Hurray for the Riff Raff unveils new album next week, tour dates

Following two new singles, Hurray for the Riff Raff (aka Alynda Segarra, they/them) reveals more info about songs on The Past Is Still Alive. It is out February 23 on Nonesuch. 

"Colossus of Roads," was written in one tearful sitting during the aftermath of the Club Q shooting. The love song for the queer, the vulnerable and the dispossessed calls to idols like poet Eileen Myles and boxcar artist buZ blurr. 

Watch the videos for "Colossus of Roads" & "Snake Plant (The Past Is Still Alive)," and read the songs' lyrics at Oxford American

"I've only had this experience a couple of times, where a song falls on me—it's all there, and I don't do anything. Writing 'Colossus of Roads' felt like creating a space where all us outsiders can be safe together. That doesn't exist, but it exists in our minds, and it exists in this song – this one is sacred to me. I've also always wanted to make my version of Bob Dylan's 'I Was Young When I Left Home,' and 'Snake Plant (The Past Is Still Alive)' is it." -- Alynda Segarra/Hurray for the Riff Raff

Produced by Brad Cook (Bon Iver), and recorded in Durham, NC just a month after the passing of Alynda Segarra's father, The Past Is Still Alive grapples with time, memory, love and loss.

"Colossus of Roads" and "Snake Plant (The Past Is Still Alive)" follow lead single "Alibi," a reckoning with addiction set in NYC's Lower East Side. On The Past Is Still Alive, the Bronx-born, New Orleans-based Segarra widens their cast of collaborators to include Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and others.

A vast world continues to be formed as Alynda Segarra uses The Past Is Still Alive to finally tell the story of their life so far. The album was just previewed in a special event at NYC's historic St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, featuring poetry readings from Amelia Jackie, Cookie Hagendorf, and Sadie Dupuis (of Speedy Ortiz), a performance and more in partnership with Poetry Project.

On February 21st, Segarra will receive The People's Voice Award at Folk Alliance International's 2024 International Folk Music Awards, and on February 25, they will begin to showcase the music of The Past Is Still Alive on a spring tour of dozens of shows throughout the US, UK and EU.

In partnership with PLUS1, $1 per ticket will support This Must Be The Place and their work to distribute Naloxone - the lifesaving medicine that reverses an overdose, and will be available for free at every Hurray for the Riff Raff tour stop. Find the full list of shows below and tickets at hurrayfortheriffraff.com/tour.

Pre-Order The Past Is Still Alive Here

World Tour Dates:

2/25 - New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's*

2/27 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Hell Stage)*
2/28 - Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall*
2/29 - Washington, DC - Atlantis*
3/1 - Philadelphia, PA - Foundry*
3/3 - Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios*
3/5 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg*
3/6 - Boston, MA - Sinclair*
3/9 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground*
3/10 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall*
3/12 - Columbus, OH - Skully's*
3/14 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall*
3/15 - Saint Paul, MN - Amsterdam Bar & Hall*
3/22 - Knoxville, TN - Big Ears Festival
3/28 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater^
3/30 - Seattle, WA - Neumos^
4/1 - San Francisco, CA - August Hall^
4/2 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow's^
4/4 - San Diego, CA - Voodoo Room^
4/5 - Los Angeles, CA - Belasco^
4/6 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy & Harriet's^
4/7 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar^
4/9 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge^
4/10 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge^
4/12 - Fort Worth, TX - Tulips^
4/13 - Austin, TX - 3TEN^
4/14 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall^
5/10 - Dublin, IE - Button Factory
5/11 - Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute
5/12 - Glasgow, UK - Mono
5/14 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
5/15 - Birmingham, UK - Castle & Falcon
5/16 - Bristol, UK - Strange Brew
5/17 - London, UK - Electric Brixton
5/19 - Paris, FR - La Maroquinerie
5/20 - Brussels, BE - Botanique
5/21 - Amsterdam, NE - Tolhuistuin
5/23 - Berlin, DE - Privatclub
5/25 - Madrid, ES - Tomavistas Festival
*w/ NNAMDÏ
^w/ Sen Morimoto

Photo courtesy Shore Fire Media

Crowded House climb the 'Gravity Stairs' in late May

Crowded House's upcoming new album Gravity Stairs will be released globally May 31 on BMG. The announcement comes one week after Crowded House dropped new track “Oh Hi” as the surprise first single off the band’s upcoming 8th studio album. Crowded House released the official music video for “Oh Hi” – watch it HERE. Pre-order Gravity Stairs now HERE.

