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Friday, April 4, 2025

Coachella '25 News: Goldenvoice Surf Club to feature sets by Sammy Virji, Sara Landry, Polo & Pan, Eli Brown, more

Following a successful 2024 debut, Goldenvoice Surf Club, the premier daytime event series, once again takes over the Palm Springs Surf Club across both of Coachella Festival's April weekends, April 12-13 and April 19-20.

The Surf Club, one of the desert’s most cutting-edge destinations nestled in the San Jacinto Mountain range, presents a stacked lineup of global talent, redefining the festival weekend experience and catering to both those ready to dance and those looking to recharge.

Weekend One kicks off on Saturday with a high-energy mix of global artists including UK garage phenom Sammy Virji, house hitmaker Chris Lorenzo, iconic NYC duo Fcukers (DJ Set), and underground rising star ATRIP. Saturday is led by techno star Sara Landry, punk rap renegade singer and rapper Rico Nasty, club icon VTSS, and multidisciplinary DJ and producer Kitty Ca$h.

Weekend Two’s Saturday highlights include with an eclectic mix of hypnotic grooves soundtracked by Parisian electro duo Polo & Pan (DJ Set), prolific German producer and composer Ben Böhmer, soulful UK electronica duo Maribou State (DJ Set), and multi-instrumentalist and producer Josh Conway (The Marías). Weekend Two is rounded out on Sunday by meteoric Bristol-born techno export Eli Brown, underground maverick Max Styler, and melodic techno standout Massano.

The Palm Springs Surf Club offers a one-of-a-kind desert haven for this groundbreaking event. A vast grass amphitheater stage seamlessly extends into the venue’s cutting-edge wave pool area; guests can drift along the lazy river, plunge down waterslides, or unwind in luxury cabanas all while soaking in panoramic views of the San Jacinto Mountains before making their way to the dancefloor. Wellness experiences and top-tier food and beverage offerings are woven throughout, including the event’s official sustainable water partner, Drip.

Single day GA tickets start at $49. Weekend passes are available starting at $85. All events are 21+. For those in pursuit of heightened thrills, access to the water slides is available with the purchase of an additional pass. Tickets and more information available at www.gvsurfclub.com.

Goldenvoice Surf Club 2025

Weekend One
4/12: Sammy Virji, Chris Lorenzo, Fcukers (DJ Set), ATRIP
4/13: Sara Landry, Rico Nasty, VTSS, Kitty Ca$h

Weekend Two
4/19: Polo & Pan (DJ Set), Ben Böhmer, Maribou State (DJ Set), Josh Conway (The Marías)
4/20: Eli Brown, Max Styler, Massano

About The Palm Springs Surf Club

Discover a destination like no other at The Palm Springs Surf Club featuring a state-of-the-art wave technology catering to surfers of all levels. Enjoy resort-style amenities, captivating waterpark attractions, and savor meticulously crafted dining options. From the expansive amphitheater to charming restaurants, and a unique island surrounded by a lazy river, the venue boasts panoramic views of surf and mountain vistas. Whether you're a seasoned surfer or a first timer, the Palm Springs Surf Club promises an unparalleled experience that's accessible to anyone and everyone, making it a destination that redefines the boundaries of inland surfing.

Coachella '25 News: DoLab lineups set

Courtesy DoLab by Jamal Eid
Immersive experience curators Do LaB marks two decades at the forefront of Coachella’s creative and cultural evolution, transforming from a niche, experimental stage into a cornerstone of the festival’s ecosystem and a driving force in interactive music experiences.

As a catalyst to some of Coachella’s most unforgettable moments, the stage's environment provides both an intimate playground for both the world’s most in-demand artists and next gen stars. Recently adopted Do LaB devotees will recall Billie Eilish's surprise set last year, while the OGs can tell you about seeing DJ sets from RÜFÜS DU SOL and ODESZA before they ascended to stadium-headlining status.

These historic moments are all fueled by the brand’s signature renegade spirit and ‘anything goes’ ethos, making it the perfect home for the global electronic music elite to pop up on the Polo Fields - from Skrillex to Bonobo, Richie Hawtin to Major Lazer - you never know who’s going to show up.

With its 2025 lineup, Do LaB promises one of its most ambitious to date, featuring appearances across both weekends by the prolific Anderson .Paak’s DJ PEE .WEE UK heavyweights RUDIM3NTAL B2B Skepsis, visionary Young Art Records label head TOKiMONSTA, atmospheric soundscaper Tycho (DJ Set), future bass pioneers Snakehips B2B What So Not, and Detroit flag bearer MK B2B Special Guest.

