Home Blog Page 218

Alkaline Trio Team With Travis Barker On Fiery New Punk Single ‘Oblivion’

Eric Alper
-
0
Alkaline Trio Team With Travis Barker On Fiery New Punk Single ‘Oblivion’

Alkaline Trio proudly unveils the new single “Oblivion,” the first of three songs recently recorded with producer Travis Barker of Blink-182. The first Alkaline Trio studio recording to feature drummer Atom Willard alongside guitarist/vocalist Matt Skiba and bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano, “Oblivion” is a devilishly hooky new number that continues the relentless creative tear that kicked off with the January 2024 release of the band’s tenth album, Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs via Rise Records.

“Oblivion” will also be released as a limited edition D2C exclusive vinyl seven-inch. The B-side on the vinyl will be the demo version of the song, which will be exclusive to the vinyl and not available digitally. The official video was directed by Mark Eaton.

“Recording with Alkaline Trio was such a treat,” Barker says of the sessions. “Bringing these songs to life from the demos Matt recorded was so exciting. Both Matt and Dan are incredible lyricists, two of my all-time favorites. The studio never feels like work, just a magical place to create. The process was so natural and easy, I could’ve kept going forever. Really proud of these songs me, Matt, Dan, and Atom recorded. Excited for what’s ahead for Alkaline Trio and for fans to hear these special songs we made.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had such a great time in the studio,” adds Skiba. “We’d wanted to get into the studio with Atom as soon as he’d joined the band and we finally found the time to do it. The idea to work with Travis came to me after guesting on a project he was producing at his studio. I was blown away by how natural and amazing Travis is in the role of a producer and by the beauty and serenity of his studio. We had initially gone in thinking we would do a cover we’d been playing with, to take the pressure off of our first recording with Atom but ended up with three new songs. I already knew how great Travis is in the studio (from my time with Blink), beyond his great drumming and unique and out-of-the-box songwriting abilities. His vision and talent is the perfect fit for us. I am a drummer at heart so having Atom and Travis working in tandem as drummers and songwriters was absolute heaven for me. Working with two of my favorite drummers was surreal and dreamlike, never mind two of my favorite people in the world. I told Travis that it really feels like he is our fourth member on this.”

Chest Fever Bring ‘The Last Waltz’ To Life With North American Tour

Eric Alper
-
0
Chest Fever Bring ‘The Last Waltz’ To Life With North American Tour

Acclaimed revivalists Chest Fever, the official torchbearers of The Band’s legendary legacy, are bringing their celebrated live re-creation of The Last Waltz to audiences across North America this fall – with three very special Canadian shows in Vancouver, Toronto, and St. Catharines.

This marks Chest Fever’s first Last Waltz run since their sold-out 2023 performance at Massey Hall, and their first time bringing the show to Vancouver and St. Catharines. Each concert will feature 10+ special guest performers, with over 60 artists joining the band across six shows in total.

Fans can expect faithful yet electrifying renditions of the songs immortalized by The Band’s 1976 concert, soundtrack, and Martin Scorsese’s legendary film – including new additions to the setlist that Chest Fever have never before performed on tour. As always, surprise guests may join the band on stage, making each night a one-of-a-kind celebration of community and musical heritage.

Tour Dates:

November 15 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
November 18 – San Diego, CA – Belly Up Tavern
December 4 – Toronto, ON – Horseshow Tavern
December 5 – St. Catharines, ON – Warehouse Concert Hall
December 6 – Cleveland, OH – Winchester Music Tavern
December 7 – Cincinnati, OH – The Red Moor

Detroit Jazz Great Dave McMurray Announces Soulful New Album ‘I Love Life Even When I’m Hurting’

Eric Alper
-
0
Detroit Jazz Great Dave McMurray Announces Soulful New Album ‘I Love Life Even When I’m Hurting’

Saxophonist Dave McMurray has announced the Nov. 14 release of his fourth Blue Note album I LOVE LIFE even when I’m hurting, an affirmation of his indomitable spirit and a celebration of the love that he has for his hometown of Detroit, as well as for the many musicians with which he’s collaborated. McMurray has also released the official video for the album’s lead single “We Got By,” a soulful cover of the Al Jarreau classic featuring vocals by Kem.

McMurray says that his rendering of the soul-jazz ballad “We Got By” is 30 years in the making. He and Kem, who’s also spent considerable artistic developmental time in Detroit, have a long history as well as a shared affinity for Jarreau, whose alchemic blend of jazz and R&B is perfectly captured in Kem’s supple vocals.

“I was heavily influenced by Al Jarreau too,” says McMurray. “I listened to his first album [1975’s We Got By] all the time. From watching Kem progress as a singer, I’ve always had him in mind to sing on my version.”

McMurray conceived of the album title after having a deep discussion about the death of a friend who had been worn down by illness, eventually giving up and dying alone. McMurray’s response to that painful revelation was one of resilience: “Man, I love life even when I’m hurting.”

Afterward McMurray wrote down that statement because it meant so much to him. “That ended up being the album title, because I kind of wrote songs around that,” he explained, “songs about positivity.”

McMurray wrote six of the nine compositions, all of which burst with soulful melodicism, emotional immediacy, and irresistible grooves. Co-produced by McMurray and his longtime collaborator Don Was, the album was recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan, with a deeply talented cast of Detroit musicians including bassists Was and Ibrahim Jones, keyboardists Luis Resto and Maurice O’Neal, guitarist Wayne Gerard, drummer Jeff Canady, percussionist Mahindi Masai, and vocalist Herschel Boone.

“Making this album was such a cool project,” McMurray concludes, “because everyone on it is somebody that I love.”

Tough Cookie Drop Debut Mixtape ‘The Countryside Is Good For You’ And New Single ‘Disappear’

Eric Alper
-
0
Tough Cookie Drop Debut Mixtape ‘The Countryside Is Good For You’ And New Single ‘Disappear’

Today, Tough Cookie release their debut 8-track mixtape ‘The Countryside Is Good For You’ with the emphatic lead single ‘Disappear’ – listen here. Frontperson August shares, “I wrote Disappear about the gradual distance I put between myself and everyone I care about, and the lingering thought that maybe no one saw it happen.”

Last Thursday saw the band play a blistering set at London’s Omeara for the final night supporting powerhouse punk duo The Pill on their sold-out eight date run. Alongside their previous single, the Britpop-inspired belter ‘Paycheck’, Tough Cookie announced their own UK headline tour; culminating in their biggest headline show to date at Hackney’s OSLO on the 9th December, the 6-date tour takes in Bristol’s iconic Louisiana and Manchester’s YES Basement along the way.  

Out now via Gravity Records [Divorce, Fiona-Lee], the eight songs on The Countryside Is Good For You mixtape were forged in their East London basement, and are the result of years of evolution and change for the band. This mixtape also marks Tough Cookie’s first ever physical release, with the eight tracks available on 12” vinyl which fans can order here. Previous singles ‘Emory’, ‘Happiness’ and ‘Sandcastles 2008’ laid the blueprint for the Tough Cookie sound, where emotional candour meets alt rock grit – delicate and restrained one minute, and intensely heavy and distorted the next. They say, “The Countryside Is Good For You is an honest account of navigating moments of vulnerability, disconnection, and escapism; a journey of self discovery amid chaos, we start as we mean to go on, from a place of sincerity”.

‘The Countryside Is Good For You’ Headline Tour Dates:

28th November – Glasgow, The Garage Attic Bar

30th November – Leeds, Oporto 

2nd December – Manchester, YES Basement 

3rd December – Birmingham, Sunflower Lounge 

4th December – Bristol, Louisiana 

9th December – London, Oslo

‘The Countryside Is Good For You’ Mixtape tracklist:

Happiness

Sandcastles 2008

The Countryside is Good For You

Paycheck

Dick Of The Year

A Fragile Beauty

Emory

Disappear

Jason Isbell Marks 10 Years Of ‘Something More Than Free’ With Remastered Reissue And New B-Side

Eric Alper
-
0
Jason Isbell Marks 10 Years Of ‘Something More Than Free’ With Remastered Reissue And New B-Side

Celebrating ten years of his critically acclaimed studio album Something More Than Free, six-time Grammy Award-winning musician Jason Isbell has released a reissue of the project via his own Southeastern Records. The newly remastered edition comes replete with updated mixes and a previously unreleased B-side, “Should I Go Missing.” The reissued album is out now on all streaming services, with LP and CD versions available on Friday, October 3rd.

