The first Morbid Angel studio record in 15 years, Illud Divinum Insanus, is coming out in June. Fifteen years is a long time in between records. The band have been out playing shows for the past five years and recently decided to get into the studio. The band currently features original members Trey Azagthoth and David Vincent. Tim Yeung is on drums (Pete Sandoval is recuperating from an injury). They have also added a new guitarist, Destructhor. Destructhor not only has an AWESOME name he comes from Norway.

This is a band that has seen a number of incarnations since they formed in 1984. Overseas dates are set and tour of the USA is being considered.

Tour

May 25           Singapore (SG)       Tba
May 27           Melbourne (AU)      The Hifi
May 28           Sydney (AU)           The Manning Bar
June 09           Sölvesborg (SE)      Sweden Rock Festival
June 11           Enschede ( NL)      Atak
June 12           Tilburg (NL)          013
June 17           Clisson (FR)           Hellfest
June 18           København (DK)     Copenhell
July 22            Helsinki (FL)          Tuska Festival
Aug 05            Wacken (DE)          Wacken Open Air
Aug 06            Calvão (PT)            Vagos Open Air
Aug 10            Katowice (POL)       Metal Hammer Festival (Spodek)
Aug 11            Jaromer (CZ)          Brutal Assault
Aug 12            Schlotheim (DE)       Flugplatz Obermehler (Party.San Open Air)
Aug 14            Walton-on-Trent (UK)    Bloodstock

Meredith Bragg’s upcoming record is for the birds. Yes. That was really dumb. His album, Nest, comes out on July 19. The single, Birds of North America, is above for your perusal.

Bragg is based in Virginia and this record is, in part, inspired by John James Audobon. It is also inspired by Rennaissance architecture and a recent addition to his family, a daughter. It is hard to not let a kids seep into your writing and your work. It probably is an impossible to resist.

Bragg worked on the record with producer Chad Clark.

Who says metal doesn’t have a social conscience? Ok maybe they prefer to be called Hard rock…but regardless, Disturbed are selling an unreleased track, 3, at their website, www.disturbed1.com. All proceeds from this track, which costs 99 cents, will benefit the Damien Echols Defense Fund, which pays for legal fees, forensic tests and investigative fees for the men, collectively, known as the Memphis Three.

The three were, many believe unjustly, convicted of murder in Arkansas in 1994. The Free the WM3 Fund is a groupl believe Echoles, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley are innocent of murder. For more information visit. www.wm3.org.

I cannot claim to know the case well. But at a cursory glance and with a little bit of research I am already skeptical the three are guilty.

Disturbed’s latest record, Asylum, is not a gold record and the band  will be on the Mayhem Festival tour this summer. (there is a sponsor for that…but they don’t pay ME). The tour also features Godsmack, Megadeath and others. The tour starts July 9 and you can find out more at the Disturbed website above.

Kings of Leon are heading out on tour this summer. The opener for the tour is no slouch either--Band of Horses. When I go on about how there is so much great music out there of all genres I am not just talking about little indie bands working in their basements. These two bands are pretty damned good too. If you cannot appreciate the latest Kings of Leon as a rock n roll record I don’t kow what to say.

I have to admit big venues usually suck for shows but you cannot blame the band for that. On those big stages there is where the good bands are separated from the ROCK STARS. I mean I have seen David Bowie play a great show in a medium sized venue and at the Orange Bowl. I think doing it at the Orange Bowl is harder.

Tour

July

25 - Orange Beach, AL - The Wharf
27 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Lakewood Amphitheater
29 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
30 - Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

August

2 - Tampa, FL - 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
5 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheater
5 - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
6 - Virginia Beach - Farm Bureau Live
9 - Washington DC - Jiffy Lube Live
10 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon @ Jones Beach
12 - Camden, NY - Susquehanna Bank Center
13 - Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre
16 - Buffalo, NY - Darien Lake PAC
17 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
19 - Boston, MA - Comcast Center
20 - Saratoga, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
23 - Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Center
24 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
26 - Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
27 - Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
29 - Bonner Springs, KS - Sandstone Amphitheater
31 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

September

1 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
3 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay 
4 - San Diego, CA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
6 - Phoenix, AZ - Ashley Furniture Home Store Pavilion
8 - Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
10 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
12 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena

Rene Lopez refers (or at least his PR refers) to his new record as “electric latin soul.”  That record, ELS, comes out in July on Nat Geo Music. I suppose you figured it out—Electric Latin Soul…ELS.

And we need more soul in the world….electric? Sure! Latin? Hell yes.

