They're baaaaaaaack: Spitfire are gonna do their first live gig in three years at Club Lives in Virginia Beach - February 28th. Others on the bill include The Chariot, As Cities Burn and Everything Falls Together. There's also a new website up for ALLLLL the info. [hxc]
Apparently the fellas in Beloved have NOT started a new band called Prison - it's called Advent. Depending on who you believe. Eesh.
The two funniest things I've read today, in sequential order: this and this. I'm laughing so hard right now.
Some good/contradictory news from the lads in downhere - you know they've been able to live in the You-nited States for four years now doing music full-time? Amazing. Anyway, drummer Jeremy Thiessen is getting hitched to the lovely soon-to-be Erin Thiessen, so congrats to them, the band is in 'negotiation phase' concerning a contract with an unnamed label(woo!), and here's the contradictory part: how come in the upcoming shows it goes right up to April 2nd in Montreal...but Ottawa April 3rd isn't listed? Has this show been canned or what? I'll be mad pissed it it got the ax.
Victory Records has signed two more bands: With Honor(good band) and The Forecast(never heard of them). I think Victory's making a play to become The Behemoth in the scene. [punktastic]
Just in case you didn't know, Further Seems Forever's Hide Nothing(2004) is one of the THE most addictive things I've ever heard. Ever.
Ever!!
If you're a metal kid/adult who's had people wonder why, oh why you listen to metal at all, maybe it's cases like this that anti-extreme-music types cling to. Exception to the rule? Absolutely. Scary as frig? Oooh yeah.
Followup on the Blink-182 'indefinite hiatus' story: "For over a decade, Blink-182 toured, recorded and promoted non-stop, all while trying to balance relationships with family and friends," a statement issued by the band's label read. "There is no set plan for the band to begin working together again." So there it is. I remember watching my boys in Thousand Pound Larry cranking out Blink covers circa 2000. Man.
I remember how shocked I was when guitarist Marcos Curiel left P.O.D. out of the blue two years ago, and this is almost as shocking. I presume it's true, anyway. Korn guitarist Brian Welch(think blond dreadlocks guy - yeah, him) has 'found God', as the saying goes, and has left the band. The full story is here. Fascinating. THERE's an interview I'd love to do. The rest of the band, by the way, are working on their next album, due out in September on a label as yet unspecified. [hardcorechristian]
Oooooh: noisetheory has a new layout. Pweeeeeetty.
Boy, burnthe8track are in everybody's news lately: touring Europe with the legendary Misconduct, playing with Belvedere here in Ontario...and have I mentioned that their debut The Ocean is a really good album? Hit up their website and jump on this wagon 'fore it blows past you!
Guests on the upcoming new album from Foo Fighters include singer/pianist Norah Jones - she of the ten or so Grammy awards - as well as Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. What? Did I just read/regurgitate this information? [chartattack]
Comedian/television personality Bill Maher thinks Christians have a "neurological disorder" and are "unenlightened because of their faith." I love Bill Maher; I think he's hilarious, but I did think he was a little more intelligent. Nice. [Relevant]
Remember Gorillaz and their 'Clint Eastwood' smash from 2002? Well, their new album Demon Days is reportedly coming out May 24th. Producer? Oh man, HOT: Dangermouse, infamous for his Grey Album a year ago.
I was actually bothering to read comments posted below the story linked immediately before this paragraph, and this struck me: "God does bless us with 'different' talents, but I'm afraid what 3 Doors Down has is not talent in any sense of the word. And even if I disagreed with the reviewer and actually thought this album was the best thing I'd ever heard, I'd still support his critical right to bash it to smithereens. We're called to engage culture, right? Not to swallow inane junk just because it's 'what they do.'" Now, I could care less about 3 Doors Down or any other of the legion of terrible radio bands, but that statement rings true. Food for thought.
Behold: progress.
Thanks to the generosity(and workplace internet access) of one Galen 'Brody' Broaddus - what up homey? - sweetdisaster dot come will soon be looking a lot better in terms of, oh, you know, links working properly, unused sections of the site disappearing, etc etc etc. It's pretty sad that yours truly isn't a tech type(read: tech-illiterate), but God brings about the necessary people in his own good timing, so here we are.
Of course, that's not to say there aren't issues - as these words are written certain technical aspects of sd.com's innards are in open revolt for unknown reasons - but we're working to quell the uprising!! (Note: I think I've squashed the revolt, for now. -Web guy)
And now, the news.
Seen on TV the last couple weeks:
- My Chemical Romance on Conan O'Brien - I'm having a hard time understanding the appeal of this band, and I think it's because I'm 25 and not 17. Possible? Certainly.
- Robert Randolph and the Family Band - did an absolutely smoking rendition of Hendrix's 'Smoke On The Water', also on Conan. Amazing.
- The Blind Boys of Alabama - song called 'Atom Bomb' performed on Leno - truly God-gifted performers.
I was reading Alternative Press last week and there was this thing about how - get this now - Simple Plan apparently wrote 'If I Died Tomorrow'(or something like that) - Motley Crue's big 'comeback single'. This isn't a joke, from what I gather. I think we've all just entered the Twilight Zone.
Also in that issue of AP was a three-quarter-page ad for The Whore's Trophy, the new album from Symphony In Peril - came out last week Tuesday. I expect greatness after a somewhat unsteady debut record, and this new offering is apparently 'more focused'. Good. Here's a new song from the album. You're welcome.
