Music – Page 3302 – 105.7 WDNY

BTS’ V is the latest member to test positive for COVID-19

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

V from BTS is the latest member of the band to battle COVID-19. The group’s label, Big Hit Music, announced V’s diagnosis on Tuesday.

According to Billboard, the pop singer took a PCR test after complaining of a mildly sore throat and the results came back positive.

Big Hit said in a statement on the messaging app WeVerse, “V completed two rounds of COVID-19 vaccinations and is not presenting any extraordinary symptoms other than a mild fever and sore throat. He is currently undergoing treatment at home while waiting for further guidelines from the health care authorities.”

“There was contact with the other members on Saturday the 12th, but everyone was wearing a mask, and there was no close contact. None of the BTS members other than V are presenting any symptoms, and everyone received negative results from the preemptive self-test,” the statement continued.

Big Hits stressed, “The company places the artists’ health as our top priority and we will do everything we can to aid V in his speedy recovery. We will also diligently cooperate with the requests and guidelines of the health care authorities.”

V, whose birth name is Kim Taehyung, is the fifth member of BTS to come down with COVID-19. Previously, RM, Jin, Jimin and Suga battled the virus and have all made complete recoveries. Jimin had the biggest health scare of the group, as his diagnosis was confirmed when he was about to undergo surgery for acute appendicitis after complaining of abdominal pain. He reached out to fans on February 2 and let them know he is “recovering well.”

Zoë Kravitz working on new album with Jack Antonoff

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jack Antonoff has found yet another collaborator: Zoë Kravitz.

The actor and musician tells ELLE that she’s been working on her debut solo album with the Bleachers frontman, who’s also produced records with Taylor Swift, Lorde, St. Vincent and Lana Del Rey.

“It feels vulnerable, and it’s a little scary,” Kravitz says of the album. “But making music makes me happy.”

Those who watched the Kravitz-starring series High Fidelity may recall that Antonoff made a cameo appearance as himself during an episode.

Kravitz previously released two albums with her band Lolawolf. In addition to working on new tunes, she’ll be starring as Catwoman in the upcoming movie The Batman alongside Robert Pattinson, who’ll be playing a Kurt Cobain-inspired version of the Caped Crusader. The film premieres in theaters March 4.

“Freedom Was a Highway”: Jimmie Allen and Brad Paisley drive to #1

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Third time’s a charm for Jimmie Allen, as he tops the chart with his latest single, “Freedom Was a Highway.”

Jimmie and his duet partner, Brad Paisley, have claimed the #1 spot on country radio this week, making for Jimmie’s third consecutive #1 single and Brad’s 25th overall. In Jimmie’s catalogue, it follows his debut single, “Best Shot” and its follow up, “Make Me Want To,” off his debut album, Mercury Lane.

“Yo @bradpaisley this song was a fun one. I appreciate you doing this song with me and giving it that BP Swag. Thank you to country radio for supporting this song,” Jimmie writes on Instagram, thanking members of his team, band and crew. “To all the people that have requested this song, bought and streamed it thank you!!!!”

“Honored to ride shotgun with you @jimmieallen. I’ll be the Sally Fields to your Burt Reynolds anytime,” shares Brad alongside a photo of he and Jimmie posing with a bottle of Brad’s American Highway bourbon brand.

“Freedom Was a Highway” first appeared on Jimmie’s 2020 EP, Bettie James, and later on Bettie James Gold Edition.

Scenes from an Italian Restaurant: Billy Joel’s mom saluted on her 100th birthday by local pizzeria

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Billy Joel‘s mother Rosalind Nyman Joel would have been 100 years old today, and a restaurant where she and Billy used to eat when he was a kid is marking the occasion in a unique way.

DiMaggio’s Pizza of New York is a pizzeria across the street from where Billy was raised in Hicksville, New York, and when Billy was a kid, he and his mom would stop there to grab food after she took him for his music lessons. At noon today, the restaurant will dedicate the “Roz Pie” in honor of Rosalind, who was born February 15, 1922. The inspiration for Billy’s song “Rosalinda’s Eyes,” Rosalind passed away in 2014 at the age of 92.

DiMaggio’s will also host a singalong with civic and community leaders on Hicksville’s Village Green, which Billy immortalized in the lyrics of his song “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.”

There’s no word on whether Billy himself will stop by, but there’s a good chance he’ll be in the area: His next concert date isn’t until February 26 in Las Vegas.

Roots Picnic returning this summer with Mary J. Blige, Summer Walker and more

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Roots Picnic is back!

The Roots and Live Nation Urban have announced the return of the outdoor music festival for the first time since 2019. This year, it’ll take place at the Mann at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, PA, on Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5. The festival will also stream live on The Roots’ YouTube channel.

Mary J. Blige will join The Roots as headliner, with a lineup that will include Summer Walker, Wizkid, Kirk Franklin, Jazmine Sullivan, J Period Live Mixtape featuring Black Thought, Rick Ross, G Herbo, country star Mickey Guyton and more.

Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, February 18 at 10 a.m. ET.

Puscifer announces summer US tour dates

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Puscifer has announced a U.S. tour for this summer.

