Two Door Cinema Club back with new single; forthcoming album coming Sept. 2, 2022

Two Door Cinema Club are back with a super infectious and glorious single "Wonderful Life." Check out the song and get details on the band's forthcoming album  set for release later this summer...Robert Kinsler

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB 

ARE BACK!

EU + NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

COMING TO THE HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM

NOVEMBER 15, 2022

NEW ALBUM KEEP ON SMILING OUT SEPTEMBER 2 

NEW SINGLE ‘WONDERFUL LIFE’ OUT NOW 

‘The lunatics have taken over the asylum, what are we going to do? KEEP ON SMILING. Cos what else are we going to do?’ Today Two Door Cinema Club are back - announcing their forthcoming fifth studio album, Keep On Smiling, due via LOWER THIRD [PIAS] September 2. The album is available to pre-order/save now. Alongside the album announcement, Two Door Cinema Club have released the first single taken from the new album, ‘Wonderful Life.’ ‘Wonderful Life’ is a nod back to the pure rush of Two Door Cinema Club’s early output, an unwavering indie pop signal and the sound of a band that are more ambitious than they have ever been before in their 15 year, multi-platinum selling, festival headlining career. Afforded the time and space to fully immerse themselves in the writing and recording process, the band adopted a freer, more collaborative approach to the creative process with Keep On Smiling. The album was written and produced by the band both during and coming out of lockdown, with additional production from Jacknife Lee (Bloc Party, The Killers, Taylor Swift) and  Dan Grech Marguerat (Halsey, Lana Del Rey, George Ezra). The LP’s artwork was created by acclaimed British artist, Alan Fears, known for his vibrant, 80s-inspired style and pop culture references, his signature colorful, theatrical, often humorous and elementally positive paintings lend themselves perfectly to visually encapsulate the themes of Keep On Smiling.  PRE-ORDER/SAVE NEW ALBUM KEEP ON SMILING DOWNLOAD/STREAM ‘WONDERFUL LIFE’ Not of this world, hair-raising opener ‘Messenger AD’ prepares you for the stratospheric and kaleidoscopic journey TDCC take listeners on with Keep On Smiling. With irresistible electro funk and nu disco tinged ear worms ‘Everybody’s Cool’, ‘Feeling Strange’ and ‘Won’t Do Nothing,’ to space age synth pop bops ‘Lucky,’ the sky really is the limit for the boys from Bangor, who are lamenting a divided and fractured society; declaring that happiness is within our control through tremendous optimistic and upbeat indie dance floor anthems. The results are spectacular, and recapture what originally propelled the band into the mainstream consciousness, and a legacy as one of the UK’s most enduring and beloved bands. To usher in this new era, another frantic summer of live awaits one Two Door Cinema Club as they command huge mainstage billings across the likes of Down The Rabbit Hole, Mad Cool, Nos Alive and Benicassim, before headlining London’s Community Festival 16th July.  Today, the band have also announced EU and North American tours later this year. The tour will make a Los Angeles stop at the Hollywood Palladium on Nov. 15, 2022. For a full list of live dates and on-sale details, please see below.

Credit: Katy Cummings Keep On Smiling - Tracklisting 1. Messenger AD 2. Blue Light 3. Everybody's Cool 4. Lucky 5. Little Piggy 6. Millionaire 7. High 8. Wonderful Life 9. Feeling Strange 10. Won't Do Nothing 11. Messenger HD 12. Disappearer   Festivals: 10-12 June - Tempelhof Sounds, Berlin 14-18 June - Bergenfest, Norway July 01 - Down The Rabbit Hole, Netherlands July 07 - Atlas Festival, Ukraine July 09 - Nos Alive, Portugal July 10 - Mad Cool, Spain July 14 - 17 - Benicassim, Spain July 16 - Community (HEADLINE), London EU tour dates, announced today On sale June 17 @ 10AM BST September 28 - Paris  September 30 - Brussels October 01 - Amsterdam October 04 - Hamburg  October 05 - Berlin  October 07 - Munich  October 08 - Cologne    North American tour dates, announced today On sale June 24 @ 10AM (local times) October 28 - Richmond  October 29 - Philadelphia  October 30 - Pittsburgh  November 01 - New York  November 02 - Boston  November 03 - Washington DC November 05 - Toronto  November 06 - Detroit  November 07 - Chicago  November 08 - Minneapolis November 10 - Kansas City  November 11 - Denver  November 12 - Salt Lake City  November 14 - Oakland  November 15 - Hollywood  November 17 - San Diego

