Album date October 20, 2009: Singer/songwriter performed first single “Dollhouse” and other hits at past weekend’s Lollapalooza

Priscilla Renea has come a long way – from her Vero Beach, Florida bedroom, where she’d upload singing clips to YouTube, to the storied roster at Capitol Records.

Fresh off a stirring performance at this past weekend’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, Renea is readying her debut album, ‘Jukebox’.

First single “Dollhouse” is an uptempo empowerment anthem that shows off Renea’s airy vocals and earnest, endearing lyrics. Over a bouncy 4/4 beat from Benny Blanco (Britney Spears, 3OH!3) and Lil’ Ronnie (Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly), Renea sings fiercely for relationship independence and chides an insensitive, indifferent partner with the line “I ain’t a doll, this ain’t a dollhouse!”. “Dollhouse” bears Renea’s immediacy and relevance, the two hallmarks that distinguish her from scores of aspiring singers and elevated her to an internet sensation.

Buy Music:

Priscilla Renea on amazon.com

Full-length debut ‘Juxebox’ is aptly named, for it reflects 20 year old Renea’s wide-ranging musical sensibilities and influences, and also the scope of her talents.

“Lovesick” is bouncy, piano-powered pop; “Pretty Girl” is introspective, insightful ballad. “Rockabye” is a funky, neck-snapping sermon about premature parenthood. Heavy subject matter for sure, but Renea masks it with vintage No Doubt-like sass for a surefire hit.

Another standout track is “Mr. Workabee,” tongue-in-cheek tsk-tsk to a promiscuous male known to “often forget he has a queen at home.” Apologizing for being “all up in his beeswax,” Renea gently but unmistakably looks to right some wrong over a plodding, playful, polkaesque beat. Note also the thoughtful, sugary, guitar-strummed ditty “Stone Garden” and the sweeping paean “Fixing My Hair” that espouses sincerity and eschews superficiality.

‘Jukebox’ is a deliberately, artfully constructed album; Renea performs many of the guitar and piano parts herself. And her outside contributors are equally well-chosen: Atlanta-based production team Power Entertainment (T.I., Ludacris), Brian Kidd (Enrique Iglesias, Britney Spears, Nappy Roots), and legendary Danish duo Soulshock & Karlin (Madonna, Seal, Whitney Houston, Keyshia Cole).

‘Jukebox’ comes on the heels of Renea’s three-song EP ‘Hello My Apple’, released earlier this year. Comprising the titular track, the grand “Cry,” and the upbeat “I Fell in Love,” ‘Hello My Apple’ is a trio of Renea’s biggest YouTube-premiered songs.

Elsewhere, look for her advertorial array in the pages of trendsetting magazine Giant, and her Baby Phat campaign under the auspices of tastemaker Kimora Lee Simmons.

Priscilla Renea has indeed come far, and thus far it’s all been a preamble. Her true tale starts now.

Priscilla Renea Official Website
MySpace
Priscilla Renea on Twitter

This year’s lineup promises to ensure a continuation of the legendary festival’s cutting edge acts with Kings of Leon, Jane’s Addiction, Rise Against, Depeche Mode, the Killers, Tool + MANY more scheduled to perform.

Can’t make it to Chicago for Lolla ‘09? That’s ok because Fuse is bringing it straight to your TV on Saturday, August 15th with “Fuse Fest: The Best of Lollapalooza!”

Additionally, Fuse is helping music fans stay connected to all of this year’s Lollapalooza ‘09 artists with Twt-a-palooza, a centralized online hub that lets you find, filter, and interact with thousands of tweets from the musical acts playing this year’s fest!

Log in with you Facebook or Twitter account to ensure that you don’t miss a beat from one of this summer’s hottest musical gatherings: http://fusefest.fuse.tv/a/home

Lollapalooza ‘09 on Fuse TV video trailer:

Wait, it gets even better… like free music? Well, Fuse has over 50 Lollapalooza ‘09 artist tracks up for FREE download now on their site!

