Haircut 100 delights LA concert crowd after decades away

photo: Andrew Cotterill

On Aug. 20, Haircut 100 performed in Los Angeles for the first time in 42 years at a packed YouTube Theater as part of a North American tour with Howard Jones and ABC. 

Three original members - singer/guitarist Nick Heyward, guitarist/backing vocalist Graham Jones and bassist Les Nemes - did an ebullient half hour set augmented by a three-piece brass section, percussionist and drummer (Blair Cunningham was unavailable to make this trek).

Heyward, 63, was in fine vocal form and a bundle of energy onstage. He joked about his shoes, frequently got the crowd amped up and went over to Jones' side to sing in tandem. The London pop band totally got some funky grooves and breezy vibes going strong during the U.K. top 10 songs from 1982 debut album Pelican West, such as "Fantastic Day," "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)" - where Heyward added an updated inclusive refrain of "boy meets boy/girl meets girl" - and "Love Plus One," the song many American music fans know. The L.A. performance proved the guys haven't missed a beat in the intervening years and was definitely worth the wait. 

Following a recent deluxe box set reissue of Pelican West, Haircut 100 is currently working on a studio album. The group's first new single in decades, "The Unloving Plum," arrives Aug. 30 and can be pre-saved here: https://slinky.to/TheUnlovingPlum

Remaining North American tour dates with Howard Jones and ABC:

AUGUST
21 Del Mar, CA The Sound
22 Mesa, AZ Celebrity Theater
24 Oklahoma City, OK The Zoo Amphitheatre
25 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater
28 Columbus, OH TempleLive At Columbus Athenaeum
29 Windsor, ON Canada Caesars Windsor – The Colosseum
30 Niagara Falls, ON Canada Fallsview Casino Resort
31 Cleveland, OH TempleLive At Cleveland Masonic

SEPTEMBER
1 Huntington, NY The Paramount
4 Montclair, NJ The Wellmont
5 Port Chester, NY The Capitol Theatre
6 Huntington, NY The Paramount

Photo courtesy Ken Phillips Publicity Group

NAMM Show '25 News

NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants), the largest global not-for-profit music trade organization, has announced its initial lineup of events and exhibits for The 2025 NAMM Show, taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center January 21–25, with events beginning on Tuesday, January 21. Exhibits start January 23, through late Saturday evening, January 25, 2025.

“The NAMM Show continues to evolve based on our members’ needs, and we have heard loud and clear that we need more opportunities to network and extend our robust education offerings, while also focusing on the core exhibit hours and buying power that are the cornerstone of the week” said John Mlynczak, president and CEO of NAMM. “The 2025 NAMM Show will kick off five days and nights with a schedule that ensures each community and attendee can have the personalized experience they need to be successful in their business and profession.”

The expansion of event dates allows The NAMM Show to offer even more robust education programs for every NAMM member, including retail, brands, pro audio, entertainment technology, music education and music technology professionals, as well as tracks for artists and college music business students. Tuesday and Wednesday will include more long-form, workshop-style opportunities for attendees to dig deeper into relevant topics that will help grow our industry.

To help ensure that networking leads to success in business, more global networking receptions will take place earlier in the week, allowing attendees to make vital connections right away that will lead to focused opportunities when the exhibits are open for business. A full list of 2025 NAMM Show exhibitors, companies and brands from around the globe can be found at https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/attend

NAMM will continue to announce, throughout the fall and winter, new additions to exhibits and events as well as must-see artists and performances that will make The 2025 NAMM Show the ultimate destination for the global music industry. The initial full schedule of detailed events will be posted on November 4.

