Marcus King Band shares new single "Heartlands," highly anticipated album 'Darling Blue' out Sept. 26

 Listen to the bluegrass-tinged new Marcus King Band single "Heartlands" and learn more about the upcoming album release of the outfit's "Darling Blue." Read my review of King's terrific 2022 album "Young Blood" HERE...Robert Kinsler

MARCUS KING BAND SHARES NEW SINGLE “HEARTLANDS”

HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM DARLING BLUE OUT SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 VIA AMERICAN RECORDS/REPUBLIC RECORDS

THE DARLING BLUE TOUR (PT. 1)
NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE RUN BEGINS SEPTEMBER 11 

 

 

[Of “Here Today”] “Each artist brings their own distinct sound to the verses, between King’s soulful grit, Butts’ smoky twang and Johnson’s powerful vocal growl — but when their voices merge, it evokes a freewheeling, jam-band feel that dares fans not to sing along." -- Billboard Magazine

“Darling Blue is loaded sincere and sharp-tongued reflections on the personal revolutions that frontman King has faced in his travels since the band’s last offering.” -- Relix

“September 26th can’t get here soon enough.” -- Whiskey Riff
 

September 5, 2025—Ahead of their much-anticipated new album Darling Blue, Marcus King Band shares a further taste of the new music with the single “Heartlands.” Listen/share the track HERE. 

The album is due on September 26 via American Records/Republic Records. Pre-order/pre-save Darling Blue HERE.

“I wrote ‘Heartlands’ with one of my favorite writers and best pals in town, Jonathan Singleton,” says King. “This song puts into words just the way I feel about that sweet little wife of mine. She’s supported me through so many ups and downs. But when I fall, she’s always where my heart lands.”

“Heartlands” follows a string of recent releases from the LP, including “Here Today” featuring Jamey Johnson and Kaitlin Butts, of which Billboard raves, “when their voices merge, it evokes a freewheeling, jam-band feel that dares fans not to sing along.” The band has also shared “Carry Me Home,” “Carolina Honey” and “Honky Tonk Hell,” the latter of which became the fastest single of King’s career to hit one million streams. 

Coming up on September 11, the band will kick off their headlining The Darling Blue Tour (Pt. 1), a 13-date North American run beginning in Davenport, IA. The tour includes stops in Memphis, Albuquerque, Little Rock and more. Support across select dates comes from Angel White, Laci Kaye Booth and Pearl. Tickets and more information can be found HERE, and see below for a complete list of dates.

Darling Blue finds Grammy-nominated Marcus King reuniting with his longtime live band for their first recorded album together since 2018’s Carolina Confessions. Inspired heavily by the Blue Ridge Mountains in his home state of South Carolina, the new album incorporates elements of country, folk, psychedelic rock and Motown-era R&B and continues the conversation on King’s experience with addiction and depression.
“It truly felt like home,” King details. “Like my band and I were just working out songs to perform live but ended up creating a piece of recorded music for our fans to hear. Our goal is always to be a vessel and allow the music to flow through us and tap into something that’s already there in the room. But more than anything I’ve done before, this album felt like a real concerted effort to make music for myself, and for ourselves as a band—creating for the love of creating and being as honest as we possibly can. We put everything we had into making something that we love and we have faith that the audience will feel that and love it too.”

Recently, King collaborated with Gibson for the release of his second signature guitar, the Gibson Marcus King ES-345. Learn more: PEOPLE, Guitar World, Premier Guitar

The beloved Marcus King Band Family Reunion music festival recently returned for its fourth installment and landmark year in Charleston, SC. The two-day festival featured performances by Marcus King Band, Jamey Johnson, Stephen Wilson Jr., Molly Tuttle, Hiss Golden Messenger and more. 

This year also finds King hitting the road with Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Eric Church and Dwight Yoakam; additional info follows below. 

Greenville, South Carolina-born, Nashville-based Marcus King started performing alongside his blues guitarist father when he was just eight years old. He made his solo debut with El Dorado (2020), produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. The album was met with widespread acclaim, with the Associated Press calling it “a definite high point of 2020.” It went on to earn King his landmark Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album at the 63^rd Annual Grammy Awards. 

He followed up the success of El Dorado with Young Blood (2022), also produced by Auerbach. His sophomore album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Blues Albums Chart, the magazine described it as a “staggeringly confident work.”Last year King returned with his third album, Mood Swings, produced by Rick Rubin, of which Rolling Stone said, “he…goes for something much more daring, vulnerable, and openhearted.”

