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Mike Dirnt And Epiphone Revive The Classic Grabber G-3 Bass Guitar

Eric Alper
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Mike Dirnt And Epiphone Revive The Classic Grabber G-3 Bass Guitar

Epiphone and Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt unveil the Mike Dirnt Grabber G-3, a signature bass that brings back the Gibson Grabber G-3 with modern updates. The original instrument played a crucial role in shaping punk rock’s breakout moment, including its presence on Green Day’s 1994 album ‘Dookie’, which marked its 30th anniversary recently. Dirnt still plays his cherished Grabber on stage, including throughout Green Day’s The Saviors World Tour in front of millions worldwide.

The bass comes in Silverburst finish at authorized Epiphone dealers, Gibson Garage locations in Nashville and London, and online. A Natural finish is available exclusively through Gibson Garage and online globally. Dirnt’s punchy bass lines and commanding stage presence have defined Green Day’s sound for decades. This signature model honors that legacy with classic construction meeting contemporary performance capabilities.

The Grabber G-3 features a double-cutaway maple body and 34-inch scale three-piece maple neck for smooth playability and strong resonance. Players can select between ebony or maple fretboards depending on finish choice, both with black abalone dot inlays and 20 medium jumbo frets. The headstock sports the classic Grabber “V” shape with open-gear bass tuners and historic clover buttons. A bone nut boosts resonance while the Leo Quan Badass II bridge provides powerful attack and full adjustability.

Three Gibson G-3 pickups handcrafted in Nashville at the Gibson Pickup Shop power the instrument. The unique “buck-and-a-half” wiring configuration offers humbucking combinations through a three-way toggle switch, giving players neck and middle, all three, or middle and bridge options. Master volume and tone controls round out the versatile, noise-free tonal range. The bass ships with a hardshell case ready for studio work or touring.

Green Day formed in the late 80s when Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt joined forces to create their signature sound drawing from East Bay punk, power pop, 60s garage, and hard rock. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted the band in 2015 after releasing 14 studio albums, including the double diamond ‘Dookie’ and ‘American Idiot’, which became a Broadway musical. Their latest album ‘Saviors’ earned a Best Rock Album nomination at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards and received a deluxe reissue in 2025 as ‘Saviors: Édition De Luxe’ with bonus singles and videos.

LeAnn Rimes Brings “30 Years Of Blue” Tour To Seven Cities This Spring

Eric Alper
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LeAnn Rimes Brings “30 Years Of Blue” Tour To Seven Cities This Spring

LeAnn Rimes takes her “30 Years of Blue: The Voice, The Journey, The Truth” tour on the road this spring with seven dates announced and more to come throughout 2026. The tour launches April 19th in Dallas at the Winspear Opera House, the city where Rimes first recorded vocals for her Grammy-winning debut single “Blue.” General tickets go on sale Friday, February 21st at 10 am local time.

“Revisiting Blue and reflecting on the last 30 years of music has been the sweetest gift,” Rimes says. “These songs hold so many pieces of my life, and somehow they feel brand new again. And we’re just getting started! We’ll be adding more dates throughout 2026, each with its own heartbeat and story. Hearing from fans around the world has inspired me more than you know, so tell me where this celebration should head next. I can’t wait to share it all with you.”

LeAnn Rimes Tour Dates:

Apr 19 – Dallas, TX @ Winspear Opera House

Apr 30 – Spokane, WA @ Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox

May 1 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya Hall

May 8 – Waukegan, IL @ Genesee Theatre

May 9 – Wilmington, OH @ The Murphy Theatre

May 15 – Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre

May 17 – Wilmington, NC @ The Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College

R.I.P. Ken Peplowski, Jazz Clarinetist and Swing Statesman Who Made the Reed Sing

Eric Alper
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R.I.P. Ken Peplowski, Jazz Clarinetist and Swing Statesman Who Made the Reed Sing

Ken Peplowski, the American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist whose warm swing and effortless phrasing made him a pillar of acoustic jazz, died on February 1, 2026. He was 66. Peplowski passed away aboard the Celebrity Summit while participating in The Jazz Cruise, where he was scheduled to perform and instead left the music world stunned by his sudden absence.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 23, 1959, Peplowski built a career rooted in swing, mainstream jazz, and traditional pop, carrying those sounds into modern rooms without ever sanding off their character. He recorded extensively for Concord Records for more than a decade and became a musician other musicians quietly pointed to when talking about tone, taste, and time.

