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Thursday, January 30, 2020

Noel Gallagher news

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds have released a new single “Blue Moon Rising,” the title track from the forthcoming EP of the same name due March 6. Listen to the single here.

Gallagher says of the track: “How it manages to combine the influences of Metallica, The Jesters Of Malice, Mantovani, Robinson Crusoe as well as Bob Marley AND The Wailers is literally beyond me… oh, and it’s not about City by the way.”

An accompanying video for the dance-inspired track is also out today starring actor Jack O’Connell and actress/model Gala Gordon. It was shot at London’s Scala and directed by Dan Cadan and Scully. Watch the video here.

The EP, available for pre-order now features recent single "Wandering Star," as well as remixes of the title track, and is available digitally and on limited edition vinyl formats.

A run of new UK live shows for March 2020 were recently announced. The band will play two nights in Noel’s home city of Manchester performing shows at the O2 Apollo on March 24-25. They will also play London’s Royal Albert Hall on March 27 as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concerts that week. Tickets for all three shows are available now at noelgallagher.com/live

Other live dates already announced for 2020 include a show at London’s Hampstead Heath and a headline performance at Bristol Canon’s Marsh Amphitheatre.

Track listing:

1. Blue Moon Rising
2. Wandering Star
3. Come On Outside
4. Blue Moon Rising (The Reflex Revision)
5. Blue Moon Rising (7” Mix)

Out now: Blue Öyster Cult reissues 'Cult Classic,' 'Hard Rock Live Cleveland: 2014'

Frontiers Records just put out two new archival releases.

Originally released in 1994, "Cult Classic," in stores and streaming now, includes new recordings of Blue Öyster Cult’s biggest hits and most famous songs, including "Don't Fear the Reaper,” "Burning for You” and more. This reissue was remastered and has updated artwork. The album lineup is:
Eric Bloom - lead vocals, stun guitar, keyboards, producer; Donald 'Buck Dharma' Roeser - lead guitar, vocals, keyboards, producer; Allen Lanier - keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals; Jon Rogers - bass, backing vocals; Chuck Burgi - drums, percussion, backing vocals.

Track listing:

Don’t Fear The Reaper
E.T.I. (Extraterrestrial Intelligence)
M.E. 262
This Ain’t The Summer Of Love
Burning For You
O.D.’D On Life Itself
Flaming Telepaths
Godzilla
Astronomy
Cities On Flame With Rock ‘N’ Roll
Harvester Of Eyes
Buck’s Boogie
Don’t Fear The Reaper (Tv Mix)
Godzilla (Tv Mix)

Recorded on October 17, 2014 at the Hard Rock Live in Northfield (OH), "Hard Rock Live Cleveland: 2014" is a 2 hours+ concert spanning three decades. Available on 2CD+DVD, 3LP and Blu-ray, it is the first of a set of live releases during 2020. 

Track listing:

CD1

Od'd On Life Itself
The Red And The Black
Golden Age Of Leather
Burnin’ For You
Career Of Evil
Shooting Shark
The Vigil
Me262
Buck’s Boogie
Black Blade

CD2

Then Came The Last Days Of May
Godzilla
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper
Harvester Of Eyes
I Love The Night
Hot Rails To Hell
Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll

Line-up:

Eric Bloom - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser - Guitar, Vocals
Richie Castellano - Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals
Jules Radino - Drums, Percussion
Kasim Sulton - Bass Guitar, Vocals

Concert tour news: My Chemical Romance, The Strokes, Dead Can Dance

Dead Can Dance start a North and South American tour in April. This will be Brendan Perry, Lisa Gerrard and the full backing band's first return to the Americas since Coachella in April 2013. The sets will include music from 2018 studio album Dionysus and the entire career.

TOUR DATES:

April 17: Philadelphia, PA: The Met Philadelphia – with Agnes Obel
April 19: Washington, DC: The Anthem – with Agnes Obel
April 21: New York City, NY: Radio City Music Hall – with Agnes Obel
April 22: New Brunswick, NJ: State Theatre - with Agnes Obel
April 24: Boston, MA: Boch Center – with Agnes Obel
April 26: Toronto, ON: Meridian Hall – with Agnes Obel
April 28: Detroit, MI: Masonic Temple Theatre – with Agnes Obel
April 29: Chicago, IL: The Chicago Theatre – with Agnes Obel
May 01: Denver, CO: The Mission Ballroom – with Agnes Obel
May 03: Seattle, WA: Paramount Theatre – with Agnes Obel
May 04: Vancouver, BC: Orpheum – with Agnes Obel
May 07: San Francisco, CA: The Masonic – with Agnes Obel
May 09: Los Angeles, CA: Greek Theatre – with Agnes Obel
May 11: San Diego, CA: San Diego Civic Theatre – with Agnes Obel
May 12: Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara Bowl – with Agnes Obel
May 14: Mexico City, MX: Auditorio Nacional – with Agnes Obel
May 16: Guadalajara, MX: Teatro Diana
May 19: Bogota, CO: Teatro Jorge Eliecer Gaitan
May 21: Lima, PE: Estacionamiento del Gran Teatro Nacional
May 24: Santiago, CL: Teatro Municipal de Santiago

***

After performing a sold-out show at the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles last month, My Chemical Romance has announced a full U.S. tour beginning in September and finishing in October. The rock group previously announced multiple overseas performances for March, including shows in Milton Keynes, England - two of which sold out (65,000 tickets) in under an hour.

View the band’s Special Video Announcement of Tour HERE.
Tickets will go live Friday, January 31st at 12 PM local time – get them HERE.

