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The Black Keys have announced a North American headlining tour.
The 32-date trek, dubbed the Dropout Boogie tour, will kick off July 9 in Las Vegas, and will stretch all the way into the fall before wrapping up October 18 in Dallas. Band of Horses will provide support.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 4. If you’re a member of the Keys’ Lonely Boys & Girls fan club, you’ll have access to pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, February 1.
For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit TheBlackKeys.com.
The Black Keys released their latest album, the blues covers collection Delta Kream, last May. The duo’s most recent original album is 2019’s ”Let’s Rock”.
Lauv gave fans their first taste of his upcoming new album on Friday, when he released his vulnerable new single “26,” which finds the hitmaker realizing he chased after the wrong things in life.
Speaking to Billboard, Lauv says he completely overhauled his creative process when making his new album because he didn’t like the pace at which he was working. “I didn’t even realize how much of a workaholic I was — because it’s like, obviously making music is so fun, but I had no balance in my life,” he admitted.
That’s what inspired the depressive track “26,” where he acknowledges money and fame doesn’t equal happiness. He compared that realization to climbing a mountain and finding the journey to the top was not worth the effort. “I was so detached from my center — so it’s not so much the view as it was just looking out and feeling so empty and groundless on the inside,” Lauv described.
He says that life lesson is what inspired him to toss out everything he knew about songwriting and give freestyling a try. Lauv said the music began to flow because he stopped obsessing over the lyrics.
“Let the moments that are hooky be hooky, let the moments that are wordy be wordy,” said Lauv. “And I feel like writing this album was kind of an exercise of pushing out of that, [and] being like, ‘What happens if I don’t think at all what I’m going to say? I don’t plan on what I’m going to say, no one ever even needs to hear it, who cares!’ I really wrote every song from that place.”
Teased Lauv, “What I think is going to make this album really special is that it’s really raw.” A release date is forthcoming.
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Josh Groban released his album Harmony in November of 2020, but now, he’s finally getting a chance to bring those songs to fans live.
Josh has announced the Harmony Summer 2022 tour, kicking off June 17 in Detroit, MI and wrapping up at L.A.’s Greek Theater on August 2. His special guests on the tour will be Big Easy legends The New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band, as well as violinist and singer Lucia Micarelli and singer/songwriter Eleri Ward.
“After far too long feeling torn away from my favorite part of my musical life, live performance, it is with huge excitement and gratitude to announce that I’ll be back doing what I do best and love most with the Harmony Tour,” Josh says in a statement.
“It will be more than a concert for me…it will be a celebration of connection with my friends, fans and colleagues who have been my anchors during the last couple of years and during the course of my career,” he adds. “I hope you’ll join us for these beautiful nights of music.”
Citi cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets beginning tomorrow, February 1 at 10 a.m.local time through February 3 at 10 p.m.local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For pre-sale details, visit citientertainment.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, February 4, at 10 a.m. via JoshGroban.com.
Fans will be required to provide either a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination.
Back in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Busch beer used a jingle that went “It’s cold and it’s smooth and it’s waiting for you.” So for the star of its Super Bowl ad this year, Busch Light has chosen the smoothest guy they can think of: Kenny G.
In the new spot, one hiker hands the other a Busch Light and says, “Y’know, whenever you crack open a Busch light, the mountains start singing.” Then, a group of giant outdoorsy types appear over a nearby mountain ridge and start singing the classic jingle, “Head for the mountains/the mountains of Busch/head for the mountains of Busch.”
Then, one says, “Hit it, giant Kenny G!” The saxophonist appears and unleashes a super-smooth riff while one hiker marvels, “So smooth!” The giant outdoorsy types start singing again as Kenny plays them out.
Billboard reports that Kenny, a notorious perfectionist, played his part of the commercial 100 times to get it exactly right. “It was an awesome opportunity,” he tells Billboard, sharing that he plans to have a few friends over on Super Bowl Sunday for his special spicy Asian-style chicken wings.
Kenny says he’s also excited to see the halftime show, which will star legendary rappers Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, rap superstar Kendrick Lamar and the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige.
“It’s going to be great because I’m a fan of all of them,” Kenny tells Billboard. “Because I like people who are good at what they do and they are all really, really good at what they do!”
On Sunday, January 30, U2 frontman Bono and guitarist The Edge posted a video of them delivering a new acoustic performance of their band’s classic 1983 song “Sunday Bloody Sunday” that features a new final verse.
The debut of the updated version of the tune coincides with the 50th anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” massacre — which served as the inspiration for the song — where British Army soldiers shot and killed 13 civil-rights protesters in Derry, Northern Ireland.
The black-and-white video, which was shot at one of the U2 members’ homes in Dublin, was posted on the group’s official YouTube channel along with the caption “30 January 2022 – With love, Bono & Edge.”
The newly written closing verse features the following lyrics: “Here at the murder scene/ The virus of fiction, reality TV/ Why so many mothers cry/ Religion is the enemy of the Holy Spirit guide/ And the battle just begun/ Where is the victory Jesus won.”
Here are the original lyrics of the song’s final verse: “And it’s true we are immune/ When fact is fiction and TV reality/ And today the millions cry/ We eat and drink while tomorrow they die/ The real battle just begun/ To claim the victory Jesus won.”
