July 14, 2006

The Who will kick off a fall North American tour Sept. 12 in Philadelphia. Seventeen dates for the outing were announced today by the Who’s Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey via satellite from Berlin. The duo also performed acoustic versions of the new song “Mike Post Theme” and the classic “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

The group is planning on sprinkling in a handful of special shows, which Townshend said could include complete performances of such rock operas as “Tommy” or “Quadrophenia.” Some dates may also be held in smaller venues.

As previously reported, 40 rarities are in consideration for the tour set list, although Townshend noted, “We may find other ways to do this stuff, like on a webcast.”

The tour will coincide with the release of the Who’s first new album since 1982’s “It’s Hard,” which is tentatively titled “Who 2” and will be released Oct. 23 internationally. In addition to “Mike Post Theme,” the set is expected to feature the song “Man in a Purple Dress,” which Townshend likened to “a Bob Dylan song from the early days.”

“Pete’s music, for me, is still a driving force in my life,” Daltrey said, adding that the new songs have “the Townshend magic.”

After the North American tour wraps in December, the Who will make its first-ever appearance in South American in early 2007, followed by visits to the Far East, Australia and, in late spring, Europe.

Here are the Who’s North American tour dates:

Sept. 12: Philadelphia (Wachovia Center)
Sept. 13: Wantagh, N.Y. (Jones Beach)
Sept. 15: Ottawa, Ontario (Scotiabank Place)
Sept. 16: Boston (TD Banknorth Garden)
Sept. 18: New York (Madison Square Garden)
Sept. 21: Holmdel, N.J. (PNC Bank Arts Center)
Sept. 25: Chicago (United Center)
Sept. 29: Auburn Hills, Mich. (Palace of Auburn Hills)
Sept. 30: London, Ontario (Labatt Centre)
Oct. 3: Winnipeg, Manitoba (MTS Centre)
Oct. 5: Calgary, Alberta (Pengrowrth Saddledome)
Oct. 6: Edmonton, Alberta (Rexall Place)
Oct. 10: Portland, Ore. (Rose Garden)
Oct. 11: Seattle (Key Arena)
Nov. 5: Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl)
Dec. 4: Toronto (Air Canada Centre)

Source billboard.com.

Singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur will launch his own label, Lonely Astronaut, with the Sept. 19 release of his fifth studio album, “Nuclear Daydream.” The imprint will be distributed Red/Sony. Arthur’s last record, 2004’s acclaimed “Our Shadows Will Remain,” was issued by Vector.

To read more visit billboard.com.

A previously unreleased duet with Johnny Cash is among the special tracks to be found on the Waylon Jennings boxed set “Nashville Rebel,” due Sept. 26 via RLG Nashville/Legacy. “The Greatest Cowboy of Them All” was recorded in 1978, the same year the late Jennings’ duet with Willie Nelson, “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” spent four weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart.

Beyond such hits as “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” “Good Hearted Woman,” “I Ain’t Living Long Like This,” “Highwayman” and “Rose in Paradise,” the four-disc collection includes two early period tracks that have never been released in the U.S.: “It’s Sure Been Fun” and “People in Dallas Got Hair.”

“Nashville Rebel” was created in tandem with Jennings’ widow Jessi Colter and their son Shooter Jennings. Liner notes were penned by Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye and country historian Rich Kienzle.

Source billboard.com.

Arts & Crafts has announced the release of The Dears new album, ‘Gang of Losers.’ Set for an October 3, 2006 release, ‘Gang of Losers’ follows up the critically acclaimed album, ‘No Cities Left’, which established The Dears as the most artful, revolutionary pop band hailing from Canada.

‘Gang of Losers,’ the third full-length release from the Montreal sextet, is a classic Dears album in terms of its complex musical and thematic range. However, unlike the previous Dears albums, it replaces the elaborately layered orchestral pop sound with meticulously crafted rock songs stripped to its bare elements.