Busta Rhymes and Jhené Aiko tapped to help launch ‘The Show: Sunshine Vibes Sessions’ in Vegas

May 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Busta Rhymes and Jhené Aiko are helping with the launch of The Show: Sunshine Vibes Sessions at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The stars have been tapped as headliners for the concerts, which will take place this Memorial Day weekend.

Starting May 27 at the Soak Pool, Jhené will perform, as will others on the lineup, including Swae Lee, Saint Jhn and DJ Boof, taking on the 1’s and 2’s. The following night, Busta and Jeremih will take the stage with Boof once again handling DJ duties.

“We are thrilled to kick off the pool season this Memorial Day Weekend at SOAK,” Steve Sagan, Palm’s executive director of nightlife and daylife, told Billboard. “SOAK Pool promises to be an ultimate poolside party paradise, offering a vibrant lineup of high-energy entertainment, fantastic music, refreshing drinks, delectable food, and endless fun.”

Busta celebrated his 51st birthday on May 20, but the entire year appears to be busy for the star. He previously made appearances at Usher‘s Lovers & Friends festival and one of the New York stops of Janet Jackson‘s tour; headlined the Grammy’s HipHop50 tribute; and performed a sold-out show at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

“I assure you we are just getting started,” Busta told Billboard. “My new album is on the way, and of course, me and my longtime brothers, 50 Cent and Jeremih, are going absolutely earthquake every city starting this summer on the Final Lap Tour 2023.”

‘Elephant’ or ’Elephunk’? ’Jeopardy’ contestant confuses The White Stripes and Black Eyed Peas

May 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

If you know that The White Stripes recorded an album called Elephant, you might’ve won some money on Jeopardy this week.

Picking from the category titled “Pop Culture 2003” during Monday’s episode, contestant Joe was tasked with solving the clue, “I’m going to Wichita to tell you Spin magazine’s top album of the year was their Elephant.” That, of course, refers to The White Stripes’ 2003 album — the “Wichita” line is also a lyric from lead-off track “Seven Nation Army” — but Joe responded, “What is Black Eyed Peas?”

While confusing Jack and Meg White for the “My Humps” group may be very funny, the mix-up isn’t as embarrassing as it might seem on the surface. We’re guessing that Joe was thinking of the very similarly titled Black Eyed Peas album Elephunk, which was also released in 2003.

Joe can also take comfort in knowing that another person on Jeopardy already confused The White Stripes with a different act. Back in 2018, a contestant responded to a clue accompanied by a photo of Jack White with “Who is Eminem?”

You can check out the Jeopardy! clip via the Jack White Reddit page.

Elephant, meanwhile, was reissued earlier this year in honor of its 20th anniversary.

Jelly Roll’s ‘Whitsitt Chapel’ track list revealed

May 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Jelly Roll has rolled out the track list for his forthcoming debut country album, Whitsitt Chapel.

The 13-song collection, which drops June 2, will feature Jelly Roll’s current single, “Need A Favor,” the recently released “Save Me” with Lainey Wilson, and a collaboration with Brantley Gilbert and Struggle Jennings.

Jelly Roll’s set to kick off his 44-city Backroad Baptism Tour on Friday, July 28, in Southaven, Mississippi. But before that, Hulu will premiere his upcoming ABC News Studios-produced documentary, Jelly Roll: Save Me, on Tuesday, May 30.

Here’s the full track listing for Whitsitt Chapel:

“Halfway To Hell”
“Church”
“The Lost”
“Behind Bars” (with Brantley Gilbert and Struggle Jennings)
“Nail Me”
“Hold On Me”
“Kill A Man”
“Unlive” (with Yelawolf)
“Save Me” (with Lainey Wilson)
“She”
“Need A Favor”
“Dancing With The Devil”
“Hungover In A Church Pew”

Joe Perry explains why shows featuring albums in their entirety didn’t work for Aerosmith

May 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Aerosmith‘s recorded their share of legendary albums that are packed with classic tracks, but unlike many of their peers, the band never really did one of those tours where they played one of their famous albums in its entirety. The reason? According to guitarist Joe Perry, it was just too boring.

