Tuesday 1 July 2008

Hotline: Extreme about to 'Rock'

This August, Extreme brings the rock. Again.
The reunited rock quartet, who proved to have something left in the tank onstage at the Orpheum’s Boston Music Awards last December, will complement its North American summer tour with a new studio album, “Saudades de Rock.”
The 13-track album, recorded in Los Angeles and produced and mixed by guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, drops Aug. 12 on Open E Records. It’s Extreme’s first new release in 13 years.



The album name has roots in Portuguese culture, and symbolizes the band members’ desire to rekindle the flame that made them multi-platinum musicians in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
“Saudades was always a beautiful word to me,” said Bettencourt in a press release hailing the new CD. “It expresses a longing; an underlying sadness for something or someone that’s been missing in your life, and never quite sure if it will ever return. In this case, for us, it’s rock ’n’ roll. Saudades de Rock.”
Extreme fans can get a taste of the new material when the band hits the Bank of America Pavilion on July 31. It’s the second stop on the 22-date “Take Us Alive” tour, which takes its name from a song on the upcoming album.
Cancellation? Yes, please
Yes?
No.
British prog-rock band Yes, on the verge of embarking on a 26-date North American tour to celebrate 40 years in the biz, has canceled its upcoming tour.
That means Yes’ July 23 show at the Bank of America Pavilion has been scrapped. Ticket refunds are available at point of purchase.
Billboard magazine reported last week that vocalist Jon Anderson was told by doctors to rest for up to six months after being admitted to a hospital following an asthma attack.
“In the wake of my recent respiratory attack, doctors have advised me to spend the coming months resting and recovering,” Anderson said in a press statement. “I’d like everyone to know how deeply disappointed I am by this turn of events.”
Allston Rap City
Local rappers will be prepping their best punch lines for the Official Leedz HQ MC Battle at Allston’s Harpers Ferry on Friday, a verbal scuffle organized by local promoter Edu Leedz.
In between special live performances, 16 contestants will face off in battles lasting for two rounds each, with the winner decided by a panel of five judges. The top combatant gets a $500 prize and 10 hours of free studio time at Leedz HQ; the rest get to go home and step up their word game. Contestants won’t be revealed until the night of the battle to keep contenders from scoping out their competition.