Greta Van Fleet's new album 'Starcatcher' is due July 21, 2023 via Lava/Republic Records

Listen to the majestic new track "Meeting the Master" from Greta Van Fleet's forthcoming album Starcatcher. The disc is due on July 21, 2023...Robert Kinsler

Photo credit: Neil Krug

GRETA VAN FLEET’S NEW ALBUM STARCATCHER DUE ON FRIDAY, JULY 21 ON LAVA/REPUBLIC RECORDS

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ROCK BAND UNVEIL NEW SONG “MEETING THE MASTER”

“Greta Van Fleet aim to bust down old walls.” - Rolling Stone

“[Greta Van Fleet is] the strongest piece of evidence that the elusive spirit of 1970s rock and roll [is] back.” - Vanity Fair

“There’s something winning about the members’ earnest intentions, as well as their unwavering commitment to them. Their sincere love for the history of rock shows in the depth of their knowledge about it.” - The Guardian

April 7, 2023—Grammy-winning rock band Greta Van Fleet’s much anticipated third studio album Starcatcher is set for release July 21 on Lava/Republic Records; pre-save/pre-order HERE.

The album’s first single “Meeting The Master” debuts today; listen HERE.

The bands notes, “‘Meeting The Master’ peers into an esoteric world heeded by the word of a wise teacher. Sung in the voice of a devout believer, and eventual group exclamation, the song details the love these fervent followers have for their teacher and their firm belief in his vision. It’s an exotic spiritual journey. A dark comedy that inevitably ends in chaos.”

The album is written and recorded by the band—lead singer Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist/keyboardist Sam Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner—alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile). Recorded at the legendary RCA Studios in Nashville, the band utilized the large recording room to capture the pure energy of their world-renowned live performances.

“We didn’t really have to force or be intense about writing, because everything that happened was very instinctual,” Jake says. “If anything, the record is our perspective, and sums up where we are as a group and individually as musicians.

Throughout the ten-song collection the band explores the duality of fantasy versus reality and the contrast between light and darkness. “We had this idea that we wanted to tell these stories to build a universe,” says Wagner. “We wanted to introduce characters and motifs and these ideas that would come about here and there throughout our careers through this world.”

The band took multiple concepts from critically acclaimed sophomore album The Battle at Garden’s Gate and brought them into Starcatcher, although Sam’s take on the new record’s big ideas hint instead at new beginnings. “When I imagine the world of Starcatcher, I think of the cosmos,” he says. “It makes me ask a lot of questions, like ‘Where did we come from?’ or ‘What are we doing here?’ But it’s also questions like, ‘What is this consciousness that we have, and where did it come from?’”

The band is best known for their renowned live performances, selling over one million ticketsworldwide. They sold out their entire 2022 arena tour, holding a special energy between them and their devoted fans. With Starcatcher the band aims to capture that energy in the recording studio.

Most recently, the band performed at the inaugural Lollapalooza Mumbai and completed an extensive U.S. arena tour in March. Greta Van Fleet returns to the road next month for the Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta and Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis. See below for a complete tour itinerary.

Starcatcher follows their acclaimed sophomore album The Battle at Garden’s Gate, released in 2021 to extensive chart and critical success. The album debuted at #1 Billboard Rock Album, #1 Billboard Hard Rock Album, #1 Billboard Vinyl Album, #2 Billboard Top Album Salesand in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. The debut LP from the band, Anthem of the Peaceful Army was released in 2018 to countless accolades including #1 Billboard Rock Album and Top 3 on the Billboard 200. Their From The Fires EP, released in 2017, won Best Rock Album at the 61^st Grammy Awards.

Forming in Frankenmuth, Michigan in 2012, Greta Van Fleet consists of three brothers—vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka and bassist/keyboardist Sam Kiszka—as well as drummer Danny Wagner. Together they have performed across multiple continents, sold over 3.5 million records worldwide and performed on late night television shows such as “Saturday Night Live,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
 

GRETA VAN FLEET—STARCATCHER

1. 1. Fate Of The Faithful
2. Waited All Your Life
3. The Falling Sky
4. Sacred The Thread
5. Runway Blues
6. The Indigo Streak
7. Frozen Light
8. The Archer
9. Meeting The Master
10. Farewell For Now

GRETA VAN FLEET LIVE
May 5-7—Atlanta, GA—Shaky Knees Festival
May 5-7—Memphis, TN— Beale Street Music Festival
September 16-17—Asbury Park, NJ—Sea Hear Now 2023
September 20, 2024—Mexico City, CDMX—Foro Sol
September 27, 2024—Mexico City, CDMX—Foro Sol

Official | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | TikTok

About Republic Records
A division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, Republic Records has been recognized by Billboard as the industry’s #1 label over the last 10 years. It is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Billy Porter, Bo Burnham, Ciara, Clairo, Coi Leray, Conan Gray, Daddy Yankee, Drake, Eddie Vedder, G Herbo, Glass Animals, Florence + the Machine, Greta Van Fleet, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack Johnson, James Blake, James Bay, Jessie J, Jimmy Fallon, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Jonas Brothers, Julia Michaels, Kid Cudi, Kim Petras, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Metro Boomin, NAV, Nicki Minaj, Of Monsters and Men, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Stevie Wonder, Swedish House Mafia, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Twice, TXT, and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures, including American Recordings, Boominati Worldwide, Brushfire, Casablanca Records, Cash Money, Federal Films, HYBE, Imperial, JYP, Lava Records, Mercury Records, Republic Records: Kids & Family, Republic Nashville, Universal Arabic Music, Uptown Records, Victor Victor, Wicked Money Family, XO, Young Money, among others.

Sights and sounds: Roy Orbison, Blondie, The Whigs, First Aid Kit

If it's Wednesday morning, there must be music news to share...

USA Today has an interesting story and video link related to the upcoming May 19 release of the deluxe edition of Roy Orbison's Mystery Girl and a documentary film related to the creation of that outstanding release. Read the story here.

Are you a fan of Blondie? You can stream her new 40th anniversary release here.

The Whigs will return and will perform on The Late Show With David Letterman tonight. Now in the midst of a North American headlining tour, the band will perform the new song "Hit Me" (off their latest album Modern Creation).

For more information, visit www.thewhigs.com. 

First Aid Kit - Photo: Neil Krug

Finally, I am a big fan of Sweden's First Aid Kit and momentum is building with the release of the duo's Stay Gold set to land via Columbia Records on June 10, 2014. Check out the article in the online version of Paste Magazine which also features the retro-mining video for the beautiful new song "Cedar Lane" by clicking here. 

The duo is embarking on a tour in support of Stay Gold later this month, including a date at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on May 28. Stockholm-based sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg will also make their first-ever performance at the Bonnaroo Festival in June.

Here is the tracklisting for Stay Gold: 

1. My Silver Lining
2. Master Pretender
3. Stay Gold
4. Cedar Lane
5. Shattered & Hollow
6. The Bell
7. Waitress Song
8. Fleeting One
9. Heaven Knows
10. A Long Time Ago

You can learn more about First Aid Kit by visiting: http://thisisfirstaidkit.com/

Sights and sounds: First Aid Kit, Robert Cray

Here are some of the top news releases to land in my inbox overnight concerning two great artists, including Sweden's First Aid Kit and singer-songwriter-guitarist Robert Cray...

The cover art for First Aid Kit's forthcoming 'Stay Gold' LP due on June 10, 2014.

First Aid Kit to release 'Stay Gold' - the duo's Columbia Records debut on June 10, 2014

Listen to the first single "My Silver Lining" via Pitchfork: http://bit.ly/1gTAOFY

First Aid Kit in Death Valley. Photo: Neil Krug

On June 10, Swedish duo First Aid Kit will make their Columbia Records debut with Stay Gold. First single "My Silver Lining" is now available for streaming via Pitchfork (http://bit.ly/1gTAOFY/). The band has also announced a full headlining North American tour this spring that has already begun to sell out, with stops at NYC's Webster Hall and their first-ever appearance at Bonnaroo Music Festival. Full dates below.

With Stay Gold, First Aid Kit - sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg - have honed their lush arrangements and blossomed as vivid storytellers in creating this ambitious 10-song collection of originals. Recorded at ARC studios in Omaha and produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk), the duo also enlisted The Omaha Symphony Orchestra to play on the record, with arrangements by Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes, Broken Bells, Rilo Kiley). They say of the recording process, "We took new directions and turns with the arrangements, building them up and creating more dynamics, yet always following where the songs wanted to go."

Watch: Exclusive album trailer, filmed on location in Death Valley (directed by Neil Krug): http://bit.ly/1gTvIJQ

Drawing inspiration from sources as varied as Spaghetti Westerns and Lee Hazlewood productions, "My Silver Lining" features the duo's most sophisticated songwriting and arrangements to date. They explain, "It's song about searching for a reason to keep on keeping on, to find the good that comes with the bad. We wanted to create a piece that was dark yet uplifting at the same time." Elsewhere, songs like "Master Pretender" capture the lush, confident instrumentation of 'Graceland'-era Paul Simon.

Hailing from a southern suburb of Stockholm, Klara and Johanna began composing songs as teenagers in 2007. Their heart-wrenching song "Emmylou" off 'The Lion's Roar' was chosen by Rolling Stone as a 'Single of the Year' in 2012. They have performed on Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, and shared the stage with artists including Jack White, Lykee Li, and Bright Eyes.

On Tuesday April 1, Stay Gold will be available for iTunes pre-order, orders will come with an instant grat download of "My Silver Lining." Deluxe collectors edition bundles will also be available for pre-order at thisisfirstaidkit.com, featuring limited edition gold vinyl, an exclusive tote bag, and an autographed 14x20 lithograph while supplies last. Pre-order here:http://smarturl.it/FAK_StayGold

'Stay Gold' Tracklist:
1. My Silver Lining
2. Master Pretender
3. Stay Gold
4. Cedar Lane
5. Shattered & Hollow
6. The Bell
7. Waitress Song
8. Fleeting One
9. Heaven Knows
10. A Long Time Ago

Tour Dates:
5/22 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
5/23 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre
5/24 - George, WA - Sasquatch! Festival
5/26 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
5/28 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
5/29 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom
5/31 - Houston, TX - Free Press Summer Fest
6/2 - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
6/3 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
6/4 - Chicago, IL - Park West
6/6 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
6/7 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
6/8 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
6/9 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
6/11 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
6/12 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
6/13 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
6/14 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music Festival

ROBERT CRAY releases new LP 'In My Soul' on April 1  

New EPK takes fans behind the music!

Robert Cray, 5x Grammy winner (15x nominee) releases In My Soul -a rich emotion of classic soul storytelling that never strays from his incomparable guitar mastery.  A new behind the scenes EPK takes fans inside the music.

Produced by Steve Jordan (Keith Richards, John Mayer) the 10 song album blends funky originals with surprising covers.  A bonus track "Pillow" is included on the limited edition CD:
Amazon CD - http://bit.ly/1jrKtDg
iTunes - http://bit.ly/1lhXoaN

First single "You Move Me," is classic Cray with his signature slicing guitar leads woven throughout. The bulk of In My Soul is made up of original material with a few covers including Otis Redding's "Nobody's Fault But Mine," "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" and "Deep in My Soul" by the late Bobby "Blue" Bland. "I didn't want to change it—just do it pretty straight up as a tribute to Bobby, who was one of my real heroes," says Cray. 

"When I think of Robert Cray, I think of a great singer," says Jordan. "Most people gravitate to his guitar playing because he's such a gunslinger, but I don't. He's got so much soul it's ridiculous." 

Wall Street Journal says In My Soul is "a tasteful, laid-back album, and while there's plenty of Cray's distinctive guitar playing, there's more to the new LP than fiery licks."  UK Daily Mirror calls the album "Impressive" and gives it 4 stars.

Widely recognized as one of the greatest guitarists of our time, The New Yorker calls him "one of the most reliable pleasures of soul and blues for over three decades now " and Rolling Stone Magazine credits him with having "reinvented the blues with his distinct razor sharp guitar playing."

The youngest living member to be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, Robert Cray has sold more than 12 million records, has his own line of Fender guitars and has established himself as a genre defining artist- a signature blend of r&b, pop, rock, soul and traditional blues. 

This year marks the 40th year since the formation of the Robert Cray Band. The band includes Cray (vocals/guitar), longtime bassist Richard Cousins, Dover Weinberg (back with the band on piano/keyboard) and Les Falconer (drums).

Tour Dates visit: http://robertcray.com/tour/