MUSIC WORTH BUYING Classic: Cheap Trick's "The Latest" and The Decemberists' "The Hazards of Love"

TJR and Robert Kinsler are celebrating 10 years of their MUSIC WORTH BUYING series by re-posting their earliest episodes on YouTube. Watch their 2nd episode HERE where Robert champions Cheap Trick's June 2009 album release The Latest and TJR shares his love of The Decemberists' March 2009 LP The Hazards of Love.

You can watch the classic episode HERE.

The Decemberists set to release new EP on December 14

Although 2018 is almost in the history books, holiday albums are not the only new releases being issued this month. Today comes news that The Decemberists will release a new EP on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018...

THE DECEMBERISTS SET FOR DECEMBER 14th RELEASE OF NEW EP TRAVELING ON;

HEAR THE SONG “TRAVELING ON” NOW

5-TRACK B-SIDES EP FEATURES SONGS FROM

THE SESSIONS FOR THEIR ALBUM I’LL BE YOUR GIRL

PRODUCED BY JOHN CONGLETON

The Decemberists will release a new EP, Traveling On, on December 14. The five-song EP—which will be available on 10” vinyl, CD, and as a digital album—is a collection of b-sides from the sessions that produced their inspired eighth studio albumI’ll Be Your Girl, which came out in March. Listen to the title track “Traveling On,” which is available to stream or download today.

The track listing for the Traveling On EP is as follows:

1. Down On The Knuckle

2. I Will Not Say Your Name

3. Tripping Along (Full Band Version)

4. Midlist Author

5. Traveling On

I’ll Be Your Girl found the band—lead vocalist and guitarist Colin Meloy, guitarist Chris Funk, keyboardist Jenny Conlee, bassist Nate Query, and drummer John Moen—embracing different influences and working with a new producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Lana del Rey) to broaden their sonic range and explore new approaches to making music. The album featured the #1 Triple A radio hit “Severed.”

See what the critics said about I’ll Be Your Girl:

“Every band needs to refresh and reconsider its sound sooner or later, no matter how sharp it's gotten over the course of a long career — even The Decemberists, a band whose records have always come bursting with verve... ‘I'll Be Your Girl’ captures a collaborative spirit that keeps the band sounding vibrant and alive... As a lyricist, Meloy seems emboldened”—NPR Music

“The Decemberists threw a lot of us for a curveball when they announced that their new album would feature a lot of synths, but it turns out it was exactly the album The Decemberists had to make — ‘I’ll Be Your Girl’ is their best in years.”—BrooklynVegan

“The Decemberists make the album of their lives with ‘I’ll Be Your Girl’”—PASTE

“A newly invigorated Decemberists”—RELIX

“Absorbing… The Decemberists know how to seize the day”—MOJO

“From folk and prog to metal and indie, they’ve embraced each new frontier”—Uncut

“a strong and thoroughly enjoyable record – full of bold ideas, bright colours and the charm and lyricism that make The Decemberists so fundamentally engaging... A genuine and welcome joy.”—Drowned In Sound

Sights and Sounds: George Ezra & The Decemberists; 'Route 91 Harvest Festival; JODECI

How about one last roundup for the week? 

On the most recent episode of MUSIC WORTH BUYING we review George Ezra's Wanted on Voyage and The Decemberists' What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World:

Route 91 Harvest Races towards second year with Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban setting the pace

"Country's Arrival in Vegas" returns Oct. 2, 3, 4 - Tickets on sale March 13, 2015

