Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society are approaching the 20th anniversary of their debut album Sonic Brew, which was released in the United States in May 1999. In celebration of their first album, the band has announced a fresh batch of 2019 shows, cleverly packaged as the 20 Years of Sonic Brewtality Tour as well as a reissue of the album.
The tour will kick off in Denver, CO with a pair of dates at The Oriental Theater in late April, with the tour concluding with back-to-back dates at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA in May. In between the band will play two shows each in Chicago, Toronto, New York City and Dallas. Additionally, they’ll make appearances at Welcome to Rockville in Jacksonville, FL, Epicenter festival in Rockingham, NC and Sonic Temple in Columbus, OH. They’ll also play a one-off show in Clarkesville, TN at the outdoor stage at O’Connor’s Irish Pub – certainly a change from the major theaters and ballrooms of the other dates on this tour.
On the first night of the cities that have two shows, the band will play Sonic Brew in full. The second night will be a set of greatest hits. Joining the band on tour is Conan and Atomic Bitchwax.
In addition to the tour, the band will be releasing a new remixed and remastered version of the album, which will be packaged as Sonic Brew – 20th Anniversary Blend 5.99 – 5.19. That reissue will be available on May 17, 2019 through Entertainment One (EOne), who have recently acquired the back catalog of Black Label Society albums, which include Sonic Brew, Stronger Than Death, 1919 Eternal, The Blessed Hellride, Hangover Music Vol. VI, Mafia and Shot to Hell.
According to a press release, the label has plans to reissue these albums in special never-before-available formats. The band released Order of the Black, Catacombs of the Black Vatican and Grimmest Hits through the label.
(Sonic Brew original 1999 album art)
Sonic Brew track list (1999)
1. “Bored to Tears”
2. “Rose Petalled Garden”
3. “Hey You (Batch Of Lies)”
4. “Born To Lose”
5. “Peddlers Of Death”
6. “Mother Mary”
7. “Beneath The Tree”
8. “Low Down”
9. “T.A.Z.”
10. “Lost My Better Half”
11. “Black Pearl”
12. “World Of Trouble”
13. “Spoke In The Wheel”
14. “The Beginning…At Last”
15. “No More Tears”
Also included in the reissue are two bonus tracks. Sonic Brew – 20th Anniversary Blend 5.99 – 5.19 will also feature a full band/piano version of “Spoke in the Wheel” and an acoustic version of “Black Pearl.”
Black Label Society 20 Years of Sonic Brewtality Tour Dates
04/24 – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater
04/25 – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater
04/27 – Dallas, TX – Canton Hall
04/28 – Dallas, TX – Canton Hall
04/30 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
05/01 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
05/04 – Jacksonville, FL – Welcome To Rockville
05/06 – New York, NY – The Bowery Ballroom
05/07 – New York, NY – The Bowery Ballroom
05/11 – Rockingham, NC – Epicenter
05/14 – Toronto, ON – Opera House
05/15 – Toronto, ON – Opera House
05/17 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple
05/18 – Clarksville, TN – O’Connors
05/22 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
05/23 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
Photo Credit: Owen Ela