NAMM Week 2025 Preliminary Schedule

Tuesday, January 21

NAMM Foundation Day of Service and Networking with the Pros
Education offerings for exhibiting brands, including a workshop on influencer-marketing strategy
Networking opportunities
International Networking Reception

Wednesday, January 22

Global Media Day, featuring iconic brands and formal executive remarks that focus on new music industry product introductions from top music brands to startups
Education sessions and workshops on the latest in AI for business, content creation and the financial management of a music business, as well as hands-on Dante training for pro audio.
International Coalition meetings and global receptions
Top 100 Dealer Awards ceremony

Thursday, January 23

Industry Insights breakfast session with NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak, along with music industry special guests
A robust program of educational sessions for retail, manufacturer brands, pro audio, entertainment technology, event safety and music education professionals, as well as artists and college music business students
Exhibits open 10 am to 6 pm at the Anaheim Convention Center
Yamaha Concert Series and Bands@NAMM
TEC Awards

Friday, January 24

NAMM U Breakfast Session Focusing on Business Marketing Trends for 2025 & Beyond
Education sessions continue for retail, manufacturer brand, pro audio, entertainment technology, event safety and music education professionals, as well as artists and college music business students
Exhibits open 10 am to 6 pm at the Anaheim Convention Center
Yamaha Concert Series and Bands@NAMM
Parnelli Awards

Saturday, January 25

Grand Rally for Music Education
Best in Show awards
Exhibits open 10 am to 5 pm at the Anaheim Convention Center
Bands@NAMM
SheRocks Awards

For more information about NAMM, please visit namm.org.

Howard Jones performs in SoCal this week with ABC, Haircut 100; 'Live at the 02' album out now

Earlier this month, New Wave hitmaker Howard Jones released 'Live at the 02,' a concert album recorded last March in London via Cherry Red Records. The exciting collection features hits, fan favorites and a credibly snazzy cover of Kajagoogoo's '80s hit "Too Shy" accompanied by current touring band member and former Kajagoogoo bassist Nick Beggs (full track listing is below). 

Highlights include "Like to Get to Know You Well," with Robin Boult's rockin' mini guitar solo; the sleek piano ballad "Hide and Seek" (which Jones prefaces by mentioning that he played it at Live Aid in 1985); "What is Love?" and some ample audience call and response action in "Things Can Only Get Better." "You Know I Love You, Don't You?" even gets an intense reworking.  

'Live at the 02' is available in limited edition recycled color vinyl with full color inner sleeve as well as via standard CD format which includes a 464mm x 348mm pull-out poster featuring the cover shot of Howard performing live at the O2. Order the LP here through the UK label and here for the CD.

Jones is currently on the road in North America with fellow Eighties pop bands ABC ("The Look of Love," "Be Near Me," "Poison Arrow") and Haircut 100 ("Love Plus One"). The latter's last U.S. appearances were 40+ years ago. Jones dedicated his sets to the late Dan Clarke, 31, a Jones tour keyboardist onstage at the London show recording. 

On Aug. 1, Jones posted to his socials, "It breaks my heart to bring you the news that our lovely Dan passed away on Sunday of cardiac arrest. Dan Clarke was a beloved member of my band. He brought energy and joy every night to the stage and was such great company on tour...I will miss him so much. Words are never enough." 

In 2022, Jones put out 'Dialogue,' the third album in a trilogy of electronic releases, with multi-media project 'Engage' (2015) and studio album 'Transform' (2019).

Haircut 100 singer/lead guitarist Nick Heyward said of the jaunt: “Ever since our last tour in 1982, we’ve been pining to play in North America again, so this is a dream come true for us. Come down early and get your dancing shoes on, because there’s a lot of catching up to do.” Fellow co-founding members Graham Jones (guitars), Les Nemes (bass) and five additional players will be playing onstage with brass and percussion.

'Live at the 02' LP track listing:

SIDE 1

1. Intro
2. Pearl In The Shell
3. New Song
4. Like To Get To Know You Well
5. The One To Love You
6. Too Shy

SIDE 2
1. Hide & Seek
2. The Human Touch
3. You Know I Love You… Don’t You?
4. What Is Love?
5. Things Can Only Get Better
6. Things Can Only Get Better (Remix)

Tour dates:

AUGUST

20 Inglewood, CA YouTube Theater
21 Del Mar, CA The Sound

22 Mesa, AZ Celebrity Theater
24 Oklahoma City, OK The Zoo Amphitheatre

25 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater 
28 Columbus, OH TempleLive At Columbus Athenaeum
29 Windsor, ON Canada Caesars Windsor – The Colosseum
30 Niagara Falls, ON Canada Fallsview Casino Resort
31 Cleveland, OH TempleLive At Cleveland Masonic

SEPTEMBER

1 Huntington, NY The Paramount
4 Montclair, NJ The Wellmont
5 Port Chester, NY The Capitol Theatre
6 Huntington, NY The Paramount 

Colin Hay's Men at Work sets tour dates this fall

Colin Hay's Men At Work have announced a U.S. headlining tour this fall.

Formed in Melbourne in 1979 and best known for hits such as "Down Under", "Who Can It Be Now?", "Be Good Johnny", "Overkill", and "It's a Mistake", Men At Work achieved global success as a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling act before disbanding in 1985. Due to demand, members Colin Hay and Greg Ham reunited in 1996, and revived Men At Work, touring the world until 2002.

Following the death of Greg Ham, and while touring Europe as part of Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band in 2018, Colin Hay again entertained the idea of touring once more as Men At Work.

“Night after night, audiences came out to see and hear the true icon that Ringo is and showed only love and appreciation for all the All Starrs and their respective songs,” recalls Hay. “I was curious to find out if Men At Work still had an audience and how many of them there were.”

Since 2019, Colin Hay has sporadically toured and played under the Men At Work banner including a stint in 2022 with John Waite and Rick Springfield. With his LA-based group of musicians, he plays an almost exclusively Men At Work set, including all the hits and dearly loved songs, which thankfully seem to have stood the test of time.

The current touring line up of Men At Work is Jimmy Branly on drums, Yosmel Montejo on bass, and SanMiguel on guitar, all originally hailing from Cuba. On sax, flute and keyboards is Scheila Gonzalez, and Cecilia Noël on harmony vocals and percussion.

Says Colin, “I love playing in this band. Not only do we play well together, but we travel well also, which has equal importance. So, off we go on our merry way around this fair land, in the month of October 2024. Very much looking forward to it.”

TOUR DATES:

OCT 10 / DALLAS, TX @ Longhorn Ballroom
OCT 11 / NEW ORLEANS, LA @ Fillmore New Orleans
OCT 12 / PEACHTREE CITY, GA @ Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater (The Fred)
OCT 13 / CHARLESTON, SC @ Charleston Music Hall
OCT 16 / JACKSONVILLE, FL @ Florida Theater
OCT 17 / MELBOURNE, FL @ Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts
OCT 18 / FORT LAUDERDALE, FL @ Broward Center for the Performing Arts
OCT 19 / CLEARWATER, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
OCT 22 / RALEIGH, NC @ Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
OCT 23 / VIRGINIA BEACH, VA @ Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
OCT 24 / CHARLOTTE, NC @ Ovens Auditorium
OCT 25 / PELHAM, TN @ The Caverns
OCT 29 / DENVER, CO @ Paramount Theatre
OCT 30 / SANTA FE, NM @ Lensic Performing Arts Center
NOV 1 / CHANDLER, AZ @ Chandler Center for the Arts
NOV 2 / ANAHEIM, CA @ City National Grove of Anaheim
NOV 3 / DEL MAR, CA @ The Sound at Del Mar

'Consequences of the Crown,' new album by Shelby Lynne, available now

Grammy winning music artist and desert dweller Shelby Lynne released her new album, Consequences of the Crown, today via Monument Records. Listen HERE.

Reflecting on the project, Lynne says, “I am going where it feels right to take a step. Breathing. Feeling the power of this music I lived for a time, another chapter in my life. I am grateful to be alive. I am grateful to you for listening to my life. This is the moment. We all wear a crown of consequences.”

