@LinerNotes

August is a great month. It even has its share of holidays. But while National Mustard Day, Wiggle Your Toes Day and the dubious Bad Poetry Day are among the celebrations happening in the month named for Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus, there was a notable lack of music-themed celebrations taking place. Hence the need for, "Album August".

An advance copy of The Hague's Black Rabbit album landed in my vicinity recently, and I must say it is one of the most diverse and unique listens to have filled my ears in a long while. The album doesn't drop until August 7th, so I am holding off on doing a full review until then, but, the band has just released a music video from it and are letting you grab a free download of the song to enjoy!

If you grew up during the 80's and the Golden Age of the Music Video, then you know there is something inherently magical about hearing certain songs which received heavy rotation on MTV. The images can come flashing back into your mind after hearing only a few notes. It is because of this that covering songs of this particular window of music history can be even more treacherous than others, because you are not only reinterpreting a song, but contending with the indelible imagery associated with it. So what happens when Nico Vega takes on Rod Stewart's paen to teenage romance, "Young Turks"?

Photo courtesy of XO Publicity/The Memorials The Memorials today announced a summer tour lasting from July into September. If you have not heard this talented band, you simply need to. There is more passion and musicianship in their debut and just released follow up album than to be found in the majority of currently emerging artists. Come inside and see if The Memorials are playing near you and grab a free download from their new disc!

The mighty Van Halen enjoyed an uproarious homecoming on June 1st at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band had been enjoying abundant press during the first part of the tour, but this was their homecoming dance; the first of three concerts in Southern California.

(Read this opening line with the sound of a distorted ship's public address system in mind) May I have your attention! May I have your attention! Steampunks, goths, swing dancers and those who love music on the West Coast or those adventurous and willing to travel! There is an event, nay it is more than an event, dare I say a steam-powered shindig which you simply must be a part of! Steamstock - A Music Festival From Another Time , is planned to take place this October, in the port town of San Francisco. And you can help make it a reality! If you've never backed a Kickstarter project before, roll up, roll up to see this show!

It may come as a surprise to some that actor Hugh Laurie is a very accomplished Blues and Jazz musician. Actually, that's not quite fair, because after seeing him play live, "very accomplished" doesn't truly begin to describe the level of passion and ability which Hugh Laurie performs with.

Reprinted from the April 2012 edition of Music Street Journal At the risk of you not reading this entire review, let's get something straight from the get go: Van Halen's A Different Kind of Truth is a must-listen album, five out of five, comeback of the year worthy. If you don't have it yet, go and get it, right now, because you are depriving yourself of what will likely go down as the best rock and roll albums of 2012. Are we on the same page now? Good. Ok, you are still here, so either you need more convincing or you already have A Different Kind of Truth and want to see what I say about it. Fair enough. Shall we?