Old School Meets New Via?Tony Bennett?

Sept. 4, 2011

Old School Meets
New Via…Tony Bennett?
Tony Bennett, vintage pop/jazz singer and comeback king, just celebrated his 85th birthday a few weeks ago, and shows no sign of slowing down musically, appearing on such current shows as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and collaborating with a surprising range of today’s pop singers. Bennett’s upcoming Duets II album, due out on September 20, finds the singer dueting with everyone from those perhaps expected (Norah Jones, Michael Buble, and Andrea Bocelli) to less traditional pairings such as Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, and Lady Gaga, who appropriately croons with Bennett on “The Lady is a Tramp.” One of Amy Winehouse’s last recordings, a duet with Bennett on “Body and Soul,” will also be on the set…
Evanescence will hit the road for a few advance shows to help promote and preview their upcoming eponymously-titled album, which is now due in stores on October 11. With a one-nighter already wrapped in Nashville, the alt-rockers are heading to Brazil in October, and the UK in November. A return to the States is expected following their overseas and South American jaunts, and then a return to Europe. This is one band that’ll likely be keeping their suitcases packed, with the complete lineup of dates to be announced soon…
Death Cab for Cutie are hopping back on the tour bus too, for a fall tour supporting their newest set, the critical and fan fave Codes and Keys. DCFC, who will kick off their trek on September 30, will wrap the schedule with a hometown show at Seattle’s Key Arena on October 22; in between, they’ll be making stops in Champaign Illinois (10/1), Memphis Tennessee (10/5), Austin Texas (10/11), and Vancouver Canada (10/21.) DCFC will also bring along several opening acts, including Telekinesis, The Hold Steady, Explosions in the Sky, and newbie buzz band The Head and the Heart…
And although these are of course the least of the worries from the storm’s wrath, Dave Matthews Band, Jagged Edge, Melanie Fiona, and festivals from the Afro-Punk Fest to the Charlie Parker Jazz Fest at Summerstage in NYC were among the many musical events cancelled and/or postponed by the arrival out East of Hurricane Irene...

MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:
Love the Muppets? Dig OK Go? Then you win this week with this link, which takes you to the new collaborative video between the band and the Muppets which showcases plenty of your favorite characters plus OK Go’s take on “The Muppet Show Theme Song.” Check it out (and sing along!) on VEVO and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiMZa8flyYY…

MINI MODERN BUZZ:
Lindsey Buckingham, whose new solo album is in stores this week, recently denied rumors that his “other project,” Fleetwood Mac, are working on a new album…
Gavin Rossdale and Bush are returning with his band’s first album in a decade; Bush’s The Sea of Memories will be released on September 13, which will coincide with the band’s North American tour with support bands Chevelle and Filter…
Rolling Stone Keith Richards has now officially written one of the best-selling rock memoirs of all time; his book has sold over a million copies since its release last year…
Canada’s Walk of Fame Fest on October 1 will feature performances from K’Naan and Bedouin Soundclash as part of the event celebrating some of Canada’s favorite musicians…
Feist’s third album is now set for release on October 4; Metals will include a dozen songs and advance color-by-numbers album art…
And finally, a heartfelt thank you and farewell to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who has been battling health problems in recent years and is stepping down as CEO of the Apple company; Jobs changed the way most of us listen to music via iPods and iPhones, and he’ll be sorely missed…
This week’s new releases include… Lindsey Buckingham’s Seeds We Sow… Grace Jones’ Hurricane… Asa’s Beautiful Imperfection… and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.

Questions, comments, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ‘em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com