Peplowski was both prolific and precise. He released more than 70 albums as a leader and appeared on hundreds more as a sideman, moving easily between small-group swing, songbook material, and festival stages. His clarinet sound was instantly recognizable: full, woody, lyrical, and deeply conversational, while his tenor saxophone playing favored control and melody over volume.

Beyond recordings and performances, Peplowski shaped jazz spaces themselves. In 2007, he was named music director of the Jazz Party at The Shedd and jazz advisor for the Oregon Festival of American Music in Eugene, roles that reflected his belief that jazz could span eras and styles without losing its soul. He approached programming the same way he approached improvisation: with curiosity, respect, and intention.

Peplowski had battled multiple myeloma for five years, yet continued to perform, teach, and record, including his final releases ‘Live at Mezzrow’ and ‘Unheard Bird’. His legacy lives not just in an immense discography, but in the way he made swing feel alive, generous, and human. Jazz sounds better because Ken Peplowski was here.

R.I.P. Greg Brown, Alternative Rock Guitarist Who Helped Cake Find Its Stride

Eric Alper
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R.I.P. Greg Brown, Alternative Rock Guitarist Who Helped Cake Find Its Stride

Greg Brown, founding guitarist of Cake and a key architect of the band’s unmistakable early sound, has died following a brief illness. While his time in the spotlight was relatively short, his imprint on 1990s alternative rock remains lasting, sharp, and deeply felt by anyone who ever nodded along to Cake’s crooked grooves.

When Cake emerged in the early 1990s, they sounded unlike almost everyone else around them. That sense of balance between irony and sincerity, restraint and punch, owed a great deal to Brown’s guitar work. His playing brought structure to songs that thrived on understatement, tightening rhythms and shaping melodies that felt casual but were anything but accidental.

Brown co-wrote and performed on Cake’s first two albums, including the band’s breakout anthem “The Distance.” The song’s endurance across decades speaks to his instincts as a writer who understood momentum, patience, and payoff. It never rushed, never overreached, and trusted listeners to stay with it – a philosophy that ran through much of his work.

After leaving Cake in the late 1990s, Brown continued chasing ideas rather than expectations. He formed Deathray, collaborated with fellow outsiders, and released solo material that reflected the same thoughtful curiosity that defined his earlier years. Even when he stepped away from the mainstream, his connection to music never loosened.

Greg Brown’s legacy is one of quiet influence. He helped build a sound that made space for odd choices, dry humor, and emotional distance that somehow felt intimate. Cake’s early songs still move the way they do because Brown knew exactly when to push and when to step back.

R.I.P. Fred Smith, Punk Rock Bassist Who Gave Television Its Pulse

Eric Alper
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R.I.P. Fred Smith, Punk Rock Bassist Who Gave Television Its Pulse

Fred Smith, the bassist whose steady, melodic presence helped define the sound of New York punk, has died at 77. As a member of Television, Smith helped turn downtown experimentation into something timeless, grounding restless guitars with bass lines that felt conversational, curious, and deeply human. His playing never demanded attention, but it always earned it.

When Smith joined Television in the mid-1970s, the band found its center of gravity. Night after night at CBGB, his bass acted like a compass, keeping songs loose but never lost. Those performances became part of the DNA of a scene that would ripple outward for decades, influencing how bands thought about space, tension, and restraint.

On Television’s landmark album ‘Marquee Moon’, Smith’s bass does something rare: it listens. His lines leave room for Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd to stretch, bend, and soar, while quietly shaping the songs from below. It is the sound of confidence without ego, proof that subtlety can be just as radical as noise.

Outside of Television, Smith was a connector. He played with old friends, new collaborators, and kindred spirits across the New York music world, contributing to solo records, garage rock sessions, and reunion tours. His musical life was less about spotlight moments and more about showing up, locking in, and making everyone around him sound better.

Fred Smith’s legacy lives in the spaces between notes, in the idea that music does not have to shout to last forever. He helped build a vocabulary that countless bands still speak today. The marquee will always glow a little brighter because he was there.

ZZ Top And Dwight Yoakam Unite For Spring 2026 ‘Dos Amigos’ Tour

Eric Alper
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ZZ Top And Dwight Yoakam Unite For Spring 2026 ‘Dos Amigos’ Tour

Two titans of American music, ZZ Top and Dwight Yoakam, are joining forces for an unforgettable co-headlining run, the Dos Amigos Tour, set to rock stages across the Midwest, South and East Coast in the spring of 2026. The highly anticipated tour brings together the iconic Texas blues rock of ZZ Top with the distinctive, Bakersfield sound country of Dwight Yoakam for a powerhouse evening of classic hits and electrifying performances. The tour is scheduled to officially kick off in late March 2026 and run through Memorial Day weekend. Presales are available now, ahead of the general sale on Friday, November 21st at 10 am local time.

ZZ Top, known worldwide for their signature beards, hot rods and timeless hits like “La Grange”, “Gimme All Your Lovin'” and “Sharp Dressed Man”, promise to deliver the fiery, high octane show they are famous for. Yoakam will bring his catalog of neo traditional country gold, including “Guitars, Cadillacs”, “Honky Tonk Man” and “A Thousand Miles from Nowhere”. Both artists also have separate tour dates scheduled for late 2025 and early 2026. ZZ Top has four dates left on this year’s calendar as they wrap touring on November 22nd in Biloxi, Mississippi. Yoakam is finished for 2025, with dates resuming on February 12th in Lubbock, Texas.

ZZ Top & Dwight Yoakam 2026 ‘Dos Amigos’ Tour Dates:

Mar 26 – Brookings, SD @ Dacotah Bank Center

Mar 27 – Grand Island, NE @ Heartland Events Center

Apr 17 – North Little Rock, AR @ Simmons Bank Arena

Apr 18 – Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheater

Apr 19 – Lexington, KY @ CommonSpirit Health Stage at Gatton Park

Apr 23 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Apr 24 – Peoria, IL @ Peoria Civic Center

Apr 25 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Azura Amphitheater

May 7 – Des Moines, IA @ Water Works Park

May 8 – Camdenton, MO @ Ozarks Amphitheater

May 21 – North Charleston, SC @ North Charleston Coliseum

May 22 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre

May 23 – Huntington, WV @ Marshall Health Network Arena

Braxton Keith Announces This Ain’t My First Tour Tour Continued Following Gold Certification

Eric Alper
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Braxton Keith Announces This Ain’t My First Tour Tour Continued Following Gold Certification

HEADLINE: Braxton Keith Announces This Ain’t My First Tour Tour Continued Following Gold Certification

TAGS: Braxton Keith, Warner Records Nashville, Grand Ole Opry, George Strait,

BLOG POST:

Neo-traditional country artist Braxton Keith announces a robust schedule of first quarter 2026 headline tour dates titled This Ain’t My First Tour Tour Continued. The initial set of dates will see him on the road in the US and overseas through March, with more tour stops set to be added. Following a massively successful 2025 that saw the breakout entertainer performing over 130 shows, the newly announced dates will take Keith across the country, building on his reputation as a must see live act. The announcement follows a landmark moment for the Warner Records Nashville rising star: his Grand Ole Opry debut on Tuesday, October 28th, where Keith was surprised on stage with a plaque commemorating a career first gold certification for his smash single “Cozy”. The hit track has amassed over 100 million streams worldwide, underscoring his rapid ascent in the genre.

Keith’s highly anticipated cover of George Strait’s “The Chair” continues its impressive run. Released on October 7th, the single immediately ignited social media following a viral live performance. Within its first week, the song surpassed two million global streams, marking the best debut of Keith’s career to date and paying homage to the country masterpiece, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The tour kicks off January 3rd in Albuquerque, New Mexico at Dirty Bourbon before heading to Steamboat Springs, Colorado for MusicFest from January 5th through 10th. Keith will make stops across the United States including Denver, Cheyenne, Deadwood, Little Rock, Terrell, Tuscaloosa, Starkville, Baton Rouge, Rosenberg, Kansas City, St. Louis, Des Moines and Austin before heading to Australia in March for shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Ipswitch.

