With Teeth, the first album in six years from Nine Inch Nails, proves the band name still carries weight. Trent Reznor
For those unfamiliar with Built to Spill, the band has been playing together since 1993 in various incarnations constantly evolving through the years. The boys from Idaho had traveled East to NYC for the first time since September 2003 and Internet postings were abuzz about a new album that is currently due out in the fall, so the live dates were an obvious next step.
Ween has put the finishing touches on a rarities collection for release through its own Chocodog label. According to a post from guitarist Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo on the band’s official Web site, the set is dubbed “Shinola” and should be available in the next few months.
“Shinola” is loaded with “scraps, throwaways, and outtakes from our studio,” the artist says. “If you thought our albums were brown, wait ’til you hear the songs we deemed too brown for a Ween record, all in one place.” A band spokesperson declined to reveal the track list for the set.
In other Ween news, Melchiondo reports the group has begun rehearsing after a long break from the live stage. “Not sure what this means in terms of playing gigs anytime soon, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we started playing out by the end of this summer,” he says.
Melchiondo has also finished the latest album from his Moistboyz side project, which will arrive in August via Sanctuary. Live dates are expected to coincide with the release.
Source billboard.com.
Pearl Jam, the John Mayer Trio, Black Eyed Peas and Maroon 5 are among the first wave of acts confirmed to open shows on the Rolling Stones’ upcoming On Stage tour. Black Eyed Peas will open the tour’s opening Aug. 21/23 stand at Boston’s Fenway Park, while Maroon 5 takes over for an Aug. 26 show in Hartford, Conn., and an Aug. 31 date at Detroit’s Comerica Park.
That group will be joined by the Tragically Hip for a Sept. 3 show in Moncton, N.B., while Pearl Jam will open a Sept. 28 engagement in Pittsburgh, marking its first appearance with the Stones since 1997.
Mayer’s trio, the lineup of which was unavailable at deadline, will make its live debut opening shows on Oct. 3 in Washington, D.C., and Oct. 10 in Philadelphia.
The Stones blew through the first round of ticket on sales last weekend, selling out gigs in Boston, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, N.C., and Calgary. Visit the band’s official Web site for a list of shows that go on-sale this weekend.
Source billboard.com.
Les Claypool. Vorcza, Z-Trip and Benevento/Russo Duo are some of the acts that have been added to the six week Zooma Tour. The tour will be headlined by Trey Anastastio and Ben Harper and also include the previously announced acts of Medeski, Martin & Wood, Galactic, Brazilllian Girls, G Love & Special Sauce, Toots & The Maytals, Ray Lamontagne, Jurassic 5 and Gomez.
For more information, please visit the festival’s website.
To coincide with the kick-off of his upcoming North American tour, Mark Knopfler is planning to release a new EP. Due June 28 — four days after the tour’s opening in Portsmouth, Va. — “One Take Radio Sessions” finds the former Dire Straits frontman running through seven songs from his latest release, “Shangri-La” (Warner Bros.) and one vintage solo cut.
Recorded at Malibu, Calif.’s Shangri-La Studios, the same recording location for the studio album, the EP features “The Trawlerman’s Song,” “Back to Tupelo,” “Song for Sonny Liston,” “Boom, Like That,” “Everybody Pays,” “Donegan’s Gone,” and “Stand Up Guy,” all from the “Shangri-La.”
The vintage addition to the set is “Rudiger,” which dates to Knopfler’s 1996 solo debut, “Golden Heart.” Accompanying him for the recording were guitarist Richard Bennett, keyboardists Jim Cox and Matt Rollings, bassist Glenn Worf and drummer Chad Cromwell. Additionally, Doug Pettibone plays electric guitar on two tracks and mandolin on another.
Here are Knopfler’s North American tour dates:
June 24: Portsmouth, Va. (NTELOS Pavilion Harbor Center)
June 25: Philadelphia (Mann Center for the Performing Arts)
June 26: Vienna, Va. (Wolf Trap)
June 28: Newark, N.J. (New Jersey Performing Arts Center)
June 29: New York (Radio City Music Hall)
June 30: Florence, Mass. (Pines Theatre)
July 1:: Boston (Fleet Boston Pavilion)
July 2:: Montreal (Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier/Place des Arts)
July 3:: Ottawa, Ontario (National Arts Centre)
July 5:: Toronto (Molson Amphitheatre)
July 7:: London, Ontario (John Labatt Centre)
July 8:: Rochester Hills, Mich. (MeadowBrook Amphitheater)
July 9:: Kettering, Ohio (Fraze Pavilion at Lincoln Park Center)
July 12: Atlanta (Chastain Park Amphitheater)
July 13: Nashville (Ryman Auditorium)
July 14: Indianapolis (Murat Theatre)
July 15: Chicago (Auditorium Theatre)
July 16: Milwaukee (Milwaukee Theater)
July 17: Minneapolis (Orpheum Theatre)
July 19: Morrison, Col. (Red Rocks Amphitheater)
July 20: Salt Lake City (Abravanel Hall)
July 21: Las Vegas (The Joint)
July 22: Los Angeles (Greek Theatre)
July 23: Berkeley, Calif. (Greek Theatre-Berkeley)
July 24: San Diego (Copley Symphony Hall)
July 27: Saratoga, Calif. (The Mountain Winery)
July 28: Jacksonville, Ore. (Britt Pavilion)
July 29: Portland, Ore. (Schnitzer Concert Hall)
July 30: Woodinville, Wash. (Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery)
July 31: Vancouver (Queen Elizabeth Theatre)
Source billboard.com.
M.I.A., the MC5 and Coheed & Cambria are among the acts confirmed to play free shows as part of New York’s Central Park SummerStage. The series will begin June 17 with Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun’s AZA, featuring jazz legend Pharoah Sanders.
Rising hip-hop/dance star M.I.A. will perform Aug. 7 backed by DJ/off-stage companion Diplo and special guests, while MC5 will be joined by the Sun Ra Arkestra and DJ Spooky for a July 30 bill. Coheed & Cambria, Colombian rock act Aterciopelados and singer/songwriter BeBe are set for an Aug. 6 show sponsored by the Latin Alternative Music Conference.
Other artists set to appear throughout the summer include John Legend (June 17), Cassandra Wilson (June 24), Ron Sexsmith with Tegan & Sara (June 26), a Nick Drake tribute with an orchestra led by the late artist’s collaborator Robert Kirby (July 2), the Blind Boys Of Alabama (July 10), Shelby Lynne (July 15), Femi Kuti with Brazilian Girls (July 17) and revered comedy ensemble the Upright Citizens Brigade (July 21).
As previously reported, SummerStage also boasts an all-star lineup of benefit concerts, for which paid admission is required. They include the Killers (June 4), Modest Mouse (June 20), Broken Social Scene (July 14) and Elvis Costello (July 19).
For the full summer lineup, visit SummerStage’s official Web site.
Source billboard.com.
