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Primus Pays Tribute To Rush In 46-date extension of its wildly popular ‘A Tribute To Kings’ Tour

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Primus has announced an extensive, 46-date, coast-to-coast extension of its wildly popular ‘A Tribute To Kings’ Tour, paying homage to prog-rock legends, Rush. ‘A Tribute To Kings’ will find the Bay area trio performing Rush’s 1977 album ‘A Farewell To Kings’ in its entirety, following a set of their own music. As bassist Les Claypool told Rolling Stone, the tour is about paying tribute to a band that has given him so much inspiration over the years.

“Hemispheres was my first concert,” Claypool said, referring to Rush’s 1978 album and tour. “Originally we’d always kind of joked around about doing Hemispheres…but we settled on Kings, because A) it was the first Rush record I ever heard and B) it contains ‘Cygnus X-1,’ which has always been my favorite Rush tune. It seems to be a good one for us to tackle; 2112 seemed a little obvious.”

The announcement follows the massive success of the first leg of ‘A Tribute To Kings,’ which was long-delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It’s just the latest in a long series of Rush-related milestones for Primus, who first opened for their musical heroes in 1992.

“Geddy, Alex and Neil had been superheroes to Larry, Herb and I in our teens,” Claypool recalled, “so when we all became pals while touring together in the early ’90s, we were pretty delighted; partially because of the musical geek-out factor but mostly because the three guys whom we had admired so much from afar, turned out to be truly great, down-to-earth humans, and like us, a tad eccentric.”

Kicking off in Oklahoma City before winding its way throughout the US, the second leg of ‘A Tribute To Kings’ will also include the tour’s first stops in Canada, beginning with two dates in Toronto on May 13-14. Rush was formed in Toronto in 1968. The second leg will also feature special guests Battles, Black Mountain, and The Black Angels.


Primus ‘A Tribute To Kings’ Tour Dates

Friday, April 15 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion *
Saturday, April 16 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre *
Tuesday, April 19 – Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre *
Wednesday, April 20 – Kansas City, MO – Grinders KC *^
Friday, April 22 – Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre *^
Saturday, April 23 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee *
Monday, April 25 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theatre*
Wednesday, April 27 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre *^
Saturday, April 30 – Huntsville, AL – Mars Music Hall, Von Braun Center *
Tuesday, May 3 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore *
Wed, May 4 – St. Petersburg, FL – Mahaffey Theater, Duke Energy Center for the Arts *
Friday, May 6 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center *
Saturday, May 7 – Saint Augustine, FL – The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre *
Monday, May 9 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium *
Tuesday, May 10 – Fort Wayne, IN – The Clyde Theatre *
Friday, May 13 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall +
Saturday, May 14 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall +
Monday, May 16 – Montreal, QC – L’Olympia +
Tuesday, May 17 – Quebec, QC – Videotron Centre +
Wednesday, May 18 – Albany, NY – Palace Theatre *
Friday, May 20 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre *
Saturday, May 21 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater *
Sunday, May 22 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount *
Tuesday, May 24 – Washington, D.C. – Warner Theatre *
Wednesday, May 25 – Bethlehem, PA – The Wind Creek Event Center *
Friday, May 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa *
Saturday, May 28 – LaFayette, NY – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards *
Monday, May 30 – Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall *
Tuesday, May 31 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe *
Thursday, June 2 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Harris Pavilion *^
Friday, June 3 – Saint Paul, MN – Palace Theatre *
Saturday, June 4 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts +
Monday, June 6 – Regina, SK – Conexus Arts Centre – Capital Auto Theatre +
Tuesday, June 7 – Saskatoon, SK – TCU Place – Sid Buckwold Theatre +
Thursday, June 9 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Event Centre, Grey Eagle Resort & Casino +
Friday, June 10 – Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Expo Centre +
Sunday, June 12 – Vancouver, BC – The Orpheum +
Tuesday, June 14 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield ~
Wednesday, June 15 – Redding, CA – Redding Civic Auditorium ~
Friday, June 17 – Sacramento, CA – Sacramento Memorial Auditorium ~
Saturday, June 18 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino ~
Sunday, June 19 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic ~
Tuesday, June 21 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre ~
Thursday, June 23 – Riverside, CA – Riverside Municipal Auditorium ~
Fri, June 24 – Long Beach, CA – Terrace Theater, Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center ~
Saturday, June 25 – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas ~^

* with Battles
+ with Black Mountain
~ with The Black Angels
^ Tickets are currently on sale for these performances

Animal, The Swedish Chef and Beaker Star In The Muppets “Ringing of the Bells”

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This threesome of incomprehensible Muppets does their best to share Holiday Cheer. Watch Animal, the Swedish Chef and Beaker sing their hearts out in their rendition of “Ringing of the Bells.”

