Page 1510 – That Eric Alper

Psychedelic Folk Artist THUNDERCLAP! Immortalizes Local Legend Hugh MacDonald with “Be Resurrected Tonight”

Music

Eric Alper

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Aug 28, 2022

Psychedelic Folk Artist THUNDERCLAP! Immortalizes Local Legend Hugh MacDonald with “Be Resurrected Tonight”

The unquestionable strangeness of modern times is brilliantly captured by Niagara Falls-based psychedelic folk artist THUNDERCLAP! with an eclectic new single about one of the region’s most captivating residents, “Be Resurrected Tonight.”

A harmonic delight for audiences, the track tells the tale of an avant-garde individual named Hugh MacDonald from the Niagara region; MacDonald was known by many locals to be a relentless artist of several media with a kind soul and THUNDERCLAP! decided to immortalize him, and all of the mystique around his life and death, with a song that does justice to his legacy.

The legend is brought to life through infectious vocal harmonies and a writing style that acts as a philosophical account of life — while also being a dark comedy. Rhythmically described as The Beatles in 2022 — but with more LSD — THUNDERCLAP! conducts a cacophony of instruments on “Be Resurrected Tonight,” blending cinematic lyricism with a punchy singing cadence to create something profoundly distinguishable from anything you’ve likely heard.

“Two weeks before you left, you closed your bank accounts,
And showed us what came out, you threw it in the air,
Because you didnʼt care. Yea, isn’t life so funny?
Although Chornobyl hurt you, it didn’t kill you first;
We actually suspect it was the tainted liverwurst.”

The psychedelic singalong is set to appear on the highly anticipated new album, Strange Songs For Strange Times, due October 15th, 2022. Like a sonic Rubiks Cube carefully puzzled through over two years, the forthcoming album is a commentary on the state of society and self-actualization. It is no longer taboo to accept people with all their idiosyncrasies, and THUNDERCLAP! Is just taking it all in; society has awakened to its own sense of place in this world.

THUNDERCLAP! made his debut with his 2016 LP, Hell Bent On Success — an expertly crafted record that included producer Spookey Ruben (Feist, Ke$ha) and featured notable guests Bob Wiseman (Blue Rodeo), Mary Margaret O’Hara (Miss America), and Dave Clark (Rheostatics, Gord Downie).

THUNDERCLAP! has since released a number of singles and creative projects that draw on his method acting background and the bottomless well of psychological concepts that propel his art forward. With an unforgettable sound and a penchant for the ethereal, THUNDERCLAP! will continue to hit stages and produce music that engages audiences on a deeper level.

My Next Read: “Party Like a Rockstar: The Crazy, Coincidental, Hard-Luck, and Harmonious Life of a Songwriter” by J.T. Harding

Music

Eric Alper

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Aug 27, 2022

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My Next Read: “Party Like a Rockstar: The Crazy, Coincidental, Hard-Luck, and Harmonious Life of a Songwriter” by J.T. Harding

This fun and fast-paced rock-and-roll memoir from hit singer-songwriter J.T. Harding shows what it takes to go from South Detroit to the top of the Nashville charts.

In PARTY LIKE A ROCKSTAR, J.T. Harding charts his life from a kid growing up in Michigan to a chart-topping songwriter living in Nashville and working with country music stars like Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney. As a kid playing rock n’ roll in his parents’ garage, Harding’s was a world in which every taste of new music—from KISS to Prince and everyone in between—was a revelation. Inspired by his favorite artists, Harding abandons the classic “American Dream” and runs away to Los Angeles, where he forms a band and becomes part of the music scene there, all the while selling records to his favorite artists and producers at Tower Records.

A story of youth, rebellion, and determination, PARTY LIKE A ROCKSTAR is a memoir for music lovers and an invaluable how-to guide for anyone who wants to learn how to write a hit song. Fun and heartfelt, Harding’s memoir is the story of one man’s unshakable love for rock and roll, how it guided him through some of the greatest tragedies—and greatest triumphs—of his wild and unvarnished life.

The Ramones Perform The Theme From ‘Spider-Man’ on A Rooftop In New York City

Music

Eric Alper

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Aug 27, 2022

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The Ramones Perform The Theme From ‘Spider-Man’ on A Rooftop In New York City

The Ramones performed the theme from the classic Spider-Man animated series on top of a New York City roof in 1995.

