Music News.......updated November 1, 2009...
TIMOTHY B. SCHMIT RELEASES "EXPANDO"
Timothy B. Schmit has released Expando, his fifth solo album, on Lost Highway Records. The 11-track set includes a variety of guests, including Kid Rock, Dwight Yoakam, Graham Nash, Keb' Mo', Kenny Wayne Shepherd, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Van Dyke Parks, and Garth Hudson.
Revealing his plans earlier this year, Schmit told Billboard.com that he was pleased with Expando because "for the first time I feel like it's totally me. I wrote the whole thing. I did it at my home studio, and I play as much on it as possible. For the first time I think it's really more me, really what I represent. It's just me, for better or for worse. It's been a really joyous experience." Expando will be Schmit's first solo release since Feed The Fire in 2001, which he chalks up to being busy with the Eagles, both on the road and making the group's Grammy Award-winning 2007 album Long Road Out Of Eden.
"It's been taking a long time because I have been so busy with the band -- and that is not a complaint." Schmit says the guests on Expando represent "people that I really admire," most of whose phone numbers he already had, so "I didn't even have to go through management...Everybody came to my house, my studio, and sounded really, really great." A case in point was Kid Rock, who joins Yoakam and Burton on the track "Downtime." "I've bumped into him quite a lot the last couple years," Schmit says, "and he gave me his phone number one day. We would see each other in restaurants. He invited my wife and I over to a couple of parties and get-togethers at his house. And one day I just said 'You know I'd love to have you sing on my record'...and he just drove over and did it. It was a lot of fun. Everybody I have on this record has been really great. They really were hard workers and they wanted to get it right, and it's not necessarily music that they were familiar with."
EXPANDO Track Listing:
1. ONE MORE MILE (Featuring Keb’ Mo’ on Slide Dobro)
2. PARACHUTE (Featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd on Lead Guitar, Benmont Tench on Organ, and Graham Nash on Background Vocals)
3. FRIDAY NIGHT (Featuring Garth Hudson on Organ and Van Dyke Parks on Accordion)
4. ELLA JEAN
5. WHITE BOY FROM SACRAMENTO (Featuring Benmont Tench on Electric Piano and Ben Schmit on Drums & Lead Guitar)
6. COMPASSION
7. DOWNTIME (Featuring Kid Rock and Dwight Yoakam on Background Vocals)
8. MELANCHOLY
9. I DON’T MIND (Featuring Van Dyke Parks on Accordion)
10. SECULAR PRAISE (Featuring Van Dyke Parks on Accordion, Benmont Tench on Organ, and The Blind Boys Of Alabama on Background Vocals)
11. A GOOD DAY (Featuring Donna De Lory on Background Vocals)
Listen to my interview with Timothy here: www.wmgk.com/Audio/tabid/209/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3318/Timothy-B-Schmit-Interview.aspx
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STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, & 38 SPECIAL TEAM UP FOR "CAN'T STOP ROCKIN'" TOUR
VH1 Classic and Rock Band are proud to bring the CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' 2009 Tour to America, featuring STYX, REO Speedwagon, and 38 Special, three of the hardest working bands in rock'n'roll.
CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' kicks off May 13th in Albuquerque, New Mexico and will feature hit-packet sets spanning the course of these three unparalleled rock legacies. The tour is geared to give the ultimate classic rock experience at a fan friendly ticket price.
To celebrate their upcoming trek together, STYX and REO Speedwagon teamed up to record a new single, "Can't Stop Rockin'," co-written by REO Speedwagon's Kevin Cronin and STYX's Tommy Shaw.
"Both bands have always tried to keep our ticket prices low so that none of our fans get let out. It's our own personal Rock'n'Roll Stimulus packages," says Tommy Shaw. "It's been nine years since the Arch Allies tour and it just seemed like the right time to team up with our friends REO and hit the road again." Kevin Cronin adds, "The world is going through a weird phase, and everybody needs music now more than ever. We all need to join our friends, pool our resources, combine our energies, because there is power in people coming together. That spirit has brought STYX and REO together to write, record, and tour together, and celebrate it all with the greatest fans in America."
CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' is dedicated to raising awareness about hunger among American school children by partnering with "Blessings in a Backpack," a non-profit organization that provides weekend meals to school children in need. Fans attending the CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' tour will be able to help buy food for this valuable effort. Additional details surrounding the involvement of VH1 Classic and Rock Band in the CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' tour are available on the bands' websites: www.styxworld.com, www.speedwagon.com, and www.38special.com .
Click www.youtube.com/watch to watch the video for "CAN'T STOP ROCKIN'."
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SHAW BLADES TO RELEASE INFLUENCE: VOLUME II
Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades are currently working on the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2007 release Influence, which featured covers of their favorite 60s and 70s songs such as "Dirty Work" by Steely Dan, "California Dreamin'" by the Mamas & the Papas, ELP's "Lucky Man," and Paul Simon's "I Am A Rock." In addition to recording Influence: Volume II, the two continue to maintain a full schedule with their respective bands, STYX and Night Ranger.
Longtime players of Taylor Guitars, Shaw Blades recently performed live at the Taylor Guitars booth at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) tradeshow in Anaheim, California. Here's a link to a video of them performing "Blue Collar Man": www.youtube.com/watch
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40TH ANNIVERSARY WOODSTOCK CONCERTS ANNOUNCED FOR NEW YORK AND BERLIN
Chief Woodstock promoter Michael Lang is planning two free Woodstock concerts in Berlin, Germany and in New York in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the original 1969 festival. According to the press release, the New York show still doesn't have a venue, but will take place on the actual 40th anniversary of August 15th and 16th. The Berlin show will take place at the now-closed Tempelhof Airport on August 22nd and 23rd. Lang and his partners are hoping to snap some of the original participants that performed at Yasgur's farm back in '69, including Santana, The Who, Joan Baez, Joe Cocker, Grateful Dead, Country Joe and the Fish, as well as current top acts.
A new website, www.Woodstock.com , is currently being developed for information on the shows.
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STYX'S TODD SUCHERMAN RELEASES DVD
Todd Sucherman brings the knowledge of thousands of gigs, shows and recording sessions along with over three decades as a professional drummer to a useful and unique DVD package, "Methods and Mechanics." Astonishing technique, power and musicality explode from the various musical and solo performances throughout this presentation. Working with artists over a myriad of genres diverse as Styx, Brian Wilson, Spinal Tap, Eric Marienthal, Peter Cetera, John Wetton, Steve Cole, The Falling Wallendas and countless more, there's a wealth of knowledge imparted that goes way beyond just the technical aspects of drumming. Filmed in 16X9 in High Definition at a stunning location, this DVD features music from Styx, Taylor Mills and Jerry Goodman and contains various solos and playing examples in an array of styles as well as technical lessons to enhance your rhythmic and musical vocabulary.
Methods and Mechanics is a stunning achievement that reminds us the music comes first ,and that the arts are one of life's greatest joys. Entertaining as well as educational, music and truth flow through this epic presentation.
Available worldwide from Altitude Digital Video Production Altitudedigital.com
For more on Todd, pick up the current issue of "Classic Dummer" and/or the October issue of "Modern Drummer" -- both magazines feature Todd on their cover.
Visit Todd online: www.toddsucherman.com