Tuesday 30 April 2013

Tracer: New Video and UK Tour Dates




To coincide with the release of their new album “El Pistolero” on Monday May 6, the Australian rock band TRACER, have just posted the video for their new single “El Pistolero” on YouTube.

The explosive, fast-moving, and graphic promo video is inspired by Robert Rodriguez’s film Desperado, and features Michael Brown (vocals, guitar), Dre Wise (drums) and bassist Jett Heysen-Hicks, performing the song as if it’s their last night on earth. 




Tracer embark on a UK tour in June ending with an appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival on Sunday June 16. Full dates are below.



Sheffield Plug Saturday June 8


London Scala Monday June 10


Bristol Tunnels Wednesday June 12


York Fibbers Thursday June 13


Glasgow o2 ABC Friday June 14


Isle of Wight Festival Sunday June 16



Monday 29 April 2013

Ultimate Eagles UK Tour to Celebrate The Eagles 40th Anniversary!


2013 celebrates the 40 year anniversary of The Eagles.
Live – May/June 2013

’I thought I was listening to the real thing’...Chris Evans, Radio 2

Ultimate Eagles are heading out on a 19 date UK tour this May in support of the 40th anniversary of The Eagles.

Ultimate Eagles are more than just a tribute... they are definitive devotees performing songs from every album and every era, delivering forty years of brilliance with both accuracy and reverence.

The band who are currently in their 4th year of existence have had over 1,300,000 views on youtube and last year sold over 45,000 tickets in UK and Europe making them  Europe's number 1 tribute to the music of The Eagles. 

The band features Danny Vaughn (Waysted, Tyketto), Chris Childs (Thunder, The Union, Paul Young), Chris Wright, Christian Philips (Duffy, Sonic Executives), Ryan Aston (Abbamania) and Michael Lawrence (The Commitments). One look at the biographies and accomplishments of these individual players will tell you a great deal about what to expect.

THE ULTIMATE EAGLES... recreate the music of the Eagles with reverence, accuracy, excitement and with a stage show that focuses its bright lights on the 1970’s when the Eagles were at their mightiest. Catch them live at the below dates.

Tour Dates
09-May-13            Wirral                   Floral Pavilion
10-May-13            Telford                  Oakengates  
11-May-13            Monmouth            Blake Theatre
12-May-13            Cardiff                   The Gate 
14-May-13            Redditch                Palace Theatre
15-May-13            Port Talbot            Princess Royal Theatre
17-May-13            Leicester               Y-Theatre
18-May-13            Dartford                Mick Jagger Centre
19-May-13            Newcastle             City hall
20-May-13            Sheffield                City hall
23-May-13            Paingnton              Palace Theatre
24-May-13            Bridport                 Electric Palace 
25-May-13            Southampton         The Brook 
26-May-13            Colne                      The Muni
28-May-13            Perth                      Concert hall 
29-May-13            Edinburgh              Usher Hall
30-May-13            Glasgow                 City hall
31-May-13            Aberdeen               Lemon Tree 
01-Jun-13              Langholm             Buccleuch Centre

Tickets info can be found at http://www.ultimateeagles.com/site/  Tickets vary in price and are subject to booking fee.

Sunday 28 April 2013

IO Earth Change singers : Welcome Linda Odinsen


IO Earth Change Singers After Period of Uncertainty


Today I have received some news which leaves me with mixed feelings.
IO Earth a fantastic British Rock band have announced that their original singer Claire Malin is to step down from singing with the band. The reasons are that Claire has recently been ill and unable to fulfill her commitments to the band.. The band however have announced that her place in the band will be taken by Linda Odinsen.

The mixed feelings I have are  sadness due to Claire having to stand down. Claire made an important contribution to IO Earth  and is featured on the bands last studio album Moments and the recent Live At Rosfest album. Check them out as they are both excellent albums.

On the other hand I am incredibly happy for the band as they have now got a singer who will no doubt contribute to the band moving forward in even bigger leaps now that the uncertainty has been lifted from the bands collective shoulders

I was lucky enough to work with IO Earth recently on the Cruise To The Edge  and Linda stepped into the breach of what was certainly a major commitment for thew band and helped them fulfill that commitment. When I first met her she was backstage with earphones in listening to the IO Earth material having only filled the vocalists role just three days before the band flew to America for the cruise. Talk about a trial by fire!

Despite the positive energy coming from all the band there was also a lot of tension  and rightly so this was an important concert for the band. They needn't have worried though as the concerts went well and they were warmly received by everyone on the cruise from the audience to fellow musicians. No one for a minute would have thought that the band had been in existence with this line up for anything other than forever.