Follow Two Door Cinema Club on social media: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts announce performers for Concert Events coming in September 2022

Check out all the details we have so far related to the highly-anticipated Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts coming in September. Below is the artwork and official media release...Robert Kinsler

Taylor Hawkins at the "Celebration for Ray Manzarek"
event in Los Angeles on Feb. 12, 2016.
Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Media Release

THE TAYLOR HAWKINS TRIBUTE CONCERTS

 

FOO FIGHTERS TO BE JOINED BY

CHRIS CHANEY, STEWART COPELAND, MILEY CYRUS**, LIAM GALLAGHER*, OMAR HAKIM, JOSHUA HOMME, CHRISSIE HYNDE*, JOAN JETT**, GEDDY LEE, ALEX LIFESON, BRIAN MAY, ALANIS MORISSETTE**, MARK RONSON, GENE SIMMONS**, NIKKI SIXX**, CHAD SMITH**, LUKE SPILLER**, SUPERGRASS*, ROGER TAYLOR, RUFUS TAYLOR, JON THEODORE**, WOLFGANG VAN HALEN, BRAD WILK**, PAT WILSON** & A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY CHEVY METAL!

 

PLUS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

 

September 3 at Wembley Stadium (*Appearing in London Only)

September 27 at The Kia Forum (**Appearing in Los Angeles Only)

Foo Fighters Together with the Hawkins Family Present Two Global Events Celebrating the Memory & Music of a Rock Legend

 

The first wave of confirmed guests to join The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts in celebration of the life, music and love of one of modern music’s most beloved figures has been confirmed.

 

The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts will feature the likes of Miley Cyrus, Liam Gallagher, Joan Jett, Mark Ronson, members of Queen, The Police, Rush, Kiss, The Pretenders, Motley Crue, Queens of the Stone Age, Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Supergrass, a special appearance by Dave Chappelle (in the UK only) and Chevy Metal, plus more to be announced — playing the songs that Taylor loved and created, with and alongside his FF brothers Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee.

 

The two all-star global events in celebration of Taylor’s memory and his legacy as a global rock icon will take place September 3 at London's Wembley Stadium and September 27 at The Kia Forum in Los Angeles. For specific lineups — and to sign up to receive information on updates, timings, ticketing links and on sale dates — go to https://www.foofighters.com/.

 

The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts will benefit charities in both the UK and the US chosen by the Hawkins family. Beneficiaries and further details will be announced shortly.

New Music: The Rolling Stones, The Fixx, The Legion of Decency

Terrific releases from The Rolling Stones, The Fixx and The Legion of Decency make for a pretty stellar crop of music library essential titles to add to any music lover's collection. 

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Title: Licked Live In NYC (Mercury Studios)

You might like if you enjoy: The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards 

Tell me more: Originally released in 2003 as an HBO special and as part of the Four Flicks package, The Rolling Stones' outstanding Licked Live In NYC has been fully restored and remastered with bonus material that shines a light on the legendary band's 40th Anniversary Tour; the legendary tour included 117 shows and was noteworthy for including the group's first-ever concert in Hong Kong. This title captures the Stones' Madison Square Garden show staged in January 2003; standout versions performed by the band include a fiery "Start Me Up," the melodic Mick Jagger track "Don't Stop," lively "Happy" featuring Keith Richards on lead vocals, magic "Gimme Shelter" (with Lisa Fischer trading vocals with Jagger), rowdy "You Got Me Rocking" and "Honky Tonk Woman" (the latter with guest Sheryl Crow) and fiery "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" and "Brown Sugar." The DVD+2CD version (reviewed in this column) looks and sounds terrific; it includes previously-unreleased performances of "Start Me Up," "Tumbling Dice," "Gimme Shelter" and "Sympathy For The Devil," along with three bonus performances from Amsterdam and rehearsal footage. Licked Live In NYC is also available via SD Blu-ray+2CD (wit includes the additional 51-minute documentary "Tip Of The Tongue"), as a standalone 2CD and 3LP. Information: rollingstones.com.  

