BECK ANNOUNCES U.S. TOUR DATES

Beck has announced a series of US tour dates to follow his previously announced summer festival appearances. The announcement comes on the heels of the release of Beck’s new album Modern Guilt, which Beck co-produced with Danger Mouse.

08/21/08 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
08/22/08 - San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Festival
08/24/08 - Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphiteater
08/30/08 - Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
09/19/08 - San Diego, CA - Street Scene Festival
09/20/08 - Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Bowl
09/22/08 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theater
09/23/08 - Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium
09/25/08 - El Paso, TX - Abraham Chavez Theatre
09/27/08 - Austin, TX - Zilker Park, Austin City Limits Festival
09/29/08 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theatre
09/30/08 - Minneapolis, MN - Wilkins Auditorium
10/02/08 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
10/03/08 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom

MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK TOUR DATES

Motion City Soundtrack announce the “Left Handed Forms of Human Endeavor” tour, featuring special guests Margot & The Nuclear So And So’s and Dear and the Headlights. Kicking off on Thursday, September 4th at MSU Auditorium in East Lansing, MI, the band will embark on this 12 city tour which will be the first part of their last string of tour dates in 2008.

Motion City Soundtrack Tour Dates:

Sept  
4th       MSU Auditorium*                                       East Lansing, MI
6th       Crocodile Rock Café                                Allentown, PA
7th       House Of Blues                                            Atlantic City, NJ
8th       Recher Theater                                          Towson, MD
10th     The Orange Peel                                        Asheville, NC
11th     The Music Farm                                          Charleston, SC
12th     40 Watt Club                                              Athens, GA
13th     Alachua County Fairgrounds#             Gainesville, FL
15th     House of Blues                                             New Orleans, LA
17th     Canopy Club                                              Urbana, IL
18th     The Blue Note                                             Columbia, M
19th     Liberty Hall                                                   Lawrence, KS

* Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s, The Hard Lessons, and The Silent Years
# The Real Big Deal Festival

RAY LAMONTAGNE TOUR DATES IN BOSTON & NEW YORK

Ray LaMontagne one of the most distinct and recognizable voices in music announced today two shows of his upcoming North American Tour. LaMontagne will be playing Opera House in Boston, MA on October 10th and New York’s Radio City Music Hall on October 11.

Tickets will go on sale to the public on July 18th for the Boston Show and July 25th for New York, however tickets are available this week for members of the Ray LaMontagne fan community. Tickets will go fast as LaMontagne sold out New York’s Beacon Theatre in December of 2006. The complete fall tour which will have Leona  Naess opening will be announced in early August.

I’M FROM BARCELONA NEW ALBUM DETAILS

I’m From Barcelona release “Who Killed Harry Houdini?” on Mute October 14, 2008. The sunny first single, “Paper Planes” will be released August 19, 2008.

Their follow up to 2007’s debut album “Let Me Introduce My Friends,” “Houdini” once again showcase the 20+ member band’s ability to write pop that is as complex as it is colorful.

Inspired by escape mastermind Harry Houdini and his own experiences as a failed amateur magician, frontman Emanuel Lundgren and band locked themselves in the studio and escaped into songwriting. The result is a return to form as well as an exploration of new subject matters and musical territory.

Tracklist:
Andy
Paper Planes
Headphones
Music Killed Me
Gunhild (feat. SoKo)
Mingus
Ophelia
Houdini
Little Ghost
Rufus

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The Skope Podcast reaches thousands of listeners all over the world!

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ESTELLE SHINES BRIGHTLY AROUND THE WORLD

Homeschool/Atlantic recording artist Estelle continues to dominate the international airwaves with her blockbuster hit single, “American Boy (Feat. Kanye West).”  The chart-topping track is featured on the British hip-hop/soul sensation’s critically acclaimed US debut album, “SHINE,” which was released earlier this year.

“American Boy (Feat. Kanye West)” has ignited a true international commotion, reaching #1 on a variety of charts in a wide range of countries.  In addition to hitting #1 on the European Airplay Chart, the single has topped the airplay charts in the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, and Ireland.  What’s more, “American Boy” has hit the peak position on the iTunes Stores’ “Top Songs” chart in such countries as the UK, France, and Germany.  Earlier this year, the track made history as the third-ever #1 UK single based on digital sales alone, following in the international smash footsteps of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella.”

Here in the US, “American Boy” is currently the #2 track on the iTunes Store’s “Top R&B/Soul Songs” chart, as well as a top 25 success on the overall “Top Songs” ranking.  The single is also ascending the top 40 at Urban and CHR/Pop radio outlets nationwide, while scoring additional play at Rhythmic, Hot AC, and Urban AC.  The “American Boy” companion video – directed by Syndrome (Danity Kane, Lupe Fiasco) – is now in rotation at MTV, BET, VH1, MTV Jams, MTV Hits, mtvU, MTV Tr3s, BET J, Fuse, The N, and VH1 Soul, where Estelle has been named a “You Oughtta Know” new artist.

Furthermore, Estelle was honored as a “Best New Artist” nominee from the annual BET Awards.  The Los Angeles Times recently declared Estelle to be among the top candidates for a “Best New Artist” nomination at next year’s Grammy Awards. “(Estelle is) the type of artist Grammy voters love,” wrote music reporter Todd Martens in his “Extended Play” column.  “Her fresh take on R&B spans genres, from the reggae bump of ‘Come Over’ to the jazzy inflections of ‘Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)’ to the retro timelessness of ‘No Substitute Love.’  Estelle’s more inventive than 2006 ‘Best New Artist’ nominee Chris Brown, and just as elegant as 2005 ‘Best New Artist’ winner John Legend, who also, by the way, guests on ‘SHINE.’”

Currently booked on a jam-packed itinerary of UK clubs and European festivals, Estelle will also find the time to cross the Atlantic for a US radio promotional tour, slated for July and August.  A full-scale concert tour of North America is tentatively scheduled for later this year – details will be announced shortly.

On Thursday, July 24^th, Estelle will perform at the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star Game Halftime Show, broadcast live on ESPN2, TeleFutura and CBC (check local listings).  Major League Soccer’s 13^th annual All-Star Game features the 2008 MLS All-Star squad taking on the storied English Premier League side, West Ham United, at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Estelle has already made a number of additional high-profile TV appearances, including performances on CBS’s Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, the nationally syndicated Ellen DeGeneres Show, and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! 

Hailed as a true fashion icon, Estelle has united with a number of prominent clothing companies, including Puma, for whom she serves as official “style ambassador.”  She is also featured in Levi’s breakthrough advertising campaign, “Unbuttoned,” which features her among a gallery of people who contribute to the world’s culture in music, art, fashion, film & retail.  The Levi’s campaign includes creative new digital technology and print ads in an array of major national publications. This past spring saw Estelle starring in LRG Luxirie’s 2008 advertorial campaign.

Estelle will also be among the stars participating in the Candie’s Foundation’s fall/winter PSA campaign.  The Candie’s Foundation mission is to educate teens about the devastating consequences of teenage pregnancy, an epidemic that condemns hundreds of thousands of teen mothers and their children to a life of poverty.  Other influential celebrities taking part in the campaign include Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Fergie, Ashley Tisdale, Rachel Bilson, Josh Henderson, Ciara, Hilary Duff, and Teddy Geiger, among others. 

In addition, Estelle has been named an Ambassador for Virgin Unite, the not-for-profit entrepreneurial foundation of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.  Through Virgin Unite’s “Music Movement” program, she will be working to empower women and disadvantaged young people around the world.  Estelle has been involved with Virgin Unite for the past few years, helping to raise €68K in 2006 in support of their work with young people in South Africa.  Estelle also worked with Virgin Unite to organize a forum for young Africans to voice their dreams for the future during the 2005 Make Poverty History - G8 Summit.

RISE AGAINST ANNOUNCE FALL HEADLINING TOUR

You will be seeing a lot more of Rise Against this fall!  The Chicago based band have announced a fall headlining tour to coincide with the release of their new album Appeal To Reason.

The Live Nation produced tour will include openers Alkaline Trio, Thrice and The Gaslight Anthem. Official tour dates to be announced soon.

Rise Against are putting the finishing touches on their fifth studio album, Appeal To Reason, which will be released on DGC/Interscope Records October 7th. The band teamed up with Bill Stevenson (Black Flag, Descendents) and Jason Livermore to record at the Blasting Room in Ft. Collins, CO– the same production team and studio used for “The Sufferer & the Witness” and “Revolutions Per Minute.” 

NEW EMCEE FROM BRONX, NY - RATED R / MIXTAPE

Rated R is one of the most aspiring underground hip-hop artists. His gritty rhymes depict his gritty times.  He tells his story of neglect and living on the streets in the Bronx, N.Y. He paints pictures with his words and makes you feel his emotions whether he is banging out with a club song or at the lowest point in his life.

“New York State of mind” hosted by Superstar Jay:

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SKOPE READER SUBMITS NEW FEEZALEO / VIDEO

Skope reader Meilani says, “You might be interested in reposting this hot new single from FEEZALEO feat. MATT BLAQUE?” Yes, Meilani we would be interested in that!

FEEZALEO feat. Matt Blaque - “From This Game”

FOO FIGHTERS RESCHEDULE RED ROCKS SHOWS DUE TO ILLNESS

In keeping with Dave Grohl’s doctor’s orders, Foo Fighters have rescheduled their two sold out shows at Morrison CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Originally scheduled for July 14 & 15, the concerts have been rescheduled for September 8 & 9. Tickets for the July 14th show will be honored for the September 8th date, and tickets for the July 15th show will be honored for September 9th. Show times will remain the same. Refunds for each show will be available at the original point of purchase until the new respective dates.

Grohl said, “As much as it kills us to postpone shows, I’m in no shape to deliver the kind of balls-out performances that you guys deserve. We’re already looking forward to September when we can make it up to everyone ten times over. It’s gonna be great.”

Foo Fighters’ U.S. tour will resume July 17th in Oklahoma City.