Sometimes things happen for a reason and sometimes we just have to trust what is in store for us. Sometimes out of bad things come good things and in this instance I think that is very true  but the performances on CTTE were not of a band struggling to come to terms with a difficult situation but one of a band determined to have fun and present themselves in the best light they could.....They succeeded Everyone was incredibly impressed. The band were magnificent.

So still with a mixture of sadness for Claire but tempered with happiness and positivity for the band I am really looking forward to what this incredible band can now offer. Claire did a wonderful job and her legacy with the band will be the recordings she made with them but the future is now with Linda  and the future for IO Earth must surely be bright.

So in closing Thank You Claire for an amazing job you have done with IO Earth and Welcome Linda. I look forward to working with you as part of IO Earth in the future

For more information on the band please check out their official website Here:

 http://www.ioearth.com/index.htm

and their facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/IOEarth?fref=ts

Friday 26 April 2013

Nektar - Remember The Future (40th Anniversary Edition - Purple Pyramid Records 2013)



Spotlight: Nektar - Remember The Future (40th Anniversary Edition
Purple Pyramid Records 2013)


I was actually excited when I opened a newly delivered padded envelope and found the 40th Anniversary edition to Nektar's 1973 album Remember The Future double disc CD inside. Wow !! If I never mentioned it before, Nektar's Remember The Future album, their forth studio release, is one of my favorite all time prog rock albums. If I could only bring 10 music CDs to a far away place and have only them to listen to while there, Nektar's Remember The Future would go with me. This version. The one Purple Pyramid Records (a division of Cleopatra Records) just released. Might be considered cheating since it comes with a bonus CD. And not one of those you never end up listening to CDs that typically accompany such anniversary editions. So really it's a double disc set, which emphasizes the main record Remember The Future, and then for good measure throws in another totally cool disc that you'll end up playing as much as disc one. We can also refer to that as disc two, as long as one remembers that originally Nektar's Remember The future was just one album with one song broken into two parts; side A & side B, released on 8-Track, cassette, and of course wax. Coolest artwork ever !!

The song Remember the Future is a concept song. Lyrics tell the story of a super intelligent being in the form of a blue bird who finally finds a human being it can pass on important information to. The stories strong enough so that it acts as a strong glue that connects the variety of musical compositions together as one prog rock masterpiece. Was a hit here in the States when first released. A lot of us teenagers and young adults back then were open minded and patient to where we could chill and embrace the album as a whole. The timing was right, as was the product Nektar was putting out. Previously releasing strong albums in terms of musicianship and over all sound, Remember The Future would take the band on it's first journey headlining venues all over the World. A far out light show accompanied the band in performances that would typically last 2 to 3 hours.

Good news for in the year 2013, the super prog group Nektar, is still around. They released a new CD of them doing covers just last year (A Spoonful Of Time), and are expected to hit the market with new music soon. Forty years and counting. Their song Remember The Future, almost forty minutes of superb and rather unique guitar playing, bass playing, drumming, keyboards, and vocals that carry away the listener when listeners minds open and submit to suggestion with lyrics that start of with; Take a trip back in time.....

An Uncle G confession. I can't stop playing the bonus material on here; disc two. Starts off with radio edits from the Remember The Future album. I tend to think of them as attempts made by the record company to make additional money off the product. Rarely works with prog rock. We got three of them. Cool to hear at least once, and have in the collection. What's ever cooler is tracks 4 to and including 11; The Boston Tapes. That's what I keep playing on my home stereo, over and over again. Music believed to have disappeared off the Planet until by luck found and in excellent condition. Again...WOW !! Greatest news ever !! Has that classic 1970's sound. I'll sum up these bonus tracks by describing them as; A road trip as to where a band could go musically when it's first allowed to spread it's wings.

Rating: Using the one to five star rating system, I rate this wonderful 40th Anniversary issue of Nektar's 1973 hit Remember The Future; 5 Stars (to the 10th power). Packaging is well done. Contains a cool booklet, and photos. Also, real quotes from actual band members. I can't be happier adding this to my classic rock CD collection, as should you. Nice job Purple Pyramid Records, and especially to the masterful creativity of Nektar. For without, I could not be typing any of this.

Gary Brown
American Corespondent for Classic Rock Radio Dot EU   

Thursday 25 April 2013

Tangerine Dream Release Starmus – Sonic Universe Featuring Brian May




Tangerine Dream Release Starmus Sonic Universe Featuring Brian May 


One of the most diverse and exciting musical collaborations is finally ready to hit your speakers on double CD: Tangerine Dream announces the eagerly awaited release of STARMUS – SONIC UNIVERSE with guest guitarist Brian May. The result of a very special set at the Starmus Festival in sunny Tenerife, the album immortalizes an unlikely yet heavenly match, as Tangerine Dream join forces on stage with the legendary musician.

May has earned himself a place in rock history with one of the most iconic bands of all times: Queen. Ambient pioneers Tangerine Dream were the first band ever to use Moog sequencer rhythm live on stage and are well known for their highly acclaimed Hollywood film scores. However, the fusion of such different talents is not the only thing making ‘Starmus – Sonic Universe’ unique.



The Starmus Festival was held in June 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Juri Gagarin’s first spaceflight; it was attended by spacemen Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Alexei Leonow and Jim Lovell amongst others. The first track of the album, ‘Supernova’, features the real sound of acoustic pressure waves from stars, captured by astrophysicist Prof. Garik Israelian - also founder of the event. ‘We did send it to Brian some time prior to the concert, so he had the chance to get an overall feel for this very progressive score’ – comments Edgar Froese – ‘He’s not only an exceptional guitarist, but also a very open-minded artist to work with’. The second track on Starmus is May’s solo hit Last Horizon: ‘We knew that one already’– says Edgar – ‘so it was easy for Brian to join on guitar’. Brian May is back again at the end of the set for Sally’s Garden, a traditional Irish air arranged by Tangerine Dream, and a very special version of We Will Rock You with a coda ‘largely improvised by us all on the spot’ –according to May.

Tracklist

CD 1
01. Supernova (Real Star Sounds)
02. Last Horizon
03. Marmontel Riding On A Clef
04. Trauma
05. Nothing And All
06. Nutshell Awakening
07. Shining Ray
08. Beauty Of Magic Antagonism
09. Novice
10. One Night In Space

CD 2

01. Calymba Caly
02. Omniscience
03. Janus Parade
04. Loved By The Sun
05. Fire On The Mountain
06. Darkness Veiling The Night
07. Living In Eternity
08. Bells Of Accra
09. Sally's Garden
10. We Will Rock You (Extended

EXTRA: Tenderness (Russian Song sung by Iris Camaa)

The stars that outshined Tenerife’s summer sky that night are now available for you to listen too and enjoy on this double CD. Pre-order Starmus – Sonic Universenow only through the Tangerine Dream Store at www. tangerinedream-music.com

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Peter Frampton Plays One Off London Concert 5th November



Following his critically acclaimed new album Thank You Mr Churchill, and his successful 35th Anniversary Tour of his multi-platinum selling live album Frampton Comes Alive!, Grammy®-winning guitarist and songwriter Peter Frampton will play a rare UK concert at the London Camden Roundhouse on Tuesday 5th November.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 26th April fromwww.kililive.comor by calling 0844 871 8803 and 0844 482 8008.

This special one-off UK concert will see Frampton performing songs from his extensive catalogue. FCA! 35: AnEvening with Peter Frampton, a live 2DVD, Blu-ray and 3CD set of the 35th Anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive! was released last November by Eagle Rock Entertainment. On the DVD, Peter performed the best selling live album in its entirety along with a second set including songs from his Grammy®-winning career.

Legendary Mott The Hoople Announce UK Tour November 2013!!!!!


Mott The Hoople
Announce
UK Tour Dates – November 2013
The legends reform for historic UK tour

“Now people realise that we were innovators. When you work as hard as we did, you appreciate that” - Ian Hunter

“On tour as support to Mott The Hoople (the only time Queen ever supported anyone), I was always conscious that we were in the presence of something great, something highly evolved, close to the centre of the Spirit of Rock ‘n’ Roll, something to breathe in and learn from.” - Brian May
“I was into Mott The Hoople then The Clash came and I got into them, because one's prepared you for the other” - Bobby Gillespie, Primal Scream

“I followed Mott The Hoople up and down the country. I’d go to Liverpool or Newcastle or somewhere—sleep on the Town Hall steps, and bunk the fares on the trains, hide in the toilet when the ticket inspector came around. I’d jump off just before the train got to the station and climb over the fence. It was great times, and I always knew I wanted to be in a band and play guitar. That was it for me.” - Mick Jones, The Clash

“My favourite ever band, there's not one dud on here, but there are some great tunes with very insightful lyrics and the ultimate pop song in "Honaloochie Boogie". Joe Elliott of Def Leppard on the ‘Mott’ album

Formed in 1969, Mott The Hoople went on to become one of the best loved and most influential rock groups of all time. Their string of hits started with the David Bowie-penned “All The Young Dudes”, after which the band’s legend was written with original classics such as “All the Way From Memphis”, “Roll Away The Stone”, “Saturday Gigs” and “The Golden Age Of Rock N Roll”.