With songs like “24 Frames,” “Flagship,” and “Children of Children,” the 2015 album found Isbell tackling the subjects he knows best: the dignity of work, the difficulty of love, the friction between the present and the past. Something More Than Free further established the North Alabama native as a bona fide songwriter and also netted him his first two Grammy Awards.

Ten years later, Something More Than Free has been remixed by the legendary Sylvia Massy (Prince, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty), breathing new life into these now classic songs in the Isbell canon. The man has broken his normal rule and included a B-side. “Should I Go Missing,” a bluesy jammer highlighted by Isbell’s slide guitar playing. If we’re lucky, it will become a staple at his upcoming live shows.

Isbell is performing across the US with his band, the 400 Unit, on their An Evening with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit tour. Isbell will notably perform at the fourth edition of his ShoalsFest on October 11-12. The two-day festival boasts a lineup of Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Jackson Browne, Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, Garrison Starr, and Steve Trash. Isbell will then head from his home state to a six-night residency at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, marking the tenth anniversary of the band’s residency at the famed Music City theater. This year, Isbell has partnered with public schools and music programs throughout the southeast region for each night’s opening act to highlight some of the educators and students working to shape the next generation of live music.

Old Crow Medicine Show Unwraps Holiday Spirit With First Christmas Album ‘OCMS XMAS’

Eric Alper
-
0
Old Crow Medicine Show Unwraps Holiday Spirit With First Christmas Album ‘OCMS XMAS’

Two-time Grammy-winning band Old Crow Medicine Show are bringing out the jingle bells early this year, announcing the November 21 release of OCMS XMAS on Hartland Records. Featuring just two covers and 11 originals, the band’s first holiday album is decorated with seasonal spirit and string-band stomp, shining new light on their chart-topping version of American roots music.

Along with the announcement, Old Crow honors John Lennon’s birthday with a timely take on his and Yoko Ono’s global peace anthem “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).” The song is stacked with choral harmonies from the children of the Episcopal School of Nashville, the East Nashville-based school founded by frontman Ketch Secor.

Old Crow Medicine Show aren’t just reinterpreting their favorite yuletide standards; they’re adding new songs to the canon and telling fresh stories, too. From barn-burners like “December 26” (which marks the songwriting debut of longtime band member Morgan Jahnig) to the Zydeco-flavored “All About A Baby” and a tribute to New England winters called “North By Northeast,” OCMS XMAS upholds Old Crow’s combination of the timely with the timelessness. The album also features a few classics, including a cover of “Holly Jolly Christmas” with horns from the Tennessee State University ensemble Brassville, and a rowdy version of the Appalachian standard “Breakin’ Up Xmas,” recorded live in the band’s East Nashville headquarters, Hartland Studio.

“We’re in the joy business,” says Secor. “From the very start, a lot of the virtues of Christmas — the revelry, the singalongs, the happiness — have been present in our show.” Supported by the band’s first-ever Holiday Hootenanny Tour, OCMS XMAS just might be the start of a new tradition itself: a celebration of the seasonal sounds, shared joy, and holiday rituals that bring us all together.

This is the latest release from Old Crow Medicine Show, who celebrated their 25th anniversary as a band with the 2023 Grammy-nominated album Jubilee. Last year, the group performed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert and dropped the first-ever vinyl release of their debut album O.C.M.S., remastered from the original analog tapes by its original producer David Rawlings. This summer Ketch Secor released his first solo album Story The Crow Told Me and made his debut as the new host of the long-running travel and culture series Tennessee Crossroads. He recently spoke about both projects on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast and gave more insight into his Louder Than Guns documentary, which premiered at the Nashville Film Festival last month.

Old Crow Medicine Show have also announced support for the band’s annual New Year’s Eve performances at The Ryman Auditorium, with The 502s and AJ Lee & Blue Summit on Tuesday, December 30, and Shovels & Rope and The Creekers on Wednesday, December 31. See a full list of tour dates below, and find more info here: crowmedicine.com/tour.