Speaking to Kerrang, Perry says, “The closest we ever got to that was doing a version of Toys [In The Attic] front-to-back, but after we tried it a couple of times live, we realized that to maintain the energy of the show, we’d have to drop a couple of songs out. It wasn’t exciting enough, for me.”

“There are other songs that people would rather get to hear than being able to say they saw that album played in full,” he adds. “Any time you perform, you’ve got to treat it as the one time you get to play in front of that audience. You don’t know when you’re going to be back.”

And considering that Aerosmith’s upcoming Peace Out tour is billed as their farewell trek, it seems unlikely the band will ever attempt that again.

Perry also tells Kerrang that, having been rocking for 50 years, he feels the ultimate era of rock music was — big surprise — the ’60s and ’70s.

“You lived and died by how you played onstage. You could go out there and have a great single that was on top of the charts, but if you couldn’t deliver a great show live, you’d be gone, because there were all these other bands that could,” Perry say.

“It was about having your feet on the ground, standing in front of the fans, delivering.”

Aerosmith’s Peace Out tour kicks off September 2 in Philadelphia.

Inaugural Harlem Festival of Culture’s star-studded lineup includes Muni Long, Fat Joe, Teyana Taylor and more

May 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

The inaugural Harlem Festival of Culture will take place this summer with MC Lyte as the event’s host, but she won’t be the only star gracing fans with her presence during the three-day festival. The star-studded lineup of artists taking the stage includes Muni Long, Bell Biv DeVoe, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Doug E. Fresh and Harlem natives Cam’ron, Teyana Taylor and Ma$e.

Adam Blackstone, Eric Bellinger, Jozzy and MAJOR. are also set to perform, as are Ro James, Tink and Wyclef Jean. There will be a special DanceHall Linkup portion, curated by Estelle, featuring Sister Nancy, Nadine Sutherland, Wayne Wonder, Lumidee, Rupee, Serani and Mr. Killa.

“For this inaugural year, we were very thoughtful and intentional in building what is an amazing lineup that aptly reflects the incredibly unique legacy that is intrinsic to the village of Harlem as well as the breadth and brilliance of Black music and culture,” said HFC co-founder Yvonne McNair. “Ultimately, HFC is our love letter to Harlem, and we’re excited to grow it into a landmark cultural experience that encapsulates all the things that make Uptown the nexus of innovation, cultural expression and a place of true community-building.”

The Harlem Festival of Culture takes place July 28-30 at Randall’s Island, offering intimate concerts in partnership with the Apollo Theater, interactive art installations, a culinary court and the Mart 125 Marketplace, which reimagines the hub of Black-owned businesses once located on 125th Street.

“As a native New Yorker, I’m honored to host the very first Harlem Festival of Culture,” Lyte said in a statement. “[HFC] has planned something special that I think everyone – whether they’re from around the corner, across the country or around the world – will enjoy.”

Tool’s Maynard James Keenan says Welcome to Rockville drag performance “had nothing to do with Florida”

May 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Maynard James Keenan with Puscifer; Erika Goldring/WireImage

Maynard James Keenan now says that he wasn’t protesting Florida in particular when he dressed in drag during Tool‘s performance at the state’s Welcome to Rockville festival over the weekend.

For the set, Keenan wore prosthetic breasts, lipstick and a blond wig in apparent violation of bills signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week, which seemingly targeted the LGBTQ community by banning minors from seeing “adult live performances,” which has been criticized for restricting drag show performances. “Adult live performances” are defined, in part, as depicting “the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation … breasts.”

Given the timing and location of Welcome to Rockville, which is an all-ages event, it seemed as though Keenan and company were making a statement against the legislation. However, Keenan doesn’t see it that way.

“I’ve been cross-dressing since long before these clickbait-junkie dupes were out of diapers,” Keenan, whose long worn different, extravagant outfits during live performances, tells The Messenger. “It’s pretty crazy the technology and the prosthetics nowadays, how they’ve come along, and I just was considering bringing the look back.”

“I’m not a political fella,” he adds. “Had nothing to do with Florida.”

Even still, Keenan feels that “limiting people’s access to anything is absurd,” and expresses “solidarity with people who are not afraid to express themselves.”

“People that want to express themselves in whatever f****** way they want to express themselves, as long as they’re not physically directly hurting someone? Yeah, go for it,” Keenan says. “I’m all for ya.”

