Showing posts with label Robert Cray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Cray. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

2019 Doheny Blues Festival preview

Brandon "Taz" Niederauer performing with the Otis Taylor Band
at Doheny Blues Festival in 2015. Now 16, the young artist
is one of the most exciting talents on the international stage.
Photo: Bob Steshetz
If you are in Southern California, make plans to attend the Doheny Blues Festival in Dana Point this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19). The diverse line-up of bona fide legends (Taj Mahal, Robert Cray Band, John Mayall Band), pioneering modern-day heroes (Jonny Lang, Vintage Trouble, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, North Mississippi Allstars, Sue Foley) and emerging greats (Southern Avenue,  Brandon "Taz" Niederauer) promise to make the two day event a great one.


Ben Harper performing at Doheny Blues Fest in May 2013.
The famed artist returns to the event with the Innocent Criminals
this year. Photo: Bob Steshetz
This year's event is bringing back several festival favorites including Ben Harper, who last performed in Dana Point on the 2013 bill with blues harmonica great Charlie Musselwhite. 

This year Harper (a native of Pomona, CA) will be appearing with the Innocent Criminals. Harper is a three-time Grammy winner and has blended blues, rock, folk, reggae, soul and other styles into a unique and fiery musical brand that is his alone. He will come to Dana Point armed with his top-tier talents as both lead singer and guitar virtuoso. You can read my review of Harper's memorable 2013 performance here. Harper will perform on the Dana Point Stage at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.



Brandon "Taz" Niederauer performing at NAMM Show in
Anaheim, CA in January 2019. Photo: Bob Steshetz
Regular readers of my writings will know how blown away I was when I caught then 12-year-old Brandon "Taz" Niederauer perform with the Otis Taylor Band back in 2015, and his burgeoning talent as a now 16-year-old who headlined at the D'Angelico Guitars booth at the NAMM Show in Anaheim in January 2019. Make no mistake; Niederauer is simply amazing. His guitar playing is off the charts, and his considerable talents as a band leader, singer and songwriter astound. Among the awesome songs he performed in Anaheim were the souful "My Revival" and "Dare," as well as the funk-tinged blues rocker "Paralyzed." Don't miss this year's "Artist-At-Large" when he comes to town; Niederauer will perform with several artists across the weekend, and will headline his own set on the Music Preserves Stage at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Among the other great artists set to perform on Saturday are the Robert Cray Band, Taj Mahal Quartet, Sue Foley and North Mississippi Allstars




Jonny Lang performing at the NAMM Show on January  23, 2013.
Photo: Bob Steshetz
Sunday also promises to provide a full day of great music in Dana Point. Another much-anticipated artist coming to Doheny Blues Fest this weekend is singer-guitarist Jonny Lang. Armed with his distinctive baritone vocals and passionate guitar work, Lang always puts on a terrific show. I've seen him a numbers of times over the past 20+ years and this always-solid performer will headline the fest on Sunday night.


Vintage Trouble singer Ty Taylor is an
absolute force of nature in concert.
Photo: Bob Steshetz
Performing immediately before Lang and closing out the action on the Backporch Stage is one of my all-time favorite live acts. Vintage Trouble comes to the festival on the heels of a terrific new release, Chapter II - EP II, (read my review of the 10-track release here). When the Los Angeles-based quartet performed at the Doheny Blues Fest in 2014 they tore the roof off the place (no easy feat since the festival is held outdoors!). I've seen Vintage Trouble impress at Coachella, Doheny Blues, the House of Blues and even during a flight from Los Angeles to Denver (no kidding! Watch my documentary about the 2013 high-flying event here)
John Mayall performing at the
Coach House in San Juan
Capistrano in January 2018.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Often referred to as the "Godfather of British Blues," it is a real treat that John Mayall will be appearing at the festival on Sunday afternoon, appearing on the Dana Point Stage. Mayall, now 85, has had a long tradition of introducing the world to a string of guitar greats (Eric Clapton, Walter Trout, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Coco Montoya and more), but Carolyn Wonderland is the first female to ever be featured as lead guitarist in any of Mayall's groups. Mayall is a true treasure and his set is one that shouldn't be missed by any concertgoers this weekend...

