Music

Since releasing the mega-hit “Shut Up and Dance” in 2014, WALK THE MOON certainly hasn’t shut up, but definitely has kept dancing.

The trio has followed “Shut Up and Dance” with singles including 2017’s “One Foot” and this year’s “Can You Handle My Love??”, the lead track off the new WTM album, HEIGHTS. While those tunes haven’t quite matched the record-breaking feats of “Shut Up and Dance,” they’ve marked important creative steps for the group.

“We’re all really grateful for ‘Shut Up and Dance,'” guitarist Eli Maiman tells ABC Audio. “It put a lot of gas in our tank.  We can continue to be able to put out music and to be able to do more of what we want to do because we’ve been propelled by…this massive thing that was ‘Shut Up and Dance.'”

Maiman adds that WALK THE MOON doesn’t feel pressure to deliver another “Shut Up and Dance.”

“Don’t get me wrong, if something else goes as huge as ‘Shut Up and Dance,’ we’d be thrilled, but we’re not reaching for it,” he explains. “We’re able to do things that are really true to who the band is, as we evolve as human beings and live our lives.”

In returning to the road this past fall for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, WALK THE MOON was reminded how special it feels to play “Shut Up and Dance” live, despite playing it so many times.

“We don’t like practicing ‘Shut Up and Dance,'” Maiman laughs. “But playing ‘Shut Up and Dance’ is great. When the audience shows up and they’re singing and they’re dancing and they’re jumping and they’re sweating and they’re doing the whole thing, it’s magic every single night.”

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Kenny G is having a moment: He’s played on recent records by The Weeknd and Kanye West, his first album in six years is out now, and he stars in the new HBO documentary Listening to Kenny G, which examines why some people hate his music.

Kenny says he didn’t mind starring in that movie — just like he doesn’t mind that for years, he’s been mercilessly roasted on shows like South Park, Family Guy and Saturday Night Live.

“I’m always in on the joke,” he tells ABC Audio. “I like humor, so…if it’s at my expense, I’m just thinking, ‘If it’s funny, it’s just funny.’ I have no problem laughing about a South Park episode that makes fun of me because I play a note that makes everyone crap their pants.”

He adds, laughing, “I look at it like this: I’m on the radar of the guys that are making South Park. I must be doing something right!”

The fans coming out to see Kenny’s current Miracles Holiday & Hits Tour 2021 must think he’s doing something right: Contrary to popular belief, his concerts are far from a snooze.

“People think they might want to come see me and just have it all be beautiful ballads. But…if I did that, it would be a more…boring concert,” he explains. “We throw in…some crazy stuff, and that makes the concert way better…at the end, they’re going, ‘Wow!'”

The tour is partly named after Kenny’s 1994 album Miracles, the best-selling modern-day Christmas album.  But Kenny, who’s Jewish, admits that he initially didn’t get why the head of his record label, Clive Davis, wanted him to do a Christmas album.

“He goes, ‘Kenny, Irving Berlin wrote ‘White Christmas’ [and] he’s Jewish,'” Kenny recalls. “I said, ‘Good point, Clive!'” 

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The Pretty Reckless‘ Going to Hell is going back to vinyl.

The band’s 2014 album is being repressed on wax, and the new LP version will released on February 11, 2022. It’ll be available in a variety of different color variants exclusive to the Pretty Reckless website and independent record stores.

Going to Hell is The Pretty Reckless’ sophomore album, following their 2010 debut Light Me Up. It spawned hit singles in “Heaven Knows,” “Messed Up World” and “Follow Me Down.”

The Pretty Reckless released their latest album, Death by Rock and Roll, this past February. Taylor Momsen and company will play two hometown New York City headlining shows in March 2022 in support of the record, followed by a full tour alongside Shinedown that kicks off in April.

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For Dustin Lynch, reaching #1 on the country charts with MacKenzie Porter on “Thinking ‘Bout You” is particularly special, as he has teammate by his side for the first time. 

The duet’s Dustin’s eighth #1 hit but it’s MacKenzie’s first U.S. chart-topper, after achieving three hit singles in Canada. Dustin’s thrilled to see her break through in the American music scene.

“To have her experience a lot of firsts with having a song on country radio in the United States and us getting to perform late-night TV together with Kimmel for the first time ever, having a partner crime is a lot of fun,” he says. “It allows you to to have someone to text or call. We always back and forth, ‘did you see how we did this week with moving up the chart?’ To have a teammate, it’s cool.” 

The team effort reminds Dustin of the artists who gave him a platform as a rising star, including Luke Bryan and Little Big Town. 

“I think that’s what’s so special about the country music community is we’re allowed long enough careers where it makes sense to do that and these collaborations and things come natural,” Dustin says. “The likes of Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, that list goes on and on of people that I’ve been allowed to tour with [who] have intro-ed me and supported me and propped me up through the years.  It’s great to pass that on down.” 

“Thinking ‘Bout You” was originally featured on Dustin’s 2020 album, Tullahoma, as a duet with Lauren Alaina. Due to promotional conflicts, the song was re-recorded with MacKenzie and sent to radio in 2021 as the album’s fifth single.

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New Edition announced Monday that they are going on tour in 2022 with Charlie Wilson and Jodeci.

The veteran vocal group is headlining “The Culture Tour,” which kicks off February 16 in Columbus, Ohio. New Edition, Wilson and Jodeci will perform in 30 cities, including Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles and New York City. The tour wraps up April 10 in Miami.

“Hey everybody, I’m headed to a city near you with New Edition and Jodeci on ‘The Culture Tour‘ in 2022,” Uncle Charlie said in a statement. “I can’t wait to see y’all.”

