Saturday, March 6, 2010

Saturday 6th, March 2010

Hi all, will post more updates late tonight or tomorrow ... We have a gig today, charity event so we have to be there early for set up and sound check. Then come home to chill a bit, then head back for the gig.
Huntingdon's Disease is the cause that many bands are offering their services for free today for.
I know there are many valid charities out there and yes, this is another that needs support to find a cure and the whole event tonight is titled, 'Spotlight On A Cure.'
For more info on the disease, go to http://www.hdsa.org/
Thanks for listening. :)

Very brief this morning.

Survivor Looking to release new album soon!

Well, contradictory to what I thought, it seems there will be a new Survivor album soon!
Frankie Sullivan has posted on his Facebook page that a deal has been secured and ...
Well, this is what he posted!

Frankie Sullivan 'Well, with the deal in place we will now release the New Survivor CD of all new material! it is a great time for us all here after alot of time and the hardest of all work in writing the tunes that set the bar for the entire project. We are just weeks away from the first release and excited as one can be! Stay tuned for the details as they will be released in an official press release this week.'

Follow this link to keep up with Frankie through Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=1674621232&ref=nf

Sorry folks, that's it right now, must run!
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Friday, March 5, 2010

Rock News for Friday 5th March, 2010

Asia offers free download of new song from new album 'Omega'

Supergroup Asia and Frontiers Records are offering a free complete download of a new song, 'Finger on the Trigger,' from their forthcoming new album, 'Omega' due for release in April.

Go here for your free copy in wave or mp3 format:

Newman updates, the album and he's on ARFM this weekend

Steve Newman,the man / name behind the band Newman, will be the special guest of Steve Price on "The Steve Price Rock Show" this coming Saturday March 6th on ARfm. Steve will be talking to Steve about the new album and all things Newman.
Steve will also being playing a few acoustic songs live in the studio. The programme runs from 6pm (18:00) to 9pm (21:00) UK time.

Newman were recently confirmed to play Firefest 2010 and Steve said this about it through his site:
'We can't begin to describe how excited we are to be asked to play this year, it's going to be a great two days.'
More details over at the official website http://www.thefirefest.com/
The new album 'The Art Of Balance' is out on the 15th March and available for pre-order direct from the band @ http://www.newmansound.com/
 
Anyone fancy seeing Yes and Peter Frampton? How about together?!
 
Yes-Peter Frampton US Summer Tour 2010
Yes and Peter Frampton are reuniting for a twenty-five city national co-headline summer tour, which kicks-off in early June and runs through the middle of July. The total length of the show is three hours.
The two performed stadium shows together in 1976, including a show to more than 100,000 at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. Preliminary dates are now on the Tour page. More dates and on-sales coming soon.
Please note: Jon Anderson is not part of this lineup.

Peter Frampton also releases a new album, 'Thank You Mr. Churchill'– coming out April 16.
For more info on Peter Frampton:  http://www.frampton.com/
Incidentally, fans of Frampton's excellent 'Premonition' album from it's vinyl release days, that don't yet have a digital or CD copy of the album, it's now available for download through I-Tunes.

Dates so far confirmed:
JUNE 2010
Date Day City Venue
16 WED Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
18 FRI Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
19 SAT Upper Darby, PA Tower Theater
20 SUN Meadow Lands, PA Meadows Racetrack and Casino
23 WED Vienna, VA Wolf Trap Foundation for Performing Arts

JULY 2010
4 SUN Blue Ash, OH Lake Forest Venue
7 WED Albuquerque, NM Sandia Casino
9 FRI Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
10 SAT Valley Center, CA Harrah’s Rincon-Open Sky Theater

Heart announce new album and tour

Seattles finest lady rockers, Heart are to release a new album titled, 'Red Velvet Car,' although sources indicate it won't be released until after their planned summer tour dates, a little strange but there you go!
No more details on the album at this time, but I'm sure if you keep track of their activities through their website here:
and Ann Wilson's MySpace:
Full details on those tour dates here:
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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Rock News for Thursday 4th March, 2010

Hey folks, sorry it's late today .... Phew, what a day ...!
OK here we go then ....

IRON MAIDEN ANNOUNCE NEW STUDIO ALBUM "THE FINAL FRONTIER"
AND NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

IRON MAIDEN are pleased to announce that their forthcoming new studio album will be called 'THE FINAL FRONTIER', and is expected be released late summer of this year.

The announcement comes with news of a North American Tour with Very Special Guests Dream Theater to open in Dallas, Texas, on 9th June and finish in Washington D.C. on 20th July, making it Maiden's most extensive North American tour in many years.

Following these shows in USA and Canada The Final Frontier World Tour will travel back to Europe for a few selected major festival and stadium shows with the band planning to continue to many other countries in 2011 (full currently confirmed dates below).

The full Live Nation North America press release for the North American Tour is posted here:
http://www.ironmaiden.com/index.php?categoryid=8&p2_articleid=1183
An exclusive pre-sale allowing members of the IRON MAIDEN fan club first access to tickets to the North American Maiden Shows will be made available two days prior to them being available to the public.

Tickets for the Canadian shows will go on sale to the public on Saturday 13th March at 10am PST (10am EST for Toronto and 12 noon EST Montreal).

Exclusive first access to the tickets will be available to IM fan club members on Wednesday 10th March at 10am PST through to Thursday 11th March at 6pm PST (EST for Toronto).

Regretfully due to technical reasons an exclusive Pre-Sale in Montreal is not possible.
Tickets for the US Shows will go on sale to the public on Saturday 20th March at 10am EST.

Exclusive first access to the tickets will be available to IM fan club members on Wednesday 17th March at 10am EST through to Thursday 18th March at 6pm EST

As IRON MAIDEN are actively dedicated to ensuring their fans always have access to the best possible tickets at the fairest possible price, without being subject to scalping for good seats, so many North American shows will operate, at least in part, a paperless ticket policy: More information on Ticketmaster Paperless Ticketing can be found here:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/paperless
To give IRON MAIDEN fan club members a privileged insight to their touring world, IMTV will return to http://www.ironmaiden.com/ to cover THE FINAL FRONTIER WORLD TOUR. This exclusive footage includes regular video from the live shows, touring, band interviews, insights into our crew and what they do and much much more. The website will also feature exclusive tour diaries, exclusive photographs and anything else that helps the fans get a real insight into the dynamics of a big tour.
**THE FINAL FRONTIER 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR**
With Very Special Guests Dream Theater

JUNE 2010
Wed 09 Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center
Fri 11 Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sat 12 San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
Mon 14 Denver, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
Wed 16 Albuquerque, NM - The Pavilion
Thu 17 Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Wireless Pavilion
Sat 19 San Bernardino, CA - San Manuel Amphitheatre
Sun 20 Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion
Tue 22 Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
Thu 24 Vancouver, BC - GM Place
Sat 26 Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
Tue 29 Saskatoon, SK - Credit Union Center
Wed 30 Winnipeg, MB - MTS Center +
+Dream Theater will not be performing in Winnipeg

JULY 2010Sat 03 Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
Wed 07 Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
Sun 11 Holmdel, NJ - PNC
Mon 12 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
Wed 14 Pittsburgh, PA - First Niagra Pavilion
Thu 15 Cleveland, OH - Blossom Music Center
Sat 17 Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
Sun 18 Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Tue 20 Washington D.C. - Jiffy Lube Live

**THE FINAL FRONTIER 2010 EUROPEAN TOUR**
July 30 -UK - Knebworth Sonisphere Festival
AUGUST 2010
Thur 05 - Germany - Wacken Festival
Sat 07 - Sweden - Stockholm Stora Skuggan Sonisphere Festival
Sun 08 - Finland - Helsinki Pori's Kirjurinluoto Sonisphere Festival
Wed 11 UK - Norway- Bergen Bergenhus Festning - Koengen
http://www.ironmaiden.com/index.php

Y&T UPDATE - MARCH 2010
Y&T are excited to announce their new album release event at the Fillmore in San Francisco on Saturday, May 22. The band is especially happy to have their buddy Don Dokken open the show. This is an "All Ages" show, so bring the kids. Tickets go on sale Sunday, March 7.
Y&T's annual Fillmore show always sells out so be sure to get your tickets early.

A huge thanks to all the fans who gave their support and helped get Y&T to Reno. See tour dates for outcome! Look for many more tour dates to come this year.

NEW Y&T ALBUM (On the way ...)
The band is locked in the recording studio long hours, day and night, working on the new album. Drop by the web site forum and see the latest info that Dave Meniketti has posted about the progress of the new Y&T album. We'll keep you updated as news develops, but check out the forum for the most up-to-date info on this new Y&T project. Forum fans hear the news first.

Y&T SHOWS
Details for each of the shows below are on the TOUR DATES page of the web site:

Tour Dates 2010
Stay tuned...many more 2010 shows to come!

USA - May 2010
May 1 ~ Chicago (Elgin), IL - MelodicRock Fest 2 - http://www.melodicrockfest.com/
May 13 ~ Agoura Hills, CA - Canyon Club (all ages show--under 18 must be with a paying adult)
May 14 ~ San Juan Capistrano, CA - Coach House (all ages show)
May 15 ~ Redondo Beach, CA - Brixton
May 22 ~ San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore (all ages show) + special guest Don Dokken

See below for June dates in Europe

July 2010
July 16 ~ Portland, OR - Peter's Room @ Roseland Theater
July 17 ~ Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
July 24 ~ Wichita, KS - Midwest Rock Fest (all ages)

August 2010
August 5 ~ Allentown, PA - Sterling Rock Room (all ages show)
August 6 ~ Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance Theatre (16 & over)
August 7 ~ New York, NY - BB King Blues Club (all ages show)
August 14 ~ San Antonio, TX - Backstage Live
August 15 ~ El Paso, TX - The Vault
August 20 ~ Reno, NV - New Oasis (all ages show)
August 21 ~ Sacramento, CA - The Crest Theater (all ages show)
August 26 ~ Hollywood, CA - Key Club
August 27 ~ Tempe, AZ - Club Red
August 28 ~ Las Vegas, NV - Feelgoods

Europe - June 2010
June 10 ~ Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
June 16 ~ Zwolle, Netherlands - Hedon Podium
June 17 ~ Dordrecht, Netherlands - Bibelot
June 19 ~ Clisson, France - Hellfest
*Schedule subject to change. Be sure to verify with each venue.*
Check the web site TOUR DATES page for the most up-to-date concert information.
Thanks for your support!

Daughtry and Amazon hook up to offer 'Deal of the Day!'
 
Well, to be honest, how much of a deal is this ...?
Anyone that likes Daughtry probably already has this album, but if you don't have 'Leave This Town' tomorrow for one day only, Amazon and Daughtry have teamed up to offer the album for download for the hugely discounted price of just $3.99.
 
Here's the post from Daughtry on this deal:
For all you Daughtry fans who have yet to purchase the critically acclaimed new album 'Leave This Town,' Amazon.com will be offering the 12 track album for only $3.99 tomorrow Friday 03/05 as part of their Amazon Daily Deal offer. That's like getting 3 Daughtry tracks for every $1 you spend. Talk about a bargain. Be sure to put this in your calenders and head on over to http://www.amazon.com/ tomorrow!
Follow this link on Friday 5th March.
 
Jeff Scott Soto's W.E.T. band pulls out of Melodicrock Fest 2
Sadly for melodic rock fans who were planning on attending Melodicrock Fest 2 to specifically see W.E.T. featuring Jeff Scott Soto on lead vocals, will be disappointed.
Read this announcement from Andrew McNiece posted at his site this morning:
 
W.E.T. CANCELS MRF APPEARANCE

It is with great regret that I must announce that W.E.T. have today cancelled their appearance at MelodicRock Fest 2 in Chicago, on Saturday May 2.
It is a source of great frustration for me personally to announce this, but also for the rest of the guys, as I know they were looking forward to coming together to perform for the first time - which was to be their only live date in 2010.

The reason behind the cancellation is that vocalist Jeff Scott Soto is held on retainer for Trans-Siberian Orchestra to perform in their nationwide Spring tour of North America and the dates clash.
Jeff was originally not scheduled to be part of the group's upcoming Spring dates, but a change of plans now requires to join the group for a prominent role in the tour - rehearsals for which started this week in New York.

This clash has also meant that Jeff has had to cancel appearances in Europe and America, including the May 1 appearance with Spike Edney in North Carolina.

This cancellation also means that Eclipse – whose members are a major component of W.E.T. - will no longer be performing. It became apparent that it was not going to be economically viable to fly the guys in for just one short set on the Saturday.
Jeff, Erik and Robert regret this announcement, it is unavoidable and they wish to apologise to any fans looking forward to their appearance. I am going to personally work with the guys to find an alternative opportunity in the near future for their live debut.

A main feature of the Sunday line-up, the loss of W.E.T. leaves a significant gap to fill, but I believe I have the answer and will make an announcement on that in the next 24-48 hours. The Eclipse slot will be filled by reallocating time slots for the other Saturday artists.

Refunds for any ticket holders coming specifically for the W.E.T. performance are available. One again, my personal apologies for this issue arising and causing disruption to the MelodicRockFest event. Everyone else is locked in and ready to go for a fantastic weekend of hard rocking fun.
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Giant - Promise Land CD review

Giant – Promise Land (Frontiers records) 
Released (North America) March 9th, 2010

You know when Dann Huff more or less said he was done with Giant you almost wanted to ask why?

How demanding was it? It wasn’t like the band was doing major tours or loads of PR work for their last couple of albums. The last release, ‘3’ was I seem to recall, outtakes and previously unreleased stuff redone, if memory serves me right or am I wrong …? It certainly wasn’t as strong as either of it’s predecessors.

So what was so demanding about Giant then Dann, expectations or is it you’d just rather focus on producing more pop driven artists? Hmmm. Sorry, I'm done whining ...!

So, this is the 'new' Giant, not same as the 'old' Giant, so a new experience for us all and now minus original members, Dann Huff, Alan Pasqua (Who was also missing on ‘3’) and you’re wondering, so how does it does 'Promise Land' sound?
Before I get there, let me tell you that original members drummer and brother of Dann, David Huff is here and so is bassist Mike Brignardello, but in come new members Terry Brock on lead vocals and Winger guitarist John Roth.

Well, there’s hints of Giant, but with opening track ‘I’m A Believer’ I’d have to say they have a sound not unlike say current Journey (Sorry, just how it sounds.), which is no bad thing to many AOR rock fans. Terry Brock’s vocals here though, it’s hard not to think Journey, as his style is similar to Steve Perry’s. Ironically, Dann Huff played the guitar here and to be honest it’s more like prime Neal Schon again no bad thing ..., but there is already …, Journey.

Sure, I’m guilty of being a big Journey fan – Although did not agree with how they treated singer Jeff Scott Soto after he bailed them out and to a degree, Steve Augeri. – and in liking Journey so much, I love stuff like Hugo, Strangeways (Brock’s old band), The Storm, The Vu, Kevin Chalfant, Tall Stories, etc, so to me, this sounds good, but not Giant like really.
With title track, ‘Promise Land’ its classic AOR and erm, yes, Journey ‘esque. Very Perry, very Schon like, but there is a touch of Giant to it though. The keyboards here are very effective. Nice track.
Don’t get me wrong though, as I loved, I mean love Giant’s music and have the previous 3 albums, so that should tell you something, but when you have someone like Brock onboard, who hugely admires Journey.
Put simply, it’s clearly not Dann Huff …, who was so much of what Giant was.

‘Never Surrender’ is again a really strong song, up-tempo number with big harmony vocals through the verses and choruses and great layers of sound.

In ‘Our Love,’ co-written by Dann Huff, it’s time for a big old power ballad and these guys have it down here, very rich sound and very good.
Aha, ‘Prisoner of Love,’ now we might have something a little more akin to old Giant, even in the guitar style here and it’s more rocking stuff, more of what we’d expect. Good guys, good one.

On ‘Two Worlds Collide’ likewise, Brock’s vocal has moments almost like Huff’s sound, but musically it’s on a more rocking track, then the chugging bridge just before the first guitar solo, which is sweet by the way and the solo on the outro, kicking serious butt. Rocking dudes!

Dann Huff did have a hand in some of the songs written here, next one, ‘Plenty of Love’ included, which is a lot more rocking and edgy and I don’t know why, but somehow slightly reminds me a little in places of Toto’s ‘Stay Away.’
For ‘Through My Eyes,’ the band pulled in hit writer Mark Spiro to help out. Spiro co-wrote Giant’s 90’s hit, ‘I’ll See You In My Dreams. Through My Eyes is a big commercial AOR pop rocker, nice stuff!

A rocking start to ‘I’ll Wait for You,’ is served next, with a certain urgency in Brock’s opening verse and song develops into up-tempo kind of a little Van Halen meets Toto in structure and a killer guitar solo too, this is a huge song that sounds like a hit single potential. I love this!

‘Dying To See You,’ almost slips into Journey ballad territory, but then again it’s really just the start that makes me think that as the song becomes that classic simply big AOR richness.
Rocking again with, ‘Double Trouble’ – Dann Huff co-write – more familiar Giant ground, I do wish the Hammond organ sound was allowed to come up a little stronger with the guitar riffs through the verses. Gets a little repetitive, perhaps the closest thing to average AOR here, but it’s OK.

Well, what have we here ...?! ‘Complicated Man’ brings back memories of ‘Time To Burn,’ not quite there but on the right track. Funnily enough, I can’t believe this isn’t Dann Huff on guitar, it seriously sounds like him on top form but the press blurb says it’s not. I really love this track. You go guys, seriously! Should be great live, if they do any gigs.

Final track ‘Save Me’ features Dann Huff as co-writer and supplying the lead guitar here, for a moment reminded me of ‘Play That Funky Music,’ but it’s edgier than that. Funk rock done well!

So that’s it, the new Giant album and it’s a really good release, lots about it that I really like, even loved and it’s better than Giant ‘3,’ but to me it’s not quite to the level of ‘Last of the Runaways’ or ‘Time to Burn.’
Worth having, oh yes, there’s plenty to like about it for sure.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Brian Howe - Circus Bar CD review

Brian Howe – Circus Bar CD review (Frontiers records)
Released March 9th North America
Brian Howe, most people know from his time spent in Bad Company after Paul Rodgers went his own way. With Bad Company, Howe recorded – IMHO – some very, very classy work, sadly die hard fans of Rodgers, would tell you a different story.

Before Howe joined Bad Co. though, he had done an album and toured with wild man of rock Ted Nugent, in support of the not too shabby ‘Penetrator’ release, but even before working with Ted, some of us folks from UK (Specifically the Portsmouth area), knew him from local bands, one of those being called Shy. No, I don’t mean the hard rock band from the UK’s midlands with the same name.
He also briefly played with British band White Spirit, who did the rounds during the UK's NWOBHM* era.
*New Wave Of British Heavy Metal - A brutal tag to some of Britain's classier rock bands.

He released one solo album after Bad Company called ‘Tangled in Blue’ (1997), later re-issue as ‘Touch’ in Europe.

So, after five albums with Bad Company, one with Ted, where does Howe stand today with this new solo release?
Is this CD valid, does anyone care? Well yes, you should! So sit up, no stand up and shout ...! 
I'm telling you, this is a class album!

Opening with the modern rock, yet extremely catchy sounding ‘I’m Back,’ I was stunned how good this sounded from the very start, he hits the mark! Welcome back indeed Brian!

Keeping with a current sound, ‘Life’s Mystery’ musically doesn’t sound too dissimilar to say Goo Goo Dolls or Foo Fighters, but of course with Brian's distinct voice, it’s killer, with major hooklines, wow!
With ‘There’s this Girl’ it’s a little like the newer sound that Rick Springfield recently presented with his very good, ‘Venus in Overdrive’ release and again, I am simply stunned as how contagious this album is. You’ll be singing, ‘There’s this Girl’ for ages and the guitar solo is to totally die for.
Kicking some serious butt here mate!

‘Could’ve Been You’ starts a little funky / sub-reggae in the verses, but then the chorus is again punchy and in your face! Love the blend / mix of guitar and Hammond organ towards the end, it just rocks!
He’s found something awesome here for real! I'm loving this album.

Power ballad time with ‘Surrounded’ which has enough of a pop rock feel that it could easily be a hit, with a totally enticing vibe throughout. Something that Mick Jones of Foreigner might even be envious of! Nice.
In next track ‘Flying’ he remains keeping it in ballad territory and it’s a class piece of work.
Just love this hauntingly acoustic driven piece. I am very impressed, did I say that already?!

‘How It Could Have Been,’ reminds me a little of Bryan Adams in his better times meets Foreigner and again is a killer strong hook laden song - as most of these are here - and seriously, if I just wrote that for all of this, you really should be sold on this album. To me, it really is that good!
There’s great songs, great sounds, great mix and production throughout here.

Ah, to ‘My Town’ where he’s remembering his days in Portsmouth and this song gets me as it will probably make him feel each time he’ll sing this live. He even pulled Pat Travers in on guitar for this track.
A great player also! ‘Yeah, that’s My Town …’ Couldn’t agree more Brian. I miss it too mate!

A re-recording of the first Bad Company tune for him here next, ‘How ‘Bout That’ and he’s certainly kept the songs integrity but has given it a fresh vibe here and I thought it was great the first time.
I certainly love this new version.
Bass and drums kick off the mid paced ‘Feels Like I’m Coming Home’ as the song grows and again it’s a another winner.
‘If You Want Trouble’ brings to mind Howe’s Bad Company period and rocks out big time.

Slowing things down again with, ‘Feelings’ with acoustic guitar and strings present, before the power chords kick in at the chorus without getting too crazy. Nice stuff.

To the second Bad Company redo and I have to say that this sultry, string laden and piano driven version of ‘Holy Water,’ moved me completely. This gave me goosebumps, I kid you not. Brian, it’s a gem mate.
Closing the album with a little tongue squarely in cheek in the chanting, an after hours pub style song, ‘Little George Street,’ about the street around the corner from an old favourite long gone Portsmouth music pub called 'The Salutation,' which was on New Road, Mr. Howe calls it a wrap.
Ironically, that pub was where I met Brian once. He walked in when our band was playing there one night. At the time Brian had just joined Ted Nugent's band. Fun times. 
This really is a truly excellent album that I just love, can’t say enough good about it really.

If you already like Brian Howe’s voice, you’re almost certainly going to buy it, but I will say, don’t expect Bad Company revisited as Brian Howe has got something fresh right here and as he told us on the opening track, ‘I’m Back!’ Yes you are Brian and rightfully so mate!

Rating: 5 out of 5 – Yes, a great album!
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Rock News for Wednesday 3rd March, 2010

Rock Sugar, out for World Domination? Pollstar thinks so ...
You know it's funny, I follow around various rock websites - Have done for years before I started doing this game myself. - to keep up with what's going on out there, especially when there's a rumour of something on the cards, you keep searching around on known sites for anything related.
Anyway, where was I going ...?
Andrew McNiece who runs http://www.melodicrock.com/ - Which ironically is often referred to as MR.com, Mister dot com, think about it! Nice one mate! - has this year lined up Melodicrock Fest 2 in Chicago, with some excellent players from the world of rock. Y&T, Winger, Jimi Jamison (Ex-Survivor), Pride Of Lions (Feat. Jim Peterik ex-Survivor, Ides of March, World Stage), Danger Danger, Terry Brock (Giant, Strangeways), Crown of Thorns, Kevin Chalfant (The Storm, The Vu, Journey), Eden's Curse, Farcry, Talon and many more including ... Rock Sugar. - http://www.melodicrockfest.com/

Now when Rock Sugar was mentioned and showed almost midway on the bill, I'm thinking, who?
On further investigation I realized that singer Jess Harnell, guitarist Chuck Duran and Alex Track (Drums) had all previously been together in the talented, yet underrated Loud and Clear band. Aha!
Incidentally, Jess Harnell has an incredible resume for being a voiceover specialist, I cannot believe how many cartoons, movies, etc that he has put his voice to! Check this out: http://www.freewebs.com/jessharnell/credits.htm

Now it seems, Rock Sugar are on a lot of people lips and just this week signed with major agency Paradigm, the powerhouse booking agency that includes acts from Aerosmith to Dave Matthews Band to Ricky Skaggs.
Sounds like big support is on the way!

Pollstar have plugged them twice in as many days and are saying the band could be set for world domination.
The only sad thing about the Pollstar deal, is they believe they are responsible for any success the band will now have?! What ....???!

Follow Rock Sugar here and check out their new album 'Reimaginator.'

Frontiers Records to release a new TESLA Electric Live Album !
“Alive in Europe!” RELEASES APRIL 23rd IN EUROPE
After 25 years, 12 albums, over 2,500 shows, over 16 million albums sold worldwide, Tesla is stronger than ever, on the heels of the release of one of the band’s most successful studio releases to date 'Forever More.'

Continuing the momentum, Tesla: Jeff Keith (vocals), Frank Hannon (guitars), Brian Wheat (bass), Troy Luccketta (drums) and Dave Rude (guitar) have toured Europe after the successful release of their latest studio opus Forever More on Frontiers Records.

As a testament to a very creative and productive chapter in the history of the band, Tesla release what can be considered a true “electric” live album recorded at various locations during the European shows in the summer of 2009.
'Alive In Europe!' is filled with sweltering live songs including all the band’s classics such as “Modern Day Cowboy”, “Signs”, "What You Give”, "Little Suzi" and songs from the latest release such as the single “I Wanna Live”, the album title track and more.
A sincere and truly live sounding album which closes a chapter in the band’s history and shows a vibrant band ready for the next step.

Track listing: Forever More; I Wanna Live; Modern Day Cowboy; Heaven’s Trail; What a Shame; Shine Away; Love Song; What You Give; The Way It Is; Breakin’ Free; Hang Tough; So What!; Signs; Lil’ Suzie; Into the Now.
Live soundbytes from the album can be heard here:

Weblinks:
www.myspace.com/frontiersrecords

Pat Travers new album 'Fidelis' now available as download only
Classic Canadian blues rocker, Pat Travers has just made his latest album, 'Fidelis' available through Amazon.
Including the impressive latest single, 'Ask Me Baby,' the new album, featuring 11 new songs is available for $8.99 here:
http://www.amazon.com/Fidelis/dp/B003ACA1IQ/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1267639061&sr=301-1

PT's current summer tour schedule is starting to ramp up with the following dates:
May 2010
Sat 05/15/10 Conesville, IA Circle Of Pride

June 2010
Wed 06/02/10 Hemet, CA Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre - Appearing at "Ramona Festival"
Thu 06/03/10 Modesto, CA The Fat Cat Music House And Lounge
Fri 06/04/10 Salinas, CA Banker's Casino
Sat 06/05/10 Long Beach, CA New Vault 350
Sat 06/12/10 Kissimmee, FL TBA
July 2010
Sat 07/17/10 Sturgis, SD TBA
Sat 07/24/10 Birkenfeld, OR SE Portland A.B.A.T.E. Of Oregon
Sat 07/31/10 Plymouth, MA Plymouth Memorial Hall
September 2010
Sat 09/18/10 Tomahawk, WI Nokomis Town Park

Jeff Healey and the Jazz Wizards Concert DVD, "Beautiful Noise", to be released on March 23, 2010
New Studio Album "Last Call" due April 6, 2010
EDMONTON, AB - Stony Plain Records announces an April 6 release date in the U.S. and Canada for Jeff Healey's final jazz studio album, 'Last Call,' which showcases the beloved legendary musician performing the music that was his true passion in life: the classic jazz, swing and pop sounds of the 1920s-1940s.

Released with the participation and support of Jeff Healey's widow, Cristie, Last Call is a 14-track collection on which Healey plays multi-tracked guitar parts, trumpet and sings. On several of the songs, he's accompanied by Ross Wooldridge on piano and clarinet and Drew Jurecka on violin.

Concurrent with this CD in Canada, Stony Plain will also release, 'Beautiful Noise,' a concert DVD featuring Jeff Healey and The Jazz Wizards, his regular jazz performance band, originally recorded for the Toronto-based TV show, "A Beautiful Noise," in January, 2006. In the U.S., the Beautiful Noise DVD will be released on March 23 and distributed by MVD Entertainment Group.

Last Call was Jeff's last jazz/swing recording before his death in March, 2008 of cancer. 'Mess of Blues,' an album of his fan-favorite blues and roots songs released shortly after he passed away, won the Blues Award for "Best Rock/Blues Release" in 2009; and the 'Songs from the Road' live CD,released in September of 2009, won the "Recording of the Year" at the 2010 Maple Blues Awards.

Last Call was recorded and mixed by long-time Healey friend and bandmate, Alec Fraser, and the package includes extensive liner notes by Colin Bray. The album features swing guitar instrumentals first recorded by Lonnie Johnson, Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti, to interpretations of songs originally done by Fats Waller, Sidney Bechet and Hoagy Carmichael. The material ranges from such standards as "Deep Purple," "Pennies from Heaven" and "Autumn in New York," to more obscure songs from the past, including "I'm Holding My Honey's Hand" and "You Can't Pull the Wool Over My Eyes."

Jeff Healey even covers some tunes originally heard during the golden age of cinema, including "Hong Kong Blues" and the haunting them from the motion picture, "Laura."

The new CD also includes a bonus video of "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" that is playable on most computers, recorded live at Healey's Roadhouse in Toronto on July 21, 2007.

The Beautiful Noise concert DVD features 11 tracks with the Jazz Wizards complete six-piece lineup, none of which are included on Last Call, plus an additional interview and musical footage. Beautiful Noise was directed by Daniel K. Berman and produced by Daniel K. Berman and Paul McNulty.

Survivor announce first set of 2010 North American Tour Dates

After a break for a while and also a long time without a new album, Survivor have announced their first set of tour dates starting in May 2010.
No word on a new album yet, although Frankie Sullivan has been involved with helping out other artists, such as Chicago blues musician John Juul, playing on 2 tracks on his new CD.
Check out John Juul site here: http://www.johnjuul.com/

Anyway, to those first Survivor tour dates:
May 2010
5/29/10 - Voyageur Park, DePere, WI United States
June 2010
6/19/10 - Orpheum Theatre, Galesburg, IL United States
July 2010
7/9/10 - Thunder Mountain Rockfest, Sawyer, ND United States
7/17/10 - Bechtold Park, Cincinnati, OH United States
August 2010
8/14/10 - New Lenox Commons, New Lenox, IL United States
September 2010
9/3/10 - Monterey County Fair, Monterey, CA United States
9/5/10 - Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL United States
Keep up with Survivor here:
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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Rock News for Tuesday 2nd March, 2010

Hi all, first of all isn't it amazing how when you set a deadline on things, people get interested?! LOL!
Following my announcement yesterday on the Michael Schenker competition in conjunction with MVD Entertainment, we have a winner!

Dave Dunford from Auburn Hills answered my question correctly, to name 4 drummers who have played live with the Michael Schenker Group.
Thanks by the way to Peter Mondria in the Netherlands, who also answered correctly, but I had to remind Peter of the rules, that it was indeed only open to residents of the USA and Canada.
Since Peter took the time out though, I'd like to suggest to fans of Michael Schenker, to check out Peter's MSG website, which is very cool! Nice one Peter. Check it out here:

Dave, the CD is winging it's way to you right now!
Dave answered with: Cozy Powell, Chris Slade, Pete Holmes and Bodo Schopf.
You could've also had Ted McKenna who replaced Cozy Powell, Simon Phillips, who has just played the Japanese dates with MSG - That will provide a new live DVD later this year or Shane Gaalaas too.
Without further ado though, let get some news out there!

'Rock the Park' gig line up takes shape 



The annual Canadian 'Rock in the Park' event, that takes place in Harris Park, London, Ontario every summer, has an already impressive line up taking shape.

This years event will be host to, Alice Cooper, Heart, Lynryd Skynrd, April Wine, Kansas, Peter Frampton, Alannah Myles and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels.
You can guess that this won't be it as the event runs on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th July, but there will also be a Thursday night line up, that is yet to be confirmed on the 22nd July.

Box Office Services for Rock the Park are provided by Centennial Hall
Box Office Hours
The Box Office is open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, and 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday.
Sunday & Holidays : CLOSED
Call (519) 672-1967 or (519) 672-1968 to charge with VISA, MasterCard or American Express.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 22 - 24, 2010
Thursday, Friday and Saturday - 10:00AM to 2:00PM
Box office Opens at Harris Park at 3:00PM for ticket sales and ticket pickup

Toto European 'Brief' Reunion "Mike Porcaro Honor Tour" - First dates announced

The first dates for the upcoming TOTO 'Mike Porcaro Honor Tour' in July 2010 have been confirmed. Check them out. More dates to be added ASAP.

09 July 2010 Burg Clam , Clam (Austria)
10 July 2010 Lovely Days Festival , Wiesen (Austria)
16 July 2010 Hohenentwiel Festival , Singen (Germany)
17 July 2010 Kloster Benediktbeuern , Benediktbeuern (83671) (Germany)
20 July 2010 KB Hall , Copenhagen (Denmark)

"‘Appy Days:" The Mick Box Column - No. 23 - Published in Classic Rock magazine 

This week, Uriah Heep's Mick Box remembers the late David Byron and Keith Moon, expresses relief at Abbey Road Studios being saved, recalls meeting Kris Kristofferson, celebrates the Nordoff Robbins charity, listens to Coverdale / Page and has something to say about the Number 25 bus route. Oh, and some football club called Spurs win a match!
 
Foreigner's 'In Pieces' To Be Released as Next Single from 'Can't Slow Down' 

Foreigner is proud to announce 'In Pieces' as the next single to go to radio on March 15th, 2010!
Now that 'Can't Slow Down' is available worldwide and with 'When It Comes to Love' having finally fallen out of the Top 30, the time is perfect for Foreigner's next release! Can you help make it a hit?!

In 2008, Foreigner fans helped 'Too Late' reach the Top 30 Airplay Chart. Last year, with your help When It Comes To Love reached #16 on the A/C Airplay Chart. Foreigner is asking for your continued support by phoning and emailing in requests to the stations to play In Pieces in hopes for a smashing debut! A list of radio stations that have received the single will be posted soon. In the meantime, the list of stations that received When It Comes To Love can be found here.

In anticipation of the release, KCKC in Kansas City has already confirmed the add to their station. We'll keep you updated with additional adds!

Status Quo - "Official Bootleg- Live In Australia" to be recorded in Melbourne

Status Quo will be recording their completely sold out Melbourne show at the Palais Theatre on March 13th for a new Limited Edition Live Double CD. The "Official Bootleg - Live in Australia" will be available for collection at the venue immediately after the gig finishes and can be reserved via our partners at Live and Pure for purchase by mail order and as a download.

The double CD is a strictly limited edition release and when they are sold out there will be no reissue.
Please reserve your copy now:
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Monday, March 1, 2010

Brief update on Michael Schenker competition

Hi all,
Brief note as a reminder about the Michael Schenker competition to win yourself a free copy of his recent compilation release, 'Live and Loud.'
I will be closing this competition on March 15th, 2010 so as a reminder on the question.

Name 4 drummers who have played 'live' with The Michael Schenker Group?

First correct answer to me at: alun_williams@comcast.net wins the CD!
 
Terms and conditions:
Please note - At this time this competition is only open to residents of USA and Canada. Thank you.
Please provide your full name and address with your answer.
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Rock News for Monday 1st March, 2010

Neal Schon Band announces US tour dates

In a slight correction and update if you will from my posting here on Saturday, it seems Neal Schon will be playing more than one tour date after all!

Announced through the Journey website, Neal Schon and his bandmates, no not Journey, but the line up I posted here on Saturday, including his former Soul SirkUS band mate, Marco Mendoza will hit the road in March kicking off on March 17th, at the Bluebird Theatre in Denver, CO.
Sadly for most of us though, the run of 9 dates announced includes 6 dates in his native California.
Here's hoping he adds a few more across the country. 

Current confirmed dates as follows:
March 17, 2010 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
March 18, 2010 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
March 19, 2010 - Henderson, NV - Green Valley Ranch Resort
March 20, 2010 - Modesto, CA - State Theatre
March 22, 2010 - Chico, CA - El Rey Theatre
March 25, 2010 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - Coach House
March 27, 2010 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
March 30, 2010 - San Diego, CA - Belly Up
March 31, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues - Sunset

Further Details from Frontiers on the new Asia album 'Omega.'

ASIA, rock’s first important super-group of the 80s - featuring members from Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, King Crimson and The Buggles – will release 'Omega,' its highly anticipated new album of original material. The record is due in the spring of 2010 on Frontiers Records.

Geoffrey Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton, the four original Asia members, reunited in 2006, twenty-three years after all four had last played together. The much publicised reunion resulted in highly successful world tours, a double live LP and DVD (entitled 'Fantasia: Live In Tokyo') and an acclaimed studio album 'Phoenix' in 2008 which debuted at number 73 in the Billboard charts in the USA and entered the top 100 in several European countries.

Formed at the dawn of the MTV era, Asia’s first release was the best selling album in the world in 1982 and sat at the number 1 spot in the USA for 9 weeks, powered by the classic rock anthem, “Heat Of The Moment,” and four other radio hits. Asia’s 1983 sophomore album, 'Alpha,' also went multi-platinum and enjoyed several hit singles, including the #1 smash, “Don’t Cry”. During the recording of its third disc, the band splintered, and by the 1990s, only Geoff Downes remained from the original line-up.

The reunion came to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band, but morphed itself into an ongoing endeavour. In 2008, they returned with the first new studio album, 'Phoenix,' which had been strongly influenced by the fusion of talents and heritages that the band excited the music world with back in 1982. 'Omega' shows a new renaissance for this amazing group of musicians, which seem to live up to a joie-de-vivre that stands the test of time.

Begun during the summer 2009, the writing and recording sessions of Omega, immediately showed inspiration and good feelings. “We were looking to create something different with Omega,” says keyboardist Geoff Downes. “Of course, the sound of the 4 band members of Asia will always have a certain hallmark when we play together. That's a given. But we approached the song writing with a mind to getting a degree of variety into these compositions. Hence, you will hear areas of textures where arguably we have never gone before.”

Adds lead vocalist/bassist/guitarist John Wetton: “Asia is an English prog-rock band with a pop edge, always has been, and hopefully always will be. Accessible, melodic, anthemic songs with great playing, luxuriating in a bed of lush orchestration, with lyrics that strike a sympathetic chord in even the most cynical heart. There you have it, Omega is a themed album in Asia's fine tradition, without the millstone of a concept.”

Steve Howe adds that “the whole recording process has been inspiring and rewarding, and I’m very excited about the result”.
“I would say these are all strong individual songs” says drummer Carl Palmer. “It was a very smooth experience, and arguably one of our best records.”

For the first time since the debut album, ASIA worked with an outside producer, Mike Paxman (Uriah Heep, Status Quo, Judie Tzuke) who managed to create a truly special sounding album with the highs, lows and lots of dynamics. He helped the band to put together a tapestry of sound, which demonstrates the rich strata of Asia's music. Paxman was able to achieve this through the songs which spun real stories of actual events and experiences in locations around the globe. “The songs always have a message, hopefully positive,” says Wetton. “My songs are almost always autobiographical, so there is hope and experience in there, too. The lyric will never leave you on a negative thought."

As with the most popular of ASIA releases, the cover art specifically designed for the project by acclaimed artist Roger Dean. The concept of the title (Omega), and the 'Year of the Tiger' referencing of the cover art underline the fact that this is real Asia. John Wetton explains: “The title 'Omega', as any fan of the band will tell you, is 'very Asia' (as is the album, by the way). It no more means 'final' than 'Alpha' means 'the first' (which it wasn't). It's a great sounding/looking word, and a bookend to 'Alpha'. In many ways, musically and conceptually, the two albums share commonality.”

“We are embarking on our European tour around the middle of April, then straight in to Japan for the middle of May” says Downes. “It's going to be fun working out the new setlist because obviously we have another album under our belt now with Omega.”

After touring Europe and Japan, ASIA will embark on a US tour late in the summer of 2010.

Omega will be released in the first pressing in digipak with one exclusive bonus track:
Finger on the Trigger; Through My Veins; Holy War; Ever Yours: Listen Children; End of the World; Light The Way; Emily (*); Still The Same; There Was a Time; I Believe; Don't Wanna Lose You Now.
(*) Bonus track first pressing in digipak.
To hear sample tracks from 'Omega,' go to the Frontiers site here:

ASIA EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:
April 2010
Apr. 21 - Helsinki, Finland - House of Culture
Apr. 22 - Moscow, Russia - B1 Club
Apr. 24 - Rome, Italy - Auditorium
Apr. 26 - Prague, Czech Republic - Lidovy dum Kbely
Apr. 27 - Winterthur, Switzerland - Salzhaus
Apr. 28 - Graz, Austria - Orpheum
Apr. 30 - Paris, France - Casino De Paris
May 2010
May 1 - Uden, Netherlands - de Pul
May 2 - Asschaffenburg, Germany
May 3 - Nuremburg, Germany - Hirsch
May 4 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
May 6 - Reichenbach, Germany - Die Halle
May 7 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche Prinz-Regent-Strasse 50-60
May 8 - Osnabruck, Germany - Rosenhof Rosenplatz 23
May 9 - Bonn, Germany - Bruckenforum

For All Things ASIA, please visit:

It Bites re-record 'Calling All The Heroes' with friends, for Charity aid
80's Prog / Pop band, It Bites are making a plea to help out many of the people that suffered in the terrible floods in Northern England, specifically Cumbia, to folks to 'Please buy 'Calling All The Heroes'!'

As you may know already, It Bites has teamed up with Francis Dunnery, Steve Hogarth & Pete Trewavas of Marillion, John Wetton & Geoff Downes, Jason Perry from 'A', and Jem Godfrey (Frost*) to re-record their Top 10 hit from 1986 'Calling All The Heroes', in order to raise money for the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund.

It is available now for download from iTunes (make sure it's the version with a release date of 21 February 2010 please!), or from Amazon:

An accompanying video has been made by Russell Cherrington and the students from the Film & Television Department at the University of Cumbria. This is available for sale via iTunes.

There will also be a 4-track CD including the video available for sale soon, via http://www.itbites.com/ and a number of Cumbrian shops, as well as at the forthcoming gigs (tour starts next Friday 5th March in Glasgow).

The band would be very grateful if you could please spare the cash to buy it, and maybe ask all your friends to buy it too - add it to your MySpace and Facebook statuses, Tweet about it on Twitter (feel free to make use the #itbites hashtag, and it might become a trending topic!), post on your various forums du choix etc.

Incidentally, It Bites will be playing some tour dates as follows:
UK
Mar 5 2010 8:00P - O2 ABC 2 Glasgow, Scotland
Mar 6 2010 8:00P - Academy 3 Manchester, Northwest
Mar 7 2010 8:00P - Sheffield City Hall Sheffield, Midlands
Mar 9 2010 8:00P - The Sage Gateshead, Northeast
Mar 10 2010 8:00P - Assembly Rooms Leamington Spa, Midlands
Mar 11 2010 8:00P - O2 Academy 2 Oxford, South
Mar 12 2010 8:00P - The Tunnels Bristol, Southwest
Mar 14 2010 8:00P - O2 Academy London, London and South East

Japan
Mar 19 2010 6:00P - Club Quattro Shinsaibashi
Mar 20 2010 6:00P - Shibuya East Shibuya

G ' N' R - Axl is stressing out again .... 10, 9, 8, 7 ......

Oh boy, just when you think the guy won't go and do or act in some stupid way to bring the wrong attention to himself ..., well, Axl Rose goes and posts this through the bands MySpace page:

Sunday, February 28, 2010 - IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!

There are NO new Guns N' Roses shows added to our current onsale itinerary dated as of February 25th. This means NO SHOWS in Panama, Costa Rica or Guatemala regardless of ANYONE's claims or ticket sales. These dates or ANY additional dates anywhere other than those already previously announced and on sale before February 25th will NOT BE HONORED. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS until further notice here on this my personal twitter account. If you have purchased tickets to ANY suggested new dates being offered after February 25th please contact your place of purchase for refunds. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Axl-
http://www.myspace.com/gunsnroses

There are indeed tour dates posted at the 'official' Guns 'n' Roses website:
http://www.gunsnroses.com/
and those same dates are also posted on the aforementioned MySpace page ...
We can only guess that maybe they've announced these dates and they aren't prepared to consider adding additional dates in South America and someone must've been bugging and bugging Axl to ask if there were to be more.
Anyway - if they go ahead - here are those dates that the band HAVE posted!

March 2010
Mar 7 2010 8:00P Ginásio Nilson Nelson Brasília, Distrito Federal
Mar 10 2010 8:00P - Ginásio Jornalista Felipe Drumond (Mineirinho) Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais
Mar 13 2010 8:00P - Palestra Itália Stadium São Paulo, São Paulo
Mar 14 2010 8:00P Praça da Apoteose Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Mar 16 2010 8:00P - Fiergs Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul
Mar 18 2010 8:00P - Estadio Centenario Montevideo, Montevideo
Mar 20 2010 8:00P - Estadio River Plate Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires (Ciudad Autónoma de)
Mar 22 2010 8:00P - Club Hipico de Santiago Santiago, Región Metropolitana Santiago
Mar 25 2010 8:00P - La Explanada Sur del Estadio Monumental Lima, Lima
Mar 27 2010 8:00P - Poliedro de Caracas Caracas, Distrito Capital
Mar 30 2010 8:00P - Parque Jaime Duque Bogotá, Bogotá (Distrito Capital)
 April 2010
Apr 1 2010 8:00P - Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa Quito, Pichincha
June 2010
Jun 5 2010 7:00P - Käpylän Urheilupuisto (Helsinki Live 2010) Helsinki, Uusimaa
Jun 12 2010 7:00P - Norje Havsbad (Sweden Rock Festival) Norje, Blekinge län
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