Rock out with The Morander Brothers, a Finnish accordion duo, as they perform the classic Metallica song “Master of Puppets.”
Boy George And Culture Club Announce ‘The Letting It Go Show’ 2023 Tour With Howard Jones And Berlin
Today, music icons Boy George and Culture Club announced their 2023 tour, The Letting It Go Show, featuring very special guests Howard Jones and BERLIN across all dates. The prolific band will be performing all the hits, including “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me,” ‘Karma Chameleon,’ and ‘Church of the Poisoned Mind,’ right up to their current releases.
Produced by Live Nation, the 25-city run comes fresh on the heels of Boy George and Culture Club wrapping up their sold-out Vegas shows. The Letting It Go Show kicks off on Thursday, July 13 in West Palm Beach, FL at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, with stops across North America in Atlanta, GA, Nashville, TN, Toronto, ON, Chicago, IL, Austin, TX and more before wrapping up on Saturday, August 20 in Concord, CA at Concord Pavilion.
Few new wave groups were as popular as Culture Club. During the early ’80s, the group racked up seven straight Top Ten hits in the U.K. and six Top Ten singles in the U.S. with their light, infectious pop-soul. Though their music was radio-ready, what brought the band stardom was Boy George, the group’s charismatic, cross-dressing lead singer. George dressed in flamboyant dresses and wore heavy makeup, creating a disarmingly androgynous appearance that created a sensation on early MTV. George also had a biting wit and frequently came up with cutting quips that won Culture Club heavy media exposure in both America and Britain.
By the time Culture Club’s second album Colour by Numbers was released in the fall of 1983, the band was the most popular pop/rock group in America and England. “Karma Chameleon” became a number one hit on both sides of the Atlantic, while the album reached number one in the U.K. and number two in the U.S. Throughout 1984, the group racked up hits, with “It’s a Miracle” and “Miss Me Blind” reaching the Top Ten. In the fall, the group returned with its third album, Waking Up with the House on Fire. While “The War Song” reached number two in the U.K., the album was a disappointment in America, stalling at platinum; its predecessor went quadruple platinum.
Following a brief tour in February, Culture Club went on hiatus for 1985, with Craig, Moss, and Hay pursuing extracurricular musical projects in the interim. Though their comeback single, “Move Away,” became a hit in April, its accompanying album From Luxury to Heartache stayed on the charts for only a few months.
George confirmed the group’s disbandment in the spring of 1987, and he began a solo career later that year. While his solo career produced several dance hits in Europe, he didn’t land an American hit until 1992, when his cover of Dave Berry’s “The Crying Game” was featured in the Academy Award-nominated film of the same name. In 1995, George published his autobiography, Take It Like a Man. Culture Club reunited in 1998, issuing the two-disc set VH1 Storytellers/Greatest Hits.
A new album, Don’t Mind If I Do, appeared in 1999, reaching 64 on the U.K. charts; it did not receive an American release. Culture Club next celebrated their 20th Anniversary with a 2002 concert at Royal Albert Hall.
2023 marks the 40-year anniversary of the release of Howard Jones’ “New Song,” the ebullient hit that kicked off his career. Howard Jones’ most recent album is DIALOGUE, which was released in September of last year. DIALOGUE is the third album in a trilogy of electronic releases from Jones with multi-media project ENGAGE coming out in 2015 and studio album TRANSFORM out in 2019. DIALOGUE garnered serious coverage in outlets such as Spin, Stereogum and more. Last summer’s headlining tour with his full band/electronic set-up, featuring special guest alternative music legend Midge received rave reviews. LA Weekly declared Jones, “…poignant and perfect” and “absolutely superb”.
Electronic music pioneer Howard Jones has been a constant presence on the international touring scene for the past four decades, playing live in a number of different configurations including intimate solo shows and dates with his full high-tech band set-up. He first burst upon the contemporary music scene in 1983, with his very English songwriting and pioneering synthesizers with “New Song”. His first two albums HUMAN’S LIB and DREAM INTO ACTION were worldwide hits. HUMAN’S LIB reached #1 in 1984 in the UK and featured the hits “New Song,” and “What Is Love?” In 1985, Jones released the follow-up, DREAM INTO ACTION, which quickly became a Top Ten Platinum album in the United States and featured the smashes: “Things Can Only Get Better,” “Life In One Day,” “No One Is To Blame,” and “Like To Get To Know You Well.”