The band, whose fame was established initially by their incandescent live shows, reformed to celebrate their legacy in 2009, which saw them play a series of critically and commercially successful live dates to mark their 40th anniversary. The gigs, including a 5-night, sold-out stint at London’s Hammersmith Apollo, were the first time the original lineup had played together in over 35 years, and brought a tear to many a fan’s eye. The universally lavish praise for them included a 5/5 Daily Telegraph review that declared “Mott The Hoople storm back to London for a dazzling night at the Hammersmith Apollo.”

The band will be returning to the UK in November 2013 for five dates only:

Mon 11th Nov Birmingham Symphony Hall
Wed 13th Nov Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
Sat 16th Nov Newcastle City Hall
Sun 17th Nov Manchester O2 Apollo
Mon 18th Nov London The O2

The shows will feature original members Verden Allen (keyboards/vocals), Ian Hunter (vocals/guitar / piano), Mick Ralphs (guitar/vocals) and Overend Watts (bass/vocals). Due to ill health, original drummer Dale Griffin will be substituted by Martin Chambers (The Pretenders).
All tickets are priced £40, except London, which is £45 – subject to booking fee and available through www.aeglive.co.ukwww.aeglive.co.uk

Tickets go on sale at 9am GMT Friday 26th April 2013.

Black Star Riders Announce UK Tour – November / December 2013 Debut Album: All Hell Breaks Loose Release Date: 27th May 2013



ANNOUNCE UK TOUR – NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2013
Debut Album: All Hell Breaks Loose
Release Date: 27th May 2013
"songs that could slip onto a Thin Lizzy album and stand shoulder to shoulder with almost anything there"
– Classic Rock magazine review of “All Hell Breaks Loose” album

BLACK STAR RIDERS, the new band featuring THIN LIZZY members Ricky Warwick, Damon Johnson, Scott Gorham and Marco Mendoza together with drummer Jimmy DeGrasso (Alice Cooper / Megadeth), have announced their first UK headline tour. The tour will support the release of their debut album All Hell Breaks Loose which will be released in the UK through on Nuclear Blast Entertainment on the 27th May 2013.

The band already released their debut single “Bound For Glory”, which was premiered on BBC Radio 2 and is available to hear here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq6Z6C3ipMk

The band are set to take the UK and Eire by storm on their 2013 tour, playing much of the debut album and some Thin Lizzy classics. 

Confirmed headline and festival appearances for BLACK STAR RIDERS in 2013 include the below (with more dates to be announced):
Friday 22nd Nov O2 Academy, Bournemouth
Saturday 23rd Nov Shepherds Bush Empire, London
Monday 25th Nov O2 Academy, Bristol
Tuesday 26th Nov Junction, Cambridge
Wednesday 27th Nov UEA, Norwich
Friday 29th Nov Hard Rock Hell 6, Wales – FESTIVAL CO-HEADLINE
Saturday 30th Nov Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
Sunday 1st Dec Solus/University, Cardiff
Monday 2nd Dec O2 Academy, Oxford
Thursday 5th Dec Ironworks, Inverness
Friday 6th Dec Picturehouse, Edinburgh
Saturday 7th Dec O2 Academy, Newcastle
Sunday 8th Dec O2 Academy, Leeds
Tuesday 10th Dec The Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa
Thursday 12th Dec Rock City, Nottingham
Friday 13th Dec Ritz, Manchester
Saturday 14th Dec Academy, Dublin, EIRE

Tickets for headline shows are priced 22.50GBP / 25.00 GBP London (subject to booking fees) – Dublin is E25. Tickets are available on general on sale through all normal outlets at 9am GMT Thursday 2nd May 2013.

VIP Packages available for all shows - including meet and greet and special acoustic performance – available from April 29th via the VIP package link at: http://www.blackstarriders.com

Special Guests to be announced…

The album will be released as a standard CD and also as a special edition digi-pak featuring a bonus track “Right To Be Wrong” and a “Making of” DVD.