 

Darling Blue album art

 

MARCUS KING BAND—DARLING BLUE
1. On & On
2. Here Today ft. Jamey Johnson & Kaitlin Butts
3. Honky Tonk Hell
4. Heartlands
5. Die Alone
6. Somebody Else ft. Jesse Welles
7. Levi’s & Goodbyes
8. Carolina Honey
9. No Room For Blue
10. Blue Ridge Mountain Moon
11. Dirt (Nashville version) ft. Billy Strings
12. The Shadows ft. Noah Cyrus
13. Pretty Petty
14. Carry Me Home

TOUR DATES
BOLD DATES: The Darling Blue Tour (Pt. 1)
September 5—Madison, IN—Unbroken Circle Festival At Bicentennial Park
September 11—Davenport, IA—Capitol Theater*
September 12—Lincoln, NE—Pinnacle Bank Arena‡
September 15-21—Seattle, WA—Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea Alaska
September 22—Nashville, TN—Grand Ole Opry (Grand Ole Opry House) 
September 25—Green Bay, WI—Resch Center§
September 26—Milwaukee, WI—Fiserv Forum§
September 27—Des Moines, IA—Casey’s Center§
September 28—St. Louis, MO—Evolution Festival
October 2—Detroit, MI—Little Caesars Arena§
October 3—Lexington, KY—Rupp Arena§
October 9—Indianapolis, IN—Gainbridge Fieldhouse§
October 10—Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena§
October 11—Cleveland, OH—Rocket Arena§
October 12—Peoria, IL—Civic Center Theater*
October 14—Lawrence, KS—Liberty Hall*
October 16—Sugar Land, TX—Smart Financial Centre At Sugar Land**
October 17—Stephenville, TX—Twisted J Live
October 18—Austin, TX—Moody Center**
October 19—Fayetteville, AR—JJ’s††
October 21—Starkville, MS—Rick’s Cafe††
October 23—Memphis, TN—Graceland*
October 24—Fairhope, AL—Live at Five*
October 25—Birmingham, AL—Legacy Arena at The BJCC‡
October 30—Catoosa, OK—Hard Rock Live
October 31—Little Rock, AR—The Hall‡‡
November 1—Gonzales, LA—Boots On The Bayou
November 2—Corpus Christi, TX—Concrete Street Pavilion‡‡
November 5—Lubbock, TX—Cook’s Garage (indoors)‡‡
November 6—Albuquerque, NM—Revel‡‡
November 11-16—Los Angeles, CA—Blue Note LA
May 29—Panama City Beach, FL—Gulf Coast Jam

*with Angel White
†with Chris Stapleton
‡with Cody Johnson
§with Eric Church
**with Dwight Yoakam
††Laci Kaye Booth
‡‡Pearl



About Republic Records
A division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, Republic Records has been recognized by Billboard as the industry’s #1 label over the last decade. It is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends such as Anitta, Ariana Grande, Billy Porter, Conan Gray, Cynthia Erivo, Daniel Caesar, Eddie Vedder, Florence + the Machine, Glass Animals, Jelly Roll, Jimmy Fallon, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Jonas Brothers, Kid Cudi, Kim Petras, Lorde, Miranda Lambert, Nicki Minaj, Pearl Jam, Shania Twain, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures with chart topping artists and partners including American Recordings (Marcus King), Boominati Worldwide (Metro Boomin), Brushfire (Jack Johnson), Casablanca Records (Nelly Furtado, Martin Garrix), Cash Money (Birdman, Jacquees), HYBE (TXT), JYP Entertainment (Stray Kids, TWICE), Lava Records (Greta Van Fleet), Mavin Records (Ayra Starr), OVO (Drake), XO (The Weeknd), Young Money (Lil Wayne), among others. Additionally, Republic recently launched Federal Films, the film and TV division that aims to bring compelling stories to audiences around the world, as well as Republic Records: Kids & Family, the official children's division of Republic Records.

