Wind-Up Records has partnered with Youtube to show most of their label roster's videos, including works from Finger Eleven, Evanescence, Creed and others. [buzzgrinder]
"I Mostly Copy Other People" is the newest song released by The Almost, from their upcoming debut Southern Weather. Listen to the track here.
I met these guys when they opened for From A Second Story Window here in Ottawa - less than a week after a horrendous van accident: Ontario's own Beneath the Massacre released their debut album Mechanics of Dysfunction yesterday on Prosthetic Records, and they're going on tour with countrymen Ion Dissonance as well as Arsis. Not coming to Ottawa, sadly.
From First to Last vocalist Sonny Moore has quit. Didn't know that, nor do I particularly care, but hey, it's called "news" for a reason, I guess. FFTL's new singer is named Matt Good, which is funny if you're a native of Canada and follow CanRock as I have. Oh, and they've hooked up with Suretone Records, run by big-time honcho Jordan Schur and home to my friend Kyle's big ol' rock and roll band. Hooray! [theprp]
Australian metal band Parkway Drive have been added to the Warped Tour this summer from July 7th through August 12th.
Ex-members of Most Precious Blood and Hatebreed have formed a band called Deathkiller(appropriate). If you haven't heard them yet, check them out over here, and get their debut album New England Is Sinking April 24th through I Scream Records. Have I mentioned I like their name?
Some sad news - not sad like someone died...well, maybe a little piece of my soul has: according to a blog put up last night, Stavesacre have decided to pack it in after eleven turbulent years of label issues, personnel switches, ups and downs - and oh yeah: some of the best rock and roll of the last ten years, in this writer's opinion. "The fact of the matter is, Stavesacre as we know it is done. There is no tragic Behind the Music story. We all love each other, and you, as much as we ever have," says the post. "We just feel that after an incredible eleven-year run, it is time to close this particular chapter in our rock and roll journey." The band has spent time on this decision, working out the best way to wrap it up; they'll be writing and recording some new music with old friend and former member Jeff Bellew, as well as compiling what promises to be a fantastic DVD chronicling their career. "All of this will culminate in a handful of shows to say goodbye. The five of us are incredibly excited and can't wait for you to hear the rock," the statement concludes. "Sorry for the radio silence...more to come." Thanks to Dave Leibold for the heads-up.
Sick Of It All(until recently, labelmates of Stavesacre - small world) have had to bail on a number of west-coast tourdates with Dropkick Murphys due to vocalist Lou Koller's bad back. Check out their Myspace page to find out the latest.
A Jackson 5 reunion - possibly with Janet tagging along for a duet or two? It could happen, according to this. 2007 is now the Year of the Reunion. [antimusic]
Speaking of such things, Van Halen are now not doing the 40-city reunion tour with DLR on vocals. Bummer! Financial differences, apparently - who saw that one coming?
As I Lay Dying have hopped aboard the Good Ship Warped, joining the tour from August 4th through the end of the trek - including Montreal, hooray for us Ottawans!! [tunelabmusic]
The NFL is apparently attempting to top Prince's scintillating performance a month or so back by bringing in The Boss next year. Ideally, the NFL would have songstress Norah Jones sing the national anthem beforehand, and the man himself, Bruce Springsteen, would rock halftime. I'd watch that.
As Blood Runs Black have had to bail on the remainder of the Sworn Enemy/Kataklysm tour touching down here in Ottawa this Sunday night, following a rather ugly van accident. A partial quote from the band reads as such: "The trailer fish-tailed, forcing the van to go in the direction toward the edge of the mountain. We hit like 4 feet of snow forcing us to do a full 180 and down the side of the mountain we go before this tree luckily stopped us from falling to our deaths. We are all blessed to be ALIVE. Despite the accident we somehow still managed to get to our show that night and still played for our fans. Everyone as well as our trailer is OK. Our van is not in any condition to drive and now are forced to cancel the rest of our tour." Thank God they're alive - and they'll be back.
MTV2 is abandoning the VJ concept; straight video-block format will be the rule henceforth, meaning shows like Headbangers' Ball with host Jamey Jasta(Hatebreed) will be just videos. After a quarter-century of the VJ, music television in the US of A will now be intensely boring. Bad call there.
