Tedeschi Trucks Band honor loss & celebrate life on new album 'Signs' out Feb. 15 on Fantasy Records/Concord

News item of the day to be sure!

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND HONOR LOSS AND CELEBRATE LIFE ON NEW ALBUM ‘SIGNS’ OUT FEBRUARY 15 ON FANTASY RECORDS/CONCORD

LISTEN TO NEW SONG “HARD CASE” VIA NPR MUSIC:https://n.pr/2Fct6Ju

FEBRUARY 20th ALBUM RELEASE SHOW AT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC ANNOUNCED, ALONG WITH MULTI-NIGHT RESIDENCIES IN CHICAGO, NASHVILLE AND NEW ORLEANS AND D.C. + EXTENSIVE SPRING AND SUMMER TOURING



“AN UPBEAT, SHUFFLING INSTANT CLASSIC.” -NPR MUSIC

Tedeschi Trucks Band, the unstoppable Grammy-winning 12-piece musical juggernaut led by husband and wife Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, have announced their new album Signs, out February 15 on Fantasy Records/Concord. Featuring 11 new original songs, the album expands on the group’s omnivorous musical appetites, while facing down troubled times with credence and conviction. The group’s world-class musicianship is on full display in the genre-defying collection that runs the gamut from uplifting soulful anthems to bittersweet ballads and driving rock and roll.

To accompany the announcement, Tedeschi Trucks Band have released a new song “Hard Case,” which showcases Derek’s peerless guitar work and Susan’s stunning, soulful vocals. NPR Music called the song “an upbeat, shuffling instant classic,” saying, “honesty and authenticity...informs every second of ‘Signs.’” Listen to “Hard Case” here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngqRtT0pN2o

‘Signs’ was a true band effort, with each of the supremely talented twelve members playing a major role. As with its predecessors, the album was recorded in Tedeschi and Trucks' backyard studio Swamp Raga, with additional contributions from trusted TTB brethren Warren Haynes, Oliver Wood, Doyle Bramhall II, and Marc Quiñones. Trucks shared production and engineering duties with Jim Scott (The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty) and Swamp Raga studio engineer Bobby Tis, and the band recorded live to two-inch analogue tape for the first time, using their original Neve console combined with a 70's Studer tape machine.

A sense of loss and frustration colors portions of Signs. A number of tragedies hit home during the writing and recording of the album, as the group said goodbye to family members and friends including Derek’s uncle and Allman Brothers alumnus Butch Trucks, founding Brother Gregg Allman, and mentors Leon Russell and Col. Bruce Hampton. Political polarization, intolerance, and threats to an environment they see as increasingly under siege are also dealt with openly and honestly on the album.

“This is the first record we’ve made where, when I listen to it, it puts me in a specific place,” explains Derek. “It puts me in a zone and hits some raw nerves.”

Still, ‘Signs’ also beckons with the optimism and hope that has become a signature part of TTB’s message in the studio and on stage. “We are very lucky to do what we do, and we take responsibility for creating something positive to counter all the negativity,” asserts Susan. “We all have to deal with tragic circumstances at times. As a musician, I feel it’s my job to go out there, kick ass the best I can and offer inspiration.”

Tedeschi Trucks Band will celebrate the album’s release with a performance at The Brooklyn Academy of Music on February 20th. The special one-night performance follows a string of multi-night residencies at the Chicago Theater, Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, the Saenger Theater in New Orleans and the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. – and marks the band’s first return to New York after their sold-out, six-night residency at the Beacon Theatre in October, which has become a highly-anticipated fall tradition for the band. Tedeschi Trucks Band will continue to tour through 2019, including a spring run of shows in Europe, a return to the west coast, and their 5th annual Wheels of Soul tour this summer featuring special guests Blackberry Smoke and Shovels and Rope. Full tour routing below.

‘SIGNS’ TRACK LIST

Signs (High Times)

I’m Gonna Be There

When Will I Begin

Walk Through This Life

Strengthen What Remains

Still Your Mind

Hard Case

Shame

All The World

They Don’t Shine

The Ending

PRE-ORDER ‘SIGNS’

https://tedeschitrucksband.themerchcollective.com/collections/pre-order-signs

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND 2019 TOUR DATES

1/17/19 - Cedar Rapids, IA - Paramount Theatre SOLD OUT

1/18/19 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre 

1/19/19 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre 

1/22/19 - Knoxville, TN - Tennessee Theatre 

1/23/19 - Chattanooga, TN - Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium 

1/25/19 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre 

1/26/19 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre

1/28/19 - New Orleans, LA - Saenger Theatre 

1/29/19 - New Orleans, LA - Saenger Theatre

1/31/19 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium 

2/1/19 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium 

2/2/19 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium 

2/15/19 - Washington, D.C. - Warner Theatre                

2/16/19 - Washington, D.C. - Warner Theatre                 

2/17/19 - Hershey, PA - Hershey Theatre            

2/20/19 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Academy of Music - Howard Gilman Opera House

