In a whimsical twist on musical novelty, The Beagles’ 1964 EP “Let’s All Sing Like The Birdies Sing” delivers a playful and unforgettable auditory experience with its unique concept: dogs barking to the tunes of two popular songs. This quirky release, featuring the distinctive barks of canine vocalists set to well-known melodies, captured the imagination of listeners and showcased a creative take on the novelty genre. With its lighthearted approach and charmingly absurd premise, the EP quickly became a cult favorite.
The Kennedy Center Announces 47th Class of Honorees: Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval and The Apollo
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced the selection of five Honorees who will receive the 47th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements. Recipients to be honored at the annual national celebration of the arts in Washington, D.C. this December are: acclaimed director and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola; legendary American rock band the Grateful Dead (Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Phil Lesh, Bobby Weir); blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt; jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer Arturo Sandoval; and The Apollo, which will receive a special Honors as an iconic American institution. Done+Dusted are Executive Producers of the 47th annual Kennedy Center Honors, which airs on the CBS Television Network for the 47th year and will stream on Paramount+*.
“The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes artists who have made an extraordinary impact on the cultural life of our nation and continue to have an immeasurable influence on new generations,” stated Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein. “A brilliant and masterful storyteller with an unrelenting innovative spirit, Francis Ford Coppola‘s films have become embedded in the very idea of American culture; a social and cultural phenomenon since 1965, the Grateful Dead‘s music has never stopped being a true American original, while inspiring a fan culture like no other; Bonnie Raitt has made us love her again and again with her inimitable voice, slide guitar, and endless musical range encompassing blues, R&B, country rock, and folk; ‘an ambassador of both music and humanity,’ Arturo Sandoval transcended literal borders coming from Cuba 30-plus years ago and today continues to bridge cultures with his intoxicating blend of Afro Cuban rhythms and modern jazz; and on its 90th anniversary, The Apollo, one of the most consequential, influential institutions in history, has elevated the voices of Black entertainment in New York City, nationally, and around the world, and launched the careers of legions of artists.”
“Our Honorees this year have each played an invaluable, pioneering role in developing American culture—not with one act of art but with their decades-long devotion to pushing creative boundaries,” said Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter. “In December, we are thrilled to pay special tribute to New York City’s renowned Apollo Theater on its 90th anniversary. Throughout its history, The Apollo has guided us and the world forward by discovering and nurturing raw talent, molding a unique cultural identity that still defines American culture today. Across Honors weekend, artists with special connections to The Apollo will serve as ambassadors of the institution’s legacy.”
Throughout its 46-year history, the annual Honors Gala has become the highlight of the Washington cultural and society calendar. On Sunday, December 8, in a star-studded celebration on the Kennedy Center Opera House stage, the 47th class of Kennedy Center Honorees will be saluted by today’s leading performers from New York, Hollywood, and the arts capitals of the world. Seated in the Box Tier of the iconic Kennedy Center Opera House, the Honorees will accept the recognition and gratitude of their peers through performances and tributes. The 47th Kennedy Center Honors Gala concludes with a post-performance party in the Grand Foyer.
The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes and celebrates individuals whose unique contributions have shaped the way we see ourselves, each other, and our world. Recipients have each had an impact on the rich tapestry of American life and culture through the performing arts. Whether in music, dance, theater, opera, motion pictures, or television, each Kennedy Center Honoree has a unique place in the national consciousness and their influence has inspired audiences from all walks of life.
The Honoree selection process includes solicitation of recommendations from former Honorees, the artistic community, the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, and the general public. This year’s selected Honorees were chosen based on the recommendation of the Center’s Special Honors Advisory Committee, which is chaired by David Bohnett and includes past Honors recipients and distinguished artists Gloria Estefan, Sally Field, Renée Fleming, Herbie Hancock, Judith Jamison, Lionel Richie, and John Williams, as well as David M. Rubenstein, Deborah F. Rutter, Bryan Lourd, Cappy McGarr, Shonda Rhimes, and Daryl Roth. These individuals play a critical role in the evaluation and selection process, and the Kennedy Center is indebted to them for their involvement.
Each year, Honorees are confirmed by the Executive Committee of the Center’s Board of Trustees. The Honors are not designated by art form or category of artistic achievement; over the years, the selection process has produced balance among the various arts and artistic disciplines.
*Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service as well as on demand in the United States. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs in the U.S. only.
Matchbox Twenty Honored With SoundExchange Hall Of Fame Award
SoundExchange, the premier music tech organization powering the future of music, announced today that Matchbox Twenty has been honored with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award. The honor for the band responsible for such hits as “Push,” “3AM,” “Unwell,” “Bent,” and “If You’re Gone” recognizes their stature as one of the most streamed creators in the organization’s 20+ year history of administering digital performance royalties.
