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The National Announce New Album “First Two Pages of Frankenstein” And North American Tour

Eric Alper
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The National Announce New Album “First Two Pages of Frankenstein” And North American Tour

Today, The National has announced the release of its ninth studio album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, due April 28, 2023 via 4AD. Anchored by evocative melodies and an enthralling lyrical narrative, First Two Pages of Frankenstein signals a new chapter in the band’s beloved discography. The 11-song album was produced by The National at Long Pond Studios in upstate New York and features guest appearances by Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens. Pre-order for the album is available now HERE and at americanmary.com.

After two back-to-back albums and several busy years of touring, First Two Pages of Frankenstein was initially stalled while lead singer Matt Berninger navigated, “a very dark spot where I couldn’t come up with lyrics or melodies at all. Even though we’d always been anxious whenever we were working on a record, this was the first time it ever felt like maybe things really had come to an end.” Instead, The National “managed to come back together and approach everything from a different angle, and because of that we arrived at what feels like a new era for the band,” according to guitarist/pianist Bryce Dessner, whose bandmates also include his brother Aaron (guitar/piano/bass) as well as brothers Scott Devendorf (bass, guitar) and Bryan Devendorf (drums).

The band has also shared the first single off the album, the deceptively upbeat “Tropic Morning News.” Partly recorded live in Hamburg, the song merges its mercurial textures and kinetic rhythms with a lush yet subtle grandeur achieved through Bryce Dessner’s work with the London Contemporary Orchestra. “When Matt came in with that song in the depths of his depression, it felt like a turning point for us,” says Aaron Dessner. “It’s almost Dylan-esque in its lyrics and it’s so much fun to play; everything suddenly felt like it was coming alive again.”

Co-written with Berninger’s wife Carin Besser, “Tropic Morning News” takes its title from a phrase Besser invented to describe the regrettably routine practice of doomscrolling. “The idea of referring to the darkness of the news in such a light way unlocked something in me,” says Berninger. “It became a song about having a hard time expressing yourself, and trying to connect with someone when the noise of the world is drowning out any potential for conversation.”

First Two Pages of Frankenstein channels the group’s revitalized chemistry into a body of work that beautifully balances elegant musicality with The National’s more idiosyncratic impulses. Tracks such as “Grease in Your Hair” and “Ice Machines” were road-tested in 2022 before they were recorded, allowing the band to hone the material in real time (another song, “Weird Goodbyes” featuring Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, was released as a standalone track last August). “To me the power of this record has to do with the intentionality and structure of the music meeting with a lot of accidental magic,” says Aaron Dessner.

The band has also today announced 2023 tour dates including a show at NYC’s Madison Square Garden with very special guest Patti Smith and her band. Other shows feature opening sets from Soccer Mommy, The Beths and Bartees Strange. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 27th at 10:00AM local time. Ticket info can be found at AmericanMary.com.

Formed in New York in 1999, The National has scored five top 10 albums on The Billboard 200, with 2017’s Sleep Well Beast earning the Grammy for Best Alternative Album.

First Two Pages of Frankenstein track list:

1. Once Upon A Poolside (feat. Sufjan Stevens)
2. Eucalyptus
3. New Order T-Shirt
4. This Isn’t Helping (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
5. Tropic Morning News
6. Alien
7. The Alcott (feat. Taylor Swift)
8. Grease In Your Hair
9. Ice Machines
10. Your Mind Is Not Your Friend (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
11. Send For Me

The National on tour:

US
May 20 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre *
May 21 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre *
May 24 – Washington, DC – The Anthem *
May 26 – Boston, MA – Boston Calling Festival
May 28 – Napa, CA – Bottlerock Festival
May 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre *
June 2 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield *
June 3 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield *
June 4 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park *
June 5 – Burnaby, BC, Canada – Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park *
August 1 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia ~
August 3 – New Haven, CT – Westville Music Bowl ~
August 7 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit ~
August 8 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee ~
August 9 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory ~
August 11 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom ~
August 15 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater ~
August 16 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park ~
August 18 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden with very special guest Patti Smith and her band

UK/EU
September 21 – Dublin, IRE – 3 Arena *
September 23 – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena *
September 24 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro Arena *
September 26 – London, UK – Alexandra Palace *
September 29 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome ^
September 30 – Berlin, DE – Max-Schmeling-Halle ^
October 1 – Munich, DE – Zenith ^
October 4 – Madrid, ES – WiZink Center ^
October 5 – Porto, PT – Super Bock Arena ^
October 6 – Lisbon, PT – Campo Pequeno ^

Support:
*Soccer Mommy
~The Beths
^ Bartees Strange

Burt Bacharach And Elvis Costello Celebrate 3 Decades With Lavish New Box Set

Eric Alper
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Burt Bacharach And Elvis Costello Celebrate 3 Decades With Lavish New Box Set

The Songs of Bacharach & Costello, personally compiled by Elvis Costello, brings together all of the published songs that Costello has written with the legendary Burt Bacharach, one of the great composers of popular music in the 20th and now 21st Century.

