Last-minute gift guide for music lovers

With Christmas and Hanukkah less than a week away, here are some fantastic last-minute gift ideas for that favorite music lover in your life.

Artist: The Rolling Stones
Title: Blue & Lonesome (Interscope Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Rolling Stones, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon
Tell me more: While 2016 has seen more than it's fair share of loss in the music world (David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Prince, Merle Haggard, Sharon Jones and Leonard Cohen for starters), there were also several stellar returns to celebrate. Chief among those was a new Rolling Stones studio album, the aptly-pegged Blue & Lonesome, a top-flight effort recorded over a mere three days that features Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and friends (including Eric Clapton on two of the songs) dishing out a dozen reworked classics from the likes of Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf and Willie Dixon. The slow-burning "All Of Your Love," fierce harmonica-anchored "I Gotta Go" and sassy "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing" are among the notable delights here. Information: RollingStones.com.

Artist: The Blind Boys of Alabama
Title: Go Tell It On The Mountain (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: The Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, Solomon Burke
Tell me more: Despite the group's obvious ties with Christianity and gospel dating back to the late 1930s, the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama didn't get around to recording a Christmas album until 2003. Now, the stunning Go Tell It On the Mountain has been reissued as a deluxe edition that includes additional tracks. Among the stellar lineup of special guests who joined the Blind Boys of Alabama on the Grammy-winning Christmas album were Solomon Burke, Tom Waits, Chrissie Hynde, Mavis Staples and George Clinton. Also recently released is the group's 2005 album Atom Bomb, which includes a winning mix of gospel standards and contemporary songs including Blind Faith's "Presence of the Lord" and Norman Joel Greenbaum's 1969 classic "Spirit in the Sky." The line-up of guest musicians joining in included keyboardist Billy Preston in one of his final recorded performances. Information: omnivorerecordings.com.

Artist: The Pretenders
Title: Alone (BMG)
You might like if you enjoy: The Pretenders, Garbage, The Black Keys
Tell me more: I somehow missed the Pretenders' return with Alone when the album was released several months ago, but after getting the disc earlier this month and catching the Pretenders in an opening stint for Stevie Nicks at the Forum in Inglewood, CA recently, I was sold on Chrissie Hynde and company's widely-praised 12-song collection produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach at his Easy Eye Studio in Nashville. Highlights on Alone include the yearning "Let's Get Lost," the rollicking "Holy Commotion," wistful "Never Be Together" (featuring guest guitar great Duane Eddy) and raw "I Hate Myself." Information: ThePretenders.com.

Artists: Soprano Ana Maria Martinez, tenor Placido Domingo, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, others
Title: Mozart in the Jungle - Season 3 (Sony Classical)
You might like if you enjoy: the Amazon series "Mozart in the Jungle," classical music
Tell me more: Regular viewers of the Golden Globe-winning Amazon series Mozart in the Jungle are fans of the show's original blend of comedy, drama and great music. But even those who have yet to catch an episode of the series would love the soundtrack for Season 3 of "Mozart in the Jungle." The 12-track title features a mix of strong operatic and instrumental selections including the beautiful "Les Filles des Cadix" featuring soprano Ana Maria Martinez, a new recording of "Impromptu (Thomas's piece)" showcasing violinist Joshua Bell, and a new recording of the duet "La ci darem la mano" from Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni" featuring Martinez and legendary tenor Placido Domingo. Information: sonymusicmasterworks.com. 

Title: Hairspray Live! Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event (Epic Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Hairspray, Ariana Grande
Tell me more: Earlier this month, NBC-TV broadcast "Hairspray Live!," and now the official companion release "Hairspray Live! Original Soundtrack of the NBC Television Event" is available on audio CD, via streaming and digital formats. The musical's timeless story of teenage dreams is played out via colorful characters and catchy musical numbers. Among the highlights on "Hairspray Live" is the old time rock 'n' roll ensemble piece "The Nicest Kids in Town," the soulful "Run and Tell That" (featuring singer Ephraim Sykes) and the bouncy "You Can't Stop the Beat." The musical's featured singers include Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth, Martin Short and aforementioned Ephraim Sykes. Information: masterworksbroadway.com.