“If there’s any takeaway, it’s be yourself,” he continues. “Don’t be afraid to be yourself.”

Brothers Osborne are dropping a new song soon

May 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Brothers Osborne are dropping a new song, “Goodbye’s Kicking In,” on Friday, May 26.

The duo announced the news on social media recently and shared a snippet of the track. The 14-second clip features slow electric guitar lines and TJ Osborne singing part of the tune toward the end.

Earlier in April, Brothers Osborne released their three-song pack, Nobody’s Nobody Sampler. The title track serves as their new single and is currently approaching the top 40 on the country charts.

“Goodbye’s Kicking In” is available for presave now.

Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Billy Gibbons, Johnny Depp and more salute Jeff Beck in London

May 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton in 2010; Samir Hussein/Getty Images

A who’s who of guitar rock royalty gathered at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Monday night for the first of two concerts honoring the late Jeff Beck, who died in January at age 78.

As Best Classic Bands reports, the show began with Beck’s guitar spotlighted onstage, literally on a pedestal. It continued with performances of songs from throughout Beck’s career, delivered by famous pals like Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood, Rod Stewart, ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons and Johnny Depp. The actor toured with Beck during his final tour in 2022 and was reportedly at his bedside when he passed away.

The show began with performances of songs by Beck’s former group The Yardbirds, with former Yardbird Clapton singing lead on “Shapes of Things” and “Heart Full of Soul.”

Later, Clapton, Derek Trucks and Wood performed Beck’s 1966 classic “Beck’s Bolero,” and Gibbons performed “Rough Boy,” the ZZ Top hit that the band and Beck would often collaborate on while touring together.

Other featured songs included 1977’s “Freeway Jam” and “You Know You Know,” a 1971 song by jazz-fusion group Mahavishnu Orchestra that Beck often performed with. Mahavishnu Orchestra’s John McLaughlin, 81, was on hand to play it.

Rod sang his 1984 hit “Infatuation,” which originally featured Beck on guitar, with Clapton and Wood, as well as the hit 1985 Rod and Beck version of “People Get Ready,” for which Rod, Clapton and Wood were joined by Gary Clark Jr.

According to Guitar World, the night ended with an all-star, eight-minute version of the Freddie King blues classic “Goin’ Down,” which Beck recorded in 1972. It was sung by Clapton and performed by nearly 20 guitar players.

John 5 announces new signature Fender Telecaster guitar

May 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Former Rob Zombie and current Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5 has announced a new signature guitar with Fender.

The John 5 Ghost Telecaster comes in an arctic white finish with red accents, and costs $2,999.99.

“I’ve played Telecasters my whole life and getting to design my own is a dream come true,” John 5 says. “When it came to design, I was inspired by some of Fender’s previous collaborations, but sought to create a model that would be both visually stunning and comfortable to play. Fender helped me design a Telecaster that was different from anything else on the market and the easy-to-play all-white fretboard and unique pickguard is proof of that.”

Along with the Tele, Fender has released a line of John 5-themed accessories, including a guitar strap, picks and cables.

“The leather strap and cable match the guitar’s white aesthetic and the pick visuals are absolutely killer!” John 5 says.

For more info, visit Fender.com.

John 5 is currently shredding on Mötley Crüe’s European tour with Def Leppard. The run comes to the U.S. in August.

‘One Night Only’: Summer Walker performing latest EP in native Atlanta next month

May 23, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Summer Walker is taking her new Clear 2: Soft Life EP to an Atlanta stage, where she will perform the tracks live for the first time. On June 1, the singer will host Summer Walker: The Clear Series – One Night Only at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in her hometown. She’ll be backed by a live orchestra as she sings hits, fan favorites and some new material.

Presale tickets for Summer Walker: The Clear Series – One Night Only will be available from May 23 at 12 p.m. to May 26 at 9 a.m. ET, with a Live Nation sale running May 25 at 10 a.m. ET through May 26 at 9 a.m. ET. General tickets go on sale May 26 at 10 a.m. ET.

The show will support Summer’s Clear 2: Soft Life EP, the sequel to 2019’s Clear. It features nine songs, collaborations with Childish Gambino and J. Cole, and production credits from Solange, Steve Lacy, John Kirby, Jay Versace and more.

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