Rock n’ roll vets Scott McCaughey (R.E.M., Young Fresh Fellows) and Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate, Gutterball) have an ‘unhealthy’ love for music and an even more unhealthy love of baseball. The friends have blended their two passions with The Baseball Project — Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails, an album of buzzing guitars and baseball back stories.
R.E.M.’s Peter Buck joins the band, as they sing about heroes and events; one song manages a rhyming chorus naming all 17 pitchers to throw a perfect game in baseball history. You can hear samples and buy the CD with a click here.
If you want to get advice from a rock star, KISS’ Paul Stanley might be a good choice. Besides the millions of albums sold, the group had a knack for selling their ‘brand’ also. Paul appeared on Donny Deutsch’s CNBC show yesterday offering his slant on making a way in the world; the video’s below. You must see the hilarious childhood photo of the rockstar-to-be!
Brazilian pop/rockers CSS’ second album Donkey arrives July 22, and they’ve created more of the catchy, energetic, and fun sound that their fans love. Mark ‘Spike’ Stent (Madonna, Bjork,U2) mixed the tunes for the band that’s already had the highest charting single ever from a Brazilian act. One change for them is bassist’s Ira departure; drummer Adriano takes over on bass for now. The album does not contain any of the cover songs that they’re known for remixing.
CSS is currently globe-trotting on tour; show dates and the entire new album are at their MySpace page. Try out the first single ‘Rat Is Dead’ below.
Southern rock fans may want to clear their calendar for Jan. 8 - 12 2009, as the Simple Man Cruise ship leaves Miami for a private island in the Bahamas. On board will be Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, Marshall Tucker, Molly Hatchet, and Blackberry Smoke. Guests can expect round-the-clock concerts, jam sessions, karaoke parties and acoustic shows all over the ship.
Travel company Sixthman operates the tour, and this trip is just one of many coming next year that include cruises headlined by John Mayer, Barenaked Ladies, and Indigo Girls. Rock ahoy!
Can you fathom an Underwater Music Festival? The Florida Keys hosted the annual tradition this past weekend, and this year’s theme was the ‘eel-ection’. 500 divers partied as a radio station broadcast music underwater for four hours, piping tunes to speakers beneath boats at a coral reef, such as “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “Yellow Submarine,” and a political spoof called “Jimmy Buffett for President” (no ”Barracuda”? “Rock Lobster”?). A water-proof art exhibit was also on display. The party also focuses on promoting preservation of the Florida Keys’ coral reef ecosystem. For more info on the festival, click here.
Jazz group Yellowjackets have been recording for 28 years now, but their latest album Lifecycle is the first in 15 years that includes a guitarist - Mike Stern. Mike’s resume reads like a history of jazz, as he’s played with Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius, Billy Cobham, David Sanborn, etc., and he adds an edge to the mix of the band’s other amazing musicians.
They’re touring Europe now and will be playing live in the US beginning in August. A DVD has also been released this year called ‘Mint Jam’; more info on the new album with a click here.
LiveNation handles the most rock shows in the US, and many of their newest venues answer to a higher authority: churches and synagogues have become popular concert spots.
One good example is Washington DC’s Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, where UK chart-topper Adele recently perfomed, and rockers Grizzly Bear will appear in August. The acoustics, intimate setting, and unusual atmosphere seem to appeal to artists and fans, and the synagogue wins also. “We were trying to expand by creating new partnerships,” says Sixth and I’s Aaron Weintraub. “The rabbis and worshippers are glad that more people come to the synagogue.”
Atlanta’s Tabernacle, a former church, hosts many big name artists, but did have to overcome one star’s objections: James Brown would not perform inside a house of worship, so his show during the 1996 Olympics was set up outside the building.
Jackyl frontman Jesse James Dupree has a new solo album, the second release under his name. Jesse’s known as the chainsaw-slinging, outspoken singer for platinum rockers Jackyl, but he’s also a TV/film producer and leader of Mighty Loud Entertainment.
Motorcycling inspired the new CD Rev It Up And Go-Go, whichhas 15 tracks that range from the raunch-and-roll of the title song to name-checking KISS, Ernest Tubb, and The Grand Ol’ Opry. Look for the album July 15, and watch for Jackyl on tour through August 30.
Keyboard player George Duke has released over 30 albums in his career, and appeared on hundreds of other jazz/r&b/pop CDs. So it’s not surprising that some big-name friends turned out for his new album Dukey Treats , due August 26. Look for vocals from Howard Hewett, Jonathan Butler, Teena Marie, and Rachelle Ferrell.
One theme of the album is 70s-era funk, with a P-Funk homage called ‘A Fonk Tail’, and ‘Are You Ready’, a nod to Earth, Wind & Fire. More info by clicking here.
38 years after his death, another Jimi Hendrix recording has been uncovered, this time by Stephen Stills. Jimi managed to record with many musicians during his 28 years, and some material from Stills & Hendrix is already available. As Stills was going through a stack of recordings form the ’70s, he found the forgotten tape made by the two stars. Band-mate Graham Nash told the story to the Las Vegas Sun newspaper, and he also is helping Stephen prepare the tape for release.
Southern rock fans may want to clear their calendar for Jan. 8 - 12 2009, as the 
Can you fathom an Underwater Music Festival? The Florida Keys hosted the annual tradition this past weekend, and this year’s theme was the ‘eel-ection’. 500 divers partied as a radio station broadcast music underwater for four hours, piping tunes to speakers beneath boats at a coral reef, such as “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “Yellow Submarine,” and a political spoof called “Jimmy Buffett for President” (no ”Barracuda”? “Rock Lobster”?). A water-proof art exhibit was also on display.
Jazz group 
Jackyl frontman 
Keyboard player George Duke has released over 30 albums in his career, and appeared on hundreds of other jazz/r&b/pop CDs. So it’s not surprising that some big-name friends turned out for his new album Dukey Treats , due August 26. Look for vocals from Howard Hewett, Jonathan Butler, Teena Marie, and Rachelle Ferrell.
38 years after his death, another Jimi Hendrix recording has been uncovered, this time by Stephen Stills. Jimi managed to record with many musicians during his 28 years, and some material from Stills & Hendrix is already available. As Stills was going through a stack of recordings form the ’70s, he found the forgotten tape made by the two stars. Band-mate Graham Nash told the story to the Las Vegas Sun newspaper, and he also is helping Stephen prepare the tape for release.