Releasing March 3 via UMe, The Songs of Bacharach & Costello, celebrates a collaboration which began in 1995 and which continues to this day.

Those who were surprised by the writers of “I’m Not Angry” and “What’s New Pussycat?” working together perhaps overlooked that Bacharach was engaging in musical collaboration for only the second time in his storied career – the first resulting in just a handful of songs musically written with Neil Diamond.

It was Costello who wrote the first musical draft of “God Give Me Strength,” communicating from Dublin to Los Angeles by fax – back in the 20th Century – and far from being offended by this presumption, Bacharach sent back an amended copy, laying out the signature intro motif for flugelhorn, adding the expansive bridge section and making all sorts of subtle but crucial amendments to the melodic and rhythmic phrasing of Costello’s first draft.

This song was a commission for the Allison Anders’ motion picture, “Grace Of My Heart,” and though both song and movie were overlooked by the Academy Awards, the song did place in the GRAMMY nominations of the following year, as Costello remarked in his book “Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink”: “To have written a song like “God Give Me Strength” and simply stopped would have been ridiculous.”

So began a series of face-to-face songwriting sessions in both California and New York City.

Their working methods ranged from one writer responding to the other’s opening musical statement to Costello trying to put lyrical substance and definition to a complete Bacharach composition that did not need any such musical reply. By the end of their initial sessions, there were occasions when they were seated across the room at two pianos, writing successive bars of the new tune.

Recorded in Hollywood in 1998, the album, Painted From Memory – orchestrated by Bacharach with the exception of the title track which was arranged by the great Johnny Mandel – has gone on to capture an appreciative worldwide audience far beyond its initial release. The song “I Still Have That Other Girl” even managed to wrestle a GRAMMY away from both Celine Dion and Van Morrison – no easy task in the crowded field of the “Best Collaboration With Vocals” category of the 41st Awards.

The idea that the songs and lovelorn themes of Painted From Memory might be realized on the Broadway stage were perhaps an unlikely prospect, given that, as Costello puts it in his essay, such a show might feel, “Like Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” only with less tap-dancing.”

Nevertheless, this was the belief of dedicated Painted From Memoryaficionado and television comedy mogul, Chuck Lorre, who together with Tony Award-winning writer, Steven Sater, set about threading a story through the original folio of songs, creating a tale and set of characters who demanded that Bacharach and Costello write more than a dozen additional songs.

Writing the lyrics of these new songs, Costello told us, “These reflect the stories and impulses of a group of people who are, obsessive and vain, who are betrayed and become disappointed in life but long tenderly for a happier time, who are unfaithful, dishonest, destructive and turn out to be the inventors of a dangerous past, who are guilty, haunted and romantically deluded, desperate, vengeful and even cruel.”

“In their musical form they are different kinds of dark love songs that anyone might sing if they happened to be an artist, his model, a wife, a fantasist, a lover, a philanderer or disillusioned daughter. You know, fun for all the family.”

These songs are all found on Taken From Life, opening and closing with “You Can Have Her” and “Look Up Again,” arranged by Vince Mendoza and recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood in September 2021 under the direction of Bacharach.

The Taken From Life collection also brings together performances on which Bacharach led The Imposters for the GRAMMY winning album, Look Now, and songs from the proposed score from the E.P. Purse and the Decca Records release, The Sweetest Punch, on which guitarist Bill Frisell arranged the then brand new Bacharach/Costello songs for the voice of Cassandra Wilson and the clarinetist, Don Byron.

The Taken From Life title track is a 2022 recording with The Imposters produced by Sebastian Keys and the collection is completed by startling and beautiful vocal performances of other songs from the “Painted From Memory” musical score by Audra Mae and Jenni Muldaur with the piano accompaniment of Jim Cox and Thomas Bartlett, including the tragic, “I Looked Away” and the deranged catalogue song, “Shameless,” just two of the 19 previously unreleased tracks included in the set.

Along with multiple lyrical drafts of “This House Is Empty Now” which reveal the harrowing disillusionment beneath the more measured tone of the finished lyric, pages from the draft script are also reproduced with pencil annotations proposing lyrical changes and even other unwritten songs.

Opportunities to see Bacharach and Costello perform on stage were rare. Their 1998 tour opened at Radio City Musical Hall, NYC and closed five shows later at the Royal Festival Hall, London, after just a handful of television and radio appearances.

However, Costello and Steve Nieve began the “Lonely World Tour” – taking its title from a line in the Painted From Memory song, “What’s Her Name Today?” – opening with an appearance with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra at Berwaldhallen in Stockholm on the Feast Of The Epiphany, 1999 and proceeded to place the Bacharach/Costello songs central to their concert repertoire from Toronto to Tokyo, and closing in Osaka on December 18th, in a concert in which forty songs were performed.

A selection of these performances can be heard on the third disc of the box set: “Because It’s A Lonely World – Live.”

Bacharach’s songs written with his greatest lyricist, Hal David (as well as those written with Bob Hilliard and Mack David) were heard on English radio and television from his latter collaborator’s earliest memories.

Costello’s 10,000 word essay is illustrated by a number of photographs including detail from a shot of the entire company of the Royal Variety Performance of 1963, in which The Beatles – who had recently recorded Bacharach’s “Baby It’s You” – are seen flirting with Marlene Dietrich, whose accompanist, Bacharach can be found in the third row back, just four places along from Costello’s father, Ross MacManus, who was also heard at the famous “rattle yer jewelry” show, singing with The Joe Loss Orchestra.

Aside from this strange coincidence that his father appeared on the bill with two songwriters with whom “Elvis Costello” would write more than thirty songs, Declan MacManus’ upbringing was like anyone else who grew up in England during the early 1960s in that he lived in the shadow and under the spell of BBC Light Entertainment on which Bacharach/David songs were first heard sung by Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield or Zoot Money and The Big Roll Band before these renditions were chased up the hit parade by the “original” recordings by Dionne Warwick and many other great American vocal artists.

From his first concert hall dates with the Attractions as part of the “Live Stiffs” package tour in 1977, Costello turned to the Bacharach/David songbook for “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself,” the first performance of a tune other than his own to make it on to vinyl.

The fourth disc of the box set, “Costello Sings Bacharach/David,” traces the singer’s relationship from that date through a duet with Nick Lowe on “Baby It’s You,” a version of “Please Stay” recorded in Barbados, all the way to a trio of Bacharach/David classics performed at the Royal Festival Hall in 1999, including “Make It Easy On Yourself,” “My Little Red Book,” and “Anyone Who Had A Heart.”

Another studio collaboration yielded a rendition of “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” recorded for the Austin Powers – The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack, in which both artists made a cameo appearance.

Indeed this in turn led to exploratory workshops with Mike Myers for a possible stage adaptation of “Austin Powers” and further songwriting sessions with the Bacharach/Costello team completing or sketching up to fifteen more songs, one of which would have been a “secret track” back in this collection in the carefree days before algorithms ruled the waves but which is tucked on the end of the Taken From Life album, in the form of Bacharach’s tender and intimate vocal and piano performance of one of the more unexpected drafted subplots – the song of a disillusioned spy entitled: “Lie Back And Think Of England.”

Painted From Memory has been newly remastered for its 25th anniversary from the original tapes by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios. The new remaster is presented on CD as well as 140-gram 2LP black vinyl. Side D of the double vinyl showcases six songs from Taken From Life, including the three newly recorded compositions.

The comprehensive 45-song set also includes live performances of Bacharach and Costello performing several of the songs from Painted From Memory, as well as other beloved Bacharach numbers, with orchestras in New York and London; Costello performing stripped down versions of the songs on his “Lonely World Tour” with Nieve (the classically trained pianist and keyboard player in both The Attractions and The Imposters); and a selection of Bacharach and Hal David songs Costello has performed and recorded over the years, including “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again,” which Bacharach and Costello famously performed together on screen in “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.” Housed in a lavish 12.75” x 12.5” box, the expansive set features a 20-page booklet with photography from William Claxton and Rankin, in and out of the studio, early drafts of lyrics, studio notes, pages from the “Painted From Memory” musical script, and a newly written 10,000-word essay by Costello that beautifully details his nearly three-decade long friendship and prolific musical partnership with Bacharach, and how influential the legendary songwriter has been throughout his life.

The Songs of Bacharach & Costello is being previewed today with the release of three rare and unreleased live performances from 1998 and 1999, including a stark and gripping “In The Darkest Place,” recorded as a duo with Nieve at the piano in Australia on the Lonely World tour, and an arresting performance of “Painted From Memory,” recorded in Stockholm, Sweden with Nieve and The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Finally, we hear Costello and Bacharach live with an orchestra at London’s Royal Festival Hall, performing a sensational version of the latter’s 1963 Dionne Warwick (and Cilla Black’s) 1963 smash, “Anyone Who Had A Heart.“ Listen to the live tracks here: https://elviscostello.lnk.to/TSOBACPR

In addition to the Super Deluxe Edition box set, which will also be available digitally for streaming and download, The Songs of Bacharach & Costello will also be available in a variety of abbreviated formats, including on 2CD, which features both the newly remastered Painted From Memory and the entirety of Taken From Life; and on 2LP, with Painted From Memory and selections from Taken From Life, available with an exclusive lithograph or without. Additionally, Painted From Memory has been mixed in immersive Dolby Atmos. For more information about the formats and to pre-order visit: https://elviscostello.lnk.to/TSOBACPR

Of Painted From Memory, Pitchfork raved, “The album’s second and most lasting surprise is the quality of the teamwork. This project is obviously not hurried studio time aimed at selling scads of records, but rather the very precise, determined work of two gifted artists,” adding, “As a result, trying to decipher and describe where one’s contribution begins and the other’s influence ends is a nearly impossible task– Painted from Memory’s most outstanding tales of loss and bitterness, ‘I Still Have That Other Girl,’ ‘Toledo, ‘The Sweetest Punch,’ and the album’s title track are reminiscent of Costello’s most clever and haunting work, and Bacharach’s memorable piano melodies stretch the old punk’s voice to new limits.”