The headlining run, which marks the Maynard James Keenan-led band’s first trek through the States since 2016, launches June 9 in Las Vegas, and will wrap up July 10 in Seattle.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 18, at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit Puscifer.com.

Puscifer will be touring behind their new album, Existential Reckoning, which was released in 2020. The band celebrated the record’s release with a streaming concert, which will be released on vinyl and, of all things, VHS on February 25.

In between the headlining dates, Puscifer will also play this year’s Bonnaroo in June. Keenan will pull double duty at the Tennessee festival, at which he’ll be playing with Tool, as well.

Barry Manilow, Celine Dion hits being used to disperse crowds of protestors in New Zealand

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Crowds protesting the government’s mask and vaccine mandates in Wellington, New Zealand, have had to deal with something more unusual than police hassling them. Lawmakers are playing hits by Barry Manilow and Celine Dion, among other songs, on a loop in an attempt to get them to disperse.

Trevor Mallard, the speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, has been blasting Manilow’s greatest hits — as well as the 1990s Los del Rio chart-topper “Macarena” — through the speakers inside Parliament buildings in an attempt to break up the crowds of protestors, who have refused to budge for the past week. COVID-19 vaccine PSAs are also being played.

As the protests continued, other tunes were added to the playlist, including U.K. singer/songwriter James Blunt‘s 2005 smash “You’re Beautiful” and an out-of-tune recorder rendition of Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”

The tactic has made headlines around the world, and elicited mixed reactions.

Mallard told the New Zealand website Stuff over the weekend that surrounding residents had been consulted on the plan and were supportive. “And one of them is a Barry Manilow fan,” Mallard added.

So far, the protestors appear to be unbothered: They’ve been dancing along to the “Macarena,” singing along to “You’re Beautiful” and playing their own songs, like Twisted Sister‘s “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”

Barry Manilow, James Blunt hits being used to disperse crowds of protestors in New Zealand

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Crowds protesting the government’s mask and vaccine mandates in Wellington, New Zealand have had to deal with something more unusual than police hassling them. Lawmakers are playing hits by Barry Manilow, James Blunt and Celine Dion on a loop in an attempt to get them to disperse.

Trevor Mallard, the speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, has been blasting Barry Manilow‘s greatest hits — as well as the 1990s Los del Rio hit “Macarena” — through the speakers inside Parliament buildings in an attempt to break up the crowds of protestors, who have refused to budge for the past week. COVID-19 vaccine PSAs are also being played.

After James Blunt spotted the story, he tweeted, “Give me a shout if this doesn’t work” — and his hit “You’re Beautiful” was promptly added to the rotation, as well as an out-of-tune recorder rendition of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”

The tactic has made headlines around the world, and elicited mixed reactions.

Mallard told the New Zealand website Stuff over the weekend that surrounding residents had been consulted on the plan and were supportive. “And one of them is a Barry Manilow fan,” Mallard added.

Gunna and Chloe drop “you & me” music video on Valentine’s Day

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Love was in the air on Valentine’s Day, which was apparently perfect timing for Gunna and Chloe to drop the visuals for their song “you & me.”

The song, which samples, Jon B.‘s ballad “They Don’t Know,” was featured on Gunna’s third studio album, DS4Ever, which was released last month.

The music video came Monday night, just two hours before the official end of the romantic holiday, and begins with the 28-year-old rapper at a pay phone — much like Jon B.’s video — before cutting between scenes of the two artists cuddled up on a couch and flirting and laughing as they shop around a store.

Prior to the “you & me” video release, speculation swirled that Gunna, 28, and Chloe, 23, were dating and although they’ve downplayed those rumors, the video’s lovey-dovey vibe is bound to get people talking again.

The “you & me” video is available to stream now on YouTube.

Journey’s Jonathan Cain explains why band’s upcoming tour with Toto is “all in the family”

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Journey is gearing up for a lengthy U.S. trek with Toto dubbed the 2022 Freedom Tour that kicks off on February 22 in Pittsburgh.

Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain tells ABC Audio that the two bands have a familial connection, because his daughter Madison is engaged to Toto guitarist Steve Lukather‘s son Trevor. The couple is slated to be married early this year.

“It’s all in the family now,” Cain jokes.

Meanwhile, Jonathan notes that this will be the first time that his group and Toto will hit the road together, and he says he feels the two acts are a good pairing.

“We did one show with Toto years ago,” Cain recalls. “And, you know, both crowds seemed to dig each other’s music, so we thought, ‘Why not?'”

Journey and Toto both feature virtuoso rock guitarists — Neal Schon and Lukather — and Cain says there’s a good chance that the two musicians will hit the stage together to jam during the trek.

“I’m sure that will happen a bunch,” he notes. “Been buddies for a long time and looking forward to it.”

The 2022 Freedom Tour will mark Journey’s first full-length tour since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.

“We are pleased as heck to be in the arenas [again],” Jonathan declares. “It’s a risky deal, but we’re going to follow the [COVID] protocol precautions for safety for the crew and the band.”

The tour is plotted out through a May 11 show in Hartford, Connecticut. Billy Idol originally had been announced as opening act for the first portion of the trek. However, sinus issues forced Idol to bow out of the tour, so Toto now is opening the entire trek.

Visit JourneyMusic.com for the full list of tour dates.

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