The White Stripes’ recent performance in Manaus, Brazil, is at the center of an MTV special debuting Wednesday (July 13) on the music channel. The show was held in the middle of the Amazon rainforest and at one point found the group bursting outside the venue to perform for fans that were shut out for tickets.
The performance will also yield live B-sides for the upcoming U.K. single release of the Stripes’ “My Doorbell,” in the form of “Same Boy You’ve Always Known” and “Screwdriver.” The single is due Aug. 8.
As previously reported, the Stripes will begin a North American tour July 29 in San Diego. The group’s new Third Man/V2 album, “Get Behind Me Satan,” is No. 24 in its fourth week on The Billboard 200 and has already sold 350,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Stephen Bruton will release “From the Five,” the follow-up to 2002’s “Spirit World,” July 26 through New West Records. Produced by Ross Hogarth (Melissa Etheridge, Gov’t Mule), the disc finds the singer/songwriter performing songs he co-wrote with NRBQ guitarist Big Al Anderson, Little Feat’s Bill Payne and John Kilzer. The album’s sole cover is Brian Adler’s “Tapeheads” soundtrack song “Ordinary Man,” which has been a staple of Bruton’s live performances for some time. Although Bruton has produced his own albums, and those of Alejandro Escovedo, Marcia Ball and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in the past, he felt it was right to put his trust in Hogarth for his fifth studio set. “It’s kind of like the old adage that a doctor can’t operate on himself,” he says.
— Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.
In 2006, aspiring singers in all 50 states will have an opportunity to audition for the sixth season of “American Idol.” Show creator FremantleMedia has pacted with Glowcast Ventures to stage audition events in malls and other venues beginning in August, opening the process to as many as 20,000 more individuals than in prior years.
“Historically we’ve been able to visit only six or seven cities each season,” says FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas Sr. VP Olivier Gers. “The Idol Auditions Tour will reach more people, in more cities, than ever before, giving a lot more people the chance to live out their dreams.”
The first 500 people at each audition site who meet the show’s requirements will perform in front of a live audience. Winners will have fast-tracked access to larger regional auditions that have traditionally drawn thousands of hopefuls.
— Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.