The new issue of HM magazine arrived in its plastic-wrapped glory this afternoon; featuring cover artists Demon Hunter and a piece with Ferret Records kinda-screamo band boysnightout, it's some solid reading. Hit up their website for subscription information and all that fun stuff. Now I wait with bated breath for the new issue of Relevant to show up.
Some late-notice news from Indie Vision: two of their might rock and roll attacks in the form of Dismissed and Next In Line(good band) are gonna be at Cornerstone Fest, which starts day after tomorrow down in Illinois. The two bands are playing the Decapolis.com stage; for set times and such hit this here up.
How 'bout this here: Norma Jean drummer Daniel whatshisface(can't remember his last name, sorry) is behind the lens for the making of Cool Hand Luke's first video, for lead single 'Cinematic', from their last record, entitled The Fires of Life - and a great record it is too.
In related Floodgate Records news, Denison Marrs are back on the attack after a break for having a baby. One of them, anyway. That makes us happy. Word.
As is sometimes the case with the folks at Relevant magazine, I couldn't possibly make it any funnier, so I'll just excerpt: "A 17-year-old female employee dressed as pizza mascot Chuck E. Cheese was pelted with pizza and threatened with a beating by an angry mother. The parent told police that the mascot wasn't paying enough attention to her child. Let's assume the mom just had a bad run at skee ball..." GOLD.
For the sake of sheer irony, in all its inherent hilarity, I'm gonna link to something I never ever thought would be linked to in any space I was involved with: a review of Hanson's latest. WHEEEE! I've joined the ranks of the sardonic elite!! [bandoppler]
Misery Signals are at Club SAW in downtown Ottawa tonight. Needless to say, it's 7:04 in the evening and I'm distinctly not in downtown Ottawa, so that's kind of a bummer, but hey, life goes on.
In I Thought They Broke Up news, Saosin(who apparently switched vocalists, not split up entirely) have announced they're playing a few dates on this summer's Warped tour, during which they'll be enlisting the services of Story of the Year vocalist Phil. No last name, just Phil. I'm still not sure I like Story of the Year that much. But that's irrelevant. [noisetheory]
Australian punk rock act Antiskeptic(longtime fan here) are heading out on another tour, following up the 'massively successful' Renegade Tour in April and May. Too bad for most of you reading this, all the shows are in Australia. But for our Australian readers(and we do have some!), check out the dates:
Thu 05 August @ Prince Of Wales, Bunbury
Fri 06 August @ Heat Nightclub, Perth
Sat 07 August @ Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
Sun 08 August @ Fly By Night Club, Fremantle (Afternoon All Ages Show)
Fri 13 August @ Yamba Golf Club, Yamba
Sat 14 August @ The Rev, Brisbane (formerly The Chelsea)
Sun 15 August @ Lennox Point Hotel, Lennox Heads
Tue 17 August @ Plantation Hotel, Coffs Harbour
Wed 18 August @ Roxy's Nightclub, Port Maquarie
Fri 20 August @ Bizzo's, Carringbah
Sat 21 August @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Sun 22 August @ Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (Afternoon All Ages & Evening 18+ Shows)
Wed 25 August @ Lake Jindabyne Hotel, Jindabyne
Thu 26 August @ Sodens Hotel, Albury
Fri 27 August @ Barwon Club, Geelong
Sat 28 August @ Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
You like the metal? You like it from Sweden? Then check this here out for some new material from tech masters Meshuggah, and may seven-string guitars forever reign supreme. Apparently that clip is just a sample of a song that runs twenty minutes. Meshuggah's next record Catch 33 is coming out next year on Nuclear Blast Records.
Norma Jean are taking a well-deserved break after like five years or something stupid like that of nonstop work ethicness. Their next record, tentatively called O God, The Aftermath, should be out next year sometime.
Chicago's Rise Against are now movie stars: they performed a Black Flag song as part of a club scene in Lords of Dogtown, a new feature-length based on the Dogtown and Z-Boys documentary a couple years ago. Oh, and their next record, Siren Song of the Counter Culture, is coming out August 10th. I just sold their last record today, as a matter of fact. A guy's gotta eat, you know.
New Weezer coming out first quarter of 2005. After Rivers finishes up a semester at Harvard University, apparently.
After a lot of rumours flying around, it's been transformed into rock-solid fact: Coheed and Cambria, underground darlings, have signed on the dotted line with Columbia Records. As in like Sheryl Crow's record label. I think. Maybe she's with Atlantic. Either way, Ryan here says, and I quote, "They'll be kicked off Columbia in a heartbeat." Time shall tell.
This excites me: right over here is a new song from Further Seems Forever, whose last album was my favourite of 2003. The new song indeed features new vocalist Jon Bunch, and it comes from Hide Nothing, the next record coming out August 24th on Tooth and Nail. It better not tank.
This is why I love my country: Canadians went to the polls today for our little federal election with a warning not to EAT our BALLOTS. The full story behind this bizarre little snippet can be read over here, but take it from us: Canadians are nuts. I did my civic duty and cast a vote today. Did you? [Relevant]
We're pretty apolitical here here at the ol' sd.com, but Michael Moore makes us laugh because he's kind of an oaf, and his new movie Fahrenheit 9/11 raked in $21.8 million over the weekend, tops at the box office. I wonder how easily influenced voters in the States are...
In Straight-Up Weird news, The Accident Experiment, outta San Diego and featuring ex-P.O.D. guitarist Marcos Curiel and former Grammatrain(great band!) vocalist Pete Stewart, have been given a cease-and-desist order by - get this now - the American Red Cross. Apparently their logo is too close to that of the humanitarian organization. Who knew? The band's debut United We Fear comes out this fall.
If you like drum and bass music(and some of you do, I can feel it in my very marrow), check out some Dieselboy, like this here CD The 6ixth Session that I swiped from sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik. He'll get it back, when I'm done grooving to it.
Floodgate Records outta California has signed Forever Changed, from Florida. I knew I'd heard this name somewhere before but I was at a loss until I read the press release in my email box and saw that Nick Roccanti manages the band, and then it all fell into place. Nick is the brains behind hardcorechristian dot com, and a longtime associate of mine. So here's to Forever Changed rewriting the annals of rock. The band has toured extensively on an indie basis, opening for bigger names and honing their chops, and they'll be entering a studio somewhere in October aiming for a spring 2005 release. Word.
The latest(so far as we know) release through Strikefirst Records is that of Bloodlined Calligraphy, an EP called The Beginning of the End. Watch for it.
The three members of Jane's Addiction who aren't vocalist Perry Farrell(who has his own things to deal with, what with Lollapalooza falling apart last-minute earlier this week) are regrouping in another band with another vocalist who I've never heard of. This is after Jane's put out a pretty mediocre comeback album last year and then imploded again. [aversion]
Some interesting news out of the MxPx camp(a longtime favourite of mine, and probably yours too): the band has called it quits with their label home of the last six years, A&M Records(which was bought out by one of the giant labels a few years back anyway). Where will Seattle's beloved trio head now? Time will tell. *cue dramatic music* There're rumours afoot that they might go to Fat Wreck Chords after they put out an EP with them several years ago, or Tooth and Nail, where they got their start. Hmm.
