#alexnews2016

[alexbandfan]

AUSTRALIAN TOUR ANNOUNCED

BY ADMIN | OCT 11, 2016 

Unbreakable Touring are thrilled to announce that two sensational Australian guest acts Juke Kartel and Mike Waters will be joining US hitmakers The Calling on their Australian tour this November.

Australia’s iconic JUKE KARTEL reform for this very special run of shows. After worldwide radio success and release of their 2011 record “Levolution”, JK disbanded in 2013 and will return once more to Australia to perform for the very last time featuring the classic lineup of the band, lead by LA-based frontman Toby Rand (Runner-up on Hit show Rockstar:Supernova w/ Tommy Lee).

“We haven’t played together for a number of years and can’t wait to see the fans we haven’t connected with for so long. Having Ed and Aj back in the lineup will be a lifetime memory. There’s something magic when we hit the stage. Cannot wait to fly back to the homeland. This tour will be extremely energetic and emotional.” – Rand.

Also joining the tour is new sensation MIKE WATERS. Having spent the past 10 years working in the corporate world it came as a complete shock to colleagues, friends and family when he casually revealed he had secretly been writing songs in his bedroom…. Incredible songs.

His debut EP, LIFE is an honestly written collection of musical gems which has earned comments from critics such as “stunning”, “infectious” and “captivating”. Mike has worked with the likes of John Castle, Craig Harnath (Jet, Motor Ace) and Jack Arentz (I Know Leopard, New Navy, Deja).

This November the world sees the long awaited return of Los Angeles multi-platinum act THE CALLING.  In their first full tour of mainland Australia, fans will see Alex Band and his rock cohorts performing in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Fremantle.

The Calling saw massive international success with the debut album release of Camino Palmero in July 2001, which has now sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Their debut single Wherever You Will Go remains their most renowned and successful hit, topping the Billboard Adult charts for 23 weeks, making it the second longest running number one in the chart’s history. They also achieved top 40 charts with singles, Adrienne, Our Lives and Things Will Go My Way.

Named the number 1 song of the decade on the Adult Pop Charts by Billboard Magazine, Wherever You Will Go also peaked at #5 on Australia’s ARIA Singles Chart, was #45 on the 2002 ARIA End of Year Singles Chart and can still be heard on Australian radio today, with rotation on SCA’s Triple M and ARN’s Pure Gold networks.

2016 has seen vocalist Alex Band back in the studio working on new material for a highly anticipated forthcoming release early in 2017, and now, for the very first time, Australian fans will have the chance to hear some of this new material performed live, alongside their signature hits, including Wherever You Will Go, Adrienne, Could It Be Any Harder, Our Lives, Anything and more.

TOUR DATES

Thu 17 Nov | ADELAIDE | HQ Complex Fri 18 Nov | SYDNEY | The Big Top Sat 19 Nov | BRISBANE | Max Watts Fri 25 Nov | MELBOURNE | Max Watts Sun 27 Nov | FREMANTLE | Metropolis

Tickets are on sale now at  unbreakabletouring.com and oztix.com.au with a limited number of excusive VIP Meet & Greet packages available.

The Calling Official

[alexbandfan]

SEPTEMBER 18, 2016

JAYSON PAOR 

Alex Band, The Calling to Stage First Manila Concert on November 11

Hear Alex Band and The Calling Live at the Mall of Asia Arena

Isn’t it a bummer when you attend a concert and you don’t know anything about the songs being sung on the gig?

Even in the concerts of those popular foreign artists, who have a hit or two, concertgoers find themselves bobbing their heads to songs they don’t even know. That is about to change now.

Subterranean Ideas Entertainment is bringing Alex Band and The Calling Live at the Mall of AsiaArena for the first time ever on November 11, 2016, making it, hands down, the biggest rock concert of the year.

Alex Band is one of the most successful singer/songwriters in the new millennium and he is fresh from the studio doing new songs. Band, actually, has never left the scene as he embarked on a successful solo career in Los Angeles, California where he is based.

