The NAMM Show '20: TEC Awards winners

Winners in 23 technical and eight creative excellence categories were announced at the 35th Annual NAMM TEC AWARDS, Saturday, January 18, from the global NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Presented by The NAMM Foundation and held annually, the event recognizes the exemplary achievements and innovations behind the sound of recordings, live performances, films, television, video games and multi-media. Comedian, actor and musician Fred Armisen took to the podium to host.

For the first time, three companies won two awards each in Outstanding Technical Achievement. They were Genelec (for their Aural ID and S360 A SAM products), Universal Audio (for Apollo x16 and their Capital Chambers PlugIn), and API (2448 Console and the 550A 50th Anniversary Edition 3 band EQ product).

In Technical Achievement, winners picked up honors in Wireless Technology (Shure), Microphones-Recording (Townsend Labs), DJ Production (KORG), and several additional categories in Headphone/Earpiece Technology, Music Instrument Amplification & Effects, Production Essentials and beyond, that celebrated companies producing impactful products that have landed at the top of the field among their peers.

The Outstanding Creative Achievement category winners in one case, reflected a year (2019) filled with a slew of superhero films, and featured Marvel’s Spider-Man from Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment, taking home the top prize for Interactive Entertainment/Sound Production. Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” from Darkroom/Interscope Records was the top slot in Record Production/Single or Track. . “Bohemian Rhapsody” (20th Century Fox, Regency Enterprises, GK Films) won in Film Sound Production and The Grammy Awards continued to sweep its multiple year-to-year NAMM TEC Award wins, with another trophy for its 61st Annual Grammy® Awards (CBS).

Innovative producer, songwriter and artist Joni Mitchell was given one of the night’s most anticipated honors from The Les Paul Foundation: The Les Paul Innovation Award. The Foundation’s Executive Director Michael Braunstein introduced the award and called Mitchell “a true renaissance woman,” while pianist/composer Herbie Hancock presented the award to Mitchell and noted “it’s hard to imagine a world without this courageous woman’s brave songs and records.”

Mitchell remarked that she was “truly honored,” as several artists took the stage to give the folk songwriting heroine a musical celebration worthy of her long and revered career. The repertoire included Suzanne Santo for “The River;” Kevin Ross for “A Case of You;” Weyes Blood for “Woodstock;” and Venice performing “Free Man in Paris.” The Les Paul Innovation Award has been presented annually to remarkably-distinguished individuals from the music industry, such as Jackson Browne, Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Paul McCartney, Neil Young, and 2019’s recipient, Peter Frampton.

Earlier in the evening, recording engineer Dave Pensado and record industry veteran Herb Trawick, the creative duo behind the weekly web series Pensado’s Place, were named recipients of the 2020 TEC Hall of Fame award.

Both were honored for successful and impactful careers in the music industry, as well as long-standing efforts to share their knowledge through their global online show. The duo has also engaged in tireless mentoring opportunities and teaching tomorrow’s audiologists, producers and musicians.

The announcement was made from the stage by Maureen Droney, Sr. Managing Director for the Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing®. “I’ve always felt like the next best thing to music is to talk about it,” said Pensado. Trawick noted, “I thank the sponsors, guests, legends, artists, streamers, tech companies. We’ve had a very lucky career and worked very hard at it.” Trawick also thanked their peers in the audience “because of all of your gifts, tools, talents, abilities.” Pensado’s Place reaches an audience of over six million per year.

The TEC Awards ceremony kicked off with a Don Wilson Tribute performance and medley of Ventures tunes that warmed up the crowd before guitarist “Skunk” Baxter presented Wilson with a Music for Life Award, saying “You gave us a great gift that keeps on giving!” Billy Bob Thornton added a special video greeting calling his in-studio time with Wilson one of the “greatest honors of my life.”

