Today global singing and songwriting icon Mariah Carey has announced an exclusive limited engagement holiday run with her “All I Want For Christmas Is You Tour“, presented by Hallmark Channel. This tour marks a special milestone in the legacy of Carey’s beloved album, Merry Christmas, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this holiday season. Mariah will bring an extravagant, festive outing that only she can deliver to limited cities across the U.S. this winter. Her special run of can’t-miss shows will bring out the festive spirit in fans of all ages.
Presented by Hallmark Channel, Holiday Extravaganza Kicks Off November 22nd
Produced by Live Nation, the exclusive holiday run will kick off November 22nd in Las Vegas and travel the east coast starting December 7th in Atlantic City before making stops in Washington D.C., Uncasville, and Boston. The tour will wrap December 15th in New York, NY at Madison Square Garden – which is the first time Carey will perform her Christmas show at the venue.
The All I Want For Christmas Is You Tour will be filled with Carey’s most recognizable hits, as well as the internationally celebrated music from Carey’s Merry Christmas album, re-releasing on November 1st, in recognition of the 25th anniversary (to the day!) of the album’s original release date.
The new 2-CD deluxe edition of Merry Christmas includes the original album, plus a bonus disc featuring previously unreleased live tracks from Mariah’s 1994 St. John The Divine Benefit Concert, rare remixes, a brand-new, festive rendition of the “Sugar Plum Fairy” and additional seasonal tracks. Various configurations include D2C products, 7” and 12” vinyl, cassette singles, CD and digital configurations. The original album and the ubiquitous “All I Want For Christmas Is You” were both recently certified 6x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Pre-orders for the Deluxe Anniversary Edition are available HERE. Watch “All I Want For Christmas Is You” HERE.
Mariah Carey will offer her fan club members first access to tickets with a presale starting Tuesday, October 1st at 10am local time through Thursday, October 3rd at 10pm local time. Fans who pre-order the Deluxe Anniversary Edition of Merry Christmas will receive an exclusive pre-sale code valid from Tuesday, October 1st at 11am local time until Thursday, October 3rd at 10pm local time. Citi is the official presale credit card of the tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Wednesday, October 2nd at 10am local time until Thursday, October 3 at 10pm local time through Citi Entertainment. For complete presale details click HERE.
Tickets for the east coast dates go on sale to the general public starting Friday, October 4th at 10am local time HERE. Tickets for the Las Vegas dates are on sale now HERE.
Portion of Proceeds To Be Donated to Toys For Tots; Fans Encouraged to Bring Unwrapped Gifts to Donate At Each Stop
$1 from each ticket sold will benefit Toys for Tots, a 72-year national charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, which provides happiness and hope to less fortunate children during each Christmas holiday season. Unwrapped toys will also be collected at each event for donation to Toys for Tots.
Mariah’s continued record-breaking achievements, celebrations and surprises are expected to escalate for the 2019 Holiday Season.
Mariah Carey All I Want For Christmas Is You presented by Hallmark Channel Tour Dates – Tickets on sale Friday, October 4:
12-7-19 Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena 12-9-19 Washington, DC The Theater MGM National Harbor 12-12-19 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena 12-13-19 Boston, MA Boch Center Wang Theatre 12-15-19 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Mariah Carey 2019/2020 Las Vegas Dates– Tickets on sale now:
All I Want For Christmas Is You presented by Hallmark Channel
11-22-19 Las Vegas, NV The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 11-23-19 Las Vegas, NV The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 11-27-19 Las Vegas, NV The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 11-29-19 Las Vegas, NV The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 11-30-19 Las Vegas, NV The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
The Butterfly Returns
2-14-20 Las Vegas, NV The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 2-15-20 Las Vegas, NV The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 2-19-20 Las Vegas, NV The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 2-21-20 Las Vegas, NV The Colosseum at Caesars Palace 2-22-20 Las Vegas, NV The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Global, chart-topping Interscope/Darkroom Records artist Billie Eilish has announced her 2020 arena Where Do We Go? World Tour, produced by Live Nation. Starting on March 8 in Miami, FL, Where Do We Go? tour will take her live show to some of the world’s biggest arenas including New York City’s Madison Square Garden on March 15. General on-sale starts Oct 4. For a full list of tour dates and ticket information, see below, for more information go HERE.
Following the release of her official music video for ‘all the good girls go to hell’ – accompanied with the important call to action on climate change – Billie Eilish continues to set an example by partnering with non-profit organization REVERB for her upcoming tour. To help create and encourage an eco-conscious environment both backstage and for her fans, Billie Eilish will be allowing fans to bring their re-fillable water bottles to the shows, water-stations will be available at every venue for both attendees and crew backstage, plastic straws will not be permitted and a Billie Eilish Eco-Village will be stationed at every show, providing attendees information and resources on ways to help combat climate change and preserve the Earth. For more information, go HERE.
Tomorrow night, Billie Eilish will be joining host Woody Harrelson as the musical guest for the season opener of NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Tonight, she will be the lead guest on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. On Monday, she will be appearing on The Howard Stern Show on Sirius/XM.
Last month, Billie Eilish earned her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘bad guy,’ taken from her multi-platinum global smash debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? [Darkroom/Interscope Records].
Billie Eilish is officially the first artist born this millennium to achieve both a No. 1 album and single, and is now the third female solo artist in the 31-year history with multiple songs topping the Billboard Alternative Songs airplay chart (alongside Alanis Morrissett and Sinead O’Connor). “bad guy” also hit #1 in the Pop Songs airplay chart after leading the Alternative Songs airplay. Her album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? — released on March 29 [Darkroom/Interscope Records] — debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, has since returned to the top spot two additional times this year, and is currently 2019’s best-selling album in North America. Recently, Billie Eilish graced the cover of Rolling Stone, V and ELLE, and has amassed more that 17-billion combined global streams to date.
