Tom DeLonge of blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves readies children’s book

When not on the road with his bands, blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves frontman Tom DeLonge always made it a point to read to his children, Ava and Jonas.

Now the alt-rock musician is proud to share some of his story time with the world, through the release of his first children’s book, The Lonely Astronaut on Christmas Eve. This book, written by DeLonge, is a story for the young and the young-at-heart alike.

Illustrated by Mike Henry, it is a tale of a rocketeer alone on the moon on a cold Christmas night, and the gift he receives from a few unexpected (and extraterrestrial) friends. To celebrate the spirit of the holiday season, DeLonge and Henry are proud to announce a charity auction to benefit San Diego’s Rady Children’s Hospital at CharityBuzz.com.

 

With a pre-sale set for Nov. 25, the book will be available exclusively as a special, limited-edition “Lonely Astronaut Christmas Package” at AngelsAndAirwaves.com. Available for $50 to the first 1000 customers, the package contains: a hardcover, first edition of the book, including a certificate of authenticity signed by DeLonge; one digital version of the book for iPad, Nook or Kindle (delivered on release date); one “Lonely Astronaut” clear acrylic etched ornament; and a limited-edition t-shirt.

Premium shipping available to guarantee delivery by Dec. 25.

 

Additionally, DeLonge and Henry are proud to announce a charity auction to benefit San Diego's Rady Children's Hospital Foundation. Beginning Mon., Nov. 25, fans can visit www.CharityBuzz.com to bid on a package containing: The complete 22 pages of signed original art from the book, a DeLonge signed guitar, and a meet and greet with DeLonge in his San Diego studio (travel/hotel not included, alternate plans can be arranged for those unable to travel to San Diego).

The auction will close Dec. 13.

 

DeLonge and Henry are also currently working together upcoming Angels & Airwaves multi-media projects, Strange Times and Poet.

More new music from TV drama 'Nashville'

Highlighting original music from the TV drama “Nashville,” Big Machine Records, ABC Studios and Lionsgate have announced the latest soundtrack – The Music of Nashville: Original Soundtrack Season 2, Vol. 1 – which will be available on Dec. 10.

Esteemed musician Buddy Miller produced the new project, which features the voices of actors Connie Britton (Rayna Jaymes), Hayden Panettiere (Juliette Barnes), Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne), Jonathan Jackson (Avery Barkley), Clare Bowen (Scarlett O'Connor), Sam Palladio (Gunnar Scott), Chris Carmack (Will Lexington), sisters Lennon and Maisy Stella (Maddie & Daphne Conrad), Aubrey Peeples (Layla Grant), Chaley Rose (Zoey Dalton), Will Chase (Luke Wheeler) and more.

In each weekly episode, the cast showcases fresh songs under the direction of Miller, who also serves as the executive music producer.

TRACKLIST:
 
1. What If I Was Willing
Performed by Chris Carmack / Written by Billy Montana, Randy Montana, Brian Davis
2. Can’t Get It Right
Performed by Sam Palladio / Written by Matthew Perryman Jones, Lily Costner
3. A Life That’s Good
Performed by Lennon & Maisy / Written by Sarah Siskind, Ashley Monroe
4. Ball And Chain
Performed by Connie Britton, Will Chase / Written by Tammi Lynn Kidd, Paul Kennerley
5. This Town
Performed by Clare Bowen, Charles Esten / Written by Jaida Dreyer, Andrew Rollins, Cory Mayo
6. Trouble Is
Performed by Hayden Panettiere / Written by Kate York, Marv Green
7. Playin’ Tricks
Performed by Charles Esten / Written by Justin Davis, Sarah Zimmerman, Adam Wright
8. Why Can’t I Say Goodnight
Performed by Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio / Written by Angelo Petraglia, Kim Richey
9. Tell Me
Performed by Aubrey Peeples / Written by Jaida Dreyer, Andrew Rollins, Cory Mayo, Jody Stevens
10. Wayfaring Stranger (A Cappella Version)
Performed by Chaley Rose / Public Domain
11. Share With You
Performed by Lennon & Maisy / Written by Garrison Starr
12. How You Learn To Live Alone
Performed by Jonathan Jackson / Written by Mary Gauthier, Gretchen Peters
13. Can’t Say No To You
Performed by Hayden Panettiere, Chris Carmack / Written by Sarah Buxton, Jedd Hughes, Gordie Sampson

A pre-order will begin via iTunes on Nov. 25. In addition to the standard version, Target will simultaneously release an exclusive version of the soundtrack with four bonus tracks.