Artist: The Fixx

Title: Every Five Seconds (BFD)

You might like if you enjoy: Simple Minds, U2, David Bowie

Tell me more: Before the release of Every Five Seconds on June 3, it had been a full decade since The Fixx had issued a new studio album (2012's wonderful Beautiful Friction). The great news for fans of top-tier alternative rock is that the quintet's latest effort builds on a marvelous discography stretching back to their 1982 debut Shuttered Room. Lead singer Cy Curnin's voice is still a wonder, and it is amazing that the band's long-time lineup is fully intact (lead guitarist Jamie West-Oram, bassist Dan K. Brown, keyboardist Rupert Greenall, drummer Adam Woods). The top-tier material includes the topical rocker "A Life Survived," funk-tinged "Closer," thought-provoking sortie "Wake Up," luxurious "Suspended In Make Believe," dazzling "Spell" and the ambitious styles-defying "Lonely As A Lighthouse" — the latter showcasing West-Oram's amazing fret work. Information: TheFixx.com.

Artist: The Legion of Decency

Title: Deep Lines Among The Shallows (Legion Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Dawes, Old 97's, Rhett Miller

Tell me more: Deep Lines Among The Shallows is the wonderful full-length album from Inland Empire-based The Legion of Decency. An album of immense depth, warmth and undeniable beauty, singer-songwriter-guitarist Michael Tamony's rich Americana guided soundscape is bolstered by a talented cast of players and singers who bring the mix of literate and poetic originals fully to life. Compelling songs on Side A include the poignant opener "Sometimes," the genuinely affecting "Grandma's Sound," rollicking "We Are Giant" and immersive title track. The countrified "I Do," lovely "Julietta," and reflective closer "Shine a Light" are among the wonderful cuts on Side B of the album. Information: TheLegionOfDecency.com.  

Robert Kinsler

Simple Minds announce the release of their new album 'Direction of the Heart''

Check out the fantastic advance single from Simple Minds and get details on the band's just announced new album 'Direction of the Heart' due in October 2022...Robert Kinsler

SIMPLE MINDS ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF THEIR NEW ALBUM

DIRECTION OF THE HEART OUT OCTOBER 21 VIA BMG
PRE-ORDER HERE

LISTEN TO THE NEW SINGLE “VISION THING” HERE
WATCH THE AUDIO VISUALIZER HERE

NEW YORK, NY (June 14, 2022) - Today, Simple Minds release “Vision Thing”, the first track to be taken from the band’s eighteenth studio album Direction Of The Heart.
 

STREAM/SHARE “VISION THING” HERE

WATCH THE AUDIO VISUALIZER HERE
 

Currently playing acclaimed shows throughout Europe (“Back in fashion and back on thrilling form.” The Times), Direction Of The Heart is Simple Minds’ first album of new material since 2018’s outstanding UK Top 5 album Walk Between Worlds. 

Throughout its nine tracks Direction of The Heart, which is scheduled for release October 21 via BMG, finds the band at their most confident, anthemic best on an inspired celebration of life, none more so than on lead track ‘Vision Thing’.

‘Vision Thing’ is a euphoric song - all pounding drums, synth washes and the unmistakable guitar-playing of Simple Minds’ lifelong six-string wonder, Charlie Burchill. With music written by Burchill and lyrics by frontman Jim Kerr the song is a tribute to Kerr’s “best pal”, his late father who passed away in 2019.

Direction Of The Heart’s opening track, ‘Vision Thing’ sets the pace for a concise nine-track album. One which manages to perfectly encapsulate the essence of past and present Simple Minds, a band whose reascent over the past 10 years has seen them, once again, capture the magic and critical praise of their early days.