Howard Jones has sold nearly 10 million albums worldwide and continues to make new music and tour the world. Jones has performed on NBC’s top-rated morning and nighttime shows respectively, Today and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. His ubiquitous hits can be heard in such high-profile television series and films such as “Stranger Things,” “Breaking Bad,” “Watchmen,” “The Carrie Diaries”, “Superstore” and “Bumblebee”.
BERLIN will forever be recognized as the American progenitor of electro-pop artistry with sensually appealing lyrics. Few bands emerging from the era of BERLIN have achieved as far-reaching and long-lasting an impact and, rarely, such a timeless array of musical grooves. The Los Angeles-based band made its first national impression with the provocative single “Sex (I’m A…)” from the platinum-selling debut EP Pleasure Victim in 1982. “The Metro” and “No More Words” were also chart toppers, but it was the unforgettable, intimate, and strikingly beautiful love song, “Take My Breath Away” that took the band to another level. The ballad’s defining role in the Tom Cruise film, Top Gun, helped solidify BERLIN’s everlasting place in American pop-culture. The song was a #1 international hit and received both the Golden Globe and Academy Award for “Best Original Song” in 1986.
BERLIN’s discography has yielded twelve gold and platinum album awards. The band—founded by Nunn, bassist John Crawford, and keyboard player David Diamond—made its everlasting place in American pop-culture. Nunn’s ongoing influence earned her the #11 spot on VH1.com’s “100 Greatest Women in Rock,” while, as an actress, she played leading roles in films including Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold with Kim Basinger, and Thank God It’s Friday with Jeff Goldblum and Debra Winger. Along with comedienne, Wendy Liebman, Nunn also previously hosted the critically acclaimed radio show Unbound with Terri Nunn on 88.5 FM KCSN Los Angeles.
THE LETTING IT GO SHOW 2023 TOUR DATES:
Thu Jul 13 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Sat Jul 15 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Jul 16 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place Amphitheatre
Tue Jul 18 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Wed Jul 19 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Thu Jul 20 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
Sat Jul 22 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Sun Jul 23 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theatre
Tue Jul 25 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Wed Jul 26 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Fri Jul 28 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Sat Jul 29 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
Sun Jul 30 – Philadelphia, PA – TD Pavilion at the Mann
Tue Aug 01 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Thu Aug 03 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Fri Aug 04 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sat Aug 05 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Tue Aug 08 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
Thu Aug 10 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Fri Aug 11 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sat Aug 12 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Mon Aug 14 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
Fri Aug 18 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 19 – San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sun Aug 20 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
Jimi Hendrix Talks Nervous Breakdowns and Performing At Woodstock On The Dick Cavett Show
Jimi Hendrix discusses the pressures he faced at the time in his career, and also the thrill of performing at Woodstock on The Dick Cavett Show.
My Next Read: “Elvis – The Legend: The Authorized Book from the Official Graceland Archive” By Gillian G. Gaar
lvis passed away in 1977 but his spirit lives on. His records still sell, his movies are still hugely popular and his concerts are still discussed by new generations of fans. The Elvis Presley estate has tens of thousands of photographs and miles of video footage from all eras of Elvis’ career and fans’ hunger for new imagery and information on the King remains unsated. This publication is a beautiful, desirable package, ideal for any Elvis fan.
This book tells the personal story of Elvis and his relationships with those near and dear to him and contains more than 150 colour and black and white photographs from the Graceland archives, accompanied by insightful text from an author with a proven Elvis track record.
To take you closer than ever before to the King, 30 items of rare memorabilia are carefully reproduced on the page, including personal letters, receipts, telegrams, publicity material and other fascinating items which provide new insight into the life of a legend.
There are photographs of Elvis himself, Elvis with friends and family, and all manner of personal artifacts, including guitars, jewelry, clothing, vehicles and more.
The Ramones’ “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” Performed On A Ukulele
If you need a vivid reminder of just how good The Ramones’ “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” is, here’s Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq. performing it on a uke for you.