The album was co-produced by Lynne, Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild, Ashley Monroe, and Gena Johnson. It is Lynne’s first new album since returning to Nashville after 25 years away. In addition to Lynne, Fairchild and Monroe, the record also features contributions from Waylon Payne, Jedd Hughes, Angaleena Presley (Pistol Annies) and others. 

Fairchild and Monroe also co-wrote the single “Gone To Bed” (Listen/share HERE). About the song, Lynne comments, “This one is my truth, as bare as my soul can be.”

Lynne has spent the last couple of months setting the stage for the record by releasing tracks "Gone To Bed," “Butterfly,” “Over and Over,” and “But I Ain’t”. The latter tune serves as a bridge between her past and present work, as it interpolates “Dreamsome,” a standout track from I Am Shelby Lynne, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary. In honor of the I Am Shelby Lynne anniversary, a special reissue of the album was released earlier this spring via Monument Records – Stream/purchase HERE.

She will perform at The Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday, August 20, supporting Little Big Town. A month later, the Americana Music Association will recognize her among its 2024 “Lifetime Achievement Honorees” during its 23rd annual Americana Honors & Awards show on Wednesday, September 18 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Finally, Lynne touches down in the UK on October 24 to perform at the world-famous O2 Arena with Chris Stapleton.

Adding to an already notable year, Lynne will perform a special headline show at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on Thursday, September 26, where she will perform new music and I Am Shelby Lynne in its entirety. Tickets for the show, which will feature special guests Waylon Payne and Meg McRee, are on-sale now HERE.

In addition to releasing sixteen studio albums, Lynne has also been named Top New Female Vocalist at the 26th Annual ACM Awards, been featured in numerous movies and TV shows (including Oscar and Golden Globe-winning film, Walk The Line) and performed alongside artists such as Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, her sister Allison Moorer and many more.

Track listing:

1. Truth We Know

2. Consequences
3. Butterfly
4. But I Ain’t
5. Shattered
6. Gone To Bed
7. Clouds
8. Regular Man
9. Over and Over
10. Good Morning Mountain
11. Dear God
12. Keep The Light On

Coldplay news

Coldplay has unveiled the track listing for its 10th album, Moon Music, appearing in stores and on streaming services October 4 (see below).

A new single featuring Burna Boy, Little Simz, Elyanna and Tini, is slated for next Friday.

Moon Music will set new standards for sustainability, with each LP made from 100% recycled plastic bottles (nine per record). It is available to pre-order now on EcoCD, EcoRecord LP and download. The album can also be pre-saved on Spotify.

Previously, a Balearic remix of first single "Feels Like I'm Falling in Love, was created alongside Brazilian electronic artist Zerb in the band’s backstage studio during some Dusseldorf stadium shows. Footage of Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland recording new guitar parts for the remix can be seen here, while Zerb shared a behind-the-scenes look at the Dusseldorf studio session here. The video - featuring Chris Martin and dancer Christian Fandrey - was then filmed on the streets of Helsinki between the band’s four sold-out shows at the city’s Olympiastadion. Watch the video at youtu.be/HNUSAQDz4jA.

Coldplay's Music of the Spheres World Tour began in March 2022. This past June, the band said that the jaunt, currently in Munich, has produced 59% less CO2e emissions than their previous stadium tour in 2016/17 and exceeded the original target of a 50% reduction. Nine million trees have been planted (one for each ticket sold).

Track listing:

1. Moon Music 

2. Feels Like I'm Falling in Love

3. We Pray ft. Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna & Tini

4. Jupiter
5. Good Feelings ft. Ayra Starr
6. 
7. Iaam
8. Aeterna
9. All My Love
10. One World 

In related news:

The Rhythms Del Mundo music project just put out a new EP featuring a Cuban re-imagination of Coldplay's hit “Clocks” as well as U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and Sting’s “Fragilidad.”