“Oh Hi” has a connection to Finn’s support for So They Can, an international nonprofit focused on building schools in remote parts of Kenya and Tanzania. “I’m hoping the song comes across without needing to know the backstory,” Finn says, “but it’s very much inspired by these incredible kids and their magnificence.” Get “Oh Hi” via all DSPs now HERE.

Gravity Stairs is Crowded House’s first new release since 2021’s Dreamers Are Waiting and eighth overall. Produced by the band with Steven Schram, the album features Crowded House in its current incarnation — Finn, Nick Seymour, Mitchell Froom, and Finn’s sons Elroy and Liam. The title “gravity stairs” was inspired by a heavy stone staircase near where Finn vacations, that he likens to his own mindset as a creator.

“It’s a metaphor for getting a little older and becoming aware of your own mortality, your own physicality,” Finn says. “Things are getting a little harder, and there’s more determination needed to get to the top, but there’s still the same compulsion to climb them.”

Track listing:

1. Magic Piano
2. Life’s Imitation
3. The Howl
4. All That I Can Ever Own
5. Oh Hi
6. Some Greater Plan (for Claire)
7. Black Water, White Circle
8. Blurry Grass
9. I Can’t Keep Up With You
10. Thirsty
11. Night Song

Photo courtesy Full Coverage PR

Soundtrack compilation to Tina Turner biopic 'What’s Love Got To Do With It' gets expanded box set treatment

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It soundtrack compilation, a new suite of special edition albums are to be released on April 26. 

The 4CD/1DVD boxed set will include the original album remastered on CD1, with CD2 featuring a collection of edits, remixes and acapella. CD3 and CD4 features Turner’s 1993 live show at the Blockbuster Pavilion in Devore remastered, which can also be watched on the DVD along with three music videos. The boxed set also includes a poster and a 24-page booklet. Additional album formats include a 1-LP and 2-CD and is available to stream digitally. Pre-order here.

Originally released on June 15, 1993, What’s Love Got To Do With It was a commercial and critical success. The album was the soundtrack for the Tina Turner biographical film of the same name and reached No.1 in the UK, also making the top 10 in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Canada, and the top 20 in the US. 

The album went on to be a platinum record across the world, including the US, UK and Switzerland. It was a collection of songs, some of which were re-recorded from Turner’s ‘Ike & Tina Turner’ period, including “A Fool In Love,” as well as five brand new songs, one of which - “I Don't Wanna Fight" - became a top 10 hit in both the US and UK. The album also includes Turner's version of The Trammps' disco classic "Disco Inferno," a song she had often performed live in concert in the late '70s but never previously recorded in the studio. Two tracks from her 1984 solo album Private Dancer are also included - the title track and a different re-mixed version of "I Might Have Been Queen."

Track listing:

4CD/1DVD Deluxe (30th Anniversary Edition) + Digital Deluxe (30th Anniversary Edition)

CD1

What’s Love Got to Do With It

I DON’T WANNA FIGHT
ROCK ME BABY
DISCO INFERNO
WHY MUST WE WAIT UNTIL TONIGHT?
STAY AWHILE
NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS
(DARLIN’) YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU
PROUD MARY
A FOOL IN LOVE
IT’S GONNA WORK OUT FINE
SHAKE A TAIL FEATHER
I MIGHT HAVE BEEN QUEEN
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
TINA’S WISH

CD2

Single Edits, Remixes and Rarities

I Don’t Wanna Fight (Single edit)

Disco Inferno (7” Edit*

Why Must We Wait Until Tonight? (7" Single Edit)
Proud Mary (Edit)
I Don't Wanna Fight (Urban Mix)
Disco Inferno (12" Version)
Why Must We Wait Until Tonight? (Tony Dofat Remix)
I Don't Wanna Fight (Holiday Inn Lounge Mix)
I Don't Wanna Fight (Clubhouse Mix)
Why Must We Wait Until Tonight? (Tony Dofat 7" Edit)*
I Don't Wanna Fight (Jerry Moran Dance Mix)
Why Must We Wait Until Tonight? (Instrumental)
I Don't Wanna Fight (Urban Radio Instrumental)
Disco Inferno (12" Dub)
Why Must We Wait Until Tonight? (Acapella)
Proud Mary (Acapella)*
*previously unreleased

