Skope

HOUSE OF BLUES BOSTON TO BRING BACK WORLD-FAMOUS GOSPEL BRUNCH

Praise the Lord and pass the biscuits.   The world-famous House of Blues Gospel Brunch will return to Boston on Sunday, May 17, 2009.   This award winning Gospel Brunch on Sundays is a one-of-a-kind celebration that nourishes the body and soul while making the cultural and musical gift of gospel available to all.  …

PHIL AND THE OSOPHERS RELEASE “WE HAVE ALL SUMMER” MP3

Phil and the Osophers have put out five albums via their own sustainable label, Factual Fabrications.   They pride themselves on carefully crafted philosophical lyrics.   Their latest release “Toward Conquering The Invisible North” recieved rave reviews and garnered a delightful video for High Art, in which the band perform laser eye surgery on a…

SALLY SHAPIRO NEW SINGLE “MIRACLE”

Sally’s  debut “Disco Romance” will come out in early fall of 2009. Sally will first be releasing her single “Miracle” on Paper Bag Records in North America on June 16th. “Miracle” is written and produced by Johan Agebjörn and Roger Gunnarsson, and includes a remix by up-and-coming Bulgarian producer Bogdan Irkük.

JASON MRAZ UNVEILS HIS “GRATITUDE CAFÉ TOUR”

Jason Mraz has announced details of his eagerly awaited summer tour schedule.   The Grammy-nominated tunesmith will headline the “Gratitude Café Tour,” set to kick off on Saturday, July 25th at the world famous Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.   Atlantic recording artist Mraz will be joined on the North American trek by very…

ZIGGY MARLEY ‘B IS FOR BOB’ TO BE RELEASED JUNE 23

B is for Bob, a collection of Bob Marley’s most beloved songs re-imagined for kids, will be released June 23 by UMe/Island/Tuff Gong. The international musical legend’s eldest son, four-time Grammy winner Ziggy Marley, executive produced the album, which bridges the gap between the timeless Bob Marley and a new generation of kids. www.ziggymarley.com

NEW VIDEO FROM NIGHTRIDERS “SHAKEDOWN”

Nightriders are the Boston dance duo; Matt Johnson and Joe Faria, where a chance meeting in 2004 at Boston’s legendary superclub, Avalon, (and many drinks later); formed a solid friendship. Little did they know that their similar tastes in music and their technical teamwork would be the essential ingredients of Nightriders in the making.

Joe Parillo Trio with Jay Hoggard, Segments

As Segments begins, you have no idea where you are. Perhaps you have been transplanted into a fantasy sequence of a movie? The first 30 seconds of the opening track, “Intro/Clouds,” definitely inspire this mystical feeling, with a small orchestra playing a theme that segues into a beautiful piano/vibraphone duet. The vibraphone is a pretty…

REV RUN’S SON BUSTED WITH MARIJUANA

MTV News reports Rev Run’s oldest son, Joseph “Jojo” Simmons, was arrested on Friday night for allegedly buying marijuana and attempting to flee from the cops. A spokesperson for the New York Police Department said Simmons was booked on two misdemeanor charges of criminal use of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest and a violation for…

CHRISETTE MICHELE TOPS CIARA

It’s all about album sales these days, and according to HitsDailyDouble.com, Chrisette Michele is expected to out-sell Ciara. Yes, Michele’s sophomore Epiphany album is predicted to rake in five to ten thousand copies more than Ci Ci’s Fantasy Ride LP. Hmmm, which album did you go out and support?

KATY PERRY CREATES FASHION LINE

Katy Perry has designed a signature line for Fashion Against AIDS.   According to the New York Daily News, the singer designed a trendy bodysuit that will be sold for $16.90.   Other designers included Estelle, N.E.R.D., Yoko Ono, Dita von Teese and more.   The Fashion Against AIDS line will hits H&M stores on…

SHINEDOWN STRIKES GOLD

“THE SOUND OF MADNESS,” the acclaimed third album from Atlantic recording group Shinedown has been certified Gold by the RIAA, marking sales exceeding 500,000 units.   The news comes as the band’s single “Second Chance,” has just exploded into the top 10 at CHR/Top 40 outlets nationwide and is quickly shaping up to be the…

NEW DORM LIFE EPISODE “MARCH MADNESS”

What does it mean when people bleed school colors, brackets are filled with great care, bets are made and beers flow like a river of awesome? Exactly – MARCH MADNESS has taken over! Check out how the guys and gals of 5 South celebrate March Madness – their school is in the Division I NCAA…

(RED)NIGHTS THE CONCERT SERIES TO COMBAT AIDS IN AFRICA

Today, (RED) and Live Nation announce the (RED)NIGHTS series, an innovative slate of 26 live concerts in the U.S., which will raise money and awareness for the ultimate goal of eliminating AIDS in Africa. To kick off the series, (RED)NIGHTS artists, Santigold, Gomez, O.A.R., Fall Out Boy, Lisa Hannigan, The Veronicas and The All-American Rejects…

STOLI MEETS THE ONE MAN BAND NAMED BAILEY

My nexy guest is a one man band and he proves that on his album, ‘Burden The Hand.’ Bailey is from Los Angeles by way of Ohio. He spent the better part of 2008 recording ‘Burden The Hand’ in his Hollywood apartment. Bailey went without a band as he played all the instruments from guitar,…

HALLOWEEN, ALASKA ON NORTHERN OUTPOST

Be sure to check out the recently filmed interview and live session Northern Outpost shot with Minneapolis-based indie-pop band Halloween, Alaska. Chatting about their local scene and performing the song “Be a Man” off their new album “Champagne Downtown,” this intimate session provides a glimpse into the charming and impassioned nature of the band and…

ERIC CLAPTON AND STEVE WINWOOD “AFTER MIDNIGHT” AUDIO

After their extraordinary sold-out three-nights at Madison Square Garden last year, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood are set to release a 2-disc CD/DVD of their amazing performances on May 19, 2009 from Reprise Records. The rock legends took the stage together for just three concerts in a highly anticipated collaboration, performing a string of hits…

CONVERSE RELEASES “YOU SAID NO TO PROM” FEATURING ELIZAVETA KHRIPOUNOVA

Converse today released a new music video, “You Said No To Prom,” which arrives online just in time for prom season across America. The video features the songwriting, guitar and vocal talents of Los Angeles-based musician, Elizaveta Khripounova.   “Converse is dedicated to being a catalyst for creativity in the worlds of music, sport, art…

MELANIE FIONA NEW VIDEO FOR “GIVE IT TO ME RIGHT”

In support of the summer release of her debut album The Bridge, SRC/Universal Motown Records’ soulful pop artist Melanie Fiona recently released the official video for her album single “Give it to Me Right.” “Give it to Me Right” Video Link: [myspace 57024788 nolink]

NEW SINGLE & LIVE FOOTAGE FROM MOS DEF

The Ecstatic Available In Stores On June 9, 2009. Special guests include Talib Kweli and Slick Rick. ‘The Ecstatic’ produced by Oh No, Chad Hugo, Mad Lib, Mr. Flash, DJ Preservation, J Dilla, Georgia Anne Muldrow. Mos Def – “Casa Bey”: SKOPE IT HERE! Mos Def Live In South Africa @ The Cape Town Jazz…

AIR SUPPLY SIGNS NEW LABEL DEAL WITH ODDS ON RECORDS

As reported this week exclusively by Gail Mitchell of Billboard, Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock–known the world over as 80s hitmaking duo Air Supply have signed a label deal with Las Vegas based independent label Odds On Records. Distributed by E1 Music (formerly Koch) and headed by former Warner Bros. marketing and promotion executive Ted…

DTP PRESENTS WILLY NORTHPOLE IN “THE GHETTO TOUR GUIDE” VIDEO

Over the years, ‘hoods the nation over have been made infamous within the lyrics of rap songs. Until now though, the ghettos of Phoenix, AZ have remained largely unreported. Enter DTP’s current on-deck offering, Phoenix native, Willy Northpole, whose single, Hood Dreamer ft. Bobby Ray (B.o.B.) offered the first real look into what it was…

ZAP MAMA NEW VIDEO FOR “HELLO TO MAMA”

ZAP MAMA is teaming up with CARE to honor mothers around the world. Beginning May 4th, Zap Mama will donate to CARE a percentage of the proceeds from the iTunes download of their song, “Hello To Mama,” the first single off their upcoming album ReCreation, due out on Heads Up International, a division of Concord…