Here are the 2020 TEC Award recipients:

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Amplification Hardware/Studio & Sound Reinforcement

Auratone – A2-30

Audio Apps & Hardware/Peripherals for Smartphones & Tablets

Genelec – Aural ID

Audio Education Technology

iZotope – Pro Audio Essentials

Computer Audio Hardware

Universal Audio – Apollo x16

DJ Production Technology (Hardware/Software)

KORG – minilogue xd

Headphone/Earpiece Technology

Neumann – NDH 20

Large Format Console Technology

API – 2448 Console

Microphone Preamplifiers

Rupert Neve Designs – 5211 Dual Mic Pre

Microphones – Recording

Townsend Labs – Sphere L22 v1.3

Microphones – Sound Reinforcement

Aston Microphones – Stealth

Musical Instrument Amplification & Effects

Line 6 – HX Stomp

Musical Instrument Hardware

Moog Music – Moog One

Musical Instrument Software

Spectrasonics - Omnisphere 2.5

Production Essentials

Cable Wrangler

Signal Processing Hardware

Solid State Logic - Fusion

Signal Processing Hardware (500 Series Modules)

API – 550A 50thAnniversary Edition

Signal Processing Software (Dynamics/EQ /Utilities)

FabFilter – Pro-Q 3

Signal Processing Software (Effects)

Universal Audio – Capitol Chambers

Small Format Console Technology

Allen & Heath – SQ Digital Mixer Series V1.3

Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers

JBL Professional – VTX A8 Line Array

Studio Monitors

Genelec – S360A SAM

Wireless Technology

Shure – Axient Digital ADX Transmitter

Workstation Technology/Recording Devices

Avid - Pro Tools 2019

CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

Film Sound Production

Bohemian Rhapsody (20thCentury Fox, Regency Enterprises, GK Films)

Interactive Entertainment Sound Production

Marvel’s Spider-Man (Insomniac Games | Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Record Production/Album

A Star is Born (Soundtrack), Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper (Interscope Records)

Record Production/Single or Track

“Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish (Darkroom / Interscope Records)

Remote Production/Recording or Broadcasting

61st Annual Grammy Awards (CBS)

Studio Design Project

Old Mill Road Recording (Francis Manzella Design Ltd.)

Television Sound Production

Game of Thrones (HBO /Warner Bros. Television)

Tour Event Sound Production

Freshen Up, Paul McCartney

The NAMM Show report: Jan. 16-17, 2020

photo: George A. Paul

By George A. Paul

Freelance Journalist

Another NAMM Show concluded on Sunday as 115,000 music industry professionals and invited guests converged at the Anaheim Convention Center and adjacent hotels to take in new product innovations, instruments, education sessions, live performances, artist signings, award shows and more.

Held annually over four days, the Southern California convention presents thousands of exhibitors from around the world. 

Yamaha Corporation of America is among the biggest music manufacturers to display their wares at NAMM. The year, the company - whose name adorns one in every four instruments sold worldwide - exhibited more than 75 new products at its cavernous Anaheim Marriott/Marquis Ballroom space.

A family-friendly portable keyboard with high quality voices and special learning tools and an acoustic guitar series (the company sells more than anyone else) featuring the Atmosfeel pickup and preamp system were a couple examples.

Yamaha also presents the large evening Concerts on the Grand at the large outdoor plaza. This year's shows included Los Angeles metal band Animals as Leaders (a last-minute replacement for Sarah McLachlan), Tower of Power and the All Stars show.

photo: Bob Steshetz

Friday's All Stars concert saw Sinbad return as host and primarily focused on R&B and urban music. The exception was Kenny Loggins, who brought some pop to the proceedings with his hits “This is It” and the rarely performed “Heart to Heart” (both were co-penned by Michael McDonald).

The large house band was led by veteran bassist Nathan East and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. And of course, Loggins did “Footloose.” The closing act comprised the three core members of Earth, Wind & Fire - singers Philip Bailey and Ralph Johnson, plus bassist Verdine White. Early member Larry Dunn even joined them on keyboards for a bit.

Their totally jubilant six-song set made the audience go crazy. It included “Sing a Song,” “After the Love is Gone,” “Let’s Groove,” “September” and Bailey's solo hit with Phil Collins, “Easy Lover” (a female backing vocalist joined Bailey). The latter was a perfect choice, considering East co-wrote and played bass on the top 5 hit in 1985.

All the other artists on the bill (Verbal Ase, Mr. Talkbox, Avery Sunshine, Shelea)

returned to the stage to cap everything off with a cover of James Brown’s “Living in America.”

photo: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for NAMM

My NAMM Show 2020 experience began early Thursday morning with the Breakfast of Champions session, where NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond presented singer/guitarist Jason Mraz with the Music for Life Award for his charitable efforts. 

