Thomas Dolby Tour to Save Historic Lighthouses

Thomas Dolby, multi Grammy-nominated musician and songwriter, wants to help save America’s doomed historic lighthouses.

The “Doomsday List”* of endangered lighthouses currently numbers 46 monuments that are threatened by erosion or lack of upkeep.

Having been powerless to prevent the closure of a much-loved lighthouse near his own home, Dolby is setting out to alert the U.S public to the fact that many of these venerable landmarks are close to extinction.

This October and November, Dolby will tour North America with his groundbreaking transmedia show, The Invisible Lighthouse, which features a screening of his award-winning film documenting the closing earlier this year of the Orford Ness lighthouse, visible from Dolby’s home studio in East Anglia, and the lack of co-operation he received from the authorities in his efforts to draw attention to its plight.

As the film screens, Dolby and renowned sound designer Blake Leyh (The Abyss, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) will create the narration, score, songs and sound effects in real time.

The U.S. tour will hit many North American cities coast-to-coast, many of which — even inland cities with rivers — possess surviving lighthouses in town or nearby.

“Some of these marvelous lighthouses have stood watch over our coasts for centuries, through devastating hurricanes, epic sea battles, daring rescues and thwarted invasions,” explains Dolby. “The U.S. public has a perpetual love affair with the lighthouse, but is probably unaware that many are on the verge of being lost forever. It is so sad to see them crumble. America is still a young country and we should be doing all we can to preserve our historic landmarks for future generations to enjoy.”

Thomas Dolby’s transmedia show The Invisible Lighthouse is focused on arthouse cinemas and independent film festivals.

The Invisible Lighthouse Live dates:
 
Sun., Oct. 20 ORLANDO, FL Orlando Film Festival
Wed., Oct. 23 SELLERSVILLE, PA Sellersville Theater
Thurs., Oct. 24 PHILADELPHIA, PA The Trocadero Theatre in association with the Philadelphia Film Festival
Fri., Oct. 25 ALBANY, NY The Egg - Swyer Theater
Sat., Oct. 26 SOMERVILLE, MA Somerville Theatre
Mon., Oct. 28 NEW YORK, NY Gramercy Theatre
Tues., Oct. 29 CARNEGIE, PA Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall
Wed., Oct. 30 TORONTO, ON 99 Sudbury
Fri., Nov. 1 GLOUCESTER, MA Cape Anne Film Festival
Sun., Nov. 3 ROYAL OAK, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
Mon., Nov. 4 CHICAGO, IL Mayne Stage
Tues., Nov. 5 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Cedar Cultural Center
Wed., Nov. 6 MADISON, WI Majestic Theatre
Thurs., Nov. 7 MILWAUKEE, WI Shank Hall
Sat., Nov. 9 ST LOUIS, MO Blueberry Hill in association with the St. Louis Film Festival
Mon., Nov. 11 LAWRENCE, KS Liberty Hall
Wed., Nov 13 BOULDER, CO The Dairy Center for the Arts
Thurs., Nov. 14 DENVER, CO Bluebird Theater
Sun., Nov. 17 VANCOUVER, BC Rio Theater
Mon., Nov 18 SEATTLE, WA Showbox at the Market
Tues., Nov. 19 PORTLAND, OR Alberta Rose Theater
Thurs., Nov. 21 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Swedish American Music Hall
Fri., Nov. 22 LOS ANGELES, CA Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Sat., Nov. 23 SACRAMENTO, CA Crest Theater

*Background:
“The Doomsday List” of endangered lighthouses was created in 1993 by Lighthouse Digest Magazine, which sought to draw public attention to the issue. Despite the passing of the National Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, and the addition of many U.S. lighthouses to the National Register of Historic Places, many of America’s most revered lighthouses have continued to be allowed to deteriorate beyond repair. The burden of the expense falls on the U.S. Coast Guard, and this is underscored by commercial shipping’s increasing reliance on satellite and radar navigation.

A number of lighthouses that were once on the list have been saved. Among those are the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina, Michigan’s Crisp Point Lighthouse and Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse, Avery Point Lighthouse in Connecticut, Sankaty Lighthouse on Nantucket, Cape Cod’s Highland Light and Nauset Light, Maine’s Little River Lighthouse and Prospect Harbor Lighthouse, and Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island, Rhode Island.

Stagecoach Festival 2014 details announced

This just in...

STAGECOACH 2014--set for Friday, April 25, Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, 2014--marks the festival’s eighth year at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA.

