Queens of the Stone Age announce forthcoming 'The End is Nero' North American Tour

American rock outfit Queens of the Stone Age not only have a much-anticipated album coming on June 16, but have just announced an ambitious North American tour. Get all the details (and dates) via the media release below...Robert Kinsler

Queens of the Stone Age announce 'The End is Nero' North American Tour

On Sale June 9, 2023, 10 a.m. local time

 

View Tour Trailer here

 

New Album In Times New Roman… out June 16, 2023

“The guys sounded as strong as ever – stronger, even...

It all bodes extremely well for their new album, In Times New Roman…"

—Consequence

 

After a triumphant return on the battlegrounds of Boston Calling and Sonic Temple, Queens of the Stone Age have announced the details of their North American tour, which will kick off on Aug. 3, 2023 in Sterling Heights, MI. Queens of The Stone Age and Citi pre-sales begin Tuesday, June 6 at 10 a.m. local time, with public on-sale following Friday June 9, 10 a.m. local time. The east coast leg of the tour will feature support from Phantogram and The Armed. Viagra Boys and Jehnny Beth will support on the mid-west and west coast dates.

 

The End Is Nero tour is an invitation from Joshua Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore to come celebrate the end of the world, which we hear is “in a month or two." They would like to encourage the obscene and the clean, the outcasts and the weirdos, and anyone and everyone in between to attend, this is where you belong. Leave your judgment at the door, bring anything and everything else.

 

In Times New Roman… will be available digitally and physically on June 16 via Matador Records. On the eve of release fans are invited to ring in the long awaited album at MIDNIGHT CLUB parties taking place at record shops and pubs across 23 countries. The MIDNIGHT CLUB starts at 11 p.m. June 15 and will feature giveaways, exclusive merch including limited edition colored vinyl, and—in a few select locations—signed merchandise and ticket giveaways. MIDNIGHT CLUB will provide the QOTSA faithful with a first chance to hear In Times New Roman… in its entirety, amongst friends, family and of course appropriate levels of bacchanalia.

 

For more information on the MIDNIGHT CLUB locations, visit: https://qotsa.ffm.to/midnightclub

 

To pre-order In Times New Roman…, shop new exclusive merchandise or join the sock of the month club visit https://store.qotsa.com/

 

Citi is the official card of the below Queens of the Stone Age US headline shows. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, June 6th at 10 a.m. local time until Thursday, June 8 at 10 p.m. local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.

 

Full routing below – for tickets and info visit https://qotsa.com/tour

 

Queens of the Stone Age: The End is Nero Tour: 

 

August 3 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill*

August 4 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage*

August 5 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE Outdoors*

August 7 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater*

August 8 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at the Mann*

August 9 – Washington, DC – The Anthem*

August 11 – Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena*

August 12 – Queens, NY – Forest Hills Stadium*

August 15 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater*

August 16 – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit*

August 18 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre *

August 19 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater*

September 16 – Chicago, IL – Riot Fest

September 17 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory**

September 19 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse**

September 20 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre**

September 22 – Indianapolis, IN – TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park**

September 23 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park**

September 24 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life

September 26 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP**

September 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion**

September 29 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre**

September 30 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Great Saltair**

October 2 – Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum**

October 3 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum**

October 4 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena**

October 6 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium**

October 8 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock

 

*Phantogram and The Armed support

**Viagra Boys and Jehnny Beth support

New Music: Ella Fitzgerald, Howdy Glenn, Belle and Sebastian

Not even a month into 2023 and there are already great audio releases worth celebrating and adding to any music lover's library!

Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Title: Live At Montreux 1969 (Mercury Studios)

You might like if you enjoy: Ella Fitzgerald, vocal jazz music

Tell me more: A truly historic and essential recording, Ella Fitzgerald: Live At Montreux 1969 is being released by Mercury Studios and will be available on audio CD and LP on Jan. 20, 2023. Originally released on DVD in 2005, this marks the first time this concert recording is being made available on audio formats. Live At Montreux 1969 captures the "First Lady of Song" in the first of her five legendary performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Fitzgerald's breathtaking singing and complete command of a diverse set of 14 songs thrills with every note. There are classic jazz favorites already familiar to audiences of the time ("Give Me The Simple Life," "I Won't Dance," "That Old Black Magic"), as well as her artful versions of classic rock material (including a soulful take on Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" and joyful reading of The Beatles' "Hey Jude"). Her signature scat delivery is featured on the dazzling "Useless Landscape," a number further defined by the virtuoso playing of pianist Tommy Flanagan (along with bassist Frank De La Rosa and drummer Ed Thigpen). Her bewitching version of Dionne Warwick's "This Girl's In Love With You" and an explosive performance of "A Man And A Woman" are other highlights on the enthralling collection. The concert encore includes the impressive rapid-fire "Scat Medley" and beautiful "A House Is Not A Home." Information: mercurystudios.co.

Artist: Howdy Glenn
Title: I Can Almost See Houston (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Merle Haggard, Charley Pride, George Jones

Tell me more: Before I slipped I Can Almost See Houston in my CD player I had never heard of country music singer Howdy Glenn. Indeed the new release (available Jan. 20 via Omnivore Recordings) is the first-ever collection of songs from Glenn available on audio CD and it's a wonderful introduction to the talented California artist. Featuring all known recordings from Glenn, an impressive array of 23 selections recorded between 1975 and 1980 span the 78-minute disc. As detailed in Scott B. Bomar's instructional liner notes, Glenn was among a handful of Black country music artists who made a mark on the national charts or the public consciousness in the 20th century. A full-time firefighter in Southern California, Glenn won the 1974 "Trucker's Jamboree" at the Hollywood Palladium and scored a recording career; his wonderful cover of Willie Nelson's "Touch Me" spent six weeks on the charts, and he was nominated for the Academy of Country Music's Top New Male Vocalist award. But even the most talented of artists sometime never find the acclaim or national recognition they are owed. I Can Almost See Houston showcases Glenn's top-tier vocals that draws comparisons with some of the 1970s greatest country music singers ranging from Charley Pride and George Jones to Merle Haggard. Standouts include the yearning title track, honky tonk-mining "You'll Remember Me," beautiful "Where Did The Years Go," a soaring "That Lucky Old Sun" (an especially emotional performance), and tender "When You Were Blue and I Was Green." Along with the previously-noted liner notes, the 20-page booklet that comes with the audio CD includes a wealth of historic photos and ephemera. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Belle and Sebastian
Title: Late Developers (Matador Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Belle and Sebastian, The Zombies

Tell me more: Without fanfare indie Scottish troupe Belle and Sebastian released their 12th studio album on Jan. 13; Late Developers was issued a mere eight months after the release of 2022's A Bit of Previous but features the expansive craft of a masterwork years in the making. Fans of Belle and Sebastian will be thrilled with the winning 11-track set that spans 42 minutes. The album's highlights are plentiful; the 1960s-spirted opener "Juliet Naked" features band frontman Stuart Murdoch lamenting the folly of romance. Other early album standouts include the propulsive melody-fueled gem "Give A Little Time" featuring Sarah Martin on lead vocals, the wistful "When We Were Very Young," the Baroque ballad "Will I Tell You a Secret," and garage rocker "So In The Moment." The album's magic path continues courtesy of sonic nuggets like the shimmering "The Evening Star," driving "When You're Not With Me" and sumptuous "When The Cynics Stare Back From The Wall." Information: belleandsebastian.com.

Robert Kinsler

Four far-flung titles worth celebrating

Those looking for musical diversity need not look further than the four far-flung titles celebrated in my latest roundup of new releases.