The Art of Music 'Peter Frampton and Warren Haynes' filmed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art debuts on Public Television beginning Sept. 6

 This sounds super interesting and is set to premiere later this week...Robert Kinsler

THE ART OF MUSIC “PETER FRAMPTON AND WARREN HAYNES”  FILMED AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART  DEBUTS ON PUBLIC TELEVISION BEGINNING SEPT. 6  (check local listings) Presented by United MileagePlus® Cards from Chase,  Episode Includes Conversation and Performances from the  Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee

Peter Frampton and Warren Haynes at The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Photo Credit: Jim Belmont

NEW YORK, NY (September 4, 2025) – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, GRAMMY® Award-winning musician and one of the most celebrated artists in rock history, Peter Frampton, is the latest artist featured in the new public television series The Art of Music premiering September 6, 2025. Presented by United MileagePlus® Cards from Chase and filmed in front of a live invited audience at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Frampton is interviewed by guitarist, singer and songwriter Warren Haynes.   As part of this unique series, Haynes led a conversation with Frampton about his musical journey, sharing insights into his creative processes. The discussion intertwined some of Frampton’s timeless hits such as “Do You Feel Like We Do”, “Baby I Love Your Way”, and “Show Me The Way”.  “It was wonderful performing for The Art of Music series, it’s such a unique way of putting art and music together and to have done this at The Met, what an honor,” says Frampton.  The Art of Music, created and executive produced by iMaggination’s Don Maggi, was created to give viewers a rare look inside the artists’ lives and their creative practice at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art. In this episode, after nearly 50 years since Frampton Comes Alive! was released, which remains one of the top-selling live records of all time–selling over 17 million worldwide, the celebrated guitarist shares stories about his vast catalog and significant moments in his career.  “We're excited to share this new episode of The Art of Music featuring Peter Frampton and Warren Haynes,” says Maggi. “The combination of these two legends together on stage within the walls of the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art offers audiences a unique and intimate look inside Frampton's historic journey through storytelling and performance.”

Rob Arthur, Alison Prestwood, Peter Frampton and Warren Haynes at The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Photo Credit: Jim Belmont

“We were thrilled to welcome Peter Frampton to The Met for an unforgettable visit. Sharing our newly acquired collection of American guitars with him was a true privilege, made all the more special as Frampton recounted his journey as a guitarist and performed some of his most iconic music." - Jayson Kerr Dobney, Frederick P. Rose Curator in Charge of the Department of Musical Instruments at The Met Frampton’s episode of The Art of Music will air on public television stations nationwide beginning September 6, 2025. Fans may also watch on The Art of Music website or stream on the PBS app.   The national public television World Channel will air the episode Saturday, October 4 at 7pm ET, with a repeat on Monday October 6 at 5am ET (adjust by time zone). Visit worldchannel.org to find your local World Channel station. The program will air on the All Arts Channel and on the All Arts app in the New York Metro area on Saturday, October 25 at 9 pm. This special interview and performance featuring Peter Frampton presented by United MileagePlus® Cards from Chase was an unforgettable occasion for Chase United Cardmembers who were invited to attend the intimate live taping. The United MileagePlus® Cards from Chase provide Cardmembers with access to exclusive events and experiences in addition to many  reward and travel benefits with United Airlines. Underwriters for The Art of Music are The Mark Hotel and SUNDRAGON.   Additional artists to be announced for the series soon. For more information, visit  https://theartofmusic.org.   About Peter Frampton In 2007 Frampton won a GRAMMY® for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Fingerprints and in 2014 was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. He received the prestigious Les Paul Innovation Award at NAMM’s TEC Awards in 2019 and most recently received the 2024 Les Paul Spirit Award at the Gibson Garage Nashville earlier this month.  In 2020 Frampton was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame, his autobiography Do You Feel Like I Do?: A Memoir debuted on The New York Times Bestsellers list and he appeared on Dolly Parton’s latest album, Rockstar, as the only artist featured on two tracks. Despite the announcement of his farewell tour over four years ago due to a diagnosis of the degenerative disease inclusion-body myositis, the legendary musician has continued to play venues across the country to critical acclaim. In 2023, Frampton released Frampton@50 on Intervention Records, a numbered limited-edition vinyl box set featuring Frampton’s essential 1972-1975 studio releases Wind of Change, Frampton’s Camel and Frampton. He also received The Myositis Association’s Heroes in the Fight 2023 Patient Ambassador Award in September and unveiled his historic performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall as a live album. About The Art of Music  The Art of Music invites audiences inside The Metropolitan Museum of Art for intimate conversations and performances by today’s most iconic storytellers, taped and aired for public television. The series is created and executive produced by iMaggination’s Don Maggi. For more information, go to:https://theartofmusic.org About The Metropolitan Museum of Art  The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870 by a group of American citizens– businessmen and financiers as well as leading artists and thinkers of the day who wanted to create a museum to bring art and art education to the American people. Today, The Met displays tens of thousands of objects covering 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City– The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online. Since its founding, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum’s galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.  In May, The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced a landmark gift of more than 500 of the finest guitars from the golden age of American guitar making, spanning the years 1920 to 1970. This new collection of the most important guitars, anchored by a major gift from collector Dirk Ziff, will showcase the profound impact this celebrated instrument has had on popular music, culture, society, politics, and religion in America—and then resonated around the world. The collection displays the diversity of the guitar in all its forms—including electric, acoustic, archtop, bass, resonator, and lap steel—as well as related stringed instruments and amplifiers. Read more HERE. About LCM247  LCM247 is an award-winning television and film production company founded by Patrick  Heaphy. LCM247 develops and produces documentaries with a specialization in multi camera  concert productions with full multi track record, mix and delivery of programs to broadcast,  streaming and theatrical. For more information, go to: lcm247.com.  Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval. Terms Apply.

