Matthew Sweet fund raiser, November 10 at McCabe's, from Wild Honey Foundation

I wanted to share this important news; a high-profile fundraiser to assist power pop hero Matthew Sweet is set for Sunday, Nov. 10 in Santa Monica, CA...Robert Kinsler

MATTHEW SWEET RECOVERY FUNDRAISER SET FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, Calif. Performers to include Bangles Debbi Peterson and Vicki Peterson, Dan Wilson, Richard Lloyd (Television), Val McCallum (Jackson Browne), Greg Leisz, Tony Marsico, John Moremen, Nick Vincent, Willie Aron, Lyn Bertles, Jim Laspesa and Gabi Lima    Matthew Sweet LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Acclaimed recording artist and longtime Wild Honey Foundation friend Matthew Sweet suffered a severe stroke while on tour in Toronto. Matthew is currently back in his home of Omaha, Neb. and beginning an expensive and arduous recovery journey. Matthew needs financial and inspirational support to complete the road back from this tough setback. Wild Honey is here to do its part. Mathew's musical friends and bandmates (past and present) have stepped up and immediately volunteered to perform this intimate event at McCabe's Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica on Sunday, November 10 at 8 p.m. Among those scheduled to perform: Bangles Debbi Peterson and Vicki Peterson, Dan Wilson, Richard Lloyd (Television), Val McCallum (Jackson Browne), Greg Leisz, Tony Marsico (Cruzados), John Moremen, Nick Vincent, WIllie Aron, Lyn Bertles, Jim Laspsesa and Gabi Lima along with a possibly several surprise guests will perform an amazing evening of music to support and inspire Matthew in his recovery. It will be an unforgettable night in this very intimate venue. Wild Honey is a 501c3 non-profit that supports autism causes and artists-in-need. We have been producing benefit shows since 1994. The benefit is produced Paul Rock and David Jenkins. For more information: Wildhoneyfoundation@yahoo.com Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/5he4vucf Those who are unable to make the show but want to make a tax-deductible donation to the Wild Honey Foundation that will add to the show donation may do so here: https://tinyurl.com/3chk4yvz

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Pop innovator Matthew Sweet cancels tour after suffering a stroke

Matthew Sweet and yours truly backstage
at the Coach House in San Juan
Capistrano, CA.

My thoughts and deepest prayers go out to Matthew Sweet; please read the media release below and help if you can. I have interviewed the beloved power pop hero several times and always enjoyed his concert dates too..Robert Kinsler

The power pop artist suffered a debilitating stroke while on tour in Canada All tour dates have been canceled To help cover his extensive medical bills  Sweet's friends have set up a GoFundMe HERE

Octber 23; Omaha, NE: Alt-rock trailblazer Matthew Sweet was forced to cancel an extensive cross-country tour of both headline dates and support slots for longtime friends, Hanson, after suffering a debilitating stroke in Toronto late Saturday evening of October 12. He was quickly admitted to Toronto Western Hospital where he received excellent care and was taken out of immediate danger. Matthew was transferred to a rehabilitation center back home in Omaha yesterday, where he will undergo extensive therapy. He is now on a long, difficult road to recovery. Matthew's longtime manager, Russell Carter, has issued this statement: "All of us who know and love Matthew have hope for a speedy recovery. Matthew has always been intensely focused and tenacious in all of his endeavors, not only in his recording career, but in all of his artistic and intellectual pursuits. I am confident that his signature determination will serve him well as he focuses now on recovery to good health." Matthew's medical expenses in Canada and Omaha are exorbitant and his primary source of income — like most professional musicians -— is live touring. He cannot perform for the foreseeable future. Matthew's management have set up a GoFundMe campaign so family, friends, and Matthew's amazing network of fans can contribute to help pay his medical expenses. Please contribute if you can and please repost the link to the GoFundMe fundraiser anywhere you can.  MATTHEW SWEET GoFundMe page HERE Matthew Sweet online: Website Facebook Instagram Vevo