CD3

What’s Love, Live 

Steamy Windows
Typical Male
Foreign Affair
Undercover Agent For The Blues
Private Dancer
We Don't Need Another Hero
I Can't Stand The Rain
Nutbush City Limits
Addicted To Love
The Best

CD4

What’s Love, Live 

I Don't Wanna Fight
Let's Stay Together
What's Love Got To Do With It
Proud Mary
Legs
Better Be Good To Me

Disco Inferno
(Darlin’) You Know I Love You
Why Must We Wait Until Tonight

DVD

What’s Love, Live

Live from the Blockbuster Pavilion San Bernardino, California on September 15, 1993

Steamy Windows
Typical Male
Foreign Affair
Undercover Agent For The Blues
Private Dancer
We Don't Need Another Hero
I Can't Stand The Rain
Nutbush City Limits
Addicted To Love
The Best
I Don't Wanna Fight
Let's Stay Together
What's Love Got To Do With It
Proud Mary
Legs
Better Be Good To Me
Disco Inferno
(Darlin’) You Know I Love You
Why Must We Wait Until Tonight

Special screenings of 1986 David Bowie/Jennifer Connelly fantasy film happening next month

Fathom Events' Big Screen Classics series continues with the 1986 fantasy epic “Labyrinth”—returning to theaters nationwide on Wednesday, March 6 and Sunday, March 10.

Frustrated with babysitting on yet another weekend night, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), a teenager with an active imagination, summons the Goblins to take her baby stepbrother away. When little Toby actually disappears, Sarah must follow him into a fantastical world to rescue him from the Goblin King (David Bowie). Guarding his castle is the labyrinth itself, a twisted maze of deception, populated with outrageous characters and unknown dangers. To get through it in time to save Toby, Sarah befriends inhabitants of the Labyrinth, in hopes that their loyalty isn't just another illusion in a place where nothing is as it seems.

The film is executive produced by George Lucas and boasts breathtaking sets and the signature puppetry and effects from director Jim Henson, as well as original music written and performed for the film by David Bowie.

Each Big Screen Classic screening includes an exclusive introduction by renowned film critic and historian Leonard Maltin, exploring the enduring appeal of “Labyrinth,” which has helped cement the film as a true cult classic.

VIEW TRAILER HERE

WHO: Fathom Events and The Jim Henson Company, in collaboration with Sony Pictures

WHEN: Wednesday, March 6 at 7:00 pm local time, and Sunday, March 10 at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm local time.

WHERE: Tickets for the event can be purchased at Fathom Events or at participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website (theater locations are subject to change).

WHAT’S NEXT: Fathom’s Big Screen Classics “Gone With The Wind” 85TH Anniversary (April 7, 8 & 10), and “Steel Magnolias” 35TH Anniversary (May 5 & 8).

Neil Young + Crazy Horse set to tour, drop new album in April

Neil Young + Crazy Horse kick off a new tour in San Diego in April. Tickets are available now via a Neil Young Archives presale. 

Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning on Friday, February 16 at 10 AM ET at Livenation.com. At time of purchase, fans can opt in to receive a physical CD of the Neil Young + Crazy Horse new album FU##IN’ UP included with their tickets for no additional cost.

FU##IN’ UP reveals Neil Young + Crazy Horse playing songs from their long relationship. The performances were recorded in 2023. As Neil explains, “In the spirit it’s offered…made this for the Horse lovers. I can’t stop it. The horse is runnin’. What a ride we have. I don’t want to mess with the vibe. I am so happy to have this to share.” 

FU##IN' UP contains 9 songs on 2 LPs. The album will be released in limited edition color vinyl pressing on Record Store Day April 20 with a wider, all format release starting April 26. For further details go to NYA . Details about this release will be announced shortly.

