Yellowcard taps Blink-182's Travis Barker to produce, drum on fall album

Alt rock favorite Yellowcard announcement of their new album Better Days by releasing the lead single and title track “Better Days” along with album track “honestly i.” Better Days is the band’s first full length album in almost a decade and will be available on October 10. The album is produced and executive produced by Travis Barker. Barker also plays drums on every song.

The single “Better Days” reflects on gratitude, forgiveness, perspective, and purpose. Once ubiquitous on MTV and alt-rock radio, the Vans Warped Tour veteran's first two albums produced double-platinum and gold certified title tracks. 

“Better Days” is also accompanied by a music video that has the guys depicting iconic 80’s movie characters performing in a vintage video shop. Directed by Jordan Phoenix, the video is a reflection of how much fun the guys are having this time around as a band and with their music. Frontman Ryan Key says, “We are focused on this chapter of our career being about happiness. This is the most fun we’ve had making a video in 20 years and we hope everyone has a smile on their face when they watch it.”

Guitarist Ryan Mendez invited friend Nick Long into the writing sessions and it was through Long that Barker became part of the project, coming on board to play drums and produce the whole album.

“I started the record as one version of myself and came out the other side changed,” says Key who credits Barker with a significant impact on his personal and creative studio breakthroughs. “I went in knowing I needed help. I came out of it writing songs like I was 19 again.”

Formed in Florida in 1997, Yellowcard's 2003 breakthrough album Ocean Avenue is certified platinum with the title track now certified 2x platinum. The band has over 4 million albums sold worldwide and over 1 billion streams. After a split in 2017, Yellowcard reunited in 2022.

Yellowcard is: 

William Ryan Key – Vocals/Guitar

Sean Mackin – Violin

Ryan Mendez – Guitar

Josh Portman – Bass

Tour Dates:

June 19 Dessel, Brussels at Graspop Metal Meeting 2025
June 20 Neuhausen Ob Eck, Germany at Southside Festival 2025
June 21 Wiesbaden, Germany at Schlachthof Wiesbaden
June 22 Scheebel, Germany at Hurricane Festival 2025
June 24 Berlin, Germany at Huxleys Neue Welt
June 27 Ysselsteyn, Netherlands at Jera On Air
June 28 Munster, Germany at Vainstream Rockfest 2025
Aug. 23 Curitiba, Brazil at Estadio Couto Pereira
Aug. 30 São Paulo, Brazil at Allianz Parque
Oct. 18 Las Vegas, NV at When We Were Young Festival
Oct. 19 Las Vegas, NV at When We Were Young Festival

Track listing: 

1. Better Days
2. Take What You Want
3. Love Letters Lost (feat. Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio)
4. honestly i
5. You Broke Me Too (feat. Avril Lavigne)
6. City of Angels
7. Bedroom Posters
8. Skin Scraped
9. Barely Alive
10. Big Blue Eyes

Rodney Crowell's upcoming August album features Lukas Nelson, Ashley McBryde, Larkin Poe

Rodney Crowell's upcoming album Airline Highway, due out Aug. 29 via New West, takes its title from a seemingly mundane stretch of four-lane blacktop that runs deep into Louisiana. It’s the road he and producer Tyler Bryant drove to reach the remote studio where they recorded these songs, hauling a truckload of gear on a two-day journey that ended in swamps.

Along the way Crowell looked up the route they were driving: Airline Highway. It’s the southernmost segment of Highway 61, also called the Blues Highway or the Great River Road, and it follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota down to New Orleans. Crowell is intimately familiar with this part of the country. He grew up on the east side of Houston, just a few hours west of the state line, and made wild forays into Louisiana as a young man to drink or carouse or mostly to catch live music.

Airline Highway songs like “Sometime Thang” and “Rainy Days in California” (the latter featuring Lukas Nelson) raise a glass to old romances and encounters with different women in California or down in Louisiana: falling in love, toughing out hard times, growing apart until they become “that small voice on your phone,” to quote a line on “Taking Flight,” co-written with and featuring Ashley McBryde. Some are fictional, Crowell explains, but they all contain some kernel of truth.