A 24-minute compilation of behind-the-scenes video reports from the band’s studio time in Los Angeles can be viewed on YouTube: 


Visit BLACK STAR RIDERS online at:



Sunday 21 April 2013

Greg Lake – Songs Of A Lifetime (2013): Review



Classic Rock Radio Dot EU – New Releases from Classic Rock Artists
Spotlight: Greg Lake – Songs Of A Lifetime (2013)

I got to know Greg Lake from his involvement with the prog rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer, which began when I was a young teenager. The first ELP album in my collection was their self-titled debut; Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1971). Was twelve years old at the time when it first hit my record player. This is back in the early to mid 1970's by the way. I absolutely loved the ending of the song "Lucky Man" where Emerson came in on the Moog synthesizer, as well as the song "Tank" and its climatic ending when the music jumps from one speaker to another. Then there is that cool-ass jam at the end. Play it really loud and with the bass turned up and you’ll blow out most ordinary speakers. It's fun to watch. The whole ELP album is absolutely solid (meaning perfect) and of course the song "Lucky Man" would become the band's first, and I would contend, most enduring hit.

Now jump ahead over forty years to Greg Lake's new CD entitled Songs Of A Lifetime. In my opinion, an extraordinary live release. My only complaint is that it isn't a longer show. Could have covered more material and been at least a two-disc set. What is here is absolutely amazing. Held my attention from the coolest (updated) 21st Century Schizoid Man intro to the encore of one of ELP’s greatest hits; Karn Evil 9 First Impression Part Two. Sandwiched between four decades worth of some of the best, well written and performed songs from an outstanding career that is far from over.

For those unaware, Greg Lake is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. If he skipped all that, Mr. Lake would still be known in the music world as a lead singer providing some of the strongest and powerful male vocals in rock n' roll. I remember reading an interview with Keith Emerson and him saying (paraphrasing) that Greg's voice instead of getting weaker as a tour progressed which in normal in that situation, instead got stronger with every show. Now the tone itself, the sound omitting from Greg's mouth, matured over the years. Is somewhat deeper, and in being so, more commanding. Lake hits a note and carries it to the next planet. Fucking amazing...I don't know what else to say, and I'm sure Mr. Emerson would agree.

Reviewers dilemma. I should come clean. I’m an admitted fan of Mr. Lake for pretty much near my entire life. I ask myself...I say Self; Can I write an unbiased review of Greg Lake's new CD, Songs Of A Lifetime? Being a Texan, guess I need to ponder that some. Let me say this. My Mother was a professional musician. I grew up in the 1960’s in a music-friendly environment except for when I was in my single digits and playing Led Zeppelin’s Misty Mountain Hopon the old record box loud enough to wake up my Pop. Can’t say he cared for rock music much. Especially Led Zeppelin at 7AM in the morning. Reason for the story is because I believe after living decades myself where I allowed music to be a cornerstone in my existence, plan and simple; I know good music when I hear it. I was brought up listening to and watching real musicians perform on the television, back in the 1960's. Maybe they were backing up the Andrew Sisters in a Abbott & Costello movie, or it was a cool rock band that was a special guest on the Smothers Brothers Show. Since the mid seventies and going to concerts on a regular basic, witnessing some of the most talented musicians rock n’ roll has even offered, including one Mr. Lake and getting to see and hear in a live environment, the wonderful music he participated in over the decades. As a fan of progressive rock / jazz fusion my ears were filled with some of the most talented musicians to come down the pike. Out of the pack, Greg Lake has always been, and is a standout performer to this day.

Now having all that experience, music is opinion based. One music lover treasures what another one thinks is crap. Regarding myself, most will say that I am opinionated. So who better to review Mr. Lake’s new must-have CD in your classic rock / prog collection? So am I biased? Well I do own just about every CD Mr. Lake has on his discography. Still...I’m not a fanatic, as I am loyal. My homework is done. I know the subject matter. Straight up, Lake mastered the storytelling format like he seems to do with anything else relating to music. Can't be biased, when based in fact. This CD is a more traditional solo artist performance that's really the foundation of live entertainment itself. With just a guitar and his voice, Greg Lake shines and in doing so proves that the basics and not so much all the glitter that comes with being a rock star, is all you need to draw attention, and much applause. His band adds layers and helps paint visual pictures that only Mr. Lake could tell. Some of these provided by a gentleman name; Pete Sinfield. Lake's sometimes collaborator, Mr. Sinfield, could write a grocery list and make it worth the time reading. Together Lake / Sinfield have put out some outstanding work including the song; I Believe In Father Christmas (1975). Hopefully included on the future sequel to this storyteller CD.

