Boy George North American tour dates unveiled

Very exciting news for us new wave music fans. Read on for more info...

Boy George will be embarking on a mini North American tour this April to support his new studio full-length effort, This Is What I Do.
 
Accompanied by a nine-piece band, which includes a brass section, backing vocalists and a full live band, Boy George will be performing songs from the album, which is set for release in the U.S on March 25.

The first single from his current album is titled ‘King of Everything’ and is available now on iTunes and Spotify. 

This Is What I Do was written by George and longtime writing partners John Themis, Kevan Frost and Richie Stevens (Soul II Soul, Tina Turner, Culture Club). Richie Stevens produced the record at London’s Cowshed Studios and was mixed by Dave Bascombe (Tears For Fears, Depeche Mode, Doves).

The album features collaborations with producer Youth (Siouxsie & the Banchees, Primal Scream, The Orb, U2, Depeche Mode), and guest musicians.

An exclusive Deluxe Edition of This Is What I Do will be released on George’s own imprint ‘Very Me’ Records via Kobalt Label Services and will be available in all physical retail, digital download and streaming services from March 25.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

4/18 - The Theater of the Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
4/19 - Royale Nightclub - Boston, MA
4/21 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
4/22 - Irving Plaza - New York, NY
4/24 - Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, ON
4/26 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
4/28 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
4/29 - The Belasco - Los Angeles, CA

Valentine's Day-related album review: 'Sweetheart'

If you're seeking some fresh music for your Valentine's Day plans this weekend, look no further than Sweetheart 2014. It's the fifth in a series and continues Starbucks'  tradition of curating unique compilations.

Now available digitally and on CD via Hear Music/Concord Music Group, this release contains 13 new cover tunes by established and rising alternative, indie, soul and folk musicians. 

Among the standouts: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings' supremely soulful Motown-styled take on Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered - I’m Yours”; My Morning Jacket's Jim James, whose laid back romantic groove (key lyric: "I want to give you some good lovin") on Bob Marley’s “Turn Your Lights Down Low” recalls mid-'70s Eric Clapton crossed with MMJ; Brandi Carlile’s spirited version of Fleetwood Mac classic “The Chain” expertly uses her touring partners The Hanseroth Brothers for the male counterpoint vocals and actual chains for percussion; Phosphorescent (AKA Matthew Houk) brings a lush, atmospheric sound and intimate, longing vocals to Bob Dylan’s “Tomorrow Is a Long Time.”

Other noteworthy tracks include Vampire Weekend’s Italian-sung “Time to Say Goodbye [Con te partirò],” which Andrea Bocelli originated and musically wouldn't be out of place on their latest album Modern Vampires of the City. Ben Harper does a stark, yearning solo piano interpretation of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You.” Beck gives John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band's “Love” a dense, acoustic guitar-led reading. 

Fiona Apple & Maude Maggart, The Head and the Heart, Blake Mills, Bahamas,Valerie June and Thao & the Get Down Stay Down round things out. 

The liner notes feature background info on the original versions and quotes from the Sweetheart contributors on why they chose particular love songs. Lattice-style packaging on the physical CD front resembles an actual valentine (a nice touch), with warm hues. 

Grade: B+

Elbow readies a spring return

Elbow will return to North America in support of their sixth studio album “The Take Off and Landing of Everything,” which is due for release on March 11 in the US (Concord Music Group).

On May 11, the Manchester, UK band will be embarking on their nationwide tour (see below for dates).

"The Take Off and Landing of Everything" was recorded in Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios and at the band’s facilities at Blueprint Studios in Salford, England. As with previous albums, the million-selling "The Seldom Seen Kid" and platinum follow up "build a rocket boys!", it was produced by the band’s keyboardist Craig Potter.