Robert Kinsler

2017 Inductees for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Announced

The Zombies are sadly not on their way into the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame next year.

Well, here is the class of 2017. I was especially thrilled to see the Electric Light Orchestra, Pearl Jam and Yes get the nod. In the end, I am fine with all of the inductees except Tupac Shakur. I truly don't understand why the late hip hop artist was placed in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ahead of genuine rock artists such as the Zombies and the Cars. The Zombies, in particular, have been very influential since they burst on the British rock scene in the early 1960s. Here is the official media release (Robert Kinsler).

THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2017 INDUCTEES

* * * * *

32nd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Presented by Klipsch Audio

Returns to Brooklyn at Barclays Center on April 7

* * * * *

Pearl Jam is among the artists bound for the Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame in 2017.

Cleveland (December 20, 2016) – The names of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2017 Inductees have been released. They are:

Performer Category:

• Joan Baez
• Electric Light Orchestra
• Journey
• Pearl Jam
• Tupac Shakur
• Yes

Award for Musical Excellence:

• Nile Rodgers
   

The 32nd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, will take place on Friday, April 7, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York for the third time. Ticket on-sale dates will be announced in January. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2017 Induction Ceremony will again have its television premiere on HBO, and a radio broadcast on SiriusXM. Broadcast details will be announced in early 2017.

A limited number of pre-sale tickets will be available for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members in advance of the public sale date. To be eligible for the member pre-sale, you must be an active Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member by December 31, 2016. Additional public ticket details and presale offers will be announced in the future.

The special exhibition on the 2017 Inductees will open at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on March 30.

Jeff Lynne of ELO.

Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first recording.  The 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Performer Inductees were chosen by more than 900 voters of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, as well as the aggregate results of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s online fan vote. The top five artists from the fan vote comprised the fans’ ballot that was tallied along with the other ballots to determine the 2017 Inductees. Four of the groups from fans’ ballot (Electric Light Orchestra, Journey, Pearl Jam, and YES) will be inducted as performers in 2017.

Klipsch Audio, a leading global speaker and headphone manufacturer, is a strategic partner and presenting sponsor of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, its Induction Ceremony events and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Main Stage. Klipsch’s renowned products deliver the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience throughout the iconic museum.

To receive Induction Ceremony updates, announcements and ticket information, sign up for the Rock Hall’s e-newsletter at www.rockhall.com/e-newsletter, follow the Rock Hall onFacebook, Twitter (@rockhall) and Instagram (@rockhall) or join the conversation at #RockHall2017.

For high-resolution artwork, artist biographies, FAQs, and to apply for Induction Ceremony media credentials, please visit http://rockhall.com/press-room.

About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame:

Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear and simple: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock and roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through exhibits, innovative programs and concerts. Join the millions of other people who love it as much as you do. It’s a celebration of fans like you. Experience it live or online – Visit rockhall.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@rockhall) and Instagram (@rockhall). Long Live Rock!

About Klipsch Audio:

In 1946 Paul W. Klipsch, inventor, acoustics pioneer and maverick, founded Klipsch Audio with the sole purpose of bringing the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience into his living room. Through the use of highly efficient speaker designs, handcrafted cabinetry and a thirst for real engineering breakthroughs – Klipsch, the great American loudspeaker company, was born in Hope, AR. Today, our diverse range of quality audio products includes speakers and headphones for almost any consumer and professional application – including cinema, whole-house, wireless, home theater and portable offerings. Honoring our founder’s legacy, Klipsch continues to be the legendary high-performance brand of choice for audiophiles and aficionados around the world. We are the Keepers of the Sound®. Klipsch Group, Inc. is a VOXX International Company (NASDAQ: VOXX). For more information, visitKlipsch.com.

About Home Box Office, Inc.:

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world’s most successful pay TV service, providing the two television services – HBO® and Cinemax® – to approximately 122 million subscribers worldwide.  The services offer the popular subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand® and Cinemax On Demand®, as well as HBO GO® and MAX GO®, HD feeds and multiplex channels. HBO NOWSM, the network’s internet-only premium streaming service, provides audiences with instant access to HBO’s acclaimed programming in the U.S. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 60 countries.  HBO and Cinemax programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.

