Music Minded

Garbage album and European tour news

2012-01-30T10:29:00.000-08:00

Garbage has announced their fifth studio album, Not Your Kind Of People, will be released in America on May 15, on the band's label STUNVOLUME.

"Working with Garbage again was very instinctual," said member Duke Erikson. "Like getting on a bicycle...with three other people." He adds, "We haven't felt this good about a Garbage record since the last one!"

Garbage - Shirley Manson (vocals), Steve Marker (guitars, keyboards), Duke Erikson (guitars, keyboards) and Butch Vig (drums, loops) - will hit the road this spring in support of the album by performing several headlining shows as well as various festivals throughout Europe and the U.S. with more dates to be confirmed.

"Thinking about going back on the road is both thrilling and terrifying in equal measure," said Shirley Manson. "...but we've always enjoyed a little pain mixed in with our pleasure."

Tour dates

MAY

9 London, England Troxy

11 St. Petersburg, Russia Jubilenyi Hall

12 Moscow, Russia Crocus City Hall

16 Paris, France Olympia

JUNE

16 Hultsfred, Sweden Hultsfred Festival

17 Aarhus, Denmark Northside Festival

22 Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany Southside Festival

23 Scheessel, Germany Hurricane Festival, Red Stage

28 Werchter, Belgium Rock Werchter, Pyramid Marquee

* more dates to be announced

UCR Heat Festival 2012

2012-01-30T10:22:00.000-08:00

Although unconfirmed, it looks like The Airborne Toxic Event will headline UC Riverside's Heat Festival on March 3.

Tom Tom Club concert review: Riverside

2012-01-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

Nacional Records/Cookman Mgmt.

It was infectious energy all the way as Tom Tom Club made their first live appearance in Riverside, Calif. on Friday night at Romano’s Concert Lounge.

An extension of last year’s 30^th Anniversary tour – the first in a decade - the influential band led by Rock and Roll Hall of Famers/former Talking Heads members Tina Weymouth (bass/vocals) and husband Chris Frantz (drums/backing vocals) treated the moderate Inland Empire crowd to a nearly two-hour set.

Tom Tom Club’s most recent release is the 2CD set Genius of Live (Nacional). Disc 1 comprises an edited version of 2001’s Live at the Club House, which few people heard due to label troubles at the time. Disc 2 includes 11 new “Genius of Love” remixes from Latin artists like Ozomatli, Kinky, Money Mark, The Pinker Tones, Mexican Institute of Sound and others.

The idea for the reissue/remix albums came from Tomas Cookman of Nacional Records in North Hollywood, California. He manages Rock en Espanol band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs; Weymouth and Frantz produced their 1995 effort “Rey Azucar.”

Initially a side project from Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club was an immediate hit with their self-titled 1981 debut record, featuring the twin dance chart toppers “Wordy Rappinghood” and “Genius.” The latter reached #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a favorite track to sample among rappers and hip hop acts (Grandmaster Flash, Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, 50 Cent) and most famously, Mariah Carey, whose “Fantasy” stayed at #1 for two months in 1995.

Opening with the funky “Who Feelin’ It,” Weymouth and Victoria Clamp sang in tandem and shook their red sparkly mini-dresses around.

Weymouth mentioned she’d skied at Big Bear in the past and asked if anyone remembered CBGBs (the infamous NYC club where Talking Heads got their mid-‘70s start).

Clamp proved to be quite a lively presence all evening, often recalling Blondie’s Debbie Harry as well as the B-52’s when joined by Weymouth. The lengthy, mantra-like “Man with the 4-Way Hips” boasted a sinewy groove and steel drum solo by longtime keyboardist/percussionist/vocalist Bruce Martin.

“Suboceana” included plenty of turntable scratching from Frantz and Weymouth’s son Kid Ginseng. A ska-tinged “She’s Dangerous” (from 2000’s The Good, The Bad and The Funky) and the loping, reggae take on The Drifters’ “Under the Boardwalk” (a U.K. hit in the ‘80s) were highlights.

While looking at her clothes, Weymouth, 61, joked that she and Clamp were “punk cougars. We like to have our illusions and still shop at Forever 21.”

Several people who had been watching from afar suddenly made their way down to the front of the stage to shimmy along with the ladies on a fun “Genius.” Tom Tom Club’s cover of Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing” was equally entertaining.

Zany disco strains in “Wordy Rappinghood” kept the fans vigorously moving around. Finally, Chris, Tina & Co. treated the crowd to intriguing versions of Talking Heads’ “Take Me to the River” (via Al Green) and a sped-up “Psycho Killer.” - George A. Paul

Tom Tom Club, Romano’s Concert Lounge, Riverside, Calif., Jan. 27, 2012

Setlist: Who Feelin’ It/Punk Lolita/The Man with the 4-Way Hips/Suboceana/She’s Dangerous/L’Elephant/On, on, on, on/Under the Boardwalk/Don’t Say No/Kiss Me When I Get Back/Genius of Love/You Sexy Thing/Wordy Rappinghood

Encore: Take Me to the River/Psycho Killer

Romano’s Concert Lounge has headline talent periodically throughout the year, but 2012 has started off strong with this show. Next up in Cy Curnin of The Fixx and DJ Richard Blade (ex-KROQ FM), 9 p.m. Feb. 4, $20; Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, 9 p.m. Feb. 10, $15; Dave Wakeling’s English Beat, 8 p.m. Feb. 18, $22.50. 21 and over.

For more information, go to www.theconcertlounge.com or call (951) 781-7662. The Concert Lounge is adjacent to Romano’s Italian Restaurant, which has a full menu and is located at 5225 Canyon Crest Drive, near UCR.

More info on Cranberries reunion album

2012-01-27T16:22:00.000-08:00

The Cranberries will return with Roses, their first studio album in over a decade via Cooking Vinyl on Feb. 28 via Cooking Vinyl/Downtown Records in the U.S.

Roses was produced by the highly successful Irish band's longtime collaborator Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur).

"Tomorrow" is the first single, with a video for the single filmed in Dublin now on VEVO. Singer Dolores O'Riordan said "the song was written really spontaneously. People tend to overly ponder; it is the human condition. 'Tomorrow' is about getting away from the consuming thought process."

The Cranberries are scheduled to perform on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" on Feb. 7, "The View" on Feb. 10 and the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14.

Of their studio reunion, Dolores stated, "Having recorded two albums with various different musicians during our hiatus, I could clearly see that Noel and Mike have a unique way of creating chords and Ferg keeps it together in a subtle way. We had a blast in the studio, Stephen was in his zone and it came together rather quickly. There is a sense of rejuvenation in the group, a freshness."

Guitarist Noel Hogan added, "I always had the attitude that there would be another album. Over the last six years, Dolores and I were sending each other ideas on and off." During the reunion tour, the band began working on new music during soundchecks. "The icing on the cake was to work with Stephen Street again who helped us rediscover our sound."

Roses Track Listing:

Conduct
Tomorrow
Fire & Soul
Raining In My Heart
Losing My Mind
Schizophrenic Playboys
Waiting In Walthamstow
Show Me The Way
Astral Projections
So Good
Roses

Lionel Richie's country album details

2012-01-27T16:13:00.000-08:00

Lionel Richie will release Tuskegee, a collection of 13 of his international hits recorded with some of the biggest names in country music, on March 27 on Mercury Nashville.

Duet partners on Tuskegee include Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington and Little Big Town.

On this worldwide, multi-genre album, Richie is also joined by the likes of such superstars as Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett.

In addition, the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions will tape an all-star concert special, Lionel Richie and Friends "In concert" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 2.

The show will air at a later date on the CBS Television Network. Some of his greatest hits will be performed by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers and many more.

Tuskegee is an exciting new chapter in a career that has seen album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10s, five Grammys, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a host of other awards.

Tuskegee is also a musical homecoming that feels like a heartwarming reunion with a beloved friend. He proves that you can go home again as he returns to his Southern roots to pay tribute to his hometown of Tuskegee, Alabama, where he was indelibly shaped as a man and a musician.

He was exposed to country, gospel, R&B and classical music while growing up, and it was in Tuskegee where he helped form the Commodores and wrote his first hits, including “Sail On” and “Easy.”

“Tuskegee is where it all began, the place where I felt that everything was available and possible,” he says. “It’s where I learned about life and love and the power of music, and the place I built a musical foundation that knows no genres or boundaries.

“Doing this album was coming back to the beginning, back to basics, back to home,” he says. “The part of it I love the most is that the journey has been one of discovering myself. By the time I got back to Nashville, I clearly knew that the roots of my songwriting, my storytelling, were from the South.”

It’s also been a process of rediscovering the hits that have served as the soundtrack of the lives of generations around the world. “Every Lionel Richie song that I can think of I had a personal experience with – high school homecomings, proms, you name it,” says Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, who duets on “Dancin’ On the Ceiling.” “Lionel was always playing in my house. His music always said what we felt and couldn’t express.”

Says Darius Rucker, who joins Richie on “Stuck On You,” “I wanted to work with Lionel because he is one of my idols. Lionel’s more a part of my DNA really than an idol. It was an absolute honor to work with him.” Adds Jason Aldean, who selected “Say You, Say Me,” “I’ve always been a huge fan. He is probably one of the best singer/songwriters of this generation.”

Once again, Richie is following his songs as they take him back to country, where they have been welcomed for more than two decades. Conway Twitty recorded “Three Times a Lady,” Kenny Rogers famously sang “Lady” and Alabama recorded “Deep River Woman.”

Artists such as Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts perform his songs in their shows. He has performed on the Country Music Association Awards three times.

“When I [last] did the CMAs and the room was singing along with me, it was really more like a family reunion than it was a concert or show,” he says. “It was just great validation to know that the music was accepted like it was.”

These innovative musical interpretations have given new meaning to his songs while serving as a powerful reminder of the timelessness of his impressive body of work. He asked the other singers to select the songs and ignore his original version and instead perform the song as if it were their own.

“I wanted it the way they would do it in their show, which means I captured their essence. You make the song a Willie Nelson song. You make the song a Rascal Flatts song.

“It’s special to the point where it sounds new again, so I’m excited just as the writer, as the original parent of this child. I’m excited to see another generation embrace the music.”

Richie says recording Tuskegee was perhaps the most fun he’s ever had in the studio. “Tuskegee is going to be one of the most special albums I’ve ever done in my life. This is something that’s going to be so special forever because it’s a moment in time when these artists all got together and celebrated some music,” he says. “What started out as a collaboration of a group of very talented, very successful artists ended up growing into brand new, very good friends.”

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee track listing:

“You Are” with Blake Shelton
“Say You, Say Me” with Jason Aldean
“Stuck On You” with Darius Rucker
“Deep River Woman” with Little Big Town
“My Love” with Kenny Chesney
“Dancing On The Ceiling” with Rascal Flatts
“Hello” with Jennifer Nettles
“Sail On” with Tim McGraw
“Endless Love” with Shania Twain
“Just For You” with Billy Currington
“Lady” with Kenny Rogers
“Easy” with Willie Nelson
“All Night Long” with Jimmy Buffett

New M. Ward album, tour news

2012-01-27T11:04:00.000-08:00

Merge Records will release M. Ward's sixth solo album, A Wasteland Companion, on April 10.

In the three years since the Portland, OR-based troubadour released his last solo album - the universally lauded Hold Time - he’s toured the globe, released two albums as one half of Grammy-nominated duo She & Him as well as one with the talented group of friends collectively know as Monsters Of Folk.

Inspired by his increasingly itinerant lifestyle Ward set forth to create something of a musical travelogue. He explains, “Between now and when I made Hold Time there has been a lot of traveling which requires a lot of reckoning with what to leave behind and what to carry – material and otherwise – and thinking about what I want versus what I need, creatively and otherwise. I wanted to get a reflection of that on the album. It was a process of stripping away my security blanket, which is the same four walls I always record in.”

Among the musicians appearing on it are Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb (piano), John Parish (percussion, marimba), Bright Eyes’ Mike Mogis (organ), She & Him’s Zooey Deschanel (vocals), Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley (percussion), Devotchka’s Tom Hagerman (strings).

Track listing :
1. Clean Slate
2. Primitive Girl
3. Me And My Shadow
4. Sweetheart
5. I Get Ideas
6. The First Time I Ran Away
7. A Wasteland Companion
8. Watch The Show
9. There’s A Key
10. Crawl After You
11. Wild Goose
12. Pure Joy

Tour dates :
Feb 2 Los Angeles, CA Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Apr 11 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Apr 12 Santa Cruz, CA The Cocoanut Grove Ballroom
Apr 13 Indio, CA Coachella **SOLD OUT**
Apr 14 Santa Barbara, CA SoHO
Apr 16 San Diego, CA Belly Up
Apr 17 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
Apr 18 Flagstaff, AZ The Orpheum
Apr 20 Indio, CA Coachella **SOLD OUT**
May 5 Portland, ME State Theatre
May 6 Burlington, VT Higher Ground
May 7 New Haven, CT Toads Place
May 8 Boston, MA House of Blues
May 11 New York, NY Webster Hall
May 12 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
May 13 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
May 15 Durham, NC Duke Performances at Page Auditorium
May 16 Athens, GA Georgia Theatre
May 17 Atlanta, GA Buckhead Theatre
May 22 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
May 24 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue

Jonathan Richman supports 4/11
fIREHOSE supports 4/12, 4/16-4/18
Lee Ranaldo Band supports 5/5-5/22

mwardmusic.com

Bruce Springsteen world tour news

2012-01-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

I can't wait to see them again. Wish The Boss didn't book LA gigs in mid-to-late April all the time, so close to the big Coachella and Stagecoach Festivals here in SoCal though...

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band launch the first U.S. leg of the 2012 'Wrecking Ball' World Tour on March 18 in Atlanta. Bruce Springsteen's 17th studio album 'Wrecking Ball' will be released on Columbia Records on March 6.

