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5 Surprising Facts About Steely Dan’s ‘Can’t Buy a Thrill’

Steely Dan’s Can’t Buy a Thrill is one of those rare debut albums that sounds like a band that had already lived a lifetime together. Released in 1972, it introduced the world to Walter Becker and Donald Fagen’s fusion of rock, jazz, and intricate storytelling, all wrapped in sophisticated, sometimes cryptic, lyrics. With hits like Do It Again and Reelin’ In the Years, it climbed the charts and cemented Steely Dan’s place in music history. But behind the polished production and masterful musicianship, there are some fascinating details that even die-hard fans might not know.

1. David Palmer Was Briefly the Voice of Steely Dan

While Donald Fagen’s signature voice became synonymous with Steely Dan, he wasn’t always the band’s primary singer. Early on, ABC Records had concerns about Fagen’s confidence as a frontman, leading to the recruitment of David Palmer. Palmer provided lead vocals on several tracks, including Dirty Work and Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me). But by the time their next album rolled around, Fagen had stepped fully into the role, making Can’t Buy a Thrill the only record where another vocalist played such a prominent role. Palmer later pursued a songwriting career, penning hits for Carpenters and others.

2. The Album’s Cover Was Banned in Spain

The original artwork for Can’t Buy a Thrill featured a photomontage of a line of prostitutes standing in Rue du Gros-Horloge in Rouen, France. While provocative, it wasn’t out of place for the era. However, Spain’s Francisco Franco regime found the image inappropriate and banned the cover outright. As a result, Spanish pressings of the album featured a tamer substitute: a photograph of the band performing live. In later years, Becker and Fagen jokingly referred to the album’s cover as one of the worst of the decade—though they saved their harshest criticism for The Royal Scam.

3. Jimmy Page Calls This Guitar Solo One of the Greatest of All Time

Reelin’ In the Years boasts one of rock’s most celebrated guitar solos, played by session musician Elliott Randall. The searing lead was recorded in a single take, an almost unheard-of feat for such an intricate performance. Even Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, a guitar legend himself, once called it his favorite solo of all time, ranking it a 12/10. If you listen to the quadraphonic mix of the song, you’ll even hear extra lead guitar parts that were left out of the standard stereo version, making it an essential deep cut for audiophiles.

4. “Do It Again” Features an Electric Sitar and an Unusual Organ

One of the album’s most distinctive tracks, Do It Again, sets the mood with its hypnotic groove and Latin-tinged rhythm. But listen closely to the solos—there’s an unexpected instrument in the mix. Guitarist Denny Dias plays an electric sitar, an instrument more commonly associated with psychedelic rock. Meanwhile, Donald Fagen delivers a “plastic organ” solo on a Yamaha YC-30, which had a unique pitch-bending control that gave it a wavering, almost theremin-like quality. These choices helped define the song’s unique sound, making it instantly recognizable to this day.

5. “Dirty Work” Was Almost Given to Another Band

Steely Dan’s Dirty Work—a smooth, melancholic track about an affair—was nearly given away to a different band altogether. Executives at ABC Records thought it would be perfect for groups like Three Dog Night or The Grass Roots, both of whom had a knack for radio-friendly hits. Becker and Fagen were initially reluctant to include the song on Can’t Buy a Thrill, as they felt it was too conventional compared to their usual sound. But the label insisted, and it ended up being one of the most beloved deep cuts in the Steely Dan catalog, later revived in 2006 with female backing vocalists singing from a different perspective.

Fifty years later, Can’t Buy a Thrill remains a defining debut, a masterclass in musicianship, and a glimpse into what Steely Dan would become. From the studio perfectionism that followed to their esoteric lyrics and jazz-infused compositions, Becker and Fagen would go on to rewrite the rules of rock music. But it all started here, with an album that still sounds fresh, forward-thinking, and absolutely thrilling.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Founding Member Stan Lynch Forms ‘The Speaker Wars’ Debut Album Arrives May 30

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Stan Lynch, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, long-time drummer and founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, announces today the formation of The Speaker Wars.

After two decades of recording and touring multiple albums with The Heartbreakers, Stan moved to the other side of the recording console and shifted his focus to production and songwriting.

Over the years, Stan has written and produced hits for artists in multiple genres, including the Eagles, Don Henley, Tim McGraw, The Mavericks, Ringo Starr, The Byrds, Toto, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

While writing in Nashville, a publisher introduced Stan to Texas singer-songwriter, Jon Christopher Davis, who was gathering material for a solo record on a major label. After accumulating an album’s worth of songs, Jon abandoned working on a solo record and the two decided to start a band to perform the newly created material. Adding Jay Michael Smith on guitar, Brian Patterson on bass, Steve Ritter on percussion, and Jay Brown on keyboards, The Speaker Wars was born.