Ottawa's own Buried Inside are being shown mad love from Relapse Records; the advertising is in full swing. Watch for BI on tour everywhere most of this year!
Yo, you like free downloads, but have moral qualms? Check this here out; our boy Brandon has a slew of 'ClassicTrax' and new stuff to peruse - all of which are up through permission of the various artists/labels. Go nuts, babies. And just for kicks, check out this song from SaGoh 24/7, waaaaaay back in the day. They later became a little old band called Anberlin.
Apparently, after disspelling rumours that they were breaking up, Blink-182 are in fact 'taking a hiatus'. There's a statement from the lads over here, for those still into mall punk progenitors. [altpress]
I've never heard of The Esoteric, but this is real bad: their house burned down, taking their studio space and gear with it, not to mention rendering three of the band members homeless. If you have cash, and a generous spirit(I only have the latter, unfortunately), do them a favour and kick some dough their way. Even in the face of this disaster, they're still planning on going on tour with Nodes of Ranvier this spring to support their new album With The Sureness of Sleepwalking, out April 19th.
Know what's weird? Listen to this song by Every New Day(man, I remember when they were a skate-technical punk band), and tell me it doesn't sound like Thrice crossed with Killswitch Engage. I like it.
Joey's Loss broke up a few months ago, which was sad because they were fun - and now three of them have started up The Hotshot Freight Train - great name. You can listen to a demo over here.
This reassures me: Dogwood are still together and playing shows around southern California. I wanted to know more, but apparently I have to get a myspace.com account, which I have zero interest in. I'll content myself with knowing that hopefully I'll see Dogwood at Cornerstone later this year.
Whoa, what the...Dead Poetic have added a couple of high-profile dudes to their roster, namely ex-Beloved guitarist Dusty Redmon and(this surprised me) Jesse Sprinkle(Demon Hunter) on drums. Wow. [hxc]
Like you need more Zao news, but hey, someone's gotta do it: Marty Lunn is their new bassist. He used to be in Pensive and Seasons In The Field, but had been serving as Zao's tour manager. Matter of fact, I think Ottawa kids met him last year when someone pulled the fire alarm right before Zao's set, they were forced not to play, and Marty - what a kid - arranged for the disappointed kiddies to see the band in Montreal the next night. Great dude. Good luck.
Some news from the crew at Underground Operations down in the Greater Toronto Area: they've done gone and signed two bands, Dead Letter Department and The Brat Attack, "two of Canada's hardest-working bands." Also, Canadian Music Week festivities commence soon in the T-dot, and UO bands are all over the place. Check it:
Thursday, March 3rd: Gasoline Magazine/Underground Operations/ATG Presents
Showcase at the Fun Haus
7:00 - Doors
7:20 - Drive By Punch
8:00 - Brat Attack*
8:40 - A Perfect Murder
9:20 - Bombs Over Providence*
10:10 - The Reason
11:10 - Protest The Hero*
12:00 - Strada
[UO bands denoted with asterisk]
Saturday, March 5th: ATG & CMW Present Underground Operations/Drive Entertainment Showcase at Sneaky Dee's
7:30 – Doors
8:00 - Wheels On The Bus(killer screamo from Brampton)
8:45 - Shotgun Rules(equally killer screamo from London or thereabouts)
9:30 - Dead Letter Dept*
10:15 - The Flatliners
11:00 - Hostage Life*
11:45 - The Heartattacks
Lastly, UO 'flagship band'(I guess I can call them that) Closet Monster are playing some shows with Rise Against in the near future; check those out.
Indie Vision Music: first a 'zine, then a record label, and now back to a 'zine - among other things. Join the ruckus. I feel really bad because Brandon is STILL waiting for reviews of some CDs I've had for a really long time.
From valued sd.com source Dave Leibold(check out his show Over My Head - Sunday mornings from 8-9:30, 93.1 FM here in Ottawa) comes word that Calgary punk band Kiros(who have a bit of a following here in town) will be playing Barrymores' May 7th, opening for none other than Choke. Wednesday Night Heroes are also on the bill. Check out Kiros' website for more on a great band. Tight live show too.
Today's Song of the Day: 'Love Is A Fast Song', by the might Atlanta foursome name of Copeland. Check it out here.
Oh man. I've heard it before, but for some reason the new Norma Jean material is just blowing my mind this afternoon like it hasn't before. Take a listen for yourself at purevolume and see what you think; I personally recommend 'Bayonetwork: Vultures in Vivid Color'. O God, The Aftermath comes out March 1st on Solid State Records.
The rap/rock 'mash-up' phenomenon started by last year's Jay-Z/Linkin Park collaboration has spawned an album idea, but I'm more amused by the fact that Ludacris really wants to do one with Green Day. Geez. [absolutepunk]
I don't get it: Hawthorne Heights have sold a quarter of a million copies of their debut album. How is this possible? It's so boring.
Holy friggin' crap: I found this new track from The Agony Scene(Roadrunner Records) and it ripped me a new one, kids. It's called 'Scapegoat', and the brutality is downright vicious over here! Remember their 2002 Solid State album? This ups the ante; the guy has one of the truly amazing vocal abilities out there.