I Heard You Like The Beatles, So Here’s A 23-Song Medley In 8 Minutes
This is a medley of Freddie Gredde’s 23 favorite Beatles songs, accompanied by an animated story he spent months making.
Indie Rocker Lady Charles Glitters Confidence In “Manic Pixie Dream Boy”
In pop culture, a manic pixie dream girl is usually a dreamy, troubled girl whose sole purpose is to inspire a male character. Lady Charles takes this archetype and makes it a more gender-fluid and empowering one through their new single, “Manic Pixie Dream Boy.”
The song begins with an 80’s inspired guitar groove that brings to mind bands like Blondie in their “Autoamerican” era. Then, Lady Charles’ sonorous vocals kick in as they casually sing about who they are and why other people shouldn’t bring them down.
“To all those sideways glances
Quit harshing me!
’cause I’m a manic pixie dream boy
Trying to live authentically”
In fact, their vocals are strongly reminiscent of David Bowie, especially once the third verse comes in and they showcase their falsetto range. Yet, the second verse is also very Bowie-esque due to their witty wordplay as they jokingly refer to their depression and gender expression.
According to the artist themselves, the song was inspired by not only Bowie, but also the rock and roll ethos itself. “I always felt that rock music lends itself to androgyny because at its core I think rock music is a genre that cuts across identities and unites people. It doesn’t matter one’s sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity, class, or age – if you feel it then you are rock and roll.”
Through the accompanying music video, Lady Charles proudly showcases their gender-fluidity and talent as they appear in various shots. One notable scene involves them performing as an entire rock band, taking on the role of vocalist, guitarist, and drummer all at once. Thus, “Manic Pixie Dream Boy” is about being confident and living for yourself, regardless of what others think.
Lady Charles explains the song further as they state, “When I began working on ‘Manic Pixie Dream Boy’ something clicked. I found myself drawing from Hip Hop punchlines and weirdo indie rock, dropping the hyper-serious statement writing I once felt I had to do to get respect in music. From that point onward, the process of writing lyrics on the record became a joy – I was able to finally translate my sense of humor into the lyrics and I think it’s evident in songs like “Manic Pixie Dream Boy.’”
Lady Charles is a shape-shifting art rock enchanter/ress from Ottawa. They released their self-titled debut EP in 2022, blending elements of folk, indie rock, and electronica with themes of gender, apocalypse, and loss. Their 2022 singles “Godx,” “Noella (Can’t Get Enough Of You),” and “Flower Boy” brought their sound and image to a wider audience, racking up thousands of listens and views.
Bruce Cockburn Is “On A Roll”; Announces 44-Date North American & UK Tour For ‘O Sun O Moon’ Album
“Time takes its toll,” sings the 77-year-old Bruce Cockburn on the opening song, “On A Roll,” his 38th album, O Sun O Moon, out on May 12 via True North Records. “But in my soul / I’m on a roll.”
Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed an illustrious career shaped by politics, spirituality, and musical diversity. His remarkable journey has seen him embrace folk, jazz, rock, and worldbeat styles while earning high praise as a prolific, inspired songwriter and accomplished guitarist. He remains deeply respected for his activism and humanist song lyrics that thread throughout his career. On all his albums Cockburn has deftly captured the joy, pain, fear, and faith of human experience in song.
Bruce Cockburn has won 13 JUNO Awards, an induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, and has been made an Officer of the Order of Canada, among many other accolades. He has 22 gold and platinum records including a six-times platinum record for his Christmas album. Cockburn continues to tour internationally.
He’s on a roll.
