SD News

The Agony Scene have a brand-new record called The Darkest Red that came out last week; I have no doubt that it's an absolute monster considering their self-titled debut from 2003 destroyed me entirely. Anyway, here's an e-card to get you in the mood. [altpress]

Speaking of great new albums, The Suicide Machines have a new one coming out soon, called War Profiteering Is Killing Us All!. It'll be out August 9th on SideOneDummy Records(great label). SM's last album(A Match And Some Gasoline, 2003) was killer.

My radio mentor Lisa Morgan turned me onto this guy Greg Sczebel a couple months ago; I've since fallen big-time for his brand of white-guy pop-funk, a la Maroon 5. Check out an interview he did with Renown mag.

Hey, there's a Goldfinger best-of anthology in stores everywhere; it contains a CD/DVD set including the highlights of their years on Mojo Records(their best years, in my humble, humble opinion), some live footage from various places, and even 'The Innocent', the post-9/11 song the band wrote with those twerps from Good Charlotte. I admit to liking the song, though. [punkhardcore]

The upcoming Propagandhi album is "pretty much done, I guess," according to one of the members; there's a new video - the first the band's ever made, apparently - right over here.

Heads up if you're visiting us from Australia: the Blood Brothers will be doing shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland(New Zealand) in July; go get your tickets now. [noisetheory]

Sparta guitarist Paul Hinojo has busted out of Sparta's ranks - to join back up with his former At The Drive In cronies Omar and Cedric in The Mars Volta. Can't say I'm entirely surprised. Hinojos will replace former MV "sound manipulator" Jeremy Ward, who passed away two years ago from a heroin overdose. Sparta, meanwhile, will continue recording their third album. Good, 'cause I like them. [chartattack]

Ticket sales for next year's Toronto run of the Lord of the Rings musical have already topped seven million bucks. Wow. [relevant]

System Of A Down's new one, Mesmerize, topped the Billboard debut chart last week, busting out over 450,000 copies its first week. I am surprised over that. Who knew SOAD still had that many fans?

My friend Kristine out in central California called me up last week saying she was going to this thing she called 'punk rock kareoke'. Being intrigued, I pressed her for details, and she sent me this here link. That's some serious all-star punk cred types doing what appears to be a traveling kareoke circus or some such nonsense. I'd go.

Dave Arthur, singer and guitarist for SoCal's Dismissed, apparently recorded vocals for three songs that will appear on As I Lay Dying's upcoming album Shadows Are Security(out June 14th). I think Dismissed's drummer is cousins with someone in AILD or something. Who knows. And also of note, Dismissed played a show the other night with Dogwood, proving that Dogwood are indeed still active and that I still have a chance to see them sometime before they split up. [indievisionmusic]

One of the old Indie Vision Records bands that really are terrific, Next In Line, are taking an indefinite hiatus. That sucks.

Solid State have signed a band called August Burns Red. Typical boring band name, but maybe they're amazing and will make me eat my unknowing, judgmental words.

Whoa, this is a memory trip.

I don't care what this review has to say; when the new MxPx record drops I'll probably buy it like I've bought every single other one since 1994. So there!

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of going down to Redeemer University College(Ancaster, Ontario) and witnessing my brother, Dan Postma, officially becoming Dan Postma, Bachelor of Arts(English). Check out his blog; it's a high-level discourse of intelligent Christian thought, far more than I'm capable of sometimes comprehending. And there's occasionally really awful/hilarious pictures of ducklings falling into sewers. Everyone needs some levity now and then.

Congratulations, Dan. I'm super proud of you.

For the rest of you fuzzy, fuzzy, fuzzy little readers, there'll be a proper update later tonight. Word.

It's likely this will be the last update until next week, so whassup y'all? Greetings from a rather cold basement in Morrisvegas, Ontario, home of "Upper Canada" Everything, a stretch of the mighty St. Lawrence river, rednecks, hicks, and my lovely parents. We depart in T-minus two hours for my brother Dan's graduation from Redeemer University down in Ancaster, surrounded by swarms of family and friends. Should be a good time.

To the news!! *dramatic music*

Firstly, our traffic here at sd is higher than it's ever been, and we thank you, the readers, for continually coming back for the news - starting next week interviews and CD reviews willl again be a regular feature. Thanks for your patience.

I got a text message the other day with news from Ryan that long-running Calgary punk band Belvedere have suddenly called it quits. It ticks me off that I was only able to see them once(at Carleton U with the Mad Caddies, to this day the only show I've ever been to that was shut down by police). There was no warning of this sad, sad event, just a terse statement, excerpted here: "Due to financial complications and situations arising out of our control, we decided, as a band, it would be better those involved to discontinue the band." Simple as that. RIP Belvedere. [saveyourscene]

Speaking of great punk bands, in a surprising(to some) move, Strike Anywhere have joined the ranks of the Fat Wreck Chords roster; they'll do the Warped Tour this summer, record this winter and release their Fat debut next spring. "I refuse to run/and I/will die before I kneel/IN THIS WAY!!"

...and speaking of the massive Warped tour, I'll be attending my first this summer, God willing, July 29th in Montreal. Here's some bands yours truly will be busting his rear to catch that marvelous afternoon: My Chemical Romance, Strung Out, Relient K, Thrice, MxPx, Mae, Saosin, Emery, .hopesfall, A Wilhelm Scream and Bleed The Dream. Whew!

