According to Star Pulse Entertainment, Supergrass will be launching a summer tour alongside the Foo Fighters in support of their latest album “Diamond Hoo Ha.” The Britpop act released its sixth studio album on June 10 off their new record label Astralwerks. For tour information, see Supergrass.com.
By Robert Costa/PopMatters.com
CAMDEN, N.J. - Phish lyricist Tom Marshall, guitarist Trey Anastasio’s longtime friend and writing partner, said in an exclusive interview Tuesday that “Trey wants Phish to come back.”
Marshall said he has been writing and recording with Anastasio at the Phish frontman’s personal Rubber Jungle studios in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., “for the past four months.”
“I think Phish is his baby,” said Marshall, speaking backstage after the Dave Matthews Band’s concert Tuesday at Camden’s Susquehanna Bank Center. “It’s not like there are people preventing it from coming back, it’s just that the landscape has to be right for it to come back.”
“I’ve always been hopeful in expecting a Phish,” continued Marshall. “I think if the stars align and everything works out there will be. I don’t think they will ever (again) be a huge touring band.”
All members of Phish - Anastasio, drummer Jon Fishman, bassist Mike Gordon and keyboardist Page McConnell - appeared together at the Jammy Awards in New York on May 7 to accept a lifetime achievement award. Although Phish did not perform, Anastasio made a cameo appearance on-stage, performing a cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” with a group of various artists.
On May 21, Anastasio received a reduced sentence of three years’ probation for a 2007 drug conviction after completing a counseling and treatment program in Washington County, N.Y. Anastasio faced class D felony charges after he was arrested in Whitehall, N.Y., in December 2006 with prescription medications prescribed to another person, including hydrocodone, Percocet and Xanax.
By Brian McCollum /Detroit Free Press
The world may be startled, Alicia Keys acknowledges, but she’d love to link up with Jack and Meg White.
Keys says she’s a big fan of the Detroit-born duo whose gritty, high-wire rock starkly contrasts with her own cultivated soul-pop.
The singer-songwriter has several bands with whom she’d like to collaborate, including Linkin Park, U2, Green Day and Queens of the Stone Age — pairings “that are not quite of the same world, or so you think, but when you put them together it’s just really interesting.”
Topping her wish list, though, are the Stripes, who are on hiatus as Jack White tours with the Raconteurs.
“Well, I love the White Stripes because they’re very, very raw. It’s very cut and dried — it’s drums and it’s guitar, or it’s a little drums and piano, or it’s a little drums and bass,” says Keys. “It’s raw and it’s intense, and it’s still fun and it’s still edgy.
“I just think that combining that kind of style with mine — which has already got kind of a raw feel to it — and my voice … I just think we could do something really, really interesting that mixes rock and soul together — the blues and just emotion — in a way that would be really, really touching.”
It’s more than just a pipe dream, insists Keys. She says she has spoken to Jack White about the prospect.
“We’ve had some conversations, so when the time works out it definitely will happen,” she says. “And do I think people would get it or understand it? Definitely, I do. I think that people love interesting things like that. It’s exciting when you try something new and different, and it still has elements of them and elements of me, and you can hear how we mesh together. I think that’s fun.”
By Michael Hamersly/McClatchy Newspapers
Due in stores Tuesday:
-Ashanti, “The Declaration” (Universal Motown). Features first single “The Way That I Love.”
-Disturbed, “Indestructible” (Warner Bros.).
-Fleet Foxes, “Fleet Foxes” (Sub Pop). Dynamic and diverse pop band from Seattle.
-Jewel, “Perfectly Clear” (Valory Music Co.). Seventh studio album from singer of “You Were Meant For Me,” “Foolish Games” and “Who Will Save Your Soul.”
-Journey, “Revelation” Wal-Mart.com). Classic-rock band introduces lead singer Arnel Pineda. Album features 11 new songs, 11 re-recorded greatest hits and a DVD of a live concert.
-Ladytron, “Velocifero” (Nettwerk Records). British electro-pop band.
-Aimee Mann, “(AT)%$! Smilers” (Superego Records). Seventh studio album from Berklee dropout whose stark, poignant compositions powered the soundtrack to “Magnolia.”
-Bret Michaels, “Rock My World” (VH1 Classics). Solo album from Poison frontman.
-Opeth, “Watershed” (Roadrunner Records). Swedish death metal.
-Radiohead, “The Best Of” (Capitol). Bonus disc features 13 tracks not on the studio albums.
-Gavin Rossdale, “Wanderlust” (Interscope). Debut solo album from Bush frontman and husband of Gwen Stefani.
-Various Artists, “NOW, Vol. 28″ (Capitol). Features hits from Leona Lewis, Chris Brown, Daughtry and Taylor Swift.
-Weezer, “Weezer” (Geffen Records). Seventh studio album features the single “Pork and Beans.”
By Jon Bream/Minneapolis Star Tribune
She has recorded with hip-hop stars Jay-Z, Nas and the Roots, performed three times on David Letterman’s show and earned a gold record for her debut album. But rising R&B star Chrisette Michele’s biggest honor came two weeks ago. She received her college degree.
“I went to the graduation ceremony, embarrassed in that big ugly black cape that I took off as soon as we finished, but I wore the hat around all day,” said the New York singer/songwriter.
After she signed a recording contract with Def Jam two years ago, she got sidetracked from her studies at Five Towns College on New York’s Long Island. But she recently went back to finish the final 20 credits. “I still had to take science and math - all the classes that you need for your degree that you didn’t feel like doing in the beginning,” she explained last week by phone while running errands.
Her degree is in vocal jazz performance. One of her projects was writing and directing a music video of “Love Is You,” the current single from her debut disc, “I Am.”
Verve Records released it latest installment of the Remixed series on Tuesday, May 27.
The compilation features legendary R&B acts like Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Samone and Roy Ayers being remixed by the likes of Diplo, 9th Wonder, Antibalas, and the Cinematic Orchestra to name a few.
Tracklisting:
1. Dinah Washington “Cry Me A River (Truth & Soul Remix)”
2. Nina Simone “Gimme Some (Mike Mangini Remix)”
3. James Brown “There Was A Time (Kenny Dope Remix)”
4. Marlena Shaw “California Soul (Diplo/Mad Decent Remix)”
5. Nina Simone “Take Care Of Business (Pilooski Remix)”
6. Astrud Gilberto “Bim Bom (Psapp Remix)”
7. Anita O’ Day “Tenderly (Mocky Remix)”
8. Sarah Vaughan “Tea For Two (Chris Shaw Remix)”
9. Patato & Totico “Dilo Como Yo (Antibalas Remix)”
10. Willie Bobo “Evil Ways (Karriem Riggins Remix)”
11. Roy Ayers “Everybody Loves The Sunshine (9th Wonder Remix)”
12. Ella Fitzgerald “I Get A Kick Out Of You (Cinematic Orchestra Remix)”
By Michael Gormley/The Associated Press
ALBANY, N.Y. - Pioneering rapper Ricky “Slick Rick” Walters, who spent more than five years in prison on a 1991 attempted murder conviction and faced threats of deportation years after rehabilitating his life, was granted a full and unconditional pardon Friday by New York Gov. David Paterson.
Walters, 43, has been under threat of being sent back to his native United Kingdom, although he has lived in the United States since he was a child. In a statement, he expressed gratitude to Paterson and his lawyers, and hoped that he could finally put the turmoil behind him.
“This has been a long and difficult road and I am happy for this to be settled once and for all,” Walters said. “I look forward to enjoying this time with my family and friends and to continue leading an honest and productive life.”
By Michael Hamersly/McClatchy Newspapers
Due in stores Tuesday:
-Eliza Gilkyson, “Beautiful World” (Red House).
-Al Green, “Lay It Down” (Blue Note Records). Features duets with John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae and Anthony Hamilton.
-Andy Griggs, “The Good Life” (Montage Music Group).
-John Hiatt, “Same Old Man” (New West Records). Deluxe version contains bonus DVD with six live performances.
-Cyndi Lauper, “Bring Ya to the Brink” (Epic). “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” singer’s first album of new material in 12 years.
-Sam Phillips, “Don’t Do Anything” (Nonesuch).
-Soundtrack, “Sex and the City: Music from the Original Motion Picture” (New Line Records). Features tracks from Fergie, Nina Simone, India.Arie and Al Green featuring Joss Stone.
-36 Crazyfists, “The Tide and Its Takers” (Ferret Records). Post-hardcore band from Anchorage.
-Usher, “Here I Stand” (Jive). Follow-up to 2004’s nine-times platinum album “Confessions” features the single “Love in This Club.”
By Jon Bream/Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
May 24 is fast approaching, and music fans know what that means: Bob Dylan’s birthday (he’ll turn 67).
This May also brings three new books to the Dylan library - well, actually two new titles and a reissue. One is the most anticipated Dylan book since his own 2004 memoir: Suze Rotolo, his pre-Joan Baez girlfriend and early muse, reflects on 1960s Greenwich Village - and her boy Bobby. The Pulitzer-winning legend himself contributes a coffee-table book of paintings. And the reissue explores Dylan’s Minnesota roots.
All three merit attention for even casual fans of Minnesota’s most revered musical icon.
“Positively Main Street: Bob Dylan’s Minnesota” by Toby Thompson; University of Minnesota Press ($15.95)
Toby Thompson was - not necessarily in this order - a Dylan fan, an aspiring journalist and one crazy dude from Washington, D.C. In 1968, the 25-year-old set out to discover Dylan’s roots, so he drove his VW all the way to Hibbing - twice.
By JAKE COYLE/The Associated Press
INDIO, Calif. — By the end of Coachella, over 100 bands had fanned out across five stages, more than 150,000 people had sweltered through the desert heat and at least as many bottles of water had been guzzled.
But there was one who rose above all others.
Prince, in his Saturday evening headlining performance, firmly established himself in Coachella lore among famous concerts from years past, including the Pixies and Rage Against the Machine. Prince, for certain, didn’t plan to share the mantle.
By JAKE COYLE/The Associated Press
INDIO, Calif. — “Coachella, I am here.”
Prince hit the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with that announcement, heralding his arrival as the much-anticipated headliner of the summer festival.
Shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday, Prince strutted onto the stage wearing white pants and a white shirt with glittery fringe. His performance, the centerpiece of the three-day festival, was announced only two weeks ago, immediately making an already very hip festival of 125-plus bands significantly more in-demand.
And Prince knew it.
While tapping up and coming artists to produce soundtracks for video games is nothing new, DJ Green Lantern will be achieving a first when the highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV hits stores on Tuesday. The New York City DJ/producer actually developed individual custom radio stations for the latest installment of GTA for Rockstar Games. If you go to Rockstar Games’ Web site, you can check to stations before the game hits the streets this week. For an interview with DJ Green Lantern, check out Reuters.com.
For more on DJ Green Lantern, check out his Web site.
No Depression, the bimonthly magazine covering a broad range of American roots music since 1995, will bring to an end its print publication with its 75th issue in May-June 2008. The continued decline of the record industry and the reduction of advertising sales are some of the contributers to the publication’s decision to shift their focus to their Web site, according to a press release. The magazine will continue to expand its online product and will be collaborating with the University of Texas Press to publish a semi-annual “bookazine.”
For the full update on the future of No Depression, see the magazine’s Web site
Lupe Fiasco’s sophomore effort, “The Cool,” has been certified gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000.
For more on this story, check out the Rap News Network.
The hip-hop duo of Slug and Ant, known as Atmosphere, cancelled their April 25 show in Toronto after having been denied access to the country.
For more on this story, The Minnesota Monitor.
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