Release Date: September 14th, 2010
Reviewed by Evelyn Miska Krieger

Matt White has been around for a surprisingly long time. Although most people won’t know it, his songs have been featured in shows such as The Hills, One Tree Hill and Laguna Beach as well as movies such as She’s The One and Shrek the Third. His music is generally low-key and might remind listeners a bit of artists such as David Gray. The tracks on It’s The Good Crazy range from upbeat, pop-oriented songs to much slower and moodier tracks. While White may not be on the general radar, he should be since his songs are well written, well performed and his latest album is a solid collection of strong and interesting songs.

“And The Beat Goes On” opens the album and is one of those aforementioned upbeat tracks. It has a little bit of a Dexy’s Midnight Runners feel going on and often White’s vocals range into falsetto territory, but somehow he’s able to pull it all of and leave listeners with a soulful track. “Falling in Love (With My Best Friend)”slows things down a little bit but maintains that same soulful approach as found on the first song. The slide guitar between chorus and verse adds a nice touch and a little something different.

“When I Fall” is one of the prettiest songs on the album and is reminiscent of Billy Joel in the mid 1990s. The song is much slower than the rest on the album and focuses primarily on vocals and a beautiful piano melody which allows White to really show what he is capable of. “Honeymoon Phase” takes yet another approach and has almost a Paul Simon sound to it. It seems a slightly jarring change after the ease of “When I Fall” but it’s difficult to deny White’s natural talent on a track like this. “Teacher Teacher” has a far more gritty feel than any of the other tracks and brings in some blues and country influence which is a nice change from the rest of the album. That isn’t to say there’s anything wrong with the tracks thus far, but the sound adds a nice mix to the overall feel of the album and is a nice standout among the rest.

White’s second full length album is a successful collection of tracks. While it isn’t the most outgoing of records, it has a quiet confidence that is easy to see and understand after listening to the album in its entirety. White may not have become a household name just yet, but if his career continues on it’s current path, it just may happen yet.

Tickets are on sale now at Palacenet.com, The Palace Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations.

Tickets may also be charged by phone to American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard by calling 1-800-745-3000.

“We’re really looking forward to touring with our friends, Deftones and Mastodon,” says Alice In Chains guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell. “Each band has its own unique flavor and the combination of all three will make for a great show and a good time on the road.”

Multi-platinum-selling headliners Alice In Chains are touring in support of Black Gives Way To Blue, which was named “Album of the Year” at the recent Revolver Golden Gods Award show. Fueled by the Grammy nominated smash “Check My Brain,” which rocketed to number one on the Billboard Rock Songs Chart, Black Gives Way To Blue entered Billboard’s Top 200 at number five. They maintained momentum with follow-up hit “Your Decision,” which also hit to top spot on the Rock Songs Chart, along with a string of sold out headlining tours around the world. The Boston Globe wrote “Alice In Chains is back in business and business is good” and a Guitar World magazine readers poll voted Black Gives Way To Blue “Rock Album of the Year.”

Deftones, one of the most enduring and influential forces in modern rock, recently released their newest album, Diamond Eyes on May 4. The sixth full-length studio effort by the Grammy-winning, platinum-certified group was recorded after their best friend and bassist Chi Cheng sustained a debilitating brain injury from a car accident in November of 2008. “After Chi’s accident, it would have been easy for us to make a sad record,” says singer and guitarist Chino Moreno. “But really, this is an optimistic record.”

Globally celebrated, critically revered, hard rock masterminds Mastodon have created one of the most daring and praised albums in recent years with their current and fifth full-length effort Crack the Skye, which entered the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at number 11. Time magazine placed it third on its list of the top ten “Best Albums of 2009,” writing, “Thunderous, disciplined and expansive…the ambition and tenacity of Mastodon’s music makes Crack the Skye sonically unforgettable.”

“BlackDiamondSkye” tour featuring Alice In Chains with special guests Deftones and Mastodon is part of the Belle Tire Concert Series.

Tickets at $78 and $48 pavilion and $28 lawn are on sale now at Palacenet.com, Livenation.com, The Palace and DTE Energy Music Theatre Box Offices and all Ticketmaster locations. Special Superfan seating and special lawn ticket four-packs at $99 are also available. Kids 14 and under are admitted free on the lawn with the purchase of an Adult ticket. KISS is also giving back to the United States Armed Forces by donating one dollar from each ticket sold to benefit the Wounded Warriors Project.

Tickets may also be charged by phone to American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard by calling 1-800-745-3000.

KISS, the legendary American rock band formed in New York City in 1972, is one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll. Their career milestones are staggering. KISS is one of America’s top gold-record champions which recorded 37 albums over 36 years and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. Over 30 years of record-breaking tours around the globe include high-profile appearances at Super Bowl XXXIII, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 2005 Rockin’ The Corps concert dedicated to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and, most recently, the 2009 finale of American Idol which boasted 30 million viewers.

The KISS legacy continues to grow, generation after generation. The unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the KISS Army to the “Hottest Band in the World” is a striking testament to the band’s unbreakable bond with its fans. In 2009, KISS was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

KISS has given some of today’s now-legendary bands their first shot by opening for the band at sold out arenas and stadiums around the world AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Rush, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and many others. Now, the legendary rockers are partnering with Guitar Center, the world’s largest musical instrument retailer, for Guitar Center On-Stage, an unsigned band competition that will provide emerging artists the chance to open for KISS at 22 of the band’s tour stops. In addition, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley will choose one grand-prize winner to receive a $10,000 Guitar Center shopping spree among other prizes. For more information, visit www.GCOnstage.com. Registration begins on June 1.

There is no other band in the vast history of rock music that has mesmerized generations of music fans in the same way as this revolutionary and iconoclastic quartet that continues to acquire generations of new fans year after year. For more information, visit www.KISSonline.com.

KISS’ “The Hottest Show on Earth Tour” with special guest The Academy Is… is sponsored by Dr. Pepper and is part of the Belle Tire Concert Series.