In celebration of the band’s return in December, the USC Marching Band performed “Welcome To The Black Parade” outside of the Shrine Expo Hall show HERE.

Formed in Newark, NJ, My Chemical Romance made its debut in 2002 with the independently released album I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. The band signed to Reprise Records the following year and made its major label debut with 2004’s Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, now 3x certified Platinum.

The album contained the Platinum hit "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)," the Gold-certified "Helena," and "The Ghost of You." Rolling Stone hailed their third studio album, The Black Parade (3x Platinum) as one of the top albums of 2006. Lead single “Welcome to the Black Parade” topped both Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart and the UK’s Official Singles chart and is now 3x Platinum. The band toured extensively behind the album – appearing as characters from The Black Parade – and released the live album The Black Parade is Dead! in 2008. Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys was released in 2010 and topped Billboard’s Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums charts.

It was followed by a series of singles which as a whole made up the Conventional Weapons release in 2013. My Chemical Romance’s songs continue to rack up half a billion global streams each year.

TOUR DATES:

Sep 9th - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena
Sep 11th - St Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
Sep 12th - Chicago, IL – RIOT FEST
Sep 14th - Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Arena
Sep 15th - Boston, MA - TD Garden
Sep 17th - Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
Sep 18th - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
Sep 20th - Atlanta, GA – MUSIC MIDTOWN – PIEDMONT PARK
Sep 22nd - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
Sep 26th - Sunrise, FL - BB&T Center
Sep 29th - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
Sep 30th - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
Oct 2nd - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
Oct 4th - Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Dome
Oct 6th - Oakland, CA - Oakland Arena
Oct 8th - Inglewood, CA - Forum
Oct 10th - Sacramento, CA - AFTERSHOCK
Oct 11th - Las Vegas, NV - T-Mobile Arena

For ALL My Chemical Romance tour dates, click HERE.

***

The Strokes have announced a select run of shows in North America this March. Special guests King Princess and Alvvays will join The Strokes in L.A. Alvvays will also join for Seattle and Vancouver. Please see below for touring details.

The general on-sale will start on Friday, January 31 at 10am for the Los Angeles show and 12pm for the Vancouver and Seattle shows. Visit thestrokes.com for tickets and tour information.

Citi is the official presale credit card of The Strokes at WaMu Theater in Seattle and The Forum in Los Angeles. Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Wednesday, January 29 at 10am local time until Thursday, January 30 at 10pm local time through Citi Entertainment®. For complete presale details, visit http://www.citientertainment.com/.

The Strokes are singer Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr, bassist Nikolai Fraiture and drummer Fabrizio Moretti.
Concert dates:

March 5
Vancouver, BC
Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena*

March 9
Seattle, WA
WaMu Theater*

March 14
Los Angeles, CA
The Forum*†

*with Alvvays
† King Princess

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Soccer Mommy news

Soccer Mommy—otherwise known as indie/alternative artist  Sophie Allison—will release her sophomore album 'Color Theory' on Feb. 28. Written mostly while on tour and recorded in her hometown of Nashville, the album was produced by Gabe Wax and features the live Soccer Mommy band on a studio recording for the first time. 

Lead single “Circle the Drain” is out now. Listen to the song on all digital platforms HERE, and watch its music video shot at an abandoned water park in Palm Springs with pro-skateboarders Sean Malto, Jake Anderson, Curren Caples, and Nicole Hause HERE.

Pre-order the tri-color vinyl with exclusive poster + sticker sheet, CD, cassette, and digital download HERE.

Soccer Mommy has opened for Kacey Musgraves, Vampire Weekend, Paramore, Wilco and Liz Phair and made her festival debuts at Coachella, Governor’s Ball, Primavera Sound, and more.

She recently announced an international tour starting in March in North America. See below to find the shows and get your tickets HERE.

“I wanted the experience of listening to 'Color Theory' to feel like finding a dusty old cassette tape that has become messed up over time, because that’s what this album is: an expression of all the things that have slowly degraded me personally,” Allison says. “The production warps, the guitar solos occasionally glitch, the melodies can be poppy and deceptively cheerful. To me, it sounds like the music of my childhood distressed and, in some instances, decaying.”

Track Listing:

1. Bloodstream
2. Circle the Drain
3. Royal Screw Up
4. Night Swimming
5. Crawling in My Skin
6. Yellow is the Color of Her Eyes
7. Up the Walls
8. Lucy
9. Stain
10. Gray Light

Tour dates:

03/16 - 03/22 - Austin, TX @ SXSW
03/26 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse*
03/27 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle*
03/28 - Washington, DC @ 930 Club*
03/31 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer*
04/03 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel*
04/04 - Boston, MA @ Paradise*
04/07 - Montreal, QC @ L'Astral*
04/08 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix*
04/09 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop*
04/11 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall*
04/17 - St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall^
04/18 - Madison, WI @ Majestic^
04/19 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave^
04/22 - Denver, CO @ Gothic^
04/24 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Commonwealth Room^
04/25 - Boise, ID @ Deathproof Coffee^
04/26 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom^
04/27 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos^
04/29 - San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore^
04/30 - Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda^
05/01 - San Diego, CA @ The Stage Room at UCSD^
05/02 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom^
05/03 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf^
05/05 - Austin, TX @ Emo's^
05/06 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall^
05/07 - Dallas, TX @ Granada^
05/09 - Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
06/04 - Oslo, Norway @ Parkteatret
06/05 - Stockholm, Sweden @ Slaktkyrkan
06/06 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ Hotel Cecil
06/08 - Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow
06/09 - Berlin, Germany @ Frannz Club
06/11 - Koln, Germany @ Bumann & Sohn
06/13 - Brussels, Belgium @ La Botanique
06/15 - Paris, France @ Petit Bain
06/16 - Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
06/18 - London, UK @ Electric Ballroom
06/19 - Bristol, UK @ Trinity
06/20 - Birmingham, UK @ The Castle & Falcon
06/22 - Leeds, UK @ Belgrave Music Hall
06/23 - Glasgow, UK @ Stereo
06/24 - Manchester, UK @ Gorilla

*w/ Tomberlin
^w/ Emily Reo

Out now: Stroke 9's 'Calafrio'

Stroke 9, best known for the 1999/2000 alt-rock hits "Little Black Backpack" and "Letters," just released a new album called Calafrio.

