Journal
- Friday, April 26, 2024
The first recording of John Adams’ 2017 opera, Girls of the Golden West, is out now on Nonesuch. It tells the story of the California Gold Rush not through familiar time-worn myth, but in the words and deeds of real people. Longtime Adams collaborator Peter Sellars drew from original sources from the era—letters, journals, newspaper articles, and familiar song lyrics—to create the libretto. The composer leads the LA Phil in this recording made in Disney Hall, with the Los Angeles Master Chorale led by Grant Gershon and a cast featuring Davóne Tines, Julia Bullock, Paul Appleby, Hye Jung Lee, Elliot Madore, Daniela Mack, and Ryan McKinny.
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- Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Wanda Jackson's video of the Bob Dylan great “Thunder on the Mountain,” off her forthcoming album, The Party Ain't Over, premiered on AOL Spinner this morning. "The Queen of Rockabilly covering possibly the greatest singer-songwriter ever alongside one of today's most prolific artists, is a pretty easy sell," says Spinner. "That said, Wanda Jackson and Jack White's new version of Bob Dylan's 'Thunder on the Mountain' is even better than it sounds on paper." Watch it here.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoTuesday, January 18, 2011Jessica Lea Mayfield's Nonesuch debut album, Tell Me, is due out in just a few weeks. Mayfield recently stopped by the offices of Relix magazine to perform the album track "Sometimes at Night," which Relix describes as "haunting." The Boston Globe features Mayfield in its list of "new artists to hear right now." Last week, Mayfield was busy autographing copies of the 7” vinyl of the album’s first single, “Our Hearts Are Wrong,” which will be included with the first 250 Nonesuch Store pre-orders.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoTuesday, January 18, 2011Kronos Quartet, fresh off their multi-concert run at the Sydney Festival, is slated to be featured in a mini-festival of their own: Kronos in Glasgow. From May 12 through 15, Glasgow’s Concert Halls will welcome Kronos Quartet and some very special guest collaborators, hand-picked by Kronos, for a world exclusive international program of events across Glasgow, including the Scottish premiere of Steve Reich's new work WTC 9/11.
Journal Topics: On Tour, Artist NewsMonday, January 17, 2011Wanda Jackson's new Jack White-produced album, The Party Ain't Over, is due out January 25; until then, you can listen to the album streaming in its entirety as an NPR First Listen on npr.org. "Jackson's partnership with White proves to be exciting and imaginative, but also entirely appropriate," says NPR. "Both musicians are true innovators who set a new standard for cool. It's like hearing a collaboration between 1958 and 2011, and they get along great."
Journal Topics: Artist News, RadioFriday, January 14, 2011Wanda Jackson will be premiering a brand new retro-style video of the Bob Dylan great “Thunder on the Mountain” on Tuesday, January 18, on AOL Music. Check out a teaser to the hip-shakin, bone-rattlin’ video here. Jackson will also be performing live at Third Man Records in Nashville that same day, with Jack White and The Third Man House Band. Their special record release shows in New York and Los Angeles are fully sold-out, but Nonesuch is giving away a pair of tickets to each. Enter here.
Journal Topics: On Tour, Artist News, VideoFriday, January 14, 2011Kronos Quartet, Philip Glass do Dracula at Sydney Festival ... Laurie Anderson performs Delusion in Ann Arbor ... Timothy Andres joins in at the Ecastatic Music Festival Marathon in NYC ... Wanda Jackson, Jack White play Grand Ole Opry ... Magnetic Fields documentary opens in Chicago ... Fernando Otero performs in NYC ... Punch Brothers sell out NYC's Bowery Ballroom for p-Bingo night ... Allen Toussaint turns 73, plays The Bright Mississippi with Don Byron, Nicholas Payton at Chicago's Symphony Center ... Sara Watkins hosts A Prairie Home Companion ... and more ...
Journal Topics: On Tour, Weekend EventsFriday, January 14, 2011Jessica Lea Mayfield has been named New Band of the Day by the Guardian. Mayfield "deftly moves between country, folk and soul on Tell Me," her forthcoming Nonesuch debut, "but there's more to her than zealously guarding antique genres," says the Guardian. Uncut includes Tell Me in its preview of “hot” 2011 releases, saying it "announces the arrival of a major talent." Rolling Stone includes the album's opening track on its Hot List.
Journal Topics: Artist NewsFriday, January 14, 2011The Low Anthem concluded a week of events in New York City—which included performances on the Late Show with David Letterman and WNYC's Soundcheck—with a sold-out show at the Allen Room as a part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series. The show featured songs from the band's forthcoming album, Smart Flesh, and a number of lovely surprises. Brooklyn Vegan says "the unique venue and view ... seemingly prompted the band to up their game just a bit more." The band will return to New York City to perform at the Bowery Ballroom on March 8.
Journal Topics: On Tour, Artist News, ReviewsFriday, January 14, 2011Sara Watkins is no stranger to NPR's A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. She has appeared as a guest on the show several times and joined Keillor and cast on tour last summer. This weekend, Watkins embarks on a historic first for both her and the show as its first-ever guest host. "I've never gotten to see the show myself," says Keillor. "I've always been standing in the wings and thinking about what I'm supposed to do next. For once in my life, I want to stand in the back of the hall and watch for a few minutes. And Sara is a smart and funny and hugely gifted young woman." Watkins calls it "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Journal Topics: Artist News, RadioFriday, January 14, 2011The Black Keys are sorry to announce the cancellation of the New Zealand and Australian tour including all appearances at the Big Day Out touring festival as well as a portion of the European tour in March. An arduous year of touring and promotion has drained the band and necessitated time off. The band thanks everyone who has shown such incredible support since the release of Brothers and have helped make the album a success.
Journal Topics: On Tour, Artist NewsThursday, January 13, 2011The Low Anthem were the musical guests on the Late Show with David Letterman last night, performing "Ghost Woman Blues," the opening track off their forthcoming album, Smart Flesh. The band gathered close with Ben Knox Miller on guitar, Jocie Adams on clarinet, Jeff Prystowsky on jaw harp, Mat Davidson on hammer dulcimer, and all four on vocals. Watch it here. The band plays a sold-out show tonight in The Allen Room as a part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series.
Journal Topics: Artist News, TelevisionThursday, January 13, 2011Punch Brothers kick off their 2011 tour schedule with a sold-out show at the Somerville Theater outside Boston. The Secret Sisters join tonight and at this weekend's concerts in Burlington, Vermont, and New York City. The Improper Bostonian spoke with Chris Thile about the band's efforts to "cross bluegrass borders in search of transcendence." Time Out New York calls the band "jaw-dropping" and lists Saturday's show as a critics' pick. Chef Mario Batali includes the band's album Antifogmatic among his favorite listens.
Journal Topics: On Tour, Artist News