So frosh week at Algonquin College, as it were, has been not much more than a honeymoon for all the shiny-faced youngsters coming fresh outta high school - this grizzled hardcore vet has been bored stiff most of the week, but it's proven to be an interesting courseload. More details as events warrant. Oh, and my boy Trevor's band The Architects(Ottawa lads all) played in the quad the other day. Apparently the first week is just wall-to-wall shows at that place; Kardinal Offishall, controller.controller and Pilate are playing as I scribe these words. Nice gig.
Bane are taking This Is Hell and Strike Anywhere on tour in October; but before you get excited for that(zero Canadian dates mentioned thus far), Strike A will be here in Ottawa WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, people!!! September 7th at Babylon(317 Bank downtown). C'mon out and throw down with us. And this is an excuse for me to recount how when This Is Hell were scheduled to play Ottawa last spring, but instead were caught stealing from a Wal-Mart just this side of the Canada/US border within minutes of crossing over, Ignite's bassist referred to them as "our fallen comrades, This Is Jail." I still laugh profusely. [hxc] That story is strictly rumour, by the way. Don't sue.
This is awesome: NBC has picked up Veggie Tales, the immensely popular Christian-made kids' cartoon. I don't care who you are, how old you are, what you happen to believe in - this will slay anyone. Veggie Tales will air Saturday mornings on NBC beginning September 9th. I may just get up reaaaaally early to watch. [cmcentral]
A band I really used to like a lot, Linkin Park(been a retro theme around here lately), have finally caved and made their material available over at iTunes. So if you dig 'One Step Closer' and 'Papercuts'(the only two songs I really remember from Hybrid Theory), head on over and download away.
Musician Ivan Neville, son of singer Aaron Neville(the guy whose voice sounds like a radio dial being twisted hither and yon) is performing as I write these words down in New Orleans, on this, the one-year anniversary of the flood that crippled the South's finest city. Ticket sales have been slow for the event, regardless of its import. Others performing include gospel singer Yolanda Adams, jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the incomparable Stevie Wonder. I'd kill to be there. [Billboard]
Former quasi-relevant rapper/professional ho Foxy Brown pleaded guilty to assault charges yesterday stemming from a fight in a salon over a friggin' manicure. Three years' probation, no jail time. Nuf sed. Unbelievable.
The Black Crowes have pushed back the release of The Lost Crowes(a double-disc rarities compilation) to September 26th and ousted their longtime keyboardist. However, they are on tour right now with the masterful Robert Randolph and his Family Band. The slide-guitar mayhem is unstoppable.
Coupla shows in Ottawa to remind local readers about: Throwdown and Zao are in town this Sunday, September 3rd at Babylon. Strike Anywhere are at the same venue four nights later. Comeback Kid on the 20th at the Civic Centre, and Underoath at that same venue six nights later. And this just in: Public Enemy's Chuck D. is gonna be doing a speaking engagement at my new alma mater(Algonquin College). Info on that can be found over...well, not yet, apparently. But stay tuned.
The other day we mentioned that Incubus and Gin Blossoms are still active rock and roll purveyors, so why not another? Everclear will head out on tour September 12th to promote a new album called Welcome to the Drama Club. They'll never top Sparkle and Fade. Give it up already. It's not 1995 anymore. [Decoy]
It all ties together sometimes: right now at my job in radio I'm spinning Further Seems Forever's 'Wearing Thin' from their first album The Moon Is Down. Now, singing on that was Chris Carrabba, now of course fronting Dashboard Confessional, who - and here's the newsworthy part - are taking Brand New on tour soon. Here's the initial dates thus far:
Oct 24 - Denver, CO @ Magness Arena
Oct 28 - Ypsilanti, MI @ EMU Convocation Center
Oct 29 - Wilkes-Barre, PA @ Wachovia Arena
Nov 4 - Fort Smith, AR @ Fort Smith Convention Center- Exhibition Hall
Nov 9 - St Petersburg, FL @ St Pete Times Forum
Nov 10 - Boca Raton, FL @ Mizner Park Amphitheatre
Nov 11 - Orlando, FL @ UCF Arena
Nov 15 - Winston-Salem, NC @ Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Nov 17 - Camden, NJ @ Tweeter Center at Waterfront
Rapper Talib Kweli has a new album dropping soon on his own Blacksmith/Warner record; it's called Ear Drum, featuring his longtime compatriot Hi-Tek among others, and is Talib hopes is the start of something long and prosperous. Others included in Blacksmith's plan are Jean Grae and Strong Arm Steady, a crew comprising, among others, Xzibit and Phil da Agony. "With Blacksmith, I want it to be a flag that everyone can wave," says Kweli. [Billboard]
The new Tenacious D feature-length film looks, without qualifications, fantastic, with Kyle Gass and Jack Black doing their schtick along with cameos from Meat Loaf, Ronnie James Dio and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl. It's in theatres November 17th, and I shall partake.
We're creeping up on sweetdisaster's third anniversary next month, and to celebrate - and ideally in time for the day of - we'll have us a brand-spankin'-new layout from the D's second enforcer Marco, a good Ottawa boy with a degree in graphics design. He's been summarily co-opted by me for my evil purposes, along with erstwhile original enforcer DJ Omnifik. With a posse like this, we unstoppable!!
Anyway.
American Idol fans, take note: contestant Chris Daughtry is putting together a self-titled band(Daughtry, for those not getting it) and releasing a record featuring songs co-written with people from Fuel, 3 Doors Down, SR-71 and Matchbox Twenty. Producer? Howard Benson, which almost guarantees a hit. No release date is known as of yet. I don't care about this, strictly speaking, of course, but it's interesting how much help Daughtry is getting here. [soundthesirens]
Speaking of the '90s, one of my absolute favourite bands from my halcyon days of youth, Gin Blossoms, released a new album last week called Major Lodge Victory. No one will care, because music sure as hell ain't what it used to be in the upper echelons, but dang if the Blossoms don't still rule. I'm gonna go befriend them on Myspace now...except that there's another glitch wherein by attempting to add someone, you wind up in YOUR mailbox. Weeeeird.
