Odds & Ends: Mick Jagger, Kid Rock, Pete Townshend, Phish

Mick Jagger releases two new solo songs … Kid Rock announces that he’s creating a non-profit to promote voter registration … Pete Townshend books another “Classic Quadrophenia” show – and this one features Eddie Vedder … Phish is giving out thousands of donuts each night at its MSG residency.

Chris McKay / GettyImages.com – Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones
Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, N.C.

It’s not every day you are treated to new music from Mick Jagger. To be exact, his last solo album, Goddess in the Doorway, came out nearly 16 years ago.

The Rolling Stones frontman said he started working on his two new tunes, “Gotta Get a Grip” and “England Lost,” in April and wanted to get them out to the world right away.

Jagger told the Associated Press that the songs, released Thursday, are in response to the “confusion and frustration with the times we live in.”

“England Lost” features an appearance from British rapper Skepta.

Jagger explains that the song is “about a feeling that we are in a difficult moment in our history. It’s about the unknowability about where you are and the feeling of insecurity. That’s how I was feeling when I was writing.”

As for the message on “Gotta Get a Grip,” Jagger told the AP that “despite all those things that are happening, you gotta get on with your own life, be yourself and attempt to create your own destiny.”

We’re still waiting on an official confirmation that Kid Rock has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for Senate, but in the meantime he’s announced that he’s creating a non-profit organization to promote voter registration.

A post on his website says he plans to raise money for the cause and help fans register to vote at his concerts.

Earlier this month the rocker made headlines with a new website: KidRockForSenate.com. The Michigan native is reportedly hoping to take over the Senate seat currently held by Democrat Debbie Stabenow.

Scott Legato / RockStarProPhotography.com – Kid Rock
DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston, Mich.

“The one thing I’ve seen over and over is that although people are unhappy with the government, too few are even registered to vote or do anything about it,” Rock said in a statement posted July 26. “We have over a year left until an actual election, so my first order of business is to get people engaged and registered to vote while continuing to put out my ideas on ways to help working class people in Michigan and America all while still calling out these jackass lawyers who call themselves politicians.”

So, is the Senate campaign just a stunt to sell merchandise or gain publicity?

“I have no problem selling Kid Rock shirts and yes, I absolutely will use this media circus to sell/promote whatever I damn well please (many other politicians are doing the same thing, they just feed you a bunch of bullshit about it),” he wrote. “But either way, money raised at this time through the sale of merchandise associated with this very possible campaign will go towards our ‘register to vote’ efforts.”

Kid told fans to stay tuned for news about his campaign status.

“We will be scheduling a press conference in the next 6 weeks or so to address this issue amongst others, and if I decide to throw my hat in the ring for US Senate, believe me… it’s game on mthrfkers.”

The Rosemont Theatre in Illinois will be hosting a performance of Pete Townshend’s “Classic Quadrophenia” show Sept. 13. The Windy City gig is scheduled alongside previously announced shows in Lenox, Mass.; New York; and Los Angeles, featuring The Who’s 1973 album performed with orchestra accompaniment.

Kevin Mazur for Desert Trip – Pete Townshend of The Who
“Desert Trip,” Empire Polo Club, Indio, Calif.

Townsend first brought Classic Quadrophenia to the stage in 2015 with a show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. That was the same year he released an album of the same name, featuring an orchestra version of The Who’s rock opera, which tells the story of a British teen in the mid-’60s named Jimmy and his search for peace while wrestling with four different identities.

The Chicago show will feature the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and the Chicago Children’s Choir, along with Billy Idol, tenor Alfie Boe and Eddie Vedder.

The Pearl Jam frontman, who grew up in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Ill., is a longtime fan of The Who. A 1995 feature piece in the Chicago Tribune said that as a teenager Vedder’s “sole comfort was music, particularly The Who’s coming-of-age rock-opera Quadrophenia.”

Tickets go on sale to the public July 28 at 10 a.m. CDT. Proceeds benefit Teen Cancer America.

Phish’s “Baker’s Dozen” residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden has featured doughnuts prominently in its marketing, and has been giving them to fans as a special treat for each night.

Federal Donuts in Philadelphia has been baking thousands of custom donuts for the shows, with each night getting a special-themed goodie.

Coconut, red velvet, jam-filled and strawberry doughnuts have been awaiting early arrivals at the MSG shows in New York, though the stock usually runs out before each fan gets a taste. The band is even working the themes into its setlists.

AP Photo – Phish
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Great Stage Park, Manchester, Tenn.

Federal Doughnuts co-owner Felicia D’Ambrosio has been a Phish fan for years, attending more than 100 shows and had already cooked up Phish-themed specialties as a novelty.

“[Phish] never stops surprising me and delighting me and I trust them,” D’Ambrosio told the Associated Press. “To us at Federal Donuts, it’s this weird collaboration of this thing you love and this thing you love.”

More specialty flavors will be available, but they are currently being kept a secret until the day prior to performances.

Phish’s MSG residency continues July 28-30, Aug. 1-2, and Aug. 4-6.