Music News Net

New Riders of the Purple Sage Return; New Album, Live Radio Broadcast & Tour !

      MUSIC NEWS - The New Riders of the Purple Sage are releasing their first studio CD in over 20 years on June 2, 2009 ! This legendary SF group’s renaissance began four years ago and continues today with over 100 shows annually to audiences throughout North America. The new album, Where I Come From, (order a copy below) was produced by Michael Falzarano and features 12 new songs, seven of which were written by David Nelson and Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter.  Also included are Carl Perkins Wears The Crown, an ode to the rockabilly king, written by Michael Falzarano (formerly of Hot Tuna) along with Something in the Air Tonight, two live show favorites Higher, penned by Johnny Markowski, and Olivia Rose by Ronnie Penque,  and a cool cover of the classic Minglewood Blues.  NRPS is David Nelson, Buddy Cage, Michael Falzarano, Ronnie Penque & Johnny Markowski. 

MNN is sure you'll recognize the cover artist by the style, it's by famed San Francisco artist Stanley Mouse.

Celebrate the NRPS release by listening in on Monday, June 1, 2009 at 1pm (edt) to their live lunch time broadcast from NYC's BB Kings Blues Club at WFUV (90.7 FM in NYC) or via WFUV.org (NRPS will also be doing a full concert Thursday nite at the club).

JON ANDERSON, of YES, to Return to Concert Stage

MUSIC NEWS - After nearly a year long recovery due to health problems, YES lead singer and original member, Jon Anderson has announced his return to the performance stage on his FACEBOOK page.  Jon recently said;

"zoooooooom, 6th of June, I will be doing a solo show here at Mongo's in Grover Beach (CA) to celebrate my 'Honey' Janee's birthday, weeeeeee...then I will be doing some shows this summer in Europe, more like a vacation, with one show every week...and maybe some shows on the east coast at the end on August....I feel more healthy everyday, and thanks to you peeps out there, realize YES music needs a voice....I'm ready....."

You may recall, that while Jon was recuperated, the only other original YES member, Chris Squire, allong with long time members, Steve Howe and Alan White have continued to tour, currently with a Yes tribute band singer and Oliver Wakeman (keyboards), son of Rick.  YES is currently on tour along with prog rockers, ASIA.  

Connect with Jon on Facebook here.

UPDATE 02/21/10- News on Jon's 2010 concerts in Canada. 

UPDATE 06/04/09 - Details on Jon's "Have Guitar, WIll Travel" Euro shows (more are expected to be added)

June 30, 2009
Venue:Theatre Roma, Warsaw, Poland
For more information (in Polish), Click Here

July 3, 2009
Venue: The Robin 2
Mount Pleasant, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 7LJ
www.therobin.co.uk
Box Office Tel 01902-401211

 July 11, 2009
Colours of Ostrava Festival
Venue: Ostrava City Center. Ostrava, Czech Republic

July 14, 2009
Venue: Parco Ibsen
Piazza Antiche Mura,.Sorrento (NA), Italy

July 25, 2009
Venue: The Palace Theatre
New London Road, Southend-on-Sea , Essex, SS0 9LA
www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
Box Office Tel: 01702- 351-135

August 1, 2009
Venue: The Royal & Derngate
Guildhall Rd.. Northampton.NN1 1DP
www.royalandderngate.co.uk

August 2, 2009
Venue: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BP
Tel: 0151-709-3789
www.liverpoolphil.com

 August 15, 2009
"Tribute To Freedom"
Venue: Castle Devin
Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Admission: Free

DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL - No Album Release, But Gallery Show is On

    MUSIC NEWS - The infamous, now non-release of the Danger Mouse / Sparklehorse music project, DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL, at least now has a gallery show in L.A. of the photographs for the project, taken by director David Lynch along with public playing of the album.  Due to legal fights, the album will not be released (at least in the foreseeable future), but is streaming at NPR.com (more on the streaming, here).   Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) won't comment, but his spokesperson said, "Danger Mouse is unable to release the recorded music for 'Dark Night of the Soul' without fear of being sued by EMI."  