Green Day's second leg of their north American tour has been finalized, and some Canadian dates are included:
05/02 - Quebec City, QC @ Colisee Pepsi
05/04 - London, ON @ John Labatt Centre
05/17 - Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
05/19 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
05/20 - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
Obviously, Ottawa gets squat. [soundthesirens]
U2 singer Bono has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize - again(he also got a nom in 2003). He'll have to beat 165 other folks for it, though. [aversion]
Oh yay: a Valentine's Day interview with your favourites and mine...maybe just mine...Strike Anywhere. Bring it, Richmond!!
Hey, before we begin today's news, I just thought I'd ask a general question: is Hotmail being terrible just for me, or is this a worldwide thing? Because it's really not hacking it the last few weeks. We thought it must just be our computer, but it's too consistent for that.
Anyway. Are we all stoked about Throwdown and As I Lay Dying going down April 9th? Boy, that'll be a massive outpouring of hardcore/metal love.
Switchfoot's The Beautiful Letdown has now clocked in at double-platinum(over two million copies sold), and the band is currently home in San Diego, California tracking their next record, due out in July - rumoured out in July anyway.
One of my favourites, Ohio's Dead Poetic, emailed with news that Asterik Studio have received a Dove Award nomination for their work on DP's New Medicines album(2004). 'Recorded Music Packaging of the Year', I believe. Wow. They're handing out awards for everything! Just kidding - the layout's pretty sick.
This has me pretty excited; it's a side project of Evanescence drummer Rocky Gray, and if you've followed this site or any other underground metal 'zine with any regularity you know that Rocky's an ace guitarist(formerly of Living Sacrifice). This new thing doesn't have anything up yet save a little music and a pretty amazing metal logo. [hxc]
Hey, check it out: a review of the new album from Anberlin. And in a related story pertaining to two of the artists mentioned today, my boy Ryan obtained this record and thinks it's a total Dead Poetic ripoff. What are you on, man??
In Bands Whose Second Album I Recently Pawned For Concert Money news, Disciple signed with INO Records last week - the INO Records that's home to bigtime crossover successes MercyMe. Weird. Remember Disciple? Man, back in 1999 they were all o' dat.
I don't pretend to be part of the literati, but I know who journalist/eccentric Hunter S. Thompson was - he committed suicide at the age of 67 in Aspen, Colorado. The full story can be read here, and it's just a sad thing to read about someone who practically created a new strain of journalism end his own life this way. Interestingly, though, the article mentions novelist Tom Wolfe as a compatriot of Thompson's - I just read Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities, and I didn't know about their association. Hmm. [buzzgrinder]
Oh man, they really can't make up their minds: a band I interviewed(a loooong time ago) from Toronto called Rise Over Run have reunited - for the third time. They put out a couple EPs and a full-length on Ironclad Records a couple years ago(a label run by Unearth vocalist Trevor Phipps), and then quit. Then they got back together - and then quit "for good". So much for that. The 'reunion' show will be April 21st at Toronto's Reverb opening for 100 Demons. [lambgoat]
Speaking of 100 Demons, the've had to bail on the tour they were supposed to be on with Since The Flood running through March 7th due to a family emergency. So if you were stoked on seeing them, you'll have to wait.
I stumbled on a little treasure trove of hardcore/metal bands and the videos they make right over here. Featured: Throwdown, Norma Jean and Zao among others. [theprp]
Weird show lineup of the day: March 26th in Vegas: Rise Against, Lit, Ignite and...Terror? Yes.
Sincerity is An Easy Disguise In This Business is the slightly cynical title to the new disc from Evergreen Terrace, due out in June on Eulogy Records. I remember my friend and I bullying them into playing their Smashing Pumpkins cover('Zero') when they were here in Ottawa last year. Good times.
Crazy tech-metallers Ion Dissonance are touring Canada with Premonitions of War and Despised Icon - but here in Ottawa on March 12th we don't get PoW, sadly, nor do Trois-Rivieres or Rimouski up in Quebec(March 10th and 11th) . If you're somewhere other than Ottawa, here:
March 31st Quebec City, QC - L'Anti
April 01st Montreal, QC - El Salon
April 02nd Oakville, ON - The Dojo
April 05th Brandon, MB - East End Community Center
April 06th Regina, SK - The Exchange
April 07th Edmonton, AB - New City Likwid Lounge
April 08th Edmonton, AB - Queen Alex Hall
April 12th Victoria, BC - Lucky Bar
April 14th Calgary, AB - Brew Brothers Tap House
April 15th Saskatoon, SK - Pacific Avenue Hall
April 16th Winnipeg, MB - The Albert
April 17th Thunder Bay, ON - The Apollo
April 20th London, ON - The Embassy
Oooh oooh, Deftones news! The band is working on their next(fifth) album, tentatively called Saturday Night Wrist; vocals are being tracked right around the time you read this. Go Chino and your bad, baaad screaming. Go to deftonesworld for all the info.
Toronto's No Warning, fresh off a slew of shows with Sum 41, have now hooked up with another large band, Papa Roach:
March 28th Norfolk, VA - The NorVA
March 29th N. Myrtle Beach, SC - House Of Blues
March 31st Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
April 01st Lake Buena Vista, FL - House Of Blues
April 02nd Atlanta, GA - Roxy Theatre
April 05th Little Rock, AR - The Metroplex
April 06th New Orleans, LA - House Of Blues
April 19th Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
April 23rd Spring, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
April 24th Dallas, TX - Smirnoff Centre
April 29th Milwaukee, WI - The Eagles Club
April 30th Zephyr Hills, FL - Festival Park
Way to get your name out there, fellas.
