Third Day 30th Anniversary Tour to launch in March 2026

Third Day will return from hiatus in celebration of the band's 30th anniversary with a big tour in 2026. I have seen Third Day a number of times over the years and the band always turns in inspired performances (read my review of a special concert the group performed in Anaheim back in 2008 HERE)...Robert Kinsler

ERA-DEFINING BAND THIRD DAY ANNOUNCES 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR FOR 2026
 

MAC POWELL, MARK LEE, DAVID CARR, AND TAI ANDERSON  REUNITE FOR A LIMITED TIME TO HEADLINE 

30-CITY ARENA TOUR CELEBRATING THEIR LEGENDARY CATALOG OF HITS

 

Also Featuring GRAMMY Award-winning artist Zach Williams, Tickets for Historic Live Event Go on Sale Friday,   June 27 at 10 a.m. PT at www.ThirdDay.com and www.AwakeningFoundation.com

 

 

One of the most iconic bands in Christian music history, the four-time GRAMMY Award-winning and multi-platinum rock band THIRD DAY is thrilled to announce its upcoming 30th anniversary tour today.  Set to hit arenas across the U.S. in spring 2026, the THIRD DAY 30th Anniversary Tour will span 30 once-in-a-lifetime shows with a stop at the Kia Forum on Friday, April 24. 

 

For the first time in 11 years, the hall-of-fame band's original four members, Mac Powell, Mark Lee, David Carr and Tai Anderson will reunite on stage for an unforgettable victory lap. Fans will experience an electrifying, can't-miss live event featuring a bucket-list of crowd favorites, pulling from THIRD DAY's impressive 31 No. 1 singles across 14 albums. 

 

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 27 at 10 a.m. PT at www.ThirdDay.com and www.AwakeningFoundation.com. Fueled by THIRD DAY'S 2018 farewell tour, making history by selling out in 12 minutes, there is enormous anticipation for the anniversary tour ticket sale date. The tour is being produced by the Awakening Foundation. Full list of 2026 dates and markets below.

 

 

Founding members Mac Powell and Mark Lee recently shared their excitement on getting back on tour with Third Day, with Powell saying, "I’ve been getting asked the question for many years, 'when is Third Day going to do a tour again' and I’ve always said… One day soon, I hope!" He continues, "I’m so excited that we finally get the chance to play music together again on stage and give our fans what they’ve been waiting for."

 

Lee adds, " Third Day has always been, first and foremost, a live band. The best way to celebrate 30 years is to get back together for a tour. I can’t wait to get back out on the road with these guys and put on a big show for our fans."
 

Kicking off March 19, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fl., at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena, the industry-pioneering band will perform to arena-sized audiences in venues including the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, Ca., Nashville's Bridgestone Arena and wrapping this reunion tour for the first and last time in THIRD DAY's hometown Atlanta area, at the Gas South Arena on May 10, 2026.

Acclaimed GRAMMY Award-winning artist Zach Williams is also slated to appear on THIRD DAY's 30th Anniversary Tour. Known for massive hits including "Chain Breaker" and his "There Was Jesus" duet with Dolly Parton, Williams will bring his in-demand soulful and gritty faith-based rock to the show.    

 

“Celebrating 30 years of THIRD DAY is a true honor, and bringing Mac, Mark, David & Tai back to the stage is something fans have been waiting for,” said Dan Fife, CEO of Awakening Events. “Adding Zach Williams as a very special guest makes this tour even more powerful. This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime night of live music and celebration for all generations to experience.”

This monumental THIRD DAY 30th Anniversary Tour event celebrates the immense impact of the band's unparalleled 30 years since their self-titled, major-label debut in 1996 on Reunion Records. 
 

THIRD DAY 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATES:

3/19/26  Jacksonville, FL - VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena 
3/20/26  Estero, FL - Hertz Arena 
3/21/26  Pensacola, FL - Pensacola Bay Center 
3/22/26  Orlando, FL - Kia Center 
3/26/26  Austin, TX - Moody Center 
3/27/26  Grand Prairie, TX (Dallas)  - Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie 
3/28/26  Sugar Land, TX (Houston) - Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land 
3/29/26  Tulsa, OK - BOK Center 
4/2/26  Toledo, OH - Huntington Center 
4/3/26  Youngstown, OH - Covelli Centre 
4/4/26  Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena 
4/9/26  Minneapolis, MN - Target Center 
4/10/26  Chicago, IL - Credit Union 1 Arena 
4/11/26  St. Louis, MO - Chaifetz Arena 
4/12/26  Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena 
4/16/26  Henderson, NV - Lee’s Family Forum 
4/17/26  Stateline, NV - Tahoe Blue Event Center 
4/18/26  Portland, OR - Veterans Memorial Coliseum 
4/19/26  Kent, WA (Seattle) - accesso ShoWare Center 
4/23/26  Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center 
4/24/26  Inglewood, CA (Los Angeles)  - Kia Forum 
4/25/26  San Diego, CA - Pechanga Arena San Diego 
4/26/26  Glendale, AZ (Phoenix) - Desert Diamond Arena 
4/29/26  Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center 
4/30/26  Fishers, IN (Indianapolis) - Fishers Event Center 
5/1/26  Birmingham, AL - Legacy Arena at BJCC 
5/7/26  Dayton, OH  - Wright State University Nutter Center 
5/8/26  Fairfax, VA  - EagleBank Arena 
5/9/26  Charlotte, NC  - Bojangles' Coliseum 
5/10/26  Duluth, GA (Atlanta)  - Gas South Arena

 

Founded in Atlanta, Ga., in 1991 by Mac Powell and Mark Lee, THIRD DAY became one of the most influential live bands in Contemporary Christian Music over its nearly 30-year career. The band sold over 10 million albums, achieved 31 No.1 singles, and released 14 studio albums. Their accolades include 4 GRAMMY Awards, 24 Dove Awards, an American Music Award, induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and multiple ASCAP honors, including the prestigious Vanguard Award for songwriting. THIRD DAY also made notable media appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CBS' 60 Minutes, ABC's Nightline, USA Today, The New York Times, and even graced the cover of Billboard Magazine, which hailed them as "one of the best rock bands, period."

 

The Awakening Foundation exists to share the message of hope and resources with individuals and families in local and international communities by bringing together artists, fans, and like-minded organizations through live events and missional endeavors to serve and empower those in need. Awakening Foundation events are powered by Awakening Events. Consistently ranked among the top promoters in America and reaching as high as No. 3 in the world in total tickets sold, we are a leader in the live faith-based entertainment industry. Be sure to find out more at AwakeningFoundation.com.

Rock and Worship Roadshow roars into Anaheim

My review was originally published on The Orange County Register site on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014.

Led by the hard rock of Skillet, the power of Third Day and the Alarm-ing passion of newcomers the Neverclaim, the praise-filled event proved praiseworthy indeed.

Korey and John Cooper of Skillet perform during the Rock and Worship Roadshow at Honda Center.

There was truly a little bit of everything for Christian music enthusiasts who came out Friday night (Jan. 17, 2014) for the Rock and Worship Roadshow at Honda Center.

From the hard-hitting metal of Skillet (above) and melodic Southern rock of Third Day, the event’s top-billed stars, to newer sounds like the catchy, Michael Jackson-esque dance-pop of Royal Tailor and U2-mining anthems of the Neverclaim, the eclectic mix of short sets changed swiftly at an event where believers were encouraged to help sponsor children via Compassion International. (That cause was introduced by comedian Tom Wolf, who tempered his humor with heartfelt appeal.

The crowd was treated to nine different performances, most running a mere 15 minutes, with several young up-and-comers rightly impressing a capacity crowd, the majority of which paid $20 and under to attend.

Royal Tailor proved to be one of the most pleasing acts, with young singer Tauren Wells’ soaring tenor and cool moves showcased on the up-tempo “Making Me New” as well as the beautiful R&B ballad “Remain.” He also tapped into more current urban dynamics with the powerful rock-rap showcase “Got That Fire,” the leadoff track from the group's excellent self-titled sophomore album.

Other early standouts came courtesy of the Neverclaim, a six-man Portland (Ore.) troupe whose music and stage presence recalled the fire of U2 and the Alarm in the early ’80s.

They opened with mid-tempo Americana-tinged rocker “The Soul Longs,” which played like the Alarm’s Mike Peters fronting Mumford & Sons, with banjo adding a nice touch to the traditional feel. Then came “One Truth One Life,” a more straightforward praise song, but the band’s firepower, especially singer Jeremiah Carlson, remained impressive, ending with the uplifting and instantly memorable “Revival.”

Not every young artist on the bill was able to attain the same heights, however. The heavy rock of We as Human had 13 minutes to make it count – and they didn't – while New York hip-hop artist Andy Mineo failed to fuse enough hooks into his selections to awe. Bogata-based band Soulfire Revolution was a bit stronger, stirring with its new original “We Sing.”

Third Day delivered the strongest performance of the night, the Atlanta troupe's crowd-pleasing 35-minute turn enhanced by an audience eager to sing and clap along with its infectious rock offerings. “Kicking and Screaming,” one of several songs from the quartet’s latest album, Miracle, was especially energetic, outdistancing the studio version and placing singer Mac Powell’s powerful baritone fully on display. The textured “God of Wonders,” on the other hand, shined via a magical solo from guitarist Mark Lee.

Singer-songwriter Jamie Grace, a 22-year-old out of the same city discovered via her YouTube channel, delighted with her upbeat reggae-leaning tune "Hold Me." While her far-reaching, Nelly Furtado-like vocals and appealing personality proved entertaining over 15 minutes, she likely needs to bring a more focused approach to get to the next level.

The night-ending set from Skillet boasted a blend of metal and hard rock that was a bit too loud and forceful for a number of older fans, who headed for the exits. The Memphis-spawned band delivered powerfully, though, focusing on its latest albums, 2009’s Wake and last year’s Rise.

Thundering versions of “Hero” and “Sick of It” launched the set before several additional musicians on electronic violin and cello added a symphonic lift to “Not Gonna Die,” further strengthened by the harmony of lead singer John Cooper with drummer Jen Ledger's pretty soprano on the choruses. Later in the set, the ballad “American Noise” offered an introspective look at how the band's faith sits with modern-day life, before the band roared back to full strength for the forceful “Monster.”

Photo: Kelly A. Swift, Contributing Photographer

The Rock and Worship Roadshow coming to Anaheim on Friday, January 17th

On Friday night, January 17th, many of Christian music's best modern-day rock bands will be performing in Anaheim. I look forward to covering the concert for The Orange County Register and wanted to post online the best bets preview about the Roadshow coming to Honda Center. This ran in today's GO+DO section of The Orange County Register.

Fishfest brings the faithful back to Irvine

My concert review was originally posted on The Orange County Register Soundcheck Blog on Sunday, June 30, 2013. A special "thank you" to Kelly A. Swift for the use of her photo at the top of this post.

Casting Crowns delighted, Third Day rocked harder – and 15,000 fans went home uplifted.

Soaring temperatures didn't keep a capacity crowd away from Irvine's Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Saturday (June 29, 2013), where people started pouring in by early afternoon to take in a top-tier lineup of Christian music artists performing at Fishfest 2013.

Since proceeds from The Fish/95.9 FM's festival benefit Compassion International, a global sponsorship program aimed at helping children escape poverty, there were plenty of moving firsthand testimonials to accompany performances throughout the long program.

Making its first appearance at the gathering, Georgian group Casting Crowns performed an hour of its praise-and-worship soft-rock. Although their songs don't challenge musically or lyrically the way Christian artists like Jars of Clay and Switchfoot do, connecting with more wide-ranging explorations of spirituality, Casting Crowns' accessible and melodic songs surely resonated with the faithful this night.

Lead singer Mark Hall led the seven-member ensemble through a dozen songs that offer a straightforward look at the troupe's beliefs. The band took one slight sonic detour, performing an inspired instrumental bluegrass nugget, complete with strong fiddle and mandolin dynamics, before the group segued into the uplifting "Praise You with a Dance," from its 2003 self-titled debut.

Third Day's Mac Powell, in white shirt, with Casting Crowns.

Hall, a youth pastor, noted that almost all CC songs begin life during Bible study. The group then performed one of its best-known tunes, "Voice of Truth," an uplifting number, with Hall's voice blending nicely with fiddle player Melodee DeVevo's soprano in the choruses. The performance reached its zenith later with an affecting take of "Lifesong," the echo and delay guitar effects draping Hall's voice in ethereal textures. Casting Crowns closed with "Until the Whole World Hears," their hardest rocker of the night (Mac Powell of Third Day joined the band on stage to share vocals with Hall during the closing selection) and the perfect chance for the audience to sing along with its big chorus.

Just as popular with the crowd, but bringing a heftier feel, was fellow Georgia group Third Day. Opening its energetic set with the original Southern rocker "Hit Me Like a Bomb," off last year's excellent album Miracle, singer Mac Powell (above) and his mates seemed energized by the rousing welcome. Whether playing acoustic rock ("Revelation," enhanced by an extended guitar solo courtesy of Mark Lee), Southern rock ("Make Your Move," "Sing a Song") or musical prayers ("I Need a Miracle" "Cry Out to Jesus"), Third Day scored with fans up front as well as those positioned high on the lawn.

The faithful during Third Day's inspired set in Irvine.

Midway through Third Day's set, Powell brought out another Georgian – singer Laura Story, a main-stage performer earlier in the day – to join him on a duet of the potent "God of Wonders," the piece's lushness a perfect fit for their distinct voices. Third Day then kicked its set into overdrive, performing a forceful "Children of God," an even more raucous "Otherside" and "Kicking and Screaming," all en route to the Americana rocker "Gone," launched via thea capella intro from the Eagles "Seven Bridges Road."