FOUND INSIDE -- Nice surprises here. Very well done and arranged covers of "Heartbreak Hotel" and "People Get Ready". The Elvis cover motivated me to dig out a couple Elvis CDs and give them a spin driving across Space City. Warning; Greg's story about the King, and then the follow up song he does, if an Elvis fan already, will motivate you to start digging in your Elvis collection, as did I. Said in my best Elvis vocal impersonation; Mr. Lake...thank you very much.


Uncle G’s Rating: Using the one to five star rating system, Uncle G gives Greg Lake's Song Of A Lifetime: 5 stars (to the tenth power). I consider Lake's Songs Of A Lifetime a must have CD in any classic rockers collection.

Confession: As much as a rocker as I think I am, I so dig ELP / Lake's C'est La Vie.
Gary Brown
American Correspondent for Classic Rock Radio Dot EU

Thursday 18 April 2013

Joe Bonamassa and Beth Hart Release Second Album "Seesaw" on 20th may!



LA-based singer-songwriter Beth Hart, known for her raw and powerful blues-rock sound, wraps her expressive vocals around classic soul covers on “Seesaw”,the second album that grew out of her musical ties with the acclaimed blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa. The album is released on Deluxe CD+DVD and Double Vinyl in the UK/Europe on Monday 20th May by Provogue Records (followed by US release on Tuesday 21st May).

After their first successful collaboration on Don’t Explain this highly talented duo is back with Seesaw. As with Don’t Explain, the Seesaw album is tastefully produced by Kevin Shirley(Black Crowes, John Hiatt, Joe Bonamassa). "Beth’s got a pretty heady voice, very reminiscent of Janis Joplin," says Shirley. "She’s also got a lot of Etta James in her. With this material, there’s gentleness to the way she delivers the most heartfelt tunes. She’s done a fantastic job."


Bonamassa and Hart crossed paths numerous times whilst playing the same festivals in Europe. In early 2010, Bonamassa attended one of her concerts in London. "It was killer," says Bonamassa. He suggested they do a project together sometime. Don’t Explain took shape that summer. Now, two years later, the follow-up album, Seesaw, captures 11 new blistering tracks, including covers from Billie Holiday (ThemThere Eyes), Melody Gardot (If I Tell You I Love You), Etta James (A Sunday Kind Of Love) and the title track Seesaw, made popular by Aretha Franklin.

Hart and Bonamassa will perform a special UK concert at the Hampton Court Festival on Monday 24th June

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to Release Long-Awaited 1974 Live Album in August




After years of work, Crosby Stills Nash and Young are finally gearing up to release a live album from their 1974 reunion tour. "It's going to come out August 27th," Graham Nash tells Rolling Stone. "It's going to fuckin' stun people. We only multi-tracked eight or nine shows from the tour, and we've chosen the best from those gigs. We've had to do a little tuning, but not that much . . . But the spirit of the band! If I take myself out the band and look at it, it was a fuckin' great band."

David Crosby shares his bandmate's excitement. "I am one of the most egotistical people on this planet," he says with a laugh. "But the legend looms larger! You have to remember that in 1974, the Beatles were over and the Stones were playing a completely different kind of music. When I hear this shit, I think, for a moment we were probably the best band. It's startlingly good."

They have yet to settle on a title. "I want to call it What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" says Crosby. "I'm going to dig my heels and seriously fight for that. You can't hear that without laughing your head off. It's important to look at yourselves with a sense of humor in retrospect and realize what gigantic egos we had and what idiots we were. But I think it's a great title. If I don't get it, I'll threaten to quit the band – at which point I'll be reminded that there's no band to quit!"

Crosby's proposed title refers to the precarious state the band was in when it reunited for a highly lucrative stadium tour in the summer of 1974. The group split up in 1970 and relations between members were, at best, precarious. Many of them were also dealing with serious drug problems. It's since been labelled "The Doom Tour." "We did one for the art and the music," Stills Told Journalist Cameron Crowe  at the time. "One for the chicks. This one's for the cash."

"The tour was disappointing to me," Neil Young told writer Jimmy McDonough in his book Shakey. "I think CSNY really blew it. Last time I played with 'em had been two or three years before that. They hadn't made an album, and they didn't have any new songs. What were they doing? How could they just stop? They wanted to put out a live album, and I wouldn't put it out – because it had all my songs on it."

Listening back to the actual tapes has given everyone a different perspective on the tour. "Reports we weren't singing well aren't true," says Nash. "I mean, occasionally, but not in the songs that I chose. This stuff is fuckin' magic, though it is true there were so many drugs and it was chaotic . . . I've got a version of a song that I wrote for Barbra Streisand that Joni Mitchell came and sang with me at Wembley Stadium in front of 100,000 people. It one one acoustic piano and me and Joni. Just magic."