Mraz said he was very fortunate to have access to music education while growing up in Virginia. "Music shaped my life and gave me so many opportunities." Mraz was in chorus and had teachers who saw promise in his talent at an early age.

Lamond asked about the Jason Mraz Foundation and the artist said he works with schools in his native Richmond, Va. and current home in San Diego to help inspire and support music programs. 

"We try to breathe life into the arts," Mraz said. "We don't have a government that funds a lot of these programs, so it depends on donors...inspiring (children and young adults) to get involved in music is "a fun way to spend your time" and "a profound and beautiful use of our time." 

Next, I was onto “Stories Behind the Sessions: Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A.” at the Harman International booth.

photo: George A. Paul

Christian Hand, a DJ from KLOS/95.5 FM Los Angeles known for his “The Session” segments and Toby Scott, who engineered the classic album (along with many others in The Boss catalog) had a frequently fascinating 50-minute demonstration and discussion about the songs and recording process.

Scott provided some background about how several BITUSA tracks originated from solo acoustic predecessor "Nebraska." Since the latter couldn’t be mastered, it was released in demo form.

Then Scott talked about the protracted BITUSA album sessions. When Hand played isolated instrument and vocal stems from the title track, it was surely a revelation for many Bruce tramps in attendance. Scott said the original jam at the end of the song was cut down from eight minutes and noted how the melody structure was somewhat similar to “Hungry Heart.”

“You don’t need a lot of changes for a hit song,” he noted.

Having gone through multiple permutations, “once the ‘BITUSA’ song started in this (final) variation, it set the stage for the whole album.” Scott told how manager Jon Landau said they needed a single, so “Dancing in the Dark” was penned overnight and recorded at New York City’s Hit Factory while the other songs were still being finished at the nearby Power Station.

Hand cued up Springsteen’s amazing isolated Telecaster guitar and vocal tracks on the computer and projected it on a screen. “We would call Bruce’s guitar the ‘primal strum,” said Scott. “There is no restraint in Bruce’s vocal. I’d say, eight out of 10 times, we’d use a live first take vocal,” recalled Scott.

The engineer told a humorous story about how the studio owner often visited to check on how things were going, thus slowing down the process even more - until Landau asked Scott to politely ask the owner to stop showing up. “There were no other visitors during the sessions.”

Later, when Hand asked what advice Scott would give to young engineers, he replied, "when you’re working, do the best job you can.” As an example, Scott proudly said Springsteen’s 1995 acoustic album "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (that he also engineered) contained “all rough mixes.”

photo: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for NAMM

Over at the Apogee booth, Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Theron "Neff-U" Feemster (Michael Jackson, Train, Sia) did a brief interview with Randy Jackson. The musician/producer/manager and former "American Idol" judge said these days he "loves what's happening in Nashville so much because they focus on the song."

Although the advent of ProTools and technological advances have "made everything an option, what happened when you didn't have options and just had to be good - like with Motown and country music?" asked Jackson. 

"When I was coming up in Louisiana, it was all about being the best," he continued. "Early in my career, I met with [legendary Motown songwriting team] Holland-Dozier-Holland and they told me everything I did had to be great."  

John Jorgenson’s electric guitar versatility was on full display during a riveting 40-minute set Thursday afternoon at the Pioneer Pro Audio Arena Plaza Stage outdoors near the Anaheim Convention Center’s newish North extension.

photo: George A. Paul

Ace musicians like bassist/fellow Redlands, Calif. native Davey Faragher and drummer Charlie Morgan (the guitarist used to play with him in the Elton John band) backed up a mighty impressive Jorgenson. 

They performed the Hellecasters' dynamic and upbeat instrumental “Back on Terra Firma,” a beautiful take on Rodney Crowell's poignant "Wandering Boy" (Jorgenson played on the 2001 album "The Houston Kid"), a feverish rocking take on Arthur Lee & Love’s “A House is Not a Motel,” B.B. King’s “How Blue Can You Get” (Jorgenson gave a shout out to Gary the Fuzzman, who was watching nearby) and George Harrison’s hypnotic “Love You To,” complete with Indian music effects. Jorgenson really pulled out all the stops with his expressive playing at the end.