Entertainment Weekly exclaimed, “neither their checkered histories nor that initial duet are preparation for the sublime and subtle beauty of much of Painted From Memory,” while the New York Times hailed it as “a finely crafted collection of lovelorn ballads in which Mr. Costello flaunts his gift for quirky imagery,” and “finds Mr. Bacharach returning enthusiastically to the hyper-romantic signature style of the 1960’s hits he wrote, arranged and produced with the lyricist Hal David for Dionne Warwick.”

The Los Angeles Times enthused that the “Costello-Bacharach synergy sparkles, and demands a sequel.” Bacharach and Costello capped off a thrilling year with the GRAMMY Award for “Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals” for “I Still Have That Other Girl.”

Meticulously compiled and thoughtfully sequenced with the invaluable help of compilation producer, Steve Berkowitz, The Songs of Bacharach & Costello is the complete picture of the two songwriters enduring partnership and friendship.

THE SONGS OF BACHARACH & COSTELLO – SUPER DELUXE EDITION TRACKLISTING
CD1 – Painted From Memory
1. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – In The Darkest Place (2023 Remaster)
2. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Toledo (2023 Remaster)
3. Elvis Costello & But Bacharach – I Still Have That Other Girl (2023 Remaster)
4. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – This House Is Empty Now (2023 Remaster)
5. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Tears At The Birthday Party (2023 Remaster)
6. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Such Unlikely Lovers (2023 Remaster)
7. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – My Thief (2023 Remaster)
8. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – The Long Division (2023 Remaster)
9. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Painted From Memory (2023 Remaster)
10. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – The Sweetest Punch (2023 Remaster)
11. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – What’s Her Name Today? (2023 Remaster)
12. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – God Give Me Strength (2023 Remaster)

CD2 – Taken From Life
1. Elvis Costello – You Can Have Her *
2. Cassandra Wilson & Bill Frisell – Painted From Memory
3. Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Don’t Look Now
4. Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Everyone’s Playing House
5. Audra Mae – I Looked Away *
6. Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Taken From Life *
7. Don Byron & Bill Frisell – My Thief
8. Jenni Muldaur – Shameless *
9. Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Photographs Can Lie
10. Audra Mae – In The Darkest Place *
11. Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Why Won’t Heaven Help Me?
12. Jenni Muldaur – Stripping Paper *
13. Elvis Costello & The Imposters – He’s Given Me Things
14. Audra Mae – What’s Her Name Today? *
15. Elvis Costello – Look Up Again *
16. Burt Bacharach – Lie Back & Think Of England *

CD3 – Because It’s A Lonely World – Live
1. Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve – Toledo (Live In Tokyo, Japan, Nakano Sunplaza Hall – February 8, 1999) *
2. Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve – In The Darkest Place (Live In Melbourne, Australia, Athenaeum Theatre – February 16, 1999)
3. Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve – My Thief (Live In Tokyo, Japan, Shibuya Hall – February 10, 1999) *
4. Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve – I Still Have The Other Girl (Live In Tokyo, Japan, Shibuya Hall – February 10, 1999)
5. Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve – I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (Live In Toronto, Ontario, Massey Hall – June 16, 1999) *
6. Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve – God Give Me Strength (Live In Toronto, Ontario, Massey Hall – June 16, 1999) *
7. Elvis Costello, Stee Nieve & The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra – Painted From Memory (Live In Stockholm, Sweden, Berwaldhallen – January 5, 1999) *
8. Elvis Costello, Stee Nieve & The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra – What’s Her Name Today? (Live In Stockholm, Sweden, Berwaldhallen – January 5, 1999) *
9. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – This House Is Empty Now (Live In New York City, Late Night with Conan O’Brien – Nov. 27, 1998) *

CD4 – Costello Sings Bacharach & David
1. Elvis Costello & Th Attractions – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself (Live in Norwich, UK, University of East Anglia – October 17, 1977)
2. Elvis Costello & Nick Lowe – Baby It’s You
3. Elvis Costello – Please Stay
4. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – I’ll Never Fall In Love Again
5. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Make It Easy On Yourself (Live in London, UK, Royal Festival Hall – October 29, 1998) *
6. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – My Little Red Book (Live in London, UK, Royal Festival Hall – October 29, 1998) *
7. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Anyone Who Had A Heart (Live in London, UK, Royal Festival Hall – October 29, 1998) *
8. Elvis Costello & But Bacharach – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself (Live In New York City, Sessions at West 54th – October 18, 1998) *

2LP – Painted From Memory

Side A
1. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – In The Darkest Place (2023 Remaster)
2. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Toledo (2023 Remaster)
3. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – I Still Have That Other Girl (2023 Remaster)
4. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – This House Is Empty Now (2023 Remaster)

Side B
1. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Tears At The Birthday Party (2023 Remaster)
2. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Such Unlikely Lovers (2023 Remaster)
3. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – My Thief (2023 Remaster)
4. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – The Long Division (2023 Remaster)

