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.

Music Worth Buying: Susanna Hoffs' "Someday" & Shoes' "Ignition"

On the latest episode of Music Worth Buying we celebrate the latest studio albums from Susanna Hoffs and Shoes.

Joe Walsh, Toto, Gin Blossoms stand out at another satisfying Jack FM show in Irvine

My original (and somewhat shorter) review of Jack's 7th Show held on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012 was originally posted on The Orange County Register's Soundcheck blog on Sunday morning, Sept. 16, 2012. A special "thank you" to Bob Steshetz for the use of his photos and video footage with this post.

Gin Blossoms lead singer Robin Wilson ventured into the crowd during the band's set at Jack's 7th Show on Sept. 15.

With six artists performing over the course of exactly six hours – Missing Persons kicked things off at 4:48 p.m. and Joe Walsh wrapped everything up at 10:48 – Jack’s 7th Show offered up a menu sure to please casual concert-goers out to party hard on a Saturday night.

With all acts playing relatively short sets at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, hits were the main course, giving the audience all the substance they needed to feed on at an event that started at about the same time temperatures mercifully began to drop from the 100-degree mark.

Ironically, it was on a similarly blistering day almost 30 years ago that Missing Persons and Walsh shared the same stage at the US Festival. This writer’s most vivid memories of that concert (May 30, 1983, at Glen Helen Park in San Bernardino) is how Missing Persons was placed in a true no-win situation when that band had to follow just-breaking U2, which simply blew away the massive crowd with one of the most compelling sets ever in Southern California.

Walsh, who went on much later that day under cooler skies, delivered a solid set that lacked the power of U2 or David Bowie’s impressive finale, yet it was exactly the sort of entertaining rock show he brought to his headlining 75-minute turn in Irvine on Saturday (Sept. 15, 2012).

A successful member of several classic bands (principally James Gang and the Eagles), the 64-year-old Hall of Famer also has scored with solo smashes along the way. This night Walsh performed a bit of everything in a cohesive and winning set, launching with his 1973 hit “Rocky Mountain Way.”

Highlights centered on his distinctive vocals and slide guitar work. Crowd favorites came courtesy of the comedic “Life’s Been Good” and Eagles tracks like “In the City” and the night-ending “Life in the Fast Lane,” but even better were his tribute to late friend and Band drummer Levon Helm (via “I Shall Be Released”) and the weighty title track from his June return Analog Man, Walsh’s first solo album in 20 years.

Toto's Steve Lukather

Pat Benatar is usually a solid bet to deliver a rousing show but a summer-long outing with Journey seems to have taken some of the luster from her normally powerful soprano. Throughout her hour-long set, she sometimes clipped notes or simply backed off the microphone.

But the singer, her husband-guitarist-keyboardist Neil Giraldo and their backing band definitely pleased the crowd with hard-rocking versions of “All Fired Up,” “Invincible,” “Promises in the Dark” and the finisher, “Heartbreaker,” which included a middle break where Benatar and Giraldo effectively sang a bit of the Johnny Cash classic “Ring of Fire.”

Toto’s songs lack the kind of big arena-filling sound that makes it easier for hard rock bands to strike at these sorts of festivals, but thanks to incredible musicianship all around (notably guitarist Steve Lukather’s dazzling solos), the crowd was quickly won over. “Hold The Line” and “Rosanna” got many people on their feet, while a beautiful take on “Africa,” featuring guest bassist Nathan East’s baritone vocals, added a world-music vibe to that classic. In addition to East and Lukather, the band features Steve Porcaro (keyboards, vocals), Simon Phillips (drums) and Joseph Williams (lead vocals). Bassist Mike Porcaro, who sadly has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) is no longer touring with the band. Formed in Los Angeles in 1977, Toto will celebrate their 35th anniversary in 2013.

Hammer time.



MC Hammer’s short 20-minute set may have been marred by bass-heavy sound that muddied everything, but his still-impressive dance moves and performance of his two monster hits (“2 Legit 2 Quit” and “U Can’t Touch This”) were a welcome opportunity for the crowd to enjoy the cooling air and get on their feet and dance.