The band then headed into 5M Studios in Denton, TX, with co-producer Mike Pisterzi, and produced a full-length album. Upon hearing the material, Frontiers Records immediately signed the band, and their debut album is scheduled for release on May 30th.

Lynch says: “After my 20-year tenure with the Heartbreakers, I got a second act writing and producing. It was educational beyond measure to learn how to create music from the other side of the glass. Around this time, I met Jon Christopher Davis in Nashville who casually mentioned that we should start a band — so here I am — in The Speaker Wars and it’s good to have my old job back. The guys in our new band know how to make great music, and I’m looking forward to another round.”

Denver Jazz Fest Announces 2025 Lineup with Joe Lovano, Dianne Reeves, Bill Frisell, and More

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Denver Jazz, a newly formed 501 (c)(3) Colorado nonprofit corporation has added headliners Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet, Indian trace singer, Ganavya, and the Colorado Mambo Orchestra to its inaugural Denver Jazz Fest lineup scheduled from April 3-6, 2025.

The celebrated tenor titan and multi-Grammy Award winning artist, ECM recording artist Joe Lovano will debut his latest Paramount Quartet with Julian Lage, Asante Santi Debriano and Will Calhoun. “My new Paramount Quartet places an emphasis on polytonal, polyrhythmic explorations,” Lovano says. The Indian Trance singer Ganavya whom the New York Times states, “The singer whose work feels like prayer” will be joined by harpist Charles Overton and bassist Maxwell Ridley. Her recent album, Daughter of a Temple features, esperanza spalding, Vijay Iyer, Immanuel Wilkins and Shabaka Hutchings. The Colorado Mambo Orchestra Latin Dance Party presented by Denver Jazz and CALDAC will feature Raul Muciano, Cian Kreuger, Stafford Hunter, Cynthia Casaňas, Peter Huffaker and Leo Corona.

The inaugural four-day Denver Jazz Fest will engage the front range community through diverse, inclusive regional, national, and international performances and educational programs. Confirmed headline artists include Dianne Reeves in her first Denver public concert since 2018 and the Bill Frisell In My Dreams project, a Denver premiere direct from the highly acclaimed Big Ears Festival. These endearing time-honored icons have deep roots in the Denver community. Also set to appear are Omar Sosa Quarteto Americanos, Ghost-Note, The Headhunters, Isaiah Collier, Garaj Mahal, Rico Jones, Art Lande, The Colorado Mambo Orchestra, Ken Walker, among others.

Jazz luminary Charles McPherson with special guest Terell Stafford featuring Ben Markley, Seth Lewis and Dru Heller are also scheduled. McPherson and Stafford will also engage front range university jazz programs and Aurora Public School students and the CCJA (Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts) through masterclasses and workshops.

These exclusive outreach events will be held at the Metro State University Kalamath Building, the esteemed program under the direction of Dawn Clement and Shane Endsley. The two-day initiative is sponsored by Temple University and the Boyer College of Music and Dance with additional support through Gift of Jazz, a Colorado education non-profit.

Upwards of 30 Denver Jazz Fest performances will take place in 12 venues during the first weekend of April, in celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month and in recognition of KUVO’s 40th Anniversary year-long festivities.

Denver Jazz Fest Schedule, April 3-6, 2025

THURSDAY, April 3

Bill Frisell – In My Dreams featuring Thomas Morgan, Rudy Royston, Jenny Scheinman, Eyvind Kang & Hank Roberts

Newman Center for the Performing Arts @ 7:00PM

Omar Sosa Quarteto Americanos with Sheldon Brown, Ernesto Mazar Kindelán and Josh Jones

Dazzle @ 7:00 and 9:30PM

Rico Jones Quartet w/ Marcus Firillo, Vlad Girshevich, and Aleks Girshevich

Nocturne, 6:30 and 8:45PM

Ken Walker Sextet w/ Jeff Jenkins, Peter Sommer, Paul Romaine, Brad Goode, and Dave Corbus

Muse Performance Space @ 7:00PM

Blue Sky Jazz Collective

Bar 404 @ 7:00PM

FRIDAY, April 4

Charles McPherson Quintet w/ special guest Terell Stafford featuring Ben Markley, Seth Lewis and Dru Heller

Dazzle @ 7:00 and 9:30PM

Ghost-Note w/ Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth

Fox Theatre (Boulder) @ 8:00PM

Ganavya w/ Charles Overton and Maxwell Ridley

Boulder Theater @ 8:00PM

Garaj Mahal w/ Fareed Haque, Kai Eckhardt, Oz Ezzeldin, and Hassan Hurd

Opener: True Loves w/ Skerik, Gordon Brown, Greg Kramer, Jimmy James, Bryant Moore and David McGraw

Cervantes’ The Other Side @ 8:00PM

Animal Liberation Orchestra w/ opener Cris Jacobs Band

Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom @ 8:00PM

The Gabriel Mervine Quintet

Nocturne @ 6:30 and 9:00PM

Art Lande Trio & Future History w/ Aaron Lande, and Tim Wendel

Muse Performance Space @ 7:00PM

Gregory Goodloe Band featuring Tony Exum Jr.