2/22/19 - Washington, D.C. - Warner Theatre                 

2/23/19 - Washington, D.C. - Warner Theatre                 

2/26/19 - Philadelphia, PA - The Met Philadelphia          

2/28/19 - Birmingham, AL - Alabama Theatre 

3/1/19 - Augusta, GA - William B. Bell Auditorium 

3/2/19 - Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium 

4/2/19 - Paris, FR - L’Olympia 

4/4/19 - Eindhoven, NL - Muziekgebouw 

4/5/19 - Winterbach, DE- Salierhalle Winterbach 

4/7/19 - Copenhagen, DK - Amager Bio 

4/8/19 - Stockholm, SE - Cirkus SOLD OUT

4/10/19 - Oslo, NO - Sentrum Scene 

4/11/19 - Copenhagen, DK - Amager Bio SOLD OUT

4/12/19 - Randers, DK - Vaerket 

4/14/19 - Bochum, DE - Rurhcongress

4/15/19 - Hamburg, DE - Mehr! Theater 

4/17/19 - Milan, IT - Teatro degli Arcimboldi 

4/18/19 - Trieste, IT - Politeama Rossetti 

4/20/19 - Zurich, CH - Theater 11 

4/23/19 - Brussels, BE - Ancienne Belgique 

4/24/19 - Utrecht, NL - Tivoli Vredenburg 

4/26/19 - London, UK - The London Palladium SOLD OUT

4/27/19 - London, UK - The London Palladium SOLD OUT

5/10/19 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater

5/11/19 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater

5/12/19 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Civic Theatre

5/14/19 - Tucson, AZ - Tucson Convention Center

5/16/19 - Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre

5/17/19 - Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre

5/18/19 - Mesa, AZ - Mesa Amphitheatre 

5/21/19 - Sacramento, CA - Memorial Auditorium of Sacramento

5/23/19 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater of Seattle

5/24/19 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater of Seattle

5/25/19 - Salem, OR - LB Day Comcast Amphitheatre

6/28/19 - Jacksonville, FL - Daily’s Place *

6/29/19 - Boca Raton, FL - Mizner Park Amphitheater *

6/30/19 - St. Petersburg, FL - Al Lang Stadium *

7/03/19 - Orange Beach, AL - Wharf Amphitheater *

7/05/19 - Charleston, SC - Volvo Car Stadium *

7/06/19 - Simpsonville, SC - Heritage Park Amphitheater *

7/07/19 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion *

7/09/19 - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek *

7/13/19 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *

7/14/19 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center *

7/16/19 - Canandaigua, NY - CMAC *

7/19/19 - Cincinnati, OH - PNC Pavilion *

7/20/19 - Huber Heights, OH - Rose Music Center at the Heights *

7/23/19 - Rochester Hills, MI - Meadow Brook Amphitheatre *

7/24/19 - Indianapolis, IN - Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park *

7/26/19 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks *

7/27/19 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks *

7/30/19 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theatre *

7/31/19 - Brandon, MS - Brandon Amphitheater *

8/02/19 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre *

8/03/19 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre *

* 5th Annual Wheels of Soul tour with Blackberry Smoke and Shovels & Rope (Additional dates to be announced)

MORE INFO ON TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND

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Sights and Sounds: R. Stevie Moore, Greta Van Fleet, Governors Ball Music Fest...

Here is today's strong roundup of music-related news...


DIY Godfather R. Stevie Moore releasing new album

R Stevie Moore: this guy again. The Godfather of DIY home recording. Hundreds of self-released albums over the past 50 years. Dozens issued on countless indie labels since 1976. Pop craftsman, crafty grandpop, notorious curmudgeon. Blah blah blah blah blah. Most recently teamed with Jason Falkner on the album Make It Be (Bar/None, 2017).

 

Since R. Stevie can't make a decent living on his music, he's trying to accomplish the task in the Afterlife. This album is an upgrade from the lo-fi, damaged-equipment home recording process for which RSM has become legendary; it's being released February 22 on Bar/None. With a career-long sweep, R. Stevie took some of his best home-recorded lo-fi songs and re-recorded them with full-studio sparkle. All recordings were made in the past 15 years, with tracks captured in five U.S. states. Some compositions date from the 1970s to the 1990s, and there's a few newer tunes. The album lacks one thing: filler. Lou Reed famously said about his final Velvet Underground album: "I gave them an album loaded with hits," then he walked away. Afterlife is R. Stevie's Loaded-an album full of hits. He's walking away with a cane, a bum knee, and cataracts.

 

Afterlife was compiled and produced by Irwin Chusid (who oversees the musical estates of Sun Ra, Raymond Scott, and others). Chusid, a WFMU DJ since 1975, has been a compatriot of RSM since they met in 1978 after R. Stevie relocated to New Jersey from his native Nashville (to which he returned in 2010). It's often been pointed out that RSM's daddy Bob played bass with Elvis. But we won't dwell on that here.

 

Afterlife features sideman work by Ariel Pink, Jason Falkner, Lane Steinberg, and Chusid. It was mastered by veteran producer-musician Kramer (who has previously recorded with RSM). There's a biopic in the works. It's called Cool Daddio: The Second Youth of R. Stevie Moore(Spring Films), and with luck it might hit the cinema circuit in 2019.

