The Myriad are moving on up: they've signed booking agreements with T1he Agency Group(very high-powered) for general bookings, while the Third Coast Artist Agency will handle booking for college shows and festivals. Plus, they're a killer soulful rock band. Word.
Some international flavour for the kids today, courtesy, once again, of purevolume dot com: Tokyo, Japan's emo/screamo heroes Nature Living. They sound unbelievably American; check out the vocals and harmonies(first song sounds kinda like Saosin, and it gets grittier from there). I like it! And not because it sounds American, so shut up, all y'all. Wow, this is catchy material.
U2's Vertigo Tour was the landslide winner for biggest tour in 2005, according to the folks at Billboard(story here), and I will be attending the Ottawa stop in a matter of weeks! WEEKS, I tell you! Other winners included the Bonnaroo event in Tennessee, Bruce Springsteen's small-venue tour earlier this year, and Dave Matthews Band(Humanitarian Award). [cmcentral]
One of the better hardcore bands out there, Jersey's With Resistance, are breaking up. R.I.P. Again.
Big ol' metal tour going down: Nodes of Ranvier with Scarlet, The Agony Scene and newcomers Becoming the Archetype:
11.05: Fayetville, AR @ The Music Hall
11.06: Lubbock, TX @ Tokyo Joe's
11.09: Corona, CA @ Showcase Theatre
11.11: Bakersfield, CA @ Jerry's Pizza
11.17: Boise, ID @ The Venue
11.18: Salt Lake City, UT @ Lo-Fi Cafe
11.19: Colorado Springs, CO @ The Darkside
11.20: Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
11.22: Oklahoma City, OK @ The Green Door
11.23: Tulsa, OK @ The Pinkeye
I wish I lived any of those places, just for this tour! [hxc]
Slipknot have canceled their shows tonight(Halloween night), tomorrow night and November 3rd due to the passing of drummer Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's father. One of two Philadelphia shows that was cancelled last week was rescheduled for November 8th, with the tour(also featuring As I Lay Dying and Unearth) resuming normally in Montreal November 4th. Our thoughts and prayers here go out to the Crahan family.
sphereofhiphop, following the move of their HQ to Rochester, Minnesota last month, have also redesigned their homepage! Lookin' tight. Check out their mp3 page for the best in the new hiphop. What a great resource.
This Just In: Ottawa lads For the Mathematics are a ridiculously talented band. Go catch 'em live if you get the chance. Just a thought.
Just a quick show plug before we take the Nestea Plunge into today's news: Joel Gelensye, a guy I grew up with in the wastelands of eastern Ontario, is playing a rock show November 11th at the Bronson Centre(211 Bronson Ave. here in Ottawa). Openers are onlyforward(Montreal) and Hello Kelly(Orangeville, Ontario). onlyforward features Dave Martel, younger brother of the dude from downhere(one of Canada's premier pop/rock bands, in our humble opinion). Mary Simon is opening up the show. Should be a good time; c'mon out. Oh, and onlyforward bassist Roy Vuorela spent time in Montreal's punk/hardcore scene. This should be interesting. Check onlyforward out over here.
Almost two years after they signed to Atlantic Records, Vaux have still not released their debut for the label thanks to the usual tomfoolery that happens in the big time - and they're sick of it. The band told punknews.org that they're in the "separation process" with Atlantic. Good for them. Screw the majors, not to sound all indie-elitist. Here's their statement for now: "Currently we are in the midst of the 'separation process' with the label and are awaiting the outcome. This includes regaining ownership of our album Beyond Virtue, Beyond Vice that was scheduled for a November 8th release date. With all that has recently happened there is no 'official' release date for the album, but we feel very confident that we will get the album back and be able to put it into the hands of our fans very soon. Despite all that has happened, the band is tighter than ever and feels very positive about the situation." Ick. [buzzgrinder]
I like this one: Metal Blade Records(which has a lot of bands I'm not gonna bother listing) owner Brian Slagel, aside from being a metal enthusiast, is also apparently a diehard, way-out, nutso hockey fan. And he's acting on it: besides being a longtime sponsor of a number of Central Hockey League teams in out-of-the-way places, he's now helping out with the CHL's On Edge weekly radio show, as well as the Ft. Worth Brahmas(never even heard of that team, and I grew up on hockey), whereby the team will wear Metal Blade-sponsored warmup jerseys while MB videos play on the scoreboard. I for one think this entire thing is awesome, and there's even more that I'm too lazy to report! Rad. [truthexplosion]
One album that came out semi-recently that's impressed me despite what I figured ahead of time is Evergreen Terrace's Sincerity Is An Easy Disguise In This Business; for whatever reason, I've always like ET, but not really anything out of the ordinary(they are named for The Simpsons home address in Springfield; points for that). When Sincerity hit me, though, I was quite taken. To that end, check out the video for 'New Friend Request'(awesome!) over here. Enjoy.
I was in HMV the other day killing time and happened to see the follow four albums on the listening post, in this order: the new Switchfoot, Kelly Clarkson, Christian pop starlet Kristal Meyers(Avril disciple) and Alicia Keys. Well then. I remember when Christian bookstores were the only place to get music even remotely associated with Christianity. Apparently we've come a long way.
Found a link to the Figure Four reunion set in Winnipeg a couple weeks ago(dubbed Live at the Collective); regardless of the rumour mill, I still think this band's done. But unexpected reunions are always fun anyway. This file takes a few minutes to obtain, and the sound's about as good as live sets usually are, so this is for completists only, I guess, this ten-minute batch of chestnuts. Of which I include myself. Yes.
Shoot the Moon: The Essential Collection is the last effort from the defunct Face to Face, arguably the most influential punk band of the last fifteen years. Nineteen tracks plus two unreleased songs make up the best-of, which has all the usual tricked-out features, but surprisingly is not a DVD. Weird. It's due out November 1st.
These songs were posted almost a month ago, but I had no idea the band even existed: The Almost is the side gig of Underoath drummer Aaron Gillespie, and there's a couple songs over here. Badda boom badda bing.
Korn, still messed up in the head and very proud of it(wave that flag, fellas), have their new "rap-star-studded" video for 'Twisted Transistor' online over here. It's the lead single from See You On The Other Side, due out in December. Personally, give me Korn(1994) and Life Is Peachy(1996) and then leave me alone. [theprp]
Two Blood & Ink Recs bands will be on campus radio soon, at George Washington U in D.C. I have a couple connections at GWU, and based solely on that(ha!) you should all listen to Ten33(6pm, October 30th) and Skylines(6pm, December 4th). Both bands will do interviews and probably some live in-studio songsmithery. Check out the station's website for details.
SoCal veterans Stavesacre have posted a new song called 'Kill My Darlings' up on their myspace. There's also 'Bull Takes Fighter' from the EP of the same name released last year.
Fear Before the March of Flames are taking a band I saw last night, The Bled(more on that in a minute) and The Fall of Troy out on the roady McRoad Road. Sadly, it's over in Europe and I don't think sweetdisaster has much of a readership over there(do email if you're somewhere in those parts and reading), so I'm not gonna bother with the dates.
However, yeah, speaking of the Bled, they're on the road this minute with Thrice and Underoath, and I wanna take two seconds to hugely thank Thrice singer/lyricist Dustin Kensrue for being a class guy and going waaaaaay above and beyond the call of duty in sitting down for an interview and then guestlisting a bunch of people he didn't know for the show.
And we move on.
Following his missing their last tour, A Perfect Murder vocalist Kevin Randell has now been summarily booted from the band. Natch. They're having a hard time keeping people aboard the ship, it seems. The day from Darker Day Tomorrow is rumoured to be the replacement. Let's lay bets on how long he lasts in this dog-and-pony circus. [lambgoat]
Real long, in-depth interview with Bono over here, conducted by Rolling Stone edtior Jann S. Wenner. When he comes down from on high to talk to someone, you know it'll be good, if a little profane. If I need to tell you which band Bono's in, you shouldn't even be reading this magazine. Did you know the U2 frontman(oops, gave it away) wears those shades all the time due to a blockage in his right eye that causes ultra-sensitivity to light? I'd no idea. [buzzgrinder]
I heard these guys about a year ago, and wasn't really all that impressed, but the first cut over here, called 'City of Champions' by LetLive, has won me over. Think Coheed & Cambria crossbred with The Bled, with the surgery done by whoever arranged those Chervocoder vocals on that huge song of hers. Nice.
Just to make sure you're all good and sick of Pigeon John(go read our interview!!), who I believe we've mentioned in every news update going back to the beginning of time, he's going out on tour - again. The guy is never at home! Having just returned from a jaunt with Lyrics Born, he'll be hitting the bricks with Hasidic rapper/toaster(you heard me) Matisyahu, who'll be appearing on the new P.O.D. single 'Testify', out soon on a radio near you. The guy's website is hasidicreggae.com. We do not joke you here. Here's the Pigeon/Matisyahu schedule:
10/30 Towson, MD
11/2 Johnson City, TN (PJ only)
11/3 Orlando, FL
11/5 Ft. Lauderdale, FL
11/6 Tampa, FL
11/7 Atlanta, GA
11/8 Louisville, KY
11/9 Lawrence, KS
11/10 Englewood, CO
11/12 Boulder, CO
11/13 Saskatoon, SK Canada (PJ only)
11/15 Minneapolis, MN
11/16 Madison, WI
11/17 Chicago, IL
11/19 Cleveland, OH
11/20 Columbus, OH
Pigeon's next album(his fourth since 2002, holy crap) will be out on Quannum early next year.
More No Innocent Victim news: they're the cover boys on the new issue of HM magazine, the November-December issue, which should be out very shortly. If you're unaware, NIV were one of the first two hardcore bands I ever heard(the other being the long-dead Six Feet Deep), on a cassette in the mid-'90s. Oh, the days of yore. Anyway, yeah, new issue of HM, No Innocent Victim.
'Salmon Swim Upstream' is a brand-new song from NYC's Kill Your Idols, who are still kicking out the jams. No idea when the next album will be out, but it'll be on Side One Dummy, as were the last two. Check out the song over here. [pastepunk]
Hey, indie dweebs, pay attention: The Rentals are recording their first album since '99's Seven More Minutes. This would be the brainchild of Matt Sharp, formerly Weezer's bassist, and it's also featured over time various folks from Decemberists, The Special Goodness and Saturday Night Live cast member Maya Rudolph...wait, Maya Rudolph? What the...wonder what she plays.
Montreal ska kings The Planet Smashers are going on a tour. A stadium one, involving this other little band from Quebec: Simple Plan. Of the tour, one of the Smashers had this to say: "Simple Plan has invited us to open for them on their next Canadian tour, November 22nd through December 17th. It'll be our first and probably only stadium tour - I plan to eat all of SP's catering...put on some weight to get through the winter months." Awesome. [punknews]
Starting work on their major-label debut are Orange County's Eighteen Visions. Well then. In slightly more interesting news, 18V members alongside Bleeding Throughites and Burn It Downites have started a Misfitscover band, who'll debut at Anaheim's House of Blues on the 30th, with - natch - Cure and Morrissey cover bands. Geez. Oh, they're called Die My Darling. Nice.
Nice.
The Suicide Machines are taking Stretch Arm Strong, Fordirelifesake and some band called Whole Wheat Bread(what??) out on the road:
November 8, 2005 Boston, MA Axis
November 9, 2005 New York, NY Tribeca Rock Club
November 10, 2005 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
November 11, 2005 Washington, DC Nation
November 12, 2005 Richmond, VA Nanci Raygun
November 13, 2005 Columbia, SC New Brooklyn Tavern
November 15, 2005 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
November 16, 2005 Gainesville, FL Common Grounds
November 17, 2005 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
November 18, 2005 St Petersburg, FL the State Theater
November 19, 2005 West Palm Beach, FL Respectable Street
November 20, 2005 Orlando, FL the Social
November 22, 2005 Houston, TX Meridian
November 23, 2005 Austin, TX Emo's
November 25, 2005 San Antonio, TX White Rabbit
November 26, 2005 Dallas, TX the Galaxy Club
November 27, 2005 Oklahoma City, OK Green Door
November 29, 2005 St Louis, MO Creepy Crawl
November 30, 2005 Columbus, OH Bernie's
December 1, 2005 Erie, PA Forward Hall
December 2, 2005 Pittsburgh, PA Mr Small's Theater
December 3, 2005 Cleveland, OH Peabody's
From punk and hardcore to Christian-contemporary music(the ol' sd.com is all over the map baby), here now is a feature article on Starfield. They're from Winnipeg, and they've already made the jump that any decent openly-Christian band does: moved to the States, particularly Nashville, away from this vast Canadian ghetto(for Christian music anyway). I saw them two summers ago when they drove sixteen hours from the American midwest to fill a gap in a festival schedule - and then killed it when they got here. Great band, great guys. Read and then listen to some clips.