Director Lynch became involved in the project to "visually interpret" the songs thru his photography.    Lynch said "The photographs are a representation of what went on in my head when I heard the songs,.." "It all came from the music." The result is a multimedia gallery installation titled "Dark Night of the Soul," which opened this week at L.A.'s Michael Kohn Gallery  (running thru July 11).   David Lynch and Danger Mouse have designed a two-room installation at the gallery that capitalizes on the interaction between the Danger Mouse / Sparklehorse music and the artwork David Lynch created for the album.  The LATimes' Pop & Hiss blog said, "Many of Lynch's images are theatrically stage-lit and peopled with costumed extras in intimate, transitional moments. Others capture scenes of suburban torpor, skid row decrepitude and giddy enactments out of some weird hyper-realm."

A limited-edition hard cover book of Lynch's imagery of the same name was released earlier this month, by powerHouse (see below).

SAVING ABEL Tour & Video News; Guitar Contest

      MUSIC NEWS- American rockers, Saving Abel have announced that they'll be giving away a Paul Reed Smith guitar signed by the members of rock band.  Saving Abel, hailing from Corinth, Mississippi, was started in 2004 by Jared Weeks and Jason Null.  Saving Abel released their self-titled, major label debut album back on March 11, 2008 (via Virgin Records) and last month put out an EP, "18 Days Tour". The album featured the single "Addicted"; the group continues to tour to support the release and have recently been added to the lineup of the Nickelback summer 2009 Dark House Tour, with Hinder, Papa Roach and Nickelback. And check out Saving Abel's new video for Drowning (Face Down) below.

To enter to win the PRS guitar, and contest rules, click enter here or visit a TouchTunes jukebox at your local bar/watering hole thru June 8, 2009 (and tell em MNN sent you!).

Paul McCartney to Play Two Shows at NYC's New Citi Field, Boston Shows Rumored

    MUSIC NEWS  -Though Shea Stadium is gone, replaced by the new home of the NY Mets, Citi Field, the memories of the August 15, 1965 Beatles concert lives on.  So it's proper that the first concert at the new stadium would be Paul McCartney, which is the word out currently.  Sir Paul is said to be in concert there on July 17 and 18 with a possible third show on July 21.  Currently, McCartney is confirmed to be appearing on July 11 at the Halifax Commons in Halifax, NS (with other North American shows expected to be announced).  The timing of the rumored NYC shows make sense, as  The New York Mets will on July 12, then take the All-Star break thru July 26 !

Sources say that McCartney's Citi Field gig in Flushing, NY will be promoted by AEG Live will an "official" announcement due in a few weeks.   Billy Joel was the final musical act to play the old Shea Stadium, a concert at which McCartney made a guest appearance.  See story at TicketsNow.com.

UPDATE 06/03/09-  Sir Paul's CITI Field shows, July 17 and 18 are confirmed.  Tickets go on sale Monday, June 15 at 10:00a, EDT online exclusively at www.507TIXX.com and by phone at 718-507-TIXX.

UPDATE 06/05/09- With the NYC shows confirmed, McCartney rumors focus on Boston, MA, where the media has put him there on August 5 & 6 at Fenway Park.  At least that's what the  Boston Herald is saying.  They wrote that the management for Fenway, home of the Red Sox, has applied to the city to use the stadium for a concert, but without naming the performed.  The name will be revealed at Boston City Hall on June 22.

Order the Beatles Remastered, here (ad)

COLDPLAY Shuffles Tour Schedule Due to NY Show Postponement

      MUSIC NEWS - COLDPLAY has announced via their website that their recently cancelled show at the Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY (May 27 gig) which was postponed because of illness, has now been officially rescheduled for July 27th.  But, in order for the band to reschedule the Saratoga Springs concert, the Jones Beach show (NYC area) announced earlier this week will not take place. The May 29, Montage Mountain show near Scranton, PA was cancelled as well, but no word on re-scheduling.   Apparently, the band has some troubles recently in Hershey, PA too.  Bassist Guy Berryman tweeted "Chris (Martin) burned his arm last night at Hershey stadium. He made it though."

Tickets purchased for the original Saratoga Performing Arts Center show on May 27th will be valid at the rescheduled date on July 27th, with refunds available from point of purchase. Some tickets for the Saratoga Springs show will also be available at LiveNation.com.  In the NYC area, since Jones Beach is off, go see Coldplay at the All Points West festival in Jersey City, NJ on August 2nd.  More on APW festival, here.