Free tracks from Animal Collective, Alberta Cross, Neko Case, Band of Horses, Deerhunter, No Age, Santigold and MUCH more can be found right here:

Fuse – downloads

Enjoy, and be sure to tune-in to Fuse on August 15th @ 9pm/8c for Fuse Fest: The Best of Lollapalooza ‘09.

For more information on Fuse’s Lollapalooza ‘09 concert special, head here:

Fuse – Lollapalooza Official Website

Twtapalooza

Find Fuse in your area

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

To celebrate their 50th Anniversary, Island Records is teaming up with Band Weblogs to give you a chance to win a pair of tickets to the annual Lollapalooza festival, 2009 in Grant Park, Chicago and a $100 gas card to help get you there!

Enter to win tickets: Lollapalooza Giveaway!

If a weekend full of live music with mega-stars The Killers, Beasties Boys and Tool (to name a few) wasn’t quite enough then you’re in luck because Island Records is also hooking up the Grand Prize winner with the entire Killers’ catalog, as well as albums from Noisettes, Airborne Toxic Event, and Ida Maria.

The prizing isn’t over yet… Island Records is also giving away custom Zippo lighters and music download cards with the top 50 Island songs from the past 50 years to 25 runners up!

Don’t pass up your chance to get in on the action!

Lollapalooza festival – August 7 – 9, 2009

For more information on the festival lineup and stage locations visit the Official Lollapalooza Website.

Island Records Official Website

To sign-up, for contest rules and terms, go to:

Lollapalooza Giveaway!

Little Steven’s radio show, The Underground Garage, has just chosen Care Bears on Fire’s new single “Everybody Else” as their “Coolest Song in the World.”

The weekly feature spotlights the most exciting new music hitting the airwaves. The show is syndicated nationally including Sirius channel 25 and XM channel 59.

“Everybody Else” is the lead single from the forthcoming album ‘Get Over It!’, which will be released by S-Curve on July 14, 2009.

The album’s addictive hooks and driving beat anchor witty and smart-as-a-tack lyrics that will hit home with teen rebels of all ages.

The band just completed a brand new video for the single. The kaleidoscopic video, directed by James Houston, features custom animation, collaged elements, and sees the band playing in outer space!

Watch “Everybody Else” video:

“They write! They sing! They play! They’re the real thing! They don’t want to be like everybody else! They’re in 9th grade and they’re our Coolest Song in the World this week on The Underground Garage! It’s Care Bears on Fire!” – Little Steven

Don’t miss Care Bears on Fire’s live dates this summer including Lollapalooza!

Care Bears on Fire July / August 2009 tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

7/10 House of Blues San Diego, CA
7/11 House of Blues Anaheim, CA
7/12 House of Blues West Hollywood, CA
7/14 The Fillmore San Francisco, CA
7/16 Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO
7/18 House of Blues Dallas, TX
7/19 House of Blues Houston, TX
7/22 House of Blues New Orleans, LA
8/8 Lollapalooza Chicago, IL
8/9 Lollapalooza Chicago, IL
8/14 Chevrolet Theatre Wallingford, CT
8/15 House of Blues Boston, MA
8/16 Capital one Theatre Westbury,NY
8/29 The Fillmore New York, NY

Buy Music:

Care Bears on Fire on amazon.com

Little Steven’s Underground Garage Official Website

Care Bears on Fire MySpace

Cage The Elephant left crowds staggering after outrageous performances on their latest US tour with stops at Coachella and Bamboozle.

Rolling Stone annointed the band to be the “Next Big Thing” and Entertainment Weekly describes the band’s live show as “…good clean spastic fun.”

Fans will have another chance to experience Cage The Elephant’s exuberant live show at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and All Points West this Summer.

The first single “Aint No Rest For The Wicked” has been one of the most added tracks at Rock & Alternative radio over the past few months, and the song’s video has been on rotation at MTV2 Subterranean, MTVu, and Fuse.

Now you can check out a new track, “Tiny Little Robots,” off their new self-titled album.

