A followup to the Head Automatica news posted yesterday: the band's also found time to do two covers, one Van Morrison and the other Nick Lowe; both can be heard over here. [punknews]
Haven't heard from Further Seems Forever in a while? There's a good reason for that: namely, they're on hiatus. Drummer Steve Kleisath told punkbands.com recently that he's up on a new project with former members of twothirtyeight and Moments In Grace, but FSF is on the shelf for now, with possible touring happening next spring. So hold your horses.
Just a quick note concerning the above: the post on punknews.org regarding Further, and a previous post on Norma Jean, were absolutely flooded in the Comments sections with people out there, presumably younger, uninformed people who had literally nothing more to say than the f-word followed by 'Jesus Christ', which is a) blasphemy of the worst sort(believe me, I know from experience, okay?) and b) quickly sealing the deal on their unbelievable ignorance of the world around them. I'm not a soapbox preacher; I do not use this space to proselytize, but I find it stunning that there are children out there who, because a band's music doesn't ring true to them, simply resort to trashing that band, their label, or their belief system. What is this, an alternative universe? C'mon, kids. Wake up. Don't be conditioned into the My Way or the Highway line of thinking.
The never-ending Punk Goes... series('80s, Acoustic, Pop, etc etc) cover series has a new installment: Punk Goes '90s: End of An Era(we all saw it coming, c'mon). The first band we've heard mentioned is Cartel, who will cover Oasis' smash 'Wonderwall'(oh, how I loathe that song now). [absolutepunk]
Speaking of Cartel, a band formerly on their label, The Format, has already been dropped by Atlantic Records. I don't think a record was even released. That was fast.
...check that: The Format have never even been near The Militia Group. Another terrible piece of reportage by us.
Apparently Victory Records is close to reaching a digital wireless/mobile deal with Warner Bros. If that means what I think it means, it means Victory artists and their songs could soon be ringtones. What the blazes is this world coming to? Do I wanna have my phone ring and hear Earth Crisis? NO!
Tonight in NYC marks the beginning of the highly-touted Halifax/Punchline/I Am The Avalanche(ex-Movielife) tour, with special openers The FULLY FRIGGIN' DOWN from right here in Cap City, babieeeeeeeees! I'm stoked. Find the dates on any of the band's websites and go go go!!
Labeled as Canada Hates Bands is the news(obviously we know it here in Ottawa) that Circa Survive were denied access at the US/Canada border, missing their opening slot here in town Sunday night with Thrice and My Chemical Romance. My boy Ryan was super pissed.
Underoath drummer Aaron Gillespie has recorded a few songs for his side gig The Almost with producer Mike Watt; he'll record some more songs later and eventually put out a full-length album next year. Check out The Almost's distinctly Underoath-sounding stuff(Aaron does sing, after all) over here.
A while ago we passed the word that Thursday was doing a year-end show in New York City; now they're doing another one, December 26th at the House of Blues in Atlantic City with mewithoutYou and...Converge? What the...? Wow, that's an awesome lineup.
The End.
Essential Listening for today, November 28th, is Silent Drive and their debut album Love Is Worth It; SD features Bane bassist Pete and guitarist Zach, but sounds little like that venerable Boston hardcore quintet, favouring instead mostly clean vocals(really good work by Zach) and insanely catchy, almost emo tunesmithing. Really well done.
Apparently The Bronx have dropped off the Dillinger Escape Plan/Between the Buried and Me tour, not that I care, because they didn't make the drive to Ottawa for the very first date of said tour anyway. Nor did Horse the Band, for that matter. So whatever. [theprp]
P.O.D.'s new album Testify has been bumped back to a January 24th release date. That's not really news, but what is news is that sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik(he's the muscle behind this operation) and sweetdisaster Big Cheese will be hitting up the Opera House in Toronto to catch Payable live. We've both been down since the mid-'90s, so this is large for us. Woohoo!
This Just In: God Forbid are crazy good!
Rumour has it a new Head Automatica EP is coming in the not-too-distant future! That has us very excited, because we adored Decadence, and want lots more just like it. And we love talking in third person.
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top joined Queens of the Stone Age on Jay Leno last night. We would have liked to have seen it, but we were sound asleep.
According to this here, Anberlin singer Stephen Christian is carving out a solo project with the help of Copeland frontman Aaron Marsh, who will produce. I'll be interested to hear it. [pastepunk]
Know The Fully Down? We sure do here at the D, being longtime fans of Ottawa's soon-to-be-biggest emo/metal export. That's why it hurt so to read this. But he does have a point concerning the constant time signature switches. The truth shall set you free.
So U2 were in Ottawa last week, and it was a great show, and now we've done gone and found this link wherein you, the good fuzzy reader, can stream some stuff from their brand-new live DVD that hit stores last week as well. Ifyou're using Windows Media, hit this up; if you're into RealPlayer, you want this, and to simply launch the U2 media player, click here. [Paste]
Afternoon fuzzlings. U2 show is tonight, in a matter of four and a half hours or so; read an interesting article in yesterday's Ottawa Citizen on Arcade Fire, who are opening the show and who feature a few Ottawa ties(drummer Jeremy Gara left locals Kepler for AF - good call on that; as well, Gara's brother Nathan is the timekeeper for rising Ottawa band As the Poets Affirm). It'll be a rockin', rollin' good time tonight. Expect feedback tomorrow or Monday.
In the meantime, though, some news.
In the inbox we have here an email from our lovely friend Lori Lenz, the most efficient publicist I know, concerning Pittsburgh's Transition. They've opened for Reel Big Fish a few times in the last month in between signing with Floodgate Records, and now comes word that their debut will be produced by new fan Mike Herrera of MxPx. " I saw Transition play a set at The Warped Tour and I was really impressed," explains Herrera. "I knew immediately that I wanted to do the record, and I am glad that it’s going to happen." The band are duly excited, and recording begins Boxing Day at the Clubhouse, MxPx's Bremerton, WA studio.
Winnipeg checks in(yo Armin!) with word that Silverstein singer Shane Told has started up Verona Records, but not as a grab for fame or anything. "I've started a label not as a business venture, or to gain anything for myself," Told says. "I see amazingly talented bands all over the world, and so many of them have no direction on what to do on the business side of things. I've started this label to guide these bands in the right direction, and help provide them with the finances they need to really give themselves the best shot at playing music full-time." Noble. [lambgoat]
By far the most exciting news of today(which I actually heard last night, with no confirmation as yet): sweetdisaster co-founder Dave Flikkema and his wife Kelly(that's their picture to the left there) have been expecting their first child, and this morning Kelly's water broke. So pray for great things, and we'll let you know soon's we know. God bless, guys!
