Thomas Dolby's Time Capsule tour in progress

In the wake of his critically acclaimed 2011 album "A Map of the Floating City" and the groundbreaking FloatingCity.com TransMedia game he co-designed, Thomas Dolby just embarked on a North American tour with an unusual vehicle in tow (pictured below).

The Time Capsule is a chrome- and brass-plated road trailer that seats three. With handcrafted leather and wood fittings, and complex electrical wiring that could have been designed by Nikola Tesla, it resembles a Jules Verne/HG Wells-inspired time-travel machine.

Inside is a high-tech video recording suite that allows a music fan or guest artist to upload a personal video message to the Future. The Time Capsule will be parked in the street outside each venue on Dolby’s month-long tour and in front of select local radio and TV stations. It will capture hundreds of 30-second clips over the course of the tour, assembling them into an online video montage.

Fans will be able to walk up and step into the Time Capsule to make their own fully produced and effected digital 30-second video clip. The clips will then be automatically uploaded and viewable on a brand-new YouTube channel time-capsule.tv along with the individual user’s own Facebook and Twitter pages. The most viewed clips will win prizes. Dolby’s label Lost Toy People Records is in discussion with several potential sponsors for the project.

“If you had 30 seconds to explain to an alien visitor what went wrong with our civilization, what would you say?” said Thomas Dolby. “Our species may not be around on this planet much longer, so you might as well leave a welcome message for the next guys!”

Dolby news, merchandise and additional perks are available at the Flat Earth Society fan club and thomasdolby.com

Tour dates:

March 20 ATLANTA, GA The Loft 
March 21 GREENVILLE, SC Handlebar
March 23 ANNAPOLIS, MD Ram’s Head 
March 24 PHILADELPHIA, PA World Café 
March 25 ALEXANDRIA, VA Birchmere 
March 28 SELLERSVILLE, PA Sellersville Theater
March 29 NEW YORK, NY Canal Room
March 30 NORTHAMPTON, MA Iron Horse
March 31 RIDGEFIELD, CT Ridgefield Playhouse 

April 1 MONTREAL, QC L’Astral
April 2 TORONTO, ON Mod Club
April 4 DETROIT, MI Royal Oak
April 5 CHICAGO, IL Park West
April 6 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Cedar Cultural Center
April 10 VANCOUVER, BC Rio Theatre
April 11 SEATTLE, WA Showbox at the Market
April 13 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Red Devil Lounge
April 14 SACRAMENTO, CA Harlows
April 16 SAN DIEGO, CA Anthology
April 17 LOS ANGELES, CA Largo (2 shows at 8 & 10:30 p.m.) 

Thomas explains the “Time Capsule Tour concept” to Angelenos on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/lvzghnj3fLs 

Listen to the NPR Weekend Edition piece:
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/23/141557689/thomas-dolbys-floating-city

Time Capsule photo by Paul Sizer

All-American Rejects North American tour dates

SoCal NASCAR fans note: This Sunday, the band serves as the music entertainment at the Auto Club 400 in Fontana (you need tickets to the race to watch). For more on where they're playing in your area, read below...
 
DGC/Interscope Records band All-American Rejects return to the road for a six week tour commencing March 30 in LA.

"If you want to see this band at their best, and probably the best they'll ever be and hear all the songs you want to hear and all the songs you haven't heard yet then you should make it a point to come out. It will be the show you tell your children you saw. It will be a great evening and a lot of fun with your four favorite Okies," said singer Tyson Ritter.

All-American Rejects' first single, “Beekeeper’s Daughter,” along with the rest of the tracks on new album "Kids In The Street" - due in stores March 26 - was produced by Grammy-nominated producer Greg Wells (Adele, Katy Perry, OneRepublic).

The video for “Beekeeper’s Daughter,” directed by Isaac Rentz (Blink-182, Cage the Elephant) can be viewed at http://vevo.ly/xKVMco. 

On March 27, All-American Rejects are scheduled to perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live!  After their spring tour, The All-American Rejects join Blink-182 on the road and make a return visit to Bamboozle Festival on May 19.

THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS “KIDS IN THE STREET” SPRING TOUR:

March 30 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
March 31 Flagstaff, AZ Northern Arizona University
April 2 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater
April 4 Kansas City, MO Beaumont Club
April 5 Kearney, NE University of Nebraska-Kearney
April 6 Oklahoma City, OK Diamond Ballroom
April 7 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
April 9 Chicago, IL Metro
April 10 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
April 11 Detroit, MI Motor City Casino
April 13 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata
April 14 Glassboro, NJ Rowan University
April 15 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
April 17 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
April 18 Montreal, QC Le National
April 20 Potsdam, NY Clarkson University
April 21 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
April 22 N. Hampton, MA Pearl Street
April 24 Lancaster, PA Chameleon Club
April 25 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
April 27 Cambridge, MA MIT
April 28 Boston, MA Royale
April 29 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live
May 1 Richmond, VA The National
May 2 Norfolk, VA Norva
May 4 Orlando, FL Beacham Theatre
May 5 West Palm Beach, FL Sunfest
May 6 St. Petersburg, FL Vinoy Park
May 9 Ashville, NC The Orange Peel
May 11 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore
May 12 Louisville, KY Expo Live
May 13 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s
May 15 Rochester, NY Blue Cross Arena Blink-182 Tour
May 17 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena Blink-182 Tour
May 18 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Blink-182 Tour
May 19 Asbury Park, NJ Bamboozle
May 20 Bethlehem, PA Sands Bethlehem Event Center Blink-182 Tour
May 22 Quebec City, QUE Colisee Pepsi Arena Blink-182 Tour

Matthew West seeks more inspirational stories, hits the road

In a note posted to fans on his official website, Matthew West has extended another invite for people to submit their stories for his next album.

After receiving over 10,000 personal stories worldwide for his 2010 project The Story of Your Life, the acclaimed Contemporary Christian pop/rock singer/songwriter is collecting stories through the end of March, and giving away a free download of “The Story of Your Life” for every submission.

West will begin recording the new album in the spring with a plan to unveil the set of new songs in September.

“Even after ['The Story of Your Life'] was released and I was no longer officially collecting stories, the stories did not stop pouring in," explains West. “On average, over a hundred stories have been sent to my website every week during these last two years. I could sense this season of telling the stories of peoples' lives wasn't quite finished yet. I'm beyond excited to take this journey with you with this new season of stories and songs.”

The end of 2011 found West wrapping promotion for his first full length Christmas record, "The Heart of Christmas," and movie of the same name. The title track went Top 10 on mainstream AC radio. Additionally, the film was the highest rated GMC premiere to date.

Now West is embarking on the nationwide “Come to the Well Tour” with Casting Crowns this spring. See schedule below.

 

3/22 Independence, Mo. - Independence Event Center

3/23 Moline, Ill. - iWireless Center
3/24 St. Charles, Md. - Family Arena
3/29 Philadelphia, Pa. - The Liacouras Center
3/30 Hershey, Pa. - Giant Center
3/31 Pittsburgh, Pa. - Console Energy Center

4/5 Bowling Green, Ky. - E.A. Diddle Arena
4/6 Chattanooga, Tenn. - UTC MacKenzie Arena
4/7 Birmingham, Ala. - BJCC Arena
4/12 Austin, Texas - Shoreline Church
4/13 Odessa, Texas - Ector County Coliseum
4/19 Cedar Falls, Iowa - McLeod Center
4/20 Sioux Falls, S.D. - Sioux Falls Arena
4/21 Minneapolis, Minn. - Target Center
4/22 Fargo, N.D. - Fargo Dome
4/24 Springfield, Mo. - JQH Arena
4/26 Louisville, Ky. - Broadbent Arena
4/27 Woodstock, Ga. - First Baptist Church
4/28 Charleston, W.V. - Charleston Civic Center

5/3 Tulsa, Okla. - Spirit Bank Event Center
5/4 Lubbock, Texas - United Spirit Arena
5/5 The Woodlands, Texas - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

matthewwest.com

Damon Albarn news

"Dr Dee," a new studio album by Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad & the Queen), is due out May 8 through Virgin Records.

The 18-track work was inspired by the life of John Dee (1527-1608), a mathematician, alchemist, philosopher and advisor to Elizabeth I. Dee is a singular enigma: an Englishman so influential that he defined how we measure years, so quintessential that he lives on in Shakespeare's words; yet so shrouded in mystery that he's fallen from the very pages of history itself.

Described by Albarn as "strange pastoral folk," the music of "Dr Dee" is a fitting companion to the end of another Elizabethan age. The album combines Albarn's voice with early English choral and instrumentation alongside modern, West African and Renaissance sounds. "Dr Dee" was recorded late last year in Albarn's West London studio and also in Salford with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. The album was mixed by Valgeir Sigursson in Reykjavik. 