As of June 23(that's three days ago, kiddies), the new record from Underoath had sold in excess of ten thousand copies, which is amazing from an underground band like them. Feel free to make cheapshot remarks about genre-hopping....NOW!
Some new music from Society's Finest is right over here. Get on it. The band's next album will be out at the end of August, and I hope it's even half as good as The Journey So Far, because that'd be enough for the likes of me. And when you're done that, here's some new Further Seems Forever too. Take that!
This Just In: Beloved have Ottawa listed on their website in the tour section; this would be the trek also bringing Glass Casket and Between The Buried And Me. All killer bands, except that there is no Undeground in Ottawa anymore; that place went under two years ago. There IS an Underground in Hamilton, and here's hoping that it's a mistake in the name of the venue and not the wrong city altogether. The date listed is July 29th.
We have an interview coming up that was done a while ago with Don Clark, guitarist for Demon Hunter(and Training For Utopia, and Focal Point, going back about ten years), and also a main man with Asterik Studio, in which he talks about both endeavours and some other stuff; in the meantime, read a review of the newest from DH, called Summer of Darkness, over here. [decapolis]
Congrats to our boys and girls at Pluto Records down in Texas; they've signed Virginia band Acedia, whose label debut EP So Esoteric will be recorded in September for a fall release. Way to be, kiddies. [qchc]
The Suicide Machines have holed up someplace to start writing their next album, the followup to last year's A Match and Some Gasoline. That was a killer record, and we'll have a review of it up soon, because SideOneDummy Records was really nice to us and so far we've totally screwed them over. But all shall be forgiven when I rave about the album. [aversion]
So we haven't posted any news or any jack squat in almost a week - forgive us. We're pretty busy here at sweetdisaster HQ - busy partying, looking for work, engaging in work, finding new webmaster-type people, etc etc etc. However, we checked the statistics a couple minutes ago, and we've broken ten thousand visits since our inception. I know that's not a lot by some standards, but we're not other standards - that's way more than we expect. So thank you, loyal reader, for hitting the bulls-eye. Here's to fifty thousand.
Some quick updates: we've found someone willing to help us post content other than news(since I'm technologically-impaired with no time to remedy the situation). His name is Al, he's from Colorado, and we owe him very large for offering his services out of the blue the way he has. Thanks, Al. So expect more album reviews, interviews, etc etc etc.
Some upcoming Ottawa shows of note: firstly, a retroactive note: The Chariot, featuring Norma Jean's original vocalist and newly-signed to Solid State Records, scrapped their entire Canadian tour with Rosesdead due to border issues; the tour was supposed to be like two weeks or something. So they weren't here Sunday afternoon as planned - instead, The Fully Down rocked some stage, and that's always an excellent substitute. Now then. To the future: Is Grace Enough is playing out in Carleton Place July 3rd with the aforementioned Rosesdead(who helped destroy Babylon Sunday afternoon, paving the way on stage for the mighty Buried Inside), Switchfoot will be here in Cap City July 7th at the Capital Music Hall(contrary to rumours I've heard, the show is apparently all-ages; tickets'll be a little over twenty bucks through Record Runner downtown or Ticketmaster), The Lost Dogs are playing a very intimate show at Ecclesiax Church(2 Monk St.) July 9th - tickets available at Salem Storehouse(1558 Merivale Rd.) and July 13th is a large bill: Unearth, Every Time I Die and Atreyu at Capital Music Hall opening for Lamb of God. For more listings, make sure you bookmark punkottawa dot com. Oh, and the Finch/Recover/Counterfit tour is coming to Ottawa as well. Not sure on the date; check punkottawa. Word. Whew.
I thought this was interesting: Thornley, fronted by former Big Wreck vocalist Ian Thornley, features a guy named Ken Tizzard on bass. The reason this is interesting is because Ken straight-up LIED to me a couple years ago when he was still in The Watchmen(R.I.P.). If you see him, slap him around a bit for me.
Essential listening for June 22nd is LPG's 2003 Uprok album The Gadfly. If you like hiphop, at all, in any facet, check this one out.
Misery Index are gonna be here in Ottawa twice in the next month or so; if you haven't heard them - and I haven't - check out an mp3 of a song called 'A Victim, A Target' and get your mosh on. [pastepunk]
Broken Lamps and Hardcore Memories Vol. 2, put together by the above-mentioned pastepunk.com crew(what up Jordan), is officially becoming a reality; the album will be out in stores September 7th(in the U.S. that is), with an online release in July. Some highlights from the compilation include songs from the likes of With Honor, Most Precious Blood, Twelve Tribes, Death By Stereo and twenty-two more. Look out for that.
Remember Reach The Sky? The dearly-departed Boston hardcore band? One of their number(no idea who, to be honest) has a new band going called Stand Accused; check out their website to hear four demo tunes.
The Dillinger Escape Plan are playing some shows in Canada - two, to be precise, and both in Toronto. July 26th and 27th have the band at Club Rockit in T-dot alongside Decahedron.
In This Is For You, Laurie! news, Copeland's 'Walking Downtown' video was apparently placed in the background scenes on an episode of All My Children earlier today. That is really weird. But dope. My friend Laurie loves Copeland, if you hadn't figured that out yet. [absolutepunk]
Mad props go out to Transworld magazine, that bastion of skate culture and amazing pictorials, for giving photographer Daniel Harold Sturt the freedom to speak his heart about his faith in God as well as display some truly killer pictures of some of the top skaters in the world in various stages of a) greatness or b) lying crumpled somewhere after attempting some lunatic stunt. Well done. That kind of open-mindedness is crucial.
Some Hope You Didn't Have Your Heart Set On It news: Lollapalooza has been nixed, all thirty-one dates of it. Promoters realized Monday that they were gonna lose big money, so it got the ax. Some statements and such are over here.
Yellowcard's third single will be 'Only One', from the big-selling Ocean Avenue album. It happens to be my favourite song on the record. Expect a video soon too. And in related news, an entire concert Yellowcard put on in Toronto back in January can be viewed over here.
Last night while on tour with Fall Out Boy, Anberlin announced that their next tour will be with none other than emo legends Brandtson. That will be a hot show. I wonder why they haven't emailed us in two weeks for their little tour diary we were running. Bummer!
Advance orders for Bill Clinton's new autobiography(it's been getting some pretty harsh reviews) are already over two million. The friggin' thing is over nine hundred pages!! What is WITH people?? The book is out today. I know, because I saw it at Chapters downtown prominently placed. Boooo. [virtualfrequency]
The new video from Grits(who will by the way be on stage at Worshipfest here in Ottawa August 6th-8th word up) can be checked out over here, for those so inclined. One of the very first hiphop acts I ever really loved, Grits are.
Aight. You're kinda up to date. Thanks for reading. Expect some reviews and interviews ASAP.