High On Fire are going out on tour in support of their latest, Blessed Black Wings; openers will be The Bronx, Big Business and Ottawa's own Buried Inside(what up, fellas?). Only two Canadian dates(Toronto and Montreal, February 7th and 8th), as expected with such tours, but go see 'em wherever you might live. The Montreal show is the day before my birthday..I love Buried Inside..hmm...anyway, the tour kicks off January 18th out in San Francisco. [hxc]
Pluto Records' most interestingly-named band, The Jonbenet, are recording a new album, the followup to last year's The Plot Thickens(awesome title). They'll record in January, with Pluto releasing the beast in late spring. Interestingly, one of their upcoming shows is December 8th in San Antonio, marked as the "With All Sincerity comeback show!!!". I like that; WAS only released one record, but it was unique, which is more than you can say for most of the hardcore and metal out now.
If you're among the many Ottawans not at the U2 show tonight(suckers), you can always stay home and watch Switchfoot perform 'Stars' on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight. The more I listen to Nothing Is Sound, Switchfoot's latest, the more I like it. [cmcentral]
Like major labels didn't have enough to worry about: hot on the heels of Sony/BMG being sued by everyone for their spyware-encrypted CD technology(smooth one there, fellas), now we have Warner Brothers shelling out five million bucks to settle a payola investigation. No details to report, but who's surprised that it's happening? Not I. [truthexplosion]
The upcoming new NOFX album is called Wolves in Wolves' Clothing(subtle) and is apparently eighteen songs clocking in at thirty minutes. Wow, that's fast, if it's true.
The Chariot's celebrated EP Unsung has been made available for listening, in its entirety, over here. The production is just beastly. Thanks, Solid State Records! You're the bestest!!
Anti-Flag have been added to next year's Warped Tour. For yea or nay.
I'M excited: Winnipeg's Burnthe8track(still the coolest-named band out there) are hard at work on their new album. It's called Fear of Falling Skies, and will doubtless be another slab of epic, scorching post-punk in the vein of their debut, The Ocean. Plus they're fans of us here at the D, and that gets anyone points in our book.
Next year's Bamboozle Festival in New Jersey is taking shape; though rumours of their bookings have been reported as 'confirmed', Bamboozle says that Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy and Motion City Soundtrack are not confirmed, but are expected to play. So take that for what it's worth.
Terror Fest 2006 will go down July 14th-16th in Toronto; thus far a venue is still up in the air, but tickets are going on sale soon nonetheless. Some of the highlights: Beneath the Massacre, Neuraxis, Ion Dissonace, Despised Icon(noticing a trend of Quebecois metal acts here?), Two Knives, about twenty other confirmed bands, and more to be announced. Whew.
For anyone crushed by Burnt By The Sun's fall to the wayside, fear not: the original lineup plus new guitarist Nick Hale will record a last album for Relapse Records next year. They're all busy with other stuff, but you gotta take care of bidness, na'm sayin'?? Word. "After hearing the new material and thinking about what could be done, the feelings of leaving something unfinished made themselves very present and also re-confirmed the lost connection between us," said drummer Dave Witte. "I am happy that we have grown in the time that has passed and will be able to finish what we started." Matt Bayles will, once again, produce.
Unearth, among many other things, are soon recording a brand-new album of dark lyrics, destroying breakdowns and all-around METAL WITH HORNS, BABY!!!!
Ahem.
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe director Andrew Adamson has said that he'll be filming C.S. Lewis' Prince Caspian next, even though it's not next in sequential order in the Narnia series. I, personally, am waiting with bated breath for the epic film version of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I gotta re-read the books sometime. [buzzgrinder]
This is a disgusting story: former Burlap to Cashmere frontman Johnny Philippidis was hospitalized last week after being beaten almost to death by some idiot motorist after a minor fender-bender. Philippidis was placed in a medically-induced coma to relieve pressure on his brain after suffering a broken nose and fractures to his jaw and eye socket. For those who don't remember BtC, they formed in '97, signed with A&M Records the next year, had one minor hit album and disbanded a few years ago already. Apparently they were planning to re-form and record again when this incident happened. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Johnny, a US veteran with MidEast service.
Rest in peace, Pat Morita: Mr. Myagi of the smash Karate Kid film series passed away yesterday at 73, of natural causes.
Two XBox 360s were stolen at gunpoint down in Virginia this week, proving yet again that Western consumers are a bunch of crazed, star-crossed gadget dweebs. Get a grip, people.
Morning, kids. sweetdisaster Big Cheese's sleep schedule is well and truly trashed, so it's a tossup whether his first night at Pearson Canada Solutions will be a rest-deprived disaster(no pun intended) or not. Who knows. Isn't the building square, squat and cute, though??
Brampton's own Moneen were scheduled to make a record this past summer - they didn't. Instead, however, they instead wound up making an impromptu documentary called The Start To This May Be The End To Another that's coming soon. Check out a teaser over here. [bedlam]
This is a bit of a shocker: frontman Jimmy has decided to leave Haste the Day; his last show with the band he's done vocals with for four years will go down December 30th in the band's hometown of Indianapolis. "Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, it was my own decision," he said in a statement on the band's myspace page. " I feel like this chapter in my life is coming to a close and it is time for me to move on. The guys in my band are my best friends and my brothers and my decision to leave has been a difficult one." Never has a guy who sounded so much like Zao's Dan Weyandt still impressed me so much. Good luck to HTD as they find a replacement. [IVM]
Picked up the new No Innocent Victim, To Burn Again, over the weekend, and it's one masterful slice of no-nonsense hardcore. Recommended to fans of bands like Terror, Figure Four and the like that grew up on NIV. Expect a glowing review here at the Big D sometime in future.
Pittsburgh metal kids Demise of Eros have signed with Strikefirst; you can get a preview over here. They've got some work to do, but promise is indeed shown. Some sweet breakdown action in 'Truth Unlived'.
Even I have to admit as a dedicated fan, U2 frontman Bono sure sounds a little pompous saying things like he thinks their songs occupy "an emotional terrain that didn't exist before our group did." Well then. This article says the singer hopes his band is remembered more for their music than his own activism come a hundred years from now - hoping, obviously, that the problems he raises awareness for will have ceased to be by then. Whatever happens, this Friday will find sweetdisaster's chief rockin' out with some friends at the U2 show here in Ottawa. Woohoo! [rockrebel]
Switchfoot are playing Late Night with Conan O'Brien tonight, November 22nd. Too bad I'll be at work. I'll have to find it online tomorrow.
