Bella Lune Release Their Sixth Studio Album “Stardust”, Title Track Music Video

Phoenix-based dreampop/darkwave group Bella Lune just released a new album, titled Stardust, on September 01, 2019. The album features 14 new original songs and is 59 minutes long. The album is a return to original form, with post-punk bass-lines, dreamy guitars, analog synthesizers, violin and ethereal vocals. Stardust is available on bellalune.bandcamp.com now! It will be on Spotify and other online distributors on September 15, 2019.

Several songs on the new album, including “Stardust“, “Charade“, “A Wish” and “Doomed“, have been well-received in clubs and on internet radio recently. Fans of The Cure, Clan of Xymox, Cocteau Twins, The Chameleons, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Drab Majesty and Lebanon Hanover will enjoy this album.

Stardust Tracklist

1. Stardust
2. Out of Time
3. Head in the Sky
4. The Trap
5. Unbearable
6. What’s Next
7. Charade
8. Doomed
9. Nothing Left
10. A Wish
11. How High
12. Games We Play
13. Stuck
14. Within Reach

Bella Lune also just released a music video for the title track,
which is streaming on YouTube!

The CD release party for Stardust will be at Club Shadowplay on September 21, 2019 at Rips Bar in Phoenix, AZ. Fuchsia and Hurley will be doing a post-punk, darkwave, dreampop & alt 80s DJ set at the event.

Biography

Bella Lune is an electronic/darkwave/dreampop band and dark alternative DJ duo that formed in 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. They have performed on three continents and released six full length studio albums. The band incorporates elements of electronic, post-punk, indie, synthpop, trip hop, shoegaze, and ethereal music to create a dreamlike trance throughout their sound. 

Bella Lune Online:

Website | Bandcamp | Facebook
Instagram | YouTube

Featured photo (top) by Jeremiah Toller

Simple Creatures Release New Track, “Thanks, I Hate It”

Los Angeles, CA – Simple Creatures have announced the release of a new single, “Thanks, I Hate It,” today. Stream/download the song HERE.

The track is taken from the band’s forthcoming sophomore EP, Everything Opposite, which is due on Friday, October 11 via BMG. The new effort is now available to pre-order via the following link HERE, and the track listing is as follows:

1. Special
2. One Little Lie
3. Need Me
4. The Wolf
5. NVM
6. Thanks, I Hate It

The group have also recently announced that they’ll be heading to Australia for The Good Things Festival on December 6 (Melbourne), 7 (Sydney), and 8 (Brisbane). Tickets go on sale September 5 and can be purchased HERE.

Simple Creatures Is:

Mark Hoppus
Alex Gaskarth

Simple Creatures Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter 
Instagram | YouTube


Featured photo (top) by Macey J. Foronda



Tool Releases First Album in 13 Years, Fear Inoculum; Announces North American Tour

Los Angeles – Fear Inoculum, Tool’s fifth studio album, and 2019’s most anticipated release, is available now. Listen HERE.

Tool’s Fear Inoculum is a masterpiece to be dissected for years to come.” – Revolver

The news arrives as the band announces a six-week North American tour, launching the trek on Oct. 13 at the Aftershock Festival. Tickets are on-sale Sept. 6 at 10 am local time, with a limited number of tickets will be available to Tool Army members on Sept. 4. Tool Army information, as well as VIP package details, can be found HERE.

Fear Inoculum is a beast of an album” – Consequence of Sound

Fear Inoculum’s release caps off over a decade of speculation and anticipation, with confirmation of the release arriving in May as the band flashed “August 30” from the stage as they performed two new songs: “Descending” and “Invincible.”

absolutely gobsmacking” – Kerrang!

As August arrived, Tool released their back catalog via digital service providers, seeing Opiate, Undertow, Ænima, Lateralus and 10,000 Days rack up in excess of 20 million streams in the subsequent 48 hours and occupy the top five spots on iTunes’ Top 10 Album Charts. 23 years after its initial release, Ænima re-entered Billboard’s Top 200, arriving at #10, with Lateralus (#16), 10,000 Days (#18) and Undertow (#19) landing in the Top 20. Tool’s debut release, 1992’s Opiate EP, made its Billboard chart premiere, arrived at #59. The band also broke records that week: taking four of the top five spots on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart (the first act to achieve that feat upon digital release) and claiming 15 (of 25) spots on Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart.

A languid and blissful work.5 Stars NME

The title track arrived as details surrounding the collection surfaced, including a limited-edition CD version of Fear Inoculum. The collectible offering, which was conceived by and directed by Adam Jones, features a 4” HD rechargeable screen with exclusive video footage, charging cable, 2 watt speaker, a 36-page booklet and a digital download card. A list of retailers who have remaining stock of the groundbreaking package can be found HERE. A vinyl release will be announced soon.

TOOL’s Fear Inoculum is a transcendent return” – SPIN

Tool Fear Inoculum Cover
Fear Inoculum Cover

Tool North American Tour Dates:

October 13 Sacramento, CA Aftershock Festival
October 15 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
October 18 Salt Lake City, UT Vivint Smart Home Arena
October 20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
October 21 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
October 23 Glendale, AZ Gila River Arena
October 25 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
October 27 Houston, TX Toyota Center
October 29 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
October 31 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum
November 2 Indianapolis, IN Banker’s Life Fieldhouse
November 3 Chicago, IL United Center
November 5 Cincinnati, OH US Bank Arena
November 6 Cleveland, OH Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
November 8 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena
November 9 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
November 11 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
November 12 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
November 14 Boston, MA TD Garden
November 16 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
November 18 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
November 19 Brooklyn, NY Barclay’s Center
November 21 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino Arena
November 22 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
November 24 Raleigh, NC PNC Arena
November 25 Washington, DC Capitol One Arena

Tool formed in 1990, releasing four multi-platinum studio albums: Undertow (1993), Ænima (1996), Lateralus (2001) and 10,000 Days (2006); two EPs: 72826 (1991) and Opiate (1992) and the limited-edition boxset Salival (2000). The band has won three GRAMMY Awards®: Best Metal Performance (1998, “Ænima”), Best Metal Performance (2002, “Schism”) and Best Recording Package (2007, 10,000 Days).

Tool Is:

Danny Carey (drums)
Justin Chancellor (bass)
Adam Jones (guitar)
Maynard James Keenan (vocals)

Tool Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


Featured photo (top) by Travis Shinn



The Faim Share “Humans” Music Video

Los Angeles, CA – In anticipation of their long-awaited debut album, State of Mind, The Faim have unveiled the official music video for lead single, “Humans,” today. The cinematic offering dives into the world of science fiction while also highlighting a visually stunning band performance. The video follows the four-piece as they’re taken captive by a government organization and subjected to tests to determine if they are human or android. To escape, they’ll need the help of someone who’s more than human…watch all the action unfold HERE.

“Creating the music video for our latest single, ‘Humans,’ was our favorite shoot to date,” says Stephen Beerkens (bass/keys). “We worked with an amazing team in Los Angeles, who helped capture the entire video in just one day. The concept represents us searching for both our differences and the things we have in common, which also encapsulates the essence of the song: what it means to be human,” he explains.

Following the release of last year’s debut EP, Summer Is a Curse, The Faim wasted no time creating music for their first full-length effort, State of Mind, due on September 13 via BMG. The album includes eight brand new tracks in addition to previously-released singles, “Summer Is a Curse” and “Amelie.” If you were able to catch The Faim on tour in the U.S. earlier this year, you may have also heard them play “Beautiful Drama” and “Infamous,” two additional fan favorites on the record. The complete track listing can be found below. The Faim will also be unveiling more new music soon in advance of the album release. In the meantime, stream “HumansHERE, and pre-save State of Mind HERE.

The Faim will be returning to the U.S. this fall for a massive co-headline tour with fellow Aussie group, Stand Atlantic. Live Nation’s Ones To Watch and The Noise will present the entire run of dates (25 cities nationwide), which launches on September 17 in Houston, TX. The trek continues to build on the quartet’s global touring momentum, where they’ve sold out their own headline shows, played major European festival staples, and supported the likes of PVRIS, Andy Black, Sleeping With Sirens, and more. Tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased on The Faim’s website HERE. A full list of dates is also included below.

State of Mind Track Listing:

1. Tongue Tied
2. Humans
3. Summer Is a Curse
4. Beautiful Drama
5. Buying Time
6. Infamous
7. Amelie
8. Words Apart
9. Where the River Runs
10. State of Mind

The Faim & Stand Atlantic U.S. Tour Dates:

9/17 – Houston, TX @ HOB Bronze Peacock
9/18 – Dallas, TX @ HOB Cambridge Room
9/20 – Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
9/21 – Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
9/22 – Jacksonville, FL @ 1904
9/24 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
9/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Rex Theater
9/26 – Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
9/28 – Boston, MA @ Once Ballroom
9/29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Voltage Lounge
10/1 – Detroit, MI @ The Shelter
10/2 – Cleveland, OH @ The Foundry
10/4 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hoosier Dome
10/5 – St. Louis, MO @ Fubar
10/6 – Chicago, IL @ Chop Shop
10/7 – St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall
10/9 – Denver, CO @ Marquis
10/10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Complex
10/12 – Seattle, WA @ The Vera
10/13 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
10/14 – Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver
10/16 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
10/17 – San Diego, CA @ Soma
10/18 – Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
10/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo

The Faim Is:

Josh Raven / Lead vocals
Sam Tye / Guitar
Stephen Beerkens / Bass, keyboard
Linden Marissen / Drums, percussion

The Faim Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter
Instagram | YouTube

Summer Is a Curse EP – Stream and Download:

Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon | Pandora
Google Play | Deezer | TIDAL



Featured photo (top) by Michelle Grace Hunder



REVIEW: Ringo — An All Starr Band Lead by a True Starr at Celebrity Theatre (8-26-19)

Phoenix, AZ — On June 26 of this year, Sir Paul McCartney brought an evening of legendary music to Talking Stick Resort Arena. Exactly two months later, Ringo Starr became the second Beatle to grace the stages of Arizona. This is the 30-year anniversary of this touring rock supergroup, Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, with a shifting lineup that has included legends such as Joe Walsh, Todd Rungren, Clarence Clemons, Peter Frampton, John Entwhistle, and so many more (see list below). Starr is really the only constant member.