This year, in an engagement special only to the Philippines, Band and his band are bound to capture everyone’s hearts once again in a one-night concert backed by Vegemore, Red Fox, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Business Mirror, Home Radio, United Neon, Sprinto, Philippine Concerts, Manila Concert Scene, Village Connect and Bren Media.

Band and The Calling will be singing their countless hits such as “Adrienne,” “Stigmatized,” “Could It Be Any Harder,” “Things Will Go My Way,” “Our Lives,” “Anything,” “Why Don’t You and I?,” “For You” (theme song of the movie DareDevil), “Tonight,” “Euphoria,” “Only One,” and the mega-hit song “Wherever You Will Go,” dubbed by Billboard 100 as the Song of the Decade and No. 3 Greatest Adult Pop Song of All Time.

[fvplayer src=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAP9AF6DCu4″]

In YouTube, the song boasts of 150 million hits and counting, not to mention its hundreds of iterations, covers and other related video content. In the Philippines, it is a staple in almost all videoke renditions, a song young and old alike, may have sung in their lifetime a countless times.

For many years, millennials and Generation X yuppies – those who have the purchasing power to get what they want – have been clamoring for The Calling to come over. Their wish is now finally being granted.

Tickets are now available at all SM Tickets outlets and at www.smtickets.com at the following prices: VIP – P6,900; Patron (VIP A) – P5,800; Lower Box – P3,900; Upper Box – P2,400 and General Admission – P958. Call SM Tickets at 470–2222 for ticket inquiries.

MNL Online

[alexbandfan]

Alex Band & the Calling, it’s like riding a bike…Stephen Lavoie / November 18, 2016

Have you ever hopped on a bicycle after having not ridden one for awhile? Just as the old adage explains, you never really loose the ability to do so, once you’ve learned it, “it’s like riding a bike.” You may be a bit wobbly at first but it won’t take long to ascertain your balance, get your bearings and move right along.

Well that’s how it felt when Alex Band and the Calling took to the stage at Mall of Asia Arena last Friday night. The career and personal path for Alex has been a roller coaster ride, with numerous of ups and downs. He’s had some life threatening problems and legal battles concerning his music over the last five years and now appears everything is on the upswing.

Although the show may have started out a bit hesitant, with some lyrics even eluding him on a few occasions. When he did forget the words, he continued on like a professional, many of the excited fans may have not even noticed it, if he hadn’t pointed it out, in a joking self-depreciating manner. Didn’t really matter much, overall, by the end of the concert, they were peddling along without a hitch, firing on all cylinders.

Alex launched his career in 2001 as leader of the Calling, a post-grunge act, becoming an “overnight success” with their most renowned song “Wherever You Will Go”. A blockbuster of a hit reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Adult Top 40 for 23 weeks and named as the number one song of the decade by Billboard.

It’s the second longest running number one song in the chart’s history, only topped by Santana featuring Rob Thomas with the song “Smooth”. It’s one of the tracks that almost everyone in the world will literally instantly recognise, they might not know who sings it but they’ll know the song itself.

At the press con someone asked, “Out of your own catalog, what is your favourite song?” Alex replied, “I would say ‘Wherever You Will Go’ is my favourite song because without it, I wouldn’t be here, that’s the truth, I’ve had 8 number one songs in my career. And sold 21 million records but I would not have any of that without WYWG.” Interestingly he went on to say, “A song I wrote in 30 minutes, a song that just came from God and out of you, and that was it.”

The Calling’s popularity rather quickly tapered off, with future singles failing to chart as well as their first hit. Yes they produced two studio albums and achieved top 40 chartings with singles ‘Adrienne’, ‘Our Lives’ and ’Things Will Go My Way’, but none the less, the band eventually threw in the towel in 2005, when Alex pursued his interests as a solo artist.