“Sunday Bloody Sunday” was originally featured on U2’s third studio album, War.
Neil Young and Joni Mitchell in 2012; Lester Cohen/WireImage
Joni Mitchell has joined her old friend and fellow Canadian artist Neil Young in removing her music from Spotify because the streaming service continues to host The Joe Rogan Experience. Many in the medical community have claimed that Rogan‘s podcast spreads harmful misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines.
In an online message, Mitchell writes, “I’ve decided to remove all my music from Spotify. Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue.”
Joni also posted a link to an open letter that was signed by hundreds of scientists and medical professionals asking Spotify to “immediately establish a clear and public policy to moderate misinformation on its platform,” after a recent episode of the podcast aired that they allege included harmful untruths regarding COVID-19.
That same letter prompted Young to demand that his music be removed from Spotify if the service didn’t stop hosting Rogan’s extremely popular podcast. Spotify granted Neil’s request, rather cut ties with Rogan.
Following Young’s decision to leave Spotify, many artists expressed support for him, while quite a few others criticized him, suggesting that Neil’s actions were anti-free speech, and that Rogan had a right to express his opinions about the pandemic and vaccines.
In response to his detractors, Young maintained in an online note, “I support free speech. I have never been in favor of censorship. Private companies have the right to choose what they profit from, just as I can choose not to have my music support a platform that disseminates harmful information.”
He added, “I am happy and proud to stand in solidarity with the front-line health care workers who risk their lives every day to help others.”
Light the Torch has premiered the video for “Death of Me,” a track off the band’s new album, You Will Be the Death of Me.
The clip finds Howard Jones and company in a decaying, gothic mansion. You can watch it now streaming on YouTube.
“‘Death of Me’ is a song dedicated to that one single person or habit you can’t shake,” Jones says. “A slow death hurts so much more. [Director] Ramon [Boutviseth] did a great job with directing this video and we hope you enjoy it.”
Light the Torch released You Will Be the Death of Me last June. They’ll hit the road in support of the record on a tour with Jones’ former band Killswitch Engage kicking off Friday in Pittsburgh.
Bloc Party has released a new song called “The Girls Are Fighting,” a track off the band’s upcoming album, Alpha Games.
“I think ‘The Girls Are Fighting’ is kind of self-explanatory — someone’s been selling dreams to someone they shouldn’t have and it’s caught up with them,” says frontman Kele Okereke. “I just wanted to capture that moment of going from naught to ten in an evening, in a sweaty nightclub.”
You can download “The Girls Are Fighting” now via digital outlets. Its accompanying video, which takes things from the club to the boxing ring, is streaming now on YouTube.
Alpha Games, the follow-up to 2016’s Hymns, arrives April 29. It also includes the previously released single “Traps.”
Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment
More stars are lining up to perform during Super Bowl Weekend including Usher, Gunna and Lil Baby.
Usher will sing at the invitation-only Chairman’s Party on Saturday, February 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, site of the Super Bowl to be played on Sunday, February 13. The eight-time Grammy winner performed with the Black Eyed Peas during the Super Bowl 45 halftime show in 2011.
Gunna, whose new album, DS4Ever, debuted last week at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, will hit the stage with Lil Baby at the DirecTV/Maxim party on Friday, February 11 at City Market LA.
As previously reported, Drake will headline the h.wood Group “Homecoming” party on February 12 at the Pacific Design Center. The Champagne Papi will perform one night after his mentor, Lil Wayne, who signed him to the Young Money Entertainment label in 2009, headlines Shaquille O’Neal‘s “Shaq’s Fun House” party on February 11 at the Shrine Auditorium.
The shows by Usher, Gunna, Lil Baby, Drake and Lil Wayne will lead up to the main event, Super Bowl 56, featuring Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige performing for the first time together during halftime.
Last week, U2‘s Bono made headlines by saying on a podcast that he feels “embarrassed” and “cringe” at the sound of his voice on the radio. But now he’s clarified that it’s not that he doesn’t like his voice — he just doesn’t like how it sounds on the band’s early records.
Speaking to Variety, Bono explains, “I’m used to those songs live. I love the recordings, as far as [the band] is concerned. But when I hear my voice, I just hear the fragility of it.”
He continues, “Live, when it happens, the songs are singing you. It’s the most incredible, miraculous thing. And something like ‘Pride (In the Name of Love),’ which I find particularly excruciating when I hear it [on record]…I sing that on stage and I sing it for everybody. Something is going on there that I have very little to do with.”
However, guitarist Edge disagrees, telling Variety, “I love Bono’s singing on those early records. The vulnerability is part of it.”
Bono and Edge also discuss the fact that they’re shortlisted for an Oscar nomination for “Your Song Saved My Life,” which they wrote for the animated film Sing 2. Their competition includes tracks by Billie Eilish, Van Morrison and Beyonce, which Edge says are “maybe the best array of original songs in the last five years.”
“Whoever wins I think will be a worthy winner — and I hope it’s us. But it’s going to be hard to even get nominated, I think,” notes the guitarist. But Bono insists, “We want to win! We don’t want to come in second. All those people who appreciate songwriting, and the truth behind it, the truth behind the tale, I hope they’re gonna show up for us.”
