westcoastmusic

Live at duo Music Exchange: A great series of concerts for wealthy fans!

Duo Music Exchange, the live house in Tokyo released a series of live DVDs and live CDs filmed & recorded live at the live house as "World Premium Artist Series 100's". The first artist of this series was Robbie Dupree. Recorded on Saturday March 13, 2004. Other live performances were released in 2005 and features artists such as Shakatak, Stephen Bishop, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Douberry Jam, Rockapella, Suzanne Vega and Caron Weeler.

You can purchase those products on the web for a very expensive price. Too bad for fans, for the sales... and for the artists!! In France, you'll have to pay 70 euros for a dvd and 30 euros for a cd (with a simple cd jacket without any informations about songwriters, musicians playing on it). Who can buy a dvd at that price? Where goes the money?? Hope the big part goes to the artists whom make us spend good time with their creations...

Clay Aiken news update: Clay Aiken summer tour and TV appareance, Clay Aiken fanclub

Clay Aiken news update: Clay Aiken summer tour and TV appareance, Clay Aiken fanclub.

Here are the first Clay Aiken summer tour concert dates announced:
7/28/05 :: Tom River, NJ - Ritacco Center / Toms River High School
8/08/05 :: Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap for the Performing Arts / The Filene Center
8/10/05 :: Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest
8/18/05 :: Indianapolis, IN - Indiana State Fairgrounds
8/19/05 :: Interlochen, MI - Interlochen Center
8/21/05 :: Meadville, PA - Crawford County Fair
8/27/05 :: Gilford, NH - Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center

Clay Aiken upcoming TV Appearance is:
July 29th :: Good Morning America - Summer Concert Series (ABC)

Please also note Clay Aiken official fanclub is now launched at the following website.

As the runner-up to Fox TV's second American Idol: The Search for a Superstar competition, vocalist Clay Aiken wowed television audiences in 2003 with his Southern charm, sweet demeanor, and bright, glorious voice, and became a pop star. Originally, Clay Aiken planned to try out for the reality TV series The American Race, but went ahead and auditioned for the talent contest to please an encouraging friend. Out of 7,000 hopefuls, the Charlotte, NC, native won the hearts of the judges as well as millions of fans across the globe.

Clay Aiken "Measure of a Man" CD (2003): ORDER IT NOW.

Joss Stone: Gap Spokesperson, Joss Stone duet with Melissa Etheridge is most-downloaded song on iTunes, Joss Stone for VH1's Save The Music Concert

Joss Stone: Gap Spokesperson, Joss Stone duet with Melissa Etheridge is most-downloaded song on iTunes, Joss Stone for VH1's Save The Music Concert.

Over six months after the release of he acclaimed album "Mind, Body & Soul" (S-Curve Records) Grammy nominee Joss Stone is busier than ever. Just last week, Joss's Grammy duet with Melissa Etheridge - the show-stopping "Cry Baby/Piece of My Heart" medley tribute to Janis Joplin - was made available for purchase on iTunes, and shot to #1 on the site's most-downloaded list. All proceeds from the track will go to breast cancer research.

Looking to April, Joss Stone is confirmed to be spokesperson for the GAP Inc. retail chain's new summer campaign, which is set to launch April 28 with extensive television and print exposure. Joss will be the only personality featured in the campaign.

And on April 11, Joss will join Rod Stewart, Alicia Keys, Rob Thomas, Queen Latifah, Donna Summer and John Legend at the Beacon Theater in NYC for VH1's Save The Music Concert, an event to aid music-in-school programs. The concert will air April 17 on VH1.

Joss Stone "Mind, Body & Soul Sessions Live in New York City" DVD. Joss Stone's words may come as a surprise to fans of the seventeen-year-old singer from Devon, England: Her first S-Curve recording, "The Soul Sessions," established Joss Stone as perhaps the most precociously gifted vocalist of her generation. But that September 2003 release, Joss Stone admits, "started out as a side project and turned into this huge thing."

