Jane's Addiction and Love and Rockets team up for late summer tour

Jane’s Addiction and Love And Rockets will hit the road for a co-headline tour which starts in August in Las Vegas and wraps in St. Louis in September. Tickets are available now. 

The tour will also offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences. Packages vary but include premium tickets, an exclusive autographed tour poster by Jane’s Addiction, specially designed VIP gift items & more. For more information, visit vipnation.com. Both acts started making waves in the late 1980s on alternative and album rock radio with such hits as "Jane Says," "Been Caught Stealing," "Stop!," "So Alive," "No Big Deal" and more. 

TOUR DATES:

Fri Aug 09 — Las Vegas, NV — Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Sun Aug 11 — San Diego, CA — Park at the Park Petco Park

Tue Aug 13 — Los Angeles, CA — YouTube Theater

Thu Aug 15 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre

Sun Aug 18 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

Mon Aug 19 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall

Wed Aug 21 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP

Fri Aug 23 — Durant, OK — Choctaw Grand Theater

Sun Aug 25 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore

Tue Aug 27 — Jacksonville, FL — Daily's Place

Thu Aug 29 — Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Sat Aug 31 — Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live

Tue Sep 03 — Raleigh, NC — Red Hat Amphitheater

Thu Sep 05 — Portsmouth, VA — Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion

Sat Sep 07 — Atlantic City, NJ — Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena

Tue Sep 10 — New York, NY — The Rooftop at Pier 17

Fri Sep 13 — Boston, MA — Leader Bank Pavilion

Sun Sep 15 — Bridgeport, CT — Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater

Wed Sep 18 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage

Fri Sep 20 — Rochester Hills, MI — Meadow Brook Amphitheater

Sun Sep 22 — Milwaukee, WI — BMO Pavilion

Tue Sep 24 — Chicago, IL — Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom

Thu Sep 26 — Indianapolis, IN — Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park

Sat Sep 28 – Huntsville, AL – South Star Music Festival*

Sun Sep 29 – St. Louis, MO – Evolution Festival*

*Not A Live Nation Date

Monsters of Folk's self-titled album gets expanded reissue for 15th Anniversary

Monsters of Folk – the acclaimed band comprised of Jim James (My Morning Jacket), M. Ward, Conor Oberst, and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) – are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their self-titled, one-and-only album with an expanded new edition, arriving June 14 via ATO Records on clear vinyl and digital download. Pre-orders are available now.

In addition, a number of multi-colored vinyl options will also be offered exclusively via Barnes & Noble, Vinyl Me Please, and Rough Trade.

First released in 2009, Monsters of Folk now sees the original 15-song album joined by five additional studio tracks from a previously unreleased 2012 session featuring “Fifth Monster” Will Johnson (Centro-matic), including the high-energy heartland rock anthem, “Disappeared,” that recently premiered alongside an official visualizer streaming now at YouTube.

“That session was very much kept in the moment,” says Will Johnson. “I remember looking over at Jim playing drums on ‘Disappeared,’ joyfully bashing away, and it harbored that same exuberance of starting your first band: that moment in the garage where things take flight, and the energy and happiness just lead you onward.”

Twenty years ago, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, M. Ward, and Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis came together for a revue-style tour that found the four musicians quickly developing a rarefied camaraderie. Taking their moniker from a tongue-in-cheek nickname bestowed by the tour’s road crew, the so-called Monsters of Folk reconvened a half-decade later and set to work on a self-titled debut album that alchemized their distinct sensibilities into 15 idiosyncratic yet strangely timeless songs, redefining the context of the supergroup while fully devoting themselves to the singular magic of creating without constraint.

“Making this album brought me back to the same feelings I had when I first started a band, or first started playing music in general – there’s a real simplicity and excitement to playing with folks you don’t normally play with,” says Jim James. “The spirit of play is alive on this whole thing.”

“Debut records have a freedom that can’t be matched, because there’s no history to work from,” says M. Ward. “I just hear the four of us following wherever the songs seem to be leading us.”

Mainly produced by producer/engineer/multi-instrumentalist Mogis, Monsters of Folk came to life over a series of sessions at the historic Malibu studio Shangri-La and at Mogis’ own Omaha Another Recording Company in Omaha, NE. Apart from ruling out the use of outside musicians (and handling all instrumentation on their own), the band embraced a free-flowing process that often hinged on encouraging each other to push into entirely new musical terrain. When matched with each member’s finely honed musicianship, that communal sense of creative abandon led to a lineup of songs that shift from country to pop to psych-rock with equal parts untamed imagination and ineffable ease. Fueled in part by the singles “Say Please” and “Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.),” Monsters of Folk proved both a worldwide critical favorite as well as a popular sensation, reaching #15 on the overall Billboard 200 upon its 2009 release while also peaking among the top 10 on five additional album charts.

Arriving in time for the album’s 15th anniversary, ATO’s Monsters of Folk reissue features an additional batch of songs recorded in 2012 alongside Will Johnson of Centro-matic. Those five tracks – which include “Disappeared” and the moody folk epic, “Museum Guard” – were initially meant to accompany a dystopic sci-fi film based on a screenplay penned by Oberst, a project that was eventually shelved. Looking back on album’s creation, all of the Monsters describe themselves as indelibly elevated by what Ward refers to his bandmates’ “superpowers.”

“It was amazing to have a ringside seat for the way Jim and M make records,” says Conor Oberst. “Jim’s outside-the-box knack for soul and harmony and M’s sense of space and songcraft were so inspiring and invaluable to me then, and continue to be to this day.”

“I feel like it really expanded my way of thinking about music, and my thinking in general,” James says. “It was so special to create with artists that I respect so much—to come into the project from a place of already loving so many of their songs and their outlook on the world, and then feel the whole experience opening me up to life in such a fresh and beautiful way.”

TRACK LIST:

1. Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)
2. Say Please
3. Whole Lotta Losin’
4. Temazcal
5. The Right Place
6. Baby Boomer
7. Man Named Truth
8. Goodway
9. Ahead Of The Curve
10. Slow Down Jo
11. Losin Yo Head
12. Magic Marker
13. Map Of The World
14. The Sandman, The Brakeman And Me
15. His Master’s Voice
16. Dear to the Assassin *
17. Sweet Silence *
18. The Living Thing *
19. Museum Guard *
20. Disappeared *

* PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED BONUS TRACKS

Adam Lambert previews upcoming EP with dance tunes

Adam Lambert's new EP, Afters, is set for a July 19 release via The Orchard. Two sexually-charged tunes from it – “Lube” and “Wet Dream” – have been released ahead of his WeHo Pride kickoff performance tonight. Both tracks are now available to pre-save.

Discussing his inspirations for the EP, Adam says, “Creating Afters has been such a liberating experience as I chose to craft an EP of house music that’s unapologetically queer and sex positive. I throw many house parties and my aim was to create a soundtrack inspired by wild nights, giving a voice to our communities’ hedonistic desires and exploits. Feeling more confident than ever, I wanted to get shamelessly raw and real with the listener. Afters is meant to make you move, sweat, fantasize and connect!”

Continuing about the songs, the LGBTQ+ singer shares, "Wet Dream" and "Lube" are the perfect tracks to launch the EP experience.“I created both of these songs with dear friends and the writing sessions were full of laughter and joy. The freedom with which we wrote these lyrics is evidence of a new chapter in my artistry where I refuse to edit or filter myself. Both songs are about connection, and fearlessly turning fantasy into reality.”

The EP follows Adam’s 2023 covers album, High Drama (BMG), which earned him his fifth top 10 on Billboard’s Album Sales Chart. It includes takes on songs by Duran Duran, Culture Club, Billlie Eilish, Lana Del Rey and others.  

adamlambert.net

Photo by Brian Ziff

Ringo Starr and His All Star Band concert review: Highland, Calif.

Concert Review

Where: Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel

When: May 28

By George A. Paul

“If you don’t know this song, you’re in the wrong venue,” joked Ringo Starr, as the All Starr Band – Colin Hay, Steve Lukather, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette, Warren Ham - prepared to perform a totally fun take on The Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends” last night at Yaamava’ Theater in Highland, Calif.

Indeed, the highly entertaining 100-minute set with filled with familiar tunes spanning the 1950s-1980s. Essentially, the highly entertaining concert was all killer, no filler. Besides selections by The Beatles and the legendary drummer’s solo hits, there were pop chart favorites from Hay (Men at Work), Lukather (Toto) and Stuart (Average White Band). Keyboardist/backing vocalist Buck Johnson, known for touring with Aerosmith, Matthew Sweet and others is currently substituting for Edgar Winter.

On May 31, Crooked Boy, the latest in a series of Ringo Starr EPs since 2021, will be released in CD and vinyl editions. Linda Perry (4 Non-Blondes, Cheap Trick, P!nk) produced, wrote and performed most of the four tracks, as Starr made suggestions and added his vocals and drums. The Strokes’ guitarist Nick Valensi guests on rocking highlight “Gonna Need Someone.”

Additionally, Starr is finishing a country album spearheaded by producer/musician T Bone Burnett (Elvis Costello, Elton John, Roy Orbison), which is expected in the fall. For the past few weeks, Beatles fans have been buzzing about the restored 4K version of the long out-of-print 1970 Fab Four documentary “Let it Be” now streaming on Disney+ too.

In Highland, Starr enthusiastically bounded onstage to sing front and center and launched the concert with a rousing take on Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox” (recorded and performed live by The Beatles). The All Starr Band followed with Ringo’s solo hit “It Don’t Come Easy,” bolstered by their group harmonies.

Moving to the drumkit, Starr gave the mic duty to Lukather for “Rosanna,” where Ham managed the high falsetto parts. Lukather played the first of several ripping guitar solos and proved amazing on the extended outro. The crowd gave it a standing ovation. Stuart led the grooving, jazzy pop of “Pick Up the Pieces” and was obviously having a blast. Hay was in fine vocal form during “Down Under,” elevated by multi-instrumentalist Ham’s flute work. The Men at Work leader easily coaxed some audience call and response action.

“Boys,” with Starr on drums and vocals, and his tongue-in-cheek “I’m the Greatest” (written by John Lennon) were early standouts. The latter saw Starr, 83, sing a slightly adjusted lyric as “now I’m way past 32.” Then “Yellow Submarine” turned into a big singalong.

Starr briefly exited the stage for “a cup of tea,” while Stuart led another Average White Band groover, “Cut the Cake,” alongside Ham’s vigorous sax playing. Lukather and Bissonette (an animated drummer), did a musical duel or sorts on bits of classic rock standards.

More fun moments came when Starr returned to do “Octopus’s Garden” and a hard charging “Back Off Boogaloo.” Aside from the legendary Beatles drummer, Hay’s singing was the most impressive of the group, especially during his “Overkill” (the relaxed, moody intro was a nice touch) and “Who Can it Be Now?,” where he had no problem reaching the high parts and got a loud crowd reaction. Toto’s “Africa” benefited from a more tribal than usual rhythm bed, courtesy of the two drummers and Ham on congas.

The Lennon-McCartney number “I Wanna Be Your Man” was pure joyous nostalgia where you could almost picture the screaming teenage female Beatles fans as Starr sang it. Hay rivaled Lukather in the guitar prowess department. But the Toto leader proved his mettle again on “Hold the Line.”    

Finally, Starr’s wistful, sway-worthy singalong “Photograph” and “With a Little Help from My Friends” (complete with Starr doing some jumping jacks) and a snippet of Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Give Peace a Chance” capped the wonderful evening on a positive note.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

May 29 Las Vegas, NV - The Venetian 

May 31 Las Vegas, NV - The Venetian 

Jun 1 Las Vegas, NV - The Venetian 

Jun 5 Mexico City, MX - Auditorio Nacional

Jun 6 Mexico City, MX - Auditorio Nacional

Jun 8 Hidalgo, TX - Payne Arena

Jun 9 Austin, TX - The Moody Theater 

Sept 12 Omaha, NE – Astro Amphitheater

Sept 14 New Lenox, IL – Performing Arts Pavilion at The Commons

Sept 15 Kettering, OH – Fraze Pavilion

Sept. 17 Washington DC – The Anthem

Sept. 18 Medford, MA – Chevalier Theatre

Sept. 20 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena

Sept. 22 Niagara Falls, ONT – OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino Resort

Sept 24 Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at The Mann

Sept. 25 New York City – Radio City Music Hall

For more information: ringostarr.com

Ringo Starr and All Star Band photos by Scott Ritchie, courtesy Beautiful Day Media

Out now: posthumous Michael Hutchence song 'One Way'; special vinyl edition due in July

After legendary INXS singer Michael Hutchence died in 1997, he left behind some unreleased music. Producer, musician and personal friend Danny Saber (Black Grape, Rolling Stones, U2) has taken some of these musical pieces and completed them to continue and extend Hutchence’s impact. 

The resulting single “One Way” is out now through Boss Sonics. On July 19, a red 10-inch limited edition vinyl picture disc with the B-side "Save My Life," will be available in conjunction with Deko Entertainment. Pre-order the here: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/michaelhutchence

“’One Way’ is the culmination of nearly two decades of work,” says Saber. “One of the fundamental reasons for releasing this music is to allow the fans to hear Michael’s voice on something new and fresh, offering a glimpse into what might have been, and, in turn, reawakening millions of people who may have simply forgotten about him.”

“Michael first contacted me in 1995 soon after the release of my album It’s Great When You’re Straight,” recalls Saber, referring to the UK #1 album by his band Black Grape with Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder. “Michael was a huge fan of my record and wanted to find the right sound for a solo record, a sound that would galvanize all the success he had with INXS and allow him to establish himself as a solo artist and spread his creative wings outside the confines of being the frontman of one of the most successful bands in the world.”

