News – Page 159 – 7th Level Music

Kiefer Sutherland to release outlaw country album.

Yes, you read that right. Actor, producer, and director Kiefer Sutherland will be releasing his debut album Down in a Hole sometime this summer. Sutherland has already released tour dates to promote the record and has been playing gigs since at least last year.

It turns out Sutherland has been involved in the music industry since 2002 by producing and releasing records by musicians he liked. He also collects classic guitars. He wrote a couple songs and those songs eventually bloomed into a full album. I don’t know if the title track is a cover of Alice in Chains‘ classic, but clips of Sutherland’s live performances are good. He has an excellent backing band and his rough voice is perfect for outlaw country. Down in a Hole should be an interesting listen.

Keep your mind open.

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Vans Warped Tour 2016 tour dates and line-up announced.

The annual Vans Warped Tour has released its tour dates and line-up for 2016. The show has become a who’s-who of punk, metal core, screamo, and ska acts. The biggest draws so far are Atreyu, Bullet for My Valentine, Falling in Reverse, Good Charlotte, Less Than Jake, New Found Glory, Reel Big Fish, Sum 41, and Yellowcard.

Keep your mind open.

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Bestival Toronto line-up announced.

Bestival Toronto has announced its initial line-up for their early summer festival. The two biggest draws so far are The Cure and Tame Impala. They also have interesting things planned like the “Inflatable Church” and the “Day of the Dead Cocktail Bus.”

Keep your mind open.

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The Five Foot Assassin’s mission is complete. RIP Phife Dawg.

Rest and peace to Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor of A Tribe Called Quest. Phife Dawg was a powerful MC whose flow bounced off Q-Tip‘s like they were winning a doubles tournament at Wimbledon. Phife Dawg’s style of rapping was in the everyman vein. He made you think you could rap, even if you had no flow. He was effortless. His loss is a hard blow to hip hop and music fans everywhere, but we have his rhymes with us forever.

Keep your mind open.

Lollapalooza Chicago 2016 line-up announced.

Lollapalooza‘s 25th anniversary show line-up has been announced, as well as the daily line-ups. Radiohead and LCD Soundsystem were major scores and long-rumored. Other fine artists on the bill are Jane’s Addiction (naturally), Die Antwoord, Bloc Party, The Joy Formidable, and Wavves.

Keep your mind open.

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The Kills’ “Ash & Ice” due out this summer.

The Kills‘ fifth full-length album, Ash & Ice, is due for release on June 03, 2016. The first single, “Doing It to Death,” is already available for download and purchase and puts electro beats with their usual smoky, crunchy guitar riffs and sultry vocals.

They’ll start a tour on April 07, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee and play shows all the way through mid-August. Catch them if you can.

Keep your mind open.

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Ceu announces tour dates.

Brazilian singer extraordinaire Ceu has released tour dates for this summer.

I hope to catch her at that Chicago date on June 24th. I’ve yet to see a live bossa nova show, let alone one that combines electro beats with the genre. Catch her if you can.

Keep your mind open.

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Suuns’ new album due out this April.

Canadian psych-rockers Suuns have started a PledgeMusic campaign and a Bandcamp page for their upcoming album Hold / Still. The first two released tracks, “Translate” and “Paralyzer,” are good cuts that lace their weird psychedelic sound with electro touches. Hold / Still is sure to be a good record if the rest of the tracks are as good as these.

Keep your mind open.

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King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s “Nonagon Infinity” now available for pre-order.

Prolific Australian psych-rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have another album ready to roll on April 29, 2016. Nonagon Infinity is now available for pre-order through the band’s Bandcamp page and the first single, “Gamma Knife,” can be heard there. It’s a loud rocker with heavy harmonica and some of their fastest drumming.

Nonagon Infinity will be released the first day of Levitation Austin, at which King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are playing, so I’m looking forward to hearing this album live.

Keep your mind open.

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Lollapalooza tickets on sale March 22nd.

Lollapalooza is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year in Chicago’s Grant Park. Tickets for the four-day (It’s usually just three.) festival go on sale March 22, 2016 at 10am. It will sell out. It always does and well before the line-up is announced. Ticket prices are sure to be higher than ever with an additional day added.

The festival dates are July 28-31st, and if tradition continues that will be the hottest weekend of the summer in Chicago. Bring your water and sunscreen.

Keep your mind open.

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