Joss Stone "Mind, Body & Soul Sessions Live in New York City" DVD : ORDER IT NOW.

Lou Reed Signs Worldwide Recording Deal With Sanctuary Records

Lou Reed Signs Worldwide Recording Deal With Sanctuary Records and Lou Reed Two Rare UK Concerts in April 2005.

Lou Reed has announced his full 2005 European Tour Dates, including three newly added dates in Finland. The legendary musician, whose career has spanned four decades - from his very first album "The Velvet Underground and Nico," (see here) will be performing two rare concerts in the UK during his European visit. UK dates include Leicester De Montfort Hall on Thursday April 21st, and the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Friday April 22nd.

Over the last 40 years as composer, poet, lyricist, musician, vocalist and sound pioneer, Lou Reed has constantly pushed the envelope with his art - and through his lack of compromise transformed many seemingly impossible barriers. In the process he has created not just one, but many of the greatest albums and songs of all time, straight through to his top 10 single success with the dance remix of Satellite Of Love in the UK in 2004. Recently, Lou Reed signed an exclusive worldwide recording deal with Sanctuary Records Group

Over the years he has recorded some of the most outstanding rock'n'roll albums including "Berlin," "Street Hassle," "New York," "The Blue Mask," "Coney Island Baby," "Transformer," "The Bells," "Rock'n'Roll Heart," and "Sally Can't Dance".
His most recent album releases include "The Raven," "Animal Serenade," and "NYC Man: Lou Reed - The Collection" (see here). "Emotion In Action," a double book edition of Reed's photographs was published in October 2003 by 7L and Gerhard Steidl.

Lou Reed UK Concerts:
- April 21, 2005 - Leicester De Montfort Hall
Doors Open 7pm / On stage 7:30pm
Street Address: Granville Road, Leicester, UK LE1
- April 22, 2005 - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Doors open 7pm / On stage 8pm
Street address: Hope St, Liverpool L1 9BP

Lou Reed 2005 European Tour:
April 14 Portugal Oporto Casa de Musica
April 16 Spain San Sebastian Kursaal
April 18 France Paris Grand Rex
April 19 Holland Amsterdam Concertebouw
April 21 UK Leicester De Montfort Hall
April 22 UK Liverpool Philharmonic
April 24 Germany Frankfurt Alter Oper
April 25 Germany Berlin Tempodrom
April 27 Germany Hamburg CCH
April 29 Norway Bergen Grieghallen
April 30 Norway Stavanger Concert House
May 1 Norway Oslo Concert House
May 3 Denmark Copenhagen Royal Theatre
May 4 Denmark Copenhagen Royal Theatre
May 5 Denmark Arhus Music House
May 7 Sweden Malmo Concert House
May 8 Sweden Gothenburg Concert House
May 9 Sweden Stockholm Circus
May 11 Finland Lahti Sibelius Hall
May 12 Finland Tampere Concert Hall
May 13 Finland Helsinki Finlandia Hall

Lou Reed "NYC Man: The Collection" CD (31 tracks): ORDER IT NOW.

Susan Tedeschi, Rhett Miller, Teddy Thompson, and Brazilian Girls signed with Verve Music Group

Susan Tedeschi, Rhett Miller, Teddy Thompson, and Brazilian Girls signed with Verve Music Group (Adult Contemporary Market).

The Verve Music Group, has expanded into the burgeoning and often overlooked Adult Contemporary market with the re-launching of the famed Forecast label, the original home to many of music's most acclaimed singer songwriters.

Formed in 1967, Forecast (originally Folkways) burst onto the scene by introducing some of the era's most important artists to the record-buying public, including Laura Nyro, Tim Hardin, Richie Havens, The Blues Project, and the Velvet Underground, among others. Over the last several years, the adult contemporary music market has grown, with increasing record sales and a nation-wide radio audience that has swelled to over 20 million.

