Happy Spring! We're getting anxious for the summer concert season! Some great bands will be on the road this summer so be sure to check back for all our reviews and interviews. As for this month....DROWNING POOL comes out with their new CD and we have an interview with Mike and CJ. Also check out Jenipher's interview with GIANT!!! Great bands, great guys. ROCK ON!
I again talked to Drowning Pool. This time with CJ and Mike. They are on tour to support their newest self titled CD that will be out later this month. Drowning Pool is one of the hottest bands on the road today. Make sure you check them out when they roll through your town and get the new CD!
Never before seen video KING OF THE LADIES from EXTREME’S studio album Saudades De Rock premiers live on AOL Music and Noisecreep on April 28th at 11am EST - http://www.noisecreep.com/ or http://www.music.aol.com/.
This is one of four videos created and directed by EXTREME guitar virtuoso Nuno Bettencourt. The video is from their critically acclaimed 2009 studio release Saudades De Rock, which released upon their reunion after a 13 year hiatus. KING OF THE LADIES is also 1 of 4 bonus videos on their new live CD and DVD release TAKE US ALIVE out May 4 on Frontiers Records USA.
TAKE US ALIVE captures EXTREME at the peak of their game with a renewed enthusiasm led by Gary Cherone’s spellbinding stage performance and powerful vocals, Nuno Bettencourt’s ferocious guitar, Pat Badger’s flawless bass and Kevin Figueiredo’s pounding drums not to mention the Extreme trademark, spot on, back-up vocals.
Video trailer here: http://www.extreme-band.com/ OR www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Z_g7AM0iQ
This brilliant performance was recorded on the last night of their tour at the House of Blues August 8, 2009 in EXTREME’s hometown of Boston, MA . “We wanted to do something really special for our hometown fans that were there for us since the beginning… the club days,” states Nuno. “It was the last night of the tour and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by bringing it back to where it all started… Boston.”
Buckcherry’s Josh Todd (pictured, R) guest-stars as a rock star when Brennan (Emily Deschanel, L) and Booth (David Boreanaz, C) investigate the death of a rich adventure seeker, and are led to a rock-and-roll fantasy camp in the BONES episode "The Rocker in the Rinse Cycle" airing Thursday, April 29 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
Buckcherry have just completed their upcoming record and the first single/video both titled “All Night Long,” an instant top down summer anthem. The album follows late summer and tour in mid-June follow from one of America’s most identifiable vocalists and bands.
Buckcherry’s Josh Todd and Keith Nelson will be the featured guest of Nikki Sixx’s syndicated radio show Sixx Sense Wednesday, April 28th (airing at 7:00pm local time and also available at www.sixxsense.com
Fox Broadcasting Co. Photo Credit: Greg Gayne/FOX
Lovedrug is preparing for a very busy summer. In a recent interview with MishMash Magazine leader singer/guitarist Michael Shepard noted, “We're gonna tour in June and July, put out two more EPs, record a full length record, get a new record deal, move to Nashville, start our own line of sausage links and take over the world starting with Ireland. But, not in that specific order possibly.”
Now label-free, the band is releasing a series of three EPs as they continue to write the upcoming HiFi album. EP - PART I is out now on Vinyl, CD and digital format. All formats, including a limited edition package, are available directly from the band through www.Lovedrugmusic.com.
In the meantime, fans can listen to brand new tracks for free at www.NoiseTrade.com/lovedrug.
Playing Bamboozle at the Meadowlands in New Jersey on May 2 alongside Weezer, Minus the Bear, and MGMT, Lovedrug will also hit the road on a headlining tour with All The Day Holiday supporting, after a couple of one-off shows with The Early Hours, and Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders respectively.
Having previously shared stages with artists as diverse as The Killers, Robert Plant, Switchfoot, Sam Phillips, Creeper Lagoon, Eisley, and Matchbook Romance, Lovedrug drew nationwide attention with two independent EPs in 2003 and 2004, followed by the highly acclaimed debut full-length Pretend You’re Alive in July 2004 on indie The Militia Group (Sony). The fastest selling debut in label history, Militia upstreamed the band to parent label Columbia Records for a planned re-release in March 2005 around the radio single “Spiders”. Though unrelated corporate purging at Columbia left many plans stillborn, Lovedrug toured heavily and increased its fanbase.
Now with new music dubbed by many as Lovedrug’s best work to date, the stage is set; this ain’t a comeback; it’s a breakthrough in the making.
Catch Lovedrug on tour:
May 2 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Bamboozle in Meadowlands (w/ Weezer, Minus The Bear, MGMT)
May 6 - New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge w/ The Early Hours
May 7 - West Chester, PA @ The Note w/ Taylor Hawkins & The Coattail Riders
May 8 - Boston, MA @ HOUSE SHOW
May 9 - Altoona, PA @ HOUSE SHOW
May 14 - Covington, KY (Cincinnati) @ Radiodown w/ All The Day Holiday
June 9 - Knoxville, TN @ HOUSE SHOW (Lovedrug only)
June 10 - Raleigh, NC @ The Brewery (w/ ATDH, others)
June 11 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (w/ ATDH, others)
June 12 - Orlando, FL @ The Backbooth (w/ ATDH, others)
June 13 - Tampa, FL @ Orpheum (w/ ATDH, others)
June 15 - Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree (w/ ATDH, others)
June 16 - Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge (w/ Bear Colony, ATDH)
June 17 - Little Rock, AR @ Juanita's (w/ Bear Colony, ATDH)
June 18 - Houston, TX @ Mango's (w/ ATDH, others)
June 19 - Dallas, TX @ Prophet Bar (w/ ATDH, others)
June 21 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory (w/ ATDH, others)
June 22 - Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Café (w/ ATDH, others)
June 23 - St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird (w/ ATDH, others)
June 24 - Nashville, TN @ Exit/In (w/ ATDH, others)
For more information on Lovedrug see www.myspace.com/lovedrug.