Project 86 are keeping surreally busy(is surreally a word?), not content to maybe, you know, get a life after releasing And The Rest Will Follow just a few months ago. No, the band is in the studio recording their next album, which they want out in our hot little hands by early next year. Pro-leeef-ic, ja? [TVU]
Fighting Jacks, who released a typically-unpromoted record with Tooth & Nail a few years ago, had their van and all their gear - I mean all of it - ripped off last week. Twenty large, all told, the Jacks are out. It sucks entirely, having nine years' worth of music-related possessions stolen by some lowlifes. If you're a fan, or just wanna send support, hit up their Myspace page. Time for Christians to act like the name suggests.
I'd heard this, but dismissed it as purely asinine - apparently it's legit, and Elton John does wanna do a 'hiphop' album. "I want to bring my songs and melodies to hip hop beats, a bit like 'No Diggity' by Blackstreet," the singer has said. Wow. [Decoy]
Essential Listening for today, August 26th(happy birthday, Mom!): The Procussions, rapidly rising straight outta Lost Angels by way of Denver, and a song called 'The Storm'. Hit it up here. Illmatic. While you're at it, hit up all the bombs on that page. Amazing.
Word is that the folks at Myspace, having already launched a record label(though the success of that label is up for debate thus far), are thinking about creating a high-profile, glossy magazine. I hope it flops. They need to learn what a little thing I call "failure" is.
Background information on this new Crank flick: not only is The Sleeping's Bee Gees cover pure murder, but the NOFX song picked to be on the soundtrack? 'Kill All The White Man.' Hilarious.
Sounding a hell of a lot like another San Diego band with the acronym AILD, except a little more variety, Solid State rookies Destroy the Runner have some new material up on their Myspace. Not bad, on the whole.
Incubus still exist, which I didn't know.
It's a terrible world we live in when Lamb of God's newest may sell eighty thousand copies in its first week, while Paris Hilton's is predicted between ninety and a hundred grand. Sick.
My sweet Lord, SKID ROW are releasing a new album soon. What is this, Armageddon??
Former Chariot bassist Keller Harbin, as reported here and elsewhere, is now confirmed as the new bass player for the Spinal Tap-esque Every Time I Die.
Everyone's favourite metal heartthrobs, Atreyu, have picked 'The Theft' as their new single. I still will not care.
Darkest Hour and Evergreen Terrace are allegedly putting together a future tour. In related news, ET are here in Ottawa next weekend, September 3rd, opening for Throwdown. If you live here and haven't gotten tickets yet, get your ass to End Hits downtown or call 241-HITS. Geez. C'mon already.
Caught Toronto rapper Kardinal Offishall downtown last night; it was a corporate gig commemorating the launch of Hullo, a versatile answering service created by an Ottawa-based company. Check it out if you're interested, and this just in: Kardi knows how to throw a rap show, kids. Pictures on the web over here. And check out a crazy(pun intended) remix of Gnarls Barkley's breakout hit over here. Wild.
Getting ready to tour all over the place with Tool, Isis(or, as someone once referred to them, "Is-is") have put a new song called 'Dulcinea' online over here. The upcoming new Isis album is called In The Absence of Truth, due October 31st. Incidentally, and in no way related, Dead Poetic's Vices is scheduled for that Tuesday too. How exciting! [noisetheory]
Friends of Isis, actually, in the form of Converge, will beat Is-is to the punch by releasing their new album No Heroes a week earlier, on October 24th. That record will destroy us all.
Word has gotten around following their departure from the Warped Tour that Underoath are either losing members or outright breaking up - not the case, according to manager Randy Nichols, who emailed AP with this statement: "I thought you might be curious to know that Underoath did not break up [and] no one has quit or left the band," says Nichols. "[They] are about to get back on the road again and do all their touring for the year, and next year, too." Included in that massive touring run is September 26th here in Ottawa, so go get tickets ASAP.
I've never heard of this flick, but Crank comes out in theatres September 1st, and get a load of the soundtrack: featured are NOFX, Rocket From the Crypt, Refused, Canadian schlock-rock band Loverboy(what the hell?) and freakin' Jefferson Starship. As well, our friends The Sleeping contribute a cover of the Bee Gees' 'Stayin' Alive', and since you all must hear this song, it can be streamed over at the movie's Myspace page. Word up to the Sleeping!
By the way, The Smoking Popes, who are absolutely, without-a-doubt better than your stupid band, have posted TWO NEW DEMOS!!!! WOOO! Check out the action over here. Quickly! Giddyup! Something about Josh Caterer's voice and his subtle way with a turn of phrase makes everything he does musically simply irresistible, in my opinion.
Fomer bassist for The Chariot Keller Harbin is being touted as the replacement to recently-departed Every Time I Die four-stringer Chris Byrnes, who quit last weekend. Harbin - or whoever winds up joining ETID - will become Bassist Number Six since the band's inception in 1998.
In a recent interview with the intrepid lambgoat.com, two members of Bleeding Through and Unbroken's Steve Miller said they've started a new band called March of the Damned, saying it's "very noisy, almost Cursed sounding...we're taking a lot of older nineties west coast hardcore." Innnnteresting. [SPB]
T-minus twelve days before Strike Anywhere come back to Ottawa! Make sure you're all ticketed and going!
From the three new songs up on their Myspace page, New Found Glory appear to have jettisoned entirely their punk/hardcore roots, meaning I'm not gonna be down with their new album as much as I always have been, going back to 2000's self-titled record. Gone are the gang vocals and breakdowns. Hmph. Just an observation.
Quoth half of Gnarls Barkley, DJ Danger Mouse, on his collaboration with Cee-Lo Green: "This record wasn't deliberate on either one of our parts. We didn't worry about who would listen to it or what station would play it. We were just trying to impress each other." St. Elsewhere has since sold over 600,000 copies in the USA alone. Way to guy, guys. [Rolling Stone]
Two notes related to the big D: sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik(pictured here spinning drum 'n bass tunes in downtown Ottawa) is about to become my roommate in our pleasant little suburban townhouse. As well, a new layout for the mag is in the works. Stay tuned.
