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Toronto Alt Rockers THE HIGH LOVES Put a Breakup Behind Them With “Sometime” Single

Eric Alper
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Toronto Alt Rockers THE HIGH LOVES Put a Breakup Behind Them With “Sometime” Single

Sometimes just knowing an experience is in your rearview is enough to roll down the windows, turn up the tunes, and cruise along with zero cares… And with its laid-back tempo and smooth vocal harmonies, Canadian rock five-piece The High Loves and their new single “Sometime” — available now –— captures that very freedom of knowing a relationship is over and, hey, you did all you could.

Appearing on the alt-rockers’ forthcoming EP, Too Much Of A Good Thing, out this Fall, “Sometime” was one of those songs whose inspiration came out of nowhere. “I was just practicing my guitar one day when the song in its entirety just popped into my head,” guitarist Noah Mockton says. The lyrics were imagined as a goodbye letter to an ex. “It’s about being okay with change,” he adds, “and letting someone you love go.”

The band’s friend Elise Mariah sings backup on the track, with an easy “sha-la-la” that imparts an early rock’n’roll vibe to the second and third chorus. The production style is deliberately less-is-more, and evokes a breezy, beachy end-of-summer attitude.

“We worked really hard not to overdo this song,” keyboardist Jeremy Ugro says. “We knew we had a great groove, so all we had to do was not fuck it up.” The synth lends to the song’s fun, which-decade-is-this throwback feel, while also providing enough contrast in the lead-up to make the guitar solo a standout.

“The solo was a bit of a challenge,” continues lead guitarist Marko Stojanovic, though he did have a lot of fun recording it. “There’s a ton of ways you can express a single note and finding the right one proved difficult. I’m thrilled with how it turned out in the end.”

Formed in 2018, The High Loves are a pop-rock band from Canada’s creative capital Toronto. The group is composed of lead singer and guitarist Noah Monckton, lead guitarist Marko Stojanovic, keyboardist Jeremy Ugro, bassist Jake St. Jean, and drummer Jaden Spanier.

Culling inspiration from ‘80s pop and early-aughts alternative rock, the band’s ethos is one of both serious fun and addictive music tugging on your consciousness, demanding to be played again (and again).

The band had their first show – and debuted their debut single “Perils of Passion” – in January 2018. Their Serotonin EP followed that same year. They toured Ontario the following summer, and had a big win in November 2019 in the rock category of The John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

January 2020 saw The High Loves performing at GRAMMY Week in LA, right before the global pandemic. Lineup changes followed, with former bassist Matt Bawtinheimer and guitarist Mathieu Landry leaving the band.

Lockdown was a fruitful time for the new lineup, and The High Loves will release their Too Much Of A Good Thing EP this fall.

“Sometime” is available now.

Tonia Evans Cianciulli Sings Praise for Her Divine Gift with “My Voice Belongs to Him”

Eric Alper
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Tonia Evans Cianciulli Sings Praise for Her Divine Gift with “My Voice Belongs to Him”

Many people attribute possessing exceptional talent as a God-given gift, and celebrated Canadian singer Tonia Evans Cianciulli is acknowledging hers with high praise in return on this, her new, original hymn, “My Voice Belongs to Him” — available now.

“My Voice Belongs to Him” is the first single and sole original song from Cianciulli’s upcoming album of classic spirituals, Hymns of the Heart — due out on October 1, 2021. The new album is a personally significant and very meaningful collection for the Toronto-based, Newfoundland-born vocalist.

A collaboration between Cianciulli and Canadian poet Vaughn Harbin, “My Voice Belongs to Him” came together during a time when the global pandemic had largely been keeping loved ones apart; the lingering periods of grieving over cancelled concerts, live events and ‘what once was’ had Cianciulli feeling the need to reconnect with the spiritual music of her past: hymns.

“One day last summer, I received an email from my dear friend and poet, Vaughn,” Cianciulli recalls. “He was inspired to write lyrics for me on what it means to sing hymns.”

That He spoke beauty into life,
And love from deepest space,
Anoints the voice of one who sings
Sweet hymns with heaven’s grace

“Vaughn’s lyrics were so meaningful, I was worried I wouldn’t come up with a melody to do it justice.”

It turns out Cianciulli had to look no further than Divine providence to find the music she was afraid she might not. “I’m a believer that I am always being divinely guided,” she says. “As God would have it, I was brushing my teeth one morning before I went into the recording studio and found myself humming a sweet new melody.

