Kinks Legend Dave Davies To Release New Album ‘I Will Be Me’ – June 4, 2013

For Immediate Release

Kinks Legend Dave Davies To Release New Album ‘I Will Be Me’ – June 4, 2013

Los Angeles, CA – The man who forever changed the sound of rock ‘n’ roll when he invented distortion, Kinks legend Dave Davies, has recorded a brand new solo album of all original material! To be released on Cleopatra Records on June 4th , ‘I Will Be Me’ features guest appearances by The Jayhawks, Anti-Flag, award winning UK blues guitarist Oli Brown, Chris Spedding, US stoner rock band Dead Meadow, Aussie rockers The Art, Geri X and others! In support of Dave’s new album release, a special engagement of Live performances in New York and Los Angeles are scheduled for the end of May to mid-June! (see below for complete list of shows)

Dave Davies founded the Kinks in the early 1960s and forever changed music after he sliced up the speaker cone of a little green amp and created a revolutionary, distorted guitar tone and frenetic solo on the song “You Really Got Me”. Musicologist Joe Harrington described the Kinks influence: ” ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘All Day And All Of The Night’ … were predecessors of the whole three-chord genre … The Kinks did a lot to help turn rock n roll into rock.” In 1998, writer Bill Crowley wrote, “As lead guitarist and founder of The Kinks, Dave Davies is one of the most unpredictable and original forces in rock, without whom guitar-rock styles including heavy metal and punk would have been inconceivable. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Dave’s massive guitar sounds have inspired bands from Van Halen to Green Day.”

Dave’s new album ‘I Will Be Me’ is a return to his groundbreaking guitar sound and innovative songwriting. His classically English voice shows off a new depth but still hits his famous high notes in this collection. The hard rocking track “Livin’ In The Past”, takes a look at obsession with all things retro but, ever the Mod, Dave surprises with the lyric, “No matter what they do or say, the future’s here to stay!” He takes a look back with “Little Green Amp”, a playful, punk homage to days when his jagged, blues driven sound wave ripped ahead of the British Invasion through stereos the world over. “Cote du Rhone (I Will Be Me)”, an uncensored look at ugliness in the world today, is as angry and biting as any song in Dave’s repertoire with an innovative yet heavy slide guitar tone. Soothing lyrics and sounds of Jonathan Lea’s sitar playing on “Healing Boy” show Dave’s sensitive side. In a recent radio interview he said, “Rock music is a positive force for good.” This hopeful and optimistic vision manifests and bridges themes personal, social and universal in ‘I Will Be Me’.

Since the early days, Dave Davies has worked on a slew of critically acclaimed records, ranging from solo hit single “Death of a Clown”, to experimental Kinks records like ‘Village Green Preservation Society’ and ‘Arthur’ as well as the classic single “Lola” in the ’70s. In the ’80s Dave released experimentally prescient solo work like the eponymous album titled ‘Dave Davies’ or ‘AFL1-3603′ named after himself and/or the barcode symbol face cover art. His mainstream success continued in the 80s on hit Kinks albums ‘Low Budget’ and ‘State of Confusion’. In the ’90s he released more solo work such as ‘Bug’ and the compilation ‘Unfinished Business’. His songs have been featured in films by John Carpenter and on TV shows like ‘The Sopranos’, which used his tune “Living On A Thin Line”. His tell-all autobiographical book ‘Kink’ was well received in the late ’90s as well. In recent years, Dave has collaborated creatively with his sons. In 2010 he worked with son Russell Davies to create the hauntingly, beautiful rock electronica album, the Aschere Project. The film ‘Mystical Journey’, directed by son Martin Davies, narrates Dave’s longtime interest in the paranormal, Eastern philosophies and spirituality (the film inspired Julien Temple s BBC documentary ‘Kinkdom Kome’). No matter how diverse the ambition, Dave Davies puts his heart and soul in all of his projects.
Tracks include:
1. Little Green Amp
2. Livin’ In The Past
3. The Healing Boy
4. Midnight In L.A.
5. In The Mainframe
6. Energy Fields
7. When I First Saw You
8. The Actress
9. Erotic Neurotic
10. You Can Break My Heart
11. Walker Through The Worlds
12. Remember The Future
13. Cote Du Rhone (I Will Be Me)

Dave Davies tour dates:

May 27, 28 & 29 – City Winery – New York, NY
May 30 – The Bull Run – Shirley, MA
May 31 – Infinity Hall – Norfolk, CT
June 1 – Musikfest Cafe – Bethlehem, PA
June 2 – The Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL
June 6 – Sainte Rocke – Hermosa Beach, CA
June 7 – Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA
June 9 – The Canyon Club – Agoura Hills, CA
June 11- Del Mar Fairgrounds – Del Mar, CA
More dates to come!

To pre-order Dave Davies – ‘I Will Be Me’ CD: http://www.amazon.com/Dave-Davies-Will-Be-Me/dp/B00CA9VQBQ/ref=sr_1_17?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1366047104&sr=1-17&keywords=dave+davies

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA LABEL GROUP
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://www.CleopatraRecords.com

Purple Pyramid Records To Reissue Seminal 1971 Debut Album By Krautrock Legends Brainticket ‘Cottonwoodhill’ On CD May 7, 2013

For Immediate Release

Purple Pyramid Records To Reissue Seminal 1971 Debut Album By Krautrock Legends Brainticket ‘Cottonwoodhill’ On CD May 7, 2013

Warning! Only listen once a day to this disc. Your brain might be destroyed!

Los Angeles, CA – Much to the excitement of Krautrock fans and music collectors worldwide, Purple Pyramid Records will be reissuing the seminal 1971 debut album and psych-groove masterpiece by legendary Brainticket titled ‘Cottonwoodhill’ on CD May 7, 2013. Featuring full digital remastering for superior sonic clarity and packaged with extensive liner notes by music historian Dave Thompson!

Brainticket is the brainchild of Joel Vandroogenbroeck, a Belgian based in Switzerland who grew up studying classical piano before switching to jazz. He received the Art Tatum prize as “youngest jazz pianist” at the tender age of fifteen, and was soon touring around Europe and Africa. By 1967, Joel was still playing jazz but he found new inspiration in the sounds emanating from German Krautrock artists Amon Duul II, Can and Tangerine Dream.Under the influence of these groups, Joel and guitarist Ron Byer recruited drummer Wolfgang Paap and formed the trio that would become Brainticket. The group’s 1971 debut album ‘Cottonwoodhill’ immediately ran into a storm of controversy for its association with psychedelic drugs. The album came with a warning label that insisted you should “Only listen once a day to this record. Your brain might be destroyed,” which led to the album being banned in several countries including the USA.

From then on, Brainticket’s reputation as a band of experimentalists at the forefront of underground, avant-garde music had been solidified. Following the death of Bryer, Joel began exploring electronic sounds, moved to Italy and met an American woman named Carole Muriel. A pair of Swiss musicians, guitarist Rolf Hug and bassist Martin Sacher, followed and the group released 1972’s ‘Psychonaut’. A rock opera collaboration with Academy Award winning film composer Bill Conti (‘Rocky’) followed before Joel began work on a new Brainticket album based on the ‘Egyptian Book of the Dead’. The new album, ‘Celestial Ocean’, told the after-life experience of Egyptian kings traveling through space and time, from the desert land to the pyramids. Released in 1973, the album was hailed as the definitive Brainticket experience and earned the band their greatest acclaim.

Joel has continued to explore new creative avenues over the decades, releasing two more albums under the Brainticket moniker, including 2000’s ‘Alchemic Universe’. Recently, he teamed with Cleopatra Records to release the first ever Brainticket box set, ‘The Vintage Anthology 1971-1980′, a 4-disc compilation containing the complete first three albums along with several rare recordings. The box set is a celebration of Brainticket’s enormous contributions to electronic and ambient music that would provide inspiration for progressive bands from Emerson Lake & Palmer to Yes as well as modern acts such as Radiohead.

Joel recently discussed Brianticket with writer Dave Thompson, “We were not a group, we were a place where creation was made and this place was Cottonwoodhill, even if it was never mentioned in the later albums. Besides myself trying to keep this together, every recording has different people. In general, it did work to our advantage. There was an encounter, an inspiration, a production and after that everyone went away on his own path. I believe that this concept is what made Brainticket so original as we never were the ‘perfect concert band.’ We had something different to offer.”

They still do. In 2012, Brainticket went out on the road, touring the US with a set that reached all the way back to these magnificent beginnings. And when he was interviewed at tour’s end, Joel was still flying high. “At the start I didn’t believe that this would be possible, but I can say now that this was one of my best experiences with Brainticket. New blood flew in my veins. I was invited all over the place and the concerts were a huge success. People my age that were still huge fans of Brainticket mixed with young generations that wanted to learn from me, what I knew, and experience what I had done with music. It was like a dream. A space rock invasion!”

And now, with the re-issue of Brainticket’s debut album ‘Cottonwoodhill’, fans can experience where it all began!

Advice… After listening to this disc, your friends won’t know you anymore!

To purchase Brainticket’s Cottonwood Hill CD: http://www.amazon.com/Cottonwoodhill-Brainticket/dp/B00BSHYWMQ/ref=tmm_acd_title_popover

For more information: http://brainticketband.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR. PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://www.CleopatraRecords.com

Legendary ‘Dutch Woodstock’ Featuring Pink Floyd, Santana, T-Rex, The Byrds, Soft Machine, Jefferson Airplane and Others Now Available on Double CD/DVD Set

For Immediate Release

Legendary ‘Dutch Woodstock’ Featuring Pink Floyd, Santana, T-Rex, The Byrds, Soft Machine, Jefferson Airplane and Others Now Available on Double CD/DVD Set

Featuring performances by Pink Floyd, Santana, T.Rex, The Byrds, Canned Heat, Jefferson Airplane, Soft Machine, It’s A Beautiful Day, Family, Country Joe, Dr. John & the Night Trippers, Flock and Al Stewart

London, UK – One of the most historic concert events of the early ’70s, the Dutch Woodstock, also called the ‘Holland Pop Festival’, has now been released on a double CD/DVD set by UK’s Gonzo MultiMedia. Featuring rare and exciting performances by Pink Floyd, Santana, T.Rex, The Byrds, Canned Heat, Jefferson Airplane, Soft Machine, It’s A Beautiful Day, Family, Country Joe, Dr. John & The Night Trippers, Flock and Al Stewart, makes this extraordinary release a must for fans of music everywhere! The three-day festival was held in August 1970 at the Kralingse Bos (Kralingse Forest) in Rotterdam, and despite the rain, an estimated 100,000 people attended the astounding event!

Featuring…

Pink Floyd – Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, A Saucerful Of Secrets
Santana – Gumbo, Savor, Jingo
The Byrds – Old Blue
Canned Heat – Human Condition, So Sad
T-Rex – Pavillions Of Sun
Jefferson Airplane – Saturday Afternoon, White Rabbit, Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil plus interviews with Paul Kanter & Grace Slick
Soft Machine – Esther’s Nose Job
It’s A Beautiful Day – Wasted Union Blues, Open Up Your Hearts
Family – Drowned In Wine
Country Joe – Freedom Is A Constant
Dr. John & The Night Trippers – Mardi Gras Day
Flock – Big Bird
Al Stewart – Zero She Flies

The Dutch Woodstock double CD/DVD set will be released by GONZO MultiMedia UK on March 22, 2013

To Purchase The Dutch Woodstock double CD/DVD set: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15545

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Prog Legends Flash Featuring Ray Bennett & Colin Carter To Release New CD!

For Immediate Release

Prog Legends Flash Featuring Ray Bennett & Colin Carter To Release New CD!

Los Angeles, CA – British progressive rock legends Flash, featuring founding members Ray Bennett & Colin Carter, will be releasing their highly anticipated new CD on Purple Pyramid Records on May 21, 2013. Titled ‘Flash featuring Ray Bennett & Colin Carter’, it’s the first album by the group in 40 years, taking the band to a new level of creativity and virtuosity with this current set of progressive melodic rock tunes.

Founded by lead vocalist Colin Carter, original YES member, guitar legend Peter Banks, bassist Ray Bennett and drummer Mike Hough, Flash released three critically acclaimed albums in the 1970′s and undertook several successful tours of the US and Europe. In the USA, the single “Small Beginnings” reached #29 in the Billboard charts, and the first album ‘Flash’ made the top 50, propelling the band into major venues on their first tour. In the US, Flash went from intimate venues like the Whisky A Go Go, to large concert halls like New York’s Avery Fisher Hall, to the wild crowd of 300,000 music fans at the Soda Pop Festival in Indiana. Flash also made high profile performances on TV shows in Europe and the US, including ‘The Midnight Special’ and the Wolfman Jack hosted ‘Superstars Of Rock’.

The band’s new CD was recorded over a period of three years and it delivers a mixture of classic and modern progressive rock sure to please die-hard Flash fans and new listeners alike! Says Ray Bennett, “First and foremost, I think the new album turned out really well. No, that’s being somewhat modest… I think it’s brilliant. I wouldn’t be happy with anything less. The goal for me, and I think Colin would agree, is to put an album together that’s always a turn on. Not just in the beginning when you are all excited about the newness of it, but always. I realized somewhere back in time that it is possible to have that. It’s really just as the old saying goes… ‘a thing of beauty is a joy forever’. I think this CD is always going to shine.” Colin Carter adds, “It’s left brain / right brain rock. Enough skill, detail and finesse to tease the intellect, mixed with enough raw power to send you skidding out of control across the stage on your knees and crashing into amps. Watch out for the splinters!”

Along with Ray, now on lead guitar, and Colin, on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, keyboardist Rick Daugherty has been added to the line-up giving the band’s sound more warmth and depth. Mark Pardy on drums and Wayne Carver on bass make up the new rhythm section. The album includes five new songs penned by Ray and Colin, two new instrumental pieces, and a cover of NIN’s ‘Hurt’, which the band has performed in concert. There is also a new version of the classic Flash song “Manhattan Morning” from the band’s third studio album ‘Out Of Our Hands’.

Ray explains, “Colin and I did write a large chunk of the old Flash material, and our sensibilities as writers haven’t changed a huge amount. We still write all the time. But obviously we’ve developed, we’re more sophisticated, and we have a few more tricks up our sleeves. I think that all shows up on the new CD. I saw a lot of magic happen on this new album. As it grew into a finished thing, all kinds of excellent stuff popped up as we let it develop. A lot to be said for giving it time.”

“Iconic prog rockers Ray Bennett and Colin Carter have achieved the impossible: they’ve created complex contemporary rock boasting all the sonic hallmarks of Flash’s classic material. It’s all here: dynamic compositions, perfect vocal intonation and kick-ass guitar work.” – Will Romano, author of ‘Mountains Come Out of the Sky’, a history of prog rock

In closing Ray has this to impart, “I think that with the years passing you can get new growth and new inspiration if you are willing to try new things. Colin and I are up for that. However, in our case, oddly enough, trying new things led back to Flash.”

To pre-order Flash ‘Featuring Ray Bennett & Colin Carter’ CD: http://www.amazon.com/Featuring-Ray-Bennett-Colin-Carter/dp/B00BY8DLF8/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1367112562&sr=1-1&keywords=flash+featuring+ray+bennett

Flash Psychosync website: http://www.psychosync.info/
Flash information: http://www.myspace.com/flashbennettcarter
Flash ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/flashbennettcarter

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA LABEL GROUP
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://www.CleopatraRecords.com

Bass Player Antoine Fafard To Release Second Album ‘Occultus Tramitis’ Featuring Former Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu Orchestra, King Crimson Members!

For Immediate Release

Bass Player Antoine Fafard To Release Second Album ‘Occultus Tramitis’ Featuring Former
Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu Orchestra, King Crimson Members!

