Sights and Sounds: Rainbow, Tyler Ramsey, Ricky Skaggs, gospel collection

In my previous post, I announced some high-profile upcoming releases and/or reissues by the likes of Coldplay and Queen. But there are a number of other notable releases on the way. I kick off the post with news of an exciting reissue from the legendary Rainbow. Read on...


EAGLE SET TO REISSUE RAINBOW’S CLASSIC LIVE IN GERMANY 1976 ON DOUBLE-CD ON AUG. 23, 2011


Get ready for a double dose of Rainbow when Eagle Rock Entertainment reissues Live In Germany 1976 in a special two-CD package on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011.

The eight-song concert is the definitive early onstage statement of a great band whose personnel shape-shifted through the years. This particular lineup is looked upon as the primo Rainbow assemblage. Lead guitarist Ritchie Blackmore had left Deep Purple in 1975 to concentrate on a more personalized version of his vision, and did just that with legendary vocalist Ronnie James Dio (1942-2010), drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Jimmy Bain and keyboardist Tony Carey. (This lineup only recorded one album together: Rising, a landmark in British Rock.)

Performing flawlessly on elongated jam-happy versions of “Kill The King,” “Mistreated,” “Sixteenth Century Greensleeves,” “Catch The Rainbow” (disc #1), “Man On The Silver Mountain,” “Stargazer,” “Still I’m Sad” and “Do You Close Your Eyes” (disc #2), Blackmore fulfilled his every expectation. Filled with startling guitar solos and massive Dio lung power, Live In Germany 1976 is a band in full control of their capabilities.

Live In Germany 1976 has all the elements, showcasing a band truly immeasurable in their talent and musical abilities. One can only wonder what kind of magic could have been produced had this lineup stayed together.

Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international media production and distribution company operating across audiovisual entertainment programming. Eagle Rock Entertainment works directly alongside talent to produce the highest quality programming output covering film, general entertainment and musical performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices based in London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hamburg, & Paris.

For more information, visit the official Eagle Rock Web site.




TYLER RAMSEY THIRD ALBUM 'THE VALLEY WIND' IS SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 VIA FAT POSSUM

NEW OCTOBER TOUR DATES


Tyler Ramsey is confirmed to release his third album The Valley Wind on September 27, 2011 via Fat Possum.


The Valley Wind is a crystalline yet warm album, nine finely spun songs filled with Ramsey's rich, plaintive vocals and expressive, intricate guitar playing. Opener "Raven Shadow" is a brief instrumental introduction that highlights his stirring guitar lines, and is followed by the evocative and cinematic title track. Elsewhere, the album ranges from the lush yet simple, finger-picked guitar of "1000 Blackbirds" to the rolling, fuller band sound of "Stay Gone"; from the hypnotic, contemplative "Time Is A Changing Line" to the insistent, chiming "When It's Done"; and from the slowly waltzing "Angel Band" to the moody "All Night."


Also known as guitarist in Band Of Horses, Ramsey wrote The Valley Wind while on and off the road over the past year, and recorded the album at Alex The Great studio in Nashville, TN over six days in early January. Friend and bandmate Bill Reynolds (who's worked with The Avett Brothers and Lissie) produced and aided on bass, while friend Seth Kauffman (Floating Action) sat in on drums and guitar, also singing background vocals. Ramsey's sophomore album A Long Dream About Swimming Across The Sea - which was praised by NPR, Stereogum, and Popmatters, among others - was re-released by Brown Records/Fat Possum in January.


Ramsey will head out on the road in October on a tour that begins at The Grey Eagle in hometown Asheville on the 6th and includes an October 10th show at Joe's Pub in New York, NY. The current list of dates is below, with more to be announced shortly.


The Valley Wind track listing:

1.Raven Shadow
2.The Valley Wind
3.1000 Blackbirds
4.The Nightbird
5.Stay Gone
6.Time Is A Changing Line
7.Angel Band
8.When It's Done
9.All Night


Tyler Ramsey tour dates:



OCT. 6 ASHEVILLE, NC THE GREY EAGLE

OCT. 8 CHARLOTTE, NC THE EVENING MUSE

OCT. 10 NEW YORK, NY JOE'S PUB

OCT. 11 VIENNA, VA JAMMIN JAVA

OCT. 12 HARRISBURG, PA THE GALLERY AT THE ABBEY BAR

OCT. 13 PITTSBURGH, PA CLUB CAFÉ

OCT. 15 STAUNTON, VA MOCKINGBIRD

OCT. 19 DECATUR, GA EDDIE'S ATTIC


For more information on Tyler Ramsey and The Valley Wind, visit:

www.myspace.com/tylerramseymusic

www.fatpossum.com


Christmas Time's A-Coming - Celebrate With A SKAGGS FAMILY CHRISTMAS VOLUME TWO

10-Song CD, With Bonus DVD included, in Stores September 27

Special Holiday Tour begins November 28


Christmas time's a-coming, and holiday music fans will find a special treat when A SKAGGS FAMILY CHRISTMAS VOLUME TWO hits stores nationwide on September 27. The new disc comes with a bonus DVD filled with 26 performances of traditional seasonal favorites and new compositions that are sure to become holiday treasures.

For Skaggs, a 14-time Grammy® winner, the FAMILY CHRISTMAS projects are a true labor of love. "We released Volume One back in 2005 because our fans asked us for it," Ricky recalls. "We didn’t know if we’d ever do another one, but we've been hearing from our fans and they're ready for more Christ­mas songs, so here's Volume Two. It was a joy to create and we're excited to share it." Ricky, his wife Sharon and their children (Luke and Molly) are joined by Buck and Cheryl White, and Cheryl's daughter, Rachel Leftwich, part of the Skaggs' extended family and members of a celebrated musical clan in their own right. Also featured are world-renowned Kentucky Thunder and The Nashville Strings.

The 10-song CD features both studio and live recordings, and the disc kicks off with the upbeat bluegrass arrangement of "Christmas Time’s A Coming,” which segues smoothly to showcase Sharon White Skaggs and her sister, Cheryl, trading lead vocals on the bright, acoustic, "Light of the Stable." An a capella version of "The First Noel” finds Ricky singing lead, while the signature vocals of the White sisters excel on the high and low harmonies. Heavenly voices rise in praise on the classic seasonal favorite, “Silent Night,” which also features a poignant mandolin and soaring strings. Molly Skaggs shines on “What Songs Were Sung,” proving she's more than worthy to carry on the families' traditions, while brother Luke burns up the fret on his own composition, the intricate instrumental, "Flight To Egypt." The modern "Reunion Song" featuresa deceptively-simple sing-along melody, and Ricky not only triumphs on the lead vocal, but also plays Guitars, Mandolin, Gut String Solo and Dan Electro. Skaggs' lightning-fast finger pickin' guitar lick jump-starts "Children Go" and the vocal interplay between the family members (Ricky, Buck, Sharon and Cheryl) should leave listeners breathless. A haunting, original arrangement and expressive vocals by Luke, Molly and Rachel highlight "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel,"and the disc closes with a classical instrumental interpretation of "Joy To The World."

As a bonus, A SKAGGS FAMILY CHRISTMAS LIVE (DVD) is included with the purchase of the CD. The DVD features the family’s heartwarming holiday concert, recorded live in Nashville at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The three generations have taken this special show on the road for the last eight years, and the tradition continues this year, with the troupe performing at a variety of venues throughout the holiday season, including:

11/28/11 Brooks Ctr. for the Perf. Arts / Clemson, SC
11/30/11 The Paramount Theater / Charlottesville, VA
12/01/11 Music Center at Strathmore / N. Bethesda, MD
12/02/11 Tennessee Theatre / Knoxville, TN
12/10/11 Honeywell Center / Wabash, IN
12/11/11 Niswonger PAC of NW Ohio / Van Wert, OH
12/17/11 Smokey Mtn. Performing Arts Center / Franklin, NC
12/22/11 Schermerhorn Symphony Center / Nashville, TN


"We started singing these songs in our living room all those years ago, with no idea that we would ever take A Skaggs Family Christmas to so many places," explains Sharon. "We've performed everywhere from churches to symphony halls to the National Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington D.C., where we sang for President George W. Bush. The recording process, the performing and traveling has been so much fun! It has been such a blessing to share all of this as a family."

Explore the history of the Skaggs Family and more at www.skaggsfamilyrecords.com




'This May Be My Last Time Singing : Raw African-American Gospel on 45RPM (1957-1982)' out on Tompkins Square September 20, 2011

The follow-up to the best-selling historical gospel comp 'Fire in My Bones : Raw + Rare + Otherworldly African-American Gospel, 1944-2007'

Get ready for fiery sanctified soul, heavy Pentecostal jams, drum machine gospel, slow-burning moaners, glorified guitar sermons and righteously ragged a cappela hymns! The music on this compilation was originally released on small label 45s, mostly in the 1960s and '70s. At least one-third of the records were self-released, paid for by a church congregation or the artists themselves. Others were on regional labels (typically run by one single producer) little known today outside of a small circle of collectors. This vibrant music is incredibly honest and almost criminally unknown.

