Home Blog Page 1804

George Harrison’s “Living In The Material World” 50th Anniversary Available November 15th

Eric Alper
-
0
George Harrison’s “Living In The Material World” 50th Anniversary Available November 15th

In honour of its 50th Anniversary, George Harrison’s Living In The Material World is being celebrated with a suite of new releases overseen by Dhani & Olivia Harrison and featuring a stunning new mix of the classic album by Grammy Award-winning mixer/engineer Paul Hicks that elevates the album with a sonic upgrade, delivering a sound that’s brighter, richer, and more dynamic than ever before. Living In The Material World 50th Anniversary will be available November 15th via Dark Horse Records / BMG. PRE-ORDER HERE

To mark the announcement, the previously unreleased and remixed ‘Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (Take 18)’ is available now to stream and download. LISTEN HERE

Limited to 5,000 units globally, the super deluxe edition album contains 2CDs, 2LPs, Blu-ray of Dolby Atmos and 12 previously unreleased Harrison recordings, a 60-page booklet with extensive sleeve notes, photography, and artwork from the Harrison archive, as well as a 7” single of the previously unheard recording of, ‘Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond)’ featuring Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and Rick Danko from the band, alongside Ringo Starr. A 2LP & 2CD Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition color vinyl, including an exclusive George Harrison Online Store purple vinyl HERE and 1LP & 1CD standard versions of the album will also be available alongside streaming.

 

Living in the Material World, George Harrison’s highly praised second solo album of original music following The Beatles’ 1970 dissolution, lyrically underscores his enduring exploration of spiritual themes and resonated deeply with audiences. Just five weeks after its May 1973 release, both the LP and its single ‘Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)’ held the top spots simultaneously on the U.S. albums and singles charts. Upon release, Rolling Stone described it as a “pop classic”, a work that “stands alone as an article of faith, miraculous in its radiance.”

The album’s success further solidified a winning streak that began with All Things Must Pass, the triple LP topped the US charts in early 1971. Later that same year, George organized two groundbreaking benefit rock concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York, aiming to raise both awareness and funds for the starving refugees of Bangladesh. The Concert for Bangladesh live album, another triple LP, became a commercial triumph and global bestseller, ultimately earning the prestigious GRAMMY Award for ‘Album of the Year.’

Of the release, Olivia Harrison shares:

“I hope you revisit Living in the Material World or discover it for the first time, and as you listen, share George’s wish for himself and mankind…..
Give me Love
Give me Peace on Earth.”

And Dhani Harrison comments: “Finally, we are overjoyed to present to you the 50th anniversary package of George Harrison’s ‘Living in the Material World’. For those of you who are just discovering this album; This record was released in service and with deep love for all our Brothers and Sisters around the world who populate this dualistic system we live in called Earth. Peace be upon all sentient beings.”

Living in the Material World, made in the midst of one of the most remarkable phases of his musical career, offered a brilliant glimpse of who its creator was, how unique his talents always were and how his search for certainty and truth beyond the everyday put him years ahead of his time.

The creation of the album began with a purposeful period at Apple Studios at the end of 1972, where, nearly four years before, The Beatles had done the conclusive work on the project eventually known as Let It Be. You can sense the prevailing atmosphere of these sessions in the music, manifested in flowing, sensitive musicianship, a lovely attention to detail and the album’s overarching set of themes. George not only sang but contributed almost all the guitar parts. He was backed by a tight-knit group of virtuosos, including drummer Jim Keltner, keyboard players Nicky Hopkins and Gary Wright, bassist Klaus Voormann and saxophone/flute player Jim Horn.

To really understand Living in the Material World, you have to go back to George’s experience of 1971 – a watershed 12 months full of events that would be explored in his songwriting. By that summer, he was deep into his response to the mounting humanitarian tragedy in Bangla Desh. After repeated shuttling between Los Angeles and New York and endless phone calls and meetings, he presented two concerts at New York’s Madison Square Garden. They combined performances by Ravi Shankar and three supporting musicians with sets led by George that also featured Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell and Bob Dylan, among others.

“It was a very emotional period for me,” George later said, “because a lot of people had helped with its success, which made me very optimistic about certain things. At the same time, I felt slightly enraged because, let’s face it, the whole problem of how to solve [the Bangla Desh crisis] lies within the power of governments and world leaders, yet they choose to squander it on weapons and other objects that destroy mankind.”

His feelings would inevitably surface in his songs. In late 1971, while he was back in New York, he recorded several demos at the Plaza Hotel. They included an initial version of “Who Can See It,” and the earliest known recording of “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth),” complete with a very telling plea: “Help me cope with this heavy load.”

When recording sessions finally got started, these compositions were joined by an array of other new tracks. “Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long,” powered by a drum duet between Keltner and Starr, was one of the most straightforwardly joyous pieces of pop music George had ever recorded. “The Light Has Lighted The World” and “The Day The World Gets Round,” by contrast, were deeply emotional and insightful songs that went to the core of the album’s most profound ideas.

The remixing of the original LP gives new definition to these already accomplished and intimate recordings, while the extra material further highlights what a creatively fertile period this was for George. Thanks in part to the music’s newfound clarity, Living in the Material World resonates more than ever in 2024. Amid the noise of social media, the sense of someone yearning for enlightenment in a world of confusion rings loud and true. So does the undercurrent of the songs about the machinations and distractions of governments and politics. Moreover, in an era when meditation, yoga and so-called mindfulness have probably never been more popular, the fundamental points the songs raise align with the daily search for what is worthwhile. We all face the challenges of the material world throughout our lives, and in its own questioning, restless way, this album holds out the prospect of finding a way through them.