Live Nation, in collaboration with MGM Resorts International, has announced that Route 91 Harvest Festival will return to Las Vegas for a second consecutive year October 2 – 4.  The three-day, two-stage festival, held at the MGM Resorts Village, will be headlined by country music superstars Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban as well as Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen and more.  Passes go on sale Friday, March 13 at 10 a.m. PST at rt91harvest.com.  A Thousand Horses, Frankie Ballard, Mark Chesnutt, Easton Corbin, Clare Dunn, Brett Eldredge, Gloriana, Joe Nichols, Jon Pardi, Chase Rice, The Cadillac Three, Thomas Rhett, Austin Webb and Drake White will also join the all-star lineup with more artists to be announced in the coming weeks. The festival’s second stage, “Next From Nashville,” will return continuing to showcase emerging country artists. More than 20,000 fans attended Route 91 Harvest’s inaugural year. The festival received huge critical praise with the Las Vegas Review-Journal heralding the festival as “country’s arrival in Vegas.” Additionally, Rolling Stone Country commented on the festival’s unrivaled setting, as “there were some of Nashville’s finest, belting out their hits with the backdrop of the Luxor pyramid and glimmering Mandalay Bay.”   This year there will be new VIP options available including Neon Lounge VIP passes which will allow festival-goers to enjoy a shaded side stage lounge, upgraded restroom facilities and special access to a cash bar and food concessions.   For more information on Route 91 Harvest follow updates on Facebook: facebook.com/Route91Harvest, Twitter: twitter.com/Route91Harvest, Instagram: instagram.com/route91harvest and join the conversation on Twitter, using #Rt91Harvest.  About Live Nation Entertainment: Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world's leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation & House of Blues Concerts, LN Media and Artist Nation Management. For additional information, visit: www.livenationentertainment.com. Live Nation's premier country music festival family includes Delaware Junction - Harrington, DE (8/14-8/16), FarmBorough - New York, NY (6/26- 6/28), Faster Horses - Brooklyn, MI (7/17-19), Route 91 Harvest (10/2-10/4) and Watershed - The Gorge, WA (7/31-8/2), for more information and to apply for media credentials for these festivals please visit: thegreenroompr.com/festivals.  About MGM Resorts International: MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. The Company is in the process of developing MGM National Harbor in Maryland and MGM Springfield in Massachusetts.  The Company also owns 51 percent of MGM China Holdings Limited, which owns the MGM Macau resort and casino and is developing a gaming resort in Cotai, and 50 percent of CityCenter in Las Vegas, which features ARIA Resort & Casino. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

JODECI have set March 31, 2015 as the release date of their next album. The Past, The Present, The Future will be available via Epic Records. The digital pre-order for the group's fourth full-length LP and first for Epic Records, is now live on iTunes, and it engages an instant download of the lead single "Every Moment." You can pre-order the album on iTunes,Amazon, and Google Play. When you pre-order the album you receive "Every Moment" instantly along with an instant grat track "Checkin For You."

Sights and Sounds: The Replacements, First Aid Kit, 'Live From the Artists Den'

This fall promises to provide a wealth of noteworthy releases. From Micky Dolenz' Remember and the Freddie Mercury documentary The Great Pretender (which are both set to arrive this Tuesday, Sept. 25), there is a wide range of new DVD/Blu-ray and album releases set to hit between now and the end of 2012, as well as music specials coming to television. Here are several high-profile releases that landed in my inbox late last week...

