W♥M

R.I.P. - Andrew Fletcher (Depeche Mode) and Alan White (Yes)

Depeche Mode (Getty Images) Read More Depeche Mode Depeche Mode is currently on their Delta Machine tour, stopping by Minnesota State Fair, of all places, last Tuesday, August 27th. …..

(Read more Musicians who died in 2022 )

Members of two key and legendary bands have just passed away -

Keyboardist and co-founder of Depeche Mode, Andrew Fletcher and Yes drummer Alan White.

Andrew Fletcher was age 60 and founded Depeche Mode along with schoolmates Dave Gahan and Martin Gore, back in 1980. They’ve gone on to score 54 songs on the UK singles charts and have been making records and touring for over forty years, also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.

“Fletch” as he was known, died of natural causes at home, and is survived by his wife of almost thirty years, Grainne, and two children. We saw the band last ten years ago at the Minnesota State Fair, in an energetic and triumphantly memorable performance.

Depeche Mode said in a statement: 'We are shocked and filled with overwhelming sadness at the untimely passing of our dear friend, family member and bandmate Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher. Fletch had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh or a cold pint. Our hearts are with his family and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and respect their privacy at this difficult time.'

Longtime Yes drummer Alan White has also passed, at the age of 72, after a short illness and at his home. He had increasing health issues over the last several years, keeping him off the road with the band and they had already announced he would be sitting out their upcoming tour.

Prior to joining Yes in 1972 to replace Bill Buford, White was a member of John Lennon and Yoko’s Plastic Ono Band and the band was finally inducted into the Rock Hall in 2017. Similar to Fletcher, White leaves behind a wife of over forty years, Gigi, and two children.

The band released this statement on social media:

"The news has shocked and stunned the entire YES family. Alan had been looking forward to the forthcoming UK Tour, to celebrating his 50th Anniversary with YES and their iconic 'Close to the Edge' album, where Alan’s journey with YES began in July 1972. He recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary of his marriage to his loving wife Gigi. Alan passed away, peacefully at home."

Read More

Yes One of the most successful, influential progressive rock band in the world is Yes. In 1983, the band changed lineup (with Trevor Rabin) and concentrated mostly on more commercial and pop-oriented music. A second Yes band called Yes Featuring Jon Anderson …

 

John ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Jon Anderson at Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul (20 April 2019)

Jon Anderson at Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul (20 April 2019) Jon Anderson Setlist Set 1     Intro: Ocean Song Owner of a Lonely Heart* Yours Is No Disgrace* Ramalama State of Independence^ Makes Me Happy I've Seen All Good People (Your Move / All Good People) America (Simon & Garfunkel cover) WDMCF Set 2 Flight of the Moorglade Sweet Dreams* To the Runner Long Distance Runaround* First Born Leaders 1000 Hands (Come Up) Starship Trooper / Solid Space* -- Encore -- Roundabout* * Yes song ^ Jon and Vangelis song Band Jon Anderson - Vocals/Guitar Michael Franklin - Keys Tim Franklin - Bass Tommy Calton - Guitar Rayford Griffin - Drums Steady Joseph - Percussion Jocelyn Hsu - Violin/Ukelele Joe Cosas - Keyboards/Trombone/Guitar Billy Meether - Saxophones/Flute/Clarinet Tour Dates 24 April 2019 Humphreys Concerts, San Diego, CA 26 April 2019 Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills, CA 27 April 2019 Cannery Casino , North Las Vegas, NV 30 April 2019 The Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ 06 May 2019 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN 08 May 2019 Capitol Theatre Clearwater, FL 10 May 2019 Dr Phillips Center, Orlando FL 11 May 2019 Beau Rivage Theatre, Biloxi, MS 12 May 2019 Kaboo Festival Arlington, TX 29 July 2019 Ocean City Music Pier, Ocean City, NJ 08 August 2019 Rocking the Riverfront Detroit, MI 29 August 2019 The Rose, Pasadena, CA 30 August 2019 Libbey Bowl, Ojai, CA 01 September 2019 The Canyon Montclair, Montclair, CA Read More Yes One of the most successful, influential progressive rock band in the world is Yes. In 1983, the band changed lineup (with Trevor Rabin) and concentrated mostly on more commercial and pop-oriented music. A second Yes band called Yes Featuring Jon Anderson …

Some albums takes days, weeks, or months to complete-- some take twenty-nine years…!

