Train summer tour dates with The Fray, Matt Nathanson.

Pop/rock band Train is taking latest hit album Bulletproof Picasso on the road with a summer jaunt across North America with special guests The Fray and Matt Nathanson.

The Picasso At The Wheel Summer Tour 2015 begins this May 21 in Sacramento and runs through July 25 at The Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, Wash. for the band’s first ever Picasso Music, Food and Wine Festival.

Train fans can turn up early for the Patcast Tailgate tent, where singer Pat Monahan will periodically make an appearance throughout the tour. Located in the venue parking lot each night, ticket-holders can tailgate and enjoy classic rock DJ, give shout-outs to friends on the Patcast (Pat's weekly podcast), and enter to win various prizes. The Patcast tent will also be the place for fans to register for the Mermaid Costume Contest and a chance to be brought onstage.

VIP bundles and experiences will be available through Train’s fan presale beginning Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 10:00 a.m. local time - information on how to purchase will be available on all of Train’s social media accounts.

Citi cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets beginning Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 10:00 a.m. local time through Citi's Private Pass Program. For complete pre-sale details, visit www.citiprivatepass.com. General tickets for the tour go on sale Saturday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. in select cities on www.livenation.com. Please see below for full details and on sale information.

Train also announced today their new single “Bulletproof Picasso” and its forthcoming music video, which will feature guest stars Emily Kinney (Beth on AMC’s The Walking Dead) and Reid Ewing (Dylan on ABC’s Modern Family). The video will premiere on VEVO on Jan. 23.

Bulletproof Picasso—the band’s 7th studio album—debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200 in September 2014.

Additionally, Train's award-winning Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co. has recently released their 6th varietal, 'Bulletproof Picasso' sauvignon blanc. Proceeds from the wine support Family House, a San Francisco charity that supports families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Tour dates
(All dates, cities and venues below subject to change):

May 21
Marysville, CA
Sleep Train Amphitheatre

May 22
Mountain View, CA
Shoreline Amphitheatre

May 23
Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood Bowl

May 24
Chula Vista, CA
Sleep Train Amphitheatre

May 26
Phoenix, AZ
Ak-Chin Pavilion

May 27
Albuquerque, NM
Isleta Amphitheater

May 29
Dallas, TX
Gexa Energy Pavilion

May 30
The Woodlands, TX
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

June 3
Pelham, AL
Oak Mountain Amphitheatre

June 5
Atlanta, GA
Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood

June 6
Tampa, FL
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre - On sale @ 12 p.m. local

June 7
West Palm Beach, FL
Cruzan Amphitheatre - On sale @ 12 p.m. local

June 9
Charlotte, NC
PNC Music Pavilion

June 10
Raleigh, NC
Walnut Creek Amphitheatre

June 11
Hershey, PA
Hersheypark Stadium

June 13
Virginia Beach, VA
Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach

June 14
Camden, NJ
Susquehanna Bank Center

June 16
Wantagh, NY
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

June 18**
Bangor, ME
Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion - On sale @ 12 p.m. local

June 19
Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Performing Arts Center

June 20
Mansfield, MA
Xfinity Center - On sale @ 12 p.m. local

June 21
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun Arena

June 23
Toronto, ON
Molson Canadian Amphitheater - On sale @ 12 p.m. local

June 24
Darien Center, NY
Darien Lake Performing Arts Center

June 26
Bethel, NY
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

June 27
Holmdel, NJ
PNC Bank Arts Center

June 28
Bristow, VA
Jiffy Lube Live

June 30
Burgettstown, PA
First Niagara Pavilion

July 1
Clarkston, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre

July 2
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center

July 3
Tinley Park, IL
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

July 10
Nashville, TN
Bridgestone Arena

July 11
Maryland Heights, MO
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

July 12
Noblesville, IN
Klipsch Music Center

July 15
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Blossom Music Center

July 17
Kansas City, MO
Starlight Theatre

July 18
Englewood, CO
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

July 19
Salt Lake City, UT
USANA Amphitheatre

July 21
Stateline, NV
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys

July 22
Boise, ID
Taco Bell Arena

July 24
Ridgefield, WA
Amphitheater Northwest

July 25
Quincy, WA
The Gorge Amphitheatre

**Train and The Fray only

Avid Dancer to release debut album, plan LA shows

I caught the touring band open for Cold War Kids a few months ago and was very impressed. The new album should be good. Read more from the press release below...