BRUCE COCKBURN 2023 NORTH AMERICAN & UK TOUR
JUN 1 PLYMOUTH NH FLYING MONKEY CENTER
JUN 2 BEVERLY MA THE CABOT
JUN 3 HARTFORD CT INFINITY HALL
JUN 4 NEW YORK NY CITY WINERY
JUN 7 BETHLEHEM PA MUSIKFEST CAFÉ
JUN 8 PHOENIXVILLE PA COLONIAL THEATRE
JUN 9 WASHINGTON DC WARNER THEATRE
JUN 10 GREENSBURG PA PALACE THEATRE
JUN 12 BUFFALO NY ASBURY HALL BABEVILLE
JUN 13 KENT OH KENT STAGE
JUN 14 ROYAL OAK MI ROYAL OAK THEATRE
JUN 16 CINCINNATI OH LUDLOW GARAGE
JUN 17 NASHVILLE TN CMA THEATRE
JUN 18 ATLANTA GA VARIETY PLAYHOUSE
JUN 24 KENSINGTON CA COVENTRY GROVE
AUG 10 WHISTLER BC OLYMPIC PLAZA
AUG 24 OXFORD UK ACADEMY 2
AUG 25 LONDON UK SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE
AUG 26 KETTERING UK GREENBELT FESTIVAL
AUG 30 BOULDER CO ETOWN HALL RADIO TAPING
SEP 1 PEGOSA SPRINGS CO 4 CORNERS FOLK FESTIVAL
OCT 11 HAMILTON ON FIRST ONTARIO HALL
OCT 12 MONTREAL QB GESU-ELISE
OCT 14 QUEBEC CITY QB IMPERIAL BELL
OCT 16 FREDERICTON NB THE PLAYHOUSE
OCT 17 CHARLOTTETOWN NB CONFEDERATION CENTRE
OCT 19 MONCTON NB CAPITOL THEATRE
OCT 20 NEW GLASGOW NS WELLNESS CENTRE
OCT 21 HALIFAX NS REBECCA COHN
OCT 23 PORTLAND ME STATE THEATRE
OCT 24 OLD SAYBROOK CT KATHARINE HEPBURN ARTS
OCT 25 NORTHAMPTON MA ACADEMY OF MUSIC
OCT 27 RUTLAND VT PARAMOUNT THEATRE
OCT 28 NY HANGAR THEATRE
OCT 30 NELSONVILLE OH STUART’S OPERA HOUSE
NOV 1 CARMEL IN TARKINGTON CENTRE
NOV 2 MILWAUKEE WI SOUTH MILWAUKEE PAC
NOV 3 CHICAGO IL OLD TOWN SCHOOL
NOV 4 CHICAGO IL OLD TOWN SCHOOL
NOV 17 SANTA MONICA CA McCABES
NOV 18 SANTA BARBARA CA LOBERO THEATRE
NOV 30 SACRAMENTO CA CREST THEATRE
DEC 1 BERKELEY CA FREIGHT & SALVAGE
DEC 2 BERKELEY CA FREIGHT & SALVAGE
Poly Voyager Free 60 Series Earbuds Are Astonishingly Great
Styled in carbon black and loaded with features that both business leaders and audiophiles will love, the Voyager Free 60+ UC from Poly are a pair of in-ear earphones with adaptive hybrid ANC technology for stunning sound and three beamforming microphones per earbud with WindSmart technology for crystal-clear, hands-free telecommunication. The centerpiece of these sophisticated earbuds is the Smart Charge Case, which, along with providing up to 24 hours of noise-canceling playback and 16.5 hours of talk time, sports an advanced touchscreen for keeping your settings and vital information at your fingertips. You can get them here.
These earbuds offer multipoint support for connecting up to two devices at once, such as your smartphone and laptop. The supplied USB-A dongle plugs directly into a compatible computer or mobile device to ensure wireless connectivity for older devices. The wireless Qi charge-compatible Smart Charge Case features a common USB-C connection for 3 hours of charging, or a 15-minute fast charge for 1.2 hours of talk, and also includes a 3.5mm audio input, so you can enjoy content, like inflight entertainment, with wireless convenience. The Voyager Free 60+ UC includes three pairs of silicone eartips (small, medium, large), a USB charging cable, a BT700 Bluetooth adapter, and a USB to 3.5mm audio cable.
Lift Your Voice, Lose the Noise
With a three-mic array in each earbud triangulating on your voice and minimizing the surrounding noise, you’re loud and clear wherever you take your calls. And with WindSmart technology, you can breeze through conversations as you move through your day without interruption.
