Howlin Rain

Last year, Ethan Miller and his band Howlin Rain released their sixth studio album, The Dharma Wheel, which they described as “a six-track, 52-minute dive into a joyous fantasy realm of exaggerated present.” Having recently opened two Las Vegas shows for The Black Crowes, Howlin Rain just teamed up with Crowes singer Chris Robinson for a limited edition 7-inch covering two Mott the Hoople songs, “Sucker” and “Death May Be Your Santa Claus.” According to Miller, “In 2019, Chris Robinson came and sat in with Howlin Rain in San Francisco during our performance at The Chapel. We played Mott the Hoople’s ‘Sucker’ and it was a blast. As the pandemic came in the following year, sit-ins and live gigs were a thing of the past for a while, and we turned our heads toward the studio for these kinds of endeavors of kinship and collaboration. CR chose one more of his favorite Mott songs, and we were off to the races.” In addition to being released in digital formats, physical 7-inch editions include a blacklight screen-printed version with a fold down jacket, a run of test pressings autographed by Robinson and Miller, and a retail edition due in shops April 23 for Record Store Day.

Adam Lambert

Occasional Queen singer Adam Lambert, who grew up in Rancho Peñasquitos and graduated Mt. Carmel High School, was 27 when he became a finalist on the 2009 season of American Idol. Lambert recently announced his support for singer Adele and her decision to postpone a Las Vegas residency, just days in advance of the first concert, because fans “deserve better.” He told UK newspaper The Sun, “Adele is so honest and vulnerable…any artist who has toured understands that sometimes certain things are out of your control. She accidentally got into a situation where the show just wasn’t ready. I feel, as I’m sure Adele does, that the fans and their experience is what the show is for. If the artist is not comfortable with what they are putting out on stage, then that affects what the audience gets as well. Especially as a solo artist, because it’s all about that person. It has to be right, or else it is not going to be what the audience deserves. I’m sure she is doing her best to get it back on track, and everyone will see a great show.” Lambert will headline SunFest Music Festival 2022, happening April 28 through May 1 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Eddie Vedder

Singer Eddie Vedder was eight when he moved to San Diego with his family, including three younger half-brothers, in 1973. His fourth solo album Earthling, recorded with producer-guitarist Andrew Watt, features guest appearances by Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Ringo Starr. It debuted at number one on Billboard’s Current Albums Sales, Album Sales, and Rock Albums charts. The album also marks Vedder’s highest solo album debut on the Billboard Top Album Sales, Top Rock Albums, and Top Current Album Sales Chart. It hit number one on Alternative Album Sales (per MRC Data), number one on the Canadian Top Current Albums, Top Canadian Album Sales, Alternative Album, Current Digital Albums, and LP Vinyl Albums Charts, and continues to chart in numerous countries including Switzerland (No. 3), Belgium (No. 5), Netherlands (No. 5), Germany (No. 11), and the UK (No. 36). The album was also the highest international debut of the year in Italy (No. 10) and hit the Top ten in Australia. Vedder recently joined Duff McKagan on stage for a concert version of the Pretenders classic “Precious,” during McKagan’s February 21 show at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, WA. Fan filmed video of the set has been shared online.

Sister Speak

Led by singer-songwriter Sherri Anne, Sister Speak were nominated Best New Artist at the 2011 San Diego Music Awards. A new album called Love For All is due April 1. Because band members are based in San Diego, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and sometimes Canada, “A lot of the album prep was done in both San Diego and British Columbia,” says Sherri Anne. “After intense rehearsal in San Diego, the band recorded the heart of the record in a seven day stint of studio sessions at Perfect Sound Studios in Los Angeles.” The first single is out now, an alt-reggae track called “Run Away” which addresses the geographical challenges. “It was written about trying to figure out where to live, it mentions San Diego in the first verse. It talks about the beauty of California and not wanting to leave...having spent the past ten years between California and B.C. Canada, it has been a struggle to figure out where to settle.” The tracks “Lose Control” (“The song touches on the need for change within society and ourselves”) and “Crush” (“Low down heartache blues”) feature Gary Clark Jr. band keyboardist Jon Deas, recorded remotely from Austin. An outdoor album release concert takes place April 2 in Tecolote Canyon, at a locale provided with ticket purchase.

Durell Anthony

Singer Durell Anthony’s first single since appearing on The Voice, “Be With U,” drops March 25. “I’ve now branded myself as a solo singer-pianist and my time on the show has allowed for an increase in bookings as well as an increase in my YouTube and Instagram communities,” says Anthony. “Although I’ve been cutting my teeth as a pro singer for years now, the extra stamp of validation of being chosen by John Legend on national television has given me tremendous confidence as I move forward in my career. I often get people who come out to see me play live and request both ‘What’s Going On’ and ‘Emotion,’ and it brings back great memories. My biggest takeaway since The Voice is to always be prepared. Always be working on your craft. Take it seriously. Work on it when no one is watching. Fall in love with the process of getting better. I wasn’t particularly looking for this opportunity, but when it came, I was able to rely on the thousands of hours of singing I had done since I was nine years old. And given the fact that I didn’t advance as far as I’d like, I know there’s more work to be done.”