ABOUT MATTHEW SWEET After spending the '80s as an up-and-coming jangle pop multi-instrumentalist with acts like Oh-OK, Lloyd Cole, The Golden Palominos, and The Buzz of Delight, Matthew Sweet emerged as the leading figure of the power pop revival with the release of his platinum-selling breakout record Girlfriend in 1991. Sweet adhered to traditional song craft, yet subverted the form by adding noisy post-punk guitar and flourishes of country-rock, resulting in an amalgam of the Beatles, Big Star, R.E.M., and Neil Young. Girlfriend became a word-of-mouth critical and commercial hit with its title track reaching the Top Five on the Modern Rock charts and its anime-styled music videos entering heavy rotation on MTV.  His next two records, Altered Beast (1993) and 100% Fun (1995), continued the hot streak, producing multiple top ten singles and achieving gold and platinum sales. Sweet's success continued in the late ‘90's and 2000's with successful US and European tours, major label releases (including Blue Sky on Mars, In Reverse, Modern Art), and a revered collaboration series with Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles) - Under Covers Vols. 1-3. More recent studio albums Sunshine Lies and Tomorrow Forever are championed by critics as persuasive testaments to the enduring qualities of Sweet's adventurous, emotion-charged songcraft. On Matthew’s thirteenth album, Catspaw (2021), he plays every instrument (except drums) for the first time in his career. American Songwriter called it “a one-man show of sorts that represents another high point in a career that’s now almost four decades long and shows no signs of lagging.” 2024 saw the release of a newly remixed and remastered archival live recording of Sweet’s epic July 4, 1993 headline performance at WXRT’s “Taste of Chicago” in Chicago’s Grant Park, Live at Grant Park Chicago July 1993. Sweet's next studio album os tentatively titled Midsommer.

Matthew Sweet announces 2024 tour dates; power-pop pioneer to release a live album of his fabled 1993 Grant's Park, Chicago show

 

Exciting news that celebrated rocker Matthew Sweet is going to return to the stage beginning this month, and has also announced a concert recording and new studio album are also coming ...Robert Kinsler

Matthew Sweet announces first live dates in four years Select February Midwest dates on sale now here The power-pop pioneer to release a live album of his fabled 1993 Grant's Park, Chicago show in 2024

Alt-rock trailblazer Matthew Sweet has announced his return to live touring following a nearly four-year hiatus, beginning with the pandemic and extending until now. Sweet will firstr return to the 30A Songwriters Festival over MLK weekend in January, followed by a six-date, full-band Midwest run. The tour kicks off on February 9 at the Madrid Theatre in Kansas City, MO and including stops in St. Paul, Milwaukee, and his hometown of Omaha, NE (all dates listed below).  Tickets are on sale now HERE The power pop pioneer is hard at work writing and recording his next studio record due out in 2024. In addition to new material, Sweet is planning to release an archival live record of one of his most fabled performances — a July 4, 1993 show at Chicago’s Grant Park. Originally recorded by Metro Mobile Recording for Chicago radio station WXRT, the blistering set includes hits and fan-favorites including “Girlfriend,” “I’ve Been Waiting,” “The Ugly Truth,” and a spirited cover of John Lennon’s “Crippled Inside.” Matthew is backed by Richard Lloyd (Television) on lead guitar, Will Rigby (the dB’s) on drums, and Tony Marsico (Cruzados, Bob Dylan) on bass and background vocals. Remixed and remastered from the original DAT source by engineer Brian Kehew, known for his work with The Who, The Pretenders, The Stooges, Crazy Horse, and The Replacements, the live album captures Sweet live at the peak of the alternative rock takeover when he first achieved commercial success with a series of gold and platinum records that still hold up today.   Sweet’s loyal fans will be delighted to know he recently launched a Patreon page. Sweet regularly shares writing demos, visual art and sculpture, livestreams, and more. Matthew Sweet Tour Dates:  January 12-15 - South Walton, FL - 30A Songwriters Festival February 9 - Kansas City, MO - Madrid Theatre February 10 - St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill  February 13 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall February 14 - Iowa City, IA - Wildwood Smokehouse and Saloon  February 16 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club  February 17 - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room  Matthew Sweet online: Website Facebook Instagram Vevo