Artist: John Wesley Harding
Title: Greatest Other People's Hits (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Bruce Springsteen, Fastball, the Minus Five
Tell me more: Singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding delivers in full on his delightful new LP Greatest Other People's Hits, a 17-track disc where he covers a diverse field of cuts while joined by a talented field of players who bring these lively reworkings to life. The Minus Five joins Harding for a shimmering take on Pete Seeger's "Words Words Words"; Fastball helps hit Joseph Egan's "Star" out of the park via bona fide power pop perfection; the wistful "Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'en Vais" poignant soundscape is further enlightened by Harding's vocal reading in French. Other artfully reworked standouts include a sparse take of Bruce Springsteen's "Jackson Cage," a teaming with the Universal Thump for a joyful run through George Harrison's "Wah Wah," and Americana-styled "Wreck on the Highway," the latter a live performance where the song's writer (the aforementioned Springsteen) contributes vocals and acoustic guitar. Other guests heard across the album include Lou Reed, Kelly Hogan and Rick Moody. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Lasers Lasers Birmingham
Title: Warning (Lasers Lasers Birmingham)
You might like if you enjoy: Phosphorescent, George Jones, Gram Parsons
Tell me more: Many of this writer's favorite artists have issued top-tier releases independently sans the support or bigger recording budgets afforded by working with a successful record label. Add to that list Los Angeles-based Lasers Lasers Birmingham whose Warning is an 11-track album that shines with the cosmic country sound of Gram Parsons even while infused with enough 21st century aplomb to make this the artist's own. Lasers Lasers Birmingham – the moniker for singer-songwriter Alex Owen – wrote the songs in a persona, an experience pushed even further after a near-death experience when he was in a car crash in the mountains of Ojai, CA. The real-world focused lyrics often find the lead character losing control in their life; to be sure the music finds singer-guitarist Owen and a collection of contributing musicians (along with noted producer Jason Soda) firmly in control as they unleash a bold brew blending authentic Americana, folk and rock. The lovely pedal steel-adorned title track, country rocker "After Party After Life," confessional acoustic nugget "Lead Me On", breezy "Numbers and Figures" and probing tale "What a Shame" are among the outstanding songs on Warning. Information: https://www.facebook.com/LasersLasersBirmingham/.

Title: New Songs for the 20th Century
Written by: Chris Stamey (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter
Tell me more: Written, arranged and produced by dB's co-founder Chris Stamey, New Songs for the 20th Century is an amazing album. The songs astound, as if lifted out of a time machine; to highlight some songs and note others is almost criminal. Those familiar with the Great American Songbook will likely be enthralled by this rich collection. Backed by the ModRec Orchestra, many great musicians bring Stamey's new songs to life. The beautiful and luxurious "I Don't Believe in Romance" features singer Caitlin Cary and has the magic of a Burt Bacharach classic; the wistful "What is This Music that I Hear?" and "On an Evening Such as This" are both bolstered by singer Kirsten Lambert's affecting vocals. The jazzy "There's Not a Cloud in the Sky" and more contemporary "I Am Yours" are among the memorable tracks on disc one. The jazzy "Beneath the Underdog" (featuring Marshall Crenshaw, Don Dixon and Django Haskins), the beautiful "In Spanish Harlem," and nuanced "Lover, Can You Hear Me?" bring equal power to the second disc. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Highest Intention
Title: Universal Light (Highest Intention Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Bob Marley, 311, Andrew Tosh
Tell me more: Lovers of reggae music steeped in undeniable rhythms, strong lead vocals and good vibes will want to get a listen of the debut from San Francisco Bay Area band Highest Intention. Universal Light provides a welcome introduction for the Ben "Down" Lowe-led troupe, adept at offering up a range of songs. The romance-minded "Ocean," aptly-titled "Vibes" (complete with an extended instrumental section), tuneful "Riverside," jubilant "Escape" and horn section-bolstered "Hold Your Own Love" are among the excellent tracks on the disc.  Information: highestintentionband.com.





Robert Kinsler