THE WINERY DOGS RELEASE NEW SONG AND VIDEO, “XANADU,” FROM NEW ALBUM, “III” OUT FEBRUARY 3RD
Following a seven-year break from the studio, The Winery Dogs are back in full force with their aptly named third album III, which is set for release on February 3rd, on the band’s Three Dog Music label (via Burnside Distribution/The Orchard). Following in the footsteps of their first two albums, III was once again self-produced by The Winery Dogs and mixed by longtime band associate Jay Ruston.
Yesterday, the first song to be released from III, Xanadu, made its world premiere during Eddie Trunk’s Trunk Nation show on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. It’s now available on digital formats here (and below). Fans wanting to pre-order the album and enter to win a custom Fender Richie Kotzen Telecaster guitar can go here. A vinyl edition of III will also be forthcoming in just a few months.
While the all-out smokin’ opening track and lead single Xanadu, title might evoke different imagery in more progressive-leaning listening circles, Kotzen’s zen-seeking, hard-rocking ruminations on Xanadu once again shine a light on the eternal power of good collaboration. “Coming out of the gates, that’s a barnburner,” acknowledges [drummer Mike] Portnoy. “It’s one of the fiercest tracks on the album.” Incidentally, eagle ears will also delight in picking up on how definitively Portnoy drops his drumsticks right as the song concludes. “At the end there, you’re hearing me toss my sticks — not in frustration, but very much in satisfaction of what we had just done,” he clarifies with a laugh.
Here’s the complete track listing for III:
1. Xanadu
2. Mad World
3. Breakthrough
4. Rise
5. Stars
6. The Vengeance
7. Pharaoh
8. Gaslight
9. Lorelei
10. The Red Wine
In addition to the new music, fans will also be excited to hear that the trio is hitting the worldwide concert trail starting February 15th in Greensburg, PA at the Palace Theatre for their 202III World Tour. Ticket and VIP package info can be found on the band’s official website.
February:
15 Greensburg, PA Palace Theatre
16 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak
17 Glenside, PA The Keswick Theatre
18 Patchogue, NY Patchogue Theatre
21 New York, NY Sony Hall
22 Annapolis, MD Rams Head Live!
23 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
25 Ridgefield, CT The Ridgefield Playhouse
26 Derry, NH Tupelo Music Hall
March:
1 Columbus, OH King of Clubs
2 Cleveland, OH Agora Theatre
5 Green Bay, WI Epic Event Center
6 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Café
9 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
10 St. Charles, IL The Arcada Theatre
11 Westland, MI The Token Lounge
13 Grand Rapids, MI DeVos Hall
14 Harrison, OH Blue Note
17 Dallas, TX Amplified Live
18 Cedar Park, TX The Haute Spot
19 Houston, TX Warehouse Live Ballroom
21 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
22 Birmingham, AL Iron City
24 St. Petersburg, FL Jannus Live
25 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
26 Orlando, FL The Plaza Live
30 Virginia Beach, VA Elevation 27
31 Hopewell, VA Hopewell Theatre
April:
1 Leesburg, VA Tally Ho Theatre
2 Charlotte, NC The Underground
4 Ashville, NC Orange Peel
5 Knoxville, TN The Mill & Mine
6 Nashville, TN Brooklyn Bowl
Brazil:
April:
3 São Paulo, Brazil Summer Breeze Festival
27 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Vivo Rio (with Stone Temple Pilots)
28 Curitiba, Brazil Tork n Roll (with Skid Row)
June:
2 Hamburg, Germany Markthalle
13 Zoetermeer, Netherlands Boerderij
15 Dessel, Belgium Graspop Festival
16 Wolverhampton, England KK’s Steelmill
17 Nottingham, England Rock City
18 London, England Shepherds Bush Empire
20 Cologne, Germany Kantine
21 Frankfurt, Germany Batschkapp
22 Milan, Italy Alcatrazz
25 Cartagena, Spain Rock Imperium Festival
27 La Rochelle, France Crossroads
Follow the Dogs online at: TheWineryDogs.com, facebook, twitter, instagram and youtube.
These guys are absolutely positively off the scales when it comes to their musicianship. Some of the best in the world. And this song is quite catchy. But it’s also too “busy” for me at the same time. I don’t know how to explain it without coming across as being disrespectful but there are musicians (Vai/Yngvie for example) and there are rockers (Kiss/AC/DC) and there are musicians who rock (Zakk Wylde/Metallica). We could debate all day but I am definitely in the rockers/musicians who rock camp. Typically Musicians bore me. I cannot sit through an entire Steve Vai album but he’s one of the greatest guitarists on earth and I love his work with Whitesnake. I don’t know maybe I’m weird haha. I was also pleasantly surprised that Billy on Bass didn’t have his own bass solo in the middle of a song for once.
Hi Real Paul Stanley,
I understand, and I agree with you, try Captain Love from 2015’s Hot Streak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QEViVQpsZE&list=RDMM8QEViVQpsZE&start_radio=1
On another topic, I am really digging the new Ugly Kid Joe, which is heavily influenced by vintage AC/DC, plus their album is called, Rad Wings Of Destiny (love it!!)
If you are interested, you can listen here: Failure and That Ain’t Livin‘
D
Thank you Dana for the great suggestions. Captain Love is great. It reminds me of something Van Hagar would have done around the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge album mixed with an AC/DC riff in the chorus. I could do without the Billy on bass solo in the middle though. That guy, geez. I’m gonna learn how to play that song on n guitar now so thank you Dana! I will definitely be checking out Ugly Kid Joe as well. Happy Holidays!
Okay, keep me posted and let me know what you think of UKJ.
As for Captain Love, glad you liked it, I love it, I play it a lot.
Happy holidays to you, too.
Not to be confused with the ONJ song of the same name nor with the ridiculous amusement park outside Giants Stadium (Met Life).
Great musicianship does not always mean great songwriting… I appreciate the musical chops and vocal ability but I hate the song hate it –
The song is definitely tight and a bit busy. Kotzen sounds more and more like Chris Cornell. As much as he runs his hands through his hair I thought I was watching a Pantene commercial spot ’til I turned on the sound. Glad to see them put out another album.
Let us not forget about Xanadu form the greatest Canadian Trio their ever was, RUSH
I was thinking Olivia Newton John (RIP).
I just listened to Xanadu by Rush the other day. Always an amazing listen. I’m convinced Alex Lifeson is the master of the arpeggio.