Rock And Blues International - July 2022

JULY 2022

Rock And Blues International Tab Benoit

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Elton John Maurizio Pugno The Buckleys Einherjer Fandango Sax Satyricon James Bay Marcus King The Pixies and more!

Rock And Blues International July 2022 Hello Rock And Blues International readers. I hope everybody had a great June. As I told you last month, there are a lot more tours on the road in North America, South America, The British Isles, and Europe. It’s really great to see that. A lot of big name artists have hit the road.

Also, be sure to check out all the tour announcements and ads in this issue. If you’re a publicist and your act doesn’t have a tour announcement in here, then you’re client is really missing out. Don’t leave them by the wayside.

And now on to the July issue of Rock And Blues International. In this issue you can read stories about Louisiana musician and entrepenoire Tab Benoit. Also in this issue, we’ve got a great story by Edoardo Fassio about Maurizio Pugno. Also in this issue, there are stories on the ılue Note Jazz Festival, Freddie Dixon, The Buckleys, Einherjer, Of Monsters And Men Greentea Peng, FeuerschWanz, James Bay, Dragged Under, Glass Animals, The Pixies, Elton John, Acacia Ridge, Electric Zoo, Phobophilic, and more! As you can see, there are a lot of varied genres of music here for you to check out, or as we like to say, there’s a little of something for everyone here. We have even included the current installment of the novella, “The Biker”. Read it and than email us back with your thoughts on this. Should we continue it or should we scrap it?

I sincerely hope that everybody reading this publication finds something here that they like and I would like to encourage you to let your friends and colleagues know about us. Just look for us every month at http://www.rockandbluesinternational.com. I would also like to encourage you to email us for a free subscription to Rock And Blues International as well. Just email us at rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com and in the subject line simply put “Sign Me Up” and we’ll email you a link to the magazine each month when it is published.

Kevin Wildman Kevin Wildman Editor and Publisher

Rock And Blues International Kevin Wildman Editor and Publisher

Web Address Http://www.rockandbluesinternational.com Mailing Address Box 1162, League City, TX 77573 Phone 281-650-1953

For Advertising email us at rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com or call 281-650-1953 For A Free Subscription email us at rockandblues international@gmail.com and in the subject line put “Sign Me Up Now” July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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Contents

VOL. 2 NO .12

JULY 2022

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6

ISSUE NO. 24

TAB BENOIT Meet Tab Benoit: The Inside Story On One Of Louisiana’s Finest Blues Entertainers

16 FREDDIE DIXON

16

Freddie Dixon Continues Dad Willie Dixon’s Work

20 20

MAURIZIO PUGNO Edoardo Fassio Talks About Musician Marizio Pugno

THE BUCKLEYS

23

Australian Chart-Topping Band The Buckleys Return With “Oops I Love You”

23

30 30

OF MONSTERS AND MEN Of Monsters And Men Unveil New Tiu EP & New Track “Lonely Weather” & Premiere Tiu Documentary At Tribeca Film Festival

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Contents

VOL. 2 NO. 12

JULY 2022

32

DRAGGED UNDER

The Rolling Stones Release “Live At The El Mocambo” Album

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ISSUE NO. 24

MÅNEGARM MÅNEGARM Releases Lyric Video for “Freyrs blod”, Cut from New Album, “Ynglingaättens Öde”

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50 64

THE PIXIES Pixies Announce New Album, Doggerel, And New Single/Video For“There’s A Moon On”

64 THE BIKER

42 42

The Continuing Saga Of A Lone Biker On The Road To Explore The Freedoms Of America And His Love of Music and The Blues

In This Issue: 6 14 16 20 21 23 24 26 28

Tab Benoit Blue Note Jazz Festival Freddie Dixon Maurizio Pugno (English) Maurizio Pugno (Spanish) The Buckleys Einherjer Fandango Sax (English) Fandango Sax (Spanish

30 32 34 36 40 44 46 48 50 54 56

Of Monsters And Men Manegarm Satyricon Greentea Peng FeuerschWanz James Bay Audrey Horne Glass Animals Dragged Under Dawes and Bahamas Badxyou

62 64 66 68 72 74 76 78 82

Marcus King The Pixies Noah Cyrus Acacia Ridge Electric Zoo Phobophilic Wednesday 13 Elton John The Biker Rock And Blues International

July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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activist. He supports these events whenever he can. He performed two night at his hometown of Houma, Louisiana at the 16th Annual Voice of the Wetlands Festival. He has also appeared in a couple of movies such as Hurricane On The Bayou, a documentary of the effects of Hurricane Katrina. He most recently is being featured in the Sony Picture Classics 2022 movie, JassFest: A New Orleans Story. This is Frank Marshall & Ryan Suffern’s documentary about the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Most recently Tab was inducted into the Louisiana Folklife Center Hall of Master Folk Artists in 2020.

We had a chance to sit down with Tab and discuss quite a bit about his career and his involvement with different aspects in the music business and we’d like to share it with you. If you didn’t know much about Tab before this story, you’re going to gain a lot of insight into this amazing musician and what makes him tick. We hope you enjoy it.

Rock And Blues International: Hi Tab, it seems that you’ve lived most of your life on the road. You’ve been at it for quite a long time.

Tab Benoit: Kinda, more than 30, probably about 32 or 33 years. I’ve been hittin’ it hard. Who’s countin’, right?

Rock And Blues International: Well, people still want to see you perform and hear your music. It’s when they don’t want to, it’s time to worry.

Tab Benoit: Yeah man…

Rock And Blues International: You’re getting’ a short break now. Don’t you start back up in a couple of weeks?

Tab Benoit: No, in about a week. Right now I’m out at my fishing’ camp and people are working’ around on stuff around here because we had Hurricane Ida last August, so everybody is still in rebuilding mode.

Rock And Blues International: How bad did that affect your fishing camp?

Meet Tab Benoit: The Inside Story On One Of Louisiana’s Finest Blues Entertainers

By Kevin Wildman One of Louisiana’s top showman is back on the road again. Actually, he always seems to be on the road. Tab Benoit is really a man for all seasons. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like, if there’s a catastrophe, or anything, he’s going to be out there touring and playing. Tab has been in the business all of his life. He started out as a drummer just like his father and then branched out to guitar… Blues guitar. Ever the consummate

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showman, Tab always seems to know what it takes to please his crowd in every city. Right now he’s out on his 2022 Spring-Summer Tour and he’s hitting the ground running.

One thing about Tab’s performances is that you’ll always see him on stage smiling from ear to ear. That man just loves what he’s doing. He really can’t get enough of it.

Another thing about Tab is that he’s a very active and passionate environmental

Tab Benoit: I just picked this one up from somebody after the storm. All my stuff was destroyed. You pick up and move on and find something else, you know. When we have a storm like that, people start moving and selling’ things. If you decide to fish, you just use stuff that’s available, that kind of thing.

You try to find one with the minimal amount of damage and then continue on.

Rock And Blues International: What did you do with your old camp?

Tab Benoit: My camp was actually on lease property. I lost my camp in Hurricane Barry, which was a couple of years ago and I had a houseboat and that go damaged in Ida, but I found some guys that wanted to buy that and redo it, so you swap one thing for another.

As long as we got a place on the bayou, we do good.

Rock And Blues International: Do you continued on next page

Tab Benoit continued from previous page take a lot of solace and pleasure from fishing?

Tab Benoit: Yeah, just being out on the water. We fish. It’s kinda the easy thing livin’ down here. I can fish in my front yard. I don’t even have to have a fishin’ camp, but havin’ a place to get away and have some jam sessions with my friends on the bayou and be able to take the boat out at any time. Do some midnight cruises… stuff like that, that’s a great time and a relaxin’ thing to do out here on the bayou.

Rock And Blues International: Tell me a little about the tour that you’re getting ready to head out on, or is it just like any other tour?

Tab Benoit: Every tour I do is usually two to four weeks long. We take off, run the country, and then come back and then spend about a week to two weeks at home and get back out and do it again. The next tour is about three-and-half weeks long. Yeah, people still come to see me and have a good feelin’ in their lives. It’s something that we do that helps them get through that. Everybody need something and in these times and day and age, these things become important… and havin’ some kind of a way to get through things, it’s almost like therapy. I think it’s kind of like therapy for them, me, and the band… to be able to get together. I mean, everything I do is natural and honest. I don’t have a set show or a set way of doin’ anything. There’s no set list. There’s no rehearsed out show. It’s, ‘hey man, we got this building, we got this PA system, let’s play,’ and we play with the audience. I don’t feel like I play to them, I feel like I’m playin’ with them, ‘cause they get their two-cents in too. They request songs, they crack jokes with me and joke right back and we have fun with that. I like to think of it as building a friend base, instead of a fan base.

Some of these people have been comin’ to see me for 30-years now. Every time I come into town, they come every time, because they know it’s going to be different. We’re going to visit and I’ll talk to people after the show. At the end of it, I’m out there to go visit with them in their hometown. That’s what it’s all about.

Rock And Blues International: When you go to certain towns, are there people there that you always expect to see?

Tab Benoit: Oh yeah! Yeah, most of them. Most of the towns that I go to has people that I’ve been knowin’ a lot of years.

Some of them for over 20 years. That’s like what I said, it’s kind of like friends. It’s not like fans.

Rock And Blues International: Is it a lot more pleasurable for you to be able for you to walk into a venue and see old familiar faces a little bit more often than new faces.

Tab Benoit: Yeah, but I like seeing new

people too, cause that means somehow they’ve found me and like what I’ve been doin’.

There’s really no hype behind me. It’s not like I’m putting a record out every six months and there’s an ad. There’s really no hype. People know me for what I do and who I am and I kinda like it that way.

Rock And Blues International: When was the last time you released a new album?

Tab Benoit: It was like 2011.

Rock And Blues International: It’s been awhile.

Tab Benoit: Yeah.

Rock And Blues International: And now you’ve started your own record label.

Tab Benoit: Yeah.

Rock And Blues International: Tell me a little bit about the record label. What made you decide to start your own record label?

Tab Benoit: Probably because of the other musicians out here who I’m friends with.

They kept wanting to find out how I did things and why my records sounded so open and honest, and natural. I’d get questions about ‘how do you do this,’ ‘how do you do that.’

I’d say, ‘let’s record together and you’ll see.

I’ll produce your record and we’ll go from there.’ You know, I produced a few records for other bands for other labels. I didn’t like having to deal with the middle men who weren’t there and didn’t have an idea about what we were doing in the studio part of it and how we were putting this stuff together, and how organic it was. It’s kind of hard when you’re sitting in an office somewhere to understand what we were really trying to accomplish. I didn’t want to destroy the original integrity of the idea of me and the band getting together and just writing it, recording it and playing that stuff at once where it becomes organic and authentic. I just try to keep that as much as possible. I’ve been buying equipment here and there. I’ve got a great room at my house where... I bought that

house because that room was a great sounding room to record in. It’s all pinewood with a vaulted ceiling. When I walked in I’m like… this is perfect for a studio setup. I’d been acquiring gear here and there and buying all the stuff that professional studios were using.

When I’d go into a studio I’d always look at what they were using. I’d pick up pieces here and there and I got stuff for mastering so I could do all the mastering in-house. It took me probably ten to fifteen years to figure out to use that stuff to make a commercially acceptable product out of it. I’m at the point now where I can actually use the skills I’ve been learning the last fifteen years in recording and producing, mixing and mastering. It’s a satisfying thing to be able to do that. You know, the record business. I don’t really know what that is anymore as far as a business goes.

It keeps changing so fast and now it’s based on streaming instead of actual physical sales. We keep getting told by major labels that they’re not going to be printing CDs anymore. For us Blues bands and in this genre on the road, we rely on that. It’s part of our income. We always have.

Rock And Blues International: Well, you’ve got to have product to sell to make extra money, to support yourself while you’re out on the road.

Tab Benoit: Yeah, major labels and people like that are not concerned with that.

They’re more concerned with the streaming services, how many streams they can get.

That’s kind of where their bread and butter are coming from now.

Rock And Blues International: What I don’t like about the streaming services, is that the artist doesn’t seem to be making much money off of all the streaming.

Tab Benoit: Oh no, it’s something goofy, like .003 cents per stream. We can’t even look at that like that becoming income one-day. It doesn’t even compute. Somewhere down the line here, in our genre and our world we have to maintain the product

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few days ago, Lightnin’ Malcolm, who just signed with us. In fact, I’m just finishing up his album right now. He’s been out with us.

And that’s another thing, the tour support that we give as a label is second to none, because the artist comes out and opens for me. With a lot of them, I play drums on their record. I play drums on their set, so I’ll do the opening set as the drummer and then come out after that and play my set. It’s a way for them to get in front of an audience. If the headliner’s the drummer, then the audience pays more attention.

Rock And Blues International: So, did you start out as a drummer in the business or a guitarist?

Tab Benoit: I was a drummer first. My dad was a drummer. I was always a drummer that played guitar. I like playing drums too. I like to be able to play from the back and hold that part of the music down. I enjoy that part of it too.

Tab Benoit

Rock And Blues International: How do your hands hold up switching from drums to guitar through the night?

continued from previous page

Tab Benoit: That’s fine, it just warms me up. It warms me up for the guitar. It’s different muscles. I get warmed up on drums and then when I get on guitar my hands are already in motion.

ourselves and make the product ourselves. We got to put it out and print it up ourselves.

That’s kind of where it came from. Let’s start a label and do it ourselves. That’s kind of where that came from. It’s more about having the artist out there being able to have product to take and sell and help make more income on the road. You can’t make all your money just on the door. Let’s look at fuel prices and everything like that. All our traveling expenses are going through the roof. It becomes even more vital that we some kind of other way to make some income on the road besides just what we take in at the door. Our cost of what they’re going to get at the door and what they’re going to pay us for playing ain’t gonna go up every time the price of gas goes up. They’re going to be some gaps in there where we’re going to be struggling, and look, we’ve been doing that for years. This is nothing new in the Blues world. We ain’t that far from the $100 dollar a man thing in the band. If they could get away with paying us a hundred dollars a man, I’m sure they would.

It’s not far from it. We kind of have to put up with them and take care of a lot of it ourselves.

Rock And Blues International: Exactly… Thirty years a go we were doing about a hundred a man and it hasn’t gone up that much for some of the musicians out there now.

Tab Benoit: That’s what I’m saying… It ain’t that far off. It depends on where you are.

When you’re first getting out here on the road with your band and you’re unknown and you have to pay for all your expenses on the road, believe me it’s not far from a hundred a man still. By the time everybody gets paid, depending on how many people you have in your band. For a new act that’s relatively unknown, that’s not that far away from that.

When you look at it that way, it’s how are we going to even attempt this. If you try to tell an artist that, you discourage them. We don’t

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want to do that. We want to keep some real music going. The Blues world is the real music. It’s the honest music out here. To me, that has to be maintained, to just maintain the integrity of music in general. The Blues world and Blues Clubs, Blues festivals, have always been the backbone of all live music from the beginning. This is the roots of all American music and touring musicians. We’re still living that.

Rock And Blues International: Well, I consider Blues music to be traditional American music. It started in the fields of America.

Tab Benoit: And then it changed everything worldwide. There wouldn’t have been any Beatles without the Blues. No Led Zeppelin, No Ozzy Osbourne, I can keep going down the list. They all learned from the people here. Most of that came right from here, right from the Mississippi River area.

New Orleans was a huge influence on The Beatles. We’re still coming from the same place, so we’re still bringing music to people from the same roots that it was coming from when they invented the genre. It’s the hard working man barely making it.

Rock And Blues International: How many artists are on your label now?

Tab Benoit: I don’t know, probably around 8 or 10. Something like that, and there’s new ones coming. I get more and more attention from other artists that like the way we’re doing things and want to do it this way.

Rock And Blues International: Well, you were on the road with one of your artists not too long ago. It looks like you’re taking them under your wing and helping them to branch out.

Tab Benoit: Well, actually even just a

Rock And Blues International: Well that’s cool, it kind of breaks the cycle of getting up there and just playing guitar every night.

Tab Benoit: Yeah. Like when we have jam sessions and such at my camp or my house or anything like that, every time we’re having a jam session, I’m on the drums most of the time. It’s kind of normal for me to be playing drums and then jump on the guitar. I do that here and at home anyway. It’s just that people out there on the road are just getting hip to that in the last few years. That’s not unusual for me and my friends and family down here. They all know me as the guy who wants to play drums all night long.

Rock And Blues International: Well, I’ve seen you several times over the years and the show is always a lot of fun. It’s never the same show over and over. It always feels new and fresh. I think the last time I saw you was at a club in Houston called Fitzgerald’s.

Tab Benoit: Was that the last time? I played there the last night it was open.

Rock And Blues International: That was it. It was a fantastic show. It really looked like you were having a great time.

Tab Benoit: Yeah, and I hung around with the lady that owned it, Sara Fitzgerald.

We hung around together because it was her last night. Me and her sat at the bar and she went through all the stories she could go through. I didn’t want to leave. My band was outside blowing their horn at me. I was like, ‘man, just hold on.’ She was telling me about

continued on next page

Tab Benoit continued from previous page James Brown, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and all the people that played for her over the years. I didn’t want to miss out on any of those stories.

Rock And Blues International: That club was something else. Too bad it’s a parking lot now.

Tab Benoit: A parking lot… for real.

Rock And Blues International: Yeah, a parking lot. She sold the club and the land and they tore everything down and turned it into a parking lot. She wound up moving to somewhere around New Braunfels, I believe, and opened another place around there.

Tab Benoit: Oh, well I’m going to playing down in that area soon. I’m going to be playing Gruene Hall. I’ve played there a couple of times. It’s a great place.

Rock And Blues International: Are there any halls that are your favorite places to perform at, you just can’t wait to get there?

Tab Benoit: All of them, really. I like to play. I get to play in a different room every night, different setup, different size. It could be a festival, it could be a theater, a club… I mean, I like it all. I like to take whatever cards I’m dealt with at night and then play the hell out of it. It’s kind of how I operate. Gimme some electricity and an audience and my band and we’re going to figure something out here.

It’s gonna click, you know. That’s kind of the fun of it and it keeps it interesting because it’s never really the same. Even if there are places where it’s a great place to play or a nice setup, it’s still going to be different the next time I show up… different audience, different night, everybody’s going to feel a little different if you play it for what it is. I never really bank on things being the same, you know what I’m saying. I don’t walk into a place and go ‘this place sounded great last time, it should be great this time.’ It’s never really like that for me. It’s a new thing every night. Every day I wake up and go do my thing, it’s going to be a new thing. I keep growing and learning, keep learning how to play and how to grasp a new audience every night. And my band… we don’t have a set way of playing things. We never rehearse ever. It’s a new thing every night that I get to try to figure out with the band and the audience at the same time. We’re all figuring it out together. When we pull it off at the end it’s a big accomplishment.

Rock And Blues International: With a repertoire as big as yours, do you ever try to put together a set of any sort to try to please everybody?

Tab Benoit: That’s why I don’t do that.

I let the audience pick. I just start it off and play a couple… get it kick started and then it’s open for suggestions. The audience picks the

songs. That way I don’t have to figure out what they want to hear. It makes all the difference.

Rock And Blues International: What seems to be a couple of the songs that they always request?

Tab Benoit: “Medicine” is definitely one. “Medicine” and “Night Train.” “Dirty Dishes”. There’s a few that I get the most requests for. If I start getting a few requests for something I haven’t played in years, I’ll go relearn that and we’ll play that. We don’t rehearse. I have to go relearn, mostly just to remember the lyrics, that I wrote. The ones that I forget first are the ones that I wrote.

That’s how funny that is.

Rock And Blues International: As often as you play, it would probably be hard to even throw in a practice.