North American Tour Dates*
03/09 – AmericanAirlines Arena – Miami, FL 03/10 – Amway Center – Orlando, FL 03/12 – PNC Arena – Raleigh, NC 03/13 – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA 03/15 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY 03/16 – Prudential Center – Newark, NJ 03/18 – Capital One Center – Washington, DC 03/19 – TD Garden – Boston, MA 03/20 – Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY 03/23 – Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI 03/24 – United Center – Chicago, IL 03/25 – Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN 03/27 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN 03/28 – Enterprise Center – St. Louis, MO 03/29 – CHI Health Center Omaha – Omaha, NE 04/01 – Pepsi Center – Denver, CO 04/04 – The Forum – Los Angeles, CA 04/05 – The Forum – Los Angeles, CA 04/07 – Chase Center – San Francisco, CA 04/08 – Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA 04/10 – Tacoma Dome – Seattle, WA 04/11 – Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC
*To ensure tickets get in to the hands of fans, the tour has partnered with Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan platform. Fans can register now through Monday, September 30 at 11:59pm ET HERE for the Verified Fan presale. Registered fans who receive a code will have access to purchase tickets before the general public on Thursday, October 3 at 10am local time through 10pm local time.
Latin American Tour Dates
05/25 – Arena VFG – Guadalajara, Mexico 05/27 – Palacio de los Deportes – Mexico City, Mexico 05/30 – Allianz Parque – Sao Paulo, Brazil 05/31 – Jeunesse Arena – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 06/2 – DirecTV Arena – Buenos Aires, Argentina 06/5 – Movistar Arena – Santiago, Chile 06/7 – Movistar Arena – Bogota, Colombia
European and United Kingdom Tour Dates
07/9 – TBA – TBA, Spain 07/10 – NOS Alive (festival) – Lisbon, Portugal 07/13 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam, Netherlands 07/14 – Mercedes-Benz Arena – Berlin, Germany 07/15 – Lanxess Arena – Cologne, Germany 07/17 – MIND (Area Expo) (festival) – Milano, Italy 07/18 – Lollapalooza (festival) – Paris, France 07/19 – Werchter Boutique (festival) – Werchter, Belgium 07/21 – Manchester Arena – Manchester, UK 07/22 – Manchester Arena – Manchester, UK 07/24 – Arena Birmingham – Birmingham, UK 07/26 – O2 Arena – London, UK 07/27 – O2 Arena – London, UK
Download/Stream When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? :
PHOENIX — Toto’s “40 Trips Around the Sun” world tour in support of last year’s eponymous greatest hits collection, and in celebration of their milestone 40th anniversary, came to the Celebrity Theatre. The theatre’s circular structure with its round center stage means there’s not a bad seat in the house, with every spot offering a close vantage point. This was perfect for the night’s show because it removed the feeling of barriers from the fans who so love a band that so clearly loves their fans in return.
Before the show started, the audience was promised that it was going to be two hours long, “with no opening act and no intermission,” and that we wouldn’t want to miss a minute — practically an understatement for the night to come. This tour has been a well-earned victory lap for Toto. The audience was not only filled with long-time fans, but also with younger fans who were new to the band; finding them through an occurrence of events starting just as they were making plans for the then-upcoming release and tour.
Toto’s signature song, and most enduring hit, “Africa” features one of pop music’s greatest hooks: “I bless the rains down in Africa.” A perfect storm occurred on the cusp of Toto’s 40th anniversary that reignited them, restored their proper place in popular culture, and reminded everyone exactly how incredible of a band they have always been. In December of 2017, nearly two months to the day before Toto would release their career-spanning greatest hits collection, a young Weezer fan began tweeting the band asking them to cover Toto’s “Africa.” When Weezer finally relented and performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live, with a guest appearance from Totokeyboardist Steve Porcaro, a new generation of fans flocked to Toto to discover what so many of us already knew: Toto is one of pop music’s most consistent bands, churning out catchy, crowd-pleasing songs for 40 years.
As soon as Toto emerged on the ramp and took their spots at their instruments at 8 o’clock, the energy they brought to the round stage in the center of the theatre was palpable. The show’s opening number was “Devil’s Tower,” a previously unreleased gem originally recorded during the sessions for Toto IVbut left off. It felt fresh and immediately energized the crowd that was ready to pop in anticipation of Toto’s arrival.
The second song of the set, “Hold the Line,” from their self-titled debut, brought the crowd to their feet for the first of many times in the night. It was during this moment that the stage began to rotate, as they played through a rolling wave of audience members singing the chorus of “Hold the line, love isn’t always on time.” What made this moment truly special was to see the fans in attendance who had been with the band for all 40 of those trips around the sun, singing the song alongside their own children, who are new converts.
Band Lineup:
Joseph Williams: Lead Vocals
Steve Lukather: Guitar and Vocals
Steve Porcaro: Keyboards
Lenny Castro: Percussion
Warren Ham: Saxophone, Harmonica, and Flute
Shannon Forrest: Drums
Shem von Schroeck: Bass
Dominique “Xavier” Taplin: Keyboards
Keeping with the tour’s mission statement, Toto’s setlist was a journey through their history with stops at every album along the way. “Lovers in the Night,” from their 1982 landmark album Toto IV,was followed by the brand new track “Alone” from last year’s greatest hits collection; a song whose foot-tapping rhythm seated it firmly alongside so many of their classic songs.