Dashing back inside the convention center to Vox Amplification's booth, I saw Lindsay Ell do a sumptuous half hour performance inside a nice private music room. The Canadian country/blues singer is quite a guitarist, as I first witnessed a few years ago on the Mane Stage at Stagecoach fest. Ell's most memorable moments included a fun and infectious "Good," her top 20 country hit from 2017 "Criminal," the groove-laden "Castle" and latest Dan Huff-produced single "I Don't Love You," complete with wailing vocal. 

photo courtesy of Gibson Guitars

Gibson Guitars hosted an amazing "Icons & Friends" Party at the Grove of Anaheim on Thursday night.

Hosted by John Stamos, the event boasted performances by members of ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, The Cars, Eagles, Guns 'N' Roses, Santana, Halestorm and others.

There were plenty of standout moments: Slash and Don Felder's guitar duel during "Hotel California" and the latter's solo take on Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Pride and Joy," Robin Zander and Rick Nielsen doing their "In Color" tune "Big Eyes," Elliot Easton of The Cars providing deft guitar work alongside singer Andy Vargas for "La Bamba" and "Oye Como Va" and Billy Gibbons doing "Jesus Just Left Chicago" (and later "Tush," with Zander).

Slash - who has a new signature line of guitars through Gibson; see elsewhere on this blog for details - weaved in and out of several songs, all anchored by a house band consisting of drummer Kenny Aronoff, bassist Darryl Jones, guitarist Jimmy Vivino and keyboardist Jeff Young.

My second NAMM Show day began with Christian Burns (pictured left) doing a short, but sweet three-song acoustic set at the Blue/Ultimate Ears booth. He started with an emotionally resonant "In the Dark" (his 2007 Tiesto collaboration) and then did a solid version of "Back Here," his 2000 adult contemporary chart topper with BBMak, before concluding with a dramatic "Temptation," off his recent All Hail the Silence project with BT.

Upstairs in the Fender Guitars room, Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World talked briefly about his signature white JA-90 Telecaster Thinline model and played "Big Casino" and "Love Never" by the band.

Friday afternoon on the Pioneer stage, Sweet Lizzy Project delivered a terrific performance. The new Cuban rock band’s impressive debut album “Technicolor” is due out Feb. 21 via Mono Mundo/Thirty Tigers and was produced by The Mavericks’ Raul Malo.

photo: Robert Kinsler

The quintet made quite an impact during a catchy “Turn Up the Radio,” where Lisset Diaz’s wailing vocals often recalled Alanis Morissette, while Miguel Comas pulled off enticing reverb-laden guitar lines.

Other highlights included the attitude-laden delivery and raw lyrics of the new wave-tinged “Ain’t Nobody to Call,” the powerful “These Words” (which received a rousing response) and “Travel to the Moon” (where Diaz's lilting vocals brought to mind late Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan). Toward the end of the set, the band did a moody, extended cover of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2,” complete with searing solo by Comas. Definitely one to watch.

Back inside the convention center, Graham Coxon demonstrated Swedish manufacturer Softube’s Console 1, a recording hardware and software hybrid, and accompanying Marshall amp plug-in. The Blur guitarist/singer used it to help compose the soundtrack for British drama series “End of the F-ing World,” which was shown on Netflix.

During the audience Q&A section, Coxon chatted for much longer than scheduled. He didn’t rule out another Blur album, saying it depended on timing and whenever bandmate Damon Albarn was rotating projects like Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, etc.

“I love doing film and TV score work,” Coxon admitted. It keeps me learning and out of trouble...I’d score the news if I could.” As soon as Coxon read the “End” script, he started to write music, fashioning one song like 1990s-era Beck.

photo: George A. Paul

Various solo projects could come out in the future (there is a “lost” album done around the time of 2012’s "A+E") because he’s done a lot of work in the last few years. There’s also another Netflix-related score set to debut next month with music referencing 1950s and ‘60s styles as well as blueman Mississippi John Hurt. Additionally, Coxon confirmed that he recently contributed to Duran Duran's next album and really enjoyed it. 

When asked about influences, Coxon admitted to listening to a lot of Steely Dan last year, while more recently, he’s rediscovered classic Blondie albums like "Parallel Lines" and "Plastic Letters."

