LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE FOR DIDDY’S BAD BOY

Diddy and Bad Boy Records top the SoundScan/Billboard 200 album chart for the second consecutive week as Day26’s self-titled debut album explodes into the #1 spot in its first week in release.  The #1 chart entry follows last week’s top-charting debut for Danity Kane’s smash second Bad Boy album, “WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE.”  “DAY26” also debuts at #1 on Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” chart and #3 on SoundScan’s “Digital Albums” chart.

With total sales exceeding 190,000, “DAY26” – which features the current hit, “Got Me Going” and the upcoming single, “Since You Been Gone” – officially logged the biggest-selling debut album from a male R&B group in the 17-year history of SoundScan.

“We just want to offer love and thanks to our many fans for making this band America’s #1 group,” said Day26, a.k.a. Brian Andrews, Mike McCluney, Qwanell Mosley (a.k.a. “Q”), Robert Curry, and Willie Taylor.  “Of course, our endless gratitude goes out to our families and our friends at Bad Boy and Atlantic Records for helping us to achieve success that’s already beyond our wildest dreams.”

The blockbuster success of “DAY26” marks yet another major milestone in the storied history of Bad Boy Records.  Since the label’s 1993 inception, Diddy and Bad Boy have created a true hit machine like few others in the annals of the music industry, with total global record sales of 66 million and counting.  Over the past 15 years, no less than 10 Bad Boy artists have achieved #1 debuts, with 55 label releases appearing on the Billboard 200.  To date, 20 Bad Boy albums have been certified platinum at least once, with many of them going on to earn multi-platinum awards. 

In addition, Bad Boy has unleashed a seemingly endless stream of hit singles.  81 Bad Boy singles have hit Billboard’s “Hot 100,” 27 of which reached the Top Ten.  The label has earned RIAA gold certification for 22 of its singles thus far, with nine achieving platinum status.

Diddy has been personally responsible for a stunning array of chart successes, with five solo albums reaching the Top 5 on the Billboard 200, three of which – 1999’s “NO WAY OUT,” 2002’s “WE INVENTED THE REMIX, VOL. 1,” and 2006’s “PRESS PLAY” – reached the #1 position.  A three-time Grammy Award-winner, the label founder topped the singles chart with two now-classic hits, “I’ll Be Missing You,” which spent eleven weeks at #1; and “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down,” which held the pole position for six weeks.  Furthermore, Diddy has been a prolific producer/executive producer, helming six albums in 2007 and three in just the first three months of 2008.  Since launching Bad Boy Records, Diddy has racked up an astonishing 80 producer credits, a prime contributing factor in the label’s extraordinary string of hits.

Executive Produced by Bad Boy CEO Sean “Diddy” Combs and Bad Boy Entertainment president Harve Pierre, “DAY26” was recorded in just three short weeks.  The five gifted performers were chosen by Diddy and MTV viewers around the world on the record-shattering Making The Band 4 season finale last August 26th - the source of the quintet’s moniker. 

“Got Me Going” – the first single from “DAY26” – looks set to continue Bad Boy’s winning streak.  The Mario Winans-produced track has bulleted its way into the Top 25 at Urban radio outlets nationwide, while also drawing serious airplay at Rhythmic, Top 40, and Urban AC.

“DAY26” is also proving a digital sensation, presently standing at #1 on the iTunes Store’s “Top R&B/Soul Albums” chart, with the iTunes Exclusive “Bonus Track Version” not far behind at #5.  “Got Me Going” continues its run as one of the week’s top 10 best-sellers on the iTunes Store’s “Top R&B/Soul Songs” chart, while the track’s companion video recently reached #1 on the “Top R&B/Soul Music Videos” tally (where it remains a Top 3 favorite).

In addition, the “Got Me Going” clip – directed by Syndrome (Danity Kane, Pretty Ricky, Lupe Fiasco, and Trey Songz) – is now in “Big 10” rotation at MTV.  The group is the #1 most-searched artist at MTV.com, where the online premiere of “DAY26” received over 350,000 streams via “The Leak” in the week leading up to its release.

Last week also saw Day26 spending quality time at BET’s 106 & Park, where “Got Me Going” recently received its “New Joint” premiere before going into network rotation.  The quintet opened and closed the week, performing “Got Me Going” on Monday and “Since You Been Gone” on Friday.  Day26 will next perform on BET’s annual Spring Bling extravaganza, set to debut on April 10th (check local listings). 

Currently featured on the cover of Right On!, Day26 also performed “Got Me Going” on last Tuesday’s installment of the nationally syndicated Tyra Banks Show.  The show is slated for rebroadcast in New York and Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 9th (check local listings for airtimes and additional markets).

Day26’s out-of-the-box triumph was further proven by the quintet’s day-of-release in-store event at New York City’s Best Buy.  The autographing session drew multitudes of screaming fans to the Fifth Avenue store, marking Best Buy’s biggest in-store event of the year by far.

Day26 kicked off the release of “DAY26” with an appearance on MTV’s TRL.  The visit also celebrated the hugely rated season finale of the latest and greatest season of Diddy and MTV’s hit reality series, Making The Band.   The blockbuster episode included the official unveiling of “P. Diddy Presents The Making The Band 4 Tour,” a major North American concert tour featuring Day26, alongside their MTB4 co-stars Danity Kane and Donnie Klang.  Slated to hit the road in May, a full itinerary and on-sale information will be announced shortly.

For up-to-the-minute information, please visit www.day26online.com, www.myspace.com/day26, and www.badboyonline.com.

SECONDHAND SERENADE ANNOUNCE HEADLINING TOUR

Playing Main Stage at Bamboozle and Bamboozle Left

Photo by Ben Fink Shapiro

SECONDHAND SERENADE has recently announced a string of headlining tour dates that will take John Vesely and his band from coast to coast, playing the main stage at both Bamboozle Left on April 6th and Bamboozle Right on May 3rd.  Please see all tour dates below.

A Twist In My Story (2/19, Glassnote), Secondhand Serenade’s sophomore album, was produced by Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails, Angels & Airwaves) and Butch Walker (Fall Out Boy, All American Rejects) and debuted at #44 on the Billboard Top 200, reaching as high as #7 on the iTunes Top Albums.  The video for  “Fall For You” is in rotation at MTV, mtvU, Music Choice and The N, and Billboard commented on the song, stating “Take this track for a spin and break bad with one of the most promising acts of the year.”  Secondhand Serenade has recently performed the song on national TV, making appearances on the CBS Early Show and Late Night With Conan O’Brien.

Singer/guitarist John Vesely has been performing as a solo artist under the moniker Secondhand Serenade since 2005, and became MySpace’s #1 unsigned artist for seven consecutive months before signing to Glassnote Records in 2006.  Vesely is known for his stripped down, acoustic recordings and solo tours, but has enlisted a full band to help bring the lush, layered songs from A Twist In My Story to life on this current tour with Yellowcard, and upcoming headlining tour.

www.secondhandserenade.net
www.myspace.com/secondhandserenade
www.glassnotemusic.com

Secondhand Serenade tour dates:

April 2 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Avalon Theatre
April 3 – Boise, ID @ The Big Easy  (w/ Yellowcard)
April 4 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon (w/ Yellowcard
April 6 – Irvine, CA @ Bamboozle Left (main stage)
April 8 – Roseville, CA @ The Underground Café
April 9 – San Jose, CA @ San Jose Skate
April 10 – Bakersfield, CA @ Golden State Hall
April 11 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Brockhouse Theatre
April 12 – Las Vegas, NV @ Jillian’s of Las Vegas
April 13 – Las Vegas, NV @ DeepRockDrive.com (Live, on-line concert)
April 15 – San Antonio, TX @ The Crossing
April 17 – Houston, TX @ Java Jazz
April 18 – Memphis, TN @ University of Memphis
April 19 – St. Charles, MO @ Hunter Stadium/Lindenwood University
April 21 – Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge
April 22 – Tulsa, OK @ The Crush Lounge
April 23 – Little Rock, AR @ Juanita’s
April 25 – Louisville, KY @ Headliner’s Music Hall (w/ Cartel)
April 26 – Hiram, OH @ Hiram College (w/ Relient K)
April 27 – Tinley Park, IL @ Mojo’s Rock House
April 29 – Covington, KY @ Mad Hatter
May 1 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
May 2 – Troy, NY @ Revolution Hall
May 3 – East Rutherford, NJ @ Bamboozle Right (main stage)

SILVER MT. ZION TOUR U.S. IN SUPPORT OF 13 BLUES FOR THIRTEEN MOONS

Photo By: Mark Slutksy

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra La La Band will be touring the U.S. in May and early June in support of their new Constellation release, 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons.

Silver Mt. Zion Tour Dates
Fri. May 16 Burlington, VT @ First Unitarian Universalist
Sat. May 17 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
Sun. May 18 Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street Nightclub
Mon. May 19 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Tue. May 20 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Thu. May 22 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
Fri. May 23 Washington, D.C. @ Black Cat
Sat. May 24 Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle Tavern
Sun. May 25 Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
Mon. May 26 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
Tue. May 27 St. Louis, MO @ Bluebird
Wed. May 28 Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
Thu. May 29 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
Fri. May 30 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall
Sat. May 31 Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium
Mon. Jun. 2 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
Tue Jun. 3 Columbus, OH @ Skully’s Music Diner
Wed. Jun. 4 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
Thu. Jun. 5 Milvale, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre

Silver Mt. Zion, formed in Montreal by Efrim Menuck, Thierry Amar and Sophie Trudeau (all of Godspeed You! Black Emperor), has become known for their overt redefinition of protest music, their long-form, multi-movement compositions and uniquely inventive punk-rock, and their unfettered honesty and emotion. With a focus on live performance and special projects since the release of 2005’s Horse In The Sky, SMZ has logged well over 100 shows in Europe and North America, and collaborated with Carla Bozulich, Vic Chesnutt and Patti Smith in the studio and in concert.

Live shows by this humble and hard-working band are nothing short of mesmerizing, only now they’ve become much looser and much louder. Walls of sound, exploding sheets of free noise, dive-bombing swirls of strings, heart-rending melodies, plus layers of group-singing, comprise a typical set. For each show on this tour, the full Silver Mt. Zion band, arrayed in a semi-circle, playing, singing and shouting, will perform the entirety of their new album, 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons, and some re-tooled versions of songs from their first five records. Additionally, new material composed during their pre-tour rehearsals always find its way into their sets, evolving nightly, on its way to finished form.

Thee Silver Mt. Zion touring band:
Thierry Amar (contrebasse)
Eric Craven (drums)
Rebecca Foon (cello)
Ian Ilavsky (guitar)
Efrim Menuck (guitar)
Jessica Moss (violin)
Sophie Trudeau (violin)
vocals by all

Listen to an edit of Silver Mt. Zion’s “13 Blues” here:
DOWNLOAD HERE!

Stoli Gets To Rock Out With November

Photos By: Chuck Arlund

A band comes along every so often that I automatically dig. I was introduced to this band, November, through Sonicbids.com and I have not turned back. These guys reside in Nashville, TN but their sound resonates far beyond. My buddy Mark Tortora who is the band’s manager hooked Stoli up with the exclusive on what’s up with November! Check out the bands new album, Superstar Parades, out 4/12/08!

Stoli: How did the five of you come together to form the band?

Michael, Albert and I (Hunter) all knew each other from previous restaurant/bar gigs. We all started working together at once, and Michael eventually asked Albert to simply start playing good rock music together but they still needed a singer. I was bartending at the time, the bar was incredibly busy one night and Mike heard me scream out across the bar that we needed more Bud Light. Mike says that he heard me hit a “High C”. He immediately asked me if I sang or not. I had been in previous bands before and was glad to start jamming with the guys. We met Erik or “E” as we call him on a group trip to Florida one year and before we even heard him play, we knew he had to be in the band. We started playing every week at Erik’s house, got 3 songs together and then Mike asked his long-time best friend and bass player Jeremy to join the band. Mike and Jeremy had been playing in a band together before November was born and Mike knew the rhythm section wouldn’t be complete without him. So, we started having supper club night every Monday until one day Albert came in and said “we have a show in 3 weeks!” So from then on we were officially November.

Stoli: You are based in Nashville, TN. Does that offer you an advantage to being based in NY or LA?

(Hunter) I wouldn’t say it’s an advantage, but I will say it is not as much of a disadvantage as it used to be. Especially in today’s Internet based DIY music world, location is not as important as it used to be back in the 90’s. Nashville is a real hotbed for great rock music, not just Country with all different genres of music succeeding on a national level like Kings of Leon, Paramore, Luna Halo and a lot more.