Stolen without recompense from a Myspace bulletin from longtime sd supporter Pliggot; headed 'Oh My Gosh! Totally!'
not so randomn questions:
1. Do surveys even matter?
2 Do most of the people on your friends list even reply to these?
3. Did you know how many scams come from these things?
4. If MySpace trackers really work, then how would you track the people who don't log in and view your page?
5. Who are all these bands asking us to add them?
6. Did you ever stop to think if you background and your texts look right together?
7. Did you know that you could take Tom off of your top eight?
8. Did you know that 80% of written word goes unread? What do you think that makes online content percentage wise?
9. Did you know that "dude, you're getting a dell" guy is totally in jail for drugs?
10. Why did you even stop to answer these?
Steve's awesome. *thumbs up*
Our longtime friends at Indie Vision Music on the left coast have redesigned their website! Slick.
Slow Coming Day, who put a good but overlooked record with Tooth & Nail a few years ago, are relocating from SoCal to Seattle to write a new album. Does this mean that they're rejoining the Nail stable? Don't know.
From the Columbia Missourian, via rockrebel, a quote that almost perfectly sums my feelings on "Christian" music: "It seems that the notion of the Christian industry is to find a cleaner alternative to what's in the mainstream. Often, by the time they have an alternative out there, the trend has run its course. The copy is never as good as the original." Amen! Be innovative!
They can say what they will in their various bland statements, and the overall concept is interesting, but with Kutless becoming the first internationally-successful Christian rock band to align with an automaker - in this case Suzuki - it's still all about the greenbacks.
Some background info has arisen over P.O.D.'s decision to bail on Atlantic Records after seven years; frontman Sonny Sandoval told Launch online about the band's dissatisfaction: "All the people got fired, all of a sudden everybody that set up the record, well, now nobody's there, and all the top dogs are gone, and it's like, so they have no personal attachment to the record," he said. "Why are they gonna work it if they had nothing to do with it? And that's kind of their mentality?" Rumour has it Payable may be headed to Tooth & Nail Records, owned by EMI.
A new movie about Kurt Cobain, About A Son, is set to make its debut at the Toronto Film Festival September 10th, after which the makers, journalist Michael Azzerad and director AJ Schnack, hope to take it nationwide. The rundown is over here.
Killswitch Engage bassist Mike D'Antonio expounded at length to MTV recently about the band's upcoming third album As Daylight Dies(how very melodramatic!), including saying that KsE plan to be on the road for much of 2007, including shows in Alaska and Hawaii. Busy lads. Hope Ottawa's included!
I can't help but wonder if this kid is for real.
Alexisonfire's new record Crisis hit stores yesterday. Try to go catch them here in Ottawa soon with Every Time I Die and Cancer Bats.
A great pop rock band known as Cartel are playing live on Jimmy Kimmel tonight. Show's at midnight EST. [Relevant]
As has happened often before, I could insert my own smartass remarks here, but I couldn't touch the original humour, courtesy of Relevant mag: "There are 'cat-killing' urban raccoons loose in Washington state; even worse, there seems to be a swarm of overly sensational news reporters working in the area! Here are some quotes from the article: "Raccoons are cute, until they kill one of your cats." "[Residents] even started a Raccoon Watch after having an emotional neighborhood meeting attended by about 40 people. 'It was a place for people to mourn and cry.'" And here's the best: "'I'm afraid of them,' she said of the raccoons. 'I carry an iron pipe with me when I go out at night,' she added." Gold!
This Just In: Comeback Kid have been confirmed for an interview with yours truly on the 20th of September, when CBK roll through Ottawa opening for Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion. Just thought I'd pass that along. However, Thursday were "confirmed" for an interview with moi at Warped a couple weekends ago and that was not happening. So nothing's really set in stone til it happens. Capisce? Capisce.
Erie, PA's War of Ages(why do I keep thinking they're from California?) have another new song on their Myspace, taken from the new Pride of the Wicked full-length. Ten bucks says the album's title is derived from the Book of Proverbs.
Well, as of this writing, my beloved Toronto Blue Jays, behind inconsistent-yet-somehow-inhumanely-expensive starting pitcher A.J Burnett have managed to get the first half of the first inning against Oakland out of the way, which is more than you can say for LAST night, when Toronto gave up an eight-run lead in the third inning - and then starter Ted Lilly literally fought manager John Gibbons after getting the hook. My baseball team is a soap opera this season. Geez.
You like new music? You like Norma Jean? Well, hot damn, have we got a treat for you - a new song called 'Amnesty Please' has been posted over here. Redeemer drops September 12th. [saveyourscene]
I don't know if I wanna hear it, much as I love the band: New Found Glory covered Justin Timberlake's 'Cry Me A River' live a while back, and they've done gone and posted it here. Yikes.
After a raucous European tour with Ignite, With Honor are putting out a 20-song CD called The Journey on Burning Season Records. The album includes the material from the band's self-titled EP on Stillborn, the split with The Distance and the Heart Means Everything full-length, remastered. I like the sound of this. I'ma go get it.
The third album from new Kings of Metalcore Unearth was up online in its entirety over at AOL, but by the time we got word, it was, "We're sorry, but the page you requested is unavailable." Dang it. The new album is called III: In the Eyes of Fire. Their sophomore effort, The Oncoming Storm, kinda got boring after the first couple listens; hope this record's more engaging.
I've known the guy for years on end, and worked with him on many occasions, but never actually gone to his personal website: the proprietor of punkottawa, Shawn Scallen, has been around the block. Recommended viewing for those who like top-notch rock photos and commentary in blog-style form. Check out the shots of Green Day in the mid-'90s and The Ramones live at Carleton University circa 1986. Wow.
Rumour has it that Brand New's as-yet-untitled new album will be out October 10th, so check the internet, oh, now. I've said before and I'll say it again: I hope BN continue writing dark, personal songs even though that's rather in vogue these days; they do it better than most. [absolutepunk]
Sublime(there's an old name) have a 'deluxe edition' CD coming out, this a full decade after Brad Nowell's death from a heroin overdose. If you're still down with 1996 and before, check out the album stream over here.
Good Lord: Boysetsfire's final show, scheduled for next month in Philly, has had to be postponed as guitarist Josh Latshaw suffered a nasty injury at work; he's presently in hospital with a broken neck and other injuries. We here at sweetdisaster will be praying earnestly for him. Follow our lead, eh?