San Diego singer-songwriter Phil Wickham performed a fast-moving set with a sound blending U2, Simple Minds and Big Country. The 29-year-old and his four-man band impressed with an approach of buoyant beats and rich keyboard and guitar work bolstering soaring vocals. The highlight was "This Is Amazing Grace," which built from a folk intro into a driving rocker.

Performing in the scorching afternoon heat, Augusta-based Story turned in five worship songs set amid heartfelt stories of life at home. She delighted the crowd with an energetic performance of her hit "Blessings," the ballad showcasing her pretty soprano and piano feel.

Photo of Third Day's Mac Powell by Kelly A. Swift, for the Register

The Doors, The Who and Queen on DVD; Third Day announces 'Miracle Tour'; Nektar to issue covers album

Several of rock music's most influential artists are showcased on recently-issued DVD releases, including The Doors, The Who, Queen and The Beatles. Click here to read my latest column published in Desert Star Weekly to read my roundup of these sterling collections available now.

Earlier today Third Day announced it will embark on a 45-city tour in support of the band's new album Miracle (which will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012). "The Miracle Tour" will kick off Feb. 21, 2013 and also feature American Idol's Colton Dixon and singer-songwriter Josh Wilson.

The tour will launch in Fairfax, Va. on Feb. 21 and will extend through mid-May. Here is more info as detailed in a release that landed in my inbox:

“The Miracle Tour” takes its name from Third Day’s brand new studio project, Miracle, releasing Nov. 6. With veteran producer Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Train, The Killers) at the helm, Miracle is a 12-track simmering brew of potent rock anthems infused with the substantive, life-affirming lyrics that have always been the bedrock of Third Day’s music. At the same time, the band explores new sonic and lyrical territory on Miracle, with layered guitars and harmonies, sing-along gang vocals, and so on – not heard from the band previously. The band’s signature rock foundations remain; they’ve just been infused with a modern-day flair.

“We have toured for so many years and feel like we owe any success we have to the fans that built Third Day,” says drummer David Carr. “These songs are engaging musically and lyrically; we worked hard to stretch ourselves for the people who come to our shows and buy our music. We poured so much into this record because we wanted to bring our fans our very best. We are proud of Miracle and can’t wait for people to hear it.”

A special VIP package will be available for The Miracle Tour ticket buyers, including a premium-seat concert ticket, an exclusive Third Day tour poster, a Miracle CD and entry to a special pre-show event. A group ticket package will be offered, along with Fan Club pre-sale dates.

“The Miracle Tour” is sponsored in part by Christian humanitarian organization World Vision (www.worldvision.org) and Grand Canyon University (www.gcu.edu). World Vision provides assistance to approximately 100 million people in nearly 100 countries by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

In other news, progressive rock icons Nektar are set to release A Spoonful Of Time, an album that will feature the band joined by an all-star guest lineup. Here is the official media release:

Nektar's 'A Spoonful Of Time' features performances by members of YES, King Crimson, Deep Purple, Symphony X, Opeth, Marillion, Asia, The Moody Blues, Dream Theater, Tangerine Dream, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Hawkwind, The Zombies and Cream!

Progressive rock fans worldwide are buzzing with excitement about the forthcoming release of a new covers CD by music legends Nektar called A Spoonful Of Time, featuring an all-star guest line-up! Celebrating their 43rd Anniversary, Nektar's contribution over the past four decades has quite rightly earned them their place in any 'Progressive Rock Hall of Fame'. But the band is much more than a “prog legend;” the Nektar brand of innovative composition, performance and visuals is simply unique. And now on November 27, 2012 Cleopatra Records will be releasing the first ever covers album by the iconic UK ensemble, joined by an incredible gathering of musical heroes from a wide variety of genres!

Says founding Nektar member Roye Albrighton, “The idea originated from Cleopatra themselves...they thought it might be a good idea to do an album of classic songs with a multitude of different players but under the Nektar banner. Klaus, Ron and myself were to be the staple musicians taking part and the files would be given out to various musicians to do their parts. I was asked to do most of the vocals except for the one track which was (“Africa”) and quite a few guitars too. Ron did a lot of the drums and Klaus was prominent on several of the tracks on Hammond and mellotron.”


Track listing:

1. Sirius featuring Michael Pinnella (Symphony X)

2. Spirit Of The Radio featuring Mark Kelly (Marillion)

3. Fly Like An Eagle featuring Geoff Downes (Asia / Yes) • Joel Vandroogenbroeck (Brainticket)

4. Wish You Were Here featuring Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream)

5. For The Love Of Money featuring Ian Paice (Deep Purple) • Nik Turner (Hawkwind)

6. Can't Find My Way Home featuring Steve Howe (Yes) • Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater/Black Country Communion) • Mel Collins (King Crimson)

7. 2000 Light Years From Home featuring Simon House (Hawkwind)

8. Riders On The Storm featuring Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big) • Rod Argent (The Zombies / Argent)

9. Blinded By The Light featuring Joakim Svalberg (Opeth) • Ginger Baker (Cream)

10. Out Of The Blue featuring Simon House (Hawkwind)

11. Old Man featuring David Cross (King Crimson)

12. Dream Weaver featuring Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra)

13. I'm Not In Love featuring Rick Wakeman (Yes)

14. Africa featuring Bobby Kimball (Toto) • Patrick Moraz (The Moody Blues)


Nektar's “A Spoonful Of Time” was produced by the band and mixed by prog icon Billy Sherwood, who also played bass on some of the tracks.

Says Billy, “I really enjoyed working with Nektar on their new record, it was an honor playing bass on the entire project too!! Roye is very creative and inspiring to be around, Ron and Klaus are great to work with too... I felt like it was working with friends, making music, as it should be. I look forward to playing some gigs with them in the future.” Roye adds, “The songs featured on the album were chosen by Cleopatra, of which a few of them I quite like. It was good working with Billy, on this covers album and our new studio album 'Time Machine', and like me, he wants the absolute best for the music.”

The Nektar story is a remarkable one. A British rock band that found stardom and major success in Germany and the USA, yet failed to make a significant breakthrough in their own country. With three gold albums under their belt ("Remember The Future", "Down To Earth" and "Recycled"), Nektar produced some of the most original work of the seventies and eighties. In virtuoso guitarist Roye Albrighton Nektar had a charismatic front man who had shared a stage with Jimi Hendrix, in Allan "Taff" Freeman a unique keyboard player, in Derek "Mo" Moore a bass playing powerhouse and in Ron Howden a fluidity rarely found in a drummer. Fifth member Mick Brockett was not a musician, but was responsible for one of the most stunning light and visual shows ever to grace a rock stage. Nektar's history appeared to have been written when they finally split in the eighties. Despite attempts to re-kindle the flame, the Nektar light, it seemed was out...until the year 2000. The new millenium saw the long awaited reunion tour of the classic line-up, to rave reviews and fantastic receptions. The light we thought was out, had in fact been kept aglow - by loyal fans across the globe! "It's pretty timeless music," says Albrighton, "and what I'm hearing from most of the new, younger fans that are now coming to our shows, is that it's like going back in time. They are starting to really discover music again, which, of course, is a great thrill to us and some of the older bands from our time."