ABOUT MATTHEW SWEET Matthew Sweet’s journey began with a move to Athens, Ga. in the early 1980s at the urging of his pen pal, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. As a student at University of Georgia, he was immersed in the college town’s burgeoning alternative rock scene, playing in pioneering acts like Oh-OK and the Buzz of Delight. At 20, he left Georgia for New York City and a major deal with Columbia, where he released his debut solo album, Inside, in 1986. Earth, his 1989 follow-up on A&M, showcased a songwriter with extraordinary pop sensibility on the cusp of something greater. A year later, amid the smoldering ashes of heartbreak and divorce and an escape from New York to the outskirts of Princeton, New Jersey, Sweet composed the songs that became 1991’s Girlfriend. Singles “Girlfriend” and “I’ve Been Waiting,” paired with their Japanese anime-laced music videos (a novelty to the American market at the time), won Sweet a lifelong international following. Altered Beast (1993) continued the hot streak with singles “Ugly Truth” and “Time Capsule,” while 1995’s 100% Fun single “Sick of Myself” reached #2 on rock radio, breaking him even wider.    Sweet continued to evolve over a string of well-received albums in the early 2000s. In 2006, he joined forces with Bangles frontwoman Susanna Hoffs to record a series of covers from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, Under the Covers, Vol. 1–3. Sweet’s music has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and games, including Austin Powers, Guitar Hero II, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Simpsons, and Scooby-Doo, among many others. Sweet was a lead consultant on Tim Burton’s Margaret Keane biopic Big Eyes in 2014. His companion albums, Tomorrow Forever (2017) and Tomorrow's Daughter (2018) were followed by 2018's Wicked System of Things and 2021's Catspaw, his 15th studio effort.

Media Release: Power Pop Icon Matthew Sweet leads a cast of All-Stars and Legends on a Trip to Revisit The Beatles’ “ABBEY ROAD!”

 

Power Pop Icon MATTHEW SWEET Leads A Cast Of All-Stars And Legends On A Trip To Revisit THE BEATLES’ “ABBEY ROAD!”

Album features performances by Jellyfish's Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Vulfpeck's Charles Jones, British guitar legend Snowy White, Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens, GnR cohort Ron Bumblefoot Thal, Paul Shafer, God Of Hellfire Arthur Brown and lots more!

Los Angeles, CA - It probably comes as no surprise that Athens GA indie rock icon Matthew Sweet has a fondness for The Beatles. From his 1986 debut album to his early ‘90s breakthrough, including the MTV smash hit “Girlfriend,” on through to his most recent albums, Sweet has pulled off the same kind of melodically driven, seemingly straightforward but stealthily complex songs that turned the Liverpudlian foursome into a worldwide phenomena and one of the most influential artists of all-time. Recently, Sweet was invited to participate in a truly remarkable revisitation of The Beatles’ incredible crowning glory, the brilliant Abbey Road, and the results couldn’t be more satisfying.

Sweet sings, plays guitar and even adds a little bass to a brand new version of Abbey Road’s punchiest blast of rock psychedelia, “Polythene Pam.” The fourth segment of the album’s magnificent Side B medley, “Pam” is the perfect showcase for Sweet’s deft interplay of rapid fire vocals and powerfully overdriven guitars. Assisting in the track’s creation is fellow singer/guitarist Jason Berk, who adds texture with his acoustic guitar, and Fernando Perdomo who supports Sweet’s guitar with some tasteful Hammond organ. Perhaps the only thing that can be said against the track is that, with a running time of 1:27, it leaves too soon. But then, that’s what the repeat button is for!

Stream/download the single: https://orcd.co/matthewsweet_polythenepam

Abbey Road Reimagined, produced by Perdomo and packed with an astounding array of musical all-stars, will be hitting the digital and physical shelves on August 18, 2023. Order your copy today!

Order the CD/Vinyl: https://cleorecs.com/store/?s=Abbey+Road+Reimagined&post_type=product

