SPOILER ALERT! This post is about the 4/28 episode of Game of Thrones - the Battle of Winterfell and if you haven’t watched yet .. you've been warned 

There were hundreds and hundreds of extras on this past week's episode of Game of Thrones... most of them died in the Battle of Winterfell....like The Night King, Theon Greyjoy, Jorah Mormont, Melisandre, Eddison Tollett, Beric Dondarrion (and his flaming sword), Lyanna Mormont ... but while you were busy trying to adjust the brightness on your TV - you might have missed the latest celebrity / musician cameo on the show! 

Country singer Chris Stapleton, along with his bass player J.T. Cure and their tour manager, played some of the many fallen Winterfell soldiers that the Night King turned into his zombie White Walkers at the Battle of Winterfell.

Stapleton told Rolling Stone: 

“I was like, you know, I would gladly fly to wherever in the world just to be a small part and get to watch that show going down...They were gracious enough to let me come participate that way.  They knew we weren’t actors, so the direction was basically, we’re going to place you, and when we tell you to, open your eyes. And they trained us on how White Walkers are supposed to stand up and move when they’re first waking up. We had a crash course in that.” 

The scene was brief but Chris’ wife, Morgane, posted on instagram with a helpful freeze frame: 

 

 

 

 

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Episode 3....My wildling is a white walker #got

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Winterfell 4.28.2019

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It seemed like a good idea at the time ... curate a massive festival with a killer lineup to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock Music & Arts Fair. 

There were skeptics about it - how could organizers pull this off by themselves - without the help of mega concert producers like AEG or LiveNation ... 

But they had funding, bands were getting paid - things were looking good ... 

But then the foundations started to crack ... ticket sales were delayed ... permits weren't acquired ... and today - festival organizers announced the inevitable - the event is being canceled, saying they "don’t believe the production of the festival can be executed as an event worthy of the Woodstock Brand name" 

Organizers, along with Dentsu Aegis Network, which is funding the festival, released the following statement:

“It’s a dream for agencies to work with iconic brands and to be associated with meaningful movements. We have a strong history of producing experiences that bring people together around common interests and causes which is why we chose to be a part of the Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival.  But despite our tremendous investment of time, effort and commitment, we don’t believe the production of the festival can be executed as an event worthy of the Woodstock Brand name while also ensuring the health and safety of the artists, partners and attendees... As a result and after careful consideration, Dentsu Aegis Network’s Amplifi Live, a partner of Woodstock 50, has decided to cancel the festival.  As difficult as it is, we believe this is the most prudent decision for all parties involved.”

A lot of people will be seeing Paul Rudd on the big screen this weekend in some movie called Avengers: Endgame.  

But the real masterpiece from Rudd this weekend comes from The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.  

Fallon and Rudd have done a near-perfect shot-for-shot recreation of the 1984 synthpop jam “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)” by Dead or Alive.  Check it out below - as well as some other Rudd / Fallon classic collabs like Styx’s “Too Much Time On My Hands” and Go West’s “The King Of Wishful Thinking".

Jimmy Fallon and Paul Rudd Recreate "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" Music Video

Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (Official Video)

Jimmy Fallon & Paul Rudd Recreate Styx Music Video

Styx - Too Much Time On My Hands

Jimmy Fallon and Paul Rudd Recreate "King of Wishful Thinking" Music Video

Go West - King Of Wishful Thinking [HQ]

Not only will David Gray embark on a massive world  tour this spring (including a show at The Anthem on May 30 / see full tour dates below),  the English singer-songwriter is set to release an acoustic EP, Gold In A Brass Age – Ground Control Acoustic Sessions this summer. Hear the first track off the album, “Mallory” below.

Gold In A Brass Age – Ground Control Acoustic Sessions was recorded at David’s home studio with producer Ben de Vries, using nothing more than his acoustic guitar and upright piano. The tracks have a freshness and vitality for being recorded in such a direct and uncomplicated way. The songs are stripped back to their bare essentials, bringing the imagery of the lyrics to the forefront.

Gray says:

 “Many of the songs had never really been performed in that way. So, it’s heartening to know, that even on a record where production and sound plays such a major part in the structuring of the music, the songs can still stand up by themselves.”