His solo career, produced some hits but certainly was not unscathed from trouble, Alex told the crowd as he introduced his song, “Only One”, saying, “I don’t even know if you saw my solo record, because EMI went bankrupt before it even came out. So are the lows of the music business.”

His personal life journey also took him through some uneven roads, now on his third marriage with the first two ending in divorce, a ride familiar to many. But now happily married and excitingly announcing to the crowd that he has recently become a Dad, you could feel the joy in his voice when he spoke of his new roll as a parent.

At times, you can tell more about an artist by what they do off stage, than on. At the press conference, which is a stage itself but Alex’s responses were genuine, garnering insightful answers, with an appreciative and humble tone. You can also tell a great tell about an artist by the others in his band and the band management themselves, all of which were supportive and understanding, a well rounded, professional bunch of folks.

I asked, “You were once quoted as saying; ‘One of the greatest things in my life is to hear of our fans hardships and know they rose above them with the help of our music’. Whose music helped you do the same thing? Expectedly, the the first part of the answer included the typical artist one might expect to hear mentioned when it comes to musical inspirations, with likes of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie. Explaining that he even named his first born son after the latter, Max Bowie Band.

Then he went on to say, “I was diagnosed with Parkinson five years ago, Michael J Fox, you know, Muhammad Ali. Anyway, when I’m making some miraculous recovery, which is amazing, I don’t know how, they don’t know how, I’m a mystery of science.”

He continued in a humble manner, “It started in a wheelchair, couldn’t move. Now I’m totally fine so I’ve got a second chance at life. So I know this is kinda ridiculous to say but my new music; that no one’s heard yet, was what I’d be listening to when I was trying to get through something extremely difficult. I was a complete paraplegic, I couldn’t walk or speak or anything for a while there; it was crazy. So, my new record helped me, and I’m excited to share it with the world!”

They have a couple of records coming out soon, an album of new songs and another with the Calling’s hits reimagined accompanied by a symphony orchestra. Keep an eye out for those, money has it they’ll be impressive.

The recent incarnation of the Calling, features Daniel Damico on guitar, Albert Berry on bass and Daniel Thompson on drums. Manila was the kick off city of their recent tour, which is always special, sometimes a blessing, sometimes a curse. The setlist was solid with all the hits and an acoustic portion of the set, where he did a version of WYWG, alone onstage while his bandmates took a break.

Before he began he addressed the crowd, “This was a song I wrote when I was 16 and it became this amazing song. Anyway, I never usually do this but I wanted to play this song twice tonight.” He continued, “But right now it’s just and me, later on we’ll rock it out. I’m really gonna play it how I wrote it.” I wish more artists would do this with their most popular songs, you don’t see it too often.

I’m certain if I took a poll, over 90% of concert goers would absolutely love to hear two versions of their bands favourite songs. This may have been the most moving portion of the concert, the feeling in the air was palpable. I also thought they did well with “Stigmatised”, after the acoustic set of the show they really hit their stride, well done indeed.

Alex Band may have had his highs and lows, as many of us do traveling through life, now it seems good things are on the horizon. Beginning with an emphasis on his recovery of being a miracle of modern medicine, they’re certainly now heading in a positive direction, up. A fresh start after a long absence from the music scene, hence the bit of rust under the hood, which I’m sure won’t take long to wear off. With just a few more concerts, release of the new material, and in 2017 they’ll be right back on top of the game, just like riding a bike.

(Special thanks going out to Subterranean Ideas Entertainment for a job well done on bringing the band to Philippines shores.)

Irocktography blog

[alexbandfan]

Alex Band, The Calling to Stage First Manila Concert on November 11

SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 JAYSON PAOR VISITED 857 TIMES , 1 VISITS TODAY

Hear Alex Band and The Calling Live at the Mall of Asia Arena

Isn’t it a bummer when you attend a concert and you don’t know anything about the songs being sung on the gig?

Even in the concerts of those popular foreign artists, who have a hit or two, concertgoers find themselves bobbing their heads to songs they don’t even know. That is about to change now.

