Followers

Monday, March 31, 2014

Jennifer Nettles, Brandy Clark concert review: Los Angeles

My review originally appeared at ocregister.com

When veteran producer Rick Rubin works with someone, the results often stand among that artist’s best work up to that point.

That’s been the case with Neil Diamond, Dixie Chicks and Johnny Cash, and it it’s the same for Jennifer Nettles, whose impressive solo debut, That Girl, came out earlier this year.

A nuanced collection, it delves into ’70s singer-songwriter pop, Memphis-style R&B, early rock ’n’ roll and a hint of the country sound that propelled Nettles to superstar status over the past decade with Sugarland.

The singer wrote or co-wrote the material with Sara Bareilles, Little Big Town’s Philip Sweet, Richard Marx and others; Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, the Dap-Kings and Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan are among the studio players.

During an intimate and engaging sold-out show Saturday night at the Wiltern, Nettles performed all of That Girl plus a few covers and Sugarland hits to a boisterous crowd. A smattering of fans sported cowboy hats, while some clusters of drunken women loudly voiced their approval at inopportune times (hey, save it for Stagecoach next month).

Before the 95-minute set began, country classic “Jolene” played on the venue sound system. It wasn’t a random selection: Dolly Parton’s lyrics inspired the new album’s title track, co-penned by Nettles’ fellow Atlanta native and producer du jour Butch Walker.

Clad in black leather pants, the blond vocalist initially appeared at the back of the stage near billowy curtains and a quilted backdrop. Then she slowly slinked up to the microphone and sang “I’m not the scarlet devil/ I don’t wanna take your man” to an intriguing melody and sampled handclap loop.

Several tunes were tweaked slightly for their live incarnations. The fun and jaunty “Moneyball” was prefaced by an a capella verse by her solid four-man band; it transitioned nicely into a stripped-down take on Sugarland’s “Baby Girl.”

Striking mellifluous ballads like “Me Without You,” “Thank You” and “His Hands” (accompanied by opening act Brandy Clark) were subtly shaded with combinations of acoustic guitars, keyboards, accordion or electric piano. A riveting “This Angel” showcased her fine contralto but had to be restarted after a fan required medical assistance near the stage front.

Nettles delivered the stunning standout “Falling” while seated at a piano; her dramatic vocals were a wonder to behold. “My roots are showing on this album,” she explained afterward. “For those of you who remember ’70s radio, here’s a ‘yacht rock’ primer, which served as a common thread.”

A faithful cover of “Biggest Part of Me,” Ambrosia’s lush Top 10 single from 1980 (wrong decade, Jennifer, but we got the point), suited her well, and after praising Barry Manilow, the singer paid tribute with a bit of “Weekend in New England.” Still at the keys, Nettles and the musicians seamlessly segued into the romantic “This One’s for You,” joined by a three-piece horn section.

Not everything was so serious.

The humorous, Spanish guitar-accented “Jealousy” included Nettles dancing around and got the crowd riled up. They responded mightily during Sugarland’s spirited “All I Wanna Do,” too, before which a male fan proposed marriage to his girlfriend. (That caused an awkward pause, though. It wasn’t clear initially what was happening after Nettles mentioned some guy had something to say, and there was nothing but quiet for what seemed like more than five minutes.)

Walker joined 'em for lead vocals and guitar on his own jubilant rootsy rocker "Let it Go Where It's Supposed To," from 2013's Peachtree Battle EP. A surprising Americana-styled take on Imagine Dragons’ “Demons” proved haunting and melded into Sugarland’s “Something More,” resplendent in high-flying harmonies.

Nearing the home stretch, Nettles’ dramatic delivery on that duo’s big hit “Stay” was equally well-received. Finally, as on the new album, she capped the evening with a powerful version of Bob Seger’s “Like a Rock.”

All told, a solid solo performance from start to finish.

Since the late 2000s, singer-songwriter Brandy Clark, 38, has seen an impressive array of country stars record her tunes: Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Gretchen Wilson, most recently Kacey Musgraves.

The vivid portraits of small-town folk on Clark’s own excellent and critically acclaimed album last year, 12 Stories, often mirrors ’80s stalwarts K.T. Oslin and Rosanne Cash, not to mention the younger Musgraves (they teamed for a trio of songs on her multiple Grammy-winning effort Same Trailer Different Park).

Had I heard Stories late last year, it definitely would've made my year-end Best Albums list.

At the Wiltern, Clark walked onstage with her acoustic guitar and proceeded to captivate the crowd with a half-hour set, opening with the feisty “Crazy Women” (recorded by LeAnn Rimes) and its rejoinder “... are made by crazy men,” which drew loud cheers.

Even more came amid “Mama’s Broken Heart,” Miranda Lambert’s hit, co-penned by Clark, Musgraves and Shane McAnally and up for song of the year at next week’s Academy of Country Music Awards. By the time Clark got ’round to “Better Dig Two,” a favorite from the Band Perry, most people in the crowd were heartily singing and clapping along.

Elsewhere, “Pray to Jesus” and the gentle, keening vocals of “Hold My Hand” were touching, and Clark explained that “Get High” was written about “a girl in my high-school class. People come up to me after shows and say they know someone like that,” she added, before noting that it goes down well in unusual parts of the country – definitely in California. 

Her high point, however, was the darkly humorous closer, “Stripes,” a rockabilly-tinged winner on record that worked equally well in solo acoustic form. I look forward to seeing Clark with a full band in the future.

Photos by Kelly A. Swift

Friday, March 28, 2014

Ace Frehley sets date for new album

Ace Frehley - a 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with KISS - will release Space Invader, his first new solo album in five years, via eOne Music on June 24. The album will include at least nine new original songs as well as a cover of Steve Miller’s "The Joker."
 
"Life on Earth has been very good to me, and the body of work I’ve created over the years has withstood the test of time. Today I see no obstacles before me and my creativity has never been more fine tuned. Growing up in an alien world has enhanced my senses and allowed me to succeed where others would have failed. The best is yet to come,” he said in an official statement. 

Jill Sobule returns after long absence

Jill Sobule will release Dottie's Charms on Record Store Day (April 19). Her first album in over five years, it will be available physically on Record Store Day as a limited edition LP with the digital version of the album to follow on May 6.

The 11-song set is her first concept album and features lyrical contributions from authors like David Hajdu (Positively 4th Street), Jonathan Lethem (The Fortress of Solitude), Sam Lipsyte (Home Land), James Marcus (Amazonia), Sara Marcus (Girls To The Front), Rick Moody (The Ice Storm), Mary Jo Salter (A Kiss In Space), Luc Sante (Low Life), Vendela Vida (The Lovers).

Dottie's Charms was conceived by Jill Sobule and David Hajdu after the pair talked casually about the idea of her collaborating with some of their favorite authors. When she told David about an old vintage charm bracelet she had, they thought it would be the perfect vehicle. The bracelet was given to her as a gift with various pewter charms including, among others, the Statue of Liberty, a map of Kentucky, a wedding ring, a jet plane, and a charm with the name Dorothy inscribed (Jill had always lovingly referred to its once owner as Dottie).


She then turned to a dozen of her favorite writers of fiction and literary nonfiction, some of who had never before written song lyrics. She stated, "I sent each willing writer a picture of a different charm, and I would say, within a week, they sent me back the words. What's interesting is that each writer, not knowing what the others wrote, had a somewhat similar feel for Dottie, our original unknown charm bracelet wearer. It doesn't sound like 11 different songs by 10 different writers, but rather a story of a girl trying to find love and her way in the world."

Hajdu offered, "If you're a writer and you were born after Bob Dylan and the Beatles, what you really want to be when you grow up is a songwriter. All we had to do was make a list of our favorite writers and ask them if they wanted to write a song with Jill Sobule, and they joined up. I mean, giving somebody who usually writes fiction or literary nonfiction a chance to write a song is like giving a mall cop a squad car with a siren and everything. 'Oh, boy! This is what I always wanted!'"

Musically, Jill collaborated with Dan Wilson (Dixie Chicks, Adele), Mike Viola, Fred Hersch, and Adam Levy (Norah Jones) among others.

In celebration of the record release, Jill will be performing at the City Winery in NYC on April 24. She will also be in discussion with some of the Dottie's Charms participating authors at the Housing Works Bookstore in NYC on April 28 with more events TBA.
 

Track Listing:
 

My Chair (Office Chair Charm) Lyrics by: James Marcus
Flight (Jet Plane Charm) Lyrics by: Vendela Vida
Statue of Liberty (Statue of Liberty Charm) Lyrics by: Jonathan Lethem
I Swear I Saw Christopher Reeve (Mackinac Island Charm) Lyrics by: David Hajdu
Women of Industry (ABWA Logo Charm) Lyrics by: David Hajdu
O Canada (Canadian Penny Charm) Lyrics by: Sara Marcus
Old Kentucky (Kentucky Map Charm) Lyrics by: Luc Sante
Wedding Ring (Wedding Ring Charm) Lyrics by: Mary Jo Salter
The Mezuzah (Mezuzah Charm) Lyrics by: Nina Mehta
I Hate Horses (Stirrup Charm) Lyrics by: Sam Lipsyte
Lonely Eighty-Eight (Piano Charm) Lyrics by: Rick Moody 


JillSobule.com

Fleetwood Mac back with Christine McVie for tour

After a 16-year absence, Christine McVie will be re-joining Fleetwood Mac band mates Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks as they launch the On With The Show Tour.

The North American tour will kick off in September in Minneapolis. Christine McVie has not toured with the band since 1998’s The Dance Tour.
 
A full tour schedule for this reunion of the Grammy-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers is below. American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Monday, March 31 at 10:00 a.m. through April 6 at 10:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale April 7 through the Live Nation mobile app and at livenation.com.

During Fleetwood Mac’s 2013 tour, the four members happily welcomed Christine back on the stage during their show at London’s O2 Arena, where she performed their classic “Don’t Stop.”

“It was so comfortable being back onstage with them as if no time had passed, and then we all started talking and it feels like the time is right. I’m really happy,” she commented.

“As far as we’re concerned, she’s never really left. We are overjoyed to have Christine back on stage with us,” said the other members of Fleetwood Mac in a joint statement.

Fleetwood Mac is also scheduled to appear on TODAY’s Summer Concert Series on the Plaza At Rockefeller Center on Oct. 9.

Check fleetwoodmac.com for the latest information on the band, tour and ticketing.
 
Tour Dates:
*all dates, venues and cities below subject to change.
 
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Minneapolis, MN
Target Center
Thursday, Oct. 02
Chicago, IL
United Center
Monday, Oct. 06
New York, NY
Madison Square Garden
Friday, Oct. 10
Boston, MA
TD Garden
Saturday, Oct. 11
Newark, NJ
Prudential Center
Tuesday, Oct. 14
Pittsburgh, PA
Consol Energy Center
Wednesday, Oct. 15
Philadelphia, PA
Wells Fargo Center
Saturday, Oct. 18
Toronto, ON
Air Canada Centre
Sunday, Oct. 19
Columbus, OH
Nationwide Arena
Tuesday, Oct. 21
Indianapolis, IN
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Wednesday, Oct. 22
Detroit, MI
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Sunday, Oct. 26
Ottawa, ON
Canadian Tire Centre
Friday, Oct. 31
Washington, DC
Verizon Center
Saturday, Nov. 01
Hartford, CT
XL Center
Monday, Nov. 10
Winnipeg, MB
MTS Centre
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Saskatoon, SK
Credit Union Centre
Friday, Nov. 14
Calgary, AB
Scotiabank Saddledome
Saturday, Nov. 15
Edmonton, AB
Rexall Place
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Vancouver, BC
Rogers Arena
Thursday, Nov. 20
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma Dome
Saturday, Nov. 22
Portland, OR
Moda Center
Monday, Nov. 24
Sacramento, CA
Sleep Train Arena
Tuesday, Nov. 25
San Jose, CA
SAP Center at San Jose
Friday, Nov. 28
Los Angeles, CA
The Forum
Saturday, Nov. 29
Los Angeles, CA
The Forum
Tuesday, Dec. 02
San Diego, CA
Viejas Arena at San Diego State
Wednesday, Dec. 03
Oakland, CA
Oracle Arena
Wednesday, Dec. 10
Phoenix, AZ
US Airways Center
Friday, Dec. 12
Denver, CO
Pepsi Center
Sunday, Dec. 14
Dallas, TX
American Airlines Center
Monday, Dec. 15
Houston, TX
Toyota Center
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Atlanta, GA
Philips Arena
Friday, Dec. 19
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
BB&T Center
Saturday, Dec. 20
Tampa, FL
Tampa Bay Times Forum

Peter Gabriel concert event slated for U.S. theaters

I was at the Hollywood Bowl for this particular world tour and it was great...

On Wednesday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. local time, Fathom Events, More2Screen, Eagle Rock Entertainment and Real World will take U.S. moviegoers on a VIP experience for an exclusive concert event, “Peter Gabriel: Back to Front.”

Recorded in October 2013 at London’s O2, the show celebrates one of rock's most innovative artists, who will be honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this April.

Directed by BAFTA winning director Hamish Hamilton, “Peter Gabriel: Back to Front” reunites Gabriel’s original touring band from 1986 to mark the 25th anniversary of the landmark album “So.”

The concert includes hits like, “Solsbury Hill,” “Digging in the Dirt,” “Sledgehammer,” “Mercy Street” and “Don’t Give Up.” Gabriel continues to be at the vanguard of the audio-visual experience by using the latest technology and a 5.1 surround sound mix to deliver a one-of-a-kind cinema event.  
 
Tickets for “Peter Gabriel: Back to Front” are available at participating theater box offices and online at FathomEvents.com. The event will be presented in more than 400 select movie theaters around the country through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).
 
“It has been wonderful working with Hamish Hamilton again and his very talented team. I feel they have really caught what was unique about the Back to Front tour, both visually and emotionally. My own sound crew has also done a brilliant job,” said Peter Gabriel.
 
“Back to Front” offers a visual and narrative feast that brings the viewer to the heart of the concert experience. The show opens with a stark insight into the song-writing process with Peter Gabriel, house lights on, trying to find the lyrical companions to a beautiful piano melody.
 
Who else would start a concert with a song they’ve not yet finished? The creative journey is explored throughout the film and culminates with a celebratory run through of the album “So,” what Gabriel calls his ‘pop star moment.’ Previously unreleased and re-imagined songs sit effortlessly beside classic hits to reflect Gabriel’s status as a multi-dimensional artist.

Peter Murphy news

Since I interviewed him for the last CD, I'm really looking forward to the new stuff...

Peter Murphy will release his tenth solo album, Lion, on June 3. Lead single “Hang Up,” as well as the album pre-order, will be available on iTunes starting April 8. On Record Store Day, an exclusive, limited edition 7” single featuring “Hang Up (Dub Mix)” and “I’m On Your Side” will be on sale.

In a recent media interview, Murphy described Lion (produced by Youth of Killing Joke and  The Verve renown), as “a mixture of stuff…almost like operas for the dispossessed. It's very romantic and very deep and emotional, quite symphonic in places, but then becomes, like, a rabble-rousing pirate sea shanty.” 

Murphy spent much of 2013 on the road celebrating 35 of Bauhaus on his Mr. Moonlight Tour. With the upcoming release of Lion, Murphy is ready to turn his attention back to his solo work and will launch a new North American tour starting in May.

Tour Dates:
 
5/22                 Las Vegas, NV              LVCS
5/23                 Phoenix, AZ                Crescent Ballroom
5/24                 Tucson, AZ                  Rialto Theater
5/27                 Austin, TX                   Belmont Theater
5/28                 Dallas, TX                   Granada Theater
5/29                 Houston, TX                Scout Bar
5/31                 New Orleans, LA          One Eyed Jacks
6/1                   Gainesville, FL             Highdive
6/3                   Miami, FL                    Grand Central
6/4                   Tampa, FL                   Orpheum Theater
6/6                   Atlanta, GA                 Terminal West
6/7                   Charlotte, NC              Tremont Theater
6/8                   Falls Church, VA          State Theatre
6/9                   New York, NY             Irving Plaza
6/11                 Hamden, CT                The Outer Space         
6/12                 Boston, MA                 Paradise Club
6/13                 Philadelphia, PA          Trocadero
6/14                 Buffalo, NY                 Town Ballroom
6/16                 Toronto, ON               Lee’s Palace
6/17                 Detroit, MI                  Magic Stick
6/18                 St Louis, MO                Firebird           
6/20                 Chicago, IL                  Double Door
6/21                 Omaha, NE                  Waiting Room
6/22                 Kansas City, MO          Riot Room
6/24                 Denver, CO                  Summit Music Hall
6/25                 Salt Lake City, UT       The Depot
6/27                 Vancouver, BC             Rickshaw Theatre       
6/28                 Seattle, WA                 Showbox Theater
6/29                 Portland, OR                Star Theater
7/1                   San Francisco, CA        Regency Theater
7/2                   San Diego, CA              Belly-Up Tavern
7/3                   Los Angeles, CA          Fonda Theater
7/5                   Los Angeles, CA          Fonda Theater

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

New Monkees U.S. tour dates

In the wake of original Monkees singer Davy Jones’s death in early 2012, the other members reunited and performed a series concerts in November-December.

Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork returned the following summer of 2013 for a tour dubbed “A Midsummer’s Night With the Monkees.” 

Now The Monkees will return for another round of tour dates in the U.S. Tickets and VIP packages are now on sale at monkees.com.
 

Tork says he’s “happily looking forward to reuniting with my partners and sharing this tour with friends and fans in more places,” while Dolenz enthuses, “Can’t wait to hang out with Papa Nez and the Torkmiester. Looking forward to great music, great fun and truck-stop chili dogs at 4 a.m.” Nesmith adds: “Happy to be going back out playing the music. Sure we will have fun.”
 

Tour Dates

May 22 HAMPTON, NH Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
May 23 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa – The Music Box
May 24 NEWARK, NJ New Jersey PAC
May 25 HUNTINGTON, NY The Paramount
May 27 BETHLEHEM (PHILADELPHIA), PA Sands Bethlehem Event Center
May 28 GREENSBURG (PITTSBURGH), PA The Palace Theater
May 30 DETROIT, MI Fox Theater
May 31 MERRILLVILLE, IN Star Plaza Theater
June 1 MILWAUKEE, WI Riverside Theater
June 2 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Weesner Family Amphitheater
June 4 KANSAS CITY, MO Uptown Theater
June 5 ST. LOUIS, MO Fox Theater
June 6 CINCINNATI, OH PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
June 7 NORTHFIELD/CLEVELAND, OH Hard Rock Live

Pink Floyd/Syd Barrett doc now expanded


Eagle Rock Entertainment will release The Pink Floyd & Syd Barrett Story on 2DVD and Digital Video on May 20.

Originally made in 2001, this documentary, presented in Dolby Digital Stereo, is now being presented with additional bonus material. 

The Pink Floyd & Syd Barrett Story explores the tragic, yet celebratory life of the late Syd Barrett, lead guitarist and prominent songwriter of early Pink Floyd.
 
With contributions from all members of Pink Floyd, as well as managers, friends, and others close to Syd, the documentary traverses the tale of this enigmatic rock legend, from his intelligent, thought-provoking songwriting and indelible stamp on the psychedelic music genre, to his 1968 departure from the band, when his increasingly erratic behavior made his continued participation in the band impossible.
 
This 2DVD set also includes the additional interview “Roger Waters On Syd Barrett,” and a second disc with bonus uncut interviews with Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright, and a performance of “Love You” by Graham Coxon.
 
Pink Floyd was revolutionary, pushing popular music into new cerebral dimensions, and Syd Barrett was an integral part of the band’s sound and lyrics. A charismatic cult figure with a flair for eccentricity, he crafted such unique hits as “See Emily Play” and “Arnold Layne,” as well as album tracks such as “Bike” and “Astronomy Domine.”
 
His use of dissonance, feedback, and distortion in his guitar playing has inspired generations of musicians. After leaving Pink Floyd, he recorded two solo albums before vanishing from music altogether, retiring to his English hometown of Cambridge. Fans and reporters continued to travel there to seek out the reclusive Barrett until his death in 2006, at the age of 60.

At 214 minutes, The Pink Floyd & Syd Barrett Story 2DVD is an in-depth and comprehensive study of this music and cultural icon.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Passenger's next release slated for June

Mike Rosenberg, aka Passenger, has announced that his new album, Whispers, will be released on June 10.

The lead single in North America, “Scare Away The Dark,” will be available on iTunes and all DSPs on April 1 (NA only). Passenger will appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this Friday, March 28, where he’ll perform “Scare Away The Dark” for the first time on national television.

“This is easily the most ‘up’ album I’ve ever made,” explains Passenger. “It’s quite cinematic. There are lots of big stories and big ideas. There are also some somber moments about loneliness and death but, hey, it wouldn’t be a Passenger album without those. Mostly though, it’s a really positive album.”

Whispers is the follow up to 2012’s All The Little Lights, which featured the international hit single and 3x Platinum “Let Her Go.” All The Little Lights debuted on the Billboard Heatseekers chart upon its release in August 2012, where it remained for 45 consecutive weeks, grabbing the #1 position multiple times before crossing into the top 100 of the Billboard 200, where it currently remains, having peaked at #26 in January 2014.


“Let Her Go” is in its 33rd week on the Billboard Hot 100, having peaked at #5 following the songs use in the Budweiser “Puppy Love” Superbowl commercial. The single, which boasts more than 239 Million YouTube views, was also #1 at Hot AC and Triple A Radio, as well as Top 10 at Top 40 Radio. 

Track List:
 

1. Coins In A Fountain
2. 27
3. Heart’s On Fire
4. Bullets
5. Golden Leaves
6. Thunder
7. Rolling Stone
8. Start A Fire
9. Whispers
10. Riding To New York
11. Scare Away The Dark