Dave Matthews Unplugs for Charity

Dave Matthews performs at the John Varvatos Stuart House Benefit held at John Varvatos in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles sees a lot of parties and intimate performances, but John Varvatos' annual Stuart House benefit, held at his West Hollywood store and the surrounding street, is a special one. Held in the daytime with a kids' tent, it creates an incredibly relaxed atmosphere, one that makes for some very intimate celebrations.

The 2012 edition featuring Dave Matthews was so low-key that Avatar star Zoe Saldana was near the front of the stage, dancing throughout the set. So mellow that Alice Cooper and Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston held an uninterrupted summit of cool in the Varvatos store with neither fans nor security in sight.

That mood absolutely carries over to the performances. A few years ago Chris Cornell, who, like Matthews, had appeared in a Varvatos ad campaign, performed unplugged, busting out covers like "Hotel California." Unplugged in daylight, you never know what you might get.

Varvatos was hoping for the unexpected from Matthews. "I’m looking for Dave to pull something out of the bag of tricks there and surprise us all, something I haven’t heard him do in a while, something I haven’t heard him do in an intimate setting," the designer told Rolling Stone.

Cooper, out to support fellow Detroiter Varvatos, had some of his own songs he thought Matthews could do if he went the cover route. "There are a bunch," Cooper told us. "More the mid-tempo stuff, something like 'Poison' or 'Is It My Body.' That would be something good for him, a little sexier. I don’t think he would do the hard rock stuff, but even the ballads, 'I Never Cry,' 'You and Me' or 'Only Women Bleed,' he could probably do pretty well."

Much as we would have loved to see Matthews rock some Cooper numbers, there were no covers. But Varvatos definitely got his wish: Matthews said early on during his set that he was going to play some stuff he hadn't played in a while, joking, "If I make mistakes, I did it on purpose, because I'm an artist."

Among the songs he broke out in a 40-minute set were a sterling, mistake-free "#41," "Stay or Leave," "You And Me" (his own, not Cooper's) and "Crush." Matthews had a lot of fun with the setting, telling  the crowd that he's been working on a new album and weaving jokes and stories in between performances. At one point he gave a shout-out to a little girl seated on her father's shoulders.

He closed with a new song written in Chicago, he said, while with his family. He told of picking up the "guy-tar" while his family was about to go swimming. His little boy asked him if he was coming. "But I was selfish," Matthews said. "I've been swimming with him since." The result was a new song he said "I think is about swimming. It's got some drinking references in it, too."

Stuart House is part of the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center, explained Varvatos. "It treats kids who have been sexually abused," he said. "They’re at the forefront in terms of working with children and trying to help them through. We’ve just been here as a conduit to help raise money and get the awareness up."

The event raised over $700,000. After Matthews finished his set, he headed over to the packed kids' tent to entertain them.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Read more »

Dave Matthews Unplugs for Charity

Dave Matthews performs at the John Varvatos Stuart House Benefit held at John Varvatos in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles sees a lot of parties and intimate performances, but John Varvatos' annual Stuart House benefit, held at his West Hollywood store and the surrounding street, is a special one. Held in the daytime with a kids' tent, it creates an incredibly relaxed atmosphere, one that makes for some very intimate celebrations.

The 2012 edition featuring Dave Matthews was so low-key that Avatar star Zoe Saldana was near the front of the stage, dancing throughout the set. So mellow that Alice Cooper and Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston held an uninterrupted summit of cool in the Varvatos store with neither fans nor security in sight.

That mood absolutely carries over to the performances. A few years ago Chris Cornell, who, like Matthews, had appeared in a Varvatos ad campaign, performed unplugged, busting out covers like "Hotel California." Unplugged in daylight, you never know what you might get.

Varvatos was hoping for the unexpected from Matthews. "I’m looking for Dave to pull something out of the bag of tricks there and surprise us all, something I haven’t heard him do in a while, something I haven’t heard him do in an intimate setting," the designer told Rolling Stone.

Cooper, out to support fellow Detroiter Varvatos, had some of his own songs he thought Matthews could do if he went the cover route. "There are a bunch," Cooper told us. "More the mid-tempo stuff, something like 'Poison' or 'Is It My Body.' That would be something good for him, a little sexier. I don’t think he would do the hard rock stuff, but even the ballads, 'I Never Cry,' 'You and Me' or 'Only Women Bleed,' he could probably do pretty well."

Much as we would have loved to see Matthews rock some Cooper numbers, there were no covers. But Varvatos definitely got his wish: Matthews said early on during his set that he was going to play some stuff he hadn't played in a while, joking, "If I make mistakes, I did it on purpose, because I'm an artist."