“I immediately spit the toothpaste out of my mouth, grabbed my phone in a hurry, and recorded what was being downloaded to me from above.”

Cianciulli wasted no time getting what had been Divinely downloaded into permanent form. “Later that day, I recorded the guide vocals while my producer, Dima Graziani, composed a celestial sounding accompaniment,” she recounts. “As my grandfather always says, ‘Tonia, everything is always unfolding for you as it ought.’”

Hymns of the Heart contains Cianciulli’s stirring, expressive interpretations of timeless classics such as “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Nearer My God to Thee”, “Jesus Loves Me”, and “It Is Well With My Soul.” With her new hymn accompanied by a stunning video filmed at Toronto’s Grace Church on the Hill by videographer Arunas Remeza, Cianculli hopes that “My Voice Belongs to Him” will also take a special place in hearts everywhere, much like the others on the release long-have.

“As you take this all into your heart, I hope It will be a healing and blessed experience that washes over you in waves of hope, faith and comfort.”

Toronto journalist Kimberly Hughes says Cianciulli has “the ability to invest any song with authentic emotion no matter the genre or subject matter.”

As for Cianciulli, she calls herself “an unabashed fan-girl of the creative spirit,” and that spirit is truly multi-faceted. She’s a performer, public speaker, award-winning author, mentor, opera company foundress, songwriter and recording artist. The latter being what she is currently focused on with a second album planned for release in 2022 that will be completely composed of original songs highlighting her heart’s true home of Newfoundland, matters of the heart and personal experiences.

A performance tour of Newfoundland and Ontario is also in the works for Cianciulli for 2022.

“My Voice Belongs to Him” from the forthcoming Hymns of the Heart is available now.

NYC Singer/Songwriter Lara Taubman Releases Groovy, Funk-Inspired Single in “Hookup”

Eric Alper
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NYC Singer/Songwriter Lara Taubman Releases Groovy, Funk-Inspired Single in “Hookup”

While the term “Hookup” is 21st-century parlance for fleeting romance, singer-songwriter Lara Taubman’s new single of the same name — available now — wastes little time evoking the groovy ‘60s and ‘70s with a funk-infused bassline and crystal vocals reminiscent of Grace Slick.

The song opens with a question: “Was it just a hookup, didn’t you feel my heart” that then becomes a harmonizing hook — taking us on a psychological journey of the morning after.

Free love, in this case, isn’t so freeing. The narrator’s lover assures her there will be no regrets, and then she, presumably, never hears from him again. The song is personal, inspired by a time when Lara was waiting for a text from a man she had recently hooked up with. “It’s about the risky high dives I took in my intimate relationships, gambling with hope as my best hand,” she said.

As Lara sat facing the dread that this particular hookup wasn’t what she had hoped it was, she decided to use it as creative inspiration. “I wrote the song in one sitting,” she said. “Driven by that first line and a mountain of yearning, despair and anxiety.”

Lara performed the song over and over on her acoustic guitar at gigs in New York City and Nashville before her producer Hugh Christopher Brown of Wolfe Island Records added the funk arrangements. The song is a change from her more typical folk and country-inspired music.

She knew “Hookup” would eventually be a video, and one where she appears alone. ”I had a flash of a vision of me naked with all my guitars on my bed,” she said of the video’s concept. “My bed is where the song was conceived and it’s also where I came back to life from all of my bad decisions.”

“Hookup” appears on Lara’s first album, 2020’s confessional Revelation. A performing singer-songwriter in New York City, Lara often migrates north to her home in Wolfe Island, Canada, to enjoy the beauty of nature.

However, it was in her original home of southern Virginia where Appalachian music first stirred her and inspired her to make music. It was a long and winding road to eventually recording music, and she enjoyed prior careers as an art critic and curator, as well as an academic.

She currently hosts a podcast called Graveyard Sessions, available on Apple podcasts and Spotify, whereby she hosts conversations with creatives from all disciplines. Lara’s highly awaited second album and EP will be released this fall on Wolfe Island Records.

“Hookup” and Revelation are available now.

My Next Read: “ROCK CONCERT: An Oral History as Told by the Artists, Backstage Insiders, and Fans Who Were There” by Marc Myers

Eric Alper
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My Next Read: “ROCK CONCERT: An Oral History as Told by the Artists, Backstage Insiders, and Fans Who Were There” by Marc Myers

Music historian, critically acclaimed author, and regular Wall Street Journal contributor Marc Myers announces his new book, ROCK CONCERT: An Oral History as Told by the Artists, Backstage Insiders, and Fans Who Were There out November 9th, 2021 via Grove Press.

