Music News Net

LORD HURON's "Auld Lang Syne" - Listen

MUSIC NEWS - Lonesome Dreams, the first full-length album from rising LA-based band Lord Huron, is available now on the independent label IAMSOUND Records. Lord Huron is a musical and visual project created by lead singer and Michigan native-turned-Angeleno Ben Schneider. The new record follows the Mighty EP, which Pitchfork called “an invigorating listen” and The Los Angeles Times described as “full of lush acoustic guitars and Midwestern-accented harmonies as warm as a winter fireplace.”

The debut continues to garner widespread praise—USA Today explains, “the indie-folk band paints a vivid landscape with upbeat, warm melodies and the dreamy vocals,” The New York Times described the music as, “pretty, multilayered Americana strumming and harmonizing,” and Esquire furthers they’re “the last true New Band You Need to Hear This Year.”

Lord Huron made their network television debut on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and performed on KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic.”  Additional tour dates to be announced soon. Originally a solo project by Schneider under the alter ego Lord Huron, collaborators now include Mark Barry (percussion, vocals), Miguel Briseno (bass, percussion), and Tom Renaud (guitar, vocals).

Scott Weiland's New Christmas Album Releases

MUSIC NEWS - Two-time Grammy winner Scott Weiland just debuted his new, retro-inspired video for “Winter Wonderland," which has him channeling the signature sound that Bing Crosby brought to the song nearly 50 years ago. The song is the first release from Weiland's new Christmas album The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

MATISYAHU Unveils 2011 "Festival of Light" Tour

MUSIC NEWS - Just off a seventy show worldwide tour this past summer, Grammy-nominated artist Matisyahu will be back on the road this December for his sixth annual Festival of Light tour with the critically acclaimed Brooklyn based Dub Trio as his band.  The run includes a three night stint at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (where he holds the record for the artist with the most sold-out shows at the venue) as well as performances in Philadelphia, and the District of Columbia. Tickets for the 2011 Festival of Light tour will be on sale October 5.  

CEE LO GREEN Helps Light Up Times Square for New Year's Ball Drop

MUSIC NEWS -  Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, Cee Lo Green, paid a visit to the Duracell Mobile Smart Power Lab to assist with the final pedal for energy collection, and not one "F*ck You" was uttered.  The energy that's been collected for the last month will light the 2011 numerals during the New Year's Eve Ball drop ceremony in Times Square, NYC.  The Smart Power Lab opened November 30, and since then thousands of consumers and a number of celeb pedalers have ridden Power Rovers to generate energy that will be used to help power the 2011 numerals for at least the first 30 minutes of the 2011 New Year.

"It's truly an honor to give the final push for power that will help to light up the numerals on New Year's Eve," said Cee Lo Green. "Since my New Year's resolution is to maintain my commitment to a healthier lifestyle, including becoming a vegetarian, pedaling the Duracell Power Rover was a great way to kick off my new exercise regime."

THE FLAMING LIPS Oklahoma City New Year's Eve Plans

MUSIC NEWS- The Flaming Lips play their fourth annual New Year's Eve Freakout concert this Friday in their Oklahoma City, OK hometown, and their fans attended the event will face "20 times more balloons and confetti" than at their regular shows, lead singer Wayne Coyne promised.  Coyne recently said that the group has to up the ante as a result of the high standard of wackiness he and his bandmates set for themselves during the rest of the year and fans expectations.

"Our show is kind of like a New Year's Eve show when it's not New Year's Eve. So when we do a New Year's Eve show, it's out of control," he recently told Hollywood Reporter.  "The audience, I think, want that. They're on acid and they're on mushrooms and on DMT (dimethyltryptamine, a hallucinogenic) and they want this over-the-top experience." 

AMERICA on NBC TV Christmas Day

MUSIC NEWS - Pop rock icons AMERICA (GERRY BECKLEY and DEWEY BUNNELL) will appear on NBC-TV’s Christmas Day ice skating special called a “Salute To Golden Age Of American Skating”.  The guys will perform a medley of their biggest hits including “Ventura Highway,” “Tim Man,” “You Can Do Magic,” “I Need You,” “Horse With No Name” and “Sister Golden Hair.”  Their performance was taped recently at Atlantic City, NJ’s 10,000-seat Boardwalk Hall Arena and will air Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25 at 4:00PM ET/PT.

"Gift Wrapped II : Snowed In" for the Best Rockin' Holiday

MUSIC NEWS - The 2009 digital holiday album Gift Wrapped: 20 Songs That Keep on Giving was such an enjoyable release and a success that the label (Warner Bros Records) has put together a new collection for the 2010 holiday season. Gift Wrapped II : Snowed In is available now and features 11 brand-new recordings and five highly coveted and previously unavailable tracks.

Here's what you need to know about the Gift Wrapped II: Snowed In :

COLDPLAY Releases "Christmas Lights" Holiday Tune

MUSIC NEWS - Coldplay have announced plans to release a special Christmas single for the 2010 Holiday season. The new tune, ‘Christmas Lights’ will be available at all digital retail shops starting at 8pm (GMT) on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 (see video below).

We don't have any other info on the tune, but in a message on Coldplay.com they reveal; “It is in the key of G. We hope you have a great Christmas/holidays. Yours truly, Coldplay.”

 Hopefully  this will keep fans happy 'til until their as-yet-untitled fifth studio album hits stores in 2011.

WHITE STRIPES Announce Limited Edition Merchandise Set

MUSIC NEWS - The White Stripes have announced news of a limited-edition merchandise collection that'll be releasing on December 21 (a perfect Holiday gift?) . Just one thing, the set (limited to 333) will set you back $499.00 !!!.  But, the package will contain a White Stripes portable record player and LP record box, a copy of 'Merry Christmas From The White Stripes' on a red 7-inch vinyl and other goodies (detailed below).