“At a basic level there are a lot more years behind me than there are ahead of me. I’m up in my seventieth decade of my life, and I’m glad that I’m still looking forward to certain things I want to do, but a lot of what’s worth talking about is behind me.” One of the things Crowell looks forward to is making more music with musicians he genuinely loves. “I’m just in love with the experience now. I’ve worked with amazing people in the past, but I was looking too far ahead. I wanted the music we were creating to make a name for me, so I wasn’t completely present with them. My ego was involved. But now my ego seems to have finally evaporated. Now it’s just about the work and what a blessing it is to be able to do it. The work truly feeds me in the moment.”

Track Listing:

Rainy Days In California (Feat. Lukas Nelson)

Louisiana Sunshine Feeling Okay (Feat. Larkin Poe)
Sometime Thang
Some Kind Of Woman
Taking Flight (Feat. Ashley McBryde)

Simple (You Wouldn’t Call It Simple)
The Twenty-One Song Salute (Owed to G.G. Shinn and Cléoma Falcon) (Feat. Tyler Bryant)
Don’t Give Up On Me
Heaven Can You Help (Feat. Charlie Starr)
Maybe Somewhere Down The Road

Colin Hay's new album due next month, with live dates through summer

Former Men at Work frontman and singer/songwriter Colin Hay announces the upcoming release of Man @ Work Volume 2 on July 18. The new release is the sequel to his 2003 best seller, Man @ Work, and offers re-imagined songs from across Hay’s catalog, including Men at Work classics, solo album highlights, and new material.

Hay says in a press release: "I started working with Compass Records 22 years ago. The first album of mine they released was Man @ Work. We felt that there is now more to the story. Hence Man @ Work Vol 2. We mined some Men at Work songs, and some solo songs I feel close to. All are re-recorded, and somewhat re-imagined. I like it. Hope you do too."

The album opens with "Into My Life," featuring Gregg Bissonette (Ringo Starr) and Hay's wife/musician Cecilia Noël. The song originally appeared on Hay’s 1990 debut solo album, Wayfaring Sons, and became popular in Brazil in the 90s as the theme song of a popular soap opera, growing to rival "Down Under" as Hay’s most popular song in South America. 

Hay looks back to Men At Work’s 1983 release, Cargo, for a new recording of "Blue for You," and then segues into a stripped-down take on "Come Tumblin’ Down" from his 2017 release Fierce Mercy. "We the People," featuring rapper Derrick "Solpowa" Rice, is a new political song. The album ends with "Next Year People," the title track from his 2015 solo release, featuring Hay on acoustic guitar and vocals, and in this version, augmented by a string quartet.

Since serving as the frontman and principal songwriter for ‘80s Australian hit-makers Men At Work whose major hits included "Down Under," "Overkill," and "Who Can It Be Now," Hay has released many solo albums. The most recent was Now And The Evermore. The musician is a regular member of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. A Hay-penned song ("What’s My Name") not only made its way onto Starr’s 2019 album, but also became the title track.

Hay often tours under the Men at Work name with members of Noel's band.

Men At Work with Toto, Christopher Cross:

Fri, 18 Jul - iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre - West Palm Beach, FL - Tickets
Sat, 19 Jul - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre - Tampa, FL - Tickets
Mon, 21 Jul - Coca-Cola Amphitheater - Birmingham, AL - Tickets
Tue, 22 Jul - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre - Alpharetta, GA - Tickets
Thu, 24 Jul - The Pavilion at Star Lake - Burgettstown, PA - Tickets
Fri, 25 Jul - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ - Tickets
Sat, 26 Jul - Leader Bank Pavilion - Boston, MA - Tickets
Sun, 27 Jul - Great South Bay Music Festival - Patchogue, NY - Tickets
Mon, 28 Jul - BankNH Pavilion - Gilford, NH - Tickets
Wed, 30 Jul - Hartford HealthCare Amphitheatre - Bridgeport, CT - Tickets
Fri, 1 Aug - Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena - Atlantic City, NJ - Tickets
Sat, 2 Aug - Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino - Niagara Falls, NY - Tickets
Sun, 3 Aug - Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH - Tickets
Tue, 5 Aug - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre - St Louis, MO - Tickets
Wed, 6 Aug - Ruoff Music Center - Noblesville, IN - Tickets
Fri, 8 Aug - Blossom Music Center - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Tickets
Sat, 9 Aug - Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre - Tinley Park, IL - Tickets
Mon, 11 Aug - Pine Knob Music Theatre - Clarkston, MI - Tickets
Wed, 13 Aug - Jiffy Lube Live - Bristow, VA
Thu, 14 Aug - PNC Music Pavilion - Charlotte, NC - Tickets
Fri, 15 Aug - Ascend Amphitheatre - Nashville, TN - Tickets
Sun, 17 Aug - The Zoo Amphitheatre - Oklahoma City, OK - Tickets
Mon, 18 Aug - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory - Irving, TX - Tickets
Thu, 21 Aug - Arizona Financial Theatre - Phoenix, AZ - Tickets
Sat, 23 Aug - Fontainebleau Las Vegas - Las Vegas, NV - Tickets
Sun, 24 Aug - Kia Forum - Los Angeles, CA - Tickets
Mon, 25 Aug - Toyota Pavilion at Concord - Concord, CA - Tickets
Wed, 27 Aug - Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre - West Valley City, UT - Tickets
Fri, 29 Aug - Washington State Fair - Puyallup, WA
Sat, 30 Aug - RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheatre - Ridgefield, WA - Tickets