Even more surprising now is word that NYC hardcore band Sworn Enemy have signed with worldwide metal label Century Media...weird. Why do I get the feeling I'm being toyed with? Anyway, if it's real, SE will start their next record in a couple weeks down in San Diego...where it's sunny and beautiful...as opposed to eastern Ontario...where apparently the memo was missed that it's SPRING. Argh.

Our girl Samantha up in the 819 is putting on a great show in her stomping grounds of Shawville: June 9th at the RA Centre(455 Hillcrest) will see Shotgun Rules(southern Ontario screamo) with The Fully Down, Forty Cent Fix and In Safe Hands. Too bad it's a Thursday night or I'd totally go to this.

If you're into The Used(I'm not, really, but they're a decent rock and roll band), check out Kids In The Way(Flicker Records); their second album Apparitions of Melody dropped a couple weeks ago, and musicrefuge.com interviews them over here.

Tooth and Nail Records' Sullivan are getting ready to record their T&N debut with producer Matt Goldman...wait...hold up here. Who the blazes are Sullivan?? How is it this label consistently signs these bands(Discover America, Waking Ashland, Pivitplex) that I've never even heard of?? Eesh. [indievisionmusic]

I've listened to both of these bands in the last thirty-six hours: Glassjaw vocalist Daryl Palumbo has done gone and contributed some of his distinctly unhinged vocals to the new Every Time I Die project(Gutter Phenomenon). This can be nothing but amazing. [absolutepunk]

Oh man, I hope this comes anywhere near Cap City: Thrice and Underoath? Touring? Together? After Warped Tour this summer? Holy crap? I think I'm gonna lose my mind?

U2 leader Bono has let slip that the band are considering re-recording 1997's Pop, which was widely regarded as a misstep for the legendary Irish quartet; Bono claims it was "released in an unfinished and unsatisfactory state due to touring commitments." Apparently, in what the U2 camp refer to as the worst decision in their history, they let their manager book a tour that as a result forced them to pretty much abandon Pop to commercial release. Sucks. Maybe I won't dislike it as much if they do redo it.

Some exciting news concerning shows coming to the capital, as tipped to us by Dave Leibold(Sunday mornings 8-9:30 on CKCU FM 93.1!): He Is Legend will be in town opening for Eighteen Visions(The Black Maria will also appear) July 9th at Babylon. I've loved HIL since their debut on Solid State hit last year - and their earlier full-length is worth searching out too.

As well, District 7 are finally returning to Ottawa - it's been what, a year now? - playing Club SAW July 15th with three other acts; and finally, the rumour is now fact: Copeland will be at Babylon Friday, June 17th. And so will I. Tickets available all over downtown at various places; check out that big punkottawa banner up top there for details.

Hey, remember two years ago when DMX said he was quitting the rap game? And everyone believed him? And he was gonna go be a pastor or something?

He lied.

As funny as this is, at least he had the sense to work with Roots collaborator Scott Storch. Good call.

A couple bits from Relevant:

Openers for this summer's Rolling Stones tour include stints from Maroon 5, Black Eyed Peas and Pearl Jam. No word on which one, if any, Ottawa will get August 28th when the Stones hit town for the first time since - get this - 1965, when they played the old YMCA on Argyle Street downtown. Forty years!

Stand Up, the new record from the Dave Matthews Band(I didn't even know it was out so fast), stole the top spot on Billboard's debut chart, selling 465,000 copies its first week. That's a lotta DMB.

Weezer's new album Make Believe is getting mixed-to-poor reviews; I haven't yet heard it, but if it sounds nothing like the Blue album, I don't wanna. Go Blue and Pinkerton! Anyway, check out a review over here.

The other night on my radio show I busted out four cuts from the new Deepspace5 record Unique, Just Like Everyone Else, because it was my show and my boss wasn't around and hopefully I don't get heat for it. Anyway, the album is sick, and here's another review to get you thinking about it. I love when Christians make art that rises above their peers.

The XXX Church is hosting a celebrity golf tournament of sorts down in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 6th. The event will be hosted by Pillar ringleader Rob Beckley(the boy can sing, I'll give him that) and there'll be types from Disciple, Relient K and others present. All proceeds go to xxxchurch, which exists to "bring awareness, openness, accountability and recovery to the church, society and individuals in the issues of pornography." For more info if you're in the area, check this out. [jesusfreakhideout]

Haste The Day's new record When Everything Falls will be out June 28th on Solid State Records; I remember selling their debut because it simply didn't grab me enough. Good songs, but something was missing, likely originality. However, they stampeded through 2004, playing like over two hundred and fifty shows, and they seem to be gaining momentum. They're playing twice at Cornerstone in July(I'll for sure catch one of them), and I'm predicting big things from the new album.

A new song called 'Jack and Ginger' appeared on target="new">purevolume last week, and now we have solid news: From Autumn To Ashes's new album Abandon Your Friends will be out August 16th. Get excited. [absolutepunk]

I've been given the chance to see the Warped Tour this summer(Montreal stop, late July), making this summer the first Cornerstone Festival and first Warped. Anyway, I just realized Relient K will on hand, so now I'm even more stoked!