Young has insisted the album be released with the best sound physically possible. "He's got it at two million bits," says Crosby with a laugh. "He's a fanatic. You can get him mad by just saying 'MP3.' This is getting mastered at the highest quality available in the world."

The 1974 tour wrapped at London's Wembley Stadium on September 14th. They filmed that night and at least one other, but don't expect to see any video footage in this package. "I don't think Neil's gonna go for that," says Crosby. "He doesn't like the way he looked. He doesn't like his haircut on that tour."

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young haven't toured in seven years. "What do we do after this live album comes out?" asks Nash. "Do we just let it lie there and fucking die, or do we do limited promotion? That's not cowardly, but that's not the way to do it. In my perfect world – and I'm only talking about what I would do – I would delay the release of this until the spring of 2014. I would ask David and Stephen and Neil to take three months off their busy lives and go out on tour to promote this record."

As of now, such a tour is theoretically possible. Crosby, Stills and Nash wrap a world tour in England on October 15th, and Young has no dates on the books after mid-August. "I have a feeling Neil is gonna want to take some time off after that," says Nash. "But how much fucking time do we have? I'm 71 years old. I just want to let people know what great music we could make because drugs are out of the way now. Stephen and David are totally straight now, and so alive! It would be fantastic. That's what would happen in my perfect world."

Nash realizes another CSNY tour remains a longshot. "I dream and I pull myself towards the dream," he says. "Every moment I was ever onstage with Neil Young I gave him my entire being. We still have the ability to be a great fucking band. We have all been writing so much music lately. We don't have to do 'Our House' until the cows come home. We don't have to do 'Long Time Gone' or 'Southern Man' unless we really feel like it. That's one thing about the 1974 tour. I did a version of a brand new song and I'm shouting out the chords to the guys live on stage before we do the fucking song! It was insane. Very thrilling."

Another factor limiting the odds of another CSNY tour is the simple fact they haven't spent much time together in recent years. "I'd love to be Neil's friend," says Nash. "We're great friends on some level and great acquaintances and musical partners on some level, but I can't call Neil my friend. I have never had his cell phone number. That's a small detail, but very deep."

From an Article in Rolling Stone April 2013



HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS SPORTS 30TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION


HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS
SPORTS
30TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION

Huey Lewis and The News' 1983 Sports album spawned four Top 10 hit singles (and another that cracked the Top 20), iconic music videos, and sold almost 10 million copies. To celebrate the blockbuster album's 30th anniversary, Lewis has personally overseen an expanded commemorative edition.

Digitally remastered for CD, and standard and high definition digital audio, Sports (30th Anniversary Edition) pairs each of the original album's nine songs, with choice live versions on a second disc, many of which have never before been released.
The special edition includes an expanded booklet with photos and memorabilia from the band's archive and new liner notes by music journalist and author Gary Graff.
Says Huey, “We’ve always been very proud of the record and it’s going to be a blast to play it all live!” (In May, the band will launch the "Sports 30th Anniversary Tour” across North America, performing the album in its entirety. 

The band will be in the UK later this year to play The Sage, Gateshead on Monday 30th September and London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Tuesday 1st October.


Self-produced by the band, Sports reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and ranked No. 2 on Billboard's year-end sales chart for 1984, second only to Michael Jackson's Thriller. It was also an international success, with Top 40 chart peaks in several countries, including the UK, Canada, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand, and Norway.   

UK TOUR DATES CONFIRMED FOR AWARD-WINNING CANADIAN SONGSMITH ANDREW JAMES O’BRIEN



UK TOUR DATES CONFIRMED FOR AWARD-WINNING CANADIAN SONGSMITH ANDREW JAMES O’BRIEN

Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Andrew James O’Brien has confirmed he will return to the UK to support his hero, Irish star Paul Brady, on tour from April 24th 2013.
O’Brien’s latest run of UK dates - his first since opening for Sharon Shannon at the end of 2012 – coincide 

with the release of new single ‘House on Fire’, which will be released on the Western Songs label on 5th May.

‘House on Fire’ is the second single to be released from ‘Songs For Searchers’, which has won a number of awards in O’Brien’s native Canada, and received widespread critical acclaim since being released in the UK in November 2012.