It has been 20 years since Gin Blossoms released their striking major-label debut, New Miserable Experience, yet the Tempe quintet’s melodic brand of country-tinged power-pop sounds as relevant and tuneful as when they first set out in 1987. Whether on big hits (“Hey Jealousy,” “Follow You Down”) or new gems (“Miss Disarray”), Robin Wilson’s melancholy vocals, embellished by the twin guitar work of Scott Johnson and Jesse Valenzuela, thrilled throughout 40 fleeting minutes. Make sure to check out the video of the band performing "Lost Horizons" at the bottom of this post, courtesy of Bob Steshetz.

Like poor Hammer, Missing Persons, still led by singer Dale Bozzio, faced a mix drowned in low end. Still, the group offered up energetic versions of New Wave favorites like “Mental Hopscotch,” “Words” and their best song, “Walking in L.A.,” much to the delight of those who braved the heat and got to the show early.

Stray Cats making first-ever jump to DVD: 'Live At Montreux 1981' set for Nov. 6 release

It is hard to believe, but the Stray Cats are finally going to be the focus of a concert DVD! Fans of the rockabilly champions can definitely rejoice with this news. Here is the release that just landed in my inbox.

New York, NY (September 12, 2012)—Eagle Rock Entertainment is ready to rock your town on DVD and Digital Video with the November 6 release of Live At Montreux 1981 by the Stray Cats.


Newly restored with DTS Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Stereo, this concert is comprised of 15 songs, almost equally divided between original compositions and vintage rockabilly classics from 1956 to 1961. Of the 15, nine were on the Stray Cats’ first album, and some of the others were released as B-sides and EP tracks. A couple performed here have never appeared on official releases.


Live at Montreux 1981 displays how this trio of vocalist/guitarist Brian Setzer, upright bassist Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom single-handedly revived and restored the time-honored purity of real raucous rockabilly and brought it back into the forefront of modern pop. The band did more to get a generation back into slapback bass and hiccupped vocals than any other band.

For many fans, the Stray Cats were their first taste of not only rockabilly music, but also the subculture around it: the cars, the dances, the fashion, and the style of original teenage rebellion.

When the Stray Cats rolled into Montreux, six months after the release of their self-titled debut album, they were coming off no less than three hit singles (“Rock This Town,” “Stray Cat Strut,” and “Runaway Boys”), a UK Top 10 album, and a string of headlining concerts. Relocating from New York City to London in 1980, just a year after their formation, with a tantalizing combination of covers and originals, performed with punk enthusiasm yet true to the genre’s roots, they were an instant smash, garnering such high profile fans as Jeff Beck, Robert Plant, and members of the Rolling Stones. The crowd in Montreux reacted with near-hysterical excitement (inciting three encores); something rarely seen in what is usually a polite and reserved audience.

TRACK LISTING


1) Sweet Love On My Mind

2) Double Talking Baby

3) Rumble In Brighton

4) My One Desire

5) Ubangi Stomp

6) Drink That Bottle Down

7) Storm The Embassy

8) Stray Cut Strut

9) Fishnet Stockings

10) Important Words

11) Rock This Town

12) Runaway Boys

13) Be Bop A Lula

14) Somethin’ Else

15) Pretty Pretty Baby




Click the links below to view videos of:

Somethin’ Else - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rew8n-MrLrw

Runaway Boys - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7mfA48KJ8o



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

Music Worth Buying episode: Dave Matthews Band & Lianne La Havas

On the latest episode of Music Worth Buying, I champion the new Dave Matthews Band album Away from the World (which is available starting today), while TJR celebrates Lianne La Havas' debut Is Your Love Big Enough. Watch it now.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse to release 'Psychedelic Pill' on October 30th

There are a flood of new releases coming out today, but there is also news out today about an exciting new release coming from Neil Young & Crazy Horse.

