Mon, 08/26/2019 - 12:27 pm

With the classic rock world poised this fall to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the seminal King Crimson debut In the Court of the Crimson King, a dominant creative personality on that genre-defining album is simultaneously celebrating the most recent benchmark in his distinguished career with the release of his newly collectible vinyl recording.

IAN McDONALD, co-founder of King Crimson and Foreigner and revered multi-instrumentalist and producer, announces the limited Collector’s Vinyl Edition of BAD OLD WORLD, the critically acclaimed 2017 debut album from his latest project, New York guitar-rock outfit Honey West. Produced by Ian McDonald and co-written with Honey West front man, guitarist and lyricist TED ZURKOWSKI, BAD OLD WORLD, features remastered versions of all 12 original songs on 180-gram audiophile vinyl, releasing Sept. 3 on Readout Records/The Orchard.

The Collector’s Vinyl Edition is available now for pre-order ($39.95) at the official Honey West website: www.honeywestmusic.com. Every copy will be autographed by Ian McDonald and Ted Zurkowski. Additionally, every collector’s package will include a BAD OLD WORLD CD, also autographed by Ian and Ted, plus excerpts from Ian’s original production notebook – in his handwriting – as well as bonus production and liner notes.

BAD OLD WORLD was created with many of the production skills and techniques McDonald originally honed in the making of In the Court of the Crimson King.

“This is how BAD OLD WORLD was meant to be heard,” says McDonald. “On high quality vinyl.”

BAD OLD WORLD is filled with memorable melodies and clever and sophisticated lyrics driven by guitar-based rock n' roll played by top-shelf musicians, including guest drummer Steve Holley (Paul McCartney & Wings) and Graham Maby (Joe Jackson, They Might Be Giants) on bass. It’s a modern sound stamped by Ian McDonald's world-class musicianship and production.

Goldmine proclaimed BAD OLD WORLD as “one of my favorite albums of 2017” and included it, as did WFUV/New York’s Darren DeVivo, on its year-end Top Album list. BAD OLD WORLD, says The Vinyl District, is an album whose songs “flow with spunk and real-world-rebellion. … The overall exuberance that comes through encourages a resounding ‘yes.’” Fireworks Magazine (UK) calls BAD OLD WORLD “a pure joy” and Glide Magazine declared the album “full of just good, fun, crisp-sounding, non-overproduced songs, and it’s very much worthy of a listen.” Short & Sweet (NY/LA) deemed it “truly perfect.”

As a British rock titan who, between King Crimson and Foreigner, has figured prominently on four of the biggest-selling albums of the 10-year period from 1969 through 1979, encompassing two completely different rock genres, McDonald proudly maintains BAD OLD WORLD is “some of the best work I’ve ever done.” Indeed, noted Billboard, “It merits some attention when Ian McDonald gets excited about something.” BAD OLD WORLD has earned additional notice from Parade.com, Huffington Post, Modern Drummer, M Music & Musicians, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Digital First Media, and Premiere Radio Networks, among many others.

Mon, 01/20/2020 - 9:45 am

After five years away, Bruce Springsteen returned home to LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST last night in grand style to help “The Festival That Bruce Built” celebrate its 20th anniversary with his 12th surprise guest performance during Bob’s Birthday Bash, the six-hour “Main Event” of the 10-day festival he has brought to worldwide prominence in the global battle to defeat Parkinson’s Disease and related illnesses through the awesome power of music.

An elated audience at the sold-out Paramount Theater here watched as Springsteen made a trio of on-stage appearances – in order, with Jesse Malin, Willie Nile, and finally, longtime collaborators Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers – to help the Light of Day Foundation push its two-decade fundraising tally toward its $6 million goal by festival’s end after this weekend.

Bob’s Birthday Bash is named after the organization’s co-founder and inspiration, artist manager and music industry veteran Bob Benjamin, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1996, and continues to fight not only his personal health struggles, but on behalf of those afflicted around the world on behalf of the Light of Day Foundation. Now wheelchair-bound, Benjamin joined Springsteen and the other participants on stage at the end of the evening for the traditional birthday cake presentation as the musicians and audience sang “Happy Birthday.”

Dressed in black jeans, a plaid checkered shirt and newsboy cap, Springsteen first appeared with Malin to duet on “Broken Radio” and add guitar to “Meet Me at the End of the World” from Malin’s new album, Sunset Kids. Springsteen returned to join Light of Day stalwart Willie Nile on “One Guitar,” the Nile-penned number that has become the unofficial anthem of the annual celebration.

Springsteen returned to cap off the celebration for an explosive 70-minute set with Pittsburgh rocker Grushecky and his band, alternating between Grushecky and Springsteen numbers in a 10-song set that included Boss favorites “The Promised Land,” “Atlantic City,” “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and traditionally, “Light of Day.” The latter was a signal for all of the evening’s performers to fill the stage and become an impromptu chorus.

Though “Light of Day” usually closes Bob’s Birthday Bash, Springsteen had one more song to offer. He switched to acoustic guitar and serenaded Benjamin on a solo rendition of “Thunder Road.”

“Thank you, Bob,” said Springsteen. “We love you.”

Also performing at Bob’s Birthday Bash were Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, James Maddock, The Weeklings, Dramarama, and Boccigalupe & The Bad Boys, with acoustic turns by Danielia Cotton, Ben Arnold, former Springsteen drummer Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez, Jill Hennessy, Williams Honor, Lisa Bouchelle, Matt Jaffe, Adam Ezra, Brian Dunne and Miss Emily.

Tickets for remaining LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2020: THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY events are on sale through www.ticketmaster.com,Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets for all events at House of Independents and the Saint are available through TicketWeb and at the venues’ websites. Tickets for McLoone’s Supper Club events are available at www.timmcloonessupperclub.com.

A wide variety of combination ticket packages – as well as single tickets to each show – are available. Additional ticket info can be found at the official Light of Day website: www.lightofday.org and Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LOD2000.

Complete ticket and additional information for all LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2020 events at www.lightofday.org and on Facebook.

Here are the remaining LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2020: THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY events:

Monday, JAN 20

GOODBYE BRUNCH, McLoone’s Supper Club, All Ages, 10a-2:30p.

Saturday JAN 25

LOD AFTERFEST: STEVE FORBERT & THE NEW RENDITIONS – House of Independents, Doors 2 p.m.; Show 2:50 p.m., $25/$60 VIP.

ABOUT THE LIGHT OF DAY FOUNDATION

The Light of Day Foundation, Inc., utilizes the awesome power of music to raise money and awareness in its continuing battle to defeat Parkinson’s disease and related neuro-degenerative diseases, specifically Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), within our lifetime. The Foundation’s mission is to fund research into possible cures, improved treatments and support for patients who suffer from those diseases, their families and their caregivers to help improve their quality of life. Gifts to the Light of Day Foundation, Inc. are tax-deductible to the full extent of the Internal Revenue Code. The Light of Day Foundation, Inc. is designated by the IRS as a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization. The Light of Day Foundation, Inc.'s Federal ID # is 20-1560386. Light of Day - the concerts and the organization - grew from a birthday party and fund-raiser held in 1998 at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank to celebrate the 40th birthday of artist manager and music industry veteran Bob Benjamin, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1996.