Over the weekend at Michigan's DirtFest, Every Time I Die bassist Chris Byrnes announced it was his final show with ETID. It's like Spinal Tap, the rotating ETID bass position.
Pop-punk heroes Relient K said at a show last night that the new album - unnamed at this point - will be out November 21st. Shouldn't there already be a name for this puppy by this point?
According to this review of this summer's Sounds of the Underground tour, Terror were lousy. That said, I love Terror.
This Just In: Mastodon are awesome.
Innnteresting: in an online post of some sort or other, Indecision hinted that there may be a show somewhere before year's end. And where there's a show, there's a reunion album. And where there's a reunion album, there's a tour. Fingers crossed. [saveyourscene]
A great little modern-hardcore tour is kicking off September 20th in Louisiana, featuring the triad of Set Your Goals, The Distance and No Trigger. September 30th in Fredericksburg, Virginia is a notable date, as all three bands listed will wreck stage along with Dead to Fall and Misery Signals. No Canadian dates listed, but the itinerary is over here. [punknews]
My beloved Toronto Blue Jays were absolutely annihilated in Baltimore this afternoon. It was 15-0 for the side of hatred and darkness and demonic entities in the top of the 9th when I gave it up for a loss. I'm pissed.
Longtime sweetdisaster favourites Switchfoot have completed the writing of their latest album(is it just me or does it seem like a month ago that Nothing Is Sound came out?). Songwriting machine/frontman Jon Foreman posted the following on the band's Myspace page: "It's 5:55 am on Monday, August 7th. The sun is rising. I can hear the traffic starting to wake up on the 5. The early birdies are beginning to sing. I pull the fifteen passenger van into the driveway and kill the engine. I let the silence sink in. Inhale. Exhale, slowly. Inhale. Close your eyes. Breathe. It's been a long trip. I am home. Home. And the record is done. And the record is done. Breathe." Sheesh. Sounds like a rather arduous process. The record is due in stores the day after Christmas. [JFH]
Hey, kids, check it out: the first actual new song I've heard from the Deftones' upcoming Saturday Night Wrist has been put online over at their Myspace. I really like what I hear, but maybe that's born out of the bias of being a ten-year fan. Such a rad combination of aggression and melody, as has always been their specialty. Sacramento's kingpins still got the goods. [absolutepunk]
I didn't catch Against Me live at Warped last weekend - they closed the entire show and the entire tour, actually, as Montreal was the last stop - as I had a busload of kids to transport home. However, to assuage my wounded feelings, the kids at Punk Rock Vids have posted AM's performance of a badass tune called 'From My Lips to God's Ears' on Jimmy Kimmel Live on their Myspace. I'm gonna go watch. Join me! Reminds me of Ottawa's much-missed The Transit.
Just ahead of a big tour with Sick Of It All, two members of the The Warriors have stepped aside. Former members of Diehard Youth, Retaliate and a slew of other bands will be stepping in on guitar and drums. Full speed ahead! There's a little statement from Donny and Danny over here.
Word on the street among people who have no life(and I, for the sake of the story, will join them) is that Yellowcard singer Ryan Key is dating another, probably-more-famous singer pictured over here. True? Does it really matter? For a dude who did time with early-millennium punk band Craig's Brother(I miss CB!!), to be mentioned in the same breath as a woman that blazingly hot is MORE than enough, I daresay.
Former Blink-182/current Angels & Airwaves guitarist Tom DeLonge had a baby boy this week. Congrats to him.
Hope you're all enjoying the plethora of Warped pictures I hustled my ass off to get last weekend. I'm smugly satisfied that you are.
Walls of Jericho have landed a rather plum touring gig - the Family Values tour, in fact, kicking off tonight(August 18th) with headliners Korn and Deftones. I'm pretty sure y'all have heard of them two.
Alove For Enemies, roaring outta Strong Island, NY, have never really won me over. I mean, I don't mind them, but some of the Facedown/Strikefirst Records output gets a little stale after a while. That said, this review of ALFE's newest, Resistance, makes me wanna get it and then break furniture.
Sweeeet: September 20th, Babylon in downtown Ottawa will welcome back Raised Fist, touring Quebec and Ontario to support Sound of the Republic(just released). Openers are Montreal's Closedown. Sweet!! [punknews]
A cute little gallery/slideshow of Warped 2006 pics(Montreal) - for your viewing pleasure over here. Enjoy, kids.
One of my best friends - though we're far apart and often don't talk for long spells at a time - is smoking hot, as proven by her Myspace page.
And she's 24 today. Happy birthday, Kristine.
And now, some news.
Apparently some Cali punk band called Supernova is suing CBS over the TV series of the same name - well, the show is called Rockstar: Supernova, starring a bunch of bloated has-beens who used to be in Metallica and Motley Crue. As stupid as the show is - and I've never once seen, and can still call it stupid - for some unknown punk band to take one of the Big Three networks to court is just as dumb. [buzzgrinder]
System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadijan will be busting out the live bass for the Wu-Tang Clan on three east-coast dates, the first of them tomorrow night(August 18th) in New York City. Apparently he's been in-studio collaborating with RZA for a while now. Pimp! [theprp]
Kittie are making a new record. Personally, I wasn't aware they were even still a band. Good for them.
Bert12 will love this: Primus are rumoured to be planning a North American tour this coming November and December. I personally do not care.
The Silver Bullet tour, featuring headliners Haste the Day with support from August Burns Red, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Destroy the Runner and Ligeia, kicked off Tuesday in Iowa; three Canadian stops are included in the latter stages, namely London, Montreal and Toronto, September 18th-20th. Hit it up. [cmcentral]
The Smashing Pumpkins have officially entered the studio with producer Roy Thomas Baker to start work on their first album in seven years. This could either be great or awful. I'm inclined to lean towards the latter, no offense to Mr. Corgan. [truthexplosion]
In what has become a trend of late, two bands will do a split-CD featuring one new tune from each band as well as each band covering one of the other band's songs. Hotness. The two acts in this instance are Cancer Bats and This Is Hell. The split will be out this winter on Future Tense Records.