An American tour in September 2004 saw Taff Freeman depart the band for personal reasons and his successor, Hammond virtuoso Tom Hughes, instantly earning a place in the hearts of the Nektar faithful. With continued concert dates, along with the remastering of the remainder of the Nektar back catalogue on CD, this legendary band has become once more a proud force to be reckoned with in the world of progressive music. In 2007 Nektar truly took over their own management, procured their official website as their own, became an entity entirely under their own control and went on a 22-date tour of Germany. The band released the critically acclaimed CDs 'Book of Days' in 2008 and the live DBL CD 'Fortyfied' in 2009. Signing with US label Cleopatra in 2011, the band competed it's first U.S. Tour in seven years by virtue of a successful month-long jaunt of the States, to the delight of their U.S. Fans both old and new. Nektar is set to make its mark once again with the release of their critically acclaimed studio album “Time Machine.” Now with the release of A Spoonful Of Time, Nektar is back with a psychedelic head trip through classic rock radio with artful twists on classics by The Doors, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Blind Faith, Steve Miller, 10cc and others!

As far as future plans for Nektar: "To make more music, and to experiment more in different ways,” says Albrighton. Nektar will be a part of the Cruise to the Edge crusie in March with the Yes, Tangerine Dream, Saga, Steve Hackett, Carl Palmer Band, UK and others. In closing Roye has this to impart to the band's long-standing fans, “A huge thanks to all those fans who have stuck by the band through thick and thin over the years... We are only doing it for you.”



Nektar “A Spoonful Of Time” is available for pre-order now at iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/spoonful-time-feat.-steve/id570409022

or via Amazon via the link here

For more information visit Nektar's official website: www.nektarsmusic.com


Cleopatra Records: www.CleopatraRecords.com

Sights and Sounds: Led Zeppelin, Third Day, Punch Brothers, The Civil Wars, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

Lots of news breaking today...I'll get right to it everybody!


Led Zeppelin have released a video of their performance of the epic track "Kashmir" from their forthcoming concert film, Celebration Day.

Filmed during the band's 2007 reunion show at London's O2 Arena, Celebration Day was released in theaters earlier this month and will see a retail release on CD, DVD, digital, vinyl, and Blu-Ray on November 19. Click here to watch the full performance of "Kashmir."

Third Day to kick off street week with performance on 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno' on Friday night, Nov. 2

Third Day's new album Miracle won't arrive until next Tuesday (Nov. 6, 2012), but fans will get an early feel for the new disc when the Atlanta rockers perform the lead-off track "Hit Me Like a Bomb" on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Friday, Nov. 2. Following the performance of the song, there will be a limited-time free download of the potent rocker on the band's official Web site, www.ThirdDay.com.

The 12-track Miracle was produced by Brendan O'Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Train, The Killers) and recorded in the band's Atlanta studio called The Quarry.

The Punch Brothers will perform on 'Austin City Limits' on Nov. 3, 2012.

Two of Americana's best artists are being featured on Austin City Limits on Saturday, Nov. 3.

The Civil Wars and Punch Brothers will each perform sets on the next episode of the popular show, which will air on PBS stations on Saturday. Here is the release that arrived in my inbox earlier today:

Austin, TX—November 1, 2012—It's a night of great chemistry as Austin City Limits (ACL) presents new American acoustic music in a double-bill with The Civil Wars and Punch Brothers. The brand new episode airs Saturday, November 3rd on PBS (check local listings for times).

The Civil Wars bring their dynamic charisma to the Austin City Limits stage to perform tracks from the Grammy-winning debut Barton Hollow. A folk-pop duo comprised of vocalist Joy Williams and guitarist John Paul White, The Civil Wars made an appearance last year in the ACL Presents special, Americana Music Festival 2011, and ACL has been excited to have them back for a full set ever since. The magnetic pair create Appalachian-tinged folk melodies with a minimalist approach that has caught the folk-pop world by storm. The obvious chemistry between the singer-songwriters is as infectious as their grassroots success – over 250,000 copies of their critically-acclaimed debut album Barton Hollow sold without major industry support. “We are so amped to be here,” says The Civil Wars' Joy Williams from the ACL stage. “I’m still pinching myself that we get to play here tonight.” In addition to their originals, the duo wows the audience with inspired renditions of Michael Jackson's “Billie Jean” and Smashing Pumpkins' “Disarm” in their ACL debut.

Says ACL Executive Producer Terry Lickona, “I was there when Joy and John Paul performed for one minute on this year’s Grammy Awards Show, and that one minute had more impact than almost anything else on the show. That’s just the way they are – their music will grab your ear and your heart in one fell swoop!”

"When you start a band, this is all you really want to be able to do—play Austin City Limits," says Punch Brothers' leader Chris Thile from the ACL stage. Thile should know, the appearance marks his fourth turn on ACL, including two with his long-time band, the progressive bluegrass trio Nickel Creek. In 2006, mandolin virtuoso Thile assembled the all-star quintet Punch Brothers (the name comes from the Mark Twain short story Punch, Brothers, Punch!). The quintet’s boundary-less mix of indie-rock, bluegrass, classical music, jazz, folk, and pop has attracted critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. The Grammy-nominated band performs tracks off their three albums, including 2012's Who’s Feeling Young Now? Paste Magazine calls the album “a masterpiece” and declared “every track is a small wonder of some sort,” while Rolling Stone claims it “strikes a nice balance between old-school and modern.” In October, 31-year Thile was awarded a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” for his creative vision.

“I’ve been a fan of Chris’s music since he was a 13-year-old mandolin child prodigy, and it’s been inspiring to watch him take his music to new places only he can imagine,” says Lickona. “He’s got a band of kindred spirits who create music that really defies labels – unless you use all of them!”

The Civil Wars setlist:

From This Valley

My Father's Father

Billie Jean

Poison & Wine

Disarm

Barton Hollow



Punch Brothers setlist:

Movement and Location


Who's Feeling Young Now?


Next to the Trash


Flippen (The Flip)


Don't Get Married Without Me


Rye Whiskey

Season 38 Current Broadcast Schedule (seven additional episodes/artists to be announced)

October 6, 2012
Radiohead

October 13, 2012
Bon Iver

October 20, 2012
Bonnie Raitt with Mavis Staples

October 27, 2012
The Shins
Dr. Dog

November 3, 2012
The Civil Wars
Punch Brothers

November 10, 2012
ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2012 (Hosted by Jim Lauderdale and featuring performances by Bonnie Raitt with John Hiatt, Alabama Shakes, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Richard Thompson, The Mavericks and more)

The complete line-up for the full 13-week season, including seven episodes to air beginning January 2012, will be announced shortly. Check acltv.com for additional episode updates.

