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Rock and Read: “International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the ’90s Charts” By Neil Collins

If the story of Wales in the 1990s was a movie plot, it would all seem so far-fetched. Thankfully, it was all true.

The 1970s and ‘80s were a bleak time for much of Wales: the closure of steel works and coal mines led to mass unemployment while the country’s culture and language was disregarded by politicians and the music industry alike. Some bands even travelled across the Severn Bridge to make sure their records arrived at the London offices sporting an English postmark.

The 1990s changed everything. While Wales was already known for Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Male Voices Choirs, but bands such as Catatonia, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics and Super Furry Animals exploded into the charts and showed the UK population the breadth of what this small but inherently musical nation could offer. Meanwhile, S4C – the Welsh-language television channel – became increasingly prominent and a new Welsh Assembly was on the horizon…

Featuring fresh analysis and new interviews, International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the ’90s Charts by Neil Collins charts the UK in a decade in which ‘Cool Cymru’ won over the masses and shows how it inspired the still-vibrant Welsh music scene into the 21st century and beyond.

My Next Read: “The City of Hip-Hop New York City, The Bronx, and a Peace Meeting” By Rob Swift And Rasul A. Mowatt

The City of Hip-Hop New York City, The Bronx, and a Peace Meeting by Rob Swift and Rasul A. Mowatt positions a unique conceptualization of the history of Hip-Hop, that it was a combination of forces that produced the environment for Hip-Hop to specifically grow in the geographies of New York City and its boroughs. This book argues it was the political forces of the 1970s combined with the economic forces of free market capitalism and privatization of public services, neoliberalism, and the social forces of the deindustrialization of major cities and displacement of populations that led the cultural creation of the “Boogie Down” Bronx.

The City of Hip-Hop shows how Hip-Hop is a socio-political reaction that created an alternate reality with a geographic specificity, and it is the interplay with those forces that nurtured it to become the culture force that we know it today in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Berlin, São Paulo, Tokyo, Washington D.C., Seattle, Paris, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Toronto, Cleveland, Johannesburg, Barcelona, Belfast, Gaza City, and elsewhere. Once those of us as fans of the culture zoom out to see such a bigger picture, a much-needed criticism and retelling of the culture and art of Hip-Hop emerges as our understanding.

The New Mastersounds Announce New ‘Live at Cervantes’ Volume One’ Vinyl Record

Longstanding international funk titans The New Mastersounds have announced a brand new live album, ‘Live at Cervantes Volume 1,’ available exclusively via the Color Red Vinyl Club. To celebrate the announcement, the UK-formed quartet has shared a digital single “Gonna Get in My Way,” featuring vocalist Shelby Kemp (The Lucky Strokes, Royal Horses) and Chris Spies on keyboards (The Lucky Strokes, Honey Island Swamp Band). The track originally featured vocalist Lamar Williams Jr, son of the late Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams and active touring vocalist for Trouble No More and Oteil and Friends, and appears on the group’s 2019 Billboard-charting record Shake It. Kemp offers a blues-driven Southern flair on the new live rendition, which can be heard HERE.

The Cervantes’ performance was a standout highlight of The New Mastersounds’ 25th anniversary tour in January 2025 as the band embarked on their long-awaited post-COVID return to the states. Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom is a cornerstone in the band’s 25-year-history as they’ve engaged in multiple sold out two-night runs over the years and the venue has been foundational in building the band’s stateside audience. On the longstanding relationship with the venue, bandleader, guitarist, and Color Red founder, Eddie Roberts remarks, “This was a monumental weekend at our favorite club in the states. We captured two nights worth of material and look forward to sharing the energy in the room with our longtime fans and members of the Color Red Vinyl Club.”

The full live album features nine high-octane live renditions of songs that span the band’s vast catalog. The album wouldn’t be complete without fan favorites such as “MRG” and “San Frantico” rounding out side 2 of the record and bringing the stage to your speakers. Outside of the digital release of “Gonna Get in My Way,” the album will not be digitally distributed or available for purchase online or in record stores.

