Davy Jones, former lead singer of the 1960s made-for-television pop band The Monkees, died of a massive heart attack today at a hospital in Florida, according to an official from the local medical examiner's office.
Jones, 66, born in Manchester, England, became the principal teen idol of the rock quartet featured on the NBC comedy series "The Monkees," which was inspired in part by the Beatles film "A Hard Day's Night" and ran from the fall of 1966 to August of 1968.
Although not allowed to play their own instruments on their early records, Jones and his three cohorts - Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork - had several hits that sold millions of copies, including "Last Train To Clarksville" and "I'm A Believer."
Lotus sold out Austin's La Zona Rosa on Saturday (2.25.12), capturing the crowd with their instrumental post-rock style mixed in with electronic dance beats. Per the band's bio, "No matter what the venue, the energetic joy and catharsis of a Lotus show is infectious." Well said...and that's held true for the last 8 years I've been seeing them live. Buy this show on LiveDownloads - and be sure to check out Roxwel's footage from their Austin show at Emo's a couple years back if you're looking for something visual.
La Zona Rosa | Austin, TX | 2.25.12 Set I: Intro to a Cell, What Did I Do Wrong, The Surf, It's All Clear to Me Now > Massif, Sid > Wax Set II: Spiritualize, Middle Road, Suitcases, Dowrn, Invincibility of Youth, 128 Encore: Marisol, Tip of the Tongue
photos by @crunchyMunckin
Austin's friendly local music blog ATXSounds put together a stellar lineup for MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR's digital release party on Friday (2.24.12) at the Gypsy Lounge, the east side's newest music hotspot. Brooklyn's Pre War and the live music capital's Tiger Waves both opened the show. From the free keg beer and tented outdoor stage area to the talented musicians and eclectic tunes we heard up on stage, it was the perfect night with friendly faces abounding every which way. I know this Austinite will be on lookout for more from each of these bands, especially hoping to see Tiger Waves and MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR pop up frequently in the local show listings. And whether you live in Austin or not, ATXSounds does an excellent job covering the indie music scene on a national scale. Trust me, if you want to be "in the know," be sure to check 'em out.
Pre War
Tiger Waves
MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR
It's no secret that we music junksters in the Roxwel office have a special place in our hearts for the tunes that come from Athens, GA. We have much love for oldies who have spawned from the small town like R.E.M., The B-52s and Widespread Panic as well as some super cool newer acts like Futurebirds, The Whigs and Dead Confederate.
A few months ago, we introduced you to another group that has plenty of evidence to prove that they should be added to the list of badass bands from Athens. The District Attorneys have a new single out and we're sure it does their anticipated album loads of justice!
After two EP releases (2010's Orders From... and 2011's Waiting On The Calm Down: The Basement Sessions), The DAs are finally getting ready to release their full-length debut album. Slowburner will be released on April 24th through This Is American Music. To get you super pumped for the release, the guys are giving you a little taste with their single "Confusion of Trust." Be sure to check it out now!
Based in Athens/Atlanta, The District Attorneys have been kicking it for about two years and have already shared the stage with Jesse Malin, Futurebirds, The Love Language, Dead Confederate frontman Hardy Morris, Hank and Cupcakes, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Diane Birch and many more. With southern rock riffs mixed in with some dreamy pedal steel and a touch of surfer vibes soaked in reverb, these guys will make you want to chillax on the porch with an ice cold Lone Star and reminisce about the good 'ole days.
Slowburner was made in Athens, GA at the Chase Park Transduction with producer/engineer Drew Vandenberg. The District Attorneys will be playing at Savannah Stopover Festival on March 9th and then will make their way to Austin to rock at SXSW.
For more info about The DAs and a look at tour dates, check out their Facebook page. You can also download The District Attorneys' past two EPs FREE.
Foo Fighters want to record in space.
The 'Rope' band's lead singer, Dave Grohl, is planning for them to go back into the studio later this year and has ambitious ideas as to how they could make an original sounding recording.