Do LaB will also continue to reinforce its status as a home for experimentation, welcoming rare DJ sets from the likes of drag superstar Trixie Mattel, renowned bassist and singer-songwriter Blu DeTiger, high energy dance pop duo Confidence Man, rock-influenced alt electronic duo The Hellp, and a can’t be missed back to back from Jyoty B2B Zack Fox.

Some of dance music’s most buzzed about names will take center stage, including the meteroric three piece Levity, melodic house maestro Le Youth, four to the floor hitmaker Max Styler, UK garage and house riser Riordan, bass driven groove specialist Oppidan, and deep house duo Ship Wrek.

Elsewhere, the Do LaB will continue to house more underground-leaning and experimental sounds by leftfield D&B innovators Ivy Lab (DNB Set) B2B Kasra, forward thinking club selector BAMBII, UK garage trailblazer Conducta and new wave UK garage artist MPH, and rising talent Villager.

Additional acts include multidisciplinary DJ and producer Kitty Ca$h, global club favorite Nooriyah, London export nimino (DJ Set), viral Turkish DJ and producer Mahmut Orhan, melodic house pairing Layla Benitez B2B Henri Bergmann, and several more.

One of the Do LaB’s most anticipated yearly affairs is its array of surprise special guests, announced day by day during each Coachella weekend. Surprise acts in 2024 featured Billie Eilish & Friends, DJ Snake’s Hip Hop Set, DJ Pee .Wee, Kaskade, SOFI TUKKER, Bonobo, Barry Can’t Swim, and more, with preceding years seeing the likes of Skrillex, Major Lazer, ZHU, Richie Hawtin, Bob Moses, and SG Lewis among others.

Do LaB at Coachella 2025 Lineup

Weekend 1:

Annicka
AQUTIE
ATRIP
BAMBII
Blu DeTiger (DJ Set)
Confidence Man (DJ Set)
DJ Pee. Wee (AKA Anderson .Paak)
Jyoty B2B Zack Fox
Kaleena Zanders
Kaz James
Ladies of Leisure
Layla Benitez B2B Henri Bergmann
Levity
Marsh
Miluhska
MK B2B Special Guest
Nooriyah
Notion
RM47
RUDIM3NTAL B2B Skepsis
Ship Wrek
SOSA
Swimming Paul
Techno Tupac
Trixie Mattel (DJ Set)
Zulan

Weekend 2:

Athena
Bigger Than Us
Carola
ChaseWest
Conducta
Hybrid Minds
Ivy Lab (DNB Set) B2B Kasra
J.Phlip
Kitty Ca$h
Le Youth
Linska
Mahmut Orhan
Max Styler
MPH
Nimino (DJ Set)
Oppidan
Paperwater
Patricio
Pretty Girl (DJ Set)
Riordan
Rohaan
SHIMA
Snakehips B2B What So Not
The Hellp (DJ Set)
TOKiMONSTA
Tycho (DJ Set)
Villager

Sparks get 'Mad' in May, to tour U.S. in the fall

Sparks, brothers Ron and Russell Mael, have released “Drowned In A Sea Of Tears,” the new single from their upcoming album, MAD!, out May 23 via Transgressive Records. 
Physical formats will include CD, cassette, black vinyl LP, lenticular gatefold sleeve with blue vinyl LP, deluxe triple gatefold edition with red vinyl LP and CD (exclusive to store.allsparks.com).

The duo's North American tour begins in September, kicking off in Atlanta and wrapping in Los Angeles. Tickets go on general sale Friday, April 11 at 10am local time. A full list of dates is below with tickets and further information available here.

Following previous single “JanSport Backpack,” “Drowned In A Sea Of Tears” is a minor key mini-tragedy about the perils of emotional continence, of the stiff upper lip, of keeping it all in. The protagonist keeps her emotional landscape guarded behind high walls, and the narrator is unable to be her saviour. Unusually, for a Sparks song, there is no punchline, no twist in the tale. The accompanying video is a visual theater piece about a woman succumbing to her tears of grief.


Despite the efforts of Edgar Wright's superb 2021 documentary The Sparks Brothers, 

Further information on MAD! and background on Sparks is available here.

Pre-order MAD!

