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Carmine Appice’s Cactus Stream “The Little Red Rooster” Featuring Dee Snider and Tracii Guns Ahead of ‘Temple of Blues II: All-Stars’

Eric Alper
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Carmine Appice’s Cactus Stream “The Little Red Rooster” Featuring Dee Snider and Tracii Guns Ahead of ‘Temple of Blues II: All-Stars’

Carmine Appice is not done with the blues. Cactus, the band he reformed a few years back, has announced ‘Temple of Blues II: All-Stars,’ due April 3, and the first taste is a hard-hitting new recording of the blues classic “The Little Red Rooster” featuring Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider on lead vocals and Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns on guitar. It hits hard and sounds exactly as good as that lineup suggests.

“It was great working on ‘The Little Red Rooster’ with Dee and Tracii,” said Appice. “It was such an honor to have Dee on the song and to have him make an appearance in the video, especially since he’s retired now. The song Rocks!” The track came together organically, with Appice arranging from the drums up before bringing in the full cast, including James Haslip, who helped finish the song.

The album is stacked. Across ten tracks (plus a CD-only bonus), Cactus assembled a guest list that reads like a hard rock hall of fame: Eric Gales, Billy Sheehan, Pat Travers, Dug Pinnick, Steve Morse, Joe Lynn Turner, Rudy Sarzo, Alex Skolnick, Ted Nugent, and more. Notably, “Purple Haze” features vocals from Melanie, recorded before her passing in 2024, reuniting two acts that shared the bill at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival.

The original Cactus debuted that same year, often described as America’s Led Zeppelin. ‘Temple of Blues II: All-Stars’ traces directly back to that origin, pulling from the same deep blues well that launched the band more than five decades ago. The sequel to 2024’s ‘Temple of Blues’ lands as a serious all-star statement.

‘Temple of Blues II: All-Stars’ is available to pre-order now on CD and LP. It arrives April 3.

Track Listing:

  1. Back Door Man Pt. 1 & 2 feat. Eric Gales & Billy Sheehan
  2. 300 Pounds Of Joy feat. Ty Tabor
  3. Moanin’ At Midnight feat. Pat Travers
  4. Down In The Bottom feat. Dug Pinnick
  5. Token Chokin’ feat. Bumblefoot
  6. Bad Stuff feat. Steve Morse, Joe Lynn Turner, Derek Sherinian & Tony Franklin
  7. Tail Dragger feat. Rudy Sarzo & Alex Skolnick
  8. The Little Red Rooster feat. Dee Snider, Tracii Guns, James Haslip
  9. Purple Haze feat. Melanie
  10. Spoonful feat. Ted Nugent & Bob Daisley

Bonus Track (CD Only):

  1. Feel So Good feat. Billy Sheehan & Britt Lightning

DMV Hip-Hop Legend Wale Brings “Live in the District” to Nationals Park Over Juneteenth Weekend

Eric Alper
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DMV Hip-Hop Legend Wale Brings “Live in the District” to Nationals Park Over Juneteenth Weekend

Wale is coming home. The Grammy-nominated DMV rapper has announced “Live in the District,” a two-day concert series at the Plaza Stage at Nationals Park on June 20 and 21, Juneteenth weekend. It is his largest hometown live property to date, and the lineup reflects exactly how seriously he takes that distinction.

Day one (June 20) features Smino and DMV-raised R&B singer Alex Vaughn. Day two (June 21) brings Maryland-based rapper Foggieraw and the original members of legendary D.C. Gogo band UCB, playing together for the first time in over 14 years while celebrating the 20th anniversary of their international classic “Sexy Lady.” Day one is already sold out. Day two tickets go on sale March 20 at 10 a.m. ET.

“Live in the District” is part of Wale’s 23-city everything is a lot. tour with Smino, running this summer off the back of his eighth studio album, ‘everything is a lot.,’ released November 2025 on Def Jam. The album debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hip-Hop charts, earning spots on year-end best-of lists from Billboard, Rolling Stone, Complex, ESSENCE, and REVOLT.

The D.C. run builds on a deliberate arc of hometown investment. Wale headlined the Kennedy Center in 2023, MGM Theater in 2024, and The Anthem in 2025 as part of his second annual Gifted Week, a week-long event series he launched alongside management company EQT to honor DMV community and culture.