Tickets for elbow’s North American tour will go on-sale 
Feb 14 and will be available on 
www.elbow.co.uk

Track listing:

1. This Blue World – 7:12
2. Charge – 5:17
3. Fly Boy Blue/Lunette – 6:22
4. New York Morning – 5:26
5. Real Life (Angel) – 6:46
6. Honey Sun – 4:44
7. My Sad Captains – 5:59
8. Colour Fields – 3:37
9. The Take Off and Landing of Everything – 7:14
10. The Blanket of Night – 4:14

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
 

5/11 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
5/12 - Boston, MA - Royale NightClub
5/13 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
5/16 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
5/17 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
5/19 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
5/20 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
5/23 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
5/24 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
5/25 - Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival
5/27 - Oakland, CA - The Fox Theatre
5/28 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
Tickets on-sale 02/14.
 

For more details go to: elbow.co.uk

Beatles albums 'Revolver,' 'Abbey Road' to be performed live by all-stars in LA for charity

Benefit concert producer the Wild Honey Foundation, with support from Truetone Music, will present the classic Beatles records Revolver and Abbey Road albums, performed in their entirety and in order by a star-studded house band and guest singers.

The event, which will benefit the Autism Think Tank and the Children’s Music Fund, will take place Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 8 p.m., at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 4401 W. 8th St., Los Angeles.

Current members of the Wild Honey Orchestra include L.A. recording artists: musical director Rob Laufer, guitar, vocals; Jim Laspesa (Susannah Hoffs), drums; Derrick Anderson (Bangles), bass; Rusty Squeezebox (Baby Lemonade, Love), guitar; Willie Aron, keyboards, vocals; Jordan Summers, keyboards; Nelson Bragg (Brian Wilson Band), percussion, vocals; multi-instrumentalist Probyn Gregory (Brian Wilson Band); Sarah Kramer, horns; and Kaitlin Wolfberg, strings; with special guest appearances by current Paul McCartney guitarist Rusty Anderson (schedule pending) and Laurence Juber (Wings).

Vocalists include The Bangles, Matthew Sweet, Al Stewart, Denny Laine (Wings, Moody Blues), Jody Stephens (Big Star), Dan Wilson (Semisonic), Colin Hay (Men at Work), Chris Stamey (The dB’s), The Three O'Clock, John Easdale (Dramarama), Tommy Keene, David Marks (Beach Boys), The Muffs, Louise Goffin, Christine Collister (Richard Thompson band), Paul Chastain (Velvet Crush), Keith Allison (Paul Revere & the Raiders), Tim Piper/Cosmo Topper (Just Imagine Show), Rob Laufer, Darian Sahanaja (Wondermints), John Wicks (The Records), Val McCullam (Jackshit, Jackson Browne), Steve Stanley (the Now People). Mike Viola, Steve Barton & Dave Scheff (Translator), Bill Berry, Kristian Hoffman, Andrew Sandoval, David Goodstein, Morty Coyle, and possible special guests.

As with last year’s sold-out Wild Honey Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper show at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, this event will benefit the Autism Think Tank. The non-profit organization brings together a team of top autism specialists, via an Internet medical conference, to tackle the seemingly intractable and painful medical/psychological issues faced by kids. 

The show will also support the Children’s Music Fund, a Southern California non-profit, in their effort to provide music therapy and musical instruments for children, adolescents, and young adults with chronic or life-altering illness.

Founded by Autism Think Tank member Dr. Raffi Tachdjiian, an UCLA allergist and pediatric pain specialist, the Children’s Music Fund works to harness the amazing healing power of playing and listening to music to reduce the pain and suffering of kids with autism, cancer, and many other debilitating conditions.
 
See more information about the Autism Think Tank and the Children’s Music Fund at autismthinktanknj.com/http://thecmf.org/who-we-are

Details on the Wild Honey Foundation: facebook.com/groups/183120448393501

Ben Watt of Everything But The Girl makes solo bow

I'm curious to hear what Watt sounds like without longtime partner Tracy Thorn. Read the press release below for more details...

After 20 years in Everything But The Girl, and 10 years as a respected DJ and record label boss of Buzzin' Fly, Ben Watt announced last year he was parking everything to complete two long-planned creative solo projects.