“The things most people are struggling for are fame or fortune or wealth or position – always, that’s their main ambition and desire in life, to be rich or famous or to have a good reputation, and really none of that is important because in the end, death will take it all away,” George later explained. But he was also keen to correct a common misapprehension: “I do not exclude myself, and I write a lot of things in order to make myself remember.”

Listening to the album in its new incarnations, all of these qualities are undeniable. It begins with a prayer and ends with a simple statement of the power of love. Its songs amount to a consummate self-portrait of an artist as a young man who was wise beyond his years, making sense of his life and the wider world. There’s not much music that sounds this yearning, intimate and spiritual, though we could boil those qualities down to something much simpler: true to its creator’s intentions, this is an album full of heart, and soul.

SUPER DELUXE TRACKLISTING:

LP1/CD Disc 1
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) (2024 Mix)
Sue Me, Sue You Blues (2024 Mix)
The Light That Has Lighted the World (2024 Mix)
Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long (2024 Mix)
Who Can See It (2024 Mix)
Living in the Material World (2024 Mix)
The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord) (2024 Mix)
Be Here Now (2024 Mix)
Try Some Buy Some (2024 Mix)
The Day the World Gets ‘Round (2024 Mix)
That Is All (2024 Mix)

LP2/CD Disc 2
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) (Take 18; Acoustic Version)
Sue Me, Sue You Blues (Take 5)
The Light That Has Lighted the World (Take 13)
Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long (Take 49; Acoustic Version)
Who Can See It (Take 93)
Living in the Material World (Take 31)
The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord) (Take 3)
Be Here Now (Take 8)
Try Some Buy Some (Alternative Version)
The Day the World Gets ‘Round (Take 22; Acoustic Version)
That Is All (Take 24)
Miss O’Dell (2024 Mix)
Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond) *CD Only

7″ Single
Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond
Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond) [Instrumental]

Blu-Ray
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) (2024 Mix)
Sue Me, Sue You Blues (2024 Mix)
The Light That Has Lighted the World (2024 Mix)
Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long (2024 Mix)
Who Can See It (2024 Mix)
Living in the Material World (2024 Mix)
The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord) (2024 Mix)
Be Here Now (2024 Mix)
Try Some Buy Some (2024 Mix)
The Day the World Gets ‘Round (2024 Mix)
That Is All (2024 Mix)
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) (Take 18; Acoustic Version)
Sue Me, Sue You Blues (Take 5)
The Light That Has Lighted the World (Take 13)
Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long (Take 49; Acoustic Version)
Who Can See It (Take 93)
Living in the Material World (Take 31)
The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord) (Take 3)
Be Here Now (Take 8)
Try Some Buy Some (Alternative Version)
The Day the World Gets ‘Round (Take 22; Acoustic Version)
That Is All (Take 24)
Miss O’Dell (2024 Mix)
Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond)

Iron Maiden Announce ‘Run For Your Lives’ World Tour 2025/26

Eric Alper
-
0
Iron Maiden Announce ‘Run For Your Lives’ World Tour 2025/26

Iron Maiden will start their Run For Your Lives World Tour on May 27th next year in Budapest followed by 27 stadium, festival & arena shows around Europe. The tour marks 50 years since Steve Harris formed the band in late 1975 and to celebrate this Maiden fans are promised a very special set list, spanning the nine studio albums from ‘Iron Maiden’ to ‘Fear Of The Dark’, with their most spectacular and elaborate show ever.

Special Guests for the first half of the tour, including the London & Dublin outdoor shows but not the UK arenas, will be American rockers Halestorm. The second half of the tour sees Sweden’s Avatar as guests. And, finally, British metal band, The Raven Age, will open all UK & Ireland shows. The festivals will of course be festival billing.

Fan Club Presales begin Monday 23rd September – details here.

Tickets go on general sale next week – check the tour dates page for times and dates.

Trooper VIP packages will be available at all shows.

Says Bruce Dickinson, “Next year is a very special one for IRON MAIDEN and we’re going to be giving our fans a once-in-a-lifetime live experience. This is a tour that’s gonna put a smile on your face and a cheer in your throat. If you’ve seen us before, then get ready to take that experience to a whole new level. If you’ve never seen us before, then what the hell have you been waiting for? Now’s your chance to find out what you’ve been missing! IRON MAIDEN’s definitely gonna get ya!”

Manager Rod Smallwood adds, “50 years of Maiden and I have seen 46 of them! With well over 100 million albums sold and almost 2500 shows in 64 countries and counting, to countless millions of fans, we are all still loving every second and consider every tour a new challenge to bring something different and exciting to our fans. And for this very special one we’re pulling out all the stops!

We will cover classics and fan favourites from the first nine albums, from IRON MAIDEN to FEAR OF THE DARK, many of which we haven’t played in years and many we will likely never play again in the future. We have already been hard at work for months putting together an even more spectacular and elaborate new show which will bring the songs to life more than we have ever been able to do before. This is going to be a huge couple of years for IRON MAIDEN, and Eddie of course, and we are very excited about what we have up our sleeves for you fans throughout the whole of our 50th year. I promise you are all going to be very happy indeed!”