The latter was the case with former Yes vocalist Jon Anderson’s new solo record, 1000 Hands: Chapter One, begun as some between-album sessions in Big Bear, CA in 1990 with a former pre-Yes bandmate (and Yes’ Alan White and Chris Squire contributing), only to be shelved away in Anderson’s garage until a 2016 call from producer/keyboardist Michael Franklin re-awakened the project, who used those original tapes as the basis for a finished new album.

Anderson and band (including Franklin) brought some of the new songs to life, along with numerous classic songs, at a joyous and intimate show in St. Paul at the Fitzgerald Theater. The performance had no opener, and was split into two sets, with a brief intermission between, with the help of eight backing musicians in front of a video screen split into six long vertical sections that would show colors, patterns, and shapes as the songs progressed.

With a setlist that was one-third new album, one-third misc. solo, and one-third Yes songs, there was something for everyone, and the performance would also lean heavily on Anderson’s first solo album, with four tracks (including the intro music) from 1976’s Olias of Sunhillow played. The initial forty-five minute set immediately pricked up ears and eyes with 1983’s ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart’, the one and only song that would top the Billboard Hot 100 chart for Yes.

The classic ‘Yours is No Disgrace’ followed with the new ‘Ramalama’ sounding like late 80’s Yes with its ‘Leave It’ style acapella multi-layered harmonies beginning the song and continuing throughout. Similar to when we last saw Anderson with Jean-Luc Ponty, 1981’s ‘State of Independence’ had an elegant sheen about its revised arrangement, compliments of Franklin’s keys and violinist Jocelyn Hsu’s sweeping strings.

Spring was finally in the air outside, and reflected inside by Anderson’s sunny new ‘Makes Me Happy’ and a reggae-style version of ‘Your Move’ which led into a more familiar rock ‘All Good People’. ‘America’ has been a live Yes standard, with Anderson’s solo version having some swing and jazz elements injected, and he said announcing the intermission before the new ‘WDMCF ‘ that “We’ll have one more song, then we’ll lay down and have a cup of tea”.

The tea and twenty minutes away must have worked wonders because Anderson visibly seemed like he found a second wind and the vocals were even more emphatic and soaring, as the second set progressed. The band made their way to the front, surrounding Anderson initially as he re-visited Olias of Sunhillow, with ‘Flight of the Moorglade’ then went back to 1970 for Yes’ ‘Sweet Dreams’.

After a stirring ‘Long Distance Runaround’, Anderson confessed he never actually planned on singing the new ‘First Born Leaders’ live, but had a change of heart and asked the audience to forgive him as he needed a lyric sheet (and had keywords written on cue cards in front of him) in case he blanked on the song’s complex verse.

Before the new album’s title track, Anderson recalled the story of the lost tapes becoming the basis of the new record and the producer having to bake the thirty-year old reels, reactivating them to playback and be properly digitized. The Yes classic ‘Starship Trooper’ would end the main portion, with Anderson taking things full circle one final time, by adding part of Olias of Sunhillow’s ‘Solid Space’ onto the end, to finish the set.

Anderson’s wife Jane, who had been gleefully watching the show from up front disappeared before the encore, only to be seen (if you had the right vantage point) side stage as the musicians returned for the encore of Yes’ ‘Roundabout’. At the song’s instrumental break, Anderson dashed off stage to embrace his wife smiling, and swung her about in a brief lovely dance together behind the curtain, before he returned to the mic at just the precise second to finish the song.

The sound that would commence following would be more than1000 hands, all clapping and waving, with a standing ovation, as Anderson and band bowed, waved, and left the stage.

Anderson has hinted that he is open to a Yes reunion for their fiftieth anniversary, having already written eight prospective new songs for the occasion; but in the meantime, we have a fine new solo album, a lively tour, and Jon Anderson singing at his best level in years- bravo.

(click on any photo below to enlarge and see full image)

Jon Anderson at Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul (20 April 2019)

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Minneapolis: September 8 to September 11, 2017

Here are some concerts taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from September 8 to September 11, 2017.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Yes Yes to cancel summer tour... The tour, celebrating the band's 40th anniversary, had been scheduled to come to the Susquehanna ... …

YES (feat Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman)
at Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Friday 09/08/2017 (7pm/$47)
ticasino.com

One of the most successful, influential progressive rock band in the world is Yes. In 1983, the band changed lineup (with Trevor Rabin) and concentrated mostly on more commercial and pop-oriented music. A second Yes band called Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman (with original singer Jon Anderson) was formed this year.

Expect Yes feat ARW to play pre-90125 album, meaning Yes’ biggest hit song ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart’ and other classic songs.

We previously caught Jon Anderson’s project Anderson Ponty Band in May 2016 and noted that the vocalist was still singing Yes songs.

Tour dates:

08/26/2017 Bob Hope Theatre
08/28/2017 The Mountain Winery Saratoga, CA
08/29/2017 Table Mountain Casino Friant, CA
08/31/2017 The Smith Center Las Vegas, NV
09/02/2017 Kenley Amphitheatre Layton, UT
09/03/2017 Hudson Gardens Littleton, CO
09/05/2017 Kauffman Center Kansas City, MO
09/08/2017 Treasure Island Welch, MN
09/09/2017 Riverside Theatre Milwaukee, WI
09/12/2017 Fraze Pavilion Kettering, OH
09/13/2017 Filene Center Vienna, VA
09/15/2017 Goodyear Theater Akron, OH
09/16/2017 Massey Hall Toronto, ON
09/18/2017 Grand Theatre Quebec City, QC
09/19/2017 St. Denis Theatre 1 Montreal, QC
09/21/2017 Capitol Theatre Port Chester, NY
09/23/2017 Toyota Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, CT
09/24/2017 Tilles Center Brookville, NY
09/27/2017 Prudential Hall Newark, NJ
09/29/2017 Santander Performing Arts Center Reading, PA
09/30/2017 Patriots Theater Trenton, NJ
10/01/2017 Verizon Hall Philadelphia, PA
10/04/2017 Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA
10/05/2017 Palace Theatre Albany, NY
10/07/2017 Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino Niagara Falls, NY
10/08/2017 Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ
10/10/2017 King Center Melbourne, FL
10/11/2017 Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, FL
10/13/2017 Kravis Center West Palm Beach, FL
10/14/2017 Knight Concert Hall Miami, FL

Read More Royal Canoe There is a complexity to their music, such as in the album’s title track or the single, ‘Bathtubs’ that still comes off as easy and palatable to the ear, despite the “everything including … Little Scream Montreal's Little Scream to open the show, she is currently finishing up her eagerly-anticipated second album, Dance in a Void. …

ROYAL CANOE / LITTLE SCREAM
at 7th Street Entry
Monday 09/11/2017 (7:30pm/$10)
first-avenue.com

We caught the Canadian band Royal Canoe in 2014 and wrote, “Opening the show to a strong crowd reception was Manitoba-based six-piece, Royal Canoe, in support of their debut U.S. release, Today We’re Believers (Roll Call Records). The Canadian ensemble can truly be described as unique and eclectic, with its hybrid of sounds, musical time changes, dual drummers, and singer Matt Peters, who often uses two microphones and manipulates his voice, electronically and otherwise.”

The last time we saw co-headliner Little Scream, she surprised us with two dancers on stage for the song ‘Dark Dance’. We also noted, “According to singer Laurel Sprengelmeyer, she said she was born in Iowa and went to shows like this one and actually dreamed of one day playing shows. The Montreal-based band was actually supposed to headlined the Turf Club in St Paul, as you can see from the original poster listing, but smartly the organizers decided to consolidate the two shows.”

Mariah Mercedes will open.

Tour dates:

09/11 First Avenue & 7th Street Entry · Minneapolis, MN
09/12 Subterranean · Chicago, IL
09/14 Mercury Lounge · New York, NY
09/15 Theatre Rialto A Montreal · Montreal, QC, Canada
09/16 Ottawa · City Folk Festival
09/17 The Great Hall Toronto · Toronto, ON, Canada

Read More U2 With yesterday's announcement of Apple Watch and iPhone 6, Irish band U2 made a surprise concert appearance to close out Apple's event. They also made it known that U2's latest album Songs of Innocence … Beck So you like Beck and was thinking about picking up Odelay (1996). Well don't! Wait until January 29, 2008, because there's a Deluxe 2-disc version coming out. More details on our press page …

Other shows in the area:

09/08-09/09/2017 The annual St. Croix Valley Chili Feed is this Friday and Saturday, with Autograph, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, 80HD and more. Free beer, soda, and chili included with the $45 pre-sale price ($60 at the door). 12pm, $45

09/08/2017 Two time Grammy-award winner John Prine is headlining the Northrop Auditorium. Prince’s latest book, Beyond Words is available now on Oh Boy Records. Beyond Words includes over 100 photographs from Prine's personal collection, copies of handwritten lyrics showing the creative process with select commentary, and lyrics with guitar chords for 60+ classic Prine songs. Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams to open. 7pm, $62.50

09/08/2017 Arkansas’ Justin Moore will be headlining Mystic Lake Casino, hot off his seventh #1 song ‘Somebody Else Will’, from his fourth album Kinda Don’t Care (The Valory Music Co). 7pm, $40

09/08/2017 Legendary Irish band U2 will be headlining the U.S. Bank Stadium this Friday. Beck to open. 5:30pm, $93

09/09/2017 AJJ is formerly known as Andrew Jackson Jihad. They had to change their name because some Muslims thought they were disrespectful to use “Jihad”. With the recent terrorist threat with the Allah-Las concert in Rotterdam, it’s probably best Andrew Jackson Jihad changed their name to AJJ. Anyway, they’ve sold out the 7th Street Entry this Saturday. The Homeless Gospel Choir will be offending the homeless as opener. 8pm, $15/Sold Out

09/10/2017 Local rappers/hip hop artists J Flight to play the 7th Street Entry, with help from Tha Rift Of Freewifi, Destiny Roberts, Lyric Marid, Student 1, DJ D.Mil and DJLow. 7pm, $10

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Anderson Ponty Band at the Ames Center, Burnsville (10 May 2016)

Setlist Set I intro / One in the Rhythm of Hope A For Aria Owner of a Lonely Heart✔ Listening With Me Time and a Word✔ > Let's Get Together Infinite Mirage > Soul Eternal Jig^ New New World Set II The Revealing Science of God (Jon spoken intro) New Country^ Never Ever Wonderous Stories✔ Long Distance Runaround✔ Renaissance of the Sun State of Independence* Enigmatic Ocean, Part I^ > Drum solo > Enigmatic Ocean, Part II^ (end) And You and I✔ > violin/keys duet Bass solo > Roundabout✔ -- Encore --                Soon* (Gates of Delirium finale) ✔ Yes song ^ Jean-Luc Ponty song * Jon & Vangelis song Tour Dates 05/17/16 North Tonawanda, NY Riviera Theatre 05/18/16 Tarrytown, NY Tarrytown Music Hall 05/20/16 Beverly, MA The Cabot 05/21/16 Northampton, MA Calvin Theater 05/23/16 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse 05/25/16 Albany, NY Hart Theatre 05/26/16 Montreal, QC St. Denis Theatre 2 05/27/16 Quebec City, QC Palais Montcalm Read More Yes Yes to cancel summer tour... The tour, celebrating the band's 40th anniversary, had been scheduled to come to the Susquehanna ... …

When talking about wine, people often mention how the grapes will mature with age, giving a fuller-bodied flavor and yield results not previously seen, and also how blended variations can often be better than just a single varietal.  With Anderson Ponty Band’s recent two-and-one-half hour musical master class performance, the results were very similar.

Take the classic vocalist of prog–rock legends Yes, Jon Anderson, and match him with a former Frank Zappa band member and premier jazz-fusion violinist, Jean-Luc Ponty, back them with a crack band, and the result is an awakening of old songs, and the discovery of the new.

Anderson reportedly had the idea to collaborate as long as thirty years ago, but the project finally came to fruition after he downloaded one of Ponty’s tracks and sang new lyrics over it, with Ponty liking what he heard.

A resulting live CD/DVD, Better Late than Never (Liaison Records) was released last fall but the rare chance to see the duo perform live in concert, was too good to pass up.

The stage was relatively sparse as Anderson, Ponty and the four-piece band (Rayford Griffin - Drums; Wally Minko - Keys ; Keith Jones - Bass, vocals; Jamie Glaser - Guitars, vocals) entered, but three banners hung above with the band’s logo and a video backdrop was behind the band, showing various color patterns moving about to the music.

The first of two sets clocked in at just shy of an hour, starting with the same intro and song ‘One in the Rhythm of Hope’ that starts the live CD.  Anderson proved to be in great voice again (conquering health issues of a few years back) and Ponty and band were musically tight and finessed.

Anderson Ponty Band photograph courtesy of Cathy Miller

Tackling the ‘80’s Yes hit ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart’ early in the set, Ponty’s violin proved a more than ample replacement for Trevor Rabin’s guitar solo on the original.

‘Listening with Me’ (based on Ponty’s own instrumental ‘Stay With Me’) was Anderson’s first foray of adding new lyrics and the song becomes a panoramic soundtrack to a world-spanning journey.  ‘Time and a Word’ converted into a reggae song, with Ponty’s violin adding a gypsy-like quality to the re-invention, with Anderson adding a verse of Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ on the end.

‘Jig’ was a Ponty tour-de-force and ‘New New World’ was the last song of the set before Anderson “could have a cup of tea… and Jean-Luc a bottle of wine”…with Ponty raising fingers to signify maybe more.

After the spoken word intro, the second set began with a country-western flavor as Ponty and band shifted styles for ‘New Country’ and ‘Never Ever’, moving then to a laid-back jazz club style to interpret Yes’ ‘Wonderous Stories’ and an abbreviated ‘Long Distance Runaround’.

After the Jon and Vangelis song ‘State of Independence’, band members each got their turn in the solo spotlight, notably drummer Griffin, who turned in an impressive solo bookended by the Ponty song, ‘Enigmatic Ocean’.

Anderson reminisced fondly of Yes’ late bassist Chris Squire, and tenderly dedicated ‘And You and I’ to his memory, the song shortened and done in with a jazz lounge flavor.  Ponty and keyboardist Minko then shined with a somber, stirring solo that hushed the crowd, before the upswing of Yes’ ‘Roundabout’ ended the 80 min. set.

Sensing time was late, the band ended the evening with ‘Soon’, the end portion of Yes’ “Gates of Delirium” from 1974’s Relayer with the band emerging for three collective bows amidst cheering and a standing ovation.

Setlist

Unlike some of their contemporaries, Anderson and Ponty are re-inventing and creating new music in a still-growing and very age-appropriate way; not by succumbing to any current musical trends, but effectively combining their collective musical maturity, while still expanding their musical palette.

If it were a wine, consider it a vintner’s reserve.

Anderson, in particular has always been entertaining playing solo, but seems to really excel when collaborating with other artists. His musical blending continues as not only do Anderson Ponty Band consider making a studio album, but he also plans on re-convening with ex-Yes members Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman for new music and a fall tour, as well as releasing new music with Swedish Roine Stolt (Flower Kings, Transatlantic).  Can’t wait for the resulting harvest.

Anderson Ponty Band at the Ames Center, Burnsville MN (10 May 2016)

john ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

News for the Week of 6/1/2008

Bo Diddley - I'm A Man	Bo Diddley - Gun Slinger
Coldplay - The Scientist	Yes - Owner Of A Lonely Heart

I thought I would do something different for gathering news, since you may have noticed an absent of the weekly news. News will now be delivered though Links, from a variety of music news sources. I think the "links" links actully have a feed, so you can subscribe to this using your favorite rss newsreader. I personally use google reader myself, with about 500+ items every hour!

BO DIDDLEY
Topping the music news is the death of Bo Diddley from heart failure on June 2^nd. This R&B/Blues artist got his start in 1951 playing at the 708 Club in Chicago, Illinois. By 1955, Bo recorded some demos, "I'm a Man" and "Bo Diddley", the later went on to become a #1 R&B hit.

His early songs made him so famous, that he was asked to be on the Ed Sullivan show, but was eventually banned from subsequent appearance when he played "Bo Diddley" instead of a cover song of "Sixteen Tons".

That didn't end his career, instead Bo went onto record more hits.... and the rest is history.

Random vu-thoughts: it would seem to me that Bo Diddley had a passion for pop culture and genre, take for instance his "western" themed album titles: Have Guitar Will Travel (based on the western tv show "Have Gun - Will Travel") and Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger (with the title track having references to the famous shoot-out at the OK Corral). Later on, he would also have his "beach/surf" theme: Surfin' with Bo Diddley and Bo Diddley's Beach Party, all probably inspired by the teen-movie Beach Party.

 

The Get Out Clause - Paper

UNDER SURVEILLANCE
I also wanted to talk about the innovative video by The Get Out Clause. My my understanding, the band wanted to shoot a music video, but didn't have the finance - so they thought up the idea to have surveillance cameras film them in performance. Under the Freedom of Information Act, they requested the footage of their appearances and pieced together their video for "Paper".

The video became viral and have spread all over the UK press and picked up by NPR, making the band an instance success overnight! (That was in May).

With all the interests, you can pick up their EP, to be released July 7^th and "hand made by the band". Judging from the picture of the pre-order, it looks very cool.

Anyway, I think their video is such a cool idea, but I can't help but feel uneasy how "big brother" England's become, no?

 

 

RELATED W♥M ARTICLES
• W♥M News
• Yes
• Garbage
• Nirvana
• Coldplay
• Radiohead

 

Bo Diddley dies aged 79 http://news.bbc.c... The Grammy-winning singer-guitarist died of heart failure in Florida, his spokeswoman said. He h...	Tori Amos splits with label, goes indie http://news.yahoo... "Artists need not fear structure, we just have to design and partner with expansive ideas," she s...	Peter Gabriel launches Web site The Filter - Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo... "The Internet, which I think is an amazing creation, provides access to an ocean of limitless inf...
Kylie Minogue collaboration deemed 'too sexy' for Coldplay album http://www.nme.co... Coldplay have revealed that they recorded a song with Kylie Minogue, but it was deemed "too sexy"...	The Get Out Clause: In Surveillance Video, Band Rocks Big Brother http://www.npr.or... The Bryant Park Project, May 14, 2008 - When Manchester, England's The Get Out Clause didn't have...	Yes to cancel summer tour http://www.nj.com... The tour, celebrating the band's 40th anniversary, had been scheduled to come to the Susquehanna ...
Kurt Cobain's ashes stolen http://blogs.notw... Courtney Love said: "I can't believe anyone would take Kurt's ashes from me. I find it disgusting...	50 Cent's Long Island Home Gutted By 'Suspicious' Fire http://www.mtv.co... A fire ripped through a Dix Hills, New York, home owned by rapper 50 Cent early Friday morning, ...	Shirley Manson pursues acting career http://www.nme.co... Shirley Manson is set to pursue a full-time acting career, having landed a regular role on a US T...

Links: www.weheartmusic.com www.thegetoutclause.co.uk

News for the Week of 3/16/2008

Yes - Owner Of A Lonely Heart Yes Press Release YES Returns For 40th Anniversary North American Tour http://weheartmus... NEW YORK, NY, MARCH 20th, 2008 -- With a remarkable 40 year career that has time and again redef...

This is the weekly news round up for the week of 3/16. I usually try and get these out on Sunday, but obviously that doesn't always happen. Also, sometime the weekly news isn't all that interesting (at least to me), so it's hard to to compile at least three items to talk about.

Thankfully, we got some great items to talk about. As usual, all these stories can be accessed via press.weheartmusic.com. If you have news announcements (and especially if we've already mention your band), please send them to [email protected].

80s prog rockers YES have returned with a 26 date tour. Below is an excerpt from the press release, for further information (including all the dates) head over to YES Returns For 40th Anniversary North American Tour:

With a remarkable 40 year career that has time and again redefined the boundaries of rock, musical pioneers YES have announced 2008 tour dates to take place this summer. Marking the first national tour for the band in over five years, the 26 date jaunt will bring the iconic band’s virtuosic musicianship and exhilarating live shows to amphitheatres and arenas across North America. The tour will kick off July 12th in Quebec City and wrap-up on August 22nd in Los Angeles.

I wanted to add that YES, The Police, Mister Mister, The Eagles, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins/Genesis, and U2, were basically what I grew up on :)

I just can't believe the band's been together for 40 years!

Tour Dates 03/21 Tampa, FL @ Crowbar 03/22 Jacksonville, FL @ TSI 03/24 Atlanta, GA @ Earl 03/25 Washington, DC @ DC 9 03/26 Philadelphia, PA @ Northstar Bar 03/27 Toronto, ON @ TBD 03/28 Montreal, PQ @ Zoobizare 03/29 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 03/30 New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom 04/02 Leeds, UK @ Josephs Well 04/03 Manchester, UK @ Roadhouse 04/04 Birmingham, UK @ Rainbow 04/05 Liverpool, UK @ Evol 04/07 Brighton, UK @ Hector's House 04/08 London, UK @ Buffalo Bar 04/26 Wellington, UK @ New Zealand Bush Buds Festival

 

Die! Die! Die! - Sideways, Here We Come

Die! Die! Die!

I wanted to mention that New Zealand's Die! Die! Die! are currently on tour. We have the album for review, it's just I've been very busy (currently reviewing debut albums over at ♫ew music), so I wanted to at least mention their tour dates before their last date in America (3/20).

These rock n roller lads are said to have the spirit of Black Flag and the Pixies on their stage pressence, so be sure to check them. I'm going to request to have Ryan review them on one of the UK date, so cross your fingers.

Of the song titles that I scanned, I thought "Sideways, Here We Come" might be a nod to The Smiths' Strangeways, Here We Come (which in turn was a nod to Billy Liar's "Borstal, here we come" quote).

Listening to the song, I didn't detect any Morrisseyness :( - but that may not be a bad thing.

See Die! Die! Die! is on tour for more details.

Lair of the Minotaur - War Metal Battle Master Lair of the Minotaur Press Release LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR.... coming to your town to burn it to the ground http://weheartmus... Lair of the Minotaur - War Metal Battle Master from weheartmusic.com Lair of the Minotaur announc...

Lair of the Minotaur adds even more detail of destruction!

Live4Metal said:

Storming out of the gates with a dirty combination of thrash laden doom similar to that of High On Fire, and old school death metal reminiscent of Bolt Thrower, but with considerably less polish, War Metal Battle Master is a ferocious album from start to finish.

They're starting out on tour in the midwest, then to the East Coast with The Ocean, Kylesa, and Withered (in May), and by June, they'll be making their way to California with The Ocean and Intronaut:

06/12/2008 Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ
06/13/2008 Audie’s Olympic - Fresno, CA
06/14/2008 Annie’s Social Club - San Francisco, CA
06/15/2008 Jumping Turtle - San Marcos, CA
06/16/2008 Downtown Brew - San Luis Obispo, CA
06/17/2008 Knitting Factory - Hollywood, CA

For the full tour dates, check out LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR.... coming to your town to burn it to the ground - and also be sure to read Soup's Lair of the Minotaur's Review.

 03/21/2008 00:03:34  vu my♥posts weheartmusic.com