Group Will Headline Closing Day Of Bonnaroo Music &Arts Festival And Play Two Nights At Citi Field In Flushing, NY – Band Will Take 2011 Off, Returning To The Road In 2012

Dave Matthews Band will launch an extensive North American tour tomorrow, with the first of two shows at The Comcast Theatre in Hartford, CT. The group will headline the closing dates of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, TN (6/13), the HullabaLOU Festival in Louisville, KY (7/25) and the Mile High Music Festival in Commerce City, CO (8/15). This year’s outing will include numerous stadium shows, including Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA (7/9), Pittsburgh’s PNC Park (7/10), two consecutive nights at Citi Field in Flushing, NY (7/16, 17), and Nationals Park in Washington, DC (7/23). The group will play a special free show for fans on August 17th show atUSANA Amphitheatre inWest Valley City, UT.Other highlights include three Southern California dates (8/20, 21 & 23) and Dave Matthews Band’s traditional Labor Day weekend stint at Gorge Amphitheatre in George, WA (9/3, 4 & 5). The tour will conclude on September 15th at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. See below for a full itinerary or visit http://www.davematthewsband.com.

In the past decade, Dave Matthews Band was the biggest ticket seller worldwide, selling upwards of 11 million tickets to 547 shows from 2000-2009, according to Billboard Boxscore. In fact, it was the only group to exceed 10 million in attendance for the period. The band has sold over 17 million tickets since its inception. With preparations underway for its 20th consecutive summer tour, the group recently told fans that they will be taking next year off. “We feel lucky that our tours are a part of so many people’s lives,” Dave Matthews Band said in a statement posted on its website earlier this month. “We’re excited to make this summer one of our best tours yet, and look forward to returning to the road in 2012.”

Covering the opening night of Dave Matthews Band’s 2009 summer tour at historic Fenway Park, The Boston Globe said: “The sold-out show…bore all the electricity and fervor of an extra-inning ballgame.” “In his lyrics and a voice that’s both robust and melancholy, Mr. Matthews ponders the gap between public problems and personal pleasures…Yet the band rarely broods for long; the music stays brisk and upbeat,” noted The New York Times while The Cincinnati Enquirer observed: “Concertgoers were dancing in the rain Tuesday night while the Dave Matthews Band rocked out…Few bands have had such tremendous turnout year after year at Riverbend and it’s easy to understand why. Matthews and company are nothing if not great entertainers.”

Dave Matthews Band – comprising Carter Beauford (drums), Stefan Lessard (bass), Dave Matthews (vocals, guitar) and Boyd Tinsley (violin) – has sold a collective 37 million CDs and DVDs combined. The group’s latest album,Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King(RCA), was hailed as “their most electric albumyet” (Rolling Stone, ****) and “spiritual and spirited” (People, “Critic’s Choice”). With Big Whiskey’s debut atNo. 1 on The Billboard 200 in June of 2009, Dave Matthews Band became one of only two groups in chart history to have five consecutive studio albums enter atop the chart. The Platinum-certified, GRAMMY®-nominated collection features some of the last studio recordings of founding member/saxophonist LeRoi Moore, who passed away in August of 2008.

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – 2010 SUMMER TOUR
Date/City/State/Venue/Support
5/28 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
5/29 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
6/1 Toronto, ONT Molson AmphitheatreThe Felice Brothers
6/2 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center The Felice Brothers
6/4 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center The Felice Brothers
6/5 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center The Felice Brothers
6/7 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center Yonder Mountain String Band
6/8 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center Yonder Mountain String Band
6/13 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
6/15 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center Robert Earl Keen
6/16 Maryland Heights, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Robert Earl Keen
6/18 Noblesville, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center Robert Earl Keen
6/19 Noblesville, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center Robert Earl Keen
6/22 Columbus, OH Huntington Park Robert Earl Keen
6/23 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre Martin Sexton
6/25 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center Martin Sexton
6/30 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center Martin Sexton
7/1 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center Martin Sexton
7/3 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre Zac Brown Band
7/4 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre Zac Brown Band
7/9 Hershey, PA Hershey park Stadium Zac Brown Band
7/10 Pittsburgh, PA PNC Park Zac Brown Band
7/13 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Amos Lee
7/14 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain Amos Lee
7/16 Flushing, NY Citi Field Zac Brown Band
7/17 Flushing, NY Citi Field Zac Brown Band
7/20 Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Amphitheater Amos Lee
7/21 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte Amos Lee
7/23 Washington, DC Nationals Park Zac Brown Band
7/25 Louisville, KY Churchill Downs HullabaLOU Festival
7/27 Atlanta, GA Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood Gov’t Mule
7/28 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre Gov’t Mule
7/30 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre Gov’t Mule
7/31 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre Gov’t Mule
8/14 Wichita, KS InTrust Bank Arena Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
8/15 Commerce City, CO Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Mile High Music Festival
8/17 West Valley City, UT USANA Amphitheatre Brett Dennen FREE SHOW
8/20 Chula Vista, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre Brett Dennen
8/21 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Brett Dennen
8/23 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl Raphael Saadiq
8/25 Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord Raphael Saadiq
8/27 Marysville, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre Raphael Saadiq
8/28 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre @ Mountain View Raphael Saadiq
8/31 Boise, ID Taco Bell Arena Alberta Cross
9/3 George, WA Gorge AmphitheatreBen Harper & Relentless7, Alberta Cross
9/4 George, WA Gorge Amphitheatre Ben Harper & Relentless7, Alberta Cross
9/5 George, WA Gorge Amphitheatre Ben Harper & Relentless7, Alberta Cross
9/10 The Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
9/11 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
9/14 Omaha, NE Qwest Center Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
9/15 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

Technorati Tags: Dave Matthews Band, Pop, Music, Touring, North American Tour, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Alberta Cross, Raphael Saadiq

Direct Links:
Pop Goddess Fuse Website
Direct to Mariah Carey’s Fuse Page
Direct to Beyonce’s Fuse Page
Direct to Lady Gaga’s Fuse Page

Pop Goddess Weekend: Mariah Carey, Beyonce and Lady Gaga
PREMIERE: Memorial Day Weekend
May 29, 2010 – Mariah Carey beginning at 11am ET
May 30, 2010 – Beyonce beginning at 11 am ET
May 31, 2010 – Lady Gaga beginning at 11 am ET
CHANNEL #: DirecTV 339 / EchoStar 158; cable subscribers, check local listing
WEBSITE: http://www.fuse.tv

CHART TOPPING DIVAS DOMINATE FUSE WITH POP GODDESS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: Mariah All Day Saturday, Beyonce All Day Sunday and Gaga All Day Monday

Fuse, Madison Square Garden’s national music television network, is dedicating a very special three-day artist takeover to today’s top pop divas during Memorial Day weekend. Starting Saturday at 11am ET, viewers can catch exclusive programming documenting the careers of Mariah Carey, Beyonce Knowles and Lady Gaga, taking viewers through a musical journey of what brought these ladies to where they are today.

Get down with Mariah all day Saturday with her Adventures of Mimi tour and a take a look back at her most sizzling moments in a variety of music videos, spanning her career. On Sunday, ring the alarm with a wall-to-wall Beyonce bonanza of videos, performances and a special documentary, all leading up to a scorching Monday packed with more videos, interviews and commentary from the one and only Lady Gaga. Three days and three iconic women all packed into one amazing weekend!

Log on to Fuse.tv for more “Pop Goddess Weekend” fun commemorating these three fabulous superstars. The site will feature a photo gallery highlighting the ladies in jaw-dropping, red carpet outfits, a poll to vote on the best female artist collaborations including Telephone and Lady Marmalade, as well as a pop goddess Who Said It quote quiz.

SATURDAY, May 29 beginning 11am ET
Mariah Carey: The Adventures of Mimi
Prepare for a true Fantasy ride as the sultry songstress performs top hits on her summer concert tour.

Loaded: Mariah Carey
Take a trip down Mariah Carey memory lane in this half-hour music video franchise solely dedicated to Mimi.

SUNDAY, May 30 beginning at 11am ET
Above & Beyonce
Fuse is going above and beyond to bring fans an all-out, hour-long compilation of Beyonce’s hottest videos. If I Were a Boy and Single Ladies are only the latest in a long line of bodacious, brilliant Beyonce hits.

Loaded: Beyonce
This hour-long music video franchise is solely dedicated to Beyonce Knowles. Her journey from Destiny’s Child to Sasha Fierce is sure to keep you dancing throughout the day.

The Beyonce Chronicles
This half-hour original series traces Beyonce’s rise to the top with some of her hottest music videos, full of tidbits and facts.

Beyonce: Shine
Beyonce’s music is known around the world, her look emulated by millions of women, but still her personal life and marriage to rap star JAY-Z is a mystery. Get a glimpse into the life of Beyonce and find out what’s next for this dynamic performer in this exclusive documentary.