With over 5.3 billion catalog streams and collaborators including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, SZA, and Rick Ross, Wale arrives at Nationals Park with plenty to celebrate. VIP upgrades are available for both days. Tickets will be available HERE starting Friday, March 20th at 10 am ET

Iron Lung Deliver a Ferocious Full-Set Performance for KEXP

Eric Alper
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Iron Lung Deliver a Ferocious Full-Set Performance for KEXP

Iron Lung took over the KEXP studio, delivering a full-throttle set that has since landed on the channel’s YouTube page. The Seattle hardcore duo of Jensen Ward (drums, vocals, noise) and Jon Kortland (guitar, vocals) tore through a dense, unrelenting run of material including “Lifeless Life,” “Future Corpses,” “Acres Of Skin,” and “Everything Is A Void,” hosted by Jennifer Govola. Twenty-plus minutes of pure compression and force, captured clean.






Alessia Cara, Jully Black, and Shawn Desman Join the 55th Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast

Eric Alper
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Alessia Cara, Jully Black, and Shawn Desman Join the 55th Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast

Four more names just landed on the 55th Annual JUNO Awards broadcast. Alessia Cara, Jully Black, Shawn Desman, and Tanya Tagaq will perform a tribute to Nelly Furtado as part of her induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, joined by special guests and Furtado’s band under Musical Director Herag Sanbalian. Also joining the broadcast are MICO and Sofia Camara, two of Canada’s freshest new voices making their JUNO debut.

The show airs live March 29 at 8 p.m. ET on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, and streams globally on CBC Music’s YouTube channel from TD Coliseum in Hamilton. Limited tickets remain.

To mark Furtado’s induction, a dedicated exhibition opens March 25 at the National Music Centre in Calgary, home of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. It is a fitting tribute to a career that has shaped Canadian music on the global stage for more than two decades.

JUNO Week itself runs March 26 through 29, with the KickOff Concert, Songwriters’ Circle, JUNOfest, the Gala, and the main broadcast all taking place across Hamilton. The JUNO Awards Gala Presented by Music Canada streams March 28 at 6 p.m. ET, featuring more than 40 award presentations.

Tickets for the March 29 broadcast are on sale now at ticketmaster.ca/junos.

Berlin Outfit Kreidler Drift Into Ambient Territory With New Album ‘Schemes’ Due May 15

Eric Alper
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Berlin Outfit Kreidler Drift Into Ambient Territory With New Album ‘Schemes’ Due May 15

Kreidler are moving into new territory. The Berlin/Düsseldorf-based trio will release ‘Schemes,’ their ninth album for Bureau B, on May 15. It is a record that leans into ambient space, natural sound, and a lighter rhythmic touch, marking a deliberate shift from the propellent insistence of their earlier work.

The album was recorded primarily at andereBaustelle in Berlin, with additional sessions at Morphine Raum. The trio of Thomas Klein (percussion, drums, found sounds), Alexander Paulick (fretless bass guitar), and Andreas Reihse (synthesisers, electronics, field recordings) made use of instruments and objects found on location, including a gigantic cuboid steel oil tank. Nature and outdoor recordings appear throughout, giving ‘Schemes’ a textural character that feels genuinely distinctive.

The album’s eleven tracks each operate on their own internal logic. Rhythms skip rather than stride. Synth lines meander and overlap. The standout track “Fenix” features Argentine vocalist Leo Garcia, who built his vocal melody over a noisy urban field recording during a chance visit to Berlin. The result is described as a protest song of an unusual kind.

‘Schemes’ is playful without being restless, precise without being rigid. Cover artwork by Luzie Meyer mirrors the album’s spirit, a dialogue on a string where ideas clash and disputes resolve amicably. Bureau B continues to champion exactly this kind of forward-thinking work.

‘Schemes’ arrives May 15 on Bureau B.

Track Listing:

Beads

Klove Twin

Snowflakes

Bellboy

The distance between you

Looming Large

Marble Upset

Via de me

Fenix (ft. Leo Garcia)

Tar

Norah Jones to Receive the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award at Grammy Hall of Fame Gala

Eric Alper
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Norah Jones to Receive the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award at Grammy Hall of Fame Gala

Norah Jones is being recognized where it counts. The Grammy Museum will present Jones with the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award at the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum’s Grammy Hall of Fame Gala on May 8 at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The evening will also celebrate the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame inducted recordings and honor Warner Records as the year’s label honoree.

The Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award recognizes artists whose influence crosses generations and transcends genre. Inspired by Charles’ legacy as a performer, pianist, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur, the award celebrates creative impact that reshapes the musical landscape. Jones, whose work spans jazz, pop, soul, and country, has built a body of work that is both intimate and far-reaching across more than two decades.