Side C
1. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – Painted From Memory (2023 Remaster)
2. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – The Sweetest Punch (2023 Remaster)
3. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – What’s Her Name Today? (2023 Remaster)
4. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach – God Give Me Strength (2023 Remaster)

Side D – Selections From Taken From Life
1. Elvis Costello – You Can Have Her *
2. Audra Mae – Don’t Look Now *
3. Audra Mae – I Looked Away *
4. Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Taken From Life *
5. Audra Mae – What’s Her Name Today? *
6. Elvis Costello – Look Up Again *
* Previously unreleased

The Chicks Announce Exclusive Las Vegas Engagement May 3-13, 2023

Eric Alper
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The Chicks Announce Exclusive Las Vegas Engagement May 3-13, 2023

13-time GRAMMY Award-winning, multi-platinum selling global superstars, The Chicks, announce their first ever Las Vegas engagement at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The shows will be held May 3, 5, 6, 10, 12 and 13, 2023, with all performances scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

The Chicks said, “Finally getting to play live in 2022 left us hungry to continue our tour. After so many years without new music, last year felt like a long time coming. We hope our fans are ready for more in 2023 because we are not done! There is a lot more to come this year and we are excited to get it all started in Las Vegas at the Zappos Theater this Spring.”

NHL and SiriusXM Reach Multiyear Extension of Broadcasting Agreement

Eric Alper
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NHL and SiriusXM Reach Multiyear Extension of Broadcasting Agreement

SiriusXM, SiriusXM Canada and the National Hockey League today announced an extension of their broadcasting agreement through the 2028-29 NHL season. SiriusXM will continue to deliver fans across North America access to every NHL game throughout the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, as well as daily, in-depth coverage of the sport on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, the only 24/7 audio channel dedicated to the NHL.

SiriusXM subscribers can tune in to NHL game broadcasts in their cars and at home or on the go with the SXM App. The SXM App offers 32 NHL team channels, each dedicated to carrying the official radio broadcast for each NHL team, making it easy for fans to find and listen to their favorite team’s announcers for every game. All 32 team channels are also available in vehicles equipped with SiriusXM’s latest-generation 360L radios.

For a schedule of NHL games on SiriusXM go to SiriusXM.com/Sports.

SiriusXM NHL Network Radio will continue to cover NHL news and events from around the league, delivering game analysis from experts and insiders and interviews with coaches, players and executives.

SiriusXM NHL Network Radio will be offering listeners comprehensive coverage of the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend live from Sunrise, Florida, Feb. 2 – 4. For the first time, SiriusXM will produce and air the exclusive national audio broadcast of the Honda NHL All-Star Game on Saturday, Feb. 4 (coverage begins at 2 pm ET). Steve Kouleas will be the play-by-play voice, Gord Stellick will be the color analyst and Scott Laughlin will be conducting interviews with both teams from the bench. SiriusXM’s NHL All-Star Weekend coverage will also include interviews with players and coaches from Media Day on Thursday, Feb 2 (coverage beginning at 3 pm ET), as well as a live broadcast of the NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook on Friday, February 3 (coverage starting at 6 pm ET), with Kouleas, Stellick and Laughlin on the call.

More details of NHL programming on SiriusXM and the 2022-23 broadcast schedule is available at SiriusXM.com and SiriusXM.ca.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Announce New Album ‘Council Skies’ Out June 2

Eric Alper
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Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Announce New Album ‘Council Skies’ Out June 2

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds today reveal details of forthcoming album ‘Council Skies’, released on 2nd June via Sour Mash Records. Available on CD, LP, HD Digital, 3LP and 2CD Deluxe limited-edition formats featuring remixes by The Cure’s Robert Smith, and Pet Shop Boys.

From the evocative album title to the cover art, to the lyrics themselves, ‘Council Skies’ sees Noel Gallagher reclaiming his past and paying homage to his Mancunian roots. His most varied and accomplished solo record to date, Noel’s fourth solo studio album is a record framed by confidence, risk-taking, surefooted creative freedom, and great emotional depth.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds today also release a brand new single and music video ‘Easy Now’, taken from the forthcoming album. Infused with psychedelia, the track gently swells and is beautifully framed by backing vocals and waves of organ chords.

Featuring one of the world’s breakthrough new talents and Critics Choice Award nominated Milly Alcock, who recently starred as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the HBO smash hit series and Golden Globe winning House of the Dragon plus a cameo from Noel himself, the new music video sees the protagonist bursting with emotion as ‘Easy Now’s transcendent power takes over. ‘Easy Now’ was directed by multiple UK Music Video Awards winner, Colin Solal Cardo.

‘Council Skies’ was recorded at Noel’s own Lone Star Sound Recording Studios in London, with the album’s lusciously orchestrated strings recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Produced by Noel with long-time collaborator Paul ‘Strangeboy’ Stacey, the album also features performances from Johnny Marr on three tracks, including recent single ‘Pretty Boy’.

‘Council Skies’ takes its title from a book by revered northern illustrator and friend of Noel, artist Pete McKee. It covers themes of youthful yearning, and unbridled ambition.