Decades after the rise of rock music in the 1950s, the rock concert retains its allure and power as a unifying generational experience—and as an influential multi-billion-dollar industry. With ROCK CONCERT, Myers presents a 360-degree account of live rock’s emergence by weaving together ground-breaking stories from those who were on stage, in the wings, behind the scenes, and in the audience.

ROCK CONCERT provides a fascinating, intimate look at rock ‘n’ roll’s evolution through the lens of live performances — beginning with the blossoming of R&B concert circuits in the 1950s, through the hippie gatherings of the ’60s, to the growing arena tours of the ’70s and ’80s. Elvis Presley’s superstardom, the British Invasion that brought the Beatles in the ’60s, the Grateful Dead’s free-flowing psychedelic jams, and Pink Floyd’s operatic, live production of The Wall are just a few of the defining musical acts that drive this rich, 35-year narrative. In an appendix, Myers includes lists of the fifty best live albums, concert films, and rock documentaries, each broken out by decade for readers interested in taking a deeper dive into the milestone performances across the era covered in the book.

Drawn from his original in-depth interviews with 94 wide-ranging sources, Myers combines tales from iconic performers like Joan Baez, Bob Weir, Todd Rundgren, Tina Weymouth, Ian Anderson, Alice Cooper, Steve Miller, Roger Waters, Daryl Hall, John Oates, and Angus Young; stories about the disc jockeys who first began playing rock on the radio, like Alan Freed in Cleveland and New York; promoters such as Don Law in Boston; the audio innovators who developed new technologies to accommodate ever-growing rock audiences and venues; music journalists, like Rolling Stone’s Cameron Crowe; and of course the roadies, tour managers, regional promoters, and festival organizers who orchestrated concerts, like Michael Lang of Woodstock fame, to create a rounded and vivid account of live rock’s stratospheric rise from 1950 to 1985.

Just as Myers’ previous oral history of hitmakers, Anatomy of a Song, was hailed by Goldmine as “the most revealing and entertaining compilation of short stories on popular music we have seen this decade,” ROCK CONCERT features dozens of key players in rock ‘n’ roll history and is filled with colorful anecdotes that will speak to anyone who has experienced the transcendence of live rock.

Lady Gaga Returns to Park MGM for Nine Performances October 2021

Eric Alper
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Lady Gaga Returns to Park MGM for Nine Performances October 2021

Academy Award, Golden Globe and 12-time GRAMMY Award-winner superstar Lady Gaga today announced she will return to Park MGM in Las Vegas October 2021. Presented in partnership by MGM Resorts International and Live Nation, Lady Gaga will take the Park Theater stage for nine performances of her critically acclaimed LADY GAGA JAZZ & PIANO show. The shows will celebrate her forthcoming collaborative album with Tony Bennett, Love For Sale, which will be released on October 1.
October 2021 Dates
Thursday, Oct. 14
Saturday, Oct. 16
Sunday, Oct. 17
Thursday, Oct. 21
Saturday, Oct. 23
Sunday, Oct. 24
Thursday, Oct. 28
Saturday, Oct. 30
Sunday, Oct. 31

Members of Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters fan community will receive access to an exclusive presale beginning Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. PT. For more information, visit GagaVegas.com.

This show will require fans to provide either proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of the event OR full vaccination for entry. More information can be found at parkmgm.com.

Multi-award-winning entertainer Lady Gaga is a one-of-a kind artist, performer and a trailblazer in beauty and fashion. She has amassed an outstanding 35 million global album sales, 42 billion streams and 321 million in song consumption, making her one of the best-selling musicians of all time. In 2008, Gaga released her first album The Fame swiftly followed by The Fame Monster (2009). Gaga then went on to release Born This Way (2011), ArtPop (2013), her collaborative album with Tony Bennett Cheek to Cheek (2014), Joanne (2016), A Star is Born (2018) and her sixth solo studio album Chromatica (2020). Chromatica marks Gaga’s 6th consecutive #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, making her the first female artist to do so over a ten-year period (2011-2020). In June 2021, Gaga celebrated the 10-year Anniversary of Born This Way with an album reissue Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary, that featured reimagined versions of her classic songs from prominent LGBTQIA+ musicians and advocates. Gaga recently announced her 8th studio album, Love For Sale, her second collaborative album with Tony Bennet set for release on October 1, 2021.

In October 2018, Gaga starred alongside Bradley Cooper in the Warner Brothers remake of the classic film, “A Star is Born.” Her performance led her to an Oscar Nomination for Best Actress, a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, a Critics’ Choice Award and National Board of Review Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture. Gaga also co-wrote, produced and performed the song “Shallow,” for the film, for which she has won an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice award for Best Original Song, as well as a British Academy Film Award for Best Original Music. Other credits include, the 2017 Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Half Time show which amassed 117.5 million viewers, her Netflix documentary Lady Gaga: Five Foot Two (2017), and American Horror Story: Hotel (2015), for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Limited Series. Next up, Gaga will star in Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci as Patrizia Reggiani, the ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci, who was tried and convicted of orchestrating his assassination set to hit theaters on November 24, 2021.

Lady Gaga is also an outspoken activist, philanthropist and supporter of many important issues including mental health, LGBTQ+ rights, HIV/AIDS awareness and body image issues. In 2012, she launched Born This Way Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth, embracing differences, and inspiring kindness and bravery. Through the years, they’ve collected stories of kindness, bravery and resilience from young people all over the world, proving that kindness truly is the universal language. These stories have been collected, along with personal notes of empowerment from Lady Gaga, in her new book, “Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community,” available now.

About Park MG

Judy Collins’ “Live At The Town Hall, NYC” Is Now Out

Eric Alper
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Judy Collins’ “Live At The Town Hall, NYC” Is Now Out

Judy Collins has released her new album Live At The Town Hall, NYC, today. She recorded it live at the Town Hall in New York City with a full band in February of this year, when she hosted a livestream concert from the historic and otherwise empty venue due to the pandemic. This new live recording revisits her legendary 1964 performance at the Town Hall, which was her solo concert debut in NYC. In February, Collins revisited nearly the same setlist as her 1964 concert, including “Winter Sky,” “My Ramblin Boy,” “Coal Tattoo” and “Cruel Mother.” Collins’ setlist reflected the need for comfort and protest in light of the turmoil that beset the nation, both then and now. New additions to the setlist include longtime standards in her repertoire including “Both Sides Now” and “Send In The Clowns.”

In July, Collins also premiered Since You’ve Asked, her very own podcast series. Hosted by Collins, it features some of her favorite musicians, artists and luminaries from her colorful life including Jeff Daniels, Julia Cameron, Ben Harper, Arlo Guthrie, Clive Davis, Molly Jong Fast, Christiane Amanpour, Jac Holzman, Betty Buckley and Pat Allerton. Several episodes have aired, with the remainder of the season posting every other Thursday into October. The most recent episode features London’s “portable priest” and Vicar Pat Allerton, who broadcast Collins’ famous 1970 recording of “Amazing Grace” onto the streets and outside of hospitals in London during his sermons as the pandemic first unfolded in spring of 2020. The next episode will feature Betty Buckley on September 9th.

The podcast is available on all major platforms and distributed by SIMPLECAST here.
Collins has also returned to the road this summer and fall, see below for tour dates:

JUDY COLLINS – LIVE AT THE TOWN HALL, NYC tracklist:
1. Winter Sky
2. My Ramblin’ Boy
3. Anathea
4. Me And My Uncle
5. Wild Rippling Water
6. Tambourine Man
7. Both Sides Now
8. Cruel Mother
9. Coal Tattoo
10. Last Thing On My Mind
11. John Riley
12. Send In The Clowns