Spangalang Brewery @ 7:00PM

Danette Hollowell & The DJF All-Stars

Mississippi Boy Catfish & Ribs @ 7:00PM

SATURDAY, April 5

Isaiah Collier: The World is On Fire

Dazzle @ 7:00 & 9:30PM

Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet w/ Julian Lage,

Asante Santi Debriano and Will Calhoun

Boulder Theater @ 8:00PM

Ghost-Note with Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth

Openers: The Headhunters and Superimposition

Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom @ 8:00PM

Colorado Mambo Orchestra

Mercury Café from 8:00-11:00PM

Animal Liberation Orchestra w/ opener: Plain Faraday

Fox Theatre (Boulder) @ 8:00PM

The Marion Powers Quintet Honors Billie Holiday

Nocturne @ 6:30 and 9:00PM

Mary Louise Lee and Robert Bernard Johnson

Muse Performance Space @ 7:00PM

Linda Theus Lee

Mississippi Boy Catfish & Ribs @ 7:00PM

Galleria @ The DPAC – Free Stage Presented by Gift of Jazz

12:00PM-1:00PM  CCJA Jazz Messengers

1:30PM-2:30PM    Rico Jones Quartet

3:00PM-4:00PM    Erica Brown with the Delta Sonics

SUNDAY, April 6

Dianne Reeves with Romero Lubambo

Presented by KUVO Jazz 40th Anniversary Celebration

Newman Center for the Performing Arts @ 4:00PM

Muse All-Stars w/ Greg Gisbert, Gabe Mervine, Pete Lewis, Peter Stolzman,

Gonzalo Teppa and Clare Church

Muse Performance Space @ 7:00PM

Annie Booth Trio: The Beatles Songbook w/ Patrick McDevitt, Alejandro Castaňo

Dazzle @ 7:30PM

The Eric Gunnison Trio

Nocturne @ 6:30 and 8:45PM

Additional events may be added. All events subject to change.

Oliver Wood and Seth Walker Announce Midwest Tour Kicking Off April 26

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Today, Oliver Wood, acclaimed frontman and founding member of The Wood Brothers and beloved roots music singer/songwriter Seth Walker announce six shows together in the Midwest. The pair have been longtime friends and frequent collaborators over the years. Most recently, they co-wrote “Grab Ahold” on Wood’s latest solo album, Fat Cat Silhouette, as well as “Why The Worry,” the title track to Walker’s upcoming new studio album due April 4.

The tour kicks off at Astra Theatre in Jasper, IN on April 26 followed by stops at The Castle Theatre in Bloomington, IL on April 27, Shank Hall in Milwaukee, WI on April 28 and Space in Evanston, IL on April 29. On April 30 at Stoughton Opera House in Stoughton, WI, Wood and Walker will also be joined by Dave & Dave featuring Dave Simonett and Dave Carroll of Tramples By Turtles. The run concludes May 1 at The Meyer Theatre in Green Bay, WI. Each evening, Walker will open the show followed by Wood with both artists playing their own full set before coming together for a combined performance to close the show.

OLIVER WOOD / SETH WALKER​
Tour Dates


4/26 – Jasper, IN – Astra Theatre *
4/27 – Bloomington, IL – Castle Theatre *
4/28 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall *
4/29 – Evanston, IL – Evanston Space *
4/30 – Stoughton, WI – Stoughton Opera House ^
5/1 – Green Bay, WI – Meyer Theatre *

* w/ Oliver Wood & Seth Walker
^ w/ Oliver Wood, Seth Walker, Dave & Dave

CIMA Celebrates 50 Years of Championing Canada’s Independent Music Industry

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CIMA, the world’s first trade association for the independent music industry, is turning 50 this year!

For half a century, CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association) has played a pivotal role in the growth of Canada’s independent music sector. From innovative policy programming, key member services, and an industry leading export program, CIMA continues to strengthen our domestic music industry and raise the profile of Canadian music, both home and abroad.