About Barclays Center:

Barclays Center opened on September 28, 2012, and is a major sports and entertainment venue in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. One of the most intimate seating configurations ever designed into a modern multi-purpose arena, Barclays Center offers 17,732 seats for basketball, 15,795 for hockey, and up to 19,000 seats for concerts, and has 101 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, four clubs, and 40/40 CLUB & Restaurant by American Express.

Stevie Nicks and Chrissie Hynde are timeless in Forum show

Stevie Nicks, left, with Chrissie Hynde during the
performance of "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"
on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016.

24 Karat Gold Tour
With: Stevie Nicks, The Pretenders
Where: The Forum in Inglewood, CA
When: Sunday, Dec. 18

While 2016 has seen more than its fair share of loss in the music world (David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Prince, Merle Haggard, Sharon Jones, Sir George Martin and Leonard Cohen for starters), two of classic rock’s most celebrated women showcased their distinguished legacies in a sold-out concert at the Forum in Inglewood on Sunday.

On the final night of their two-month 24 Karat Gold tour, Stevie Nicks and the Chrissie Hynde-led Pretenders seemed energized by the large and enthusiastic crowd, and the two icons were frequently able to acknowledge each other and the bond each has with her fans.

Stevie Nicks performing early in her set at the Forum.

Over the course of more than two hours, headliner Nicks and her backing ensemble (six musicians and two female backing singers) showcased both Fleetwood Mac classics and solo hits. However, it seemed the Phoenix native was equally revitalized by material not well known, acknowledging some songs had not made it on her records despite the strength of the initial demo recordings.The 68-year-old songstress was in an especially introspective and reflective mood, often providing details on the genesis of her songs and celebrating the life of her late friend Prince.

Stevie Nicks at the Forum.

Among the hidden gems performed was “If Anyone Falls,” a beautiful song enhanced by colorful and moody visuals projected on a large screen, including two ghostly ballet dancers. But Nicks could turn things around quickly; for the third selection she jump started the mood in the Forum when Hynde joined her on stage for the playful duet “Stop Draggin' My Heart Around” (originally recorded with Tom Petty). Other audience favorites included “Gypsy” with Nick’s seasoned soprano enticing while artful black & white images of rain and old city views appeared in the background, the propulsive rocker “Enchanted,” and a powerful song written in the wake of Hurricane Katrina (“New Orleans”) among other standouts in the first half of the night.

The last half of her run included the shimmering “Starshine,” driving “Stand Back” (when Nicks twirled during an instrumental break, the crowd cheered), a luxurious “Crying in the Night” (one of the oldest songs she performed, a track from 1973’s “Buckingham Nicks” album), the piano-anchored “Edge of Seventeen,” and sweeping encore featuring two of her most beloved Fleetwood Mac classics, “Rhiannon” and “Landslide.”

Chrissie Hynde was terrific throughout the
Pretenders' set at the Forum on Dec. 18, 2016.

Chrissie Hynde’s hour-long set leading the Pretenders may have drawn the most cheers when radio hits were played, but there is little doubt the Ohio native is equally concerned with the here-and-now. The Pretenders’ 15-song outing featured a number of songs from her wonderful 2016 album Alone, one of the best discs of 2016. In fact, the Pretenders kicked off their set with the title track from the Dan Auerbach-produced effort, with lead guitarist James Walbourne unleashing some blistering guitar work, and the 65-year-young Hynde showcasing her distinctive vocals with the power of her early ’80s performances.

She also positioned her new album prominently with “Gotta Wait,” another guitar-anchored new track that immediately entices. Listening to the Pretenders (whose lineup includes original drummer Martin Chambers) was to be firmly reminded that Hynde’s songs never sound dated. If “Message of Love,” “Back on the Chain Gang,” “Mystery Achievement,” “I'll Stand By You” and “Middle of the Road” were released today, this writer’s guess they would still find favor with discerning modern-rock audiences.