We have some new CD reviews up, over top right yonder there. And the new Pigeon John interview(thanks for the props on that one, Ben) and the new pictures up in the Gallery there from Cornerstone Fest. One of these gray autumn days we'll get around to posting the Warped Tour pictures too. They're not as good, but hey.
Got some details here regarding Sick Of It All's recent signing with Abacus Recordings; the band's new album Death To Tyrants(their ninth) will be out early next year, coinciding with the band's twentieth anniversary.
Bleeding Through's drummer is named Derek Youngsma. Which means he's Dutch by heritage. Just thought I'd mention that, sharing his ancestry and all. [blabbermouth]
Dang it - I'd heard reports, but nothing confirmed til now: Yellow Second have split up. We haven't even had a chance to review their last album Altitude yet! They put on a heck of a show at Cornerstone too, that we'd have pictures up if WalMart hadn't screwed us over. But that's another story for another day. Bottom line: one of the better pop-rock bands out there has ended it. [JFH]
OoooOOOoh: Starflyer 59 have decided to satiate all the aspiring SF59-worshiping guitarists out there with a songbook called When I Learn To Sing, featuring the music and lyrics for everything the band's ever released - and that's a lotta stuff, as this long-time fan can tell you. The book should be available by November - and there's more! Starflyer main man Jason Martin and his brother Ronnie(aka Joy Electric) have put together a band called - duh - The Bros. Martin, whose debut should be out on Tooth & Nail Records next spring. Faaaaascinating.
Smile, It's The the End of the World is the cheerfully-titled next album from southern-Ontario pop kids Hawk Nelson; they're aiming for an April, 2006 release. They're ridiculously catchy, even though I should hate them and every band that sounds like them. I just can't stop playing it.
Death Cab For Cutie recently did a show at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. - and NPR has it for streaming(for now anyway) over here. Go public broadcasters! [pastepunk]
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster = sick. Oh, and Underoath's old singer is in this band too. Ridiculously good. The first song reminds me of Every Time I Die's cocky swagger, and then the second brings to mind The Black Crowes, and that's awesome.
Be sure to be watching Late Night with Conan O'Brien from November 1st through the 4th, as Neil Young will be the musical guest every night. O'Brien's done this before(with The White Stripes appearing every Tuesday for a month a couple years ago and U2 being the sole guest of an entire show two weeks back - as if I missed that!), and it'll be funny, because he's one of the most hilarious people alive. [paste]
Wyclef Jean(ex- and now again present-member of the Fugees) has recorded a little duet with chanteuse Norah Jones. I own records from both artists, but together? This could be disastrous. The single's proceeds will benefit - what else? - hurricane relief efforts. It'll be available for download at MSN Music at some point soon.
Hey, kids. Here's some news.
Former Superdrag frontman John Davis was born again recently(good for him) and has put out a self-titled record that's become a major highlight as far as Christian music goes this year; the various media types are falling all over themselves in an effort to hurl the most accolades. Check out his website for some snippets, and go buy the record, because like Chicago power-poppers Duvall, this is quality 'Christian' music that isn't prefabricated somewhere in Nashville. Come to think of it, the new Thrice could also fit that description. Things are looking up!
Okay, whether or not you're into Demon Hunter(wasn't initially, but they're winning me over), you simply must invest five minutes of your life into checking out a new website for their brand-new album The Triptych. It's creeeeepy, and amazing. Check out a bunch of the new material over here.
Blood & Ink Records have arranged a special somethin'-somethin' with Facedown to put out special vinyl editions of No Innocent Victim's new album To Burn Again. The album hits stores November 8th, with B&I's vinyl due available November 22nd. Check out the website for preordering info.
In some Wow, I Had No Idea They Were Still A Band news, Reel Big Fish have handpicked Pittsburgh's Transition(Floodgate Records) to open up some east-coast shows in a couple weeks. RBF are alive? Wow. "I know everything sucks, yeah, I know everything sucks whoa-oh-oh..." EVERY band should have horns, I say.
Prairie band Sylvie's new album An Electric Trace is out as of TODAY!!!! TODAY, I tell you!!! I just really wanted an excuse to use the phrase 'prairie band', because the chance is exceedingly rare. Check out their label's myspace page to hear some Sylvie stuff. Myself and sweetdisaster correspondent Rachelle are already diehard fans.
Innnneresting: forerunners for Album of the Year Mae have posted a version of 'Suspension' featuring The Starting Line's Kenny Vasoli on backgroundvocals. Check it out over here. I like it. 'Course, I adore anything Mae touches. [IVM]
Another band with a very strong album this year, The Juliana Theory(album being Deadbeat Sweetheart), are heading over to Europe with Haste the Day. Weird bill, but it's the first time Juliana will play anywhere in Europe aside from England. Good on them. Go to their website if you're in the area and wanna go. [absolutepunk]
Remember last week when we mentioned that Abacus Recordings(speaking of The Juliana Theory) was signing bands left right and centre? The parade marches on: NYHC legends Sick Of It All have signed on the dotted line. Wow.
The Taste of Chaos tour was such a success last winter/spring that the 2006 edition is already being put together; confirmed headliners include Thrice, Deftones and Atreyu.
Former Further Seems Forever singer Jason Gleason's got a new band called ActionReaction; quite frankly, with him singing it'll be good, no matter who's behind him. Check 'em out over here. Man, it's good to hear Jason sing again. What a voice.
This is kinda cool: renowned nerds/cerebral(hi Rachelle) quintet mewithoutYou performed on MTV's Overdrive series recently, giving the studio set a makeover more to their own tastes and then rocking a few songs. Check it all out here, and I devoutly hope the video works better on your computers than it did here. Hmph.
It's been a pretty tough day in some respects for sweetdisaster Big Cheese here, but reading this and this really helped.
Now go read our new interview and look at the new pictures.
Thanks for hanging.