Listen to "JanSport Backpack"

Watch the Video for “Do Things My Own Way”

North American Tour Dates:

Fri. Sept. 5 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
Mon. Sept. 8 - Philadelphia, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Tue. Sept. 9 - Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
Thu. Sept. 11 - Boston, MA @ Berklee Performance Center
Fri. Sept. 12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre
Sun. Sept. 14 - Columbus, OH @ The Athenaeum Theatre
Mon. Sept. 15 - Cleveland, OH @ TempleLive at Cleveland Masonic
Wed. Sept. 17 - Toronto, On @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Sat. Sept. 20 - St. Paul, MN @ Fitzgerald Theater
Tue. Sept. 23 - Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
Wed. Sept. 24 - Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Fri. Sept. 26 - Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Sat. Sept. 27 - San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Theatre
Mon. Sept. 29 - El Cajon, CA @ The Magnolia
Tue. Sept. 30 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre

Coachella '25 News: American Express activation

For this year’s Coachella, American Express will curate unique and unforgettable experiences for Festivalgoers where they can cherish moments of ‘glimmers’ and unlock everlasting core memories.

Interactive Experience – The Amex Experience at Coachella will transform into a creative place where Card Members and up to three of their guests can celebrate their deep love for music and the culture that surrounds it. The Amex Experience will feature moments of ‘glimmers’ and exclusive perks, such as:

A Workshop, where Card Members and guests can personalize select merch items with Festival-inspired charms, while supplies last. Merch items include:

An exclusive crossbody bag that Card Members will receive at check-in

A trucker hat available for purchase at the Workshop (Card Members and guests)

A trucker hat from the merch to-go window (Card Members only)

An interactive photo booth with a selection of album cover filters for a fun and personalized photo session.

A custom dart game, because everyone loves a touch of friendly competition. Winners will be rewarded with exciting prizes, including a delicious treat from a small business, Cake Monkey Bakery or Festival partner, Hi-Chew. Prizes available while supplies last.

A retro fridge filled with Coca Cola beverages for guests to enjoy before getting back to the Festival excitement, while supplies last.

In partnership with Pinterest, Card Members can also create one-of-a-kind moodboards using Pinterest’s collage feature, allowing guests to visualize their aesthetic for the weekend and envision the core memories they'll create at the Festival.

Exclusive merch – Once again, Card Members will have access to exclusive merch:

This year, the Merch To-Go Window will return this year to the Amex Experience at Coachella, featuring exclusive Festival merch bundles only available to Card Members, including a bandana, hat, and tote bag, while supplies last.

Thursday, April 3, 2025

An interview with The Vapors; joins Lost '80s Live tour this summer

Vapors fans can thank Dave Fenton’s spouse for the Guildford, England alt-rock band’s reunion in 2016 after a 35-year absence.

The lead singer/songwriter and guitarist worked decades as a Musician’s Union lawyer in the U.K. when he was offered early retirement. “Dave wanted to take it, and his wife said, ‘I don’t want you hanging around the house all day doing nothing and getting under my feet. You need to do something. Why don’t you get the band back together again,’” explained bassist/backing vocalist Steve Smith, in a recent interview.

Fenton contacted Smith and the other original members – drummer Howard Smith (no relation) and lead guitarist Edward Bazalgette – to see if they were game. Having a young child at home, Howard passed, but the others scheduled a meeting with Dave.

“First thing Dave said to me was, ‘I just want to have a good time now.’ I could definitely relate, because that’s exactly what I was going to say to Dave. So here we are,” said Smith.

Formed in 1978, The Vapors were co-managed by bassist Bruce Foxton of The Jam and joined the latter band’s Setting Sons tour the following year. Frantic and mischievous Vapors single “Turning Japanese” (off the debut album New Clear Days) reached No. 36 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1980. It was bigger elsewhere – notching top 10 slots in the group’s native U.K. (where it was certified for 250,000 sales), Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Another New Clear Days track found Fenton repeatedly singing about wanting to “go to America.” What did the guys think when they first toured here? “We loved coming to America, especially California, because it’s lovely and warm,” recalled Smith.

Equally engaging 1981 sophomore album Magnets contained some darker lyrical themes from Fenton, including “Jimmie Jones,” about infamous religious cult leader Jim Jones. That tune received moderate airplay in the U.S. and England, but after neither of The Vapors’ albums fared too well, the band split in 1982.

Smith attributed the musicians’ disillusionment to record label inattentiveness following a company transition and staff changeover.