 

R. Stevie will not be touring to promote this album. He's sick of traveling, his misanthropy's been acting up, and he prefers the comforts of his messy nest. But he will talk to journalists on the phone or via email. Just don't ask about his daddy. It's a worn-out topic. Sorry we brought it up.

Greta Van Fleet set to perform on 'Saturday Night Live' on January 19, 2019

L-R:  Danny Wagner, Jake Kiszka, Josh Kiszka, Sam Kiszka Photo credit:  Travis Shinn Monday, January 7, 2019 -- With three #1 rock singles, four 2019 Grammy nominations, a debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army, that debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart, and a massive global tour set to kick off January 22 in Japan, Greta Van Fleet will make its debut as musical guest January 19 on "Saturday Night Live," airing on NBC at 11:30PM ET/10:30PM CT. ***** ABOUT GRETA VAN FLEET: Greta Van Fleet is four young musicians - twin brothers Josh (vocals) and Jake Kiszka (guitar), both 22, younger brother Sam (bass/keys, 19), and longtime family friend Danny Wagner (drums, 20).  All are from the tiny Michigan hamlet of Frankenmuth known for its family-style chicken dinners and the world's largest Christmas store.  All four were raised on their parents' extensive vinyl collections which helped give birth to the music they make today:  a high-energy hybrid of rock'n'roll, blues and soul.   Since the March, 2017 release of "Highway Tune," the band's first single that claimed the #1 spot at Rock Radio for five consecutive weeks, the four have been on a wild ride of sold-out concerts in North America and Europe, racked up millions of YouTube video plays and audio streams, received glowing accolades from iconic artists like Elton John, Dave Grohl, Joe Satriani and Billy Corgan, and recorded two #1 EPs.  The band's debut album Anthem of the Peaceful Army (10/19/18, Lava Records/Republic Records), debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales and Top Rock Albums charts, and at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart.  On December 7, the band awoke to find they had received four Grammy nominations - Best New Artist, Best Rock Song ("Black Smoke Rising"), Best Rock Album (From The Fires EP), and Best Rock Performance ("Highway Tune"). Most importantly, the band has been building an extraordinary connection with their fans.

Greta Van Fleet Official Website THE NINTH ANNUAL GOVERNORS BALL MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2019 LINEUP FEATURING… THE STROKES, FLORENCE + THE MACHINE, TYLER, THE CREATOR, LIL WAYNE, SZA, NAS, THE 1975, KACEY MUSGRAVES, MAJOR LAZER, BROCKHAMPTON, LOUIS THE CHILD, MITSKI, THE INTERNET, GESAFFELSTEIN, JORJA SMITH, BLOOD ORANGE, LILY ALLEN,  KAYTRANADA, MØ, SHECK WES, NONAME, VINCE STAPLES, CHARLI XCX, ZHU, LORD HURON, BEAST COAST (JOEY BADA$$ + FLATBUSH ZOMBIES), TY DOLLA $IGN, JESSIE REYEZ, SOCCER MOMMY, AND MANY MORE... THREE DAYS OF MUSIC, FOOD, ART, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN NEW YORK CITY FRIDAY, MAY 31 - SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2019 January 07, 2019, New York, NY -- Founders Entertainment is proud to announce the lineup for the 2019 Governors Ball Music Festival. The ninth annual edition of New York City’s very own homegrown fest will take place from Friday, May 31, 2019 through Sunday, June 2, 2019 on beautiful Randall’s Island Park. Featuring performances from Florence + The Machine, Tyler, The Creator, The Strokes, Lil Wayne, SZA, The 1975, Kacey Musgraves, and many more, Governors Ball will showcase 70 artists throughout the weekend. Full festival lineup and poster below. 3-day GA and VIP tickets (including payment plan options) will be available via GovBall.com beginning today at 8:00 AM ET at special “Announce Day” pricing until 11:59:59 PM ET. Regular pricing begins on January 8th at 12:00 AM ET. At the time of purchase, Gov Ball ticket buyers will have the option to add a limited edition, festival branded phone charger to their order, so attendees can ensure their mobile remains juiced from the first note played at the festival until the rideshare home from an epic Gov Ball After Dark show later that night. For full pricing breakdown including VIP packages and payment plan options visit: GovBall.com This year Governors Ball will celebrate its ninth consecutive running as “New York's biggest summer bash” (Rolling Stone), and one of the premier live music events on the planet. Last June, over 10 million worldwide viewers tuned in to the live broadcast of the internationally renowned festival, which was praised by performers and press alike. Pharrell proclaimed it “one of the best shows N.E.R.D had ever had in New York City,” and Vic Mensa was enamored by the “really special” and “uniquely strong” energy brought by the crowd. Stereogum noted that the festival has consistently set itself apart from the crowd, writing that “Governors Ball has always strived to have a bit more of a personality than most high-profile festivals, adding in touches you just wouldn’t get anywhere else.” Founders Entertainment is honored to once again bring those special touches and attention to detail to Governors Ball patrons at the festival grounds on Randall's Island Park (supported, maintained and programmed by the Randall's Island Park Alliance www.randallsisland.org). The 2019 festival will feature a signature lineup of the best food NYC has to offer, as well as craft coctails and a brand new beer experience. Between sets, attendees can take in and enjoy surprise pop up performances, play lawn games, explore street art from internationally known artists, and enjoy the relaxing and restorative 21+ Best Kept Secret area. Late night, music fans disperse throughout the city to take in intimate performances from Governors Ball artists as part of the After Dark concert series. All of these elements come together to create the “only in New York” experience “Gov Ball” has become known and loved for. Patrons looking to take their festival experience to the next level have many options for the weekend. VIP ticket holders can take advantage of a separate fast lane at each festival entrance, and access to all 21+ VIP Viewing Areas, which feature up-close prime viewing, comfy seating, shade tents, flushable bathrooms, specialty food vendors, cell phone charging stations, for hire massage services, and a beer, wine and liquor bar. VIP Plus tickets (only 125 available) go a step beyond the traditional VIP experience, with access to a very exclusive, elevated viewing platform with incredible views of the main stage that comes with comfortable lounge seating, and all-inclusive beer, cocktails, and wines and waiter service. And the Platinum VIP program treats ticket holders as if they were an artist performing at the festival, with a personal festival concierge, exclusive on-stage viewing (restrictions may apply), access to a very exclusive Front of House viewing area at the festival’s four stages, a plush backstage open bar and lounge, and more. Full details on VIP options can be found here. In addition to being accessible by MTA bus, bike, cab, and ferry service from Mid-Town Manhattan to and from the festival grounds, the festival is accessible to pedestrians via the RFK Bridge, the 103rd street footbridge, and Bronx Randall’s Island Connector. The 2019 festival will also have a robust Brooklyn shuttle program to bring patrons to and from the festival. Govball.com facebook.com/govballnyc @govballnyc instagram.com/govballnyc

