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Hawaiian Alt-Rock Artist MDMP Reflects on Personal Turmoil in Emotional New Single, ā€œKneeling Scarsā€

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Nearly seven months after his last single, the enticingly frightening ā€œChosen Oneā€ — where he pays homage to veterans, living and fallen, by delving into his own harrowing memories of serving time in the military — Jeremey Meyer, front man for MDMP, has appropriately returned to the alternative rock scene with a brand-new single, in which he discloses more of the torments he’s faced throughout life. Fittingly, it’s called ā€œKneeling Scars,ā€ and its available now.

Though the lyrical content of this brand-new original is not as vividly agonizing as that of ā€œChosen One,ā€ ā€œKneeling Scarsā€ is one of MDMP’s most-personal tracks to date.

This is evident in the songwriting; multiple times throughout the song, Meyer is heard singing, ā€˜All I do is cry / ā€˜Cause I miss you,’ and clearly reflecting on an impactful absence in his life.

ā€œI know you’ve been through a lot in your life, and I am honored to once again reunite this time through song,ā€ says MDMP of ā€œKneeling Scars.ā€ ā€œAlways know you have friends out there, and some days can be struggles.

ā€œJust always remember we all have a purpose on this earth, and our actions — as minuscule as they may seem — have lasting effects that you can’t imagine.ā€

The urgency and agony present in ā€œKneeling Scarsā€ is not just evident in MDMP’s lyrics; his tone of voice is bound to tug on your heartstrings, whether you like it or not. This alluring poignancy is echoed further in the song’s instrumental elements too, as the listener is offered these clean and omnipresent chord progressions, which are accompanied by increasingly heavier drum and bass backing tracks to really bring it home.

The same feelings are evoked in ā€œKneeling Scarsā€™ā€ beguiling music video, where the two mystery co-stars climb aboard a metaphorical rollercoaster of emotions together, before ultimately meeting their demise.

Despite being a native of Nānākuli, a western nook on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu — a place where rock n’ roll just isn’t known for — this aspiring musician creates music with the intent to ā€œcapture the earā€ of any curious listener(s) and tell them a story.

ā€œThis is my attempt to capture your ear for just a moment in your life,ā€ says the mastermind behind MDMP. ā€œMusic is a reflection of everything we have experienced in life,ā€ he concludes, hinting, once again, at the deeply-personal level of involvement that goes into the writing of his music.

ā€œKneeling Scars,ā€ MDMP’s tenth and newest single, is available through all major streaming platforms. The accompanying, gut-wrenching video is available via YouTube.

Richard Pryor’s 1973 “Live at the Comedy Store” Concert Gets Its First Release

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ā€œMonday, October 29, 1973: Richard Pryor hits the Comedy Store for night one of a four-show run that will, within a year, yield one of the greatest comic documents of all time, a generational sea change no one saw coming.ā€ — From the new liner notes by Cory Frye

Richard Pryor’s 1973 “Live at the Comedy Store” concert gets its first commercial version of the legendary comic’s 1973 four-show run in Hollywood plus 6 bonus performances on July 23.

After the release of his iconic debut, Richard Pryor, in 1968, Pryor further sharpened his skills and delivered the comedy classic, ā€œCrapsā€ (After Hours) in 1971, but he never stopped pushing forward. In preparation for a Kennedy Center show in Washington, D.C., and a February 1974 Soul Train Club date in North Beach, San Francisco (that would produce the top-selling That Nigger’s Crazy) Pryor booked four nights at the, then relatively new, Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard to woodshed new material. It was never meant to be heard beyond its original audience, but luckily tape not only rolled, but survived.

Fourteen tracks were originally issued in 2013 as a limited-edition promotional CD given away with copies of the No Pryor Restraint: Life In Concert boxed set purchased from Shout! Factory’s website. Six additional Comedy Store performances found their way into the public earlier as bonus material on 2000’s …And It’s Deep Too!: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968–1992) and Evolution/Revolution: The Early Years (1966-1974) in 2005. Now, all 20 tracks are pulled together for the first time and available on Live At The Comedy Store, 1973.

The release was produced by noted Pryor expert Reggie Collins, who helms this new set along with Jennifer Lee Pryor and GrammyĀ®-winning producer, Cheryl Pawelski. Packaging features new liner notes from Cory Frye and restoration from GrammyĀ®-winner, Michael Graves.