“It’s not hard to understand why Matchbox Twenty continues to delight an ever-growing fan base – between their legacy of hits, plus new music and packed tour dates nearly three decades into their career, the band is as vital today as they were at their start,” said Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange. “We are thrilled and honored to present Matchbox Twenty with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award.”
“What a great honor it is to have Sound Exchange bestow us with their Hall of Fame award,” said Matchbox Twenty guitarist Kyle Cook. “To me it affirms through earnings the hard work and dedication we in Matchbox Twenty put into the music we make.”
Matchbox Twenty has quietly woven their songs into the very fabric of American popular culture. The band has sold over 50 million records worldwide, dominated charts, garnered multiple GRAMMY Award nominations, and played to millions of fans in arenas, amphitheaters, and stadiums across continents.
Earning hits in each of the last three decades, Matchbox Twenty has gone from perennially dominating radio airwaves and ruling MTV to piling up streams in the billions, speaking to the enduring appeal of their music. Fueled by such classic songs as “Real World,” “Back 2 Good” and the No. 1 smash hits “Push” and “3AM,” 1996’s Diamond-certified Yourself or Someone Like You proved a worldwide sensation and instantly established the band as global superstars. 2000 saw the band release the four-times Platinum Mad Season, containing the No. 1 singles “Bent” and “If You’re Gone.” Their third release, More Than You Think You Are, also was certified double-Platinum and featured the No. 1 hit, “Unwell.” 2007’s greatest hits compilation album with six new songs, “Exile On Mainstream” yielded yet another No. 1 track, “How Far We’ve Come,” while 2012’s North, exploded into the top position on the Billboard 200 release – Matchbox Twenty’s first-ever chart-topper and No. 1 debut.
The band sounded refreshed as ever on 2023’s Where the Light Goes, benefiting from the musicians’ respective solo journeys. Rob Thomas has proven one of the most highly decorated artists of recent years – releasing five solo albums and receiving three GRAMMY Awards, 11 BMI Awards, the first-ever Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award, two Billboard “Songwriter of the Year” honors, and top 5 placement on Billboard’s Top 20 Hot 100 Songwriters (2000-2011). Meanwhile, Paul Doucette has scored and contributed original music to film and television series such as Utopia, For All Mankind, and more.
Rex Orange County Announces North American And UK Tours
On the heels of announcing his new album The Alexander Technique yesterday, Rex Orange County returns to announce North American and UK tour FINALLY: A Theatre Tour by Rex Orange County. Rex Orange County has built acclaim for his incredible live shows, documented on his 2020 live album Live At Radio City Music Hall, but in the upcoming run produced by Live Nation he’s taking a decidedly different approach to his music’s live presentation. Instead of playing the biggest venues possible in each market, Rex has opted to build out a stage show best suited for theaters that will allow him to bring The Alexander Technique to life in a stage show unlike any that he’s done before across multiple performances in nearly every market on the tour.
Speaking about the approach, Rex Orange County shares:
For this tour, I’m going to play a select number of cities in carefully chosen theatre venues, but will be playing multiple nights within them. Historically with each album that I’ve released, I’ve always played bigger and bigger shows. But I wanted to do something different for this particular project because sonically the new songs lend themselves to being heard in a more intimate and traditional setting. These particular venues have allowed me to create a show with a theatrical stage set to further narrate the themes of the album alongside the music. I love playing live and I can’t wait to bring this new album to life across so many beautiful rooms and iconic stages.
Presale tickets for UK dates start Wednesday, July 24th at 9am local time. Presale tickets for North American dates start Wednesday, July 24th at 10am local time. All tickets for both territories go on sale next Friday, July 26th at 10AM local time. Sign up for early access to tickets at rexorangecounty.com/live.
In addition to announcing The Alexander Technique yesterday, Rex also released two new songs and videos; “Alexander” and “Guitar Song.” Listen to and watch those above now and see below for all upcoming Rex Orange County tour dates and The Alexander Technique info.
Upcoming Live Dates
10/4 – Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
10/5 – Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
10/7 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/8 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/9 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/11 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
10/12 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
10/13 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
10/18 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
10/19 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
10/23 – Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
10/24 – Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
10/26 – Tampa, FL @ Straz Center
10/27 – Tampa, FL @ Straz Center
10/29 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
10/30 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
11/3 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/4 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/5 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/6 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/8 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/9 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre
11/15 – Las Vegas, NV @ Fontainebleau Las Vegas
11/19 – Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
11/20 – Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
11/21 – Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
11/25 – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
11/26 – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
02/16 – London, UK @ The London Palladium
02/17 – London, UK @ The London Palladium
02/18 – London, UK @ The London Palladium
02/19 – London, UK @ The London Palladium
Norah Jones Enchants with Intimate Tiny Desk Concert
Norah Jones finally graced the real Tiny Desk (she performed one from home during the Pandemic) with an show of serene beauty and emotional depth, performing a set that showcased her signature blend of jazz, soul, and folk influences. The concert began with the reflective and lush “Paradise,” setting a calming and introspective mood. Jones then effortlessly transitioned to the dreamy “Swept Up in the Night,” capturing the essence of her evocative storytelling. Her performance of “Staring at the Wall” was a poignant display of her vocal nuance and lyrical intimacy. The set culminated with the timeless and universally beloved “Come Away with Me,” leaving the audience spellbound with its warm, inviting charm. Jones’s performance was a testament to her ability to connect deeply through music, making for an unforgettable Tiny Desk experience.
Phish Delivers a Magical Tiny Desk Concert
In an intimate and electrifying Tiny Desk Concert, Phish showcased their unparalleled improvisational prowess and genre-blending creativity, performing a captivating set that spanned their extensive catalog. The band kicked off the session with the evocative “Sigma Oasis,” setting a serene yet adventurous tone. This was followed by the dynamic and ever-evolving “Evolve,” which showcased their musical growth and dexterity. The crowd was then treated to the classic and beloved “You Enjoy Myself,” a masterclass in musical interplay and audience engagement. The energy remained high with the infectious “Sample in a Jar,” and they closed with the high-octane “Chalk Dust Torture,” leaving viewers and fans alike in awe of their ability to transform a small space into a grand concert experience.
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/17/g-s1-10899/phish-tiny-desk-concert?curator=MusicREDEF&jwsource=cl
My Next Read: “Son Of The City: A Memoir” By Dante Ross
You might not know his name—but you’ve heard his work.
Dante Ross, raised by political activists on New York’s pregentrified Lower East Side, would play a pivotal role in the golden age of hip-hop. Named as one of Complex Magazine’s Top 25 Greatest Hip-Hop A&Rs, Ross got his start at Tommy Boy Records, where he would sign and handle the careers of De La Soul and Queen Latifah. At Elektra Records, he would go on to sign Brand Nubian, Grand Puba, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, KMD, Busta Rhymes, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
As a producer, he has worked on a range of hit records by artists such as 3rd Bass, Del the Funky Homosapien, Run-DMC, and Everlast—including the multi-platinum album Whitey Ford Sings the Blues and the gold follow-up, Eat at Whitey’s. Ross earned a Grammy in 1999 for his production work on Carlos Santana’s Supernatural and also produced and cowrote two songs featuring Macy Gray and Young Z for the soundtrack to Eminem’s 8 Mile.
In this highly entertaining memoir, Ross pulls no punches as he details his chaotic childhood, his life in hip-hop, and all the hard lessons he learned growing up in New York as a true son of the city.
Folk Rock Duo HuDost Has The Cure For Furor On “Acting Out the Outrage” Single
Righteous indignation is society’s most perfect perpetual-motion machine: Once it gets started, it has little problem generating its own energy and heat. Turning down that temperature is the objective of “Acting Out the Outrage,” the new single from the eclectic, electric rock/folk duo HuDost that urges us to lower the boiling of the culture wars to at least a simmer.
Partners in melody Moksha Sommer and Jemal Wade Hines have issued a plea for empathy and tolerance that manages to come off as measured and wise, without succumbing to knee-jerk both-sideism or victim-blaming.
A little bit of rain removes the static
Clear our eyes of all the panic
Take a breath from all the manic
Little space from our mistakes
In keeping with the “chill out” message, the song starts out as an airy slow jam that gives full exposure to the gorgeous richness of Sommer’s voice. But just past the halfway mark—right when you’ve started to wonder if HuDost really feels a lullaby is the best remedy for social injustice—the whole thing kicks into a double-time rave-up that fully vindicates the pair’s reputation as impassioned activists.
The antihero, the prophet and the sage, they’re
Acting out the outrage
Acting out the outrage
The CEO, the politician on crusade
Acting out the outrage, Acting out the outrage
Sommer and Hines say they were driven to write and release the song by the banning of drag performances in Tennessee, which clearly hit close to home for this Kentucky-by-way-of-Quebec outfit. The context is made plain by the accompanying music video, which features a breathtaking transformation by Canadian queen KIARA that develops into a full-on Pride parade. But the breadth and purposeful ambiguity of the lyrics reflects HuDost’s belief that performative uproar is distorting and delegitimatizing a host of other important issues, including women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, faith, race, education, and politics in general.