Tab Benoit: It’s just not something that we ever do. I think if I did that it, it would throw us off. There’s only three of us. The less members you have in your group, the easier it is to lead them around. All I have to do is leave one person with notes, and that’s Cory my bass player. And then there’s the drummer, and I’m leading him around with rhythm. It’s a lot easier to do that and a lot freer. If I can lead them around and we can go wherever the moment wants to go to, it frees things up where it keeps it exciting for everybody, including myself. The band doesn’t know what we’re getting ready to do, and I don’t know what we’re getting ready to do, and the audience doesn’t know what we’re getting ready to do. But hey, it’s a surprise for everybody.

Rock And Blues International: Who are the members of your band and how long have they been with you?

Tab Benoit: Cory Duplechin is the bass player, and Terence Higgins is the drummer.

Cory’s been with me off and on for over 30 years. He was with me from the very beginning and then he left and played with another band and then came back. Terence

and me… I’ve known my drummer since the 80s too. He was with Dirty Dozen Brass Band for awhile. He was one of those guys that I was trying to get in for years and then I finally did. It’s hard to tell how long we’ve been together now.

Rock And Blues International: Well, you’ve obviously been together long enough that you know where you’re going on every song, how and when to improvise when it’s needed, as well as what to do and what to play.

Tab Benoit: We know each other’s language. Music is a language. They have an idea of where I’m gonna go by what I’m playin’. What I’m playin’ now is gonna let them know where I’m trying to go, so they already kind of have an idea by what I’m playin’ now about what I’m going to be playin’ next. We’ve played together long enough that they know the language, and it is a language.

Rock And Blues International: You’ve also been featured in a couple of movies.

“Hurricane On The Bayou” is one. You’re also in “Jazzfest: A New Orleans Story.” Is that out yet?

Tab Benoit: I don’t know. I haven’t been home enough lately to check that out.

It’s obvious that with the damn shutdown, it’s been delayed. So was “Hurricane On The Bayou”. That was supposed to come out a year before it did, and Katrina messed that release date up. I don’t know if that movie’s out yet. Originally it was supposed to be just for theatres, a full-fledged movie. I haven’t seen anything about it yet.

Rock And Blues International: Do you perform in the movie, or are you just talking?

Tab Benoit: I don’t know. I think it’s just mainly talking. They were at Jazzfest filming for the 50th Anniversary of Jazzfest.

They were filming everything. I don’t know if my part ever got used. I never saw it.

Rock And Blues International: Well,

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Tab Benoit continued from previous page you really don’t let anything like disasters or Covid keep you off the road. Even during Covid you were out performing.

Tab Benoit: Yeah! I felt like somebody had to continue on, keep this running, man.

There was something strange about not having live music.

Rock And Blues International: I’ll say, I went a little stir crazy myself.

Tab Benoit: People down here have been through more disasters than most people.

We just went through another one in August.

In the middle of the pandemic thing, we had the worst hurricane we’ve ever seen in my hometown. There’s definitely resilience and an attitude towards things like that. When the stuff hit the fan, people down here, they just know what to do. You pick up and brush everything off and that’s still worth saving and you move on. We ain’t gonna sit there and dwell on it and let it get us down. That’s one thing that’s keeping me here. Yeah, I’m from here, been here my whole life, but every time we have a hurricane, it’s on my mind about leaving, because there’s a lot of stress involved. There’s a lot of loss. The hardest part is about leaving the people here. There’s no people like this anywhere else. They’re the most generous caring people that I know and that I’ve ever met. It’s the kind of people that don’t lock their doors, and they feel like ‘if you need it more than me brother, have at it.’

Rock And Blues International: You seem to be a real ‘man of the people.’ You get out after a show and mingle with the audience.

I have the feeling that you’re always available for a good story or a conversation.

Tab Benoit: I’m always there for the people. They come and talk to me, tell me their stories, and I tell them some of mine. It’s part of the beauty of that. It’s getting to share each other’s stories and having a good listener.

That’s always good. Even on the other side of it for an audience member. You give them a little bit of your time and listen to their story and some of their stories are what really help us going, and knowing that what we’re doing is helping them through some tough times.

They’re doing the same for us, so it becomes a mutual thing. I don’t feel like I’m just the one whose gonna dictate the moment. I feel like the moments kind of running and we’re all doing our part in helping each other get through whatever these moments are. It’s part of being open like that and leaving it open and being honest with the artist.

Rock And Blues International: There’s also an honesty to your playing. Your not know as an artist that uses a lot of effects.

Your fingers and your heart and soul are the effects.

Tab Benoit: I don’t use any fancy tricks or effects pedals on my guitar. There’s

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nothing they’re gonna hear that I didn’t play and they hear it’s coming from me and my fingers and my heart. When I’m playin’, it’s comin’ from them. It’s coming from what I’m feelin’ out there. If feel from the audiences what they’re sending me and I play that. When they give back, they get it. They understand it. It’s ‘hey man, this guy’s feeling us.’

That’s really important to me and important in my style of handling this and in my way of performing. It’s kind of hard to call it performing for me. I’m not putting on a show, I’m playing us… as one, as one solid unit. We’re all in this together and I’m playing us… let’s go.

Rock And Blues International: So, after over 30 years on the road, what is the hardest part of touring for you?

Tab Benoit: The hardest part is obviously being away from home. I’m not out here to go sightseeing. I don’t go to Europe. I don’t fly to shows. We stay in the 48 states that we can drive through. We hit all of them.

And part of that is because I like having a home, a home base. My bus is my home for half the year. I like having that. I think that keeps me grounded and keeps me from feeling I need to get out of this. It’s not easy being on the road obviously. It’s a tough life, but if I can have as much of that feeling at being home as I can, then I feel I can be freer and happier and still be in it, not being concerned about being away, not being home, not having my comfort zone. Pretty much, when I’m on the road I’m still in my comfort zone. It’s just the way that I’m touring. It’s just a choice in the way that I handle things, and the way that I’ve handled this career in music. I’m a live artist.

I don’t consider myself a recording artist. I’ve always felt I was more of a live artist. I really think that’s where you get it when you see and you feel the band live. That’s when you really get it. It’s always harder to capture that on record. You got to capture it live, have the audience capture it, ‘cause they get to be a part of it.

Rock And Blues International: Well, on your recordings, you seem to have that freshness to them as well, that honesty, the raw yet refined sound to the song you’re recording too.

Tab Benoit: When you’re in the studio without the audience, that’s the hardest part of recording. I try to make that as easy as possible for artists that come and record for me. I’ve done it long enough to where I’m comfortable with it. Even when we record, there is no rehearsal. Most of the songs on my records is the first time that the band ever played the song. It’s what you’re hearing on the record. We don’t go back and fix anything.

We don’t go back and fix vocals. I don’t go back and do guitar solos. All of that is live

Rock and Blues International • July 2022

and most of it is the first time we played the song, so it’s got that feeling of being on the edge. The audience does understand that. I think part of the way it maintains that live feeling, like there was an audience there is because of that method of doing that. If we’re playin’ it like it’s live, like we do on live shows, you don’t stop in the middle and say, ‘hey, we messed that part up, let’s do it again.’

You don’t do that live. For me, I’m not going to do that in the studio either, ‘cause for me, that red light, when it comes on in that recording machine, is the audience. The whole audience is packed into that little red light, when that little red button goes on. So, hey… it is live! We are playin’ live. Let’s play it for them right now, just like they were sitting in the room right with us.

Well folks, we tried to fit as much of our interview with Tab into this story, but we barely scratched the surface here. Our interview went on for quite a long time and we touched on a lot of subjects that were very interesting. In fact, our interview with Tab went on for quite a long time. We could actually do an entire issue of Tab, but for the sake of all the other musicians that would like to get their information in to this magazine, well stop it right here. Maybe someday we can revisit this interview and add everything else we talked about at a later date, but I’ll give you a few hint at what you’re missing…

Did you know that Tab used to be a Stand-Up comedian? Well he did. That’s another story all together, but we will say that it helped in his ability to banter back and forth with his friends and fans that come to his show. Also, did you know that the legendary Evil Kneivel is one of Tab’s idols. That’s another story in itself.

At any rate, as we started out, Tab Benoit is definitely a man for all seasons, a very extraordinary man. We would like to encourage each and every one of you to check him out the next time he hits your town. Even if he doesn’t, try to track down some of his recordings. Tab is a very prolific performer and songwriter and he’s got some great songs that you really need to hear.

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Blue Note Jazz Festival NAPA VALLEY Adds Third Date On Friday, July 29th Friday Robert Glasper Residency Additions Include Snoop Dogg With Dinner Party (Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington) Additional Headliners Include Chaka Khan, Kamasi Washington, Madlib, Chris Dave & The Drumhedz, Kenny Garrett, Alex Isley, Domi & JD Beck + Mor

Snoop Dogg Due to overwhelming demand, the Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley announces a third day of programming on Friday, July 29th.

With standout additions including Dinner Party (Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin and Kamasi Washington) and Snoop Dogg, the third day also includes performances by Chaka Khan, Kamasi Washington, Madlib, Chris Dave & The Drumhedz, Kenny Garrett, Alex Isley, Domi & JD Beck, Kiefer and Amber (of Moonchild), Marcus Strickland Twi-Life and DJ Jahi Sundance. Tickets for Friday start at $225 for general admission and $450 for VIP, and go on sale Thursday, June 16th at 12:00pm PT.

between Snoop Dogg performing with Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin and Kamasi Washington as Dinner Party. We’ve strived to present a pure concentration of greatness and culturally meaningful artistry — from the legendary Chaka Kahn, and jazz icon Kenny Garrett, to the prolific producer Madlib — we have extraordinary artists and creators gracing the festival airwaves drawing from the inspiration, stylistic influence and vibe of Robert Glasper.”

Announced alongside the Friday performances is the Wine Train Platinum VIP experience. This exclusive experience will let Platinum VIP’s ride in style to the festival in beautiful, perfectly restored

“Following the initial sell-out response from our two-day festival lineup in a matter of hours, we’re thrilled to announce a third festival date for the Blue Note Jazz Festival, Napa,” says Director of Programming and Talent Buyer Alex Kurland.

Kurland continues, “This third date features a jaw-dropping and exclusive headline collaboration 14

Rock and Blues International • July 2022

Dinner Party vintage 20th-century Pullman cars.

At $1,500 per person per day, VIPs will enjoy a 3-course gourmet brunch, complimentary wine & sparkling wine and will enjoy additional perks, including: Access to the air-conditioned, Platinum VIP Wine Train with reserved seating and exclusive viewing platform on the Wine Train’s open air car, parked next to one of the stages.

Complimentary premium wine tasting at Charles Krug Winery during the festival.

Complimentary post-festival light meal with wine & sparkling wine, served on the Wine Train back to Napa and midday snacks Access to all on-site VIP lounges, viewing platforms and restrooms Full cash bar available - the Wine Train is the only area in the entire festival where guests are allowed to consume hard liquor and cocktails.

While tickets for Saturday and

Chaka Khan

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Blue Note Jazz Festival continued from previous page

Alex Isley Sunday have sold out, 70 additional weekend tickets are available exclusively to Wine Train Platinum VIP ticket holders. The Wine Train arrives at the festival grounds daily at 12:30pm and departs at 10:30pm sharp. Tickets for the Wine Train Platinum VIP Experience are on sale on Wednesday, June 22 at 12pm PT. The debut of the Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley marks the first Blue Note Jazz Festival presented as an outdoor, multi-day and multistage event. The especially intimate festival, with limited capacity, will feature top-tier talent at the historic Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena, CA from July 29 to 31.

Grammy Award-winning multigenre pianist, songwriter, and producer Robert Glasper serves as the festival’s Artist-In-Residence.

Glasper’s residency, hosted by comedian Dave Chappelle, includes performances by special guests Dinner Party with Terrace Martin and Kamasi Washington, Snoop Dogg, Erykah Badu, Ledisi, D Smoke, Terrace Martin, and BJ the Chicago Kid.

“The response from ticket buyers and the music industry to our first multiday outdoor Blue Note Jazz Festival has been astounding. This year’s festival is a great model for the future of Blue Note Jazz Festivals.

Our network of Blue Note Jazz Club venues spans over four continents. I plan to expand our festival throughout those markets and worldwide,” says Blue Note Entertainment Group President Steven Bensusan.

“Napa is particularly important to us. Not only do we have a Blue Note Jazz Club in downtown Napa, but our partnership with Charles Krug Winery has successfully expanded. We’ve grown from our outdoor series during the pandemic to this new three-day festival experience taking over the entirety of the winery property.”

The Napa Valley outdoor weekend event represents a new audience experience for Blue Note fans by combining a more traditional

festival style event with the local wine culture of Napa Valley. The weekend will include food by renowned area restaurants, wine tasting experiences and other VIP add-ons.

During the pandemic Blue Note Napa, operating in the Valley for six years, partnered with Charles Krug Winery to present nearly 40 successful outdoor summer concerts at a time when few were offered. Charles Krug Winery, established in 1861 as the Napa Valley’s first winery, is remarkable for its historical significance and character.

Rock And Blues International

Kenny Garrett WEBSITE @ https://www.bluenotenapa.com/ FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/bluenotenapa/ TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/bluenotenapa

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Freddie Dixon Continues Dad Willie Dixon’s Work Freddie Dixon is the embodiment of the Blues. The second son of the world-famous Seventh Son Willie Dixon, Freddie has been surrounded by the Blues since the day he was born. His father is a Blues legend as a songwriter, producer, and musician, at the helm of Chess Records for many of the sides cut in the 1950’s, 60s, and into the 70’s. Freddie began his career learning his chops playing with many musicians in Chicago’s numerous South-side Blues clubs. He was soon hired to play in his father’s band, The Chicago Blues All-Stars, and traveled around the world spreading the Gospel of the Blues. He continues to perform as Freddie Dixon and the Chicago Blues All-Stars as well as the Freddie Dixon Blues Band (Freddie Dixon, bass and lead vocals; Bob Lassandrello, guitar; Tom Stober, guitar; Judy Lei, violin; and Grant Neibergall, percussion).

The proverbial torch was handed to Freddie in the early 1990’s when Willie Dixon passed away. Since then, Freddie has continued as a Blues Ambassador, playing in front of crowds from Europe to Australia, as well as locally in Chicago. In 2020, Freddie — along with Chicago Blues legends John Watkins and Maurice John Vaughan — produced a well-received two-disc CD called 3By3 (available here at https://music.apple.com/ie/album/3by3/1583677212).

Freddie Dixon is a proud member of the Chicago Blues Hall Of Fame

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Maurizio Pugno: In search of the holy mud

By Edoardo Fassio Gubbio is a charming medieval town in central Italy, best known for an event that involved St. Francis of Assisi. According to tradition, Francesco managed to persuade the ferocious wolf who tormented the inhabitants to quit his evil ways and converted him into a peaceful and well-beloved guest. Eight centuries later, the memory is still vivid, even in a definitely secular context. In the 1980s, two musicians emerged nationwide while in a tough local small orchestra that went by the name of Wolves Blues Band: harmonica player and singer Rico Migliarini and guitarist Maurizio Pugno.

Migliarini and Pugno will later tour Europe in the dynamic Rico Blues Combo, recruiting, on record and live, luminaries such as Dave Specter, Sugar Ray Norcia, Mike Turk, Alberto Marsico and Mauro Ferrarese; their 1997 CD, White Whiskey, went to be awarded by Italian critics as the best blues album of the year.

Pugno, who is not a singer, on the six strings takes care of the instrumental sides exclusively; his voice, on the score or in the performance, translates into a mood of pure liquid notes, which always catch their mark. Even without using actual words, he manages to hypnotize the audience like Francesco with his ancient four-legged howling fellow citizen.

In order, as he puts it, “to represent human weaknesses”, Maurizio kept frequenting the quarters of the blues, a music that is closest to “the microstories of everyday life”. Linking his name to international top players (Sax Gordon, Mark DuFresne, Lynwood Slim, Mark Hummel and Linda Valori), even extending, at one point, his activities in the United States, when he released three albums on the Californian Pacific Blues Records.

Now, together with lyricist and singer Raffo Barbi, he is part of the powerful “overground blues” of Sacromud, along with Franz Piombino, bass, Alex Fiorucci, keyboards and Riccardo Fiorucci, drums. The new quintet with an Anglo-Italian name, in the aim of its members, feeds on the tradition of “contemporary sacred mud” and its magma of intonations: soul, roots music, funk, rock, R&B. It’s the sound heard in the quasi-reggae cadences of “Ordinary Man” or in the neo-biblical ones of “Exodus”, in the vibrant “Carousel”, the obsessive “The Mule” and the optimistic “Apple Slice”. A powerful tribal crossover, never too far from the blues, “the salt I seasoned my musical journey with”. In Pugno’s words, “Sacromud is an emotional sling; it changed my humble path into an experimental synthesis that still tries to question me and us all”.

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• July 2022

Maurizio Pugno: alla ricerca del sacro fango

By Edoardo Fassio Gubbio è una suggestiva cittadina medioevale dell’Italia centrale, celebre per l’episodio legato a San Francesco d’Assisi.

Secondo quanto viene tramandato, Francesco riuscì con la forza della persuasione a convincere il feroce lupo che ne tormentava gli abitanti ad abbandonare i suoi modi malvagi e lo convertì in un ospite pacifico e benvoluto. Otto secoli più tardi la memoria è ancora vivida, anche in ambito decisamente laico. Negli anni 1980 due musicisti emersero a livello nazionale durante la loro militanza in un’agguerrita formazione locale che aveva adottato il nome di Wolves Blues Band: l’armonicista e cantante Rico Migliarini e il chitarrista Maurizio Pugno.

Migliarini e Pugno gireranno poi l’Europa nel dinamico quartetto Rico Blues Combo coinvolgendo, su disco e dal vivo, personalità come Dave Specter, Sugar Ray Norcia, Mike Turk, Alberto Marsico e Mauro Ferrarese; il loro CD del 1997, White Whiskey, sarà riconosciuto dalla critica Italiana come miglior album blues dell’anno.

Pugno, che non è un cantante, compone e interpreta alle sei corde esclusivamente parti strumentali; la sua voce, su spartito o nell’esecuzione, si traduce in un mood di pure note liquide, che colgono sempre il segno. Anche senza far uso di parole esplicite, riesce a ipnotizzare il pubblico come Francesco con il suo antico concittadino a quattro zampe.

Nell’intento, come racconta lui stesso, “di rappresentare le debolezze umane”, Maurizio ha proseguito a frequentare i dintorni del blues, la musica che più si avvicina “alle microstorie del quotidiano”. Legando il suo nome a top players internazionali (Sax Gordon, Mark DuFresne, Lynwood Slim, Mark Hummel e Linda Valori), estendendo persino, a un certo punto, le sue attività negli Stati Uniti, quando pubblicò tre album per la californiana Pacific Blues Records.

Ora, insieme al paroliere e cantante Raffo Barbi, immagina il poderoso “overground blues” dei Sacromud, con Franz Piombino, basso, Alex Fiorucci, tastiere e Riccardo Fiorucci, batteria. Il nuovo quintetto dal nome angloitaliano, nelle intenzioni dei protagonisti, si alimenta della tradizione “del sacro fango contemporaneo” e del suo magma di intonazioni: soul, roots music, funk, rock, R&B. Il suono espresso, tra le cadenze quasi-reggae di “Ordinary Man”, quelle neo-bibliche di “Exodus”, la vibrante “Carousel”, l’ossessiva “The Mule” e l’ottimistica “Apple Slice”, è un poderoso crossover tribale, mai troppo distante dal blues, “il sale con cui ho condito il mio percorso musicale”. Nelle parole di Pugno, “Sacromud è una fionda emotiva; ha trasformato il mio umile percorso in una sintesi sperimentale che prova ancora a mettermi e a metterci in discussione”.

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New Music From Australia

photo credit: Kimberley Vecsei

Australian Chart-Topping Band

Return With “Oops I Love You” Website @ https://www.thebuckleys.net/ Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/Buckleysfamilyband/ Twitter @ https://twitter.com/The_Buckleys Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/the.buckleys/ YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/user/thebuckleysmusicA1 Merch Store @ https://thebuckleys.store/ 22 Rock and Blues International • July 2022

chorus and everyone picked up on it and I guess we ran with it!”

continued from previous page Coming off of the release of their critically-acclaimed debut album Daydream, Australian pop-country trio THE BUCKLEYS have returned with a brand new single “Oops I Love You” which is available today, June 3, 2022 via Petrol Records/Universal Records/ UMe. Recorded at Nashville’s iconic East Iris Studios earlier this Spring, “Oops I Love You” finds the charttopping band in a fun-loving ,joyous playful mood. The song can be streamed/purchased here: https:// TheBuckleys.lnk.to/ OopsILoveYou.

A breezy pop confection that pushes the band forward from their “Hippy Country” roots that put them on the map with their chart-topping debut album Daydream, “Oops I Love You” is further proof of their command of uptempo, feelgood beats and melodies.

“What has been so great about this new project is that we’ve spent a lot of time writing together, just the three of us, and really been able to define where we want to go and want to say,” Sarah explains about the creative process. “Bringing our vision and ideas to some of our brilliant creative friends and collaborators in Nashville has given this new project a

by the second single, “I’m Comin’ For Ya (Love),” which reached #3. Their worldwide debut single “Money” reached #2 and its follow up “Breathe” at #3.

As international touring opportunities became limited in 2020, the band found another way to tap into a much larger market. The Buckleys became one of the first bands to capture a global audience in the midst of a pandemic, with their groundbreaking world virtual tour achieving a ‘virtual reach’ of more than 4.5 million. Presented by Live Nation, the world virtual tour was developed in conjunction with Live Nation and the band’s Australian label, Petrol. Performing individually curated shows in North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe, India, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, performances were streamed on Live Nation’s Live From Home and House of Blues’ and their partners social media platforms.

Through these online channels, they were able to recreate the personalized “live” experience, during a time of social distancing.

The Buckleys “Oops I Love You”

“Interestingly, this song actually started out on bass,” says vocalist Sarah Buckley, oldest sibling to the Buckley family trio which includes Lachlan (guitars) and Molly (keyboards).

“I was jamming with our youngest brother Dylan (15 yo) on drums just for fun and I started playing this bassline which you hear in the song. We kept jamming and when I brought it to Lachlan and Molly as just a bass and drum groove, they loved the direction, so we all started playing around with some ideas and the melodies started to take form.”

https://youtu.be/EDAoSCN5hes

Traveling from their native Byron Bay, Australia to Nashville earlier this year to write and record the upcoming EP TAKE IT AS IT COMES (release date: August 5, 2022) with producer Chad Carlson (Trisha Yearwood, Taylor Swift, Lady A), Sarah pulled out the basics of the song and revisited it in the studio. “We kept it in our back pocket to show to our producer Chad where we were going. We were in the studio and I started singing ‘Oops I love you’ as the

whole new grit, we feel. Walking into the studio with a cohesive vision between us is so important and being able to take that to a whole new level through collaboration is something really special.”

Proceeding to tackle the U.S. market, The Buckleys’ Stateside highlights include a performance on The ACM Weekly and add on Radio Disney Country with their single “I’m Comin’ For Ya (Love),” and a CMT Music USA add for their video “Breathe.” The band created a groundswell in their country with each of their four released singles charting in the Top Five of Australian country radio. Their first single “Daydream,” catapulted the trio into the limelight, scoring a #1 single on Australian country radio, which was followed

Having been away from actual touring since the start of the pandemic, The Buckleys are hoping that the release of this single and EP will herald a new beginning of exciting new music and future live performances, especially in America. “It feels like a natural evolution from where we left things off with Daydream in 2020,” Molly says excitedly, hopeful that touring can be a large part of their gameplan. Adds Lachlan, “We’ve all grown a lot as individuals, songwriters, musicians and together as a band since recording our debut album.

We are experiencing a new chapter in our lives, which you hear in the music.”

Optimistic and hopeful, Sarah concludes, “We really want to get out on the road, play as much as we can, meet as many people as we can and soak in all the July 2022 • Rock and Blues International 23

New Music From Norway

Photo Credit: Jørgen Freim

Viking Metal Pioneers EINHERJER Announce First Live Album Norse And Dangerous (Live... From The Land Of Legends) out August 5, 2022 via Napalm Records and Reveal Official Video for Live Version of “West Coast Groove” Watch “West Coast Groove” Here at https://youtu.be/wWmBO5ip8N8 Pre Order album now at https://lnk.to/Einherjer-NorseAndDangerous 24

Rock and Blues International • July 2022

EINHERJER continued from previous page Norse metal legends EINHERJER proudly announce the upcoming release of their first live album, Norse And Dangerous (Live... From The Land Of Legends), out August 5, 2022 via Napalm Records in vinyl (strictly limited to 300 copies) and digital formats! Norse And Dangerous (Live... From The Land Of Legends) was recorded in the band’s hometown of Haugesund in February of last year at their North Star (2021) album release shows, and follows the release of said full length, which was acclaimed both by fans and media alike (Spark 5/5 [CZ], Deaf Forever 8/10 [DE], Hardline 8.5/10 [DE], Metal Hammer 8/10 [UK]).

Norse And Dangerous (Live... From The Land Of Legends) not only includes songs from North Star, but beautifully sums up EINHERJER’s discography, offering a live gem satisfying both new and current fans and Viking metal legions beyond!

To give a first glimpse of what can be expected of the live album, EINHERJER have released the new live version of their single “West Coast Groove”, originally on North Star, along with a music video. Riddled with even huskier live vocals, the powerful track combines old school vibes with dark Viking metal atmosphere that brings the tension of a live concert into your living room.

EINHERJER on the live version of “West Coast Groove”: “With no gigs in a year and new blood in our ranks, we recorded the two hometown release shows just to get an idea of what we sounded like live in 2021. It only took one listen to realize that our fans would appreciate this as much as we did. EINHERJER live is an energetic experience. We want to let everyone hear that, so here’s our first live album, recorded live on our home turf in front of many familiar faces. The document of a great evening!”

World-renowned Norsemen EINHERJER have returned to unleash their fantastic, grim sound once more! Founded in 1993, the metal veterans have spent nearly 30 years making their mark on the Viking metal genre with eight studio albums and two EPs. This year, the band even reached another benchmark, earning a nomination for a Spellemann Award – the most important music prize in their home country of Norway!

Norse And Dangerous (Live... From The Land Of Legends) sets off with great opener “West Coast Groove” from their most

recent studio album, North Star (2021). Next, “The Spirit Of A Thousand Years” showcases EINHERJER’s technical songwriting sophistication with the finest guitar solos, while “The Blood & The Iron” offers bursting, intense energy and “Kill The Flame” lures with its characteristic riffage.

But the band doesn’t stop with more recent songs! After visiting several other favorites, the band soon returns to days of yore with tracks like “Dragons Of The North” and “Ballad Of The Swords” from their 1996 debut full-length Dragons Of The North, before closing with turn-of-the-century banger “Ironbound” and classic tune “Far Far North”. The live contrast between their formative hits and more recent orchestrations clearly proves that the band has remained true to themselves throughout the decades, continually delivering an authentic sound.

Pre-Order “Norse And Dangerous (Live... From The Land Of Legends)” now at https://lnk.to/Einherjer-NorseAndDangerous

Norse And Dangerous (Live... From The Land Of Legends) tracklist:

1. West Coast Groove 2. The Spirit Of A Thousand Years 3. The Blood & The Iron 4. Kill The Flame 5. Nidstong 6. Stars 7. Mine Våpen Mine Ord 8. Nord & Ner 9. Spre Vingene 10. Ballad Of The Swords 11. Dragons Of The North 12. Ironbound 13. Far Far North Norse And Dangerous (Live... From The Land Of Legends) will be available in the following formats: - 2LP Gatefold Marbled Crystal Clear Sky Blue Vinyl & Poster (strictly limited to 300 copies) - Digital Full Length Live Album EINHERJER is: Gerhard Storesund - Drums, Keyboards Frode Glesnes - Vocals, Guitar & Bass Ole Sønstabø - Lead Guitars Tom Enge - Guitars, Backing Vocals

EINHERJER online: Website @ https://einherjer.com/ Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/einherjerofficial/ Twitter @ https://twitter.com/EinherjerBand July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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New Music From Columbia

Fandango Sax and Teo LB Release New Single “Billetes Verdes”

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Rock and Blues International • July 2022

Listen “Billetes Verdes” HERE

https://farolatino.ffm.to/billetes-verdes The song is based on a true story of what is experienced in the neighborhoods of Antioquia, Colombia, and promises to give clubs a revamped sound to conquer audiences throughout South America After thrilling fans with his first EP The Master and after being featured on major radio stations and playlists on a national level with ‘My Love’ and ‘En Tus Ojos,’ songwriter and artist Fandango Sax begins to shift gears in his career, releasing a song that combines electronic sounds with cumbia. In order to achieve this, he teamed up with the Colombian leader of the urban genre Teo LB, who demonstrates his versatility with his fifth release of 2022.

Under the label Partners Music, “Billetes Verdes” was produced

by Tom Zeta, renowned producer from Manizales, Colombia, who has worked for major TV and Netflix series. The song also features the coproduction of Fandango Sax himself, who is adapting his essence to begin to expand the reach of his music to Argentina and Chile.

“I think that guaracha is a genre that has strongly penetrated Latin America, but we’ve always tried to innovate a bit and what better way to do that than by blending rhythms of our region,” Fandango Sax commented.

The single releases along with a music video that was filmed in Medellín and produced and directed by Magic Films.

With the release of this single, Fandango Sax, who in 2022 attained more than 200K streams on Spotify, hopes to wrap up a period during which he had the opportunity to open doors with his music while establishing his presence in other territories in Latin America.

“Billetes Verdes” is now available on all digital platforms and on YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/c/fandangosax/videos More about Fandango Sax Juan Sebastián González Obando, known artistically as Fandango Sax, is a DJ, saxophonist and songwriter from Medellín. He was born on February 6, 1989 and began his musical studies with the maestro Guillermo González Arenas at the University of Caldas, where he formed part of the band and the symphony orchestra.

In his artistic career as a DJ and saxophonist, he has attained great recognition by collaborating on songs with renowned artists from his country, such as Marcela Reyes and Fumaratto. He has also shared the stage with nationally and internationally renowned artists such as J Balvin, Maluma, Ryan Castro, and Marcela Reyes, among others.

For all of Fandango Sax’s latest news, follow him on:

YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/c/fandangosax/videos Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/artist/1vvzVdPTi8YEwqJpyihdl8 Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/fandangosax TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@fandangosax?lang=en More about Teo LB Mateo Álvarez Jaramillo, better known as Teo LB, is a Paisa artist and songwriter who is passionate about motorbikes, sports, tattoos, and music. He began his career as a freestyler in the streets, and thus made a name for himself as an artist. In 2015 he released his first single titled “Adiós” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/adios-teolb ), and in 2016 he released his second single “Stunt Life” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/stunt-life ), a huge success on digital platforms that has also become a fan favorite.

With influences from dance hall, reggaetón, reggae and corridos, Teo LB has made a difference by capturing reality in each one of his songs, which has led him to be one of the most renowned rappers at a national and international level. Singles such as “Real Love,” “Gracias Mamá,” “Stunt 2,” and “De Luto” have been some of his most acclaimed songs over the course of his career.

In 2018 Teo LB released “Vuelve,” a collaboration with Nanpa Básico, and in 2021 he released “Stunt 3” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/stunt-3-remix ) which would become his biggest hit to date.

“Tienes El Toque” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/tienes-el-toque ), “Clásico” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/clasico-teo-lb ) and “En Tu Juego” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/en-tu-juego ) with Samir Guerrero and Cheo Gallego stand out among his best releases of 2022.

For all of Teo LB’s latest news, follow him on YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIyjM_rMcNW3gB8NAddLufg Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HwtulWF8xZD2g2IMhNXwo Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/people/Teolboficial/100063481003381/ TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@teolb.oficial July 2022 • Rock and Blues International 27

New Music From Columbia

Fandango Sax con Teo LB Presentan “Billetes Verdes”

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ESCUCHA ‘BILLETES VERDES’ AQUÍ

https://farolatino.ffm.to/billetes-verdes Se trata de una historia real de lo que se vive en los barrios de Antioquia, Colombia y que promete dar un sonido renovado a las discotecas para conquistar al público de todo el cono sur.

Después de deleitar al público con su primer EP The Master y de sonar en las listas de reproducción y principales radios a nivel nacional con ‘My Love’ y ‘En Tus Ojos’, el artista y compositor Fandango Sax comienza a dar un vuelco a su carrera, lanzado una canción combinando sonidos electrónicos con cumbia. Para lograr esto, se unió al referente colombiano de género urbano Teo LB, quien muestra su versatilidad con su quinto lanzamiento de lo que va del 2022.

Bajo el sello Partners Music, “Billetes Verdes” fue producido por Tom Zeta, reconocido productor de Manizales, que ha trabajado para importantes series de TV y Netflix, y con la co-producción del mismo Fandango Sax. El artista adapta su esencia para comenzar a expandir su música a Argentina y Chile.

“Creo que la guaracha es un género que ha entrado duro a Latinoamérica, pero siempre hemos intentado innovar un poco y que mejor que mezclando ritmos de nuestra región”, comentó Fandango Sax. El single viene acompañado de un videoclip grabado en Medellín y que contó con la realización y dirección de Magic Films.

Con el lanzamiento de este sencillo, Fandango Sax, quien en 2022 alcanzó más de 200K reproducciones en Spotify, espera darle cierre a un ciclo en el que tuvo la oportunidad de abrir puertas con su música y a su vez llegar a otros territorios de Latinoamérica.

“Billetes Verdes”, disponible en todas las plataformas digitales y en YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/c/fandangosax/videos Más acerca de Fandango Sax Juan Sebastián González Obando, conocido en el mundo artístico como Fandando Sax, es DJ, saxofonista y compositor de la ciudad de Medellín. Nació el 6 de febrero de 1989 y comenzó sus estudios musicales de la mano del maestro Guillermo González Arenas en la Universidad de Caldas, donde formó parte de la banda y de la orquesta sinfónica.

En su carrera artística como DJ y saxofonista ha logrado alcanzar gran reconocimiento colaborando en canciones con reconocidos artistas del país como Marcela Reyes, Fumarato.

Asimismo, Fandango Sax ha compartido tarima con artistas de alto reconocimiento nacional e internacional como J Balvin, Maluma, Ryan Castro, Marcela Reyes, entre otros.

Sigue todas las novedades de Fandango Sax en:

YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/c/fandangosax/videos Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/artist/1vvzVdPTi8YEwqJpyihdl8 Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/fandangosax TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@fandangosax?lang=en Más acerca de Teo LB Mateo Álvarez Jaramillo es un artista y compositor paisa, reconocido como Teo LB, apasionado por las motos, el deporte, los tatuajes y la música. En sus inicios empezó como freestyler en las calles, y así se dio a conocer como artista. En el año 2015 estrena su primer sencillo titulado “Adiós” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/adios-teolb ). Para el 2016 estrena “Stunt Life” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/stunt-life ), su segundo sencillo y éxito total en plataformas y uno de los favoritos del público.

Con influencias de dancehall, reggaetón, reggae y corridos, Teo LB ha marcado la diferencia por plasmar la realidad en cada una de sus canciones, lo que lo ha llevado a ser uno de los raperos más reconocidos a nivel nacional e internacional. Sencillos como “Real Love”, “Gracias Mamá”, “Stunt 2” y “De Luto” han sido de las canciones más reconocidas a lo largo de su carrera.

Ya para el año 2018 realiza una colaboración con el artista Nanpa Básico con “Vuelve” y en el 2021 Teo LB lanza “Stunt 3” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/stunt-3-remix ) que se convertiría en su mayor éxito hasta la fecha.

Entre los lanzamientos del 2022 se destacan “Tienes El Toque” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/tienes-el-toque ), “Clásico” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/clasico-teo-lb ) y “En Tu Juego” ( https://farolatino.ffm.to/en-tu-juego ) junto a Samir Guerrero y Cheo Gallego.

Sigue todas las novedades de Teo LB en: YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIyjM_rMcNW3gB8NAddLufg Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HwtulWF8xZD2g2IMhNXwo Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/people/Teolboficial/100063481003381/ TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@teolb.oficial July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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OF MONSTERS AND MEN UNVEIL NEW TÍU EP & NEW TRACK “LONELY WEATHER” & PREMIERE TÍU DOCUMENTARY AT TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL New Music From Iceland

Listen to TÍU here at https://ofmonstersandmen.lnk.to/TiuPR Multi-platinum Icelanders Of Monsters and Men have unveiled their new TÍU EP via Republic Records featuring new single (and video for) “Lonely Weather”. This release arrives on the heels of the world premiere of their TÍU short documentary at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City last night. To celebrate the premiere, the band took the stage and performed three tracks from the EP, also featured in the doc.

Stream new track Lonely Weather here at https://ofmonstersandmen.lnk.to/ Tiu 30

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Watch Lonely Weather video here at https://youtu.be/IHxRqJ-9D4M The EP includes fan favorites including “This Happiness,” “Destroyer,” and “Visitor,” which have cumulatively tallied over 20 million total streams and counting.

The TÍU documentary was directed by their friend Dean DeBlois (Heima, Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon) and follows the band on a trip around their homeland of Iceland. Their world tour was cut short due to the pandemic and instead of celebrating in big venues and headlining festivals- they

performed their new songs together in special locations around Iceland that are meaningful to the five of them.

The band also released The Cabin Sessions, which premiered last night on YouTube. At the end of filming TÍU, they recorded a stripped down performance of My Head Is An Animal in it’s entirety at a cabin in Iceland.The Cabin Sessions premiered last night on YouTube, and the band also hosted a small fundraiser on platform for World Central Kitchen (https://wck.org), an organization that provides fresh meals to refugees. continued on next page

OF MONSTERS AND MEN continued from previous page TRACKLISTING Visitor This Happiness Lonely Weather Destroyer This Happiness (Saddest Version)

Adding to the accolades earlier this year, Of Monsters and Men released the official vinyl for their My Head Is An Animal (10th Anniversary Edition) which celebrates a decade of their critically acclaimed platinum debut album. The anniversary edition includes two previously unreleased tracks and as part of the release, last fall, the band performed a series of intimate hometown shows at Gamla Bio and livestreamed them to audiences across the world from Reykjavik, Iceland. Check out the My Head Is An Animal (10th Anniversary Edition) here at https://omam.lnk.to/ MHIAATAE Stay tuned for more from Of Monsters and Men soon.

OF MONSTERS AND MEN went from the talk of Iceland to the top of the global conversation on their 2011 debut, My Head Is An Animal which landed the band a performance on Saturday Night Live.

The group appeared on official soundtracks for franchises such as The Hunger Games, The Walking Dead, and Beat Bugs, to name a few. In

Check out

addition to performing at festivals such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, Firefly, and beyond, they supported Florence + the Machine on a high-profile arena tour. In the midst of this rapid rise, 2015’s Beneath The Skin bowed in the Top 3 of the Billboard Top 200 and the band had a coveted cameo in an episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones in the same year. In 2019, the group welcomed listeners into

the embrace of their critically acclaimed third full-length album, FEVER DREAM. Not only did the record tally 80 million-plus total streams to date, but it also attracted acclaim from Billboard, NPR, The Line of Best Fit, Independent, Paste, and more. Clash Magazine claimed, “The songs also have an emotional content to them that is hard to ignore.” Q Magazine praised it as “a dizzying rush of exuberMy Head Is An Animal “Cabin Sessions” here ance and emotion…their transformation into an arena-ready pop beast is complete.” Notably, the single “Alligator” made history by completing “their quickest climb to #1 on the Adult Alternative Songs Airplay Chart,” as reported by Billboard. In addition to selling out dates coast-to-coast on the FEVER DREAM Tour, the group delivered rapturous television performances on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, The Tonight Show Starring https://youtu.be/Y25LDO6OLzQ Jimmy Fallon, and Ellen.

July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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New Goth Metal From Sweden

SIDDHARTHA

Photo Credit: Isak Skagerström

MÅNEGARM Releases Lyric Video for “Freyrs blod”, Cut from New Album, “Ynglingaättens Öde” Swedish Folk Metal Frontrunners MÅNEGARM Release New Lyric Video for “Freyrs blod” Watch Here at https://youtu.be/tJdXHofEfXI New Album, Ynglingaättens Öde, Out Now via Napalm Records Order Now at https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/manegarm

Photo Credit to Soloman Chiniquay

After releasing their chart topping, critically acclaimed epos Ynglingaättens Öde, leading Swedish Viking metal wolf pack MÅNEGARM keep the heathen fire burning bright! Today the three-piece has unveiled a visually palpable lyric video for the album opener, “Freyrs blod”.

With the uncompromising ten32

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minute opus “Freyrs blod”, MÅNEGARM lure the listener deep into ancient times. The track spans a wide arc between black metal elements that flow into more melodic parts and even acoustic interludes with guitar and violin tunes, just to turn once again into thunderous soundscapes. With this majestic opener, MÅNEGARM showcase why they are regarded as Swedish

genre pioneers with good reason, as they inimitably manage to combine vicious black metal foundations with classic folk and Viking elements.

MÅNEGARM on “Freyrs blod”: “Here’s our brand new lyric video for the song”Freyrs blod”, taken from the continued on next page

MÅNEGARM continued from previous page Ynglingaättens Öde tracklisting: 1. Freyrs blod 2. Ulvhjärtat 3. Adils fall 4. En snara av guld 5. Stridsgalten 6. Auns söner 7. Vitta vettr 8. Hågkomst av ett liv Ynglingaättens Öde is available in the following formats: - Wooden Box (incl. Digipack, 7" Single, album cover flag, logo patch) – limited to 500 copies worldwide - 1LP Gatefold Marbled Gold & Black – limited to 300 copies worldwide - 1LP Gatefold BLACK - Shirt & Digipack Bundle - Digipack CD - Digital Full Length Album

new album Ynglingaättens Öde. “Freyrs blod” is the opener on the album and really shows the diversity of MÅNEGARM. Ingo Spörl of Hard Media has created this beautiful and captivating video, full of epic landscapes and nature, that really intertwines with the music in a stunning way!

So brothers & sisters; Sit back and enjoy our Freyrs blod!”

MÅNEGARM have made a name for themselves in the international scene by releasing nine full-length records since their debut, Nordstjärnans tidsålder, back in 1998. Now, the Scandinavian crew takes another stroll through ancient sagas and myths of long forgotten times on the successor to 2019’s chart-topping Fornaldarsagor with their 10th studio album, Ynglingaättens Öde (EN: the fate of the

Ynglinga kin).

On Ynglingaättens Öde, MÅNEGARM incorporates Pagan inspired lyricism based on the old Norse poem Ynglingatal, that describes the fate of an old Norse dynasty - the house of Ynglinga. The album offers balanced variety and atmosphere, breathing new life into ancient myths. Vocalist Erik Grawsiö tells the stories of kings, warriors and battles with clear vocals and contrasts them with grim growls and fierce battle cries! With Ynglingaättens Öde, MÅNEGARM underline their standing as spearheads of the world of Viking metal once more and keep Pagan traditions alive, even after 25 years of existence.

Ynglingaättens Öde. We truly believe this album is our strongest and most complete album to date and despite the dark days of the pandemic, we have created a concept album that is 100% MÅNEGARM and packed with strong melodies, riffs and powerful choruses.

This time, we explore an old Swedish Norse dynasty of rulers where we detail their deeds, their rule and above all their deaths.

So come join us on this journey and meet the fate of the Yngliga kin!”

MÅNEGARM are: Erik Grawsiö - vocals & bass Markus Andé - guitars Jakob Hallegren - drums Live dates 2022:

MÅNEGARM on the album: “Thousands of working hours turned into this beast - our new album,

MÅNEGARM online: Homepage @ http://www.manegarmsweden.com/ Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/Manegarmsweden/ Twitter @ https://twitter.com/Manegarmsweden Napalm Records @ https://label.napalmrecords.com/manegarm

11.06.22 SE – Sölvesborg / Sweden Rock 13.08.22 DE – Schlotheim / Party San Metal Open Air 26.08.22 SE – Norrtälje / Månegarm Open Air 27.08.22 SE – Norrtälje / Månegarm Open Air July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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New Music From Norway

Photo Credit: Morten Andersen

Satyricon Releases New Album, Satyricon & Munch You Can Stream and Download it Now at https://lnk.to/SatyriconMunch Physical Pre-Order Starts Now - Get Your Copy Here at https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/satyricon In a unique collaboration with the world famous MUNCH museum in Oslo, Norway, SATYRICON have created a musical composition in album format, entitled Satyricon & Munch, now available on all digital platforms! The album is also now available to be preordered in physical formats.

The new music, created by SATYRICON mastermind Satyr, is written in the shape of a so-called musical work, it is 56 minutes long and transcends any genre barriers. Although the music was written for the art exhibition, it clearly has the emotional depth to take on any environment outside the exhibition room. The new, astonishing 34 Rock and Blues International • July 2022

and critically acclaimed art exhibition of the same title is on display at the MUNCH museum in Oslo until August 28, 2022.

Satyr on Satyricon & Munch: “In the musical work Satyricon & Munch, you will find my musical response to the emotions that the works of Edvard Munch instilled in me when working on the art exhibition. One could therefore say that the album release is not only a consequence of the making of an exhibition, but also a reflection of my studies of Edvard Munch’s life and philosophy on the making of art – and my eagerness to push myself as an artist.

I deeply appreciate his emphasis on

feeling over technique, his will to experiment and his determination to walk his own way. Of course these are also core values to SATYRICON, which in this particular case becomes even more important.

To make this into what it is, it became clear early on that we needed to reverse the roles in the instrumentation: What has been complimentary in the past must now perhaps take more of a lead role, what is given in a regular song is perhaps not needed at all for this project.

These types of reflections. To create the layers of emotion and atmospheres that we aspired to, the instrumentation continued on next page

Satyricon continued from previous page Satyricon & Munch is now available for pre-order in the following formats: Deluxe Box 2LP Gatefold PICTURE LP – limited to 500 worldwide 2LP Gatefold MONOLITHIC GREY – limited to 300 worldwide 2LP Gatefold TRANSPARENT – limited to 300 worldwide 2LP Gatefold BLACK 1CD Mediabook needed to be rich in diversity. That is why we have a wide range of old school analog synthesizers, electric guitar, baritone guitar, bass guitar, drums, theremin, cello, viola, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, jouhikko, Hardanger fiddle, grand piano to name some. Some of these instruments are particularly receptive to the personal input of the musician and very suitable for creating the depth of layers that was necessary for this project. It has been important to us to break away from formatted approaches and focus strictly on what this project needs.

Black metal’s true nature is being limitless and while the format is unlike anything you’ve heard from SATYRICON before, the tonality and personal signature is highly recognizable to those who know their SATYRICON. We encourage everyone to refrain from trying to label the music and just accept that there is no need to. It is certainly not film music, it is not ambient and it is not something you have to make up a word for. It is SATYRICON.” Founded back in 1991, SATYRICON is a true legend in the black metal scene, which they heavily influenced from the early 1990’s until

Artwork: Halvor Bodin today. Early works, such as Dark Medieval Times and The Shadowthrone, are genre classics, while later works break free from traditional black metal.

The band never strayed away from other musical influences and implemented them in their music, which led to multiple awards, gold records and #1 albums, as well as huge headline tours and festivals all over the world. With Satyricon & Munch, the band sets new standards in contemporary music in a monumental, yet intimate experience.

MUNCH museum in Oslo is one of the most famous museums in the world, dedicated to the works of famous Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The museum holds paintings such as The Scream, Madonna and Anxiety. It reopened in October 2021 with an impressive building in the heart of Oslo, that gained even more attention worldwide.

The collaboration between one of the world’s most well-known black metal bands and the museum is unique on a worldwide scale.

More Info on the exhibition: Website @ https://www.munchmuseet.no/en/exhibitions/ satyricon—munch/ Satyricon are: Satyr - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Effects, Songwriting, Lyrics Frost - Drums / Percussion Guest: Eivind Buene More Info on Satyricon: Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/SatyriconOfficial Napalm Records @ https://label.napalmrecords.com/satyricon More Info on MUNCH Museum: Website @ https://www.munchmuseet.no/en/ Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/munchmuseet July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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Greentea Peng returns to the fray with latest single “Stuck In The Middle.”

The elegantly sparse instrumental places Greentea’s luscious vocals at center stage, boosted by a gentle ensemble of walking basslines and rolling piano melodies courtesy of music production vanguards MJ Cole and long-time collaborator Swindle.

Channeling luminous R&B lyricism atop minimalistic boom-bap beats and delicate piano tones, this newest chapter in Greentea Peng’s musical journey is another perfect showcase of her singular authenticity. Immediate and full of clarity, “Stuck In The Middle” transports listeners to a place of intimacy, every instrument is given adequate space to breathe within the arrangement, a soothing balm for the soul.

Photo credit: Luis Cross

Greentea Peng Shares New Single And Video For Her New Song, “Stuck In The Middle” Listen @ https://greenteapeng.lnk.to/ Watch @ https://greenteapeng.lnk.to/SITMV Festival Dates: *Month/Day/Year 7/2/22 - Netherlands @ Down The Rabbit 7/6/22 - Séte, France @ Worldwide 7/16/22 - Belgium @ Dour 7/29/22 - U.K. @ WOMAD 8/12/22 - U.K. @ Boardmasters 8/19/22 - U.K. @ All Points East 8//27/22 - U.K. @ Lost Village Festival 9/1/22 + 9/4/22 - U.K. @ End of The Road Connect with Greentea Peng: Website @ https://www.greenteapeng.net/#/ 36

Rock and Blues International • July 2022

“Stuck In The Middle” follows the recent single “Your Mind”, released in partnership with the YoungMinds organization, which was the first taste of fresh music since the critically acclaimed debut album opus MAN MADE last summer. A genre-melding, psychedelic 19-track journey, recorded in 432 Hz frequency to vibrate healing energy, the record appeared in end of year listings across the board from The Guardian to DJ Mag, MOJO and Dummy, drawing 2021 to a rapturous close.

From collaborations with U.K heavyweights such as Goldie, The Streets and Swindle, Greentea continues to align with like-minded, game-changing artists who exist in their own lane - she also appears on Neneh Cherry’s “The Versions,” released this month. Alongside a sold-out headline tour and a BBC Sound of 2021 feature, the London-born artist has firmly established herself as a soulful force to be reckoned with. With her beloved band the Seng Seng Family by her side, Greentea Peng will take the stage across UK and EU festivals this summer.

Listen to and watch “Stuck In The Middle” above, find tour details below and stay tuned for more from Greentea Peng coming soon.

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July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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New Music From Germany

Photo Credit: Nikolaj Georgiew

FeuerschWanz Releases Very Personal Video for “Das Herz eines Drachen” from #1 German Album Chart Topper Memento Mori Get Your Copy Here At https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/feuerschwanz Following their massive German chart entry at #1 with their new studio album Memento Mori in the beginning of 2022, FEUERSCHWANZ have released an official video for what is likely their most personal song to date – “Das Herz eines Drachen” [en: The Heart of a Dragon]. The medieval folk rockers’ ballad shows a previously unknown side of the band with its evident seriousness. In a fire lit by burning guitar sounds and flute melodies, Captain Feuerschwanz mourns his fallen father with his head held high. A song that brings hope in dark times and once again underlines the credo of the last studio album - Memento Mori!

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“Das Herz eines Drachen”

https://youtu.be/2SRIlaW_vT0

Rock and Blues International •• November July 2022 2020

Hauptmann Feuerschwanz on “Das Herz eines Drachen”: “Das Herz eines Drachen” is a very personal song for me. To find words and sounds for feelings for which there are no words is almost impossible, but with the help of my friends from Feuerschwanz I mastered this challenge.

What if the world feels so threatening that the nervous system goes into a freeze? Perhaps that’s why it’s no coincidence that my second profession, as a psychologist, deals with the effects of trauma on our nervous systems. “Das Herz eines Drachen” is a song that is supposed to bring healing and reconciliation for everything that continued on next page

Track-list for Memento Mori Untot im Drachenboot Ultima Nocte Rausch der Barbarei Krampus Feuer & Schwert Das Herz eines Drachen Rohirrim Am Galgen Hannibal Skaldenmet

FeuerschWanz continued from previous page hurt us when we were young. I have found a new share of authentic strength and connection with my family and to the whole world again through my Dragonheart.”

After the great chart entry at #1 the new FEUERSCHWANZ album Memento Mori remained in the Top 120 of the official German album charts for a total of 11 weeks.

On Memento Mori, FEUERSCHWANZ finally make the step away from the simpler humor of earlier days, to one of the most important bands in German Folk-Rock!

With chanting violin playing, Memento Mori starts its heroic journey with its eponymous opener. The song turns out to be a melodic rock anthem with a well-known medieval character, a blazing guitar riff and life-affirming lyrics. On “Untot im Drachenboot”, the squad around Hauptmann Feuerschwanz sets off for new musical shores in a Viking ship full of undead warriors.

“Rausch der Barberei”, on the other hand delivers a violent, raw voice and driving drumming that send its listeners into unbridled frenzy. On “Krampus”, FEUERSCHWANZ sing in a canon of vocals and instruments about the ancient legend of the demonic companion of St. Nicholas, who is dressed in fur and a horned mask.

“Hannibal” on the other hand embarks on a raging battle of powerful choirs, swirling violin and guitar solos and driving drums, led by army commander Hannibal. The crowning finale of the almost 40-minute adventure is provided by “Skaldenmet” with its proudly advancing bass.

In trademark FEUERSCHWANZ style, Memento Mori is about great adventures, historic battles and outstanding heroic deeds.

FEUERSCHWANZ manage to stay true to their trademarks and at the same time venture into new musical realms. Fans of the band can look forward to an extensive deluxe edition of the album, which extends the running time of Memento Mori by almost double! Two additional CDs feature instru-

mental versions of all eleven tracks as well as the cover CD Die Glorreichen Sieben (The Magnificent Seven), which includes seven epic reissues from Amon Amarth to Die Ärzte and The Weeknd.

FEUERSCHWANZ on the new album: “You take nothing with you to your grave, except your coffin... Memento Mori is the direct successor to Die Letzte Schlacht!

The world of Hauptmann Feuerschwanz is in flames, overrun by the living dead and scourged by religious zealots... All of this sounds frighteningly real, even in Anno Domini 2021, so it’s time to defy the storm once again and celebrate life. Let’s live here, let’s live now - until death sharpens his knife!”

FEUERSCHWANZ are: Johanna – violin, hurdy-gurdyr Hauptmann – vocals, guitar Hodi – flutes, bagpipes, guitars, vocals Hans – guitar Jarne – bass Rollo – drums Musch Musch – dance & performance Myu – dance & performance

Feuerschwanz On Tour 03.06.22 DE – Dietenhofen / Bibertal Festival 10.06.22 DE – Kranichfeld / Sternenklang Festival 11.06.22 DE – Gelsenkirchen / Folkfield Fesrtival 24.06.22 DE – Dischingen / Rock am Härtsfeldsee 09.07.22 DE – Tuttlingen / Honbergsommer 23.07.22 DE – Bückeburg / MPS 04.08.22 ES – Villena / Leyendas Del Rock 05.08.22 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air 06.08.22 DE – Cologne / Südbrücke – Only Metfest in 2022 w/ Equilibrium, Wind Rose, Grailknights 07.08.22 DE – Hildesheim / M’era Luna Festival 12.08.22 AT – Graz / Metal On The Hill 13.08.22 DE – Höchstadt a. d. Aisch / Schlosshof Festival 17.08.22 DE – Dinkelsbühl / Summer Breeze 18.08.22 DE – Lindau / Club Vaudeville 19.08.22 CH – Vallamand / Rock The Lakes 20.08.22 CZ – Moravsk_ Krumlov / Rock Castle 26.08.22 DE – Dresden / Schleife 1 Open Air 27.08.22 DE – Schleswig / Baltic Open Air 03.09.22 DE – Luhmühlen / MPS 14.10.22 ES – Mallorca / Full Metal Holiday

More Info: FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/feuerschwanz/ TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/metundmiezen HOMEPAGE @ https://feuerschwanz.de/ NAPALM RECORDS @ https://label.napalmrecords.com/feuerschwanz July 2022

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post HERE

New Metal From U,K,

To announce the album and this next chapter, Bay shared a powerful letter on social media where he talked about his mental journey towards the making of this next body of work. Read the letter below and on social media– HERE.

Photo: PC Julia Broad

Brit Award-Winning and Grammy Award-Nominated James Bay Announce New Album Leap Out July 8th Leap Features Collaborations With Grammy Winning Producers and Songwriters Including Dave Cobb, Ian Fitchuk, Joel Little, Foy Vance, Finneas, And More!

Shares Brand New Single “One Life” Today Pre-order and pre-save Leap here at https://jamesbay.lnk.to/Leap Listen to “One Life”—HERE and check out the lyric video here at https://youtu.be/nvAYQpUoW3g Three-time GRAMMY® Awardnominated and BRIT Award-winning multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist James Bay will release his highly anticipated third full-length album, Leap, on July 8th via Mercury/ Republic Records.

For Leap, Bay worked with some of the most sought after producers and songwriters in a mixture of in person and remote sessions in Nashville & London including Foy Vance [Ed Sheeran], Dave Cobb [Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton], Ian Fitchuk [Kacey Musgraves, Brett Eldredge], Joel Little [Lorde, Taylor Swift] & Finneas [Billie Eilish, The Knocks].

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Check out the full tracklist below!

To herald the arrival of the record, he just shared a brand-new single entitled “One Life.” Bay previewed the single this week with a heartfelt note on socials talking about the inspiration behind the song - his relationship with his longtime girlfriend Lucy. On the song Bay said: “This is a song I wrote about me and Lucy.

We first got together at 16 and have been together ever since. She’s supported me since day 1. From open mic nights, right through to my biggest shows. It’s been one adventure after another, but now we’re on the biggest one of all. Raising our beautiful daughter Ada.” Check out the

Rock and Blues International • July 2022

It arrives on the heels of “Give Me The Reason”. The latter has already gathered nearly 8 million global streams and right out of the gate, Rolling Stone detailed how the single captures “that feeling of being on the verge of letting go of someone, while looking for any excuse to give it another try.” NME dubbed it “bittersweet,” and mxdwn noted, “the song opens up with his iconic voice that ignites the listener.” “Give Me The Reason” was recorded at both Blackbird studios in Nashville and in London with producer Gabe Simon [Lana Del Rey, Maroon 5, Calum Scott] and co-written with Foy Vance and features Ian Fitchuk on drums.

Watch the incredible music video here at https://youtu.be/m1SUJQ05OrQ. This summer James will be joining The Lumineers on their 2022 Brightside World Tour where he will be joining them on nine dates including Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on September 1st and Chicago’s Wrigley Field on September 3rd.

See full dates below.

FROM JAMES BAY In 2019 I was really struggling. I started writing songs to try and help me deal with fear, anxiety and problems with self-confidence. Feelings that run deep, that I’ve never wanted to share. Somehow, it all turned into some of the most hopeful and uplifting music I have ever made.

I didn’t realize I was only halfway through making my third album when I came across John Burroughs’ quote “leap and the net will appear”. It was in a book about creative rediscovery and those words really sparked something in me. I was reading it because I was lost, feeling worthless. By 2020 I’d written a new batch of sad songs. I recorded them and thought the record was done. Then suddenly the world shut down and I couldn’t tour my new music. All I could do was stay home and write more. That’s when the album really started to take shape. It turns out there is light to be found even in the darkest moments.

I spend a lot of time (too much time) tangled up in negative thoughts. It’s so easy to spiral. But during all that extra time writing, I decided to embrace my sadness rather than fight it and I began to recognize what lifts me up when things get tough. Suddenly I was pushing the boundaries of my writing in ways I never continued on next page

Leap Tracklist “Give Me The Reason” “Nowhere Left To Go” “Save Your Love” “Everyone Needs Someone” “One Life” “Silent Love” “Love Don’t Hate Me” “Brilliant Still” “Right Now” “We Used To Shine” “Endless Summer Nights” “Better”

James Bay continued from previous page had before. I looked around at the people in my life that love and care about me the most and for the first time ever, I found a way to write from that emotion. I’ve always been afraid to go to those places, be that vulnerable; to say I love you, I need you and thank you in my writing.

It was so freeing to celebrate those people in my life that I love the most, that hold me up when I really need it. They’re the ones who give me the courage to go for it, to dare. When I can’t see the net, they give me the courage to leap.

James Bay For as much as James Bay upholds traditions of timeless songcraft, the UK singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer also confidently challenges himself and popular music. He spikes a tried-and-true style with clever lyricism, honest confessions, and instrumental proficiency. On the heels of his platinum- certified 2015 debut Chaos And The Calm, he garnered GRAMMY® nods in the categories of “Best New Artist,” “Best Rock Album,” and “Best Rock Song” for the gold-selling single “Hold Back The River.” Meanwhile, “Let It Go” went triple-platinum. Nominated for dozens of awards, he took home two BRIT Awards, two Q Awards, and top honors at the Ivor Novello Awards and ECHO Awards. Tallying nearly 7.5 billion streams by 2022, he has performed on Saturday Night Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. He has notably dueted with numerous musical icons including Alicia Keys on The Voice, asked to join Mick Jagger while supporting The Rolling Stones at Twickenham Stadium in London, and joined Sheryl Crow on stage after performing his own set at Eric Clapton’s 2019 Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, TX. In addition to selling out shows on four continents, Epiphone honored him with his own Limited-Edition

James Bay Signature “1966” guitar.

Following the success of 2018’s Electric Light, he deconstructed his sound to its bare essentials on the Oh My Messy Mind EP a year later hitting nearly 550 million global streams. It yielded the hit “Peer Pressure” [feat. Julia Michaels], generating nearly 350 million global streams, received critical acclaim from Time, Rolling Stone, and Billboard and the next year James opening up for Ed Sheeran on his 2019 record-breaking stadium run. In 2020, James released his new single “Chew On My Heart” which has already hit nearly 90 million streams , delivered a historic performance on the top of the London Eye for The Late Late Show with James Corden, performed on The Today Show, Mahogany Sessions and a full concert on YouTube in support of #SaveOurVenues.

He also created his own virtual event to share his music to fans during the pandemic, James Bay – Live At Shakespeare’s Globe which was a full concert event livestreamed at the historic venue. Last year, he guested on Maisie Peter’s song “Funeral,” which was featured on Apple TV+ original series “Trying: Season2” soundtrack.

To set the tone for the new year and his next chapter of music James recently finished a sold out “New Songs & New Stories” solo tour across the UK in support of Independent Venue Week. On the tour he returned to numerous independent music venues where he first got his start as an artist- performing with just a microphone & a guitar – and previewed new music set to come in 2022….

James Bay 2022 Tour Dates: August 17th Tulsa, OK Bok Center August 19th Dallas, TX American Airlines Center August 20th Austin, TX Moody Center August 26th Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena August 27th Charlotte, NC Spectum Center August 31st Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center September 1st Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena September 3rd Chicago, IL Wrigley Field September 6th Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena July 2022 • Rock and Blues International 45

New Music From Norway The students did a great job and the video turned out very funny and looks professional, so we wanted to share it with you all. None of the dolls were harmed in the making of this video (as far as we know).”

Photo Credit: Studio Haara

Norwegian Heavy Rockers Audrey Horne Release Student-Produced Music Video for “Break Out” GOVI by Jorden Lee

Watch the new clip here at https://youtu.be/T0RbMNj1ZN8 Purchase the Album here at https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/audreyhorne Four years after their much-acclaimed Blackout record, on April 22, 2022 Bergenbased heavy rock act AUDREY HORNE released their chart-topping, seventh studio album, entitled Devil’s Bell, via Napalm Records.

To celebrate their brand new record in style, the band has just premiered a new music video for the track “Break Out”, but chose a unique, creative way to bring it to life. As guitarist Arve Isdal works at a school teaching music production, the band invited a group of the school’s talented film students to create the track’s amazing music video – supporting arts education and the future of rock! The clip perfectly matches the song – a true hard rocking anthem.

Arve says about the new video and its making-of: “The film students at a school I work for, Noroff Fagskole, had an assignment to make music videos. I thought it would be a

good idea for them to try to make a video for Audrey Horne.

Unfortunately we didn‘t have time to actually be present in the video, so we had to send the infamous doll versions of ourselves to star in it.

Devil’s Bell tracklisting: 01. Ashes To Ashes 02. Animal 03. Break Out 04. Return To Grave Valley 05. Danse Macabre 06. Devil’s Bell 07. All Is Lost 08. Toxic Twins 09. From Darkness

AUDREY HORNE online: FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/AudreyHorneOfficial NAPALM RECORDS @ https://label.napalmrecords.com/audreyhorne 46

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The band’s new album, Devil’s Bell – which entered the official album charts with positions such as #16 in Switzerland, #19 in Germany, #61 in France and #89 on the Hard Music Charts in Canada – shines with nine fist-pumping songs that will shake concert venues worldwide. As with every AUDREY HORNE album, there are no duds or misfires as the songs flow together seamlessly, making Devil’s Bell a delight to play from the first note straight to the end. Frontman Toschie once again proves that he has one of the most charismatic and energetic voices in rock, and the kinetic guitar-work of Ice Dale (Enslaved) and Thomas Tofthagen (ex-Sahg) underlines an outstanding genre-warp of 70s and 80s rock via NWOBHM, keeping the music rocking and the listener locked in. The band is tight, the music is festive, and the songs stick upon first listen – that’s how a modern hard rock album should sound!

AUDREY HORNE is: Torkjell “Toschie” Rød – Vocals Arve Isdal – Guitar Thomas Tofthagen – Guitar Espen Lien – Bass Kjetil Greve – Drums Devil’s Bell was recorded and produced by the band, with mixing by Herbrand Larsen.

Highly praised by the music press, with several top album soundcheck and chart positions, AUDREY HORNE’s new album is out now on Napalm Records and available as the following formats: - 6page Digisleeve - 1 LP Gatefold Black Vinyl - 1 LP Gatefold Curacao Vinyl + Slipmat - Digital

May 2022 • Rock and Blues International 47

Glass Animals Win Top Rock Artist & “Pepsi Mic Drop Moment” For “Longest Run To #1 On Billboard Hot 100” At 2022 Billboard Music Awards Glass Animals took home their first wins at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, including Top Rock Artist and the brand-new “Pepsi?

Mic Drop Moment” for the “Longest Run To #1 On Billboard Hot 100” for “Heat Waves”’ record-breaking run to #1 after 59 weeks on the Hot 100 Chart—watch the band’s acceptance speech for Top Rock Artist here at https:// twitter.com/BBMAs/status/ 1526005025071190016.

The two wins top off the GRAMMY-nominated band’s historic year as the biggest band in the world, with “Heat Waves” peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for 5 weeks in a row, #1 on the Billboard Global 200 Chart for 6 weeks in a row, and #1 on the Billboard Radio Songs Chart and Billboard Global Excl. US Chart for 5 weeks. Not to mention, “Heat Waves” was the longest-leading #1 song on Billboard Hot 100 by a British Group in over 25 years, breaking Spice Girls’ “Wannabe”

record in 1997, and the longest-leading #1 song on Billboard Global 200. The song has also tied for the 6th-longest #1 run by British Groups in Hot 100’s history, alongside The Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love” & “Get Back” and Wings’ “Silly Love Songs.” Recently, frontman Dave Bayley hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Songwriters Chart—a career first.

Not to mention, Bayley recently teamed up with Florence + The Machine to co-write and coproduce several songs on her new album, Dance Fever, including her lead single “My Love” and tracks “Dream Girl Evil,” “Prayer Factory,” “Heaven Is Here,” “Daffodil,” “Restraint,” and “Morning Elvis.” In addition, Glass Animals released a remix of their latest single “I Don’t Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)” with The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr.— listen here at https://glassanimals.lnk.to/ IDWTIJWDRemixPR.

FOLLOW GLASS ANIMALS: FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/glassanimals SPOTIFY @ https://open.spotify.com/artist/4yvcSjfu4PC0CYQyLy4wSq TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/glassanimals WEBSITE @ https://opensource.glassanimals.com/ 48

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Dragged Under and Mascot Records / Mascot Label Group Release New Studio Album UPRIGHT ANIMALS PREMIERE TOUR VIDEO FOR “NEVER ENOUGH” HERE AT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-btk-bsBUM

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Dragged Under and Mascot Records / Mascot Label Group have released the band’s new studio album UPRIGHT ANIMALS. Over the course of the past couple of years, the band has emerged with a formidable fan base yielding millions of streams. On a visual level, they are amongst the most creative visionaries when it comes to the medium of music videos, with each clip being more compelling than the last. Today, the band and label premiere a new tour video for “Never Enough” here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=n-btk-bsBUM. Prior to the new album’s street date, Dragged Under band presented “Crooked Halos” (https://youtu.be/ Ch11ukbOOy8) and “All Of Us” (https://youtu.be/uIBGie-JCbQ). But nothing is more poignant when it comes to Dragged Under than the unwavering commitment to articulate the personal perspective of front man Tony Cappocchi when it comes to humanity and The World as we know it circa 2022.

At the time of “All of Us” being revealed, he shared, “For me, ‘All of Us’ is meant to connect with anyone who listens to it. I want everyone to feel that despite their situation; be it relationship issues, social pressures, self perception, we’ve all had a weird few years, and a lot hasn’t gone as we planned. It’s important to zoom out from the microscope through which we view our problems, and realize that life and all of its frustrations are happening to all of us. We wanted to make a lighthearted video to contrast the tension of the song, but we liked the idea of using dolls to tell that story.

It’s a bit of a commentary on the nature of feeling a bit out of control of the situations we’ve found ourselves in the last couple of years, and how we sometimes have to just pretend it’s all good. Dolls have an ability that I envy, they can smile through their problems and hide their emotions. I can’t relate.”

When you strip everything else

View “Crooked Halos” Music Video Here at https://youtu.be/Ch11ukbOOy8 View “All Of Us” Music Video Here at https://youtu.be/uIBGie-JCbQ Order Here at https://lnk.to/DraggedUnder away, we rely on our animal instincts to survive. In the face of danger, we either flee or fight without hesitation.

No matter how many perceived differences exist between us, we breathe the same air, drink the same water, and eat the same way to subsist. Dragged Under naturally harness this primal power in their hard-hitting hybrid of punk, rock, metal, and hardcore. Choosing to progress, the Seattle quintet—Tony Cappocchi [vocals], Ryan Bruce [guitar], Sean Rosario [guitar], Hans Hessburg [bass], and Kalen Anderson [drums]—sharpen their claws, teeth, and style on their second full-length album, Upright Animals [Mascot Records / Mascot Label Group].

“There’s obviously a media divide, there’s a class divide, and there’s a racial divide in this country,” observes Tony. “In many ways, we use our animal instincts to think when it’s convenient for us instead of our evolutionary abilities. Trying to keep up with all of the information these days is like drinking from a firehose. So, our animal tendencies still shine through. A lot of enlightenment still needs to happen before we can consider ourselves anything other than animals walking around on their hindlegs. That’s what the album is about.”

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and Alternative Press named it one of the “20 Debut Albums That Took Metalcore to the Next Level in 2020.” Along the way, they toured alongside everyone from The Used to Beartooth. During 2021, they recorded what would become Upright Animals with frequent collaborator Hiram Hernandez [Jared Dines, Craig Owens] in Los Angeles and Matt Good [Hollywood Undead, Asking Alexandria] in Phoenix.

Dragged Under continued from previous page In 2021, Dragged Under collaborated with Underoath’s Spencer Chamberlain presenting “Brainwash Broadcast,” which can be seen here: https://youtu.be/ ve1Zr688E_Q. At the time of release, the band shared, “’Brainwash Broadcast’ isn’t a hyper nuanced allegory, it’s a journal entry on the media sensationalism that we endure every day. You can hear the same story from 2 different outlets with competing ideologies, and think two completely different things. It can be hard to decipher satire from real life news some days because of how inundated we are with subjective opinion pieces and click bait headlines. We have a problem with division and fear, and our media and ‘journalists’ are at the center of it.”

Still as relevant in 2022 as it ever has been.

As a bridge release, the band presented WE’LL DO IT LIVE via Mascot Records / Mascot Label Group. Timed to that title, Dragged Under presented “Hypochondria,” which can be heard and screened here: https://youtu.be/ B3Ap8cw3XFE. Additionally, the band and label released a deluxe version of the band’s debut album titled The World Is In Your Way, with two bonus tracks added titled “Just Like Me” and “Feel It.’” At the time of that album’s independent release, the band charged out of the gate in 2020. Streams were in the tens of millions and they earned widespread critical acclaim. Beyond plugs from Loudwire, New Noise Magazine, and more, KERRANG! hailed it as “nine tracks of the edgiest, most in-yourface punk in recent memory – loaded with underdog appetite and energy,”

“There was an element of thematic development,” Tony reflects. “The last record was a bunch of different phases of my life. I had 21 years to write it. I only had a yearand-a-half to write this one. It’s about a time, a place, events, and what I was a feeling in this window.”

In the end, Dragged Under evolve by eliciting emotion from the purest place possible. The complete track listing of Upright Animals features, “Upright Animals,” “All Of Us,” “Never Enough,” “Crooked Halos,” “Long Live The King,” “Suffer,” “See You Alive,” “Weather,” “No Place Like Home,” “Words For Hire,” “Brainwash Broadcast feat. Spencer Chamberlain,” and “This Is The End.” “When you listen to this, I hope you experience moments of tension, anxiety, sadness, and happiness,” he leaves off. “At the same time, it’s nostalgic for us. We want it to remind you of being young and discovering the bands that changed your life. If you think, ‘This reminds me of what I grew up on,’ I’d be very satisfied.

We spent a lot of time and energy on this. I’m excited about the future.”

Follow Dragged Under At: Label @ http://www.mascotlabelgroup.com Website @ http://www.draggedunder.com/ Facebook @ www.facebook.com/DraggedUnder/ Twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/draggedunderwa Instigram @ http://www.instagram.com/draggedunder/ 52 52 Rock Rockand andBlues BluesInternational International ••• November July April 2022 20222020

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Dawes And Bahamas Unite For Very Special Co-Headline Tour Live Run To Feature Two Unique Sets, With Dawes Backing Bahamas And Bahamas Joining Dawes For Collaborative Performances “An Evening With Dawes And Bahamas” Gets Underway September 7 In Knoxville, TN Dawes’ Eagerly Awaited New Album, Misadventures Of Doomscroller, Arrives Via Rounder Records On Friday, July 22 54 Rock and Blues International • July 2022

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Dawes And Bahamas continued from previous page Acclaimed Los Angeles-based rockers Dawes and GRAMMY® Award-nominated Canadian artist Bahamas have announced plans for a very special co-headline tour. “An Evening with Dawes and Bahamas” will see them performing together for two unique live sets, with Dawes backing Bahamas and Bahamas joining Dawes for a collaborative performance. The tour begins September 7 at Knoxville, TN’s Bijou Theatre and then travels the US through the month.

“An Evening with Dawes and Bahamas” marks a pinnacle of Dawes’ busy international live schedule, including headline shows, festival performances, and a summer tour supporting The Head and The Heart. Additional highlights include a very special Independence Day event with Phil Lesh & Friends, set for Monday, July 4 at Asbury Park, NJ’s Stone Pony Summer Stage. For complete details and ticket availability, please visit dawestheband.com/tour.

The non-stop tour schedule celebrates the arrival of Dawes’ upcoming eighth studio album, MISADVENTURES OF DOOMSCROLLER, due everywhere via Rounder Records on Friday, July 22. Pre-orders are available now. A number of exclusive bundles – including Limited Edition Preferred Pink Vinyl w/Optional Exclusive 11x11 Signed Band Photo, Turntable Slipmat, Black Hoodie, White Pocket T, and Socks – are available now at the official Dawes webstore HERE AT https://dawestheband.com/.

Produced by longtime collaborator Jonathan Wilson (Billy Strings, Father John Misty, Angel Olsen), MISADVENTURES OF DOOMSCROLLER represents an adventurous new turn for Dawes, evincing a more ambitious, exploratory approach towards recording than ever before. The album includes such recently released singles as “It Comes In Waves” and the epic opening track, “Someone Else’s Café / Doomscroller Tries to Relax,” both available now at all DSPs and streaming services. Official performance videos – directed by Caitlin Gerard at Hollywood, CA’s historic EastWest Studios – are streaming now via YouTube.

LISTEN TO “IT COMES IN WAVES” @ https://found.ee/dawes_comesinwaves_ WATCH OFFICIAL PERFORMANCE VIDEO @ https://youtu.be/UuRewg1OO5M LISTEN TO “SOMEONE ELSE’S CAFÉ / DOOMSCROLLER TRIES TO RELAX” @ https://found.ee/Dawes_someoneelsescafe WATCH OFFICIAL PERFORMANCE VIDEO @ https://youtu.be/WmImVp-PNww PRE-ORDER MISADVENTURES OF DOOMSCROLLER @ https://found.ee/Dawes_Misadventures MISADVENTURES OF DOOMSCROLLER marks Dawes’ first new LP following 2020’s Rounder Records debut, GOOD LUCK WITH WHATEVER. Produced by 7x GRAMMY® Award-winner Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) at Nashville’s famed RCA Studio A, the album earned critical applause around the world, with Esquire declaring it “their liveliest, most visceral set yet.” Dawes celebrated with a range of high profile TV appearances, including ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert #playathome series as well as CBS This Morning: Saturday Sessions.

Dawes is: T.Z. Goldsmith (guitar, primary vocal), W.Q. Gelber (handmade bass), G.W. Goldsmith (drums, percussion, background vocals), and L.M. Pardini (piano, organ, synthesizers, clavinet, Wurlitzer, guitar, background vocals).

ABOUT BAHAMAS: Hailed for his undaunted self-awareness, wry wit, and unabashed heart, Bahamas’ most recent release, 2021’s LIVE TO TAPE, sees the award-winning singer-songwriter otherwise known as Afie Jurvanen performing in studio from Halifax, Nova Scotia with an array of acclaimed artists performing remotely from Nashville, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Perth, Toronto, and other locations. Among those collaborating with Bahamas are members of Dawes, The 400 Unit,

The Secret Sisters, Lucius, Greensky Bluegrass, and such revered session musicians as Nathan East (Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder), Steve Ferrone (Average White Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Gus Seyffert (Beck, Adele), Joey Waronker (REM, Atoms for Peace), Bob Glaub (Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan), Russ Kunkel (Joni Mitchell, John Lennon), and more. Created during the height of the pandemic, LIVE TO TAPE followed Bahamas’ fifth studio album, SAD HUNK, which received 2021’s Juno Award for “Adult Alternative Album of the Year” along with wide-ranging critical plaudits around the world.

“An Evening with Dawes and Bahamas” continues Bahamas’ own full North American tour schedule, featuring sold out headline shows, festival performances, and dates alongside Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. For complete details, please visit bahamasmusic.net.

CONNECT WITH DAWES: WEBSITE @ https://dawestheband.com/ FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/Dawestheband TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/Dawestheband YOUTUBE @

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz7eHJIOAAgIUxlE8iODk7w CONNECT WITH BAHAMAS: WEBSITE @ https://bahamasmusic.net/ FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/bahamasmusic TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/bahamasmusic YOUTUBE @

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC46wWcXgitbnRG73SDGkw3w DAWES TOUR 2022 JULY 4 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage † 29 – Yuzawa, JP – Fuji Rock Festival * AUGUST 1 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater ^ 2 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater ^ (SOLD OUT) 4 – Houston, TX – Lawn at White Oak ^ 5 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory ^ 6 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion ^ 7 – Arvada, CO – Arvada Center for the Arts 8 – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre ^ 9 – Boise, ID – Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden ^ 11 – Missoula, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater ^ 12 – Seattle, WA – Marymoor Park ^ (SOLD OUT) 13 – Seattle, WA – Marymoor Park ^ 16 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater ^ 18 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl ^ 19 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre ^ 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre ^ 22 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys Concerts By The Bay ^ (SOLD OUT) 23 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys Concerts By The Bay ^ 27 – Tisbury, MA – Beach Road Weekend * 28 – Bridgeview, IL – Sacred Rose * SEPTEMBER 3-4 – Indianapolis, IN – All In Music & Arts Festival * 7 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre # 8 – Richmond, VA – Brown’s Island # 9 – Winston-Salem, NC – Gears and Guitars # 10 – Charleston, SC – The Windjammer # 11 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater # 13 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage # 14 – Patchogue, NY – Patchogue Theatre # 16 – Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre 17 – Hammondsport, NY – Point of the Bluff Vineyards # 18 – Columbus, OH – Athenaeum Theatre # 19 – Iowa City, IA – Englert Theatre # 21 – Bloomington, IL – Castle Theatre # 22 – Lexington, KY – The Burl Outdoors # 23 – Memphis, TN – Levitt Shell # 24 – Franklin, TN – Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival * 25- Baton Rouge, LA – Manship Theatre * Festival Performance † w/Phil Lesh & Friends ^ Supporting The Head and The Heart # “An Evening with Dawes and Bahamas” July 2022 • Rock and Blues International 55

Provocateurs of Internet Culture badxyou Create Exultant 80’s Inspired 2022 Love Anthem, “Discord Nitro”, The Follow up to debut single “OMG” Forthcoming Debut LP, ‘Skrillo and Diplex present BAD Ü’ Out later this Summer Making History with the “first music video made on Discord” Available today on all streaming platforms Listen/Stream Here @ https://fanlink.to/discordnitro Watch Music Video Here @ https://youtu.be/j9kSdAkKhTM 50 Rock Rockand andBlues BluesInternational International •• July October 56 20222021

badxyou continued from previous page Badxyou are reconstructing pop as we know it.

They are provocateurs of the internet who bring together a genius at sonic sculpture (courtesy of Connor Gallihugh), realistic yet far fetched ideas (Andy Gruhin), and an added heavy dose of bubbly guitars and extraordinary video production (Ethan Heckard). Self-described as “unexpectedly intelligent”, and always having bigger commentary in their music than what is seen or heard on the surface, badxyou’s ingenuity allows them to engineer songs unconventionally as they rehash ideas and sounds from decades of pop culture. They magically blend these notions into fresh soundscapes, creating a sonic collage of shapeshifting electronic 8bit video game bleeps, sugary synths, kaleidoscopic D&B patterns, dynamic guitar riffs, and anything else that comes in their way.

Now, fresh off their quest to save famous Twitch streamer Amouranth from parasocial simps, this trio are channeling their love of classic 80’s rock ballads into an exultant 2022 love anthem, “Discord Nitro,” out today on all streaming platforms.

On “Discord Nitro”, they embrace the spirit of Rick Springfield ala “Jessie’s Girl” and drape it in fluorescent digitized pitch shifting textures, resulting in a playful track that is entrenched in 80s nostalgia, yet repurposed into a badxyou 2022 aural candyland. The trio carefully construct “Discord Nitro” into a danceable pop hit with a chorus that is bound to seethe into your head! “accidentally made her a mod on my discord texts at 2am when we’re hella bored i don’t like playing solo i need someone else u listen to me when i feel ignored i’m addicted to the mod on my discord” (badxyou) While no names are given to protect the innocent, we will let you in on the fact that “Discord Nitro” is based on a true story. badxyou sound designer Connor actually met a girl on Discord and made her a mod, so they wrote a song about it. badxyou also make history today by creating the first music

humanity. “These bandits are really good at Picasso-ing the shit out of internet pop culture.”

video ever made on Discord for this single.

“We wanted to write a true love story in the context of Discord. There are some parody type videos with discord text, but no music videos – so we’re actually making history by creating the first music video ever made on Discord, which is why Ethan is a video genius too.”

Glitchy visual effects, various Discord visuals, the signature badxyou logo and animated song lyrics weave throughout this mesmerizing IRL internet experience. It’s brilliant through and through, the perfect follow up to their chaotically brilliant debut single, “OMG” ( https://linktr.ee/badxyou ), that earned praise from CULTR as being a “banger” and “inspiring”.

Whatever the “traditional” way of doing things is - badxyou does the opposite.

Their music makes fun of themselves, culture, internet personalities, and at the core,

badxyou are “a bicoastal threesome combining pop music and internet culture into a giant sonic punch in the face.”

Consisting of lead vocalist/songwriter Andy Gruhin, guitarist and video editor Ethan Heckard, and sound design and mixer Connor Gallihugh (aka Grem), badxyou are simply worth knowing. By embodying, embracing, and putting their own blissfully chaotic spin on internet and pop culture, the trio is always relevant and cutting-edge with the current times. badxyou’s 2022 singles “OMG” and “Discord Nitro” embody this ingenuity, showcasing glitchy video game samples, heavy auto tune, and insatiable guitar licks, pushing the envelope of pop music as badxyou always aims to do.

Rock And Blues International

Follow badxyou: Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/xxbadxyouxx/ Twitter @ https://twitter.com/badxyou YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmSrbFSl0-xWVISAcFc7nbw July 2022

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ADVERTISE HERE Advertise in a revolutionary new magazine that will be taking the music world by storm! call us now at 281-650-1953

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Photo credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC

All Hail To Marcus King And His Electrifying Performance Of “Hard Working Man” On The Tonight Show Dan Auerbach Produced New Album, Young Blood, To Be Released On August 26 Via American Records/Republic Marcus King Is On A Massive Headline Tour Now! Watch The Tonight Performance At https://youtu.be/rajlqgxK6jg Pre-OrderYoung Blood Here At https://mk.lnk.to/youngblood All hail to Marcus King who ignited the stage of the Tonight Show last night with an electrifying performance of recent single “Hard Working Man.” King made his first tv performance of a song from his forthcoming solo album, the highly anticipated, Young Blood, released August 26 on American Records / Republic.

a timeless concoction of swaggering rock and supersonic soul, drawing on his most stadium sized rock influences.

King recently announced a massive headline US tour, with dates HERE through September and October 2022 supporting the release of his forthcoming solo album, Young Blood.

He will be taking his stadium sized sound to esteemed venues across the U.S, including two nights at venues such as New York’s Beacon Theatre and Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Neal

The 26-year-old Grammy nominated innovative songwriter and phenomenal performer on the rise to rock royalty with the release of Young Blood, 62 Rock and Blues International • July 2022

Francis and Ashland Craft support select dates, and the tour is hosted by comedian Dean Del Ray. Tickets on sale now HERE and a complete list of dates, including summer Europe festivals and shows with Greta Van Fleet, follows below.

Young Blood is an album about looking at tough times in your rear view mirror, his tales of excess, salvation, break up and addiction, draw on some difficult and personal moments. Despite continued on next page

challenging personal circumstances, King has made his most accomplished work to date. One of his biggest fans, Dan Auerbach, exclaimed. “Music runs so deep in Marcus’s blood he might not even realize how born to do this he is. He’s the real deal.”

King has been an outlier from the very beginning. A fourth generation musician from Greenville, SC, who learned guitar at age 3 from his blues rock musician father Marvin King. He navigated troublesome school years to quickly become known as one of the most promising young artists of our time. He followed his breakout success with The Marcus King Band, with his Auerbach produced 2020 solo album debut, El Dorado. It garnered a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Americana Album” and critical praise from The New York Times to NPR’s Weekend Edition With unparalleled performance prowess and a dynamic live show, King has sold out historic venues from The Beacon to The Filmore. He has opened for Chris Stapleton, Greta Van Fleet, and Nathaniel Rateliff and graced the bills of Stagecoach, Fuji Rock, Rock Werchter and more. He also recently launched his own custom Gibson guitar and signature Orange guitar amplifier, the MK Ultra, which sold out before it even hit the stores.

GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist, performer, and songwriter Marcus King was downright destined to play music.

By eight-years-old, the fourth generation Greenville, SC native performed alongside pops, grandpa, and his uncles for the first time. Logging thousands of miles on the road as “The Marcus King Band,” he established himself with unparalleled performance prowess and a dynamic live show. During 2020, he linked up with Dan Auerbach [The Black Keys] and cut his solo debut El Dorado, garnering a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Americana Album.”

Beyond praise from NPR, American Songwriter, and more, Rolling Stone christened it “excellent,” and Associated Press went as far as to claim, “El Dorado already stands out as a definite high point of 2020.” In between packing venues on his own, he performed alongside Chris Stapleton, Greta Van Fleet, and Nathanial Rateliff in addition to gracing the bills of Stagecoach and more with one seismic show after the next.

Along the way, he caught the attention of Rick Rubin and signed to American Recordings.

Plugged into his old man’s dusty amp with a ’59 Les Paul in hand, Marcus set out to make a rock ‘n’ roll record in 2022.

He didn’t disguise his ambitions at all. He didn’t hold back. He didn’t think about anything but writing from the gut, shooting from the hip, and playing straight from the heart. Joined by Auerbach, he made the kind of rock ‘n’ roll record that makes arenas and asses shake, and it’s called Young Blood [American Recordings/Republic Records].

King will continue to tear up the rulebook with the release Young Blood, redefining the route to modern rock stardom with a timeless sound and a singular voice, equal parts grease and grit, set to soon establish him as one of the most soulful vocalists of his generation.

It’s Too Late Lie Lie Lie Rescue Me Pain Good and Gone Blood On The Tracks Hard Working Man Aim High Dark Cloud Whisper Blues Worse Than I Ever Had

TOUR DATES Tickets available at marcuskingofficial.com/tour JUL 2 SAT - Rock Werchter - Werchter, Belgium JUL 3 SUN - Rockhal - Esch-sur-alzette, Luxembourg JUL 5 TUE - Oosterpoort - Groningen, Netherlands JUL 6 WED - Cognac Blues Passions 2022 - Cognac, France JUL 7 THU - Doornroosje - Nijmegen, Netherlands JUL 8 FRI - North Sea Jazz Festival 2022 - Rotterdam, Netherlands JUL 16 SAT - Wild Hare Music Festival 2022 - Canby, OR, United States JUL 27 WED - FloydFest 22- Heartbeat 2022 - Floyd, VA, United States *with Greta Van Fleet Sept 9 – The Met – Philadelphia, PA Sept 10 – The Theater at MGM National Harbor – Washington DC Sept 11 – House Of Blues – Boston, MA Sept 15 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY Sept 16 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY Sept 17 – KEMBA Live! – Columbus, OH Sept 18 – Bourbon & Beyond Festival – Louisville, KY Sept 20 – HISTORY – Toronto, ON Sept 21 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA Sept 23 – GLC Live at 20 Monroe - Grand Rapids, M Sept 24 – The Sylvee – Madison, WI ^ Sept 25 – Palace Theatre – St. Paul, MN Sept 27 – Egyptian Room @ Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN* Sept 29 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN* Sept 30 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN* Oct 1 – The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA Oct 2 – The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA Oct 4 – Stubb’s Bar-B-Q – Austin, TX Oct 6 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ* Oct 7 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA Oct 11 – The Masonic – San Francisco, CA Oct 13 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR Oct 14 – The Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA Oct 15 – The Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA Oct 17 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT Oct 18 – Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO Oct 20 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO* Oct 21 – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL* Oct 22 – The Fillmore Detroit- Detroit, MI Oct 23 – Agora Theatre – Cleveland Ohio Oct 25 – The Fillmore Charlotte – Charlotte, NC Oct 26 – Avondale Brewing Company - Birmingham, AL Oct 27 – The Fillmore New Orleans – New Orleans, LA Neal Francis and Ashland Craft unless otherwise stated, ^ Neal Francis only * Support to be announced July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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Pixies Announce New Album, Doggerel, And New Single/Video For “There’s A Moon On” NEW ALBUM DOGGEREL TO BE RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 30TH • PRE-ORDER HERE AT https://pixies.ffm.to/doggerel.OPR LISTEN / WATCH THE VIDEO HERE AT https://pixies.ffm.to/theresamoonon.OPR Definition of doggerel [daw-geruhl]: loosely styled and irregular in measure especially for burlesque or comic effect also: marked by triviality or inferiority - Merriam-Webster

Now as fired up as ever before, Pixies will release their eighth studio album, Doggerel, on September 30th via BMG. They launch the album alongside its lead single ‘There’s a Moon On’.

The iconic Pixies forged an Doggerel is a mature yet visceral influential path for alt-rock during their record of gruesome folk, ballroom pop first era, while their post 2004 reunion and brutal rock, haunted by the ghosts of has seen them alchemize more sophistiaffairs and indulgences, driven wild by cated dark arts - a return which has them cosmic forces and envisioning digital add another three UK Top 10 albums to afterlives where no God has provided the three they achieved on their first run. one. And all the while, right there on the 64 Rock and Blues International • July 2022

news, another distant storm approaches.

Guitarist Joey Santiago says, “This time around we have grown. We no longer have under two-minute songs. We have little breaks, more conventional arrangements but still our twists in there.”

Vocalist/guitarist Black Francis adds, “We’re trying to do things that are continued on next page

very big and bold and orchestrated. The punky stuff, I really like playing it but you just cannot artificially create that shit.

There’s another way to do this, there’s other things we can do with this extra special energy that we’re encountering.”

That energy shimmers in the album’s new single ‘There’s A Moon On’, which fits into the space between prototype squalling Pixies guitars and heartland rock classicism. Thematically it plays somewhere between fact and legend, playing upon the adrenalizing effect of the lunar cycle on the human psyche, a phase during which the drunks in Francis’s brother’s bar become more aggressive.

A congregation between darkness and beauty consistently emerges throughout the record. There’s ‘Haunted House’, a spirited concoction of ‘50s-flavoured pop with ghosts both literal and metaphoric, as well as the brooding Morricone desert rock of ‘Vault of Heaven’, and a breezy folkrock melody on ‘Pagan Man’. But Pixies still possesses a ferocious edge, one that feeds into the grinding intensity and surrealism of ‘Nomatterday’ and The Who-like power of ‘Dregs of the Wine’, which will surely be the first and last Pixies song to namecheck Van Halen.

It’s a record with an unusual genesis. Instead of building upon rough ideas in the studio, Black Francis turned up to sessions with 40 songs prepared. Sessions started late in 2021 with producer Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Ghost) working with Francis in Massachusetts, before they headed to LA to finish tracks with the rest of the band.

Their input would be vital. Santiago contributed his first two Pixies songwriting credits, with music for ‘Dregs of the Wine’ and lyrics for Doggerel. Meanwhile, drummer David Lovering and bassist Paz Lenchantin’s performances have the uninhibited energy of two musicians who both confess to feeling reinvigorated by the process.

(1989), both Beneath The Eyrie (2019) and Doggerel are expansive and unfettered albums that leave behind any sense of expectation. They are records evolved from, but not beholden to, Pixies’ past.

Pixies’ UK summer tour dates include large outdoor headline shows in Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle plus a BST Hyde Park show as guests to Pearl Jam. Please see their website for a full list of all international dates.

Doggerel tracklist:

In addition to digital / streaming formats, Doggerel will also be issued in a variety of physical configurations. There will be a range of gatefold colour vinyl options: the standard red vinyl, a yellow vinyl will be available exclusively from select independent stores, and an orange vinyl that is only available from the Pixies’ official store - which also offers an exclusive red cassette. The formats are completed by a deluxe CD. If 2014’s Indie Cindy was conceived as a belated continuation of Bossanova (1990) and Trompe Le Monde (1991) and 2016’s Head Carrier revisited some of the murky melody and exotic gristle of Surfer Rosa (1988) and Doolittle

‘Nomatterday’ ‘Vault of Heaven’ ‘Dregs of the Wine’ ‘Haunted House’ ‘Get Simulated’ ‘The Lord Has Come Back Today’ ‘Thunder & Lightning’ ‘There’s A Moon On’ ‘Pagan Man’ ‘Who’s More Sorry Now?’ ‘You’re Such A Sadducee’ ‘Doggerel’

Follow Pixies: Website @ https://www.pixiesmusic.com/ Spotify @ https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hDnRPx1XmZVPVdjvr9mK4 Apple Music @ https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/pixies/2730151 YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/user/PixiesOfficialTV Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/pixiesofficial/ Twitter @ https://twitter.com/PIXIES TikTok @ https://www.tiktok.com/@pixiesmusic July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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America this fall. Noah is also confirmed to play both weekends of Austin City Limits (TICKETS) this year; October 7th - 9th and October 14th - 16th. For a full list of tour dates and to purchase tickets, please visit https:// www.noahcyrus.com.

For her forthcoming debut full-length, ‘The Hardest Part,’ Noah recruited esteemed, award-winning record producer Mike Crossey[Arctic Monkeys, Ben Howard, The 1975, Wolf Alice], who helped guide her vision and find her voice. Noah oversaw all the arrangements on the record and made sure to emphasize the incorporation of instruments such as pedal steel and slide guitar. “Creating the arrangements was the most fulfilling part of this record,” she goes on. “Mike and I were so driven and fully engulfed in the music. It was seamless—our brains connected into one.

I found a safe place to make music with people I love and trust. The process was really healing for me.” She adds, “For the first time, I’m revealing my complete and honest truth.” On ‘The Hardest Part,’ Noah has truly stepped into herself on her 2022 full-length debut album.