"We Take Care Of Our Own" is the album's first single. Stream it and pre-order 'Wrecking Ball' at: http://www.brucespringsteen.net

The E Street Band's members are: Roy Bittan – piano, synthesizer; Nils Lofgren – guitar, vocals; Patti Scialfa – guitar, vocals; Garry Tallent – bass guitar; Stevie Van Zandt – guitar, vocals; and Max Weinberg – drums; with Soozie Tyrell – violin, guitar, vocals and Charlie Giordano – keyboards.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 2012 Tour Dates:
US Tour Dates

March 18 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena (on sale Feb 4)

March 19 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum (on sale Feb 3)
March 23 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Times Forum (on sale Jan 28)
March 26 – Boston, MA – TD Garden (on sale Jan 28)
March 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)
March 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)
April 1 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center (on sale Jan 28)
April 3 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)
April 4 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)
April 6 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)
April 9 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)
April 12 – Detroit, MI – The Palace of Auburn Hills (on sale Jan 28)
April 13 – Buffalo, NY – First Niagara Center (on sale Jan 28)
April 16 – Albany, NY – Times Union Center (on sale Jan 28)
April 17 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena (on sale Jan 28)
April 24 – San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion (on sale Feb 3)
April 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (on sale Feb 3)
April 29 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (on sale now)
May 2 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center (on sale Jan 27)

European Tour Dates
May 13 – Seville, Spain – Estadio Olimpico (on sale now)
May 17 – Barcelona, Spain – Estadio Olimpico Lluis (on sale now)
May 18 – Barcelona, Spain – Estadio Olimpico Lluis (on sale now)
May 25 – Frankfurt, Germany – Commerzbank Arena (on sale now)
May 27 – Cologne, Germany – RheinEnergieStadion (on sale now)
May 28 – Landgraaf, Netherlands – Pinkpop (on sale Mar 3)
May 30 – Berlin, Germany – Olympia Stadion (on sale now)
June 2 – San Sebastian, Spain – Estadio Anoeta (on sale now)
June 3 – Lisbon, Portugal – Rock in Lisbon (on sale now)
June 7 – Milan, Italy – Stadio Meaza (on sale now)
June 10 – Florence, Italy – Stadio Francesco (on sale now)
June 11 – Trieste, Italy – Stadio Trieste (on sale now)
June 17 – Madrid, Spain – Estadio Santago Bernabu (on sale now)
June 19 – Montpellier, France – Park & Suites Arena (on sale now)
June 21 – Sunderland, UK – Stadium of Light (on sale now)
June 22 – Manchester, UK – Etihad Stadium (on sale now)
June 24 – Isle of Wight, UK – Isle of Wight Festival (on sale now)
July 4 – Paris, France – Bercy (on sale now)
July 5 – Paris, France – Bercy (on sale now)
July 7 – Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival (on sale now)
July 9 – Zurich, Switzerland – Stadium Letzigrund (on sale now)
July 11 – Prague, Czech Republic – Synot Tip Arena (on sale now)
July 12 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst Happel Stadium (on sale now)
July 14 – London, UK – Hard Rock Calling (on sale now)
July 17 – Dublin, Ireland – RDS (on sale now)
July 18 – Dublin, Ireland – RDS (on sale now)
July 21 – Oslo, Norway – Valle Hoven (on sale now)
July 23 – Bergen, Norway – Koengen (on sale now)
July 24 – Bergen, Norway – Koengen (on sale now)
July 27 – Gothenberg, Sweden – Ullevi (on sale now)
July 28 – Gothenberg, Sweden – Ullevi (on sale now)
July 31 – Helsinki, Finland – Olympic Stadium (on sale Jan 25)

LA's Electric Guest set album release, tour

2012-01-23T20:41:00.000-08:00

I saw these guys at Gibson Amphitheatre for LA 101 last year and was impressed. I look forward to the new material...

Asa Taccone and Matthew Compton - collectively known as Electric Guest - have confirmed an April 24 release date for their Danger Mouse-produced Downtown Records debut album, Mondo.

The record's release is preceded by first single "This Head I Hold," available now as a free stream http://soundcloud.com/electricguest/this-head-i-hold and released digitally on Tuesday.

Meanwhile the video for "American Daydream," directed by Jorma Taccone (The Lonely Island, Saturday Night Live), just premiered across MTV, mtvU, MTV Hits and

MTV.com.

Electric Guest will also be bringing its live experience to Los Angeles' Echo club for a free residency beginning Monday Feb. 6 and continuing every Monday through the end of February.

The free weekly 11 p.m. live sets represent the band giving something back to the Los Angeles homebase that has embraced it since KCRW named album track "Troubleman" a "Today's Top Tune":

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/tu/tu111101electric_guest_troub).

Following the completion of the Echo residency, Electric Guest will head out on a series of dates in the southwestern U.S., including their first visit to South By Southwest in Austin.

Tour dates

3/10 -The Green Room - Flagstaff, AZ

3/11- Santa Fe Sol, Santa Fe, NM

3/13-Club Dada- Dallas, TX

3/14-3/17-Austin, SXSW

3/19-The Lowbrow Palace-El Paso, TX

3/20-Club Congress-Tucson, AZ

3/21-Sail Inn-Phoenix, AZ

NAMM 2012: Day 3 featuring Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik, Dawes

2012-01-23T11:14:00.000-08:00

A version of my post originally appeared at ocregister.com

photo by Bob Steshetz

Although 96,000 people were registered and expected to attend either part or all of The NAMM Show (as it’s commonly referred to these days), it almost seemed like everyone converged on the Anaheim Convention Center at once Saturday.

By 12:30 p.m., the main halls were swarming with people. I saw the Madden Brothers from Good Charlotte posing with a fan on a main floor aisle.

Toward the back section, I happened upon the Sennheiser USA booth’s emerging artists stage, where Hot Topic/Alternative Press magazine fave Blameshift did an appealing acoustic set.

The Long Island, N.Y.-based rock band, led by Jenny Mann, did a few songs from last year’s The Black Rose EP (“Killing Me,” “Ghost”) and a mildly wailing take on Yellowcard’s “Only One.”

At the far end corner of Hall D, the PreSonus stage once again drew a big crowd; this time for a groovin’ jam featuring guitarist Chris LeBlanc, bassist Jerry Henderson and David Haynes (Stanley Jordan). The latter was especially interesting to watch play a small drum machine with his fingers.

Taylor Guitars in El Cajon, Calif. has a reputation for showcasing top-notch artists every year at its spacious second floor NAMM room.

This week's roster was no exception. Friday boasted an amazing set by San Diego’s The Silent Comedy. Saturday had John Rzeznik and NBC talent show "The Voice" winner Javier Colon.

Rzeznik, the Goo Goo Dolls front man (pictured above and directly below), brought along Goos’ touring guitarist Brad Fernquist. Both played acoustically on beautiful Taylor models.

photo by Bob Steshetz

Unfortunately, fans who packed the space only got to witness two tunes. But they were both winners.

First was the yearning, elegantly picked ballad “As I Am” (from 2010’s Something for the Rest of Us) and an enthusiastic version of 2000 hit “Broadway.”

Rzeznik seemed relaxed and bantered with the crowd. Dissatisfied with the tone of his voice at that hour of the day, he marveled about the quality of Taylor products and said, "We're here to listen to guitars, not my voice."

Too bad he couldn't be persuaded to go longer (as many on the Taylor stage roster often do).

Back downstairs, L.A. folk/rock band Dawes finally held court at the Shure booth after a Rob Halford signing lasted for what seemed like an eternity.

Lead vocalist/guitarist Taylor Goldsmith, his brother Griffin and Tay Strathairn (seen below) transfixed those wise enough to pay attention with some heavenly harmonies.

photo by Robert Kinsler

“Time Spent in Los Angeles” and “If I Wanted Someone” – off last year’s excellent Nothing is Wrong (one of my top 10 album picks) - were delicate and enrapturing.

Local musicians spotted:

No Doubt drummer Adrian Young, with his three young children and wife looking to be somewhere quick – likely his signing. Fellow bandmate Tom Dumont was also making an appearance (for Takamine Guitars).

Dramarama bassist Mike Davis hung out in the press room for a bit and told me the band's long awaited new studio album is in the mixing stage and should be out this year.

From the 'never would have guessed' category...

In the main lobby of the convention center, two women in business attire drummed up attention for NAMM Russia in May. Held at Expocenter Krasnaya Presnya, Moscow, the info sheet lists multiple product groups (instruments/accessories, lighting, stage and laser technology, sound equipment, etc.). Registration fee: EUR 220 + VAT (18%).

For more info, go to messefrankfurt.com

NAMM 2012: Day 2 featuring Uh Huh Her, Kenny Loggins

2012-01-23T08:38:00.000-08:00

A version of my post originally appeared at ocregister.com

On Friday morning in the main hall, a small seated audience at the PreSonus Audio Electronics booth were treated to a delightful performance by L’Angelus.

The Louisiana family roots band is comprised of the Rees siblings, who are all in their 20s and have had their music featured in a PBS documentary. The lively Cajun-influenced NAMM set included “Vive la Bon Vie,” “Ca C’est Bon” and a soulful take on the Temptations’ “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” sung by fiddler Steve.

photo by Robert Kinsler

Upstairs in the Fender Guitars room, L.A.-based female duo Uh Huh Her (pictured, left) captivated a moderate-sized crowd with some haunting, synth-dominated alt-rock.

“We’re excited. This is our first time playing at NAMM; it’s like being at Guitar Center,” enthused lead singer/keyboardist/guitarist and onetime Mellowdrone member Camila Grey.

The duo’s recent second album Nocturnes was co-produced by Wendy Melvoin (Prince+the Revolution) and expands upon their moody electro-pop in fine fashion.

Here, with music partner Leisha Hailey (formerly of the Murmurs and Showtime series “The L Word”) on bass/vocals and animated drummer Josh Kane, they conjured up some icy drama, notably during “Disdain” and "Time Stands Still" from previous effort Common Reaction.

Over in the secondary exhibitors’ hall, two NAMM employees clad in Sound Control-emblazoned shirts could be seen holding up meters to make sure the overall noise level didn’t exceed 85 decibels (it probably wasn’t a problem in that location; upstairs, it would be a far different story).

Nearby, Kenny Loggins did a signing at the Bedell Guitars booth and drew a large amount of fans taking photos and shouting inane questions at him while two security officers reminisced about Loggins’ major hit “Footloose” and the 1980s in general.

NAMM 2012: Day 1 with more Brian Wilson, Ed Roland, Colbie Caillat

2012-01-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

A version of my post originally appeared at ocregister.com

There was plenty of buzz around the convention center leading up to Brian Wilson’s scheduled performance at the Gibson Guitar room upstairs on Thursday. But fans who waited an hour near the small corner stage for the Beach Boys leader to arrive probably left disappointed.

Oddly without any introduction from a company spokesperson (especially for someone of his stature), Wilson sat down at a stool besides longtime solo touring band members Jeffrey Foskett (on acoustic guitar) and Darian Sahanaja (on keyboards).

I was hoping we’d hear something from last year’s enjoyable In The Key of Disney album or possibly 2010’s equally solid Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin. No such luck. Instead, they did Beach Boys classics “California Girls” and “God Only Knows,” as actor/frequent Beach Boys touring musician John Stamos watched from the sidelines.

Foskett and Sahanaja provided heavenly backing harmonies to the somewhat shaky songs. Suddenly, Wilson seemed like he couldn’t wait to leave and it was all over in less than 10 minutes.

photo by Robert Kinsler

Over at the shared Fender/Gretsch Guitar room stage was The Sweet Tea Project (pictured, left) – a new band from Collective Soul frontman Ed Roland.

Sans introduction or explanation, Roland started playing the first of three enticing Sweet Tea tunes on acoustic guitar with bassist brother Dean (from Collective Soul) and percussionist/banjo player Christopher Yates.

Only after being questioned by a fan, did Ed explain that the “organic Americana” group would be touring soon and Collective Soul planned to return to the studio in late spring. After three of the new selections (and no bones thrown to CS enthusiasts), they split almost as fast as Wilson did.

Earlier on the Fender/Gretsch stage, Canadian electric guitarist Hayley McLean did an impressive set. Highlighted by the Sheryl Crow-ish “That’s How You Know,” the newcomer also did worthy covers of Emmylou Harris’ “Born to Run” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing.”

Inside the main trade show area, I saw Colbie Caillat draw a huge mid-afternoon crowd for her acoustic performance at the Shure microphones booth.

One trend I noticed was people more inclined to use their smartphones to take photos of artist appearances listed at booths or utilizing various NAMM-related apps instead of consulting the print NAMM catalog or brochures.

NAMM 2012 Media Preview Day featuring Brian Wilson, John Mayer

2012-01-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

A version of this post originally appeared on ocregister.com

The 110th edition of The NAMM Show unofficially got underway last Wednesday at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California.

Media Preview Day featured some standout products on display as well as special appearances by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Brian Wilson, Michelle Phillips and John Mayer.

Agile Partners - the Illinois-based company known for the popular Lick of the Day app (over 1 million downloads to date) in conjunction with Guitar World magazine, AmpKit and more - had its updated AmpKit Link HD demonstrated by blues/rock guitarist Shepherd.

photo by Robert Kinsler

The digital guitar interface with USB technology enables users to play guitar without lugging around an amplifier. It provides high fidelity, eliminates crosstalk and feedback and is geared toward AmpKit's high gain amps.

"I'm on the road constantly and with this, I can rock out in my hotel room without disturbing anybody," Shepherd (pictured, left) told the audience, as the digital pedals and effects were displayed on a computer screen and he triggered a Stevie Ray Vaughn-type sound.

"It's very versatile and I put together useable sounds. There's good overdrive and it cleans up nicely like a real amp would...tone freaks can tweak the sound. I'm an old school analog guy, but this has nice digital effects and is good for drop tunings."

Shepherd also praised the app, comparing it to a "one on one guitar lesson with great players."

Other features of the AmpKit Link HD, due in the second quarter of 2012:

>an optional AC adapter charges iPads, iPhones or iPod touches as a musician plays

>utilizes cable with dual locking connectors, rather than relying on friction fit

>has control knobs for guitar input level and headphone output level with no need to launch an app

>works with Mac and PC

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Wilson, who will reunite with the Beach Boys later this year for a tour and new studio album, was presented with the "Music for Life Award." He participated in a quick Q&A with NAMM President/CEO Joe Lamond. Topics ranged from favorite studios (his own in Bel Air) and how he deals with changing technology ("I try to simply things").

Former Arkansas governor and Fox News Channel host Mike Huckabee talked about the importance of music education in schools - a subject he's very passionate about - and the Wanna Play? fund that he started to put instruments in students' hands.

"As a kid, playing the guitar changed my life and took away my timidity and helped forge a career path" as a politician. "A sense of value was unlocked." Huckabee finished by doing a mini-jam with Shepherd (pictured below)

photo by Bob Steshetz

Phillips, former singer with The Mamas & The Papas, was on hand alongside adult children of the late John Phillips and Mama Cass Elliot to present a new limited edition signature Martin acoustic guitar.

Only 100 instruments will be made. They are adorned with silver silhouettes of the group on the headstock. Michelle Phillips reminisced about the guitars her bandmates used to play in the '60s.

Another extremely limited edition Martin acoustic guitar - primarily aimed at high end collectors with only 23 made - was designed with extensive input from John Mayer.

“There's something about a smaller-bodied acoustic guitar that has always appealed to me. In one glance, it inspires me to write, travel, perform, and age along with it,” said Mayer.

“Not very long ago I was inspired to return to a completely natural way of writing and recording music, and at the center of that vision were the Martin 00-sized guitars that defined an era of brilliant songwriting in the '60s and '70s. The 00-45SC John Mayer Edition is my vision of the ultimate 00-45 come to life. It's simply perfect.”

photo by Robert Kinsler

The Grammy-winning singer/songwriter discussed how he envisioned the special guitar to be like ones cowboys and businessmen used to play in the Old West days while riding on a stagecoach.

