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The Wonder Years Announce ‘No Closer to Heaven’ 10th Anniversary Tour

Eric Alper
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The Wonder Years Announce ‘No Closer to Heaven’ 10th Anniversary Tour

The Pennsylvania-based outfit The Wonder Years is set to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their 2015 studio album, ‘No Closer to Heaven’, with a major tour across the United States and the United Kingdom. As detailed this week, the band will perform the album in full each night, followed by a second set featuring material from their other six records. This tour follows the recent arrival of a newly remixed and remastered version of the album on November 21, commemorating its milestone anniversary.

Support for the entire run will come from Knuckle Puck, with additional support from Equipment, Initiate, and Weakened Friends on select dates. The tour is packed with highly anticipated stops, including a special four-night stand in Philadelphia in April, featuring different support acts each night. This momentous celebration comes with a poignant note from the band, hinting that these will likely be fans’ last opportunities to see them live for an undetermined amount of time, urging fans to catch the shows while they can.

‘No Closer to Heaven’ Anniversary Tour Dates

  • Jan 14 The Prospect Building Bristol, England
  • Jan 15 SWG3 Galvanizers Glasgow, Scotland
  • Jan 16 Albert Hall Manchester, United Kingdom
  • Jan 17 O2 Forum Kentish Town London, England
  • Mar 4 Brooklyn Paramount New York, NY
  • Mar 5 The Fillmore Silver Spring Silver Spring, MD
  • Mar 6 The Ritz Raleigh, NC
  • Mar 7 The Fillmore Charlotte Charlotte, NC
  • Mar 8 House of Blues Orlando Lake Buena Vista, FL
  • Mar 10 The Masquerade (Heaven) Atlanta, GA
  • Mar 11 Brooklyn Bowl Nashville Nashville, TN
  • Mar 12 Tower Theatre Oklahoma City, OK
  • Mar 13 Granada Theater Dallas, TX
  • Mar 14 Emo’s Austin Austin, TX
  • Mar 17 The Lowbrow Palace El Paso, TX
  • Mar 18 Nile Theater Mesa, AZ
  • Mar 19 The Observatory North Park San Diego, CA
  • Mar 20 House of Blues Anaheim Anaheim, CA
  • Mar 21 Belasco Theater Los Angeles, CA
  • Mar 22 The UC Theatre Berkeley, CA
  • Mar 24 Revolution Hall Portland, OR
  • Mar 25 Mar 29, 2026 Treefort Music Fest Boise, ID
  • Mar 25 Showbox SoDo Seattle, WA
  • Mar 28 The Grand at The Complex Salt Lake City, UT
  • Mar 29 Ogden Theatre Denver, CO
  • Mar 31 The Truman Kansas City, MO
  • Apr 1 Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
  • Apr 2 Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
  • Apr 3 Saint Andrew’s Hall Detroit, MI
  • Apr 4 House of Blues Cleveland Cleveland, OH
  • Apr 5 The Danforth Music Hall Toronto, ON
  • Apr 7 Empire Live Albany, NY
  • Apr 8 Citizens House of Blues Boston Boston, MA
  • Apr 9 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
  • Apr 10 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
  • Apr 11 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
  • Apr 12 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
  • May 7 Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL
  • May 14 – May 17, 2026 Sonic Temple Columbus, OH

Alex Warren Teams Up With Gigi Perez for New Version of “Eternity”

Eric Alper
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Alex Warren Teams Up With Gigi Perez for New Version of “Eternity”

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Alex Warren just dropped a new version of his hit track “Eternity,” and he is sharing the spotlight with Gigi Perez, creating a seamless blend of vocals that gives the fan-favorite track deep new layers. The collaboration, released via Atlantic Records, was inspired by the duo’s joint performance of the song last summer at Lollapalooza in Chicago. This new version arrives on the heels of major success for the original song from his debut album, ‘You’ll Be Alright, Kid’, which debuted at No. 6 on Spotify’s global chart and No. 16 on the Billboard 100.

Gigi Perez spoke about the collaboration, explaining how deeply the original track resonated with her. She shared: “Eternity was a song that understood me from the first moment I heard it. Getting to bring our perspectives together through this record has been so special to me. Grief is an isolating experience and having a friend who understands you makes the difference between isolation and connection. I’ve been greatly impacted by the way Alex shares his experience with loss through his music and it encourages me to continue to share my story.” This partnership highlights the powerful, shared experience of loss that connects both artists, adding significant emotional weight to the already popular song.

