Libertines' Carl Barât has new album with The Jackals

Carl Barât & The Jackals have premiered "A Storm Is Coming," a new single taken from the band’s debut album Let It Reign, which is due Febr. 17. They arrive in America following the release.

"I actually started making this record solo, but the long and short of it is I just didn’t like my own company," says Carl.

He added  that he soon realized that he wanted to get a new band together.

Rather than call up some old mates to recruit for The Jackals, Carl decided to post a few ads online asking if there were any like-minded souls out there who wanted to try their luck at playing with him. The response was overwhelming, with thousands of people replying. Carl adds "I was lucky, because I found a bunch of people who genuinely fit together as a gang."


Carl Barât & The Jackals are:
Carl Barât – Vocals/Guitar
Billy Tessio – Guitar
Adam Claxton – Bass Guitar
Jay Bone – Drums

North American Tour

3/7 - Vancouver, BC - Electric Owl
3/9 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile
3/10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
3/11 - San Francisco, CA - Independent
3/13 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
3/14 - Los Angeles, CA - Roxy
3/15 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room
3/18 - Austin, TX - SXSW - Cedar Street
3/23 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
3/26 - Washington, DC - Rock n Roll
3/28 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
3/30 - New York, NY - Studio @ Webster Hall

Scott Weiland's new band

Scott Weiland and his band the Wildabouts will release their debut album on March 31. 

Titled Blaster, the album features 12 tracks; all but one were written by Weiland. A tour in support of the new project begins in February. Tickets go on sale Jan. 9 for the first 13 shows (see itinerary below).

Additional shows will be added. The Grammy winning, multi-platinum selling former Stone Temple Pilots frontman and his band already have previously announced shows at SXSW, the Sundance Film Festival and additional festival dates.

Weiland and the Wildabouts - guitarist Jeremy Brown, bassist Tommy Black, and drummer Danny Thompson - toured for several months in 2013, then went to Weiland’s Southern California studio and rehearsal space to write and record what would eventually become Blaster. 

“The album has its own distinctive sound,” says Weiland, “but it also can entice those Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver fans who have stuck by me. Over the years, I’ve gone back and forth between art records and being in a band. This is a hybrid. What we’ve come up with is really heavy, slinky, and sexy. There’s a lot of fuzz. The best way to describe it is ‘Furry’.” I knew I wanted to make a rock record,” proclaims Weiland. “It all just came together."

Weiland released his memoir Not Dead & Not for Sale in 2011. 

TOUR DATES:

2/22/15: Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock
2/24/15: Denver, CO – Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
2/26/15: Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
2/27/15: Chicago, IL – Double Door
2/28/15: Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
3/2/15: Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
3/3/15: Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
3/6/15: Orlando, FL – The Social
3/7/15: Destin, FL – Club LA
3/10/15: New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
3/12/15: Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live
3/13/15: Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
3/14/15: Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall

Additional festival dates:

4/25/15: Welcome to Rockville – Jacksonville, FL
5/16/15: Rock on the Range – Colombus OH
5/30/15: BottleRock Music Festival – Napa Valley

More NAMM Show '15 News: She Rocks Awards

In conjunction with NAMM, The Women’s International Music Network (WiMN) will host its third annual She Rocks Awards honoring women who display leadership and stand out within the music industry.

A who’s who of women in music will receive awards in 2015, including two-time Grammy Award-winner Colbie Caillat; rock trailblazers The Bangles; Grammy Award-nominated saxophonist Mindi Abair; Capitol Studios powerhouse Paula Salvatore; Martin Guitars VP of Brand Marketing Amani Duncan and more.

Platinum-selling guitar phenomenon/solo artist Orianthi and WiMN Founder and industry veteran Laura B. Whitmore will share hosting duties. Guitarist and composer Gretchen Menn of all-girl Led Zeppelin tribute band Zepparella will be the house band’s leader, featuring her bandmates Angeline Saris on bass, Clementine on drums, and guest keyboardist Jenna Paone.

With featured performances, networking opportunities and more, the She Rocks Awards brings together industry professionals, music icons, artists, fans and media to celebrate women in music. Event information at www.sherocksawards.com
 
WHERE: Hilton Anaheim, Pacific Ballroom, 777 West Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802
WHEN: 5:30–6:30 PM Friday, Jan. 23

Founded in 2012, the Women’s International Music Network unites women who work within all facets of the music and audio industries. With theWiMN.com as its hub, the WiMN provides a community for women within the industry while enriching their careers and musical experiences through networking and sharing.

