TRAILER: THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK – The Touring Years

Calling all fans of the Beatles!!! Ron Howard has created an authorized and, most definitely, highly anticipated documentary feature film about The Beatles called The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years. It features rare and exclusive footage with the full cooperation of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison.

Check out the first trailer above for your first sneak peek.  Hulu will also exclusively stream the film to Hulu subscribers on September 17th and the US theatrical release is set for September 16th, 2016.

“We are going to be able to take the Super 8 footage that we found, that was all shot silent. We’ll not only be able to digitally repair a lot of that, but we’ve also been finding the original recordings. We can now sync it up and create a concert experience so immersive and so engaging, I believe you’re going to actually feel like you’re somewhere in the Sixties, seeing what it was like to be there, feeling it and hearing it. And as a film director, that’s a fantastic challenge.” -Ron Howard

George Fest Concert Film & Album To Be Released On February 26th

On February 26, 2016, Hot Records Ltd. and Vagrant Records will be releasing George Fest: A Night To Celebrate The Music Of George Harrison. Recorded and filmed on September 28th, 2014 at The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles. You can view the trailer of the film, which was produced by Dhani Harrison and David Zonshine, here. The DVD also features interviews with the musicians backstage and at rehearsals talking about George Harrison’s influence on their art.

The line up includes Brian Wilson, Norah Jones, The Killers’ Brandon Flowers, Conan O’Brien, The Flaming Lips, Ben Harper, Britt Daniel from Spoon, Heart’s Ann Wilson, Dhani Harrison, “Weird Al” Yankovic, The Strokes’ Nick Valensi, Perry Farrell and many others.

Song list and pre-order information below:

George Harrison: The Apple Years 1968-75 Box Set To Be Released Sept. 23

Listen up Beatles fans! Universal Music Group and the Harrison family are proud to announce that George Harrison’s first six solo albums, released between 1968 and 1975 on The Beatles’ Apple Records label, have been digitally remastered from the original analogue masters for CD and digital release on September 23 by Capitol/UMe.

The new box features an exclusive DVD with several video pieces, including a new seven-minute film with previously unreleased footage.  The Apple Years 1968-75 box also includes an exclusive perfect-bound book with an introduction by Dhani Harrison, new essays by award-winning radio producer and author Kevin Howlett, and rare and previously unpublished images. How awesome is this?!? Check out the trailer above!

I am so happy that what we started a decade ago by releasing The Dark Horse Years is now complete with the release of his first six albums as The Apple Years. Some of these records have long been out of print, and so I cannot wait for music lovers to get their hands on these newly remastered versions. It’s a very proud moment for us, and I would like to thank everyone who has helped us in any way to achieve this. -Dhani Harrison

 

CONCERT REVIEW: KONGOS

KONGOS
Supporting Act: Badflower
July 16, 2014
Troubadour
West Hollywood, CA

By: Nevra Azerkan

Rating:

[The Breakdown]

My new favorite band this year is South African alternative rockers, KONGOS. These four brothers hit the music scene with their hit song, “Come With Me Now” from their album, Lunatic, and since then I have been hooked.

The band said that the last time they played in L.A. there were maybe twenty people in the room and it was most likely the other bands and their crew. They were psyched that this was a sold out show and from what I could tell it seemed over-packed.

They jumped into the song, “Hey I Don’t Know” and kept jamming the night away. With the exception of “As We Are” and “Traveling On” they played Lunatic in its entirety. They threw in a few covers including two songs from The Beatles and one from their father, John Kongos. Any band that covers The Beatles and does it well can count me as a fan.

One of the coolest parts about the show was how most of the audience did not have a camera or phone out shooting the band. There were a few keepsake snaps, but other than that everyone was completely captivated by the band. I really enjoyed seeing that. They played off each other so well (like brothers would) and it was so easy to ignore everyone else in the room, but them. These guys were fantastic live and to prove my point I will be seeing them again when they open for King of Leon in October.

Full set list included: “Hey I Don’t Know”, “Sex on the Radio”, “Take Me Back”, “Kids These Days”, “Escape”, “I Don’t Mind”, “Way Down in the Hole” (Tom Waits cover), “I’m Only Joking”, “This Time I Won’t Forget”, “Come Together” (The Beatles cover), “I Want to Know”, “Take It From Me”, “It’s A Good Life”, “Come With Me Now”, “Tokoloshe Man” (John Kongos cover), and “Get Back” (The Beatles cover).

Ron Howard to Direct New Beatles Documentary

A new Beatles documentary is in the works! Authorized by Apple Records and with full cooperation from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon, Olivia Harrison the doc will feature the band’s touring years. Ron Howard will direct:

I am excited and honored to be working with Apple and the White Horse team on this astounding story of these four young men who stormed the world in 1964. Their impact on popular culture and the human experience cannot be exaggerated.

If you have Beatles footage or memorabilia from that time you may submit it for use in the film here.

MUSIC VIDEO – Paul McCartney – “Appreciate”

Sir Paul McCartney released the music video for his single, “Appreciate“. This is my favorite track off of his album, NEW. In the video, Newman, the robot is wandering The Museum of Man and stops in front of Paul’s exhibit and Paul begins to play. Newman reacts to the music and Paul then takes him into the world of the song bringing alive all of the other exhibits.

Paul has always had a fun-loving, goofy side to him and this video showcases that. As far as the advertising, I’m not sure how this is going to be helping Microsoft, but at least the video is really cool looking. Speaking about Newman, Paul said:

“I woke up one morning with an image in my head of me standing with a large robot. I thought it might be something that could be used for the cover of my album NEW but instead the idea turned out to be for my music video for ‘Appreciate’. Together with the people who had done the puppetry for the worldwide hit ‘War Horse’ we developed the robot who became Newman.”

EVENT REVIEW: The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles

The Night that Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
Featuring: Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Keith Urban, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Eurythmics, Pharrell, Brad Paisley, Dave Grohl, Dhani Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Joe Walsh,  Gary Clark Jr.
January 27, 2014
LA Convention Center
Los Angeles, CA

By: Nevra Azerkan

Rating: [The Breakdown]

The Beatles made their US debut on the Ed Sullivan show 50 years ago this February 9^th, the same day this special will air. That appearance has become one of the most iconic in music history. Many have tried to replicate it, but it is impossible. Being a HUGE Beatles fan, this was one concert I was dying to see. Paul AND Ringo, TOGETHER—and not like the Grammys. Instead, they would be performing classic Beatles hits. Can we say, EPIC?

MOVIE TRAILER: Good Ol’ Freda

If you are a Beatles fan, like myself, then you’re definitely going to want to check out this new documentary. Good Ol’ Freda is the story of Freda Kelly who was the secretary of The Beatles from the beginning to the end!

She dishes all about her employers and friends in this film that premiered earlier this year at SXSW. Well, maybe not all…in the trailer she “passes” when asked if she dated any of them. Interesting! Take a look above!

BOOK REVIEW: RULES TO ROCK BY by Josh Farrar

Rules to Rock By
Josh Farrar

By: Nevra Azerkan

Rating: [The Breakdown]

 

Rules to Rock By is a smooth teen read for any reader (young or old) who has ever dreamed of being on stage and rocking out. The story follows Annabelle Cabrera, a twelve year old girl, who is living the rock star life albeit on a smaller scale. Her family suddenly takes her and her brother away from her new found fame to a smaller town, so that they can work on their own musical endeavors. Annabelle not only struggles to form her own brand new band, but most importantly how to express herself.

Dealing with teen angst, high school bullies, and the turmoil of a dysfunctional and musically inclined family, Annabelle struts on through with inspiration from her idol, Deerhoof’s Satomi Matsuzaki, her abuela, her teacher Mr. V and her former bandmate, Ronaldo. The latter being the one who gives her the first set of Rules to Rock By.