Tone Loc 20th Anniversary Release

Brotherly Support for Dave Matthews Band

PR reports: North Carolina based rock band The Avett Brothers have been tapped to support Dave Matthews Band on select dates this coming Spring. The Avett Brothers join the tour from April 22, in Raleigh, NC through May 6, in Phoenix, AZ

The Avett Brothers have built up an impressive and loyal fan base with constant touring. This prolific band are renowned for their high energy live shows and incredible mix of eclectic musical styles.

In late 2008, The Avett Brothers released The Second Gleam EP, which debuted at #82 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart. The EP garnered the band even more acclaim from such influential media as NPR and USA Today. - more on this story

In This Moment We're Talking Maiden Covers

PR reports: Talking Metal's Mark Strigl and John Ostronomy covered Iron Maiden's "Run to Hills" with In This Moment members Maria Brink, Chris Howorth, and Jeff Fabb.

The never-before-heard track, engineered and mixed by Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, was recorded live at the Gibson Guitars showroom in New York City. Strigl and Ostronomy, who exclusively play Gibson musical instruments, feature Gibson USA's Les Paul Money bass and Flying V in the video clip.

Strigl and Ostronomy will also play an all metal cover gig with Screaming Metal on Saturday, February 7th at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ. The group is made up of Hades/Non-Fiction members, Dan Lorenzo and Alan Tecchio, Overkill drummer Ron Lipnicki, and Strigl and Ostronomy. Many special guests will soon be announced. - Check out the Maiden cover and more on the new Talking Metal YouTube page

Middle Class Rut Releasing Limited Edition Vinyl

PR reports: Middle Class Rut's upcoming release, a limited edition 7" vinyl single Busy Bein' Born (with "All Walks Of Life" on the B-side) will be released on February 10th via Bright Antenna.

Currently making waves in the UK, Busy Bein' Born is a full-blown, uncompromising rock n' roll assault that is matched only by the power this duo's blistering live performance.

Since the Sacramento band's inception, Zack and Sean have made it their mission to write, produce, and record every one of their tracks themselves…a reaction and also a well-honed survival instinct after having survived 10 years' worth of bands gone wrong and labels gone bust. Musically, lyrically and live on stage, Middle Class Rut are nearly an amalgamation of Refused, Jane's Addiction, Rage Against The Machine, Fugazi and Bob Dylan. Middle Class Rut brings a rawness and charisma that, without fail, stop listeners in their tracks and transfixes them. - View the video to Busy Bein' Born here

Wayne Shorter DVD

PR reports: On February 17, 2009, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Wayne Shorter: Live at Montreux 1996 on DVD. This fascinating night captures an American treasure on one of his many stops at the acclaimed jazz festival.

Coming up in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the 1950s, Shorter became an important component of the second Miles Davis Quintet of the 1960s, and later played in jazz-fusion super group Weather Report in the 1970s. Not only did he co-lead Weather Report, but Art Blakey and Miles Davis did him the extreme honor of playing some of his compositions. These pieces have become standards. He also served as Art Blakey's music director.

A wizard on the sax, Shorter entrances the Montreux crowd from the first note. Touring hot on the heels of 1996's Grammy-winning High Life album, this set is the perfect blend of swing, improv, and all the elements that make him a pillar of jazz greatness. - more on this story

Slacker Overhauled

PR reports: Slacker, Inc. today released new features and visual enhancements to their web interface at Slacker.com. A

Additions include a streamlined visual interface with one-click access to artist bios and album reviews, new station creation options, as well as a "Buy Now" feature to purchase favorite tracks.

A new dynamic thumbnail-based station view makes it easy to browse Slacker's collection of over 100 genre stations and displays a thumbnail of the upcoming album for each station. Listeners can now create their own stations based on song titles in addition to artist or band names. - more on this story

Fu Manchu 20th Anniversary Plans and More

Blabbermouth reports: Guitarist/vocalist Scott Hill of the Southern California fuzz-rock quartet Fu Manchu has issued the following update:

"We are writing the new record now. We have about 10 new songs. We hope to write another five or six before we hit the studio in April/May. The new record should be out September/October 2009 through Century Media Records. So far it's turning out very fuzzy and heavy!!! A few faster, tweaked songs will be in there as well. We will also be doing a few cover songs if we have the extra time in the studio. We will release a two-song seven-inch [single] on our own at the Dojo Records sometime before or after the full-length comes out. The seven-inch will be a limited pressing of 900, like the last one we released with the VOID cover song.

"2010 will be Fu Manchu's 20th year of being a band. We have some very limited reissues planned and selected shows where we will be playing certain records straight through. A DVD is also planned wih stuff from waaaaay back up until now. Live shows and videos. We are hoping to put all the videos that weve done on there as well. Some never before seen." - more on this story

. Bullet For My Valentine - Scream Aim Fire Deluxe Edition

The Deluxe Edition release of Scream Aim Fire complete with music, home movies, and comics offers the hungry metalcore junkie a little reprieve from their gnawing BFMV craving. (3 stars) - Read the full Bullet For My Valentine - Scream Aim Fire Deluxe Edition review

. Bruce Springsteen Month: The Seeger Sessions

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions is a jangly, bursting and festive record. So why do I have such issues with it? I think my main issue is that Springsteen is merely playing a role here versus creating one. (2.5 stars) - Read the full Bruce Springsteen Month: The Seeger Sessions review

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