Other must-see artists set to perform on Sunday include the aforementioned Southern Avenue, the Marcus King BandRoy Gaines and European outfit B.B. & the Blues Shacks.

Check out DohenyBluesFestival.com for more details. The event's official poster and schedule is below...







Robert Kinsler






Monday, February 04, 2019

2019 Doheny Blues Festival lineup announced! Ben Harper, Lindsey Buckingham, Taj Mahal, Jonny Lang, Vintage Trouble, more!

Wow, here it is! Here are details on the artists and the official festival poster for the Doheny Blues Festival too. This may be the best lineup in history with a mix of classic rock and blues artists, as well as emerging artists such as Brandon "Taz" Niederauer and Vintage Trouble on the bill...Get tickets and more information here.
Ben Harper performing at the Doheny Blues Festival in 2013. He returns to the event this year!
Photo: Bob Steshetz


Lindsey Buckingham is bound for the Doheny Blues Festival,
coming to Dana Point May 18-19, 2019.
Photo: Kelly A. Swift






Vintage Trouble will perform in Dana Point as part of this year's
Doheny Blues Festival. Photo: Robert Kinsler


Emerging blues-rock great Brandon "Taz" Niederauer is returning to Orange County
in May 2019 to perform at the Doheny Blues Festival. Photo: Bob Steshetz



BEN HARPER AND THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS
Harper's 2018 release with Charlie Musselwhite was honored with a GRAMMY nod, and now the global star returns to Doheny Blues with his soulful, funky ensemble The Innocent Criminals

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM
Widely considered one of the greatest guitarists, songwriters and musical expressionists of our time, Buckingham is a a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, 3-time GRAMMY winner, and best known as the producer, guitarist, vocalist and chief songwriter for Fleetwood Mac and as a celebrated solo artist

TAJ MAHAL QUARTET
A legend who has singlehandedly reshaped the definition of blues music, with his infusion of instruments and exotic sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and the South Pacific

Jonny Lang in action at the NAMM Show on Jan. 23, 2014. Photo credit: Bob Steshetz
JONNY LANG
At the age of 38, Jonny has been recording chart-topping albums and touring the world for over two decades, led by his gritty vocals and searing guitar work

THE ROBERT CRAY BAND
A true superstar of the music world, Cray has been bridging the lines between blues, soul and R&B for the past four decades, with 5 GRAMMY wins and 21 acclaimed albums

THE MARCUS KING BAND
Marcus may be young at 22 years old, but his eloquent songs, expressive guitar playing, and ecstatically soulful singing mark this gifted, thoughtful young prodigy as a force to be reckoned with

VINTAGE TROUBLE
Live-wired, straight-shootin', dirty-mouthed pelvis-pushin' juke music

ALLMAN BETTS BAND
Led by Devon Allman and Duane Betts, with new addition Berry Oakley Jr., the new ABB configuration will release a album this spring and tour in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of their parents' legendary band, The Allman Brothers

JOHN MAYALL BAND with Carolyn Wonderland
At 85, the Godfather of British Blues shows no signs of slowing down, with a new record coming, a European tour scheduled and his first female lead guitarist Carolyn Wonderland

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS
Luther & Cody Dickinson continue to blend hill country blues, fatback funk & soul

THE PALADINS
Considered the preeminent Rockabilly/Blues band in America, the boys return to Doheny Blues led by Dave Gonzales (guitar) and Thomas Yearsley (bass)

ROY GAINES' TRIBUTE TO T-BONE WALKER
The 84-year old guitarist brings his 9-piece band to pay tribute to his mentor

NICK MOSS BAND featuring DENNIS GRUENLING
Their new release The High Cost of Low Living is a joyous sonic blast of pure blues power, led by the 30-year guitar veteran of the Chicago blues scene

REVEREND PEYTON'S BIG DAMN BAND
One of the foremost country blues finger-style pickers, Rev. Peyton and his Big Damn Band hit you like a freight train with their self-titled wildman blues sound