Catch Up With These 2018 Gems

While 2019 has arrived, I wanted to celebrate a handful of outstanding 2018 albums that caught my ear over the past few weeks...

Artist: Unicorn
Title: Laughing Up Your Sleeve (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: The Band, David Gilmour, Gram Parsons
Tell me more: With the explosion of the Americana music movement in recent years it's not surprising that roots music lovers might want to dig a bit deeper and rediscover the genre's founding heroes. Count the British group Unicorn and the new title Laughing Up Your Sleeve as great place to catch up on one critical player in the Americana movement. Unicorn's "Laughing Up Your Sleeve" includes 20 previously-unissued demos from 1973-74 that were produced and recorded by David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) in his home studio. The harmonies, melodies and musical feel draw strong comparisons with contemporaries ranging from America to Gram Parsons and Neil Young on the LP. The remastered and restored analog tapes have revealed a fantastic sound on the new disc; highlights on the collection include the Parsons-flavored "Take It Easy," ethereal "All Night Long," aching ballad "Just Wanna Hold You" and wistful "Blue Pine Trees." Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Artist: Darlingside
Title: Extralife (More Doug Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Fleet Foxes, Simon & Garfunkel, First Aid Kit
Tell me more:  The luxurious soundscape crafted across Darlingside's Extralife is as immersive and gorgeous as any disc in memory. Boston-based quartet Darlingside uses a Americana backdrop that is propelled into the sonic stratosphere via lush harmony-drenched songs that will move discerning listeners to tears; the album's overarching theme of the world's end enhances the LP's surefire impact to be sure. The expansive "Singularity," acoustic chamber pop gem "Hold Your Head Up High," electronica "Eschaton" and enthralling "Indian Orchard Road" are among the stellar cuts on one of 2018's best albums. Information: darlingside.com.

Artist: Addison Love
Title: Thoughts On Lunch? (Big Stir Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Beatles, Yorktown Lads, Danny Wilkerson
Tell me more: Armed with a terrific tenor voice, multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Addison Love has knocked it out of the sonic park on his official full-length debut Thoughts On Lunch? The Orange County-based artist impresses in the delivery of piano-anchored forays (the Paul Williams-flavored "Just One Minute," introspective "Be Strong"), propulsive melodic pop (the prog rock-tinged "Anything's Right" and buoyant "Wee & Nancy Lee"), psychedelic rock ("Other Angels"), baroque rock ("I Hope She Stays Around") and a retro-aimed Music hall tune ("The Ballad of Dr. Minard"). "She" is an especially poignant original, recalling the acoustic approach used by John Lennnon on the Beatles classic "Julia." Written, performed, engineered and produced by Addison Love, Thoughts On Lunch? is a wonderful debut from start to finish. Information: AddisonLoveMusic.com.

Artist: Jane Getz & Company
Title: Go Back To Your Wife (Sage West Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Paula Cole, Mother Hen, Harry Nilsson
Tell me more: A noted studio musician who appeared on recordings featuring John Lennon, Ringo Starr, the Bee Gees, Jimi Hendrix and Harry Nilsson, songstress-keyboardist Jane Getz returned last year with the release Go Back To Your Wife. The disc is filled with original songs featuring her signature vocals, top-tier keyboards and a knack for '70s-flavored pop craft. The range of songs here is impressive, from the country-pop of "Love Should Be Easy" and wry Americana tale "In the Wilds of Alaska" to the shimmering ballad "Treasure Island" and blues-mining "Gonna Get What You Prayed For" displaying the artist's unique sound. Information: amazon.com.