The record comes out tomorrow(March 22nd), but until then, yo, hit it up: a second track from Wake The Dead, the sophomore album from Comeback Kid. Song's called 'Talk Is Cheap'. Oh, and pastepunk.com really, really likes the album. [punknews]
New music from Copeland = pure sickness. What guitar tone! So much heavier than their first album. In Motion is in stores March 22nd.
No news of late thanks to the computer being temporarily out of service, but we can tell you that Throwdown and As I Lay Dying will be here in Ottawa April 9th at Babylon. All That Remains is opening along with one other, I believe, but my point again: AILD will be here. Finally.
Nothing else springs to mind off the top of my head. Peace.
Hey, kids, read an interview with mewithoutYou about their new album, their wholly-applicable faith in God, band member changes and how vocalist Aaron Weiss finishes his meals - and then everyone else's! Ta da!
Early awards from the Grammys that went down tonight: winners in the CCM scene included Third Day and Steven Curtis Chapman(absolutely zero surprise), and Ben Harper's collaboration with the Blind Boys of Alabama took Best Traditional Soul Gospel album(it's called There Will Be A Light). Also to no one's surprise, Kanye West nailed down Best Rap Song for 'Jesus Walks'(an admittedly banging tune). [cmcentral]
Mat Kearney is headed for the big time after signing with Aware/Columbia Records two weeks ago, and now he'll be touring this spring with Mutemath - and that'll be a heck of a show if you can catch it.
A Grammy followup: to my great surprise - I didn't know this - Jars of Clay were nominated for zero statues this year, and apparently there was a big uproar on some fansite, prompting this response from vocalist Dan Haseltine. Very pointed remarks - and I agree.
News from the ol' inbox, from a guy who just slept away his Sunday afternoon, on the couch, ostensibly 'watching basketball':
The lineup for Facedown Fest '05 has been solidified for March 18th-19th. Check it. Comments after are sd.com's doing, not Facedown's rep.
Friday March 18 - 6:00pm
No Innocent Victim(welcome back!)
The Deal(final show - and they'll be missed - ed.)
Bloody Sunday
Jesus Wept(sick band)
In Due Time
Clear Convictions
Brutal Fight
Bradley Hathaway(spoken-word poet performing in between sets)
Saturday, March 19 - 6:00pm
Symphony In Peril
Nodes Of Ranvier
Seventh Star
Alove For Enemies
Bloodlined Calligraphy
Inked In Blood
Opposition Of One
Hit The Deck
This whole deal goes down at the Showcase Theatre in Corona, CA, so if you're in like, oh, say, Ontario, this is a useless post.
From the Union Label Group: Belvedere are embarking soon on the MusiquePlus 1-2-3 tour with headliners Rise Against and other support in the form of Mute and Twenty2(two shows here in Ottawa, March 6th and 9th). As well, before that they'll be playing a string of dates in southern Ontario with Winnipeg's burnthe8track(good band):
02.23.05 Orillia, ON @ 2nd Last Call w/Burn The 8 Track & And Hell Followed
02.24.05 Oshawa, ON @ The Dungeon w/Burn The 8 Track & And Hell Followed
02.25.05 Waterloo, ON @ Waterloo Rec. Centre w/Burn the 8 Track & And Hell Followed
02.26.05 Toronto, ON @ The Reverb w/Burn the 8 Track & And Hell Followed
02.27.05 Hamilton, ON @ The Underground w/Burn The 8 Track
02.28.05 London, ON @ Call The Office w/Burn The 8 Track & And Hell Followed
The Roadrunner Roadrage Tour features 3 Inches of Blood, Trivium, The Agony Scene and Still Remains, and some additional itinerary has been added of late:
March 04th Toronto, ON - Funhaus
March 06th Grand Rapids, MI - Ten Bells Nightclub
March 08th Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
March 13th West Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern
March 22nd Kansas City, MO - El Torreon
March 24th Phoenix, AZ - Mason Jar
March 26th Corona, CA - Showcase Theatre
March 27th Henderson, NV - The Roadhouse Casino
March 31st Portland, OR - Dante's
I saw 3 Inches of Blood a few years ago at a tiny little place here in Ottawa and they were something else. A scream to make Bruce Dickinson envious. [theprp]
....Bruce Dickinson is the singer for Iron Maiden, for those not in the know.
Today was a fifty-percent-off day at Salvation Army thrift stores(at least here in town), so I bought two shirts and a pretty emo jacket. And some hockey pucks. Who can beat pucks at twenty-nine cents each? C'mon, I couldn't possibly walk away. And I almost bought a very ironic Grant Hill b-ball jersey from his Detroit Pistons days to wear to hardcore shows, but it was too small. Blast!
Oh, and I bought the new U2 record too. With HMV gift cards courtesy of my lovely surrogate family the Campbell/Craigs. If you don't have any idea what I'm talking about, too bad. I have the new U2.