Noah Cyrus Releases ‘Mr Percocet’ Debut Album ‘The Hardest Part’ Out July 15 Announces North American Tour Dates Including Austin City Limits ‘MR. PERCOCET’ WATCH @ https://youtu.be/Ghl_vkEV3tc LISTEN @ https://noahcyrus.lnk.to/MrPercocet ‘THE HARDEST PART’ PRE-ORDER/ADD/SAVE @ https://www.noahcyrus.com/ Multi-platinum selling, GRAMMY® Award-nominated Noah Cyrus continues to tease her highly anticipated and deeply personal debut album, ‘The Hardest Part,’ out July 15 (RECORDS / Columbia Records). The rousing ‘Mr. Percocet,’ showcases her undeniable knack for intricate and heartwrenching songwriting. Brutally honest, ‘Mr. Percocet’ details a complicated journey of addiction and recovery that the young Cyrus continues to navigate, while so beautifully pouring her experiences into every ounce of her music and forthcoming body of work.

Noah has lived every song, and the embers of her experiences burn bright over a soundtrack steeped in pop spirit, folk eloquence, and the country soul of her Nashville roots. Light years beyond anything she’s released previously, this new chapter will undoubtedly

place Noah Cyrus firmly in the upper echelon of contemporary singer-songwriters.

Speaking about the new single, Noah reveals, “This song is written about my personal experience with the confusion and insecurities that arise in a relationship when substance abuse is involved. It causes such manic behavioral changes that you can lose sight of yourself and who you fell in love with.”

‘Mr. Percocet’ follows the release of ‘I Burned LA Down,’ which saw its late night television debut on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Also announced today, Noah Cyrus will embark on a headlining tour across North

Follow Noah Cyrus Online at: OFFICIAL WEBSITE @ https://www.noahcyrus.com/ YOUTUBE @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCoA_M5jHdV9_dJZMm9-Cr5A TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/noahcyrus FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/NoahCyrus 66 Rock and Blues International • July 2022

Emerging in 2016 at the age of 16, Noah Cyrus immediately captivated audiences with her unique blend of pop and soulful southern vocals. Her undeniable songwriting skills were truly showcased in 2020’s The End of Everything EP which yielded the tripleplatinum “July” and RIAA certified GOLD release “Lonely.” In between earning a GRAMMY® Award nod in the category of “Best New Artist,” she teamed up with PJ Harding for the People Don’t Change EP in 2021. NME rated “4-out-of-5 stars” and predicted, “it’s not hard to imagine her becoming a household name in her own right.”

Along the way, she performed at Coachella twice, while Billboard named her among its “21 Under 21” for three straight years. She also shined on The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ellen, and The Today Show.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES 10/4 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom 10/5 - Albuquerque, NM - El Rey 10/7 - 10/9 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits 10/9 - Houston, TX - House of Blues 10/10 - Oklahoma City, OK - Tower Theatre 10/11 - Fort Worth, TX - Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall 10/13 - Dallas, TX - Echo Lounge 10/14 - 10/16 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits 10/16 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works 10/17 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre 10/19 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel 10/20 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA 10/21 - Washington D.C. - 9:30 Club 10/22 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club 10/24 - Montreal, QC - Le Studio TD 10/25 - Toronto, ON - The Phoenix 10/27 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues 10/28 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman 10/29 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theatre 10/31 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall 11/1 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Grand at Complex 11/3 - San Francisco, CA - August Hall 11/4 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern

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most thrilled because it gave us a new foundation for our sound. Acacia Ridge’s upcoming releases in 2022 build upon that foundation and create an energy that we feel is missing from current trends in rock and metal.”

Since both Flip and Alex are PRS Pulse Artists it also makes it much easier to dial in a wide range of tones - from guttural unrelenting rhythm riffs to smooth creamy leads with their guitars.

After the success of their first album,- the band immediately turned their eyes to the future with the goal of creating heavier, more intricate, and overall better songs.

Photo Credit: Damon Kirchmeier

Acacia Ridge Premieres Guitar and Bass Playthrough Videos for “Playing The Victim” “Playing the Victim” Music video link: https://youtu.be/KR1HQ-Jgiho “Playing the Victim” Playthrough Video Bass: https://youtu.be/QmbpoNJyWnQ “Playing the Victim” Playthrough Video Guitar: https://youtu.be/jttMirDV6bA Order at: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ acaciaridge/playing-the-victim Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acacia_ridge/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcaciaRidgeBand After the release of their first album, which amassed over three million streams, Acacia Ridge went to work refining their production that can be now found in “Playing The Victim” and the subsequent upcoming LP.

shooting out guitar cabinets and amplifiers on day one of recording this song.

The final result ended up being an EVH 5150 through a Diezel Cab with a single SM57 on the glue blob near the dust cap.”

Here is what Flip Twogood, the Bassist Anson Clark shares lead guitarist had to say about the “‘Playing the Victim’ has unearthed what process for recording guitars on “Playing Acacia Ridge’s music is truly capable of. the Victim”, “We spent 13 hours This is the song that has made me the 68 Rock and Blues International • July 2022

Enter “Playing the Victim”, the first of a long line of earth-scorching singles that promise to redefine what Acacia Ridge is capable of. Their new music features faster guitars, catchier vocals, and the kind of drums that rearrange the inside of your ears. Acacia Ridge isn’t here to “defy-genre”. They’re here to make some damn good rock music. “‘Playing the Victim’ and everything coming after it feels like the step forward we’ve always wanted to make with our music. It’s more aggressive, technical, and overall more catchy than anything we’ve done before, but it’s only the first of many. ‘Playing the Victim’ is just the tip of a very angry iceberg.” Christian Mayfield, Vocalist Acacia Ridge toes the line between the aggressive rock of the 2000s and the head-splitting metal of the 2010s. The band’s combination of sailing vocals, biting riffs, and pummeling drums creates a cocktail of sound that would leave any hard music enthusiast intoxicated.

In just over three years, the group has amassed over three million streams, setting the stage for bigger, better and badder grooves moving forward. Acacia Ridge represents the step between mainstream rock and underground metal that so many listeners have been craving. com/AcaciaRidgeBand “Playing the Victim” is available on Spotify, Apple Music and other major streaming platforms.

Maybe You Should Run Your Next Tour Schedule In Rock And Blues International! email: rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com or call today 281-650-1953 For Fast Service

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Photo credit: Quinn Tucker (@quasarmedia)

NYC’s Electric Zoo 3.0 Stage Curator Spotlight: Brownies & Lemonade Labor Day Weekend 2022 Genre-bending lineup ft. Netsky, G Jones B2B Eprom, Rossy, Apashe, + more!

Taking over The Grove on Friday, September 2 Experience Electric Zoo 3.0 September 2 - 4 At Randall’s Island Park • New York, NY Single Day Tickets On Sale Here at https://wl.seetickets.us/event/ Electric-Zoo-Festival-2022/454206?afflky=ElectricZoo2022 Ezoo 2022 by taking over The Grove on There’s no festival quite like Electric Friday, September 2.

Zoo and this year’s 3.0 theme is sure to up the ante of the possibilities when Web3 & LA’s Brownies & Lemonade has been electronic music come together. NYC’s one of the fastest rising party brands in the premiere festival will welcome five stage US. Notorious for bringing the craziest vibes takeovers, hosted by the most in demand artists, impactful labels, and the most beloved and unearthing genre-bending dance music, they have become a staple brand associated music brands. Today, Electric Zoo is excited with EZoo, who will once again be bringing a to shine the spotlight on Brownies & taste of the west coast to the east coast with Lemonade, who will be opening the gates to 72 Rock and Blues International • July 2022

their fourth appearance at Ezoo. “There’s a distinct Los Angeles flavor to the Brownies and Lemonade fans, but it’s always great to give NYC fans a taste of what we do every year. See what we did there?”

Ezoo attendees can expect a wide variety of genres and cutting edge electronic continued on next page

continued from previous page music that represents the energy and vibe that Brownies & Lemonade curates in all of their shows, even the smallest most intimate ones.

“We hope to continue blending that line between the underground and a festival stage takeover.”

Wood & Wire’s Tony Kamel Announces Solo Release Back Down Home

Brownies & Lemonade will showcase a powerhouse lineup that highlights many left of center electronic music artists that are pushing genre boundaries. Fronted by d&b star Netsky, who’s accomplishments on the charts are just as impressive as his live shows, his set is a must for new and returning Ezoo fans.

“In 2021 we started our drum and bass party vertical, DNBNL, with the legendary Netsky. This is a genre that we truly believe will become a mainstay in the United States electronic scene, so we encourage everyone to check out Netsky’s set, because he is one of the best to do it.”

The dynamic & world influenced duo, Memba, will grace the stage, along with the cinematic sounds of Apashe. One of the scene’s most exciting up and coming artists is Rossy, already having a few B&L events under her belt, will be making her Ezoo debut. Her ability to blend trap, future bass, and classical components has resulted in an iconic sound that has earned her a seat at the scene’s biggest festivals.

“Rossy has a magnetic personality and such an infectious sound. We couldn’t be more proud to keep highlighting her talent on stages across the nation.”

pure energy. G Jones and Eprom’s B2B will put on display two immensely talented artists at the pinnacle of their craft with an audio visual experience like none other.

With so much excitement around them right now, you do not want to miss out on this very special showcase from Brownies and Lemonade.

Established in 2009 by Made Event, the internationally renowned Electric Zoo Festival is one of New York City’s largest music festivals and features the top names in electronic music, bringing a wide variety of acts from around the world and across the spectrum of electronic music’s various subgenres. International editions of Electric Zoo have taken place in Mexico City, Tokyo,

Shanghai and São Paulo.

Brownies & Lemonade is one of LA’s premier events companies focusing on the cutting edge dance and hip-hop realm. In several years of operation, B&L has worked with some of the biggest names in contemporary dance / hip-hop music as well as the next wave of future top-tier talent, including Skrillex, Diplo, Porter Robinson, RL Grime, Madeon, and Alison Wonderland to name a few. The team has also activated showcases and stages at Coachella, Electric Zoo, EDC, Lollapalooza, Ultra, HARD Summer, and outside of the US, co-produced tours in Australia and Japan.

Of The Trees will also be playing Ezoo for the first time, showcasing their hypnotic and unique sounds while Deadcrow, known for his innovative approach to wave music, will infuse his set with electrifying grime, trap, and melodic sounds.

Keep Up To Date and Follow News for Electric Zoo 3.0 https://electriczoo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ElectricZoo/ https://twitter.com/ElectricZooNY https://www.instagram.com/electriczoony/

It wouldn’t be a proper Brownies & Lemonade takeover without epic B2B’s. B&L are always championing marginalized artists in the bass community and Jon Casey and Capshun are two rising artists that “deserve more festival recognition”. Listening to each of their individual tracks, it’s easy to gather that this b2b is bound to be a set oozing with

Keep Up To Date and Follow Brownies & Lemonade https://browniesandlemonade.com/ https://www.facebook.com/browniesandlemonade https://www.instagram.com/browniesandlemonade/ https://twitter.com/TeamBandL July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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Photographer credit: Andy Wilcox

Phobophilic Announce New Album, ‘Enveloping Absurdity’ Lead single, ‘Those Which Stare Back’, premiering now!

LISTEN TO THOSE WHICH STARE BACK AT https://youtu.be/wwd2deLmwQ8 Those Who Stare Back is available on all streaming platform Pre-orders for Enveloping Absurdity are available here at https://lnk.to/Phobophilic

FOLLOW PHOBOPHILIC ONLINE: Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/phobophilic/ Twitter @ https://prostheticrecords.us6.list-manage.com/track/click 74 Rock and Blues International • July 2022

Phobophilic continued from previous page Enveloping Absurdity tracklist: 1. Enantiodromia 2. Those Which Stare Back 3. Nauseating Despair 4. Cathedrals of Blood (Twilight of the Idols) 5. Individuation 6. The Illusion of Self 7. Survive in Obscurity 8. Enveloping Absurdity

Fargo, North Dakota’s PHOBOPHILIC have today announced their debut album, Enveloping Absurdity, due for release via Prosthetic Records on September 16. Accompanying the album announcement the death metal group are premiering the lead single, Those Which Stare Back, via Metal Injection. Across PHOBOPHILIC’s first full-length the four-piece ruminate on philosophical absurdism, existentialism and human consciousness against a backdrop of suffocatingly minacious death metal.

Speaking on the album announcement, the band comments: “This album feels like a sizable leap forward for us.

It’s much more refined than our previous releases in all aspects. We spent a lot of time making sure the songs stood out on their own but also complimented each other and told a full story. Enveloping Absurdity is about recognizing the separation of what we want the human experience to be and what it truly is. It’s the realization of the universe’s complete and utter indifference to humanity, facing that reality and choosing to find meaning from within.”

Of Those Which Stare Back, PHOBOPHILIC add: “Those Which Stare Back is about personal struggles with depression and the loss of loved ones to addiction, accidental overdose and suicide. It explores the guilt that comes with being alive when those around you who were so full of life have died and wishing you could trade your life for theirs. While lyrically it’s the darkest song on the album, musically it’s the highest energy and immediately throws you into the chaos with twisting

and turning riffs and melodic flourishes, reinforcing the turmoil expressed in the lyrics.”

Formed in 2016, PHOBOPHLIC have steadily accumulated early releases in the shape of two demos, 2019’s Undimensioned Identities EP and a split release with Canada’s Sedimentum, all the while honing their craft out across the North American touring circuit featuring live stints with Gatecreeper and Mutilatred respectively, as well as appearances at LDB Fest and Philadelphia Death Nexus - positioning themselves among US death metals most intriguing young acts.

Following their early productivity both in studio and on the road, PHOBOPHILIC pulled together to shape Enveloping Absurdity’s eight songs into existence. Shunning the fantastical in favour of lived human reality, the band opted to center their gaze on what it is to exist. Drawing from French writers Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre as well as Germany’s Fredrich Nietzche’s strains of philosophical thought, Enveloping Absurdity is a meticulous vivisection of the philosophical self and purpose, as it asks fundamental questions of life’s true meaning.

PHOBOPHILIC’s formative promise is fully captured with a stellar production job that retains their to-thebone intensity, but allows room for the underlying grandiosity of their compositions, thanks to Adam Tucker at Signaturetone Recording in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The artwork was then licensed from Finnish illustrator Joonas Räsänen at EvM Art, as the band sought to marry Enveloping Absurdity’s overarching thematic ponderance with aesthetic totality.

On their debut long player PHOBOPHILIC rebel against notions of defeat and pessimism, in spite of the struggles that come with an overabundance of consciousness, to a profound embrace of that which ails as well as thrills. At the beating heart of Enveloping Absurdity’s sonic extremity is a victory of the self, not content with simply surviving, but choosing to live.

PHOBOPHILIC is: Aaron Dudgeon - guitars and vocals Josh Poer - guitars Christian Alm - bass Vincent Tweten - drums

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Heavy horror punk icon WEDNESDAY 13 slithered from the cobwebbed depths of Charlotte, North Carolina in the early 90s – quickly making his way to the top of the horrendous heights of rock, punk and metal crossover with his electrifying, acclaimed solo music, relentless international touring and also as frontman of renowned horror punk supergroup Murderdolls. Now, nearly 20 years after the formation of the group, WEDNESDAY 13 is gearing up for his next haunting release! Stay tuned!

Photo Credit: Jeremy Saffer

Heavy Horror Punk Icon WEDNESDAY 13 Announces Second Leg of 2022 North American Headline Tour WEDNESDAY 13 online: FACEBOOK @ https://www.facebook.com/officialwednesday13/ TWITTER @ https://twitter.com/officialwed13 NAPALM RECORDS @ https://label.napalmrecords.com/wednesday-13 This spring, WEDNESDAY 13 thrilled audiences across the United States on his “20 Years Of Fear” tour, featuring a career spanning setlist! Now, the harbinger of heavy horror punk has announced a new slew of dates comprising the second leg of the tour, beginning September 5 in Los Angeles, CA. The tour will run across the United States and Canada for nearly two months, coming to an end back in Anaheim, CA on October 22.

Diehard fans and new alike will not want to miss this! Tickets and VIP experiences go on sale this Friday via individual venues.

WEDNESDAY 13 says about the tour’s second leg: “We are excited to return to the road again this fall for the second leg of the ’20 Years Of Fear Tour’. The last run was so much fun, revisiting songs from throughout the last 20 years. This tour, we will be celebrating the last 20 years, plus giving you a sneak peak of a few new songs from the upcoming album. See ya on the road!”

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Rock and Blues International • July 2022

WEDNESDAY 13 is: Wednesday 13 - vocals Roman Surman - lead guitar Jack Tankersley - guitar Troy Doebbler - bass

WEDNESDAY 13’s “20 Years Of Fear” Tour, Second Leg: 9/5/2022 - Los Angeles, CA - Rainbow Labor Day Party 9/7/2022 - El Paso, TX - Rock House 9/8/2022 - Lubbock, TX - Jake’s Sports Cafe 9/9/2022 - Oklahoma City, OK - Whiskey Nights 9/10/2022 - Ft. Smith, AR - Temple Live/Sphinx Club 9/11/2022 - St. Louis, MO - Red Flag 9/13/2022 - Indianapolis, IN - Emerson Theater 9/14/2022 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverfront Live 9/16/2022 - Charlotte, NC - Amos Southend 9/17/2022 - Knoxville, TN - The Concourse 9/18/2022 - Greenville, SC - Radio Room 9/20/2022 - Richmond, VA - Canal Club 9/21/2022 - Virginia Beach, VA - Elevation 27 9/22/2022 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage 9/23/2022 - Teaneck, NJ - Debonair Music Hall 9/24/2022 - Mechanicsburg, PA - Lovedrafts 9/25/2022 - Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Lite 9/26/2022 - Philadelphia, PA - Milkboy 9/29/2022 - Atlantic City, NJ - Bourne 9/30/2022 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Meadows 10/1/2022 - Albany, NY - Empire Underground 10/3/2022 - Boston, MA - Sonia 10/4/2022 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques 10/5/2022 - Quebec City, QC - L’anti Bar & Spectacles 10/6/2022 - Ottawa, ON - Brass Monkey 10/7/2022 - Toronto, ON - Rockpile 10/9/2022 - Westland, MI - Token Lounge 10/11/2022 - Cleveland, OH - Masonic Asylum Room 10/12/2022 - Chicago, IL - WC Social Club 10/14/2022 - Des Moines, IA - Lefty’s 10/15/2022 - Lincoln, NE - Royal Grove 10/16/2022 - Wichita, KS - Temple Live Annex 10/17/2022 - Fort Worth, TX - Rail Club 10/18/2022 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger 10/20/2022 - Tucson, AZ - The Rock 10/21/2022 - Las Vegas, NV - Count’s Vamp’d 10/22/2022 - Anaheim, CA - The Parish @ House Of Blues After the “20 Years Of Fear” North American headline tour, WEDNESDAY 13 will go on to join Ministry on their Moral Hygiene Europe Tour, also featuring support from The 69 Eyes.

March 2021 • Rock and Blues International

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Elton John Presents Madman Across The Water 50th Anniversary Reissue AVAILABLE NOW! 78

Rock and Blues International

• July 2022

Elton John continued from previous page UMe announces the 50th-anniversary reissue of Elton John’s Madman Across The Water. Available to order now on stunning 3-CD and 1 Blu-ray Super Deluxe Box Set, 4-LP, 1-LP Limited Edition colored vinyl, and 2-CD formats. Order hereat here at https:// eltonjohn.lnk.to/Madman_50PR Spawning the hits “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon,” Madman Across The Water was Elton’s fourth studio album, released only two years after his debut.

Recorded in 1971, it was a foundation stone of what was to become a dazzlingly prolific decade for the globalicon-in-waiting. Madman Across The Water was largely written after Elton had made his initial foray to America, offering the opportunity for lyricist Bernie Taupin to witness first-hand the landscapes and people he’d only seen on a screen or on the page. Recorded at Trident Studios in Central London in February and August 1971, it was the first album where all five players of Elton’s fabled band lineup (Dee Murray, Nigel Olsson, Davey Johnstone, and Ray Cooper) were featured. The album also featured Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who plays Hammond organ on three songs.

A newly unveiled Piano Demo of “Tiny Dancer,” taken from the archives and previously unheard, will be available to stream in full. Recorded at Dick James Studios in central London in Spring 1971, it is an intimate performance of the song with Elton alone at the piano as a guide for the band later to follow.

While the UK’s love affair with Elton was on the precipice of exploding upon Madman’s release at the start of the ‘70s, these nine tracks immediately struck a chord with US audiences, reaching the Top 10 of the Billboard album charts. It also spawned two hit singles, “Levon” and “Tiny Dancer,” both reaching the US Top 50. After years as a best-kept secret to Elton’s fans,

AVAILABLE NOW! LISTEN and ORDER here at https://eltonjohn.lnk.to/Madman_50PR Featuring Live Rarities, Demos & Outtakes, Including Previously Unheard Tiny Dancer Piano Demo Unveiled: Listen here at https://eltonjohn.lnk.to/TinyDancerPianoDemoPR “Tiny Dancer” has gone on to become one of his most loved songs with his worldwide fanbase, third only to “Rocket Man” and “Your Song” in global streaming numbers. Capturing the headiness of California at the time of Elton’s first US concerts, the song was used to phenomenal effect in Cameron Crowe’s classic 2000 film Almost Famous. Both “Levon” and “Tiny Dancer” remain live favorites to this day, taking pride of place in the setlist for Elton’s record-breaking Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

The celebration of Madman Across

The Water comes in four different formats. All formats contain Bob Ludwig’s 2016 remaster of the main album. There are 18 previously unreleased tracks across the Super Deluxe 3-CD/1-Blu-ray box set, which also contains rare, restored material from the era, piano demos of the album, and the audio of the BBC Sounds For Saturday concert, broadcast in 1972. The Blu-Ray contains a 5.1 mix by Greg Penny, plus the Sounds For Saturday and his 1971 Old Grey Whistle Test performance. The audio of the Super Deluxe continued on next page July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

ter) Levon (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Razor Face (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Madman Across The Water (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Indian Sunset (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Holiday Inn (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Rotten Peaches (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) All The Nasties (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Goodbye (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Indian Sunset (Live Radio Broadcast) Madman Across The Water (Original Version, featuring Mick Ronson) Rock Me When He’s Gone Levon (Mono Single Version) Razor Face (Extended Version)

Elton John continued from previous page CD/Blu-ray set will also be available on a 4-LP set. The box set includes photos, an essay with interviews with those who helped make the album, as well as memorabilia and artwork taken from the Rocket Archive. The album will also be available as a limited edition blue and white-colored 180g LP. Madman Across The Water is available on four different formats: Super Deluxe box set 3-CD, 1-Bluray also featuring 18 previously unreleased tracks, also containing 1971 reproduction poster and a 104-page book, photos and essay with interviews with those who helped make the album, as well as memorabilia and artwork taken from the Rocket Archive. Blu-ray features a 5.1 mix, and 1971 Sounds For Saturday and 1971 Old Grey Whistle Test performances

Elton and Bernie, photos and essay featuring interviews with many who helped make Madman Across The Water, plus a reproduction 1971 reproduction poster, as well as memorabilia and artwork from the Rocket Archive 2-CD set with original album, rarities and demos, includes a 40-page booklet with introductions by Elton and Bernie, plus essay highlights featuring interviews with many who helped make Madman Across The Water, as well as memorabilia and artwork taken from the Rocket Archive 1-LP limited edition remaster of Madman Across The Water, in blue and white-colored 180g vinyl Track Listing 3-CD / 1-Blu-ray Super Deluxe Box Set

4-LP, 180g vinyl box set, includes CD 1 a 40-page booklet with introductions by Tiny Dancer (2016 Bob Ludwig Remas80 Rock and Blues International • July 2022

CD 2 Madman Across The Water (1970 Piano Demo) Tiny Dancer (Piano Demo) Levon (Piano Demo) Razor Face (Piano Demo) Madman Across The Water (1971 Piano Demo) Indian Sunset (Piano Demo) Holiday Inn (Piano Demo) Rotten Peaches (Piano Demo) All The Nasties (Piano Demo) Goodbye (Piano Demo) Rock Me When He’s Gone (Piano Demo) Rock Me When He’s Gone (Full Version) CD 3 Tiny Dancer (BBC Sounds For Saturday) Rotten Peaches (BBC Sounds For Saturday) Razor Face (BBC Sounds For Saturday) Holiday Inn (BBC Sounds For Saturday) Indian Sunset (BBC Sounds For Saturday) Levon (BBC Sounds For Saturday) Madman Across The Water (BBC Sounds For Saturday) Goodbye (BBC Sounds For Saturday) Taped November 11, 1971 / transmitted April 29, 1972 Blu-ray Audio continued on next page

Elton John continued from previous page Greg Penny 5.1 mix of Madman Across The Water (Original Version, featuring Mick Ronson) Greg Penny 5.1 mix of Madman Across The Water Audio-Visual Sounds For Saturday (Taped November 11, 1971 / transmitted April 29, 1972) Old Grey Whistle Test (Transmitted on December 7, 1971) 4-LP Set LP1 A1 Tiny Dancer (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) A2 Levon (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) A3 Razor Face (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) A4 Madman Across The Water (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) B1 Indian Sunset (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) B2 Holiday Inn (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) B3 Rotten Peaches (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) B4 All The Nasties (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) B5 Goodbye (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) LP2 A1 Indian Sunset (Live Radio Broadcast) A2 Madman Across The Water (Original Version, featuring Mick Ronson) A3 Rock Me When He’s Gone A4 Levon (Mono Single Version) B1 Razor Face (Extended Version) B2 Rock Me When He’s Gone (Piano Demo) B3 Rock Me When He’s Gone (Full Version)

LP3 A1 Madman Across The Water (1970 Piano Demo) A2 Tiny Dancer (Piano Demo) A3 Levon (Piano Demo) A4 Razor Face (Piano Demo) A5 Madman Across The Water (1971 Piano Demo) B1 Indian Sunset (Piano Demo) B2 Holiday Inn (Piano Demo) B3 Rotten Peaches (Piano Demo) B4 All The Nasties (Piano Demo) B5 Goodbye (Piano Demo) LP4 A1 Tiny Dancer (BBC Sounds For Saturday) A2 Rotten Peaches (BBC Sounds For Saturday) A3 Razor Face (BBC Sounds For Saturday) A4 Holiday Inn (BBC Sounds For Saturday) B1 Indian Sunset (BBC Sounds For Saturday) B2 Levon (BBC Sounds For Saturday) B3 Madman Across The Water (BBC Sounds For Saturday) B4 Goodbye (BBC Sounds For Saturday) Taped November 11, 1971 / transmitted April 29, 1972 2-CD SET CD 1 Tiny Dancer (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Levon (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Razor Face (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Madman Across The Water (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Indian Sunset (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Holiday Inn (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Rotten Peaches (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) All The Nasties (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Goodbye (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) Indian Sunset (Live Radio Broadcast) Madman Across The Water (Original Version, featuring Mick Ronson) Rock Me When He’s Gone

Levon (Mono Single Version) Razor Face (Extended Version) CD 2 Madman Across The Water (1970 Piano Demo) Tiny Dancer (Piano Demo) Levon (Piano Demo) Razor Face (Piano Demo) Madman Across The Water (1971 Piano Demo) Indian Sunset (Piano Demo) Holiday Inn (Piano Demo) Rotten Peaches (Piano Demo) All The Nasties (Piano Demo) Goodbye (Piano Demo) Rock Me When He’s Gone (Piano Demo) Rock Me When He’s Gone (Full Version)

1-LP Limited Edition Blue & White Vinyl A1 Tiny Dancer (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) A2 Levon (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) A3 Razor Face (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) A4 Madman Across The Water (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) B1 Indian Sunset (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) B2 Holiday Inn (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) B3 Rotten Peaches (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) B4 All The Nasties (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) B5 Goodbye (2016 Bob Ludwig Remaster) July 2022 • Rock and Blues International 81

The Biker, The Blues - Those Dirty Get Down Slow Blues The last time I saw a woman hitch hiking on a freeway ramp it almost got my ass busted by the young woman’s Dad, who just happened to be the sheriff of a southwestern county off of interstate 10.

Something she had excluded to tell me but then again she was way attractive and was looking for a ride. So today here I am once again in just about in that same situation, however, this time she’s a little older with this amazing award winning smile wearing nice tight jeans with her thumb out. Well what’s a gentleman to do? Like a moth to a flame my bike instinctively knew exactly how to glide over to where she was standing while the muscles in my face automatically produced a smile broadcasting hello. I said the weather is fine and I got a portable seat for the back fender to sit on if you would like to get off this ramp. She shook her long brunette hair out of her face then bunched it up and put a wrap around her new ponytail and moved closer to the bike. I got off the bike unrolled my sleeping bag and took out the seat, lowered the foot pegs, got back on and offered her my right hand to get on. No names were exchanged, no destinations were discussed it was just a ride to somewhere, anywhere. I knew I would hear her story down the road, at least what she wanted me to know and she would pry to learn mine but little would be accomplished. I had just filled the tank and we were on our way west for at least a couple hundred miles. So there I was with this woman’s arms around me going eighty miles an hour on a sunny day heading west. What could go wrong? A semi-truck driver blew his air horn as he came up on us. I was going around eighty and he passed us like we were sitting still. The wind whipped off the back of his trailer and moved us a little. The afternoon sun felt good and the mile markers were flying by. Soon we would be approaching the Missouri/ Kansas border. Those arms around me were relaxing more and more as we continued west. She noticed a roadside rest sign, tapped my shoulder and pointed, I certainly knew what that meant. We slowed down made the off ramp and wheeled up to a parking space just in front of the restrooms. Afterward we made our way over to a picnic table and at first just stood by it then we finally sat down for a spell. Her name was Gracie. A small town girl from central Illinois on her way to see her married sister and niece in Joplin just east of Kansas City. She said she hadn’t expected a ride on a nice bike but it was cool and thanked me. I asked her if her backside was sore and she said no not yet anyway. We smiled. I asked if she was ready to push forward or did she want to stay there and hitch a ride in a cage (a car). She thought the term cage was humorous and giggled. She said no let’s go and off we went to find this place named Joplin and her sister’s home. Polite gal, good looking, soft spoken with a really good personality. Once we arrived on the outskirts of town she pulled out her cell, called her sister and after telling her sister about the ride she verified the address. She entered the address into the phone’s map and we were actually very close to where she needed to go. We arrived and her sister rushed out to greet us and with some consternation invited me in. I could feel her hesitation so I thanked her and said I would move on. Gracie’s sister said wait a minute I don’t mean to be inhospitable just you know continued on next page

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Page 2 - The Biker, The Blues - Those Dirty Get Down Slow Blues leery. Once inside I met the cutest little three year old girl without a father. I didn’t know what the story was but I didn’t think I needed to know either. The little girl was a doll and was smiling right through me. I visited for about an hour and found the door. Gracie walked outside with me and asked where I would be staying and I said I didn’t know but I wasn’t going far as it had been a nice, long ride and time to shower and kick back. That was about it. I followed my instincts back out to the main highway and headed a bit west. Up ahead I could see the bright green sign of a Holiday Inn. If the doors on their first floor rooms opened to the outside and if they had a room on the first floor I was home for the night. They had both and I checked in. I parked the bike just outside the room door to let it cool down as I was waiting for dark before pushing it inside. I unfastened my sleeping bag, found my shaving kit and headed for the shower. Afterward I was hungry so I walked back to the front desk area. Now here is where it gets interesting. The more I looked at this place the more it seemed like I might have been here in the past but something didn’t seem right. It turned out the hotel had been remodeled two years earlier so I may have been there prior to that but I still wasn’t sure. I heard a sax wailing in the bar at 6:30 and that seemed odd but the band wasn’t practicing it was the real deal plus the place was packed. The bar had wings, cold beer, and good music so what’s not to like and remember this is at a freaking Holiday Inn no less. The bar was full of happy hour customers that were talking about needing to go home but weren’t going to leave. The band was putting out some funk and blues and had a really good sound working. The sun was just about down so the ambiance in the room was changing from the just an after work crowd to a I am letting my hair down kind of crowd. It was interesting. Around 8:30 I decided to check on my scooter and maybe wheel it inside. I paid the tab and arrived in front of my bike just in time to see a couple of pre-teen boys looking it over. I asked them if they liked it and they said yes. They asked if it was loud. I said let me show you and started it up. They cupped their hands over their ears and smiled. I mean really smiled. Soon their mother came calling saying it was time for them to head indoors and off they went. OK, so now the engine was warm again so it was either wait for it to cool or maybe go for a quick look around. I opted for the latter. I had over heard a couple in the bar say they were going to a place named 66. I took a quick look on my cell and found “Sports Bar and Restaurant 66” just up the road in Webb City. I arrived and the place was well lit outside and inside the folks seemed like they were all neighbors just having a good time. What I found really cool was they had a back porch area where you could smoke your cigar and kick back.

Nice evening, a fresh cigar, a cold drink - life is good. Now we just needed some music. Music was coming from some place, somebody was spinning Eric Clapton’s “I Shot The Sheriff” and right after that Nazareth’s “Hair Of The Dog”. I be home Jack.

Plus there was this cute looking Hispanic gal with all the things in the right places and the right sizes. Maybe I could move in and be the janitor at 66? There was a lull in the music so I left my cigar outside and found the music machine. Now I am not saying what was on my mind but I did play Little Feat’s continued on next page July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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Page 3 - The Biker, The Blues - Those Dirty Get Down Slow Blues “Spanish Moon”. Know what I mean Jean and the place came alive. I looked around and the girls up and down the bar were swaying back and forth to the beat. I also chose the next track on their album “Dixie Chicken” and we were off and running. Someone yelled free tequila shots at the bar and a man has to have his priorities so it was shots, music, cigars and pretty women but not in any particular order. I looked for that Mexican cutie but either my eyes were deceiving me or I was a quart low because she was nowhere to be found. That was a bit of a bummer but right at that time the song entered its rag time piano solo with their traditional New Orleans style brass. Cheers at the bar and then back to the juke and then out to my stogie and the evening air. Uh-oh she was out there too still looking fine but there was a small, no make that a rather large problem. The guy with his arm around her was as big as a bread truck and as tall as forty year old oak tree. Are you kidding me?

Then again she did look my way and smiled and so I began to plot. Shame on me, shame on me, shame on me but you know sometimes you just got to set the badger free. Just add some good music and well you are not at church if you get my drift. I must have selected the whole album because “Triple Face Boogie” began to play but it didn’t matter as Little Feat kicks ass. “Waiting For Columbus” is probably their best album. I wasn’t even trying to hide eye contact, nope those horns were on full display baby. Have you ever had a day, an evening, when the music was telling your story? Well on this night it seemed so and I was being set free by a recording from years ago. The piano was rolling the blues and the guitar was talking to all of us. Oh you should only have an evening like this... Well Mr. Universe got up from his barstool and let that sweet young thing there all alone, poor girl. Soon after he left she picked up the ashtray he had been using, walked over to my table and motioned for the ashtray with all of my cigar ashes in it. I said, “If you’re not careful girl you are going to light my fire” and she said, “Oh I thought I already did that” then turned and walked away. I said, “You are bad you are just so bad, ouch it burns when I think about it.” I couldn’t see her reaction but I could sure see her walk away. The song ended, what timing and that caused me to go back inside. I ordered a drink, grabbed an ash tray, punched up some music and returned to my outside cove area. I punched up “Fire” by the Pointer Sisters. It seemed appropriate and that swaying I mentioned earlier was back. But you know while in front of that juke I could not help myself and I selected Mitch Ryder’s “Devil With A Blue Dress On”. That woman was remaining on my mind. After those two numbers then Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way”. Outside the speakers were cranked up so I just relit my cigar, took a sip of my scotch and continued to take in the evening. Almost immediately my new, shall we say, friend returned with a clean ash tray and said here you go. I said, “You are evil and must be destroyed” she laughed like hell. Then a song I didn’t play spun and I volunteered that I hadn’t played that one and she said but I did. It was a really cool song by Anastacia, her over the top song “Freak Of Nature.” by the album of the same name. I got quiet as I could see deep into those beautiful brown eyes, my bet at the time was on mutual desire. Was I right? Was I going to go for it with Mr. Clean in the other room? Yep! Damn the torpedoes full speed ahead. I said, Call me at the Holiday Inn rm 106. She said, “Now who’s being confident?” and left me there alone. I paid the tab and outside my scooter was still there no chips or flat tires. It fired right up and it was time continued on next page

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Page 4 - The Biker, The Blues - Those Dirty Get Down Slow Blues to make the trek to LaLa Land back at the Holiday Inn. On the ride back to where I came from the traffic was moving right along without any problems and then it happened the officer’s lights came on including his siren. Yep the officer wanted me to pull over and so I complied. The usual so called reasoning for the stop but basically it was a stop and learn more about me stop. I was a bit concerned because the tequila and scotch had married up rather well by now and I wasn’t sure how well I could walk a white line. I felt ok, no problems in judgment just wondering how I would do if it came to that, which it didn’t. The evening had went from a late afternoon smiling happy hour crowd to a later that night happy hour crowd to being stopped by a county patrolman. He gave me back my license and registration and said have a nice day. The bike turned right over, I lifted the kickstand, pulled in the clutch, went into first gear, looked at the flow of the traffic and left the officer sitting in his car. Life can be strange. I guess he was protecting his turf but like any minority and bikers on a chopper are indeed a minority in their own right it doesn’t feel good. Yet on the other side of the coin you meet some really nice folks along the way. Folks living without prejudice, living happy, being free. Their kids are normally just like they are and through these folks the world seems a bit less bitter. This odyssey I am on is just that, a free wheeling exploration from coast to coast. It has its moments but then again you have moments no matter where you live. I just choose to live as a nomadic traveler, sort of a modern day gypsy. Neither from here nor there. Free to enjoy a non structured lifestyle. Sort of like the great blues men and woman in U.S. history. Always on the move, always sharing their talent but more times than not when off stage alone. Obviously some of what they wrote and brought to life in song came from their traveling lifestyle. As they say the blues is a feeling and when that feeling came over them they would write and assemble tunes like nobody’s business.

For example, B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone”, heartfelt for sure. In his song the man is stating the thrill is gone, it’s over. Most of us have experienced that situation at one time or another. Not fun. Then Buddy Guy’s “Damn Right I Got The Blues”.

Maybe songwriters just can’t write something like those two numbers unless they have something to bring to the table. This night in Joplin caused me to think of Dr. John and Sarah Morrow performing “Such A Night”. He sings about a special night with thoughts of getting away to the dark end of the street. This night I was sure I would go for it big guy there or not. She probably saved my life now that I think back on it. I mean if The Hulk had attempted to destroy me he probably could have and I am she knew that but we were having fun so I guess I was a humorous break in her daily routine. But I was into her big time. When I finally got into the hotel the red light on the phone was blinking, someone had tried to reach me. My smile was restored as there it was that wonderful soft spoken accent complete with that devilish fun laugh of hers. I called the number, she answered but since gentlemen don’t tell the ending to these kind of stories this one will end right here. Let’s just say I will remember arriving into Joplin in a good mood and leaving Joplin in a better one. Life on the road, there are no sure things out here. A bit of heaven one day and a bit of hell on another. I have to say that overall being this free bolsters your faith in the every day people of this nation. Lots of good people. Living life getting along and being a friend to man. That’s cool. Take that gal that I gave the ride to she was on her way to help her sister with taking care of her niece, that’s really cool! Meeting good people doing good things. I get to see it firsthand.

July 2022 • Rock and Blues International

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