Color Red was founded by Roberts in 2018 as a record label rooted in collaborating to produce new original music by independent artists. Since its inception, the label has worked with artists including George Porter Jr., True Loves, W.R.D. (Robert Walter, Eddie Roberts, Adam Deitch), Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes, Freekbass, Omar Coleman, and several others to ensure their efforts are captured through dollar one. Entering its second year, the Color Red Vinyl Club is a subscription-based vinyl experience that is the only record club releasing brand new, original music by independent artists. Exclusive perks of the monthly vinyl program have included members-only vinyl colorways, enjoying records ahead of their street day, records signed by artists, access to specially curated bundles, and 15% off of all items in the Color Red online shop.

“Supporting the Color Red vinyl club is supporting real-life artists directly with no streaming platforms or middle man standing in the way,” says Roberts, “Each month we are extremely proud to present a brand new release that highlights our signature sound of vintage recording techniques with modern sounds.”

Join the Color Red Vinyl Club & learn more about the program HERE.

Bill Murray Joins Mike Zito, Albert Castiglia, and Jimmy Vivino for 2025 Tour

The legendary Bill Murray is teaming up with Gulf Coast Records artists Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia (aka “Blood Brothers”) to perform a series of shows in the first few months of 2025. Special Guest on the dates is newly-signed Gulf Coast artist guitarist Jimmy Vivino, whose label debut, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, is set for release on February 14th.

The “Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers” tour kicks off January 3rd and 4th with two sold-out shows in Chicago; continues with multiple dates in San Francisco, Atlanta, New York and Austin; plus dates in Des Moines and Saint Louis; with additional shows to be announced at a later date.

“Mike and I are close friends with Bill’s brother, John,” says Albert Castiglia about how the hook-up happened. “We met John through (fellow Gulf Coast Records label mate) Chris ‘Bad News’ Barnes. John told Bill about the Blood Brothers and that prompted an invitation to play a show at The Murray Brothers annual Caddyshack Golf Tournament in St. Augustine, Florida. Bill sang five songs with the band that night. It was surreal to share the stage with such an icon, but he carried himself onstage like he was just one of the guys; so much fun. Bill had such a good time that he reached out to Mike and told him he wanted to do shows with us. The rest is history!”

Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia celebrated the release of their self-titled Blood Brothers album in 2023 with a tour that became one of the hottest tickets of the year. That album, produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, hit #1 on both the Billboard Blues Chart and iTunes Blues Chart and won the 2024 Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album of the Year. One of the most-anticipated albums of the year, Blood Brothers featured the multi-Blues Music Award-winners, who then played a highly-successful string of “Blood Brothers” 2023 shows through the summer and fall, culminating with a special appearance at the Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas that September.

The album also generated extensive radio airplay around the world, accompanied by universal rave reviews:  “…a terrific collaboration.” – American Songwriter; “The universe wants what it wants and, right now, it wants this. Miss it and miss out.” – Rock & Blues Muse; “There was big anticipation that this album would be one of those where one plus one equals better than two. And it does.” – Blues Music Magazine; “Packed with fire, inspiration, and a palpable tight bond between the two principals, this is blues rock with some strong songs.” – Glide Magazine.

Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia are true “Blood Brothers” in life and in the music they create both individually and collectively, joining forces in a collaborative effort of songwriting and performances to create a total listening experience greater than the sum of its parts.  Added to that process are the talents of producers Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, who brought fresh ideas to the recording sessions, pushing Mike and Albert creatively and musically to present their best work to date.

“Mike and Albert have a special chemistry together when they plug in and play that few have. They finish each other’s sentences musically,” award-winning guitarist Joe Bonamassa said about the sessions. “Great tunes, great people, great hang! What’s not to like? It was an honor to be involved in this project.”

Bill Murray with His Blood Brothers Tour Current Dates
JAN 3/4 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL – SOLD OUT
JAN 29/30 –   SF Sketchfest– San Francisco, CA​
FEB 6/7 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
FEB 14 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, NY
​FEB 15 – Sony Hall – New York, NY
MAR 25/26 – Paramount Theatre – Austin, TX
APR 11 – Val Air Ballroom – Des Moines, IA
APR 12 – The Pageant – Saint Louis, MO

Jesse Dayton Unveils Spring Tour Dates

Heading into the New Year with a bang, Jesse Dayton has announced a highly anticipated
Spring Tour while reviving the untamed spirit of the legendary Road Kings with a pair of special reunion shows. Fans can get a taste of the Road Kings’ razor-sharp blend of punk energy and rockabilly swagger with “Never Be Untrue”, a recently released live single now streaming on all platforms.