“I was blown away by how much I hear myself in Chris Stein’s (playing). Blondie is overlooked and an incredible band. (The song) ‘11:59’ is genius.” Coxon also cited George Harrison’s guitar work as an inspiration.

“It happens over time and without you knowing. It has to do with how you identify as a guitar player. He also didn’t realize how much he’s been influenced by prog rock acts like Peter Hammill and Van der Graaf Generator.

Getty Images for NAMM and Gibson live photos used with express permission for media from NAMM and Gibson. Find more NAMM Show coverage here:

http://rockwrite.blogspot.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuLcopNVm6Q
http://bobbyrequest.com.

The band Real Estate focuses on 'The Main Thing' with new release, tour

Real Estate's new album The Main Thing is out Feb. 28 on Domino. For the first time ever, the band has brought in outside instrumentalists and special guests like Sylvan Esso, whose vocalist Amelia Meath features on first single "Paper Cup." The Nick Roney-directed music video chronicles the final performance in the life of a giant animatronic squirrel named Chipper.

Watch and share "Paper Cup" (feat. Sylvan Esso) HERE

On "Paper Cup" and the making of The Main Thing, Martin Courtney says, "Paper Cup is a song about getting older and realizing that this thing that I fell into doing over ten years ago - being a musician, writing songs, being a guy in a band - this may end up being my life's work. Watching the people around me change and evolve, take on new challenges, and feeling sort of stuck in a rut, in a way. Feeling uncertain of the validity of being an artist in an age of climate change and general political and social unrest around the world.

"It's a song about questioning your chosen path in life and searching for meaning in what you do.

"Those questions don't really get resolved in this song, but ironically, the process of making this record - really diving deep and trying to make it the best thing we've ever made - reaffirmed in me, and I think in all of us in this band, why we are doing this."

Alongside members Alex Bleeker (bass), Matthew Kallman (keyboards), Julian Lynch (guitar, vocals) and Jackson Pollis, primary songwriter Martin Courtney explains, "Even before we decided where to record or who to record it with, I knew it needed to sound that good," but as Bleeker adds, "We discovered through the care and attention that we brought to this record that making music to resonate with other people is our catharsis. The 'main thing' is following your path of inspiration and hoping to inspire that in people around you."

Real Estate will tour this spring, with tickets on-sale here. The Main Thing will be available on CD, LP and digitally. A limited edition, gold-colored 2xLP – including a tip-on gatefold jacket with Bjorn Copeland's collage piece mounted on the front cover – is available to pre-order from Domino Mart here.

Track List:

Friday
Paper Cup (feat. Sylvan Esso)
Gone
You
November
Falling Down
Also A But
The Main Thing
Shallow Sun
Sting
Silent World
Procession
Brother

Tour Dates:

4/9 - El Club - Detroit, MI*
4/10 - Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL*
4/11 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN*
4/13 - Slowdown - Omaha, NE*
4/14 - The Truman - Kansas City, MO*
4/15 - The Ready Room - St. Louis, MO*
4/16 - The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN*
4/17 - Brooklyn Bowl Nashville - Nashville, TN*
4/18 - Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA*
4/20 - Cat's Cradle - Chapel Hill, NC*
4/21 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC*
4/22 - Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA*
4/23 - Royale - Boston, MA*
5/7 - Fox Theater - Oakland, CA†
5/8 - The Fonda Theater - Los Angeles, CA†
5/9 - Belly Up Tavern - San Diego, CA†
5/10 - The Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ†
5/12 - The Granada Theater - Dallas, TX†
5/13 - Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater - Austin, TX†
5/14 - White Oak Music Hall - Houston, TX†
5/18 - Gothic Theatre - Denver, CO#
5/19 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT#
5/21 - Neptune Theatre - Seattle, WA#
5/22 - Revolution Hall - Portland, OR#

*with Palm
†with Meg Baird
#with Itasca

Final Game Theory album 'Across the Barrier of Sound' due in March

Throughout the 1980s, the California-based Game Theory was one of the most original (and critically acclaimed) indie-rock bands. Their blend of ’60s and ’70s pop influences such as Todd Rundgren and Big Star coupled with a post-punk energy led to a string of diverse albums — nearly all produced by Mitch Easter of Let’s Active.

For the past several years, Omnivore Recordings has painstakingly reissued each and every one of Game Theory’s original albums, with the addition of a slew of unreleased bonus tracks. The band’s effort, 1988’s Two Steps From the Middle Ages, was reissued in June 2017.

That appeared to be the final chapter of their story, or was it?

Hardcore fans still talk about Game Theory’s final line-up, which toured the West Coast but never released an album. Circa 1989-’90, the band was rejuvenated as leader Scott Miller was joined by the legendary Michael Quercio from The Three O’Clock (which had recently broken up). Other changes included longtime drummer Gil Ray moving over to guitar and keyboards, while Miller's former Alternate Learning bandmate from the original template of Game Theory, Jozef Becker (True West, Thin White Rope), joined as the drummer. Jozef is the brother of Game Theory’s original keyboardist, Nan Becker.

Across the Barrier of Sound: PostScript, due for release on CD, LP and Digital on March 20, on Omnivore Recordings, is the album that might have been.

There’s a blend of home and studio and live recordings. There are songs that many fans haven’t heard unless they were lucky enough to catch a live show at the time — and some songs that reappeared in significantly different form on the debut album from Miller and Becker’s post-Game Theory band the Loud Family, Plants and Birds and Rocks and Things. Miller blended classic pop songwriting with groundbreaking art-rock influences, which is reflected in home recordings of Brian Eno’s “Needle in the Camel’s Eye” and The Nazz’s “Forget All About It.”

There’s a feast of Scott Miller-penned delights on the 14-song vinyl LP, and the CD includes an additional 10 unissued bonus tracks with Game Theory originals and songs originally recorded by artists such as Big Star and The Three O’Clock. The liner notes include remembrances by members of Wilco and Guided by Voices.

Track Listing:

1. All My Loving (Home Recording)
2. My Free Ride
3. Go Back To Sleep Little Susie (Aerodeliria) (Home Demo)
4. Forget All About It (Home Recording)
5. Take Me Down (To Halloo)
6. The Second Grade Applauds (Home Demo)
7. Treat It Like My Own*
8. Inverness
9. Water (Remix)
10. Needle In The Camel’s Eye (Home Recording)
11. Idiot Son
12. Even You (Home Demo)
13. The Door Into Summer (Live)
14. Laurel Canyon (Reprise) (Home Demo)

Bonus Tracks:

15. Jimmy Still Comes Around (Home Demo)
16. Rose Of Sharon (Remix)
17. Back Of A Car (Radio Session)
18. The Come On (Home Demo)
19. A Day In Erotica (Home Recording)
20. Some Grand Vision (Home Demo)
21. Slit My Wrists (Home Demo)
22. Idiot Son (Home Demo)
23. Sword Swallower (Live)
24. Inverness (Home Demo)

All Tracks Previously Unissued Except*

LP Consists of Tracks 1–14

Pre-sale link: http://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/across-the-barrier-of-sound/

Special Marty Stuart book and album package to spotlight 'The Pilgrim' in February

I'm a huge Stuart fan, having interviewed him a little over a decade ago and reviewed his Stagecoach fest appearances. This new package is very intriguing...

On Feb. 14, Marty Stuart will release The Pilgrim: A Wall-to-Wall Odyssey, an illustrated, 11" by 10.5" tabletop book (with CD) that details the making of his album The Pilgrim, one that reconnected Stuart with the deepest spirit of country music’s rich traditions while also breaking new ground.

“The Pilgrim project was the first step in a journey that led me to the outer edge of the awakenings of my true musical heart and soul,” he says. “It’s an album that’s close to my heart, and one that explores a true story of an unbelievable romance that unfolded in my hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi when I was a kid. It’s a story of the power of love to overcome life’s darkest moments. The story that’s told in The Pilgrim, and my own story of how the project came to be and continues to shape me, makes my heart swell. When thinking about when I wanted to share this book with the wider world, I couldn’t think of a better time than Valentine’s Day.”

The Pilgrim, Stuart’s tenth studio album, was originally released in 1999. The concept project — based on true events that transpired in his hometown — was not a commercial success at the time. Yet it represents a rediscovery of his roots.

