Delta Spirit Debut in Stores This August

Hailing from San Diego, California, drummer Brandon Young, bassist Jon Jameson and guitarist Sean Walker were accomplished musicians in need of a vocalist, whom they found in the impassioned, aspiring performer Matt Vasquez in 2004. With the addition of friend and multi-instrumentalist Kelly Winrich, Delta Spirit was complete and perfecting their signature blend of fervent indie-rock and soul-stirring croons, reminiscent of compatriots The Walkmen and Spoon, that soon earned them praise both live and on their first EP release, I Think I've Found It. - more on this story

Maria Taylor and Johnathan Rice Team Up for Tour

PR reports: With two highly acclaimed solo albums and previous tours alongside Bright Eyes, Midlake, Jimmy Eat World, and Josh Rouse, Maria Taylor is bringing her poignant, playful, and awe-inspiring live show back on the road in a co-headlining tour with Johnathan Rice. Nik Freitas and Taylor Hollingsworth will open.

No stranger to the stage, Maria's live show breathes new life into her impeccable song craft and distinctive catalogue of work. Maria will self-release a digital EP by the name of Savanna Drive on June 17th. Recorded with producer (Bright Eyes), musician (Now It's Overhead), and friend Andy LeMaster, the EP will be a mix of notable tracks from 11:11 and Lynn Teeter Flower, as well as new songs, all performed acoustically. - more on this story

Ray LaMontagne Sets Release

Big Hassle reports: Ray LaMontagne is set to release his much anticipated third album, Gossip In The Grain, on September 9th on RCA Records. Recorded with returning producer, Ethan Johns in Box, England, and touching upon a range of styles and musical settings- spanning pastoral folk, railroad blues, front porch country, and plangent balladry - Gossip In The Grain proves to be his most creative and emotionally expansive collection to date.

Whereas LaMontagne's two previous albums, Trouble and Till The Sun Turns Black, were largely solo affairs, with Johns serving as multi-tasking instrumentalist, Gossip In The Grain sees him joined by members of his touring band, bassist Jennifer Condos and guitarist Eric Heywood (with Johns largely handling drum duties). Along with his band members, LaMontagne is also joined on two tracks - "A Falling Through" and "I Still Care For You" - by singer/songwriter Leona Naess. - more on this story

Gabe Dixon Band Set August Release

PR reports: The Gabe Dixon Band's new selftitled album, due out on Fantasy Records on August 26, is in fact the group's third release, following the 2002 album On a Rolling Ball and the 2005 EP Live at World Café. But there's good reason Dixon, the band's writer/singer/pianist, considers it the GDB's debut.

Formed nine years ago by Dixon — then a classical piano major — and his two college roommates, bassist Winston Harrison and drummer Jano Rix, the group added a sax player and spent several years specializing in jazz-inflected, heavily improvised excursions, showcasing the virtuosity of the players. Dixon's elevated piano chops subsequently led to performances with Alison Krauss, O.A.R. and no less than Paul McCartney who tapped Dixon to play keyboards on his Driving Rain album and back McCartney and others on the internationally broadcast 9/11 tribute "Concert For New York City."

Offered the keyboard slot for McCartney's world tour, Dixon respectfully declined to focus on his own band and its then-yet-to-be-released debut album. But after a bout of cutbacks and regime changes at Warner Bros., the band's original label, the band reinvented itself as a three-piece song-based unit. The band's rededicated attention to arrangement, classic song-craft, and performance can be heard on the band's eponymous new album, The Gabe Dixon Band. - more on this story

Adam Marsland's Greatest Hits

PR reports: On August 12, 2008, Karma Frog Records will release Adam Marsland's "Daylight Kissing Night: Adam Marsland's Greatest Hits", a 20-track collection of songs spanning both Cockeyed Ghost and Marsland's solo songs.

"I wanted to present my songs in the most undeniable way I could. I've had this weird journey from punk guy to indie guy to pop guy to this kind of elder statesman do-it-all person who's rooted in a classic sound. Every one of my albums was different. So if someone said to me 'what do you do?' I didn't have an easy answer for them," comments Marsland on why he decided to do "Daylight Kissing Night". "Now, there's this record with twenty of my best songs, and it covers everything I've done without sounding inconsistent, and people can come away from it understanding who I am and what I do."

Marsland cut his teeth touring with pop/rock band Cockeyed Ghost, who between 1996 and 2001 released five records (four studio records and a rarities collection), and in 2001, after disbanding Cockeyed Ghost, Marsland hit the road and began touring heavily as a solo act, culminating in the release of his debut solo album, 2002's live record, "232 Days on the Road". - more on this story

Warped Guitar

PR reports: Guitar Center is pleased to announce a very special installment of Guitar Center Sessions: An evening of dialogue and insight with Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman.

Taking place June 12 at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, CA, the evening will also feature Epitaph Records founder Brett Gurewitz (also of the band Bad Religion), Joe Escalante (The Vandals, Kung Fu Records founder), Tom DeLonge (Angels and Airwaves and Modlife founder), Philip Sneed (Story of the Year) and Max Bemis (Say Anything), with moderator Jason Pettigrew, editor-in-chief of Alternative Press.

Please join us for GC Sessions as we kick off the Warped Tour. This event is free and open to the public! June 12, 2008 @ 6PM Guitar Center Hollywood 7425 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, CA - guitarcenter.com

Sister Hazel Blow Open Hard Rock Park

PR reports: Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, hosted its official opening ceremony last night, and Sister Hazel guitarist, Ryan Newell, was on hand to help, literally, blow the gates open. Newell arrived at the red carpet ceremony at the Park's massive iron front gates in a helicopter with Hard Rock Park CEO Steven Goodwin.

While Newell played a custom Hard Rock guitar, fireworks and pyrotechnics "blew open" the gates of the park, signaling to guests of all ages that this destination is officially open and ready to rock their worlds. Says Newell: "The people at Hard Rock Park have been amazing to Sister Hazel and the ceremony was incredible. I just feel lucky to have been a part of such a historical moment!"

Sister Hazel, who will be on tour throughout 2008, returns to Hard Rock Park on July 4th to perform in the amphitheater there. - more on this story

For Frankie Valli Reissues Is The Word

conqueroo reports: Having reissued a goodly portion of The 4 Seasons' album catalog, it made perfect sense for Collectors' Choice Music to go back and sweep through lead singer Frankie Valli's solo albums. Four twofer CDs containing eight complete albums, due out June 24, 2008, represent almost every solo Valli recording, culled from such labels as Philips, Private Stock and Warner/Curb and MCA/Curb. The twofer packages include detailed liner notes by prolific annotator James Ritz.

The lead singer of the 4 Seasons was often billed as "the sound of Frankie Valli" on the group's recordings, owing to his four-octave range and falsetto that was clear and commanding. Only a few pop singers had perfected falsetto — Frankie Lymon comes to mind — but only the 4 Seasons pushed it to the forefront of the mix. Frankie was born Francis Castellucio in Newark, N.J. in 1934, and fittingly, his first and strongest influence was fellow Jersey-ite Frank Sinatra. His group, originally called the Four Lovers and later the 4 Seasons, charted two consecutive No. 1 hits right out of the box — "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" in 1962 — and went on to chart 15 singles over the next two years, which included six Top 10s and two No. 1s. Some four years later, Valli recorded his first solo album, appropriately titled Solo and featuring the hit "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." And the rest is history. - more on this story

George Jones Offering Rockers For Adoption Hope

PR reports: George Jones, Country Music Hall of Fame member, lends a hand to support HopeHouse International, a non-profit organization that exists so that orphans in Ukraine can become adopted by Christian couples within their country.

A special George Jones miniature rocking chair has been designed and is autographed by George in an effort to raise funds for HopeHouse, which enables adoptions by addressing adequate housing needs which results in three or more children being given a family and a future.

Each miniature decorative Rocking Chair, which is autographed by George, only costs $10, including postage and handling. To purchase this decorative rocking chair or other George Jones merchandise, log onto - www.georgejones.com

Miss Derringer Tapped For On The Doll Premiere

PR reports: Award winning filmmaker and video director Thomas Mignone's (, Slipknot, System Of A Down, Sepultura, Testament, Mudvayne) new feature film "ON THE DOLL" is having its New York Premiere Event at The Annex on Wednesday June 11.

To celebrate, Miss Derringer (with acclaimed Los Angeles artist Liz McGrath on lead vocals), is performing an exclusive set while on their current tour with Blondie. The film's soundtrack includes an original score by Paul D'Amour (TOOL), and new music by The Crystal Method, Miss Derringer, Otep, Feersum Ennjin (Paul's new band), and The Black Heart Procession.

"ON THE DOLL" will be screening at the ultra cool and indie fave Village East Cinema starting on Friday the 13th (of course!!!). It is an intense and provocative drama dealing with themes of child abuse and victimization. The title comes from the phrase asked of children to "Show me on the doll where you were touched". - more on this story

The Spill Canvas Bowling For AIDS

PR reports: The Spill Canvas will be hosting bowling parties throughout the U.S during their summer tour in order to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS and the MTVu Pos or Not campaign. The goal is to promote social awareness.

Fans are being asked to donate a t-shirt for those living with HIV/AIDS who are in need of clothing, which will then be sent in a care package from The Spill Canvas & their fans & MTVu. Check out the dates of the bowling parties below and make sure to RSVP! - rsvp details and event locations

TMT Fest Postponed As Sebastian Bach Cancels

Metal Underground reports: Upstate New York's TMT festival has been temporarily postponed. The organizers have issued the following update: "Due to an unagreeable situation that has arisen with the venue, we are forced to postpone - TEMPORARILY this event.

We are currently spending every waking moment searching for a replacement venue that will satisfy both our needs and please all of the bands and fans. The lack of basic cooperation on the part of the venue is what has prompted this decision. We tried in vain to make every effort necessary, but in the end - they failed us.

"There will be two lineup changes - Forbidden had a problem between management and booking, they decided to play another gig that weekend. Metal Mike contacted us when Sebastian Bach decided to go on tour, this tour conflicted with the concert date. We wish both bands good luck in their endeavors." - more metal news

Thin Lizzy Christmas

BW&BK reports: According to Hotpress.com, the boys are back in town for Christmas. One of Dublin's greatest rock exports Thin Lizzy have announced a gig in the Ambassador on December 3.

More than thirty years on from the release of such anthems as 'Jailbreak' and 'Whiskey In The Jar' and twenty years on from the death of front man Phil Lynott, the group say they now perform to keep the legacy of the band intact.

The current line up consists of veterans from Lynott's day, John Sykes, who has taken on the vocals, and Scott Gorham.
- more on this story

Jagger, Plant and Slash Tribute Bo Diddley

antiMusic reports: Rock n Roll legend Bo Diddley died of heart failure on Monday and there was no shortage of other rock legends singing his praises including Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, BB King and Slash.

"He was a wonderful, original musician who was an enormous force in music and was a big influence on The Rolling Stones," said Mick Jagger in a statement. He was very generous to us in our early years and we learned a lot from him. We will never see his like again."

According to the BBC, Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant said Diddley's "voice and relentless, glorious anthems echo down through my years This royal shape shifter continues to influence four generations of musicians on a daily basis," he added.

BB King, praised Diddly as "a music pioneer and legend with a unique style. We always had a good time when we played together. He will truly be missed, but his legacy will live on forever," King, 82, said through his publicist according to AFP

Slash told NME.COM that Diddley greatly influenced countless musicians, and the Bo Diddley beat was the inspiration for Guns N Roses' song 'Mr Brownstone'. "He's a huge hero of mine and the fact that he knew who I was a huge compliment," Slash said. "Bo Diddley created a myth that was uniquely his own. An entire rhythm is owed to just one guy and that's pretty rare," he said. - Read Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart's tribute at NME

. Deicide - Till Death Do Us Part

This effort resembles yesterday's death metal superstars becoming a horrendous flapjack of their own image- this album a grotesque stab at reclaiming an outdated crown by enlisting nothing new, original, or even decent. - Read the full Deicide - Till Death Do Us Part review

. French Kicks - Swimming

It's some kind of accomplishment to make an album so incredibly boring. In that field, French Kicks have no competition. I mean, it's almost like they were trying to set the standard for how not to have fun. (2 stars) - Read the full French Kicks - Swimming review

. Paper Rival Inside Track

Paper Rival's highly anticipated debut, "Dialog" hits stores this week. The band's rootsy indie rock has been winning them fans and critical praise and caught our attention, so we asked frontman Jacob Rolleston to tell us a little about his favorite tracks from the new CD. - Read the full Paper Rival Inside Track

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