Working closely with Hutchence, the two became friends and creative partners. “Over the next two years, we became very close collaborators, and the period we worked together was one of the best times of my life,” Saber remembers. “I had just broken through with a #1 record and having Michael as a ‘big brother’ to help me navigate this was so important to me.”

Before he died in 1997, a self-titled solo album was released posthumously two years later. Though that seemed like the end of his musical output, a trove of unreleased demos and song ideas resurfaced in a tape locker in London in 2006. 

“I set about reviewing the recordings to find out if there was enough of a quality for some sort of release,” says Saber. Meanwhile, a documentary about Hutchence’s life was released in Australia and New Zealand, appropriately titled The Last Rockstar (2017), which included some snippets of these unfinished tracks. “I have been working towards bringing this music to the public for over 20 years,” he adds. “While some portions of these songs were featured in the documentary, the fully mastered versions had never been released.” Until now.

Taking one of the a capella vocal recordings that Hutchence left, Saber faithfully fleshed out and fashioned the track into “One Way,” ensuring it retained the elevated refinement that Hutchence demanded in life. “Michael and INXS set a really high standard for their music,” he explains. “I’ve said many times that you would be hard-pressed to find a crappy INXS song… a certain level of excellence had to be maintained!”

With a legacy that extends over four decades, beginning with the iconic multi-platinum band INXS, who have sold over 50 million albums worldwide, which effectively makes them the biggest-selling Australian act ever, as well as his solo projects, including short-lived but adored side project Max Q and also starring in films such as Dogs in Space and Frankenstein Unbound, Hutchence was an unbridled talent whose cultural significance knew few bounds. Even in death, his impact continues.

“One of the best things for me personally is that through this journey, I have come to a better understanding of what happened to Michael and why,” he says, referring to the emotional and tragic toll that fame and its excesses had on Hutchence. “I want to share that perspective as I really feel Michael’s story has so much relevance and value on so many levels, and along the way, hopefully we can shift the focus to how he lived and not how he died. Michael deserves to take his place in the pantheon of great frontmen and finally get the recognition he and the band deserve.”

Photo by Chris Cuffaro, courtesy Reybee PR

Out now: The Chameleons - a lauded '80s post-punk band from Manchester, UK - release first new music in decades

“It’s exciting to finally be putting out fresh Chameleons material for the first time in over twenty years, although initially I found it quite daunting,” admits vocalist/bassist Mark Burgess (pictured) of post-punk band THE CHAMELEONS about their single, “Where Are You?” which is part of a three-song EP, available now via Metropolis Records/Strange Times Entertainment.

“The question about new music is one I had been asked the most from people coming to the shows, a great many of whom weren’t even born when those records were originally made but nevertheless were excited and inspired by the music enough to catch multiple shows on multiple tours.”

This is the first new music under The Chameleons name since their last studio album in 2001.

“By the time we’d gotten through COVID, Reg [Smithies, guitarist] and I had a very solid band in place, people whose talent we trusted in to bring out the best in whatever ideas we were able to get off the ground,” he affirms. Re-capturing the magical sound that combined post-punk, shoegaze and indie wasn’t much of a struggle, though the thought of it caused a bit of trepidation.

“For the first time since the death of John and the departure of Dave, I felt we were a proper band capable of creating some interesting and exciting music,” he explains, reflecting on the passing of original drummer John Lever in 2017 and the departure of Dave Fielding after the band’s reunion in 2000 (Burgess and Smithies explored different solo avenues before returning to The Chameleons fold in 2000).

The EP preceeds an upcoming album titled Arctic Moon planned for later 2024.

“At this moment, we’re halfway through, but already everyone in the band is excited by what they’re hearing,” he says. “We’ve managed to transcend the confines of our own legacy and finally forge something fresh. It’s undoubtedly The Chameleons to everyone that has heard the direction the band is now heading in.”

A North American tour starts on May 30 in San Diego and runs into August. The band will be celebrating their 1986 breakthrough album Strange Times, which spawned the singles “Tears” and the alt-rock club staple “Swamp Thing.”

“I initially wasn’t a huge fan of album performance tours,” Burgess admits. “I believed instead that they ought to have been confined to one-off, special events.” Marking the difference between the highly personal experience of enjoying an album alone with a “good pair of headphones” versus the collective social coming together at a concert, he muses that, in general, the track listing of an album doesn’t take into account a live show’s needs for crest and drama. “Performing Strange Times changed my mind,” he says. “For one thing, the album marked a significant evolution by the band both in its sound and the maturity of the writing. Secondly, it’s a challenging album to perform live and thus, it’s much more fun to play. When all is said and done, we look forward to recreating this particular album for our North American fans!”

The Chameleons made four studio albums. Following their debut single “In Shreds” in 1982, the band released three albums: Script of the Bridge (1983), What Does Anything Mean? Basically!’ (1984), Strange Times (1986), and Why Call It Anything? (2001).

In 2024, The Chameleons are Reg Smithies (guitar), Mark Burgess (bass, vocals, lyrics), Stephen Rice (guitar), Danny Ashberry (keyboards), and Todd Demma (drums). 

Where Are You? was produced by Christophe Bride and The Chameleons and mastered by Guy Massey. It is available through Bandcamp.

TOUR DATES:

May 30 San Diego CA Music Box
May 31 Los Angeles CA The Belasco
Jun 4 Vancouver BC The Pearl
Jun 5 Seattle WA El Corazon
Jun 6 Portland OR Hawthorne Theater
Jun 7 Sacramento CA Harlow’s
Jun 8 San Francisco CA Great American Music Hall
Jun 9 San Francisco CA Great American Music Hall
Jun 11 Salt Lake City UT Urban Lounge
Jun 12 Denver CO Oriental Theater
Jun 13 Kansas City MO recordBar
Jun 14 Dallas TX Sundown at The Granada
Jun 15 Houston TX Dark Ceremony Festival
Jun 17 El Paso TX Lowbrow Palace
Jun 18 Albuquerque NM Launchpad
Jun 19 Tucson AZ 191 Toole
Jun 20 Phoenix AZ Last Exit Live
Aug 8 Philadelphia PA Underground Arts
Aug 9 New Haven CT Space Ballroom
Aug 10 Boston MA The Sinclair
Aug 12 Montreal QC Theatre Fairmount
Aug 13 Toronto ON Opera House
Aug 14 Buffalo NY Town Ballroom
Aug 15 Pittsburgh PA Spirit Hall
Aug 16 New York NY Webster Hall
Aug 17 Washington DC Black Cat

Photo by Mick Peek, courtesy Reybee PR

Steve Conte enlists XTC's Andy Partridge for new album 'The Concrete Jangle'

Steve Conte, who has worked with the New York Dolls, Billy Squier, Peter Wolf, and Michael Monroe, has announced the worldwide release of his new album, 'The Concrete Jangle,' on vinyl. Previously only available on vinyl via Record Store Day, it is the follow up to 2021's 'Bronx Cheer.'

