'A GRAMMY® Salute to the Beach Boys' is coming on Feb. 8, 2023; purchase tickets now

One of the world's great artists is set to be honored by a slew of other music notables via a GRAMMY Salute to the Beach Boys on Feb. 8, 2023. (You can read my review of the Beach Boys' August 2022 concert event HERE)...Robert Kinsler

The Beach Boys performing at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 8, 2022.
Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

CBS PRESENTS A GRAMMY® SALUTE TO THE BEACH BOYS, SET FOR FEB. 8 AT THE DOLBY THEATRE TICKETS ON SALE NOW; TRIBUTE SPECIAL TO AIR ON CBS IN 2023

Weezer will be among the artists performing at the event. Photo credit: Sean Murphy WHO: A stellar lineup of GRAMMY®-winning artists and past and current GRAMMY nominees including Beck, Brandi Carlile, Fall Out Boy, Hanson, Norah Jones, Lady A, John Legend, Little Big Town, Michael McDonald, Mumford & Sons, My Morning Jacket, Pentatonix, Charlie Puth, LeAnn Rimes, St. Vincent, Take 6, and Weezer are slated to perform at the special tribute concert honoring the legendary Beach Boys.

Beck will be paying tribute to The Beach Boys at the Dolby Theatre. Photo: Kim Kinsler WHAT: The Recording Academy®, Tenth Planet Productions and CBS present A GRAMMY® Salute to the Beach Boys on Feb. 8, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. The live concert special will feature a star-studded lineup to celebrate and pay tribute to the group's remarkable career. The tribute special will air on the CBS Television Network and be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+ at a later date.   A GRAMMY Salute to the Beach Boys is produced by Tenth Planet Productions.

WHEN: Concert: Wed, Feb. 8, 2023 Doors – 5:30 p.m. PT Concert – 6:30 p.m. PT

WHERE: The public link to purchase tickets can be found here.   Dolby Theatre 6801 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028

ABOUT THE RECORDING ACADEMY The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music's history while investing in its future through the GRAMMY Museum®, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares®, and celebrates artistic excellence through the GRAMMY Awards® — music's only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world's leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators. For more information about the Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @RecordingAcad on Twitter, "like" Recording Academy on Facebook, and join the Recording Academy's social communities on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band announce Spring 2023 Tour

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band have announced their next round of tour dates...Robert Kinsler

RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL STARR BAND ANNOUNCE SPRING 2023 TOUR

WILL INCLUDE SHOWS AT THE VENETIAN IN LAS VEGAS AND AT THE GREEK THEATRE IN LOS ANGELES 

 

Photo by Scott Ritchie

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band - Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette have announced they will be touring in the Spring. It will be primarily a west coast tour, starting May 19 and concluding June 17. The 20 dates will include shows in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Utah. It will also see Ringo return to the Greek Theatre June 15. 

 

“It’s a new year and here are some new tour dates,” Ringo affirmed. “I love playing with the All Starrs and can’t wait to be back out on the road again with this band. I send Peace and Love to you all and we hope to see you out there.” 

 

From left, Steve Lukather, Ringo Starr, Warren Ham, Graham
Gouldman, Colin Hay and Gregg Bissonette performing at the
Greek Theatre on Sept. 29, 2018. Photo credit: Robert Kinsler.

Here is the list of tour dates: 

 

May 19 Temecula, CA Pechanga Resort Casino

May 20 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theatre

May 21 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theatre

May 24 Las Vegas, NV Venetian Theatre

May 26 Las Vegas, NV Venetian Theatre

May 27 Las Vegas, NV Venetian Theatre

May 28 San Diego, CA Humphreys Concerts

May 31 San Diego, CA Humphreys Concerts

June 2 Eugene, OR Cuthbert Amphitheater

June 3 Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater

June 4 Seattle, WA Venue TBD

June 6 Denver, CO Bellco Theater – Denver Convention Center

June 7 Colorado Springs, CO Pikes Peak Center

June 9 Lincoln, CA Thunder Valley Casino

June 11 San Francisco, CA The Masonic 

June 13 Salt Lake City, UT Eccles Theater

June 15 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre

June 16 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amphitheatre

June 17 San Jose, CA San Jose Civic

 