Among the songs he broke out in a 40-minute set were a sterling, mistake-free "#41," "Stay or Leave," "You And Me" (his own, not Cooper's) and "Crush." Matthews had a lot of fun with the setting, telling  the crowd that he's been working on a new album and weaving jokes and stories in between performances. At one point he gave a shout-out to a little girl seated on her father's shoulders.

He closed with a new song written in Chicago, he said, while with his family. He told of picking up the "guy-tar" while his family was about to go swimming. His little boy asked him if he was coming. "But I was selfish," Matthews said. "I've been swimming with him since." The result was a new song he said "I think is about swimming. It's got some drinking references in it, too."

Stuart House is part of the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center, explained Varvatos. "It treats kids who have been sexually abused," he said. "They’re at the forefront in terms of working with children and trying to help them through. We’ve just been here as a conduit to help raise money and get the awareness up."

The event raised over $700,000. After Matthews finished his set, he headed over to the packed kids' tent to entertain them.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »

Tour Alert: Dave Matthews Band Announce Dates After Year-Long Hiatus

Dave Matthews performs during the Dave Matthews Band Caravan.

Dave Matthews Band
After taking a summer off in 2011, Dave Matthews Band has announced yet another North American summer tour for 2012. The tour is in celebration of their forthcoming album, which will be released this summer as well. The band - which ranked as the biggest ticket-seller of the past decade - will kick off their tour in May in Texas.

5/18 Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion*
5/19 Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion*
5/20 Gulf Shores, AL - Hangout Music Fest
5/22 Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood**
5/23 Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre**
5/25 Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre***
5/26 Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre %
5/28 Scranton, PA - Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain %
5/29 Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center %
6/3 Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center $
6/5 Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center %
6/6 Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center %
6/8 Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center #
6/9 Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center #
6/12 Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre @
6/13 Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre @
6/16 Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live ^
6/17 Virginia Beach, VA - Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach ^
6/22 Noblesville, IN - Kilpsch Music Center ^
6/23 Noblesville, IN - Kilpsch Music Center +
6/26 Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center ~
6/27 Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
6/29 Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium
6/30 Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts +
7/3 Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center ~
7/6 East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Center
7/7 East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Center ~
7/10 Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Center ~
7/11 Maryland Heights, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre ~
7/13 Burgettstown, PA - First Niagara Pavilion &
7/14 Burgettstown, PA - First Niagara Pavilion &
7/18 Tampa, FL - 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre ?
7/20 West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre ?
7/21 West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre ?
8/31 George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheatre =
9/1 George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheatre =
9/2 George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheatre =
9/7 Chula Vista, WA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre ¢
9/8 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre ¢
9/9 Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre ¢

* with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
** with The Head and the Heart
*** with Mariachi El Bronx
$ with Blind Pilot
% with Carolina Chocolate Drops
# with Lettuce
@ with Fitz and the Tantrums
^ with Gary Clark Jr.
+ with Delta Spirit
~ with Brandi Carlile
& with SOJA
? with Tower of Power
= with The Avett Brothers
¢ with Allen Stone

Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden will be back on the road this summer for the "Maiden England World Tour," which is described as a series of arena, amphitheater and festival shows. The tour kicks off in June in Charlotte, NC and will include performances from special guests Alice Cooper and Coheed and Cambria.

6/21 Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
6/23 Atlanta, GA - Aarons Amphitheatre
6/26 Boston, MA - Comcast Center
6/27 Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach
6/29 Philadelphia, PA - Susquehanna Bank Center
6/30 Washington, DC - Jiffy Lube Live
7/2 Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
7/5 Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank
7/16 Buffalo, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
7/18 Detroit, MI - DTE Music Theatre
7/19 Indianapolis, IN - Klipsch Music Centre
7/30 Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
8/1 Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
8/3 San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
8/6 Phoenix, AZ - Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion
8/9 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
8/12 Albuquerque. NM - Hard Rock Pavilion
8/13 Denver, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
8/15 San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
8/17 Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
8/18 Houston, TX - The Woodlands

The Big Pink
The Big Pink have announced their first U.S Tour since the release of their second album, Future This.

SXSW (more info TBA)
4/14 Indio, CA - Coachella Festival
4/15 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
4/18 San Diego, CA - The Casbah
4/21 Indio, CA - Coachella Festival
4/23 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
4/25 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall

Conspirator
2012 is sure to be a big year for electro-rock group Conspirator, as Disco Biscuits members Aron Magner and Marc Brownstein continue to spread their genre-blending sounds with a live album and cross-country tour.  The two Biscuit boys along with New York DJ/producer DJ Omen, guitarist Chris Michetti, and an ever-rotating cast of drummers kick off their tour today in Milwaukee and will spread their sound from Denver to New York City. Unlocked: Live from the Georgia Theatre will be available April 10, 2012. 

2/15 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall                                        
2/16 Minneapolis, MN - The Cabooze                                     
2/17 Chicago, IL - The Congress Theater                   
2/18 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant                                      
2/19 Kalamazoo, MI - Bell’s Brewery                                  
3/01 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place                                      
3/02 New Haven, CT - Sherman Theater                            
3/03 Syracuse, NY - Wescott Theater                             
3/08  West Chester, PA - The Note                                            
3/09 Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls                                          
3/10 Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom                                 
3/16 Enfield, NH - LIFT Festival                                       
3/22  Solano Beach, CA - Belly Up                                              
3/23 Los Angeles, CA - Roxy Theatre                                    
3/24 San Francisco, CA - The Independent                          
3/25 Arcata, CA - The Arcata Theatre                       
3/26 Crystal Bay, NV - Crystal Bay Casino Ballroom       
3/31 Kerhonkson, NY - Rock and Roll Resort v2               
4/01 Kerhonkson, NY - Rock and Roll Resort v2               
4/18  Charleston, SC - Pour House                                      
4/19  Charleston, SC - Wanee Music Festival                  
4/20 Athens, GA - Georgia Theater *                            
4/21 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel *                              
4/27 Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero *                      
4/28 New York, NY - Irving Plaza *                             
* TWO SET SHOW

La Sera
La Sera announces a West Coast tour after releasing the second single from their latest album, Sees the Light.

3.03 Seattle, WA - The Rendezvous ^
3/04 Portland, OR - The Holocene ^
3/06 Sacramento, CA - Bows and Arrows ^
3/07 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Shop ^
3/08 Los Angeles, CA - The Satellite ^
3/10 San Diego, CA - Irenic ^
3/11Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room ^
3/12 Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Sol Live ^
3/14-3/17 Austin, TX - SXSW

^ with Cold Showers

Chevelle
Chicago rockers Chevelle are hitting the road with Middle Class Rut and Janus starting February 24th in Grand Rapids, MI, in support of Hats Off to the Bull. They'll trek cross-country before ending in Oklahoma City on March 16.

2/24 Grand Rapids, MI - Orbit Room
2/25 Forst Wayne, IN - Piere's
2/26 Niagra Falls, NY - Rapids Theatre
2/28 Portland, ME - State Theater
2/29 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
3/2 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
3/3 Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
3/5 Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
3/6 Norfolk, VA - The Norva
3/8 Knoxville, TN - Valarium
3/9 Nashville, TN - Marathon Music
3/10 Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
3/11 Springfield, MO - Gillioz Theatre
3/13 Wichita, KS - Cotillion Ballroom
3/14 Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
3/16 Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »

Tour Alert: Dave Matthews Band Announce Dates After Year-Long Hiatus

Dave Matthews performs during the Dave Matthews Band Caravan.

Dave Matthews Band
After taking a summer off in 2011, Dave Matthews Band has announced yet another North American summer tour for 2012. The tour is in celebration of their forthcoming album, which will be released this summer as well. The band - which ranked as the biggest ticket-seller of the past decade - will kick off their tour in May in Texas.

5/18 Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion*
5/19 Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion*
5/20 Gulf Shores, AL - Hangout Music Fest
5/22 Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood**
5/23 Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre**
5/25 Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre***
5/26 Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre %
5/28 Scranton, PA - Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain %
5/29 Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center %
6/3 Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center $
6/5 Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center %
6/6 Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center %
6/8 Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center #
6/9 Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center #
6/12 Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre @
6/13 Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre @
6/16 Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live ^
6/17 Virginia Beach, VA - Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach ^
6/22 Noblesville, IN - Kilpsch Music Center ^
6/23 Noblesville, IN - Kilpsch Music Center +
6/26 Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center ~
6/27 Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
6/29 Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium
6/30 Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts +
7/3 Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center ~
7/6 East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Center
7/7 East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Center ~
7/10 Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Center ~
7/11 Maryland Heights, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre ~
7/13 Burgettstown, PA - First Niagara Pavilion &
7/14 Burgettstown, PA - First Niagara Pavilion &
7/18 Tampa, FL - 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre ?
7/20 West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre ?
7/21 West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre ?
8/31 George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheatre =
9/1 George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheatre =
9/2 George, WA - The Gorge Amphitheatre =
9/7 Chula Vista, WA - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre ¢
9/8 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre ¢
9/9 Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre ¢

* with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
** with The Head and the Heart
*** with Mariachi El Bronx
$ with Blind Pilot
% with Carolina Chocolate Drops
# with Lettuce
@ with Fitz and the Tantrums
^ with Gary Clark Jr.
+ with Delta Spirit
~ with Brandi Carlile
& with SOJA
? with Tower of Power
= with The Avett Brothers
¢ with Allen Stone

Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden will be back on the road this summer for the "Maiden England World Tour," which is described as a series of arena, amphitheater and festival shows. The tour kicks off in June in Charlotte, NC and will include performances from special guests Alice Cooper and Coheed and Cambria.

