Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ Concrete Blonde Official Website) Concrete Blonde will take the stage on July 31, 2011 in the California high desert town of Joshua Tree for a one-of-a-kind live event that will be streamed online for ticket buying fans through Stageit.com. Live at Rancho De La Luna, the band's first ever live-streaming "experiment", will offer both international fans and fans across the country the chance to see Concrete Blonde play just for them. Fans can purchase tickets on the website at www.stageit.com/concreteblondes2011/cb_live_at_rancho_de_la_luna_joshua_tree/3513. The site's currency is called 'notes' (10 notes = $1) and after a fan purchase notes with a credit card or through PayPal, they are then be able to buy tickets on the website for the show.
Fresh from their first trip to China, the band was honored to play the 2011 West Lake Music Festival in Taiziwan Park in the city of Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province. A two day festival of international music, Concrete Blonde was one of only two American bands asked to perform. After countless shows all over the world during their successful and storied career, singer Johnette Napolitano expresses "this was one of the most important shows we've ever played, after 30 years. We were humbled and amazed."
Currently working on material for a new album, 2010 marked the 20th Anniversary of Concrete Blonde's award-winning and best-selling album, Bloodletting. After several years on indefinite hiatus, the band reunited for an anniversary Vampire Tour playing a month-long celebration of their third release for their fans in the United States and Australia. With songs such as "Joey," "Caroline" and "The Sky is a Poisonous Garden," Concrete Blonde and Bloodletting provided much of the Alternative Rock soundtrack that marked the 90's, with songs that are still fresh and heard regularly in film & TV: "The Sopranos" and "The Shield" are on the long list of soundtrack credits on Concrete Blonde's resume. The Vampire Tour concluded with Johnette proclaiming that it was time to go back and make an album reflecting where the band is today. "We're in a much better place than we've ever been, I think. I don't know if it's cool to say about your own band but there were times this year when we'd come offstage and just look at each other and say, 'that was amazing!"
Concrete Blonde was originally formed in 1982 amidst the post-punk era that spawned such notable LA bands as X, Wall of Voodoo, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Go Go's. Lead singer, songwriter and bassist Johnette Napolitano founded the band along with guitarist Jim Mankey (a founding member of Sparks.) Signed to I.R.S. Records, their 1989 sophomore album Free spawned the first among many college radio hits with "God Is A Bullet." The song about the innocent victims of gang violence would set the tone for Napolitano's earnest yet gritty lyrics detailing urban life. Bloodletting, released in 1990, would ultimately prove to be the album that earned Concrete Blonde national attention as the alternative rock anthem "Joey" broke the top 20. Johnette's soulfully wounded voice was forever etched in our memory as she sang, "Joey I'm not angry anymore," about a romance soured by alcoholism. With several more albums successfully under their belt and a considerable and loyal following, the band parted ways after touring for their critically acclaimed Mexican Moon release in 1994.
After six years apart, the new millennium brought the band back together. The album Group Therapy officially marked the band's return and brought their first tour in 8 years. Armed with new drummer Gabriel Ramirez from the Roc En Espanol band Maria Fatal, the trio followed with 2003's Live in Brazil and 2004's desert inspired Mojave. "Rancho de la Luna is the local recording studio" says Johnette, longtime Joshua Tree resident. "As long as I've lived here, the desert still takes my breath away. There's still a lot of music - untapped, just floating around out here in the desert."
To purchase tickets for the first Concrete Blonde live streaming event Live at Rancho De Luna on July 31st, please visit www.stageit.com/concreteblondes2011/cb_live_at_rancho_de_la_luna_joshua_tree/3513 and find further information at the FAQ page at https://www.stageit.com/static/static_pages/faq.
For Concrete Blonde tour updates and music, go to https://www.myspace.com/vampiresrisecbofficial