Check local listings for on sale dates. For more information please visit:  

www.RingoStarr.com

 

2022 was a busy year for Ringo that included Spring and Fall tour dates with his All Starr band. Ringo also released EP3 on September 16, 2022 and on November 18, 2022 EP3 was issued on 10” vinyl and blue cassette and accompanied with a new music video, “Everyone and Everything.” On November 25, 2022 Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Live at the Greek 2019 (Roccabella via BFD/The Orchard) was released on Blu Ray, DVD, CD and a special yellow double vinyl. In addition, Ringo created 500 life sized “Peace and Love” sculptures of his iconic hand symbol. These were sold exclusively through Julien’s Auctions to benefit the Lotus Foundation. juliensauctions.com 

Dawes, The Head and the Heart bring magic to the Greek Theatre

The Head and the Heart performing at the Greek
Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 20, 2022.

Who: The Head and the Heart, Dawes

Where: The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA

When: Saturday, August 20, 2022

Review and photography by Robert Kinsler

Dawes performing early in their set at the Greek Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. From left, guitarist Trevor Menear, keyboardist Lee Pardini, singer-guitarist Taylor
Goldsmith, drummer Griffin Goldsmith and bassist Lee Pardini.

Few concert-going experiences beat enjoying a warm summer night at the Greek Theatre. Such was the case on Saturday night when Seattle's The Head and the Heart and Los Angeles' own Dawes shared the bill at the legendary venue.

From left, singer-guitarist Taylor Goldsmith, drummer-backing vocalist
Griffin Goldsmith and bassist Wylie Gelber.

Both ensembles delivered powerful and memorable sets at the event, with Dawes opting to take the bold step of performing the band's recently-issued Misadventures Of Doomscroller from start to finish with little time to perform any material from the group's other seven albums. 

From left, brothers Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith.

I, for one, felt absolutely no disappointment. The group's new album is an artistic triumph and it provided the perfect track listing to showcase the power of Dawes in a live setting. The album's rich sonicsphere blending the best of Laurel Canyon folk rock and stylish Steely Dan jazz rock was a bona fide thrill in the hands of the group (singer-songwriter/guitarist Taylor Goldsmith, drummer-backing vocalist Griffin Goldsmith, bassist Wylie Gelber, keyboardist Lee Pardini and touring auxiliary guitarist Trevor Menear). 

Keyboardist Lee Pardini at the Greek Theatre on Aug. 20.

Opening with the ambitious 10-minute "Someone Else's Cafe/Doomscroller Tries To Relax," the quintet brought nuance and sublime musicianship to the multi-tiered work. The first section was relatively quiet, before the song exploded into a jazzy instrumental jam featuring all the players; there was then a harmonies-filled section that gave way to an affecting guitar solo offered by Taylor Goldsmith.

From left, brothers Griffin Goldsmith and Taylor Goldsmith.

Other early highlights included the shimmering "Comes in Waves" and buoyant "Everything is Permanent" (the latter featuring some stunning instrumental back-and-forth amongst the players throughout).

From left, Taylor Goldsmith, Griffin Goldsmith and
Wylie Gelber at the Greek Theatre.

On "Ghost in the Machine," a propulsive rhythm fueled by the work of Griffin Goldsmith and Wylie Gelber was cast early; later in the cut Menear showcased his fiery lead guitar work before Pardini came in with a masterful solo to end the jazz-tinged rock original. The disc-ending rock opus "Sound That No One Made (Doomscroller Sunrise)" capped the flawless presentation of one of 2022's strongest and most original new albums.

Members of the Head and the Heart joining Dawes
for "All Your Favorite Bands" at the Greek.

Dawes ended their 55-minute set with a rousing take on their 2015 favorite "All Your Favorite Bands," with several members of the Head and the Heart coming on stage to add vocal harmonies to the track. 

The Head and the Heart at the Greek Theatre.

Headlining the night was the Head and the Heart, with the six-member troupe performing a winning 100-minute set featuring material spanning from the group's self-titled 2011 release through their ambitious 16-track album Every Shade Of Blue (released in April 2022 via Warner Records).

The Head and the Heart performing on Aug. 20, 2022.