View trailer here: http://youtu.be/Zskz5TCaxLE

Damon Albarn will perform songs from the album at OneFest in the UK on April 14, alongside singers and musicians featured on the album, including Madou Diabate. www.onefestuk.com 

A stage production created by Albarn and Rufus Norris, depicting Dee's fall from prominence to poverty and isolation, which showcased to critical acclaim at the Manchester International Festival last year, will play at English National Opera this summer as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

Track listing:

1) The Golden Dawn
2) Apple Carts
3) Oh Spirit Animate Us
4) The Moon Exalted
5) A Man of England
6) Saturn
7) Coronation
8) The Marvelous Dream
9) A Prayer
10) Edward Kelley
11) Preparation
12) 9 Point Star
13) Temptation Comes In The Afternoon
14) Watching the Fire That Waltzed Away
15) Moon (Interlude) 
16) Cathedrals 
17) Tree Of Life 
18) The Dancing King

Glenn Frey returns with classics

Glenn Frey - the Grammy Award-winning, founding member of The Eagles - will release After Hours, his first album since 1995, on May 8. 

A collection of classic love songs from the 1940s to the present, Frey's sixth solo effort includes “Sentimental Reasons” and “My Buddy,” Brian Wilson’s “Caroline No” and Randy Newman’s “Same Girl”  and the American standard, “Route 66.”

Helping the project come to fruition were co-producers Richard F.W. Davis and Michael Thompson, both members of The Eagles touring band.

“It was a new adventure for me as a vocalist to see if I could indeed learn, own and deliver these songs. And I'm so happy I took the challenge, once I got started it seemed like these songs had been waiting for me to sing them, and I feel like since I've done this record I'm a better singer than I was before I started. It's a different style of singing,” said Frey, a 1998 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

After Hours is a dedication to Frey’s parents to celebrate the songs and love of music they instilled in him at a young age. 

“It's been great to spend the last two and a half years living with these amazing songs. I've enjoyed working with these talented musicians and finally seeing how it all fit together. It's been an incredible experience,” said Frey.

After Hours will be available in digital, CD and vinyl formats through Universal Music Enterprises. 

 

www.glennfreyafterhours.com

St. Patrick's Day music picks: Dropkick Murphys, Chieftains

Looking for some fresh Irish-leaning music to liven up your St. Paddy's Day festivities this weekend? These recent releases are worthy candidates. 

For a rousing celebration, look no further than Dropkick Murphys. Last year, the Massachusetts-based Celtic punk band put out the solid, acclaimed concept album "Going Out in Style" featuring guest appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Chris Cheney of The Living End and Fat Mike from NOFX.

The septet gets even more wild on the newly expanded "Fenway Park: Bonus Edition." Recorded over the course of two sold-out shows for 40,000 fans during Sept. 2011 at the famed home of the Boston Red Sox, they're joined by Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo) on "Tessie," fellow hometown heroes Mighty Mighty Bosstones for "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" and others. A closing cover of AC/DC's "TNT" proves perfect for lead singer Al Barr's gravelly voice.

This edition has the complete story of Cornelius Larkin by the band's friend/best-selling author Michael Patrick MacDonald (All Souls, Easter Rising). The Larkin story is an expansion of MacDonald's Cornelius Larkin obituary that appears in the original "Going Out In Style" liner notes.

 

The two-disc collection includes a download of the filmed concert. 500 limited edition vinyl copies are available for order now at dropkickmurphys.com.

You can see Fenway footage on television too: the music video for "Cruel" is set to debut nationally on MTVu on March 17, and will air 24 times in a 24 hour period. The full concert premieres in HD on Palladia, 9 p.m. ET Saturday, with repeat airings through April 7 (check local listings).

"Fenway" Track Listing:

1) Hang 'Em High 

2) Sunday Hardcore Matinee  

3) Deeds Not Words 

4) Going Out In Style 

5) The Irish Rover  

6) Peg O' My Heart 

7) Tessie   

8) Cruel   

9) Climbing A Chair To A Bed 

10) Take 'Em Down 

11) Devil's Brigade 

12) Boys On The Docks 

13) The Dirty Glass  

14) The State Of Massachusetts 

15) Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced 

16) Time To Go   

17) I'm Shipping Up To Boston 

18) TNT (AC/DC cover)

Remaining North American Tour Dates:

3.16 Boston, MA -  House Of Blues

3.17 Lowell, MA - Tsongas Arena

3.17 Lowell, MA - Tsongas Arena 

3.18 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall

3.24 Washington, DC - ShamrockFest '12 

European Festivals:

6.10 Leicestershire, UK - Download Festival, Donington Park

6.26 Stockholm, Sweden -Grona Lund Festival

6.27 Borlange, Sweden - Peace & Love Festival

On a more subdued, but highly captivating note is "Voice of Ages" (Hear Music/Concord), another in a long line of intriguing cross-genre collaborations by The Chieftains.

 

Marking their 50th Anniversary as the world’s foremost practitioner of traditional Irish folk music, Paddy Moloney and company wisely utilized the ace production talent of T Bone Burnett. 