Korn are gonna make their first appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Thursday night. Playing something "unplugged." I hope I die before then.
Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello will appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live tomorrow night(Wednesday). It's not clear whether he'll have a seat on the couch and rap with ol' Jimmy or pull out some Nightwatchman tunes.
While Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewiczconvalesces from a back injury while KsE headlines the No Fear Music Tour, he has put out the call: homey wants beef jerky. If you want to send beef jerky to Adam D., here's the how-to:
The Adam D. Jerky Across The World Campaign
c/o Mike Gitter
Roadrunner Records
902 Broadway, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10010
I for one think this is awesome.
Only Crime guitarist Zach Blair is replacing Chris Chasse in Rise Against.
Whoa, how'd I miss this one? Nathan Strayer has left Anberlin, replaced by former Acceptance axeman Christan McAlhaney. How 'bout that.
Alexisonfire and guitarist Dallas Green's side gig City & Colour will both perform at this year's Juno Awards. The ceremony goes live April 1st in Saskatoon, televised on CTV with host Nelly Furtado. [truthexplosion]
Video of two songs taken from Comeback Kid's hometown CD-release show last week have surfaced online over here. Enjoy. CBK arrives in Ottawa March 9th at Babylon; check punkottawa for deets.
My Chemical Romance will headline the Scotiabank Place arena here in Ottawa May 10th. No word on opening acts as yet.
One of new favourites, Saskatchewan boys Means, are hitting the road with The Holly Springs Disaster:
March 31 - Winnipeg
April 1 - Regina
April 2 - Yorkton
April 3 - Saskatoon
April 4 - Lloydminster
April 6 - Edmonton
April 7 - Calgary
Means' debut on Facedown Records is called Sending You Strength, and it's solid.
Good for him: Thrice frontman and new solo artist Dustin Kensrue is donating five percent of sales of his album Please Come Home to the kids at To Write Love On Her Arms, a foundation aimed at nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA's profile has risen steadily throughout 2006, with printed T-shirts and a popular Myspace page, not to mention the support of a number of rising rock bands including Thrice, Anberlin and more. "I try to be an artist who aspires to find hope even in dark places: if I'm down, I don't want to bring people down to that place with me. I'm looking for a way out," says Kensrue. Attaboy, homey. [punkbands.com]
The annual New England Metal & Hardcore Fest, taking place in late March in Massachusetts, has announced the lineup. Wow:
Bury Your Dead, 100 Demons, Nora, Still Remains, Beneath the Massacre, Stick to Your Guns, xDeathStarx, Bloodlined Calligraphy, Unearth, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Red Chord, Job for a Cowboy, I Killed the Prom Queen, Shai Hulud, Since the Flood and Animosity. And this is just a sliver. I repeat: wow. Ticket info and directions can be found over here.
Strike Anywhere singer Thomas Barnett's old band Inquisition are set to re-form for two shows in May. I've never heard them before, but Ensign are opening one of them, and that's fantastic.
The newly-signed Daggermouth(Smallman Records) are going out on tour across Canada with Set Your Goals in May, kicking it off here in Ottawa at Babylon on May 2nd. The rest of the itinerary is as follows:
05/04/2007 Salt lounge , London, Ontario
05/05/2007 Reverb , Toronto, Ontario
05/06/2007 GV Hotel , Timmins, Ontario
05/07/2007 The Office , Thunder Bay, Ontario
05/08/2007 Collective Cabaret , Winnipeg, Manitoba
05/09/2007 The basement , saskatoon, Saskatchewan
05/10/2007 Avenue skatepark , Edmonton, Alberta
05/11/2007 Underground , Calgary, Alberta
It's haaaaaappening: Rage Against the Machine have announced three more shows following their hugely-hyped Coachella reunion: Rage will join the Wu-Tang Clan for two Rock the Bells shows, the first in New York City on July 28th, followed by San Bernardino, California August 11th, and finally up in San Francisco a week later on the 18th. I'm so stoked.
