Home Blog Page 66

Industrial Metal Project ALFONSO CONSPIRACY Unleashes Debut Album ‘The Explicit//The Exploited’

Eric Alper
-
0
Industrial Metal Project ALFONSO CONSPIRACY Unleashes Debut Album ‘The Explicit//The Exploited’

Fiery new industrial metal project ALFONSO CONSPIRACY, fronted by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Max James, has released his towering debut album, ‘The Explicit//The Exploited’. Max James forged the project in seclusion amid the industrial grit of Northern England, teaching himself every instrument and mastering every element of the sound. The result is a visceral, genre-bending experience that fuses the aggressive energy of ‘90s industrial metal, the crushing weight of modern metal riffs, and the immersive darkness of gothic and horror culture.

The ten-track record dives headfirst into suffering, identity, and inner conflict, with Max James explaining, “It’s an album of two halves—literally. I address trauma, play devil’s advocate, and tell my story all in one.” In the lead-up to the album, ALFONSO CONSPIRACY dropped a video for the single, “Transmit,” which is built on pounding percussion and jagged electronics, capturing the album’s central themes of disconnection and defiance. This uncompromising debut stands as a bold statement from an artist ready to carve his place in the Brit metal scene.

HBO Music Documentary Explores Counting Crows’ Rise And Adam Duritz’s Creative Defiance

Eric Alper
-
0
HBO Music Documentary Explores Counting Crows’ Rise And Adam Duritz’s Creative Defiance

The HBO Original documentary MUSIC BOX: COUNTING CROWS: HAVE YOU SEEN ME LATELY? is an intimate portrait chronicling the rise of the band Counting Crows and the unrelenting pressure that followed their massive success. Directed by Amy Scott, the film focuses on frontman Adam Duritz and explores the emotional aftermath of the band’s landmark debut album, ‘August and Everything After’. Catapulted into fame by the massive hit “Mr. Jones,” Duritz found himself caught between a loss of anonymity and a deepening desire to create something personal and true while navigating mental health challenges.

The documentary captures the making of their pivotal follow-up album, ‘Recovering the Satellites’, which became a raw, urgent, and unapologetically honest record where Duritz channeled his inner conflict. The film features candid interviews with current and former bandmembers, including David Bryson, Charlie Gillingham, and Matt Malley, along with friends and peers like Chris Martin, Cyndi Lauper, and Mary-Louise Parker. This portrait of creative defiance debuts on Thursday, December 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.

BBC Acquires Series Recounting The Beatles’ Hamburg Days

Eric Alper
-
0
BBC Acquires Series Recounting The Beatles’ Hamburg Days

The BBC has acquired the forthcoming drama series Hamburg Days, a six-part series set to recount The Beatles’ early days as a band for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The series is based on the autobiography of Klaus Voormann, who is also serving as a consultant on the project. Hamburg Days is set in the early 1960s, specifically in the smoke-filled clubs of Hamburg’s St. Pauli’s red-light district. The story will track how an inexperienced rock ‘n’ roll band from Liverpool collided with two young artists, Klaus Voormann and Astrid Kirchherr, sparking the transformation that turned the scrappy teenagers into The Beatles.

The creative team boasts impressive talent: renowned German director Christian Schwochow is the showrunner, and Mat Whitecross, known for his acclaimed collaborations with Coldplay and Oasis, will direct. Jamie Carragher serves as head writer for the series, which was developed by Benjamin Benedict. BAFTA-winner David Holmes will curate the music in the series. Sue Deeks, Head of Scripted Pre-buy Acquisitions at the BBC, called the series “the fascinating story of how, in the space of two short years, a raw young band from Liverpool honed their music skills in Hamburg, before returning home to become an overnight worldwide success.”

Hamburg Days will be a W&B Television and Turbine Studios production for ZDF, the BBC and AGC Television.

Rock Musical Mega-Hit ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ Returns To Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre

Eric Alper
-
0
Rock Musical Mega-Hit ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ Returns To Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre

The mega-hit musical ‘Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical’ is celebrating its return to Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre next spring. The production, which features the timeless music of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf, will play three performances only. The spectacular show boasts an epic world-class cast of singers, dancers, and actors, accompanied by a dynamic eight-piece rock band. The musical has previously wowed critics and audiences alike during limited seasons in London, Toronto, and New York City.

For the stage musical, the legendary Jim Steinman incorporated iconic songs from the ‘Bat Out of Hell’ albums, including “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth,” “I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” and the previously unreleased song “What Part of My Body Hurts the Most”. The musical won the UK’s Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical at the Evening Standard Awards and garnered five-star reviews from major UK outlets. The New York Times raved that ‘Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical’ is “extravagant, absurd, compulsively hummable”.

‘Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical’ Performances – Tickets available here.