I remember seeing this band at a high school here in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven(south side!) and watching singer Jason Dunn dunk his head in a bucket of ice water. And now, they're doing this, and touring with the likes of Newsong and Toby Mac. Wow.
The guitarist credited with inventing the power chord, Link Wray, died at 76 a couple of weeks ago(yeah, we're slow on the uptake sometimes). Wray passed in his home in Copenhagen, Denmark. Apparently he achieved the fuzzed-out sound that birthed thousands and thousands of crap bands(and some very good ones) by purposely punching holes in the speakers of his amps. Innovative! [MTV]
Tommy Boy Records is doing their 25th anniversary(25!) in style, releasing a total of twelve CD retrospectives; the first four are in stores now, with two more installments of four to follow on January 24th and March 7th. It would take forever to list who's all included, but this label is one of the pillars of hiphop, so you can pretty much take a shot in the dark and make a hit on anyone. The compilations as a whole are called Hip Hop Essentials 1979-1991. Those dates seem kinda fishy...
In what has to be a first, the entire good state of Texas has sued Sony/BMG over their foiled embedded-XCP-spyware scheme that was outed last week. Houston-based Attorney General Greg Abbott had this to say: "Sony has engaged in a technological version of cloak-and-dagger deceit against consumers by hiding secret files on their computers." Yeah, I'd say that pretty much covers it. Thievery! Secrecy! Big Brothery!!
How come aversion's funniest stories always seem to be from here in Ontario? Like, say, this one. Geez!
After three years off, Silverchair are getting together to record again. The next studio project could see the light of day late next year or early 2007(it might seem like a long time, but really it's not). Diorama, the band's last album(2002) was well-received in their homeland of Australia, but not really anyplace else - we here at sd.com have heard raves about it, particularly from Underoath, among others. With singer Daniel Johns apparently overcoming his various health problems, things seem to be a go. [chartattack]
The new Harry Potter flick ka-chinged over a hundred million bucks in the biggest non-holiday opening of all time. I personally have seen none of the movies, nor ready any of the books. Sue me. Meanwhile, the Johnny Cash movie that I actually wanna see took in a modest $22 million. [Relevant]
I hope I can watch this, because it's been a long time since I've gotten to watch The Late Show with David Letterman on a regular basis, and at least that long that he's been begging Oprah to appear on the show. She's finally accepted, and will make her bow on TLS December 1st. How 'bout that. Their little feud goes back ten years when Dave hosted the Academy Awards and made some snide remarks about Oprah, or as I call her, The Ope.
I don't care who says what: competitive eating is not a sport. Take it away from me.
Christina Aguilera got married over the weekend. I don't care. And furthermore, I predict it'll last about as long as Britney Spears' soon-to-end marriage. G'head, Dirt Princess, prove me wrong. I dare you.
We mentioned Underoath a couple minutes ago - apparently they played 'Reinventing Your Exit' at the Flower15 Booking anniversary week in Chicago recently for "the first time in months". This explains why they didn't play it on the Thrice tour. Yes. [AP]
The third leg of From Autumn to Ashes' tour supporting Abandon Your Friends has been announced:
12/01 - Indianapolis, IN - Emerson Theatre
12/02 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall
12/03 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom
12/04 - Milwaukee, WI - The Eagles Club
12/05 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Club
12/06 - Sauget, IL - Pop's
12/07 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts
12/09 - Rochester, NY - Penny Arcade
12/10 - Toronto, ONT - Opera House
12/11 - Montreal, QUE - La Tulipe
12/12 - Winooski, VT - Higher Ground
12/13 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance
12/14 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of the Living Arts
12/15 - Boston, MA - Axis
Openers are Emery, FATA side gig Biology and Classic Case, and no, it isn't hitting Ottawa. Bummer.
Ottawa's own The Fully Down are the Up Front featured artist over at purevolume, going along with the props they're getting from all different corners of the music map(I see you, pastepunk). The Down, whose debut album Don't Get Lost In A Movement drops nationwide tomorrow, November 22nd, are heading out on tour November 29th, kicking off a jaunt with Halifax, I Am The Avalanche(ex-Movielife) and Punchline in New York City. Congratulations, lads! I'm excited.
Some more words from New Found Glory concerning their upcoming fifth full-length album, these from guitarist Chad Gilbert: "This is the best stuff I've ever been a part of, and I love everything this band has ever done, even [the 1997 EP] It's All About the Girls, where Jordan [Pundik] sounds like a little girl. [But] trust me, the new album sounds like a New Found Glory album." Which is to say, snotty and immature! Yes! The band has promised to post one of the new songs by the end of the month on their official website. [punknews]
Quick sports break: props to my Toronto Raptors, now 1-9 in this year's NBA season after winning their first game last night. They beat the Miami Heat, a lot of peoples' pick to win it all this year. Woohoo!
Michael Diamond, aka Mike D of the Beastie Boys, turned forty yesterday. Happy belated birthday, guy I'll never meet!
NOFX, Thursday, Silverstein and Motion City Soundtrack are all confirmed for 2006's Warped Tour. I'll be likely heading to Montreal for that stop again.
Dead to Fall are planning to record their next album, as well as tour with Ion Dissonance in January; we'll give you the dates when we get 'em.
dc Talk's groundbreaking Jesus Freak record came out ten years ago this year, and Gotee Records is planning a tribute album sometime next summer; so far the only confirmed artists are Gotee's own House of Heroes. No word on which song they'll cover. [JFH]
Today's Baddest Hardcore Band: Berlin, Germany's Final Prayer. Bring the ruckus. The band's debut Right Here Right Now will be out next spring on Let It Burn Records. Reminds me of when I first found hardcore ten years ago, that kinda classic sound mixed with Figure Four's debut No Weapon Formed Against Us, with rougher vocals. I'm digging this. [saveyourscene]
Cloakdagger is a virtual all-star team of a band, featuring ex-members of American Nightmare/Give Up The Ghost, Trial By Fire and Striking Distance, and in order to give us all the heads-up, they've done gone and put up their entire demo on their myspace page. Be prepared to have your head kicked in, babies.
Oh goodie: finally, at long last, after four years, Raised Fist are entering a studio this month overseas to do the followup to 2002's Dedication. FINALLY. The album will be out next year on Burning Heart Records.
