News

Six months after the low-key launch of the CD/DVD hybrid known as DualDisc, major labels are planning a big show of faith in the fledgling format: Two of April’s highest-profile releases — BruceSpringsteen’s Devils and Dust and Rob Thomas’ solo debut, Something to Be — will be available only as DualDiscs. The format pairs a standard CD on one side of a disc with a DVD on the flip side that offers video content and, often, a surround-sound mix of the record.

DualDisc versions of the new Nine Inch Nails and Bon Jovi albums are in the works, and a flood of extras-packed reissues — from AC/DC’s Back in Black to David Bowie’s Reality — are already exploiting the format. “In the long term, we definitely see a transition from CD to DualDisc,” says Thomas Hesse, president of global digital business for Sony BMG. Sony, which owns Springsteen’s label, Columbia Records, formed a consortium last year with the other three major record companies to promote the newdiscs.

To read more, visit rollingstone.com.

Music magazine come-to-life

Beginning with last nights opening performance at The Hammerstein Ballroom, Chris Kuroda will be running the light board for the newly reunited Black Crowes, and their entire tour.

During opening night, Chris got to flex his muscles on such classic Crowes tunes as “Twice as Hard”, “Jealous Again” and “Stare It Cold.” As well, opening night saw the band move through their vast repetoire, from their earliest material, to their most recent, while managing to work in the oft covered “It Takes A Lot To Laugh, A Train To Cry.” Chris’s lights were, expectedly, of far less influence than during his Phish days, however there were more than a few instances on which the lights were noticably adding to the music and to the overall feel of the show.

Source phantasytour.com.

Floydfest IV has been cofirmed for July 29, 30, 31 in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. For a fourth year in a row, towards the end of the summer, performers from all over the World, and music lovers from all over the country gather for an idyllic three-day music and arts Global Gathering. This year, no less than six continents will be represented, with musicians coming from as far as Australia. Committed to Cultural Preservation, the festival succeeds in blending traditions and arts from dozens of different countries every year into a vision of Global Community.

Acts on this year

America’s rockinest rock geeks are ready to return to the road on a tour that’ll take them worldwide.

Rumors of a Pixies/Weezer summer tour have been axed due to scheduling conflicts. But Weezer is about to return to touring – something they haven’t done since 2002.

With the band’s fifth album, Make Believe, set for a May 10 release, they’ll begin a worldwide tour at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom April 26.

The theatre tour will take Weezer down the West Coast, stopping in Seattle, San Francisco and Indio, Calif., where they’ll play the humongous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival April 30 where they’re right up there with Coldplay and Bauhaus on the list of headliners.

Other tour stops include Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, New York (two nights) and Atlanta.

The group currently has North American dates booked through May 14.

Once the Rivers Cuomo & Co. are finished conquering the U.S. and Canada, they’ll head to Europe for concerts in Germany, France and Austria. Then it’s off to the U.K. where the band will play two back-to-back gigs at London’s Brixton Academy June 14-15.

In August, Weezer will head to Japan for the Summer Sonic festival.

Source pollstar.com.

N.E.R.D., the band formed by blockbuster producers the Neptunes, have broken up, frontman Pharrell Williams announced in a BBC Radio 1 interview over the weekend. Pharrell emphasized that he and production partner Chad Hugo will continue their work as the Neptunes.

“N.E.R.D. is dead,” said Pharrell. “I don’t agree with the management at Virgin Records, so we’re done.” He explained that he and Hugo will “still do what we do in the studio” and remain on good terms with third N.E.R.D. member and childhood friend Shay. “I’m not here to slander or throw dirt,” Pharrell continued. “I’m just not happy, so therefore N.E.R.D. is expired.” Virgin declined to comment.

Rock/hip-hop trio N.E.R.D., or No One Ever Really Dies, released their debut album, In Search of…, in 2002. The record’s two singles, “Lapdance” and “Rock Star,” were modest hits and had videos in heavy rotation on MTV. (“Lapdance” was helped by its late-night clip featuring a roomful of nearly naked women.) The follow-up, Fly or Die, debuted at Number Six on the Billboard album chart upon its release last March.

Pharrell left open the possibility that new N.E.R.D. tracks might be released in the future, but through less formal channels. “Perhaps we’ll do some music for our fans and leak it on the Internet or something,” he said. “Who knows?”

The Neptunes collaborated with Mariah Carey on her upcoming album and currently have projects scheduled with Mary J. Blige and Omarion. It is unclear whether Pharrell, who was recently featured as a vocalist on Snoop Dogg’s hit “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” will pursue solo recordings in the future.

Source rollingstone.com.

The world

Among the efforts to save landmark New York punk venue CBGB is a collection of limited-edition treats from Gotham candy store Chocolate Bar. The confectioner is introducing the $25 CBGBs Punk Rock Box, a 16-piece truffle collection that includes a postage-paid petition to save CBGB, a steel logo keychain and a collection of CBGB stickers.

For the budget-minded yet concerned punk, there are $3 CBGB Retro Bars wrapped in a limited-edition CBGB keepsake package that includes the postage-paid petition. Both items will be available in May, but can be pre-ordered through the store’s Web site or by calling 800-481-2462. All proceeds will benefit the club’s campaign to keep its doors open.

CBGB owner Hilly Kristal is embroiled in a dispute with the non-profit Bowery Residents’ Committee, which owns the club’s East Village building and operates a homeless shelter above it. In addition to back rent, Kristal’s negotiations with the BRC to extend his lease past its August expiration have stalled over the subject of a substantial rent increase.

Source billboard.com.

Angelique Kidjo, along with her husband, Jean Hebrail, Kidjo penned 13 original songs in a variety of indigenous Caribbean styles, including salsa, calypso, meringue and ska on her latest release – Oyaya! The album was produced by Steve Berlin (Los Lobos, String Cheese Incident) Kidjo sings the numbers in English, French and African languages Yoruba and Fon.

Look for Kidjo performing in select U.S. cities this May, before returning to Europe for more dates abroad. Current confirmed U.S. tour dates include:

Sun May 08 – LebanonNH Lebanon Opera House
Tue May 10 – Philadelphia PA World Caf

Oasis, Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, Weezer and the Black Crowes are among the acts confirmed for Japan’s Summer Sonic festival, to be held Aug. 13-14 in Tokyo and Osaka. Kasabian, the Roots, the Arcade Fire, Teenage Fanclub, TV On The Radio, Ian Brown and Louis XIV will also perform, as will famed U.K. rock act the La’s, which will be making its first live appearance since 1991.

The lineup is rounded out by Yellowcard, Boy, the Departure, Hal, HIM, Little Barrie, the Little Flames, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Mew and Rooster. Tickets are on sale now.

Source billboard.com.