2006

The Red Hot Chili Peppers will unleash a double album, “Stadium Arcadium,” May 9 via Warner Bros. The group recorded 38 songs for the project, and at one point even considered releasing three separate records, but ultimately whittled the material down to a 25-track, two-disc set. Mixing on the Rick Rubin-produced effort is now halfway complete, according to frontman Anthony Kiedis.

“We got together and our initial writing task was to write a short record: an old school, hit ’em and quit ’em, straight to the point record,” he tells Billboard.com. “A record with only 11 or 12 songs instead of 17 songs, just for a change. Three months later, we had 38 songs, all of which were meaningful and worth recording and mixing.”

At first, the idea of an album trilogy seemed “inspiring and appealing. But the more we thought about it, the more we realized it would be a nightmare,” Kiedis admits. “Even if you only release them six months apart, you’re waiting two years until the final installment. Nobody had that kind of patience. By that time, we want to be writing new music and making another record. The best we could come up with is squeezing our favorite 25 onto one body.”

Kiedis cites “Snow” as one of his favorite tunes from the new album, due to its “really crazy sounding guitar part. It’s very busy but rhythmically desirable at the same time. That has grown into one of the epic, kind of great-feeling jams on this record.” Another tune, “Wet Sand,” goes in a new structural direction. “It isn’t so much verse/chorus/verse/chorus with a bridge,” Kiedis says. “It has a beginning, a middle and an end, which I like as a change of pace.”

Fans are sure to be thrilled by the playing of guitarist John Frusciante, who here eschews the more minimalist approach of the Peppers’ past two albums. Says Kiedis, “On this record, he was kind of like, ‘Okay, it’s time for me to lay it all on the table and really shine as a guitar player.’ He’s a lot more balls-out. It’s very solo intensive — there’s some incredible guitar solos. I guess there’s still a little bit of early Beach Boys and early Electric Light Orchestra and intense vocal harmonies. They make themselves known.”

Kiedis attributes the creative burst to the fact that “the chemistry when it comes to writing is better than ever. Always in the past, there was a little bit of struggle between Flea, John or myself as contributing writers — a struggle to dominate. But we are now confident enough in who we are, so everybody feels more comfortably contributing more and more valuable, quality stuff.”

The Peppers will “start rocking in May,” according to Kiedis, with the itinerary set to visit Europe first. A North American tour will then run from August through November. “Instead of playing outdoor shows, we’ll play indoor shows so we can bring a little bit of theatrical love into the arena space,” the artist says.

Source billboard.com.

Beth Orton’s new album, Comfort of Strangers will be released on February 7th, 2006 on Astralwerks.

Recorded over two weeks, Comfort of Strangers, Beth’s fourth album, was recorded at New York’s Sear Sound studio in the spring of 2005. Famed composer Jim O’Rourke (of Sonic Youth fame) takes a production credit on this 14 track release, previously having worked his magic on recordings by such diverse groups and artists as Wilco and Stereolab.

You can see Beth in the flesh – with special guest Willy Mason – when she kicks off her highly anticipated spring tour on March 12 in Washington DC.

March
12 – 9:30 Club – Washington DC
13 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
15 – SXSW – Austin, TX
19 – Gothic Theatre – Denver, CO
20 – Club Sound – Salt Lake City, UT
23 – House of Blues – San Diego
24 – Avalon – Hollywood, CA
25 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
27 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
28 – The Showbox – Seattle, WA
29 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, Canada

April
1 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
2 – Barrymore Theatre – Madison, WI
3 – Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
5 – The Majestic Theatre – Detroit, MI
6 – Carlu – Toronto, Canada
7 – Club Soda – Montreal, Canada
8 – Avalon – Boston, MA
10 – TLA – Philadelphia, PA
11 – Webster Hall – New York, NY

Source filter.com.

Steely Dan principal Donald Fagen will begin his first-ever solo tour March 1 in New Brunswick, N.J. At deadline, 18 dates were on tap through March 28 in Oakland, Calif. The trek comes in support of his third solo album, “Morph the Cat,” due March 7 via Reprise.

On the day of release, the artist will play a hometown show at New York’s Beacon Theatre. The tour set list is expected to be dominated by Fagen’s solo work, with a sprinkling of Steely Dan material. The makeup of the live band has yet to be announced.

“Morph the Cat” is highlighted by the unique blend of Fagen’s imaginative storytelling and the groove-oriented, backing vocal-laden pop for which Steely Dan is renowned.

He woos an airport security screener on “Security Joan” (“Girl you won’t find my name on your list / Honey you know I ain’t no terrorist”), talks shop with the late Ray Charles on “What I Do” (“He says, ‘Don don’t despair — just take some time / You find your bad self — you’re gonna do just fine'”) and imagines a “thuggish cult” taking over the U.S. government on “Mary Shut the Garden Door.”

On-sale information for the upcoming shows can be found on Fagen’s Web site, as well as VIP packages which offer seats in the first 10 rows plus access to soundcheck.