New Emanuel - straight outta LOUISVILLE, Y'ALL!!! - has been put online.
In what may be unbelievable news to some, Slayer's newest debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200, with sales of 63,000 copies. Wow. [lambgoat]
The End are in Brampton, ON doing their newest album for Relapse Records. Vocalist Aaron had this to say about the process: "There was a very conscience effort to create the album that people won't be able to predict, and won't get tired of. It's a record for metal heads, it's a record for hardcore kids, it's a record for rock n' rollers." I wonder if they're doing clean singing on it. I wouldn't bet against it, not that I don't love the End.
Looks like I'll be taking a little roadie to Montreal for this tour: the Radio Rebellion trek kicks off October 6th in Nashville with headliners Norma Jean(promoting their upcoming third album Redeemer) as well as Misery Signals, Between the Buried and Me, Fear Before the March of Flames and Ottawa's own The Fully Down(who just killed it at Warped Tour, incidentally) on certain dates. Canadian shows:
10/10 Toronto, ONT @ The Opera House
10/12 Montreal, QUE @ Spectrum
11/10 Vancouver, B.C. @ Croatian Cultural Centre
11/11 Calgary, ALB @ Macewan Ballroom
11/12 Edmonton, ALB @ The Starlite Ballroom
Classic Case, featuring ex-Beloved frontman Josh Moore and Durijan Lang(Glassjaw), has signed with Fearless Records(speaking of the Fully Down - now they're labelmates!). Good for CC. Listen to their awesomeness over here.
Following the release of perhaps their best work, How to Live With a Curse, Stavesacre have put up a B-side from the recording sessions called 'This Madness'; peep it over here. [buzzgrinder]
Some pictures of general interest now.
Anberlin live at the Bluesfest here in Ottawa, June 15th: Clicky clicky.
Hot gospel/urban/rap action: Prosper, T-Bone and Papa San tearing it up at Bluefest: Clicky clicky.
Thousand Foot Krutch and Pillar, Toronto, June 2006: Clicky clicky.
The fury of sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik plying his drum-n-bass craft in downtown Ottawa, June 2006: Clicky clicky.
Warped pictures coming in the next few days. Hold tight. As well, the long-promised Thrice feature with singer Dustin Kensrue(expecting father!)
So the twelfth edition of the Vans Warped Tour rolled through Montreal, Quebec yesterday(August 13th), and yours truly shepherded fifty kids there and back on one of four punkottawa buses(hi Shawn/Becker/Chambers), and a good time was had by all. Yours truly witnessed Helmet live for the first time and almost assuredly the last, since the style they still ply hasn't been popular in as many years as they were absent from the music landscape. So that was dope. The Fully Down, The Sleeping and I Am The Avalanche apparently bonded over the course of the summer, and all three bands simply tore apart the Smartpunk.com stage all afternoon, culminating in about fifteen bodies on stage during IATA's last number. Other sets of note included Protest the Hero(phenomenally talented for such young dudes), Thursday and Every Time I Die. That's the Warped report. Pictures to come.
Fabulous Philadelphia songwriter Denison Witmer, come October, is gonna release a 24-track double-disc affair comprising his debut album Safe Away and the Are You A Sleeper EP. Currently overseas on tour, Witmer will return for a couple of US tours this winter, including an opening stint for buzz band Anathallo. [soundthesirens]
Attention, all Aqua Teen Hunger Force Fans(including yours truly!): there's a movie in the works, and early buzz is actually positive. More news as events warrant!
A band that's won me over since I started working in Christian radio, Falling Up, are working up a new project called Exit Lights, a reworking of some of their older material done in electronic fashion. Production will come from the dudes themselves as well as guests like Project 86 guitarist Randy Torres, Solomon Olds of Family Force 5 and the omnipresent Trevor McNevan(Thousand Foot Krutch). For release date and such, check out FU's website, and yes, that was awesome using "FU" like that. [TVU]
Speaking of Krutch, they're hitting the road next month for three weeks with Crossfade, who I don't much like. I won't hold that against TFK.
Haste the Day(with their new vocalist) and August Burns Red(also with a new-ish frontman) are touring the US soon on the Silver Bullet tour; openers were supposed to be new Solid State act Inhale Exhale, but they bowed out due to - natch - lineup changes. Equally new SS band Destroy the Runner will step into the breach. For dates, well, go find a website or something. You're not idiots.
A Love Ends Suicide(honestly, please stop with these ridiculous names) are gonna put out their debut album on High Impact Recordings/Metal Blade on September 5th. Why, you're asking, should I care? High Impact is the new imprint from As I Lay Dying vocalist Tim Lambesis - who, if you'll recall, had previously partnered with AILD's first label Pluto Records to form Clockwork Records last year. Hmm. Apparently that went the way of the buffalo(although our latest review over there covers the one and only CW album from Life In Pictures - great band). [decoy]
New Killswitch Engage tentatively out in November! Start breaking it down now!
Long-running Jersey stalwarts Nora - who I still like, regardless of some other peoples' opinions hint hint hint - have about eight cuts ready for their next album. "Expect a different kind of Nora record this time around," they say(don't they all, really?). "We don't have any names for the songs yet(due to a lack of lyrics at this point), but our insider names for them are animals - wolf, eagle, bear, etc. Kinda strange, I have to say... but amusing nonetheless." Indeeeeed.
The ever-prolific Starflyer 59 have another new album coming in September, called My Island. Check out a brand-new song called 'I Win' over here. This has to be their eighteenth full-length album by this point.
I found out how renowned actor Samuel L. Jackson managed to procure my phone number yesterday to inform me that he'd eff up my program if I don't go see Snakes On A Plane: the movie's website makes everything crystal-clear. Now I gotta find out what dimwitted friend of mine got up to this.
In case anyone still cares what two guys from the Stone Temple Pilots and the singer from Filter are up to, they got a new thing called Army of Anyone together; the new single is called 'Goodbye', and the debut album drops in a couple months. There it is. Take it or leave it. Personally, I loved STP.