We haven't heard word from Anberlin in like a week. Let's all hope that Stephen finds himself on a computer sometime soon so we can all hear whassup on their tour across those great U-nited States down there.
Essential listening for June 16th is Flood's latest - and so far as I know last - record, Monochromatic. Full of intelligent, hooky rock and roll. I dig it severely.
Two new Terror songs from their upcoming Trustkill Records debut(due July 27th) can be heard if you wanna just click here. The record's called One With The Underdogs. [theprp]
This Just In: Five Iron Frenzy remain, now and for the foreseeable future, my favourite band ever. EVER. Rest in peace.
This is very good news: the dude from Evergreen Terrace, I think that's the one, started this new label called Hand of Hope Records, right, and that label is putting out the new Evergreen rarities/live/b-sides album, and now this - Society's Finest have signed with Hand of Hope and will release Love, Murder and a Three-Letter Word in August. The record will feature previously out-of-print SF stuff along with some songs recorded with Barry Poynter(who produced Zao and all them amazingly heavy bands). It shall be enthralling.
Check it out! Hardcore legends(and I mean legends) Strife are reuniting for a free show June 28th out in California(The Troubadour in West Hollywood be the venue). I won't be there. Obviously.
The new Underoath came out yesterday. This review from sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik: "This is me wading through the mire of AWESOMENESS that is this record!!" There you go. The record's called They're Only Chasing Safety, it was produced by Aaron Sprinkle so it'll be amazing-sounding, and the cover art kills.
This band Instruction that has members of the late Quicksand is moving on up in the world: they're touring down in the US with two Canadian products, Thornley(aka Ian Thornley, formerly of Big Wreck, a great CanRock band) and Three Days Grace(no comment on them). The itinerary for those interested:
June 13th Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance
June 15th Providence, RI - Lupo's At The Strand
June 16th Pittston, PA - The Staircase feat. Puddle Of Mudd(ew!)
June 18th Grand, OH - Metroplex
June 22nd Knoxville, TN - Blue Cats
June 23rd Chattanooga, TN - Club Fathom
June 24th Hollywood, CA - Viper Room feat. Dresden Dolls
WEA(Warner-Elektra-Atlantic) has been dropping artists left right and centre the last few weeks: Korn, The Donnas, Stereolab and Third Eye Blind have been ousted, with a rumoured like ninety-five more acts on the way to the guillotine. Keep an eye on industry mags to see if YOUR favourite band has been dropped like yesterday's fish!! [thescout]
In a related note - only the opposite - a killer band on Sideonedummy Records called Maxeen are apparently being scouted by major labels. Or at least one major label. I don't know how they'd fare in the big leagues. But it'd be fun to watch 'em try!
How anticlimactic is this: after a huge prolonged legal battle and a name change as a result, Give Up The Ghost(formerly American Nightmare have packed it in. "After four years and eight months of ups and downs...Give Up The Ghost is done. Due to health and personal reasons, we thought that it was time to call it a day. We have had many of the best times of our lives, and some of the worst. But thats what made us who we were. A huge thank you to every kid who has supported us, bands that have toured with us, and people around the world who have worked with us. That is truly the most important thing to us...to thank you. We killed it. Good night. xo" Bummer. They were a band that meant every word. [punknews]
Crap! Another one! Warsawpack(G7 Welcoming Committee Records) have also called it a day. Frig! What's going on around here?? For what it's worth, this is the entirety of what the band had to say: "A network of clandestine business forces has offered us vast sums of money to retire...we have retired. Sorry. There will be no farewell shows." Niiiice.
Let's talk about how amazing Zao were over the weekend at the ol' MacNabb Community Centre...oh wait, we can't now, can we, since they didn't PLAY. That's right, kids, the editor-in-chief here at the big D rock train was deprived of Zao's live show for the second time, after waiting four years for the band to come back. What a bummer. The upside? We got a good interview vocalist Dan Weyandt, who answered some questions I've wanted to ask for years. So watch for that, whenever we have a chance to publish it.
However, life does go on, and sd.com will be representing at the Capital Music Hall July 7th, as Switchfoot is in town to bring their rock attack. It'll be a great show - providing it happens. With my track record lately, you never know.
And by the way, Scarlet and Remembering Never delivered great sets at the show over the weekend; we're not taking anything away from them, it just sucks that the headliner was prevented from destroying the place because of a faulty fire alarm.
Speaking of Remembering Never, our comrades-in-arms over at The Scene are running a contest involving the band, so scoot on over there to win stuff! Their set was particularly awesome because by the time they took the stage it was dark out, so the auditorium was lit only by backlights on the stage, creating a silhouette effect that was pretty rad.
Essential listening for June 14th, a beautiful Monday in Capital City, is the latest slice from Sixtoo, called Chewing On Glass & Other Miracle Cures. Cutting up sounds and putting them back together in really advanced ways, this is a perfect lounge/chill record. Wow.
A guy named Jimmy Tamborello, aka the dude behind The Postal Service, will drop a hiphop record this fall under the name Headset. The album will be called Space Setting, and I bet it'll be huge. [Relevant]
The new record from Ohio's Rjd2, Since We Last Spoke, is a marked departure from the hiphop epic debut album Deadringer, but that's not to say it's no good. Indeed, the new album is very good, as corroborated by this review. Enjoy.
This band Taking Back Sunday, I've never really been that huge of a fan, personally, but lots of folks are, and it's for them that we report the following: the band's second album, Where You Want To Be, will be out July 27th. Did you know TBS guitarist Eddie Reyes was a founding member of the much-missed Movielife? I didn't either. Awesome. [bandoppler]
Remember Fastball Great '90s pop rock band? They're still around! They have a new album called Keep Your Wig On, and I for one would buy it if I had any extra cash to throw around, because I was a fan back in the day. Devotees of Fountains of Wayne will be pleased. And get this: says here that the Gin Blossoms were underrated! I was just thinking that earlier today! Great minds think alike!
This is interesting, if not entirely unexpected: The Chariot, featuring the former vocalist for Norma Jean, have signed with Solid State Records. No real shocker. The band will be in Ottawa June 20th(that's less than a week away, kids) to play Babylon alongside Buried Inside. I wonder if I could get that night off. [hxc]
Speaking earlier of great '90s bands, PFR are...reuniting again? There's rumours afoot on the Internet that the band are recording this summer and opening for Jars of Clay in September. This'll be AWESOME!! [cmcentral]
Derek Webb, former co-ringleader of Caedmon's Call(what a great band), put out his solo debut last year, called She Must and Shall Go Free to a decidedly mixed reaction; the album was banned in some Christian bookstores(huge shock there) for being somewhat outspoken - holding true to my theory that the Christian music industry eats its own at the slightest provocation sometimes. Now the man has a new live album out called The House Show, and if this review is true, it's a must-own for anyone who either a) likes the guy's music and/or b) likes plainly-spoken truth.