ASSEMBLY of DUST's New Album to Come to You in Pieces

     MUSIC NEWS- To keep you in touch with the band and their new release, Assembly Of Dust has announced a fan program that is true to the name of their new album,  'Some Assembly Required.'  Prior to the release of S.A.R. out July 21 (via Missing Piece/Rock Ridge Music), the band will give tyou a chance to have your own a part of the album, by giving away 7 of the albums 13 tracks as free downloads at the bands website.

Starting on June 2, Assembly of Dust will make new tune available for free download each Tuesday, right up to album release date, though each download will be available for a limited time. (see full schedule below the break).  So, don't forget!

Heavy Metal Lawsuit, Ozzy Sues Tony Iommi over BLACK SABBATH Name

     Music News - Ozzy Osbourne's attorneys have filed a lawsuit with the USA Patent and Trademark Office against Mr Osbourne's former Black Sabbath bandmate, Tony Iommi, with claims that Mr Iommi has improperly taken over ownership of the Black Sabbath without having the legal right!. (read Ozzy’s full statement on the suit below the break)  According to the NY Post, Osbourne’s suit seeks a 50% stake in the “Black Sabbath” trademark and the filing claims Osbourne is entitled to a portion of the profits Iommi has generated through use of the band name. The suit further suggests that Osbourne’s “signature lead vocals”  helped propel the band’s “extraordinary success”.  The suit also points out that Sabbath’s popularity went into a decline when Ozzy left BS, during 1980 and 1996. That's when former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio took over behind lead vocalist chores.

Ozzy's action likely stems from Iommi's 12/08 lawsuit against entertainment firm, Live Nation claiming that the company sold merchandise with the BLACK SABBATH  logo, in violation of a 2006 expiration of a merchandising deal, reportedly worth nearly $80 million. Soon after the agreement ended, Iommi took back the band’s trademark.  Iommi’s suit argued that Live Nation continued to sell more than 100 items of merchandise featuring the band’s likeness, name and logo, despite the cease-and-desist order from the guitarist’s legal team. Iommi’s suit seeks damages in the amount of three times the profits from the merchandise sales, plus a halt to the Black Sabbath merchandise sales.

A real shame when friend's fight, huh?

THE EELS Stream Their New "Hombre Lobo" Release

    

MUSIC NEWS -  The new EELS studio record in four years “Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire”, their first since Blinking Lights and Other Revelations in April 2005, is now streaming in its entirety on the EELS’ Myspace page.  The album has a June 2, 2009 release scheduled (via Vagrant Records).  The American garage rockers, The EELS, were formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett.

Listen to new album, Hombre Lobo, here and check out the video for Prizefighter-

U2 Surprises Island Records 50th Anniv Concert Crowd

     MUSIC NEWS - U2 made a surprise appearance last night at one of the concerts celebrating ISLAND RECORDS 50th Anniversary. The show is part of a series of concerts being held at London's Shepherds Bush Empire venue.   The band appeared on stage as Baaba Maal from Senegal started his encore with a cover of U2's ballad One (from Achtung Baby). See the performance, below.   U2 performed the rest of the number with him and then played their song, Vertigo. (view video after the break!)   Bono hung around and later came out to introduce the evening’s headliner, Yusuf (Cat Stevens).

One of the label's most successful artists, Yusuf/Stevens performed a set which covered songs from his recent studio album, Roadsinger, but also worked his Island catalog and performed the songs; Where Do The Children Play, Wild World and Father And Son among others (full set list after break).

Last night’s concert was the third of five nights at the venue featuring past and current present Island artists.  More on the show's, here.

SIA Wants to Know- How is TV Your Parent ?

 "TV Is My Parent" Video Contest

  MUSIC NEWS - To celebrate the arrival of Sia's debut DVD, TV Is My Parent (order a copy below the break),  Sia would like you to entertain and educate the internet as creatively as you can with this very exciting video competition.  Check out Sia's brilliant video to get the full lowdown and then read the guidelines below.

Simply, here's your chance to show off your hidden talents by creating a short video of yourself teaching the world your given skill. It can be anything at all that you're particularly good at - though keep it clean - and as long as it's good fun to watch and presented in a creative way, the sponsors would love to see it. The rest is up to you... 

SIA will then personally select her favorite entry from the five most played TV Is My Parent videos - so make sure you show all of your friends and family - and the winner will receive a bundle of goodies and a personalised video message straight from Sia to you! Awesome!!