Albany MC Sev Statik has got it all together for the Back to Dust project due out next year that DJ Dust will provide all the beats for, while Sev brings the rhymes. This will be a sick project, featuring guests like LMNO, Blueprint, MF Grimm and more. I can't wait. Check out Sev's website for more. Did we mention homeboy is doing shows with the likes of half the Wu-Tang Clan? Albany in the 518's busier than I thought! [sphereofhiphop]
More rap: Pigeon John(peep our interview in the, um, Interviews section, playas) is doing a show with MF Doom, December 7th in Los Angeles, which leads into Today's Essential Listening: Danger Doom, featuring MF on vocals with producer Danger Mouse handling all beats and production. We picked it up over the weekend and it is hot like lava. Yes, there's some profanity, so if you're real conservative and or/under sixteen, stay away. Otherwise, get over it and enjoy the ridiculously high skill level.
R.I.P.: Ottawa metal schizoids After All Your Planets Done has broken up after a few shows and some internal issues. Fortunately, guitarist/mastermind Native is already working on the next hotness, which will be unleashed at the proper time(hint: it sounds like Bleeding Through). Keep an ear open for the new project, which features ex-members of local tech-metallers The Institute as well as the drumming phenom powering Viscera's Recital.
Word.
I have never been prouder of my Dutch heritage than this moment: scanning my brother's blog, the latest entry was this story. I'm still putting all the pieces together - a joke that'll be funnier after you've read the piece.
Oh man, Mike Patton's at it again. The former Faith No More frontman(also affiliated with Mr. Bungle and Tomahawk) will team up with human beatbox Rahzel(formerly of The Roots) for two New York City shows, December 28th and 29th. I really should go, but nah. [theprp]
Linkin Park are writing a new album for release next year. My question is this: does anyone care? When's the last time you heard Linkin Park on the radio?
And speaking of such things, Korn were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live last night(hosted by the unbelievably gorgeous Eva Langoria of Desperate Housewives fame), and it was apparent to one and all that they're simply through. They're down to a four-piece with the departure early this year of guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch, who converted to Christianity, and that leaves the four of them looking just like it's still 1994, only they're older and and drummer David Silveria makes money on the side as a male model. So new track 'Twisted Transistor' was really weak, and for their second slot they went back to 1996's Life Is Peachy, playing 'Lost'(I think; can't remember offhand, though I do own the album), and overall, it was just rather pathetic. I'm sure they're nice dudes, but yeah, they gotta pack it in. Their website's pretty slick though.
And one more bit of Please Stop Making Music Now news: Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland has a new project called Black Light Burns, whose debut Epic Records will release next spring. If you're really masochistic, you can listen to them over here. Now that I've already prejudged and trashed this, watch it be the greatest thing since The Beatles.
Love The Chariot and their quirky song titles? We do!! And now, to follow up 'Yanni Depp', which the band posted a couple weeks ago, we present to you now 'Phil Cosby', the second posted song from the Chariot's upcoming Unsung EP, right over here. [punknews]
Morning kids. Hope you had a good, blessed week; sorry we pretty much ignored you during all of it. Our bad.
sweetdisaster Big Cheese is switching companies effective next week, so wish me luck...I'm thinking maybe I should stop using first-person and third-person in the same sentence. My mother, the established journalist, would have my head. Ah well.
My boy Ian Stanger and his rock and roll band The Fullblast are hitting the touring bricks as you read this, heading to Sudbury tonight, the 18th of November, to play at the Sudbury Arts Council. In a few days Edmonton's Drive By Punch will join the Blast, and the entire caravan will trek out to Canada's west coast and back. MAN, those shows will be hot. Check the itinerary:
11.18.05 - Sudbury, ON @ Sudbury Arts Council
11.19.05 - Thunder Bay, ON @ Kilroy's
Joined by Drive By Punch:
11.21.05 - Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Centre
11.22.05 - Regina, SK @ The Exchange
11.23.05 - Red Deer, AB @ The Vat
11.24.05 - Lethbridge, AB @ Travelodge
11.26.05 - Vancouver, BC @ Pub 340
11.27.05 - Whistler, BC @ The Boot Pub
11.29.05 - Banff, AB @ Wild Bill's
11.30.05 - Calgary, AB @ The Warehouse
12.01.05 - Vegreville, AB @ Vegreville Social Club
12.02.05 - Calgary, AB @ The Gateway Pub
12.03.05 - Saskatoon, SK @ The Louis Pub
12.04.05 - Edmonton, AB @ Reds
12.07.05 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON @ Foggy Notions
A short tour with Protest the Hero and Boys Night Out will follow in December. Word. Check the new album from the Blast, Short Controlled Bursts, over here.
Illinoisemongers(see how I worded that? I'm awesome!) Park have a bunch of new stuff up on their purevolume page; I hung out with those guys at Subway downtown with Moneen, back in the day. Not that that's any reason for you to listen to 'em. Listen to them because they're rad.
Some new albums/bands to watch for:
1. Thirty Nights of Violence - the new project from soon-to-be former Belvedere drummer Graham Churchill, this is a not-quite-hardcore hardcore band.
2. Spoken, Last Chance to Breathe - more Linkin Parkish poppy screamo - dig it.
3. Nodes of Ranvier, The Years to Come - massive, monolithic metal from the Dakotas. Sickness.
4. Othello - new-to-ninety-nine-percent-of-you rapper from the USA; sweet rhymes and beats. Worrrrrd.
And now, the news.
Next year's Taste of Chaos tour kicks off February 15th, 2006; here's the lineup thus far:
Thrice, Deftones, Atreyu, Story of the Year, As I Lay Dying, Dredg, Silverstein, The Receiving End of Sirens, Pelican, The Confession, Adair, Street Drum Corps, Greeley Estates, Millionaire
Ta da! [hxc]
Speaking of Nodes of Ranvier, as we were earlier, they're touring with The Banner:
12.01 Grand Rapids, MI @ Ten Bells Nightclub
12.02 Shamokin, PA @ The Capitol
12.03 Utica , NY @ Utica Resonance Center
12.04 Portland, ME @ The Station
12.06 Providence, RI @ The Living Room
12.07 Philadelphia, PA @ The Syndicate
12.08 Virginia Beach, VA @ Sweet Caroline's
12.10 Marietta, GA @ Swayze's
12.11 Orlando, FL @ The Back Booth
12.12 Jacksonville, FL @ Thee Imperial
12.13 Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
12.14 W. Palm Beach, FL @ Ray's Downtown
12.15 Tallahassee, FL @ Big Daddy's
12.16 Memphis, TN @ The Complex
12.17 Lexington , KY @ Club Revolutions
One of my favourite bands from high school(ah, the '90s!), Gin Blossoms, will enter the famed Ardent Studios in Memphis, TN on December 1st to record their first album in...geez...like what, six years now? It'll be out in the middle of next year. [truthexplosion]
Heads up if you have tickets to see My Chemical Romance and Thrice in Quebec City November 28th; MCR has had to bail on that show citing scheduling conflicts, promising a makeup show "as soon as humanly possible".