.hopesfall are apparently working fifteen-hour days in the studio prepping their sophomore Trustkill Records release. Here's hoping that means better production. Word. [buzzgrinder]
From lambgoat: "After a two-year battle with an aggressive form of intestinal cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), former Saves The Day, The Alps, Mouthpiece, etc. bassist Sean McGrath passed away on Friday at his parent's home in New Jersey. McGrath was twenty-eight years old. In addition to two brothers, McGrath is survived by his fiance, Jessica Shapiro...In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to either the Cancer Center at the Millstein Hospital Building, 6th Floor Room 435, Columbia Presbyterian MC, 177 Ft. Washington Ave., New York, NY or the the Gilda's Club in New York at (212) 647-9700."
Rest in peace.
Dead Poetic, who we talk about pretty often around here and who are a good, good band, have really stepped it up from their debut with their new album New Medicines. The songs are better, the production is better, there's two guitars that pretty much do the same things all the time but well two is better than one I guess, and the chorus to 'Vanus Empty' is one of the most glorious things I've ever heard in my life. And now some news from the DP camp, after that amazing buildup if I do say so myself: the Summer of Darkness tour featuring DP opening for Demon Hunter alongside newcomers Haste the Day, kicks off tonight, June 11th, in Seattle(I see you Amy). The dates:
06.11.04 - Seattle, WA - Graceland - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.12.04 - Portland, OR - Meow Meow - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.13.04 - Sacramento, CA - Colonial Theatre - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.14.04 - West Hollywood, CA - Whiskey A Go Go - w/ Demon Hunter, Project 86,Haste The Day, Scars Of Tomorrow
06.15.04 - Phoenix, AZ - The Mason Jar - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.16.04 - Albuquerque, NM - Launch Pad - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.18.04 - Wichita, KS - Ground Zero - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.19.04 - Dallas, TX - Trees - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.20.04 - Houston, TX - Engine Room - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.21.04 - Little Rock, AR - Vino's - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.22.04 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade - Demon Hunter, Haste Day
06.23.04 - Orlando, FL - The Social - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.24.04 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.25.04 - Greensboro, NC - Ace's Basement - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.27.04 - Baltimore, MD - Otto Bar - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
06.28.04 - New York, NY - Knitting Factory - w/ Demon Hunter, Nora, Haste The
Day
06.29.04 - Syracuse, NY - The Furnace - (Dead Poetic headling show) w/ locals
06.30.04 - Pittsburgh, PA - The World - w/ Demon Hunter, Haste The Day
07.01.04 - Bushnell, IL - Cornerstone Festival - Encore 1, 9:30-10:00pm
07.03.04 - Bushnell, IL - Cornerstone Festival - Indoor Stage, 4:10pm-5:00pm
07.05.04 - Minneapolis, MN - Ascot Room - w/ Demon Hunter
07.06.04 - Omaha, NE - The Ranch Bowl - w/ Demon Hunter
07.07.04 - Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck - w/ Demon Hunter
07.08.04 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre - w/ Demon Hunter, Dartanian
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love that venue in Portland called MEOW MEOW. That's awesome.
I saw Finger Eleven earlier this week because of the kindness of a certain fuzzy Scallen(we love you Scallen), and now we have word that our boys Lucerin Blue, in preparation for their headlining show in Orillia on June 18th, are opening up for F11 tomorrow night(that's June 12th) in London, Ontario. Centennial Hall. The show, like all the rest presumably, features No Motiv and costs around thirty clams(too much), but it will kill and you should go if you're down there. As well, Lucerin have a free show at The Edge 102.2 in downtown T-dot; the Toronto cops are blocking off the street to let the kids run rampant. No word on a date for that, but presumably this here has it all.
Late notice, yes, but a few killer Ottawa bands are performing tomorrow afternoon out on Richmond Road as part of Westfest, Westboro's attempt to put themselves on Ottawa's cultural map. I never lived there technically, but I lived close to the 'Boro two years ago. Nice area. Recoilers, Greenfield Main, Andrew Vincent and the Pirates and more are all playing. Event starts around ten in the morning and it's free all day. I'll be heading over to Bronson and Gladstone roundabout six-thirty to watch Zao tear the place apart, but until then, yeah. Westfest. Word.
As part of their knock-down drag-out farewell experience later this year, Face to Face will release three(yeah three) retrospective albums collectively referred to as Shoot The Moon. For all the information you wanna know(and we know you wanna know!), check this out.
Mono Vs. Stereo Records out of Tennessee has signed a Georgia band called Chasing Victory, who've been on various comps and toured here and there. MVSS Recs know what they're doing, and a couple of the bands they helped break have already signed with bigger labels(He Is Legend comes to mind). Chasing Victory's debut EP A Not So Tragic Cover Up comes out in August, and in the meantime check out some tunes over here. [punkhardcore]
Wow, moving on up in the world: Newfoundland hardcore act Bucket Truck(great band) recorded a full-length a year ago that's since sat on the shelf due to ongoing record label dickering; however, the band are putting out a three-song EP to keep the kids happy, and oh by the way they're opening for friggin' Slayer in St. John, New Brunswick, tomorrow(June 12th). I think I'd be happy with having a record not ready to be put out if I was opening for the likes of Slayer in the interim. [chartattack]
You know that little ol' band Alexisonfire? Their second full-length, entitled Watch Out! and replete with cheesy cartoon-horror motif, is actually a far cry better than their debut, despite what some "purists" might say. Better guitar production, massively less of those irritating nonstop screeches they passed off as 'vocals'(guitarist Dallas Green really is the heartbeat of this band), and a sense that AoF have learned How to Write a Song. I approve. Of the two songs I heard today anyway.
In other new album news, the latest from Bad Religion dropped this past Tuesday, and I had a chance to hear some of it, and what I heard was good. Buzzsaw guitars everywhere, Greg Graffin's usual polemics for the intelligentsia in punk circles, and even some nasty synth on 'Social Suicide'. I still think that, generally speaking, if you've heard one Bad Religion record in the last ten years you've heard 'em all, but they're good nonetheless.
Speaking of good(what marvelous segues today!), burnthe8track have been added to this Sunday night's Crowned King show. BT8T are to my knowledge the only Canadian band on Abacus Recordings out in California(they're from Winnipeg), but that's not why they're good; it's because they rock the house down that they're good. 6:30pm, Club SAW, eight bucks. Can't beat that on a Sunday night.
In Okay, Enough Already news, just for kicks I counted the number of guests on the new Method Man album - there's fourteen total. There should be legislature against this kinda thing. If I buy a Method Man record it's 'cause I wanna hear Method Man, not all his friends. C'mon.
Says here("here" being here) that Strike Anywhere are touring with Rainer Maria and Engine Down until July 29th - in Toronto. Wonder if Ottawa'll get added; it's a well-known fact that Strike gets huge love from this scene.
Indie Vision Music, after about a year of being an actual label and putting bands out there for your enjoyment, are closing their massive oak-paneled doors come this autumn. Two albums from Pennylane and Joey's Loss are still receiving the full hype treatment, but the main man behind IVM(the only man, truth be told), Brandon, has decided enough's enough. We wish him well and promise to review those records he sent like months ago. The industry - the Christian music industry in particular - needs more people like Brandon Jones. IVM will revert later this year to a sort of active-participation website, much like a lot of others out there. Betcha can't wait.
If you weren't aware, Darkest Hour, the most Euro-metal band in Washington, D.C., is playing OzzFest this summer, alongside a ton of other great bands. Putting two and two together, this would explain why they're not playing Ottawa on the 20th no more. Oh well, Buried Inside are more than capable of headlining, being so disgustingly talented and all.
Essential listening for June 10th is No Innocent Victim's 1999 classic Flesh and Blood. I can't say enough about this record, so I'm gonna say nothing at all save for the fact that this band was one of the very first hardcore bands I ever heard, way back. I miss them.
I couldn't possibly make this funnier rewording it, so I'll just run it: "Mel Gibson's distribution company is suing Regal Entertainment Group for more than $40 million, claiming the nation's largest theater chain shortchanged him on revenues from The Passion of the Christ. Regal allegedly agreed to pay Gibson's Icon Distribution 55 percent of the film's receipts, but so far have offered only 34 percent, a box of Sno Caps and unlimited refills on Diet Coke." That is so funny. Well-played, virtualfrequency! Well-played!!
Hot on the heels of the covers album they put out on Eulogy Records, Evergreen Terrace(what a band!) are releasing their proper next album on Hand of Hope Records. It's called At Our Worst, you will most assuredly love it, and you only have to wait til July 13th to hear it! Dope! [chamberspinsthree]
New Ottawa hardcore band? Fox On The Run? What the...why wasn't I informed about this sooner? Heads will ROLL! Listen to Fox over here while I fire some people.
oooOOOOoooo, pwetty: soundthesirens has been overhauled. I like. I like a lot.
Yaaaaay! My Revenge! have a new album up! If you've read the interview we have up with Spencer Revenge, you'll know we like this band - a lot. You can read a review of their latest, Less Plot, More Blood over here, to boot.
This Just In: the new full-length from Rjd2, called Since We Last Spoke, is just ridiculous. I listened to a few tracks at HMV today with sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik, who's back from the T-dot having seen Danger Mouse last week(feel free to hate on him), and Rj has cranked up the production to another level. I can't wait to hold it in my hot little hands.
The same night I saw the new video from Billy Talent on MuchMusic, Loud had the decency to run Killswitch Engage's new project called 'Rose of Sharon'. Shot in a desert with the usual band-rocking-in-the-wilderness motif that Guns 'N Roses pioneered over a decade ago(remember 'November Rain'? Killer!), the song is pretty good. Howard Jones is one of the better vocalists in the genre. Recommended.
In some baseball news(because that's obviously what you come here for), my Toronto Blue Jays are hosting the Dodgers of Los Angeles this weekend at SkyDome in the first weekend of interleague play this year; however, that's not the news: the news is that on the 13th, the first ten thousand fans into the 'Dome - get this - a Spider-Man mask and foam hand. That is idiocy. To make it worse(or better, if you're in the news gig like we are here), the day before they're handing out SportHead candy dispensers, this time featuring Jays starter Miguel Batista. Who is that guy? Why's he get a bobblehead-type thing? People are morons!
If you're a fan of Pedro the Lion, and we are here at the ol' D, you might wanna be checking this interview with ringleader Dave Bazan out.
Punk godfathers Bad Religion have a new record out as of yesterday called The Empire Strikes First...at least it's out south of the border. Here in Canada, who knows. Hit your indie shop and inquire. Anyway, the new video for first single 'Los Angeles Is Burning' can be seen over here. [pastepunk]
Stephen's Tour Diary
The latest from on the highways of America, courtesy of Anberlin vocalist Stephen Christian - what a dude. Even if he's an arrogant know-nothing American hockey fan!!! We kid.
From The Van:
"Chicago, what an amazing show, sold out House of Blues. Then the next night in Milwaukee was the best show on tour thus far! Right now we're riding in the van; I'm hungry and could go for anything. We would even stop at Tim Horton's for a chili/doughnut combo. On our way to Grand Rapids - the Intersection is always a good time. I know this is not a rant page, but I just want to tell everyone that it is so important to buy merch from bands. Sure, we get a couple bucks from the club, but that only pays gas to the next show. Merch on the other hands actually allows us to eat. So sneak into the show if you have no money but buy merch! Okay, so sneaking in may get you in trouble but...well okay, so get a job and pay for the show and merch. On that note, Tampa Bay beat Calgary! The Stanley Cup is ours, and we don't even have ice! Take that, Canada! See you soon!"
- Stephen
Kudos to Mr. Christian for keeping to his word. Next time Anberlin hits Ottawa, I expect all y'all locals to be there in full force to buy their merch table into the ground.
Hawk Nelson, from southern Ontario somewhere, have been picked up by Tooth and Nail Records on the strength of their eight-song album from last year(so-so at best, to be honest); their upcoming label debut is called Letters To The President, and if I said expect Simple Plan-type material, would I be far wrong? We'll soon find out.
I saw this band from Boston, The Explosion, opening up for Strike Anywhere a year and a bit ago, and they were really fun, and then the other day I'm reading this magazine at Chapters, killing time with a couple buddies, and the Explosion are on VIRGIN RECORDS? How 'bout that.
Some corrections regarding The Lost Dogs: Mike Knott is not actually a member of the band; he did a cameo with them here and there following the untimely death of founding member Gene Eugene a few years back, but the lineup as it stands nowadays is as follows: Terry Scott Taylor(Daniel Amos, Swirling Eddies), Mike Roe(77s) and Derry Daugherty(The Choir), along with guest drummer Steve Hindalong, also of the choir, and a renowned producer to boot. So there you go.
That's all the news that's fit to print as of right now. Actually, no, I have things to do, so that's all the news you're gonna get. New material going up this week - hopefully.
Whassup kids.
The Lost Dogs are coming to Ottawa in July, and sweetdisaster will be all over promoting this one; it's not what you've probably come to expect from us here at the ol' D, but we're all about hanging curveballs to the loyal readers now and then. The Dogs are a supergroup of sorts within the Christian rock pantheon - Mike Knott(no introduction needed, go read our interview with him if you wanna know more about the guy), Mike Roe of the 77s and Terry Daugherty, along with a special guest I believe. Keep it locked here for the buildup, and check out the Dogs' website for more.
I've always wanted to say "keep it locked", like we're on radio or something.
Billy Talent have a new video out, for the song 'River Below'. Now, this has long been sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik and I's favourite song off Billy Talent's self-titled debut, but I didn't know it was gonna be singles material. The video is shot to look like it's in a garage, probably a lot like the one you might have on your house. And the song rips.
Thousand Foot Krutch have remixed and remastered the album that made their name, 2000's Set It Off, through Tooth and Nail, their label home nowadays. There's a new track on the re-release produced with Gavin Brown, who also worked with Billy Talent(them again!). So watch for that.
I was watching TV in a mindless stupor the other night and came across Evanescence performing on some awards show someplace. I've heard vocalist Amy Lee uses a voice-modulating device of some sort, but it sounded pretty genuine to me. Good band, and I don't care who knows it. Plus their new guitarist can scream like the devil; it was sick. I still can't believe their drummer left Living Sacrifice to be in this band though. What a bummer.
So tonight(Monday) was the big Unearth show, and it lived up to the hype; Ottawa's F*** the Facts are a five-piece grind/metal assault force now, better than the days of yore when they lacked a bassist, Quebec's A Perfect Murder brought the friggin' mosh to the kids, including a Black Sabbath cover that blew my mind, Burnt By The Sun were just ridiculously skilled(check out the drummer sometime; the guy is a straight-up freak), and the headliners...well, really, I don't think I need to hype Unearth more. New drummer, new album coming out from which the new material displayed tonight just slaugtered, and the only damper came when Calgary officially lost the Stanley Cup. That kinda sucked.
And then yours truly hopped across the street to catch most of Finger Eleven's set, thanks to a friend in a high place(thanks bro). Busy evening.
More news later. Maybe Stephen Christian will pop in with an Anberlin update from the road, but maybe he won't. I have a feeling we've run the course where that project's concerned. Too bad.
Word.
I didn't know Sum 41 were anti-war activists, but apparently they are; the band from lil' ole Ajax, Ontario has hooked up with War Child Canada and was in Africa filing reports from the Democratic Republic of Congo when violence erupted and the band was escorted out of the country by a show of armed force. "We went to Congo to show people what war is like, how harmful it is to civilians, and we ended up becoming war-affected ourselves," drummer Steve Jocz said. Good on them for representing a good cause.
Something amazing happened last night at the Toronto Blue Jays-Oakland As game. Get this: for the first time since the Jays' inception in 1977(some forty-three hundred games, playoffs and World Series included), play-by-play announcer Tom Cheek was not behind the microphone. Check it out: my man called every single game in Jays history - until last night in California, where his father passed away. He'll be back behind the mic tonight. Guy is unbelievable. I grew up listening to him and Jerry Howarth. Word.
So earlier this week I was at my boy Ryan's place just hanging out and his SoulSeek beep thingy erupted, signifying progress of some sort or another, and I checked to see what song he'd apparently found, and it was a Circle of Dust song from like ten years ago called 'Blank Stare'. Turns out Ryan was really after a Toronto hardcore band called Blank Stare, but I was excited to see a CoD song on the internet after all these years. Remember Circle of Dust? Industrial aggro circa like 1995? Shared label space on R.E.X. Records with the likes of Sixpence None the Richer? Dude!
Essential listening for June 4th(three days before Unearth tears the place apart at Maverick's - 221 Rideau St. be there or die ya putz) is Underground Rise Vol. 1: Sunrise/Sunset, this massive posse cut of an album Uprok Records put out last year. This has got everyone from Mars ILL to Playdough to the next eighteen MCs on it, and it's stellar. Find it.
Email from Strikefirst Records today...says here that this band Jesus Wept is comprised of all the guys from the late, great xDisciplex AD, one of the truly transcendent Christian hardcore bands of the last decade or so, and that excites me.
Pigeon John is quite possibly my favourite rapper. Ever. Period. You know? The guy is just sick.
In This Had Better Not Be A Friggin' Joke news: Creed have called it a career. I'll pause now for the worldwide celebrations sure to follow such an edict. *waits patiently* Now then. I'm not gonna bore y'all with the details of creative differences and all that crap, but check it out: this band sold 24 million copies of what amounted to the same record. And that's sad. But now a new chapter can be written. Someone write it already. [cmcentral]
The O.C. Supertones are readying their seventh studio album. How 'bout that?? This band was a part of the third-wave ska movement in the mid-'90s and now they're still cranking out the rock, just easy on the plinky-plinky guitar and blaring horns. It kinda sucks their original rhythm section is long gone, but hey, good is good, y'dig? Revenge of the Supertones comes out June 15th. The press spiel says it's "reminiscent of the band’s early days". We'll see. Check this here out for a recap of what the Supertones have accomplished in the last decade. Rather impressive for a Christian-market band.
Check it out: the featured track nowadays over at sphereofhiphop is a new joint from Flynn, entitled Love Is Dead(When). I gotta hear this record.
Kutless(speaking of Creed no offense intended) has been invited to play - get this now - THE OLYMPICS. As in Athens, Greece. That is something else. [buzzgrinder]
Schweetness: lambgoat has been reinvented. Slick layout, fellas. Bring the mosh.
Not sure if we brought this to your attention previously; Lamb of God are headlining a very massive tour also featuring Unearth, Every Time I Die and Atreyu on the OzzFest tour's off-days. Here be them dates:
7/11 Montreal QC @ Rainbow
7/13 Ottawa ONT @ Capital Music Hall
7/17 Syracuse NY @ The Lost
7/21 Cincinnati OH @ Bogarts
7/30 San Diego CA @ Soma - 2003
8/1 Scottsdale AZ @ Venue of Scottsdale
8/6 Corpus Christi TX @ Concrete Street
8/8 Houston TX @ Engine Room
8/9 Little Rock AR @ Vino's
8/15 Minneapolis MN @ The Quest
8/18 Williamsburg NY @ Infinity
8/29 London ONT @ The Embassy Hotel
9/3 Tallahassee FL @ The Beta Bar
Please do take note of that OTTAWA DATE!!!
Cave In have announced what will likely be "their last show for a while"; July 17th in Allston, Mass. at the Church on Cambridge Street. This show "features" Converge. Lemme tell y'all something: when your opening "featured band" is CONVERGE, that is a mother of an event. [theprp]
This I like lots: the new Helmet record has been given a title - Size Matters. Oh, and incidentally, the new lineup has been revealed: Page Hamilton in his usual spot stage front and centre ripping it up, Chris Traynor where he belongs, on guitars, and the new rhythm section comprised of John Tempesta and Frank Bello, formerly of White Zombie and Anthrax respectively. Rad! The album drops September 14th.
This band Colossal who I've never heard but who are on Asian Man Records(which counts for something) have done something that doesspark my interest: their new bass player is Eli Caterer. As in the dude from Duvall, who I love with a roaring passion. Who's gonna play bass for them now? Huh? Punks? [punknews]
Engine Down, here a couple months ago in Ottawa opening for Thursday and who were reviled by pretty much everyone we've talked to who was there, has signed with Lookout! Records. SOMEone likes them.
Before the news of the day, behold, the latest entry from Anberlin's tour documentation, from the highways of America somewhere. We really gotta get this into its own section somewhere, but until then, just sit tight and enjoy. You'll find updates from vocalist Stephen Christian at the beginning of the daily news any time they show up in our email box.
Stephen's Tour Diary
DAY 2
Played our first show on this tour. So far so good, all the other bands seem so
nice, and Fall Out Boy is so intense live. Plain White Ts completely blew me
away; I always thought they were punk rock, but really they are just good solid
rock. Don't Look Down's Ryan, the singer, is better than ever and they are on fire. We had a really good show; we have never played Dublin, Columbus(Ohio) before, but the crowed seemed to love it. Good times!
We hosted [Columbus Christian internet radio station] TVU, and did a radio show for radioU yesturday. Nicki and the staff have always been so kind to us, so we want to thank them for all of their support.
We're on our way to Cleveland. We usually have good shows there, we will see...
Quote of the day: "Solitude is the furnace of transformation."
- Stephen
There you have it. Come back daily for more of Anberlin's Tour Exploits. What a bunch of guys, no?
Some big concert news for me and people like me: after coming close with a show in Montreal, Switchfoot have been confirmed to play Ottawa's Capital Music Hall July 7th. No word on openers or ticket prices as yet, but it's enough that they're coming. Word up to Kate in Boston for the heads-up.
There is much debate in my circles(and what circles they are! Ryan's basement! Word!) about the status of the new stuff from Alexisonfire; you can click over here to hear a new song and decide for yourself. We're a democracy, not a dictatorship!! [noisetheory]
In anticipation of the band's show here in Ottawa on the 12th, check out 'The Rising End(The First Prophecy)', a new song from Zao, right over here. The upcoming Ferret Records album is called The Funeral of God. Wonder what that's all about.
For all you Dashboard Confessional fans(I see you Steph), if you really wanna, you can hear the band's new track 'Vindicated', taken from the Spider-Man 2 soundtrack, if you check here.
Sparta will open for a bunch of dates in Australia as part of Blink-182's headlining stint. What? That makes no sense.
Killswitch Engage's new album sold almost forty thousand copies its first week in stores. How 'bout that? That's weird for any band on their label not called Nickelback.
We generally don't care about fashion here at the ol' D, but reading this article, all I can say is, it's about friggin' time. [relevant]
In related news, the above paragraph was furnished by Relevant Media Group down in Orlando, Florida, who celebrated four years on June 1st. Congratulations, kids!
This Just In: the new album from Tennessee's Cool Hand Luke, The Fires of Life, is pretty sweet. We were told to expect more keys on this release, and so they're present here. I like what I hear. A lot.
Why, oh why, did my beloved Toronto Blue Jays have that William Hung guy sing the NATIONAL ANTHEM at the game a few nights back? WHY? Someone exPLAIN this to me!! What a travesty! I bet they lost to Texas that night BECAUSE of this!! *simmers* At least they've beaten Seattle the last two games. I see you Amy.
Bandoppler Magazine's online space has been given a facelift, and since I trust their crew implicitly, and since I trust our fuzzy readers' taste implicitly, I would impel you all to mosey on over there and read reviews of the new album from Morissey, Franz Ferdinand(am I the only person alive who hasn't heard this band?) and more fun schtuff.
We've not had any responses to our little cry for help over on the right there; here's the deal: I love what I do, but I'm a content guy. I never learned much about computers because I never much cared, and now I'm paying for it. But if you like what we do here, and you wanna help out - that means trying to teach this numbskull the basics - drop us an email, with all our love.
We'll have Anberlin vocalist Stephen Christian's tour diary entries at the beginning of whatever news post it's in, rather than at the end; I realized last night how monumentally stupid that would be for those of you who don't really care about the news of the day and just wanna read about Anberlin's exploits on America's highways.
Rising label Flicker Records has partnered with XXX Church for the label's new Flicker Rocks Harder compilation; featuring bands like Pillar(here in Ottawa in August for Worshipfest), Subseven, metal newcomers Mortal Treason and more, the comp also features X3 Watch, a free accountability software tool from XXXchurch designed to keep people away from pornography on the Internet, something I'm highly in favour of(keeping people away from porn...not porn itself...never mind I'm in a hole). The entire shebang will be priced around seven bucks, so keep an eye out. [Renown]
This Just In: Brave Saint Saturn are apparently releasing the third of their trilogy of concept albums later this year. The debut So Far From Home and its followup, last year's The Light of Things Hoped For, are both solid records, one of the highlights being the songwriting of guitarist Dennis Culp. Boy knows how to write a song. No word on a title just yet. I bet someone out there already has the entire record though, this being the filesharing age and all.
The Visalia Theatre Company in Visalia, California is putting on a performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that's been packing them in for thirty years now. In the title role? None other than Kevin Max(one-third of dc Talk as well as a solid solo artist in his own right). Apparently I'm interviewing him at some point too. We'll see. For ticket information if you live in the Visalia area, check this out. [rockrebel]
I'm not a huge fan of the band, but Third Day sold 61,000 copies of their new record Wire in its first week out; the band has dropped from 12 to 30 on the Billboard Top 40 in the latest issue. How 'bout that.
Strikefirst(home of Trauma...such a good band....mmm...) have signed a band named after the shortest sentence in entire Bible: Jesus Wept. I've never heard them either. But we will! [hardcorechristian]
Reeve Oliver, featuring present and ex-members of the almighty, overpowering, you-don't-have-a-chance-in-the-face-of-the-punk-assault Dogwood, have signed a deal with The Milita Group(also home to Rufio and others). If they're even one-third as good as Dogwood, I'll probably like them a lot. Check this out for the press statement and all that garbonzo.
A fun little rock and roll band called Burnthe8track released The Ocean, their Abacus Records debut, yesterday(June 1st, kids, keep up here) to presumably great fanfare; to celebrate, they're hitting the road for a spell:
June 1 - Kamloops @ Magnums
June 3 - Whistler @ The Boot Pub
June 4 - Vancouver @ Mike's Tavern
June 9 - Sault Ste Marie @ Oddfellows Hall - All ages w/ Allister and Homegrown
June 12 - Toronto @ 360 (NXNE)
June 17 - London @ The Embassy
June 18 - Dansbury CT @ The Empress Ballroom
June 19 - Queens NY @ Red Zone
June 20 - New York City @ The Knitting Factory
June 21 - Montreal. TBA
No, nothing in Ottawa. Are you really surprised? The band also has a brand-new website designed by their bassist...if that means anything...just check it out already. [punkhardcore]
The Misfits are playing Hellfest this year. Does that strike anyone else is a little weird?
Hopefully it's produced better than their last one: .hopesfall are hoping for an October release for their second Trustkill Records album. And they're working with a guy who produced Fuel. I despise Fuel. [noisetheory]
Okay.
It is seven minutes to five in the morning, Wednesday. I just got done watching Requiem For A Dream, a Darren Aronofsky film made in 2000. Jennifer Connelly, Jared Leto, and an absolutely wrenching performance from Ellen Burstyn(who won an Oscar for the role).
Find and watch this movie.
That's it. That's my review.
And now, the news.
Does anyone else think it's funny that, as reported other places too numerous to list, Story of the Year got into a little brouhaha with members of Godsmack's production crew? It went down in Indiana, the Hooooosier state, and if you really want information aside from just laughing at the idea, check this out for more. There might be a tad bit bad language if you're not into that(okay, there might be a lot of it, but it's funny).
