Hot Music Beat

Introducing Orianthi, the guitar phenomenon who is featured prominently in the upcoming Michael Jackson concert documentary, This Is It. Already a renowned musician, Orianthi has been playing guitar since the age of eleven and was discovered by legend Carlos Santana. After playing with artists like Carrie Underwood, ZZ Top, and Prince, she received a MySpace message from Michael Jackson’s musical director asking her to audition for his comeback tour. Following a test run with the King of Pop himself, she was selected as his lead guitarist for his O2 arena dates in London – a crowning acheivement for the 24 year old from Adelaide, Australia.

Now Orianthi is preparing to release her solo debut album, Believe, on October 27th. In addition to her talent at guitar, Orianthi has a gorgeous voice and even sang at Michael Jackson’s Staples Center memorial service. Even before starting rehearsals for his tour though, she was hard at work writing and recording the album with her band. Believe is full of anthemic rock tracks with a sound reminiscent of Paramore or Evanescence, but entirely Orianthi thanks to her signature shreds and thunderous hooks. Her first single, “According to You” is a catchy tale of an ungrateful boyfriend, featuring a killer guitar solo.

To hear the story in her own words, watch Orianthi in this segment from Australia’s Today show. Visit Orianthi.com for updates on this rising star, and be sure to check her out in This Is It out on October 28th.
Orianthi Panagaris Interview On Today Show:

Pop-rockers Honor Society debuted at #18 on the Billboard Top 200 this week, moving over 22,000 units of their debut album, Fashionably Late. The band kicked off their second headlining tour on Monday, September 21 in Minneapolis, MN and will continue a run of nearly 40 dates with shows across the United States and Canada including an appearance on The Today Show on Friday, September 25.

The release of Fashionably Late caps off a busy summer for Honor Society as they joined the Jonas Brothers on their World Tour 2009 performing to nearly 1 million fans throughout North America. Honor Society simultaneously headlined their own club tour called The Full Moon Crazy Tour where they brought their high-energy live shows to sold out venues including the Blender Theater in New York City and over 1,500 fans at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.

See below for what the press is saying about Honor Society and Fashionably Late and visit HonorSocietyMusic.com for more info and a full list of tour dates.

Rolling Stone

“Over You” (3 stars) — delivers “shiny heartbreak that splits the difference between *NSYNC and Maroon 5 – all riffing synths… and tunefulness.”

Entertainment Weekly

Honor Society are “crafty pop rock dudes” with songs that “shimmer with freeze-dried funk licks…”

People Magazine

“…fans will likely swoon over …” whose “strongest tracks include the power ballads ‘Where Are You Now’ and ‘Goodnight My Love’ both showcasing Bruno’s emotive tenor. ‘My Own Way’ is an infectious pop-rocker.”

Dallas Morning News

Honor Society are “purveyors of that frenetic catchy-crunchy pop sound of the day…”

Susan Boyle’s new album has reached number one before it has even been released.

The Britain’s Got Talent star’s new album has topped the Amazon pre-sales charts.

Thousands of people have pre-ordered a copy of the singer’s debut album, I Dreamed A Dream.

One fan said: “I really can’t wait for this. I love Susan’s voice and the snippets we have heard about what might be on the album are fascinating. We are going to be in for such a treat.”

Source: Splash News

Check My Friends Blog:

Vancouver, Canada’s THE VEER UNION have just released their major label debut, Against The Grain, on Universal/Motown Records. The album features the guitar-driven single, “Seasons,” which is already making headway on Modern and Active Rock radio. Recorded by Greg Archilla (Collective Soul, Matchbox 20, Buckcherry) with a couple tracks produced by Brian Howes (Hinder, Hedley, Daughtry, Rev Theory), the collection is packed with arena-sized vocal hooks around every corner. The entire album is streaming on their Ultimate-Guitar profile page for one week only. In support of the release, the band has joined forces with Hinder and Theory Of A Deadman for a tour around the continental US.

Make sure to check out THE VEER UNION all Spring and Summer and pick up your copy of their new album, Against The Grain, in stores now!

ALBUM LISTENING PARTY:

Check out Demi Lovato’s just released video for “Don’t Forget. “ The video for the heartfelt ballad was shot at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, CA and features Demi rocking out in the rain. “Don’t Forget” is the title track off of Demi’s debut album and will appear on her new Deluxe Edition due out on March 31st along with two brand new songs, behind the scenes content and making of the video footage. Head over to her newly designed MySpace page for more info.

Don’t Forget Video:
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54185191

16 Frames’ debut album Where It Ends has just exclusively premiered on Rhapsody.com. The site is streaming the album in full and has made the Matt Serletic (Matchbox 20, Santana) produced album available for purchase before its official release date. After having several songs featured on MTV’s The Hills, the Los Angeles based band is again making themselves heard on TV with their song “Close Range” in the new promos for ABC’s “Private Practice.”

Where It Ends will be available in stores and on iTunes March 24th.

On Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 16 Frames released Where It Ends, the band’s debut recording for Verve Forecast and its first on a major label. The album features 11 perfectly-crafted pop songs, all written by Steve Sulikowski, 16 Frames’ front man.

Where It Ends pairs immediately catchy rock melodies with complex, often dark, melancholy lyrics. The music resonates with fans of bands such as The Fray, U2, and Matchbox 20.

Songs from Where It Ends have already been showcased on television programs such as MTV’s The Hills and ABC’s Men In Trees, helping to establish 16 Frames as a new force in modern pop music. The band features Sulikowski on guitar and vocals with Josh Dunahoo on guitars, Dylan Wilson on bass, and Daniel James on drums.

Throughout the album, Sulikowski mines the depths of relationships between lovers and friends, parents and partners for his song lyrics. For example, his girlfriend feeling depressed one evening inspired him to write the explosive opener “Close Range,” a devastating tale of waking up to see your loved one with bags packed and headed out the door into the arms of another. The title track draws on a past relationship that came to a close since he and an ex continued to make the same mistakes over and over. Sulikowski wrote “Back Again,” the album’s gem of a first single, “at a really dark time when things couldn’t look any worse, career-wise, life-wise, just in general.”

Other songs featured on Where It Ends include the spirited “Daylight,” the hit-bound power ballad “Let’s Not Pretend,” and the touching “Coming Home.”

The band’s name comes from the world of filmmaking: it takes 16 frames for movement on film to progress from choppy to fluid. The cinematic imagery also details Sulikowski’s journey in creating the music. “My manager would tell me making a record is a lot like making movies: you have rewrites, you have dailies, and I started to look at the whole songwriting and creative process unfolding in a way like a movie. Sixteen frames is that moment when things become focused, become clear.”

16 Frames premiered the video for their single, “Back Again,” last week on mtvU where they are now spotlighted on this week’s installment of The Freshmen. Check out the video here and head over to mtvU.com to start voting.

“Back Again” video links

YouTube:

Hinder just released their new album, Take it to the Limit. Produced by Brian Howes (Puddle of Mudd, Chris Cornell), the eleven song collection is packed with the kind of arena-ready guitar anthems that have the band constantly compared to bands like Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe. The band recently released “Without You” as a single and the power-ballad picks up where their 2006 breakthrough hit “Lips of an Angel” left off. The band’s debut album Extreme Behavior has gone on to sell over 3 million copies so anticipation is high for this one.

Take it to the Limit is streaming in its entirety over at the band’s MySpace page: myspace.com/hindermusic

SafetySuit is set to kick off a slew of tour dates supporting South African rockers Seether. The Nashville-based quartet released their debut album, Life Left to Go, last month through Universal Republic and are seeing great airplay for the lead single “Someone Like You.”

The band will also be joining the likes of The All-American Rejects, Kate Voegele and Forever the Sickest Kids on select dates of Simon D Tour Live this summer. In addition to music, this free and interactive 24-city mall tour will feature online contests and interactive games.

SafetySuit Tour Dates

Date Location Description
07/04/08 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest – US Cellular Stage w/ Seether
07/10/08 Concord, NC Simon Mall D Tour Live @ Concord Mills Mall
07/13/08 Nashville,TN Simon Mall D Tour Live @ Nashville Opry Mills
07/18/08 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom w/Seether
07/20/08 Providence, RI Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel w/Seether
07/24/08 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom w/Seether
07/25/08 St Petersburg, FL Simon Mall D Tour Live @ Tyrone Square Mall
08/05/08 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom w/Seether
08/06/08 Houston, TX Warehouse Live w/Seether
08/08/08 Austin, TX Stubb’s BBQ w/Seether
08/09/08 San Antonio, TX Scout Bar w/Seether

Hilary McRae is set to make her national television debut on the CBS Early Show. The soulful siren whose label-mates include Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell will perform a few songs from her debut album, Through These Walls, which was released last month on Hear Music. McRae is currently on the road opening for Teddy Geiger but will make a special appearance at The Roxy in Los Angeles on June 10th.

Check out the video for her first single “Every Day (When Will You Be Mine):”
Video:

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Today is a landmark day for Tokio Hotel as the pop-rock quartet unleash SCREAM their first English language full length to hit the U.S. The States will see four different versions of the album that each include three exclusive bonus songs with “Live Every Second,” “1000 Oceans,” and “Durch den Monsun.” While all versions include the three bonus songs, iTunes, Hot Topic and Best Buy versions will come packed with extra exclusive content. To make things extra, extra special for fans Tokio Hotel has provided a unique code in each CD which will give fans access to a V.I.P section of Tokiohotel-us.com where even more exclusive content will live, including band blogs, never before seen videos, a live chat with the band and much more.

Fans can also catch Tokio Hotel live, or on TV, today as the band storms MTV’s TRL set for a live performance of “Ready, Set, Go!” and on May 9th on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

Scream is in stores now! Check www.tokiohotel-us.com for more information!

Hot of the heels of her debut album release and an opening spot for Fergie at Florida’s SunFest, Hilary McRae will be heading out on tour with singer/songwriter Teddy Geiger. McRae’s Through These Walls was released through Hear Music on 4/15 and can be purchased on iTunes.

Hilary McRae with Teddy Geiger Tour Dates

DAY DATE CITY VENUE
Wed 11-Jun Pomona, CA The Glass House
Thu 12-Jun San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Fri 13-Jun Sacramento, CA Empire
Sat 14-Jun Petaluma, CA Mystic Theatre
Mon 16-Jun Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
Tue 17-Jun Seattle, WA El Corazon
Thu 19-Jun Provo, UT Velour Live Music Gallery
Fri 20-Jun Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
Sat 21-Jun Lincoln, NE Knickerbockers
Mon 23-Jun Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
Tue 24-Jun Kansas City, MO Westport Beach Club
Wed 25-Jun Oklahoma City, OK Bricktown Ballroom
Thu 26-Jun Dallas, TX House of Blues
Sat 28-Jun Houston, TX The Meridian
Sun 29-Jun New Orleans, LA House of Blues
Mon 30-Jun Birmingham, AL Workplay Theater
Wed 2-Jul Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
Thu 3-Jul Orlando, FL Backbooth
Sat 5-Jul Nashville, TN Rocketown (small room)
Mon 7-Jul Chicago, IL House of Blues
Tue 8-Jul Pontiac, MI Crofoot Ballroom
Wed 9-Jul Indianapolis, IN Music Mill
Fri 11-Jul Cleveland, OH Agora Ballroom
Sat 12-Jul Rochester, NY Water Street Music Hall
Mon 14-Jul Buffalo, NY Club infinity
Tue 15-Jul Northampton, MA Pearl Street
Wed 16-Jul Boston, MA Paradise
Thu 17-Jul New York City, NY Bowery Ballroom
Sat 19-Jul Wilton, CT Trackside Teen Center
Sun 20-Jul Townson, MD Recher Theatre
Mon 21-Jul Philadelphia, PA World Café Live
Wed 23-Jul Norfolk, VA The Norva
Thu 24-Jul Greenville, SC The Handlebar

Want to hear Ashlee Simpson’s new albumBittersweet World? Head over to her blo imeem page to listen to the album in its entirety! Bittersweet World is in stores everywhere which includes the single “Little Miss Obsessive” featuring Tom Higgenson of Plain White T

Bittersweet Worl on iTunes:

Check out another track off of SafetySuit’s debut album Life Left to Go. The Nashville based band is giving you a preview of their upcoming 5/13 release with another undeniably catchy song. Listen to “Annie” below.

SafetySuit’s current single, “Someone Like You,” is rocking at radio and just secured a spot in the top 40 sinon the Alternative chart!

“Annie” full audio streams:

Audio Stream 1

Audio Stream 2

Audio Stream 3

Audio Stream 4

Hilary McRae will celebrate the release of her “impressive debut” (Performing Songwriter) ‘Through These Walls’ (Hear Music) with shows in her native Florida. She recently opened for Huey Lewis & The News at the Pompano Beach Amphitheatre, and she will be opening for Todd Rundgren at Miami’s Jackie Gleason Theatre on April 15. McRae will also perform at NYC’s The Living Room on April 10 and April 21, extending her successful residency at the venue.

In other tour news, Hilary was hand-picked to perform at Florida’s SunFest in May, where she will warm up the stage for Fergie. In June Hilary heads to Milwaukee, WI for the PrideFest where she will open for Natasha Bedingfield. More shows to be confirmed in the coming weeks, stay tuned for details.

Hilary McRae Spring Dates:
April 10 – The Living Room – New York, NY
April 15 – Jackie Gleason Theatre w/ Todd Rundgren – Miami, FL
April 21 – The Living Room – New York, NY
May 2 – SunFest – West Palm Beach, FL
June 7 – Pride Fest – Milwaukee, WI

Hear Music artist Hilary McRae is set to release her debut album, Through These Walls, on 4/15. With influences including Chicago, Carole King and Fleetwood Mac, the 21 year old singer/songwriter/pianist wrote or co-wrote every song on the record. Hilary drew upon many personal experiences with love and heartbreak to gain inspiration for the album making it a record that everyone can relate to:

“The album talks about everything that can come along with being in a romantic relationship. From the good nerves and butterflies in the beginning, to the positive changes that can happen from having that wonderful person in your life, to the intense emotions you feel when things don’t work out as you had planned. Through These Walls catches the full spectrum of emotions you’d expect from being in a relationship.”

If you haven’t already, check out the video for her first single “Every Day (When Will You Be Mine).”

“Every Day (When Will You Be Mine)” Video Links:

Quicktime:

Windows:

Youtube Video:

The album cover for Scarlett Johansson’s debut album ‘Anywhere I Lay My Head’ has been released and it’s quite obvious that someone got inspired by Snow White. The album which consists almost entirely of Tom Waits covers, with one original song called ‘Song for Jo’ which serves as the album’s centerpiece will hit stores on May 20m Tuesday. Two tracks – ‘Falling Down’ and ‘Fannin’ Street’ feature the guest vocal styling of David Bowie while members of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Celebration and Stars like Fleas play on the album which was produced by Dave Sitek. That’s a lot of star power in one album!

Ever wanted to ask Ashlee Simpson a question? Now’s your chance! Head over to the new Q&A section of her official site to submit questions, and Ashlee will post her responses. Ashlee is set to release her album Bittersweet World on 4/22 that features the single “Little Miss Obsessive,” a duet with Tom Higgenson of Plain White Ts.

“Little Miss Obsessive” Audio:

Windows (High):

Windows (Low):

Born in Elva, Estonia, a tiny, then-Soviet occupied town of 5,000 people in the forest, Kerli grew up with a dream to escape from her surroundings. “Little creepy girl/Oh she loves to sing/She has a little gift-an amazing thing,” Kerli declares on the autobiographical, world music beat of “Walking on Air.” The Estonian pop princess showcases the haunting yet ethereal qualities of her voice on the track off of her debut album, Love is Dead, which is now due out this June through Island Records. Stay tuned for the video for “Walking on Air.”

“Walking on Air” Audio Stream:

 

At only 21 years old, Hilary McRae is wise beyond her years. The writer/singer/pianist evokes the youth of a vibrant pop star yet her label mates include the likes of Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell. As the first developing artist on Hear Music, McRae holds a very special spot on the label launched by Starbucks and Concord Music Group.

McRae began crafting much of the material on her debut album, Through These Walls, while attending Berklee School of Music on a songwriting scholarship. She soon realized she wanted to fuse her love for songwriting with performing and decided it was time to make a record.

While McRae’s stadium sized voice can well stand on its own, it is complemented by her own piano skills as well as an impressive backdrop of colorful horns. She has finally found her home on Hear Music and explains, “As an artist, I pour my heart out in every note I compose and sing. It is amazing to have the support of a label who works with that same passion.”

TOUR DATES:

3/07 Delray Beach, FL – City Limits
3/12 New York, NY – The Living Room
3/14 Boston, MA – The Paradise Lounge
3/16 Arlington, VA – Iota
3/18 New York, NY – The Living Room
3/19 Providence, RI – The Hi-Hat
3/21 New York, NY – Housing Works
3/22 New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
3/23 Boston, MA – The Paradise Lounge
3/25 Ridgewood, NJ – Blend Bar
3/26 New York, NY – The Living Room