The Replacements 'Color Me Obsessed' comes to DVD on November 20, 2012

COLOR ME OBSESSED, the first documentary about famed 80's indie-rock band The Replacements, will be released in a two-disc DVD set (with 6 hours of extras) on November 20, 2012 via MVD Entertainment Group. Told through the eyes of fans, friends, and contemporaries, COLOR ME OBSESSED breaks from the traditional music documentary format of music and performances. Not looking to make a VH1/where-are-they-now style documentary, director Gorman Bechard took a unique approach, "I decided to present the band in a more iconic way," he explains. "I thought, people believe in God without seeing or hearing him but rather through the passion, faith, and stories of others. After watching COLOR ME OBSESSED, I'm pretty sure music fans will believe in The Replacements in much the same way." Telling the band's story was a project close to the heart for Bechard. Like many who were weaned on punk music he latched onto this brash young Minneapolis band with fervor. Dubbed "the last best band" by Spin Magazine, their live shows could be miraculous or downright disasters. Their fans, unwaveringly faithful. As critic's darlings, their albums were wrought with angry guitars and passionate well-written lyrics that hinted at potential commercial success. Yet, somehow, the band managed to continually shoot themselves in the foot. Their relative obscurity was a motivating factor in presenting their story on film. "The Replacements should have been the next Rolling Stones," Bechard says, "And to the people who loved them, I think they were." Combining over 140 interviews with rockers (Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, Tommy Ramone, Grant Hart and Greg Norton of Husker Du, all three members of Goo Goo Dolls), journalists (Robert Christgau, Legs McNeil, Ira Robbins, Greg Kot, Jim DeRogatis), and fans both famous (Tom Arnold, Dave Foley, George Wendt) and not, Bechard delivers the obsessive tale of the most influential band you've never heard of, The Replacements. And though containing not one note of their music, COLOR ME OBSESSED is a documentary that really rocks.   Bechard is also releasing his Archers of Loaf reunion tour/concert documentary WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? on November 20. The film features the Indie rock icons playing two hometown concerts at Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill, NC. It premiered at NXNE in Toronto in June.   Website: www.ColorMeObsessed.com  FIRST AID KIT: "WOLF" VIDEO PREMIERE ON VEVO SINGLE & EXCLUSIVE ITUNES SESSION NOW AVAILABLE LIMITED EDITION DELUXE PACKAGE OF ACCLAIMED ALBUM THE LION'S ROAR COMING OCTOBER 2ND NORTH AMERICAN FALL TOUR BEGINS SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 First Aid Kit premiered their dreamlike, kaleidoscopic new video for single "Wolf" today on Vevo. Shot in the forest of Järvsö, Hälsingland in Sweden, the Johan Söderberg-directed video can be seen here: http://youtu.be/Czj7SyPNRto. "It's about our destruction of the planet," said the band. "But it's also about finding the animal within you. Because we know that underneath that polished, civilized exterior there is definitely a wild creature longing to howl or roar." "Wolf" is also now available as a single via all major digital retailers, including iTunes and Amazon. Last week, First Aid Kit's exclusive iTunes Session arrived on the iTunes store and features Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg augmented by a full string section for the first time. The session is comprised of slightly restyled arrangements of four songs found on their acclaimed sophomore LP The Lion's Roar; one each from debut album The Big Black and the Blue and their Drunken Trees EP; "Wolf"; and their celebrated cover of Patti Smith's "Dancing Barefoot", never before recorded. The Lion's Roar producer Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters Of Folk) performs on all tracks, while Conor Oberst reprises his guest verse on "King of the World." First Aid Kit's North American fall tour - their biggest to date - begins on September 24 in Chicago, IL, and continues through October 20 in Seattle, WA, and includes an October 12 performance at the Austin City Limits Festival. A limited edition, deluxe package of The Lion's Roar will be available on October 2, which features additional tracks as well as a DVD of live on-the-road documentary Follow You Down and music videos for three The Lion's Roar tracks, among other items. A full itinerary is below. First Aid Kit continue to have an amazing 2012, performing earlier this month to a packed crowd from the main stage at the UK's Bestival fest (watch them play "Emmylou" here: http://youtu.be/PHkVWDaGkUs). Late last month, they performed Simon & Garfunkel's "America" at the Polar Music Prize ceremony to a standing ovation from Paul Simon himself (http://youtu.be/pa3xOakbGTo). The Lion's Roar was released on January 17th via Wichita Recordings and has already sold over 150,000 copies worldwide (over 50,000 in the US alone), while the band made their US television debut on Conan in April and performed at the Coachella, Newport Folk, and Lollapalooza festivals this year as well. Information: www.thisisfirstaidkit.com  Fifth season of 'Live From The Artists Den' set to premiere on October 5, 2012 New season features Norah Jones, The Wallflowers, Rufus Wainwright and Mayer Hawthorne On October 5, 2012, the fifth season of the innovative music series Live from the Artists Den will premiere nationally on public television with an episode featuring nine-time Grammy Award winner Norah Jones (check local listings). The New York Emmy-nominated show-about which the New York Times said, "on this show, the setting is a headliner, too"-connects music fans with a remarkable line-up of icons and emerging stars performing in unique and historic venues. The exciting new season features Norah Jones, The Wallflowers, Rufus Wainwright, and Mayer Hawthorne. Viewers can preview clips from the episodes on the Artists Den website at www.artistsden.com. The series is a production of Artists Den Entertainment presented by WLIW21 in association with WNET New York Public Media, and is distributed by American Public Television.   "People are always asking me what place I love to play the most," said Jones at her taping of Live from the Artists Den at the Green Building in Brooklyn. "I always say it's really not about the country as much as it is the venue. It's so nice to play in a place that has a good vibe." The season will air nationally on public television in many of the country's top markets, beginning this October. In the New York metro area, Live from the Artists Den will premiere Fridays at 10pm beginning October 5th on THIRTEEN and Saturdays at 10pm beginning October 6th on WLIW21. In the Greater Los Angeles area, the series will premiere Sundays at 8pm beginning October 28th on PBS OC; in Washington, D.C., Sundays at 11pm beginning October 7th on WHUT; in Dallas, Thursdays at 11pm beginning October 11th on KERA; in San Francisco, Tuesdays at 11pm beginning October 9th on KQED; in Philadelphia, Sundays at 10pm beginning October 7 on NJTV; and in Minneapolis, Saturday, October 6th at 10pm and Tuesdays at 11pm beginning October 9th on TPT. For premiere dates and air times in other markets, visit http://www.artistsden.com. Live from the Artists Den is filmed in high-definition. Beginning October 5 - Grammy Award-winner Norah Jones at the Green Building in Brooklyn, NY. October 12 - Multiplatinum rockers The Wallflowers at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco. October 19 - Vocal virtuoso Rufus Wainwright at the Church of the Ascension on New York's Fifth Avenue. October 26 - Soul phenomenon Mayer Hawthorne at the historic Park Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. For WNET New York Public Media, Executive in Charge: Gillian Rose. For the Artists Den: Executive Producer Mark Lieberman.    About the Artists Den Live from the Artists Den is a three-time New York Emmy®-nominated music television series that features popular recording artists performing in non-traditional settings throughout North America.Live from the Artists Den aired its 4th season nationally on public television in 2012, has expanded digitally through Hulu, Pandora, and Vevo, and is now broadcast internationally in Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel and Latin America. Featured artists have included Adele, Kid Rock, Ben Harper, Regina Spektor, Ringo Starr, The Fray, Raphael Saadiq, Death Cab for Cutie, David Gray, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Black Crowes, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello and Robert Plant. Featured venues have included Graceland, the first art museum in America, a Masonic temple, a former Archdiocese cathedral, a 1930s silent movie theater, the world's oldest merchant sailing vessel, the New York Public Library, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A full listing of previously featured artists, TV episodes, and venues can be viewed at artistsden.com.