Tom Waits Narrates Purina Butcher’s Blend

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The first, last and only time Tom Waits would ever be involved in commercial spot.

With the Holidays on the Horizon, Michael Dickson Releases Heartwarming “Dear Santa… that’s enuff”

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When Canadian actor, singer/songwriter, and screenwriter Michael Dickson sat down to pen his first Christmas song, he wasn’t expecting to write a COVID Christmas tune; it just sort of turned out that way. The result? “Dear Santa… that’s enuff,” and it’s available now.

“The song started simply as a child’s letter to Santa,” the Ottawa-based artist shares. “Then, while writing it, the child realizes just how fortunate he really is.

“As the song evolved,” Dickson continues, “the events of the past year kept creeping in. I just couldn’t tell the story without acknowledging the struggles people everywhere are going through; families losing loved ones… Their jobs… Their homes…

“Similar to last year, this is going to be a difficult Christmas for a lot of people.”

Once all of the elements of the song fell into place, Dickson felt he had something many people could relate to. “I wanted to get the song out there, but knew it wouldn’t have the same impact with me singing it.”

And so, the hunt was on to find a vocalist to fill the song’s young letter-writer’s shoes.

Dickson contacted his agent, Rachel Perrault at Mensour Agency, and asked if she had any suggestions. “I told her I was looking for someone ages five, six, or seven, cute as a bug’s ear, and likes to sing,” he recalls. “Her immediate response: ‘Viggo!’”

Viggo Hanvelt is a young actor from Ottawa, and he certainly fit the bill. Dickson contacted Viggo’s mom, and they arranged for him to lay down the vocal track, followed by a COVID-safe taping of Viggo singing the song at his home.

“Viggo’s voice, tone, and quality was exactly what the song needed,” Dickson says.

And that contribution, combined with the simple, but eloquent, piano playing of Dickson’s friend, Prism’s Marc Gladstone, the song was set.

Neither holiday-themed entertainment nor writing are new to Dickson; the film and television actor was most recently a supporting lead in the MarVista TV movie, Rock and Roll Christmas, and he also spent his recent time screenwriting a forthcoming film, Redemption Ridge.

As for now, while it may have been inspired by the onset of a global pandemic, Dickson’s “Dear Santa… that’s enuff” and its core messages of hope and gratitude are certain to resonate year after year.

KELE FLEMING Celebrates the Power of Perseverance with “Sturgeon Love”

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It takes a lot of survival instinct to stay afloat in the music industry… You have to keep believing, creating, and swimming hard to reach success and, on a much wider level, it’s akin to the struggle every living being faces to stay alive. Through her own connection to that survival instinct, Canadian indie folk-pop artist Kele Fleming pays tribute to the universal drive to survive and flourish in her brand new single, “Sturgeon Love”.

A new, one-off release following her fourth album, The Song I’ll Write For My Whole Life, “Sturgeon Love” rides along on a jubilant, up-tempo current like whitewater rushing up and down, over and under to the sea.

“The song is a celebration of life and spirit,” says the Vancouver and Victoria, B.C-based artist. “I wrote the song for the ancient Fraser River sturgeon. They are a symbol of survival and perseverance to me.”

‘All that was frozen is now a river
All my thoughts have come undone
All that was broken is now together
And, all we need is Sturgeon Love.’

“The song is rhythmic and flows like a river and the words evoke the mysteries of life hidden in its murky waters,” describes Fleming. “The lyrics and melody pull you in and hook you with the love that flows through the song.”

Fleming has lived near the Fraser River and its massive ecosystem in the B.C. Lower Mainland for decades, but not nearly as long as the ancient but endangered fish species has inhabited the waterway and lived through human challenges to its survival. The largest freshwater fish in Canada, some sturgeon are known to live more than 100 years, although overfishing and water temperature alterations brought on by climate change are now threatening the population.

“The sturgeon have plied the waters of this river for millennia,” notes the self-described ‘nature champion’. “Like a holdover from the times of the dinosaurs, they have remained mythic and secret in the river for so many years, until white settlers arrived on what is now Canada’s Pacific shores and ‘discovered them.’

“Everything changed.”

As a self-described ‘nature champion’, the beauty, wonder, fragility and resilience of the natural world influences much of Kele (pronounced “Kelly”) Fleming’s songwriting. “Sturgeon Love” was borne out of the very personal connection Fleming feels with this enduring species. So powerful is what the sturgeon symbolizes for her that she chose to make it a visible and permanent part of herself.