David Gray - Mallory (Acoustic)

2019 UK Gold In A Brass Age Tour Dates

April 30            Utrecht, Netherlands                TivoliVrendenburg

May 1               Berlin, Germany                        RBB Sendesaal

May 2               Antwerp, Belgium                     De Roma

May 4               Cologne, Germany                    Carlswerk Victoria

May 6              Copenhagen, Denmark               Store Vega

May 7               Oslo, Norway                                 Sentrum Scene

May 8                Stockholm, Sweden                      Cirkus

2019 US Gold In A Brass Age Tour Dates

May 24             Houston, TX                              Revention Center

May 25             Austin, TX                                 ACL Live Moody Theatre

May 26             Grand Prairie, TX                       Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie

May 28             Atlanta, GA                               The Roxy Theatre

May 30             Washington, DC                        The Anthem

May 31             Philadelphia, PA                        Metropolitan Opera House

June 1              Boston, MA                               The Wang Theatre

June 4              New York, NY                            Beacon Theatre

June 5              Red Bank, NJ                             Count Basie Theatre

June 7              Toronto, ON                             Sony Centre for the Performing Arts

June 8              Akron, OH                                 Akron Civic Theatre

June 9              Louisville, KY                             Palace Theatre

June 11             Indianapolis, IN                         Murat Theatre at Old National

June 13            Chicago, IL                                Chicago Theatre

June 14             Milwaukee, WI                          Riverside Theater

June 15             Minneapolis, MN                      State Theatre

June 17             Denver, CO                               Ellie Caukins Opera House

June 18             Salt Lake City, UT                      Delta Hall at Eccles Theater

June 20             Portland, OR                             Keller Auditorium

June 21             Vancouver, BC                          The Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts

June 22             Seattle, WA                              Marion Oliver McCaw Hall

June 24             Sacramento, CA                        Crest Theatre

June 25             Oakland, CA                              Fox Theater

June 26             Monterey, CA                           Golden State Theatre 

June 28             Los Angeles, CA                         Orpheum Theatre

June 29             Mesa, AZ                                  Ikeda Theater at Mesa

Well, you don't expect to hear these two names in the same sentence ... but Bruce Springsteen and Taylor swift both made waves today - each dropping new songs on the world at midnight.  We're not to concerned about Tay-Tay's track, but Bruce Springsteen's new single, “Hello Sunshine" is well worth the listen.

Springsteen himself doesn't appear in the video but it does feature an old car with New Jersey (of course) plates traveling through the desert.

Bruce says the new album, Western Stars, was inspired by 60s/70s California musicians like Burt Bacharach and Glen Campbell ... and the influence is very evident on “Hello Sunshine,” 

Says the Boss: 

“This record is a return to my solo recordings featuring character driven songs and sweeping, cinematic orchestral arrangements.  It’s a jewel box of a record.”

Can't wait to hear some more ... but for now - enjoy the first track

Bruce Springsteen - Hello Sunshine (Lyric Video)

We featured the atmospheric indie folk and pop duo flora cash on The Breakers a few weeks ago because we couldn’t stop listening to the song They Own This Town…and because we love how the duo came to be (read the story here)

Now, ahead of hitting the road with lovelytheband -on the finding it hard to smile tour (they play Baltimore Soundstage May 8) the band has released a video for the song … <3

flora cash - They Own This Town (Official Video)

So now we know why the Black Keys are embarking on a tour called the Let’s Rock Tour in 2019 (including 2 dates in DC with Modest Mouse at The Anthem 10/12 and 10/16) -

singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney have announced their ninth album will have the same title – Let’s Rock.

Auerbach says the album is back basics for the Black Keys:

“When we’re together we are The Black Keys, that’s where that real magic is, and always has been since we were sixteen.  The record is like a homage to electric guitar. We took a simple approach and trimmed all the fat like we used to.”

We now have a second single from the album (Lo/Hi was released last month) … Eagle Birds.

Take a listen Below … and pre-order the album here  

“Let’s Rock” Tracklist: 
01. Shine A Little Light
02. Eagle Birds
03. Lo/Hi
04. Walk Across The Water
05. Tell Me Lies
06. Every Little Thing
07. Get Yourself Together
08. Sit Around And Miss You
09. Go
10. Breaking Down
11. Under The Gun
12. Fire Walk With Me

Monday-  Bruce Springsteen posted a mysterious picture on his social media that had fans speculating as to what it could mean… the main theory – The Boss has a new album coming out ... 

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A post shared by Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) on Apr 22, 2019 at 10:02am PDT

Well – never doubt the internet sleuths – as Bruce Springsteen has announced a new album. Western Stars is out June 14 via Columbia. The first single, “Hello Sunshine,” will be released April 26 with an accompanying video

Springsteen’s in press release states:

 

“This record is a return to my solo recordings featuring character-driven songs and sweeping, cinematic orchestral arrangements.  It’s a jewel box of a record.”

According to the same release, the record is inspired by:

“Southern California pop records of the late ’60s and early ’70s” Exploring a  “sweeping range of American themes, of highways and desert spaces, of isolation and community and the permanence of home and hope.”

 Western Stars is Springsteen’s first studio album since 2014’s High Hopes. 

