Canadian outfit KRONIS debuts their firm yet inventive footing on the fault line between alt rock and EDM with the release of their newest single, “It’s Time For Love,” and breakthrough album Against The World — both available now!
“I spent three years in the studio with Parker creating Against The World,” Toronto and Los Angeles, California-based frontman Aaron Kronis says, name checking mix engineer and producer Parker Ament of XLNTStudios. “We didn’t know what the title would be, or the number of tracks, but we knew we were onto something.”
That ‘something’ is alt rock streamed live with live guitars, live vocals, and Ableton. It’s guitars into cell phones while on hoverboards. It’s the essence of skateboarding at Burning Man channeled into a technologically enabled sonic sojourn spanning the ages.
“KRONIS has become the final evolution of a lead singer and an extraordinary guitar player who’s into electronic sounds and manipulations of waveforms to create something new that sounds familiar,” Kronis says. “And Against The World wholly captures the constant stamina required to endure this music industry based on my life in Los Angeles, and the world today.”
There’s a lot of moving pieces to the project, including contributions from musicians Matt Starr (Mr. Big, Ace Frehley), Chris Moore (RockOfAges Tour, Project Nfidelikah), and Andy Sansei (Missing Persons, Frankie Valli). There’s live performances at the links of the Viper Room, and features on KLOS Los Angeles and 102.1 The Edge with Alan Cross’ Ongoing History of New Music.
And there’s a lot more to come, Kronis adds. “We already have enough material for two or three more albums, so we’re just continuously working on tracks and live performance setups going forward.
‘Everything’s on a cob,” he continues, bringing his focus back to this Summer 2020’s debut LP, Against The World. “I mean, I watch just as much inter dimensional cable as the next guy, but this album seriously has zero compromises — and I never ever say that about a project.
“Why, though, for this one? Because it was my final say, and I gave the other artists involved the freedom to express themselves as they felt.
“It provided me with the best results imaginable.”
Hear just what that means on “It’s Time For Love” and Against The World. Both are available now.
Every band knows how frustrating it can be to collaborate with the intention of creating a new song. This is due in no small part to the fact that each artist within the group has his or own personality and sense of pride. Furthermore, ego and talent can often represent a rather volatile combination. So, attempting to come across a sense of cohesion can sometimes be exceedingly challenging. This is why it might be a good idea to approach your next brainstorming session from a slightly different perspective. Let’s quickly examine some interesting tips and techniques that will come in handy when the going gets tough.
All About Obtaining Collective Input
It can actually be wise to view a musical brainstorming session in the same manner as a team project within traditional work settings. Every team has a designated leader. The same holds true with a band. In the same way, both scenarios will require input from other members if a solution is to be reached. This is why no single voice should ever dominate a gathering. While each member will obviously share his or her thoughts and control the conversation for a period of time, it is important to remain focused upon its collective nature.
This is also important if you hope to avoid interpersonal conflicts (although these will inevitably occur from time to time). Allowing the voices of each member to be heard will often result in some amazing outcomes. In the same respect, this sense of resonant cohesion will ensure that all band members are in agreement from a long-term perspective.
Know When to Take a Break
As you already know, it is necessary to burn the midnight oil on occasion in order to come across that enviable spark of inspiration. Still, how much is too much? A time will come when mental fatigue supersedes creativity. It is important to know when to take a step back. Some experts recommend implementing a ten-minute break every hour. Members can take a breath of fresh air, play a quick game on sites such as getluckycasino.com or simply sit back and relax. These brief mental hiatuses will enable you to return to the project with a sense of vigor and motivation; both key traits if you hope to retain your productivity.
There are likewise times when you and your members have simply burned out to the point when nothing good will result from continuing. In this scenario, it is wise to close the session until you feel refreshed and up to the task. It makes little sense continuing if the results will be substandard.
Of course, it can take weeks or even months to write a song. There is nothing wrong with such a drawn-out process, as it will allow your thoughts to “ferment” in order to create truly amazing music. Try to avoid any feelings of frustration and above all, always remember that the creative process is not always easy. If it were, everyone would be a successful musician.
July 2020 sees the publication of A Genesis In My Bed – the long overdue autobiography from guitar great and former member of Genesis, Steve Hackett. As with his music, Steve has written a highly detailed, entertaining and embracing tome that charts his life in full, but with a firm emphasis on his years with Genesis that saw the band’s meteoric rise to become one of the most successful British bands of all time.