Download “Tiny Little Robots” MP3

May 2009 UK shows:

Tues 19 – Newcastle University – www.gigsandtours.com
Fri 22 – London KOKO – www.bigwheeltickets.com

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

Cage The Elephant Official Website

ZAP MAMA is teaming up with CARE to honor mothers around the world. Zap Mama will donate to CARE a percentage of the proceeds from the iTunes download of their song, “Hello To Mama,” the first single off their upcoming album ‘ReCreation’, due out on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, on May 26th, 2009.

Watch “Hello to Mama” video:

In the developing world, one woman, every minute of every day, dies giving birth. The proceeds from iTunes download sales of “Hello To Mama” will help CARE’s efforts to reduce persisting high maternal mortality in the world’s poorest countries.

“A percentage of the hard earned money paid for this track will go to CARE with the vision and hope of setting the people of the world free through truth, love, and education,” says Zap Mama’s Marie Daulne.

For more regarding CARE and its partnership with Zap Mama, visit: Care.org.

Zap Mama has added new tour dates including appearances at Lollapalooza and the Essence Festival, as well as kicking the tour off with an intimate residency at Joe’s Pub with special surprise guests.

Buy Music:

Zap Mama on amazon.com

Zap Mama on amazon.co.uk

2009 Tour Dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

5/27/2009 Joe’s Pub, New York, NY
5/28/2009 Joe’s Pub, New York, NY
5/29/2009 Joe’s Pub, New York, NY
6/17/2009 El Rey, Los Angeles, CA
6/18/2009 Bimbo’s, San Francisco, CA
6/19/2009 Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Boonville, CA
6/20/2009 Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
6/21/2009 Triple Door, Seattle, WA
6/23/2009 Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Ann Arbor, MI
7/5/2009 Essence Music Festival, New Orleans, LA
8/7-9/2009 Lollapalooza, Chicago, IL

Zap Mama MySpace
Zap Mama Official Website

Sofia Talvik previews the upcoming album ‘Jonestown’ with her friends.

From Sofia Talvik:

The 27th of August, 2008, I’m releasing my third album ‘Jonestown’. To give you a preview of the songs from the album I have gathered 12 of my favorite Swedish artists who will each perform one song from the album live with me on video. Once a week a new video is released, with a new song and a new guest artist. You will get the opportunity to meet well known artists as well as up and coming new stars, and when the videos are all released we’ll turn it into a competition where you can win a set of 13 albums, one from each guest artist, and of course my new album ‘Jonestown’.

First you’ll meet Jonna Lee, and be sure to stay tuned to see who comes next.

Here you will find the first video featuring Jonna Lee: “Diamonds”

Be sure to check out Jonna Lee at:

Jonna Lee Official Website
Myspace

——

Sofia Talvik will be performing at the big Lollapalooza festival in Chicago on August 1st, 2008. Other acts are set to include Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Wilco, The Raconteurs, Louis XIV, Love and Rockets, Gnarls Barkley, Bloc Party, The Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, Lupe Fiasco, Flogging Molly, Mark Ronson, Cat Power, The National and more.

For more information, go to:

Sofia Talvik Official Website

A little sweet, sweet Wild Sweet Orange news for you.

Wild Sweet Orange will be making their national television debut on Letterman Friday, June 27, 2008!!

Tune in to catch them play a track off their forthcoming full-length ‘We Have Cause To Be Uneasy’ out July 29, 2008 on Canvasback Music.

If you’re busy that night (Really? What are you doing out so late on a Monday?), there’s a chance they may be coming to a city near you this summer. Or you just may catch them at Lollapalooza!

Wild Sweet Orange – Download “Ten Dead Dogs” MP3

Watch “Ten Dead Dogs” video:

The video was shot in the band’s hometown of Birmingham, AL and directed by Sam Erickson who directed My Morning Jacket’s Okonokos live concert DVD among other projects.

Wild Sweet Orange 2008 tour dates:

Dates could change!

June 22 @ 3pm – Looney Tunes Records Free In-Store – West Babylon, NY
(pre-order the record at the show and get an exclusive t-shirt)
June 25 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO (opening for Matisyahu)
July 26 – Workplay – Birmingham, AL (Record release show!)
July 31 – Ear X-tasy Free In-Store – Louisville, KY
August 1- Pike Room at the Crofoot – Pontiac, MI
August 3 @ 12:30pm – Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL
August 4 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE

Myspace
Wild Sweet Orange Official

In the ongoing “Threadless Loves” series comes an exciting new partner, Lollapalooza! Yes, THE Lollapalooza that takes place in Chicago on August 1-3, 2008. The Lollapalooza that’s got a lineup of 130+ acts including Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, Wilco, The Raconteurs, Love and Rockets, Gnarls Barkley, Bloc Party, The Black Keys, Broken Social Scene and a whole bunch more.

Created in 1991, by Jane’s Addiction front man, Perry Farrell, Lollapalooza established itself as the first large-scale showcase in the U.S. for the alternative music scene. It quickly became a lifestyle festival staple for exposing concertgoers to a subculture of “alternative” living and art, and providing a platform for numerous human rights and environmental causes.

After all that, did you know that the actual word “lollapalooza” means “remarkable or wonderful person or thing?” This will be the theme for the “Threadless Loves” design submissions. If you choose to take on this challenge, your goal is to show us what inspires you and show us what makes you happy. Show us what “lollapalooza” means to you. Be sure to make it exceptional!

If your design is chosen you get two 3-day passes to the Festival, two round trip air fares to the Festival from anywhere in the world, hotel accommodations for you and a friend, your design printed and sold through the Threadless store, $2000 in cash (yes, CASH) and more.

Find out more (competition end date: Jun 12, 2008) and submit your design here:

Threadless Loves Official Website
Threadless – Lollapalooza

Capitol Music Group debut artist Ferras has confirmed a month-long series of tour dates opening for fellow singer-songwriter Ryan Cabrera. Ferras joined Cabrera June 1st in Baltimore, MD and will tour through June 24th, 2008 in Milwaukee, WI (full schedule below).

The lead single “Hollywood’s Not America” from Ferras’ debut album Aliens & Rainbows (Capitol Records) became an instant hit after it played as the exit song during the Hollywood elimination phase of television ratings champ American Idol, early in the spring. Over 240,000 digital downloads have been sold online during the song’s eleven-week Billboard Hot 100 chart run, and “Hollywood’s Not America” has also hit the Top 20 in the adult-targeted Hot AC radio format.

“I love playing live shows and having the opportunity to share my music with people,” said Ferras, who acknowledges Elton John, David Bowie, Queen and The Beatles among the central influences of his music. “I’m excited to be a part of Ryan Cabrera’s tour.”

Since the April 1st release of ‘Aliens & Rainbows’, produced by The Matrix (Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz, Korn) with Gary Clark (Natalie Imbruglia, Lloyd Cole), the 25 year old Ferras has been a constant presence on the live stage and television screen. He has toured nationally with A Fine Frenzy, headlined a high school tour in conjunction with Nickelodeon’s The N, and performed numerous radio shows, including an electrifying performance in front of 17,000 at New York’s Z-100 “Zootopia” show, along with The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Jesse McCartney, New Kids On The Block and Sara Bareilles.

Among his many regional and national television appearances are performing slots on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Today show as well as CBS’ The Early Show. In addition to the dates with Ryan Cabrera, Ferras will continue his series of radio promos, and will appear at Lollapalooza on August 2nd, 2008 and at the Halsted Market Days Festival on August 10th in Chicago.

Ferras 2008 Tour Dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Ferras’ Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

June 3 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere
June 4 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
June 5 NYC, NY Highline Ballroom
June 6 Lancaster, PA Chameleon Club
June 8 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre
June 9 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
June 11 Salt Lake City, UT TBD
June 12 Pittsburgh, PA Rex Theatre
*June 14 Syracuse, NY WBHT Radio Show
* June 15 Wilkes Barre, PA WBHT Radio Show
June 17 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop
June 18 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
* June 19 Nashville, TN WRVW Radio Show
June 20 Chicago, IL House of Blues
* June 21 Albany, NY WFLY Radio Show
June 23 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theatre
June 24 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
* June 28 Kansas City, MO KMXV Radio Show
*August 2 Chicago, IL Lollapalooza
*August 10 Chicago, IL Halstead Market Days

* indicates radio or festival shows

Ferras Myspace
Ferras Official Website

After much speculation in the previous week, Eric Avery has agreed to join former band mates Jane’s Addiction for a one-night-only performance at the first ever US NME Awards.

The iconic foursome will be crowned with the Godlike Genius Award during the ceremony and performance, to take place at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, April 23, 2008.

Jane’s Addiction is joining the likes of The Clash, New Order, Primal Scream and Manic Street Preachers, who are among the acts to have picked up the Godlike Genius prize at the UK awards.

Eric Avery has continually declined offers to reunite with the band and instead focused on his musical endeavors, most recently, a debut solo LP, ‘Help Wanted’, released on Dangerbird Records.

Help Wanted on amazon.com

“I’ve chosen to reject the prospects of reuniting in the past, for personal and philosophical reasons. I have always considered reunions to be a way to make a quick buck, and it sells short my own experience of it the first time around,” Eric Avery attests. He adds, “The reason I started to even consider this is because it’s honoring the past instead of trying to recreate it.”

NME will bestow this award upon Jane’s Addiction because, as they state, “[they've] done more than any other band to introduce American alternative music to the mainstream, founding the touring Lollapalooza Festival and giving what frontman Perry Farrell refers to as the ‘alternative nation’ a real cultural focus and voice.”

Watch Eric Avery video – “All Remote and No Control”

In other news, Avery will join his former Jane’s bandmate Dave Navarro on his weekly “Spread TV” show on maniaTV, Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 11pm EST.

Although the two have remained long-term friends, this is the first time Eric Avery and Dave Navarro will appear together on camera since the Jane’s breakup. With their shared experiences in Jane’s as well as Deconstruction, nothing will be off limits in this setting for candid, free-form conversation.

Links and archived episodes can be seen at:

Dave Navarro Spread TV on maniaTV

For more info about Eric Avery and ‘Help Wanted’ visit:

Dangerbird Records

Eric Avery Myspace
Eric Avery

Cage The Elephant (average age of 20) are a five piece from Bowling Green, Kentucky who are set to win hearts and minds in the UK in 2008 as they bring their incendiary live show back to the UK.

Like Beck’s anti-hero anthem “Loser”, Cage The Elephant’s first single “In One Ear” is a tounge-in cheek riposte to any possible doubters: “They say the devil is my pal / I do a lot of drugs / The crowd will only like me if they’re really f*@k!ing drunk”. Ushered in by a bass line of Herclean proportions, it soon becomes apparent Cage The Elephant don’t just want to rock hard, they want to make people dance.

Onstage fights and broken amps being hurled into the audience are just some of the elements likely to occur at a Cage the Elephant show. Most importantly, the staple of all of their live performances is brilliant rock ‘n’ roll music: as thrillingly aggressive as the Stooges and as anthemic and raw as the Kings of Leon’s first LP, coupled with the groove of Rage Against The Machine, this is a band that will remind you why you fell in love with rock ‘n’ roll.

Led by brothers Matt and Brad Shultz, the band create a real sense of drama, tension and heart-in-mouth thrills with their onstage love-hate relationship. A recent show saw lead singer Matt compliment his brother by launching him across the stage, face first, into the front row barrier: Brad returned the favour with an equally affectionate gobful of spit to his brother’s face.

The band are one of the buzz acts in the US going into 2008. This is off the back of their explosive performance at Lollapalooza last summer and some riotous gigs during main tour supports with Queens of the Stone Age and Wolfmother. On the QotSA North American tour last year, Cage won over many of the Queens’ fans and struck up a strong rapport with the band during their time together on the road.

Cage The Elephant then came across the pond to support Foals, The Ravonettes and Wombats on their respective UK Autumn / Winter tours. Some legendary nights were had and friendships struck as Cage proceeded to tear up venues and win many new friends up and down the country.

Lock up your daughters: Cage The Elephant are coming to town…

Upcoming show: NME Show with 9 Black Alps – Koko, Camden, London – Friday 8th February, London

More UK live dates to be announced shortly.

Their proper first single “In One Ear” is set for release March 10th, 2008 on Relentless / DSP. Format: CD single / 7″ vinyl / digital download (download release: March 2nd).

“Who needs indie whimsy when you’ve got scorched-earth desert punk as venomous as this?” – NME

Cage The Elephant are: Matt Shultz – Vocals; Brad Shultz – Guitar; Jared Champion – Drums & Percussion; Daniel Tichenor – Bass/Vocals; Lincoln Parish – Lead Guitar

For further details please check:

Cage the Elephant on Myspace

The ever-changing lineup of musicians that play the songs of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Mark Oliver Everett (aka E), unveils both its first “best of” compilation, ‘Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. 1, 1996-2006 (CD+DVD)‘, and its first collection of rarities, B-sides, film contributions and unreleased tracks, the ‘EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006 (2CD+DVD)’, each issued by DreamWorks/Geffen/UMe, scheduled for release on January 21, 2008.

All videos are available for the first time on DVD and all music is digitally remastered with both packages packed with never before seen photos, artefacts and Everett’s notes about each track.

‘Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. 1, 1996-2006′ spans the first decade of the EELS with 24 selections on CD and 12 promotional videos on DVD. The CD opens with four tracks from the band’s 1996 debut ‘Beautiful Freak’, two tracks from the Eels’ highly acclaimed second album 1998’s ‘Electro-shock Blues’ follow plus a previously unreleased Jon Brion remix of “Climbing To The Moon.”

Four songs from 2000’s ‘Daisies Of The Galaxy’, which NME dubbed “a masterpiece in almost every way,” are represented on the Essentials album plus three tracks from 2001’s ‘Souljacker’, which Time Magazine crowned as one of the best albums of the year, was acclaimed overseas with NME calling it “downright brilliant” and the London’s Sunday Times named it Album Of The Year, writing that “the conventional wisdom that (the earlier album) ‘Electro-shock Blues’ was E’s masterpiece will have to be reassessed: it was clearly just one of his masterpieces.”

2003’s live-in-the-studio Shootenanny! (awarded four stars by Rolling Stone) adds two fan favorites, while five songs from the highly acclaimed, and best charting album in the band’s history ‘Blinking Lights and Other Revelations’ are included. Also on the Essentials album are the previously unreleased “Get Ur Freak On,” a live version of “Dirty Girl” from 2006’s ‘With Strings: Live At Town Hall’ and “I Need Some Sleep” from the Shrek 2 soundtrack.

Highlights within the 50 CD tracks ‘EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006′ are longtime concert favorite “Living Life” from the Daniel Johnston tribute album, the previously unreleased 2006 cover of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put A Spell On You” and other covers including James Carr’s “Dark End of The Street” and Prince’s “If I Was Your Girlfriend.”

Useless Trinkets also includes a large handful of BBC performances, unique live versions of “Novocaine For The Soul” and “My Beloved Monster,” tracks from films – The End Of Violence, Holes, Levity and How The Grinch Stole Christmas and many previously unreleased tracks including the original collections title track which frontman Everett performs backed by a 28 piece orchestra. The DVD features six performances from the EELS’ Lollapalooza 2006 performance, including a gospel rave-up take on “My Beloved Monster” and a high octane rumble through “Souljacker part I.”

‘Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. 1, 1996-2006′ and ‘EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006′ prove why, following that 2006 Lollapalooza performance, Rolling Stone wrote: “EELS define coolness.”

The EELS are one of music’s most acclaimed and idiosyncratic enterprises, accomplishing what The New Yorker calls “that rarest thing in contemporary pop: a unique sound.”

Tracklistings:

Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. I, 1996-2006 (CD+DVD)

1 Novocaine For the Soul
2 Susan’s House
3 My Beloved Monster
4 Your Lucky Day in Hell
5 3 Speed
6 Last Stop: This Town
7 Climbing to the Moon (Jon Brion Remix)*
8 Flyswatter
9 I Like Birds
10 Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues
11 It’s A Motherfu?@!r
12 Souljacker Part 1
13 That’s Not Really Funny
14 Fresh Feeling
15 Get Ur Freak On*
16 Saturday Morning
17 Love of the Loveless
18 Dirty Girl (live at Town Hall)
19 I Need Some Sleep
20 Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)
21 I’m Going to Stop Pretending That I Didn’t Break Your Heart
22 Trouble With Dreams
23 Railroad Man
24 Losing Streak

EELS Video Collection DVD:

1 Novocaine For the Soul
2 Susan’s House
3 Rags to Rags
4 Your Lucky Day in Hell
5 Last Stop: This Town
6 Cancer For the Cure
7 Flyswatter
8 Souljacker Part I
9 Saturday Morning
10 Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)
11 Trouble with Dreams
12 Dirty Girl (live at Town Hall)

*previously unreleased

EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006 (2CD+DVD)

DISC 1:

1 Novocaine For the Soul (live from hell)
2 Fu@!er
3 My Beloved Monster (live from tennessee)
4 Dog’s Life
5 Susan’s Apartment
6 Manchester Girl (BBC)
7 Flower (BBC)
8 My Beloved Mad Monster Party (BBC)
9 Animal
10 Stepmother
11 Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas
12 Your Lucky Day in Hell (Michael Simpson remix)*
13 Altar Boy
14 Novocaine for the Soul (Moog Cookbook remix)
15 If I Was Your Girlfriend (live)*
16 Bad News
17 Funeral Parlor
18 Hospital Food (BBC)
19 Open the Door (BBC)
20 Birdgirl on a Cell Phone
21 Vice President Fruitley
22 My Beloved Monstrosity
23 Dark End of the Street (live)*
24 The Cheater’s Guide to Your Heart (live)*
25 Useless Trinkets*

DISC 2:

1 Mr. E’s Beautiful Remix
2 Souljacker part I (alternate version)*
3 Dog Faced Boy (alternate version)*
4 Jennifer Eccles
5 Rotten World Blues
6 Can’t Help Falling in Love
7 Christmas is Going to the Dogs
8 Mighty Fine Blues
9 Eyes Down
10 Skywriting
11 Taking a Bath in Rust
12 Estranged Friends*
13 Her
14 Waltz of the Naked Clowns
15 I Like Birds (live)*
16 Sad Foot Sign
17 Living Life
18 The Bright Side
19 After the Operation
20 Jelly Dancers
21 I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (live at Town Hall)
22 Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues (live at Town Hall)
23 I Want to Protect You*
24 I Put a Spell on You (live)*
25 Saw a UFO*

EELS Lollapalooza 2006 DVD:

1 Saturday Morning
2 Eyes Down
3 My Beloved Monster
4 A Magic World
5 Not Ready Yet
6 Souljacker Part I

*previously unreleased

Eels 2008 UK tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to the Eels Official Website for the latest news and information.

February 25 2008 – London, Royal Festival Hall
February 26 2008 – Birmingham, Town Hall
February 27 2008 – Manchester, Bridgewater Hall
February 28 2008 – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
March 1 2008 – Gateshead, Sage
March 2 2008 – Brighton, Dome

For more information and the latest news go to:

EELS Official Website

Related: BBC Four documentary about Mark Everett and his father

Perry Farrell also founded the Lollapalooza Festival – originally intended as a farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction, the event turned into an annual travelling festival and is still running to this day. After spending a few years with his new band Porno For Pyros, Jane’s Addiction reformed and released the acclaimed album, ‘Strays’ in 2003 and toured extensively before splitting again in 2004. The following year saw Perry Farrell found his ‘new band/theatrical entity’, Satellite Party and in 2006 they headed to the studio to record their debut album, ‘Ultra Payloaded’ which is out now along with their debut single, “Wish Upon A Dog Star”.

Satellite Party are coming to the UK for a series of live dates to coincide with their festival appearances at Download, O2 Wireless Festival and Oxegen and we’ve got 10 tickets to give away for their show at Carling Academy Newcastle on July 5th 2007 – all tickets come with a few free pints of ice cold Carling at the show for you and your mate so check out the Carling music competition site for your chance to be there.