Page 926 – That Eric Alper

Warren Haynes Band Announces ‘Million Voices Whisper’ Spring Tour

Music

Eric Alper

-

Jan 28, 2025

Warren Haynes Band Announces ‘Million Voices Whisper’ Spring Tour

Warren Haynes Band, led by GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, producer, and Gov’t Mule front man Warren Haynes, has announced the Million Voices Whisper Spring Tour in continued support of Haynes’ newest, chart-topping solo album, Million Voices Whisper. Kicking off April 24th in Seattle, the 16-date outing will take the Warren Haynes Band along the West Coast, stopping in Portland, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Monterey, Ventura, Los Angeles (May 11th at The Belasco), San Diego, and Tempe, among other cities, before concluding May 16th in Tucson. Fan Club presale tickets will be available using Tickets Today starting Tuesday, January 28th at 1pm EST with Citicard/AMEX presale beginning Wednesday, January 29th at 12pm local time and various local, promoter, and Ticketmaster presales available on Thursday, January 30th at 10am local time. The general on sale will commence Friday, January 31st at 10am local time. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold on this tour will continue to be donated to assist in hurricane relief.

Prior to the newly announced Spring dates, the Warren Haynes Band will launch the Million Voices Whisper 2025 Tour on February 7th with a sold-out show in Knoxville. The 11-date run will make stops in the Midwest and Northeast, including such cities as Huntsville, Toledo, Des Moines, Peoria, Burlington, and Buffalo, where it will wrap February 22nd with another sold-out show. See below for all upcoming tour dates and details.

A limited number of specially curated fan packages are available for all upcoming Million Voices Whisper Tour dates. Packages include one Ultimate Guitar Player Package per show, featuring a Les Paul Standard 60s Plain Top guitar in Sparkling Burgundy to be played and signed by Warren, meet & greet with a photo with Warren, soundcheck access, premium reserved seats, and more, and the Guitar Player Package, which includes an autographed Gibson Les Paul Standard Pickguard, a set of custom Warren Haynes guitar picks in collector box, a Dunlop guitar slide, and set of GHS strings (items as used by Warren), plus soundcheck, priority access, and more. Visit www.warrenhaynes.net for all ticketing and VIP information and to purchase.

Performing alongside Haynes (vocals, guitar) on the Million Voices Whisper Tour is the current, all-star lineup of the Warren Haynes Band: longtime drummer Terence Higgins (of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band), Gov’t Mule bassist Kevin Scott, Matt Slocum on keys, and Greg Osby on sax.

Million Voices Whisper, released in November via Fantasy Records, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Blues Albums Chart and marked Warren’s first solo album in nearly a decade and fourth solo collection in his esteemed career catalog. Hailed as his best album yet, the 11-song collection of soulful blues-rock, produced by Haynes and recorded at Power Station New England, includes the singles “This Life As We Know It” and “Day of Reckoning” featuring Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson as well as guest appearances from Warren’s Allman Brothers Band bandmate and longtime friend Derek Trucks on multiple tracks including “Real Real Love,” a song whose lyrics were initially started by Gregg Allman that Haynes finished to honor his friend. Million Voices Whisper is available digitally and on CD, 2-LP vinyl set, and a deluxe CD version with four bonus songs.

Buzzing throughout Million Voices Whisper is the question of how to make things better – in love, in life, in the world – led by Haynes’ soaring vocals and the poignancy of his six-string mastery on full display. Million Voices Whisper is a set of powerful, soulful tracks that combine the eloquent musicianship of a triple-threat blues-rocker with the glowing spirit of a vital creative artist at the peak of his powers.

WARREN HAYNES TOUR DATES

Warren Haynes Band – Million Voices Whisper Tour 2025
February 7 – Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre (Sold Out)
February 8 – Huntsville, AL @ Mars Music Hall
February 11 – Toledo, OH @ Stranahan Theater
February 13 – Northfield, OH @ MGM Northfield Park – Center Stage
February 14 – Carmel, IN @ The Palladium
February 15 – West Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
February 16 – Peoria, IL @ Peoria Civic Center
February 18 – Rockford, IL @ Coronado Theatre
February 20 – Burlington, VT @ The Flynn
February 21 – Concord, NH @ Chubb Theatre
February 22 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom (Sold Out)

Dickey Betts Tribute
February 28 – Macon, GA @ Macon City Auditorium

Gov’t Mule – Festival Appearance
March 6-8 – Live Oak, FL @ Suwannee Amp Jam #1

Warren Haynes Band
April 4 – Savannah, GA @ Lucas Theatre at 2025 Savannah Music Festival
April 5 – Columbia, SC @ Township Auditorium (rescheduled from 9/28)