6/21 Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
6/23 Atlanta, GA - Aarons Amphitheatre
6/26 Boston, MA - Comcast Center
6/27 Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach
6/29 Philadelphia, PA - Susquehanna Bank Center
6/30 Washington, DC - Jiffy Lube Live
7/2 Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
7/5 Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank
7/16 Buffalo, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
7/18 Detroit, MI - DTE Music Theatre
7/19 Indianapolis, IN - Klipsch Music Centre
7/30 Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
8/1 Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
8/3 San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
8/6 Phoenix, AZ - Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion
8/9 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
8/12 Albuquerque. NM - Hard Rock Pavilion
8/13 Denver, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
8/15 San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
8/17 Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
8/18 Houston, TX - The Woodlands

The Big Pink
The Big Pink have announced their first U.S Tour since the release of their second album, Future This.

SXSW (more info TBA)
4/14 Indio, CA - Coachella Festival
4/15 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
4/18 San Diego, CA - The Casbah
4/21 Indio, CA - Coachella Festival
4/23 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
4/25 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall

Conspirator
2012 is sure to be a big year for electro-rock group Conspirator, as Disco Biscuits members Aron Magner and Marc Brownstein continue to spread their genre-blending sounds with a live album and cross-country tour.  The two Biscuit boys along with New York DJ/producer DJ Omen, guitarist Chris Michetti, and an ever-rotating cast of drummers kick off their tour today in Milwaukee and will spread their sound from Denver to New York City. Unlocked: Live from the Georgia Theatre will be available April 10, 2012. 

2/15 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall                                        
2/16 Minneapolis, MN - The Cabooze                                     
2/17 Chicago, IL - The Congress Theater                   
2/18 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant                                      
2/19 Kalamazoo, MI - Bell’s Brewery                                  
3/01 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place                                      
3/02 New Haven, CT - Sherman Theater                            
3/03 Syracuse, NY - Wescott Theater                             
3/08  West Chester, PA - The Note                                            
3/09 Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls                                          
3/10 Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom                                 
3/16 Enfield, NH - LIFT Festival                                       
3/22  Solano Beach, CA - Belly Up                                              
3/23 Los Angeles, CA - Roxy Theatre                                    
3/24 San Francisco, CA - The Independent                          
3/25 Arcata, CA - The Arcata Theatre                       
3/26 Crystal Bay, NV - Crystal Bay Casino Ballroom       
3/31 Kerhonkson, NY - Rock and Roll Resort v2               
4/01 Kerhonkson, NY - Rock and Roll Resort v2               
4/18  Charleston, SC - Pour House                                      
4/19  Charleston, SC - Wanee Music Festival                  
4/20 Athens, GA - Georgia Theater *                            
4/21 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel *                              
4/27 Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero *                      
4/28 New York, NY - Irving Plaza *                             
* TWO SET SHOW

La Sera
La Sera announces a West Coast tour after releasing the second single from their latest album, Sees the Light.

3.03 Seattle, WA - The Rendezvous ^
3/04 Portland, OR - The Holocene ^
3/06 Sacramento, CA - Bows and Arrows ^
3/07 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Shop ^
3/08 Los Angeles, CA - The Satellite ^
3/10 San Diego, CA - Irenic ^
3/11Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room ^
3/12 Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Sol Live ^
3/14-3/17 Austin, TX - SXSW

^ with Cold Showers

Chevelle
Chicago rockers Chevelle are hitting the road with Middle Class Rut and Janus starting February 24th in Grand Rapids, MI, in support of Hats Off to the Bull. They'll trek cross-country before ending in Oklahoma City on March 16.

2/24 Grand Rapids, MI - Orbit Room
2/25 Forst Wayne, IN - Piere's
2/26 Niagra Falls, NY - Rapids Theatre
2/28 Portland, ME - State Theater
2/29 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
3/2 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
3/3 Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
3/5 Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
3/6 Norfolk, VA - The Norva
3/8 Knoxville, TN - Valarium
3/9 Nashville, TN - Marathon Music
3/10 Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
3/11 Springfield, MO - Gillioz Theatre
3/13 Wichita, KS - Cotillion Ballroom
3/14 Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
3/16 Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon MP3 Download Center

Read more »