Member Review: The Fray

BPD member K Sarasara send this to us:

Let me begin by saying that this is the third show I've gotten to be backstage at. To hang with the bands and to watch them perform from the back is like nothing else. Backstage Pass Direct, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Now that the unpaid endorsement is out of the way, let me tell you about the show.

The Fray, formerly a quartet, now a touring sextet with bassist and multi-instrumentalist on board, succeeded in delivering a 90-minute set behind Scars & Stories, their third studio effort that's still a few weeks from release. And despite fans not knowing much of the forthcoming material, The Fray churned out slick, polished, melodic pop that while not edgy is still quite infectious.

Led by Isaac Slade – who split the 16-song performance between his black baby grand piano and pacing the front of the stage – The Fray opened with Turn Me On as guitarist Joe King added harmonies to the mid-tempo tune.

Sonically resembling the likes of Coldplay, Keane and even Radiohead when Slade reaches for Thom Yorke-like high notes, The Fray's piano pop came to life on the swaying 48 To Go and The Fighter, the latter sure to be a future single and set list staple. The real show stopper from the new record though was without question The Wind, a solid U2-tinged anthem that hits its stride quite early.

Throughout the night The Fray blended the old and new fairly strongly, never repeatedly catering with crowd-pleasers but not driving the new songs down the audience's throat. Nonetheless, singles like You Found Me, All At Once, Ungodly Hour (with King on lead vocals) and the obligatory How To Save A Life all served their purpose.

The group began the homestretch with Heartbeat, the first single. As mentioned on their Facebook site earlier, the band told fans to record the song's performance on their cameras and send the footage to the band so they could make a “mash up” video. On cue hundreds of cameras appeared with Slade taking a fan's camera on stage with him for band close ups. The song ended with Slade on top of piano as the group fleshed out the rather beefy track.

Equally entertaining was Happiness which Slade did unplugged on acoustic guitar and off mic. Asking for quiet, which created a symphony of shh-ing, Slade nailed the song with some help from a girl in front who the front man gave kudos to.

The Fray concluded the relatively early night with Over My Head (Cable Car), wrapping up an excellent gig.

Thanks for the commercial, K Sarasara. Your check's in the mail!

Our members do love the backstage experience. You can too. Join us and see for yourself

The Boss' Wrecking Ball

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band begins the “Wrecking Ball” tour in March with stops including a gig at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

There is still no word as to who, if anyone will replace saxman Clarence Clemons who passed away in June.

Of course, there is an album to promote. Wrecking Ball drops in stores on March 6.

Here’s the plan:

March 18, Atlanta, Philips Arena
March 19 Greensboro, N.C., Greensboro Coliseum
March 23 Tampa, Tampa Bay Times Forum
March 26 Boston, TD Garden
March 28 Philadelphia, Wells Fargo Center
March 29 Philadelphia, Wells Fargo Center
April 1, Washington, D.C., Verizon Center
April 3, E. Rutherford, N.J., Izod Center
April 4, E. Rutherford, N.J., Izod Center
April 6, New York City, Madison Square Garden
April 9, New York City, Madison Square Garden
April 12, Auburn Hills (Detroit), Palace Of Auburn Hills
April 13, Buffalo, N.Y., First Niagara Center
April 16, Albany, N.Y., Times Union Center
April 17, Cleveland, Quicken Loans Center
April 24, San Jose, HP Pavilion
April 26, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
April 29, New Orleans, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
May 2, Newark, N.J., Prudential Center

Do we have to remind you that pass requests will come fast and furious? Don't wait; make yours now?

Mayhem Fest 2012

Mayhem Fest 2012 will kick off its 26 date trek across the U.S. beginning on June 30th at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino, California.

The main stage for this summer's Festival will feature Slipknot, Slayer and a major special guest which will be announced on March 5th. The fourth slot on the main stage will feature a rotation of The Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying and Asking Alexandria

In 2012 the tour has upgraded the production on the festival stage and this year the Jagermeister Stage will feature a special headline set by Anthrax.

Here are all the dates:

Sat Jun 30 San Manuel Amphitheater CA
Sun Jul 01 Shoreline Amphitheatre CA
Tue Jul 03 White River Amphitheatre WA
Wed Jul 04 Idaho Center Amphitheatre ID
Fri Jul 06 Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion AZ
Sat Jul 07 Hard Rock Casino Albuquerque Presents The Pavilion NM
Sun Jul 08 Comfort Dental Amphitheatre CO
Tue Jul 10 Gexa Energy Pavilion TX
Wed Jul 11 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion TX
Fri Jul 13 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre FL
Sat Jul 14 Aaron's Amphitheater at Lakewood GA
Sun Jul 15 Klipsch Music Center IN
Wed Jul 18 Zoo Amphitheatre OK
Fri Jul 20 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater MO
Sat Jul 21 First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre IL
Sun Jul 22 DTE Energy Music Theatre MI
Tue Jul 24 Riverbend Music Center OH
Wed Jul 25 Blossom Music Center OH
Fri Jul 27 Susquehanna Bank Center NJ
Sat Jul 28 First Niagara Pavilion PA
Sun Jul 29 Jiffy Lube Live VA
Tue Jul 31 Saratoga Performing Arts Center NY
Wed Aug 01 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center NY
Fri Aug 03 Comcast Center MA
Sat Aug 04 Toyota Pavilion At Montage Mountain PA
Sun Aug 05 Comcast Theatre CT

Eddie Vedder Mini-Tour

Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam's frontman, will announce tomorrow a new mini-tour in support of his second solo album, Ukulele Songs.

Here are all the dates and venues:

April 11 Las Vegas, NV The Pearl
April 13 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theater
April 16 Albuquerque, NM Kiva Auditorium
April 19 Tulsa, OK Brady Theater
April 22 Houston, TX Jones Hall For The Performing Arts
April 25 San Antonio, TX Lila Cockrell Theatre
April 27 Austin, TX Bass Concert Hall
April 30 Dallas, TX Music Hall At Fair Park
May 3 New Orleans Jazz Fest, LA New Orleans Jazz Festival
May 8 Jacksonville, FL Moran Theater
May 10 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
May 13 Ft Lauderdale, FL Broward Center For The Performing Arts
May 16 Orlando, FL Bob Carr Performing Arts Center

Small tour usually means small number of passes made available. Request yours now!

Korn Adds to Tour

Korn's Path Of Totality tour has expanded and will continue through early March.

Here are the added dates:

Feb. 23 - Detroit, MI - Fillmore

Feb. 24 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theater

Feb. 25 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom

Feb. 27 - Denver, CO - Fillmore

Feb. 28 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex

March 1 - Phoenix, AZ- Comerica Theatre

March 2 - Las Vegas, NV- Pearl Concert Theatre @ Palms Casino

March 4 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theater

First Fest of 2012 Announced

The Suwannee Music Festival, the annual Florida event hosted by The Allman Brothers Band, has announced its 2012 lineup.

This year’s Wanee has booked (aside from the Allmans), Bruce Hornsby, Furthur, Gov’t Mule, Mickey Hart Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, Buddy Guy, Electric Hot Tuna, Ray Manzarek and Roy Rogers Band, Leftover Salmon, North Mississippi Allstars, Trigger Hippy (feat. Joan Osborne, Jackie Greene, Steve Gorman, Audley Freed and Nick Govrik); Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Devon Allman’s Honeytribe, Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio, SOJA, Conspirator, Eota, Particle, Zach Deputy, Matt Schofield, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Charles Bradley, Bonerama, The Yeti Trio, Jacob Jeffries Band and Bonnie Blue.

Looks like this will be a whole lotta dancin'. Request your passes early.

Big Nickelback Tour

Later this week, Nickelback will announce its return to the US arena circuit in support of its seventh studio album – Here And Now. The band hasn't toured in 2 years.

Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days appear on all dates.

Here are all the dates and venues:

Tue 04/10/12 Moline, IL I Wireless Center
Thu 04/12/12 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
Sat 04/14/12 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
Sun 04/15/12 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
Thu 04/19/12 New York, NY Madison Square Garden Arena
Tue 04/24/12 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Wed 04/25/12 Pittsburgh, PA Consol Energy Center
Fri 04/27/12 Hartford, CT XL Center
Sat 04/28/12 Worcester, MA DCU Center
Mon 04/30/12 Washington, DC Verizon Center
Wed 05/02/12 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
Fri 05/04/12 Orlando, FL Amway Center
Sat 05/05/12 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center
Sun 05/20/12 Fargo, ND Fargodome
Tue 05/22/12 Omaha, NE CenturyLink Center Omaha
Wed 05/23/12 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Fri 05/25/12 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
Sat 05/26/12 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
Tue 05/29/12 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Wed 05/30/12 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
Fri 06/01/12 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Sat 06/02/12 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Tue 06/05/12 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Thu 06/07/12 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
Fri 06/08/12 Wichita, KS Intrust Bank Arena
Sun 06/10/12 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
Tue 06/12/12 Salt Lake City, UT EnergySolutions Arena
Fri 06/15/12 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
Mon 06/18/12 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion At San Jose
Wed 06/20/12 Nampa, ID Idaho Center
Thu 06/21/12 Portland, OR Rose Garden Arena
Sat 06/23/12 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
Sun 06/24/12 Spokane, WA Spokane Arena

Setlist:: Snow Patrol

This very recent setlist just in from member Tuzon:

Berlin
Chocolate
Called Out in the Dark
Run
Set the Fire to the Third Bar
New York
Shut Your Eyes
Chasing Cars
Fallen Empires

Thanks, bud!

Huge Van Halen 2012 Tour

Van Halen - Long Version Trailer from Van Halen on Vimeo.


Van Halen brothers Eddie and Alex plus Eddie’s son Wolfgang on bass and David Lee Roth – will launch their 2012 tour in Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center Feb. 18.

The band’s first new album with Diamond Dave since 1984 – A Different Kind Of Truth – will be released Feb. 7.

Kool & The Gang will appear on select dates.

Here's the full schedule:

Sat 02/18/12         Louisville, KY     KFC Yum! Center    
       
Mon 02/20/12         Auburn Hills, MI     The Palace Of Auburn Hills    
       
Wed 02/22/12         Indianapolis, IN     Bankers Life Fieldhouse    
       
Fri 02/24/12         Chicago, IL     United Center    
       
Tue 02/28/12         New York, NY     Madison Square Garden Arena    
       
Thu 03/01/12         New York, NY     Madison Square Garden Arena    
       
Sat 03/03/12         Uncasville, CT     Mohegan Sun Arena    
       
Mon 03/05/12         Philadelphia, PA     Wells Fargo Center    
       
Fri 03/09/12         Buffalo, NY     First Niagara Center    
       
Sun 03/11/12         Boston, MA     TD Garden        
       
Sat 03/24/12         Atlantic City, NJ     Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall    
       
Wed 03/28/12         Washington, DC     Verizon Center    
       
Fri 03/30/12         Pittsburgh, PA     Consol Energy Center    
       
Sun 04/01/12         Rosemont, IL     Allstate Arena    
       
Tue 04/10/12         Sunrise, FL     BankAtlantic Center    
       
Thu 04/12/12         Tampa, FL     Tampa Bay Times Forum    
       
Sat 04/14/12         Orlando, FL     Amway Center    
       
Mon 04/16/12         Jacksonville, FL     Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena    
       
Thu 04/19/12         Atlanta, GA     Philips Arena    
       
Sat 04/21/12         Greensboro, NC     Greensboro Coliseum Complex    
       
Wed 04/25/12         Charlotte, NC     Time Warner Cable Arena    
       
Fri 04/27/12         Nashville, TN     Bridgestone Arena    
       
Tue 05/01/12         Tulsa, OK     BOK Center    
       
Sat 05/05/12         Tacoma, WA     Tacoma Dome        
       
Sat 05/19/12         Saint Paul, MN     Xcel Energy Center    
       
Tue 05/22/12         Kansas City, MO     Sprint Center    
       
Thu 05/24/12         Denver, CO     Pepsi Center    
       
Sun 05/27/12         Las Vegas, NV     MGM Grand Garden Arena    
       
Fri 06/01/12         Los Angeles, CA     Staples Center    
       
Sun 06/03/12         Oakland, CA     Oracle Arena    
       
Tue 06/05/12         San Jose, CA     HP Pavilion At San Jose    
       
Tue 06/12/12         Anaheim, CA     Honda Center    
       
Thu 06/14/12         San Diego, CA     Viejas Arena    
       
Sat 06/16/12         Phoenix, AZ     US Airways Center    
       
Wed 06/20/12         Dallas, TX     American Airlines Center    
       
Fri 06/22/12         San Antonio, TX     AT&T Center    
       
Sun 06/24/12         Houston, TX     Toyota Center    
       
Tue 06/26/12         New Orleans, LA     New Orleans Arena

These major tour announcements will begin to come in hot and heavy now that 2012 has begun. Don't miss out on your chance to get backstage and hang with your faves. Join BackstagePassDirect today.

Big News to Kick Off 2012

Happy 2012! Hope you've all returned from those loftier New Year's states because we've got some HUGE news for ya.

By far, the biggest news to come out over the holidays was that the founding members of The Beach Boys, will reunite for a global 50th Anniversary (!!!!!!!!!!) celebration in 2012. Beach Boys Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks will come together for a new studio album and a 50-date international tour to begin in April with a headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival ("Jazz Fest") as well as other exciting events to be announced.

Brian Wilson says, "This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again."

Mike Love says, "We got together at Capitol Records and re-recorded 'Do It Again.' Brian and I wrote that song which went to number 1 in Great Britain, Australia and elsewhere some 44 years ago. Brian paid me a compliment saying, 'How can a guy sound that great so many years later?' Later on, while working out some harmonies on a new song Brian had written, I got a chance to return the compliment. It was a thrill to be around a piano again with Brian, Alan and Bruce and experience firsthand the brilliance of Cousin Brian's gift for vocal arrangements. I am very much looking forward to David Marks joining us and thrilling with his surf guitar licks. Music has been the unifying and harmonizing fact of life in our family since childhood. It has been a huge blessing that we have been able to share with the world. Wouldn't It Be Nice to Do It Again? Absolutely!"

Al Jardine says, "The Beach Boys were recently inducted into the California Hall of Fame. From our humble beginnings as brothers, cousins and friends, we have been honored to sing the praises of California, and I'm really excited for our fans to be able to see us again in concert on the world stage, and to celebrate our 50th anniversary together with a new studio album."

Bruce Johnston says, "I will be looking forward to singing Brian Wilson's melodies and Mike Love's lyrics once again in concert with many of the original band members, but imagine what we all could come up with vocally in a recording studio atmosphere under Brian's musical direction."

David Marks says, "I'm really looking forward to celebrating this important milestone in The Beach Boys' history with the other guys, and with Capitol Records - where it all began 50 years ago. It means a lot to me that we can all reunite and pay tribute to the fans who have kept the music alive."

It's no exaggeration to say that The Beach Boys are one of the greatest and most loved bands that the world has ever produced, and true American icons. This tour will be something very, very special.