All tracks were sourced from 45s collected over the last decade by compiler Mike McGonigal, who also produced 2009's three disc set Fire in My Bones: Raw + Rare + Otherworldly African-American Gospel (1944-2007) for Tompkins Square. McGonigal, who has compiled records for Mississippi Records and his own Social Music label, lives in Portland, OR where he is the editorial director for Yeti Publications. He writes in the liner notes that he "chose to source this compilation entirely from 45s because of their democratic/DIY nature; almost anyone could raise enough money to release a seven-inch single."

"Maybe you'll feel like I did on first hearing these tracks, that you've stumbled in on someone else's tenderly private moment. Or that you've been swept up in a collective delirium. You'll hear deep soulfulness here, with heavy admixtures of rhythm and blues and rock'n'roll. There are echoes of '60s and '70s pop too. You'll also catch bits of country and western, and something like surf guitar. In another way, much here uncannily resembles the unruly sound and spirit of 1960s garage. Give yourself over to this compilation: there's delight and surprise in every track."

-PETER DOYLE, author of Echo and Reverb: Fabricating Space in Popular Music Recording, 1900-1960; The Devil's Jump and Crooks Like Us

For more information, visit: http://www.tompkinssquare.com/

Sights and Sounds: Coldplay, Queen, Blondie, Shelby Lynne

If it's Monday, it means there is plenty of news to share. With new releases and/or reissues coming from Coldplay, Queen, Blondie and Shelby Lynne, what's not to like about autumn 2011?

'MYLO XYLOTO,' THE NEW STUDIO ALBUM FROM COLDPLAY, SET FOR OCTOBER 25, 2011 U.S. RELEASE


Coldplay's fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto (pronounced my-lo zy-letoe), will be released in the U.S. on October 25, 2011 by Capitol Records. Produced by Markus Dravs, Daniel Green and Rik Simpson, with enoxification and additional composition by Brian Eno, Mylo Xyloto follows 2008's Viva La Vida, which charted at No. 1 in 36 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.



Mylo Xyloto will be released in digital, CD and vinyl formats. The 180-gram vinyl edition will include a 12" x 36" poster. A special limited edition Pop-Up Album version will also be available, which will include a 12" x 12" hardback book containing graffiti pop-up art designed by David A. Carter, vinyl, CD and exclusive content including photographs, excerpts from the studio diary and the band's personal notebooks. The "reversible" cover art was just revealed at http://coldplay.com. Half of the CDs will be packaged with the full color artwork as the cover while the other 50% will have the CD booklet flipped, showing the silver initials "M X" via a die-cut sheet placed over the color image.


"Paradise," the follow-up to Coldplay's current single, "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall," will be released as a commercial single on September 12, 2011. It will ship to radio the same day.


Coldplay - comprising Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin - is featured on the cover of the latest issue of Billboard, which is out today. The band has sold more than 50 million records worldwide and won numerous awards, including seven GRAMMY® Awards, six Brit Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards.



QUEEN: SECOND FIVE ALBUMS RE-ISSUED IN DELUXE EDITIONS ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2011



QUEEN WILL DEFINITELY ROCK YOU!

Burbank, CA- August 15, 2011- Between 1977 and 1982 Queen officially became the most successful band in the world, releasing some of the biggest and best songs of all time including ‘Tie Your Mother Down’, ‘Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy’, ‘We Are The Champions’, ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’, ‘Bicycle Race’, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’, ‘Save Me’, ‘Play The Game’, ‘Another One Bites The Dust’, ‘Flash’ and ‘Under Pressure’ which features David Bowie.

On September 13, 2011, just 8 days after what would have been the 65th birthday of late legendary lead vocalist, Freddie Mercury, Hollywood Records will reissue deluxe editions of the five Queen albums from this period – News of the World, Jazz, The Game, Flash Gordon and Hot as part of the band’s 40th Anniversary celebration.

These five albums were recorded as Queen’s success spread worldwide - to the USA, South America, Europe and Asia and are the sound of a band breaking through the crash barriers of their own limitless ambition. The early 80's saw the band conquer South America for the first time, creating rock history when they played at the Morumbi Stadium in Brazil - then the largest paying audience for a single band anywhere in the world.

If the early 70’s and the first five albums Queens released represented the band’s hard-rocking years, then the late 70’s and early 80’s represented their hard partying era. As Brian, Roger, Freddie and John toured the world their reputation for off-stage rock’n’roll extravagance grew with stories of legendary party excess from Kensington to Copacabana informing the Queen mythology.

The Queen image changed too in the second half of the 70s. Infamously Sid Vicious bumped into Freddie Mercury at Wessex Studios where both Pistols and Queen are recording - 'Ullo Fred - I see you've bought ballet to the masses then!' Says Sid, eyeing up Freddie's legendary ballet pumps, 'Ah Mr Ferocious. Yes, doing my best dear' retorted Freddie.

It was also during this period that one of the most iconic images in contemporary music was developed, when in 1980 Freddie Mercury grew perhaps the most famous moustache of modern times! Inspired by his adventures in the New York nightlife of the late 70’s, the moustache and attendant leathers completely reinvented the band’s look. Famously the moustache caused outrage among many fans that mailed him disposable razors!

Queens 40th Anniversary year has kicked off in spectacular style so far with a major art & photography exhibition 'Stormtroopers in Stilettos' in London’s East End. Meanwhile, the bands first five albums have been reissued to considerable acclaim.

Rolling Stone gave the first set of reissues the magazine’s highest rating of five-stars, describing the collection’s “instrumental intensity” as a “compelling portrait of vehement and violent art.”

Queen’s next round of remasters will highlight the more refined and diverse talent, musical ambition and global success of a band made up of some of the best songwriters, musicians and performers of all time.

www.queenonline.com

For more information on the “Freddie For A Day” charitable fundraiser go to
www.freddieforaday.com


Blondie's 'Panic of Girls' to be released on Sept. 13, 2011


Panic of Girls, Blondie’s 9th studio album, is set for release on September 13, 2011 on the band’s own imprint Noble ID. First single "Mother," a nod to the legendary West 14th Street night club of the same name, has been instantly embraced by fans and the video for the song recently set the web abuzz. See it here. Panic of Girls, colored with inspirations from New York City's roiling melting pot and street-level pop culture, hearkens back to the core of Blondie's genius while remaining positively fresh. Collaborating with producers Jeff Saltzman (the Killers, Fischerspooner) and Kato Khandwala (Paramore, Papa Roach) for the first time, Blondie has created one of their most astounding albums in their storied 37-year career. New wave dance gems, songs sung in French and Spanish and even a reggae cover are threaded together with a timeless pop sheen. Inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, Blondie has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide.
Debbie Harry, Clem Burke and Chris Stein, along with newer band members Leigh Foxx, Tommy Kessler and Matt Katz-Bohen, will kick off their U.S. tour on September 3rd. The tour dates are:

September 3rd Harris, MI @ Island Resort & Casino
September 4th Prior Lake, MN @ Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
September 5th Council Bluffs, IA @ Harrah's Stir Cove
September 7th Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
September 9th Windsor, ON @ The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
September 10th Orillia, ON @ Casino Rama Entertainment Centre
September 12th New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
September 13th New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
September 14th Boston, MA @ Wilbur Theatre
September 16th Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Spa & Resort - Music Box
September 17th Clark, NJ @ Oak Ridge Park
September 18th Westbury, NY @ Theatre at Westbury
September 21st Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center
September 23rd Alpharetta, GA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
September 24th Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
September 26th Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
September 28th New Orleans, LA @ Mahalia Jackson Theatre
September 29th Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Live at Moody Theater
October 1st Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
October 2nd Mescalero, NM @ Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino
October 4th Phoenix, AZ @ The Foundry
October 5th Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia
October 7th Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Winery
October 8th Las Vegas, NV @ The Beach at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
October 9th Palm Desert, CA @ McCallum Theatre of the Performing Arts


PASTEMAGAZINE.COM OFFERS FREE DOWNLOAD OF "REVELATION ROAD," THE LEAD SINGLE AND TITLE TRACK OFGRAMMY® WINNER SHELBY LYNNE'S NEW ALBUM, TODAY (Aug. 15, 2011)

Single Out Tomorrow On iTunes; Album Set For October 18 Release


Fall Tour Launches September 30 And Includes Shows
At McCabe's Guitar Shop In Santa Monica And NYC's Highline Ballroom

Pastemagazine.com is premiering GRAMMY®-winner Shelby Lynne's new single, "Revelation Road," today. Fans can stream or get a free download of the song, which is the title track from her forthcoming album, at:

http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2011/08/song-premiere-shelby-lynne---revelation-road.html

The single will be available beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, August 16, on the iTunes Store. The album - her most personal one yet - is due out October 18th. Lynne wrote, recorded and produced the 11-song collection herself. It will be her third release on EVERSO Records, the independent label she founded, following her pair of 2010 albums - Tears, Lies And Alibis, a Top 10 hit at Americana radio, and Merry Christmas, which Parade Magazine called "an instant classic."

Lynne will be touring this fall in conjunction with the release of Revelation Road.