All American Anthemic Rockers Drowning Pool will release their new self-titled Tuesday, April 27. The album’s lead single, “Feel Like I Do” has moved to #4 on the active rock radio chart, giving the band their second consecutive Top 5 hit with third lead singer Ryan McCombs, a feat that only Van Halen has previously accomplished. The band has joined forces with Wounded Warrior Project and will offer “Feel Like I Do” as a free download to the warrior community as a thank you from the band for their service and heroism. Fans can also choose from five different exclusive deluxe album packages including the MRL (Music Ready to Listen) Soldiers Package boxed in a replica MRE and the Super Deluxe Package, complete with a BC Rich guitar signed by all of the band members. The deluxe album and packages can be purchased at http://www.drowningpool.com.
For a complete list of available album packages, please see below.
“This is the album we’ve always set out to make and feel like it all finally came together. This was an extremely emotional journey for us. Half way through recording, Ryan lost his father and it was a devastating blow for all of us. We found a way to push through and it helped us dig even deeper and reach a place that made this album stronger than anything we’ve done before,” adds Drowning Pool guitarist CJ Pierce.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Drowning Pool's tale of perseverance is just as inspiring as their music. The Texas-based hard rock band has comeback from the death of their first singer and losing their second, emerging a stronger unit than ever before. From presenting the Lane Evans Mental Health Care Reform to Barack Obama, while senator, and coming back with their first consecutive album with a singer, vocalist Ryan McCombs, Drowning Pool continue to survive and have begun to have the biggest success of their career. After their highest charting single ever, "37 Stitches" and four years of nonstop touring, which culminated with 2009's Crüe Fest 2, the Dallas quartet have matched chart position with “Feel Like I Do” and have set the tone for what is expected to be the bands most successful album. The record was recorded and mixed at the rock radio hit factory “House of Loud” (Breaking Benjamin, Paramore, Cavo, My Chemical Romance and more) with Kato Khandwala producing and David Bendeth mixing.
Drowning Pool is currently on the road in support on their new album. For more information and updated tour dates, please visit www.drowningpool.com/ <http://www.drowningpool.com/> .
Drowning Pool album packaging:
Digital Download – Price: $7.99
· Instant digital download of Drowning Pool
· Digital Booklet w/ Liner notes
Digital Download and CD – Price: $13.98
· Instant digital download of Drowning Pool
· Drowning Pool CD
· Digital Booklet w/ Liner notes believe
MRL (Music Ready to Listen) Soldiers Package – Price: $29.99
· Collectable Replica MRE Box
· Band dog tags
· Drowning Pool patches
· Camouflage Drowning Pool t-shirt
· Embossed signed letter from the band
· Drowning Pool CD
· Instant digital download of Drowning Pool
Deluxe Package – Price: $49.99
· Collectable Replica MRE Box
· Autographed 8x10 photo suitable for Framing
· Drowning Pool t-shirt (Black) w/ album Artwork
· Drowning Pool CD
· Instant digital download of Drowning Pool
Super Deluxe Package – Price: $250.00
· Deluxe Package
· BC Eagle One Rich Guitar Autographed by all four members of the band.
Fuse, Madison Square Garden’s national music television network, and TWIX® Brand announced today the “Fuse and TWIX® Keys to the Barn Sweepstakes,” the ultimate Bonnaroo experience. The winner and ten friends will enjoy The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in style in the 50 foot Fuse/TWIX® Barn, in the heart of Centeroo, featuring air-conditioned sleeping accommodations, access to the Fuse and TWIX® lounge and an exclusive meet-and-greet with a Bonnaroo artist.
Beginning Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at noon ET and ending May 19, music lovers can log on to www.fuse.tv/keystobarn and enter for the chance to win “Fuse and TWIX® Keys to the Barn Sweepstakes.” The winner and up to ten friends (open to legal residents of the contiguous U.S. & D.C., age 21 years or older as of date of entry) will receive tickets to the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, roundtrip transportation arriving June 10 and departing June 13, exclusive access to the Fuse/TWIX® Barn, TWIX® product and a private meet and greet with a Bonnaroo artist.
In the midst of the nonstop 2010 Bonnaroo performances including Kings of Leon, JAY-Z, Dave Matthews Band, Weezer, Phoenix and more, Fuse and TWIX® will offer a haven of comfort for concert attendees. In addition to the exclusive Barn amenities for the sweepstakes winner, there will be an outdoor Fuse and TWIX® lounge for all festival goers with cooling “misting” stations, cell phone charging docks, hammocks and more.
As the exclusive broadcast partner, Fuse will air footage from Bonnaroo in three special one-hour episodes featuring highlight performances from the festival. Fuse will also air “TWIX® Pause Festival Reports” on-air and online on both Fuse.tv and www.facebook.com/twix.us. The “Festival Reports” will provide viewers with a recap of exclusive content from the best festival happenings of the summer.
