Music News Net

Bruce Springsteen 2009 World Tour Officially Announced

     MUSIC NEWS - Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band '09 tour news has been unveiled.  After days of individual show news, on the day of the release of their new Working On A Dream album, we now have the full itinerary (see below).  The run starts this April in San Jose, CA.  North American dates are through May 23 in East Rutherford, N.J. (NYC area) then they're off on a European tour which begins a week later at Holland's Pink Pop festival and runs until June 10 in Bergen, Norway.  No England dates unannounced, which may mean that the Glastonbury Festival rumor may prove out to be accurate. No word though on their heavilly rumored appearance at this year's Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee.  Don't miss the band's appearance this Sunday (February 1) as part of the Super Bowl XLIII halftime show in Tampa, FL.  Most No. American tickets go on sale Feb 2.

And, check out news about the upcoming Darkeness on the Edge of Town deluxe edition plans.  

UPDATE 5/21/09- See Bruce's GIANT STADIUM 2009 announcement.

FAITH NO MORE Coachella Reunion Rumor No More ???

     MUSIC NEWS - Despite the steady run of rumors that Faith No More was going to reform and play the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in April '09, it seems now that only the group's frontman, Mike Patton will be there.  The Hollywood Reporter says he's booked to perform at the festival with beatboxer Rahzel.   Patton and Rahzel have been working on a not yet released project.  Rahzel has appeared on Patton's 2006 self-titled album as Peeping Tom, and the two helped out on Bjork's 2007 album "Medulla."

Back in 1998, the punk/funk/rock/alt rock masters,  Faith No More broke up after touring to promote their 1997 "Album of the Year ".

Cruise Contest to Win Trip With O.A.R., Guster and John Mayer

     Music News - Music cruises are all the rage, and now AirTran Airways, today announced that it launched a John Mayer sweepstakes promotion where the winner and a guest will be sent on the ultimate getaway -- a four-day, four-night Carnival cruise vacation to Mexico with musical artists John Mayer, Guster (who recently moved to Aware/Columbia Records), O.A.R. and others.  Cruise is dubbed, the MayerCraft Carrier 2 and runs March 27 thru  31, 2009.  Enter AirTran.com/cruise now until February 13 and register for your chance to win.  AirTran Airways will provide airfare to and from LAX, near Port San Pedro in Los Angeles, where the Carnival cruise ship will leave for its destination --- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Participants must be members of AirTran Airways' frequent flyer program, A+ Rewards, in order to be eligible for the sweepstakes.  This is the second annual fan cruise hosted by John Mayer and includes two days at sea with nonstop music, contests, karaoke, theme nights and much more. Guests will spend their days at sea aboard Carnival's newest and biggest ship.  You can also check out MayerCraftCarrier for more info. 

Swedes Peter Bjorn and John to Tour North America

     MUSIC NEWS - Glad to hear that the Swedish trio, Peter Bjorn and John have booked a batch of US/Canadian shows to promote their upcoming studio album release, "Living Thing"  (March 31 release).  They'll take a spring trip of twelve citites begining on April 21 in Minneapolis, then to the East Coast (mainly);  Montreal (4/27), NYC (4/29) and Philadelphia (5/1) are on the roster (full details are listed below).  The upcoming "Living Thing" releases comes to us quickly after their fall '08 release of "Seaside Rock".  SR was a mostly instrumental package that the band released only on vinyl and digitally.   Their label, Wichita Records, tells us the new set, was produced by Lars Marten and recorded in Stockholm, NYC and LA, and features an "unprecedented level of input from the band and reflects the musical tastes, influences and personality of each individual member more than any previous PB+J album." We already know Kanye West likes the new single, "Nothing to Worry About".  He was given an advance copy, and praised the tune on his Kanyeuniversity, as well as leaked it to the Internet.  Order a copy of Living Thing  from MNN ! 