Robert Kinsler

Sights and Sounds: Carlos Santana, Mike Oldfield, Bird Streets & Alana Davis

With this week's high-profile news about Coachella 2019, some of the most notable music-related news didn't get the attention it deserves. Well, here is some of that important news here...

Grammy-winning guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee releases new EP on January 25, 2019

Concord Records is proud to announce the signing of legendary artist Carlos Santana. A guitar icon who has sold over 100 million records and performed for three generations of concert fans worldwide, Santana will release a new EP, In Search of Mona Lisa, on January 25, 2019 (with a vinyl edition scheduled for February 22).

Pre-order In Search of Mona Lisa today:

https://found.ee/Santana_MonaLisaAmazon

https://found.ee/Santana_MonaLisaiTunes

https://found.ee/Santana_MonaLisaD2C

“Carlos Santana is an artist of singular voice. Immediately recognized for his signature sound and celebrated as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, his gift for melody and ability to seamlessly fuse and transcend musical genres has inspired us all,” said John Burk, President of Concord Records. “We are thrilled to welcome Carlos to the Concord family and look forward to where his seemingly endless creativity, curiosity and passion take us.”

A new full-length album produced by Rick Rubin will be released this summer.

“It is with our great pleasure that Carlos Santana has signed a new distribution deal with Concord Records,” Michael Vrionis, President of Universal Tone Management, said. “I would like to thank John Burk, President of the label and his entire team. We have a common mission to share eternally relevant music with the world. We are excited that Carlos Santana’s new full-length album will debut on Concord later this year.”

2019 marks the 20th anniversary of Carlos Santana’s groundbreaking album Supernatural and the 50th anniversary of his legendary performance at Woodstock. To date, Santana has won 10 GRAMMY Awards and three Latin Grammys. He won a record-tying nine Grammys for a single project for 1999’s Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for “Smooth”) as well as three Latin Grammys. He has also received the Billboard Century Award (1996), was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1998), received the Billboard Latin Music Awards’ Lifetime Achievement honor (2009), and was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors Award (2013). Among many other honors, Carlos Santana has been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” In the fall of 2014, Carlos Santana released his memoir The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light. Santana is currently headlining a multi-year residency at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Carlos Santana on the web:

Official Site: www.santana.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/carlossantana

Instagram: www.instagram.com/carlossantana

Twitter: www.twitter.com/santanacarlos

YouTube: www.youtube.com/santanaofficial

Mike Oldfield's “The Killing Fields” Soundtrack & DVD Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set Now Available For Pre-order! 

London - Mike Oldfield's “The Killing Fields” Soundtrack & DVD Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set is now available for pre-order. “The Killing Fields” is a 1984 British biographical drama film about the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, which is based on the experiences of two journalists: Cambodian Dith Pran and American Sydney Schanberg. It was directed by Roland Joffé and produced by David Puttnam for his company Goldcrest Films. Sam Waterston stars as Schanberg, Haing S. Ngor as Pran, Julian Sands as Jon Swain, and John Malkovich as Al Rockoff. The adaptation for the screen was written by Bruce Robinson; the musical score was written by Mike Oldfield and orchestrated by David Bedford.

The film was a success at the box office as well as being an instant hit with critics. At the 57th Academy Awards it received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture; it won three, most notably Best Supporting Actor for Haing S. Ngor, who had had no previous acting experience. At the 38th British Academy Film Awards, it won eight BAFTAs, including Best Film and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Ngor.

In 1999 the British Film Institute voted “The Killing Fields” the 100th greatest British film of the 20th century. In 2016 British film magazine Empire ranked it number 86 in their list of the 100 best British films.

“The Killing Fields” is the 10th record album by Mike Oldfield, originally released in 1984 on Virgin Records. It is the only full-length film score written by Mike Oldfield with the music was orchestrated by David Bedford.

Though Oldfield’s music had been used in films before (see “The Exorcist” and “The Space Movie”), this was the first time he had written specifically for film, and so far the only time. Oldfield composed the album on a Fairlight CMI.

Like many movies, the album is not a comprehensive record of all the Oldfield soundtrack music used in the film. Most notably, the music accompanying the darkroom sequence does not feature on the album.

Oldfield's work on the score was partially instigated by Virgin boss Richard Branson when he took Oldfield to see David Puttnam, a producer on the film, which then secured him the role. Oldfield spent six months working on the score for “The Killing Fields” before going on tour, but when Oldfield returned, the producers of the film asked for more music to be written, prompting Oldfield to ask for the use of an orchestra and a choir; three months later the score was finished.