Subterranean Ideas Entertainment is bringing Alex Band and The Calling Live at the Mall of AsiaArena for the first time ever on November 11, 2016, making it, hands down, the biggest rock concert of the year.

Alex Band is one of the most successful singer/songwriters in the new millennium and he is fresh from the studio doing new songs. Band, actually, has never left the scene as he embarked on a successful solo career in Los Angeles, California where he is based.

This year, in an engagement special only to the Philippines, Band and his band are bound to capture everyone’s hearts once again in a one-night concert backed by Vegemore, Red Fox, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Business Mirror, Home Radio, United Neon, Sprinto, Philippine Concerts, Manila Concert Scene, Village Connect and Bren Media.

Band and The Calling will be singing their countless hits such as “Adrienne,” “Stigmatized,” “Could It Be Any Harder,” “Things Will Go My Way,” “Our Lives,” “Anything,” “Why Don’t You and I?,” “For You” (theme song of the movie DareDevil), “Tonight,” “Euphoria,” “Only One,” and the mega-hit song “Wherever You Will Go,” dubbed by Billboard 100 as the Song of the Decade and No. 3 Greatest Adult Pop Song of All Time.

[fvplayer src=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAP9AF6DCu4″]

In YouTube, the song boasts of 150 million hits and counting, not to mention its hundreds of iterations, covers and other related video content. In the Philippines, it is a staple in almost all videoke renditions, a song young and old alike, may have sung in their lifetime a countless times.

For many years, millennials and Generation X yuppies – those who have the purchasing power to get what they want – have been clamoring for The Calling to come over. Their wish is now finally being granted.

Tickets are now available at all SM Tickets outlets and at www.smtickets.com at the following prices: VIP – P6,900; Patron (VIP A) – P5,800; Lower Box – P3,900; Upper Box – P2,400 and General Admission – P958. Call SM Tickets at 470–2222 for ticket inquiries.

Did you miss the music of Alex Band and The Calling? What is your favorite song by The Calling? Let us know in the comments section! 

Source

[alexbandfan]

News about The Calling and Alex Band

Alex Band & the Calling, it’s like riding a bike…

Stephen Lavoie / November 18, 2016

Have you ever hopped on a bicycle after having not ridden one for a while? Just as the old adage explains, you never really loose the ability to do so, once you’ve learned it, “it’s like riding a bike.” You may be a bit wobbly at first but it won’t take long to ascertain your balance, get your bearings and move right along.

Well that’s how it felt when Alex Band and the Calling took to the stage at Mall of Asia Arena last Friday night. The career and personal path for Alex has been a roller coaster ride, with numerous of ups and downs. He’s had some life threatening problems and legal battles concerning his music over the last five years and now appears everything is on the upswing.

Although the show may have started out a bit hesitant, with some lyrics even eluding him on a few occasions. When he did forget the words, he continued on like a professional, many of the excited fans may have not even noticed it, if he hadn’t pointed it out, in a joking self-depreciating manner. Didn’t really matter much, overall, by the end of the concert, they were peddling along without a hitch, firing on all cylinders.

Alex launched his career in 2001 as leader of the Calling, a post-grunge act, becoming an “overnight success” with their most renowned song “Wherever You Will Go”. A blockbuster of a hit reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Adult Top 40 for 23 weeks and named as the number one song of the decade by Billboard.

It’s the second longest running number one song in the chart’s history, only topped by Santana featuring Rob Thomas with the song “Smooth”. It’s one of the tracks that almost everyone in the world will literally instantly recognise, they might not know who sings it but they’ll know the song itself. 

At the press con someone asked, “Out of your own catalog, what is your favourite song?” Alex replied, “I would say ‘Wherever You Will Go’ is my favourite song because without it, I wouldn’t be here, that’s the truth, I’ve had 8 number one songs in my career. And sold 21 million records but I would not have any of that without WYWG.” Interestingly he went on to say, “A song I wrote in 30 minutes, a song that just came from God and out of you, and that was it.”

The Calling’s popularity rather quickly tapered off, with future singles failing to chart as well as their first hit. Yes they produced two studio albums and achieved top 40 chartings with singles ‘Adrienne’, ‘Our Lives’ and ’Things Will Go My Way’, but none the less, the band eventually threw in the towel in 2005, when Alex pursued his interests as a solo artist.

His solo career, produced some hits but certainly was not unscathed from trouble, Alex told the crowd as he introduced his song, “Only One”, saying, “I don’t even know if you saw my solo record, because EMI went bankrupt before it even came out. So are the lows of the music business.”

His personal life journey also took him through some uneven roads, now on his third marriage with the first two ending in divorce, a ride familiar to many. But now happily married and excitingly announcing to the crowd that he has recently become a Dad, you could feel the joy in his voice when he spoke of his new roll as a parent.

At times, you can tell more about an artist by what they do off stage, than on. At the press conference, which is a stage itself but Alex’s responses were genuine, garnering insightful answers, with an appreciative and humble tone. You can also tell a great tell about an artist by the others in his band and the band management themselves, all of which were supportive and understanding, a well rounded, professional bunch of folks.

I asked, “You were once quoted as saying; ‘One of the greatest things in my life is to hear of our fans hardships and know they rose above them with the help of our music’. Whose music helped you do the same thing? Expectedly, the first part of the answer included the typical artist one might expect to hear mentioned when it comes to musical inspirations, with likes of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie. Explaining that he even named his first born son after the latter, Max Bowie Band.

Then he went on to say, “I was diagnosed with Parkinson five years ago, Michael J Fox, you know, Muhammad Ali. Anyway, when I’m making some miraculous recovery, which is amazing, I don’t know how, they don’t know how, I’m a mystery of science.” 

He continued in a humble manner, “It started in a wheelchair, couldn’t move. Now I’m totally fine so I’ve got a second chance at life. So I know this is kinda ridiculous to say but my new music; that no one’s heard yet, was what I’d be listening to when I was trying to get through something extremely difficult. I was a complete paraplegic, I couldn’t walk or speak or anything for a while there; it was crazy. So, my new record helped me, and I’m excited to share it with the world!”

They have a couple of records coming out soon, an album of new songs and another with the Calling’s hits reimagined accompanied by a symphony orchestra. Keep an eye out for those, money has it they’ll be impressive.

The recent incarnation of the Calling, features Daniel Damico on guitar, Albert Berry on bass and Daniel Thompson on drums. Manila was the kick off city of their recent tour, which is always special, sometimes a blessing, sometimes a curse. The setlist was solid with all the hits and an acoustic portion of the set, where he did a version of WYWG, alone onstage while his bandmates took a break.

Before he began he addressed the crowd, “This was a song I wrote when I was 16 and it became this amazing song. Anyway, I never usually do this but I wanted to play this song twice tonight.” He continued, “But right now it’s just and me, later on we’ll rock it out. I’m really gonna play it how I wrote it.” I wish more artists would do this with their most popular songs, you don’t see it too often.

I’m certain if I took a poll, over 90% of concert goers would absolutely love to hear two versions of their bands favourite songs. This may have been the most moving portion of the concert, the feeling in the air was palpable. I also thought they did well with “Stigmatised”, after the acoustic set of the show they really hit their stride, well done indeed.  

Alex Band may have had his highs and lows, as many of us do traveling through life, now it seems good things are on the horizon. Beginning with an emphasis on his recovery of being a miracle of modern medicine, they’re certainly now heading in a positive direction, up. A fresh start after a long absence from the music scene, hence the bit of rust under the hood, which I’m sure won’t take long to wear off. With just a few more concerts, release of the new material, and in 2017 they’ll be right back on top of the game, just like riding a bike.

(Special thanks going out to Subterranean Ideas Entertainment for a job well done on bringing the band to Philippines shores.)

Source