07.18.05 (MusicPortal.com) Described as "nothing less than extraordinary" by Mojo magazine, PLAYERS will be releasing the follow-up album to their 2003 debut via Sanctuary Records on September 19th. Combining several styles of music including Rock, Funk and Blues, this aptly named veteran group of musicians mix a 21st Century attitude with cunning grooves and seasoned musicianship honed from years of experience, while at the same time paying respect to the past while creating music for the future. In short, PLAYERS mix a fresh contemporary approach to music charmed by an infectious familiarity. Now following on from their critically acclaimed 2003 debut, "Clear The Decks," comes "From The Six Corners," an album of all new material. The first single to be taken off "From The Six Corners," 'What's Your Problem,' will be released on September 5th. PLAYERS' nucleus boasts an illustrious pedigree. There's Mick Talbot, Hammond organ maestro, who's provided the keys for acts including DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS, THE BUREAU, THE STYLE COUNCIL and GALLIANO. There's also Steve White, talented drummer who's provided the backbeat for the JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET and THE STYLE COUNCIL, and is currently playing drums for Paul Weller, formerly of the latter band and THE JAM. Lastly, there's bassist Damon Minchella, formerly of OCEAN COLOUR SCENE and currently a member of Paul Weller's band alongside Steve White. "From The Six Corners" also features the impressive vocal talents of Kelly Dickson, whose raucous, funky delivery recalls that of Marlena Shaw's during her late 1960's run on Cadet Records. Guitarist/vocalist Ken Papenfus and percussionist/vocalist Carl Papenfus round out the PLAYERS current line-up, both of whom are from Irish band RELISH, who's last album went platinum in their homeland. In other PLAYERS news, exactly one week after the band's new line-up debuted at this year's Glastonbury Festival Of The Performing Arts, both Steve White and Damon Minchella proved they are up there with the best by stepping in to play with Rock legends THE WHO at Live 8. "Performing to an audience of over 200,000 people, playing bass with The Who at Live 8," reflects Minchella - "bloody hell, that's going to be difficult to beat!"

07.15.05 (MusicPortal.com) Upcoming Rockers AMERICAN MINOR will release their self-titled debut album on August 16th via Red Ink/Jive Records. The album comes as a complete surprise, sounding like a missive from an alternate, more perfect universe where TELEVISION opened for BAD COMPANY and THE GUN CLUB toured with TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS. AMERICAN MINOR are five working-class young men from rural West Virginia who write songs about real life instead of their record collections. They know that GRAND FUNK RAILROAD was like the MC5, but with a better looking lead singer. Most importantly, AMERICAN MINOR know more about living in house trailers than living off trust funds. Produced by Christopher Thorn and Brad Smith (founding members of BLIND MELON) and mixed by Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck, Foo Fighters, The Vines), "American Minor"'s eleven songs display a natural confidence and ease that spring from a lifetime of shared experiences growing up in Huntingon, West Virginia. Unfettered by the rules and taboos of a local scene, the band's sound developed naturally. "We didn't have anyone telling us what was and wasn't cool," says AMERICAN MINOR vocalist Robert McCutcheon. "Led Zeppelin and Pavement, Neil Young and Fugazi, Tom Waits and Elliott Smith, it was all rock music to us." That freedom allowed AMERICAN MINOR to develop something special: a completely contemporary sound that's firmly grounded in Classic Rock records made before anyone in the band was born. Even though AMERICAN MINOR played its first shows in 2002, the band's roots go all the way back to the 2nd grade, when guitarist Josh Gragg and drummer Josh Knox were both sent to the principal's office for setting off bottle rockets at recess. While waiting to see the man in charge, they discovered a shared interest in AEROSMITH's "Pump" album (especially the 'Love In An Elevator' video). Gragg and Knox remained fast friends through high school, eventually landing coveted jobs at the Teays Valley Dairy Queen. "The DQ was definitely the prestige job among kids in our hometown," says Robert McCutcheon. "Once you'd worked there long enough, you got to change the letters on the marquee out side the restaurant, using one of those long magnetic poles to reach the sign. And since a new message on the Dairy Queen sign qualified as big news in our town, everyone thought the sign was hilarious, so being the official 'Sign Guy' made you a local celebrity." DQ... [full story]
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07.15.05 (MusicPortal.com) Celebrating the success of her Top Ten Gold selling album "Voice," ALISON MOYET has for the first time ever recorded a commercial version of her sold out "One Blue Voice" UK live concert tour. The concert was filmed just last month on June 6th in front of a specially invited audience at The Hospital in Covent Garden, London. "One Blue Voice" the DVD, will be released by Sanctuary Visual Entertainment on September 26th. Performing with an eight-piece band including a string quartet, the material includes tracks from Moyet's "Voice," and songs from the acclaimed Brit-nominated album, "Hometime." Classics such as 'Should I Feel That It's Over,' 'Alfie,' 'Only You' and 'That Old Devil Called Love,' all of which have never been recorded live before, are also presented here as exclusive bonus tracks within the DVD extras, which also include an interview interspersed with performance extracts and a photo gallery. The concert setlist includes a moving rendition of Michel Legrand's 'Windmills Of Your Mind' and the Elvis Costello composition, 'Almost Blue.' 'Wraggle Taggle Gypsies' lifts the tempo, and the Baroque classic 'Dido's Lament' showcases Moyet's natural vocal strength and ability. The capacity to present this exclusive concert in both Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound, allows fans of ALISON MOYET to enjoy this intimate performance in the comfort of their own home, as the "One Blue Voice" DVD captures an exceptional talent in spectacular form. Superbly stylized and beautifully lit, ALISON MOYET proves without a doubt that she still has the depth and purity to her voice millions of fans worldwide have come to adore. She's been a card-carrying punk, a Blues shouter, and a dance-floor diva. She's taken one of the most expressive voices heard in pop music in many a year and used it to vividly depict the depths of despair and the celestial joys of love. In short, ALISON MOYET, revered singer/songwriter, has again and again pushed the limits of Pop music ... and she's not about to stand still. Born in Billericay, Essex, Alison grew up in Basildon and left school at sixteen largely unqualified. She spent time as a shop worker before embarking on a piano tuning course which she had to abort in the second year as the single, 'Only You,' became a worldwide hit. This new found fame was alongside Electronic music innovator Vince Clarke in the band YAZOO (a.k.a. "YAZ" in North America). Together, they redefined Dance music, merging the cold soundscapes of synthesized music with sweet Soul. However, after two albums and a Brit Award for "Best New Band," it was... [full story]
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07.12.05 (MusicPortal.com) BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS' new song 'Blue Sky' has been recognized as the theme song of the Space Shuttle's much-anticipated return to flight. As a result of this, NASA has invited the Rock trio to be on hand as VIP guests at the Kennedy Space Center tomorrow, July 13th, when the space shuttle Discovery lifts off on a 13-day mission commanded by Eileen Collins, the first woman to helm a shuttle exploration. 'Blue Sky' just became available today exclusively through iTunes here, and will also be on the BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS' next album. BHTM vocalist/guitarist Todd Park Mohr wrote 'Blue Sky' at the urging of John Horan, Deputy Program Manager for ASRC Aerospace Corporation, NASA's research and development contractor. "John's a fan and came on our BHTM Fan Cruise in January," says Mohr, referring to a week-long excursion of the British Virgin Islands which the band hosts for 240 fans each spring. "We got to talking, and he said they've used 'Rocket Man' so much, and wanted a song specifically about the American shuttle program." After the tour, Mohr returned to his solar-powered studio in the Colorado mountains and started doing research about NASA. "I drew on my experience from visiting the Kennedy Space Center with Brian and Rob, where we were given a behind-the-scenes tour, as well as astronauts' autobiographical material posted on the NASA website. I am a believer in space exploration, and believe the effort is in many ways the cream and flower of human achievement." BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS (Mohr, bassist Rob Squires and drummer Brian Nevin) were friends in high school and formed the group in 1986 while attending Littleton, Colorado's Columbine High School. Their latest releases include the "Crimes Of Passion" album and the "Live From The Fillmore" DVD, both available via Sanctuary Records. BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS have released nine albums, including the platinum-selling "Sister Sweetly" and continue to tour relentlessly. The band's radio hits include the songs 'Broken Hearted Savior,' 'Sister Sweetly,' 'Bittersweet' and 'Resignation Superman.'
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07.08.05 (MusicPortal.com) Country music sensations BIG & RICH are slated to kick off an extensive U.S. tour at the beginning of next month that will run through the end of October. Tour Dates: 08/06 Dallas, TX [Smirnoff Music Center] • 08/07 Little Rock, AR [Alltel Pavilion] • 08/12 Cleveland, OH [Blosson Music Center] • 08/13 Cincinnati, OH [Riverbend Music Center] • 08/14 Columbus, OH [Germaine Amphitheater] 08/17 Louisville, KY [Freedom Hall] • 08/19 Philadelphia, PA [Tweeter Center At The Waterfront] • 08/20 Washington, DC [Nissan Pavilion At Stone Ridge] • 08/21 Darien Lakes, NY [Darien Lake Performing Arts Center] • 08/25 Birmingham, AL [Verizon Wireless Music Center] • 08/26 Charlotte, NC [Verizon Wireless Amphitheater] • 08/27 Raleigh, NC [Alltel Pavilion At Walnut Creek] • 09/02 Detroit, MI [DTE Energy Music Center] • 09/03 Pittsburgh, PA [Post-Gazette Pavilion At Star Lake] • 09/04 Saratoga Springs, NY [Saratoga Performing Arts Center] • 09/09 Kansas City, MO [Verizon Wireless Amphitheater] • 09/10 Chicago, IL [Tweeter Center] • 09/11 St. Louis, MO [UMB Bank Pavilion] • 09/23 Holmdel, NJ [PNC Bank Arts Center] • 09/24 Hershey, PA [Hershey Park Stadium] • 09/25 Boston, MA [Tweeter Center For The Performing Arts] • 10/01 Indianapolis, IN [Verizon Wireless Music Center] • 10/06 Albuquerque, NM [Journal Pavilion] • 10/07 Denver, CO [Pepsi Center] • 10/08 Portland, OR [Clark County Amphitheatre] • 10/14 Salt Lake City, UT [USANA Amphitheatre] • 10/15 Seattle, WA [White River Amphitheatre] • 10/16 Boise, ID [Idaho Center] • 10/18 Fresno, CA [Save Mart Center - Cal State University] • 10/20 Sacramento, CA [Sleep Train Amphitheatre] • 10/21 Mountain View, CA [Shoreline Amphitheatre] • 10/22 Los Angeles, CA [Verizon Wireless Amphitheater] • 10/23 San Diego, CA [Coors Amphitheatre] • 10/28 Atlanta, GA [HiFi Buys Amphitheatre] • 10/29 Tampa, FL [Ford Amphitheatre] • 10/30 West Palm Beach, FL [Sound Advice Amphitheatre]

07.05.05 (MusicPortal.com) Never one to rest on his laurels, three-time Grammy-winner and multi-platinum-selling singer/guitarist JOHN MAYER has announced the formation of the JOHN MAYER TRIO. Joining Mayer in the new undertaking are bassist Pino Palladino (The Who, Jeff Beck) and drummer Steve Jordan (Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones). "Steve and I had been doing sessions together, and we were scheduled to do the Tsunami Aid benefit," JOHN MAYER recalls. "So Steve said, 'I know who we can get -- Pino Palladino.' I said, 'I'd love to play with Pino.' Pino came and we rehearsed Jimi Hendrix's 'Bold As Love' for the benefit. And something happened that I had hoped my entire life would happen, which is that thing about how a band got together for the first time, and everyone in the room just knew there was something special. When it became me, Steve and Pino, it became this whole different thing. That set me off on a writing streak. The challenge was, 'Here's this great band - now what are you gonna do with it?' So I went and wrote from a whole new place. So it became a band." The trio -- who subsequently appeared at the 2005 Grammy Awards ceremony performing a captivating rendition of Mayer's 'Daughters' -- will unveil their electrified sound on a Fall tour of North America, including three dates with the Rolling Stones, all of which is slated to kick off September 6th. Ray LaMontagne and Joss Stone have been confirmed as special guests on selected shows, while other support acts are still yet to be announced. "This trio tour isn't just an excuse to blow on the guitar," says JOHN MAYER. "It's an opportunity to present my fans with something live, in the sense of living now -- that classic palate. I want people to show up at the gig and see the amp lights glowing and hear that idling buzz. I just want to bring people that power." The new venture is a testament to the respect JOHN MAYER has for his fans, as he continues to provide them with new musical permutations in the knowledge that they'll willingly go wherever he chooses to take them. "I have a whole new appetite for something different," Mayer enthuses. "I want people to feel, and share, this excitement that I have."
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07.01.05 (MusicPortal.com) Reflective of the Malibu, California coastline for which they are named, BIG DUME deliver a musical blend of power, beauty and danger while seductively evoking extraordinary emotion on their debut full-length album, "Inside My Head," which is set to be released on Chartless Records July 26th. Formed in early 2004 by singer/songwriter Brandon Jenner and a close knit group of musicians emerging from the growing Malibu music scene, BIG DUME open "Inside My Head" with the dark and introspective title track, moving through an incredible fusion of styles, thought-provoking lyrics and emotive arrangements before closing with a stripped down acoustic confessional in 'I Lost You.' Loaded with textured melodies and biting honesty, the album ventures deeply into the complex balance between love and loss, narcissism and humility, sensitivity and cynicism, confusion and clarity, etc., while within it all, an addictive curiosity leads the listener from one track to the next with heightened interest. Brandon Jenner is the first-born of gold-medal Olympian Bruce Jenner and Pop culture beauty and award-winning lyricist, Linda Thompson. Thompson later married 14-time Grammy Award winning producer David Foster, who has been a close part of Brandon Jenner's life and growth for 20 years. BIG DUME's lineup includes bassist Joe Ayoub, who has also worked with Liz Phair, Marvin Sapp and Tyler Hilton, among others, and drummer Chris Steele,who holds a master's degree in Jazz studies and anchors the rhythms while bringing innovative percussion technique to the band's original Rock sound. Additional vocals and piano are delivered by Leah Felder, a life-long native of Malibu and daughter of former lead guitarist Don Felder from THE EAGLES. Brandon Jenner and Leah Felder previously teamed up in another band called NIGHT VISION in 2003. In addition to his own songwriting and recording, Jenner has done guitar session work with notable artists including Josh Groban, Michael Buble and pianist William Joseph, and earned his national touring stripes as bassist for Punk band 2 CENTS during the 2003 Warped Tour.
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[Blues News: June 2005]
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