Sights and Sounds: Coachella 2012, The Decemberists, Daryl Hall & Keb Mo'

While I prep for the arrival of the NAMM Show next week, I still have found time to keep updated on other music-related news and events of note. What follows are highlights from some recent media releases. Read on friends!

2012 COACHELLA UPDATE

Here are details regarding the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival line up and on sale information.
Passes go on sale THIS Friday, January 13, 2012 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Please visit the NEW www.coachella.com to get familiar with the types of passes available. After a successful layaway offer in June, the only festival pass left for Weekend 1 is the GA Festival Pass/Shuttle Pass Combo. All passes are available for Weekend 2. LAYAWAY IS NO LONGER AN OPTION FOR EITHER WEEKEND.

Between now and this Thursday, January 12, 2012 we strongly advise you to go set up your purchasing account to expedite the purchasing process. To set up your account for Weekend 1 go here or Weekend 2 go here (don't worry, if you decide to get passes for the other weekend you can easily have your account transferred to the other weekend when buying your passes). Already have an account? Go Here to sign in.

In the meantime, please familiarize yourself with the purchasing process ahead of time. You can review the step-by-step instructions on the HOW TO PURCHASE PAGE.

SHUTTLES
If you are not camping on site, please consider riding a shuttle. It will make entering and exiting the festival quick and easy. There are several convenient shuttle lines to choose from.


