Author Archives: glassonyonpr

2013/12/06

Washington Post Article and Interview with Jon Anderson

By glassonyonpr

AP77080504681383688811

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

2013/11/23

Take A Carnival Ride Of Indie Folk Grunge With Ferris & The Wheels – Debut EP ‘Hollow’ Available December 17, 2013!

By glassonyonpr

Ferris & The Wheels cover med res

For Immediate Release

Take A Carnival Ride Of Indie Folk Grunge With Ferris & The Wheels –
Debut EP ‘Hollow’ Available December 17, 2013!

New Viral Video Portrays Anti-Bullying Message

Nashville, TN – Hot on the heels of their new viral video, Nashville group Ferris & The Wheels will be releasing their highly anticipated debut EP ‘Hollow’ on December 17, 2013. The band’s new anti-bullying video ‘Can’t By Yourself” has been garnering attention worldwide! Described as a “carnival ride of Indie-Folk-Grunge”, Ferris & The Wheels new 5-song EP takes you on a ride of indie folk rock to hard rock, alternative grunge and progressive rock. Geoff Ferris, lead singer and songwriter, born in Bad Axe, MI, and former lead singer of the band ‘Bad Axe’, has had success in Boston and Nashville as a musician. In 2012, Ferris and drummer Patrick Gullett formed Ferris & The Wheels.

Says Geoff Ferris, “I didn’t pre-plan a concept for this EP, but as I pieced the songs together it has both a musical and story flow. The way I write is to show you can blend stories of real experiences with different styles of rock and make it flow. The only metaphor I can think of is… Imagine a bird flying through multiple environments (from a quiet sunny field on a cool spring morning, to a shady tree on a hot summer day, to a rushing and screaming waterfall on an autumn evening) all the while, whistling different melodies to go along with the experience.”

The band’s new video “Can’t By Yourself” deals with the serious subject of bullying. Says Geoff, “The video is for our first single ‘Can’t By Yourself’ and portrays an anti-bullying message. It’s a story of three middle school kids who are being picked on by a mutual bully. Once they realize their nemesis is the same guy, they team together and get him back in an ultimate showdown on the school playground. After listening to the song, videographer, Andrew Yontz, was inspired to write something with a positive message. He wrote, directed, filmed, and edited the entire video, and I couldn’t be happier. My wife is a kindergarten teacher, both my kids attend public school, and I was a public school teacher (Special Education), so I’ve been really proud to pass this video on to my friends who are teachers. The actors were all local middle schoolers, and it was filmed at a school just south of Nashville.”

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQjh962BE6A (Preview)

As a self-proclaimed “Rock Fanatic”, Geoff has a wide range of musical tastes: classic rock, folk, progressive, grunge, alternative, pop and modern indie. His biggest influences started with oldies and Motown, but quickly moved to Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, The Beatles, Neil Young and The Beach Boys. By the time he was 13 in 1994, Geoff was just beginning to have his mind blown by Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan, while simultaneously being hit with the current movement of grunge and alternative rock, which included Nirvana, Soundgarden, The Offspring, Pearl Jam and STP. Along with newer rock bands like the Foo Fighters and White Stripes, he’s also influenced by some hip-hop/rap artists such as Eazy-E, Tupac, Snoop Dog, Dre, and Too Short.

Says Geoff, “The new EP is definitely darker and harder compared to my previous works, but I don’t mean it’s depressing or woeful, it rocks, and before long you’ll want to sing and scream along. It’s the first time I ever recorded songs I co-wrote with someone as part of the project. When co-writing with Patrick Gullett (drummer) on the songs ‘Hollow’ and ‘Let’s Get Into Something’, we explored some untouched areas deep within our existence that we both felt an insatiable urge to bring to light…or dark. I wrote ‘Hold Your Tongue’ and ‘Allow Me’ in 2008 and ‘Can’t By Yourself’ a few months before we recorded in August 2013. So it’s a blend of songs from my catalogue I felt needed to be unleashed.”