"Our expansion into adult contemporary is a natural evolution for us," stated Goldstein. "Verve has enjoyed great crossover success with jazz projects including Diana Krall, Linda Ronstadt, Aaron Neville, Lizz Wright and most recently, Jamie Cullum and with the innovative 'Verve Remixed' albums. It is our belief that the audience that is buying music by these artists as well as by Norah Jones, Josh Groban and Rod Stewart is hungry for more. Our staff is focused and well-positioned to take advantage of traditional and non-traditional marketing opportunities. We are excited about the re-launch of Forecast and we look forward to continuing the original Verve label's tradition of fostering great talent at a time when music lovers are re-embracing the true artistry of the genre in droves."

The Verve Forecast imprint will be home to all non-jazz artists signed under the Verve Music Group umbrella.

Blues rocker Susan Tedeschi, Rhett Miller of the Old 97s, Teddy Thompson, Sacramento-based singer/songwriter Jackie Greene and Chiara Civello are among the first acts to sign to the newly-reactivated label.

Three-time GRAMMY(R)-nominee Susan Tedeschi released a trio of critically-acclaimed and commercially successful albums and is preparing to begin work on her Verve Forecast debut. Susan Tedeschi is managed by Macklam/Feldman Management (Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Elvis Costello, Joni Mitchell).

Brazilian Girls are a quartet with deep roots in New York's burgeoning Lower East Side music community. The group, which draws on electro, dub, pop, punk and dance music to create their eclectic sound, was recently described by The New York Times' Jon Pareles as "catchy, musically ambitious, proudly theatrical" and "irresistible." Brazilian Girls' eponymous debut album will be released in February of 2005. The group is managed by David Whitehead, who counts David Byrne and David Bowie among his other clients.

In addition to Verve Forecast, the Verve Music Group is comprised of the premier Jazz label Verve, whose roster includes legends such as Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter as well as rising stars Roy Hargrove and Regina Carter; vocalists Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, Shirley Horn and Lizz Wright; GRP Records, which houses a stellar roster of contemporary instrumental artists, and Impulse!, the catalog label and home to John Coltrane.

Susan Tedeschi "Live From Austin Texas" CD: ORDER IT NOW.

Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks feat. at the SXSW, Music Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, March 16-20

Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks feat. at the SXSW, Music Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, March 16-20.

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festival, scheduled to take place Wednesday, March 16 - 20, 2005 in Austin, Texas, is pleased to announce a panel discussion of Brian Wilson's "Smile" project, in conjunction with a screening of the documentary "Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of 'Smile'." Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, David Leaf and Mark Linette will share stories from the project on a panel discussion on Friday, March 18 at the Austin Convention Center.

Brian Wilson's "Smile" album was the talk of the music world in 2004, with the album gracing a large number of year-end best-of lists and the live show playing to audiences worldwide. With its genesis in the late 1960's and the myths surrounding the initial sessions, the re-recording and completion of "Smile" marks a triumph for the artist and a unique chapter in popular music.

On the SXSW Music Festival front, SXSW is pleased to announce a few highlights selected out of 6700 applications. Elvis Costello and The Imposters will perform this year for the first time. Costello has been nominated for three Grammies this year, including "Best Rock Album." His new label, Lost Highway will release a deluxe edition of 'The Delivery Man' March 1 in the US. It will include a bonus video of "Bedlam" from the Eagle Rock DVD and 'The Clarksdale Sessions' bonus disc containing 7 songs.

