U.S. Rocker Rock in Brief: The Eagles, The Beach Boys and Mafia Movies

Beach Boys Feel Flows record
Beach Boys Feel Flows records

The Eagles Announce More ‘Hotel California’ Tour Dates

– The Eagles, whose lineup is comprised of Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, with Deacon Frey and Vince Gill, have added six new “Hotel California” concerts to its 2021 tour.

The new locations added to the tour include Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Each night’s concert will feature a “Hotel California” set accompanied by an orchestra and choir followed by an additional set of the band’s greatest hits. Tickets go on sale beginning Friday, June 18, at 10 a.m.  American Express Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Monday, June 14, at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, June 17, at 10 p.m. local time.

For more information go here.

The Beach Boys Release 5 CD and Digital Box Set ‘Feel Flows’

In honor of 50 years of The Beach Boys’ timeless and often underappreciated albums, Capitol/UMe will release an expansive 5 CD and digital box set titled Feel Flows – The Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969-1971 on July 30.

The record set chronicles and explores in depth this 1969-1971 period of the band’s legendary career. Assembled by Mark Linett and Alan Boyd, the team behind 2013’s GRAMMY Award-winning SMiLE Sessions, the expansive collection features newly remastered versions of Sunflower and Surf’s Up. It includes 135 tracks with 108 previously unreleased tracks, live recordings, radio promos, alternate versions, alternate mixes, isolated backing tracks and a cappella versions, culled from the album sessions.

Housed in a book style package, the set is rounded out with a 48-page book loaded with unreleased and rare photos, lyric sheets, tape box images, recording artifacts, insightful new liner notes Howie Edelson. Also included are new and archival interviews from Al Jardine, Brian Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love, and others.

Feel Flows will also be released in abbreviated versions including 4LP on both black vinyl and limited edition Translucent Blue and Translucent Gold color vinyl, 2LP black vinyl and 2CD editions.

Feel Flows is heralded today with the streaming debut of the unreleased gem, “Big Sur.” A beautiful sonic love letter to the central California coastal town of Big Sur, the lilting, pastoral folk tune that was originally recorded for Surf’s Up and has remained unreleased for more than five decades.  Pre order here.

Biography Celebrates the Musical Genius of Arranger Nelson Riddle

Frank Sinatra’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” Judy Garland’s “Come Rain or Come Shine” and Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable” would not be the same immortal melodies without the musical genius of prolific arranger and composer Nelson Riddle, arguably the greatest of his era.

Riddle collaborated with the biggest musical stars of his time, including Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald. But it was his work with Frank Sinatra that made him a household name the world over.

Nelson Riddle – Courtesy

By the time his career was winding down, Riddle was working with new names on the scene like Linda Ronstadt. He also wrote the hit TV theme “Route 66” from the 1960s series of the same name, composed the score to Batman: The Movie (1966) and turned down an offer from Paul McCartney to collaborate on a song. His shelf included Grammy and Oscar awards.

A revealing new biography from Geoffrey Littlefield, Nelson Riddle: Music with a Heartbeat, takes readers inside the world of the wildly successful but enigmatic Riddle. With the help of the late arranger’s musician son, Christopher, Littlefield shares first-hand anecdotes, never-before-seen photographs and stories of some of the 20th Century’s biggest names in entertainment.

To check out the book go here. 

Tyler Farr Releases Track ‘Cover Girl’

Country music singer-songwriter and BBR Music Group/Night Train Records recording artist, Tyler Farr, has released his latest track, “Cover Girl,” available now on all digital streaming platforms. The powerful song brings attention to the often under-reported and traumatizing issue of domestic violence which affects millions of Americans annually. Written by Farr, Blake Bollinger, and Ben Stennis, “Cover Girl,” takes a stand for anyone caught in an abusive situation and delivers a message of empowerment and hope to encourage those suffering any form abuse to find the strength to seek out help.
Listen to ‘Cover Girl’ here.

Texas Companies PickleJar Holdings and Outhouse Tickets Team Up

PickleJar Holdings, an emerging peer-to-peer cashless tipping platform for musicians and content creators, today announces an Alliance Partnership with Outhouse Tickets, a nationwide ticketing service.

The partnership between the two Texas-based companies combines the musician reach and event-driven fan base of the Outhouse Tickets platform with PickleJar’s deep technology experience artists-to-fan engagement, fintech applications, data analytics, and cloud managed services. The combination is expected to help musicians create value through each performance with PickleJar’s “artist-first technologies.”

As part of the agreement, PickleJar will be featured throughout the Outhouse website as part of a “Tip This Artist” campaign. Fans will be encouraged to download the PickleJar app and tip the musicians during their performance to further support their favorite artists when purchasing tickets to shows and event. Artists using the PickleJar app receive 100 percent of every tip made.

“Outhouse Tickets represents the very artists and performances PickleJar was developed to support. It is an honor to have Greg as a partner as we introduce PickleJar to the world,” said Jeff James, PickleJar’s Chief Executive Officer. “The synergies between our two companies will help accelerate the exposure of ‘tip-worthy’ musicians and reward fans for supporting local music. We are truly thankful Outhouse is joining us to help transform live entertainment.”

All-Star Bad Guys and Good Girls Star in Mob Movie ‘The Birthday Cake’

“The Birthday Cake” an American crime thriller directed by Jimmy Giannopoulos features a dream lineup of everyone’s favorite bad guys and good girls.

“The Birthday Cake” takes place one fateful evening in the life of Gio, the son of a murdered mobster and the nephew of Brooklyn mob boss, Angelo. On the 10th anniversary of his father’s mysterious death, Gio carries on the family tradition of bringing a cake his mother baked to this uncle’s house for a celebration. Two hours into the night, Gio’s life is forever changed as he begins to piece together what really happened to his father and ultimately comes face to face with the type of violence he has managed to avoid his whole life.

“The Birthday Cake” stars Ewan McGregor, Val Kilmer, Lorraine Bracco, Shiloh Fernandez, Aldis Hodge, Penn Badgley, Jeremy Allen White, Ashley Benson, Luis Guzmán, Vincent Pastore, Nick Vallelonga, William Fichtner, John Magaro, David Mazouz, Jake Weary, Paul Sorvino, Clara McGregor, Emory Cohen and Marla Maples.

The picture is produced by Diomedes Raul Bermudez, Shiloh Fernandez, Siena Oberman and Danny Sawaf. Screen Media will release “The Birthday Cake” in theaters and on demand June 18.

Check out the trailer here: