Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 94
May 14, 2025
Pink Martini Release New EP 'Bella Ciao' | Share New Single "Pourquoui Tu Vis"
PINK MARTINI
DROP NEW EP BELLA CIAO VIA HEINZ RECORDS
SHARE NEW SINGLE “POURQUOI TU VIS”
FEATURING CHINA FORBES
Band Celebrating 30 Year Anniversary
With World-Wide Tour - Upcoming Shows Include New York City on July 28 + Los Angeles on August 23
photo by Chris Hornbecker
Portland’s Pink Martini is celebrating their 30th anniversary and today adds to the festivities with the release of a brand-new EP, Bella ciao via Heinz Record, featuring the hypnotic focus track “Pourquoi Tu Vis.” Known for their genre-defying blend of jazz, classical, and global influences, the song captures the cinematic flair and sophistication Pink Martini has brought to stages around the world for three decades, offering fans a nod to the timeless style that has defined their career. It features the band’s China Forbes on vocals and she notes, “we first learned a Korean version of this song in Seoul, Korea to perform at the jazz festival. Then we learned about the original Spanish version by Jeanette. Over the years, we discovered that in addition to Korean and Spanish, there are versions in Flemish, French, and probably many more languages. I have now sung the song in each language, and for this release, we were excited to make the French version because we got our start in France, we adore France and singing in French, and it's just extra cool in French. The version we are releasing is wild!”
LISTEN/SHARE “POURQUOI TU VIS” HERE
PURCHASE/STREAM BELLA CIAO HERE
Pink Martini previously shared the EP’s “title track,” a song long associated with anti-fascist resistance during WWII. Bandleader Thomas Lauderdale selected the track as a timely and resonant protest anthem, reflecting the band’s commitment to both musical storytelling and cultural commentary. A highlight of their live performances, “Bella ciao” features longtime vocalist Storm Large. The EP is rounded out with an epic update to the band’s original song “Aspettami,” also featuring China Forbes on vocals, and regular Pink Martini guest vocalist
Edna Vazquez performing the enchanting “Destino,” a song written for a 1940s collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali, recorded and released for the first time on this EP.
WATCH/SHARE “BELLA CIAO” LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO HERE
Pink Martini’s live performances have earned worldwide acclaim, so it’s only fitting that touring plays a central role in their 30th anniversary celebration. Known for blending a wide range of musical styles into one unforgettable experience, the band continues to captivate audiences across the globe. In 2024, they brought their show to North America, Europe, and the Middle East — and show no signs of slowing down. This spring, they return to Europe, followed by a summer North American run that includes standout dates at New York City’s The Rooftop at Pier 17 on July 28 and The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on August 23. Lead vocalist China Forbes will join for the full tour, with co-lead singer Storm Large appearing at the NYC and LA shows.All dates are listed below and tickets are on sale now here.
The band’s music is also making waves on screen: “Hyatt Street,” a track by Pink Martini, is featured in the just-released film Nonnas, bringing their sound to a new audience. The placement is a fitting nod to their enduring cultural presence as they mark three decades of global influence.
“impressive at every musician’s station, this ensemble produces music that’s charming and elegant … " Variety
"this is rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious. And it seems to speak to just about everybody.” Washington Post
“Multilingual and defiantly cosmopolitan, Pink Martini have vacuumed up songs from Turkey, Japan, Romania and beyond, using lush string and horn arrangements that hark back to the days before Rock’n’Roll.” -The Sunday Times
“Jam-packed with unlikely excavations, inspired collaborations, obscure covers, and lyrics in languages ranging from Japanese to Neapolitan, (Pink Martini) is a gift to music magpies the world over.” -Interview Magazine
Featuring a dozen musicians with songs in 30 languages, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South America and North America. The band has played with more than 70 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London.
Over their 30 years Pink Martini has collaborated with numerous artists, including Phyllis Diller, Jimmy Scott, Carol Channing, Rita Moreno, Jane Powell, Rufus Wainwright, filmmaker Gus Van Sant, the original cast of Sesame Street, and the Portland Youth Philharmonic. They also have an illustrious roster of regular guest artists: NPR’s Ari Shapiro, host of All Things Considered; Cantor Ida Rae Cahana (who was cantor at the Central Synagogue in NYC for five years); koto player Masumi Timson, and harpist Maureen Love.
Pink Martini formed In 1994 when bandleader Thomas Lauderdale had finished college and returned to his hometown of Portland, OR. He was working at City Hall with an eye towards running for office. Being a classically trained pianist, music was always in the background, and he formed his “little orchestra,” soon dubbed Pink Martini, as a means to provide music for political fundraisers for progressive causes near to his heart - including civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, and public broadcasting. China Forbes, Lauderdale’s friend from their college days at Harvard, joined the group the following year, and the first song they wrote together, “Sympathique” (Je ne veux pas travailler), became an overnight sensation in France, where it remains a mantra (“Je ne veux pas travailler” translates to “I don’t want to work”) for striking French workers. Politics continues to be a focal point for the band, as both Lauderdale and Pink Martini lend their voice to progressive causes.
Television appearances have included The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Later with Jools Holland, and a feature on CBS Sunday Morning. The band created a nationally broadcast 2015 NPR holiday concert special, Joy to the World: A Holiday Spectacular, and has been featured on multiple New Year’s Eve broadcasts on NPR’s Toast of the Nation.