The first - published by Bloomsbury on Feb. 13 in the UK and in June in North America - is his long-awaited second book, Romany and Tom, a dazzling portrait of his parents. The second is Hendra, his first solo album for over thirty years, released on his own new imprint, Unmade Road through Caroline International on April 29th. It is, in Ben's words, "simply a folk-rock record in an electronic age."

"I had come to a plateau with the labels and clubland," he says. "I had a need to go back to words and music, not just beats and other people's work. Once I made some space, a lot of ideas just tumbled out."

It was in 1981 that Ben first appeared on London indie, Cherry Red, as a young nineteen-year-old experimental folk artist. His first single was produced by the maverick Kevin Coyne. With his second - 1982's Summer into Winter EP - he coaxed alt-folk icon Robert Wyatt into collaborating on two tracks, and soon his work was drawing comparisons in the press to Tim Buckley and John Martyn. It culminated in his debut album - 1983's North Marine Drive.

"I put it all away when I teamed up with Tracey as Everything But The Girl in 1983," he says. "But as time has gone on - even in spite of the last ten years in the electronic world - something has made me want to go back to see what I left behind. And I realized I'd left things unfinished."

"In the end I wrote the songs for Hendra unexpectedly. My sister died suddenly as I was finishing the book. I think it all came to a head. My mind was full of a lot of stuff. I just went down into the basement at home every night and retuned all my guitars into unfamiliar tunings as a way of beginning again and just started singing."

The upshot is ten songs. Unsentimental. Impressionistic. Songs about close family and strangers, resilience and hope. All set in vivid landscapes where the outside comes inside and clings to the stories.

Recorded in London and Berlin, the music is a meeting of worlds: languid folk, distorted rock and buzzing electronics; in part a result of the album's two central collaborators, ex-Suede guitarist, Bernard Butler, and Berlin-based producer Ewan Pearson.

"I turned instinctively to Bernard very early on," says Ben. "I knew his overdriven, string-bent intensity would be the perfect foil to my own warm open-tuned style. It adds tension to the songs. Ewan has a foot in both my recent worlds. He can do thrumming Berlin techno, but also things of great delicacy and grace. I also wanted his vintage 70s poly-synths as a contrasting color, and a burnished 3-D sound, which of course both play to his strengths."

The album also includes one other unexpected stellar cameo - Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, who adds plangent slide guitar and backing vocals on "The Levels."

"We met by chance in London just before the album," says Ben. 'We didn't know each other. He invited me to hear his demos. I thought he was joking, but two days later he texted me and invited me down to his studio and we got on well. During my album, "The Levels" seemed like a perfect track for him. I rang him up and he loved the song and he did it the same weekend. Wish everything was that simple sometimes!'

How does it feel following up a debut album thirty-one years later?

"Sometimes I laugh and think it could be the definition of the difficult second album; it has certainly been a long time coming," he says. "Some might see it as a strange fork in the road after Buzzin' Fly, but everything for me has always been about finding a truthful and vivid point of connection with an audience - whether on dancefloors or in folk clubs. Words, beats and notes - it's all we have. It's just a question of playing them in what feels like the right order at the right time, and at the moment, Hendra just feels right."

Hendra is released on April 29 on Unmade Road through Caroline International on standard CD, 180gm vinyl and digital. The standard CD and digital releases carry the original ten-track album. The 180gm vinyl version has the original ten-tracks on vinyl, gatefold artwork, and the full album plus four bonus tracks on an MP3 voucher.

DJ-ing aside, these are Watt's first ever solo dates in the US.

US Tour Dates:

4/1: New York, NY - Joe's Pub
4/2: Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade
4/4: Los Angeles, CA - The Echo

Track List:

1) Hendra
2) Forget
3) Spring
4) Golden Ratio
5) Matthew Arnold’s Field
6) The Gun
7) Nathaniel
8) The Levels
9) Young Man’s Game
10) The Heart is a Mirror

Bonus Tracks:
(MP3 voucher with vinyl only)

11) Hendra (Demo)
12) Spring (Demo)
13) Young Man's Game (Demo)
14) Forget (Live)

Formats: Standard CD, 180gm Vinyl, iTunes, Digital

Dolly Parton news

Dolly Parton's new album Blue Smoke will be released by Sony Music Masterworks/Dolly Records on May 13. 

