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Guitarist Van Halen [ tickets ] news, tour dates, photos and tickets"> Eddie Van Halen [ tickets ], who has been out of the spotlight since his band's 2004 reunion tour with singer Sammy Hagar ended, has recorded two new instrumentals that will be featured in a forthcoming adult film titled "Sacred Sin."
Streaming audio of the two songs--"Rise" and "Catherine"--are posted at the film's website, as is the "Rise" music video, which features Van Halen playing his trademark striped guitar.
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Blues singer/guitarist Robert Cray [ tickets ] will issue the first live album of his 30-plus year career on Sept. 12.
The two-CD set, dubbed "Live Across the Pond," was recorded over the course of seven shows in May at London's Royal Albert Hall, where Cray was opening for Eric Clapton.
Cray is also scheduled to tour North America with Clapton this fall.
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Philadelphia indie-rockers Dr. Dog [ tickets ] are set to issue a six-song EP titled "Takers and Leavers" on Sept. 12. An as-yet untitled, full-length album is scheduled to reach stores next February. The group will open a tour in support of The Raconteurs in mid-September.