In 2013, three of rock music’s preeminent musicians—Richie Kotzen, Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan—joined forces to release their self-titled, self-produced debut album. Two years later, the trio known as The Winery Dogs is back with their second album, proving the immense critical acclaim, Top Ten chart positions and numerous sold-out shows worldwide wasn’t a fluke.
Hot Streak is The Winery Dogs’ appropriately titled, self-produced studio album, which came out today on Loud & Proud Records via RED (a division of Sony Music Entertainment) and in the rest of the world via earMUSIC. It was preceded by the first single, Oblivion, which was released to radio August 25th and quickly made its way onto the Top 30 of the Billboard “Mainstream Rock Tracks” chart. A double vinyl edition of the new album is also in the works and is due out November 13th.
As of October 1st, Hot Streak was sitting at #7 on iTunes’ Pre-Order Rock Albums chart, as well as many of Amazon’s top pre-order lists, including:
#1 Amazon BestSellers – Hard Rock
#5 Amazon BestSellers – Rock
#9 Amazon BestSellers – Pop
#9 Amazon BestSellers – All Music
#1 Amazon Pre-Orders – Hard Rock Albums
#2 Amazon Pre-Orders By Price ($9.99)
#3 Amazon Pre-Orders – Rock Albums
#5 Amazon Pre-Orders – Pop Albums
#6 Amazon Pre-Orders – CD / All Music
#6 Amazon Customer Top 20 Picks
Last week, Eddie Trunk—who was instrumental in introducing Kotzen to Portnoy and Sheehan in 2012 when the band was first forming—premiered two songs, Captain Love and Hot Streak, on his weekly Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk SiriusXM radio show. “The Winery Dogs have taken the incredible precedent for songs and performance set on their debut to the next level with Hot Streak,” Trunk says. “More brilliant stuff from what is easily my favorite new band.”
After playing over 100 shows worldwide in support of their self-titled debut album, The Winery Dogs are eager to head back out on the road to get behind Hot Streak. Their first round of U.S. headlining tour dates will kick off October 3rd in Ridgefield, CT at the Ridgefield Playhouse. Shows around the globe are already being planned for 2016.
Hot Streak shows the powerfully pedigreed trio’s initial burst of collective chemistry was no accident, from the strum and headbang of Captain Love to the propulsive uplifting vibe ofThe Bridge” to the introspective acoustic harmonic convergence of Fire. If these three Dogs thought they captured lightning in a supper dish the first time around, Hot Streak barks ups the aural ante into exciting new territory.
The Winery Dogs on the road:
October:
3 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
4 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak
5 Boston, MA Wilbur Theater
8 Glenside, PA Keswick Theater
9 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
10 New York, NY Best Buy Theater
12 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
14 Jacksonville, FL Ponte Verde Concert Hall
15 Tampa, FL State Theater
16 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
17 Orlando, FL The Plaza Live
20 Nashville, TN Wildhorse Saloon
22 Houston, TX Pub Fountains
23 Ardmore, OK Heritage Hall
24 Dallas, TX The Gas Monkey
27 Milwaukee, WI Potowatami Casino
28 Milwaukee, WI Potowatami Casino
29 St. Charles, IL Arcada Theater
31 Denver, CO Marquis Theater
November:
2 San Jose, CA Rock Bar
3 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
5 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon Club
6 Beverly Hills, CA Saban Theater
7 Las Vegas, NV Vamp’d
8 San Diego, CA House of Blues
3 Responses
Top album of the year contender. Too bad they aren’t performing anywhere near where I live.
Let me tell you guys….NOW I know why Eddie has been so high on this band. I, regretably, didn’t get the debut album or see them on tour. This time, they came to CT to kick off the tour. The Ridgefield Playhouse is only 20 minutes or so from my house, which makes it the perfect venue for me. They have so many big acts now, it’s great. And I’m home in bed by 11:30. I’ve seen Satch, Vai and even Billy Squier there in the past two or three years – and that’s ignoring all of the huge stand-up acts they have almost weekly. It’s a phenomenal venue.
Anyway, saw the show last night (third row, center, baby!!!) and I now truly believe that Billy, Mike and Richie are NOT human. They come from another dimension altogether. Never, in my life, have I witnessed three of THE greatest musicians at their craft come together and just blow the doors off the venue. And when Billy or Richie really go off, it’s as if they’re channeling some supernatural gift. Literally. All three of these guys absolutely manhandle their instruments to do what they want. And you can practially feel the bass, guitar or drums trying to fight back. But they can’t. Richie plays a Telecaster (with NO pick!) like I’ve never seen before. Billy? Well…Oh my god. And, Mike is like a robotic octopus who seems to be having the time of his life. If you want to see Billy’s solo, I posted it on YouTube, so just search for Billy Sheehan Ridgefield Playhouse and you’ll get a taste of why he makes jaws drop on a nightly basis.
I also want to give a HUGE shout out the opening act, Kicking Harold. I keep my expectations very low for opening acts. Half way through their set, I was already a big fan of this gasoline rock trio. I bought their latest CD out in the lobby after their set. CHECK THEM OUT!!
I got the new WD album before the show, so still getting into it. With SO MUCH GREAT, NEW music coming out, my head is spinning. Winery Dogs, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Queensryche, Act of Defiance, Trivium, Stryper, (not to mention new teasers from Megadeth and Teramaze!) etc. I wish there was a way for me to listen to music 24 hours a day.
Folks, GO SEE THIS TOUR!!!!
I will be at the Boston show tonight!