Other acts scheduled to perform include: A Frames (Seattle WA), Against Me! (Gainesville FL), Ambulance Ltd (New York NY), Ariel Pink (Los Angeles CA), Ash (London UK), The Bad Plus (New York NY), Lou Barlow (Los Angeles CA), The Be Good Tanyas (Vancouver BC), Blind Boys of Alabama (Birmingham AL), Bloc Party (London UK), Blowfly (Miami FL) Brazilian Girls (New York NY), Buck 65 (Halifax NS), Buried At Sea (Chicago IL), Burrito Deluxe (Nashville TN), Vic Chesnutt (Athens GA), Chingo Bling (Houston TX), Communique (Oakland CA), Damon & Naomi (Cambridge MA), The Dears (Montreal QC), Death From Above 1979 (Toronto ON), Ditty Bops (Los Angeles CA), DJ Logic (Bronx NY), Dogs Die in Hot Cars (Glasgow UK), The Donnas (Palo Alto CA), Doves (Manchester UK), Kathleen Edwards (Ottawa ON), Fatboy Slim (Brighton UK), the Futureheads (Sunderland UK), Goldie Lookin Chain (Newport UK), The Go! Team (Brighton UK), Robyn Hitchcock (London UK), Hot Hot Heat (Victoria BC), Hot Rod Circuit (New Haven CT), Husky Rescue (Helsinki FINLAND), Billy Idol (Los Angeles CA), ISIS (Los Angeles CA), Jennifer Gentle (Padova ITALY), Kaiser Chiefs (Leeds UK), The Kills (London UK), Kings Of Convenience (Bergen NORWAY), Los Super Seven (Various ), Magnolia Electric Co. (Indianapolis IN), Stephen Malkmus (Portland OR), Aimee Mann (Los Angeles CA), Minibosses (Tempe AZ), Money Mark (Los Angeles CA), Mono (Tokyo JAPAN), Ronnie Montrose (Sacramento CA), Nada Surf (Brooklyn NY), Ojos De Brujo (Barcelona SPAIN), the pAper chAse (Dallas TX), Pelican (Chicago IL), Pig Destroyer (Bethesda MA), the pillows (Tokyo JAPAN), Robert Plant (UK), Radio 4 (Brooklyn NY), Ratatat (Brooklyn NY), The Raveonettes (Copenhagen DENMARK), Rob Sonic (New York NY), Saturday Looks Good To Me (Ann Arbor MI), Ulrich Schnauss (Berlin GERMANY), Sleater-Kinney (Portland OR), Smoosh (Seattle WA), Seyi Solagbade & the Blackface Band (Lagos State NIGERIA), Son Volt (St Louis MO), The Soundtrack Of Our Lives (Gothenberg SWEDEN), The Spits (Seattle WA), Mavis Staples (Chicago IL), Stars (Montreal QC), Steel Pulse (Birmingham UK), Steel Train (New York NY), Swishahouse featuring Mike Jones and Paul Wall (Houston TX), James Talley (Tulsa OK), Otis Taylor (Boulder CO), These Arms Are Snakes (Seattle WA), Pam Tillis (Nashville TN), Underoath (Tampa FL), Visionaries (Los Angeles CA), Saul Williams (Los Angeles CA), and Wolfmother (Sydney AUSTRALIA). This list is, of course, subject to change. Please keep in mind this is only a portion of the bands that will be playing at the SXSW Music Festival.

Brian Wilson on Tour DVD (2003): ORDER IT NOW.

Bruce Cockburn celebrity interview

Bruce Cockburn celebrity interview

The NXNE Music & Film Festival and Conference is proud to announce that one of Canada's most admired and respected musicians, Bruce Cockburn, is confirmed as one of this year’s celebrity interviews.

The 11th Annual NXNE Festival takes place in downtown Toronto, Canada from June 9-11, 2005. Our celebrity interview with Bruce Cockburn will be held on Friday, June 10 at The Holiday Inn on King, NXNE conference headquarters.

Bruce Cockburn is a world-renowned virtuoso guitar master, a fiery and literate wordsmith, and a compassionate ambassador for humanitarian causes worldwide. This will be his first appearance at NXNE, and it also marks the first time he has agreed to a celebrity interview.

As an acclaimed singer-songwriter/musician, Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed a remarkable 35-year recording career as a solo artist with 27 albums released internationally, all through the independent Canadian label True North Records.