SUE FOLEY
The Canadian-born guitarist, now an Austin legend, released a celebrated CD The Ice Queen in 2018 with friends Jimmie Vaughan, Billy F Gibbons and Charlie Sexton

SOUTHERN AVENUE
Soulful, funky, rock n' roll stew built on a solid foundation of the blues

B.B. & THE BLUES SHACKS from Germany
It's the 30th Anniversary for one of Europe's top jump blues bands

BRANDON "TAZ" NIEDERAUER - Artist At Large
The 15-year old returns to Doheny Blues as a guest to several bands

LINDSAY BEAVER
Blues-rocking, soul-singing drummer, songwriter and bandleader from Austin

THE DELGADO BROTHERS • THE FOURTY FOURS and Friends
GA-20 • TOM BALL & KENNY SULTAN • JOHNNY & JAALENE and more!




Sunday, August 30, 2015

Eclectic sonic stew: The Textones, Black Veil Brides, The Boomtown Rats, Robert Cray, von Grey

Terrific reissues of the Textones' first two albums, the first-ever DVD release from Black Veil Brides, an early 1978 concert featuring Boomtown Rats, a 40th anniversary collection celebrating Robert Cray, as well as the latest EP from von Grey are all worth exploring.


Artist: The Textones
Titles: Midnight Mission, Cedar Creek (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Lone Justice, Carla Olson, Tom Petty
Tell me more: The Textones' 1984 debut "Midnight Mission" and 1987 follow-up "Cedar Creek" were not only terrific albums, but showcased the talents of a band that was a generation ahead of its time via a mix of guitar-anchored New Wave and what would someday be known as Americana. 
Recalling most closely the rollicking sound of early Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Textones featured lead singer/guitarist Carla Olson, guitarist George Callins, bassist Joe Read, multi-instrumentalist  Tom Junior Morgan and drummer Phil Seymour (later replaced by Rick Hemmert). "Midnight Mission" features a number of excellent songs, including the high-energy "Hands of the Working Man" and "No Love In You," along with the lovely countrified "Number One Is to Survive." "Cedar Creek" is an equal joy. The spirited lead-off track "Not Afraid," rousing "Gotta Get You Back" and Rolling Stones-styled "You Can Run" are balanced by tracks such as the mid tempo "Another Soul Searcher" (bolstered by Olson's slide guitar work), piano-anchored ballad "Austin" and textured "We Can Laugh About It" fully displaying the richness of the band's rootsy rock approach. The reissue of "Midnight Mission" includes five bonus tracks, while "Cedar Creek" boasts an 8-song live set recorded in Santa Cruz, CA in November 1987. Information: omnivorerecordings.com.

Purchase "Midnight Mission" here


Buy 'Cedar Creek' here


Artist: Black Veil Brides
Title: Alive and Burning (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: Pierce the Veil, Motionless in White, Rise Against
Tell me more: While there is little subtle about Black Veil Brides' hard rock approach, the quintet uses its first-ever live concert DVD ("Alive and Burning") recorded in late 2014 to deliver the goods to a solidly-engaged capacity crowd at the Wiltern Theater in its hometown of Hollywood, CA in connection with the band's "Black Mass" tour. The 17-track "Alive and Burning" features well-known tracks plucked from across Black Veil Brides' career. Standouts include the hard-hitting melodic opener "Heart of Fire," '80s-styled "Last Rites," the crowd-pleasing "Wretched & Divine" and anthemic closer "In The End." The bonus feature provides an intense and interesting look at the band's relationship with its hardcore fan base. Information: eagle-rock.com.

Purchase "Alive and Burning [DVD]" here


Artist: The Boomtown Rats
Title: Live Germany '78 (Gonzo Multimedia)
You might like if you enjoy: The Boomtown Rats, '70s-era Rolling Stones
Tell me more: Far better known in their native Ireland and neighboring U.K. than here in the U.S., the Boomtown Rats' groundbreaking mix of Sticky Fingers-era Rolling Stones, early punk rock and reggae is fully celebrated on Live Germany '78, a two-disc collection featuring a concert film with bonus tracks on the DVD and an audio CD of the 1978 performance. Singer Bob Geldof leads the band through more than a dozen originals including the old school punk rocker "Never Bite the Hand That Feeds You," the New Wave-minded "Neon Heart" and loose rocker "(It Feels) So Strange." 

