News - Page 288

The insane 1960s/70s-inspired soultastic grooves of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings have returned with the aptly titled album . It’s the first album release since 2011’s Soul Time! for the 11-piece band led by bassist Bosco Mann. It’s also the first since vocalist Jones’ cancer diagnosis. Jones is back with ongoing treatment, and the band is promoting the record, which...

We reported last August that Nathan East was working on his first solo album. Now we know a date. Nathan East will be released on March 25, 2014. “It’s a celebration of my musical friends and my musical life over 30 years’ worth of experiences and influences,” East told Billboard. “The one thing I’ve learned is that I love a...

After debuting in early 2013 for a short East Coast tour, the Ringers are back with more performance dates. The supergroup is made up of Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz, Michael Landau, Gary Novak and bassist Etienne Mbappe. Their trek kicks off January 18th during two appearances at Florida’s Sunshine Music & Blues Festival. They then make their way north along...

The Aristocrats are back for another round of world touring in support of their second release, Culture Clash. The supertrio of guitarist Guthrie Govan, drummer Marco Minneman and bassist Bryan Beller will start things off with a string of dates in the West Coast and Mexico before heading to Europe for an extensive 10-week tour. “These will be first-ever live...

Gov’t Mule will be heading out next month in support of their latest album, Shout, which came out in October. The trek kicks of February 6th at Columbia, South Carolina’s Township Auditorium and will snake its way around the South and Midwest U.S. Anchored by bassist Jorgen Carlsson, the legendary southern-fried jam band will also be touring Japan in April...

Vail Johnson has released his sixth solo album, entitled . Describing the music as having a “relaxed intensity,” Johnson’s latest effort features his bass as the lead in fully fleshed out songs. Flow acts as a timestamp for his musical ideas. “This CD is all about simply playing what was in my heart and how I felt about music presently...

Metal legend Max Cavalera and his group Cavalera Conspiracy have named Converge’s Nate Newton as their new bassist. Newton broke the news in a statement online: “Hello friends! Just wanted to get some info to everyone since I’ve been getting so many messages…. Yes I am playing bass on the new Cavalera Conspiracy record. No…I am not going to leave...

After being diagnosed with cancer in October, John McVie is back to performing with Fleetwood Mac. The health scare forced the band to cancel a tour of Australia and New Zealand as McVie underwent treatment. But the veteran rockers returned to the stage for a December 30th gig at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Singer Stevie Nicks spoke with ABC...

After announcing European tour dates, Dream Theater has revealed their North American tour plans for 2014. The prog metal outfit will be kicking things off at Toronto’s Massey Hall before covering the States in the Northeast, Midwest, and West Coast. Their trek is capped with three dates in Mexico. “We are all really pumped and excited to bring our new...

Guitar legend Eric Clapton has once again recruited bass giant Nathan East to his touring band. East, who played with Clapton from 1984 to 2004, will be hitting the road with the former Cream guitarist in 2014, starting in Japan. The rest of the band includes keyboardists Chris Stainton and Paul Carrack, vocalists Michelle John and Sharon White, and drummer...

Line 6, makers of digital amplifiers and effects, is slated to be acquired by Yamaha Corporation, according to a press release issued by Yamaha. The deal will result in a 100% acquisition. Established in 1996, Line 6 specializes in guitar and bass modeling processors, including their POD line, as well as PA equipment and wireless systems. The agreement states that...

I guess you can now call this a tradition. This is the time of year we love to look back at all the great moments we’ve been a part of in the online bass playing community, and to say thanks to all of you for making this so much fun. Over the next several days, we’ll be sharing our annual...