Written, produced, and released by the San Francisco Bay Area band (Luke Esterkyn [vocals, guitar], Greg Gueldner [drums], John McDermott [guitar], Jens Funke [bass]), it was recorded in studios, hotel rooms, and backyards up and down the coast during the spring of 2019.

“It is truly the most collaborative album we’ve ever made, even though we were geographically distributed,” says Gueldner. “Jens would record an idea down in Los Angeles, and upload the file to a shared folder. We’d download the track at John’s studio at the old Industrial Light and Magic building up in San Rafael, and build the lyrics and other instruments around that. So even though we weren’t all together all the time, the songs wound up being more personal and intimate than if we’d sat in a room together for a month writing.”

This open process culminated in the band finally coming together for a week in isolated Stinson Beach, CA at the Panoramic House Studio (My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses) for the finishing touches.

“We came up with the concept of Calafrio early in the process,” says Esterkyn. “To us, the word is a portmanteau of everything we wanted to do with this record. We wanted it to sound like California. You have the southern heat with ‘cala,’ and ‘frio’ takes care of the NorCal chill.”

To help capture the Calafrio sound, Stroke 9 reached out to an all-star roster of friends they’ve made over their 30-year career. Drums were played by Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bee Gees), and song mixes were provided by Eric “ET” Thorngren (Talking Heads, Squeeze), John Agnello (Kurt Vile, Bruce Springsteen, Sun Volt), and others.

“With every decision we made, from the instruments to the artwork to the lyrics, we asked ourselves, ‘OK, but is that Calafrio?’” adds Funke. “We tried to make something positive and joyful, to chronicle and reflect on the 30-year journey the band has taken to this point. We’ve done it all -- starting with vans, on through the major-label ride, all the years of touring. So now this is music for us, our friends, and our fans, to take from the beach to the redwoods, and on to BBQs, bonfires, and boat docks everywhere."

During the writing and recording process for Calafrio, the band retreated to the clubs and bars of Marin and Sonoma counties north of the Golden Gate Bridge, to gig and go listen to local music. Since forming in a “Rock Band” class in high school in San Rafael in 1990, the band has always been inspired by the area’s rich musical history, which always infuses itself into the band’s sound.

“We wound up spending a lot of time at Terrapin Crossroads, the club in San Rafael opened by Phil Lesh from the Grateful Dead, where there is live music every night,” explains McDermott. “We fell in love with a couple musicians we regularly saw there. So we asked Elliott Pack, who tours with Phil, to sing vocal duets on two of the new songs.” The album also features organs and piano from Danny Eisenberg, a regular keyboardist for The Mother Hips and members of ALO.

Instrumentally and musically, the album is a striking contrast from the alt-rock heights Stroke 9 rose to at the turn of the millennium. It has more acoustic guitars, deeper harmonies, Wurlitzers, and percussion. But longtime fans of their early records are already praising the first two singles, “Calafrio” and “9 AM,” as being true to the Stroke 9 sound.

In the past, Stroke 9 shared stages with Oasis, No Doubt, Smash Mouth and Vertical Horizon. Now they are gearing up to hit the road in 2020, and share the Calafrio concept with audiences everywhere. Tour dates will be announced at stroke9.com soon.

“Really, we just wanted to make a cool album for ourselves, that we could press to vinyl, put on the stereo, and listen beginning to end,” says Esterkyn. “The vinyl is ordered and on its way. We’ll listen to it a few times, then get out there and perform it live. We hope everyone likes it as much as we do, and we can’t wait for everyone to hear it, and come have fun while we play it for them.”

Track listing:

1. Calafrio
2. Big Fan
3. Riptide
4. Able Archer
5. Neil Young
6. 9 AM
7. The Plan
8. Stumbling In
9. Son of Steve Garvey
10. Great Lengths
11. Through the Smoke

New full-length effort, tour coming from alt-country act Pokey LaFarge this spring

Pokey LaFarge is set to release Rock Bottom Rhapsody on April 10. The 13-song set is his New West Records debut and was produced by Chris Seefried (Fitz and the Tantrums). The album was recorded in 2019 and features guitarist Joel Paterson, keyboardist Scott Ligon, upright/electric bassist Jimmy Sutton, and drummer Alex Hall. Rock Bottom Rhapsody is LaFarge’s first album in over three years and follows 2017’s acclaimed Manic Revelations.

See the video for 
“F- Me Up" HERE

“The man singing these songs isn’t exactly the same man that wrote them,” says LaFarge. “This album is about the story of who I used to be.”

In early 2018 he relocated from his longtime home base of St. Louis to Los Angeles. New songs came quickly to LaFarge in his new environment, but new temptations soon found him, as well. He admits that he experienced a significant “fall from grace” during the last months of 2018.

“Things started to unravel in my mind. I was letting evil spirits and demons rule me, and I came into certain agreements with them, and it took me down. I was giving too much power to darkness, and I got in too deep, and I made some bad decisions. The reality of the situation is that I hit the closet to rock bottom that I ever had, and I’ve definitely had some hardships in my life.”

