Kate Pierson steps out from B-52's

Kate Pierson - co-lead vocalist and founding member of the B-52's - has announced her debut solo album Guitars and Microphones, released Feb. 17 via Lazy Meadow Music/Kobalt Label Services. Produced by Tim Anderson (Ima Robot) and featuring Nick Valensi of The Strokes on several tracks, Kate collaborated on songwriting with Sia who also executive produced the album.

The song “Bring Your Arms” is available on iTunes as an instant-grat MP3 with Guitars and Microphones pre-order. A CD digipak is also available for pre-order at Amazon. 

“Bring Your Arms” was co-written by Sia and Chris Braide. It came about when Kate and Sia witnessed a sea turtle egg rescue while on a trip to Tulum in Mexico. Environmental activists themselves, they found it moving and thus Sia started the song for Kate. A portion of the proceeds for “Bring Your Arms” will be donated to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. 

Watch the video for “Mister Sister,” featuring actor/musician Fred Armisen HERE. Along with being a B-52, Pierson has collaborated with The Ramones, Iggy Pop, David Byrne, R.E.M. and Gnarls Barkley in the past.

Track Listing: 

1. Throw Down the Roses
2. Mister Sister
3. Guitars and Microphones
4. Crush Me With Your Love
5. Bottoms Up
6. Bring Your Arms
7. Wolves
8. Matrix
9. Time Wave Zero
10. Pulls You Under

Jesse Malin slates March for next effort

Jesse Malin has confirmed the March 31 release of his first album in five years, New York Before The War (One Little Indian), and an April 11 album release show at the Bowery Ballroom.

Among the album's special guests are Peter Buck, Craig Finn, Alejandro Escovedo and Wayne Kramer.

Malin describes his first new song "Addicted" as "The Ramones meet Paul Simon," adding, "I wanted to make a record that encompassed everything I've been through, since I started out in a hardcore band when I was twelve years old through my solo career, but I also wanted to challenge myself and the listeners who have been with me on this journey." Listen to "Addicted," which premiered on WSJ Speakeasy, here.

Pared down from almost forty songs, Malin scrapped the majority and focused on making the album about the "daily battle we have to keep the human spirit alive." Looking out of his apartment window to see "The War" painted on the side of an old building, Jesse began questioning everything he believed in. "I tried to carve out a place where I could once again exist and sat down and wrote the rest of this record."

Malin - who has collaborated and shared the stage with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Adams, Gogol Bordello, and many others - calls the album "a metaphor for surviving in an ever changing, rapidly desensitized world while trying to find a way to live truly."

More tour dates to come.
 
Track List:
 
1. The Dreamers
2. Addicted
3. Turn Up The Main (feat. Alejandro Escovedo)
4. Oh Sheena
5. She's So Dangerous
6. The Year That I Was Born
7. Boots of Immigration
8. Freeway (feat. Wayne Kramer)
9. Bent Up
10. She Don't Love Me Now
11. Death Star
12. I Would Do It For You (feat. Peter Buck)
13. Bar Life

Modest Mouse album coming this spring

Modest Mouse has announced its first new studio album in eight years, Strangers to Ourselves, out March 3 on Epic.

Pre-orders on iTunes and Amazon include an instant download of "Lampshades On Fire." Special pre-order packages of the physical album are available on the band's webstore. Modest Mouse will tour extensively in 2015. More details to be announced.

Modest Mouse's 2007 studio album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, featuring Johnny Marr, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. More recently, the band has headlined festivals such as Governors Ball, Reading, Leeds, Sasquatch, among others, and toured worldwide.

In 2009, they released a collection unreleased songs and b-sides, No One's First, And You're Next, and, in 2012, they premiered a 45-minute documentary on the making of The Lonesome Crowded West.

Since playing Coachella in 2013, the group headlined Fun Fun Fun Fest and re-released their critically-acclaimed albums This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About and The Lonesome Crowded West, on Glacial Pace.

Pre-order here:
Modest Mouse webstore:http://store.glacialpace.com/
iTunes:http://smarturl.it/StrangersToOurselves
Amazon:http://smarturl.it/Strangers2Orslvs  

Pharrell Williams news

Acclaimed hip hop trio N.E.R.D., featuring Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and Shae Haley, has reunited and delivered the first new music in nearly five years for “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water,” from Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies. It hits theaters on Feb. 6.

N.E.R.D. created three new songs for the film. The first song, “Squeeze Me,” is available everywhere today, including iTunes and Spotify. In addition, N.E.R.D. has contributed two other songs to be released in the coming weeks, “Patrick Star” and “Sandy Squirrel,” named for two of SpongeBob’s most trusted sidekicks.