“I have a tattoo on the inside forearm of my left arm,” she says. “It’s a sturgeon with a line of red hearts that runs down its spine.” The tattoo was inked into Fleming’s arm by Vancouver/San Francisco tattoo artist Sam McWiliams.

Fleming recorded her fourth album The Song I’ll Write For My Whole Life with JUNO winning recording engineer Sheldon Zaharko at Vancouver’s Warehouse Studio. “Sturgeon Love” is once again a product of Fleming’s burgeoning creative relationship with Zaharko, who was recently named 2021 Recording Engineer of the Year by BreakOut West and the Western Canadian Music Association.

“Sheldon is an absolute dream to work with and guided me every step of the way in realizing my artistic vision on this album,” recalls Fleming. “I can’t wait to start working on the next one with him!”

As on her previous album, Fleming was joined in the studio by bandmates Ron Yamauchi on piano and keyboards, Aaron Trory on bass and electric guitar and Tony Lee on drums to record the new track.

Hip Hop Artist Vivek Mehmi Explores Self Growth & Acceptance With New “Love Myself”

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It’s a strenuous battle when it comes to loving oneself through flaws and strengths, and Mississauga, ON hip hop artist Vivek Mehmi showcases this internal struggle in his newest single, “Love Myself”.

Serving as a self-reminder to accept his position during hard healing moments, Vivek looks to instill a forgiving message into his listeners. Asking listeners to surrender, and to not be overly critical of the challenges people face daily, Vivek hopes to push self-reflection and awareness onto his growing fanbase. “Loving ourselves sounds cliché, or like a catch phrase used in the spiritual community,” he says. “But it’s really important, and not something someone else can do for us.

“Sometimes we have layers of trauma that need to be healed before we can get to this point.”

It’s a journey Vivek knows first-hand; having a long-held fascination with hip-hop culture and all its grace, he found a passion for breakdancing early in life — studying Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo as if preparing for the dance-off of a lifetime. The fuel for this fire was exposure to groups like A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, and LL Cool J, culminating it-self into Vivek’s eventual dive into music.

Finding himself working closely with musicians throughout his adolescence, Vivek eventually made his way to the renowned Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College. Discovering his voice and fine-tuning his personal sound and vision, Vivek began performing in the local music scene of London, Ontario. The underground hip-hop circles adopted this aspiring artist while he developed his craft — all until things took a dramatic turn.

Staring down the double-barrel shotgun of life, Vivek was presented with a huge obstacle as he started to experience severe liver and skin conditions in 2009. Believing he would need a liver transplant during the course of his life, Vivek spiraled into a deep depression. It wasn’t until 2015 that Vivek discovered a competent team of professionals who could help him manage his condition, giving him a renewed sense of self-worth and the confidence to pursue his music career once more.

It was this renewed sense of confidence that led to Vivek’s debut album, Right as Rain in 2019 — a collection of personal and introspective tracks that were inspired by his life and the challenges he faced.

Fast forward three years and Vivek is still working to spread his message of positivity and self-love all while expanding his horizons and pushing himself as a musician. After winning the 2021 People’s Choice Awards at the MAC Music Spotlight for his video, “Rubik’s Cube,” Vivek has been on an upward climb of musical growth.

Reflecting on his development, Vivek says “‘Love Myself’ explores a new genre for me in indie-pop; all my other music is Hip-Hop… This song is the first time I fully sing on a track… I wanted to be vulnerable.”

Vulnerability is the key influence in Vivek’s newest single, “Love Myself.” “Growing as an artist in my craft, as well as a person is very important to me: To learn from lessons — to not replicate but to evolve,” he continues. “Loving myself is a process, and the growth hasn’t always been linear. But I stay persevering and trust I am on the right path, having positive intentions.”

Country Singer Myranda Christi Takes You on Love’s Wild Ride with “When You Come Around”

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Strap yourself in and hold on tight! Rising Bowden, Alberta country singer-songwriter Myranda Christi has saved a seat for you on the emotional rollercoaster of romance with her hot new single, “When You Come Around” — available now via Sony Music/The Orchard.

When romantic chemistry goes into overdrive, falling in love can definitely feel like a thrill ride; in “When You Come Around”, the Alberta-based artist and former Canadian Idol competitor sings about discovering the one who creates that love rush and reaction every time they come near.

As fast-paced and exhilarating as any five-ticket fairground attraction, “When You Come Around” showcases Christi’s expressive, joy-filled vocal in a rockin’ country track punctuated by classic pedal steel riffs.

