David Crosby back on track with five-night run

My review was originally posted on The Orange County Register site on Tuesday, April 15, 2014.

Delayed because of surgery, his Troubadour stand finds the legend rebounding beautifully, revisiting history while showcasing his first solo album in two decades.

David Crosby scored all kinds of high points just for walking on stage Sunday night (April 13, 2014) at the Troubadour.

Back in February, he postponed a five-night solo run at the West Hollywood landmark to undergo emergency heart surgery. Yet here he was, a mere two months, later performing a full-length concert that didn't cut any corners.

Indeed, the 72-year-old folk and rock legend has had a number of well-publicized health issues in the past, including, most famously, a liver transplant in 1994. While he looked thin and at times tired over the course of his 150-minute concert, the multiple standing ovations that followed the rousing one that erupted when he stepped into view a couple minutes after 8 p.m. were soundly earned.

At this kickoff show, Crosby still proved capable of delivering new and classic material with emotional power and grace. The first of two sets found him and an amazing five-man band performing his latest album, Croz, from start to finish. Released in January, it's not only the Los Angeles native's first solo work in 20 years but boasts some of the most powerful songs he has recorded. (Its Top 40 debut on Billboard's albums chart also marks the first time he's been ranked on that list as a solo artist since his 1971 cult classic If I Could Only Remember My Name.)

After opening with "What's Broken," a piece built on the Laurel Canyon folk-rock feel so associated with Crosby's legacy, subsequent material expanded on that soundscape with jazz, heavier rock and psychedelic elements. His excellent players – notably guitarists Shane Fontayne and Marcus Eaton as well as the star's son, keyboardist James Raymond – all added magical textures and dynamics throughout.

Crosby also was in a particularly wry mood Sunday evening. "I had a body shaped like an avocado and I was really comfortable with it," he mentioned with regard to his thinner appearance. "I got sick and stopped eating," he explained, but quipped that he can tuck in his shirt now.

The focus of the night, however, was justifiably on his music. The hard acoustic rocker "The Clearing" featured an especially stirring bridge with peaks and valleys of music magic bookending confessional lyrics: "This kind of love don't need a home / This kind of heart beats all alone / This kind of world, gonna let it go / Lay down the things that came before." The audience (including Jackson Browne, spotted in the balcony) was enthusiastic but collectively reverent while he was performing.

As he promised at the outset, the second set included songs the audience knew. "Eight Miles High" started that off, with Crosby summoning strength on electric guitar as Fontayne worked his 12-string Rickenbacker with cascading and shimmering lines that brought that classic's distinctive sound back to life.

"This is where we met and put together the Byrds," Crosby pointed out, noting the importance of the Troubadour after the song. He then mentioned that another member of that seminal band was in the house – and out came Chris Hillman, who added: "I don't think I've been on this stage for 40 years."

The old friends then led the ensemble through an evocative version of "Turn! Turn! Turn!," another enduring Byrds staple that Crosby pointedly dedicated to its originator, folk icon Pete Seeger, who died in January. After the song was luxuriously performed, with lush vocal harmonies, Crosby and Hillman hugged as the audience applauded.

The headliner then proceeded to highlight material from both Crosby, Stills & Nash and his oft-overlooked '90s project CPR (including Raymond and guitarist Jeff Pevar). Highlights came one after another, from little-heard gems like the jazz-rock tune "That House" to heavyweights from his glory days, notably "Guinnevere" and a hard-rocking "Long Time Gone."

The good news for fans is that after his Tuesday replay there are still two more chances to see him, April 17-18, although prices on secondhand site StubHub are roughly $80 a pop. Wait until the day of the show and they likely will drop.

Photo: Buzz Person

Sights and Sounds: Steely Dan, Eric Johnson

Here is a roundup of the latest notable releases to land in my inbox. I've reviewed and been blown away by both Steely Dan and Eric Johnson at concert settings, so it makes lots of sense to feature their latest updates here...

Steely Dan's Donald Fagen, left and Walter Becker.
Photo: Danny Clinch

STEELY DAN ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN SUMMER TOUR

* * * * *

“Jamalot Ever After” Set to Begin on July 2  

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Walter Becker and Donald Fagen have announced that Steely Dan will hit the road again in 2014, taking their “Jamalot Ever After” Tour across the U.S. and Canada.  Opening at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon on July 2, the tour is set to make stops in 47 cities before concluding at Baltimore, Maryland’s Pier Six Pavilion on September 17.

Tickets for the show in San Diego, CA at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay on July 13 and for Oklahoma City, OK on July 21 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena are on sale now. Fans should check local listings and www.steelydan.com for updated tour and additional ticketing information. Ticket purchase links for the tour can be found below.  

At “Jamalot Ever After,” concertgoers can expect an evening of the same high-level of musical excellence which, on recent tours, garnered raves from fans and critics alike:

"Everyone gathered Friday evening was a believer — and they were treated to something close to rapture." -The Los Angeles Times

Onstage, Donald and Walter will be joined by those same eight “brilliant” supporting musicians: Keith Carlock on drums, Freddie Washington on bass, Jim Beard on keyboards, Jon Herington on guitar, Michael Leonhart on trumpet and keys, Jim Pugh on trombone, Roger Rosenberg on baritone saxophone and Walt Weiskopf on saxophone, along with three “superb,” soulful songbirds: La Tanya Hall, Carolyn Leonhart-Escoffery and Cindy Mizelle. Together, they will treat audiences to selections from The Dan's extraordinary four-decade catalog, rich with infectious tunes, bodacious harmonies, irresistible grooves, and sleek, subversive lyrics, punctuated by blazing solo work and rich ensembles.

 

Steely Dan has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and helped define the soundtrack of the '70s with hits such as “Reelin’ in the Years,” “Rikki Don't Lose That Number,” “F.M.,” “Peg,” “Hey Nineteen,” “Deacon Blues,” and “Babylon Sisters,” culled from their seven platinum albums issued between 1972 and 1980 (including 1977's groundbreaking Aja). They reunited in the early '90s, launching a string of sold-out tours. In 2000 they released multi-Grammy winner (including “Album Of The Year”) Two Against Nature, and released its acclaimed follow-up Everything Must Go in 2003. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

Visit www.steelydan.com and https://www.facebook.com/SteelyDan for updated tour news and information.

ERIC JOHNSON AND PROVOGUE / MASCOT LABEL GROUP

ANNOUNCE JUNE 24 RELEASE DATE FOR EUROPE LIVE

Eric Johnson / Photo: Max Crace

New York, NY --- Mascot Label Group's Provogue Records and Eric Johnson announce a June 24 release date for Europe Live.  Guitar Player Magazine cited Johnson as “one of the most respected guitarists on the planet,” and the reasons why are many. Such primary ones as the lyrical beauty of his playing and compositions, his rich and colorfully broad palette of tones, his awesome instrumental agility, breadth and command, and the mesmerizing spell he summons up in concert.  All of these qualities can be heard on his new album, Europe Live.

The in-concert collection's 14 tracks draw from throughout Johnson's career and include two new compositions: The mesmeric "Intro" that opens the set, and the rollicking rocker "Evinrude Fever" (that alludes to his love for water skiing and boating). His Grammy-winning instrumental "Cliffs of Dover" and Grammy nominated "Zap" are performed with fresh and vigorous energy, and he shows his ever-deepening skills as a singer on such numbers as his soaring, blues-tinged salute to his hometown, "Austin," and the airy and glistening "40 Mile Town." Johnson's lifelong love of jazz and more recent forays into playing it emerges on his stunning nine-and-a-half minute interpretation of John Coltrane's "Mr. P.C." on which bassist Chris Maresh and drummer Wayne Salzmann also step out with power. The song selection ranges from an acoustic guitar rendition of "A Song For Life" which he initially cut on his debut studio album to the ferociously funky "Fatdaddy" from his most recent release, Up Close.  Johnson celebrates his side-project Alien Love Child with the hard-driving rock workout "Zenland," and the eleven-and-a-half minute multimodal suite "Last House On The Block." Originally released in 1996, the fan favorite "Manhattan" shines, while a gloriously cinematic rearrangement of "When the Sun Meets the Sky," titled "Sun Reprise" closes the set.

Europe Live was recorded in venues across Johnson's tour of the continent, with the majority of the album capturing his appearance at Amsterdam's Melkweg along with selections from  two dates in Germany at Die Kantine in Köln  and Bochum Zeche and the Paris show at New Morning.  Each appearance featured a unique set list, offering Johnson the opportunity to cull this track listing from a wealth of repertoire captured. 

Although he may be best known as the masterful studio craftsman behind his acclaimed million-plus selling breakout 1990 album Ah Via Musicom and its Top 10 hit "Cliffs of Dover," Johnson first made his musical bones and sparked a potent buzz in live performance from the late 1960s to the mid 1980s long before he ever issued an album and was heard on radio. As guitar legend Johnny Winter recalls of seeing Johnson perform back then, "When I first heard Eric, he was only 16, and I remember wishing that I could have played like that at that age."                                                                                               

Over his seven studio albums, Johnson has delivered three Top 10 hits ("Cliffs of Dover," "Trademark" and "Righteous") and two Top 40 singles ("Pavilion" and "High Landrons").  N.A.R.A.S. has celebrated his career with six Grammy nominations, while periodicals in the music space have honored with him for decades.  He is enshrined in Guitar Player magazine’s "Gallery of Greats," while Musician Magazine named him one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century.  He continues to refine and expand his musical brilliance in his own electric and acoustic tours (playing both guitar and piano), and his recent live collaborations on both electric guitar with jazz player Mike Stern and slide master Sonny Landreth.  Johnson is a frequent featured artist on the Experience Hendrix tours, as well as acoustic excursions with  the likes of Andy McKee and Peppino D’Agostino.

Johnson offers, "Working on this live record was kind of an epiphany for me because I realized that this is where it's at, no matter where you're playing, it should be a performance.  The more I do that the more I realize, wow, there's something special there. I'm enjoying playing more now because I am so committed to making sure that facet is really up front, one of the number one things. And I've been doing it in the studio when people send me tracks to play on, and I say, okay, hit record, and let's just do this all the way through. And I listen back and go, wow, that's just more interesting and enjoyable to listen to."

Avidly collaborative, Johnson first started recording with others in the 1980s on sessions for Cat Stevens, Christopher Cross and Carole King, and has since recorded and/or performed with Rodney Crowell, Richard Marx, Jennifer Warnes, Carla Olson, Chet Atkins, B.B. King,  James Burton, Steve Miller, Jerry Reed, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani (on the original G3 tour), John McLaughlin, Jimmie Vaughan, Sonny Landreth, Dweezil Zappa and Adrian Legg, and many more. He has paid homage in song to such players as Jerry Reed (“Tribute to Jerry Reed” on Bloom), fellow Texan Stevie Ray Vaughan (the Grammy-nominated track “SRV”) and Wes Montgomery (who Johnson saluted in his Ah Via Musicomcomposition “East Wes”). 

Throughout his career he has consistently won and placed high in numerous readers and critic polls conducted by guitar publications, most recently in 2010 when he was named Guitarist of the Year by Guitar International. Eric has also won more Austin Music Awards (33) than anyone else since they began in 1981, including Musician of the Year and Best Electric & Acoustic Guitarist plus Best Instrumental & Video, and was inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame in its first year in 1983.

He follows Europe Live with an album with his friend and fellow guitarist Mike Stern and is composing and recording tracks for both a new electric album as well as his first acoustic guitar release. Additionally, Johnson has embraced the digital age, releasing tracks via his site www.ericjohnson.com.  Currently, songs that include "To Whom It May Concern," "Imagination Of You - A Tribute To George Harrison" (featuring Christopher Cross) and his rendition of "The Wind Cries Mary" are available.  Johnson offers, "The Internet is a creative vehicle to get artist's music heard and level the playing field.  There is no barrier between the creative process and those compositions created reaching the fan."   Johnson continues to reach further and higher as a player, songwriter and singer, and considers being rated one of the greatest at his talents as simply a springboard to new levels of artistry and listener appeal.

You can read my feature story that featured an interview with Johnson that ran in The Orange County Register back in 2009 here.

Inbox Update: CMTEDGE.com premieres performance clip from the Milk Carton Kids' forthcoming DVD

CMTEDGE.COM PREMIERES PERFORMANCE CLIP FROM
THE MILK CARTON KIDS DVD
LIVE FROM LINCOLN THEATRE

THE MILK CARTON KIDS premiere a performance clip from their upcoming live concert DVD Live from Lincoln Theatre today on CMTEDGE.com.  The band performs the song “New York,” a live favorite and a showcase for their timeless harmonies and rousing guitar interplay.  On April 29^th, THE MILK CARTON KIDS release the deluxe version of their acclaimed ANTI- debut, The Ash & Clay, featuring the full DVD of the Live from Lincoln Theatre concert.  The concert captures the band’s powerful musical performances as well as their lauded on-stage repartee, which has entranced fans of their appearances on NPR’s Prairie Home Companion,Austin City Limits, and Showtime’s Another Day/Another Time: Celebrating The Music Of "Inside Llewyn Davis" special.  The full concert will also be available digitally through all outlets.

Watch the clip here: http://www.cmtedge.com/2014/04/14/milk-carton-kids-bring-a-little-new-york-to-ohio/


Catch THE MILK CARTON KIDS ON TOUR
4/14 - Nashville, TN - Belcourt Theater - SOLD OUT
4/15 - St. Louis, MO - Sheldon Concert Hall - SOLD OUT
4/16 - Memphis, TN - Buckman Performing Arts Center - SOLD OUT
4/17 - Birmingham, AL – Workplay - SOLD OUT
4/18 - Atlanta, GA - The Buckhead Theatre  - SOLD OUT
4/19 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle - SOLD OUT
4/21 - Vienna, VA - The Barns at Wolf Trap - SOLD OUT
4/22 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
4/23 - New York, NY - New York Society for Ethical Culture - SOLD OUT
4/29 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere - SOLD OUT
4/30 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall  - SOLD OUT
5/1 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
5/2 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
5/3 - Toronto, ON - The Great Hall - SOLD OUT
5/5 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
5/6 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark - SOLD OUT
5/7 - Grand Rapids, MI - Ladies Literary Club
5/8 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk - SOLD OUT
5/9 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk - SOLD OUT
5/10 - Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House - SOLD OUT
5/11 - Minneapolis, MN - Dakota Jazz Club (early show) - SOLD OUT
5/11 - Minneapolis, MN - Dakota Jazz Club (late show) - SOLD OUT
5/12 - Winnipeg, MB - TBD - SOLD OUT
5/14 - Calgary, AB - Festival Hall - SOLD OUT
5/15 - Edmonton, AB - McDougall United Church
5/28 - Austin, TX - Stateside Theatre - SOLD OUT
5/29 - Houston, TX - Mucky Duck (early show) - SOLD OUT
5/29 - Houston, TX - Mucky Duck (late show) - SOLD OUT
5/30 - Austin, TX - Stateside Theater - SOLD OUT
5/31 - Dallas, TX - Poor David's Pub - SOLD OUT
6/1 - Oklahoma City, OK - Blue Door - SOLD OUT
6/3 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
6/5 - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
6/6 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
6/11 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
6/12 - Vancouver, BC - St. James Hall - SOLD OUT
6/13 – Vancouver, BC – St. James Hall
6/14 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
6/16 - Napa, CA - City Winery - SOLD OUT
6/17 - Santa Cruz, CA - Kuumbwa Jazz - SOLD OUT
6/18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
6/19 - Santa Barbara, CA - TBD
6/21 - Los Angeles, CA - Japan America Theater
6/22 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up - SOLD OUT
6/23 - Phoenix, AZ - Musical Instrument Museum  - SOLD OUT
6/24 - Phoenix, AZ - Musical Instrument Museum - SOLD OUT
7/17 - Durham, NC - Carolina Theatre
7/19 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater
7/20 - Rocky Mount, VA - Harvester Performance Center
7/21 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre
7/22 - Columbus, OH - Lincoln Theater
7/24 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall
7/26 - Newport, RI - Newport Folk Festival

Coachella roundup: Reviews and more reviews

I was blown away by Queens of the Stone Age via the Coachella Weekend 1 webcast.

Because I was assigned late last week to review David Crosby's eagerly-awaited return to The Troubadour last night (Sunday, April 13) for the first of a string of five sold-out performances at the legendary venue in the wake of his recovery from emergency heart surgery in February, I was not able to make it to Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this weekend. 

However, I did catch hours and hours of the coverage via YouTube's live webcasts and was pretty impressed by plenty of the acts, notably Queens of the Stone Age, Pet Shop Boys, Wye Oak, White Lies and many more I have yet to ever see live. I can't wait to get to the fest next weekend!

Here are links to The Orange County Register's coverage of Weekend 1.

Early coverage of day 1, including ZZ Ward is here.

Coverage of day 1, including OutKast's return is here.

Coverage of day 2, including Pharrell and Muse is here.

Coverage of day 3 early performers, including Courtney Barnett  here.

Tune-In: Coachella Live Stream on YouTube begins today!

Not headed out to Indio, California today to thrill to the sights and sounds Coachellafest? No worries thanks to YouTube's coverage of Coachella live. Here is the official media release...

ZZ Ward's Coachella set will be webcast
today live at 3:30 p.m. (Pacific Time).

No wristband? No problem! You can live stream Coachella on YouTube all weekend long.

Tune in to Coachella LIVE on YouTube presented by T-Mobile. For the fourth year in a row, the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival will stream live from Indio, Calif. on Coachella’s official YouTube channel.

Starting today (Friday, 4/11, at 3:30 p.m. PT), you can watch performances from more than 70 acts, including Lorde, Bryan Ferry, The Replacements, Arcade Fire and Beck. And with three-hour late night blocks from EDM superstars like Skrillex, Martin Garrix, Zedd, Dillon Francis, Duck Sauce and more, your party can keep going well into the night. Plus,Jason Bentley, DJ, music director and host of KCRW’s internationally acclaimed “Morning Becomes Eclectic” will host, bringing you artist access and exclusive interviews throughout.

And, this year, we have a special surprise to bring you even closer to Coachella: Chvrches, Zedd and other artists will jump into fans’ Google+ Hangouts live from backstage. Check the schedule on the Coachella YouTube channel for artist meet-and-greets. Start a Hangout with your friends, and when the time comes, it may bring you face-to-face backstage and directly into the Coachella webcast!   

It all begins today at 3:30 p.m. PT, so stay tuned to Coachella’s YouTube channel for the latest schedule and meet-and-greet updates!

Source: http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2014/04/no-wristband-no-problem-you-can-live.html

Inbox update: Nirvana & Joan Jett, Dave Clark Five, Arcade Fire, Hootenanny

Happy Friday everybody! Here is a fast roundup of what's happening and making headlines...

Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night, and then performed in a small club for just over 200 lucky invited guests. I would have loved to have seen the performance of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with Nirvana teaming up with Joan Jett. Check out the amazing video here. In addition to Jett, Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) Annie Clark (better known as St. Vincent), J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.) and Deer Tick's John McCauley took turns singing lead. Beyond cool!

Wondering why the Dave Clark Five was so influential in the early 1960s? Read George A. Paul's informative post on his Music Minded blog here.

Want to hear Arcade Fire cover Blondie's "Heart of Glass"? Click here.

Lee Rocker at 2007 Hootenanny.
Photo: Kelly A. Swift

Finally, in case you didn't get word, the 2014 Hootenanny Festival held annually over the Fourth of July weekend at Oak Canyon Ranch in Silverado Canyon is being canceled. Word came from the concert promoter via Twitter on Tuesday (April 8).

The good news is the event will reportedly return in 2015.

Click here to read my review of the 2007 Hootenanny, one of the more memorable fests I have covered over the years.

7Horse set to issue sophomore effort in June; Gary Clark Jr. returns to 'Austin City Limits'

Great news to share for a Thursday! 7Horse is set to issue their debut in early June. Here are all the details...

7HORSE TO RELEASE SONGS FOR A VOODOO WEDDING ON JUNE 10

 

FULL US TOUR KICKING OFF THIS SUMMER

 

 “an organic, textured sound that instantly makes them stand out from the crowd”

– The Examiner.com

 

With over 500,000 streams of 7Horse music already in 2014, Joie Calio and Phil Leavitt are gearing up to release their new album Songs For A Voodoo Wedding on June 10; coinciding with The Holy Day of Voodoo: St. Johns Eve, a celebration that honors the Voodoo Queen Maria Laveau.  

 

The new album was produced by Phil Leavitt and Joie Calio, engineered by Jonathan Chi and Scott Gordon, mixed by Dave Way and mastered by Howie Weinberg. The first single Flying High (With No I.D.) will ship to radio on March 26.

 

“blends Black Keys rootsiness with indie-rock distortion” Newsday

 

The band’s debut album Let the 7Horse Run has been getting a lot of attention lately and includes the song Meth Lab Zoso Sticker. That song is prominently featured in Martin Scorsese's film The Wolf of Wall Street and has garnered over 35k paid downloads since the film’s opening this past Christmas.

 

www.7horsemusic.com

Don't miss the re-broadcast of Gary Clark Jr.'s performance on Austin City Limits / Taped Nov 30, 2012

Repeats This Saturday April 12, 2014 @ 11 p.m. ET/PT

Check local listings for details

To preview the show check out a behind-the-scenes clip HERE.

"Gary is part of Austin's musical DNA, and the rest of the world deserves to see and hear his amazing talents"  -- ACL TV Creator / producer Terry Lickona

Sights and Sounds: Coachella adds Pixies, Julian Casablancas to lineup and sets schedule for upcoming two-weekend fest; Coach House shows

Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to hitting Coachella this month (I'll be there Weekend 2). Although the line-up for Coachellafest was revealed back in January, a significant name has been added.

The latest update is that Pixies will be performing as part of Day 2 (Saturdays, April 12 and 19). I am definitely looking forward to catching that set. Julian Casablancas has also just been added to the event; both artists are scheduled to play on the Mojave Stage.

In addition to those new names, the schedule of who is playing on what stage at one time has been revealed as well. Sure, as usual, there are plenty of conflicts and that is part of the challenge (and thrill) of attending a killer festival with so many stages and simultaneous performances worth catching.

Visit the official Coachella Web site here for all of the details!

Sights and sounds: Ben and Ellen Harper, 'Scream Park' coming to DVD, The Offspring

Here is a roundup of some cool music-minded items...

Ben Harper and his mother Ellen.
Photo: Danny Clinch

The Wall Street Journal just premiered a new song off Ben and Ellen Harper's collaborative album, Childhood Home, saying it "is setting a new bar for Mother's Day presents."

Landing the week before Mother's Day, the ten songs on Childhood Home, six written by Ben and four written by Ellen, explore the intricacies of family life with honesty and generous intimacy. Ben Harper produced Childhood Home "like early Elvis," he told Rolling Stone, after he and Charlie Musselwhite won the "Best Blues Album" GRAMMY Award for last year's critically acclaimed Get Up! (Stax/Concord). "Not one thing is plugged in. It's all acoustic. I think they're going to call it 'Americana,' but it's soul, California, folk rock, American."

Stream Ben and Ellen's "Altar of Love" - "a moving waltz-time country ballad with a vintage AM radio feel" - at the Journal: http://shorefi.re/1h8AO41

'Childhood Home' comes out on May 6, 2014 on Prestige Folkways. 

Hellraiser's Pinhead and Skinny Puppy's Ogre star in 

new retro slasher Scream Park 

 

 Available on DVD and digital formats on April 22, 2014

Scream Park is a retro slasher horror flick in the Hatchet vein starring Hellraiser's Doug Bradley and co-starring Nivek Ogre from the band Skinny Puppy. 

Bonus Materials include Director's Commentary, Bloopers, Cast Interviews, Trailers, and more.  

Synopsis:

The Fright Land amusement park is on the verge of closing its doors forever. But the park's owner, Hyde (Hellraiser's Doug Bradley), has one last plan to sell more tickets... Murder. Hiring two backwoods maniacs to break into the park and hack and slash all his employees, Hyde thinks these killings will create a media sensation, but he has just unleashed a horror that no one can survive.

Screenings:
Official Selection - Texas Frightmare Weekend 2013
Official Selection - Eerie Horror Film Festival - 2013
Official Selection - Horror Realm - 2013 

Select Press Quotes: 

"The atmosphere is creepy, bringing to mind Black Christmas or John Carpenter's Halloween."
-Doctor Carnage Reviews

"I found so much to enjoy in Scream Park I can't wait for other horror fans to see it."
-Hacked in the Head Reviews

"Scream Park cuts in the tradition of 80s Slasher movies."
-Slasher Studios

"Scream Park comes as close as I've seen to pulling off the 'throwback to the 80s' horror."
-Scared Stiff Reviews

"A loving throwback to 1980s slasher cinema...a gore soaked suspense piece."
-{re}Search My Trash

"Some really cool and inventive imagery on display here, the filmmakers love is showing on screen."
-Independent Flicks  

Product Details:

Format: DVD

SKU: MVD6193D
UPC: 760137619390
Street Date: 04/22/14
PreBook Date: 03/18/14
Label: WILD EYE RELEASING »
Genre: Horror
Run Time: 85 mins
Number of Discs: 1
Audio: STEREO
Year of Production: 2012
Director: Cary Hill
Producers: Cary Hill, Bruce Koehler, Nathan W. Fullerton
Actors: Doug Bradley, Nivek Ogre, Nicole Beattie, Kailey Marie Harris,
Box Lot: 30
Territory: WORLD
Language: English

THE OFFSPRING CELEBRATE 20^th ANNIVERSARY OF SMASH WITH FULL ALBUM PERFORMANCES AND SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY RELEASES

LOS ANGELES, CA – 20 years ago today, The Offspring released their breakout album Smash on Epitaph Records and made history.  To celebrate the band will begin playing the album in its entirety on tour in Europe this May, June and early July before finishing out the Summer with soon to be announced US Smash dates.  Visit Offspring.com for the full list of current tour dates and to see which dates are the designated Smash shows.  This August, Epitaph will also commemorate the anniversary with a special 20^th Anniversary Edition of Smash.  The Offspring’s Dexter Holland and Noodles, as well as Epitaph CEO Brett Gurewitz, recently shared their thoughts in a retrospective just posted to RollingStone.com, read it here: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-offsprings-smash-the-little-punk-lp-that-defeated-the-majors-20140408

SMASH 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION CD/VINYL
- Available now for pre-order via offspring.com, this package will ship and be in stores in mid-August 2014 from Epitaph Records.  The Smash 20th Anniversary Edition will include the following:
- LP version containing the original 14 album tracks newly remastered on 180-gram vinyl
- CD version containing the original 14 album tracks from the most recent remastering
- Restyled album package artwork
- Large format 24 page booklet featuring never before seen archive photos by Lisa Johnson
- Firsthand recollections and quotes from the band and others telling the story of that historic time

In addition to special 20^th Anniversary merchandise, the band are also offering a “collector’s box” combo as a companion piece to the Smash 20th Anniversary Edition.  The box will feature both the CD/Vinyl package and a curated collection of commemorative items including a custom wood box, art print, photo prints, pin, patch, replica pass and guitar pick.  A pre-order for is available now via offspring.com - for the first 250 ordered, the art print will be on fine art linen canvas, numbered and signed by the artist and band.  All orders placed in the first 24 hours will receive a special hand-stamped first day of release card as well.

Smash has sold over six million copies in the United States alone - certified 6x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Selling 11 million copies worldwide, Smash is the best-selling independent label album of all time.

The Offspring’s album Smash was an impactful and immediate hit when released in 1994, making a place for the band in an exciting and significant time for alternative music. The album's first single "Come Out and Play" hit number 1 on Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The following single, "Self Esteem" peaked at number 4, and "Gotta Get Away" hit number 6 on the Billboard Modern Rock Track Charts.

For more information, visit: http://offspring.com/. 

'Glen Campbell…I'll Be Me' to have world premiere on April 18

Glen Campbell…I'll Be Me promises to be a very powerful documentary film. Here is the official media release regarding the new film to have its premiere later this month...

'GLEN CAMPBELL… I’LL BE ME' to have World Premiere at Nashville Film Festival 2014 on April 18, 2014

GLEN CAMPBELL…I’LL BE ME, directed and produced by James Keach (producer of Walk The Line) and produced by Trevor Albert (Groundhog Day), will have its world premiere at the 2014 Nashville Film Festival on April 18, 2014.  This powerful portrait of the life and career of great American music icon Glen Campbell opens to the viewer the world of the singular talent who created hits like Rhinestone Cowboy, Wichita Lineman andGentle on My Mind.  Winner of the Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Glen was the first country music star to cross over to the pop charts, opening a new realm of opportunity for generations of country musicians.  In 2011, when Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he joined forces with his family to fight the biggest battle of his life.  Glen and his wife, Kim, made history by going public with the diagnosis – the first time a major American celebrity would share this experience with the world.   The Campbell family then embarked on a short “Goodbye Tour,” but the three-week engagement turned into an emotional and triumphant 151-show nationwide tour de force.  This epic human drama about the undying bond between Glen and Kim, and their unwavering caring for each other, chronicles a story of love, resilience and the power of song.  GLEN CAMPBELL…I’LL BE ME is the true tale of how America’s greatest country star would not give up his music or his family, against all odds.

The film features those who know and love Glen, including Bruce Springsteen, Bill Clinton, The Edge, Paul McCartney, Jay Leno, Vince Gill, Jimmy Webb, Blake Shelton, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Steve Martin, Chad Smith and Taylor Swift among many others.  Rare vintage footage and extraordinary new performances of Glen’s most beloved hits immerse this moving cinematic account in the overwhelming talent of this humble family man.  With joy and a tireless sense of humor, Glen and his family live each moment in the present while preparing for the future, all while playing their music to sold out venues on a star spangled voyage spanning the country from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl.

Director James Keach says, “Of all the movies I’ve ever made, this is the most special because of the characters, that’s what the audience falls in love with no matter what the action in the film.  In this case of the character of Glen Campbell, who was the original crossover musical genius, we have a man who is told to end his career and he does the opposite, inspiring the rest of us to live our lives in the moment and to be ourselves no matter what — with no shame.  He’s been down a rocky road and he still has a smile on his face and a song in his heart.  That’s Glen.  For him to ask me to tell his story was something I had to do, this tale potentially had so much sadness but in the end it’s a triumph and aims to achieve Glen’s dream to tell it like it is.  As Glen says, “I’ve laughed and I’ve cried...it’s a hell of a lot better to laugh.”

Producer Trevor Albert adds, “What a miraculous, joyous and poignant ride we have been on with the Campbell family.  The story that unfolded in the course of Glen’s goodbye tour was filled with more drama, comedy and entertainment than any movie I’ve ever been involved with.”

PCH, the producer of the film, is partnering with Area23a, an event based theatrical distribution company, co-founded by Kirt Eftekhar and Richard Abramowitz for a unique hybrid theatrical release through a combination of special event screenings this summer, culminating with a full national release of the film to coincide with Alzheimer’s Awareness Month this fall.  Nationwide screenings will be designed to provoke meaningful conversations about Alzheimer’s that include resources for patients and families dealing with the disease.

World Premiere in Nashville

Friday, April 18, 2014 at 7 p.m. 
Regal Green Hills Cinema, 3815 Green Hills Village Drive, Nashville, Tenn.

About PCH Films

PCH Films, based in Los Angeles, California, is a multimedia company founded by James Keach, Jane Seymour and Trevor Albert in 2007. The company develops, produces, and finances feature films, television, documentaries, animation and music. The partners extensive credits include Walk The Line, Groundhog Day, League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen,Because Of Winn Dixie, National Lampoons Vacation, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, the award-winning documentary,Disease Of the Wind and many others.

PCH most recently released the award winning feature film Waiting For Forever directed by James Keach starring Rachel Bilson, Tom Sturridge, Richard Jenkins and Blythe Danner.

About Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell’s musical and entertainment career, covering nearly five decades, is perhaps unmatched for its prolific breadth, popular appeal – and flat-out musical accomplishment and achievement.  His guitar playing is legendary and can be heard on classic tracks from Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, to Frank Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night.

As a solo artist Glen has recorded some of the most beloved songs of his generation including “Gentle On My Mind,” “Galveston” and “Rhinestone Cowboy.”  He has been awarded five Grammy Awards and three Grammy Hall of Fame honors, seven Academy of Country Music awards, a Pioneer Award recognition, three American Music Awards, two Country Music Association Awards and three Gospel Music Association Dove Awards.  Glen was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.  Glen Campbell was the first artist to cross the boundary from country to the pop charts, which transcended him to true musical icons status both with the music industry and with fans.

In 2011, Glen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and with the help of his wife and family decided to face the illness head on.   After publicly announcing his battle with Alzheimer’s, he released the album Ghost on the Canvas and began his “Good Bye Tour.”  Selling out concert halls across the globe to spectacular acclaim and standing ovations, the album and tour received some of the best reviews of his distinguished career.  On Feb 13, 2012 Glen performed on the Grammy Awards, to an audience of 39 million people, and was given the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award. 

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GLEN CAMPBELL…I’LL BE ME (2014, USA, 104 min.)  Directed by James Keach.  Produced by Trevor Albert and James Keach.  Executive Producers:  Jane Seymour, Stanley Schneider and Julian Raymond.  Edited by Elisa Bonora. Original Score by Julian Raymond.   A PCH Film Production.