Pharrell Williams says reuniting N.E.R.D. was long overdue, with the SpongeBob film collaboration the perfect opportunity for the band to re-emerge, or submerge, in nautical SpongeBob style: “We loved going into studio to make music for this film,” says Pharrell.  “I am one of SpongeBob’s biggest fans—can’t wait for everyone to hear the songs.”  Adds Shae Haley, “It was a complete honor to be a part of this project.  SpongeBob and N.E.R.D. share the same belief that imagination is the key to everything.”

N.E.R.D.’s most recent album, “Nothing,” released in 2010, was the fourth album of their career. The group formed at the dawn of the new millennium, with Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Grammy nominated production duo, The Neptunes (Pharrell won as producer of the year for The Neptunes in 2006, and again in 2014 as a solo producer) aligning with Shae Haley, and launching their breakthrough, genre-mashing N.E.R.D. debut effort, “In Search Of…,” in 2001.

The Year in Music: Albums you might have missed

With so much new music unleashed over the course of the year, even well-established musicians' releases can sometimes go unnoticed. With that in mind, the following ones deserve more attention...

Artist: Simple Minds
Title: Big Music (Caroline)
The lowdown: Yes, they're alive and kicking. In fact, the veteran Glasgow band has continued to put out albums at home since coming to worldwide prominence in the 1980s. And lest there be any doubt about whether they can still write transcendental songs, it's all there in title: Big Music. The first studio CD in five years is enrapturing. It was crafted by the principle lineup (singer Jim Kerr, guitarist Charlie Burchill, drummer Mel Gaynor), with songwriting and programming assistance on a couple songs from fellow Scot Iain Cook (Chvrches) and Paul Statham (Peter Murphy). 

Boasting plenty of swelling and percolating synth work, this stuff is rife for club remixes. Highlights include the upbeat "Blood Diamonds" and majestic "Broken Glass Park" (first heard on last year's Celebrate: The Greatest Hits), highly danceable "Imagination" and "Midnight Walking." Then there's a hearty cover of The Call's "Let The Day Begin," where the band totally makes it their own. 

Artist: Erasure
Title: The Violet Flame (Mute)
The lowdown: Another UK act that came to international fame in the Eighties and churns out new albums on a fairly regular basis is Erasure. Teaming with producer Richard X (Pet Shop Boys, Sam Sparro), the duo is in fine fettle here. Music mastermind Vince Clarke always seems to find new ways to tweak their signature sound without sounding repetitive. Standouts include Andy Bell's heartfelt vocals on "Reason," the idyllic "Be The One," old school vibe of "Under The Wave," Georgio Moroder-styled "Paradise" and the comforting "Stayed A Little Late Tonight."

Longtime fans are advised to get the 2CD version which contains an enjoyable, mostly hit-laden  2011 set from London's Short Circuit at the Roundhouse, especially "A Little Respect," "Chains of Love," "Always" and "Victim of Love." The inclusion of ethereal, seldom played "Fingers & Thumbs" is a welcome bonus.  

Artist: Paul Carrack

Title: Rain or Shine (Carrack-UK)
The lowdown: Best known for his work with Mike+The Mechanics, Squeeze, Roxy Music, Ace and high profile session work dating back to the 1970s, Carrack has one of the most distinctive voices of the rock era. Here, the Englishman plays several instruments and flexes his blue-eyed soul muscle with panache.

Co-produced by former Mechanics mate Peter Van Hooke, the 10 songs are a solid mix of sumptuous, orchestrated originals and well-chosen covers. The album opens with the sweeping "Stepping Stone." Then there's "That's All That Matters to Me," which comes across like a long lost Al Green classic. The punchy "Time Waits for No One" could've easily been a hit in 1966. Carrack's takes on the Ray Charles popularized "You Don't Know Me" and Hard Times" are winners, as is "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want to Be Right)." It all closes with a snazzy take on yet another song Charles recorded, "Come Rain or Come Shine," a Great American Songbook classic penned by Arlen/Mercer.
 

Artist: Neal McCoy

Title: Pride-Deluxe Edition (Slate Creek)
The lowdown: First released in 2013, Pride is Neal McCoy's tribute to country legend Charley Pride that now comes with two bonus tracks (the gospel "Let Me Live," rambunctious "Why Baby Why"). It features guest vocal appearances by The Mavericks' Raul Malo (the upbeat “I’m Just Me”), Darius Rucker (a faithful, pedal steel-infused  “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’”) and Trace Adkins (the ballad “Roll On Mississippi” featuring harmonica work by Mickey Raphael). Elsewhere, the simmering Indian drama of "Kaw-Liga," chugging country rocker "Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone" and festive "You're My Jamaica" are highlights. Pride is available exclusively through Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and its website.