On Saturday June 28th the band will perform at the London Stadium, home of West Ham Football Club – the team that band founder Steve Harris has supported throughout his life, and with whom IRON MAIDEN have a long and storied history.

This concert in front of over 60,000 fans, will be the first time that IRON MAIDEN have performed on the club’s hallowed turf. A true homecoming show – with Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith & Nicko McBrain all born in the surrounding area – it will also be the biggest UK venue the band have ever headlined outside of their festival appearances.

Steve Harris says, “My love of football and my support of West Ham is no secret, and I know many of our fans around the world have shared that with me too. So we’re all very excited to be playing at the London Stadium as part of the RUN FOR YOUR LIVES tour. We can’t wait to see you all there!”

MAY 2025
27 Budapest, HUNGARY – Budapest Aréna *
31 Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC – Letnany Airport *

JUNE 2025
01 Bratislava, SLOVAKIA – TIPOS Arena *
05 Trondheim, NORWAY – Trondheim Rocks (Festival)
07 Stavanger, NORWAY – SR-Bank Arena *
09 Copenhagen, DENMARK – Royal Arena *
12 Stockholm, SWEDEN – 3Arena *
13 Stockholm, SWEDEN – 3Arena *
16 Helsinki, FINLAND – Olympic Stadium *
21 Birmingham, ENGLAND – Utilita Arena ^
22 Manchester, ENGLAND – Co-op Live ^
25 Dublin, IRELAND – Malahide Castle *^
28 London, ENGLAND – London Stadium *^
30 Glasgow, SCOTLAND – OVO Hydro ^

JULY 2025
03 Belfort, FRANCE – Eurockéennes Festival
05 Madrid, SPAIN – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano **
06 Lisbon, PORTUGAL – MEO Arena **
09 Zurich, SWITZERLAND – Hallenstadion **
11 Gelsenkirchen, GERMANY – Veltins-Arena **
13 Padova, ITALY – Stadio Euganeo **
15 Bremen, GERMANY – Bürgerweide **
17 Vienna, AUSTRIA – Ernst Happel Stadium **
19 Paris, FRANCE – Paris La Défense Arena **
23 Arnhem, NETHERLANDS – GelreDome **
25 Frankfurt, GERMANY – Deutsche Bank Park **
26 Stuttgart, GERMANY – Cannstatter Wasen **
29 Berlin, GERMANY – Waldbühne **

AUGUST 2025
02 Warsaw – POLAND – PGE Narodowy **

*Halestorm | ^The Raven Age | **Avatar

Metallica M72 World Tour 2025 North American Dates Announced

Eric Alper
-
0
Metallica M72 World Tour 2025 North American Dates Announced

Metallica has confirmed that its record-breaking M72 World Tour will be extended into a third year, with the announcement of 21 North American shows spanning April, May and June 2025.

Two-night tickets for the newly announced No Repeat Weekends and tickets for the single-night engagements will be on sale September 27 at 10am local time. Fan club pre-sales begin September 23 at 10am local time. For further information, enhanced experiences, travel packages and more, go to https://metallica.lnk.to/M72WorldTour2025

Since opening April 2023 in Amsterdam, M72 has seen Metallica play to some three million fans. Variously hailed as “an altogether life-affirming experience” (Billboard), “impossible to leave unsatisfied” (Austin Chronicle), “a stone-cold stunner of a show” (Detroit News), “the mother of all summer concerts” (Worcester Telegram Gazette) and “as tight and furious as Metallica has sounded in ages” (Los Angeles Times), M72 continues to amaze fans and critics alike. The tour will conclude its triumphant 2024 run with four nights at Mexico City’s Estadio GNP Seguros, where Metallica will play to more than 250,000 fans over the course of two No Repeat Weekends.

The M72 World Tour’s 2025 itinerary will continue the hallowed No Repeat Weekend tradition, with each night of the two-show stands featuring entirely different setlists and support lineups. These will include the band’s first Nashville shows in five years on May 1 and 3 at Nissan Stadium, as well as Metallica’s return to Tampa after 15 years on June 6 and 8 at Raymond James Stadium. M72 has also confirmed its much anticipated Bay Area hometown play, to take place June 20 and 22 with the band’s debut performances at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

In a new twist, M72 2025 will feature several single shows bringing the tour’s full production, with its massive in-the-round stage, to venues including two college football stadiums: JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York on April 19, and Metallica’s first ever visit to Blacksburg, Virginia, home of the Virginia Tech Hokies. The May 7 show at Lane Stadium will mark the culmination of 20+ years of “Enter Sandman” playing as the Hokies take the field.

In addition to playing football stadiums across the nation, the M72 World Tour’s 2025 itinerary will also include two festival headlines—the first being the opening night of the run April 12 at Sick New World at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. May 9 and 11 will then mark a festival/No Repeat Weekend combo as Metallica plays two headline sets at Sonic Temple at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Support on M72’s 2025 North American run will come from Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies and Ice Nine Kills. See below for specifics.

Additionally, M72 2025 will see Metallica’s long-awaited return to Australia and New Zealand. Stay tuned to https://www.metallica.com/ for further announcements.