EMI Records “had Duran Duran and bigger fish to fry…they hadn’t signed us, so I don’t really think they cared that much about us, to be honest.

“I thought ‘Magnets’ was a good album; we were disappointed with how it went.”

Fast forward to the mid-2010s and The Vapors had a handful of reunion concert dates under their belts before Bazalgette opted to return full-time as a director/producer of BBC television series and documentaries (“The Last Kingdom,” “Doctor Who,” “Top Gear,” “Genghis Khan”).

“Ed became busy doing so much good stuff. He’s very well thought of in his field,” Smith said. “Initially, with the band, it was just odd gigs here and there. We played three or four shows in a row and then we wouldn’t play any shows for six months. He found it quite easy to continue in the band when it was like that. But when it started becoming weeks on end of gigs, that’s when he couldn’t really do it anymore.”

Enter Fenton’s son on lead guitar.

“An interesting thing about Daniel [Fenton] is that he learned guitar from listening to ‘New Clear Days.’ I’ve always thought his style is similar to Ed’s and I think he’s carrying on” [the legacy].

The younger Fenton’s onstage energy was evident during the band’s memorable set at the 2023 Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, Calif., alongside Billy Idol, Gary Numan, Echo & the Bunnymen and others.

“We haven’t really done many festivals of that stature before…For us, it was just a fantastic experience,” said Smith.

The Vapors’ impressive 2020 studio album Together, helmed by Grammy-winning producer Steve Levine (Culture Club, The Creatures), emerged at the start of the pandemic lockdowns. “That was an interesting experience for us, because we hadn’t been in the studio for a long time with a producer.

“Steve is very skilled and really up to date with all the latest technology. We had good fun. But we recorded in Liverpool in the winter, and it was cold and wet.”

Since the band couldn’t promote Together properly, the guys wanted to make sure the next album had more of a fighting chance. They started a crowdfunding campaign and were pleasantly surprised when the initial goals were quickly met.

“We were absolutely blown away by the response,” Smith said. “We broke our first target and then our second target. That not only enabled us to record another album and release it,” but also get a proper publicity and promotion team in America and the U.K. to “help get it out there to people, so they hear or read about it.”

Engaging new album Wasp in a Jar is among the strongest releases of 2025 thus far. The band, including drummer Michael Bowes, created it at musician friend Michael Giblin’s Pennsylvania home recording studio. “That was the first time we’ve worked with someone that we know really well” [Giblin served as Vapors guitarist during the 2019 Lost ‘80s Live tour in America].

“We all lived in his house for two weeks, which was great fun. We did it like we recorded an album in 1979 or 80, said Smith, adding much of the work was done live. The result was 14 songs in 14 days.

“Mike likes to work fast, in an organic, natural way and not use digital editing much. It really worked for us. He really captured the energy of the band.”

Several new songs hark back to The Vapors’ roots.

Smith said he and Dave often joke about how many of their tunes are “medium-paced. But these ones seemed to lend themselves to being a bit faster and punkier. We came from punk in 1979, so it was just us leaning back into that again.”

From supercharged opener “Hit the Ground Running” (it has received SiriusXM airplay on legendary DJ Rodney Bingenheimer’s Underground Garage show) and gang backing vocals on “Forever and Ever” to the positive-minded “Proud,” the exuberance is palpable. The oldest song on the album, “Proud,” is also represented on the album by an alternative, almost countrified version as a hidden track. Smith plays piano and other instruments on it.

“There are a few keyboard things going on in the album. That song was from the ‘Together’ sessions and didn’t quite make it on that time. Dan and I really liked that song, and we kept pushing for it.

“Doing the other version was us trying to see which one we liked the best. And then we thought, ‘Why can’t we put them both on and let’s hide one?’ That way it doesn't look like we’ve just copied it.”

More catchy album highlights include “The Human Race,” a statement of intent where Dave Fenton name checks each bandmate in the lyrics and sings: “This is what we came for/This is what we do/This is where our love lies/Maybe yours too.”

“Dave never fails to impress,” said Smith. “He’s got a great way with the turn of a phrase and with a melody and a hook.”

Elsewhere, “The Words” and “Nonstop Radio” find The Vapors briefly delving into reggae and ska, while “Nothing Can Stop Us” contains a sitar. That sound was made digitally and inspired by Stevie Wonder’s hit “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” which sported the actual Indian stringed instrument.

