H.I.M. Release Tears On Tape

Finnish rockers H.I.M. are back after a long time off with their 8th album Tears on Tape via Razor & Tie in the U.S. & Canada.

Tears On Tape was recorded in their home country with long-time producer Hiili Hiilesmaa and mixed by long time-band associate, Tim Palmer (U2, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, Robert Plant).

It’s been three years since the band – Ville Valo on vocals, Linde Lindström on guitar, Burton Puurtinen on keyboards, Migé Paananen on bass and Gas Karppinen on drums have toured the USA. Drummer Gas Karppinen suffered from carpel tunnel syndrome which forced the band to take a long break while his health and ability to continue drumming were evaluated. It also gave the band time to pause and reflect if H.I.M. would carry on. Luckily for fans of the love metal band, Gas is back in fine drumming form and the band are on the road! After a handful of European record release dates, the band are due to hit the USA for a quick run of shows before they return to Europe for the summer concert festival circuit. The band have hinted at an autumn return to cover the USA more extensively, but nothing has been confirmed at press time. Most of the USA shows are SOLD OUT but check Ticketmaster for any last-minute ticket releases.

HIM Tour Dates
May 3 – Los Angeles, CA- House Of Blues (SOLD OUT)
May 4 – Los Angeles, CA- House Of Blues (SOLD OUT)
May 5 – San Francisco, CA- The Fillmore
May 8- Chicago, IL – House Of Blues (SOLD OUT)
May 9 – Toronto Canada -Danforth Music Hall
May 10 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza (SOLD OUT)
May 11 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza (SOLD OUT)
May 12 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre Of Living Arts (SOLD OUT)

At first listen, Tears On Tape seems to be a lighter offering than H.I.M. fans are used to but after a few spins it reveals the bands signature heavier sounds in the carefully mixed layers of each song. Ville’s vocal range and Linde’s shredding, dark guitar chords lead you through an album of haunting lyrics. This album follows in the path of their last effort, Screamworks: Love & Theory in Practice. My favorite is the heavy, hard-hitting tracks on Venus Doom. I can’t wait to see some live shows with the new music because that’s when the bands heavy hitting sounds really emerge! Don’t miss your chance to see this band live.

Check out the video for the first single in the USA, title track Tears On Tape. You can grab your copy of the album on iTunes

 

For a look back at H.I.M.’s last visit to Los Angeles, please check out my photos here. I covered the event for CFM Music Scene which sadly lost their archives a while back so the full article is no longer available.

Musician Adam Yauch, Dead at 47 #RIPMCA

By Jade Robledo

Many fans were disheartened to read the news this morning that Beastie Boy MC Adam “MCA” Yauch had passed away from cancer.   It was only appropriate that the news was announced by Russell Simmons, who, with Rick Rubin, released the hip-hop/rap/rock trio’s first releases, the EP Rock Hard (1985) and the instant classic Licensed to Ill (1986), which was the first rap album to go to number 1 on the Billboard album chart, a position it held for five weeks.

Adam Yauch (WENN/Getty)

Although the band is rightly recognized for such great releases as Paul’s Boutique (released in 1989, it was ranked number 156 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003), Check Your Head and Hello Nasty, the band should also be recognized for being among the first to be associated with a clothing line (X-Large), a magazine (Grand Royal) as well as a record label (also named Grand Royal).  The label, which was active from 1992 through 2001, was home to many highly praised artists such as Luscious Jackson and At the Drive-In.

Working under the nom de plume of Nathaniel Hornblower, Yauch directed several Beastie Boys videos including “Intergalactic,” “So What’cha Want” and the 2011 “Fight for Your Right Revisited” short.  This short, which featured Seth Rogen as Mike D, Elijah Wood as Ad-Rock and Danny McBride as MCA, was filmed to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of the original video by showing the aftermath of the events shown in “Fight For Your Right (To Party!).”  In addition to his directorial work with his band, Yauch filmed the 2008 documentary Gunnin for That No. 1 Spot.  In 2008 he also formed the independent film company Oscilloscope Laboratories, named after the band’s New York based studio that formed in 2002, which produced such features as the Oscar nominated Banksy documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop and the drama “The Messenger.”

Yauch was also a staunch supporter of Tibetan rights.  He was a founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization formed to raise awareness and activism on behalf of those suffering injustices of Tibetans by the Chinese government.  In 1996 he helped to organize the Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco, CA, the first of six festivals to help raise awareness and funds for the cause.  The last concert was held in Taipei in 2003.  Milarepa also organized a benefit entitled New Yorkers Against Violence in the wake of September 11, 2001, with proceeds distributed between the New York Women’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans September 11^th Fund for New Americans.

In 2009 Yauch announced that he was being treated for cancer of the parotid salivary gland.  Although he underwent surgery and radiation therapy, he was not able to fight the disease.

In 2012 the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Although he was too ill to attend the ceremonies, he sent a letter to be read by his bandmates, who declined to perform without Yauch.   In their place, the Roots performed as back-up band to Kid Rock and Travie McCoy as they performed a medley of their songs.  This performance can be seen this Saturday, May 5^th, on HBO’s broadcast of the ceremonies.

He is survived by his wife, daughter, parents, bandmates and millions of fans.

INXS to Play the Wiltern this Friday

Garry Beers image courtesy of Esther Oliver

by Cindy Robinson

Legendary Australian band INXS are currently in the midst of their first North American tour in nearly four years which has them crisscrossing Canada and the United States this summer on “The Original Sin Tour.”

The coast to coast tour brings the band to the historic Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles this Friday July 22^nd, the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms in Las Vegas on July 23rd. It’s amazing to me that these shows aren’t sold out yet! INXS are one of the best live bands out there, churning out a powerful live set with Canadian frontman, J.D. Fortune who has been singing with them since he won the Rockstar: INXS competition in 2005.

Don’t delay, grab your ticket today! Here are some incentives and perks for the Los Angeles show. Social savings site Groupon had an amazing  deal of the day on tickets to the show, which were quickly snapped up. Don’t despair, another great option is still out there! INXS is running a competition on their site where you can win an upgrade to watch the entire show from the side of the stage (right next to the band as they walk on & off the stage!) along with a meet & greet with INXS at the show. Enter to win today before the competition closes!

80’s alternative new wave band, Malcolm McClaren proteges, Adam & the Ants cohorts, Bow Wow Wow fronted by the stunning Annabella Lwin will open the night. Who could forget their classic hit “I Want Candy”? INXS has been a hit machine for more than thirty years now so don’t miss out on what is sure to be a set chock full of hits like “New Sensation”, “Need You Tonight”, “Suicide Blonde” and more.

Remaining tour dates are listed below and tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.

After thirty years, INXS still consists of original band members Tim, Jon and Andrew Farriss along with Kirk Pengilly and Garry Gary Beers (original front-man Michael Hutchence passed away in 1997). They are touring in support of their latest release, “Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas on the album’s title track, “Original Sin”, a song which just reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Dance charts.

To see the latest on INXS, check in with them via their Facebook page, and you can also catch up with sax man, guitarist Kirk Pengilly on Twitter as well as singer J.D. Fortune

Date               Venue                                              Location            

July 22 2011    the Wiltern                                        Los Angeles,CA 

July 23 2011    the Pearl Concert Theater (The Palms Casino)               Las Vegas,NV

July 25 2011    Ogden Theatre                                   Denver, CO         

July 28 2011    Mystic Lake Casino Hotel                  Prior Lake,MN                        

July 29 2011    the Venue at Horseshoe Casino         Hammond,IN                          

July 30 2011    Fox Theatre                                      Detroit,MI                              

August 02 2011 the National                                    Richmond,VA     

August 03 2011 Wellmont Theatre                            Montclair,NJ       

August 04 2011 Beacon Theatre                               New York, NY     

August 06 2011 House of Blues                               Atlantic City,NJ  

August 07 2011 Mohegan Sun                                 Wilkes-Barre,PA

August 08 2011 Filene Center at Wolf Trap                Vienna, VA         

August 10 2011 Pier Six Concert Pavilion                  Baltimore,MD     

August 12 2011 nTelos Pavilion                                 Portsmouth, VA  

August 13 2011 House of Blues                               Myrtle Beach,SC

August 14 2011 Chastain Park Amphitheatre        Atlanta, GA

Lenny Kravitz Offers New Song for FREE

Lenny Kravitz by Cindy Robinson

For two days only, Rolling Stone magazine and Lenny Kravitz are offering a FREE download of his new song “Rock Star City Life” from his forthcoming album, “Black and White America” which is currently scheduled for release on August 30th. The rocker has been on tour with U2 recently and will hit the road for a European tour this fall. Grab the free track while it’s available and don’t forget to check out his current single “Stand” available now via iTunes.

Singer Joe Jonas and Twilight’s Ashley Greene split

Joe Jonas

Reps for the Jonas Brothers singer and the Twilight star confirm that Joe Jonas and Ashley Greene have broken up after nearly a year of dating.

News of the affectionate, globetrotting couples split comes as a surprise to most especially after Joe spoke affectionately of Ashley in a recent interview for Details magazine.

Jonas has previously been linked to hot young stars like Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift.

He is currently in the studio in New York City working on his first solo album with a tour expected later this year.

Ashley Greene is currently filming the 4th installment of the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, in Vancouver, B.C.

Greene has reportedly been seen out in New York City with Kings of Leon bassist Jared Followill.

Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe announce American tour dates

Image courtesy of Bruno Mars

Fresh off his GRAMMY win for Best Male Pop Vocal for his song Just the Way You Are, singer Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe announce a co-headlining tour of North America this summer, Hooligans in Wondaland. Complete tour dates for the May & June trek across America are listed below. Fan club presale via Bruno Mars website begins on Thursday 2/17 and public on-sale starts Saturday 2/26. Which show will we see you at?

Mars’ is currently filming the video for his next single, the Lazy Song in Los Angeles this week.

Tour dates:

Weds 5-4 @ Roseland Ballroom New York, NY
Sat 5-7 @ Agganis Arena Boston, MA
Sun 5-8 @ Susquehanna Bank Ctr. Camden, NJ
Tue 5-10 @ Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA
Weds 5-11 @ Fillmore Miami Beach Miami Beach, FL
Tues 5-17 @ Verizon Theatre at Grand Prarie Grand Prarie, TX
Weds 5-18 @ Reliant Arena Houston, TX
Fri 5-20 @ Jubliee CityFest Montgomery, AL
Sun 5-22 @ Caesars Windsor Windsor, ON
Tues 5-24 @ Eagles Ballroom Milwaukee, WI
Weds 5-25 @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium St. Paul, MN
Fri 5-27 @ Aragon Ballroom Chicago, IL
Sat 5-28 @ Uptown Theatre Kansas City, MO
Sun 5-29 @ 1st Bank Center Broomfield, CO
Mon 5-30 @ McKay Events Center Oren, UT
Thurs 6-2 @ WAMU Theater @ Qwest Field Seattle, WA
Fri 6-3 @ Rogers Arena Vancouver, BC
Sat 6-4 @ Roseland Theatre Portland, OR
Tues 6-7 @ Grand Sierra Resort & Casino Reno, NV
Weds 6-8 @ Bill Graham Civic Auditiorium San Francisco, CA
Fri 6-10 @ Spotlight 29 Casino Coachella, CA
Sat 6-11 @ San Diego County Fair Del Mar, CA
Sun 6-12 @ Gibson Amphitheatre Universal City, CA
Weds 6-15 @ Comerica Theatre Phoenix, AZ