To date, the series' music has sold over 2.6 million digital downloads.

"Nashville" airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on the ABC Television Network, with Lionsgate, ABC Studios and Opry Entertainment producing the series. Watch full episodes via http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/nashville.

In stores now: Less Than Jake

See The Light, out now on Fat Wreck Chords, is Less Than Jake's first full length album in five years. It embraces a back to basics approach.

 

Throughout a career that has run the gamut from self-releases and small indie imprints to large independent labels and major music conglomerates, the band has always been more than the sum of its parts.

Now more than ever, though, they espouse their stature as a DIY collective that works together—or at least in tandem with a few trusted allies—on every element of their creative output. Drummer Vinnie Fiorello recalls, “We started out very internal, and nowadays we handle a lot internally again. ”
 

See The Light was created without any external meddling from corporate lackeys. 

“Everyone had their alone time with chords and some quick structures; we all put our ideas down before we got together,” says Vinnie. “Then we sat at an octagon table in our warehouse and went through: this is what we think about this song, maybe we should do it ska, maybe we should do it punk—true band songwriting in essence.”

Not only was the songwriting a true group effort, but—like the three EPs the band have released since 2008’s long-player GNV FLA—so was the actual recording of See The Light, which was tracked entirely at Gainesville’s The Moathouse, owned by LTJ bassist Roger Lima, who took lead production duties with communal input and assistance from his four band mates and live sound engineer.

“Roger has been recording our demos since the beginning of the band and steadily has worked his way up learning about studios from everyone we've worked with in the past,” says trombone player Buddy Schaub.

With no ticking clock and no studio fees piling up, the band used their breathing room to create somewhat of a rarity in today’s prefab music world: a full-length album that gels as a complete thought, lyrically and musically. Buddy adds, “I think this is one of the closest representations of our band to date. We're all really excited for this record to get out into the world and we can't wait to hear what people think!”

Like 2000’s release Borders and Boundaries, the new record was mixed by punk rock legend Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag) and Jason Livermore, but don’t let that lead you to believe that there’s anything same-ish about See The Light. "If you're expecting retreads and repeats, this record will disappoint,” exclaims Roger. “It’s all new songs and new vibes only recorded in our old school way.”

While some other bands of a certain vintage are latching onto musical trends, you won’t find any dubstep beats or vocoder distortion on See The Light—a title that nods to the band’s history of marrying dark lyrical content (the tunnel) to bouncy musical arrangements (the light at the end).

Less Than Jake aren’t turning away from their roots, and echoing Mark Twain, Fiorello points out that the rumors regarding their genre’s demise are greatly exaggerated: “Punk has been declared dead every year for 30+ years and it’s still going stronger than ever. People like to declare things dead just because it’s dead to them, but if bands are passionate about what they’re doing, they’ll attract fans who are passionate.”

As fits a band born long enough ago to now be of legal drinking age, Less Than Jake pulls in a multi-generational audience, which Vinnie notes is often a family affair.

“Our crowd now is 16 to 40, and I’ve met kids as young as eight or nine. Dads bring their sons and it’s a weird rite of passage; moms bring kids in saying, ‘We’ve watched you guys for 15 years.’ But will the band stick around long enough to draw in a third generation of fans? “I don’t know man. I think our guys on that would be NOFX and Bad Religion. When you see Fat Mike or Bad Religion hang it up, maybe: but like them, we’re gonna ride that out." 

'US' Festival highlights DVD coming soon

I've watched some of this on various VH1 Classic clip show and really enjoyed it, so this DVD should be good. Read on for more info...

The US Festival (US is an acronym for "Unite Us In Song"), held in Devore, Calif. outside San Bernardino, on Memorial Day 1983, was a massive three-day celebration of music and culture sponsored by Steve Wozniak, formerly of Apple Computer.

Wozniak financed the entire thing himself (approx. $10 million), and his motivation quoted as "to throw a big party in the middle of nowhere" is quite an understatement. This festival was a follow up to inaugural 1982 Labor Day US Festival events.