The project is in support of the environmental charity Artists Project Earth (APE). All profits generated by APE from the EP will help fund effective projects and initiatives to combat climate change and provide relief from natural disasters. So far, the funds raised have been instrumental in supporting 350 initiatives focused on climate change and disaster relief.

Coldplay, Sting and U2 all agreed to re-join the project to raise awareness of climate change and providing funds for natural disaster relief. 

Track listing:

1. RDM feat. Coldplay: “Clocks”

2. RDM feat. Sting: “Fragilidad”
3. RDM feat. Omara Portuondo: “Killing Me Softly”
4. RDM feat. U2: “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”
5. RDM feat. Ibrahim Ferrer & Omara Portuondo: “Casablanca (As Time Goes By)”

Coldplay photo by Anna Lee, courtesy Atlantic Records

Jimmy Eat World's 'Futures' and 'Surviving' slated for fall LP reimagined reissues

Alternative rock band Jimmy Eat World is gearing up for the 20th anniversary of the gold-certified fifth studio album, Futures (2004 / Interscope Records), and the 5th anniversary of their 10th studio album, Surviving (2019 / RCA Records).

To commemorate, and to close out their three-chapter series, the Arizona quartet has made Futures: Phoenix Sessions (Chapter V) and Surviving: Phoenix Sessions (Chapter X) available on vinyl for the first time. The albums were self-produced by Jimmy Eat World and mixed by Jim Adkins with both being made available this fall via the band’s Exotic Location Recordings imprint and can be pre-ordered through the band's webstore (here). They are scheduled for October.

Both limited-edition releases were recorded live as part of their 2021 Phoenix Sessions, a partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents on a global streaming performance series filmed at the Icehouse in Phoenix, AZ. (watch here)

When discussing the recording process for Futures, the band explains it was “our darkest album and was the hardest for us to make. Futures was the first record we made where we didn’t feel like we were making it anonymously.” (Futures arrived three years after their breakthrough, the platinum-certified Bleed American, which contained the enduring hit “The Middle.”)

Despite Futures “being a super challenging record to make,” they add, “we pushed through and ended up with an album we are super proud of to this day. Being able to reimagine it as a live recording so many years later for the Phoenix Sessions was an amazing experience, and we hope you enjoy reliving it again as much as we did.”

The Futures: Phoenix Sessions 2-LP set will be on blizzard colored vinyl, and its gatefold package comes with exclusive photos by Steve Thrasher, notes from the band, and an exclusive 20th anniversary etching on side D.

The Surviving: Phoenix Sessions LP will be pressed on Fade to Black colored vinyl, and it includes an insert with behind-the-scenes photos by Steve Thrasher.

To mark the 25th anniversary of Clarity (1999 / Capitol), in February 2024 the band released Clarity: Phoenix Sessions (Chapter III), a limited-edition two-LP pressed on sunkissed colored vinyl. For those looking to order all three chapters, you can now do so here.

Jimmy Eat World’s only hometown show of 2024 sees the band performing Futures in its entirety on October 17 at The Van Buren in Phoenix, AZ. Tickets to this one-night-only event will be available beginning this coming Friday, August 16, at 10 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com.

Tickets to all tour dates can be found at JimmyEatWorld.com.

‘FUTURES: PHOENIX SESSIONS’
2-LP LIMITED-EDITION, HAND POURED BLIZZARD COLOR EFFECT VINYL

1. Futures
2. Just Tonight
3. Work
4. Kill
5. The World You Love
6. Pain
7. Drugs or Me
8. Polaris
9. Nothing Wrong
10. Night Drive
11. 23

‘SURVIVING: PHOENIX SESSIONS’

SINGLE LP LIMITED-EDITION ON FADE TO BLACK COLORED VINYL

1. Surviving

2. Criminal Energy
3. Delivery
4. 555
5. One Mil
6. All the Way (Stay)
7. Diamond
8. Love Never
9. Recommit
10. Congratulations