The Road Kings weren’t just a band—they were a movement. With a sound that tore through the late ‘90s Texas underground, they became the hard-driving antidote to slick, over-polished rock, leaving a trail of sweat-drenched stages and blistering riffs wherever they played. Jesse Dayton is reuniting with original members Jason Burns and Eric Tucker for two electrifying holiday shows at Houston’s Continental Club on December 27 and 28.

This is more than a reunion—it’s a resurrection of a sound and spirit that still hits harder than ever. Fans can expect the same fire that made the Road Kings notorious for “living on the edge and blazing trails where others feared to tread.”

Before the Road Kings light up Houston, Jesse Dayton wraps up 2024 on the I Hear Thunder Tour with blues titan Tab Benoit. For Dayton, this run is more than just a tour—it’s a reunion.

“Man, playing these shows with Tab has been like coming full circle,” says Dayton. “We go way back. He’s one of the most soulful players I’ve ever shared a stage with, and I’m grateful he brought me along for this ride. Fans are getting one hell of a night with both of us up there.”

Jesse Dayton rolls straight into the New Year with his Spring Tour, bringing his signature mix of roadhouse blues, honky-tonk grit, and electrified roots to stages across the country. From Phoenix to Seattle, and even aboard the Outlaw Country Cruise, Dayton will deliver the kind of raw, no-frills performance that has defined his career.

Fresh off the success of his critically acclaimed album The Hard Way Blues, Dayton continues to prove why he’s one of American music’s most authentic voices. The album, produced by Shooter Jennings, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart earlier this year and solidified Dayton’s reputation for blending punk attitude, Southern roots, and gritty storytelling.

TOUR DATES

Tab Benoit’s I Hear Thunder Tour Featuring Jesse Dayton (Opener)
Dec 20 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre
Dec 21 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse

Road Kings Holiday Reunion Shows:
Dec 27 – Houston, TX – Continental Club
Dec 28 – Houston, TX – Continental Club

Jesse Dayton Spring Tour
Feb 22–28 – Miami, FL – Outlaw Country Cruise
Mar 13 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
Mar 15 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
Mar 16 – Los Angeles, CA – Peppermint Club
Mar 18 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Siren
Mar 21 – Portland, OR – Mission Theater
Mar 22 – Seattle, WA – Conor Byrne Pub
Mar 23 – Tacoma, WA – Jazz Bones
May 2 –  New Orleans, LA – Broadside (w/J.D. Simo & Luther Dickinson)

Vince Guaraldi’s Iconic Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Soundtrack Debuts for the First Time

Lee Mendelson Film Productions is thrilled to announce the release – for the first time ever – of the complete Vince Guaraldi soundtrack for Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, the timeless 13th animated Peanuts special, from writer and creator Charles Schulz, director Phil Roman and producers Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson. Originally airing on January 28th, 1975 on CBS-TV, it went on to be nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Children’s program. The special is currently available for streaming on Apple TV+.

All versions of the album include the original 24 cues that comprise the score of the special – mixed into 22 tracks – most available for the first time – plus another eight bonus or alternative tracks never heard before. This 42-minute soundtrack is the longest individual soundtrack released by LMFP to date.

Guaraldi brought original mid-tempo tunes, his classic favorites, and even a mambo to the score for a journey into love with the Peanuts gang. He utilized a new invention called the ARP String Ensemble synthesizer throughout the special to give the score a distinctive string-laced sound.

Some highlights include: the center piece “Heartburn Waltz” with eight dynamic variations; the longing “Jennie L.” and “There’s Been A Change” with their ballad-like sensibilities; the upbeat “Pawpet Overture;” the playful “Woodstock’s Mambo;” and even some classical pieces like “Freddie’s Mood” that covers Chopin for Snoopy’s pawpet show in the special. There are amazing bonus tracks with completely different but equally engaging takes on the themes from the special. “Last Call For Love,” the final track on the album, is an extended jam that the trio laid down and is a true found treasure from the recording sessions – it has never been heard before.

For the first time, these melodies can be fully appreciated, not hidden underneath dialogue or effects from the special.