The festivals were intended to be the celebration of evolving technologies; a marriage of music, computers, television and people.

US Festival 1983: Days 1 - 3 includes the three days of New Wave, Heavy Metal and Rock in 1983 with performances from U2, the Clash, Judas Priest, Stevie Nicks, Scorpions, INXS, Men at Work, Stray Cats, Triumph, Missing Persons and more.

This DVD, due out Dec. 3, includes the legendary U2 performance of "Sunday Bloody Sunday," The Clash's final performance with Mick Jones, a seminal performance for INXS in the US, and many other landmark moments in music history. It is estimated that over 670,000 fans attended.

The festivals included large air-conditioned tents featuring the US Festival Technology Exposition: a dazzling display of then-cutting edge computers, software, and electronic music devices. Also making a debut were installations of "outdoor rain," perforated pvc nozzles that sprayed water to fight the fierce hundred-degree heat.

US Festival 1983 is produced by Icon Television Music, Inc. and Unuson Corporation with the cooperation of Steve Wozniak. This is the only Unuson-sanctioned official release of US Festival 1983 at iTunes and on DVD.

It includes commentary from Mark Goodman, one of the original VJ's that covered the US Festival in 1983 for the newly launched MTV.

US Festival 1983 Days 1 - 3 are available now on iTunes for $9.99 each.

Order DVD: http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD5946D 

Track Listing:

INXS - The One Thing
Divinyls - Boys in Town
English Beat - Jeanette
Stray Cats - Rock This Town
Stray Cats - Please Make Up Your Mind
Men At Work - It's A Mistake
Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now
The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go
Judas Priest - Breaking The Law
Judas Priest - You've Got Another Thing Comin'
Triumph - Magic Power
Triumph - Fight The Good Fight
Triumph - Lay It On The Line
Triumph - A World Of Fantasy
Scorpions - The Zoo
Scorpions - Can't Get Enough
Berlin - Sex (I'm a)
Quarterflash - Find Another Fool
U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
U2 - The Electric Co.
Missing Persons - Words
Stevie Nicks - Stand Back
Stevie Nicks - Outside The Rain

Yes' Atlantic catalog box set due in December

The most successful and influential progressive rock band in the world, Yes will celebrate its tenure at Atlantic Records with a new boxed set that contains all 12 of the studio albums they recorded with the label.

Each one features the remastered sound and bonus tracks that originally appeared in 2003 and 2004, when Rhino's reissued the band's catalog.

The collection spans nearly 20 years of music over the course of 13 CDs and includes the albums that earned Yes an international following and helped the English group sell more than 30 million (and counting) albums.

Roger Dean, who illustrated many of Yes' iconic album covers through the years, created the new artwork for the clamshell box that houses the music, making this set instantly recognizable to any Yes fan. A fold-out poster of Dean's new art is also included. The set marks the American debut of the expanded and remastered version of Big Generator, which was previously available only in Japan.

THE STUDIO ALBUMS 1969-1987 will be released on Dec. 24. A digital version will also be available. 

Big Generator, the band's final album with Atlantic Records, was released in 1987. Until now, the remastered and expanded version was only available in Japan. The album produced two radio hits, "Love Will Find a Way" and "Rhythm of Love." Several versions of those songs are among the album's five bonus tracks, including edited and extended versions of "Love Will Find a Way," and three different mixes of "Rhythm of Love."

YES: THE STUDIO ALBUMS 1969-1987
Album Listing

Yes (1969)
Time and a Word (1970)
The Yes Album (1971)
Fragile (1971)
Close to the Edge (1972)
Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973)
Relayer (1974)
Going for the One (1977)
Tormato (1978)
Drama (1980)
90125 (1983)
Big Generator (1987)

Lee Brice, Tyler Farr concert review: Anaheim, Calif.

My review originally appeared at ocregister.com
 
Lee Brice’s recent hit single is called “Parking Lot Party,” but Friday night in Anaheim the celebration happened inside a packed House of Blues, during the first of two sold-out Southern California performances within the venue chain (Hollywood followed on Saturday). 


I hadn’t seen so many cowboy hats fashioned from beer boxes since Stagecoach last spring.