After runs through “I Will Remember” from 95’s Tambu and “English Eyes” from 81’s Turn Back, they cut loose on the extended bluesy jam of “Jack to the Bone” from 92’s Kingdom Of Desire. With the crowd energized, and the musicians clearly having a good time on stage, they next went into “Rosanna,” also from Toto IV, and arguably Toto’s second biggest hit. With the stage turning, and the crowd rocking, singer Joseph Williams made stops with each part of the crowd to let them have their moment to sing the infectious chorus “Meet you all the way, meet you all the way, Rosanna, yeah.” They kept the song going well past its album length, so that everyone had a chance to have their moment with the band.
As “Rosanna” closed out, chairs were brought out on stage, and the show took an intimate turn, as members told stories of the origins of a couple of the songs, in a style reminiscent of VH1’s classic series Storytellers. Founding member Steve Lukather told the story of keyboard player David Paich writing “Georgy Porgy,” and though Lukather at first thought the song was a little silly, it ended up being the first vocal he recorded for Toto and one of the staples of their live shows ever since.
Next, keyboardist Porcaro told the story of picking his daughter up from school, on the same day Toto was recording “Africa,” and she was crying because a boy had pushed her off the slide. As he drove her home, she asked him repeatedly through her tears, “Why?,” and though he tried his best to explain to her that the boy probably liked her, she kept asking “Why?” By the time he dropped her off and got back to the studio, her question of “Why?” had given way to a chorus of, “Why? Why? It’s only human nature,” and would turn into the song “Human Nature” written by Porcaro and performed by Michael Jackson on his album Thriller. On this night, they played a lush rendition of the song, with Porcaro singing the words inspired by his heartbroken daughter.
At this point, the chairs went away, and the musicians ran through the thematically-linked 1-2-3 punch of “I’ll Be Over You,” “No Love,” and “Stop Loving You,” before all members briefly left the stage. Meanwhile, touring keyboard player Dominique “Xavier” Taplin, filling in for original member David Paich, played what initially felt like a piano interlude but gave way to a longer, beautiful arrangement that left the crowd in awe. Taplin had previously played in Prince’s last touring band and this solo piano performance made it evident why Prince had enlisted his talents.
“Lion” from 1981’s Isolation was followed by a brief story of writing music for the David Lynch film Dune and trying to make the music sound “as David Lynchian” as they could. The ensuing performance of “Dune (Desert Theme”), so fitting for Arizona’s own dry landscape, showed the song was vintage Toto, even if they were trying to make it sound Lynchian. Lukather talked briefly of their 2002 album Through the Looking Glass, a collection of cover songs by artists that had either influenced the band early on or of whom they were fans. Identifying George Harrison as both his first guitar hero and later his friend, Lukather led them in a cover of The White Album classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” that both paid loving tribute and also featured some Toto flourishes, including Lukather adding an extended guitar solo to the end of the song.
After playing “Make Believe,” them gave the crowd the moment they wanted: “Africa.” It should be noted here that song’s reputation is well-earned, as it is indeed truly a pop masterpiece. On a night where it was obvious how much fun Toto was having on the tour, this was the moment you could tell they relished the most. The performance was note-perfect, and set up the final moment of goodwill and love between a band and their audience, as they turned the singing over, giving the crowd one more chance to come together and show their love for Toto. With everyone on their feet, singing and dancing, Toto played on but stepped back from their mics, and the audience took the final chorus. One by one, the founding members left the stage, leaving the touring members to keep the groove going, while the crowd sang on. Percussionist Lenny Castro, who has played with Toto from their early days, took the lead on congas to accompany the crowd.
When Toto returned to the stage for the encore, a rollicking performance of “Home of the Brave” from a 1988’s The Seventh One, the end of the show and the band’s choice for a closer felt like a parting piece of advice to the crowd. Just as Toto has made their 40 trips around the sun, staying true to the ethos they established for themselves on trip number one in 1978, this moment was a reminder to all to keep themselves moving forward with each of their trips, and that we are in charge of our future and our fate with the show’s final lyrics: “You gotta remember, you don’t have to be afraid. You still have the freedom to learn and say what you wanna say. You gotta remember, don’t let ’em take away the land we call the home of the brave.”
Dave Matthews Band and Weezer will headline the third annual Innings Festival, returning to Arizona’s Tempe Beach and Tempe Arts Park, February 29 – March 1, 2020. The two-day event will feature 18 artists on 2 stages, including performances from Portugal. The Man, Death Cab for Cutie, Jason Isbelland the 400 Unit, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, O.A.R. and more, as well as curated food vendors and fun family activities. Fans can look forward to numerous appearances by Major League Baseball greats including Jake Peavy, Bret Saberhagen, Miguel Montero, Aaron Rowand and more, as well as the return of Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster, an on-site talk show featuring MLB players and musicians on the lineup. Tickets will be available beginning at 12pm local time today HERE.
Last year’s Innings Festival featured incredible opportunities for fans to interact with their favorite baseball players, as MLB legends including Roger Clemens, Huston Street, and Jake Peavy coached fans on speed pitch and Sean Casey, Jim Thome and Eric Byrnes offered tips in the batting cage. Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster featured interviews with multiple MLB greats, as well as a rousing interview with baseball lover, Eddie Vedder.
1-Day and 2-Day General Admission, VIP and Platinum Tickets will go on sale today at 12pm MST HERE.
For fans looking to elevate their festival experience with additional perks, we’re introducing GA+, with both 2-Day and 1-Day Ticket options. GA+ includes access to our brand-new private retreat with shade and seating at the main stage, air-conditioned restrooms, a full-service bar with beer, wine and cocktails for purchase, and complimentary water and soft drinks. Fans can also head to the website and sign up for the E-List to be the first to get new information.