This release follows Alex Warren’s highly coveted Best New Artist nomination for the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, a huge milestone in his rapidly expanding career. His debut album, ‘You’ll Be Alright, Kid’, has already been certified Platinum by the RIAA, having sold over one million albums, and has reached 2x Platinum status in Canada. The record features multiple Billboard Hot 100 charting songs, including the global smash “Ordinary” and “Bloodline” featuring Jelly Roll. Warren has also announced his first arena tour, Little Orphan Alex Live, kicking off in Europe in April 2026, which quickly sold out major venues like the O2 in London and Madison Square Garden in NYC.

Beignet Blanc Solves the Case of Cookie Monster’s Missing Pie in ‘Forks Out’

Eric Alper
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Beignet Blanc Solves the Case of Cookie Monster’s Missing Pie in ‘Forks Out’

Private detective Benoit Blanc, hilariously renamed Beignet Blanc, steps into the world of Sesame Street to investigate the crucial case of Cookie Monster’s missing triple berry pie in an adorable parody called “Forks Out.” This short film, which features Beignet Blanc questioning the usual Sesame Street suspects, is also a fun promotion for the third installment of Rian Johnson’s original series, Wake Up Dead Man, which premieres on Netflix on December 12. Someone has definitely eaten the dessert, and only the beignet-loving detective can solve this sticky mystery.

How the Music Industry Can Open Its Doors Wider and Unlock a New Era of Creative Talent

Eric Alper
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How the Music Industry Can Open Its Doors Wider and Unlock a New Era of Creative Talent

In many corners of the music world, talent grows long before recognition arrives. Emerging creators often devote years to writing, producing, and performing without ever receiving the moment that signals they belong. That moment of legitimacy is powerful. It shapes confidence, professional identity, and the willingness to take creative risks. When the industry does not extend that moment, many artists remain in a threshold space where they are working at a high level but are not fully seen.

Across the sector, systemic challenges contribute to this stalled momentum. Gatekeeping often presents as selective curation, yet it quietly filters out artists who would thrive with the right opportunities. Application systems for showcases, grants, and mentorships frequently rely on formats that assume a narrow range of experiences, which keeps many creators from entering the spaces designed to support them. Inclusion is widely discussed in public messaging, although structural change within institutions often progresses slowly. The industry still carries long standing beliefs about who can succeed at scale, and these beliefs shape investment decisions long before the music is even heard. Without active support, many creators navigate internal doubts alone, unsure when they will finally be recognized as professionals who deserve to advance.

These challenges affect the entire musical landscape. When emerging artists wait for permission that never comes, the mainstream remains limited. Audiences miss the chance to experience a wider range of stories, sounds, and creative visions. The ecosystem becomes smaller, not because of a lack of talent, but because of the absence of pathways that make growth possible.

There are many ways the industry can create meaningful, lasting change. Mentorship pipelines would give emerging creators direct access to producers, bookers, publicists, and grant officers. Updated application systems that allow flexible formats would open doors for artists who communicate in different ways. Touring support that includes transportation, adaptive equipment, and accessibility planning would expand participation in one of the most important parts of the music economy. Media coverage that integrates diverse creators into everyday cultural conversations would normalize their presence in the mainstream. Training programs for gatekeepers would help remove unconscious bias from booking and curation decisions. Accessibility audits for venues and festivals would reduce barriers for both performers and audiences. Paid creative residencies would provide time, structure, and legitimacy at pivotal early stages. Broader recognition of digital performance formats would create new touring models that work for a wider range of artists. Clear and accessible communication systems would remove friction at every step of the process. And finally, award submissions and jury processes that actively welcome a broader range of creators would help reshape the understanding of who belongs in the highest levels of the industry.

A music world that embraces these changes becomes larger, more vibrant, and more reflective of the communities it serves. Growth happens when the industry decides that opportunity is not a scarce resource. Recognition becomes a doorway instead of a barrier. The path to legitimacy becomes clearer. The creative landscape becomes richer. And the future of music becomes a place with room for everyone who is ready to step forward.

Peaky Blinders Goes Into Theaters For New Feature Film ‘The Immortal Man’

Eric Alper
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Peaky Blinders Goes Into Theaters For New Feature Film ‘The Immortal Man’

The Peaky Blinders are back with a new feature film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which continues the story of Tommy Shelby and the Shelby clan. The film, which is available now, was written by series creator Steven Knight and directed by Tom Harper. Cillian Murphy, reprising his role as Tommy Shelby, told Netflix that it is “very gratifying to be re-collaborating” on the film version and that “This is one for the fans.”

The story is set in Birmingham in 1940, amidst the chaos of WWII. Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet, where he must choose whether to confront his legacy or burn it to the ground. Steven Knight told Netflix that the country is at war, and “so, of course, are our Peaky Blinders,” promising an “explosive chapter.” The film’s cast includes Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Sophie Rundle, and Barry Keoghan.

‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ will be available in theaters on March 6, 2026, and on Netflix on March 20, 2026.

15 of the Best Great American Songbook Albums

Eric Alper
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15 of the Best Great American Songbook Albums

There’s something magical about the Great American Songbook. Maybe it’s the nostalgia. Maybe it’s the glamour. Or maybe it’s the thrill of hearing your favorite artist suddenly put on a tux, slow down the tempo, and croon like they’ve been living in a smoky jazz club since 1947.

Every generation eventually tries its hand at these classics. Some succeed beautifully. Some… well, let’s call them “historical curiosities.”

But the albums that work — the ones worth revisiting — are the ones where the artist doesn’t just sing the song. They find themselves inside it. These 15 albums do exactly that.

‘A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night’ – Harry Nilsson (1973)

Nilsson hires Sinatra’s arranger, goes full velvet-suit romantic, and somehow makes standards sound both dreamy and slyly unhinged.

‘Am I Not Your Girl?’ – Sinéad O’Connor (1992)

Sinéad at her boldest — heart, honesty, and a big band behind her. Her voice turns these classics into emotional gut punches.

‘Both Sides Now’ – Joni Mitchell (2000)

Joni transforms jazz standards into a late-night confession booth, anchored by her smoky, lived-in voice and Vince Mendoza’s lush arrangements.

‘Fallen Angels’ – Bob Dylan (2016)

Dylan bends Sinatra’s world into his own — ragged, intimate, and strangely tender. A saloon album for people who prefer dim lights and creaky barstools.

‘Fly Me to the Moon… The Great American Songbook, Vol. V’ – Rod Stewart (2010)

Stewart goes all-in on glamour and swing. It’s flashy, fun, and surprisingly charming — a reminder that rock stars sometimes make great crooners.

‘Long Wave’ – Jeff Lynne (2012)

ELO’s mastermind ditches bombast for warmth, creating a radio-dial love letter to the songs he grew up with. A cozy, analog-glow record.

‘Pop Pop’ – Rickie Lee Jones (1991)

Bare, strange, and beautiful — Jones turns standards inside out using only her elastic phrasing and a bassist who sounds like he’s levitating.

‘Sentimental Journey’ – Ringo Starr (1970)

Ringo’s mom asked for an album of standards. Ringo delivered — with George Martin turning the arrangements into whimsical little worlds.

‘Shadows in the Night’ – Bob Dylan (2015)

Dylan at his most vulnerable, singing Sinatra with the cracked beauty of a man sending postcards to his past selves.

‘Songs From the Last Century’ – George Michael (1999)

Stylish, smooth, and unexpectedly bold — Michael reinvents standards and even sneaks in a big-band ‘Roxanne’ because, well, why not?

‘Stardust’ – Willie Nelson (1978)

A landmark album. Willie bends melodies like they’re soft clay and turns the Songbook into a country-jazz masterpiece that stayed on the charts for a decade.

‘Thanks for the Memory… The Great American Songbook, Vol. IV’ – Rod Stewart (2005)

One of Stewart’s strongest entries — warm vocals, impeccable arrangements, and a surprising amount of emotional depth.

‘Triplicate’ – Bob Dylan (2017)

Three discs, three moods, and Dylan at his most reflective. It’s sprawling, delicate, and maybe his most committed dive into the Songbook.

‘Wee Small Hours’ – Frank Sinatra (1955)

The template. The standard of standards. Every late-night Songbook album owes a drink to this one.

‘What’s New’ – Linda Ronstadt (1983)

Ronstadt, backed by Nelson Riddle, goes full glamour and absolutely nails it. Her voice soars over arrangements that sparkle like vintage Hollywood.

10 Songs Perfect for Celebrating National Blue Jeans Day

Eric Alper
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10 Songs Perfect for Celebrating National Blue Jeans Day

Some holidays need no explanation. National Blue Jeans Day is one of them. Denim has been a cultural icon for decades — worn by rock stars, poets, rebels, pop queens, folk heroes, and all of us in between. Lucky for us, music has been singing about blue jeans for just as long.