NEIL YOUNG + CRAZY HORSE TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM,   PSYCHEDELIC PILL, ON OCTOBER 30TH ALBUM TO BE AVAILABLE ON DOUBLE-CD AND TRIPLE-LP VINYL EDITION CRAZY HORSE ON THE ROAD IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER September 11, 2012 - (Burbank, CA) - On the heels of their well-received summer release AMERICANA, NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE have announced that they will release another album, entitled PSYCHEDELIC PILL, on October 30th. Produced by Neil Young with John Hanlon and Mark Humphreys, PSYCHEDELIC PILL was recorded right after AMERICANA at Audio Casablanca and features eight tracks, plus a bonus track. 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. Due to the lengths of many of the songs, some of which were previewed during Crazy Horse's live performances in August, PSYCHEDELIC PILL will be released as a double-CD and as a triple-LP vinyl edition. In the spirit of AMERICANA'S release, full-length videos for each of the songs will be available for viewing and purchase. A recommended high-resolution 24/192 full-fidelity version of PSYCHEDELIC PILL will be released on Blu-ray and will include all the videos.  Crazy Horse, which is Young, Billy Talbot, Ralph Molina, and Poncho Sampredo, will hit the road for a North American tour beginning October 1, 2012 and continuing on for two months. The tour will visit cities from coast to coast, including stops at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Madison Square Garden in New York City. In addition, Young's annual Bridge School benefit will take place on October 20th and 21st at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. This year's line-up includes performances by Neil Young & Crazy Horse and label mates The Flaming Lips and Gary Clark Jr., as well as Jack White, Guns N' Roses and more. 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) Neil Young & Crazy Horse's upcoming tour dates are as follows:    Oct 3    Windsor, ONT               WFCU Centre Oct 5    Kingston, ONT              K ROCK Centre Oct 6    London, ONT                John Labatt Centre Oct 8    Cleveland, OH               Wolstein Center Oct 9    Pittsburgh, PA              Petersen Events Center Oct 11  Chicago, IL                   United Center Oct 13  Austin, TX                     Zilker Park / Austin City Limits Fest. Oct 14  Tulsa, OK                      Tulsa Convention Center Arena Oct 17  Los Angeles, CA           Hollywood Bowl Oct 20-21 Mountain View, CA     Shoreline Amphitheater Oct 25  Tuscaloosa, AL             Tuscaloosa Amphitheater Oct 26  New Orleans, LA           Voodoo Fest Nov 10  Seattle, WA                   Key Arena Nov 11  Vancouver, BC              Rogers Arena Nov 13  Calgary, AB                  Scotiabank Saddledome Nov 14  Saskatoon, SK              Credit Union Centre Nov 16  Winnipeg, MB               MTS Centre Nov 19  Toronto, ON                  Air Canada Centre    Nov 20  Kitchener, ON               Memorial Auditorium   Nov 23  Montreal, QC                 Bell Centre Nov 24  Ottawa, ON                   Scotiabank Place Nov 26  Boston, MA                  TD Garden Nov 27  New York, NY               Madison Square Garden Nov 29  Philadelphia, PA            Wells Fargo Center Nov 30  Fairfax, VA                   Patriot Center Dec 3   Brooklyn, NY                Barclays Center Dec 4   Bridgeport, CT              Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard

Live review: Dave Matthews Band potent in Irvine

My review was originally published on The Orange County Register site on Sunday morning, Sept. 9, 2012. Make sure to check out the original posting to see the full photo slide show too!

Dave Matthews Band potent in Irvine

The group powered through a mighty three-hour set at Verizon, debuting two new songs

By ROBERT KINSLER / FOR THE REGISTER

Dave Matthews sings "If Only" on Sept. 8, 2012. 

With Dave Matthews Band set to release its eighth studio album (the dazzling Away from the World) on Sept. 11, the group appeared more than pumped throughout its three-hour concert Saturday night at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Joined by several guests (notably guitar great Stanley Jordan) and reportedly offering up the live debut of not one but two songs off that soon-to-drop disc, Matthews and his terrific players would have blown the roof off the place if there was one.