The artist says, "I'm super excited about my new album on Wicked Cool Records - and once again, I must crow about how psyched I am to have written 1/2 of it with one of my songwriting heroes - XTC's Andy Partridge! I pulled out all the stops to make this my most melodic, hard power-pop, Beatles-eque, rock 'n' soul album to date - with lyrical themes I haven't explored before!"

Conte adds, "I cannot stress how much Andy Partridge contributed to this record - it would not exist without him and his input. I’ve given him a co-production credit for helping with the arrangements of the demos, which were ultimately followed when making the final record. To my earlier point, it is the listeners who have have proven to me that I’ve become better on this record because they’ve thought that some of my lyric and melody lines were Andy’s - which is the highest compliment.

When tasked with which songs were going to exist on Side B, I knew they’d have to stand up next to the Partridge co-writes so I pulled out some the more psychedelic, adventurous soulful songs from the Beatles/XTC/Motown side of my musical brain. I think I picked the right ones because people have mentioned some of those songs as their favorites - and even Andy himself perked up when he heard “I’m Decomposing A Song For You”.

In keeping with the aesthetic of 60s-meets-80 power pop, the record had a limitation on what I could use. I played a multitude of guitars; both acoustic & electric, mandolin, Mellotron, strings, piano & organ (all sampled), tambourine & maracas. I had my other co-producer, Andrew Hollander play real piano & Mellotron while keyboard whiz Rob Schwimmer added an authentic 1960s Ondioline as well as Theremin & synthesizer sounds. Real trumpets by Chris Anderson, cello by Mark Stewart, bass by brother John Conte and drums by Prairie Prince (The Tubes, XTC, Todd Rundgren), Thommy Price (Joan Jett, Billy Idol, Mink DeVille) and Brian Delaney (New York Dolls). My sons Zia Conte & Baz Conte sang backing vocals.

Some of the lyrical themes on the record are truth vs. misinformation, entitlement, boredom, heartache, fidelity, addiction and loss - and of course, love and lust."

Steve Conte has announced an album release show at NYC's The Bowery Electric on June 5th. Tickets available HERE.

'The Concrete Jangle' Track Listing:

1. Fourth of July
2. Hey Hey Hey (Aren’t You The One?)
3. We Like It
4. Shoot Out The Stars
5. One Last Bell
6. Motor City Love Machine
7. All Tied Up
8. Decomposing A Song For You
9. Girl With No Name
10. I Dream Her

Tracks 1-5 (Side A on vinyl) written by Conte/Partridge
Tracks 6-10 (Side B on vinyl) written by Conte

Produced by Steve Conte

Additional Remote Production by Andrew Hollander & Andy Partridge

Stream/buy 'The Concrete Jangle' here: https://orcd.co/alltiedup

Available are:

A signed copy of The Concrete Jangle on orange vinyl in gatefold packaging with lyrics included.

A signed copy of The Concrete Jangle on CD. Includes pull-out poster & slightly different artwork from the vinyl.

Conte's connection with Wicked Cool founder Stevie Van Zandt dates back to 2004 when the Dolls performed at Van Zandt’s Underground Garage Festival. Conte reminisces, “But my connection with him goes back to Jersey. I grew up with his cousins in Matawan [near the Jersey shore], so I had been hearing about his legend for years.”

Wilderado prepares for summer tour and new album

Tulsa, Oklahoma band Wilderado – Max Rainer (lead singer, guitarist), Tyler Wimpee (guitarist, vocals), Justin Kila (drums) – will be kicking off their US headline tour in June 7 in St. Louis, MO. 

Wilderado is also preparing to release their new studio album Talker on Sept. 20 via Bright Antenna Records. When asked about it, Rainer said, “I’m proud to say we made an album that feels like home and weathers who we are.”

The Americana group has already released the title track earlier this month and follows February's double single “Sometimes” and “Tomorrow,” and last fall's “In Between” – a single that saw several alternate versions, one featuring guest vocals from Matt Berninger of The National and one with a few fellow Oklahomans including folk/Americana artist Ken Pomeroy on vocal and guitar and Muskrat Jones (Colter Wall) on pedal steel.

In addition to their new studio album, last week Wilderado were announced as one of the featured artists on the official soundtrack for the new Twisters movie. For their contribution, Wilderado teamed up with Ken Pomeroy and James McAlister to cover R.E.M.'s "Wall Of Death." The film and soundtrack are due out July 19.

Since forming, the group has accrued 200+ million streams and 3+ million monthly listeners across platforms. The self-titled debut full-length released in October 2021 via Bright Antenna Records led to the late night TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and AM TV Debut on CBS Saturday Morning. Spring 2023 had Wilderado touring with My Morning Jacket and releasing Wilderado Live – their first ever live LP featuring career spanning songs including “Surefire” and “Head Right” (two Top 10 Alt Radio hits from Wilderado) along with several older songs including “Wheat” and “Morning Light” as well as fan favorite “Rubble to Rubble.”

Tour Dates: 

June 7th - Saint Louis, MO - Delmar Hall
June 8th - Indianapolis, IN - HI-FI Annex
June 9th - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre
June 11th - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
June 13th - Philadelphia, PA - Brooklyn Bowl
June 14th - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
June 15th - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
June 17th - Fairfield, CT - The Warehouse at FTC
June 18th - Washington, DC - Howard Theatre
June 20th - Charlotte, NC - The Underground
June 21st - Isle Of Palms, SC - The Windjammer
June 22nd - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel
July 19th - Des Moines, IA - Wooly’s
July 20th - Saint Paul, MN - Minnesota Yacht Club
July 21st - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
July 23rd - Maquoteka, IA - Codfish Hollow
July 24th - Columbia, MO - Rose Park
July 26th - Lexington, KY - The Burl
July 27th - Columbus, OH - The Bluestone
July 28th - Lakewood, OH - Mahall’s
July 30th - Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme
July 31st - Detroit, MI - Sant Andrew’s Hall
Aug 2 - Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
Sep 13th - Bristol, TN - Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
Oct 1st - Kansas City, MO - Madrid Theatre
Oct 3rd - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
Oct 5th - Salt Lake City, UT - The Commonwealth Room
Oct 7th - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile Showroom
Oct 8th - Vancouver, BC - The Pearl
Oct 9th - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall
Oct 11th - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Oct 12th - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater
Oct 13th - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
Oct 15th - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf
Oct 17th - Austin, TX - Emo’s
Oct 26th - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom

Track listing:

1. Talker

2. ⁠Bad Luck
3. ⁠Simple
4. Higher Than Most
5. ⁠Coming To Town
6. In Between
7. Longstanding Misunderstanding
8. Sometimes
9. Tomorrow
10. Themselves
11. Waiting On You
12. What Were You Waiting For

Van Halen catalog news

Van Halen’s ninth studio album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, debuted at #1 and stayed there for three weeks during the summer of 1991. It was the third consecutive #1 album from singer Sammy Hagar, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony.

An Expanded Edition of the album is arriving this summer from Rhino, including a newly remastered version of the original, along with previously unreleased audio and video footage from Van Halen’s December 4, 1991, concert in Dallas, Texas.

FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (EXPANDED EDITION) will be available on July 12 and includes two LPs, two CDs, and a Blu-ray. PRE-ORDER HERE.

Rhino.com will have an exclusive bundle featuring the release and a set of four 7” singles, including “Poundcake” / “Pleasure Dome,” “Top Of The World” / “In ‘N’ Out,” “Right Now” (Organ Version) / “Man On A Mission,” and “Right Now” (Guitar Version) / “The Dream Is Over” (Instrumental Version).

Originally released in June 1991, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge was an immediate success. It reached triple platinum certification and earned Van Halen its first Grammy® Award for Best Hard Rock Performance and American Music Award® for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Album. Producer and engineer Bernie Grundman expertly remastered and cut lacquers for this edition.

The Expanded Edition includes previously unreleased alternate versions of “Right Now” and “The Dream Is Over.” The previously unreleased concert footage is from Van Halen’s December 4, 1991, performance in Dallas.

In addition, the Blu-ray includes the official music videos for “Poundcake,” “Runaround,” “Top Of The World,” and the 1992 MTV VMA Video Of The Year winner, “Right Now.” “Finally, the remastered album is included in the set as a double LP, featuring an etching of the Van Halen logo on the fourth side.

FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE (EXPANDED EDITION)

2CD Track Listing

Disc One: Original Album Remastered

1. “Poundcake”
2. “Judgement Day”
3. “Spanked”
4. “Runaround”
5. “Pleasure Dome”
6. “In ’n’ Out”
7. “Man On A Mission”
8. “The Dream Is Over”
9. “Right Now”
10. “316”
11. “Top Of The World”

Disc Two: Rarities & Live

1. “Right Now” – Organ Version (Single Mix)
2. “The Dream Is Over” – Instrumental Version *
3. “Right Now” – Guitar Version (Single Mix) *

Live at the Westend Market, Dallas, TX (12/4/91)

4. “Poundcake” *
5. “Judgement Day” *
6. “There’s Only One Way To Rock” *
7. “Runaround” *
8. “Why Can’t This Be Love” *
9. “Panama” *
10. “A Apolitical Blues” *
11. “Finish What Ya Started” *
12. “I Can’t Drive 55” *
13. “Best Of Both Worlds” *
14. “Top Of The World” *

Blu-ray

Live at the Westend Market, Dallas, TX (12/4/91)

1. Poundcake” *
2. “Judgement Day” *
3. “There’s Only One Way To Rock” *
4. “Runaround” *
5. “Why Can’t This Be Love” *
6. “Panama” *
7. “A Apolitical Blues” *
8. “Finish What Ya Started” *
9. “I Can’t Drive 55” *
10. “Best Of Both Worlds” *
11. “Top Of The World” *
12. “Poundcake” – Promo Video
13. “Runaround” – Promo Video
14. “Right Now” – Promo Video
15. “Top Of The World” – Promo Video

* previously unreleased

Oasis’ 'Definitely Maybe' to be expanded for 30th Anniversary reissue in August

On August 30, new deluxe reissues are set to be released via Big Brother Recordings to mark the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ 1994 debut Definitely Maybe.

These include tracks from the discarded original recording session at Monnow Valley Studios, along with outtakes from the album recorded at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall, newly mixed for the first time by Noel Gallagher and Callum Marinho.

The album also includes an unreleased demo version of “Sad Song.” Originally released as a bonus track on the LP, this alternative version features Liam Gallagher’s vocals.

The package features new artwork by the original art designer Brian Cannon for Microdot and original sleeve photographer Michael Spencer Jones, plus new sleeve notes from Creation Records boss Alan McGee and journalist Hamish MacBain.

It is available to pre-order now on Limited-Edition Deluxe 4LP and Deluxe 2CD formats plus exclusive colored vinyl – “Up In The Sky” “Learning to fly” lyric inspired blue and white marble 2LP, and “Digsy's Dinner” “Strawberries and cream” lyric inspired pink and white marble 2LP. It will also be available on Limited-Edition blue cassette and digital formats. All formats include the 2014 remastered version of the album.

The original album has sold over 6 million copies globally and is the second official most streamed album of the 90s in the UK, beaten only by its successor (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?. 

Track listing:

Volume 1

1. Rock ‘n’ Roll Star (Remastered)
2. Shakermaker (Remastered)
3. Live Forever (Remastered)
4. Up In The Sky (Remastered)
5. Columbia (Remastered)
6. Supersonic (Remastered)
7. Bring It On Down (Remastered)
8. Cigarettes & Alcohol (Remastered)
9. Digsy’s Dinner (Remastered)
10. Slide Away (Remastered)
11. Married With Children (Remastered)

Volume 2

1. Rock 'n' Roll Star (Monnow Valley Version)
2. Shakermaker (Monnow Valley Version)
3. Live Forever (Monnow Valley Version)
4. Up In The Sky (Monnow Valley Version)
5. Columbia (Monnow Valley Version)
6. Bring It On Down (Monnow Valley Version)
7. Cigarettes & Alcohol (Monnow Valley Version)
8. Digsy's Dinner (Monnow Valley Version)
9. Rock 'n' Roll Star (Sawmills Outtake)
10. Up In The Sky (Sawmills Outtake)
11. Columbia (Sawmills Outtake)
12. Bring It On Down (Sawmills Outtake)
13. Cigarettes & Alcohol (Sawmills Outtake)
14. Digsy's Dinner (Sawmills Outtake)
15. Slide Away (Sawmills Outtake)
16. Sad Song (Mauldeth Road West Demo, Nov '92)

John Lennon's 'Mind Games' to get lavish deluxe reissue treatment in July

On July 12, The John Lennon Estate and Capitol/UMe will reissue John Lennon’s 1973 album, Mind Games, with newly remixed and expanded Ultimate Collection editions. 

Fully authorized by Yoko Ono Lennon and produced by Sean Ono Lennon, who oversaw the production and creative direction, the Ultimate Collection is from the same audio team that worked on the critically acclaimed Imagine and John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band Ultimate Collections, including GRAMMY®-Award winning engineer Paul Hicks, and mixers/engineers Sam Gannon and Rob Stevens. 

Yoko Ono Lennon says: “John was trying to convey the message that we all play mind games. But if we can play mind games, why not make a positive future with it – to be a positive mind game? ‘Mind Games’ is such an incredibly strong song. At the time, people didn't quite get the message because this was before its time. Now, people would understand it. I don't think in those days people knew they were playing mind games anyway.”

Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection offers six different listening experiences, ranging from the brand new Ultimate Mixes of the album, which put John’s vocals front and center to the Elements Mixes, which isolate and bring forth certain instruments from the multitrack recordings to highlight playing previously buried in the original mix, and the Raw Studio Mixes, which allows listeners to hear the recording that John and The Plastic Ono Band laid to tape, mixed raw and live without vocals effects, tape delays or reverbs.

