Gentle Giant.

The group is finally starting to release its catalog in digital format this November 3 on i-Tunes, Amazon, and all the other major web providers. For part of the campaign we'll be doing a blog tour. I'm looking to set up e-interviews in which bloggers and their readers will send in questions to Gary Green, Kerry Minnear, Ray Shulman, John Weathers, and Derek Shulman about Gentle Giant. And each day in November a different blogger will post the questions and answers on their site. So, if you're interested, let me know, and I'll let you know how it works. We'll be letting folks know about these blogs through Gentle Giant's web site, myspace, facebook, Twitter, last.fm....

http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/Gentle_Giant

Cevin Soling's THE WAR ON KIDS and its first cinema run, November 18-24 in New York City

THE WAR ON KIDS will be shown at the Quad Cinema, 34 West 13th Street, in New York City, from Wednesday, November 18 through Tuesday, November 24. Truly a New York institution, the Quad Cinema has been showing the best of foreign and independent films since 1972. Family owned and operated, the Quad continues to book films, which are unique, original, and intellectual to appeal to a loyal following of New York moviegoers. Film admission is $11.00 for adults, $8.00 for children and senior citizens. Tickets are available by calling 777-FILM #636 or on the web at www.movietickets.com.

THE WAR ON KIDS is a 95-minute documentary that shows how American public schools continue to become more dangerously authoritarian. In addition to failing in their mission to educate effectively, they erode the country's democratic foundation and often resemble prisons. School children are interviewed as are high school teachers and administrators, as well as prison security guards, plus renowned educators and authors including:

Henry Giroux: Author of Stealing Innocence Corporate Culture's War on Children
Mike A. Males: Sociologist, Author of Scapegoat Generation
John Gatto: New York City and New York State Teacher of the Year
Judith Browne: Associate Director of the Advancement Project
Dan Losen: The Civil Rights Project, Harvard University
Dr. Peter Breggin: Author of Toxic Psychiatry and Talking Back to Prozac

Music in the film is performed by The Chumps, Tommy Gardner, John S. Hall, and Laura Mayer with Scott Grinthal.

THE WAR ON KIDS is directed by Cevin Soling and it won the NYIIFVF award for "best educational film" in 2009. His documentary, THE WAR ON THE WAR ON DRUGS won NYIIFVF's best experimental feature film. Cevin has directed and produced a number of films, including: RELAX IT'S JUST SEX starring Jennifer Tilly, Lori Petty and Cynda Williams; A HOLE IN THE HEAD, which was broadcast on Discovery and The Learning Channel; and URINE: GOOD HEALTH. He also created a number of animated works, including THE BILL JOHNSON SHOW, BORIS THE DOG (which broadcast on both MTV and the BBC), CAPTAIN STICKMAN, as well as the short film, DESTRUCTION.

http://www.thewaronkids.com

Lizanne Knott's SOUTH OF GRACELAND album released in the UK on Proper Music Distribution

Lizanne Knott's SOUTH OF GRACELAND album entered Amazon's UK charts at number 7, above Taylor Swift this past week. SOUTH OF GRACELAND is being released in UK, Ireland, and Scotland on October 5 through Proper Music Distribution.

Lizanne's music was first introduced to British audiences through BBC-2 radio host Bob Harris and through her first UK tour in 2006 when Proper released her album, UNDER THE BURING SKY, with it receiving rave reviews.

She will also be returning to the UK and Scotland for a tour in June 2010. The tour is being booked by Stoneyport Associates. Please keep checking Lizanne's site for updates, as well as http://www.stoneyport.co.uk/artists/docs/lizanneknott.html!

The music of Pennsylvania-based singer-songwriter Lizanne Knott is natural, featuring captivating melodies and deceptively simple lyrics that resonate deeper insights in repeated listening.

SOUTH OF GRACELAND's roots-driven folk and dark, poetic ballads weave tales of life, tragedy and the search for redemption. Lizanne's signature sound is vocals infused with infinite warmth, and it takes flight again in this fourth collection of songs. The CD, produced by Grammy-winning Glenn Barratt (Elton John "Aida," Melody Gardot "Worrisome Heart") brings together some of the most sought after musicians from the United States, including; Jef Lee Johnson (George Duke, Billy Joel), John Doyle (Solas, Joan Baez, Mick Moloney), Chico Huff (Solas, Kate Taylor), Joel Bryant (Philadelphia International Records), Grant MacAvoy, Ed Wise and some special guests. Together, they merge Lizanne's delicately soulful sound with innovative riffs over infectious melodies, creating songs that will stay with you long after you turn off the radio.