MORE ON TICKETS: The artist wants to give fans the best chance to buy tickets at face value. For fans who purchase tickets for the Love Earth Tour through Ticketmaster and can't attend, they will have the option to resell their ticket to other fans at the original price paid using Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange. To help protect the Face Value Exchange, the artist has also chosen to make tickets for this tour mobile only and restricted from transfer. This applies to all shows except those in Illinois, Connecticut, New York, and Virginia where Face Value Exchange cannot be mandated. A valid bank account or debit card within the country of your event is required to sell tickets on the Face Value Exchange. More information on how the Ticketmaster Exchange works is available here.

TOUR DATES:

Wed Apr 24 - San Diego, CA - Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Thu Apr 25 - San Diego, CA - Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Sat Apr 27 - Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Wed May 01 - Austin, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Thu May 02 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion
Sun May 05 - Huntsville, AL - Orion Amphitheater
Tue May 07 - Atlanta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Wed May 08 - Franklin, TN - FirstBank Amphitheater
Sat May 11 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
Sun May 12 - Camden, NJ - Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
Tue May 14 - Queens, NY - Forest Hills Stadium
Fri May 17 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
Sat May 18 - Bridgeport, CT - Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
Mon May 20 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage
Wed May 22 - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
Thu May 23 - Chicago, IL - Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island

Find Everything Neil Young @ neilyoungarchives.com (NYA)

Pearl Jam will release new album 'Dark Matter' and tour this spring

Pearl Jam will release their 12th studio album, Dark Matter, on Monkeywrench Records/Republic Records on April 19 and launch a 35-date worldwide tour this May. The album’s title track is available now HERE. Produced by multi-GRAMMY® award winning producer Andrew Watt, Dark Matter, marks the band’s first release since critically-acclaimed Gigaton (2020). Dark Matter is now available for pre-order HERE.

In 2023, the members of Pearl Jam—Eddie Vedder [vocals], Jeff Ament [bass], Stone Gossard [rhythm guitar], Mike McCready [lead guitar], and Matt Cameron [drums]—retreated to Shangri-La Studios in Malibu where they plugged in and played with producer Andrew Watt at the helm. The musicians faced one another in the same space and communicated sonically at the highest level. Writing and recording in a burst of inspiration, Dark Matter was born in just three weeks.

The band members personally previewed the record with a listening party at the Troubadour in West Hollywood during GRAMMY® week:

Vedder said: “I’m getting chills, because I have good memories. We’re still looking for ways to communicate. We’re at this time in our lives when you could do it or you could not do it, but we still care about putting something out there that is meaningful and we hopefully think is our best work. No hyperbole, I think this is our best work.”

Ament added, “What Ed said about getting us in a room at this point, we felt like we were about to make a really important record. A lot of that had to do with the atmosphere Andrew set up. He has encyclopedic knowledge of our history, not only as a band and how we wrote songs, but as players. He could pinpoint things we did on old songs to the point where I was like, ‘What the fuck is he talking about?’ His excitement was contagious. He’s a force. I just want to say thanks for keeping us on track. I couldn’t be prouder of us as a band. I feel so grateful for the fans, but mostly for my brothers and these people I’ve made music with.”

The band is celebrating indie record stores with the release of a special edition of Dark Matter on April 20. Only at participating stores as part of Record Store Day. Get more information and find stores at www.recordstoreday.com

Dark Matter album packaging features light painting art by Alexandr Gnezdilov. Light painting is an artistic form of photography where images are created by adjusting a camera's exposure for an extended period and using a light source, such as a flashlight, to "paint" in the dark. The album cover art was crafted using a large self-made kaleidoscope. Each letter visible on the cover was individually captured and handwritten midair with a specially designed flashlight to create the pearlescent effect.

In support of Dark Matter, Pearl Jam will head out on a world tour this year, marking the first time the band has announced a new album and tour simultaneously and first time the group has unveiled all worldwide tour dates at once. Their global tour, hits nine countries and 25 cities. See U.S. routing below.

Special guests Deep Sea Diver (North America Leg 1), Glen Hansard (North America Leg 2), The Murder Capital (UK/EU), Richard Ashcroft (Dublin and London) and Pixies (Australia and New Zealand) will serve as support for these dates.