“Ferris & The Wheels mounts a furious charge onto the music scene with an EP steeped in melancholy and gnawing sense of loss. Determined to reach the top – in life, love and everything in between – lead singer Geoff Ferris conveys a sense of hopefulness even when exploring dark and conflicted ideas. Whether rocking out or reining in, the impassioned arrangements serve as a fitting vehicle for his time-tested ambitions.” – Blake Boldt, M Music & Musicians Magazine

Says Geoff, “I loved the recording process to make this EP. This project changed me forever. Andrew Bazinet (produced, recorded and mixed) emphasized pre-production on day one of our talks. From practicing to editing and remaining passionate throughout the process, he kept us grounded and made it fun. Also, we delegated responsibilities before doing anything in the studio. It’s by far my best effort and I felt completely drained, both physically and emotionally, when I was done recording. Finally, it was a team effort. I had a great bunch of musicians who came together to make this possible.”

Ferris & The Wheels ‘Hollow’ EP can be purchased at: http://www.cdbaby.com/m/cd/ferristhewheels

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/ferrisandthewheels
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/ferrisandthewheels
Twitter: @FerrisAndWheels https://twitter.com/FerrisAndWheels
YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLxmRscOrjMCBkGwMdENwpA

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

Leave a comment | posted in Ferris & The Wheels, Press Release

2013/11/20

NY Prog Ensemble Jolly Release New Homemade Video ‘Lucky’

By glassonyonpr

JOLLY band pic

For Immediate Release

NY Prog Ensemble Jolly Release New Homemade Video ‘Lucky’

Los Angeles, CA – Created by the band themselves with only a cardboard box, construction paper and a toy robot, ‘Lucky’ is the fourth video from the album ‘The Audio Guide To Happiness ll’ on InsideOut Music. The video features a stealth-guest appearance by famed drummer Mike Portnoy, who subsequently drives a puppy nursery van, whilst sporting his blue beard.

The video can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/Tw0B1DbPIic

Jolly has been direct support for a few of Portnoy’s bands which include Winery Dogs, Flying Colors and will join also the cast of the first annual 2014 Progressive Nation at Sea Cruise powered by InsideOut Music. (www.progressivenationatsea.com)

The band is currently on tour in the USA with Scale The Summit & Reign of Kindo, but that didn’t stop them from finishing and releasing this one of a kind, other worldly, cartoonish 3 ½ minute piece of joy.

Jolly had this to say about the video: “JOLLY took time out of their busy schedule to do some arts and crafts to make their latest animated video for “Lucky.” They made the most we could out of cardboard, hot glue, and computer software. JOLLY loves you.”

Based in New York City, Jolly is a quartet who’s soul purpose for the past 3 years was to release their magnum opus concept album ‘The Audio Guide To Happiness’, which is broken up into 2 releases. Starting their career with presumably their most ambitious work and setting the tone for things to come.

Jolly plan on putting aside some time to write and record during the winter and will be releasing new material in 2014, with plans to do a short European tour around their performance at ProgPower 2014 in the Netherlands.

JOLLY ONLINE:
http://www.jollyband.com
http://www.facebook.com/jollyband
http://www.youtube.com/theincrediblejolly

INSIDEOUT MUSIC ONLINE:
http://www.insideoutmusic.com
http://www.facebook.com/insideoutmusic
http://www.youtube.com/insideoutmusictv

PROGRESSIVE NATION AT SEA
http://www.progressivenationatsea.com
http://www.facebook.com/progressivenationatsea

Press inquiries (USA & Canada): Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Leave a comment | posted in Jolly, Press Release

2013/11/15

Swiss Neo-Prog Band Clepsydra To Release Limited Edition CD Box Set ‘3654 Days’