Warren Haynes Band – Million Voices Whisper Spring Tour
April 24 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
April 25 – Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
April 26 – Medford, OR @ Holly Theatre (on sale 2/19)
April 27 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
April 29 – Stateline, NV @ Harrah’s Lake Tahoe – South Shore Room
May 1 – Redding, CA @ Cascade Theatre
May 2 – Rocklin, CA @ Quarry Park Amphitheater
May 3 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
May 4 – Santa Rosa, CA @ Luther Burbank Center for the Arts – Ruth Finley Person Theater
May 6 – Monterey, CA @ Golden State Theatre
May 9 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ Fremont Theater
May 10 – Ventura, CA @ Majestic Ventura Theater
May 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
May 14 – San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay
May 15 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
May 16 – Tucson, AZ @ Fox Theatre Tucson

Warren Haynes Band
May 23-25 – Thornville, OH @ Dark Star Jubilee
June 8 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre (suppoting Big Head Todd and the Monsters 40th Anniversary event)
June 26-28 – Eau Claire, WI @ Blue Ox Music Festival

Warren Haynes Band – European Dates
July 3 – Bonn, Germany @ KUNSTRASEN GmbH
July 4 – Milan, Italy @ Villa Casati Stampa
July 6 – Sperken, Austria @ Castle Clam
July 11-13 – Weert, Netherlands @ Bospop
Gov’t Mule – Festival Appearance
July 23-27 – Floyd County, VA @ FloydFest 25~Aurora

Gov’t Mule and Tedeschi Trucks Band Co-Headlining Shows
September 3 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
September 5 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ SPAC
September 6 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
September 9 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion
September 10 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theater

Goose Announces New Album ‘Everything Must Go’ and Expanded Summer Tour

Music

Eric Alper

-

Jan 28, 2025

0

Goose Announces New Album ‘Everything Must Go’ and Expanded Summer Tour

Goose has announced the upcoming release of their eagerly anticipated fourth studio album, Everything Must Go, arriving via No Coincidence Records on Friday, April 25. Digital pre-saves are available now. Vinyl pre-orders will be available tomorrow, January 28 at 12 noon ET. The Connecticut-based quintet’s first new studio LP in close to three years, Everything Must Go is heralded by today’s premiere of the euphoric first single, “Give It Time.” Like the solitary voice of doubt that rattles through the mind in our loneliest hours, “Give It Time” starts gently but soon begins to build, buoyed by the steadying cadence of a bass drum. As the music intensifies, unfurling with soaring guitar and five-part harmonies, the uncertainty of the opening measures begins to crack, revealing in its place a perpetual message of hope.

“‘Give it Time’ is a product of Goose’s reconfiguration and reinvention in 2024. “I feel like this song showed itself to us at just the right moment,” singer/guitarist Rick Mitarotonda says. “We’d played around with it for a while but it wasn’t until we started rehearsing with the new formation of the band that it clicked. The arrangement came together in real-time just as the band was emerging from this difficult moment and reintroducing ourselves. And so it feels like an anthem of that time — the doubt, the excitement, and the possibility of something new. It felt significant that the song is about patience and letting things come to you and that’s exactly what happened here.”

“‘Give It Time’ is a triumphant celebration of how far this band has come,” says singer/keyboard player/guitarist Peter Anspach. “From playing small bars and driving our van through the night to playing Madison Square Garden; our journey has been an adventure full of perseverance and brotherhood. To me, everyone singing together in harmony on the last chorus is the personification of that bond we’ve built together to get to this point.”

The first release since 2022’s critically acclaimed Dripfield, Everything Must Go, produced by D. James Goodwin, marks the band’s evolution since its inception in 2014. Drawing from the feel of its live performances, the album features a carnivalesque cast of characters — primarily songs written throughout the band’s recent years of growth, including re-imagined live staples and songs that capture the band’s evolving, dynamic sound.

“These songs all come from different times and places in a way that captures a part of the journey of the band,” Mitarotonda says. “It moves through time for us, but not in a tidy, linear way. Like the band, it’s okay for things to feel more like a landscape sometimes and less like a singular cohesive statement. It mixes different moods and ideas and characters. The through line is that each piece is part of that journey and that everyone is welcome to the party.”

For fans and newcomers alike, Everything Must Go is an arrival of sorts — a journey through the group’s past and present. It’s also a statement of intent.

“As we were experiencing a significant change in the lives of the band, as well as reflecting on the multitude of fast past changes unfolding around all of us constantly, the title continued to take on many layers of meaning throughout the process,” Mitarotonda says. “The idea was to throw everything at this project. To wipe the slate clean.”