Braxton Keith 2026 ‘This Ain’t My First Tour’ Tour Continued Dates:

Jan 3 — Albuquerque, NM @ Dirty Bourbon

Jan 5-10 — Steamboat Springs, CO @ MusicFest

Jan 15 — Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom

Jan 16 — Cheyenne, WY @ The Lincoln

Jan 17 — Deadwood, SD @ Deadwood Mountain Grand

Jan 23 — Little Rock, AR @ The Hall

Jan 24 — Terrell, TX @ Silver Saloon

Jan 29 — Tuscaloosa, AL @ Two Dimes

Jan 30 — Starkville, MS @ Ricks

Feb 6 — Baton Rouge, LA @ Texas Club

Feb 7 — Rosenberg, TX @ That Mexican OT Day

Feb 12 — Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater

Feb 13 — St. Louis, MO @ Hot Country Nights

Feb 14 — Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom

Feb 21 — Austin, TX @ Stubb’s

Mar 13 — Melbourne, AUS @ Margaret Court Arena

Mar 14 — Melbourne, AUS @ Margaret Court Arena

Mar 16 — Sydney, AUS @ Hordern Pavilion

Mar 17 — Sydney, AUS @ Hordern Pavilion

Mar 20 — Ipswitch, AUS @ CMC Rocks

Mar 21 — Ipswitch, AUS @ CMC Rocks

Mar 29 — Isle of Palms @ Windjammer

The Band Of Heathens Celebrate 20 Years With New Album ‘Country Sides’ And Tour

Eric Alper
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The Band Of Heathens Celebrate 20 Years With New Album ‘Country Sides’ And Tour

The Band of Heathens announce ‘Country Sides’, their landmark new album arriving February 20th. Self-produced with longtime collaborator Jim Vollentine, the record delivers a free wheeling, greasy guitar filled collection of roots rock packed with barroom piano rockers and soulful swaggering anthems. Long hailed as one of the most fiercely independent bands in rock and roll, the group has built a career outside the traditional music industry and achieved platinum level success doing so. The band’s recording of “Hurricane” has been certified platinum, adding to their impressive tally of over one billion streams and nine acclaimed studio albums, all without a label dictating their path.

Founded 20 years ago by Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist, their enduring creative partnership evokes the timeless chemistry of Jagger and Richards or Garcia and Weir, built on grit, trust and an unbreakable musical bond. The band releases the album’s first single “High On Our Own Supply”, a laid back roots rock meditation driven by warm guitars, soulful vocals and the belief that you can build the world you want to live in. Tracked in just over a week at the band’s studio, The Finishing School, songs like the swampy “Take The Cake”, the deeply contemplative “Pleasing People”, free wheeling “She’s The Night” and anthemic “Lead Don’t Follow” stand among their best yet. The album celebrates self reliance and life on the margins, underscoring the idea that what’s crafted with care at the edges often outshines what’s mass produced at the center.

“We’re grateful to be 20 years into this and to have a fan base that has hopped on the creative journey with us wherever we have decided to turn,” Quist says. “We’re in a really great space creatively after all these years,” Jurdi adds. “The songs reflect both our inner world and the stories living between the lines of our lives.” From late night jams at Austin’s legendary Momo’s to the stages of The Grand Ole Opry, CBS, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Montreux Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza and Red Rocks, their live résumé is as impressive as it is expansive. The Band of Heathens will mark the milestone with Texas homecoming shows this November in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Austin, closing with a hometown performance at ACL Live at The Moody Theater on November 29th.