Fans are likely divided on her position, but Hynde’s clear-cut admonitions to fans positioned near the stage to “stop taking pictures” and to “stop using your phones” was cheered by many in the crowd. A rocker at heart, Hynde still believes in the power of live music to sweep fans into another realm sans distractions that take the focus away from a powerful performance.

Indeed, this is one long-time fan who has seen many fans experience too much of their concert-going experiences through the distractions of their smart phone while missing out on the singular power of a great rock show.

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photos by Kelly A. Swift

Music Books Gift Guide

Those whose interest in music extends beyond merely listening have plenty of choice books to choose from this holiday season. From in-depth explorations of '60s favorites the Monkees and country-western hero Buck Owens to groundbreaking Americana outfit The Band, here is a list of some noteworthy 2016 titles available now.

Title: The Monkees, Head and the 60s (Jawbone Press)
Author: Peter Mills
Paperback: 336 pages
Tell me more: When four young actors were cast to portray an aspiring rock band on "The Monkees" TV series in 1965, it isn't likely anyone would have believed the enduring power of not only the group's hit NBC show, but the lasting appeal of the quartet's musical recordings and influence of their 1968 film "Head." Peter Mills' The Monkees, Head, and the 60s is a serious and thoughtful look at how Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Davy Jones went from being an imaginary band to becoming a bona fide music outfit and ultimately establishing the blueprint for how the music industry uses marketing and the media to establish the career of a mainstream artist. This is an essential book for not only Monkees fans, but those who want to understand the myriad of forces that often determine why an artist is successful. Information: jawbonepress.com.

Title: Back to Black: Amy Winehouse's Only Masterpiece (Backbeat Books)
Author: Donald Brackett
Softcover: 272 pages
Tell me more: Amy Winehouse's life itself was tragic; she died of alcohol poisoning in July 2011 at the age of 27. And while much of the focus on Winehouse over the past five years has focused on her battles with drug and alcohol addiction, author Donald Brackett's Back to Black: Amy Winehouse's Only Masterpiece puts the focus on her second and most brilliant album, Back to Black. The 2006 release spawned a number of hits and has had a lasting impact with the subsequent success of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Adele. The songs, producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi and musicians who contributed to that album are the focus of the important and fast-moving study. Information: backbeatbooks.com.



Title: Buck 'Em! The Autobiography of Buck Owens (Backbeat Books)
Authors: Buck Owens with Randy Poe
Paperback: 360 pages
Tell me more: During the late 1990s, singer-guitarist-songwriter Buck Owens recorded nearly 100 hours of his memories onto cassette tapes in what would ultimately provide the text for Buck 'Em! The Autobiography of Buck Owens. Now available in paperback, the autobiography covers his years as a hit maker (he was the biggest country music star of the 1960s), host of the country TV show "Hee Haw," influence on greats such as Dwight Yoakam (who wrote the books preface) and his legendary business acumen. Information: backbeatbooks.com.

Title: Sex, Drums, Rock 'n' Roll! The Hardest Hitting Man in Show Business (Backbeat Books)
Author: Kenny Aronoff
Hardcover: 320 pages
Tell me more: Kenny Aronoff is among the greatest and most influential drummers of his generation, having recorded and performed with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, and many more. Now Aronoff's first-person account of his one-of-a-kind tale is documented in Sex, Drums, Rock 'n' Roll! The Hardest Hitting Man in Show Business. In colorful and conversational language, Aronoff details events throughout his rich life; the lesson here is ultimately about having a dream and working everyday to make it come true. The book's forward was penned by drummer-author Neil Peart of the band Rush. Information: backbeatbooks.com.

Title: The Band FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Fathers of Americana (Backbeat Books)
Author: Peter Aaron 
Paperback: 400 pages
Tell me more: The musical landscape explored by The Band in the late 1960s and early '70s somehow fused folk, blues, gospel, country, soul and rock 'n' roll in ways never heard before. Often cited as creators of the roots rock genre and arguably the first Americana rock ensemble, The Band's profound influence and terrific legacy is highlighted throughout The Band FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Fathers of Americana. Author Peter Aaron digs deep into the individual and collective contributions of Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson, the names behind classic songs including "The Weight," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Up On Cripple Creek." Information: backbeatbooks.com.

Title: The Clash FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Clash City Rockers (Backbeat Books)
Author: Gary J. Jucha
Paperback: 400 pages
Tell me more: One of punk rock's earliest and most important champions is celebrated throughout The Clash FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Clash City Rockers. The book provides all kinds of interesting and informative information on the English band that was founded by guitarist Mick Jones and fronted by the late Joe Strummer. The band's complex history is explored clearly, with the group's changing lineup, tours and legendary concert dates, bootlegs and official releases revisited during the 400-page run. Information: backbeatbooks.com.

Title: A Perfect Union of Contrary Things (Backbeat Books)
Author: Sarah Jensen with Maynard James Keenan
Hardcover: 274 pages
Tell me more: Life is as much about the decisions we make as those we don't. The authorized biography of Tool lead singer-songwriter Maynard James Keenan (A Perfect Union of Contrary Things) is a story of hard work and good luck, passion and friendships, music and wine beautifully told by author Sarah Jensen. Even those with little knowledge of Tool or A Perfect Circle will want to read this volume cover to cover. The edition includes a number of photos from his childhood and his music career. Information: backbeatbooks.com. 

Robert Kinsler

Colin Hay follows banner year with definitive new release, 'Fierce Mercy'

One of the most interesting and talented singer-songwriters of the modern era, Colin Hay has just announced another new album is coming soon (in March 2017). Here is the official media release:

FIERCE MERCY is an epic, cinematic step forward from singer-songwriter Colin Hay, most beloved for his intimate, confessional live shows but most widely known for being an influential and celebrated frontman. The range of artists who have chosen to cite him as a muse or who have found themselves on stage with him in the past year spans the genre landscape from heavy metal, to Americana, to Cuban rhythms and beyond. His inclusion as a playlist favorite from the likes of Metallica to The Lumineers reflects his continuing relevance and broad appeal. Recorded in both Los Angeles and Nashville and mixed by Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Jack White) and Gordon Hammond (Buddy Miller, Don Williams), FIERCE MERCY explores themes of love and loss, mortality, and even the odd UFO sighting, but always with the singular perspective and insightful wit that define Hay’s work. He has created a new classic in his impressive repertoire (this is his 13th solo release), using a palette of pop songcraft, Americana flourishes, and soundtrack-ready strings.  FIERCE MERCY is animated by its pensive, honest, and impassioned lyrics, and, Hay adds, by a sense of urgency felt deeply in the song “The Last to Know,” which introduces the album’s title concept of “fierce mercy.” “When you’re in your 20s, you think you’ve got all the time in the world,” Hay said. “You get older, and you go through a quickening. Everything seems to get faster.” Using his gift for expressing struggle in a way that resonates with a wide variety of people, he compares this to the messages mankind is getting on a global level: “With the changing weather patterns, or the polar ice caps melting, we’re getting all of these warnings, and a lot of them are incredibly fierce. But they still feel somewhat merciful — they’re not destroying us totally. We’re all being told, ‘Listen, you can still maybe address this, and it won’t get to the point where I have to take you all out. You’ve still got a shot.’” Ten of the album’s 13 stellar compositions were collaborations with Michael Georgiades, who contributed to Hay’s previous sets Gathering Mercury (2011) and American Sunshine (2009). The pair co-wrote two of the album’s clear stand-outs, the pop vocal ballad “A Thousand Million Reasons” and the Americana leaning “Come Tumblin’ Down.”  "Michael Georgiades is my secret weapon but I guess now with this album it’s not a secret anymore,” Hay jokes. Some of the songs are deeply personal: “She Was the Love of Mine,” is an elegy for the singer’s mother, who died three years ago. Some are novelistic: “Frozen Fields of Snow” recounts the story of a war veteran returning to his childhood home after outliving the other members of his unhappy family.  “Sometimes lyrical ideas will come into your head, so you follow them and see where they go,” Hay says. Largely recorded in Topanga with Hay’s wife, Cecilia Noël and Hay’s regular accompanists — bassist Yosmel Montejo, drummer Charlie Paxson, keyboardists Fred Kron and Jeff Babko, and guitarist/tres player San Miguel Perez — FIERCE MERCY was completed in sessions at Compass Sound Studio in Nashville with Compass Records principal Garry West at the helm, who also contributed bass on a few cuts. Hay says, “Garry is always trying to get me to Nashville to do some recording, to get me out of the comfort zone of my own studio — get me out of my lair!  So I went to Nashville and we recorded the strings with a nine-piece section, and he introduced me to some players that he loves, who added another fantastic layer to the album.” The Nashville players include guitarists Audley Freed (Sheryl Crow, the Black Crowes, the Dixie Chicks) and Doug Lancio (John Hiatt), pedal steel guitarist and organist Jim Hoke (Iris Dement, Don Henley, Darius Rucker) and Compass co-founder Alison Brown (banjo). Though many music fans will be glad to see the end of 2016, it was something of a breakout year for this career artist that included a three-week run at the Edinburgh Fringe; performances on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and ABC’s Greatest Hits; sharing the stage with Of Monsters and Men, Milk Carton Kids, Choir Choir Choir!, Kings of Leon; being publicly cited as an influence by artists as distinct as James Hetfield of Metallica, Jeremiah Fraites of The Lumineers, Troy Sanders of Mastodon, and The Infamous Stringdusters; as well as the completion of a documentary film about his career entitled Waiting for My Real Life, named for one of his best known solo recordings. Now finding himself in the unprecedented place of having both ’80s fame and indie credibility, it's possible that Hay has delivered the defining album of his solo career. The album will be released March 3rd, 2017 on Compass Records. 2017 Colin Hay TOUR DATES: Fri., Jan. 13  BOULDER, CO  eTown Sun., Jan. 15  MORGANTOWN, WV WVU Creative Arts Center Tue., Jan. 17  ANN ARBOR, MI  Leon Loft Wed., Jan. 18  FRANKLIN, TN  Music City Roots at The Factory at Franklin Thu., Jan. 19  ENGLEWOOD, NJ  Bergen Pac Fri, Jan. 20  HOMER, NY Centers for the Arts of Homer Sat., Jan. 21  NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA  Fallsview Casino Resort Sun., Jan. 22  STATE COLLEGE, PA  State Theatre Sat., Jan. 28  SAN JOSE, CA  Sap Center Sat., Feb. 11  KEY WEST, FL Key West Theater Sun., Feb. 12  BOCA RATON, FL  Boca Raton Resort & Club Wed., Feb. 15  FORT LAUDERDALE, FL  The ’80s Cruise Sat., Feb. 18  FORT LAUDERDALE, FL  Amaturo Theater, Broward Center for the Performing Arts Sun., Feb. 19  CLEARWATER, FL  Capitol Theatre Mon., Feb. 20  ORLANDO, FL  The Plaza Live Wed., Feb. 22  ST. AUGUSTINE, FL  The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Thu.-Sat., Feb. 23-25  ATLANTA, GA  City Winery Wed.-Thu., Mar. 1-2  LOS ANGELES, CA  Largo at the Coronet Sun., Mar. 5  SAN FRANCISCO, CA  Palace of Fine Arts Tue.-Wed., Mar. 7-8  NASHVILLE, TN  City Winery Fri., Mar. 10  CHICAGO, IL  Thalia Hall Sun.-Mon., Mar. 12-13  ALEXANDRIA, VA  The Birchmere Wed., Mar. 15  GLENSIDE, PA   Keswick Theatre Fri., Mar. 17 BOSTON, MA  Wilbur Theatre Sat., Mar. 18  NEW YORK, NY  Concert Hall at NY Society for Ethical Culture Thu., Mar. 30  THE ACADEMY  Dublin, Ireland  Sun., Apr. 2  BELFAST, UK  The Limelight Mon., Apr. 3  GLASGOW, UK  Old Fruit Market Tue., Apr. 4 LONDON, UK  Union Chapel Thu., Apr. 6  MANCHESTER, UK  The Dancehouse Theatre Fri., Apr. 7  EDINBURGH, UK  Queen’s Hall Sat., Apr. 8  ABERDEEN, UK  Lemon Tree Mon., Apr. 10  GATESHEAD, UK The Sage