This year’s line up is no exception to Starr’s history of building a stellar lineup:

  • The dueling guitarists were the unlikely pairing of Steve Lukather (Toto) and Colin Hay (Men At Work). These two master songwriters brought along their biggest hits to add to the already incredible setlist. Fans were treated to Toto’s “Rosanna”, “Africa”, and “Hold The Line” and Men At Work’s “Down Under”, “Overkill”, and of course “Who Can It Be Now.”
  • On the Hammond organ was none other than Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey) who chipped in the classic Santana songs “Evil Ways”, “Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen”, and “Oye Como Va”, but unfortunately nothing from his days with Journey.
  • Bassist Hamish Stuart (Average White Band) was back after his stint in the lineup from 2006 to 2008. He switched over to guitar when the band dove into the Average White Band standards “Pick Up The Pieces” and “Cut The Cake.”
  • Gregg Bissonette on drums and Warren Ham on… well, everything else (saxophone, flute, keyboards, percussion, etc.) rounded out the lineup. Both have toured extensively with major recording acts, such as Bissonette’s time with “Diamond” David Lee Roth during the “Eat ‘Em And Smile” era, and Ham’s contributions to Kansas and Toto (now that’s an ironic combo of band names).
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band
| Photographer:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

All that talent on the revolving stage of the Celebrity Theater culminated in the focal point of the evening; a man who’s former band is arguably the most famous band in the history of rock & roll. And yes, Starr brought a few songs to the setlist from his days with the Fab Four, starting with the only song credited to Lennon–McCartney–Starkey, “What Goes On.” Ringo Starr is the stage name of Sir Richard Starkey, knighted by Prince William on March 20, 2018. The two most popular Beatles songs that featured Starr’s voice where the whimsical “Yellow Submarine” and the song he sang in the guise of the one-and-only Billy Shears, “With A Little Help From My Friends.”

Ringo Starr
| Photographer:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Starr’s credentials make him a legendary musician, but he seemed very unassuming. There was no fabricated swagger or false bravado in his delivery. He was reverent of the talent of his bandmates while clearly letting loose to have fun on stage.  Even his attire hinted at high fashion with a jacket and black leather pants, but they were offset by a pair of comfortable sneakers and a rhinestone shirt that said “Peace Rocks”. The peace sign proved to be a prevalent theme throughout the show, from holding up the hand sign for peace to wearing peace necklaces. Starr looked spry and healthy wearing his signature sunglasses and sporting the kempt beard and mustache.  Though he is 79 years old, there was nothing lethargic or geriatric about this performance. It was quite the opposite: an energetic and youthful performance from start to finish.

Ringo Starr (Vocalist), Hamish Stuart (Bassist), Steve Lukather (Guitarist) –
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band
Photographer:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Although there are some Ringo Starr hits embroidered in the fabric of our collective memory, it takes a show like this to remind us of just how many there have been. Eight songs from his solo career broke the top 10 in the US charts and two hit number one (“You’re Sixteen” and “Photograph”). Between 1970 and 2017, Ringo has released 19 solo studio records. The second song of the set started the audience down memory lane with “It Don’t Come Easy” from the 1975 album Blast From Your Past.

Gregg Rolie (Keyboardist, Vocalist), Steve Lukather (Guitarist, Vocalist), Ringo Starr (Vocalist, Drummer) –
Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band
Photographer:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Starr shared the spotlight and lead vocal duties with the singers that made their respective songs famous. It was like a karaoke dream where everyone sounded exactly like the record. One highlight was hearing Rolie breathing life into “Black Magic Woman,” and then hearing Lukather shredding on the soulful solos of Carlos Santana, was magical. As the song transitioned to “Gypsy Queen”, it was Gregg Bissonette’s turn to shine as he vamped on the drumset.

A majority of the crowd were old enough to remember the quirky videos of Men At Work on MTV’s heavy rotation in the early 80’s. There were possibly a handful of people that didn’t recognize Colin Hay playing guitar on stage, but everyone recognized that distinctive voice singing “I come from the land down under,” Ham obviously broke out the flute to play the infectious solo on “Down Under” and then later in the show played the famous sax line on “Who Can It Be Now.”

Steve Lukather (Guitarist), Warren Ham (Saxophone), Ringo Starr (Vocalist) –
Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band
Photographer:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

While out of the spotlight, Starr was still an archetypal presence as he rose to his drum throne and commandeered the instrument that he is best known for. The bass drum of his Ludwig drum kit that once sported The Beatles logo, now has a symbolic star and lotus flower logo, presumably in support of the Ringo Starr Art Lotus Foundation.

Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drumkit
| Photographer:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Being the drummer in the back typically garners less notoriety, especially when you’re standing on the shoulders of giants like Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison. But throughout his career, he has received 9 Grammys, and has twice been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first as a Beatle and then as a solo artist. Starr played in perfect synchronicity with Bissonette and reminded all of the musicians in the room why he is considered by many to be included in the category of best rock drummer of all time.