M72’s 2025 North American leg is produced by Live Nation and presented by new sponsor inKind. inKind rewards diners with special offers and credit back when they use the app to pay at 2,000+ top-rated restaurants nationwide. The company provides innovative financing to participating restaurants in a way that enables new levels of sustainability and success. Metallica fans can learn more at inkind.com.

Citi is the official card of the M72 tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, September 24 at 10am local time until Thursday, September 26 at 10pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.
Verizon will offer an exclusive presale for the M72 tour in the U.S through Verizon Access, just for being a customer. Verizon Access Presale tickets for select shows will begin Tuesday, September 24 at 10am local time until Thursday, September 26 at 10pm local time. For more details visit Verizon.com/Access.

* Citi and Verizon presales will not be available for Sick New World, Sonic Temple or the Toronto dates. Verizon presale will not be available for the Nashville, Blacksburg or Landover shows.

As always, a portion of proceeds from every ticket sold will go to local charities via the band’s All Within My Hands foundation. Established in 2017 as a way to give back to communities that have supported Metallica over the years, All Within My Hands has raised over $15 million – providing $8.2 million in grants to career and technical education programs including the ground-breaking Metallica Scholars Initiative, now in its sixth year, over $3.6 million to combat food insecurity, more than $3.5 million to disaster relief efforts.

METALLICA M72 WORLD TOUR North America 2025

April 12 Las Vegas, NV Sick New World @ Las Vegas Festival Grounds
April 19 Syracuse, NY JMA Wireless Dome *
April 24 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre *
April 26 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre +
May 1 Nashville, TN Nissan Stadium *
May 3 Nashville, TN Nissan Stadium +
May 7 Blacksburg, VA Lane Stadium *
May 9 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple @ Historic Crew Stadium
May 11 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple @ Historic Crew Stadium
May 23 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field +
May 25 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field *
May 28 Landover, MD Northwest Stadium *
May 31 Charlotte, NC Bank of America Stadium *
June 3 Atlanta, GA Mercedes-Benz Stadium *
June 6 Tampa, FL Raymond James Stadium +
June 8 Tampa, FL Raymond James Stadium *
June 14 Houston, TX NRG Stadium *
June 20 Santa Clara, CA Levi’s Stadium +
June 22 Santa Clara, CA Levi’s Stadium *
June 27 Denver, CO Empower Field at Mile High +
June 29 Denver, CO Empower Field at Mile High *

* Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies support
+ Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills support

Rogers to Become Majority Owner of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

Eric Alper
-
0
Rogers to Become Majority Owner of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) (NYSE: RCI) (“Rogers”) today announced it has signed an agreement to buy Bell’s 37.5% ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) for C$4.7 billion.

“MLSE is one of the most prestigious sports and entertainment organizations in the world and we’re proud to expand our ownership of these coveted sports teams,” said Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers. “As Canada’s leading communications and entertainment company, live sports and entertainment are a critical part of our core business strategy.”

Rogers has invested $14 billion in Canadian sports over the last decade. With this transaction, Rogers will continue to invest to bring championships to Canada.

“Winning is everything for fans, and that’s why we’re committed to investing to bring more championships to Canada,” said Edward Rogers, Executive Chair, Rogers. “We’re passionate about sports and we’re passionate about winning.”

Financing for this transaction will not affect Rogers debt leverage and financing will include private investors.

“MLSE continues to appreciate significantly, and together with our sports and media assets, we plan to surface more value for shareholders long-term,” said Staffieri. “This agreement also ensures long-term Canadian ownership and investment of these iconic teams.”

This agreement adds to Rogers existing sports portfolio including ownership of the Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre and Sportsnet, the number one sports network in Canada. The company also has strategic partnerships with the Vancouver Canucks, the Edmonton Oilers, the Calgary Flames and the NHL. When the transaction closes, Rogers will be the largest owner of MLSE with a controlling Interest in 75% of MLSE.

The deal will provide Bell with the opportunity to renew its existing MLSE broadcast and sponsorship rights long-term at fair market value. This includes access to content rights for 50% of Toronto Maple Leafs regional games and 50% of Toronto Raptors games for which MLSE controls the rights. The transaction is subject to league and regulatory approvals.

Role Model Announces No Place Like Tour World Tour In Support Of New Album, ‘Kansas Anymore’

Eric Alper
-
0
Role Model Announces No Place Like Tour World Tour In Support Of New Album, ‘Kansas Anymore’

Role Model will be touring the world in support of his sophomore album, Kansas Anymore (Interscope Records). He’ll launch the UK/European leg of the tour in Dublin, IE at The Academy on November 10, 2024. In early February 2025, he’ll play a series of shows in Australia and New Zealand. Produced by Live Nation, the North American leg will kick off in Phoenix at The Van Buren on February 24 and include shows at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC (March 11), New York’s Brooklyn Paramount (March 15) and The Wiltern in Los Angeles (April 1). See below for the itinerary for the No Place Like Tour world tour.

Fans can sign up now for the password to the artist pre-sale, which begins on Tuesday, September 10, at 10:00am local time. General on-sale begins on Friday, September 13, at 10:00am local time at https://RoleModel.lnk.to/NPLTour.

Role Model will be joined by special guests Matilda Mann in the UK, Medium Build in AU/NZ and Debbii Dawson on all North American dates except for Denver.