When I last caught DMB here in Irvine, September 2009, the troupe was touring behind another then-new album, the Grammy-nominated Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, its first new work since the untimely death of saxophonist LeRoi Moore the year before. As impressive as that set was, its 155-minute length was easily outdistanced by Saturday's (Sept. 8, 2012) performance, clocking in 20 minutes longer, in front of a packed house that covered every corner of the lawn.

Opening with the funk-tinged "Seven," Matthews and his band never let up. That song showcased a three-horn attack alongside Tim Reynolds' incredible fretwork, though throughout the night every member of the ensemble had multiple chances to shine. Yet, whereas many jam bands blessed with such skilled musicians merely use extended songs to showcase their talents, with DMB the song is never eclipsed.

Violinist Boyd Tinsley performs in Irvine.

On "If Only," one of several pieces from Away from the World featured this night, things started out relatively quiet, Matthews singing in his beautiful falsetto accompanied by his acoustic guitar. But as artfully as a celebrated symphony orchestra, other colors were added as the song went on, and before long the mighty rhythm section (drummer Carter Beauford and bassist Stefan Lessard), the powerful horns (Jeff Coffin on sax, Rashawn Ross on trumpet) plus Reynolds, signature violinist Boyd Tinsley and the star himself were roaring. Many groups might have concluded with such a dynamic shift, but DMB then proceeded to scale things down again, to a bewitching quiet, before ending the gem.

Matthews' studio recordings have been beloved and popular, but it remains at concerts like this where the band shines brightest. "Crush" began with Lessard doing the heavy lifting before a superb fiddle solo from Tinsley segued into a lead guitar solo and explosive finish, providing myriad moods that delighted the swaying and grooving crowd. Throughout the show, impressive lighting arrays and projected videos on a rear screen added subliminal power.

Of the songs performed for the first time (according to online die-hards who keep tabs on such things), the blues-rocking "Rooftop" was particularly memorable. A remarkably straightforward rocker for DMB, the song's Bad Company-esque chorus was a timely reminder of just how powerful the band can be even when stripped of its funk and jazz and world-music coverings. The other previously unheard song, "Snow Outside," is a beautiful slice of country-folk Americana that gradually built to a modernist jazz blast before returning to a potent hush.

Guitar virtuoso Jordan was able to utilize his impressive two-handed tapping technique for a pair of jams in the middle of the set. His unique style blended seamlessly with the band's fullness, especially on "The Dreaming Tree," where his guitar almost sounded like keyboards, adding otherworldly textures to the piece.

Considering that 2012 marks 50 years since the release of Bob Dylan's debut recording, few tributes will likely be as mighty (if unintentional) as DMB's epic performance of "All Along the Watchtower" that culminated this gig. Whether it was a tribute to ol' Zimmy or merely an excuse to all-out rock, its forcefulness shook the night.

Few concert experiences are perfect, but this night's only poor grades come courtesy of dim attendees who clearly weren't real fans of the band and were on hand Saturday night simply for the party. When a nonstop chatterbug behind me was finally asked to shut up, she responded that she was at a concert and wouldn't be quiet, then proceeded to blabber about that for 15 minutes.

How do I know she's not a real fan? She (thankfully) left the show early. Also stupefying: the woman to my right who arrived late and then glared at her smartphone for most of the night, missing most of this excellent show.

Dave Matthews Band at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine, Sept. 8, 2012

Main set: Seven / Eh Hee / If Only / You Never Know / Crush / Rooftop / Everyday / Mercy / Rhyme & Reason (with Stanley Jordan) / The Dreaming Tree (with Jordan and trombone player Lasim Richards) / Don't Drink the Water / Digging a Ditch / Snow Outside / Spaceman / Cornbread (with Richards) / The Riff / Shake Me Like a Monkey / Two Step

Encore: Some Devil / The Star-Spangled Banner / All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan cover)

'Paul McCartney's Live Kisses' is a magical ride

One of the genuine musical surprises of early 2012 was the release of Paul McCartney's Kisses On The Bottom album. Released back in February, the album is a wonderful collection of standards that Sir Paul listened to as a young boy, as well as several originals (notably, the evocative "My Valentine," my favorite song on the disc).
The album was a definite artistic challenge for McCartney with him focusing strictly on singing and leaving the instrumental duties to Diana Krall and her top-notch band, as well as guest appearances from Stevie Wonder and Eric Clapton.

