Author Archives: glassonyonpr

2013/12/14

TRANSATLANTIC TO RELEASE NEW STUDIO ALBUM KALEIDOSCOPE ON JAN 28, 2014 ANNOUNCES WORLD TOUR JAN 31 – MAR 15, 2014

By glassonyonpr

Transatlantic CD cover

For Immediate Release

TRANSATLANTIC TO RELEASE NEW STUDIO ALBUM KALEIDOSCOPE ON JAN 28, 2014
ANNOUNCES WORLD TOUR JAN 31 – MAR 15, 2014

Good things come to those who wait. Transatlantic fans are accustomed to playing the waiting game, and their patience has been rewarded with the band’s fourth official studio album, Kaleidoscope. Steeped in vibrant prog rock organics, it’s a triumphant return to the band’s original creative style.

The beloved prog rock project featuring Neal Morse (ex-Spock’s Beard), Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, ex-Dream Theater), Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) and Pete Trewavas (Marillion), Transatlantic’s foundation was built in 1999 with the release of their debut album, SMPT:e, in 2000. A second studio album, Bridge Across Forever, solidified their position as prog’s definitive supergroup. It would be nine years before Transatlantic’s fans were rewarded with a new studio album: 2009’s The Whirlwind, the band’s most popular release to date. Following the subsequent tour, spawning two live DVDs, the band decided to record a new studio album as soon as they could.

“There was talk about a year ago about doing an album before we actually did it,” reveals Morse. “I was feeling it for a while. Some of the music that ended up on my Momentum album (2012) seemed like good material for Transatlantic. Roine and my schedules have a little more space in them, and Pete and Mike’s schedules finally aligned, so we were able to put this together. I’m just glad we got to do it again and I’m really happy with the way the album came out.”

Morse, Portnoy, Stolt and Trewavas shared equally in the songwriting, with Portnoy ultimately sifting through the material and picking out what he felt was best. For the most part, the music that fans hear on Kaleidoscope (and all of their previous albums) was created for Transatlantic. There are, of course, exceptions. “I wrote the second song on Kaleidoscope, “Shine,” before my Momentum album came out,” says Morse. “I thought about recording it for myself, but it just smelled of Transatlantic. I presented it with two other acoustic songs, and that’s the one the other guys chose, as well.”

The band convened at Neal’s studio in Tennessee; writing, arranging, and laying down the final drums and bass. Morse offers, “At this stage, we sketch out the house and build the foundation. Then Roine and I go off to our respective studios and do what we need to. We send those parts, including vocals, back and forth via the internet; but the writing is done together in Tennessee. We just go from the gut, and I think it’s an amazing process of trusting each other. There’s no shortage of ideas; it’s more like which ideas do we want to use?”

As the fans have come to expect, Kaleidoscope is also available as a Special Edition featuring eight uniquely Transatlantic cover songs. “I don’t know how it started,” Morse says of the cover song tradition. “But we’ve done it for every album. It’s a lot of fun because most of the time it’s simpler music than what we’re mainly involved with.”

There are points during the journey through Kaleidoscope where the listener will be reminded of artists like Yes, early Genesis, and even Styx. But in the end, the album is distinctly Transatlantic before it can be compared to anyone else.

“I think that comes from the different ingredients,” says Morse. “It’s the four of us from all over the world—with our different backgrounds, cultures and musical history—that makes this band totally unique.”

The band will embark on a six-week world tour January 31 – March 15, with an additional performance at the Sweden Rock festival June 4-7. They will be joined by Pain of Salvation’s Daniel Gildenlöw as a 5th touring member. The tour will include headlining the Progressive Nation At Sea 2014 Cruise,February 18-22, alongside 22 other leading prog acts including Adrian Belew Power Trio, Devin Townsend Project, King’s X, Anathema and Spock’s Beard. The event will also feature a special performance of Yes material by Transatlantic with legendary singer Jon Anderson on vocals.

Transatlantic – Kaleidoscope (75:50)

1. Into The Blue (25:13)
I. Overture (Instrumental)
II. The Dreamer And The Healer
III. A New Beginning
IV. Written In Your Heart
V. The Dreamer And The Healer (Reprise)
2. Shine (07:28)
3. Black As The Sky (06:45)
4. Beyond The Sun (04:31)
5. Kaleidoscope (31:53)
I. Overture (Instrumental)
II. Ride The Lightning
III. Black Gold
IV. Walking The Road
V. Desolation Days
VI. Lemon Looking Glass (Instrumental) VII. Feel The Lightning (Reprise)

Bonus CD:

1. And You And I (Yes)
2. Can’t Get It Out Of My Head (ELO)
3. Conquistador (ProcolHarum)
4. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John)
5. Tin Soldier (Small Faces)
6. Sylvia (Focus)
7. Indiscipline (King Crimson)
8. Nights In White Satin (The Moody Blues)

Line-Up:
RoineStolt – Electric guitars, vocals
Pete Trewavas – Bass, Vocals
Neal Morse – Keys, Guitars, Vocals
Mike Portnoy – Drums,Vocals

An Evening With Transatlantic 2014 World Tour

Jan 31st – Los Angeles, CA – El Segundo Performing Arts Center
Feb 1st – San Francisco, CA
Feb 2nd – Seattle, WA
Feb 4th – Chicago, IL – The Arcada Theater
Feb 5th – Quebec City, Canada – Theatre Du Capitole
Feb 6th – Montreal, Canada – L’Olympia
Feb 7th – Boston, MA
Feb 8th – Philadelphia, PA – Keswick Theater
Feb 9th – New York City, NY – Highline Ballroom
Feb 11th – Mexico City, Mexico – Teatro Metropolitan
Feb 13th – São Paulo, Brazil
Feb 14th – Buenos Aires, Argentina
Feb 15th – Santiago, Chile
Feb 18th to 22nd – Progressive Nation At Sea
Feb 27th – Madrid, Spain – La Rivera
Feb 28th – Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz 2
March 2nd – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
March 3rd – Rome, Italy – Orion
March 5th – Pratteln, Switzerland – Z7
March 6th – Karlsruhe, Germany – Substage
March 7th – Munich, Germany – Muffathalle
March 8th – Berlin, Germany – Astra
March 9th – Cologne, Germany – E Werk
March 11th – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix
March 12th – London, England – The Forum
March 13th – Tilburg, Holland – 013
March 14th – Tilburg, Holland – 013
March 15th – Paris, France – Le Bataclan
June 4th-7th – Sweden Rock Festival

Studio Album Discography
SMPT:e (2000)
Bridge Across Forever (2001)
The Whirlwind (2009)
Kaleidoscope (2014)

Press Contact
Glass Onyon PR
828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Transatlantic Online:
http://www.transatlanticweb.com
http://www.facebook.com/transatlanticmusic

Progressive Nation Cruise
http://www.progressivenationatsea.com

Radiant Records
http://www.radiantrecords.com

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, Transatlantic

2013/12/13

‘Thy Will Be Done’ Original Gospel Soundtrack To Be Released Dec. 31, 2013

By glassonyonpr

ThyWillBeDone final cover med

For Immediate Release

‘Thy Will Be Done’ Original Gospel Soundtrack To Be Released Dec. 31, 2013

Studio City, CA – Lightyear Entertainment has announced the release of a new gospel musical film, Thy Will Be Done, an inspirational and uplifting film for the whole family, with an extraordinary original gospel soundtrack.

The film stars Kathy Bowman, Darcel Blue, and Al Garrison, along with a talented group of quickly rising gospel recording artists. In the film, an ex-pastor, whose church was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, loses his faith and becomes a homeless wanderer.

After surviving a near death experience, he mysteriously awakens in a church that is in desperate need of a pastor.

The DVD will be available on DVD at Walmart, Amazon, iTunes, and other physical and digital accounts on December 31. It is also available on Video on Demand on Comcast, Time Warner, and most other cable outlets. In a holiday marketing move, VOD went live December 1.

The DVD will be released in the U.S. and Canada through Entertainment One Distribution. The film was produced and directed by Albert Johnson for Parable Entertainment.

View trailer at: http://www.lightyear.com/movies/thywill.htm

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Lightyear Entertainment, a distributor of independent films and music, was founded in 1987. Lightyear has now released 40 films by African-American filmmakers.
http://www.lightyear.com

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, Thy Will Be Done

2013/12/11

Brazilian Prog Ensemble IMAGERY Release Debut CD ‘The Inner Journey’

By glassonyonpr

1136 imagery med

For Immediate Release

Brazilian Prog Ensemble IMAGERY Release Debut CD ‘The Inner Journey’

Los Angeles, CA – From the earliest days of human thought, the theme of Duality has been widely debated among philosophers, scientists and spiritual seekers. The ambiguity of the concept still serves as inspiration for endless artistic musings about love and hate, life and death, happiness and sadness. The Brazilian progressive rock/metal band IMAGERY follows these endless seas of intellectual thought to trace their musical identity, personified by the debut album, ‘The Inner Journey’ released in the U.S. by powerhouse metal label Deadline Music.

Formed in 2008 by Joceir Bertoni (vocal/guitar), Ricardo Fanucchi (bass) and Luciano Neves (drums), IMAGERY was born from the ashes of the bands G.A.F. and Revolt, two groups from the city of Londrina, Parana state. From its inception, IMAGERY had a dual character, combining classic prog rock and metal. The uniting of these two disparate genres was no easy feat. After all, if progressive rock is emotional, heavy metal is visceral; if prog rock is technique, heavy metal is attitude; if prog rock is sensibility, heavy metal is aggressiveness.

And it was in transmuting these opposites – sometimes conflicting, sometimes complementary – that IMAGERY came upon their unique sound. Recorded at PlayRecPause Studios in Londrina under the experienced production talent of Julio Anizelli (Mamaquilla, Terra Celta, Lixo Extraordinário), ‘The Inner Journey’ brings eight tracks that not only extol the technical ability of the musicians, but, above all, the quality of the band’s compositions.

“Fourth Secret” is a perfect prelude and shows the different faces of this dynamic album. The second song, “Imagery,” doesn’t take the name of the band in vain; it is the band’s fingerprint and shows some of their core characteristics, like the absence of compositional patterns. Over the course of nearly six minutes, the song almost doesn’t repeat itself, marking an unreturnable journey through different environments and sonic textures.

Carl Gustav Jung might say that “Perception” is the archetype of progressive metal. However, when IMAGERY play prog metal, they sound like no other band from this style. In this same track it’s possible to notice the strong influence of jazz, classical and even Brazilian bossa nova.

Musically, “Start The War” offers a stunning deconstruction of its titular theme, passing from thrash metal riffs to an atonal style. “The Rain” keeps the heaviness in evidence, but never in a minimalist or cheap way. In the musical universe of IMAGERY, nothing is predictable. “Show Me” is an invitation to see the beauty of introspection. Indeed, this song synthesizes the title and the central concept of the album’s lyrics that are all based on personal reflections of the musicians.

Joceir Bertoni also shows that he is a consummate vocalist. His unique timbre has an important impact on the musical personality of IMAGERY as a whole. With “Stranger” IMAGERY shows how it’s possible to build a heavy metal composition using the main characteristics of this musical genre without sounding cliché. Strategically, “Last” closes the album, and just like “Imagery”, the song embodies the main characteristics of IMAGERY. It doesn’t repeat, but even so it sticks in the mind for hours. “Last” was released as a digital single before the physical release of ‘The Inner Journey’ – along with the other digital single “Perception”.

The pre-release party of ‘The Inner Journey’ happened during a historical gig in March of 2012 at Pedreira do Icatu in Votorantim, Sao Paulo state, aside the worldwide progressive legend, FOCUS. More than 3 thousand people attended the event, making it one of the biggest shows of the band’s career – up there with the “Prog Union Tour” that IMAGERY did in 2009 with the veteran progressive band Apocalypse.

FORMAT: CD
TRACKLIST:
1- Fourth Secret
2- Imagery
3- Perception
4- Start The War
5- The Rain
6- Show Me
7- Stranger
8- Last

LINE-UP:
Joceir Bertoni (Vocal/Guitar)
Ricardo Fanucchi (Bass)
Bruno Pamplona (Drums/Vocal)
Henrique Loureiro (Keyboards)

DISCOGRAPHY:
The Inner Journey (2013)

OFFICIAL ADDRESSES ON INTERNET:
http://www.imageryprog.com.br
http://www.facebook.com/imageryprog
http://www.youtube.com/imageryprog
http://www.twitter.com/imageryprog
http://www.myspace.com/imageryprog
http://www.orkut.com.br/Main#Community.aspx?cmm=37004372

To purchase IMAGERY – ‘The Inner Journey’ CD: http://georiot.co/3c9m

MANAGEMENT, BOOKING, PRESS & PROMOTION: Eliton Tomasi (Som do Darma): eliton@somdodarma.com.br / +55 (15) 3211-1621

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, INC.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://www.CleopatraRecords.com

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release

2013/12/10

UK Prog Legends Nektar To Tour Europe In January 2014

By glassonyonpr

Nektar tour 2014 poster

For Immediate Release

UK Prog Legends Nektar To Tour Europe In January 2014

London, UK – Hot on the heels of a successful US tour and the release of their critically acclaimed new album ‘Time Machine’, UK prog legends Nektar are preparing to tour Europe in early 2014! After a bit of an absence from European stages, Nektar is sure to be a treat for concert-goers who will be fortunate enough to catch one of the shows!

Nektar founding member Roye Albrighton (guitars/lead vocals) says, “We can promise you high quality performances wherever we play. I know I speak on behalf of the band when I say we are all looking forward to it.”

Nektar, featuring Albrighton, founding drummer Ron Howden, keyboardist Klaus Hentasch and bassist Lux Vibratus, although mostly British were formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1970. Their early albums featured a heady, exhilarating mix of progressive, experimental rock sounds that soon caught on worldwide at the height of the international prog-rock boom. Touring the world behind numerous album releases throughout the ‘70s & ‘80s helped to cement the band’s reputation as an influential prog-rock legend. Having undergone a variety of personnel changes over the past decade or so, the band now boasts its strongest lineup in years and is ready to prove so yet again to its many fans throughout Europe.

Nektar’s new album, ‘Time Machine’, featuring the band’s first album of new original material in several years, was released on Cleopatra Records in the USA on June 18, 2013.

Nektar Tour Dates:
Jan 8 – UK, London – Borderline http://www.seetickets.com/event/nektar/borderline/747392
Jan 9 – Germany, Dortmund – Piano Bar http://musiktheater-piano.de/wordpress/tickets-bestellen/
Jan 10 – Germany, Bonn – Harmony http://www.bonnticket.de/suchergebnisse/seo/NEKTAR%20Konzert%202014_679324_details.html?eventid=679324&pkey=1002.679324.0&eventtitle=NEKTAR%20Konzert%202014&cHash=5cfe47f448f3103aff8bb1971b84f8b5
Jan 11 – Germany, Frankfurt – Das Bett http://www.rangeins.de/frankfurt/nektar-2014-01-11-20-30-frankfurt-das-bett/
Jan 12 – Germany, Berlin – White Trash
Jan 13 – Germany, Hamburg – Marxx
Jan 14 – Denmark, Copenhagen – tbc
Jan 16 – Austria
Jan 17 – Austria, Ried Kik
Jan 18 – Austria, Greifenburg Kultursaal

For Further Information:
Nektar facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nektar/198355536955655
Nektar website: http://nektarsmusic.com/nn/home/home_new.asp

Nektar Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://www.CleopatraRecords.com

Leave a comment | posted in Nektar, Press Release

2013/12/09

Washington Post Carlos Santana Article Featuring Interviews with Narada Michael Walden and Bill Ortiz

By glassonyonpr

Carlos Santana031385167633

Carlos Santana finds Kennedy Center Honors after a lifelong search for the ‘universal tone’

By David Montgomery, Friday, December 6, 2:05 PM

LAS VEGAS — Carlos Santana frowns. The look is so uncharacteristic, because this whole afternoon his expression runs consistently from beatific to boyish and back. He riffs amiably about receiving inspiration from angels and discloses secrets about his quest for the “universal tone,” about how he learned to distill longing and joy in a single note — that pristine, piercing Santana sound that’s instantly recognizable from San Francisco to Singapore.

But now he’s standing on a hotel balcony 43 stories up, where a photographer has just asked him to climb onto a table, the better to pose against the neon skyline.

The guitar player balks: “Why do I have to be put on a pedestal?”

Awkward pause.

Santana winks. He’ll do it, on the promise that the effect will not be pedestal-like.

At 66, he has an uneasy relationship with the pedestal — the one that he at once covets, disdains and sometimes doubts he deserves. The one that people want to place him upon — except when they don’t, during those dispiriting droughts when the music-buying public all but forgets him.

For the rest of the article and the interviews, please visit the Washington Post website!

Leave a comment | posted in Article, Bill Ortiz, Interview, Narada Michael Walden

2013/12/08

Gonzo Multimedia To Release Rare CDs By UK Prog-Fusion Legends Brand X and Bass Icon Percy Jones

By glassonyonpr

Brand X releases

For Immediate Release

Gonzo Multimedia To Release Rare CDs By UK Prog-Fusion Legends Brand X and Bass Icon Percy Jones

London, UK – Although typically considered an off-shoot band for Genesis legend Phil Collins, UK prog-fusion group Brand X was much more than that. Featuring several virtuosic musicians (as well as Collins), Brand X took the genre of fusion to a whole new level of expertise. Along with Collins on drums, the band featured Percy Jones (bass), John Goodsall (guitar) Robin Lumley (keyboards), and Morris Pert (percussion), with sometimes Mike Clark, Kenward Dennard (drums), and John Giblin (bass). Active from 1975-1980, Brand X was another one of those bands who were beloved by other musicians, and the more discerning critics, but despite everything never had the commercial success they deserved. The band released several critically acclaimed albums on the Charisma label in the UK and Passport label in the US, including ‘Unorthodox Behaviour’, ‘Moroccan Roll’, ‘Livestock’ and ‘Product’. Now much to the excitement of Brand X fans and fusion music fans worldwide, Gonzo Multimedia is releasing 3 rare Brand X titles on CD (Missing Period, Live At The Roxy LA 1979, Is There Anything About?), as well as bassist Percy Jones’ hard to find solo offering from 1989 ‘Cape Catastrophe’.

Says Percy Jones, “I’m really happy that Gonzo is releasing this stuff. It was recorded over 25 years ago, so it’s great that it’s still available to anyone who is interested.”

Brand X – “Missing Period’: This album represents the earliest known recordings of Brand X circa 1975-76. Recorded shortly before the group’s debut album ‘Unorthodox Behaviour’, the source tapes for this material were recently recovered by John Goodsall from family members in England, who presented John with a box containing all sorts of Brand X memorabilia. At the bottom of the box were some old reels of tape of unknown origin. Upon review John and Percy realized that they had uncovered a long lost treasure – excellent quality recordings of Brand X’s classic lineup performing previously unreleased material. This documents a period of the band’s history which has been missing for over 20 years.

Tracks: 1. Dead Pretty, 2. Kugelblitz, 3. Ancient Mysteries, 4. Why Won’t You Lend Me Yours?. 5. Miserable Virgin, 6. Tito’s Leg

To purchase Brand X – ‘Missing Period’ CD: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/search/product_details/15589/Brand_X-Missing_Period.html

Brand X – ‘Live At The Roxy LA 1979’: Recorded at the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, September 23, 1979 shortly after the release of ‘Product’. This is a previously unreleased soundboard recording of Brand X captured live at the peak of the band’s career.

Tracks: 1. Disco Suicide (intro) Algon, 2. Dance Of The Illegal Aliens, 3. Don’t Make Waves, 4. Malaga Vergen, 5. …And So To F…, 6. Nuclear Burn

To purchase Brand X ‘Live At The Roxy LA 1979’ CD: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/search/product_details/15593/Brand_X-Live_at_the_Roxy,_LA_1979.html

Brand X – ‘Is There Anything About?’: Not long after Brand X released their 1980 album ‘Do They Hurt?’, the band members went their separate ways (until their comeback in 1992 which only featured Goodsall and Jones). However, they still owed their record label one more album. The solution? Release a rarities album! The problem was that there was very little unreleased material in the vaults – about three or four tracks at the most. But with a little doctoring and remixing of tapes, keyboardist Robin Lumley extended that number to six tracks and the label released Brand X’s appropriately-titled collection ‘Is There Anything About?’ in 1982.

Says Gonzo Magazine’s Jon Downes, “It is the last album to feature Phil Collins on drums and includes some absolutely gorgeous slices of Brand X at their very best. This is a peculiar album; at the time many critics panned it, often because it didn’t sound anything like the anodyne pop music that Phil Collins was making elsewhere in his career. However, in my opinion and that of thousands of fans worldwide it acts as a satisfying coda to a body of work which has very few parallels in the world of jazz fusion.”

Tracks: 1. Ipanaemia, 2. A Longer April, 3. Modern, Noisy and Effective, 4. Swan Song, 5. Is There Anything About?, 6. Tmiu-Atga

To purchase Brand X ‘Is There Anything About’ CD: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/search/product_details/15616/Brand_X-Is_There_Anything_About?.html

Percy Jones – ‘Cape Catastrophe’: Several years after the release of Brand X’s final album ‘Is There Anything About?’, bassist Percy Jones moved to New York City and began infiltrating the music scene there. He recorded ‘Cape Catastrophe’ in 1988/89 at a studio in East Harlem. Using an array of hardware and instruments available at the time, including a Casio synthesizer, Roland sequencer. Yamaha drum machine and Korg digital delay, Percy recorded a several tracks ranging in length from 2-and-a half minute to 23minutes.

Says music writer Dave Lynch, “There is certainly a lot here for electric bass-aholics to enjoy: Jones’ burbles, pops, and plonks are all here, and his tone on sustained notes is rich with harmonic overtones as expected. But the music through which the bass slips and slides is often more like twisted instrumental techno-funk than fusion, along with ominous electronic textures that sometimes sound like an ethereal chorus or gruff, agitated shouts distorted beyond recognition.” Gonzo Magazine’s Jon Downes adds, “Jones composed everything on the album himself, except for the closing number. The album is a peculiar, though satisfying mix of jazz fusion and electronica, and is another one of those classic albums that slipped through the cracks at the time, which is just unfair.”

Tracks: 1. The Lie, 2. Cape Catastrophe, 3. Slick, 4. Hex, 5. Barrio, 6. Tunnels, 7. Thin Line, 8. Symphony In F Major

To purchase Percy Jones ‘Cape Catastrophe’ CD: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/search/product_details/15606/Percy_Jones-Cape_Catastrophe.html

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Brand X, Press Release

2013/12/06

Washington Post Article and Interview with Jon Anderson

By glassonyonpr

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Political strategists form bipartisan campaign to get Yes into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

By David Rowell, Published: December 5

As a GOP political strategist, John Brabender had been on countless conference calls in countless conference rooms like this one. Late Halloween afternoon, he was at the National Republican Club occupying a room the color of oatmeal. He had a dozen political heavyweights on the line, and was pacing with the steady rhythm of a sloth bear in captivity.

Brabender is best known as the top strategist on Rick Santorum’s 2012 presidential bid, though he has helped run campaigns in almost every state. Clients have included senators Tom Coburn and David Vitter and former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge.

For 18 years the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has said ‘no’ to the progressive rock band Yes. Now, two major political operatives on opposite sides of the aisle have come together to throw their weight behind the band. The Fold’s Gabe Silverman introduces you to the group and Washington’s most unlikely bipartisan push.
For 18 years the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has said ‘no’ to the progressive rock band Yes. Now, two major political operatives on opposite sides of the aisle have come together to throw their weight behind the band. The Fold’s Gabe Silverman introduces you to the group and Washington’s most unlikely bipartisan push.
But this time the client wasn’t a politician. The cause wouldn’t affect the economy, campaign financing or the environment: Brabender was leading the charge to get Yes into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The British progressive rock group has been eligible since 1994 but has been shut out every time.

For the rest of the article and the interview, please visit the Washington Post website!

Leave a comment | posted in Article, Interview, Jon Anderson

2013/12/05

The Alex Tjoland Band Keeps The Spirit Of Christmas Alive With New CD Release ‘Silent Revelry’

By glassonyonpr

TATB band photo

For Immediate Release

The Alex Tjoland Band Keeps The Spirit Of Christmas Alive With New CD Release ‘Silent Revelry’

New and traditional Christmas songs produced by Macon Music legend Joey Stuckey

Macon, GA – With the holidays right around the corner, the Alex Tjoland Band is keeping the spirit of Christmas alive with their new holiday CD release ‘Silent Revelry’. Produced by Macon music legend Joey Stuckey, ‘Silent Revelry’ features songs devised to evoke familiar Christmas images or sounds, like Christmas trees glowing in darkened living rooms, or the beautiful peal of Christmas bells…

Says guitarist Bo Sammons, “If there is any concept or theme to this record, I would say that it is this: You should not take the people in your life for granted. You should love them and appreciate them, and you should open your eyes and appreciate the world around you, and try to enjoy each day.”

The origins of ‘Silent Revelry’ came when the band were asked to record a Christmas album. Says Bo, “My church wanted a song that incorporated as many names of God as we could. That’s where ‘God In Us, Emmanuel’ came from. I also wanted to try and write new Christmas music because it doesn’t seem like there is any out there. ‘An Angel Said To Mary’ is the Christmas story, and I guess I was thinking about the Linus soliloquy in ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ when I wrote it. Of course, I hope that some of the music means something to people, and they pull it out at Christmas and remember to slow down and hug their loved ones and enjoy the season.”

Writing the record was a collaborative process. With all of the original music, typically, Bo would come up with a riff or chord progression on guitar, and play it repeatedly. He would either have a couple of lines of lyric, or something would come to him, and would then build off the first lines and try to maintain a theme through each song. With ‘Silent Revelry’, Bo tried to concentrate on Christmas images or themes.

Says Bo, “After I have the song written, I play it for Delisa and Rachel. Delisa is a tremendous composer, and she takes the simple progressions or hooks I’ve come up with and composes a piece of music to accompany what I’ve done. Sometimes, like with ‘Silent Revelry’ or ‘An Angel Said to Mary’, or ‘This Picture Of You’, Delisa will compose the opening of the song. I sing the melody to Rachel, and she composes a better melody, with nuances and phrasing that I would not come up with on my own. Then Alex comes up with a drum part.”

The band then took the songs to famed Macon producer Joey Stuckey, who helped with music and background vocal arrangements. He really is just tremendous at that. Bruce Whitten played amazing lead guitar on some of the songs. He also worked with Bo in the early stages of writing the songs, changing up progressions to make the songs more interesting to the ear.