Goose will celebrate Everything Must Go with perhaps the most momentous live run of the hard-working band’s career thus far, highlighted by their first-ever headline show at New York City’s world-famous Madison Square Garden (June 28). Today sees the “Everything Must Go Summer Tour” expanded with additional headline dates, beginning May 30 at Bend, OR’s Hayden Homes Amphitheater. Highlights include two-night stands at Chesterfield, MO’s The Factory (June 10-11) and Cleveland, OH’s Jacobs Pavilion (June 24-25), as well as a very special homecoming return to New Haven, CT’s Westville Music Bowl (June 29). Presale sign-ups for all newly announced dates are available now at www.goosetheband.com/tour; fans who sign up will receive a unique code allowing access to the official Goose presale beginning Wednesday, January 29 at 10:00 am (local). In addition, the TED VIP on-sale will be available beginning Tuesday, January 28 at 10:00 am (local). Venue presales begin Thursday, January 16 at 10:00 am (local). All presales end Thursday, January 30 at 10:00 pm (local). General on-sales begin Friday, January 31 at 10:00 am (local). For complete information, please visit www.goosetheband.com/tour.

The “Everything Must Go Summer Tour” – which follows Goose’s recent debut performance at Madison Square Garden after November 2024’s star-studded SOULSHINE event benefiting hurricane relief and recovery in North Carolina and Florida – represent some of the biggest headline shows in the band’s 10-year history as well as the latest additions to their constantly evolving live schedule for the coming year. Next month will see Goose embark on a series of North American headline dates that includes three-night stands at Milwaukee, WI’s Miller High Life Theatre (February 6-8) and Grand Rapids, MI’s GLC Live at 20 Monroe (February 13-15) along with a sold-out two-night run at Toronto, ON’s History (February 10-11), the latter marking the band’s hugely anticipated first-ever shows north of the border in Canada.

In addition, Goose will host Viva El Gonzo, a three-day destination festival presented by 100x Hospitality and set for May 8-10 in San José del Cabo, Mexico. The upcoming event will feature three consecutive nights of performances by Goose, along with sets from The War on Drugs, Tycho, Dawes, LP GIOBBI, LA LOM, and more. Limited tickets, TED VIP, and travel packages are available now. For complete information, please see www.vivaelgonzo.com.

Upcoming months will also see Goose making an array of top-billed festival appearances, including New Orleans, LA’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 24), Napa, CA’s BottleRock Napa Valley (Sunday, May 25), Manchester, TN’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (Friday, June 13), Columbia, MD’s All Good Now (June 14-15), and Highmount, NY’s Mountain Jam (June 22).

GOOSE – TOUR 2025

FEBRUARY
6 – Milwaukee, WI – Miller High Life Theatre
7 – Milwaukee, WI – Miller High Life Theatre
8 – Milwaukee, WI – Miller High Life Theatre (SOLD OUT)
10 – Toronto, ON – History (SOLD OUT)
11 – Toronto, ON – History (SOLD OUT)
13 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
14 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe
15 – Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe (SOLD OUT)
APRIL
24 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival *
MAY
8-10 – San José del Cabo, Mexico – Viva El Gonzo
25 – Napa, CA – BottleRock Napa Valley *
30 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater †
31 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Pavilion †
JUNE
1 – Boise, ID – Outlaw Field at Idaho Botanical Gardens †
3 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl †
4 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre †
6 – Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
7 – Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
10 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory †
11 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory †
12 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park †
13 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival *
14-15 – Columbia, MD – All Good Now *
17 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion
19 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion †
20 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion †
21 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC †
22 – Highmount, NY – Mountain Jam *
27 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion †
28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
29 – New Haven, CT – Westville Music Bowl †
* FESTIVAL APPEARANCE
† NEWLY ANNOUNCED DATE

Simple Minds Announces Massive 2025 North American Tour with Soft Cell and Modern English

Music

Eric Alper

-

Jan 28, 2025

0

Simple Minds Announces Massive 2025 North American Tour with Soft Cell and Modern English

Simple Minds has announced plans for a major North American headline tour – the legendary UK band’s biggest live run across the US and Canada in four decades. They are excited to share that the bands opening in support for the entire tour will be Soft Cell and Modern English.