In celebration of the release of Kisses On The Bottom, McCartney and many of the players who helped him complete that album gathered in the same Capitol Studios space in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2012 (the 48th anniversary of The Beatles' U.S. TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show) to revisit their roles in the first-ever live performance of the songs.

Diana Krall, left, with Paul McCartney

The glorious results can now be seen by all when Paul McCartney's Live Kisses comes to Great Performances, set to air at 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012 on PBS stations (check local listings here).
Over the course of the fast-paced 53-minute special, McCartney joins forces with Krall at the piano, guitar great John Pizzarelli and others - all of it captured by Grammy-winning producer Tommy LiPuma and Al Schmitt in the studio booth.

Those wondering why McCartney veered off recent path of rock-styled releases (2007's Memory Almost Full, 2005's Chaos and Creation In The Backyard) or experimental rock he has pursued with Youth as The Fireman, will see the life-long love affair McCartney has had with traditional pop music through interviews, old family photos, vintage video clips on The Beatles back in the early '60s and through the 10 performances themselves.

From the opening performance of Fats Waller's "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" to more affecting material ("More I Cannot Wish You," with McCartney's emotive vocals on full display), other standouts on the special include the affecting "My Valentine" (featuring Joe Walsh's fantastic acoustic guitar work), the poignant "Bye Bye Blackbird" and bouncy "My Very Good Friend the Milkman." On several songs, his longtime live drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. contributes winning harmony vocals.

Jumping back and forth between black & white and color, the flow and look of the film is seamless, and director Jonas Akerlund gets all the details just right. At one point, McCartney recalls "John (Lennon) and I both loved this old stuff."

Thanks to Paul McCartney's Live Kisses, the rest of us get to share a little bit of that love too.

The Rolling Stones - GRRR! A Greatest Hits Collection coming November 13, 2012

Here is a media release I received earlier today. I am simply reposting it here; exciting news for long-term and casual fans of the band...the best news of all is that new Stones material is on the way this year!

THE ROLLING STONES: GRRR!

A GREATEST HITS COLLECTION TO MARK FIVE DECADES TO BE RELEASED NOVEMBER 13, 2012 IN NORTH AMERICA

GLOBAL 3D AUGMENTED REALITY CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO REVEAL UNIQUE ALBUM COVER

The Rolling Stones, ABKCO Music & Records and Universal Music Group are pleased to announce the release of GRRR! by The Rolling Stones on the 12th of November 2012 for the World Excluding North America and on the 13th of November 2012 in North America.



Available in various different formats – including a three-CD 50 track version featuring 50 tracks, and a four-CD Super-Deluxe version gathering a whopping 80 tracks – the collection tells the fascinating ongoing story of the Greatest Rock'n'Roll Band In The World, from their high octane version of Chuck Berry's Come On, their first single issued in June 1963, via the thrilling chart-toppers The Last Time, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Get Off Of My Cloud, Jumping Jack Flash and Honky Tonk Women and the perennial juke-box and concert favorites Brown Sugar, Tumbling Dice, Miss You and Start Me Up, all the way to the present day with the inclusion of Gloom And Doom and One Last Shot, two new studio recordings recently completed by the group in Paris, France.



These brand new recordings constitute the first time Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood have all been together in the studio since completing the exalted A Bigger Bang album in 2005, and follow on from the critically-acclaimed expanded re-releases of the historic 40th Anniversary live Madison Square Garden concert “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!” in November 2009 and of two of their seventies masterworks, Exile on Main St., in May 2010, and Some Girls, in November 2011.


