Ernie Ball Weekly: Paul McCartney, John Mayer, St. Vincent and More

Live Performances

John Mayer

John Mayer surprised Andy Cohen by performing a special cover on his show, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. The episode was unique because it celebrated Andy’s 50th birthday. John played an acoustic cover of Diana Ross’ “It’s My House,” one of Andy’s favorite songs from the 1979 album The Boss. We must admit, there are very few covers by Mayer that aren’t excellent. Watching Andy be stunned by John’s incredible cover is reason enough to watch the short clip.

John Mayer plays Regular Slinkys, Power Slinkys, and Earthwood Phosphor Bronze Medium Light Acoustic Strings.

Stefan Lessard – Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band played “She” and “Samurai Cop” from the recently released album Come Tomorrow on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Come Tomorrow released June 8th and is their first since the 2012 album Away From The World. Dave and Jimmy joked around throughout the show. Matthews even did a short skit where he played trap music such as Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” and more from Migos.

Dave Matthews Band is currently finishing up their 2018 American Tour.

Check out bassist Stefan Lessard’s Music Man StingRay Burnt Apple Bass. Stefan prefers Regular Bass Slinkys and Regular Bass 5 Slinkys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSkfl1yPNGI

Walk The Moon

Walk The Moon performed their hit “Kamikaze” from the 2017 album What If Nothing on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The astonishing vocals and robust style garnered a huge applause from the live studio audience. Watch the performance below and check out Eli Maiman’s St. Vincent Music Man guitar. Walk The Moon is currently playing a summer tour with another Ernie Ball Artist, Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Walk The Moon utilizes the powerful tone of Cobalt Regular Slinkys and Bass Cobalt Regular Slinkys.

New Releases

Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney has shared two new singles from his upcoming album Egypt Station. The new songs are titled “I Don’t Know” and “Come On To Me.” It seems Paul McCartney will never cease to blow our minds away with beautiful melodies and piano-based brilliance. Both songs are timeless and come accompanied with music videos containing abstract album art with lyrical call outs.

Check out Paul McCartney’s page to preorder Egypt Station, which releases September 7th.

Paul likes to strum Regular Slinkys, Super Slinkys, and Earthwood Phosphor Bronze Medium Light Acoustic Strings.

St. Vincent

St. Vincent’s Annie Clark featured on Sheryl Crow’s new single “Wouldn’t Wanna Be Like You.” Annie said in a post on her Instagram,

“I was so honored when Sheryl hit me up to play with her. What a wonderful singer, player, songwriter and a rad woman to boot!”

Check out the song via your preferred streaming site and stop by St. Vincent’s website to catch Annie on her Fear The Future International Tour.

St. Vincent has her own signature Ernie Ball Music Man St. Vincent collection and plays RPS Regular Slinkys and Bass Regular Slinkys.

Panic! At The Disco

Panic! At The Disco’s Pray For The Wicked was released on June 22nd. Pray For The Wicked is the group’s sixth album and includes 11 new tracks. The album’s hit single, “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” is the first song by the group to hit #1 on the Alternative Songs Airplay Chart. A day before the album debuted, the group also released the Official Music Video for “Hey Look Ma, I Made It.” The video emphasizes the changes the band has gone through as they grow in popularity by using a puppet to symbolize lead singer Brendon Urie. Check out the video below.

Panic! At The Disco play Not Even Slinkys and Bass Hybrid Slinkys.

Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails’ highly awaited album, Bad Witch, released on June 22nd. The album represents a new era for the group. There is no doubt that the group has refined their process and Trent Reznor has found his dark baritone style which characterizes the 31 minute EP. Read through a very interesting interview with Reznor on NIN’s website, where he talks about his motivations for the album and gives some deeper context into its six songs.

Nine Inch Nails play Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinkys, Super Slinkys, and Bass Hybrid Slinkys.

Darius Rucker

Darius Rucker has released a new single, “Straight to Hell.” The single is accompanied by other country stars Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, and Charles Kelley. A remake of his 1989 “Drivin’ and Cryin'” the song is accompanied with a music video, attached below. The singers are seen in an old western themed scene and all chime in throughout the track. For country lovers, this is a must-listen that utilizes the Old Western Front to establish meaning for the song. Visit Rucker’s website to catch him on tour! Perhaps some of these fantastic guests will join him for a surprise.

Darius Rucker uses Regular Slinkys and Everlast Medium Coated Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Strings.

Dan + Shay

Dan + Shay debuted their self-titled album on the 22nd of June. The two best friends form a great duo by balancing each other out to create this unique country album. They decided to release a self-titled album as recognition of finding their true sound. Because of the popularity of the first single from the album, “Tequila,” the group knew they had “finally figured it out.” Visit their website to catch a show as the group tours throughout the United States this summer and take a look at the Music Video for “Alone Together.”

Dan + Shay bassist Dustin Hook play Bass Hybrid Slinkys. Dan + Shay play Regular Slinkys.

Best Coast

Best Coast has released a children’s album titled Best Kids. The album is full of child-friendly songs such as “Cats and Dogs.” Bethany Cosentino explains the reasoning for creating the album,

“I wanted to make a kid’s album not just for kids but also for the parents with cool music taste that might be tired of listening to the same songs off the Frozen soundtrack 200 times in a row.”

The album is full of classic memorable covers that all of us know and love from our childhood. It’s a great nostalgic album worth checking out.

Best Coast uses Cobalt Regular Slinkys and Coated Bass Super Slinkys.

Tour Announcements

Vile and the Violators

Kurt Vile and the Violators are embarking on a world tour after finishing their summer performances. The upcoming tour will take place from October 12th to December 22nd. Folk artist Jessica Pratt will be joining them for the final United States stretch in December. Expect Vile and the Violators to draw on music from his last solo album in 2015,  b’lieve I’m goin down… and his 2017 LP with fellow Ernie Ball Artist Courtney Barnett, Lotta Sea Lice.

Kurt Vile plays Power Slinkys and Earthwood Phosphor Bronze Medium Acoustic Strings.

Ernie Ball Music Man in the Wild

Zac Brown Band

Check out Matt Mangano, Bassist for Zac Brown Band, live in concert at the John Paul Jones Arena. You can see he’s thoroughly enjoying his Ernie Ball Music Man Cutlass Bass. The Zac Brown Band played in Charlottesville on October 7th, 2017 as part of their Welcome Home Tour.

Zac Brown Band play Flatwound Electric Bass Strings and Regular Slinkys and owns an array of Ernie Ball Music Man basses, such as an Old Smoothie from the StingRay Collection.