Originally available in limited release during the 20th anniversary celebration of the album last fall, The Pilgrim book is now available as a wide-release title via BMG, which began publishing music-related books in 2017. Included in The Pilgrim: A Wall-to-Wall Odyssey is a newly remastered CD of the original album, along with ten bonus tracks that feature guest performances by Ralph Stanley, Emmylou Harris, Uncle Josh Graves, Earl Scruggs, and Stuart’s wife, Grand Ole Opry legend Connie Smith.

“While I was developing The Pilgrim, Stuart explains, “I sought vision. I made a number of trips to visit and play music with people I love and admire, whom I consider to be divine sources of inspiration. I looked for wisdom at every turn while continuing to gather the courage to follow my heart into the unknown.” That journey is chronicled in the pages of the book, which feature intimate photographs of Marty making music with Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Rick Nelson, Bill Monroe, Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard,B.B. King, The Staple Singers, Tom Petty, John Lee Hooker, Willie Nelson, Keith Richards, George Jones,Dolly Parton, and others.

A celebrated photographer in his own right, Stuart himself captured the truck stops, county fairs, gospel singers, backwoods circus performers, South Dakota Native American Indians, and others that he encountered on his journey to reconnect with his musical roots and find new paths forward.

“Going into my archives to search out Pilgrim-related material for this release was like reaching into a dusty old treasure chest,” Stuart recalls. “I found songs that I’d written and forgotten, photographs I never got around to looking at, unfinished recordings from The Pilgrim sessions, and a string of archival recordings … So many life lessons were offered in the creative process of making The Pilgrim. Perhaps the toughest of them all was letting go when the record was considered unsuccessful. However, in letting go, I learned that some things do, in fact, come back around.”

Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams to tour U.S. this summer

Bon Jovi will start a tour in the U.S. this June and play arenas across America with Bryan Adams. Leader Jon Bon Jovi has spoken in recent interviews about a forthcoming album, set for release later this year from Island Records. Fans will get exclusive access to that album; every ticket sold includes one CD copy of Bon Jovi 2020.

Fan club members and American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets prior to the general public beginning Tuesday, January 21 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, January 23 at 10 p.m. local time. A limited number of LaneOne Premium Packages will also be available, including amazing seats, transportation, preferred entrance, preshow hospitality, commemorative laminate and more. Check LaneOne.com for LaneOne details.

Tickets go on sale to the general public starting Friday, January 24 at 10 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com. Visit venue websites for local information. For additional tour ticketing information, visit www.bonjovi.com.

TOUR DATES:

Wednesday, June 10 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
Thursday, June 11 Portland, OR Moda Center
Saturday, June 13 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center
Tuesday, June 16 San Jose, CA SAP Center at San Jose
Thursday, June 18 Los Angeles, CA The Forum
Saturday, June 20 Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena *
Tuesday, June 23 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
Thursday, June 25 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Friday, June 26 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
Friday, July 10 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena *
Tuesday, July 14 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
Thursday, July 16 Boston, MA TD Garden
Sunday, July 19 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
Tuesday, July 21 Chicago, IL United Center
Thursday, July 23 St. Louis, MO Enterprise Center
Saturday, July 25 Washington, DC Capital One Arena
Monday, July 27 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Tuesday, July 28 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

*without Bryan Adams

Sebadoh sets spring tour

photo: Justin Pizzoferrato/Missing Piece Group

Indie rock veteran Sebadoh has announced a new set of US tour dates this spring. The tour will kick off in April. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sebadoh.com/tour.

Sebadoh released the album Act Surprised last year, the first in more than six years, via Dangerbird Records. The album continues the collaboration that's defined the band since 1991's Sebadoh III and 1994's Bakesale. Their new songs reaffirms the creative partnership between members Lou Barlow, Jason Loewenstein, and Bob D'Amico.

Tour Dates:

04/15 - Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
04/16 - Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall
04/17 - Providence, RI @ Met Cafe
04/18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
04/19 - Durham, NC @ Motorco
04/21 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
04/22 - Orlando, FL @ The Social
04/23 - Tampa, FL @ Orpheum
04/24 - Athens, GA @ 40 Watt
04/25 - Asheville, NC @ Mothlight
04/26 - Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall
04/28 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
04/29 - Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club
04/30 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
05/01 - Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
05/02 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe
05/04 - Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt
05/05 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
05/06 - Albany, NY @ The Hollow
05/07 - Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
05/08 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
05/09 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg