Inbox update: William Shatner, Saga, Manraze

Here is the latest roundup of exciting news releases that have landed in my inbox over the weekend and through this morning...

William Shatner Music Video 'Ponder The Mystery' To Premier On AXS TV – Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Los Angeles, CA - To coincide with the release of his highly anticipated new CD, William Shatner's Ponder The Mystery video will make its debut on the AXS Network on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 4 p.m. PST! The video was directed by William Shatner and Kevin Layne and produced by David Zappone. The exclusive TV premier will be on the 'AXS Live' show, hosted by Ryan Stout, on the new national cable network AXS TV (founded by Dallas Mavericks billionaire owner Mark Cuban). From the hottest viral videos to the biggest names in music 'AXS Live' is your cheat sheet to the day's biggest trends to keep you in the entertainment know.

For more information: www.axs.com

Guitar icon Steve Vai, who performs on the album's eponymous single, declares, “It was an absolute hoot to play on Bill’s track. It’s great to see and hear that after all these years his contributions are still fresh!”

On Tuesday October 7, William Shatner will be doing an album signing at Amoeba Records on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles. For more info: http://www.amoeba.com/live-shows/upcoming/detail-2739/

William Shatner will be performing his new record Ponder the Mystery in its entirety accompanied by the prog band CIRCA: featuring Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye, famed keyboardist also known for his work with YES.

Performance dates and locations:

Wednesday, October 23, 2013: Saint Rocke, 142 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Hermosa, CA 90254 (310-372-0035)

Thursday, October 24, 2013: The Canyon Club, 289 12 Roadside Dr., Agoura, CA 91301 (818-879-5016)

Friday, October 25, 2013: The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 (949-496-8930)

Purchase Ponder The Mystery CD at Amazon: http://georiot.co/3VF

Download the album at iTunes: http://georiot.co/3EUD

To Release Spin It Again – Live In Munich In US and Canada via earMUSIC / Eagle Rock Entertainment

~November 5, 2013~

New York, NY (October 7, 2013)—earMUSIC / Eagle Rock Entertainment and Saga are proud to announce the release of Spin It Again - Live in Munich, a live 2CD and Blu-ray that captures the final night of the 2013 sold-out tour by the Canadian band in Germany, following the release of their critically acclaimed album 20/20 (earMUSIC).  

Spin it Again, recorded and filmed in Munich, features recent songs as well as all the Saga classics: “Wind Him Up,” “The Flyer,” “Scratching The Surface,” and more. Munich has always been like a second home to Saga, and to show their appreciation, the band delivered two hours of prog and melodic hard rock at its best.

Saga’s historical singer Michael Sadler surprised fans when he rejoined the band (which also includes lead guitarist Ian Crichton, bassist/keyboardist Jim Crichton, vocalist/clarinettist/keyboardist Jim Gilmour, and drummer/vocalist Mike Thorne) just a few days prior to the recording of their most recent studio album 20/20 That resulted in critical acclaim (Saga charted in the German top 10), as well as success in cities and countries where they had never been before.

Michael Sadler declares: "After nearly 5 years apart, this show celebrates SAGA as we are, together again. Filmed at the end of our European 20/20 tour, it captures a truly special night among friends. This film not only serves as a reminder to those of us that were there, it also allows others a glimpse of what we do, LIVE."

“We've played Munich for many years, it keeps getting better… Munich, ich liebe dich!!,“ states Ian Crichton.

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:

Facebook:   www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/EagleRockNews

YouTube:  www.youtube.com/user/eaglerocktv

Follow earMusic at:

Youtube: www.youtube.com/earmusicofficial

Facebook: www.facebook.com/earmusicofficial

Website: www.ear-music.net

Follow SAGA at:

www.sagaontour.ca

Track Listing:

CD1

1. Anywhere You Wanna Go

2. Mouse In A Maze

3. Careful Where You Step

4. The Perfectionist

5. You‘re Not Alone

6. Spin It Again

7. Corkentellis

8. The Flyer

9. Fish Beat

10. Six Feet Under

CD2

11. The Cross

12. Time‘s Up

13. Scratching The Surface

14. Tired World (Chapter 6)

15. Humble Stance

16. On the Loose

17. Wind Him Up

18. Framed

19. Don‘t Be Late (Chapter 2)

Manraze

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen side project Manraze to release new EP in November

Music Minded writer George A. Paul has posted an in-depth article on the release of new music from Def Leppard lead guitarist Phil Collen via Manraze. The trio, which also features Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook and bassist Simon Laffy will issue their new disc Surrender on Nov. 12, 2013. Read the full article here.

