The Cars are nearing completion on their first studio album in over twenty years and have finalized a deal with Concord Records. The album is slated for a May release.
Echo & The Bunnymen have announced US tour dates that will see them perform two early albums, 1980's Crocodiles and 1981's Heaven Up Here, in their entirety.
Echo & The Bunnymen Crocodiles/Heaven Up Here tour dates:
May 9: Paradise Club, Boston, MA
May 11: 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.
May 12: Trocadero, Philadelphia, PA
May 13: Iriving Plaza, New York, NY
May 16: Phoenix Theatre, Toronto, ON
May 17: Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL
May 19: Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA
May 20: Red Rock Casino, Las Vegas, NV
May 21: Club Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
May 22: House of Blues, Anaheim, CA
After initial rumors had the band going into the studio with legendary producer Roy Thomas Baker, it seems that the current Roth-led Van Halen is cutting tracks with John Shanks (Chris Isaak, Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, Jessica Simpson).
Steve Earle has a tandem, album-book project set for April 26 release. Both are entitled "I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive." The album, produced by T-Bone Burnett, is his first new album of original material since 2007's Washington Square Serenade. The track listing for the new album is:
"Waitin' On The Sky"
"Little Emperor"
"The Gulf of Mexico"
"Molly-O"
"God is God"
"Meet Me In The Alleyway"
"Every Part of Me"
"Lonely Are The Free"
"Heaven or Hell (with Allison Moorer)"
"I Am A Wanderer"
"This City"
February 22 sees the release of "Rough & Tumble", the new studio album from John Waite. In addition to featuring re-recorded versions of early solo material (including a great re-working of "Mr. Wonderful" from the Ignition album), the album includes five songs co-written by Matchbox Twenty's Kyle Cook.
The Foo Fighters completed work on their new studio album recently. Leader Dave Grohl announced that the Butch Vig-produced record will feature cameos from ex-Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and ex-Husker Du guitarist Bob Mould. The band is set to begin a US tour in late May and hope to see the as-yet-untitled album released earlier that month.