Nick Zammeti doesn’t just play his ukulele well. Oh no, haha! He create a colorful ukulele. Out of pencils. You can learn the process, too, from gluing the pencils together, cutting the block to hollow form, setting the pieces in place, adding the hardware and then finally stringing the instrument. Easy. I’ll just be over here marveling at the final product.
Lil Nas X Rates Horses, Twitter, and Prom
Lil Nas X also rates fake IDs and puberty in this episode of Over/Under.
Photo Gallery: Alessia Cara at Hamilton’s FirstOntario Concert Hall
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
JUNO Award Nominee KEVIN BREIT To Release “Stella Bella Strada” On May 31 Through Stony Plain Records
Stony Plain Records is proud to announce the release of acclaimed guitarist and performer Kevin Breit’s “Stella Bella Strada” his second solo album for the label, to be available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and all digital retailers on May 31.
Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin himself, the release of “Stella Bella Strada” marks the fourth release from Canada’s leading folk/roots label, Stony Plain Records. Says Holger Petersen, founder and President of the label, “Kevin Breit is one of the most creative and imaginative musician I’ve ever worked with. What he brings is far beyond incredible guitar playing. He is master arranger, composer and soulful visionary who’s tones and phrasing color his music with sophisticated timeless concepts and good humor. To my ears Kevin’s music includes blues based slide guitar playing with a heavy dose of Frank Zappa’s composition influence. But Kevin is his own man – there’s no one like him!”
He has also worked as a touring guitarist and session musician with many greats, including Cassandra Wilson, Norah Jones, k.d.lang, Michael Kaeshammer, Celine Dion, Marc Jordan, Molly Johnson, Harry Manx, Holly Cole, Rosanne Cash, Serena Ryder and the Rankins.
Breit has been honoured with several awards, including a Maple Blues Award, Gemini Award, National Jazz Award, Canadian Folk Music Award and two Juno Awards for his own recordings, and he has performed on other recordings that have earned a total of 10 Grammy Awards.
His album, Johnny Goldtooth and The Chevy Casanovas, was nominated for instrumental album of the year at the 2019 Juno Awards.
Says Kevin on the album title, “Stella Bella Strada loosely translates to ‘beautiful star of the road’ and is aptly named for a new guitar built by Master Luthier and grand friend, Joseph Yanuziello. Did I want a one-of-a-kind instrument that could offer a fiery tone and is capable of fitting in many genres? Yes. Did I want an instrument that was lightweight and didn’t require a chiropractor after every show? Yes. Did I want Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren peeking out from under the Mojo pickup grills? Yes. Did I want it to light up when it was in high gear? Yes. Did I want my initials on the tone and volume controls? Why not? So, this is where the road trip starts.”
Kevin’s riveting album isn’t just a one-person project, even though he’s always at the helm. The release is enhanced by his staple of band members and special guests. “Andy McNeill, longtime friend, supplied me with some all time groovy Chamberlin and Optigan drum loops, which, in themselves, ooze so much character and vibe. My fellow travellers would include the quartet I have been a member of for the better part of a quarter century, the Sisters Euclid – Ian DeSouza, Mark Lalama and Gary Taylor. Riding shotgun is drummer, Davide DiRenzo, another longtime friend. My brother Gary was also a big part of the ride, sitting behind the Wurlitzer and AceTone organ to provide that Las Vegas strip feel. The horn section consisted of the ever fantastic, Rebecca Hennessy, Perry White, Tom Richards and Vincent Henry. William Lamoureux, a young Quebec born violinist, weaves throughout the recording with much taste and musicality. There are 2 busloads of my musical friends playing and singing on Stella Bella Strada and it brought me great joy to have them all aboard.”
Breit adds, ”On this recording, I wore several hats: producer, engineer,mixing and mastering. What I know of these things are somewhat laughable but I loved every crazy second of it. I hope when you listen to Stella Bella Strada, at the very least, you will hear me smiling.”
Alexisonfire returned with new music so their first step was to play House Of Strombo
Alexisonfire returned with new music so their first step was to play House Of Strombo. It’s been nearly a decade since we heard new music with only a fistful of surprises appearances through the time since their hiatus. With their new stoner jam Familiar Drugs unleashed, it only seemed appropriate for the post-hardcore boys of St. Catharines to bring their sound to the House Of Strombo. Since the early days of MuchMusic, documenting the Pulmonary Archery video, there has been an undying appreciation between our landlord Strombo and the only band ever. Alexisonfire sits down to open up about what brought them together again, what they have planned, George’s firefighter career and beyond before delivering a full-volume, career-spanning set for a sweaty crowd of die-hard fans.
