September Shows

www.robertearlkeen.com

www.badfish.com

From her work in the 80's with MTV favorite Til Tuesday through her acclaimed solo discs "Whatever" and "I'm With Stupid" in the 90s, Aimee Mann has always been at the forefront of contemporary songwriters. The close of the millennium brought her greatest success, with the simultaneous releases of Bachelor No. 2 and the soundtrack to the film Magnolia, which garnered nominations for an Oscar, a Golden Globe and three Grammys. After a decade in which her music often took a backseat to corporate mergers and contractual obligations, the message was clear: Aimee Mann is here to stay. www.aimeemann.com

PETER FRAMPTON was one of the biggest arena rock stars of the '70s. In concert, he often expanded the songs into vehicles for his economical, tasteful guitar playing, and his pioneering use of the talk-box guitar effect became a trademark part of his performances. All those elements came together on Frampton Comes Alive, a double-LP set recorded at San Francisco's Winterland in 1975. The album was a surprise smash, rocketing to the top of the charts (where it stayed for ten weeks) and selling over 16 million copies worldwide to become the most popular live album yet released. It stayed on the charts for nearly two years, and spawned Frampton's first three hit singles: "Baby, I Love Your Way" and the Top Tens "Do You Feel Like We Do" and "Show Me the Way." www.peterframpton.com

A bunch of white boys from Scotland playing deep house 70's funk was and is anything but average. The bands self-titled debut topped the American pop charts with the instrumental "Pick Up the Pieces," which was also later nominated for a Grammy. "Person To Person", "Cut the Cake", "Schoolboy Crush", "If I Ever Lose This Heaven", "Cloudy", "Queen of My Soul", and "Let's Go 'Round Again" became some of the band's most well-known tunes from their mid-late '70's heyday. www.averagewhiteband.com

Combining the ringing guitar hooks of the Byrds and R.E.M. with a solid, rootsy drive, The Gin Blossoms rocketed out of the college pop charts and into the mainstream with their 1993 hit single "Hey Jealousy." Four more singles followed it: "Mrs. Rita", "Found Out About You", "Allison Road" and "Until I Fall Away". By the time the dust settled, 'New Miserable Experience' had sold nearly 3 million copies in the U.S. and the Gin Blossoms were a band to be reckoned with. The band's first #1 hit, "Til I Hear It From You", which appeared in the film, 'Empire Records'. The strength of the track landed the band in unofficial history books because never before had a movie not made it to wide release, yet spawned a soundtrack certified Gold (sales of over 500,000 units) that featured a #1 single. www.ginblossoms.net

Doors founding members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger have chosen ex-Fuel lead singer Brett Scallions to front their project Riders On The Storm, filling the void created when The Cult's Ian Astbury departed the group last month. "Brett is on board and we are glad to have him, he has a great voice and a lot of charisma," states keyboardist Manzarek. This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Doors. The Venice Beach, California, based band released their first record in 1967. In February of 2007 the band was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and a star of The Hollywood Walk Of Fame. www.raymanzarek.net

http://www.fromthejam.net

The award-winning multiplatinum superstar returns to center stage with Something Else, a joyful and modern tribute to the '70s soul and pop records that have inspired an extraordinary career. Something Else is aptly titled. "It's time for hope and change," Thicke says. "It's in the air. And I'm speaking on the times around me." Thicke echoes the change with mesmerizing Superfly-era vocals, Gamble and Huff-inspired horn arrangements ("Hard on My Love"), unabashed lyrical optimism and an irresistible invitation to the dance floor ("Side Step'). "I don't want to be a preacher, but I do think at the core of every great existence is an abundance of love and joy, and the only way to create that is to give it," he adds. www.robinthicke.com/

Morgan likens his career to a catapult that has been stretched all the way back through hard touring, steady radio airplay and media exposure and is now poised to heave that career forward with projectile force. He has two secret weapons in his arsenal. As a singer, Morgan has a clearly identifiable voice. As a songwriter, he displays a distinct point of view. www.craigmorgan.com

Little Feat, a band well-known as the originator of the highly-covered song 'Dixie Chicken,' has amassed some of country's heaviest hitters for their upcoming release, 'Join The Band.' The album includes contributions by Vince Gill, Brooks & Dunn and Emmylou Harris. Gill lends his vocal abilities on a remake of 'Dixie Chicken,' while Brooks & Dunn collaborate on 'Willin.' Harris finishes out the song list by lending her harmonies on 'Sailing Shoes.' Not limited to country icons, the album also includes Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, and Jimmy Buffet, who makes two appearances on the CD, on 'Champion of the World' and 'Time Loves a Hero'. Little Feat have long been immersed in country music. The entire band backed Travis Tritt on 'Bible Belt' for the soundtrack to the movie 'My Cousin Vinny.' Keyboard player Bill Payne played with Harris on several of her hits, as well as on 'Lookin' For Love' by Johnny Lee. Guitarist Fred Tackett counts Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers and Clint Black among his credits. www.littlefeat.net