Wanna scream for an above-average-but-not-spectacular metalcore band? Kingston Falls(Strikefirst Records) lost their singer this week for no apparent reason(I blame airport luggage-handling...just kidding), so, well, if you're interested, hit up their Myspace page. [hxc]
Really bored? Check out the one hundred and eleven wussiest songs of all time. I have better things to do.
Like hit up WARPED TOUR tomorrow in Montreal! It'll be a long day but fun. Until then, peace.
In the biggest development for them since the departure of founding guitarist Marcos Curiel back in 2003, P.O.D. sent out an email today saying they've parted with longtime label Atlantic Records. "We've been proud to be Atlantic Recording Artists, but it's not the same place anymore," says their statement. "For most of our stay, we were blessed by a staff that was gracious towards our vision, faith, and love of music....resulting in more than 7-million records sold. It's time to dream again with a new staff and we leave with grateful hearts."
Sick Of It All are hitting the bricks with The Warriors, The Autumn Offering and Dead Hearts, headlining their first tour behind their newest, Death to Tyrants, and including their 20th-anniversary show on September 17th in their hometown of New York, New York. Here's the initial tourdates:
9/16 Buffalo, NY - The Icon
9/17 New York, NY - BB King's - SOIA 20TH Anniversary Show!
9/18 Baltimore, MD - The Ottobar
9/20 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
9/21 St Petersburg, FL - State Theater
9/23 Orlando, FL - The Social
9/24 Jacksonville, FL - Fuel
9/26 Cincinnati, OH - Top Cat's
9/27 Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom
[AP]
Always worth reading is an interview with Tim McIlrath, main man behind Warped Tour '06 headliners Rise Against; I may not have heard the new one yet, and sold my copy of Siren Song, but damn if Tim still ain't smart. Read.
On the heels of SPB's interview with Rise A, they talked with Ottawa's own My Dad Vs. Yours, whose expansive instrumental music blows my mind(their live show is not to be missed or trifled with). Check out that hot rock action over here.
The new album from Stavesacre, one of the most enduring bands in America for my money, How To Live With A Curse, is purely fantastic. Go find 'The Trouble With Being Born' and tell me they don't still got it. And find their Myspace and befriend them immediately. That's today's Essential Listening, August 11th.
A week from tonight, August 18th, Tom Green, who somehow still has a TV show in the web(really! Who knew?), will host none other than everyone's favourite rapper, Pigeon John. According to PJ's Myspace bulletin of a few minutes ago, he'll appear on Green's show at Mania TV. Hooray for the interweb.
I'm assuredly fetching this one from a store or online somewhere soon: ActionReaction, fronted by ex-Further Seems Forever singer Jason Gleason, has posted another new song from their upcoming debut EP. Check it out over here. [SPB]
Preceded by a two-song single this fall, Lifetime's first comeback album will be out next year on Decaydance Records(owned and operated by Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz). I wonder how many fourteen-year-old FOB kiddies are aware of the band's hardcore roots? But anyway, yeah, Lifetime kills.
If you're really, really bored and also a student of the law - officially or otherwise - you can download the entire lawsuit Hawthorne Heights have filed against Victory Records' owner Tony Brummel over here. I cannot imagine anyone wanting or needing to see this document, but what the hey.
As an addendum to the previous Sick Of It All news, longtime fans and frequent SOIA tourmates Most Precious Blood - who also have a tentative title for their next album, Do Not Resuscitate - will contribute to the SOIA 20th-anniversary compilation, as yet untitled. Others pitching in include AFI, Hatebreed, Dropkick Murphys, Sepultura, Bouncing Souls, Thursday, Napalm Death, Rise Against and Walls of Jericho, for starters. Wow.
I saw a band on The Tonight Show last night, The Panic Channel, who had former Jane's Addiction/Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Dave Navarro within their ranks. How'd this happen without my knowledge?
One of the messages when I turned my phone on today was literally an ad for Snakes On A Plane, the new flick from bad-ass Samuel L. Jackson. I know some idiot friend of mine called my phone and then held theirs up to the computer speaker, but nonetheless it was funny as hell to hear Jackson telling me in no uncertain terms how he'd mess me up if I didn't go see his movie. All this to say, go look at this here, an account of how all kinds of buzz bands are clamouring to be on the soundtrack to this admittedly ridiculously-premised movie. Unbelievable.
Did you know some bastardized version of Guns 'N Roses is on tour over in Europe? True story! What the frig.
My Chemical Romance busted themselves up shooting a video recently and ergo had to shut down a performance in San Diego. Best part of this? The opening sentence of the band's statement on the matter: "There were no car wrecks, monster attacks, or alien abductions." That's rad. [RS]
Sweetdisaster enforcer DJ Omnifik reports that the new offering from the Bay Area's finest, DJ Shadow(can't touch him, y'all), The Outsider, drops this upcoming Tuesday(that's August 15th, kidlets). So go get it.
Rapper/impresario Jay-Z met with UN chief Kofi Annan yesterday morning in New York City concerning new efforts to improve the drinking-water situation that's wrecking so many hotspots around the world. Next month Jay will embark on an international tour that will be aired on MTV November 24th entitled Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life. A lot of additional information for those up on this issue can be found over here.
Just three days before my hectic day at Warped(the last day on August 13th in Montreal) comes this article, concerning just why so many bands are leaving this year's tour. Innneresting. Apparently NOFX ringleader Fat Mike has dropped some weight!
According to MTV, a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, the fourth in the franchise. It hits theatres next March. I'm stoked!
It never ends with these guys: the never-say-die Shai Hulud, re-formed and raring to go, have signed on with Metal Blade Records. The smartasses at aversion, though, are probably correct in their assessment that the band will probably break up and re-form at least four times before the debut album comes out.
Not that they were gonna be in Montreal, but mewithoutYou have bailed out on the few remaining dates they were gonna play on this summer's Warped tour, citing bus concerns and singer Aaron Weiss' ongoing throat problems. Their bus, for those who do not know, runs on vegetable oil. Seriously!
It was pretty much a sealed deal, but now it's official: one of the bands that put Canada on the indie map in the last few years, Death From Above 1979, have called it quits, citing the duo's simply growing apart as the main reason why. They were really good live.