Mayer also pointed out the unique mother of pearl deisgn at the bottom of the neck is ingrained right through in a circular pattern.

Then he did a brief instrumental for media at the convention center, but didn't sing due to recent throat surgery.

First introduced at NAMM, the guitar will be available from participating Martin dealerships; a list will be provided on the Martin website at martinguitar.com soon.

Paul Simon's "Graceland" gets doc+box set treatment

2012-01-17T16:32:00.000-08:00

Some exciting news for Paul Simon fans. Read on for more info from the label...

"Under African Skies," the new Joe Berlinger-directed documentary chronicling the creation and lasting influence of Paul Simon's groundbreaking Graceland, will debut at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, kicking off a year's long celebration commemorating the 25th anniversary of Simon's musical and cultural achievement.

Following its Sundance premiere, "Under African Skies," one of the year's most eagerly anticipated documentaries, is slated for international film festival screenings and a limited theatrical run as well as airings on A&E.

The story of the making of Graceland, and the controversy created when Simon went to South Africa to record with local artists, is told in "Under African Skies," the new full-length documentary from two-time Emmy and Peabody Award winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger ("Brother's Keeper," "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster," the West Memphis Three/"Paradise Lost" trilogy) and producers@radical.media and A&E IndieFilms.

Coming this spring, Legacy Recordings will release a Graceland 25th anniversary commemorative edition deluxe collector's box set as well as a special two-disc set, each featuring the original album with bonus tracks and the director's cut of "Under African Skies."

"Under African Skies" travels with Paul Simon back to South Africa 25 years after his first visit. Simon revisits the making of the record, surveying from the vantage of history the turbulence and controversy surrounding the album's genesis. His artistic decision to collaborate with African musicians created a new world musical fusion, combining American and African musical idioms while igniting an intense political crossfire, with Paul Simon accused of breaking the UN cultural boycott of South Africa designed to end the Apartheid regime.

The universal appeal of the music of Graceland proved more powerful and enduring than the political hotbed attending its creation. In 1986, the album sold 14 million copies worldwide, and received universal praise from critics around the globe. Simon and the members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo performed on Saturday Night Live and appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone.

By January of 1987, "You Can Call Me Al" was everywhere and Graceland won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 1987. Then, in an unprecedented carryover, the album garnered the Grammy for Song of the Year with its title track in 1988. The album generated three hit singles and ke pt Paul Simon and the Graceland tour on the road for five years.

In the film, Simon provides a fresh and revelatory perspective on the album while gathering the record's original musicians for a transcendental Graceland concert reunion. "Under African Skies" features interviews with key anti-apartheid activists of the time and such musical legends as Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Paul McCartney, David Byrne and Peter Gabriel.

Graceland continues to provide rewards to its listeners and remains a pivotal listening experience for writers, artists and fans. "Paul Simon's Graceland played a greatly significant role in removing the standoffish dread Western culture harbored toward South Africa during its internal struggle against apartheid, humanizing both a country's soul-searching hunger for liberation and its simultaneous outpouring of cathartic creative expression." – Timothy White, Billboard

"Prior to Graceland, the music of South Africa was largely unknown outside the country, exce pt to a small minority of world music fans…." – Peter Gabriel

"I don't like the idea that people who aren't adolescents make records. Adolescents make the best records. Exce pt for Paul Simon. Exce pt for Graceland . He's hit a new plateau there, but he's writing to his own age group. Graceland is something new. - Joe Strummer interviewed by Richard Cromelin for the Los Angeles Times on January 31, 1988

"In many ways, Graceland was the most extraordinary experience in my entire career.... The insight into rhythm was the great gift that I received from making the trip to South Africa , and collaborating with African musicians." -- Paul Simon

2012-01-17T16:25:00.000-08:00

Check out this press release I received...

Razor & Tie artist Dave Barnes will release his new studio album, Stories To Tell, on March 13. The album of original material was produced by John Fields (Lifehouse, Switchfoot, Goo Goo Dolls).

Barnes will tour in 2012 in support of his new release (tour dates TBA). He recently received his first Grammy nomination for Best Country Song for “God Gave Me You,” the #1 hit as performed by Blake Shelton from Shelton’s 2011 album Red River Blue. Barnes’ and Shelton’s versions of the song have sold over one million singles to date.

Stories To Tell is Barnes’ fourth studio album for Razor & Tie and a first for him on many levels. The album was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Fields, marking the first time Barnes has recorded outside of his hometown of Nashville.

Leaving everything familiar behind with his writing and recording processes forced him to venture outside of his creative comfort zone. Barnes explains, “I've done all the other records in Nashville, but for this one I really wanted to do something different. I wanted to get out of town and do something that wouldn't sound quite as much like the stuff I've done before.”

Stories To Tell also presents a stylistic departure from his previous releases. Adding more programming and synth sounds this time around, Stories To Tell did not suffer from rules and restrictions when it came to its instrumentation. Using orchestral accents and syncopated percussion alongside his soulful, impassioned vocals, the album introduces Barnes' fans to finely tuned and honestly crafted strong pop songs.

"The music is definitely poppy but everything is accounted for," he describes. "There are no rogue parts or instrumentation, everything is really fleshed out and that's what I was going for thankfully. Working with John, I knew he does what I wanted to do, which is make a little more of a pop record and get out of the self-imposed box I've been in for a while.”

The underlying theme of the new album is Barnes' stories to tell, most plucked from his personal life and experiences. Writing much of the album earlier this year after discovering that he and his wife were going to have their first baby, two songs directly inspired by the news are “Mine to Love” and “One of Us.” Another major theme of this album is enjoying the moment because life has unexpected twists. “White Flag” and “Heaven Help Me” reflect this sentiment.

An artist that has never adhered to a specific genre, Barnes’ music is generally inspired by an array of music influences ranging from rock, pop and country to blues, soul and R&B. “Stories To Tell is another bookmark," adds Barnes.

"For me, that's why I love making records; not because I was going for a specific sound but I was trying to encompass everything that I was listening to and enjoying at that time in my life. It is like a fun kind of musical history, like a photo album."

With his multi-format hit, "God Gave Me You," the single peaked at #3 at Christian Top 40, as well as Top 10 on Christian AC and Top 20 on Mainstream AC. Making a solid mark within Christian radio, "Mine To Love" will be the first song from Stories to Tell to impact Christian radio, releasing Feb. 3.

Stories To Tell track list:
1. White Flag
2. How Long
3. Mine To Love
4. Heaven Help Me
5. Love Will Be Enough For Us
6. Seventeen
7. Missing You
8. Find Your Way Home
9. Stories To Tell
10. Warm Heart In A Cold World
11. One Of Us

davebarnes.com

New George Harrison iPad app

2012-01-17T16:18:00.000-08:00

BANDWDTH Publishing, in conjunction with the George Harrison Estate, announces the release of a special iPad app celebrating the guitarist and his historical guitar collection.

The Guitar Collection: George Harrison iPad app will be released through iTunes on Feb. 23, two days before Harrison's birthdate.

The app brings George Harrison's private guitar collection to life through photographs, detailed descriptions, audio, and video footage. For the first time, with the help of unique 360° imaging by photographer Steven Sebring, fans can see the scratches, dings, and worn threads on the guitars as if they were themselves holding the instruments.

Fans will be able to examine Harrison's private guitar collection, through personal audio recordings from Harrison himself as he introduces many of the guitars and plays sections of songs.

The history of each guitar is laid out in great detail; including the origin of the guitar, when and how it became part of Harrison's collection, modifications he made to it and why each was so important in creating his distinctive sound. Songs from his catalogue are organized by the guitars used on each track, which allows the user to appreciate the personalities of each instrument.

The video section of the app contains footage of Ben Harper, Josh Homme, Mike Campbell, and Dhani Harrison each playing and showcasing the guitars and exploring their feel and tone. In addition, Conan O'Brien and Dhani discuss what make these guitars so exceptional. Also in this section, guitar great Gary Moore shares his views on what made George Harrison such a distinctive and influential guitar player.

The app will sell for $9.99 at the Apple App Store.

Watch a video previewing the app's features at the link below:

http://vimeo.com/user9732995/review/35123541/81f34e90df

Daughtry tour dates announced

2012-01-17T16:15:00.000-08:00

Daughtry has announced the first leg of its upcoming tour in support of the multi-platinum selling rock band's third album, Break The Spell (19 Recordings/RCA Records).

Tickets go on sale over the next two weeks, beginning Friday.

Singer Chris Daughtry, guitarists Josh Steely and Brian Craddock, bassist Josh Paul and drummer Robin Diaz bring their new show into theaters across the country for an intimate experience with fans.

Nashville-based pop/rock group SafetySuit whose new album These Times debuted No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart are also on the tour bill.

Daughtry will help combat Africa's battle against malaria by donating $1 from every ticket sold to Malaria No More, a leading humanitarian organization determined to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015.

Of the songs on the album fans should hear on tour, singer Chris Daughtry says, "We recorded a hard-hitting rock album that is primed to blow the doors off these great theaters. [Those] who come out are going to get an incredible show every night."

BREAK THE SPELL TOUR

March

20 Buffalo, NY Shea's Performing Arts Center

21 Reading, PA Reading Eagle Theater at the Sovereign Center

24 Toronto, ON Massey Hall

25 Cleveland, OH Palace Theatre

27 Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

28 Little Rock, AR Robinson Center Music Hall

30 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium

31 Louisville, KY Louisville Palace Theater

April

2 Columbus, OH Veteran'sMemorial

3 Cincinnati, OH Music Hall

4 Pittsburgh, PA Benedum Center

7 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum

9 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium

11 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall

14 Boca Raton, FL Mizner Park Amphitheater

15 Jacksonville, FL Moran Theatre at the Times Union Center

17 Columbia, SC Township Auditorium

18 Richmond, VA Landmark Theater

20 W. Long Branch, NJ The MAC at Monmouth University

21 Syracuse, NY Landmark Theater

23 Lowell, MA Lowell Memorial

24 Newark, NJ NJ PAC

27 Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods

28 Albany, NY Palace Theater

30 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom

For a complete list of on-sales for the first leg of the tour, please visit: http://www.aeglive.com

Alan Parsons' music instruction DVD/NAMM 2012

2012-01-13T22:52:00.000-08:00

With The NAMM Show ’12 slated to start at the Anaheim Convention Center this week, it’s a good time to revisit one of the most impressive products I discovered during last year’s event.

Alan Parsons’ Art & Science of Sound Recording (ASSR) is a 3 DVD, 10 hour instructional set that gives music novices various tricks of the trade.

Parsons is the renowned, award-winning producer/engineer/mixer/musician who got his start at Abbey Road Studios in the '60s. His credits include such landmark recordings as The Beatles’ Abbey Road, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, albums by Paul McCartney, the Hollies and his own successful prog-rock group, The Alan Parsons Project.

The DVDs are narrated by actor/musician Billy Bob Thornton. Parsons provides the technical know-how and career anecdotes. Neither is boring and both occasionally inject humor into the different sections

(See below for Parsons' appearance in conjunction with ASSR at NAMM 2012).

Disc 1 covers A Brief History of Recording, Studio Acoustics, Microphones, Consoles and Controllers, Digital Audio and Computers, Monitoring and MIDI.

Disc 2 encompasses EQ, Compressors & Limiters, Noise Gates, Reverb, Delays, A Band Tracking Session, Vocals, Internet Recording.

Disc 3 includes Drums, Keyboards, Bass, Guitar, Recording Acoustic Guitar with Vocals, Recording a Choir, Approaches to Live Recording, Mixing and Dealing with Disasters.

Each section (ranging from five minutes to nearly an hour) is helpfully indexed so you can jump right to a particular topic that interests you. There are also sub topics within each section.

For those who have never been inside a recording studio and always wondered how one works, ASSR is fascinating. Some of the topics are extremely detailed, but very educational.

Parsons has discussions throughout the set with noted producers like John Shanks, Jack Joseph Puig, Sylvia Massey, Patrick Leonard, Niko Bolas, Jack Douglas and John Fields.

He also gets insightful input from musicians such as Erykah Badu, Michael McDonald, Taylor Hawkins and others. Future “American Idol” top 10 contestant James Durbin is featured in the vocal recording section where Parsons worked with music school students.

A new song written especially for this set by Parsons (“All Our Yesterdays”) is recorded by a top-notch band comprising Alan Parsons Live Project bandmate PJ Olsson, bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Rami Jaffe, guitarist Tim Pierce and drummer Simon Phillips. You get to see the entire process from top to bottom.

ASSR took two years to complete. Once it’s finished, you almost feel as if you’ve completed an accelerated university music course - at a fraction of the cost! Contents of the DVDs are also available to educators online and as a series of downloads or streams.

Art & Science of Sound Recording ($149 DVD; $99 download), available from Keyfax New Media.

www.artandscienceofsound.com, www.keyfax.com, www.alanparsonsmusic.com.

NAMM 2012: On Friday, Jan. 20, 9:30 a.m., Hal Leonard Corporation booth (4618 Hall C),

Alan Parsons will discuss his DVD set, The Art and Science of Sound Recording. Attendees receive a free demo of ASSR, plus an autographed songbook. Reservations required. Contact 800-554-0626 or sales@halleonard.com.

Owl City live release out next month

2012-01-13T15:53:00.000-08:00

Owl City will give the world an all access pass into one of his headlining shows from the All Things Bright and Beautiful World Tour with the release of Owl City – Live from Los Angeles DVD. It will feature over 90 minutes of live performance, behind the scenes footage, exclusive interviews and more.

The 21-track concert was filmed at LA's Club Nokia in July 2011 and arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray Feb. 7. In addition to Owl City’s live performance, the physical release will include an exclusive interview and backstage footage. The full live performance was released exclusively on iTunes on Dec. 6 on Eagle Rock Entertainment. [MSRP $14.98 on iTunes, $14.98 for DVD, $19.98 for Blu-ray].

Owl City – Live from Los Angeles will give fans a rare chance to see into the world of Owl City, experiencing the excitement of his live show intimately with the mastermind behind the project: Adam Young. Fans can view the trailer for the DVD at www.owlcitymusic.com now in anticipation of the release and pre-order the DVD here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/owl-city-live-from-los-angeles/id479115367.

Track Listing:

1) The Real World

2) Cave In

3) Hello Seattle

4) Angels

5) Swimming In Miami

6) Umbrella Beach

7) I’ll Meet You There

8) Plant Life

9) Setting Sail

10) The Bird And The Worm

11) Lonely Lullaby

12) Fireflies

13) Dreams Don’t Turn To Dust

14) Kamikaze

15) Meteor Shower

16) Galaxies

17) Alligator Sky

18) Deer In The Headlights

19) Yacht Club

20) How I Became The Sea

21) If My Heart Was A House

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world.

Interview with Alex Woodard on all-star CD+book project "For the Sender"

2012-01-13T10:38:00.000-08:00

A version of my article originally appeared at nctimes.com/entertainment

Alex Woodard used an ambitious promotion to draw attention to his eponymous independent album in 2008. Anyone who pre-ordered it would receive a personalized tune.