One of the most hyped hockey games of the year thus far, tonight's rematch of my beloved Ottawa Senators and the hated, feared, visiting Buffalo Sabres following the brawling, sprawling game in New York state forty-eight hours ago, ends in a 6-5 win for the home side. I think I've developed high blood pressure in the the last three hours alone.
And in somewhat related hockey-ish news, retired brawler Tie Domi has sued radio station Q107 and its owner Corus Entertainment for almost a million bucks in defamation, after two station jocks claimed Domi charged fees to appear at charity events. Nice. [milkmanunlimited]
Paging through today's Saturday edition of the Ottawa Citizen, and what did I see? The usual Saturday feature whereby the paper grabs some random schmuck off the street to quiz him about what's on his iPod. So what was bumpin' in Mr. Shawn Pepin's player? Check it: tunes from hardcore legends Cro-Mags, newcomers Have Heart(look for our review of their latest coming soon), Guns up!, veterans Bouncing Souls(coming to Ottawa in March - check punkottawa.com for details), Modern Life Is War, Minor Threat and New Found Glory. That's fantastic.
Double-platinum-selling band The Fray(who saw that one coming??) are hitting the bricks this summer, on tour with special guests OK Go and Mae(first leg), and Eisley and Gomez(second leg). Check out their Myspace for all the dates, including a stop in Toronto in June that barring an Ottawa date I wanna go to. Who wants to make a roadtrip?? [CCM]
Jersey hardcore favourites Nora, when two of their number aren't busy running Ferret Records, are putting out their new album Save Yourself May 29th on Trustkill Records. I will own it, as I own all their other albums, for I am a fan. [Decoy]
Speaking of Trustkill, they're also releasing Hopesfall's new album Magnetic North, May 15th being the anticipated street date. I like me some Hopesfall. I remember when they spelled it lower-case with a period in front - .hopesfall.
Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates was in Ottawa earlier this week doing a speaking gig - and now comes word that his company has lost a $1.5 billion-dollar lawsuit and has to pay a bunch of cash to Lucent Technologies, over an MP3-patent-infringement case to do with Windows Media Player. Stick it to the man(I really don't care; just wanted to put that).
He Is Legend's new guitarist is Mitchell Marlow - but his nickname is far cooler than that: Turtle Power. I will now exult.
One of the most-loved - and most-hated - bands out there, Fall Out Boy, have posted their Kanye West-remixed version of 'This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race' over here. I don't know if I care to hear it. But drummer Andy Hurley sported a badass Misery Signals t-shirt on Last Call with Carson Daly last week.
Still Remains and Poison the Well have been added to this summer's Warped Tour. As well, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are headlining the main stage, according to their Myspace bulletin.
Wow, didn't see this one coming - Rise Against guitarist Chris Chasse has left the band after a three-year stint. Bummer. I just saw those guys two weeks ago.
Puddle of Mudd still exists! I've heard rumours that one of their monster hits from their debut album was written, in fact, by an Ottawa guy who had the song swiped from him by a weaselly area label rep. True? We don't know. But I liked PoM anyway.
The kings of rap, Public Enemy, are going out on tour this year. The one date of interest to me is the following:
Toronto, Docks Nightclub and Concert Theatre (March 9)
Oh yes.
I will definitely read the autobiography of Guns 'N Roses guitarist Slash, who's teaming up with well-known author Anthony Bozza to get it all out of his drug-addled dome. No word on when the book will be out.
Sullivan have finished their second album for Tooth & Nail Records. It will undoubtedly be as boring as the first one. Sorry, I just don't like mediocre screamo. Are you listening, Silverstein? Just kidding - you know I love you.
Watch a trailer for Neil Young's new live album over here. It's called Live at Massey Hall(which is in Toronto, for those who don't know).
Apparently the much-vaunted Van Halen reunion tour with original vocalist David Lee Roth has been "postponed indefinitely." Natch.
Christian-pop princess Krystal Meyers, besides "writing" some really catchy songs a la Avril Lavigne et al, is also a bigtime fan of...Killswitch Engage? Between the Buried and Me? What? This cannot be true...but yes, it is. Awesome!
We mentioned Slash earlier - his old band Guns 'N Roses have once again scrapped the latest projected release date for the album that will in all likelihood never happen - Chinese Democracy. However, the album is apparently done the actual recording process, and the band will make their first-ever live appearances on the African continent soon, with shows scheduled for Johannesburg and Capetown, South Africa, in late April/early May. [Billboard]
It looks like the Al Gore-spearheaded Live Earth concert series later this year will be the biggest music circus since Woodstock. Confirmed performers at the one-day event spanning multiple continents include Tim McGraw, Fall Out Boy, Bon Jovi, John Mayer and about seventy more. What a public-relations chance! Hmph.
If there were three Martin brothers, one more besides Jason(Starflyer 59) and Ronnie(Joy Electric), I think this guy might be the third. Subtle beat-driven electronica. I dig.
New records from Anberlin, Comeback Kid and The Showdown all drop tomorrow, February 20th. The second in that list will be in Ottawa to rip through the new shizzle March 9th at Babylon. C'mon out.
Remember Strongarm? Certain members of the not-too-recently deceased Further Seems Forever spent time in the legendary hardcore unit, who bear the honour of being Solid State Records' first-ever release back in 1997 with The Advent of a Miracle - and there's a petition underway over here to get them together for a reunion! I'm excited.
I saw these guys last fall opening for Greeley Estates and Drop Dead, Gorgeous and I wasn't too bored by their live set- standard metalcore, you know the drill - so it surprises me to read this review. Screamo with "faux hip-hop"? Weird.
Park have broken up. I have fond memories of taking them and Moneen to Subway here in metropolitan Ottawa in 2002. R.I.P. [soundthesirens]
Most readers might have to shake the fuzzies outta their brains for this name, but I was a big fan of Tonic in the 1990s, when they topped the rock charts with tunes like 'Open Up Your Eyes.' Now frontman Emerson Hart has a solo album coming out, produced by Bob Rock(Our Lady Peace, Metallica), called Cigarettes and Gasoline. The album drops in May, but the first single, 'If You're Gonna Leave,' hits radio next month. Check out some music over here.
The legendary Point of Recognition are reuniting for one night only, that night being one of the two nights of Facedown Fest's 10th anniversary doings out in California next month. I will not be there, but y'all should definitely go. [TVU]
When I'm not doing this or running various radio shows, you can find me in the radio-broadcast program at Algonquin College, and I was perusing our top 25 this past week. Some of the highlights: Lady Sovereign, Cold War Kids, Jurassic 5, Mutemath, Buck 65, DL Incognito, Rise Against, Lupe Fiasco, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus,
Nas and Senses Fail. As you can probably tell, we're a hiphop/alternative type of station. And we're awesome to the legal limit.
A couple of requests for your prayers, those of you reading who are inclined to such things - my friend Josh plays in a band called xLooking Forwardx, and one of xlfx's best friends, Jersey Mike, was killed in an auto accident this past week; a benefit/remembrance show goes down in Towson, Maryland tomorrow in his honour. As well, Inked In Blood singer Matt is presently in hospital in a coma due to some very nasty health issues; if you're so led, go to their site and donate some money to cover medical costs. IIB are a full-time touring band and have literally squat in the way of health insurance. Thanks kids. We love you.
Winnipeg's Sick City - yes, Comeback Kid singer Andrew Neufeld's brother Joel plays drums, get over it - have been snapped up by the smart folks at Trustkill Records. The band's debut on their new home will be out by early summer. [AP]
The much-hyped Rage Against the Machine reunion show at Coachella in April has fueled parallel speculation that RATM will re-form as a band beyond this one-off show - and that fuel just had pure flames dumped on it with this: a press release from singer Chris Cornell's people says Cornell is permanently departing supergroup Audioslave due to "irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences." Wow. [SPB]
Our thoughts and prayers and hopes go out tonight to Anti-Flag bassist Chris #2. The band had to drop off their Canadian tour with Billy Talent and Rise Against, and now it's clear why - Chris's sister and her boyfriend were murdered earlier this week, forcing the band to drop everything and return to Pittsburgh immediately. They'll be back on the 'War Sucks, Let's Party' tour soon.