Featuring! Terry Bozzio (Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa), Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Gavin Harrison (King Crimson, Porcupine Tree), Scott Henderson (Tribal Tech), Simon Phillips (Jeff Beck, Toto), Chad Wackerman (Allan Holdsworth, Frank Zappa) and Dave Weckl (Chick Corea, Mike Stern)

London, UK – Much to the excitent of music aficionados across the globe, the second solo album by composer and bass player Antoine Fafard, ‘Occultus Tramitis’, will be released digitally on May 15 and on CD June 1, 2013. Featuring the contributions of a number of jazz-rock legends including Terry Bozzio (Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa), Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Gavin Harrison (King Crimson, Porcupine Tree), Scott Henderson (Tribal Tech), Simon Phillips (Jeff Beck, Toto), Chad Wackerman (Allan Holdsworth, Frank Zappa) and Dave Weckl (Chick Corea, Mike Stern), ‘Occultus Tramitis’ encompasses 11 tracks presenting almost an hour of exciting new music.

“Working on Antoines project was a real treat…his compositions and playing made it a unique experience. Both challenging and joyful at the same time! He put together a great team of players and I only wish we could have been playing in the same room!” – Jerry Goodman

Says Antoine, “I started to work on this CD in September 2011, right after the release of the ‘Solus Operandi’ album, and was still working on it in April 2013. I began to compose music with specific players in mind, hoping that they would eventually agree to participate. I guess that the players themselves were a great source of inspiration during the composition process. Interestingly, I wasn’t present during the recording sessions of any of the collaborators on this CD (all 15 of them). Each player on this album recorded their tracks in their home studios and all the songs were mixed in my home studio.”

Drum legend Terry Bozzio comments on the track he performs on: “This is a really challenging piece. It was very subtle – it’s in eleven and it’s very sneaky… It is deceptively simple because it has an open, very flowing feel to the piece.”

Antoine Fafard’s recording career began with his band Spaced Out, who released their first album in 2000. By 2008 Spaced Out had recorded five studio albums, one live album and two DVDs, and had performed on international stages including Nearfest, USA in 2002 and Crescendo, France in 2006.

In 2010, Antoine decided to begin recording under his own name, without the limitations of the band format. His first solo album, ‘Solus Operandi’, released in August 2011, features more than an hour of original instrumental music by Antoine, working with a total of 13 collaborators, including world-class performers such as Dave Weckl (Chick Corea, Mike Stern), guitarist Jerry De Villiers Jr and drummer Magella Cormier. ‘Solus Operandi’ was composed on electric fretless bass and classical guitar, after Antoine reacquainted himself with the guitar following many years focusing on the bass.

Which brings us to 2013 and the release of Antoine’s highly anticipated new solo album, ‘Occultus Tramitis’. The music on ‘Occultus Tramitis’ differs between the tracks, and the fusion of influences that characterizes Antoine’s music means it doesn’t fall easily into a single style or genre. However, the album was composed as a complete work. Melodic aspects are beautifully realized by Jerry Goodman, who is featured on more than half of the tracks among odd time signatures, multiple modulations and rhythmical illusions. There are exceptional performances from all Antoine’s collaborators, including spectacular solos.

“Antoine is a fantastic musician. It was a real joy to play on this CD.” – Chad Wackerman

‘Occultus Tramitis’ is an independent release presenting exciting and powerful new music for any fan of instrumental jazz-rock, progressive and fusion music.

Antoine Fafard’s ‘Occultus Tramitis’ can be puchased on Amazon.com, itunes and most online music stores.

To listen to audio excerpts and pre-order a signed copy of the CD, go to http://www.antoinefafard.com

To Pre-order ‘Occultus Tramitis’ CD via Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Occultus-Tramitis-Antoine-Fafard/dp/B00CMDPTEA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367604370&sr=8-1&keywords=occultus+tramitis

Digital release: May 15, 2013
CD release: June 1, 2013

Antoine’s website: http://www.antoinefafard.com
Unicorn Digital’s website: http://www.unicorndigital.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

French Music Legends Magma Release EPOK 5 On DVD

For Immediate Release

French Music Legends Magma Release EPOK 5 On DVD

Paris, France – After the success of the DVDs EPOK 1-2-3-4, published in 2006 and 2007, the jazz club Le Triton again welcomed Magma in June 2011. This was for a nine concerts cycle to complete the DVD series “Myths & Legends ” .


EPOK 5 not only includes pieces from 1971, 1977 and 1978 but also Félicité Thösz , the latest MAGMA release, heard here in a version prior to the recording of the album. There are, in addition, 20 minutes of unpublished music.
 A dynamic and extremely musical edit enables the listener to enjoy the band at the height of its powers, showcasing the intensity of each composition and the technical prowess of the musicians. The exceptional sound quality was captured as usual by Francis Linon who knows, better than anyone, how to record the power and musicality of MAGMA.

Magma was founded in Paris in 1969 by drummer Christian Vander, who derived his inspiration from a “vision of humanity’s spiritual and ecological future” that profoundly disturbed him. Vander was a self-taught musician, who received some tips from drum legend Elvin Jones. In the course of Magma’s first album, the band tells the story of a group of people fleeing a doomed Earth to settle on the planet Kobaïa. Later, conflict arises when the Kobaïans, who are descendants of the original colonists, encounter other Earth refugees. A distinguished aspect of Magma’s music is that Vander actually invented a constucted language, Kobaïan, in which most lyrics are sung. Later albums told different stories set in more ancient times; however the Kobaïan language remained an integral part of the music. Reportedly, Christian Vander is also highly influenced by the work of jazz legend John Coltrane. “For my work, it is still Coltrane who actually gives me the real material to work on, to be able to move on,” says Vander.

To purchase Magma’s EPOK 5 DVD (playable in all regions): http://v2.seventhrecords.com/en/video-dvd-38/magma-epok-5-1127.html

For more information: http://v2.seventhrecords.com/en/
http://www.myspace.com/magmaofficial
seventh@seventhrecords.com

http://www.youtube.com/user/MagmaOfficialTV

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Musoscribe Review of Pure Electric Honey

Album Review: Ant-Bee — Pure Electric Honey

Though it far too often is the case, avant garde music need not be chilly and foreboding. Sometimes it can be warm and inviting, while still maintaining its outré, weird-and-wonderful characteristics. That’s the case with Pure Electric Honey, the 1988 debut album fromAnt-Bee, reissued on CD in 2013.
Pure Electric Honeycertainly bears few sonic hallmarks of the late 1980s. Some sonic touchstones include Frank Zappa‘s late-sixties music; the legendary SMiLE sessions from Brian Wilson; and (relatively) more modern artists such as The Residents and – most notably, I think – Elephant 6 Collective artists Olivia Tremor Control. Now, Ant-Bee (essentially Billy James and a large cast of other musicians) recorded Pure Electric Honey long before OTC cut their debut long player Music From the Unrealized Film Script, Dusk at Cubist Castle, but the two acts are clearly kindred spirits, even if they arrive at sonically related destinations via different pathways.

For the full review, please visit the Musoscribe website!

UK Prog Legends Nektar To Tour The US Summer 2013!

For Immediate Release

UK Prog Legends Nektar To Tour The US Summer 2013!

London, UK – One of the summer’s most highly anticipated tours, “Legends of U.K. Classic Rock”, will feature progressive rock legends Nektar, beginning in June 2013. After a bit of an absence from U.S. Stages, Nektar is sure to be a treat for concert-goers who will be fortunate enough to catch one of the shows!

Nektar founding member Roye Albrighton (guitars/lead vocals) says, “We can promise you high quality performances wherever we play. I know I speak on behalf of the band when I say we are all looking forward to it.”

Nektar, featuring Albrighton, founding drummer Ron Howden, keyboardist Klaus Hentasch and bassist Lux Vibratus, is British, but was formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1970. Their early albums featured a heady, exhilarating mix of progressive, experimental rock sounds that soon caught on worldwide at the height of the international prog-rock boom. Touring the world behind numerous album releases throughout the ‘70s & ‘80s helped to cement the band’s reputation as an influential prog-rock legend. Having undergone a variety of personnel changes over the past decade or so, the band now boasts its strongest lineup in years and is ready to prove so yet again to its many fans throughout North America. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the original release date of the band’s classic album, Remember the Future, Nektar is looking to perform in its entirety this most heralded release from its vast catalog, a rarity in that the band has not performed the entire album live in years.

Nektar’s new album, Time Machine, featuring the band’s first album of new original material in several years, will be released on Cleopatra Records on June 18.

Nektar Tour Dates:

June 20 – Chantilly, VA – Sully’s
June 21 – Pittsburgh, PA – Altar Bar
June 22 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theatre
June 23 – New York City – B.B. King’s
June 26 – Cleveland, OH – The Winchester Music Hall
June 28 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
June 29 – Lincolnshire, IL – Viper Alley
June 30 – Minneapolis, MN – Famous Dave’s Blues Club

For Further Information:

Nektar facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nektar/198355536955655
Nektar website: http://nektarsmusic.com/nn/home/home_new.asp

Nektar Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://www.CleopatraRecords.com

Songfacts Interview with Greg Lake

At their most immodest, Emerson, Lake & Palmer toured with 11 trailers (one just for backup gear), an orchestra, and 63 roadies, including one tasked with sweeping Greg Lake’s Persian rug in a pre-show routine that primed the crowd for the grandiloquence to come. (The rug served both form and function, as it reduced the risk of electrocution).

These days, Greg’s performances are far more intimate. His songs are served not with spectacle, but with stories. One such performance is captured on his album Songs of a Lifetime, where Greg tells his tales – his first guitar, seeing Elvis in concert, finding inspiration in France – between selections from his monumental discography, which includes not just ELP material, but also songs from his days in King Crimson. A founder of the band, he sang, played bass and wrote songs for their debut album, the seminal In the Court of the Crimson King. It was at a Fillmore West King Crimson gig in 1969 when Greg met Keith Emerson, whose band, The Nice, was on the bill.

Greg is in the enviable position of cherry-picking from decades of songs he composed that speak to what he calls “universal truth.” “Lucky Man,” “From The Beginning” and “21St Century Schizoid Man” might not mean to you what Greg had in mind when he wrote them, but they certainly mean something, and likely fit somewhere on your personal timeline.

As Greg is loath to interpret his own songs, the focus of this interview is their creation, and how music can generate a powerful bonding experience under the right circumstances (think Woodstock). We also learned about Greg’s strangest stage moment – the one even more memorable than ELP’s stage cannons, flying pianos and robot armadillo.

For the interview, please visit the Songfacts website!

Eclectic Second Release By Netherland’s Mr Averell Features Lene Lovich, Mike Garson, John, Ellis, Members of Van der Graaf Generator and Others

For Immediate Release

Eclectic Second Release By Netherland’s Mr Averell Features Lene Lovich, Mike Garson, John, Ellis, Members of Van der Graaf Generator and Others

Featuring Mike Garson (David Bowie), David Jackson, Hugh Banton and Judge Smith (Van der Graaf Generator), John Ellis (Peter Gabriel, Peter Hammill, The Stranglers), Lene Lovich

The Netherlands – Avant Garde music aficionados across the globe are excited about the forthcoming second album by Dutch visual sound artist René van Commenée under the guise Mr Averell titled ‘Gridlock’. Van Commenée is known in The Netherlands for his music (sound) art objects, theatrical performances and soundtracks for theatre, fireworks spectacles and film. Over the years he has worked with many acknowledged musicians around the world and became well-known by fans of Van der Graaf Generator through his percussion performances with VDGG member David Jackson. About ten years after their first duo-performances they released the well-received critically acclaimed album ‘Batteries Included’, a collection of their live recordings. In the same scene, René performed on albums by VDGG’s Judge Smith as percussionist, drummer and vocalist.

“Mr Averell is a one-off and hard to classify. Is he a sensitive singer-songwriter, a rock music wildman, and avant garde performance artist or a musical clown? Maybe he’s a little of each, and his music is always surprising and full of interest.” – Judge Smith

The name Mr Averell has been employed by René in order to record and release song-based recordings. He explains, “As a musician I work mainly as a percussionist, electronic music performer and sound designer. I am a member of the trio The Art of Doing Nothing with Pipe Organ master Willem Tanke and MIDI-wind-controller/flutist Martijn Alsters. With Alsters I formed a duo for live-surround concerts and installations also. Separate from this I create visual sound art installations. I always like to use my voice though – I was a singer in several Dutch rock bands in the seventies and eighties, and like to write, record and perform more song-based music as I call it. But if you do so many diverse things I think you have to make clear to your audience what it is they can expect when buying your work or attending your concerts/performances. Therefore I chose to give my song-based projects a separate name, Mr Averell; a band in which I am the main writer and performer.”

