Rick Springfield news: The return of The Locustz

The Locustz (formerly The Red Locusts) are back with a special Record Store Day limited edition vinyl LP release.

Rick Springfield posted the following to his website about the second album from his side project, whose eponymous 2021 was a real power pop gem:

"Yes, it’s a new album by those crazy cut-ups, The Locustz! We dropped the “Red” from the name just like the Beatles dropped the “Silver” from the Silver Beatles. And yes, I guess I am comparing the mighty Locustz's new album “Buzzkill” to the four mop tops, and I apologize for that, but we are really, really big fans. Not of the Beatles, I mean, we’re big Locustz fans. Even though we’re all in the band, we like our music and are anxious to meet the band. And who are The Locutsz for the uninformed? They are, well, me, and I am proud to be in a band with the mighty Bissonette brothers, Matt and Gregg. There are two other members, but you’ll have to wait to meet them cos this is all just too much information. Not for you, for me. I can’t focus when there are too many people to think about. So the big news is I’m pregnant.. no, wait, that’s not me, that’s, okay, never mind. 

The big news is RECORD STORE DAY. Which is April 18th. It’s when vinyl puts on its party dress and goes on sale. You can get your limited edition GREEN vinyl on the 18th and be the envy of all your friends. So remember if you would. April 18th is Record Store Day, where we all go to our local record store (they’re coming back) and get our green vinyl brand-spanking-new Locustz album, BUZZKILL."

The Locustz are:

Rick Springfield: Vocals, BG vocals, guitar, keyboards
Matt Bissonette: Vocals: BG vocals, bass, keyboards
Gregg Bissonette: Drums and vocal on 'Friend'
Steve Dudas: Guitars
Mark Hart: Keyboards and vocals
Cindy Horst: Harp on 'Friend'
Marty Gonzalez: Cellos

Produced by Rick Springfield and Matt Bissonette
Written by Rick Springfield and Matt Bissonette
Recorded by Matty Spindel at The Black Lagoon

https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/20224

Track List:

Welcome To The Revolution
Having Said That
Battersea Park
The Blur
Valentinos Bed
My Lovely Zoey
Boy Meets Girl
Saint Teresa
Then There Were Three
Head Full Of Rain
Friend

Billy Ocean to launch the 2026 Dos Lagos Concert Series in Corona

Billy Ocean makes his only Southern California tour appearance on March 9 in Corona at Dos Lagos Entertainment Center.

The event kicks off an impressive concert series for the outdoor Riverside County venue. Other acts on the schedule: Al Jardine & the Pet Sounds Band, April 25; Ben Folds, May 17; Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, June 21; Shenandoah, July 24.

During the Eighties, the Caribbean-born Ocean enjoyed a major string of top 10 singles on the Billboard pop or R&B charts including "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)," "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)," "Loverboy," "Suddenly," "Mystery Lady," "When the Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going)," "There'll Be Sad Songs to Make You Cry," "Love Zone," "Love is Forever," "Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car," and "The "Colour of Love."

Judging by a setlist last year in Australia, there's a good chance Ocean will do several of those hits. The last time he stopped in the region was in 2024 for gigs in Coachella, Cerritos and Pala. The most recent studio album, One World, was released in 2020.

Billy Ocean, 6 p.m. March 9, The Shops at Dos Lagos, 2755 Lakeshore Drive, Corona, $29-$79, dltickets.com.

Photo by Fredrik Stromberg, courtesy billyocean.com.

      

New Pornographers update: album and US tour confirmed for spring

“Pure Sticker Shock” is the latest single from The New Pornographers' new album 'The Former Site Of,' due March 27 on Merge Records; watch/share the visualizer HERE. The album is available for pre-order now via both Merge Records and band’s webstore;

presave/pre-order the album HERE. The record is also available in an exclusive “Mai Tai” LP variant HERE and “Spilled Ink” LP variant HERE.