The new Thrice, Vheissu(how does one pronounce that?) is an absolute monster; in the liner note intro written by manager Nick Bogardus, he says that when the Thrice camp convened to start the writing of this album, it was known to all that it was to be their most important album, and they've come through shiningly. From crushers like 'The Earth Shakes' to first-single chant-along 'Image of the Invisible', melody and sheer older-Cave In heaviness have seldom been meshed so well. Outstanding. The packaging is unbelievable too. I'm so impressed.
Relient K are out on tour with MxPx and Rufio. Not sure who's headlining, but here's the schedule:
10/23 - Buies Creek, NC @ Saylor Park
10/25 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
10/26 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
10/27 - Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues
10/28 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
10/29 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
10/30 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
11/1 - Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus
11/2 - East Lansing, MI @ Michigan St. University
11/3 - Big Rapids, MI @ Wink Arena
11/4 - Detroit, MI @ State Theatre
11/5 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
11/6 - Chicago, IL @ Congress Theatre
11/8 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave/ Eagles Club
11/9 - Saint Louis, MO @ The Pageant
11/10 - West Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
11/11 - Saint Paul, MN @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium
11/12 - Fargo, ND @ Playmaker's
11/14 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
11/16 - Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheatre
11/17 - San Diego, CA @ SOMA
11/18 - Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater
11/19 - San Luis Obispo, CA @ Cal Poly St. Univ.
11/20 - San Francisco, CA @ SF Weekly Warfield
11/21 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
11/22 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
[MTV, via rockrebel]
Former Future Destination Records band The Redemption Song, now with Strikefirst Records, have some new stuff up on their myspace. Yay AFI-style hardcore. [IVM]
I think we all kinda saw it coming: Symphony In Peril are done. Among the last shows will be the east-coast Facedown Fest and No Innocent Victim's CD-release show. There's a statement over here that I may read if bored enough. When vocalist Shawn Jonas bailed earlier this year, that was the beginning of the end. I should have gone to their show at Cornerstone - and by the way, yeah, we have the Cstone pics up, taken and captioned by sweetdisaster Big Cheese Mike. Go to the Gallery. What what.
Speaking of Strikefirst Records and Cornerstone, they've merged in that a band I ran into at Cstone, Kingston Falls, have signed with the label. Maybe I should get on reviewing the CD I was given at the festival. Yesh.
Way to go: Switchfoot's label has recalled their current blockbuster Nothing Is Sound due to anti-piracy concerns. Seems there's been a "mistake in the settings for the content protection technology placed on the CD". It should be noted that the band themselves were not informed of these things being added, and were not at all happy when they found out.
Though the album has been out almost a year, Anberlin are just getting around to shooting a video for first single 'Paperthin Hymn' - and they're writing new stuff in the next month or so. Innnnnnnneresting.
One of my favourite new hardcore bands, Jesus Wept, will have their debut full-length out next spring, and I for one can't wait. The Sick City EP was filthy good. There's a new track up over here.
A brand-new Propagandhi album, the first in three or four years, is out now. It's called Potemkin City Limits, and because it's Propagandhi, it's already awesome even though I haven't heard any of it. They've retooled their website, as well as unleashing a new e-card to hype the record. [saveyourscene]
Think Fast! Records down in Florida has signed Baltimore's Pulling Teeth; check out the band over here. Think Fast! also released Ottawa band Miles Between Us's only official album back in 2003.
Poison the Well took a break from working on their next record to play the Sounds of Underground tour earlier this year, and now the new album won't be out til sometime in '06. Read all about it.
With the reunion of Spitfire resulting in two of their members splitting from Scarlet, it'll be a new-look Scarlet that releases their sophomore album This Was Always Meant To Fall Apart on Ferret Recs January 24th. The tracklisting is here for the downloading wizards, and you can hear a new song called 'The Separation Of' over here.
It figures that the first review I've come across of local boys The Fully Down's for-real debut Don't Get Lost In A Movement(Fearless Records) is found on the absolutely-everwhere absolutepunk.net; check it out over here. There've been a few bands I've worked with for a number of years here in Ottawa that deserved more success than they got, but that doesn't take away from how hard TFD have worked to get here. Good on 'em.
Good Lord, a two-year anniversary and they're throwing this party ruckus for it: myspace.com is gonna be a whopping two, and they're roping in Dashboard Confessional, All-American Rejects, four bands I've never heard of, and something interesting: a solo performance from Jimmy Eat World frontman Jim Adkins. I'd go see that, even if myspace is just...well, whatever, we all know what it is. And isn't.
We have a new featured interview up with Los Angeles rap bandit Pigeon John; go hit that up.
And when you're done that, we finally(finally) have pictures up from sweetdisaster Big Cheese's first trip to Cornerstone Festival in Illinois last summer over in the Gallery section to the left there. Warped Tour photos from later in the summer will be up soon!
Floodgate Records has a few bands on tour: Life In Your Way are hitting the bricks with Strikefirst Records band Inked In Blood, Forever Changed with Showbread through November 19th, and Mourning September with Project 86 - untill October 30th anyway. So if you're in the great United Stated o' America, hit up their websites(their names, and then "dot com") for the itineraries. Plus The Myriad's new album is getting rave reviews. And Pittsburgh's Transition are dropping their Floodgate debut next year. Busy label.
The Killer In You: A Tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins is seeing a gradual release beginning in November, with worldwide availability happening January 31st, 2006. Featured bands include Armor For Sleep('Today'), Poison the Well('Soma'), Hopesfall('Eye'), Eighteen Visions('Quiet'), Vaux('1979') and more. Reignition Records is behind the endeavour, with samples available through their myspace.
This is good news: acclaimed producer Aaron Sprinkle(Acceptance) will work with Dead Poetic on their new album; he also handled the production on their last(New Medicines), and the difference from their debut was palpable. I'm excited for DP's newest, which will officially include 'The Victim', the one new song they played on last summer's Dead Summer City tour.
Demon Hunter have three or four new songs on their purevolume site from their new album The Triptych. Yay melodic metal!
Fear Before the March of Flames, the most damaged-sounding band I've ever heard out of Colorado, have a brand-new song called '237' up on their purevolume site. It's vintage FBTMOF: a complete kamikaze mission of noise. I dig it!
Courtesy of my boss's iPod(love that little sucker), I heard most of the new Soilwork the other night; the guitars in places are pure Lamb of God, and they sure sing more than they used to. Decent singing, yes, but something about the pomposity of metal singers gets on my nerves. Musically, they're tight as a drum - and speaking of drums, their drummer is out of his mind fantastic. There's your quickie metal review for the day.
Two observations this morning.
1. Aidan(new Victory Records band) are far better than their Avenged Sevenfold-looking promo pictures would have you believe. Parts of their sound take me straight back to mid-'90s SoCal punk, believe it or not. They're pretty good.
2. Acceptance, by contrast, have owned me for a solid week. Combining outright worship of Jimmy Eat World(the sonic similarities are often so close as to be uncomfortable) with elements of Cool Hand Luke and Dead Poetic, they sure haven't written a real original-sounding record with Phantoms, but maaaaaan, it's a good listen.
The upcoming Thrice album, Vheissu, was heard by me a couple weeks ago on a friend's iPod(yay internet leaks). Lemme tell y'all something: they're gonna lose a lot of their fanbase with this, because it doesn't sound a whole lot like The Artist In The Ambulance, and even less like their earlier work, but it IS far better artistically. This band is maturing in leaps and bounds, unafraid to take creative "risks", and I applaud them for it. And yes, metalheads, when they're heavy, they're real heavy. Can't wait to pick it up. So, anyway, check out this article over at MTV. Too bad MTV's video programming apparently isn't as good as their print writing(and they gotta lose the amazingly irritating popup advertising!). I will, sadly, more than likely not be at the show next week with Underoath, but hey, life goes on.
I like this guy, a Long Island, NY high school principal who canceled the prom, being disgusted with "prom culture". I never went to mine either. Good on him.
A band we mentioned yesterday, Alabama's Materia Medica, are growing on us here at sd with each listen. There're two songs over here, and three more over here. Solid! Keep your eyes peeled for these guys in the future.
Wow: The Red Chord will tour with Converge from November 4th through the 20th; go find that itinerary somewhere. As well, ex-Dead Water Drowning guitarist Jonny Fay has joined the Red Chord's ranks. He's not to be confused with Tragically Hip drummer Johnny Fay. Ha! Gratuitous Hip mention there.
Good heavens, we had no idea, but Blindside bassist Tomas Naslund fractured his skull last month skateboarding; he's expected to recover fully(thank God), but in the meantime, the band have recruited their tourmates Aphasia's Will Peng, who's filling in on the current tour with Trapt. How'd we not hear about this?
The Dillinger Escape Plan, as has been common knowledge around Ottawa for a month, are kicking off a full north American headlining tour here in Cap City, with openers The Bronx, Hella, Between the Buried and Me and The Flashbulb. Says here Horse the Band are also playing, but there are rumours afoor that they've canceled; more on that as we get it. Watch your music-video outlet of choice for 'Unretrofied', Dillinger's third single/video from last year's Miss Machine.
This is intriguing: Arkansas rapper Listener(deepspace5 crew, among others, as well as an established solo act on Mush Records) is doing a tour of homes. Literally. From the 10th of this month through December 17th, Listener will be doing almost sixty shows in peoples' homes, with potlucks and a great vibe overall. If you're in the States and you're interested, check out his tour website. I really dig this idea. [sphereofhiphop]
A new-ish band called Materia Medica, comin' correct straight outta Alabama, are dropping a new EP soon; they're looking for label support, and they have a song up on purevolume called 'Raccoons' - everyone's favourite animal! Give it a listen over here. Brace yourself for the screamo-with-a-big-ol'-breakdown ruckus!!
There's a good little article over here concerning elitism: what it's said to be, what it's not, and what's really important. Kudos to Rachelle on the heads-up.
Talib Kweli and Mos Def will be co-headlining the Breed Love Odyssey tour this fall, sponsored by Sony, who will be giving away loads of free crap and demoing stuff. Tour dates over here [Relevant]
Sylvester Stallone apparently need more flow, as Rocky 6 will be filmed in 2006, with a release next fall/winter. Pathetic.
Some notes from the last couple weeks of attending live performances from different genres:
- Converge wreck everything in sight - too bad about their Red Sox
- ditto Ohio metal band From A Second Story Window, who were here
in Ottawa Friday night with Montreal's Ion Dissonance
- Ottawa-based popsters Lure are so talented it's disgusting. Catch
their show if you can
There's word trickling out of Winnipeg tonight that hardcore kingpinsFigure Four are apparently inching closer to a full-on reunion(thanks Armin); rumours are afoot that a surprise F4 set was unleashed following the Winnipeg stop of the Shattered Realm/Hollow Ground tour, and pressure is apparently being applied to F4 vocalist/Comeback Kid guitarist Andrew Neufeld. Here's hoping!
Life In Your Way used to share members with another band who're making a name for themselves - fellow Connecticut natives With Honor. How 'bout that. Both bands are ridiculously good, by the way.
Wow. Swedish metal greats(though it's widely said that they've gone downhill the last couple records) In Flames have signed a deal with - get ready for this one - Jersey's Ferret Music. As in the label owned by the two guys in Nora. Whose t-shirt I was wearing earlier tonight. Wow, have they gone hit the big time. Anyway, Come Clarity will be out on Ferret in February. In Flames formed in 1990 back in Sweden and have since released nine albums. On Ferret. That's insane. [noisetheory]
Today's Essential Listening(October 16th, and yes, I know we don't do this every day like we used to): Australia's In Name And Blood, bringing the melodic metalcore assault on their myspace page, because after all, no one even needs to bring the mosh anyplace else anymore.
Is it just me or is Abacus Recordings out in California snagging new bands left right and centre? Ion Dissonance, Stavesacre - and now Planes Mistaken For Stars, who will keep up business ties with their former home(Florida's No Idea Records) for a vinyl-release of 2004's Up In Them Guts(still a hilarious title). Good for PMFS. Great dudes. [punkhardcore]
There's a bunch of shows coming up here in Ottawa, and we're working on getting bigger banner ads that you see when you show up here at the ol' Diz(that's slang for 'disaster', you see). I can barely make 'em out either. We're doing what we can.