Tickets will be available two ways:

1. A Ten Club members-only presale will be held through Ticketmaster Request for eligible members. Only paid Ten Club members active as of Monday, February 12 are eligible to participate in this presale. More info at pearljam.com

2. Fans can register for a chance to participate in the Dark Matter World Tour 2024 registration sale at shops.ticketmasterpartners.com/pearl-jam by Sunday, February 18 at 11:59 PM local time for Europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand shows and by Sunday, February 18 at 11:59 pm PT for North America shows. This will be the only way for fans to participate in the onsale. Registration does not guarantee access to the sale.

The tour will use all-in pricing across all North America, Europe and UK shows to ensure the ticket price listed is the full out-of-pocket price inclusive of fees.

For fans in North America who can’t use their tickets, Pearl Jam and Ticketmaster will offer a Fan-to-Fan Face Value Ticket Exchange beginning at a later date to give fans the best chance to buy tickets at face value. To help protect the Exchange, Pearl Jam has also chosen to make tickets for this tour mobile only and restricted from transfer. This applies to all shows except those in Illinois and New York where non-transferability is prohibited by law. You must have a valid bank account or debit card within the country of the event(s) in order to sell through the Fan-to-Fan Face Value Ticket Exchange.

Track listing:

1. Scared of Fear

2. React, Respond
3. Wreckage
4. Dark Matter
5. Won’t Tell
6. Upper Hand
7. Waiting for Stevie
8. Running
9. Something Special
10. Got to Give
11. Setting Sun

North American Tour Dates:

May 04 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena

May 06 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
May 10 Portland, OR Moda Center
May 13 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center
May 16 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
May 18 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
May 21 Los Angeles, CA Kia Forum
May 22 Los Angeles, CA Kia Forum
May 25** Napa Valley, CA BottleRock Festival
May 28 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena
May 30 Seattle, WA Climate Pledge Arena
Aug 22 Missoula, MT Washington-Grizzly Stadium

Aug 26* Indianapolis, IN Ruoff Music Center
Aug 29 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field
Aug 31 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field
Sep 03 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Sep 04 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Sep 07 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Sep 09 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Sep 12 Baltimore, MD CFG Bank Arena
Sep 15 Boston, MA Fenway Park
Sep 17 Boston, MA Fenway Park

** Already on sale

UK group Elbow delve into some 'Audio Vertigo'

British alt-pop band elbow have offered a preview of their forthcoming album AUDIO VERTIGO, with new single; “Lovers’ Leap.’ The tenth studio album is due for release on March 22 via Polydor/Geffen. Pre-order/add/save AUDIO VERTIGO HERE.

“Lovers’ Leap” is the first new music from the band since 2021’s critically lauded ‘Flying Dream 1.’ In singer Guy Garvey’s words, the new album is “not to reflect but distract from the bad things happening in the world. We found seedy, gnarly grooves playing in back rooms and those pulled some dark memories and plenty of humor from me.” 

On an album that saw all members work in smaller groups to develop the songs that would form the record, ‘Lovers’ Leap’ began with bassist Pete Turner and drummer Al Reeves working together.

Listen to “Lovers’ Leap” HERE.

AUDIO VERTIGO was recorded throughout 2023 at the band’s individual studios, Migration Studios, Gloucestershire, and finalized at the band’s facility at Blueprint Studios, Salford. 

Garvey also said AUDIO VERTIGO is both more direct and sonically varied by purpose than its predecessor.

Characterized by the band as an album heavy on stomp, swing, and infectious oil-can funk beats, AUDIO VERTIGO sees elbow on the front foot, fusing their love of varied and various styles on a collection that ranges from the Beastie Boys meets Bonham breaks of opener ‘Things I’ve Been Telling Myself for Years,’ to the lead single ‘Lover’s Leap’ and the infectiously funky ‘Balu.’

The wide screen ambition doesn’t end with the music. Guy delivers a lyrical sweep that considers our obsession with star crossed lovers, admonishes, and forgives his self-delusion, puzzles the nature of loss in a digital age, and narrates a real-life knife fight, all the while finding friends, real and imagined, and experiences, genuine and mythical, along the way.

AUDIO VERTIGO will see its release on LP, CD, and digital download. 

More news to come.

Track listing:

Things I’ve Been Telling Myself for Years
Lovers’ Leap
(Where Is It?)
Balu
Very Heaven
Her to the Earth
The Picture
Poker Face
Knife Fight
Embers of Day
Good Blood Mexico City
From the River