Here’s the cover art and track listing:

Western Stars:

01 Hitch Hikin’
02 The Wayfarer
03 Tucson Train
04 Western Stars
05 Sleepy Joe’s Café
06 Drive Fast (The Stuntman)
07 Chasin’ Wild Horses
08 Sundown
09 Somewhere North of Nashville
10 Stones
11 There Goes My Miracle
12 Hello Sunshine
13 Moonlight Motel

Eastern Shore native Maggie Rogers is out there living her best life this week... she's celebrating her 25th birthday (I think I spent mine at The Greene Turtle  ¯_(?)_/¯ ), she performed at Coachella, and now had 2 national television appearances ... the Today Show on her birthday (4/25) and was on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon where she performed Say It with a little help from Questlove on drums! 

So what the heck is going on with Woodstock 50?  

About a month ago organizers of the festival, marking the 50^th Anniversary of the original three days of peace love and music released a stacked three day lineup promising details to follow …

And as of now - the only real details we have are that the festival is ‘scheduled’ to take place August 16 – 18 and that tickets were going on sale April 22^nd.  Well, that was 2 days ago now – and tickets still aren’t on sale … we don’t even know how much they will be!

Here’s what we do know …

• According to festival co-founder, via a Bloomberg interview, tickets will cost “around” $450
• There will only be 3 day passes sold – to avoid traffic congestion issues
• The capacity has dropped from 100K to 75K according to a permit application
• The Black Keys have backed out of the show – due to “scheduling conflicts”
• They’ve had issues booking other bands, including Bruno Mars. 

Booking talent has been difficult. Lang tried to lock down Bruno Mars to do a Sly tribute, but the performer was unavailable. And his attempt to nab Lady Gaga proved unsuccessful after she rode the hype from A Star Is Born right into a Las Vegas residency.

• In the coming years - Lang to take the festival to a different country Lollapalooza style, including Japan, Brazil and Spain.

How about we lock down some details on Woodstock 50 before thinking about Woodstock 51-53?  OK?

Imagine this scene...your walking your dog in LA's Griffith Park - on Earth Day - and you come around a bend to see a group of musicians playing some songs...they have a few friends there with them watching ... how quaint ...then you listen in a little and you recognoze the song ...the voice ...and then your realize - this isn't some random group of hipsters hanging out - it's freaking  Vampire Weekend! 

Yep - ahead of hitting the road on a massive world tour - the band was hanging out in the park with some family and  friends - like members of Mumford and Sons, HAIM, Diplo - you know - NBD - playing some songs and having a picnic ... 

Here's the setlist ... and there's video and photgraphic proof this actually happened below  

1. harmony hall
2. big blue
3. this life
4. 2021
5. sunflower
6. late in the evening
7. jokerman
8. jessica ( request)
9. seinfeld theme (request)
10. oxford comma 
11. a-punk 

 

 

 

 

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Soooo...I was on my hike in #GriffithPark last night and stumbled upon #VampireWeekend playing to a small crowd!!!

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SUPPORT @greenpeaceusa ? ? had a lil friends & family earth day get-together yesterday. definitely need to do an acoustic picnic for the fans in the future. ???? good vibe.? ? 1. harmony hall? 2. big blue? 3. this life? 4. 2021? 5. sunflower? 6. late in the evening? 7. jokerman ? 8. jessica (@diplo request)? 9. seinfeld theme (@seinfeld2000 request)? 10. oxford comma ? 11. a-punk ? ? thanks to @daniellehaim @streth @mumfordandsons for sitting in

A post shared by Vampire Weekend (@vampireweekend) on Apr 23, 2019 at 8:00am PDT

Back in 1977 - Beach Boy Dennis Wilson his one and only solo album - Pacific Ocean Blue.   There was however - one unfinished song - Holy Man .. and in 2009 - Foo Fighters Drummer Taylor Hawkins added vocals to the song, but it remained unfinished ... until now - 10 years later -Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen have contributed music and vocals to it as well and the song is finished ... you can hear it below: 

From the Foo Fighters": 

10 years after Taylor Hawkins added vocals to Dennis Wilson’s long unfinished 1977 instrumental track, “Holy Man,” guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor of Queen have once again brought new life to the track.

While (most of - what's going on Cersi?) the main characters on Game of Thrones prepared for their impending battle with the Night King's Army at Winterfell - Poderick went all  open mic night on us - belting out a beautiful version of “Jenny of Oldstones”.

The song  "is an adaptation of “Jenny’s song” from (George R. R.) Martin’s novels, which recounts the tale of a Targaryen prince who forgoes his birthright to marry Jenny of Oldstones, a beautiful commoner who wove flowers into her hair. The song was written for the show by Benioff, Weiss, Ramin Djawadi and Martin."  

Hmmm ...  consider GoT conspiracy theorists triggered!! 

But what was more interesting about the episode was that contemporary artist Florence + the Machine performed the song again over the closign credits. Florence + The Machine is the only contemporary artist to appear in the final season of show and the  was personally approached by the show’s creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss

Benioff and Weiss said in a statement:

 “We’ve always been huge fans of Florence’s music, and the season two trailer with her song ‘Seven Devils’ was possibly the most powerful we’ve ever had.  So the opportunity to hear her otherworldly voice on our show was always at the forefront of our minds. We’re still pleasantly shocked that she agreed to sing ‘Jenny of Oldstones,’ and we’re in love with the result.”

