Lotsa news in the ol' email bag today. Oh yes. We'll get right to it.
Our brethren and sistren in the Belleville/Madoc/Trenton area of this fine province we call home are running the second annual MonkFest later this year; last year's extravaganza went so well they're doing it up right - again. Either that or they just have an unquenchable spirit. Probably a little of both. Either way, if you're in a band that wants to play a shizzow or you just wanna come rock with us, email xmonkfestx@hotmail.com, and Nomes and her crew'll set you up proper. Dates this year are May 29th and 30th.
Today's essential listening is Mae's 2003 debut album, Destination: Beautiful. Gorgeous album, akin to whatever ultra-emo band is huge right now, though I just file them under 'rock'.
From Dave Leibold comes word that the 2004 edition of Ottawa's WorshipFest has been pushed back to the weekend of August 6th-8th, possibly to avoid scheduling conflicts with this year's Kingdom Bound festival down in New York. No word on who's playing this year, but the website is right over here; check back for details. Last year's festival featured headliners Newsboys, always a great live show.
The 77s are making a Canadian appearance, April 3rd at New Song Church in Windsor, ON. Great Christian rock and roll band.
Midday Blackout are playing tonight, February 26th, at Zaphod's(27 York St.), opening for Steve Gardiner. Five bucks, nine pm door time. C'mon out and rock the casbah with sweetdisaster and whoever is in the posse.
Blood and Ink Records's xLooking Forwardx are hooking up with the mighty Deal for a short tour; check it out:
February 27th - Uncle Huby's, VA Beach, VA
February 28th - Brooklyn Park Community Center, Baltimore, MD
February 29th - Philadelphia, PA
March 1st - Oasis, Long Island, NY
March 2nd - Uniontown, PA
March 3rd - Harrisburg, PA
March 4th - Hangout, Edinborough, PA
March 5th - Idle Kids, Detroit, MI
March 6th - Gathering Grounds, Kettering, OH
Gonna be off the hook, babies! Oh, and B&I Recs are gonna be all over Cornerstone Fest later this year too.
I was channelsurfing the other night, as I'm wont to do, and I happened to see the new Alicia Keyes video(quite the talent, that young woman), and there was this dude who I recognized but I couldn't place him, and then at the end you saw his face in full and it's Mos Def. Yeah, baby! Let's hear it for progressive hiphop!
Then, sadly, after that high, MusiquePlus(the French MuchMusic) ran this video from a really good, if quirky, metalcore band whose name I never got, and it had like demonic potatos in it. Bizarre.
Mortal Treason are a new metal band put out by - get this now - Flicker Records, owned and operated by Audio Adrenaline. As a longtime AA fan, I'm stunned that this beast of a CD is their doing; Mortal Treason kills! Their vocalist is a professional BMX rider too, apparently.
Three Days Grace indeed played Leno last night, but there was no Is Grace Enough t-shirt anywhere in sight. Their guitarist better have a good friggin' reason not to have kept his promise!! The WRATH will DESCEND!!! Oh, and you don't wanna miss Leno tonight, because Mel Gibson is on to discuss that little movie he made. What's it called again...? Oh yeah, right, that one.
The new print edition of Bandoppler is OUT NOW. Go get it! Fetch, boy! Fetch!
In related news, the new issues of Relevant and HM have both been delivered to sweetdisaster HQ. More on that as we flip through them. The new Blindside is a must-own, by the way.
From buzzgrinder: "At a recent Memphis performance Walls of Jericho singer Candace Kucsulain suffered a broken nose, severe facial swelling, and broken blood vessels around the eyes. She was the recipient of an unintended spinning fist. The band did finish out their set and Candace has had some realignment surgery. She is currently doing fine." Geez.
sphereofhiphop are in their seventh year! I had no idea!
...that's a hint. Get on over and check 'em out.
Posted by mike at February 26, 2004 05:45 PM