“I got quite a few responses and it worked pretty well,” said the Encinitas-based singer/songwriter, in a phone interview from Las Vegas. “I wrote a lot of songs for folks on my kitchen table. Then the record deal fell apart.”

Despite the bad news, Woodard’s spirit was suddenly lifted after attending a neighborhood guitar pull-type gathering with prominent area musicians like Sean and Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Jon Foreman (Switchfoot) and Jordan Pundik (New Found Glory).

“It ended up being a fun and special night and became a recurring thing. Every time a few of us were in town, we’d get together at my house or across the street.”

Soon after, a letter arrived from a woman who had seen the album promotion and relayed how she puts pen to paper each autumn to commemorate the loss of a soul mate. She didn’t seek a special song, but wanted to share a piece of herself.

Woodard (pictured, below) told Sean about the letter and they were inspired to create the song “For the Sender.” That led to a unique same-titled book and CD project where a dozen songs were derived from letters by three other ladies and their life experiences:

Kim, director of San Diego homeless shelter StandUp for Kids; Alison, an Aussie medic serving victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti through Sean Penn’s relief organization and Katelyn, whose police officer husband Dan Bessant was slain during a 2006 gang-related Oceanside shooting, leaving behind an infant son.

Woodard and others from the gatherings, plus veteran tunesmith and fellow Leucadia resident Jack Tempchin contributed lyrics, vocals and music. Yet it took awhile to decide where the songs would end up.

“I really liked the idea of writing about other people’s stories and having another voice sing them,” Woodard said. “I was so tired of myself by then. When you’re an independent musician, you’re pushing yourself all the time.”

The adult alternative music artist put out five CDs since 2000, but it was the Americana-tinged ’08 album that found some success. “Halfway” garnered airplay at commercial country radio stations and a music video to “Reno” (with Sara Watkins on guest vocals) spent two weeks atop CMT’s Pure 12-Pack Countdown.

With “For the Sender,” Woodard discovered that “the most direct connection you can have with the listener is doing something for them.” About three-fourths of the way through the project, Woodard noticed a similar thread ran through the inviting folk, adult pop and alt-country songs and unexpectedly “found my own story in there toward the end.”

“The Table” revolves around a man whose partner dies of cancer. After penning the lyrics, Woodard’s dog Kona succumbed to bone cancer. The CD closes with an acoustic live take he did at Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta with Shawn Mullins.

Woodard produced the bulk of the “For the Sender” album and veteran Grammy-wining mixer David Thoener (Santana & Rob Thomas’ 1999 mega-hit “Smooth”) “worked his magic.” The Wallflowers' keyboardist Rami Jaffee even turns up on a track.

Recording at home without a timetable resulted in “crazy” scheduling.

“No one was around at the same time. If a song was almost done, I’d have to wait a couple months to get it finished with whoever was doing it with me; then have time for them to come by the house, perform and record it. It was definitely an exercise in patience.

“A lot of my job was to take my hands off the wheel and let it go where it wanted,” continued Woodard. “By the time we got it done, it was cohesive. It might be hard to define because of all these layers, but I don’t really care as long as it moves somebody.”

What was it like collaborating with Tempchin (pictured, left) - a seasoned pro best known for writing/co-writing hits for The Eagles (“Already Gone,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling”), Glenn Frey (“You Belong to the City,” “Smuggler’s Blues,” "The One You Love") and Johnny Rivers ("Slow Dancin', Swayin' to the Music" - originally released during Tempchin's stint in the Funky Kings)?

“He came by with his old Martin guitar and we wrote ‘Act of God.’ That’s one of the songs I’m most proud of [in my career]. Going back and forth with him was like being with an old friend.”

Tempchin didn’t want to stop. “He wanted to keep doing this on more letters because he liked the process so much. He was a fan of Sara Watkins, so I arranged for her to come over and write ['Broken Wide Open'] with the both of us. That was a big thrill for Jack.”

"I was happy to get a call from Alex about doing some writing," affirmed Tempchin. "There are some great musicians that live in my area that I have not met, so I thought this would be a chance to meet and play music with some new people. It worked out exactly like that, only much better than I thought.

"You never know when you sit down to write a song with people if anything is going to happen," Tempchin continued. "Once we got the phrase 'my heart was broken wide open and that let the light shine in," the rest of [it] just started rolliing out. To write a lyric and then instantly have Sara Watkins sing the line makes you think you are in heaven."

For Tempchin, the stately "Act of God" is "very unusual" and one "that I would never have written myself." The project was unlike anything he'd done before. "The musicians are great, it is for a good cause and it is a songwriting adventure. Also, Alex is a brilliant record producer. I am looking forward to doing more work on this."

Sara Watkins was equally moved by the entire experience.

“Working together with friends to tell a story from someone else’s life with a unified focus is unique to anything I’ve been a part of before. I’m grateful to the people who sent Alex those letters and shared a bit of their lives with us,” she said via email.

According to Woodard, the “whole crew” will be present for the live presentation at La Paloma Theater in Encinitas on Jan. 19. The first of two shows sold out based on word of mouth alone.

“That’s the one night everybody’s in town. Jordan is flying out from the East Coast after doing a show, getting on a plane, doing this and then flying back there the next morning. It’s been a challenge to get everybody in the same room, but everyone really believes in the project and the work.”

After spending three years on “For the Sender,” Woodard is glad to see everything finally come to fruition. “It’s been a very long process, but a beautiful one. At the shows, we’re going to present the letters and play the songs, but it’ll be done creatively.”

He plans to utilize video and audio recordings of each woman reading her letter. A limited number of books will be on sale there, but not with the album.

This spring, Woodard expects to put both print and audio components out simultaneously on a wider basis, but admits “we’ll have to see who embraces it. I think it would be a good [fit] for coffee shops and different lifestyle stores...I’m obviously going to need help. The book is a new thing for me. I’ve been a musician for so long that I’m not quite sure how that world works.”

Woodard deftly weaves his own life story and personal losses into the self-published 120-page book, with chronological background on the letters and songs. Designed by “Sender” song contributor Nena Anderson, the impressive, compact hardcover release looks like something you’d see on the shelves of Barnes & Noble.

“I’d like to do a different kind of book tour. I could take me, Sean and Sara Watkins or whoever is available out – have a rotating cast. We’d do book stores in the afternoon and play venues at night. That could be really cool.”

(Special thanks to Jack Tempchin and Sara Watkins)

Eric Hutchinson returns in April with new album

2012-01-13T10:35:00.000-08:00

Moving Up Living Down, the new album from Warner Bros. Records artist Eric Hutchinson will be released on April 17. It's the follow-up to his debut album Sounds Like This, which entered Billboard's Heatseekers chart at No. 1 and contained the RIAA-certified Gold single, "Rock & Roll," which was a No. 1 hit at AAA radio.

"Watching You Watch Him," the new single, provided the backdrop for the opening of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" season premiere and will be released on iTunes Feb. 7. Perezhilton.com recently premiered the behind-the-scenes video.

Sounds Like This sold more than 250,000 units, while its singles have sold more than one million copies combined.

Hutchinson recorded Moving Up Living Down with Mike Elizondo (Regina Spektor) and Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, James Morrison) after writing the songs at home in New York City. The songs reflect an ever-broadening musical palate, from exuberant folk-pop, reggae and soul.

The new album's title refers to "the chutes and ladders nature of life," explains Hutchinson. "There's no end game. It's about growing pains and I think I've grown a lot since the first album. This is the next step. I feel lucky, really lucky."

Hutchinson will tour in conjunction with the release of the new album. Dates will be announced soon.

Sinead O'Connor news

2012-01-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor will perform stateside next month for select performances with her new five piece band in LA and New York City. The dates are in support of ninth studio album How About I Be Me (And You Be You), out Feb. 21 via One Little Indian/MRI. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.

Produced by longtime collaborator John Reynolds, its ten tracks encompass songs about love and loss, hope and regret, pain and redemption, anger and justice. Last month, Sinead revealed two tracks. Stream “4^th And Vine” and “Take Off Your Shoes” here:

http://soundcloud.com/sineadoconnor/sets/2-new-songs

Recently, the song “Lay Your Head Down” from the film Albert Nobbs, which was written by Glenn Close and performed by Sinead O’Connor, was nabbed a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. The awards show will air on Jan. 15.

North American Tour Dates:

Feb. 20 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Cemetery

Feb. 21 Los Angles, CA @ Hollywood Cemetery

Feb. 23 New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom

Feb. 24 New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom

Expanded Elvis Country out now

2012-01-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday, Elvis fans celebrated the late King of Rock 'n' Roll's birthday. RCA/Legacy just released a newly expanded collection of Elvis Country.

Originally released in 1971, the album found the singer re-engaging with the Nashville country music community. The deluxe two-CD package is the first Elvis release in a year which marks the 35th anniversary of the artist’s passing and a year-long celebration of his life and legacy.

A full schedule of catalog reissues and compilations are planned by longtime Elvis archivists/co-producers Ernst Mikael Jørgensen and Roger Semon.

Included in the new package on CD 1 is the original 12-song album. It peaked at #12 and was certified RIAA gold. Three bonus tracks are drawn from the original recording sessions in 1970. On CD 2 is the original 11-song Love Letters From Elvis, also with three bonus tracks from the original sessions.

In his liner notes, writer Stuart Colman calls the original Elvis Country "a pivotal release, in that it served to maintain the momentum generated by the ’68 Comeback Special,’ the breakthrough in Las Vegas and Elvis Presley's long overdue return to touring."

Upon the original release, future Presley historian and biographer Peter Guralnick wrote in Rolling Stone: "[He] has come out with a record which gives us some of the very finest and most affecting music since he first recorded for Sun almost 17 years ago."

The idea of inserting excerpts of “I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago” (a track that did not appear on the original album but does appear on this edition as a bonus track) in between the album tracks gave the LP a conceptual feel that had never been encountered before. And the songs, from the high-energy rock of “I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” to the big ballads that were becoming an Elvis trademark (Eddy Arnold’s “I Really Don’t Want To Know” and Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away” among them) were some of Elvis’ greatest performances ever.

The songs chosen for Love Letters From Elvis included an inspired coupling of Muddy Waters’ rollicking “Got My Mojo Working” with “Keep Your Hands Off Of It” (“a peculiar combination of hypertension and soul,” as popularly characterized by Guralnick). It was offset by the ballads chosen as singles, “Rags To Riches” (the Tony Bennett hit of 1953), the inspirational “Only Believe,” and “Life.”

Barely five months separated the releases of Elvis Country and Love Letters From Elvis and the two albums have always been regarded together in the Elvis canon. In mid-1971, Elvis returned for more recording, resulting in 40-plus masters. Much of them were heard later that year on Elvis Sings the Wonderful World Of Christmas, and the following year on his gospel LP, He Touched Me.

This Legacy Edition tracks a seismic change in his recording career. It came at a moment which turned out to be a true turning point for him. “Elvis seemed inspired, singing with a passion and soulfulness that recalled Memphis,” wrote Jørgensen in his essential research guide, Elvis Presley: A Life In Music (St. Martin’s Press, 1998). “The band fell in with equal feeling, their confidence and expressiveness growing along with his. Both singer and band were performing out of genre, improvising their own rhythms and phrasing on the spot, challenging each other.” To paraphrase Jørgensen, “they had something to be proud of.”

CD 1: ELVIS COUNTRY – ORIGINAL ALBUM (originally issued January 1971, as RCA 4460) Selections: 1. Snowbird • 2. Tomorrow Never Comes • 3. Little Cabin On The Hill • 4. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On • 5. Funny How Time Slips Away • 6. I Really Don’t Want To Know • 7. There Goes My Everything • 8. It’s Your Baby, You Rock It • 9. The Fool • 10. Faded Love • 11. I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water • 12. Make The World Go Away • Bonus tracks: 13. I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago • 14. A Hundred Years From Now (studio jam) • 15. Where Did They Go, Lord (single, Hot 100 #33).

CD 2: LOVE LETTERS FROM ELVIS – ORIGINAL ALBUM (originally issued June 1971, as RCA 4530) Selections: 1. Love Letters • 2. When I’m Over You • 3. If I Were You • 4. Got My Mojo Working/Keep Your Hands Off Of It • 5. Heart Of Rome • 6. Only Believe • 7. This Is Our Dance • 8. Cindy, Cindy • 9. I’ll Never Know • 10. It Ain’t No Big Thing (But It’s Growing) • 11. Life • Bonus tracks: 12. The Sound Of Your Cry • 13. Sylvia • 14. Rags To Riches (single, Hot 100 #33).

http://www.facebook.com/elvis

elvis.com

Brendan Benson starts own label, hits road

2012-01-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

photo by Reid Rolls

Since Benson's last solo album was among my top 10 of 2009, I look forward to hearing what he comes up with next...

Singer/songwriter/producer and co-founder of The Raconteurs, Brendan Benson (pictured left), has launched his own record label and publishing company, Readymade.

This spring, Readymade will make its debut on the international stage with new releases from Benson

(What Kind of World - 4/24 through BrendanBenson.com) and the first artist signed to the label, Young Hines (Give Me My Change - 4/10).

Benson will preview his new album at SXSW 2012 as well as on May tour dates where Young Hines will support in the U.S.

Readymade was born in the '90s, when Benson released the Wellfed Boy demos under the imprint as a 12" vinyl. At the time, Readymade was merely a concept due to a lack of resources to build a proper record label. Over a decade later, Benson partnered with manager Emily White, who brought the idea to fruition, making Readymade a legitimate label around Benson's musical output.

Says White, "Brendan produced five albums in 2011, including his own. Launching Readymade gives us the option of a release platform tailored to each album under the same home."

Launching an artist-owned label has its obvious creative and business benefits from artistic freedom to master ownership. But it can hit roadblocks when it comes to funding the team members that help promote a new release. This is where Readymade has found a truly innovative approach to the traditional business model.

Rather than forego promotion or production quality, Benson and his manager developed a team of credible individuals and companies within the industry to work on album releases for a commission taken from music sales and song placements. The new approach allows them to operate without front-end costs while providing greater motivation and potential payoff for all parties involved.

Readymade will be bringing us Benson and Young Hines, as well as the upcoming Benson produced album from Irish duo The Lost Brothers. Each album will benefit from team members and relationships with Thirty Tigers, Downtown Music Publishing, Terrorbird, Big Hassle, Hard Boiled Inc., Toolshed, and Music Alternatives.

Tour Dates:

MARCH

13 - 16 - Austin, TX - SXSW (Brendan Benson only)

APRIL

28 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge (Additional support by The Howling Brothers)

MAY

03 - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live

05 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

10 - San Diego, CA - Casbah

12 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

www.brendanbenson.com

Dierks Bentley new album details

2012-01-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

Here's a press release I received recently...

Dierks Bentley is sharing new details about his sixth Capitol Nashville studio album, Home, in stores Feb. 7.