Information: gonzomultimedia.co.uk.

Artist: The Robert Cray Band
Title: 4 Nights of 40 Years Live (Provogue / Mascot Label Group)
You might like if you enjoy: Robert Cray, Kim Wilson, Eric Clapton
Tell me more: Long celebrated for his nuanced and precise guitar playing, Robert Cray's talents have long extended to his top-flight vocals and wonderful songwriting. The five-time Grammy Award winner has just released the aptly-titled "4 Nights of 40 Years Live," an ambitious multi-format commemoration of the Georgia native's career. The audio CD portion of the title (disc 1 is reviewed here) features 13 tracks collecting live recordings captured across four nights in four different venues. Every performance is a winner; my favorites include the leadoff track "Shiver" highlighting both Cray's soulful vocals and artful guitar work, the infectious "Bad Influence," the guitar-anchored "These Things" and a freewheeling version of the Fabulous Thunderbirds' "Wrap It Up" where Kim Wilson joins in the fun. "4 Nights of 40 Years Live" is available on Blu-ray + CD, DVD + CD or on vinyl. Information: mascotlabelgroup.com.

Get "4 Nights of 40 Years Live (2LP)" on vinyl here 
 

Artist: von Grey
Title: Panophobia (VG Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Lindsey Stirling, Pentatonix, Della Mae
Tell me more: The Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Sparks and Dawes are among the far-flung musical ensembles that have created a unique and compelling sound with a line-up comprised from all (or mostly) siblings. Atlanta's indie-alt group von Grey may be making a case to join its illustrious ancestors based on the strength of the EP "Panophobia." Sisters Annika (vocals, violin, guitar, keys), Fiona (vocals, guitar, violin, percussion), Petra (keys, electronic percussion, backing vocals) and Kathryn (cello, bass pedals, keys, backing vocals) have followed up 2014's "Awakening" with their best release to date, one that fully showcases their artistry. Everywhere the songs, performances and arrangements are involving and dynamic. Blending acoustic instincts, lovely voices, and electronica and world music touches with a consistently deft touch, the infectious "Katie" (a song magically capturing the spirit of unrequited romantic longing) and "Say My Name" (with its hypnotic rhythm) are among the wonderful works here.  Information: vongreymusic.com.

Purchase "Panophobia" here 


 
Robert Kinsler, August 2015

Tuesday, April 01, 2014

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/

Wednesday, April 04, 2012

Inbox Update: John Fogerty, Pink Floyd, The Cult

What do upcoming releases featuring John Fogerty, Pink Floyd and the Cult have in common? All are featured in the releases I have re-posted here...

John Fogerty set to release Wrote a Song for Everyone on Vanguard Records

New album finds Foo Fighters, Bob Seger, Keith Urban, My Morning Jacket and others teaming with Fogerty

Legendary rocker John Fogerty has announced that he will be releasing a new record, titled WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE in the fall – his first on Vanguard Records. The album is a celebration of Fogerty’s iconic songbook -- it is a collection of classics and deep tracks from his remarkable canon of hits as well as some brand new songs, performed alongside an array of today’s biggest superstars, including Foo Fighters (“Fortunate Son”), Bob Seger (“Who’ll Stop The Rain”), Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, My Morning Jacket, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert and more. In addition, besides as-yet-unannounced contributors from the upper echelons of the country, pop and rock worlds, the album will also see Fogerty teaming with acclaimed new bands like Dawes, all of whom are eager to acknowledge the groundbreaking songwriter/guitarist’s titanic influence. WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE will be released on Vanguard Records in the fall. Full details, including a complete artist list and tracklisting, will be announced shortly.

Fogerty – whose latest song, “Swamp Water,” recently debuted in its role as theme to the new Fox series, The Finder – spent much of last year touring with his crack backing band, including an unprecedented two-night-stand at New York City’s famed Beacon Theatre. The sold out shows saw Fogerty performing two classic Creedence Clearwater Revival albums in their entirety, along with an electrifying bonus set spanning the incredible CCR catalog to his ongoing solo career.