Artist: The Babys

Title:  I’ll Have Some of That (Skyrocket/InGrooves)
The lowdown: Last year, original lead guitarist Wally Stocker and drummer Tony Brock reformed The Babys. They made a great find in lead vocalist/bassist John Bisaha, who bears a passing resemblance to John Waite, the former frontman during the band's prime late '70s/early '80s period. Together with rhythm guitarist Joey Sykes, the new lineup recorded the first Babys album in 33 years. The often impressive results recapture the old days' vibe. Many tracks even feature soulful female backing vocals. Starting off with barrelhouse rocker "Every Side Of You," the midtempo ballad "I See You There" and rockers "You Saved My Life" and "It's a Gas" are the main picks to click.

Billy Idol news

Billy Idol will kick off the new year with a performance at the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic -- the New Year’s Day outdoor game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals -- at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

It will be televised live at 1:00 p.m. ET on NBC (along with CBC and TVA). This performance will come as Idol prepares for his 2015 tour in support of his critically acclaimed 2014 album Kings & Queens of the Underground which features the lead single “Can’t Break Me Down."

Idol’s pre-game performance from the main stage at home plate before puck drop will pay tribute to the United States Armed Forces during the pre-game and in-game festivities on Jan. 1. Following his performance, Idol will be joined near the stage by more than 150 members of all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, who will be attending the game as honored guests of the NHL, for a special salute.

Idol’s 2015 theatre tour of the U.S. and Canada throughout January and February is the latest leg of his “Kings & Queens Of The Underground Live” world tour which included a run of European shows this past in November. Tickets for almost all of the North American shows (see full itinerary below) are sold out.

Kings & Queens of the Underground -- Idol's first studio album in nearly a decade -- was released in October on BFI Records via Kobalt Label Services. The album was primarily produced by Trevor Horn, with Greg Kurstin also contributing as producer to two songs, including “Can’t Break Me Down.” 

2015 U.S TOUR DATES

January 21: House Of Blues, New Orleans, LA
January 22: The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
January 24: Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA
January 25: Lincoln Theatre, Washington, DC
January 28: Beacon Theatre, New York, NY
January 29: Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ
January 31: Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA
February 3: Metropolis, Montreal, QC
February 4: Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
February 6: The Fillmore, Detroit, MI
February 7: Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL
February 9: Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO
February 12: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC
February 13: Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
February 15: The Fox Theatre, Oakland, CA
February 18: The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
February 19: The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
February 21: The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, NV
February 22: The Observatory, Santa Ana, CA

The Year in Music: Live albums

Here are some of the best live albums from 2014... 

Artist: Rod Stewart 

Title: Live 1976-1998: Tonight’s the Night (Warner Bros.) 

The lowdown: Although Rod Stewart amassed dozens of solo hits from the Seventies onward, the live arena is where he really shined. This superb new 4 CD, 58-track live set, sequenced chronologically, is solid proof. The Scotsman and his crack band would often stretch the songs out live and his raspy, blues-inspired vocals would be more at the fore.

Disc 1 is devoted to December 1976 when Stewart toured England behind the double-platinum A Night on the Town. Some tracks broach the eight-minute mark, including a terrific cover of Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Rock 'n Roller” (featuring a barrelhouse piano solo by John Jarvis and the sizzling triple guitar interplay of Jim Cregan, Gary Grainger and Billy Peek) and "Maggie May" (with a hearty audience singalong and reggae breakdown section). Other standouts are Stewart and company’s smokin’ takes on The Temptations’ “(I Know) I'm Losing You” and the Beatles’ “Get Back.”

A good portion of Disc 2, comprised of shows from 1976-81, concentrates on shows from Wembley in London and the Forum in LA (some party-hearty cover medleys: Sam Cooke, more Tempts, Eric Clapton). The latter stretch has Tina Turner adding steam to "Hot Legs" (and Stewart approving of her cleavage) and going into slow burn harmonica-laced blues on Willie Dixon’s "I Just Want to Make Love to You.”

Some people – not this writer - consider the Eighties to be Stewart’s creative nadir. Yet the tracks on Disc 3 (split between an ‘84 gig in San Diego and an ‘89 one in E. Rutherford, New Jersey) only include a handful from that era. In the case of the Meadowlands concert, all the songs from Out of Order are winners, including “Lost in You,” "Forever Young" and the perfectly fitting, soulful revamp of Otis Redding hit, “Try a Little Tenderness.”

