Following the release of their long awaited second album ‘III’, the hottest rock & roll band in the world, Chickenfoot, have announced a 5-date UK and European tour for January 2012; their first European concerts since July 2009.
Tickets for the January 2012 European concerts will go on sale from Friday October 14th 2011, further info detailed below, and at www.chickenfoot.us.
Featuring guitar hero Joe Satriani and Van Halen duo, bassist Michael Anthony & frontman Sammy Hagar, Chickenfoot drummer Chad Smith has temporarily handed his sticks over to the legendary drummer/musician Kenny Aronoff, who will join the band for these concerts. Says Joe Satriani, "Kenny brings that same combination of super chops and wild energy to the band that we’re used to; and, offstage, he’s just as crazy as Chad.”
Chickenfoot will perform songs from their gold-selling, eponymous debut album, alongside tracks from the critically acclaimed ‘III’, for the very first time outside of the United States. The European tour kicks off at the Manchester Academy on Thursday January 12th 2012, followed by London’s O2 Academy Brixton (Sat January 14th), Paris Olympia (Monday January 16th), Tilburg 013 (Tuesday January 17th) and Dusseldorf Mitsubishi Electric Hall (Thursday January 19th).
Forty years ago today, the greatest rock band of all-time released the greatest rock album of all-time, Led Zeppelin IV. A powerhouse from the legendary opening vocal intro of “Black Dog” to the final notes of the hypnotic Mississippi blues-infused “When The Levee Breaks,” IV contains eight radio classics including “Rock And Roll,” “The Battle Of Evermore,” “Misty Mountain Hop,” “Four Sticks,” “Going To California,” and, of course, the ultimate rock anthem, “Stairway To Heaven.” “Hats Off” to Jimmy, Robert, John Paul, and John for creating a true work of art that only gets better with age.
Led Zep 4 is truly a rock classic and a must for any music collection.
To coincide with the UK release of Chickenfoot’shighly anticipated second album “III” (Oct 24th) and the recent announcement of two UK concerts in January 2012, this week the band have released a new video for the single “Three and a Half Letters”. Watch the video here – http://bit.ly/nCStEu
On Monday November 7th, world-renowned Australian “fingerstyle” acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, CGP, will release his first ever album of holiday music, All I Want For Christmas (Favoured Nations Entertainment). Emmanuel, honoured as the CMA’s Global Artist this year, co-produced the album with veteran Nashville picker/arranger John Knowles, CGP.
The pair collaborated on new arrangements for nine Yuletide classics including I’ll Be Home For Christmas, The Christmas Song, and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Emmanuel also wrote one original for the collection – “One Christmas Night” – and arranged a second new composition, The Magic Of Christmas Time, by Rick Price, who plays piano on the song.
Award-winning blues rock star, guitar hero and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa and his ace touring band will undertake a major UK arena tour in March 2012. Tickets will go on sale Friday October 7th at 10am from the 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 249 1000, or book online at: www.thegigcartel.com
Fresh off his successful European tour with Black Country Communion, and rave reviews of BCC’s “2″ album, Joe’s forthcoming UK solo tour will see him perform material from his current studio album “Dust Bowl” plus songs from his vast catalogue of albums including A New Day Yesterday, The Ballad of John Henry, Sloe Gin and Black Rock.
To receive a free download of the single ‘Dust Bowl’ from Joe’s most recent album go to the following link – http://bitly.com/joeukproct
Joe will also preview some new songs from his forthcoming studio album due for release in late May 2012.
Joe’s band includes Carmine Rojas (bass), Rick Melick (keyboards) and Tal Bergman (drums).
Following the release of their long awaited second album ‘III’, the hottest rock & roll band in the world, Chickenfoot, have announced a 5-date UK & European tour for January 2012; their first European concerts since July 2009. Including 2 UK concerts in Manchester and London, tickets will go on sale at 9am on Friday October 14th 2011; further info is detailed below, and at www.chickenfoot.us.
Chickenfoot will perform songs from their gold-selling, eponymous debut album, alongside tracks from the critically acclaimed ‘III’, for the very first time outside of the United States. The European tour kicks off at the Manchester Academy on Thursday January 12th, followed by London’s O2 Academy Brixton (Saturday January 14th), Paris Olympia (Monday January 16th), Tilburg O13 (Tuesday January 17th) and Dusseldorf Mitsubishi Electric Hall (Thursday January 19th). Tickets for the 2 UK concerts will be available from www.livenation.co.uk/artist/chickenfoot-tickets.