A Perfect Murder's latest album Unbroken is a very good hardcore/metal-ish record, and they're doing some Canadian touring(read; Quebec and Ontario). Sadly, nothing in Ottawa. But here:
March 02nd London, ON - Embassy
March 03rd Toronto, ON - Fun Haus
March 04th Guelph, ON - Shadow
March 05th Peterborough, ON - Trasheteria
March 06th Hull, QC - Le Bop
March 08th Quebec City, QC - L'anti
In related news, I am officially going to see the Taste of Chaos tour(Killswitch Engage, Underoath etc) in Montreal March 3rd. This after trekking downtown and shelling out thirty-five bones for the ticket. But Ticketmaster, God bless 'em, gave me a bag of popcorn to boot! Greatest day ever.
Vancouver's A Javelin Reign need a drummer. Like real bad. So if you're around there and feel like throwing your secure, steady life away to be in a band, email them and have your blast beat ready. [lambgoat]
A band containing a dude I interviewed years ago when he was in another band has busted up. Get all that? *smirk* Toronto's Abandoned Hearts Club have called it quits, which is unfortunate, because they were pretty tight. And the dude I interviewed was bassist Erik, back when he was in moneen.
Speaking of The Agony Scene(which we briefly were earlier), they'll be here in Ottawa opening up for Strapping Young Lad on April 19th at Barrymore's. The other openers are Misery Signals and Reflux, so that'll be a heck of a show. I'll be there.
Not that I think it'll be as good as their 1996 self-titled disc was, but the new Goldfinger, called Disconnection Notice, can be streamed in full over here. [Thanks, absolutepunk]
New As I Lay Dying now has a scheduled birthday: June 14th. I can't wait.
Strikefirst Records' latest signing is a nasty little hardcore band from Washington State called Brutal Fight, and while reading this interview with the lads, I cruised over to purevolume to see what was up - and found this here, and was pleasantly surprised. This is a Good Hardcore Band. Get into it. The two purevolume tracks are demo quality, but that takes nothing away from the intensity. I LIKE it.
A quick thank-you: Steph T. here in Ottawa for years has gone out of her way to be my friend and confidante and allowing me to do the same for her, so being that today is my 25th birthday and I get to do whatever I want, I wanna thank her for that. Shout-out to Stephanie.
Most Precious Blood(straight out NEW YORK CITY!!!) have put up three remixes of 'The Great Red Shift', the main single from their last album, Our Lady of Annihilation(Trustkill Records). Check them out at their website. I still like 'Funeral Photography' better, especially after I bullied them into playing it last time they were in Ottawa! [pastepunk]
Gotta show some love: Sleeper Set Sail are a terrific band outta St. Catharine's, Ontario; having just gotten of a string of a opening dates for Alexisonfire guitarist Dallas Green, they've put up some stuff to listen to. [punknews]
Hot rumour: a Canadian tour featuring Cursed and Converge? Holy crap! [theprp]
It was only a matter of time, really: the three remaining members of Beloved who didn't move onto other things have put together a new project called Prisoner, described as "music in the most brutal, in your face kind of way". Uhhhhhhhhh-huh. There's a website to come with online listening. And from another source comes this, quoted from drummer Joe Musten: "If you are reading this right now you might ask yourself the question: why are the members of Beloved forming a new band? Well, I will tell you why. Myself(Joe), Matt and Johnny feel the need to express our love for heavy music in the most brutal, in your face kind of way. We would like to introduce to you, all the way from Kernersville, NC, Prisoner. We will hopefully have a site and a few songs within a few months from now. SO GET READY FOR THE PAIN TO BEGIN!!!! SCREW THE MOSH, WE BRING DEATH!!!!!!" Yes. Death. And yes, I edited that post for spelling and grammar. Rock starts are rarely literate. (Quasi-kidding.) [saveyourscene]
If you'd spent hours in the last year and a half or so wondering what in blazes happened to Raised Fist, wonder no more. This here is a brand-new song called 'Time Will Let You Go, All Alone And Break'(awkward), and no, it sounds little like the straight-up pounding hardcore we've known and loved from Fist. Weird.
This site is the greatest thing ever.
Well, this is the biggest news of the day by a landslide: one of my personal favourite bands, South Carolina's Stretch Arm Strong, have signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records. They'll hit the studio in April with James Paul Wisner(who's produced at least three of your favourite bands - do some research, kids) and the album'll be out this summer. This'll be a ton of new exposure, and I'm not accusing this band of selling out, because I've met and interviewed them(over in the Interviews section, if you wanna read it) and they're real dudes who worked real hard. Congratulations. If you want details, there's a good piece on them over here. [absolutepunk]
It's also amusing to note that absolutepunk is loaded with entries and hundreds of replies, but none, as of now, so many as 'the Super Bowl thread', containing 167. Football really is like religion down in the States!
One of the only times I've genuinely been scared of the structural safety of a venue at a show was when Rufio were here maybe a year ago(not that long? don't know), playing Babylon, and the sellout teenage crowd actually moshed, and I swear the floor went up and down. I was pretty freaked. Anyway, Rufio's new record will be out later this year.
The Juliana Theory have some sorta studio-journal thing going on, and according to the latest entry Zao vocalist Dan Weyandt will appear on the new album, on a song called 'This Valentine Ain't No Saint'. Smokin'.
