Dave Matthews Band will release Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, the highly anticipated album following the death of band member Leroi Moore, on June 2. The album, a tribute to Leroi Moore, will be the band’s first studio album in 4 years and will include the newly released single “Funny the Way It Is”. Rolling Stone’s four star review states that Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King producer Rob Cavallo, “has brought some of the classic-rock edge of his hit records with Green Day and My Chemical Romance to Matthews arena-size spin on early-Seventies Traffic.” Those who are awaiting the album’s release on June 2 can now stream the complete album at Pandora.com.
Watch Dave Matthews Band Live on Hulu.com June 1 as they stream the band’s live in concert at New York’s Beacon Theatre. For more information on Dave Matthews Band, including tour dates, visit DaveMatthewsBand.com.
Dave Matthews Band release second track, “Shake Me Like A Monkey,”
Fans that have purchased the Dave Matthews Band iTunes pass will get a little closer to celebrating the new album, Big Whiskey and The GrooGrux King, with a second track from the upcoming record. The exclusive download of “Shake Me Like A Monkey” from the iTunes pass is the second in a series of pre-album releases with the deluxe iTunes package. Also exclusive with the package is a behind the scenes look at the making of the album as well as unreleased b-sides, a digital artwork booklet and live music from the band’s Spring and Summer 2009 tours.
In addition to these rarities, be sure to check out the Dave Matthews Band channel on You Tube to watch the Groo Grux album artwork come alive with a fun and unique musical animation.
Dave Matthews Band’s latest album Big Whiskey and The GrooGrux King hits stores June 2nd, but is now available for pre-order with the exclusive iTunes pass! For more news, tour dates and to pre-order the album in a variety of configurations visit DaveMatthewsBand.com.
Through a ?tweet? on Twitter.com today, DAVE MATTHEWS BAND have announced that they are giving away their new single, ?Funny the Way It Is,? as a free download for one week. Dave (@davejmatthews) and bassist Stefan Lessard (@slessard) are both very active on Twitter, keeping touch with their huge fanbase and decided it was the perfect place to get the word out. The song comes off their upcoming album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, which hits stores on June 2nd. It will be the band’s first studio album since the death of saxophonist LeRoi Moore last summer. The “GrooGrux King” in the album title refers to Moore?s nickname within the group. Matthews created all of the artwork for Big Whiskey, including the richly detailed cover illustration that puts a GrooGrux spin on New Orleans? traditional Mardi Gras parades while evoking the joy and the sorrow expressed in the album?s songs. Matthews has designed logos and other elements in the past, but this is the first time he has created the entire packaging for a Dave Matthews Band album.
Guitarist Tim Reynolds will play on the album, making it his first recording with DMB since 1998?s Before These Crowded Streets. The album was produced by Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Goo Goo Dolls). Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King will also feature the recording debuts of Rashawn Ross who joined the band in 1996 but hadn?t played on any of their studio releases yet and Moore?s replacement, saxophonist Jeff Coffin who also is a member of B?la Fleck and the Flecktones. DMB just released a trailer for the new album which can be seen below.
Dave Matthews Band kicks off its 2009 tour tonight with a show at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be on the road through October 2nd. Please visit http://www.davematthewsband.com for a full itinerary of the band?s spring and summer tours ? and also check the website for the launch of the Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King pre-order later this week. Fans who pre-order the CD at the band?s website will receive the group?s upcoming live album, Live Trax 15, for free. Live Trax 15 captures the group?s August 9th, 2008 show at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI, one of the most fan-requested shows for release from last year?s summer tour.
Download ?Funny the Way It Is? for FREE here all this week: www.rcarecords.com/dmbfreedownload
Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King is out June 2nd.