Steve talks candidly about his early life, his time with Genesis, and in particular his personal relationships with the other four band members, with great insight into the daily goings on of this major rock band.
Naturally, A Genesis In My Bed also regales stories of Steve’s career since leaving Genesis and the many different journeys that it has taken him on. With his flair for the creative, and a great deal of levity, A Genesis In My Bed is a riveting read. Indispensable for Genesis fans but also essential for general music lovers and avid readers of autobiographies full of heartfelt and emotive tales.
Steve says, “It’s often revealing. There’s lace, loves and butterflies, and I explore personal feelings. I’ve answered many questions fans asked over the years too, such as why I left Genesis. It’s taken fifteen years to bring this book to fruition, writing between tours, recording and legal challenges, but that’s given me time to really develop it.”
Big Sugar is set to issue a special 25th edition of their platinum-selling Hemi-Vision featuring hit singles, newly-released lost takes, acoustic versions and dub remixes on September 25, 2020, via Universal Music Canada. Featuring six previously un-released bonus tracks, rare photos and memorabilia from the band’s archives, as well as extensive liner notes by Gordie Johnson who shares the story of the tragic and tumultuous events leading up to the original release, Hemi-Vision Deluxe Edition is available on 180-gram vinyl (in bright green and orange), CD and digital/streaming services.
“Hemi-Vision was full of heartaches, punch-ups, even the death of a band mate and all of that energy is palpable on the record,” shares Johnson. “We found some long-lost outtakes and early versions of songs that really show the evolution of our musical recipe at that time.”
Take a trip down memory lane with 12-pages of liner notes written by Gordie Johnson and a foreword by Rush’s Alex Lifeson. From the band’s early days of Gordie, Garry Lowe and Kelly Hoppe trying to regain footing after the sudden death of their drummer Walter “Crash” Morgan while on tour, to a chance encounter with Lifeson and a generous gift that forever changed the course of Big Sugar, step back in time and join the journey of how this roots/rock/reggae crew came to be one of Canada’s most iconic touring bands.
Full Track List:
Side A
Diggin’ A Hole
Gone For Good
If I Had My Way
Skull Ring
Side B
Joe Louis (Judgement Day)
Tommy Johnson
La Stralla
Tired All The Time
Side C
Empty Head
Opem Up Baby
Rolling Pin
Tobacco Hand
Side D
Gone For Good (Early Version)
Gone For Good (Lost Take)
Judgement Day (Dub Mix)
Diggin’ A Hole (Acoustic Version)
Baby’s In Black
Tommy Johnson (Dub Mix)
Additional information can be found on the band’s social channels and website https://bigsugar.com/. In the past few months while at home and unable to tour due to Covid-19, Gordie has been playing weekly YouTube live ‘Soundshack Sessions’ every Friday afternoon. Tune-in here to catch them all.
In the 90s Big Sugar emerged clad in Hugo Boss suits as the antithesis to the grunge esthetic with a unique combination of Jamaican rhythms, blues tonality and heavy rock aggression. They dominated the airwaves and highways with songs like “Diggin A Hole,” “The Scene,” “Turn The Lights On” and “Roads Ahead.” Their roots-rock-reggae style has built a loyal following, earning Big Sugar a Road Gold Award as they continue to sell out concerts across North America. Gordie Johnson’s guitar playing continues to influence a new generation of young guitarists as well as peers. To quote lyrics from the first single off the upcoming new album Eternity Now, “The better it gets, the easier it gets to get better.”
Metallica has confirmed its return to the stage for the first time since the September 2019 S&M2 concerts that opened Chase Center in San Francisco. Metallica will be the first rock band to be featured in the Encore Drive-In Nights series, with a full set showing August 29 at hundreds of drive-in and outdoor theaters across the United States and Canada. The show will be shot specially for the Encore Drive-In Nights Series at a location near the band’s Northern California headquarters and will subsequently be edited and mixed by Metallica’s award winning production team to the highest standards possible. The concert, the band’s first show in nearly a year, will feature material from throughout their near four-decade career and provide Metallica fans with an intimate, unique and truly memorable concert experience.