While the songs on Rock Bottom Rhapsody were mostly written before LaFarge’s life went into a downward spiral, their lyrics definitely speak of a soul in crisis — even though their author himself wasn’t fully aware of it at the time. “It’s a case of me writing the story and writing the song, and then unfortunately living it,” he reflects. “I was going towards the darkness. Destruction definitely ensued; self-sabotage and self-destruction definitely happened.”

But shortly before the recording of Rock Bottom Rhapsody began, LaFarge experienced a spiritual awakening — and the faith he re-embraced in his hour of darkness helped to buoy him through the making of the album.

“I wrote this record before the fall from grace, and then it was recorded after the fall from grace. So you see how that could be kind of odd,” he says. “What I was searching for was peace and humility in the aftermath of carnage, of things I had wrecked, and — seemingly at the time — completely destroyed. I was just trying to survive; I had to fight every time to get up to that microphone and just sing. It was kind of a last stand.”

During the recording of the album, LaFarge took a break to take a “dark, sad, villainous role” in the forthcoming Netflix film The Devil All The Time which was produced by the notable music supervisor Randall Poster and the actor Jake Gyllenhaal. “The irony wasn’t lost on me that, one month after finding God, the first feature film opportunity that comes across my table has that for a title,” he says.

Pokey LaFarge has also announced his initial tour dates in support of Rock Bottom Rhapsody, launching in April. See all dates below. Rock Bottom Rhapsody will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 500 Pink Colored Vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retail and a limited to 300 Buttercream Colored Vinyl edition is available for pre-order now exclusively via NEW WEST RECORDS.

Track Listing:

1. Rock Bottom Rhapsody
2. End of My Rope
3. Fuck Me Up
4. Bluebird
5. Rock Bottom Reprise
6. Lucky Sometimes
7. Carry On
8. Just The Same
9. Fallen Angel
10. Storm-A-Comin’
11. Ain’t Comin’ Home
12. Lost In The Crowd
13. Rock Bottom Finale 

Tour Dates:

April 24th Rotterdam, Netherlands - Maasilo
April 25th Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
April 26th Berlin, Germany - Roadrunners Paradise
April 29th Paris, France - La Maroquinerie
April 30th Antwerp, Belgium - De Roma
May 1st Lessines, Belgium - Roots & Roses Festival
May 2nd London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
May 8th Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
May 9th Mt. Airy, NC - The Earle
May 10th - Charleston, WV NPR’s Mountain Stage
May 13th - Lexington, KY The Burl
May 15th St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
May 16th St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
May 17th Nashville, TN 3rd & Lindsley (Lightning 100)
June 2nd Maquoqueta, IA - Codfish Hollow
June 3rd Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line
June 4th Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
June 5th Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme
June 6th Indianapolis, IN - HiFi
June 9th Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
June 10th Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird
June 11th Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
June 12th Annapolis, MD - Rams Head Live
June 13th Jersey City, NJ - White Eagle Hall
June 16th Fairfield, CT - The Warehouse
June 17th New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
June 18th Boston, MA - Sinclair
June 19th Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
June 20th Albany, NY - The Egg
June 23rd Rockport, MA - Shalin Liu
June 24th Portsmouth, NH - Prescott Park
June 26th Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
June 27th Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern

PokeyLaFarge.net
NewWestRecords.com

Vanessa Carlton readies 'Love Is An Art' album, tour

Tying into the announcement of her sixth studio album, Vanessa Carlton will perform her new single "The Only Way To Love" on Jan. 29 on 3RD Hour TODAY. The song is off her upcoming album Love Is An Art (Dine Alone) out March 27. It was produced by Dave Fridmann (MGMT, Flaming Lips).

"Love is the energy you put out into the world," says the Nashville-based Carlton, who was inspired in part by the 1956 book The Art of Loving by philosopher Erich Fromm, and by stories and struggles both in her interior world and the world around her. "And it can be so incredibly messy at times."

Earlier this month, Vanessa announced the first leg of her Love Is An Art Tour with tickets available now. Album and Concert Ticket bundles are also available through Vanessa's fan ticketing site and include a discount when purchasing a signed CD or vinyl along with a concert ticket. Signed albums will be available for pick up night of the show at participating venues at the merch stand. $1 for each ticket sold through Vanessa's ticketing site will benefit the Nashville Ballet. PRESS HERE for more info and to purchase tickets.

Track listing:

1. I Can't Stay The Same
2. Companion Star
3. I Know You Don't Mean It
4. Die, Dinosaur
5. Love Is An Art
6. Future Pain
7. Back To Life
8. Patience
9. The Only Way To Love
10. Salesman
11. Miner's Canary

Tour dates:

April 2 St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill
April 3 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
April 4 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre
April 5 Chicago, IL @ City Winery
April 6 Chicago, IL @ City Winery
April 8 Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark
April 9 Toronto, ON @ The Drake
April 10 Homer, NY @ Center for the Arts of Homer
April 11 Pittsburgh, PA @ Jergels
April 13 Cleveland, OH @ Music Box Theatre
April 14 Washington, DC @ Birchmere
April 16 Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
April 18 Boston, MA @ Sinclair
April 19 New York, NY @ City Winery
April 20 Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head Tavern
April 22 Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
April 23 Atlanta, GA @ City Winery
April 24 Atlanta, GA @ City Winery
April 25 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In

Sammy Hagar & The Circle, Whitesnake, Night Ranger set summer tour

Sammy Hagar & The Circle, comprised of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Sammy Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony, drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Vic Johnson, are joining forces with Whitesnake, formed by former Deep Purple singer and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer David Coverdale  for a 2020 summer tour in July. It will include special guest Night Ranger on all dates.

Hagar and Coverdale released a special video discussing their first impressions of each other as well as first memories, how touring was then versus now, and more. Watch the video HERE.

Tickets for the tour go on sale to the general public beginning this Friday, January 31 at 10am local time at LiveNation.com.

“I love some friendly competition on stage and that’s exactly what this is going to be,” said Sammy Hagar. “David and I have nothing but the highest respect for one another, but we would also like to blow the other guy off the stage. Add in Night Ranger and the fans will have one hell of a night of music.”

“The Red Rocker and The Snake? OMG...I wanna see that show myself,” said David Coverdale of Whitesnake. “I’m a big fan of Sammy Hagar, Michael, Vic & Jason...We’re gonna have a blast together. See Y’All There, People.

“Night Ranger is pumped to be on the tour with Sammy and Whitesnake. Night Ranger’s first tour was with Sammy, and the two Whitesnake guitarists Reb and Joel have both played in Night Ranger,” said Night Ranger. “This gives the tour and ‘The Circle’ even more meaning to us! You can still rock in America for sure.”

Tour dates:

Thu, Jul 9
West Palm Beach, FL
iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

Sat, Jul 11
Tampa, FL
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds

Tue, Jul 14
Alpharetta, GA
Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

Wed, Jul 15
Raleigh, NC
Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Sat, Jul 18
Virginia Beach, VA
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

Sun, Jul 19
Charlotte, NC 
PNC Music Pavilion

Wed, Jul 22
Camden, NJ
BB&T Pavilion

Thu, Jul 23
Bristow, VA
Jiffy Lube Live

Sat, Jul 25
Niagara Falls, NY
Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino

Sun, Jul 26
Wantagh, NY 
Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

Fri, Aug 7
Maryland Heights, MO
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Sat, Aug 8
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center

Tue, Aug 11
Clarkston, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre

Wed, Aug 12
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Blossom Music Center

Fri, Aug 14
Tinley Park, IL 
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Sat, Aug 15
Noblesville, IN 
Ruoff Music Center

Tue, Aug 18
Saratoga Springs, NY 
Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Wed, Aug 19
Burgettstown, PA
S&T Bank Music Park

Fri, Aug 21
Holmdel, NJ
PNC Bank Arts Center

Sat, Aug 22
Mansfield, MA
Xfinity Center

Wed, Sep 2
Dallas, TX
Dos Equis Pavilion

Thu, Sep 3
The Woodlands, TX
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Sun, Sep 6
Phoenix, AZ 
Ak-Chin Pavilion

Tue, Sep 8
Irvine, CA
FivePoint Amphitheatre

Thu, Sep 10
Salt Lake City, UT
USANA Amphitheatre

Sun, Sep 13
Mountain View, CA
Shoreline Amphitheatre

Tue, Sep 15
Ridgefield, WA
Sunlight Supply Amphitheater

Wed, Sep 16
Auburn, WA
White River Amphitheatre

Fri, Sep 18
Wheatland, CA
Toyota Amphitheatre

Sun, Sep 20
Chula Vista, CA
North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Friday, January 24, 2020

Out now: The Dave Clark Five's 'All The Hits'

In the early years of 1960, five working class lads from Tottenham-North London came together, forming The Dave Clark Five (The DC5) - a group that would sell over one hundred million records along the way.

Founded by songwriters/producer Dave Clark, the band spearheaded the British invasion of the US, becoming the first UK band to tour there and scoring an unprecedented fifteen consecutive Top Twenty hits, more than any other act bar The Beatles. Marking 60 years since the band formed, ‘ALL THE HITS,’ released today on BMG, collects their greatest hits remastered by Dave Clark at Abbey Road Studios and is available on vinyl for the first time in over 40 years. 

It features 28 tracks spanning over half a century of the band’s history, including their first number one hit ‘Glad All Over’, which knocked The Beatles off the UK's No.1 spot in 1964 and sold over two-and-a-half million records, followed by “Bits And Pieces” which repeated the success; a seemingly impossible feat of a semi-professional outfit, without an agent or manager. Both hits showcased The DC5’s pop sound, weighed by the feet-stomping drums of Dave Clark and the power of Mike Smith’s vocals. Other hits include their multi-million selling record “Do You Love Me” and “Catch Us If You Can”.

“It’s a trip for me to go back to vinyl. The 60s revisited. This album covers our hits from around the world on both CD and magical vinyl,” says Dave Clark. “We hope you enjoy this blast from the past.”

After appearing a record-breaking 18 times on America’s iconic “Ed Sullivan Show”, which had a weekly audience of 70 million, The DC5 fleetly notched up a record-breaking 15 consecutive Top 20 U.S. hit singles within a two-year period, and sold over 100 million records worldwide.

The DC5 catalog of recordings has been one of the most sought-after collections in rock history having been off the market for over a decade. Now available in a 1CD Digipak with a 32-page booklet and 2LP Gatefold Sleeve on 180g Black LP featuring fully remastered audio, and is also available digitally for purchase and streaming.

Founded by Dave Clark, the 5-piece consisted of Clark (drums), Mike Smith (vocals, keyboard), Lenny Davidson (guitar), Denis Payton (saxophone), and Rick Huxley (bass).

