Smokin' Joe Bonamassa brings Black Rock tour to the UK

Following the critically acclaimed release of his latest studio album Black Rock featuring the great B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa will embark on a UK tour on May 28th.

Dates include London Hammersmith Apollo (May 28), Rotherham Magna Centre, South Yorkshire (May 29), Bournemouth BIC (May 30) and Birmingham NIA (May 31).

Last year Bonamassa scooped the Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Classic Rock Awards, and in 2009's Live From the Royal Albert Hall DVD, Joe was joined onstage by Eric Clapton.

Only 32 years of age, Bonamassa has to be the hottest blues rock guitarist around at the moment. Legend has it that when he was twelve he opened for B.B. King on one of the blues legend's American tours. Now thirty-two, Bonamassa has B.B. King performing guitar Night Life - a track from the new Black Rock album.

"Right now, there's no better blues rock guitarist than Bonamassa," hails Gibson.com. If Joe's new Black Rock album is anything to go by, the UK concerts are gonna to be smokin' hot.

Box office: 0871 230 1101, http://www.seetickets.com/, http://www.jbonamassa.com/

Iggy and the Stooges to release Raw Power "Live" on USB stick and MP3 Download

Fans of Iggy and the Stooges and their 1973 seminal punkfest garage rock and roll album RAW POWER will hit the decks when they hear that the London Hammersmith Apollo concert on Sunday May 2nd will be recorded live on USB stick and MP3 download.

Thanks to the latest in digital live recording technology, Iggy diehards will be able to but the USB flashdrive directly after the concert at the merch stand.

For those Stoogeheads who won't be attending the show, don't fret because they'll be able to order the USB sitcks and the MP3 downloads online from www.simfylive.com/iggypop.

There's also a UK site that details more information about the Raw Power "Live" USB concert sticks via the following link - http://tinyurl.com/3x85ncd.

Your Pretty Face is Going To Hell, Shake Appeal, Search and Destroy, Gimmie Danger - all the hits and more.

Batusis featuring Sylvain Sylvain and Cheetah Chrome to release EP and embark on UK tour

Punk Rockers of the world unite. If you love the New York Dolls and the legendary punk band the Dead Boys, then this punk rock supergroup is for you!

Smog Veil Records today announced the SXSW debut concert and debut recording by punk rock supergroup “Batusis” featuring the seminal punk icons Sylvain Sylvain (New York Dolls) and Cheetah Chrome (Rocket From The Tombs/Dead Boys).

Batusis will perform their debut SXSW concert in Austin, Texas at 10pm on March 18th at the Prague, followed by Cheapo Music at 5pm on March 19th.

Check out the Batusis at SXSW on March 18th: http://my.sxsw.com/events/event/5678

Batusis, whose name is derived from when Adam West danced a version of the watusi on the Batman TV series, release their self-titled debut EP on collectable 7” inch multi-colored vinyl and digital download on Smog Veil records throughout North America & Europe on May 4th.

“I’ve known Sylvain since 1975,” says Cheetah. “The Dolls were a huge influence on me.” Sylvain adds “We’re just nuts about rock ‘n’ roll. We knew that’s what we’d come up with, no matter what!”

The EP also features Enzo Penizzotto (bass) and Thommy Price (drums) of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

To coincide with the record release, Sylvain and Chrome will undertake a nationwide “Batusis” UK tour in May as follows:

Glasgow ABC2 - May 3
Sheffield O2 Academy2 - May 4
Liverpool O2 Academy2 - May 5
London Islington Academy - May 7
Hatfield Forum, Attic Room - May 8
Oxford Academy2 - May 10
Southampton Joiners - May 11
Bristol O2 Academy2 - May 12
Birmingham O2 Academy2 - May 13

Ticket Hotline:0844 477 2000
Book Online: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/

Southampton Joiners Box Office: 02380 632 601
Southampton Joiners Online Booking: http://www.seetickets.com/

Check out the track from the forthcoming debut EP from www.myspace.com/batusis

Also check out Smog Veil's official website http://www.smogveil.com/

Todd's bananas, but he's still a True Star

Today, the Mail on Sunday newspaper's David Bennun wrote a glowing review of the sold-out British concert premiere of Todd Rundgren's legendary 1973 album 'A Wizard, A True Star'.

"Todd's bananas, but he's still a True Star"
By David Bennun, Mail on Sunday (UK)
14th February 2010

The influence of The Beatles spreads so far through pop that tracking it is almost impossible, apart from one particular aspect: their eclecticism. That prompted a brief flurry of records that leapt gleefully from one genre to another, but the trend faded in the mid-Seventies.

Lately, however, it has been taken up by acts as hip as Super Furry Animals, as middle-of-the-road as Mika and as offbeat as Lawrence Arabia.

The missing link between such modern-style-hoppers and Liverpool's finest is Todd Rundgren (HMV Hammermsmith Apollo, London **** (4 stars).

Although the American rocker most widely known for producing Meat Loaf's 43 milion selling Bat Out of Hell is not so much missing as under-appreciated.

His Seventies solo work has a cult following and A Wizard, A True Star (1973) represents a peak among those albums inspired by Abbey Road, before the format buckled under the weight of Queen's A Night At The Opera.

AWATS, as Rundgren fans know it, is the beneficiary of another current trend: live performances of classic albums. But rather than simply turning up and playing AWATS to a full house, Rundgren has staged a show every bit as magnificently bananas as the record itself.