Tune In, Tune Out
Whether it’s a crowded cafe or bustling commute, forget the commotion around you. The adaptive hybrid ANC automatically adjusts to your wearing style and cancels out just the right amount of noise for a quiet and comfortable experience. And with two-setting transparency mode, you can tune back into your natural surroundings without taking out your buds.
Status and Audio Controls at Your Fingertips
With the Voyager Free 60+ UC you can mute calls, adjust volume, connect to external sources, and switch devices without dropping a call or what you’re doing. The touchscreen case puts the information you need, and the ability to quickly do something about it in your hands, thanks to its color touch display and intuitive icons. The fast charging gives you an extra hour of talk time for every 15 minutes and will fully recharge your buds two times for up to 16.5 hours of active call use.
Hits All the Right Notes
Go from work to playlists without missing a beat. The hi-fi sound and 10mm speaker drivers transform your buds into a portable stereo; so, you can stream your music, shows, podcasts, and games when you need a break.
Won’t Wear Out Your Welcome
Discreet and lightweight, these 5.8g wireless earbuds come with three conical-shaped earbud tip sizes engineered to minimize pressure in the ear while also providing ideal audio isolation. The advanced, adjustable sidetone technology (low, medium, or high) keeps you aware of how loud you are speaking, so you aren’t straining your voice.
Multipoint Support
The multipoint technology lets you connect to up to two Bluetooth devices at a time without resyncing, wheel spinning, or searching for a signal. Seamlessly manage calls between your mobile phone and PC without missing a beat.
Go Wireless with Wired Sources
The touchscreen charge case includes a 3.5mm audio port, so you can connect an external source, like an inflight entertainment system, and enjoy the movie without wires. The version includes a USB-A dongle that transmits wireless audio from USB devices.
Engineered for Enterprise Use
The Voyager Free 60+ UC comes with Poly Lens desktop, iPhone, and Android apps, so users and IT can customize the experience. And because they were optimized for use with communications platforms and have certifications from the leading virtual meeting providers, they will deliver the highest standard of audio quality on their platforms. Using the Lens Cloud management software, IT can also proactively provision and manage an entire deployment of Poly headsets, and gain insights and analytics on the health of the entire estate.
Rock Duo The Manic Boys And Girls Club’s “We’ll Be Fine” New Single Is Out Now
Canadian rock duo The Manic Boys and Girls Club consists of co-fronts and siblings Bela and Fernando Ferreira, whose haunting music is a mix of her vocals and his harmony blended with synth, guitar, and undertones of rock and pop. Their personal, introspective lyrics are informed by the pair’s upbringing as strict Catholics in rural Portugal. “The Manic Boys and Girls Club is more than a band,” they explain. “It is an escape from the submissive existence that was reality, an escape from the disposable music packaged for the masses, and an escape for any misfit looking to join the club.”
“We’ll Be Fine” the latest single from their acclaimed self-titled EP, the collection of five songs recounts the two loners’ experiences touring in a van, as well as interpersonal relationships. “Every song starts with a lyric and a melody,” they say. “No matter how it is produced, every one of our songs can be a lullaby.”
But they did lose some sleep perfecting “We’ll Be Fine.” There are songs that “come together super-fast and you know exactly what you hear in your head; this was not the case for ‘We’ll Be Fine.’ I think,” offers Fernando, “because it has always been a pretty important song to us, since the first demos or voice memo versions of its existence. So… we explored and spent many hours messing around with guitar tones and ambient soundscapes, we rearranged and made rewrite after rewrite a lot before mixing. Bela wanted to go back into the studio and re-do some vocals. Gavin Brown (who was producing and mixing) was very much against the idea. So, we did the obvious appropriate thing: We waited till he was away for a weekend, booked the studio and engineer, and, on our own, did it anyway!”
Forget about the life we left behind
Forget about the drugs that kept us high
We were born for so much more
Our time is now
Forget about the books we never read
Forget about the words we could have said
We were born for so much more
Our time is now
The inspiration behind the song is just personal experience, says Fernando. “I don’t think either of us is really able to give life advice to anyone… but the idea is to have hope in the future. It’s like, ‘Yeah, we’ve made mistakes,’ but all we can do is live in the present, look forward, and not have our future affected by whatever regret, or past, is weighing us down.”