He told MTV: "We have an idea. It's kind of a really big idea. We're going to record it in space. To tape. An analogue moonshot."
However, Foo Fighters could face a space race against Muse, who also want to record outside of the earth's atmosphere, and are planning to travel on one of Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic flights.
Muse Frontman Matt Bellamy said last year: "We're trying to get a free trip into space. I'm going to try to convince Richard Branson to let us make a music video or record a song up there. I think that would be cool. Would I be scared? I think I'll be alright."
If they do recording in space, it would be a very different experience to the making of Foo Fighters' last album, 'Wasting Light,' which was recorded in Dave's Garage in California, and went on to help them win five Grammys at last Sunday's ceremony.
Mumford & Sons are in the "final stages" of recording their second album.
'The Cave' band are at the stage where they have the tracks laid down for the follow up to 'Sigh No More' and are now concentrating on making it "cohesive."
Keyboard player Ben Lovett told MTV: "We are in the final stages, we're not finished, we don't quite know the exact track listing.
"But we have kind of road-tested some songs, and we have picked up some new songs and dropped some ones that people might have thought we were going to be putting on the record.
"We just want to make a record that's cohesive and one that we feel represents us best right now."
Ben added the group are really excited about their album as it has taken so much longer than planned for them to get back into the studio, due to the success of 'Sigh No More' - which was the biggest selling rock record last year.
He added: "It's pretty strange. It's completely exceeded our expectations.
"We had a dream to do a couple of tours off the back of 'Sigh No More' in the UK, then get back in and do a second record.
"Some of the songs on that album are four or five years old now. We recorded it almost three years ago! And what's exciting is that we're right in the midst of recording the new album, so we feel very keen to plow on."
No release date or title for the album has yet been decided.
Slash has announced he will release 'Apocalyptic Love,' in May.
The record will be under the name Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the co-conspirators - after his vocalist and backing band - and will come out in in Europe on May 21 and in the US on May 22.
The group will then head out on a tour of the US, then over to Europe for a string of festival appearances.
The 'By the Sword' hitmaker also tweeted a link to the cover of the album, which shows one of his signature Les Paul guitars encircled by a snake with a female demon in a bikini on one side, and a naked angel on the other.
Former Guns N' Roses guitarist explained yesterday why he didn't want the record to be listed as a solo album.
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "I'm a band guy. Everything I touch I turn into a f***ing band. I still have my name on the marquee and everything, but I'm just not a dictator, I don't want to rule anything.
"I like working in a band atmosphere, I think something about that camaraderie. I do not want to do it all by myself. "I'm very much a loner in most respects, but when it comes to working with music, whether I'm leading it or not, the last record was very collaborative."
Slash has previously announced three titles of tracks on the album, 'Halo', 'Standing In The Sun' and 'Bad Rain.'
Green Day have started work on their new album.
The 'When I Come Around' rockers went back in the studio yesterday to begin recording the follow up to 2009's '21st Century Breakdown.'
Singer and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong tweeted: "Happy Valentine's Day! Officially started recording the new record today. It's F**K TIME!!!! (sic)"
The band have previously played new material at live shows, showcasing a faster, more aggressive sound than the melodic pop of their last few albums. Working titles included 'Wow, That's Loud' and 'Make Out Party.'
The group - completed by drummer Tre Cool and bassist Mike Dirnt - had been demoing material as early as last May.
Billie Joe said at the time: "O.K. here's the scoop. Green Day has been jamming new songs everyday. There's a ton of new songs. The direction is fresh and high energy. Feels great."
The band also unveiled plans for a song in tribute toAmy Winehouse, who tragically died last July from accidental alcohol poisoning, aged 27.
According to lyrics posted on the band's official website, the planned opening lines are: "Amy, is your heart singing out of tune/ Are your eyes just singing the blues/ Dirty records from another time/ Some blood stains on your shoes."
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