Shelby Lynne - Fall 2011 North American Tour

9/30 Carrboro, NC The Arts Center
10/12 San Diego, CA Anthology
10/14 Santa Monica, CA McCabe's Guitar Shop
10/15 Santa Monica, CA McCabe's Guitar Shop
10/17 Napa, CA Napa Valley Opera House
10/18 San Francisco, CA Swedish American Music Hall
10/20 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
10/21 Vancouver, BC The Rio Theatre
10/22 Seattle, WA The Triple Door
10/25 Denver, CO Soiled Dove
10/27 Minneapolis, MN Dakota Jazz Club
10/28 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
10/30 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
10/31 Toronto, ON Hugh's Room
11/2 New York, NY Highline Ballroom
11/3 Somerville, MA Johnny D's
11/5 Philadelphia, PA Tin Angel
11/6 Philadelphia, PA Tin Angel
11/7 Annapolis, MD Rams Head On Stage
11/8 Alexandria, VA Birchmere
11/10 Charlottesville, VA Southern Music Hall
11/12 Shelby, NC The Don Gibson Theatre
11/14 Decatur, GA Eddie's Attic
11/17 Clearwater, FL Capitol Theatre

Additional dates to be announced.

For more information, visit http://www.shelbylynne.com/

Toby Keith enlivens the party at Go Fest in Irvine

This review was first posted on The Orange County Register site.


For country-lovin’ concert-goers who like to party, Go Country 105‘s annual Go Fest was the place to be Saturday night (Aug. 13). Irvine’s Verizon Wireless Amphitheater doubled as a favorite watering hole for a countless number in the capacity crowd, while the evening’s three principal performers, including headliner Toby Keith, essentially served as an above-average house band.

Given that yours truly is not accustomed to being grabbed by hammered fans looking for somebody to break their fall, I admit to being a bit biased. But the proceedings on the main and side stages definitely took a backseat to the audience action all around. By the time Keith took the stage just after 9 p.m., it’s a safe bet many in the audience were counting on friends (or a friendly neighborhood reviewer) to inform them post-hangover about how the music-making itself went down.

Keith, backed by a superb 10-member troupe, performed the majority of his chart-topping hits, as well as many of the best tracks from last year’s excellent Bullets in the Gun. In addition to the title track, highlights from that album included the accessible “Somewhere Else” and the rowdy singalong “Get Out of My Car.” Early in his two-hour turn, Keith also played his new single, “Made in America,” a patriotic tale (from his forthcoming album Clancy’s Tavern) that celebrates one man’s refusal to give up on brand U.S.A.

His material continues to resonate so strongly with fans via straightforward lyrics, catchy choruses and, in the case of the patriotic one-two punch that ended the show, “American Soldier” and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” messages that are often centered on the Oklahoma native’s love of God and country. Keith, who turned 50 last month, occasionally delved into deeper material, especially in the heartfelt tale of loss “Does That Blue Moon Ever Shine on You,” which found the singer’s rich baritone accompanied only by his keyboardist in the most affecting performance of the day.

Yet it was his tales of casual romance and hearty drinking that became the perfect sonic backdrop here for pounding down brews. The honky-tonk-tinged “I Love This Bar,” the infectious “God Love Her,” the Willie Nelson duet “Beer for My Horses” (amazing modern technology had them effectively trading vocals for all to see) and the old-time rock ‘n’ roll-flavored “A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action” all hit home here. So did the impressive pyrotechnics used throughout his 22-song set.

Of the other artists on the bill, North Carolina son Eric Church received the most rousing reception. Performing a hard-hitting 55-minute set, he has taken modern country to another level by adding AC/DC-meets-Thin Lizzy hard-rock intros to his country-rock blend. Backed by a five-man band whose members looked like they’d be right at home head-banging on the Sunset Strip, Church led his group through highlights from his successful new album Chief plus favorites from his two earlier discs.
The crowd loved his infectious “Drink in My Hand,” the breezy “Springsteen” and introspective “Sinners Like Me.” It’s clear Church has tapped into the same successful party spirit that has provided Keith with a long parade of hits since the early ’90s.
The first artist to perform on the main stage Saturday was newcomer JT Hodges, whose first single “Hunt You Down” has garnered widespread national airplay. He certainly worked his tail off, heading out into the crowd and really trying to get the early birds excited, but material other than his hit wasn’t strong enough on initial listen to connect with this audience.

O.C.’s own Peter Brandon, performing on the side stage in the early evening (as did fellow upstarts Jason Charles Miller and Bradley Gaskin), offered up a solid 35-minute set featuring both originals (the humor-laced “The Great Indoors” was a highlight) and his usual reworkings of both Cheap Trick‘s “I Want You to Want Me” and Ozzy Osbourne‘s “Crazy Train” that delighted those looking to get the party started as soon as possible.
As if they needed an excuse.

Aimee Mann kicks off new tour with lively O.C. set

My review was originally posted on The Orange County Register site on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011. I took the photos on the post and those are published for the first time here.


Aimee Mann's headlining appearance at the Coach House Friday night (Aug. 12, 2011) clocked in at a mere 80 minutes, but there were no wasted moments amid a fast-paced show that displayed her ever-deepening skills as a singer, songwriter and bandleader. Kicking off her summer 2011 tour before a near-capacity crowd at the San Juan Capistrano joint, Mann noted she hadn’t played the venue in many years, then got a number of verbal affirmatives from the audience when she asked whether the train still ran nearby.

Backed by a trio, the 50-year-old Mrs. Michael Penn handled all the guitar work during a 17-song set packed with favorites plus two new songs from her as-yet-untitled eighth album (she says recording begins in September).
The fresh material was particularly potent, with Mann explaining that the first of the unveiled tunes (possibly titled “Gumby”) was inspired by someone profiled on an episode of the reality TV series Hoarders. True to her gift of melding masterful melodies with genuine melancholy, the song hit its emotive zenith when Mann sang: “There’s a bottom that you’ll never hit.” Another new one, seemingly about a girl in an abusive relationship, was beautiful, combining straightforward but telling lyrics with a sweepingly gorgeous arrangement featuring keyboardist Jamie Edwards.

With her acoustic guitar and distinctive soprano, Mann also revisited many familiar gems from her catalog. From the involving folk-rock of the upbeat “Going Through the Motions,” bolstered by bassist Paul Bryan’s strong supporting harmonies, and the ’80s-tinged, synth-anchored “Freeway” to a haunting rendition of her Oscar-nominated Magnolia piece “Save Me,” this was a set where the singer, while in very fine vocal form, really let the focus rest on her outstanding songcraft.

The night ended was an encore of two of Mann’s best-known tracks off that Magnolia soundtrack, a sparse take on Harry Nilsson‘s “One” and an epic version of her own “Deathly,” which built in power from a skeletal opening to a big rock finish.

Opening the show was a fantastic, genre-defying young Canadian quintet, the Wilderness of Manitoba (I snapped the photo on the left at the show). The group, which appears at several more Mann shows this month (including Aug. 14 at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach), featured songs from its May debut When You Left the Fire, showcasing a sound that blends indie champions like the Civil Wars and Band of Horses with the early ’70s alt-country magic of Neil Young‘s Harvest era. Four out of the Ontario fivesome greatly used their harmonized voices as a complement to the guitars, percussion, cello, banjo and other instruments artfully employed on “Orono Park,” “St. Petersburg” and other original songs in a fleeting 45-minute set.

Sights and Sounds: The Hollies, Peter Gabriel, Hurricane Bells

Wow! Lots of big news to share about a wealth of new commercial releases on the way. In the wake of Eagle Rock Entertainment's recent announcement about a number of exciting releases and/or reissues from the likes of The Monkees, Paul Rodgers, Counting Crows and many more, comes news about upcoming releases on CD, DVD and/or Blu-ray (and even 3D!!) featuring Peter Gabriel, The Hollies and others. Read on...


Peter Gabriel's 'New Blood Live In London' multi-format release marking Eagle Rock Entertainment’s debut


Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to announce the October 25, 2011 release of the stunning Peter Gabriel concert film New Blood Live In London. This show was filmed in high definition 3D and is available on multiple formats: the triple-pack 3D release [contains the 3D Blu-ray, regular Blu-ray and DVD versions – MSRP $34.98] regular Blu-ray [MSRP $19.98] and standard DVD [MSRP $14.98]. A deluxe limited edition [MSRP TBA] comes as an 11.5” square 60-page hardback photo book containing the live DVD and Blu-ray, the CD of the New Blood studio album and an exclusive CD of live tracks from the show.

This visual release compliments the release of the New Blood studio album by EMI on October 11, 2011 and the 3D version will be released in cinemas in September. New Blood features many classic tracks including “Biko”, “Red Rain”, “Solsbury Hill”, “Don’t Give Up”, “Blood Of Eden”, “The Rhythm Of The Heat”, “Mercy Street”, “Intruder” and more [Pre-book Order Date September 30]

Filmed in high definition 3D at Hammersmith Apollo in March of this year, New Blood – Live In London in three dimensions captures Peter Gabriel performing live with the 46-piece New Blood Orchestra. The repertoire mixes cover versions from his Scratch My Back album with classic tracks from across his solo career in brand new orchestral arrangements. Gabriel is a renowned live performer and his onstage charisma and instantly recognizable voice combine brilliantly with the orchestral sound palette to breath a new sense of wonder into familiar songs. As you would expect the concert is also a visual feast, with graphics, animation and imagery blending to enhance and illustrate the music.

With the Bonus Feature section (Blu-ray & DVD only) offering the feature “Blood Donors” – the story behind the project including an interview with Peter Gabriel – New Blood Live In London is a landmark release both for Peter Gabriel and indeed for Eagle. Unmissable.