Pre-save the digital: https://orcd.co/abbeyroadreimagined

TRACK LIST:
1. Come Together - Durga McBroom (Pink Floyd), Jackie Lomax (Apple Records Artist) & Snowy White (Pink Floyd)
2. Something - Charles Jones (Vulfpeck) & Sonny Landreth
3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer - Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Jellyfish)
4. Oh! Darling - Eric Dover (Jellyfish) & Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge)
5. Octopus's Garden - Matt Axton & Brian Auger (Rod Stewart)
6. I Want You (She's So Heavy) -  Arthur Brown & Steve Stevens (Billy Idol)
7. Here Comes The Sun - Ron Bumblefoot Thal (Guns N' Roses)
8. Because - Rebecca Pidgeon & Patrick Moraz (The Moody Blues)
9. You Never Give Me Your Money - Graham Bonnet (Rainbow) & Rick Wakeman (Yes)
10. Sun King - James Booth & The Return, Albert Lee & Geoff Downes (Yes)
11. Mean Mr. Mustard - Jack Russell (Great White)
12. Polythene Pam - Matthew Sweet
13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window - Adam Gaynor (Matchbox 20) & Paul Shaffer
14. Golden Slumbers - Terry Reid
15. Carry That Weight - Gregg Bissonette
16. The End - Frank Dimino (Angel) & Steve Hillage (Gong)
17. Her Majesty - Gary Wilson

New Music: Paul Stanley's Soul Station, Ringo Starr, Badfinger, Son of the Velvet Rat, Zack Snyder's Justice League (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Countless hours of great listening await those who pick up any of these new releases!

Artist: Paul Stanley's Soul Station

Title: Now and Then (UMe)

You might like if you enjoy: Al Green, Smokey Robinson, The Spinners 

Tell me more: Paul Stanley's Soul Station is no publicity ploy. The KISS frontman's love of soul music dates back before the Starchild's New York-spawned band hit rock and roll pay dirt in the early '70s. I caught Stanley and his top-tier Soul Station back in 2016 at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA and was blown away (read my review of that concert HERE). Now, the ensemble's long-awaited full-length debut (Now and Then) has been released and it fully delivers on the magic I witnessed five years ago. Stanley revisits a slew of soul classics with faithful and affecting renditions; these include a wonderful take on the Al Green 1972 classic "Let's Stay Together," romantic reading of the Miracles' 1965 hit "Ooo Baby Baby" and an emotive version of the Spinners' 1972 R&B favorite "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love." Even more impressive are the five originals that equal the might of the reworked covers. The instantly-infectious "I, Oh I" is particularly stunning and is one of those ear candy cuts that you hear and can't get out of your head. The wistful "Save Me (From You)," lovely "Lorelei" and shimmering "Whenever You're Ready (I'm Here)" — the latter a duet with soprano Crystal Starr — are other welcome originals on Now and Then. Stanley's full voice is consistently on the mark, and his mellifluous falsetto adds another key element in the enchantment displayed across the release — his versions of the Temptations' "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" and the Stylistics' "You Are Everything" are particularly impressive with Stanley utilizing his high-flying falsetto as the centerpiece of both songs. Stanley’s amazing group includes: Rafael “Hoffa” Moreira (guitar & backing vocals), Sean Hurley (bass), Alex Alessandroni (Musical Director, keyboards), Ely Rise (keyboards), Eric Singer (drums & backing vocals), RayYslas (percussion), Gavyn Rhone (backing vocals), Crystal Starr (backing vocals) and Laurhan Beato (backing vocals) and Jon Pappenbrook (lead trumpet). Information: PaulStanley.com.

Artist: Ringo Starr

Title: Zoom In (UMe)

You might like if you enjoy: Ringo Starr, The Beatles, Steve Lukather

Tell me more: Ringo Starr has rewarded fans with Zoom In, a high-energy disc which packs plenty of punch over the course of five songs. Starr's "Peace and Love" mantra plays out via a mix of positive and uplifting tracks that aim to find the best in humanity whilst bringing us all together. He has plenty of illustrious help from friends this time around. Starr turns in a terrific lead vocal performance for "Here's To The Nights," with an army of greats joining in for the big choruses (Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Jenny Lewis, Lenny Kravitz, Chris Stapleton, Ben Harper and many more). The bluesy "Zoom In Zoom Out" finds Doors guitarist Robby Krieger adding some tasty fret work with his slide while Benmont Tench (of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fame) plays piano and organ. The reggae original "Waiting For the Tide to Turn" is a fantastic song that captures the unease of our times, Starr's baritone and Zelma Davis' soaring backing vocals casting hope with their tandem delivery. "Not Enough Love in the World" is bolstered by guitar great Steve Lukather's flashy lead work, along with a sweeping arrangement from keyboardist Joseph Williams. Starr's wonderful drumming is heard across the disc, his signature creativity behind the kit always in the service of the song and the talented players around him. Information: RingoStarr.com.