This year, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, and Luke Bryan headline the 3-day event with additional performances by Hunter Hayes, Florida Georgia Line, Brantley Gilbert, Jennifer Nettles, Loretta Lynn, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and many more.

Tickets for STAGECOACH: CALIFORNIA’S COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL will go on sale Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 AM PDT at Stagecoachfestival.com. Three-day GA weekend passes are $249.

Additionally, new for 2014, choose either the Corral Standing Pit, a standing room only section directly in front of the Toyota Mane stage OR Corral Reserved Seating. All taxes, shipping and fees are included in listed ticket prices. Layaway options available. Children 10 and under are free.

The “RV RESORT” has expanded for 2014 while continuing to provide a personal and comfortable camping experience. Campers can choose between 30amp, 50amp or dry camping spots. In addition, borrowed and Rental RV's are now allowed.

For complete festival information, to review reserved seating options or to apply for an RV spot in the Stagecoach RV Resort, visit www.stagecoachfestival.com. 

Bonus Q&A with Bon Jovi's David Bryan

by David Bergman

Here are more excerpts from my interview with Bon Jovi's founding keyboardist last week.

See elsewhere on this blog for my main article and ticket info for the upcoming shows...

Q: What is your favorite part of playing in Orange County?

Every show is a great opportunity to have a great time, connect with your fans and rock out. I love playing down in Anaheim.

Q: How has it been returning to countries you haven’t played in many years or ever (Poland, South Africa, Wales, etc.) on this year’s tour?

That was a great run. We’ve been in this since ’83, so in 30 years; it’s great to do new places. It’s great to visit places we haven’t visited in a long time and keep spreading the word of American rock ‘n’ roll to the world. In South Africa, we hadn’t been there since ’95, the year after apartheid. It was pretty amazing to come back to a new stadium. It’s special. We’re very privileged to do what we do.

Q: In recent shows, the band has continued its practice of inserting bits of rock oldies into the songs. That must be fun.

It depends. Certain countries had their different hits around the world. Different tastes. So we kind of tailor it to what was the hit there. We have like 80 songs in our arsenal, so we can pretty much do a lot. We have out set list and then we have out audibles. Sometimes, [Jon] will pull stuff out that’s not even on the list. Like I said, 80 songs are in the brain. Sometimes you gotta shake the brain a bit, but they come out.

Q: What can you tell me about the current Bon Jovi stage design?

We have really great stage designers, so you keep trying to up the ante every year. I think what we’ve managed to do is never make the set bigger than the band. It’s really about the songs and the performances. The other stuff adds to it because it’s cool. But at the end of the day, it’s a rock band. 

Q: Do you and Jon just roll with the punches when obstacles like Tico's sudden health problems arise?

There’s nothing more you can do, really. That’s the last thing you plan on. I take myself all the back to January when we were ready to mount the tour. You get yourself in the greatest shape you can, get the songs all in your brain and practice. I do all my programming and get my stuff ready to go. You know you’re gonna climb that mountain and do 105 shows in 10 months in 50 countries and go, ‘ok, I’m ready to take this on.’ [Having health issues] is the last thing you plan. You know you’re going to be tired but you don’t plan on surgeries and stuff. 

Q: The band recruited John Shanks to co-produce the album. Did you decide to work with him again because you've developed a good rapport?

Definitely. He’s a great guy and fun to make records with. I’m proud of every record. You’re most proud of your latest work and I think it’s great. 

Q: I was wondering: do I hear orchestrations on the songs “Amen” and “The Fighter”? 

That’s correct. Some orchestrations on top of the keyboard string parts. 

Q: Have you been able to gauge how fans like this album, compared to say, The Circle?

They like it. It’s your latest greatest effort and when you look out there and they’re all singing the words to the new songs, you’re like, ‘ok, everybody gets it.’ 

Q: Are you still involved in organizations like VH1 Save the Music, which helps keep music in schools?

Yeah. We did a great thing with “Memphis,” when it was running. We brought a bunch of kids from the urban areas, where theater isn’t part of their world, and brought them into the show. Bought them all tickets, got buses and had everybody in to get that experience. Then they go back to school and say, ‘let’s be in theater.' It’s a cool thing.

bonjovi.com

Herb Alpert back with new music

Grammy-winning jazz artist Herb Alpert is Steppin’ Out on Nov. 19 with a new physical album on Shout! Factory.