With over 60 million combined global streams to date, Kansas Anymore is a folk-tinged, lyric driven album that encapsulates the warmth and comfort Role Model was seeking while grieving the end of his last relationship. Listen HERE.

He recently performed the single “Deeply Still In Love” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” View HERE. The song has amassed over 16 million combined global streams and taken the internet by storm with more than 371 million views on TikTok across 40,000+ creates. Euphoria. Magazine said, “‘[‘Deeply Still In Love’] is the kind of track that grabs you by the hand and pulls you onto the dance floor of emotions…a rollercoaster ride of love, loss, and longing…”

Awarding Kansas Anymore four stars, DIY marveled that “a record ostensibly about heartbreak and homesickness can be so overwhelmingly fun, using both genre and trope in parallel ways with just the right level of self-awareness and humour along the way…” In another four-star review, Dork observed, “Role Model’s latest is an artful deviation from his debut, ‘Rx.’ It more boldly leans into folkish roots, choosing breezy, sun-tinged melodies even when navigating the album’s subject matter feels treacherous.” 

Role Model is currently on the road with acclaimed singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams as special guest on her sold-out The Secret of Us tour.

Role Model’s been in love. He was so in love he wrote his entire debut album Rx about it. But not all romances last forever, and the 27-year-old’s grieving of his last relationship is at the center of his sophomore album Kansas Anymore.

With over 45 million streams to date, Kansas Anymore is a folk-tinged, lyric driven album that encapsulates the warmth and comfort Role Model was seeking out when he wrote it. Featuring viral singles “Deeply Still in Love” and “Frances,” the album was a two year writing process, and includes production from Noah Conrad, Ian Fitchuk, Scott Harris and Jonah Shy.

Now 27, Role Model initially gained traction with a string of independent singles in 2017, receiving co-signs from Benny Blanco and the late legend Mac Miller. He unassumingly caught fire with projects such as the oh, how perfect and our little angel EPs. In 2021, “forever&more” racked up 60 million Spotify streams as OnesToWatch christened it “one of our favorite songs of the summer.” DIY pegged him among its “Class of 2022,” and he embarked on a massive world tour with stops at Coachella, Hangout Music Festival, Bonnaroo and more. After attaining hundreds of millions of streams and selling out headline shows, Role Model released his full-length debut album, Rx, in 2022, which earned acclaim from HYPEBEAST, Interview, FLAUNT, People, CLASH Magazine and more.

With his new album Kansas Anymore, Role Model is looking forward to playing these songs live, but more than anything, he’s embracing the sense of pride — and closure — he feels about making the album, about turning a personally heavy season of life into something that might move others. As rough as it was to ride that roller coaster of heartbreak and homesickness, Role Model feels these are the greatest songs he’s made yet.

Role Model The No Place Like Tour World Tour
UK/Europe
November 2024
10 – Dublin, IE – The Academy *
12 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute Birmingham *
13 – Manchester, UK – O2 Ritz Manchester *
15 – London, UK – O2 Academy Brixton *
17 – Paris, FR – Élysée Montmartre
19 – Hamburg, DE – Docks
21 – Stockholm, SE – Slaktkyrkan
23 – Oslo, NO – Parkteatret
25 – Copenhagen, DK – Pumpehuset
27 – Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg
28 – Cologne, DE – Carlswerk Victoria
30 – Frankfurt, DE – ZOOM
December 2024
2 – Berlin, DE – Huxleys Neue Welt
4 – Warsaw, PL – Proxima
5 – Prague, CZ – ROXY
6 – Munich, DE – Backstage Werk
8 – Madrid, ES – La Riviera
9 – Barcelona, ES – Sala Apolo
New Zealand/Australia
February 2025
3 – Auckland, NZ – Powerstation ^
5 – Brisbane, AU – The Tivoli ^
6 – Sydney, AU – Enmore Theatre^
8 – Melbourne, AU – Forum ^
11 – Adelaide, AU – The Gov ^
North America
February 2025
24 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren +
27 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues +
28 – Houston, TX – House of Blues +
March 2025
2 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater +
4 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues +
5 – Tampa, FL – The RITZ Ybor +
7 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle+
8 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works +
9 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore +
11 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club + (not a Live Nation show)
14 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore +
15 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount +
16 – Boston, MA – House of Blues +
18 – Montréal, QC – MTELUS +
19 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY +
20 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore +
22 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone +
23 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre +
25 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee +
26 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore +
28 – Denver, CO – Summit
29 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center +
April 2025
1 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern +
3 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater + (not a Live Nation show)
5 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom +
6 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo + (not a Live Nation show)
7 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom +
* Matilda Mann supporting
^ Medium Build supporting
+ Debbii Dawson supporting

Spanish Folk Metal Legends Mägo De Oz Set To Rock The U.S. With Their ‘Feliz No Cumpleaños Tour’

Eric Alper
-
0
Spanish Folk Metal Legends Mägo De Oz Set To Rock The U.S. With Their ‘Feliz No Cumpleaños Tour’

Mägo de Oz, the Spanish folk metal band known for their unique fusion of heavy metal with Celtic and Spanish folk influences, return to the U.S. with their Feliz No Cumpleaños Tour. With a career spanning over three decades and a devoted international following, Mägo de Oz will bring their signature sound to eight cities this fall.