Artist: Badfinger

Title: No Matter What - Revisiting the Hits (Cleopatra Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Badfinger, Rick Springfield, Matthew Sweet, Todd Rundgren

Tell me more: Badfinger was one of the best British bands to emerge in the late 1960s, and was the first group signed by the Beatles' Apple label in 1968. Joey Molland — the last surviving member of the power pop quartet's classic line-up that also included Pete Ham, Tom Evans and Mike Gibbins — has joined forces with an eclectic, top-tier group of guests to record new versions of Badfinger's most beloved songs. Early highlights on the No Matter What - Revisiting the Hits include a faithful take on the "No Matter What" featuring Mark Stein (of Vanilla Fudge fame), "Come and Get It" (featuring keyboardist great Rick Wakeman), the psychedelic-styled "I Don't Mind" (with Carl Giammarese) and baroque-flavored version of "Day After Day" (featuring Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson along with Terry Reid & the Manchester String Quartet). The delights on the last half of the essential collection include Rick Springfield on the tuneful tour de force "Love Is Gonna Come At Last," power pop hero Matthew Sweet joining forces with Molland on an electrifying "Baby Blue," "Suitcase" with slide guitar master Sonny Landreth adding a Delta bluesy feel to the track, and the rootsy "Sweet Tuesday Morning" featuring finger style guitar virtuoso Albert Lee. The album closes strongly with Todd Rundgren bringing his signature touch to the reflective "Without You." Information: CleopatraRecords.com.

Artist: Son of the Velvet Rat

Title: Solitary Company (Fluff & Gravy Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt

Tell me more: Joshua Tree-based Son of the Velvet Rat is the memorable moniker for singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Georg Altziebler and his wife, singer/multi-instrumentalist Heike Binder. Altziebler's deep lead vocals and the otherworldly sound that is created when Binder joins in with her backing vocals is a perfect fit with the mix of European folk and rootsy Americana musical forces that blend on their new album Solitary Company. Altziebler's poetic lyrics somehow capture the expansive feel of the Mojave Desert, adding additional power to the vivid songs. The sparse title track recalls some of Neil Young's beautiful Harvest-era acoustic gems, although it is enhanced by violin, viola and cello that bring symphonic flourishes to the acoustic soundscape. The driving "Stardust," haunting "When The Lights Go Down" (awash with accordion and moments of glorious fuzz guitar), romantic "11 & 9," rootsy folk rocker "The Only Child" and riveting "Remember Me" are among the wonderfully immersive originals on this bewitching album. Information: SonOfTheVelvetRat.com.

Artist: Composer Tom Holkenborg

Title: Zack Snyder's Justice League (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Watertower Music)

You might like if you enjoy: Junkie XL, Howard Shore, Hans Zimmer

Tell me more: Not only is the four-hour epic "Zack Snyder's Justice League" one of the most exciting superhero films in memory, but the equally ambitious 54-track Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for the film really showcases the creative might of composer Tom Holkenborg much like the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy did for Howard Shore. The current version of "Justice League" streaming on HBO Max blows away the 2017 version of the film; Holkenborg's score clearly outdistances the soundtrack used in the previous version of the film. This is a sweeping sonic experience that embraces the listener with every frame of the film, and is equally effective as a listening-only experience. The secret is that Holkenborg utilizes his instincts drawn from his hands-on experience working in rock, electronica, world music, classical, and more; he is able to effortlessly blend together the best of those sonic spheres across the marathon-length Zack Snyder's Justice League score. The cinematic "A Hunter Gathers," beautiful "Migratory," Neo-classical "World Ending Fire," dark-to-bright "No Dog, No Master," symphonic "Cyborg Becoming / Human All Too Human," 13-minute electronica rock blast "We Do This Together" and poignant "The Foundation Theme" are among the many high marks on this brilliant soundtrack. In addition to Holkenborg's astonishing score, there are several new songs featured in the film that appear on the collection; the Celtic-mining "Song To The Siren" from singer Rose Betts and striking "Hallelujah" performed by Allison Crowe. Information: watertower-music.com.

Robert Kinsler