Briefly: Hootie & The Blowfish, Trey Anastasio, No Doubt, Stax
Soft-rockers Hootie & The Blowfish, who were due to launch a summer tour on Friday (6/29), have postponed the initial dates on the run so frontman Darius Rucker can recover from a staph infection.
All shows scheduled from June 29 through July 21 have been postponed; the rescheduled dates will be announced later this week, according to a press release. The tour is now expected to kick off with a previously announced July 22 show in Jacksonville, OR, according to the band's website.
In a press release announcing the postponements, the group explained that Rucker suffered a staph infection in his left knee and has since undergone three surgeries to clear the infection. His post-operative rehab prevents him from performing through mid-July.
"This is our first time canceling or postponing shows on a tour and it's not something we take lightly," the group said in the release. "We hope our fans understand that nothing is more important to us than Darius' health, and we will see you all later this summer."
Trey Anastasio has announced a July 24 release date for a new instrumental album titled "The Horseshoe Curve." The set "showcases Anastasio's Afro-Cuban-influenced compositions, replete with five-part horn arrangements, tight breaks, multiple percussionists, and of course, Anastasio's soulful, nimble guitar work," according to a press release.
Anastasio recorded the set at The Barn, his studio complex in Vermont, as well as at Trout Recording in Brooklyn, with producer Bryce Goggin. Backing Anastasio on the set are sax players Dave Grippo, Peter Apfelbaum and Russell Remington; trumpeter Jen Hartswick, trombonist Andy Moroz, keyboardist Ray Paczkowski, drummer Russ Lawton, percussionist Cyro Baptista and bassist Tony Markellis.
No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal, drummer Adrian Young and guitarist Tom Dumont reportedly made surprise appearances during No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani 's Friday (6/22) and Saturday (6/23) solo concerts in Irvine, CA. The reunited group performed a handful of songs that included its hits "Just a Girl" and "Spiderwebs," according to reports.
"Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story"--a documentary that, according to a press release, "will detail the story behind the legendary label that launched a who's-who of soul-music greats"--is scheduled to premiere Aug. 1 on PBS. The film is the work of producer/directors Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville, whose previous documentary, "Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied," was nominated for a Grammy.
Founded in 1957, Stax--a racially integrated label in what was then a segregated city--released hits from artists including Otis Redding , Booker T & the MGs, The Bar-Kays , Isaac Hayes , Sam & Dave , The Staple Singers, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, and Albert King.
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