THE DECEMBERISTS TO RELEASE LIVE ALBUM WE ALL RAISE OUR VOICES TO THE AIR (LIVE SONGS 04.11-08.11)
DUE OUT MARCH 13 ON CAPITOL RECORDS

The Decemberists have announced the March 13 release of We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live Songs 04.11-08.11), a 20-track live double-album (and triple-vinyl set) culled from the band's 2011 tour supporting their chart-topping, Grammy-nominated album The King Is Dead. With songs spanning their entire first decade as a band—from their debut EP 5 Songs through each of their six LP’s—We All Raise Our Voices To The Air is the first-ever live album from a band that has grown into one of rock’s most thrilling live acts.

Before the January 2011 release of The King Is Dead, TIME magazine made the prescient prediction that the album’s release would “mark their crossover to the realm of important American rock groups alongside the likes of Wilco and the White Stripes.” They were proven right when the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. Fueled by the #1 AAA radio hit “Down By The Water”—which is nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards—the album has produced three Top 10 AAA singles (“This Is Why We Fight” and “Calamity Song”) and become the band’s best-selling album of their career, earning them a legion of new fans.

In concert, The Decemberists—lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Colin Meloy, keyboardist & accordionist Jenny Conlee, guitarist Chris Funk, bassist Nate Query, and drummer John Moen, with additional member Sara Watkins on fiddle, guitar and vocals—deliver an unforgettable live experience full of spontaneity. A band of breathtaking versatility, The Decemberists can reach deep into their rich catalog of songs for gorgeous fok-rock gems (“Rise To Me”), murderously driving rockers (“The Rake’s Song”), expansive suites (“The Crane Wife 1, 2, and 3”), the worst song Meloy ever wrote (“Dracula’s Daughter”), or epic sea shanties that inspire enthusiastic crowd participation (“The Mariner’s Revenge Song”).

The performances on We All Raise Our Voices To The Air are drawn from 12 different shows at venues including the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, Marymoor Amphitheatre in Seattle, and their final two shows at McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheatre in their hometown of Portland, which featured the addition of a horn section that can be heard on several songs.

In a review of the band’s first of three sold-out shows that kicked off the 2011 tour at New York City’s Beacon Theatre, the New York Post wrote that “during this two-hour show, the set spanned the band’s 10-year career, but wisely leaned heaviest on the just-released CD, The King Is Dead. Songs from that record made the best case for why the group should be superstars.”

The track listing for We All Raise Our Voices To The Air (Live Songs 04.11-08.11) is as follows:

Disc 1
1. The Infanta (5:15)
2. Calamity Song (3:57)
3. Rise To Me (4:55)
4. The Soldiering Life (3:58)
5. We Both Go Down Together (4:30)
6. The Bagman’s Gambit (8:05)
7. Down By The Water (3:59)
8. Leslie Ann Levine(4:15)
9. The Rake’s Song (3:34)
10. The Crane Wife 1, 2, and 3 (16:20)

Disc 2
1. Oceanside (3:15)
2. Billy Liar (6:33)
3. Grace Cathedral Hill (4:35)
4. All Arise! (4:30)
5. Rox In The Box (3:15)
6. June Hymn (4:20)
7. Dracula’s Daughter > O Valencia! (5:49)
8. This Is Why We Fight (4:35)
9. The Mariner’s Revenge Song (10:20)
10. I Was Meant For The Stage (10:00)


DARYL HALL’S LIVIN’ THE BLUES WITH KEB' MO’ ON NEXT LIVE FROM DARYL’S HOUSE

DARYL HALL’S LIVIN’ THE BLUES WITH KEB' MO’ ON LANDMARK 50TH EDITION OF LIVE FROM DARYL’S HOUSE, DEBUTING JAN. 15

Blues singer Keb' Mo' Joins Daryl Hall in a set of songs that includes “Cab Driver” and “Everything Your Heart Desires”

To mark the landmark 50th episode of his critically acclaimed web series and syndicated performance show Live from Daryl’s House, Daryl Hall gets back to his own blues and gospel roots with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Keb' Mo'. The latest installment of the Webby Award-winning series debuts on Jan. 15, 2012 at www.lfdh.com.