Innnneresting...former Underoath members Dallas Taylor(vocals) and Scott Nunn(guitars), alongside Phil Reardon(ex-From First To Last) are putting together a new band. They're looking to fill out the drums and guitar positions. If you wanna move to Florida for your shot at fame, check this out! Stardom! Money! Prestige!!

Know what band I've never heard in my life? Fall Out Boy. I know they're from Chicago, I know they were on Fueled By Ramen Records for a while, and I remember reading that they'd signed with Island(Sum 41 et al), but I didn't know they were a straight-up pop-punk band a la New Found Glory until I read this here. Now I'm thinking since I love New Found Glory s'danged much, I should maybe hear this Fall Out Boy the masses speak so fondly of. Hmm.

Just thought I'd share with all of you that of the four hugely high-profile shows coming to Ottawa this summer/fall - the Stones, Pearl Jam, Green Day and U2 - I'm going to the last two. Woohoo! Now to get some Pearl Jam tickets....

Greetings to, O Many Many Readers, from my second job, that being CHRI 99.1 FM here in Ottawa. I do a little show called the Saturday Night Sound Fix, and since this here is 8:52 Saturday night, I am now on the air why aren't you listening???

Ahem.

Just kidding. But do tune in Saturday nights, 7-11. Internet user? Refer back to the website. Word.

Kentucky band Lords has signed a deal with Jade Tree Records(home of Strike Anywhere - do you need more information than that??); the band will release an album called Swords in August, right around the same time they go on tour with a lil' ol' band called Poison the Well. [punknews]

The new MxPx album doesn't hit til July, but if you can't wait til then - I certainly don't wanna - you can hit up their really likes it. I can't wait to see 'em again.

I was cruising around purevolume.com and came across The Forecast, straight outta Peoria, Illinois. Straight-up, rought-edged pop rock in the vein of Boston's Helicopter Helicopter(great band), but with less pop polish. The difference? The Forecast are on VICTORY RECORDS. As in the label responsible for crushingly heavy new releases from Comeback Kid and Sinai Beach, among a slew of others. Weird.

As a favour to our man Pigeon John:

One of the best live hardcore bands I've ever seen, My Revenge, will have another album out this fall on Thorp Records. Anyone who's seen MR play live will attest to their ability to just destroy a stage. Incidentally, I saw them here in Ottawa at Bumpers, which was shut down a while ago already. Remember Bumpers? That small stage? My Revenge wrecked it. [lambgoat]

Canada Day(July 1st) will be huge if you live in or around Edmonton, Alberta! The Yesterday Was Everything festival, debuting in 2002, has revealed the lineup for the two-night affair taking place on the 1st at the Starlite Room and the 2nd at Red's(inside the West Edmonton Mall). Check some of the bands playing: Eighteen Visions, With Honor, Comeback Kid, He Is Legend and Rosesdead. That's like one-third of the lineup. Huge. The YWE event was started to "raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving", and to commemorate the deaths of two members of Edmonton hardcore band Compromise, who were killed in an accident involving a drunk driver; the remaining members went on to form - by no coincidence - Misery Signals, also playing the event. Got all that straight? Good. I'd kill to go to this festival.

The Great Depression, the new album from Blindside that has me tres excited, will be out August 2nd on their new label, Wasa/DRT. Stokedstokedstoked. [theprp]

There's a venue in Farmingdale, New York called The Crazy Donkey. Just thought I'd share that. Rad.

A while ago we reported news of a very large tour featuring headliners Dream Theatre and Megadeth, with openers like The Dillinger Escape Plan, Fear Factory and Nevermore. Well, since then two Canadian dates have been posted:
September 02nd Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
September 03rd Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
No surprises whatsoever in terms of venues. And two new bands are also added to the bill: Dry Kill Logic(they're still around?) Symphony X. So there you have it.

A band called Wintersleep, who're gaining some big press for their new album, have posted a video over here. Really awesome piece of work, actually. The band will be here in Ottawa July 27th as part of a Canadian tour that will stretch from coast to coast. I think one of them, Jud, used to be in Bucket Truck, or balances both bands. I have no idea.

A new record from A Perfect Murder, after the band practically dissolved last year from member changes, will be out on Victory Records in July; it's called Strength Through Vengeance, and will undoubtedly be every bit as brutal as the title implies. If you liked Unbroken two years ago, you'll probably dig the new one. Keep July 26th on the radar if you're not already stealing the album online somewhere.

Hey, one of my longtime favourites, Chevelle, have set up some shows:
May 21st Urbana, IL - Canopy Club
June 30th Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest
July 08th Chicago, IL - NASCAR
August 12th Columbus, OH - Germain Amphitheatre
August 13th Chicago, IL - Tweeter Center
August 20th Las Vegas, NV - Aladdin
August 21st Tucson, AZ - Valencia Anselmo
The four August dates also feature a well-known radio-rock band featuring ex-members of Stone Temple Pilots and Guns 'N Roses, but that band's name will never be uttered in this space if I can help it.

This band Mastodon I keep hearing about, apparently they're amazing, but anyway, they've lined up some Ozzfest one-off shows. Check it out:
July 16th Quebec, QC - Colisee Pepsi Parking Lot feat. Iron Maiden
July 28th Virginia Beach, VA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre feat. Rob Zombie, Killswitch Engage
August 03rd Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre feat. Iron Maiden
August 09th Englewood, CO - Coors Amphitheatre feat. Iron Maiden, Rob Zombie
September 01st Atlanta, GA - The Roxy Theatre feat. Rob Zombie
That's right. This Mastodon band is so good Maiden are opening for them. Wow.

Speaking of crazy metal, The Red Chord, aside from being here in Ottawa next Wednesday(May 25th), have slapped up a lil' video over here. Crazy metal.

The Smallman Records Tour rolled through Ottawa a couple months ago, and by all reports the tour as a whole was off the hook, but the individual bands on tour continue! The Reason are doing a string of dates down in the States with Brazil, then a Canadian run with No Use For A Name(that show hits Ottawa June 10th - a Friday, so I may go!) featuring a stop in Pembroke, Ontario of all places(June 25th, Wakefest). Comeback Kid are nonstop touring machines, as always. No surprise there.

NYHC legends Madball are in a Massachusetts studio working on Legacy, the new album, due out in August. There'll be a limited-edition DVD with the CD, so heads up. [hxc]

I was listening to this band when I was in high school: Tennessee veterans Disciple have finally secured major-label(Epic Records) distribution for their new self-titled album on SRE Records, and a big ol' tour is set up:
April 2 Clayton, NC The Alternative
April 3 Hickory, NC Corinth Church
April 15 Minneapolis. MN Club 3 Degrees
April 17 Liberal, KS CLC Xtreme
April 20 Phoenix, AZ Cornerstone Christian Fellowship
April 22 Modesto, CA The Underground Modesto
April 23 Azusa, CA Smart City Grinds
April 26 Salt Lake City, UT Calvary Chapel
April 28 Albuquerque, NM The Light Club
April 29 Johnstown, CO 3JS Coffee House
April 30 Sheridan, WY Sheridan County Fair Grounds
May 1 Scottsbluff, NE The Underground
May 2 Omaha, NE Sokol Underground
May 12 Kansas City, MO Main Street Café
May 13 Pine Bluff, AR First Methodist Church
May 14 Texas City, TX Breakdown-Lowry Pavilion
May 15 Snyder, TX Colonial Hill Baptist Church
May 17 Alabaster, AL Kingwood Church
May 19 Dothan, AL The Playground
May 20 Americas, GA JC Pineapples
May 21 Tampa, FL Real Life Church
May 22 Palm Bay, FL Zion Christian Church
May 23 Greenville, SC The Zone of Abundant Life
May 24 Christiansburg, VA The Dwelling Place
May 27 Brookville, PA The Scarlet Cord
May 28 Syracuse, NY The Furnace
May 30 Westland, MI Full Gospel Temple
May 31 Wilmington, OH Joe’s Java
June 3 Fort Smith, AK TBA
June 4 Tulsa, OK Tulsa Riverpark Amphitheater
June 5 Tyler, TX TBA
June 7 Dallas, TX TBA
June 10 Wichita, TX TBA
I remember when Disciple were busting out 'I Just Know'! Remember that album? This Might Be Sting A Little?? 1999? Oldschool! [cmcentral]

Hot Water Music are going on an indefinite hiatus - well, one of them anyway. Frontman Chuck is focusing on family concerns(a noble cause, to be sure), and the other three dudes are putting together a new band. No songs yet, no name, no tour dates, no nothing, but they just can't get enough of the touring life, so keep your eyes peeled. There's an amusing statement over here.

Rancid bassist Matt Freeman has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Fortunately, the disease has been caught in its earliest stages, making treatment and recovery hopefully a lot quicker/easier. Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman has dedicated this year's edition to Freeman. [truthexplosion]

Woohoo, new Throwdown tunes! From their upcoming album Vendetta come two new tracks! [lambgoat]

Like Comeback Kid don't have enough going on already: the video for 'Wake the Dead' landed on The Power Shift at MuchMusic, and as of five pm today the votes are, so hopefully the vid will be bumped into regular rotation on Much. This would be as cool as the time I saw Underoath and Norma Jean on George Strombolopolous' Loud show a couple years ago. Sick.

Ferret Music(Zao, Every Time I Die, Boysnightout) have put up a ton of new music on their myspace page; as well, if you wanna be bombarded with a huge array of new merchandising tie-ins from Ferret artists, check out the web store. Did you know they have a band now called LoveHateHero? I had no idea. Never heard of them.

I knew I was onto something when I saw the picture of the band on the promo CD - Five Iron Frenzy alum Andrew Verdecchio is, in fact, also the drummer for Yellow Second, who put out their Altitude album recently on Floodgate Records. You can read a review over here. I knew that was Andy on the CD! I MET the guy one time! I knew this!! I was right! Ha!

The SHAI awards(Canada's Christian music party) went down in Mississauga last weekend, and among the list of winners includes Black Talon, this live hiphop act I saw perform a few years ago at the Bronson Community Centre here in Ottawa. They killed; live instrumentation, two MCs, a lovely female singer, the works. Only question is how come they won the 'Best Hard Music' award. Weird. And weirder still, they also took home Best Rap/Hiphop/Dance album. Anyway, other winners of note included Hawk Nelson, Thousand Foot Krutch and Starfield. Good bands all. [renown]

Our favourite website in the history of the known world, ever.

This just in: it may have been confirmed yesterday or before already, but Copeland are hitting Ottawa as one of three Ontario dates next month:
2005-06-15 Toronto, ONT The Kathedral w/Denison Witmer & Rainer Maria
2005-06-16 London, ONT Call The Office w/Denison Witmer & Rainer Maria
2005-06-17 Ottawa, ONT Babylon w/Denison Witmer & Rainer Maria
I've heard raves about both Philadelphia singer/songwriter Witmer and Rainer Maria(female fronted, or something like that?) This'll be a great show. Thanks to Dave Leibold for the heads-up.

Dead Poetic, one of the many bands I'm excited to see at Cornerstone Festival, are going out on the Dead Summer City tour, starting in late June and spanning the entire U.S. through the beginning of August. Also appearing are Classic Case, The Beautiful Mistake and As Cities Burn - along with Brandtson on select dates(maybe your town will be one of them!!) No word yet on Canadian dates since the itinerary hasn't been posted as of this hour, but we'll pass it along if Ottawa or somewhere close is included. Here's hoping. This'll be the first tour with new DP members Dusty Redmon(formerly of the late, greatBeloved) on guitar and Jesse Sprinkle(Poor Old Lu's drummer - need I say more?) on the percussion, so if you catch a show say hi, welcome to the dog-and-pony show, etc etc.

Speaking of tours, I still can't quite believe this one is coming to Ottawa: Converge are gonna level Babylon October 6th alongside Terror(who just destroyed Babylon last night, in fact), Cursed and Mare. I think The End's original vocalist is now in Mare. Anyway. Here's the rest of the tour, Canada-wide:
9/24: Vancouver, BC @ Seylynn Hall
9/26: Banff, AB @ Wildbills
9/27: Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Theatre
9/28: Calgary, AB @ Macewan Ballroom
9/29: Regina, SK @ The Exchange
9/30: Winnipeg, MB @ Collective Cabaret
10/1: Thunder Bay, ON @ Warp 9
10/3: London, ON @ Call The Office
10/4: Hamilton, ON @ The Underground
10/5: Toronto, ON @ Opera House
10/6: Ottawa, ON @ Babylon
10/7: Quebec City @ Anti- Hall
10/8: Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
Now, look, see that Quebec City date? At Anti? I was in Anti a couple months ago. It's a small place. I hope no one's too fond of it, because once this tour is through with it there won't be much left. [altpress]

Oh, and one more concert coming up: rapper/all-around white guy John Reuben is coming back to Ottawa for the third time(that has to be a record for a Christian-market rapper), playing Redeemer Christian High's gymnasium with openers Kiros...wait...Kiros? A punk band from Calgary opening for a rapper from Ohio in Ottawa? Weird. Anyway, Hello Kelly will be making the drive up from Orangeville, Ontario to participate - and here, read this to find out more about those guys. The Reuben show's June 5th. Yes.

I knew it was coming at some point, just not this soon: I saw the new Deepspace5 project on the shelves at my Friendly Local Christian Retailer last week and just about flipped out. I don't have it yet at my other work, and haven't heard it at all, so I'll have to settle for reading the first review of if I've found. Deepspace5 = legendary hiphop.

Comeback Kid and Terror absolutely unloaded tonight at Babylon; the crowd was nuts, and there was a certain intensity in the air that I've never seen at a Comeback show, likely due to the entire CBK set going out to Brandy Bailey, the sister of Figure Four's bassist(CBK and Figure Four share two members), who was killed last weekend in a traffic accident. Apparently the band decided to press on with this tour with Terror and Sinai Beach as a form of therapy, and it was just incredible to watch them tonight. Thanks, guys.

Keep the Bailey family of Winnipeg in your thoughts and prayers today.

So it's ten after nine; my weekend started effective at seven am this morning following the end of my work week, and I'm starting things off right by researching the schedule for Cornerstone 2005 in Illinois. Observations thus far:
- it sucks beyond words that Dogwood will not be playing
- ditto that for Stavesacre
- the first hardcore band I ever heard, No Innocent Victim, ARE
playing - however, it does kinda suck that LA Symphony are
scheduled for the same time on another stage. Booo!
- Thousand Foot Krutch are - get this - headlining the Main Stage this year. How 'BOUT dem boys from Peterborough?? They've come a long way
- check out the lineup for the HM Magazine Stage Sunday night:
7pm: Society's Finest
8pm: Winter Solstice
9pm: Symphony In Peril - presumably with whoever their new
vocalist, whoever that is
10pm: The Chariot
That is a sick, sick set of bands.

Incidentally, if you're in the Ottawa area reading this, I'm looking for a ride back from Illinois, and maybe to the festival as well. Email me if you're interested in sharing a vehicle. Obviously I help pay for gas, etc etc.

Our main man Pigeon John, whose career is going straight up after recent tours with Lyrics Born and Living Legends, is now also branching out into commercial work: if you're watching the tube and see a Nestle Crunch ad featuring a dude in an office cubicle, stick around, because you'll see Pigeon singing his old chestnut 'Deception' while J-Boogie spins a little DJ magic. I don't have time stick around at home watching the telly waiting for an ad to come on - if you're in the same boat, just check it out over here.

Seventh Star have dropped their latest album Brood of Vipers as of Tuesday; according to an interview in the latest issue of HM, it's got more a metal feel, though it retains its hardcore roots. I can't wait to hear it. [hardcorechristian]

This new band Circa Survive is comprised of ex-members of - get this now - Taken, Saosin and This Day Forward. That's quite the pedigree. I'll have to hear this band ASAP.

The outrageously successful Taste of Chaos tour that rolled through north America a few months ago has booked its Australian leg, for those of our readers Down Under; bands confirmed include Killswitch Engage, Story of the Year, Funeral For A Friend, Rise Against and more, along with local Australian flavour. Sites to check for into include this one and this one over here. [noisetheory]

Heads up if you're gonna buy the new As I Lay Dying album(I am): a limited number of copies will come with a DVD of a live performance in Germany(November 2004). That and the artwork is pretty sick. So get out June 14th and pick it up. And look for a sweetdisaster interview with vocalist Tim Lambesis at some point.

Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor says he's unsure of what will happen to the nineteen tracks he recorded with with ex-Rage Against the Machine vocalist Zack de la Rocha; the final decision is "out of his hands", Reznor said to chartattack.com recently, but "it came out excellent." I wouldn't mind hearing it. In related news, NIN's new album With Teeth debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts, selling 272,000 copies in its first week to knock Springsteen's new one(Devils And Dust - reputedly a great album) out of the top spot. [chartattack]

One of the absolute best resources/websites/print magazines out there, Relevant, has been promising us, their loyal subjects, a brand-new website - for like six months or so. If you're still going on a regular basis and and subsequently sitting around scratching your head muttering "I wonder where it is", check out a little update journal they have going on. I still quake with anticipation. Incidentally, the projected launch date as of May 2nd was May 13th - that'd be tomorrow.

In case you live here in Capital City and also under a rock, the Rolling Stones are coming to Ottawa August 28th. That along with Green Day, Pearl Jam and U2. Gonna be a heck of a summer/fall here in our town!

...I think I told my friend Ryan's girlfriend Kayla to pick me up a Green Day ticket this morning through a sleepy fog. Serves her right for calling me at like eleven on a work morning! That's like sixty bucks I just spent!...ah well, Jimmy Eat World and Green Day is not to be missed.

Two talented singer/songwriters in the form of Ben Folds and Rufus Wainright will be hitting the road for the Odd Men Out tour this August. I'll go if it comes here. And if Folds promises to do his N.W.A. cover, the title of which I cannot print in a family-oriented magazine.

On Broken Wings(they wrote 'I Do My Crosswords In Pen' - which is awesome) have put up a new song called 'More Than A Life', taken from their upcoming album It's All A Long Goodbye(out July 26th). Check out the metal madness over here. [altpress]

There's this band Kids In The Way from Indiana; they're on Flicker Records, put out a decent record a couple years ago and have made a success of themselves with touring and such since. Their new record is called Apparitions In Melody, and I listened to some of it last night and realized that I liked them more than I thought I did before. So check out a new e-card they've got up for your enjoyment. Big things could happen for these guys, given the right alignment of events. [IVM]

Emery are working on The Question currently; it's the followup to The Weak's End(2003), which was a decent record, if a little derivative. The new album comes out August 2nd, by which time the band will more than half done their summer on the Warped Tour(smartpunk stage).

Another Smashing Pumpkins tribute album is coming out later this year, called Shot Full of Diamonds, featuring The Evan Anthem covering 'Crestfallen'. The CD will be out July 5th.

It's about time. [rockrebel]

Samantha Evert up in Shawville successfully brought off her last show(Wheels On The Bus and others a month ago); amplify's next endeavour is Friday the 13th, featuring In Safe Hands's CD release party along with support from Haddonfield(Toronto) and locals Hartsfield, The Love Machine and The Stand. Should be a good show, if you're not already booked to go see Comeback Kid that night. Check out amplify's website for the pertinent info.

The preliminary lineup for this year's edition of the Purple Door Festival down in Pennsylvania is up; if you're in the area August 19th-20th, check out this landslide of awesomeness:
Relient K
Pillar
Starflyer 59
Hawk Nelson
Stretch Arm Strong
The Afters
Norma Jean
Family Force 5
Madison Greene
The Mint
Lovedrug
Cool Hand Luke
Copeland
Forever Changed
John Davis of Superdrag
Paramore
Anberlin
Haste The Day
Showbread
Falling Up
The Beautiful Mistake
Brandtson
Denison Witmer
The Evan Anthem
The Showdown
Last Tuesday
The Lonely Hearts
Anathallo
Saxon Shore
Br. Danielson
The Chariot
MeWithoutYou
That is a heck of a lot of rock. [musicrefuge]

More later.

I'm pretty excited.

Wanna know why?

Hey! Get back here.

Anyway.

The Saturday Night Sound Fix next week(May 14th on CHRI 99.1) will be hosted by sweetdisaster's Big Cheese himself; it'll be my first solo flight, as it were, so I'm a mixture of terrified and relaxed. Listen in if you're into the urban/hiphop stuff. Although tonight I was able to wangle a spin for Anberlin's 'Paperthin Hymn'. Great song.

Sportsnetnews is on behind me, and if what I just heard is correct, San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds, like he wasn't under enough press scrutiny for his steroid issues/home-run record chase already, might also be a tax evader. Nice.

A band my roommate loves, The Offspring, aside from headlining this year's Warped Tour, are also putting out a best-of CD/DVD set this summer. A new song called 'Can't Repeat' will be on many many radios near you in a matter of weeks, along with a video that MTV and MuchMusic will run into the ground until all of us want to move to Antarctica just to get away from it all. [absolutepunk]

Posted on some random message board I came across was word that at a recent Pedro the Lion show, singer Dave Bazan dropped a hint that the band will be recording a new album in the near future. Didn't Achilles' Heel, like, just come out? I haven't even heard it yet. Geez. Bazan is a busy boy, between Pedro and his little side project Headphones(reputedly really, really good).

A news/reviews/opinion site I'm quite fond of, punknews.org out of Toronto, has also formed a record label called - duh - Punknews Records; the label's first signing is a band called Somerset from Minnesota. Their first album was recorded last November(with a guy who recorded Nada Surf! Great band) and will be out on Punknews in the next couple of months. Go punknews.

One of the scads of new bands Tooth & Nail Records has signed recently, Number One Gun, have apparently recorded a new album that has the label people salivating. I remember N1G's debut album and how it didn't really grab me that much, but that's just one man's opinion.

Apparently if you hop on a United Airlines flight through May, if you tune into the in-flight radio programming, you can get a listen to the latest stuff from The Militia Group. Never heard of this type of promotion, but Copeland's new record is on TMG and it absolutely blows me away.

Musical Discovery of the Day: Burlington, Ontario's own Out of Options. Yaaaaay power pop.

Some news from Blood and Ink Records to pass along: The Rose, hailing from the great Midwestern state of Michigan, have jumped on board the good ship B&I. We can expect their first album on the label this fall; meantime, run along over to their website and enjoy.

I just realized something: yesterday I was listening to the new stuff from Bane and thinking, "This guy's voice reminds me of someone...who...whooooo..." It just hit me: anyone remember The Blamed? Their first two albums, 21 and Frail, were done with this guy Jim Chaffin on the mic, and Bane's frontman sounds just like him.

Anyway.

Chicago band Dead to Fall was here in Ottawa a couple weeks ago with Cephalic Carnage, and apparently they had a heck of a time getting through the Canadian border just to play the show here and the others in Montreal and Toronto. Read this here for the scoop on how hard the border crossing is - for bands from both countries. Eeeeesh.

Starting in late July, Misery Index and Ion Dissonance will be trekking around the States. Having witnessed Misery Index's slaughter of a performance last week, I can assure you that if you like blast beats, you will like this show. [lambgoat]

Here's the first unbiased review I've found of the new record from Sinai Beach. It's called Immersed, and the review calls it "well-produced heavy metal that is fun to listen to time and time again." I can't wait to see them next Friday...at Babylon...317 Bank Street...with Terror and Comeback Kid...subtle, huh?

Today's musical discovery: Augusta, Georgia's Estrela! What a great band. I'm a sucker for female vocals.

If you're anywhere near the tour routing for this summer's OzzFest edition, check this out: As I Lay Dying have confirmed that they'll indeed be playing one-off shows with Killswitch Engage and Soilwork. That's almost entirely too much metal for me to handle. But like the enormous breakfast I conquered this morning at Perkins(fine dining), so too would I surmount this show - if I was to see it, which I will not. Oh, and AILD's new album is out June 14th. I saw the cover art online somewhere; it kills. [theprp]

Wow.

Wheeee! MxPx's new album, Panic, comes out June 7th on SideOneDummy Records, and features Blink-182's Mark Hoppus on a song called 'Wrecking Hotel Rooms'. I will buy it, like I've bought all their other records. [punknews]

Sadly, it looks from this like the rumours of NOFX doing a show here in Ottawa are unfounded; the dates for their Ontario/Quebec run look like this here:
2005-06-22 The Kool Haus Toronto, ON
2005-06-23 The Kool Haus Toronto, ON
2005-06-24 Metropolis Montreal, QC
2005-06-25 Metropolis Montreal, QC
2005-06-26 Metropolis Montreal, QC
2005-06-27 Agora Quebec City, QC
Doh! Oh well. Rumour now has it that Good Riddance are opening the third Montreal show as well as Quebec City. Innneresting.

Finally, I have a chance to hear this: some new material from Pigeon John, namely a song from his new record Pigeon John Sings The Blues(released last month), can be highly enjoyed over here. I'm pretty stoked.

Weird...apparently Blindside(such a great band) are on a new label - which is to say, two: Wasa and DRT have joined forces. So much for major-label paradise. The new album will be out this summer. I can't wait. Sick band. [OGS]

One of my absolute favourite bands, and a must-see on my Cornerstone 2005 list, is Project 86, and I've mentioned them in this space many times. They have a new record coming later this year that they're recording in Vancouver with some reputable gentleman doing the producing and mixing. For all the info, which I have no time for but will eventually hear about, can be had over here. Yes.