MONDAY, May 31 beginning at 11am ET
Loaded: Lady Gaga
Hold on to your seats as Fuse delivers an hour full of Gaga. Just Dance and her latest single Telephone are just some of the hits that will keep you glued to your television and wanting more.

Lady Gaga: On the Record with Fuse
You’ve seen her mind blowing performances and music videos, now get to know the chart topping pop icon in this exclusive one-on-one interview with Fuse host Toure’.

Lady Gaga: On the Record with Fuse: The Lost Tapes
In this extended interview, watch Lady Gaga as she opens up and chats candidly about her parents, her work, dance music in America and more.

The Lady Gaga Chronicles
Experience the Haus of Gaga in this half hour chronology as we provide you with the international superstar’s latest videos.

Technorati Tags: Music, Videos, Cable, Fuse, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Pop Goddess Weekend

Muse’s “Neutron Star Collision (Love is Forever),” comes from the upcoming Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack. The new video is available exclusively worldwide today on MTV and VH1. The soundtrack will be available in stores June 8.

Technorati Tags: Muse, Twilight, Eclipse, Soundtrack, Music Video, Neutron Star Collision, CD, Love is Forever, Brit Rock, MTV, VH1

In anticipation for the new album, Stone Temple Pilots has released a new video for one of the tracks, “Between the Lines.” The song is already receiving rave reviews and has topped #1, which is a good sign for what could be a great album. Below is the video, check it out and let us know what you think!

Technorati Tags: Stone Temple Pilots, Between the Lines, Music Video, Number One Song, Rock, Alternative, Pre Order, New Album

On Performing w/ Kiss

Whataya Want From Me

Style Influences

Personal Style

Technorati Tags: Adam Lambert, VH1, Interview, Music, Pop Star, Gay, GLBT, Homosexual, Music, Fashion, Icon, American Idol

In Junior High that all changed. Our choir teacher, Mr. Benoit, used to take a break from warm ups and choir songs to allow us to sit back and sing songs he loved. He would play guitar as we sang songs by great artists like John Denver (“Country Roads”) and Simon & Garfunkel (“Slip Slidin Away”) but my very favorite song we sang was called “Eight Days a Week.” That was my first formal introduction to The Beatles, excluding playing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” in Pep Band.

Throughout High School, my love of The Beatles grew, as did my appreciation for their music. Now, several years later, I’m a huge fan of the boys from Liverpool. I have all of their music. I know their entire catalogue of music. I know I’m not alone. The Beatles are going to live on in infamy because of their revolutionary sound style. The way they brought music to people around the world makes them unique to other bands out there.

There are so many wonderful Beatles songs. Depending on my mood, I can listen to any number of their songs. It’s hard to narrow down the number to just one. For example, one of those songs I like to listen to is “I’m Looking Through You.” It has a simple melody, but it is very catchy. Other songs I can listen to over and over include, “Eleanor Rigby,” “Yesterday,” “Something in the Way She Moves,” “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” and “A Day In The Life.”

These are just a few of the amazing songs by The Beatles. Of course, there are two songs that are especially near and dear to my heart. The first is for its simple, but peaceful message. The other is just pure musical and melodic genius.

The first song I consider my absolute favorite Beatles song is “All You Need is Love.” I love the message behind this song. I love how catchy the lyrics are. I think its a fun song for parents to share with their children; for people to share with one another. It’s this kind of compassion that made The Beatles such an inspiring band.

The second and final song I consider to be the best of the best is “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” I love everything about this song. I love the lyrics, the emotion, the feeling it evokes when I listen to this song. It’s one of The Beatles’ best songs.

09.09.09 is a big day for The Beatles. Harmonix and MTV are releasing The Beatles Rock Band. I already received my copy for review, so you’ll soon be able to read my review of the game on Gamerrazzi. Also, a remastered collection of The Beatles catalogue is available today. This brings me to The Beatles Lithograph and our contest.

ENTRY RULES:
LI Reviews is proud to be giving away a Beatles lithograph. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment listing your favorite Beatles song. Please be sure to only leave one.

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
To enter you need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible.

GET AN EXTRA ENTRY:
Want an extra entry? Twitter about this contest! Just click the Tweet button in the bottom left corner of this article’s box!

You can post the URL to your Tweet in your initial comment for this contest.

To find out about all our latest contests feel free to add us to your Twitter:

@dominickevans
@ashtynevans

You can also get extra entries (one entries for each) into our contest by:

-Posting on your blog/website about out contest with a link back to LI Kids (please let us know where to find said link so we can give you an extra entry)
-Digging or Stumbling this post (list your Digg/Stumble username in your comment)
-Becoming a Member of our Facebook Fan Page
-Subscribing to our YouTube Page

*******Please only leave ONE comment – If you Twitter, Digg, Blog about, or Stumble this contest you can post all relevant information in that comment. We will make sure to add extra entries for each extra thing you’ve done when we randomly pick winners.

CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:
Winners will be sent an email shortly after the end of the contest. To claim your prize all you will need to do is send us your address in a reply to the congratulation email that you will receive. If we do not receive a reply from you within three days, your winnings will be forfeited and your prize will be offered to another contestant.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
We will begin emailing winners for this the week of September 17, 2009, which means you have until September 16, 2009 at 11:59 to enter.

You can see a picture of the Lithograph up above.

Technorati Tags: The Beatles, Lithograph, Favorite Song, John Lennon Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, The Beatles Rock Band

Artist/Band Members: Mark Fredson, (vocal, keys), Eric Whitman (guitar), Ben Eyestone (Drums), and Johnny Whitman (bass)
Release Date: 06/09/09
Recording Studio: THE CONTROL GROUP
Recording Studio: Amazon for $10.99

Many bands walk the line between country and rock-n-roll; most of them fall into the abyss between the two genres of music. If you can find the sweet spot, though, the magical space where country and rock meet, you can follow in the footsteps of the Byrds, the Eagles, CCR, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. You can find that working class sound, as suitable for driving fast down the highway as it is for getting out in the garden and getting your hands dirty. The Lonely H, hailing from Port Angeles, WA, manage the tightrope amazingly well on their third album, Concrete Class.

The band’s first two albums, A Kick Upstairs and Hair, are solid rock albums. And they are even more impressive when you consider that they were both produced before the members had graduated high school. Concrete Class is no less impressive, using bluesy guitar riffs and poetic lyrics to woo the listener. The entire album is a roller coaster ride, the tempo changing with every song, but with a continuing theme of nostalgia and what we leave behind to follow our dreams. The first time I listened to it, I felt the guitar and bass, and by my second time through the album, I was humming along to all the songs.

The opening track, “Right Down to Me,” is about being a good friend or lover. There is a guitar line that hooks you right from the start, and then expands upon itself in a small solo in the middle of the song. The bluesy, southern rock thread is established here, and then melts into the next track, “Cold Blues,” which picks up that thread and runs with it. This track rides a wave of arrogant, confident lyrics and barely controlled energy, which could pick up anyone’s spirits. We all need a touch of this attitude to get by in the world.

The next track, “White Horse Tears,” is a classic country-rock ballad, seemingly about being in love with the wrong type of girl. This song sports one of the best lyrics I’ve ever heard: “But that ain’t gonna stop her from wearing me like jewelry/Baby go ahead and fool me.”

The pace picks up again with “Going Out West,” whose driving beat would be at home on any road mix or playlist. The guitar work and lyrics also stand out in “Singer,” a wistful look at what it’s like to be a working musician, and what you have to give up along the way.

“Diggin’ a Hole” comes back around to the blues sound, showcasing the musicians in what feels like a live track. That feeling continues in “Take Care,” where you can hear the song being counted off before the light acoustic guitar begins. This ballad is also another, very personal, look at the distance forced between two people when one is away following their dreams. Be sure to listen for the simple, but beautiful harmony after the last verse.

“Phoenix,” a blues ballad about being on the road, highlights how disconnected the band feels while away, and once again shows us how a talented guitarist can make an ordinary song quite extraordinary. Next we have “Other Side of the Water,” a welcome pick up from the previous two ballads. Here we have a fraternal twin to “Going Out West,” as well as reassurance that no matter how far they have to go, it’s alright.

The song most likely to become commercially popular is “Girl From Jersey,” about that most universal of topics, the search for love. The band channels CCR here, in a classically country song, and in “The River,” they walk the line where country meets gospel, with harmonies that evoke memories of the Byrds. The last track, “Strike a Chord,” sums up the entire album, both musically and thematically. In this song, the band is unapologetic about their ambitions and how far they’ll go to reach them. I, for one, hope they never give any of it up.

My father would have loved The Lonely H. While that may sound trite, since my father was no one of importance in either the music business or journalism, this is actually quite a compliment. He was a connoisseur of music, a radio DJ, and collected the works of largely unknown, though fabulously talented, musicians. Many of the CDs he owned defied genre categorization, and would never play on commercial radio. This fate should not await The Lonely H, or the songs on Concrete Class.

Lyrics: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Instrumentals: 4 out of 5 stars
Group Vibe: (only for bands) 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Audio Quality: 3 out of 5 stars
Musician Appeal: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: Overall Rating: 3.92 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Music Review, The Lonely H, Concrete Class, CD, Music, Blues, Country, Gospel, Rock, Classic Rock

Shocked and saddened by the loss of a pop icon, since Jackson passed away last Thursday (July 25, 2009), we wish not to reflect upon the troublesome times in Jackson’s life. Instead, we prefer to look at all of the contributions he made to pop, music in general, and his impact in the music world. We’ll be counting back to number one through the top songs of Jackson’s solo career.

But…before we can do that, we need to mention all Michael did for the Jackson Five. We’ve listed his two biggest hits (and the two best Jackson Five songs he sang) in the spot of Honorable Mention. Without these songs or his popularity we have to wonder if Michael Jackson would have transformed into the pop legend he was.

Honorable Mentions: ABC & I Want You Back

While Michael had a great career with his brothers, it was truly his solo career that led him down the path to become the “King of Pop.” Constantly reinventing his song style, Jackson has inspired the likes of Justin Timberlake and other pop stars of today. His video and song premieres were massive launch events, where people gathered around to watch them on fledgling MTV and sat poised, listening to radio stations across the world. Michael Jackson owned the 80s and the world will never forget his contribution to music.

Here are the top ten songs of Michael’s solo career, counting down from awesome to the best of the best.

10. You are Not Alone

9. Rock with You

8. Smooth Criminal

7. Remember the Time

6. The Way You Make Me Feel

To see the rest of the list, go to Page Two

EMINEM TEAMS UP WITH STEWIE GRIFFIN TO HOST “ANIMATION DOMINATION” SUNDAY, MAY 17, ON FOX

Hip-Hop Star to Make Special Surprise Announcement

Grammy Award winner Eminem joins FAMILY GUY’s Stewie Griffin to host ANIMATION DOMINATION Sunday, May 17 on FOX. The evening will feature interstitials voiced by and featuring an animated version of the hip-hop superstar.

Fans should tune in for an exclusive surprise MySpace Music announcement they won’t want to miss and visit http://www.myspace.com/music that evening for additional details.

“It was a thrill to work with Stewie,” said Eminem about the youngest member of the Griffin clan. “I’m a big fan of talking babies and their humor.”

On working with Eminem, Stewie said “I was just about to meet him, but after I shook hands with his stylist, his assistant, his lawyer, his bodyguard, his other bodyguard, his photographer, his manager, his hanger-on, his flower girl, his driver, his videographer, his notary, his historian, his her-storian, his texter and his own greased-up deaf guy, I got the swine flu.”

On the season finale of FAMILY GUY airing Sunday, May 17 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT), Peter has his palm read by a psychic who reveals that he had a fascinating past life in the 17th century as Griffin Peterson, a dignified gentleman from the newly founded colony of Quahog who vied for the love of Lady Redbush. It was a time of great love and adventure where King Stewart reigned supreme, the smartest dog in the room was the court jester, army lieutenants were merely boys and even old England loved “How I Met Your Mother” (Neil Patrick Harris, Josh Radnor and Jason Segel guest-voice).

Eminem’s fifth full-length album, “Relapse,” is set to be released on May 19. The album’s debut single, “Crack a Bottle,” was released in February and set a first week record for digital sales at the time, while the first official single and video, “We Made You,” debuted in April. To date, Eminem has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide.

His previous studio album, “Encore,” reached No. 1 and dominated the charts in late 2004. The Grammy-nominated disc was certified quadruple-platinum, generated four Top 40 Hot 100 hits and has sold more than 11 million copies. In October 2008, Eminem published “Eminem: The Way I Am,” a compilation of thoughts, stories and memorabilia that entered The New York Times Best-Seller List at No. 11.

Technorati Tags: Eminem, Fox, Family Guy, Stewie Griffin, Sunday, Season Finale, Special Announcement

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND OFFERS FREE DOWNLOAD OF “FUNNY THE WAY IT IS,” FIRST SINGLE FROM THE GROUP’S UPCOMING ALBUM, BIG WHISKEY AND THE GROOGRUX KING

Record Scheduled For June 2nd Release; Fans Who Pre-Order Through www.davematthewsband.com Will Receive Live Trax 15 As A Bonus

Band Launches Spring Tour Tonight With Show At Madison Square Garden; June 5th “TODAY” Show Performance Confirmed

Today Dave Matthews and Stefan Lessard announced via their Twitter accounts (@davejmatthews and @slessard) the premiere of “Funny The Way It Is,” the lead single from Dave Matthews Band’s upcoming album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. Fans can download the track for free for a week beginning today at the band’s website, http://www.davematthewsband.com. “Funny The Way It Is” will be for sale at digital retailers thereafter.

Dave Matthews Band kicks off its 2009 tour tonight with a show at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be on the road through October 2nd. Please visit http://www.davematthewsband.com for a full itinerary of the band’s spring and summer tours – and also check the website for the launch of the Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King pre-order later this week. Fans who pre-order the CD at the band’s website will receive the group’s upcoming live album, Live Trax 15, for free. Live Trax 15 captures the group’s August 9th, 2008 show at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI, one of the most fan-requested shows for release from last year’s summer tour.

Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, the band’s first studio album in four years, will be released on June 2nd by RCA Records. On Friday, June 5th, Dave Matthews Band will perform on NBC’s “TODAY” show on Rockefeller Plaza, marking the first morning television appearance in the band’s career.

With its celebratory spirit and lyrical ruminations on fragile mortality, the album pays tribute to saxophonist LeRoi Moore, the band’s fallen partner. Moore passed away in the summer of 2008 while the group was on tour and midway through making the album. “When Roi died, it shook the whole band and left us saying, ‘What do we do now?’” recalls Matthews. “We knew that first of all, we had to finish this record that he was already in love with. So all of us went back in with the attitude ‘We can’t mess around with this one, because this one is an ode.”

When the remaining members regrouped in a New Orleans, LA studio in early 2009 to complete the album, they found they were able to integrate much of the material Moore had recorded during their 2008 sessions in Charlottesville, VA and Seattle, WA. “It’s so powerful to have Roi here with us for one last time on an album,” says violin player Boyd Tinsley. Guitarist Tim Reynolds, trumpeter Rashawn Ross and saxophonist Jeff Coffin also played on the album and will join the band on tour.

Produced by Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance), Big Whiskey has been hailed by Rolling Stone as the group’s “heaviest album yet, both musically and emotionally,” which went on to note: “Throughout, Carter Beauford beats out elaborate, propulsive groves; bassist Stefan Lessard lays down Flea-style funk bass lines; violinist Boyd Tinsley plays cresting, intense runs; and Matthews mirrors Moore’s saxophone lines with scatlike singing.” Billboard, in a cover story on Dave Matthews Band, praised Big Whiskey as “its best album yet Highlights include the funk-rock rave-up ‘Shake Me,’ the stirring ballad ‘In the Hands of God,’ the swampy rocker ‘Cockadile,’ radio-friendly fare like ‘Why I Am,’ which features playful horns over a solid rock riff and a hooky chorus, and ‘Funny the Way It Is,’ which parlays a subtle intro into a soaring, syncopated anthem.”

Matthews created all of the artwork for Big Whiskey, including the richly detailed cover illustration that puts a GrooGrux spin on New Orleans’ traditional Mardi Gras parades while evoking the joy and the sorrow expressed in the album’s songs. Matthews has designed logos and other elements in the past, but this is the first time he has created the entire packaging for a Dave Matthews Band album. For a limited time, fans can have fun unscrambling the cover at http://www.davematthewsband.com.

Big Whiskey is the follow-up to 2005′s Stand Up, the fourth consecutive Dave Matthews Band studio album to enter The Billboard 200 at No. 1. It will be available in three versions: standard, deluxe (with Scenes from Big Whiskey, a documentary on the making of the album) and super-deluxe, which includes bonus tracks, a photo book and lithographs in addition to the CD and documentary. Check out http://www.billboard.com for an exclusive preview of footage from Scenes from Big Whiskey.

The track listing for Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is as follows:
Grux
Shake Me Like A Monkey
Funny The Way It Is
Lying In The Hands Of God
Why I Am
Dive In
Spaceman
Squirm
Alligator Pie (Cockadile)
Seven
Time Bomb
My Baby Blue
You and Me

Photo Credited to: Shazari

Technorati Tags: Dave Matthews Band, Music, Rock, Free Download, Song, Tour, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, Bonus Tracks