The Evolutionary Documentary is a track-by-track audio montage that details the evolution of each song from demo to master recording via demos, rehearsals, out-takes, multitrack exploration, and studio conversations. The Out-Takes allow listeners to hear different takes of each song while the Elemental Mixes, a new set created especially for the Mind Games – Ultimate Collection, is between the minimalism of the Elements Mixes and the Ultimate Mixes, stripping the songs back to simpler, lean-back arrangements with John’s voice to the fore, and without drums. An array of listening options, including High-Definition, studio quality 192kHz/24bit audio in stereo and enveloping 5.1 Surround and Dolby Atmos mixes, are available on Blu-ray.

All of the tracks have been completely remixed from scratch from the 15 original two-inch multitrack session tapes using brand new 192-24 digital transfers. The Ultimate Collection includes previously unreleased out-takes and stems plus additional never-heard-before audio from archive ¼” reel-to-reels, cassettes, and videotapes.

Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection releases will be available in a variety of formats, ranging from digital and 2CD and 2LP versions to a Deluxe box set featuring 6CDs and 2 Blu-ray discs. The Super Deluxe Edition, a Limited Edition of only 1100 copies worldwide.

Last month, a limited edition four-track Mind Games vinyl EP was released exclusively for Record Store Day as a teaser of the Ultimate Collection. Offered in two color variants – a luminous glow-in-the-dark 140g color vinyl and a 180g black vinyl audiophile version, the EP includes three songs from the set, along with “I’m The Greatest” (Ultimate Mix), a song written by John for Ringo Starr, which appeared on his 1973 album, Ringo. This previously unreleased version features John on vocals, George Harrison on guitar and Ringo on drums.

Listen to “Mind Games” (Evolution Documentary): https://JohnLennon.lnk.to/MindGamesED

Pre-order: https://JohnLennon.lnk.to/MindGames50

DELUXE 6CD TRACK LISTING:

CD1: THE ULTIMATE MIXES (45 mins)
1. Mind Games
2. Tight A$
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry)
4. One Day (At A Time)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple)
6. Nutopian International Anthem
7. Intuition
8. Out The Blue
9. Only People
10. I Know (I Know)
11. You Are Here
12. Meat City

CD2: THE ELEMENTAL MIXES (52 mins)
1. Mind Games
2. Tight A$
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry)
4. One Day (At A Time)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple)
6. Nutopian International Anthem (Elemental Mix)
7. Intuition
8. Out The Blue
9. Only People
10. I Know (I Know)
11. You Are Here
12. Meat City

CD3: THE ELEMENTS MIXES (51 mins)
1. Mind Games
2. Tight A$
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry)
4. One Day (At A Time)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple)
6. Nutopian International Anthem
7. Intuition
8. Out The Blue
9. Only People
10. I Know (I Know)
11. You Are Here
12. Meat City

CD4: THE EVOLUTION DOCUMENTARY (74 mins)
1. Mind Games
2. Tight A$
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry)
4. One Day (At A Time)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple)
6. Nutopian International Anthem
7. Intuition
8. Out The Blue
9. Only People
10. I Know (I Know)
11. You Are Here
12. Meat City

CD5: THE RAW STUDIO MIXES (49 mins)
1. Mind Games
2. Tight A$
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry)
4. One Day (At A Time) (Raw Studio Mix)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple)
6. Nutopian International Anthem
7. Intuition
8. Out The Blue
9. Only People
10. I Know (I Know)
11. You Are Here
12. Meat City

CD6: THE OUT-TAKES (55 mins)
1. Mind Games (Out-take, Take 7)
2. Tight A$ (Out-take, Take 6)
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry) (Out-take, Take 2)
4. One Day (At A Time) (Out-take, Take 18)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) (Out-take, Take 15)
6. Declaration Of Nutopia (Out-take, Take 1
7. Intuition (Out-take, Take 12)
8. Out The Blue (Out-take, Take 15)
9. Only People (Out-take, Take 12)
10. I Know (I Know) (Out-take, Take 22)
11. You Are Here (Out-take, Take 5)
12. Meat City (Out-take, Take 16)

Early Nineties hitmaker EMF return to America for three rare shows; new album 'The Beauty and the Chaos' out now

photo courtesy: Reybee PR

These guys were my 10th music interview back in the day. Glad to hear they're back with new music and playing America. Fingers crossed for additional tour dates...

“It's been very hard keeping this news a secret,” says James Atkin and Ian Dench of British dance-rock quintet EMF excitedly. “We are so happy to finally announce these very special U.S. shows.”

Slated to play Milwaukee’s Summerfest on June 21st, Detroit’s Magic Bag on June 22nd, and Brooklyn’s The Monarch on June 23rd, it’ll be the first time since 1992 that the band has played in the U.S.

Riding on a significant wave of U.K. attention and acclaim following the release of their fifth full-length album The Beauty and The Chaos in January 2024 and a 11-night sold-out tour, EMF’s return to the States on a career-high, unmatched since their early ‘90s heyday. 

Exploding on the U.K. scene in November 1990 with their debut album Schubert Dip, EMF made quite an entrance with their inescapable and irresistibly catchy single “Unbelievable,” which conquered the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 in the UK. The single was certified gold in May 1991 in the U.S., and it sold over 500k. The song was in such heavy rotation for most of the year in America that it finished as the #6 single overall. Schubert Dip was certified platinum in the U.S. by September of that year, selling over one million.

Having broken up and reformed a few times over the intervening decades, in 2020, EMF released a career-spanning vinyl box set and spent most of that year and the next celebrating 30 years of EMF.

The band surprised fans by telling them that profits from the recent merchandise sold was being used to record a new album and Go Go Sapiens was released in 2022. It was the first album of all new material since 1995 and received both fan and critical acclaim.

Latest album The Beauty And The Chaos saw the return of Ralph Jezzard (Chapterhouse, Fatima Mansions, Senseless Things) in the producer’s chair (he produced their first two full-length albums, Schubert Dip and Stigma). 

Said the band of working with Jezzard again, “We produced another set of classic songs about our lives and the world in 2023 inspired by our favorite past, present, and future sounds. We mixed James Atkin’s techno synths and Ian Dench’s punk guitar, heated it to 200 degrees with Stevey Marsh and Aid Todd’s groovy rock rhythms, iced it with Derry Brownson’s maniacal sampling and popped it in a box of Ralph Jezzard’s sonic excellence. Unwrap and enjoy!” 

The album’s first single, “Hello People,” reestablished the band’s stronghold on the mainstream. 

EMF "Hello People" video featuring Stephen Fry"
https://youtu.be/GVlMG585qNc?si=0HaIuvRPOo-pCxBi

"From EMF at these shows, you can expect all the old hits with an added couple of bangers from our new album, The Beauty and the Chaos,” concluded the band. The shows are undoubtedly guaranteed to be, well, unbelievable.