Ringo Starr
| Photographer:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

The wonderful evening of hit music was capped off with a resounding message of peace when Ringo and the boys joined in on the anthem “Give Peace A Chance,” the anti-war chant that John Lennon and Yoko Ono voiced 50 years ago from room 1742 that still needs to be heard today.

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Mark Greenawalt

Setlist for the Evening

  • Matchbox (Carl Perkins)
  • It Don’t Come Easy (Ringo Starr)
  • What Goes On (The Beatles)
  • Evil Ways (Willie Bobo with Gregg Rolie)
  • Rosanna (Toto with Steve Lukather)
  • Pick Up the Pieces (Average White Band with Hamish Stuart)
  • Down Under (Men at Work with Colin Hay)
  • Boys (The Shirelles)
  • Don’t Pass Me By (The Beatles)
  • Yellow Submarine (The Beatles with ‘Day Tripper’ tease intro by Steve Lukather)
  • Cut the Cake (Average White Band with Hamish Stuart)
  • Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen (with Gregg Rolie)
  • You’re Sixteen (Johnny Burnette)
  • Anthem (Ringo Starr)
  • Overkill (Men at Work with Colin Hay)
  • Africa (Toto with Steve Lukather)
  • Work to Do (The Isley Brothers with Hamish Stuart)
  • Oye como va (Tito Puente with Gregg Rolie)
  • I Wanna Be Your Man (The Beatles)
  • Who Can It Be Now? (Men at Work with Colin Hay)
  • Hold the Line (Toto with Steve Lukather)
  • Photograph (Ringo Starr)
  • Act Naturally (Buck Owens)
  • With a Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles with ‘Give Peace a Chance’ by Plastic Ono Band chorus at the end)

Back to Top

All Starr Band Alumni

  • Joe Walsh (1989-1992, various guest appearances from 1992 onwards)
  • Nils Lofgren (1989-1992, opening act for various 1995 shows and made a guest appearance in 2013)
  • Dr. John (1989, guest appearance in 2008)
  • Billy Preston (1989, 1995)
  • Rick Danko (1989)
  • Levon Helm (1989, guest appearance in 2008)
  • Clarence Clemons (1989)
  • Jim Keltner (1989, guest appearance in 2010)
  • Todd Rundgren (1992, 1999, 2012-2016)
  • Dave Edmunds (1992, 2000)
  • Burton Cummings (1992)
  • Timothy B. Schmit (1992, guest appearance in 1997)
  • Zak Starkey (1992-1995, guest appearance in 1989 and 2010)
  • Timmy Cappello (1992, 1999)
  • Randy Bachman (1995)
  • Mark Farner (1995, guest appearance in 1997)
  • Felix Cavaliere (1995)
  • John Entwistle (1995)
  • Mark Rivera (1995-2003, 2012-2013, guest appearance in 2011)
  • Peter Frampton (1997-1998)
  • Gary Brooker (1997-1999)
  • Jack Bruce (1997-2000)
  • Simon Kirke (1997-2000, guest appearance in 2003)
  • Scott Gordon (1998)
  • Eric Carmen (2000)
  • Roger Hodgson (2001)
  • Ian Hunter (2001)
  • Howard Jones (2001)
  • Greg Lake (2001)
  • Sheila Escovedo (2001-2006)
  • Colin Hay (2003, 2008)
  • Paul Carrack (2003)
  • John Waite (2003)
  • Billy Squier (2006-2008, guest appearance in 2014)
  • Richard Marx (2006)
  • Edgar Winter (2006-2011)
  • Rod Argent (2006)
  • Hamish Stuart (2006-2008)
  • Gary Wright (2008-2011)
  • Gregg Bissonette (2008-present)
  • Wally Palmar (2010)
  • Rick Derringer (2010)
  • Richard Page (2010-present)
  • Steve Lukather (2012-present)
  • Gregg Rolie (2012-present)
  • Warren Ham (2012-present)

Photography © Mark Greenawalt. All Rights Reserved

REVIEW: CMA Songwriters Series — An Intimate Evening of Songs & Stories From Top Songwriters at Mesa Arts Center (8-21-19)

Mesa, AZ — Songwriters doing “rounds” is a staple in the Nashville music scene, but it is a rare treat to the Metro Phoenix area. The CMA Songwriters Series launched in 2005 and has brought a little of that Music City culture to cities all over the world. The CMA website claims that the series has featured nearly 200 gifted storytellers who collectively have 100 CMA Song of the Year nominations. The 2019 season show that graced the intimate Piper Theater stage at the Mesa Arts Center was a stellar all-female cast.

Leading off the rounds was Liz Rose, who also acted as the MC for the evening. She has one of those 100 CMA Song of the Year nominations mentioned above for co-writing Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” (which just so happened to also win the category). 

Liz Rose
| Photographer:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Rose introduced the other songwriters; Mickey Guyton, Ingrid Andress, Jillian Jacqueline, and Marti Lynn Dodson, and then kicked off the music with a song that she wrote with “a little girl named Taylor”. The song was the Grammy Award winning “White Horse”, and of course the little girl was Taylor Swift.

Mickey Guyton | Photographer: Mark Greenawalt
© All Rights Reserved

Batting second, Texas native Mickey Guyton launched into her latest release, “Sister” (Capitol Records Nashville). Guyton has a powerful and alluring voice and an incredible knack for writing relatable songs. Her energy and emotions were on full display as her face lit up hearing great hooks, and as her tears fell after hearing Rose singing the emotional “When You’re My Age”.

An audience favorite was her new song, “Rosé” that was a fun drinking song for a more sophisticated palate. The ladies shared the fact that their drinks on stage were not exactly just water, which added to the vivacious atmosphere.

Ingrid Andress | Photographer: Mark Greenawalt
© All Rights Reserved

Rose and Guyton were accompanied by a guest acoustic guitarist, the sole male sitting upstage of the main line up. Ingrid Andress, however, was playing her Nord Stage 3 keyboard for her own piano accompaniment. Andress has writing credits with Sam Hunt and Alicia Keys, but it was obvious that she has that special style and presence to be a star in her own right. Her lyrics are fresh and honest and cater to her generation more than most modern country songs. Andress shared the stories behind “We’re Not Friends” and “Both”, each song being unique and candidates for crossover audiences. On the other hand, she proved that she has a firm foundation in country songwriting too as she played “More Hearts Than Mine”, her first single released after being signed to Atlantic Records / Warner Music Nashville.

Next up was Jillian Jacqueline who poured her heart and her angelic voice into each of her songs. It is so interesting to hear the stories behind the songs. Jacqueline shared the entertaining story of sitting on the floor at Keith Urban’s house working on “If I Were You”, a song on which he sang harmonies and played guitar.

Jillian Jacqueline
| Photographer:
Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Her well crafted lyrics on songs like “Sad Girls” and “Hate Me” brought the “feels” to room.  Jacqueline commanded everyone’s undivided attention with the stripped down sound of her voice and her Gibson acoustic guitar, the ideal definition of a singer/songwriter.

Marti Lynn Dodson | Photographer: Mark Greenawalt
© All Rights Reserved

Rounding out the lineup, wearing a beautiful flowing dress and stunning red shoes, was Marti Lynn Dodson who founded and fronted the band Saving Jane. Among her song selections was the Saving Jane hit “Girl Next Door” which had fans of the song tapping their feet and singing along. Dodson played an Epiphone acoustic guitar that sounded amazing.

Tucson Musicians Hall of Fame inductee, LeeAnne Savage was in the audience and is a long-time fan of Dodson. Savage noted, “The song “Cheerleader” was one of my favorite bops of 2000, however her song “Quarterback” takes the listener on a journey involving date rape, social media bullying, and the imbalance of power between victim and perpetrator. Great songwriters hold up a mirror to society in an effort to create dialogue around difficult topics. This song does just that.

There were plenty of songwriters in the audience that were basking in the glow of this group of women who have honed their craft and found success in a very tough field. Songwriter Angel Pizarro said, “I loved the experience of being so close to songwriting greatness along with the feel of being at a friend’s living room; and as a songwriter I appreciated the value of being there, learning while being entertained.  I’ll never forget this evening!

Setlist for the Evening

  • Liz Rose – “White Horse” (recorded by Taylor Swift)
  • Mickey Guyton – “Sister”
  • Ingrid Andress – “We’re Not Friends”
  • Jillian Jacqueline – “Hate Me”
  • Marti Lynn Dodson – “Breakers” (recorded by Thompson Square)
  • Liz Rose – “When You’re My Age”
  • Mickey Guyton – “Brand New”
  • Ingrid Andress – “Both”
  • Jillian Jacqueline – “If I Were You” (recorded by Jillian Jacqueline feat. Keith Urban)
  • Marti Lynn Dodson – “Quarterback” (recorded by Kira Isabella)
  • Bailey Claywell (student songwriter) – “I Will Rise”
  • Liz Rose – “You Belong With Me” (recorded by Taylor Swift)
  • Lourde Childs (student songwriter) – “Faithful”
  • Mickey Guyton – “Rosé”
  • Ingrid Andress – “Lady Like”
  • Jillian Jacqueline – “Sad Girls”
  • Marti Lynn Dodson – “Girl Next Door” (recorded by Saving Jane)
  • Liz Rose – “Girl Crush” (recorded by Little Big Town)
  • Mickey Guyton – “Better Than You Left Me”
  • Ingrid Andress – “More Hearts Than Mine”
  • Jillian Jacqueline – “God Bless This Mess”
  • Marti Lynn Dodson – “Things I’ll Miss”

The touring group of ladies and the sponsor US Bank made a stop earlier in the day to visit with the teachers and students at The Phoenix Conservatory of Music (PCM) and give a master class in songwriting. The visit was part of U.S. Bank’s Community Possible giving and engagement platform and its Places to Play partnership with the CMA Foundation. Many of the students and teachers came out to attend the show and two exceptional students were even granted the opportunity to share the stage and play their original songs. Bailey Claywell was accompanied by keyboard player Michael Rodriguez as she sang their original song, and later Lourde Childs brought the house down, singing and playing guitar on his original.  The students received a well-earned standing ovation.

