Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker comes to Peabody Opera House on Wednesday, Nov. 30 and Thursday, Dec. 1. Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. This holiday performance premieres alternating pairs of award-winning principal dancers as Masha (aka Clara) and the Nutcracker Prince as well as a corps of 40 Russian dancers. Set to Tchaikovsky’s famous score, the production features 200 lavish costumes, larger-than-life Russian puppets and 9 hand-painted backdrops that are embellished with 3-D effects – a must see for the whole family!  2011 marks Moscow Ballet’s 19th annual Great Russian Nutcracker tour of 2 companies to 60+ cities across North America. Moscow Ballet’s beloved Christmas story received critical acclaim in 2010; “Expansive… the Russian style is elegantly generous, and so the experience is never meager” NY Times; ”The corps dancers were striking to see” Charleston Today; “When performed by masters like these {Moscow Ballet}, ballet seems effortless, elegant, and easy” Twin Cities Daily Planet.  Tickets will be available at the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center, Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at ticketmaster.com.

Ballet Master Andrei Litvinov, born in Bender just outside of Moscow, was 1 of 3 children selected, out of 360 auditioning, to attend the preeminent Bolshoi Academic Choreographic College, known informally as the “Bolshoi School,”  in Moscow. He graduated in 1982 after five years of study, went on to the Chisinau Choreographic College and was immediately asked to join the company. Called to military duty as an anti-aircraft gunner and tanker, he returned to dance after a year of military service, dancing the archytypal Soviet Prince in leading roles of the classics including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Spartacus and more. He danced with lead ballerinas of the day including Lyudmila Semenyaka, Nina Semizorova, Alyona Zaitseva, Nadya Cotets, and Maria Polydova and was the lead danseur in the premiere of Yuri Grigorovich’ Nutcracker and Carmen Suite as well as Carmen choreographed by internationally acclaimed, Moldovan Radu Poklitaru.  He graduated from the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts in 2003 and became Moscow Ballet’s Ballet Master in 2004 while continuing to dance leading roles.  He is a Laureate of the International Ballet Competition (IBC) in Romania, 1996; Yuri Grigorovich IBC in 2000; Danovsky IBC, and the Diagelev Prize.  He is an Honored Artist of the Moldova Republic and has toured the USA, Germany, Italy, Greece, England, Spain, and Egypt. The Moscow Ballet is proud to announce Andre Litvinov as Ballet Master for the 2011 East and West tours.

About the Performance - Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker tells the beloved Christmas story of the girl who falls in love with a Nutcracker Prince – with Russian flair. Praised by the NY Times as “thrilling and expansive,” the 40 impeccably trained Russian dancers leap, spin and lunge bringing the traditional story to life. The Act I Christmas party enchants with its magical toys, evil Mouse King and a journey through the glittering Snow Forrest. Unique to the Great Russian Nutcracker, Russian folk characters Father Christmas and the Snow Maiden escort Masha (aka Clara) to the Land of Peace and Harmony in Act II where she and the Nutcracker Prince are honored by emissaries from heritages the world over; African, Russian, Asian, European and Hispanic. Set to Pytor Tchaikovsky’s famous score, Moscow Ballet’s production features lavish costumes, nine hand-painted backdrops with 3-D ornamentation and fanciful, larger-than-life puppets designed by Russian puppet master Valentin Federov. A must see show for everyone in the family this holiday season! www.nutcracker.com

History - Akiva Talmi Presents Inc. (ATP) is known for its annual, touring Great Russian Nutcracker and full-length productions of the classic story-ballets; Swan Lake, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and others by the Moscow Ballet. ATP produced the “Cynthia Gregory National Tour” with Nancy Reagan as Honorary Chair; the “From the Top” NPR TV special featuring NYCB’s Violette Verdi and Itzhak Perlman, the “Alexander Godunov” national tour and more. Created by award-winning Juilliard alumnus, composer/conductor and theatrical producer, Akiva Talmi, ATP  evolved out of the all-star Russian "Glasnost Festival Tour" (1986-92). The Great Russian Nutcracker made its debut in 1993 and was directed and choreographed by soloist Stanislav Vlasov of the famous Bolshoi Theater. In 1994, the Moscow State Theatre of Natalia Sats and the theatre's full orchestra joined Moscow Ballet to expand the company to an 88-artist tour which was billed as the "19th Century Classical Nutcracker." In 2003, Anatoly Emelianov, then an upstart choreographer and winner of the Diagelev award, restaged the Great Russian Nutcracker to critical acclaim. Moscow Ballet productions continue to feature award-winning principals and top graduates of Perm, Vaganova, Moscow State Academic Choreographic and Kiev schools.