Earlier Friday afternoon, Brice taped an appearance on The Tonight Show. (Celebrity chef, restaurateur and game-show host Guy Fieri, his fellow guest that episode, attended this O.C. gig.) A couple weeks ago, Brice’s gold-selling chart-topper “I Drive Your Truck” won the coveted Country Music Award for song of the year; he also was nominated for new artist of the year, despite issuing debut album Love Like Crazy in 2010, but lost to Kacey Musgraves.

Since the mid-2000s, the South Carolina native has co-penned tunes recorded by Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks and Eli Young Band, the latter two of which went to No. 1. For 2012’s solid sophomore album Hard to Love, he co-produced and had a hand in more than half the lyrics. The rising star just completed a stint opening for Brad Paisley and heads back out on the road with Luke Bryan in January.

Brice and his six-piece band began their 85-minute HOB show with the strident, U2-styled guitar uplift of “That’s When You Know It’s Over.” Bolstered by three electric guitars, he impressively stretched his pipes and gave an equally vigorous vocal delivery to the earnest, Tracy Chapman-esque feel of his current title track. The lightweight bluesy-rock alcohol ode “Beer” came off like a TV commercial, though.

A bulk of the 15-song set concentrated on his latest disc, which is close to being certified gold. The Aerosmith-tinged “Friends We Won’t Forget” kept the energy level high, Brice looking happy as a clam. “That Way Again” utilized only acoustic guitar and organ; his impassioned vocal amid the quiet, dramatic ballad was a standout that recalled Alabama’s Randy Owen. (Many people in the crowd were inattentive during such slow numbers, but sang along heartily for the singles.)

“Don’t Believe Everything You Think,” spiked with Southern R&B flavors, and the folksy romantic charm of “A Woman Like You” proved strong. But the real stunners were the Eric Church composition “Life Off My Years,” about making the most of your time, and the poignant, piano-driven “I Drive Your Truck,” inspired by a Medal of Honor-awarded sergeant killed in Afghanistan and how his family coped with his death.

Minor pacing issues affected the show’s tail-end. There were two new tracks possibly slated for a 2014 album (the dynamic Springsteen-goes-country vibe of “Drinking Class” fared best, then some excruciatingly long solos and introductions prefaced rambunctious closer “Parking Lot Party,” assisted by warm-up act Tyler Farr. There was no encore.

“California isn’t a place that I frequent often, but when I do, it’s a party,” said Farr at the outset of his opening turn. Clad in a Hank Williams Jr. T-shirt, he turned in a mildly raucous 40-minute set that was well-received.

The twangy amalgam of country, rock and hip-hop at the center of Farr’s album Redneck Crazy, which debuted in the upper reaches of the Billboard 200 and country charts, frequently espouses virtues of certain women (“Hot Mess,” “Dirty”) and liquor (“Whiskey in My Water,” “Makes You Wanna Drink).

At the Mouse House, those songs and others made the raspy Missourian come across like a laid-back country dude (several lyrics mention flip-flops). He hopped into the crowd during a winsome “Ain’t Even Drinkin’ and even did a short rap bit, complete with drum machine.

A surprising, countrified cover of Awolnation’s alt-rock hit “Sail” and Alabama’s classic “Song of the South” displayed his varied influences. (Some drunken young gals in those aforementioned beer-box hats stood behind me and one asked the other, “Do we know this song?”) Farr finished with his crowd-pleasing big-hit title track (the humorous video of which features Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty) while his electric guitarists and bassist all appended a metal-lite solo.
 
photo by Philip Cosores

Benefit CD for Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap in stores now

When guitarist Slim Dunlap suffered a debilitating stroke last year, the music community rallied around him and came to his aid. His former band The Replacements reformed and headed into the studio in support of their old friend.

The resulting session, the Songs For Slim EP, consisting of five covers, including two of Slim's songs, was released in January of this year as a limited edition auction-only 10-inch record and propelled a nearly year long project to help pay for Slim's long-term medical care.

That initial EP was followed by a monthly auction-only 7-inch series featuring musicians like Jeff Tweedy, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Frank Black, Craig Finn and John Doe covering songs from Slim's two post-Replacements solo records, The Old New Me and Times Like This.