This marked this writer's first time ever seeing the Head and the Heart in concert and I was impressed by the songwriting, musicianship and vocals of the group. Songs such as the luxurious "Every Shade of Blue," the acoustic Americana-flavored "Another Story" (from the 2013 album Let's Be Still), the soulful "Same Hurt," the more experimental "Paradigm," driving "Shake" and soaring "Virginia (Wind in the Night)."

The Head and the Heart ended the night with a poignant take on "Rivers and Roads," with many in the audience singing along.

The Beach Boys bring 'Sixty Years of the Sounds of Summer' to Greek Theatre

Beach Boy singer Mike Love, left,
with Mark McGrath (of Sugar Ray fame).

Who: The Beach Boys

Where: The Greek Theatre

When: Sunday, Aug. 8, 2022

Information: TheBeachBoys.com

The Beach Boys brought their "Sixty Years of the Sounds of Summer" tour to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday night, Aug. 7. This being a high profile hometown celebration of their 60th anniversary, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston (along with their talented touring troupe) invited a few notable guests to the three-hour concert event.

From left, Mike Love, John Stamos and drummer
drummer John Cowsill.

Indeed, the Hawthorne, California-spawned group took the stage right at 8 p.m. to perform the 1968 hit "Do It Again" with Sugar Ray singer Mark McGrath and actor/musician John Stamos along to add celebratory firepower to the festive opener. That joyful sprit continued as the ensemble immediately moved into "Surfin' Safari" and "Catch a Wave" with archival film footage of surfers and beach scenes playing on a large rear projection screen. During "Surfin' Safari" lyrics were displayed to assist with the audience sing-along.

The Beach Boys, along with John Stamos, performing "Surfin' Safari" at the Greek Theatre.

The concert was divided into two parts with The Beach Boys' most beloved hits comprising the majority of the setlist. Select covers that fit nicely alongside the signature sound of the group's originals were also a nice addition to the special night.

Singer-keyboardist Bruce Johnston, left, with
singer Mike Love at the Greek Theatre.

While Love, 81, and Johnston, 80, handled principal vocals across much of the night, other members of the collective bolstered the parade of songs with their strong lead and harmony vocals. This writer was particularly impressed by the strong vocals of drummer-vocalist John Cowsill and guitarist-vocalist Brian Eichenberger.

Early in the night, Eichenberger used his soaring falsetto on a tender version of "Don't Worry Baby" before the lead vocal duties were handed to Cowsill for an inspired take on "Darlin'," the latter a criminally overlooked melodic wonder from the band's 1967 masterwork Wild Honey. Cowsill's unmistakable vocals also helped bolster a cover of the Mamas & the Papas 1965 hit "California Dreamin' " to kick off the second half of the show.

Other strong contributors from the touring band showcased during the concert included Scott Totten, Keith Hubacher and Christian Love and Tim Bonhomme.

Highlights were frequent during part 1 of the fast-moving affair, with a fun cover of the Ramones' 1977 surf rock-mining "Rockaway Beach," tender "In My Room," McGrath taking over the proceedings for a crowd-pleasing take on Sugar Ray's 1997 No. 1 hit "Fly," rousing "Little Deuce Coupe" and "I Get Around."

The second half of the event included energetic takes on "California Girls," "Dance, Dance, Dance," the country-flavored Lead Belly-penned "Cotton Fields," a rollicking take on Chuck Berry's timeless 1957 gem "Rock and Roll Music," and an especially affecting version of the Baroque pop masterpiece "God Only Knows" originally released in 1966.

Mike Love on Aug. 7, 2022.

Bruce Johnston at the Greek.

While the concert was heavy on radio favorites, there were some cool surprises on the special night. Love delivered a poignant version of "Pisces Brothers," a song he wrote for George Harrison after his friend passed away in 2001. During the performance of the song, images and riveting video footage of Harrison and Love taken in India in the late 1960s helped transport the audience to the dawn of the two artists' friendship. Johnston reached similarly potent territory with his turn leading a version of his self-penned "Disney Girls" from the Beach Boys' 1971 album Surf's Up.

John Stamos at the Greek Theatre.

Stamos — whose talents as guitarist and drummer impressed frequently during the concert — took over lead vocals on an impactful version of "Forever" dedicated to his late friend Bob Saget (who sadly passed away in January 2022).