Stoli: As the lead vocalist does Hunter come off as the leader of the band as the stand out member?

(Hunter) Every member of the band is just as important as the other. We all play different roles in making November what it is. First and foremost we are all best friends and brothers. If you removed one of us, November wouldn’t be November anymore.

Stoli: How do you make sure to keep egos in check and to keep the bands union in place?

As I said, everyone has a very defined role in the band and that is key to our success. We all have a firm grasp on that.

Stoli: When you are creating new music, do you like to improvise & jam or do you go in the studio knowing exactly what you want to record?

Studio magic is something you pray for. There were several beautiful mistakes that were kept in the recording, and helped make the record what it is now. We do however have a pretty good idea on what we want to do and how to execute it in the studio. But we also have been in the studio and Albert might throw down something new on the guitar right on the fly that fits perfectly with what Michael has been working on lyrically and then watch it turn into something completely new.

Stoli: How much does your real life experiences play out in your songwriting?

(Michael) Some people have therapists, I write songs. It usually starts with an unbearable emotion. Once I get it out on paper, I can set that emotion aside and work on creating the music. Inspiration hits me at anytime and just like that my songs are born. If I don’t have something to write the lyrics down with, I will call my phone and sing the lyrics and music back to my voicemail so I don’t forget.

Stoli: The indie scene has become saturated these days which is great for music as a whole. How do you make sure to keep November different from the rest?

We can’t concern ourselves with what other people do. Are we influenced by popular culture past and present…yes but we have to stay true to what we know in our heart is good music and good music will always stand out from the rest. Think GNR mixed with Duran Duran - heard anything like that recently?

Stoli: Does your band have groupies and has your status in the band ever got you lucky with a hot fan?

That would be a question you would need to ask Jeremy!

Stoli: Skope Magazine represents music enthusiasts that listen to a wide array of genres, would you say that is a plus for a band like yours?

Absolutely! In this day and age, music enthusiasts are consuming more music than ever (legally or not) from all different genres. Our new record, Superstar Parades (April 12th, 2008) is packed with kickass rock songs that will speak to many different types of fans. We love Led Zep, The Beatles, Duran Duran, GNR, Johnny Cash, Sonic Youth, Portishead, and Miles Davis. There’s an array of genres for you!

Stoli: When you are on the road what specialty do you need to help keep you sane mentally & physically?

Everyone’s got their own thing. Thirty minutes of meditation before each show and control of the radio keeps me as close to being sane as I can get! Michael runs 2-4 miles in the hotel gym. Erik’s a big fan of the snacks. Snack sanity. Done deal. Jeremy? Our commander-in-chief on the road. Forget On-Star, it’s On-Jeremy that get us across the country in one piece. Just let that boy sleep! Hot wings and hot girls for Albert. And we all can’t make it to our next gig without Michael’s interstate comedy routine. And a trailer hitch that stays CONNECTED to our truck will keep us all sane!

Stoli: Has the digital age in the music industry altered your strategy when you are putting out a record?

Absolutely, the standard industry model for the way to “make it” in music has been blown out of the water. In today’s age, we have more and more power to get our music out to the masses than ever before with the Internet and all the technology out there but record sales are still dropping and record labels are still suffering so it’s definitely an ‘interesting’ time for everyone. We can’t just send our music out to labels and sit back and wait for the call. We are constantly using all the digital technology to keep moving forward. Although, who wouldn’t love a tons of labels knocking down their door! Now, we just need to see who gets smart to the new “way” and can live to tell about it.

Stoli: What can we look for from November in the next 6 months or so?

Continue to tour in support of our new album, Superstar Parades. Working with our CD Release Party Sponsor, Coors Light on other exciting opportunities. Record deal, endorsements, Billboard cover, Rolling Stone cover, worldwide audience, world domination. Standard stuff. Keep checking back on our myspace page, www.myspace.com/novembernashville, to stay up to date!

Listen to “The Grind”

www.myspace.com/novembernashville
www.sonicbids.com/November

THE BAREFOOT WINE BEACH RESCUE PROJECT IS BACK TO “HEEL” MORE BEACHES THIS SUMMER

Musicians G. Love and Tristan Prettyman Join Barefoot® Wine and the Surfrider Foundation in support of “barefoot-friendly” beaches
 
Get ready to kick off your shoes and help “heel” a beach this summer.   Between May and August 2008, the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project, in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation - a grassroots, non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches will embark on their second annual tour to help rescue, renew and restore four new beaches.

Each year, over 25,000 beaches in the United States are closed or posted as unhealthy.   To help remedy this, local residents are encouraged to volunteer at cleanup and restoration events across the country to make these beaches “barefoot-friendly.”  This year, hip-hop/blues musician G. Love (front man of G. Love & Special Sauce) and singer-songwriter and guitarist Tristan Prettyman will join volunteers on the beach and perform live at special celebrations that follow each beach rescue.  Prettyman will perform songs from her upcoming album Hello at all four events.  She will be joined by G. Love at the 2008 kick-off event in Montauk, N.Y., scheduled for May 31.

“Having grown up in San Diego, I spent most of my time at the beach and can’t imagine what life would be like without the surf and sand,” said Prettyman.  “I’m excited to volunteer and share my music with people who take the time to give back to their communities.”

Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project - 2008 Tour Dates
Montauk, N.Y.                   Saturday, May 31
Austin (Town Lake), Texas               Saturday, July 12
San Francisco (Ocean Beach), Calif.     Saturday, July 26
TBD - America’s Votes!          Saturday, August 23

For the fourth stop, we’re calling on the voice (and click) of beach-lovers from coast to coast.  Visit www.BarefootWine.com/BeachRescue to cast your vote for one of ten worthwhile beaches to receive a beach cleanup and celebration this summer.  While visiting the site, you can also RSVP to participate at a beach rescue event near you.  You must be 21 years of age to attend the celebrations that follow.

“In the second year of the project, we look forward to making an immediate and positive impact on four new beaches,” said Matt McClain, Director of Marketing and Communications for Surfrider Foundation.  “These events show people how important the smallest action, like picking up litter, can help on the grander scale and preserve our beaches for generations to come.”

Barefoot, the award-winning California wine, has been an active supporter of various not-for-profit organizations for over 20 years.  Since its inauguration in 2007, the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project has donated $250,000 to the Surfrider Foundation in support of its mission to improve coastal water quality, promote free and open beach access, preserve coastal ecosystems and protect public beaches around the world.

Barefoot’s award-winning California wines are attractively priced and can be found in playful, colorful cases and bottles bearing the iconic footprint label.  Barefoot’s still wine portfolio ($6.99 for 750-ml bottles, $11.99 for 1.5-liter bottles) includes eight unique offerings: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Zinfandel.  Barefoot also offers two delicious sparkling Chardonnays: Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvée and Barefoot Bubbly Premium Extra Dry.  Both award-winning sparkling wines retail for $9.99. For more information about Barefoot Wine, visit www.barefootwine.com.

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide. For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, go to www.surfrider.org.

VAST AIRE SET TO RELEASE SOPHOMORE SOLO-LP, DUECES WILD, ON 6-24-08

DUECES WILD FEATURES APPEARANCES BY GECCHI SUEDE (CAMP LO), COPYWRITE & VORDUL MEGA (CANNIBAL OX) WITH PRODUCTION FROM PETE ROCK & OH NO

Vast Aire, remember him? He’s the titan MC who shocked the world and conquered critics as the leader of Definitive Jux’s landmark upstart crew, Cannibal Ox; their essential 2002 debut, Cold Vein, was a chart-topper in nearly every smart music critic’s year-end poll.

Here is a link which will take you directly to Vast Aire’s “Mecca And The Ox”: http://onerecords.net/vastairesinglestream/

After quickly following up his critically-acclaimed 2004 solo-debut, Look Mom…No Hands, with two Martial Arts inspired Way Of The Fist mixtapes and after a few years scratching his collaborative itch (2005’s The Best Damn Rap Show with High & Mighty’s DJ Mighty Mi and in 2007, Vast joined forces with Karniege under the pseudonym Mighty Joseph and released Empire State) Vast returns with his sophomore solo-LP, Dueces Wild, which will be released on 6-24-08 on One Records. 
 
