Tuesday, April 27, 2010

New Meat Loaf CD and Tour (No Left-Overs)

MEAT LOAF ANNOUNCES TOUR BEGINNING JULY 3RD IN SUPPORT OF STAR-STUDDED NEW CD; FREE SINGLE DOWNLOADS FROM THE NEW ALBUM WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE IN SELECT MARKETS

NEW YORK, NY—April 26, 2010—Meat Loaf will embark on a summer North American tour beginning July 3rd in support of his star-studded forthcoming album Hang Cool Teddy Bear, it was announced today. Meat Loaf’s new Hang Cool Teddy Bear, whose title was taken from a line in Beyond The Valley of the Dolls, was produced by Rob Cavallo and features guest appearances by Jack Black, Hugh Laurie, Kara DioGuardi, Queen’s Brian May and Steve Vai. The highly anticipated album is due out May 11th from Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records. Free single downloads from the new album will be included in the price of the ticket in select markets. The first single from Hang Cool Teddy Bear, “Like a Rose,” debuted on AOL’s Spinner.com last Friday.

The CD’s theme was inspired by screenwriter/director Kilian Kerwin’s story. A soldier who has been wounded in battle thinks he is going to die. Instead of his life flashing backward at the prospect, his life flashes forward into what could have been. The inter-related songs are the different scenarios he finds himself in. It’s not always the same time or place, but it is always the same woman. The first video, “Los Angeloser,” tells a tale of a bad significant other who takes advantage of a generous lover. (Who hasn’t been there?!)

“I wanted it big, I wanted it dramatic, I wanted a rock record,” Meat Loaf says. “Yes, it sounds like a Meat Loaf record. But it sounds different, too; it sounds new, it sounds fresh. It speaks to you in a different way.”

For Hang Cool Teddy Bear, Meat Loaf’s creativity was sparked by working with a new collaborator, Rob Cavallo, a lifelong Meat Loaf fan who has worked with some of the most explosive names in rock music: Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Paramore and Fleetwood Mac. According to Meat Loaf, “Rob is the number one rock producer in the world because he leaves his ego out of the equation and gives an artist his voice, making it sound better than the artist could even imagine.”

The first leg of the summer 2010 North American tour begins on July 3rd in Gilford, NH at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion. More dates will be announced shortly.

TOUR DATES INCLUDE:
July 3 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook U. S. Cellular Pavilion
July 8 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
July 10 Atlantic City, NJ Atlantic City Hilton
July 12 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
July 14 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
July 16 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
July 18 Hershey, PA Giant Center
July 22 Detroit, MI MotorCity Casino Hotel
July 24 Sault Sainte Marie, MI Kewadin Casino 25th Anniversary Festival

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Viva Las Idols!

This season of American Idol has been nothing but dismal with few bright spots, and although the season is definitely improving as we close in on the winner, tonight’s episode promises to take us further into that dark abyss that is season nine.

The guest mentor this week is last year’s second place finisher Adam Lambert. One has to wonder what the glam rocker has to offer this seasons hopefuls. Adam’s debut album came out at #3 on the Billboard top 200 but lacked the legs to sustain the sales. With his limited professional experience I have to wonder what it is that he has to offer. Perhaps he can channel his inner Elvis.

Wait, did I say Elvis?

Yes, this week’s episode features songs from The King of Rock and Roll. Last week’s episode featuring the songs of Lennon and McCartney proved to be the highlight of the season so far, a week interestingly enough that lacked a mentor.

So in anticipation of tonight I eagerly await Elvis as interpreted by the idols and I pray that it doesn’t end up to be a night of karaoke and bad Elvis imitations… one clue for this year’s idols – make the songs your own.

Unfortunately I don’t see that happening.

Remember, because of the save for Big Mike there are two going home this week.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Welcome to the return of DEVOLUTION

This one comes from the “For What It’s Worth” file.


Welcome to the return of DEVOLUTION.



I received this “communiqué” today:



April 8, 2010


Communiqué #7 – Song Study


Friends and consumers from all walks of life,


The time has finally come.

DEVO Inc., and it's musical division DEVO, are in need of your help.