Broadcast live on SiriusXM’s Classic Vinyl, the two Beacon concerts earned rapturous critical applause, with MOJO noting that “(Fogerty’s) voice sounds so vibrant and full, it could be cryogenically preserved. His guitar solos bite and quaver with finer definition than ever…(The) songs establish their endurance through the star’s canny infusion of the deepest blues emotion in the most polished pop form. That’s their genius – to raise ‘singles band’ effervescence to the level of album art.”

John Fogerty is a true American treasure, one of popular music’s all-time greatest singers, guitar players, and songwriters. His remarkable career began in his hometown of El Cerrito, California, soon earning massive popular and critical success with the one and only Creedence Clearwater Revival. As leader of CCR, Fogerty forged a distinctive, groundbreaking sound all his own, equal parts blues, country, pop, rockabilly, R&B, swamp boogie, and Southern fried rock ‘n’ roll, all united by his uniquely evocative lyrical perspective.

From 1968 to 1971, Creedence Clearwater Revival unleashed an incredible succession of hit singles and platinum certified albums that remain unparalleled in the annals of rock ‘n’ roll history. Their expansive cover of “Suzie Q” was followed by a stunning series of Fogerty-penned favorites that dominated rock and pop radio, including “Proud Mary,” “Down on the Corner,” “Born On The Bayou,” “Have You Ever Seen The Rain,” and what remains the definitive anti-war anthem, “Fortunate Son.”
“GREEN RIVER,” the second of three CCR albums released in 1969, proved their first out-and-out blockbuster. Fuelled by the smash singles, “Bad Moon Rising” and “Green River,” not to mention the immortal “Lodi,” the album spent three weeks atop the Billboard 200, confirming Fogerty’s status among American rock ‘n’ roll’s preeminent artists.

About Vanguard Records
Vanguard Records, part of the Welk Music Group, is owned by the Welk Family and one of the world’s leading independent record labels. Its selected roster of quality artists includes Matt Nathanson, Merle Haggard, Chris Isaak, Greg Laswell, Trevor Hall, Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, The Gourds and the legendary Levon Helm. Further expanding the roster are distributed artists such as The Indigo Girls, Chely Wright, Robert Cray Band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the great George Jones. www.vanguardrecords.com


Eagle Rock set to release Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here on June 26

Set for release on DVD and Blu-ray


Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to announce the simultaneous release on June 26 of Pink Floyd The Story Of Wish You Were Here on DVD and Blu-ray. This is the authorized story of the album made with the full involvement and approval of the members of Pink Floyd.

Wish You Were Here, released in September 1975, was the follow up album to the globally successful The Dark Side Of The Moon and is cited by many fans, as well as band members Richard Wright and David Gilmour, as their favorite Pink Floyd album. On release it went straight to Number One in both the UK and the US and topped the charts in many other countries around the world. This program tells the story of the making of this landmark release through new interviews with Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason and archive interviews with the late Richard Wright. Also featured are sleeve designer Storm Thorgerson, guest vocalist Roy Harper, front cover “burning man” Ronnie Rondell and others involved in the creation of the album. In addition, original recording engineer Brian Humphries revisits the master tapes at Abbey Road Studios to illustrate aspects of the songs’ construction.


The band members discuss the album’s themes of absence, the greed of the music business and former band member Syd Barrett, who is famously celebrated in “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, which both opens and closes the album. The program also covers the unexpected visit Barrett paid to Abbey Road during the recording, the difficulties of the early recording sessions and how the decision to split “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” into two sections was the catalyst for the album’s successful completion.

The DVD and Blu-ray releases contain additional bonus material not featured in the TV broadcast version, including further interviews with Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason plus Roger Waters and David Gilmour performing excerpts from the Wish You Were Here album.

The Story Of Wish You Were Here is a fascinating document and fitting tribute to Pink Floyd’s outstanding achievement in the creation of this masterpiece.


Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world. Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.



The Cult set to tour North America in tandem with release of 'Choice of Weapon'

Against Me! and the Icarus Line to support


The Cult, from left, features Billy Duffy, Chris Wyse, Ian Astbury and John Tempesta.

