Greetings Rockers ’N’ Rollers! The New Year started off huge with a benefit show in Hagerstown, MD reuniting members of both Wrathchild America and Kix. On January 11th Ladders to Leaders, an organization that helps people on their road to recovery held a benefit concert and raised over $60,000 for the cause. The concert event included a special performance from bassist Brad Divens (Wrathchild America/Kix), drummer Shannon Larkin (Wrathchild America/Godsmack), guitarist Brian Forsythe (Kix) and guitarist Bob Pare (Kix). The group played a medley of classic cover songs as well as originals from Wrathchild America “Danger Us” and “No Deposit” and Kix “Atomic Bombs” and “Love Pollution.” The event was a huge success and plans for next year are already in the works. Comedian Don Jamieson, best known as co-host of VH1’s That Metal Show visited Harrisburg’s Comedy Zone on January 3rd. Jamieson has performed at rock festivals such as Rock on the Rage, Monsters of Rock Cruise and Metallica’s Orion Festival. He will return to Central PA on April 25th to perform at Lovedrafts with Canadian heavy metal band Anvil. Independant underground artist, MangoDog, played an incredible set at Philadelphia’s MilkBoy on January 25th. MangoDog was born in Florida, raised in Trinidad, and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. He describes his sound as post goth, dark indie, or dirty pop. All of his music is self produced, mixed and mastered. It was MangoDog’s first appearance in Philadelphia in which he played amazing songs like “Brief Encounters,” “What Happened to Us” and “Itchy Eye.”
The Los Angeles wildfires have consumed the Nation with 24 lives lost, nearly 100,000 people under evacuation orders, 40,000 acres burned and more than 12,000 structures destroyed. The catastrophe is estimated to be an economic loss between $250 billion to $275 billion. However, numbers cannot articulate the magnitude of anguish as the disaster upends families and livelihoods. And now musicians are coming to aid with donations and numerous concert benefit shows. Billy Idol announced that $5 from every ticket sold at his Kia Forum show in the Los Angeles area will be donated to the American Red Cross to support Southern California Wildfire Relief, and he will also personally match the donation. Metallica has donated $500,000 to help Los Angeles fire relief efforts. Beyoncé’donated $2.5 million to the L.A. Fire Relief Fund and Fuerza Regida rented out an entire hotel to host families who have lost their homes. BottleRock Napa Valley is donating 50,000 and promoting FireAid, a benefit concert on January 30th at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California featuring Green Day, Justin Timberlake, Noah Kahan, No Doubt, Olivia Rodrigo, Stevie Wonder, Peso Pluma, Anderson .Paak, Dawes, Graham Nash, John Fogerty, The Black Crowes, Billie Eilish, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Joni Mitchell, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, P!NK, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, Sting; Stephen Stills; Stevie Nicks; Tate McRae, Alanis Morissette, and performing together for the first time Dave Matthews and John Mayer. FireAid will be broadcast and streamed live on all major platforms.
Nine Inch Nails has announced the “Peel It Back” tour, which features dates in arenas across Europe (14 shows) and North America (23 shows) this summer and fall.The upcoming dates include Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena on August 26th and Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center on August 27th. Nine Inch Nails last set out on tour in 2022. The band held out on the tour announcement due to the Los Angeles wildfires, “We are all watching the devastation that is unfolding in California and have paused our announcement while people try to deal with all that is happening.” Billy Idol is joining forces with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts for a 30-date tour titled “It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again” which includes dates at Philadelphia’s The Mann on August 16th and Columbia, MD Merriweather on August 22nd. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icon Daryl Hall announced a 2025 tour with special guest Glenn Tillbrook of the band Squeeze. The handful of shows include 7 American dates including Warner Theatre in Erie, PA on April 1st followed by 5 dates in the UK. “I’ve toured with Glenn in the past, and I’m a fan of his songs, and it will be great to work with him again,” Hall stated. Peter Frampton will head out on another run of tour dates this spring, dubbed the Let’s Do It Again! tour. The newly christened Rock and Roll Hall of famer and legendary guitarist stated, “I am so thrilled to be able to come out and play again for you, it’s been a spectacular year, looking forward to seeing everyone soon.” Dates include: Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA on April 3rd and Etess Arena in Atlantic City, NJ on April 5th. Shock-rocker, Marilyn Manson, begins a 12-date European tour next month followed by 18 North American dates including Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA on May 7th, The Met in Philadelphia on May 9th and Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore on May 13th.
Rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd are embarking on an anniversary tour celebrating more than half a century since the release of their debut album in 1973.The upcoming arena tour includes Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first UK dates since 2019. “This UK tour promises to be a celebration of Skynyrd’s rich heritage and enduring appeal, fans can expect an unforgettable evening filled with classic hits, powerful performances, and a shared passion for the music that has defined a lifestyle for millions.” Lynyrd Skynyrd will also play Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort on May 30th. Kenny Chesney is making history as the first country music artist to headline Sphere in Las Vegas, the singer announcing a residency at the renowned venue starting in May. He’ll be performing 12 dates at the venue. Sphere has already hosted performances from U2, Dead & Company, Eagles, Phish and Anyma. Since first opening in September 2023, Sphere has garnered worldwide recognition for its state-of-the-art technology including 167,000 individual speakers and fully immersive, 160,000-square foot, 171 million pixel screen wrapped up, down and around the Sphere. Billy Joel and Rod Stewart are set to co-headline Yankee Stadium for one night on July 18th. Both artists are expected to perform songs from throughout their classic catalogs, with Joel also making history as the first musical act to headline both the original Yankee Stadium (for his June 22 and 23 shows in 1990) and the new Yankee Stadium. New York Yankees Senior Vice President stated, “We expect a magical evening with them in the Bronx. It is also particularly fitting that Billy Joel, who was born in the Bronx and is so iconically identified with New York, will become the first musical act to headline a show at both the original Yankee Stadium and the current Yankee Stadium.”
Garth Hudson, keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist and last surviving founding member of The Band, passed away at the age of 87. On Jan 21, Jan Haust, Hudson’s longtime friend and colleague confirmed his death saying he “died peacefully” and it “was a day of music and hand-holding.” Born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Hudson joined Levon Helm and the Hawks in 1961. Hudson’s presence in The Band’s sound was unmistakable and the main reason for Bob Dylan’s collaboration with them recording albums Planet Waves and The Basement Tapes. Hudson once stated, “The wonderful thing in working with Dylan was the imagery in his lyrics, I was allowed to play with his words.”
FEBRUARY CONCERTS: Steel and Crazy Train (The Ozzy Experience) – Harrisburg XL Live Feb 1. Gouge Away – Philadelphia First Unitarian Church Feb 3. Har Mar Superstar – Millersville Phantom Power Feb 14. The Swisher Sweets – Camp Hill Flinchy’s Feb 15. Hexbelt – Lancaster Tellus 360 Feb 22.