All GRRR! formats will feature a striking painting by award-winning American artist Walton Ford, who has created the latest in a long line of iconic artwork that has always been part of the band's DNA.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were schoolfriends who lost touch, met up again at Dartford train station in 1960, and bonded over a shared love of rock'n'roll and Chicago blues. Within a couple of years, they were joined by guitarist Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart and became part of the rich rhythm and blues scene that gravitated around Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies in London. By January 1963, they had added drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman and were playing a repertoire of Chess Records favorites Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters – whose Rollin' Stone composition provided their name – and Howlin' Wolf – whose Little Red Rooster became their second UK number one in 1964. Jagger and Richards forged a creative partnership that endures to this day and has produced some of the most memorable songs in music history, including the much-covered Ruby Tuesday and Wild Horses.


The Jagger-Richards catalogue is remarkably consistent, full of unexpected lyrical and melodic twists which helped shaped popular music. Compositions like 19th Nervous Breakdown, Paint It, Black, Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow? and Let's Spend The Night Together articulated the feelings and frustrations of the counterculture generation and held a mirror to British society. In 1968, the Rolling Stones made the seminal Beggars Banquet album, featuring the heart-of-darkness opener Sympathy For The Devil and the finely-observed Street Fighting Man whose 'what can a poor boy do, except to sing for a rock'n'roll band?' lyric sounds more apposite than ever. They survived the loss of Jones, replaced by Mick Taylor who proved a sterling contributor to Let It Bleed, the influential 1969 album which included the elegiac You Can't Always Get What You Want and the ominous, eerily prescient Gimme Shelter.


With Jagger, the ultimate showman setting the gold standard for other lead singers, and Richards, the iconic guitarist raising the bar in riff-making, the Rolling Stones were the first band to master the art and craft of playing arenas and effortlessly made the groundbreaking move into stadiums in the seventies. They have remained the world's top concert attraction with every successive record-breaking tour, as effective performing beautiful ballads like Angie and Fool To Cry as the out-and-out rocker Respectable, their 1978 riposte to the punks who copped so many moves from them. The arrival of Wood, who took over from Taylor in the mid-seventies, added his signature slide and pedal steel guitar to an already heady brew and proved the perfect partner in the 'ancient art for weaving' for Richards on tracks like Beast Of Burden, coincided with the funkier direction of the dancefloor fillers Hot Stuff and Emotional Rescue. In 1983, the edgy, sonically-adventurous Undercover Of The Night showed the group still had their finger on the pulse of alternative culture; the controversial Undercover video, directed by Sex Pistols associate Julien Temple, provided another highlight in a storied career that has seen them collaborate with world-famous film-makers like Nicolas Roeg, Jean-Luc Godard, Martin Scorsese, the Maysles and Peter Whitehead.


The Rolling Stones overcame the mid-eighties hiatus that nevertheless saw them score one of their biggest successes with their superior version of Bob & Earl's Harlem Shuffle, and returned stronger than ever with the Steel Wheels album and its irresistible lead off-track Mixed Emotions in 1989. Following Wyman's exit in 1993, they soldiered on and hit another purple patch with the Voodoo Lounge and Bridges To Babylon albums and their respective singles, the harmonica-led Love Is Strong and Anybody Seen My Baby, their first hit to feature sampling and rapping. In 2005, the soulful, gospel-infused ballad Streets Of Love, from A Bigger Bang, became a worldwide smash 42 years after their first chart entry, while the 1972 outtake Plundered My Soul helped the expanded Exile On Main St. return to the top the UK album charts 38 years after its original release, a feat unmatched by any artist.


Cherry-picking timeless hit singles and classic album tracks from their peerless catalogue and bringing the story up to date, the various formats of GRRR! offer the perfect package to help Rolling Stones fans celebrate the group's fiftieth anniversary in style.



In celebration of the Rolling Stones’ incredible journey, an innovative campaign has been launched to reveal their GRRR! Greatest Hits album sleeve using 3D Augmented Reality.


During a three week teaser campaign, fans were invited to download the free uView app in preparation for a big announcement.

From today, using the uView app fans can scan the GRRR! sleeve and watch the stunning imagery come to life in 3D animation right before their eyes.

The campaign will have further exciting updates coming soon.