Hardcore kings 100 Demons are booking tours all over the globe, as well as writing a new album that'll be out in 2006 - and I read someplace that a tour happening very soon has been like mostly cancelled or something. So if you're looking to go see 'em, might wanna look into that. Aight? Aight.
I've heard mixed reviews of Potemkin City Limits, the newest from Propaghandi, but lambgoat really, really really likes it. I gotta hear this record.
I know that somewhere out there is a sweetdisasterite who thinks Neil Young(hey, Propagandhi and Neil Young, two artists who call Winnipeg home, awesome) is the most amazing musician out there - and he arguably is. His new album Prairie Wind is being hailed by some as his best since 1972's Harvest Moon, and you can stream the entire thing at his website. [buzzgrinder]
If you're down with Facedown Records and their crew of wrecking ball bands(Bloodlined Calligraphy, No Innocent Victim, etc), check out some pictures from their first-ever Facedown Fest - East Coast style!
Wow, who'd have seen this coming? Zao's next album for Ferret Records - I still can't believe I'm saying this - will apparently be produced by legendary Chicago agitator Steve Albini - who, to my knowledge, has never worked with a band as heavy as Zao, but I could be wrong. Quoth drummer Jeff Gretz: "The new album will be called The George Lucas Neckfat." I'm pretty sure he's kidding, but it's still funny.
Turns out myspace.com's fledgling record label(what, you didn't know??) is an imprint of Interscope. I was wondering when we'd find out which major label was financing it. I predict huge failure.
If you're down with Payable on Death from waaaaaaaay back(I am), P.O.D. are playing in Toronto December 14th at the Opera House. Check it out. I just might be there with sweetdisaster enforcer Omnifik.
More sometime this weekend. C'mon back, now, y'all hear?
Unexpected nights off work are nice sometimes. Gives us a chance here at sweetdisaster HQ to catch up on the news. Your hometown Ottawa Senators wiped the ice with Buffalo last night, thumping them 6-1 in front of the home crowd; going into Monday Ottawa is now 13-2. Detroit, meanwhile is 15-2, which is just scary. Can't wait for that matchup to come down the pipe.
Austin, Texas epic-rock act Hundred Year Storm are getting some love; 'Yesterday We Had It All' is getting spun by a few radio stations around the United States. The remaining dates of their current tour are as follows:
November:
14—Topeka, KS – Boobie Trap Bar with Agent 5 Nine
15—Oklahoma City, OK at The Showroom
16—Oklahoma City, OK at The Book Beat
17-Denton, TX at Singing Oaks Church with Terminal
HYS will hit the road again in February with The Kirby, recording new material first in January. Fans of Sleeper Set Sail will be into this band; check them out at purevolume.com.
Former Sex Pistols/Public Image Ltd. frontman John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, wants pop megastar Justin Timberlake to portray him in an upcoming biopic called Rotten: No Irish, No Black, No Dogs(weird title - is that a reference to Zeppelin's 'Black Dog' or what?). Timberlake is an unlikely candidate, but has Rotten's backing because of his "work ethic". [aversion]
Seems there's a lot of acrimony and legal dealing surrounding the depature/ousting of founding Yellowcard guitarist Ben Harper, whose sole focus is now Takeover Records, the label he started almost ten years ago. Following months of message-board crap-talking by know-nothing prepubescent fans, singer Ryan Key(he used to be in Craig's Brother!) told MTV, "This whole thing has been extremely difficult for our band, and there's debate whether or not it's even Yellowcard anymore because a founding member is no longer in the band. And I know that some people want the band they know and the members they know and love, but we just couldn't make it happen. And I know that a lot of people seem to think they know how everything went down, but unless you're in Yellowcard, you really don't understand." Take that, naysayers!! Ex-Staring Back guitarist Ryan Mendez has since replaced Harper permanently. This explains who that guy was I saw when YC were in Ottawa a couple months back. [MTV]
A littled Used news: frontman Bert McCracken(possibly the most profane frontman I've ever seen) is in a fight with My Chemical Romance - ah, rock-star tension - and has a new project called the Street Drum Corps, who've just covered a John Lennon/Yoko Ono song called 'Happy Xmas(War Is Over)', the video for which will feature Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo, DJ Shadow and System of a Down guitarist Daron Malakian. Quite the high-powered friends.
How 'bout them fellas Relient K? Their latest single 'Who I Am Hates Who I've Been' landed at Number One on MTV last week. Good for them; they've busted their rears to get where they are. [rockrebel]
Following the successful 2003 road trip, Tooth & Nail Records are rumoured to be doing another full-on T&N Tour in the spring; Anberlin and Emery are the two mentioned headliners, and that's all we got thus far. [IVM]
Speaking of T&N, a band they put out a few years back, San Jose's Fighting Jacks, have put up two new - very good - songs they've been working on; check out the band's purevolume page for the two new songs and some old stuff as well.
I hadn't heard of this, but we're passing it along as a prayer request for those of you who devote yourselves to such pursuits: a girl named Courtney Maher was severely injured at the October 22nd Thrice/Underoath show in Dearborn, Michigan; a crowdsurfer landed on her head, causing spinal injuries which, while not expected to be permanent, will keep her from walking for up to two years. This was five days before that tour was here in Ottawa, and all one can think is, "It could have been me." Please pray.
Two bands who are planning to reissue their latest albums with new songs as a bonus: MxPx and Norma Jean.
Finally, they've been caught at it: Sony/BMG are looking at a class-action lawsuit after being nailed installing 'rootkits' in their CDs; in layman's terms, a rootkit is "a form of spyware that is more dangerous and difficult to remove than the average browser hijack. Not only does Sony's rootkit hide itself from your operating system, but it "dials home" to Sony with information relating to what songs you're listening to, and when." Niiiiiiiiice. Big Brother is watching us. We'll keep you posted on this story. [bedlam]
Connecticut's The Distance have done what maybe eighty-nine other bands have done in the last few months: signed with Abacus Recordings. When will Abacus stop? Awesome. The Distance's label debut The Rise in January and release it next summer. [saveyourscene]
Atlanta noisemongers The Chariot have posted a brand-new song called 'Yanni Depp'(awesome!) on their purevolume. Man, they're fun to listen to.