Grant-Lee Phillips returns with new album, tour in the fall

Acclaimed Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and painter Grant-Lee Phillips announces the release of In the Hour of Dust, his 12th solo album, out September 5 on Yep Roc Records. The first single is "Closer Tonight," available at all digital service providers.

Of “Closer Tonight,” Phillips says: “A reflection of my uneasy feelings about this moment. On one hand, we’re living in an age of scientific advancement, an integration of technology that could vastly enhance life as we know it. On the other hand, we’re equally capable of barbaric cruelty, incapable of prioritizing life, neither our own nor that of the planet, all as we plot to plant our flag on Mars. We’re closer than ever to realizing our greatest potential and closer than ever to self-destruction.”

In celebration of the album, Phillips will embark on a 26-date U.S. and UK tour beginning with a run of Northeast dates in September, with a West Coast run in November, including a stop in Los Angeles, and dates in the UK, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Finland throughout the fall and winter. Tickets are available here.

Inspired by a painting from India discovered while wandering the Norton Simon Art Museum in Pasadena, CA, and the evocative Indian concept of ‘the hour of cow dust’--“It’s that moment of the day when the cows are led back home, they kick up the dust; that's a cue to prepare the lamps. Night is about to fall,” says Phillips.

The self-produced album finds Phillips at his most introspective and poetic, channeling his visual and musical sensibilities into a striking mediation on disconnection and grace. “The mood on this album is contemplative,” says Phillips. “It’s about trying to find meaning in an age of confusion, feeling your way through the blinding dust of unreality.”

Known for his cinematic lyricism and atmospheric arrangements, In the Hour of Dust spans universal and personal themes. “Bullies,” co-written with pianist Jamie Edwards–the first co-write to appear on any Phillips’ albums–channels his experience as an outsider into a defiant anthem of resilience. “She Knows Me” offers a deeply personal testament to partnerships and vulnerability, while “Did You Make It Through the Night Okay” draws Phillips’ heritage as an Enrolled citizen of the Muskogee (Creek) Nation, reflecting on hardship and survival.

Written and recorded between his home studio in Nashville and Lucy’s Meat Market in Eagle Rock, CA, In the Hour of Dust features intimate solo recordings and collaborative sessions with longtime friends and acclaimed musicians: Jay Bellerose (drums), Jennifer Condos (bass), and Patrick Warren (keyboards). “I don’t see songs of love and songs of protest as being so far apart, really,” Phillips reflects. “It’s all about recognizing the value of connection in a disconnected time.”

Since his early days as the frontman of Grant Lee Buffalo, through his role as the town troubadour on TV's Gilmore Girls to his prolific solo career, Phillips has established himself as one of America's most consistent and compelling songwriters. His distinctive voice, poetic lyrics, and masterful musicianship have earned him a dedicated following and critical praise across multiple decades.