Nirvana changed the world of music with their release of “Nevermind” on September 24, 1991. Relive the glory of grunge with your choice of several 20th Anniversary Editions. For fans of Nirvana, the super-deluxe edition of “Nevermind” provides the ultimate treasure chest of essential, unheard material. In addition to its four iconic singles – “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Come As You Are,” “Lithim” and “In Bloom” – the 20th Anniversary Edition of “Nevermind” includes rare B-sides and DVD footage from the 1991 Paramount Theatre and Del Mar concert. These rare B-sides are brought back to life with digital remastering on both the 20th Anniversary 2CD Deluxe and 4CD+1DVD Super Deluxe Editions of “Nevermind.”
Nevermind was the second studio album by the US rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group’s first release on DGC Records. Frontman Kurt Cobain sought to make music outside the restrictive confines of the Seattle grunge scene, drawing influence from groups such as the Pixies and their use of song volume dynamics.
Despite low commercial expectations by the band and its record label, Nevermind became a surprise success in late 1991, largely due to the popularity of its first single, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. By January 1992, it had replaced Michael Jackson’s album Dangerous at number one on the Billboard charts. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified the album Diamond (over 10 million copies shipped), and the album has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Nevermind was responsible for bringing alternative rock to a large mainstream audience, and critics subsequently regard it as one of the best rock albums of all time.
You can order an 20th Anniversary Edition of Nevermind, or you can get the original here:
Todd Rundgren, rock and roll icon,guitarist, interactive progenitor, singer-songwriter and record producer, plays the Manchester HMV Ritz on Saturday October 1st. The Manchester date is the first of several UK concerts billed as "An Evening With Todd Rundgren". the shows are described as "The greatest hits tour Todd fans have been waiting to see for years."
Tickets for the Manchester HMV Ritz concert on October 1st are available from the 24 hour ticket hotline: 08700 603 777, www.seetickets.com.Meanwhile, Rundgren’s three night residency at the London Jazz Cafe (October 3-5th) is completely sold out.
These are Rundgren’s first UK dates since 2010′s sold-out London Hammersmith Apollo concert where he performed his 1973 album A Wizard, A True Star.
Rundgren is widely regarded as the godfather of music and multimedia. Having founded and The Nazz,the quintessential `60′s power-pop psychedelic band, in 1969 he left them to pursue a solo career, recording his debut offering, the classic Runt. It was1972′s seminal Something/Anything, on which he played all the instruments, sang all the vocal parts, and acted as his own producer, that catapulted Todd into the superstar limelight.
Among Rundgren’s impressive 50+ production projects are albums by Patti Smith, Cheap Trick,Psychedelic Furs, XTC, Grand Funk Railroad, New York Dolls, Hall & Oates,and Meat Loaf’s multi-platinum debut Bat Out Of Hell.
Following the September 26th release of Beth Hart’s “Don’t Explain” album – a soul covers collaboration with guitarist Joe Bonamassa– she’ll perform two intimate UK concerts in November. The first date will be The Flowerpot, Derby on Monday 28th November, followed by London Dingwalls on Tuesday 29th November. Tickets for both concerts are available from 0845 413 4444, www.seetickets.com, www.ticketline.com and www.alt-tickets.co.uk.
Already a platinum selling solo artist across mainland Europe, Beth’s collaboration with Bonamassa on the Gil Scott-Heron classic, “I’ll Take Care Of You”, was recently BBC Radio 2’s “Record of the Week” and has since been added to the playlist;the “Don’t Explain” album also recently reached #5 on the Amazon UK pre-order chart.
Compared vocally to the likes of Janis Joplin and Etta James, Beth Hart’s November UK concerts will showcase tracks from the new album, including a brilliant rendition of Tom Wait’s “Chocolate Jesus”, as well as songs from her back catalogue such as the emotionally moving “LA Song”.
Produced by Kevin Shirley (John Hiatt, The Black Crowes, Black Country Communion),“Don’t Explain” combines Hart’s raspy and soulful vocals against Bonamassa’s signature guitar sound. The pair collaborate on a stunning collection of hand-picked soul classics from the likes of Delaney & Bonnie, Billie Holiday, and Aretha Franklin. Read the official “Don’t Explain” press release here.