Dates get underway May 16 at Ridgefield, WA’s Cascades Amphitheater and then continue through the June 22 finale at Noblesville, IN’s Ruoff Music Center. Highlights from the Live Nation produced run include shows at such famed arenas and amphitheaters as Seattle, WA’s Climate Pledge Arena (May 17), Inglewood, CA’s Kia Forum (May 22), Denver, CO’s Ball Arena (May 27), Woodlands, TX’s Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (May 31), Columbia, MD’s Merriweather Post Pavilion (June 10), Wantagh, NY’s Northwell at Jones Beach Theater (June 13), Mansfield, MA’s Xfinity Center (June 15), and Toronto, ON’s Budweiser Stage (June 18). Artist presales begin Wednesday, January 29 at 10:00 am (local). Local presales begin Thursday, January 30 at 10:00 am (local). All presales end Thursday, January 30 at 10:00 pm (local). General on-sales start Friday, January 31 at 10:00 am (local). For complete details and ticket availability, please visit www.simpleminds.com/tour.

“Been a while but absence makes the heart grow fonder,” says Jim Kerr. “Simple Minds are ecstatic at the prospect of touring so extensively in the US and Canada this coming Spring.”

The eagerly awaited tour coincides with the 40th anniversary of Simple Minds’ momentous 1985, a milestone year in their legendary career which saw them topping the world’s charts with their Billboard “Hot 100” #1 smash, “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” and RIAA Gold-certified seventh studio album Once Upon A Time, not to mention their unforgettable set in front of 135,000 fans – and a TV audience of millions – on the American leg of 1985’s Live Aid. Today sees the digital premiere of a special new 9-track edition of Once Upon A Time featuring the addition of “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” and updated Ruby Anniversary artwork. Physical versions and other anniversary reissues will follow later in the year. Simple Minds will be performing “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this Wednesday, January 29.

What’s more, 2025 looks to be yet another banner year for Simple Minds, including the recent arrival of the new single, “Your Name In Lights,” released to celebrate the BBC premiere of the acclaimed documentary, Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible, available to stream now exclusively in the UK on BBC iPlayer with North American broadcast dates to be unveiled soon. “Your Name In Lights” is joined by an official music video that had its world premiere on January 17 – marking the anniversary of the band’s first-ever live performance as Simple Minds, held January 17, 1978, at Glasgow, Scotland’s Satellite City.

Produced and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Joss Crowley, (Kate Bush, Freddie Mercury, Peter Gabriel), Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible is the first-ever feature-length documentary to chronicle the most iconic and influential Scottish band in history. Highlights include never-before-seen footage and feature interviews with band members, fellow musicians Bob Geldof, Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream), Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode), Jerry Dammers (The Specials), Sharleen Spiteri (Texas), James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers), writer Irvine Welsh, actress Molly Ringwald, and album producers John Leckie, Pete Walsh, Steve Hillage, Trevor Horn, and Jimmy Iovine.

Inimitable musical pioneers for nearly half a century, Simple Minds are among the most successful UK bands of all time, having achieved more than 1B global streams on Spotify alone (with over 8.3M monthly listeners on Spotify alone) and total worldwide sales in excess of 60M, including six #1 albums in the UK and chart-topping releases in countless other territories including Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.

Coalescing around childhood friends Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, Simple Minds emerged in 1978 with an immediately distinctive sound simultaneously rooted in punk, art-rock, and the electronic avant-garde. Over the next four decades, the band has pushed their open-armed approach to fashion a broad array of stylistic varieties – spanning pop, funk, gospel, soul, dance music, and more – into their own world-straddling brand of stadium-sized rock. Their continually evolving body of work is highlighted by such landmark LPs as 1982’s New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84), 1984’s Sparkle In The Rain, 1985’s Once Upon A Time, and 1989’s Street Fighting Years, along with a stunning canon of iconic global hit singles spanning “Love Song,” “Someone Somewhere (In Summertime),” “Glittering Prize,” “Promised You A Miracle,” “Up On The Catwalk,” “Speed Your Love To Me,” “Waterfront,” “Belfast Child,” and of course the timeless teen anthem, 1985’s US #1 classic, “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” the latter of course famously featured in the classic John Hughes film, The Breakfast Club.

Named as the world’s “Best Live Band” by Q Magazine in 1991, Simple Minds have long commanded the stages of sold-out arenas and stadiums around the planet. Their world-class credentials have been burnished in recent years by an array of equally remarkable accomplishments – from acclaimed new albums (including 2018’s Walk Between Worlds and 2022’s Direction of the Heart, both of which had top 5 chart debuts in the UK), best-selling live albums, career retrospectives, and epic world tours to accolades and honors like a 2014 Q Inspiration Award (presented by avowed fan Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield) to a prestigious Ivor Novello Award for “Outstanding Song Collection” – all of which serve as timely reminders to a new generation of Simple Minds’ ongoing appeal as well a springboard for their next burst of creativity. Now as ever, Simple Minds remain a band touched by powerful magic, continually willing to experiment while remaining true to their original instincts.