New Hotel from Iron Maiden's Mgmt to Open in London

     MUSIC NEWS - Andy Taylor, co-manager of the heavy metal group Iron Maiden says he's working with English nightclub owner to open a London hotel for rock musicians this April.  The 30-room boutique hotel, to be known as Sanctum Soho, is the brainchild of Taylor and nightclub owner Mark Fuller.  The new hotel would cater to the unique needs of rock 'n' roll guests, The Sunday Times of London reported. "The hotel will be rock 'n' roll at its best," Taylor said. "The desk clerk will definitely be dressed in black just as in Elvis's 'Heartbreak Hotel.'   "It will be a fairly elite environment. The bar will be open for 24 hours to cater for bands who come off stage at venues such as the O2 at 11 pm or midnight."  But the hotel's publicist, Ben Groom, told The Times that despite Iron Maiden's rough image, the hotel will have a "sexy," not rowdy, focus.  "It's not a hotel for throwing televisions out of the window. It's going to be a sexy hotel," he said.

They're currently accepting reservations; see you there!!!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Unveil New Album Title, Release Date and Tracklist

      MUSIC NEWS - NYC alt rockers, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have unveiled the title of their new album, their third. The follow-u p to 'Show Your Bones' (2006)  is to be called 'It's Blitz' (no, we don't know who Blitz is). The album was recorded by the band (Karen O, Brian Chase, Nick Zinnern) in Texas and Massachusetts with producer/musician Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio) and Australian producer Nick Launay (Arcade Fire, Kate Bush, Talking Heads, Midnight Oil) and is being readied for a spring 2009 release from Interscope Records.

UPDATE 2/19/09 -  It's Blitz (cover art at right) has been announced for a April 14, 2009  release. But, as mush as we'd like to, we haven't heard many full tracks, but do have the tracklist (below).

It's Blitz! tracklist:

1. Zero
2. Heads Will Roll
3. Soft Shock
4. Skeletons
5. Dull Life
6. Shame and Fortune
7. Runaway
8. Dragon Queen
9. Hysteric
10. Little Shadow

Listen to the first single, Zero.

Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Another Bruce Springsteen Deluxe Edition in the Works - Darkness... This Time

     MUSIC NEWS - As Bruce Springsteen readies his new album release Working on a Dream and perform at the  Super Bowl XLIII halftime show, he's also confirmed spending time on a deluxe reissue of "Darkness on the Edge of Town" (1978).  Word is that it will be similar to the 2005 30th-anniversary boxed set of "Born to Run" released by Columbia Records (Sony).  The new "Darkness" package "would involve remastering that record, doing the kind of super-creative reconstruction and documentary of how it all came about and finding usable live footage from that point in time," longtime Springsteen manager Jon Landau told Billboard. "That's a big one, and not that far from completion, and when we can find six weeks to sit down and finish it I'm sure we will."

As you recall, "Born to Run" included a Grammy-winning documentary about the album's creation and a 1975 concert from London. It was a huge hit with Bruce fans, and for Landau and Columbia.

No word on Landau's plans for a retailer-exclusives for the new "Darkness".  After the recent controversary among Bruce music consumers is the Wal-Mart exclusive "Greatest Hits" album, we trust the new package will be available at all traditional and on-line retailers.

FENDER Announces "Road Worn" Band Competition

    MUSIC NEWS - Fender announces the Road Worn Competition, a USA band competition for musicians, and the dealers who support them, to submit their music for a opportunity to win a prize package worth more than $50,000.  From January 15 through May 25, bands across the US are invited to submit their music at Get Road Worn for a chance to win a road-ready prize package that features a fully customized Fender Road Worn 2008 Toyota Tundra with matching trailer (customized by Studio Number One and Obey Giant) full of Fender Road Worn series instruments, Fender electric guitar and bass amplification, a Gretsch^® drumset, and a fuel allowance of $1,500. And for music fans, there's a separate contest for you !

Will You Wear Scott Weiland's Pants ????

    MUSIC NEWS - Scott Weiland, the noted lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots,Vevet Revolver and currently on tour promoting his solo release, Happy in Galoshes (Softdrive Records), along with Christopher Wicks, designer and owner of Rock & Roll Religion, today announced the launch of their contemporary men's collection --Weiland for English Laundry. The collection will debut at Magic Las Vegas (fashion trade show) on February 17, 2009.  Mr Wicks, designer and owner of English Laundry, Fender: The Clothing Collection, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, has teamed with Scott Weiland to create a collection that embodies the iconic style of the fashionable STP front man.