** Watch this space for more music and news from Pink Martini
and their 30th Anniversary **
Pink Martini US Tour dates
6/29/25 - Hayden Homes Amphitheatre - Bend, OR
7/3/25 - Artown (Robert Z Hawkins Amphitheater)- Reno, NV
7/5/25 - Chateau Ste. Michelle- Woodinville, WA
7/26/25 - Schaefer Center - Boone, NC
7/28/25 - Pier 17 - New York City, NY
7/29/25 - Wolf Trap- Vienna, VA
7/30/25 - Freeman Arts Pavilion - Selbyville, DE
7/31/25 - Longwood Gardens - Kennett Square, PA
8/2/25 - Cape Cod Melody Tent - Hyannis, MA
8/20/25 - The Mountain Winery - Saratoga, CA
8/21/25 - Green Music Center - Sonoma, CA
8/23/25 - Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
8/24/25 - Humphrey's By the Bay - San Diego, CA
Pink Martini EU Tour Dates
5/7/25 - Torwar Arena - Warsaw, POL
5/8/25 - Hala Orbita - Wroclaw, POL
5/9/25 - Haus Auensee - Leipzig, DEU
5/10/25 - Ancienne Belgique - Brussels, BEL
5/11/25 - Tivoli - Utrecht, NED
5/14/25 - Accor Arena (Bercy) - Paris, FRA
5/15/25 - Theatre Sebastopol - Lille, FRA
5/16/25 - Casino 2000 - Mondorf-les-Bains, LUX
5/17/25 - Rottweil Jazzfest - Rotweil, DEU
5/19/25 - Volkshaus- Zurich, SUI
5/20/25 - Théatre de Beaulieu - Lausanne, SUI
5/21/25 - La Bourse du travail - Lyon, FRA
5/22/25 - Le Boeuf sur le Toit - Poitiers, FRA
5/24/25 - Jazz sous les Pommiers - Lons le Saulnier, FRA
5/26/25 - Cepac Silo - Marseille, FRA
5/27 & 28/25 - Anthea Antibes - Antibes, FRA
Find Pink Martini here:
Matthew Shipp announces new solo piano album
MATTHEW SHIPP ANNOUNCES NEW SOLO PIANO ALBUM
THE COSMIC PIANO TO BE RELEASED JUNE 20 ON CANTALOUPE MUSIC – PREORDER
TITLE TRACK STREAMING NOW ON BANDCAMP – LISTEN
MORNING AND AFTERNOON CONCERTS AT ROTHKO CHAPEL IN HOUSTON
TO CELEBRATE THE SUMMER SOLSTICE ON JUNE 20
Image by Anna Yatskevich
“I’m not really looking just to play piano music. I’m actually questioning existence, and I see improvising as a way to do that. On one level, the whole cosmos is an improvisation, and on another level, I consider these pieces to be organisms, in the same way that when you say cosmic, you think of the Big Bang — the universe coming into existence, planets coming into existence, and then organisms and people. Well, the compositions are organisms too.” —Matthew Shipp
Avant-jazz pianist and composer Matthew Shipp announces the release of The Cosmic Piano, a new album of solo material, on June 20 through Cantaloupe Music. In tandem with today’s announcement, Shipp is sharing the title track on his Bandcamp page, which can be heard here. Shipp is also planning two solo performances – one at 8:30 in the morning, the second at noon — to premiere a newly commissioned piece at the Rothko Chapel in Houston in celebration of the summer solstice.
The Cosmic Piano taps into the deeper exploratory potential of the piano, with Shipp channeling a lifetime of knowledge and a daunting array of influences into nearly an hour of spontaneous, enlightened and joyfully rendered music. “The preparation is your life,” he says. “If you’re a real improviser — and I mean real by acknowledging that it’s a praxis and an art form and a discipline — it’s like being a boxer. You do your road work, speed bag, heavy bag and then you spar, and it’s an all-day process for you. It’s a lifestyle.”
As with all of Shipp’s music, this recording goes beyond any simple categorization, and in part informs why Shipp wanted to release the album through Cantaloupe, the in-house label of Bang on a Can. The New York-based arts collective has built a worldwide reputation for nurturing new music dubbed as “alternative classical,” “experimental classical” or “indie classical,” and is known for collaborating with artists and composers across all genres, including jazz, electronic, rock, pop and hip-hop.
As Bang on a Can co-founder David Lang writes in the liner notes for The Cosmic Piano, “Matthew had the idea that if his music could be heard in the context of Cantaloupe’s catalog, it could encourage people to hear a different aspect of what he does. It isn’t that Matthew made a different kind of music than he usually makes — this music is clearly his! The powerful architecture, the sly dissonance, the joyful and quick changes of pace, they are all still here. What has changed is the context in which we are listening to it. Matthew imagined that changing the frame in which we hear the music might allow us to hear something new in it, something we did not expect.”
Shipp will be playing two shows at the Rothko Chapel, a non-denominational chapel in Houston, on June 20 to mark the summer solstice. The chapel’s website, which features the work of renowned painter Mark Rothko, contrasts the artist with the musician in terms that stretch the imagination: “Mark Rothko’s painted fields somehow resonate. They live in time, like sound, floating off the canvas by way of the viewers’ observation…whereas the sonic resonances of Matthew Shipp’s piano create vibrating sculptures, forms made from the particles of air.”
Shipp’s music has inspired many admirers, including David Bowie, Thurston Moore and Henry Rollins, who has released some of Shipp’s music on his 2.13.61 record label. Shipp himself is a restless spirit, always at work with new creative endeavors and challenges, and rarely with even a moment to enjoy the accolades — so it’s no surprise that he recently published a collection of essays and prose poems, Black Mystery School Pianists and Other Writings (Autonomedia) in April. Meanwhile, on the same date as The Cosmic Piano, the Tao Forms imprint will release Armageddon Flower, an album pairing the Matthew Shipp String Trio with Brazilian saxophonist Ivo Perelman. And the work continues…
Matthew Shipp
The Cosmic Piano
(Cantaloupe Music)
Out June 20, 2025
Track List:
The Cosmic Piano
Cosmic Junk Jazz DNA
Orbit Light
Piano’s DNA Upgrade
The Other Dimensional Tone
Blues Orgasm
Radio Signals from Jazz Keys
Suburban Outerspace
Face to Face
Subconscious Piano
The Future Is in the Past
A Cosmic Thank You
# # #
CONNECT WITH MATTHEW SHIPP:
# # #
yeule shares "Dudu" from new album due 5/30
YEULE SHARES NEW SINGLE “DUDU”
EVANGELIC GIRL IS A GUN NEW ALBUM DUE MAY 30TH VIA NINJA TUNE
HEADING ON UK & EUROPEAN TOUR THIS SUMMER
“Dudu”
LISTEN:
(May 14, 2025) - Today, yeule shares a new single “Dudu.” The song opens with yeule’s sweet vocals in a chorus refrain. “Dudu” is their portrait of instability, as they camouflage passionate aggression within the post-pop indie banger. yeule shares that the song is about, "Unrequited love & stifling yourself." Over a merciless fuzz, they tell the tortured artist’s story: “Ripped my painting off the frame…/I screamed and screamed and screamed your name/All my paint was washed away.” Ćmiel then steps "through the fire, through the vein," alluding to their reverent hatred of being chained to a chemical.
The forthcoming album, Evangelic Girl is a Gun, is yeule’s most unrestrained and emotionally baring work yet, as they grapple with ideas of a self-destructive identity burning through the canvas of post-modernity. Accompanied by still visual artworks made in collaboration with artist Vasso Vu and videos for the previous singles, “Skullcrusher” and “Evangelic Girl is a Gun” co-directed by yeule and Neil Krug, Ćmiel explores the duality of darkness, as well as their personal history to their role as the "painter.” Through the album’s hypnotic melodies, they present a portrait of the tortured artist trapped within an image, as Ćmiel’s haunting vocals act as an emotional chokehold atop dance beats.
Evangelic Girl is a Gun sees Ćmiel putting their own “cyborgian” spin on Bristol trip-hop and ‘90s gothic. The album features production from A. G. Cook, Chris Greatti, Mura Masa, Clams Casino, Fitnesss and Kin Leonn, Ćmiel’s trusted collaborator and co-executive producer of 2023’s softscars. yeule’s untreated vocals on the album also contribute to a sense of burning authenticity; rawness emerges as they abandon Auto-Tune. This jarring artistic styling is a turn from their glitchy previous works. As a counter to the emergence of AI, they wanted to imbue their vocals with a “raw, irreplaceable edge,” they explain.
The new singles follow their celebrated album softscars, which incorporated distorted guitars and alternative production. The arrival of softscars was met with immense critical acclaim earning their second ‘Best New Music’ stamp from Pitchfork, as well as applause from outlets such as The New York Times, The FADER, Stereogum, Alternative Press, NPR among others. The album followed their critically acclaimed 2022 release, Glitch Princess, which also received a Pitchfork ‘Best New Music’ stamp and overwhelming critical praise.
A chameleonic auteur guided by a multidisciplinary ethos, yeule crafts entire worlds and personas through their music, weaving together everything from the classical canon, hypermodern internet cultures, academic theory, the esoteric, and their own carnal desires.
Listen to “Dudu” above, find album details below and stay tuned for more from the dexterous artist coming soon.
Tour Dates:
7/1 - Manchester, UK @ Academy 2
7/2 - London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
7/5 - Roskilde, Denmark @ Roskilde Festival
7/7 - Berlin, Germany @ Columbia Theatre
7/9 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
7/11 - Paris, France @ Le Trabendo
7/10 - 12 - Slovakia @ Pohoda Festival
Evangelic Girl is a Gun
May 30th 2025
Ninja Tune
1. Tequila Coma
2. The Girl Who Sold Her Face
3. eko
4. 1967
5. VV
6. Dudu
7. What3vr
8. Saiko
9. Evangelic Girl is a Gun
10. Skullcrusher
Connect with yeule:
Bob Mould Announces Solo Electric North American Tour Dates
BOB MOULD ANNOUNCES NEW SOLO ELECTRIC DATES FOR FALL 2025
23-CITY RUN GETTING UNDERWAY ON SEPTEMBER 9 IN CINCINNATI – TICKET PRESALE HERE
DELIVERING KEYNOTE ADDRESS AND RECEIVING HONORARY DEGREE FROM ALMA MATER MACALESTER COLLEGE THIS WEEKEND – WATCH THE LIVE STREAM
Fresh off the headlining North American band tour for his new album Here We Go Crazy, Bob Mould announces an additional run of Solo Electric shows across the US, starting with Cincinnati, OH on September 9 and ending with St. Paul, MN on October 11. He had previously announced a short run of solo shows for this summer, including an appearance at the Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival 2025 in Las Vegas on May 25, and stops along the East Coast in July and August. Special guests J. Robbins (solo), The Baseball Project, Loose Cattle, and David Barbe will be opening select shows on the tour (see dates below). Mould says of this run, “We the band spent the past six weeks performing sets focused on the music we recorded together since 2012. Now, with the announcement of new Solo Electric shows, I’m looking forward to adding deeper cuts from my career songbook. The volume will be a touch quieter than the band shows, but the intensity will remain the same. Looking forward!”
Here We Go Crazy, the 15th solo album and first full-length studio album in more than four years from the legendary musician, was released in early March of this year to critical acclaim. Ahead of multiple sold out shows across the country, Mould tore up the stage on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with a special performance of the standout track “When Your Heart Is Broken” – WATCH. He also made stops at record stores in London, Bristol, and Berlin for sold out in-store performances and signings.
Recent Press Quotes:
“…a quintessential Mould-ian mix of pounding aggression,
oceanic guitar buzz, and teaming melody.”
“[Here We Go Crazy] finds the onetime Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman
piling on the sort of speedy riffs, dead-center hooks and scream-of-consciousness
lyrics that have defined much of Mould’s nearly 50-year career.”
“Treasure this man while you can, and treat yourself to a night in his company at the earliest possible opportunity.”
# # #
This Saturday, Mould will be delivering the keynote address for the 2025 commencement ceremony at his alma mater, Macalester College, and will also be receiving an honorary degree. Mould formed Hüsker Dü during his first year at Macalester in 1979, but with the band’s rapid success, he left the college during his final year to go on tour and never graduated. At the time, he was in the process of writing an honors thesis on punk rock as a subculture.
“In 1978, Macalester College accepted and welcomed this 17-year old kid from Malone, NY to St. Paul, Minnesota. Without that opportunity, my life would be completely different. I never imagined I would be asked back to receive an honorary degree, nor did I foresee delivering the commencement speech to the Macalester College graduating class of 2025. I’ll do my best this Saturday.” –Bob Mould
STREAM THE CEREMONY HERE
SATURDAY, MAY 17 AT 10:30 AM CT
# # #
BOB MOULD SOLO ELECTRIC: HERE WE GO CRAZY
TOUR DATES 2025
MAY
25 – Las Vegas, NV – Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival 2025
JULY
30 – Township of Haddon, NJ – McLaughlin-Norcross Memorial Dell Haddon Lake Park
AUGUST
1 – Kingston, NY – Assembly
2 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
3 – Lancaster, PA – Tellus360
16 – Novato, CA – Hopmonk Tavern
SEPTEMBER
9 – Cincinnati, OH – Memorial Hall*
10 – Nelsonville, OH – Stuart’s Opera House*
12 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom*
13 – Ithaca, NY – Hangar Theatre*
14 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground*
16 – Portland, ME – SPACE*
17 – Shirley, MA – Bull Run*
19 – East Greenwich, RI – Greenwich Odeum*
20 – Battleboro, VT – Stone Church*
21 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom*
23 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge*
24 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar*
26 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern*
27 – Winston-Salem, NC – SECCA*
28 – Charleston, WV – Mountain Stage+
30 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway^
OCTOBER
1 – Kansas City, MO – recordBar^
3 – Bloomington, IL – Castle Theatre^
4 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk^
7 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall^
8 – Stoughton, WI – Stoughton Opera House^
10 – Minneapolis, MN – Icehouse^
11 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club^
* with J. Robbins (solo)
+with The Baseball Project and Loose Cattle
^with David Barbe
# # #
CONNECT WITH BOB MOULD
OFFICIAL | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | THREADS | BLUESKY
# # #
AMI TAF RA SIGNS WITH BRAINFEEDER; DEBUT SINGLE & VIDEO OUT NOW + FALL TOUR ANNOUNCED
MOROCCAN VOCALIST AMI TAF RA SIGNS WITH BRAINFEEDER
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR AMI TAF RA’S NEW SINGLE & BRAINFEEDER DEBUT “SPEAK TO US (OUTRO)”
NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR KICKS OFF
IN SEPTEMBER
Photo by Sol Washington, Artwork by Thomas Houseago
Today, visionary North African, LA-based singer-songwriter Ami Taf Ra joins Brainfeeder as the radically imaginative label’s newest act. Heralded for her seamless fusion of Arabic musical traditions like Moroccan gnawa with jazz and gospel, Ami Taf Ra celebrates the announcement with the release of new single “Speak To Us (Outro)”, produced by legendary saxophonist composer and frequent collaborator Kamasi Washington. The single comes with a sweeping and cinematic video that amplifies its emotional depth, with glimpses of characters gazing in slow motion turning the mundane into something profound. Listen to “Speak To Us (Outro)” HERE and watch the official music video HERE.
A nexus for experimental sound, Brainfeeder is an apt home for Ami Taf Ra’s artistry, rooted in boundary-pushing cultural fusion and a rich legacy of iconic Arabic vocalists like Abdel Halim Hafez, Umm Kulthum, Warda, Asmahan, and Fairuz. Kamasi’s musical contribution infuses a rich lineage of spiritual jazz, afrocentric philosophy, and orchestral grandiosity. Ami Taf Ra says the new single “reminds us that the search for enlightenment is a lifelong journey; it does end, it just grows deeper as the light of life shines brighter.” She adds, “I am super excited to join the Brainfeeder family and to join the legacy of great artists that they released over the years. Now, I’m looking forward to the future.”
Over the course of her career, Ami Taf Ra has graced stages worldwide, captivating audiences in Denmark, Turkey, Morocco, Belgium, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan. She has performed at esteemed festivals like the South East Jazz Festival and the Haarlem Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, as well as with the Dutch Royal Metropole Orchestra at the Royal Concert Hall (Concertgebouw) and the Dutch Blazers Ensemble. Ami has toured extensively with Kamasi Washington, performing together at notable venues and festivals across the United States including City Winery in Boston, the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, and the Just Jazz Concert Series at Mr Musichead Gallery in Los Angeles. She has also performed with a diverse array of musicians, including trombonist Ryan Porter, saxophonist Rickey Washington, percussionist Kahlil Cummings, bassist Ben Williams, drummer Jonathan Pinson, and pianist Jamael Dean. This fall, Ami Taf Ra will embark on a North American headline tour kicking off September 22 at the renowned Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City. For more information and tickets, visit https://amitafra.com/#tour.
Ami Taf Ra’s deep commitment to music as a tool for connection and healing has taken her beyond the stage and into communities impacted by displacement and conflict. In conjunction with a group of Dutch musicians, she led creative workshops for children, using music and painting to spark expression. The experience culminated in a collaborative performance that brought together the children, the musicians, and Ami Taf Ra as the opening act of the Amman Jazz Festival in 2014.