Here’s Bob Odenkirk Doing Standup In 1997

Music

Eric Alper

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Aug 26, 2022

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Here’s Bob Odenkirk Doing Standup In 1997

Bob Odenkirk’s career is inexplicable. The Ben Stiller Show, Mr. Show with Bob and David, Breaking Bad, Better Sault Saul, the brilliant Nobody movie….But in between all of this, he did standup in 1997.

SiriusXM Bundles Stitcher Premium Into Its Platinum Plan Subscriptions

Music

Eric Alper

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Aug 26, 2022

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SiriusXM Bundles Stitcher Premium Into Its Platinum Plan Subscriptions

SiriusXM announced today that it is adding even more value to its popular SiriusXM Platinum Plan by including access to Stitcher Premium at no additional cost to their subscribers. Stitcher Premium, a $4.99/month value, has been added for both new and existing subscribers of the SiriusXM Platinum Plan (for listening in the car and on the SXM App) and SiriusXM Streaming Platinum Plan (SXM App only). This is the first time SiriusXM is bundling another service with its Platinum and Streaming Platinum Plans.

Home to Stitcher Originals, Black lifestyle and culture network More Sauce, top-ranked comedy podcast network Earwolf, and award-winning documentary network Witness Docs, Stitcher produces some of the most acclaimed and award-winning podcasts around, including Office Ladies, Freakonomics Radio, LeVar Burton Reads, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, and more. Stitcher is the #1 podcast network according to Triton*.

With Stitcher Premium, listeners get exclusive benefits like ad-free listening, early access to podcast episodes and the ability to binge select podcast series without having to wait for new episodes to drop. Stitcher Premium listeners also get access to 60,000+ hours of podcasts in the Premium library, including many archival episodes not available on other platforms.

Platinum subscribers have access to SiriusXM’s full content lineup, which includes more than 425 SiriusXM channels. Listeners get ad-free music from virtually every musical genre, curated mood and activity-based channels, the ability to create personalized Pandora Stations, the most extensive lineup of professional and college sports in audio, plus talk, entertainment, news, comedy, and now access to the #1 podcast network. New subscribers can learn more and sign up for a Platinum Plan at SiriusXM.com.

“Stitcher Premium is a terrific value add for our Platinum and Streaming Platinum subscribers. With one subscription and one set of login credentials, our listeners get our full spectrum of unparalleled SiriusXM content, and now a huge selection of popular podcast content on Stitcher as well,” said Richard Beatty, Chief Subscription Revenue Officer, SiriusXM. “This enhancement to our Platinum Plans delivers more content with no extra cost and no hassle to sign up. It’s another great way for SiriusXM to connect people to the voices, stories and music they love.”

Current SiriusXM Platinum Plan subscribers can download the Stitcher app and log in now using their existing SXM streaming username and password to immediately access the benefits of Stitcher Premium without having to set up a new profile or create a new account. SiriusXM Platinum subscribers who have not yet set up their SXM streaming credentials can do so by going to care.siriusxm.com/onboarding/setup-credentials.

Stitcher Premium is also included in SiriusXM’s Platinum VIP Plan. Platinum VIP is SiriusXM’s comprehensive subscription tier and includes access to SiriusXM in two vehicles, two SXM App logins, and other VIP benefits including access to a selection of more than 5000 official live concert video and audio recordings via nugs.net, exclusive subscriber experiences and priority customer care. To learn more about the Platinum VIP Plan go to SiriusXM.com/VIP.

SiriusXM Music Town announces dates and ticket details for free concerts

Music

Eric Alper

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Aug 26, 2022

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SiriusXM Music Town announces dates and ticket details for free concerts

SiriusXM and Live Nation announced dates, locations, and ticket details for the upcoming SiriusXM Music Town concerts in four lucky communities across Canada. The winning towns of Orangeville, Ontario, Estevan, Saskatchewan, Miramichi, New Brunswick and Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, beat out hundreds of other communities to be named the inaugural SiriusXM Music Towns. Their heartfelt nominations, incredible community spirit and passion for music have secured them a once-in-a-lifetime concert featuring a big-name Canadian act.

“When we set out to find the first SiriusXM Music Towns, we knew Canadians would be excited by the opportunity to bring amazing Canadian artists to their doorstep, but the passion and enthusiasm has exceeded all our expectations,” said Paul Cunningham, SVP, Sales & Marketing, SiriusXM Canada. “As we continue to plan local events, we’re looking forward to celebrating with the winning communities and we have some exciting surprises in the works!”