Venerable rock band The Cult will hit the pavement hard this summer with the first leg of its 2012 North American tour. The 20-date trek is set to kick off on Friday, May 25 in San Diego, CA bringing the band's incendiary rock energy to major and secondary markets across the continent. In addition, the tour will include headline dates at the Great Canadian Beaverfest in Windsor, ON, and at Buffalo, NY's Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf Concert Series (see itinerary below). For most of the dates, The Cult will be supported by Against Me! and The Icarus Line. Ticket on-sales begin later this week; log onto http://thecult.us/main/shows/ for all details and to purchase tickets.


"This is going to be a very intense, high-energy tour," said The Cult's vocalist, Ian Astbury. "We are really looking forward to the time we spend on stage connected to our music and our audience. That's our purpose."


The Cult - Astbury, Billy Duffy, called one of the post-punk era's greatest guitarists, Chris Wyse on bass, drummer John Tempesta, and touring member Mike Dimkich on rhythm guitar - is touring in support of Choice of Weapon, the band's first new studio album in five years, due out May 22 (Cooking Vinyl). Featuring The Cult's signature sounds of Astbury's vocals and Duffy's guitar, the album was produced by Chris Goss (Queens of the Stone Age, U.N.K.L.E. Masters of Reality) and Bob Rock (Metallica, Bush, The Cult's Sonic Temple), recorded in New York City, Los Angeles, the California high desert and the band's Witch Mountain studio between July and December 2011, and written by Astbury and Duffy.

Early praise for the record came from the Toronto Star's Ben Rayner who wrote that Choice of Weapon "feels like the work of the cosmically inclined outfit responsible for such durable records as 1985's Love, 1987's Electric and 1989's smash hit Sonic Temple than anything the band has done in years." And, from Rock's Back Pages: "...a sea

ring blend of cleanly distorted guitars, pummeling rhythm, and lyrics that channel an inner landscape reflective of a personal journey and descriptive of the state of the world, simultaneously."


"When we were writing and recording 'Choice of Weapon,'" explained Astbury, "we had no agenda, there was no particular destination, no place to be, and no chart position to aim for. We took our time, we went in, we grabbed the jewels, and stayed focused on keeping everything as fresh and as raw as possible. The new songs are a sharpened and heightened extension of everything we have ever done."


Choice of Weapon reflects the survival in today's volatile world where the sense of entitlement is growing, where we are constantly bombarded by "ones and zeros," and where the "have-nots" increase on a daily basis. The album poses the questions, "how do we survive and still keep our integrity and humanity? What weapons do we choose to insure a sane future for ourselves and our children, and not de-evolve into a 'Hunger Games' scenario?"


On these North American dates, The Cult will play many of their classics as well as introduce fans to some of their new songs, including "Lucifer" - not a song about the devil, but a reference to the morning star, the idea of a journey through darkness and decadence to find the road to wisdom - "Honey From a Knife" - based on the Buddhist teaching about the seductiveness of addiction - and "For The Animals," the first official single from Choice of Weapon. "For The Animals" asserts the rising tensions, the rage and hostility of the growing group of disenfranchised youth in our society.

"Again, we find ourselves with our backs against the wall," Astbury continued, "and we like that, we like being outside the perimeter. We're the long shot, so place your bet on us."


Confirmed dates for The Cult's 2012 North American tour are as follows:


MAY

25 San Diego, CA - Humphreys By the Bay

26 Las Vegas, NV - M Resort

27 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore

30 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre



JUNE

1 Chicago, IL - Congress Theatre

2 Windsor, ON - Great Canadian Beaverfest, Riverfront Festival Plaza

3 Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE - Indoor Stage

5 Boston, MA - House of Blues

7 Buffalo, NY - Erie Canal Harbor Central Wharf

8 New York, NY - Terminal 5

9 Hampton Beach, NH - Ballroom

10 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory

12 Washington, D.C. - The Fillmore

13 Norfolk, VA - The Norva

15 Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues

16 Orlando, FL - House of Blues

17 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle

19 Houston, TX - House of Blues

20 Dallas, TX - House of Blues

22 Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre