Greyson Chance tour begins on Halloween

Next week, singer Greyson Chance starts a North American tour in Florida. It will continue to support Chance’s latest full-length effort, portraits, which came out in March. He recently performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show as well as ABC’s Strahan and Sara. Chance released “white roses” exclusively with PAPER Magazine and the music video garnered Chance his first directing credit.

A native of Oklahoma, Chance came into the national spotlight in 2010, after a performance of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” was viewed by over 60 million people on YouTube. He came out publicly in 2017 and uses his platform to be a resource and champion for others in the LGBTQ community. Recently signed to Arista Records, new music should arrive this fall and in 2020. To purchase tickets and for further information, please visit www.greysonchancemusic.com.

Tour dates:

10/31/19 Orlando, FL Soundbar
11/01/19 Atlanta, GA Hell at Masquerade
11/02/19 Washington, DC Rock & Roll Hotel
11/07/19 Toronto Mod Club
11/08/19 Montreal Bar Le Ritz
11/09/19 New York City, NY Sony Hall
11/10/19 Boston, MS Brighton Music Hall
11/14/19 Des Moines, IA Vaudeville Mews
11/15/19 Minneapolis, MN Studio B at Skyway
11/16/19 Milwaukee, WI Miramar Theater
11/21/19 Cincinnati, OH Top Cats
11/22/19 Kansas City, KS Record Bar
11/23/19 Tulsa, OK Vanguard
11/27/19 Denver, CO Globe Hall
11/29/19 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
11/30/19 Detroit, MI The Shelter
12/01/19 Philadelphia, PA Foundry at Fillmore
12/06/19 Phoenix, AZ Rebel Lounge
12/07/19 Los Angeles, CA El Rey
12/12/19 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall
12/13/19 Austin, TX Barracuda
12/14/19 Dallas, TX Dada
12/18/19 Honolulu Blue Note
1/10/20 Oakland, CA, New Parish
1/11/20 Portland, OR Stage 722
1/18/20 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
1/24/20 Bellingham, WA Mount Baker Theatre

Marc Broussard gets into children's lullaby and author mode

Marc Broussard's upcoming studio album, A Lullaby Collection: SOS III and book, I Love You For You, were created to educate and inspire younger audiences. Available Nov. 15, the collection finds Broussard reimagining a series of classic lullabies -- songs such as “Danny Boy,” “Sweet Baby James,” “Moon River,” "What a Wonderful World" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." There are also two Broussard originals, "Bedtime" and "Gavin's Song." Listen to the new single "Godspeed" HERE.

While the songs might be geared to younger ears, Broussard’s signature sound, vocals and orchestration offer a universal appeal for listeners of all ages. “I wanted these songs to be recognizable covers,” he explains. “'Danny Boy' and 'Moon River' were songs I could never imagine recording, but when I did my research and heard the Andy Williams’ renditions, I was so taken. I was never a big Andy Williams fan, but suddenly, I found his voice so spectacular. There’s a grace attached to every one of his performances that I wanted to emulate throughout this entire record. No other artist had ever done that to me.”

The material on A Lullaby Collection is culled from iconic songs Broussard always felt an attachment to. “The initial intention of the SOS series was to share the music that had shaped my life with my younger fans, while being faithful to the spirit of the originals,” Broussard said. “The second album, SOS II: Soul on a Mission, took on a new meaning. I feel that it’s important to use whatever privilege society says I have to help reshape the world around me into something a little more equitable."

Coinciding with the release of his new album, Broussard is making his debut as an author with I Love You For You, a children's book about inclusion, affirmation and appreciation for the special traits that make each one of us unique.

A portion of proceeds from sales of both the album and the book will be donated to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a Louisiana native, this hospital holds a special place in Broussard’s heart, and has changed the lives of children and families from all 64 Louisiana parishes and serves as a beacon of hope and healing for all of Louisiana’s children.

A Lullaby Collection SOS III is Broussard’s third album in his independently released SOS (“Save Our Soul”) series. His first, SOS: Save our Soul, was a collection of R&B classics. The second, SOS II: Soul on a Mission, delved further into the vaults of R&B, soul and rock (released in 2016). Broussard donated 50% of the profits from these albums to City of Refuge, an organization that seeks to lead individuals and families on a journey to self-sufficiency.

Track listing:

Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)
Moon River (featuring Lily Kershaw)
Baby's Boat (featuring Mary Broussard)
Danny Boy
Return to Pooh Corner
Somewhere Over the Rainbow (featuring Sammy Rae)
Sweet Baby James
When You Wish Upon a Star
What a Wonderful World (featuring Mykal Kilgore)
Gavin's Song (featuring Lauren Daigle)
Bedtime

Tour dates: 

October 24 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café
October 25 - Brookfield, WI @ Sharon Lynne Wilson CTA
October 26 - Evanston, IL @ Evanston Space
October 27 - Evanston, IL @ Evanston Space
November 2 - Abila Springs, LA @ Abila Fall Festival
November 3 - Lake Charles, LA - Autism on the Bayou Charity Event @ The Golden Nugget
November 8 - London UK @ Neil’s Jazz and Blues
November 9 - London UK @ Neil’s Jazz and Blues - SOLD OUT
November 11 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
November 12 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
November 13 - Nijmejen, Netherlands @ Doornroosje
November 14 - Groningen, Netherlands @ SPOT/De Oosterpoort
December 7 - Lafayette, LA @ Rock’n’Bowl
December 14 - Monroe, LA @ The Hub Music Hall
December 31 - Nashville, TN @ City Winery (Early Show)
December 31 - Nashville, TN @ City Winery (Late Show)

Dave Koz takes special guests into studio, on the road for Christmas album, tour

Twenty-two years after releasing his first Christmas-themed set, Grammy-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz takes a very different stylistic approach on his new holiday album, Gifts of the Season (Just Koz Entertainment, Inc.).

Out now and available HERE, the collection brings a soul/funk/pop feel to Christmas classics across different eras. The album also includes one Koz original – “A Prayer for Peace.” “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” featuring Jonathan Butler – a groovin’, African chant-spiced version of the 1950’s holiday song – will go to radio in early November. Listen to the track HERE.

Gifts of the Season is the ideal companion piece for the 22nd Annual Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour – 22 shows in 25 days – with Jonathan Butler, Melissa Manchester, Michael Lington and special guest Chris Walker. All four of Koz’s tour mates guest on the new album.

In what’s become an annual tradition, Koz is donating the money raised by the Dave Koz & Friends at Sea silent auctions to help the heroic kids served by Starlight Children’s Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of hospitalized children worldwide. This year’s $200,000 donation will provide state-of-the-art Virtual Reality headsets to 100 children’s hospitals along the Christmas tour route. Starlight’s Virtual Reality Headset Program offers seriously ill children a fun way to explore the world – and beyond – through the magic of VR. See the impact these headsets can make in this short video. Koz has served as global ambassador for the Foundation for over 25 years and has raised over one million dollars for Starlight through the help of the Dave Koz Fan Network.

The Christmas tour kicks off in late November and runs into December. Butler and Lington are also releasing Christmas albums this fall so – in a first for the tour – the shows will feature material from three brand new holiday albums. Tickets are available at www.davekoz.com. See below for itinerary.

Koz and producer Darren Rahn (Wayman Tisdale, Toby Keith, Bob James) laid down the basic tracks for Gifts of the Season in Rahn’s Denver studio. They then recorded the guest artists in each of their home studios. 

Track listing:

1. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas featuring Jonathan Butler
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. White Christmas
4. Last Christmas
5. Mary Did You Know featuring Chris Walker
6. I’ll Be Home For Christmas featuring Matt Cusson
7. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer featuring Michael Lington
8. This Christmas featuring Jonathan Butler
9. All I Want For Christmas Is You featuring Melissa Manchester
10. Winter Wonderland
11. A Prayer For Peace

DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS CHRISTMAS TOUR 2019
Jonathan Butler * Melissa Manchester * Michael Lington
with special guest Chris Walker

Dates subject to change.

11/29 – Sarasota, FL @ Van Wezel
11/30 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Kravis Center
12/1 – Naples, FL @ Hayes Hall
12/2 – Melbourne, FL @ King Center
12/3 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
12/5 – Jacksonville, FL @ Florida Theatre
12/6 – Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Centre
12/7 – Newport News, VA @ Ferguson Centre
12/8 – Brookville, NY @ Tilles Center for the Performing Arts
12/9 – Bethesda, MD @ Strathmore
12/11 – Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
12/12 – Cleveland, OH @ KeyBank State Theatre
12/13 – Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
12/15 – Carmel, IN @ Palladium
12/16 – El Paso, TX @ Plaza Theatre
12/17 – Mesa, AZ @ Ikeda Theatre
12/18 – Palm Springs, CA @ McCallum
12/19 – El Cajon, CA @ The Magnolia
12/20 – Cerritos, CA @ Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12/21 – Cerritos, CA @ Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12/22 – Stockton, CA @ Bob Hope Theatre
12/23 – San Jose, CA @ City National Civic

All The Beatles singles to be collected in a new box set

From 1962 to 1970, The Beatles released 22 UK singles; of those 44 A and B-side tracks, 29 were not included on the group’s British albums at that time. These singles, plus an exclusive new double A-side single for the mid-1990s-issued tracks “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” are newly cut for vinyl from their original mono and stereo master tapes by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios for a new limited edition boxed set.

The Beatles: The Singles Collection presents 46 tracks on 23 180-gram seven-inch vinyl singles in faithfully reproduced international picture sleeves, accompanied by a 40-page booklet with photos, ephemera, and detailed essays by Beatles historian Kevin Howlett. The collectible set will be released worldwide on Nov. 22 by Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe.

Preorder The Beatles: The Singles Collection: http://thebeatles.lnk.to/SinglesCollection2019 Watch The Singles Collection trailer: http://thebeatles.lnk.to/SinglesCollection2019Trailer

Just three and a half years divide 1963’s “She Loves You” and 1967’s “Strawberry Fields Forever,” an example of the band’s rapid evolution. From their star-making 1962 debut single, “Love Me Do” with its B-side “P.S. I Love You,” to their 1970 finale of “Let It Be” / “You Know My Name (Look Up The Number),” the new collection underscores The Beatles’ full creative arc.

Because it was rare in the 1960s for UK singles to be released in picture sleeves, the new collection’s seven inches are presented in reproduced picture sleeves from their original releases in several countries around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, France, Greece, Holland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, USA, and West Germany.

The Singles Collection follows the September release of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album in a suite of Anniversary Edition packages. The acclaimed new edition’s Super Deluxe set features new stereo, 5.1 surround, and Dolby Atmos mixes by producer Giles Martin and mix engineer Sam Okell, plus 23 session and demo recordings, most of which were previously unreleased.

Abbey Road’s Anniversary Edition releases returned the iconic album to the top of charts around the world. In the UK, Abbey Road reclaimed the No. 1 position on the official albums chart after 49 years and 252 days, breaking The Beatles’ own Guinness World Record previously held by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which revisited the chart’s No. 1 spot in June 2017 with its celebrated Anniversary Edition after 49 years and 125 days.

The Beatles: The Singles Collection

1962 [sleeve art: U.S.]

A: Love Me Do

B: P. S. I Love You

1963 [sleeve art: Italy]
A: Please Please Me
B: Ask Me Why

1963 [sleeve art: Norway]
A: From Me To You
B: Thank You Girl

1963 [sleeve art: Greece]
A: She Loves You
B: I'll Get You

1963 [sleeve art: Chile]
A: I Want To Hold Your Hand
B: This Boy

1964 [sleeve art: Austria]
A: Can't Buy Me Love
B: You Can't Do That

1964 [sleeve art: Holland]
A: A Hard Day's Night
B: Things We Said Today

1964 [sleeve art: Sweden]
A: I Feel Fine
B: She's A Woman

1965 [sleeve art: Spain]
A: Ticket To Ride
B: Yes It Is

1965 [sleeve art: Belgium]
A: Help!
B: I'm Down

1965 [double A-side / sleeve art: France]
A: We Can Work It Out
A: Day Tripper

1966 [sleeve art: Turkey]
A: Paperback Writer
B: Rain

1966 [double A-side / sleeve art: Argentina]
A: Eleanor Rigby
A: Yellow Submarine

1967 [double A-side / sleeve art: Australia]
A: Strawberry Fields Forever
A: Penny Lane

1967 [sleeve art: West Germany]
A: All You Need Is Love
B: Baby, You're A Rich Man

1967 [sleeve art: Mexico]
A: Hello, Goodbye
B: I Am The Walrus

1968 [sleeve art: Japan]
A: Lady Madonna
B: The Inner Light

1968 [sleeve art: South Africa]
A: Hey Jude
B: Revolution

1969 [sleeve art: Denmark]
A: Get Back
B: Don't Let Me Down

1969 [sleeve art: Portugal]
A: The Ballad Of John And Yoko
B: Old Brown Shoe

1969 [sleeve art: Israel]
A: Something
B: Come Together

1970 [sleeve art: UK]
A: Let It Be
B: You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)

1995 / 1996 [exclusive double A-side single / sleeve art: worldwide]
A: Free As A Bird [1995]
A: Real Love [1996]

Peter Bjorn and John mark 20th anniversary in 2020 with new album, tour

Peter Bjorn and John will celebrate their 20-year anniversary in 2020 with the release of their ninth full-length studio album – Endless Dream – due out March 13th via Ingrid. The band unveiled first single “Rusty Nail.” A spring US headline tour kicks off in March and runs into April (see routing below).

Endless Dream follows 2018’s Darker Days. The trio started working on the new album almost immediately after Darker Days. “We were in a good place” said Peter, adding, “it’s the light to the darkness – the day to the night.” Eriksson notes, “This time the tone is bright. It’s about people trying to find colors in this dark world.”

The creative process for Endless Dream was a little different as well. “We realized we wanted to cut the crap, so we rehearsed songs in the same room and recorded together. For post-production, every guy was on his own taking care of his baby – and then we came back and had our baby together,” said Bjorn, about their approach and recording in Stockholm.

Formed in 2000, after Bjorn and Peter - who first met in high school - found John in Stockholm and decided to make it official, PB&J's self-titled debut followed two years later. They released an album every two years for the next three LPs – Falling Out (2004), Writer’s Block (2006) and Seaside Rock (2008) – a largely instrumental album. Living Thing arrived in 2009 and then came Gimme Some in 2011. Five years passed before Breakin’ Point was released in 2016 – an album that almost saw the trio part ways. However, after some time off and soul searching, they regrouped for 2018’s Darker Days that propelled them forward to their 20th year and their ninth LP Endless Dream.

“Rusty Nail” is at DSPs; listen HERE.

Tour dates:

March 23, Los Angeles, Teragram Ballroom

March 24, Santa Ana, La Santa
March 25, Oakland, The New Parish
March 27, Portland, Doug Fir Lounge
March 28, Seattle, The Crocodile
March 29, Boise, Treefort Music Festival
March 31, Salt Lake City, Urban Lounge
April 1, Denver, Bluebird Theatre
April 3, Saint Paul, Amsterdam
April 4, Chicago, Empty Bottle
April 5, Detroit, Loving Touch
April 7, Philadelphia, Johnny Brenda’s
April 8, Washington, Union Stage
April 10, New York, Webster Hall
April 11, Boston, Brighton Music Hall

www.peterbjornandjohn.com. 

The Lone Bellow news

The Lone Bellow – Zach Williams, Kanene Donehey Pipkin, Brian Elmquist – have announced the release of their new album, HALF MOON LIGHT (Dualtone), the band’s fourth studio LP and first one since 2017.

Out on Feb. 7, 2020, it was produced by Aaron Dessner (The National) at his studio in upstate New York and features guitarist Josh Kaufman and drummer J.T. Baites. The band has shared first single, “Count On Me” and the album is available for pre-order now.

Williams says: “After singing “Count On Me” together in the studio we walked outside and couldn’t help but think about the sense of camaraderie and kindness that seems to happen at our shows. Like strangers becoming neighbors wrapping their arms ‘round each others necks and saying ‘I got ya.’”

LISTEN TO “COUNT ON ME”
https://thelonebellow.lnk.to/HalfMoonLight
https://youtu.be/NUvCZXd4d1o

PRE-ORDER HALF MOON LIGHT

Pre-order features limited-edition gold vinyl and autographed merchandise bundles. 

“I want it to bring comfort,” Elmquist says. “But it’s not all hard conversations. There’s a lot of light and some dancing that needs to happen...We try to invite as many people into the process to see what we can make together. I like that collaborative spirit and that freedom. Then, the songs speak for themselves.”

The album marks a return to recording in New York with Dessner, whom the band counts as both a hero and a comrade. “We already had a friendship with Aaron and a strong, shared understanding of our musical vision,” Williams says. “It’s really important to us to be a part of a community of musicians. We like the collaborative, communal way of making something. Aaron showed us a new way of trusting and collaborating. His idea of bringing in Josh and J.T. was such a beautiful gift. The meekness that these friends brought to the table was something that we will never forget. A sense of controlled fury. Lightning in a shoebox.”

“Aaron has a powerful quietness about him,” Pipkin says. “A lot of people I meet in the music industry have lots of bravado, and it’s something I have trouble believing. Aaron doesn’t have that. He is a joy to work with. A true friend.”

For the first time, the band stayed where they recorded, sequestered from the world at Aaron’s studio in upstate New York. 

“We made this record in a place of joy and collaboration with our friends. We were trying to do something bigger than ourselves,” says Elmquist. “I think we’ve been wanting to make this record for a while now. It just hasn’t come together as perfectly as it did this time.”

In support of HALF MOON LIGHT, The Lone Bellow have confirmed a worldwide tour that will begin in January in London. North American dates begin in February in Los Angeles and continue through April with their first-ever headlining show at the Ryman in Nashville, TN. The band will then head to Europe and come back to America for summer festival appearances. For updates and tickets, please visit thelonebellow.com.

Track listing:

Intro
I Can Feel You Dancing
Good Times
Wonder
Count On Me
Wash It Clean
Enemies
Interlude
Just Enough To Get By
Martingales
Illegal Immigrant
Friends
Dust Settles
August
Finale

2020 Tour dates:

JANUARY

22 - London - St. Pancras Old Church - SOLD OUT
23 - London - St. Pancras Old Church - SOLD OUT
25 - Glasgow - Celtic Connections (RSNO Hall)

FEBRUARY
12 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
13 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
26 - Houston, TX - The Heights Theater
27 - Austin, TX - Scoot Inn
28 - New Braunfels, TX - Gruene Hall
29 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater

MARCH
2 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads
4 - Denver, CO - Bluebird
6 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Commonwealth
7 - Boise, ID - The Olympic
9 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial
10 - Seattle, WA - Neptune
11 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall
13 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
14 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriets

APRIL
2 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
3 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
4 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
5 - Louisville, KY - Headliners
7 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn
8 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
10 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom
11 - Washington DC - 9:30 Club
14 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
15 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
16 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
17 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
24 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

Beck's next album 'Hyperspace' due next month; video just out

I'm looking forward to hearing the new music. After a long period on not seeing Beck in concert, I've been fortunate enough to see him three times in the past 12 months (see the reviews elsewhere on this blog).

On Nov. 22, Capitol Records releases Hyperspace, the 14th album from seven-time Grammy-winning musician Beck.

His most collaborative efforts to date, seven of the album's 11 tracks—including single “Uneventful Days” and “Saw Lightning” (as featured in the Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats Pro campaign and also included with pre-orders)—feature co-writing and co-production from Pharrell Williams.

Elsewhere in Hyperspace, “See Through” is co-written/co-produced by frequent Beck collaborator Greg Kurstin, “Star” is co-written/co-produced by Paul Epworth, “Stratosphere” features back-up from Chris Martin, the album’s title track features guest vocals from Terrell Hines, and “Die Waiting” is co-written/co-produced by Cole M.G.N. with backing vocals from Sky Ferreira. Longtime Beck bandmates Jason Falkner, Smokey Hormel and Roger Manning Jr. feature on much of the album as well.

The new video for “Uneventful Days,” directed by musician Dev Hynes, has starring turns from Evan Rachel Wood, Tessa Thompson and Alia Shawkat (observant longtime Beck fans will spot the principals’ wardrobe nods to classic entries in the Beck video canon). It can be viewed HERE.

Beck will make two festival headline appearances soon: Oct. 26 at the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience in New Orleans, and Dec. 6 at Intersect in Las Vegas.

Hyperspace is Beck’s first album since 2017’s Colors, which won Best Alternative Music Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical at the 61st Grammy Awards earlier this year. Beck's prolific post-Colors/pre-Hyperspace output has included “Tarantula” from Music Inspired by ROMA, “Super Cool” (featuring Robyn & The Lonely Island) from The LEGO Movie 2, his featured vocal on Cage The Elephant’s “Night Running”—not to mention this past summer’s co-headlining amphitheater tour with Cage The Elephant.

Track listing:

1. Hyperlife
2. Uneventful Days
3. Saw Lightning
4. Die Waiting
5. Chemical
6. See Through
7. Hyperspace
8. Stratosphere
9. Dark Places
10. Star
11. Everlasting Nothing

An interview with The Hunna; new fashion brand Hard as Hell launched

photo: 300 Entertainment

The worst experiences often result in the best songs.

Case in point: "I Get High to Forget," the harrowing new single by The Hunna. As front man Ryan Potter disdainfully sings "you sure know how to fuck up a good thing/I won't pick up on the next time that you ring," the music starts with a hip-hop rhythm before transitioning into blazing guitar territory. A slight departure for the Watford, England alt-rock band, the song was produced by Olly Burden of The Prodigy and Carl Barat from The Libertines.

Although the lyrics could easily reference a nasty personal breakup, they actually stemmed from a dark period last year when the group severed ties with its record label and management and had to cancel a tour. According to Potter, the sentiments expressed a way to erase the memory of someone who had lied and cheated them as well as getting high to give their mental selves a break from being trapped.

"We're definitely branching out," drummer Jack Metcalfe confirmed via phone recently while on a North American tour with Barnes Courtney. "We've always been big fans of hip-hop and electronic stuff. We also love our heavy music, so it’s blending all those things together – a new chapter. There’s obviously a lot more to talk about after what we've been through." 

"They both have their own style," guitarist Dan Dorney added about working with Barat and Burden. "It was perfect to bring that kind of song to them. We recorded it in the same studio as we did for our second record and we broke a guitar in the process. There were lots of good times and a lot of laughs."

All four members of The Hunna, which is rounded out by bassist Junate Angin, were born in the same Southeastern England hospital. A couple guys were already friends and the others met in college before forming the band in 2015. Their moniker was taken from hip-hop slang for "one hundred."

Frequently driven by reverb-laden guitar work, melodic textures and wailing vocals, the engaging debut album 100 arrived in 2016. It reached the top 20 and spawned two hits at home (the rousing "Bonfire"; a smoldering "She's Casual").

Here in the States, a propulsive "You and Me" went top 30 at alternative radio and received prominent airplay on SiriusXM's Alt Nation. Then, The Hunna did the channel's flagship Advance Placement Tour and a U.S. jaunt with Jimmy Eat World.

Hitting the road alongside the stalwart Arizona emo group was "a massive eye opener for us," recalled Dorney. "To still be playing after all those years is a massive inspiration. If you want to be one of the biggest bands in the world, which we do, then that's how good you've got to be."

Over the summer, The Hunna performed on the main stage at the Reading and Leeds festivals in England, a booking that Dorney called "an incredible dream come true."

How would the musicians describe an average Hunna gig?

"In a nutshell, we call it ‘turn up rock’ or ‘pretty boy grunge,’" said Metcalfe. "Away from the slogans, it is high energy. We go crazy on stage, but we've always been super conscious of being a tight rock band as well. You can sing along to our stuff and bang your head. It’s all around party time when the Hunna are playing, bro."

The Hunna aspires to be a stadium headliner and has that goal in mind while writing big anthemic choruses. 2018's Dare contained more of them. The album topped the UK rock albums charts and kept the momentum high, thanks to standouts like the hard-hitting title track; the racing pop/rock of "One"; "Babe," with clarion call guitar squalls and yearning vocals from Potter, whose lyrics name check The 1975 (The Hunna memorably covered the Manchester band's "Give Yourself a Try" last year for a Spotify Session; it can be viewed on YouTube); and the powerful, vulnerable ballad "Mother," triggered by the death of Potter's parent.

Known for its urban style sense that often includes face masks, the group just launched a new apocalyptic fashion brand called Hard as Hell [https://postkulture.com/drop/hah/].

Recording of a new album recently commenced in Calabasas, Calif. with John Feldmann of Goldfinger, whose resume includes production work with 311, blink-182, The Used and others.

"We're really excited to show people a different element of the band," said Metcalfe.

A version of my interview originally appeared at prohbtd.com.

Michael Hutchence doc 'Mystify' slated for one-night-only theater release in January

Fans of INXS will get a new look into the life of Michael Hutchence when the feature-length documentary “Mystify: Michael Hutchence” arrives in movie theaters across the country for one night only on January 7, 2020.

Written and directed by Richard Lowenstein (“Dogs in Space,” “Say a Little Prayer,” and “He Died With A Felafel In His Hand”), “Mystify: Michael Hutchence” is a portrait of the internationally renowned INXS frontman.

Using an archive of imagery, Michael’s private home movies and those of his lovers, friends, and family, the film delves into the public persona of the singer and reveals more than ever. 

Tickets for “Mystify: Michael Hutchence” can be purchased at www.FathomEvents.com and participating theater box offices.

“I am thrilled to be working with Shout! Factory and Fathom Events on the U.S. release of ‘Mystify: Michael Hutchence,’” said the film’s director, Richard Lowenstein. “Their innovative approach to cinema distribution and the large spread of hundreds of cinemas across the U.S. is very exciting to us. I look forward to audiences being able experience this visual and immersive feature film as the theatrical experience it was designed to be, with recently discovered personal footage seen in 4K and the digitally restored surround sound of Michael’s music heard and appreciated like never before.”

“We jumped at the chance to be involved with distributing this remarkable and moving documentary, which will give music fans a profound look into the life of an artist we lost too soon,” said David McIntosh, Sr. VP Content Licensing and Strategy at Shout! Studios.
“Fathom is honored to be a part of bringing this tribute to cinemas across the U.S. early next year,” Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt said. “INXS fans will get to experience the Wembley concert and this intimate documentary the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen.”

Check out the trailer for the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRIFR3hkIpo

Fathom will also be screening “INXS: Live Baby Live at Wembley Stadium” in theaters for one night only on December 9, 2019. Six years to the day of Live Aid and five years and a day since the band supported Queen at Wembley Stadium, INXS headlined their own show at the famed venue to a sell-out crowd of 73,791 crazed fans. The event, called ‘Summer XS,’ was immortalized in the best-selling concert film ‘Live Baby Live,’ directed by David Mallet. The film has been painstakingly restored from the original 35mm negative and is now presented in glorious cinematic widescreen. The restoration process unveiled a ‘lost’ performance, which was not included in the original releases - ‘Lately’ from the ‘X’ album. It is now returned to its rightful position in the concert setlist.

Shout! Studios, the multi-platform entertainment distribution and production arm of Shout! Factory, acquired the U.S. rights to “Mystify: Michael Hutchence,” via Dogwoof, the film’s international sales agent.

Sparks band news

BMG Records will release Past Tense, a career-spanning collection by Sparks, on Nov. 8. From 1967’s “Computer Girl” (recorded under the name Urban Renewal Project) to 2017’s “Check Out Time 11AM” (from the Hippopotamus sessions), PAST TENSE: THE BEST OF SPARKS runs the gamut of influential pop music by the Brothers Mael.

With sleeve-notes by Simon Price*, each track was hand-picked by Ron and Russell Mael to best epitomise the era of Sparks from which they are drawn. 

The pair are currently putting the finishing touches to their new studio album, due for release in 2020. There is an upcoming documentary by the British film director Edgar Wright, Meanwhile, filming commences this month on Annette – the movie musical written by Sparks, directed by Leos Carax, and starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard.

Order PAST TENSE: THE BEST OF SPARKS here:

2CD: smarturl.it/SparksPastTense2CD
3CD: smarturl.it/SparksPastTense3CD
3LP: smarturl.it/SparksPastTense3LP

PAST TENSE: THE BEST OF SPARKS
Formats and tracklisting

3CD

Disc One-

Computer Girl
Wonder Girl
(No More) Mr. Nice Guys
Girl from Germany
Beaver O'Lindy
This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us
Amateur Hour
Here In Heaven
Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
Something for the Girl With Everything
Achoo
Get in the Swing
In The Future
Looks, Looks, Looks
I Want To Hold Your Hand
Big Boy
I Bought The Mississippi River
Occupation
Those Mysteries
Tryouts for the Human Race
Beat the Clock

Disc Two-

The Number One Song in Heaven
When I'm With You
Tips for Teens
Funny Face
Angst in My Pants
I Predict
Sherlock Holmes
Cool Places (with Jane Wiedlin)
Popularity
I Wish I Looked A Little Better
With All My Might
Change
Music That You Can Dance To
So Important
Singing In The Shower (with Les Rita Mitsouko)
National Crime Awareness Week (Psycho Cut)
When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'
(When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker Playing - Radio Edit
Let's Go Surfing

Disc Three-

Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat
The Calm Before The Storm
It's A Knockoff
The Rhythm Thief
My Baby's Taking Me Home
Suburban Homeboy
Dick Around
Perfume
Islington N1
Good Morning
Lighten Up, Morrissey
Two Hands, One Mouth
Piss Off (Sparks original demo)
Johnny Delusional (FFS)
Missionary Position
Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)
I Wish You Were Fun
Check Out Time 11AM

For more info: allsparks.com

As if that weren't enough for fans, there's more...

A quarter century after its original release, Sparks’ 16th studio album Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins is to be reissued on CD & vinyl by BMG on Nov. 15. The original remastered album is accompanied by a disc of bonus tracks and rarities and Sparks have opened the vaults to share previously unreleased demos and recordings.

After a few years working on the as-yet-unrealised Mai The Psychic Girl film project - with both Tsui Hark (whose vocals appear on this record) and Tim Burton -, collaborating with Scottish band Finitribe on 1993’s National Crime Awareness Week, and producing demos for Star Trek regular and future Sparks drummer Christi Haydon, Ron and Russell Mael returned to the pop forum and the charts in 1994 with Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins. The first song written for the album “When Do I Get To Sing ‘My Way’” (originally titled ‘Punch And Judy Show’) would go on to become the number one radio song of ‘94 in Germany and a top 40 hit in the U.K.

Disc 2 of this 25th anniversary collection comprises B sides, remixes and live recordings while disc 3 includes the unreleased tracks from the Christi Haydon EP and, uniquely for Sparks, a selection of demo tracks or "orphan songs."

“In the period before Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins, we’d written and recorded a lot of demos, uncertain of where things were heading. Sometimes the writing process creates an angle. Sometimes it doesn’t. These orphan songs, the ones that weren’t chosen for further refinement and development at the time, now have found their angle. Hence in the batch that is included in this package are some of our sadly abandoned children that we thought you might like to meet. One song, “That’s Entertainment,” is sung by former Sparks bass player Les Bohem; “This Angry Young Man (Ain’t Angry No More),” and “Mid-Atlantic,” have two versions, one with Ron doing the vocals before handing it off to me. Yes, Ron “sings”. Please meet this little-known family of ours from pre-Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins.” - Russell Mael.

Order Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins here:

1LP/2CD: smarturl.it/SparkGratuitousSaxDE

3CD: smarturl.it/SparkGratuitousSaxCD

1LP: smarturl.it/SparkGratuitousSaxLP

Disc One

original album remastered

Gratuitous Sax
When Do I Get To Sing "My Way"
(When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker Playing
Frankly, Scarlett, I Don't Give A Damn
I Thought I Told You To Wait In The Car
Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil
Now That I Own The BBC
Tsui Hark
The Ghost Of Liberace
Let's Go Surfing
Senseless Violins

Disc Two

Mixes and versions

National Crime Awareness Week (Complete Psycho) produced by Finiflex
When Do I Get To Sing "My Way" (The Grid Radio Edit) Remixed by The Grid
(When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker Playing [Bernard Butler's Fashionable World Of Fashion Mix] remixed by Bernard Butler
Now That I Own The BBC (Live BBC Acoustic Version)
When Do I Get To Sing "My Way" (Vince Clarke Remix)
She's An Anchorman
Little Drummer Boy Unreleased studio version
Beat The Clock (Live in Concert) Live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London. 17 November 1994
National Crime Awareness Week (13 Minutes In Heaven) produced by Finiflex
When Do I Get To Sing "My Way" (Sticks & Stones Remix) remixed by Keith Marantz & David Longoria at The Steamroom
(When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker Playing [The Beatmasters' Full-Blown Dub] Remixed by The Beatmasters
Now That I Own The BBC (Motiv 8 Extended Vocal Mix) remixed by Motiv 8
When Do I Get To Sing "My Way" (Pro-Gress Mix) Remix & additional production by Pro-Gress for D.E.F.
National Crime Awareness Week (The Janet Leigh Mix) remixed by Steve Bates

Disc Three

Unreleased demos

1. Where Did I Leave My Halo?
2. She's Beautiful (So What)
3. Mid-Atlantic
4. The Farmer's Daughter
5. This Angry Young Man Ain't Angry No More
6. Bob Hope
7. She's An Anchorman (Demo)
8. Love Can Conquer All
9. That's What I Call Paradise
10. This Angry Young Man Ain't Angry No More (Ron Vocal Version)
11. Mid-Atlantic (Ron Vocal Version)
12. That's Entertainment (feat. Les Bohem)

Unreleased tracks from Christi Haydon EP 

(with vocals by Christi Haydon)

13. Katharine Hepburn
14. Titanic
15. Othello
16. Holiday
17. Boris The Spider

A new single from the band X; holiday tour dates

Released today via Fat Possum, “Delta 88 Nightmare,” newly recorded music from the iconic punk rock band, X, along with the video directed by Henry Mortensen, premiering today on Rolling Stone.

The 7” will be released on November 29, fans can pre-order and stream the track HERE.

Earlier this year, the original foursome - Exene Cervenka, John Doe, Billy Zoom, and DJ Bonebrake went into the studio together to record fresh material for the first time since 1985’s “Ain’t Love Grand." Five songs were recorded over the course of two days with producer Rob Schnapf.The first of these new songs is the recorded version of an older X song, "Delta 88 Nightmare," which previously was only included as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of "Los Angeles" in demo form - never as a fully recorded and mixed track. The song is available today as a 7" with the flip side being the newly recorded "Cyrano de Berger's Back,” one of the earliest songs John wrote for the band that became X.

X recently announced their annual Holiday tour plans. Hitting theWest Coast for X-Mas ‘19, their annual holiday tour will stop in San Juan Capistrano, Sacramento, Sonoma, San Francisco, Seattle before finishing up on December 19 & 20 with hometown Los Angeles finale shows. The Blasters will join X on all shows except Sonoma and Seattle. X will also appear at the Wonderfront Festival in San Diego on November 24th. Tickets for X-Mas ‘19 are on sale now.

Formed in 1977, X quickly established themselves as one of the best bands in the first wave of LA's flourishing punk scene; becoming legendary leaders of a punk generation. Featuring vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist/bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom, and drummer DJ Bonebrake, their debut 45 was released on the seminal Dangerhouse label in 1978, followed by seven studio albums released from 1980-1993. X's first two studio albums, Los Angeles and Wild Gift are ranked by Rolling Stone among the top 500 greatest albums of all time.

Over the years, the band has released several critically acclaimed albums, topped the musical charts with regularity and performed their iconic hits on top television shows such as Letterman and American Bandstand. In 2017, the band celebrated their 40th anniversary in music with a Grammy Museum exhibit opening, a Proclamation from the City of Los Angeles and being honored at a Los Angeles Dodgers game, where Exene threw out the first pitch and John Doe sang the National Anthem. The band continues to tour with the original line-up.

X-Mas ’19 Holiday Tour

November 11 - Wonderfront Festival, San Diego, CA *
November 29 - The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
November 30 - The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
December 1 - The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano
December 5 - Ace of Spades, Sacramento, CA
December 7 - Sebastiani Theatre, Sonoma, CA
December 9 - The Independent, San Francisco, CA
December 10 - The Independent, San Francisco, CA
December 11 - The Independent, San Francisco, CA
December 15 - The Crocodile, Seattle, WA
December 16 - The Crocodile, Seattle, WA
December 19 - Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles, CA
December 20 - Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles, CA

*Festival Date

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020 nominees announced

Nominated in the Performer category, artists included in this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominee class are:

Pat Benatar
Dave Matthews Band
Depeche Mode
The Doobie Brothers
Whitney Houston
Judas Priest
Kraftwerk
MC5
Motörhead
Nine Inch Nails
The Notorious B.I.G.
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
Todd Rundgren
Soundgarden
T. Rex
Thin Lizzy

New this year, to cast a ballot in the official Klipsch Audio Fan Vote, you can search “Rock Hall Fan Vote” or the word “Vote” with any Nominee name on Google to cast your ballot.
VOTE ON GOOGLE

You can vote once a day through January 10, 2020 and pick up to 5 Nominees per ballot. The top five artists will comprise, a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2020 Inductees.

The Class of 2020 Nominees includes 9 artists on the ballot for the first time: Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Whitney Houston, Motörhead, The Notorious B.I.G., Pat Benatar, Soundgarden, T. Rex and Thin Lizzy.

The 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by Klipsch Audio, will be held at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio on May 2, 2020 and will be preceded by Induction Week with celebratory events and the opening of the 2020 Inductee exhibit.

Rock Hall donors and members get exclusive Induction ticket opportunities. Donate or join by January 31, 2020 to be eligible. Visit www.rockhall.com/support to learn more.

Stagecoach Festival 2020 lineup and ticket on sale info revealed

Overall, this lineup interests me a bit more than the 2019 edition, which I unfortunately had to miss. Get all the details below...

Stagecoach - California's Country Music Festival - is back for its 14th year, on Friday, April 24-Sunday, April 26, 2020 at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, near Palm Springs.

Thomas Rhett headlines Friday night, Carrie Underwood closes things out on Saturday and Eric Church rounds out the weekend on Sunday.

“Shattering our all-time attendance record in 2019 only made our team work harder and dive deeper to deliver more to our fans this year,” says festival Talent Buyer Stacy Vee. “The Stagecoach 2020 lineup is all about high energy and getting every type of country music fan fired up. On top of this crazy lineup, Guy Fieri is back, Diplo is back, and we have much more in store that is absolutely going to blow minds!”

The 3-day event will also feature performances by Brett Young, Dan + Shay, Alan Jackson, Dustin Lynch, Midland, Jon Pardi, ZZ Top, Morgan Wallen and more (lineup as of October 15 is below).

Fan-favorite Guy Fieri’s Stagecoach Smokehouse is back again for its third year in a row to reveal new chefs, pit bosses and BBQ vendors. Guy and friends will be showcasing their pits and rigs and offering taste tests to fans throughout the weekend with live demos. Stay tuned for the full food lineup.

“I’m stoked to be firing up my Stagecoach Smokehouse again this year where we’ll be cookin’ up some bad ass bar-b-que,” says Guy Fieri. “So, ride on down to Flavortown and hang out with me, my buddies and some real deal pit masters from around the country."

Sunday night includes the return of Diplo Late Night In Palomino. Last year saw the first-ever live performance of "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus and the debut of Diplo’s country project with collaborations from Morgan Wallen, Cam and Jonas Brothers. 

Returning to the festival in 2020 is the SiriusXM Spotlight Stage, which will once again highlight today’s rising stars like Hardy, Caylee Hammack and Gabby Barrett and others. The Honkytonk Dance Hall also makes a comeback in addition to High Class Hillbilly owner and singer Nikki Lane’s Stage Stop Marketplace.

Festival passes go on sale Friday, October 18 at 11 AM PDT at stagecoachfestival.com.

Pass Prices:

3-Day General Admission $319
3-Day General Admission/Shuttle Combo $379
3-Day Corral Standing Pit $1,299
3-Day Corral C1 Reserved Seating $1,299
3-Day Corral C2 Reserved Seating $829
Preferred Parking $89
Any Line Shuttle Pass $70
Camping Companion Parking $55
**plus fees

Pay in full or choose the Stagecoach Payment Plan to pay up to four equal payments from October 18 through January. Travel Packages, Shuttles and the Safari Camping Experience available via Valley Music Travel.

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Wednesday, October 16 at 10am PT through Thursday, October 17 at 10pm PT.

The STAGECOACH 2019 lineup in ABC order (as of October 15th) is as follows:

Alan Jackson
Billy Ray Cyrus
Brandon Ratcliff
Brett Young
Bryan Adams
Carrie Underwood
Caylee Hammack
Chris Lane
Courtney Marie Andrews
Dan + Shay
Desure
Diplo
Dustin Lynch
Eric Church
Gabby Barrett
Gone West
Guy Fieri
Hailey Whitters
Hardy
Hayes Carll
Ian Noe
Ingrid Andress
Jade Jackson
Jimmie Allen
Jon Pardi
Laci Kaye Booth
Lil Nas X
LOCASH
Marty Stuart
Midland
Mitchell Tenpenny
Morgan Wallen
Neal McCoy
Nikki Lane
Niko Moon
Orville Peck
Pam Tillis
Paul Cauthen
Payton Smith
RaeLynn
Riley Green
Ryan Bingham
Seaforth
Shenandoah
Tanya Tucker
Teddy Robb
Temecula Road
Tenille Townes
The Haden Triplets
The Last Bandoleros
Thomas Rhett
Whitney Rose
ZZ Top
Willie Jones

'The Holiday Sounds of Josh Rouse' coming in November

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Josh Rouse has announced the release of his first-ever holiday album, The Holiday Sounds of Josh Rouse, out November 1 via Yep Roc Records. Rouse's  collection of nine new songs cover folk, pop and rock. Opening track “Mediterranean X-Mas” is available now:

Stream the new single, “Mediterranean X-mas”.

The Holiday Sounds of Josh Rouse has songs written throughout the last 10 years. The album was recorded in the fall of 2018 at Alex The Great studio in Nashville, TN and produced by Rouse and Brad Jones. Physical purchases of The Holiday Sounds of Josh Rouse will also include an exclusive EP, featuring three demos from the album as well as performances of three traditional holiday songs.

Track listing:

Concert review: The Waterboys in Orange County, Calif.; North American tour ends Tuesday in LA

photo by Xavier Mercade

Last night, in Santa Ana, Calif., The Waterboys did the penultimate show on its first North American tour in four years and it was a real corker. Despite suffering from a cold that he said was caught in Oregon last week, band leader Mike Scott was still in fine form throughout the exceptional gig, which was divided into two halves and clocked in at two hours, 15 minutes.

The four selections from Where the Action Is, released earlier this year via Cooking Vinyl, all came across strongly in a live setting, especially the soulful set-opening title track and rousing rocker "London Mick," a tribute to Mick Jones, guitarist for The Clash (see the music video here: https://twb.lnk.to/LondonMickPR). 

While the bulk of the material performed was taken from Scott's prolific output during the 2010s, longtime fans were also treated to several songs from the Eighties. 

Seated at an electric piano, Edinburgh native Scott reached all the way back to The Waterboys' eponymous 1983 album for the sumptuous "A Girl Called Johnny." The four-piece U.K. band really elevated the jaunty title track to 1988 high water mark Fisherman's Blues and the riveting "We Will Not Be Lovers," driven by Steve Wickham's frenzied electric fiddle work.

Other highlights: the quick and dynamic "Medicine Bow," the Mark Knopfler-esque "Nearest Thing to Hip" (off 2015's Modern Blues), complete with fan singalong, and The Waterboys' vibrant best known hit, "The Whole of the Moon" (always guaranteed to put this writer in a good mood) serving as closing encore.

On Tuesday, the Waterboys play the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets are still available at thebelasco.com.

Where The Action Is is available on CD, deluxe 2xCD, LP, digital download and streaming services. For more info, go to the official store:

https://twb.lnk.to/WTAIPR/twbstore

Aerosmith - 'Deuces Are Wild' concert review: Las Vegas, Nevada

photo by Zach Whitford

Aerosmith finished this month's batch of dates for its "Deuces Are Wild" concert residency Tuesday at Park MGM Hotel & Casino's Park Theater with some high wattage star power: Johnny Depp.

The actor and musician, who is a member of the supergroup Hollywood Vampires with Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry, appeared in Las Vegas on the fun, hard rocking main set closer "Toys in the Attic." He obviously had a blast playing guitar and singing. Depp's frequent director Tim Burton was also in attendance. 

These shows utilize L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound, a smart audio technology which provides a unique fan experience. It captures the original sound sources and places them in a 3D space rather than two stereo channels. As a result, the listener is enveloped by more nuanced music. The technology was developed by L-Acoustics, a French loudspeaker, amplifier and signal processing device manufacturer that pioneered modern day sound systems called line source arrays in the 1990s.

Launched last April and running through June 2020 (with various breaks in between; see the full schedule below), "Deuces Are Wild" offers a VIP Onstage THX Experience package where fans get to watch the show onstage, enjoy a private bar and listen through THX-certified 1More Triple Driver in-ear headphones with an audio mix directly from the band's soundboard. 

Before everything got underway Tuesday, it was evident concertgoers were in for something special. Not only were they seeing the veteran Boston band in an intimate 5,200-capacity venue rigged with more than 200 speakers (compared to upwards of 50 at a regular stadium tour), the pre-show recording played what felt like cars speeding right next to you.

Once the light dimmed, an excellent half-hour film on Aerosmith history shown on tall panels in front of the stage contained animation, rare photos and video clips. Producer Giles Martin (The Beatles' LOVE by Cirque du Soleil; Beatles album reissues) remixed the music for immersive sound.

photo by Zach Whitford

The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famers started the solid 95-minute set with raucous top 20 AOR radio hit "Let the Music Do the Talking" off 1985's Done with Mirrors. Perry did the first of several wicked slide guitar work displays.

Longtime drum tech John Douglas ably filled in for original member Joey Kramer, still apparently dealing with a shoulder injury. Singer Steven Tyler was no worse for wear here after cancelling one show last month due to losing his voice. 

"Rag Doll," all bright and brassy with horns triggered by an auxiliary keyboardist, Perry on pedal steel and Suzie McNeil adding supple backing vocals, was an early standout. Tyler did the initial verse of "What it Takes" a capella. "Sweet Emotion" featured dazzling lasers, an extended Perry guitar solo outro and the tune received a rousing response. 

The Toxic Twins were seated front and center for the swampy acoustic blues of "Hangman Jury" (from Permanent Vacation) where Tyler amazed with his harmonica chops. Perry took over lead vocals on Fleetwood Mac's "Stop Messin' Around" as Tyler did some more harp runs. All the instrumental spotlights definitely seemed sharper with the immersive sound technology. 

During "Livin' on the Edge," Tyler went into the crowd. Striking images were projected on the screen panels and the socially conscious lyrics still held true 26 years later. A string quartet sweetened popular "Armaggedon" ballad "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" as bassist Tom Hamilton strolled into the crowd.

photo by Zach Whitford

Come encore time, Tyler was seated at a piano at the B-stage and sang a bit of The Beatles' "Golden Slumbers" before transitioning into the dramatic '70s power ballad "Dream On" with the string players back in tow.

Perry joined his longtime songwriting partner atop the piano for a blazing solo. Immediately afterward, a snippet of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" led into the finale, "Walk This Way," with the pair performing atop a raised platform. 

All told, the concert residency is highly recommended for Aerosmith enthusiasts.

Setlist: Let the Music Do the Talking/Rag Doll/Last Child/What it Takes/Sweet Emotion/Hangman Jury/Seasons of Wither/Stop Messin' Around/Cryin'/Livin' on the Edge/Rats in the Cellar/I Don't Want to Miss a Thing/Love in an Elevator/Toys in the Attic
Encore: Golden Slumbers>Dream On/Immigrant Song>Walk This Way

"Deuces Are Wild" runs 8 p.m. Nov. 14, 16, 19, 21, 24, 26, 29; Dec. 1 & 4, Jan. 29 & 31, Feb. 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15; May 20, 23, 25, 28, 30; June 2 & 4, Park Theater, Park MGM Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, www.mgmresorts.com, www.ticketmaster.com.