###

Hugh Laurie: Let Them Talk - A Celebration of New Orleans Blues, the Actor's Personal Odyssey Through the City's Rich Musical Tradition, on Great Performances Friday, September 30 at 9 p.m. on PBS

Special guest appearances by legends Allen Toussaint and Irma Thomas and fellow blues enthusiast Sir Tom Jones
NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An American favorite for his award-winning role in the hit TV series House, the versatile British actor Hugh Laurie showcases his musical side in an atmospheric personal odyssey filmed on location in New Orleans.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110413/MM83011LOGO)
Hugh Laurie: Let Them Talk – A Celebration of New Orleans Blues airs on THIRTEEN's Great Performances Friday, September 30 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).
Defying simple categorization, Laurie finds his greatest satisfaction and inspiration from the mixture of blues and jazz that grew out of New Orleans at the beginning of the last century. He was inspired as a teenager by hearing blues great Professor Longhair's "Tipitina." Let Them Talk is Laurie's very personal journey into the heart and soul of that music: "Here I am in the French Quarter playing with all these amazing musicians. This may be about as good as it gets. In fact, this may be what heaven is like."
Laurie sings a wide selection of tunes, accompanying himself on piano or guitar, and backed by some of the town's top-flight musicians. He refuses to pigeonhole his selections. "There are only two categories: good and bad. Those are the only things that matter."
Throughout the hour, there are intimate performances and rehearsals with blues legends Allen Toussaint and Irma Thomas , known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans," as well as another fellow traveler from Great Britain similarly inspired by this uniquely American music, Sir Tom Jones .
Hugh Laurie: Let Them Talk – A Celebration of New Orleans Blues also includes documentary segments showing Laurie's daytime and nocturnal travels around the city on foot, by bike, or car, including a visit to the legendary Euclid Records shop, where he reverently inspects the classic LPs there.
Laurie dubs the city "the most romantic place on earth" and observes that this is "a city that doesn't fear death. It's looked death in the eye." This aspect is reflected in its music, he notes. "Death is the minor key. Life is the major key."
He freely admits he's following "in the footsteps of Martin Scorsese, Ken Burns, and Spike Lee," all of whom memorably trod similar cinematic musical paths.
Of Laurie's piano prowess, Jones observes admiringly, "He must have listened to a lot of blues players, a lot of boogie-woogie players," and notes that Laurie's playing resembles that of Jerry Lee Lewis. Thomas marvels that when she saw him on the keyboards on House, she "could tell he was actually playing."
With concert sequences filmed at the historic Latrobe's building in the French Quarter, the musical selections include New Orleans blues standards along with forgotten and neglected gems.
Song Listing
"Swanee River" (Foster/Charles)
Hugh Laurie
"Baby What Do You Want Me to Do"/"You Got Me Running" (Jimmy Read)
Miss Lovell White & The Austin Blues Society Band
"You Don't Know My Mind" (Williams/Gray/Liston)
Hugh Laurie
"You Don't Know Me" (Walker/Arnold)
Lady on Guitar
"Copperhead Road" (Steve Earle)
Group Singing and Playing Guitars
"Luckenbach Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" (Moman/Emmons)
Group Singing and Playing Banjos/Guitars
"John Henry" (Traditional Arrangement – Chatman)
Hugh Laurie/Irma Thomas
"St. James Infirmary" (Traditional Arrangement – Primrose)
Hugh Laurie
"Buddy Bolden's Blues" (Traditional Arrangement – Morton)
Hugh Laurie
"Baby Please Make A Change" (Mississippi Sheiks)
Hugh Laurie/Tom Jones/Irma Thomas
"Let Them Talk"
Hugh Laurie
"Tipitina" (Professor Longhair)
Hugh Laurie
No stranger to public television, Laurie's "Jeeves and Wooster" (with comedy partner Stephen Fry) was a popular Masterpiece Theatre presentation in the early 1990s.
Great Performances is a production of THIRTEEN for WNET New York Public Media, one of America's most prolific and respected public media providers. For nearly 50 years, WNET has been producing and broadcasting national and local arts programming to the New York community.
Hugh Laurie: Let Them Talk – A Celebration of New Orleans Blues was directed for television by JP Davidson. For Great Performances , Bill O'Donnell is series producer, and David Horn is executive producer.
Major funding for the Great Performances telecast is provided by Vivian Milstein, LuEsther T. Mertz, the Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, and the Filomen M. D'Agostino Foundation.
About WNET New York Public Media
WNET is America's flagship public media outlet, bringing quality arts, education, and public affairs programming to more than 5 million viewers each week. The parent company of public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET produces such acclaimed PBS series as Great Performances, American Masters, Nature, Need to Know, Charlie Rose, Tavis Smiley, and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Noah Comprende, and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through SundayArts, Reel 13, NJ Today, and the new online newsmagazine MetroFocus.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GreatPerformances

Sting: Back to Bass Tour North America 2011

Performing His Greatest Hits, Stripped Down and Raw In Theatres Across the US & Canada To Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of His Solo Career

NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Live Nation is pleased to announce that this fall, Sting will embark on the Back to Bass Tour throughout North America as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his solo career by taking it back to bass... all of the hits, stripped down, as they haven't been played in years.  Tickets go on sale beginning September 19th at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.
In support of his forthcoming box set collection Sting: 25 Years , slated for release on September 27, the tour features Sting backed by a 5-piece band in an intimate theatre setting.
Beginning in Boston on October 21 at The Wang Theatre at the Citi Performing Arts Center, the tour will extend across the U.S. and Canada.  Cities announced today include Philadelphia, Washington DC, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver. Additional dates will be announced in the coming weeks.
Back to Bass finds Sting performing songs spanning his dynamic and enduring solo career, from his 1985 debut The Dream Of The Blue Turtles to his latest release, Live in Berlin , plus a selection of The Police's greatest hits. Highlights include the Grammy® winners "Brand New Day" and "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" plus fan-favorites "Englishman In New York," "Desert Rose" and "Roxanne." Sting will be joined by a band including his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller, Rufus Miller (guitarist), Vinnie Colaiuta (drummer), Peter Tickell (electric fiddle), and Jo Lawry(vocalist).
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Sting's solo career, the definitive box set  Sting: 25 Years , will be released on September 27, 2011.  This collection captures for the first time both the highlights and rarities of Sting's enduring solo career and contains three CDs, all re-mastered exclusively for this set and personally curated by Sting, as well as a previously unreleased live DVD, Rough, Raw & Unreleased, filmed at New York City's Irving Plaza. The discs are housed in a hardcover book featuring rare photos, complete lyrics, and newly written commentary by Sting. In addition,  Sting: The Best of 25 Years  (single disc) will be released on October 18, 2011.
Sting: Back To Bass Tour is part of the American Express Concert Series.  American Express Cardmembers have an exclusive opportunity to purchase advance tickets before the general public. Complete details available at americanexpress.com/entertainment.  American Express Terms, Conditions & Restrictions apply.
Members of the Sting fan club will also able to purchase tickets in advance with complete tour and ticket information at www.sting.com.  VIP Packages are available through VIP Nation, including premium seats,
exclusive merchandise and more. For more information please visit: www.sting.com.
The tour is promoted by Live Nation and produced by RZO Entertainment, Inc.

STING: BACK TO BASS TOUR 2011 – NORTH AMERICA
October 21	Boston, MA	The Wang Theatre at the Citi Performing Arts Center	On sale Sep. 19 @ 10 am
October 26	Philadelphia, PA	Tower Theater	On sale Sep. 19 @ 10 am
October 29	Washington, DC	Constitution Hall	On sale Sep. 19 @ 10 am
November 1	Toronto, ON	Massey Hall	On sale Sep. 19 @ 10 am
November 5	Chicago, IL	Rosemont Theatre	On sale Sep. 19 @ 10 am
November 6	Detroit, MI	Fox Theatre	On sale Sep. 26 @ 10 am
November 12	Miami, FL	The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater	On sale Sep. 19 @ 10 am
November 16	Dallas, TX	Verizon Theatre	On sale Sep. 26 @ 10 am
November 17	Houston, TX	Verizon Wireless Theater	On sale Sep. 26 @ 10 am
November 20	Denver, CO	Wells Fargo Theatre	On sale Sep. 26 @ 10 am
November 22	Phoenix, AZ	Comerica Theatre	On sale Sep. 26 @ 10 am
November 28	Los Angeles, CA	The Wiltern	On sale Sep. 19 @ 10 am
December 2	San Francisco, CA	Nob Hill Masonic Center	On sale Sep. 26 @ 10 am
December 5	Seattle, WA	The Paramount Theatre	On sale Sep. 26 @ 10 am
December 8	Vancouver, BC	Queen Elizabeth Theatre	On sale Sep. 19 @ 10 am

Itinerary subject to change. Additional cities and venues to be confirmed.
For complete tour and ticket information, please visit www.sting.com and www.livenation.com.
For high resolution photographs and press materials, please visit: http://www.sting.com/PR.
About Live Nation Entertainment:
Live Nation Entertainment is the world's leading live entertainment and eCommerce company, comprised of four market leaders: Ticketmaster.com, Live Nation Concerts, Front Line Management Group and Live Nation Network.  Ticketmaster.com is the global event ticketing leader and one of the world's top five eCommerce sites, with over 26 million monthly unique visitors.  Live Nation Concerts produces over 20,000 shows annually for more than 2,000 artists globally.  Front Line is the world's top artist management company, representing over 250 artists.  These businesses power Live Nation Network, the leading provider of entertainment marketing solutions, enabling over 800 advertisers to tap into the 200 million consumers Live Nation delivers annually through its live event and digital platforms. For additional information, visit www.livenation.com/investors.
SOURCE Live Nation Entertainment

Legendary Singer-Songwriter and Guitarist Stephen Stills to Tour the U.S. this Fall

SOLO DATES FOLLOW UP STILLS’ SPRING TOUR WITH BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD AND SEVERAL CROSBY, STILLS & NASH SHOWS INCLUDING DATES AT NYC’S BEACON THEATRE

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary singer-songwriter and guitar hero Stephen Stills is the only artist ever to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice in one night—with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash.  He's played high-profile dates with both of those iconic acts in 2011, and to top off the year, Stills will launch a fall solo tour of the U.S. on October 10 with a show at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA .  The itinerary wraps at The Grove in Anaheim, CA on November 22 , with other highlights en route including the Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, NY (10/14), the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, MA (10/23), the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, GA (10/30), Belly Up in Aspen, CO (11/10), and the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA (11/18).
Stills will be accompanied on the road by his top-flight backing band featuring Joe Vitale, Todd Caldwell and Kenny Passarelli. The opening act for the east coast dates is Josh Hisle , a young singer-songwriter and former US Marine and two-tour veteran of Iraq who appeared in the CSNY movie "Deja vu." In the west Pegi Young & The Survivors will be touring in support her forthcoming album Bracing For Impact (Vapor Records), along with her acclaimed band— Spooner Oldham (piano), Rick Rosas (bass), Kelvin Holly (guitar) and Phil Jones (drums).
In June of this year, Stills joined Neil Young and Richie Furay for the much-heralded and long awaited Buffalo Springfield reunion tour, performing four dates in California as well as the Bonnaroo festival.  Rounding out the group's line-up for the shows were Young's longtime bassist Rick Rosas —filling in for the late Bruce Palmer —and Crosby, Stills & Nash drummer Joe Vitale sitting in for the late Dewey Martin .  Buffalo Springfield originally formed in 1966 and disbanded in 1968, leaving a small but enormously influential body of work.  They didn't play together again until late 2010, at Neil and Pegi Young's Bridge School Benefit in Northern California—which inspired them to reunite for the 2011 tour.
On the recording side, Stills' most recent release is 2009's Live At Shepherd's Bush (Rhino), which captures the artist in fine form at a 2008 London concert.  In 2007, Rhino released the historic collection Just Roll Tape – April 26th 1968 —the title's date references a long-gone day in a NYC studio when Stills recorded 12 demos after his then-girlfriend Judy Collins had finished her session.  Lost for 40 years, the tapes contained the first-ever takes of songs that would later become Stills solo hits as well as tracks by CSN, CSN&Y and Manassas , including "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," "Wooden Ships" and "Helplessly Hoping."  Stills debuted as a solo artist with 1970's now-classic album Stephen Stills , featuring the signature song "Love The One You're With"—the latest album in his solo repertoire is 2006's Man Alive! .
Stephen Stills is #28 on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time." For more than four decades, through his solo work and a as member of the stellar groups Buffalo Springfield, Manassas, Crosby, Stills & Nash and CSN&Y, he has helped shape the popular music landscape and remained one of its most enduring artists. On tour this fall, Stills will perform songs from throughout his career.
For more information, visit www.stephenstills.com

STEPHEN STILLS TOUR DATES:
October 10	The Birchmere	Alexandria, VA*
October 11	The Egg	Albany, NY*
October 13	Calvin Theatre	Northampton, MA*
October 14	Bearsville Theatre	Woodstock, NY*
October 15	Music Box at the Borgata	Atlantic City, NJ*
October 17	Ramshead Tavern	Annapolis, MD*
October 18	The Birchmere	Alexandria, VA*
October 19	Ramshead Tavern	Annapolis, MD*
October 21	Mohegan Sun Wolf Den	Uncasville, CT*
October 22	Westhampton Beach PAC	Westhampton, NY*
October 23	Wilbur Theatre	Boston, MA*
October 25	State Theatre	Portland, ME*
October 26	Higher Ground	Burlington, VT*
October 27	Tarrytown Music Hall	Tarrytown, NY*
October 29	Jefferson Theatre	Charlottesville, VA*
October 30	Variety Playhouse	Atlanta, GA*
November 12	Belly Up Aspen	Aspen, CO#
November 13	Ogden Theatre	Denver, CO#
November 15	Celebrity Theatre	Phoenix, AZ#
November 17	Napa Valley Opera House	Napa, CA#
November 18	The Regency Ballroom	San Francisco, CA#
November 19	The Catalyst	Santa Cruz, CA#
November 21	Belly Up	San Diego, CA#
November 22	The Grove	Anaheim, CA#

* w/ Josh Hisle
# w/ Pegi Young & The Survivors
SOURCE Stephen Stills

 “THIS IS NRA COUNTRY” KICKS OFF WITH JUSTIN MOORE

 Exclusive download available at NRACountry.com

Nashville, TN (September 12, 2011) NRA Country celebrates country music’s love of family, support of our U.S. military and appreciation for the great outdoors. Many of the format’s biggest stars have joined the “This Is NRA Country” movement to share their perspective on what makes them NRA Country.

September kicks off with breakout star Justin Moore! The nationally acclaimed singer with “Small Town USA” roots recorded a song he wrote exclusively for the NRA Country lifestyle called “This is NRA Country.” The song’s lyrics celebrate what makes America a great nation.

“We’ll stand up for what we love, because we believe in the U.S.A., God and family and being free.”

“This is NRA Country” can be downloaded at NRACountry.com as an exclusive bonus track to Moore’s recently released sophomore album, Outlaws Like Me.

"I'm proud to be a member of the NRA and I was honored to write a theme song for NRA Country,” shares Moore. “I hope this song helps spread the word about how important it is to protect our freedoms and inspires people to live a good wholesome all-American lifestyle that would make our founding fathers proud."

In addition, Justin Moore filmed a music video earlier this summer for “This Is NRA Country.” The clip showcases Moore and other proud Americans across the beautiful backdrop of our country’s fertile fields and massive metropolises. Moore can be seen from his Arkansas farmland and fishing in New York City’s Central Park. For the next two weeks the video can be viewed exclusively at facebook.com/nracountry. 

Each month a new artist will be featured on NRACountry.com, highlighting what makes them ‘NRA Country.’ Celebrate our country and learn more at www.NRACountry.com!

ABOUT NRA COUNTRY: NRA Country is a celebration of American values. Respect. Honor. Freedom. It's a lifestyle and a bond between the country music community and hard-working Americans everywhere. It's powered by pride, freedom, love of country, respect for the military, and the responsibilities of protecting the great American life. We celebrate these values with concerts and other events that benefit gun safety programs for kids, youth hunting and education programs, efforts to support our armed services, and other worthy causes. NRA Country will be involved in causes that defend our values and it will empower our artist friends who promote these values to encourage our next generation of leaders. For more information and latest events, visit www.nracountry.com and follow NRA Country on twitter @nracountry2010.

ABOUT JUSTIN MOORE: Born and raised in Poyen, Arkansas (Pop. 272), Southern Country stylist Justin Moore embodies the soul and character of a kid from a small town in both life and in music with his tough-talking, straight-shooting brand of Country music. His star has grown significantly since he was named Billboard's “Top New Country Artist of 2009.” This Southern Country stylist has sold over 1.2 million digital downloads to date and his sophomore album OUTLAWS LIKE ME hit the #1 spot the week it was released. OUTLAWS LIKE ME includes the fastest-rising single of Moore’s career, “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” which ascended to the #1 spot. His debut album scored three consecutive smash singles (the #1 “Small Town USA” as well as the hits “Backwoods” and “How I Got To Be This Way”). The rising star has been featured recently in The Washington Post, People Country, Billboard and USA Today as well as on the 2010 CMT Music Awards, NPR, WGN Midday News, Fox News Channel, the Associated Press, the 2009 CMT Music Awards, Crook & Chase, GAC and Better TV. Moore’s music has also been featured on FOX’s Hannity &Colmes, NFL Rewind and the 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards. Additionally, his debut was recognized by the New York Times as one of the best albums of 2009. Moore is currently out on tour with Rascal Flatts and will hit the road with Miranda Lambert and Darius Rucker later this fall. LISTEN & MORE: www.moorejustinmusic.com.

# # #

9 LEFT DEAD

SET TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM,

‘THE WRONG THINGS,’

SEPTEMBER 27 ON DIRTBAG/ILG

 

 

 

 

September 7, 2011 -- 9 LEFT DEAD is gearing up for the September 27 release of their debut album, THE WRONG THINGS, through Dirtbag (through Warner Music Group’s Independent Label Group). 

 

The buzz is already starting thanks to early adds for the first single, “Put Your Guns Down,”  which can be heard on radio stations nationwide, including KATT (in their hometown, Oklahoma City), WIIL (Chicago), WKLC (Charleston, WV), WJJO (Madison), WRTT (Huntsville), as well as on AOL/Noisecreep.com, which officially premiered the track and can be heard here: http://aol.it/nqokmZ. 

 

The song stems from an incident at an Oklahoma City prison, which is where singer Travis Jones and bassist Jared Ellis first met and worked together as guards.     

 

As singer Travis Jones told AOL/Noisecreep.com, “One day we had an inmate come in thinking he was a little more hardcore than he actually ended up being.  I was having a bad night, and to add to it, this inmate kept running his mouth.  One thing lead to another and he ended up taking a swing at me. So I moved in on him, picked him up, and slammed him into the ground taking control of the situation.  Later on that night I was going back over what had just happened in my head and the line ‘careful what you wish for’ kept sticking in my head, because he wanted to fight, but I know he didn't see it playing out the way it actually did. And it made me think about those guys that think they are unstoppable until someone actually puts them in their place.  That's where the idea for ‘Put Your Guns Down’ came from."

 

9 LEFT DEAD--Travis Jones (vocals), Jared Ellis (bass), Kreg Anthony (lead guitar), Nathan Parrish (rhythm guitar) and Bryan Whitley (drums)--originally formed in Amber, Oklahoma in 1999 when guitarist, now lead vocalist, Travis Jones, started the band under the name Harmful If Swallowed.  Travis explains, “In the beginning, I never really focused too much on choosing music as a career.  At that time it was a coping mechanism to deal with life and discover myself, which turned into an addiction.  You always want to do something to change peoples’ lives and help them.  It just turned out that while I was using my music to deal with my own circumstances, the music also helped other people–and that’s an addiction you can’t deny.”

 

In 2008, after Jared joined on as the band’s bass player, they decided to change their name to 9 LEFT DEAD.  “The name change was for the best," states Travis, "It gave us what felt like a fresh start and a new beginning."  In July 2010, Kreg and Nathan Parrish joined 9 LEFT DEAD, which was soon followed by the addition of Bryan, completing the band’s official line-up.

 

Wasting no time in showcasing the band’s seasoned live show, led by Travis’ powerful vocals and the band’s musical prowess, in April 2010, 9 LEFT DEAD won the “2010 Band Beatdown” sponsored by Oklahoma City rock radio station KATT and Rock U Live.  They beat out over 100 bands and as part of their grand prize package, the band received an invitation to be one of the first bands to record at Bar Code Studios with multi-platinum and BMI award-winning songwriter Cody Hanson (Hinder).  Within a month of winning the “2010 Band Beatdown,” 9 LEFT DEAD signed to C-Squared Management and their first major recording contract with Dirtbag/ILG/Warner Music Group.

 

With producers Cody Hanson and Marshal Dutton at the helm, the band has perfected the merging of their up-tempo, aggressive and pounding sound with melodic vocal hooks and identifiable lyrics that appeal to a broad audience.  With an unbreakable chemistry, 9 LEFT DEAD brings an action packed show every night leaving it all out there on the stage for the fans. “That’s what this is all about,” states Travis, “we’re here to kick some serious ass for the people that come out to a 9 LEFT DEAD show!”

 

9 LEFT DEAD is currently lining up a new batch of tour dates, which will be announced soon.  They’ve already had the opportunity to share the stage with such bands as Hinder, My Darkest Days, Adelitas Way, Egypt Central, Halestorm, Three Days Grace, Seether, Papa Roach, Drowning Pool, Switchfoot, Puddle Of Mudd, and HellYeah.  

 

www.9leftdead.com

www.facebook.com/9leftdead

www.myspace.com/nineleftdead

www.twitter.com/9leftdead

www.youtube.com/user/nineleftdeadofficial

www.dirtbagmusic.com

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS I'M WITH YOU DEBUTS AT NO. 2 ON BILLBOARD'S TOP 200 ALBUM CHART

BAND'S NEW STUDIO ALBUM IS ALSO NO. 1 ON BILLBOARD'S ROCK AND ALTERNATIVE ALBUM CHARTS AND NO. 1 IN 17 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE U.K., JAPAN, AND GERMANY

FIRST SINGLE "THE ADVENTURES OF RAIN DANCE MAGGIE" HITS NO. 1 AT TRIPLE A RADIO AFTER FOUR WEEKS AT NO. 1 AT ALTERNATIVE 

September 7th 2011 - Los Angeles, CA - Red Hot Chili Peppers have reclaimed their position as one of the world's favorite rock bands with the release of their new album I'm With You, which debuts at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, selling 228,926 copies according to SoundScan. The album is also No. 1 on Billboard's Rock and Alternative album charts, as well as on Top Internet Albums and iTunes Top Alternative Albums chart.

Released by Warner Bros. Records on August 29th, I'm With You is also a smash around the world, with No. 1 debuts in Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and No. 2 debuts in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada and France.

The album's first single, "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie," the band's 12th No. 1 single at Alternative radio, climbs to No. 1 at Triple A this week after spending four weeks atop the Alternative chart. The Los Angeles quartet surpassed its own record for the artist with the most Number One singles in Modern Rock radio chart history with 12 last month.

*          *          *          *

Here's what critics are saying about I'm With You:

"Bassist Flea and especially vocalist Anthony Kiedis shine brightest on this material, which is eminently danceable, propulsive, slinky and engaging." 

USA Today

"And while they're still the house band for watching the Golden State sink into the ocean, they're making sure that the beach bums left behind have an excellently heavy soundtrack for the after-party." 

Entertainment Weekly

"The peak moments on I'm With You balance swagger and sensitivity." 

Rolling Stone

"Kiedis and Red Hot Chili Peppers sound more alive than ever before on I'm With You their brand new masterpiece." 

ArtistDirect (5 out of 5 stars)

"There's no arguing with Flea, nor the rhythm section, nor the band's tastes in guitarists." 

Los Angeles Times

"There remains a youthful pop sensibility to the band's brand of funk, and this is their liveliest record in a decade. I'm With You proves the Peppers are very much alive." 

Seattle Times

"Flea is ... one of the greatest (if not the greatest) bassists on planet Earth." 

Paste

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One of the most successful acts in rock history, Red Hot Chili Peppers, which is singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer, Chad Smith, and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, have sold more than 60 million albums, including five multi-platinum LPs, and won six Grammy Awards, including "Best Rock Album" for Stadium Arcadium, "Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group" for "Dani California," "Best Rock Song" for "Scar Tissue," and "Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal" for "Give It Away."

The band head to South America this month for several shows, including a headlining stint at the Rock in Rio Festival in Brazil on the 24th. In October, the band set off on a European tour. Please visit www.redhotchilipeppers.com for all tour dates.

 

 

www.redhotchilipeppers.com