The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is a four-day, multi-stage camping festival held on a beautiful 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee every June. Bonnaroo brings together some of the best performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of other artists and comedians.
Revered blues/rock guitar guru Pat Travers is back out and touring in 2010 in support of his new studio release FIDELIS on Alexus Records.
This hard rocking blues masterpiece is Travers long awaited studio album in the true Pat Travers signature style, in your face and full of big guitars. Being the first studio album in 5 years, Travers has put heart and soul into every note he recorded. “Ask Me Baby” is the first release that will hit the airwaves in a matter of time.
The current line-up for the Pat Travers band is Pat Travers (Guitar/vox), Kirk McKim (Lead Guitar / Backing Vox), Sean "The Cannon" Shannon (Drums) and Rodney O'Quinn (Bass / Backing Vocals).
This is a show you cannot miss – Pat Travers is a real giant amongst giants~
PAT TRAVERS – TOUR SCHEDULE – more dates to come:
APRIL
Thur 22 Newport, RI Newport Blues Café
Fri 23 Foxborough, MA Showcase Live
Sat 24 Londonderry, NH Tupelo Music Hall
Fri 30 Samford, FL Route 46
MAY
Sat 15 Conesville, IA Circle Of Pride Rally
Thur 22 Corpus Christi, TX Brewsters Street Ice House
JUNE
Tue 1 Ramona, CA Ramona Mainstage
Wed 2 ROCKLINE – LIVE IN STUDIO
Thur 3 Modesto, CA Fat Cat Music Hall
Fri 4 Fairfield, CA Pepper Belly’s
Sun 6 Santa Rosa, CA Last Day Saloon
Sat 12 Kissimmee, FL Kissimmee Bike Fest
JULY
Fri 16 Walker, MN Moondance Jam 19
Sat 17 Sturgis, KY Little Sturgis Rally
Sat 24 Birkenfeld, OR S.E. Oregon ABATE Run 21 Rally
AUGUST
Thur 19 Houston, TX House Of Blues
Fri 20 San Antonio, TX Back Stage Live
Sat 21 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
SEPTEMBER
Mon 6 Indianapolis, IN Rib America Fest
Sat 18 Tomahawk, WI Nokomis Town Park
OCTOBER
Fri 8 Plymouth, MA Memorial Hall
For more information on this extraordinary live performance album go to www.pattravers.com
To celebrate spring's arrival, Taylor Guitars is readying the release of its always anticipated Spring Limited Edition models. This year's Limiteds feature an exciting array of exotic tonewoods - Hawaiian koa, Brazilian imbuia, Tasmanian blackwood and Claro walnut - and boast a unique twist, as the company's newest Specialty guitar, the 12-Fret, joins the springtime fun.
The 12-Fret-LTD is a sweet-sounding, all-koa Grand Concert trimmed with dark, rich ebony binding. Named for the point at which the neck meets the guitar body, the 12-Fret-LTD features a unique geometry between the neck and bridge, which helps give the guitar a warm, robust vintage voice. It's a sound that Bob Taylor calls "magical". "I've fallen in love with it," raves Bob. "It's that pure and wonderful." Premium appointments on the 12-Fret-LTD include a 900 Series abalone rosette with an ebony-bound soundhole and abalone-dotted ebony bridge pins.
After a long hiatus, Brazilian imbuia returns with a pair of 700 Series Limiteds, the 714ce-LTD and 716ce-LTD. The beautiful batch of imbuia exhibits deep caramel hues with rich variegation and is accented with a figured koa back mini wedge and a matching koa heel cap and binding. The imbuia 700 Series LTDs are topped with Sitka spruce and feature an abalone rosette with koa soundhole binding. Tonally, imbuia's density yields tight, bright tones with plenty of low-end thump and sustain.
Two 500 Series Limiteds, a 514ce-LTD and 516ce-LTD, showcase the rich Tasmanian blackwood backs and sides. Known as a cousin of koa, blackwood shares koa's blend of midrange bloom, top end brightness, and an overall tone that will sweetly mellow over time. Both models are topped with Sitka spruce and include Ivoroid binding, an abalone rosette, and an all-gloss finish.
Fans of walnut's tonal mix of brightness, projection and warmth will rejoice at the sound and look of the 400 Series Limiteds. Offered in four different shapes, the 410ce-LTD, 412ce-LTD, 414ce-LTD, and 416ce-LTD, each sports a deeply figured, chocolate-hued walnut back and sides dramatically contrasted by a figured maple back mini wedge and heel cap, along with a maple neck and body binding. All feature a Sitka spruce top, and additional premium appointments include an abalone rosette and an all-gloss finish.
Each of the Spring Limiteds come with a cutaway, Taylor's popular and intuitive Expression System® pickup, and in a hardshell case. The 2010 Spring Limiteds will be offered at a suggested retail price of $2,798 for the 400-LTDs; $3,698 for the 500-LTDs; $3,898 for the 700-LTDs and at $5,198 for the 12-Fret-LTD. The models are now available at authorized Taylor dealers.
