The new Jimi Hendrix CD Valleys of Neptune will enjoy its official release today, and Fender is giving away a dozen of them!
The album features 12 fully realized studio recordings and more than 60 minutes of music never commercially available on a Hendrix album.
Here’s what the LA Times is saying about the album:
“Valleys of Neptune reinforces what fans know well about Hendrix: that he loved the blues; that he was a technical wizard who gained energy from extended jams but always came back to the killer riff; that the foundation he created informed the work of every godlike ax dude who followed, from his peers Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton to Prince, the Edge, Jack White and John Mayer.”- LA Times
Band of Skulls’ song “Patterns” was featured on last night’s episode of Castle. The track opened ABC’s murder-mystery television show and the discovery of a vic’s body in the park.
It was interesting timing since I had just published my article on the U.K. trio earlier in the afternoon. If you haven’t yet read it, check it out. This band is quickly gaining a following and could just be the next big thing.
Fender attended the Orange County Music Awards at the Grove in Anaheim on Saturday night for the 9th annual OC Music Awards, a show highlighted by live performances from up-and-coming bands like Melanoid, BLOK, the Steelwells and the night’s big winner, Dusty Rhodes and the River Band. (This is a shot of Dusty, taken by photographer Ana Gibert. His mustache qualifies him for a role in a Super Trooper sequel, should they ever decide to make one.)
Dusty Rhodes and the River Band picked up three awards including best live band, a category that was accompanied by $2,500 worth of Fender gear and a four-day recording session at Red Bull Studio. Billy Kernkamp and his band also earned the same prize package for taking home best live acoustic band. Kernkamp plans to award his bassist with a new Fender bass and his recording studio with a new Bassman TV amp.
Dusty Rhodes and the River Band are still trying to figure out how they’ll divvy up the Fender merchandise. In the meantime, guitarist Edson Choi enjoyed his new American Special guitar, also a gift from Fender.
Photo by Ana Gibert
Melanoid guitarist Chris Sorem likewise enjoyed playing his new American Special guitar at the show.
Photo by Ana Gibert
The Steelwells guitarist Andrew Eapen had plenty of reasons to celebrate. We also gifted him with a new American Special guitar to play during his band’s performance of “El Capitan,” which won best song. The indie/folk rock band also won for best new artist.
Photo by Ana Gibert
Several of the evening’s performers earned compliments from Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath.
“I’m just humbled and blown away by the talent I’ve seen onstage tonight,” said McGrath. “I think Dusty might be my new favorite person. BLOK (an electro hip-hop sibling trio) might be my favorite performance tonight. You guys rule. The Steelwells were unbelievable.”
Sugar Ray was in the house to pick up the OC Impact Award.
Photo by Ana Gibert
Although it was a sad occasion, we were happy to also see our Fender artists Lit back in action. The platinum-recording selling band performed an acoustic version of “Here’s To Us” in tribute to their drummer Allen Shellenberger, who passed away on Aug. 13, 2009. The band is back to songwriting and plans to return to the recording studio in the next few months.
Photo by Ana Gibert
Both before and after the show, Fender staff manned a lobby display of guitars and amps for the evening’s attendees. Steelwells bassist Robbie Goulage was one of many musicians who stopped by to test a few of the instruments off the rack.
Eric Johnson at the opening night of the Experience Hendrix Tour
Photo by Marty Temme
The 2010 Experience Hendrix Tour is under way, currently heading to Las Vegas for tonight’s show at the Joint after playing Thursday night in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Friday night in Universal City, Calif. Here’s some more shots from the opening night.
Ernie Isley – Photo by Marty Temme
Brad Whitford of Aerosmith – Photo by Marty Temme
Chris Boone of our Artist Relations team is currently out on the road with the Experience Hendrix crew, and sent a few shots below.
Eric Johnson & Brad Whitford take a break from soundcheck to check out this ’47 Cadillac Hot Rod. Owned by Gary Weiss, the ‘47 Cadillac Hot Rod was featured in Outkast’s “Roses” video.
Lastly, we’d like to congratulate Mike Daniels of Las Vegas for winning the first pair of tickets of our Experience Hendrix Tour Ticket Giveaway! He’ll be front and center at tonight’s show. Don’t forget to enter here for your chance to win tickets to a show.
Pitchfork recently rewarded Kings Go Forth track “Don’t Take My Shadow” with a grade 8 review, not bad for the Milwaukee-based retro soul band.
Pitchfork says the made for the dance floor tune captures “that fleeting moment when soul transmogrified into disco, emphasizing tight percussion, lyrics that address heartache with dignity and composure, and stirring harmonies.”
Tom Moultin––legendary producer and originator of the remix, the breakdown section and the 12-inch single vinyl––worked with Kings Go Forth on the single, which will be featured on their upcoming debut album The Outsiders Are Back.
Kings Go Forth will showcase down in SXSW in a few weeks, but here’s a preview now…
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