Pre-sale tickets, available exclusively to Metallica’s Fifth Member fan club, will go on sale on August 12 at ticketmaster.com/encore-metallica. General on-sale will begin on August 14. Every ticket purchase — which admits one carload of up to six people — will include four digital downloads of Metallica’s S&M2, the long awaited album documenting the two historic concerts that reunited the band and San Francisco Symphony for the first time in 20 years.
“In all of rock, it literally doesn’t get any bigger than Metallica,” said Walter Kinzie, CEO of Encore Live. “Over the course of their career these guys have completely redefined rock, touring and frankly what’s possible in terms of success in this industry. We’ve seen with our first two Encore Nights Drive-In concerts that fans absolutely dig the drive-in experience and we know that Metallica is going to blow the top off of this thing and take it to a whole new level.”
The Metallica show is part of the Encore Drive-In Nights Series, which is presented by leading event production company Encore Live. Since June, Encore Live has partnered with drive-in theaters across the country to provide world-class entertainment in a safe, creative way. For more information and to see if a venue near you is presenting the show, visit encorenights.com or call your local theater. The August 29 show will also feature a special guest performance by Three Days Grace.
Drive-in theaters hosting the concert will adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended guidelines as well as all state and local health mandates. Staff will wear personal protective equipment and enforce at least six feet of space between cars. The series will also use contactless payment and ticketing systems and limit capacity in restrooms. Guidelines around concessions will be enforced to abide by individual state regulations. For a full list of procedures that the Encore Drive-In Nights is employing to keep fans and staff safe, visit encorenights.com.
Unlike traditional concert tickets that are bought for one fan’s individual admission, each purchase for Encore Drive-In Nights’ concerts will admit one carload of fans. That means up to six people can enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime show for one price. Additional information about Encore Drive-In Nights can be found at https://www.ticketmaster.com/encoredriveinnights.
One of the most dynamic groups of the ‘70s and ‘80s, Talking Heads, founded by drummer Chris Frantz, his girlfriend Tina Weymouth, and lead singer David Byrne, burst onto the music scene, playing at CBGBs, touring Europe with the Ramones, and creating hits like “Psycho Killer” and “Burning Down the House” that captured the post-baby boom generation’s intense, affectless style.
In Remain in Love, Frantz writes about the beginnings of Talking Heads—their days as art students in Providence, moving to the sparse Chrystie Street loft Frantz, Weymouth, and Byrne shared where the music that defined an era was written. With never-before-seen photos and immersive vivid detail, Frantz describes life on tour, down to the meals eaten and the clothes worn—and reveals the mechanics of a long and complicated working relationship with a mercurial frontman.
At the heart of Remain in Love is Frantz’s love for Weymouth: their once-in-a-lifetime connection as lovers, musicians, and bandmates, and how their creativity surged with the creation of their own band Tom Tom Club, bringing a fresh Afro-Caribbean beat to hits like “Genius of Love.”
Studded with memorable places and names from the era—Grace Jones, Andy Warhol, Stephen Sprouse, Lou Reed, Brian Eno, and Debbie Harry among them—Remain in Love is a frank and open memoir of an emblematic life in music and in love.
Frank, the critically acclaimed, million selling debut album by Amy Winehouse, originally released on October 20th 2003, will be released as a double vinyl half speed master on September 4 via UMC/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. The album which introduced the then 20-year old Londoner to the world and went on to be certified triple platinum in the UK, features the Ivor Novello Award winning single ‘Stronger Than Me’, as well as further singles Take The Box, In My Bed and F**k Me Pumps.
Half Speed Mastering is an artisan technique offered by Abbey Road Studios, that results in the very highest quality sound reproduction. UMC have created a range of bespoke vinyl pressings of iconic albums utilizing this process and have carefully selected Frank to be a part of the series.
Heavyweight vinyl and the highest specification packaging come as standard to create a thoroughly bespoke vinyl experience that, most importantly, provides a sound quality superior to anything else currently available. The package includes a certificate of authenticity from Abbey Road and a branded obi strip.
Track Listing:
Side A
Stronger Than Me
You Sent Me Flying (Cherry)
Know You Now
Side B
Fuck Me Pumps
I Heard Love Is Blind
Moody’s Mood For Love (Teo Licks)
(There Is) No Greater Love
In My Bed
Side C
Take The Box
October Song
What Is It About Men?