There were even more surprises for the audience. The country music Nashville-based duo LOCASH (Chris Lucas and Preston Brust) — who have a rising hit titled "Beach Boys" on the iTunes Charts — joined the bash for a breezy take on "Kokomo," "Good Vibrations" and "Beach Boys" (the latter an animated version of their aptly-titled hit that pays tribute to the Beach Boys).

The night ended with a spirited run by the Beach Boys through "Barbara Ann" and "Fun Fun Fun" with the audience on their feet and letting decades of memories crest as high as the pyrotechnics that lit up the warm summer night.

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band launch 30th Anniversary North American Tour

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band have announced plans to hit the road on a 30th Anniversary Tour. Don't miss it. Check out my review of the troupe's 2018 concert at the legendary Greek Theatre in Los Angeles staged in September 2018.

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band. Photo: Scott Robert Ritchie

Thursday, August 1, 2019 Windsor, Ontario -- 2019 marks the 30^th Anniversary of Ringo and his All Starr Band, who played their first show on July 23, 1989 at the Park Central Ampitheatre in Dallas, Texas, and tonight Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band kick off their North American tour dates in Windsor Ontario at Colosseum Caesar’s.

 

Fittingly, the Ringo and His All Starr 30^th Anniversary Tour will conclude September 1^st at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, California, nearly 30 years to the day when the inaugural All Starrs completed their first tour on September 3, 1989.

  

The first leg of 2019 tour dates began with one US show at Harrah’s Resort Southern California on March 21^st before the band headed to Japan, with dates that began in Fukuoka on March 27^th , including multiple sold out dates in Tokyo and ended in Osaka on April 11^th .

 

The 2019 All Starr Band features Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Gregg Rolie, Warren Ham, Gregg Bissonette and the return of All Starr alum Hamish Stuart.

 

From Windsor Ontario, Ringo and the band commented:

 

Ringo Starr behind the drum kit at the Greek Theatre
in September 2018. Photo: Robert Kinsler

“In 1989 I put together the best 1-800-band in the land and I've been blessed to have been playing with so many brilliant All Starrs since. How incredible to be here 30 years later with this group of great musicians and friends about to launch another All Starr Tour. We can't wait to see you out there on the road. Peace and Love, Ringo"  

 

Steve Lukather:

"These past 7 years have been some of the best times of my life. I feel like it's a new home and I have made some soulful new friendships that mean the world to me + they all happen to be some my favorite musicians! 

The best part is having Ringo as a real friend. I have learned so much from him and all in this band.  I love everyone in this organization and I am deeply honored to be a small part of something so cool! "

 

Gregg Rolie:

“I can't believe I've been playing with Ringo for 7 years!  It's Awesome!!”

 

Colin Hay:

“When you get asked to be part of Ringo’s All Starr Band, you don’t think about it, you simply say yes. There was The Beatles, and then there was everyone else. We play in his band with pleasure and joy, because it’s Ringo, and we love him. There is only one. Happy 30th.”

 

Hamish Stuart:

"I recall very well the last thing I said to Ringo as we parted company at the end of my last All Starrs outing. "Anytime, anywhere, I'll be there". Kind of says it all really. We all love the man and he makes this a wonderful thing to be a part of so I was totally "jazzed" to get the call for this 30th anniversary tour and couldn't wait to get started. Heart and Soul. Here we GO!"

 

Gregg Bissonette:

“It is an incredible honor to be a member of Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band since 2008. I get SO much joy out of having the privilege to be the other drummer in the band along side my favorite drummer of all time and great friend Ringo.
Touring the world in this great band and helping to spread Ringo’s message of Peace and Love is the most incredible dream come true that I could ever imagine!”
  

Warren Ham: 

"It's just exciting for me today on the All Starrs anniversary as it was when I first came on board in 2014! I can't believe I get to play with Ringo Starr and all these other great musicians! Such a thrill and privilege!!"