Track Listing:

1. Do You Love Me
2. Glad All Over
3. Bits And Pieces
4. Can't You See That She's Mine
5. Everybody Knows (I Still Love You)
6. Don't Let Me Down
7. Any Way You Want It
8. Wild Weekend
9. Catch Us If You Can
10. Because
11. I Like It Like That
12. Reelin' And Rockin'
13. Over And Over
14. Come Home
15. You Got What It Takes
16. Try Too Hard
17. Everybody Knows
18. I'll Be Yours My Love
19. Nineteen Days
20. Look Before You Leap
21. Til The Right One Comes Along
22. All Night Long
23. Good Old Rock 'n' Roll (Medley)
24. Sha-Na-Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
25. Here Comes Summer
26. Put A Little Love In Your Heart
27. Everybody Get Together
28. Universal Love

Out now: Wolf Parade's 'Thin Mind'

Wolf Parade has unveiled the official video for “Julia Take Your Man Home,” directed by Sub Pop labelmate Chad VanGaalen. The song is from Thin Mind, the group’s new fifth album available most everywhere now through Sub Pop, with the exception of Canada through Royal Mountain Records.

The band's headlining tour starts Jan. 27 in Portland and runs through mid-March. Thin Mind, which features the singles “Forest Green,” “Julia Take Your Man Home,” and “Against the Day,” was produced by John Goodmanson. The album packaging features artwork from comic book artists Simon Roy and Hayleyglyphs throughout.

LP orders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in the U.S. will receive the limited Loser edition on clear vinyl with red and green swirls (while supplies last).

Meanwhile, LP orders in the UK and Europe through select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser edition on yellow vinyl (while supplies last). There is also be a new T-shirt design available.

Track listing:

1. Under Glass
2. Julia Take Your Man Home
3. Forest Green
4. Out of Control
5. The Static Age
6. As Kind as You Can
7. Fall Into the Future
8. Wandering Son
9. Against the Day
10. Town Square

Tour dates:

Jan. 27 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom *
Jan. 29 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
Jan. 30 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater *
Jan. 31 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern *
Feb. 01 - Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole *
Feb. 03 - Austin, TX - Mohawk *
Feb. 04 - Dallas, TX - Trees *
Feb. 05 - Oklahoma City, OK - Tower Theatre *
Feb. 07 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf *
Feb. 08 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre *
Feb. 09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge *
Feb. 11 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox *
Feb. 12 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore **
Feb. 16 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall **
Feb. 17 - London, ON - London Music Hall **
Feb. 18 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club ** [Sold Out]
Feb. 19 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club **
Feb. 21 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer **
Feb. 22 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club **
Feb. 23 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club **
Feb. 24 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel **
Mar. 02 - Utrecht, NL - Tivoli Vredenburg ^
Mar. 03 - Hamburg, DE - Knust ^
Mar. 04 - Berlin, DE - Gretchen ^
Mar. 06 - Cologne, DE - Club Volta ^
Mar. 07 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F ^
Mar. 08 - Luxembourg, LX - Rotondes ^
Mar. 09 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain ^
Mar. 10 - Brussels, BE - Orangerie @ Botanique ^
Mar. 11 - London, UK - The Dome ^
Mar. 13 - Bristol, UK - Thekla ^
Mar. 14 - Manchester, UK - YES (Pink Room) ^
Mar. 15 - Dublin, IE - The Button Factory ^

* w/ Land of Talk
** w/ Jo Passed
^ w/ Joensuu 1685

The return of Sea Wolf comes in March

Sea Wolf announced the new album Through A Dark Wood will be released on March 20 via Dangerbird Records. The Los Angeles-based artist returns with his first new album in six years and has released a new video for “Fear of Failure,” the debut song.

Watch the video via Youtube:

“This is the first new Sea Wolf music in a while, and the first time people have seen me in a while, so director Jacob Epstein and I liked the idea of the video being me reconnecting with people, and letting the viewer see me in a way we’ve never shown before,” explains Sea Wolf frontman Alex Brown Church. “I’m sort of vulnerable to attack in this video, but this also opens up the possibility of making a connection. I think this kind of vulnerability is reflected in the song and the upcoming album, so we felt it was fitting for the first video.”

Sea Wolf first captured attention with the breakout track “You’re A Wolf” off his 207 full-length debut. Following the release of 2014’s stripped-down LP Song Spells No. 1: Cedarsmoke, Church returned to the studio to write and record a new record, but felt the songs did not reflect the serious life changes he was experiencing and decided to scrap it.

After taking time to score an independent feature called Julia Blue, a musically rejuvenated Church began creating a new collection of new songs.

“The title comes from the period of time that I was in when I was making this record — going through this,” says Church. “And I’ve come out of it, and I’m on the other side, which is something that I want to start with. I’m through it.”

Through A Dark Wood's music includes indie/folk melodies, drum machines and a string quartet. 

Pre-order + Pre-save Through A Dark Wood:
https://ffm.to/ThroughADarkWood

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

The Unlikely Candidates set headlining dates

I interviewed the band last year (see elsewhere on this blog) and have yet to see them perform. Hope to change that when they appear in SoCal. Read on...

Alternative quintet The Unlikely Candidates have announced a headline tour starting in February and running into May. For more information on upcoming tour dates and to purchase tickets, visit HERE.

Their hit song "Novocaine" had a music video released last spring and it has over 13 million views to date. The song has over 29 million streams worldwide. The track is currently #7 on the Alternative radio chart. "Novocaine" also landed a massive sync in the season 4 trailer of HULU's popular TV show Veronica Mars. Watch the music video for "Novocaine" HERE.

The Unlikely Candidates is Kyle Morris (vocals), Brent Carney (lead guitar), Cole Male (guitar), Jared Hornbeek (bass) and Kevin Goddard (drums).