Tour Dates:

September 7 - Jammin’ Java - Vienna, VA
September 9 - City Winery - Philadelphia, PA
September 10 - City Winery - New York, NY
September 11 - City Winery - Boston, MA
October 10 - St. Michael-in-the-Hamlet Church - Liverpool, UK
October 11 - Hallé at St Michael's - Manchester, UK
October 12 - Portland Arms - Cambridge, UK
October 14 - Kitchen Garden - Birmingham, UK
October 15 - The Lower Third - London, UK
October 16 - Les Etoiles - Paris, France
October 17 - Reflektor - Liege, Belgium
October 18 - Ramblin’ Roots - Utrecht, The Netherlands
October 19 - Metropol - Hengelo, The Netherlands
October 21 - DR Koncerthuset - Copenhagen, Denmark
November 8 - McCabe’s Guitar Shop - Los Angeles, CA
November 9 - HopMonk Tavern - Novato, CA
January 14 - The Lantern - Bristol, UK
January 15 - The Trades Club - Hebden Bridge, UK
January 16 - Celtic Connections - Glasgow, UK
January 17 - The Common Room - Newcastle, UK
January 18 - Tithe Barn - Carlisle, UK
January 20 - Out to Lunch Festival - Belfast, UK
January 21 - Whelan's - Dublin, Ireland
January 23-24 - G Livelab - Helsinki, Finland
January 25 - Ylläs Jazz & Blues Festival - Lapland, Finland

Jetstream Pony, The Loft album reviews

Jetstream Pony

Bowerbirds and Blue Things

(Shelflife)

Similar artists: Alvvays, Velocity Girl, Lush, The Dentists

Since the 1990s, Jetstream Pony singer Beth Arzy - an American expat who attended Palm Desert High School – has spent time in such beloved indie pop/rock groups as Trembling Blue Stars, The Luxembourg Signal and Southern California’s Aberdeen. 

Jetstream Pony, formed in 2017, also features guitarist/singer Shaun Charman (The Wedding Present), bassist Kerry Boettcher, drummer Tom Levesley and more recent recruit, guitarist Mark Matthews (The Dentists). 

Bowerbirds and Blue Things, this Brighton-based alt-rock quintet’s first full-length album in five years is another winsome addition to its catalog. Arzy’s harmonic blend with guitarist/singer Shaun Charman is spot-on throughout the dozen tracks here. 

Among the standouts: driving opener “Sit and Wonder,” bolstered by some chiming guitar; “Bubblegum Nothingness,” which name checks “Soul Train” TV host Don Cornelius and contains a tongue-in-cheek chorus, seemingly chastising a person who’s “a parasitic disco snail”; and the Mighty Lemon Drops-esque “Bonanza 2 Tango Sierra” with more exquisite harmonies. Elsewhere, denser shoegaze sounds turn up, Charman and Boettcher have a hand at lead vocals (the latter on a dark “Tendrils”), and The Fall keyboardist Eleni Puolou even turns up for guest spoken vocals, providing an edgier vibe on “The Relativity of Wrong.”

Info: bandcamp.com

The Loft

Everything Changes, Everything Stays the Same

(Tapete)

Similar artists: Nick Lowe, the Go-Betweens, Real Estate

During the mid-Eighties, The Loft was the first act on England’s vaunted Creation Records (later the label home for Oasis) to achieve notoriety with some single releases. Then the band quickly split up. 

Singer/guitarist Pete Astor and drummer Dave Morgan moved onto the critically acclaimed Weather Prophets. The Loft briefly reformed in ’06, reappeared nearly a decade later and have sporadically played gigs in the interim. 

All four original members finally entered a studio with current Dexy’s (Midnight Runners) member Sean Read as producer and made the debut album Everything Changes, Everything Stays the Same. The result is a delightful dose of jangle-pop. 

Highlights include the character study “Dr. Clarke;” a bar singalong-worthy “Feel Good Now;” humorous dance craze-in-the-making “Do the Shut Up,” and pastoral ode to late summer, “Greensward Days.” (Side note: Loft fans should also check out Astor’s frequently charming, stripped-down 2024 solo effort Tall Stories and New Religions.)

Info: amazon.com.

My reviews originally appeared in today's edition of Desert Star Weekly. 

The Waterboys' making-of 'Life, Death and Dennis Hopper' album film on YouTube; 'Dennis Hopper Day' in New Mexico is May 17

A Wild and Beautiful Ride—a new documentary chronicling the creation of The Waterboys’ latest album Life, Death and Dennis Hopper is now available globally on YouTube.