Powered by Live Nation and Frias Entertainment, the tour kicks off in Dallas on October 17 with stops in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, before wrapping up in Los Angeles at the YouTube Theater on November 2.  The band is preparing a setlist featuring their greatest hits, from the anthemic “Fiesta Pagana” to the beloved “Molinos de Viento,” celebrating their rich musical legacy.

Anyone who has seen them live knows Mägo de Oz’s concerts go beyond the typical performance. Each show is carefully crafted, blending storytelling, theatrics, and a trip through their musical journey. The Feliz No Cumpleaños Tour offers a chance to experience the band’s signature style live, which has been honed over decades.

Mägo de Oz (Spanish for Wizard of Oz) are a Spanish folk metal band from Begoña, Madrid formed in mid-1988 by drummer Txus di Fellatio. The band became well known for the strong Celtic feel to their music strengthened through their consistent usage of a violinist and flutist. The name for the band was chosen, according to founding member Txus, because “life is a yellow brick road, on which we walk in the company of others searching for our dreams. On the 26th of October, 2018, the band played a special concert to celebrate their 30th anniversary, playing with a symphony orchestra at the WiZink Center in Madrid.a

TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with artist presales beginning on Wednesday, September 4. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning on Friday, September 6 at 10am local time on LiveNation.com.

FELIZ NO CUMPLEAÑOS TOUR DATES: 
Thu Oct 17 – Dallas, TX –  House of Blues
Fri Oct 18 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Sun Oct 20 – El Paso, TX – LowBrow
Tue Oct 22 – Phoenix – AZ The Van Buren
Thu Oct 24 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
Sun Oct 27  – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park
Wed Oct 30 –  San Francisco, CA –  The Fillmore
Sat Nov 02 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater

Congolese Icon Fally Ipupa Announces First-Ever North American Tour for 2024

Eric Alper
-
0
Congolese Icon Fally Ipupa Announces First-Ever North American Tour for 2024

Internationally acclaimed Congolese superstar Fally Ipupa is set to embark on his first-ever tour in North America. His Coming To The Americas Tour will be a limited-run this year visiting five cities – Dallas, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Montreal and Silver Spring, MD before expanding to more cities and larger venues in 2025.

Produced by Live Nation, Mad Mad Productions, and EGBON, the tour will bring the electrifying sounds and vibrant performances of one of Africa’s most celebrated musicians to stages in North America this November. With a career spanning nearly 25 years, Fally Ipupa has established himself as a global music sensation, known for his innovative blend of traditional Congolese rumba with contemporary urban sounds. His music has not only captivated audiences worldwide but has also paved the way for music from the Congo and other African nations to break into the mainstream.

Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Fally Ipupa’s rise to fame began in the late 1990s as a member of the legendary Quartier Latin International, led by Koffi Olomidé. His debut solo album, Droit Chemin, released in 2006, catapulted him to international stardom, earning him accolades and a devoted fanbase across Africa, Europe, and beyond.

Fally’s music is a celebration of his Congolese heritage, infused with modern influences that have made him a favorite on the global stage. His trailblazing career has seen him collaborate with some of the biggest names in music, bridging the gap between African and Western music scenes.

In addition to his musical achievements, Ipupa is deeply committed to giving back to his community through various philanthropic efforts. He partners with organizations such as UNESCO, UNDP, and UNICEF, where he currently serves as a national ambassador for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

COMING TO THE AMERICAS TOUR DATES:
Sun Nov 03 Dallas, TX South Side Ballroom
Mon Nov 04 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
Wed Nov 06 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Paramount
Fri Nov 08 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
Sun Nov 10 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore Silver Spring

My Next Read: “Mia Zapata and The Gits: A Story of Art, Rock, and Revolution” by Steve Moriarty

Eric Alper
-
0
My Next Read: “Mia Zapata and The Gits: A Story of Art, Rock, and Revolution” by Steve Moriarty

Seattle band, The Gits and their charismatic front person Mia Zapata were on the verge of international rock stardom but on July 7, 1993, days before their third US tour, Mia Zapata, The Gits 27-year-old singer-songwriter, was brutally assaulted and murdered by a stranger. Zapata’s death sent chilling ripples through progressive communities throughout the United States. She became a cause-celebre for women’s rights activists outraged by the brutal killing and lack of law enforcement support. This book reclaims Zapata’s story to focus on the art she and The Gits created and not her tragic end.

Much has been written and said about her murder, yet Zapata’s life and work remain overshadowed by the circumstances of her death. Zapata’s friend and bandmate, Steve Moriarty, tells her story—and the story of their band, The Gits—from their first meeting in 1985 to their last goodbye.

Moriarity and Zapata met in 1985 as first-year students at Antioch College, where they discovered the power of punk rock and found an outlet for their progressive ideas through music. Zapata, Moriarity, and fellow students Matt Dresdner and Andy Kessler attended a show by San Francisco punk legends Dead Kennedys that inspired the friends to start a band fueled by Mia’s provocative lyrics. They quickly gained critical praise and dedicated fans.

Moriarty details their struggles as newcomers to the then-pre-tech outpost of the Seattle music scene. Interspersed are the tales Zapata told of her legendary ancestor, Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, to entertain the band as they spen’t countless hours on the road crammed into a single un-air-conditioned van touring the US and Europe. They shared stages with Beck, Nirvana, Mudhoney, Joan Jett, Bikini Kill, L7, and more—all who expected Mia and The Gits to be the next “big thing.”