This could very easily be a fake, but if it's true, Coheed and Cambria sure are demanding. [absolutepunk]
An email from New Found Glory bassist/resident PR guy Ian Grushka(the guy who can't keep his shirt on) was picked up and posted; here's some relevant excerpting: "At the moment we are in California recording demos and writing songs. We do not start recording the actual new CD until January; not sure how long it will take to complete. At this time we still do not have a title for the record. We have no plans of playing any shows until after the CD is recorded and released. As for what the music sounds like, I'm not talking about the music at all until after the CD is released; I don't want anyone having pre-assumptions of what they think it's gonna sound like. When the CD is finally done, listen to it and tell me what you think about it. Thanks so much for the support." Cryyyyyyptic.
First confirmed band for Warped Tour 2006(man, they move fast on this stuff): none other than Rise Against. I remember seeing them with...who was it...Kill Your Idols, maybe? Anyway, it was a long time ago.
If your're in the Jersey/NYC area, keep December 28th open: Thursday will once again play a year-end show at the Starland Ballroom that night; also appearing will be mewithoutYou and Circle Takes the Square. Twenty bones for a ducat.
Singer/songwriter Derek Webb(formerly of Caedmon's Call) will release his third solo album Mockingbird December 26th. I for one will buy it. [JFH]
Correction from a post a while back: Ottawa-by-way-of-southern-Ontario rocker Joel Gelensye's website is joelg.ca, as opposed to joelg.com, which winds up at some French travel agency, from the look of it. Weird.
Hi kids. Your Ottawa Senators, after a sluggish start against the evil Boston Bruins(they're not really, but for the sake of argument they are) directly attributed to their sparse game schedule, have pulled out in front to a 3-1 lead, with more to come, I'm sure. What a team!!
Anyway.
We have a new feature interview up; Pigeon John had his time in the sun, and now Ohio's Dead Poetic get their Warholian fifteen minutes of fame. Enjoy the piece!
And now, the news.
London, ON metal girls Kittie, after replacing two of their members this year, have now found a new label home; Rock Ridge, founded in part by Three Doors Down guitarist Chris Henderson as "an alternative label for bands disenfranchised by the industry", picked up the London quartet, who are now working on their fourth album. [chartattack]
Senators update: 4-1! Woohoo!!!
There's a small dark lining on Kanye West's big golden cloud; a lawsuit he filed in August has now been met with a countersuit, and all sorts of legal wranglin' will ensue. Clicky linky for details!
I remember back in the day when No Doubt were breaking out huge with 1995's Tragic Kingdom - and now, ten or eleven years later, singer Gwen Stefani has pretty much ditched the rest of the band...and has her own line of digital cameras? She's apparently taken lessons from Sean 'P-Diddy' or 'Diddy' or whatever Coombs.
Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne has created a factory into - get this - a giant musical instrument controlled by one solitary central keyboard. We are not making this up. The proof is over here. [punkhardcore]
Senators update: 5-2 good guys!!
Apparently Duvall wasn't enough to keep the attention of Josh Cater and company, as they told a Chicago radio station this week that following their Smoking Popes reunion show for the big Flower15 anniversary shows they'll work on new Popes material later this year. I've never heard the Smoking Popes, but I absolutely adore Duvall, so this can only be amazing. [aversion]
More tomorrow morning; technical issues plague us here at sweetdisaster HQ, so rather than have an aneurysm, we'll bail for now. G'night, kids.
Congratulations are due to our boys in Demon Hunter, whose brand-new effort The Triptych debuted(not just hit, but debuted!) at number one on Billboard's Heatseekers chart last week! The album hit #136 overall, which is so impressive, if you ask me. Which no one did. At all. But I still spout off.
Got an email here from the kids at Bedlam Society down in Ste. Catharines'; seems like things are hopping down southern-Ontario way. They're sponsoring BMX comps, hosting videos from the likes of Death Cab for Cutie and Avenged Sevenfold, and some of them have branched off to create the new Dine Alone Records(yes, inspired by the Quicksand song of the same name). The first three releases: the Moneen/Alexisonfire split/'switcheroo', The Fullblast's new album Short Controlled Bursts(they're in Ottawa tomorrow with Belvedere, Babylon, 7pm, see you there), and lastly AoF guitarist Dallas Green's project City and Colour. Check out Bedlam's website for alllll the junk.
There's word emo-popsters Paramore(yes, the band fronted by the sixteen-year-old girl) will be joining Funeral For A Friend on their Canadian tour next month; it was being rumoured a couple of months ago already that FFAF were returning. Here's hoping!
Two more bands added to next year's Taste of Chaos tour that went over so hugely this year: As I Lay Dying and Story of the Year. Looks like the aforementioned Funeral For A Friend and dredg might also take part. The tour starts mid-February. [bedlam]
We knew Spitfire had reformed a long time ago; that the band had signed a two-album deal with Hamilton, ON's Goodfellow Records(what up Chris), but what we did not know is that joining the fold is Norma Jean guitarist Scottie Henry. How's he he gonna have time for both bands? That's ridiculous! Only disaster can befall them. Just kidding. Go listen to Spitfire's old stuff; it's killer. The new album will tentatively be called Self-Help, and while their label's proclaiming it to be "leaps and bounds beyond bands like Converge and The Dillinger Escape Plan" - a stretch of the imagination - it'll be pretty good.
We've said it before, and we'll say it again: we're never gonna be as funny as Relevant: "Actor Tom Cruise has replaced his sister, who served as his personal publicist, with a Hollywood veteran after he ran into a series of publicly embarrassing moments over the last few months. Cruise has also replaced his current physician who recently upped his daily dosage of crazy pills from six to eight a day..." CRAZY PILLS!!!
Essential Listening for today, November 8th, is Philadelphia's Valencia. It doesn't get much catchier than this, though I'm sure the too-coolers out there will scoff. Get over yourselves.
This article really made me think. Rachelle, read this one.
Afternoon kiddies.
The Ottawa Senators, as predicted by yours truly, walked all over the New York Islanders last night out at the Corel Centre; my dad's 49th birthday was celebrated in high style with his wife, myself and sweetdisaster ace-in-the-hole Rachelle. Oh, and everyone got free pizza since the Senators scored six goals(Pizza Pizza upped it to six from five last week over concerns that at their current pace, Ottawa was gonna score five or more every game) and won the contest. Good times.
And speaking of good times, The Dillinger Escape Plan are at Babylon in a couple hours accompanied by Between the Buried and Me. Tickets will be seventeen bucks at the door, five pm, 317 Bank St. C'mon out if you're bored this dreary Sunday afternoon.
sd supporter Laura up in the Deep(Deep River, Ontario, that is) sent us this funny link called the Blue Ball Factory. No, it's not innuendo - or is it? Either way, it's hilarious. Be sure you have your speakers on for the full effect. And when you're done with that one, check this one out!!
And now, the music news.
Veteran rapper/youth worker Bobby Bishop released his proper debut album Government Name earlier this year, and my man is hitting the road hard, pounding the bricks to spread the love. He's not a gangsta, he's not a 'conscious rapper' - he's just Bobby. Check him out over here. [sphereofhiphop]
We had foreknowledge of this going down, as keyboardist Chris Dudley told me about it a couple weeks ago, but here's the proof: Underoath, along with their tech, manager and bus driver, dressed up for Halloween as Slipknot. We present to you now Underknot. Hilarious.
Taking Back Sunday are holed up out in Hollywood working with producer Eric Valentine on their major-label debut, due out in 2006. Fourteen songs will be recorded, with eleven to make the album, and the band have set up an in-studio account of sorts - a home movie series, if you will. The first installment's already been posted. Check it out using Windows Media or QuickTime. [AP]
The offices of Eulogy Recordings and subsidiary Hand of Hope Recordings were somewhat wrecked by Hurricane Katrina, and they're starting to rebulild - evidenced by this here email newsletter in the ol' inbox. Some of the highlights:
- four new videos will be added, one day at a time, at Eulogy's website. On Broken Wings' 'Frozen Over' and Hoods' 'The King Is Dead' are already up, with Evergreen Terrace's 'New Friend Request' and Calico System's 'They Live' will be up next week in the videos section
- all kinds of new T-shirts and zipups have been added to the merch section, and it would behoove you to support these two labels with the hit they were dealt by Katrina a couple months back
- Hand of Hope has signed Valencia, California's Stand Before The Firing Squad, a grind band who'll record their debut at the end of this year for release in 2006; check 'em out over here
- Our Days of Eulogy is a new Unearth project in stores November 15th; the package includes the seminal Endless EP, five live songs and the out-of-print Above the Fall of Man EP from way back in the day
- Society's Finest have welcomed back former drummer Chad Wilburn; they're going into the studio in December to record a new album - sick!
- finally, both Eulogy and Hand of Hope have caved and gotten in on the myspace action; Eulogy is over here, with HOH clocking in over in this corner
Speaking of myspace, go make friends with us!
Going to the hockey game(Senators/Islanders) tonight. Enjoy your Saturday night, kids.
MSN.ca as a homepage sucks. I can't even pin down why, but it does. Anyway.
Busy weekend planned for sweetdisaster's Big Cheese; if you're bored Friday night, check out the Rock Block on CHRI here in Ottawa for two hours of high-flying rock ruckus from 9-11 EST. I'll be spinning progressively harder stuff as time wears on. So help me God if some schmuck calls in wanting Kutless.
Innneresting: former Nine Inch Nails drummer Jerome Dillon says he did not, in fact, leave NIN due to health concerns: "Contrary to many published reports in the music press, I want to make it clear that my departure from the band has absolutely nothing to do with my health." Either way, Alex Carapetis is the new man behind the skins as the band continues to tour on With Teeth. [aversion]
Either New Found Glory singer Jordan Pundik has moved to Indiana to pursue a side project, or this band found his doppelganger. Freaky.
Another rapper finds God? If he did, it sure seems Bizzy Bone(ex of '90s megastars Bone Thugs 'N Harmony) did it the hard way.
P.O.D.'s new album TestifyThe Warriors EP Vol. 2, a sequel to 1999's original release, hits the streets. If I'm correct, the tracklisting is as follows:
1. If It Wasn't For You
2. Teachers
3. Ya Mama(seriously?)
4. Eyes of a Stranger(Payolas cover)
5. Boom(live)
6. Wildfire(live)
Apparently this is limited to forty thousand copies, so first come first served. [rockrebel]
Hot on the heels of canceling their entire tour with A Life One Lost due to a death in the family, The Black Dahlia Murder are now two men down. "Yup, Zach and Dave are gone. Both are gone 'cause they couldn't actually play our material. It was sad to have to make such a decision with Dave since he's been with us for quite some time, we wish him nothing but the best in all his future endeavors. Zach, however, was a much easier call to make. He simply didn't care that he played subpar, and we decided that we could definitely not let someone who doesn't even care about the band to continue. We're sorry to all of you who are bummed, but we promise a much better Black Dahlia Murder to come." I think I woulda maybe worded the statement better, but hey, who cares what I think? [saveyourscene]
Funny enough, we're getting information on Strikefirst Records, a label from California, from a website in Italy. Awesome! Anyway, Anam Cara, after some member changes and other internal doings, are working up their debut full-length, aiming to have it out in March. Check their steez over here. I'd link to their myspace site too, but myspace isn't working at all for me today, so screw it. Anam Cara'll be on tour with labelmates War of Ages this month; check your local listings, kids.
Freya(ex-Earth Crisis, among others) are one of my favourite hardcore bands in the last couple years, so it was with pleasure that I read about their latest doings. Vocalist Karl did a recent tour of Quebec and Ontario with A Perfect Murder, and while on the trek met Kittie drummer Mercedes Lander. One thing led to another, and now Lander's clothing company Poison Black sponsors Freya. Word. Lift the Curse is the upcoming new album, and it'll destroy us all. I cannot wait.
A little update from the fine Bostonian lads in Converge: "After coming home from our Canadian tour w/Terror, Cursed and Mare[a phenomenal show - ed], we've been fairly busy on the homefront. Here is what we've been up to: Doomriders had a few local area shows, Cave In began rehearsing for their upcoming U.S. tour with Doomriders, Deathwish have been hard at work on recent releases (Blacklisted's ...The Beat hits stores November 8th), Jake has been creating art for Rise & Fall and Rise Against, and lastly Godcity Studios has been busier than ever with recording projects. Aside from that, Converge has also been hard at work writing new material, some of which we will begin playing live on our upcoming tour with Darkest Hour and The Red Chord." That's a quote.
Extremely obscure tidbit that I mention only because I'm a large fan of the defunct band in question: in order to get the kiddies moshing for their video shoot for 'Gotta Get Away' back in 1995, The Offspring apparently played Snapcase's Lookingglasself over the loudspeakers. Don't ask where we get this stuff. Man, Snapcase is missed.
Not that anyone comes here for hockey news, but the Ottawa Senators are absolutely ruckusing Buffalo tonight; captain Daniel Alfredsson has four goals, as does ace sniper Martin Havlat. The Senators are just a killing machine. Stanley Cup, here we come. Mark these words. Woohoo!
If you miss Incubus(whose last album, though it received decent reviews, didn't do very much, if I'm correct), check out Orlando, Florida's Noon Blue. I like it. They're also a hardcore band on some songs, so be warned. Bwaaahaha.
Ed Gein are a pretty sick band. Marauding spazz-metal with touches of hardcore. I dig it highly and decided I'd share it with the masses. Go find 'em and listen!
I don't care who says what, I also dig The White Stripes. And to that end, some news: the duo from Detroit are releasing a five-song EP due out December 9th called Walking With A Ghost. The title track will actually be a cover from Calgary twins Tegan and Sara, and then there's four live tracks to boot. The Stripes will also be on Late Night with Conan O'Brien December 2nd. [Relevant]
Broken Social Scene, the new kings and queens of the Toronto scene(and there's a whole gaggle of them), released the followup to 2002's masterful You Forgot It In People earlier this month; it's self-titled, and while not all of it works(rapper K-Os appears on 'Windsurf Nation'? Weird), enough does that it's a worthy successor, according to this reviewer.
Apparently the "gangster beef" between Jay-Z and Nas has been settled. Let's hear it for hiphop hugs! Must've been a huge show, with Diddy, Kanye West and Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James all representing.
Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz(aka Adam D)'s recurring back problems have forced the need for surgery; thusly, he won't be playing the overseas Taste of Chaos shows with KsE. So if you're overseas and going, you won't see him rocking in his short-shorts. I know I did last spring in Montreal, and it was pretty awesome. Best wishes to Adam in his recovery. [noisetheory]
Speaking of Taste of Chaos, Deftones, Thrice and Atreyu have been joined by As I Lay Dying as confirmed headliners on next year's Taste of Chaos tour. [hardcorechristian]
Underoath's brand-new re-release of They're Only Chasing Safety, complete with four new tracks and new cover art by Converge's Jake Bannon, debuted at numero uno on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Good for them. [punkhardcore]
It's been well-reported everywhere else on the web, but Bayside drummer John Holohan(aka Beatz) was killed this morning in a tour-van accident traveling between shows. The van hit a patch of ice in Wyoming, ejecting Holohan and bassist Nick Ghanbarian; the latter was severely injured and the band's crew remain hospitalized, while the two other members of the band(Anthony and Jack) were both released from hospital. Our thoughts and prayers go out tonight for Bayside, who have graced Ottawa before, most recently with The Juliana Theory in April of last year. A statement from Victory Records chief Tony Brummel: "John Beatz was an integral part of Victory's artist family. He was a gifted, caring and special human being. He epitomized that NYC, street-smart, rock musician flair in everything he did. As a Chicago guy, I always felt like I was communicating with a brother from another neighborhood on the other side of one big city. He made the music. I got it into the stores and helped make people aware that it existed. John was the type of artist that I always wanted to fight for. He was appreciative and wanted to win not only for himself, but, more importantly, for the team. His phone calls and daily e-mail updates were always a reminder as to why I am in this business. Every time I heard from him he told me that he was "having the time of his life." He played every show like it would be his last. None of us were ready for that show to end. The Beatz will go on and will never be forgotten."
Now. On a more upbeat note: if you haven't already, be introduced to pop-punk goodness of Amber Pacific. I just saw while looking for information on the Bayside tragedy word that AP will lose a member after their next tour. More on that when we get a chance.
Don't know how this escaped our attention, but there's a Beastie Boys best-of coming next week(November 8th) called Solid Gold Hits. Here's the songs on it, babies:
1. So What'cha Want
2. Brass Monkey
3. Ch-Check It Out
4. No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn
5. Hey Ladies
6. Pass The Mic
7. An Open Letter To NYC
8. Root Down
9. Shake Your Rump
10. Intergalactic
11. Sure Shot
12. Body Movin' (Fatboy Slim Remix)
13. Triple Trouble
14. Sabotage
15. Fight For Your Right
Looks like they stuck largely to their roots on this one. [the newly-redesigned altpress]
Kaddisfly(Hopeless Records) = robbed. I think we're gonna set up a separate website called vandalizedbands.com or something.
If you're in the Chicago area and going to the big Flower 15 Booking anniversary show: Hopesfall bailed, Underoath were added. Everything else is still intact. Booyah. Fest runs from November 8th-13th at the Metro in Chi-town.
Matchbook Romance have posted a song from their upcoming album Voices(due out in February). It's called 'Voices'. Go listen. Apparently the new album sounds "absolutely nothing" like old MR. We'll see.
Evergreen Terrace's new album, as we mentioned the other day, is pretty sick, and they're going out on a big ol' headlining tour with The Chariot, As Cities Burn and more. We're not gonna post the entire itinerary here(what a waste of space, honestly now), just the Canadian shows:
Mon Nov 7th, 2005 Quebec City w/The Chariot, As Citites Burn, Underminded
Tue Nov 8th, 2005 Montreal /w The Chariot, As Cities Burn, Underminded
Wed Nov 9th, 2005 London w/The Chariot, As Cities Burn, Underminded
Thu Nov 10th, 2005 Toronto /wThe Chariot, As Cities Burn, Underminded
Check your local listings. This - I promise you - will be a massive show.
A little CanCon for you: the split EP featuring Moneen and Alexisonfire will be out November 22nd on Dine Alone here in Canada and Vagrant down in the US. See, the deal here is the two bands cover each other's songs. Clever, no? Plus one original song each. See if you can spot the wordplay in the titles:
1. Alexisonfire - Passing Out In America
2. Moneen - Accidents Are On Purpose
3. Alexisonfire - Tonight I Am Going To Wash The Hippy
4. Moneen - Sharks In Danger
5. Moneen - Bleed And Blister (Version 2)
6. Alexisonfire - Charlie Sheen vs Henry Rollins
I personally think Rollins would ruckus Sheen all over the place.
An Oregon woman won a million bucks in the lottery - but bought the ticket with a stolen credit card. The police are thinking about denying the woman's winnings. How's that for irony?(Thanks, Relevant]
Sly really has to give it up: not only is Sylvester Stallone reprising his role in the Rocky Balboa series(Rocky VI is due out this time next year), but now Rambo is apparently coming back too. Geeez. Get a grip, Sly. Get a grip.