Music News
half•alive Announces North American Headline Tour
Indie pop/rock trio half•alive have released their third studio album, Persona, available to stream and purchase here today via Virgin Music Group. The bold, cohesive and compact body of work that touches on love, anger, longing, crisis and estrangement. Throughout 11 tracks, half•alive explore what it means to be human – how do personalities develop and how does the outside world perceive you. At the end of it all, they challenge you to answer the question – are you looking or are you seeing?
The creative lengths of this band know no bounds as they have teamed up with Ray-Ban for the video for new song “All My Love (Imperative)” filmed entirely on the new Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses – watch here “A consistent state of busyness is normal in a city like Los Angeles. We don’t know how to rest. We don’t know how to differentiate what we do from who we are,” shares Josh Taylor. “We are all guilty of responding to the simple ‘how are you?’ with a knee jerk ‘I’m good, I’m really busy’ to try and attach our degree of hustle to our self worth. ‘All My Love’ is poking at the idea that worth is downstream from work.
Fans will get a chance to hear these songs live on their Persona World Tour, produced by Live Nation, kicking off next spring. Full of top-notch production, incredible dance choreography, and unique arrangements of their catalog, half•alive is truly a band that you have to see live.
“I get warm, soothing chills down my spine when I’m around people singing in harmony. Whenever it happens I can almost see the voices twisting together, and molding into one beautiful thing lighting up the room. I think that’s why so many people are drawn to concerts. Whether you’re singing along with the band or just listening, there’s a certain magic in the room that gets shared by everyone there, “ shares Josh Taylor, looking ahead to getting back on the road. “We’re looking forward to feeling that at the shows next year. The high intensity, the introspection, the swaying, the absorbing and participating- it’s all creating a harmony.
Kicking off in March of 2025, this tour will travel around North America, stopping at iconic venues like Brooklyn Paramount, Marathon Music Works, South Side Ballroom and Hollywood Palladium with support from The Walters and mehro before heading overseas to a variety of cities throughout Europe and the UK, wrapping up down under in June in Australia. A full list of tour dates and venues can be found below.
Fri Mar 28 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues San Diego
Sat Mar 29 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
Mon Mar 31 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theater
Tue Apr 01 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
Wed Apr 02 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston
Fri Apr 04 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues Orlando
Sat Apr 05 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
Sun Apr 06 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
Tue Apr 08 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte
Wed Apr 09 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia
Fri Apr 11 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
Sat Apr 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
Sun Apr 13 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
Tue Apr 15 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall
Wed Apr 16 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
Fri Apr 18 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!
Sat Apr 19 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
Tue Apr 22 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore Minneapolis presented by Affinity Plus
Wed Apr 23 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman/The Uptown
Fri Apr 25 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
Sat Apr 26 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
Tue Apr 29 – Seattle, WA – ShowBox SoDo
Wed Apr 30 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Fri May 02 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
Thur May 15 – Prague, CZ – ROXY
Fri May 16 – Munich, DE – Theaterfabrik
Sun May 18 – Berlin, DE – Metropol
Mon May 19 – Hamburg, DE – Große Freiheit 36
Wed May 21 – Cologne, DE – Live Music Hall
Thur May 22 – Paris, FR – La Cigale
Fri May 23 – Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg – Ronda
Sun May 25 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute Birmingham
Mon May 26 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 Galvanizers
Tue May 27 – Manchester, UK – O2 Ritz Manchester
Thur May 29 – London, UK – Roundhouse
Wed June 18 – Perth, AU – The Rechabite
Fri June 20 – Melbourne, AU – Northcote Theatre
Sat Jun 21 – Sydney, AU – Roundhouse
Sun June 22 – Brisbane, AU – Princess Theatre
Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning Tuesday, November 19 at 10am local time. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning Friday, November 22 at 10am local time. For more info and tickets go to www.halfalive.co.
For a band that is known for their dynamic visuals and captivating production, the Long Beach-based trio, made up of multi-instrumentalists Brett Kramer, Josh Taylor and J Tyler Johnson, were inspired to peel back the layers in the studio with producer Tommy King (HAIM, The 1975, Vampire Weekend). Adding in collaborators like Justin Tranter, Skyler Stonestreet, Emma Rosen and Jonah Shy, half•alive created songs that were captivating and shocking while also being focused and intentional, as well as having award-winning choreographers JA Collective (made up of Jordan Johnson and Aidan Carberry) reprise their roles to direct movement across the visuals.