TRACKLISTING

1) Intruder

2) Wallflower

3) The Boy In The Bubble

4) Après Moi

) The Drop

6) Washing Of The Water*

7) The Book Of Love

8) Darkness

9) The Power Of The Heart

10) Biko

11) San Jacinto

12) Digging In The Dirt

13) Signal To Noise

14) Downside Up

15) Mercy Street

16) The Rhythm Of The Heat

17) Blood Of Eden

18) Red Rain

19) Solsbury Hill

20) In Your Eyes

21) Don’t Give Up

22) The Nest That Sailed The Sky

* Not on 3D version

Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international media production and distribution company operating across audiovisual entertainment programming. Eagle Rock Entertainment works directly alongside talent to produce the highest quality programming output covering film, general entertainment and musical performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices based in London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hamburg, & Paris.



THE HOLLIES: LOOK THROUGH ANY WINDOW 1963 - 1975 .
22 COMPLETE VINTAGE TELEVISION PERFORMANCES BY THE CLASSIC BRITISH GROUP AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON DVD.

~ORIGINAL MEMBERS TELL THE BAND’S STORY IN NEW INTERVIEWS~

Eagle Rock Entertainment and Reelin’ In The Years Productions announce the October 4, 2011 worldwide release of The Hollies: Look Through Any Window 1963 – 1975 on DVD [Pre-book Order Date September 9, MSRP $14.98]. Issued with the full cooperation of The Hollies, this is the first official documentary film of the legendary British group known for its classic songs and brilliant vocals.

The film includes 22 full-length performances sourced from television appearances filmed at the time the songs were hitting the charts for the first time. Between performances, original band members Graham Nash, Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott share the history of one of the most beloved groups of the 1960s. Starting with Graham and Allan reminiscing about singing together as young schoolboys and culminating in the group’s last major hit in 1975, the film features over two hours of interviews and music. As a testament to their legacy, The Hollies were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2010.

The Hollies: Look Through Any Window 1963 – 1975 [MSPR $14.98] features all of the band’s beloved hits including rocking performances of “Bus Stop” and “Stop Stop Stop” from 1967 and “Look Through Any Window” and “I Can’t Let Go” from 1966. Also included is a great 1968 performance of “Dear Eloise”, a 1966 rendition of UK chart-topper “I’m Alive” and newly discovered versions of “Jennifer Eccles” and “Carrie Anne” from the 1968 Spilt Festival in Yugoslavia. Of special note is 10 minutes of footage of the band shot in early 1967 at the Abbey Road Studios recording session for their world-wide hit “On A Carousel.” The segment includes astonishing footage of Graham, Allan and Tony recording their lead and backing vocals, heard “naked,” without the instrumental track. Also featured in the film are performances by the Hollies from the “post-Graham Nash era,” featuring Terry Sylvester, and including the worldwide chart-toppers “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” “Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)” and a beautiful version of their last Top 10 hit “The Air That I Breathe”. In addition, the film features never-before-seen home movies of the group on tour in the ‘60s in America, Europe and Japan and backstage at television appearances, providing a rare glimpse of their offstage lives.

For The Hollies: Look Through Any Window 1963 – 1975 film every effort has been made to locate the best possible sound and video; each of the performances has been re-transferred and re-mastered from the best-quality, original masters (some having rested in storage vaults for almost 50 years). In the case of lip-sync performances, the original stereo master recordings have been used, replacing the mono broadcast sound and making for a much more enjoyable viewing and listening experience. The DVD also features an informative booklet with an extensive essay by former Rolling Stone editor and award-winning writer, Ben Fong-Torres, including rare photographs and memorabilia.

To view the trailer please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvEHAxE6T6Y

On September 22, 2011 the film will have its world-wide premiere at the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, Calif., home to many of prestigious cinematic events and panel discussions with noted filmmakers including James Cameron, Clint Eastwood and Darren Aronofsky.

Graham Nash and Allan Clarke, along with the producers, will take part in a panel discussion immediately following the screening.

The Hollies: Look Through Any Window 1963 – 1975 is the latest release in the acclaimed British Invasion DVD Series. The previous four releases, Small Faces: All Or Nothing 1965 – 1968, Dusty Springfield: Once Upon A Time 1964 – 1969, Herman’s Hermits: Listen People 1964 – 1969 and Gerry & The Pacemakers: It’s Gonna Be All Right 1963 – 1965 all garnered rave reviews from critics and fans alike.

Reelin’ In the Years has produced some of the most highly-regarded anthology DVD series in music history including the four-volume, GRAMMY-nominated American Folk Blues Festival series, the multi-platinum selling Definitive Motown series (Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles), The British Invasion series and the award-winning Jazz Icons series. This fall will also see the release of Ray Charles – Live In France 1961 and six new titles in Volume 5 of the Jazz Icons series, bringing the total number of titles in the series to thirty-six.

For more information on please visit www.reelinintheyears.com.



HURRICANE BELLS: SOPHOMORE ALBUM TIDES AND TALES TO BE RELEASED OCTOBER 25, 2011

Hurricane Bells has announced that their sophomore album Tides and Tales will be released October 25, 2011 via band architect Steve Schiltz's own Invisible Brigades label.



Tides and Tales is an immediate, compelling 12-song collection that ranges from effortlessly catchy (the chiming power pop of "The Ghost Of Her"; the fuzzy guitar-laced "House On Fire") to quietly haunting and beautiful (the gentle "Blue Blue Moon"; the lilting "Before I'm Gone"; the heart-rending "Flowers In The Dirt") to propulsive and soaring (the dynamic "Possibilities", the driving "Let's Go"). As with Hurricane Bells' debut Tonight Is The Ghost, the album was produced and mixed entirely by Schiltz (longtime front man of Longwave), at his Olé Recording studio in Queens, NY, last fall. This time, however, he recorded the tracks with the help of a few friends, including Ashen Keilyn (Scout), a Hurricane Bells touring mainstay; Justin Furstenfeld (Blue October); and Christian Bongers (bass) and Colin Brooks (drums), who round out the Hurricane Bells live band.

In early June, Hurricane Bells launched a PledgeMusic campaign to support the completion of Tides and Tales. The campaign will remain underway for another three weeks and the funds raised will directly contribute to the manufacturing, touring and promotion of the album. Multiple incentives are being offered to fans for pledging, including exclusive vinyl, signed CDs and t-shirts, and a house concert by the band, among many others. Hurricane Bells will also donate a portion of all PledgeMusic campaign proceeds to the nonprofit Education Through Music (http://www.etmonline.org/). For more information and to view a full list of pledge incentives, please visit: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/hurricane-bells.


Hurricane Bells will play a number of hometown New York City shows over the next two months: August 30, 2011 supporting Robbers On High Street at Brooklyn Bowl; a solo acoustic show September 30 at CULTUREFix with Jimmy Gnecco from Ours; and October 27 at the Mercury Lounge for a record release show. A full itinerary is below and more touring news will be announced soon.



Tides and Tales track listing:

1.I've Got A Second Chance
2.Possibilities
3.The Ghost Of Her
4.Blue Blue Moon
5.Hours Like Days
6.Piano Stunt
7.Let's Go
8.House On Fire
9.Before I'm Gone
10. If This Night Is Over
11. Flowers In The Dirt
12. The Hunger Moon




Hurricane Bells tour dates:


AUG. 9 NEW YORK, NY CITY WINERY*

AUG. 30 BROOKLYN, NY BROOKLYN BOWL#

SEPT. 30 NEW YORK, NY CULTUREFIX (acoustic)^

OCT. 27 NEW YORK, NY MERCURY LOUNGE%

* supporting Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea

# supporting Robbers On High Street

^ supporting Jimmy Gnecco (Ours)

% Luke Rathborne supports


For more information, visit: www.hurricanebells.com

Zombies invade U.S. for 50th Anniversary Tour!

The Zombies Celebrate 50th Anniversary with U.S. Tour

The Zombies, helmed by founding members Rod Argent and singer Colin Blunstone, are marking the group’s half century with a new album – Breathe Out, Breathe In and a U.S. tour in September and October, 2011.

A magisterial work, it is everything you could possibly hope for from the group who back in the 1960s provided such signature works as the singles "She’s Not There," "Tell Her No" and "Time Of The Season" and the album Odessey And Oracle, their 1968 Brit psych masterpiece.

The 10 songs, which make up Breathe Out, Breathe In, are impeccably crafted pieces; the harmonies are rich, the melodies full, the arrangements exquisite, the organ and piano fresh, the production intuitive.

“There was a clear brief,” says Rod Argent today. “We wanted to use as many two and three part harmonies as possible and lots of Hammond organ, Mellotron and Memotron. We didn’t want to recreate the past, but we wanted to capture The Zombies’ essence and meaning. Our energy and enthusiasm for making music is the same as it was when we first started and the magic and mystery of the whole music making process, we are still thrilled by it all. So we thought it would be great to celebrate when that all began. I first met Colin outside the Pioneer Club in St Albans for The Zombies’ first rehearsal. We didn’t know each other but Colin turned up with a broken nose and two black eyes. I thought, oh no, what have we got here? But he was a keen rugby player and had got injured during a game.”

“That first rehearsal went really well because we got to borrow The Bluetones, a local St Albans band’s equipment. Jim Rodford who now plays bass in The Zombies was in them funnily enough,” says Colin Blunstone. “Our own equipment was dreadful though so when we played on that it brought us down to earth. I would judge how well our gigs went by the amount of blood Rod would lose from his thumb when he played his Jerry Lee Lewis runs on the piano. He’d have to press down really hard. These days he still bleeds for The Zombies of course… spiritually though not literally.”