AIR announces 'The Virgin Suicides Redux' commemorating the 25th anniversary 'The Virgin Suicides' + North American tour dates in September and October

Here is a comprehensive update on AIR's U.S. tour and a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the groundbreaking duo's "The Virgin Suicides" album originally released in 2000...Robert Kinsler

AIR MARKS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIRGIN SUICIDES WITH NEW EDITION THE VIRGIN SUICIDES REDUX OUT SEPTEMBER 26TH NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES BEGIN THIS MONTH INCLUDES ORCHESTRA SHOW AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL AND FIRST LIVE APPEARANCE AT THE LEGENDARY RED ROCKS AMPHITEATRE IN COLORADO

Air by Chris Kontos The Virgin Suicides Redux Pre-save/order:  https://air.lnk.to/TVSRedux Tour Tickets: airfrenchband.com  (September 4, 2025) - A landmark in AIR’s discography and the haunting sonic backdrop to Sofia Coppola’s debut film, The Virgin Suicides marks its 25th anniversary with a new edition. Originally released in 2000 and mixed digitally, the album returns as The Virgin Suicides Redux, featuring a brand-new analog mix crafted from the original tapes by its original mixer, Stéphane ‘Alf’ Briat. This updated mix enriches and expands the album’s ethereal soundscapes, which, like the cult-classic film it accompanies, have only grown more resonant over time. Speaking about why the duo wanted to revisit the album, Nicolas Godin explains: We made the album in 1999 on a very low budget. It was during the first era of digital home studio equipment, and the sound is very metallic and cold, and I’ve always regretted that about the way it sounds. So we’ve remixed it to make it into something warmer, more organic. Now it sounds how it always was meant to sound. Last year, AIR reunited with Thomas Mars of Phoenix to perform their iconic single “Playground Love” at the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony as well as on the rooftop of Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. The song itself was never planned—it was written at the eleventh hour when the filmmaker asked for a true end-credits theme. AIR turned to their friends in Phoenix, with Mars lending his lyrics and voice, and even brought in a 17-year-old saxophonist who delivered a one-take solo inspired by Lou Reed’s “Walk On the Wild Side.” What began as a last-minute addition became the soundtrack’s defining single—intimate, soulful, and unexpectedly timeless. The Virgin Suicides Redux will be released on September 26th across all streaming platforms, alongside a full analog vinyl edition and a deluxe 2-CD/Blu-ray digipack. The CD bundle features the new analog mix, a Dolby Atmos spatial audio Blu-ray of the album, and a collection of previously unreleased rarities and demos. This new edition comes on the heels of AIR’s celebrated anniversary of their groundbreaking debut, Moon Safari, which was reimagined earlier this year through a remix project created in collaboration with London-based producer Vegyn. Additionally, AIR is currently in the midst of their Moon Safari Tour, having wrapped up a string of major European summer festival appearances. Including a standout appearance at Paris’ We Love Green festival, where Charli XCX joined them on stage for a surprise performance of "Cherry Blossom Girl." They head to North America later this month, where they will feature a one-of-a-kind orchestral concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. From there, the acclaimed tour continues across the U.S. and Canada, with stops in San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, and more, before concluding with a three-night residency at the Brooklyn Paramount in New York.  Pre-order/save The Virgin Suicides Redux above and see below for upcoming tour dates.  Upcoming Tour Dates: 9/16 - Mexico City, MX - Auditorio Nacional 9/21 - Los Angeles, CA, USA @ Hollywood Bowl w/ The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra [with support from Bonobo (DJ set)] 9/24 - San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater 9/26 - Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theater 9/28 - San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic 9/30 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Sandy Amphitheatre 10/2 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre 10/5 - Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium 10/6 - Cleveland, OH @ MGM Northfield Park 10/7 - Washington, D.C. @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor 10/9 - Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall 10/10 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount 10/11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount 10/12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount The Virgin Suicides Redux album artwork AIR The Virgin Suicides Redux (September 26th, Warner France) DISC 1  1. Playground Love (with Gordon Tracks) 2. Clouds Up 3. Bathroom Girl 4. Cemetary Party 5. Dark Messages 6. The Word Hurricane 7. Dirty Trip 8. Highschool Lover 9. Afternoon Sister 10. Ghost Song 11. Ghost Song 12. Dead Bodies 13. Suicide Underground   DISC 2 – DEMOS & RARITIES  1. Playground Love (Vibraphone version) 2. Suicide Underground (Francis Lai) 3. Playground Love (demo strings) 4. Bathroom girl demo 2   5. Playground Love (vocoder)  6. Clouds up (demo)  7. Suicide Underground demo 8. Nosferatu remix by the Flower Pistols 9. Dead Bodies demo 10. Virgin Suicides demo 11. Highschool Prom Playground Love - Rob remix

Follow AIR: WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X | TIKTOK

Other Lives releases captivating new single "What's It Gonna Take"

Check out the exciting news as well as the three newly-released advance tracks from Other Lives...Robert Kinsler

Other Lives Deliver Latest Single "What's It Gonna Take" From Forthcoming New Album Volume V Out October 10 via Play It Again Sam

Press shot credit: Johnny LaVallee Today American indie-rock outfit, Other Lives release their brand new single, "What’s It Gonna Take", the latest to be taken from their forthcoming 5th studio album Volume V - out via Play It Again Sam on October 10.   "What’s It Gonna Take" was written immediately after the Ukraine invasion and taps into universal feelings.     Frontman Jesse Tabish has said, “’What’s It Gonna Take’ is not a pacifist song, it’s about defending your homeland against aggression.”     Listen to "What's It Gonna Take" HERE Volume V signifies the latest chapter in the ongoing story of Other Lives, their fifth record of magnificent musical and emotional depth. From the first notes of previous single "Mystic," it’s clear that the cinematic breadth of their arrangements and melodies has risen several dynamic notches, with a fuller orchestrated reach and more towering drama across the album’s eight songs and two instrumentals - evidence of the band’s hunger to keep progressing while retaining the essence of what makes Other Lives so unique and irresistible.     The band’s creative core, multi-instrumentalists Jesse Tabish (also their lead singer), Jonathon Mooney and Josh Onstott, emerged in the early Noughties from the rural township of Stillwater, north of Oklahoma City, west of Tulsa and east of the Carl Blackwell and Lake McMurtry lakes, from where they made their self-titled debut album and 2011’s Tamer Animals, their debut album for PIAS that inspired MOJO magazine to label them, “The next must-have pastoral American sensation.”       The trio then moved out west to Portland where they recorded their 2014 album Rituals and then 2020’s fourth album For Their Love, mostly captured in the vicinity of Oregon’s Cooper Mountain region, with Tabish’s wife Kim becoming a vital part of Other Lives, adding not just instrumental and songwriting skills but multi-layered backing vocals to enrichen Jesse’s gorgeous plaintive presence.       When the pandemic isolated the Tabishs from the other band members, the couple collaborated to create Jesse’s solo album Cowboy Ballads Part 1, released in 2022 after they had moved back to Stillwater. It’s also the location for Volume V, even though Jesse and Kim have moved on to Cleveland, Ohio while Jonathon lives in New York City and Josh in Los Angeles.  Album artwork & tracklist:

1. Mystic 2. Versailles 3. What’s It Gonna Take 4. Heading West 5. One For The Kids 6. Show Us Some Love 7. Outro 8. Cisa Cisa 9. Read My Mind 10. The Wake

Follow Other Lives: Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube | Website

The Earwigs performing reunion show on Sept. 6 in Huntington Beach; limited edition reissue of the band's lost debut album on vinyl

The Earwigs in the early 1980s.

Years before he gained fame as a beloved award-winning Americana singer-songwriter, Michael Ubaldini and his teenage band The Earwigs recorded an album and single in 1981. The Southern California-based Earwigs blended 1960s blues-rock and '70s punk into a riotous brew that preceded Australian outfit the Vines, Ireland's The Strypes and England's Arctic Monkeys by more than a generation.