Songs For Slim - Rockin Here Tonight: A Benefit Compilation For Slim Dunlap just came out via New West Records and compiles all the Slim covers from the series into a two-disc album with a second disc of previously unreleased bonus material from The Jayhawks' pseudonymous LP.ORG, Soul Asylum, The Young Fresh Fellows, Peter Holsapple (The dB's) and more.

The compilation features a cover painted by Slim's former bandmate-turned-artist Chris Mars and a 16-page booklet complete with liner notes by original Replacements manager Peter Jesperson, who spearheaded the project.

Disc one kicks off with the first song from The Replacements' Songs for Slim EP, "Busted Up," and includes all tracks released on the seven limited run double A-side 7-inches as well as the Record Store Day exclusive 7-inch that paired The Minus Five featuring Curtiss A on one side and Tim O'Reagan and Jim Boquist on the other.

The second disc features 10 additional tracks, anchored by seven more Slim covers - including the unreleased "Two By Two," done here by his son Louie, daughter Bee and longtime bandmate Brien Lilja.

Also featured are two songs written for Slim - "Slim's Place," a rockin' little ditty the Young Fresh Fellows whipped up in the same session as their other track for Songs For Slim, and "When I Fall Down," written and recorded by Chris Mars shortly after he heard about the stroke. Finally, there's "Love Lost," an obscure James Burton instrumental that was covered by Slim on his first solo record, The Old New Me. Here it's done by The West Saugerties Ale And Quail Club, with their Woodstock neighbor, legendary harmonica player John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful.

On November 1, Slim celebrates one year at home, under the care of his family. Slim's wife Chrissie Dunlap says: "His comfort has been interrupted by many trips to the hospital, but his will to live is strong. His mantra is 'Fight, fight, fight.' All of us who love him are fighting with, and for, him. His strength, along with the love and support of so many wonderful friends and fans, has kept him going. Slim is so grateful for the Songs For Slim project and takes great joy in listening to his songs performed by some of his favorite musicians and friends. The revenue from the project has saved us from financial ruin, enabled us to hire nursing help and therapists, and helped to make him as comfortable as possible. Slim and the family send our love and gratitude to New West and everyone involved in the project, and everyone who bought a song for Slim. Special thanks to our long time friend, Peter Jesperson, who worked tirelessly to produce Songs for Slim, and to whom we are eternally grateful."

To date the non-profit Songs For Slim project has help raise raised nearly $200,000 for Slim who was left bed-ridden by the stroke - paralyzed on his left side, unable to swallow and very frail. All proceeds have gone, and continue to go, towards assisting Slim and his family with the significant expenses related towards his long-term care.

Fore more information or to see how you can help, visit SongsForSlim.com

Disc One: The 45s

1. The Replacements - Busted Up

2. Chris Mars - Radio Hook Word Hit

3. Steve Earle - Times Like This

4. Craig Finn & Friends - Isn't It

5. Lucinda Williams - Partners In Crime

6. Tommy Keene - Nowheres Near

7. The Minus 5 Feat. Curtiss A. - Rockin Here Tonight

8. Tim O'Reagan & Jim Boquist - Cozy

9. Jakob Dylan - Ain't No Fair (In A Rock 'N' Roll Love Affair)

10. Joe Henry - Taken On The Chin

11. John Doe - Just For The Hell Of It

12. Deer Tick + Scott Lucas + Vanessa Carlton - From The Git Go

13. Frank Black & The Suicide Commandos - The King & Queen

14. You Am I - Ain't Exactly Good

15. Patterson Hood - Hate This Town

16. The Young Fresh Fellows - Loud Loud Loud Loud Guitars

17. The Ballad Of The Opening Band - Jeff Tweedy

18. From The Git Go - Lucero

Disc Two: Unreleased Bonus Tracks

1. Peter Holsapple - Laugh It Up (it's all a big joke anyway)

2. John Eller - Girlfiend

3. Soul Asylum - Little Shiva's Song

4. The Young Fresh Fellows - Slim's Place

5. Bee, Louie & Brien - Two By Two

6. Chris Mars - When I Fall Down

7. Chan Poling - Chrome Lipstick

8. Frankie Lee - Times Like This

9. LP.ORG - The Ballad Of The Opening Band

10. The West Saugerties Ale & Quail Club Feat. John Sebastian - Love Lost

 

songsforslim.com

newwestrecords.com