Avid Dancer (the nom de musique for Jacob Summers) releases his first full-length album 1st Bath via Grand Jury on April 14.

 

A month-long LA residency takes place at The Echo next month (dates are listed below). Avid Dancer will also be playing SXSW in Austin this year as part of a spring North American tour.

For 1st Bath's artwork, Summers wrote the album's title in his own blood over a collage of photos from his early childhood.

 

"This music represents my entire existence up to making this record," Summers explains. "I wanted to really let people in, so I decided to paint the album title in my own blood. I actually jabbed myself until I got a big enough pool to write with. I mean, what could be more 'me'?" 

 

That philosophy boils down to the intensity suggested in Avid Dancer's moniker. "I realized the name matches what I'm doing musically," Summers says. "When we dance, we lose ourselves in it - we put ourselves out there and don't give a fuck. I'm not a guitar player, not a singer - I'm just putting myself out there with this music."

In fact, Summers began as a drummer - a champion virtuoso, who won top honors for rudimental snare at United Corps International's prestigious annual bugle-and-drum corps competition. During the songwriting process, he'd start with rhythms he'd create on percussion. This process ultimately gave his material a righteous rhythmic heft across the board - from the highly danceable "All the Other Girls" and the smoky torch-soul ballad "Stop Playing With My Heart," to even the pedal-steel Americana of "Why Did I Leave You Behind?"

Even when Avid Dancer's music does evoke artists, say - from the trippy Madchester vibe of album opener "All The Other Girls," evoking Stone Roses and Charlatans to the insistent Pixies-style bassline opening "Medication" - it's a happy coincidence.

 

Raised in a strict Christian household, Summers was forbidden to listen to any secular music until his late teens; as a result, his musical discovery remains ongoing. "Growing up before the Internet, I was cut off," he notes. "I wasn't even allowed to watch MTV! I lived in an alternate reality." I remember sending some songs to a friend and he said, 'Dude, you remind me of The Kinks.' I thought they were maybe a new band, but when I listened to them I fell in love with their music. Another time, I got compared to Elliott Smith, and then I got really into him."

Summers' entrée into the world of popular music proves a most unlikely origin story. He dropped out of his freshman year studying music education at the University of Tennessee to join the Marines - enlisting, in fact, on September 12, 2001. "It was the day after 9/11, but I'd planned on doing it anyway," says Summers. He ended up in the elite United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, with whom he'd play up to 300 performances a year in addition to regular combat training.

At the end of his time with the Marines, Summers moved to Los Angeles: there he endured a number of awkward stints drumming for bands and studied audio recording. But the pivotal moment came when he found his muse, following the woman so many songs on 1st Bath owe their existence to all the way to Alaska. After a year of heartbreak, he returned to L.A determined to write.

 

Blogs started raving about early Avid Dancer demos, and they also caught the ear of noted producer Raymond Richards (Local Natives). Together, Summer and Richards began recording the Avid Dancer songs that would eventually appear on 1st Bath at Richard's Red Rockets Glare studio in Culver City, California - all except for the version of "I Wanna See You Dance," which was produced by Dave Trumfio (Wilco, OK Go, Built to Spill,The Mekons).

Since then, he's formed Avid Dancer's live touring unit, a fluid ensemble that's already supported the likes of Mac DeMarco, Warpaint, Cold War Kids and Hamilton Leithauser with its live show, and is set to join Warpaint and CWK (again) for a series of dates later this year. 

 

"I try to learn from other bands," Summers says, "seeing how they hone in on delivering their message."

 

Ultimately Avid Dancer's own message manifested itself when he wrote the song "All Your Words Are Gone" - one of 1st Bath's most memorably plangent moments. "I met a sad girl and wrote that song to make her feel better,'" Summers says.

 

"Writing that was a defining moment. Previously, I tried to write music that had never existed before. But doing 'All Your Words Are Gone' made me realize there are no new chords; what I needed to do was write a song that means something to me. I now understood I could do whatever I want: I don't have to carry around any baggage - I can do anything. Whether it's an acoustic country song, an electro track, or a heavy guitar jam, the style didn't matter: I just channel whatever I'm feeling into a song that has something to say. That's how I've been doing it ever since."

Track listing:

1. All The Other Girls
2. Stop Playing With My Heart
3. All Your Words Are Gone
4. I Told You So
5. Not Far To Go
6. All The Things You Keep
7. Medication
8. I Want To See You Dance
9. Whatever's On Your Mind
10. Nobody Else
11. Why Did I Leave You Behind
12. Up Against The Wall

Tour Dates

2/2 The Echo - Los Angeles
2/9 The Echo - Los Angeles
2/16 The Echo - Los Angeles
2/23 The Echo - Los Angeles

Fall Out Boy, Wiz Khalifa, Hoodie Allen summer tour dates

Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa announced their Boys of Zummer co-headlining tour in support of their respective hit albums American Beauty/American Psycho and Blacc Hollywood.

The summer jaunt will kick off in June in New Jersey and run into August. American rapper, singer and hip hop artist Hoodie Allen will serve as special guest on the tour.

Citi cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets beginning Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. local time through Citi's Private Pass® Program. For complete pre-sale details, visit citiprivatepass.com. General tickets for select cities will be available at livenation.com beginning Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. local time. 

American Beauty/American Psycho is Fall Out Boy’s sixth studio album, set for release on Jan. 20 on Island Records & DCD2 Records. The first single “Centuries” was certified platinum. The song is now Top 15 on the pop charts after going Top 10 at Modern Rock radio and has been streamed more than 60 million times between YouTube and Spotify. 

Fall Out Boy recently performed the track at the 41st Annual People’s Choice Awards. Prior to the album release, tracks “Irresistible” and “Uma Thurman” went #1 on iTunes – “The Kids Aren’t Alright,” and “American Beauty/American Psycho” also both hit the iTunes Top 10 when made available with the album’s pre-order.

The album is the follow-up record to the band’s gold-certified fifth studio album Save Rock and Roll, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and #1 on iTunes in 27 countries upon its April 2012 release. American Beauty/American Psycho is available for pre-order now on the band’s Webstore and iTunes.

Tour dates:

June 10
Camden, NJ
Susquehanna Bank Center

June 13
Holmdel, NJ
PNC Bank Arts Center

June 14
Mansfield, MA
Xfinity Center

June 16
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Blossom Music Center

June 17
Toronto, ON
Molson Canadian Amphitheatre

June 18
Darien Center, NY
Darien Lake Performing Arts Center

June 20**
Bangor, ME
Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion

June 23
Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Performing Arts Center

June 24
Wantagh, NY
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

June 26
Hartford, CT
XFINITY Theatre

June 27
Columbia, MD
Merriweather Post Pavilion

June 28
Virginia Beach, VA
Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach

June 30
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center

July 1
Noblesville, IN
Klipsch Music Center

July 2
Burgettstown, PA
First Niagara Pavilion

July 3
Hershey, PA
Giant Center

July 4
Scranton, PA
The Pavilion at Montage Mountain

July 10
Clarkston, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre

July 11
Tinley Park, IL
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

July 12
Nashville, TN
Bridgestone Arena

July 14
St. Louis, MO
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

July 15
Columbus, OH
LC Pavilion

July 17
Atlanta, GA
Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood

July 18
Raleigh, NC
Walnut Creek Amphitheatre

July 19
Charlotte, NC
PNC Music Pavilion

July 21
Bonner Springs, KS
Cricket Wireless Amphitheater

July 22
Tulsa, OK
BOK Center

July 25
Dallas, TX
Gexa Energy Pavilion

July 26
Austin, TX
Austin360 Amphitheater

July 28
Albuquerque, NM
Isleta Amphitheater

July 29
Denver, CO
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

July 30
Salt Lake City, UT
USANA Amphitheatre

August 1
Ridgefield, WA
Amphitheater Northwest

August 2
Auburn, WA
White River Amphitheater

August 4
San Francisco Bay Area
Venue TBD

August 5
Sacramento, CA
Sleep Train Amphitheater

August 7
Las Vegas, NV
Mandalay Bay Events Center

August 8
Chula Vista, CA
Sleep Train Amphitheatre

August 10
Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood Bowl

**Fall Out Boy & Hoodie Allen only

NAMM Show 2015 News: John Lennon Educational Tour Bus event schedule

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus (Lennon Bus), the premier, non-profit 501(c)(3) mobile Pro-Audio and Video recording studio providing hands-on experiences for students of all ages since 1998, is making its return to the 2015 NAMM Show* on Jan. 21-25 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

 

Parked on the centralized Grand Plaza next to the NAMM GoPro Stage, the Lennon Bus will welcome trade show attendees with its newly updated display of onboard state-of-the-art equipment, advanced technology, and innovative capabilities. The Lennon Bus will also announce new initiatives with Other World Computing (OWC), Neutrik USA, Audio-Technica, Digital Media Academy, Yamaha and the continuation of music education advocacy programs in association with the NAMM Foundation.