A classic good news/bad news scenario now: Mute Math have settled their high-profile lawsuit against Warner Brothers(the band did not want their music marketed as "Christian"); they're now able to sell their music where and however they wish, so good on them. HOWEVER. What I did not know is that last week they, along with so many others, quit Warped, meaning I will not see them in three days. Damn it. [Relevant]
Saosin fans rejoice! The new single 'Voices' - not like everyone hasn't already downloaded the entire album, but whatever - is up for streaming over here. [noisetheory]
You knew it was gonna happen eventually: the successful Bamboozle Fest in Jersey has spawned a heavy-music counterpart. The Saints & Sinners Fest will feature two days of metal from the likes of As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Every Time I Die and more. For dates and such, check out the website. [AP]
Montreal's Fifth Hour Hero are putting out their latest album(it says here "debut album", but I'm not sure sure about that) on longtime label No Idea Records down in Florida, and the geniuses at Alt Press have Not Revenge...Just A Vicious Crush(nice) up for streaming over here. I bet you'll like what you hear. I remember seeing FHH in rural Quebec at a very nicely-appointed banquet hall. It was so random.
Y'all better watch out for southern-Ontario rapper Shad; fresh off tearing up both NXNE in Toronto a couple months ago and the Nidus Fest in Kitchener this past weekend, he's in talks with major labels to have his ten-track debut album When This Is Over. Hit up his Myspace and get on the hit parade train before it leaves without you. This is real rap. Finally.
Short entry today. Sue me.
Seymour, Indiana's The Elms were lucky to escape their small town - and they're now out touring a record devoted to it. Check out a well-done interview with lead singer Owen Thomas over here. We'll hopefully have our own feature with the guy in the near future. [rockrebel]
Longtime favourites of mine, P.O.D. will headline the third Park at the Park event at Petco Field in the band's hometown of San Diego. After the August 19th game between the Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks, Payable will take the stage and tear shiz apart, and if you get a ticket to the game, you see the show, and that's that. Awesome. If you're down there, hit it up.
The Rock the Bells hip-hop blowout in San Bernardino, California was a resounding success over the weekend, featuring a slew of surprises including appearances by the greatest female MC of all time, Ms. Lauryn Hill, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul - oh, and headliners Wu-Tang Clan. Sounds like a great time. Read the full story over here.
Earlier today Hawthorne Heights filed a lawsuit against their label, the nefarious Victory Records, claiming Victory "severely damaged the band's reputation and relationship with their fans," not to mention engaged in outright accounting fraud. The suit, filed in the District Court of Northern Illinois, further states that "despite the band's lack of knowledge or approval of [Victory chief[ Tony] Brummel's schemes and tactics, Hawthorne Heights have become irreparably associated in the public mind with Brummel's conduct." This stems from a letter Brummel sent out to the band's street-team members suggesting they "hide" copies of albums by Ne-Yo, whose breakout album dropped on the same day as HH's If Only You Were Lonely, in record outlets. There's more over here, if you're really bored. [MTV]
Congratulations to sweetdisaster Big Cheese Mike P.(that would be me!) on gaining acceptance into Algonquin College here in Ottawa for the Broadcast-Radio program. I start class on the 28th, and I'm scared stiff, because I left high school in '99 and worked my tail off until now - I don't remember HOW to be a student!
In other, non-self-indulgent news, HM mag has reviews of not only Warped Tour OR Sounds of the Underground, but both. Check it out. And while you're at it, subscribe to their podcast!
Project 86 remain bad-ass. Ten years and running, baby!
War of Ages are doing something new: for every single person who can verify pre-ordering their new album Pride of the Wicked, a member of the band will literally call you up to express thanks. I'm laughing and shaking my head at the same time - these cats are actually gonna do it! I think it's awesome. Check out their Myspace for the rules and regs that really mean nothing in the face of such generosity of spirit. [saveyourscene]
Another Facedown Records band, Bloodlined Calligraphy, have posted a new song from their upcoming smasher Ypsilanti(that's in Michigan, kids, where BC are from). The song's called 'Last Goodbye'; go listen over here.
Some good rap feeling news: lawyer-by-day/crimefighter-by-night MC Sintaxtheterrific is dropping a brand-new album soon, and lead single 'Hurricane Crush' has surfaced on his Myspace page. If you like dusty beats and solid raps, go listen to it immediately. [SOHH]
In the same vein, Arkansas Razorbacks supporter Listener, fresh off his Homes tour wherein he literally did rap shows in peoples' houses, is working up new material; check his Myspace for the deets.
Citing severe disillusionment with the music biz in general, Grammy-nominated rapper/urban artist Tonex quit music altogether a few months ago, saying he really wasn't sure he was gonna ever return. Well, much like Mase, DMX and Will Smith(God forbid) before him, Tonex has recanted on his vow, signing with Syntax Records out in California. The guy's career sales in the US of A are at the gold level, so it's not that much of a gamble, really.
UK band Death Is Not Welcome Here are partnering up with One Truth Clothing, participating in a benefit compilation album with proceeds going to Life Water International. Other acts contributing include No Innocent Victim, Dogwood, Blindside, xLooking Forwardx and more. No word on whether it's something one can purchase in a store or if it's online-only, but stay tuned and we'll help your philanthropic selves out. [IVM]
Mostly-Israeli band Man Alive are done their new record, but since they're back home, a few of them may be called up to serve in their nation's army. Keep them in mind and prayers.
G'night kids.
Matisyahu, who was already rapidly ascending the star chart when he did guest vocals on P.O.D.'s new album six months ago, is climbing even quicker now, as he's headlining a tour featuring the likes of Michael Franti, Polyphonic Spree, Gomez and others. As well, the Hasidic reggae prince is playing the Austin City Limits fest in September alongside Tom Petty, Gnarls Barkley and more. Heady company. [Paste]
Speaking of the marvel that is Gnarls Barkley(how unlikely is their success? I mean, really!), check out a review of a show that turned the thirty-minute St. Elsewhere into a massive staged spectacle.
Residents of Fullerton, California, got a nice surprise waiting for their bus to work this week. Check this out. [punknews]
Rest in peace, Boysetsfire, easily the finest band to come outta the great state of Delaware. Peep this video of the band performing 'My Life In The Knife Trade' some years back.
