Thursday, February 28, 2013

Bayleaf: The Sequel?

The folks over at Pearl Jam Online got a chance to chat with Stone Gossard during Brad's recent European tour. No surprise here, but European fans will have to wait beyond 2013 to catch a Pearl Jam show. Gossard says the band won't make it across the pond this year, but probably will next year following the release of their yet to be titled tenth album.

Gossard did however say that his second solo album could come out "soon". It's been a long time coming, Gossard's first solo record was released nearly 12 years ago.

Since then, all we've had to tide us over were the gems he unleashed in 2008.



Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Above Deluxe EPK

Check out the new electronic press kit with the story of Mad Season's deluxe reissue of Above.  

Mad Season - Above Deluxe - EPK from Pearl Jam on Vimeo.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Soundgarden Extends Their U.S. Tour

Pearl Jam Curitiba, Brazil 11-9-11

In what is likely to be a painful blow to our hopes for a 2013 Pearl Jam album, Soundgarden has announced another leg of their North American Tour.

May 3: Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata
May 4: Washington, DC @ DC101 Chili Cookoff – RFK Stadium
May 5: Charlotte, NC @ Carolina Rebellion – Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 7: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
May 8: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
May 10: Louisville, KY @ Louisville Palace
May 11: Indianapolis, IN @ WRZX X103 Mayday Event – Klipsch Music Center
May 12: Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Outdoors
May 14: West Long Branch, NJ @ The MAC at Monmouth University
May 15: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
May 17: Wallingford, CT @ Toyota Presents Oakdale
May 18: Camden, NJ @ MMR-B-Q – Susquehanna Bank Center
May 19: Columbus, OH @ Rock On The Range Festival – Columbus Crew Stadium
May 21: St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
May 22: Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
May 24: Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
May 25: Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
May 26: Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
May 28: Broomfield, CO @ 1st Bank Center

For more information and on-sale dates, check out Soundgarden's website.

Friday, February 22, 2013

More Tenth Album Non-Answers

True, what Mike McCready has to say in his latest interview with Rolling Stone doesn't really rise to the level of "news" on the new album, but it's the closest we've come in a while.  He also explains what the band members mean when they say "halfway done."


Pearl Jam Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 11-6-11
"What everybody's been saying is halfway done," he says of the follow-up to 2009's Backspacer. "I think that's true – we have seven songs that are relatively completed. But then we have an additional 15 ready to go aside from any that Eddie brings in, so we'll weed through those."

Though he's reluctant to categorize the album just yet – "because what I can say won't make any sense until you hear it" – he can offer a few details.

"I would say as a cliché answer it's kind of a logical extension of what Backspacer was," he says. "But I think there's a little bit more experimental stuff going on. There's a Pink Floyd vibe to some of it, there's a punk rock edge to other stuff."
This Sunday, Mike will be running a half marathon in support of Team Gleason.  Visit their website to support the search for a cure to ALS.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Ten Goes Diamond


Possibly thanks to those of you who heeded our tweet earlier this month, Billboard just announced that Ten has broken the 10 million U.S. sales mark, making it eligible for the RIAA's Diamond award.
This week, the 1991 Epic Records release surpasses the 10 million U.S. sales mark according to Nielsen SoundScan, making it the 22nd album to reach the threshold since the company began tracking data in 1991.

In the week ending Feb. 17, the album sold nearly 4,000 copies (up 159% over the previous week). That brings its total sales to about 1,000 over 10 million.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Mad Season Single, Locomotive


Today, Rolling Stone has debuted Locomotive, the first single from Mad Season's reissue of Above, featuring Mark Lanegan on vocals.  Click here to check it out.
"Locomotive is a song that best represents the direction Mad Season was going for our second, unfinished album," [Barrett] Martin tells Rolling Stone. "Mark Lanegan's lyrics and powerful voice captures that time perfectly."

"He did an amazing job singing over this track from the elusive second Mad Season record that was to be called Disinformation," McCready adds. "'Locomotive' hits you like one!"

Friday, February 15, 2013

TSIS Review: Picture in a Frame

It was 2010 when Jennifer Sando had what she calls an epiphany.  A photographer in Adelaide, she was struck with the determination to photograph Eddie Vedder.


You might even remember our original reporting of her campaign, daily photographs leading up to Eddie's 2011 appearance in her hometown, meant as a plea to Eddie, "let me photograph you."

As it turns out, Jennifer was successful.  Prior to Ed's show, she was invited to Thebarton Theatre for a private photography session with Ed, afterwards, she brought the journey to her fans in a book, entitled Picture in a Frame.


Picture in a Frame is a book that documents the journey.  It is a thank you to the fans that carried her campaign all the way to her goal.  Here, her whole campaign is laid out in tribute to those that love Pearl Jam as much as she does.  They vary from the sentimental (fans with souvenirs, a father and son, a couple on their wedding day) to the whimsical (Scrabble pieces arranged in a tribute, a smiley face on a leaf) to the strange (a friend with "Ed" written on her head in cupcake frosting).  

The book simultaneously tells the story of a journey and pays homage to Eddie and those that love him.  It does so beautifully, with photographs stitched together with minimal narration by Jennifer.  In the end, that's all that's needed.  Jennifer's pictures carry you with her, all the way to the frame.

--- Jennifer's book retails for $27.95 at PictureinaFramebook.com. ---

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Grammy Camp with Dave Krusen

Did you know that The Grammy Foundation sponsors a camp in Los Angeles and New York that gives high school kids a chance to write, record, and perform their own original music with help from professional musicians?  I didn't either, but it's true, and a former Pearl Jam drummer is one of the instructors.

Those who oppose art and music programs in schools argue that budgeting and financials strain are the reasons these programs are eliminated, what are your thoughts on this issue? 
I think people take music for granted these days, they down load songs and don’t want to pay for anything, yet its such an important part of everyone’s life. It’s ironic because so many people grew up playing instruments, because band was such a big deal, and all of a sudden it’s like, “I want my kid into sports, there’s no career in music.” But a career in sports is much shorter, you can play music your entire life and even if you’re not making a giant living from it, you can still get so much fulfillment from it. I don’t understand why the focus is on sports, because even if you make a living at sports, it’s not a long career.
Check out the whole interview here.

Mike McCready: Busy Man

Well, since we found out this week that it could be almost a FULL @#$%ING YEAR until we get a new Pearl Jam album, you might ask yourself, "what the heck are these guys doing?"  One member of the band is particularly busy.

Pearl Jam Mexico City, Mexico 11-24-11

Though Mike, himself, is not tweeting about his work, his friend, Barrett Martin (drummer for Walking Papers, Screaming Trees, Mad Season, and Skin Yard) has been positively chatty.  What is Mike working on?

  • An unnamed Jimi Hendrix song with Martin, recorded by Jimi Hendrix/Led Zeppelin producer Eddie Kramer, for an unnamed project
  • An "instrumental soundscape album" which sounds a little like a score, but it's not clear
  • A guest spot on Walking Paper's upcoming second album
  • The release of Locomotive, the first single from the upcoming reissue of Mad Season's Above (which by the way, has some brief samples on Amazon)
And ... in case you missed it ...

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Desenfrado

We've been waiting on Stone's second album (formerly called Australopithecus) for quite a while.  Although the wait continues, Stone did debut a new song of his at Brad's first European show.  It fits pretty nicely with the demos/live songs that were released in 2008.  Check it out!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

New PJ Warm-Ups

If you miss the Supersonics as much as Jeff does, you're probably going to love the latest offering by the Ten Club.  Pearl Jam has just introduced men's and women's Pearl Jam warm-ups in Supersonic green and gold.


They cost $99 plus $8.01 domestic S&H.  Here is what the Ten Club had to say.
Inspired by the late/great Seattle basketball team, these warm-ups provide comfort and consolation to those folks without an NBA franchise. Available in both Men's and Women's styles. LIMITED QUANTITIES. Made by Crashious Roadside.
Also, check the shop for all of the 2012 Euro Flags and US Posters which popped up last week.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Jeff Talks Rock and Basketball with Kenny Mayne

ESPN the Magazine's Kenny Mayne recently shot hoops with Jeff and discussed the combination of rock 'n roll and basketball.  The video above contains snippets, but the full transcript is here.  There's just so much good info there (athleticism in musicians, Jeff's early sports, Rock 'N Jock, Sweet Lew, the Sonics), I don't know what to quote.  You'll have to check it out for yourself!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

RNDM to Play Bottle Rock Festival in May

Bottle Rock Festival in Napa Valley is an expo featuring great wines, beer, food, and music.  This year, it will be featuring RNDM.  They'll be taking the stage, Saturday, May 11th.


Tickets go on sale February 3rd at 10am (PST?).