 

Here the group works with acts from alt-rock (Bon Iver, The Decemberists, The Low Anthem) country and Americana (The Civil Wars, Pistol Annies, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Punch Brothers) to Irish and Scottish folk (Imelda May, Lisa Hannigan, Paolo Nutini).

 

Rounding out the 15 tracks is a reunion with original members Michael Tubridy and Seán Potts. NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman, a Chieftains fan, played a tin whistle tribute from space on “Fanny Power” (see it on YouTube at http://bit.ly/zXrOTU) while onboard the International Space Station.

 

Standouts include The Civil Wars' gorgeous self-penned “Lily Love,” Scotsman Paolo Nutini's Cat Stevens-esque "Hard Times Come Again No More," The Decemberists' take on Bob Dylan’s “When the Ship Comes In,” the Pistol Annies' "Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies,"
Secret Sisters' lush "Peggy Gordon" and both Punch Brothers contributions.

 

The deluxe "Voice of Ages" version is highly recommended. It has a great DVD documentary where Moloney and several artists are interviewed, plus the Low Anthem's music video. Eye-catching and intricate packaging also make this a special set. 

 

Watch The Chieftains on CBS Sunday Morning, March 18. In addition, an upcoming Chieftains/Low Anthem performance will begin streaming at NPR Music (npr.org) at 6 p.m. March 16.

 

Currently on tour in America, The Chieftains will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Carnegie Hall featuring a special guest appearance by The Low Anthem.

Hear The Chieftains' Paddy Moloney on NPR's Morning Edition: http://n.pr/yGM5oF 

and on PRI's The World: http://bit.ly/woV9nY 

http://www.thechieftains.com/

Willie Nelson's "Heroes" album out in May

Legacy Recordings will release "Heroes," an album of new songs and re-imagined classics on May 15.

The first title under the artist's deal with Legacy, "Heroes" is a collection of country songs (including covers from the '30s and '40s and new songs by Willie, his sons, Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson, and more).

Produced by Buddy Cannon, the backing band includes Kevin Grantt (bass), Bobby Terry (electric guitar, acoustic guitar), Jim Brown (piano, Wurlitzer, B-3 organ),  Mike Johnson (steel guitar), Tony Creasman (drums), Mickey Raphael (harmonica) and Lukas Nelson (electric guitar).

Additional musicians on the record are Paul Shaffer (B3 organ), Butch Carr (synthesizer), Steve Brewster (drums) and producer Buddy Cannon (bass, acoustic guitar). Melonie Cannon, Buddy Cannon, Lance Miller and Kris Kristofferson contribute background vocals.

The album opens with Willie and Merle Haggard joining forces on a new rendition of Wayne Carson's "A Horse Called Music" (the title song from Willie's 1989 album) then tears into the rollicking "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die," one of the album's new Willie Nelson songs with special guests Snoop Dogg, Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson.

Other new Willie Nelson compositions making their debut on "Heroes" are "Hero," featuring Johnson and Billy Joe Shaver, and "Come On Back Jesus" (co-written with Buddy Cannon and Micah Nelson) featuring Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson.

The collection includes producer Buddy Cannon's new composition, "That's All There Is To This Song" and three tunes penned by Lukas Nelson--"No Place To Fly," "Every Time He Drinks He Thinks of Her," and "The Sound of Your Memory."

Lukas performs with his dad on several of the album's tracks including the Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan composition, "Come On Up To The House," sung with Sheryl Crow.

Willie revisits the roots of classic country with three pre-rock gems: the 1930s ballad "My Window Faces The South," 1940s tunes "Home In San Antone" and "Cold War With You," with guest artist Ray Price.

An interpretation of Coldplay's "The Scientist," featured in an acclaimed animated short film produced by Chipotle to demonstrate the company's commitment to sustainably raised food, is also featured on "Heroes."

The album's focus track is Willie's sublime interpretation of Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe," performed with Lukas. 

"Heroes" marks the first release in a historic new record deal between Willie Nelson and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, announced in early February. The deal marks a label homecoming for Nelson, who, from 1975-1993, cut a phenomenal string of top-selling singles and albums for Columbia Records, beginning with 1975's seminal smash "Red Headed Stranger."

"I'm really happy to be back home with Sony Music. We have been partners for many years; all the way back to Pamper Music and Tree Music.  We share a great history, and I'm looking forward to many more years together," said Willie Nelson.

Forthcoming Willie Nelson titles under the Legacy imprint will include newly recorded songs and performances as well as archival releases, personally curated by the artist, drawn from all phases of his career including his recordings for RCA Records and others. 

As curator of his catalog, Willie will work with label archivists to select recordings, including previously released and previously unreleased tracks, for release in newly compiled collections and as bonus material on new editions of existing titles. The newly curated Willie Nelson titles will provide fresh perspective and context to the artist's influential and successful six-decade career.