In case you missed my recent interview with the band's frontman Mike Scott, read it here:

Rock Cellar Magazine - The Waterboys’ Mike Scott Talks New Concept Album ‘Life, Death & Dennis Hopper’ — Out Now (Q&A)

The 48-minute film, which premiered on Night Flight Plus on May 9, follows the making of the epic 25-track album released by Sun Records this spring. Directed by Mick Puck and Duende Visions, the documentary blends New Mexico landscapes with behind-the-scenes moments and commentary from Waterboys frontman Mike Scott, who spent four years crafting the record.

Timed just ahead of Dennis Hopper Day, an annual celebration held in Taos, New Mexico on May 17 (Hopper’s birthday), the film provides a reflection on Hopper’s life, legacy, and enduring influence on global culture. The album and film were both deeply inspired by the actor's wild, multi-faceted journey—from Hollywood’s rebellious youth to spiritual seeker and visionary artist.

"The arc of his life was the story of our times,” says Scott. “He was at the big bang of youth culture in Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean; the beginnings of Pop Art with the young Andy Warhol. He was part of the counterculture, hippie, civil rights, and psychedelic scenes of the '60s. In the '70s and '80s, he went on a wild 10-year rip, almost died, came back, got straight, and became a five-movies-a-year character actor—without losing the sparkle in his eye or the sense of danger or unpredictability that always gathered around him.”

Released last month via Sun Records, Life, Death and Dennis Hopper has earned widespread critical acclaim across the U.K., Europe, and the U.S. Featuring standout collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, Steve Earle, Taylor Goldsmith, and more, the album traces the highs and lows of Hopper’s cinematic and personal legacy, framed as a broader meditation on what it means to live, fall, and rise again.

The film’s global YouTube premiere on May 16 offers fans around the world a chance to experience the journey in real time—just as the town of Taos gathers for its annual tributes, including the Easy Rider Ride, sunset ceremony, and commemorations at Hopper’s final resting place.

The film is available on The Waterboys YouTube channel on May 16. To learn more about The Waterboys and their worldwide tour, visit mikescottwaterboys.com. 

Wavves back with 'Spun' album, tour in June

After announcing their new album Spun, San Diego's Wavves release the title track of the same name, “Spun.” The song follows “Goner,” the previously released Travis Barker (Blink-182)-produced song. “Goner” was paired with a Brandon Dermer-directed music video filmed at the band’s Los Angeles County wildfire benefit show at Zeublon, watch that here. Dermer has previously directed Wavves’ 2013 video for “That’s On Me” and has directed videos for Blink-182 among others.

The album is due out June 27 with a North American tour set to launch later that month. See routing below. Preorder the LP here. 

Like lead singer Nathan Williams’ earliest music, this album first took shape in a small shed behind his parents’ house known as "the hideaway." It's the place where Williams made some of his earliest albums. 

Over a decade prior, Williams released King of the Beach, an album that brought much attention - a pop/punk collection that also led to a widely publicized on stage meltdown at Primavera Fest. Wavves eventually entered the major label system, where the band released two albums before Williams became disillusioned by the lack of creative agency available to him. In 2017, Williams self-released You’re Welcome on his label, Ghost Ramp before returning to Fat Possum (the home of his first three albums) for Hideaway.

Fast forward to 2024, and Williams has again reunited with longtime bandmates Stephen Pope, Ross Traver, and Alex Gates. 

Tour dates:

6/24 - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Atrium 
6/25 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent 
6/27 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios 
6/28 - Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl 
6/29 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos 
7/2 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry 
7/3 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon 
7/5 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge 
7/6 - Detroit, MI @ El Club 
7/8 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace 
7/9 - Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount 
7/10 - Boston, MA @ The Sinclair 
7/11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw 
7/12 - Washington, DC @ Union Stage 
7/13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts 
7/15 - Atlanta, GA @ The Loft 
7/16 - New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina's 
7/17 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall 
7/18 - Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves 
7/19 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk 
7/21 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sister 
7/22 - Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole 
7/23 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom 
7/24 - San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
7/25 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda 

Track listing:

1. Spun
2. Lucky Stars
3. New Creatures
4. Goner
5. Gillette Bayonet
6. So Long
7. Busy Sleeping
8. In Good Time
9. Big Nothing
10. Machete Bob
11. Way Down
12. Body Sane
13. Holding Onto Shadows