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.

In other news released earlier today (November 1, 2012), a live performance by American rock band Grace Potter & the Nocturnals will be broadcast LIVE from Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, Texas on Thursday, November 8, 2012 exclusively on AXS TV. This premier concert event continues the AXS TV commitment to bringing fans the hottest acts, brightest stars and rising artists from all genres LIVE to a national television audience.



This exciting concert broadcast will bring GPN’s electrifying live show to living rooms around the country. Grace Potter and the band, who are currently promoting their critically acclaimed new album The Lion The Beast The Beat on their “Roar Tour,” will perform a thrilling set blending classic hits and new fan favorites.


“There is no better place to bring the AXS TV audience a rockin’ show from Grace Potter & the Nocturnals than Austin, the live music capital of the world,” said Evan Haiman, Vice President of Music Production at AXS TV. “Everyone tuning in from their living room at home will feel like they are in the landmark Stubbs’ audience from opening to encore.”


Tune in and rock out as Grace Potter & the Nocturnals join AXS TV’s continuous lineup of LIVE performances from extraordinary artists including: Alanis Morissette, Sara Evans, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Brandi Carlile, plus all the artists joining us on AXSLive!

Grace Potter will appear on AXSLive as she invites them to join her on the Los Angeles stop of her tour and talks about the upcoming LIVE concert event on AXS TV. AXSLive airs Thursday, November 1 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

The Grace Potter & the Nocturnals special AXS TV live concert event airs on Thursday, November 8, 2012 starting at 10:15 p.m. Eastern  / 7:15 p.m. Pacific.

About AXS TV

Launched in July 2012 under the vision and stewardship of entrepreneur Mark Cuban, AXS TV is the premier destination for live events, breaking news, and as-they-are-happening trends in the worlds of pop culture, music, fashion, and entertainment.
AXS TV Concerts is the premier source on television for 100% live music. From multi-day festivals to stadium tours to club acts, AXS TV delivers an unparalleled shared experience for fans of all genres. Leveraging the network’s vast landscape, artists expand their reach to live behind-the-scenes moments, live fan Q&As, social media engagement and more unique opportunities specifically for the AXS TV audience. With multiple live concerts weekly, AXS TV is the number one destination for artists and their fans to experience and share a pure live event in the world of music and pop culture. Live LIVE!

The largest independently owned and operated network, AXS TV was developed by entrepreneur Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin. The network partners include Mark Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media and Creative Artists Agency (CAA). AXS TV is available in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS, and other TV providers.

AXS TV can be found online at www.axs.tv, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/axstv and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/axstv. AXS TV Concerts can be found online at www.axs.tv, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/axstvconcerts and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/axstvconcerts.

Inbox Update: Aimee Mann, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, ASIA

There is a little bit of everything in today's post, with most of it centered on upcoming releases. But I do want to note that today marks the release of Aimee Mann's long-awaited album Charmer (which you can listen to in its entirety at NPR Music today too) on her SuperEgo label. Aimee kicks off her tour in support of Charmer with a show at The Coach House here in Orange County, California on Thursday night, Sept. 27. You can visit her site at www.AimeeMann.com for more details.

And read on if you want to know what else is on the horizon for later this year...


Neil Young & Crazy Horse reveal cover art for 'Psychedelic Pill'

As previously noted in another post, Neil Young & Crazy Horse will release their second set of new recordings on Oct. 30, 2012, titled PSYCHEDELIC PILL. This is the band's second new album this year following the June 5, 2012 release of AMERICANA. PSYCHEDELIC PILL features all new original compositions and is their longest album set of recorded music in their long-celebrated history as a band, taking the listener further into new sonic terrain as its title suggests.


The original album artwork recently revealed has been revised and taken on a stronger, more direct image to reflect the commanding and expansive music heard on the two CD or three vinyl disc sets.

The double-CD is available for pre-order here. The triple-vinyl, which will be available on Nov. 23, is also available for pre-order here.

Once again, the track-listing for Psychedelic Pill is as follows:

Disc One:

1 Driftin' Back (27:36)

2 Psychedelic Pill (3:26)

3 Ramada Inn (16:49)

4 Born In Ontario (3:49)


Disc Two:

1 Twisted Road (3:28)

2 She's Always Dancing (8:33)

3 For The Love Of Man (4:13)

4 Walk Like A Giant (16:27)

Bonus Track:

5 Psychedelic Pill (Alternate Mix)



Third Day makes 'Miracle' happen on new album
Acclaimed Band Teams With Legendary Producer Brendan O’Brien For Nov. 6 Release

If you’re a band that’s sold millions of records, taken home multiple awards in every genre, toured the world to record numbers of audiences, graced the cover of Billboard magazine, been interviewed by “60 Minutes” and performed on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” where do you go next?

For the members of Third Day, it meant joining forces with a new creative partner: veteran producer Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Train, The Killers). Third Day, known for its riveting rock sound, looked toward a new voice to help drive band members to their best offering yet.

The band set up shop in its Atlanta-based recording studio, The Quarry, for sessions that spanned several months. Together, the band and producer began the focused creative process toward an evolution of sound. According to bassist Tai Anderson, “Brendan O’Brien brought an incredible element of quality control, and really challenged each member of the band to bring his “A game” to the studio each day.”

What was birthed was Miracle, a 12-track simmering brew of potent rock anthems infused with the substantive, life-affirming lyrics that have always been the bedrock of the Third Day’s music; it’s a place where faith, passion and good old fashioned rock ‘n roll swagger coalesce.

“To have something new to say and to say it in a different way is really exciting,” says lead vocalist Mac Powell. “It’s reinvigorated us as a band.” Indeed, Miracle finds the band exploring new sonic and lyrical territory.
In addition to the impactful songwriting listeners have come to expect from Third Day, they will encounter new sonic splashes -- layered guitars and harmonies, sing-along gang vocals, and so on – not heard from the band previously. The signature rock foundations remain; they’ve just been infused with a modern-day flair.


“We wanted [this record] to have a brightness, a grandness to it, and Mac can certainly do that,”

O’Brien says, “but we wanted to have a little different sound from the lead voice. I’m a huge fan of ’70s music that has great big background vocals. I thought this music lent itself to that, so Mac and I did most of that and it was fun.”

Miracle also features plenty of musical bombast, as the album’s opening track “Hit Me Like A Bomb” attests. Guitars that both growl and jangle, snares that blast in your ears and Powell’s signature from-the-gut vocal style highlight a song about impactful love destined to be a new live show favorite. “Kicking And Screaming” showcases the band’s versatility, underpinning the track with an up-tempo acoustic pop feel we’ve not heard from them often, but fits perfectly today.

