FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLD 97’s RETURN HOME FOR BLAME IT ON GRAVITY,

FIRST NEW ALBUM IN 4 YEARS TO BE RELEASED MAY 13^th, 2008

TO APPEAR AT SXSW IN MARCH, THREE WEEK NATIONAL CLUB TOUR TO FOLLOW IN JUNE

March 4^th, 2008 -- New York, NY -- Old 97’s, one of the most acclaimed and beloved bands to spring from the 90s indie rock scene, will release their seventh studio album, Blame It On Gravity, May 13^th via New West Records.  The album is the band’s first studio recording in 4 years. The result is a 13-song powerhouse of an album that finds the band turning up the amps and returning to the satisfying crunch of its early records. 

Forming 15 years ago, the band credits the new album’s enthusiasm and spark to their return to its native Dallas to record for the first time since their debut independent release.  Produced by up and coming producer, Salim Nourallah, the album superbly combines the various elements of rock, punk, classic country and pop displayed on previous releases. The collection is easily the band’s most well-rounded stack of songs recorded for a single offering to date.   Blame It On Gravity represents the quality of song-craft fans have come to expect from the 97’s past albums and is also reminiscent of the intensity, drive and bona fide joy found on cult favorite and major label debut Too Far To Care.

“We went into Salim’s studio hellbent on making something great,” says vocalist/guitarist/principal-songwriter Rhett Miller.  “I could feel the energy crackling every day we were in there.  It’s like we had something to prove.  Not just to ourselves, but to the world.  Music should be real and meaningful.  And while there is a weird, dangerous element to the stories in some of these songs, at its core Blame It On Gravity is a celebration of the brotherhood that is our band and a testament to our belief in the transcendent power of rock and roll.” 

Old 97’s are comprised of: Rhett Miller, bassist/vocalist Murry Hammond, lead guitarist Ken Bethea and drummer Philip Peeples. 

Blame It On Gravity’s first single, “Dance With Me,” is a romantic, infectious track that  showcases Miller’s classic storytelling prowess (the track is now streaming at the band’s My Space page www.myspace.com/theold97s)   Other highlights include the stellar and immediate “My Two Feet,” and the catchy “Ride,” which takes listeners on a coast to coast journey to escape an unrequited love.  The album also showcases two fantastic Hammond contributions, “This Beautiful Thing,” and “Color Of A Lonely Heart Is Blue.”

Since the 97’s last studio release, 2004’s Drag It Up, the band has released a double live album, Alive and Wired, a live DVD, and appeared prominently in the romantic comedy The Breakup after being written into the script by longtime fan and supporter Vince Vaughn. 

Well known as an explosive live act, the Old 97’s will be in Austin, TX this year at South By Southwest.  Following the release of the new album, the band will headline a three week nationwide club tour with dates to be announced soon.

For up to date tour information and more visit: www.old97s.com

Blame It On Gravity Track List:

1.   The Fool

2.   Dance With Me

3.   No Baby I

4.   My Two Feet

5.   Ride

6.   She Loves The Sunset

7.   This Beautiful Thing

8.   I Will Remain

9.   Early Morning

10. The Easy Way

11. Here’s To The Halcyon

12. Color Of A Lonely Heart Is Blue

13. The One

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kinks Legend Ray Davies to embark on national tour in support of critically acclaimed solo album Working Man's Café

February 28^th, 2008 -- New York, NY -- Kinks Legend Ray Davies will perform in a select group of theatres in support of his critically acclaimed, second solo album, Working Man’s Café out now on New West Records/Ammal Records.  The new studio album by the legendary songwriter has been incredibly well received by the press including the Los Angeles Times saying “…the reflective songs are among his most intimate and touching” and The Onion continuing “Café draws Davies out just enough to refresh and reinforce his legend.”  USA Today declares “Davies’ ‘Café’ hits the spot” while the Philadelphia Daily News says “He's…one of the more astute, humane, subtle and artful of social observers, with a longing for the simpler days and world that have passed us by. ‘Working Man's Café’ is chock-full of such magical moments.”

The dates take Davies to theatres in select major markets.  Venues such as The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, The Warfield in San Francisco, The Chicago Theatre in Chicago and The Beacon Theatre in NYC all provide a special environment for Ray to perform for true music lovers.

Ray Davies – Working Man’s Café Tour Dates:

March 28 / San Francisco, CA / The Warfield

March 29 / Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre

April 1 / Chicago, IL / Chicago Theatre

April 3 / Toronto, ON / Music Hall Theatre

April 5 / Upper Darby, PA / Tower Theatre

April 6 / Boston, MA / Orpheum Theatre

April 8 / New York, NY / Beacon Theatre

Working Man’s Café serves up 12 new songs written by Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Davies, and co-produced with Grammy^® Award winning producer/engineer Ray Kennedy (Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Delbert McClinton.)  Recorded in Nashville, TN at Kennedy’s Room and Board Studios and mixed in North London at Davies’ Konk Studios, Working Man’s Café is only Davies’ second solo album, following his solo debut ‘Other People’s Lives,’ which was released in 2006.  Working Man's Cafe is available as a CD, Deluxe CD/ DVD, Digital Download and Double 180g Vinyl.