In an effort to comply with the growing need for appealing sonic products in the mass market, we have officially launched the “Devo Song Study” to collect data regarding which of our current roster of recorded material is most appealing to you, the general public. Of course when we say “the general public” we’re also including members of the music press and media because we want your help as well. As you know, this is an unprecedented move and as this is your album too, we’re counting on you! Currently the band has created 16 new songs, which, at the request of corporate leadership, must be narrowed down to 12 for the official album release.

This interactive test will gauge your exact opinion on matters of musical taste and is the latest technological wrinkle in facilitating DEVO’s ongoing mission to appeal to everybody. We need you, the harrowed content consumer, to determine these final 12 songs. And we assure you that any measured contribution to this cause is time well spent, and enables a freedom of choice that was foretold long ago.

Please participate in the "Devo Song Study" by going online to:


You are the key to a more appealing tomorrow for all of us.

Duty now for the future!















Yes, the boys behind the hit “Whip It” are attempting a comeback and need your help selecting the tracks for their forthcoming CD.

One can only wonder if the red energy domes will be returning with them.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

* review > SLASH BY SLASH

Slash’s new CD, appropriately titled “Slash By Slash” is unlike anything I’ve heard since, uh, 1991. It’s a guitar driven rock and roll rollercoaster ride back to a day when Appetite For Destruction and Use Your Illusion ruled the airwaves.

Imagine if you will that Axl Rose has left Guns and Roses… oh wait, he did, uh, no they broke up but then reformed with only Axl and the guy with the KFC bucket on his head, was that…? Oh never mind… just imagine that Axl was replaced and with the likes of Ozzy, Fergie, Lemmy from Motorhead and about a dozen other a-list rockers. Then imagine that Slash plays better then he ever has, I mean his riffs are just blazing hot and the blues are slow and sweet.

That’s what you got here.

I’ve listened to nothing else for the past two days and I’m not tired of it yet. Slash really crafted an incredible album of quality tracks each tailored and molded to the featured talent without compromise to what is Slash’s unique signature sound.

You must not only listen to this CD you must buy it.

It’s mandatory or Iggy Pop will pee on you (track 14).

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Godfather of Grunge to Tour

For Immediate Release:

NEIL YOUNG TO SET OUT ON TWISTED ROAD TOUR ON MAY 18Th - ROCK ICON WILL PERFORM FIRST SOLO SHOWS IN YEARS.


April 5, 2010 — Burbank, CA — Rock icon Neil Young will hit the road for his first solo concerts in many years on the Twisted Road tour, which begins on May 18th and continues through June 8th. As an even rarer treat for fans, Young will play solo in several of the region’s classic theaters, offering a program of his classic songs along with the special privilege of hearing brand new, as yet unrecorded songs for the first time. British folk legend Bert Jansch will open the shows.

Shows include the Louisville's Palace Theatre on May 26th, Atlanta's Fox Theatre on May 29th, the Spartanburg (S.C.) Memorial Auditorium on May 30th, and Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on June 1st, Please see below for all dates. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, March 27th, at 10 a.m. local time through Ticketmaster outlets. Complete information about the Twisted Road tour's Southern dates is available at www.concertwire.com.

In addition, the concert film Neil Young Trunk Show will be released on Blu-Ray and DVD by Reprise Records later this year. The film is the second in director Jonathan Demme’s planned trilogy about the legendary rocker. Demme also directed the 2006 Young documentary Heart of Gold. Following that film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Rolling Stone called it “an unconscious, raw, in-the-moment concert movie that respects the immediacy of creativity and the creator.” Theatrical screenings are being held across the country this week.

Watch the trailer here: http://www.trunkshowmovie.com

Neil Young’s Twisted Road tour dates are as follows:

Tue May 18 Palace Theatre Albany, NY
Wed May 19 Shea’s Performing Arts Center Buffalo, NY
Fri May 21 Hanover Theatre Worcester, MA
Sun May 23 Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, CT
Mon May 24 Constitution Hall Washington, DC
Wed May 26 Louisville, KY Palace Theatre
Thur May 27 Knoxville Civic Auditorium Knoxville, TN
Sat May 29 Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA
Sun May30 Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium Spartanburg, SC
Tue June 1 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
Wed June 2 Ryman Auditorium Nashville, TN
Fri June 4 Jones Hall Houston, TX
Sat June 5 Bass Performance Hall Austin, TX
Mon June 7 Meyerson Symphony Center Dallas, TX

For more on Neil Young and the ongoing Archives series, please visit www.neilyoung.com.