From Frye’s notes, ā€œAs time has shown, there’s no death with Richard Pryor. He may have left us in 2005 (after whole decades that would have killed lesser men), but his own afterlife’s proven immense, minus the eight billion harp-happy m***********s he once described practicing on some distant cloud. Here’s a chance to catch him just as he begins to live—again.ā€

Ringo Sends Message To Fans, Invites Everyone Everywhere To Join Him Spreading Peace And Love On His Birthday 7-7-2021

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Ringo Starr posted a message to fans about his annual upcoming Peace and Love birthday initiative, a tradition he started in 2008 after being asked by a reporter what he would like for his birthday. His answer? Peace and Love. Since then he has invited everyone everywhere to think, say or post #peaceandloveĀ atĀ Noon their local timeĀ on JulyĀ 7th to fulfill his birthday wish and encircle the planet in a wave of Peace and Love.

In the taped message Starr tells fans, “I’m inviting everyone who wants to join the peace and love celebration for my birthdayĀ at Noon your time wherever you are,Ā 7-7-21Ā – you can post it, you can say it, you can even think it – but it would be really cool if you go Peace and LoveĀ at noonĀ on my birthday – so let’s spread peace and love on my birthday – c’mon everybody!”

Usually Ringo meets with fans in whatever city he is in, a tradition that began onĀ July 7, 2008Ā when he convened with fans and friends on the streets in front of the Hard Rock CafĆ© inĀ Chicago, passing out cupcakes and joining the crowd for “Peace and Love” exactlyĀ at Noon.

In the ensuing years it has grown enormously and in 2019 there were over 30 Peace & Love events in countries all around the world includingĀ ArgentinaĀ –Ā Buenos Aires; Chascomus,Ā ArmeniaĀ – Yerevan Australia –Sydney,Ā BoliviaĀ –Ā La Paz,Ā BrazilĀ – Sao Paulo,Ā Ā ColumbiaĀ -Bogota,Ā Ā Costa RicaĀ – San Jose,Ā Ā Cuba – Habana,Ā Ā Czech Republic – Prague,Ā El SalvadorĀ – San Salvador,Ā Ā Estonia – Tallin,Ā Finland – Helsinki,Ā Germany –Ā HamburgĀ and Halle,Ā Italy – Venice,Ā Ā Japan –Ā Osaka; Tokyo,Ā Panama – Panama City,Ā Ā ParaguayĀ -Asunción,Ā Ā Peru – Lima,Ā Ā Russia – Moscow,Ā Ā SpainĀ –Ā Ā Barcelona; Madrid,Ā Ā United KingdomĀ –Ā Ā London; Liverpool,Ā Ā United StatesĀ –Ā Chicago; Minneapolis,Ā Ā Hawaii, Los Angeles,Ā Ā New York City.

2020’s pandemic prevented an in-person event, and Ringo instead moved the celebration online, hosting “Ringo’s Big Birthday Show,” which featured unseen concert and unique performances by Starr,Ā Paul McCartney,Ā Joe Walsh,Ā Ben HarperĀ andĀ Dave Grohl,Ā Sheryl Crow,Ā Gary Clark JrĀ and Sheila E. The showĀ was broadcast globally via AXS, YouTube and Ceek and it benefitted Black Lives Matter Global Network, The David Lynch Foundation, Musicares and WaterAid. Meanwhile the #peaceandlove posts came from near and far, with the Mars Rover andĀ The International Space Station being the first to wish Ringo a HappyĀ BirthdayĀ “From 260 miles above our home planet,Ā NASA AstronautsĀ wishĀ Ringo StarrĀ a happy 80thĀ birthday! Since our orbiting laboratory operates in Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT, it’s officiallyĀ July 7 – a perfect date to sendĀ #PeaceAndLoveĀ to everyone across the universe!”

Details about 2021 Peace and Love regional gatherings hosted by fans – both in person and zoom – can be found on Ringo’s Facebook page, with virtual and in person events already confirmed inĀ Argentina,Ā Costa Rica,Ā Columbia,Ā El Salvador,Ā Germany, Guatamala,Ā Japan,Ā Italy,Ā Panama,Ā Peru,Ā Portugal,Ā Russia,Ā Spain,Ā Switzerland, UK,Ā USA.