2021 Tour Dates
http://www.judycollins.com/concerts
Fri – September 17 – Humphreys Concerts By the Bay – San Diego, CA
Mon – September 20 – Yoshi’s Oakland – Oakland, CA
Tue – September 21 – Yoshi’s Oakland – Oakland, CA
Wed – September 22 – Yoshi’s Oakland – Oakland, CA
Fri – September 24 – Uptown Theatre Napa – Napa, CA
Sat – September 25 – Golden State Theatre – Monterey, CA
Sun – October 3 – Clayton Center for the Arts – Maryville, TN
Thu – October 7 – Hangar Theatre – Ithaca, NY
Sun – October 10 – The Academy of Music Theatre – Northampton, MA
Tue – October 12 – State Theatre – Portland, ME
Sun – October 17 – Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
Thu – October 21 – The Colonial Theatre – Phoenixville, PA
Fri – October 22 – Scottish Rite Auditorium – Collingswood, NJ
Sun – October 24 – Mayo Performing Arts Center – Morristown, NJ
Thu – October 28 – Plymouth Memorial Hall, Plymouth, MA
Fri – October 29 – Jonathan’s, Ogunquit, ME
Wed – November 10 – Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, Menomonie, WI
Thu – November 11 – Thrasher Opera House, Green Lake, WI
Mon – November 18 – Fox Theatre – Hutchinson, KS
Fri – December 3 – The Cabot – Beverly, MA
Sat – December 4 – Weinberg Center for the Arts, Frederick, MD
Fri – December 10 – Cary Memorial Hall, Lexington MA
Fri – December 17 – Town Hall, New York, NY
Sat – January 16 – Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Clearwater, FL
Tue – January 18 – Florida Theatre, Jacksonville, FL
Fri – February 11 – Carriage House Theater, Saratoga
Sat – February 12 – Carriage House Theater, Saratoga
Tue – February 15 – Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA
Fri – February 18 – Blue Note, Honolulu, HI
Sat – February 19 – Blue Note, Honolulu, HI
Fri – February 25 – Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Olympia, WA
Sat – February 26 – Admiral Theatre, Bremerton, WA
Mon – February 28 – Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland OR
Tue – March 1 – Alberta Rose Theatre – Portland OR
Wed – March 2 – Tower Theatre – Bend, OR
Tue – March 8 – Fox Tucson Theatre, Tucson, AZ
Thu – March 10 – Celebrity Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
Fri – March 11 – McCullum Theatre for the Performing Arts, Palm Desert, CA
Tue – March 29 – Schermerhorn Symphony Center – Nashville, TN
Thu – March 31 – Grand Theatre – Frankfort, KY
Sat – November 5 (2022) – DE ROMA – Borgerhout, Belgium

Aerosmith and Universal Music Group Announce Historic Strategic Global Alliance

Eric Alper
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Aerosmith and Universal Music Group Announce Historic Strategic Global Alliance

Aerosmith, the best-selling American hard rock band of all time, and Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced a new expansive worldwide alliance spanning the iconic group’s entire discography, merchandise and audio-video projects, that marks the beginning of a new era in the band’s celebrated and illustrious career.

For the first time, in 2022 all of Aerosmith’s iconic recordings will be unified in one place ahead of the bands upcoming 50th Anniversary, through a new multifaceted partnership with UMG. In addition to supporting the band’s consolidated catalog, this partnership will also make use of unprecedented access to the storied ‘Vindaloo Vaults’ and personal archives of band members Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford, who will actively help curate their collections of music, photos, video footage, artwork, journals, set lists and memorabilia. Future releases will offer fans access to never-before seen and heard gems, that will further cement the band’s position as one of rock’s most ground-breaking and reverential groups in history.

UMG will also be the home of future music projects, as well as work with the band to develop, produce and distribute new film, television and other audio-visual content projects celebrating Aerosmith’s history and significant cultural impact. The partnership expects to announce details of those new music and audio-visual projects shortly. UMG will work hand in hand with the band to continue to introduce Aerosmith and their rich musical legacy to new generations of fans around the world.

Since Aerosmith’s founding 50 years ago, the group has gone on to sell more than 150 million albums around the world; produced genre-defining music videos such as “Amazing,” “Crazy,” “Janie’s Got A Gun,” “Livin’ on the Edge,” and “Love in an Elevator;” launched extravagant record-shattering global tours, most recently with their ongoing smash hit Las Vegas residency. The band has broken numerous boundaries, including becoming the first rock band with a massive commercially successful hip-hop collaboration with Run DMC on “Walk This Way” and the first hard rock band to appear during a Super Bowl Halftime Show with their 2001 performance, and in 1999, Aerosmith became the first band to have their own themed attraction at Disney World in Florida, and later Paris with the launch of the Rock ‘N’ Roller coaster starring Aerosmith.

With broad cultural influence, Aerosmith has prominently appeared in films, television shows and video games, as well as influencing multiple generations of rock bands, both as style icons and acclaimed multi-instrumentalists. MusiCares honored the band in 2020 as Person of the Year for their many artistic achievements and dedication to philanthropy, including Steven Tyler’s initiative Janie’s Fund initiative, which supports young women who’ve suffered the trauma of abuse and neglect.