Track listing:

1. Hello People
2. Reach for The Lasers
3. 21st Century
4. Read The Room
5. I 've Been Down
6. The Day The Music Died
7. Stardust
8. Lookout Mountain
9. Red Flags
10. Do It Again

U.S. shows:

Jun 21 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest (TICKET LINK)
Jun 22 Detroit, MI Magic Bag (TICKET LINK)
Jun 23 Brooklyn, NY The Monarch (TICKET LINK)

Duran Duran's initial five albums to be reissued on LP, CD in July

As Duran Duran near the end of their most recent run of North American dates, the veteran band has announced the reissue of their first five studio albums - Duran Duran, Rio, Seven and the Ragged Tiger, Notorious, and Big Thing. This reissue marks the first time this collection will be available in the original 1LP and 1CD format, with remastered audio, since their initial release. The albums will come out via Warner Music on July 19 - pre-order HERE

Both 1LP and 1CD formats will feature the latest album remasters, with vinyl editions cut at Abbey Road Studios in London. The album artworks have been closely restored to the original sleeve designs, overseen by Malcolm Garrett, the visionary designer behind the band’s first three records.

Duran Duran’s first five albums - 1981’s Duran Duran, 1982’s Rio, 1983’s Seven and the Ragged Tiger, 1986’s Notorious, and 1988’s Big Thing - include the US/UK hit singles ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’, ‘Rio’, ‘Girls on Film,’ 'The Reflex,' ‘Save a Prayer’ and more.

The news of the reissues follows sold-out arena tours across the UK and North America through 2023 and 2024, the latest in a series of landmark achievements including Duran Duran’s capacity shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden, and three nights at the Hollywood Bowl, plus headlining London’s Hyde Park, performing at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, and closing the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in their hometown of Birmingham. All this was underpinned by their 2022 induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a moment truly cementing the multi-GRAMMY, BRIT Award and Ivor Novello winners as one of the most successful and influential bands of all time.

Pre-order Duran Duran, Rio, Seven and the Ragged Tiger, Notorious, and Big Thing HERE via Warner Music.

Track listings (LP):

Duran Duran

Side 1
1. Girls on Film
2. Planet Earth
3. Anyone Out There
4. To the Shore
5. Careless Memories

Side 2
1. Night Boat
2. Sound of Thunder
3. Friends of Mine
4. Tel Aviv

Rio

Side 1
1. Rio
2. My Own Way
3. Lonely in Your Nightmare
4. Hungry Like the Wolf
5. Hold Back the Rain

Side 2
1. New Religion
2. Last Chance on the Stairway
3. Save a Prayer
4. The Chauffeur

Seven and the Ragged Tiger

Side 1
1. The Reflex
2. New Moon on Monday
3. (I'm Looking For) Cracks in the Pavement
4. I Take the Dice
5. Of Crime and Passion

Side 2
1. Union of the Snake
2. Shadows on Your Side
3. Tiger Tiger
4. The Seventh Stranger

Notorious

Side 1
1. Notorious
2. American Science
3. Skin Trade
4. A Matter of Feeling
5. Hold Me

Side 2
1. Vertigo (Do the Demolition)
2. So Misled
3. Meet El Presidente
4. Winter Marches On
5. Proposition

Big Thing

Side 1
1. Big Thing
2. I Don't Want Your Love
3. All She Wants Is
4. Too Late Marlene
5. Drug (It's Just a State of Mind)

Side 2
1. Do You Believe in Shame?
2. Palomino
3. Interlude One
4. Land
5. Flute Interlude
6. The Edge of America
7. Lake Shore Driving

Cruel World Festival '24 review featuring Duran Duran, Simple Minds, Blondie, Adam Ant, The Motels, Jesus and Mary Chain, Gary Numan, Mission UK, more

Duran Duran photo by Alden Bonecutter

“Are you having a good time? We’ll put a stop to that,” said Wayne Hussey, during The Mission’s afternoon slot at Cruel World. Black attire and goth rock strains were common at the festival. But witnessing first wave alternative icons like Simon Le Bon (pictured left with John Taylor) and Deborah Harry still delivering solid performances after more than four decades had to brighten even the gloomiest of personalities.

Unlike last year’s event, when the final stretch was stopped due to potential lightning strikes with Iggy Pop onstage and resumed the next day, there were no problems last Saturday in Pasadena, Calif.

The third Cruel World boasted a stacked lineup featuring 30 acts on three stages. New wave, post-punk, electronic rock, goth, and related genres from the 1970s and 1980s were well represented (Simple Minds, The Jesus and Mary Chain, the Stranglers, Adam Ant, Soft Cell, General Public). There were 1990s and 2000s artists who followed in their footsteps (Interpol, Placebo, The Faint) and younger musicians in a similar stylistic vein. Not surprisingly, the lion’s share of them formed in the U.K.

Gary Numan (playing his seminal 1979 album The Pleasure Principle front to back for the first time in eight years) and Blondie made return visits to Cruel World. So did Tones on Tail members, completing a Bauhaus/Love and Rockets reunion trifecta.

Industrial music band Ministry unveiled modernized versions of songs from Eighties releases With Sympathy and Twitch, alongside female backing singers and an electric violinist at times (leader Al Jourgensen no longer hates the former album and plans to issue a re-recorded version soon).

Before the Brookside at the Rose Bowl gates opened, one man was seen peddling marijuana leaf-festooned safari hats out of a pull wagon, while simultaneously offering indica and sativa-flavored gummies. Until a security employee said he’d have to move further away. Nearby, a merch truck was surprisingly selling Cruel World t-shirts at a reasonable price. Many concertgoers were overheard discussing flights into SoCal from across America and other countries.

Headliner Duran Duran, a consistently creative force, retains a large enough following to sell out the Hollywood Bowl three times (in 2022) and is a regular presence on the road. The musicians sounded tight on the main Outsiders stage and put on a stellar career-spanning show.

A filmed introduction displayed the four original members - singer Simon Le Bon, bassist John Taylor, keyboardist Nick Rhodes and drummer Roger Taylor - arriving via spaceship. Then they were actually onstage, looking impeccably dressed as usual. 

Opening the 16-song set with a haunting “The Chauffeur,” the R-rated music video nestled among the awesome screen graphics, Duran Duran followed it with a brawny “The Wild Boys.” The punchy, horn-driven funk of “Notorious” was among multiple high points. Le Bon and John Taylor’s camaraderie was clearly evident throughout the soaring harmonies on “Hungry Like the Wolf,” The Reflex,” “Planet Earth,” and “Careless Memories.”

Le Bon dedicated the beautiful hit ballad “Ordinary World” to the citizens of Palestine, Israel, and Ukraine in hopes they all find peace at home. “Come Undone,” where backing singer Anna Ross came to the fore, had a gorgeous sheen. “New Moon on Monday,” intriguingly revamped like the handful of classic tracks on latest album Danse Macabre, was a pleasant surprise. Duran Duran’s cover of Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” (included on Macabre) slotted well into a “Girls on Film” medley.

Blondie was in fine form, propelled by Clem Burke’s powerhouse rhythms. The glorious “Maria” (a U.K. #1 in '99), an extended “Heart of Glass” (with Harry donning a mirrored coat) and positively effusive “Dreaming” closed the group’s set.