KINKS LEGEND RAY DAVIES

SERVES UP 12 NEW SONGS ON

WORKING MAN’S CAFE

2^nd Solo Album Of Davies’ Legendary Career

Available from New West Records & Ammal Records February 19, 2008

Deluxe CD/DVD Version And Limited Edition 180 Gram Vinyl Will Also Be Available

New West Records & Ammal Records are excited to announce the release of Working Man’s Café, a new studio album by legendary songwriter Ray Davies. Available in North America on February 19^th, 2008 Working Man’s Café, features 12 new songs written by Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Davies, and co-produced with Grammy^® Award winning producer/engineer Ray Kennedy (Fleetwood Mac, Steve Earle, Delbert McClinton.)  Recorded in Nashville, TN at Kennedy’s Room and Board Studios and mixed in North London at Konk Studios, Working Man’s Café is only Davies’ second solo album, following his solo debut ‘Other People’s Lives,’ which was released in 2006.  In addition to the regular album, a deluxe CD/DVD version containing bonus artwork, exclusive live performances and a video interview about the inspiration for Working Man’s Café will be available.  The album will also be released as a Limited Edition 180 gram vinyl record.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to work with Ray Davies,” says Cameron Strang, President of New West Records.  Danny Goldberg, President of Ammal Records, adds “For as long as I can remember, I have always idolized Ray Davies, and I am absolutely thrilled to be working with him on Working Man’s Café.” 

Working Man’s Café, focuses on the plight of the worker, the every day man around the world.  It is Davies’ “American record” (many of the songs were written and all produced in the US) describing the changes he’s seen in this country since he first started visiting in the ‘60s.  In a recent four star Mojo Magazine review Davies is described as having “a tourist’s blend of enchantment and bafflement” when writing about the United States.  In the album’s reflective title song, Davies goes to buy a pair of new jeans but ends up getting lost in a shopping mall which is full of chain stores and brand named coffee houses.  The album is also driven by love and relationships which is especially apparent in “Imaginary Man,” where Davies warns a woman not to get involved with him because “she doesn’t really know what she’s getting.”

Davies, one of Britain’s pre-eminent songwriters, uses all situations he finds himself in as inspiration for songs, especially difficult times.  “Morphine,” was written when Davies was in the Intensive Care unit at Charity Hospital-Louisiana State University after being attacked and shot in New Orleans.  The song helped Davies work through the fear of being in the hospital and the pain from the shooting.

Davies plans to visit the US and Canada in January to do advance promotion for the album and will return for extensive touring beginning in the spring throughout North America.

Track List:

1. Vietnam Cowboys
2. You’re Asking Me
3. Working Mans Café
4. Morphine Song
5. In A Moment
6. Peace In Our Time
7. No One Listen
8. Imaginary Man
9. One More Time
10. The Voodoo Walk
11. Hymn for a New Age
12. The Real World

Steve Earle was honored by the Recording Academy with a Grammy Award for his new album Washington Square Serenade (New West Records) in the Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album category during their 50th annual ceremony last night in Los Angeles.  This honor marks Earle's 2nd and consecutive Grammy Award win.  He previously won in the same category for his 2004 recording The Revolution Starts...Now. 

Rhett Miller will be touring very soon!  You might get lucky and hear some new Old 97's tunes! 

January 19th - Philadelphia, PA The World Cafe

January 24th - Ridgewood, NJ Blend Theatre

February 2nd - Boston, MA The Paradise

February 7th - San Francisco, CA The Independent

February 8th - Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour

February 9th - San Juan Capistrano, CA The Coach House

February 10th - San Diego, CA Belly Up

Steve Earle and Allison Moorer will be touring together.  Don't miss these very special shows!

January 17^th: Glasgow - Royal Concert Hall

January 18^th: Ballybofey - Jackson’s Hotel

January 20^th: Belfast - Empire

January 21^st: Belfast - Empire

January 22^nd: Dublin - Vicar Street

January 24^th: Cambridge - Corn Exchange

January 25^th: Basingstoke - The Anvil

January 27^th: Gateshead - The Sage

January 28^th: Manchester - Bridgewater Hall

January 29^th: Birmingham - Town Hall

January 31^st: Amsterdam - Paradiso

February 1^st: Rijssen - Zaal Lucky

February 2^nd: Ghent - Hadelsbeur

February 4^th: Paris - Le java

February 5^th: Paris - Le java

February 7^th: Hamburg - Fabrik

February 8^th: Berlin - C-Club

February 9^th: Stuttgart - Scala Ludwigsburg

February 10^th: Darmstadt - Central Station

February 13^th: Madrid - Joy Eslava Theatre

February 14^th: Murcia - Murcia Auditorium

February 15^th: Zaragoza - Oasis

February 16^th: Barcelona - Bikini

February 18^th: London - Roundhouse

**NORTH AMERICA

February 28^th: Northampton, MA - Calvin Theater

February 29^th: Boston, MA Somerville Theater

March 1^st: Montreal - Outremont Theatre

March 3^rd: Ottowa - Bronson Centre

March 4^th: Toronto - Massey Hall

March 4^th: Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater

March 7^th: Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre

March 8^th: Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre

March 9^th: Minneapolis, MN - Pantages Theatre

March 10^th: Winnipeg - Burton Cummings Theatre

March 12^th: Edmonton - Alberta Jubilee

March 13^th: Banff - Eric Harvie Theatre

March 15^th: Vancouver - Centre In Vancouver

March 16^th: Victoria - Royal Theatre

March 18^th: Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre

March 19^th: Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre

March 21^st: San Francisco, CA - The Palace of Fine Arts

March 23^rd: Sonoma Beach, CA - Belly Up

March 25^th: Los Angeles, CA - Royce Hall (UCLA Campus)

Allison Moorer will release her new album, Mockingbird, on February 19th via New Line Records.  The album is a celebration of the feminine songwriting voice and features covers from a stellar lineup of music legends ranging from Nina Simone, Patti Smith, June Carter Cash and many more!  The collection also includes the amazing title track, which was composed by Moorer.