OCMS XMAS Tracklist

  1. Breakin’ Up Xmas
  2. Holly Jolly Christmas Feat. Brassville
  3. Jolly Man
  4. North By Northeast
  5. Corn Whiskey Christmas
  6. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
  7. All About A Baby
  8. Jinglin’ Jack Guy
  9. Store-Bought Christmas
  10. December 26
  11. Krampus Night
  12. Grandpa’s Gone
  13. Bethlehem, PA

Old Crow Medicine Show 2025 Tour Dates

October 9 – Kalispell, MT @ Wachholz College Center
October 10 – Bozeman, MT @ The ELM
October 11 – Billings, MT @ The Pub Station
October 12 – Rapid City, SD @ The Monument
October 23 – Charlottesville, VA @ Ting Pavilion
October 24 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
October 25 – Spruce Pine, NC @ Hilloween’s Hurricane Helene Benefit Concert – Three Peaks Enrichment Center
December 3 – Fayetteville, AR @ Walton Arts Center
December 4 – Nashville, IN @ Brown County Music Center
December 5 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
December 6 – Joliet, IL @ Rialto Square Theatre
December 7 – Huntington, WV @ Joan C Edwards Performing Arts Center
December 16 – Tysons, VA @ Capitol One Center (Capital One Hall)
December 17 – Troy, NY @ Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
December 18 – New London, CT @ Garde Arts Center
December 19 – Torrington, CT @ Warner Theatre
December 20 – Englewood, NJ @ Bergen Performing Arts Center
December 30 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
December 31 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium

Masked Metalcore Visionary OBELISK Announces Debut Album ‘Brushed By Darkness’

Eric Alper
-
0
Masked Metalcore Visionary OBELISK Announces Debut Album ‘Brushed By Darkness’

Emerging from the underground with a sound that is as raw as it is resonant, enigmatic metalcore artist OBELISK is set to release his captivating debut album, Brushed By Darkness, on Friday 12th December. Before then, look out for the blistering new single, Working Class Zero, which has just been released.

Hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland, OBELISK is the brainchild of a mysterious, masked, and anonymous solo artist. A true one-man project, OBELISK writes, performs, and produces all instrumentation, crafting an immersive sonic world that challenges the boundaries between performer and listener. His music is a visceral exploration of emotion, identity, and perseverance in a world that often overlooks the artist’s struggle.

OBELISK made his debut with 2024’s haunting single Stardust Cycle, followed by Where Do You End? and Tragically Designed — tracks that showcased his chaotic yet calculated sound, winning him early acclaim in the alt-metal scene. With each release, OBELISK has continued to build momentum, developing a reputation for intense musicality and emotionally charged storytelling.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Sleep Token, Green Day, Bring Me The Horizon, and Electric Callboy, Brushed By Darkness is a genre-blurring journey that delves into themes of isolation, frustration, and the deep ache of unrecognized artistry. The album is as much a personal catharsis as it is a rallying cry for those navigating the margins.

OBELISK doesn’t just perform — he reveals. His music is both a shield and a voice, pulling listeners into a world where vulnerability meets ferocity, and where every scream, riff, and lyric is drenched in purpose.

With Brushed By Darkness, OBELISK is poised to make a powerful statement. This is more than a debut — it’s the beginning of something deeply special, and undeniably potent.

River Rise Band Unleashes Classic Rock Power And Emotion On New Single ‘Storm’

Eric Alper
-
0
River Rise Band Unleashes Classic Rock Power And Emotion On New Single ‘Storm’

River Rise Band, formed by Juliana von Mühlen (vocals), Márcio Arend ( guitar), Marcelo Pesh (drums), and Ozéias Rodrigues ( bass), has just released their brand-new single, “Storm”, a track that marks a new chapter in the band’s journey.

With a solid discography that includes the album Right Path (2021), the EP Leave Behind (2022), the album Untold Stories (2023), and the live session From Inside Out (2024), the group continues to establish its name in the independent scene — blending classic energy, refined technique, and raw emotion.

“Storm” is a sonic tempest that turns the clash between strength and vulnerability into music. Built on the timeless foundation of drums, bass, guitar, and vocals, the track delivers an aggressive, dense, and emotional performance, asking: after the storm, will calm ever come?

The vibrant and intense guitars of Márcio Arend create a pulsating foundation, reinforced by Ozéias Rodrigues’ powerful bass lines and Marcelo Pesh’s explosive drumming. Over this wall of sound, Juliana von Mühlen’s powerful and versatile vocals emerge like a natural force — sometimes a cold current, sometimes a soft breeze over burning notes.

Recorded, produced, and mixed entirely independently in the band’s home studio during the second half of 2024, the single embodies the DIY spirit that has defined River Rise Band since its inception. Juliana wrote the lyrics, while Márcio handled production, instrument recording, mixing, and mastering — ensuring authenticity and cohesion in every detail.