On the subject of opening for Paul Brady, Andrew said, “I remember being told about the tour and there was a sense of dumbfoundedness that came over me. I have been a massive Paul Brady fan for many years; from his brilliant self-titled album with Andy Irvine, through to ‘Hard Station’ and his most recent recordings, and couldn't believe that this opportunity was going to be a reality.

“Where I come from, in Newfoundland, Paul Brady is quite literally a revered living legend, and I have many envious friends as a result of this upcoming tour. I met Paul a couple summers ago at Fred's Records in St. John's, Newfoundland and he signed one of my Guild guitars. It was a surreal moment to meet my hero. He was very kind and gracious. I feel very fortunate to be opening for him in such beautiful venues.”

A year since O’Brien played his first live dates, the singer-songwriter explains why he likes tour the UK so much, “Unlike Canada, I can travel throughout the UK in a relatively short time. On a typical Canadian tour, it takes roughly two to three months to tour from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean and back. So, needless to say, the M1 is a dream! “


Andrew James O'Brien UK tour dates are as follows (* indicates opening for Paul Brady)

24th April - Salford, Quays Theatre *
25th April - Leeds, City Varieties Music Hall *
26th April - Stirling, Tolbooth *
27th April - York, The Duchess *
28th April - Durham, The Gala *
30th April - East Ilsley, The Swan
1st May - Exeter, Corn Exchange *
2nd May - The Roundhouse Theatre, Dover
3rd May - Pangbourne, Hall of Sound
4th May - London, Cadogan Hall *
6th May - Milton Keynes, The Stables *

UK press quotes:
“It’s difficult call to pick a standout track, such is the high standard here. A great album.” - R2 Magazine.

“A compelling collection of self-penned songs” - Maverick magazine

“Songs For Searchers gets under your skin and makes itself very welcome indeed” - Fatea 

Monday 15 April 2013

Announce April 2013 UK & Eire Tour Dates London date moved – June 2nd 2013


Announce April 2013 UK & Eire Tour Dates
London date moved – June 2nd 2013

Due to unforeseen circumstances and scheduling issues, Big Country will now play The Forum, London on June 2nd 2013. All tickets are still valid to the re scheduled date.


Big Country, one of Britain’s most successful and best-loved rock bands, are touring the UK and Eire in April 2013 with a new line-up – and will release a brand new album later in the year.
After a 10 year break, the band returned to touring in late 2010. “After 30 years I would never thought I would be playing in Big Country again,” says guitarist Bruce Watson, “A band Stuart and I started last millenium in the hope of carrying on his dreams from his days in the Skids. We hope to do him proud.” Drummer Mark Brzezicki adds, “As Big Country continue to evolve, the journey continues. I am looking forward to expanding the journey into new territories and continuing our unfinished business across the world.”

Following the departure of Tony Butler in 2012, Big Country now features former Simple Minds bassist Derek Forbes alongside founder members Bruce Watson (guitar) and Mark Brzezicki (drums), singer Mike Peters (The Alarm) and guitarist Jamie Watson.

Formed in Dunfermline in 1981, Big Country went on to become one of the most celebrated British rock bands. Selling more than 10 million albums worldwide the band toured with such luminaries as The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Queen. The band stopped touring in 2000 and then came the death of Stuart Adamson in 2001. Apart from a 25th anniversary celebration in 2007 the band remained dormant until the end of 2010 when they toured again with Mike Peters of The Alarm. In 2013, 30 years after the release of Big Country’s debut album The Crossing – an album described as a “classic” by MOJO – the band’s new tour will feature their greatest hits and tracks from their forthcoming new album.

Mike Peters also inspired the story behind the forthcoming film “Vinyl”. Release on the 15th March 2013 the film stars Phil Daniels and Keith Allen. http://www.vinyl-themovie.com/

Big Country tour the UK & Eire in April 2013. Dates are as follows
Friday 12th April – O2 ABC, Glasgow
Saturday 13th – Lemon tree, Aberdeen
Sunday 14th – O2 Academy2, Newcastle
Tuesday 16th – O2 Academy, Liverpool
Thursday 18th – Corporation, Sheffield
Friday 19th – The Ritz, Manchester
Saturday 20th – University of Southampton
Tuesday 23rd – Great Hall, Cardiff
Wednesday 24th – Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
Thursday 25th – Waterfront, Norwich
Friday 26th – SUB 89, Reading
Saturday 27th – The Academy, Dublin
Sunday 28th – Limelight 1, Belfast
Sunday 2nd June - The Forum, London

Tickets are priced £22.50 (£23.50 London) and are available through local box offices, 24hrr cc hotline 0844 844 0444 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk. Support tbc.