“We live in a time of challenge,” the group says. “Debates on social media rage on every issue, with little consideration of who those debates affect. What if we hear the perspective of people whose lives are truly being affected? What if we share the stage instead of stealing the spotlight?”
When it comes to their own music, HuDost is certainly willing to share the spotlight. They co-wrote the new song with Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay, and the recording itself finds them joined by a host of friendly collaborators. In addition to the bedrock contributions of Sommer (on vocals, keys and harmonium) and Hines (guitars, vocals, production), the track features Hasletine’s bandmate Charlie Lowell on keys, as well as Chris Powell (Brandi Carlile) on drums, Dan Walters on bass and Kai Welch (Kacey Musgraves) on horns. The “gang” backing vocals were supplied by Liza Holbrook (SHEL), Rachael Davis, Matthew Odmark, Bethany Bordeaux, and “Charlie” (with Sommer and Hines joining in to provide even more muscle).
That loosely collaborative approach is typical of the way HuDost works. Sometimes they’re a duo; at other times, they’re a full-on band, with guest musicians of varying sensibilities and backgrounds. Often, they widen their focus even further by incorporating dancers into their onstage presentation. The instrumentation makes room for vocals, harmonium (the Indian pump organ), live looping and beats, NORD Keys, guitars, Dulcinet, percussion and a slew of sonic ambient effects. The result is a unique blend of pop, rock, and more exotic elements, ranging from traditional Sufi music to the folk sounds of Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, and other far-flung locales.
Cultural curiosity has been good for this pair. They met when Sommer was just a teen, on an impulsive trip from her home in Montreal to a Rumi Festival put on by Turkish Sufis in North Carolina. Hines was playing frame drum there, and their meeting ended up blossoming into a partnership in every sense of the term: a band, a marriage, and a life together as activists fighting the good fight. Throughout their personal and professional relationship, they’ve been staunch supporters of initiatives like ONE, a nonprofit that works to end extreme poverty.
Their shared path took a rocky turn in 2008, when Sommer had to undergo a painful process of brain surgery to remove a tumor. In the aftermath, she had to re-learn her language skills, cope with the temporary loss of her proper sight and weather some nasty seizures. But despite the myriad challenges, the couple came out on the other side with two healthy children: son Kaleb, born in 2013, and baby Sylvan, who arrived in 2022.
Meanwhile, they’ve continued to thrive on the artistic front. Their albums have earned critical acclaim—writer Kristi Wooten called HuDost’s music “as sacred as a church service, but without the identifiers which can separate and shame non-believers”—while also making a big splash on the charts. They’ve hit #4 on the Canadian National Folk/Roots/Blues Chart, #9 on the U.S. Folk Radio Charts and #24 in the Billboard Folk/Americana chart. In the process, they’ve won an Independent Music Award for Social Action Song, and in 2020, they were honored to receive two “Best of Nashville” awards.
Now that the new single is out, HuDost has a busy second half of 2024 lined up, with live shows booked all across the United States. Dates are as follows:
July 27-28 – Trails & Vistas, Tahoe, CA
July 31 – Oregon Shakespeare Fest, Ashland, OR
August 1 – New World Concerts, Corvallis, OR
August 3 – Water Sines Studio, Seattle, WA
August 9 – BlueMoon, Vancouver, BC
August 31 – Floyd Yoga Jam, Floyd, VA
September 13 – Allerton Park Concerts, Monticello, IL
September 20-22 – Earthwork Harvest Gathering, Lake City, MI
November 2 – The Pittsburgh Witches Ball, Pittsburgh, PA
November 7 – The Ringling, Sarasota, FL
November 8-9 – Gainesville, FL (location TBA)
After all that activity has subsided, 2025 will bring a new HuDost album, of which “Acting Out the Outrage” is but a tantalizing glimpse. And who knows? Maybe by then, the world will have learned to stop manufacturing drama and just live and let live. Okay, probably not. But spend a little time with this crew and see if you don’t come out feeling anything is possible.
Folk/Roots Artist John Lewitt Hopes You “Grab Yourself A Cold One”
Toronto-based Americana-leaning singer-songwriter John Lewitt has been a busy artist in recent years. And the talented tunesmith keeps riding that momentum wave with “Grab Yourself A Cold One.” It’s the latest single out now from his new self-produced full-length studio effort One More Time out now.