Having played with Fenton for so long, Smith says their creative process stays fresh these days because “Dave’s still coming up with great ideas that still really excite me…I’m still really enjoying playing the songs.”

The Vapors perform this summer on the Lost ‘80s Live Tour with A Flock of Seagulls, China Crisis, General Public, Big Country, Belouis Some, The Icicle Works, Josie Cotton, The Polecats and Peter Godwin (see below).

North American Tour Dates:

7/31 New Haven, CT – Westville Music Bowl

8/1 Boston, MA – Boch Center, Wang Theatre

8/2 New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17

8/3 Cary, NC – Koka Booth Amphitheatre

8/6 Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park

8/8 Niagara Falls, ONT, Canada - OGL Stage at Fallsview Casino

8/9 Roanoke, VA – Elmwood Park Amphitheater

8/10 Macon, GA – Atrium Health Amphitheater

8/12 St. Petersburg, FL – Duke Energy Center - Mahaffey Theater

8/14 New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theater

8/15 Sugarland, TX – Smart Financial Centre

8/16 San Antonio, TX – The Espee

8/17 Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

8/20 Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre

8/21 San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre

8/24 Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre

8/28 Ontario, CA – Toyota Arena

8/29 Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheater

8/30 Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery

8/31 Lincoln, CA – The Venue at Thunder Valley

*General Public and Peter Godwin appear on selected dates

For more information: lost80slive.com and thevapors.co.uk

To purchase a physical copy of Wasp in a Jar, go to: bandcamp.com

A version of my interview originally appeared at rockcellarmagazine.com.

Photo by Bopflix, courtesy Reybee PR. 

Bruce Springsteen reveals details of 'Tracks II' box set

Seven previously unheard Bruce Springsteen records will be released for the first time this summer on “Tracks II: The Lost Albums,” coming June 27 via Sony Music. The set spans 83 songs.

“'The Lost Albums' were full records, some of them even to the point of being mixed and not released,” said Springsteen, in a press release. “I’ve played this music to myself and often close friends for years now. I’m glad you’ll get a chance to finally hear them. I hope you enjoy them.”

From “LA Garage Sessions ’83” — a link between “Nebraska” and “Born in the U.S.A.” — to “Streets of Philadelphia Sessions” and beyond, “The Lost Albums” covers 1983-2018. 

“The ability to record at home whenever I wanted allowed me to go into a wide variety of different musical directions,” Springsteen explained. Throughout the set is film soundtrack work (for a movie that was never made) on “Faithless,” country combos with pedal steel on “Somewhere North of Nashville,” border tales on “Inyo” and orchestra-driven, mid-century noir on “Twilight Hours.”

Alongside the announcement of “The Lost Albums,” a first look at the collection also arrives today with “Rain In The River” — which comes from the lost album “Perfect World.”

Listen to “Rain In The River”: https://brucespringsteen.lnk.to/RITRPR

Pre-order “Tracks II: The Lost Albums”: https://brucespringsteen.lnk.to/TheLostAlbumsPR

“The Lost Albums” will arrive in limited-edition nine LP, seven CD and digital formats — including individual packaging for each previously-unreleased record, with a 100-page cloth-bound, hardcover book featuring archival photos, liner notes on each lost album from essayist Erik Flannigan and an introduction on the project from Springsteen himself.

A companion set — “Lost And Found: Selections from The Lost Albums” — will feature 20 highlights from across the collection, also arriving June 27 on two LPs or one CD. “The Lost Albums” were compiled by Springsteen with producer Ron Aniello, engineer Rob Lebret and supervising producer Jon Landau at Thrill Hill Recording in New Jersey.

Springsteen Talks About ‘The Lost Albums’ In A New Trailer For The 9 LP/7 CD Box Set Here: https://brucespringsteen.lnk.to/TLATrailerPR

Tracks II: The Lost Albums

LA Garage Sessions ’83

1. Follow That Dream
2. Don’t Back Down On Our Love
3. Little Girl Like You
4. Johnny Bye Bye
5. Sugarland
6. Seven Tears
7. Fugitive’s Dream
8. Black Mountain Ballad
9. Jim Deer
10. County Fair
11. My Hometown
12. One Love
13. Don’t Back Down
14. Richfield Whistle
15. The Klansman
16. Unsatisfied Heart
17. Shut Out The Light
18. Fugitive’s Dream (Ballad)

