Tampa Calling

Less than a year after their last appearance at Clearwater’s stately Ruth Eckerd Hall, New York-based blues rockers The Black Crowes return for another round on Wednesday, October 7, with Truth & Salvage Co. to open. Tickets are $40.50 and $68, and sales begin at noon this Friday, July 24.

The tour will come after the release of the band’s eighth studio effort, Before the Frost…Until the Freeze, a different sort of double album out September 1. The first album, Before the Frost…, features 11 new unreleased Crowes’ studio songs distributed via the band’s own Silver Arrow label and Megaforce Records. The second album, …Until The Freeze, includes 8 original Crowes’ songs and a cover of Stephen Stills’ classic “So Many Times,” and it’s given away via a download code included with Before The Frost… Limited-edition vinyl copies of Before The Frost…Until The Freeze with all 20 tracks will also be available.

Mohawk Bomb Records announced today the release of the debut EP from Ascending to Avalon, whose Soundgarden-meets-Minus-the-Bear throwback riff rock and psychedelic sensibility make them a prime choice to fans of Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes, Foo Fighters and Open Hand.

“Wake the Sleeping Sun” is a 7-song eclectic blend of styles that shows the band’s talent and diversity. Ascending to Avalon was started in March 2008, when Ryen Gerson (vocals, guitar) started jamming with Lance Miller (drums) and Eric Bourne (guitar) on some material that sat around in the depths of his mind. The trio quickly formed a bond which led them to record over 20 original songs and put forth a rough demo recorded in Ryen’s basement. In October 2008, producer Ivan Pena started working with the band and the result was “Wake the Sleeping Sun”, an eclectic display of the band’s range of influences, full of radio rock appeal.

Listen below the jump:

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Black Crowes – War Paint Live
Clutch – Slow Hole To China (remastered rarities)
Rivers Cuomo – Live at Fingerprints
Omar Kent Dykes w/ Jimmy Vaughan – Big Town Playboy
Bob Dylan – Together Through Life (regular and deluxe edition with bonus Theme Time Radio Hour CD and DVD!)
Esquivel – Infinity in Sound, Volumes 1 & 2
Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella (Best of Ben Folds/Ben Folds Five as performed by University a cappella groups. Selected and produced by Ben with his own a cappella versions of Effington and Boxing.)
Heaven & Hell – The Devil You Know (members of Black Sabbath, you know?)
Mike Jones – The Voice
Kool Keith & H Bomb – Stoned Read the rest of this entry »