When you have a voice a bit like Klaus Mein, you have a fair shot of climbing the old fame and fortune ladder. So, Tracer front man Michael Brown looks set to position himself as a man to whom you should listen. It doesn’t matter that he can’t play like a Schenker, although he poses with a Flying V quite nicely, because the lads write decent rock songs and perform them with enthusiasm and no little skill.
Based in Adelaide, South Australia, the trio of Michael, his brother Leigh who plays bass and drummer Andre Wise do the riff-rock genre proud with solid, uncomplicated songs that have a certain catchiness about them. Think of the driving, rhythmic feel of the Foo Fighters wrapped around the metallic thunder of the Scorpions and you’ll get close. The solos are short, to the point and derivative, as are the the songs, but despite this, Tracer manage to turn in a sound that works. They’re a rock band for a new generation of guitar heads. Lack of originality is nothing to be sneered at, dozens of bands from Guns n Roses to Pearl Jam via Muse have made massive careers out of it. So, unless you’re a genius, you make the best out of what you have and Tracer have quite a lot thank you.
Their new album: “Spaces In Between” taken as a whole is quite impressive. There’s lots of good, solid guitar rock to be had, nice hooks and bag of riffs to bang your head to. The album opens with “Too Much”. Take a listen to this:
I get the feeling I’ve heard it before somewhere, but it rocks, so who cares? Next up is “Push”, which opens with a pulsing drum beat, then we’re into the riffing. “Push” could have been lifted straight off a Free album in the seventies, Brown even manages to do a Paul Rogers intone in the chorus “It goes on and on…” The pace drops into Doctor-Doctor mode for “Walk Alone” and Brown starts singing like Percy Plant. We get served “Louder than this” after “Walk Alone”. It’s pretty much a blues standard of the kind Deep Purple used to excel when they were in the mood, circa Machine Head. “Devil Ride” takes into grungeland with shades of Nirvana daubed over Motorhead.
The best track on the album is “The Bitch”, which opens with a very promising, undistorted, metronomic riff, which is suddenly subsumed under a wailing voice and crashing guitar, only for it to disappointingly develop into a pretty standard seventies riff, although the chorus brings out a lovely dynamic contrast, which is really why this song is the stand out track on the album. It has a great hook, lots of drama and a sing along tune, with the best guitar solo on offer – it’s almost accomplished. The slide guitar at the end is very nice though and completely unexpected.
“Voice in the rain” nods to Jimi at his most mellow with Paul Rogers singing along. Good stuff if you’re in that bottle of whisky and a quiet cigarette while staring out at the rain type of mood. There’s a great crescendo that descends into a reprise of the opening bars. It’s really quite good.
The title track closes the middle section album. It’s five minutes I’ll never get back. The twee, eastern Indian influenced solo was particularly grating. It’s followed by “Dead inside”, which is a cracker, lots of dynamics, drama and contrasts. “Save my breath” is like “Too much” with a slightly different riff – enjoyable though. “All in my head” takes on a tour of Michael’s soft guitar technique, before it breaks out into a “Wheels of fire” Cream sound-alike – he even does Jack Bruce phrasing, although the chorus breaks out into Foo Fighters yelling. I was moved to think Pete Brown must have had Aussie children. The chorus is really good though.
By time we get to “Won’t let it die” with it’s vibrato guitar, I’m ready for something different, and to be fair to Tracer, they serve it up with aplomb. This is a nice plodder, with a great, sparse sound. Good production can make a song and this one is a great example of good production values making a good song, great.
Overall, this is a good, perhaps very good album, but you’ll enjoy it more if you haven’t listened to everything rock from the sixties to the naughties. Recognising complete rips is not the same as admitting influences and “Spaces in between” tends more towards the latter than the former. Better still, it’s a grower – by time I’d played it three or four times, I was beginning to sing along and by the sixth play I was sold and will probably end up buying my own copy.
Listen if you want high art, then this isn’t the album for you, but if you’re after real good time rock ‘n’ roll with a more than adequate sampling of listenable tunes and the odd sing along, then it might be worth shelling out a few quid.