This is a little unexpected - Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo recently joined former bassist Matt Sharp on stage during the latter's solo set at Cal State Fullerton. The two played an old, old pre-Weezer song, a new collaboration they'd written and 'Say It Ain't So' - following it up with an encore of 'Undone(The Sweater Song).' I like this! I was just watching their performance of 'Say It Ain't So' on Letterman last week.
Behold - the funniest we're-breaking-up message from a band, ever: frontman Tyler Semrick-Palmateer(formerly of The End) announced via Myspace that his band Mare are over(previously reported here at the D, natch), and had this to say: "So anyway, thanks for listening to our music. I'm pleased that some of you have derived a considerable amount of enjoyment from it. That's all we could have asked for. Occasionally we asked for beer tickets and we derived a considerable amount of enjoyment out of those." That's classic.
Fall Out Boy sold 260,000 copies of Infinity On High its first week out - massive. However, I was poking around Vertigo Music in downtown Ottawa last night and I found a copy of said album in the used bin. Someone didn't like it so much. Ha. Right behind FOB on the charts? Norah Jones. Now that's music. [RS]
How 'bout them boys from Sioux Falls, South Dakota - one of my favourite truly metalcore bands, Nodes of Ranvier, after three great albums with Facedown Records, have signed with Victory Records, who will release their label debut this July. Good for them.
Another Victory band, Comeback Kid, are doing us all a favour and streaming the entirety of their new album Broadcasting on their Myspace page for what will presumably be a short-ish time. I'm pretty impressed with what I hear. Methinks CBK have another winner on their hands - check them out March 9th at Babylon here in lovely cosmopolitan Ottawa to see firsthand. Singer Andrew Neufeld sounds remarkably little like his former life fronting Figure Four.
And ONE MORE piece of Victory news - Bayside will appear on Late Night with Conan O'Brien February 27th. I know, I know - we're coming off like a Victory Records propaganda site now. Shut up.
I mention this not because I think Red are exceptionally talented or something(they're Linkin Park in disguise, I'm sure), but because they're touring with a band I used to love - Sevendust. Word UP. [IVM]
Further Seems Forever's final effort, a CD/DVD entitled The Final Curtain, comes out April 3rd on 567 Records - and a guy I interviewed years ago by the name of Bill Power(Blenderhead) is featured. Another reason for me to own this.
Bullshit. Websites like ours will always, always fight websites like that. My God doesn't even think about thinking along those lines. [rockrebel]
Oh, good: The Explosion have been "let out" of their major-label contract with Virgin Records, who gave control of the band's latest album Bury Me Standing back to them; the band are now looking for a new label. BMS is the followup to 2004's masterful Black Tape, one of my favourite punk rock records ever. [chartattack]
Bonnaroo is shaping up to be a mother of a festival again this summer; The Police are indeed headlining, as are Tool and The White Stripes. Other acts of note include Wilco, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, DJ Shadow, Fountains of Wayne, Lily Allen(my new crush), Cold War Kids, Rx Bandits(huh?), Canada's own Sam Roberts Band and the ever-fantastic Mutemath. I wanna go.
A killer band, Set Your Goals, have been added to the Smartpunk Stage at this summer's Warped Tour; also added are our friends in Drop Dead, Gorgeous. Go get 'em, tigers. [AP]
I might actually get to see New Found Glory play Warped in August, providing of course that they don't drop off the tour before then, which happened with at least four bands I wanted to see last summer. No joke.
Interestingly, the re-formed Smashing Pumpkins have chosen July 7th(or 7/7/07) to release their new album, Zeitgeist. We still do not know who is involved with this reincarnated version of the band other than founding drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and frontman Billy Corgan. Hmm.