Jones responded to the honor directly. “Ray Charles was my musical hero, and he changed the way so many of us hear and feel music,” she said. “To be recognized in connection with his legacy, and as part of a night that also celebrates such important recorded works, is special for me.” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. called her work a reflection of “deep musicality, emotional honesty and a spirit of exploration.”

Jones will perform during the evening alongside additional artists to be announced. Esteemed journalist Anthony Mason returns as host, with the show produced by former Grammy Awards Executive Producer Ken Ehrlich and musical direction from Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor Cheche Alara.

The 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame class includes 14 inducted recordings, among them 2Pac’s ‘All Eyez On Me,’ Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation 1814,’ Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer,’ and works by Alice Coltrane, Funkadelic, Heart, Nick Drake, Selena, and Eric B. & Rakim, among others.

Country Maverick Gavin Adcock Takes “The Day I Hang It Up Tour” Across 27 Cities This Year

Eric Alper
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Country Maverick Gavin Adcock Takes “The Day I Hang It Up Tour” Across 27 Cities This Year

Gavin Adcock is not slowing down. The Georgia native has announced “The Day I Hang It Up Tour” 2026, a 27-city headline run kicking off May 7 in Hollywood, Florida, and closing November 14 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This is his fourth extensive headline tour since 2024, and it is his biggest yet.

The tour draws rotating support from Braxton Keith, Corey Kent, Jake Worthington, Pecos & The Rooftops, Tyler Nance, and The Creekers. Alongside his own headline dates, Adcock joins Morgan Wallen for 16 dates on Wallen’s Still The Problem Tour 2026, cementing his place at the top tier of country music’s current generation.

Adcock has built a loyal, rabid fanbase on the strength of his live show. American Songwriter called him a “modern-day outlaw,” Holler described his performances as a “collision of extremes,” and MusicRow landed on “high-octane.” That kind of press does not come from playing it safe.

“The Day I Hang It Up Tour” scales across club rooms, amphitheaters, and arenas, reflecting exactly where his career stands right now. With venues spread coast to coast and deep into the South, this is a run built for a fanbase that has been growing fast.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 20 at 10AM local time. A fan club presale is running now.

“The Day I Hang It Up Tour” 2026 Dates:

May 7 — Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live at Seminole

July 3 — Orange Beach, AL — The Wharf Amphitheater

July 29 — Spokane, WA — Gesa Pavilion

July 30 — Idaho Falls, ID — Mountain America Center

Aug. 6 — Abbotsford, BC — Rogers Forum

Aug. 7 — Tacoma, WA — Dune Peninsula

Aug. 9 — Bend, OR — Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Aug. 28 — Columbus, OH — KEMBA Live! Outdoor

Aug. 29 — Cincinnati, OH — MegaCorp Pavilion Outdoor

Sept. 11 — Cleveland, OH — Jacobs Pavilion

Sept. 17 — Lubbock, TX — Cook’s Garage

Sept. 19 — Round Rock, TX — Round Rock Amp

Sept. 24 — Baton Rouge, LA — Raising Cane’s River Center

Sept. 25 — Oxford, MS — SJB Pavilion

Oct. 15 — Macon, GA — Atrium Health Amphitheater

Oct. 16 — Birmingham, AL — Coca-Cola Amphitheater

Oct. 17 — Little Rock, AR — First Security Amphitheater

Oct. 22 — Fishers, IN — Fishers Event Center

Oct. 23 — Knoxville, TN — Knoxville Civic Coliseum

Oct. 24 — Cary, NC — Koka Booth Amphitheatre

Oct. 29 — Charlotte, NC — Bojangles Coliseum

Oct. 30 — Savannah, GA — Enmarket Arena

Oct. 31 — Estero, FL — Hertz Arena

Nov. 6 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Nov. 7 — Reading, PA — Santander Arena

Nov. 13 — Detroit, MI — Masonic Temple Theatre

Nov. 14 — Grand Rapids, MI — Van Andel Arena

Marvellous Radio London Deliver a Tender, Timeless Love Song With “The Way You Do”

Eric Alper
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Marvellous Radio London Deliver a Tender, Timeless Love Song With “The Way You Do”

Marvellous Radio London are not chasing trends. The London-based project, helmed by Argentine producer Santi Viale, has been building a catalog rooted in analog warmth and classic songwriting values, and their new single “The Way You Do” is the clearest expression of that vision yet. No irony. No production gimmicks. Just a straight-up love ballad that means exactly what it says.