The Alex Tjoland Band are:
Rachel Elkins – lead vocals (all songs except “Magazine”, where she sings BG vocals)
Delisa Kyser – piano/keyboards (plays all keyboard instruments, including strings on “An Angel Said To Mary”)
Alex Tjoland – drums
Erik Tjoland – bass
Bo Sammons – guitar (vocals on “Magazine”)
with…
Bruce Whitten – guitar (studio only – plays lead on “Mercy” and “Magazine”)
Joey Stuckey – producer (sings BG vocals on “Mercy” and lead guitar on “Surf’s Up” and “Santa Claus”)

With many cherished Holiday songs out there, many artists would be more than apprehensive about recording a Christmas album. Says Bo, “It was not intimidating to make the record, because I didn’t feel like I was competing with any great Christmas standard. We did our own version of ‘Silent Night’, with an original arrangement and new chorus, to establish the record as a Christmas record. We were very pleased with the original songs on the record. I wanted the songs to evoke familiar Christmas images or sounds, like Christmas trees glowing in darkened living rooms, or the beautiful peel of Christmas bells, and I think we accomplished that.”

Bo adds, “I also wanted the songs to have an interesting Christmas message, and I think they do. ‘This Picture of You’ is a song I really like. Musically, it is a nod to The Felice Brothers – the greatest band in America – and their use of accordion and simple guitar. The lyrics were inspired by an article I read in Rolling Stone several years ago. The article was made up of about five vignettes about young American soldiers killed in the desert in Iraq. Two of the stories were about young women soldiers. One had been a high school cheerleader, and the other a flag girl in her high school band, about a year or two before being killed. The magazine juxtaposed pictures of the women in combat gear in the desert, with pictures of them in their high school uniforms. I think Christmas is a sad time for many people, and Christmas is celebrated quietly with a picture of a lost loved one. I think the song powerfully evokes that image. We weren’t going to re-write ‘White Christmas’, or ‘Sleigh Bells’, or ‘Silver Bells’. We wrote TATB songs, and I think they stand up pretty well.”

To purchase The Alex Tjoland Band ‘Silent Revelry’ CD:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=Alex%20Tjoland%20Band
CD Baby:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thealextjolandband
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thealextjolandband2

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Alex-Tjoland-Band-TATB-Silent-Revelry/170704219740369?ref=br_tf

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, The Alex Tjoland Band

2013/11/27

Badfinger Legend Joey Molland To Release Highly Anticipated New Solo Album ‘Return To Memphis’

By glassonyonpr

Joey Molland Return To Memphis

For Immediate Release

Badfinger Legend Joey Molland To Release Highly Anticipated New Solo Album ‘Return To Memphis’

London, UK – Much to the excitement of music fans worldwide, Joey Molland, best known for his work with the now legendary English band Badfinger, will be releasing his highly anticipated 4th solo album ‘Return To Memphis’ on December 2, 2013 on UK’s Gonzo Multimedia! The new CD features 10 new Molland compositions recorded at the world famous ‘Royal Studios’ in Memphis.

Says Joey, “I was raised on a diet of Memphis music, and it was a thrill for me to record there…. I also made a lot of friends.”

Signed to the Beatles’ Apple label in the late ’60s, Badfinger would go on to score four consecutive worldwide hits from 1970 to 1972: “Come And Get It” (written and produced by Paul McCartney), “No Matter What”, “Day After Day” and “Baby Blue”. In 1971, a cover of the Badfinger song “Without You” by Harry Nilsson became a number on hit on the Billboard charts. Surviving member Joey Molland has continued to keep the Badfinger flame alight through concerts and recordings over the past 30 years. And now he is back with a fantastic new album ‘Return To Memphis’, which was produced by Carl ‘Blue’ Wise.

Says Joey, “The album is quite a departure for me and the sound is very different, the treatment of the songs, the song content, and Carl’s production and Memphis roots all make for a much simpler approach. I wrote all the songs and they have a lot of meaning to me…I know everybody gets their own feelings out of songs, but you know, I think the songs talk about relevant things and I look forward to peoples’ reaction to them. There are no real Badfinger power chords or anything like that. No real jamming guitars…well…maybe a little bit, and I do play some slide on it… Carl had four girls come in to sing ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ and harmonies which was great, and I played with a three-piece Memphis rhythm section. So it’s a really simple sounding record and I’m just hoping that people will like it.”

Originally from Liverpool, Joey now resides in the US, where he continues to perform with Joey Molland’s Badfinger. Along with Joey on guitar and vocals, the current lineup features Mark Healey (bass/vocals), Steve Wozny (keyboards/vocals), Mike Ricciardi (drums). For updated tour information check Joey Molland’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OriginalBadfinger

Joey’s new CD comes hot on the heels of the major buzz surrounding the Badfinger track “Baby Blue” being played during the finale of A&E’s hit TV series ‘Breaking Bad’. The song became the number one download in the world the week of the final episode!

To purchase Joey Molland ‘Return To Memphis’ CD: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15625/Joey_Molland-Return_To_Memphis.html

For more information: http://www.badfingersite.com/
https://twitter.com/BadfingerJoey

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com
Joey Molland is available for interviews – contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR

Leave a comment | posted in Joey Molland, Press Release

2013/11/25

Cleopatra Records Taps Modern Psych-Space Bands For A Psychedelic Themed Christmas Album

By glassonyonpr

psychoutonesheet med

For Immediate Release

Cleopatra Records Taps Modern Psych-Space Bands
For A Psychedelic Themed Christmas Album

Featuring Psychic Ills, Dead Meadow, The Vacant Lots, Sleepy Sun,
Dark Horses, Elephant Stone, Sons Of Hippies, and more!

Los Angeles, CA – The 2013 holiday season is about to get a whole lot trippier with the release of Cleopatra Record’s Psych-Out Christmas, a brand new compilation of spaced out, psychedelic interpretations of Christmas classics and new holiday favorites performed by a team of current psych-space rock bands from around the globe! The compilation is available now on both CD & vinyl at all fine music retailers as well as for download at iTunes and other digital music retailers.

Canadian indie rockers Elephant Stone kick things off with a sitar-infused version of the beloved Beatles’ holiday singalong “Christmas Time (Is Here Again),” followed by Sweden’s own Dark Horses turning in an original piece composed specifically for this compilation, the wintry, ethereal ballad “Jul Song.” Another Swedish band, The Movements, whose new album was released earlier this year by Cleopatra, offer a uniquely drumless take on “Little Drummer Boy” that swirls with fuzzy guitars and dreamy synths to create a headswimming sugar plum hum.

The vibrant psychedelic rock scene blooming on American shores is well represented here by the likes of Sleepy Sun, who thoroughly deconstruct the 19th century carol “What Child Is This?” and The Vacant Lots, who bring a Spiritualized twist to a long buried holiday treasure written by the band Suicide called “No More Christmas Blues.” The band explained their selection, “After spending many hours overdosing on the more familiar Christmas tunes, we gravitated towards the obscure Ze Christmas album track by Suicide. As big fans of the band, ‘No More Christmas Blues’ seemed the perfect choice. The song also deals with the sadder side of the holidays, which we could relate to. It was a lot of fun to reinterpret the song in a new light and be part of a record with many other great bands.”

Florida-based trio Sons Of Hippies chose the unconventional yet wholly appropriate cover of The Zombies’ “Time Of the Season,” for what is Christmas if not “the season of loving”? Singer Katherine Kelly explains, “‘Time Of The Season’ was fun to cover. We replaced the organ parts on the original Zombies version with layers of distorted guitar leads and gave the drums an eerie, echoed intro. The Psych-Out Christmas compilation is unique and spooky and we wanted to be a part of that vibe.”

New York band Psychic Ills, currently on tour with Mazzy Star, got their Christmas wish when they were given the opportunity to record a version of Chuck Berry’s rollicking “Run Rudolph Run.” Guitarist/vocalist Tres Warren proclaims, “I always liked ‘Run Rudolph Run’ because it was a song that I’d actually want to listen to regardless of what time of year it is, and Chuck Berry is as mythical as Santa Clause in my mind.”

Alongside these newcomers, a few veterans join in the mix, including long time garage rock heroes The Fuzztones, and the original wild man himself Iggy Pop! Fans of these great artists, as well as anyone looking for a break from the traditional ho-hum Christmas album, is sure to find stocking full of surprises on this great release!

1. Christmas Monster Party (Intro) – Len Maxwell
2. Christmas Time (Is Here Again) – Elephant Stone
3. It’s Christmas Day – Cosmonauts
4. Silent Night – Quintron & Miss Pussycat
5. Jul Song – Dark Horses
6. What Child Is This? – Sleepy Sun
7. No More Christmas Blues – The Vacant Lots
8. Time of the Season – Sons of Hippies
9. Santa Claus – The Fuzztones
10. Christmas Tears – Eli Cook
11. Little Drummer Boy – The Movements
12. Jingle Bell Rock – Quintron & Miss Pussycat
13. Frosty The Snowman – The Candy Store
14. Run Rudolph Run – Psychic Ills
15. Mele Kalikimaka – Dead Meadow
16. Jingle Bells – He 5
17. White Christmas (Guitar Stooge Version) – Iggy Pop

Purchase the CD at Amazon: http://georiot.co/2ceI
or Vinyl: http://georiot.co/2p3N

Download the album at iTunes: http://georiot.co/1a7a

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, INC.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://www.CleopatraRecords.com

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, Psych-Out Christmas