Joe Perry, Aerosmith co-founder and lead guitarist, commented, “It’s been a long road but I’m extremely happy and proud to say on behalf of Aerosmith we have been able to bring our 50 years of music under one roof by partnering with UMG. This will allow us to bring our music to our fans in ways we never were able to before. It’s something we’ve dreamed about happening for a long time. It’s a win for Aerosmith, UMG and ultimately our fans. Needless to say we are very excited. It’s an incredible way to celebrate 50 years and the many more years to come.”

Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO of UMG, said, “Aerosmith’s global success places them in rarefied air among the all-time greatest rock icons. On the band’s 50th anniversary, Aerosmith continues to influence the course of music not only through their iconic catalog but also through film, television and video games and their inimitable style. On a personal note, I couldn’t be prouder that they have chosen UMG as their global partner. We look forward to building upon their incredible legacy and ensuring their music continues to inspire fans around the world.”

Aerosmith manager Larry Rudolph said, “I couldn’t be happier for the band members and their families. Not only are we bringing together the band’s entire catalog in one place, but we’re entrusting these recordings to the very capable hands of Sir Lucian, Bruce Resnikoff and the incredible UMG system worldwide. I would like to thank Sir Lucian for tirelessly working together to craft perhaps the most unique and mutually beneficial catalog arrangement in history and providing a huge commitment to Aerosmith. The members of Aerosmith and I thank him and we all look forward to many years of successfully continuing to share the catalog of the greatest American rock band in history with the world.” 

The partnership significantly expands Aerosmith’s historic relationship with UMG. The band recorded some of its biggest-selling albums for Geffen Records, including Done with Mirrors (1985), Permanent Vacation (1987), Pump (1989) and Get a Grip (1993). Aerosmith additionally works with Bravado’s Epic Rights for merchandise and has previously released concert films through Eagle Rock Entertainment. Additionally, Aerosmith is part of UMG’s partnership with YouTube bringing music videos into current video and audio standards, with recent releases including “Dude Looks Like a Lady” and “Dream On.”

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, Aerosmith is tied for the most RIAA album certifications by an American group with 25 Gold, 18 Platinum, 12 multi-Platinum and one diamond. As the band was founded in Boston in 1970, April 13 has been declared “Aerosmith Day” in Massachusetts by former Governor William Weld.

Sonic Reducers: Why Metallica Are #1 With Their Fans

Eric Alper
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Sonic Reducers: Why Metallica Are #1 With Their Fans

Sonic Reducers: 1 topic. 2 music nerds. 5 minutes.

Listen in as we talk about Metallica’s new Black Album 30th anniversary box set, and share a great backstage story about how incredibly they treat their fans.

The Wiggles Announce Four New Members

Eric Alper
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The Wiggles Announce Four New Members

In an era where diversity and inclusiveness are so vital, The Wiggles have developed a new series dedicated to celebrating and embracing those concepts. Fruit Salad TV is set to premiere on September 4, exclusively on The Wiggles’ YouTube channel and will see the popular children’s group expand their line up to include eight Wiggles.

Fruit Salad TV will feature singing, dancing, storytelling and, of course, the catchiest music that immediately engages children to sing and play along. But Fruit Salad TV will also seamlessly integrate the concept of embracing diversity in multiple forms, including culture, race, age and gender. The introduction of the new Wiggles’ cast aims to better represent the diversity of the world in which we actually live, while Fruit Salad TV delivers content that will engage children of all cultures and make them feel recognized and special.

Joining the much-loved current Wiggles of Anthony, Emma, Lachy, and Simon are a diverse and talented group of dancers and singers from across Australia who each bring something special to the group.  Tsehay Hawkins is an award-winning dancer of Ethiopian descent; Taribelang woman Evie Ferris who is an extremely talented ballet dancer – only the second First Nations woman to have joined The Australian Ballet; John Pearce, of Filipino descent who is known as part of Australian music group Justice Crew; and Kelly Hamilton who is of Chinese/Australian background and was previously a dancer with The Wiggles as well as other children’s shows such as Sesame Street Live, Justine Clarke, and Dora The Explorer.