Pre-sale begins Thursday, December 16, at 10 a.m. local time, and can be accessed by using the code UNCLE or JODECI on the tour website. Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday, December 17, at 10 a.m. local time.

As previously reported, the members of Jodeci have announced that they are reuniting to record their first new album in over six years. Consisting of two sets of brothers, K-Ci and JoJo Hailey and the DeGrate siblings — DeVanté Swing and Mr. Dalvin — the group just signed a management deal with the P Music Group, owned by Michael Paran, who also manages Wilson and Johnny Gill

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grandson has announced a North American headlining tour for 2022.

The “Blood//Water” rocker will hit the road beginning February 27 in Los Angeles, and will wrap up April 8 in Kansas City, Kansas. “Overwhelmed” artist Royal & the Serpent will provide support.

In a statement, grandson promises that the tour will be “full experience” of his 2020 debut album, Death of an Optimist.

“Some of these songs will never be played again,” grandson says. “I just knew this era wouldn’t be complete without some small sweaty club shows. Bringing my little sis Royal along for the ride. After that, it’s album 2 time!!”

Tickets go on sale this Friday, December 17, at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit grandsonmusic.com.

The headlining dates will fall in between a pair of high-profile opening gigs for grandson. In February, he’ll be supporting Imagine Dragons‘ North American tour, followed by a run supporting Avril Lavigne throughout Canada in May.

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The M3 Rock Festival is set to return in 2022.  The event, which celebrates 1980s-era rock and heavy metal music, is scheduled to take place May 6-8 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

Next year’s 13th edition of the extravaganza will feature performances by Blue Öyster Cult, Tesla, Cinderella‘s Tom Keifer, Extreme, Ratt‘s Stephen Pearcy, Skid Row, Stryper, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zebra, Quireboys, Kix and many more.

Three-day and VIP packages for the fest go on sale this Friday, December 17, at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster.com.

Kix will headline the May 6 kickoff party, which also will include performances from Lizzy Borden and Doro.

The May 7 lineup is led by Kiefer and also features Blue Öyster Cult, Extreme and Pearcy. The festival wraps up with a loud bang on May 8, with Tesla headlining and Skid Row, Stryper, Malmsteen, Zebra and Quireboys also performing.

For more details, visit M3Rockfest.com.

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Stevie J and his son, Stevie II, were escorted off of a Delta flight Friday for allegedly attempting to bring alcohol on the plane after being warned it was illegal.

According to TMZ, Faith Evans‘ estranged husband was booked on a flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta, and a Delta staff member instructed them to dispose of the alcohol before boarding. Stevie J, whose birth name is Steven Aaron Jordan, insisted that he and his son threw away their cups as instructed. The reality star added that the confrontation was racially motivated, and he is considering legal action. Stevie and his son were not arrested, and they did eventually arrive in the A-T-L to celebrate the birthday of Stevie’s daughter.

Stevie filed for divorce from Evans on November 8 at Los Angeles County Superior Court.

As previously reported, Faith recently asked a judge to deny Stevie’s request for spousal assistance. Faith is also seeking to retain “all property acquired before marriage, by gifts, inheritance, or ingenuity, and after the date of separation,” according to The Blast. In court documents, Evans states that she and Jordan have been officially separated since May 29, 2020, while Stevie J’s filing states the date is October 19, 2021.

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Evanescence and Halestorm have postponed the remainder of their co-headlining tour due to positive COVID-19 cases affecting the Evanescence touring party.

As previously reported, this past Sunday’s scheduled stop in Cincinnati was delayed after Amy Lee and company tweeted that the tour was “hit by COVID.” Originally, the show was rescheduled for December 20, but in a new statement Monday evening, Evanescence announced that it will be postponed to January 2022, along with the four final dates on the run.

“We’ve done everything we could to try and make it work but with multiple positive COVID tests in our touring party it just wouldn’t be right to continue the show schedule as is,” Lee says. “All the bands and crew have been so diligent with every precaution to keep this from happening but this virus is a real b****!”

Lee notes that everyone is vaccinated, and that “nobody’s symptoms are severe,” adding, “[W]e are very grateful for that.”

Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale previously said that everyone in her band and crew are “safe, sound and negative.”

Evanescence and Halestorm first kicked off the tour in November. The bill also included Plush and Lilith Czar on select dates.

“This tour has been an unforgettable experience that we are so proud of,” Lee says. “From the production, to our fantastic crew, to Halestorm and Lilith Czar and Plush — and most of all, to you.”

She adds, “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to you incredible fans for making this dream a reality, and making it mean so much more that we ever imagined it could. Thank you for your understanding. We love you!”

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Lance Bass is letting fans know he does take offense when he overhears someone saying the Backstreet Boys are superior to *NSYNC.  His latest declaration has since reignited the great boyband debate that raged in the late nineties and early aughts — much to BSB singer AJ McLean‘s chagrin.

The 42-year-old singer shared a sarcastic TikTok video of him mouthing along to the now-viral Trisha Paytas clip where she says, “Huh? What?  Oh… okay” and laughs in confusion.  Lance’s includes the caption “When people say BSB is better than *NSYNC” as he looks around and rolls his eyes.

Knowing full well that he was about to start some drama, Lance titled his video, “Am I starting another #boyband war? Debate in the comments.”

As fans warred in the comment section, AJ decided to take a swipe at Lance by grumbling, “Dammit here we go again.”

Lance happily shot back, “Tis the season!”

Another hilarious exchange occurred after a fan shared, “My older sis was BSB and I was *NSYNC, it was an all out war in our home. My poor mom.” 

Lance retorted, “Prayers to your mom.”

So, which band appears to be winning the debate?  While the two are neck and neck in the comments section, there appears to be virtually no love for New Kids on the Block, Hanson, O-Town and 98 Degrees.

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