By glassonyonpr

Clepsydra.Promo1 med

For Immediate Release

Swiss Neo-Prog Band Clepsydra To Release Limited Edition CD Box Set
‘3654 Days’

Switzerland – Much to the excitement of prog fans worldwide, Swiss neo-prog ensemble Clepsydra will be releasing a limited edition box set containing the group’s critically acclaimed albums ‘Hologram’, ‘More Grains of Sand’, ‘Fears’ and ‘Alone’. To be released in January 2014 by Swiss label Galileo Records LTD, and distributed and marketed by Gonzo MultiMedia, the 4-CD box set titled ‘3654 Days’ will contain all 4 albums meticulously remastered. Also added, an hour of additional unreleased and bonus material. This will include live recordings, demos, unreleased alternative mixes and unreleased alternative versions. A 12″x12″ book with rare photos and the history of the band will also be included. The box set will be a limited run of 1000 copies and will contain a certificate of authenticity, hand signed by all the band members. The brilliant artwork is done by Mark Wilkinson, who is best known for his work with Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Marillion.

In regards to the title, bassist and founding member Andy Thommen explains, “The first album ‘Hologram’ was released in November 1991. ‘Alone’ was released in November 2001. There are 3654 days (10 years) between those releases.”

Clepsydra is a Swiss neo-progressive band that was formed in 1990 by Aluisio Maggini (vocals), Lele Hofmann (guitars), Philip Hubert (keyboards), Andy Thommen (bass) and Pietro Duca (drums).

In 1991 Clepsydra released their first album ‘Hologram’, which was followed by the EP ‘Fly Man’ in 1993. Clepsydra then signed to InsideOut, who released their second album ‘More Grains of Sand’ in 1994. This CD included the song “Moonshine on Heights”, which by many is regarded as neo-prog classic. 1994 also saw them performing two songs on national Swiss TV, a rare occurrence for a progressive rock band at that time.

Says Andy, “We had no idea that there was a progressive rock scene. In fact we never heard the expression progressive rock until about three months after the release of Hologram in 1991.”

In 1998 Clepsydra released their third album ‘Fears’, the first album with Marco Cerulli on guitar. In the wake of the album release Clepsydra had a 10 day long European tour and was booked for a concert in Canada on the strength of this production. In 2001 the band released ‘Alone’ with Nicola De Vita on bass. This album came with 3 different album covers: “The Chicken”, “The Octopus” and “The Fish”.

Following these four albums Clepsydra entered a state of hiatus. At this point they had established themselves as a popular entity among fans of neo-progressive rock, and they were often compared to the likes of Jadis, IQ and Fish-era Marillion. In 2013 Clepsydra announced they were reuniting, with Andy Thommen back on bass guitar and a reunion tour scheduled for 2014.

Says Andy about the reunion, “On Sunday June 23 we met and decided to go for the reunion. The day after we did one single post on facebook announcing the reunion, within 24 hours we had the first 3 concert offers!”

Clepsydra show dates:

Saturday April 5, 2014, Progdreams III, Zoetemeer, The Netherlands
Friday May 2, 2014, ROSfest, Gettysburg, PA, US
Friday June 20, 2014, PPR, Das Rind, Rüsselsheim, Germany
Saturday July 26, 2014, Ecosmusicais, Paradise Garage, Lisbon, Portugal
Saturday November 1, 2014, Prog En Beauce Edition II, Villemeux sur Eure, France
Concerts in Poland and Switzerland will be announced soon.

A small detail of note in the band history is that renowned surrealist artist H. R. Giger, known for his concept art for the Hollywood blockbuster movie Alien and a number of album cover art productions for artists such as Deborah Harry, ELP and Celtic Frost, provided a holographed object for Clepsydra’s debut album ‘Hologram’.

In closing, Andy imparts, “We are so excited that after more than 12 years of inactivity we still get daily fan mail!”

Clepsydra’s ‘3654’ box set (GLR118BOXCD) will be released in January 2014, for pre-order information visit the band’s website.

