William Ryan Key announces ‘Virtue tour for 2019

William Ryan Key is ready to take his new, surprise solo EP on the road in 2019. On Monday (Dec. 3), the former Yellowcard frontman announced a North American tour that will find him performing at venues across the continent throughout the months of February, March, and April. Dubbed the Virtue tour, the trek includes stops in Brooklyn, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, Salt Lake City, Austin, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and more.

The 26-stop jaunt will begin on Feb. 22 at the Masquerade in Atlanta and conclude a month and a half later on April 2 at the High Watt in Nashville. Selfish Things and Cory Wells will act as Key’s supporting acts throughout the excursion.

Pre-sale and VIP packages are currently available here. General tickets will go on sale beginning this Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. PST.

“I’m excited to be taking another big step as a solo artist,” said Key in a press statement about the upcoming tour.

“In early 2019, I’ll be heading out on my first headlining tour in the US and Canada. I’ll be performing music from both of my EPs, as well as re-imagined versions of some of my favorite Yellowcard songs. I can’t wait to share these intimate, personal shows with you all.”

The Virtue tour is in support of Key’s recently release EP, Virtue. The record was released at the end of November through The Lone Tree Recordings. The complete tour itinerary for the Virtue tour can be seen below.

THE VIRTUE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:

Feb. 22 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Feb.23 – Orlando, FL – Soundbar
Feb.24 – Chapel Hill, NC – Cat’s Cradle
Feb.27 – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
March 1 – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right
March 2 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry
March 3 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
March 5 – Toronto, ON – Sneaky Dee’s
March 7 – Cleveland, OH – Mahall’s
March 8 – Pontiac, MI – The Pike Room
March 9 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
March 10 – Minneapolis, MN – Turf Club
March 12 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
March 13 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Urban Lounge
March 15 – Portland, OR – Paris Theatre
March 16 – Vancouver, BC – The Roxy
March 17 – Seattle, WA – Barboza
March 19 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
March 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy
March 22 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
March 24 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
March 26 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
March 28 – Austin, TX – Barracuda
March 29 – Dallas, TX – Three Links
March 31 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
April 2 – Nashville, TN – The High Watt

William Ryan Key announces release of debut solo EP

WILLIAM RYAN KEY Photo credit: Ryan Mendez

When Yellowcard officially called it quits a year ago, former vocalist William Ryan Key made it known that he wasn’t about to let the breakup keep him from making new music. Since the band’s final show in March of 2017, the musician has been busy putting together his debut album and now it looks like fans should expect it before the month is over.

On Thursday (May 10), Key confirmed the release of his debut, solo album. Titled THIRTEEN, the five-song EP is set to be released on May 25 via The Lone Tree Recordings. The record was co-produced by Arun Bali of Saves the Day at his studio, The Lone Tree Recordings. Pre-orders for THIRTEEN are currently available on Key’s website here.

The record’s first single, “Vultures,” is due out next Friday, May 18. According to Key, it was the first song he wrote for the album and the one he thinks will bridge the sound fans have come to expect from Yellowcard and the sound he is trying to achieve on his solo material.

 

“‘Vultures’ was the first song written and recorded for Thirteen,” he explains in a press release. “I feel like it is the right song to help fans across the bridge from old to new, as well as introduce people who are new to my music to the sound.”

In support of THIRTEEN’s release, Key will hit the road alongside New Found Glory for their Sick Tour 2018. The tour will officially begin on May 17 at the House of Blue in Lake Buena Vista, Florida and conclude a little over a month later on June 22 at the House of Blues in Dallas. Not only will Key perform his new material, he will also play guitar during New Found Glory’s sets.

“It’s such an amazing opportunity to be able to share my first work as a solo artist with fans on a tour of this magnitude,” Key said about the upcoming tour. “It’s also super special for me that it happens to be with some of the best people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing throughout my musical journey.”

Prior to the tour’s kick off, Key and New Found Glory will join fellow Florida-founded act Dashboard Confessional for the “#ParklandStrong: A Concert Benefiting Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School” benefit concert. The show will take place on May 16 at the Pompano Beach Amphitheatre in Pompano Beach, Florida. Both Dashboard Confessional and Key will perform “intimate acoustic sets” while it New Found Glory will perform a normal, full set.

The full list of upcoming tour dates can be found here while the track listing for THIRTEEN can be found below.

THIRTEEN TRACK LIST:

1. “Old Friends”
2. “Vultures”
3. “Form and Figure”
4. “Thirty Days”
5. “Great Unknown”

New Found Glory, Dashboard Confessional to headline Parkland benefit concert

While the country, and much of the world, is still reeling from the senseless shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., those in the South Florida community have made it their mission to come together and help those victims any way they can. On Wednesday (Feb. 28), local rock radio station 104.3 The Shark announced how they intend to help the victims of the shooting and it includes the healing power of music. Taking to social media, the radio station and its hosts announced a concert to benefit the Broward Education Foundation Victim’s Fund.

Titled “#ParklandStrong: A Concert Benefiting Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School,” the show will bring together several rock musicians who call the southern part of Florida home. Headlining the springtime show will be New Found Glory who not only call the Parkland area home, but are also MSD alums.

In a Twitter post, the band writes: “As some of you may or may not know, half of our band went to MSD, so it is important to us that we do as much as we possibly can to help the school and families of the victims. They deserve our love, support, and help and we will help in any way we can. We have decided that in an effort to help raise funds for those impacted by the events at MSD and to honor the victims and heroes, NFG will be playing a benefit show at Pompano Beach Amphitheater on May 16.”

Also performing at the benefit will be Dashboard Confessional (who call Boca Raton home) and former Yellowcard vocalist William Ryan Key (who calls Jacksonville home). Both Dashboard Confessional and Key will reportedly perform “intimate acoustic sets” while it appears New Found Glory will perform a normal, full set.

As New Found Glory posted in their open letter to fans, the show will take place on Saturday, May 16, at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater in Pompano Beach. Tickets for the benefit show will go on sale beginning this Monday, March 5, at 10 a.m. local time here. Tickets will cost $25 each with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to the fund.

The show will be all ages with door opening at 5 p.m. and the show beginning an hour later at six.

Last week, local Fort Lauderdale concert venue Revolution Live held their own concert benefit for the victims of the shooting. Pop star Austin Mahone, DJ-duo Jack and Jack, and 20 others artists performed at the show.