New Music: Badfinger, Blue Öyster Cult, Ringo Starr

Essential new titles featuring power pop legends Badfinger, genre-defying rockers Blue Öyster Cult and beloved singer-drummer Ringo Starr are reviewed this week.

Artist: Badfinger
Title: Head First (Y&T Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Badfinger, The Beatles
Tell me more: Rock's most tragic tale likely involves power pop pioneers Badfinger, a British troupe that scored a handful of enduring singles ("Come and Get It," "No Matter What," "Day After Day," "Baby Blue") before financial and personal struggles led to the suicide death of 27-year-old leader Pete Ham in 1975. But now the band's shining legacy returns via the release of their long-lost album Head First 50 years after the disc's original recording in 1974; the new collection features Ham's final studio recordings and is definitely a welcome addition to Badfinger's stellar discography. For years, the master tapes for the Head First sessions were believed to have been lost. However, the recent rediscovery of the original multi-track tapes allowed for the mixing and mastering process of the tracks 50 years after they were recorded in the Apple Recording Studio on Savile Row in London. The parade of soaring originals on Head First includes the melodic opener "Lay Me Down," biting "Hey Mr. Manager," glorious harmonies-drenched "Turn Around," acoustic "Back Again," lovely "Keep Believing," Beatlesque "Moonshine," and ambitious rock opus "Passed Fast." Information: badfingerlibrary.com.

Artist: Blue Öyster Cult

Title: 50th Anniversary Live — Third Night (Frontiers Music s.r.l.)

You might like if you enjoy: Blue Öyster Cult, classic rock

Tell me more: In September 2022, classic rock greats Blue Öyster Cult thrilled fans with a once-in-a-lifetime trilogy of sold-out concerts, each dedicated to one of the beloved genre-defying band's first three albums. Founding member Albert Bouchard (drums, vocals) joined the original core duo of Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (lead vocals, lead guitar) and Eric Bloom (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) along with Richie Castellano (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Danny Miranda (bass) and Jules Radino (drums, percussion) at each of the special performances. Now the third night of the concert series has been released courtesy of Frontiers Music; 50th Anniversary Live — Third Night is available on audio CD and vinyl as well as via DVD and Blu-ray. The concert recording is outstanding, with the early part of the set presenting the 1974 album Secret Treaties in its entirety. Standouts from that album's performance include the rocking opener "Career Of Evil" (whose lyrics were penned by punk rock poet Patti Smith), the jazz-meets-prog rock gem "Subhuman," hard charging rocker "Dominance and Submission," and an extended version of the dazzling "Flaming Telepaths." The marathon-length show also provides BÖC time to perform stellar takes of long-time favorites "Burnin' For You," "Godzilla," "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" and the set-closing "Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll." Among the most spellbinding tracks on the live set is "I Love The Night," an atmospheric rock ballad featuring Roeser's signature lead guitar work and top-tier vocals. Information: http://www.blueoystercult.com/.

Artist: Ringo Starr

Title: Look Up (Lost Highway)

You might like if you enjoy: Ringo Starr, T Bone Burnett, Buck Owens

Tell me more: Ringo Starr is back with one of his most delightful solo efforts, the country music-focused Look Up. Produced and co-written by T Bone Burnett, the album features a rich mix of tracks ranging from the infectious opener "Breathless" (featuring guitarist Billy Strings) and the buoyant title track anchored by Starr's emotive lead vocals to the sorrowful "Time On My Hands" and rockabilly mining "Never Let Me Go." Other standouts include the beautiful ballad "I Live For Your Love" (the latter bolstered by Molly Tuttle's vocal harmonies and mandolin playing), country rocker "Rosetta" (featuring Tuttle and the Southern blues duo Larkin Poe), shimmering "String Theory" and reflective self-penned "Thankful" (the latter featuring Alison Krauss' harmony vocals and Paul Franklin's pedal steel guitar). Recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles in 2024, the 11-track disc marks a welcome return by one of rock music's most iconic names. Information: ringostarr.com.

Robert Kinsler

Larkin Poe share new song about slowing down and being present; new album out Jan 24

Check out the newly-released advance single / music video for Larkin's Poe's latest single "Little Bit." The bewitching song is off the duo's forthcoming album Bloom coming in January 2025...Robert Kinsler

 

GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING SISTER DUO

HERALD EAGERLY AWAITED NEW ALBUM WITH SINGLE ABOUT

PASSIONATE PRESENCE AND MINDFULNESS  – LISTEN

 

OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERES TODAY – WATCH

 

EPIC WORLD TOUR BEGINS APRIL 8, 2025 IN ST. LOUIS

 