It’s as if you were there: Aug. 21, 1965, and the only Minnesota appearance by the Beatles, the biggest rock band of all time. Seventeen-year-old Bill Carlson was there. Trying to hone his craft, Carlson was eager to grab an unclaimed press pass and shoot the Beatles’ arrival at the airport, the press conference and the concert that followed. Carlson took more than 140 photographs that day, capturing the personality of the Beatles and their fans in spontaneous, casual, black-and-white images. Now, 45 years later, history lovers, music lovers and everyday Minnesotans can relive the day for themselves in the new exhibit “The Beatles! A One-Night Stand in the Heartland,” at the Minnesota History Center, July 17 – Sept. 12, 2010.
The exhibit features 36 images, some of which are never-before-seen pictures of the Beatles in concert. Through the images, exhibit goers will be able to make intimate connections with the Beatles, a band that changed music and popular culture forever. The photographs also tell the story of Carlson, a young photographer just starting out in his career, who attended the press conference where he talked with George Harrison about his new Rickenbacker guitar. But Carlson wasn’t the only teenager following the Beatles. At the concert, there were more than 25,000 screaming, shouting, cheering and swooning fans. Carlson’s photographs capture close-up moments of fans touched by the Beatles and their music as well as mob scenes with girls waiting to greet the band as they got off the plane and during the press conference.
In addition to the images, the exhibit features an artifact case with items from Carlson’s photography career, including one of his early cameras. A computer station will play video footage of the Beatles press conference and users can pull up a web page where they can enter their own memories of the Beatles visit to Minnesota and read entries by other fans.
Online Connections
In 2008, the Society started collecting online memories of fans who attended, or wanted to attend, the concert in 1965. Visitors to the exhibit can read these memories, including “Catherine’s” lament that she couldn’t go to the concert because the $5.50 ticket price cost too much. “Gail” tells of attending the concert at age 11 and forming a Beatles air-guitar band with three girlfriends (the group got so good they won a talent contest). “Mike” describes going to the concert at age 15 with his brother Bill and cousin Greg, and sitting in the third deck behind home plate on “a beautiful August evening.” The Beatles: Share Your Story can also be viewed online at www.mnhs.org/beatles.
Exhibit Public Reception
The History Center’s free summer concert series, 9 Nights of Music, features the music of the Beatles July 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. It’s an extended evening of classic rock tunes, performed by local cover-band RetroFit. The night serves as the exhibit reception and includes complimentary access to the Beatles exhibit gallery, a book signing with author and photographer Bill Carlson and a screening of the Beatles movie “A Hard Day’s Night” in the 3M Auditorium. Other activities include a photo op with a life sized Sgt. Pepper’s Album Cover, The Beatles Rock Band music video game and a Beatles inspired costume contest.
BOSS® is proud to announce the availability of the ME-25 Guitar Multiple Effects to its popular line of floor-based multi-effects. The compact and durable ME-25 inherits its high-quality sounds from the flagship ME-70, and packs a ton of BOSS tone tools into one amazingly affordable package.
Sporting a quick and easy user interface for professionals and newcomers alike, the ME-25 features a full compliment of COSM® amplifier models. The onboard Sound Library comes loaded with 60 effects combinations suitable for a wide range of playing styles. The ME-25 runs on six AA batteries or AC power, and its portable size makes it ready to rock anywhere.
The ME-25 is stocked full of the best BOSS effects — distortions, overdrives, modulation effects, delay, reverb, harmonist, and many more. The built-in expression pedal controls a number of pedal effects, including wah, octave up/down, and a unique freeze effect. Three heavy-duty footswitches allow the user to select sounds and perform other functions, such as accessing the built-in tuner, tapping in delay times, and enabling the SOLO feature.
The ME-25 is the first multiple effect processor at this price point to include BOSS’ renowned COSM® amp-modeling technology. There’s a range of classic amps from clean combos to raging stacks, along with a Super Stack function that gets big amp tone from a small practice amp. A 38-second looper is also included for real-time sound-on-sound recording.
The ME-25 also includes USB connectivity, allowing users to stream audio and other data back and forth with their computer. A powerful librarian is available as a free download to manage sounds, and the ME-25 is bundled with Cakewalk SONAR 8.5 LE for multi-track audio and MIDI recording.
The ME-25 is now shipping with a retail price of $276.50.
About BOSS
BOSS, a division of Roland Corporation, has achieved legendary status among guitarists by offering a diverse, world-leading product lineup, which includes compact-effects processors, multi-effects processors, digital recorders, rhythm machines, metronomes, tuners, and more. For more information, visit http://www.BossUS.com.
June 8th is when Black Robot will unleash there debut album to the world. Its gonna be Badass and pure Rock n' Roll!
Black Robot is Huck Johns (vocals), Jonathan "JB" Brightman (bass), Andy Andersson (guitar), Staffan Österlind (guitar), Possum Hill (drums).
The first single of the album is 'Cocaine', its being released to radio on the 20th April. So please ring your favorite rock station and request it. With the video being shot on 14th April for this song.
If you need a Black Robot fix now, go and purchase the EP 'The Battle for Tokyo' from itunes. Its available now and contains five killer tracks.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-battle-for-tokyo/id336268963
New tour dates have been announced, so go check out Black Robot on the following dates:
The all new Black Robot website is up and running. So for up to date band news and tour information go to http://www.blackrobotmusic.com/
The original line-up of Fuel has not been together since 1997, when original drummer Jody Abbott left the band. Throughout 1998 - 2007 there were several lineup changes, touring and recording as Fuel. In 2010 with many of the principal members engaged in other aspects of the entertainment industry, raising families, and just living the American dream, Brett Scallions, the original lead vocalist is proud to fly the Fuel flag to a generation of new and old fans.