Today, Ami Taf Ra continues to explore the fusion of cultures through music, crafting a sound that honors her heritage while embracing new influences through different languages and nationalities. With every performance, she strives to connect people, stories, and traditions across borders. Ami Taf Ra's work stands as a testament to the power of cultural fusion in music, bridging continents and traditions to create a sound that is both timeless and contemporary.
Single artwork by Sam Lee
LISTEN TO “SPEAK TO US (OUTRO)”
https://amitafra.lnk.to/stu-outro
WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR “SPEAK TO US (OUTRO)”
https://amitafra.lnk.to/stu-outro/youtube
NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES
22 Sept – Blue Note Jazz Club, New York City, NY
25 Sept – Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, OH
26 Sept – City Winery Chicago, Chicago, IL
27 Sept – City Winery St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
28 Sept – City Winery Nashville, Nashville, TN
30 Sept – City Winery Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
02 Oct – Keystone Korner, Baltimore, MD
03 Oct – City Winery Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
05 Oct – City Winery Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
06 Oct – City Winery Boston, Boston, MA
09 Oct – Yoshi’s, Oakland, CA
FOLLOW AMI TAF RA
Jamie Lidell Announces New LP, Shares "The Center" Single | 'Places of Unknowing' LP Due for Release This Summer
Shares "The Center" Single + Video
Read Brooklyn Vegan Feature
Places of Unknowing LP Due for Release This Summer
PRE-SAVE: Jamie Lidell - Places of Unknowing LPPre-order
LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Jamie Lidell - "The Center"
YouTube | Stream
As an artist and performer, Jamie Lidell has had a hell of a life. Ping-ponging from the avant-garde to clubland hedonism to the mega-mainstream and all points in between, he's adopted personae from faceless, nameless techno producer to flamboyant showman. He’s made monstrous noise and sweet soul music. He’s performed in art spaces, rave dungeons and the biggest stages in the world in a whirlwind of creativity. But since relocating to Nashville and starting a family, he’s experienced isolation, introspection, being brought face-to-face with his own neurodivergence, and has had to completely reassess his relationship to himself, his history, his music and creative processes. And now all of that is expressed in Places of Unknowing, his first album in nearly a decade.
Due for release this summer, Places of Unknowing is a stark and beautiful departure from anything he’s ever done before. Today, he is sharing "The Center," the powerful first single from the upcoming album. A heartfelt and cinematic offering, “The Center” is built around a soulful piano progression, gradually swelling with delicate string arrangements and the steady pulse of a marching drum. Lidell’s unmistakable voice cuts through with warmth and conviction, grounding the track in a sense of inner clarity and emotional weight.
Places of Unknowing is Lidell’s first full-length release since 2016’s Building a Beginning and marks a striking evolution in both sound and spirit. During COVID lockdown, Jamie took it on himself to learn piano for the first time, and began recording some lyrics written by his wife, Lindsey. Singing some else’s words – albeit someone he felt a deep responsibility to – and having an entirely new musical palette to draw from was immensely refreshing. The results are gripping: heavily inspired by David Sylvian and Bowie, on Places of Unknowing Jamie explores dark places, revisiting some of the shadows he cavorted through with Super_Collider, but with new confidence and clarity.
"The Center" is out today on all DSPs. Look out for Places of Unknowing, coming this summer.
Jamie Lindell - "The Center"
Places of Unknowing - Tracklisting
Inner WorldReturn of the RepressedHow Do I LandChoralemeUnmaskingLast Day of MourningThe CenterThe Night I Went CrazyCapture The MoonNever Agreed To PlayOrdinary DrynessJAMIE LIDELL BIO:
Jamie Lidell is unmasking. As an artist and performer he’s had a hell of a life, ping-ponging from the avant-garde to clubland hedonism to the mega-mainstream and all points in between, adopting personae from faceless, nameless techno producer to flamboyant showman. He’s made monstrous noise and sweet soul music, he’s performed in art spaces, rave dungeons and the biggest stages in the world in a whirlwind of creativity. But since relocating to Nashville and starting a family, he’s experienced isolation, introspection, being brought face-to-face with his own neurodivergence, and has had to completely reassess his relationship to himself, his history, his music and creative processes. And now all of that is expressed in Places of Unknowing, his first album in nearly a decade and a stark and beautiful departure from anything he’s ever done before.
It was only when he met his wife Lindsey that he “had to really unpack a lot of who I'd become through those years, hardening myself to deal with people and to perform on a regular basis.” As they settled into domestic life in New York, and then Nashville, Jamie slowly, slowly began to shake off the need for relentless stimulation and approval. You can hear some of that process of unwinding and fierce self-examination through 2016’s Building a Beginning, his first self-released album.
In the decade since Jamie's first self-released album, 2016s Building a Beginning, his focus has been on family life, and his creative outlet has been the Hanging Out With Audiophiles podcast – which has been a haven for him, a place to enjoy musical process and sound entirely for their own sakes, as well as great conversation with a striking array of talents. He continued accumulating studio tech expertise, and singing every day (“I understand now, it’s basic nervous regulation for me!”), but – as he says with typically unflinching attitude – “I often feel semi-retired. Like in a slightly nihilistic way, there’s a sense of ‘What’s it all for?’”
Things changed for Jamie in COVID lockdown. The introspection stepped up yet another notch, and a strange need for new expression took hold. Discovering his family's neighbours were esteemed classical musicians – they never met outside the lockdown times as they were always on tour – Jamie took it on himself to learn piano for the first time, and began recording some lyrics written by his wife, Lindsey. Singing some else’s words – albeit someone he felt a deep responsibility to – and having an entirely new musical palette to draw from was immensely refreshing. The results are gripping: heavily inspired by David Sylvian and Bowie, on Places of Unknowing Jamie explores dark places, revisiting some of the shadows he cavorted through with Super_Collider, but with new confidence and clarity.
Where he goes next from here is unwritten. That sense of semi-retirement lingers, having little to prove and being several steps removed from the music industry itself. But at the same time, the ever-present need to tinker and explore the process is drawing him more into the world of post-classical composition and arrangement, starting with a one-off orchestrated performance of the album. And most importantly of all, there’s a powerful motive to continue: “If I'm gonna teach my son anything, it's: follow that passion because especially as an autistic person, you need those special interests to guide you in life. That will be your saving grace when people are mocking you for being different. Having that and knowing the power of that is huge. And not to be all ‘life lesson’ about it, I know I should take a little bit of my own advice!”
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Wavves shares album title track + 'Spun' due 6/27
WAVVES SHARES NEW SONG “SPUN”
FROM THE FORTHCOMING ALBUM SPUN DUE OUT JUNE 27 VIA GHOST RAMP
EMBARKING ON NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
Spun album cover (credit: Matt Furie and Grueling Terror)
Spun
PRE-SAVE/ORDER: https://ghostramp.ffm.to/wavvesspun
“Spun”
LISTEN: https://ghostramp.ffm.to/spun
(May 14, 2025) - After announcing their new album Spun, Wavves return to release the title track of the same name, “Spun.” Doubling as the album opener, “Spun” is a tone-setter that announces the band is back doing what they do best – churning out infectious pop-punk harmonies backed by bright guitar-driven walls of fuzz. It’s a song that will both open up the pit and induce mass sing-alongs at Wavves’ upcoming tour dates.
“Spun” arrives alongside vinyl-preorders which can be grabbed here, and it follows “Goner,” the previously released Travis Barker-produced song. “Goner” was paired with a Brandon Dermer-directed music video filmed at the band’s Los Angeles County wildfire benefit show at Zeublon, watch that here. Dermer has previously directed Wavves’ 2013 video for “That’s On Me” and has directed videos for Blink-182 among others.
Spun is due out June 27th with a headline North American tour set to launch later that month with supporting acts from Beach Goons and additional support from Death Lens and Chokecherry on select dates. Scroll down for the full routing.
Like Nathan Williams’ earliest music, this album first took shape in a small shed behind his parents’ house known as the hideaway. It's the place where Williams made some of his earliest albums, before he became known for his uncanny ability to write songs that sneered at the world while evoking pathos, sympathy, and a deep understanding of how sometimes we’re our own worst enemies, and that can be okay.
Over a decade prior to this, Williams released King of the Beach an album that delivered on all of the promise that his first two homespun records Wavves and Wavvves captured. It’s an album that also catapulted the band to worldwide acclaim as one of the new darlings of indie rock. It was a cocky collection of pop-punk gems that brought fame so rapidly it also, in part, led to a widely publicized on stage meltdown at Primavera Fest. Wavves recovered, as they always do, and eventually entered the major label system, where the band released two albums before Williams became disillusioned by the lack of creative agency available to him. In 2017, Williams self-released You’re Welcome on his label, Ghost Ramp before returning to Fat Possum (the home of his first three albums) for Hideaway.
Fast forward to 2024, an older, wiser, and slightly less stoned Williams has again reunited with longtime bandmates Stephen Pope, Ross Traver, and Alex Gates for a new full-length Wavves album. Always known for their raucous live performances, Wavves fans can rest assured that 2025 will deliver on the last few years of relative quiet with new music and a massive North American tour on the way.
Upcoming Live Dates:
~: w/Death Lens
^: w/Chokecherry
**: No Beach Goons
6/24 - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Atrium ~
6/25 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent ~
6/27 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios ~
6/28 - Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl ~
6/29 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos ~
7/2 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry ~
7/3 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon ~
7/5 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge ~
7/6 - Detroit, MI @ El Club ~
7/8 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace ^
7/9 - Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount ^
7/10 - Boston, MA @ The Sinclair ^
7/11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw ^
7/12 - Washington, DC @ Union Stage ^
7/13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts ^
7/15 - Atlanta, GA @ The Loft ^
7/16 - New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina's ^
7/17 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall ^
7/18 - Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves ^
7/19 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk ^
7/21 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sister ^
7/22 - Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole ^
7/23 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom ^
7/24 - San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park* *
7/25 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda **^
Official tour artwork
Wavves
Spun
June 27, 2025
Ghost Ramp
1. Spun
2. Lucky Stars
3. New Creatures
4. Goner
5. Gillette Bayonet
6. So Long
7. Busy Sleeping
8. In Good Time
9. Big Nothing
10. Machete Bob
11. Way Down
12. Body Sane
13. Holding Onto Shadows
Connect with Wavves
JOHN 5 & RICHIE KOTZEN: The Two Guitar Greats Team Up For U.S. Tour Beginning In October; John 5 Announces Release Date For New Album “Ghost,” Out October 10 & Shares Single “Fiend”
LOS ANGELES, CA – Wednesday, May 15 2025 – For the first time ever, two guitar greats, John 5 and Richie Kotzen will be heading out on the road this year. The tour will launch October 16 and run through November, hitting markets across the U.S. Says John 5, “I’ve got a brand-new show and a whole bunch of songs we haven’t played in a long time plus all your favorites. I’m super excited! I love touring with other great guitarists like Richie Kotzen! It’s gonna be a Noodle-Palooza.” Adds Kotzen, “I am very much looking forward to this USA tour, but what makes this even more exciting than last year‘s run of dates is that I’ll be out this time with my good friend John 5! I think this is going to be a great night not only for guitar fanatics but for general music lovers as well. I can’t wait to hit the stage this fall!” Find the full tour itinerary below. Reserved seating tickets will go on sale Friday May 16 though a fan presale will begin today at noon local time and fans are strongly encouraged to buy early to get the best seats. Find more information at John-5.com. Today, John 5 also announces more details of his anticipated new album. Called
Ghost
, produced by Barry Pointer, it will be released October 10 and is led by the new track “Fiend,” featuring Kenny Aronoff. Pre-save the song HERE. On Friday, May 16, you can see the music video for “Fiend” HERE. Before then, see the teaser video for the song HERE.
RICHIE KOTZEN & JOHN 5 FALL 2025 TOUROctober 16 El Cajon, CA @ MagnoliaOctober 17 Riverside, CA @ Fox Performing ArtsOctober 18 Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading PostOctober 19 San Jose, CA @ The RitzOctober 21 Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity TheatreOctober 22 Albuquerque, NM @ KiMo TheatreOctober 24 Dallas, TX @ Granada TheaterOctober 25 Leander, TX @ The Haute SpotOctober 27 New Orleans, LA @ House of BluesOctober 28 Memphis, TN @ Minglewood HallOctober 29 Nashville, TN @ Fogg Street Lawn ClubOctober 30 Atlanta, GA @ Variety PlayhouseOctober 31 Orlando, FL @ House of BluesNovember 1 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Culture RoomNovember 2 Clearwater, FL @ Capitol TheatreNovember 4 Richmond, VA @ The NationalNovember 5 Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho TheaterNovember 6 Patchogue, NY @ Patchogue TheatreNovember 11 Glenside, PA @ Keswick TheatreNovember 12 Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music HallNovember 13 Foxborough, MA @ Six String Grill & StageNovember 14 Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman TheaterNovember 15 Lorain, OH @ Lorain Palace TheatreNovember 16 Columbus, OH @ The King Of ClubsNovember 17 Warrendale, PA @ JergelsNovember 19 Wyandotte, MI @ District 142November 20 Flint, MI @ The Machine ShopNovember 21 Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere’sNovember 22 St. Charles, IL @ Arcada TheatreNovember 23 Belvidere, IL @ Apollo TheatreNovember 25 Denver, CO @ Oriental TheaterNovember 29 Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet's**John 5 only
John 5 (credit: Matt WIlson) ABOUT JOHN 5:For over 30 years, JOHN 5 has been one of the most in-demand guitar players on the planet. As well as being a songwriter/guitarist for hire, JOHN 5 has shared the stage as axe-man for Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson and Rob Halford. He has also worked with an impressive array of names, from all walks of music, including KD Lang, Rod Stewart, David Lee Roth, Alice Cooper, Tina Guo, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meatloaf, Dolly Parton and Ricky Martin. In October 2022, it was announced that JOHN 5 would be joining Mötley Crüe as their guitarist following the announcement that Mick Mars would be retiring. JOHN 5 continues to tour with Mötley Crüe including an upcoming residency in Las Vegas in 2025. To call JOHN 5 a shredder does not do him justice. Follow JOHN 5 online:Official Website: https://john-5.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/john5officialInstagram: https://instagram.com/john5officialTwitter: https://twitter.com/john5guitaristYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/john5officialYT/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@john5officialOfficial Webstore: https://john5store.com
May 13, 2025
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE: ALIVE IN THE CATACOMBS TO BE UNEARTHED JUNE 5
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE:
ALIVE IN THE CATACOMBS
TO BE UNEARTHED JUNE 5
Photo credit: Andreas Neumann
“If you’re ever going to be haunted, surrounded by several million dead people is the place. I’ve never felt so welcome in my life.” —Joshua Homme
Queens of the Stone Age will unveil the cinematic realization of a dream with the June 5 premiere of Alive in the Catacombs, an audiovisual document of the band’s long-rumored performance in the tunnels of the famed Catacombs of Paris.
Filmed and recorded in July 2024, Queens of the Stone Age: Alive in the Catacombs captures QOTSA as you’ve never seen or heard them before. This utterly unique once in a lifetime experience features a carefully selected setlist spanning the QOTSA catalog, each song chosen and epically reimagined for the Catacombs. The result is an unprecedented incarnation of QOTSA at their most intimate, yet surrounded by literally millions of human remains—“the biggest audience we’ve ever played for,” says Joshua Homme.
The Catacombs of Paris is a sprawling 320km (200 miles) ossuary beneath the surface of Paris. With a foundation of several million bodies buried in the 1700s, skeletal remains are largely exposed, with much of the walls built of skulls and bones.
Homme had dreamt of staging a QOTSA performance in the Catacombs since his first visit nearly 20 years ago. The city of Paris, however, had never granted permission to any artist to play within the sacred tunnels. QOTSA, being law-abiding citizens, waited until their vision was sanctioned.
Hélène Furminieux (Les Catacombes de Paris) said:
“The Catacombs of Paris are a fertile ground for the imagination. It is important to us that artists take hold of this universe and offer a sensitive interpretation of it. Going underground and confronting reflections on death can be a deeply intense experience. Josh seems to have felt in his body and soul the full potential of this place. The recordings resonate perfectly with the mystery, history, and a certain introspection, notably perceptible in the subtle use of the silence within the Catacombs.”
Every aesthetic decision, every choice of song, every configuration of instruments… absolutely everything was planned and played with deference to the Catacombs—from the acoustics and ambient sounds — dripping water, echoes and natural resonance — to the darkly atmospheric lighting tones that enhance the music. Far from the sound-insulated confines of the studio or the comfort of onstage monitors, Alive in the Catacombs sees the band not only rise to this challenge, but embrace it.
Homme recalls, “We’re so stripped down because that place is so stripped down, which makes the music so stripped down, which makes the words so stripped down… It would be ridiculous to try to rock there. All those decisions were made by that space. That space dictates everything, it’s in charge. You do what you’re told when you’re in there.”
