Mike and The Streets Hit the Road

Modern Rock

By Kristi Kates | Dec. 2, 2017

Electronica/rap artist Mike Skinner (pictured), and The Streets, who did a farewell tour for fans six years ago, are returning to the live stage with a big comeback tour that will be their first since their tour in support of The Streets’ fifth album, Computers and Blues, in 2011. Since the hiatus, Skinner has been making solo music and also working as a DJ. Now he and the guys are set to kick off their trek in Birmingham, England, on April 2018, with dates already set in Glasgow, Manchester, and London, with more UK and possibly stateside dates said to be in the works …

Joe Wright’s new drama film, Darkest Hour, starring Gary Oldman, Lily James, and Ben Mendelsohn, tells the story of Winston Churchill in the early days of World War II, and now the movie is getting a standout soundtrack to go with its top-tier cast. Academy Award winner Dario Marianelli (Atonement/Anna Karenina) has composed the music for the album, which will accompany the film. Darkest Hour premiered at this year’s Toronto and Telluride Film Festivals and is out in theaters this week on Focus Features …

The soundtrack for the new DC Universe movie Justice League is out now as well, with original music composed by Danny Elfman (Spider-Man, Men in Black, Batman), plus a shortlist of cover songs, including a new take on The Beatles’ “Come Together” by Gary Clark Jr. and Junkie XL, and additional covers by Sigrid and The White Stripes. Justice League is in theaters now, and features Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Ezra Miller as The Flash, and Game of Thrones’ Jason Momoa as Aquaman …

Kygo has a new album out called Kids In Love that is following hot on the heels of his European and northeastern U.S. dates, which got some extra attention due to Kygo’s spare, acoustic rendition of the album’s lead single. Phase two of his tour schedule will kick off in February 2018 with more European tour stops, followed by a short U.S. trek that will include shows in Washington D.C.; Brooklyn, New York; Boston; and Chicago …

LINK OF THE WEEK
Feel like heading out of town for New Year’s Eve? Check out this crazy-huge bash at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, which will feature The Zac Brown Band, Galantis, Duran Duran, DJ Mustard, French Montana, and Foo Fighters, plus fireworks and an afterparty at the hotel’s Chandelier lounge. Find out more and snag tickets at cosmopolitanlasvegas.com …

THE BUZZ
Detroiter Jeff Gutt, who was a finalist on the TV talent show The X Factor, auditioned last year to take over the frontman spot in Stone Temple Pilots, and it was just officially announced that he’s been inducted into the band …

Ferndale Radio has just launched in the Metro Detroit area on 100.7 FM; it’s a hyper-focused station that will cover fashionable Ferndale in a 3-mile radius …

You’ll be able to see the Gin Blossoms playing live in Detroit on Feb. 18 at St. Andrew’s Hall …

Grand Rapids band The Zannies have released its latest record, Espejos, a mix of alternative, psychedelic, blues, and rockabilly music … and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.

Comments, questions, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ’em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com.