“The truth is we never fully wound down,’ says Charlie Burchill. “There have been lots of different incarnations of Simple Minds, but we’ve always kept our identity. A legacy can be a burden if you allow it to be. For us, it’s been empowering.”

“We’ve been on one hell of a journey,” says Kerr. “I’m grateful for the career we’ve had, but I’m mad enough to think we can still hit new levels. This is what we do – write, record and play live. One of the things I’m most proud of is that people say to me, what Simple Minds are you talking about? The avant-garde, the art-rock, the pop, the ambient, the instrumental group, the political, the folk, the stadium band? To play all those different styles but at the same time be quintessentially Simple Minds is an amazing thing.”

SIMPLE MINDS – NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2025
MAY
16 – Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater
17 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
20 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord
22 – Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
23 – Greater Palm Springs, CA – Acrisure Arena
24 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
25 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
27 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
30 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
31 – Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
JUNE
1 – Irving, TX – The Pavillion at Toyota Music Factory
4 – Rogers, AR – The Walmart AMP
5 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7 – Atlanta, GA – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
10 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
11 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
13 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
14 – Philadelphia, PA – The Mann Center
15 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
17 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
18 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
20 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
21 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
22 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

Steven Wilson Announces First Full-Band North American Tour in Seven Years

Music

Eric Alper

-

Jan 28, 2025

0

Steven Wilson Announces First Full-Band North American Tour in Seven Years

6x GRAMMY Award-nominated musician/songwriter/producer Steven Wilson has announced the eagerly awaited North American leg of The Overview Tour – his first full-band solo headline run in the US and Canada in over seven years. Dates get underway for the Live Nation produced run starting September 9 at San Francisco, CA’s The Masonic and continue through mid-October. Highlights include shows at historic venues as Los Angeles, CA’s The Wiltern (September 10), Toronto, ON’s Danforth Music Hall (September 22), Montreal, QC’s MTELUS (September 25), and Brooklyn, NY’s Brooklyn Paramount (October 2). Artist presales begin Tuesday, January 28 at 10:00 am (local) while on-sales start Friday, January 31 at 10:00 am (local). For complete details and ticket information, please visit stevenwilsonhq.com/tour-dates.

The Overview Tour celebrates the upcoming release what may well be the most audacious work of Wilson’s already visionary career. The Overview arrives via Fiction Records in a wide range of formats – including digital, CD, LP, Blu-ray, D2C exclusive boxset, D2C exclusive red vinyl LP (with poster), and retail exclusive mint color LP – on Friday, March 14.

Written, produced, and mixed by Wilson at his home studio between December 2023 and August 2024, The Overview sees the world-renowned artist once again expanding the parameters of progressive music, a genre he has long helped redefine through both his groundbreaking solo career and landmark work with Porcupine Tree. The 42-minute collection is comprised of just two epic tracks, “Objects Outlive Us” and “The Overview,” each made up of distinctive musical sections that flow from one to the next, playing out as unique and continuous pieces. Once again, Wilson’s resolutely expansive music incorporates everything from glistening electronics to post-rock and beyond, pushing forward the singular sound and vision that has long defined his wildly ambitious body of work for more than three decades.

“The Overview is a 42-minute long journey based on the reported ‘overview effect,’” says Steven Wilson, “whereby astronauts seeing the Earth from space undergo a transformative cognitive shift, most often experiencing an overwhelming appreciation and perception of beauty, and an increased sense of connection to other people and the Earth as a whole. However, not all experiences are positive; some see the Earth truly for what it is, insignificant and lost in the vastness of space, and the human race as a troubled species. As a reflection of that, the album presents images and stories of life on Earth, both good and bad.”

Although initially conceived as a solo recording, The Overview sees Wilson backed by frequent collaborators Craig Blundell (drums), Adam Holzman (keyboards), and Randy McStine (guitars), alongside lyrics from XTC’s Andy Partridge that help form the story that drives “Objects Outlive Us.” Consistent with Wilson’s illustrious reputation, The Overview will be presented as a true audiophile experience, with spatial/Atmos audio versions available both physically and digitally; vinyl editions of The Overview have been specifically mastered at half-speed at London’s Abbey Road by 3x GRAMMY® Award-nominated engineer Miles Showell (The Beatles, ABBA, The Police).

Wilson will mark the arrival of The Overview with the wide-ranging EU/UK legs of The Overview Tour, including four shows at the historic London Palladium in London, England (May 12-13, 19-20) and a three-night stand at Paris, France’s famed Salle Playel. In addition, The Overview will be accompanied by a full-length film directed by Wilson’s longtime visual collaborator Miles Skarin. Both the film and the album will be officially unveiled with a world premiere event and exclusive Q&A session taking place on Tuesday, February 25 on Britain’s largest cinema screen, London’s BFI IMAX. Tickets for the premiere event are on sale now.

Hailed by David Fricke in Rolling Stone for his “fighting spirit and truly progressive ideals in rock composition, group improvisation and emotionally authentic storytelling,” Steven Wilson is, among his many guises, a visionary solo artist, founding member of GRAMMY® Award-nominated British rock band Porcupine Tree, and pioneering spatial audio remixer known for his work with such artists as King Crimson, Yes, Tears For Fears, XTC, New Order, and many more. The Overview follows Wilson’s seventh solo studio album, 2023’s The Harmony Codex, which debuted at #4 on the UK’s Official Albums Chart amidst worldwide critical applause from the likes of MOJO, which praised the groundbreaking collection as “a sonic journey where you never quite know what’s round the corner.”

2022 saw the internationally acclaimed release of Porcupine Tree’s long-awaited eleventh studio album and first release in over 12 years, Closure/Continuation, which debuted at #2 on the UK Albums Chart and reached #1 in Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. An epic world tour followed, making stops in North America, South America, and Europe before culminating with a triumphant sold-out show at London’s famed OVO Arena Wembley. 2022 also saw the publication of Wilson’s much-applauded first memoir, Limited Edition of One (Little, Brown).

What’s more, 2024 was highlighted by The Itself of Itself, the first full-length release from Wilson’s experimental solo project, Bass Communion, in more than 12 years. The album’s limited-edition release was celebrated with Wilson’s only live appearance of 2024, a sold-out performance at London’s intimate Cafe OTO, as well as the long-awaited arrival of the previous Bass Communion catalog at all leading streaming platforms.

STEVEN WILSON – THE OVERVIEW TOUR 2025
MAY
1 – Stockholm, Sweden – Cirkus (SOLD OUT)
2 – Oslo, Norway – Konzerthaus (SOLD OUT)
4 – Copenhagen, Denmark – KB-Halen
6 – Dusseldorf, Germany – Mitsubishi Electric Hall
7 – Brussels, Belgium – Cirque Royal (SOLD OUT)
9 – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall
10 – Bristol, UK – Beacon (SOLD OUT)
12 – London, UK – The London Palladium (SOLD OUT)
13 – London, UK – The London Palladium (SOLD OUT)
15 – Newcastle, UK – O2 City Hall
16 – Glasgow, UK – Royal Concert Hall
18 – Manchester, UK – The Lowry (SOLD OUT)
19 – London, UK – The London Palladium
20 – London, UK – The London Palladium
22 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live
24 – Paris, France – Salle Pleyel
25 – Paris, France – Salle Pleyel
26 – Paris, France – Salle Pleyel
28 – Lyon, France – Bourse Du Travail
29 – Lyon, France – Bourse Du Travail
30 – Stuttgart, Germany – Porsche Arena
31 – Munich, Germany – Zenith
JUNE
2 – Berlin, Germany – Friedrichspalast
3 – Hamburg, Germany – Sporthalle
4 – Warsaw, Poland – Torwar
5 – Gliwice, Poland – Prezero
7 – Milan, Italy – Teatro Degli Arcimboldi
8 – Rome, Italy – Parco Della Musica
10 – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall
11 – Marseille, France – Cepac Silo
12 – Barcelona, Spain – Para-lel 62
13 – Madrid, Spain – Riviera
SEPTEMBER
9 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
12 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
14 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
16 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
17 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Auditorium
19 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
20 – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park
22 – Toronto, ON – The Danforth
25 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
27 – Quebec City, QC – Theatre Capitole
29 – Boston, MA – The Shubert
30 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
OCTOBER
2 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
4 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
7 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
9 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
11 – Dallas, TX – The Majestic Theater

Totally Tubular Festival Returns for Summer 2025 with Right Said Fred, Men Without Hats, and More

Music

Eric Alper

-

Jan 28, 2025

0

Totally Tubular Festival Returns for Summer 2025 with Right Said Fred, Men Without Hats, and More

Following last year’s successful run, the 80’s New Wave tour TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL announces its return this summer and features artists that exploded in the pop culture zeitgeist in the 1980’s thanks mainly to the high rotation of their music videos on MTV. These artists have enjoyed a steady rise in popularity in recent years, with their music having a lasting impact. Tour creator and JPA agency founder Jon Pleeter calls the TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL “the best ‘80s party on the planet. The audiences last year fully embraced the spirit of the tour and were wildly enthusiastic. The party continues this summer.”