On “Pure Sticker Shock,” frontperson A.C. Newman’s lyrics grapple with self-worth. “This song is not about a specific event, but it has felt very 'applicable' to me and this year of my life,” Newman shares, “It basically asks the question 'What has worth? Who is deciding?' Your market value is not always your value."

The group's tenth studio album was first crafted by Newman in his home studio before being brought to the band, composed of Newman, Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins and Todd Fancey. The group is joined for the first time by storied session drummer Charley Drayton (Divinyls, Keith Richards, Fiona Apple). Josh Wells (Destroyer, Black Mountain) will join as the touring drummer for the band’s upcoming dates in the Spring.

Of the making of the album, Newman notes, “Having time in my studio really opened things up. I don’t like wasting my bandmates’ time, and always felt guilty when I’d give them a song, ask them to do something, then completely change the song and ask them to do it again. Now I can get the skeleton of a song together first—just a couple of elements, the key feeling, really as little as possible—before bringing it to the band and running from there.”

The band will kick off their U.S. tour in April 22 in Boston. Tickets are available now at thenewpornographers.com, full details and a list of dates can be found below.

In addition to “Pure Sticker Shock,” the album features the group’s most recent single, “Votive,” released in January. The album’s first single “Ballad Of The Last Payphone” is available as a limited 7-inch vinyl first release. Listen to/share the single HERE.

Track Listing: 

1. Great Princess Story
2. Pure Sticker Shock
3. Ballad Of The Last Payphone
4. Spooky Action
5. Wish You Could See Me I'm Killing It
6. Votive
7. The Wine Remembers The Water
8. Calligraphy
9. Bonus Mai Tais
10. The Former Site Of

Tour Dates: 

April 22—Boston, MA—The Wilbur*
April 23—New York, NY—Webster Hall*
April 24—Glenside, PA—Keswick Theatre*
April 25—Rochester, NY—Water Street Music Hall*
April 27—Detroit, MI—El Club*
April 29—Millvale, PA—Mr. Smalls Theatre*
April 30—Cleveland, OH—House of Blues*
May 1—Milwaukee, WI—Turner Hall*
May 2—Minneapolis, MN—The Fitzgerald Theater*
May 3—Chicago, IL—The Metro*
May 5—Englewood, CO—Gothic Theatre*
May 6—Salt Lake City, UT—The Commonwealth Room*
May 8—Seattle, WA—The Showbox*
May 9—Portland, OR—Aladdin Theater*
May 11—San Francisco, CA—The Castro Theatre*
May 12—Los Angeles, CA—Teragram Ballroom*
May 13—Phoenix, AZ—Crescent Ballroom*
May 15—Austin, TX—Mohawk Outside*
May 16—Dallas, TX—The Kessler Theater*
May 17—Baton Rouge, LA—Chelsea's Live*
May 19—Atlanta, GA—Variety Playhouse*
May 20—Saxapahaw, NC—Haw River Ballroom*
May 21—Washington, DC—9:30 Club*

*with Will Sheff (of Okkervil River)

Social Distortion set long-awaited new studio album for May, tour to follow

Influential Orange County, CA punk band Social Distortion's long-awaited eighth album, Born To Kill, will be released May 8 via Epitaph Records. To pre-order the album and/or hear the title track that's been played at shows for the last several months, go to https://socialdistortion.ffm.to/borntokill

Not only the conclusion to a 15-year wait between Social D albums, Born to Kill is the first one since Ness’ recovery from a bout with cancer. The title track and mission statement drops nods to Lou Reed ("Rock ’n’ Roll Animal gonna come your way!”) and Iggy and the Stooges (“The agenda is yeah to Search and Destroy”), and David Bowie (“It’s a Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide”) following a few songs later on “Partners In Crime.” 

Co-produced by Ness and Dave Sardy, and featuring guest appearances from Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Lucinda Williams and collaborative cover art by Ness and Shepard Fairey, Born To Kill is the latest installment in a catalog that spans nearly three generations, including Mommy’s Little Monster (1983), Prison Bound (1988), the RIAA gold-certified Social Distortion (1990) and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992), White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996), Sex, Love and Rock ’n’ Roll (2004), and Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011).