HIGH-PROFILE COLLABORATIONS WITH

ELVIS COSTELLO, T-BONE BURNETT, AND RINGO STARR

INCLUDE RECENT LIVE PERFORMANCES

WITH THE COWARD BROTHERS (COSTELLO AND BURNETT) ON

CBS’ LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT AND CBS SATURDAY MORNING

 

BLOOM ARRIVES VIA TRICKI-WOO RECORDS ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2025

 

PRE-ORDERS AVAILABLE NOW

Larkin Poe – the GRAMMY® Award-winning duo of Georgia-bred, Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell – have shared their latest single, “Little Bit,” available now via their own Tricki-Woo Records. An official music video premieres today on YouTube. The song, in which Rebecca passionately sings about being present, mindful and in the moment,  heralds Larkin Poe’s eagerly awaited new album, Bloom, arriving Friday, January 24, 2025. Pre-orders are available now.   “From the word go, it feels like we’ve been tempted to live life leaning forward,” says Rebecca Lovell. “As touring musicians, we have cultivated a pedal-to-the-metal, high-octane culture, but the shine has slowly worn off that penny. ‘Little Bit’ is all about slowing down and savoring the precious little details, as lyrics say: ‘more ain’t always more than a little bit.’”   LISTEN TO “LITTLE BIT” WATCH “LITTLE BIT” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO   PRE-ORDER BLOOM   Bloom – which follows 2023’s GRAMMY® Award-winning Blood Harmony – was first unveiled this fall following Larkin Poe’s “Duo/Group of the Year” triumph at the 2024 Americana Honors & Awards. The album includes such recently released singles as the contemplative opening track, “Mockingbird,” the lush, blues-soaked “If God Is A Woman,” and the genre-bending “Bluephoria,” all accompanied by official music videos streaming now on YouTube. LISTEN TO “MOCKINGBIRD” WATCH “MOCKINGBIRD” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO LISTEN TO “IF GOD IS A WOMAN” WATCH “IF GOD IS A WOMAN” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO LISTEN TO “BLUEPHORIA” WATCH “BLUEPHORIA” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO Presented by the Americana Music Association at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, Larkin Poe’s prestigious “Duo/Group of the Year” victory marked the latest achievement in what is proving a landmark 2024 for the dynamic sister duo, beginning earlier this year with their first career GRAMMY® Award, winning “Best Contemporary Blues Album” for 2023’s critically acclaimed sixth studio album, Blood Harmony. Bloom now sees Larkin Poe venturing further along on their evolving musical journey with a collection of songs that resonate with introspection, authenticity, and a profound connection to their roots in American music.   Produced and largely co-written by Megan, Rebecca, and Tyler Bryant, the album marks a significant evolution for Larkin Poe, reflecting a synergy that extends beyond mere musical partnership. Already hailed for the sincerity of their songcraft, the Lovell sisters now place an even greater spotlight on their gift for storytelling, delving deep into personal narratives with universal themes of self-acceptance and individuality against a backdrop of contemporary blues and rock influences. With their distinctive blend of poetic lyricism, masterful instrumentation, and soulful harmonies, songs like “Little Bit” and the gritty punk-energized anthem “Pearls” affirm their willingness to confront current realities while staying true to their musical heritage. A triumphant celebration of the authentic self, Bloom fully cements Larkin Poe’s status as modern torchbearers of American roots music, inviting their ever-growing fan following to flourish and thrive alongside them.   “Bloom” is about finding oneself amidst the noise of the world,” says Rebecca, “about wholeheartedly embracing the flaws and idiosyncrasies that make us real. In one way or another, pretty much all of the songs on this album are about finding yourself, knowing yourself, and separating the truth of who you are from societal expectations.”   In addition, Larkin Poe have united with a pair of indisputable British rock legends for a series of remarkable collaborations. First, the duo are featured on Elvis Costello’s new King Of America & Other Realms box set, performing a new version of his “That’s Not The Part Of Him You’re Leaving” recorded earlier this year. Larkin Poe recently backed The Coward Brothers (Costello and T-Bone Burnett) for a special performance of the song, “Always” on CBS’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert. They also backed The Coward Brothers on CBS Saturday Morning. Larkin Poe will also team with the one and only Ringo Starr on his first album in six years, Look Up, joining Billy Strings for a featured appearance on the new T-Bone Burnett composition, “Rosetta.” Look Up arrives everywhere on Friday, January 10, 2025.     WATCH LARKIN POE W/ THE COWARD BROTHERS (ELVIS COSTELLO AND T-BONE BURNETT) PERFORM “ALWAYS” ON LIVE ON LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT Long praised as one of hardest touring acts on the road today, Larkin Poe will celebrate Bloom with an epic world tour beginning April 8, 2025, at St. Louis, MO’s The Hawthorn and then traveling North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom through November. Highlights include headline dates at such historic venues as Denver, CO’s Ogden Theatre (April 11), Vancouver, BC’s Commodore Ballroom (April 19), Los Angeles, CA’s The Fonda Theatre (April 23), San Francisco, CA’s The Fillmore (April 25), Washington, DC’s 9:30 Club (May 9), New York, NY’s Irving Plaza (May 10), Minneapolis, MN’s First Avenue (May 16), and Nashville, TN’s Ryman Auditorium (May 29). Special guests for North America include Parker Milsap (April 8-27) and Amythyst Kiah (May 8-17). In addition, top-billed festival performances in 2025 include Floyd, VA’s FloydFest (July 23-27), and Las Vegas, NV’s Big Blues Bender (September 4-7). For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.larkinpoe.com/tour.

Photo Credit: Robby Klein

# # # LARKIN POE – TOUR 2025 APRIL 2025 8 – St. Louis, MO – The Hawthorn * 10 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman * 11 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre * 12 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot * 15 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall * 17 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox * 18 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom * 19 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom * 23 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre * 25 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore * 27 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre *   MAY 2025 8 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer ^ 9 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club ^ 10 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza ^ 12 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur ^ 14 – Toronto, ONT – The Concert Hall ^ 16 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue ^ 17 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre ^ 29 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium 30 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern   JUNE 2025 1 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel   JULY 2025 23-27 – Floyd, VA – FloydFest †   SEPTEMBER 2025 4-7 – Las Vegas, NV – Big Blues Bender †   OCTOBER 2025 17 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy 18 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy 19 – Bristol, UK – Bristol Beacon 21 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo 22 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute 24 – Paris, France – Salle Pleyel 25 – Tilburg, Netherlands – 013 Poppodium 26 – Cologne, Germany – E-Werk 28 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene 29 – Stockholm, Sweden – Circus 30 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Falkoner Center   NOVEMBER 2025 1 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom 2 – Warsaw, Poland – Klub Stodola 4 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer 5 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle 8 – Geneva, Switzerland – Salle De L’Alhambra 9 – Nimes, France – La Paloma 12 – Lisbon, Portugal – Coliseu Dos Recreios 14 – Madrid, Spain – Sala Riviera 15 – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz 1 16 – Bordeaux, France – Le Rocher de Palmer 18 – Clermont-Ferrand, France – Le Cooperative de Mai 19 – La Rochelle, France – La Sirene 21 – Antwerp, Belgium – De Roma   * w/ Special Guest Parker Millsap ^ w/ Special Guest Amythyst Kiah † Festival Appearance # # # LARKIN POE BLOOM (Tricki-Woo Records) Release Date: Friday, January 24, 2025

Tracklist: 1. Mockingbird 2. Easy Love Part 1 3. Little Bit 4. Bluephoria 5. Easy Love Part 2 6. Nowhere Fast 7. If God Is A Woman 8. Pearls 9. Fool Outta Me 10. You Are The River 11. Bloom Again CONNECT WITH LARKIN POE OFFICIAL | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Larkin Poe release blazing new song & video ahead of Summer Tour

Make sure to check out the hard rocking blues track from Larkin Poe...Robert Kinsler

LARKIN POE COME DOWN WITH A CASE OF “BLUEPHORIA” GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING SISTER DUO KICK OFF NON-STOP SUMMER WITH TRIUMPHANT NEW SINGLE – LISTEN OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FILMED IN THE BLUE ROOM  AT NASHVILLE, TN’S THIRD MAN RECORDS – WATCH  EPIC INTERNATIONAL LIVE SCHEDULE INCLUDES TOP-BILLED FESTIVAL APPEARANCES, US RUNS WITH SLASH’S S.E.R.P.E.N.T FESTIVAL AND KALEO’S PAYBACK TOUR 2024, AND MUCH MORE “AMERICAN GIRLS WITH LARKIN POE” AIRING WEEKLY ON SIRIUSXM’S TOM PETTY RADIO

Larkin Poe – the GRAMMY® Award-winning duo of Georgia-bred, Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell – continue what is proving a milestone year with the jubilant new single, “Bluephoria,” available now via their own Tricki-Woo Records. An official music video – filmed in The Blue Room at Nashville, TN’s Third Man Records – is available on YouTube. LISTEN TO “BLUEPHORIA” WATCH “BLUEPHORIA” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO “Once upon a time: we caught a case of the blues so deep and all-encompassing that it launched us on a euphoric exploration,” says Larkin Poe. “‘Bluephoria’ is a rock ’n’ roll rumination on the duality of the human experience; deep down in the quietest place where the bitter and the sweet twine together, and suffering/joy are galvanized into meaning. Take special note of the second verse which was inspired by the words of legendary Memphis bluesman Furry Lewis, who is quoted as having said: ‘Now I know I ain’t a star, but I sure might be a moon.’” 2024 got off to a triumphant start for Larkin Poe, beginning with their first career GRAMMY® Award, winning “Best Contemporary Blues Album” for 2022’s critically acclaimed sixth studio album, Blood Harmony. Additional accolades followed, including a prestigious Americana Music Honors & Awards nomination for “Duo/Group of the Year.”