Combining pop instrumentals and timeless jazz along with Latin-influenced rhythms reminiscent of the Tijuana Brass, Steppin’ Out explores standards from the American Songbook as well as Alpert’s own catalog, and features his wife, the Grammy-winning vocalist Lani Hall, on several tracks. The album is available on digital platforms now.

Steppin’ Out includes 16 songs, including a contemporary version of Irving Berlin’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz”; a video was recently released. The music has a dance routine choreographed by the Emmy award-winning team from So You Think You Can Dance - Napoleon & Tabitha D’umo.

The video features musicians Lani Hall, Bill Cantos, Hussain Jiffry, Michael Shapiro and dancer Vincent Noiseux alongside corps dancers like Kherington Payne and others from So You Think You Can Dance USA, America’s Best Dance Crew, Dancing with the Stars, This is It, and Step Up. The video follows the lead dancer in one single seamless camera shot, without any edits, on a musical journey, motivating everyone he passes to join the promenade.

Featured on Steppin’ Out is Alpert and Jeff Lorber’s “Jacky’s Place,” with lyrics by Bill Cantos, featuring vocals by Lani Hall, Art Pepper’s ballad “Our Song,” the Alpert/Lorber/Cantos composition “Green Lemonade,” Harry Warren and Al Dubin’s “I Only Have Eyes For You,” featuring vocals by Hall and Ruben Fuentes Gasson’s “Good Morning Mr. Sunshine,” from the Tijuana Brass’ 1969 album The Brass Are Coming.

Then there's the commanding ballad “Oblivion,” written by Astor Piazzolla, Irving Berlin’s “What’ll I Do,” featuring vocals by Hall, the Alpert/Lorber/Cantos composition “Cote d’Azur,” a fresh version of Edith Piaf’s perennial favorite “La Vie En Rose,” Carl Sigman and Charles Dawes’ “It’s All In The Game” featuring Hall, Carlos Santana and Thomas J. Coster’s “Europa,” Ziggy Elman and Johnny Mercer’s "And The Angels Sing,” which originally appeared on Alpert’s Going Places, Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael’s “Skylark,” and Alpert and Jeff Lorber’s “Migration,” with lyrics written by Bill Cantos and vocals by Hall.

Closing out the album is the 50th Anniversary version of “The Lonely Bull,” composed by Sol Lake and first released on Alpert’s debut album on A&M Records.

Alpert explains, “There is a certain satisfaction and energy that comes from playing the horn – a feeling that I am really in the moment.” Herb Alpert has never stopped making music and in addition to his musical accomplishments, he has spent more than half his life as a respected, abstract expressionist painter and sculptor, whose work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world.

Herb Alpert and his wife, singer, Lani Hall, have been performing together, with their band, since 2006 and have previously released two CDs, “Anything Goes” and “I Feel You.”

For more info, visit herbalpertpresents.com  

The Ramones' collected works coming soon

"Hey ho, let's go!"

With that call to arms, the Ramones launched their recording career and changed the face of music forever, spawning punk rock and reinvigorating the ailing art form known as rock 'n' roll. 

Formed in the Forest Hills section of Queens, NY in 1974, the Ramones were completely original, forging a whole new sound and direction for music and giving birth to punk. 
Rhino explores the incomparable footprint of the Ramones' musical legacy with a boxed set featuring the band's seminal first six albums.

RAMONES: THE SIRE YEARS (1976-1981) includes the band's 1976 eponymous debut, Leave Home (1977), Rocket To Russia (1977), Road To Ruin (1978), End Of The Century (1980), and Pleasant Dreams (1981), each presented with their original running order and artwork.

The set will be available on Oct. 29 for a suggested list price of $39.98. An expanded digital version of the set, titled THE SIRE YEARS (1976-1989), features a total of 11 studio albums, including the six in the physical box as well as Subterranean Jungle (1983), Too Tough To Die (1984), Animal Boy (1986), Halfway To Sanity (1987), and Brain Drain (1989).

With the 1976 release of their debut album the Ramones issued a manifesto with their groundbreaking sound, inspiring countless others to pick up guitars and rock. Ramones contains 14 tunes-including classics like "Blitzkrieg Bop," "Beat On The Brat," "Judy Is A Punk," and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"-and runs a tight 32 minutes, thanks to the fact that every song clocks in well under three minutes (and many under two).

The Ramones' sophomore effort Leave Home saw the band expanding their sound slightly by including more melodic songs like "What's Your Game," "Swallow My Pride," and "I Remember You."  But the chain saw guitars were still sharp in songs like "Glad To See You Go," "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment," and "Pinhead," with its classic "Gabba Gabba Hey!" chant.

Rocket To Russia continued the Ramones' full-scale assault on the indulgent arena rock of the day with another 14 blistering tracks, including the classics "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" and "Teenage Lobotomy."  The disc also features the band's reworkings of "Do You Wanna Dance?" and "Surfin' Bird."

The fourth and final Ramones disc of the 1970s, Road To Ruin, was the first to feature a three-minute-plus song, "I Wanted Everything."  The album also contained "I Wanna Be Sedated," perhaps the best-known Ramones track ever and their signature cover of "Needles & Pins."

End Of The Century found the Ramones indulging their love for the sounds of the '60s with storied pop hitmaker Phil Spector behind the boards for his last commercial release as producer. The "Wall Of Sound" treatment of songs like "Baby, I Love You," "Danny Says," and "Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?" helped make the album the Ramones' most commercially successful effort ever.

The Ramones followed up with Pleasant Dreams in 1981, an album that saw the band letting their pop influences show. Produced by Graham Gouldman (ex-10cc), the disc contains some of the band's most infectious tracks, including "We Want The Airwaves" "The KKK Took My Baby Away," and "She's A Sensation."

Amnesty International's Human Rights Concerts get DVD release

On Nov. 5, Shout! Factory will issue ¡RELEASED! – a six-disc DVD box-set and two-disc companion CD of the historic Human Rights Concerts presented by Amnesty International from 1986-1998.

Net proceeds from sales of the DVD set and CDs benefit Amnesty.
 
The release coincides with the 25th anniversary this fall of the most high-profile of all the concerts in the series - the Human Rights Now! world tour. The six-week, five-continent, 20-concert tour of the world in 1988 was headlined by Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman and Youssou N'Dour and was seen by over one million concert attendees in person and by millions more on television.

Its mission was to raise awareness of the cause and it succeeded in tripling the movement’s worldwide membership. These new DVD and CD releases also arrive just five weeks before worldwide commemorations on Dec. 10 of the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – the Magna Carta of the human race that was instigated after World War II by Eleanor Roosevelt and that has been an inspiration for Amnesty’s 52 years of worldwide campaigning for human rights.

The Human Rights Concerts series comprises four films: The first film presents over five hours drawn from the all-day final concert of A Conspiracy Of Hope - Amnesty’s 25th anniversary concert tour of the USA in June 1986. The second film is of the above-referenced historic Human Rights Now! world tour undertaken in September and October 1988. The third film is An Embrace Of Hope - the October 1990 concert in Chile celebrating that nation’s liberation after 17 years of dictatorship. The fourth and final film is The Struggle Continues… – the concert staged in Paris in 1998 on the exact 50th anniversary of the signing in that city of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This DVD set – all digitally-restored from the original master tapes - features 36 of the world’s leading musicians performing some of their biggest hits live in concert for the benefit of Amnesty. The DVD set contains 120 songs extending over 12 hours of disc time. The set also contains 32 additional segments featuring contextual content and additional music performances that together comprise almost 5 hours of supplementary features. The full running time of the box-set is just 12 minutes short of 17 hours.

Three of the four concert films have never been issued before in any video or audio format. In the mode of that era’s Live Aid concert they were seen just once on TV – and were not subsequently made available for home enjoyment. The fourth film – from 1998 - had a limited VHS & DVD release 14 years ago and has been long unavailable. Of the 16 hours & 48 minutes of content on the DVD box-set, 14 hours 18 minutes (85%) has never previously been available on DVD or any home video format in North America.

The DVD box-set consists of six discs plus a 40-page booklet with rare archival photographs and extensive liner notes including a 10,000 word essay on the history of the concerts by writer Gregory Weinkauf.

Also being released is a two-disc CD presenting 30 highlight performances from across the four concerts.

The list of musicians who contributed their services to the concerts is extraordinary and includes some of the world’s foremost artists - drawn from several nations and representing a wide range of musical styles. The primary factor uniting them was their desire to donate their time and talents to place a spotlight on Amnesty’s crucial work campaigning for people whose human rights are abused.

The Human Rights Concerts series started in 1986 – evolving out of Amnesty’s desire to capitalize and build on the invaluable support it was receiving from the rock music community. This had first manifested itself in Amnesty’s Secret Policeman’s Ball series of benefit shows, albums and movies beginning in 1976, that had presented musical performances by Pete Townshend, Sting, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Phil Collins, Tom Robinson, Donovan, Midge Ure and Bob Geldof. Those entertainment events were a crucial turning point in Amnesty’s strategy of inspiring young people to become active participants in the human rights movement.