"My Little Town" paints images of a town with its dog parade, gentle winds, and also the undercurrent of personally great loss and the dust on picture postcards. Such is Lizanne's gift in writing--both light hearted and happy while taking unexpected turns into deeper, contemplative places. "Too Much Love" starts out with a reference to Elvis Presley and gives mention to Bob Harris, "Everyone has something, and sometimes it's enough...but no one's getting too much love." Whether a bluesy fun remedy "Why Baby Why" or her melodic and metaphoric "Kill the Crows" there is something very worth listening to by everyone.

Confirmed Tour Dates for Lizanne Knott,
please visit lizanneknott.com for updates.

Oct. 7: ABC Special “Tune In” Taping, Oct. 7: "ABC Tune In Taping" Brittinghams Lafayette Hill, PA
Oct 10 The Eclectic Cafe Bay Shore, NY
Oct 17 Kennet Flash Kennett Square, PA
Oct 30 The Record Collector Bordentown, NJ
Nov 5 Clear Conscience Cafe Cambridge, MA
Nov 13 The Bluebird!! Nashville, TN
Nov 18, 19 NYSC Contest Finale New York, NY
Nov 20 The Kimmel Center! Commonwealth Plaza Stage Philadelphia, PA
Nov 21 Arts Against Abuse Presents In Concert Media, PA
Nov 28 Burlap and Bean Newtown Square, PA
Dec 1 Sellersville Theater Sellersville, PA
Dec 10 Lansdowne Folk Club - Minas Anniversary show! Lansdowne, PA
Dec 11 WXPN Presents: Philabundance Benefit 4th Annual! - Lizanne and Friends
Philadelphia, PA
Dec 17 Sellersville Theater - Annie Haslam and Friends Holiday Concert! Sellersville, PA

2010 shows:
June 12 Concert @ Turners Hill West Sussex, London
June 14 BBC2 - Live show taping London
June 16 Edinburgh FC TBA Edinburgh, Scotland
June 17 Live at The Star Glasgow, Scotland

http://www.lizanneknott.com !
http://www.myspace.com/lizanneknott!

Jann Klose to open for RENAISSANCE 2009 this October (Pop singer/songwriter available for interviews in advance of shows)

Jann Klose will be opening for Renaissance on their 40th Anniversary Celebration this October. The tour will visit theatres and performing arts centers in the Northeast U.S. There are a total of nine shows. Headliner Renaissance features long time Renaissance members - singer Annie Haslam and guitarist Michael Dunford.

Jann has had a professional friendship with Annie, who saw and heard him perform at a record release party for a benefit album, SERENITY HOUSE, in September 2007. The following year the two collaborated, along with Renaissance's former keyboardist John Tout, and Jann's band for a sell-out show at the Sellersville Theater, in Sellersville, PA.

Jann's album, REVERIE continues to build momentum. The record has already become a critical favorite in regional America and is - as the LA Weekly states - becoming "a minor hit," heard on over 115 radio stations worldwide, including Sirius XM Radio in the U.S., the BBC in the U.K. and most recently, Prambors Radio in Indonesia.

Since the release of REVERIE, Jann has also opened for Jonathan Edwards, The Strawbs, Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root and performed with Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart and Roger McGuinn at the Martin Guitar 175th anniversary concert. (He'll be opening for Marshall Crenshaw at the Sellersville Theater, in PA on October 24.)

Jann and his band supported Elliott Murphy on tours of the East and West Coast. The two are planning on more shows together later this year. Jann recently returned from a European tour, which included his second run of dates in the U.K. and Germany as well as Georgia, France and Ireland for the first time. In addition to radio airplay and extensive touring - over 100 shows in 2008 alone.

There are also free downloads of songs from REVERIE available at http://jannklose.com/audio.html Jann and his band have been receiving positive press for REVERIE:

“The first thing that's totally unmistakable about Jann Klose is that voice - which is just light years beyond that of the typical singer/songwriter...a sound that is classy, distinctive and often irresistible.”- The Springfield Republican, Advance Newspaper Wire Service

“Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come.” - The Washington Post

“Born in Germany and raised in Africa, Jann Klose brings an element of world music to his adult-contemporary pop-rock. His latest record Reverie offers songs of thoughtful introspection and longing. Rich arrangements feature orchestral strings, jazzy horns and old-world accordion in addition to the standard bass, drums and guitar. Highlights include the melancholy 'Mother Said, Father Said' and Latin-flavored 'Clouds.'” - Performing Songwriter

Confirmed Jann Klose tour dates, Fall 2009
please visit http://www.jannklose.com for updates

October 6 Rams Head On Stage Annapolis, MD w/ Renaissance
October 8 German House Theatre Rochester, NY w/ Renassiance
October 9 The Concert Hall New York, NY w/ Renaissance
October 11 Keswick Theatre Glenside, PA w/ Renaissance (SOLD OUT!)
October 12 The Birchmere Alexandria, VA w/ Renaissance
October 13 The Egg Albany, NY w/ Renaissance
October 14 Whitaker Center Harrisburg, PA w/ Renaissance
October 16 South Orange Performing Arts Center South Orange, NJ w/ Renaissance
October 17 Xanadu Theater at the Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City, NJ w/ Renaissance
October 18 Beacon Sloop Club Pumpkin Festival Beacon, NY w/ Pete Seeger
October 24 Sellersville Theater Sellersville, PA w/ Marshall Crenshaw
November 4 Acoustic Long Island Saint James, NY
November 5 Clear Conscience Cafe Cambridge, MA w/ Lizanne Knott
November 16 Uncommon Ground on Devon
Chicago, IL
November 17 and 18: 12th Annual Jeff Buckley Tribute Concert, Uncommon Ground Chicago, IL
November 20 The Blue Magoo Warren,OH
November 21 Rolling Plains Church Zanesville, OH
December 5 Stephen Talkhouse Amagansett, NY w/ Elliott Murphy
December 9 Johnny D's Boston, MA w/ Elliott Murphy
December 10 The Watercolor Cafe Larchmont, NY w/ Elliott Murphy
December 11 The Living Room New York, NY

http://www.myspace.com/jannklose
http://www.jannklose.com

Elliott Murphy in the States this December

Elliott Murphy is coming back to the New York City area this December. A few dates are booked already.

December 4 The Living Room New York, NY
December 5 Stephen Talkhouse Amagansett, NY w/ Jann Klose
December 6 University Cafe Stony Brook, NY
December 9 Johnny D's Boston, NY w/Jann Klose
December 10 The Watercolor Cafe Larchmont, NY w/Jann Klose
December 11 The Turning Point Piermont, NY

http://www.elliottmurphy.com

Jay and the Americans Christmas Greetings

Jay and the Americans are coming out with a Christmas song, “Christmas in America.” I will have mastered MP3s of it by mid October. Please, let me know if you'd like it for your show, and I'll send it to you.


http://www.jayandtheamericans.net

The book, STICKS'N'SKINS

Jethro Tull's Doane Perry, Tower of Power's David Garibaldi, Grand Funk Railroad's Don Brewer, and Stratospheerius' Lucianna Padmore are featured in the upcoming coffeetable book of drummers, STICKS'N'SKINS.

Visit the web site http://www.sticksnskins.com for links to myspace and facebook web sites.

Here's news from friends.

print out this coupon, and you can get a discount to the cat show in Westchester this November.


If you like writing about animals, and live in the New York City area, join me, Animal Planet's Emergency vet Kevin Fitzgerald, and social networking and media maniac Peter Shankman for the Cat Writers Association Conference, November 19-21 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, White Plains, New York. This will be the first time that the CWA conference is held in conjunction with the Westchester Cat Show.

The conference will also feature 18 seminars to help writers identify good sources, pitch to editors, learn new social media and interviewing skills and explore new topics. Editor/agent appointments will also be available on a first-come, first-serve basis after people register in full. I'll be at the pet book autograph party on Saturday afternoon with my UK book, PAWS FOR THOUGHT for sale at the Westchester Cat Show (anyone Christmas shopping?)

Conference registration can be made online at http://www.catwriters.org/annual-info.html.

Hotel reservations can be made online at http://www.crowneplaza.com\whiteplainsny, under the International Cat Writers' Association, or by phone at 914-682-0050 or 800-227-6963. For more information please visit http://www.catwriters.org.



****

Congratulations to our friends in the band Tiles, who have a song, “Static” from their 1999 PRESENTS OF MIND album on the A&E show, “Parking Wars.”
The show is a first-hand, and decidedly playful, look at what happens when citizens come face-to-face with the parking authority, whether it's ticketing, booting, or towing -- it's PARKING WARS! This episode will broadcast Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 10 PM. Additional show times and program details are available at http://www.aetv.com/parking-wars/.

http://tiles-music.com/.


****
One of the folks who helped me in my career--Howard Bloom is releasing a new book, THE GENIUS OF THE BEAST. The book is about what America and its people need to do to revitalize itself (and a lot is connected with being aware of people's needs, regarding them as being worthy, and being of service to one another). He also runs think tank chats on SKYPE Sunday nights from 9 till midnight east coast time.

Back in the 1970s and '80s, Howard created the "heavy metal magazine" by becoming the first editor of CIRCUS. He also created one of the legendary music publicity firms in the 1980s. (His roster included Tower of Power and other superstars including KISS, Diana Ross, AC/DC, Queen.... Renaissance was also one of his artists.)
Send an e-mail to howlbloom@aol.com , and he will send you an e-galley of his book.

http://www.howardbloom.net

VIRGIN/EMI TO RELEASE ‘JETHRO TULL: LIVE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 1978’ DVD/CD & DIGITAL AUDIO COLLECTIONS

Hollywood, California – September 24, 2009 – On October 20, Virgin/EMI will release a classic Jethro Tull concert for the first time, in DVD/CD and digital audio collections. Filmed and recorded live in New York City on October 14, 1978, Jethro Tull: Live At Madison Square Garden 1978 features more than 90 minutes of music and video presented in 5.1 DTS and Dolby Surround©.

Jethro Tull: Live At Madison Square Garden 1978, documented during Tull’s “Heavy Horses" tour, includes stellar performances of many of the band’s most popular songs, including “Aqualung,” “Locomotive Breath,” “Songs From The Wood,” “Thick As A Brick,” “Heavy Horses,” and many more. This concert also marked the first time a rock act was beamed live from America on British television.

Jethro Tull has released 30 studio and live albums, selling more than 60 million copies since the band first performed at London's famous Marquee club. Tull’s founder, the influential singer and flautist Ian Anderson, will tour to 20 U.S. cities in October and November, following a tour of the U.K. this month.

http://www.jethrotull.com

Jethro Tull: Live At Madison Square Garden 1978 (DVD/CD)
DVD
1. Sweet Dream
2. One Brown Mouse
3. Heavy Horses
4. Opening
5. Thick As A Brick
6. No Lullaby (including flute solo from God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
7. Songs From The Wood
8. Band Intro
9. Quatrain
10. Aqualung
11. Locomotive Breath (including Dambusters March)
12. Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die
13. My God/Cross Eyed Mary
14. Locomotive Breath (Encore) (including Dambusters March)
CD
1. Sweet Dream
2. One Brown Mouse
3. Heavy Horses
4. Thick As A Brick
5. No Lullaby (including flute solo from God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
6. Songs From The Wood
7. Quatrain
8. Aqualung
9. Locomotive Breath (including Dambusters March)
10. Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die
11. My God/Cross Eyed Mary


Jethro Tull: Live At Madison Square Garden 1978 (digital audio)
1. Sweet Dream
2. One Brown Mouse
3. Heavy Horses
4. Thick As A Brick
5. No Lullaby (including flute solo from God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
6. Songs From The Wood
7. Quatrain
8. Aqualung
9. Locomotive Breath (including Dambusters March)
10. Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die
11. My God/Cross Eyed Mary

Ian Anderson: confirmed U.S. tour dates
OCTOBER
6 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
7 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
9 Schenectady, NY Proctor's Theatre
10 Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
11 Ledyard, CT Foxwoods Resort - MGM Grand
13 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
15 Baltimore, MD Lyric Opera House
16 Glenside, PA Keswick Theater
17 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
18 Wallingford, CT Chevrolet Theatre

NOVEMBER
3 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
5 Anaheim, CA The Grove of Anaheim
6 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
7 San Luis Obispo, CA Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center - Harmon Hall
8 Modesto, CA Gallo Center for the Arts - Mary Stuart Rogers
9 San Francisco, CA The Warfield Theatre
10 Santa Rosa, CA Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
13 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
14 Seattle, WA Moore Theatre
15 Spokane, WA Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox

* * *
Media Contacts:

For Virgin/EMI: Jennifer Ballantyne – EMI Music North America
(323) 871-5494 | jennifer.ballantyne@emicap.com!

For Ian Anderson: Anne Leighton – Leighton Media
(718) 881-8183| SKYPE: AnneRLeighton | LeightonMedia@aol.com!