Music – Page 3534 – 105.7 WDNY

The Dropkick Murphys singer Al Barr drops off upcoming tour due to mother’s health

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The Dropkick Murphys singer Al Barr won’t be joining the band for their upcoming tour due to his mother Ingrid‘s health.

In a statement released Tuesday, the Celtic punks shared that Ingrid has recently suffered a series of strokes, and has been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia.

“Dropkick Murphys have always been about FAMILY,” the statement reads. “And in the spirit of FAMILY FIRST, Al has had to make the very difficult decision to stay home for the rest of the year to care for his Mom.”

The affected dates include the Murphys’ upcoming U.S. tour, which kicks off February 21 in Reading, Pennsylvania, and concludes with a multi-night hometown run in Boston to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Barr will also miss the group’s summer European tour, which launches in June.

“We appreciate your compassion for Al’s family,” the band says. “We know as part of our family you will understand and support us in dealing with these difficult times.”

For the shows, Dropkick co-singer Ken Casey will be handling lead vocal duties, with assists from special guests.

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ spotlighted in five-episode podcast

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Fresh from his appearance at the Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar is taking a deep dive into his 2015 album on a new podcast.

Starting Wednesday, season two of the Big Hit Show podcast, produced by the Obamas‘ Higher Ground Productions, will spotlight K-Dot’s acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly, the follow-up to his 2012 debut Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. The description reads, “The best rapper alive tries to figure out what to do next, channeling the pressures of fame and the pain of a generation into a career-defining masterwork.”

In the trailer, we hear the “Alright” rapper saying of the album, “Y’know, in hip hop, we have this thing, ‘the sophomore jinx.’ I took it upon myself to do something that inspires me.”

He explains, “It was me explaining my experiences and what emotions it brought up from that experience, and tell them like, ‘Yo, it’s something bigger than Compton, and where we from’”

To Pimp a Butterfly ended up on numerous year-end best-of 2015 lists, and received seven Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year.

The Hu announces US headlining tour dates

February 15, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The Hu has announced a headlining U.S. tour.

The spring outing, dubbed the Black Thunder tour, will kick off April 16 in San Diego, a day after the Mongolian rockers play Coachella. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 18, at 10 a.m. local time.

During the Black Thunder tour, The Hu plans to play a few songs off the group’s forthcoming sophomore album, due out later this year. The currently untitled record will follow The Hu’s 2019 debut, The Gereg.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit TheHuOfficial.com.

“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.

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.

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.”

+ More