The album’s title track was inspired by a conversation the band had with a couple in New Jersey after a concert. “Their son was in a really depressed place in life. He drove way into the woods and was going to commit suicide,” Powell recounts. “He was going to kill himself, but he turned on the radio and he heard ‘Cry Out To Jesus’ (from the band’s 2005 record Wherever You Are). It literally changed his heart and gave him encouragement to keep going. When you hear a story like that, it just blows you away.”

Powell took the essence of that story and penned the song, “I Need a Miracle,” the new project’s first single, out at radio now. “This is one of my top five favorite songs that I’ve ever written. There’s just something powerful about it. I’m really excited about this song getting out and encouraging people,” Powell says. “It’s about the power of music and how God can use it to speak to people’s hearts, minds and spirits. That’s why it’s so important.”

The songs on Miracle cover a rich musical and emotional landscape. “Your Love is Like a River” is a stirring worship anthem that is one of the band’s favorite new songs, while “You Are My Everything” is a gorgeous mid tempo love song that spotlights the warmth in Powell’s vocals. And on the opposite end of the vocal range spectrum, check out Powell’s use of falsetto on the choruses on “For The Rest Of My Life.” Yes, we said falsetto.

“As someone who is a natural baritone, I don’t sing falsetto very often. But sometimes as I’m writing these songs I hear in my head that is what the part should be. I talked to Brendan and he gave me the confidence to try it. This is just one example of how Brendan pushed me out of my comfort zone,” shares Powell.

“The Victory,” a bluesy Southern anthem featuring a fantastic “song-within-a-song” breakdown, also features a potent lyric carrying a theme at the heart of the album overall. “That song is about making a commitment,” says guitarist Mark Lee. “It’s about saying you’re going to see it through ‘til the end and I think that’s a big theme on this record.”

Miracle wraps up with a reinvention of “Morning Has Broken,” a vintage Methodist hymn that was a pop hit in the ’70s for Cat Stevens. The song gets a stunning new treatment here, anchored in Mark Lee, Tai Anderson and David Carr’s skilled musicianship and Powell’s earthy vocals. Scotty Wilbanks, a longtime member of Third Day’s road band, provides the eloquent keyboard intro.


The members of Third Day have been given a platform and it’s a responsibility they take seriously. Of course, they love to rock out and entertain, but most importantly they want to offer hope and encouragement. “If there is any overarching theme on the record, it’s about pressing on and holding on to faith in the midst of doubt,” says David Carr. “We have this unique opportunity once again to speak into people’s lives. We’re not here to give you all the answers. We’re here to say ‘Just hang on a little longer.”

“We have toured for so many years and feel like we owe any success we have to the fans that built Third Day. These songs are engaging musically and lyrically; we worked hard to stretch ourselves for the people who come to our shows and buy our music; we poured so much into this record because we wanted to bring our fans our very best. We are proud of Miracle and can’t wait for people to hear it.”

Third Day will be back on the road in support of Miracle with a headlining tour starting in spring 2013, followed by appearances at major festivals that summer. Visit the band's Web site at www.ThirdDay.com for more details on the album and upcoming tour.
Miracle

1. Hit Me Like A Bomb

2. Kicking and Screaming

3. Your Love Is Like A River

4. I Need A Miracle

5. You Are My Everything

6. For The Rest Of My Life

7. I Want To Believe In You

8. The Victory

9. Take Me Back

10. Forever Yours

11. Time's Running Out On Me

12. Morning Has Broken



Steven Curtis Chapman to release 'Joy' on Oct. 16, 2012

Legendary Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman will release a brand new Christmas project, Joy, on Oct. 16. Joy will showcase seven new, original Christmas songs penned by Chapman and six classics. The lead single, “Christmas Time Again,” goes for radio adds on Nov. 16.


A collaborative effort with friend and producer Brent Milligan, this is Chapman’s third career

Christmas record following The Music of Christmas (1995, RIAA certified Gold), Christmas is All in the Heart (2003, a Hallmark limited, sold-out run of 400,000) and All I Really Want for Christmas (2005, RIAA certified Gold).

This Christmas CD, however, is particularly meaningful to Chapman: “Many know that the last few years have been a difficult journey for my family and me following the loss of our daughter Maria,” says Chapman. “So many have prayed for us and encouraged us, and having the opportunity to write, record and share this new music really feels like the beginning of a new season...a season of joy.”

“Even as hard as things have been, it’s like the sweet is starting to outweigh the bitter for us more and more,” Chapman explains. “Christmas is becoming a less hard thing for us each year. It’s not that it’s easier to get through because we are forgetting. It’s like we can remember now without it just being so painful and the memories can be sweet.”

Among the album’s 13 tracks are six new songs including first single “Christmas Time Again,” “Christmas in Kentucky,” inspired by Chapman’s home state, and “Christmas Kiss,” written for his wife Mary Beth. Recording Joy also gave Chapman a chance to record some of his longtime favorites like “Joy to the World,” “We Three Kings,” “What Child Is This?” and “Christmas Time Is Here,” from the animated classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” A complete track listing is as follows:

1. Joy To The World
2. Christmas Time Again
3. Christmas In Kentucky
4. Do You Hear What I Hear?
5. Christmas Kiss
6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
7. Christmas Time Is Here
8. What Child Is This?
9. In The Bleak Midwinter
10. Christmas Card
11. We Three Kings
12. I Am Joseph (God Is With Us)
13. Happy New Year

*sequence subject to change

  ASIA celebrated at upcoming events  

Finally, ASIA will appear at a special event at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum as part of its "Legends" series on Oct. 9, 2012. The rock quartet will also be featured via a special performance from the Regency Theater in San Francisco distributed via AXS TV on Nov. 7.
Information: www.originalasia.com.

Inbox Update: Gary Rossington, Phil Vandermost, Mac Powell

There is a little bit of everything in today's post, so let's jump right in...here are some releases that have landed in my inbox over the past day or so.

Gary Rossington

Lynyrd Skynyrd founding member Gary Rossington will join a distinguished roster of Georgia performing artists and music industry leaders in accepting awards on-stage at the 34th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Concert and Show, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 14 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Rossington will be honored in the Songwriter Category having written well over 120 songs throughout his career including classic iconic songs like “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Simple Man,” and “What’s Your Name.” Lynyrd Skynyrd release their new album, Last of a Dyin’ Breed, on August 21, 2012.


Atlanta’s celebrated television icon Monica Pearson will be Mistress of Ceremonies of the event. A Special Performance by American Idol stars and recording artists Snellville, GA-raised Diana DeGarmo and her fiancée Ace Young, who met while appearing in the Broadway revival of “Hair,” will be another highlight of the evening. Many of the inductees will also perform during the Concert.

At the Concert and Show, to be televised live by GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting), artists representing extraordinary talent in classical, contemporary, country and Southern Rock music will be saluted and will perform on-stage during the evening. According to Dr. Bobbie Bailey, President of Friends of Georgia Music Festival, Inc., “Since the first presentation in 1979, at which the legendary Ray Charles was an inductee, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Show and Concert has emerged as the premier forum for recognizing the scope of the performing virtuosity of Georgia-born-or-based music professionals.” Dr. Bailey thanked Jack Sawyer of Wilmington Trust, Joel Katz of Greenberg-Traurig, Delta Air Lines and Michael Taormina of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre for “their generous and loyal sponsorship support.”