Streets of Philadelphia Sessions

1. Blind Spot
2. Maybe I Don’t Know You
3. Something In The Well
4. Waiting On The End Of The World
5. The Little Things
6. We Fell Down
7. One Beautiful Morning
8. Between Heaven and Earth
9. Secret Garden
10. The Farewell Party

Faithless

1. The Desert (Instrumental)
2. Where You Goin’, Where You From
3. Faithless
4. All God’s Children
5. A Prayer By The River (Instrumental)
6. God Sent You
7. Goin’ To California
8. The Western Sea (Instrumental)
9. My Master’s Hand
10. Let Me Ride
11. My Master’s Hand (Theme)

Somewhere North of Nashville

1. Repo Man
2. Tiger Rose
3. Poor Side of Town
4. Delivery Man
5. Under A Big Sky
6. Detail Man
7. Silver Mountain
8. Janey Don’t You Lose Heart
9. You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone
10. Stand On It
11. Blue Highway
12. Somewhere North of Nashville

Inyo

1. Inyo
2. Indian Town
3. Adelita
4. The Aztec Dance
5. The Lost Charro
6. Our Lady of Monroe
7. El Jardinero (Upon the Death of Ramona)
8. One False Move
9. Ciudad Juarez
10. When I Build My Beautiful House

Twilight Hours

1. Sunday Love
2. Late in the Evening
3. Two of Us
4. Lonely Town
5. September Kisses
6. Twilight Hours
7. I’ll Stand By You
8. High Sierra
9. Sunliner
10. Another You
11. Dinner at Eight
12. Follow The Sun

Perfect World

1. I’m Not Sleeping
2. Idiot’s Delight
3. Another Thin Line
4. The Great Depression
5. Blind Man
6. Rain In The River
7. If I Could Only Be Your Lover
8. Cutting Knife
9. You Lifted Me Up
10. Perfect World

Out now: 'NYC Made,' the new album by ex-Joan Jett & the Blackhearts guitarist Ricky Byrd

Guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer Ricky Byrd, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 2015, just dropped his fourth album NYC Made through 
Stevie Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records. 

A Bronx native raised in Queens and a lifelong Yankees fan, Byrd pays homage to the soundtrack of his youth with NYC Made.

Reflecting on his influences, Byrd told Guitar Player, “I grew up on everything from The Raspberries to The Who to The Stones to The Yardbirds to Sam Cooke. Mix all that together, and I guess you get Ricky Byrd. I wear my influences on my sleeve. I write what I know. I just make music to make people happy... and to make me happy.”

Among the studio contributors: keyboardist/accordionist Jeff Kazee (Asbury Jukes), drummers Steve Holley (Wings), Aaron Comess (Spin Doctors), and Thommy Price (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts), as well as Uptown Horns members Arno Hecht and Larry Etkin. The Ba Ba Blacksheep Singers—Stevie Van Zandt, Willie Nile, Jeff Kazee, and Marc Ribler—lend backing vocals to two tunes.

Additionally, Van Zandt co-produced Transistor Radio Childhood, Stay Grateful, and Sweet Byrd of Youte. He also plays mandolin on Anna Lee, a doo-wop-inspired track co-written with Southside Johnny Lyon, which serves as the album’s lead focus track. Credited as "Consigliere" on the album, Van Zandt’s involvement adds another layer of depth to NYC Made.

NYC Made follows Byrd’s previous albums, Clean Getaway (2015) and Sobering Times (2021), both of which reflected his journey in sobriety—now marking 30+ years—and his work leading recovery music groups at treatment centers across the country.

With nearly five decades in rock ‘n’ roll, Byrd replaced Eric Ambel in Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 1981, playing guitar and singing on the multi-platinum I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll and six subsequent albums before departing in 1991.

Over the years, Byrd has signed with Sony Music Publishing and recorded, toured, or performed alongside legends such as Roger Daltrey, Ian Hunter, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Alice Cooper, Mavis Staples, Darlene Love, Smokey Robinson, The Beach Boys, Jimmy Page, Steve Miller, Ronnie Spector, Graham Nash, Sam Moore, Gary Clark Jr., Peter Wolf, and Stevie Wonder.

“I still get the same thrill when I hear the DJ play one of my records on the car radio,” Byrd shares. “Do you need any more than that? As long as there are young, rebellious kids banging away on guitar, bass, and drums in their garage, rock ‘n’ roll will survive in one form or another. And I'm still doing it.”