The go-to keyboard player for Ben Harper, Natalie Merchant (Tigerlily), Macy Gray, Mazzy Star, Michael Franti, G. Love and others has just released his self-titled album via Vapor Records.

It might be the rich experience with these other artists, it might be personal influences, or it might be an old soul, but in combination, they have led to a new collection of songs from Jason Yates that truly represent his artistic voice, a voice that is reflective, vulnerable and earnest.

FREE Download: "My Way Out" MP3

The sound of the songs on Jason Yates has elements of the best soul music from the '60s and early '70s - easy and fluid - but with the clarity and smooth edges of modern production.

Yates' Hammond B3 organ has a timeless sound, full of the swells and fills that make the instrument so distinctive.

Yates called on his L.A-based nucleus of Mark Lightcap (Acetone, Matmos), Oliver Charles (Ben Harper & Relentless7, Common, De La Soul) and Gary Mallaber (Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Miller Band) to play on the sessions, with C.C. White (Ryan Adams, Edwin McCain, Ben Harper & Relentless7) on guest vocals and Marc Ford (The Black Crowes, Ben Harper, Gov’t Mule) on guitar. They recorded live with virtually no overdubs at Manuel Nieto's Estudio in East Los Angeles.

The five years working with Ben Harper as a part of the seminal Innocent Criminals line-up taught him the finer points of songwriting, plus, it gave him a confidence in his own music.

From songs like "My Way Out" and "To Chance" that recall the songwriting effervescence of Van Morrison and Warren Zevon to the rich Gospel feel of "Nobody so Far," to the emotional honesty of "Paper Tents" and "Teardrops," Jason Yates is a deep album that sounds like someone just returning from a fantastic journey, and starting over back home.

"When we finished, and all listened back, we knew we'd done what we set out to do," Yates says proudly. "I spent a long time thinking about this and trying to find a way to do what I wanted. And I finally did."

Yates is currently on tour playing keyboards with Citizen Cope through the end of 2009.

Buy Music:

Jason Yates on amazon.com

Jason Yates tracklisting

1. My Way Out (co-written with Leon Mobley)
2. Nobody so Far
3. Comin' On Back
4. Paper Tents
5. I Run
6. To Reason
7. To Chance
8. Tear Drops
9. Sing For You (co-written with Marc Ford)

Vapor Records Official Website

Jason Yates MySpace

Win a trip to BIG DAY OUT festival in Australia!

In the summer of 2004, Matt Allen was behind the wheel of a 1969 Chevrolet Step Van, roaming the streets of Ashland, Oregon in search of adventure. Armed with an endless supply of frozen treats, he was determined to become the most famous ice cream man in the world.

As that summer came to a close, Allen's mission of entertainment evolved into a greater calling. He began giving away his ice cream for free, beginning with an ice cream social for the residents of Ashland and quickly moving to his hometown of Long Beach, California to expand the simple idea of free ice cream into the phenomenon it is today.

Three years, two national tours, and over 125,000 free ice creams later, Ice Cream Man has come to represent the power of a dream. "This is about getting people to think about things a bit differently, proving that you can do anything with your life," says Allen, a veteran adventurer whose feats have included hiking from Canada to Mexico and biking across the country to raise money for breast cancer groups. "I want to give away ice cream. It’s that simple. I can't be the only one who thinks this is a good idea. Why not bring all of these like-minded people together to do great things?"

Throughout the tours, music became a main focus as Ice Cream Man and his dedicated team of over 100 volunteers called at concerts and festivals far and wide; providing frozen treats to artists and audiences, alike.

The crew began reviewing shows along the way, allowing a growing army of followers to join the ride. His growing reputation soon caught the attention of established and emerging artists; all keen to be part of the journey.

Inspired by his operation, ethos and seeing the potential in an increasingly iconic figure; Babelgum teamed up with original content producers, Dig For Fire, to document Ice Cream Man’s 2009 summer tour and thus the weekly documentary: ‘Road Trippin’ with Ice Cream Man’ was born.

Currently powering his way through the States, this years’ tour has seen Ice Cream Man call at and chime his way through SXSW, Pitchfork fest, Rothbury, All Points West, Bonnaroo and 10KLS amongst many other esteemed events and venues where he has been joined by likes of MGMT, Delta Spirit, Cold War Kids, Broken Social Scene, White Rabbits, Chairlift, Manchester Orchestra and many, many more who have stopped by to play music, have a chat or even serve ice-creams - step forward, Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips!

The expedition continues next weekend at Lollapalooza where Ice Cream Man will be joined by the legendary, Ben Harper and Band of Horses; however, with a bill including TV on the Radio, Passion Pit, Perry Farrell, Bon Iver and The Killers, you never know who might stop by for a 99.

The fun doesn’t end there, following Lollapalooza, the van powers on to San Diego and San Francisco for Street Scene and Outside Lands and then tours its way into 2010 with Ice Cream Man’s constant motivation forever at heart: “Why wait to fulfill your dreams?”

Catch up with past episodes of Road Trippin with Ice Cream Man

For further information, head over to:

Ice Cream Man Official Website

If you want to make like Ice Cream Man, Babelgum are offering you the chance to fulfill your dreams with a competition that will send two lucky winners to the Big Day Out festival in Australia, next January 2010.

For terms and to enter, go to:

Ice Cream Man on Babelgum

The new video for Ben Harper and Relentless7's track "Fly One Time" debuted July 8th on AOL Music's homepage and AOL's Spinner.com.

The video features clips of amazing footage depicting the highs and lows of life through the eyes of incredible athletes and humanitarians.

Professional Cyclist Lance Armstrong, Pro-Big Wave Surfers Laird Hamilton and Dave Kallama, Pro-Skater Christian Hosoi, Sport Climber Lynn Hill, Tightrope Walker Nick Wallenda, Olympian Jesse Owens and spiritual leader, the Dalai Llama are all featured.

The video for "Fly One Time" also premiered internationally in Italy on MTV on July 8th and on Sympatico/MSN in Canada on July 20th. MSN in France and AOL.de in Germany will premiere the video in the coming weeks.

Ben Harper and Relentless7 will also perform the new single on the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on Friday, July 31, 2009.

Ben Harper and Relentless7 are in the midst of a world tour supporting their new album 'White Lies For Dark Times', which was released on May 5th and debuted at No. 9 on Billboard's Top 200 Chart.

Buy Music:

Ben Harper on amazon.com

Ben Harper on amazon.co.uk

This marks Ben Harper's 3rd consecutive Top 10 Billboard debut.

In addition, the album reached the top 10 charts in France (#6), Italy (#7) and Switzerland (#7).

The press is raving about the new album:

The Associated Press gives the album an "A," calling it "another superb collection" while USA Today says "Harper revisits his blues-rock roots with renewed energy." 'White Lies For Dark Times' is a "Critics Choice" at People Magazine and Spin dubbed it "an impressive array of American music, ranging from muddy blues to eerie folk to Hendrixian wah-wah."

Ben Harper and Relentless7's energetic live performance is the heart of the band. On April 22nd, they performed to over 100,000 fans at the Piazza del Popolo in Rome, Italy for the Nat Geo Earth Day Festival. The entire set also aired live on the internet for fans across the globe to watch. The band brought the same energy to Manchester, Tennessee in June where they rocked an overflowing tent with an explosive set at Bonnaroo 2009.

The band is scheduled to perform at festivals across the country and abroad including Mile High, Fuji Rock, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Fans can also look forward to a legendary Austin City Limits television performance to air in October on PBS.

Ben Harper 2009 Festival tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

July 9 Ottawa, ON CAN Cicsco Ottawa Bluesfest
July 11 Masontown, WV All Good Festival
July 12 Montreal, QC CAN Montreal Jazz Festival
July 18 Commerce City, CO Mile High Music Festival
July 25 Niigata, JPN Fuji Rock Festival
July 26 Burnaby, BC CAN Virgin Festival
Aug 8 Chicago, IL Lollapalooza
Sept 20 Tempe, AZ Fall Frenzy
Oct 4 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Music Festival

Photo credit: Danny Clinch

"Fly One Time" video on Spinner.com

For the latest tour dates, music and more, go to:

Ben Harper and Relentless7 Official Website

Ben Harper will soon be heading out on his North American tour. The singer-songwriter and slide guitarist describes life on the road in the July 2009 issue of Condé Nast Traveler:

Best Venues: "L.A.'s Greek Theatre is surrounded by trees, and every seat is a good one. Red Rocks is a stunning rock amphitheater outside Denver. Playing there makes me feel like I've rocketed away from Earth and landed on another planet."

Best Restaurants: "There's a Mexican place called El Chihuahua in Paris that's owned by a French guy named Benny. His mom lived in Mexico for years and brought back recipes for chips, salsa, and incredible fajitas. I love eating Italian in Paris too, at Alfredo Positano. Elio's, in New York, has the best chicken Parmesan in the world--it reminds me of Bruce Paltrow, who introduced me to the place.

Best Bars: "The Silver Dollar Bar & Grill, in Jackson Hole, is lined with silver dollars. You can't believe it till you've seen it; rumor has it the whole thing cost a million. At 4100, in Los Angeles, there's always someone to talk to and Newcastle Brown ale on tap"."

Best Hotels: "I always stay near a park when I travel with my family. Rome's Hotel de Russie is just below the Villa Borghese, so we ride our bikes to the top, watch the sun set over the city, and then have the hotel restaurant's amazing Bolognese. And I love São Paulo's Hotel Unique for its proximity to Ibirapuera Park."

For music, tour dates and more, go to:

Ben Harper Official Website

Coming off an incredible showing at this year's SXSW including a headlining performance at Stubb's, an over-capacity crowd at DirecTV's "SXSW Live," and a legendary taping of Austin City Limits, Ben Harper and Relentless7 proudly announce the release of their debut record, 'White Lies For Dark Times' on May 5, 2009 on Virgin Records.

The album will be available as CD, deluxe CD with bonus DVD, digital download and 180-gram 2xLP. Rolling Stone calls the new album "an 11-song set soaked with hard rock and Delta Blues."

Watch "Shimmer and Shine" video:

Ben Harper and Relentless7 on amazon.com

Ben Harper and Relentless7 on amazon.co.uk

Ben Harper and Relentless7's energetic live performance is the heart of the band. In December 2008, the band embarked on a highly successful short club tour with a handful of dates in California and New York. "The band's combined force was almost too big for the room," RollingStone.com said of the band's intimate performance at Spaceland in Los Angeles.

The sweaty, gritty and energetic vibe of the clubs proved to be an incredible match for the band's new hard-hitting sound, and they are pleased to announce their return to the road on a larger club tour of the U.S. as well as dates abroad. "We thought, this is a new band, a new opportunity, a new energy. Let's earn it the way that new bands do...let's play clubs, let's play small places," said drummer Jordan Richardson. Current confirmed tour dates are listed below.

BHR7 will make an early late night television debut on Last Call with Carson Daly on March 27th, and will follow with week-of-release performances on The Late Show with David Letterman (5/6), Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (5/7) and Jimmy Kimmel Live (5/21).

Ben Harper and Relentless7 2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

US TOUR DATES:
April 30 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
May 1 Memphis, TN Beale Street Music Festival
May 2 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
May 4 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
May 5 New York, NY Webster Hall
May 8 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
May 9 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
May 10 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
May 12 Montreal, CANADA Metropolis
May 13 Toronto, CANADA Phoenix Concert Theatre
May 15 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
May 16 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
May 25 George, WA The Gorge Amp. / Sasquatch Festival
May 27 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
May 28 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
June 13 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music Festival

INTERNATIONAL TOUR DATES:
April 9 Sydney, Australia Metro Theatre
April 11 Byron Bay, Australia Byron Bay Bluesfest
April 13 Byron Bay, Australia Byron Bay Bluesfest
April 19 London, England The Forum
April 20 Paris, France La Cigale
April 21 Bourges, France Le Printemps du Bourges
April 22 Rome, Italy Piazza del Popolo
June 19 Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany Southside Festival
June 20 Scheessel, Germany Hurricane Festival
June 22 Berlin, Germany Columbiahalle
June 23 Munich, Germany TonHalle
June 25 Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso
June 27 London, England Hard Rock Calling Festival

BHR7 History:
Harper met guitarist Jason Mozersky in the late nineties, when the lead singer of Mozersky's then band, WAN SANTO CONDO was working as a van driver shuttling bands back and forth to the venue for a Texas promoter. He asked the then captive Ben Harper, "Can I play you my demo?" Harper obliged, and in his own words "was blown away," and helped the band secure a record deal and release an album on Everloving Records. The band broke up after one record, but what survived was a lasting friendship between Harper and Mozersky. In 2005, Harper invited now long time friend Mozersky to lay down guitar work on a track during the recording sessions that would become a double record entitled 'Both Sides of the Gun'. Mozersky brought along bass player Jesse Ingalls and drummer Jordan Richardson and the session would spawn not only the song "Serve Your Soul" but the framework for Relentless7.

To reignite the chemistry discovered during the 'Both Sides of the Gun' session, they reunited in the summer of 2008 just to jam and write songs together, and emerged with a new sound and enough tracks for an album. 'White Lies For Dark Times' is a timeless rock record, with a cohesive collection of music that is as raw, unrelenting and thunderous, as it is arrestingly haunting and emotional.

Relentless7
Ben Harper MySpace
Ben Harper Official Website