Friday's Rockin' Roundup - A Lot Going On Edition

Holy Hannah, there was a lot going on in the world of music this past week! There was also a lot going on in my personal life too. Some good, some bad, and some just too much work! It happens. I have a very demanding day job and I try to keep up with this blog and my newly launched KISS podcast, while still making time for reading, movies, games, family, and friends. Sometimes I need to remind myself that I should slow down and enjoy life for whatever it is handing me at that moment.

I’m really not complaining. I like to be busy and I like to get things done. I just tend to overcommit sometimes. And then there are times when everything happens all at once. Like new releases, tickets to concerts that I really want to see, and huge breaking news from some of my favorite bands. And that’s what I experienced this past week, which has led me to my first Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup for 2018.

So, while I was playing catch up in the world of all things Ryo Vie likes (and work), here’s what rocked this week!

Boyd Tinsley Is Taking A Break

Just hours after tickets went on sale for their upcoming summer tour, and a day before the band’s first concert in quite some time, Boyd Tinsley announced that he was “taking a break” from the Dave Mathews Band to focus on his family and health for a while. This news shocked the DMB fan community and caused one of the most popular fan sites to overload and shut down due to high traffic volume. The responses to this announcement are mixed. While some fans are really upset that this announcement did not come prior to the tickets going on sale, others are just sad and hope that everything is okay with their favorite fiddle player. I fall into both camps. On the one hand, I do hope that Boyd is okay and that the health issues are not serious. On the other hand, I wish I would have known this prior to buying tickets because it may have changed my decision about going or at least about how much to spend on tickets. As it is, I am going to two shows this summer. I just know they aren’t going to be the same without Boyd. It’s going to be odd and somber at times.

Poison Announces A Summer Tour

I’ll admit that with all that’s been going on lately, this announcement totally caught me by surprise. But thankfully, in a good way! I had no idea that Poison was gearing up to hit the road this summer. And taking Cheap Trick and Pop Evil out with them is quite a bonus. Long time readers know how much I love Pop Evil and Poison, so this is practically a must see show for me. The problem is I have DMB tickets for the night that Poison is in my home state. Now I am frantically scrambling to see what other nearby shows there are that will fit my schedule. Ugh! The problems of a die-hard music fan!

Gaslight Anthem Reunion Dates Announced

After a long hiatus, The Gaslight Anthem is finally getting back together! They plan to tour in honor of the anniversary of The 59 Sound, their breakout album that most (if not all) Gaslight fans adore. Tickets for all the announced North America shows have sold out, so I am hopeful that the band will add more dates. They currently do not have any shows scheduled for their home state of New Jersey and I can’t see them doing this tour without a show or two in The Garden State. Thus, like most fans, I will wait and see if future shows are added and if they include a stop in Jersey. If they do, expect me to be there!

Pearl JamTickets Going On Sale Soon

Pearl Jam announced some stadium shows for this summer. Tickets go on sale soon, however, if you were one of the lucky ones to become a “verified” fan, then you will have the opportunity to buy tickets next Friday, February 16^th. If there are any tickets left after that (doubtful), the general on sale will be February 21^st at 10:00 AM. Unfortunately, the closest show to me is almost 6 hours away, so I did not try to get “verified.” I still have some issues with the whole verification through Ticketmaster process anyway, but that’s a topic for another time. I may or may not try to get general tickets for Fenway in Boston, but I’m real hopeful that PJ will add some dates to the NYC area. MetLife stadium is a great place to hold a concert in the summer!

Brian Fallon’s Solo Album Is Out Today

Not to be outdone by his band that’s been on hiatus and is now returning with a boom, Brian Fallon will release a new solo album today. Sleepwalkers is the second solo album from Fallon and every song that I have heard from this record is magnificent. I can’t even begin to describe how talented Brian Fallon is or how much I love his music. It is filled with such passion that it just overwhelms me (in a very good way). There was a great article posted on the independent that talks about his new record, The Gaslight Anthem, and much more. It’s definitely worth reading, especially if you are a fan!

The Latest Episode of The Psycho Circus Podcast Is Up

I’ll wrap up this edition of Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup with a shameless self-promoting plug. The latest episode of my Podcast The Psycho Circus Podcast is up. It’s also available on iTunes and Tune-In. This episode covers my favorite KISS album of all time, Destroyer, so I really hope that it gets a lot of listens. And if you like what you hear, think about subscribing. My plan is to post a new episode every week until I collapse from over-commitment!

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Chris Cornell Edition

As I am sure most of you reading this are aware, there was sad news in the music world this week as we learned of the passing of Chris Cornell. Details surrounding the death were still being investigated as of this writing, but evidence and reports point to an apparent suicide. I was stunned when I heard the news and deeply saddened since. I know I did not personally know the man, but his music and his voice brought so much joy to my life. I was a huge Soundgarden fan during the height of their fame, and the first Audioslave album navigated me through some dark times in my life. Eventually I will write the Reflections On…Audioslave post that I have on my “to write” list, which will explain that navigation in much more detail.

Since hearing the news of his death, I have been listening to a lot of Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Chris Cornell solo work. Each song I listen to holds a special memory in my head and a special place in my heart. I was fortunate enough to see Soundgarden live once, with Nine Inch Nails (another post that I should write), and I am now more grateful than ever that I got to see him perform live. Superunknown, Down on The Upside, and the aforementioned Audioslave were all soundtracks to my life at one point or another.

This edition of Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup is dedicated to Chris Cornell. He was a vocal talent unlike any I’ve listened to and he will be missed. May he rest in peace.

Here’s the Chris Cornell Tributes that rocked:

New York Times Obituary

The New York Times wrote a detailed obituary on this legend that is worth reading. Their tribute to Chris Cornell is a touching remembrance on all the joy that Cornell brought to people across the world.

The Washington Post

The Washington Post also gave a touching tribute to the legend that follows his career from the early days in Seattle all the way through the current tour.

Gizmodo’s Take on Cornell’s Passing

Gizmodo posted their take on the passing of Chris Cornell, but also on the unexpected passing of celebrities in general. The article discusses the “strange new ritual” that fans go through when remembering a fallen hero---diving through the internet for social media posts in the celebrities’ final moments. An interesting quick read that reflects how tributes have changed over the past decade.

USA Today Collects Tweeted Tributes

USA Today gathered a lot of the early tweets from musicians that paid tribute to Cornell. It’s clear that he meant a lot not just to fans, but also to his peers.

A legend has passed. He will be missed, but his music will be remembered for ages

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Playoff Hockey Edition

Welcome to another edition of Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup where I roundup all the cool happenings in the world of music. And while I’ve been trying to keep up on my favorite bands and music there’s been a little distraction going on called the NHL Playoffs. Regular readers probably remember that I am a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I started watching hockey because of Mario Lemieux---one of the greatest Penguins ever.

The Penguins have had an exciting post season thus far and they just beat the Washington Capitals in an exceptional game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. If they win their next series against the Ottawa Senators, the Penguins will go to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row. Last year they won it all and I am hoping that they will repeat their championship performance this year. The first game of their next series is Saturday night. I will be glued to my television, rooting for a Penguins victory.

And while I was busy watching the coolest sport on Earth, here what’s rocked this week:  

All theGaslight Anthem Songs Ranked

The Gaslight Anthem are a band that I absolutely adore. They are currently on an indefinite hiatus, but that doesn’t stop me from constantly seeking out the latest news about the band. Mostly I do it in the hopes of hearing that they are coming out of hibernation and working on a new record. Being that the band is from New Jersey, NJ.Com took the liberty of ranking all the Gaslight Anthem songs from worst to best. And while I don’t necessarily agree with all the rankings, I love that they put this up for debate. If you are a fan of the band, this is a must-read article. And if you aren’t familiar with the band, NJ.Com was kind enough to include a You Tube video for each song so you can sample them for yourself.

Linkin Park to Use Fan First Technology for Their Current Tour

They aren’t the first band to try the fan first technology, but they are the first band that brought it to my attention. Ticketmaster launched what they call “Verified Fan” earlier this year and Linkin Park is using the technology to help real fans get tickets to their show. The concept is simple---the more you are willing to do for the band, the higher your chances are of scoring presale tickets. Join the fan club, tweet about the band, promote them on Facebook, and/or pre-ordering their latest album are all ways that you can improve your standing. The concept was created to help battle the scalping bots and I think that it’s a step in the right direction. It may not solve the re-selling of tickets at overinflated prices permanently, but it’s good to see that Ticketmaster and Live Nation are trying.

Imagine Dragons Have Announced a New Album and Tour

Evolve will be available on June 23^rd. This will be the third album from Imagine Dragons. Their first two records were impeccable, so expectations for disc number three are high with me. Their tour starts in late September and runs through the fall. Presale tickets will be available starting next week. I am going to try my best to catch one of their shows. I’ve never seen Imagine Dragons in concert, but I hear they are amazing.

U2 30th Anniversary Tour Launches Today

U2 kicks off their 30^th anniversary tour tonight. The first concert takes place in Vancouver and U2 will be touring North America for the rest of the spring. The Joshua Tree will be played in its entirety and I am revved up to see this concert. I haven’t seen U2 live since 2005, so this is going to be a special treat for me. I know that I will be checking the Vancouver set list come tomorrow morning.

Paul McCartneyAdds Tour Dates

Sir Paul McCartney has added more shows to his summer/fall tour. Additional nights have been added in the NY/NJ area as well as Chicago and Detroit. Tickets are on sale today, so if you want to see McCartney you’d better get to Ticketmaster now and get some!