Courtney Love's Credit Card Trouble !

     MUSIC NEWS -  Another in the series of Courtney Love problems, now Amercian Express Co. has sued singer Courtney Love, claiming she owes more than $350,000.  Court papers were filed in Los Angeles, and Amex has said it had suspended Love's Amex Gold card after she "failed and refused" to make payments.   Her lawyer, Keith Fink sent TMZ a statement claiming the suit is not legitimate, and that Ms Love has been frustrated for some time trying to work with the credit card company over their claim. Love is the widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.   American Express is seeking $352,059.67 for the unpaid balance from Courtney Love, as well as damages and lawyer's fees.

 

 

BEN FOLDS Plans Autumn Orchestra Gigs

     MUSIC NEWS- Right from his recent college accapella project, BEN FOLDS will follow up his current tour and Lollapalooza appearance by performing at a piano with several of the nation's leading symphony orchestras.  The singer/songwriter will appear live September 24 with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC,  October 2 with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops in Boston, MA and on October 31 in Minneapolis with the Minnesota Orchestra. Mr Folds previously toured in 2005 & 2006 with symphony orchestras, and with the Boston Pops in 2007.

Folds has other concert dates booked as well (see itinerary below) to promote his third solo album, "Way to Normal," which was released back in September 2008. The lead song, "You Don't Know Me" features Regina Spektor and is streaming (with other tunes) at Folds' MySpace page. "Way to Normal" was produced by Dennis Herring (Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse) and fhas Folds on vocals and piano, with bassist Jared Reynolds and drummer Sam Smith. Folds recently released,  Folds released "Ben Folds Presents University A Cappella," a compilation of his songs performed by leading USA college vocal troupes. Read more on his A Cappella project.

Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson Team Up for a "BREAK UP"

     MUSIC NEWS - Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Pete Yorn had an idea, and contacted actress / recording artist Scarlett Johansson (on Atco Records) back in 2006 to record a duets album in the spirit of Serge Gainsbourg’s 1960s recordings with Brigitte Bardot. “I was having a strange week of insomnia and when I finally passed out, it came to me in a dream,” says Yorn. “I woke up and the whole thing was in my head, fully formed.” Johansson was intrigued by Yorn’s out-of-the-blue invitation. “It sounded like an interesting little adventure,” she explains. “The idea of two people vocalizing their relationship through duets.”

On September 8  15, 2009 Atco Records, (part of the Rhino Entertainment family), will release the resulting work, Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson BREAK UP, a deeply emotive yet hook-filled song cycle about a tempestuous relationship (full track list below the break). The album will be available at all retail outlets, including Rhino's own store at Rhino.com.  Currently,  a free stream of their single, "Relator" is available now at theBreakUpAlbum and for purchase at all digital service shoppes (and below via MNN).  Currently Yorn is touring, opening for COLDPLAY and about to release his fourth studio album, Back and Fourth, on June 23 (via Columbia Records).

CAVO Tune, "Champagne" Continues to Find a Rock Audience

      MUSIC NEWS- St Louis, MO rockers, Cavo, continue to burn up the charts on Rock Radio with their propulsive debut single "Champagne."   The song hit the airwaves on April 13 and has reached an audience of more than 24 million, getting serious additions at Rock radio stations. It's claimed the No. 7 slot on Active Rock, broke into the Top  20 on the Mainstream Rock Chart, and gone Top 40 on the Modern Rock Charts. "Champagne" is also in rotation on SiriusXM's "Octane" playlist. Download Champagne after the break, below.

"Champagne", is the first single from CAVO's major-label debut album Bright Nights * Dark Days, which will release on Reprise Records this summer. It was produced by David Bendeth (Breaking Benjamin, Paramore, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus), and is said to be a passionate collection of hard-hitting rock-and-roll and keenly felt lyrics.   Cavo features singer Casey Walker, guitarist Chris Hobbs, drummer Chad La Roy, and bassist Brian Smith. They have announced tour dates in the Midwest in May. Cavo recently performed at the Rock on the Range Festival in Columbus, OH, on May 17 and has just announced new tour dates through July.  (see itinerary below the break).

UPDATE 7/12/09 -  See news on CAVO joining the CRUE FEST 2 tour.