Founded in 1975 by a small group of passionate producers and independent music companies, CIMA (then CIRPA) was formed to protect and advance the then-fledgling Canadian independent record business. CIMA has been at the forefront of the Canadian music industry’s efforts to build a fair market eco-system for Canadian owned companies. This includes supporting strong copyright laws, enforcing Canadian content requirements on radio, and encouraging tech platforms to invest in Canada. CIMA’s work throughout its history has been directly responsible for $100’s of millions of investments into the sector through world-renowned programs such as FACTOR and Radio Starmaker, as well as the Canada Music Fund, and the Ontario Music Investment Fund.

As we celebrate this anniversary milestone, we will reflect on the impact CIMA has had on the Canadian industry over the decades while unveiling new strategic initiatives that continue to serve the Canadian-owned music industry of today.

Our kick-off celebration will take place at our upcoming CIMA AFTERPARTY at Performance Works in Vancouver on March 29, where we will gather with industry friends to honour the successes of our Canadian owned music companies and their artists. Look out for invites in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, keep an eye on our newsletter, website and social media channels for updates as we roll out a year of history, celebration and continued growth.

Stereolab Announces 2024-25 World Tour and Special Album Reissues

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Stereolab announces their world tour. Launching May 25th in Brussels, Stereolab will be hitting the road across Europe with dates in Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris, among others. They’ll be kicking off the North American leg of the tour this coming October with shows across the United States before heading back to perform a string of shows across the UK.

In a special note to their devoted fanbase, they share: Dear friends, We have a full agenda today. The information is dense, so please read carefully and ask if anything is unclear.

I’ll be brief with the words and get straight to the point/s of discussion: We [Stereolab and myself] are heading back out onto the road. New keyboards and guitars have been purchased and will be put to use on the following dates.

Alongside the announcement of the world tour, the band is including a special reissue of seven albums from their acclaimed discography. The special reissuing will include:

Transient Random Noise-Burts With Announcements
Mars Audiac Quintet
Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Dots And Loops
Cobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night Sound-Dust
Margerine Eclipse

With immediate effect, all triple disk editions containing demos will be phased out and deleted. Starting tomorrow, the band will begin reissuing some of their most cherished bodies of work including a double-disk edition with reconfigured artwork as well as double-disk editions using the 2019 Calyx remasters. To mitigate any financial barriers that could limit fans from enjoying this special double disk reissuing, the band is maintaining a low price point to help fans and shops currently experiencing economic hardships.

Europe Dates
5/25 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique Les Nuits Botanique
5/26 – Köln, DE @ Gloria
5/28 – Hamburg, DE @ Grunspan
5/29 – Berlin, DE @ Huxley Neue Welt
5/30 – Frankfurt, DE @ Zoom
5/31 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
6/1 – Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje
6/3 – Nantes, FR @ Stereolux
6/4 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon
6/5 – Bordeaux, FR @ Barbey
6/6 – Barcelona, ESP @ Primavera Sound
6/7 – Madrid, ESP @ Teatro Eslava
6/9 – Grenoble, FR @ La Belle Electrique
6/10 – Ferrara, IT @ Ferrara Sotto le Stelle
6/11 – Zurich, CH @ Volkshaus
6/12 – Munich, DE @ Hansa 36
6/14 – Zagreb, CR @ Tvornica Kulture
6/15 – Budapest, HU @ A38 Ship
6/16 – Vienna, AU @ WUK
6/17 – Prague, CZ @ Meet Factory
6/19 – Schorndorf, DE – Manufaktur
6/20 – Luxembourg, LU @ Den Atelier
7/11 – Cagliari, SD, IT @ Siren Festival

North American Dates
9/13 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
9/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
9/16 – Miami, FL @ Miami Beach Bandshell
9/18 – New Orleans, LA @ The Civic Theatre
9/19 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre
9/20 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
9/21 – Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom
9/23 – Washington, D.C. @ Howard Theatre
9/24 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
9/26 – Boston, MA @ Royale
9/27 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre
10/1 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
10/3 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
10/4 – Montreal, QC @ Théâtre Beanfield
10/6 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
10/7 – Buffalo, NY @ Asbury Hall
10/8 – Cleveland, OH @ Globe Iron
10/9 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
10/11 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
10/12 – Iowa City, IA @ Hancher Auditorium at the Englert Theatre
10/14 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
10/17 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
10/18 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
10/19 – Portland, OR @ McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
10/21 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
10/24 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Rio Theatre
10/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether
10/28 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park
10/30 – Marfa, TX @ The Capri
10/31 – Austin, TX @ TBC
11/1 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
11/2 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre

Latin American Dates
11/12 – Mexico City, MX @ Foro Indie Rocks!