Heading into the Nineties, Disc 4 spotlights a 1991 return appearance to Wembley, There’s another hearty tribute to Redding and Cooke; this time, "Sweet Soul Music," plus a soulful "This Old Heart of Mine" (he toured with a few male backing vocalists at the time). Two years later, high on the triple platinum success of the MTV soundtrack Unplugged...and Seated album, Stewart played LA’s Greek Theatre. He dipped into the acclaimed ‘70s catalog with appropriate nuance.

Standouts – often with former Faces bandmate Ian McLagan on organ - include the orchestrated "Handbags & Gladrags," "Cut Across Shorty" and “Reason To Believe." Future producer du jour John Shanks does a stunning weepy guitar solo on “People Get Ready.” Back in London for a smaller ’98 gig to support When We Were the New Boys, the underrated, cover-centric collection, Stewart does rowdy versions of Primal Scream's “Rocks” and Oasis’ “Cigarettes And Alcohol” as if they were own. A must for any Stewart fan. 

Artist: Steve Earle 
Title: Live in Nashville 1995 (Shout! Factory) 
The lowdown: Recorded in December of 1995 at the Polk Theater, this live album was originally included in box set The Warner Bros. Years. Backed by a trio that plays a variety of instruments (dobro, Hawaiian guitar, fiddle, mandola), Earle’s setlist is mostly drawn from Train-a-Comin’, the Grammy-nominated CD out earlier the same year. Before bluegrass tune “Hometown Blues,” Earle gives “apologies to Doc Watson.” Then the crowd loudly whoops and hollers during “The Devil’s Right Hand” (off 1988’s Copperhead Road).

Bluegrass legend Bill Monroe guests on “Walls of Time,” a 1982 song he co-wrote with Earle’s tour mandolinist Pete Rowan. After they finish, Earle is obviously excited and he jokes about the “financial pleasure” of Travis Tritt covering “Sometimes She Forgets.” A cover of “I’m Looking Through You” casts the Beatles classic in a folksy light.

Emmylou Harris adds her dulcet vocal tones to three songs: “Rivers of Babylon” (with help from Rowan), the plaintive “Goodbye” and “Nothin’ Without You.” Earle does the traditional “When Will We Be Married?” accompanied by mandolin. Despite being on acoustic instruments, all the musicians make a spirited noise on the finale, “Copperhead Road.” 

Artist: Coldplay 

Title: Ghost Stories: Live 2014 (Atlantic)

The lowdown: Available on DVD/CD and digital formats, this  opens on an enchanting note with “Always In My Head.” From there, the British band’s the 40-minute CD features the studio release sequence front to back. It was recorded during various small shows in Los Angeles, New York, London, Sydney, Paris and Cologne, Germany between April and July 2014.

The gorgeous-looking DVD performance was shot in the round with overhead imagery in a custom-built amphitheatre at Sony Studios in LA. Some of it was seen on NBC in the US and Sky Arts in the UK. Eight intriguing music videos from Ghost Stories include two never-before-seen films for B-sides “All Your Friends” and “Ghost Story.”

An exclusive Extended Director's Cut of the “Magic” video (with a new cameo from veteran actor Peter Fonda) is among the bonus footage. “Midnight” contains a trippy reverse image. The new “Magic” footage directed by Jonas Akerlund has five minutes of acting in an old time night club with a side show magician before the music starts. The booklet includes several sepia-toned photo stills from the live show. 

Artist: The Call 
Title: A Live Tribute feat. Robert Levon Been of B.R.M.C (Lightyear) 
The lowdown: The emotional resonance of this concert runs deep. Three members of The Call - guitarist Tom Ferrier, keyboardist Jim Goodwin and drummer Scott Musick – reunited for the first time in more than a decade with Robert Levon Been, the son of their deceased former singer Michael Been. They did a few California gigs in 2013. The bulk of this great DVD/CD was shot at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, while some bonus footage came from Slim’s in San Francisco.

Half of the 15-song set is culled from the albums Red Moon and Reconciled. Opening with a moody “Everywhere I Go” that’s led by Ferrier’s chiming guitar work, Robert follows up by putting his own vocal stamp on “I Still Believe” and not straying too far from his dad’s original phrasing. The band closes with a stark emotional take on “Uncovered.”

Bonus material includes four songs from SF, including two important call numbers: “Let the Day Begin” and “The Walls Came Down.” The band is shown in rehearsals and Been says it took 1 ½ years for everything to come together. “It was a long tease.” He also tells how his dad completed the song “What’s Happened to You.” Longtime fans from the Bay Area are also interviewed about what The Call meant to them. The title is also be available as a single CD, 180-gram double vinyl and digitally (with 5 extra bonus tracks).