Bruce Cockburn has been honoured with the Order of Canada, the Governor Generals Performing Arts Award, and three honourary doctorates - one of which is from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Bruce received Italy's Tenco Award for Lifetime Achievement, and Holland's Edison Award for Album of the Year for Inner City Front. He has received 11 Junos, 14 Sovan awards, and numerous other awards and honours in his long and distinguished career.

With 20 gold and platinum albums, Bruce Cockburn has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame. Over 200 artists have covered Bruce Cockburn songs, including; KD lang, Jimmy Buffett, The Barenaked Ladies, Jerry Garcia, Elbow and Maria Muldaur. Bruce Cockburn has also traveled extensively on many fact-finding trips to places like Cambodia, Vietnam, Guatemala, Kosovo, Nepal, Nicaragua, Mozambique and, in January 2004, war-torn Baghdad.

Bruce Cockburn is in a rare league as an artist. Musicians today aspire to be able to record their music how and when they want to, and hope they can make a long-standing respectable career out of it. Bruce Cockburn does just that and has done so for over 35 years. He has always remained true to himself, his music, his values and his views.

Bruce Cockburn "Anything Anytime Anywhere: Singles 1979-2002" CD: ORDER IT NOW.

Van Zant: Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Donnie Van Zant (38 Special) signed with Sony Nashville

Van Zant: Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Donnie Van Zant (38 Special) signed with Sony Nashville.

Sony Nashville President John Grady announces the signing of duo Van Zant to Columbia Records Nashville. Comprised of brothers Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Donnie Van Zant (38 Special), Van Zant release their first major label debut later this year with co-producers Mark Wright and Joe Scaife at the helm.

"Signing Van Zant was one of the easiest A&R decisions we've had to make," says Grady. "People in Nashville have been trying to recreate Southern Rock and capture its audience for the past 25 years. We decided why not start at the top with part of Lynyrd Skynyrd and part of 38 Special. Johnny and Donnie Van Zant have wanted to make a country record for a long time. Putting them together with producer Mark Wright makes all the musical sense in the world. I can't wait for people to hear this music."

Van Zant combines two of the most talented Southern rockers and a set list of historical proportion. As one of the lead vocalists and the rhythm guitarist for 38 Special, Donnie and the group ushered songs such as "Caught Up In You," "Rockin' Into the Night," and "Hold On Loosely" into the public limelight. Johnny had a successful solo career before becoming front man for the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987. As Van Zant, the guys released two independent albums - Brother to Brother in 1998 and Van Zant II in 2001 - both on CMC International.

"I'd like to thank Grady and Mark Wright for this opportunity," says Johnny Van Zant. "We grew up on country music. What country is - is what we've been doing for years. It's great to work with people who are so musically inclined. Grady, Wright and Scaife are the 'A Team.'"

"This is a dream come true," says Donnie, who worked with John Grady previously with 38 Special. "We've had country music in us our whole lives. We are having a blast making this album and can't wait for people to hear it."

Along side songs written by Johnny and Donnie, the Van Zant album includes a track co-written with Jeffrey Steele ("My Town," "These Days") and songs written by Craig Wiseman ("Live Like You Were Dying"), Rivers Rutherford ("Real Good Man," "Ain't Nothin' 'Bout You") and Al Anderson ("Unbelievable," "Cowboy In Me").

Van Zant II CD: ORDER IT NOW.

John Waite & Doug Gillard are part of 2005 DIY Convention's Panel Lineup

John Waite & Doug Gillard are part of 2005 DIY Convention's Panel Lineup. John Waite & Doug Gillard are part of 2005 DIY Convention's Panel Lineup. The DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music & Books has announced the panel lineup for its fifth annual Los Angeles show.
Two full days of panels, workshops and schmoozing, set for the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 11-12, are focused on creating, promoting and distributing independent film, music and books. The conference caps a week of music performances and film screenings by DIY and nationally known independents that runs Feb. 7-12.

Keynoting the conference portion of the event are two veteran musicians who have successfully launched DIY enterprises.

John Waite has been a worldwide hitmaker for four decades, the voice and songwriter behind such rock radio staples as "Missing You" and "When I See You Smile." He's now balancing a burgeoning career as a film music composer with stage appearances and returns as a born-again DIY'er with his new album, "The Hard Way," issued on his own No Brakes Records. Waite will keynote the Friday, Feb. 11 session at the Roosevelt.

Doug Gillard has been a long-time creative force on the independent music scene as part of such cult favorites as Guided by Voices, Death of Samantha and Cobra Verde. Now the Cleveland, Ohio-based guitarist has stepped up with his first solo album, "Salamander," a strong mix of pop rock recently hailed by Amazon.com's editors as one of the top ten alternative recordings of the year. Gillard will keynote the DIY Convention on Sat. Feb. 12th at the Roosevelt and will headline the 2005 DIY Music Festival grand finale showcase on Feb. 10th.

This year's expanded DIY Convention features five nights of national independent music acts booked by Spaceland Productions; two days of DIY Film Festival screenings; two days of panels, workshops and exhibits; and many special parties and events coordinated in conjunction with the week-long schedule of events.

John Waite "The Hard Way" CD (2004): ORDER IT NOW.

Gene Simmons (Kiss) new projects

Gene Simmons (Kiss bassist/chief provocateur/world-class) has written the following message on his official web site:

"A couple of years ago, I was fortunate to meet business partners who have also become my friends. One of the gents, in particular, and I have been able to 'connect' in business, in ways I have never connected with anyone.

"Some of the projects we've been working on in behind the scenes over the last few years are nearing completion and about to bear fruit.

"New Television Cable Network: Can't be specific regarding the content, nor the name of the entity, but we exist!!! We have yet to go on the air, but we soon will!!!. We own the entity outright and intend on making it a commercial success. When we're ready, we will be making a public announcement. Until then, work continues in our very own 'company named' 25,000 square foot building. We have a CEO, we have a Board Of Directors and at present, I am Chairman. But the physical hard work is being done by a great group of creative people on the ground. More news on this exciting venture soon.

"Motion Picture Company: Again...can't be specific re the name, nor the shape and form of the new entity, but suffice it to say we will soon be fully funded. Every producer in Hollywood heralds the coming of 'new fully funded companies,' but these announcements are almost always smoke and mirrors. Ours is not. The intent of our company is to make good, commercial 'American'-styled motion pictures...and television... and the licensing/merchandising/musical fallout...and buying libraries of content....and other things.

"Chinese Real Estate Project: This one is huge and is another project 'my partner' and I are involved in. I CAN tell you it's in China. I CANNOT tell you where, or what it actually is. Not just yet.

"South Korean DVD/CD Manufacturing Plant: My partners and I are finalizing the acquisition of the largest DVD/CD manufacturing plant in that part of the world. We have visited the site and I can tell you first hand, it's the most modern facility of its kind I have ever seen.

"There is another project we are going to be looking at, that involves an entire city. More than that, I can't say at the moment. But, the artist rendering of the 'project' takes my breath away...in size and scope.

"My cartoon show, 'My Dad The Rock Star', will soon be able to make a very exciting announcement. Read about it here first. Soon.

"New Television Show: I'll be announcing a new show I created for American television. It has already shot its first six episodes. I appear in the finale. More news soon.

"United Kingdom Television Show: Recently finished a six episodic English television show called 'Rock School', which will see the light of day in the early spring.

"New KISS Projects: Lots of 'em. And big. And, you'll be able to read about 'em as soon as it can be announced on KissOnline.com.

"And, boxing...Yes, boxing.

"And, potential horse racing project.

"And, I'm tired.... I think I'll go lie down and take a nap..."

Kiss "Symphony: The DVD" (2 DVDs): ORDER IT NOW.