The Gits’s story is more than a biography; it’s a testament to the ability of artists and musicians to challenge the status quo and the power of friendship to change the world. Moriarty reframes the sensationalist story as he shares his personal narrative and presents, with intimacy, grit, and humor, the lived experience of The Gits and his dear friend, Mia Zapata.

Violent Femmes Announce 40th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue of Seminal Album Hallowed Ground

Eric Alper
-
0
Violent Femmes Announce 40th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue of Seminal Album Hallowed Ground

Craft Recordings and Violent Femmes are commemorating 40 years of the band’s sophomore title, Hallowed Ground, with a wide vinyl reissue. Once an overlooked gem, the album has become a cornerstone of Violent Femmes’ catalog and live performances, and a pioneering work in the post-punk and alt-country genres. Set for release on November 8 and available for pre-order today, the LP has been mastered from the original stereo tapes (AAA) and features standout tracks such as the live staple “Country Death Song,” fan favorite “Never Tell,” the hauntingly atmospheric “I Hear the Rain,” the Lou Reed–inspired “Sweet Misery Blues” and the infectious “Jesus Walking on the Water.” In addition to the standard vinyl, widely available for the first time in over a decade, Hallowed Ground can also be found in four limited color pressings, including a Green Smoke variant (available at vfemmes.com and craftrecordings.com), Orange Smoke (independent record stores), Azure Blue (Barnes & Noble) and Onyx (Spotify Fans First, available exclusively to followers). The remastered album will also make its debut on hi-res digital.

To mark this milestone, Violent Femmes are currently on a North America tour, resuming tonight with two performances in Northampton, MA. The tour will conclude on October 9 with a special show at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. For a full list of dates, visit the band’s official website.

First released in May of 1984, Violent Femmes’ sophomore title, Hallowed Ground, is celebrated for its innovative exploration of American roots music, blending traditional folk influences with the band’s distinctive style. The set also includes contributions from banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka on “Country Death Song” and “It’s Gonna Rain,” and avant-garde saxophonist John Zorn on “Black Girls,” both of whom added distinctive layers to the record’s experimental soundscape.

The album’s lyrics delve into themes of faith, redemption and existential contemplation. This marked a bold departure from the more straightforward pop sound of the band’s debut, which featured beloved teen angst anthems like “Blister in the Sun,” “Add It Up” and “Kiss Off.” The record’s unique lyrical approach and haunting melodies created a deeply introspective and immersive listening experience that intrigued—and initially divided—listeners, including the band members themselves.

On Hallowed Ground, Gano embraced his faith, something previously restrained in his songwriting at the request of atheist-leaning members Brian Ritchie (Femmes’ bassist) and Victor Delorenzo (Femmes’ original drummer). Gano explained the group’s hesitation in a 1989 interview with Phoenix New Times, saying, “At the time, Brian was very aggressively anti-anything Christian. He said he didn’t want to be playing in a band that was expressing something that he felt so vehemently against. I figured they’d find their expression sometime later.” What made Ritchie relent, however, was the quality of Gano’s songwriting. It was unimpeachable. “It’s funny,” Gano added in that interview, “Brian now says that my Christian songs are some of my best numbers.”

In a 2012 interview with the Houston Chronicle, Brian Ritchie offered insight into the album’s creation and its initial reception, reflecting, “To me, it’s more punk to defy your audience than to play what they want to hear. But we lost our audience that way.” Speaking to the fact that both the debut and Hallowed Ground were written while Gano was still in high school, he added, “Ironically, we had the material for both albums. We could’ve put out a double or released Hallowed Ground first and then the debut. We chose to make the first one a pop album and Hallowed Ground a sprawling exploration of American roots music. We’re not considered in the Americana category . . .”

The album’s adventurous spirit and artistic risk-taking have been both lauded and criticized over the years. AllMusic praised Hallowed Groundas “breathtaking and terrifying,” adding that “the Femmes are nothing if not true to themselves, and Hallowed Ground is a testament to their tenacity, courage, and sheer obliviousness to industry ogling. Each track is as naked as it is bursting with ideas, and as the landscape changes, the band changes with it.” Vinyl District concurs that Hallowed Ground “is one of rock music’s core texts in how to successfully flout expectations. It still succeeds greatly as a document of nervy conceptual growth and as a major breakthrough in terms of individual musicianship.” Meanwhile, some critics were initially conflicted, with music scholar and New York Times writer Robert Palmer declaring it “a subterranean mother lode of apocalyptic religion, murder, and madness that has lurked just under the surface of hillbilly music and blues since the 19th century.”

But to fans today, Hallowed Ground stands as a testament to Violent Femmes’ innovative spirit and their enduring influence on independent music. The album highlights the band’s ability to evolve while preserving their unique voice, a quality they’ve maintained throughout their now four-decade career. As Violent Femmes embark on a nationwide tour to commemorate this milestone, fans can experience the band’s dynamic evolution firsthand.

Click here to pre-order or stream/download Violent Femmes’ Hallowed Ground (40th Anniversary Edition).