Photo Credit: Robby Klein

Long praised as one of hardest touring acts on the road today, Larkin Poe will celebrate their landmark year with a truly epic live schedule that includes top-billed festival appearances around the world, US runs with Slash’s all-star S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival and KALEO’s Payback Tour 2024, and more. Highlights include unforgettable double bills with Lenny Kravitz at Montreux, Switzerland’s famed Montreux Jazz Festival (July 16), Rival Sons at Bonn, Germany’s Kunst!Rasen Bonn (July 17) and Chris Isaak at Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France’s Guitare En Scene (July 19), plus eagerly awaited performances at Maidstone, UK’s Maid of Stone Festival (July 21), Cambridge, UK’s Cambridge Folk Festival (July 27), Park City, UT’s Park City Song Summit (August 16), Asbury Park, NJ’s Sea.Hear.Now Festival (September 15), Louisville, KY’s Bourbon & Beyond (September 22), Ocean City, MD’s Oceans Calling (September 27), and Melissa Etheridge’s Moon Crush “The Sea & ME” in Miramar Beach, FL (May 7, 2025). Additional dates will be announced. For complete details, please visit www.larkinpoe.com/tour. In addition, Larkin Poe recently kicked off their new “American Girls with Larkin Poe” series on SiriusXM’s Tom Petty Radio (Channel 31), airing weekly with the best of roots rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, blues, and more, plus an exclusive Tom Petty cover in every episode. For schedule details, please see www.siriusxm.com/channels/tom-petty-radio.  Hailed by American Songwriter as “a roaring, impassioned set that leaves no doubt about who the queens of contemporary Southern blues rock are, and will likely stay, for the foreseeable future,” Blood Harmony affirmed Larkin Poe as an essential force in shaping the identity of Southern rock ‘n’ roll, breathing new energy into the genre with both forward-thinking perspective and a decidedly feminine strength. In addition to their second career GRAMMY® nomination for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” and first-ever win, the album earned Larkin Poe enthusiastic applause from such outlets as Forbes, which declared it to be “11 songs and 42 minutes of pounding driving guitar and slide guitar virtuosity…There is one problem with listening to an album of Larkin Poe – you just want to listen to more and more Larkin Poe songs.” “Blood Harmony showcases Larkin Poe’s command of the blues,” affirmed No Depression, “and their ability to write and deliver songs that reveal the shadows and light through which we pass in our everyday world. Even in the midst of the blues there still resides hope and joy, and Larkin Poe leads us through to that other side.” LARKIN POE - TOUR 2024 JULY 12 – Oeiras, Portugal – NOS Alive * 14 – Murcia, Spain – Las Noches Del Malecón Murcia * 16 – Montreux, Switzerland – Montreux Jazz Festival † 17 – Bonn, Germany – Kunst!Rasen Bonn + 19 – Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, France – Guitare En Scene # 20 – Winterbach, Germany – Magic Blues Night * 21 – Maidstone, UK – Maid of Stone Festival * 24 – San Sebastián, Spain – Jazzaldia * 27 – Cambridge, UK – Cambridge Folk Festival * AUGUST 7 – Cary, NC – Koka Booth Amphitheatre § 8 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park § 10 – Clearwater, FL – The Sound–Coachman Park § 11 – St. Augustine, FL – Saint Augustine Amphitheatre § 13 – Huntsville, AL – The Orion Amphitheater § 14 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheatre § 16 – Park City, UT – Park City Song Summit * SEPTEMBER 1 – Charlestown, RI – Rhythm & Roots Festival * 1 – Fairlee, VT – Lake Morey Concert Series @ Lake Morey Resort 15 – Asbury Park, NJ – Sea.Hear.Now Festival * 22 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond * 27 – Ocean City, MD – Oceans Calling * 28 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater ^ 30 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center ^ OCTOBER 3 – Chicago, IL – The Chicago Theatre ^ 4 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory ^ 6 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre ^ MAY 2025 7 – Miramar Beach, FL – Moon Crush “The Sea & ME” * * Festival Appearance † w/ Lenny Kravitz + w/ Rival Sons # w/ Chris Isaak § w/ Slash’s S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival ^ w KALEO – Payback Tour 2024 CONNECT WITH LARKIN POE OFFICIAL | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE