Update (4/3/09)

Update (3/19/09)

Update (3/15/09)

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Dhani Harrison said of the group, “We make the music we want to hear." But there's no denying his dad influenced him. “There’s reference to everything he’s done in everything that I’ve done because he’s my dad, we were best friends, we grew up playing music together. And if anyone hasn’t been influenced by them (The Beatles) at some point, they’re probably lying," Harrison said.

Update (3/5/09)

Update (2/22/09)

"I just saw a great concert at Union Hall (Feb-15-2009) in Brooklyn, New York -- starring Dhani Harrison - the son of the former Beatle singer guitarist George Harrison. Dhani & his band: 'thenewno2' did an original, creative performance indeed -- but, sounding nothing like his father or the Beatles music -- just doing his own thing. To the arts!! I had the privilege of meeting Dhani and took this super picture ... of the two of us. I asked him why he was performing at such a small club like Union Hall in Bklyn. His answer was: 'You got to start at the bottom' -- and I responded: 'Like starting at the grass roots .. ' Enjoy the pic for a part of my music history and the family of rock. The adventure continues.' Cheers. David Peel."

Update (2/19/09)

As you know, I went to New York yesterday to see thenewno2 play at the Mercury Lounge. It was an amazing show. I was there early and got in line so that I could be sure to get up front. At 7:00, the doors opened and we were allowed inside. The venue was really tiny and the stage is pretty low, so it's a very intimate atmosphere. I got right up front, like I was hoping.

The first band to play was Liam and Me, originally from Philadelphia. They played about nine songs and they were really very good! I enjoyed their set a lot. The second act was Brian Scary and the Shredding Tears. They were rocking as well. They all wore blue jumpsuits and stomped around like crazy. It was definitely high energy! The third opening act was Diego Garcia, who played more of an acoustic, low-key set. He was accompanied by a cellist, a classical guitar player, and an electric guitar player. He is friends with Dhani and he and Dhani actually wrote a song together called "You Were Never There." You can hear the demo of the song on Diego's facebook page. Dhani came out on stage at the end of Diego's set and they sang that song together. Dhani provided beautiful harmonies.

Finally it was time for thenewno2 to set up. We watched as the iconic Koass Pads were brought out to center stage, and the boys began setting up the rest of their equipment. Dhani came out wearing black pants, a very cool belt and a pale purple tee shirt, all under a red Hello Kitty robe. Jon Sadoff, thenewno2 Keyboardist commented that he was like James Brown. Dhani put his fists up in the air like a boxer. It was pretty cute. Dhani thanked everyone before setting off into the first song, So Vain, off their album You Are Here. Dhani was rocking on his guitar and Kaoss Pads.

He then went into Another John Doe, the single from the album. Dhani's solo on this song never ceases to amaze me. From that the band went into Crazy Tuesday, and Give You Love (two of my favorites from the album). During Give You Love, Dhani's Kaoss pads went out for a second. You could see him wondering what happened, then they came back and he gave a thumbs up and continued. Dhani actually commented that none of the technical stuff seemed to be working that night, but he was having a great time anyway. The band was then going to go into Idle Lover, but unfortunately, Dhani's capo had mysteriously disappeared! Dhani asked if anyone had taken the capo off the stage. He said that it may seem like a cool thing to take, but it's actually not if it ruins the show. Since he couldn't find the capo, they switched up the set list a bit and sent into Shelter from the album.

Afterwards, the capo had reappeared somehow, and the band was able to go into Idle Lover. There were a lot of camera flashes going off, and Dhani commented about the little orange lights on people's cameras. He also spoke a little about his tooth, which he chipped at the Union Hall gig. He said he hadn't gotten to a dentist but that he had tried to use a nail file to file it down because it was sharp! Ouch! The next song was Out of Mind, off the band's EP 001. Dhani switched guitars for this one and the band really rocked it out. It was a killer performance. Next on the list was Back to You, from You Are Here. This is another Kaoss Pad- heavy song, and this time they seemed to work fine.

Dhani talked a little about appearing on Conan the night before and how before starting Yomp, an effect on his guitar wouldn't work. he said he had to pull a "Barney Rubble" fix (i.e. hitting it really hard) and luckily it worked!! He then went into Yomp. The band closed their set with Choose What You're Watching, which was also amazing to see live. Dhani's guitar work on this is unbelievable, especially at the end of the song. They finished to a huge round of applause and cheers from the audience.

Dhani thanked us all again for coming and the band began to pack up. For anyone that knows the band well, when I looked over to the side of the stage, there was a broom there....this time it was a girl broom. Apparently this is Wilson's girlfriend. For those that don't know, Wilson is a broom that hangs out with thenewno2. This started back in September when the band did their residency at the Key Club, and Wilson has been with the band ever since. You can even see Wilson with the band on their Conan O'Brian appearance, sitting next to Jon's keyboards.

I was lucky enough to meet most of the band before the show, and I have to say that they are all extremely down-to-earth and sweet. I couldn't have asked for a better experience with thenewno2. It was a dream come true to finally see them in person, and I hope they make their way back East again sometime soon!

Update (2/18/09)

Update (2/17/09)

"The newno2 made their NY Area debt at a small club in Brooklyn, N.Y. A venue that's holds apx 100 or little over in standing room. After 2 opening acts..Bryan Scary and the Shreeding tears and Diego Garcia. Both of which delivered great sets approximately 40 min each . The newno2 took to the stage and opened their 55 min set with "So Vain" and "Another John Doe" and really rocked out with some solid jams on several of the other numbers. Dhani was really getting into it jumping around on his guitar jams.
"The video backdrop that was used at the Key Club L.A. shows was not present this evening. Their set was brought to high energy closing with "Yomp" (from the 1st lp) and the single "Choose What You're Watching." The jams on the CD even had more energy when played live. The only drawback was the sound at times was so loud (or maybe because i was in front) that the vocals were hardly noticeable and it all sounded a bit distorted.
"But Dhani has proven himself worthy and no doubt Dhani and his band will be playing bigger venues the next time they hit the city, especially after their nationwide apperance on Conan O'Brien Monday evening on NBC in the U.S.A." The slotmedia (for PC version of their 1st album was available for purchase, with t-shirts and sweatshirts very reasonably priced..$15 t-shirts and slotmedia $10, sweatshirts for $25."

Update (2/16/09)

Update (2/6/09)

Update (1/25/09)

Update (1/24/09)

Update (12/3/08)

Though he knows he'll never escape his dad's shadow, Harrison's OK with that. "There's negative baggage that can come with having a famous dad," he says. "But there are positive things too. When I want to take a meeting, people will listen to me."

(Thanks to Patti Murawski.)

Update (11/7/08)

I finally made the trek across town to pick up "All Together Now" and while I was at Best Buy, I thought that I'd have look through the CD's. As I was browsing, I noticed that thenewno2's new album "You Are Here" was for sale on the new slot music format. It is a micro SD card with a USB stick to plug into your computer. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on the discovery. Keep up the good work. Scott

Update (11/3/08)

Update (10/20/08)

Update (10/12/08)

Update (9/13/08)

Video of the September 9 show (in two parts):

part 1 http://www.stickam.com/viewMedia.do?mId=180920082

part 2 http://www.stickam.com/viewMedia.do?mId=180920107

Update (9/6/08)

Steve,

To provide some more up to date info on Dhani's band thenewno2:

On Sunday 31/08/08 Dhani himself confirmed that there willl be a physical release of thenewno2 CD in one to two months time, whilst being interviewed on Chris Carter's Breakfast with The Beatles live on KLOS radio in LA.

thenewno2 have also confirmed on their myspace page that all their gigs from The Key Club will be streamed live on stickam (Editor's note: like the first one was).

Finally the magazine that published the review which is referred to in the 9/4/08 update on your site is actually LA Cityzine not Los Angles Cityzone the review is the same as the one sent to you by Lauren Podolsky on 8/4/08 and was originally published on absolutelydhaniharrison.com on 8/1/08 where there are several more reveiws of the album published in thenewno2 section of the site. regards Alli

Update (9/1/08)

Here is a direct link to thenewno2's webcast on Tuesdays during September... http://www.stickam.com/thenewno2

Update (8/31/08)

TUNE IN ON TUESDAY NIGHT FOR STREAMING VIDEO OF THENEWNO2 LIVE FROM THE KEY CLUB.... stickcam thenewno2 just plug that in to your search engine, sign in and view thenewno2, crazy tuesday..... see you there !

Update (8/24/08)

Update (8/20/08)

Update (8/10/08)

Got my copy of Fashion Rocks. Can't imagine Paul, and Stella (even moreso) being too happy about all the fur in the layout... Oy, you should see the pricetags on some of those furs, one was $56,000!

Actually, just wanted to mention in the editor's column how he gushed about how exciting it was to have Dhani and Sasha's layout in the magazine. They repeated the photo of Sasha and Dhani in the big hats alongside, where they mentioned the photo shoot was done in Beverly Hills.

What I'd like to know is Dhani or thenewno2 going to participate in Fashion Rocks at Radio City Music Hall on September 5?

Update (8/9/08)

Update (8/6/08)

Update (8/5/08)

You Are Here by thenewno2:

The long-awaited album by thenewno2 was just released, and it was well worth the wait. The album is extremely diverse, yet it all gels to make one incredibly strong album. With Dhani Harrison on lead guitar and vocals and Oli Hecks on drums, as well as appearances by Nick Fyffe, Josh Lopez, Paul Hicks, Marc Mann, and Tom Hammond, the musicianship is fantastic. There is so much to take in that the first few listens are almost overwhelming. Each song has so many layers of sound and meaning that it can sustain repeated listening without getting boring.

SO VAIN - This song has a really interesting, ambient kind of groove to it that had me hooked from the first moment. The beginning guitar sounds seem to be reminiscent of the song ‘Lord Lord’ from thenewno2’s Promotional EP 001, but then it soon becomes something totally different. It has a vibe-y atmospheric sound that is developing into a signature sound of thenewno2, and at the same time it is rocking and almost psychedelic in places. The electronic sounds in the background play off the lyrics in a cool way. The music seems to almost illustrate what the lyrics are saying. The song draws the listener into the tone of the album, and into another world for the next 50 minutes.

ANOTHER JOHN DOE - This was the first single, and it is probably the most recognized album track among fans of thenewno2. Taking a well- known phrase like ‘Another John Doe’ and turning it into a song could be a difficult thing to do, but thenewno2 have done it wonderfully, having no trouble avoiding cliches that may be tempting to use in conjunction with the title. Instead, the lyrics are written beautifully. It’s hypnotic tone draws the listener in right away. The music is mesmerizing, with a highlight at Dhani’s slide guitar solo in the middle of the song. The song conjures up images of an old black and white movie with crowds of people blindly walking down busy streets going about their business. Another John Doe seems to represent a struggle between wishing to remain anonymous and breaking out into the public eye. The solo starts with one note, and then there is a pause before it continues, sounding like a slight hesitation before fully sliding into it. Perhaps is could represent a hesitation to break out of the comfort of remaining anonymous? There are so many dimensions to this song that it can be listened to repeatedly and something new will pop out every time.

BACK TO YOU - This song begins with sound clips of news footage that then gets twisted and muffled into a pulsating drum beat. The lyrics are extremely thought provoking, with multiple themes and layers of meaning. Lyrically the song takes the listener by surprise a few times - going to unexpected places that really work well. The imagery of “oceans of misinformation” to comment on the vast amount of information the world is bombarded with constantly is really stunning. For me, this is a true highlight of the album.

GIVE YOU LOVE - I liked this song from the first moment I heard it; as of now it is my favorite on the album. It is definitely one of the catchiest songs on the album. The synths in the intro and through the whole song complement the Dhani’s vocal performance perfectly. The drum beat, especially after the first verse really picks up into a quick groove, which is why it comes as no surprise that Oli mentioned in a recent interview that this is one of his favorite songs to play live. There are some really interesting things that happen in the middle of this song that give it such a unique feel. There are some cool vocal effects at the end that caught me by surprise but completely fit. This is definitely a song that can be listened to over and over again.

BLUESY - Bluesy starts out with some very cool like harmonies that sound almost like chanting over a vacant landscape. It then picks up with a cool electronic sounding drum beat, while the harmonies continue after each phrase. The song feels like it can put you into a trance. I could see it working very well in a film as a girl walks down the street toward and than away from a love interest. This is another song where Dhani’s voice really shines. The title is very fitting to the feel of the song.

YOMP - This is the first of the new songs that fans were able to hear; it has been made available for listening on the band’s myspace and it will also be available to download on Rock Band for XBox 360 and PS3. The song a real rocker, and it is a perfect choice for the Rock Band game. Oli’s crashing drums and Dhani’s killer lead guitar are real highlights, as well as Dhani’s strong vocals. The beginning of the song seems to be directed at all the naysayers out there. Record company execs are most likely specific suspects in this case, but it could certainly apply to a variety of people. The last verse (or maybe verses, depending on which way you read into it) seems to be directed more towards anyone who wants to go their own way in life. It gives the listener a feeling of freedom - it’s okay to go your own way, you don’t have to listen to what others say. The song lyrics are probably personal in many ways, but it can apply to anyone’s life in one way or another, which is why it definitely has the potential to touch a lot of people. Dhani’s voice is forceful on this one, and at the same time he shows his wide range as a vocalist. The guitar solo at the end of the song is fantastic, and really spotlights Dhani’s talent as a guitarist. The song is totally in line with the spirit of thenewno2 as a band - they are doing it all their own way, and they are at the forefront of this new path for bands to follow and become successful. Yomp is truly inspirational and uplifting while also being extremely energetic and fun to listen to.

HIDING OUT - The into to this sounded almost like a 60’s ballad, because of the drum beat. Dhani’s falsetto vocals really caught me by surprise the first time I heard it, in a really good way. He sounds very sweet and innocent. Starting in the second verse, the backing vocals and harmonies make it even more beautiful to hear. The song seems to pick up on the theme of ‘Another John Doe’ with the struggle between anonymity and being “done hiding out,” But it also feels as if there is another layer to it also. The ending of the song with a few bass notes sounds cool and original.

CRAZY TUESDAY - Ukulele starts off this track, which will give a tug on anyone’s heart if he or she is a fan of Dhani’s father George. The song touches on the difficulty of long distance relationships. It sounds like he’s talking to himself; you can picture him singing in his room looking out the window thinking about a girl. The echo-y guitar and the backing vocals are very catchy and it’s a lot of fun to sing along. The title of the song relates a lyric in the last verse, which is intriguing. It’s also interesting to note that all of thenewno2’s planned shows (at the moment) are on Tuesday nights.

IDLE LOVER - I truly was blown away by this track, and the more I listen to it the more I love it. This is another that I can really see working extremely well at the end of a movie or at a point when a character chooses to make a big change. The song takes on indecisiveness and idleness. Dhani’s voice works so well here because, sung in another way it could sound angry or accusing, but here it still has a sweetness to it. Dhani’s vocal range is also highlighted here with some very low, sultry notes. The guitar solo is gorgeous as well. Something about the feel of this song is very touching and emotional.

SHELTER - A folksy guitar sound begins this track, which turns into a dreamy, peaceful-sounding tune. The song itself feels like an auditory shelter from the rest of the world. The lyrics brings about vivid imagery dealing with nature - the moon, the trees, strong storms, rising seas, hurricanes, etc. The ukulele touch at the end of the song is perfect, as it fades into the next song with an almost classical sound.

WIND UP DEAD - The string sounds from Shelter fade into a beatbox/rap feeling. The keyboards in the background later come into the foreground and turns the song around into a more upbeat jazzy song. Bryony Atkinson’s sings backing vocals, and the contrast between her voice and Dhani’s give the song a great new dimension. There were a lot of ‘cheeky’ phrases in this song that gave me quite a few smiles, and a smile is always a good way to end an album.

Overall, this is a fantastic debut album from thenewno2. It leaves the listener with plenty of thoughts as well as plenty of great tunes in your head. Each song shines in it’s own unique way and the album leaves the listener wanting more. It is an impressive first release and it’s so exciting to think about what else may be in store from thenewno2 in the future!=

Update (8/1/08)

Hi Steve! I haven't written any news into your site in a long time, but I've been following Dhani Harrison's band thenewno2 pretty closely, and I thought people may like to know that the album is available now. The original date was August 1st, but i checked iTunes yesterday and the album is available!

Peggy told us it was have been made available early to fans with MySpace and Facebook. You can get the album here: or through the banner above.) It has 11 tracks and a digital booklet, where in the credits he thanks Keoki and Olivia (Keoki is George in Hawaiian). The songs are really great too. Here's a track listing (and links to the individual tracks in iTunes, available starting Tuesday):

• 1. So Vain
• 2. Another John Doe
• 3. Back to You
• 4. Give You Love
• 5. Bluesy
• 6. Yomp
• 7. Hiding Out
• 8. Crazy Tuesday
• 9. Idle Lover
• 10. Shelter
• 11. Wind Up Dead

Update (7/26/08)

Update (7/26/08)

Update (7/12/08)

Update (6/23/08)

Update (4/22/08)

"Choose What You're Watching" and "Another John Doe" from Dhani's band thenewno2 are now available on .

Update (4/3/08)

Update (3/6/08)

Hi Steve,

Great clip of thenewno2's song Another John Doe- Dhani's slide solo sound is a dead ringer for the old man! Incidentally I noticed that there is not a mention on your site that their EP is available on if anyone is interested: it is a bit "different" but a very good listen nonetheless.

Update (3/5/08)

Update (11/1/06)

Update (7/14/06)

Update (4/14/06)

Hi there Steve, thenewno2 has a myspace!! Here is the URL: http://www.myspace.com/thenewno2 Here is what they say about them: "Hello everyone. This is our new myspace page. thenewno2 is Dhani Harrison and Oli Hecks and you will be hearing a record from us soon. None of the other Dhani Harrisons on Myspace are real nore is there music mine. ... I will shut them down asap... .. stay tuned to thenewno2.com for more songs and videos this week thankyou thenewno2 " There are 3 songclips that you can download, you can sign up to blog and it says they have a gig May 6th in L.A.!!!!! Take care, Laura/Harisgirl.)

Update (4/13/06)

Steve,

To follow on from Pattie's comment about Dhani's grey hair. It looks like the wig that George wore in the scene from Rutles movie. Likewise the suit. Diane

Yes, Dhani's wearing a wig... With the with the grey wig, suit and red tie and flag lapel pin, and with the cowboy image in front of oil pumping rigs and in scenes with a sheik, well, does a certain world leader come to mind?

Update (4/12/06)

There are snippets of thenewno2 songs on www.thenewno2.com that are working now. "Did everyone get the video to work? What's up with the gray hair Dhani!? "Lord Lord," all I can say is it's in the DNA...oh the rising son!."

(Wasn't the gray hair a wig?)

Update (4/11/06)

Steve, In case anyone didn't notice, the new No. 2 is an obvious reference to The Prisoner series, which the Beatles were fans of. Each week Patrick McGoohan's character, Number 6, was interrogated by a new Number 2. Also, the newno.2 was credited with the art design and photography for the Brainwashed CD

(4/10/06) George's son Dhani is following in his father's footsteps and is now part of a duo called thenewno2 with Oili Hecks. Their website says teasingly that "the newno2 is currently rehearsing. more to come."

Though the site has links for music and video, we found only the video section -- with a lone song "Choose What You're Watching" -- working at this point. The video is slick and appears to have been shot in Los Angeles. The music has little bits of typical Harrison harmonies. The word "ego" is heard a lot in it. Dhani's resemblance to George is very obvious in the video. In fact, in the Western outfit he wears part of the time, he reminds us of the pics of the Beatles riding horses on their first U.S. tour.

For those interested, the site lists an email address music@thenewno2.com. It'll be interesting to see what the future holds for these guys. (Thanks to Hari's Girl.)