Phish New Year's Shows

More than 40,000 fans turned out recently for Festival 8, held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA. Phish played eight sets over the course of the three-day event, which was the band's eighth festival and its first ever on the West Coast. Midway through the festivities, Phish revived its Halloween tradition of covering a classic album by another band, this time narrowing a selection of 99 records down to Exile on Main St., the Rolling Stones' seminal 1972 double album. - more on this story

Billy Idol HD

With his raspy baritone, bleached spiked hair, and rebellious charisma, Billy Idol established himself as a unique, new face in punk rock and Rock 'N' Roll, and continues to shine as a one-of-a-kind artist. On November 17, Eagle Rock Entertainment will proudly release his first live concert DVD and Blu-ray In Super Overdrive Live .

Filmed at the Congress Theater in Chicago, In Super Overdrive Live was taped for the television series "Soundstage." Originally broadcast in America in July 2009, this show finds Idol reunited with guitarist Steve Stevens, and backed by bassist Stephen McGrath, keyboardist Derek Sherinian, and drummer Brian Tichy.

A proprietor of pop-rock perfection, Billy Idol rouses the crowd through 12 blazing tracks. This 70-minute DVD features hits like "Dancing With Myself, "Flesh For Fantasy," "Rebel Yell," and "White Wedding," in addition to Generation X favorites and newer material from his latest CD The Devil's Playground. Also included are two previously unreleased tracks, "Touch My Love" and "Cry." A killer performance, In Super Overdrive Live is a fantastic display of the raw power Billy Idol exudes. - more on this story

Gogol Bordello's Tommy T Releases Solo Debut

Gogol Bordello bass player, Tommy T's debut solo album, The Prester John Sessions, is available today online and at traditional retail outlets via Easy Star Records. Tommy was born and raised in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia's capital city) and the knowledge of global rhythms he brings to Gogol Bordello is reflected in Sessions, an aural travelogue that ranges freely through the music and culture of Ethiopia. The album is a collection of 11 songs including a remix of the track "Oromo Dub (Cushitic Dub)," featuring fellow Gogol Bordello band mates Eugene Hutz and Pedro Erazo and mixed by Michael Goldwasser of the Easy Star All-Stars.

Tommy explains, "The Prester John Sessions will give people an idea about the musical diversity of Ethiopia, which includes influences and ideas borrowed from the sounds of the 70's with the added bonus of up-to-date production values...In the 70s, funk, wah-wah pedals, and jazz had a huge impact on Ethiopian music."

As part of the writing process, Tommy started digging through Ethiopian folk music, choosing melodies he could improvise on. He also wrote his own compositions based on traditional modes. "A lot of popular Ethiopian music is based on a 6/8 beat called chikchika, but there are also many other rhythms in Ethiopia that have their own unique characteristics," Tommy states. - more on this story

Backyard Tire Fire Set Release For Los Lobos Produced Album

Backyard Tire Fire will release Good to Be on February 16, 2010 through the band's own Kelsey Street Records with distribution provided by Thirty Tigers/RED. Good to Be was produced by Los Lobos' Steve Berlin, who makes an appearance on every track on the album.

Good to Be is a culmination of guitarist/vocalist, Ed Anderson's thirteen year journey on the road of rock and roll. For the band's fifth full length release, Backyard Tire Fire delivers an album full of working-man songs that provide an upbeat, glass half full approach to life. Drawing on inspiration from everyday events, Anderson weaves his way through the fabric of life making a patchwork of eleven songs that bear the message of empathy, humanity and hope.

Over their eight year career as a band, Backyard Tire Fire has created a presence in the music world that is hard to ignore. The trio boasts an impressive roster of celebrity fans. Reverend Horton Heat's Jim Heath calls Backyard Tire Fire "one of the best and coolest bands out there." "My favorite band right now is Backyard Tire Fire and they sometimes remind me of early Wilco, Son Volt and Flaming Lips—they are my earworms these last few months," adds Johnny Hickman of Cracker. - more on this story

The Status Get Honest with New Release

After a critically-acclaimed debut full-length, So This Is Progress, The Status are set to announce their follow up EP release, Let's Be Honest... The 4-track digital-only recording will be available December 15 on Doghouse Records.

The band debuted songs from the EP live via a FearlessRadio.com performance on Monday, November 9. The podcast is available here

The Status have been touring relentlessly since issuing last year's full-length and are currently on the road with The Fold and The Right Coast. - more on this story

Ultra Violent Lights Release Filthy Videos

To highlight the release of their band new debut album Here In Filth, Brooklyn rock outfit Ultra Violent Lights have launched all-new music videos for two of the album's tracks—"In Lieu Of Pay" and "Here In Filth"—now online.

"The video for 'In Lieu Of Pay' uses animation to go along with this song," singer Nick Faiella explains. "It cuts between two streams of consciousness and how two people perceive the same situation. Young and old, right and wrong."

The album's title track "Here In Filth" captures a sense of being alone. "The video also depicts someone you can see but isn't physically there, going through the motions of life and not really fitting into any one scene," describes guitarist Adam Lewis. "The video starts with sharks chasing these fish, like something from the past that won't go away, drug abuse and hardships. Then it goes to our main character who is trying to fit in anywhere, with anyone, but can't because he's not really there."

Along with the remaining tracks of Here In Filth, Faiella and Lewis—with drummer Robi Gonalez—showcase the band's musical ambition and range of inspiration from rock'n'roll predecessors of past decades. Drawing comparisons to everything from Nirvana to Echo and the Bunnymen, Ultra Violent Lights layer sing-along melodies among raw, distorted rock. The entire album is now streaming at the band's website for a limited time. - Videos here

We Are The In Crowd Are Hopeless

We Are The In Crowd, the four-piece band from Poughkeepsie, NY, formed earlier this year and newly signed to independent label Hopeless Records, will have its current single, "For The Win" featured on Tuesday night's episode of MTV's "The Hills", with repeats airing throughout the weekend.

The band, made up of Tay Jardine on vocals, Jordan Eckes on guitar and vocals, bassist Mike Ferri and drummer Rob Chianelli, used its talent and ingenuity to propel themselves into the hearts of many. Instead of relying on image and sugar-coated, meaningless lyrics, We Are The In Crowd focused on one goal. "We really try and tell a story," says Jardine.

Collectively, We Are The In Crowd released the following statement: "We're beyond stoked to be a part of the Hopeless Records family. This label has been home to so many artists that have inspired us over the years. It's so awesome to think we're joining a team with such an impressive history."

We Are The In Crowd has just posted a video announcement about their signing to Hopeless - here

No Explanation For Stitch The Lids

Stitch The Lids is a powerful band combining aspects of Punk, Hardcore and a touch of Thrash to deliver a performance that leaves fans gasping for air. This Fredericksburg, Virginia based band is now poised to bring their energetic onslaught to fans around the world as they signed today with No Explanation Records.

No Explanation Records is an innovative label that focuses on a unique business model designed to "partner" with the Artist to improve their music, brand and fan base while allowing the Artist to maintain the rights to their music. No Explanation Records CEO, Jay Burton, sums it up well with the company's tagline "Everything is About To Change". Burton explains that this new label is designed for a rapidly changing music industry and is intent on becoming the leader in a new age of technology and creativity.

Stitch The Lids is made up of Josh Schimpf, Swinger Buskirk, Eddie Johnson, Phil Johnson, and Zachary Coakley. Stitch The Lids will now begin to produce and record their debut album with the No Explanation Records team. Keep your eyes open....Stitch The Lids! -

Asia Featuring John Payne Sets 2009 Show Finale

Classic AOR band ASIA Featuring John Payne is scheduled for their 2009 show finale at Isle of Capri Casino, 151 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530 on Friday, November 20th.

The band takes the stage at 10PM and will perform many of Asia's hit songs plus new material from the recent Asia Featuring John Payne EP release "Military Man". This is Asia Featuring John Payne's last show of the 2009 touring season.

John Payne became the frontman of the supergroup ASIA in 1992 at the invitation of keyboardist Geoff Downes, replacing vocalist/bassist John Wetton. ASIA extensively toured the world for the next 14 years performing new classics and old favorites. - more on this story

. The Fall Of Troy - In The Unlikely Event

The stylistic progression works well, combining jarring polyrhythmic lines with groove and extending beyond that. If youre an adventurous listener unfamiliar with them, this is as good a place as any to jump into their catalog. (4 stars) - Read the full The Fall Of Troy - In The Unlikely Event review

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