Here are Donald Fagen’s tour dates:

March 1: New Brunswick, N.J. (State Theatre)
March 3: Westbury, N.Y. (North Fork Theatre)
March 4: Upper Darby, Pa. (Tower Theatre)
March 6: Washington, D.C. (Warner Theatre)
March 7: New York (Beacon Theatre)
March 9: Boston (Opera House)
March 10: Atlantic City, N.J. (Borgata)
March 12: Ottawa, Ontario (National Arts Centre)
March 13: Toronto (Massey Hall)
March 15: Cleveland (Palace Theatre)
March 16: Detroit (Opera House)
March 18: Chicago (Chicago Theatre)
March 19: Minneapolis (State Theatre)
March 21: Denver (Paramount Theatre)
March 24: Las Vegas (the Joint)
March 25: Temecula, Calif. (Pechanga Resort)
March 27: Los Angeles (the Wiltern)
March 28: Oakland, Calif. (Paramount)

Source billboard.com.

Composer Steve Reich will celebrate his 70th birthday with a host of special events this fall. Dubbed Steve Reich@70 and due to kick off Oct. 3, the program is a joint venture between the New York venues the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

The festivities will begin at BAM with the U.S. premiere of the commission “Variations for Vibes, Pianos and Strings” as part of a dance program by the Akram Khan Company. The piece will be performed by the London Sinfonietta. The evening will also feature a performance by choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.

Next up is a six-day Professional Training Workshop at Carnegie Hall, focusing on Reich’s instrumental pieces. The workshop will close with an Oct. 18 performance of “City Life.” Three days later, several landmark Reich works will be performed by the artists for whom they were originally written: Pat Metheny on “Electric Counterpoint,” the Kronos Quartet on “Different Trains” and Reich and Musicians on “Music for 18 Musicians.”

On Oct. 22, Reich will sit for a conversation with Carnegie Hall Artistic Advisor Ara Guzelimian before the U.S. premiere for “Daniel Variations,” inspired by the murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

At Lincoln Center, the focus will be on Reich’s works for voice. The program begins Oct. 28 with “Tehillim” and the New York premiere of “You Are (Variations),” performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale as conducted by Grant Gershon. Reich’s own ensemble will revisit the video opera “The Cave” from Nov. 2-4, marking its first performance since 1999.

Source billboard.com.

Hip-hop collective Dilated Peoples will on Feb. 21 release its fourth album, “20/20,” via Capitol, a day before kicking off a North American headlining tour. The video for lead single “Back Again” features cameos from the Alchemist and Cypress Hill’s B-Real and can be streamed through Yahoo! Music.

Dilated Peoples’ last album, “Neighborhood Watch,” has sold 143,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan and featured the hit single, “This Way,” produced by and featuring Kanye West.

In support of “20/20,” the trio of rappers Rakaa and Evidence and DJ Babu will perform Feb. 20 on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and Feb. 28 on NBC’s “Last Call With Carson Daly.” The tour kicks off Feb. 22 at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, with rap trio Little Brother as the opening act.

Here are Dilated Peoples’ tour dates:

Feb. 22: Los Angeles (House of Blues)
Feb. 23: San Francisco (Mezzanine)

Feb. 25: Portland, Ore. (Berbati’s Pan)
Feb. 27: Vancouver (Commodore)
Feb. 28: Seattle (Showbox)
March 2: Park City, Utah (Suede)
March 3-4: Boulder, Colo. (Fox Theatre)
March 6: Minneapolis (First Avenue)
March 7: Chicago (Park West)
March 12: Burlington, Vt. (Higher Ground)
March 13: Boston (Paradise Rock Club)
March 15-16: New York (S.O.B.’s)
March 18: Baltimore (Sonar)
March 21: Atlanta (Roxy)
March 23: Houston (Warehouse Live)
March 24: Austin, Texas (The Parish)
March 25: Dallas (Gypsy Tea Room)
March 27: Phoenix (Marquee Theatre)
March 28: Solana Beach, CA (Belly Up Tavern)
March 31: Anaheim, Calif. (House of Blues)

Source billboard.com.

moe. will host Snoe.down March 17-19, 2006. This event, which kicks off the week long Adirondack Almost Springfest celebration, will take place at the famed Olympic Center in Lake Placid, NY, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, and at nearby Whiteface. Great Northeast Productions, the organizers behind all of Phish’s legendary festivals, have joined with moe. to make Snoe.down a unique Winter event not to be missed.

Friday and Saturday nights will feature moe. at the Olympic Center’s 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena.

As a very special treat for Snoe.down festival attendees, the Verizon Luge Challenge is sponsoring an outdoor performance featuring moe. on Saturday afternoon, March 18th as well as indoor performances by other Artists in the Whiteface Lodge throughout the weekend.

Verizon, a founding sponsor of USA Luge, is bringing the Verizon Luge Challenge to Whiteface Mountain March 18-19. Snoe.down attendees will be able to experience the Fastest Sport on Ice in a safe slope-side setting, with help from USA Luge international medalists, athletes and coaches. Participation in the Verizon Luge Challenge is free, and no experience or lift ticket is required. Adults and children, aged 10 and older after learning the basics of accelerating, steering and stopping from USA Luge athletes and coaches can take practice runs on a recreational version of a luge sled down a track complete with curves and timing equipment.

Additional artists will perform throughout the weekend, including:

SOULIVE: The funky organ trio brings their unique blend of soul, jazz and hip hop evoking Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly & The Family Stone and Curtis Mayfield. The Woodstock, NY, based group has toured with Dave Mathews Band, the Roots and India.arie, and will open for the Rolling Stones in late January.

ASSEMBLY OF DUST: Formed in 2002 and led by Strangefolk founder Reid Genauer, Assembly of Dust will bring their hick-funk sound seamlessly weaving country, jazz and Motown grooves. Following moe.’s Saturday afternoon performance, Assembly of Dust will perform an intimate Apres Luge set in the Whiteface Lodge.

TEA LEAF GREEN: The San Francisco jam based rock and roll band made their moe.down debut last summer to a tremendous response.

DREAD CLAMPITT: This Hip Billy string band brings their funky R&B bluegrass feel.

GORDON STONE: Vermont’s own banjo and pedal steel virtuoso.

RYAN MONTBLEAU BAND: Think Stevie Wonder meets Paul Simon. A jaw-dropping solo performer, as well as the front man of his own six-piece band, playing in both forms at Snoe.down.

Fans will be able to take advantage of a myriad of Lake Placid winter activities. Day skiing and snowboarding at nearby Whiteface will be available from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. The Olympic Center arena will open at 5:30 PM on Friday and Saturday. During the concerts fans will even have the option of ice-skating while listening to the show!

Other Snoe.down activities include: Public bobsled and luge rocket rides (weather permitting), outdoor public speed skating (weather permitting), gondola rides to the top of Whiteface, visiting the Olympic ski jump towers and touring the 1932 & 1980 Winter Olympic Museum.

Tickets for Snoe.down are on sale now at the Olympic Center Box Office. Snoe.down tickets may also be purchased by phone at 518-523-3330 or via internet at orda.org

Addison Groove Project (AGP) is proud to announce a new project: Skinjer, which features four of the five members of AGP and will see the members performing new material as well as re-worked versions of AGP staples. Skinjer will feature Dave Adams on lead vocals and saxophone, Ben Groppe on bass, saxophone and flute, Andrew Keith on drums and Rob Marscher on keyboards and vocals.

Skinjer made their debut last year with a performance at University of New Hampshire and that has been their only show to date. The group’s first club dates will take place in some of the members’ favorite venues around the Northeast. The three shows currently scheduled are:

1/27 – Maxwell’s – Hoboken, NJ
1/28 – Higher Ground Showcase Lounge – So. Burlington, VT
2/3 – Iron Horse Music Hall – Northampton, MA

Skinjer formed as a result of Brendan McGinn’s recent entry into medical school. McGinn is the lead singer/guitarist in AGP and his schooling has resulted in a much reduced touring schedule for AGP. With the formation of Skinjer, the other four members of AGP have found a new creative outlet. However, fans of AGP should be relieved to know that AGP will still continue playing select shows, just not as many as in the past.

The name Skinjer is an homage to John Skinger Hall, AGP’s original bass player who passed away in November of 2004.

See skinjer.com for more information.

Anti recording artist Daniel Lanois has confirmed Tuesday night residency at the Silverlake, CA hot spot Spaceland throughout January. Door time for the shows is at 9pm, and set time is 11pm. Lanois will also perform February 3 at Zankel Hall for the New York premiere of his film, the

Singer/songwriter and keyboardist Billy Preston is recovering from a recent bout with a serious infection of the sac encasing his heart. “Billy had a very catastrophic incident happen to him, but he is doing considerably better,” his manager, Joyce Moore, said last week.

Preston, 59, is best known for his work with the Beatles during the later portion of their career, playing the organ on “Get Back.” He also toured with the Rolling Stones and was a regular member of Eric Clapton’s band. His solo hits include “Nothing From Nothing Leaves Nothing” and “Will It Go Round in Circles?”

He has suffered from chronic kidney failure brought on by uncontrolled high blood pressure since 2001, Moore said. He had a kidney transplant in 2002, but the kidney failed and he has been on thrice-weekly dialysis treatments ever since.

Moore said that while Preston isn’t “brain dead” as some reports suggested, he remains seriously ill and is not up and walking around. He cannot speak because he has a tracheotomy.

Moore said he’s not hospitalized at the clinic, but is in a facility where he can receive physical therapy and other medical treatment. Preston is not contemplating another kidney transplant, she said. “He just decided that he could not go through that again,” Moore said.

Source billboard.com.