TOUR DATES:

February 22 - Waco, TX - Common Grounds
February 23 - Roswell, NM - Pecos
February 24 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
February 27 - Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole
February 28 - Flagstaff, AZ - Green Room
February 29 - Phoenix, AZ - Pub Rock
March 3 - Honolulu, HI - The Republik
March 5 - San Diego, CA - Music Box
March 7 - Los Angeles, CA - Moroccan Lounge
March 11 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
March 12 - Colorado Springs, CO - Black Sheep
March 13 - Cheyenne, WY - Array
March 14 - Ft. Collins, CO - Hodis
March 16 - Reno, NV - The Saint
March 17 - Berkeley, CA - Cornerstone
March 18 - Sacramento, CA - Holy Diver
March 19 - Eugene, OR - Sessions
March 21 - Sun Valley, ID - Sun Valley Film
March 22 - Park City, UT - Soundwell
March 25 - Minneapolis, MN - Icehouse
March 26 - Des Moines, IA - Woolys
March 27 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown Jr.
March 28 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room
March 29 - St. Louis, MO - Old Rock House
March 30 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi Fi
March 31 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
April 1 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen
April 2 - Kalamazoo, MI - Bells Brewery
April 3 - Columbus, OH - The Basement
April 4 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
April 5 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe
April 7 - Toronto, Canada - Horseshoe Tavern
April 8 - Buffalo, NY - Ironworks
April 9 - Syracuse, NY - Westcott Theatre
April 10 -Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
April 15 - Washington D.C. - Union Stage
April 21 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl
April 23 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
April 24 - Boston, MA - Middle East
May 9 - Dallas, TX - Granada

Mika tour news; live album due this month

Following the success of his critically acclaimed fifth album My Name Is Michael Holbrook, Mika returns for a North American headline tour this spring. It kicks off in April on the first weekend of Coachella in Indio, CA and visits major markets across the country. Full confirmed itinerary below.

A special artist pre-sale goes live Wednesday January 22 at 10am local time at his official site HERE, followed by local, promoter, and venue presales on Thursday January 23 at 10am local time. General tickets officially will be available this Friday January 24 at 10 am local time.

In other news, he unveils the details for his live album entitled, MIKA Live From Brooklyn Steel [Casablanca Records/Republic Records], arriving on January 31. Recorded during a sold out set at Brooklyn Steel, he delivered an impassioned and inimitable show highlighted by career fan favorites and some from My Name Is Michael Holbrook. He just shared a video of “Dear Jealousy” from the show. Watch it HERE.

TOUR DATES:

4/11 Indio, CA Coachella
4/13 ​​San Francisco, CA​​ The Masonic
4/18 Indio, CA​​​ Coachella
4/20 ​​Seattle, WA The ShowBox
4/21​​ Portland, OR​​​ Roseland Theatre
4/24 ​​Denver, CO ​​​ Fillmore Auditorium
4/26​​ Saint Paul, MN ​​​Palace Theatre
4/27 ​​Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
4/30 Miami Beach, FL ​​ Fillmore Miami Beach
5/2​​ Nashville, TN ​​​ Cannery Ballroom
5/3 ​​Atlanta, GA ​​​ Tabernacle
5/5​​ Washington, DC ​​ Lincoln Theatre
5/6​​ Philadelphia, PA​​ Franklin Music Hall
5/7​​ New York City, NY Terminal 5
5/11 Boston, MA ​​​House of Blues
5/13​​ Toronto, ON ​​​Meridian Hall
5/15​​ Montreal, QC ​​​Bell Centre
5/16​​ Quebec, QC ​​​Videotron Centre

Sara and Sean Watkins return with long awaited new album, tour

Watkins Family Hour—the acclaimed musical collective featuring Grammy Award-winning siblings Sara and Sean Watkins—will release their new album, brother sister, April 10 via Family Hour Records/Thirty Tigers (pre-order here).

In advance of the release, their new song, “Just Another Reason,” debuted today. Watch/share the official music video HERE.

Their first release in five years, the album focuses on the musical and lyrical chemistry between Sara and Sean—the creative core at the center of the project. By carving out time to write together with the Family Hour in mind for the first time, they created a record that demonstrates their unique familial creative partnership while still harnessing the energy and honesty of their legendary live performances at Los Angeles’ Largo—the collective’s residency now in its 18th year.

Of the project, Sara shares, “It felt really good to dig into the potential of two people…the primary goal of this record became to see what we could do when it is just the two of us. The arrangements and the writing were all focused on that. Listening now, I’m really proud of what we did. These are songs that would not have come out of either one of us individually and it feels like a band sound, like this is what we do, the two of us.”

Produced by Mike Viola (Jenny Lewis, Mandy Moore, J.S. Ondara), brother sister features seven original songs co-written by Sara and Sean as well as three new covers: Courtney Hartman and Taylor Ashton’s “Neighborhood Name,” Warren Zevon’s “Accidentally Like A Martyr” and Charley Jordan’s “Keep It Clean,” which features special guest vocalists David Garza, Gaby Moreno and John C. Reilly.

In celebration of the release, the duo will embark on an extensive nationwide tour this spring. See below for complete tour details.

The new album follows 2015’s self-titled debut, which mirrored the experience of their residency and featured special guests Fiona Apple, Don Heffington, Greg Leisz, Sebastian Steinberg and Benmont Tench. Consisting of only covers, Watkins Family Hour was released to widespread critical acclaim.

In addition to Watkins Family Hour, Sara and Sean’s acclaimed projects include I’m With Her (Sara), Fiction Family (Sean), Nickel Creek with their friend and longtime collaborator, Chris Thile, as well as their successful individual careers.

