Band To Kick Off U.S. Tour On The Eve Of SXSW 2012

Tour Will Include Stops At This Year’s Coachella

January 2012 – Band of Skulls will now release their highly anticipated second album Sweet Sour exclusively on iTunes on February 7th via their own label, Electric Blues Recordings under exclusive license in the U.S. to Vagrant Records. The iTunes special release of Sweet Sour will include the bonus track “Such A Fool.”

The following week, the standard version of Sweet Sour will be available everywhere on February 14th. Sweet Sour is the follow-up to their debut album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey which was universally embraced by the U.S. media with early supporters at Entertainment Weekly naming them “Your Next Favorite Band.”

Sweet Sour most recently landed on Spin’s 25 Winter Albums You Gotta Hear! where they went on to note, “Sweet Sour is the rare modern-rock album that can span cliques or generations, uniting hippies and hipsters…” SPIN

Following the success of Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, the band retreated to a studio in Norfolk UK to begin writing Sweet Sour. They returned to their home studio in Southampton to start the recording which they completed in Wales at Rockfield Studios. Sweet Sour was produced by Ian Davenport (Supergrass, Badly Drawn Boy) and mixed by Nick Launay (Grinderman, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire). Please see below for the complete Sweet Sour track listing.

On March 13th the band returns to Austin, TX on the eve of the SXSW Music Festival with a show at Antone’s to kick off their first U.S. tour in support of Sweet Sour. The band’s live show has been a constant highlight at previous festivals by the likes of Rolling Stone (Best of SXSW) and SPIN (Best of Coachella). The band will return to both must-see events this Spring and will surely not disappoint. Please see below for complete tour itinerary.

BAND OF SKULLS 2012 TOUR DATES:

13-Mar TUE Austin, TX Antone’s
16-Mar FRI Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s
17-Mar SAT Dallas, TX Granada Theater
19-Mar MON Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
20-Mar TUE Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom
22-Mar THU New York, NY Webster Hall
23-Mar FRI Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
24-Mar SAT Washington, DC 9:30 Club
26-Mar MON Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
27-Mar TUE Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
28-Mar WED Providence, RI The Met
30-Mar FRI Toronto, ONT Phoenix Concert Theatre
31-Mar SAT Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
2-Apr MON Detroit, MI St. Andrew’s Hall
3-Apr TUE Chicago, IL House of Blues
4-Apr WED Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
6-Apr FRI Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
7-Apr SAT Salt Lake City, UT The Complex (Grand Room)
9-Apr MON Seattle, WA Neptune
10-Apr TUE Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
11-Apr WED Portland, OR Dante’s
12-Apr THU San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
15-Apr SUN Coachella
22-Apr SUN Coachella

* We Are Augustines Support All Dates except Coachella

Sweet Sour Track listing

1. Sweet Sour
2. Bruises
3. Wanderluster
4. Devil Takes Care Of His Own
5. Lay My Head Down
6. You Aren’t Pretty But You Got It Going On
7. Navigate
8. Hometowns
9. Lies
10. Close To Nowhere

*The special iTunes release will include the bonus track “Such A Fool”

http://www.bandofskulls.com

Source- Permanent Press

You can now read my review for Nashville-Based Singer & Songwriter Audrey Assad upcoming sophomore release, ‘Heart’ on their web site

Read Audrey Assad’s ‘Heart’ Review

They’re backed up by Ryan McClintock(lead guitar), Robert Finnell(bass), and Kenny Schneider(drums).

NEELY is poised to hit the national radar screen with their latest single, “You and Me.”

You can learn more about NEELY and hear their music at:

http://www.neelymusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/NEELYmusic
https://twitter.com/neelymusic
http://www.youtube.com/neelymusic

After a night of rain and wine, with the help of a built-in MacBook microphone, they discovered their sound was something special with ‘Sorry For Being Brief’. The better part of instruments are found in household items and oddities lying around, giving their sound a raw and powerful feel. The following weeks saw plenty of writing and studio time then the release of their debut single – ‘Charlie’. And people are loving it! Losing their radio play virginity with The Sunday Washup with Dave and Kieren last week, they’ve been overwhelmed with the reponse and are frantically gathering more material and setting up what is sure to be a live show like none other.

Toby Meadows is a familiar name around Brisbane being the head honcho for local creative collective – Contortionist Studios. Having an incredible ear for music, he has set up his own studio within the Contortionist Warehouse where he has been recording the likes of Sunshine Ensemble, Mosman Alder and Arial Haze.

Taija Marie Davis is on the other end of that spectrum however. Better known for her work with Rare Finds as the Online Media Publicist and freelance artist manager, her realisation of musical ability came a little later. After she was given a 1972 Yamaha electric organ, she played her first key 6 months ago and discovered utter peace in playing. Never having had a singing lesson in her life, it was a shock to all when those notes came out.

Needless to say, this pair are sure to be a prescence to keep an ear out for as they prepare for the stage!

Stream/Download Smith & Frank-”Charlie”

http://www.facebook.com/smithandfrank

Source- Smith & Frank

Photo by: Lee Steffen

Heads Out on Spring Tour in Support of New Album

(Nashville, Tenn.) Jan. 2012 — GRAMMY Award nominated, female-fronted rock act Fireflight will release its fourth studio project, NOW, on March 6. The album is preceded by lead single,

“Stay Close,” which topped the Billboard Christian Rock radio chart this week, while Fireflight gears up to support its new release with a “Stay Close” spring tour.

Asserting a new direction from the band’s previous record For Those Who Wait (2010), NOW calls listeners to move beyond their circumstances and take action. As guitarist Glenn Drennen explains, “We are not bound by our current condition because life is difficult or we have been hurt in the past. NOW points to God as our refuge who not only provides a place of safety and comfort, but who also challenges us to get outside our comfort zone…to join with something greater than ourselves.”

Produced by Jasen Rauch, NOW displays a new sonic focus for the band as well, built on lush electronic textures, futuristic moods and a more finely honed grasp of tender-to-titanic dynamics. Together the project’s hard-hitting message and sound make for an anthemic album. For example, the fist-pumping title track encourages listeners to quit making excuses, hiding in the shadows of previous pain, and to choose the path to freedom. In the same vein, melodic ballad “Rise Above” urges us to stop the cycle of victimization, overcome those things that have entangled us, and work toward a new tomorrow.

The record’s lead single “Stay Close,” which combines a techno beat backdrop with lyrics that address calling on God when our hearts and minds are stuck in dark times, is already finding success at radio. This week, the song climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Rock chart. Fireflight will follow the radio single with a “Stay Close” tour, additionally featuring BEC Recordings artist Rapture Ruckus and Delvin Williams. The 20-city spring leg will run through late March. For a complete list of tour dates, visit http://www.fireflightrock.com.

About Fireflight:

Florida native Fireflight comprises Dawn Michele (lead vocals), Justin Cox (guitar, keys, vocals), Wendy Drennen (bass, vocals), Glenn Drennen (guitar), and Adam McMillion (drums).

Fireflight released its national debut, The Healing of Harms, in 2006, followed by breakout sophomore album Unbreakable (2008) and For Those Who Wait (2010).

The GRAMMY-nominated, modern rock outfit has received six career Dove Award nominations, including Artist of the Year in 2009, and lead singer Dawn Michele’s 2010 Female Vocalist of the Year nomination. Additionally, the group won Taco Bell’s inaugural fan-voted “Best of the Beat” contest in 2009, and performed at ESPN’s “Winter X Games 13.”

The band’s music has been featured on E! Entertainment’s “Style Network” and in music-video reels at both American Eagle and Journey’s stores across the country. For nearly a decade, the band has remained tireless road warriors on the concert circuit averaging 140 shows a year.

http://www.fireflightrock.com

Source- Provident Press

The band member’s share a love of classic American rock n roll and bands like the Kings of Leon, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Velvet Underground and The Strokes that helps to set the foundation for their sound.

The band has already performed at the FIB Benicassim, SXSW, Exit, & Reeperbahn festivals along with sharing shows with bands like, Meat Puppets, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Band Of Skulls, Sixteen Deluxe, The Horrors, & Children Collide.

The Dandies are currently working on their debut album with Grammy-nominated producer Chris “Frenchie” Smith (JET, Meat Puppets, Lost Bayou Ramblers).

I got to hear the bands new single, “Battle Cry.” The track opens up with several drumstick snaps that are quickly joined by rocking guitar and thick rocking drum beats that propel the song. The track really showcases the band’s talent and I look forward to hearing the entire album when it’s released.

Websites:

http://thedandiesmusic.com
http://www.facebook.com/thedandies

Nashville, TN – (January 2012) – Breakout Urban sensation and Dove Award winning Group 1 Crew re-launches their third album, Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition on January 24. The album features more music along with the original 12 tracks. Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition will include eight additional tracks with remixes of their hit singles “Walking On The Stars” and “Live It Up” as well as four brand new songs. One of the new tracks on the album is “He Said,” which features multi-award winning artist, Chris August.

Group 1 Crew is currently featured on the 2012 Winter Jam Tour alongside headlining acts: Building 429, Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Newsong, Sanctus Real and Skillet. For more information on tour dates, visit their website: http://www.Group1Crew.com.

Outta Space Love is Group 1 Crew’s third Fervent Records release and originally debuted at No.1 on the Soundscan Christian Digital Chart and No. 4 on the overall Christian Album Chart.

This album delivered the Top 5 hit “Walking On The Stars” and “Please Don’t Let Me Go” as well as fan-favorite songs “Breakdown” and “Live It Up.”

Group 1 Crew has become one of the leading Hip-Hop focused acts in the Christian music scene, broadening the parameters of faith-based music with songs that percolate with energy and resonate with the truth of God’s grace. To date, the talented group has had three hit singles break into the Top 5 on Billboard’s Christian CHR Charts, including “Keys To The Kingdom” and “Movin’.” They have earned five Dove Awards; three for the Rap/Hip-Hop Album Of The Year category and two for the Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song with “Movin’ ” and “Walking on the Stars.” Group 1 Crew made their national TV performance debut on The Mo’Nique Show and their music has been featured in a variety of popular television shows, including NBC’s America’s Got Talent, FOX’s The Simple Life, Style Network’s Kimora Lee Simmons: Life in the Fab Lane, MTV’s Run’s House, and The CW’s One Tree Hill.

Outta Space Love: Bigger Love Edition Track Listing:

1. Live It Up
2. Need Your Love
3. Walking On The Stars
4. Let’s Go (Feat. TobyMac)
5. Lean On Me
6. Beautiful
7. Transcend
8. Outta Space Love
9. Please Don’t Let Me Go
10. Wait
11. Breakdown
12. Manipulation
13. Control
14. Digirock
15. Take It There
16. He Said
17. Walking On The Stars (Garcia Glam Mix)
18. Live It Up (Dance Floor Mix)

For more information on Group 1 Crew, please visit:

Website:http://www.Group1Crew.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group1crew
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/group1crew

Source- Warner Music Nashville

“Though I’ve never personally met Say Anything, we have a bunch of mutual friends and former tourmates, all of whom spoke real highly of their experiences touring with the band, and about the open and attentive nature of their fans,” said Kevin Devine. “I’ve had the pleasure of exchanging e-mails with Max over the past couple of months and have found him to be a thoughtful, sweet guy. I think the shows will be a welcome stretch for all of us.”

Known for his acoustic musings Kevin Devine’s latest release, Between the Concrete & Clouds debuted at #5 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Without losing his lyrical density, Kevin explored the technical side of creating structurally more traditional pop songs, evident in the shorter tracks on BTC&C. Devine has received numerous accolades from press and fans alike over the span of his nine year career. His discography includes several EPs and live albums, as well as past full-lengths Circle Gets the Square (2002), Make the Clocks Move (2003), Split The Country, Split The Street (2005), Put Your Ghost to Rest (2006), Brother’s Blood (2009), and Bad Books (2010), a side project Kevin worked on with Andy Hull and other members of Manchester Orchestra. Kevin has played with top artists including Bright Eyes, Manchester Orchestra, Okkervill River, Earlimart, and many more, and has performed at the following festivals: Coachella 2010, Bonnaroo 2010, Bamboozle 2010, Lollapalooza 2009, Austin City Limits 2007, and Soundwave 2008 (Australia).

KEVIN DEVINE TOUR DATES -HEADLINING DATES

March 8 – Lancaster, PA – Lizard Lounge
March 9 – Altoona, PA – Altoona Masonic Temple
March 10 – Columbus, OH – The Basement *
March 11 – Nashville, TN – The End *
March 13 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Conservatory *
March 14 – March 17 – Austin, TX – SXSW
March 18 – San Antonio, TX – The Korova *
March 20 – Tucson, AZ – Solar Culture Gallery
*with support from The Front Bottoms

SAY ANYTHING TOUR

March 24 – San Francisco, CA – The Regency Ballroom *
March 25 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom *
March 27 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox @ The Market *
March 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex – Grand Room *
March 30 – Denver, CO – The Summit Music Hall *
March 31 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre *
April 1 – St. Louis, MO – The Firebird *
April 3 – St. Paul, MN – Station 4 *
April 4 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues *
April 5 – Pontiac, MI – Clutch Cargo’s *
April 6 – Toronto, ONT – The Opera House *
April 7 – Montreal, QC – Corona *
April 9 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theatre *
April 10 – Rochester, NY – Water Street Music Hall *
April 11 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Small’s Theatre *
April 13 – New York, NY – Best Buy Theatre +
April 14 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues +
April 15 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre Of The Living Arts +
April 17 – Washington, DC – Black Cat +
April 18 – Richmond, VA – The National +
April 20 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel +
April 21 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle +
April 22 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade +
April 24 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution +
April 25 – Orlando, FL – Beacham Theatre +
April 27 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live +
April 28 – Dallas, TX – Live @ Mokah +
April 29 – Austin, TX – La Zona Rose +
May 1 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee +
May 2 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues +
May 3 – West Hollywood, CA – House Of Blues +
*Say Anything, Kevin Devine, Fake Problems, The Front Bottoms
+Say Anything, Kevin Devine, Fake Problems, Tallhart

LINKS

http://www.facebook.com/KevinDevineMusic
http://www.kevindevine.net

Source- Razor & Tie Publicity

(NASHVILLE, Tennessee) — Arrow Records artist Shonlock made one New Year’s resolution this year – To start the year strong. The holidays are over for this acclaimed choreographer (Arrested Development, Aaliyah) and former member of TobyMac’s Diverse City, who jumps into 2012 with a new radio single, title track “NeverOddOrEven,” and an announcement of Acquire the Fire tour dates that will put him in front of thousands in arenas nationwide.

One of 2011’s most exciting new artists, Shonlock burst onto the scene in June with his full-length debut release NEVERODDOREVEN (Arrow Records/Universal Music Christian Group). He quickly proved that he had earned his new frontman status, thanks to major festival performances and the “Outta Space Love Tour” with Group 1 Crew, Rachael Lampa and Rapture Ruckus. With increased demand for shows of his own, Shonlock eventually departed TobyMac’s road crew this past fall.

Shonlock’s debut single, “Something In Your Eyes,” became one of 2011’s biggest radio hits, holding the #1 spot on Billboard’s CHR Chart for seven straight weeks. The follow-up single, “Hello,” spent just as many weeks in the top 5, becoming one of the summer’s biggest singles.

“Words can’t express how grateful and humbled I am by the success of this record thus far,” said Shonlock. “There were a lot of gifted people involved in this project, but none more important then the gift giver, my Father, my source, my everything, JESUS! And this is just the beginning.”

With the new year, comes a new round of media attention, including recent appearances on Atlanta Live, En Sound Radio Network, the nationally syndicated Coconut Hut Radio Show, CMSpin.com’s “That’s Awesome Show” podcast, NewReleaseTuesday.com’s Monday Night Chat and his upcoming appearance on ABC Family’s long-running daytime talker, The 700 Club, among others.

ACQUIRE THE FIRE TOUR DATES:

January 21 – Grace Community Church – Houston, TX
January 28 – Richmond Coliseum – Richmond, VA
February 04 – Minneapolis Convention Center – Minneapolis, MN
February 11 – Kemper Arena – Kansas City, MO
February 18 – The Tabernacle –Atlanta, GA
February 25 – Municipal Auditorium – Nashville, TN
March 03 – Freeman Coliseum – San Antonio, TX
March 10 – Worthen Arena – Muncie, IN
March 17 – Mabee Center – Tulsa, OK
March 24 – Viejas Arena – San Diego, CA

For more information on Shonlock, visit his official website at http://www.shonlock.com.

Source- Nashville Publicity

BREAKAWAYS, THE PLIMSOULS AND THE BEAT!

The Plimsouls embodied rock & roll in its purest, undistilled form in the era when post-punk droned and new wave popped. Whether on record or onstage, this foursome unleashed urgent, white-hot performances of expertly constructed songs by frontman Peter Case that effortlessly straddled the perfection of British Invasion pop, the raucous, edgier side of early punk and garage rock, and the foundational elements of maximum R&B and wailing soul.

All of this is documented perfectly in one moment – or one night as the case may be – on the latest Plimsouls live album, Beach Town Confidential. Recorded at the height of their onstage power at The Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, CA on August 13, 1983, this recording captures Peter Case, Eddie Muñoz, Dave Pahoa and Louie Ramírez ripping through these 16 tracks with a youthful and reckless abandon. Six of these songs have never been recorded before by The Plimsouls (“Making Time,” “Fall On You,” “The Price Of Love,” “Who’s Gonna Break The Ice?,” “Jumpin’ In The Night” and “You Can’t Judge A Book”), plus it also features the only live recordings of “Magic Touch,” “Oldest Story In The World” and “Hobo.”

The Plimsouls’ Beach Town Confidential was produced by Peter Case and mixed by Peter and Andrew Bush. It will be released Feb. 7, 2012 though Alive Naturalsound Records on LTD. Edition Vinyl (w/ mp3 download card), CD and Digital formats. In addition, Alive is also producing an extremely limited run of 200 pink vinyl LPs (w/ download card) exclusive to mail orders only.

BEACH TOWN CONFIDENTIAL TRACKLISTING:

01. Introduction
02. Shaky City
03. Makin’ Time
04. Zero Hour
05. Hobo
06. Who’s Gonna Break The Ice
07. Fall On You
08. Oldest Story In The World
09. Magic Touch
10. A Million Miles Away
11. Jump, Jive and Harmonize
12. Jumpin’ In The Night
13. Now
14. How Long Will It Take
15. In This Town
16. Price of Love
17. You Can’t Judge a Book

Prior to Peter Case forming The Plimsouls, he was part of two other influential mid-to-late ’70s bands with Paul Collins – The Nerves and The Breakaways (Paul would later go on to form his own highly-respected group, The Beat). Both Peter and Paul have enjoyed successful solo careers on record and on the road, but this spring they’ll once again be reunited for a very special North American tour. The two frontmen (along with bassist Timm Buechler and drummer Amos Pitsch) will be performing classic numbers by their bands, The Nerves and The Breakaways, as well as material by The Plimsouls and The Beat. For fans of energetic live performances, visceral rock & roll, and raucous, hook-laden songs that draw as much from the golden age of ’60s pop as they do from punk, these shows should prove to be nothing short of nirvana.

PETER CASE AND PAUL COLLINS 2012 TOUR DATES:

March 01 Iron Road Studios, Vancouver BC, CAN
March 02 The Funhouse, Seattle WA
March 03 The Star Theatre, Portland OR
March 05 Red Devil Lounge, San Francisco CA
March 07 The Echo, Los Angeles CA
March 08 Bar Pink, San Diego CA
March 09 Pappy and Harriet’s, Pioneertown TBA CA
March 11 Club Congress, Tucson AZ
March 13 Rhythm Room, Phoenix AZ
March 16 TBA SXSW Official Showcase, Austin TX
March 17 Alejandro Escovedo’s Taco Party at Maria’s Taco Express Austin TX mid-afternoon
March 17 Freddie Steady’s 12th Annual Frontier A Go Go And Rock & Roll Hootenanny, Austin TX 5:30 PM
March 18 The Blue Door, Oklahoma City OK acoustic duo
March 19 The Record Bar, Kansas City MO
March 20 TBA, Springfield MO
March 22 The New Amsterdam, St. Paul MN
March 23 TBA, Lafayette IN
March 24 Shank Hall, Milwaukee WI
March 25 TBA, Chicago IL
March 26 TBA, Cincinnati OH
March 27 Ace of Cups, Columbus OH
March 28 Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH
March 29 TBA, Stanhope PA
March 30 Stage on Herr, Harrisburg PA
March 31 Bridge Street Live, Collinsville CT
April 11 TBA, Boston MA
April 12 TBA, New York City NY
April 13 TBA, Philadelphia PA
April 14 TBA, Washington DC
April 15 TBA, Richmond VA
April 16 TBA, Raleigh NC
April 17 The High Watt, Nashville TN
April 18 Hi-Tone, Memphis TN
April 19 TBA, Athens GA
April 20 JJ Bohemia’s Chattanooga TN
April 21 The Star Bar, Atlanta GA
April 22 TBA, Asheville NC
April 24 TBA, Jacksonville FL
April 25 TBA, Gainesville FL
April 26 TBA, Tampa FL
April 27 TBA, Miami FL
April 28 TBA, Orlando FL

FOR MORE INFO:

http://www.petercase.com
http://www.thepaulcollinsbeat.com
http://www.facebook.com/peterpaulcaco
http://www.alive-totalenergy.com

Source- Pavement PR