Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Dream Theater Announce New Album Title and Track Listing

From their official site:
A Dramatic Turn of Events

1. On the Backs of Angels
2. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
3. Lost Not Forgotten
4. This is the Life
5. The Shaman's Trance
6. Outcry
7. Far From Heaven
8. Breaking All Illusions
9. Beneath The Surface

Stay tuned for more information on www.dreamtheater.net tomorrow morning!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Neil Peart to perform drum solo on Late Show with David Letterman

Ha! This will be fun. All next week, David Letterman is honoring the "drum solo" on his show. Each night (June 6 - 9, 2011) he'll feature a different drummer. Here's the line-up. His show airs on CBS.
Mon - Anton Fig (longtime drummer in Letterman's band)
Tue - Sheila E.
Wed - Roy Haynes
Thu - Neil Peart

--source

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Aqualung - 40th Anniversary: Tour and Steven Wilson Remix



Two items today related to Jethro Tull's "Aqualung" celebrating its 40th anniversary. First, Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree has just announced that he has done a remix of Aqualung for a September release:
Since Ian Anderson has been talking about this, I guess it's now official. I recently completed a brand new mix of Jethro Tull's "Aqualung" for a 40th anniversary edition. As always the remix is super faithful to the original, but with much improved sonic clarity (something that just can't be achieved with remastering). Also remixed for inclusion were many other studio tracks from the 1970-71 period (several previously unreleased), and a 5.1 mix. It should be out on EMI in September. -from his Facebook page

Second, Tull will be taking the album on tour. I will be at the first show on the tour with some friends.
Jethro Tull 'Aqualung' is 40 years old and Ian Anderson is taking the album on the road.

Jethro Tull has announced a 16-show tour of North America on their world trek for "the snotted one's" 40th anniversary.

"The Snotted One" is, of course, Aqualung, Tull's 1971 album that moved them from cult group to FM radio stalwarts.

The LP contained a number of songs that went on to become classic rock standards, including the title song, Hymn 43 and Locomotive Breath, and was the group's first top ten album in the U.S., reaching number 7.

The following are both the North American and European dates for the tour:

06/08 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater
06/10 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
06/11 - Los Angeles, CA - The Greek Theatre
06/12 - Valley Center, CA - Harrah's Rincon
06/13 - Anaheim, CA - Grove of Anaheim
06/14 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
06/16 - Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amphitheater
06/17 - Troutdale, OR - McMenamins Edgefield Concerts
06/18 - Woodinville, WA - Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery]
06/19 - Vancouver, BC - The Centre in Vancouver
06/21 - Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
06/22 - Calgary, AB - Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
06/23 - Regina, SK - Casino Regina-Show Lounge
06/25 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
06/26 - Chicago - Chicago Theater
06/27 - Chicago - Rosemont Theatre
07/14 - Asti, Italy - Piazza Cattedralle
07/15 - Boretto (RE), Italy - Cantiere Arni
07/16 - Brescia, Italy - Piazza della Loggia
07/17 - Cattolica, Italy - Arena La Regina
07/22 - Aanekoski, Finland - Keitelejazz Festival
07/24 - London, England - High Voltage Festival, Victoria Park
07/28 - Hannau, Germany - Amphitheater
07/29 - Seebronn, Germany - Rock of Ages Festival
07/30 - Zitadelle Petersberg, Germany - Erfurt
07/31 - Munich, Germany - Circus Krone

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Roger Waters & David Gilmour on stage together for Comfortably Numb (5/12/2011)

This is incredible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s6P2pkXpG0!

This is Comfortably Numb from Roger Water's recent (5/12/2011) performance of The Wall. On this night only, David Gilmour appears unannounced and performs Comfortably Numb with Waters. The moment the crowd recognizes Gilmour gave me goosebumps. According to Roger, this is 29 years and 329 days since they last performed The Wall in London together. And Nick Mason even appeared on stage at the end show.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Two cool upcoming releases

Saw articles today about two upcoming releases in two completely different genres that I'm excited about. First, great power pop band Fountains of Wayne will release their fifth album in the US on August 2. Second, I heard a few months ago that Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) was doing a 5.1 remix of a classic progressive rock album for its 40th anniversary, but it was being kept a secret. I learned today that it's a 3-disc special edition of Caravan's "In The Land Of Grey And Pink". It comes out June 7 and is available for pre-order here

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Dream Theater Debuts Episode 1 of Drummer Auditions Documentary

Last fall, the music world was shocked when Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater. Portnoy was a founding member and drummer for Dream Theater's first 25 years together. The remaining band members decided to keep going as a band and so, they started the search for a new drummer.

Over a period of three days, seven of the world's top drummers auditioned. The process and auditions were captured on film for a documentary called The Spirit Carries On. Episode 1 (running 20 minutes) is now available on the official YouTube channel of Roadrunner Records.

Say what you will about the commercialism and marketing ploys involved, as a fan of the band, I really enjoyed the video and look forward to the rest of the series.

New Neal Morse Album (Testimony 2) Up For Pre-Order


Multi-instrumentalist, Neal Morse, has pre-orders available for his new album, Testimony 2. The album once again features the drumming of Mike Portnoy and bass-playing of Randy George. Special guests this time around include Neal's former band (that he started with his brother in the 90s), Spock's Beard and also Steve Morse.

So head over here and get your order in (there are various incarnations that include bonus material and even an autobiographical book).

Neal is also launching his biggest tour ever as part of this release, so check out his tour dates at his website.

Ben Folds, Damian Kulash (Ok Go), Amanda Palmer, and Neil Gaiman Started a Music Project Yesterday; Released the Album Today

As part of the Rethink Music conference in Boston, MA, Ben Folds, Damian Kulash (Ok Go), Amanda Palmer, and author Neil Gaiman got together Monday, April 25, 2011 with this challenge: Write and record eight songs in eight hours, put on a concert that same night and then release the album the next day. The project (and band) were dubbed "8in8".

The album is indeed up for sale on bandcamp, you can get it here. I only see six tracks, so perhaps they ran out of time for a full set of eight tracks.

The idea is to get people to rethink the way popular music can be created, published and delivered/disseminated to the public... here is an album from big name artists that has literally circumvented the entire "music industry". Initial proceeds from download-donations are going to berkleecitymusicnetwork.org - a charity which provides kids with every opportunity to see their musical potential.

As for the music itself, vocal duties are shared amongst the artists and the songs are good. There is the sense that this was done quickly... some benefit would come from taking some extra time on nailing the performance in the studio, but that's not the point. So all things considered, the tracks are finely produced and it's great idea!

Gavin Harrison Drumming on Paul Cusick's Next Album

My friend Dave had turned me on to Paul Cusick's first album a little while back and it's good stuff. So this is exciting news: Porcupine Tree's awesome drummer, Gavin Harrison, is laying down some drum tracks for Cusick's next album. Can't wait!

Check out Paul Cusick's web site.