  • April 3 2026: 7:30 PM
  • April 4 2026: 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Global Pop Icon ROSALÍA Announces Massive ‘LUX’ World Tour Supporting Her Acclaimed New Album

Eric Alper
-
0
Global Pop Icon ROSALÍA Announces Massive ‘LUX’ World Tour Supporting Her Acclaimed New Album

Today, GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and global visionary ROSALÍA announces her most extensive headlining tour to date — the LUX TOUR 2026, a sweeping 42-show arena run across 17 countries in support of her critically acclaimed new album LUX, out now via Columbia Records.

Produced by Live Nation, the LUX TOUR 2026 kicks off March 16 in Lyon, France at LDLC Arena, with performances across France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, before wrapping September 3 in San Juan at Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

The tour will bring to life ROSALÍA’s fourth full-length body of work, LUX, originally recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daníel Bjarnason. The album features several collaborators including Björk, Carminho, Estrella Morente, Silvia Pérez Cruz, Yahritza, Yves Tumor, and the Escolania de Montserrat i Cor Cambra Palau de la Música Catalana.

Since its release, LUX has delivered the strongest commercial debut of ROSALÍA’s career and set new milestones for Spanish-language music on a global scale, breaking multiple all-time records across major markets. The album opened at #1 on Spotify’s Global Top Albums Chart—marking the artist’s second global chart-topping debut, and achieved the biggest streaming debut ever for a female Spanish-language artist on the platform.

LUX also saw historic results in Spain, record-setting performances in France and the United Kingdom, multiple #1 debuts across Europe, her highest-ever placement in the United States, and impressive momentum across Latin America, ROSALÍA’s new album reaffirms her position as one of the most influential and boundary-breaking artists in music today.

Both critically and commercially, LUX represents ROSALÍA’s most ambitious and accomplished body of work to date—praised for its visionary blend of classical composition, global pop innovation, and spiritual intimacy.

“An arresting album of astonishing scope and ambition… that consistently leaves you with your jaw on your floor” – NME

With MOTOMAMI, ROSALÍA became the first Spanish artist to debut at #1 on Spotify’s Global Album Chart, achieved the highest Metacritic score of the year, and delivered one of the most celebrated tours of the decade with the sold-out MOTOMAMI WORLD TOUR. Her influence has since expanded globally—from her commanding 2025 Met Gala moment in custom Balmain, to fronting Calvin Klein’s Fall 2025 campaign, to serving as a New Balance Global Ambassador, to her acting debut in HBO’s Euphoria (2026).

Now, with LUX and the LUX TOUR 2026, ROSALÍA enters her most transformative artistic chapter yet.

TICKETS:  Tickets go on sale Thursday, December 11 on rosalia.com.

U.S. & CANADA PRESALE: American Express is providing Card Members access to Amex Presale Tickets for select shows in North America, available for purchase HERE starting Tuesday, December 9 at 9am local before the general public on-sale, while supplies last. Terms apply. This is one of the many entertainment benefits American Express Card Members can access across the arts, theater, sports and music through Amex Experiences™.

VIP: In North America and Latin America, the tour will also offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages vary but include premium tickets, access to the pre-show VIP lounge, exclusive merch bundle, early entry & more. VIP package contents vary based on the offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com.

ROSALÍA – LUX TOUR 2026 DATES:

Mon Mar 16 – Lyon, FR – LDLC Arena

Wed Mar 18 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena

Fri Mar 20 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena

Sun Mar 22 – Zurich, CH – Hallenstadion

Wed Mar 25 – Milan, IT – Unipol Forum

Mon Mar 30 – Madrid, ES – Movistar Arena

Wed Apr 01 – Madrid, ES – Movistar Arena

Fri Apr 03 – Madrid, ES – Movistar Arena

Sat Apr 04 – Madrid, ES – Movistar Arena

Wed Apr 08 – Lisbon, PT – MEO Arena

Thu Apr 09 – Lisbon, PT – MEO Arena

Mon Apr 13 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi

Wed Apr 15 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi

Fri Apr 17 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi

Sat Apr 18 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi

Wed Apr 22 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome

Mon Apr 27 – Antwerp, BE – AFAS Dome

Wed Apr 29 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena

Fri May 01 – Berlin, DE – Uber Arena

Tue May 05 – London, UK – The O2

Thu Jun 04 – Miami, FL – Kaseya Center

Mon Jun 08 – Orlando, FL – Kia Center

Thu Jun 11 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

Sat Jun 13 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

Tue Jun 16 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Sat Jun 20 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Tue Jun 23 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