The recording features Guaraldi (piano, electric piano, clavinet, ARP String Ensemble electric harpsichord and guitar), Seward McCain (bass), Vince Lateano (drums) and John Scott Trotter as the music supervisor. The soundtrack was produced by Sean Mendelson and Jason Mendelson; mixed at Bones and Knives by Terry Carleton and restored and re-mastered by Vinson Hudson.

The album will be available January 17, 2025, including an exclusive variant on Heartburn Red vinyl (12” BioVinyl) as a Record Store Day Indie Exclusive, that will be available at participating stores. Pre-Order here. It will also be available on Puppy Love Pink vinyl (12” BioVinyl) from Barnes and Noble. Pre-Order here.

The 42-minute album will also be available on black vinyl (12” BioVinyl), CD, and digitally.

The records and CDs are all eco-minded: the records are made with BioVinyl, a new and unique product that replaces petroleum in S-PVC by recycling used cooking oil or industrial waste. There will be a 100% CO2 savings compared to traditional PVC vinyl, without sacrificing any acoustic or optical quality. Each record comes in a reusable, compostable PLA bag that is made from 99% renewable material, and the jacket, label, and liner notes are all made from sustainably forested trees for minimum ecological harm. The CD’s packaging will also be made of recycled material, and their paper inserts are from sustainably forested trees as well.

The physical copies will include liner notes that give a track-by-track analysis by Derrick Bang and notes from Sean Mendelson and Jason Mendelson, sons of Peanuts producer Lee Mendelson and producers of the record. The LP liner notes are four pages, the CD liner notes are eight pages, and all versions contain images from the special, rare photographs and images from the original tape boxes recently re-discovered that led to this release.

Find participating stores and more information about orders here or order from the MVDshop here.

 

“Phil Collins: Drummer First” Documentary Is Full (Or Fill) Of Surprising Details

“I’m not a singer that plays a bit of drums; I’m more of a drummer that sings a bit”. This famous Phil Collins quote perfectly captures the essence of a man celebrated by millions as a pop legend. But ask Phil himself, and he’ll tell you: “I’m a drummer”.

On March 26, 2022, after an extraordinary 50-year career of touring and recording, Phil Collins announced his retirement. Later that year, we had the incredible honor of inviting Phil and his son, Nic Collins, to the breathtaking Château de l’Aile in Vevey, Switzerland. From October 18-21, 2022, Phil shared his story like never before in a series of brand-new interviews.

For the first time on film, Phil takes us on a journey through his life and career from a drumming perspective—from his early days behind the kit to his groundbreaking work with Genesis and his celebrated solo career, from his time with the jazz-fusion group Brand X to composing for Disney’s Tarzan, forming his own big band, and ultimately passing the torch to Nic during the final Genesis and Phil Collins tours.

This is Phil’s story, told in his own words.

This documentary offers a rare and personal glimpse into the life and legacy of a true drumming icon. Phil’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and sacrifice—a testament to the power of giving everything you have for what you love.

Yo Gabba Gabba takes over NPR’s Tiny Desk

Never in a million years would I ever expect to see the Tiny Desk getting a vibrant makeover with a visit to Yo Gabba GabbaLand! Led by Kammy Kam and backed by a dynamic five-piece band, the fun-filled set features classics like “Party in My Tummy” and new tracks such as “The Orange Cat’s Special Time Outdoors,” with a surprise appearance by Thundercat in an orange cat suit! With lively performances from all five Gabba friends, this colorful, groovy concert is pure joy for kids and the young at heart.

Nardwuar Interviews Chappell Roan At Sonido Del Valle Records

Nardwuar meets pop sensation Chappell Roan at Sonido Del Valle Records for a fun and quirky interview you don’t want to miss!

Waxahatchee Returns to NPR’s Tiny Desk

Waxahatchee returns to the Tiny Desk with a full-band transformation! Grammy-nominated Katie Crutchfield, now blending her Americana charm with profound lyricism, performs her latest single “Much Ado About Nothing,” fan-favorite “Right Back to It,” the standout “Crowbar,” the title track “Tigers Blood,” and the transformative “Fire” from Saint Cloud. Joined by Eliana Athayde (upright bass), Cole Berggren (piano/banjo), Spencer Tweedy (drums), Colin Croom (pedal steel/dobro), and Clay Frankel (guitar), this set captures the heart of Waxahatchee’s musical evolution.

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That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

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