Track Listing:

Side A

  1. Country Death Song
  2. I Hear The Rain
  3. Never Tell
  4. Jesus Walking On The Water
  5. I Know It’s True But I’m Sorry To Say

Side B

  1. Hallowed Ground
  2. Sweet Misery Blues
  3. Black Girls
  4. It’s Gonna Rain

Violent Femmes’ Hallowed Ground Tour Dates:

8/13: Northampton, MA – The Pines Theater

8/14: Northampton, MA – The Pines Theater

8/16: Centre Wellington, ON, Canada – Riverfest Elora 2024

8/17: Lafayette, NY – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards

8/18: Middlefield, CT – Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort

9/7: Copper Mountain, CO – Union Peak Festival 2024

9/8: Sandy, UT – Sandy Amphitheater

9/9: Sandy, UT – Sandy Amphitheater

9/21: Southwest, DC – HFStival 2024

9/26: Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues Orlando

9/27: Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater

9/28: St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live

9/29: St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre

10/1: Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall

10/2: Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater

10/4: Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall

10/5: Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit

10/6: Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall

10/8: Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company

10/9: Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center

Craft Recordings Announces Reissue for Brenton Wood’s 18 Best

Eric Alper
-
0
Craft Recordings Announces Reissue for Brenton Wood’s 18 Best

Craft Recordings announces a reissue for Brenton Wood’s 18 Best, a celebrated collection of the soul singer’s classic songs. The October 4th release will feature his most famous tracks, including the career-defining “Oogum Boogum” and “Gimme Little Sign,” as well as “Baby You Got It”—a trio of hits he released in the 1960s. Available for pre-order today, Brenton Wood’s 18 Best will be released on CD as well as vinyl for the first time and for a limited-time, fans can pick up the album on two special colorways: “Lemonade” (via CraftRecordings.com) or “Baby Blue” (via RSD Essentials). Stream on all major platforms today.

Raised in Southern California (first San Pedro, then Compton) as Alfred Jesse Smith, the singer would later change his name to Brenton Wood, speculated by many to be a nod to Los Angeles’ moneyed Brentwood neighborhood. He played piano as a child and, inspired by his idols, soul icon Sam Cooke and doo-wop great Jesse Belvin, performed in a few vocal groups before forging out on his own.

In 1967, the aspiring singer would make good on his dreams of becoming a star after signing to Double Shot Records and releasing the plucky-sweet “Oogum Boogum.” NPR once commented, “It’s hard to be in a bad mood after you hear the ‘Oogum Boogum Song’ . . . there’s something about the feeling. That almost playful falsetto, the drums bouncing along, the jangly guitar hits.”

The single was a runaway hit, reaching No.34 on Billboard’s pop chart and No.19 on its R&B chart. Timeless in its appeal, “Oogum Boogum” would go on to appear, decades later, on soundtracks for films such as Almost Famous and Don’t Worry Darling, as well as on TV series like Sex Education and The Umbrella Academy. A few months after that single’s success, Wood released “Gimme Little Sign,” his buoyant, heady love song that soared to No.9 on Billboard’s pop chart and No.19 on its R&B chart. The single sold more than one million copies worldwide.

At this point, Wood, who released both tunes on his debut album, Oogum Boogum, became synonymous with his upbeat affirmations about love, which AllMusic once praised for their “charmingly unpredictable phrasing and his infectious sense of good times.” The album Baby You Got It followed, with its title-track standout, a shimmering song that once again makes fine use of his falsetto and hit No.34 on Billboard’s pop chart. During this prolific era, the singer cut eleven 45s in total.

One of those tracks, “Me and You,” deserves a shoutout for Wood’s effortless use of smooth doo-wop. And another, “Catch You on the Rebound,” would become a lowrider-soul classic popularized by Latino fans. “These days,” the LA Times noted in 1992, “the veteran performer’s fortunes rest in East LA and other Mexican-American strongholds.” Wood, who has released six albums in total and found renewed popularity in the 1980s by touring lowrider festivals. “In the world of East Side Story compilations and dropped Chevy Fleetlines,” NPR writes, “he’s basically Bruce Springsteen.”

Click here to pre-order or stream now.

Track Listing (Vinyl):

Side A

  1. Gimme Little Sign
  2. Oogum Boogum
  3. Baby You Got It
  4. I Think You’ve Got Your Fools Mixed Up
  5. Great Big Bundle Of Love
  6. I’m The One Who Knows
  7. Lovey Dovery Kind Of Love
  8. Can You Dig It
  9. Whoop It On Me

Side B

  1. Take A Chance
  2. Catch You On The Rebound
  3. Me And You
  4. I Like The Way You Love Me
  5. Darlin’
  6. Where Were You
  7. Two Time Loser
  8. Sad Little Songs
  9. Good Night Baby

Track Listing (CD):

  1. Gimme Little Sign
  2. Oogum Boogum
  3. Baby You Got It
  4. I Think You’ve Got Your Fools Mixed Up
  5. Great Big Bundle Of Love
  6. I’m The One Who Knows
  7. Lovey Dovery Kind Of Love
  8. Can You Dig It
  9. Whoop It On Me
  10. Take A Chance
  11. Catch You On The Rebound
  12. Me And You
  13. I Like The Way You Love Me
  14. Darlin’
  15. Where Were You
  16. Two Time Loser
  17. Sad Little Songs
  18. Good Night Baby
1...1,8031,8041,805...3,728Page 1,804 of 3,728

Follow us on Instagram @thatericalper

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

Popular posts

Popular category

© Copyright - That Eric Alper