Tracklisting

“Pran's Theme”
“Requiem for a City”
“Evacuation”
“Pran's Theme 2”
“Capture”
“Execution”
“Bad News”
“Pran's Departure”
“Worksite”
“The Year Zero”
“Blood Sucking”
“The Year Zero 2”
“Pra'’s Escape” / “The Killing Fields”
“The Trek”
“The Boy's Burial” / “Pran Sees the Red Cross”
“Good News”
“Étude”
“Evacuation (Single edit)” (Bonus track)
“Étude (Single edit)” (Bonus track)

Personnel

Mike Oldfield – guitars (Gibson Les Paul Junior and SG Junior), synthesizers (including Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, Oberheim OB-Xa, DMX and Roland VP 330), Fairlight computer, producer, engineer.
Preston Heyman – oriental percussion
Morris Pert – percussion
Eberhard Schoener – conductor
Bavarian State Orchestra
Tölzer Boys Choir

This deluxe box set brings together both the soundtrack CD and the film DVD for the first time, along with reproduction memorabilia from the film and a numbered certificate. This edition is bound to be a collector’s item for both fans of Mike Oldfield and of the movie alike!

Box Set comprises of:

DVD
CD
Numbered certificate
With reproductions of:
Lobby cards,
A3 poster,
Press Pack (In English),
German Press Book
10″ × 8″ black and white promotional photos

For more information: www.pledgemusic.com/mikeoldfield 

Bird Streets and Alana Davis team up for upcoming tour dates on the West Coast

Tue. Jan 29 •LOS ANGELES• Hotel Café, Main Stage

1623 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Showtime: 8 p.m.; Tickets: $15 pre sale

https://www.hotelcafe.com/tickets/?s=events_view&id=8592

SHORT LINK: http://bit.ly/2BXEC7y

 

 

 

Video:

Bird Streets  - Daytrotter Session (December 2018):

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/12/bird-streets-full-session.html

 

Alana Davis - “Pretty Like Money/So Much Trouble” (Live at the Mint 2o18): https://youtu.be/qFv9sNO1t_g

 

• • • 

 

NPR Music Slingshot artist Bird Streets will team up with singer-songwriter Alana Davis for a series of West Coast tour dates, each promoting their respective 2018 album releases. Bird Streets will open each show solo, followed by a set from Davis and her bandmates.

 

John Brodeur, left, of Bird Streets and Alana Davis are embarking
on a tour of the West Coast later this month.

Bird Streets is the alias of Brooklyn-based songwriter and musician John Brodeur. The self-titled album, produced by power-pop cult hero Jason Falkner (Beck, Jellyfish, Daniel Johnston) and released by Omnivore Recordings, has garnered outstanding reviews from AllMusic, Albumism, Blurt andPopMatters, among others. NPR Music selected Bird Streets as a 2018 Slingshot artist. The lead single, “Betting On The Sun,” is in rotation at AAA and college radio stations nationwide, including spins from tastemakers KCRW, WFUV and WXPN, and the album has turned up on numerous fans’ and critics’ Best of 2018 lists. Brodeur’s live band just completed a Midwest tour that included an appearance at the legendary 7th St Entry in Minneapolis, as well as a Daytrotter session.

 

Alana Davis' music career emerged with her debut single, “32 Flavors,” which became a Top 40 hit and provided her with the opportunity to tour with several of her contemporaries like Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and Ziggy Marley, as well as extolled industry legends such as Jethro Tull, Bonnie Raitt and Steel Pulse. She has collaborated on recordings with Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Sly & Robbie, and recently with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, who performs on her 2018 album, Love Again (Cleopatra Records). Alana's music has been featured in mainstream media throughout her career, including a Super Bowl commercial, and several films and television shows, and has garnered critical acclaim in Time, The New York Times and Rolling Stone. Davis is coming off a successful East Coast tour where she packed rooms at City Winery venues in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C.

 

BIRD STREETS and ALANA DAVIS TOUR DATES

Tue. Jan. 29 - Los Angeles - Hotel Cafe

Wed. Jan. 30 - San Francisco - Hotel Utah

Sat. Feb. 2 - Seattle - Fremont Abbey Arts Center

Mon. Feb. 4 - Portland, Ore. - White Eagle Saloon

 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Bird Streets

http://www.facebook.com/birdstreetsmusic

Instagram: @birdstreets

Twitter: @birdstreets

Alana Davis

http://www.facebook.com/alanadavis

Instagram: @alanadavismusic

 

 

 

BIRD STREETS BIO:

 

“I used to write about finding ways out of the darkness,” says Brodeur. “Now I’m more interested in exploring and creating a map of that place. In some ways, adopting the Bird Streets name allowed me to write more openly about myself.”

 

In need of a creative rebirth after years on the music-industry margins, Brodeur reached out to producer and multi-instrumentalist Falkner to suggest a collaboration. The album yielded by this pairing is both fresh and familiar--a dynamic collection of introspective indie-rock and power-pop that draws liberally on the music of decades past without being bluntly nostalgic, with Brodeur’s voice like an old friend you’re meeting for the first time.

 

Over a career that’s spanned nearly 20 years, Brodeur has independently produced and released several solo albums, including 2013’s Little Hopes; fronted rock trios the Suggestions and Maggie Mayday; and worked as a touring and studio musician for scores of acts, including the Morning After Girls, Freedy Johnston, and White Hills. This is his first recording under the Bird Streets name.

 

The name Bird Streets springs from a tony real-estate enclave in the Hollywood Hills, which Brodeur first discovered when the recording sessions were first getting underway — but also references Brodeur’s one-time hometown of Albany, N.Y., which provided the characters and inspiration for some of the album’s 11 songs.

 

Recorded at Falkner’s Los Angeles studio between 2014 and 2016, Bird Streets is the product of equal measures tenacity and patience. After a series of setbacks derailed touring plans for his last solo album, Brodeur decamped to L.A, waiting for a hole to open in Falkner’s schedule. Once they were in the studio, the kindred creative spirits hit it off immediately. Working during the short gaps between Falkner’s touring and production commitments, with Brodeur shuffling between coasts for studio dates, the pair moved quickly, arranging and tracking entire songs in a day or two, sharing instrumental duties throughout.

 

Lyrically, these songs draw heavily on internal conflict with an overarching feeling of wistful resignation rather than blind optimism. Periodically difficult themes are delivered via unshakable melodies, a dichotomy that recalls the tightrope walked by artists like Elliott Smith and David Bazan. In album opener “Carry Me,” Brodeur celebrates “new beginnings and bitter ends” over a bright, bristling bed of electric guitars, then laments a relationship that was once “tighter than Steely Dan” in the eminently catchy “Betting on the Sun.” Musically, the album jumps from epic power-ballads (“Stop to Breathe”) to British Invasion-flavored power-pop (“Thanks for Calling”), the George Harrison-via-Radiohead melancholy of “Heal” to the grungy jangle of “Until the Crown.”

 

Now, after years in the making — and decades on the outside looking in — Bird Streets is giving Brodeur a renewed creative energy, and a shot at reaching a larger audience.

 

• -

 

ALANA DAVIS BIO:

 

 

There are many interpretations of the notion that Alana Davis has a unique composition.

 

The first refers to that of her heritage and environmental background. Her Black father, Walter Davis, Jr., was an acclaimed jazz pianist who, in addition to releasing the Blue Note classic LP Davis Cup, played alongside luminaries such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Donald Byrd and as part of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Alana’s White mother, Anna Schofield, was a noted jazz vocalist whose 1963 Atlantic Recordsrelease Anamari was produced by the legendary Nesuhi Ertegun (John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Ray Charles). She was raised in the West Village in Manhattan where she was influenced by an eclectic assortment of musicians like Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. This enriched musical upbringing put Alana on the path to attend the famed LaGuardia School of Performing Arts in New York City on a scholarship.

 

The second interpretation alludes to her style sui generis of singer-songwriter artistry. Her song lyrics are notably personal, mature, and distinctive while her sound synthesizes rock, pop, folk, jazz, soul and reggae, the latter acting as a thematic backdrop to her new full-length album, Love Again (Cleopatra Records). Perhaps her most recognizable characteristic is her voice, which has been described by Time magazine as “sensuous, sliding alto, young and vibrant, but infused with old, smoky blues”. It is for these reasons that Alana, like her father, has been able to share stages with a number of critically acclaimed contemporary performers like Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Blues Traveler, and Ziggy Marley while also receiving invitations to open for veteran artists like Jethro Tull, Bonnie Raitt, and Steel Pulse.

 

Alana’s tenure in modern music dates back to the late ’90s, when she released her debut album Blame it On Me (Elektra Records). The first single from the album, “32 Flavors” became a Top 40 hit and earned her TV appearances on The Tonight Show, The Late Show, and other TV programs. She was also the only female main stage act for the 1998 H.O.R.D.E. Festival. Proving that her sound transcends genres, Jay-Z prominently sampled Alana’s voice and song “Murder” on his triple-platinum album Vol. 3...Life & Time of S. Carter which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Albums Chart. Her collaboration with hip-hop artists would continue with Pharrell Williams, who produced tracks for Alana’s sophomore album, Fortune Cookies(Elektra Records).

 

In the early 2000s, Alana’s voice was heard by over 100 million people during a Superbowl commercial for Sony Electronics, where she covered the Crosby, Stills & Nash classic “Carry On.” Subsequently, Gloria Steinem invited Alana to perform at the Ms. Foundation Awards prior to releasing her third record,Surrender Dorothy, in partnership with the TelArc/Concord Music record label. Alana became a mother in 2008 and took some time off from recording to focus on raising her daughter, but would continue to perform live in the US and the Caribbean from time to time, including performances with Thievery Corporation. During this period, she also wrote and placed songs for major television and film projects.

 

In May 2018, Alana dropped her new LP, Love Again, and released the title track as the first single along with a counterpart music video. The album features collaborations with the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart, Native’s Brian Jobson, hit reggae producers Sly & Robbie (No Doubt, Sinead O’Connor) and neo-soul drumming legend Gene Lake (Maxwell, D’Angelo, Meshell Ndegeocello). Reggae is a notable influence in the new record’s sound and has been supported by Alana’s shows at Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and during opening slots for Steel Pulse. Alana said about the record, “I built around the acoustic song, but I tried not to fill in all the blanks. I tried to leave it still kind of acoustic at the core, so that you’d feel my heart.”