Bailey Claywell (right), Michael Rodriguez (left)
Photographer:
Mark Greenawalt
© All Rights Reserved

Each of the featured writers were able to play four of their songs as they took turns showcasing their personal favorites. The highest energy and audience engagement occurred as Liz Rose sang her second Taylor Swift song of the evening, “You Belong To Me”. Everyone in the room, on-stage and off-stage, was singing along to the infectious chorus.  One especially enthusiastic fan of the song was even pulled out of the audience to come up and sing on stage with the group.

It was a great evening with a diverse array of songs from some truly gifted songwriters. As the end of the evening approached each writer saved their best song for their last round as they each said their good-byes. 

Jon Iger, the President of the Arizona Songwriters Association, was in attendance and had this message for CMA Songwriting Series participants:

“Thank you ladies of CMA for a very inspiring day! A day of amazing writing and performing talent! The same goes for the PCM students!  We (Arizona Songwriters Association) have worked on several events with PCM, and they are doing outstanding work with their students and the music community!  And being a long time member of CMA, I know the great work they continue to do with schools! Hope to see you again real soon!”

Dan & Glenda Paradee, Thanks for the Music News;
Rhonda Hitchcock-Mast, Chicks with Picks;
Jon Iger, Arizona Songwriters Assn.

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Mark Greenawalt

Setlist for the Evening

  • Liz Rose – “White Horse” (recorded by Taylor Swift)
  • Mickey Guyton – “Sister”
  • Ingrid Andress – “We’re Not Friends”
  • Jillian Jacqueline – “Hate Me”
  • Marti Lynn Dodson – “Breakers” (recorded by Thompson Square)
  • Liz Rose – “When You’re My Age”
  • Mickey Guyton – “Brand New”
  • Ingrid Andress – “Both”
  • Jillian Jacqueline – “If I Were You” (recorded by Jillian Jacqueline feat. Keith Urban)
  • Marti Lynn Dodson – “Quarterback” (recorded by Kira Isabella)
  • Bailey Claywell (student songwriter) – “I Will Rise”
  • Liz Rose – “You Belong With Me” (recorded by Taylor Swift)
  • Lourde Childs (student songwriter) – “Faithful”
  • Mickey Guyton – “Rosé”
  • Ingrid Andress – “Lady Like”
  • Jillian Jacqueline – “Sad Girls”
  • Marti Lynn Dodson – “Girl Next Door” (recorded by Saving Jane)
  • Liz Rose – “Girl Crush” (recorded by Little Big Town)
  • Mickey Guyton – “Better Than You Left Me”
  • Ingrid Andress – “More Hearts Than Mine”
  • Jillian Jacqueline – “God Bless This Mess”
  • Marti Lynn Dodson – “Things I’ll Miss”

Photography © Mark Greenawalt. All Rights Reserved

Mike Patton and French Composer Jean-Claude Vannier Share The Track “Browning”

Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mondo Cane) and renowned French composer Jean-Claude Vannier, share the final glimpse into their new album by way of the album track “Browning” ahead of the release of Corpse Flower (Ipecac Recordings, Sept 13). Listen to “BrowningHERE.

Patton and Vannier prove to be a perfect match.” – 8/10 UNCUT

A variety of musicians, both in Los Angeles and Paris, took part in the recording of Corpse Flower with the Los Angeles team including Smokey Hormel (Beck, Johnny Cash), Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, Air, Nine Inch Nails) and James Gadson (Beck, Jamie Lidell). The Parisian players are Denys Lable, Bernard Paganotti (Magma), Daniel Ciampolini, Didier Malherbe, Léonard Le Cloarec and the Bécon Palace String Ensemble. The lyrics for “Ballad C.3.3.” are drawn from Oscar Wilde’s “The Ballad of Reading Gaol” poem, which was initially published using the name C.3.3.

Corpse Flower is available now for pre-orders HERE, including special embossed versions featuring Kenro Izu’s stunning cover photo. The album will be available on 180gram colored vinyl, a CD digipak and digitally.

With seemingly no end of ambrosial atmospherics and devilish sense of humour, Corpse Flower is sophisticated, adventurous pop music. Seductive and opulent, it also delights in being crass. As proud of its stench as it is of its blooms, the record is perfectly framed.” – 5* RECORD COLLECTOR

Corpse Flower Track List:

Ballade C.3.3
Camion
Chansons D’Amour
Cold Sun Warm Beer
Browning
Hungry Ghost
Corpse Flower
Insolubles
On Top Of The World
Yard Bull
A Schoolgirl’s Day
Pink and Bleue

Mike Patton’s resume is virtually limitless, having kicked off his musical career as a teenager in the band Mr. Bungle, joining Faith No More in 1989 and going on to create a smorgasbord of bands and solo releases including Fantômas, Tomahawk, Mondo Cane, Dead Cross, Lovage and Peeping Tom. Jean-Claude Vannier, born in Paris during World War II, The Guardian dubbed him “the sound sculptor in Serge Gainsbourg’s shadow,” referencing his extensive work with the French musician including Histoire de Melody Nelson. His career has spanned nine solo records, countless contributions to film and TV scores, and his influence has been cited by numerous musicians including Beck, Pulse, Portishead, Massive Attack, Air and Tricky.

Mike Patton shall be performing two Mondo Cane shows in Italy during the summer – dates and details below.