Innings Festival is produced by C3 Presents, the team behind Lollapalooza around the world, Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience in New Orleans, Shaky Knees in Atlanta, and Austin Food + Wine Festival.
Follow social media to stay in the loop for all festival announcements.
PHOENIX — Reviews commonly found on Burning Hot Events cover shows of performers who are on tour and simply visiting the Valley of the Sun for a night or two. However, there is nothing more refreshing than finding a talented band right in our own backyard. Such was the situation on Saturday evening at Copper Blues Live at Desert Ridge Marketplace. Spark Jack Daddy ignited the stage, making people dance all night.
The night began with the packed-out dining area filled with football fans watching the Nebraska Huskers pummel Northern Illinois. Once the clock ran out, the massive projector screen lifted to reveal an army of musicians.
The fourteen-wide lineup included a quartet of vocalists (each singing lead and harmony), a four-piece horn section, a dueling pair of guitarist (who also sang lead/harmony vocals), a rhythm section of bass and drums, all topped off with a keyboardist and percussionists. They poured out a wide variety of hits from yesteryear and today, ensuring that the diverse crowd remained engaged for their 3-set, 35 song performance.
Folks danced in their seats, next to their tables, and sang along between sips of beer and hefty nibbles on enormous nachos and other delicious bar fare while Spark Jack Daddy gave a memorable performance.
Soulful and familiar songs permeated the room that ranged from Bruno Mars to Chicago, Stevie Wonder to Maroon 5. Additionally, attendees had the distinct pleasure of hearing an original Spark Jack Daddy song written by Burning Hot Events’ own Mark Greenawalt, who is typically behind the lens or the other kind of keyboard that contains the alphabet.
If you missed the entertaining performance, don’t fret; Spark Jack Daddy, led by singer, guitarist, and founder Marty Lucas, will be gracing the stage at the Four Peaks Oktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake on October 13 at 2:00pm. One thing is for certain: you’ll definitely have a good time, as Spark Jack Daddy is one of the most entertaining acts in the valley, and their wall of sound is a must-see.
Boston – Bent Knee, the Boston-based band Consequence of Sound said are “truly the definition of experimentalism,” release the graphically-rich video for “Bone Rage”, from the band’s forthcoming album, You Know What They Mean (Oct. 11, InsideOutMusic). Watch “Bone Rage” HERE.
“’Bone Rage’ is a song that makes concert halls shake and expectations collapse,” explains guitar player Ben Levin, who also directed the video. “It seemed fitting to make its video full of destruction and solid objects taking on unanticipated forms. The visuals pull you through like you’re handcuffed to a firetruck, but I think you’ll be grateful for the workout when it’s over.”
Bent Knee previously released a video for “Hold Me In”, which Brooklyn Vegan said of: “Singer Courtney Swain is a true powerhouse —she can belt it like Whitney Houston while staying as eccentric as Kate Bush — and she and the rest of the band provide ‘Hold Me In’ with an atmospheric, constantly shapeshifting backdrop that could fit in nicely next to stuff like Radiohead or Porcupine Tree.” Watch “Hold Me In” HERE.
The “Bone Rage” video follows news that the band will be joining Thank you Scientist for a five-week North American tour this Fall (begins Nov. 7).
Bent Knee Tour Dates:
October 14 Allston, MA Great Scott (album release show) November 7 Rochester, NY The Montage Music Hall November 8 Akron, OH Musica November 9 Grand Rapids, MI The Pyramid Scheme November 10 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen November 12 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry November 14 St. Louis, MO The Firebird November 15 Lawrence, KS The Bottleneck November 16 Denver, CO Globe Hall November 17 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge November 19 Seattle, WA Columbia City Theater November 20 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre November 21 Portland, OR Dante’s November 22 Sacramento, CA Holy Diver November 23 San Jose, CA The Ritz November 24 Los Angeles, CA The Bootleg Theater November 25 Santa Ana, CA Constellation Room November 27 Scottsdale, AZ Constellation Room November 29 Austin, TX Empire Control Room November 30 Dallas, TX Three Links December 1 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall December 3 Atlanta, GA Purgatory at The Masquerade December 4 Tampa, FL Crowbar December 6 Charlotte, NC Amos Southend December 7 Richmond, VA Canal Club December 8 Washington, DC Union Stage December 10 Pittsburgh, PA Thunderbird Music Hall December 11 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts December 12 Fairfield, CT StageOne December 13 Asbury Park, NJ Asbury Lanes December 14 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
You Know What They Mean pre-orders are available now HERE. The 13-track album is available physically as a limited-edition CD digipak, a gatefold LP as well as a standard CD. Digital pre-orders include an instant download of “Hold Me In,”, “Catch Light” and “Bone Rage.”
Bent Knee formed in Boston in 2009 as a collaborative determined to push the boundaries of pop and rock, combining all their influences into a seamless, thrilling whole.
Bent Knee Is:
Ben Levin (guitar) Chris Baum (violin) Courtney Swain (vocals/keyboard) Gavin Wallace-Ailsworth (drums) Jessica Kion (bass) Vince Welch (sound design)
SEATTLE — Like a gentle breeze, The Paper Kites brought in a soothing and refreshing performance to Neptune Theatre, accompanied by special guest Harrison Storm. Purely cathartic, The Paper Kites’ dreamy indie/folk rock music serves as a lullaby, the stitches that mend broken lovers, escapism for the weary and hopeless.
Held in a historic theatre with ornate Renaissance-influenced architecture and folding chairs, there seemed to be some ambiguity as to whether the crowd should handle themselves formally or casually, whether they should keep silent in reverence or cheer, sit or stand. Singer-songwriter Harrison Storm helped assure the audience that they had permission to applaud, although the presence of chairs still persuaded all to stay planted in their seats for most of the night.