Most of Direction Of The Heart’s tracks were created and demoed in Sicily, where both Kerr and Burchill live. Unable to come to the UK because of quarantine rules, the album was recorded at Hamburg’s Chameleon Studios. Here they produced the album - later enlisting Andy Wright (Massive Attack, Echo & The Bunnymen) and Gavin Goldberg (Simply Red, KT Tunstall) for additional production. Band members, bassist Ged Grimes (who co-wrote two of the new songs, ‘First You Jump’ and ‘Solstice Kiss’), drummer Cherisse Osei and vocalist Sarah Brown joined them on some of the tracks, recording their parts separately in London. Album guests include, Sparks’ frontman Russell Mael (‘Human Traffic’) and songwriter and former Grimes music partner from Danny Wilson, Gary Clark (‘Vision Thing’, ‘First You Jump’ and ‘Natural’), recorded their respective parts in home studios.

All of this disparate work is belied by an album which sounds like a cohesive record – one of the most exciting and invigorating of Simple Minds career to date. 

Jim Kerr on Direction Of The Heart:
“How to make a feel-good ‘Electro-rock’ record, during the very worst of times? Direction Of The Heart is the result of that challenge. Who would have thought we’d have so much fun creating it?”
 

Photo credit: Dean Chalkley

More on Simple MInds: Over the past 10 years Simple Minds have rekindled the magic that made them a vital artistic force in their early days, found themselves referenced by younger artists and playing to tens of thousands of people every year, all over the world. They have been the recipient of the Q Awards Lifetime Achievement and received universal critical acclaim for their recent albums. 2015’s Big Music was described by MOJO magazine as “their best album in 30 years”, and 2018’s Walk Between Worlds was acclaimed across the board and became their most successful album in over two decades, culminating in their largest US tour to date.  Simple Minds are: Jim Kerr (vocals), Charlie Burchill (guitars, keyboards), Gordy Goudie (acoustic guitar), Ged Grimes (bass), Cherisse Osei (drums), Berenice Scott (keyboards) and Sarah Brown (vocals).

Connect with Simple Minds: Official | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Music News episode: Neil Young, Kate Bush, The Rolling Stones, Taylor Hawkins, more

Watch the new episode of "Music News" where TJR and Robert Kinsler discuss some major news and music releases that caught their attention over the last week...

View the episode HERE.

Dr. John shares hard-won wisdom on new single "Sleeping Dogs Best Left Alone," out today

Check out new music from the late great Dr. John and learn more about his forthcoming posthumous album coming this fall..Robert Kinsler

Dr. John Shares Hard-Won Wisdom on New Single 

“Sleeping Dogs Best Left Alone,” Out Now

 

Final Studio Album Things Happen That Way 

Set for Release September 23, 2022

June 10. 2022– Legendary musician Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack Jr – known to music fans the world over as Dr. John – packed a lot of living into his 77 years, including a six-decade run as one of the most original, distinctive, and influential voices to ever come out of New Orleans. He was in the midst of recording a new studio album and planning future projects when his life was suddenly cut short in 2019. 

 

Dr. John performing at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA,
in January 2016. Photo: Bob Steshetz

Now, three years after his untimely passing, in a world complicated by COVID-19, Things Happen That Way will see the light of day. The album, which features three brand new original compositions, a mesmerizing reworking of Dr. John’s 1968 classic “I Walk on Guilded Splinters, and new interpretations of songs by Willie Nelson, Cowboy Jack Clement, Hank Williams, and the Traveling Wilburys will be released on September 23. The album is available for pre-order HERE.

 

Today, a new, original song, “Sleeping Dogs Best Left Alone,” written by Rebennack with Shane Theriot, is released. 

 

Listen to it HERE.

 

The lyrics impart some hard-won wisdom drawn from Rebennack’s own experiences, delivered in his trademark growl:

 

Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

Don’t try and go backwards, 

the hand's been already dealt

Don’t try and laugh at the same old jokes,

pain that’s already felt

Don’t try and drive with one eye closed,

one tire in the ditch

Walk around with your head in the sand,

sayin’ life ain’t nuthin’ but a bitch

 

What’s seen is seen 

And what’s heard is heard

Done is done in this great big world

One thing I know is life has shown 

Sleeping dogs best left alone

 

Things Happen That Way marks the fulfillment of a longtime goal of the six-time GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter/pianist and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who first began plotting a country-inspired album decades ago. In bringing his album’s songs to life, Dr. John drew on a lineup of musicians befitting of a universally beloved luminary. Along with an elite cadre of New Orleans session players, the album’s personnel include icons Willie Nelson and Aaron Neville, and rising stars Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. 