Hands in the air
World disappears
Losing control while I’m letting off steam
And there’s no chance of ever touching the ground
When you come around

Co-written with seasoned songwriters J.C. Veaudry, Jacqueline Burke and Corey Lee Barker, “When You Come Around” lands just after Christi’s sweetly romantic debut single “Pure” introduced Canada to a bright new voice on the horizon.

Christi has been honing that impressive vocal prowess she possesses since she began her musical journey in 2005, participating in many provincial performing arts competitions including Kiwanis Music Festivals and the Red Deer Festival of the Performing Arts. She’s been heard in radio musicals and sang her way to the TV judges round on the 2007 edition of Canadian Idol. In 2017, Christi recorded a three-song cover album that ended up becoming key to landing her current distribution deal with MC1 Nashville.

However, Christi’s most recent studio singing experience recording her own songs as a solo artist is what has left the most indelible impression on her.

“It was amazing, and I never wanted to leave,” recalls Christi. “The recording experience was one that I will never be able to replicate again and one I will always look back on in the most amazing way possible.”

That transformative artistic experience in the studio can be heard in the self-assuredness and personal style of Christi’s vocal delivery in “When You Come Around” and in her debut, “Pure”. This is a young artist who knows who she is, as well as what – and, in this case, who – she wants.

Myranda Christi’s second single has left the station and this very talented Canadian country songbird is beginning an impressive climb toward building a bright musical future.

“When You Come Around” is available now.

The Reklaws Announce “The Winter’s A Beach Tour” For 2022

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The weather might be cooling off but The Reklaws are bringing the heat with the return of their Winter’s A Beach Tour, kicking off in the New Year. Continuing the celebration from their recent wins at the 2021 CCMA Awards for Group or Duo of the Year and Top Selling Canadian Single (“Can’t Help Myself” with Dean Brody), the pair announced today they’ll be making 14 stops across Canada including a show at Toronto’s brand new hotspot History, making them the first country act to take the stage at the venue. Joining the multi-award-winning duo will be label-mate and modern-day honkytonk pioneer Jade Eagleson, on the heels of dropping his sophomore album last month, as well as new country music hit maker Nate Haller.

Kicking off on the West Coast on February 11 (Victoria, BC), the Winter’s A Beach Tour will make its way across the country finishing off with a hometown show for The Reklaws in Kitchener on March 11. Bringing the party to every stage they stand on, the pair look forward to taking the road and catching up with fans across Canada.

“It’s been a crazy two years – as everyone knows – and we couldn’t be more excited to get back out and do what we love the most – throw big parties with our fans,” said Jenna Walker about heading back on the road in the New Year for the Winter’s A Beach tour. “We know country music fans – including ourselves – are hungry for live music and a good time and we can’t wait to have one of those time-of-your-life moments with everyone this winter! We’re also so blessed to be able to do it with two of our very talented friends – Jade Eagleson and Nate Haller.”

“We’re so excited to bring the party that is Winter’s A Beach to our fans across the country – it’s a dream come true,” echoed Stuart Walker. “We’ve grown as humans and as artists since the first Winter’s A Beach tour three years ago, so I promise you, this will be bigger and better than ever! Can’t wait to see everyone in 2022 – let’s goooo!”

2021 has been a record-setting year for The Reklaws, kicking off with a JUNO nomination for Group of The Year — the only country act nominated in the category — and a career record of six 2021 CCMA Award nominations, the most of any artist, across categories including Entertainer of the Year, Fans’ Choice, Group or Duo of the Year, Single of the Year (x2) and Interactive Artist(s) of the Year. This year also saw their viral hit “What the Truck,” feat Sacha become the most-streamed Canadian Country song ever released during a one-week period and the fastest-ever Canadian country song to go GOLD in the streaming era.

Eagleson has been making quite the mark since his record-breaking debut album. Today’s announcement follows the release of his sophomore album and the inspiration behind his tour set, Honkytonk Revival, on November 12. Saturated with the sounds of old-school instruments like dobro, steel guitars and fiddles, Honkytonk Revival basks in all the glory of a true honkytonk and highlights the booming vocals Eagleson is celebrated for. Eagleson will take the stage to play the new music live for the first time alongside the undeniable energy of his full 6 piece band.