Storm was a good lead-in for The Paper Kites, with a personal and minimalist style. He will be parting ways with the band following their September 20th show in San Luis Obispo, and embarking on a headlining tour in the UK and Europe beginning on October 11.
Being a performing arts venue, Neptune Theatre didn’t have overhead lighting directed toward the band, and the lights on the edge of the stage were low, leaving The Paper Kites mostly backlit. This lent itself to the midnight mood of their music, and also often illuminated drummer Josh Bentley and bassist and synthist Sam Rasmussen more than the others.
twelvefour
Sometimes the combination of blue and magenta lights resembled the neon sign on the cover of twelvefour, creating an even deeper sense of immersion.
The lone woman of the group, keyboardist and guitarist Christina Lacy, has a humble stage presence despite the prominence of her vocals within the harmonies in their songs. On this night, her entrancing vocals, along with those of Dave Powys, were nearly as soft as a whisper.
Frontman Sam Bentley brings authenticity to the stage, sharing endearing stories that brought some levity, and visibly drawing on his emotions as he sang verses and held notes like a long, slow yoga exhale. Seeming to channel a trance-like state, each musician in the five-piece band performed with otherworldly control and subtlety.
We often like to impose our own lives onto the music we listen to, giving it particular relevance to ourselves, but it was interesting to hear some of the tales behind the songwriting that Bentley shared that night. The meaning behind the lyrics is often so much more interesting and creative than what you would assume. Some of the best parts of the show were a couple of times when every member of the band came together to sing into a single microphone. One of the most shining moments for Bentley’s vocals was the climax of “Give Me Your Fire, Give Me Your Rain” off of On the Corner Where You Live — the second of a two-part album release in 2018. They closed out the night with all five on a guitar (incl. bass) for “Standing in the Rain” from the first 2018 release On the Train Ride Home. Including the encore, The Paper Kites performed a 16-song setlist.
On the Train Ride Home
On the Corner Where You Live
Beginning in British Columbia, this was the second stop on The Paper Kites’ 2019 fall tour that will be traveling down the United States and passing over Phoenix, Arizona — home of Burning Hot Events. They will be making stops in the south, working their way north up the eastern seaboard, visiting the Midwest, and heading back up to play their last date in Alberta. In 2018, they toured in support of their two releases that year. The 2018 fall tour was concentrated primarily in California, Canada, and the northeastern US, so Phoenix wasn’t privy to this tour either, whereas Seattle had the privilege of being slated for both tours. However, Seattle holds a special place in their hearts, being that it was a location they ventured to in 2015 to record the one and only twelvefour. On this night at Neptune Theatre, Bentley called Seattle a “second home”.
It seems that Arizona was last graced with their presence in 2017 when they performed at Club Congress in Tucson. Since they have performed in landmark venues such as Club Congress, Seattle’s Neptune Theatre, and San Francisco’s The Fillmore, perhaps one day they will be hosted by The Van Buren in Phoenix — converted from a historic vintage auto dealership. Good luck Phoenix… You could use a chill night like this.
Los Angeles, CA — Emerging Aussie four-piece, The Faim, have released their long-awaited debut album, State of Mind, today via BMG. The full-length effort is available to stream and download HERE.
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
Created over the course of two years with numerous songwriters and producers, the record includes a collection of songs that showcase a vast range of styles and tones. Upbeat anthems like “Humans,” “Summer Is a Curse,” and “Beautiful Drama,” reveal the group’s skill at crafting resonant pop-rock hits, while “Tongue Tied,” “Buying Time,” and “Amelie” are saturated with fiery rock riffs. Melodic closing tracks, “Where the River Runs” and “State of Mind,” also underscore the quartet’s knack for authentic and raw songwriting. Overall, the album shows a band on the ascent, and a group of musicians who are all about making genuine songs that bring people together to create a community.
“We can’t believe that our debut album, State of Mind, is finally out! This record has been a long time coming and highlights our development since the writing process began a few years ago,” says The Faim. “State of Mind is a huge step for the sonic direction of our band, delving into territories that push the boundaries of what we’ve experimented with previously. We hope that people find something special and unique in these songs and enjoy them as much as we do!”
Currently on the cover of Rock Sound Magazine and fresh off of a successful headline run across the U.K. and Europe, The Faim will be heading back out on the road in celebration of State of Mind this fall. The outfit will first embark on a massive co-headline tour across the U.S. with fellow Aussie band, Stand Atlantic. Live Nation’s Ones To Watch and The Noise are confirmed to present the entire run of dates. The trek kicks off next week on Tuesday, September 17 in Houston TX and plays in 25 total cities nationwide, including major stops in Atlanta, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles. After a short break, the band is set to close out the year with another batch of headline dates overseas. A complete touring itinerary can be found below, and all tickets can be purchased on The Faim’s official website HERE.
Over the past year, The Faim has amassed a strong following around the world, to say the least. To date, the group has played 183 shows across 16 countries, in addition to performing at European festival staples including Reading & Leeds, Lollapalooza Berlin, Download, and Slam Dunk. They’ve also sold out shows in London, Sydney, Amsterdam, and Hamburg, toured globally with PVRIS, Andy Black, and Sleeping With Sirens, and collaborated with the likes of John Feldmann, Pete Wentz, Mark Hoppus, Josh Dun, Ashton Irwin, and more. “Summer Is a Curse,” the title-track from their critically acclaimed debut EP (2018 via BMG), has become a bona fide hit in Germany, hitting #12 on the airplay charts after being played 24,000 times on German radio that year. The earworm, which appears in a Jeep commercial in France, hit #2 at radio in the Czech Republic. The Faim also scored the soundtrack to Coca-Cola‘s global advertising campaign for Coke Zero, which was shown in 18 countries worldwide.
The Faim Tour Dates:
United States
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 *
Redmond, WA — CAKE, Ben Folds, and special guests Tall Heights seemed to be right where they belong as they performed amidst the tranquil atmosphere of Marymoor Park. The Seattle Eastside amphitheatre is surrounded by trees, and the crowd was content to sit and chill on the lawn from the get-go. This is the second time CAKE and Ben Folds have commenced on a summer co-headlining tour accompanied by Tall Heights. Summer of 2018 saw the joint tour spanning the east side of the country, and this year it was along the west coast. This 2019 tour wraps in Grand Prairie, TX, which makes it slightly surprising that they’re not stopping in Phoenix between Los Angeles and Austin. Following the final date, CAKE is headed to France, and Folds to Milwaukee, WI.
Tall Heights
This isn’t the first time electro-folk duo Tall Heights has toured alongside Ben Folds — Burning Hot Events reviewed their concert at Marquee Theatre in September of 2017. “Spirit Cold” is one of their most recognizable songs, and it was that very song that I could hear in the distance as I approached the amphitheatre after getting stuck in the concert traffic, reminding me of CAKE’s “Long Line of Cars.”
Their soothing folk vibe and harmonies could not have been more perfect for an outdoor show closing out the work week. With their discography currently comprised of three albums, their most recent release was Pretty Colors for Your Actions on October 5, 2018. It is moving to know that they have come this far from their beginnings of busking in Boston.
Ben Folds
When Ben Folds hit the stage, Tall Heights continued to perform in his live band alongside him. Folds casually yet energetically strolled onto stage with a demeanor that read like we are all old friends. He began his set with upbeat “Annie Waits” — an uplifting contrast to the gentleness of Tall Heights’ music. Despite this, Tall Heights paired with Folds seamlessly, and it was apparent how much fun they have up there with him. The accompaniment is demonstrative that despite going solo, Folds loves to perform as a group.
It was probably about 7:00pm when Folds started. He told the crowd that he thought he was going on at 8:00pm, so he was performing in the clothes he slept in. He said that he had let himself go, and asked the audience who else had let themselves go. Oddly enough, a majority of the crowd honestly raised their hands and there was laughter all around. He even improvised a “Let Yourself Go” song later on in his set. With the use of his quirky sense of humor, Folds has a gift for generating a feeling of camaraderie at his concerts.
During the following song, “You Don’t Know Me,” Folds encouraged the audience to fill in for Regina Spektor. It would have been amazing to hear Spektor singing the parts herself, but it was quite enjoyable to participate in the sing-a-long.
The sun went down as his set progressed, and strings of lights surrounding the stage lit up. It was a beautiful environment. Even this, however, was not without some typical aggro displays amongst the crowd in which some of the concertgoers that obviously don’t attend shows often yelled at others that wanted to stand during the concert because it was preventing from seeing while they sat on the ground. It’s expected to see this type of aggression in the Arizona heat, but less so in the more passive and down-to-earth Seattle area. It just goes to show there’s one in every crowd.
But there were also bemusing moments where some women danced along to Ben Folds in a completely mismatched style — as if they were dancing in a nightclub. It was heartwarming to see a female security guard subtly bobbing along to the music, and a male fan passionately singing along. Folds also made a touching statement about having to pinch himself for being able to tour with CAKE.
In April 2018, Rolling Stone recorded high praise from each of the co-headliners directed at the other. CAKE’s frontman John McCrea was quoted, including the sentiment, “In a culture often conflicted about its relationship to melody, and songwriting generally, Ben continues unapologetically to provide melodic clarity and musicality.” Folds stated, “Cake – my rough contemporaries, comrades and heroes – to me, they make universal, poetic, identifiable music with a groove.” Both artists were sure to make mention of Tall Heights, and the last sentence in McCrea’s quote summed things up rather well, when he said, “This co-headline line up seems like a good combination of musical styles-disparate but not antithetical to each other-and it should be a solid evening of music.” The fact that they decided to tour together again the next year shows that their feelings remained unchanged after they joined up the first time.
Two songs from Ben Folds Five were included in the setlist: “Battle of Who Could Care Less” and “Do It Anyway,” both of which were everything they should be with the backup vocals lent by Tall Heights. It would have been nice to have a video camera on Folds’ hands when he was playing, with the footage displayed on a screen, especially on a song with the impressively high-speed tempo of “Do It Anyway.” One of the best parts about his stage presence, though, is that his dynamic movements at the piano help compensate for the lack of visibility of his bandaged fingers.
The contribution of the cello and harmonica to the new song “Moscow Mitch,” unambiguously inspired Mitch McConnell’s new nickname, added great layers to an otherwise simple song.
WATCH: Musician Ben Folds unveils new song ‘Moscow Mitch,’ inspired by @JoeNBC‘s coining of the phrase.
A personal favorite moment was during “Rockin’ the Suburbs” when Folds emulated the vocals of Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine, and he did it surprisingly well — even better than on the album. Despite his debut solo album Rockin’ the Suburbs being released in 2001, the song’s topic of “white boy pain” is apropos in current times. There seemed to be a consensus amongst the crowd as they laughed knowingly during his dialogue leading up to the song about unnecessarily angry suburban white guys. Good Charlotte’s “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” (released in 2002) has a very similar theme, and even a similar chord progression.
Although he has released multiple LPs, the album the most songs were taken from was Rockin’ the Suburbs. Folds closed out his 15-song set with “Not the Same”. He stood on his piano gesturing grandly toward the crowd like a conductor, bringing his set to an engaging and dramatic finale.
CAKE had an epic lead up to their entrance with the entirety of the song “War” by Vince DiCola from the Rocky IV soundtrack. The venue was buzzing with excitement for a one-of-a-kind band that many had been waiting seemingly an eternity to see live. Thankfully they were able to perform, despite the fact that 5 of their instruments were recently stolen by some heartless heathens in Portland.
“Originally formed as a somewhat antagonistic answer to grunge, CAKE’s democratic processes, defiant self-reliance, and lucid yet ever-inventive music has made them a nation-state unto themselves, with no obvious peers, belonging to no school.”
The band opened with “Sheep Go to Heaven” from their third album, Prolonging the Magic. A disco ball added eye candy behind them, on and off throughout the night. The signature sound of the trumpet and the vibraslap bring about a certain sort of familiar comfort that’s rooted in the simpler times of the 90s.
CAKE has released 6 studio albums, with the most recent one, Showroom of Compassion, having been released in 2011. The singles “Sinking Ship” and “Age of Aquarius” were released within the past year. While McCrea has discussed an eventual album release, no date or title have been provided as of yet.
CAKE and their pithy music still remains very much of its time even in 2019. Their politically-charged social media presence has divided fans, driven some away, and drawn others closer. McCrea donned a white t-shirt with the Kool-aid Man busting through a brick wall with barbed wire at the top, and it read, “FUCK YOUR BULLSHIT WALL!” Amusingly, after having the crowd at the concert battle in a loudness war, he made the punchy comment, “There’s good people on both sides,” which was responded to by many with, “BOOOO!”
It was nice to experience something fresh from CAKE as they performed “Sinking Ship,” their first new original song in 7 years, which laments a self-inflicted apocalypse. Interestingly, Showroom of Compassion was recorded in a solar-powered studio. In between songs, their environmental consciousness was displayed after McCrea said he could not concentrate until they gave away the tree sitting next to him onstage. CAKE has a tree map on their website under a “Forest” tab. The website offers no explanation regarding the map, but a great many know what it’s about since they’ve been giving away trees at their concerts for over a decade.
During the tree contest, fans shouted to McCrea, and he responded to one man saying, “That’s not your tree yet. That’s called white male entitlement.” The crowd roared with laughter, and he followed with, “No he’s just having a good time.”
It turned out to be a honeycrisp apple tree, which was won by a woman named Josie, who guessed the type of tree correctly. McCrea continued to elicit laughter as he called to her, “Get up here and get your damn tree… Don’t jump up and down and hug your friend. Come and get your tree.”
The duality of the monotonous vocals with sarcastic lyrics versus Vince DiFiore’s vibrant trumpet and upbeat music is an interesting experience, and CAKE gives a show that feels enthusiastic overall despite McCrea’s somewhat deadpan nature. He breaks out of that mold as he raises his guitar in the air, gestures and raises his arms toward the crowd, and it seems that he greatly enjoys playing the vibraslap and pointing it at individuals in the crowd.
With a somewhat laid-back stage presence, CAKE’s performance seemed effortless during their 12-song set and they sounded perfect. Their last 5 songs were arguably some of their most popular: “Love You Madly,” “Never There,” “I Will Survive,” “Short Skirt/Long Jacket,” and “The Distance.” I would have loved to experience one of my personal favorites: “Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle,” which was actually their very first single, released in 1995.
At one point, McCrea mentioned that he once spoke with a physicist that said, “hope is something you have to do,” it doesn’t just happen to you. This message resonated strongly as a reminder that we must make cognitive effort and take action if we want to improve our lives. There is always a different kind of impact from a show that is more than only rock ‘n’ roll. This wasn’t a concert for those that are totally intolerant of leftist leanings, and it was otherwise a show that was impressive, communal, light-hearted, nostalgic, and cathartic. CAKE, Ben Folds, and Tall Heights at Marymoor Park was an experience that brought excellent entertainment value and generated lingering positive energy. We’re looking forward to the announcement of CAKE’s album release date, and a first listen to their newest compelling lyrics.
Today Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer, three of the biggest acts in rock music, announced they will be heading out on the road together for the first time ever on The Hella Mega Tour presented by Harley-Davidson. To celebrate the tour reveal, all three bands will perform a historic show tonight at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles.
The global tour kicks off June 13, 2020 in Paris and will visit cities across Europe and the UK throughout the month including Glasgow, London, and Dublin. Produced by Live Nation, the 20-city North American outing will bring the bands to some of the most renowned stadiums including Dodger Stadium, Wrigley Field, Citi Field, Fenway Park, and more. Beginning July 17 in Seattle, WA, the outing makes stops in Houston, Miami, Toronto, New York and more, before wrapping August 29 in Philadelphia, PA. More dates will be announced. The Interrupters will appear as special guest on the tour.
“Harley-Davidson and rock & roll have been synonymous throughout history,” said Neil Grimmer, President of Brand for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “So it’s only natural for Harley to present the most epic, full throttle rock tour in history!”
Concert-goers will see and experience the newest Harley-Davidson motorcycles, including the fully electric LiveWire and their new, exciting lineup of electric bicycles.
American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Monday, September 16 at 10am local time through Thursday, September 19 at 10pm local time. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, September 20 at 10am local time through Ticketmaster. VIP packages will be available next week.
Tonight will mark the beginning of a three-day music takeover on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, with a first ever TV performance of the new music from Weezer followed by Fall Out Boy tomorrow night and Green Day on Thursday. All episodes begin at 11:35pm on ABC and can be found here. Additionally, each of the band’s new songs were serviced to all Rock and Alternative Radio stations today and will be featured once an hour on a three hour loop all day with Cumulus, Entercom, and iHeart radio chains.
In celebration of this announcement, all three artists are also thrilled to announce new singles which will be a first taste of their respective forthcoming albums. All three singles are available now and the respective albums are available for pre-order:
Five-time Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Green Day unleash their brand new single “Father Of All…,” which is the lead track on their forthcoming thirteenth studio album of the same name, out February 7, 2020 on Reprise / Warner Records.
Formed in 1986 in Berkeley, CA, Green Day is one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time, with more than 70 million records sold worldwide and 10 billion cumulative audio/visual streams. Their 1994 breakout album Dookie, which sold over 10 million and achieved diamond status, is widely credited with popularizing and reviving mainstream interest in punk rock, catapulting a career-long run of #1 hit singles.
Entertainment Weekly calls Green Day, “The most influential band of their generation,” while Rolling Stone attests, “Green Day have inspired more young bands to start than any act this side of KISS, and that doesn’t seem to be changing.”
In 2004, Green Day released the rock opera American Idiot which captured the nation’s attention, selling more than 7 million copies in the U.S. alone and taking home the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Mojo declared “It’s exhilarating stuff, the kind of record that sets new parameters as to what is possible from a punk rock’n’roll band in the 21st century.”
In 2010, a stage adaptation of American Idiot debuted on Broadway to critical and commercial acclaim and now they’re taking the world stage once again with their new album and Hella Mega global stadium tour. Green Day will also be performing solo dates in 2020- click HERE for all dates.
Pre-order Father Of All… HERE | Listen to “Father Of All…” HERE
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy | Photographer: Brendan Walter
Multi-platinum selling, Grammy-nominated Fall Out Boy’s new single “Dear Future Self (Hands Up)” ft. Wyclef Jean will be featured on their forthcoming record Greatest Hits: Believers Never Die – Volume Two, out November 15 via Island Records.
The song marks the band’s first new music since the August 2018 release of the three-song Lake Effect Kid EP, a love letter to their hometown city of Chicago that featured the full version of the band’s previously unreleased title track demo along with two new songs “City in A Garden” and “Super Fade.” In January, Fall Out Boy was featured on the gold-certified track “I’ve Been Waiting,” a collaboration from Lil Peep and iLoveMakonnen.
Fall Out Boy’s seventh studio album M A N I A debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in January 2018 and garnered a GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Album. Their worldwide tour in support of the record included a hometown show at Wrigley Field.
Multi-platinum, GRAMMY award-winning Weezer’s new single “The End of the Game,” produced by Suzy Shinn, will be included on their forthcoming 14th studio album, entitled Van Weezer, due out in May 2020. The inspiration for this album derives from the deepest roots of Weezer – metal!
What has metal got to do with Weezer, you ask? In his earliest years, Rivers was a huge KISS fan; Brian was a big Black Sabbath fan; Pat worshipped at the altar of Van Halen and Rush; Scott loved Slayer and Metallica. The last time this vein of harder rock was mined by Weezer was on their much-loved 2002 album Maladroit; Van Weezer is primed to take that album’s sonics many steps further courtesy of producer Suzy Shinn.
“The End of the Game” is Weezer’s first new song since this year’s release of Weezer (The Black Album), as well as their covers album, Weezer (The Teal Album), whose streaming numbers have surpassed 100 million. Weezer has sold 10 million albums in the U.S., and over 35 million records worldwide since their debut album’s release in 1994. Their catalogue has included such mega-hits as “Buddy Holly,” “Undone (The Sweater Song),” “Say It Ain’t So,” “El Scorcho,” “Hash Pipe,” “Island In The Sun,” “Beverly Hills,” “Pork and Beans,” and more.
Pre-order Van WeezerHERE
| Listen to “The End of the Game” HERE
Tour Dates
The Hella Mega Tour Europe & UK Dates:
6/13/20 – PARIS, FRANCE La Defense Arena 6/14/20 – GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS Stadspark 6/17/20 – ANTWERP, BELGIUM Sportpaleis 6/21/20 – VIENNA, AUSTRIA Ernst Happel Stadium 6/24/20 – GLASGOW, SCOTLAND Bellahouston Park 6/26/20 – LONDON, ENGLAND London Stadium 6/27/20 – HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND The John Smith’s Stadium 6/29/20 – DUBLIN, IRELAND RDS Arena
The Hella Mega Tour North American Dates:
7/17/20 – SEATTLE, WA T-Mobile Park 7/21/20 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA Oracle Park 7/24/20 – SAN DIEGO, CA Petco Park 7/25/20 – LOS ANGELES, CA Dodger Stadium 7/28/20 – COMMERCE CITY, CO DICK’S Sporting Goods Park 7/31/20 – ARLINGTON, TX GLOBE LIFE FIELD 8/1/20 – HOUSTON, TX Minute Maid Park 8/5/20 – MIAMI, FL Hard Rock Stadium 8/6/20 – JACKSONVILLE, FL TIAA Bank Field 8/8/20 – ATLANTA, GA SunTrust Park 8/11/20 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN Target Field 8/13/20 – CHICAGO, IL Wrigley Field 8/15/20 – PITTSBURGH, PA PNC Park 8/16/20 – HERSHEY, PA Hersheypark Stadium 8/19/20 – DETROIT, MI Comerica Park 8/21/20 – WASHINGTON, DC Nationals Park 8/22/20 – NEW YORK, NY Citi Field 8/24/20 – TORONTO, ON Rogers Centre 8/27/20 – BOSTON, MA Fenway Park 8/29/20 – PHILADELPHIA, PA Citizens Bank Park