Lopez hails from NYC and plays in a style mixing Latin soul, Boogaloo, rock, hip-hop, R& B and more. He worked with noted producer Mario C (Bebel Gilberto, Jack Johnson, Beastie Boys…pretty eclectic credits no?)

Lopez’ dad was a trumpet player and member of Tipica 73 and he spend his younger years at clubs where his dad performed. You are going to absorb some music when you are brought up that way. He started out the drums but plays a slew of instruments.
 
You can follow Lopez on Twitter.

Chad Valley’s EP, Equatorial Ultravox, is coming on Cascine on June 21. Chad Valley is the aler ego of Hugo Manuel, the frontman of the U.K.’s Jonquil. The eponymous debut EP came out last year.

The press release says that when that first EP was released Chad Valley was the fourth most blogged about artist on earth. How do you check THAT?  He was more blogged about that U2, Elvis etc etc? I will take their word for it.

He performed in Dublin, Amsterdam, Paris, Budapest, Belgrade and Istanbul. He has supported acts such as Amiina, Twin Shadow and Foals. I think the music is eminently listenable.

Remastered, rare and video performances will grace the new copies of two classic Paul McCartney albums. And this wasn’t slopped together by some record company douchebag. Sir Paul himself supervised all aspects of the two reissues and the remastering was done at Abbey Road by the same folks who remastered the Beatles catalog. The two records, McCartney and McCartney II, will be available in a variety of formats. I am too confused to list the details but I am sure you will figure it out. There are CD only sets, CD & DVD sets.

I didn’t see any vinyl listed…wouldn’t that be nice?

These two are part of the second and third releases from the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. This collection is releasing music from McCartney’s 41 years of music. The first release from the series, 1973’s Band on The Run, came out in November, 2010.

Every time I get a release from McCartney's PR company I ask when Paul is calling for my interview. The last time I was told that he was coming by my house to make me some vegan lasagna. He never showed though.

FM Belfast's new single, New Year, is available for your perusal at the band’s label’s (Morr Music) website. Their full-length, Don’t Want To Sleep, comes out June 21. It is their second record, following, How To Make Friends.

FM Belfast are from Iceland and play electro-pop. More Scandinavian music. They are taking over the musical world these blond giants!

There shall be a tour. Do not fret. And dates for that are coming soon.

Sam Robert Band’s latest, Collider, comes out May 10. You can hear the new single, The Last Crusade, HERE. A tour is being booked and the current dates are also below. More are on the way so do not be sad if your city isn’t on the list.

The new disc includes help from Califone’s Ben Massarella on percussion and Stuart Bogie of Antibalas on woodwinds. Woodwind instruments are lamentably missing from most pop music don’t you think?

You can also get insight into the recording of the record in the video below.

TOUR  

5/16         Rock N Roll Hotel            Washington DC
5/18         Bowery Ballroom            New York City, NY
5/20         Brighton Hall                   Boston, MA
5/24         The Troubadour             Los Angeles, CA
5/25         The Independent            San Francisco, CA
5/26         Mississippi Studios         Portland OR
5/28         Malkin Bowl                     Vancouver BC
5/29         Sasquatch! Festival         The Gorge OR
6/3          Massey Hall                   Toronto ON
6/4          Massey Hall                    Toronto ON
6/6          First Ave                         Minneapolis MN
6/7          Lincoln Hall                    Chicago IL
6/8          St. Andrew's Hall             Detroit, MI

Kitsune and Cooperative/Downtown Records have a new partnership. The first fruit of this deal is Is Tropical’s debut full-length record, Native To, which comes out June 14.  The band have allegedly (I write this only because I have not seen them…I am not questioning veracity here) have made a name with “stunning” live shows. The music is poppy-lo-fi you can dance to. You can hear for yourself and download the track, The Greeks at the Kitsune Website.

The band is a trio and based in the UK. You can also check out some of the group’s remixes (for Two Door Cinema Club, Cocusuma and Crystal Fighters) at the band's Soundcloud page. A video for the track, South Pacific, is below. A tour is happening and current dates are below. More will be announced soon.

Shows
4/30/11 – Japan – Tokyo - Studio Coast
5/03/11 – UK – London @ Madame Jo Jo’s
5/21/11 - France - Les 3 Elephants
5/28/11 - UK – Bristol @ Dot to Dot
5/29/11 - UK - Bristol @ Dot to Dot
5/30/11 - UK - Bristol @ Dot to Dot
6/08/11 - France, Paris @ Point éphémère
6/17/11 - UK - Release Gig / Kitsuné Club Night Party @ XOYO