"There is only one original of anything" exclaims Scallions, "and that includes Fuel. The original lineup with Carl, Jeff, Jody and myself will always be something special to all of us, and our first Fuelies (a term for Fuel fans) but it has been thirteen years since the original lineup was intact, and since then many great musicians have come and gone. The lineup I put together for Fuel is not meant to replace or diminish what any of the original members created. Just the opposite, it is to give our fans a live destination, and to keep the Fuel name alive for a new generation to discover. Maybe someday we'll all get on the same page and play together again, but life happens and the next thing you know you just can't jump on a bus and take off for a month, let alone a year."
Original bassist Jeff Abercrombie is currently the owner/operator of Thud Studios, a well reputed destination for rehearsing and recording in the greater Los Angeles area www.thudstudios.com. Original lead guitarist, and principal song writer Carl Bell is producing new music for a diversified group of artists. Bell has also been busy writing for film and television.
When reached for comment Bell stated, " Look, Brett sang all of this stuff on the bands biggest records, so it's pretty clear that the fans want to hear him singing Fuel songs, and that is what they are going to get. Our fans are important and they deserve a Fuel, even if it isn't an original lineup. Who knows maybe someday there will be an all original reunion. I have learned to never say never."
For more information on the band and a list of tour dates visit: www.fuelrocks.com / www.myspace.com/fuel
Today MusiCares and In The Rooms, a free online global recovery community and social network, announces the MusiCares In The Rooms site, www.musicaresintherooms.com. This is a safe and secure place for people in the music industry to share their recovery and their experiences, strength and hope, as many musicians struggle with addiction or are in recovery. Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need, focusing on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community including issues of addiction. Together these two organizations are making a difference in music people's recovery.
"In The Rooms is taking the concept of social networking to a much higher purpose, fostering community with confidentiality for people in recovery," said Kristen Madsen, Senior Vice President of MusiCares. "Our partnership provides a significant addition to our existing menu of services for our clients."
With over 75,000 members and over 200,000 years of recovery, In The Rooms is the number one web site for those seeking help for their addiction, in recovery and their family, friends and allies. The social network is actively used, with over 1.3 million messages, over 476,000 status updates and over 2.6 million comments. In The Rooms provides information and resources to serve as an invaluable "lifeline" for anyone seeking to better understand addiction, recovery and share their experiences, strength and hope.
"We are honored to provide a site for people involved in the music industry," said Ron Tannebaum, co-founder of In The Rooms. "In The Rooms will help music people stay connected and provide a supportive environment for their ongoing recovery."
About MusiCares
Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy®, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. As a result of acquiring MAP in September 2004, MusiCares developed the MusiCares MAP Fund® as a pool of resources set aside specifically to address addiction recovery and sober living needs. Named for the Musicians' Assistance Program, the MusiCares MAP Fund represents the joint goal of MAP and MusiCares to provide members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial circumstances. For more information, please visit www.musicares.com.
About In The Rooms
In The Rooms (www.intherooms.com) is a free online global recovery community. It allows members to immediately feel safe and secure with their anonymity and privacy. In The Rooms transcends the boundaries of all 12 step fellowships socially while maintaining the integrity of each by having a separate group, meeting list and speaker tape library for each 12 step fellowship. In The Rooms allows people to reach out to one another across the globe 24-7 to share their experiences, strength and hope. Follow In The Rooms on Twitter @intherooms or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/intherooms.
Continuing its support of aspiring artists, Guitar Center (www.guitarcenter.com) the world's largest musical instrument retailer, today announced the launch of its fourth annual King of the Blues (www.guitarcenter.com/kingoftheblues), the nationwide search for the next great undiscovered blues guitar player. Starting today, guitarists can sign-up at any of Guitar Center's 214 stores across the country for the chance to compete for thousands of dollars in prizes and the opportunity to perform at the King of the Blues finals at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, and play on the same stage as Grammy Award-winning guitarist Derek Trucks. All store, district and regional finalists will win impressive prize packages including top gear from Gibson, Epiphone, Ernie Ball, Egnater and Boss. The guitarist crowned Guitar Center's King of the Blues will receive:
"The Blues defines today's music--from Robert Johnson to Jack White and B.B. King to John Mayer," noted Dustin Hinz, Manager of Event Marketing and Promotions for Guitar Center. "Guitar Center is tapping into this rich and deep musical art form, so we can find true original talent--not clones of great guitarists, but rather great guitarists in their own right who deserve a place alongside the legends."
Local competitions will be held at each of the 214 Guitar Center locations nationwide, beginning May 13th. Each contestant will be required to give a live guitar solo, performed over one of thirty original backing tracks, developed by Grammy Award-winning producer/guitarist, Pete Anderson (all backing tracks are available for free download at guitarcenter.com/kingoftheblues). One winner from each store will be chosen to move up to district competitions (25 locations), followed by regionally hosted semi-finals (5 locations), which culminate in the aforementioned King of the Blues finals competition on September 2nd. Here, the five finalists will perform in front of a live audience and a panel of celebrity judges, and share the stage with world-renowned guitarist Derek Trucks, leader of the Grammy Award-winning Derek Trucks Band and member of The Allman Brothers Band. Trucks' extensive list of accolades and accomplishments includes being tapped by Eric Clapton to join the guitar legend's 2006/07 world tour as a featured soloist and appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone's "New Guitar Gods" issue, as well as being the youngest musician to make the magazine's "100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time."
King of the Blues is one of many Guitar Center initiatives created to foster growth and success within the music community, including its annual Drum-Off, On-Stage and Your Next Record undiscovered artist programs. Guitar Center's Drum-Off, now in its 21st year, has been a launching pad for many drummers, including Cora Coleman-Dunham and Tony Royster Jr, two Drum-Off champions who have gone on to become acclaimed professional drummers (Prince and Jay-Z respectively). Guitar Center On-Stage, an unsigned band competition judged by Mötley Crüe, saw the winning band, The Last Vegas, go on to open for Mötley Crüe on tour and subsequently topped iTunes critics' 2009 "Rock Singles of the Year List" with their hit single "I'm Bad." Guitar Center Presents Your Next Record with Slash provides emerging artists the chance to win the ultimate career-altering opportunity: record a 3-song EP with legendary producer, Mike Clink and have Slash write, record and perform on the winning artists' single -www.YourNextRecord.com.
Noteflight, LLC (http://www.noteflight.com), a company dedicated to reinventing the way people create, share and use written music, today announced the release of Crescendo, online music notation software for individuals who are committed to making music and want to take their creations to the next level.
Going beyond the free version of Noteflight, Crescendo delivers the advanced score writing and music composition features that professionals, educators, students and music enthusiast’s desire. These features include full support for guitar tablature, orchestral virtual instruments with professional sound quality, score templates, increased storage and advanced sharing permissions that extend the social networking value of Noteflight.
“Crescendo is essentially Noteflight 2.0. It’s ideal for dedicated Noteflight users who want to take advantage of everything we have to offer,” said Joe Berkovitz, President & CEO of Noteflight. “We will continue to support and add features to the free version of Noteflight so that individuals who are new to our concept can easily discover and experience the joy of social music creation.”
In total, Crescendo features a new, full palette of over 40 professional orchestral, jazz and rock instruments. These new instruments include complete woodwind, brass and reed sections as well as guitars, basses, percussion and solo/ensemble strings.
With support for guitar tab music, Crescendo users can create tablature from scratch, import XML tab from guitar tab software, such as Guitar Pro, and convert MIDI files to tablature. The resulting tab files can be viewed in two different formats (rhythmically or in basic tab format), as well as edited and shared with other Crescendo customers. Users can also listen to guitar tab in their choice of new bass guitar, electric guitar and acoustic guitar sounds.
Score writing has also been expanded and simplified. Individuals can now use over 35 stock templates to create and store hundreds of scores, choosing from different ensemble types, including a String Quartet. In addition, like the best social music networks and social networking sites today, Crescendo gives users complete control over which community members can view, edit and comment on their scores and songs.
Crescendo is available immediately. Individuals can gain access by subscribing or upgrading their existing free account for $49 per year. For more information or to purchase, visit http://www.noteflight.com.
Ax-slinger Gary Hoey is embarking on an exclusive run of tour dates with Jeff Beck and will perform acoustically an array of favorites. These shows come in the middle of Hoey’s spring run of National guitar clinics running up and down the East Coast. These clinics start April 6 in Allentown, PA and continue till the end of May.
Hoey has been busy on many projects and 2010 is no different. He is currently wrapping up his latest album UTOPIA, which will release on his own label Wazoo Music. Hoey also recently participated in Rock n’ Roll Fantasy camp where he joined an amazing line-up of rockstars such as Michael Anthony, Ace Frehley, Mark Farner and more. This year’s camp was filmed for a new Vh1 Classic reality show shot by reality show master Mark Burnett.
Hoey also recorded Jeff Beck’s “El Becko” and is on the upcoming release of the Les Paul Dedication – Guitar Masters Volume 3, releases this summer. In late June, he will appear in Bangkok, Malaysia and Tokyo and of course the year will wrap up with Hoey’s Annual Ho Ho Hoey Rockin’ Holiday Tour beginning in mid November, stopping in approximately 20 US cities. Its Hoeys continual hard work and drive for his fans that make him one of the most sought after guitar guru’s in the business.
With a collection of 16 albums and five top 20 Billboard hits, it’s clear to see why Gary Hoey is listed in the top 100 greatest guitar players of all time. Whether Hoey plays rock, blues, surf or Christmas, Hoey’s command of each style makes his live show one of the most exciting on the circuit today.