Underoath are making up for last year's unexpected pullout on Warped by coming back for a few dates on this year's trek. "[Warped founder] Kevin [Lyman] has done so much for us, and we felt terrible," says a Myspace bulletin from guitarist Tim McTague. "We were planning on taking the summer off, but when Kevin asked us if we would want to come back for the few weeks we missed last summer, we jumped on it. It will be good to make up those shows for all of the friends and fans that missed us last time around." The Warped itinerary featuring Underoath:
7/24 - Virginia Beach, VA
7/25 - Washington DC
7/26 - Scranton, PA
7/27 - Detroit, MI
7/28 - Chicago, IL
7/29 - Minneapolis, MN
7/31 - Milwaukee, WI
8/01 - Cincinnati, OH
8/02 - Cleveland, OH
8/03 - Philadelphia, PA
8/04 - New York, NY
8/05 - Englishtown, NJ
8/07 - Indianapolis, IN
8/08 - Pittsburgh, PA
8/09 - Boston, MA
8/10 - Buffalo, NY
Speaking of Underoath, right now on my Myspace homepage(be my fwiend!!) there's a "sponsored link" concerning Underoath's impending Cornerstone Festival headlining show this July. Weird. I didn't know Cornerstone was a "sponsored" event.
The newest, coolest blog around, soon to be your favourite online destination, has made its appearance. The City Gets Lonely will make you laugh, weep, think - and maybe wretch, if my boy Steve does his job right over there. Enjoy!
I swung by End Hits in downtown Ottawa today and purchased no less than one hundred and thirty-nine dollars' worth of tickets to various events, including Bouncing Souls/Strike Anywhere, Comeback Kid/This Is Hell and Taking Back Sunday/Underoath. I'll have a busy couple months upcoming - and a wallet that won't close properly.
A dear friend was thoughtful enough to give me Hoops & Yo-yo for my birthday last week, and this e-card is funny to the point where I'm gonna share it with all y'all. You will be entertained.
There is a town in Arkansas called Smackover. Nothing more, nothing less. Smackover, Arkansas. That is awesome.
Apparently the punter for the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, Hunter Smith, is also a musician of sorts; his duo Connersvine has been signed to INO Records(Derek Webb, MercyMe, P.O.D.), who will put out an album later this year. [JFH]
Over 500,000 plays were registered at Fall Out Boy's Myspace page for their new single - in one day. This is apparently a record of some sort. [absolutepunk]
Due to a death in the family, Anti-Flag have had to drop off the remainder of their cross-Canada tour opening for Billy Talent.
'90s relics Third Eye Blind are going on tour. Wait - Third Eye Blind are still alive?
Hot off their reunion performance opening the Grammys last night in Lost Angels, The Police are reportedly set to headline this summer's annual Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee; the rest of the lineup will be announced this week. Find their performance of 'Roxanne' from last night and watch it. Masterful - and the improv bridge is superb.
I didn't know major labels did long-term, multi-million dollar record deals anymore, but apparently The White Stripes are close to inking just such a thing with Warner Brothers. Innnnteresting.
I'm gonna watch Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight - why? Matisyahu is performing. As well, Thrice's Dustin Kensrue is doing Leno this coming Thursday, February 15th, playing 'Pistol.'
We mention the cultural phenomenon that is Myspace a lot around here - for obvious reasons - and word from Fox billionaire main man Rupert Murdoch is that the site and all its attendant features bring in $25 million a month a month in ad revenue, and it's growing by thirty percent each fiscal quarter. That, friends, is why your page is besieged by advertising.
Former Hot Water Music co-frontman Chuck Ragan has signed with Side One Dummy Records.
One of my favourite bands of late, Action Reaction, has a video shot for 'Can You Hear The Sun?'. Check it out over here.
We mentioned a couple weeks back that California rap label Syntax Records has been picked up for distribution by Koch, and now we see the fruits of that deal: the first project is the third Night Owls compilation album. Check the track listing(reprinted in part with no permission and certainly no compensation):
"Start From Scratch" - DJ Wise
"Move On" - Man of War
"Lost Boys" - SolSeekers(Capture & JustMe)
"Big City of Dreams" - RedCloud (feat. Pigeon John)
"Yours and Mine" - Braille, Illtripp & ArtOfacT
"Technique" - Def Shepard(by far the greatest stage name in rap)
"Hidden in The Bushes" - Freddie Bruno, k-Drama & Dirt
"Guilty by Association" - Braille of Lightheaded
"Got It Get It" - LA Symphony
"The Principle" - Urban D, Spec, & Los-1
The compilation will be available March 27th at Walmart, Best Buy and everywhere else. Rock rock. [SOHH]
For those looking for a new fix of modern rock/experimental/heart-on-sleeve chaos, look no further than Bonaventure. Hailing from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, the quartet have but one EP to their name, released last summer, but by the end of this summer, God willing, we'll have ourselves a full-length. Listen. Learn. Dance. Damn right.
San Diego surf lads Switchfoot are doing something new - for them, anyway. For their imminent US/Canada tour with Copeland(coming to Ottawa March 2nd at Capital Music Hall), the band are encouraging fans to take part in dictating the nightly setlists. If you're planning on seeing a show somewhere along the line, head to their website, and take it from there. Even cover songs can be submitted. I know I'm gonna lobby for Switchfoot's take on Slayer's 'Reign In Blood.' [JFH]
Today, I turn 27 years of age. Congratulations to me on persevering this far, and thanks be to God, who breathes new life when the old one is almost entirely choked out. And thanks to one and all who wished me happy birthday in person, on the phone, via text-message, via email, calling me at work, or via my Myspace.
Modern Life Is War have signed a record deal with the venerable Equal Vision Records(Bane, Action Reaction et al), who will release their next album. Frontman Jeffrey Eaton was rather accusatory in a comment he made concerning the reasons the band signed with Equal V: "...because the label is driven by music and not trends, images and marketing schemes like so many other prominent record labels." Hmm. Makes me wonder what their previous label home was like. I always figured Deathwish Inc. would be a great place to record. [theprp]
Oh man, I'm jealous. August Burns Red and Chasing Victory are touring through Ottawa March 21st at Maverick's(221 Rideau downtown, c'mon out and we'll hang), but after that tour wraps up, they're both hooking up with From A Second Story Window and the masterful Life In Your Way for a big long tour of the United States. Envy envy rage malice. That's me in four words right now.
I did an interview with The End a couple weeks back - look for that whenever I find time to transcribe stuff - and I meant to ask what happened to founding vocalist Tyler's band Mare, who in their heyday opened for Isis and The Dillinger Escape Plan, among others. I forgot to ask, but they look to have officially disbanded. More info on that can be found over here.
Every Time I Die are rumoured to be going into the studio in April to work on their followup to 2005's Gutter Phenomenon. I am stoked.
Someone has decided to put together a book - a compendium, if you will - of poetry written by some of the luminaries of today's burgeoning indie/punk/metal/hardcore scene; called Revolution On Canvas, Volume 2: Poetry From The Indie Music Scene, the epistle features the writings of members of Deftones, Atreyu, He Is Legend, Fear Before The March Of Flames and many more. "When," you're asking yourselves, "will this fine piece of writing be available in stores?" May 9th, 2007. Save your shekels.
New music from Haste the Day's upcoming third album can be heard over here.
Old news by now, but what the hell - OzzFest will apparently be free this year. For more info on that - what more info do you really need besides "the damn thing's free"? - check out the official website. Word is that not only would the performing acts not be paid(no one will sign up for that - not a single one), but fans will have to go to the websites of designated corporate sponsors. Sounds to this hack writer like they should just charge the thirty bucks and be on with things.
Those who saw Prince rock the halftime show at Super Bowl XVI last weekend in Miami saw that it was pouring rain the entire time(purple rain, maybe...hello?...anybody?...geez!), but did you know he had a bum hip that almost kept him from performing? That's ballsy. The man himself worked in covers of Foo Fighters and Hendrix during his fifteen-minute set, and I personally thought it was awesome. [Paste]
I'd read something about this, but only that Ted Turner and his little corporation had to apologize to the city of Boston - now it turns out the funniest thing on TV, Adult Swim's monopoly on humour, was involved. The entire awesome story is over here.
Toronto's Tokyo Police Club, aside from being really good, well-mannered kids, are also a killer live band, as witnessed by myself and the significant other this past Wednesday at the Observatory, the campus bar at our alma mater. They've secured a spot at the uber-prestigious Coachella festival(Rage Against the Machine reunion!), and they'll be back in Ottawa in April or thereabouts. Maybe March. Don't know. Either way, check these kids out now so you can be the cool one when they blow up huge.
