record shop on April 18 and pick up our special Records Store Day release, the limited-edition double-LP reissue of William Tyler’s Deseret Canyon, formerly available only as an import under Tyler’s old moniker The Paper Hats.

This event is sponsored by Merge Records, Bull City Records, MailChimp, Lagunitas, WXDU, NYCTaper, Cocoa Cinnamon, and SpeeDeeQue Printing. 

Pianos Become the Teeth to issue special vinyl 7"

Pianos Become the Teeth will release a limited edition Record Store Day 7" on colored vinyl with two tracks from the sessions for their acclaimed Keep You album. The two previously unreleased songs featured on the 7", entitled Close, are "895" and "Dancing". A video for "895" is forthcoming.
 
As previously reported, Baltimore melodic post-hardcore band Pianos Become the Teeth announced a headlining spring tour with Loma Prietaand Gates joining as support. Pianos Become the Teeth tour in support of their critically-lauded 2014 Epitaph release, Keep You.

For more information, visit:https://www.facebook.com/pianosbecometheteeth

TJR solo reviews worth a listen...

My Music Worth Buying co-host TJR has several timely reviews on recent releases worth catching via our YouTube channel, including the latest album releases from Kate Pierson and Kid Rock. I have also made things easy and embedded one of his episodes below. Enjoy!