Winter’s A Beach will mark Haller’s debut on a national Canadian tour. His rise since his breakout on the scene earlier this year has been unmatched and he brings an enthusiasm and edge to the Canadian country genre like no one else. This year alone he’s been able to cross two huge bucket list items off his list with performances at the Calgary Stampede and Toronto’s coveted Budweiser Stage. His debut single released this past Spring, “Lightning In A Bottle,” landed Haller his first Top 10 at Canadian Country Radio and his new single, “Somewhere To Drink” feat. The Reklaws and Brett Kissel, is currently climbing the charts.

WINTER’S A BEACH 2022 TOUR
February 11 – McPherson Theatre, Victoria, BC
February 12 – Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
February 15 – The Palace Theatre, Calgary, AB
February 16 – Midway, Edmonton, AB
February 17 – Casino Regina, Regina, SK
February 18 – Club Regent Casino, Winnipeg, MB
February 23 – L’Astral, Montreal, QC
February 24 – Algonquin Commons Theatre, Ottawa, ON
February 25 – Peterborough Memorial Centre, Peterborough, ON
February 26 – The Grand, Sudbury, ON
February 27 – The Machine Shop, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
March 3 – History, Toronto, ON
March 10, London Music Hall, London, ON
March 11 – Centre in the Square, Kitchener, ON

The Legendary El Mocambo Announces The Return Of George Thorogood & The Destroyers For 3 Nights

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Today, the legendary El Mocambo announces the return of George Thorogood & The Destroyers with three back-to-back shows kicking off May 20th, 2022. Today’s announcement marks Thorogood & The Destroyers first dates back at the legendary venue since they last hit the stage over 40 years ago in 1978, playing under the newly reimagined Neon Palms following the completion of the El Mocambo’s multimillion dollar restoration in 2020.

Tickets are on sale at 10:00 a.m. ET on December 16th with both General Admission and VIP options, and can be purchased at elmocambo.com. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.

“The El Mocambo is where we played our first Canadian show back in 1978 and we’ve been dying to get back there ever since,” says Thorogood. “I am extremely excited about these shows. We’re going to have a blast!”

For the past 45 years, it’s been very good to be George Thorogood & The Destroyers! Since 1976, they’ve sold over 15 million albums, built a catalog of classic hits, and played more than 8,000 ferocious live shows. They broke records with their 50 Dates/50 States Tour, delivered landmark performances at Live Aid and on SNL, and became mainstays of radio, MTV and stages worldwide for more than two generations. Over the course of 16 studio albums – including two Platinum and six Gold discs on Rounder, EMI and Capitol – Thorogood and The Destroyers toured the globe, as Rolling Stone once raved, “playing rock & roll hot enough to melt the polar icecaps and flood the world’s major population centers.” Through it all, they’ve remained one of the most consistent – and consistently passionate – progenitors of blues-based rock in pop culture history. “If you’re content, you may as well be dead.” George says. “I think everyone has thoughts about retiring, but the phone keeps ringing. ‘You want me and The Destroyers to come to your town, set up our gear, wear some cool threads and play ‘Who Do You Love?’ End of conversation. Let’s rock!”

One of North America’s longest-running and most iconic music venues, the El Mocambo was founded as a fine dining and dancing establishment in 1948, but since then evolved into something of a rock ‘n’ roll mecca, hosting many of the biggest names in music including: The Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Blondie, Ramones, Meatloaf, Stevie Ray Vaughan, U2 and many more. Following an extensive 5+ year renovation and rebuild, the El Mocambo officially reopened in the Summer of 2020 and placed itself in a position to revolutionize the live music and entertainment business by blending cutting-edge technology with unparalleled access – offering audiences, fans and music/entertainment lovers the ultimate live experience across three separate venues all under the same roof in addition to delivering supreme virtual content straight to the comfort of homes around the world. Visit www.elmocambo.com for additional details and more information as it becomes available.

These Two Canadian Hitmakers- Drake and Justin Bieber – Dominate TikTok Music Charts

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TikTok just released its 2nd Annual TikTok Music Report, highlighting top music trends on the app this year. The app is now a fundamental part of the music industry, and with the 2021 Music Report, we have the data to prove it.

TikTok remained the top source of music discovery for fans of all backgrounds, paving the way for the next generation of music stars, and helping usher in artists as diverse as Olivia Rodrigo, PinkPantheress, and Måneskin to stardom.

So, which Canadian artists made the list?

And let’s crunch some numbers:

  • Over 175 songs trended on TikTok in 2021 also charted on the Billboard Hot 100, twice as many as last year.
  • Approximately 430 songs surpassed 1 billion video views as TikTok sounds in 2021 – a threefold increase over 2020.
  • The most popular of these songs approach, and even exceed, 20 billion views on videos they soundtrack. 

    You can find the full report here.