Prolific alternative rock band Weezer will be releasing their ninth studio album, Everything Will Be Alright in the End, on October 7th, and in support of this release. Having played the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas tonight, their next date is at San Jose State University early next month. Special packages for the album can still be ordered via PledgeMusic.com. [Read more…]
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour this week released their latest studio album, Bring Us Together, which debuted in the iTunes Top 50. They also have a new music video out for “My Club”. Next month they will be headlining a short concert tour targeting major cities in the U.S., including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Washington, and Philadelphia. [Read more…]
Better Than Ezra, the alternative rock band from New Orleans, will be kicking off a new U.S. tour this week, promoting All Together Now, their first new studio album in five years, which was released last week. Singer-guitarist Kevin Griffin was been busy in the past few years as a professional songwriter for other artists, but has freed up time for the new album and tour.
“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we are going on a journey together…” Graham Russell giving a bit of a preface to an amazing concert, along with his songwriting partner Russell Hitchcock, the duo that comprise Air Supply have “been on tour” now for 39 years, though this is the first time I’d ever seen them live. Playing to a sold out crowd of around 1,300 or so at the Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa in Lake Tahoe, from the vantage point of the front row, eyes on the stage, it felt like they could have been playing to a vast sports arena. Hands down, I would have to say that Air Supply gave me the biggest surprise of the year in terms of my expectations against the actual performance – they were spectacular. Playing over 100 shows a year, unless there was something different about this concert (and I have no reason to believe that there was), these guys know how to put on a stunning show with a variety of music, up tempo and slowed down, and in many cases rocking, and they have a brilliant band backing them up. I cannot stress enough my recommendation to check them out if you get the opportunity – these guys put on a stellar live show.
Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith’s English New Wave band Tears for Fears will be playing a select number of concert dates in the U.S. this month, which has caused quite a buzz among fans and anyone with a fondness for their many hit songs. They celebrated the 30th anniversary of their classic album, The Hurting, last year, and also recorded a cover of Arcade Fire’s “Ready To Start”. Tears for Fears will be kicking off this tour in Austin next week, following by a show in Oklahoma, a pair of shows in California (Northern and Southern), and a three-night showing at Project Pabst in Portland. Rock Subculture Journal last reviewed Tears for Fears back in 2012. [Read more…]
“Thirsty Thursday, is that a thing here? It’s a thing at home… not for me, because I’m never thirsty…” Georgia Nott, with a little bit of chit chat with the very enthusiastic audience at Assembly Music Hall in Sacramento. Like her, much of the audience was young and female, and many were experiencing Broods live for the very first time. Like the sold out show at The Independent I attended back in May, Georgia split her time roaming the stage as well as performing at her keyboard station on the opposite corner of the stage from her older brother Caleb, with Joel Farland holding things down at the center back of the stage. Since that show in May, they have now released (or are on the verge of releasing, depending on what country you live in) their first studio album, Evergreen. Since it is not officially out yet in the U.S. (due October 8th here), I have only heard the songs pre-released on iTunes with pre-order (though two of the five were on the EP). But with that sampling, I’m even more convinced that this young band really deserves (and should) break big. They make great music with thoughtful lyrics and it all translates into a live concert so beautifully. Georgia has a remarkable voice – the kind that you hear on a studio recording and imagine that she could not possibly measure up in a live setting, but having been to two shows now, I can say that she totally kills it on stage, and Caleb manages to paint clean, distinct sounds with his keyboards and Joel is a force on drums. I’ve become a huge fan of the new song, “L.A.F.”, in large part because of the non-traditional drums and beats, and this was one of the highlights for the show last night for me. Phenomenal band, and one that I’ll continue to turn out for any chance that I get.
The Scottish synthpop group Chvrches is bringing their world tour to the United States in September, playing dates throughout into October. Their debut studio album, The Bones of What You Believe, came out late last year and their newest work, Recover EP, in 2014. [Read more…]
Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, who have been active touring in 2014, will be playing a number of dates all over the United States through the end of the year. In September, they will be playing a few shows in California (including Mountain Winery in Saratoga, Jackson Rancheria, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, and the Los Angeles County Fair) and the Pacific Northwest (The Showbox in Seattle, Edgefield in Troutdale, and the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, OR). [Read more…]
England-born, Australia soft rock duo Air Supply have a number of concert dates all over the United States coming up and going through the end of 2014. Singer-songwriter/guitarist Graham Russell and lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock have been together as a band for 39 years and created a number of pop hits. [Read more…]
The double-headining tour boasting Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden that kicked off in Las Vegas about a month ago will be coming to California this week and then finishing up at the end of August in Washington. The alternative rock pioneers promises to deliver hits and energy. [Read more…]