On Wednesday, Jan. 21, George Clinton, the legendary funk musician, will be on hand as a guest songwriting mentor to work with students from Berklee College’s Berklee City Music Network. The session will be live streamed from 2 - 3pm PST on lennonbus.org/live. During the livestream, viewers can submit their questions for Clinton using the hashtag #FunkWithGeorge.

“2015 would have been John Lennon’s 75th birthday, so we’re excited to launch our commemorative tour at the NAMM Show,” said Brian Rothschild, Executive Director of the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus.

 

“Our mission of providing free hands-on opportunities to students is supported by some of the biggest brands in the industry and we look forward to helping inspire and make a difference in communities across the U.S. and Europe. Having George Clinton involved is a perfect fit since he is an outspoken advocate for music education.”

During the four-day conference, tours of the Lennon Bus will provide an exclusive look at the latest in audio and video technology, with promotional giveaways of OWC On-The-Go Pro Hard Drives, Epiphone Guitars, Neutrik cables & swag, Audio-Technica microphones, Yamaha keyboards, IK Multimedia iLouds & iRigs, Musician’s Friend gift certificates, ZVEX Effects pedals, Mackie Mixers and more.

New products to be found on board include:
 

Apple computer and iOS devices
OWC - high performance SSDs, hard drives (internal and external) and storage solutions.
Sonnet Technologies - xMac Pro Server system
Mackie - new DL32R digital mixer is controlled by iPads from anywhere in the room, allowing multiple mixes to be created simultaneously by several users, including recording to DAW or disk and handling playback duties.
Go Pro - new Hero4 Back cameras capture angles never before possible, in full 4K or high frame rate 1080p.
AJA - HA5-Plus Mini Converters enable the GoPro cameras to be connected to the NewTek
TriCaster's HD-SDI inputs, opening the door to these innovative cameras use during live productions.
Adobe - Creative Cloud desktop and iOS apps offer unlimited creative potential to students and artists.
ZVEX Effects pedals
*The NAMM Show and all NAMM events are NOT open to the public.

 

LENNON BUS AT NAMM SCHEDULE

Interactive Tours

 

Thursday, January 22nd – 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Friday, January 23rd – 10:00AM - 3:00PM
Saturday, January 24th – 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Sunday, January 25th – 10:00AM – 5:00PM 

 

Wednesday, Jan. 21

2-3 PM - George Clinton Livestream Event On Board the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. George Clinton will mentor students from Berklee City Music on board the Bus. Clinton and the students will create and record an original song and video throughout the day. Media are invited for private tours of the Lennon Bus with key executives and bus engineers, and for interviews with Clinton and the students. RSVP required.

Thursday, Jan. 22

10 AM – NAMM attendees are invited to take interactive tours of the bus.
2 PM - The Lennon Bus will be hosting gear giveaways in the tents with $14,000 worth of gear from OWC, Epiphone, Yamaha, ZVEX, Mackie, Neutrik, Audio-Technica, Musician’s Friend, and IK Multimedia.

Friday, Jan. 23

10 AM - NAMM attendees are invited to take interactive tours of the bus.
1 PM - Live performance by John Lennon Songwriting Contest ‘Song of the Year’ winners Helen Austin & Paul Otten (GoPro Stage, located in the Grand Plaza)
2 PM - The Lennon Bus will be hosting gear giveaways in the tents with $14,000 worth of gear from OWC, Epiphone, Yamaha, ZVEX, Mackie, Neutrik, Audio-Technica, Musician’s Friend, and IK Multimedia.
6 PM – The Imagine Party – Celebrating Music Education. Brought to you by the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and the NAMM Foundation at the NAMM GoPro Stage hosted by Neutrik USA and Genelec. Featuring special performances by George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, as well as Helen Austin & Paul Otten (John Lennon Songwriting Contest ‘Song of the Year’ winners), who will open the show with their song “Colour It” performed with local Anaheim students chosen by NAMM.

Saturday, January 24th

10 AM - Live performance by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest’s NAMM winners Gene Evaro Jr. & The Family (GoPro Stage, located in the Grand Plaza)
10 AM – NAMM attendees are invited to take interactive tours of the bus.
1 PM – Live performance by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest’s NAMM winners Royal Tongues (GoPro Stage, located in the Grand Plaza)
2 PM - The Lennon Bus will be hosting gear giveaways in the tents with $14,000 worth of gear from OWC, Epiphone, Yamaha, ZVEX, Mackie, Neutrik, Audio-Technica, Musician’s Friend, and IK Multimedia.

Sunday, Jan. 25

10 AM – NAMM attendees are invited to take interactive tours of the bus.
2 PM - The Lennon Bus will be hosting gear giveaways in the tents with $14,000 worth of gear from OWC, Epiphone, Yamaha, ZVEX, Mackie, Neutrik, Audio-Technica, Musician’s Friend, and IK Multimedia.

For additional information about the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and to check on the tour dates and locations, visit lennonbus.org. For information about the John Lennon Songwriting Contest visit jlsc.com.

Katrina Leskanich (ex-The Waves) new album, select U.S. tour dates

I enjoyed seeing Katrina live for the first time last summer and look forward to hearing the new material. Read more from the press release below...

Katrina Leskanich will be hitting the road in North America this spring in support of her latest solo album Blisland, her first solo offering in 10 years.

The tour follows Katrina's summer 2014 stint on the Retro Futura Tour where she showcased tunes from Blisland as well as material from her stint as frontwoman of Katrina and the Waves.

"Touring with Tom Bailey from the Thompson Twins, Howard Jones and Midge Ure on the Retro Futura Tour last summer in North America for the first time in 25 years reminded me of the great music that came from this era and how fun and special it was hanging out with these artists from the 80s...and I'm loving it that there's still such an enthusiastic audience for our music," she says.

An ex-pat living in London, Katrina has enjoyed notable success in the UK and Europe first with her former band, winning the European TV show Eurovision by the largest margin ever with the song "Love Shine a Light."

Its win was followed by an unprecedented four consecutive appearances on Top Of The Pops and a No. 3 single in the UK Charts. After Katrina and the Waves broke up, Katrina did stints as a Television and then Radio Presenter with the BBC. She geared back up as a solo artist in the 2000s, releasing her first solo album in 2005, touring in '06 and scoring a UK club hit in '08 with a cover of Kirsty MacColl's "They Don't Know."

In 2010, Katrina celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the global hit single, "Walking on Sunshine" with the release of new CD The Live Album and American TV's "Glee" cast had a UK Top 10 hit with a mash up of Beyonce’s "Halo" and Katrina & The Waves "Walking on Sunshine."

The song has appeared in numerous films, TV shows and ads including: Secret of My Success (1987), Look Who’s Talking (1989), High Fidelity, (2000), American Psycho (2000), Daddy Day Care (2003) and Walking on Sunshine starring Leona Lewis (2014).

"Walking On Sunshine" celebrates its 30th Anniversary in 2015. In addition to that tune, some of Katrina's other songs have enjoyed the spotlight with covers by The Bangles, Dolly Parton and Celine Dion.

In addition to reintroducing herself to US audiences, Katrina has released the first on what she hopes to be a series of travel guides starring her toy poodle, Peggy Lee. The first book, a guide to Katrina's current home base of London is available on tour and online:
http://peggyleeloves.com/peggy-lee-loves-london-katrina-leskanich/

Tour dates:

March 17 - Glen Cove, NY - Page One
March 18 - Somerville, MA - Johnny D's
March 20 - New York, NY - Iridium
March 21 - Londonderry, NH - Tupelo Music Hall
March 23 - Lancaster, PA - Tellus 360
March 25 - Stanhope, NJ - Salt Gastro Pub
March 26 - Rochester, NY - The Lovin' Cup
March 27 - Buffalo, NY - The Forum
March 28 - Hamilton, ON - This Ain't Hollywood
March 29 - Toronto, ON - Hugh's Room
April 2 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's Rock Club
April 3 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
April 4 - St. Paul, MN - Amsterdam Bar + Hall

"Sun Coming Upper" video:

Midge Ure concert review: San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

On Wednesday night, Midge Ure delivered an enthralling performance at the Coach House in Southern California.

This solo gig marked a rare Orange County appearance for the veteran Scottish rock singer/songwriter, whose influential work dates back to the 1970s (encompassing Visage, Thin Lizzy, Ultravox, Band Aid and more).

The acoustic format packed a mighty punch as the musician provided humorous and thought-provoking anecdotes and received some standing ovations.

Last year, Ure released Fragile, his first all-new studio album in over a dozen years. Created almost entirely alone (except for guest keyboards/programming by Moby on a song), the electronic-based release is an ethereal gem. Ure also took part in the Eighties-leaning Retro Futura summer package tour which hit the Greek Theatre in LA. Yet he only got to play five tunes then. The 20-song set in San Juan Capistrano proved far more satisfying for longtime fans.

Opening with a fast-paced “Waiting Days” (the first of four tracks off 1991’s Pure), Ure’s robust voice was like a clarion call and remained so throughout the evening. Before doing the tender title track from 1996’s Breathe, Ure said the venue was one of his favorites in Southern California (later, he’d also praise The Greek, saying all the Griffith Park trees make it like “the place where musicians go to die”).

The OC show’s first highlight came via a touching “Dear God,” Ure’s best known solo song in America and a top 5 alternative radio hit in ’89. Talking about extreme violence in the world, he said, “we really need this” sentiment more than ever and proceeded to sing the inspiring lyrics about finding “peace in a restless world.”

A passionate take on David Bowie’s folky “Lady Stardust” (cited as a favorite Bowie track and album) was memorable. The strident version of Ultravox’s “Hymn” easily whipped concertgoers into a frenzy. Despite being stripped of the original’s new wave production flourishes, Ure made it and five other selections from his flagship band equally compelling.

After decrying the state of music today, recalling a Nineties songwriters in the round show at the Coach House and the fall of the Berlin Wall, Ure conjured up a 1930s German cabaret vibe for “Tumbling Down.”

For the sprightly “Cold, Cold Heart” (another U.S. alt-rock radio hit), Ure gave it a skiffle feel that fit perfectly and didn’t shy away from doing the dramatic, wailing vocals on Ultravox’s “Lament” and “Vienna.” Following the latter, he joked “it’s all on tape; I have built-in Auto-Tune.”

Ure used a spacey guitar effect and sang with a hushed tone during the title track to Fragile; “Become” was the strongest among the news ones played. A soaring “If I Was” (prefaced by a quick instrumental bit of “Reap the Wild Wind” upon request) and “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” still sounded marvelous live after all these years.

Finally, the concert was capped off in haunting fashion with “The Voice,” featuring some audience participation.

Midge Ure at the Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, July 14, 2015
Setlist: Waiting Days/Call of the Wild/Breathe/Dear God/Lady Stardust (David Bowie)/Hymn/Tumbling Down/Fade to Grey/Let it Rise/Cold, Cold Heart/Light in Your Eyes/Guns & Arrows/Lament/Vienna/Become/If I Was/Dancing with Tears in My Eyes/Brilliant/Fragile/The Voice

Remaining North American tour dates:

1/16/15 - Tucson, AZ - Hotel Congress
1/17/15 - Atlanta, GA - Eddie's Attic
1/18/15 - Austin, TX - Cactus Café
1/19/15 - Jacksonvile, FL - Jack Rabbits
1/20/15 - St. Petersburg, FL - Local 662
2/19/15 - Halifax, CAN – Carleton
2/20/15 – New Haven, CT – Café 9
2/21/15 - Somerville, MA - Johnny D's
2/23/15 - Lancaster, PA - Tellus 360
2/24/15 - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live
2/25/15 - Glen Cove, NY - The View Grill
2/26/15 - New York, NY - Iridium
2/27/15 - New York, NY - Iridium
2/28/15 - Sugarloaf, NY - Sugarloaf PAC
3/1/15 - Montreal , CAN - Lasala Rosa
3/3/15 – Ottawa, CAN - Black Sheep Inn
3/4/15 - Toronto, CAN - Phoenix Concert Hall
3/5/15 - Detroit, MI - Magic Bag
3/6/15 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
3/7/15 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk Music

3/8/15 – Bethesda, MD – Blues & Jazz

Ure will continue to tour throughout the spring and early summer in the UK and New Zealand. See website below for details.

In related news, Ure is a guest vocalist on the elegant “Taking Back My Time” from Stephen Emmer's chamber pop album International Blue, which came out last September.

Produced and mixed by Tony Visconti (David Bowie, Morrissey), it also features singing by Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), Liam McKahey (Cousteau) and Neil Crossley (Furlined). All are pictured left.

Amsterdam native Emmer once served as guitarist for post punk group Minny Pops, who were signed to Factory Records and had singles produced by Martin Hannett alongside Joy Division, toured with that band and later New Order in the early 1980s.

Emmer has recorded, written for, and performed with the likes of Lou Reed, Billy McKenzie (The Associates), Mary Griffin (Parliament, Patti Labelle), The Lotus Eaters and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

In Holland and Benelux, he is currently a top TV and film score producer and has released three albums: Vogue Estate, Recitement and Time to Face the Music.

midgeure.co.uk

NAMM Show 2015 News: Taylor Guitars Stage Livestream Lineup

I always look forward to what Taylor Guitars presents each year at The NAMM Show. Here is the lineup for the Taylor Stage Livestream next week. It can be watched online at: www.taylorguitars.com/namm

Thursday, Jan. 22 

4 p.m. PST
Chase Bryant 

Young newcomer Chase Bryant's rollicking guitar wall and Southern rock-tinged sound has earned accolades from all over. A standout at CMA Music Fest 2014, his debut single "Take It On Back" is a Top 15 hit and one of the fastest rising singles of the year by a male country artist. Last November, Bryant opened for Brantley Gilbert and has a self-titled EP out now.  ChaseBryant.com 

5 p.m. PST
The SteelDrivers 

Nashville's The SteelDrivers fuse country, soul, and contemporary influences to create an unapologetic hybrid that Vince Gill describes as simply "an incredible combination." They have been nominated for three Grammys, four IBMA awards, and the AMA's New Artist of the Year, and English pop star Adele has performed the their song "If It Hadn't Been For Love," saying "they're a blues, country, bluegrass, swagger band and they are brilliant."  TheSteelDrivers.com 

Friday, Jan. 23

4 p.m. PST
Blondfire

Vocalist Erica Driscoll and Blondfire channel the synth-pop feel of British new wave bands like Depeche Mode and New Order, combined with the larger-than-life arena-rock ambitions of U2, Coldplay, and Arcade Fire on new album Young Heart. The band's penchant for gloriously melodic pop hooks has been featured on national tours with AWOLNATION and Foals. Blondfire.com 

5 p.m. PST
Vintage Trouble

Since the release of their debut album, L.A.-based Vintage Trouble (pictured above) has gone from playing intimate hometown clubs to opening for The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bon Jovi, and Lenny Kravitz, and playing festivals including Bonnaroo, Coachella, and SXSW. VintageTrouble.com 

Saturday, Jan. 24

3 p.m. PST
Zane Carney

Known for his current touring work with John Mayer and Broadway's "Spider Man -Turn Off The Dark," Zane has shared the stage with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Keith Urban, worked collaboratively with Bono (who has referred to Zane as "the best guitarist in New York"), and opened for U2, Fergie, and The Black Crowes with his band Carney. With a voice compared Jeff Buckley, Zane has stepped out as a solo artist writing, performing, and singing to sold out audiences. ZaneCarney.com 

4 p.m. PST 
Alex & Sierra

Since meeting on the beach in Florida when they were in high school, Alex & Sierra have recently gone on to win TV's The X Factor, with their numbers from the show selling over one million copies, earning 69 million views on YouTube overall, and twice reaching No. 1 on iTunes. They have since released their major label debut album, It's About Us and worked with Jason Mraz. AlexAndSierraOfficial.com

5 p.m. PST 
Boyce Avenue

A Florida-based band of three brothers, popular for its strong acoustic roots and melodic rock sound, Boyce Avenue has over 300,000,000 views on YouTube to date and more than 700,000 subscribers, making theirs one of the most frequented YouTube channels worldwide. On the heels of its initial whirlwind success in the Philippines, the band has independently released its full-length debut album of original music, All We Have Left. BoyceAvenue.com