The Compton, CA-born blues and gospel singer, guitarist and writer started his career playing steel drums and upright bass in a calypso band, before starting to record in the ‘70s with Jefferson Airplane violinist Papa John Creach in an R&B band when he was 21 years old. Keb' Mo' has been nominated for a Grammy six times in his career, winning three, including a spot in this year’s Best Blues Album category for his latest, The Reflection, released last summer on Yolabelle/Rykodisc.

Said Keb Mo of his Live from Daryl’s House experience: "To work with an artist the caliber of Daryl is a great honor. I've admired his work for many years and for me, this was a great honor."

Daryl and Keb' Mo' collaborate on a seven-song set that includes a Hall track, “Cab Driver,” from his 2003 solo album, Can’t Stop Dreaming, as well as the Daryl Hall and John Oates hit single, “Everything Your Heart Desires,” from the 1988 album, Oooh Yeah!

The two also perform five songs from Keb' Mo’s The Reflection, including the hit single, “The Whole Enchilada” and “We Don’t Need It,” which features a video with Camryn Manheim in a poignant interpretation of how family bonds can transcend hard times, with a video that can be seen here: http://bit.ly/sX83gM. Other Keb' Mo' songs featured on this very special 50th Live from Daryl’s House include “All the Way,” “Inside Outside” and “My Baby’s Tellin’ Lies.”

The Reflection is Keb Mo’s first studio release since 2006’s Suitcase, and also marks the first on his newly formed record label Yolabelle International in association with Ryko and Warner Music Group. The self-produced disc features duets with India.Arie and Vince Gill, as well as performances by Dave Koz, Marcus Miller, Mindi Abair and world-renowned studio musician David T. Walker.

The critical acclaim has been overwhelming, with Rolling Stone praising Keb' Mo's "soulful voice and bluesy licks,” and Associated Press declaring, “with bluesy guitars, groovy Hammond Organs, and Keb' Mo’s rich, smoky voice, The Reflection is a warm, mellow ride from start to finish.” Philadelphia Daily News affirms, “You’d need a cold heart and tin ears to remain unmoved by Keb Mo’s new album.”

Keb' Mo' will kick off his latest tour on Jan. 19 at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington, KY and conclude it on Feb. 4 at the Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center in Miami, FL. The tour features many dates in the South, Midwest, as well shows in Texas, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

Says Daryl: “Keb' Mo' defines the phrase nice guy" His smooth effortless Soul and blues style works perfectly in my house. Can’t wait to work with him again!”

The past five years have marked a steady stream of superlatives and recognition for Live from Daryl’s House, with Hall receiving a Webby Award for Best Variety series from more than 10,000 entries at the 14th annual ceremony three years ago at N.Y.’s Cipriani Wall Street before garnering an O Music Award from MTV last year.

Live from Daryl’s House is syndicated nationally by Good Cop Bad Cop Productions in association with Scott Sternberg Productions and distributor Trifecta Entertainment & Media. Executive producers for the show include Hall and Scott Sternberg along with Daryl Hall manager Jonathan Wolfson.

Live from Daryl’s House is being shown weekly in over 80% of U.S. homes in the nation’s top 200 media markets, as well as all of the top 10, including New York (WPIX), L.A. (KTLA), Chicago (WGN), Dallas (KDAF) and Houston (KIAH). The show has also cleared in such key markets as Philadelphia (CBS-owned KYW), Boston (KBIN) and Atlanta (WATL), as well as a number of NBC, Fox and CBS-owned affiliates across the country. Most stations are airing a full hour with two original shows back to back on Saturday nights. The first week of the show did a .2 in national Nielsens, with the second week increasing 50% and several stations adding airings.

The 49 previous episodes of Live From Daryl’s House have featured a mix of well-known performers like Booker T and the MGs, Blind Boys of Alabama, Rob Thomas, Train, Smokey Robinson, The Doors’ Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek, Guster, Nick Lowe, Todd Rundgren, Dave Stewart, Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik and Patrick Stump along with newcomers such as Nikki Jean, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Mayer Hawthorne, Eric Hutchinson, Plain White T’s, Sharon Jones, Diane Birch, Fitz & the Tantrums and Neon Trees.