Social Distortion will support Born To Kill with a North American tour. The tour kicks off in August in Phoenix and concludes in October in San Diego. For support, tickets and further information, see below or go to https://www.socialdistortion.com/tours

Tour Dates: 

August 25 - Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Financial Theatre *
August 28 - Austin, TX - Moody Amphitheater *
August 29 - Dallas, TX - The Bomb Factory *
August 31 - Nashville, TN - The Pinnacle *
September 1 - Atlanta, GA - Coca-Cola Roxy *
September 3 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz *
September 4 - Washington, DC - The Anthem *
September 5 - Asbury Park, NJ - The Stone Pony Summer Stage *
September 8 - Philadelphia, PA - The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark *
September 9 - Boston, MA - Roadrunner *
September 11 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Paramount *
September 12 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Paramount *
September 14 - Toronto, ONT - HISTORY *
September 17 - Detroit, MI - The Filmore Detroit *
September 20 - Minneapolis, MN - The Armory *
September 22 - Denver, CO - The Mission Ballroom *
September 23 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Union Event Center *
September 25 - Las Vegas, NV - The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas *
September 26 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort - Grand Theatre *
September 2 -8 San Francisco, CA - The Masonic *
October 1 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium #
October 2 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium #
October 3 - San Diego, CA - Gallagher Square at Petco Park *

# The Descendents support
* The Descendents and The Chats support

The Cribs' North American tour starts in April, new album out now

The Cribs have announced details of their first North American headline tour in nine years. The new album, Selling A Vibe, the UK trio's first in five years, was released last month through Play It Again Sam/PIAS. It already reached #5 on the UK chart. 

Tickets for the tour are on sale now. 

Listen to Selling A Vibe via all platforms HERE

Watch the "Never The Same" video HERE

Of producer Patrick Wimberly (formerly of Chairlift, with credits including MGMT), the band said, “We’d always said if we made another record we would specifically focus on enhancing the pop element of the band, so Patrick's way of working and experience in that realm seemed a great fit whilst also being a completely new experience.”

Bassist and vocalist Gary Jarman says: "I think as time has gone by our albums have become more and more open - and as such the songs on 'Selling A Vibe' feel very personal. So it can be nerve wracking releasing them because they matter so much to us. I know that may sound overly romantic or idealistic, but ultimately - it's the only thing that matters when all is said and done. Did we connect with people? We don’t want this to be seen as an “indie rock” record or a “punk” record or whatever - all those things that used to seem to matter to us - our only hope is that people enjoy and connect with the songs and lyrics for what they are. We want them to be for everyone, really. And as such, I suppose you could say that makes it our most ambitious album, as we have fully given ourselves over to that. In short, we sincerely hope you enjoy it."

North American Tour Dates:

April 23 – Constellation Room, Santa Ana, CA
April 24 – Echoplex, Los Angeles, CA
April 25 – Popscene @ Brick & Mortar, San Francisco, CA
April 28 – Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR
April 29 – Sunset, Seattle, WA
May 02 – 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN
May 03 – Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI
May 05 – Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
May 06 – El Club, Detroit, MI
May 07 – Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON
May 09 – Warsaw, Brooklyn, NY
May 10 – The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA

Track Lisitng:

1. Dark Luck

2. Selling A Vibe
3. A Point Too Hard To Make
4. Never The Same
5. Summer Seizures
6. Looking For The Wrong Guy
7. If Our Paths Never Crossed
8. Self-Respect
9. You’ll Tell Me Anything
10. Rose Mist
11. Distractions
12. Brothers Won’t Break

Coachella Festival '26 News: Laufey to release deluxe version of album in April

A Matter of Time: The Final Hour, the new deluxe version of LA-based Icelandic-Chinese artist, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Laufey’s Grammy-winning album A Matter of Time, is set for release April 10 via AWAL/Vingolf Recordings. Pre-save/pre-order physical and digital formats here. “How I Get,” one of four new tracks on the deluxe edition, can be heard here.