GARY HOEY TOUR ITINERARY – SPRING 2010:
April 06: Allentown, PA Dave Phillips Music & Sound Clinic
April 07: Wheaton, MD Washington Music Clinic
April 08: Catonsville, MD Bill’s Music Clinic
April 09: Virginia Beach, VA Alpha Music Clinic
April 12: Boston, MA Daddy’s of Boston Clinic
April 13: Portsmouth, NH Daddy’s of Portsmouth Clinic
April 14: Concord, NH Strings & Things Clinic
April 16: San Francisco, CA Nob Hill Masonic Center (w/ Jeff Beck)
April 19: San Diego, CA 4th & B (w/ Jeff Beck)
April 20: Exeter, CA Orange Blossom Junction
April 23: Houston, TX Fuller’s Guitar Clinic
April 24: Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theatre (w/ Jeff Beck)
April 25: Grand Prairie, TX Nokia Live @ Grand Prairie (w/ Jeff Beck)
April 27: Tulsa, OK Brady Theatre (w/ Jeff Beck)
April 28: Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre (w/ Jeff Beck)
April 29: St. Louis, MO Fabulous Fox Theatre (w/ Jeff Beck)
May 06: Weymouth, MA South Shore Music Clinic
May 07: Hamburg, NY Music Exchange Clinic
May 08: Rochester, NY House of Guitar Clinic
May 11: Gaffney, SC Hames Music – Clinic
May 12: Marietta, GA Ken Stanton Music Clinic
May 13: Augusta, GA Portman’s Music Clinic
May 14: Daytona Beach, FL Total Entertainment Clinic
May 17: Manchester, NH Daddy’s Junky Music Clinic
May 18: Peabody, MA Daddy’s Junky Music Clinic
May 19: Augusta, ME Musician’s Choice Clinic
May 20: Brewer, ME Mark’s Music Clinic
May 30: Syracuse, NY NY State Fair Grounds
July 09: Salisbury, MA Tupelo (Salisbury) Music Hall
July 10: Londonderry, NH Tupelo (Londonderry) Music Hall
July 22: New York City, NY BB King’s
Aug 13: Costa Mesa, CA OC Fairgrounds
Aug 14: Redondo Beach, CA Brixton South Bay (tent)
For more information go to www.garyhoey.com or www.myspace.com/garyhoey
Known for his rhythmic genius, longtime Taylor player Dave Matthews is a man who needs little introduction to fans of popular music. As the lead singer, songwriter, and acoustic guitar savant of the Dave Matthews Band, Matthews' deft ability to elicit intricate melodies from his Taylor 914ce has endeared his compositions to legions of fans around the world. To share his passion for playing and to capture his own signature style and tone, Taylor Guitars, in collaboration with Matthews, is releasing the Dave Matthews Signature Model (DMSM) guitar.
The DMSM is based on Matthews' "number one guitar," the Taylor 914ce, a model he says "has a really genuine, wonderful acoustic sound" and "is consistent...and on top of that, the guitar itself is really beautiful. I'll just go to it no matter what." Crafted from a back and sides of Indian rosewood, topped with Sitka spruce, the DMSM is complemented with abalone inlays, derived from Matthews' own hand-sketched designs, to honor his late bandmate and friend, saxophonist LeRoi Moore. On the ebony fretboard at the 12th fret, a crown with one of its tips partially missing notes Moore's absence from the band. In another of Matthews' touches, a rendering of the word "Grux," a nickname of Moore's which is also honored in the band's latest album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, is inlaid between the 13th and 18th frets. Matthews also contributed a twisting, vine-like design to the ebony peghead.
Chicago glam rockers The Last Vegas have been selected to open for AC/DC at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA on April 17. Dubbed the “Best Discovery” by SPIN and armed with the iTunes critics pick for the Best Single of 2009 (Rock), “I’m Bad,” The Last Vegas have quickly built an impressive touring history throughout arenas, clubs and theaters in, which includes Mötley Crüe, Buckcherry, Hinder, Theory of a Deadman, Papa Roach, Smile Empty Soul and AC/DC.
The Last Vegas made history as the first band to win Guitar Center’s On-Stage new music program when they were hand selected by Mötley Crüe at the world famous Whiskey A-Go-Go in Los Angeles, CA. The band’s acclaimed album, Whatever Gets You Off, was recorded in Los Angeles with veteran rock producers Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M., DJ Ashba (Producer of Sixx:A.M., Mötley Crüe) and Marti Frederiksen (Producer of Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne) and features the top iTunes rock track for 2009.
Go to www.thelastvegas.com http://www.thelastvegas.com to download the new single, Whatever Gets You Off for FREE!
For updated tour dates and more information on The Last Vegas, please visit: www.thelastvegas.com http://www.thelastvegas.com/.
Guitar Center (www.guitarcenter.com), the world's largest musical instrument retailer, along with guitar legend Slash, is accepting submissions for Guitar Center Presents Your Next Record with Slash, a first-of-its-kind unsigned band competition that is still accepting entries, now through April 30th. The competition provides emerging artists the chance to win the ultimate career-altering opportunity: record a 3-song EP with legendary producer, Mike Clink (Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Megadeth) and have Slash write, record and perform on the winning artists' single. Unsigned bands across the United States are still invited to submit their music at YourNextRecord.com for a chance to win the aforementioned prize package, which also includes:
"The response so far has been tremendous and a lot of the music we've received sounds amazing but I still want to hear more," said Slash. "We're looking to find a great band with some kick ass songs and good energy, who hasn't been able to get their foot in the door otherwise, and take them to the next level."
The opportunity coincides with Slash's first true solo album, which was released today. To kick off his album release, Slash will be the featured performer at Revolver Golden God Awards with several of his album collaborators making special guest appearances. Slash will also make a series of late night performances with talk show hosts Jay Leno, George Lopez and Craig Ferguson.
Slash TV dates to watch (check local listings):
Focused on delivering the most individual, personal project of his career, Slash enlisted the services of producing partner Eric Valentine (Queens of Stone Age, The All-American Rejects) and compiled a rhythm section of bassist Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction) and drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails). Slash handled the majority of arranging and songwriting duties and hand-picked each guest artist. The album's guests worked collaboratively with Slash to round out the song. Guest musicians include: Ian Astbury; Chris Cornell; Rocco DeLuca; Fergie; Dave Grohl; Myles Kennedy; Kid Rock; Lemmy Kilmister; Adam Levine of Maroon 5; Duff McKagan; M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold; Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop and Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother.