 

Karla R. Pratt, Dr. John’s daughter and the album’s executive producer, spoke with Rolling Stone’s David Browne about what inspired Rebennack’s choice of cover songs, calling them “’a musical tip of the hat to the greats who preceded him,’ like Williams, Cash, and Nelson.” 

 

“Years ago he talked about how hip Hank Williams was,” she told Browne. “He loved how simple yet emotionally complex Hank’s songs are, that they have a hook with a twist. For this album inspired by listening to the Louisiana Hayride [radio show] and icons of country and western, he was excited to do songs in a way that evokes emotion that sticks with you long after one of the songs — done his soulful way — is played.”

 

Dr. John performing at the
NAMM Show in January 2016.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Things Happen That Way Track Listing: 

 

1. Funny How Time Slips Away
2. Ramblin’ Man
3. Gimme That Old Time Religion (feat. Willie Nelson) 
4. I Walk On Guilded Splinters (feat. Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real)
5. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
6. End Of The Line (feat. Aaron Neville)
7. Holy Water
8. Sleeping Dogs Best Left Alone
9. Give Myself A Good Talkin’ To
10. Guess Things Happen That Way

Jake Shimabukuro releases video for "Why Not" featuring Kenny Loggins

A true cast of diverse greats have joined forces with Jake Simabukuro on his latest album. Check out the new track featuring the ukulele master with Kenny Loggins...Robert Kinsler

See Jake on his US / UK Tour:  https://jakeshimabukuro.com/tour-dates/

June 9, 2022 (Los Angeles): Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro has released a new music video for "Why Not", written and sung by multi-platinum hitmaker and movie soundtrack king Kenny Loggins. The track is a deliciously upbeat slice of soul-pop with hooks for days and an effervescent ukulele solo that will set pulses racing. View the video here.  “Working with Kenny was a blast,” says Shimabukuro. “We started off doing things simply, but once we got going, Kenny wanted to try out different ideas, and I just let him go. Watching him do his thing was a real education in record making.” Shimabukuro’s incredible latest album Jake & Friends (Mascot Label Group/Music Theories Recordings and JS Records) was released on November 12, 2021 and features a who’s who of music royalty: Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Moon Taxi, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Jon Anderson, Ziggy Marley, Warren Haynes, Jack Johnson, Jesse Colin Young, Ray Benson & Asleep at the Wheel, Sonny Landreth, Lukas Nelson, and Billy Strings. “I have to pinch myself when I see those names on my own album,” he says. “It’s like, ‘Did that really happen?’ Making the album was a real challenge, but I’m deeply honored that all artists agreed to record with me.” Shimabukuro is set to perform two shows next week in New York state before kicking off his UK tour on June 16. For more information on Jake, or to purchase tickets for his tour, please visit www.jakeshimabukuro.com.  ###

Jake Shimabukuro US & UK Tour Dates

June 12 –  Suffolk Theater – Riverhead, NY June 13 –  City Winery – New York, NY June 16 – The Old Market – Brighton, UK June 18 – Grand Northern Ukulele Festival – Huddersfield, UK June 19 – The Trades Club – Hebden Bridge, UK June 20 – St George’s – Bristol, UK June 21 – The Glee Club – Birmingham, UK June 22 – St George’s Hall – Liverpool, UK June 23 – Cavern Club – Liverpool, UK June 24 – St Saviourgate – York, UK June 25 – City Varieties Music Hall – Leeds, UK June 27 – Kings Place – London, UK August 3 – San Juan Capistrano – CA August 4 – The Canyon @ The Libbey Bowl – Ojai, CA August 5 – Buck Owens' Crystal Palace – Bakersfield, CA August 6 – Mountain Winery – Saratoga, CA August 7 – Charles Krug Wiery – St. Helena, CA August 10 – The Kessler Theater – Dallas, TX August 11 – 04 Center – Austin, TX August 12 – The Heights Theater – Houston, TX August 13 – Tobin Center for the Performing Arts - San Antonio, TX September 19 – Shank Hall – Milwaukee, WI September 20 – Fitzgerald Theater – St. Paul, MN