PASTE OFFERS WILD LIGHT REMIX “LAWLESS RIVER”

Click below to listen to the the Bodega Girls’ Remix of “Lawless River” from Wild Light. If you like it, keep it! If you’ve been reading our magazine, you know Paste staffers caught Wild Light Fever some time ago. Turns out, it’s spreading. The quartet hit the road with The Killers last month, and the…

‘PLAYING FOR CHANGE’ SELLS OVER 26K UNITS

Hear Music’s two-disc CD/DVD Playing For Change – Songs Around the World, a stirring call for harmony, freedom from strife and global reconciliation, stunned the music industry today selling over twenty-six thousand copies.     Traveling the world for a decade, Grammy winning producer/engineer Mark Johnson and the Playing For Change team brought together diverse…

CZAR ENTERTAINMENT’S PLEASURE P LANDS #1 SPOT ON URBAN CHARTS

Czar Entertainment’s Pleasure P has landed the #1 position on this week’s urban charts with his latest single ‘Boyfriend #2’. The R&B artist who is signed to Atlantic, is busy working on his debut album ‘The Introduction of Marcus Cooper’ which will be released through Swagga Entertainment and Atlantic records in June. Pleasure P says…

WHITE RABBITS DEBUT NEW VIDEO ON PITCHFORK

White Rabbits signed to TBD Records (US home to Radiohead/Other Lives/Hatcham Social) and erected a makeshift studio in their basement rehearsal space to demo new material.   Band members popped in and out over the course of several months lending ideas and personality to a new batch of songs that defy instant categorization. “Percussion Gun”…

JOY JONES VIDEO EPK FOR NEW ALBUM

Joy Jones to release ‘Godchild’ June 9th, 2009 on Future Soul Records. Joy Jones is the master of Afro-beat lullabies, future jazz/soul, protest songs and electronic hymns. Expect all this and more on Godchild with Daz-I-Kue of Bugz In The Attic co-producing much of the album, lending his brand of soulful broken beat. [youtube Jt_dSun9IGI…

BAND OF SKULLS PERFORM ON SHOCKHOUND.COM

Feel free to take a minute to check out an exclusive Shock Session video from Band of Skulls on Shockhound.com. Songs include “Patterns,” “I Know What I Am,” “Death By Diamonds And Pearls,” “Blood,” and “Impossible.” SKOPE IT HERE!

BILL CHAMPLIN’S FIRST SOLO ALBUM IN MORE THAN 10 YEARS SET FOR AUGUST 4

East Coast independent label DreamMakers Music will release Bill Champlin’s No Place Left to Fall on August 4th. A founding member of the now legendary San Francisco band Sons of Champlin, and a masterful songwriter with two GRAMMY ® awards and six critically-acclaimed solo albums to his credit, Champlin has been called the best-known unknown…

VEGA RELEASES PREMIERE EP MAY 19 / VIDEO

Known as the former front man of Ghosthustler, Austin based Alan Palomo returns as the brains behind his new project VEGA, whose synth-pop rhythms, lilting harmonies, dreamy vocals and upbeat, disco-style have quickly attracted a growing fan-base of loyal followers — catapulting the name and the music amongst some of the biggest names right now.…

DUBSPOT OFFERS COMPILATION TO AID AFRICA

New York City’s one-of-a-kind electronic music production and DJ training institute, has undertaken its first nationwide philanthropic project with a series of charitable mix CDs.   The first, Funk Aid for Africa, will benefit Los Angeles-based humanitarian organization, NextAid.   An inspired collage of funk, soul, and Latin tunes created by DJ OBaH, Funk Aid…

GREEN DAY STREAM WHOLE ALBUM ON RHAPSODY.COM

Green Day will release 21st Century Breakdown, the long awaited follow-up to American Idiot, on Friday May 15th. The album, produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, AFI, Smashing Pumpkins), features the single “Know Your Enemy.” While fans can buy the album in-stores on the 15th, those eager to hear the new record can do so now…

SACRED OATH SIGNING WITH WORLDSOUND

Connecticut metal masters Sacred Oath and their parent label Angel Thorne Music have come to an agreement with the WorldSound label to press and distribute not only their brand new self-titled album Sacred Oath, but the entire back catalog of Sacred Oath albums including Darkness Visible, Till Death Do Us Part, and their cult-classic debut…