Laufey's previous two albums were certified gold in the U.S. She performs April 12+19 at Coachella Festival. 

“‘How I Get’ is about the contrast between being disciplined, grounded and in control in every area of my life, except when it comes to one person,” says Laufey. “It explores that unsettling shift where I suddenly find myself chasing the rush and justifying behavior I swore I’d never fall into, because with them, that’s just how I get.”

Produced alongside longtime collaborator Spencer Stewart and Grammy-winning artist Aaron Dessner (Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran), A Matter of Time: The Final Hour's deluxe edition will feature the album’s fifteen original tracks plus four previously unreleased songs.

Earlier this month, Laufey took home Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for A Matter of Time at the 68th Grammy Awards. The win is her second in the category, following a statue for Bewitched at the 2024 awards which made her the youngest artist to win the honor. A Matter of Time was released to widespread critical acclaim in August, debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Jazz Albums chart (where it continues to hold a spot in the top 10). In January, Laufey was presented with Icelandic knighthood, the prestigious Order of the Falcon, by President Halla Tómasdóttir.

The deluxe album continues to add to a landmark year for Laufey, who is currently on tour throughout the U.K. and Europe with dates already sold out at London’s O2 (two nights), Paris’ Adidas Arena, Dublin’s 3Arena and more. The run follows a sold-out North American leg last year which saw Laufey headline two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden, two nights at LA's Crypto.com Arena.

Laufey’s first children’s book, Mei Mei The Bunny, is set for release on April 21 via Penguin Random House. A live album, A Matter of Time: Live at Madison Square Garden, is set for release April 18 for Record Store Day.

David Gray brings unreleased mid-2000s music to light in March

David Gray's Nightjar is a companion album to his 2005 release Life in Slow Motion, out March 27 via Bella Figura Music. Featuring 19 previously unheard songs written and recorded during the same period, Nightjar draws from 2003–2005 sessions that ultimately produced Life in Slow Motion. The song “When I Fall In Love” is out now.

Reflecting on the period, Gray describes it as one of upheaval and creative reset following the unprecedented success of White Ladder. "We were almost three years on the road touring White Ladder,” he recalls. “My father had passed away in the midst of that campaign, and then, shortly after I got home from all of that, my wife gave birth to our first child in somewhat traumatic circumstances. I was also now a successful, famous and wealthy man with the world apparently at his feet. It was a lot to make sense of. Personally, privately, professionally, emotionally, creatively. Way too much to chew in one bite.”

Much of the music was recorded at The Church Studios in Crouch End. “The flavour of some of these songs is one of grief, and in others of confusion and disillusionment,” Gray reflects. “I think I was attempting to make sense of everything that had spun me round so completely in the previous four or five years. That would prove to be a long process, perhaps a never-ending one in some respects.”

That rawness is part of why Gray feels the record matters now. “I think there is a rawness to the emotional tone as well as to the high tempo recording process, and that’s one of the reasons I think it’s important to put this music out,” he says. “Life in Slow Motion was the ambitious and highly produced end result of this 18-month recording blitz, but these other songs reveal much more of the story and shine a light on many of the dark and conflicted feelings that were beginning to crystalize.”

The announcement follows last November's 20th-anniversary reissue of Life in Slow Motion, released as its first-ever vinyl edition.

Track listing:

When I Fall in Love

Money
The Easy Way Out
Nightjar
Green Light
Mr. Bennett
Long Gone Now (Alt Version)
Everybody’s Leaving Town (Drum Delay Mix)
Alive
Poor John
Wave
Sacred Ground (Alt Version)
The Golden Ray
Far From Here
A Model Life / My Angel Now
Madder Rain
Laughing Gas (2004 Version)
Side Effects (May Also Include)
The Final Order