“I definitely stepped away and explored some things that were more on the fringe of country music for a little while,” said Bentley. “So, this record feels fresh. It doesn’t feel like a continuation of any other project or series of recordings. I love being able to try different things musically, and I'm so thankful my fans have followed me to those places. But I feel like my real 'Home' is in the center of country music."

Bentley's versatility as a writer shines on the disc that has already produced the hit “Am I The Only One." Bentley penned the good-time chart topper, as well as the disc’s spiritual anchor and title track "Home." Additional writing credits on the album are highlighted by the sonic seduction of “Breathe You In” and a father's love letter in “Thinking of You.”

On other tracks, the signature gravel in Bentley’s voice pairs flawlessly with the smokiness of Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild's vocal on “When You Gonna Come Around,” while legendary bluegrass players Sam Bush and Tim O'Brien reunite with Bentley on “Heart of a Lonely Girl.”

The country crankers "Diamonds Make Babies" and "5-1-5-0" have already been road tested and embraced by country music fans, who will also want to listen through the album’s closer for the recording’s hidden special guest.

Bentley is the only country singer who can claim performances from Lollapalooza to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Bonnaroo to the CMA Music Festival, a true artist carefully tailoring his sets to each.

He’s a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and last fall was invited to perform "Home" for the President at the White House. This devotion to developing all sides of his musicianship took Bentley on a successful journey into bluegrass music last year with his acclaimed and Grammy-nominated album Up on the Ridge. And over his diverse career, the CMA "Best New Artist" winner has sold over five million albums, scored eight No. one hits at country radio and collected 10 Grammy nominations.

Bentley will return ‘Home’ for a special album release show at Nashvlle's historic Ryman Auditorium on Feb. 2. The second leg of the Country & Cold Cans tour will resume on Feb. 15 with the first dates scheduled internationally in Canada and Australia.

HOME Track List:
1. Am I The Only One

2. Gonna Die Young

3. Tip It On Back

4. Home

5. Diamonds Make Babies

6. In My Head

7. Breathe You In

8. The Woods

9. When You Gonna Come Around (Featuring Karen Fairchild)

10. 5-1-5-0

11. Heart Of A Lonely Girl

12. Thinking Of You

For more album details and for a full list of tour dates, visit www.dierks.com.

An interview with MUTE MATH

2012-01-11T07:36:00.000-08:00

photo by Claire Vogel

[More excerpts from my interview will be posted later.]

If you want something done right, the DIY approach is often a good bet.

That’s what MUTE MATH learned after a highly difficult experience crafting Armistice in 2009.

The New Orleans post-rock band initially tried to take the reigns on the experimental album. Yet according to singer/keyboardist Paul Meany, there was “a lot of mistrust, too many cooks in the kitchen and tons of conflicts of interest” with multiple producers.

They ended up doing third and latest effort Odd Soul in Meany’s residential studio, sans interference from management or Warner Bros. Records. He and drummer Darren King handled the bulk of the work; Julian Raymond (Cheap Trick, Fastball) tied up loose ends.

Meany mixed half the album and King contributed art design/layout.

“We had to reinvent the process. Making the last record was very dysfunctional. There was no way we could do it that way again,” Meany admits, during a phone interview from his home in the Big Easy. “I still love Armistice and am proud of the end result, but it was just a mess to get there. We found the right way to record MUTE MATH is to have a degree of seclusion.”

MUTE MATH formed nearly a decade ago as a long-distance electronic experiment between Meany and Hill, who lived in Missouri (he’s now based in Texas ). It evolved into a band when bassist Roy Mitchell-Cardenas and guitarist Greg Hill joined. Their eponymous debut CD came out in 2006.

The following year, “Typical” became a minor modern rock radio hit on the back of the popular companion music video, shot in backwards motion and later nominated for a Grammy.

In 2010, the group put out a live DVD and was preparing to record when Hill decided to quit. After a quick meeting, the problem was solved within the ranks and Cardenas took on double duties.

“Roy is the best musician in the band and a natural guitarist. As we started writing and creating songs as a three piece, it immediately clicked and felt right. So we didn’t mess with that. We just went the distance.”

What comes across is a dynamic mix of late ‘60s classic rock (the Traffic-styled “Cavalries”), psychedelic, blues-based grooves (the lurching title track, intense single “Blood Pressure”) and MUTE MATH’s trademark electronica sounds (“All or Nothing,” vibraphone-led “Sun Ray”).

“Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin - he grew up on that type of rock ‘n’ roll,” Meany explains, about Mitchell-Cardenas. “It’s in his DNA as a guitar player and it’s how he thinks. The influence certainly comes through Odd Soul, so we went with it.”

Both King and Meany seized the opportunity to contribute a bit of six string too. “Guitar kind of became a new instrument for all of us. An opportunity that wasn’t there in the past opened up and we all drew inspiration from it.”

More new sonic textures came via an organ built in the 1940s. “My earliest memories are playing [the instrument] as a kid in church. Bringing that angle to this record was something we had fun with. I think this is the most high spirited and cohesive record we’ve done.”

King stepped up in the lyric department for the first time and help take some weight off Meany. “We’ve known each other for 15 years. Through time and us working so much together, the lyrical part became natural.

“There was something both of us felt like we wanted to get across,” in regards to their self-described “eccentric Christian” upbringings and past touring with ministries. The topic informs “Blood Pressure,” “Walking Paranoia” and the album title. “Those things were in our conscious mind as we were dreaming up concepts.”

One past lesson put to use on Odd Soul revolved around critiquing compositions. “The only voice you can trust is the guy you’re going to spend the next couple years on the road with. The opinions that matter most about my songs are Darren’s and Roy’s.”

Upon heading to LA to finish up the album, King spied legendary 1960s-70s timekeeper Jim Keltner’s Brazilian drum tree set up in an adjoining studio. He decided to use it for part of seven-minute, jam-based excursion “Quarantine.” An engineer found out and shut recording down halfway through.

“Darren immediately apologized and said he didn’t know what came over him. He just blacked out. If he sees this amazing Christmas tree-type drum, I can’t expect him to control himself. No matter who it belongs to, he’s going to start recording - as he should,” Meany says with a laugh. “I guess there is a protocol and an ethic we didn’t know about.” The band has since been banned from that studio.

While it might not be obvious, the singer affirms how New Orleans ’ rich music history has influenced MUTE MATH’s sound.

“Just take The Meters, a band that in our opinion wrote the textbook - or at least a chapter - on groove. Darren and Roy are certainly very inspired by that approach. I grew up listening to artists like them, The Neville Brothers, Dr. John and Professor Longhair. It’s all just the soundtrack of living in the city. We let ourselves go there more on this record.”

Last fall, the group toured with new recruit Todd Gummerman on lead guitar.

“It feels like the band is turning over a new leaf,” notes Meany. “There’s certainly no better way to build chemistry than to get jam packed into a small, sweaty venue. You’re tripping over and unplugging each other, trying to hold it together. You become a good band. It was a trial by fire for him.”

Now MUTE MATH is amped up for an extended tour set to launch this month.

“Playing this new record live was always in our conscious mind – to have something that was stage ready…I’m building an electric sanctuary, which is something we’re going to take out on the road. We’re raising the stakes and really excited. We’ll play the complete record, along with the old songs and present it as an electric 3-D interactive show.”

Tour Dates

1/26 Houston, TX...House of Blues

1/27 Austin, TX...Stubb's

1/28 Dallas, TX...House of Blues

1/29 Tulsa, OK...Cain's Ballroom

1/31 Denver, CO...Gothic Theatre

2/02 Los Angeles, CA...Club Nokia

2/03 San Diego, CA...4th and B

2/07 San Francisco, CA...Regency Ballroom

2/08 Sacramento, CA...Ace of Spades

2/10 Seattle, WA...Showbox SoDo

2/11 Spokane, WA...Knitting Factory

2/12 Boise, ID...Knitting Factory

2/14 Salt Lake City, UT...Club Sound

2/16 Kansas City, MO...Beaumont Club

2/17 Chicago, IL...House of Blues

2/18 Minneapolis, MN...First Avenue

2/28 St. Louis, MO...The Pageant

3/01 Grand Rapids, MI...The Intersection

3/02 Detroit, MI...St. Andrew's Hall

3/03 Columbus, OH...Newport Music Hall

3/04 Cleveland, OH...House of Blues

3/07 Boston, MA...House of Blues

3/08 New York, NY...Best Buy Theater

3/09 Philadelphia, PA...Trocadero

3/10 Washington, DC...9:30 Club

3/11 Norfolk, VA...The Norva

3/14 Charlotte, NC...Amos' Southend

3/16 Ft. Lauderdale, FL...Revolution

3/17 Orlando, FL...House of Blues

3/18 Atlanta, GA...The Tabernacle

Coachella 2012 lineup announced

2012-01-10T08:26:00.000-08:00

Bob Seger concert review: Los Angeles

2011-12-30T20:38:00.000-08:00

Photo by Armando Brown/courtesy OC Register

A version of my review originally appeared in the Orange County Register.

When Bob Seger sang “today’s music ain’t got the same soul” during his signature 1978 tune “Old Time Rock and Roll” early on Wednesday at Staples Center, the lyric rang especially true.

While Seger initially wrote it (but didn’t take credit) about ‘60s groups, the sentiment has since come full circle. Few, if any, young music stars currently making waves could match him in the heart and soul department.

Those qualities have helped the veteran heartland rocker – now at the half century mark as a recording artist - retain an enduring popularity despite sporadic tours and studio albums over the past two decades. 1994’s “Greatest Hits,” a perennial best-selling catalog album, has moved nine million copies.

Longtime enthusiasts have had plenty of freshly remastered Seger titles to savor lately. First came 1976’s superb sounding “Live Bullet” (frequently cited among critics as one of best concert recordings ever) and 1981’s equally stellar “Nine Tonight” (as a junior high schooler, I nearly wore out my vinyl copy upon release). Both contain bonus tracks.

“Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets,” a new 26-track retrospective, is available as a double CD or digitally. It is most notable for the mono mix of “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” and Seger’s passionate take on Tom Waits’ “Downtown Train” (a recent top 20 hit at Adult Contemporary radio).

Seger has recorded half a dozen songs for a new studio album expected sometime in 2012. One song features Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow (the three also appeared together on Rock’s last effort, “Born Free”). Although the 66-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has hinted about retirement, he apparently plans to hit the road again once it is finished.

Due to the long periods between studio albums and concert jaunts (the Los Angeles show was Seger’s first area appearance since 2007; prior to that, more than a decade elapsed), fans tend to speculate the reasons were about health instead of fatherhood.

One guy was overheard telling friends the musician had to lose weight and get a doctor’s approval to finally head out on the road again. True? Doubtful, considering Seger’s an avid runner and recently told Rolling Stone magazine, “on tour, it just falls away – violent exercise up there.”

Seger and the tight 13-piece Silver Bullet Band opened the engaging, nearly two hour set in a reflective manner with “Roll Me Away.” The singer was quietly accompanied by Craig Frost’s subtle piano work before everyone gradually joined in and went full throttle.

For many rock bands, the live show is all about the electric guitar. This evening, the emphasis was on brass – mainly Silver Bullet saxophonist Alto Reed and the four man Motor City Horns.

Their usually exhilarating take on the Otis Clay popularized “Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You” was just ok here. A poor vocal mix meant the frontman’s raspy (and occasionally croaky) singing was barely heard over the band at times.

Placing a now-trademark bandana around his head, Seger and company sizzled on “The Fire Down Below.” After playing the wistful “Main Street” seated on acoustic guitar, he and Reed really worked up a sweat on the party vibe of “Old Time Rock and Roll,” with the latter simultaneously stomping his feet and honking on the sax notes.

Lead guitarist Kenny Greenberg provided a dazzling solo on an intense “Travelin’ Man,” which segued nicely, as always, into the stately ballad “Beautiful Loser.” Seger gave the lowdown on several songs. Before playing piano on a wonderful “We’ve Got Tonight,” he recalled being inspired by dialogue from the Robert Redford film, “The Sting.”

Halfway through the show, things really started to cook with their usual energetic cover of Tina Turner’s “Nutbush City Limits” and the urgent psychedelic R&B of Willie Mitchell’s “Come to Papa,” where Greenberg played wah wah effects and Laura Creamer banged on a large drum. She and the other two female backing singers did some fine call and response action with Seger.

“Her Strut” was fiery as ever (I never knew it was about Jane Fonda) and the Vince Gill-penned rave up “Real Mean Bottle” was total fun. Elsewhere, a dramatic “Turn the Page” went down a storm inside the packed arena as fans sang along loudly to the classic rock radio fave.

The fast-paced “Katmandu” was a bit taxing for Seger, but still a total blast with Reed – among many long serving Silver Bullets for decades – who slid across the stage and did King Curtis-styled blasts.

Seated with an acoustic guitar again for encores of “Against the Wind” and “Night Moves,” Seger recalled living in L.A. and going to Zuma Beach amid the recording sessions for 1986’s “Like a Rock.” By the end of “Rock and Roll Never Forgets,” he left fans with a memorable concert.

Top 10 Concerts 2011

2011-12-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

Among the 68 concerts I've seen to date this year (counting each day of a festival as one), these performances made the biggest impression...

London Suede singer Brett Anderson

1. The London Suede, Coachella Festival, Indio, Calif. [April]

2. Keith Urban, Staples Center, Los Angeles [October]

3. k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang, Stagecoach Festival, Indio, Calif. [May]

4. Elbow, Coachella Festival, Indio, Calif. [April]

5. Duran Duran, Mayan Theatre, Los Angeles, for American Express "Unstaged" live webcast, directed by David Lynch [March]

6. Rodney Crowell, Stagecoach Festival, Indio, Calif. [April]

7. The Civil Wars, Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles [November]

8. OMD, House of Blues, Anaheim [October]

9. Noah and the Whale, House of Blues, Anaheim [November]

10. B.A.D., Grove of Anaheim [August]

My Top Albums of 2011

2011-12-24T09:35:00.000-08:00

Part of these lists originally appeared at ocregister.com/entertainment/music. While many music writers randomly choose their favorite albums, my top 10 picks are in order, according to who I thought put out the strongest releases.

TOP 10 ALBUMS 2011

1. Noah & The Whale, “Last Night on Earth” (Mercury) – These Brits used to be part of a nu-folk scene that included Mumford & Sons. Then scholarly singer/guitarist Charlie Fink led them onto a more fascinating path, where synths, sequencers and drum machines mixed with the trademark violin. The result was an energetic, life-affirming dose of pop/rock influenced by Springsteen, Pulp and Lou Reed, with a bit of spacey gospel thrown in for good measure.

2. Cold War Kids, “Mine is Yours” (Downtown/DGC) – The Long Beach band ditched most of the blues and self-described "soul punk" elements that characterized previous efforts and focused on a sleeker, reverb-soaked rock sound which fit well. A more dynamic sound paved the way for anthemic winners like "Skip the Charades" and “Royal Blue.”

3. Duran Duran, “All You Need is Now” (Tape Modern/S-Curve) – The pioneering British synth-pop band found the perfect producer in Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse), who urged them to use vintage instruments and channel the old school vitality of 1982's Rio. Simon Le Bon held his own alongside guest vocalists Kelis and Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters. Meanwhile, the musicians whipped up a sharp, frothy mix of future classics. Note: Although the album was released digitally in December 2010, the standard physical/deluxe CD versions came out early this year, which is when I first heard the entire disc.

4. Peter Bjorn and John, “Gimme Some” (Almost Gold/Startime International) - The Swedish pop/rock trio took a more immediate approach on their sixth studio release. Several songs were improvised, live takes with surprises galore, namely a dual punk blitzkrieg (“Black Book,” “Breaker Breaker”), infectious, danceable nugget (“Dig a Little Deeper”), extended kraut rock-meets-new wave (“I Know You Don’t Love Me”) and haunting ‘70s AOR (“Second Chance”). It is consistently strong from start to finish.

5. Florence + the Machine, “Ceremonials” (Universal Republic) – When raven-haired British songstress Florence Welch opens her mouth, you hear a visceral wailing rarely experienced since the early careers of PJ Harvey and Siouxsie Sioux. And it is astounding. With producer Paul Epworth (Adele) at the helm again, Welch’s darkly romantic chamber soul music - still teeming with regal harp and thundering drums – packs another emotional punch.

6. Young the Giant, “Young the Giant” (Roadrunner) – One of the Orange County music scene’s breakout success stories of 2011, the mesmerizing alt-rock band proved to be adept at dreamy excursions (“I Got,” “Strings”), rousing rockers with reverberating guitars (the top 10 modern rock hits “My Body,” “Cough Syrup”) and the occasional dose of spirituality (“God Made Man”). Morrissey was right on the money when he gave Young the Giant a rare seal of approval.

7. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, “Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds” (Sour Mash/Mercury) – Gallagher’s brother and other ex-members of Oasis failed to make a big splash with their solid, yet unspectacular first effort as Beady Eye. So the stakes were suddenly raised. The debut solo album by Noel - former mastermind behind Britain ’s biggest band of the ‘90s- doesn’t disappoint. Utilizing a chorale (evoking The Stones’ Beggar’s Banquet), New Orleans-styled brass, Ibiza dance strains and Kinksian pop, this is concise, nuanced and highly satisfying stuff.

8. The Airborne Toxic Event, “All at Once” ( Island ) – Armed with a wider, more compelling sonic palette than before, the Los Angeles alt-rock band easily avoided a sophomore slump. Literary-minded leader Mikel Jollet and company delved into rockabilly a la Johnny Cash, searing, politically-tinged, U2/Clash-inspired territory and new electronic textures with equal aplomb. Stellar string section enhancements by The Calder Quartet pushed the exhilaration quotient even further.

9. k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang, “Sing it Loud”(Nonesuch) – For the first time in decades, lang assembled a tried-and-true band, including new collaborator/onetime Guster member Joe Pisapia. It obviously rejuvenated her spirit. The outcome was a shimmering, adult alternative/pop/country mélange that accentuated those gorgeous pipes –especially the Roy Orbison-leaning “I Confess,” sublime cover of Talking Heads’ “Heaven” and beautiful “Water’s Edge.”

10. Dawes, “Nothing is Wrong” (ATO) - The L.A. rock band revisited vintage ‘70s singer/songwriter sensibilities in fine fashion on their warm and inviting second album. Front man Taylor Goldsmith deftly wrote confessional tunes about life in the 310 and expanded his electric guitar playing. Laid back group vocals brought to mind prime Paul Simon, CSN&Y and especially Jackson Browne (the latter even lent a hand and took them out on tour). An organic gem.

11. The Black Keys, "El Camino" (Nonesuch)

12. R.E.M, "Collapse Into Now" (Warner Bros.)

13. The Civil Wars, "Barton Hollow" (Sensibility)

14. Viva Brother, "Famous Last Words" (A&M/Octone)

15. The Cars, "Move Like This" (Hear Music)

16. The Vaccines, "What Did You Expect From the Vaccines? (Columbia)

17. White Lies, "Ritual" (Fiction/Geffen)

18. Edwyn Collins, "Losing Sleep" (Heavenly)

19. Elbow, "Build a Rocket Boys!" (Fiction/Cooperative Music)

20. My Morning Jacket, "Circuital" (ATO)

Honorable Mention

Ron Sexsmith, "Long Player, Late Bloomer" (30 Tigers)

The Naked and the Famous, "Passive Me, Aggressive You" (Universal Republic)

Peter Murphy, "Ninth" (Nettwerk)

Social Distortion, "Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes" (Epitaph)

Stevie Nicks, "In Your Dreams" (Reprise)

Scars on 45 announce headline tour

2011-12-21T20:32:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I caught this band opening for Jack's Mannequin and was very impressed. Here is some news...

Scars on 45 has announced its first U.S. headline tour (see below for itinerary). For complete details and to purchase tickets, visit scarson45.com.

Currently riding high with their hit single, “Heart On Fire,” the U.K. band has been named VH1’s “You Oughta Know” artist for January 2012.

The Bradford, England-based quintet recently visited VH1 headquarters in New York, where they performed a rendition of Rihanna’s “We Found Love.” The band’s stripped-down cover can be heard now at vh1.com.

Meanwhile, “Heart On Fire” has scored top 15 airplay at Triple A radio. The track’s companion video is streaming now at the band’s official YouTube channel.

“Heart On Fire” can be found now on Scars on 45’s recently released EP as well as the high profile "Grey's Anatomy Soundtrack, Vol. 4.

2012 TOUR DATES

January
25 San Francisco , CA Café du Nord
27 Portland , OR Doug Fir Lounge*
28 Boise , ID Neurolux*
29 Hadley, ID Sun Valley Brewery*
31 Denver , CO Soiled Dove Underground*

February
2 Minneapolis , MN The Varsity Theater*
3 Chicago , IL Schubas Tavern*
7 New York , NY Joe’s Pub*
8 Boston , MA Brighton Music Hall *
11 Charlottesville , VA The Southern*
11 Annapolis , MD Ram’s Head On Stage – Matinee Show*
21 Los Angeles , CA Troubadour*
23 San Diego , CA Anthology

Last Minute Music Gift Guide: U2, Nirvana, R.E.M.

2011-12-21T19:42:00.000-08:00

Achtung Baby is one of the crowning achievements in the U2 catalog and equal in stature to The Joshua Tree.

An experimental effort at the time, co-produced by Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno and Steve Lillywhite, it spawned five top 10 modern rock singles in America and blew the Irish band's worldwide popularity to gargantuan proportions.

For the 20th anniversary this year, Island/Interscope/UMe pulled out all the stops to provide the full-on reissue treatment.
There are five versions:

1. The remastered original album

2. A double disc deluxe edition with the original album plus B-sides and rarities.

3. Super deluxe edition with six CDs, four DVDs, a 92-page hardback book and 16 art prints in a wallet.

4. Limited release vinyl box set of four LPs (two pressed on translucent blue vinyl have remixes and B-sides) and a 16-page booklet.

5. Limited, numbered uber deluxe edition - a magnetic puzzle tiled box of six CDs, including the original album, follow-up album, Zooropa, B-sides, remixes and re-workings of previously unheard material recorded during the Achtung Baby sessions. Four DVDs, including 'From The Sky Down', 'Zoo TV:Live From Sydney', all the videos from Achtung Baby and bonus material, the Achtung Baby double vinyl album plus five clear 7" vinyl singles in their original sleeves, 16 art prints taken from the original album sleeve, an 84-page hardback book, a copy of Propaganda fan club magazine, four badges, a sticker sheet, and a pair of Bono’s trademark 'The Fly' sunglasses.

The 'Kindergarten' disc of demos/early versions of Achtung Baby tracks on the uber set will be a revelation for diehard enthusiasts. Hearing alternate arrangements and lyrics is a real eye opener.

"Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World," for example, is basically acoustic - the way Bono and The Edge would perform it on later concert tours. An eight-minute long "Love is Blindness" is even more haunting than the version we all know.

Longtime fans will already own many of the extended remixes, but those who don't will find a U2 well-suited for the dance floor. Among the B-side covers are the band's intriguing takes on the Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black," Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love" and Cole Porter's "Night and Day (remix)" - all available on the 2CD version.

The deluxe edition comes in a cardboard Digipak, which folds over, book-style, with two photos and the multiple image panels from the front/back covers. The track listing folds on the inside and there is no title on the CD spine, but those are minor quibbles. Full lyrics and credits are reproduced from the original booklet. All of the rare photos are saved for the expensive box sets.

1991 was obviously a great year for alt-rock music, as it also saw the release of Nirvana's groundbreaking Nevermind CD.

Reaching No. 1 in the U.S. and elsewhere, it eventually moved over 30 million copies and became a highly influential landmark, recording, thanks to such hits as "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Come as You Are" and "Lithium."

For the commemoration of the two decade-old classic, Geffen/UMe put out several versions of Nevermind. First is the original standalone album and a 2CD deluxe edition, featuring the remastered album and B-sides, the Smart Studio session demos (recorded with producer Butch Vig and making their full official release), "boombox" rehearsals and BBC sessions.

The "boombox" songs are rough and lo-fi. Along with other early sessions, they provide a glimpse of how the arrangements progressed or stayed the same. A pair of BBC recordings are just as exciting as Nevermind.

As for the packaging of the deluxe, the booklet has extra photos, credits and no lyrics (like the original). The studio tape box images are reproduced under the CD trays, which is a nice touch. The overall sound is just as dynamic and hard-hitting as it was back then.

Next up is a four LP, 180-gram heavyweight vinyl edition, featuring the same 40 tracks as the deluxe edition, a remastered CD of the original album, and digital versions of the standard and deluxe editions.

Then there's the limited, numbered super deluxe edition: only 10,000 copies were available in North America; 30,000 for the rest of the world. Featuring the original remastered album, previously mentioned studio and live B-sides, etc., the big selling point here is the exclusive Devonshire mixes - the album produced/mixed by Vig, as opposed to the commercially released final version produced by Vig and mixed by Andy Wallace.

Elsewhere on the super deluxe set is an exclusive 1991 Halloween concert at Seattle's Paramount Theatre in its entirety, available for the first time on DVD (which also features all four music videos from the album), a 90-page bound book full of rare photos, documents and other visual artifacts of the era.

The Paramount concert was transferred from 16mm film and multi-track audio and is the only known Nirvana concert shot to film. It has a 1080p high-definition picture in uncompressed 5.1 surround sound and stereo.

R.E.M.'s expanded 25th anniversary edition of Lifes Rich Pageant was one of the year's best reissues. It features the remastered original album, plus 19 previously unreleased demo recordings cut prior to the album’s studio sessions.

The commemorative release also adds new liner notes by music journalist/author Parke Puterbaugh, with the 2CD package presented in a lift-top box with a poster and four postcards. The remastered album was also reissued by Mobile Fidelity on 180-gram vinyl in faithfully replicated LP packaging.

R.E.M.’s fourth studio album, Lifes Rich Pageant was recorded by vocalist Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry at John Mellencamp’s Belmont Mall Studios in Indiana.

Produced by Don Gehman (John Mellencamp), Pageant includes the singles “Fall On Me” and “Superman.” The album was R.E.M.’s first to achieve gold certification and reached the band’s then-highest chart position of No. 21.

“The Athens Demos” includes drafts of Pageant’s 12 songs, plus additional demos of songs that were later recorded for other releases. Today, the songs sound crisp and clean on this new version and the demos are also top notch.

After announcing it was splitting up, R.E.M. also issued the comprehensive Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage, 1982 - 2011, on Warner Bros.

The 40-track album assembles material from R.E.M.'s entire back catalog, including both the I.R.S. (1982-87) and Warner Bros. (1988-2011) labels.

Liner notes were written by band members. Three new songs were finished by R.E.M. after they completed final album Collapse Into Now: "A Month of Saturdays," "We All Go Back To Where We Belong," and "Hallelujah."

Sarah McLachlan Christmas single benefits music school

2011-12-20T22:38:00.000-08:00

Sarah McLachlan and students from the Sarah McLachlan School of Music recorded an original Christmas song and music video last month featuring original lyrics by student Freya Cirulis (age 17) with music by SoM students.

"Space on the Couch for Two" features McLachlan on lead vocals with background vocals and instruments performed by students.

This song is offered free of charge on the Sarah McLachlan School of Music website: sarahschoolofmusic.com in hopes of continuing to provide opportunities for at-risk youth in Vancouver, BC to learn music. All proceeds from the sale of the song will go to support the Sarah McLachlan School of Music.

McLachlan posted the folowing on the website:

Christmas isn't going to be easy for many this year, so I have decided to give the world a gift of music! The students at the Sarah McLachlan School of Music and I have created a new Christmas song that you can download entirely for free! If you can afford a $1 or $5 contribution to our school, it would warm my heart as we continue to provide free music lessons to at-risk youth. Happy Holidays!

sarahmclachlan.com

spaceonthecouchfortwo.com

Paul Rodgers releases charity single

2011-12-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

Paul Rodgers has released a new studio recording that is available exclusively on-line via CD Baby and all other digital retailers.

The song "With Our Love" has been shared with fans and the public on his 62nd birthday (Dec. 17), with 100 percent of proceeds earmarked for the charities The Racehorse Sanctuary & Rocking Horse Children's Charity and Seraphim 12 Foundation.

The composition was co-written and performed by Perry Margouleff, whose friendship with Rodgers dates back 20 years when they met in the U.K. while Margouleff was performing with The Pretty Things.

All the charities are organizations Rodgers has offered significant support to in the past. He is a patron of one; Margouleff is senior board member of the other.

Rodgers said, "Horses are such a powerful part of human development and have been since the early ages. We humans owe them so much. My wife Cynthia and I have visited both sanctuaries and can't imagine any of these healthy vibrant beings being sent off to die."

The song "With Our Love," can be found on-line at cdbaby.com/cd/paulrodgers.
More information: paulrodgers.com

Last Minute Music Gift Guide: Pink Floyd, Stones, REO Speedwagon

2011-12-20T22:09:00.000-08:00

The following are some Christmas gift suggestions for the classic rock music fan on your gift list. Most of them can be found at brick and mortar Target, Walmart and Best Buy stores.

This past fall, Pink Floyd was subject to a back catalog reissue program from Capitol/EMI Music. You can read about the lavish "immersion" and "discovery" multi-disc box sets elsewhere on my blog.

The legendary British band's 1973 opus The Dark Side Of The Moon sounds brighter than past reissues ("Money" is a prime example) on the 2CD "experience" edition, which pairs the original 1973 album remastered on disc one and a previously unreleased performance of it from the following year at The Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England. The live set finds the musicians in top form, expanding the album's running time by more than 10 minutes with added flourishes.

Housed in a outdoor carboard sleeve on shiny black stock (it is succeptible to fingerprints), the

Digipak unfolds to display the iconic prism by Storm Thorgerson and sound waves images over three panels. The booklet includes archival concert photos of the band, more prism images, full lyrics and credits.

On 1975's Wish You Were Here, the 2CD "experience" edition, in addition to the stellar remastered original album - where the title track still can induce goosebumps, disc two has 50 minutes more from that '74 gig.

Here, the live material comprises "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and rarities "Raving and Drooling" and "You've Got to Be Crazy" (later reworked for the Animals LP).

Additionally, there's an alternate version of the Roy Harper-sung "Have a Cigar" and hard-to-find recording of "Wish You Were Here" featuring celebrated jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli.

Also housed in a outdoor carboard sleeve on shiny black and white stock, the "diving person" image is spread over three panels. The new 20-page booklet designed by Thorgerson includes larger studio recording shots from the initial CD issue, full lyrics and credits.

Pink Floyd's 1979 concept album The Wall was included in the catalog remaster series too, but no extras (see below).

Listening to it on headphones, I suddenly noticed audio verite and other dialogue snippets that eluded me before. The three panel gatefold has three large animated characters from the film, while the booklet includes the lyrics in fanciful handwritten script (though the credits are shrunk so tiny you need a magnifying glass to read 'em) and full credits.

Come February 27, The Wall will receive the multi-disc, deluxe "immersion" and "experience" treatment.

Everyone always blathers on about how The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street is such a classic. The double LP does have many strong tunes, but also a lot of material that should've been relegated to B-side status or left in the studio vaults. Last year's deluxe reissue exemplified that point.

I've always been more partial to 1978's Some Girls (Universal Republic/UMG), which is strong from top to bottom. The new 2CD deluxe edition sounds superb, especially Charlie Watts' snapping drums and Bill Wyman's funky bass on "Miss You" and Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood's chunky guitars on the rocker "Whip the Whip Comes Down."

Like Exile, the bonus tracks on Disc Two are almost worth the purchase price alone. In fact, they could work as a good standalone album.

Once again, producer Don Was oversaw the outtakes sessions - where the band made minor musical tweaks and added vocals on the demos where needed.

The rollicking “Claudine” (long known by bootleggers) is a real barnburner and "So Young" is a dirty counterpoint to "Some Girls."

Richards does a sad cover of Waylon Jennings' "We Had It All," while Mick Jagger handles Hank Williams' "You Win Again," enlivened by Ian Stewart's piano work. They provide a good countryish reflection to "Faraway Eyes" on the main album.

photo by Helmut Newton/courtesy UMG

Elsewhere, John Fogerty guests on - of all things - handclaps during a fun version of Freddy Cannon's "Tallahassee Lassie" (done during the recent Was sessions), the much discussed "No Spare Parts" is a highlight and Jagger caps everything off alone on piano for "Petrol Blues."

The booklet doesn't have lyrics, but features several previously unseen Helmut Newton shots from a '78 photo session (see one at left) and expanded artwork of the female hair/lingerie catalog on the cover.

After you open the Digipak, there are four panels of artwork in different colors. "Love and Hope and Sex and Dreams: Punk Rock, Disco, New York City and the Trimuph of the Rolling Stones' Some Girls," an essay by Rolling Stone magazine's Anthony DeCurtis, nicely puts the recording and era into perspective.

Among the extras on the super deluxe edition: of a bonus DVD of music videos, preview of the new live DVD "Some Girls: Live in Texas '78," a hardcover book, 7” single of Beast Of Burden/When The Whip Comes Down in its banned sleeve, poster, postcards and more.

Back in 1981, REO Speedwagon ruled the pop and rock charts with its 11th album, the multi-platinum Hi Infidelity, plus hit singles “Keep on Loving You,” “Take It On the Run” (both hit the top 10), “Don’t Let Him Go,” “Tough Guys” and “Out of Season.”

To mark the 30th anniversary, Sony Legacy/Epic put out a new 2CD edition over the summer. Diehard enthusiasts (I was a member of the fan club at age 12) will definitely want this version. Why? The previously unreleased "Crystal Demos" of nine of the album’s 10 songs (except "Out of Season").

Named after Hollywood's Crystal Studios, where they were recorded in 1980, the tapes had been missing for 28 years until amazingly being rediscovered in the band's manager's garage in an old box marked '1976 photos.'

Far from rough versions, as singer Kevin Cronin says in the detailed liner notes: "half the performances on the final version of Hi Infidelity are from [these demos] and the other half were overdubs we added to those." You really get a glimpse of what was later added to the tunes, whether it is missing background vocals, verse, guitar solo, etc.

The CD booklet is filled with archival photos (band and memorabilia), lyrics, full credits and background from Cronin and former guitarist Gary Richrath.

Paul McCartney tackles standards, more on next album

2011-12-19T08:40:00.000-08:00

Hear Music/Concord

This press release on Macca's latest musical offering just arrived...

While many a musician is often asked about the tunes that have influenced their songwriting, it is not a question Paul McCartney ordinarily gets to answer - until now.

Paul is about to offer a glimpse into "the songs which inspired the songs" with the upcoming release of a brand new album of those standards he grew up listening to in his childhood - plus two brand new McCartney compositions. The album, currently untitled, will be released on Hear Music/Concord Records on Feb. 7.

With the help of Grammy Award-winning producer Tommy LiPuma and Diana Krall and her band, as well as guest appearances from Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder, McCartney's new album is a deeply personal journey through classic American compositions that, in some cases, a young Paul first heard his father perform on piano at home.

As authentic and daring a musical statement as he could make, this is the album Paul has been thinking about making for more than 20 years - and probably the last thing his fans are expecting. "In the end it was 'Look, if I don't do it now, I'll never do it," he says.

In short, Paul believes it is about time "the songs me and John based quite a few of our things on" received the recognition they deserve. Moreover, the record also features a couple of new original McCartney compositions in the spirit of those classics.

"When I kind of got into songwriting, I realized how well structured these songs were and I think I took a lot of my lessons from them," Paul explains. "I always thought artists like Fred Astaire were very cool. Writers like Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, all of those guys - I just thought the songs were magical. And then, as I got to be a songwriter I thought it's beautiful, the way they made those songs'."

Determined to approach the record in a new and unique manner, Paul enlisted the help of LiPuma and Krall and her band who delivered ultra-high quality musicianship and were completely in tune with Paul's restraint and feel for the music.

In the studio, the recording of this album was also a new challenge for Paul who, for the first time ever, performed exclusively in the vocal booth without no instrument - no guitar, no bass, no piano - which led to a vocal performance like no other in his career.

He adds, "It was very spontaneous, kind of organic, which then reminded me of the way we'd work with The Beatles. We'd bring a song in, kick it around, when we found a way to do it we'd say 'Okay, let's do a take now' and by the time everyone kind of had an idea of what they were doing, we'd learnt the song. So that's what we did, we did the take live in the studio."

"It was important for me to keep away from the more obvious song choices; so many of the classic standards will be unfamiliar to some people. I hope they are in for a pleasant surprise."

The album was recorded at Capitol Studios in LA, New York and London throughout 2011. It also features guest musicians Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder, respectively, on the original compositions 'My Valentine' and 'Only Our Hearts'.

Full tracklisting to be announced soon.

The Fall's latest album available now

2011-12-18T15:51:00.000-08:00

Influential Manchester, England post-punk band The Fall have just unveiled their 29th studio album Ersatz G.B on Cherry Red Records/MVD.

Boasting a slightly rawer sound than 2010's Your Future, Our Clutter, it finds vocalist Mark E. Smith co-producing with Simon Archer and in a cantankerous mood, as usual.

Surprisingly, the lineup remains the same for the third time in a row - reportedly the first time that's happened since Smith formed the group in 1976: Peter Greenway (lead guitar), Keiron Melling (drums) and Elena Poulou (keyboards/vocals).

Three of the songs stretch past the six-minute mark as Smith spits out stream of consciousness rants, that are both puzzling and humorous.

On the rockabilly-leaning "Mask Search," he admits his disgust about Snow Patrol's omnipresence and on "Nate Will Not Return," references a character from TV's "Gossip Girl." The truly bizarre track (what would a Fall disc be without one) is definitely the heavy "Greenway," based on "Gameboy," by Greek comedy/metal band Anorimoi. Here, Smith growls in a menacing tone. The plaintive "Happi Song" provides a welcome respite from the racket as Puolou sings lead in a simple voice that has been likened to Nico.

Early in The Fall's career, it was championed by late BBC DJ John Peel, who famously said "they are always different; they are always the same." That still holds true on Ersatz G.B, which is recommended for diehard fans.

For more information, go to: http://ersatzgb.yolasite.com/

Gary Numan back with new music

2011-12-18T12:18:00.000-08:00

Gary Numan just released Dead Son Rising, his new studio album, via RED distribution in the U.S. and globally available through numan.co.uk.

More experimental and often more atmopsheric than prior efforts Jagged, Pure and Exile, Numan co-wrote and produced it with Ade Fenton.

Longtime fans and industrial music enthusiasts of bands like NIN will find plenty to savor, especially the tracks "The Fall" and "We Are the Lost."

Last week, the new wave pioneer guested on NPR's World Cafe; the show is archived at npr.org/programs/world-cafe.

Currently, the prolific Numan is finishing up yet another new studio album for 2012, called Splinter. This past summer, he collaborated with Battles on their single "My Machines" and appeared in the music video for it.

In 2010, Numan celebrated the 30th anniversary of groundbreaking LP The Pleasure Priniciple with a successful U.S. tour. More dates are expected soon.

The Naked and Famous concert review: Santa Ana, CA

2011-12-17T20:18:00.000-08:00

photo by Kelly Swift

A version of my review originally appeared at ocregister.com/entertainment/music

An intriguing yin and yang dynamic accentuates the music of The Naked and Famous.

It’s opposite what you’d normally expect from male/female frontpersons: guitarist Thom Powers tends to sing in a quiet, hushed fashion, while keyboardist Alisa Xayalith often leans toward a more exuberant, Bjork style (both are pictured, left, from an LA show earlier this month). Their album title Passive Me, Aggressive You is totally appropriate as a result.

The New New Zealand alt-rock band formed in 2008. That captivating debut effort emerged Down Under last year, reached the pole position, spawned a No. 1 single (“Young Blood”) and helped the young Auckland natives snag seven trophies at the New Zealand Music Awards, which is equivalent to our Grammys.

Passive Me, Aggressive You arrived Stateside the following spring and was also well-received. “Punching in a Dream” is currently top 20 on Billboard’s Modern Rock radio chart; the track “Young Blood” sits atop the KROQ/106.7 FM play list.

Although The Naked and Famous toured America consistently in 2011, I never had the opportunity to catch a Southern California show. After seeing them on the station’s Almost
Acoustic Christmas concert web cast last Sunday and being mightily impressed, my attendance at the local gig was suddenly imperative.

Another good reason: Thursday night’s packed Observatory (formerly Galaxy) appearance was relatively cozy, compared to when the group steps up to the much larger Wiltern in L.A. on March 21 (tickets are on sale now, $27-$34, through livenation.com).

Opening the hour-long set with a brief, atmospheric “The Ends,” Powers – whose handsome looks are reminiscent of Haircut 100’s Nick Heyward circa 1984 - and Xayalith’s pipes blended smoothly. Then everyone transitioned into the near industrial assault of “A Wolf in Geek’s Clothing.”

Fans that filled the pit area immediately went bonkers upon the initial sleek, plinking synth lines in “Punching in a Dream” and danced around. Xayalith followed suit as she sang lead on the exhilarating tune (The pristine mix was another fine example of the Observatory’s recently upgraded sound system; I almost felt like I was listening to a CD).

Both singers’ monotone delivery on “The Sun,” plus Aaron Short’s sedate keyboard work, set an ominous tone. The LED screen behind them projected selected pixilated images related to the song’s risqué music video banned from YouTube (the clip is available at thenakedandfamous.com). The pair’s vocal phrasing steadily increased with Powers’ slicing electric guitar and built up tension before deflating into a slow, Radiohead-esque piano finish.

Other highlights included Jesse Wood’s crashing drums amid the dramatic “Frayed,” where the sensual male/female vocal interplay recalled Berlin’s “Sex (I’m A).” A majestic wash of ‘80s synths (there were four onstage, used at different junctures) had a mid-period New Order vibe during the frantic, dancey electro-pop of “All of This”; the soaring “Eyes” was more dense, a la M83.

The crowd clapped along during the enticing main set closer “Girls Like You” - an emotional showcase for Powers that could’ve easily slotted on an old John Hughes film soundtrack like “Pretty in Pink,” but still comes across entirely modern. The Naked and Famous capped off the encores with a high energy “Young Blood.” The band's enthusiasts went mad for it, pogoing and singing along at high volume as Xayalith (a real spitfire) danced around some more.

All told, this was an excellent concert from the promising Kiwis.

Beach Boys 50th Anniversary news

2011-12-16T21:12:00.000-08:00

After rumors, speculation and conflicting info, the truth about the Beach Boys reunion is finally official. Read on for details...

The founding members of The Beach Boys will reunite for a global 50th Anniversary Celebration next year. Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks will come together for a new studio album, commemorative catalog releases with Capitol/EMI and a 50-date international tour to begin in April with a headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and other events to be announced.

Brian Wilson says, “This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again.”

Mike Love says, "We got together at Capitol Records and re-recorded ‘Do It Again.’ Brian and I wrote that song which went to No. 1 in Great Britain, Australia and elsewhere some 44 years ago. Brian paid me a compliment saying, ‘How can a guy sound that great so many years later?’ Later on, while working out some harmonies on a new song Brian had written, I got a chance to return the compliment. It was a thrill to be around a piano again with Brian, Alan and Bruce and experience firsthand the brilliance of Cousin Brian's gift for vocal arrangements. I am very much looking forward to David Marks joining us and thrilling with his surf guitar licks. Music has been the unifying and harmonizing fact of life in our family since childhood. It has been a huge blessing that we have been able to share with the world. Wouldn't it be nice to do it again? Absolutely!”

Al Jardine says, “The Beach Boys were recently inducted into the California Hall of Fame. From our humble beginnings as brothers, cousins and friends, we have been honored to sing the praises of California, and I'm really excited for our fans to be able to see us again in concert on the world stage, and to celebrate our 50th anniversary together with a new studio album.”

Bruce Johnston says, "I will be looking forward to singing Brian Wilson's melodies and Mike Love's lyrics once again in concert with many of the original band members, but imagine what we all could come up with vocally in a recording studio atmosphere under Brian's musical direction."

The Beach Boys have already recorded several songs for their new album, to be released in 2012 by Capitol/EMI, with more tracks to be recorded before its completion. The as-yet-untitled album, the first to feature all of the band’s surviving original members in decades, is being produced by Brian Wilson and executive produced by Mike Love.