The 2025 tour launches June 27 in San Jose, CA and runs through July 24 in Indianapolis, IN. The lineup is RIGHT SAID FRED, MEN WITHOUT HATS, HAIRCUT100, THE TUBES (7/10 – 7/24), THE MOTELS, ANIMOTION (6/25 – 7/5, 7/10 – 7/24), THE ESCAPE CLUB (6/25 – 7/5, 7/10 – 7/24), and MUSICAL YOUTH (who don’t appear on the 7/6, 7/13, and 7/18 stops). Men Without Hats and The Tubes return to the tour this year while some artists, such as show closer Right Said Fred, have not toured the U.S. since the early 90’s.

TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL will expand into new cities such as Anaheim, CA, Virginia Beach, VA, Bethlehem, PA, Huber Heights, OH, and Indianapolis, IN. and will keep its popular compact set times highlighting each artist’s major hits. The tour will also offer an expanded merchandise line at shows and online, including limited edition/collector’s items. Tickets go on sale this Friday, January 31 at 10am local time. Head here for more information on tickets.

A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will go towards food banks locally in each market.

The TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL 2025 tour dates are:
6/27 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
6/28 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
6/29 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
6/30 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theatre
7/3 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
7/5 – Dallas, TX – Pavilion @ Toyota Music Factory
#7/6 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
^7/10 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome
^7/11 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheatre
^7/12 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom
&^7/13 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
^7/16 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall
^7/17 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Events Center
&^7/18 – Rama, ONT – Casino Rama
^7/19 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
^7/20 – Detroit, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
^7/22 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center @ The Heights
^7/24 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheatre
# Houston lineup is: Right Said Fred, Men Without Hats, Haircut 100, and The Motels
^ Includes: The Tubes
& Musical Youth does not appear

5 Surprising Facts About Dusty Springfield’s “Dusty In Memphis”

Eric Alper

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Jan 26, 2025

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5 Surprising Facts About Dusty Springfield’s “Dusty In Memphis”

A landmark moment in music history, Dusty Springfield’s Dusty in Memphis was released in 1969, blending Southern soul with sophisticated pop, featuring Springfield’s velvet vocals backed by some of the era’s most renowned musicians. Although it wasn’t an instant commercial success, its influence and acclaim have only grown over time, earning its place among the greatest albums ever recorded. Here are five fascinating facts about a must-have place in your record collection.

1. The Album Almost Didn’t Happen Due to Song Selections

Dusty Springfield was notoriously meticulous when it came to choosing songs for Dusty in Memphis. Out of the dozens of demos submitted by Atlantic Records, she initially rejected nearly all of them, leaving producer Jerry Wexler frustrated. Springfield later clarified that she only approved “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Just a Little Lovin’” from the original batch. Her high standards, though challenging for Wexler, resulted in a carefully curated tracklist that perfectly balanced pop sophistication with soulful grit.

2. “Son of a Preacher Man” Was Meant for Aretha Franklin

The album’s standout track, “Son of a Preacher Man,” wasn’t originally intended for Dusty Springfield. Written for Aretha Franklin, the song was passed to Springfield when Franklin turned it down. After Springfield’s version became a hit, Aretha recorded her own rendition in 1969, but it’s Dusty’s sultry interpretation that remains the definitive version, earning her a top-10 UK hit and one of her most iconic performances.

3. Led Zeppelin Owes Its Atlantic Records Deal to Dusty

During the Dusty in Memphis sessions, Springfield suggested to Atlantic Records executives that they sign a then-unknown band called Led Zeppelin. She had worked with bassist John Paul Jones in the past and trusted his talent. Acting largely on her recommendation, Atlantic offered the group a $143,000 advance—a significant sum at the time.

4. Dusty’s Vocals Were Recorded Far From Memphis

Although the album’s title emphasizes Memphis, Springfield recorded most of her final vocals in New York City. Initially uneasy about recording in the legendary American Sound Studio, where soul greats like Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin had worked, Dusty opted to complete her parts later in a more familiar environment. This separation of rhythm tracks and vocals is a testament to her perfectionism and her drive to ensure every detail was just right.

5. It Took Decades for the Album to Get Its Due Recognition

Despite the brilliance of Dusty in Memphis, it was a commercial disappointment upon its release. However, time has proven its greatness. The album has since been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and preserved by the Library of Congress for its cultural and historical significance. Rolling Stone ranked it among the greatest albums of all time, and it’s now celebrated as Dusty Springfield’s magnum opus.