A key organizational figure in the first three events of the Human Rights Concerts series was Jack Healey, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA between 1981-1993. The 1986 US tour and 1988 world tour were co-produced with seasoned rock promoter Bill Graham. The 1998 Paris concert was organized by Amnesty planning officer Blair Gibb and Peter Gabriel.

The Human Rights Concerts have been restored and produced for release by longtime (37 years) Amnesty activist and producer Martin Lewis - who was Co-Creator (with John Cleese) of Amnesty's Secret Policeman's Ball series and Co-Producer of all the 'Ball' shows, movies, TV specials and albums between 1976-1985. It was Lewis who first instigated Amnesty's outreach to rock musicians by recruiting and producing Pete Townshend and the other above-referenced musicians. Lewis and Healey together conceived Amnesty’s 1988 world tour.

Among the hallmarks of the concerts were the unique musical collaborations that arose between the artists. The concerts include duets and ensemble performances featuring various combinations of Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Bono, Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Youssou N’Dour, Aaron Neville, Steven Van Zandt, Bob Geldof and Bryan Adams.

The companion content includes 17 sequences under the collective title Context On The Human Rights Concerts. Among the segments:

• Light A Candle! - a brand-new documentary about the concert series featuring new exclusive interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Bono, Peter Gabriel, Pete Townshend and others.

• New, stand-alone, in-depth interviews with Bruce Springsteen and Sting about their support for Amnesty

• Peter Gabriel’s home movies of the 1986 Amnesty tour featuring backstage moments and an historic jam

• Special messages in support of Amnesty from some of the world’s leading actors, comedians and musicians.

• Archival interviews, promotional sequences, TV news coverage, performances not seen in the original films

• 20-minute animated film about human rights curated in 1988 by Aardman Animation - featuring a specially-created score by David Byrne, Laurie Anderson, Danny Elfman and Mark Mothersbaugh.

The companion content also features 15 additional music sequences. Two key performances from the Secret Policeman’s Ball series by Pete Townshend and Sting that helped inspired the Human Rights Concerts and thirteen new performances given for Amnesty in the last ten years by major music stars that represent part of the legacy of the concert series. The performers for Amnesty from the last decade include: Green Day, Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Jeff Beck, Seal, Ozzy Osbourne, Joe Perry, Bono, Damien Rice, Pete Seeger, Evan Rachel Wood, David Byrne.

Shout! Factory will be issuing ¡RELEASED! in North America. In the world outside North America, Amnesty’s six-disc ¡RELEASED! DVD box-set and companion CD sets will be issued by Eagle Rock Entertainment.

Amnesty’s Human Rights Concerts will be honored with special theatrical screening events in Los Angeles and New York this fall - presented by two of America’s most prestigious cultural organizations.

On Nov. 3, The American Cinematheque in Los Angeles will present the World Premieres of ¡RELEASED! a 95-minute film of highlights from the concerts and LIGHT A CANDLE! the 40-minute documentary about the history of the series. (The Aero Theatre, Santa Monica – Nov. 3 at 3 pm) Special guests at the screening will be Andy Summers of The Police and DVD box-set producer Martin Lewis among others.

On Dec. 10, The Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan will present the New York Premieres of the two films. The MoMA Premiere takes place on International Human Rights Day – that this year commemorates the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (The Museum of Modern Art, Manhattan – Dec. 10 at 7 pm)

¡RELEASED! The Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998 includes:

A Conspiracy of Hope (1986)

5½ hours including U2 MLK/Pride, Bad, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Help! • The Police Message In A Bottle, Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, King Of Pain • Peter Gabriel Sledgehammer, Biko, Shock The Monkey • Bryan Adams Straight From The Heart, Run From You, Summer of ‘69 • Joni Mitchell Number One, Hejira • Miles Davis Tutu, Burn • Jackson Browne For Everyman, For America • Joan Baez & Aaron Neville Amazing Grace • Joan Armarading Love And Affection • Lou Reed Rock And Roll, Walk On The Wild Side • Ensemble I Shall Be Released - and 37 more songs.