UK Dates
12/5 – Brighton, UK @ Corn Exchange
12/6 – London, UK @ Royal Festival Hall
12/8 – Glasgow, UK @ SWG3
12/9 – Leeds, UK @ Project House
12/11 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz
12/13 – Oxford, UK @ O2 Academy

SiriusXM to Air Live Coverage of 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Including the Indy 500 and Exclusive Shows

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SiriusXM will offer listeners nationwide season-long coverage of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES® season, starting with the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding this Sunday, March 2 (coverage starting at 11:30 am ET).

SiriusXM subscribers will have access to the live call of every one of the 18 events on the INDYCAR calendar, including the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, plus coverage of NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying and practice sessions.

INDYCAR coverage airs on the exclusive SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation channel, which is available in SiriusXM-enabled vehicles (channel 218) and on the SiriusXM app. For a schedule of races go to SiriusXM.com/IndySeries.

In addition to on-track coverage, SiriusXM offers fans weekly INDYCAR-focused shows and podcasts that keep them up-to-date on the latest news from the sport and deliver perspectives from true racing experts.

A new season of SiriusXM’s exclusive INDYCAR show, “Brick-by-Brick” — hosted by Jack Arute and Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indy 500 champ and recently-named team principal for Arrow McLaren Racing — airs every Wednesday (5 pm ET) on the SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation channel, and is available on demand on the SiriusXM app.

INDYCAR fans can also tune in to the podcast “Off Track with Hinch & Rossi,” hosted by James Hinchcliffe and Alexander Rossi. New episodes of “Off Track with Hinch & Rossi” debut weekly and can be heard on the SiriusXM app and all major podcast platforms. The podcast will also air on race days on SiriusXM INDYCAR Nation.

Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) and SiriusXM will continue its sponsorship collaboration this season, showcasing SiriusXM channels on the track and merging the worlds of music and racing. MSR and SiriusXM will kick off the season featuring SiriusXM’s Octane (channel 37) – the channel for New Hard Rock – as well as multi-platinum rock band Shinedown displayed on the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda driven by Felix Rosenqvist for this week’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Shinedown’s Zach Myers and Barry Kerch will also be at the track on race day, immersing themselves in the INDYCAR action and supporting MSR from the pit lane.

SiriusXM will be the primary sponsor on Rosenqvist’s No. 60 SiriusXM Honda and will be the co-title sponsor for Marcus Armstrong’s No. 66 SiriusXM / Root Insurance Honda. SiriusXM will also be featured on Helio Castroneves’ No. 06 Honda which will run in the Indianapolis 500 in May.

In addition to NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, SiriusXM will air INDY NXT by Firestone series races throughout the course of the season. The INDY NXT series features some of the world’s best young open-wheel drivers and has produced many of the stars in INDYCAR today.

 

Charlie Musselwhite Announces ‘Look Out Highway,’ His New Album Arriving May 16

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Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite is pleased to announce the release of his new album, Look Out Highway, due May 16th via Forty Below Records. Rock & Blues Muse has premiered the title track and is out on all platforms today. Pre-save the album Look Out Highway here.

What do you get when you mix Delta, Chicago and Memphis Blues? The American Blues icon Charlie Musselwhite. He’s been writing classic songs for nearly six decades. He’s a prolific songwriter who writes organic, compelling stories with ease. There is real emotional depth at the core of his songs.

When asked how he chose the title track “Look Out Highway,” Charlie told Rock & Blues Muse, “I didn’t pick ‘Look Out Highway’….it picked me when I wrote it. Many years ago I was walking by a church in Memphis and I heard a great beat they were using for a song. That beat lived in my head all these years until the lyrics finally came to me.”

More than any other harmonica player of his generation, Charlie Musselwhite can rightfully lay claim to inheriting the mantle of many of the great harp players that came before him with music as dark as Mississippi mud and uplifting as California’s blue skies. In an era when the term legendary gets applied to auto-tuned pop stars, this singular blues harp player, singer, songwriter, and guitarist has earned and deserves to be honored as a true master of American classic vernacular music.

Recorded at Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California, and Clarksdale Sound Stage in Clarksdale, Mississippi, it’s the first time Charlie has recorded with his long-time touring band, comprised of guitarist Matt Stubbs (GA-20), drummer June Core (Robert Lockwood Jr.) and bassist Randy Bermudes (James Cotton), along with Andersen who has been in and out of the band for many years. Their chemistry and command are abundantly clear from the opening notes. “We finished a gig at The Iridium in New York City and flew straight to California to record,” Charlie effuses.

 

Charlie Musselwhite has received 13 Grammy nominations throughout his illustrious career, including his last release, Mississippi Son, and 33 Blues Music Awards. In 2014, his collaboration with Ben Harper Get Up won a Grammy, and in 2010, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

Charlie’s career took off quickly soon after arriving in Chicago in the early sixties, where he was an integral part of the blues renaissance along with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, both genuine proteges of Little Walter, Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf. In 1967, at just 22 years of age, he released his debut album, Stand Back! , which garnered significant critical acclaim.