Breathe Out, Breathe In was recorded over a year in Argent’s own Red House Studios, the band line-up completed by Colin and Rod’s touring group – guitarist Tom Toomey, bassist, Jim Rodford and his son, drummer Steve Rodford. Rod would put down lead voice, piano and some harmonies on a demo, the band would listen and then lay down the bones of the song in a day. “Colin and I have been playing with this band for the last ten years,” explains Rod. “And during those ten years we’ve grown into a very tight and sympathetic musical unit and so going into the studio was a really enjoyable experience, we have a telepathy.”

“We often just know what the other person wants and needs and means without speaking,” says Colin. “There is so much history there, we understand each other and The Zombies are like a cottage industry. We have complete artistic control. We run our own label, we book our own gigs, we provide our own transport and hotels. Rod writes most of the songs, we record in his studio and he produces the record. It keeps it very exciting being at the centre always of everything.”

In his role as producer, Rod wanted to “capture the energy of the performance, that’s what recording is all about, whether you are laying down a lead vocal or a guitar solo, you’ve got to gee yourself up and think this is the only chance you’ve got to do it. It was important to try and get the joy we feel of playing together on the record too. We wanted it to feel very organic, so when you are listening you can imagine us standing there playing and hitting things.”

Musically, the benchmark for Breathe Out, Breathe In is their 1968 album Odessey And Oracle, which the original Zombies – Colin and Rod with drummer Hugh Grundy and bassist Chris White – played from beginning to end in 2008 to celebrate the album’s 40th year.

“Chris and Hugh hadn’t been on a stage playing music for a very long time and for a moment I thought how on earth are they going to cope with this,” says Rod. “I thought they were incredibly brave to do it and just a few bars in I knew it was going to work out fine. Returning to the album, it’s funny, it did subconsciously influence Breathe Out, Breathe In, just in the album’s genesis, we wrote the songs upfront like we used to, and did some of the songs live on the road first. We also used the same ingredients – bass lines being central to the song, lots of harmonies.”

“A Moment In Time” is one of the album’s many highpoints. Written by Rod with Tom Toomey in the last week of recording, it is quintessential Zombies with delicious melodies and harmonies and the perfect balance of emotion and restraint in Colin’s heavenly vocal artistry.

Inspired by Laurie Lee’s book on the Spanish civil war, A Moment Of War, says Rod, “Lee was writing down from the very start everything that happened to him leading up to the Civil War and how all the things that happen from when we are born to this very instance, they take us somewhere but they are all also individual moments in time, that thought just struck me as extraordinary.”
Of the other nine songs, six are penned by Rod solely including the peerless harmony title piece and “Let It Go,” which first aired on the road as a voice and piano piece, but in the studio became a full band work out. “It’s based on an idea I had of weaving the middle movement of Bach’s F minor keyboard concerto in and out of a song, such a ravishing piece of music,” says Rod.

Other influences include The Beatles and Elvis. The former’s “Hey Bulldog” impacts on the psychedelic rocker “Play It For Real” – “there’s no denying what an extraordinary effect The Beatles had, every band has a debt to them really, their music was so fresh and vital, it was like we were winning the world cup every week when they came about,” says Rod.

The latter’s version of “Blue Moon” inspired the Rod Argent sung “Show Me The Way.” “In the falsetto singing, and I wanted that lovely slap back single repeat tape delay on his voice and I went to (drummer) Steve Rodford and asked him if he had some coconuts as I wanted some on the record, sadly though we had to make do with bongos instead!”

Three songs are revisits – two were penned by Rod with Zombies’ original bassist Chris White for their post Zombies outfit Argent back in the ’70s. “Shine On Sunshine” here gets a total reworking and in The Zombies’ hands is expansive, transcendental. “Christmas For The Free,” meanwhile, remains faithful to the Argent version, an intelligent plea for peace and love with a majestic guitar solo.

The third, “Any Other Way,” already a live favorite, was written by Colin and turned up first on his 2009 solo record, The Ghost Of You & Me. Colin and Rod are both enthused by their new record, as they should be. It is a remarkable work. “I think it’s one of the best things we’ve done,” says Rod. “Listening to the finished record, it reflects the good time we had making it.”

Says Colin, “We are still learning, and new discoveries energize us, it’s all part of being an artist, we are very proud of our achievement here. We hope it moves and touches people like it has us. The Zombies have been a fantastic journey, we’ve gone from playing in the back of pubs to headlining festivals and it still feels like it is just the beginning.”
Breathe Out, Breathe In is available for purchase at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/breathe-out-breathe-in-feat/id432331112
http://www.amazon.com/Breathe-Out-Zombies/dp/B004NTVMMO

For More Information:
www.thezombies.net
www.myspace.com/thezombies
http://twitter.com/TheZombiesMusic
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Zombies/110460172367927
http://www.amazon.com/Breathe-Out-Zombies/dp/B004NTVMMO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=A30I8KTV4DUTWQ&s=music&qid=1306426002&sr=1-3

ZOMBIES/STRAWBS SEPT/OCT 2011

Note: Sept 9-13 Zombies only

9-Sep Fri Casino Rama Rama, ON
10-Sep Sat Seneca-Niagara Casino Niagara Falls, NY
11-Sep Sun Oneonta Theatre Oneonta, NY
13-Sep Tue Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH
15-Sep Thu MusikFest Café @ ArtsQuest Center Bethlehem, PA
16-Sep Fri Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center Silver Spring, MD
17-Sep Sat Keswick Theatre Glenside, PA
18-Sep Sun Tarrytown Music Hall Tarrytown, NY
19-Sep Mon Rams Head On Stage Annapolis, MD
21-Sep Wed Showcase Live Foxborough, MA
22-Sep Thu Tupelo Music Hall Londonderry, NH
23-Sep Fri Infinity Hall Norfolk, CT
24-Sep Sat Wolf Den @ Mohegan Sun Casino Uncasville, CT
26-Sep Mon City Winery New York, NY
27-Sep Tue City Winery New York, NY
28-Sep Wed State Theatre State College, PA
30-Sep Fri Celebrity Theatre Phoenix, AZ
1-Oct Sat Canyon Club Agoura Hills, CA
2-Oct Sun Coach House San Juan Capistrano, CA
5-Oct Wed McPhillips Station Casino Winnipeg, MB
7-Oct Fri Casino Regina Regina, SK
9-Oct Sun Century Casino Edmonton, AB
12-Oct Wed Kamloops Convention Centre Kamloops, BC
13-Oct Thu River Rock Casino Showroom Richmond, BC

Sights and Sounds: Counting Crows, The Monkees, Paul Rodgers, Bill Frisell, The Hollies and more!

Eagle Rock Entertainment, Cinema Libre Studio and Savoy Jazz continue to issue fantastic new and long-lost treasures of special interest to music fans. Read some highlights of recent media releases focusing on upcoming collections from the far-flung likes of Django Reinhardt, singer-songwriter Paul Rodgers, '60s group The Monkees, Bill Frisell and Styx that have landed in my welcoming inbox.

I'll kick things off in this post with some highlights from a wrap-up of upcoming releases from Eagle Rock. I am especially excited about the release of sets featuring all of the episodes of the original Monkees television series, as well as live concerts featuring Rodgers (who was fantastic when I saw him in concert recently), The Pretenders and The Hollies. Read on!

August 30
Counting Crows/August And Everything After-Live At Town Hall/CD, Blu-Ray & DVD

All three entertainment formats are present and accounted for in this lavish look at Counting Crows live at Town Hall in New York City on September 18, 2007. Filmed in high definition, this is the first Counting Crows DVD and Blu-ray ever released, complete with a bonus interview about the history of the band’s early days. Celebrating their iconic 1993 album August And Everything After, which sold over 7 million copies in the US, this one night stands supreme in the minds of the band members themselves as one of their greatest nights. The entire August And Everything After album is performed with passion and precision complete with jam-worthy elongated portions. [MSRP $14.98 for DVD, $13.98 for CD, and $19.98 for Blu-ray]

Tangerine Dream/Live in America 1992/MOD

With seven Grammy nominations and a ton of respect, these totally creative musicians have inspired electronica bands all over the world and it’s all on display right here. Caught crossing the States in 1992 promoting their Rockoon album, this CD and DVD captures the band at its most atmospheric and dramatic. In 1992, Tangerine Dream was in its 25th year of existence. Eagle Rock Entertainment previously released this concert on DVD. [MSRP $13.98]

September 13
The Pretenders/Loose In L.A./Blu-Ray

Topping the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, The Pretenders have been a powerful force in rock music for 30 years. Loose In L.A. showcases their 2003 headlining show at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, California, in support of their Loose Screw album. Filmed in high-definition for their first concert DVD ever, they delved deep into their catalog for a 26-song set, including favorites like “Message Of Love” and “Brass In Pocket.” Add the promotional video clip for “You Know Who Your Friends Are,” a special backstage bonus feature and an onstage montage and you’ve got two hours and 15 minutes of pure Pretenders. This concert was also released via Eagle Rock Entertainment on DVD in 2003. [MSRP $19.98]