‘Gridlock’ is the second Mr Averell album and features guest performances by Mike Garson (David Bowie), David Jackson, Hugh Banton and Judge Smith (Van der Graaf Generator), John Ellis (Peter Gabriel, Peter Hammill, The Stranglers), Lene Lovich, along with Stuart Gordon (Peter Hammill, Peter Gabriel, Massive Attack), Dyane Donck (Daisy Bell), Martijn Alsters, Willem Tanke, Ninca Leece, Tammo Heikens and Lisa Weiss.

“René is a wonderfully creative artist who is always pushing the boundaries of music!” – Mike Garson

The album is an adventurous journey through very different kind of songs and instrumentals, but all with the typical, quite theatrical Van Commenée signature. ‘Gridlock’ should be listened from beginning to end and isn’t just a collection of songs. Literally ‘Gridlock’ stands for the famous Dutch traffic jams, but also tells about the ‘Gridlocks’ in our lives and heads. The wonderfully produced album may take a bit of time to sink in but once it does, it becomes timeless and unique.

And how did René amass such an impressive list of famous guest artists? He explains, “Luckily, this was not too difficult – they’re friends! In my past musical career I met many fantastic, well-known musicians with whom I’ve worked in several projects. With David Jackson I performed a couple duo-concerts which were recorded and released as the live CD ‘Batteries Included’. We’ve always stayed in contact and both performed on the song-stories of Judge Smith (Curly’s Airships and and Orfeas). We’ve always enjoyed working together, but since we’re both very busy with other projects there’s seldom a moment we can, and this was a nice opportunity for the both of us. Jackson quest-performed even in the Mr Averell band at a festival a couple of years ago. Via Judge, who himself does some harmonic voices and even plays euphonium on the album. I came in contact with John Ellis thanks to the fact that he asked us both to perform on ‘The Full English’, which we also performed as a band in London. Besides a fabulous musician John is a very nice person as well. The fabulous violinist Stuart Gordon, who I met many years ago via Peter Hammill, also performed on my previous Mr Averell album. While he performed and arranged a whole acoustic string section then, on my new album he performs violin work with astonishing electronic effects. The listener might think it’s electric guitar at first, but if you listen carefully you will notice that the effect is totally different because the violin is a bowed instrument – I’m very happy with it. People are probably very much interested in the incredible Mike Garson who is the pianist with David Bowie since ‘Aladdin Sane’ (1973). During the ‘Outside’ tour I asked Bowie to give a lecture at the Utrecht School of the Arts (I was Music Technology and Music Production teacher at several art schools at that period). Bowie, who was interested, didn’t see a chance because of his very busy and demanding tour schedule. Coincidentally though, Garson happened to be a friend of a visiting professor from the States who was asked to do a project at the same school later on. This triggered us both, Mike Garson and I, for a meeting at the hotel the band stayed in and we kept in touch ever since. I was able to get him over for several (school) projects and while I was working on ‘Gridlock’ we finally found time to work together in the studio, resulting in a few songs of which we composed my personal favorite ‘Sightseeings’ together (with an amazing sax solo by Jackson). And then there is of course the extraordinary Lene Lovich with whom I sing two songs on the album.”

“It’s always a pleasure to be involved in sonic adventures with Mr Averell / René van Commenée. Often a challenge but always a joy.” – John Ellis

In support of the release of ‘Gridlock’ plans for Mr Averell to perform in Europe are currently in the works. In closing René has this to impart to his listeners, “It is important to know that ‘Gridlock’ is intended as an album and not just a collection of songs. I would suggest really playing the album from start to finish and taking the time to listen and let it sink in. Everything’s made for this purpose in the first place, the order of songs and even the pauses in between them are composed. This makes it very hard in these download-times, this album should probably be downloaded as one track.”

Available on GONZO MultiMedia, UK – May 6, 2013
Available in the US and Canada – May 14, 2013

To purchase Mr Averell – Gridlock CD: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15550

For more information: http://www.commenee.nl

Press inquires: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com