On the heels of Evergreen Terrace's massive show here in Ottawa a couple of weeks ago, you can read up on a side project of theirs called Casey Jones, whose Indianola Records album The Few, The Proud, The Crucial is reviewed here. My boy Ryan and I pestered Evergreen from the front of the stage until they played their Smashing Pumpkins 'Zero' cover! We're real proud. And when you're through reading this, discover more about Brandtson, a band that rose from the ashes of Six Feet Deep years ago, one of the first hardcore bands I ever heard. Waaaaay back. I wish Brandtson's label would answer my emails.
Just wanted to remind all of you that the craziest band ever, Horse The Band(what a killer name) are gonna be here in Ottawa in August. I think it's the 4th or the 8th, I can't remember which(we'll give you plenty of notice), but the Nintendocore demolition shall be had, and had aplenty. Oh, and Is Grace Enough are opening, and that's just icing.
Tonight, June 2nd, Braid bring their reunion tour(one-time only allegedly) to Babylon, with openers Minus the Bear, Murder by Death and The Grey(very good local band). Get on out there. I never heard Braid once in my entire life, so I have no reason to be there.
For you Saves The Day fans out there(I'm kinda one), they have a rarities/B-sides compilation album coming this summer(August 3rd) called Ups and Downs. I wouldn't buy it myself. But they're a fun little band, no? [absolutepunk]
Speaking of Saves The Day, a new song from them alongside a new track from Moneen called 'Pleasantly Saying The Most Terrible Things' can both be listened to over here! See how these things all tie together?
This is huge: I'm not a fan of The Cure, but they're doing this thing this summer called the Curiosa tour, and check this out: on the main stage are the Cure(obviously), Interpol, The Rapture and Mogwai, but it's the SECOND stage that blows my mind: The Cooper Temple Clause, Cursive, Head Automatica and Thursday, among others. Holy crap, what a show that'd be. You can find the tourdates here, and you'd better pray your city's among them. The one Canadian date listed(so far) is August 9th in Toronto. Obviously.
There were rumours afoot that U2 frontman Bono was organizing a second Live Aid fundraising concert for AIDS relief(twenty years after the first event to raise funds for the fight against starvation in Ethiopia), but the singer downplayed such talk, saying that not enough cash would be raised to adequately tackle the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Hmm. [virtualfrequency]
Remember Ma$e? Or Mase or however he spelled it? Left the blingin' hiphop limelight five years ago to become a preacher? He's making a comeback. New album out this year. Video. Etc etc. Will anyone care?
Grits are dropping two new albums this year, and they'll be here in Ottawa at Worshipfest(August 6th-8th); in the meantime, their new single can be heard at their label's website. Cop dat. Have I mentioned how stoked I am that Mars ILL are also gonna be there? Man!
Unearth. June 7th. Maverick's here in Ottawa. 'The Great Dividers'. They'll probably play it on the 7th. Listen to it beforehand here. Hop to it. [ChamberSpinsThree]
After releasing what's reputed to be a scorcher of a new album last year, All Out War have split up due to personal concerns among the band. A new act called Nerve Gas Tragedy has been formed already, and it's hoped that their "unreliable reputation doesn't carry over to future endeavours."
Cursed, one of the sheer loudest bands you will ever see play live, are putting out their second album on Goodfellow Records; they've signed on the dotted line and will do the record with Toronto producer...Ian Blurton? The rock and roll guy? From Change of Heart back in the '90s? Weird!
This band Remembering Never are coming to Ottawa June 12th opening for Zao, right, and their vocalist Mean Pete's other band Until the End, I saw them years ago and wow they were huge...and now Pete's left the band. The new vocalist in the UTE camp is James McHugh, and while we're on Zao(what a transition), some new music from them is right over....here!! Gotcha!!
According to radio station WAAF somewhere in the U.S., Unearth, Terror and The Black Dahlia Murder are touring later this year. As in together. Ye gods, what a ruckus.
I haven't been to decapolis.com in a while, but no sooner have I said that than I see this, a review of the last(and maybe best) album from one of the most influential bands on my life anyway, Five Iron Frenzy. You better believe I put rent and a bus pass and the phone bill on the back burner to buy The End Is Here.
I was just listening to this band night before last with a friend of mine, and now this comes up on the radar: On The Might of Princes has disbanded.
Some new pictures are up at junkedcamera, right here in lil' ol' Ottawa, including shots of Every Time I Die, Billy Talent and loads more. View them! Be edified! And Brian Garson has the best show reviews ever.
Greetings from rainy Cap City Canada, kiddies.
We have a special feature lined up for y'all: for the next couple weeks(however long the tour runs - not sure on that count) you'll be reading periodic updates from the road penned by Anberlin vocalist Stephen Anberlin, a buddy ol' pal of ours here at the Big D Rock Train; the band is out on the road as of tomorrow(June 2nd) with Fall Out Boy, Don't Look Down and Plain White Ts, the latter having been here in Ottawa in April of 2002, opening for Jimmy Eat World. Until we find time to stick it in a little section of the site here, you can find Stephen's Tour Diary at the end of each news update. We know, we know, we need more content posted other than news - get over it. So keep your eyes peeled. This here'll be a short news update, so you can just read what we have and then read Stephen's Epistle. Many thanks to him for this, by the way. What a dude, no?
One Cross, the pride of Mississauga, Ontario, have signed a record deal after years slogging it out on the indie circuit; the band have hooked up with Butterfly Music Group as of yesterday. A new album will be out hopefully by August, and the band are rocking across the continent at a variety of festivals hither and yon all summer. Hit them up in your city. And check out their website!
And now, Stephen's Tour Diary.
DAY 1 - May 31st/04
Tomorrow we leave.
Wednesday is our first show. I'm a little nervous, and well, most bands are the first week or so, because they are still trying to get to know the other bands, and how the tour is going to do. We're going out with Fall Out Boy, Don't Look Down and Plain White Ts. We've toured with DLD before and those guys are so genuine!
I just did laundry tonight and can't find my favourite pair of jeans so I'm pretty...well, upset. But I do have a new t-shirt from The Fully Down, a band from Canada; they bought me a Smiths shirt, so I'm actually going to wear it again for the thirteenth time this week! So thanks out to them!
It's about an eighteen-hour drive to Ohio tomorrow; shouldn't be bad seeing as I hope to sleep most of the way. I haven't decided on what books to read this tour; I'm in more of an educating myself mood, so it will probably be something about finances, which I really don't need to be reading now since I consider myself a starving artist. We got a new manager! I'm stoked, a lot less stress on tour for sure!
That's it. I'm off to sleep. It's one in the morning, so please run spell check for me. Happy Memorial Day, eh? Do you even celebrate that in Canada? Oh well either way...happy day. Lightning won tonight! In your eye, canucks! We don't even have ice in Florida except to keep our drinks cold when we're on the beach!
-Stephen