With “Storm”, River Rise Band reaffirms its identity in the realm of contemporary Classic Rock, combining power, emotion, and artistic integrity. It’s a track that not only cuts through chaos but also celebrates the strength to start anew — with the volume all the way up and the soul laid bare.

Jon Wolfe Gets Real On New Country Anthem ‘The Older I Get (More Country I’m Gettin’ To Be)’

Eric Alper
-
0
Jon Wolfe Gets Real On New Country Anthem ‘The Older I Get (More Country I’m Gettin’ To Be)’

Texas country mainstay Jon Wolfe has officially released his new single, nostalgia-laced anthem “The Older I Get (More Country I’m Gettin’ to Be),” now available on all digital streaming platforms via his Fool Hearted Productions. Produced by longtime collaborator Dave Brainard and co-written by Wolfe and Tony Ramey, the track captures Wolfe in his most reflective—and most authentic—form yet. With its warm throwback feel, lyrical nods to country legends, and a chorus built for backroads and beer joints, the single is a love letter to small-town roots and the enduring power of country values.

“’The Older I Get (More Country I’m Gettin’ to Be)’ is truly an autobiographical effort in a song,” Wolfe told Holler. “It’s exactly where I’m at in my life and in my career as a country singer. It’s not about chasing trends to me. I’m writing songs and singing songs that mean something to me. It’s about being true to myself and letting that reflection come through in my music.”

From references to Hank, Merle, and Waylon, to dad’s old pickup and barbecue weekends, “The Older I Get (More Country I’m Gettin’ To Be)” kicks off the sonic thread of Wolfe’s planned 2025 and 2026 releases, a collection he describes as his most personal and grounded to date. With the new release, Wolfe continues to blend tradition with timeless songwriting and a DIY spirit. After years of building a loyal fanbase across Texas and beyond, the artist continues to evolve while staying rooted in what matters most: honesty, heart, and the kind of country music that sounds like country.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in the small town nearby, Miami, Jon Wolfe’s depth of talent and commitment to craft were evident from an early age. What began as a gift for creativity grew into an obvious affinity for music, and the rest is history. Making a name for himself in the Texas country scene alongside present-day mainstays like Hayes Carll and Randy Rogers, Wolfe’s released a series of successful albums that have yielded several standout tunes, including the viral streamer “Boots on a Dance Floor,” and most recent release – deeply introspective, sonically daring Dos Corazones – which firmly established Wolfe as a songwriter.

Country Artist Lauren Watkins Channels Western Romance On New Single ‘Marlboro Man’

Eric Alper
-
0
Country Artist Lauren Watkins Channels Western Romance On New Single ‘Marlboro Man’

Big Loud songstress Lauren Watkins leans into western nostalgia with the release of “Marlboro Man.” The slow-burning track captures the longing for an old-school cowboy – part myth, part memory – painting a romantic portrait of a love that never stays but always leaves a mark.

Written by Watkins, Natalie Hemby, and Jeremy Spillman and produced by Will Bundy (“You Look Like You Love Me”), “Marlboro Man” offers the timeless country storytelling that listeners have come to expect from Watkins, delivered with a modern edge. A cinematic nod to the rugged westerns and unattainable romance, the track evokes a bygone archetype that still lingers today.

“I’d had the idea for ‘Marlboro Man’ in my back pocket for a while,” shares Watkins. “I’m a pretty nostalgic person by nature – I’m always reminiscing, missing how things used to be. I brought the idea to Natalie and Jeremy because I knew they’d go there with me. I’ve always been drawn to this image of the ‘Marlboro Man’ — not necessarily for the cigarettes, but for what he stood for. He was rugged, masculine, quiet and kind of untouchable. There’s something romantic about it, and I wanted to write a song that felt like that.”

The new music comes amidst a big summer for the rising artist, with “Marlboro Man” joining the no-nonsense anthem “I’ll Get Through It” and April’s “Lose My Cool” – her first since her 17-track critically acclaimed debut album The Heartbroken Record. Now happily married, Watkins is moving on from heartbreak and on to greener pastures in her new chapter.

Last month, Watkins fulfilled a lifelong dream by stepping into the coveted Grand Ole Opry circle for the first time. She’ll continue to build momentum on the road, touring with Riley Green this summer before joining Lainey Wilson and Kameron Marlowe in the fall.

1...217218219...3,011Page 218 of 3,011

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