Travis returns in stirring concert at the Wiltern

Drummer Neil Primrose and singer-guitarist Fran Healy

Although Travis has never fully been embraced in the U.S., the Scottish band is in good company. Indeed, fellow top-tier 1990s acts such as Elbow, Blur and Keane are longtime legends in their native United Kingdom even while struggling to make a significant commercial dent in America.

Fortunately, that hasn't deterred the post-Britpop outfit from returning from an extended hiatus to issue 2013's superb Where You Stand, the group's first album since  2008's Ode to J. Smith. As evidenced by Travis' fast-moving 95-minute set at the Wiltern in Los Angeles on Friday night (Oct. 4, 2013) , singer-rhythm guitarist Fran Healy, bassist-backing singer Dougie Payne, lead guitarist Andy Dunlop and drummer Neil Primrose are thrilled to be back and so was the large crowd on hand at the Wiltern. 

In fact, from the moment the quartet and a touring keyboardist took to the stage to perform the new cut "Mother" (whose uplifting, rousing chorus includes the apt line "Why Did It Take So Long?" repeated twice), there was a joyous mood in the venue. That's not to say things never got serious; at one point Healy recounted a small child's pain at watching domestic violence play out in his house (via a poignant introduction to the memorable "Re-Offender"), while elsewhere he noted the band had taken the five-year break to raise families. Indeed, "Reminder" (another new tune) was written for Healy's son.

But this was a night most directed at the magical bond that a great band has with its discerning and faithful followers. "It's so good to be back," Healy said in his introduction to "Moving," one of five songs from Where You Stand played this night. That song boasted a driving bass line from Payne, and helped illustrate the magical pull of Travis' groundbreaking sound. The mix of shining melodies, emotive lead vocals and artful musical arrangements performed with a collective adeptness by Travis was a clear reminder how the Glasgow-spawned troupe influenced Coldplay, Keane, Snow Patrol and others that followed.
Travis performed a wide range of its material, dipping back as far as its 1997 debut Good Feeling, and performed the best-known material from The Man Who, The Invisible Band and The Boy with No Name.

The power of  "Driftwood" (with Healy strumming a 12-string guitar), the driving "Where You Stand," undeniable "Writing to Reach You" and Americana textured rocker "Sing" (complete with Dunlop playing banjo on the verses) highlighted the regular set. In a performance of the gentle folk-tinged ballad "Closer," Dunlop used an E-bow on his guitar to further add depth and beauty to the song.

The group's strong encore included the celebrative "Good Feeling",  infectious "Flowers in the Window," rocking "All I Want to Do is Rock" and rousing night-ending sing-along "Why Does it Always Rain on Me." 

Make sure to read George A. Paul's comprehensive and well-written review of the concert on his Music Minded blog by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of Drew A. Kelley

Travis' set list at the Wiltern on Friday night, Oct. 4, 2013

Main set: Mother / Selfish Jean / Pipe Dreams / Moving / Love Will Come Through / Driftwood / Warning Sign / Re-Offender / Where You Stand / My Eyes / Reminder / Writing to Reach You / Side / Sing / Closer / Slide Show / Blue Flashing Light / Turn

Encore: Good Feeling / Flowers in the Window / All I Want to Do is Rock / Why Does it Always Rain on Me

The Doors' R-EVOLUTION coming courtesy of Eagle Rock Entertainment on December 3

Who says Thursday isn't as cool as Friday? Big news today on a forthcoming multi-format Eagle Rock Entertainment release featuring previously-unavailable material from The Doors! Here is the release that landed in my inbox this morning! 

EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT IS PROUD TO PRESENT

 

THE DOORS

R-EVOLUTION

 

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED AND RESTORED FOOTAGE OF THE DOORS UNVEILED

 

~SOUND REMIXED AND REMASTERED BY BRUCE BOTNICK~

 

~DECEMBER 3, 2013~

 

New York, NY (October 3, 2013)-- Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to announce the release on December 3, 2013 of R-Evolution from The Doors on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Formats. [Pre-book order date November 8, MSRP $14.98 DVD, $19.98 Blu-ray] 

 

Combining early TV appearances with The Doors’ own music films, R-Evolution illustrates how the band evolved from the constraints of mid-sixties television to a point where they had the creative input and power to shape how they were portrayed on screen. From an unknown L.A. band creating early music films to an established worldwide phenomenon executing creative control over their celluloid persona, R-Evolution shows the growth of The Doors from being forced to accept the formulaic television approach to taking control of the medium. It’s all in the title – the evolution of a band that helped revolutionize the way rock bands promote their art.

 

R-Evolution brings together a wealth of previously unreleased footage of The Doors. This incredible release features the classics “Light My Fire,” “People Are Strange,” “Hello, I Love You,” “Crawling King Snake,” “L.A. Woman,” “Moonlight Drive,” “Break On Through (To The Other Side),” and many more. 

 

R-Evolution boasts a wealth of excellent bonus features, including a commentary by Doors members John Densmore, Robby Krieger and the late Ray Manzarek plus Bruce Botnick and Elektra Records Founder Jac Holzman.  Additionally there is a performance of “Break On Through (To The Other Side)” from the Isle Of Wight Festival 1970, a 45-minute documentary entitled “The Doors – Breaking Through The Lens,” and “Love Thy Customer,” a never-before-seen 1966 Ford training film with music by The Doors. Finally, the DVD has a section of outtakes from the band’s appearance on the US TV show Malibu U in 1967.

 

In addition to the DVD and Blu-ray, a Deluxe Edition is available on each physical format, packaged in a 40-page DVD sized hardback book with a “scrapbook” style presentation on each track including lyrics, background info, trivia and photos.  All footage has been carefully restored to the highest standards and the sound has been remixed and mastered for 5.1 by Bruce Botnick [MSRP $39.98 Deluxe DVD and $49.98 Deluxe Blu-ray]. 

 

Throughout R-Evolution, the unique charisma and talent of The Doors comes across, whether it be on a lightweight pop show or on a film created from their own imaginations, along with some of the most influential music ever made.

 

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.

 

Follow The Doors at:

Website: http://www.thedoors.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedoors

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedoors

Instagram: http://instagram.com/thedoorsofficial#

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/thedoors

 

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

 

 

“R-Evolution” / Track Listing

 

1) Break On Through (To The Other Side)

Music Film – January 1967

 

2) Break On Through (To The Other Side)

From Shebang – March 5, 1967

 

3) The Crystal Ship

From American Bandstand – July 22, 1967

 

4) Light My Fire

From American Bandstand – July 22, 1967

 

5) Light My Fire

From Malibu U – August 25, 1967

 

6) People Are Strange

From Murray The K In New York – September 22, 1967

 

7) Moonlight Drive

From The Jonathan Winters Show – December 27, 1967

 

8) The Unknown Soldier

Music Film – February 1968

 

9) Hello, I Love You

From Musik Für Junge Leute: 4-3-2-1 Hot And Sweet – September 13, 1968

 

10) Touch Me

From The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour – December 15, 1968

 

11) Wild Child

Music Film – July 1969

 

12) Roadhouse Blues

Music Film – February 1970

 

13) Crawling King Snake

From GTK (Get To Know) – December 1970

 

14) The Changeling

Music Film – April 1971

 

15) Gloria

Music Film – October 1983

 

16) People Are Strange

Music Film – 198o’s

 

17) Strange Days

Music Film – 1984

 

18) L.A. Woman

Music Film – 1985

 

19) Ghost Song

Music Film – 1995

 

 

 

Bonus Features:

 

Love Thy Customer (music by The Doors)

Ford Training Film – 1966

 

Outtakes:

Malibu U – 1967

Break On Through (To The Other Side) – Isle Of Wight, August 1970

 

Breaking Through The Lens documentary

Inbox Update: Music Worth Buying episode, Dream Theater, Fitz and The Tantrums

Here is my latest roundup of updates to share...

But first, here is the new episode of Music Worth Buying where TJR features the new collaboration from Elvis Costello and The Roots, while I celebrate the return of Mazzy Star.

DREAM THEATER ROCKET UP THE ALBUM CHARTS;
“DREAM THEATER” SCORES #1 “HARD ROCK ALBUM,”
& ENTERS THE BILLBOARD 200 AT #7 FOR GROUP’S
THIRD CONSECUTIVE TOP 10 DEBUT;

“DREAM THEATER,” the milestone new album from Roadrunner Records group Dream Theater, has made a spectacular debut atop Billboard’s “Hard Rock Albums” chart, while simultaneously entering at #7 on the overall Billboard 200. This marks the GRAMMY-nominated group's third consecutive top 10 debut, and also sees "DREAM THEATER" making top 5 chart debuts in Japan, Germany, Italy, Canada, Argentina, Switzerland, Holland, and Finland, as well as top 10 debuts in  Denmark, Austria, and Norway with career high debuts in the United Kingdom and Australia.

“DREAM THEATER,” which was recorded at Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, New York, with founding guitarist John Petrucci producing and studio luminary Richard Chycki (Aerosmith, Rush) engineering and mixing, marks a brilliant new chapter for the always adventurous group.  Rolling Stone touted the collection as “…the birth of a new era in the band’s career,” while Loudwire exclaimed that “Dream Theater pushes the envelope into (a) new musical dimension, a cosmic realm reserved for the best.”

Dream Theater - John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), James LaBrie (vocals), Jordan Rudess (keyboards & continuum), and Mike Mangini (drums) - debuted the album’s first single, “The Enemy Inside” this past August with USA Today and recently premiered a companion music video for the track with Billboard.  During the process of making the video for “The Enemy Inside,” Dream Theater were connected with Save A Warrior, an organization dedicated to embracing returning veterans in a healthy and nurturing environment  and offering safe, innovative and evidence-based resiliency programs for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.  In the coming months, Dream Theater will be working closely with the organization to help bring awareness to soldiers suffering from PTSD through social outreach, fundraising drives and more. “The Enemy Inside” is currently available for streaming on the band’s official YouTube channel (located at www.youtube.com/dreamtheater). 

Dream Theater will tour in support of “DREAM THEATER,” visiting 30 cities in 16 countries, with plans to tour North America beginning in March 2014 – full details will be announced soon. For up-to-the-minute news and information, please visitwww.dreamtheater.net/tourdates.

“DREAM THEATER” follows 2011’s acclaimed “A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS.” That album – highlighted by “On The Backs Of Angels,” which earned the iconic band its first ever GRAMMY Award nomination (in the “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance” category) – proved one of Dream Theater’s most successful, making top 10 chart debuts in 14 countries, including our own Billboard 200. “A DRAMATIC TURN OF EVENTS” was hailed for its ambition, complexity, and sheer melodic power, with Japan’s influential BURRN!naming it as the year’s “Best Album.” 

With total sales exceeding 10 million albums and DVDs worldwide, Dream Theater have long stood among the upper echelon of hard rock giants. Albums such as 1992’s RIAA gold-certified classic “IMAGES & WORDS” (featuring the breakthrough top 10 single, “Pull Me Under”) have earned the Long Island-based band countless accolades for their visionary synthesis of melodic power and virtuosic experimentation, including being named as one of Rolling Stone’s top 10 “Best Prog Rock Bands of All time.”

“DREAM THEATER” is currently available in a wide range of distinctive versions, including standard and special edition CDs, 180 Gram Vinyl Double LP, and a Limited Edition Box Set at the Roadrunner Records Webstore.

For additional news and information, please visit www.dreamtheater.net, www.facebook.com/dreamtheaterofficial,www.twitter.com/dreamtheaternet www.myspace.com/dreamtheater, www.youtube.com/dreamtheater, and www.roadrunnerrecords.com.

FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS' "OUT OF MY LEAGUE"  IS NO. 1 ON BILLBOARD'S ALTERNATIVE SONGS CHART OCTOBER TV APPEARANCES INCLUDE "ELLEN," "CONAN" AND "CBS SATURDAY MORNING" FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS CO-HEADLINE "THE BRIGHT FUTURES TOUR" WITH CAPITAL CITIES, KICKING OFF OCTOBER 20

Fitz and The Tantrums have scored a No. 1 hit with "Out Of My League," the first single from the band's new album, More Than Just a Dream (Elektra Records). Competition has been fierce on Billboard'sAlternative Songs chart, where "Out Of My League" has spent 32 weeks and now becomes the sixth song to take the top position this year.  Fans can see the band perform "Out Of My League" on "Ellen" (October 15), "Conan" (October 16) and "CBS Saturday Morning" (October 26). "'Out of My League,' a colorfully catchy piece of '80s-inspired soul-pop, shows that the Los Angeles sextet is more than ready for the big leagues," said USA Today, while Peoplenoted,"'Out of My League'...bounce[s] like a more fun version of Fun." The accompanying video, which was directed by Jordan Bahat (fun., Grouplove) and already has more than 1.5 million views, can be viewed here.  Fitz and The Tantrums will co-headline "The Bright Futures Tour" with Capital Cities, which launchesOctober 20 at The National in Richmond, VA. They'll play New York City's Roseland Ballroom on October 23, sold-out shows at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC (October 30 & 31) and Cleveland's House of Blues (November 15), and a night at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom (November 22). See below for itinerary.  More Than Just a Dream, produced by Tony Hoffer (Beck, M83, Depeche Mode, Phoenix), is the follow up to 2010's Pickin' Up the Pieces, which spent 73 weeks on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, peaking at No. 1.  "It's the sort of disc that begs for repeat listens," said Relix. "This six-piece Los Angeles pop-soul group is all about irrepressible energy: hopped-up rhythms, shout-it-out choruses, hooted background vocals," notedRolling Stone.  ABC News called Fitz and The Tantrums "a band you're likely to hear more of in 2013...[their] music is catchy electro-pop with the soul of an '80s dance party."   Fitz and The Tantrums - comprised of Fitz (vocals), Noelle Scaggs (vocals/tambourine), James King (saxophone), Jeremy Ruzumna (keyboards), John Wicks (drums) and Joseph Karnes (bass) - played their first show in December 2008 at Hotel Café in Hollywood, CA. After self-releasing the five-song 2009 EP Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1, Fitz and The Tantrums soon found themselves appearing on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic," touring with Maroon 5 and recording their full length debut, Pickin' Up the Pieces. The band was named a "You Oughta Know" artist by VH1 and views for the video for the hit single"MoneyGrabber" surpassed three million. Fitz and The Tantrums supported Pickin' Up the Pieces with two sold-out U.S. headline tours, performances at numerous major music festivals and appearances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "Conan," "Last Call with Carson Daly" and "The Rachael Ray Show." The band launched More than Just a Dream with another headline tour and spent the summer of 2013 on the road with Bruno Mars.   FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS - UPCOMING TOUR DATES October 20 - Richmond, VA @ The National  - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 22 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 23 - New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 25 - Wallingford, CT @ The Dome at Oakdale Theatre - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 26 - Portland, ME @ State Theatre 28 - Boston, MA @ House of Blues - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 29 - Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 30 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 31 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities November 1 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 4 - Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theater 5 - Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 6 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos' Southend - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 7 - Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 9 - Tampa, FL @ Coastline Festival 10 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Coastline Festival 11 - Gainesville, FL @ University of Florida - Phillips Center- "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 13 - Athens, OH @ Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 14 - Covington, KY @ Madison Theatre - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 15 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 16 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 17 - Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 19 - Ames, IA @ Iowa State University/Stephens Auditorium - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 20 - Champaign, IL @ University of Illinois - State Farm Center- "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 21 - Maplewood, MN @ Myth - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 22 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities 23 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave - "The Bright Futures" tour w/Capital Cities ### For more information on FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS, visit: http://fitzandthetantrums.com www.myspace.com/fitzandthetantrums

Phosphorescent Releasing Deluxe Version of 'Muchacho'

'Muchacho' is a fantastic album. Can't wait to hear the expanded, deluxe version titled 'Muchacho De Lujo' when it is released later this month.