Fruit Salad TV was written by founding member Anthony Field AM who is an accredited expert in Early Childhood Education and has been awarded an Order of Australia in recognition of his service to the arts through children’s entertainment and the community through his charity work. Since Anthony began The Wiggles 30 years ago, the group has strived to entertain, educate and engage all children to promote a sense of understanding of the world around them and Fruit Salad TV is an important evolution for The Wiggles’ brand to reflect today’s pluralistic society.

“The Wiggles were created during a time when early childhood educational concepts were the focus,” said Anthony Field AM, Blue Wiggle. “As society has evolved, we have embraced the need for diversity and inclusiveness and want children all over the world to see themselves reflected on the screen. It’s so important that The Wiggles continue to evolve along with our society. This is the first step towards shaping The Wiggles for the next 30 years, taking us in a direction that truly represents and serves our community more inclusively.

“We are excited for the next chapter in The Wiggles’ history which will start with Fruit Salad TV and continue on with our other content and our live shows. We can’t wait to introduce our amazing new line up of incredibly talented performers to children around the world.”

The Wiggles are also expanding their characters in the Wiggle Town community. Joining the much-loved Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog and Henry the Octopus are three new non-binary characters:  Officer Beaples, a dancing police officer with a big smile and painted on moustache; Shirley Shawn the Unicorn who likes to eat apples and drive around Wiggle Town in a mini red car; and Bok the hand puppet, a timid character who displays emotions for children to empathise with.

Joe Bonamassa Announces Genre Bending New Studio Album ‘Time Clocks’ To Be Released October 29

Eric Alper
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Joe Bonamassa Announces Genre Bending New Studio Album ‘Time Clocks’ To Be Released October 29

Joe Bonamassa has announced the upcoming release of his brand-new studio album ‘Time Clocks’, due out on October 29. ‘Time Clocks’ is a testament to his credentials and a toast to his longtime fans. His new sound has a raw and vital flavor, combined with a resolute skill that can only be gained through years of perseverance and unyielding dedication. It’s Joe Bonamassa at his finest, ready to rock. “What started out with the intentions of being a trio record turned into probably my most adventurous and involved record to date,” explains Bonamassa. His longtime producer Kevin Shirley adds, “I think Joe Bonamassa has made an album that is truly transitional. From a blues musician to a superstar artist, [and] I’m so thrilled to be along for the ride.” Joe and Kevin brought on the legendary Bob Clearmountain to mix the epic tracks, and Bob declares that “This is one of the best albums I’ve mixed in years. Joe is not only one of the finest blues & rock guitarists of our time, he’s also a brilliant songwriter, [which is] impressively apparent on this record.”

Recorded in New York City, the album rediscovers Bonamassa at a newfound peak with heartfelt songwriting and an unparalleled Blues Rock prowess. ‘Time Clocks’ follows Joe’s constant evolution as he continues to forge ahead, bending genres, breaking down walls and defying the odds of the music industry. He’s known as “the man in the suit”, loved by many as the ultimate guitar hero, cited by critics as “the world’s biggest blues guitarist” (Guitar World), and now the music mastermind has found yet another layer of immense new artistry to share with his fans. As one of today’s most in-demand touring acts the road has been long and winding, but the rough journey has molded his craft into gold.

For the album, Bonamassa hit the studio with longtime collaborators Kevin Shirley as producer and manager/business partner Roy Weisman as executive producer. The album was recorded in New York City at Germano Studios/The Hit Factory and mixed by Bob Clearmountain (Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Toto, Bon Jovi). The band members include Steve Mackey (bass), Lachy Doley (piano), Bunna Lawrie (didgeridoo), Bobby Summerfield (percussion), and Late Night with David Letterman‘s Anton Fig (drums and percussion), along with Mahalia Barnes, Juanita Tippins, and Prinnie Stevens on backing vocals. The fantastic artwork on the album was created by famous graphic artist Hugh Syme (Rush, Aerosmith, Whitesnake). ‘Time Clocks’ will be available on CD, VINYL and Digital and released on Bonamassa’s own record label, J&R Adventures.

Recently Bonamassa dropped hints of the new album with his reeling anthem “Notches“, and with today’s exciting news he’s revealed the next Blues-heavy single “The Heart That Never Waits,” another instant classic that takes a tale of heartbreak and turns it around into an undeniable showstopper meant for the stadiums. Joe sings compassionately with an air of independence, in a voice that’s only gotten better with time – a rarity for an artist with such longevity in their career. These songs are a collection of stories that shed new light on Joe’s life as a journeyman, constantly creating and always on the run.

Looking back on recording during COVID-19 and the original intention behind the album, Bonamassa reflects, “Twenty years ago, I recorded a record of covers that eventually was called ‘Blues Deluxe.’ It was recorded at Bobby Nathan’s studio in Manhattan. It captured an energy and purpose that always stuck with me as an artist. I lived in New York City at the time and times were pretty tough. My weekly routine was a combination of hustling sessions, gigs, and opportunities that seemed few and far between. I was hungry. Literally and figuratively. The music business is tough, very tough. Especially back in those days when major labels pulled all the strings and, in my case, all the punches. I subsisted on a basic diet of peanut butter and jelly and ramen noodles, purchased at the bodega on the corner of 83rd and Columbus Avenue.

Cut to 2019 and I find myself back in New York and inspired by the city again. My living conditions had changed dramatically in the subsequent 20 years, but the energy that makes New York City great still remained.  

In February 2021, we found ourselves at Germano Studios, cutting music as a trio (but not trio music) and having to invent ways of making records when your lifelong producer is stuck in Australia due to travel restrictions. Kevin Shirley came up with a way of linking continents and consoles to where we had literally zero latency. Add Steve Mackey and Anton Fig to the mix, a few masks and curse words and we have the ‘New York Record’ aka ‘Time Clocks’.”

Now, with an even bolder energy than ever before, Bonamassa holds the power of controlling both his artistry and his business in both hands. With 24 #1 albums, yearly sold-out tours worldwide and custom annual cruises, he’s a hard act to beat. Joe knows his worth, and albeit humble, he plans to continue to beat the odds and exceed the expectations of naysayers. ‘Time Clocks’ will also be Bonamassa’s first album mixed to utilize spatial audio with Dolby Atmos and available for fans on Apple Music. Bob Clearmountain adds, “the Atmos version is simply breathtaking.”

In releasing new music that’s destined for the loudspeakers, Joe is elated to get back to the stage. Recently completing a short summer tour in the US, he’ll be back on tour for the fall season with shows across the country before taking the stage at sea for his sold out Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea VII cruise, sailing from Miami, FL to Ocho Rios, Jamaica on February 21-25, 2022, by way of the Norwegian Pearl. For tickets and full tour dates, visit https://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/.

As a professional musician for over 30 years, Joe Bonamassa continues to blaze a remarkably versatile artistic trail, and amass an authentic, innovative, and soulful body of work. Bonamassa’s career began onstage opening for B.B. King in 1989 when he was only 12 years old. Today, he is hailed worldwide as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation and is an ever-evolving singer-songwriter with over 40 albums to date all under his own label, J&R Adventures.

Joe’s most recent live album, “Now Serving: Royal Tea Live From The Ryman” is available now for streaming, CD, DVD and Blu-Ray. The DVD includes a film introduction narrated by actor Jeff Daniels. To order, visit shop.jbonamassa.com. The stellar performance from one of the world’s most legendary venues includes 12 incredible live tracks, featuring the best from his latest studio release Royal Tea, Joe’s 24th #1 record on the Billboard Blues chart, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.

In addition to his music and shows, Joe continues to crank out weekly programming for his radio show “Different Shades Of Blue” for Sirius XM’s Bluesville channel. Last year, he kicked off a new at-home weekly video interview series “Live From Nerdville” which currently has over 60 episodes aired on his Facebook, YouTube, and podcast outlets. With a new episode each week, Joe has featured conversations with Neal Schon of Journey, John Oates of Hall & Oates, Glenn Hughes, Paul Stanley of Kiss, Warren Haynes, Keb’ Mo’, Walter Trout, Steve Lukather of Toto, Todd Rundgren, comedian Jeff Garlin, esteemed singer-songwriter Dion, Peter Frampton, Fantastic Negrito, and is currently booking new guests for his 3rd season.

Last summer, Bonamassa and his manager Roy Weisman debuted their new record label Keeping The Blues Alive Records by releasing music icon Dion’s critically acclaimed latest album Blues With Friends. In February 2021, KTBA Records released Chicago’s reigning Queen of Blues Guitar, Joanna Connor’s new album 4801 South Indiana Avenue, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues chart. Earlier this month KTBA Records released the new single “If That Ain’t A Reason” from Joanne Shaw Taylor’s upcoming new studio album. Dion has just announced a new single with teasing his new album out for late 2021. Stay tuned for future releases at ktbarecords.com

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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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