MUSIC WORTH BUYING: Our Favorite Albums of 2018

Watch the latest episode of MUSIC WORTH BUYING where TJR and Robert Kinsler discuss their favorite albums of 2018:

2019 Coachella Lineup Announced

Here is tonight's big news...

Los Angeles, CA (January 2, 2018) – Coachella returns to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA for two weekends set for April 12th – 14th and April 19th – 21st. Childish Gambino, Tame Impala and Ariana Grande will headline both weekends. (Full lineup as of January 2nd below).

Passes for Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival go on sale Friday, January 4 at 11 AM PT at coachella.com, while supplies last. All taxes, shipping and fees are included in listed pass prices.

Bar/None Records releasing two new Alex Chilton albums

The year is young, but there is already exciting news as it relates to work from the late rocker Alex Chilton...

February 8 will see Bar/None Records' release of From Memphis to New Orleans and Songs From Robin Hood Lane, thought-provoking looks at an often overlooked period of alternative rock icon Alex Chilton's long, curious career.  Alex was at the height of his cult fame in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s when he made these recordings. It is some of his best most honest work oddly neglected for some time but delivered here for enthusiasts and neophytes alike. All these recordings have been out of print for decades.

In the last 15 years of his life Chilton re-visited a lot of the songs he heard in the 1950s especially doing his own versions of standards, much like his father had played and shared with him. Songs From Robin Hood Lane collects four previously unreleased performances as well as rare tracks and recordings long out of print. 

It was a bit of a surprise to his fans when Chilton cited the biggest influence on him as a singer being Chet Baker. When Chilton was only seven years old, he immersed himself in the Chet Baker Sings album. Baker was a trumpet player and the vocal album was a controversial but popular album when it was released in 1954. Alex's father Sidney Chilton was a jazz trumpeter and piano player and he had a large record library that Alex would explore.

Alex heard the Chet Baker Sings album in 1957 when the family was living in a post war Memphis suburb on a street called Robin Hood Lane. Tragedy struck the Chilton family that year when his older brother Reid tragically died in a freak drowning accident. Baker's haunting delivery gave some cold comfort to a kid who was suddenly adrift without the older brother he revered. In an effort to get beyond the tragedy the family moved away from Robin Hood Lane into a large Victorian in Midtown Memphis an area that had fallen on hard times as the suburbs prospered. Sid and Mary remade themselves into patrons of the arts turning their home into a gallery /salon, where musicians came to play, potters and painters displayed their wares in the first floor hall and left of center political views were discussed. The photographer William Eggleston set up a darkroom in a backyard building.  Sydney began playing music again and there was no looking back to the traditional suburban lifestyle of Sherwood Forest and Robinhood lane.

From Memphis to New Orleans contains recordings Chilton made in the 1980s when he emerged from a self-imposed exile and began performing again.

Alex knew he had to get out of town. Except for a couple short stints in New York City he had lived in Memphis his whole life. The city was closing in on him, his music career was in shambles and he had developed a bad alcohol habit. He'd had big hit records as a teenager in the Box Tops and critical acclaim for his work with Big Star in his twenties. He'd dabbled in the CBGB punk scene in the late '70s and brought that attitude down South for the album Like Flies On Sherbert and the anarchic southern punkabilly of Panther Burns but now the money had run out and he was uncomfortable with the fame that still lingered.

When an old family friend suggested he might remake himself in New Orleans, Chilton was ready for the change. Alex made the move, quit drinking and quietly disappeared into his new hometown. He abandoned music as a livelihood and worked as a dishwasher, janitor, and tree trimmer, occasionally playing in cover bands in local honky-tonks.

Meanwhile, in the outside world his reputation among a new generation of musicians was growing. R.E.M., the Bangles and the Replacements in the U.S. sang his praises and recorded his songs. Primal Scream and This Mortal Coil in the UK did the same. Frankly in the modern world you would be hard pressed to find an alternative band that has not been influenced by the songs of Alex Chilton and Big Star.

Chilton now sang in a more laconic, natural sounding style that was a far cry from the blue-eyed soul of the Box Tops or Big Star's emotional melodicism. The music on these recordings reflects the laid-back vibe of his new hometown: there's the very relaxed groove of Willie Tee's "Thank You John" but also the Memphis soul of B-A-B-Y (a song that could have been an answer to the Box Tops "Cry Like A Baby." There are also originals like "Lost My Job" that was supposedly written after Alex had done enough dishwashing and was ready to get back out on the road. ("Lost my job/Guess I'll have to go steal and rob") and "Underclass" celebrating his new status as a member of the broke down and busted. "People think that I'm a rich musician but no . . . Let me just describe my position. It's way down, it's all the way down."

Out of all this performing emerged a whole new approach for Chilton and a new stripped-down body of work. What he had to offer was laid bare for the listener to take in without fancy production or studio effects. His vocals were recorded "dry" and placed up front in the mix. His singing style is relaxed and easy going if not down right bemused. It certainly sounds like he is having a good time. This lack of artifice is what makes these recordings hold up even after hundreds of plays.

By digging deep into a long forgotten American song book Alex Chilton helped his younger acolytes explore sounds that might have otherwise passed them by. He had given his fans a gift-turning them on to all kinds of music especially from the south and pleasing himself in the process.