Portishead Announce North American Tour Dates This October

Nobody sounds like Portishead. The progression of their albums has clearly established their uncompromising stance towards their future. For the first time since 1998, Portishead announce their North American tour this October 2011.

Portishead kick off their tour at this year’s All Tomorrow's Parties presentation, I'll Be Your Mirror Saturday October 1 and Sunday October 2 taking place in Asbury Park, N.J. Portishead co-curated these two days of the 3 day festival. According to Adrian Utley, “We've always thought that we must come back to tour in the states, something we wanted to do with the release of Third, but our schedule just wouldn’t allow it. Being that we were asked to curate I’ll be your Mirror, this just seemed like a good start to touring the states - it set’s it off in absolutely the right way. We are absolutely delighted to come back.”

Following ATP, Portishead will take the stage at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom for two nights, followed by shows in Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Mexico, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver. The tour ends in Denver on October 27th.

After an 11- year hiatus, Portishead’s album Third, the long-awaited follow up to their 1997 self-titled release, debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart, received rave reviews and has been hailed as an “unexpected yet totally impressive return” by Rolling Stone Magazine, and “Worth the wait” by Newsweek. "'Third' is more polymorphous, more extreme, more propulsive and often harsher than previous Portishead albums" claimed New York Times. “...anyone can make abrasive music, but few can do something new and compelling with apocalyptic heaviness” wrote Spin Magazine.

Following Third’s release, Portishead made their only U.S. performance on April 26th at the Coachella Music Festival after an invite only private rehearsal at LA’s Mayan Theater. “Beth Gibbons and Co. delivered bigtime, turning out stirring new songs from their first album in more than a decade. The band's warm peels of sound moved across the field like an aural massage, the six touring members locked in together with incredible precision, every turntable scratch and haunting synth gorgeously amplified,” praised Rolling Stone. Appropriately Portishead ended their set with "Thanks for waiting.”

Joining Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley on stage are Jim Barr (bass), Clive Deamer (drums), and John Baggott (keyboards).

Support for Portishead on this tour is THOUGHT FORMS. Tickets are on sale now.

The Zombies Celebrate 50 Years Of Rock And Roll

The Zombies, helmed by founding members Rod Argent and singer Colin Blunstone, are marking the group’s half century with a new album – Breathe Out, Breathe In – and a tour, with U.S. dates this Fall. The tour kicks off on the east coast, with several dates already confirmed. More dates to be announced shortly.

A magisterial work, Breathe Out, Breath In, is everything you could possibly hope for from the group who back in the 1960s provided such signature works as the singles “She’s Not There,” “Tell Her No” and “Time Of The Season;” and the album Odessey And Oracle, their 1968 Brit-psych masterpiece. The ten songs that make up Breathe Out, Breathe In are impeccably crafted pieces; the harmonies are rich, the melodies full, the arrangements exquisite, the organ and piano fresh, the production intuitive.

“There was a clear brief,” says Rod Argent today. “We wanted to use as many two and three part harmonies as possible and lots of Hammond organ, Mellotron and Memotron. We didn’t want to recreate the past, but we wanted to capture The Zombies’ essence and meaning. Our energy and enthusiasm for making music is the same as it was when we first started and the magic and mystery of the whole music making process, we are still thrilled by it all. So we thought it would be great to celebrate when that all began. I first met Colin outside the Pioneer Club in St Albans for The Zombies’ first rehearsal. We didn’t know each other but Colin turned up with a broken nose and two black eyes. I thought, oh no, what have we got here? But he was a keen rugby player and was injured during a game.”

“That first rehearsal went really well because we got to borrow The Bluetones, a local St Albans band’s equipment. Jim Rodford who now plays bass in The Zombies was in them funnily enough,” says Colin Blunstone. “Our own equipment was dreadful, though, so when we played on that it brought us down to earth. I would judge how well our gigs went by the amount of blood Rod would lose from his thumb when he played his Jerry Lee Lewis runs on the piano. He’d have to press down really hard. These days he still bleeds for The Zombies of course…spiritually, though, not literally.”