The use of one of the most advanced forms of mobile technology currently around solidifies The Rolling Stones as one of the most innovative bands in the world and as relevant as they have always been.



The technology has been developed in partnership with Aurasma, the leaders in image recognition and augmented reality technology.



GRRR! GREATEST HITS FORMATS:



50 Track 3CD album

3CD / 50 tracks in a digipack with 24 page booklet





50 Track 3CD Deluxe Edition

3CD / 50 tracks in a DVD size box with 36 page hardback book and 5 postcards




Super Deluxe Edition Box Set

4CD / 80 tracks plus Bonus CD, 7" Vinyl, Hardback book, Poster, 5 postcards in a presentation box



12” Vinyl Box Set

5x 12" Vinyl / 50 tracks in a casebound LP Box




GRRR! by The Rolling Stones will be released November 13, 2012 in North America.



www.rollingstones.com

http://www.facebook.com/therollingstones

www.twitter.com/rollingstones

Inbox Update: Jamey Johnson, The Wallflowers, My Jerusalem

Here is my latest roundup of noteworthy news releases gathered up from my inbox...

Jamey Johnson to kick-off album release with concert at the Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 16

Award-winning singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson will kick-off the release of his new album Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran with a special concert event on Oct. 16, 2012.

The night will feature Johnson with a special group of friends at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium and will coincide with the street date of the album. Tickets will go on sale Friday, Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. To purchase tickets, please visit www.ryman.com.

Johnson's next album Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran is set for a Sept. 25 release on vinyl, and will include legends Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Alison Krauss, Leon Russell, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Ray Price. The album also features Asleep at the Wheel, Elvis Costello, George Strait, Ronnie Dunn, Bobby Bare, Lee Ann Womack, Kris Kristofferson and Cochran himself.

Along with Johnson, they're singing such Cochran hits as "I Fall To Pieces," "Make the World Go Away," "Don't Touch Me," "Would These Arms Be In Your Way" and "A-11."

Sadly, Cochran died at age 74 in 2010; he was considered one of the greatest songwriters in the history of country music.

Visit Johnson's official Web site for more information.


The Wallflowers premiere 'Live from the Artists Den' performance of new single "Reboot the Mission"

New album Glad All Over available for pre-order on iTunes

The Wallflowers recently filmed an episode of Live from the Artists Den at San Francisco's Bimbo's 365 Club, and they've released a video of the band performing "Reboot The Mission," the first single off their new album Glad All Over, which hits stores October 2nd. Stay tuned for more info about the full Live from the Artists Denepisode. Glad All Over is available now for pre-order on iTunes. Fans that pre-order the album will also get an additional track, "Don't Give Up on Me," on release day. The Wallflowers rose to fame with their 4x platinum album Bringing Down The Horse,which featured four top charting singles including "6th Avenue Heartache," "One Headlight," "The Difference," and "Three Marlenas." The two-time Grammy Award winners went on to sell over 7 million records worldwide with a series of critically acclaimed albums before going on hiatus in 2007. During the group's break from recording, Jakob Dylan released two solo albums, which also garnered significant praise, 2008's Seeing Things and 2010's Women and Country. The band recently completed an exclusive club tour of the U.S. giving fans a preview of their highly anticipated sixth studio album. "Reboot The Mission" Live from the Artists Den performance: http://theartistsden.com/thewallflowers  "Reboot The Mission" video: http://youtu.be/hZMt6a4SeR8  Glad All Over iTunes pre-order: http://smarturl.it/gladallover  For more information (and a free download of "Reboot The Mission") please visit www.thewallflowers.com.

My Jerusalem announces fall tour; band's 'Preachers' out on Oct. 9 via The End Records

“Nobody ever paid money to see Harry Houdini escape being buried alive” says My Jerusalem founder and singer Jeff Klein. “They wanted the small chance of seeing him killed by the weight of the earth on top of him.”