Mondo Cane Live Dates:

Aug. 31 – Prato, Italy @ Prato Piazza Duomo
Sept. 2 – Milan, Italy @ Teatre degli Arcmboldi

Mike Patton Online:

Facebook

Featured photo (top), Corpse Flower cover by Kenro Izu



Monolord Release “The Last Leaf” Video via COS

Gothenburg, Sweden – Monolord, who recently announced their anticipated Relapse Records’ debut, No Comfort (Sept. 20, Relapse Records), share a second track from the forthcoming album, debuting the video for “The Last Leaf” via Consequence of Sound’s Heavy Consequence HERE.

“We’re thrilled to work with the brilliantly talented Björn Rallare on this video,” said the band, collectively. “He’s aced the difficult challenge of capturing the post-apocalyptic and apathetic atmosphere of the song. Hope you like it as much as we do.”

Monolord previously shared the nine-and-a-half-minute song “The Bastard Son,” which was met with widespread praise. MetalSucks described the track as featuring: “thunderous, fuzzed out guitar and bass in glorious, brick walled lockstep” and “Sabbathian vocals” while Metal Injection said it’s “chunky-as-all-hell.” Both “The Bastard Son” and “The Last Leaf” are available as instant downloads with album pre-orders. Watch “The Bastard SonHERE.

No Comfort pre-orders are on-sale now, with several limited-edition vinyl variants, including a Relapse.com exclusive in partnership with Orange Amps, available. The Orange Amps/Relapse offering is limited to 100 copies and features the actual material used to wrap Orange Amps, with the album itself being pressed on neon orange vinyl. The set also includes an exclusive two-sided Orange Amps inspired t-shirt and guitar pick set. To view the various CD/2xLP/CS/Digital offerings, click HERE.

Monolord Tour Dates:

Sep 6-8 Sao Paulo, BR Setembro Negro Festival

All Headline EU Dates Sep 28 – Oct 26 w/ Firebreather

Sep 28 London, UK The Garage (w/ Ufomammut)
Sep 29 Sheffield, UK HRH Doom V Stoner
Sep 30 Bournemouth, UK The Anvil
Oct 1 Utrecht, NL De Helling
Oct 2 Brussels, BE Magasin 4
Oct 3 Pratteln, CH Up In Smoke Festival
Oct 4 Reims, FR La Cartonnerie
Oct 5 Paris, FR Saturday Mud Fever Festival
Oct 7 Dortmund, DE Junkyard
Oct 8 Nuremberg, DE B-Zau
Oct 9 Cologne, DE Helios 37
Oct 10 Mainz, DE Schon Schon
Oct 11 Hamburg, DE Molotow
Oct 16 Oslo, NO John dee
Oct 17 Gothenburg, SE Sticky Fingers
Oct 18 Malmo, SE Babel
Oct 23 Linkoping, SE The Crypt
Oct 24 Stockholm, SE Close Up Baten
Oct 25 Tampere, FI Olympia
Oct 26 Helsinki, FI Nosturi

All Headline US Dates Nov 4 – 27 w/ Blackwater Holylight

Nov 5 San Diego, CA Brick by Brick
Nov 6 Tucson, AZ Club Congress
Nov 7 Albuquerque, NM Sister
Nov 8 Dallas, TX Gas Monkey
Nov 9 Austin, TX Levitation x Relapse Showcase
Nov 10 Lafayette, LA Freetown Boom Boom Room
Nov 11 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks
Nov 12 Atlanta, GA The 529
Nov 13 Asheville, NC Mothlight
Nov 14 Richmond, VA Camel
Nov 15 Baltimore, MD Metro Gallery
Nov 16 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
Nov 17 Brooklyn, NY Saint Vitus
Nov 20 Chicago, IL Reggies
Nov 21 Indianapolis, IN Black Circle
Nov 22 St. Louis, MO Fubar
Nov 23 Lawrence, KS Bottleneck
Nov 25 Denver, CO Marquis
Nov 27 Los Angeles, CA Teragram Ballroom

The band released their debut album, Empress Rising in 2014, with full-length albums Vænir arriving in 2015 and Rust following in 2017. In the years since their inception, they’ve become one of heavy music’s rising stars, with much-chattered about performances at Roadburn, Desertfest and Psycho Las Vegas.

Monolord Is:

Thomas Jäger – vocals/guitar
Esben Willems – drums
Mika Häkki – bass

Monolord Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Featured photo (top) by Ester Segarra


CHEVELLE Announces Intimate Headline Dates and Festival Appearances

On the heels of the current massive amphitheater tour with Breaking Benjamin, multi-platinum alternative rock band CHEVELLE has announced two intimate headline shows and two festival appearances on the West Coast this fall. 

CHEVELLE will perform at the Aftershock Festival in Sacramento on October 13, followed by headline shows at the Riverside Auditorium in Riverside, CA, and San Diego’s House of Blues on October 15 and 16. Aeges will support CHEVELLE on both headline dates. The trio will then head to the Las Rageous Festival in Las Vegas on October 19. 

Tickets will be available Friday, August 23, 2019 @ 10:00 AM Local Time.