We can't substantiate this, but apparently at Bamboozle Fest recently down in Jersey, Springsteen's drummer Max Weinberg(better known as the bandleader on Late Night with Conan O'Brien) jammed out with The Bouncing Souls on a cover of The Boss's 'Growing Up'. How rad is that?? [pastepunk]

I know not everyone is into this, but I'm deeply into straight-up, no-frills, bring-it-raw hardcore, and Death Before Dishonor dish it out right over here; go download some of that and destroy your computer-room furniture. Word.

I was mildly interested to see that the Green Day/Jimmy Eat World tour later this summer will be in Barrie, Ontario(August 12th), and then I read on and discovered it'll be here in Ottawa, of all places, September 5th at the Corel Centre. I may have to invest in a little ticket for this here. And this on top of word last week that Pearl Jam are confirmed to play Corel September 16th. Heavens. [absolutepunk]

This just in, and I mean just: my very own brother Dan(check him out here), just met Prime Minister Paul Martin at a function of some sort in Hamilton, Ontario. How nuts is that??

Some major-label action now: Switchfoot's new record will be called Nothing Is Sound, coming out in August, and it'll be amazing, like all their records, and to Hades with the naysayers. I adore Switchfoot.

A very happy birthday goes out today to Steph T., from right here in Barrhaven, sweetdisaster's present HQ. Today marks her 23rd God-given year on this earth, and back when we started up she contributed some material you can read over in the Reviews section, and I'm taking her out for a drink tomorrow to commemorate, and yeah. Happy birthday, Stephanie. Love

If you're excited about the new Bane album coming out May 17th(we are), check out their new demo song over here. It's called 'Don't Go'. Album's called The Note. [hxc]

While you're at it, check out a band I just heard for the first time about four minutes ago; they're called Acceptance, from Seattle, and they were here last night opening for...um...I can't remember. Anyway, they're pretty good. I expect nothing less from The Militia Group(their label).

A personal plug: sweetdisaster's Big Cheese has latched onto a summer gig hosting The Sound Fix on CHRI here in Ottawa; the show airs Saturday nights from seven to eleven. If you're not in the Ottawa area and wanna get some decent hiphop/urban/rock action going at your party that doesn't contain references to "ho's", check out some internet streaming over here. Yeaaaah.

Here's how much P.O.D. has changed since their peak(1996's Brown): their new album, due out this fall and as-yet untitled, will be produced by Glen Ballard(No Doubt, Aerosmith) and feature possible guest vocals from Cypress Hill's B-Real, Korn's Jonathan Davis and, um, No Doubt's Gwen Stefani. Says Payable vocalist Sonny Sandoval, "We have a reggae cut that we're doing, and it came out really nice, but it needs a female vocal on it. We'd like to get Gwen Stefani because she's OG, period. An old rocker. But she's so extremely busy with her new stuff, it's been tough." Man, I miss the old days when they'd have Dirt dropping some nasty raps and called it a day where guests were concerned. Oh, and the upcoming album is referred to as the band's fifth, meaning either someone made an error or they don't consider 1994's Snuff the Punk anymore. [cmcentral]

Montreal's Union Label Group(Planet Smashers, etc) have signed a distribution deal with the monolithic Warner Records, meaning all their stuff will be in a lot more places, and cheaper. The Smashers' new album Unstoppable will be the guinea pig for the new deal. [truthexplosion]

Some Yellowcard news for y'all: the next album is nearing completion, and the band has apparently named rap legends Gang Starr as inspirational for the recording process. Um, what? I like Gang Starr, but this is pop-punk champions Yellowcard we're talking about here. Anyway, the album will again be produced by Neal Avron, who is forever in my good books for his work on New Found Glory's self-titled album from 2000. Amazing record.

It's been decided at sweetdisaster headquarters that Big Cheese is gonna do his best to ditch work May 25th to go see mewithoutYou at Cafe Dekcuf. Not ditch as in not go, but simply maybe be a little late. He can always stay later in the morning, as unappetizing as that prospect is.

Just cruising around punkottawa's listings; a band we mentioned a couple weeks ago, Bleed the Dream(good band!) are gonna be playing in Hawkesbury(east of Ottawa) tomorrow night, May 5th, at the Bonsoir Lounge slash Holiday Inn. Also appearing are Vancouver-based Stutterfly; I've never heard them, but BTD are good stuff. 261 McGill Street, 7pm, $12.

Kudos to the fellas at Ferret Records on another coup; New York City legends Madball have signed with the label, who will release Legacy August 9th; the band will do some European festivals and then hop on the massive Sounds of Underground tour - which I shall not be at in Montreal, as I'll be in Bushnell, Illinois for Cornerstone. [hxc]

As long as it doesn't nix their show here in a couple weeks, I'm okay with this: guitarist Mike Risinger has left Sinai Beach to pursue other ventures, including management, according to a statement left on the band's website. No word yet on who will replace Risinger.

You can thank Ozzy's people for this one: there's a new track called 'Meaning In Tragedy' from As I Lay Dying right over here. Nothing wildly new, just more of the greatness we've come to expect from AILD.

Get ready: Converge, Cursed, Terror and Mare will tour Canada in its entirety this year, calling it "the best metal/hardcore tour Canada has ever witnessed." I'm certainly waiting with bated breath. I hope the Ottawa show's on a Friday.