For more information:
Web site: http://www.clepsydra.ch
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clepsydra.ch

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

Leave a comment | posted in Clepsydra, Press Release

2013/11/14

Sound & Vision Interview with Jon Anderson

By glassonyonpr

JON ANDERSON photo by Deborah Anderson.EDIT_

Original Yes Vocalist Jon Anderson
By Mike Mettler • Posted: Nov 13, 2013

“You always think your voice will never end, of course,” observes Jon Anderson, the unmistakable alto tenor fronting indelible Yes classics like “Roundabout,” “And You And I,” “Going for the One,” and “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” to name but a scant few of their progressive gems. About 5 years ago, Anderson’s golden voice was threatened with a health scare, but after a necessary recovery period, his singing voice is back, and stronger than ever. I can attest to that fact, having seen Anderson perform an exhilarating set accompanied only by keyboardist Rick Wakeman at New York City’s Concert Hall on October 24, 2011.
While he no longer fronts Yes, Anderson, 69, remains an undeterred spirit, forging ahead with many of his own projects, including solo tours on both land and sea, as well as putting the finishing touches on 60 minutes of new music he’s considering releasing in app form. A longtime fan of surround sound — to date, his favorite surround mix is one of the live versions of “Awaken” — Anderson says he’s especially looking forward to hearing the high-resolution 5.1 mix Steven Wilson recently did on Blu-ray for Yes’ 1972 far-reaching classic, Close to the Edge (spoiler alert: it’s mind-expandingly amazing).

Here, Anderson and I discuss why Yes music endures, the thought of Yes getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a possible new surround venture (or two). “There’s a constant flow of musical energy, and I’ve got to keep on keeping on,” he says. Who are we to say No?

Mike Mettler: You always put forth a positive vibe, no matter what’s been going on with you and around you. What do you attribute that to?

Jon Anderson: Well, there’s no point in slowing down. [chuckles] I’m very thankful for the success of my career and the potential of doing more of what I’ve done with the great musicians in Yes, as well as with artists like Vangelis and Kitaro. I worked for so many years with very, very talented people in Yes, and we were able to create music I couldn’t even dream of doing on my own. Because I was working with such talented musicians, I looked at creating longer forms of music with Steve [Howe], Richard [Rick Wakeman], Bill [Bruford], Chris [Squire], and Alan [White]. I pushed them along to do those longform pieces. Because I just felt, “Hey, the mountain is there; let’s climb it.”

For the full interview, please visit the Sound & Vision Website!

Leave a comment | posted in Interview, Jon Anderson

2013/11/12

RollingStone.com To Premiere A New Wanda Jackson Recording From The Forthcoming Jack White Tribute Album

By glassonyonpr

jack white tribute cover med

For Immediate Release

RollingStone.com To Premiere A New Wanda Jackson Recording From The Forthcoming Jack White Tribute Album

Los Angeles, CA – The Queen of Rockabilly, music legend Wanda Jackson, has recorded a brand new cover version of The White Stripes’ “In The Cold, Cold Night,” which will be premiered as a full audio stream on RollingStone.com November 12th. The slow burner penned by Jack White for The Stripes’ breakout album Elephant is the first single from the brand new tribute album Rockin’ Legends Pay Tribute To Jack White to be released on both CD and vinyl as well as digital November 19th by Cleopatra Records. The album is a one of a kind tribute that features several of White’s musical predecessors, giants of rockabilly, early rock and classic punk on whose shoulders White has stood, including Big Jay McNeely, Sonny Burgess, Gary U.S. Bonds, Bobby Vee, Walter Lure of Johnny Thunders’ The Heartbreakers, Knox of UK punk legends The Vibrators and many more!