On Friday, August 19 at 11:00 am ET, a limited amount of free tickets will be available to claim through musictown.siriusxm.ca. The number of tickets available is based on venue capacity.

The dates and locations for each concert are:

Orangeville, ON – Saturday, September 17 – Walk Off The Earth at Alder Recreation Centre
Estevan, SK – Saturday, September 24 – Dallas Smith at Affinity Place
Blanc-Sablon, QC – Saturday, October 1 – 2Frères at Blanc-Sablon Arena
Miramichi, NB – Sunday, October 2 – Arkells at Miramichi Civic Centre

“It is a great honour to host Arkells for an unforgettable concert experience,” said Paddy Quinn, Deputy Mayor of Miramichi and key player in the town’s rallying stage of the competition. “Music and culture have always been important to our community and when we learned of this competition, we rallied to demonstrate why Miramichi would be the perfect place for a SiriusXM Music Town concert. Now, we are fortunate to be one of four towns hosting one of Canada’s biggest bands. We are also excited to offer additional activities and events built around the concert to make this occasion even more memorable for all of us.”

Each SiriusXM Music Town event will engage local vendors, businesses, and community groups, to help support the community even further.

Visit musictown.siriusxm.ca to learn more about the four winning communities and the SiriusXM Music Town Program

Berklee College of Music Presents Honorary Doctorate to Joni Mitchell

Music

Eric Alper

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Aug 25, 2022

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Berklee College of Music Presents Honorary Doctorate to Joni Mitchell

Berklee’s Office of the President and Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice presented an honorary doctorate to the incomparable Joni Mitchell on Tuesday, August 23, at a private residence in Santa Monica, California. Linda Brown and Russell Brown of the MaddocksBrown Foundation hosted the intimate evening gathering.

Described as “the voice of a generation,” Mitchell has been hailed as having a consequential influence on the styles and sounds that shaped 20th century music and culture. Berklee President Erica Muhl remarked in her introduction, “Since her debut in the late 1960s, Joni has been a force for change in the industry, blazing the trail for women in music with an unwavering commitment to achieving the status rightfully due her as one of the world’s great musical artists.”

Terri Lyne Carrington, founder and artistic director of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice said, “I am thrilled that we are finally able to honor Joni Mitchell. Her career and social principles stand for the values our institute pursues—imagination, freedom, equity, and identity. I can think of no one more deserving.”

“Well, luckily I’m too old to get a swelled head,” said Mitchell after the gracious introductions. “It’s a beautiful event. Words can’t describe it. I’ve got my good friends here with me.” Mitchell added, “I wish my parents were alive. My mother in particular would be really proud of this because she wanted me to go to college. I went to art school and I quit after a year. She thinks of me as a quitter. So to see this achievement would be really impressive to her. I wish I could share it with her.”

Over a six-decade-plus career, Mitchell has earned 17 Grammy Award nominations—winning 10, including a Lifetime Achievement Award—as well as three Juno Awards, and was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. She has been honored by Billboard with its highest accolade, the Century Award, for distinguished creative achievement. In 2021, the musical innovator and trailblazer was celebrated for being a master of her craft at the 44th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, where she was feted by Norah Jones, Brandi Carlile, and Brittany Howard, among others. Earlier this year, the songwriting pioneer received a Grammy for Best Historical Album for Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967) at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards and was honored as the 2022 Musicares Person of the Year by the Recording Academy.

The evening’s musical tributes featured performances by Grammy Award–winners Dianne Reeves and Esperanza Spalding B.M. ’05 as well as the Grammy-nominated vocal supergroup säje, and students Devon Gates (bass), Julian Miltenberger (drums), Milena Casado (trumpet), and Nika Ko (piano), all performing Mitchell’s songs, including “A Case of You,” “Love,” “Both Sides Now,” “River,” and more. Guests included musical giants Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter.

Electro-Pop Powerhouse MAUVE Considers “Where It All Began” with New Single & Video

Music

Eric Alper

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Aug 24, 2022

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Electro-Pop Powerhouse MAUVE Considers “Where It All Began” with New Single & Video

Canadian alt-electro-pop darling Mauve considers “Where It All Began” with the release of her electrifying new single and music video.