A lone 45 RPM single was released from The Earwigs' earliest recording sessions in January 1982 ("She's So Naive"/"Here Come The Earwigs"), but the full album was never released, gathering dust on analog reel to reel tapes...until now. 

On Saturday, Sept. 6, 202, The Earwigs will stage an album release reunion at Mambas in Huntington Beach, CA (learn more about that concert event HERE), celebrating the release of The Earwigs - Orange County 1981: The Lost Debut Album via a limited edition vinyl pressing. The first two pressings sold out in a mere five days via pre order and each pressing of 100 copies of the album is produced in a different color.

"There is a ton of excitement around it," Ubaldini said of the long-awaited release of the full-length Earwigs album. "I'm blown away."

Record shops in Japan and the United Kingdom are stocking the album, and a number of stores in the band's hometown region of Orange County, California are also stocking the album:

Vinyl Solution in Huntington Beach

Left Of The Dial in Orange

Dr. Freeclouds in Fountain Valley 

Creme Tangerine in Costa Mesa

Factory Records in Costa Mesa

Blind Dog Hi Fi in Costa Mesa

Music lovers can also order the album HERE.

To learn more about The Earwigs and the album, visit HERE.

Visit The Earwigs' Instagram page HERE.

Robert Kinsler

New music: America, The Spongetones, Ron Sexsmith

In this column I feature new audio releases featuring classic rock great America, power pop heroes The Spongetones and singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith.

Artist: America
Title: Hearts (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Neil Young's "Harvest" and "After The Gold Rush"; America's 1974 album "Holiday"
Tell me more: The 50th Anniversary edition of America's 1975 album Hearts is glorious. The George Martin-produced album features the captivating hits "Sister Golden Hair," "Daisy Jane  and "Woman Tonight." And the wealth of sonic classics extend beyond those radio favorites to include the rousing rocker "Half A Man," dreamy "Midnight," shimmering ballad "Bell Tree," Americana-styled "Old Virginia," bewitching Baroque-tinged "People In The Valley" and more. The expanded reissue also includes five previously unissued studio bonus tracks plus the audio CD debut of "Sister Golden Hair" in Spanish ("Con Tu Pelo Tan Dorado"). The colorful 12-page booklet features new liner notes by Joe Marchese (theseconddisc.com) including interviews with founding members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell. Beckley reminisces in a new interview in the album's notes: "We learned an immense amount from them (Martin and legendary Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick) that we applied the minute we started on Hearts." Now listeners can rediscover the magic of the legendary album via an outstanding reissue out now. Information: omnivorerecordings.com.

Artist: The Spongetones
Title: The 40th Anniversary Concert... And Beyond (Big Stir Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Beatles, Jamie Hoover, Jason Falkner, Pugwash
Tell me more: Fans of The Beatles hungering for melodic, instantly-catchy rock will want to get a listen to The Spongetones' The 40th Anniversary Concert... And Beyond. The North Carolina-based quartet (guitarist Jamie Hoover, bassist Steve Stoeckel, guitarist Pat Walters and drummer Eric Willhelm) performs a slew of catchy originals that tap into the sound of the early Fab Four with artful aplomb across the 21-track collection. The parade of tuneful tracks includes the shining opener "Anyway Town," harmonies-anchored "Not So" and "Here I Go Again," driving "Better Take It Easy," jazzy "Little Death," captivating "Every Night Is A Holiday" and swirling "She Goes Out With Everybody" on the first half of the concert recording. Late disc highlights include the melodious "Don't You Know?," snappy "Have You Ever Been Torn Apart?," Beatlesque "Try To Please," propulsive XTC-flavored "Help Me Janie Help!" and wonderful closer "Lulu's In Love." Information: bigstirrecords.com.

Artist: Ron Sexsmith
Title: Hangover Terrace (Cooking Vinyl)
You might like if you enjoy: Ron Sexsmith, The Kinks, Blur
Tell me more: Canadian singer-songwriter great Ron Sexsmith is back with one of the greatest and most arresting albums of 2025 (Hangover Terrace was released on Aug. 29). Among the great cuts that combine melodic songcraft and literate insight are "Camelot Towers" (a song that examines the terrible cost of urban sprawl), the deeply stirring "Must Be Something Wrong With Her" and "House of Love," the tender baroque folk gem "Angel On My Shoulder," nostalgia-aimed rocker "Burgoyne Woods" and confessional Americana-styled "Please Don't Tell Me Why." Information: cookingvinyl.com.

Robert Kinsler