The song is a genuinely affecting listen. The arrangement breathes, making room for dynamics and emotional build that come entirely from performance rather than studio trickery. In a landscape where love songs routinely hide behind detachment, “The Way You Do” stays fully exposed, melodic and sincere from start to finish.

Viale described the track simply: “It’s a slow dance in a fast world.” That line does the work. The song pushes back against the pace of contemporary music without making a point of it, landing somewhere tender and unhurried that feels increasingly rare.

Marvellous Radio London are carving out a distinct space with this release. The craft here is deliberate and considered, the kind that rewards repeated listening. “The Way You Do” is not a moment. It is a reminder that this kind of songwriting still carries real weight.

Michael Jackson Biopic ‘Michael’ Arrives April 24 With a 13-Track Companion Soundtrack

Eric Alper
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Michael Jackson Biopic ‘Michael’ Arrives April 24 With a 13-Track Companion Soundtrack

Sony Music today announced the upcoming release of Michael: Songs from the Motion Picture, the official companion album to the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic Michael. The album is available for pre-order beginning today and will be released on April 24, the same day the film arrives in theaters from Lionsgate and Universal Pictures.

Michael: Songs From the Motion Picture highlights 13 songs showcased in the film, spanning from The Jackson 5 to The Jacksons to Michael’s chart-topping solo success with “Off The Wall” and “Thriller.” The collection includes smash hits like “Billie Jean,” “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” “Human Nature” and more.

The soundtrack will be released on all formats on April 24th. The 2-LP will include an exclusive colour variant. Click here for more details.

In theaters April 24, Michael is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of The Jackson 5, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.

Michael stars Jaafar Jackson in his feature film debut as his uncle, Michael Jackson. The film also stars Nia Long, Juliano Valdi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Laura Harrier, with Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by three-time Oscar® nominee John Logan, the film is produced by Graham King, p.g.a., John Branca, and John McClain.

Michael will be distributed domestically by Lionsgate, and by Universal in international markets outside of Japan, where it will be distributed by Kino Films in association with Lionsgate. 

Album Track List:

  1. I’ll Be There – Jackson 5
  2. Never Can Say Goodbye – Jackson 5
  3. Who’s Lovin’ You – Jackson 5 
  4. Medley: I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save (Live) – The Jacksons
  5. Ben (Live) – The Jacksons
  6. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
  7. Beat It – Michael Jackson
  8. Thriller – Michael Jackson
  9. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
  10. Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ – Michael Jackson
  11. Human Nature – Michael Jackson
  12. Workin’ Day and Night – Michael Jackson
  13. Bad – Michael Jackson

5 Musicians Who Made History With Their Debuts

Eric Alper
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5 Musicians Who Made History With Their Debuts

Everyone talks about the long game. The slow build. The years of grinding before anything clicks.

And then there are the artists who kick the door down on day one.

No warm-up. No quiet introduction. Just impact.

Here are five artists whose debut releases didn’t just arrive, they changed the conversation.

The Beatles
When ‘Please Please Me’ dropped in 1963, it didn’t just introduce a band, it launched Beatlemania. Recorded in a single day, the album hit #1 in the U.K. and stayed there for 30 weeks. That kind of dominance doesn’t happen by accident. It set the tone for what pop stardom could become.

Bob Dylan
His 1962 self-titled debut didn’t explode commercially, but its influence is undeniable. It introduced a voice and perspective that would redefine songwriting. Within a year, Dylan was already reshaping folk and laying the groundwork for modern lyrical storytelling.

The Notorious B.I.G.
‘Ready to Die’ in 1994 wasn’t just a debut, it was a statement. Certified multi-platinum and widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever, it shifted the center of gravity back to the East Coast and redefined what mainstream rap could sound like.

Lauryn Hill
‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ arrived in 1998 and immediately made history. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and won five Grammys, the most ever for a female artist at the time. It blended hip-hop, soul, and R&B into something deeply personal and culturally seismic.

Olivia Rodrigo
In 2021, ‘SOUR’ turned a breakout single into a full-scale phenomenon. It debuted at #1, broke streaming records, and produced multiple global hits. Rodrigo didn’t just arrive, she defined the sound of a generation almost instantly.

The takeaway is simple.

Debuts matter. They set expectations, establish identity, and, in rare cases, reshape entire genres.

Most careers take time.

But sometimes, the very first chapter is the one that changes everything.

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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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