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THE THE Release Exclusive Remix Of ‘GLOBAL EYES’ + Official Music Video Out Now

DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2022

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK, SRO PR

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THE THE
RELEASE EXCLUSIVE REMIX OF
‘GLOBAL EYES’
RECORDED LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL DURING
‘THE COMEBACK SPECIAL’ TOUR
WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO AVAILABLE NOW HERE

One of the most intriguing bands ever to emerge from England, THE THE have shared the official video for “Global Eyes (DJ Food’s Stolen Moments Remix).” Watch it here.

Previously available only on 10” vinyl as part of the limited The Comeback Special Deluxe Artbook released in October 2021, the remixed version of the live performance of “Global Eyes” by DJ Food reveals a new, stunning and atmospheric incarnation of the song. The album THE COMEBACK SPECIAL was released October 29, 2021 in multiple audio as well as video formats and documents their triumphant and sold-out Royal Albert Hall concert in 2018 in London. Read the last press release here.

“Global Eyes (DJ Food’s Stolen Moments Remix)” is now available as a digital single for the first time, accompanied by a music video created by Vicki Bennett, who provided the video backdrop for The Comeback Special tour and whose audio-visual collage work has previously been shown at major art galleries and institutions such as the Tate Modern and the Sydney Opera House.

Listen to ‘Global Eyes (DJ Food’s Stolen Moments Remix)’ here.

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The highlight of this multi-format release is an exquisitely designed 136-page art book, which tells the whole story behind The Comeback Special with hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos, film stills, contributions and stories, as well as 6 discs including exclusive audio content, plus director Tim Pope’s film of the concert on both Blu-ray and DVD.

Order The Comeback Special here: https://thethe.tmstor.es/

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THE THE
Global Eyes
(DJ Foods’s Stolen Moments Remix)
Single Release: February 4th, 2022

The Comeback Special
Album Release: October 29th, 2021
Formats:
2CD Mediabook / DVD Mediabook / Blu-ray Mediabook / Triple Vinyl Gatefold / Limited Edition Triple Vinyl (Crystal Clear) / Limited Edition Art Book

Further exclusive formats and merchandise available in the official album store here.

Tracklist:

  1. Global Eyes
  2. Sweet Bird Of Truth
  3. Flesh & Bones
  4. Heartland
  5. The Beat(en) Generation
  6. Armageddon Days (are here again)
  7. A Long Hard Lazy Apprenticeship
  8. We Can’t Stop What’s Coming
  9. Phantom Walls
  10. Love Is Stronger Than Death
  11. Dogs Of Lust
  12. Helpline Operator
  13. This Is The Night
  14. This Is The Day
  15. Soul Catcher
  16. Bugle Boy
  17. Beyond Love
  18. Slow Emotion Replay
  19. (Like a) Sun Rising Thru My Garden
  20. Infected
  21. I’ve Been Waiting For Tomorrow (all of my life)
  22. True Happiness (this way lies)
  23. Uncertain Smile
  24. Lonely Planet

THE THE online:

THE THE Website
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ABE GROSSMAN Debuts New Video For “Always Know You’re Somewhere” From Just-Released ‘Night Window’ Album

DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2022

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN

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ABE GROSSMAN
DEBUTS NEW VIDEO FOR
“ALWAYS KNOW YOU’RE SOMEWHERE”
FROM JUST-RELEASED
NIGHT WINDOW’ ALBUM
WATCH IT HERE

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On the heels of the release of his self-released debut album NIGHT WINDOW, singer-songwriter and alternative rock musician ABE GROSSMAN has just released a new video for “Always Know You’re Somewhere.” The moving clip, which pays homage to a relationship between a son and his father through various stages of life, was directed by ABE with Chris Jones and Daren Hiltunen. Watch the video here.

“Always Know You’re Somewhere” is a touching and personal song for anyone who has recently lost a loved one. A son sings to his father in the ballad that blooms into a 70’s guitar solo with a big, orchestrated chorus. All instruments were recorded analog-to-tape in the style of “golden age” classic rock artists of the 70’s to further the nostalgic themes. The music video features genuine Super 8 footage of ABE, his father, family, and friends, alongside more recent footage of ABE and his father on the Southern California coast. The clip shows ABE’s relationship with his father via a narrative thread from childhood to present day.

ABE GROSSMAN
TALKS ABOUT
“ALWAYS KNOW YOU’RE SOMEWHERE”

Q: The video tells the story of the relationship between a son and his father. Can you talk about your relationship with your father?

ABE GROSSMAN (AG): “I’m no different than most boys who want to make their fathers proud of them. I sought negative attention when I was young, so the road to maturity was long. My father has always been my most meaningful human connection. I have my lifetime to look back at the memories we’ve had. This song is looking forward beyond the world and into the unknown realm of spirit.

Q: What was the impetus for the song, “Always Know You’re Somewhere?”

ABE GROSSMAN (AG): As my father got older, I realized that the time we had here was limited. Our relationship had grown into a mature friendship beyond anything I could’ve imagined when I was young. He and I always have talked about spiritual matters throughout our lives. After I cleaned up my life, he and I started spending a lot more time together. The song just came from my love for him and the questions about what will be like when he’s gone. I find comfort in the fact that he’ll always be with me in the hereafter.

NIGHT WINDOW, released January 25, was an album “more than 40 years into a life of music” in Abe’s words. The album was previewed by the video-trilogy Speed Of The Night,” Ghost In The Dark and Dirty Cheap Hotel,” as well as the debut single, Blue Jays.” The sound throughout NIGHT WINDOW drips with classic nostalgia–a rich tapestry of 70’s classic rock and heartstring-pulling acoustic folk, stitched together by GROSSMAN’s distinctive, smokey lead vocal and lush orchestral arrangements. Subtle hints of familiar sounds, from Pink Floyd and John Mayer to Bob Dylan, may peek through here and there, and yet there’s some fresh unknown that makes the songs on NIGHT WINDOW their own instant classics.

The NIGHT WINDOW track listing is as follows:

Speed Of the Night
Ghost In The Dark
Down To The World
Dirty Cheap Hotel
Always Know You’re Somewhere
Blue Jays
Ain’t Good Looking Enough
Closer Stars
Born To Die
Lucky Boy

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GRAND FUNK RAILROAD Continue 2022 “Some Kind Of Wonderful Tour” Including Dates as Special Guests of Kid Rock

DT:     JANUARY 26, 2022

FM:    MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK

SRO PR

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GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
TONIGHT CONTINUE THEIR 2022
“SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL TOUR”

THE LEGENDARY ROCK & ROLL POWERHOUSE’S
ITINERARY INCLUDES SHOWS
AS ‘SPECIAL GUESTS OF KID ROCK’

Grand Funk Railroad (Pictured L-R: Bruce Kulick (guitar), Mel Schacher (bass guitar), Max Carl (vocals), Don Brewer (drummer), Tim Cashion (keyboardist))
Photo credit: Allen Clark

“You cannot talk about rock in the 1970s without talking about Grand Funk Railroad!”
–David Fricke, Rolling Stone Magazine

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD tonight (January 26) continue their 2022 “Some Kind Of Wonderful Tour,” performing multiple shows across the country and dynamically underlining their trademark “Rock and Soul” classics. As part of this year’s itinerary, the legendary rock & roll powerhouse will be the “special guests” of KID ROCK for an array shows including April 16 at Van Andel Arena in Michigan, the state where both artists hail from.

Original founding member DON BREWER (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the #1 multi-million selling hit, “We’re An American Band”) says: “In August of 2021 we were invited by Bob (Kid Rock) to play a show with him at the Soaring Eagle Amphitheater in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan not far from our hometown of Flint. We were excited to play this show with Bob and everyone loved it. The show was a Michigan Rock Extravaganza!

“So when I got a call from Live Nation’s Rick Franks telling me that ‘Rock’ wanted to have us (GFR) on some of his Bad Reputation 2022 Tour, we were happy to be part of it.

I worked with Bob a few times when he was a guest on several Bob Seger shows and I was Seger’s Tour Drummer. ‘Rock’ is a great singer and Entertainer and a great guy as well! This is going to be “Some Kind Of Wonderful” for all. Don’t miss it!”

Recently, BREWER took the time to talk about building the perfect set list and also discuss highlights of the GRAND FUNK RAILROAD set list, which is packed with one hit after another. His Q&A can be viewed here.

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2022 Grand Funk Railroad Tour Dates

1/26 Beaver Creek, CO Vilar Performing Arts Center
1/27 Grand Junction, CO The Avalon Theatre
1/29 Laughlin, NV Edgewater Casino Resort
2/25 Waukegan, IL Genesee Theatre
2/26 Minneapolis, MN Rock From The Heart
3/4 Atlantic City, NJ Ocean Resort and Casino
3/11 Crockett, TX Crockett Civic Center
3/12 Dallas, TX AT&T Performing Arts Center
3/19 Queen Creek , AZ Good Life Festival
3/24 Tampa, FL Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
4/1 Cherokee, NC Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center
4/2 Wilmington, NC Wilson Center
4/6 Evansville, IN Kid Rock’s Special Guest at Ford Center
4/8 Omaha, NE Kid Rock’s Special Guest at CHI Health Center Omaha
4/9 St. Paul, MN Kid Rock’s Special Guest at Xcel Energy Center
4/15 Columbus, OH Kid Rock’s Special Guest at Nationwide Arena
4/16 Grand Rapids, MI Kid Rock’s Special Guest at Van Andel Arena
4/29 French Lick, IN French Lick Resort Casino
6/1 W. Palm Beach, FL Kid Rock’s Special Guest at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
6/11 Tampa, FL Kid Rock’s Special Guest at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
6/15 Atlanta, GA Kid Rock’s Special Guest at Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
6/17 Charlotte, NC Kid Rock’s Special Guest at PNC Music Pavilion
6/18 Raleigh, NC Kid Rock’s Special Guest at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
8/5 Nashville, TN Schermerhorn Symphony Center

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ABOUT GRAND FUNK RAILROAD:

After playing to millions of fans on the band’s tours from 1996 to 2021, GRAND FUNK will continue to reach both new and long-time fans on the “Some Kind Of Wonderful Tour,” named in honor of their 1975 Billboard pop smash. Originating from Flint, Michigan in 1969, this top-selling American rock group of the 70’s is “Comin’ To Your Town To Help You Party It Down.” 

Known as “The American Band,” the high-energy five-piece group GRAND FUNK RAILROAD includes original founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the multi-million selling hit, “We’re An American Band”) and bassist Mel Schacher“The God of Thunder.” Joining Don and Mel are true “All Stars.” Singer Max Carl is a rock veteran from 38 Special. Max penned and sang 38’s biggest hit “Second Chance” and was co-founder of California’s legendary Jack Mack and the Heart Attack. Don refers to Max as “the best blue-eyed soul singer on the planet.” Lead guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known for his 12 years with KISS and has credits with Michael Bolton, Meat Loaf and Billy Squier. (KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were influenced early on by Grand Funk.) Keyboardist Tim Cashion has a master’s degree in music from the University of Miami. Affectionately called “Dr. Tim,” his credits include stints with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and English soul man Robert Palmer.

Grand Funk laid the groundwork for such bands as Foreigner, Journey, Van Halen and Bon Jovi with its signature hard driving sound, soulful vocals, muscular instrumentation and forceful pop melodies. The fact that Grand Funk’s legacy still reigns over the Classic Rock landscape more than 50 years after is a testament to the group’s influence and staying power. Mega-hits “We’re An American Band,” “I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home,” “Locomotion,” and “Some Kind Of Wonderful” still receive continuous airplay on Classic Rock radio. “We’re An American Band” has received notoriety in recent years being used in movie soundtracks and in television/radio advertising. The huge hit was featured in a General Motors national TV ad campaign and in Disney’s animated feature film The Country Bears. “We’re An American Band” was featured in the Cuba Gooding Jr. film Radio, and in the swash buckler Sahara starring Matthew McConaughey.

Internationally acclaimed Grand Funk has toured the world, selling out in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and South America. A 1971 performance at New York’s Shea Stadium sold out faster than the Beatles. The group’s widespread appeal is also evident in its prestigious recording achievements. Over their career, Grand Funk has had 19 charted singles, 8 Top 40 hits and two Number One singles (“We’re An American Band” and “Locomotion,” both selling more than one million each). The group has now accumulated 13 gold and 10 platinum records with record sales exceeding 25 million copies sold worldwide. The most recent gold CD award was presented to the band for their greatest hits package Grand Funk Railroad the Collectors Series.

The multi-talented band carries on the tradition of Grand Funk hits and creates a new chapter in the legacy of Grand Funk RailroadGFR drew 25,000 people to their Molson Canal Series Concert outside Buffalo, 20,000 in Albany, New York, and 20,000 fans to downtown Orlando, Florida. EMI/Capitol (Universal Music) released a new Grand Funk Greatest Hits package that includes a bonus DVD of rare concert footage. Grand Funk Railroad’s 2019 “50 Years Of Funk Tour” was a huge success and now, with the group’s 2022 “Some Kind Of Wonderful Tour,” seasoned Grand Funk lovers and contemporary rock fans discovering the group for the first time will be able to celebrate more than 50 Years of Funk with Grand Funk Railroad.

Grand Funk Railroad 2022 Tour Dates
https://www.grandfunkrailroad.com/tour.html

For more information on GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, visit:

WEBSITE | SPOTIFY

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For press inquiries regarding GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, contact:

SRO PR
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com  (National)
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com (Tour)

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ALDO NOVA Set To Release Two Music Projects This April: Rock Opera ‘The Life And Times Of Eddie Gage’ EP On April 1 And ‘Aldo Nova 2.0 Reloaded’ On April 19

DATE: JANUARY 26, 2022

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN

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MULTI-PLATINUM GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING SINGER, SONGWRITER, PRODUCER, GUITARIST,
AND MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST
ALDO NOVA
SET TO RELEASE TWO MUSIC PROJECTS THIS APRIL
ROCK OPERA
‘THE LIFE AND TIMES OF EDDIE GAGE’ EP
SET FOR RELEASE APRIL 1

FREE YOUR MIND” SINGLE
OUT NOW
‘ALDO NOVA 2.0 RELOADED’
THREE-DISC SET
OUT APRIL 19

Multi-platinum GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist ALDO NOVA has set April 1 as the release date for the first chapter of his larger-than-life rock opera, a 10-song EP titled THE LIFE AND TIMES OF EDDIE GAGE. The iconic Montreal maverick will subsequently release the triple disc ALDO NOVA 2.0 RELOADED on April 19. It will feature 2.0 versions of nine classic songs from ALDO’s catalog, plus another disc with no lead vocal track and a third disc with no lead guitar track so fans can either sing along or play along with him.

Up first this year for ALDO–who has spent more than four decades in music with dozens of classic songs and hundreds of shows–is the release of the first 10 tracks (nine songs, one bonus cut) from THE LIFE AND TIMES OF EDDIE GAGE rock opera. It tells the story of Eddie Gage, a prodigious ingénue who breaks into the music industry only to be preyed upon by a nefarious suit Andy Christos, manipulated by a corporate overlord M.F. Stophalis, and tempted by a succubus Rati Ayida. Drugs, alcohol, and excess plunge him into despair until he realizes redemption on his own terms. Look for the newly released “Free Your Mind” single available now everywhere. Listen here. The song is a high-energy rocker packed with ALDO’s thunderous guitar work, soaring vocals and lyrics about fictional rocker Eddie Gage.

ALDO explains, “The date is July the 1st of 1982, when only three months after the release of his 1st album, simply titled Eddie Gage, Eddie has achieved superstar status. This is him playing in front of 10,000 fans and singing about the fact that it’s time for people to expand their minds towards a more spiritual side of reality because society has become corrupt, a direction that his record company, Daedalus Records did not want him to take. The lyrics say it all, and Eddie and his band show a level of musicianship far above the norm.

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The musical journey of THE LIFE AND TIMES OF EDDIE GAGE began in 2008, when ALDO started to assemble what would become 25 songs (which ALDO will eventually release). Throughout the work, ALDO distills his often-unbelievable musical journey into the allegory of the rock opera, which he wrote, produced, arranged, engineered, and mixed entirely. The recording includes a 40-piece orchestra, a full gospel choir, Lee Levin on drums and mastering from the legendary Bob Ludwig. In addition, a one song bonus disc will accompany the collection with the soaring instrumental song “Les Anges.”

“I feel really comfortable in my own skin, and my music is who I am,” ALDO says. “The record was done from pure inspiration he says, I felt like was connected somewhere. I was truly channeling some place away from myself. It was almost as if something above connected to me and gave me these songs.”

Following the release of THE LIFE AND TIMES OF EDDIE GAGE, ALDO will turn the page on the next chapter of this story with the three-disc ALDO NOVA 2.0 RELOADED. The three-disc recording features nine classics from his catalog new recordings–not only as the 2.0 versions of the songs, but also as alternate versions with no lead vocal track and another with no lead guitar track so fans can finally either sing along or play with him.

“Nobody’s ever done this,” ALDO says. “You can basically sing with me as your backing band or play along as a backing track. No other artist has given his tracks to fans in this way. I want to encourage kids to improvise and learn. You can play the record if you want, or you can be a part of it. It’s a new concept.”

Ultimately, ALDO is no stranger to new concepts, and he continues to break ground.

“When you hear any of this, I want you to feel like I took it to another level,” he leaves off. “I didn’t just come back and do the same thing. I didn’t stay stagnant. I’m sixty-five-years-old, but I feel like I’m thirty-years-old. I’m bringing everything to a whole new universe. I’m comfortable. I’m happy in my independence. I am who I am. I’m Aldo Nova, because my real name is too hard to say,” he laughs.

Track listing for THE LIFE AND TIMES OF EDDIE GAGE:

  1. Hey Ladi Dadi
  2. Free Your Mind
  3. Follow The Road
  4. King Of Deceit
  5. The Bitch In Black
  6. On The Way To The Psycho Ward
  7. When All Is Said And Done
  8. Say A Little Prayer
  9. Burn Like The Sun

Bonus Track: Les Anges-Composed, Arranged and Performed by Aldo Nova

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Track listing for ALDO NOVA 2.0 RELOADED:

Disc One

  1. Blood On The Bricks 2.0 – Reloaded
  2. Monkey On Your Back 2.0 – Reloaded
  3. Under The Gun – War Suite 2.0 – Reloaded
  4. Foolin’ Yourself 2.0 – Reloaded
  5. Ball And Chain 2.0 Reloaded
  6. Paradise 2.0 – Reloaded
  7. Modern World 2.0 – Reloaded
  8. Fantasy 2.0 – Reloaded
  9. I’m A Survivor 2.0 – Reloaded

Disc Two

  1. Blood On The Bricks 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Vocal
  2. Monkey On Your Back 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Vocal
  3. Under The Gun – War Suite 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Vocal
  4. Foolin’ Yourself 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Vocal
  5. Ball And Chain 2.0 Reloaded – No Ld Vocal
  6. Modern World 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Vocal
  7. Fantasy 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Vocal
  8. I’m A Survivor 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Vocal

Disc Three

  1. Blood On The Bricks 2.0 Reloaded – No Ld Guitar
  2. Monkey On Your Back 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Guitar
  3. Under The Gun – War Suite 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Guitar
  4. Foolin’ Yourself 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Guitar
  5. Ball And Chain 2.0 Reloaded – No Ld Guitar
  6. Paradise 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Guitar
  7. Modern World 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Guitar
  8. Fantasy 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Guitar
  9. I’m A Survivor 2.0 Reloaded No Ld Guitar

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About ALDO NOVA:

Born Aldo Caporuscio, he opened this channel forty years ago with his 1982 double-platinum top ten self-titled debut, Aldo Nova, and its definitive Hot 100 smash single “Fantasy.” On the heels of the platinum-selling Subject…Aldo Nova and Twitch, he emerged as a trusted collaborator for some of the biggest stars in the world. He co-wrote the
song “Mr. Big Time” for the soundtrack of the movie, “Armageddon,” and worked closely with Jon on his soundtrack album for the film, “Young Guns 2,” writing the signature riff from Jon Bon Jovi’s “Blaze of Glory.” Bon Jovi returned the favor by collaborating on ALDO’s 1991 Blood on the Bricks. Working closely with Céline Dion, he penned “A New Day Has Come,” “Your Light,” “I Can’t Fight the Feeling,” and “You and I,” even garnered a GRAMMY® Award in the category of Album of the Yearfor co-writing and producing 3 songs from her diamond-selling album Falling Into You. Not to mention, his discography also includes writing songs for everyone from Faith Hill, Carole King, and Clay Aiken to Garou and Blue Öyster Cult.

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Singer-Songwriter ABE GROSSMAN Q&A In Advance Of Release Of His Debut Album ‘Night Window’ Out January 25

DATE: JANUARY 20, 2022

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN

READ
ABE GROSSMAN
Q&A
IN ADVANCE OF RELEASE OF HIS DEBUT ALBUM
‘NIGHT WINDOW’
DUE OUT JANUARY 25

Abe Grossman Press Photo

In advance of next week’s release of his debut album, NIGHT WINDOW, singer-songwriter and alternative rock musician ABE GROSSMAN sat down to give some insight into the album, his creative process and more. Read the Q&A below and watch a clip about the album here.

The sound throughout NIGHT WINDOW drips with classic nostalgia–a rich tapestry of 70’s classic rock and heartstring-pulling acoustic folk, stitched together by GROSSMAN’s distinctive, smokey lead vocal and lush orchestral arrangements. Subtle hints of familiar sounds, from Pink Floyd and John Mayer to Bob Dylan, may peek through here and there, and yet there’s some fresh unknown that makes the songs on NIGHT WINDOW their own instant classics. Read more about the album here.

ABE GROSSMAN
Q&A

What initially attracted you to playing an instrument and writing songs?

“I’ve always loved listening to music, but it wasn’t on my radar to learn to play music and express myself as a musician. I’d never thought, ‘Hey, I’m going to be a musician.’ When I was about 12, I was in Africa and I was in a hotel that was bombed and I survived, while many people didn’t, and it had a profound effect on me. When I got home, I went to a therapist who said, ‘give this kid an instrument or something.’ And I ended up going to this music store down the street and buying a guitar. I started playing and then took lessons from a local musician who taught me how to play guitar.”

At what point did you decide that songwriting was going to be a part of that?

“I didn’t make a decision. I think I just learned the chords and it was really Bob Dylan that had a great effect on me. I love Bob Dylan and many other seventies artists like Cat Stevens and Jim Croce who were making music when I was really young. They were on the radio and I think I just learned a couple chords and I had an idea of something different to say than anyone else said. I made up some words and a melody and it just came naturally.”

What makes a good song?

“Everything in life needs a crescendo. Sometimes that means a big chorus or an arrangement that opens the song up, or sometimes it can be simply in the poignancy of the lyrics. I think Lou Reed was very good at that. He was such a great lyricist and leaned on textural instrumentation, like ‘Take A Walk on the Wild Side’ with that great bass line. Lou Reed never pushed his vocals. He just talked. A singer like Lou Reed can make it work.”

Let’s talk about Night Window. You say it’s a 10-song homage to the light of life that can only be found on the other side of darkness. Did making it serve as a catharsis to a part of your life?

“Yeah, absolutely. I had cleaned up my act and the experiences that I had got me to realize what was true about myself, which allowed me to make some changes and see the truth about my own condition and addiction in my life. And that moment sort of ended another moment. So the pain and suffering and all the behaviors and things I was doing prior to stopping drugs and alcohol was this incredible journey to the truth. It’s like sandpaper. All beautifully carved wood and sculptures need sandpaper. You don’t move the wood without it. And so my life was no different. I needed to go through these very difficult experiences. And a lot of those experiences are in the songs.”

Are there contemporary artists that you also admire.

“I love Sufjan Stevens. And I think his Carrie & Lowell album was just brilliant. I saw him at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 2015. I think that album is as good of an album as any album ever. It’s so consistent and so beautiful. Really all the songs. It’s flawless from the beginning to the end. I’m also a big Elliott Smith fan. I think that Either/Or is this a great record. I love that album.”

What would you say is your biggest guilty pleasure?

“So…I’ve taken most of those out of my life. It seems ridiculous to say but, I like popcorn at night…’Night Carbs,’ my follow-up record.”

If you could have a conversation with anyone living or dead, who would it be?

“My grandma. I didn’t get to have her in my life, she died at 65 of cancer, when I was 20 and I didn’t get to know her as an adult. I wish I could just talk to her about her life and who she was and tell her about myself. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in me, she just had this undying belief in me.”

What’s next for you musically?

“I think I have the best songs in my life on my next record. I think I’ve evolved as a musician. I had to get sober for me to get out of my own way. And once I did, a lot of it, you know, it was like if you train forever for something, and then you finally get the chance to do it, but you’ve always stayed physically in shape for it. You’ve gotten stronger, but you haven’t applied that strength to anything. That’s what happened to me. I continued to play, but I never got out of my own way. But once I had a spiritual sort of change in my life, I was able to write at a much higher level as a songwriter.”

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Watch Kaskade And Chandler Kimball Foundation’s Founder Jason Kimball Talk About This Month’s “Life’s Big Win” Benefit Concert For Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Awareness

DATE: JANUARY 11, 2022

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN

KASKADE AND
CHANDLER KIMBALL FOUNDATION’S FOUNDER
JASON KIMBALL
TALK ABOUT
THE SATURDAY, JANUARY 15
“LIFE’S BIG WIN”
BENEFIT CONCERT FOR
CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY (CTE) AWARENESS
AT TEMPE, ARIZONA’S SUNBAR

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Multi-Grammy Award-nominated musician, DJ and record producer Kaskade is the confirmed headliner for “Life’s Big Win” benefit for the Chandler Kimball Foundation for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Awareness. He recently sat down to talk about the event–taking place this Saturday, January 15 at Tempe, Arizona’s Sunbar–with Chandler Kimball Foundation’s Founder Jason Kimball. Watch the clip here.

The event will also include performances from chart-topping reggae band The Expendables and live electronic artist Bardz, along with appearances from the renowned forensic pathologist and neurologist, Dr. Bennet Omalu (the subject of Sony Pictures’ 2015 film Concussion), who will be speaking about youth tackle football and the risks of developing CTE, and former Arizona Cardinal and 12-year NFL veteran, Eric Hill.

The Chandler Kimball Foundation was founded in honor of Arizona native Chandler Kimball to raise awareness of (CTE), a brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head including concussive and sub-concussive hits. Kimball, who played tackle football from the age of nine, began to develop CTE symptoms in his early twenties and as his condition began to rapidly decline, his family sought treatment with therapists and specialists. Despite these efforts, Chandler succumbed to this preventable disease and took his own life on January 15, 2019. Read more here.

Tickets are on sale here. All of the event’s net proceeds will go directly to the Chandler Kimball Foundation to help educate and inform parents about CTE, and to provide family members tools and guidance they can utilize to support their decision to find alternative and safer sports for their children.

Website
Facebook
Instagram

About the Chandler Kimball Foundation

The Chandler Kimball Foundation was founded in 2021 with a mission to raise awareness of CTE and share medical evidence and personal stories of families devastated by Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) caused by youth tackle football. Chandler Kimball, a talented Arizona athlete loved all sports, but his passion was football–exclusively playing tackle football at an elite level since the age of nine and winning the Arizona State Championships at the Pop Warner and High School levels. Kimball graduated from Arizona State University in 2017. Minor symptoms of CTE began manifesting in Kimball around the age of 22 and continued to gradually worsen over the next three years. Kimball succumbed to this preventable disease and took his own life on January 15, 2019. The Chandler Kimball Foundation aims to educate and inform parents about scientific studies showing that enrolling their child in youth tackle football significantly increases the risk that their child may eventually develop CTE, and to provide family members tools and guidance they can utilize to support their decision to find alternative and safer sports for their children.

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Kaskade Set As Headliner For CHANDLER KIMBALL FOUNDATION’S “LIFE’S BIG WIN” Benefit Concert For Arizona-Based Nonprofit That Raises Awareness Of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) In Youth

DATE: DECEMBER 22, 2021

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN

KASKADE–
MULTI-GRAMMY AWARD-NOMINATED MUSICIAN,
DJ AND RECORD PRODUCER–
SET AS HEADLINER FOR
CHANDLER KIMBALL FOUNDATION’S
“LIFE’S BIG WIN”
BENEFIT CONCERT
AT TEMPE, ARIZONA’S SUNBAR ON
SATURDAY, JANUARY 15

PROFITS WILL GO TO ARIZONA-BASED
NONPROFIT THAT RAISES AWARENESS OF
CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY (CTE) IN YOUTH

LINE-UP FOR THE EVENT
TO ALSO INCLUDE PERFORMANCES
FROM THE EXPENDABLES AND BARDZ,
ALONG WITH APPEARANCES FROM DR. BENNET OMALU
AND FORMER ARIZONA CARDINAL ERIC HILL

Text Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Multi-Grammy Award-nominated musician, DJ and record producer Kaskade has been confirmed as the headliner for “Life’s Big Win,” a Saturday, January 15, 2022 benefit for the Chandler Kimball Foundation for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Awareness. The event at Tempe, Arizona’s Sunbar will also include performances from chart-topping reggae band The Expendables and live electronic artisty Bardz, along with appearances from renowned forensic pathologist and neurologist, Dr. Bennet Omalu (the subject of Sony Pictures’ 2015 film Concussion) who will be speaking about youth tackle football and the risks of developing CTE and former Arizona Cardinal and 12-year NFL veteran, Eric Hill.

The Chandler Kimball Foundation was founded in honor of Arizona native Chandler Kimball to raise awareness of (CTE), a brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head including concussive and sub-concussive hits. Kimball, who played tackle football from the age of nine began to develop CTE symptoms in his early twenties and as his condition began to rapidly decline, his family sought treatment with therapists and specialists. Despite these efforts, Chandler succumbed to this preventable disease and took his own life on January 15, 2019.

From winning a Pop Warner state championship in 2005 with the Scottsdale Apaches to leading the Gilbert Lonestars to an undefeated regular season and appearance in the 2006 Pop Warner state championship game, Kimball continued on to excel in high school football for the Desert Vista Thunder where he started at strong safety and won the 2011 Arizona Football State Championship. In the years that followed, his parents saw drastic changes in the young athlete.

After the loss of their son, his family wanted answers and enlisted the help of renowned forensic pathologist and neurologist, Dr. Bennet Omalu, who confirmed that Chandler suffered from CTE. Upon the confirmation of Chandler’s CTE, his father Jason Kimball founded the Chandler Kimball Foundation to raise awareness of CTE and the inherent risks of youth tackle football. Research has shown that enrolling children in youth tackle football significantly increases the risk they may eventually develop CTE. A study by the Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus found “significant and surprising amount of CTE in males who had participated in amateur contact sports in their youth.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Kaskade for headlining the first annual Life’s Big Win event and for helping us to raise awareness of CTE and the dangers of youth tackle football,” Jason Kimball said. “Chandler was a big Kaskade fan and saw his shows and met him multiple times. Chandler’s love for music and his connection to Kaskade make this a perfect fit for this event and our cause.”

Tickets are on sale here. All of the event’s net proceeds will go directly to the Chandler Kimball Foundation to help educate and inform parents about CTE, and to provide family members tools and guidance they can utilize to support their decision to find alternative and safer sports for their children.

Website
Facebook
Instagram

About the Chandler Kimball Foundation

The Chandler Kimball Foundation was founded in 2021 with a mission to raise awareness of CTE and share medical evidence and personal stories of families devastated by Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) caused by youth tackle football. Chandler Kimball, a talented Arizona athlete loved all sports, but his passion was football–exclusively playing tackle football at an elite level since the age of nine and winning the Arizona State Championships at the Pop Warner and High School levels. Kimball graduated from Arizona State University in 2017. Minor symptoms of CTE began manifesting in Kimball around the age of 22 and continued to gradually worsen over the next three years. Kimball succumbed to this preventable disease and took his own life on January 15, 2019. The Chandler Kimball Foundation aims to educate and inform parents about scientific studies showing that enrolling their child in youth tackle football significantly increases the risk that their child may eventually develop CTE, and to provide family members tools and guidance they can utilize to support their decision to find alternative and safer sports for their children.

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Los Angeles Singer-Songwriter And Alternative Rock Musician ABE GROSSMAN Sets January Release For His Debut Album ‘NIGHT WINDOW’

DATE: DECEMBER 1, 2021

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN

A person standing in front of a red door with a sign above it Description automatically generated with medium confidence

ABE GROSSMAN
SET TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
‘NIGHT WINDOW’
IN JANUARY 2022

ALBUM HAS BEEN PREVIEWED BY
THE VIDEO-TRILOGY
SPEED OF THE NIGHT,”
GHOST IN THE DARK” AND
DIRTY CHEAP HOTEL,
ALONG WITH THE DEBUT SINGLE, “BLUE JAYS

A person standing in front of a building with a sign on it Description automatically generated with medium confidence

An album “more than 40 years into a life of music” is how singer-songwriter and alternative rock musician ABE GROSSMAN describes his debut album NIGHT WINDOW. Set for release in January 2022, the album has been previewed by the video-trilogy Speed Of The Night,” Ghost In The Dark and Dirty Cheap Hotel,” as well as the debut single, Blue Jays.”

GROSSMAN has taken a long journey to bloom into the artist that he is today. When asked why now? “Because,” he reflects, thoughtfully, “now I have something to say.”

The sound throughout NIGHT WINDOW drips with classic nostalgia–a rich tapestry of 70’s classic rock and heartstring-pulling acoustic folk, stitched together by GROSSMAN’s distinctive, smokey lead vocal and lush orchestral arrangements. Subtle hints of familiar sounds, from Pink Floyd and John Mayer to Bob Dylan, may peek through here and there, and yet there’s some fresh unknown that makes the songs on NIGHT WINDOW their own instant classics.

The album comes out swinging with “Speed Of The Night” and “Ghost In The Dark,” two wine-drunk, lumbering power-ballads where ABE’s classic, raspy vocal storms on the back of punching drums, pearlescent grand piano, a belting organ, and a fuming, distorted electric guitar. ABE reveals a sweet vulnerability in strikingly honest tracks like “Dirty Cheap Hotel” and “Blue Jays,” where jangling acoustic guitar gives way to a wave of strings that wash the listener in a gushing river of nostalgia. In “Always Know You’re Somewhere,” ABE pours out his heart in a tender ballad to his father, revealing an artist matured by the passing of time and a hopeful nod to the past. Floating on a spring breeze of lapsteel guitar, the southern rock twang of “Closer Stars” brings fresh color to the album, while “Ain’t Good Looking Enough” bubbles effervescently with masterful arrangements reminiscent of classic records of the 60’s and 70/s. In “Born To Die,” angelic female background vocals ooze from the cracks of a building ballad that overflows into a soulful, Gilmour-esque electric guitar solo. “Lucky Boy” concludes the album, finding the most mature and reflective version of GROSSMAN yet. A wistful, lo-fi acoustic undercurrent drifts and bobs on a vast sea of strings and a brilliant wash of reverb that takes the listener back through the journey of the album and, inevitably, leaves one reflecting sentimentally on the journey of one’s own life. Earnest, nostalgic, and lush, NIGHT WINDOW stands as a 10-song homage to the light of life that can only be found on the other side of darkness.

Many of the songs on NIGHT WINDOW (2022) and most notably the video-trilogy–“Speed Of The Night,” “Ghost In The Dark,” and “Dirty Cheap Hotel”–tell the story of ABE’s relationship with Brookie, a fellow lost soul with a loving heart and a troubled past.

ABE’s relationship with music started in earnest when he was 13. His grandparents took him on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya, where ABE vividly recalls narrowly escaping death in the now-infamous 1981 Norfolk Hotel bombing. In an effort to help ABE express himself constructively, his parents got him his first guitar, which would begin a lifelong relationship with music.

“That experience forced me into a desperate need to connect,” ABE recalls. “There was an immediacy to needing to find some deeper meaning in the world. Everybody needs an avenue or instrument to connect with the world in a meaningful and purposeful way. Often, through the cauldron of a difficult experience, created by oneself or by circumstance, you search for whatever that tool is. For me it was the guitar.”

ABE’s professional musical journey began when he moved to Los Angeles. Invigorated by music as a means for connection and validation, ABE relentlessly pursued a career as an artist. In Los Angeles, he collaborated with local musicians and formed his own rock band, Small Motor Land. After years of trying and very little success, lack of purpose and growing addictions began to consume ABE. He spun out into more than a decade of darkness, defined by bad habits and empty pursuits. Music faded into the background. During this time of wandering like a ghost through Los Angeles, ABE fell in love with Brookie. They ran on the outskirts of society together, enabling each other’s lifestyles of addiction and the pursuit of transient pleasure.

And then, after more than a decade of spiraling downward, everything changed in an instant. Just what happened is a mystery, even to ABE, but he recalls a deep “moment of clarity” where he realized that he needed to clean up his life, or else lose himself forever. ABE had found the will to life that he had been searching for all along. ABE implored Brookie to change with him, but she was too entrenched in her habits and eventually, Brookie’s hard-and-fast living would take her life.

For three years post-epiphany, he didn’t have any desire to play music at all. And then, out of nowhere and all at once, the songs began to pour through him–poignant reflections on love and loss, and the search for purpose. ABE found new wisdom in perspective, and the songs gave that perspective voice.

“When I was younger, my music was so backed up by my own ego. It was like a clogged artery, like being on the verge of having a heart attack all the time,” ABE explains. “Finding a deep spiritual connection–or a connection with God, or however you want to say it–got me through that by giving me perspective. I had to believe in my own story to write music that was authentic to me. When I was younger, I wanted to tell a story that I thought other people wanted to hear. When I found a way out of myself, I found it easy to share my feelings through music.”

He continues, “Everyone is given some activity or tool that allows them to find the meaning of life, which is connecting with people. Unity. When you feel unity, you feel purpose and belonging, and you don’t feel inadequate in life. Music has been that for me.”

Fast forward to October 2021. ABE checks his Instagram direct messages. A fan writes, thanking ABE for sharing himself vulnerably. She cites “Speed Of The Night” as a comfort to her as she reflects on the loss of her husband and her father, respectively. “She’s giving a voice to similar experiences to mine and making me feel a part of something – a part of the human experience with other human beings,” ABE reflects, earnestly. “The gift is being given back to me by people listening to my music. They have a voice that sings with me.” He smiles. Better than fame or fortune, he’s found that deeper-something that he’s been looking for all along.

The NIGHT WINDOW track listing is as follows:

Speed Of the Night
Ghost In The Dark
Down To The World
Dirty Cheap Hotel
Always Know You’re Somewhere
Blue Jays
Ain’t Good Looking Enough
Closer Stars
Born To Die
Lucky Boy

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Acclaimed Autobiography ‘PERMANENT DAMAGE: MEMOIRS OF AN OUTRAGEOUS GIRL’ Generates Strong Praise In 2021

DATE: DECEMBER 1, 2021

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN/MITCH SCHNEIDER

‘PERMANENT DAMAGE:
MEMOIRS OF AN OUTRAGEOUS GIRL’
BY MERCY FONTENOT WITH LYNDSEY PARKER
GENERATES STRONG PRAISE IN 2021

A book with a person's face on it Description automatically generated with low confidence

Permanent Damage: Memoirs of An Outrageous Girl (Rare Bird Books), which veteran music journalist Lyndsey Parker co-wrote with late GTOs member Mercy “Miss Mercy” Fontenot, has turned out to be one of the most acclaimed music books of the year. See the pull quotes below including four-star reviews from Mojo and Goldmine and praise from The Guardian which noted that “The book reads like a romp, aided by Mercy’s keen sense of the absurd and flair for black humor…”

Released June 9, 2021, it received strong notices from the press and accolades from Mercy’s contemporaries. It was also honored with events in Los Angeles, including an in-store at Stories Books and Cafe and virtual events with the GRAMMY MUSEUM® and the Women’s International Music Network.

“It has been bittersweet to see the support the book has received, because she [Mercy] didn’t live to see Permanent Damage’s success,” PARKER says (Mercy died July 27, 2020). “I think she would have gotten a real kick out of seeing her name on the charts (go to #4 on Amazon’s Music Books list) or in a four-star Mojo magazine review–like the rock star she was born to be. But I don’t believe she would have been surprised by the reception, because she believed in herself, and in way, neither am I, because I believed in her too. I always thought if Mercy’s stranger-than-fiction story could be told, it would find an audience. That is why I was so hell-bent on getting her to write her memoirs, wearing her down for years before she finally agreed! I am so thrilled her story will live on forever now.”

Permanent Damage: Memoirs of An Outrageous Girl shows us the world of the 1960s and 1970s music scene through Mercy Fontenot’s eyes, as well as the fallout of that era–experiencing homelessness before sobering up and putting her life back together. Written just prior to her death in 2020, Miss Mercy’s journey is a can’t miss for anyone who was there and can’t remember, or just wishes they’d been there. Read some highlights from the book here.

“All Miss Mercy ever really wanted was respect. I knew she was important, of course, but I think I was so close to this project, and to Mercy herself, that I didn’t fully grasp her impact until the accolades for the book came in. She definitely made her mark,” PARKER notes of things she gleaned after the book was published.

She adds: “I also learned that even though she was a relatively obscure figure in the rock world, she was revered and respected by so many–from the celebrities like Alice Cooper and Shirley Manson who were so eager and delighted to promote the book, to the young GTOs fans who literally cosplay as Mercy on Instagram.”

Mercy Fontenot was a Zelig who grew up in the San Francisco Haight-Ashbury scene, where she crossed paths with Charles Manson, went to the first Acid Test, and was friends with Jimi Hendrix (she was later in his movie Rainbow Bridge). She predicted the Altamont disaster when reading the Rolling Stones’ tarot cards at a party and left San Francisco for the climes of Los Angeles in 1967 when the Haight “lost its magic.” Buy the book here.

Here’s some critical praise for the book:

“Great writing; wild stories, but very dark…But through all of it Mercy emerged undaunted.”
★★★★ –Sylvie Simmons, MOJO, 2021

“Though it all, through the homelessness, the assaults, the estrangement of her family, she always carried herself with class, style and her own perverse sense of dignity.”
★★★★ –Mike Greenblatt, GOLDMINE, 2021

“The book reads like a romp, aided by Mercy’s keen sense of the absurd and flair for black humor…”
–Jim Farber, THE GUARDIAN, June 2021

“Mercy, Mercy, She: A Famous Groupie’s Wild Child Story…The stories came fast and furious, as Mercy recounts her encounters with acts like those mentioned above along with Gene Simmons of KISS, Arthur Lee of Love, Shuggie Otis, Jobriath, Ike Turner, Gram Parsons, and Janis Joplin. Then there’s the book’s Marquee Batshit Crazy Story: Chuck Berry.”
–Bob Ruggiero, HOUSTON PRESS, May 2021

“Whoa! With what sometimes feels like a minor miracle, Miss Mercy’s life story careens from delight to disaster and back so many times there is a considerable chance of whiplash during the reading…With writer Lyndsey Parker’s above and beyond assistance, everything from tragedy, treachery, heartbreak and happiness come through in day-glo colors. In the end, Miss Mercy stands upright as a true survivor, except for the fact that she died not long before the book’s completion. But what is surely a small miracle, the memoir was finished and now permanently stands as a cautionary tale for those who get too close to the flame, or don’t have working brakes in how they live their life. And while there is no way to capture the three-dimensional swing of Miss Mercy’s daily travels in black & white, PERMANENT DAMAGE and its evocative prose and complete honesty comes close enough to the bonfire to catch afire. What a trip.”
–Bill Bentley, AMERICANA HIGHWAYS, June 2021

Miss Mercy lays her story bare with the help of her friend and co-writer, journalist and author Lyndsey Parker. Armed with over 60 hours of interviews with Fontenot, Parker carves out a down and dirty episodic memoir that rolls into the lost hours of night, like an empty bottle between bar close and sunrise.”
— Noah Lekas, LETHAL AMOUNTS, 2021

“Lyndsey Parker’s excellent book Permanent Damage: Memoirs of an Outrageous Girl, written with and about GTO Miss Mercy Fontenot, is receiving heaps of well-deserved praise and attention.”
–Brett Callwood, LA WEEKLY, June 2021

“Permanent Damage: Memoirs of an Outrageous Girl is the posthumously published memoir of Mercy Fontenot…the memoir is, in two words, wild and weird…Fearless, shameless and regret-less, Miss Mercy’s tone in the book is casual, alarmingly so when she’s speaking about the most traumatic events: rapes, homelessness, the suicides of her parents, her drug use.”
–Lily Moayeri, ROCK AND ROLL GLOBE, June 2021

“Permanent Damage: Memoirs Of An Outrageous Girl…is full of stories, the ultimate tale of sex, drugs, rock & roll, rape, violence, homelessness, fun, parties, lovers, and independence…From page one, you are enveloped by Mercy’s straightforward, honest personality and you don’t feel like you’re simply reading another musical soap opera. She hooks you immediately and you laugh with her at her goofyness, drop your mouth to the floor when she casually mentions that her second husband beat her so bad he had broken all the bones in the side of her face, and envy her hangs with Robert Plant and Jimi Hendrix. The words flow like she’s right there telling them to you herself and the 208 pages fly by in no time.”
–Leslie Michele Derrough, GLIDE MAGAZINE, June 2021

“She passed away in July last year, but judging by this book she didn’t half live.”
–Johnny Sharp, CLASSIC ROCK, 2021

And here’s some feedback from Mercy’s friends and colleagues:

“Miss Mercy was dripping in sarcasm. She was a very funny and lovely lady. She may have been the voice of reason for the GTOs… but I doubt it.”— Alice Cooper

“Mercy wore unusual and stunning makeup. She set a trend. She was a very individualistic, charismatic woman. The GTOs made the party swing and were an integral part of rock ‘n’ roll culture at the time.”– Dave Davies, the Kinks

“Miss Mercy spun herself through the most magical days of the ‘60s and into the arms of punk. She was a that one-of-a-kind character none of us will ever forget.”— Exene Cervenka, X

“I am thrilled to know this book is finally out there and we can know firsthand what it was like to live in Miss Mercy’s towering platform shoes. I love rock ‘n’ roll, and Lyndsey Parker has the most encyclopedic knowledge of all music; I can’t think of a better person to bring Mercy’s story to life.”— Margaret Cho

“Miss Mercy was a one-off iconoclast, style- and taste-wise. She looked, lived, and loved uniquely and was a trailblazer for women in rock ‘n’ roll.”— Siobhan Fahey, Bananarama and Shakespears Sister

“Mercy was one of the most inspirational and magical people I ever got the chance to meet and work with. She had endless stories to tell and the coolest style, like a badass Gypsy pirate witch. She embodied that old spirit of Hollywood that we never get to see anymore. Mercy was and will always be a legend.”— Arrow de Wilde, Starcrawler

“Lyndsey and Mercy had many things in common, the most important of which was commitment. Both committed to the music and the musicians that made it. Mercy had secrets and stories and reveals them here to someone who understands. An imperative read for anyone with a rock ‘n’ roll soul.”— Michael Des Barres

About Lyndsey Parker:

Lyndsey Parker is the music editor at Yahoo Entertainment and host of the daily SiriusXM Volume show Volume West. Considered an expert in music and pop culture, Parker is an Online Journalism Award nominee and has written for Elle, MOJO, Rolling Stone, NME, and Guitar. She has appeared as a commentator for the ABC special The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story, AXS TV’s The Top Ten Revealed, and the documentary I Want My MTV, as well as for VH1’s Behind the Music, CNN, MTV, The Insider, and Good Day L.A.. She is the author of Careless Memories of Strange Behavior: My Notorious Life as a Duran Duran Fan (one of the first e-books published as part of Rhino Records’ all-digital music book series, which went to #1 on the iTunes Music Books chart).

SRO PRESS RELEASES AND ASSETS

AVAILABLE IN HARDCOVER and E-BOOK
BIOGRAPHY/ AUTOBIOGRAPHY/ MUSIC
9781644281826 | US $27.00 | 6 x 9 in. | 320 pp.
RARE BIRD BOOKS, A BARNACLE BOOK
DISTRIBUTED WOLRDWIDE BY PUBLISHERS GROUP WEST
RAREBIRDLIT.COM

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Portland, Maine-based Indie Trio LOVE BY NUMB3RS Share Intimate Video For “Can’t Lie Like This” From ‘COLOURS’ EP

DATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2021

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN

Colours Cover ArtArtwork for the upcoming LOVE BY NUMB3RS EP, COLOURS
By Walter Craven

LOVE BY NUMB3RS
REVEAL INTIMATE VIDEO FOR
NEW SINGLE “CAN’T LIE LIKE THIS”
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

SONG MARKS THE SECOND SINGLE FROM THEIR
NEW EP ‘COLOURS’ OUT NOVEMBER 26

Portland, Maine-based indie trio LOVE BY NUMB3RS–co-vocalists DAN CONNOR and ANNA LOMBARD and multi-instrumentalist JON ROODS–today (November 19) have shared the intimate video for “Can’t Lie Like This.” It marks the second single from the acclaimed group’s six-song EP COLOURS out November 26 (moved from its original November 19 release date due to a production delay).

The video was directed by LOMBARD and ROODS and is based on the vision of CONNOR whose chemo treatments and cancer battle are the subject of the video. He wrote the song and sings lead vocals on it before ANNA joins in on background vocals, giving the song its trademark LOVE BY NUMB3ERS vocal sound. Watch the video here.

The “Can’t Lie Like This” video was premiered yesterday (November 18) by Glide magazine who wrote: “Portland, Maine’s Love By Numb3rs has astounded ears with its eloquent dusty blues and roots rock that has given otherwise placid New England a musical splash of Nashville. The trio–co-vocalist Dan Connor and Anna Lombard joined by her partner and multi-instrumentalist Jon Roods–made a big splash with their independent full-length debut, Parachute yet now are gearing up for the release of a six song EP titled Colours out November 19th…the emotionally explosive ‘Can’t Lie Like This’ swoons, twangs and pacifies with a Tyler Childers meets Tom Petty narrative and soul.”

Coming off the EP’s first single/video “Colours,” which was premiered and praised by Atwood Magazine, “Can’t Lie Like This” is the music of a band who freewheelingly chart a course through eloquent alternative, Americana and roots rock. The song’s unflinching lyrics paint a picture of lives that have unraveled. “The inspiration behind writing this song was based on a dear friend of mine who struggled with substance abuse,” reveals DAN.  “This led me down a bit of a rabbit hole as I began reflecting upon my own family history of substance abuse and dysfunction.”

“Jon and I directed the video, but I would be remiss not to mention the vision Jon had for this one,” says ANNA LOMBARD.  “While the song in its lyrical content was meant to be about the aforementioned lifelong struggles with alcoholism, Jon began seeing the line ‘can’t lie like this anymore’ as more of a metaphor for Dan’s battle with cancer and monthly chemo cycles.”

The moving video begins by depicting the beauty of nature before focusing on DAN at home in bed with his illness. He is able to breaks free in his mind from his struggles by heading outside with his guitar to enjoy the gorgeous wide-open spaces. Says ANNA: “We keep calling it Dan’s “celebration/party” at the end–to be done with chemo and to have made it through to where he is/we are today.”

The video was shot in various locations in Maine: the band’s house/studio known as South Ranch (bed scene, radiation scene, etc.), Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth, and outside of a friend’s house in Cape Elizabeth (drone footage on rocks and dirt road shots).

More quotes about “Can’t Lie Like This” are below, along with the lyrics; the EP’s track listing + credits; and the band’s social media links. The EP will be followed by a full-length album (their second) in 2022 (release date TBA).

QUOTES ABOUT “CAN’T LIE LIKE THIS”

Dan Connor: The inspiration behind writing this song was based on a dear friend of mine who struggled with substance abuse.  This led me down a bit of a rabbit hole as I began reflecting upon my own family history of substance abuse and dysfunction.  My father had alcoholism and was homeless for many years due to his denial and not wanting to face his disease.  The commonality between these two people in my life made me consider how substance abuse–regardless of the substance–causes people to withdraw from life rather than face their demons.  Instead, they lie and hide. We’ve all seen it. But the bottom line is that it is a disease like any other.  Some find the strength to overcome and some fall victim.

–Dan sings lead vocals on this one, and then is joined by you for background vocals, giving the song that trademark Love By Numb3ers vocal sound. Can you give us your thoughts about this? 

Anna Lombard: In terms of the decision Dan singing lead on this one–that’s just what made sense.  This was his story to tell.   The song in its original arrangement had no outro with doubled choruses.  For years, it has just been floating around Dan’s repertoire as a song on an acoustic guitar.  So, Jon and I worked on making the song build through the outro.  We coupled Dan’s chorus melody with some harmonies overlaid with new rhythmic/melodic sections on top of those. And then Dan was like “Ok, you gotta go off at the end…” so I threw some vamps on the outro and we extended the section along with a slow fade so the outro became a bit of a hook.

–Some thoughts about the musical feel of the song? It has distinctive guitar parts merged with keyboards. Is that a Fender Rhodes?

Anna: Dan’s acoustic and vocals on this song were done in one single take.  Then, Jon and I built instrumentation and changed the arrangement around Dan’s single take recording.  Our guitarist Josh Duym then laid down some guitar.  Our friend Nigel Hall happened to be in Maine at the perfect time and was staying with us so we had him track his keyboard parts on a Fender Rhodes.

–Who directed the video, where was it filmed, and some general thoughts about the it?

Anna: Jon and I directed the video. Jon envisioned the video being less literal to the lyrics of the song about avoidance and denial and lying to other people and lying to yourself…and instead, the hopes of simultaneously portraying all of these instances where through craniotomies, radiation, MRIs, fatigue, nausea, etc, Dan has been literally lying down.   For the past seven months, we’ve had to work through Dan being really sick from his treatment.  We would more or less only be able to count on maybe 10-14 days a month where Dan was feeling OK enough to write, or track, or be part of a video.  It’s been so tough, the toughest for him, but he’s been a warrior.  He’s sick and tired of being sick and tired.  With scenes where he’s in bed with forty bottles of prescriptions on the bedside table…You know, you get to this point where you’ve got to ask yourself about the reality of your quality of life.  He has been isolated from making music alongside us and from some of the creative process throughout the last year because of treatment.  And when you’re a musician and a writer and music is the one thing that gets you out of bed in the morning…but even that is something you don’t even have the physical energy or capacity to do… you find yourself asking, “what gives?”  So the vision for the video coupled with the original context of the song became a double entendre.  “I can’t lie like this anymore.  I can’t not make music.  I can’t deal with feeling like this anymore.  I’m tired of it.”

Lyrics to “Can’t Lie Like This”:

“Can’t Lie Like This”
(Dan Connor)
Wake up in the mornin’
Even if you’ve been out with the devil the night before
Drink your strong coffee
Make all your plans
Don’t think about it anymore
Til’ the night become crazy
And life gettin’ hazy
You’re showin’ up at my door
The mornin’ don’t matter
Ain’t nothin’ gonna shatter, it won’t
Can’t lie like this anymore
Couple days later
I was on a train with her
Hadn’t slept in seventy-four
Got my blood shot eyes, begin to realize
Pressed down against the floor
I guess I wasn’t listening
Just another man missin’ the life that he never saw
The mornin’ don’t matter
Ain’t nothin gonna shatter, it won’t
Can’t lie like this anymore
Whoa
Can’t lie like this anymore
Go and see my mama
But my papa gonna be there
With his boots kickin’ down the door
He got them bloodshot eyes, begin to realize
Pressed down against the floor
I guess he wasn’t listenin’
Just another man missin’ the life that he never saw
The mornin’ don’t matter
Ain’t nothin’ gonna shatter, it won’t
Can’t lie like this anymore
Can’t lie like this anymore
Can’t lie like this anymore
Can’t lie like this any more
I can’t lie anymore

COLOURS EP track listing

1. Colours
2. Can’t Lie Like This
3. Oak Tree
4. All Falls Down
5. The Beat Goes On
6. Summertime

Credits: ‘COLOURS’ EP by LOVE BY NUMB3RS

–All songs written by LBN (Anna Lombard, Jonathan Roods & Dan Connor) with additional guitar line writing by Zach Jones on track #1 “Colours” and Josh Duym on track #4 “All Falls Down”
–All songs engineered by Jonathan Roods & Anna Lombard
–All songs produced by Jonathan Roods & Anna Lombard
–Mastered by Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering
–All songs recorded at South Ranch.
–Guest appearances by Nigel Hall, Zach Jones, Gary Gemmeti, Josh Duym

Players on each song:

  1. Colours: Jon Roods (drums, bass, guitar), Zach Jones (electric guitar), Nigel Hall (hammond organ, rhodes piano)
  2. Can’t Lie Like This: Anna Lombard (vocals), Jon Roods (drum, add’l percussion, bass, guitar), Josh Duym (electric guitar), Dan Connor (acoustic guitar, vocals), Nigel Hall (Wurlitzer piano)
  3. Oak Tree: Anna Lombard (vocals), Dan Connor (vocals), Jon Roods (drums, bass, all guitars, Moog synth, Hammond organ, percussion, pedal steel)
  4. All Falls Down: Anna Lombard (vocals), Jon Roods (Moog Synth), Josh Duym (guitar)
  5. The Beat Goes On: Jon Roods (drums, bass, moog synth, pedal steel), Dan Connor (vocals, acoustic guitar), Josh Duym (electric guitar), Anna Lombard (vocals, rhodes piano), Nigel Hall (rhodes piano)
  6. Summertime: Jon Roods (bass, pedal steel, guitar), Gary Gemmeti (drums), Nigel Hall (rhodes piano), Anna Lombard (vocals), Dan Connor (vocals), June & Haisel McGeachey (Anna’s daughters on backing vocals)

Love By Numb3rsLOVE BY NUMB3RS
Pictured (L to R): DAN CONNOR, ANNA LOMBARD, JON ROODS
Photo Credit: Cam Jones

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