I was flipping through Rolling Stone last week, killing time waiting to meet up with my girl Faye(I see you Faye), and the most important part of that magazine, to me, is the Billboard top forty charts in the back. So I'm persuing that, and I see MercyMe right at forty, one below Miss Britney at thirty-nine, so that's pretty dope, you know, an outspoken Christian pop act making music good enough to break the top forty(a lot of Christian acts don't make good music), and then I'm working my way up and Third Day are at TWELVE with their latest album, Wire. How 'BOUT that??
Also in that issue of RS was this feature on musicians-as-athletes or something, and Switchfoot drummer Chad Something(can't remember offhand) was featured as a surfer. For those who didn't know, 'switchfoot' is a surfing term. Such a great band.
Out of the Monetary, straight outta southern Ontario, have a new album in stores. There's an interesting story behind this here: these guys changed their name from Steadfast to OOTM, signed a deal with Word Records(the Christian division of Warner Music), made a great record with some big-name producers and engineers...and then Word collapsed, and a lot of artists were dropped, including OOTM. So long, long story short, now a year or so later, their album is indeed out, independently, and it's really something. Reminiscent of Dogwood in musicality and vocals, it's worth checking out. Hit up their website for more, and listen up.
Speaking of Dogwood, they have a new best-of album out on Tooth and Nail Records, their home since 1999's More Than Conquerors(their best album); this CD features a compendium of their T&N material, some out-of-print stuff from the early days, and two new tracks that are pretty killer, 'Instigator' and...um...what's the other one called...just go find it in a record shop near you.
In Bands We Like But Certainly Don't Endorse news, Mindless Self Indulgence song have been heard in two very unlikely places here in Ottawa: one on CHEZ 106.1 FM behind some commercial, and another behind some other commercial(we're not big on details here today). As well, activist punks Anti-Flag, another unlikely radio sensation, have had their 'Right On' track pumped behind this ad for a driving school. What is the world coming to??
Check it out: Downset, one of the very earliest rap/metal hybrid bands from the mid-'90s, have a new album coming out tomorrow entitled Universal, and the first single, 'Jumping Off', has a video attached that can be seen over here. Thanks to Jordan and pastepunk for the link. Downset rules!!
MORE reasons why pastepunk rules!! They're Calgary Flames fans! GO FLAMES GO!!!
Read a review of the new album from Misery Signals, featuring ex-members of 7 Angels 7 Plagues as well as defunct Canadian band Compromise(you might remember hearing about two of their members being killed last year in a highway accident). This band is immense.
Essential listening for today, May 31st, is The Redemption Song's 2003 debut, Plays Dead In Stereo. This release was pretty well overlooked(I only read one or two reviews of it after it hit), but it's crammed with really good, albeit underproduced screamo/hardcore-leaning songs. I dig it. 'Open Your Eyes' would be a good place to start.
How 'bout this here: a band I thought had split up, Oklahoma's The Agony Scene(put out a record last year on Solid State Records), have signed with the mighty Roadrunner Records(home of, um...er...Nickelback). The band will hit some studio somewhere this fall for an early 2005 Roadrunner debut. [hxc]
Also pilfered from hxc is word that California's Beauty To Ashes have replaced their longtime vocalist with a bwand-new one(baby talk fully intended); this means that their upcoming Pluto Records album Robotic Conversations and the summer tour to go along with it have been postponed. To break the new horse in, as it were.
Hey, check it out, kidlets: a new video from a band rolling through Ottawa June 7th: Burnt By The Sun's little clip for 'Forlani'. Hit it up over here. [pastepunk]
...oh, and pastepunk likes Funeral For A Friend as much as we do!
Worrrrrrrrrd up.
Thanks to Lindsay in CP for hitting us up. We see you, Lindsey.
Stuff from the ol' emailbag...
Check it out, kids: a new video from The Deal, this for the tune 'Richard Brachman', from their latest slab Cutthroat. Stream it on over here! Wheee!
The newest from Project 86 drops next week. Be warned. It's called Songs To Burn Bridges By, and while I highly doubt it'll be as good as their '99 classic Drawing Black Lines, what album could be, really?
mewithoutYou are in the studio as you read this preparing their next album. I am duly excited.
sphereofhiphop is quickly becoming one of the web's top hiphop locations, you know that? You should really be bookmarking it if you dig the fresh new school. Yesh yesh y'all.
Not a whole lotta time here, so go read the interviews or something. And yes, there are lots more of those coming; we just don't have any idea when. Sucks to be tech-illiterate.
Word.
We haven't updated this space in a week, and for that we're sorry. Our lives do have stuff in them other than this here, you know. To kickstart you out of the deprivation you no doubt feel, here's today's essential listening: Slick Shoes' 2003 opus Far From Nowhere, chock-full of melodic hardcore/new-school punk rock blitzes. We love it.
The vote isn't quite in yet on the new album from Underoath since we've only heard the one song they've released - until right now: the band has put 'It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door' to their purevolume.com site; stream it over here. [pastepunk]
Also from pastepunk.com comes this: a letter written to an unnamed webzine somewhere out there, and while the issue this deals with is something I rarely see in blatant form, it does happen. Observe.
"Dear Zine X,
I have always supported Zine X, and really enjoy speaking with some of you that support the projects that I am involved in and manage. However, I have been bothered by some of your recent reviews.
Some of your recent reviews have stated the site's(at least of one particular individual) view of bands that contain Christian members. Quoting a recent review, "good thing you can barely tell this band is Christian, or else it'd probably get a lower score."(Beside the point: just because a band is signed to Tooth & Nail doesn't mean anything concerning personal faiths of all individuals in that band. I happen to know the Slick Shoes boys, and only the singer claims to be a Christian). So, as soon as Zine X learns that a band views the world in a certain way, they aren't judged on an equal scale? I find this double standard disturbing and lacking integrity.
My point is furthered by another recent post by the same reviewer, "This Christian hardcore stuff has to stop, really. Hardcore is about values, sure, but stop your preaching. This goes for you sXe (bleep)s too." I have a hard time supporting a site with an intolerant view of humanity. Music exists as an outlet for all members of society, whether they hold the same worldview as you or not. As members of a multireligious society, people need to learn to deal with that. React to the music, and inform the listener of the apparent views of the artist, however keep your personal vendettas to yourself.
These artists receive lower scores due to their personal beliefs, and nobody should be judged differently because of their personal beliefs. Even if a band professes a certain belief, they should be respected for their personal strength, not discriminated against.
Sincerely, Keith Emrick(k_emrick@hotmail.com)"
Draw your own conclusions, kids, but don't dump on someone because of what they believe. We're Christians here at the big D rock train, if you weren't aware, but are you also aware of the fact that we cover bands we like regardless of what they believe? That's what it's about, babies.
Now to more news. A little, anyway, til later.
The Zao-headlined Ferret Records Tour stop in Ottawa has been given a brand-new venue: the MacNabb Community Centre(Bronson Ave. at Gladstone). Still all-ages, still seven pm door time. This'll be fun. Stiff competition that evening from The Fully Down's CD release party, but I'll be at the Zao show. I think. To keep track of all this stuff, make sure you bookmark punkottawa dot com. There're a ton of huge bands playing in the next month, including Unearth, Buried Inside with The Chariot(ex-Norma Jean), Is Grace Enough bringing their rock ruckus a bunch of times, and a lot more. Don't sleep.
Okay, everybody, check it out: the New Found Glory record that just hit Tuesday is absolutely sick, kids. I don't know where y'll get your pirated music, and while we here at the big D rock train don't necessarily urge everyone to "steal", this record is so good. Like, seriously. How can you not love NFG? The album's called Catalyst, vocalist Jordan Pundik still has the voice of an angel, and you should be on this like white on rice!
Move!
Okay, so The Reason were in town last night playing a tiny little basement show at the Montgomery Legion Hall(such a quaint, cozy little venue...read "really cramped and sweaty"), and lemme tell y'all something: their upcoming Smallman Records debut Ravenna is gonna be something else judging by the new material displayed last night. The songs from their EP Problems Associated With Running were given a kick in the rear end courtesy of a two-guitar attack that had yours truly throwing down like he was at a Hatebreed show or some shizzle like that. Thanks to Jen for bringing me out last night; her boyfriend's band The Less You Know put on a skate-punk explosion that was fun to watch.
Ran into Joel Gelensye(aka Joel G., up-and-coming singer/songwriter) at my Friendly Local Christian Retailer today; it was good to see a guy I grew up and catch up on his budding career. The man finds time to write and record a debut album and pursue his other passion, figure skating. How 'bout that. His website is over here, and his new album is getting a promotional push from southern to eastern Ontario. Don't sleep.
Ferret Records band The Rise are releasing their new album Reclamation Process for free - you read that right - with the Nov./Dec. issue of Law of Inertia magazine. Keep an eye out later this year if you dig The Rise. [punknews]
Shnarler Records has a straight-edge compilation CD out now featuring bands like Eighteen Visions, Throwdown, Sage Francis, Remembering Never and Bleeding Through; the comp is available at the label's online store. Check it out.
Every Time I Die(what a great band, seriously) have a new video for 'I Been Gone A Long Time'; check it out here and rock the frig out!
From what I've heard, Vancouver's All State Champions are one killer rock and roll band, and now they're heading out on tour with Engine Down and Sparta - some distinguished company. Here's the tour itinerary:
05.22.04 Las Vegas, NV @ Huntridge Theatre
05.24.04 Boise, ID @ The Big Easy
05.25.04 Eugene, OR @ The Jungle
05.27.04 Portland, OR @ Nocturnal
05.28.04 Longview, WA @ Reeds
05.29.04 Vancouver, Canada @ Richards on Richards
05.30.04 Victoria, Canada @ Sugar's
06.01.04 Calgary, Canada @ MacEwan Ballroom
06.02.04 Edmonton, Canada @ Starlite
06.03.04 Saskatoon, Canada @ U Of Saskatoon
06.04.04 Winnipeg, Canada @ The Pyramid
06.06.04 Fargo, ND @ Playmaker's front room
06.07.04 Sioux Falls, SD @ Oak Hotel Conf. Center
06.09.04 Ft. Collins, CO @ Starlight Theatre
06.10.04 Salt Lake City, UT @ Lo Fi Cafe
06.11.04 Reno, NV @ New Oasis
06.12.04 Santa Cruz @ The Catalyst
06.13.04 Sacramento, CA @ Boardwalk
06.14.04 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction w/Locals
06.16.04 Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory (Alterknit Lounge at 10 pm) w/locals
06.18.04 Oakland, CA @ iMusiccast w/Counter Fit06.20.04 Seattle, WA @ Central Saloon w/locals
[pastepunk]
Rising punk act Autopilot Off performed on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborne the other night, and this link right here has the video footage. Get to it.
Essential listening today is a curveball: Lauryn Hill's 1998 solo debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill remains one of the best hiphop albums ever in my humble, humble opinion. This record cleaned up at the award galas and magazine polls, and despite her dropping off the radar of late, this album proved that she wasn't just the face and female-vocal recognition of '90s greats The Fugees. Highly recommended.
As previously reported/rumoured/stolen from msn.ca by us here at the ol' D rock train, former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden has indeed announced his candidacy for a Toronto riding Liberal party nomination; he'll be leaving his position as a higher-up with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. But, see, what blows my mind still is his stats when he was a player thirty years ago. Check it out: 258-57-74 record all-time with 74 shutouts, all with the Canadiens. Do you have any idea how phenomenal that is? It's unheard of! Anyway, just wanted to mention it.
MSN Messenger is sucking today. Just wanted to mention that too.
Like, really sucking.
A word from Smallman Records: "After spending years trying to convince everyone that Winnipeg is an okay place to be(good standard of living, great arts community, blah blah blah) we are officially throwing in the towel today. As we're shoveling through 10cm of snow in mid-May we realize everyone else was right. You win. We lose. Winnipeg sucks bum." That's from their email. I'll restrain my smart remarks in favour of getting to the real news: as previously reported here, Hamilton quintet The Reason is the label's newest prize, a band Smallman call "a combination of anthemic punk songs and great vocal melodies mixed with a slight hardcore undertone." I remember telling vocalist Adam White two years ago that The Reason reminded me slightly of .hopesfall and he'd never heard of them. I knew I was right! Anyway, The Reason are here in Ottawa Wednesday night(May 19th) at the Montgomery Legion Hall(330 Kent St.), no doubt playing songs from their upcoming Smallman debut Ravenna. C'mon out. 6:30 door time(I believe), eight bucks. Can't beat the rock.
There's also in this Small email a story by moneen frontman Kenny Bridges as quoted from the current issue of Alternative Press, but it's pretty ribald, so I'm gonna refrain from laying it out here. Go find the magazine somewhere and look it up. Great paragraph.
And now, some Floodgate Records email news, in bullet form:
- Cool Hand Luke's sophomore Floodgate album The Fires of Life is almost upon us.
- Mourning September, a highly-anticipated band and debut, have finished their new album; Further Seems Forever vocalist Jon Bunch guests on two songs, and the record is called A Man Can Change His Stars.
Essential listening for May 17th(happy birthday, Jen!!) is Caedmon's Call's 1999 masterpiece 40 Acres, perhaps still their best. Thoughtful, intelligent pop by one of the Christian scene's best acts. Will they ever play in Ottawa? I do not think so. *clutches head in agony*
Green Day(surprised to hear that name here?) are putting out their first album in four years; American Idiot will come out September 14th. Who wants to bet the title is a jab at President Bush? [aversion]
In support of their upcoming feverishly-anticipated album Miss Machine, The Dillinger Escape Plan are gonna be doing some touring, including two dates in Toronto: July 26th and 27th at Club Rockit. No word on an appearance in Ottawa.
Strongarm are rumoured to be playing Hellfest this year; that's probably nothing more than just that: a rumour, but man, that would be something else. I might have to hop a bus to Jersey if that action is going down. [hardcorechristian]
On the heels of Evergreen Terrace's amazing show here over the weekend, check out some photos of the band tearing it up in Australia back in Februrary. Diggity.
Weird. Over at chartattack, there's a picture of Blindside in the news section...but no corresponding article. Anywhere. However, there is a bit about Winnipeg's own burnthe8track and their upcoming album The Ocean, coming out soon through Abacus Recordings. This band is fronted by ex-Guy Smiley vocalist Derek Kun, and they're really good.
Not that I got a chance to watch very often, but Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey's Weekend Update bit was my undisputed favourite part of Saturday Night Live over the last few years; unfortunately, Fallon apparently announced over the weekend on SNL's season finale that it was his last show. Another one bites the dust. [relevant]
Evangelist Billy Graham was hospitalized last Friday after a fall that resulted in a possible hairline pelvis fracture; keep him in your thoughts.
Some movie news, because that's obviously what you come here for: Jim Carrey is apparently mulling over doing a sequel to Bruce Almighty! Awesome movie.
The first single from U2's still-untitled forthcoming album(due out later this year according to frontman Bono) will hit radio in September; this news comes after the man himself was in Ottawa last week, talking with Prime Minister Paul Martin, who pledged fifty million Canadian dollars to help fight the African HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Speaking of big numbers, NASA apparently found an accounting error - to the tune of $565 billion dollars. What? Are you kidding me? Look, I flunked math from fourth grade on, but I bet I could've kept the books a little better than that.
You know the big Ferret Records tour that's rolling through Ottawa June 12th? Where Zao is headlining? Another band playing that show is Scarlet, and they feature ex-members of Spitfire, one amazing metal band. So go see the show.
Eighteen Visions(who I still like and to Hades with the haters!!) are putting out their new slab Obsession June 15th, and a big ol' US tour is coming up with From Autumn to Ashes and Atreyu, who soundthesirens.com refers to as 'Atreypoo'. I think that's funny, regardless of how good the band is or is not. Anyway, check this out for the tour routing.
Making The Cut is a new reality show on CBC(Canada's version of PBS, doncha know) that involves a whole wack of hockey hopefuls attending twelve camps across Canada, with the top sixty-eight proceeding to another camp run by NHL coaches Mike Keenan(rumoured to be the Ottawa Senators' next head coach) and the legendary Scotty Bowman(the winningest coach in professional sports history). The CBC is banking on this to be absolutely huge, feeding our nationwide obsession with the 200-foot ice dance. I probably will not be watching.
That's 'bout it for today. Off to a movie. Word.
A friend of mine has a CD burner, right, and it's been acting up - as in not burning CDs - and he asked me to help his cause out. If anyone reading this knows tons about these things or has experienced something similar, shoot off an email to Ryan and save his sanity, because we're both going nuts over this problem. Here's a summary of the situation, directly from the horse's mouth...not that he's a horse...yeah: "If it matters, Im running an HP CD-Writer 24x-10x-40x max burner and my system is running off of WinXP. The problem first started with the burner program (im running Roxio Easy CD Creator 5) not letting me record things when I hit the big Record button (the Roxio program would only allow me to choose 4x as opposed to every incriment up to the 24xMAX speed of my burner, and my burner would not allow me to burn at anything under the MAX speed). This was however easily fixed by closing the program and restarting it (when this was done the full range of burning speeds was made available), and was fairly minute in frequency, maybe occuring once every couple of weeks. This problem then escalated to having to reboot the whole computer and restarting Roxio to get things working, occuring once every week. This rebooting complication escalated to extremely frequently, to the point where my burner would actually allow me to burn things once a week maybe. Eventually this extremely annoying problem escalated to me not even being able to use my CDRom AT ALL (not merely as a burner but as a drive). It would just keep saying 'no disc in drive' whenever you clicked on the M drive in My Computer. We ended up doing a system reconfig to set the system to a date in January in hopes that this would fix things up, but now the M Drive isnt even in the My Computer folder. I did crazy troubleshooting on it, and WindowsXP seemed to think its because my drivers are corrupt. However, after going to Microsoft's site and trying to download the latest drivers to my system, I was told I couldnt because my drivers 'were the most current.' Ive also tried disenabling the drive, and re-installing the hardware with no luck as well."
So there you have it. Gives me a headache just reading all that technical mumbo jumbo.
And now, the news.
Thrice sounded really, really different in their formative years, particularly the Identity Crisis album. What a metamorphosis they pulled on The Artist in the Ambulance.
To hear some of the best screamo you've never heard - with female vocals! bonus! - check I Spoke, this band from Toronto that just decimated two shows I was at over the weekend. Unbelievable tightness, presence and message. Heeeeeeck yeah.
I would like to make it known that last night at home I was killing time waiting for a phone call(I see you Heidi) and I played a complete game of solitaire in forty seconds. This eclipses my own personal record of fifty-six seconds, set back when I was in high school(and what a student I was!...not), and I think I deserve at least some sort of civic ceremony and honorary Chairman of the Board position somewhere. Yes.
Jim Rome's syndicated sports talk show is picked up by The Team 1200 here in Ottawa, twice a day no less(noon and midnight), and I heard a Treble Charger song featured as a commercial bumper, and later on an oldschool Beastie Boys track. That's enough cred for me. I wish Treble Charger had kept writing great moody rock songs, but no, they had to jump at the dollars and become Sum 41's chaperones. I like both bands still, don't get me wrong, I just miss the songs TC used to crank out. That's enough of this.
We have some CD reviews and interviews coming in the next couple days, depending on when we can find time to slap 'em up on the ol' internet. Give us time. You'll hopefully like what you see/read.
Anyone watch Trailer Park Boys? Hilarious Canadian-produced sitcom set in - duh - a fictional trailer park. Anyway, the show's creator/co-star(he plays Bubbles), Mike Smith, used to play with Halifax rock band Sandbox. Remember 'Curious'? Minor radio/MuchMusic hit back in the mid-'90s? Them. Amazing song! As if Bubbles was in Sandbox!
Toronto Maple Leafs president/six-time Stanley Cup winning goalie Ken Dryden will be running for the Liberal Party of Canada in Toronto's York Central district. Interesting. I wonder if he'll relinquish his position with the hockey team. Lord knows they'll never win a Cup with or without him. OH! Burn. *rimshot*
I wasn't aware of this, amidst all the other Underoath news: the band are playing the entire Warped tour this year, from June 25th right through August 19th. The band's new album They're Only Chasing Safety hits June 15th. [Chamber Spins Three]
Scarlet's vocalist is apparently named Jon Spencer. Maybe it's the same dude from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion! Um, no.
The BEST CD REVIEW EVER! Just read it.
Christian contemporary superstar TobyMac(aka Toby McKeehan) has some interesting thoughts shared here about the separation of Christian music with the 'mainstream'. I particularly like the part where Toby ditches the interview in progress to go watch Cross Movement rock stage!! [rockrebel]
Check it out: Pedro The Lion is touring. Dates over here. Note the Toronto show June 24th. Booyah.
Before anything else, here's today's essential listening - for today, May 12th. Let's hear it for redundancy...whatever: mewithoutYou's masterful 2002 album A-->B Life remains a great, great listen. I finally retrieved it from my boy Ryan Berthiaume's place last night, and it's really superb, particularly the hidden four- or five-minute acoustic song at the end - that I didn't even know existed until about four or five minutes ago. How 'bout that.
Our great nation of Canada won its second straight world hockey championship day before yesterday(or whenever it was in Prague, where the event was held); it marks the first time we've repeated since 1958-59...surprising, given our acknowledged hockey supremacy. Big ups to Canadian captain Ryan Smyth(on loan from the playoff-bounced Edmonton Oilers), who's served in that capacity for the last four years. OOOOOH CAAAAAANADAAAAAAAAA...oh, and Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson scored a goal for Sweden, who get the big ol' silver medal. He's really rich thanks to that fat $30 million dollar contract he signed a couple months back, so he can wipe his tears away with twenties.
This just in like thirty seconds ago from the left coast: Pennylane, a band with members from Oregon and, um, Hawaii(awesome!) have a new album coming out on Indie Vision June 15th, and in preparation for that monumental day of glory y'all can listen to three songs right over at purevolume! Ta da!
If I can be deadly serious for a moment here before we get back to the fun stuff: our friend Emily Orzio-Adams' husband Jason has been sent by the US armed forces to Iraq, where he'll be for the next few months. Emily helped us get this 'zine off the ground last year, and especially in light of recent events overseas, we would ask for a lot of prayers and thoughts for Jason and his comrades. Whether you're in favour of this war/occupation or not is irrelevant; now is the time to support those are sent over. Thanks. Back to the rock.....now!
This piece really intrigued me, because it matches in a lot of ways how I found Christian hiphop that wasn't really cheese material: this guy down in the U.S. somewhere wrote an article about his first encounter with gospel hiphop that wasn't a revolting experience; check it out over here.
So I found out recently that Anberlin vocalist Stephen Christian has a little self-titled side project that includes - get this - members of Denison Marrs, twothirtyeight and Zao guitarist Scott Cogdell. I had no idea til like a week ago. They've played Cornerstone Orlando, and maybe they'll blow up huge. Who knows. I just think it's interesting. Wonder what it sounds like.
In the liner notes to Pigeon John's new album Pigeon John Is Dating Your Sister, it says in the little paragrap about a particular song, "...the loop is Mogwai and I had to make this happen...they do know who I am...and do not know that they've worked with me...please do not tell them...ok?" RAD! Album's pretty sick too.
Behold: Killswitch Engage's new album The End of Heartache is out now, and pastepunk dot com, as usual, is right on the ball with their review.
That's it for today. Bye! Bye now! G'bye!!
(That's from Aladdin, for those not in the know.)
This band Bloodsimple featuring ex-members of Vision of Disorder and downset(what a lineup!) have apparently signed a deal with a major-label-affiliated imprint owned by one of the dudes from Mudvayne. I'll be watching carefully. [theprp]
In related theprp news, their little cursor line is 'The Site That Inspired Enough Windmills To Make Holland Jealous'. As a partly-Dutch type, I can appreciate the humour in that. Pardon me while I lose my mind laughing.
'Kay, done now.
In Bands I Just Listened To Yesterday news, Chevelle are in Los Angeles working on their third record, due out from Epic Records this fall. I can't wait.
Here's something funny: SOiL are playing in Albany, NY on May 18th, right, at some place called Valentine's; I've never heard this band once, but the opening band catches my eye: our boys Thousand Foot Krutch. Blow up the spot, baby!! And then four days later SOiL play with Godsmack. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
From the mouth of Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo: "Right now, I'm doing a project with Cage, El-P, Larry from Head Automatica, a graffiti writer and tattoo artist from New York named Clue, and a boy of ours named Anthony. It's called Shoot Frank." This will be AMAZING!!
We got a new 'zine here in Ottawa, run by my boy Mariful(If Tomorrow Comes); it's called Chamber Spins Three, all hardcore all the time, and you can hit it up over here! Do it!
Ooooh brother: a tour involving Glass Casket, Between The Buried and Me and headliners Beloved is being plotted out as you read this. Hold tight for the ride, kiddies, this one will be large.
In more anticipatory news(is that a word?), Further Seems Forever's new album is possibly coming out August 24th. *quakes*
So we have here news that Mare has signed a big ol' dela with Hydra Head Records out in California; this band is screamed for a by a guy named Tyler, who used to be the screamer for Brampton band The End, which is why it's noteworthy. All vocals on that first End record with the really insanely long name are Tyler. [thescout]
Interesting bit here: New Found Glory guitarist Steve Gilbert, who got his start in Shai Hulud(a hardcore band - that's key here) has been forced by a noncompete clause in NFG's label contract to cease and desist playing with his side band Hazen Street. This band includes dudes from H2O, Madball and Box Car Racer, they're out on tour with P.O.D. as you read this, and now Gilbert has to quit. BOOOO, I say. For the complete story, check this here out. [punknews]
The Beautiful Mistake, in the middle of a whole bunch of touring, have lost their dummer and guitarist. As such, the band is a no-show for their upcoming tours(like Spitalfield and the Warped tour), and they're conducting auditions to fill the vacancies. Think you can hack it? Send them an email! Wheee!
Essential listening for May 11th(today's the 11th, right?...yeah) is the new album from Indiana metal crew Josiah, Verona. The Bleeding Through-ness will level you. I promise.
Greetings. The s'mores attack shall soon be had here at the Berthiaume Residence. For now, the Smash Brothers war rages on with no end in sight. Curses on Yoshi!!
I Spoke stuck around Ottawa long enough to deliver a very tight set in this guy Anthony's basement tonight. I haven't been to a show that underground in a long time; props to Anthony and his parents for opening their home to a horde of rowdy screamo kids. Good times.
Just thought I'd point out that Eric Gagne, the closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has converted 72 straight save opportunities. Baseball has never seen anything remotely like this - and he's from Montreal. OOOH CAAANADAAAA!!!!!
Converge, in the middle of recording their upcoming album, have found time to commit to playing Aggressive Music Fest in New York as well as Hellfest in New Jersey this summer. Check out the links for all the information. [buzzgrinder]
The new issue of HM magazine has several outstanding pieces, including a review of MxPx live in Florida, the first real article on Squad 5-0 since their signing to Capitol Records months ago(their new album should be amazing), and the cover story, a tour journal by managing editor David Allen covering three days in the life of Underoath. On newsstands now, or hit up the mag's website for tons more.
Word: Unearth and Burnt By The Sun tour dates:
/3 Manchester NH @ Bomb Shelter
6/4 Augusta ME @ the Edge
6/5 Quebec City PQ @ L'Anti
6/6 Montreal PQ @ Salle L'X
6/7 Ottawa ON @ Babylon
6/8 St. Catherine ON @ L3
6/9 Toronto ON @ Rockit
6/10 London ON @ Embassy Hotel
6/11 East Lansing MI @ Mac
Please note June 7th, right here in lil' ol' Ottawa. I have my ticket - do YOU? A Perfect Murder and F*** the Facts are opening up. [lambgoat]
Bane have a new album tentatively coming out this fall through Equal Vision Records. I'm a really big fan of their live show.
Essential listening for May 8th is Mars Ill's debut album, Raw Materials; featuring amazing tracks like 'Touch and Go' f. Sev Statik and some huge turntablism from DJ Dust, this one is just killer.
Been doing some checking into the traffic statistics for the big disaster rock train here, and it's surprising: people are actually coming. We're still trying to figure out if it's just our friends coming back often out of pity for us, but from all accounts we actually have some decent traffic coming 'round these parts. Thanks to all of you for that day-saving tidbit.
Big Chief(moi) had an unexpected night off from work, so I went out to Almonte, Ontario(birthplace of basketball, doncha know) to see Is Grace Enough headline Finnerfest, put on by this awesome guy named Matt Finner. FINNERfest! It doesn't get any better! Hartsfield, and Viscera's Recital also rocked tight sets, but the standout was actually Toronto's I Spoke, a female-fronted screamo band that blew us all away.
Well played!
News tomorrow. Maybe.
Oh and CD reviews and interviews when we can actually post them.
Some fun mail showed up at the D headquarters: the new issue of HM mag with the genre-changed Underoath on the cover; some of the news therein, as usual, is up to three or four months old, but we love HM. Also a sweet little package from California containing Verona, the Indie Vision debut from Josiah(metal) and the new label compilation album...and there was something else too, but I can't remember. Feedback from all of the above in days to come.
Ottawa shows coming up worthy of your attendance, as swiped from the latest punkottawa email:
May 7th - Is Grace Enough, I Spoke, Visceras Recital, Hartsfiled, the Strawman
Fallacy, the Penske File @ Almonte Legion (ALMONTE) - AA/6:00pm/$5
May 8th - Sleeper Set Sail, Everything Was Perfect, Shamus @ Manotick Arena
(5570 Doctor Leach) - AA/7pm/$7
May 15th - Billy Talent, Andrew Vincent, Manpower @ Tulip Festival - AA/7pm/$15
May 15th - Every Time I Die, Evergreen Terrace, The Kinison, If Tomorrow Comes @ babylon - AA/19+/4pm/$13/$15 - RR, TM
May 19th - The Reason and more @ Montgomery Legion Hall (330 Kent at Somerset) - AA/6:30pm/$8
May 26th - Piebald, The Jealous Sound, The Format, and more @ Club SAW -
AA/6:30pm/$12 - CDX, OS, RR, TV (tickets on sale NOW!)
May 27th - Grind Tour 2004 w/ Bigwig, Death By Stereo, Belvedere, Tsunami Bomb, Misconduct @ Capital Music Hall - AA/19+/6pm/$17/$20 - RR, TM
June 2nd - Braid, Minus The Bear, Murder by Death, The Grey @ babylon -
AA/19+/6:30pm/$12 - CDX, OS, RR, TV (tickets on sale NOW!)
June 7th - Unearth, Burnt By The Sun, A Perfect Murder, Fuck The Facts @
babylon - AA/19+/6:30pm/$13/$15 - RR, TM
June 20th - Darkest Hour, Buried Inside, Protest The Hero and more @ babylon -
AA/19+/5pm/$10/$12 - (tickets on sale soon)
I'll be at as many of these blasts as I can. Too bad Billy Talent gets the shaft from me; Every Time I Die wins that cage match any day.
Not that anyone knows my extended family or much cares, but my newest forthcoming cousin is a girl! Ultrasound proves it! Her name will be Rachel, no middle name as yet. If you're the praying sort, pray for my aunt and uncle Linda and Carl! Whee!
Back to the news.
The Chariot has officially been described as a mix of Training For Utopia, Norma Jean and Every Time I Die; as well, the band features NJ's ex-vocalist. How 'bout that? I gotta hear these guys. You can, right over here. [hardcorechristian]
Some fun news from the Relevant crew down in Orlando:
- Major League Baseball, like they didn't have enough problems, have agreed to decorate the bases, pitching rubbers and on-deck circles with spider-web designs to help promote the new Spiderman movie. What an atrocity.
- A pastor in Calgary, Alberta will play twenty minutes of Metallica music and 'The Unforgiven' video during his church service on Mother's Day, as he prepares to speak about anger and forgiveness to his congregation. "Seeing as Metallica is coming to town this week, we thought we'd preach a message on the heavy metal band this Sunday," Pastor John Van Sloten told the Calgary Sun. Van Sloten has conducted similar sermons to the music of U2, Evanescence and Johnny Cash. I like this guy. And he's DUTCH!
The weirdest tour this summer gets weirder: Funeral For A Friend are gonna be ripping it up as part of the Projekt Revolution tour(put together by Linkin Park). They join a highly eclectic roster; for dates and stuff, check this out. [radiotakeover]
I just decided that June 20th I'll NOT be seeing Darkest Hour; I'll be instead be watching the aforementioned The Chariot here in Ottawa with openers Roses Dead(amazing band, let me assure you). No word on a venue yet, but yeah. Bring the ruckus. The Chariot are apparently talking with Tooth and Nail Records about a deal. [hxc]
In further (hiphop) rumours, 4th Avenue Jones is apparently close to signing a contract with some label somewhere. Can you tell we're working with not-very-much information here? [sphereofhiphop]
Illect Recordings has signed veteran underground artist illtrip, best known for his work with the Labklik and Deepspace5 crews; I'll let illect's press release spell it out: "Illect is proud to announce the newest addition to our flying trapeze act/rap colloquium - the true underground veteran - Illtripp. After 8 full-length releases and another handful of EPs over the last decade, Labklik
and DeepSpace5's illtripp has come to be regarded as one of the most prolific pillars in independent hip-hop. I really don't know if y'all are ready. These snares will make you blink. Ouch. illtripp has kindly agreed to give y'all a
few months to try and get ready. But keep this in mind: this one is going to
hit hard." Well-played! WELL-played!!
The Toronto Maple Leafs were ousted from the Stanley Cup playoffs last night by the Philly Flyers; while I'm not a tremendous Leafs fan(not at all, in fact), it's now up to the surging Calgary Flames to bring the Cup back to Canada, its native land. OOOOOOH CAAAAANADAAAAAAAAA!!!! Go Flames!
Essential listening for May 5th is a new Strikefirst Records band, southern California's Trauma. I like - a lot. A cross between two other California bands, Bleeding Through and As I Lay Dying.
Speaking of Bleeding Through, they were here in Ottawa last night and they tore Babylon apart. Comeback Kid also represented with what guitarist Jeremy Hiebert called their "best Ottawa show to date"; keep an eye peeled for the big sweetdisaster interview with The Cleanly Shaven One. Yours truly took an elbow in the face after a little swan-dive onto the pile in the front, and he's lucky he got his cap and specs back. Yesh. Between The Buried And Me, playing third, completely wrecked with their hugely heavy breakdowns and technical menace. Word up.
Face To Face aren't quite done: the band are touring north America in August and September, dubbing it The Only Goodbye tour; check out the dates:
08/13 - Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
08/14 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
08/15 - Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
08/17 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
08/18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
08/19 - Pittsburgh, PA @ World
08/20 - Boston, MA @ Warped Tour
08/22 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
08/24 - Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus
08/25 - Detroit, MI @ Clutch Cargo
08/26 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
08/29 - Denver, CO @ Ogden
08/30 - Salt Lake, UT @ In The Venue
09/01 - Calgary, ALB @ MacEwan Hall
09/06 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
09/08 - Pomona, CA @ Glass House
09/09 - San Diego, CA @ Soma
09/10 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
09/11 - Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee
09/14 - Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
09/19 - Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
Once again, Toronto gets a show and everyone else gets squat. SQUAT! [soundthesirens]
Check out some interviewage with Ohio's finest, Dead Poetic, whose new album is a truly great listen.
Awesome: former Reach The Sky guitarist Chris Chasse has been formally made a member of Rise Against. That's two amazing bands in one sentence. Congratulations to US! [aversion]
If you live in or anywhere Milwaukee, you should probably read this and plan your time accordingly.
Copeland are a rising band who I've never had the opportunity to hear(big surprise there), and Relevant's got a feature on them right over here, so get on yo' hoss and ride on over. Apparently Copeland's temp drummer used to be in Denison Marrs, another band you owe it to yourself to listen to.
Boogie!
I saw this last night upon getting the email from The Lovely Katie at Facedown Records, and it's a sweet video: the new Comeback Kid lensing of 'Die Tonight'; check it out over here. And if you like that, well, then you're in luck, because the band are playing Babylon tonight, May 4th, opening up for Bleeding Through. C'mon out! Woo!
Some Project 86 tour dates:
05.05.04 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
05.06.04 Columbia, SC New Brooklyn Tavern
05.07.04 Orlando FL Cornerstone Festival
05.08.04 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade w/Norma Jean
Dates with Dead Poetic:
05.10.04 Nashville, TN Blue Sky Court, 410 Fourth Ave. S.
7:30pm, $10, All Ages
w/Dead Poetic, The Pits
05.11.04 St. Louis, MO Creepy Craw, 412 N. Tucker Blvd.
7:30pm, $10/21+, $12/under 21, All Agesl
w/Dead Poetic, The Pits
05.12.04 Debuque, IA The Coliseum, 601 White Street
8pm, $8/Adv, $10/Show, 18+
w/Dead Poetic, The Pits
05.13.04 Minneapolis, MN Ascot at the Quest, 110 N. Fifth St.
5pm, $10/Adv, $12/Show, All Ages
w/Dead Poetic, The Pits
05.15.04 Omaha, NE (Papillion)The Rock, 225 S. Washington
7:30pm, $10/Adv, $12/Show, All Ages
w/Dead Poetic, The Pits
05.17.04 Pittsburg, KS Foxtown City Limits, 475 East 614 Ave.
7pm, $12, All Ages
w/Dead Poetic, The Pits
05.18.04 Columbia, MO Mojo’s, 1013 Park Avenue
7:30pm, $8, All Ages
w/Dead Poetic, The Pits
05.19.04 Ft. Smith, AR The Gate, 414 Towson Ave.
7pm, $8/Adv, $10/Show, All Ages
w/Dead Poetic, The Pits
05.20.04 Oklahoma City, OK The Green Door, 329 East Sheridan
8pm, $8, All Ages
w/Dead Poetic, The Pits
05.22.04
Little Rock, AR Vino's, 923 West 7th St.
8pm, $10/Adv, $12/Door, All Ages
w/Dead Poetic , The Pits
05.24.04 Houston, TX 1503 Chartres
7:30pm, $10/Adv, All Ages
Meridian w/Dead Poetic
05.25.04 Laredo, TX Sal's Pizza, 3220 San Bernardo Ave.
7:30pm, $10, All Ages
w/Dead Poetic
05.27.04 Lubbock, TX Tokyo Joe’s
w/Dead Poetic, Welton
06.01.04 Salt Lake City, UT Lo-Fi Café, 165 South West Temple
7:30pm, $8/Adv, $10/Show, All Ages
w/Dead Poetic, Welton
06.03.04 Sacramento, CA Empire
w/Dead Poetic, Thought Crime, Welton
06.04.04 - *ALBUM RELEASE SHOW* Anaheim, CA, 1530 South Disneyland Dr.
6pm, $14.50/Adv, $17/Show, All Ages
House of Blues
w/Dead Poetic, Stavesacre, Welton
In Like Flynn, the Illect Records debut from L.A. Symphony member Flynn, drops today, and from all accounts, it's a blockbuster of a record. Find it.
Hot on the heels of yesterday's announcement that Mars Ill will be here in Ottawa for Worshipfest comes word that the duo are ten songs deep into recording their third album, due this fall on Gotee Records. Can't wait!
In some completely unrelated news, Julius Erving, aka NBA legend Dr. J from his heyday with the Philadelphia 76ers, is apparently mucho interested in the vacant general-manager position with the Toronto Raptors. I say if he can make the team better than this past year(which isn't much of a stretch) then bring the good doctor aboard.
Essential listening for May 4th is anything on Abacus Recordings; this California label's roster includes Glass Casket, Haste, two Canadian bands in Winnipeg's Burnthe8track(a band to watch out for) and Toronto's Abandoned Hearts Club, Heaven Shall Burn and Narcissus(who broke up a while ago, but their legacy is still great). Hit up the website and listen aplenty. How come Haste was here last fall opening for Stretch Arm Strong, and they're so good, and yet I don't even remember their set? Huh? What gives??
According to decapolis dot com, Arthur Green and Lance Garvin of the dearly-departed Living Sacrifice do some guest vocals on the new Haste The Day album, Burning Bridges. How 'bout that? It pays to read the credits.
I'm not gonna post the dates here because they're in England and I got ten bucks says no one in England is reading this, but onelinedrawing is touring with, um, Funeral For A Friend in the latter's homeland starting tonight. What's weirder is that Thursday are opening some of the shows. I'd pay big to see that bill. [soundthesirens]
If someone out there really loves what we try to do here at the ol' D, or loves me personally, you'll get me a new apartment with a phone line, and then hook up the internet, so that I could avoid the daily hassle of using extremely sub-standard public library computers and really up the blood-pressure levels. Those who are regulars here(all five of you) know that this isn't the first time I've had no choice but to vent my spleen over this most pressing of issues.
I'm extremely dedicated to you, the loyal reader, in order to submit myself to public life like this. You owe us. Just kidding. It does suck using these computers though.
Some confirmed acts appearing at this year's edition of Worshipfest(August 6-8, Nepean Equestrian Park - 401 Corkstown Rd., Ottawa): rappers John Reuben and T-Bone(tha BONE!!), pop starlet Jaci Velasquez(she's hot), local favourites Midday Blackout(worth watching, believe us), and - this was just was confirmed - Mars Ill, who will make their first appearance in the nation's capital...heck, it might be their first appearance in the nation. One of the best hiphop acts out there are COMING! I'm really excited. The official festival website has the entire lineup and schedules etc etc etc.
Mars Ill are coming! Man! So stoked!
In some other quality-hiphop news, Pigeon John is hitting the road with Ill Harmonics, who're promoting their upcoming album Monkey Business; Harmonics have apparently added a live drummer, so check that out. The dates are as follows:
5/4 Wichita, KS
5/5 Friendswood, TX
5/6 McAllen, TX
5/8 Houston, TX
5/9 Dell City, OK
5/12 Alexandria, LA
5/13 Woodlands, TX
5/16 Crosby, TX
5/19 Springfield, MO
5/21 Greely, CO
5/23 Clovis, NM
5/30 Phoenix, AZ
6/10 Minneapolis, MN
6/11 Cedar Rapids, IA
6/12 Ottawa, KS
6/15 Wilmington, OH
6/16 Canton, OH
That Ottawa date on June 12th had me really excited, til I realized it was Ottawa, KANSAS. BOOOOOOOOO!!
Josiah have posted another track from their upcoming album online over here; song's called 'This Is The New War'.
Fear Before the March of Flames' second album will be out September 7th on Equal Vision Records. No title yet, but this too shall come. Easy does it. [OGS]
Essential listening for May 3rd(day before Comeback Kid live!!) is Fighting Jacks' debut album The Dying Art of Life; it came out last year on Tooth and Nail and was promptly forgotten about, but it's a good rock and roll record. The vocal similarities to Eve 6 are disconcerting, but it's really a good listen.
This warms the heart:
LABEL AND BAND ATTEND SCHOLARSHIP CEREMONY AT YOUTH CENTER AND ARE HONORED BY THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
"Sub City Records and the band Thrice were on hand Wed, April 28, 2004 for the first ever Sub City / Thrice Scholarship award ceremony at A Place Called Home youth center in the heart of South Central Los Angeles.
The scholarship was established as a result of monetary contributions from Thrice and Sub City Records. Thrice's release "The Illusion of Safet"y on Sub City Records, donates a portion of every CD sale to the youth center. To date the release has generated over $57,000 in donations from the band and label. The scholarship enables six students from A Place Called Home to have a year of professional music theory and performance lessons.
Events took place outdoors late afternoon at the center's north playground. Upon arrival at the site, a playground full of youth center children and staff greeted Thrice and Sub City Records.
The program began with an introduction from A Place Called Home's music director Charyn Harris. She thanked Thrice and Sub City for their partnership with A Place Called Home and presented both with an appreciation plaque from the youth center. Sub City Records president Louis Posen then presented A Place Called Home and Thrice each with a plaque commemorating 100,000 SoundScan of "The Illusion of Safety." The six scholarship recipients Javier Maldonado, Efrain Guerrero, Stephanie Delgado, Marisela Medina, Eric Cruz, and Sydney Ward were announced and given their certificates. Following the scholarship awards, a representative from Rep. Jan Perry's office honored Sub City and Thrice with a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles.
Immediately after the presentations, A Place Called Home student band No Act performed for the audience of students and staff, Hopeless / Sub City Records staff and Thrice. All three members were scholarship recipients. No Act's set was then followed with very special acoustic performance from Thrice that included a cover of Elvis Costello's "Radio Radio."
The afternoon ended with a reception where youth center children were given the opportunity to hang out with the Thrice and receive autographs."
Check this out: Subcity
[pastepunk]
Before I forget: Finger Eleven will be in Ottawa June 7th with openers No Motiv, and I was really excited til I remembered that on my dresser at home sits a ticket for Unearth and Burnt By The Sun - on June 7th. Bummer!
This Just In: I had no idea, but in the current issue of Exclaim! magazine, there's an ad in the back classifieds for The Reason, one of Ontario's best rock bands, and apparently they have a new album coming this summer - on Smallman Records(Choke, Moneen, etc)! How 'bout that. I wondered how long it would take for them to get their break. Canadian tour coming May and June. Get ready, kidlings, for the Rock Assault.
Okay, so my ears are pretty much a writeoff for the next, oh, say twenty-four hours thanks to Toronto bands Cursed and The End, the two main draws of the ongoing MuchLoud/Exclaim! magazine-sponsored Aggressive Tendencies tour, along with openers This Message Will Self-Destruct and The Abandoned Hearts Club(featuring - get this now - former Moneen bassist Chris! I knew I recognized him!). While the attendance was miserable(Scallen is displeased, I bet), none of the bands held anything back, and the result for those of us who were there was one massive show. The End are everything live that I'd always heard they were; tight as a drum, and with a drummer who I bet is bionic, and loud. Holy crap, this event was loud loud loud.
In completely unrelated news, Tooth & Nail Records finally won a Dove Award tonight - as a matter of fact, BEC Records flagship artist Jeremy Camp won not one plaque but two. Congratulations to one of north American Christendom's best labels on finally getting their due in the industry after years of putting out bands deserving of recognition(like the OC Supertones, who should have been winning Doves years ago). Label president Brandon Ebel has waited a long, long time for this.
No, we're not a T&N-acolyte website. Quiet!
More news and fun stuff in a couple days.