Hey, some TV stuff: anyone see the sneak-peek at American Dad after the game Sunday night? It's produced by the Family Guy crew, and, kids, I tell you this: I laughed so hard I almost cried. The part where the dad empties the full semi-automatic clip into the TOASTER was pure comedic gold. It's a good thing the other fifteen-odd people at my Super Bowl party had left, because I probably embarrassed myself in front of the remaining two. This show will be a hit. "Okay, it was toast this time.." Awesome.
The Recording Industry Association of America(RIAA) are such idiots sometimes.
Evenin'.
If you're wondering how come that Zao piece up there is actually about Anberlin, it's because there was a tech glitch somewhere and we have to re-post the Zao interview. Patience is indeed a virtue. In the meantime, if you missed the Anberlin goodness first time around, you can redeem yourself. And by the way their new album is a destroyer.
From the annals of my Friendly Local Christian Retailer, the results of this morning's listening session:
- PFR's new album The Bookhouse Recordings features some alternate arrangements of their best-known songs plus three new ones, and I'm really impressed with both. 'Prayer For Beslan' in particular blew me away with its sinister eletronic vibe and hyper-distorted bass.
- The Showdown are quickly making a name for themselves with their debut, A Chorus of Obliteration - produced by Living Sacrifice's Bruce Fitzhugh, this record destroys all in its path, and the vocals have the most range and versatility of any metal band I've heard recently. So good.
- I misjudged Olivia The Band for quite a while; their album simply looked like Christian-contemporary schlock to me, but I had a listen today and realized this is pop-punk in the vein of Dogwood(whose singer guests on the album's eighth track, 'Kill The Grey') and Craig's Brother circa 2000 or so. Pretty catchy. And they name-drop the likes of Good Riddance and Homegrown in the thank-yous. And they're from Hawaii!!
Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has a new solo album out under the name of the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex. The album has guest shots from former Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and ex-Catherine Wheeler Rob Dickinson. Remember the Wheel's 'Waydown' video? Terrifying.
Torque Recordings out of Saskatchewan have this band Names Without Numbers; I've yet to hear them but I noticed last week that the album is produced by AJ Mogis of Saddle Creek Records fame. Interesting connection. If you're unaware, Saddle Creek is Bright Eyes, The Faint etc etc etc.
Anyone else find it weird that Zao is playing this year's Warped Tour?
Last night Ottawa's own Robot Kill City had their second of two CD-release parties, this one at the venerable Club SAW downtown, and together with For the Mathematics, We, The Accused, Viscera's Recital and Between the Broken, the dance party vibe was had all night long. Man, this city has some good bands. Congrats to RKC for getting their record out - it takes a lot of work to release a CD to the public.
There's a rumour floating around that the Taste of Chaos tour stop in Montreal(Killswitch Engage, Underoath et al) has sold around four thousand tickets. This means that there's probably no way I can still get ahold of one. That sucks.
In other show news, tonight in three hours is The Dillinger Escape Plan with The End. Far as I know it's not sold out, so bring your fifteen bucks plus whatever else for merch to Babylon(317 Bank St.) at five. Word.
Congratulations to DJ Shadow, who's expecting twins!! [chartattack]
Former Floodgate Records act Number One Gun have jumped ship to sign with - you guessed it - Tooth & Nail Records. Their label debut'll be out later this summer, produced by - again, you guessed it - Aaron Sprinkle. So it'll sound great. You can hear some of their older material over here. [punkhardcore]
Whoa! This shook me up on a Saturday afternoon: aversion.com, for the first time in years, has a brand-new look. Awesome. And so is the feature article on Armor For Sleep, whose debut album Dream To Make Believe I truly enjoy. They have a new one coming on the 22nd of this month called What To Do When You're Dead. Clunky title, maybe, but I bet it's a good record.
I'm a fan of this band from Montreal/Toronto called Bionic; hardcore label Thorp Records rereleased their 2002 album Deliverance recently, and while co-main man Ian Blurton(Change of Heart, Blurtonia, C'mon) isn't with the band anymore, that still leaves Jonathan Cummins(ex-Doughboys! Remember 'Shine'??) holding down the fort. Rawk and roll. Check a review.
Just confirmed earlier today: Montreal band Only Forward will be playing Dominion-Chalmers United Church in downtown Ottawa April 3rd. Doors are at six, and opening is a great, great band called downhere, originally from Saskatchewan, now based in Nashville, where they write amazing songs. I think it's ten bucks at the door.
According to Relevant, 50 Cent will guest-star on The Simpsons for the February 13th episode, wherein Bart sneaks out to a Fitty show and then fakes his own kidnapping to avoid being grounded. Hilarity commences.
This'll pop your balloons, teeny-bopper girls: Leonardo di Caprio is thirty years old. I just think that's funny.
Whole lotta interesting things going on around here today, but firstly, something that touches the heart: Bleed the Dream are currently in the top ten over at purevolume, and also playing a whole string of dates(US only) on the Taste of Chaos tour(Killswitch Engage, The Used et al), but more importantly than that, their drummer Scott is due for a bone marrow transplant soon(or has already undergone the procedure), as he was diagnosed with leukemia a year ago. Their purevolume page has information about helping out with medical costs, if you're so inclined. Thanks.
So I'm flipping through this week's XPress casually, you know, keeping in touch with the left-wing news of the day, and in the show listings, in tiny little print, I discover that Living Legends and J-Live are coming to Ottawa(April 8th, Babylon), bringing the one and only Pigeon John in tow. This'll be a really large hiphop event, and one where this writer can make good on his vow to re-interview the Pigeon after losing the tape two years ago. Can't wait.
Quake with excitement: a DVD of Botch's last show is being edited and finished by Josh Graham(Isis, Dillinger Escape Plan), due out through Hydra Head Records this summer. [saveyourscene]
In kinda-related news, Dillinger will be here in Ottawa roughly forty-eight hours from now. Five pm Saturday at Babylon. Fifteen bucks at the door. Word.
This is stirring up God's people in Los Angeles: Lamb of God(formerly known as Burn the Priest, which isn't helping their cause much) are being barred from playing the L.A. date of the Subliminal Verses tour with Slipknot, because the venue(the Forum) is owned by a large church. The complete story with reaction from the band is over here. Where do you weigh in? I bet I know where most of you stand. Emails of response can be filtered over here, if you're so led. Good emails might be published in this here space. Wouldn't you be filled with prestige!
Sinai Beach, as I kind of expected, have signed with Victory Records, who will release Immersed, the band's second album, this summer. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I just hope the production is miles better than their debut.
Throwdown are taking our boys As I Lay Dying out on tour this spring. No word on Canadian/Ottawa dates. AILD's new album is currently having vocals tracked(go Tim!).
May 17th marks the release of Bane's first album since 2001, entitled The Note. It was done with the guy who made Thrice sound amazing two years ago, and a lot of the stuff will be displayed on their tour with Comeback Kid - sweetdisaster will be repping at the Montreal installment of said tour, March 4th(night after Underoath! Whee!).
We have that Zao interview right up top there, and so this is interesting in that bassist Sean Koschick has reportedly decided to leave the band to further his education. He'll continue until a replacement is found yadda yadda yadda(Seinfeld). And to think we all thought this lineup was pretty solid. They'll soldier on though. They're Zao, after all.
Speaking of Underoath(which we just were), they're part of the aforementioned Taste of Chaos tour, put together by Warped Tour creator Kevin Lyman - and absolutepunk has an interview with the man over here. Brief and informative.
The new issue of Exclaim! magazine is on newsstands Canada-wide, containing favourable reviews of He Is Legend, Showbread and The Chariot. Solid State fans will be happy. Oh, and Ottawa band Hartsfield(whassup, kids?) got a good review for the five-song Katya EP too.
A good article on a band who have staked their claim as truly great with their latest album: Green Day knew while recording that American Idiot was "the best thing we've ever done." Read more. For the record, I think Idiot is Green Day's best since 1995's Insomniac. And further, more dates have come out for the band's '05 touring, and Canada's getting a few(Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, London) - Ottawa gets squat. Again.
Today coming home I heard a girl with really loud music pumping through her headphones at the transit station - then I realized that she was listening to Soundgarden's 1994 classic Superrunknown. I was thrilled!
Funeral For A Friend, .hopesfall and Blood Brothers are among thirty-two more bands confirmed to play Bamboozle Fest in Jersey in April. Man, to BE there.
A former favourite of mine(1996's Brown remains in my top-five all-time), P.O.D. will have a new record out by this summer. I keep getting emails that are all mysterious and stuff about it. I hope they don't write more radio songs, but it's a tough bet not to think so. Different producer this time around - maybe that'll help.
I'm still undecided on this band The Showdown, even if their debut was produced by Living Sacrifice's Bruce Fitzhugh, but Dan Stephens at The Scene sure thinks the record is awesome. Go metal.
If you live near Indio, California, heads up: confirmed acts to play the annual Coachella Festival this year include Canadian hiphop luminaries Buck 65 and K-os, Weezer, Black Star, Arcade Fire(could this Montreal band be any more hyped right now?), DJ Krush, Thrice...wow, a lot of Canadian content here; Sixtoo, Tegan and Sara and Sloan are all playing as well. I'd love to go that one. [pastepunk]
Some love Stateside for Ottawa lads Buried Inside. Rock on, boys. Rock on.
I remember Every New Day being this pop-punky band with quasi-breakdowns coming outta Winnipeg years ago - now they're on Hand of Hope Records and apparently their new album is amazing; I should maybe hear for myself the stylistic changes that've been made.
Song of the day(and a lot of days before this particular day): Anberlin's new single 'Paperthin Hymn'. Holy addictive.
In Is This A Joke? news: behold the track listing for the new Norma Jean album, due out March 1st:
01 - "Murderotica: An Avalanche In D Minor"
02 - "Vertebraille: Choke That Thief Called Dependence"
03 - "Bayonetwork: Vultures In Vivid Color"
04 - "Dilemmachine: Coalition, Hoax"
05 - "Coffinspire: Multitudes, Multitudes In The Valley Of Decision!"
06 - "Liarsenic: Creating A Universe Of Discourse"
07 - "Disconnecktie: The Faithful Vampire"
08 - "Absentimental: Street Clam"
09 - "Charactarantula: Talking To You And The Intake Of Glass"
10 - "Pretendeavor: In Reference To A Sinking Ship"
11 - "Scientifiction: A Clot Of Tragedy: A Swarm Of Dedication"
Someone is kidding, right? [theprp]
I'd go: the remaining members of Alice In Chains(vocalist Layne Staley died of a heroin overdose two years ago) will play for the first time since 1996 at a tsunami-relief fundraiser February 18th at the Premier Club in Seattle. If you're in the area, get the information and go.
Tomorrow night sweetdisaster personnel will be in attendance at Club SAW downtown to see We, The Accused playing with some other good rock bands. 7pm, eight bucks. Can't beat it. And by 'personnel', we mean 'one guy'.
Not that I think anyone who comes by this site is from Finland, but wow, I'd love to see this: Burnt By The Sun are playing two shows up yonder(February 18th-19th) with none other than The End's vocalist filling in. That'd be nuts to see.
March 11th in Japan - again, not that we have readers there - there's this show, okay, featuring The Red Chord(unbelievable), Bury Your Dead(haven't heard them yet) and...Bowling For Soup?? What the...
Linkin Park are doing a stadium tour(what else?) with Eminem and Fitty Cent. I couldn't possibly care less.
Band Name of the Day: The Tony Danza Tapdance. Let the hilarity ensue.
Been a while since anything was heard from Poison the Well - until now. The band's got a new bassist and guitarist, and right now they're over in Sweden again recording their next album - which I bet will be amazing. [buzzgrinder]
Faaascinating, this: Pedro the Lion's frontman David Bazan, along with compadre T.W. Walsh and omnipresent drummer Frank Lenz, together are The Headphones. You can hear them here until May 10th, when Suicide Squeeze Records will put out their as-yet-unnamed album. Good pedigree.
Wow, this is a long update.
It's been sixteen years since Toronto's SkyDome was opened(May of 1989), and this hack writer remembers being eight and watching it in construction back in '88 - from atop the CN Tower, in fact. Now, however, it's to be called the Rogers Centre, after team owner/medial mogul Ted Rogers, who bought the place last year at $25M - fraction of the original building cost of $580M.
Rogers has also pledged $210M over three years for payroll purposes. Maybe the Blue Jays will finish better than thirty games under .500 in 2005!
This concludes the baseball portion of today's news.
Oh, and Ted Rogers is also directly responsible for why my cellphone bills are so high.
We're in the business of promotion around here, so in the spirit, I present to you For The Day of Redemption, an "intense hardcore band" from Belgium slash France. Nicely-themed new website, and even though their purevolume page isn't available yet, keep your ears peeled. These guys have played with heavyweights like 25 Ta Life and Sinai Beach - good company.
Thanks to David for the heads-up email.
We cleared thirty thousand hits here at the big SD.com for January thanks to you loyal readers out there. Thanks for appreciating the music, the news, the ranting and raving. And believe me, we're well aware that thirty thousand hits a month is peanuts by most standards, but we do this for the ones who come, not the ones we wish would.
Further Seems Forever's star continues to rise: the band is profiled briefly in the current issue of Rolling Stone(Gwen Stefani on the cover - whoooooo caaaaares) with a spot-on history, the fact that all five of them are Christians who don't make it a point to let the entire underground know they're such, and that when they first started up, former singer Chris Carrabba "didn't have the pompadour - that came with the fame," according to drummer Steve Kleisath. I wonder if I'll get sued for quoting that without permission? Here, RS, have a link and please don't take me to court.
Some band named Letter 12 have changed their name to Terminal. I've never heard of them in any event, but this post by, presumably, one of the members made me laugh pretty hard. [musicrefuge]
'To Whom It May Concern' is the newest offering from Emery, available for listening over here. Their debut, The Weak's End(2003), is a good album. You better be reading this, Flikkema! I know how much you like them! For those who don't know, more often than not Flikkema can be seen rocking his Emery t-shirt from Cornerstone 2004. Yes.
If you haven't heard of Aaron Sprinkle, here's a brief history: he played guitar in seminal '90s Christian rock band Poor Old Lu, he's Tooth and Nail Records' in-house producer, operating out of the Compound studios in Seattle, and he's got a few solo records to his credit to(I personally recommend Bareface). Now, after producing a ton of records, he has a new band called Fair, and rumour has it ex-Supertones guitarist Ethan Luck will be slinging some mad, mad axe on the album. Keep your ears peeled.
I don't understand why they haven't gotten bigger, after touring with the likes of Taking Back Sunday, but The Sleeping(ex-skycamefalling) are still a rad band, and interviewed over here.
DUDE! According to saveyourscene over in Italy, Living Sacrifice have recorded three new songs for an LS best-of called In Memoriam. I knew this was afoot, but now we know it's out in March through Solid State Records, and I'm stoked, and I hope a reunion at Cornerstone this summer ensues!!
I thuoght I was going to bed until I saw this story, which intrigued me: Cat Stevens, former seminal pop musician back in the '70s who's been known as Yusuf Islam since converting to the Muslim faith in 1977, has recorded his first pop single in 25 years to help with tsunami relief efforts. Check out who plays with him on it: Travis' drummer and a guy from A-Ha. As in 'Take On Me' A-Ha. How awesome is this? I love my life.
In case you're like a huge fan or something, the song's called 'Indian Ocean' and it'll be released this month(it's officially February now by my clock).
Today also marks the release of my easily-most-anticipated album, Anberlin's new slab. I predict enormous things.