The Women’s International Music Network produces events such as the Women's Music Summit, the WiMN She Rocks Showcases, and the She Rocks Awards, and is founded by music industry veteran Laura B. Whitmore.

For more information, visit www.TheWiMN.com.

Coachella 2015 Lineup Announced

Coachella 2015 Lineup Announcement and On Sale Information

Weekend 1: April 10th – 12th, 2015
Weekend 2: April 17th – 19th, 2015

Festival passes for both weekends go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 7 at noon PST. General admission festival passes and must be purchased as a shuttle combination for both weekends. The price is $435 and reflects all fees. 

Layaway is no longer an option for either weekend.

Visit coachella.com for complete info.

Yamaha at The NAMM Show '15

This just in from Yamaha about some of their goings on at NAMM...

The Yamaha Booth is located at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel (adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center), Marquis Ballroom, #100MA.

YAMAHA JUNIOR ORIGINAL CONCERT - Thursday, January 22, 1:00 pm

A perennial favorite, the Junior Original Concert features three pianists ranging in age from 9 to 15, hand-selected from Yamaha Music Schools across the United States, who will perform original compositions in a professional setting.

YAMAHA DRUM ARTISTS SIGNING - Saturday, January 24, 11:00 am

New format, new location: Elite Ballroom 3, Anaheim Marriott Hotel.

YAMAHA GUITAR ARTISTS SIGNING - Saturday, January 24, 1:00 pm

New format, new location: Elite Ballroom 3, Anaheim Marriott Hotel.

YAMAHA VINTAGE SYNTHESIZER EXHIBITION - Entire Show

To commemorate 40 years of creating industry-leading synths, Yamaha is displaying around a dozen historically significant instruments, some of which will be operational.

2015 YAMAHA NEW PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

Yamaha Keyboard Division

· The powerful and portable P-45 and P-115 digital pianos offer enhanced sound and new features for practice and performance.

· The PSR-E253 and PSR-E353 portable keyboards include robust feature sets that belie their modest price points.

· Yamaha Music Interactive introduces Synth Voice Libraries and two YamahaMusicSoft.com downloads: Printable Sheet Music and Custom Audio Backing Tracks.

· Bösendorfer debuts the Schönbrunn limited edition grand piano, named for the palace retreat of Austrian Empress Maria Theresa.

Yamaha Pro Audio & Combo Division

Live Sound

· New DBR powered and CBR unpowered loudspeakers are the most portable speaker series Yamaha has ever introduced.

Music Production

· Yamaha introduces a new mixer category: music production enthusiasts must see this.

· The new Synth Book App is part softsynth and part Yamaha synth history guide.

Guitars

· The entire range of Pacifica electric guitars now available in the United States.

· A new addition to the A Series of acoustic-electric guitars, the A6, is handmade at Yamaha Music Craft in Japan.

Drums

· Yamaha, the only drum company to offer multiple apps to enhance the value of its DTX electronic drum line, introduces two new apps.

Steinberg North America

· New UR12 audio interface offers studio quality in a portable package.

· Cubase Pro 8 is the new benchmark for Digital Audio Workstations.

· Vocaloid voice synthesis technology provides producers with stunning vocal tones.

Yamaha Band & Orchestral Division

Winds

· New clarinet model raises the bar for consistency and reliability.

· Intermediate and professional level XENO trumpets fill out Yamaha’s extensive lineup of quality trumpets.

Percussion

· 3300 timpani line offers portability and great sound.

· SCK-350 student percussion kit provides everything for the beginning percussionist.

· Sturdy marching snare drum mounts will not slip.

· MKAW Series of Keiko Abe marimba mallets with Rattan shafts.

The NAMM Show '15 News

The convention is right around the corner. Here is the latest news...

Hundreds of artists from nearly every imaginable musical genre prepare to perform on five NAMM Show stages, as the 2015 NAMM Show returns to Anaheim January 22-25.

Live music will set the soundtrack for product debuts from more than 5,000 music brands throughout the four-day music industry trade event. Star-studded awards shows, music-making opportunities, and live performances set the stage for a NAMM Show the industry will be talking about for years to come.

“NAMM is a great show to conduct business, but perhaps the soul of NAMM, and what makes it different from its competitors is the music,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. "Seeing musical performances from some of the best artists in the world and having our musical heroes checking out the latest gear next to us in an exhibitor’s booth are the experiences that we’ll be telling everyone all about when we get home.”