Breathe Out, Breathe In was recorded over a year in Argent’s own Red House Studios, the band line-up completed by Colin and Rod’s touring group – guitarist Tom Toomey, bassist, Jim Rodford and his son, drummer Steve Rodford. Rod would put down lead voice, piano and some harmonies on a demo, the band would listen and then lay down the bones of the song in a day. “Colin and I have been playing with this band for the last ten years,” explains Rod. “And during those ten years we’ve grown into a very tight and sympathetic musical unit and so going into the studio was a really enjoyable experience, we have a telepathy.”

“We often just know what the other person wants and needs and means without speaking,” says Colin.“There is so much history there, we understand each other and The Zombies are like a cottage industry. We have complete artistic control. We run our own label, we book our own gigs, we provide our own transport and hotels. Rod writes most of the songs, we record in his studio and he produces the record. It keeps it very exciting being at the centre always of everything.”

In his role as producer, Rod wanted to capture the energy of the performance; that’s what recording is all about, whether you are laying down a lead vocal or a guitar solo, you’ve got to get yourself up and think this is the only chance you’ve got to do it. It was important to try and get the joy we feel of playing together on the record too. We wanted it to feel very organic, so when you are listening, you can imagine us standing there playing and hitting things.” Musically, the benchmark for Breathe Out, Breathe In is their 1968 album Odessey And Oracle, which the original Zombies -- Colin and Rod with drummer Hugh Grundy and bassist Chris White -- played from beginning to end in 2008 to celebrate the album's 40th year.

“Chris and Hugh hadn’t been on a stage playing music for a very long time and for a moment I thought how on earth are they going to cope with this,” says Rod. “I thought they were incredibly brave to do it and just a few bars in I knew it was going to work out fine. Returning to the album, it’s funny, it did subconsciously influence Breathe Out, Breathe In, just in the album’s genesis; we wrote the songs upfront like we used to, and did some of the songs live on the road first. We also used the same ingredients– bass lines being central to the song, lots of harmonies.

“A Moment In Time” is one of the album’s many highpoints. Written by Rod with Tom Toomey in the last week of recording, it is quintessential Zombies with delicious melodies and harmonies and the perfect balance of emotion and restraint in Colin’s heavenly vocal artistry. Inspired by Laurie Lee’s book on the Spanish civil war, A Moment Of War, says Rod, “Lee was writing down from the very start everything that happened to him leading up to the Civil War and how all the things that happen from when we are born to this very instance, they take us somewhere but they are all also individual moments in time, that thought just struck me as extraordinary.”

Of the other nine songs, six are penned by Rod solely including the peerless harmony title piece and “Let It Go,” which first aired on the road as a voice and piano piece, but in the studio became a full band work out. “It’s based on an idea I had of weaving the middle movement of Bach’s F minor keyboard concerto in and out of a song, such a ravishing piece of music,” says Rod.

Other influences include The Beatles and Elvis. The former’s “Hey Bulldog” impacts on the psychedelic rocker “Play It For Real” – “there’s no denying what an extraordinary effect The Beatles had, every band has a debt to them really, their music was so fresh and vital, it was like we were winning the world cup every week when they came about,” says Rod. The latter’s version of “Blue Moon” inspired the Rod Argent sung “Show Me The Way.”“In the falsetto singing, and I wanted that lovely slap back single repeat tape delay on his voice and I went to (drummer) Steve Rodford and asked him if he had some coconuts as I wanted some on the record; sadly though we had to make do with bongos instead!”

Three songs are revisits – two were penned by Rod with Zombies’ original bassist Chris White for their post Zombies outfit Argent back in the ’70s. “Shine On Sunshine” here gets a total reworking and in The Zombies’ hands is expansive, transcendental. “Christmas For The Free,” meanwhile, remains faithful to the Argent version, an intelligent plea for peace and love with a majestic guitar solo. The third, “Any Other Way,” already a live favorite, was written by Colin and turned up first on his 2009solo record, The Ghost Of You & Me. Colin and Rod are both enthused by their new record, as they should be. It is a remarkable work. “I think it’s one of the best things we’ve done,” says Rod. “Listening to the finished record, it reflects the good time we had making it.”