With guest appearances from Camp Lo’s Gecchi Suede (“The Dynamic Duo”), Copywrite (“Give Me That Mic”) and a Pete Rock produced Cannibal Ox reunion track (“Mecca And The Ox”) Vast concluded the recording sessions for Dueces Wild supremely confident with the music he had created as he states “I put the letter “U” before the “E” in the LP title because I have paid my dues and this is the best music I have ever made.  This project is about the power of the number 2 and the truth and the balance of the Ying-Yang.  The number 2 influences many facets of our lives;  this my sophomore solo-LP (second solo-LP), your Mom and dad are “two,” you and the love of your life are “two,” life and death, good and bad, night and day, love and hate are all interrelated with the number “two”.

Dueces Wild is primarily produced by Melodies’ Monk, a multi-talented producer, vocalist and lyricist from the streets of Brooklyn, Monk grew up with Vast and in fact has been making music with Vast as far back as Cannibal Ox’s inception and he helped craft Dueces Wild retro-sonic/alternative Trip-Hop feel.

In the card game of life, any deck of cards can reveal pain, power, pleasure, misery, poverty, life and death.  There are many choices you can make, but the final outcome ultimately depends on making the most out of those cards. Dueces Wild is truly a full deck of wild cards!

Tracklisting and credits for Vast Aire’s Dueces Wild:

1.) You Know (produced by Lee Parasite)
2.) T.V. Land (produced by Melodius Monk)
3.) Take Two (produced by Melodius Monk)
4. The Dynamic Duo f/Gecchi Suede of Camp Lo (produced by Aspet One)
5.) Give Me That Mic f/Copywrite (produced by Rocktight) 
6.) Mecca And The Ox f/Vordul Mega (produced by Pete Rock)
7.) Back 2 Basics” (produced by Melodius Monk)
8.) Lunchroom Rap (It’s Nothing) (produced by Oh No)
9.) When Starz Fall f/Double A.B., Thanos, Swave Sevah & Karniege (produced by DJ Priority Musik)
10.) The Crush (produced by Thanos of BrotherHood603)
11.) Shu (The God of Aire) (produced by Thanos)
12.) Graveyard Shift f/Genesis (produced by Melodius Monk)
13.) The Infinity War (produced by Thanos)
14.) The Man With Out Fear (produced by Melodius Monk)

THE CAT EMPIRE Return With “So Many Nights”

 US release of new full length, April 22nd via the Velour Music Group

“So Many Nights” Video:

Melbourne, Australia’s THE CAT EMPIRE are set to release their third album on April 22nd, So Many Nights.

“So Many Nights refers to the songs,” says The Cat Empire’s bandleader Felix Riebl. “They’re little vignettes from our travels, stories that got etched out in the back of a tour bus over the years. You get to a point, living like that, where it really gets hard to distinguish between what’s happening and what’s a dream.”
 
“We were keen to step beyond our regular party thing,” says The Cat Empire’s other singer, trumpet player Harry Angus. “We were all ready to make something crafted, more musically solid. We wanted to try stuff that developed, maybe let the melody do the work, rather than trying to pack it with explosions.”
 
Fireworks are standard accessories with this band - Ollie McGill (keys), ‘Jumps’ Khadiwala (decks), Ryan Monro (bass) and Will Hull-Brown (drums) - but the new, smoldering shades of subtlety are likely to be a revelation to anyone who’s caught one of The Cat Empire’s 600 shows between Melbourne and Montreal over the past six years.
 
The Cat Empire’s self-titled debut album was a huge success in their native Australia in 2003, where it scored double platinum sales and 7 ARIA nominations (that’s Australian for Grammy).

In 2005, they recorded the follow up Two Shoes in the legendary Studio 101 in Havana, Cuba. Released by the Velour Music Group here in the US, Two Shoes was greeted with critical accolades, late night TV appearances and standing room only audiences. The Philadelphia Daily News summed up Two Shoes with:  “The Cat Empire – brassy, sassy, prowlers who connect bar-band soul, island riddims, hip-hop turntablilism, rude-boy punk and even gypsy-wedding flavor and music hall.”
 