Productive days on the show floor flow into evenings spent networking with friends, set to a musical soundtrack playing on the Hilton Lobby Stage, the Marriott Lobby Stage, CenterStage between convention center halls B and C, The Venue Stage presented by Pioneer DJ, and the NAMM GoPro Stage on the Grand Plaza.

Live Music

Each night of the show, check out high-energy headliners from 6-7:30 p.m. on the NAMM GoPro Stage on the Grand Plaza. Immediately following the Industry Tribute on opening night, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue take the stage with their brand of hard-edged funk employing hip-hop beats, rock dynamics and improvisation in a jazz tradition. On Friday night, The Imagine Party hosted by the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and The NAMM Foundation features the legendary George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic (pictured). Celebrate Saturday night with “Stanley Randolph and No Wonder” featuring the Stevie Wonder Band and special guests on vocals.

DJs spin EDM and house music at Monster Cable After Dark from 7-9 p.m. at The Venue Stage Presented by Pioneer DJ. Performances from DJ Ecto1, Crisco Kidd, Brandi Garcia, DJ Splyce, and more will fill the plaza with beats as a Stone Brewing Co. beer garden and some of L.A.’s most popular food trucks refuel industry guests.

Check out the full line up of performances on the NAMM Show stages, including GRAMMY winner Daniel Ho, former New York Yankee Bernie Williams, KUSI-TV’s Brad Perry, alumni of NBC’s “The Voice,” and festival favorites.

She Rocks Awards

Friday from 6-8:30 p.m., the She Rocks Awards presented by the Women’s International Music Network pays tribute to women who display leadership and stand out within the music industry. Held in the Hilton Anaheim Pacific Ballroom, the event honors performers Colbie Caillat, The Bangles, Mindi Abair, and female industry leaders. Purchase tickets for the show at sherocksawards.com.

NAMM TEC Awards

Hosted by comedian Sinbad on Saturday, January 24, the 30th Annual NAMM TEC Awards honor excellence in sound technology and creativity. Legendary guitarist Slash will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award, and bassist Nathan East and Ed Cherney will be inducted into the TEC Hall of Fame. VIP reception starts at 6 p.m. and the awards show begins at 7 p.m. For a list of all the NAMM TEC award nominees and to purchase tickets, visit tecawards.org.

Industry Icons

Be inspired as renowned musician, DJ and composer Moby* opens the show’s Generation Next events Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Hilton’s NAMM Foundation Lounge. Apple co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak opens Saturday morning’s NAMM U breakfast session, chatting music and technology with NAMM’s Joe Lamond at 8:30 a.m. in the Hilton Pacific Ballroom.

Make Music!

Everyone’s welcome at Friday’s All-Industry Drum Circle presented in collaboration with Remo Inc. from 5:45 – 7 p.m. at the Palm Terrace between the convention center and Hilton. Sunday, join a trombone circle at 11:30 a.m., a trumpet circle at 1 p.m. or a uke circle at 2:30 in the NAMM Member Center (convention center lobby), presented in collaboration with Conn-Selmer, Warwick Music Ltd., and Kala Brand Music Co.

Register today for access to more than 5,000 music product, instrument and technology brands, educational opportunities and live entertainment at the 2015 NAMM Show. Limited exhibit space is still available.

*Moby’s participation is in collaboration with the Los Angeles College of Music.

namm.org/thenammshow/2015

Backstreet Boys documentary arrives in theaters soon

Gravitas Ventures will handle the North American theatrical, VOD, and DVD rights to Backstreet Boys: Show 'em What You're Made Of, a documentary film directed by Stephen Kijak (Stones in Exile). It will be released on Jan. 30.

"From 1992 to 2002 we were the biggest band in the world. No one thought it was going to be as big as it was," says Brian Littrell who goes on to say "Then it just stopped. And what do you do when you're a full grown man in a boy band?"

The multiple award winning and Grammy-nominated group has sold 130 million records worldwide and is recognized as the best-selling boy band in history. Not only have their first 9 albums all debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard Top 100 but they have gone gold and platinum in 46 countries.

Backstreet Boys are the only group in Canadian history to have 3 consecutive diamond albums commemorating sales of over 10 million records and they hold 2 diamond awards in the US. The group also made history when their anticipated 11-week, 39-city 1999-2000 North American Millenium arena tour sold out within the first hour. The Backstreet Boys continue to be an essential figure in pop culture receiving a star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.

The documentary will have its world television premiere as part of the Emmy Award-winning "VH1 Rock Docs" franchise slated to debut on VH1 Spring of 2015.