Speaking of the album, Noel says: “It’s going back to the beginning. Daydreaming, looking up at the sky and wondering about what life could be … that’s as true to me now as it was in the early ’90s. When I was growing up in poverty and unemployment, music took me out of that,” he says. “Top of the Pops on TV transformed your Thursday night into this fantasy world, and that’s what I think music should be. I want my music to be elevating and transforming in some way.”

The artwork, shot by renowned Manchester photographer Kevin Cummins, sees Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ live equipment setup placed on the original centre spot of what was Maine Road Football Stadium, with this year marking 100 years since the ground was opened as the former home of Noel’s beloved Manchester City FC.

Throughout the accompanying album artwork, Cummins captures locations poignant to Noel’s formative years – culminating with a striking image of Manchester’s Piccadilly train station, marking the moment Noel left his home city for London. This visual representation perfectly encapsulates the themes, journey and emotional heart of ‘Council Skies’.

New single ‘Easy Now’ follows the recent release of ‘Pretty Boy’ – the first track to be taken from the new album which was acclaimed by fans and critics alike and received widespread national radio support, added to the A list across all key networks.

June 2021 saw the release of ‘Back The Way We Came: Vol 1 (2011-2021)’ – a diverse Best Of album marking a decade of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. This Gold certified album was the bands’ 4th consecutive UK Number 1 and the 12th UK Number 1 album across Noel’s career. 2021 also saw Noel named as Record Store Day’s official ambassador.

Last summer Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds headlined a host of outdoor live shows culminating in a career-spanning performance at Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage to one of the weekend’s biggest crowds. UK live dates for this summer have recently been announced – details below – with more headline shows to follow before the end of the year.

‘Council Skies’ is available to pre-order now on CD, heavyweight vinyl with bonus 7″ featuring an exclusive acoustic version of ‘Pretty Boy’, LP picture disc plus various HD digital formats including a Dolby Atmos spatial audio version.

Deluxe limited-edition formats will also be released including a 3LP and 2CD featuring remixes by The Cure’s Robert Smith, Pet Shop Boys and a stunning Radio 2 session version of ‘Live Forever’.

Jane Bunnett & Maqueque Announce March 10, 2023 Release Of New Album ‘Playing With Fire’

Eric Alper
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Jane Bunnett & Maqueque Announce March 10, 2023 Release Of New Album ‘Playing With Fire’

Playing With Fire could refer to the feeling emanating from any member of Maqueque, the all-women band formed by veteran Toronto jazz musician Jane Bunnett with young female grads of the Cuban conservatory.

A decade ago, Bunnett met the core of the band at a jam session with her band Spirits of Havana, at the Cohiba Hotel in that city. Ten years later, Maqueque has created opportunities for composing and performing extraordinary jazz that has taken the pioneering ensemble around the world. It has expanded to include not only women players from Cuba, but also the brilliant vocalist Joanna Majoko (from Zimbabwe) and musicians from the Dominican Republic, Latin America, Spain and Lebanon.

On Playing With Fire, much of the heat comes from new guitarist Donna Grantis. Donna, who also hails from Bunnett’s home of Toronto, performed for many years with Prince as a member of 3RDEYEGIRL in the 2010s. Three pieces in particular feature Donna’s contribution to the recording process: “A God Unknown,” “A Human Race” and “Sierra.”

Maqueque has won a Juno Award, was nominated for a Grammy and annually tours Europe, Latin America, the U.S. and Canada. Downbeat magazine picked them as one of the Top Ten Touring Groups of 2019. NPR has featured the band on Tiny Desk Concert. Maqueque has been wildly successful in its mission, which is to elevate the profile of women musicians in Cuba. “There was so much creative energy there,” says Bunnett, “but not many outlets. We also realized that many of the girls at the conservatories were not really encouraged to ‘take the stage’ in a male-dominated scene. We witnessed this first-hand while taking technicians, jazz materials and instruments to Cuban conservatories — that the best way to solve this issue was to create a performance opportunity, which became an all-female ensemble.”

Maqueque continues to evolve and welcome new generations. Playing With Fire marks the debut of 19-year-old violinist Daniela Olano, sister of the band’s co-founder and pianist, Danae Olano. Her composition “Daniela’s Theme” is a highlight on the new recording. In addition to new compositions, the collective also reimagines two jazz classics: “Tempus Fugit” by pianist Bud Powell and “Jump Monk” by Charles Mingus.

Playing With Fire is the first Maqueque album to feature vocalist Joanna Majoko. The Zimbabwean took the music to new heights, improvising with a creative power in the studio that inspired everyone. The electrifying rhythm section — including the two founding members, pianist Danae Olano and drummer Yissy Garcia, along with bassist Tailin Marrero (who wrote the track “Bolero”) and percussionist Mary Paz — is the foundation that the music is built upon.