Sad news: Sir Jorge of Culver, California's finest Mexican alive, has stepped down as the news king over at hardcorechristian. Bummer! Who's gonna make fun of the Christian bands now? Geez. Who else would say the following: "Tooth and Nail signs The Classic Crime to their list of slaves...er..signed acts. You can visit their site full of flash intros you can't skip, and iframes that are just lovely." Or how 'bout this one: "Zao to release a DVD. It will feature footage of [vocalist]Dan huddled in a ball crying while screaming lyrics." Man, I'll miss you, Culver. No one alive hated flash-intro graphics quite as eloquently as you did, brother.
Hey, twenty-three days til November 8th, when the Beloved DVD hits stores! We were listening to Failure On in the car tonight. Still one of the best records of 2003.
Good Lord, I can't remember if we posted this, but As I Lay Dying's first headlining tour in support of Shadows Are Security(the same as Frail Words Collapse, basically, with far better production) will feature openers Norma Jean, Madball and A Life Once Lost. Gee, which one is the odd band out here? Wow. Great tour if it comes to Ottawa. We'll see.
As much fun as Cornerstone Festival was last summer(and oh, it was fun for this cat, who waited ten years to go!), you can vote over here on who you wanna see next year. I suggest Society's Finest, Dogwood(didn't play this year), the aforementioned Stavesacre(ditto)...who else...reunions from Travail, Living Sacrifice and Embodyment...oh, the list is endless...just vote...please...you're killing us over here.....geez.....
The Chariot are putting out an EP called UnSung through Solid State on December 6th. This is not to be confused with their insanely-long-titled full-length album, nor that thing they did with that Matt Goldman producer guy. Whatever it isn't, it will destroy everything in its path, bulldozing its way to deconstructed-metal greatness. Oh yes. It will. Best beLIEVE!!!
New video from The Juliana Theory over here. Let's not even discuss how they had to bail on Ottawa last month.
Remember Canadian actor Rick Moranis(SCTV, Honey, I Shrunk The Kids)? He's recorded a country/bluegrass album. Heaven preserve us.
Well, that didn't take long at all: Lovedrug have already signed to a major label(Columbia, in this case), who'll reissue their debut, Pretend You're Alive January 24th. I predict a short run of maybe two albums max before they're dropped for being too smart for the average idiot. [aversion]
Weeeeeeird: indie/rock/pop act The Exit(I saw them once, years ago) are gonna open for...what the...311? Rad! Here're the dates if you wanna go:
Oct. 19 - Soma, San Diego
Oct. 21 - House of Blues, Las Vegas
Oct. 23 - Freeborn Hall. U.C. Davis, Davis, Calif.
Oct. 28 - The Fillmore, San Francisco
Oct. 30 - Roseland Theater, Portland, Ore.
Oct. 31 - Moore Theatre, Seattle
Nov. 1 - The Big Easy, Spokane, Wash.
Nov. 2 - Valley Ice Garden, Bozeman, Mont.
Nov. 4 - Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul, Minn.
Nov. 10 - "Donuts" Arena, Providence, R.I.
Nov. 11 - Asbury Park Convention Hall, Asbury Park, N.J.
Nov. 16 - Hammerstein Ballroom, New York
Speaking of touring, the Mae-headlined The Music Is Much Too Loud tour featuring Mute Math and others was in Buffalo Friday night, the closest it will come to Ottawa. I didn't go. Frig. They better come here sometime!
We have a great interview with Boston vets Cave In over here. Antenna was another smashing success in 2003 - just not for RCA Records, who, being a major label, lacked vision and have since lost Cave In back to the indies where they always belonged. Perfect Pitch Black is the new one, and it's off-the-hook madness. Read all about it.
Last month's issue of Saturday Night magazine(supplemental to the Canadian daily National Post newspaper) contained a feature on Toronto's Thousand Foot Krutch, alerting us here at sd that this 'zine might have something other than mainstream pop culture to offer - and we were right: the new issue has a piece on Montreal's DJ A-Trak, who won the DMC World Title in 1997 at fifteen years old(the DMCs are the Super Bowls of turntablism). He's now the DJ for this unknown dude named Kanye West. And before that, with Usher. Boy's come a looooooong way. He's also on the new CD from DJ Serious; we'll have our review up ASAP.
Hey kids. Some new material coming over the weekend, including an interview with left-coast rapper Pigeon John and a couple new CD reviews. And speaking of rap, LA Symphony have fixed their website, and you can see the new video for 'Timeless' for real over here. Rap on, rap rap on. My favourite part is the guy running aimlessly around the playground with the kite - can't even tell which one he is. And Sharlock Poems can spit.
If you're into the metal, join us tonight at Cafe Dekcuf(221 Rideau St. downtown - upstairs) for From A Second Story Window and Ion Dissonance with local boys After All Your Planets Done opening up around eight o'clock. I know, I know, short notice. Shut up, all of you!! Fourteen bucks at the door.
Well then.
Christian-rock legends Petra were in Ottawa last night(noticeably not promoted much by us here at sd.com, but whatever) as part of their farewell tour after - get this - thirty-three years in the business. The band, over time, has gradually come down to original guitarist Bob Hartman and longtime singer John Schlitt(who joined sometime around the early '80s), along with fairly recent additions on bass and drums. So. The opening bands play last night, everything is remarkably on schedule, and yours truly is up in the balcony with sd.com correspondent Rachelle, chilling large, you know, and one of my boys comes up and says quietly, "Hartman isn't here. He's caught in New York City without a flight." After recovering from the initial shock/fury, it became apparent that the truth was being told. So the show became Schlitt being the consummate professional, setting up an impromptu session whereby anyone who wanted to hear a particular song from the band's vast back catalogue could simply holler, and further, that anyone who could PLAY any particular song could roll on up to the stage and grab a guitar. So fun was had, even under extraneous circumstances. For proof of how much fun it was, check out this picture, and then this one over here. On the left is yours truly, sweetdisaster Big Cheese himself, accompanied by CHRI DJ Lisa Morgan and John Schlitt himself. Looks good for fifty, don't he?
Anyway.
Some other news to report.
No Innocent Victim has posted another new track of the upcoming To Burn Again(November 8th) called 'Your Freedom' - right over here. As well, a ton of the Facedown Records bands are on tour, so hit up the website to see if they're coming to your town.
LA Symphony have made a video for their new single 'Timeless'(from the masterful new album Disappear Here, featuring Evidence(Dilated Peoples) and DJ Rhettmatic; the link from their email doesn't work(nice job, fellas!), but check out the vid over here.