On a whim, Musselwhite relocated to San Francisco that same year. Contemporaries like Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield followed suit and were welcomed into the counterculture scene around the Fillmore West as authentic purveyors of real-deal blues.

Charlie has also collaborated with an eclectic list of incredible artists over the years, including Ben Harper, Cyndi Lauper, Eddie Vedder, Tom Waits, Bonnie Raitt, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Gov’t Mule, INXS, Mickey Hart, and Japan’s Kodo Drummers, George Thorogood, Eliades Ochoa, Cat Stevens, Elvin Bishop and, close friend and best man at his wedding John Lee Hooker. In 2023, Musselwhite was cast in Martin Scorsese’s film Killers of the Flower Moon in the role of Alvin Reynolds.

Musselwhite’s sixty-year journey has taken him from Mississippi to Memphis, Chicago, and California. He is living proof that great music only gets better with age. Sixty years of nonstop touring, 20 albums, 1 Grammy, and 33 Blues Music Awards later, his depth of expression as a singer and an instrumentalist grew more profound with each passing year.

Forty Below Records, based in Los Angeles and helmed by Eric Corne, is proud to be Charlie’s new home. Corne declared, “Working with an artist of Charlie’s caliber is an honor and privilege. He’s one of the most iconic Blues musicians working today. And we look forward to taking his legacy to the next level.”

Track Listing:
Look Out Highway
Sad Eyes
Storm Warning
Baby Won’t You Please Help Me
Hip Shakin’ Mama
Highway 61
Ready For Times To Get Better
Ramblin’ Is My Game
Blue Lounge
Ghosts in Memphis
Open Road

My Morning Jacket Expands ‘is’ Tour with New U.S. Headline Dates Ahead of Album Release

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My Morning Jacket is continuing to celebrate the impending arrival of their eagerly awaited new album, is, by unveiling a new slate of US headline dates. The second leg of MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR begins August 5 at Bend, OR’s Hayden Homes Amphitheater and then continues through an August 22 show at Berkeley, CA’s famed Greek Theatre. The tour will resume October 8 at Washington, DC’s The Anthem and then travel through a two-night stand at Atlanta, GA’s historic Fox Theatre on October 31 and November 1. Highlights of the newly announced dates include a two-night return to Morrison, CO’s world renowned Red Rocks Amphitheatre (August 15-16), a two-night stand at Philadelphia, PA’s The Met (October 10-11), and three-night runs at Brooklyn, NY’s Brooklyn Paramount (October 16-18) and Chicago, IL’s The Salt Shed (October 24-26). Special guests will be announced soon.

A ticket request period for MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR is now underway exclusively to members of My Morning Jacket’s One Big Family “Family Pass” program and will continue through Sunday, March 2 at 10:00 pm (ET). Standard and VIP ticket requests will then be processed for “Family Pass” holders on Monday, March 3-Tuesday, March 4. Presales will then be available to all remaining members of One Big Family beginning on Wednesday, March 5 at 10:00 am (local). To sign up for One Big Family or to learn more about “Family Pass,” please visit onebigfamily.mymorningjacket.com. Local presales start Thursday, March 6 at 10:00 am (local). Spotify presales follow on Thursday, March 6 at 12:00 noon (local). All remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 7 at 10:00 am (local). For complete details, please see www.mymorningjacket.com/tour.

MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR officially gets underway April 1 at Chattanooga, TN’s Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium and then travels into early May. Support comes from Bendigo Fletcher (April 1 and May 2) and Grace Cummings (April 8-21). Highlights include a very special five-night homecoming run at Louisville, KY’s historic Louisville Palace on April 25-27 and 29-30, joined by special guests Lacey Guthrie (April 25), Future Killer (April 26), The Jesse Lees (April 27), 10th Street Dre and Maggie Halfman (April 29), and Bendigo Fletcher (April 30).

Widely regarded among the greatest live acts in music today, My Morning Jacket will further celebrate is with an array of top-billed festival performances, including New Orleans, LA’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (May 4). The band is also currently set for the next edition of My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday, a three-night music vacation set for April 3-5 at Miramar Beach, FL’s Seascape Resort. In addition to three unique headline shows from My Morning Jacket, the event will see performances from an all-star lineup that includes Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Devon Gilfillian, Dinosaur Jr., Karina Rykman, S.G. Goodman, and Futurebirds, plus Late Night Campfire Sets by Tyler Ramsey, Maggie Halfman, and Bendigo Fletcher, as well as Late Night Silent Jam Performances by Karina Rykman, Eggy, and Illiterate Light. Tickets are on sale now exclusively at topeka.live/onebigholiday25.

My Morning Jacket is excited to continue its long-time partnership with environmental nonprofit REVERB on MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR to build upon previous successes and expand the tour sustainability program, engage fans in the Action Village at each show, and support REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project to accelerate climate solutions within the music industry.

My Morning Jacket’s 10th studio album and first full-length new collection in more than three years, is arrives via ATO Records on Friday, March 21. Pre-orders – including limited edition vinyl, CD, and digital download – are available now. Produced by 3x GRAMMY® Award-winner Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam), the album includes the ravishing lead single, “Time Waited,” which has quickly ascended to the top 10 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart while earning the chart’s “Gains In Weekly Performance” award. An official music video, directed by famed photographer/filmmaker Danny Clinch and featuring new performance footage interspersed with archival photos from throughout the band’s history, is streaming now on YouTube. is was further heralded earlier this month by the psychedelically propulsive second single, “Squid Ink,” accompanied by a visually arresting official music video once again directed by Clinch. In addition, My Morning Jacket recently lit up ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! with spectacular performances of “Time Waited” and “Squid Ink.”

For more than 25 years, My Morning Jacket have achieved an incredibly rare feat in the world of rock ‘n’ roll – upholding a long-established cultural legacy while sustaining all the curiosity and creative hunger of their very earliest days. In a monumental step for the Louisville, KY-bred five-piece – vocalist/guitarist Jim James, bassist Tom Blankenship, guitarist Carl Broemel, drummer Patrick Hallahan, keyboardist Bo Koster – is once again expands the limits of their sound and elevates their artistry to unprecedented heights. The result is perhaps the most masterfully realized work yet from a band fully committed to their belief in music as a conduit for revelation of all kinds.

Largely recorded at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, is finds My Morning Jacket deviating from their typically self-produced approach by teaming up with multiple GRAMMY Award-winner Brendan O’Brien, one of the most esteemed producers in rock music, known for his extensive work with Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam. For James – who has produced or co-produced all of the band’s studio albums since their 1999 debut The Tennessee Fire – the decision to work with O’Brien stemmed from a newfound willingness to open up their process and involve an outside creative force in shaping My Morning Jacket’s restlessly inventive yet nuanced form of psych-rock.

“Up until now I’ve never been able to let go and allow someone else to steer the ship,” James says. “It almost felt like an out-of-body experience to step back and give control over to someone who’s far more accomplished and made so many more records than us, but in the end, I was able to enjoy the process maybe more than I ever have before.”

Prior to joining O’Brien in the studio, My Morning Jacket got together for two highly exploratory writing and recording sessions, amassing over a hundred demos before settling upon the 10 eclectic tracks that eventually comprise the finished album. New songs such as the sprawling, album-opening epic, “Out In The Open” and the delightfully warped “Squid Ink” reveal a band whose voracious creative appetite is wholly matched by a deft command of their visionary musicality. When it came time to name the collection, My Morning Jacket chose a title that speaks to the infinitely unpredictable nature of music-making.

“I like how the word “is” indicates a sense of presence in the now – there’s no logic or rationale behind this record; it just is,” says James. “All these songs came into existence out of an attempt to connect with something beyond the human experiment, which for me is the whole purpose of music – that connection with something larger than us, yet something we are all equally a part of.”

is – which arrives as My Morning Jacket celebrates the 20th anniversary of their 2005 landmark Z, a lavishly acclaimed collection named by Rolling Stone among “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” – represents another milestone in the band’s ever-evolving body of work, as well as an opportunity to breathe new energy into their historically stunning and hard-driving live performances. James points to the “undeniable force of loving” as the most essential factor in the band’s longevity and unending enchantment with the process of musical creation.

“One of the cool things about being around this long is that we’re not afraid to scrap something if we don’t absolutely love it,” he says. “It feels really great to have a collection of songs we all love this much, and to know that we worked as hard as we possibly could on them. Hopefully, those songs will be helpful to people and give them some kind of peace as they try to deal with the insanity of the world – because that’s what music does for me, and doing the same for others is always my greatest dream come true.”