So pull on your favorite pair, crank up the volume, and celebrate the greatest fabric ever stitched with these 10 denim-inspired classics.

“Blue Jean” – David Bowie

Bowie turns the simple act of wearing jeans into a stylish, swaggering pop moment — leave it to him to glamorize denim.

“Blue Jean Baby” – Fitz and The Tantrums

A bubbly, retro-tinged track that struts across the dance floor like your favorite perfectly worn-in pair.

“Blue Jeans” – Jessie James

Country-pop grit meets flirtatious charm in this ode to falling for the person who looks just right in denim.

“Blue Jeans” – Lana Del Rey

Moody, cinematic, and nostalgic, Lana transforms blue jeans into a symbol of heartbreak and California dreaming.

“Blue Jeans” – Meghan Trainor

A punchy, upbeat reminder that confidence — and a great pair of jeans — can change your whole day.

“Blue Jeans and White T-Shirts” – The Gaslight Anthem

A Springsteen-soaked love letter to youth, New Jersey nights, and the timeless denim-and-tee combo.

“Forever in Blue Jeans” – Neil Diamond

An unshakable feel-good anthem insisting that life is better — and simpler — in denim. Neil has spoken.

“I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” – Elton John

Not strictly about pants, but its poetic reference to blue jeans earns it a rightful spot on any denim playlist.

“Real Gone” – Sheryl Crow

Crow channels Americana grit and road-trip energy, with denim imagery stitched into the song’s freewheeling spirit.

“Tight Fittin’ Jeans” – Conway Twitty

A classic country tale of a bar, a mysterious woman, and a pair of jeans that set an unforgettable night in motion.

Indie Rockers Tigers Jaw Shares Exhilarating Single “Head is Like a Sinking Stone”

Eric Alper
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Indie Rockers Tigers Jaw Shares Exhilarating Single “Head is Like a Sinking Stone”

Tigers Jaw – the band of Ben Walsh (guitar, vocals), Brianna Collins (keys, vocals), Mark Lebiecki (guitar), Colin Gorman (bass), and Teddy Roberts (drums) – today announced their highly anticipated new album ‘Lost on You’ will be released 27th March, 2026 via Hopeless Records. Their seventh album and follow-up to their critically-acclaimed 2021 LP, ‘I Won’t Care How You Remember Me’, was produced/engineered by their longtime collaborator Will Yip (Turnstile, Movements) at his famed Studio 4 in Philadelphia and captures the energy and spirit of the quintet’s live show. Tigers Jaw today also shared the album’s exhilarating lead single ‘Head is Like a Sinking Stone’ alongside a video of tour footage shot by the band throughout the years and edited by Ricky Christian.

Originating as a guitar riff written by their newest member Lebiecki and later completed by the band, Walsh notes the lyrics of ‘Head is Like a Sinking Stone’ were inspired by a recurring dream from his childhood. “When I was a kid I had a strange recurring dream of jumping off the high dive at Nay Aug Park pool in Scranton, and after jumping in, time would just sort of freeze and I’d just be stuck there underwater,” says Walsh. “The premise was pretty terrifying but the visual of sunshine reflecting on the ripples of water from the perspective of being beneath the surface was always kind of hauntingly beautiful. The chorus lyric sprung from a recollection of that dream and the rest followed. It serves as a kind of reminder to myself that beauty can be found in unexpected situations.”

Tigers Jaw today also announced an album release show at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer on 16th April, 2026. ‘Lost on You’ is now available for pre-order HERE.

Despite our deepest desires, time only continues to move forward, slowly and incessantly. We attempt to understand the present through our conceptions of the past, and we hope to use that understanding to guide the future. These simple chronological divisions offer us a simple way to organise our lives: where we’ve been, where we are now, where we hope to be. Despite their connections, they feel disparate, always looking at one through the lens of another. On ‘Lost on You’, Tigers Jaw pose a much more holistic idea: we exist in all of these timelines at once.

With five years since their last release, Walsh noted that the band “wanted to feel confident in the material we have and let things progress naturally.” And so they took their time finding what felt right, even though, of course, life continued on all around them. The result is a Tigers Jaw record as great as you’d expect. Songs like ‘Primary Colors’ and ‘Baptized on a Redwood Drive’ find the band embracing a driving midtempo similar to alt rock heroes Jimmy Eat World or Weezer, with other tracks like ‘Head is Like a Sinking Stone’ and ‘BREEZER’ feeling so classic that the best reference is Tigers Jaw themselves. They sing about blades and knives, anxieties and intentions, and timeless TJ topics like two worlds and ghosts.

These songs are portals taking us between different parts of the band’s life and even our own lives, showing us how we can understand time not as a linear narrative but as something that is all real and knowable at once. They weren’t able to get here without starting somewhere else—somewhere we as fans can instantly recognize and relate to. And while where they are going may still be unknown to us, we can see traces of it here already. It’s uncertain but true, something we are constantly grappling with as time continues to inevitably pass. But there is beauty in it if we can accept it, finding contentment in just attempting to know ourselves. As Collins sings on ‘Primary Colors,’ “I understand it all now/It’s not supposed to make sense.”

Country Superstar Dwight Yoakam Headlines Official Nashville New Year’s Eve Watch Party

Eric Alper
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Country Superstar Dwight Yoakam Headlines Official Nashville New Year’s Eve Watch Party

This year’s NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE’S BIG BASH official watch party will take place at Luke Combs’ Category 10, kicking off at 6PM on Wednesday, December 31. Grammy-award winning country superstar Dwight Yoakam will take the stage to perform his biggest hits, with special appearances by Cody Alan and Caylee Hammack to ring in 2025. 

The official watch party is free and open to fans 21 and older on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6 PM. Guaranteed entry tickets and VIP upgrade options can be purchased in advance HERE.

For those unable to make it to Category 10 or the main show at Bicentennial Park, NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE’S BIG BASH will air live on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT, 10:30 PM-1:30 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+*.

As previously announced, the star-studded entertainment special will feature high-energy performances from country music’s hottest superstars live from Bicentennial Park in Nashville, including Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman, as well as special guests CeCe Winans and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The five-hour event will air across multiple time zones, with the traditional countdown at midnight Eastern time as well as the renowned Nashville Music Note Drop and celebratory firework display at midnight Central time. Additional performers will be announced at a later date. 

NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE’S BIG BASH is executive produced by Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington in partnership with Music City Inc., the foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. The special will be directed by Sandra Restrepo.

*Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

Dwight Yoakam is one of the most influential and innovative voices in American music, celebrated for a career that has reshaped the sound of modern country while extending far beyond its boundaries. With more than 25 million albums sold worldwide, Yoakam is a 21-time GRAMMY nominee and multiple GRAMMY® Award winner. His catalog includes 12 gold albums and 9 platinum or multi-platinum releases, with five reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and 14 placing in the Top 10. Nearly 40 of his singles have charted on Billboard, including 14 Top 10 hits. He is a recipient of the Americana Music Association’s Artist of the Year Award and BMI Country Music’s President’s Award, and in 2019 was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, further cementing his standing as a defining voice in American songwriting. Yoakam’s most recent release, Brighter Days (Via Records/Thirty Tigers), arrived in November 2024 and marked his first album of new material in nine years. Written and recorded over a multi-year period, the collection includes twelve original songs written or co-written by Yoakam, along with covers of “Keep On the Sunny Side,” “Bound Away,” and Chris Hillman’s “Time Between,” all rendered in his unmistakable, genre-blending style that spans honky-tonk, Bakersfield country, bluegrass, rock & roll, and Americana traditions. A dedicated steward of musical heritage, Yoakam launched his SiriusXM channel, Dwight Yoakam and The Bakersfield Beat: Where Country Went Mod, in 2018. The channel celebrates the Bakersfield sound and its lasting influence, featuring music, interviews, archival recordings, and guest appearances from artists such as Post Malone, Lukas Nelson, Beck, Chris Hillman, Jakob Dylan, and Jackie DeShannon. Yoakam’s versatility extends to film and television, with more than 40 appearances to his credit. From his iconic feature debut in Sling Blade, Yoakam has gone on to deliver standout performances in Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky, Clint Eastwood’s Cry Macho, and David Fincher’s Panic Room. Whether on stage or screen, Dwight Yoakam is a singular force in American culture, whose work has reshaped country music and inspired generations of artists.

J.I.D Shares Personal Story Behind The Track “Glory”

Eric Alper
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J.I.D Shares Personal Story Behind The Track “Glory”

Hip-hop artist J.I.D is sharing the powerful, personal meaning behind his track “Glory” in a new episode of Soundcheck. The single is not just a song, but a compelling story where J.I.D opens up about his family, faith, and roots in Atlanta and Tuskegee. He reveals the lessons passed down from his grandmother and discusses his brother’s struggles, explaining that these stories shaped “Glory.”

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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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