We don't talk a lot about ska here, but I was privy to the '90s ska-core revival that saw the Bosstones and Supertones blow up big, and that combined with their awesome name warrants a mention: Newmarket, ON's The Expos have signed a record deal, will hit the Warped stop in Barrie and then tour their asses off, including a stop here in Ottawa September 1st. Go baseball references!
Dammit. Seattle's Acceptance, after releasing the fantastic Phantoms last year, have called it quits. "There comes a time in a band member's life where he must choose between the abnormal life of a gypsy rock musician and the normal life of the common man," says a post from guitarist Christian. "Jason, our beloved lead singer, has chosen the latter and decided to take on the yoke of the common man. HOWEVER, the rest of us do not share in this desire for normalcy and have decided to continue in our pursuit of rock stardom. You should all be expecting to hear a new kick ace rocking project from Nick, Kyle, and I, as well as a new project from Kaylan and a bunch of secret people that I can't talk about right now." As mysterious as that all sounds, I'm still really depressed.
Anti-Flag(I was just listening to a comp from 1998 with them on it on the way to work) are appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live August 22nd. That promises to be a ruckus. Or a public meltdown. Hopefully both!
A new track from Brother, Sister, the upcoming album from Philly's mewithoutYou, has been posted on their Myspace page.
En Masse - featuring former Further Seems Forever drummer Steve Kleisath - have released the full-band version of Ireland that will appear on their upcoming debut LP. Check it out over here. [buzzgrinder]
This won't do much for their angry-mook rep: a thirty-year-old Korn fan is in critical condition in an Atlanta hospital following injuries sustained at the band's Family Values tour stop. The man apparently got into a brawl with two others in the moshpit.
A new band that will surely be dubbed a 'supergroup', Casket Salesmen, are releasing their debut EP, Dr. Jesus(nice) to the unsuspecting, unwashed masses soon. This band features two guys formerly of A Static Lullaby as well as alumni from Rx Bandits, Death by Stereo and Suicide File. Weird mix, but let's hear the rock, shall we? Check out their Myspace.
I picked up the criminally-underrated Ninety Pound Wuss' final record Short-Handed Operation today for seven bucks. Kudos to me!
The masterful mewithoutYou are taking Say Anything and Piebald on the road for a big ol' tour kicking off in October; no Canadian dates, as per usual, but we have readers elsewhere than Canada, I would presume(and hope). Check out any of their websites for the dates. mwY's new record Brother, Sister is out in September. [theprp]
Three of the most brutal noise-attack bands in existence - one of them Canadian - will wreck this country coast to coast starting October 1st in Vancouver; Daughters, Pelican and Manitoba's KEN Mode will ply their ruckus through the following dates:
October 01st Vancouver, BC - The Lamplighters
October 03rd Edmonton, AB - The Starlite
October 04th Calgary, AB - Warehouse Night Club
October 05th Regina, SK - The Exchange
October 06th Winnipeg, MB - Collective Cabaret
October 09th London, ON - Call The Office
October 10th Hamilton, ON - The Underground
October 11th Toronto, ON - TBA
October 12th Ottawa, ON - Babylon
October 13th Quebec City, QC - L'Anti
This Just In: new Solid State signees Inhale Exhale are pretty freakin' good. The rock is being had down Ohio way. These lads are actually from Canton, OH, where the National Football Hall of Fame is. I should visit them/it sometime. IE's debut The Lost. The Sick. The Sacred. is coming out yer speakers November 21st.
Two awesomely-named bands, one still active: Dim Mak has signed Whitey, while Yuppie Pricks have split the heck up. I'm just gonna titter quietly at their names. [pastepunk]
Some ambitious kids in Michigan are putting on the inaugural Dirt Fest August 19th in Birch Run - check out some of the lineup: Dillinger Escape Plan, Mae, Every Time I Die, Ramallah and Silverstein. That's just some of the acts. Wow. If you'll be around there around then, check out Dirt Fest's website.
From the razor-sharp pen of Pastepunk's Jordan Baker: "MySpace's bulletins are down right now. Somewhere, a band member is freaking out because their fans won't know about their latest t-shirt designs. This is a dark, dark moment." Hilarious.
Song of the Day: Set Your Goals' 'Mutiny'. Listen here. Now.
New Found Glory's newest video is up on MTV - check this out. [Decoy]
The sequel to Batman Begins has had some details confirmed: the flick will be called The Dark Knight with Christian Bale reprising his role as the star, while Heath Ledger has been tapped to portray the Joker. Production begins in early 2007, which gives me time to go rent Begins so I know what the frig is going on.
What with a ton of bands bailing on Warped, 30 Seconds to Mars have stepped up to the plate, filling in on a bunch of the remaining two weeks' worth of dates.
The new Lamb of God track mentioned yesterday, along with a link that may or may not have worked for you, is indeed up over here Thanks, HXC.
Showbread's new album Age of Reptiles can be streamed over here. If you're down with that. I'm not, really.
Hot damn! Comeback Kid apparently got bored not being on tour six hundred days a year, and ergo, they've been added to the Bad Religion/Dropkick Murphys Canada-wide tour. If I was on the fence about attending this before, no longer. [lambgoat]
Frequent tourmates Misery Index and Neuraxis are at it again in this great nation of ours. Ottawa's included on the tour, which is as follows:
9/12 Ottawa, ON @ Maverick's
9/14 Trois-Rivieres, QC @ Maquisart
9/15 Rimouski, QC @ TBA
9/16 Halifax, NS @ Pavilion
9/16 Halifax, NS @ Duffy's Speakeasy
9/17 Moncton, NB @ Manhattan
9/25 Winnipeg, MB @ The Zoo
9/29 Calgary, AB @ The Underground
Last time these two bands played Mavericks here in Ottawa, it was a complete awesome-fest.
Fans of the now-defunct Juliana Theory should take note here: up on eBay is a collection of photos ranging from 1997 through 2003; there are over a hundred in the set, and bids are starting at thirty bucks US. The item is up over here. Wow, does Brett Detar look young in some of these pictures. [buzzgrinder]