MY MORNING JACKET “is” ON TOUR 2025

APRIL

1 – Chattanooga, TN – Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium ^

3-5 – Miramar Beach, FL – My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday *

8 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre #

10 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park #

12 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory #

13 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall #

15 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre #

17 – Athens, OH – Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium #

18 – Milwaukee, WI – The Riverside Theater #

20 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory #

21 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater #

25 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace ** (SOLD OUT)

26 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace †† (SOLD OUT)

27 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace ^^ (SOLD OUT)

29 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace ##

30 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace ^

MAY

2 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory at The District ^

4 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival *

AUGUST

5 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater †

6 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater †

8 – Bonner, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater †

9 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau St. Michelle Winery †

13 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater †

15 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre †

16 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre †

19 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium †

20 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl †

22 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre †

OCTOBER

8 – Washington, DC – The Anthem †

10 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met †

11 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met †

13 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway †

14 – Portland, ME – State Theatre †

16 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount †

17 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount †

18 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount †

20 – Newport, KY – MegaCorp Pavilion †

22 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee †

24 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed †

25 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed †

26 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed †

29 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle †

31 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre †

NOVEMBER

1 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre †

* FESTIVAL APPEARANCE

† NEWLY ANNOUNCED DATE

w/ Special Guests

^ Bendigo Fletcher

# Grace Cummings

** Lacey Guthrie

†† Future Killer

^^ The Jesse Lees

## 10th Street Dre and Maggie Halfman

Garbage Announces New Album ‘Let All That We Imagine Be The Light’ Out May 30

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Garbage will release their highly anticipated new album Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, their eighth studio record, on 30th May.  Let All That We Imagine Be The Light was recorded at Red Razor Sounds in Los Angeles, Butch Vig’s studio Grunge Is Dead, and Shirley Manson’s bedroom. The record was produced by the band and longtime engineer Billy Bush. Pre-order/presave HERE

Let All That We Imagine Be The Light is the follow-up to 2021’s critically acclaimed No Gods No Masters, which charted at Number 5 on the UK album charts and led to some of the best reviews of Garbage’s career.

Speaking about Garbage’s new album, Shirley Manson says: “Going into making this record, I was determined to find a more hopeful, uplifting world to immerse myself in. The title of the album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light is the perfect descriptor for this new record as a whole. When things feel dark it feels imperative to seek out forces that are light, positive and beautiful in the world. It almost feels like a matter of life and death. A strategy for survival”.

Let All That We Imagine Be The Light is unmistakably Garbage. All the hallmarks and signatures for which they are known are present here. Big angular guitars, precise, propulsive beats and cinematic soundscapes all lurk beneath Shirley Manson’s unmistakable voice, her lyrics bristling with attitude. This is the sound of a group at the peak of their creative powers – characteristically harnessing sonic juxtapositions and moods to create an album that thrums equally with both light and shade.

Butch Vig says; “We used a lot of analogue synths and sound design on the album, as they seemed to fit the dystopian vibes we were all experiencing. We started recording the album with a clean slate, although given what’s happening in the US and the rest of the world, it’s inevitable that the madness starts to infiltrate the songs. But we definitely wanted the record to have some hope, some light, to convey the feeling that people have the power”.

Speaking about the album’s opening track There’s No Future In Optimism, Shirley says: “I really wanted that song to open the album. It starts out with an anthemic call to arms, a clarion call. It’s pretty much a rallying cry to all likeminded people. If you are interested in meeting this world with love, if you are willing to invest in tenderness and not violence or hate, then we are with you. You should come with us.

I have to believe that music and art can still impact culture. I know it still impacts me – that mysterious power which no government on earth can co-opt or buy. Great music exists entirely within its own microcosm in a way – without any interference or corruptive influences. That’s what always makes it so pure and precious. Even though all the pointers in our society say otherwise, I do feel music still has the power to shift atoms, shift thinking and shift positions.”

Discussing the record’s final track, The Day That I Met God, Shirley adds: “This is the opus on the record and explores the grand theme of great love, something I haven’t written about very much before now. The idea came to me when I was recovering from major surgery and I felt so raw, vulnerable and scared.  I was on the treadmill for the first time following an operation when I suddenly felt this powerful sensation of healing love around me – it was a moment that uplifted me. It took me out from what had felt like hell. The vocal you hear is the writing demo, the first take. Just me sitting on the edge of my bed, in recovery, singing into a handheld microphone. I was feeling so vulnerable and I think that’s what lends the song added poignancy. It’s really a song about mortality but it’s also an expression of gratitude. Gratitude for getting older, gratitude for the longevity of our band, for good health, for the great mystery and for the ongoing, creative adventure of life”.

Garbage consists of all four original band members, Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig. Over the 30 years since their inception in 1995 they have sold over 20 million albums. Their unique sound, songwriting and electric live performances have inspired worldwide adoration, chart success and critical acclaim. They are considered one of the most influential bands of their generation.

Garbage’s new album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light is released on 30th May, and new music will be released in the coming weeks.

Let All That We Imagine Be The Light tracklist
There’s No Future In Optimism
Chinese Fire Horse
Hold
Have We Met (The Void)
Sisyphus
Radical
Love To Give
Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty
R U Happy Now
The Day That I Met God