The Band of Heathens 2026 Country Side Tour Dates:
Mar 12 – El Dorado, AR
Mar 13 – Jackson, MS
Mar 14 – Huntingdon, TN
Mar 15 – Indianapolis, IN
Mar 17 – Madison, WI
Mar 18 – Chicago, IL
Mar 19 – Minneapolis, MN
Mar 20 – Ottawa, KS
Mar 21 – Tulsa, OK
Apr 10 – Atlanta, GA
Apr 11 – Walhalla, SC
Apr 12 – Charleston, WV
Apr 14 – Asheville, NC
Apr 15 – Raleigh, NC
Apr 16 – Charlotte, NC
Apr 17 – Isle of Palms, SC
Apr 18 – Pelham, TN
Apr 19 – Waverly, AL
Apr 22 – New Orleans, LA
Apr 23 – Baton Rouge, LA
Apr 24 – Houston, TX
Apr 25 – Plano, TX

Stephen Wilson Jr. Releases “Gary” And Announces ‘Gary The Torch’ Tour Following CMA Nomination

Eric Alper
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Stephen Wilson Jr. Releases “Gary” And Announces ‘Gary The Torch’ Tour Following CMA Nomination

Rising star Stephen Wilson Jr. releases his new single “Gary” via Big Loud Records, kicking off a new era following his massively successful 2023 debut double album ‘Søn of Dad’. The track premiered with an electrifying performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The slow burning rocker builds to a propulsive peak, combining Wilson Jr.’s grunge influences with his signature lyricism that touches upon modern life in Middle America. Wilson Jr. is nominated for New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards, where he also performed twice. He played his moving rendition of “Stand By Me”, which has earned over 20 million global on demand streams, and joined fellow New Artist of the Year nominee Shaboozey for a special performance of “Took A Walk”, their song from the 2025 film ‘The Long Walk’, based on the novel by Stephen King.

Wilson Jr. announced the Gary The Torch Tour, which begins on March 6th in Columbus, Ohio, and includes stops in Toronto, Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago and many more. Ahead of next year’s tour, Wilson Jr. closes out 2025 with his headlining debut at the Ryman Auditorium with two sold out shows on November 23 and 24. This year he released both a deluxe edition of ‘Søn of Dad’, which featured his rendition of “Stand By Me” that has been included in a primetime Pampers commercial, as well as his recent ‘Blankets EP’, which included covers of songs by Nirvana, Temple of the Dog, The Postal Service and The Smashing Pumpkins. In between headline shows, Wilson Jr. supported Eric Church during his three night run at Red Rocks in July, made his Newport Folk Festival debut, and joined Hardy on his Jim Bob World Tour.

2026 Tour Dates

1/27-1/31: Key West, FL – Mile 0 Festival *

2/17: Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall

2/26: Tulsa, OK – BOK Center ^

2/27: Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena ^

2/28: Austin, TX – Moody Center ^

3/6: Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! #

3/7: Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe #

3/10: Cleveland, OH – The Agora #

3/11: Detroit, MI – The Fillmore #

3/14: Toronto, ON – HISTORY #

3/18: Boston, MA – Citizens House of Blues #

3/21: Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount #

3/22: Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre #

3/25: Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore #

3/28: Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore #

4/11: Bossier City, LA – The Paradise Theater at Margaritaville Bossier City #

4/15: St. Louis, MO – The Pageant #

4/17: Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre #

4/18: Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom #

4/22: Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha #

4/24: Madison, WI – The Sylvee #

4/25: Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed #

6/6: Lexington, KY – Railbird Music Festival *

7/18: Whitefish, MT – Under the Big Sky Festival *

* Festival

# Gary The Torch Tour

Yaya Bey Delivers Captivating Performance Live On KEXP Studio Session

Eric Alper
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Yaya Bey Delivers Captivating Performance Live On KEXP Studio Session

Yaya Bey performs live in the KEXP studio with a four song set that showcases her soulful artistry. The session features “end of the world”, “in a circle”, “exodus the north star” and “merlot and grigio”, all captured on September 23, 2025. Hadaiyah Bey handles vocals while Charles Wilson commands drums, Hope Nwachukwu plays keys and Sweet Corey-Bey holds down bass. Host Larry Mizell Jr. presents the performance, which runs just over 12 minutes and demonstrates the depth and emotional range that has established Bey as one of contemporary R&B’s most compelling voices. The stripped down studio setting allows each musician’s contribution to shine while maintaining the intimate atmosphere that has made KEXP’s live sessions essential viewing for music fans worldwide.

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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

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