Help Yourself
“Don’t Let Me Down” became both the Chainsmokers’ and Daya’s first top-five single on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three. It also became the Chainsmokers’ second consecutive top 10 entry after “Roses”, which peaked at number six. It reached the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. A set of remixes for the song, was released on April 15, 2016. A music video for the song was released on April 29, 2016, with appearances from the Chainsmokers and Daya.
The Rolling Stones announce details of their previously unreleased 1989 concert film Steel Wheels Live – Atlantic City, New Jersey. This latest release from the band’s archives via Eagle Rock Entertainment has been restored, remixed and remastered and will be available on multiple formats from September 25.
Additionally, a double A-sided 10” picture disc of “Rock and a Hard Place” (Live from Atlantic City) and “Almost Hear You Sigh” (Live from Tokyo Dome) will be released for Record Store Day’s second drop date of the year, on September 26. This format will be exclusive to independent record stores all over the world.
Their first tour hitting the US since 1981, Steel Wheels was famously one of their longest, and most ambitious, setlists. 2 ½ hours deep, The Rolling Stones not only played their hits, but dared to roll out several new songs from the then-newly released Steel Wheels album. Power-packed renditions of “Terrifying”, “Sad Sad Sad”, “Mixed Emotions”, “Rock and a Hard Place”, and “Can’t Be Seen” sizzle between “Jumping Jack Flash”, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, and “Gimme Shelter”. This was a statement – The Rolling Stones revisiting their vast body of work while confidently showcasing where they were going and the broad spectrums of music they’ve explored over their career.
“I would hate to come out with something that’s not startling” Mick Jagger stated about the launch of the 1989/90 Steel Wheels Tour. The Rolling Stones delivered on that promise in this Atlantic City Convention Center tour stop in December ‘89.
A highlight of this particular tour stop was the band being joined by special guests: Guns N’ Roses’ Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin accompany the Stones for the first-ever live performance of “Salt Of The Earth”, from their 1968 Beggars Banquet album. Eric Clapton brings his slow blues burn to “Little Red Rooster”, and joins the Stones in backing up one of their idols, blues legend John Lee Hooker, on “Boogie Chillen”.
All in all, Steel Wheels Live is a living testament to The Rolling Stones’ incomparable live shows.
Steel Wheels Live will be released as a special limited 6-disc version, which includes the Atlantic City performance on DVD, SD-Blu-ray, 2CD, a DVD of their Steel Wheels tour performance at the famed Tokyo Dome, as well as Steel Wheels Rare Reels, a CD featuring tracks which didn’t feature on the core tour setlist. Also available in limited 180gm 4LP coloured vinyl, 4LP black vinyl, DVD, SD Blu-ray, DVD + 2CD, SD Blu-ray + 2CD and digital formats.
VISUAL FORMATS
Intro
Start Me Up
Bitch
Sad Sad Sad
Undercover Of The Night
Harlem Shuffle
Tumbling Dice
Miss You
Terrifying
Ruby Tuesday
Salt Of The Earth (featuring Axl Rose & Izzy Stradlin)
Rock And A Hard Place
Mixed Emotions
Honky Tonk Women
Midnight Rambler
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Little Red Rooster (featuring Eric Clapton)
Boogie Chillen (featuring Eric Clapton & John Lee Hooker)
Can’t Be Seen
Happy
Paint It Black
2,000 Light Years From Home
Sympathy For The Devil
Gimme Shelter
It’s Only Rock n Roll (But I Like It)
Brown Sugar
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
AUDIO FORMATS
2CD – Tracklist
Intro
Start Me Up
Bitch
Sad Sad Sad
Undercover Of The Night
Harlem Shuffle
Tumbling Dice
Miss You
Terrifying
Ruby Tuesday
Salt Of The Earth (featuring Axl Rose & Izzy Stradlin)
Rock And A Hard Place
Mixed Emotions
Honky Tonk Women
Midnight Rambler
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Little Red Rooster (featuring Eric Clapton)
Boogie Chillen (featuring Eric Clapton & John Lee Hooker)
Can’t Be Seen
Happy
Paint It Black
2,000 Light Years From Home
Sympathy For The Devil
Gimme Shelter
It’s Only Rock n Roll (But I Like It)
Brown Sugar
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
4LP – Tracklist:
Side A
Intro
Start Me Up
Bitch
Sad Sad Sad
Undercover Of The Night
Harlem Shuffle
Side B
Tumbling Dice
Miss You
Terrifying
Ruby Tuesday
Side C
Salt Of The Earth (featuring Axl Rose & Izzy Stradlin)
Rock And A Hard Place
Mixed Emotions
Side D
Honky Tonk Women
Midnight Rambler
Side E
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Little Red Rooster (featuring Eric Clapton)
Boogie Chillen (featuring Eric Clapton & John Lee Hooker)
Side F
Can’t Be Seen
Happy
Paint It Black
Side G
2,000 Light Years From Home
Sympathy For The Devil
Gimme Shelter
Side H
It’s Only Rock n Roll (But I Like It)
Brown Sugar
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Special 6-disc version also includes:
TOKYO DOME DVD – TRACKLIST
Intro
Start Me Up
Bitch
Sad Sad Sad
Harlem Shuffle
Tumbling Dice
Miss You
Ruby Tuesday
Almost Hear You Sigh
Rock And A Hard Place
Mixed Emotions
Honky Tonk Women
Midnight Rambler
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Can’t Be Seen
Happy
Paint It Black
2,000 Light Years From Home
Sympathy For The Devil
Gimme Shelter
It’s Only Rock’n’Roll (But I Like It)
Brown Sugar
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
STEEL WHEELS RARE REELS CD – TRACKLIST:
Play with Fire (CNE Stadium, Toronto, On 03/09/89)
Dead Flowers (CNE Stadium, Toronto, On 03/09/89)
Almost Hear You Sigh (Wembley Stadium, London 06/07/90)
I Just Want to Make Love to You (Wembley Stadium, London 06/07/90)
Street Fighting Man (Wembley Stadium, London 06/07/90)
“We added a pretty rad breakdown and some chanting to make it a fun, Canadian punk rock anthem,” says pop-punk skate-rockers Moore Ave Underground of their new single, “Beanies and Plaid Jackets” — available now.
Intriguing, yes.
But let’s back it up a bit.
First, let’s establish that Moore Ave Underground is made up of Josh, Joseph and Jack Gaudette and Shawn MacDonald.
Then, let’s parse its concept, which is fluid-Ish.
“Moore Ave Underground refers to our family home’s basement,” Josh says. “When I took up music, the basement was already filled with a foosball table, a hockey table, and a bar that no one ever used. We convinced my mom and dad to make some hard choices, and ended up bidding a fond farewell to it all in order to make room for instruments.”
“It became something special,” he continues. “Soon, friends, family and contributors started coming and going and creating. We have witnessed those who never believed their musical ability was possible grow into accomplished performers.
“Today, this is the goal: to provide a platform for talent, and encourage, inspire and see artists of any kinds and all ages realize their potential. For us, the motivation is to offer a window to the world that shows the talents and gifts we are blessed to see and be a part of every day.”
What that ultimately looks like is a lengthy series of single releases — including 2020’s “How You’ve Grown” and “What’s Done” — and a debut EP, 2019’s It’s All in my Head; this month brings us back to that Canadian pop-punk anthem of note, “Beanies and Plaid Jackets.”
“This is actually one of our older tunes,” Josh says. “It was a brainchild of an old band member that was sparked by a joke. The lyrics and ideas he brought to us were hilarious, but we couldn’t find a way to work them into a song. Then, one day we were doing some writing and decided to throw them over some cheesy chords and it was like electricity.
“Words started coming out like wildfire and we were laughing our butts off writing these lyrics about high school stereotypes and joking about clichés.”
“When we were at Beach Road Studios recording this tune, we had a wild time,” Jack says. “Josh lost his voice, there was seemingly a world-ending snow and ice storm outside and, on the final day, we woke up to an emergency alert about a nuclear plant in the area!
“When it came time to record the video, we were all blown away by the mix,” Joseph adds. “Given everything that went on during the recording process, we NEEDED the video to be just as incredible.”
“We came up with this idea to have a ‘Plaid Messiah’ going around, converting potential followers to the ‘way of the plaid,’” Shawn — who also worked his creative magic on the video — shares. “We rounded up our crew, which consisted of close friends and family, and created this rad video that pokes fun at some stereotypes in style and fashion, as well as a controversial event here in our small town.”
Wait.
‘Controversial event’??!?
To see what that means, “Beanies and Plaid Jackets” is available now.