The 2012 inductees will also include: Robert Spano, recipient of the Chairman’s Award; 38 Special (Group); Alex Hodges (Non-Performer), Riley Biederer (Horizon Award), and others.

The honorees and luminaries of Atlanta’s entertainment, cultural and philanthropic scenes will walk the Red Carpet, beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 14. For early arrivals, a cash bar will open at 4:00 p.m. The Awards Concert and Show will begin at 5:00 p.m. Tickets starting at $60 per person and $20 per student are available for sale from August 4th onwards through www.cobbenergycentre.com or www.ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000.

Phil Vandermost & Telesound to perform in Huntington Beach on Saturday, Aug. 4 as part of International Pop Overthrow

Vandermost and Telesound are excited to be making a rare north Orange County appearance this Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, when they play at Fitzgeralds Irish Pub in Huntington Beach as we perform at the International Pop Overthrow (IPO) Festival. The cover is just $10 and the night will feature eight bands including Walter Clevenger, SparkleJets and past OC Music Award winners Scarlet Crush, and you'll get a sweet compiliation CD featuring many of the bands playing at the IPO festivals throughout the world.


For directions and more info on the show, click on the venue link in the calendar below. For more information about the International Pop Overthrow Festival, go to http://internationalpopoverthrow.com.


Third Day Frontman Mac Powell to release self-titled debut country project on Aug. 21

Mac Powell, who fronts multi-platinum-selling Third Day, is set to release his self-titled debut country music album on Aug. 21, 2012.

The CD features twelve songs by the #1 hit songwriter including his first single, “June Bug” which he released last month through his Twitter account (@macpowell) to his more than 80,000 followers.



His recent solo country performance debut at the 2012 CMA Music Festival in Nashville resulted in a host of media and fan accolades. Of his song, “One Mississippi,” USA Today’s Lucas Hendrickson writes, “Note to country radio programmers: keep an ear out for ‘One Mississippi.’ And keep a spoon handy, for you will be eating this song up with it.”

"I grew up listening to country music," Powell tells Billboard. "It was a big part of shaping me musically and I think that's pretty evident in Third Day music. There's always been little tinge of it."

To help further shape the sound he was looking for, Powell worked with producer Jason Hoard who has been touring with Third Day since 2010. Hoard, a multi-instrumentalist, played banjo and mandolin on the album and also contributed to the songwriting credits along with famed tunesmith Brett James (“Jesus Take the Wheel,” “Love You Out Loud,” “Out Last Night,” “When the Sun Goes Down”).

"I started writing with Brett. He was really the first step," says Powell in his Billboard interview. "We just hit it off really well and came up with a lot of ideas in a short amount of time, and then Jason worked on a few of those ideas as well. We started recording them and it just started feeling great.

“There have been so many times in the past that I had song ideas that didn’t really fit lyrically or musically with Third Day,” Powell wrote on his personal Tumblr site, announcing the project. “I filed those songs away to the ‘maybe sometime’ category. Well, that time is now.”

Powell is already booked for over two dozen shows this summer and fall to introduce fans to his new music. He’s back by a seasoned group of country musicians, affectionately named The Backsliders, and although it’s a bit of a change for an artist whose primary outlet puts him in front of thousands of fans a night, it’s a change he clearly feels led to follow. “It’s different to think about getting in a van with a trailer and driving five to eight hours a night,” Powell told USATODAY.com. “It’s something I never thought I would do again, but when you’re driven to get this music out, you’ll do it.”

Powell also stresses that his work with Third Day continues, with the band putting the finishing touches on a new album – helmed by veteran rock producer Brendan O’Brien – that’s due for release this fall, with a Spring 2013 tour to follow.

Sights and Sounds: Doheny Blues Festival, Los Lobos, Third Day, Audio Fidelity reissues

Doheny Blues Festival update

Happy Friday everybody. I hope to see many of out at the Doheny Blues Festival in Dana Point this weekend. The weather outlook is great (70s during the day) lineup is really exciting this year, with the legendary Gregg Allman and better-all-the-time Steve Miller Band each set to headline a date at the fest. Here is a link to my in-depth preview story about the festival that ran in The Orange County Register's print edition today.

Speaking on the blues and roots music, check out my most recent Kinslerscope columns in the Desert Star Weekly to get my takes on a wide range of new music including releases from Joan Osborne, Cash Box Kings, Tab Benoit, The Jayhawks and more!

And now on some notable news items pulled from my inbox...



Los Lobos Kiko Live to be released on CD, DVD and Blu-ray

Kiko 20th Anniversary Edition to be released on CD on Aug. 21, 2012

Los Lobos is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their seminal album Kiko with the August 21 release of Kiko 20th Anniversary Edition on CD, and Kiko Live on CD, DVD and a 2-disc Blu-ray/CD set from Shout! Factory. The Kiko 20th Anniversary Edition features bonus material including demo versions of album tracks and live recordings, and new liner notes written by Los Angeles journalist and longtime friend of the band, Luis Torres. Kiko Live captures their February 24, 2006, performance at the House Of Blues in San Diego , CA , where the band performed the critically acclaimed release in its entirety, during a string of shows devoted to the album. Never before released or broadcast, Kiko Live also contains interviews with the band and others involved in the making of the studio album.



The Los Angeles Times premiered a performance clip of “Kiko and the Lavendar Moon” from Kiko Live on Wednesday, May 16 http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/05/los-lobos-kiko-20th-anniversary-live-video.html.


Released in 1992, Kiko was embraced by fans and hailed by critics as the band’s defining moment, the album that put Los Lobos back on the innovation track. The album, wrote All Music Guide, “demonstrated the breadth of their sonic ambitions.” Kiko was produced by Mitchell Froom, who received a Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year for his work on the album, and who had previously collaborated with the band on La Bamba. Dubbed “the album of the year” by the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, and one of “The Essential Recordings of the ‘90s” by Rolling Stone, Los Lobos also took home an MTV Music Video Award for Breakthrough Video for “Kiko and the Lavender Moon” in 1993.


Prior to Kiko, Los Lobos had been “segregating our influences, treating them parochially,” as Steve Berlin puts it: a rockabilly tune here, a Tex-Mex there, some folk, a bit of country, an R&B tune, plenty of classic rock. This time, they decided to take all of those myriad influences out of their separate boxes, toss them into the air and let them fall where they might. “Whatever our unconscious minds’ response was to the stimuli, that was what we wanted. We let our imagination take over and didn’t try to control it.”

They began recording new original Hidalgo-Pérez compositions such as “Two Janes,” “Peace,” “Arizona Skies,” “Short Side of Nothing” and “Rio de Tenampa,” self-producing and following their instincts sound-wise. Comments the band’s Cesar Rosas, “With that album we didn’t want to be tied down to all the conventional ways of recording, so we started experimenting and making up sounds.”