 

The current itinerary for their 2019 30^th Anniversary celebratory tour is listed below:

 

Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band 30^th Anniversary Summer Tour Dates:

August 1 The Colosseum at Caesar’s, Windsor, Ontario

August 3 & 4 Ravinia, Highland Park, IL (with the Beach Boys)

August 6 DPAC, Durham, NC

August 7 & 8 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN

August 10 & 11 Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA

August 13 Berglund Center Coliseum, Roanoke, VA

August 14 The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

August 16 Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, Bethel, NY (with The Edgar Winter Band, Arlo Guthrie)

August 17 Long Island Community Hospital Ampitheater at Bald Hill, Farmingville, NY 

August 18 Pier 17, New York City, NY 

August 20 State Farm Center, Champaign, IL

August 22 Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake, MN

August 23 Harrah’s Council Bluffs Casino, Council Bluffs, IA

August 25 Santa Fe Opera House, Santa Fe, NM

August 26 Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, AZ

August 29 Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA*

August 30 Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Sacramento, CA

August 31 Vina Robles Amphitheatre, Paso Robles, CA

September 1 The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

*Note: This date was formerly on the 28th and was moved due to scheduling conflicts. 

 

This past July 7, 2019 Ringo held his now annual Peace & Love Birthday Celebration, at Capitol Records in Los Angeles to actualize his simple, conceptual birthday wish: to create a wave of Peace and Love over the planet starting in New Zealand and ending in Hawaii. Every year he invites anyone anywhere around the world to think, say or post #peaceandlove at Noon their local time. Ringo began these in 2008 at the Hard Rock Café Chicago and last year he celebrated the 10^th Anniversary at the Hard Rock Café Nice. In the ensuing years it has grown enormously with “Peace & Love” events all over the world. This year saw fan inspired events in over 26 countries all of which, including Ringo’s in Los Angeles, were broadcast on social media; with #peaceandlove posts and social media participation reaching over 80 million people on the day. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIjjUjNa5a4&feature=youtu.be

 

Shipping now is Ringo's signed, limited edition book, Another Day In The Life (the book will be available in wide release this October 2019). The third in Ringo's series of books with Genesis Publications, following the sell-out success of Postcards From The Boys (2003) and Photograph (2013), Another Day In The Life presents a previously unpublished collection of his photographs, captioned with his own thoughts and anecdotes.

 

Reflecting his love of music, travel and nature, Another Day In The Life shows us the world as seen through Ringo's eyes. From Los Angeles to Tokyo and everywhere in between, many of Ringo's observational images celebrate the quirkiness of life. Other photographs are taken behind the scenes during historic events, such as Ringo's acceptance of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and his return to New York's Plaza Hotel, 50 years after The Beatles first visited the USA. Joined by Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh and a host of All-Starr friends, in Another Day In The Life Ringo Starr shares personal moments from a legendary life in music, and offers a unique and inspiring look at the world around us. Proceeds from the sale will go to Ringo's Lotus Foundation charity. For more information go to www.ringobook.com.

 

About Ringo
Born Richard Starkey on July 7, 1940, “at a very young age” Sir Ringo Starr knew since he was 13 what he wanted to do.  Since beginning his career with The Beatles in the 1960s, Starr has been one of the world’s brightest musical luminaries. He has enjoyed a successful, dynamic solo career as a drummer, singer, songwriter,
collaborator, and producer. He is a longtime advocate for peace, love, animal and human rights and environmental causes.

 

Throughout his career he has received nine GRAMMY® Awards, and has twice been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- first as a Beatle and then as solo artist. Between 1970 and 2017, Ringo has released 19 solo studio records.  He has acted in over 15 films, received an Academy Award®, and has been nominated as an actor for an Emmy®. Ringo has published four books, his most recent, 'Another Day in the Life' was released in limited edition in November 2018 and will become available in wide release this October 2019.  In March 2018 Ringo was knighted by Prince William, having been selected for the honor by Queen Elizabeth II for knighthood for hismusic and charity work.

 

 For all his many creative successes, Ringo is and always will be first and foremost a musician, a drummer.  Peace and love are his life’s rhythm and melody, and he propels this universal message in everything he does: hisevocative artwork, his enthused live performances, his legendary songs, allimbued with the joy, reflection, and wisdom of the music icon the world knows and loves simply as “Ringo.”

 

About Genesis Publications

Genesis Publications was founded in 1974 in Britain as an independent publishing house true to the arts of printing and craftsmanship. Today, Genesis creates some of the world’s most sought-after books for readers in 90 countries, and in 2017 is celebrating its 100^thedition (see more at genesis-publications.com).