A reflective think-piece that merges her experiences with her gratitude, all set to an electro-pop beat, the song serves as the lead single from her debut album, Dream State, on which she partnered with #1-charting industry powerhouses; production credits include Kyle Shearer (Carly Rae Jepsen, Melanie Martinez, Becky G), Jason Couse (JUNO & Polaris Prize-nominated musician from The Darcys), LYRE (top Billboard charting female duo), and more.

“I’m much more grateful now that I know,” she coos on the lyrics.

“This song is about those moments where you question yourself and ask if you have what it takes and if you can really change things around for the better,” Mauve reveals. “All of these initial ideas and dreams start somewhere small and then begin to expand out.

“I wanted this song to highlight the journey one takes of trying to accomplish something where it seems like they’re the only ones who believe in it at first. It all begins with one person.”

An artist who finds herself creating at all hours — even waking her during sleep — music is her refuge, she shares. “It’s helped me step out of my shell and see the wonder that life has to offer. And this song is like an origin story of where this love for music and drive to be a singer all began.

“I was just in a room in my basement, playing some notes on a piano and singing along to whatever lyrics popped into my head,” she continues of “Where It All Began.” “I was kind of looking for something to inspire me and take me out of the bleak situation I was feeling.”

“Where It All Began” is track one of six on Mauve’s debut album, Dream State; songs from her album have been added to official Apple Music and YouTube Music playlists, and add to her more than 1.4+ Million streams on Spotify and subsequent 2+ Million views on YouTube.

It’s without question that the young starlet has hit her stride in becoming the forefront pop songstress from Ontario, Canada; her songwriting prowess sees her dance between genres, lacing her electro-pop tracks with EDM and RnB elements, and the combination of these futuristic mashups have pushed Mauve into the front of the line of electronica songwriting without slowing as she continues to write from her soul.

The multi-talented Mississauga-based artist was featured at Canadian Music Week’s 2022 Festival, and has been nominated for both Best New Solo Artist and Fan Choice at the 2021 Mississauga Music Awards in addition to being nominated for Emerging Solo Vocalist at the 2021 MARTY Awards.

Propelled by accolades and legions of fans, Mauve’s next stop is the “Love Local Music” program led by her hometown and alongside Canada’s Music Incubator. She’ll be included in the organizing of a series of concerts at Celebration Square Amphitheatre, including the Y2K Fest and its newly announced headliner, Suzie McNeil, on September 9th.

Alt.Rockers TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING Release “Just For The Night” Single

Music

Eric Alper

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Aug 24, 2022

0

Alt.Rockers TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING Release “Just For The Night” Single

The latest single from Too Much Of Anything is perfect – even “Just For The Night.”

The alternative-rock trio from White Rock, BC deliver an indie rock anthem, chock full of rushing percussion, and lead by an electric hook that resembles a 60s surfer wave, stamped with a modern flare.

Drawing on their inspirations from Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, and Green Day, Too Much Of Anything executes a post-90s punk with rock and roll charm, dynamic energy and captivating lyrics. Built of Keenan Strand (vocals, guitar, writing), Stefan Sattran-McCuaig (bass guitar, writing), and Liam Wilson (drums), the band is set to drop their full-length, “Just For The Night” produced by Eric Mosher (The Warehouse Studio).

Their title track is a fast-paced introduction to the band and their sound. It’s a rollercoaster, packed with energy where emotions run high. According to the group, the track started from a jam session and became the sonically exciting offering you’ll want to stream again and again.

“When everybody wants to have a good time without consequences, the line ‘how are you gonna handle this in the morning when you’re sober?’ is the voice of reason in your head,” says Too Much of Anything. From Wilson’s high-end drum score, to Sattran-McQuaig’s pulsating bass line and Strand’s introspective lyrics, “Just For The Night” is an all-encompassing kaleidoscope of good vibes and great music.

As Too Much Of Anything explains, “When Keenan writes ‘make a mountain of a molehill, so I can hangout with my demons’, he is expressing the overreaction of issues, sometimes on purpose, to feel a specific way. The chorus line: ‘Maybe I’m just, maybe I’m just losing my mind, it’ll be clear, it’ll be clear all in due time’ showcases the problems of falling to the same impulses and not accepting the realities of those actions until later.”

Now returning to the stage post-pandemic, Too Much of Anything is committed to delivering unforgettable shows and concert experiences fans will want to tap into each night. Even “Just For The Night.”