Listen to the stream here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/wanda-jackson-covers-the-white-stripes-song-premiere-20131108

Not all of these names may be familiar to fans of Jack White, but most will know of his deep admiration for the pioneering performer Wanda Jackson who broke new ground in the 1950s as the first popular female rockabilly artist. In 2009, White produced Wanda’s critically acclaimed solo album The Party Ain’t Over, which landed Jackson on the Billboard Top 200 album charts for the very first time in her long career. On Rockin’ Legends, Wanda shows the admiration is mutual with her slightly countrified, ultra sultry take on “In The Cold, Cold Night,” which also features instrumentation and production by Shooter Jennings, son of famed country outlaw Waylon Jennings.

And hers is not the only inventive spin on White’s modern alternative classics. Big Jay McNeely brings a swingin’ vocal to “I’m Shakin’” as he trades sax solos with Hawkwind wild man Nik Turner. Speaking of wild men, the lucha libre masked guitar slingin’ trio Los Straightjackets throw down a raucous instrumental version of “Icky Thump” while the aforementioned punk rockers, Knox and Walter Lure, team up with drum hero W.S. “Fluke” Holland, the skinsman for both Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, on “Seven Nation Army.” Exploring the outer reaches of Jack White’s diverse career, Sonny Burgess brings in his Legendary Pacers on a cover of The Raconteur’s “Steady As She Goes” and Tex-Mex singer Rosie Flores crashes the boys club with a stellar cover of the titular track from White’s recent solo album Blunderbuss.

From rockabilly to punk, neo surf to traditional country, no other tribute album has spanned so much musical diversity and history, a testament to the vast range of influences that inspired Jack White’s incredible career.

1. In The Cold, Cold Night – Wanda Jackson feat. Shooter Jennings
2. I’m Shakin’ – Big Jay McNeely & Nik Turner
3. Salute Your Solution – Gary U.S. Bonds
4. Steady As She Goes – Sonny Burgess & The Legendary Pacers
5. Trash Tongue Talker – Joe Clay & Cranston Clements
6. Another Way To Die – Robert Gordon & Chris Spedding
7. Seven Nation Army – Knox, Walter Lure & W.S. “Fluke” Holland
8. Fly Farm Blues – Johnny Powers
9. We’re Going To Be Friends – Bobby Vee
10. Blunderbuss – Rosie Flores
11. Fell In Love With A Girl – The Dirt Daubers
12. You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told) – Rejected Youth Nation feat. Cyril Neville
13. Top Yourself – The Denver Broncos UK
14. Icky Thump – Los Straightjackets

Purchase the CD at Amazon: http://georiot.co/2cyL

Download the album at iTunes: http://georiot.co/3OUH

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

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2013/11/07

Final Album By UK Music Legend, Activist, Anarchist and Writer, Mick Farren Now Available!

By glassonyonpr

Mick Farren cover

For Immediate Release

Final Album By UK Music Legend, Activist, Anarchist and Writer, Mick Farren Now Available!

London, UK – Much to the excitement of fans and music press around the world, the final album by UK music legend, activist, anarchist, writer and street politician, Mick Farren, has been released. Mick Farren and Andy Colquhoun ‘The Woman In The Black Vinyl Dress’ is now available on CD from GONZO Multimedia UK. Mick Farren was an English journalist, author and singer associated with the UK underground. Farren was best known as the singer with the proto-punk group The Deviants between 1967 and 1969. The band released three critically acclaimed albums “Ptoofff!”, “Disposable” and “The Deviants 3”, before Farren left for a solo career. In 1970 he released his first solo album ‘Mona – The Carnivorous Circus’ which featured Steve Peregrin Took, John Gustafson and Paul Buckmaster, before leaving the music business to concentrate in his writing.