Guitar Center Presents Your Next Record with Slash is just one of many Guitar Center initiatives created to foster growth and success within the music community, including its annual King of the Blues, Drum-Off and On-Stage competitions, among others. Guitar Center's King of the Blues is a nationwide amateur guitar skills competition with the goal of finding the next great undiscovered blues guitar player. As of April 1st, guitarists can sign-up at any of Guitar Center's 214 stores across the country for the chance to compete for thousands of dollars in prizes and the opportunity to perform at the King of the Blues finals at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, and play on the same stage as Grammy Award-winning guitarist Derek Trucks. Drum-Off is an annual drumming competition that, now in its 21st year, has been a launching pad for many drummers, including Cora Coleman-Dunham and Tony Royster Jr, two Drum-Off winners who have gone on to become highly acclaimed professional drummers (with Prince and Jay Z respectively). Guitar Center On-Stage is a musical competition judged by Mötley Crüe. The winning band, The Last Vegas, has since gone on to open for Mötley Crüe on tour and subsequently topped iTunes critics' 2009 "Rock Singles of the Year List" with their hit single "I'm Bad."
They will kick off with headlining the first day of Reading Festival on August 27th. Which will mark the first appearance at this festival. Then two days later they will headline at Leeds Festival on August 29th, closing this festival. GnR played at Leeds Festival back in 2002 as a one of show.
These two shows will be Guns n' Roses only UK appearances this year!
Blink 182 and Arcade Fire will be the other two headliners for this festival. Other bands appearing include Queens of the Stone Age, Paramore, Pendulum, Biffy Clyro, Limp Bizkit and NOFX.
Full line up and information can be found at www.readingfestival.com and www.leedsfestival.com. Tickets are on sale now.
This DVD contains some of the Kinks finest moments and is full of rarely seen performances from the sixties right through to the nineties and also contains comments from the various members of the band including Ray Davies, Dave Davies and Mick Avory.
Some of the performances featured here include You Really Got Me, 'Til The End Of The Day, Waterloo Sunset, Days, Celluloid Heroes and many more including the Dave Davies hit single Death Of A Clown. Footage comes from live concerts and television performances in America, the UK, Germany and Japan.
Of all the British bands that broke through commercially in America who were part of the "British Invasion" of the sixties, one band stood head and shoulders above all the others as being quintessentially English... the Kinks.
Led by Ray Davies and his younger brother Dave Davies, the Kinks burst onto the music scene in 1964 with their ground breaking hit single You Really Got Me. This was the band's third single and it reached number one in the UK singles chart and made the American top ten.
Along with the Davies brothers the band was made up of bassist Pete Quaife and drummer Mick Avory. Originally, like many other aspiring band of the early sixties they were an aspiring rhythm and blues band and their first two singles bear out this claim, although the second single You Still Want Me was the first Kinks single to be written by Ray Davies.
Once the band broke through with You Really Got Me they were off and running and further hit singles followed with All Day And All Of The Night, Tired Of Waiting For You, Set Me Free and A Well Respected Man (all of which were written by Ray Davies, as was the vast majority of the Kinks material) all doing well within the next twelve months. In fact the Kinks were considered one of the biggest bands of the period and Ray Davies, one of the eras more important and highly regarded song writers.
The band continued until mid 1996 and since that time has been inactive as a band with both Ray and Dave Davies releasing solo material. In 2004, Dave Davies suffered a stroke but since that time has made a slow but steady recovery. Ray Davies has also said he is keen to reunite the Kinks and rumours persist that this may happen in 2010.
Link to Purchase: http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=ABCVP130DVD
THE ART OF MALICE is John 5’s 5th album to date and will be released May 11th on 60 Cycle Hum/Rocket Science Ventures.
THE ART OF MALICE exhibits John 5’s incredible diversity as a writer and guitarist pulling from the pages of his life. “It is a completely different vibe than my other albums,” explains John 5. “The title is derived from the saying “kill then with kindness” like taking a good approach to still obtain a dark result.”
The album also further showcases him to be one of the most technically advanced guitarists in the business today. Fans of driving rhythms and ear-catching, over the top, guitar work will keep this in their CD player for months on end. This album has everything that the fans come to expect, chicken pickin, shred, metal and Spanish guitar. The song titles vary as vignettes into John 5’s life, such as the title JW which are John 5’s initials and what his father had called him growing up. Ya Dig comes from working with the master or front-men David Lee Roth and also features Billy Sheehan on bass – “That is Dave’s saying and it fits the music.”
John 5 has created a worldwide following as a widely respected guitarist with such platinum artists as Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth, and Rob Halford and currently Rob Zombie. John 5 has taken his notoriety to the next level with his solo masterpieces that many guitar fans described as “the guitar playing of the new millennium”. John 5’s eclectic influences combine for a truly unique guitar oriented record that once again sets new standards in the genre.
Pre-order THE ART OF MALICE on Amazon here www.amazon.com/Art-Malice-John5/dp/B003CUP8W0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1269022635&sr=1-1
For more information visit www.john-5.com or www.myspace.com/john5official