 

Donny Osmond Set To “Start Again” For His 65th Album Set For September

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Multi-platinum-selling recording artist and entertainment iconĀ Donny OsmondĀ has signed with BMG for his milestone 65th release,Ā Start Again,Ā  which is set to release inĀ September 2021 with album pre-sales beginning later this summer.Ā The album title was inspired by Osmond’s own unique career journey of constant reinvention.

The 12 track Pop/R&BĀ Start AgainĀ is Osmond’s first full length solo album in 7 years and features collaborations with such notable performers asĀ Charlie WilsonĀ andĀ Pierre BensusanĀ and songwritersĀ 9am, Ant Clemons,Ā Dalton Diehl,Ā Jason Mater,Ā Jonas Myrin,Ā Larrance Dopson, Ne-Yo,Ā Seth Reger, Space Primates andĀ Amy Wadge. Additionally, in a career first,Ā Start AgainĀ is entirely co-written and produced by Osmond himself.

In coordination with the upcoming album release, Osmond will release the first single “WHO” onĀ June 30, 2021Ā and will appear on TODAY with Hoda and Jenna onĀ July 1, 2021, to promote the single and announce the album and partnership with BMG.Ā  The accompanying music video, directed byĀ Shane DrakeĀ and shot on location inĀ Northern California, features Osmond portraying multiple versions of himself and showcasing three very different sides to the personalities that have made Osmond the consummate chameleon of a performer that he is today.

“After 3 years and over 40 songs written and narrowed down to my favorite 12, this is more than a compilation of tunes on an album. This record is an integral part of who I am after 6 decades of entertaining,” said Osmond.

“We are honored to be releasingĀ Donny Osmond’sĀ newest album,Ā Start Again. We are in awe of his talent, passion and commitment to producing new and exciting music – even after 65 albums! A true American Icon, his musical influences are many but he remains uniquely himself. For fans and new listeners alike, this isĀ Donny OsmondĀ like you have never heard before!” said John Loeffler EVP, Legacy Artists at BMG.

Osmond’s highly anticipated and history-making solo residency at Harrah’sĀ Las VegasĀ launchesĀ August 31, 2021Ā and encompasses his six decades in entertainment featuring his greatest and most beloved hits and featuring select tracks from the album.Ā  This marks the first time that Osmond will perform the songs live for an audience in concert and tickets are on sale now via TicketMaster.

Throughout his illustrious career, Osmond has earned 33 gold records, selling over 100 million albums becoming a worldwide music legend.Ā  In an unprecedented and history-making deal, Osmond will headline his first ever solo residency at Harrah’s Las VegasĀ starting in August, 2021. Ā This marks aĀ  return to theĀ Las VegasĀ stage after a record setting 11 year run at the Flamingo Las Vegas with his sister Marie for which Osmond was awarded “Best Show,” “Best Singer,” “Best Band,” and “Best Dancers” throughout the years according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.Ā  Osmond has notably entertained a vast array of audiences with his varied career choices. He has starred on Broadway as Gaston in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; hosted two television series on British network television; and performed at the Concert for Diana, seen worldwide by more than two billion viewers. The critically acclaimed song CaptainĀ Li Shang’sĀ “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from the Disney film “Mulan” was sung by Donny.Ā  The song and Osmond’s singing of it received accolades from around the globe and ranks as one of the most popular and enduring Disney tunes of all time.Ā Ā  One of Osmond’s most notable career achievements was his starring role as Joseph in SirĀ Andrew Lloyd Webber’sĀ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which broke records during its six-year run with more than 2,000 performances in the US andĀ Canada. Most recently, Osmond stunned audiences across America when it was revealed that he was the fan favorite “Peacock” on the inaugural season of the hit Fox musical competition show “The Masked Singer.”

The Beach Boys Launch Exclusive SiriusXM Radio Channel ‘Good Vibrations: The Beach Boys Channel’

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The Beach Boys, one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful bands of all time, and SiriusXM announced today the launch ofĀ ‘Good Vibrations: The Beach Boys Channel,‘ a limited-engagement channel featuring sun-drenched songs from every phase of the group’s decades-spanning career.Ā  The channel beginsĀ July 1 on channel 105, and airs through August 31.