Throughout the music videos for previously released singles including the heart-warming harmonic single “Songs”, indie-pop anthem “Sophie’s House” and the heavy-hitting “Automatic”, fans have been introduced to the mascots of Persona – Sonny and Cher. These two “monster-like” creatures were created when the band stumbled upon a digital artist online. An Instagram account (@blatant.space) full of images of exaggerated monsters and fantastical creatures with both animal and humanoid features left half•alive wondering about the stories behind these characters and what it would mean to bring them to life. With the artists’ blessing, the band fabricated two monster mascots that represent the idea that your persona is a different skin that you wear to protect your true self. Fans can now make their own monster while listening to Persona by visiting https://halfalive.lnk.to/monstermaker.
“Persona has allowed us to lean into big choices while also learning a valuable lesson in editing. Anything that didn’t contribute to telling a story was left on the cutting room floor and we couldn’t be more proud of this album. It is truly the best version of half•alive and we’re so happy these songs are now yours.”
For more information, please be sure to follow half•alive on socials and at their website: https://www.halfalive.co.
Music News
The Smashing Pumpkins Announce Massive ‘The Rats In A Cage Tour’ Celebrating Mellon Collie Anniversary
The Smashing Pumpkins are heading back on the road this fall with a tour built around one of the defining rock albums of the 1990s. The band officially announced “The Rats In A Cage Tour,” a North American arena run celebrating the 30th anniversary of Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness.
The tour kicks off Sept. 30 in Columbus, Ohio and runs through November, with stops across the United States and Canada, including a Vancouver date in November. The tour’s name comes from the famous lyric in “Bullet With Butterfly Wings,” one of the biggest singles from the landmark double album.
Frontman Billy Corgan said the band has talked about doing a Mellon Collie-focused production for years, but wanted to wait until the timing and concept felt right. This time around, fans are getting something much bigger than a standard anniversary tour.
Each show will feature two separate sets. The first is dedicated entirely to Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness in what the band describes as a theatrical presentation of the album’s music and themes. The second set will pull from nearly four decades of material, mixing major hits, fan favorites, and deeper cuts from albums spanning Gish through 2024’s Aghori Mhori Mei.
The 1995 album remains one of the biggest alternative rock releases of its era. Songs like “1979,” “Tonight, Tonight,” and “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” helped turn the band into arena headliners and defined alternative radio for a generation of fans who suddenly realized that album is now 30 years old. Time is rude sometimes.
The announcement follows a busy stretch for the band and for Corgan himself. Over the past two years, the Pumpkins have revisited Mellon Collie through deluxe reissues, orchestral reinterpretations with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and special live performances. Corgan has even been taking the material overseas with orchestral theater shows backed by a 60-piece orchestra.
Before the arena tour begins, the Pumpkins will return to Lollapalooza this summer for the first time since the festival’s touring era in 1994, marking a major hometown moment for the Chicago band.
Tickets for “The Rats In A Cage Tour” go on sale May 21 at 10 a.m. local time through the band’s official website. Citi and Verizon presales begin May 19, while members of the band’s VIZ CLUB fan community will get access to a special presale on May 20. More information here.
The band will offer VIP packages featuring a pre-show acoustic performance, Q&A session, exclusive merchandise, memorabilia, lounge access, and early merch shopping.
With no opening acts announced so far and two full sets planned each night, the tour is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious live productions the band has attempted in years.
THE SMASHING PUMPKINS “The Rats In A Cage Tour”:
Sep. 30 – Columbus, OH @ The Schottenstein Center
Oct. 02 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
Oct. 03 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
Oct. 04 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
Oct. 06 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
Oct. 07 – Hamilton, ON @ TD Coliseum
Oct. 09 – Montréal, QC @ Centre Bell
Oct. 11 – Madison, WI @ Kohl Center
Oct. 13 – Saint Paul, MN @ Grand Casino Arena
Oct. 14 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
Oct. 16 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
Oct. 17 – Jacksonville, FL @ VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Oct. 18 – Tampa, FL @ Benchmark International Arena
Oct. 20 – Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Oct. 22 – Nashville, TN @ The Truth
Oct. 24 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center
Oct. 25 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center
Oct. 27 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
Oct. 29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center
Oct. 30 – Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
Nov. 01 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
Nov. 03 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
Nov. 05 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
Nov. 06 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
Nov. 08 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
Nov. 11 – Phoenix, AZ @ Mortgage Matchup Center
Nov. 12 – Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
Music News
Chance the Rapper Announces the ‘Coloring Book 10 Year Anniversary Tour’
Independent GRAMMY Award-winning artist, Chance The Rapper has announced The Coloring Book 10 Year Anniversary Tour, a North American run celebrating the 10th anniversary of his groundbreaking mixtape Coloring Book.