 

"On this CD I think there are all of the colors of my life in all the areas of music that you've allowed me to dabble in through the years,” says Dolly Parton.

 

“You will hear my old world mountain voice on songs like ‘Banks of The Ohio’ and ‘If I Had Wings’ my tender side on songs like ‘Miss You - Miss Me’ and ‘Unlikely Angel.’ My country / bluegrass side of songs like ‘Home,’ ‘Blue Smoke’ and ‘Don't Think Twice’ and my funny tongue-in-cheek side on ‘Lover du Jour.’”

Track listing:
 

Blue Smoke
Unlikely Angel
Don't Think Twice
You Can't Make Old Friends
Home
Banks of the Ohio
Lay Your Hands on Me
Miss You-Miss Me
If I Had Wings
Lover du Jour
From Here to the Moon and Back
Try

World Tour Dates:

NEW ZEALAND/AUSTRALIA
 

Feb 13 Australia, Adelaide - Entertainment Centre
Feb 15 Australia, NSW, Hunter Valley - Hope Estate
Feb 16 Australia, Tamworth - TRECC
Feb 18 Australia, Sydney - Entertainment Centre
Feb 19 Australia, Sydney - Entertainment Centre
Feb 21 Australia, Brisbane - Entertainment Centre
Feb 22 Australia, Brisbane - Entertainment Centre
Feb 24 Australia, Cairns - Cairns Convention Center
Feb 27 Australia, Perth - Perth Arena

US
 

May 22 Tulsa, OK - Hard Rock Casino
May 23 Tulsa, OK - Hard Rock Casino
May 25 Cherokee, NC - Harrah’s Cherokee Casino
May 27 Richmond, KY - EKU Center For The Arts - (St. Mark’s Evening Among Friends)
May 28 Knoxville, TN - University of Tennessee - (Benefiting Dolly's Imagination Library)
May 30 Thackerville, OK - Winstar Casino
May 31 Thackerville, OK - Winstar Casino

UK & EUROPE
 

Jun 08 England, Liverpool - Echo Arena
Jun 10 Northern Ireland, Belfast - Odyssey Arena
Jun 11 Ireland, Dublin - O2 Arena
Jun 12 Ireland, Cork - Live At The Marquee
Jun 14 England, Newcastle - Metro Radio Arena
Jun 15 Scotland, Aberdeen - GE Arena
Jun 17 Scotland, Glasgow - SSE Hydro Arena
Jun 18 Scotland, Glasgow - SSE Hydro Arena
Jun 20 England, Leeds - First Direct Arena
Jun 21 England, Manchester - Phones 4U Arena
Jun 22 England, Birmingham - LG Arena
Jun 24 Wales, Cardiff - Motorpoint Arena
Jun 25 Wales, Cardiff - Motorpoint Arena
Jun 27 England, London - O2 Arena
Jun 28 England, London - O2 Arena
July 02 England, Nottingham - Capital FM Arena
July 05 Germany, Cologne - LANXESS Arena
July 06 Germany, Berlin - o2 World
July 08 Denmark, Copenhagen - Forum
July 09 Norway, Oslo - Spektrum
July 11 Sweden, Stockholm - The Globe

Lionel Richie extends tour with CeeLo Green

Lionel Richie announced more dates for his "All The Hits All Night Long” tour today through North America this summer with special guest CeeLo Green. Tickets go on sale beginning Friday, February 21 through the Live Nation mobile and livenation.com. More information can be found at lionelrichie.com.

The tour will also deliver fans a VIP experience with a choice of four different VIP packages. Presale for these packages start Feb. 14 at 10:00 a.m. local time. To purchase packages and for more information, please visit Richie's web site. Citi® cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Friday as well at 10:00 a.m. local time through Citi’s Private Pass® Program. For complete presale details see citiprivatepass.com.