Picture a hotchpotch of Roxy Music, Monty Python and Tex Avery, set to a soundtrack that lurches between power pop, glam, cosmic rock, proto-metal, classic soul, chanson and Vaudeville. That last influence is particularly telling of Rundgren's debt to The Beatles, who kept a touch of the music hall about them to the last.

AWATS was an impossible album, dazzling, comical and endearingly outlandish. The same goes for this low-budget, high-concept performance. Rundgren hams it up through hilarious costume changes that reveal he might share Iggy Pop's haircut, but not his exercise regime.

Yet while Iggy is selling car insurance, Rundgren is dishing out mirth and rock'n'roll thrills.
It's taken long enough, but perhaps the world is ready to recognise his peculiar brilliance.

Photo Credit: (c) Carey Brandon

Todd Rundgren triumphs with A Wizard, A True Star at the London Hammersmith Apollo

Todd Rundgren and his all-star band rolled into London last night for what will be remembered as a career defining concert - the British concert premiere of his 1973 epic album "A Wizard, A True Star."

The concert has been highly anticipated for a year now. Rundgren opened the show with a 30 minute set entitled Todd Rundgren's "Johnson." Todd (vocals, guitar), Kasim Sultan (bass), Jesse Gress (guitar) and Prairie Prince (drums)performed their own renditions of bluesman Robert Johnson. An album's worth of material is to follow in the coming months.

I was very sceptical about how Rundgren would pull off re-creating the music from Wizard and how he would keep the audience's attention. But like some outerspace theatrical glam rock, tongue and cheeck rock concert, the minute Todd walked on stage dressed in NASA astronaut's suit, you new this show was going to be on par with David Bowie's famous farewell Ziggy Stardust gig (at the same Hammersmith Apollo venue).

But this was Rundgren's defining moment. There were rock star moments in a rock and roll circus spetacle that was chaotic, fun and emotionally uplifting, and at times, heartfelt and poignant. Wizard was the album that defined a generation, and although it was originally panned by critics when it was released in 1973, it has since been namechecked by tons of young British bands.

Not only did the album combine several music genres and styles, but it also told the rollercoaster story of a psychedelic trip as driven by one of pop's greatest DIY wonders.

The costume changes brought back the theatricality of when rock and roll shows were an event. I don't know if Rundgren did this concsiously, but I haven't witnessed something theatrical like this since David Bowie stunned audiences with his memorable Diamond Dogs tour.

Vocally, Todd sounded impeccable. His Philly soul stylings touched a nerve, particularly when he sang the soul medly I'm So Proud / Ooh Baby Baby / La La Means I Love You / Cool Jerk.

When Bobby Strickland told everyone to get up on their feet during Cool Jerk, suddenly the gig skyrocketed into orbit with Hungry for Love, I Don't Want To Tie You Down, Is It My Name? and the encore One Last Victory.

As the concert drew to a close, the sold out 3,500 strong crowd, stood on their toes with wild applause. Todd Rundgren conquered London. It will be interesting to see what the 'True Star' will do next.

As we left the venue, there was a stall selling the entire concert on USB stick. The USB is available to order online from http://concert-online.com/en/artist/25886/Todd-Rundgren.html

Photo Credit: (c) John Rahim

Introducing the iGarage-Door-Opener""

Apple's newest product offering, the iGarage-Door-Opener, comes hot off the heels of the release of the immensely-popular iPhone.

Featuring a multi-touch display and easy-to-use software, control of all vital garage door functions is at your fingertips.

Similar in appearance and functionality to its telephone counterpart, the iG.D.O. contains a 350MHz transmitter and is capable of downloading and storing up to 10GB of mp3 files.

The advanced settings menu allows you to select various "operation tones" that will play while the door is in the process of opening and/or closing, and the bottom surface of the iG.D.O. even contains a heavy-duty titanium clip if for those who choose to mount it on a belt or sun visor.

With a retail price in the neighborhood of $350, Apple quickly admits that the iG.D.O. isn't for everyone.

However for those well-to-do people who have everything but a fashionable means of opening and closing their garage doors, this product will likely make the perfect Father's Day gift.

Todd Rundgren to release A Wizard A True Star European Gigs on USB Stick

Todd Rundgren today announced that he will release both his forthcoming London Hammersmith Apollo and Amsterdam Paradiso February 2010 concerts on USB stick.

The news recently came as part of an announcement from the German based live music recording company Concert-Online.com. Fans will be able to pre-order both concert sticks weeks before Rundgren and his all-star AWATS band fly to Europe.

A Wizard A True Star is a milestone psychedelic album from 1973 that has influenced a generation of new British bands including The Big Pink, Simian Mobile Disco and Hot Chip. When the album was originally released in 1973, it held the record for being the longest playing vinyl album of all time (over 60 minutes), came in die-cut packaging and was double grooved.

The USB sticks retail for £20 Pounds Sterling and 25 Euros. If you don't want to pre-order the USB sticks, and you will be attending one of the concerts, you can purchase your stick directly after the shows.

The London show will take place at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo on Friday February 6th, followed by the only Dutch show at the Paradiso, Amsterdam on Sunday Feburary 8th.

The impressive all-star AWATS line-up will comprise former members of Utopia, The Cars and The Tubes and includes Ralph Schuckett (keys, vocals), Prairie Prince (drums, vocals), Jesse Gress (guitar, vocals), Greg Hawkes (keys, vocals), Kasim Sulton (bass, vocals) and Todd Rundgren (vocals, guitar).

To pre-order the USB sticks, please visit www.concert-online.com.