Alexisonfire: Strombo Session (which includes live debut of Familiar Drugs and a Prince cover)
Alexisonfire: Full Interview (where they admit there is new music)
SETLIST
0:41 Familiar Drugs
5:50 Pulmonary Archery
10:30 This Could Be Anywhere In The World
15:27 Young Cardinals
20:36 Dog’s Blood
27:07 Happiness By The Kilowatt / When Doves Cry (Prince Cover)
J Balvin Announces Highly Anticipated “Arcoiris” Fall North American Tour
Following his widely praised, back-to-back weekend performances recently on the main stage at Coachella, Reggaeton’s leading global ambassador J Balvin announces his highly anticipated fall North American tour. Balvin’s history making Coachella debut was just a first glimpse of what fans can expect on the upcoming “Arcoiris Tour “– with multiple chart-topping hits and groundbreaking visual production, which will be brought to life once again by the Colombian superstar and the FriendsWithYou Art Collective.
Following the “Arcoiris Tour” onsale, look for J Balvin to return once again to The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon with a special interview and performance appearance on May 20th. Before the tour kickoff, J Balvin will be making history once again this summer as the first Latin artist ever to headline the famous Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, IL, taking place August 1st – 4th this year in Grant Park.
FALL NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES ARCOIRIS” (‘Rainbow’)J BALVIN’S
DATE CITY VENUE
Fri Aug 30 San Juan, PR Coliseo De Puerto Rico
Wed Sep 11 Atlanta, GA Infinite Energy Center
Thu Sep 12 Orlando, FL Amway Center
Sat Sep 14 Miami, FL AmericanAirlines Arena
Fri Sep 20 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
Sat Sep 21 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
Wed Sep 25 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Thu Sep 26 Fairfax, VA EagleBank Arena
Fri Sep 27 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Event Center
Sat Sep 28 Boston, MA Agganis Arena
Sun Sep 29 New York City, NY Madison Square Garden
Thu Oct 03 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
Sun Oct 06 Hidalgo, TX State Farm Hidalgo Arena
Thu Oct 10 Lubbock, TX United Supermarkets Arena
Fri Oct 11 El Paso, TX Don Haskins Center
Sat Oct 12 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Arena
Sun Oct 13 Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Thu Oct 17 San Jose, CA SAP Center at San Jose
Fri Oct 18 Reno, NV Grand Sierra Theatre
Sat Oct 19 Las Vegas, NV Pearl Concert Theatre at Palms Casino Resort
Sun Oct 20 Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Arena
Wed Oct 23 Santa Ynez, CA Chumash Casino Resort & Spa
Thurs Oct 24 Santa Ynez, CA Chumash Casino Resort & Spa
Fri Oct 25 Rancho Mirage, CA The Show at Agua Caliente
Sat Oct 26 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center
Playing For Change musicians including Keb’ Mo’ perform “Walking Blues” as a tribute to blues legend Robert Johnson
In honor of blues legend Robert Johnson’s birthday, Playing For Change are proud to share their latest Song Around The World, “Walking Blues,” featuring Keb’ Mo’ along with musicians from six countries. Originally written and recorded by Son House in 1930, Robert recorded his own version in 1936. We started our version in Patagonia, Argentina with Roberto Luti and Nico Bereciartua playing slide guitars in front of a 100-year-old fig tree and with that raw performance, we added friends as we traveled to create a blues jam around the world. Blues is always from the people for the people and this video creates a moment in time to come together and put all the darkness and division we face as a human race into the music so it can set us free. Turn it up and enjoy!
Roger Daltrey To Release The Who’s Tommy Orchestral Album on June 14
In the of Summer 2018, Roger Daltrey and his band toured the U.S.A. performing The Who’s classic album Tommy with some of the finest symphony orchestras that America has to offer, an experience that Daltrey described as ‘magical.’
Featuring a bold new orchestration by the renowned composer and arranger David Campbell (who has worked with Adele, Radiohead, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Carole King and his son Beck to name a few) this incarnation of Tommy celebrates the 50th anniversary of the album’s first release on June 14, 2019.