Sat Jun 27 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena

Mon Jun 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

Fri Jul 03 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena

Mon Jul 06 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena

Thu Jul 16 – Bogotá, CO – Movistar Arena

Fri Jul 24 – Santiago, CL – Movistar Arena

Sat Jul 25 – Santiago, CL – Movistar Arena

Sat Aug 01 – Buenos Aires, AR – Movistar Arena

Sun Aug 02 – Buenos Aires, AR – Movistar Arena

Mon Aug 10 – Rio de Janeiro, BR – Farmasi Arena

Sat Aug 15 – Guadalajara, MX – Arena VFG

Wed Aug 19 – Monterrey, MX – Arena Monterrey

Mon Aug 24 – Mexico City, MX – Palacio de los Deportes

Wed Aug 26 – Mexico City, MX – Palacio de los Deportes

Thu Sep 03 – San Juan, PR – Coliseo de Puerto Rico

Dance-Punk Icons LCD Soundsystem Announce 2026 Chicago Residency At Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom

Eric Alper
-
0
Dance-Punk Icons LCD Soundsystem Announce 2026 Chicago Residency At Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom

LCD Soundsystem just announced their return to Chicago in the form of a major 2026 residency taking place at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom. The band will take over the venue for four nights on Thursday, March 5, Friday, March 6, Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8. Tickets for all four shows go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, December 12 at 10:00 a.m. CT via Ticketmaster, so check their website for updates on support acts and after-parties.

Ashley McBryde Launches ‘The Light On’ Fund Inspired By Her Mother’s Kindness

Eric Alper
-
0
Ashley McBryde Launches ‘The Light On’ Fund Inspired By Her Mother’s Kindness

On this Giving Tuesday, coinciding with her mother Martha’s birthday, iconic artist Ashley McBryde announced the establishment of her Light On Fund. The initiative is named in reference to McBryde’s song “Light On In The Kitchen,” a musical tapestry inspired by and in honor of her mother and her mother’s two sisters. Ashley McBryde’s Light On Fund exists to support a wide range of causes close to the artist’s heart, embodying a spirit of care and community support.

The fund will focus on areas including advocacy for the mental health of veterans, rehabilitation resources for the creative community, helping children in the foster care system, and championing ASL interpretation at live music events. The fund plans to announce a new charitable focus each quarter, beginning in 2026 and continuing onward. McBryde shared her personal philosophy behind the initiative: “Leaving the light on for someone is the same as telling them you love them where I’m from. Folks are suffering in ways we’ll never see or know about, and the same way I want someone to come to my show and know that for 90 minutes, they’ve got a safe haven, we hope the Light On Fund will be a place of support, care, and nurturing for causes that have touched my life and my history.”

The primary inspiration for the fund stems directly from the generous example set by McBryde’s mother, Martha, who recently auctioned off one of Ashley’s childhood dresses to give back to her local foster care system in Arkansas. McBryde launched the Light On Fund by personally matching the amount raised from that sale. She emphasized her family’s humble example, noting: “With the establishment of the Light On Fund, I hope that we’re letting people know that we see them and we care. Wherever they may be or may end up on life’s journey, we’ll leave a light on for them.” The Light On Fund is proudly run through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

James Tonic Releases Bold and Soulful New Album ‘Safety’

Eric Alper
-
0
James Tonic Releases Bold and Soulful New Album ‘Safety’

James Tonic has released his new album, ‘Safety’, which marks his most personal and confident work to date. Available now, the record is a bold and soulful blending of gritty storytelling, coastal nostalgia, and a warm sense of intimacy that feels both raw and inviting. Following last year’s successful run with Stuck in LA and its West Coast tour, this project opens a broader series of music that will continue into early 2026.

‘Safety’ ventures into a compelling range of territories, blending shadowy tales and upbeat moments through live drums, analog synths, and unhurried performances. The result is a warm, organic human touch seldom found in today’s sound. James Tonic drew from R&B, hip-hop, and pop foundations before leaning into rock-tinged compositions with band instrumentation. His songs offer reflective entertainment laced with real life, ensuring the album holds a distinct and compelling place in the current musical landscape.

The album draws the listener close with tracks that drift, synths that fold in layers, and beats that simmer low. Each track meticulously adds a new shade to the record’s atmosphere, building toward a cohesive and emotionally layered whole. By its final song, ‘Safety’ stands as a fully realized chapter in James Tonic’s evolving sound, laying the groundwork for further music and narratives in the near future.

Peter Hook & The Light Announce 50th Anniversary Show Marking Sex Pistols’ Legendary Manchester Gig

Eric Alper
-
0
Peter Hook & The Light Announce 50th Anniversary Show Marking Sex Pistols’ Legendary Manchester Gig

On 4 June 1976 Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto brought the Sex Pistols to Manchester for the first time for a legendary performance at the Lesser Free Trade Hall. The gig attracted a modest crowd of around 40 people but amongst them were a disproportionate number of figures who would become legends of the Manchester music scene: future members of The Smiths and The Fall, Factory Records’ Tony Wilson, punk poet John Cooper Clarke, producer Martin Hannett and, somewhere amongst the crowd, a young Peter Hook with his friend and future Joy Division bandmate Bernard Sumner.

Energised by the ramshackle performance, Peter Hook bought a bass guitar the very next day and went on to play in some the most influential and iconic bands in British history, pioneering the dawn of post punk with Joy Division before moving onto the synth driven soundscapes of New Order. Five decades on, Hooky will celebrate the anniversary of that pivotal night with a show in the city that shaped him.

On 4 June 2026, fifty years to the day since the Sex Pistols changed the Manchester music scene forever, Peter Hook & The Light will perform a retrospective set at the Academy spanning his lengthy career. With songs from Warsaw, Joy Division, New Order, Revenge, Monaco and Freebass, it’s destined to be a night not to missed by fans of his widely influential career.

Peter Hook & The Light will be joined by very special guests Buzzcocks who, since that night fifty years ago, have carved out their own unique place in British music history with songs such as Harmony In My Head, What Do I Get? and Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) and in the process will be celebrating their own 50th anniversary.

The Manchester date in June will be the only PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT headline UK date in 2026.

Pre-sale tickets will be available at 10:00am on WEDNESDAY 3 DECEMBER here

General sale tickets will be available at 10:00am on FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER here

The announcement follows the recent Get Ready UK tour, which saw Peter Hook & The Light perform the seventh New Order album in its entirety before a second set of seminal tracks from the catalogues of both Joy Division and New Order.

Peter Hook first revisited the seminal Joy Division album Unknown Pleasures back in May 2010 for a commemorative charity concert and has followed it each year by performing subsequent albums from the repertoires of Joy Division and New Order. His dedication to his back catalogue has now seen him move through Unknown Pleasures, Closer, Still, Movement, Power Corruption & Lies, Low Life, Brotherhood, Technique, Republic and Substance to arrive at the Get Ready album this year. Having toured the albums extensively, the band have now amassed approaching 1000 concerts. Among the many highlights since Peter Hook reintroduced his early repertoire to a legion of audiences across the world, both new and old, have been appearances at Benicassim, Primavera Sound, Kendal Calling, Bestival, Victorious and Rebellion, alongside extensive touring in Europe, North and South America, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand to great acclaim from both fans and critics alike

Rafael Anton Irisarri Unveils New Album ‘Points of Inaccessibility’

Eric Alper
-
0
Rafael Anton Irisarri Unveils New Album ‘Points of Inaccessibility’

Enigmatic musician Rafael Anton Irisarri has announced his compelling new album, ‘Points of Inaccessibility’, scheduled to land on February 6th via Black Knoll Editions on BioVinyl. The record was developed during an intense residency inside the former Pieter Baan Centre in Utrecht, a site once used as a psychiatric prison that still carries heavy acoustic traces of its past. Irisarri worked in this unique, stark space while Dutch artist Jaco Schilp developed accompanying point cloud visuals for an audio visual performance, with the music later meticulously reconstructed and produced in Irisarri’s New York studio.

Irisarri spoke thoughtfully about the project’s central theme, stating: “’Points of Inaccessibility’ came from thinking about how disconnection feels in an age obsessed with connection. We are constantly online, constantly visible, yet we drift further apart. The real distance isn’t geographic anymore, it’s emotional.” He also reflected on the profound effect of the building itself, noting: “Inside that old psychiatric prison in Utrecht, the air felt heavy with the residue of other lives. The sound carried traces of silence, as if the walls remembered things that had been forgotten. It made me aware that every frequency holds a ghost.”

The record promises a deeply introspective journey, leveraging the unusual acoustic character of the former prison to explore themes of emotional isolation in the hyper-connected world. ‘Points of Inaccessibility’ arrives just ahead of several major 2026 live dates across Europe, including shows in Spain, Greece, and the UK, with two performances featuring Abul Mogard.

Rafael Anton Irisarri 2026 Tour Dates:

  • 01/23 – House of Music Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
  • 02/01 – LABA, Iruña-Pamplona, Spain
  • 02/06 – St Paul’s Sessions, Amphitheater of the Athens Conservatoire, Athens, Greece (w/ Abul Mogard)
  • 02/14 – Casa Montjuïc, Barcelona, Spain
  • 05/04 – Dig That Treasure Festival, London, England (w/ Abul Mogard)
  • 05/14 – Dabadaba, San Sebastián, Spain
1...656667...3,042Page 66 of 3,042

Follow us on Instagram @thatericalper

That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

Popular posts

Popular category

© Copyright - That Eric Alper