The result is QOTSA distilled down to their most elemental form—Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore augmented by a three-piece string section, employing chains and chopsticks as makeshift percussion instruments. Alive in the Catacombs is Queens of the Stone Age stripped to their barest essence by necessity (you can’t call it “unplugged” if there are no actual electrical outlets to plug into), McGyver-ing a car battery to power an electric piano. And unfiltered, as every song was recorded live in a complete take with no overdubs or edits.
Words fail to convey the magnificence of Queens of the Stone Age: Alive in the Catacombs. Its truly stunning balance of subtlety and grandeur must be experienced to be appreciated. The beauty is in the struggle (both internal and external). This is Joshua Homme at his most physically vulnerable yet ultimately his most triumphant.
Queens of the Stone Age: Alive in the Catacombs was produced by La Blogothèque and directed by Thomas Rames, and is being released by Queens of the Stone Age and Matador Records. The film will be available to rent or purchase via qotsa.com where pre-orders are currently available. Fans who purchase Alive In the Catacombs by June 7th will receive exclusive access to behind the scenes footage in addition to full streaming and download access. An audio only version will be announced in the coming weeks.
Trailer Available HERE
To learn more about the Catacombs of Paris visit: https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en
RILO KILEY ADDS SIX NEW DATES TO THE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU’RE ON YOU’RE REALLY F**KING ON TOUR
RILO KILEY ADDS SIX NEW DATES TO THE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU’RE ON YOU’RE REALLY F**KING ON TOUR
LOS ANGELES, BERKELEY, SAN DIEGO AND MORE CONFIRMED
TICKETS ON SALE MAY 16th
WATCH THE BAND PERFORM “SILVER LINING” ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE
THAT’S HOW WE CHOOSE TO REMEMBER IT OUT NOW VIA SADDLE CREEK
“Rilo Kiley Sound Better Than Ever” –– ROLLING STONE
“One of the defining Los Angeles rock bands of the last quarter-century…Rilo Kiley played with more muscle and panache than it needed to on Saturday in an hour-long set that showcased the band’s impressive versatility.” — LOS ANGELES TIMES
“…the biggest moment of the day…Very good things happened at Just Like Heaven as Rilo Kiley roared back to life on Saturday…feels like the comeback could be just as good, if not better, than the first time around.” — OC REGISTER
Fresh off their triumphant performance at Just Like Heaven Music Festival and the release of That’s How We Choose To Remember It ––a band-curated, career-spanning collection of songs released May 9th via Saddle Creek––Rilo Kiley is pleased to announce a new round of dates just added to the highly anticipated Sometimes When You’re On You’re Really F***king On Tour.
These latest additions include stops in Asbury Park, NJ (The Stone Pony), Port Chester, NY (Capitol Theatre), Northampton, MA (The Pines Theater), Berkeley, CA (The Greek Theatre), San Diego, CA (Gallagher Square), and Los Angeles, CA (The Greek Theatre).
Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 16th, at 10am local time…grab them HERE and be sure not to miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience live, described by Rolling Stone as “magic and energy was palpable throughout the evening…It was chill-inducing to hear those opening notes in total darkness as they entered the stage, ready to start this new era.”
Additionally, the band has added special guests throughout the tour including Waxahatchee, The Faint, Dean Johnson, Natalie Bergman, Benjamin Gibbard and more. See below for further details and the full tour itinerary.
Rilo Kiley recently made a show-stopping appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as they performed a “faithful and jubilant” (CONSEQUENCE) rendition of “Silver Lining”, with Stereogum praising the band as: “total pros, as if they haven’t been apart for the better part of two decades…sharp and clean…This looks like a band that’s in it for the long haul.” Watch “Silver Lining” HERE.
And ICYMI, the band had the great pleasure of speaking with The New York Times about their grand return…read all about it HERE.
WHEN YOU’RE ON YOU’RE REALLY F**KING ON TOUR DATES
New dates in bold
5/12/25 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren *sold out
5/14/25 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre ^
5/16/25 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Block Party
5/17/25 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall *sold out !
5/19/25 – Jackson, WY – Center for the Arts *sold out !
5/21/25 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom *sold out !
5/23/25 – Forest Grove, OR – McMenamins Grand Lodge *sold out !
5/24/25 – Seattle, WA – Chateau Ste. Michelle *sold out !
8/30/25 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony &
8/31/25 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre &
9/01/25 – Northampton, MA – The Pines Theater &
9/03/25 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall *sold out &
9/04/25 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia *sold out &
9/05/25 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 *sold out &
9/07/25 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway *sold out &
9/08/25 – New York, NY – SummerStage @ Central Park *sold out “
9/10/25 – Washington, DC – The Anthem “
9/11/25 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theatre *sold out “
9/13/25 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond
9/14/25 – Grand Rapids, MI – Meijer Gardens Summer Series *sold out “
9/16/25 – Saint Paul, MN – Palace Theatre *sold out “
9/17/25 – La Vista, NE – The Astro “
9/19/25 – Chicago, IL – Riot Fest 2025
9/21/25 – St. Augustine, FL – Sing Out Loud Festival
9/23/25 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle %
9/24/25 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
9/26/25 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern *sold out %
9/27/25 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Yards %
9/28/25 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company %
10/10/25 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival
10/10-12/25 – Las Vegas, NV – Best Friends Forever 2025
10/16/25 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre #
10/17/25 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square #
10/18/25 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre #
^ w/ Ben Gibbard
! w/ Morgan Nagler
& w/ Natalie Bergman
“ w/ Dean Johnson
% w/ The Faint
w/ The Mountain Goats
# w/ Waxahatchee