Beginning today, Wednesday, Feb. 12, fans can visit (http://bit.ly/LionelRichieRSVP) to RSVP for early access to presale tickets available at 10:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, February 18. Live Nation mobile app users will also have access to presale tickets beginning Thursday, February 20 at 10:00 a.m. local time. Lionel Richie is teaming up with Tickets-for-Charity to offer fans some of the best seats in the house to benefit important charitable causes, available exclusively at www.ticketsforcharity.com.

“I’m so lucky to have the collection of songs that I can play for my fans, it becomes a giant sing-along most nights,” said Lionel. “People always ask me ‘what are you going to sing tonight Lionel?” and I always laugh and reply, “what are YOU going to sing tonight?”

Richie’s last album, Tuskegee, reached the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 after its March 12, 2012 release. Tuskegee was certified platinum on May 3, 2012 after selling one million units in the United States. Overall, Lionel has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.
 
Tour Dates (all on-sale timing is local market time)

All dates and venues below subject to change.

5/29/2014
Vancouver, BC
Pepsi Live At Rogers Arena (on sale February 21)

5/30/2014
Seattle, WA
KeyArena (on sale February 24)

6/1/2014
Concord, CA
Concord Pavilion (on sale February 21)

6/3/2014
Anaheim, CA
Honda Center (on sale February 21)

6/6/2014
Las Vegas, NV
Mandalay Bay Events Center (on sale February 21)

6/7/2014
Chula Vista, CA
Sleep Train Amphitheatre (on sale February 22)

6/8/2014
Phoenix, AZ
Ak-Chin Pavilion (on sale February 21)

6/10/2014
Salt Lake City, UT
USANA Amphitheatre (on sale February 21)

6/11/2014
Denver, CO
Red Rocks Amphitheatre (on sale February 21)

6/15/2014
Chicago, IL
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre (on sale February 22)

6/17/2014
Louisville, KY
KFC Yum! Center (on sale February 22)

6/18/2014
Memphis, TN
FedEx Forum (on sale February 21)

6/20/2014
Detroit, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre (on sale February 22)

6/21/2014
Cleveland, OH
Blossom Music Center (on sale February 22)

6/22/2014
Cincinnati, OH
Riverbend Music Center (on sale February 22)

6/24/2014
Boston, MA
Xfinity Center (on sale February 21)

6/25/2014
Wantagh, NY
Nikon At Jones Beach Theater (on sale February 22)

6/27/2014
Holmdel, NJ
PNC Bank Arts Center (on sale February 22)

7/7/2014
Atlanta, GA
Chastain Park Amphitheatre**

7/10/2014
Austin, TX
Austin360 Amphitheater (on sale February 22)

7/11/2014
Dallas, TX
Gexa Energy Pavilion (on sale February 28)

7/12/2014
Houston, TX
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (on sale February 22)

7/14/2014
Tampa, FL
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre (on sale February 21)

7/15/2014
West Palm Beach, FL
Cruzan Amphitheater (on sale February 21)

7/17/2014
Charlotte, NC
PNC Music Pavilion (on sale February 22)

7/19/2014
Raleigh, NC
Walnut Creek Amphitheatre (on sale February 22)

7/21/2014
Washington, DC
Wolftrap (on sale March 29)

7/22/2014
Washington, DC
Wolftrap (on sale March 29)

7/23/2014
Philadelphia, PA
Susquehanna Bank Center (on sale February 22)

7/25/2014
Saratoga Springs, NY
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (on sale February 21)

7/26/2014
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun Arena (on sale February 21)

7/28/2014
Montreal, QC
Bell Centre (on sale February 22)

7/30/2014
Toronto, ON
Molson Canadian Amphitheatre (on sale February 21)

7/31/2014
London, ON
Budweiser Gardens (on sale February 21)

8/2/2014
Bethel, NY
Bethel Woods Center For The Arts (on sale February 22)