Says Colin, “We are still learning, and new discoveries energize us, it’s all part of being an artist, we are very proud of our achievement here. We hope it moves and touches people like it has us. The Zombies have been a fantastic journey, we’ve gone from playing in the back of pubs to headlining festivals and it still feels like it is just the beginning.”

Upcoming 2011 Spring/Summer Concert Tours

Looking to take in a concert (or concerts) this spring or summer but don’t know where to start? Are you unsure of who’s performing, or when they will be coming to your town? Well, fear not, friends. Cousin Ryo has your major (and minor) tour coverage covered. Below is a list of the anticipated spring/summer tours for 2011. Links to the tour page, price of tickets, and all the other necessary information is included. I hope to see you out at the shows this concert season.

Motley Crue/Poison/New York Dolls
http://www.motley.com/tickets
Ticket Prices: $50 - $95

In what is considered to be one of the most highly anticipated tours for Glam fans, Motley Crue and Poison are hitting the road together with the New York Dolls. While no one ever though this tour would happen it’s now official. Motley Crue and Poison are teaming up for the summer. This is being hailed as a double bill, but most likely, Motley Crue will end the evening every night. And while Poison will put on a great show, I predict that they are going to play the same set list they’ve performed for the last 10 years. It would be nice to see them mix it up and perform some deep cuts, but I won’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen. The Crue is likely to perform a similar set from the last three years with one or two songs from Saints Of Los Angeles thrown in. While this looks like a fun concert for a warm summer night, the ticket price will most likely keep me away.

Bob Seger
http://www.bobseger.com/tour
Ticket Prices: $75

Michigan’s favorite son will be on tour this spring. This will be Seger’s first road jaunt in a couple of years, and while there is no new music to promote, his last album (released in 2009) was a collection of early Seger favorites and unreleased tracks. This could mean a show of greatest hits and pre-fame classics being performed live. I’ve never seen Bob Seger in concert, and if I want to catch him this spring, I am going to need to travel, as there are currently no stops near my house. However, I don’t see how Seger would not perform at least one night at Madison Square Garden, so I am holding onto the hope that more dates will be added soon.

Phish
http://phish.com/#/tours/summer-2011-tour
Ticket Prices: $45 - $60

On the road again in 2011, the reunited Phish have lined up a summer concert tour that is bound to please fans of the jam band genre. With Dave Matthews Band on hiatus from touring this summer, Phish will be the best jam going. While I’ve never witnessed this band live, reviews from friends that have (in some cases several times) were all positive. Phish is a great live act that constantly changes their set so each concert is a unique experience. If you’re not sure which band to take in this summer, then this is a great one to consider.

Papa Roach/Finger Eleven/Pop Evil
http://www.paparoach.com/events
Ticket Prices: $27

In what can only be described as the greatest rock tour of 2011, Papa Roach is hitting the road with two equally exceptional hard rock bands---Finger Eleven and Pop Evil. Fans of The Rock And Roll Guru know my love for Pop Evil, but may not know how much I enjoy Finger Eleven’s music as well. Tour dates and venues were still being finalized at press time, but I can guarantee that most of these shows will sell out. Papa Roach is a great live band, Finger Eleven is solid entertainment, and Pop Evil is a band set to explode. For $27, this is a can’t miss show.

U2
http://www.u2.com/tour/index
Ticket Prices: $30 - $275

After cancelling their summer tour last year, due to Bono’s emergency surgery, U2 is once again globetrotting on their 360 tour. The US portion of this tour arrives in late May and extends through July. I have not seen U2 since 2005 when they were out in support of How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Every time I’ve seen the band live, they were incredible. There is nothing to lead me to believe that this tour would be any different. I may even get tickets to see the band when they come to New Jersey in July. It will all depend on how much money is in the bank account, since the affordable tickets to this show are long gone.

Three Days Grace
http://www.threedaysgrace.com/us/events
Ticket Prices: $30

Selling out most of their dates already, Three Days Grace is gracing the club circuit this spring. Still travelling in support of their latest release, Life Starts Now, Three Days Grace is performing at several clubs. Tickets are going fast! Three Days Grace is an exceptional modern rock band and their live act is awesome. For $30, you can’t go wrong. This is a great band to see live and guaranteed fun for the hard rock lover.

Whitesnake
http://www.whitesnake.com/index-cover.asp
Ticket Prices: $45

Headliners of this year’s M3 Festival, Whitesnake will be out on the road for most of the spring and the summer. They are touring in support of their solid new record, Forevermore. David Coverdale still sounds great and Reb Beach is an incredible guitarist, so seeing Whitesnake live is a smart decision. Obviously the band will perform some of their new songs, but the classic cuts of hits like "Slide It In," "Still Of The Night," and "Is This Love" are almost certain to be played and to hear the roar of the crowd in response.

Hinder
http://www.hindermusic.com/home/index.shtml
Ticket Prices: $25

Hinder is touring in support of their latest masterpiece, All American Nightmare. If you’ve never seen the band live, now is the time to check them out. Hinder’s live show is nothing but a rock and roll party, and their latest album is one of the best rock albums released in years. Hearing the new tracks in concert is going to be a grand experience and this is a show I highly recommend. With tickets selling for only $25, you really can’t go wrong.

Saliva With Rev Theory
http://www.saliva.com/tour.aspx
Ticket Prices: $15 - $20

With a brand new album to support, Saliva is hitting the road this spring with up and coming hard rockers, Rev Theory. Saliva is a great band that never gets enough credit. They’ve been rocking their asses off since the early 2000s and while I haven’t heard the new record yet, their body of work speaks for itself. Saliva puts on a great concert and they are a fun act to witness live. If you get the chance, spend the $15 for a night of great entertainment.

Def Leppard With Heart
http://www.defleppard.com
Ticket Prices: $25 - $125

With news of a new live album coming out this summer, Def Leppard is going on the road with another classic band, Heart. This is bound to be an excellent show for the classic rock lovers. While seats in the amphitheater are a little pricey, the lawn seats are affordable. I’ve never seen either of these bands live, but I hear that Def Leppard puts on a solid performance, and I’ve heard that Heart is still great live. This show could be worth checking out.

Cinderella
Tour Dates still being confirmed
Ticket Prices: TBD

Cinderella is expected to tour in support of their 25th anniversary. Rumors abound that they will hit the road this summer with Warrant for a double bill of their own. Nothing has been confirmed except for one show in September, but Warrant does have a new album due out later this year. While they probably wouldn’t sell well on their own, a double bill of Cinderella and Warrant could be just the right combination of great hair metal bands to sell tickets. I’m curious to see what the prices for this tour will be. If the price is right, I’ll probably be there. Both bands put on an incredible concert and hearing Cinderella perform live is always a treat.

And there it is, some of the great shows coming around this spring and summer. Do you know of a concert that I failed to add to this list? Drop me a line or post a comment and let me know.

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Warmer Weather Edition

Ahhhhh! The sun has been shining all week. The snow has melted, and the temperature has stayed above 40 degrees for more than seven days. That can only mean that spring really is right around the corner. And it could not come any sooner as far as I’m concerned. I grow tired of being cooped up in the house, dealing with the long, dark, cold nights. I need some outdoor activities. Camping, hiking, and of course, concert attending. With a few more concerts and festivals being announced this week, it really appears that summer is not that far away. Bring on the warmth. Bring on the beer. Bring on the music!

Here’s what rocked this week:

Pete Yorn Adds New Tour Dates
Pete Yorn is currently out on tour behind his self titled album, the fifth studio release of his career. This week there was an announcement of additional east coast tour dates on Pete's website. For those of you on the east coast, this is your opportunity to see a great performer live in action. Pete Yorn is an incredibly gifted artist and amazing in concert. If you want to see a highly entertaining show that won’t break your savings account, check out Pete Yorn when he comes near your town.

The Top 20 Highest Earners n Music
This was a cool post over at DJMICK.com---the top 20 earners in music for the year 2010. I was surprised by some of the names and expected some of the other names. What’s really revealing is the amount of money these bands made. And if the bands made this much, just think what the concert promoters made. And they still can’t lower the price of a ticket to a show?

Poison and Motley Crue Touring Together This Summer
They said it would never happen. I distinctly seem to recall Nikki Sixx (when he was with Brides of Destruction) saying that he would never do anything that involved Poison. Funny how the right amount of cash can change your tune. Nikki is one big hypocrite. Personally, I think this is awesome, because Poison can show Motley Crue how a tour is done. This also allows Bret Michaels a chance to teach Vince Neil how to sing all the words, instead of every third word. And Mick Mars will still be the coolest guy in the building! Tickets go on sale March 18th.

A New Soundgarden Album for the Holidays?
Soundgarden is entering the studio to start recording a new album that they would like to have released in 2011. There’s also news of a live record hitting the shelves in late March. And there’s talk of some late spring/early summer concerts. It appears that it is a great time to be a Soundgarden fan.

For more news, reviews, concert updates, ticket price rants, and other oddities, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Speculating Where The Dave Matthews Band Will Be This Summer

As most fans of DMB know, the band has decided to take the year off from touring. To us diehards, that means they are hopefully in the studio creating a new album. However, as a recent post on their website showed http://www.davematthewsband.com/#/news/summer-2011, the band has plans to play four concerts this year in honor of their 20th anniversary. The message specifically states “we have decided to play four multi-day, multi-artist music events that will take place this summer.” So what does that mean?

No further information is currently available, but that doesn’t mean your cousin Ryo can’t sit here and speculate. If you want to see DMB in 2011, you’ll have four chances to do so. And it will only be at festivals. So which ones do you think the band will appear at?

Bonnaroo
My first guess is obvious…Bonnaroo (http://www.bonnaroo.com/). The Tennessee festival is having their 10th anniversary this year and would obviously like to celebrate in style. DMB played Bonnaroo last summer, and the band had an amazing time there. Every time Dave Matthews appears at Bonnaroo, it’s a huge draw for fans. DMB loves the atmosphere, the fans, and the whole ambiance of Bonnaroo. Their chances of returning again this summer are great, which makes it my first pick.

Sasquatch!
It gets a little harder to determine from there. A lot of the summer festivals have already announced their lineup, and while that doesn’t mean that the Dave Matthews Band couldn’t show up as a surprise act, it’s highly unlikely. This would mean the festivals the band will appear at this summer are most iley festivals that have not announced their lineups yet (ala Bonnaroo). We all know DMB’s love for The Gorge (having performed there every September for years), so logically it would make sense for the band to pick Sasquatch (http://www.sasquatchfestival.com/) as one of the festivals they would perform at. The full lineup has not been announced, and the only band confirmed on the bill so far is The Foo Fighters.

Outside Lands
San Francisco is another city where DMB loves to perform. One of their strongest Live Trax albums (Volume 2) came from a concert held at Golden Gate Park (where Outside Lands is held). Outside Lands (http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/) would be a perfect festival for the Dave Matthews Band to appear in 2011. It’s on the west coast (figuring DMB will want to hit both coasts this summer), it’s a huge festival, and it’s in a city where the band loves to perform. It stands to reason that DMB could be appearing in San Francisco this summer.

Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits (http://www.aclfestival.com/) is another festival celebrating their 10th anniversary. DMB last played there in 2009, so it is a festival the band knows well and enjoys appearing at. Taking place in mid-September, it would be a great festival for the Dave Matthews Band to spend part of their summer at. Always a large draw with several fantastic headliners, Austin City Limits is a well known, well respected festival. The location of the festival makes it easy to access for fans on both the west and east coasts. That could make it a very attractive location for both the band and their fans.

While we obviously won’t know where DMB will be this summer until the official announcements are made, the news that they are performing any shows at all has me salivating like a starving puppy at feeding time. It looks like there will be a summer trip in my future. My guess is that it will be to one of the four festivals listed above. Once the official announcement is made, you can expect an update. Until then, all we have is speculation. Where do you think the band will show up this summer?

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Friday's Rockin Roundup - Winter Sucks Edition

I’m usually not one to complain (ok, that’s a complete lie, I complain a lot) but I am so tired of winter. This year is even worse than last with a new storm hitting us every week since Christmas! Come on, old man winter, we’ve had enough. If you live in the Northeast, where I am, you can just see how sick of this weather people are. And it’s barely Ground Hog Day.

The good news is that Spring Training and spring concerts are right around the corner. Before you know it, I will be sitting on the lawn at the PNC Arts Center with a cold beer in my hand and the warm sun on my face, waiting for one of my favorite bands to rock the night away. Oh won’t that be nice! Well, six more weeks until spring, I suppose I can tough it out. Next year I might become a snowbird!

Here’s what rocked this week:

M3 Is A Go For May
M3 is returning to Maryland for another year of glam slam hair metal! Packed with nothing but bands that you love, M3 is a shout out to the heyday of Glam metal. Kix, Warrant, Slaughter, Tesla, and Whitesnake are just a few of the bands on this year’s bill. The 2011 M3 Festival looks to be even better than last year. That gives me something to smile about! Tickets go on sale today (2/4). Check out http://www.m3rockfest.com/ for info on getting yours.

Theory of a Deadman Hitting The Road Again
As if the news that Theory of a Deadman were heading out on tour this spring wasn’t exciting enough, it gets even better. Joining the band for this tour are Skillet and Halestorm to go along with Stone Sour and Art of Dying. Can you say awesome? I thought you could. With a bill like that, how could you not pick up tickets to this show? If the Avalanche Tour is coming to a town near you, I highly recommend you get tickets. It’s a can’t miss night of fun.

New Pop Evil Album Out This Tuesday
And finally, the wait is over. A brand new Pop Evil record will be in stores this Tuesday and I am beyond excited. Pop Evil’s debut album is one of the best rock records I have heard in a long time and the new songs that I heard when I saw them perform live sounded great in concert. I just can’t wait to see how they translate in the studio. War Of Angels will be available everywhere on Tuesday, February 8th. Expect a full review soon after I get my hands on this album.

Peter Criss To Release His Memoirs
I’ve already started cleaning off a spot on the bookshelf for this one. It’ll fit right next to Gene Simmon’s Kiss And Make Up, Anthony Kiedis’ Scar Tissue, and Keith Richards’ Life. 2012 can’t get here soon enough. I know I’ll be scouring the internet for sneak peaks between now and then. This is a must read for me!

For more news, reviews, blues, tattoos, and otherwise rude, crude, and lewd comments (mixed in with a whole lot of fun), you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Making Time For Music Edition

Here’s a shocker, kids. Your cousin Ryo listens to a lot of records. I know, you didn’t see that coming. Whether I’m writing reviews for this blog, or reviewing albums for Hard Rock Hideout (http://www.hardrockhideout.com/), or just trying to keep up with the new releases as they come across my desk, a lot of music passes my ears. While this is a blessing at times, it can also be a curse. Listening to all of these albums, leaves me little time to listen to the music that I really enjoy. There are times when I can’t crank the Dave Matthews Band or Kiss because I have to write a review for the latest independent release that was kindly submitted for my approval. While I love discovering new music, there are times when I just want to Rock And Roll All Night.

That having been said, I’ve decided to make a deal with myself – a compromise if you will. I believe it’s one that will be beneficial to both my classic side and my new music side. I’m going to make time to listen to the music I love. On weekends, I will be shutting off all the new material I listen to for review purposes, and will only play the records that I really love, or some great gem from the archives of my vault. During the week, I am going to make more of an effort to listen to the new albums that need to be reviewed (most likely while driving to and from my day job). I think this will provide me the opportunity to appreciate the new music, but still remember the great albums in my collection. If you are a producer, band manager, or entertainer looking to have your music reviewed, feel free to keep sending the albums my way. It may take me a little while to get to them, but I promise that I do listen to everything that comes across my desk.

Here’s what rocked this week:

Stevie Nicks and Rod Stewart Touring Together
This is an interesting combination. If Rod Stewart is playing his rock classics, then this would be a great tour to see. However, if Rod Stewart is still doing the crooner songbook thing, then count me out. I’m sure that Stevie Nicks will be playing all of her best known tunes (solo and Fleetwood Mac). The Heart & Soul Tour 2011 kicks off on March 20th. Tickets for most dates are available now via Ticketmaster (http://www.ticketmaster.com/). Just make sure you have your Gold Card ready, these tickets are not cheap.

You Could Win A Chance To Meet Eric Clapton
Ernie Ball Inc., the world’s premier string, accessory and instrument manufacturer and creators of the iconic Slinky® guitar string, announced Ernie Ball Presents Experience Clapton and the Ernie Ball Eric Clapton Golden Pick, giving Ernie Ball customers nationwide a rare opportunity to meet Eric Clapton in London or win one of thousands of exciting prizes instantly. Fifteen grand prize winners will get unparalleled access to Eric Clapton’s private rehearsal, an exclusive meet and greet and a ticket to see Clapton live at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The London show is the climax of Clapton’s UK tour in support of his 19th studio album, Clapton.

Each and every pack of Ernie Ball electric and acoustic guitar strings purchased at Guitar Center between February 1st and April 30th will give a guitarist the chance to win one of the 15 grand prizes to Experience Clapton in London, simply by visiting www.ernieball.com/ericclapton and entering the unique code provided inside the package. Select packs will also include one of 5 color-coded, instant-winning Eric Clapton guitar picks. Each pick is redeemable for one of thousands of exclusive prizes including free Music Man guitars, VIP trips to the 2012 winter NAMM show and Guitar Center gift cards, depending on the pick’s color.

Some Reviews At Hard Rock Hideout
In the shameless self-promotion category, something I haven’t done in a while, I wanted to share some recent reviews I did for Hard Rock Hideout. The first is for Ginger Lynn’s Baby’s Gone Bad. The other is a link to my review of the latest Gary Cherone project, Hurtsmile. While Ginger Lynn left a little something to be desired, Hurtsmile is just another fantastic musical project from the highly talented Gary Cherone.

Ginger Lynn: http://hardrockhideout.com/2011/01/20/gynger-lynn-babys-gone-bad-2010

Hurtsmile: http://hardrockhideout.com/2011/01/26/hurtsmile-st-2011

For more shout outs, reviews, rants, raves, news, blurbs, and musical updates, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Halloween Edition

This Sunday is Halloween here in the US. It’s a time when people dress in costumes, kids walk around to earn free candy, and people try to scare one another. It’s also a time when some people attempt to dress up their pets in costume.

For those of you who weren’t aware, your cousin Ryo is the proud owner of multiple cats. I’ve always wanted to dress my cats in some cool costumes. The thought of seeing them prance around in KISS outfits to the sounds of Love Gun is an immensely pleasing fantasy to me. Of course, Mrs. Vie, my wiser half, never lets me actually go through with it.

I’m hoping that one year, I can sneak the kitties into costume when she’s not around. If I get to pull it off this weekend, you can guarantee that you will see pictures. However, I think that the cats are safe until next year. I’m just not sure that I have the time to put the costumes together.

Here’s what rocked this week:

Bon Jovi Announces 2011 Tour
Did you miss Bon Jovi during their summer outing? Do you want to see them in an arena environment? Well, this spring, in North America, you will get that chance. The band just announced 2011 tour dates that included 2 nights at Madison Square Garden and a summer trip to Europe. It’s good to be a rock star!

Pearl Jam Radio Is On Sirius/XM
The best thing I ever did was to get satellite radio. And now, Pearl Jam has their very own station that plays nothing but Pearl Jam 24/7. From full concerts, to rare b-sides, to the classics that we’ve come to know and love, it’s all on the radio, all the time. It is a die-hard fan’s dream come true.

To Walkman No More
I didn’t even realize that the cassette walkman was still even being made. So, to hear that Sony was going to stop making it greeted me with mixed reactions. On the one hand, it’s sad to see a classic go and take a part of my childhood with it. On the other hand, who knew that they were still selling the Walkman?

Krist Novoselic To Play Bass On The Next Foo Fighters Album
This is interesting news. Novoselic will only be guesting on bass, and it’s not certain how many tracks he will play on, but it’s still pretty darned cool to see Dave Grohl and Krist making music together again. I wonder if they have any old, unreleased tracks of Kurt’s vocals that they could add to a song?

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