Tracklisting
1. Human Race 6:30
2. Tempus Fugit 3:23
3. Sierra 7:29
4. Daniela’s Theme 3:20
5. A God Unknown 6:42
6. Turquoise/Turquesa 2:57
7. Bolero a un Sueño 5:24
8. Jump Monk 2:51
9. Tomorrow 4:11
10. Playing With Fire 3:25

Wintersong Music Festival Announces 2023 Performers: Stars, Dan Mangan & Men Without Hats + 100 More

Eric Alper
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Wintersong Music Festival Announces 2023 Performers: Stars, Dan Mangan & Men Without Hats + 100 More

Wintersong Music Festival has officially announced the headliners for their 4th edition, taking place January 20th – 21st, 2023 in Stouffville, ON. The annual festival draws thousands to the local area in the shoulder-season of Winter, giving a much-needed boost to the local economy.

Wintersong will be headlined by Montreal indie-pop band Stars; two-time JUNO award winning musician Dan Mangan; and 80’s new wave/synth-pop band Men Without Hats.

They will be joined by 2022 Polaris shortlisted OMBIIGIZI – a collaboration between Zoon’s Daniel Monkman and Status/Non Status’ Adam Sturgeon; and local indie-folk band Man Made Forest.

The final artist lineup include Stars, Dan Mangan, Men Without Hats, Ombiigizi Kiwi Jr., Mrs Torrance, Man Made Forest,  Jj And The Pillars, Hollowsage, Junestone, Evan Farrell, His His, The Way Out, Jerome Tucker Band, 50 Foot Jesus, Alannah Kemp, Band Name, Band Of Weeds, Bernadette Connors, Billy And The Devil, Black Creek Reign, Black Suit Devil, Blackstock, Caardia, Camden, Casey Baker Neon Cowboy, Cassie Noble, Chalk Lake, Chief And Chieftess, Chris Birkett, Chris Cadaret, Christine Jackson, Dave And Sarah, Deanna Drudge, Derek Durand, Dinah Thorpe, Emerald B, Erin Blackstock, Evan Farrell, Evelynne Ross (Full Band), Francesca Panetta, Garth Dynes, Glass Cactus, Glenn Marais And The Mojo Train, Grant Boyer, Honey Jack, Hungry Lake, I, The Mountain, Ian Marc, Jonny Starkes, Julia Middleton, Julia Rose, Julie Moffatt, Julien Kelland, Junestone, Kathryn Merriam, Laurelle Augustyn, Linzz B, Locust Hill, Lst In Hlywd, M.t. Walker, Mark Thackway & Band, Marshall Veroni, Matt Gunn, Meep Moop, Mike Burns, Mike Weidman, Mrs. Torrance, Nick Karkar, Nicole Haber, Old Friends Duo, Ragin Dave, Reid Zoé, Revcall, Rikashay, Rise Carmine, Rob Almeida, Rose Jones, School Of Rock Markham House Band, Seu, Silver Penny, Slime Dogs, Sonic, Steph, Sydney Riley, Tania Joy, The Beresfords, The Django Djunkies, The Everflowing, The Muffin Men, The Myohmys, The Rockin Krolik, The Twangsters, The Way Out, Wax Mannequin, Wayne Madder, and Zac Honey

“Wintersong was the last festival to occur in Stouffville in 2020 and the first to return in 2022 and we’re proud to be back in 2023,” Kevin Ker, from Epidemic Music Group said. “We are incredibly excited to be expanding even more this year. The enthusiasm and excitement from the local and musical communities is encouraging and we’re looking forward to the long-overdue opportunity to gather in celebration of live music and support local businesses after a long, quiet two years.”

Madonna Announces Highly Anticipated Global Tour

Eric Alper
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Madonna Announces Highly Anticipated Global Tour

Today, Madonna announced Madonna: The Celebration Tour, in an iconic viral video with a wink to her groundbreaking film Truth or Dare. The video features notable names such as Diplo, Judd Apatow, Jack Black, Lil Wayne, Bob The Drag Queen, Kate Berlant, Larry Owens, Meg Stalter, Eric Andre and culminates with Amy Schumer daring the global superstar to go on tour and perform her four decades of mega hits. Madonna, the best-selling female solo touring artist of all time, rises to the challenge announcing The Celebration Tour which will be highlighting her unmatched catalog of music from the past 40 plus years.

Produced by Live Nation, the 35-city global tour will kick off in North America on Saturday, July 15th at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC with stops in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and more before making its way to Europe where she will hit 11 cities throughout the fall, including London, Barcelona, Paris, and Stockholm, among others. The Celebration Tour will wrap in Amsterdam, NL on Friday, December 1st at Ziggo Dome.

The Celebration Tour will take us on Madonna’s artistic journey through four decades and pays respect to the city of New York where her career in music began. “I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for,” states Madonna.

The Celebration Tour will offer a one-of-a-kind experience with special guest Bob the Drag Queen a.k.a. Caldwell Tidicue across all dates on the global tour.

TICKETS: Tickets go on sale starting Friday, January 20th at 10am local time at madonna.com/tour.

American Express® Cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal beginning Wednesday January 18 at 10am local time through Thursday, January 19 at 6pm local time. Visit ticketmaster.ca/americanexpress to purchase tickets. Ticket limits & terms apply.