Florence Welch had this to say 

“When I first heard the song it sounded like a Celtic lullaby to me.  Celtic music has always been in my blood, so I felt like I could do something with it. The magic and ritual in Game of Thrones, not to mention the costumes, have always appealed to me. I am honoured to be a part of the final season.”

Don't miss Florence and the Machine June 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion 

In case you missed it while you were in an Easter Candy Sugar Coma - Brandi Carlile and Dave Grohl showed up at Seattle's Pike Place Market with Carlile’s twin backing guitarist/vocalists, Phil and Tim Hanseroth and treated shoppers a 15- to 20-minute acoustic set - that included a cover of The Beatles’ “Let It Be” and a rendition of Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These”.

Carlile, a native of Ravensdale, Washington, decided out of the blue to visit her old busking haunt, and invited her friend Dave to join her on her nostalgic joureny .... Gee, I wonder where she got the idea for a Pop Up Show ? 

Check out some of the fan captured footage below: 

In the 15 year history of the WRNR Private Artist Showcase - there have been some good showcases, some not so good showcases (no names mentioned) and some amazing showcases.  This past Saturday, Lucie Silvas came to Rams Head On Stage and gave one of the most amazingly memorable showcase performaces we have ever seen! 

Photo courtesey of Kelsey Cochran photography

Since the show was on April 20th - 4/20 - the traditional stoner holiday - it was only appropriate that Lucie performed her song - Smoking Your Weed.  To make it even more special - she brought her husband, collaborator, and Deale MD native - John Osborne of the Brothers Osborne on stage to explain the song's meaning and perform it with her! 

See more of Kelsey Cochrane's photos HERE

Lucie Silvas - Smoking Your Weed @ WRNR Private Artist Showcase

Lucie also performed one of our favorite songs of 2019 - Black Jeans: 

Lucie Silvas - Black Jeans @ WRNR Private Artist Showcase

The 2019 Private Artist Showcase Series is sponsored by AP Mathews Heating & Air Conditioning and Old Fox Books 

There are plenty of free ways you can pledge your loyalty to one of the Houses on Game of Thrones  ... say by naming your children after one of the show's characters.  You could spend a few bucks and get a GoT tattoo ...

 - OR - 

You could plop down $25,000 and get one of the limited edition Fender Game of Thrones guitars!  The collection (see below) includes a House Targaryen stratocaster, a House Stark telecaster, and a House Lannister jaguar. 

Each guitar from the Sigil Collection is built to order through the Fender Custom Shop and draws: 

"inspiration from each house’s family sigil, costume designs, armor and weaponry, as well as each of their locations in Westeros, sparing no details" and has "ornate and unique features such as dragon scale carvings, custom engraved inlays, hand carved headstocks and gold-plated pickguards." 

Head here for info on placing your order :) 

In addition to announcing a summer tour this week, Kurt Vile released two accoustic songs ... a stripped down version of his Bottle It In opener “Loading Zones" and an amazing redition of The Rolling Stones slanky slide guitar classic “No Expectations,” from the Beggars Banquet album.  Hearing Vile’s put his indie-folk twang on the lyrics “You heart is like a diamond/You throw your pearls at swine/And as I watch you leaving me/You pack my peace of mind,” puts a whole new light on the song.  Take a listen below and check the tour dates further down ... 

Kurt Vile Tour Dates

July 18 — Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
July 19 — Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Beer Garden
July 20 — Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
July 21 — Allison Park, PA @ Hartwood Acres Amphitheater
July 23 — Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
July 25 — New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage
July 26 — New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall
July 27 — Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre
July 28 — Northampton, MA @ The Pines
July 30 — Albany, NY @ Skyloft
July 31 — Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
August 1 — Toronto, ON @ Sony Centre
August 2 — Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
August 3 — Portland, ME @ State Theatre
August 4 — Portsmouth, NH @ Prescott Park Art Festival
September 7 — St. Augustine, FL @ Sing Out Loud Festival
September 22 — Louisville, KY @ Bourbon & Beyond

The TV series Game of Thrones has employeed thousands of extras over the past 8.1 seasons ... They may not make the millions of dollars the stars of the show make - but they certainly put in the effort.  Many of them have named their characters and created back stories to their character's life. 

There's also been a lot of celebrity cameos on the show - notably Ed Sheeran, Sigur Ros, Of Monsters and Men, Steve Love, and Mastadon to name a few .... 

