Rock Tidbits

James Taylor has added 17 new shows for his summer tour across the United States. The tour will feature Taylor’s “All-Star Band,” with the new dates starting on August 21st in Vienna, VA, and finishing on September 17th in Fort Worth, TX. General ticket sales start on March 14th. Taylor’s most recent album, 2020’s American Standard, won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. (Consequence of Sound)

Mastodon tapped YouTuber and session guitarist Ben Eller to fill in for longtime guitarist Brent Hinds at Tool‘s music festival in the Dominican Republic, just days after the founding member left the metal band. Eller took on Hinds’ guitar and vocal parts for a 17-song setlist, and may continue as Mastodon’s touring guitarist during the band’s upcoming co-headlining tour with Coheed and Cambria. (Consequence of Sound)

Minnesota musician John Munson, bassist for beloved Twin Cities bands Semisonic, Trip Shakespeare, and The New Standards, suffered a stroke on February 23. A GoFundMe has been set up to support his family, which reveals that “although his prognosis is positive, he will be in acute rehabilitation for a length undetermined.” The fundraiser is currently 86% of the way towards reaching its $100,000 goal in support. (Racket)