Paul Rodgers & Friends/Live At Montreux 1994/CD & DVD

Paul Rodgers is one of the all-time rock ’n’roll frontmen – Free, Bad Company and Queen. His soulful bluesy style informed such hits as “All Right Now,” “Feel Like Making Love” and dozens of others. Here, at the acclaimed Montreux fest, he fronts an all-star lineup including Journey’s Neal Schon, and Foreigner’s Jason Bonham. Other friends such as Toto’s Steve Lukather, Queen’s Brian May, plus bluesmen Eddie Kirkland and Luther Allison jam on some good ol’ gutbucket blues. (Rodgers was touring in support of his Muddy Water Blues album.) Seventeen tracks…with a rousing finale of Muddy’s “Hoochie Coochie Man.” [MSRP $13.98 for CD, $14.98 for DVD]


September 20
Gary Moore/Live At Montreux 2010/CD, DVD, Blu-Ray

A return-to-form after years of exploring the blues, Irish guitar legend Gary Moore rocked out hard during his Montreux appearance last year, surprising fans with the ferocity of his playing. Moore was in the midst of recording an all-rock album earlier this year when he tragically passed away at the age of 59 on February 6. This kickin’ 11-track concert (the blu-ray includes two extra songs) includes three of those new tracks that will now never be recorded as well as some blues sprinkled in amongst his '80s rock hits. A stunning set! [MSRP $13.98 for CD, $14.98 for DVD, and $19.98 for Blu-ray]


September 27
The Monkees/The Monkees Season #1 6DVD and Season #2 5DVD

Hey Hey They're The Monkees! And now the Emmy Award-winning television series is back for the first time in nearly a decade. Season #1, which introduced Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz, features the first 32 episodes on six DVDs, 830 minutes of zany Monkees comedy and music. Season #2 has the final 25 episodes on five discs, 750 minutes worth. Assembled in 1966, the Monkees had massive hits and mass appeal for a generation weaned on the Beatles. Songs like "I'm A Believer," "(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone," "Last Train To Clarksville" and many others have stood the test of time. Bonuses include commentary from the band & directors on select episodes, discography, trivia, and more. [MSRP $39.98]


October 4
The Hollies/Look Through Any Window 1963-1975/DVD

Twelve years of those high-flying harmonies and beautifully melodic compositions! With 22 complete performances and new interviews with Graham Nash, Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott, this carefully crafted DVD focuses in on their peak years when the band chimed in to the tune of 27 British hit singles. As part of the much-publicized "British Invasion," The Hollies made their mark in the U.S., pioneering the way for other Brit bands to cross the pond and conquer America. Two hours+ of Holly-Mania! [MSRP $14.98]

Styx/Regeneration/2CD

Having sold over 10 million albums in North America, Styx-- Tommy Shaw, James Young, Chuck Panozzo, Lawrence Gowan, Ricky Phillips and Todd Sucherman—is releasing newly recorded versions of their epic hits, performed by the band’s current lineup. This beautifully-packaged two-disc set, packed with 15 tracks, includes their brand new song “Difference In The World,” as well as “High Enough” and “Coming Of Age” from Shaw’s Damn Yankees.
Up until now, Regeneration has only been available on merch stands throughout Styx’s worldwide tours. Now, it’s finally being released commercially for all classic rock fans to enjoy. The band continues to tour the globe, introducing new fans to favorites like “Crystal Ball,” “Come Sail Away,” and “Renegade,” which are all featured on this album. [MSRP $17.98]

For more information on these exciting releases and many more, visit Eagle Rock Entertainment's Web site at http://www.eagle-rock.com/



Life After Django Reinhardt
LIFE AFTER DJANGO REINHARDT
SRP: $19.95 | TRT: 54 minutes
Street Date: 8/16/11 | UPC: 881394112827
Catalog: CLS 1128 | Genre: Documentary/ Music
Language: French with English subtitles

Django Reinhardt was a jazz pioneer known for creating an idiom of jazz called “Gypsy Jazz” or “Gypsy Swing”. He was the original “guitar hero” in the sense that he invented a radical new way to play guitar, commonly known as “hot guitar.” This film celebrates the 100th birthday of Django Reinhardt by documenting the “Django 100” a group of a 100 musicians whom have gathered together to honor the talented guitarist as a tribute to his life. Cinema Libre Studio proudly presents LIFE AFTER DJANGO REINHARDT, coming to DVD and digital platforms on August 16, 2011.

Django Reinhardt is known as a master, creator and “pure ecstasy” to his devotees. These 100 musicians gather to pay homage to the man, who paved the way for them. Without Reinhardt “Gypsy Jazz” may never have been realized. There is an inexplicable passion and obsession that is brought to life by this film, as conveyed by they way the guitarists have given up words in exchange for melodies.

Reinhardt’s musical style of “Gypsy Jazz” has influenced many musicians. Some of these musicians featured in the film include; David Reinhardt, the grandson of the Django Reinhardt who now leads his own trio inspired by his grandfather. Angelo Debarre, an accomplished guitarist who has performed in several significant jazz festivals, including Birdland's "Django Festival." Boulou Ferre, who was a child prodigy who began playing professional at the age of twelve and has incorporated Django’s “Gypsy Jazz” with other musical styles such as bebop and classical. Tchavolo Schmitt, who began playing at the age of six is another renowned “Gypsy Jazz” guitarist.

THE LIFE AFTER DJANGO director, Olivier Kowalski, is a classically trained musician, whose passion led him to make this film. Kowalski formed a group called Komintern, who is renowned for the album, The Ball of the Dead Rat, which became a collector's item. It was his love for film though that changed the direction of his career. Kowalski became the director of a music publishing company and later the head of Davout Studios, which is one of the top studios to record music for French cinema. In 1994, he bought the studio, which he currently manages today.

SYNOPSIS:
LIFE AFTER DJANGO REINHARDT pays tribute to Django Reinhardt, the Roma genius, born to Gypsy parents in 1910, is considered by many to be the single most important guitarist in the entire history of jazz. To honor the 100th anniversary of Django’s birth, one hundred of his disciples, including his grandson David Reinhardt, have gathered together for the “Django 100 Centennial Tour” -- traveling the world to pay homage to this exceptional type-setter who marked the 20th century. Hear stories of the influence and passion by some of the more notable jazz guitarists including, Elios and Boulou Ferré, Angelo Debarre and Tchavlo Schmitt, as they prepare for the tour. Listen to the familiar songs performed by these renowned musicians -- all of whom have dedicated their lives and their careers to the legend.
More information is available at: www.lifeafterdjango.com or www.cinemalibrestudio.com



BILL FRISELL EXPLORES THE SONGS OF JOHN LENNON ON “ALL WE ARE SAYING”

Master Guitarist/Interpreter Records His Definitive Versions
To Be Released On Savoy Jazz September 27

Consummate guitarist, composer and musical interpreter Bill Frisell has assembled a trusted ensemble consisting of Jenny Scheinman (violin), Tony Scherr (bass), Greg Leisz (guitars) and Kenny Wollesen (drums) to record his definitive take on the classic songs of John Lennon. Titled ALL WE ARE SAYING, the project has long been in the works—one could go as far back as the first time he heard the Beatles at the age of 13. Fast forward a few decades and Frisell is asked to put together an impromptu set in honor of John Lennon as part of a special event in Paris. The preparation, performances and reception to these compositions was an inspiration nurtured to fruition with this project. Recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley and produced by Lee Townsend, ALL WE ARE SAYING will be released on Savoy Jazz on September 27, 2011.

Described by the Wall Street Journal as “the most innovative and influential jazz guitarist of the past 25 years” Frisell’s artistry has earned across the board praise for his instinctual musicianship—working both within and beyond the parameters of jazz music as he effortlessly incorporates elements of Americana, world, blues, classical, creating a rich and unique aural tapestry.

Says Frisell: “John Lennon's music has been with me, the band, everybody, the world...seems like forever. The songs are part of us. In our blood. There was nothing we really needed to do to prepare for this. We've been preparing our whole lives. The songs are there. All we had to do was play them. Everyone involved with this has their own personal, deep, long, relationship to John Lennon's music. It connects us all and brings us together. I feel blessed having the chance to play this music with these people.”.

“All We Are Saying” Songs Include:

Across the Universe
Revolution
Nowhere Man
Imagine
Please Please Me
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
Hold On
In My Life
Come Together
Julia
Woman
# 9 Dream
Love
Beautiful Boy
Mother
Give Peace a Chance

Bill Frisell is managed by Songline/Tone Field Productions (www.songtone.com).



For more information, visit www.savoyjazz.com

Pacific 2011: Revisiting 'L.A. Woman' 40 years on

My review was originally posted on The Orange County Register Web site on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011. A special thanks to photographer Kelly A. Swift for the use of her photos, including the great image of singer Dave Brock and guitarist Robby Krieger above, and the one below too.

The last time keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger performed at Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa was August 2007 under the moniker Riders on the Storm. But more than the name of their ongoing live tribute to the music of the Doors has changed.
Instead of onetime Fuel singer Brett Scallions handling the late Jim Morrison’s vocals, as was the case four years ago (the Cult’s Ian Astbury assumed that role before that, when this resurrection was called the Doors of the 21st Century), Friday night’s concert provided a rare chance to see Dave Brock, of O.C.-based salute Wild Child, performing this classic material alongside two of its originators.

While Scallions’ thin pipes weren’t nearly up to the task of delivering staples like “Break on Through (To the Other Side),” “Light My Fire” and “L.A. Woman” with the same vocal firepower of Morrison – founding member of the illustrious but infamous 27 Club, which Amy Winehouse just joined – Brock certainly provided a welcome re-creation of the mysteriously dynamic approach of the iconic singer/poet who died three months after the last proper Doors album came out.

There are purists who undoubtedly cringe at the thought of two original members of one of rock’s most compelling acts teaming with the frontman from a popular tribute band. But if they’d witnessed this powerful, often fiery two-hour performance before a capacity crowd at Pacific, those doubts would likely be cast aside. Brock never came off as trying to mimic Morrison’s explosive style, but rather allowed his tall, sleek, dressed-in-black frame and spot-on singing work magic for him.

The 17-song concert doubled as both a greatest-hits set and a celebration of the 40th anniversary of L.A. Woman, although the promise of the group tackling the Doors’ final studio disc in its entirety didn’t completely materialize.

Three selections were left out of the set, including the muted blues shuffle “Cars Hiss by My Window,” Side 2′s sinister opening groove “L’America” and, most glaringly absent of all, the indelible “Riders on the Storm.” Not surprisingly, the seven L.A. Woman songs that were included weren’t performed in any familiar order, though four of its lesser-known tracks – “Crawling King Snake,” “Hyacinth House,” “Been Down So Long” and “The Changeling” – came all in a row toward the end of the show.

The current ensemble, rounded out by more-than-solid drummer Ty Dennis and bassist Phil Chen, kicked things off with “Roadhouse Blues,” the first of many songs that provided a showcase for the distinctive finger-style guitar playing of Krieger, while a large rear-projection screen displayed grainy images of driving down a highway. Throughout the night, a wide range of such videos were used to reinforce the imagery of specific songs or display archival footage of Morrison and the other Doors back in the day.

While many mid- to late-’60s bands forged sounds out of the molds put forth by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, L.A.’s Doors were different, blending blues, jazz, flamenco, folk, psychedelia, even spoken-word poetry to establish an approach like no artist before. L.A. Woman in full or not, that aspect was memorialized here for an enthusiastic audience, a mix of baby boomers and twentysomethings.

The adventuresome and once-dangerous side of the Doors was conjured early in the night with a riveting version of “The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)” – where “out here we is stoned, immaculate” – and again later amid a mind-crashing 15-minute take on “When the Music’s Over,” so powerful it felt as though it could have been released just this year.


That version, dedicated to Morrison by Manzarek (seen on the left), began with the famed keyboardist, 72, summoning a droning organ solo as Krieger, 65, intentionally altered his tuning to create dissonance. Brock’s image was soon projected in swirling light on the large screen as he sang the piece’s dark poetic lines. Elsewhere in the epic, Krieger used his hammering fretwork technique, while disturbing images were shown as Brock delivered still-biting lines like “What have they done to the Earth? / What have they done to our fair sister? / Ravaged and plundered and ripped her and bit her.”

But not all was so dark. Krieger’s son Waylon and No Doubt drummer Adrian Young were brought out for an upbeat jam on “Back Door Man,” and toward the end of the night the more romantic “Touch Me” was unfurled, with Krieger offering up an inspired guitar excursion in place of the famous sax solo featured on the original. There also were moments when the raw beauty of the Doors’ catalog shined, specifically during the tender, rarely-heard “Blue Sunday.”

Things ended mightily, the quintet offering up a driving “L.A. Woman” (complete with Krieger and Manzarek playing full-length solos) before the band returned to perform a 10-minute version of “Light My Fire.” There were few doubts that the troupe was on fire, as Manzarek stood up from his keyboard and then knelt down intensely while serving up his finest playing of the night, followed by Krieger superbly surveying one of rock’s most recognizable solos. And Brock rose to the challenge of his legendary pals, singing his heart out and nailing the climatic high notes at the end of that opus.

Setlist: Ray Manzarek & Robby Krieger at Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa, Aug. 5, 2011
Main set: Roadhouse Blues / Love Me Two Times / Break on Through (To the Other Side) / The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat) / Back Door Man / Love Her Madly / Peace Frog / Blue Sunday / When the Music’s Over / Crawling King Snake / Hyacinth House / Been Down So Long / The Changeling / Not to Touch the Earth / Touch Me / L.A. Woman
Encore: Light My Fire

Bringin' on the heart rate; hanging out with Phil Collen

This story was originally posted on The Orange County Register Web site on Friday, Aug. 5, 2011, and also appeared in the print edition today (Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011). A special "thank you" to Orange County Register photographer Sam Gangwer for snapping the photo of Phil and me.

Bringin' on the heart rate

Hard rockers can get as soft as a love ballad as they age. Not O.C. resident Phil Collen of Def Leppard.

Phil Collen is definitely not your average rock star. As a long-time member of the pioneering British hard rock band Def Leppard, he has spent most of this summer on tour, playing guitar before thousands of cheering fans on stages around the globe.
But the 53-year-old London native, who has lived in the same quiet South Orange County neighborhood for 21 years, is attracting as much attention nowadays for his impressive physique and motivational appearances where he demonstrates how easy and important it is to get in shape.

He recently invited the Orange County Register to come visit his home in Laguna Hills, which only immediately stood out when we walked up the driveway and spotted the serious workout equipment in the garage. Once Collen welcomed us inside, there were a couple of amplifiers and a colorful Jackson electric guitar along a wall.

Collen, whose early years were spent growing up in London's tough East End, was willing to share the trials and triumphs of being in a world famous rock 'n' roll band, including the band rallying around drummer Rick Allen when he lost his left arm in a car accident in late 1984 and the tragic death of Collen's close friend and fellow Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark in 1991. But one thing that has been a positive in Collen's life for more than two decades is the comfortable home positioned on a hill high over the San Diego Freeway that he shares with his wife Helen, 21-year-old son Rory and the family dogs, Jackson and Shaq.

"I was in New York (with) my ex-wife," Collen recalls of his move to Orange County. "My son was born in New York City; as soon as he was born I thought I didn't really want to be in a (big) city with a kid. His grandparents actually lived in this area, so we had a look at it and this was actually the first house we walked into ... I actually looked at 20 or 30 afterward, this was perfect and still is."

Those who check out Collen when Def Leppard headlines at Jack's Sixth Show at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine on Saturday, Sept. 10, will see that the lead guitarist is not only playing rock radio hits such as "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages" better than ever, but he continues to exhibit the kind of rock-hard body that is at odds with the so-called rock 'n' roll lifestyle he knew while he was in his early twenties.

"I saw it not being a very positive thing," Collen said of his decision to stop drinking in 1987, just before the band's "Hysteria" tour.
"You're in your twenties and having a great old time. Not remembering what I had done and all that stuff ...The main thing (about stopping drinking) was getting two extra hours in a day. I was getting so (messed) up before, I was recovering (two hours every morning)."

Collen had already become a vegetarian in 1983, shortly after joining Def Leppard.
"It's very much about doing your own thing and not bowing to peer pressure. I never smoked cigarettes; I used to be an asthmatic as a kid. I just always at a certain point started doing what I wanted to do and not worry about what else everybody thinks," he said. "I just didn't like the idea of eating dead stuff."

PUTTING IN THE TIME
But Collen's vegetarian and alcohol-free diet don't fully account for his sleek and muscled frame. That comes from his daily workouts that are a mix of cardio, weightlifting and martial arts. He gives much of the credit to his long-time trainer Jean Carrillo, who has trained a number of Muay Thai kick-boxing champions.
"He (Carrillo) knows about nutrition and everything," Collen said. "We've been experimenting for the last 6 or 7 years how far you can push it. People say 'Why do you do that?' I'm the only guy not limping. I get up in the morning and can kick straight up in the air. And I think that's just consistency. And that's why I do it; it makes me feel like a teenager. And I honestly just feel great. But they say 'The time you put in...' I say the time I put in is less than the time you put into (going to) the doctor's office. I know this because a lot of my friends are 10 or 15 years younger than me have back problems, this that (other ailments), it happens to everyone."

Collen understands many people don't have the time or access to hire a trainer, but says everyone can do something.
"There is a pecking order of things. Most people want to lose weight. To lose weight, you do cardio. You don't do isolation exercises like dumb bell curls or crunches. You won't even see that until the fat gets removed. Walking is great to start with. Biking is great because it's low impact. Again, it's a catch-22. You're a bit heavy, so you're putting so much stress on your back, your knees and your ankles, so therefore you want to do something low impact. A spinning class is brilliant and you just build it up," explained Collen.
Collen plans to issue a DVD designed to help inspire and demonstrate how easy it is to get fit.
"We're talking about it now. It's going to be called 'Physical Mechanics' and it's a three-tier system. It's like a workout for someone who couldn't do one push-up without hurting himself. It does involve walking. You don't need any workout equipment."
The future continues to be a bright one for Collen. He is looking forward to performing with Def Leppard this summer in support of the band's new album Mirror Ball: Live & More, and also hopes to perform some club shows with his side project Man Raze (which issued its second album punkfunkrootsrock on Aug. 2 and will play at the Roxy in Hollywood on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011).

"I'm in a really great place now," Collen says. "I'm totally happy. I love it here in California."

Sights and Sounds: U2, Deep Purple, Steve Miller, Chris Pierce

'Achtung' No Longer a Baby


Achtung Baby celebrates 20 years this November

Achtung Baby was originally released in November 1991 and was, as Bono said at the time, 'the sound of four men chopping down The Joshua Tree'. The album was a new direction for U2 - led by The Fly, Achtung Baby went on to have four other singles, 'Mysterious Ways', 'One', 'Even Better Than The Real Thing' and 'Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses'.

At 20 years old, Achtung Baby is all grown up, and to celebrate an anniversary edition is due this October. The archives have unearthed unreleased songs and treasures from the original recording sessions. There's five different versions featuring a raft of songs, videos, remixes, b-sides and documentary footage - a full album of demo and early versions of the full tracklisting has also been revealed.

Deluxe formats will include 'From the Sky Down', a documentary from Academy Award winning Davis Guggenheim in which U2 return to Hansa Studio in Berlin to discuss Achtung Baby.

Due for release on October 31st, the five physical editions include vinyl, CD, DVD and digital options will also be available.

Click here to see the full details and pre-order your copy.



EAGLE DIGS DEEP INTO DEEP PURPLE WITH FOUR LIVE DOUBLE-DISCS ON AUGUST 16, 2011


Scandinavian Nights, In Concert 1970-1972, Live in London and MK III: The Final Concerts

Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to announce the August 16, 2011 release of four double-discs of the deepest of Deep Purple’s onstage action: Scandinavian Nights, In Concert 1970-1972, Live In London and MK III: The Final Concerts. [MSRP $13.98]


Scandinavian Nights, from 1970, features the most classic of Purple lineups, lead guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, keyboardist Jon Lord, vocalist Ian Gillan, drummer Ian Paice and bassist Roger Glover. Recorded for Swedish radio while on tour in support of their groundbreaking In Rock album, the band, a well-oiled machine of epic proportions, rips through elongated versions of “Speed King,” “Into The Fire,” “Child In Time,” “Wring That Neck,” a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” (as a Paice drum solo), “Mandrake Root” and “Black Night.”

The same lineup In Concert 1970-1972 recorded two shows for the BBC. The 1970 gig is four songs stretched out to almost 50 minutes in true DP style like no other band ever -- “Speed King,” “Child In Time,” “Wring That Neck” and “Mandrake Root.” In the ’72 concert, they performed every song off their classic Machinehead album (except “Pictures Of Home”) including a 21-minute version of “Space Truckin’.

This is the first time Live In London has been released in the United States on CD. Complete with new frontman David Coverdale and new bassist Glenn Hughes (essentially giving the band two lead singers), the band were back home in London in 1974 performing in support of the Burn album. The band, indeed, burned through the title track, “Might Just Take Your Life,” “Lay Down Stay Down,” “Mistreated,” “Smoke On The Water” and, on Disc #2, “You Fool No One” and “Space Truckin’.”


A year later, with no idea its lead guitarist and co-founding member Ritchie Blackmore had already decided to leave the band, Deep Purple, with Coverdale and Hughes now solidly entrenched and performing magnificently, embarked on a European tour in support of Stormbringer. MK III The Final Concerts excitingly documents Blackmore’s swan song with the band on “Burn,” “Stormbringer,” “Gypsy,” “Lady Double Dealer,” “Mistreated,” “Smoke On The Water,” “You Fool No One,” “Space Truckin’,” “Going Down/Highway Star,” and alternate versions of “Mistreated” and “You Fool No One.”

For more information on Eagle Rock, visit http://www.eagle-rock.com/


Steve Miller to play Rock Symphony at the Fender Center on Sept. 17, 2011



Steve Miller TLC Amphitheatre - 365 N Main Street - Corona, CA 92880

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Cynthia Fox of radio stateion 95.5 KLOS to host

"Roll Over Beethoven!" Classic Rock meets Classical Music when Steve Miller joins the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra for the premiere of ROCK SYMPHONY at the Steve Miller Amphitheatre at the Fender Center in Corona on Saturday September 17, 2011. The stage was named in Miller's honor for his decade of dedicated work on behalf of the Fender Center's KIDS ROCK FREE music education program.



Steve Miller will perform some of his greatest hits including "The Joker," "Fly Like an Eagle," "Abracadabra," and "Hey Yea," off his critically acclaimed blues album BINGO arranged like never before by Conductor, Rune Bergmann with jubilant participation by the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra and Fender Center's KRF® rock band, the Fender Benders. For special treats, audiences will enjoy the music and interaction of Violin virtuoso David Coucheron and concert pianist Julie Coucheron.


Steve Miller Rock Symphony is a call of Giving to Help KIDS ROCK FREE®


This exclusive VIP fundraising event is dedicated to raising money for the now 1,000 child waitlist for KRF® and celebrates its 800 children who received free & low-cost music lessons as a result of the fundraising efforts since 2009 and further bring awareness to the Fender Center Museum's Kids Rock Free® National Educational Program.

The event is even more special because the rock symphony arrangement by Mr. Rune Bergmann is a tribute to Steve Miller and a gift to the Kids Rock Free music education program from John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Mentor, Jens Moe and his lovely wife, Karin.


This black tie/leather optional event will be unlike any other as Fender Center takes its concert content and educational quality to the next level. The event will feature all access to the museum exhibits, a silent and live art auction.

General admission prices: Grandstand $35; Preferred Lawn GA are $50 - $100;
Plus Limited Exclusive VIP seated sponsorships available


For more information, visit www.FenderCenter.org




Chris Pierce's 'I Can Hear You' set for release on Oct. 11, 2011

Record release parties set for New York City's Rockwood Music Hall on Sept. 18 and Hollywood's Hotel Café on Oct. 11, 2011


I Can Hear You, the new album from Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Chris Pierce, will be released on October 11, 2011. The record follows Walking on the Earth, which was named one of the Top 10 albums of 2008 by Nic Harcourt, formerly of KCRW, and 2009's Chris Pierce Live at the Hotel Café. Pierce, who has opened for such artists as Seal, B.B. King, Al Green, Toots and the Maytals, and Colbie Caillat, will perform at record release parties on both coasts. He'll play Rockwood Music Hall in New York City on September 18th and Hotel Café in Hollywood, CA on October 11.


"Pierce, whose work has been compared to that of musical elder tribesmen Van Morrison, Jimmy Cliff, Bill Withers and Otis Redding - engages his audiences with his rich vocals and heartfelt tunes," said LATimes.com, which included Pierce on its list of "homegrown artists you ought to know."



Co-produced with GRAMMY® award winner Seth Atkins Horan, who has worked on each of Pierce's previous releases, most of the album's 10 tracks were captured live on the first take, underscoring the raw emotion of the material.


"This album is for the strugglers, the invisible people - those who make light out of the darkest of times even when it seems like no one is listening," says Pierce, who penned five songs himself and four with long-time collaborator Marvin Etzioni. A poignant version of Bill Withers' "Hope She'll Be Happier," featuring simply vocals and piano,completes the collection.

I Can Hear You is a bracingly honest examination of the challenges we face in these times - and a testament to the indomitable power of the human spirit. From the anthemic album opener and focus track "Looking for the Spark" to the rousing closer "Invisible People," it celebrates our capacity for renewal. Musically, the album showcases Pierce's tremendous musical dexterity as he effortlessly shifts from R&B (the title track, a heartbreaking plea for a second chance at love), to soul ("Too Heavy"), pop ("Looking for the Spark") and jazz ("Play with Me" and "Let Yourself Smile").


"Soul music is deeply rooted in so many American musical styles - gospel, work songs, blues, rock 'n' roll, rhythm & blues," says Pierce. "But to me, it's speaking from your gut, speaking your truths. That's what soul music is to me."


Pierce recorded I Can Hear You in three Los Angeles studios, bringing in some of his favorite musicians, including guitarist Doug Pettibone (Lucinda Williams, Tracy Chapman), keyboardist Deron Johnson (Miles Davis, Seal), bassist David Piltch (Aaron Neville, Madeleine Peyroux) and drummer Tamir Barzilay (Shabak Samech, Moshav), among others. You can get a preview of the new songs at:

http://vimeo.com/26896657

Although Chris developed otosclerosis,a rare hearing disorder that led to the loss of hearing in one ear at age 15, a journey he addresses in "Thunder or the Rain," music continued to be his passion. He was awarded the prestigious Ella Fitzgerald scholarship for jazz studies at USC when he was 18. Shortly thereafter, he introduced himself to one of his idols, Jon Butcher, who invited Pierce to tour with him as a background vocalist, an engagement that would lead to other gigs for chart-topping acts such as Sonia Dada. Impressed by his performance at a small Hollywood party, Seal invited him to open on a string of worldwide tours, launching his career to a new level. His music has been heard in the film Soul Men and on Music From and Inspired by Crash and been licensed by Banana Republic and such shows as "Brothers and Sisters," "Eli Stone," "In Plain Sight" and "Army Wives." He has also ventured into winemaking, with his recently released Ledbetter Dry Creek Valley Syrah eliciting rave reviews from food and wine industries.


The track listing for I Can Hear You is as follows:



1. Looking for the Spark

2. Too Heavy

3. Let Yourself Smile

4. I Can Hear You

5. Play with Me

6. Meet Me in the Vineyard

7. Thunder or the Rain

8. The Return of Eternal Love

9. Hope She'll Be Happier

10. Invisible People