Dusty in Memphis remains a blueprint for future artists looking to blend pop and soul, and an enduring work of art that captures the magic of Dusty Springfield’s voice and vision. Whether it’s the iconic “Son of a Preacher Man” or the lush orchestration woven throughout, every track is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. As its legacy grows, so does our appreciation for Springfield’s fearless artistry and the team of legends who helped bring this masterpiece to life.

5 Surprising Facts About Lorde’s “Melodrama”

Eric Alper

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Jan 26, 2025

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5 Surprising Facts About Lorde’s “Melodrama”

Lorde’s Melodrama was an emotional whirlwind of heartbreak, solitude, and self-discovery. Released in 2017, it marked a bold evolution in her artistry, diving into lush, maximalist soundscapes with Jack Antonoff by her side. While it’s celebrated for its universal acclaim and chart-topping success, there are fascinating details behind its creation that remain under the radar. Here are five lesser-known facts about this electrifying masterpiece.

1. The Album’s Title Was Inspired by Greek Tragedies

Lorde has a knack for weaving literary and cultural references into her work, and Melodrama is no exception. The album title reflects her love of theater and Greek tragedies, capturing the emotional extremes of youth—intensity, heartbreak, and euphoria. She imagined the album as a grand performance, with each song representing a scene in a larger narrative. This theatrical flair underscores the “all or nothing” emotional stakes she faced as a 20-year-old, making the title both personal and universal.

2. Her Synesthesia Shaped the Album’s Sound and Colors

Lorde’s synesthesia, a condition where she perceives sound as color, played a pivotal role in Melodrama’s creation. Each song on the album was meticulously color-coded on a wall in her New Zealand home, where she arranged tracks by their emotional and thematic hues. For instance, “Green Light” was vibrant and electric, while “Liability” carried softer, melancholic shades. This visual approach helped her craft a cohesive narrative, making the album a multi-sensory experience for listeners.

3. The Cover Art Was Painted by a Rising Star in Fine Art

The striking cover of Melodrama was painted by American artist Sam McKinniss, who Lorde specifically sought out after seeing his portraits of Prince and Lil’ Kim. The painting, which captures a restless, dreamy energy, was based on a photo session in a high-rise New York City studio. McKinniss created two versions of the artwork, but Lorde chose the one with a warm flush on her cheek, feeling it perfectly encapsulated the vibrant yet intimate mood of the album.

4. Paul Simon and MDMA Were Major Influences

While heartbreak and isolation defined Melodrama’s lyrical themes, its sonic palette was shaped by some unexpected sources. Lorde often listened to Paul Simon’s Graceland for inspiration during long taxi rides, drawn to its sense of enlightenment after loss. Additionally, in a 2021 interview, she revealed that experimenting with MDMA influenced the album’s emotional catharsis and euphoric highs. The result is a record that oscillates between vulnerability and exhilaration, mirroring her personal journey.

5. “Green Light” Almost Didn’t Make It to the Album

Despite being the album’s lead single and a fan favorite, “Green Light” faced an uphill battle during its creation. The track took 18 months to complete, as Lorde and Jack Antonoff struggled to refine its unique structure and “strange” melodic shifts. Even Swedish hitmaker Max Martin questioned its potential as a pop song. However, Lorde stuck to her instincts, embracing its unpredictability as a reflection of her post-breakup emotions. Today, it stands as one of her most iconic tracks.

Charting the highs and lows of growing up and breaking free, Melodrama only deepens Lorde’s artistry and vision. It would 4 years before her next release, Solar Power capturing the ability to escape, and shunning celebrity culture entirely.

Watch Chad Jackson Takes the Crown At The 1987 DMC World DJ Championships

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 26, 2025

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Watch Chad Jackson Takes the Crown At The 1987 DMC World DJ Championships

The DMC World DJ Championships, launched in 1985, quickly became the gold standard for competitive DJing. In 1987, DJs from around the world gathered at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall for six minutes of turntable mastery. Sponsored by Technics, the night belonged to Chad Jackson, who took home the title and cemented his place in DJ history.

The 1995 Infomercial That Tried to Sell Us the Future: The Phillips CD-i Entertainment System

Music

Eric Alper

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Jan 26, 2025

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The 1995 Infomercial That Tried to Sell Us the Future: The Phillips CD-i Entertainment System

In 1995, the Phillips CD-i entertainment system aimed to revolutionize home entertainment, and what better way to showcase its potential than with an infomercial? Packed with bold claims about interactive gaming, movies, and educational software, this forgotten gem of ’90s marketing dared to ask: “Why settle for less when you can have it all?”