In other Jack White news, the lovely English folk singer,  Laura Marling has been working with White and has covered Neil Young's classic tune,  'The Needle And The Damage Done'.  The song releases November 15.

Spend the Holidays With the Cast of GLEE

MUSIC NEWS- The cast of Glee look to make your Holiday season a little brighter with news of the release of Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album (order here) .   It'll be out on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 via Columbia Records.  

The Glee cast will spread some  Christmas cheer with their  renditions of such holiday classics as "We Need A Little Christmas," "O Holy Night," "Jingle Bells" and a very special Dr. Seuss inspired "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" that features k.d. lang (see full track listing below).  And, mark your calendars, the special Glee Christmas episode airs Tuesday, December 7, at 8:00 pm et/pt on FOX.

MATISYAHU Announces Fifth Annual Festival of Light Concerts

MUSIC NEWS - Matisyahu has announced today that, for the first time in its history, he'll take his annual Hanukkah celebration, Festival of Light, on tour.  Previously, the series of concerts were eight shows in New York City and Brooklyn. This year, he expands to additional northeast USA cities due to increasing demand from fans.

The run will kick off on November 29 at Brooklyn, NY's Brooklyn Bowl; Matisyahu will perform four nights in Brooklyn; one show at the Brooklyn Bowl and three shows at Music Hall of Williamsburg, marking the fifth year in a row that he has brought his Festival of Light to hometown crowds. He'll then head to Albany, Boston, Baltimore and Philadelphia before wrapping in Portland, ME on the last night of Hanukkah.

COLDPLAY and Jay-Z on Vegas Strip for New Year's Eve

MUSIC NEWS- COLDPLAY and Jay Z have announced a special New Year's Eve concert in Las Vegas, NV.  The show takes place at the Cosmopolitan casino and resort, with both performers doing solo sets, before they take the stage together, says AP.  But it's an invitation only event (we're waiting on ours!), though Cosmopolitan officials said that the concert would be broadcast on the hotel's 65-foot marquee that overlooks the Las Vegas Strip.

The show will coincide with Jay-Z's upcoming Australian tour, which has him supporting U2 on their re-booked '360 Degree' run.   Coldplay has recently delaying their fifth studio album until next year, but early this month, frontman Chris Martin unveiled a new track called 'Wedding Bells' at the Apple event to announce their new Ping service.

UPDATE 12/13/10 - Check out this opportunity to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience featuring Coldplay and Jay-Z as they help ring in 2011 in Las Vegas, package includes a special pre-party at the Marquee Nightclub and Dayclub! Only two exclusive packages made available to charity and will benefit GRAMMY Foundation. 

Auction is live now, and will conclude on December 23 at 12 p.m. EST/9 am PST at www.ebay.com/grammy and www.charitybuzz.com/grammy.  All proceeds raised through this special auction will benefit the GRAMMY in the Schools music education initiatives and the preservation and advancement programs of the GRAMMY Foundation.

ANNIE LENNOX Signs With Universal Music, Holiday Album Announced

MUSIC NEWS - Internationally renowned recording artist, songwriter, activist and musician Annie Lennox has announced she's signed a new recording deal with Universal Music Group (UMG), for a long-term worldwide recording agreement.

The first release under the deal from Ms Lennox will be her new "A Christmas Cornucopia" album on November 22  through Decca Records in the USA (on Island Records in the UK).  The album features Ms. Lennox's personal interpretations of some of her favorite Christmas carols as well as an original composition entitled, "Universal Child."

STRAIGHT NO CHASER Goes Pop, "With a Twist"

MUSIC NEWS - Straight No Chaser has revealed details of its much-anticipated new album.  "WITH A TWIST", arriving in stores and at online retailers on April 13, 2010 (via ATCO/Atlantic Records).

"WITH A TWIST" has the acclaimed a cappella group bringing its amazing vocal sound and musical approach to a wide range of pop & rock favorites (see tracklisting below).  The album features delightfully different renditions of modern classics like Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under The Bridge," Coldplay's "Fix You," Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over," and Oasis' "Wonderwall."  What's more, "WITH A  TWIST" is highlighted by a rendition of Barry Manilow's "One Voice," featuring guest vocals from Manilow himself.

To promote the new release, "WITH A TWIST," SNC will host a live web chat on Monday, March 8 at 8pm (EST) on sncmusic.com .  They'll perform selections from the new album as well.   The group then embarks on a new USA tour kicking off with a sold out two-night stand at Boulder, CO's Boulder Theater on April 5 & 6 and trek accross the nation through mid-May (see itinerary below).  The tour dates went on sale in mid-December and immediately sold out in several cities including Boulder, CO; Collingswood, NJ; and York, Pittsburgh, and Stroudsburg, PA. In response to the amazing demand, venue sizes were increased and additional shows were added in over a dozen cities.

DAVY KNOWLES and Back Door Slam, Streaming Live from Philly New Years Eve

MUSIC NEWS -  Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam will be performing live today (12/31/09) at noon in Philadelphia, PA to rock out 2009, and you can listen live courtesy of local Philly radio WXPN, World Cafe Live and NPR.

Blues rocker Knowles was born and raised in the UK on the Isle of Man.  As a lad he was inspired by the blues thanks to his dad'ss record collection, which taught him about perfromers like Eric Clapton and Peter Green. In 2001, he and school friends fromed Back Door Slam, and spent recent years performing at festivals and touring consistently, often with groups like Gov't Mule and The Who, while developing a following and a stellar reputation.