Blindside's new slab The Great Depression, aside from being a really good rock and roll record, has vaulted into purevolume.com's Top Ten, as it were; go hear some of the new material over here.
A brief memorial: longtime Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Tom Cheek passed away last weekend of brain cancer. He was 66. I listened to him for literally thousands of hours from birth onwards; considering he called every single Jays game until last summer(over four thousand games), it's not surprising. Rest in peace, Tom!!
Maple Music down in the T-dot(that's slang for Toronto, for those who don't live in Canada, okay? okay) has checked in with and email update: Bedlam and Distort Entertainment(the label that launched Alexisonfire have joined up to create Dine Alone Records, and they're on their feet swinging with three releases in the near future. The first is City and Colour's debut(this would be AoF guitarist Dallas Green's project). Secondly, there's a little EP featuring AoF and Moneen - covering each others' songs! Awesome. And lastly(and certainly not leastly), Oakville juggernaut The Fullblast are putting out their new album with the DA folks. Lots to check out. Hit the website.
Story of the Year have a new song called 'We Don't Care Anymore' up on their purevolume site. It's not that great. But maybe you'll like it.
A mistake we've made recently has been stating that Life In Your Way are from New Jersey - according to this, they're actually from Manchester, Connecticut. Either way, they're on the way up. Jump on this band now, and buy a t-shirt, so you can say you were down with them Back In The Day.
There's another band called It's Like Love(enough with the stupid names already!), and they're a fun little rock band, poppy to the max, but the point we're making here is that November 22nd they're playing a club called the Nanci Raygun down in Richmond, VA. Nanci Raygun. Get it?....Nanci Raygun...former First Lady Nancy Reagan? Hilarious!!
sphereofhiphop, one of the top sources of Christian rap madness on the web, will be in flux til around the 16th, as they're moving their entire operation to permanent digs in Rochester, Minnesota. The website will be a little slower til the end of October, as will the response time to emails, so be cool, aight? Aight.
Mars Ill, dealing with what's best termed a 'fiasco' concerning the release of the long-awaited Pro*Pain(new release date is now January of 2006, thankfully), have retooled marsill.com, along with the now-fully-managed-by-the-band webstore. If you were one of the very few to get a real copy of Pro*Pain before it was nixed by Gotee Records, hang onto it for kitsch value, as MC Manchild and DJ Dust were only lucky enough to receive their own copies from generous fans. Geez, what a mess. Oh, and congrats to Manchild(real name: Greg Owens) on the new baby!
I obtained a bunch of Bane's stuff recently; aside from seeing them live a bunch of times I'd never heard them on record, and I'm impressed. The first two albums aren't the most spectacular, but 2001's Give Blood and this year's The Note are superb. Go get this.
Hey, Lagwagon have a new song on the web over here. It's called 'Automatic', from the upcoming Resolve, out November 1st. Woohoo! [altpress]
From First to Last recently removed their bass player from his job - and he's threatening to sue. That's funny, but not as funny as this: the strongest candidate to fill in for him - if rumour is correct - is Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland. That is fall-down drop dead hysterical.
Recent Solid State signees August Burns Red(hailing from Pennsylvania) are unleashing their debut Thrill Seeker November 8th(the day before my dad's birthday - happy birthday, Dad!!), produced by uber-knobsman Adam D(Killswitch Engage guitarist, among other things). Check out 'Your Little Suburbia Is In Ruins'(boy, can I relate) as a teaser over here. Says in this email that "with boy-next-door looks and ages ranging from 18-21 it's no wonder that audiences tend to be perplexed by ABR's musical style, which makes their metal onslaught all the more captivating." Let's not get gushy here, shall we, A&R weasels? Sheesh.
Floodgate Records out in sunny California(as opposed to here in eastern Ontario, where winter looms large) have set up a separate division, if you will, of their label, a sublabel called Found Records focusing specifically on worship music. Rita Springer and Todd Proctor, both currently signed to Floodgate, will be the brand-new imprint's first inhabitants. Among other things, label president Tim Taber had this to say: "The worship albums we have put out in the past have moved me personally to want to worship Jesus; I hope this will always be the case with Found Records." Well said. It is Thanksgiving here in Canada.
As is proving to the be mid-week case around here of late, it's been a slow few days. Bear with us - we have lives outside of bringing you, the loyal reader, the greatest from the world of rock and roll.
On a side note, the Ottawa Senators have been outplayed through two periods by the hated, despised, reviled Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, the return of the National Hockey League.
Because you all clearly come here for hockey news.
Good heavens, a big tour to kick off today's news: As I Lay Dying are taking Norma Jean, Madball and A Life Once Lost out on the road. Here's the first published dates:
November 26th Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
November 27th Charlotte, NC - Tremont Music Hall
November 28th Norfolk, VA - The Norva
November 29th Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
December 3rd Buffalo, NY - Sphere
December 06th Cleveland, OH - Odeon
December 08th Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts
December 09th Sauget, IL - Pops
December 13th Denver, CO - Odgen Theatre
December 14th Magna, UT - The Great Salt Air
December 16th Seattle, WA - El Corazon
December 17th Portland, OR - Loveland
December 18th San Francisco, CA 2 Slims
December 19th Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
I really, truly hope this comes to Ottawa. I say that a lot, and some of them actually do, but honestly, I really hope this comes here. [theprp]
I'd heard about this from Ryan last week and forgot to mention it: A Perfect Murder, due to "inner problems"(mmhmm) have decided not to take current vocalist Kevin Randel on their current Canadian tour(started Friday night, runs through October 16th), instead recruiting - steady now - former Earth Crisis(and current Freya) frontman Karl Buechner for the trek. Holy crap. A statement about what the heezy is going on can be found over here, if you care that much. And the APM circus rolls into Club SAW here in Ottawa October 10th. That's a Monday, so I maybe can't make it out due to work. Blast!
Former members of Filter and Stone Temple Pilots(ah, the '90s) have formed a new band called Army of Anyone, and, obviously, they don't even have to bother with building a fanbase or touring or anything: their debut will be out on Columbia(natch) next year.
When Sinai Beach played Ottawa last spring with Terror and Comeback Kid, it was about a week after guitarist Mike Risinger quit the band, so they played as a four-piece. That was fine, whatever, but now all's well again in the SB camp: they've added Killing Theory's Daniel Barachkov and former Falling Cycle member Sean Durham to the lineup. Remember Falling Cycle? They were amazing.