Promoted by Live Nation, The Coloring Book 10 Year Anniversary Tour kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 11 in Cleveland, Ohio at House of Blues, making stops across North America in Montreal, Toronto, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver and more before wrapping up Sunday, Oct. 11 in Pittsburgh, Pa. at Citizens Live at The Wylie.
Released in May 2016, Coloring Book marked a defining moment in Chance the Rapper’s career and a breakthrough for independent music at large. With Coloring Book, Chance The Rapper was the first independent artist to win a GRAMMY® Award, the critically acclaimed mixtape reshaped perceptions around streaming, artist independence and the evolving music landscape. Blending gospel, hip-hop and soulful live instrumentation, Coloring Bookdelivered an uplifting, community-driven sound that resonated across audiences and featured standout collaborations with Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Kirk Franklin, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, T-Pain and Saba. Created alongside longtime collaborators Nico Segal, Peter Cottontale and The Social Experiment, with additional production from Kaytranada, Brasstracks and Francis and the Lights. The project received widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike, with Rolling Stone hailing it a “gospel-rap masterpiece,” and The New York Times recognizing Chance as “a crusader and a pop savant.” Complex solidified its historical significance, calling it “a defining moment for independent artists” cementing its place as one of the most influential releases of its era.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with an artist presale (details below) beginning on Tuesday, May 19 at 10am local time. Additional presales will run throughout that week leading up to the general on-sale on Thursday, May 21 at 10am local time at ChanceStuff.com.
ARTIST PRESALE: To participate in the Chance The Rapper Artist Presale on Tuesday, May 19 at 10am local time you must sign up at livemu.sc/chancetherapper by Sunday, May 17 at 11:59pm PT. For shows using Ticketmaster, no codes are needed – access is tied to your account, and anyone who signs up can join the sale. For the few shows that are not Ticketmaster venues, a code will be provided before the pre-sale begins.
VIP: The tour will also offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages vary but include premium tickets, Meet & Greet and individual photo with Chance the Rapper, pre-signed autographed poster, specially designed gift item & more. VIP package contents vary based on the offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com!
THE COLORING BOOK 10 TOUR DATES:
Tue, Aug. 11 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Fri, Aug. 14 – Waterloo, NY – The Vine Showroom at del Lago Resort & Casino
Sat, Aug. 15 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
Sun, Aug. 16 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
Tue, Aug. 18 – New York, NY – SummerStage Central Park
Thu, Aug. 20 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Fri, Aug. 21 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
Sat, Aug. 22 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia
Sun, Aug. 23 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage
Tue, Aug. 25 – Baltimore, MD – Nevermore Hall
Sat, Aug. 29 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
Sun, Aug. 30 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
Tue, Sept. 1 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company
Wed, Sept. 2 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center
Thu, Sept. 3 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
Sat, Sept. 5 – Tampa, FL – The Ritz Ybor
Sun, Sept. 6 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
Tue, Sept. 8 – Memphis, TN – Satellite Music Hall
Wed, Sept. 9 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore New Orleans
Thu, Sept. 10 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
Sat, Sept. 12 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Sun, Sept. 13 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park
Wed, Sept. 16 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Fri, Sep 18 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort
Mon, Sept. 21 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live
Tue, Sept. 22 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
Fri, Sept. 25 – Vancouver, BC – Freedom Mobile Arch
Sat, Sept. 26 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
Sun, Sept. 27 – Portland, OR – Theater of the Clouds
Tue, Sept. 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
Thu, Oct. 1 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
Fri, Oct. 2 – Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Stir Cove
Sun, Oct. 4 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live
Tue, Oct. 6 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
Wed, Oct. 7 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
Sat, Oct. 10 – Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
Sun, Oct. 11 – Pittsburgh, PA – Citizens Live at The Wylie