FAN CLUB PRESALE: Legacy members of Madonna’s Official Fan Club will have a pre-sale opportunity beginning on Tuesday, January 17th at 12pm ET through Wednesday, January 18th at 5pm ET for all North America based shows and from 9am GMT/10am CET to 5pm GMT/6pm CET on Wednesday, January 18 for UK and European shows.

VIP: Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, exclusive access to a behind the scenes tour, group photo on-stage, pre-show reception, limited edition lithograph & more.

THE CELEBRATION TOUR NORTH AMERICAN DATES:
Sat Jul 15 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Tue Jul 18 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
Sat Jul 22 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
Tue Jul 25 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Thu Jul 27 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
Sun Jul 30 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
Wed Aug 02 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Sat Aug 05 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Mon. Aug 07 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
Wed Aug 09 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sun Aug 13 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Sat Aug 19 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
Wed Aug 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Thu Aug 24 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Wed Aug 30 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sat Sep 02 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
Tue Sep 05 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Thu Sep 07 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
Sat Sep 09 – Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Arena
Wed Sep 13 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Mon Sep 18 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Thu Sep 21 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX
Wed Sep 27 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Wed Oct 04 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Sat Oct 07 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena

THE CELEBRATION TOUR EUROPE DATES:
Sat Oct 14 – London, UK – The O2
Sat Oct 21 – Antwerp, BE – Sportpaleis
Wed. Oct. 25 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena
Sat Oct 28 – Stockholm, SE – Tele2
Wed Nov 01 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi
Mon Nov 06 – Lisbon, PT – Altice Arena
Sun Nov 12 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena
Mon Nov 13 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena
Wed Nov 15 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena
Thu Nov 23 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum
Tue Nov 28 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes-Benz Arena
Fri Dec 1 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome

Memphis Is The Most Namechecked City In Music

Eric Alper
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Memphis Is The Most Namechecked City In Music

Include a few new titles by Cory Branan, The Hold Steady, Old Crow Medicine Show and, of course, Sheryl Crow’s “100 Miles to Memphis,” and, before you know it, Memphis has padded its lead as city mentioned in more recorded song lyrics than any other city on the planet! The list of commercially recorded songs which mention the city of Memphis, Tennessee, the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll, has now expanded to 1,074, featuring over 800 unique titles.

The comprehensive song list, compiled by the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum is an updated version of a past brilliant idea. When a more abbreviated list was first published in 2008, the museum expected some flack or competition from other cities, namely New York, Paris and Nashville, each frequently harmonized in karaoke bars everywhere. However, crossing almost every musical genre, the city which has influenced the world’s music more than any other stands supreme.

And, with new titles submitted almost daily, and new songs being recorded as we speak… the list is expected to grow. The museum’s web site solicits new submissions for consideration. However, the song must mention the city… credits and frequent shout-outs by famous New York rapper Memphis Bleek don’t count.

Visitors to the site will see expected names… Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison. However, the epicenter of rock and soul music has also been woven into lyrics by Sammy Hagar, Stray Cats, The Killers, Rod Stewart, Grateful Dead, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Alabama, Tim McGraw, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Elton John, U2, Bob Dylan, Huey Lewis & The News, Joni Mitchell, Allman Brothers, Nirvana, Cher, Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Beastie Boys, Billy Idol, REM, Jan & Dean, Bon Jovi, Phish, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, John Denver, Smashing Pumpkins, even Snoop Dog. The list continues thanks to recordings by Neon Cactus, Elvis Hitler, Kowtow Popof, Spock’s Beard, Peetie Wheatstraw, Xray Men, Star Barefoot Walker, Runaway Planet, The Disco Biscuits, Babe the Blue Ox, Pianosaurus and Enchanted Ape.

The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum is located at 191 Beale and Third St. at FedExForum in downtown Memphis. The museum exhibit was researched and created by the Smithsonian Institution, and tells of the legends who, for the love of music, created the songs that changed the cultural complexion of the world forever. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Additional information is available by calling (901) 205-2533, http://www.memphisrocknsoul.org, or http://www.facebook.com/memphisrocknsoul.

My Next Read: “Living on a Thin Line” by Dave Davies

Eric Alper
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My Next Read: “Living on a Thin Line” by Dave Davies

The all new, must-read memoir by legendary Kinks guitarist Dave Davies.

Dave Davies is the co-founder and lead guitarist of epoch-defining band the Kinks, a group with 50 million record sales to their name. In his autobiography, Davies revisits the glory days of the band that spawned so much extraordinary music, and which had such a profound influence on bands from The Clash and Van Halen to Oasis and Blur.

‘This powerful tell-all from the Kinks guitarist puts the spotlight on his own bad behaviour, dalliances with the occult and his recovery from a stroke.’ – Observer

Full of tales of the tumultuous times and the ups-and-downs of his relationship with his brother Ray, along with encounters with the likes of John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix, this will be a glorious listen for Kinks fans and anyone who wants to hear about the heyday of rock ‘n’ roll.

‘Heartfelt, hilarious, revealing, insightful and astonishingly candid. Boy, you really got me Dave. I can’t wait to read it again.’ – Mark Hamill

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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