Interpol definitely knows how to create an atmosphere. The NYC indie rock band was shrouded in darkness. Frontman Paul Banks wore his trademark shades and mostly appeared in shadow. Urgent reverberating tracks “Say Hello to the Angels” and “Obstacle 1,” from 2002’s classic debut Turn on the Bright Lights and the sense of mystique in “Narc” made the biggest impact.

Placebo delivered a frequently captivating performance that was bolstered by attractive visuals. Singer/guitarist Brian Molko greeted the crowd’s “ladies and gents” and those who lie somewhere between like he does. The alt-rock band launched its Cruel World set with a harrowing “Taste in Men.” Other songs about sex and drugs, such as “Slave to the Wage” (Molko tweaked a lyric) and the edgy, thrashing “Special K” (both from 2000’s high water mark Black Market Music) were standouts. Fans were surely thrilled to find dynamic early U.K. hit “Every You, Every Me” finally return to the setlist.

Simple Minds photo by Andy Boyle

Simple Minds, back in America for a one-off show after six years away, were astounding. The Glasgow alt-rock band – the subject of excellent new documentary “Everything is Possible” which recently had a limited theatrical release and should be available widely in the near future - reminded everyone why it continues to headline arenas and stadiums across the U.K. and Europe.

Jim Kerr, in strong vocal form and energetic, easily elicited crowd participation at every turn. He appreciated seeing a Scottish flag being waved around. Always moving, Kerr would be crouched down while singing one moment; then on his back, the next. No wonder he announced, “I’m knackered” halfway through. Meanwhile, other founding member Charlie Burchill constantly mesmerized the audience with all his chiming guitar work.

High points included the simmering tension of “Waterfront,” the atmospheric “Someone Somewhere in Summertime,” a soulful “Sanctify Yourself,” strident cover of The Call’s “The Walls Came Down” (Kerr dedicated it to “our friend,” the late Call singer/songwriter Michael Been) and signature hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me) with an extended singalong.

Dreamcar's cover of King’s 1985 U.K. hit “Love and Pride” was perfectly suited to leader Davey Havok’s voice. The AFI leader, along with No Doubt's Tony Kanal, drummer Adrian Young and guitarist Tom Dumont, seemed to be having just as much fun onstage as they did at Coachella with No Doubt last month.

Just prior to Adam Ant taking the stage, a video message from Mike Peters of The Alarm explained that he had to cancel their Cruel World appearance due to a cancer relapse and undergo treatment. The singer/guitarist said he hopes to be back in 2025.

Ant and his band sounded lean and mean during the Burundi beat driven “Antmusic,” the spirited “Friend of Foe,” eerie-sounding "Ants Invasion" and another heavily percussive early tune, “Dog Eat Dog.”

Gary Numan let the icy, David Bowie/Brian Eno-inspired new wave tunes from The Pleasure Principle do all the talking. The vocalist frequently made dramatic gestures, flailed around, and got more animated after inviting his three adult daughters onstage during “Conversation.” The crowd really perked up at the end when it was time for Numan’s lone American top 10 hit “Cars.”

Heaven 17 photo by Alden Bonecutter

Influential synth pop duo Heaven 17’s danceable set defined “exuberant.” Two female backing vocalists added soulfulness to Glenn Gregory’s robust delivery. As keyboardist/musical partner Martyn Ware looked on, Gregory engaged in plenty of humorous between-song banter, such as why he disliked “We Live So Fast” (it is difficult to sing; they were a studio band never intending to tour). The hyper driven “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thing,” a tender electronic “Let Me Go” and the credible take on David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” stood out and received rousing responses.

Earlier this spring, The Jesus and Mary Chain released Glasgow Eyes, its first album in seven years, an impressive return to form for the veteran noise pop merchants. Briefly obscured by smoke in the afternoon at Cruel World, the Reid Brothers performed “JAMCOD” and “Chemical Animal” from it; both were appropriately sinister.

More melodic tunes from the mid-to-late ‘80s proved impressive as past album cover photos flashed on the backdrop, particularly “Some Candy Talking,” “Head On” (once recorded by the Pixies),” “Happy When it Rains” and “Sidewalking.” The band brought out female singer Zanias to guest on “Sometimes Always” (in place of Hope Sandoval on record) and “Just Like Honey,” but her low vocal register was distracting.

The Stranglers photo by Andy Boyle

Right before The Stranglers took the stage, one concertgoer was heard saying, “Thirty years ago, we wouldn’t have seen any of these bands in the daylight.” Very true. Eclectic English rock band The Stranglers, currently on a 50th anniversary tour, made its lone North American live appearance at Cruel World.

Longtime lead singer/guitarist Baz Warne (pictured left) mentioned “the hoops we had to go through to get here” and “we’re from another fucked up country” like America. With original bassist/singer/songwriter J.J. Burnel in tow, the cracking band sounded appropriately salty during such homeland hits as the frenetic “Get a Grip on Yourself” and the leering “Peaches.” Some sweetness shined through during U.S. college/modern rock favorite ballad “Always the Sun” (many in the crowd sang along loudly) and a circuitous, organ-heavy “Golden Brown.”

The Motels, which had to cancel its 2023 Cruel World appearance, turned in a terrific performance. The band opened with a propulsive “Tipping Point,” from 2018’s underrated The Last Few Beautiful Days album. Martha Davis was congenial and played electric guitar. Fellow core member Marty Jourard did some eerie synth lines on it and added haunting sax bursts.

The slow-churning drama of “Total Control,” dating back to 1979, was riveting. Davis’ vocals were robust as ever amid several tunes taken from the group’s successful ‘80s albums All Four One and Little Robbers. Key examples included the alluring “Suddenly Last Summer,” a dramatic “Take the L,” ghostly rocker “So L.A.,” and signature indelible hit “Only the Lonely.”

Goth rock band The Mission was compelling, particularly during the intense hit singles “Wasteland,” “Beyond the Pale,” the dark “Severina” and quiet “Butterfly on a Wheel.”

Los Angeles/Bologna-based Nuovo Testamento brought some infectious Italo-disco in the early afternoon. The trio’s fun, danceable tunes like high-NRG “Heartbeat” and “Wildlife” from latest album Love Lines recalled the Eighties heyday of pop production wizards Shep Pettibone and Jellybean Benitez (think: Madonna, Pet Shop Boys). Singer Chelsey Crowley was all smiles during the seductive “Michelle Michelle,” a highlight of their set.

Body of Light, an Arizona duo comprised of brothers Alex and Andrew Jarson, launched the day’s proceedings at the Lost Boys stage. The dreamy synth pop title track from last year’s Bitter Reflection album felt like a soothing balm, while the clanking sounds on “This Conversation” evoked mid-period Depeche Mode. “Tremble,” off 2016’s Let Me Go, saw keyboardist Andrew trigger up-tempo darkwave strains as Alex sang expressively and roamed the stage.

All photos courtesy of Goldenvoice/Cruel World.

A version of my review originally appeared at rockcellarmagazine.com.