During the mid-70s Mick briefly returned to music, releasing the single “Play With Fire” featuring Marky (soon-to-be Ramone) Bell, Jon Tiven and Doug Snyder. He also released the EP ‘Screwed Up’, the album ‘Vampires Stole My Lunch Money’ and the single “Broken Statue”. The album featured fellow NME journalist Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) and Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson. After that, Farren did sporadic musical work, collaborating with Wayne Kramer of the MC5 on two albums (‘Who Shot The Dutch’ & ‘Death Tongue’), Jack Lancaster of Bloodwyn Pig on an album (‘The Deathray Tapes’) and Andy Colquhoun on The Deviants albums ‘Eating Jello With A Heated Fork’ and ‘Dr. Crow’. He also wrote lyrics for various musician friends over the years. He co-wrote “Lost Johnny” with Lemmy for Hawkwind, and “Keep Us On The Road” and “Damage Case” for Motorhead. He co-wrote “When’s The Fun Begin?” with Larry Wallis for the Pink Fairies, along with several songs on Wallis’s solo album ‘Death In The Guitafternoon’. Mick also provided lyrics for the Wayne Kramer single “Get Some” in the mid-1970s and continued to collaborate with him in the 1990’s.

As a writer, in the early 1970’s Mick contributed to the UK Underground press. He later wrote for the mainstream publication NME. Farren also penned 23 novels, which included 11 works of non-fiction, several biographical (including 4 books on Elvis Presley), autobiographical and culture books, as well a lot of poetry. From 2003 to 2008 he was a columnist for the Los Angeles newspaper CityBeat. In 2010 Mick returned to the UK and continued to write. As a longtime asthmatic, Farren eventually developed emphysema, and against medical advice Farren continued to perform on occasion with The Deviants, (with the use of an oxygen tank between songs at times).

“I’m a lousy singer,” he once told the LA Weekly, “but an excellent rock star.”Mick Farren lived his music to the very end… He died at the age of 69 on July 27, 2013, after collapsing on stage while performing with the Deviants at The Borderline club in Soho. A tribute concert to Mick Farren will be held on November 14, 2013 at The Flyover in London. Says Jon Downes of The Gonzo Daily blog, “Following Mick’s funeral last month, it was decided to hold a much bigger occasion where friends and colleagues could gather together, share stories, laugh and reflect on the life of a friend who left us too soon. At its heart, this event will be an opportunity to finish the set Mick and The Deviants started that fateful night at The Borderline. There will be live music from the Deviants, Slim Tim Rundall, and guests. I had great love and respect for him, and I hope in the weeks, months and years to come, as part of Gonzo Multimedia we shall help bring his invaluable work and inspirational legacy to new generations.”

Mick’s final album, with fellow Deviants member and musical accomplice Andy Colquhoun, ‘The Woman In The Black Vinyl Dress’ was recorded last year and serves as a fitting swansong for the legendary artist. Says Andy, “The initial vocal tracks were laid down by Mick in February 2012 at Brighton Electric, to click tracks at various tempos. Jaki Miles-Windmill added backing vocals, and some percussion at this session. I took the vocal tracks to my studio, Cybermusik, and overdubbed guitars, bass, drums, keyboards and more backing vocals, and also put the poetry in a song structure. The tracks ‘Pick Up The Scissors’ and ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ had vocals recorded at Mick’s flat and at Cybermusik. Jaki also added percussion and vocals at Cybermusik.” Andy put the the CD together over a six month period, and mixed the album in August 2012. Andy also produced/played/composed on ‘Vampires Stole My Lunch Money’. ‘The Deviants Have Left The Planet’, ‘The Death Ray Tapes’, ‘Barbarian Princess’ and ‘Fragments Of Broken Probes’.

On a final note, Mick’s very last recording was the single for Shagrat records titled “Fury Of The Mob “ backed with “A Better Day Coming”, which was released in July 2013.

To purchase Mick Farren and Andy Colquhoun – ‘The Woman In The Black Vinyl Dress’ CD: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15598/Mick_Farren_and_Andy_Colquhoun-The_Woman_In_The_Black_Vinyl_Dress.html

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

Leave a comment | posted in Mick Farren, Press Release