To date the beloved band from East L.A. has recorded 18 albums, including their most recent studio album, 2010’s Tin Can Trust. They’ve won multiple Grammy Awards, and continue to tour regularly. Born out of the desire to have a community-conscious event celebrating food, culture and music in their hometown, Los Lobos recently held the 1st Annual Los Lobos Cinco de Mayo Festival at Los Angeles’ iconic Greek Theatre. The festival featured performances by preeminent LA bands X and Mariachi El Bronx, among others, with special guests Neko Case, Alejandro Escovedo, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, and Flaco Jiménez joining Los Lobos on stage.

Next year Los Lobos will celebrate 40 years together, a monumental achievement in a world where bands come and go in the blink of an eye. A rare example of longevity in a volatile music world that stresses style over substance, Los Lobos’ lineup has remained uninterrupted since 1984, when Berlin joined original members Louie Pérez, David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas, and Conrad Lozano, each of whom had been there since the beginning in 1973.


“This is what happens when five guys create a magical sound, then stick together for 30 years to see how far it can take them,” wrote Rolling Stone, and indeed, Los Lobos is a band that continually reboots itself and expands its scope with each passing year, while never losing sight of where they came from.


“There’s this thing that still happens, this musical thing,” says Pérez. “But if you took everything away, even the music, you’d still end up with four guys who were friends and hung out and grew up in the same neighborhood. And you can’t take that friendship away from us.”


More information at http://www.loslobos.org/



Third Day at work on its next studio project

New album being produced by legendary Brendan O'Brien

Veteran rock band Third Day has been spending a generous part of 2012 immersed in the recording of its next studio album. The forthcoming project, Third Day’s 17th career offering, is being recorded within the walls of its own state-of-the art studio, The Quarry, in Atlanta, Ga. Third Day is working with veteran rock producer Brendan O’Brien.


O’Brien is well known for his work with Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Audioslave and The Fray, among others. A former vice president of Epic Records, O’Brien has won two GRAMMY Awards including 2010’s producer of the year, Non-Classical award. In addition, O’Brien has production credits on 14 albums that have topped the Billboard 200 sales chart.


“When we were getting together as a band to talk about starting work on this project, we did an exercise where each member named his top five albums of all time. Brendan O’Brien had at least one record on all of our lists,” offers bassist, Tai Anderson.


Mac Powell, the band’s front man, shares, “Our time with Brendan has been nothing less than an amazing experience. He is one of my favorite producers. Having made so many great records with so many amazing artists through the years, I consider it such an honor to be working with him. Brendan has definitely stretched me as a songwriter and vocalist more than any other producer ever has.”


The new project follows a stellar 2011 for Third Day, which included being the first Christian artist ever to receive ASCAP’s coveted Vanguard Award, as well as wrapping up its highly successful spring/fall “Make Your Move Tour” which saw numerous sell-out performances.

Additional information on Third Day’s latest record is forthcoming. In the meantime, fans can catch the band on select concert performances throughout the summer, where it intends to begin previewing select tracks from the new recording. For a current list of tour dates, visit: http://www.thirdday.com/.


Photo above features Third Day recording at The Quarry

Photo credit: Peter Doyle



Audio Fidelity rocks the 1950s, 70s and 80s with new reissues from Elvis Presley, Jeff Beck and Jane's Addiction

Jailhouse Rock EP and Jeff Beck Group get 12-inch vinyl treatment; Nothing's Shocking goes Gold

Marshall Blonstein, president of Audio Fidelity, has announced May 22, 2012 as the release date for the reissue of a trio of legendary rock recordings. Elvis Presley's 1957 JAILHOUSE ROCK EP and Jeff Beck's 1972 album THE JEFF BECK GROUP will be issued in 12-inch vinyl editions, and Jane's Addiction's 1988 debut, NOTHING'S SHOCKING, will arrive as a numbered, limited edition 24-Karat Gold CD. All will be sold through online and brick-and-mortar retailers alike.

The King of Rock and Roll gets the royal treatment with a dual-speed reissue of his JAILHOUSE ROCK EP, which features performances of five songs from his second feature film of the same name. Side One of the disc offers the tunes at 33 1/3 rpm while Side Two plays them at 45 rpm. The selections include three Leiber-Stoller classics-the title track (Presley's ninth No. 1 single in just over a year), the ballad "I Want to Be Free" and the full-tilt rocker "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care"-as well as "Don't Leave Me Now" and "Young and Beautiful," both penned by veteran Presley scribe Aaron Schroeder ("Big Hunk O' Love," "It's Now Or Never"). Issued in November of 1957, the 45 rpm EP hit No. 1 on Billboard's EP chart and ultimately sold more than five million copies; the title-track single held the survey's top slot for seven weeks and entered the U.K. charts at No. 1.

Among the many artists who've covered "Jailhouse Rock" was Jeff Beck (on his second solo set, Beck-Ola). THE JEFF BECK GROUP was the fourth and last album by the band, which then found the super-guitarist supported by vocalist Bobby Tench, drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Clive Chapman and keyboardist Max Middleton. Recorded in Memphis with Booker T. & the MG's guitarist Steve Cropper producing, THE JEFF BECK GROUP enjoyed extensive FM airplay and a 26-week stay on the Billboard chart. Beck's considerable talent and imagination are prominently displayed on a wide array of material, from Bob Dylan's "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You" and Stevie Wonder's "I Gotta Have a Song" to Carl Perkins' rockabilly classic "Glad All Over" and a blazing cover of bluesman Freddy King's "Going Down." Beck himself penned the opening "Ice Cream Cakes," "Sugar Cane" (with Steve Cropper), "Highways" and the soulful instrumental "Definitely Maybe." THE JEFF BECK GROUP will be issued as part of Audio Fidelity's "nicely priced" vinyl Target Series.

Los Angeles' Jane's Addiction made one of the more formidable debuts of the 1980s with NOTHING'S SHOCKING. The group, comprised of vocalist Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins, generated combustible-and eventually widely popular-mix of punk-rock energy and arena-rock ambition on this 1988 album, which boasted the alternative-rock hit "Jane Says" (No. 6 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart). Produced by Dave Jerden, who had engineered albums by the Rolling Stones, Talking Heads and others, NOTHING'S SHOCKING also features two additional singles, the Zeppelin-esque "Ocean Size" and the more raucous and metallic "Mountain Song." The latter, like the album's front cover design, engendered controversy upon release, with MTV refusing to air the song's video clip as it contained nudity. The expansive, psychedelic "Summertime Rolls" and the swinging jazz interlude "Thank You Boys" revealed additional dimensions to the band, many that would be explored in subsequent albums like NOTHING'S SHOCKING's successor, RITUAL DE LO HABITUAL, and 2003's STRAYS.

Information: http://www.audiofidelity.net/