Human Rights Now! (1988)

3 hours including Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Born In The USA, I'm On Fire, The River • Sting Don’t Stand So Close To Me, Every Breath You Take • Peter Gabriel In Your Eyes, Biko • Youssou N’Dour The Truth • Tracy Chapman Talkin’ About A Revolution • Ensemble Chimes Of Freedom, Get Up, Stand Up - and 8 more songs.

An Embrace of Hope (1990)

72 minutes including Sting Little Wing, They Dance Alone • Sinead O’Connor Nothing Compares 2 U • Jackson Browne Lives In The Balance • Peter Gabriel Biko • Wynton Marsalis Jungle Blues - and 4 more songs.

The Struggle Continues…(1998)

2½ hours including Radiohead Karma Police, Paranoid Android • Bruce Springsteen No Surrender, Born In The USA • Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, Rock and Roll • Alanis Morissette Hand In My Pocket, Thank U • Peter Gabriel & Youssou N'Dour Signal To Noise, Shaking The Tree • Tracy Chapman Fast Car, Baby Can I Hold You? – and 16 more songs.

Other performers include Bob Geldof • Third World • The Hooters • Peter, Paul & Mary • Steven Van Zandt • Rubén Blades • Howard Jones • The Neville Brothers • Inti-Illimani • New Kids On The Block • Asian Dub Foundation • Kassav' • Shania Twain • Carlos Santana and Fela Kuti.

Josh Ritter acoustic tour dates

Ritter is one of my favorite performers and his albums often make my year-end top 10 lists. I hope to catch this tour. Read on for more info...

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Josh Ritter will embark on an acoustic tour in January with special guest opener Gregory Alan Isakov. These intimate shows will feature Ritter performing stripped-down alongside bandmates Zack Hickman and Josh Kaufman. See below for complete dates.

The tour is in celebration of Ritter’s new album, The Beast In Its Tracks (Pytheas Recordings), which debuted at #22 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the Top Rock Albums chart earlier this year. 

Of The Beast In Its Tracks, Ritter says, “In the year after my marriage ended, I realized that I had more new songs than I’d ever had at one time. Far from the grand, sweeping feel of the songs on So Runs the World Away, these new songs felt like rocks in the shoe, hard little nuggets of whatever they were, be it spite, remorse, or happiness.”

 

Recorded during 2011-2012 at the Great North Sound Society in Parsonsfield, Maine, the album continues Ritter’s longtime collaboration with producer and keyboard player Sam Kassirer.

 

As Josh describes, “I hadn’t composed this stuff, I’d scrawled it down, just trying to keep ahead of the heartbreak. They needed to be recorded like that. We needed to work fast, make decisions quickly, keep the songs as spare as they could be kept, and above all never allow ourselves to blunt the sharp edges. Some of the songs were mean or evil. So be it.”

The new album follows Ritter’s excellent 2010 release, So Runs The World Away.

In 2011, Ritter made is debut as a published author with his New York Times best-selling novel, Bright’s Passage (Dial Press/Random House). Of the work, Stephen King writes in The New York Times Book Review, “Shines with a compressed lyricism that recalls Ray Bradbury in his prime…This is the work of a gifted novelist.”

JOSH RITTER 2014 WINTER ACOUSTIC TOUR

January 16 Lafayette, LA Acadiana Center For The Arts*
January 17 Dallas, TX The Kessler Theater*
January 18 Austin, TX Moody Theater at ACL Live*
January 20 Phoenix, AZ Musical Instrument Museum*
January 21 Los Angeles, CA Wilshire Ebell*
January 23 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore*
January 25 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater*
January 26 Seattle, WA Neptune*
January 28 Nelson, BC Capitol Theatre*
January 29 Calgary, BC Knox United Church*
January 30 Banff, AB Banff Centre*
January 31 St. Albert, AB Arden Theatre*
February 1 St. Albert, AB Arden Theatre*
February 3 Saint Paul, MN Fitzgerald Theater*
February 4 Iowa City, IA The Englert Theatre*
February 5 Stoughton, WI Stoughton Opera House*
February 21 Chicago, IL Fourth Presbyterian Church*
February 22 Bloomington, IN Buskirk-Chumley Theater*
February 23 Saint Louis, MO Sheldon Concert Hall*
February 24 Louisville, KY Headliners Music Hall*
February 25 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre*
February 27 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre*
February 28 Washington, DC Lincoln Theatre*
March 4 Lebanon, NH Lebanon Opera House*
March 5 Somerville, MA Somerville Theater*
March 7 New York, NY Town Hall*

*with special guest opener Gregory Alan Isakov