Phosphorescent Releasing Deluxe Version of Muchacho Stream "Terror In the Canyons" Live at St. Pancras

Muchacho De Lujo is the deluxe edition of Phosphorescent's renowned 2013 album. De Lujo, out on October 29, 2013 on digital and CD formats, features bonus material from an intimate pre-release live show recorded at St. Pancras Church in London. The set, performed with Matthew Houck on guitar and Jo Schornikow on piano, features Muchacho's "Song for Zula," Pride's "Wolves," and a cover of Waylon Jennings' "Storms Never Last." Stream De Lujo's "Terror In the Canyons," performed live in London at St. Pancras Church. YouTube Soundcloud Phosphorescent at St. Pancras Church by Darius Van Arman Disc One Sun, Arise! (An Invocation, An Introduction) Song For Zula Ride On / Right On Terror In The Canyons (The Wounded Master) A Charm / A Blade Muchacho's Tune A New Anhedonia The Quotidian Beasts Down To Go Sun's Arising (A Koan, An Exit) Disc Two Muchacho's Tune (Live at St. Pancras Church) A New Anhedonia (Live at St. Pancras Church) Song For Zula (Live at St. Pancras Church) A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise (Live at St.Pancras Church) We'll Be Here Soon (Live at St. Pancras Church) My Dove, My Lamb (Live at St. Pancras Church) Terror In The Canyons (The Wounded Master) (Live at St. Pancras Church) Storms Never Last (Live at St. Pancras Church) Down To Go (Live at St. Pancras Church) Wolves (Live at St. Pancras Church) Mrs. Juliette Low (Live at St. Pancras Church) Los Angeles (Live at St. Pancras Church) Please tune in TODAY at 2:15pm EST to KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic to listen Phosphorescent performing live in the studio. Listen here. 2013 will be capped off by a four-night run of shows at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, December 18th-21st. Two nights are sold out with the others right behind. Tickets are on sale here. "There are wonders all over Muchacho, an album that hopefully will take Houck to a wider audience as popular musical tastes begin to turn his way" The Associated Press "These songs deftly map out that mess of ragged hurt, smoldering hope and self-righteous spite" The New York Times "On Muchacho, Houck gathers together everything he's attempted - beery, rollicking country-rock, haunted tribal hymnals, regret-soaked bar room heartbreak - and fashions it into something close to a defining statement" BEST NEW MUSIC (8.8), Pitchfork "A dizzying experiment forever teetering between the synthetic and the organic, and that tension is ultimately what makes it so visceral. If Gram Parsons were alive and making music on his laptop and still tripping on peyote, Muchacho would be his latest masterpiece" The Boston Globe "Muchacho is also Houck’s most accomplished release to date--his most heartrending and life-affirming, equal parts lost-love devastation and hip-swaying, horn-led exultation." AV Club "["Song for Zula" is] brutal, beautiful, and like the rest of Muchacho, masterfully executed." Austin Chronicle "No matter what happens to Phosphorescent from here on out, Muchacho is an artist setting a new standard." Under the Radar "Muchacho is a vibrant, evocative LP, and a welcome addition to the Phosphorescent catalogue." BBC Music "A hell of a production." MOJO

TOUR DATES: 10/03/13 Pioneertown, CA - Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown 10/04/13 Phoenix, AZ - The Crescent Ballroom w/ Indians 10/06/13 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival 10/08/13 Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's w/ Shakey Graves 10/09/13 Dallas, TX - House of Blues (Cambridge Room) w/ Shakey Graves 10/10/13 Austin, TX - ACL Official Late Night Show @ Emo's Austin w/ JD McPherson & Shakey Graves 10/13/13 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival 11/04/13 Gateshead, UK - Sage Gateshead 11/05/13 Leeds, UK- Brudenell Social Club 11/07/13 Belfast- IE - Empire Music Hall 11/08/13 Dublin, IE - Whelans SOLD OUT 11/09/13 Liverpool, UK - Kazimier 11/10/13 Bristol, UK - Thekla 11/12/13 Cambridge, UK - Junction 11/14/13 Echede, NL - Crossing Border 11/15/13 The Hauge, NL - Crossing Border 11/16/13 Paris, FR - Fleche d'or 11/17/13 Antwerp, BE - Crossing Border 11/19/13 Milan, IT - Salumeria della Musica 11/20/13 Dudingen, CH - Bad Bonn 11/21/13 Zurich, CH - Rote Fabrik Clubraum 11/23/13 Weissenhauser Strand, DE - Rolling Stone Weekender 11/24/13 Munster, DE - Gleis 22 11/26/13 London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire 12/18/13 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg (solo) 12/19/13 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg SOLD OUT 12/20/13 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg SOLD OUT 12/21/13 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg

LINKS: Video: "Ride On / Right On" Stream: "Song for Zula" Video: "Song for Zula" Buy Muchacho De Lujo iTunes: http://smarturl.it/phos_deluxe_itunes Amazon: http://smarturl.it/phos_deluxe_amazon

Gary Clark Jr. stunning at House of Blues Anaheim

My review was originally posted on The Orange County Register Web site on Monday, Sept. 30, 2013.

As astounding as the talents of young guitarists such as Derek Trucks and Joe Bonamassa are, it's unlikely they are effecting the future survival of blues with the same impact as Gary Clark Jr.

Next at House of Blues Anaheim: Noah and the Whale, Oct. 2, $22.50; You Me at Six with Cute Is What We Aim For and more, Oct. 3, $15; Filter, Oct. 4, $20; Kingdom 12, Oct. 5, $37.50; Yellowcard plays Ocean Avenue acoustic, with Thursday's Geoff Rickly, Oct. 6, $26

Call: 714-778-2583

Online: houseofblues.com/anaheim,livenation.com

Sunday night (Sept. 29, 2013) at House of Blues Anaheim, the Austinite’s first major headlining appearance in Orange County following a spot opening for Dave Matthews Band in Irvine earlier this month, it was fascinating to see so many teens and young 20-somethings in the diverse crowd moving to the music and gazing in awe every time Clark unleashed another virtuosic display on a favorite Fender or Epiphone.

All ages seemed to be in tune with the performance and impressed by the singer-guitarist, whose freewheeling fretwork combines the approach of towering talents like Jimi Hendrix, Alvin Lee and Buddy Guy, while his uncommon falsetto evokes the great Al Green. A knack for powerful songwriting completes his formidable arsenal.

I last caught Clark in an inspired set at Coachella 2012, six months before the arrival of his widely hailed full-length debut for Warner Bros., Blak and Blu. But this two-hour turn in Anaheim proved he’s gotten even better, already one of the best and most unique electric guitar players on the planet. He’s also a magnetic stage presence, his seemingly bottomless bag of musical tricks leaving audiences eagerly anticipating what knockout might come next.

The six-string whiz, who turns 30 in Feburary, opened with a 10-minute version of "Ain't Messin 'Round" that immediately established a kind of magic in the room. Backed by a fantastic three-man band, the performance was nuanced from the get-go: Rather than simply play speedy fills or conventional blues solos, his fluid work erupted and subsided in support of the song itself. At one point he even made his axe whistle artfully.

Clark's wide range of songs would be a train wreck in most other hands. But bounding from Chicago-steeped and Delta blues to Chuck Berry rockers (like "Travis County"), from old-school soul ("Please Come Home") to experimental, genre-be-damned forays (like "You Saved Me" and his fusing of Hendrix’s "Third Stone from the Sun” with his own “If You Love Me Like You Say"), all reinforced that this heralded upstart is like no one else of his generation. His quest to enliven old forms is why significant figures from Jimmie Vaughan and Eric Clapton to the Rolling Stones have embraced his ascent.

"When My Train Pulls In" found Clark diving into three extended solos, each a sonic world unto itself. The last was the most explosive of all, the tall gent working a wah-wah pedal to produce distinctive cries of increasing fervor. At other times in his set he used dramatic tapping or would move his pick up and down quickly to create propulsive rhythm effects. Whether performing alone or with his band, the magic just kept coming.

He ended his regular set with an ignited version of his best-known song, "Bright Lights," making each note count while singing with authentic emotion. And a highlight of his 15-minute encore was "Numb," during which Clark added slide work to enrich the heavy rocker.

Fellow Austin-based singer-guitarist Max Frost opened with a batch of material that similarly blends blues with funk, jazz and rock. He came armed with a good voice and a solid command of his instrument, yet Frost's solos seemed draped in a muddy, reverb-laden mix that took away any bite from his material.

Photo: Kelly A. Swift, for the Register