Since the release of their full-length debut Point #1 in 1999, CHEVELLE have stood at the forefront of hard rock, consistently evolving and progressing while delivering a series of ubiquitous and inescapable anthems. 2002’s breakout Wonder What’s Next would go platinum, yielding smashes such as “The Red” and “Send the Pain Below, while its follow-up This Type of Thinking Could Do Us In reached gold status. In 2011, Hats Off to the Bull landed at #9 on the Billboard Top 200 and delivered “Face to the Floor. La Gárgola crashed into the Top 5 at #3 and boasted “Take Out the Gunman.” 2016’s The North Corridor represented new heights for the group, marking its fourth Top 10 bow on the Billboard Top 200.

CHEVELLE’s Latest Release, 12 Bloody Spies: B-Sides and Rarities, Out Now

Last fall, CHEVELLE released 12 Bloody Spies: B-Sides and Rarities – a comprehensive compilation of sought-after B-Sides and rarities. The album contains music from 2002-2016, spanning their acclaimed career and remastered on one brand new collection for the very first time. Get it HERE! One of the most creatively fearless bands in hard rock, CHEVELLE‘s 12 Bloody Spies: B-Sides and Rarities reveals a treasure trove of under-the-radar ‘finds’ and hidden gems, as well as other enlightening musical detours that deserve to be considered alongside CHEVELLE‘s incomparable body of work. 

The Chicago natives also recently teamed up with acclaimed hometown brewery Revolution Brewing for an exclusive craft beer collaboration. The beer, dubbed La Gargola, is a classic German-style Helles Lager and the band’s first brewer collaboration. 

CHEVELLE is currently touring with Breaking BenjaminThree Days Grace, Dorothy, and Diamante. Tickets are on sale via www.LiveNation.com. Remaining dates are below. 

Chevelle Tour Dates with Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace,
Dorothy and Diamante*:

8/21 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre
8/22 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
8/24 – Syracuse, NY @ St. Joseph’s Amphitheater at Lakeview
8/25 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
8/28 – Bangor, ME @ Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
8/30 – Gilford, NH @ Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
8/31 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
9/4 – Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/6 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart Amphitheater – Arkansas Music Pavilion
9/7 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Providence Medical Center Amphitheater
9/9 – Austin, TX @ Austin 360 Amphitheater
9/10 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
9/13 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
9/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion
9/16 – Irvine, CA @ Five Point Amphitheater
9/18 – Concord, CA @ Concord Pavilion
9/21 – Ridgefield, WA @ Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre
9/22 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
9/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre 

*CHEVELLE and Breaking Benjamin to perform on all dates. Individual lineups may vary based on other artists’ availability.

Chevelle Tour Dates:

9/27 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
10/13 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival
10/15 – Riverside, CA @ Riverside Municipal Auditorium
10/16 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
10/19 – Las Vegas, NV @ Las Rageous Festival

Featured photo (top) by Christian Lantry

Tilian (Pearson) Shares New Electro-Pop Single, “Half”

Los Angeles, CA — Dance Gavin Dance frontman, Tilian (Pearson), has unveiled his new single, “Half,” today. The new offering is an emotive electro-pop track, laced with soothing beats and catchy rhythms.

“I started building a studio and I wanted to put some beauty in the empty space. Matt Malpass (FEVER 333, Issues, Andy Black) came over and we made a batch of songs. ‘Half’ was my favorite. Fortunately, Rise Records was down with putting it out right away. I’m looking forward to building up an album’s worth of work over the coming months,” says Tilian.

Fans can listen to “HalfHERE and stream/download the song on all digital retailers HERE.

“On his new album, the singer affirms that no matter how many years go by, a true artist can always find a new frontier, not just to explore, but to conquer.”Alternative Press

Tilian Pearson

Tilian’s summer headline tour is also underway, which hits Atlanta this evening at The Masquerade. The slew of dates also runs throughout the southern U.S. before wrapping on the West Coast in Sacramento on Thursday, 8/22. Tilian is touring in celebration of his latest album, The Skeptic (Sept. 2018 via Rise Records), which hit the #1 spot on Billboard’s Alternative New Artist Chart and racked up 1.5 million total streams in just its first week alone. Tickets to all of the remaining shows can be purchased HERE, and a full itinerary can be found below.

“Explosive, emotional and absolutely stunning, every single track on The Skeptic shines for an entirely different reason.”The Prelude Press

Tilian is currently working on his next solo album, with more information to be revealed soon. In the meantime, stay up-to-date with him on his social media platforms below.

“There’s no need for skepticism when it comes to the talents of Tilian Pearson.”
The Noise / Live Nation

Tilian Headline Tour Dates:

8/9 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
8/10 – Orlando, FL @ The Abbey
8/11 – Jacksonville, FL @ 1904 Music Hall
8/13 – Lake Park, FL @ Kelsey Theatre
8/14 – Tampa, FL @ Orpheum
8/16 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
8/17 – Houston, TX @ Secret Group
8/18 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
8/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Pub Rock
8/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
8/22 – Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver

Stream and Download The Skeptic:

Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon
Google Play | TIDAL | Deezer

Tilian Online:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube



News & Reviews from the Fiery Mosh Pits of Arizona