Lewitt says “Grab Yourself A Cold One” was inspired in part by his daughter who makes her own preferential music stamp during car rides. “My daughter is a huge country fan,” he says. “When we go anywhere she takes over the car radio, so modern country music seeps into my mind with little effort. ‘Grab Yourself A Cold One’ is a product of my daughter’s listening habits!”
“Grab Yourself A Cold One,” the follow up to Lewitt’s last single “Building My Own Dreamland,” is free of the brash, overtly slick, almost formulaic Nashville production. Instead Lewitt offers up a tender, roots-based mid-tempo ballad that would fall in line with top-tier quality material by Josh Ritter, Jackson Browne and the late Warren Zevon. “Grab Yourself A Cold One” fondly reflects on past parties without trying to relive them while cherishing the friendships that came from those days and nights. Simply put, it harkens back to anecdotes of happy times and memories without revisiting the hangover the next morning.
Remember when we couldn’t remember that night
Three sheets to the wind, but man what a good time
And how I know well I was there with you
That’s good enough for me I don’t need
Any hard proof
Lewitt is a jack of all trades on “Grab Yourself A Cold One,” writing and producing the song while playing everything on it including piano, acoustic guitar and adding his own backing harmonies. It’s a gentle gem the singer sounds ridiculously comfortable executing.
The performer says the single is one from a batch of songs contained within his upcoming One More Time album. Lewitt says it’s the first time the songs originated from simply the purity of plying his craft, not trying to create material that could be used for possible television or film use. “The songs on this album were written for the pure joy of writing music, with no intentions attached to them,” Lewitt says.
Lewitt is often very busy writing and recording material, some of which has found its way on television and on the big screen. In fact, a song from One More Time has already been used for a forthcoming film set for release this year. Previous material has been heard on television shows such as The Young and the Restless alongside other tunes, including one heard on ESPN “dozens of times.” Although his proficient studio work makes an abundance of touring arduous, Lewitt has performed at the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans, Chicago’s Park West and a host of Toronto locations including the esteemed Roy Thomson Hall and the legendary Horseshoe Tavern.
With a new promising and soothing single in “Grab Yourself A Cold One,” John Lewitt has guaranteed fans old and new alike will have to keep listening to this song one more time.
Toronto-Based Afrobeats Sensation Sojiii Unleashes Highly Anticipated EP ‘Alive’ and Single ‘Ti Le'”
Lagos, Nigeria-born, Toronto, ON-based Afrobeats artist Sojiii is excited to announce the release of his highly anticipated EP, “Alive,” featuring the single “Ti Le.” This debut EP is a must-listen for his fans and all Afrobeats lovers.
His newly released project shows the world exactly why he’s one of the bright lights in the genre. “Alive” is a seven-track EP with no skippable songs. Each song is infused with rhythmic beats and melodic harmonies that pay homage to traditional African music while incorporating R&B and soul music elements.
Sojiii’s latest single,” Ti Le,” is a captivating groove that will pull your body onto the nearest dancefloor as he commands his love interest to move her body over a smooth, seductive beat. The single is picking up steam with fans around the world. In only a few short months, the music video has over 800,000 views on YouTube, with many favorable reviews in the comments. Streaming numbers and radio plays are quickly rising, as well.
With a flair for creating music that invites listeners to dance and unwind, “Alive” epitomizes the vibrant and rhythmic essence of Afrobeats. The EP is a musical masterpiece that is a testament to Sojiii’s dedication to making music that moves the body and soul of all music lovers. Sojiii pours his rich African culture and authenticity throughout the EP into every note. He sings about heartbreak on “Coner,” speaks openly about his journey on the “Journey So Far” interlude, and then makes you dance on the last track, “Danci Ma.” The EP showcases a unique blend of sounds and themes that are both invigorating and easy to listen to, making it a must-add to any music collection and playlist.
Sojiii, the emerging star, was born in Jos, Nigeria, a foundation that has greatly influenced his rapidly growing career. His passion for music ignited at age thirteen, and it has been shaped by artists such as Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, Shabba Ranks, and James Brown. His move to Canada provided a platform to expand his fanbase to North America and now globally. And he has dedicated himself to being a master at his craft. In his own words: “You know, they call me the Afrobeats champ in Canada because I stand out on any stage you place me in, any place, anywhere in the world; I’m always ready to take the challenge to give the best performance with the sound I am known for, Afrobeats.”
Sojiii’s EP, ‘Alive,’ featuring the fast-growing single, ‘Ti Le,’ is now available on all major streaming platforms. Whether you’re sipping a cold drink on a beach or whining your waist on the dance floor this summer, ‘Alive’ is the perfect soundtrack for any occasion. Don’t miss out; listen now and experience the vibrant and rhythmic essence of Afrobeats.