TRACK LIST:

1. The Cure
2. Neighborhood Name
3. Just Another Reason
4. Snow Tunnel
5. Lafayette
6. Fake Badge, Real Gun
7. Miles of Desert Sand
8. Bella and Ivan
9. Accidentally Like a Martyr
10. Keep It Clean

WATKINS FAMILY HOUR TOUR DATES:

February 3-10—Miami, FL—Cayamo Cruise
March 28—Pelham, TN—Bluegrass Underground
April 8—Nashville, TN—Station Inn
April 11—Cincinnati, OH—Memorial Hall
April 16—Los Angeles, CA—Largo
April 18—San Francisco, CA—Great American Music Hall
April 24—Chicago, IL—Old Town School of Folk
April 25—Chicago, IL—Old Town School of Folk
April 26—Peninsula, OH—GAR Hall
April 28—Brooklyn, NY—Music Hall of Williamsburg
April 29—Annapolis, MD—Rams Head Onstage
April 30—Washington, DC—Sixth & I
May 1—Charlottesville, VA—Jefferson Theatre
May 2—Winston-Salem, NC—The Ramkat
May 3—Asheville, NC—Orange Peel
May 6—Houston, TX—Heights Theater
May 8—Austin, TX—04 Center
May 9—Dallas, TX—Kessler Theater
May 15—Denver, CO—First Baptist Church
May 16—Portland, OR—Aladdin Theater
May 17—Seattle, WA—Neptune Theatre

Daryl Hall & John Oates set summer tour dates with Squeeze, KT Tunstall

photo: Mick Rock/Shore Fire Media
After selling out their upcoming February 28 performance at NYC’s Madison Square Garden, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Daryl Hall & John Oates have announced a 32-date North American summer tour with Squeeze and KT Tunstall.

It will kick off this May at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Full touring route below. Pre-sale for VIP and general tickets have started and will extend through Thursday, January 23. General on-sale starts Friday, January 24 at 10am local time at LiveNation.com.

Citi cardmembers now have access to purchase pre-sale tickets until Thursday, January 23. For complete details, visit www.citientertainment.comRead more on the tour here on Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/daryl-hall-john-oates-announce-2020-tour-939430/

“Can’t wait to get out there and have some fun playing with my friends to all of my friends,” says Hall.

"I’m really looking forward to a big time 2020 tour!” say Oates. “Having KT Tunstall and Squeeze on the bill with us is just gonna make for an amazing night of music. Can’t wait to see you all on the road."

“I have long been a Hall and Oates fan and this tour is a real treat, a chance to hear all of those great songs each night,” says Squeeze’s Chris Difford. “This is a tour I'm really looking forward to.”

“I am so excited and jumping for joy with the prospect of this tour with Daryl Hall and John Oates,” says fellow Squeeze member Glenn Tilbrook. “They are the bees knees! I had the pleasure of seeing an awesome show of theirs in Kentucky last year, and feel that we are a match made in heaven, to be consummated at every show!”

"How did I get so lucky!” says KT Tunstall. “I’m going on a grand adventure across the United States this summer with my legendary friends Hall & Oates, along with incredible Squeeze. Just to see this show is a thrill … being on the tour … talk about making my dreams come true ... (Go on, you know you wanna sing it). Come and join us for a show!”

Daryl Hall & John Oates recently toured with Tears For Fears, Train, Allen Stone and more. Watch Daryl Hall’s and John Oates’ lively performance of “Maneater” from Daryl Hall And John Oates: Live in Dublin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzbDhc3QBwU

North American Tour Dates:

February 26 – Giant Center – Hershey, PA *
February 28 – Madison Square Garden – New York City, NY *^
March 21 – Fantasy Springs Resort – Indio, CA
March 27 – Neal S. Blaisdell Center – Honolulu, HI
March 29 – Maui Arts & Cultural Center – Kahului, HI
May 15 – Foxwoods – Mashantucket, CT
May 16 – Foxwoods – Mashantucket, CT
May 23 – the Mann at Fairmount Park – Philadelphia, PA * =
May 29 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA *^
May 31 – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre – Chula Vista, CA *^
June 3 – Theater of the Clouds at Moda Center – Portland, OR *^
June 5 – White River Amphitheatre – Auburn, WA *^
June 7 – Toyota Amphitheatre – Wheatland, CA *^
June 10 – Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountain View, CA *^
June 12 – Ak-Chin Pavilion – Phoenix, AZ *^
June 14 – Pepsi Center - Denver, CO *^
June 17 – Dickies Arena - Fort Worth, TX *^
June 19 – Germania Insurance Amphitheater – Austin, TX *^
June 21 – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Houston, TX *^
July 10 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON *^
July 12 – Riverbend Music Center– Cincinnati, OH *^
July 14 – Blossom Music Center – Cleveland, OH *^
July 16 – Xcel Energy Center– St. Paul, MN *^
July 18 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater – Chicago, IL *^
July 20 – DTE Energy Music Theatre – Detroit, MI *^
July 22 – Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN *^
July 24 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater – St. Louis, MO *^
July 26 – American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Milwaukee, WI *^
July 28 – S&T Bank Music Park – Pittsburgh, PA *^
July 30 – St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview – Syracuse, NY *^
August 13 – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA *^
August 15 – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL *^
August 18 – PNC Music Pavilion – Charlotte, NC *^
August 20 – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater – Virginia Beach, VA *^
August 22 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD *^
August 25 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach – Wantagh, NY*^
August 27 – PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ*^
August 29 – Xfinity Center – Mansfield, MA *^
August 31 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY *^
September 2 – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH *^
* w/ Squeeze
^ w/ KT Tunstall
= Daryl Hall & John Oates present HoagieNation