Ideal for summertime listening,Ā The Beach Boys ChannelĀ will bring the band’s iconic sounds from theĀ CaliforniaĀ coastline into the homes and cars of SiriusXM listeners, wherever they are. As the most complete and comprehensive audio collection from one of America’s most-beloved bands, the channel will feature The Beach Boys’ early songs about surf, sand, girls and cars,Ā to their pioneering sounds that influenced generations of artists. Listeners can expect to hear the band’s biggest hits, hard-to-find rarities, a cappella vocals, backing tracks, alternate versions, exclusive stories from family and band members (past and present), band members’ solo work, and much more.

In the hours leading up to The Beach Boys’ new and expansive box set,Ā Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971,Ā out onĀ August 27Ā via Capitol/UMe, the channel will spotlight some of the rare and never-before-heard audio material from the box set, which boasts 135 tracks, including 108 previously unreleased tracks, live recordings, radio promos, alternate versions, alternate mixes, isolated backing tracks and a cappella versions, culled from the album sessions.

For all information onĀ ‘Good Vibrations: The Beach Boys Channel‘ visit:Ā https://siriusxm.us/BeachBoysChannel

Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971Ā will be released by Capitol/UMe on August 27.Ā  For more information on this please visit:Ā https://thebeachboys.lnk.to/FeelFlowsPR

Subscribers are able to listen to ‘Good Vibrations: The Beach Boys Channel‘ (ch. 105) online, on-the-go with the SXM App,Ā and at home on a wide variety of connected devices including smart TVs, devices with Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more. Go toĀ www.siriusxm.com/ways-to-listenĀ to learn more.

They Might Be Giants Are Releasing A Book Called “Book” As Part Of An Album…

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This is a new phase THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS album: BOOK.

They Might Be Giants’ brand new project is a deluxe set: A 144-page cloth-bound hardcover art book of full-color photography by Brian Karlsson, as well as original TMBG lyrics graphically set in the style of poetry concrete by world-famous designer Paul Sahre on an IBM Selectric typewriter from the early ā€˜70s. The featured lyrics are selections from BOOK, a forthcoming EP, My Murdered Remains, and I Like Fun. Inside every book of BOOK there is a copy of the musical album BOOK on an indestructible compact disc, and everyone who orders the book of BOOK will get an instantaneous download on release day. Both the fancy WAV format and the practical MP3 format will be available to you.

The book of BOOK will have a first-edition pressing of 10,000 copies. Currently, more than 7,000 have been pre-sold.

BOOK will also be presented on 180-gram audiophile vinyl and a standalone CD. All formats are available for pre-order now and all come with an instant download of “I Broke My Own Rule” and “I Lost Thursday.” You will also receive additional downloads between now and release day as they are made available. You can order it here.

Folk Singer/Songwriter Josie Bello Takes a Humorous Jab at Celebrations of ā€œHappy Independence Dayā€

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While Americans are firing up their grills and filling up their beer coolers for the first almost post-pandemic 4th of July, folk singer-songwriter Josie Bello is pouring on some deliciously satirical BBQ sauce with her new single, ā€œHappy Independence Dayā€ — available now.

With bright country swing from her Kit House Band and lyrics tinged with dark, ironic humour, Bello paints the holiday with red, white and Americana blues all over. While enthusiastically wishing everyone a ā€œHappy Independence Day,ā€ she skewers what has become the hallmark of American summer celebrations, BBQ and beer drinking, by pointing out the side dish of blind indifference that can go along with them.

“So, Happy Independence Day
We’re gonna celebrate it the American way
With beer in our glasses and our heads up our…
Happy Independence Day!”

ā€œThe lyrics take a humorous jab at how Americans are celebrating their independence while beholden — yet indifferent — to the economic and social inequities of our time, including political corruption, food insecurity, under-employment and disparity in truth-telling by cable news commentators,ā€ says Bello.

ā€œYou recently got a promotion and a raise
Found your take home was less than you gained
You saved twenty years to send your kid to college
Now, he’s a barista with graduate knowledgeā€

ā€œHappy Independence Dayā€ is the second holiday-focused single the Long Island-based musician has released in the past six months, following up her Christmas 2020 release ā€œCome Home.ā€ Both songs are creative postscripts to Bello’s second solo album, 2020’s Have Purpose Live Long, which spent eight weeks at #1 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Contemporary Folk Albums Chart from December 2020 through February 2021.

ā€œHappy Independence Dayā€ also marks the first time Bello has recorded with members of her live band, the Kit House Band. In addition to her husband Frank Bello on bass guitar, she’s joined by Shawn Cullinane on acoustic guitar and vocals, Mike Nugent on electric guitar and Shawn Murray on drums. Nugent plays double duty as Bello’s producer in studio for all her recordings including this one at Huntington, New York’s Melts in Your Ears Studio with Kevin Kelly of The Workshop East Studio engineering.

Aptly described at ā€œPart Baez/Part Emmylouā€ by Fatea Music Magazine UK, Bello’s songs from Have Purpose Live Long and 2018’s ā€œCan’t Go Homeā€ have received extensive U.S. and international airplay on Roots, Folk and Americana-centric channels. Individual tracks have appeared on and climbed radio charts including the aforementioned Roots Music Report Chart, the Folk Alliance International Chart, the EuroAmericana Chart and the Americana Albums Chart.

A timely, tongue-in-cheek takedown of the American socio-political state of affairs, ā€œHappy Independence Dayā€ from Josie Bello is available now!

 

BTS performs ā€˜Butter’ & ā€˜Dynamite’ on SiriusXM Hits 1

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BTS is showing ARMY some love with a mic-drop-worthy performance special on SiriusXM Hits 1 (Ch. 2). BTS joined SiriusXM hosts Tony Fly and Symon for an exclusive interview and performance of their smash hits ā€œButterā€ and ā€œDynamite,ā€ which premiered on July 1 at 6pm ET.

After the premiere, the HITS 1 ON 1 special will replay again at 8pm ET. Watch exclusive video of BTS’s two-song performance below!

Tenacious D Sings The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” Side 2

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Tenacious D’s ā€œYou Never Give Me Your Money / The Endā€, a tribute to The Beatles, is out on all digital platforms. Crush the link below to pre-order the vinyl and support Doctors Without Borders! Tweeting about the release, Paul McCartney said, “This Tenacious D cover of our song is fantastic! It’s so imaginative and so well performed. What a great tribute to the original. Guys – I love it”.

APRICITY Ushers Audiences into Her Post-Apocalyptic World with “The Fearā€ Single and Comic Book

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Alt-pop indie rocker Apricity ushers audiences into a dim and grim post-apocalyptic world with the release of her sophomore single and video, ā€œThe Fearā€ — available now.

For those newly enchanted under Apricity’s cast of spells, be prepared for an audio and visual storybook of epic tales — literally and figuratively. ā€œThe Fearā€s official music video is set in a steampunk world with dashes of Walking Dead and comic book escapism for good measure, and the release also features a stunning graphic novella to well-buckled boot.

ā€œAfter searching far and wide in a post-apocalyptic world, I find my companion, Jason, only to discover he is now being used for sport to fight the captured zombies,ā€ Apricity reveals of the multimedia project’s plot.

ā€œIt’s my second time working with Dropout Entertainment/Toronto Creatives’ director, Jesse Read — along with yet again, local amazing talent,ā€ she continues. ā€œIt all really tied together to create something eerie that captured the unknown state of the world as we felt it was in with the pandemic.ā€

Her second official single, ā€œThe Fearā€ delivers an equally haunting sequel to her recent breakthrough debut, ā€œAll My Liesā€ — which has more than 200,000+ streams across platforms.

For the Scotland-born, Canada-based powerhouse vocalist, both ā€œThe Fearā€ and ā€œAll My Liesā€ showcase her intense vox over fastidiously chosen tracks that embody the spirit and vision of her musical tenure. Channeling the prowess from the likes of Shirley Manson and Alanis Morrisette, the indie songstress holds nothing back — pushing the boundaries on art, music, and all that’s in between.

As an artist, Apricity promises to prey on the darkest corners of your mind, revealing your insecurities and curiosities about the afterlife; where ā€œbeing awakeā€ could mean a state of consciousness, a state of dreaming, or simply the state of mourning you’ve left behind.

Apricity’s penchant for the visual adaptation of music doesn’t rest solely with her captivating releases; the singer’s socials are rife with staggering spotlights of her artistry, pops of portraits chronicling her creativity.

ā€œThe Fearā€ is available now.