The Sounds Crossing The Rubicon For New CD and Tour

As a band who has carved out their career by doing things their own way, The Sounds formed their own label, Arnioki Records, and created Crossing The Rubicon before choosing a label to partner with, giving them complete control in a rapidly evolving music industry. A partnership with OSR is perfect for a band that deserves to benefit from the career they have built thus far. Together, they will seek innovative and dynamic ways to develop the band in a new climate. - more on this story

Regina Spektor Sets New Album Release

PR reports: Sire Records and Regina Spektor are very proud to announce the release of FAR; the highly anticipated follow up to Spektor's gold album BEGIN TO HOPE. Set for a June 23rd release, FAR continues to reveal new layers in Spektor's songwriting as she pursues the next level in her inimitable musical style.

With her uninhibited imagination and her hands on approach in the studio, FAR not only succeeds with 13 impressive and accessible tracks, but it spotlights Spektor's remarkable gift to craft intelligent and refreshingly honest odes to life. Four exceptional producers collaborated with Spektor on FAR: Jeff Lynne (ELO, The Traveling Wilburys), Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Eminem), David Kahne (Paul McCartney, The Strokes) and Garret "Jacknife" Lee (Weezer, REM).

Captivating audiences with songs that are distinctively her own, BEGIN TO HOPE, allowed Spektor to go from hypnotizing small crowds to selling out 3,000 capacity venues worldwide with what Rolling Stone praised as "one of the most intensely joyful rock shows we've seen." BEGIN TO HOPE also spent 5 weeks in a row at #1 on the Billboard new artists chart before moving to #20 on the Billboard Top 100 and selling 1 million copies worldwide (Gold or Platinum in 7 countries). - more on this story

The Decemberists Announce Colbert Appearance and More Tour Plans

EMI reports: The Decemberists have confirmed a performance on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report for Monday, April 27.

This will be the band's first appearance on the show since 2006's ShredDown where guitarist Chris Funk was dubiously defeated by last-minute Colbert fill-in Peter Frampton, and Eliot Spitzer had to recuse himself from the voting after an attempted Colbert bribe.

The Decemberists have also announced most of Phase Two of their "A Short Fazed Hovel" 2009 tour in support of The Hazards of Love, their ambitious new album on Capitol Records. - more on this story

Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band and Beastie Boys Head Up Outside Lands Festival

PR reports: The line-up for the second annual Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival has been announced. The multi-faceted, three-day festival will once again take place in San Francisco's historic Golden Gate Park August 28 - 30, 2009.

In one year, the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival singlehandedly raised the bar for live music in Northern California. Now an annual gathering, this year's lineup will solidify Outside Lands as the premier festival in the region, with unmatched creative programming that showcases leading artists in many musical scenes, including rock, pop, world music, soul, hip-hop and electronic.

Like the inaugural event, major national headliners such as Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas, Jason Mraz, Thievery Corporation, Ween, The Mars Volta, TV on the Radio, Tom Jones, Built To Spill, Calexico, The National and Q-Tip, will perform alongside exceptional emerging artists such as Deerhunter, Heartless Bastards, Blind Pilot, Mastodon, Trombone Shorty and Dengue Fever. Local acts such as The Dodos, The Morning Benders, Brett Dennen, John Vanderslice, Raphael Saadiq and SambaDa will be featured prominently as the festival strives to highlight the great artists of the region. The complete announced lineup is listed below. More acts will be announced soon - more on this story

Scott Miller Ditches Tour Bus for Amtrak

conqueroo reports: All over the country, musicians are touring in buses and Econolines. Scott Miller has an idea that's far more fun, greener and calls attention to a forgotten mode of transportation — trains. On May 9, he will embark on his "Mule Train MMIX" tour by boarding the Amtrak Crescent, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Miller, whose new album For Crying Out Loud will be released today, April 14, 2009, on the indie F.A.Y. Records, will ride the rails up the East Coast.

On May 9, Miller and his band the Commonwealth will kick off the tour with a performance at New Orleans' Amtrak station at 5:30 p.m., celebrating both the 30th anniversary of the Amtrak Crescent route and National Train Day. From there, Miller will ride the Crescent, which extends from New Orleans to New York, opening with a tour stop in Greenville, S.C. at the Handlebar. Charlottesville, Va. is next on May 15 followed by Washington, D.C. (May 16), Easton, Md. (May 17), Philadelphia (May 19) and others to be announced shortly. (A full itinerary appears below.)

Miller comments, "Just as the fledgling Republic of Texas called Sam Houston back again and again to save them, the railroads have called me back to single-handedly save them as well. Okay, not really — but they did call about playing an event on National Train Day (May 9th) in New Orleans and since I had a new record coming out we worked out a partnership so I can take the train to shows up the East Coast. That proves that trains are relevant to me. As far as the rest of the country, well, that's one of the things I aim to find out!" - more on this story

L.A. Acoustic Music Festival Announced

conqueroo reports: The L.A. Acoustic Music Festival, featuring a world-class lineup of artists, makes its debut over the weekend of June 6–7, 2009 on the beautiful Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif. The two-day celebration of acoustic music — which takes place during the Pier's 100th Anniversary year —benefits the California Acoustic Music Project (CAMP).

The lineup for Saturday, June 6 will open with the Refugees, the all-female "power band" of Wendy Waldman ("Save the Best for Last"), Deborah Holland, and Cindy Bullens, followed by Joel Rafael, Eliza Gilkyson, and the extraordinary Jimmy LaFave, named "Best Singer-Songwriter" by Austin Music Awards, playing what he calls "red dirt music."

After a dinner break, Richard Thompson, the iconic British folk rock legend and one of the world's most critically acclaimed singers, songwriters and guitarists, will take the stage, followed by Natalie MacMaster, the virtuoso Cape Breton fiddler. Bringing it home as the final act of the evening will be Bruce Cockburn, rocking the festival stage with his own brand of acoustic folk-jazz-based music that has expanded to include reggae and a harder jazz-fusion-tinged rock. - more on this story

Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan Playing The US At Last

PR reports: Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan have just announced their debut US performances in New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles in late May.

The duo released their sophomore full-length, Sunday at Devil Dirt (Fontanta International/V2) in the US last November (and in the UK last May).

Campbell (of Belle & Sebastian fame) and Lanegan (of Screaming Trees/QOTSA/Gutter Twins infamy) first paired four years ago. Their debut full-length, Ballad of the Broken Seas, was released in 2006 and received a Mercury Music Prize nomination. - more on this story

Japanese Hardcore Pioneers Aggressive Dogs Announce US Invasion

PR reports: America proudly welcomes acclaimed Japanese hardcore act, Aggressive Dogs, for a few dates around the inaugural installment of the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival. Aggressive Dogs have earned the respect of many integral progenitors in the US hardcore movement, including Roger Miret and Mike Gallo of Agnostic Front.

Agrressive Dogs have just released their brand new record, 'Aoki Garou'; which features Loudness bassist, Yamashita, as well as aforementioned Agnostic Front members. Aoki Garou was mixed by none other then Zeuss, at his Massachusetts' based Planet Z Recordings, and produced by Alan Douches at West West Side.

Japan's Defstar Records also just released a 25th Anniversary tribute album, dedicated to Aggressive Dogs, which features tracks from the band's catalogue, all covered by the finest hardcore acts today: Sick of it All, Agnostic Front, Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed, Kingdom of Sorrow, Icepick), Stigma, Loyal to the Grave and more. - more on this story

LeToya Is Lady Love On New Album

Capitol Records reports: LeToya is ready to make her next move on June 23 with the release of the singer's sophomore album "Lady Love" on Capitol Records.

Already shaping up as the female anthem of 2009 is the album's lead single, "Not Anymore." Written and co-produced by Grammy Award-winning artist Ne-Yo, the track pulsates with empowering determination as LeToya's soulful voice reaches out to females who are "fed up" with straying boyfriends. "That drama … I don't want it anymore," she declares. "I dried my eyes and realize/I deserve somebody who treats me right."

Out the box, "Not Anymore" finished No.1 Most Added at Media Base. Among the 42 urban stations that have added the song include such powerhouses as, WJLB/Detroit, KBXX/ Houston, KBFB/Dallas, WPEG/Charlotte, WWPR/New York and WOWI/Norfolk. - more on this story

Bobby Field Treats Music As Character in New Film

PR reports: Actor/Writer Bobby Field returns to his musical roots to create his upcoming rock-n-roll drama, "The Bridge." In a strategic marketing tactic, Field is rolling out songs from the film months before its release with live performances at Hollywood's most respected venues and a CD sampler.

"The Bridge" is a coming-of-age tale that chronicles the unlikely rise of a small town music prodigy. Faced with a choice that leads him to a life-changing crossroads, he must decide whether to cross his 'bridge' or stay crippled in fear forever. Driven by its powerfully moving original soundtrack, "The Bridge" portrays an arduous journey of the human spirit.

"The Bridge" is also a personal journey for Field, who spent years training under world renowned classical guitarist Carols Molina, while also singing with the hard rock band Dark Descent. Field explains, "I stayed away from music for a long time because I was on a creative path as an actor and filmmaker. So when I started this project, I didn't realize how much I missed creating music. I'm thrilled to be playing and recording again and am having the time of my life with the live shows." Field's music performs an essential role in the film, often serving as the inciting catalyst for a character's evolution. - more on this story

Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison Rarities Party of Profiles in History Auction

PR reports: The Harrison Ford "Rick Deckard" hero blaster from Blade Runner ($100,000-$150,000), an original Frankenstein one-sheet movie poster ($200,000-$250,000), the original Creature from the Black Lagoon hero "Gill Man" mask from Revenge of the Creature ($60,000-$80,000), Ray Park "Darth Maul" fighting lightsaber from Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace ($40,000-$60,000), Charlton Heston's "Colonel George Taylor" costume and display from Planet of the Apes ($40,000-$60,000) and Rita Hayworth's signature gown from Gilda ($30,000-$50,000) highlight just some of the 1,100 iconic pieces of Hollywood history that Profiles in History, the number one company in the world for authentic Hollywood memorabilia will offer on April 30 and May 1, 2009. Worldwide bidding begins at 12:00 PM (noon) April 30 and 11:00 AM May 1 and can be placed either in person, via mail, phone, fax or live on the Internet here. What better place to find a Mother's Day or Father's Day gift for the film or TV fan that has everything-or thought that they did?!

Music fans will covet the original Mick Jagger Rolling Stones manuscript lyrics for "Too Much Blood" ($15,000-$20,000), the original Jim Morrison Electro-Voice 676 microphone, Shure amplifier and "The Doors" travel case ($12,000-$15,000) and Jim Morrison's frock coat ($10,000-$15,000) among other treasures - more on this story

. Saxon - Into the Labyrinth

Saxon's Into the Labyrinth, the umpteenth Saxon full-length, is not half-bad. Hell, it is actually pretty damn good. But that doesn't make any sense, because this is not anything new or remotely altered. - Read the full Saxon - Into the Labyrinth review

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