The album, which was recorded in Budapest and Bethel in upstate New York, the scene of the first Woodstock festival 50 years ago, was produced by Roger Daltrey and Keith Levenson (who worked on the touring version of the Tommy Musical) and features the core band of Simon Townshend on Vocals / Guitar, Frank Simes on Guitar, Scott Devours playing the Drums, Jon Button on Bass, and Loren Gold on keyboards, all of whom have played with The Who live. Keith Levenson conducted The Budapest Scoring Orchestra from new orchestrations by David Campbell.
Roger Daltrey on Tommy’s enduring appeal after 50 years and why it sounds better with an orchestra: “Pete’s music is particularly suited to being embellished by the sounds that an orchestra can add to the band. Tommy can mean whatever you want it to mean, I use the characters in it as metaphors for parts of the human condition, so it’s a kind of a story of the human spirit. Even though it is 50 years on, I approach it as though I’m singing it for the first time.”
Since it was first debuted at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho London in early May 1969, Tommy has had many different live outings; it was performed in full at the Woodstock and Isle Of Wight Festivals in 1969, it was the basis for a ballet in Canada in 1970, it was a full-blown opera in Seattle in 1971, in 1972 it was recorded as an orchestral piece by the London Symphony Orchestra featuring Stevie Winwood, Rod Stewart, Richie Havens, Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr, there was the infamous 1975 movie directed by Ken Russell starring Elton John, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Ann-Margaret, Oliver Reed, Jack Nicholson and Roger Daltrey. After that, the band didn’t perform it again until 1989 in Los Angeles when guests such as Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Elton John & Patti Labelle were part of the show. In 1993, the musical version opened on Broadway and won five Tony awards before transferring to The West End where it went on to win three Olivier awards.
The band played it in full, for what they have said is the last time for the Teen Cancer Trust at The Royal Albert Hall in 2017 but will be performing parts of their classic rock opera on their 2019 North American tour, The Who: Moving On!, utilizing up to 50 local musicians from the greatest symphonies across the country at every show starting with May 7 in Grand Rapids, MN. $1 from each ticket sold online for the tour will benefit Teen Cancer America. After successfully establishing the Teen Cancer Trust in London, Daltrey and Townshend launched Teen Cancer America in 2012. The charity has devoted Teen Cancer units being opened in hospitals across the U.S. TCA’s work has impacted more than 5,000 young people and their families nationwide during the last six years. More info on TCA, teencanceramerica.org or the WHO tour dates, thewho.com.
ROGER DALTREY – THE WHO’S TOMMY ORCHESTRAL
01 Overture
02 It’s A Boy
03 1921
04 Amazing Journey
05 Sparks
06 Eyesight To The Blind
07 Christmas
08 Cousin Kevin
09 The Acid Queen
10 Do You Think It’s Alright
11 Fiddle About
12 Pinball Wizard
13 There’s A Doctor
14 Go To The Mirror
15 Tommy, Can You Hear
16 Smash The Mirror
17 Refrain – It’s A Boy
18 I’m Free
19 Miracle Cure
20 Sensation
21 Sally Simpson
22 Welcome
23 Tommy’s Holiday Camp
24 We’re Not Gonna Take It
Game Of Thrones Live Concert Experience to Return For Fall 2019 North American Amphitheater Tour
The critically acclaimed Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience will return this fall for a 20-city amphitheater tour, bringing the music of Emmy Award-winning Game of Thrones composer Ramin Djawadi to stunning new life at outdoor theatres across North America. As we say goodbye to one of the biggest shows and scores in television history, relive the greatest musical pieces and footage from all eight seasons in an immersive outdoor concert experience. Tickets for the tour will be available HERE starting Monday, May 13, 2019, at 10:00am local time and a full list of dates can be found below.
Featuring special appearances by Ramin himself at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in New York City, FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA and Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA, the tour will stop at notable outdoor venues across North America. Having first conceptualized the tour several years ago, Ramin will be reworking and redeveloping the musical and visual elements of the concert to create a brand new live experience that encompasses fan-favorite pieces from the entirety of Game of Thrones. The tour will include new musical arrangements from the series’ 8th and final season such as the “The Night King” theme, Ramin’s epic 9-minute composition that went viral immediately after debuting on the show. Within days, the track garnered millions of streams across the internet, reached the top 4 most downloaded songs on iTunes and the top 18 most watched videos on YouTube, and dropped the jaws of audiences and critics alike:
The inaugural run of the Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience Featuring Ramin Djawadi kicked off in North America in February of 2017 and was praised by audiences and critics alike as a must-see spectacle for fans of the television series. Following the success of the tour, Ramin embarked on a European run during the spring of 2018 before returning back for a second North American tour in the fall of 2018. To date, the show has amassed a total of 75 arena concerts across the globe. The Guardian described the show as “Westeros brought to dazzling life.” Mashable called it “an epic musical journey,” while the New York Times praised it as “a symphonic spectacular.”
The tour, produced and promoted exclusively by Live Nation in partnership with HBO Licensing & Retail, will continue to use innovative music tour production and video technology that will recreate the various realms found throughout Westeros and Essos as well as showcase footage from the series in addition to new imagery created exclusively for the concert.
Ramin has won one Emmy Award and been nominated for six Emmy Awards and two GRAMMY Awards. Versatility has defined his career, from celebrated television scores for Game of Thrones, Westworld, Jack Ryan, and Prison Break to feature films such as A Wrinkle in Time, Mountain Between Us, Slender Man, The Great Wall, Pacific Rim, Iron Man and Clash of the Titans. Ramin has even composed scores for blockbuster video games including Medal of Honor, Gears of War 4 and the upcoming Gears of War 5.
GAME OF THRONES LIVE CONCERT EXPERIENCE 2019 NORTH AMERICAN DATES
9/5 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
9/6 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
9/8 – Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/10 – Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
9/11 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre
9/12 – Philadelphia, PA – The Mann
9/14 – New York, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
9/15 – Washington, DC – Jiffy Lube Live
9/17 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
9/18 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park
9/20 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
9/21 – West Palm Beach, FL – Coral Sky Amphitheatre
9/22 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
9/25 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
9/26 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
9/27 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
10/1 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre
10/3 – San Francisco, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
10/4 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
10/5 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Brian Eno Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks Gets Extended Edition On July 19
Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks was written, produced and performed by Brian Eno together with his brother Roger and Daniel Lanois. The music was originally recorded in 1983 for the landmark feature-length documentary For All Mankind, which was directed by American journalist, film director and screenwriter Al Reinert. The film features 35mm footage of the Apollo 11 moon landing with real-time commentary, as well as the Apollo astronauts sharing their recollections of the momentous events surrounding it.
An extended edition of the album will be released on July 19th in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. This very special anniversary release features the original album remastered by Abbey Road’s Miles Showell, as well as an accompanying album of 11 new instrumental compositions that reimagine the soundtrack to For All Mankind.
The music from the original album is highly recognizable, and tracks from it have been streamed in excess of 300 million times. Since its release, many of the songs from Apollo have found a life of their own, featuring in any number of films, television shows and commercials – most notably Trainspotting, Traffic, 28 Days Later, Drive and Love. “An Ending (Ascent)” was also used in the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony.
Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois produced the original Apollo album, which was recorded at Daniel and his brother Bob’s studio in Hamilton, Ontario. Lanois also collaborated with Eno on several other projects, most famously producing several albums for U2, including multi-platinum The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby and No Line On The Horizon.
Apollo was the first recording experience for Roger Eno and was the springboard into a long solo career of his own. He went on to record a number of other film scores, with and without his brother.
The 11 new tracks on Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks find Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Roger Eno working collectively for the first time since the original album in 1983. Lanois contributed 3 compositions; “Capsule,” “Last Step From The Surface” and “Fine-grained,” while Roger Eno’s are “Waking Up,” “Under The Moon” and “Strange Quiet.”
Disc 1: Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks – Remastered
01. Under Stars (4:29)
02. The Secret Place (3:31)
03. Matta (4:20)
04. Signals (2:47)
05. An Ending (Ascent) (4:24)
06. Under Stars II (3:23)
07. Drift’ (3:05)
08. Silver Morning (2:40)
09. Deep Blue Day (3:58)
10. Weightless (4:35)
11. Always Returning (4:04)
12. Stars (8:02)
Disc 2: For All Mankind
01. The End Of A Thin Cord (4:08)
02. Capsule (3:13)
03. At The Foot Of A Ladder (3:35)
04. Waking Up (2:29)
05. Clear Desert Night (3:11)
06. Over The Canaries (4:41)
07. Last Step From The Surface (3:58)
08. Fine-grained (3:34)
09. Under The Moon (3:10)
10. Strange Quiet (4:09)
11. Like I Was A Spectator (4:23)