Tyler Childers’ highly anticipated new album "Snipe Hunter" out July 25, “Nose on the Grindstone” out today

 This just landed in my inbox; the forthcoming Rick Rubin-produced new album from Tyler Childers lands on July 25 ...Robert Kinsler

TYLER CHILDERS’ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM SNIPE HUNTER OUT JULY 25, “NOSE ON THE GRINDSTONE” OUT TODAY  

PRODUCED BY RICK RUBIN

EXTENSIVE HEADLINE TOUR UNDERWAY WITH UPCOMING STOPS IN NEW YORK, NASHVILLE
AND MORE 

   

photo credit: Sam Waxman // album cover artwork, credit: Erik Thor Sandberg

June 12, 2025—7x Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, musician and performer Tyler Childers will release his highly anticipated new album, Snipe Hunter, July 25 via Hickman Holler Records/RCA Records (pre-order/pre-save here).

Childers further establishes himself as “one of country music’s most compelling and unpredictable artists” (Associated Press), as he puts forth a thirteen-track collection that showcases the signature artistry he’s cultivated throughout his esteemed career, while continuing to push his own creative boundaries. Longtime fans will no doubt note and appreciate the inclusion of fan-favorite, “Nose on the Grindstone,” which is officially out now for the first time after years of being played on the road. 

Listen HERE and watch a new performance video HERE. 

Snipe Hunter is produced by Rick Rubin with additional production from Childers and Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn.  

“One of his generation’s most important voices” (Rolling Stone), Childers has released five acclaimed albums to date including his 2017 RIAA Platinum debut, Purgatory, 2019’s #1 Country Squire and 2023’s Rustin’ In The Rain, which debuted at #10 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. The record features seven tracks including the 2x Grammy, VMA and ACM-nominated single, “In Your Love,” which, since its release, has garnered over 13.7 million video views, 215 million on-demand streams and received overwhelming praise from outlets such as NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Billboard, USA Today, Pitchfork, Stereogum and many more. Childers has also performed countless sold-out shows across the world and been featured on CBS Mornings, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Seth Meyers, NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk Concert” series and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.  

Known for his electric live shows, Childers and his band The Food Stamps—James Barker (guitar, pedal steel), Craig Burletic (bass), CJ Cain (guitars), Kory Caudill (keyboards), Rodney Elkins (drums), Matt Rowland (keyboards) and Jesse Wells (guitar, fiddle)—will tour through this fall with his extensive “Tyler Childers On The Road Tour,” which includes upcoming stops New York’s Forest Hills Stadium (two nights), Nashville’s GEODIS Park (two nights) and London’s O2 Arena among many others. See below for complete tour itinerary. 

TYLER CHILDERS CONFIRMED TOUR DATES

July 18—Redmond, OR—Fairwell Festival

July 20—Whitefish, MT—Under the Big Sky Festival

July 24—Omaha, NE—CHI Health Center*

July 26—East Troy, WI—Alpine Valley Music Theatre‡

September 19-20—Ashland, KY—Healing Appalachia

September 22—Charlottesville, VA—John Paul Jones Arena

September 24—Camden, NJ—Freedom Mortgage Pavilion†

September 25—Mansfield, MA—Xfinity Center†

September 27—Bristow, VA—Jiffy Lube Live†

September 29—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium*

September 30—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium*

October 3—Cincinnati, OH—Riverbend Music Center+

October 5—Memphis, TN—Mempho Music Festival

October 7—Cuyahoga Falls, OH—Blossom Music Center+

October 10—Nashville, TN—GEODIS Park^

October 11—Nashville, TN—GEODIS Park^ 

November 15—London, U.K.—O2 Arena~

*with special guest Medium Build

‡with special guests The Hold Steady and Medium Build

†with special guests Medium Build and SOMA

+with special guest Hayes Carll

^with special guests Charley Crockett and Cory Branan

~with special guests The Magic Numbers and Omni of Halos

www.tylerchildersmusic.com

Recommended Releases: Crowded House, Mumps, Wolf Alice, Richard Blade's 'Imposters'

Three fantastic new audio titles and a must-read music-minded tale from famed DJ/author Richard Blade are featured in my column this week. 

Artist: Crowded House

Title: Dreamers Are Waiting (BMG)

You might like if you enjoy: Crowded House, Del Amitri, Paul McCartney, Neil Finn

Tell me more: One of rock's great genuine treasures, Crowded House is back with Dreamers Are Waiting. The Australian outfit's first new album since 2010's Intriguer, the new 12-track collection equals the strength of their previous recordings stretching back to their 1986 eponymous-titled debut. Singer-songwriter Neil Finn and company have crafted a collection that is as tuneful as it is impactful. The driving electronica-tinged "Whatever You Want" tackles human nature with the precision of a surgeon's knife; the melodic bounce comes in the service of Finn's wit: "The people will tell you whatever you want...Every night and every day / Some will fall upon their swords in order that / They might serve the greater good / But don't believe a word of it." The yearning melodic rocker "Playing With Fire" is infectious to be sure, but it is Finn's soulful lead vocals, the surrounding Burt Bacharach-mining harmony touches and bold horn section-bolstered arrangement that collectively make for something extra special. The dreamy expanse of "Bad Times Good," "Show Me The Way" and "Goodnight Everyone" reveal the rich diversity of Crowded House's approach. The lovely "Start of Something" – with its rich harmonies – recalls the magic of the Beach Boys' late-60s discography but laced with a modern touch. The soulful "Real Life Woman," animated "Love Isn't Hard At All" and mischievous "To The Island" are among the other gems on the essential set. Information: CrowdedHouse.com.

Artist: Mumps

Title: Rock & Roll This, Rock & Roll That: Best Case Scenario, You've Got Mumps (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: '70s punk and glam rock, Sparks, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" soundtrack

Tell me more: Led by front man Lance Loud, Mumps were a cutting edge 1970s punk rock band that was among the first to play at the legendary CBGB in New York City. Also regulars at Max's Kansas City, Mumps shared the bill with Talking Heads, the Ramones, Television, Cheap Trick, The Cramps, Blondie and even Van Halen (the latter at the Whisky-a-Go-Go in West Hollywood) during the band's seven-year run. Sadly, Mumps only released two singles before disbanding (1977's "I Like To Be Clean" on Bomp! Records and "Rock & Roll This, Rock & Roll That" on Perfect Records in 1978). The legacy of Mumps gets a well-deserved boost courtesy of Omnivore Recordings on the excellent Rock & Roll This, Rock & Roll That: Best Case Scenario, You've Got Mumps; the 23-track collection includes two previously unissued tracks and a number of bonus tracks (notably two previously-unissued songs from the pre-Mumps band Loud). Mumps' infectious sound and spirited approach shines brightly on the set; the ska-tinged "Just Look, Don't Touch," crunchy "Crocodile Tears," punk rocker "We Ended Up" and lively "Rock & Roll This, Rock & Roll That" are among my faves. The package includes a 16-page illustrated booklet featuring liner notes from Mumps members Kristian Hoffman (keyboards), Joe Katz (bass) and Paul Rutner (drums) as well as Lance Loud's mother Pat Loud. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Wolf Alice

Title: Blue Weekend (Dirty Hit/RCA Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Chvrches, Billie Eilish, Florence + The Machine

Tell me more: London quartet Wolf Alice are back with Blue Weekend, their third full-length LP and a strong follow-up to their acclaimed 2017 disc Visions of a Life (which won the prestigious Mercury Prize in 2018). The vast soundscape includes the arresting opener "The Beach," expansive dream pop of Delicious Things," luxurious "Lipstick On The Glass" driving modern rocker "Smile," lovely "Safe From Heartbreak (if you never fall in love)" and punk rocker "Play The Greatest Hits." Ellie Rowsell's affecting vocals are particularly dynamic on the genre-blending "The Last Man On Earth," unguarded "How Can I Make It Ok?" and electronic foray "Feeling Myself." In addition to Rowsell (vocals, guitar), Wolf Alice includes Joff Oddie (guitar, vocals), Theo Ellis (bass) and Joel Amey (drums, vocals). Wolf Alice will be headlining a U.S. tour in fall of 2021, including several dates in Los Angeles in late October. Information: wolfalice.co.uk.

Title: Imposters: Two Boys Who Fooled America

Author: Richard Blade

Publisher: BladeRocker Books

Details: 298 pages

Tell me more: Audiences know him best for his work on radio, television and in movies, but Richard Blade is also a talented author who has penned an acclaimed best-selling autobiography (2017's "World In My Eyes") and several successful novels (2019's "SPQR" and 2020's "Birthright"). Now comes "Imposters: Two Boys Who Fooled America," a fast-paced real life yarn that fuses the excitement of '60s rock and roll with the political turmoil of that decade into a captivating story this reader couldn't put down. In 1966, two teenage boys from Southern California suddenly became the target of an unwarranted manhunt by the FBI. They successfully eluded the law by assuming the identity of a best-selling duo from the 1950s and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. Although the story is true, Blade embellishes the saga and characters in ways that appear fully authentic while fully immersing the reader in a myriad of unlikely situations where the protagonists find themselves across their three-year adventure. Blade's lively writing style coupled with a truly incredible story of teens forced to grow into men while on the run plays out amidst the backdrop of the Vietnam War, political assassinations, protests and some of the greatest rock music of all time. Information: amazon.com.

Robert Kinsler

Tool claims #1 Spot on Billboard Top 200 as 'Fear Inoculum' reigns over worldwide charts

Nice to see intelligent and artful rock celebrated by a big worldwide audience...

TOOL CLAIMS #1 SPOT ON BILLBOARD TOP 200 AS FEAR INOCULUM REIGNS OVER WORLDWIDE CHARTS

“The album that hard rock devotees will be poring over for years…” – Billboard

“… Fear Inoculum was worth the 13 year wait… This record gets the whiplash intensity that the band brings live.” – NPR

“Fear Inoculum is a masterpiece to be dissected for years to come…” – Revolver

“…a languid and blissful work…” 5 Stars. – NME

“Fear Inoculum lives up to its daunting expectations with songs that showcase TOOL in peak performance…” – Consequence of Sound

“…deeply satisfying…” – Entertainment Weekly

TOOL celebrates their third consecutive #1 debut on Billboard’s Top 200, with Fear Inoculum (RCA Records) reigning over the U.S. sales charts, selling 270,000 units.

The news of Fear Inoculum’s impressive debut comes amidst news stories of the album release being met by lengthy lines at retailers as music lovers clamored to get a copy of the limited edition, physical version of the CD. The spectacular, groundbreaking packaging boasts a 4” HD rechargeable screen with exclusive video footage, charging cable, 2 watt speaker, a 36-page booklet and a digital download card. The Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS) released a rare statement, describing the event-like album release: “Several stores had well-attended midnight sales on Thursday (it was my store's first midnight sale in 10 years). When we returned to work on Friday morning, there were lines at the door… the TOOL release was the biggest thing to hit retail in years.”

The success wasn’t isolated to the U.S., with the album debuting at #1 in Australia, Norway, New Zealand, and Belgium, as well as Top 5 debuts in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Ireland, Italy and Finland.

Critically, the album was met with equal enthusiasm. NPR proclaimed “Fear Inoculum was worth the 13-year wait,” NME awarded the 10-track offering a perfect 5 star score, The Atlantic dubbed it “precise and devastating,” Revolver declared it “a masterpiece that will be dissected for years to come” and Entertainment Weekly said the collection is “deeply satisfying, both as a distinct artistic statement and as accidental fan service to a base that expects nothing less than unflinchingly unique artistic statements.”

News of the Fear Inoculum’s impressive debut follows the announcement of TOOL’s first North American tour in support of the album.

October 13 Sacramento, CA Aftershock Festival

October 15 Denver, CO Pepsi Center

October 16 Denver, CO Pepsi Center

October 18 Salt Lake City, UT Vivint Smart Home Arena

October 20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center

October 21 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center

October 23 Glendale, AZ Gila River Arena

October 25 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center

October 27 Houston, TX Toyota Center

October 29 Tulsa, OK BOK Center

October 31 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum

November 2 Indianapolis, IN Banker’s Life Fieldhouse

November 3 Chicago, IL United Center

November 5 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena

November 6 Cleveland, OH Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

November 8 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena

November 9 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena

November 11 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena

November 12 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena

November 14 Boston, MA TD Garden

November 16 Newark, NJ Prudential Center

November 18 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center

November 19 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center

November 21 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino Arena

November 22 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall

November 24 Raleigh, NC PNC Arena

November 25 Washington, DC Capitol One Arena

TOOL formed in 1990, releasing four multi-platinum studio albums: Undertow (1993), Ænima (1996), Lateralus (2001) and 10,000 Days (2006); two EPs: 72826 (1991) and Opiate (1992) and the limited-edition boxset Salival (2000). The band has won three GRAMMY Awards®: Best Metal Performance (1998, “Ænima”), Best Metal Performance (2002, “Schism”) and Best Recording Package (2007, 10,000 Days). TOOL is Danny Carey (drums), Justin Chancellor (bass), Adam Jones (guitar) and Maynard James Keenan (vocals).

toolband.com

facebook.com/toolmusic

twitter.com/tool

instagram.com/toolmusic

Buddy Guy brings joyful blues celebration to the Coach House

From left, Quinn Sullivan, drummer Tom Hambridge and Buddy Guy. Photo: Bob Steshetz

Buddy Guy at The Coach House.

Less than three months after headlining nearby Doheny Blues Festival in Dana Point, blues great Buddy Guy was back in Orange County, CA on Thursday night, Aug. 9, 2018 playing before a packed but decidedly more intimate audience at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

For 90 wonderful minutes the Louisiana native — who celebrated his 82nd birthday on July 30 — delivered on the promise that is the defiant title of his latest album, the newly-issued The Blues is Alive and Well (Read my review of that album RCA Records release here). And since the passing of Guy's friend, B.B. King in May 2015, Guy has been widely acknowledged as the genre's most significant living champion.

Guy strolled on stage just after 9:15 p.m, his lead guitar unleashed as he played a long and fiery solo to kick off the rocking title of his 1991 album "Damn Right I Got the Blues." Backed by his strong four-man band (including drummer Tom Hambridge, who produced Guy's latest LP). The seven-minute reading of the song was bolstered by the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd, cheering on Guy with every note he sang and articulated via his electric guitar.

Guy, who had a profound influence on everyone from Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck to Stevie Ray Vaughan, continues to perform with the same fire he exhibited at the beginning of his career. His joyful and playful spirit came through everywhere, whether using body language or bantering with individual members of the crowd. He seemingly fed off the audience's spirit, using sing-alongs to further bridge the divide between band and concertgoers.

After playing a rousing cover of "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" (a hit for Muddy Waters written by Willie Dixon), Guy mused that he has a new record but it can't be heard on commercial radio. "I do make albums," he said sarcastically. 

Indeed, the proof was in several masterful cuts from The Blues is Alive and Well he played. The crowd-pleasing "Cognac" (which features Keith Richards and Jeff Beck on the studio version) with some of his most forceful lead guitar work of the night was followed by a cover of his late friend Sonny Boy Williamson's "Nine Below Zero." The latter in particular was a beautiful Chicago blues jaunt, with Guy at times using his guitar to tenderly enhance his vocals with subtle fills while other times ratcheting up the dynamics to an explosive level.

Buddy Guy bringing the blues directly to fans at The Coach House
on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. Photo: Bob Steshetz

There were plenty of other highlights to come including using a drum stick to tap on the neck of his guitar, and utterly thrilled the house when he took an extended walk through the crowd   during "Someone Else Is Step-in' In (Slippin' Out, Slippin' In)." As if the goodwill he generated during that journey wasn't enough, the call-and-response with the crowd ("While you were slippin' out" he sang, with crowd lustily singing back "Someone else was slippin' in!") was a fun way to cap the track.

Singer-guitarist Quinn Sullivan.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

He was then joined on stage by Quinn Sullivan, a well-known fixture on Guy's tours. Only 19, Sullivan has been playing professionally since 2006 (when he was a mere age of 7!). Having first played on stage with Guy during a performance at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2007, Sullivan is now the primary opening act at Guy's performances. 

On Thursday night, Sullivan performed a 50-minute set to open the night (he was also backed by Guy's touring four-man group), and then joined Guy for the closing of the main set. 

This part of the night was fun to be sure, including a ferocious and freewheeling take on Cream's "Strange Brew," which served as a great bookend to a terrific take on Eric Clapton's "Let It Rain" performed during Sullivan's opening set.

Buddy Guy has a number of upcoming concert dates scheduled, including a concert tonight (Aug. 10) at The Canyon in Agoura Hills, CA; at The Rose in Pasadena, CA on Aug. 11, and at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay in San Diego, CA on Aug. 14.

Visit Buddy Guy's official website here for more details.

Review by Robert Kinsler


Photos by Bob Steshetz