Behold the concept behind Preachers, the second full-length release from Austin’s My Jerusalem. From the opening piano of the haunting title track, to the unexpected pummeling guitar and drums on closer “I Left My Conscience In You”, Preachers leads the listener on a cinematic journey through a reckless, jagged landscape of Raymond Carver-esque stories, fueled by Klein’s persuasive baritone, ominous guitars, dream-like keyboards and a deep rhythmic pulse.

Recorded in under three weeks by Spoon drummer Jim Eno (Heartless Bastards, Polica, Black Joe Lewis) at his Public Hi-Fi studio, Preachers is the first My Jerusalem album genuinely made by a band, not just performed by a group of musicians. Pushing aside hard drives and laptops to make way for analog tape machines and vintage keyboards, what Klein describes as the “Post-Modern Southern Gothic Soul” sounds of Preachers were born from organic, live performances Eno carefully captured and tweaked.

Preachers is the follow-up to 2010’s critically acclaimed debut, Gone For Good, an album that earned the band performances on BBC Radio 6 and Daytrotter, as well as notices from NPR’s All Songs Considered, AOL/Spinner’s Song of the Day, and the iTunes Weekly Rewind. Along with European festival appearances at the Frequency Festival, Musikfestwochen, and Rock Im Saal, the band toured and played shows with a eclectic set of bands including Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Har Mar Superstar, Avett Brothers, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and White Arrows.

Buoyed by the success of Gone For Good, Preachers showcases a band headed into the studio with a renewed focus and confidence.

My Jerusalem is:

Jeff Klein – Vocals, Guitar: Jon Merz – Guitar, Keyboards, Horns: Michael St. Clair – Violin, Keyboards, Horns: Geena Spigarelli – Bass: Grant Van Amburgh – Drums

'Preachers' Tracklisting

01  Preachers
02  Shatter Together
03  Born In The Belly
04  Mono
05  This Time
06  Death Valley
07  Devoe
08  Between Space
09  Oh Little Sister
10  Chameleon
11  I Left My Conscience In You

Visit the band's official Web site here for more details.

New Elbow release set: 'Dead In The Boot – The B-Sides' coming Sept. 4

I'm still trying to get caught up with some tasty news nuggets that have landed in my inbox this week. As a huge fan of Elbow, can't wait to hear this when it arrives next week!

Dead In The Boots  – The B-Sides set to arrive Sept. 4, 2012 on Fiction / Cooperative Music

"The band have always loved B-side land and this is a collection of our favorites. None of our B-sides are album rejects. It's a different space, usually just post finishing an album when all the members of Elbow are chiming and feeling very creative. This gives Dead in the Boot a real late night vibe. My sister came up with the title after we released Asleep in the Back. Some of these songs are the favorites we have ever written. It was important to us that this collection be an album in its own right so for some fans it may seem like there are glaring omissions, but these songs are the ones that hung together perfectly." Guy Garvey, Elbow

For long term Elbow watchers the announcement that Dead In The Boot is finally due for release on September 4^th will be very good news indeed. First talked about around the time of the release of the bands debut album Asleep in the Back, Dead In The Boot brings together B-sides and the odd non-album track from the band's thirteen year recording career.

It's the first release following Elbow's highly-visible performance at the closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics. Elbow also contributed the specially commissioned "First Steps" to the London games.

The early years are represented by "None One" from the original Newborn EP released by Uglyman Records in 2000 and "Lucky With Disease" from 2001. The band's most recent work is showcased by "Buffalo Ghosts" the B-side to the limited edition 10" vinyl release of "Open Arms" last April.

In addition there are ten further tracks that demonstrate the depth of Elbow's songwriting, comprising heart wrenching ballads, loping steel guitar ornamented grooves ("The Long War Shuffle") and blues drenched howls ("McGreggor").

Mostly self-produced, recording B-sides throughout the years allowed the band to hone their studio skills which eventually led Elbow keyboard player Craig Potter to fully produce and mix the bands last two albums. It may be categorized as a B-sides album but Dead In The Boot stands shoulder to shoulder with every other Elbow album released.

 "Dead In The Boot" will be available digitally on September 4^th, 2012.

Look for vinyl & CD editions later this fall.

 

 www.elbow.co.uk