The Beach Boys and Capitol/EMI have also teamed up for an anniversary campaign spotlighting the band’s entire catalog, with several new commemorative releases planned for 2012, including a new hits collection and a career-spanning box set.

Founded in Hawthorne, California in 1961, The Beach Boys were originally comprised of the three teenaged Wilson brothers: Brian, Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and school friend Al Jardine. In 1962, neighbor David Marks joined the group for their first wave of hits on Capitol Records, leaving in late 1963, and in 1965, Bruce Johnston joined the band when Brian Wilson retired from touring to focus on writing and producing records for the group. For five decades, America’s first pop band to reach the 50 year milestone has recorded and performed the music that has become the world’s favorite soundtrack to summer.

The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records in July 1962 and released their first album, "Surfin’ Safari," that same year. The album spent 37 weeks on the Billboard chart, launching the young group known for its shimmering vocal harmonies and relaxed California style into international stardom. The Wilson/Love collaboration resulted in many huge international chart hits, and under Brian Wilson’s musical leadership, the band’s initial surf-rock focus was soon broadened to include other themes, making The Beach Boys America’s preeminent band of the 1960s.

In 1966, The Beach Boys were one of the first bands to found its own record label with the launch of Brother Records, Inc. (BRI), with the band’s members as its shareholders and Capitol Records as its distribution partner. BRI continues to manage The Beach Boys’ intellectual property, including the band’s catalog with Capitol/EMI and other label partners, as well as its name, logos, image and likeness.

The Beach Boys continue to hold Billboard/Nielsen SoundScan’s record as the top-selling American band for albums and singles, and they are also the American group with the most Billboard Top 40 chart hits (36). ‘Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys’ is fast approaching triple-Platinum sales status, and ‘The SMiLE Sessions,’ released to worldwide critical acclaim in November, has been heralded as 2011’s #1 Reissue of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and recipients of The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award, The Beach Boys are an American institution that is iconic around the world.

The Shins news

2011-12-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

The Shins have confirmed a March release for their fourth album, "Port Of Morrow." It will be released jointly on James Mercer's own Aural Apothecary label and Columbia Records.

Recorded in LA and Portland, Mercer handled all songwriting duties, lead vocals and majority of instrumentation. The record was produced by Greg Kurstin and mixed by Rich Costey. The cover art was created by Jacob Escobedo.

An exact release date and touring plans will be announced soon. As with the live dates earlier this year, the upcoming tour will see James Mercer leading a Shins lineup of Yuuki Matthews (bass), Jessica Dobson (guitar), Richard Swift (keyboards) and Joe Plummer (drums).

The album's track listing:

1. The Rifle's Spiral

2. Simple Song

3. It's Only Life

4. No Way Down

5. September

6. Bait and Switch

7. Fall of '82

8. For A Fool

9. 40 Mark Strasse

10. Port of Morrow

Kaiser Chiefs album and U.S. tour details announced

2011-12-16T16:13:00.000-08:00

Danny North

Leeds, England’s Kaiser Chiefs surprised the industry and fans this past summer when they released fourth studio album "The Future Is Medieval" via an original digital platform, allowing fans to create and sell their own versions of the album and choose from album art designed by lead singer Ricky Wilson.

Now the band is planning their US return with forthcoming release, "Start The Revolution Without Me" (Fiction/Cooperative Music/Downtown), featuring five never-before released tracks. Next year, the band will be hitting the road for a US tour (full tour dates below).

The musicians worked with producers Tony Visconti (David Bowie, Iggy Pop, T. Rex), Ethan Johns (Kings of Leon, Ray LaMontagne) and Owen Morris (Oasis, The Verve) and tried producing their own tracks with drummer/songwriter Nick Hodgson at the controls. Out of this came Kaiser Chiefs’ most forward thinking output to date.

First track on the album, “Little Shocks,” sets the tone for the record’s sonic electronic experimentation. U.S. single “On The Run,”(produced by Stephen Street, who also did the band’s debut album, "Employment") sees the band voicing out against the cruel opinions of modern society. Closing track, “If You Will Have Me,” is a Lennonesque orchestral ballad, a son’s message to his estranged parents. "Start The Revolution Without Me" shows a more sinister side to the band's songwriting. The lyrics and melodies are a bit darker this time around, and it's a successful shift in direction.

The band has released three albums Stateside, including "Employment," "Yours Truly, Angry Mob" and "Off With Their Heads." Kaiser Chiefs have sold over six million albums worldwide and won three Brit Awards.

Track listing for "Start The Revolution Without Me":

1. Little Shocks

2. On The Run

3. Heard It Break

4. Kinda Girl You Are

5. Starts With Nothing

6. When All Is Quiet

7. Cousin In The Bronx

8. Things Change

9. Man On Mars

10. Problem Solved

11. Can't Mind My Own Business

12. Child Of The Jago

13. If You Will Have Me

U.S. Tour Dates:

March 6 Boston, MA @ House Of Blues

March 8 New York, NY @ Terminal 5

March 9 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

March 10 Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle

March 12 Houston, TX @ House Of Blues

March 14 Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues

March 20 San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore

March 22 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom

March 23 Seattle, WA @ Showbox Theatre

March 24 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom

April 17 Toronto, ONT @ Phoenix Theatre

April 19 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues

Amos Lee EP due in February

2011-12-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

On Feb. 14, Amos Lee will release a six-song collection of previously unheard songs as a CD, digital, and 10”-vinyl EP, entitled As The Crow Flies.

The songs were recorded during the sessions for Lee’s critically acclaimed album Mission Bell, which was produced by Calexico frontman and multi-instrumentalist Joey Burns. The tracks on As The Crow Flies are also produced by Burns and feature musical backing by Burns and Calexico drummer John Convertino.

Mission Bell debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums and Billboard Rock Albums charts when it was released last January, earning the Philadelphia-born singer-songwriter the highest chart position and best sales week of his career. Earning critical raves from scores of media outlets, the album also spawned the Triple A radio hit “Windows Are Rolled Down,” which gave Lee his debut No. 1 single.

In other Lee news, he was featured on PBS special ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival. Featuring the genre’s established and rising artists performing at the 10^th Americana Music Association Honors and Awards ceremony at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Lee joined a lineup that included Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Civil Wars, and The Avett Brothers. Watch his stellar performance of “Cup of Sorrow” here.

This month, Lee wraps up an amazing year with his final live performances of 2011, which include two shows with one of Lee’s heroes, singer-songwriter John Prine, on Dec. 16-17. Lee also recently captured an amazing performance at Tucson’s historic Fox Theatre with members of Calexico for the upcoming fourth season of Public Television’s hit program Live From The Artists Den with the episode due to air in early 2012.

For a sneak peek, watch the trailer here: http://artistsden.com/2012/. In January, Lee heads to Europe for two-sold out shows in Amsterdam, as well as shows in Paris and London — all with support from The Punch Brothers.

The track-listing for As The Crow Flies:

“The Darkness”

“Simple Things”

“Say Goodbye”

“May I Remind You”

“Mama Sail To Me”

“There I Go Again”

Upcoming tour dates:

12/16 Mobile, AL Saenger Theatre (w/John Prine)

12/17 New Orleans, LA Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts (w/John Prine)

1/16 Amsterdam Paradiso (w/The Punch Brothers) SOLD-OUT

1/17 Amsterdam Paradiso (w/The Punch Brothers) SOLD-OUT

1/19 Paris La Cigale (w/The Punch Brothers)

1/21 London Shepherd’s Bush Empire (w/The Punch Brothers)

Extra Q&A with Switchfoot

2011-12-11T21:01:00.000-08:00

Here are more excerpts from my interview with Jon Foreman of Switchfoot…

Q: How did the European tour go last month?

It was probably my favorite time over there. The fans were great. It’s interesting when you travel the world and get a chance to see how different songs go over in different communities. Certain songs resonate better in Europe that they do over here.

Q: For ‘Vice Verses, the band worked on a select number of songs and honed them, instead of having dozens to pare down like on the last album.

We’ve tried the democratic process, where we all take blind votes. We’ve done records where every day, we’re taking another vote. You end up spending more time talking about the songs than you do actually recording them. For this album, Tim and I would filter through the material and focus more on the music, rather than which song to record that day.

Q: What was the experience like working with producer Neal Avron this time around?

He’s a very concise thinker and really good with songs. To work with him from the start, you have this cerebral element of how you’re going to get where you want to go. It’s much more charted out and thought through, rather than just throwing paint on a canvas and seeing where it goes.

Q: Drew has referred to “Where I Belong” as a song at the heart of the band lyrically. You’ve said at some shows on tour that it’s the last song you want to play if the band ever broke up. What was your mindset while writing it?

While you’re in the studio, a lot of times you get divorced from the live experience. I wanted to remind myself why I play [music] and thought ‘what songs do I want to sing live’...[Now], it’s always a moving experience to play it live.

Q: Have you found people are very surprised after hearing “Selling the News,” which is a real departure for the band?

Yeah, it has been for some folks. There are always songs we’ve never released that feel a lot more adventurous than that one. [Since] they’re unreleased, they’re a part of you that no one has ever heard.

Q: The subject matter really makes you think.

At the moment, we have to remind ourselves how we define news. News is happening all around us. Your sister having a baby is news; it’s not necessarily something that’s going to hit the front page…sensational stories are going to come to the top. That becomes the backbone of what we think is the world and what is happening in the world, when in reality, that’s a very small portion of what would be deemed ‘news.’

Q: You’ve been periodically writing blogs for Huffington Post. Do you find that has been a good outlet to get your thoughts across on ideas that don’t fit into Switchfoot songs?

It’s been great to find space for a broader idea that might not fit into a three-minute pop song and fun to figure out how to write in that style and a really great outlet to get other ideas out.

Q: This year marked the band’s 15^th anniversary. Can you believe it’s been that long?

In once sense, I’ve always been playing music. I was in a Led Zeppelin cover band in junior high. In that sense, it feels like I’ve been in a band all my life. In the other sense, it feels like just yesterday we were starting the band. Time has definitely flown by and we’ve enjoyed every moment of what we’ve done. Maybe the old adage, ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ is definitely true for us.

Q: Do you find your solo projects in recent years like the seasonal EPs and Fiction Family album with Sean Watkins help you engage in other musical avenues you can’t with Switchfoot?

It’s invigorating to have other outlets for different songs because I feel that strengthens everything. You’re not put in a box in any location. For me, to have the seasonal EPs to throw mellower songs that would never fit on a Switchfoot record. Then to write with Sean Watkins and have that record be something completely different - to come back to rock ‘n’ roll, Switchfoot-style, it feel invigorating to dream up what you can do. I feel like ‘Hello Hurricane’ and ‘Vice Verses’ definitely came out of that limitless space where anything goes.

Peter Hook and the Light out now on CD

2011-12-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

Following its digital release last May, Peter Hook And The Light’s debut EP “1102/2011” is now available as an extended physical CD edition through American indie label, 24 Hour Service Station.

It includes four instrumentals and two unreleased a capella takes of singer Rowetta’s treatment of "Atmosphere."

Reissued with 10 tracks in a jewel box sleeve adorned with James Chadderton’s acclaimed, visually stunning cover, the CD release is currently being sold at independent retail music stores, plus iTunes and other digital sites.

The 1102/2011 EP takes its name from the palindromic recording date of Feb. 11, 2011 at Blueprint Studio, Salford, U.K. and features the four tracks from the EP, Rowetta’s versions of “Atmosphere”, “New Dawn Fades” and “Insight” while Peter Hook sings on “Pictures In My Mind.”

“Pictures In My Mind” was an unfinished Joy Division track unearthed by the band’s “bootleg society” from a rehearsal tape stolen in 1977, setting it between Warsaw and Unknown Pleasures. The punky tune has been completed for the first time by Hooky And The Light for the release.

Having performed with the band consistently since 2007 at events such as Versus Cancer, 1234 Festival, Vintage and The Factory gigs, The Light’s guest vocalist Rowetta performs three of the classic Joy Division tracks which she has been singing live with the band over the past year, “Insight, “New Dawn Fades” and “Atmosphere,” delivering intensely passionate performances.

Receiving great reviews for her vocal performances from Joy Division fans and Factory aficionados, Hooky decided to record Rowetta’s unique renditions of these tracks, and she joined the band at Blueprint to lay down the vocals in February 2011.

Videos for both “Pictures In My Mind” and “Atmosphere” can be viewed on the Peter Hook And The Light YouTube channel, youtube.com/peterhookandthelight, along with footage from other The Light concerts.

The design for the EP is a stunning post apocalyptic Manchester streetscape by local Manc artist James Chadderton, who works as a tutor in the city in 3D and Graphic design. Inspired by the nightmarish futuristic visions of movies like The Terminator, Dawn Of The Dead, and the BBC’s classic “Threads” series, many assume that James’s artwork depict post nuclear fallout but James prefers to characterise them as “human devoid wastelands where the buildings have been left to decay.

Peter Hook And The Light features Peter Hook on vocals and bass, his son Jack Bates on bass, Nat Wason on guitar, Andy Poole on keyboards and Paul Kehoe on drums. Rowetta performs as guest vocalist at selected gigs.

Having performed together at the opening night of The Factory in February 2010, The Light have undertaken extensive tours of mainland Europe, Australia and New Zealand, America, as well as numerous UK and international festivals.

Following their well received Closer live appearances across the United States in Sept. 2011, their second American tour and their debut visits to Canada and Mexico the same month, The Light continue with live dates across Europe to the end of '11 and have just announced a return tour of Australia for April 2012.

Track Listing:
1. Atmosphere (Featuring Rowetta)
2. Pictures In My Mind (Featuring Peter Hook)
3. New Dawn Fades (Featuring Rowetta)
4. Insight (Featuring Rowetta)
5. Atmosphere (Instrumental Mix)
6. Pictures In My Mind (Instrumental Mix)
7. New Dawn Fades (Instrumental Mix)
8. Insight (Instrumental Mix)
9. Atmosphere (A Capella)
10. Atmosphere (A Capella Raw Comp)

Haçienda Records is the official label of legendary Fac 51 The Haçienda and based exclusively at its website at fac51thehacienda.com and has worked closely with American indie label 24 Hour Service Station, on the physical releases from Hook projects Freebass, Man Ray and now The Light.

Originally formed as a an outlet for the work of original club owner and Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook, Haçienda Records has always intended to publish other artists, both new and established, to provide a platform for exposure in the industry.

Aside from The Light, Haçienda Records releases include humanizer’s debut EP “This Tiny Universe” and the first release from Canadian techno prodigy Richie G; his “Baum” EP has remixes by Hernan Cattaneo & Soundexile and Jesper Dahlback.

Section 25 brought out “Invicta,” their first EP of brand new material since the recent passing of Larry Cassidy, which also saw Jon Dasilva’s The Virgo Mechanically Replayed “Factory Fatigue” album unveiled.

Next month will see the debut EP from Super White Assassin with the “In Formation” EP. Fore more information, go to:

face51thehacienda.com

peterhook.co.uk

24hourservicestation.com