AND - if you had a keen eye - you caught two cameos on episode one of season 8 -  It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Rob McElhenney and Silicon Valley’s Martin Starr  - YEP - Mac and Gilfoyle - were on the show ... briefly ...  Missed it - check it out below: 

Rob McElhenney and Martin Starr Cameo in Game of Thrones Season 8

The National’s eighth album ‘I Am Easy To Find’ is due out May 17 – and they have been playing some intimate shows around the world to introduce fans to their new material – before hitting the road this summer for a full tour (including a June 19^th date with Courtney Barnett at The Anthem in DC)

Monday night, as Notre Dame burned, the band played to a handful of fans in Paris… debuting songs from the new album (set list below)

The album features plenty of female guest vocalists – including former Davie Bowie collaborator Gail Ann Dorsey – who performed with the band at Monday’s show.  Also on  the album: Lisa Hannigan, Sharon Van Etten, Mina Tindle, Kate Stables of This Is The Kit and The Brooklyn Youth Choir
 
Speaking about all the guest vocals, front man Matt Berninger had  this to say:

 “Yes, there are a lot of women singing on this, but it wasn’t because, ‘Oh, let’s have more women’s voices. It was more, ‘Let’s have more of a fabric of people’s identities.’ It would have been better to have had other male singers, but my ego wouldn’t let that happen.”
 

Monday night, The National played

You Had Your Soul With You
Quiet Light
Oblivions
The Pull Of You
Roman Holiday
Hey Rosey
I Am Easy To Find
Where Is Her Head
Hairpin Turns
Rylan
Light Years

Pictures:

The National’s eighth album ‘I Am Easy To Find’ is due out May 17 – and they have been playing some intimate shows around the world to introduce fans to their new material – before hitting the road this summer for a full tour (including a June 19^th date with Courtney Barnett at The Anthem in DC)

Monday night, as Notre Dame burned, the band played to a handful of fans in Paris… debuting songs from the new album (set list below)

The album features plenty of female guest vocalists – including former Davie Bowie collaborator Gail Ann Dorsey – who performed with the band at Monday’s show.  Also on  the album: Lisa Hannigan, Sharon Van Etten, Mina Tindle, Kate Stables of This Is The Kit and The Brooklyn Youth Choir
 
Speaking about all the guest vocals, front man Matt Berninger had  this to say:

 “Yes, there are a lot of women singing on this, but it wasn’t because, ‘Oh, let’s have more women’s voices. It was more, ‘Let’s have more of a fabric of people’s identities.’ It would have been better to have had other male singers, but my ego wouldn’t let that happen.”
 

Monday night, The National played

You Had Your Soul With You
Quiet Light
Oblivions
The Pull Of You
Roman Holiday
Hey Rosey
I Am Easy To Find
Where Is Her Head
Hairpin Turns
Rylan
Light Years

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Paris brûle-t-il ? #thenational #mattberninger #cafédeladanse

A post shared by Marie Marmottine (@mariemarmottine) on Apr 15, 2019 at 4:05pm PDT

 

 

 

 

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#thenational #cafédeladanse

A post shared by Christophe Cario (@xtof_en_live) on Apr 15, 2019 at 2:21pm PDT

 

 

 

 

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The glory of it all was lost on me until I saw how hard it'd be to reach you and I would always be light years, light years away from you ???? #thenational #cafédeladanse #mattberninger #aarondessner

A post shared by Mélanie (@hopefuldaysandstormynights) on Apr 15, 2019 at 2:31pm PDT

The National - 'You Had Your Soul with You' (Official Audio)

Want to be hip to the best new music before the rest of the world? Stick with us :) 

Last spring - we hosted a Private Artist Showcase a little singer songwriter with a HUGE voice who went by the name of Jade Bird ...

Fast forward one year - she's now been on the road with Hozier, stopped by Annapolis to see us :). and now has made an appearanec on The Tonight Show to perform I Get No Joy from her upcoming album <3

Jade Bird: I Get No Joy

In case you didn't know - due to popular demand - the Coachella music festival has expanded to two consecutive weekends - featuring the same lineup each weekend (several other larger scale festivals have followed suit) 

So what is a band to do with a week off in between gigs in Southern California?  If you're Weezer - you head to the Kimmel show and bring some guests with you who joined you on stage at Coachella ... watch Weezer cover Tears For Fears Everybody Wants to Rule the World with Tears For Fears below #mindblown

Weezer ft. Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Some of the last lyrics we will ever hear from the Irish songstress and lead singer of The Cranberries Dolores O’Riordan sound reminscent of hits like “Linger” and “Dreams,” - the songs that the world first fell in love with. 

The band will release their final album, In The End on April 26  ... the album will posthumously feature vocals from the late singer pulled from demos recorded prior to her passing in January of 2018.

Drummer Fergal Lawler had this to say of the album

“What a way to finish the record. To have ‘In The End’ as the last song is just perfect.  Lyrically, it is self-explanatory,”

 

Guitarist added -

“Lyrically, it is self-explanatory, It speaks for itself. It just is a lovely feeling and it’s a gorgeous song.”

Take a listen and judge for yourself: 

The Cranberries - In The End (Official Audio)

In The End Tracklist: 
01. All Over Now
02. Lost
03. Wake Me When It’s Over
04. A Place I Know
05. Catch Me If You Can
06. Got It
07. Illusion
08. Crazy Heart
09. Summer Song
10. The Pressure
11. In The End

In The End Album Art:

Courtney Barnett might not be the first person you'd think to call to discuss your social anxiety or insecurity - but her new single (released on Record Store Day 2019) “Everybody Here Hates You” seems to speak directly to anyone who's ever found it difficult to get out of their own head-space... while also embodying her classic slacker rock vibe 

The video - directed by award winner Danny Cohen - takes us literally inside Barnett's brain - giving a new meaning to the lyric “You say, ‘It’s only in your head / They’re probably thinking the same thing.’”

Catch Courtney Barnett at The Anthem in Washington DC on June 19.  Tickets available HERE 

We were pleasantly surprised to find a brand new Beck track in our inbox this morning ... and even better news - is that it is the first single from an upcoming album! 

The song - "Saw Lightning" (listen below)  will be on the album Hyperspace - due out later this year.  

The stunning new track features Beck’s unmistakable raw acoustic slide guitar and harmonica playing is a collaboration with Pharrell Williams, who contributes drums, keyboards and mumbles.

Don't miss Beck with Cage the Elephant and Spoon at Merriweather Post on 8/22 ... get tickets HERE

The Raconteurs have emerged from hiatus  - announcing a new album, Help Us Stranger, due out 6/21 on Third Man Records ... and an extensive tour that includes a stop at The Anthem in Washington DC (tickets on sale HERE April 12 @ 10a) 

Speaking of Third Man Records - the band performed at the label's 10th Anniversary show - their first gig in 8 years.  Attendees were treated to a set list that included debut material from the new album, covers, as well as classic Raconteurs tracks.  Here's the set list - and you can check out some fan footage below! 

The Raconteurs at Third Man 10th Anniversary Show Setlist (via)

Consoler of the Lonely
Bored and Razed (Live Debut)
Level
Old Enough
Sunday Driver (Live Debut)
Hands
Help Me Stranger (Live Debut)
Now That You’re Gone (Live Debut)
Salute Your Solution
Steady, as She Goes
Blue Veins

Encore:
Keep on Trash (The Go cover)
Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness) (Donovan cover)
Carolina Drama

THE RACONTEURS *NOW THAT YOU'RE GONE +

SALUTE YOUR SOLUTION* Third Man Records 04/06/19 HD

The Raconteurs -Sunday Driver @
Third Man Records 10th Anniversary

THE RACONTEURS *HELP ME STRANGER*
Live in Nashville Third Man Records 04/06/19 

The Raconteurs Consolers of the Lonely, Bored & Razed, Level

Muse is currently touring the states in support of their 2018 album ‘Simulation Theory"

The show - like all Muse shows, is an audio / visual experience second to none (see footage from the DC show HERE) 

But there's one song in the band's setlist that had fans scratching their head - as they have never heard it before.  Turns out, the song, which is titled Pray, is a song singer Matthew Bellamy wrote for the upcoming Game of Thrones musical release "For the Throne" 

Bellamy revealed this in a twitter converstation: 

Muse - Pray [HD] LIVE Simulation Theory World Tour 2/22/19

The 90's were one of the most influencial decades in modern music (we believe that statement so much - we dedicate our Saturday nights to it with the program Stupid and Contagious) ... and one of the most popular genres to emerge from the decade was grunge.

And in 1992 - a little band from Seattle called Pearl Jam embarked on a tour to support their album TEN.  The album didn't catch on immediately - but it eventually went 13x platinum (it actually outsold Nirvana’s Nevermind in America) and helped launch the band's career making them one of the biggest acts on the planet! 

27 years ago today - the band played at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia ... check out fan footage from the show below - including classics like “Jeremy,” “Even Flow” and “Alive,”  .... shout out to whoever lugged their camcorder to the show! 

Pearl Jam - Even Flow - 4/10/1992 - Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA.

Pearl Jam - Alive - 4/10/1992 - Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA

Pearl Jam - Jeremy - 4/10/1992 - Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA

Billie Eilish is taking the world by storm (it helps when someone like Dave Grohl annoints you as the next coming of Nirvana!) playing sold out shows around the world ... in fact - her new LP, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, had the year’s second-best debut week after Ariana Grande (!) 

But there's an interesting story behind one of the albums tracks ... it turns out the beat for the song 'My Strange Addiction' comes straight from an episode of  The Office. 

Charles Holmes explains below (read the full article HERE) - 

Billie Eilish Sampled Audio From 'The Office' | RS News 4/9/19

and of course ... someone has created a mashup of the two songs ... because the internet ... 

THE OFFICE MASHUP//Billie Eilish-My Strange Addiction//AJR-Netflix Trip//The Scarn

Dinosaur Jr has put out some pretty great cover songs over the years ... from Mazzy Star to the Cure  ... and now lead singer J Mascis is back with another master cover ... of the iconic Tom Petty Jam Don't Do Me Like That ... it takes the pace of the classic and adds a little signature Mascis shred ... take a listen for yourself 

Don't Do Me Like That (Tom Petty cover) - J Mascis

Hard to believe that it has been 42 years since The Clash released their self titled debut album on CBS Records (April 8, 1977) 

To this day, the record is still widely celebrated as one of the greatest punk albums of all time and  the band went on to become one of the most influential punk band of their era (or all time?)

Here's a few videos of the band performing some classic tracks from the album at a show at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, N.J. 

The Clash - Janie Jones - 3/8/1980 - Capitol Theatre (Official)

The Clash - Police And Thieves - 3/8/1980 - Capitol Theatre (Official)

The Clash - English Civil War / Garageland - 3/8/1980 - Capitol Theatre (Official)

The Record Store Day 2019 releases keep getting better ... we now know that our favorite Australian indie-rock singer-songwriter found time while touring the globe in 2018 to record a new song - and it might have the best title ever - “Everybody Here Hates You” ... take  a listen below

Barnett will release “Everybody Here Hates You” as a Record Store Day-exclusive 12-inch this Saturday, April 13, backed by b-side “Small Talk,” a Tell Me How You Really Feel outtake she released digitally last October.

Courtney Barnett will join The National on the road this summer, including a show at The Anthem on June 19... get tickets HERE 

Courtney Barnett - Everybody Here Hates You (Official Audio)

Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy has announced plans to release a new album, WARMER.  The album will be initially released as special edition on vinyl for Record Store Day 2019 (Saturday, April 13).  But today we got to hear  the first single, Family Ghost.  

The album is a follow up to last year's WARM - Tweedy's first ever solo album.

When asked about the relationship between the two albums, Tweedy said -

“At some point I separated the songs from the WARM/WARMER session into two records with individual character, but still tried to keep the overall tone and texture of the combined session consistent.  In a lot of ways these two records could have been released as a double LP. WARMER means as much to me as WARM and might just as easily have been released as the first record of the pair.”

Don't miss Jeff Tweedy April 10th at The Lincoln Theatre ... get tickets HERE

In anticipation of tonight's college basketball championship, the staff at WRNR filled out some brackets of our owm ... except instead of picking basketball teams - we decided who has the worst dedicated fan bases.  See the RNR Staff results below  (Yes - someone who is a self admitted Dave Matthews Super Fan went rogue and added his own people into the contest - LOL)

Want to share your thoughts / results with us?  Fill out your own and share the results!  

Click here for the bracket and email it to WrnrPromo@gmail.com 

So now ... on to our results ... sorry WWE fans ... we're just not that into you :/ 

Ezra Koenig and company promised to release two songs a month from their upcoming release - Father of the Bride - and they have kept up with the promise.

Today - we got the final two singles - “This Life” and “Unbearably White,” the fifth and sixth singles from their forthcoming fourth album.

“This Life” has that familiar jangly VW sound ... with some classic Ezra Koenig lyrics - like "I know pain is as natural as the rain, I just thought it didn't rain in California"

“Unbearably White” is a little more subdued and the video accompanying it is just that ... unbearably white... 

The album is out May 3 and you can preorder it here

Vampire Weekend - This Life (Official Audio)

Vampire Weekend - Unbearably White (Official Audio)

The National kept the details of their eight studio album, I Am Easy To Find.  But since announcing it's release last month, we've learned that they will go on tour to support it with and that they're bringing along Courtney Barnett with them (the tour stops at The Anthem in DC on June 19) ... tickets on sale now 

Next we heard the first new single from the album “You Had Your Soul With You”  

And now we have the 2nd single from the album - the album’s closer, “Light Years”

Take a listen below: 

I Am Easy to Find Track Listing:

01 You Had Your Soul With You
02 Quiet Light
03 Roman Holiday
04 Oblivions
05 The Pull of You
06 Hey Rosey
07 I Am Easy to Find
08 Her Father in the Pool
09 Where Is Her Head
10 Not in Kansas
11 So Far So Fast
12 Dust Swirls in Strange Light
13 Hairpin Turns
14 Rylan
15 Underwater
16 Light Years

Here's the full tour itinerary:

If you have never seen MUSE live ... you need to add it to your bucketlist. 

Aside from a setlist jam packed with hits  - the concert production is out of this world as evidenced by the videos below or a full gallery of photos HERE

Muse - Starlight [LIVE 04.02.19]

Muse - Madness [LIVE 04.02.19]

Muse - Knights of Cydonia [LIVE 04.02.19]

Muse - Hysteria Live 04 02 19

Not only were The Cure were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Friday night at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, they also announced that they are currently working on a new album that "will delight our hardcore fans. And probably really, really infuriate everyone else. At my age, I’m still doom and gloom" !!!!!

Because it’s the anniversary of Disintegration, I was thinking about how we did that, and how we turned that into something and what my mindset was. A key part of it was everyone being away from home, being away from everything they loved and being in one place at the same time. So for the first time in 20 years, we went into a studio — we actually went into the studio where they did “Bohemian Rhapsody,” funnily enough. It’s a great studio in the middle of nowhere. We just played music for three weeks. And it’s great. I know everyone says that. But it really is fucking great.

It’s so dark. It’s incredibly intense. And I’ve waited 10 years to do something that means something. It’s going to work really well. I’m not sure how much of it we’ll play this summer at festivals. It’s not really festival music. The songs are like 10 minutes, 12 minutes long. We recorded 19 songs. So I have no idea what to do now. The others are saying, “Triple album!” I’m saying, no let’s not. I’ll pick six or maybe eight songs and do like a single album. But I think it will delight our hardcore fans. And probably really, really infuriate everyone else. At my age, I’m still doom and gloom.

Smith also acknowledged that it is inevitable” that they’ll bring Disintegration to North America as well, probably closer to Christmas !! Thank you Santa! 

“We’re holding home theaters in New York and Los Angeles, but I kind of feel like we should do it in a bigger venue. I’d like to a big show with it, really. It’s a bigger album. I think when we did the first three albums we did three nights at the Beacon in New York. It was much more punky. We were trying to recreate that vibe. But I think Disintegration is just big. So we need to do somewhere that’s just big.” 

During the ceremony - The Cure played a short set of fan favorites - 

 
Shake Dog Shake?
A Forest?
Lovesong?
Just Like Heaven?
Boys Don’t Cry

The Cure RRHOF Induction Set

The Cure - Trent Reznor Induction Speech @ 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony 3-29-2019

Not only were The Cure were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Friday night at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, they also announced that they are currently working on a new album that "will delight our hardcore fans. And probably really, really infuriate everyone else. At my age, I’m still doom and gloom" !!!!!

Because it’s the anniversary of Disintegration, I was thinking about how we did that, and how we turned that into something and what my mindset was. A key part of it was everyone being away from home, being away from everything they loved and being in one place at the same time. So for the first time in 20 years, we went into a studio — we actually went into the studio where they did “Bohemian Rhapsody,” funnily enough. It’s a great studio in the middle of nowhere. We just played music for three weeks. And it’s great. I know everyone says that. But it really is fucking great.

It’s so dark. It’s incredibly intense. And I’ve waited 10 years to do something that means something. It’s going to work really well. I’m not sure how much of it we’ll play this summer at festivals. It’s not really festival music. The songs are like 10 minutes, 12 minutes long. We recorded 19 songs. So I have no idea what to do now. The others are saying, “Triple album!” I’m saying, no let’s not. I’ll pick six or maybe eight songs and do like a single album. But I think it will delight our hardcore fans. And probably really, really infuriate everyone else. At my age, I’m still doom and gloom.

Smith also acknowledged that it is inevitable” that they’ll bring Disintegration to North America as well, probably closer to Christmas !! Thank you Santa! 

“We’re holding home theaters in New York and Los Angeles, but I kind of feel like we should do it in a bigger venue. I’d like to a big show with it, really. It’s a bigger album. I think when we did the first three albums we did three nights at the Beacon in New York. It was much more punky. We were trying to recreate that vibe. But I think Disintegration is just big. So we need to do somewhere that’s just big.” 

During the ceremony - The Cure played a short set of fan favorites - 

 
Shake Dog Shake?
A Forest?
Lovesong?
Just Like Heaven?
Boys Don’t Cry

The Cure RRHOF Induction Set

The Cure - Trent Reznor Induction Speech @ 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony 3-29-2019

“There’s usually an all-star jam but we’re gonna try something different. More sedate, less messy, more classic,” Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott told the crowd at Friday's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony ... 

Elliott, along with the rest of Def Leppard was joined by Brian May, Ian Hunter (of Mott the Hoople), The Zombies, Susanna Hoffs (of The Bangles) & Little Steven Van Zandt on stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York for an All Star Jam of All the Young Dudes on the 45th annversary of the song's release

"All the Young Dudes" Def Leppard & Brian May & The Zombies@Brooklyn, NY 3/29/19

Britpop outfit Blur performed an unexpected reunion set Friday (3/29/19) night at Damon Albarn's Africa Express performance as part of the Waltham Forest London Borough of Culture celebrations in Leytonstone, UK.

Albarn - along with Blur members Dave Rowntree, Alex James, and Graham Coxon - performed “Tender”, “Clover Over Dover”, and “Song 2”.  This was the first time the band ever performed “Clover Over Dover”, a track that dates back to 1994’s Parklife, live. 

Check out the videos: 

Blur - Song 2 (live at Africa express 2019)

Blur - Tender (Live at Africa express 2019)

Clover Over Dover (live) — blur reunite at Africa Express: The Circus