"From early on, I was inspired by rock icons like David Bowie and Keith Richards who helped in molding my personal sense of style," said Weiland. "I am really looking forward to launching this line with Christopher Wicks and English Laundry."

"I have the utmost respect for Scott Weiland, both as an artist and as a designer," said Wicks. "He is truly one of the last great rock stars, and his impact on style and music is undeniable. I am proud to be joining forces with him for this collaboration."

NICK LOWE's Definitive Collection- "Quiet Please...The Best of..." Arrives in March

     MUSIC NEWS - British rock/pop songwriter Nick Lowe will release a definitive "best of" collection on March 17, 2009, called Quiet Please..The New Best of Nick Lowe (Yep Roc Records).   A deluxe version containing original-era vintage videos for classic tracks and live concert performance will also be available.

Quiet Please...The New Best of Nick Lowe reaches back along the hit heavy career of one of pop music's most influential artists. As the bassist and songwriter for Brinsley Schwartz, Lowe played a key role in the British pub rock movement of the 1970s.  And, through his gig as house producer at legendary Stiff Records he helped chart the course for indie rock labels and performers. His rough hewn production work for The Damned, Elvis Costello and The Pretenders readied all for the arrival of punk and new wave.  More recently Lowe has solidified his status as an artisan of americana soul with solo albums like  The Convincer and At My Age.

The new 49-track handpicked set chronicles original compositions from every phase of Lowe's career and exists as the new definitive best of collection for this 'songwriter's songwriter.' The deluxe version of the set including DVD of nine original-era music videos for tracks like "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass," "Little Hitler," "Cruel to Be Kind" as well as a 2007 concert filmed live in Belgium, set the collection apart from standard best of's and into the realm of bona fide collector's items.

Friday MusicNewsNet Bits - Missy Higgins, Antony and the Johnsons, Lissy Truillie

Music News Bits Friday Wrap-up-

    * Missy Higgins and Warner Bros Records Music have teamed up with the Sierra Club.  When you pledge to decrease your carbon output by 2% this year you'll receive an unreleased version of Where I Stood (tune originally on her On a Clear Night  album. Please check it out at MissyPledge !  

    *Antony and the Johnsons’ highly anticipated album, “The Crying Light”,  released this week in the US on Secretly Canadian and is available in Europe and the UK on Rough Trade.  Check out the video for their new single, Epilepsy is Dancing.

    * NYC musician Lissy Trullie has announced the release of her highly anticipated debut EP Self-Taught Learner, due out February 17th on Brooklyn based indie American Myth Recordings. And, beginning January 21st in Philadelphia, PA, Lissy Trullie will embark on a sixteen date tour with The Virgins, culminating with an EP release show at The Mercury Lounge in NYC on February 11th.  More about Lissy at MySpace.com/lissytrullie.

    * For the kids....  On January 27, 2009, Walt Disney Records releases their Radio Disney Jams 11, the latest addition to their quadruple-platinum-selling franchise.  The album showcases chart-topping hits from Radio Disney's Top 30 chart with artists such as Jonas Brothers (“Burnin’ Up”), Miley Cyrus (“Fly on the Wall”), Demi Lovato (”Get Back”), Taylor Swift (“Teardrops on My Guitar”) and American Idol finalist David Archuleta (“Crush”).   In addition to the 15-track CD, Radio Disney Jams 11 includes a bonus music DVD featuring five full-length videos (“Right Here, Right Now” from High School Musical 3, Varsity Fan Club, Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and Jordan Pruitt). 

NY State's MOUNTAIN JAM Announced - Gov't Mule & Allmans to Headline

    MUSIC NEWS- Official word is out --- Radio Woodstock & Warren Haynes present the 2009 Mountain Jam Music festival (the fifth annual) at Hunter Mountain in the picturesque town of Hunter, NY (short trip from NYC) on Friday, May 29th thru Sunday, May 31st.  Gov’t Mule will anchor the festival for the fifth year in a row, while The Allman Brothers Band will make their exclusive Northeast festival appearance at Mountain Jam as part of their 40th anniversary celebration. In addition, the three-day event will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the legendary Woodstock Music & Arts Festival, which took place in nearby Bethel, NY.

   Michael Franti & Spearhead will return for their fourth festival appearance along with Ray Lamontagne and Jackie Greene. A wide array of first time Mountain Jam performers will join in, such as Coheed & Cambria, The Derek Trucks Band, The Hold Steady, Richie Havens, Railroad Earth, Porter Batiste & Stoltz, Brett Dennen, The Lee Boys and many others. Late Night performances will begin at 1 am and will take place both outside “Under the Stars” and inside The Hunter Mountain Lodge. DJ phenomenon Girl Talk will be one of the late night performers. Other bands will be announced soon. 

New FRANZ FERDINAND Album Premiering on MySpace Music

     MUSIC NEWS - The world exclusive of Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, the 3rd album from the Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand starts today, January 22 on MySpaceMusic.  Users can stream the highly-anticipated album for free, giving you a chance to preview it before the official release on January 27, 2009 (on Domino Records).  Check out the full track list below and their new video for Ulysses on our Today's Video Clip  page. 
    
Franz Ferdinand formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 2002. The rock band is named after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and is made up of of Alex Kapranos (lead vocals and guitar), Bob Hardy (bass guitar), Nick McCarthy (rhythm guitar, keyboards and backing vocals), and Paul Thomson (drums, percussion and backing vocals).  The new album was produced by Dan Carey (Hot Chip, CSS)
      
Visit MySpace.com/franzferdinand now to stream Tonight:Franz Ferdinand.

THE FACES Reunion, Tour in Jeopardy. No FLEA on Bass !!

     MUSIC NEWS - Despite recent reports (from Ron Wood directly) that the Faces are reuniting for an album and a tour with Flea on bass, Billboard reports that a Rod Stewart spokesperson told the music press that "there are no plans for a Faces reunion tour this year." Additionally, a Flea's mgmt representative at Qprime told MNN that Flea "knows nothing" of a Faces tour.  Part of the confusion originated for the Peppers themselves, someone should pull this Dec 04, 2008 post off the RedHotChiliPeppers.com site (now removed) !  Anyway, time will tell and we hope that Flea isn't keeping anything from his mgmt and see we'll if Woody is correct. 

We can confirm this at least,  FACES keyboardist Ian McLagan will hit the road and be touring the USA in support of his new album Never Say Never, releasing March 3 from 00:02:59.   The run, with his Bump Band, starts February 21 in Memphis and ends at the SXSW festival on March in Austin. (full itineray below)

New U2 Album Cover a Rip Off ???

     MUSIC NEWS - There's been some discussion about how original the cover for the new U2 album, NO LINE ON THE HORIZION really is.  Seems that US Electronic artist Taylor Deupree, who with Richard Chartier released an album called Specification.Fifteen several years ago on the L-NE label originally used the same seascape image.  Called Boden Sea, Uttwil, it was designed by Japanese artist Hiroshi Sugimoto.  Mr Deupree has been especially vocal, even calling the Irish group's cover a 'rip-off', but not planning any legal action.  See Deupree's post in the 12kblog  asking; 'U2 Album Cover? Have I Seen This Before?'.

For your consideration we've shown Chartier and Deupree's album cover (on the left), and U2's  on the right. The noticeable difference on U2's No Line on the Horizon is the addition of a large 'equals' [=] symbol.  What do you think?  And, does it matter??? 

UPDATE 1/23/09-  In a new post Taylor Deupree seems to have backed down from his concern over the album cover for U2's NO LINE ON THE HORIZON.  He says "who cares!?!  this post was intended, half in jest, for the 300 faithful readers of my blog to show them that something we had done was just done by a band as massive as U2.  aren’t there more important things to worry about now? stop wasting your time. go do something that matters."  I guess he changed his mind... He does acknowledge that his use of "rip off" was the wrong word to use.