From David Letterman to Jay Leno, the Glastonbury Festival to New York’s Central Park Summerstage, Japan to Barcelona, WOMADelaide to the Montreal Jazz Festival and rave reviews at all stops, it often seemed The Cat Empire were sole nominees for “Superlative of the Year” (Indefinable Genre Division) 2006/2007.
 
So Many Nights was produced at Sing Sing studios in Melbourne by the legendary John Porter (Roxy Music, The Smiths, Los Lonely Boys, Ryan Adams), and mixed by John in Malibu, as the Empire continued their relentless world tour – night by night, to an average of 2,500 people per gig.
 
The poignant first single on So Many Nights, “No Longer There” shows the band breaking new ground. “It’s the first time I’ve written a song about an issue, if you like,” says Felix. “I live this dreamlike, magic life, where you don’t have many responsibilities, but I also know that people need to change the way they’re living and realize a few basic responsibilities. It’s been interesting for me to find that line.”
 
1.       So Many Nights
2.       Panama
3.       Fishes
4.       Sunny Moon
5.       Till the Ocean Takes Us All
6.       No Mountain
7.       So Long
8.       No Longer There
9.       Lonely Moon
10.     Radio Song
11.     The Darkness
12.     Voodoo Cowboy
13.     Strong Coffee
14.     Won’t Be Afraid
15.     Wanted To Write A Love Song (Bonus Track)

Jesse Malin Announces Live Album Details

Photo ©2008 Alyssa Wendt

Jesse Malin is set to release his first ever live album June 3rd on Adeline called Mercury Retrograde. The record was recorded over two nights at the Mercury Lounge in NYC right around Christmas 2007 and captures Malin at his best, telling tales of New York City life and playing all the fan favorites.
 
Confirmed Tracklisting:
1. High Lonesome
2. Wendy
3. Hotel Columbia
4. Lucinda
5. Cigarettes & Violets
6. Little Star
7. Since You’re In Love
8. Helpless
9. Aftermath
10. Black Haired Girl
11. Broken Radio
12. Subway
13. Going Out West
14. Swingin Man
15. Xmas
16. Christmas, Baby Please Come Home
 
Here’s what Malin himself has to say about his Mercury Retrograde:
 
“Leaving the house and going out to see live shows is a ritual for me - a physical experience that I can’t get at home just listening to a studio album. For my first ever live album, I wanted to record the songs differently by going back to the original essence of how they were written, on an acoustic guitar either holed up in my little apartment, layin’ back in some transient hotel room, or locked up in a bathroom. Over the past couple years I’ve been touring with a full band, but for this album, I wanted to go back to the way it was in the beginning and just do a stripped down acoustic set.  I’ve always said that songwriting is like masturbating - you have to have a private, quiet moment when no one’s around, which can be hard when you’re on the road. But once you’ve perfected the art, you’re ready to show the world.”
 
“These recordings were made over 2 nights at the Mercury in New York City a week before Christmas 2007.  I figured I should return to one of the spots I played when I was starting out. Talking between songs or doing “bits” as I call them, is something I did early on to kill time while I was tuning my guitar as I toured solo.  These true stories evolved into a spoken word aspect of my live shows that hasn’t been represented on any of my studio releases.  Yackety yack.” - Jesse Malin
 
Jesse Malin’s critically acclaimed 2007 release of Glitter In The Gutter spawned two singles, “Don’t Let Them Take You Down (Beautiful Day)” and the Bruce Springsteen duet “Broken Radio.” Malin has spent the majority of the last year on the road, performing all over the globe. He performed on The Tonight Show w/Jay Leno, Late Night w/Conan O’Brien and the Late Late Show w/Craig Ferguson and took part in 2007 Austin City Limits Music Festival. Look for Malin to be on the road again this Spring/Summer - Current dates are below.
 
Confirmed Tour Dates:
4/1 - Cambridge, MA TT The Bears
4/3 - Hamden, CT The Space
4/5 - Pittsburgh, PA DIESEL
4/6 - Pontiac, MI The Crofoot Pontiac MI
4/7 - Cleveland, OH House of Blues (Cambridge Room)
4/8 - Chicago, IL Martyr’s Chicago
4/9 - Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall
4/10 - Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
4/11 - Madison, WI The Majestic Theatre
4/16 - Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place
4/26 - New York, NY The Bowery Ballroom

www.myspace.com/jessemalin