Long Island's The Sleeping's debut Belive What We Tell You kinda slipped under the radar - but not the one at Victory Records, who've signed the band. That's about all we can tell you, since neither the band's official website nor Victory's band site seems to be functioning. Instead, go read our review of the Sleeping's one and only album over here.
Apparently singers Daryl Palumbo(Glassjaw/Head AutomaticaMy Chemical Romance) are in demand: just after they both appeared on Every Time I Die's new album Gutter Phenomenon(sick record!), Geoff Rickly of Thursday has stated his intentions of involving that same twosome on their upcoming new album. "I can't give it away yet, but we have one thing planned that I don't think anyone's ever done on a record," Rickly told MTV. "There'll be some special guests, but it's not going to be in the way that guests usually appear, coming in and singing a few lines. It's going to be more like when artists collaborate on something." Innnnneresting. As a matter of interest, Rickly produced My Chem's debut I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love(2002).
Oshawa country-roots band Cuff the Duke are playing a free show tomorrow night at the University of Ottawa's University Centre Lounge(550 Cumberland) with The Junction and As the Poets Affirm. Donations will be accepted for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 7pm. I'm gonna go! And then go to work!!
In a further Show News bit, a huge metal show is happening at Cafe Dekcuf October 14th(my brother Dan's birthday!): From A Second Storey Window, Ion Dissonance(new album = ridiculous), Beneath the Massacre and After All Your Planets Done. Holy cow, that's a lot of metal. 19+, thirteen bucks, 7pm.
November, upon further inspection, is turning into a massive month for shows of all genres. Check out punkottawa's Shows section for all the action. Wow.
One of the many bands playing the aforementioned glut of November shows, The Dillinger Escape Plan, may release their next album through - what?? - Epitaph Records. Weeeeeird. Check out what vocalist Greg Puciato had to say about this over here.
Underoath have posted one of the four previously-unreleased tracks from their coming-very-soon DVD package online. It's called 'You're So Intricate', and it's yours for the hearing over here. I hope the DVD/reissue thing does huge business; they deserve it.
Switchfoot's brand-new album Nothing Is Sound debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 charts with a hundred and thirty thousand copies sold. Good on them; they deserve it too. Great dudes. [phantomtollbooth]
In related news, Switchfoot are also pretty peeved at the copy protection that was slapped on Nothing Is Sound without their knowledge or consent; they've put up instructions on how to crack it, but - coincidence? - the URL doesn't function. "We were horrified when we first heard about the new copy-protection policy that is being implemented by most major labels, including Sony(ours)," said bassist Tim Foreman. "It is heartbreaking to see our blood, sweat, and tears over the past two years blurred by the confusion and frustration surrounding this new technology." Welcome to the big leagues, fellas.
NOFX hope to release the followup to 2003's The War on Errorism next spring. They're also playing over in Hong Kong and Japan soon. But not anywhere near where I live, so who cares. [punknews]
The previously-defunct Appleseed Cast(former Deep Elm Records stalwarts) have announced that they've signed with The Militia Group(Cartel, Copeland, etc etc etc etc etc), who will release the label debut(love that phrase) next April - hopefully.
Well then: as previously reported here, Bad Religion are indeed playing Ottawa as part of a massive tour November 17th - and if these facts are correct, openers will be Anti-Flag and, um, Pennywise. I smell a sellout crowd!
And now, a throwback for our readers over thirty - not very many of you: Columbia Records is issuing a 30th-anniversary edition of Springsteen's Born To Run November 15th. The package will include a remastered version of the album and a DVD of a legendary '75 concert. I'd buy this if it wasn't probably gonna be retailed for like fifty dollars. Screw that. [Paste]
A few bits from sweetdisaster correspondent Dave Leibold:
- mewithoutYou, opening on Coheed & Cambria's present tour, will be in Toronto November 9th and Montreal on the 10th. Dredg and The Blood Brothers are also playing.
- Lucerin Blue have announced their final show November 13th in London, Ontario. They'll be missed; one of the many one-album-deal bands with Tooth & Nail Records who were then promptly dismissed.
- It would seem that Kingston, ON's Flood are also done, having not played a show in over a year and their website toast. 2005 will indeed be remembered as the Year of the Breakup.
After reading this terrific article on the current princes of Seattle, Death Cab For Cutie, I decided to finally listen to them in earnest - and lo, they deserve the hype. I'm pretty taken. A bunch of songs are available on their website.
The End.
At last night's Comeback Kid/Bane/Strung Out show - and I know this because I received a phone call immediately after their set - CBK vocalist Scott Wade was a no-show, with guitarist/former Figure Four vocalist Andrew Neufeld holding down the front of the stage, while a replacement guitarist for him plugged away. When asked where Wade was, the crowd received this as an answer: "He's getting a haircut." Fishy. The set was apparently amazing nonetheless. sweetdisaster Big Cheese and correspondent Rachelle were at her church watching Ottawa's My Dad vs. Yours and Expatriates along with Toronto's Airfields and Diableros in a far more sedate, intimate setting. Good times had by all.
Speaking of Comeback Kid and Figure Four, from our boy Armin in Winnipeg comes word that last week's mention(at this same show with Bane and Strung Out) of a possible Figure Four reunion/farewell show is no joke. That email address again, if you wanna campaign for either/or cause: xpipesx@hotmail.com.
Floodgate Records' Forever Changed are working on their new record in studio with the help of producer Jeremy Griffiths(Moments In Grace), but that'll have to wait a bit, as the band is hitting the road next weekend for two weeks with Showbread and Yesterday's Rising. Tour dates over here.
Speaking of Floodgate, they recently licensed Life In Your Way's last album Ignite and Rebuild and while I'd never heard the album when Indianola Recs was in charge of it, it is a solid piece of work. Genuinely mixing their hardcore roots with beautiful guitar work(so many hooks, kids, I'm telling you), LIYW could be poised for large-scale renown - finally.
The Insyderz, one of the bands who provided a high-school soundtrack for me, played their last show last weekend. R.I.P.
There are rumours afoot(emanating, suspiciously enough, from Texas...we see you, Cobbell!) that The Dillinger Escape Plan, Between the Buried and Me and Horse the Band will be here in Ottawa come November. Keep your eyes peeled!
More later.