South Florida originals Evergreen Terrace have signed to High Impact/Metal Blade Records. High Impact is Tim Lambesis'(As I Lay Dying) new effort. Makes me wonder what happened to his last one, Clockwork Recordings. Maybe a simple name change. [truthexplosion]
In related news, if you're a drummer and you like AILD's Jordan Mancino, he's about to start giving lessons in San Diego. Check this here out for deets.
They're coming to Ottawa Valentine's Day with Hostage Life, and Attack In Black have a new tune posted over here to prep the kiddies for their arrival. For the longest time, with a name like theirs I'd just associated them with the scads and scads of metal bands that run amok nowadays, but they're quite not that, and quite damn good.
Just ahead of a heavy year of touring for 2007, I Killed the Prom Queen have done gone and lost their vocalist.
Wildly popular video site youtube.com is being forced by television/cinema megacorporation Viacom to remove over a hundred thousand "illegal" clips from the site. So whatever Viacom owns that you may wanna watch, do it fast. [buzzgrinder]
Only at a big festival could My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park wind up co-headlining with Iron Maiden. It's happen. For true.
I'm a Guitar Hero junkie, like thousands of others, and I have an xBox at home that belongs to my roommate - and thank God, since the xBox-specific version of GH coming out April 3rd will have songs from My Chemical Romance, Pearl Jam and more. Can't wait. I'm taking some time off, myself, before I try to get past the Expert level of 'Freebird.' [theprp]
Denver's Fear Before the March of Flames are playing in Ottawa March 25th at Babylon(317 Bank Street downtown). I'm gonna try to go. Just 'cause I love their name.
sweetdisaster Big Cheese(me) went to see Billy Talent with Rise Against and Anti-Flag last-second over the weekend; he found out the day before the show that erstwhile homey Chris had bought tickets for seemingly everyone he knew, and since the show had since sold out, he decided what the hell, let's go. Toronto's Billy Talent have had several years of extensive touring since their breakout song 'Try Honesty' hit the scene in 2003, and it's paid off in a very tight headline-worthy show. I haven't seen Rise Against since 2001 at a small club show here in Ottawa, and they've since added former Reach the Sky guitarist Chris Chasse to their lineup, and they too killed at the Civic Centre Saturday night. Sadly, we missed Moneen's opening set, but they'll be back, I'm confident. Worth the thirty-dollar admission.
My other project(kinda - I haven't contributed squat in the last six months...does that mean I'm still involved?) over at In Review dot Net has a great series going entitled Most Spun of 2006. A wide variety of folks, from InReview staff to bands to label execs cash in with their opinions on what was the best of last calendar year - with a few timeless classics tossed in. Go check it out.
Shortly after word that California hip hop label Syntax Records was picked up for distribution by Koch Entertainment comes this news, that Koch is launching a Christian-music division called Kosmos Records - headed by Barry Landis, who was instrumental in getting Atlantic Records' Christian division up and running a few years back before being sacked. Kosmos will be based in Nashville - surprise, surprise - and release three to four projects a year. [Billboard]
According to Don Henley, his longtime band The Eagles(ever heard of 'em?) will have a new studio album out this year - by the summertime, according to Henley, who along with the band has been working on the record since 2003. The band's last album was 1979's The Long Run.
More classic-pop news: in 1993 Billy Joel swore off pop music after his then-last album River of Dreams - well, that lasted fourteen years. Joel is releasing 'All My Life,' a new single available February 7th at people.com. It'll later be released as a digital single, then a commercial CD release later this spring. "Uptown girrrrrl..."
They're still not playing in Ottawa, dammit: Mutemath are headlining their own tour shortly after finishing the present jaunt with The Fray; the tour kicks off with two shows in Toronto March 7th-8th and wraps up in the band's hometown of New Orleans May 7th. Other Canadian dates include March 9th-10th in London and Montreal and April 20th in Vancouver. And nothing for Ottawa. Again. I forgive Mutemath though - they're incredible.
Prince Caspian is the next in the C.S. Lewis series The Chronicles of Narnia to be given the big-screen treatment, and producers have found the Prince himself; British actor Ben Barnes has signed a three-picture deal with the Narnia franchise to portray Caspian. I'm still eagerly awaiting the filmed Voyage of the Dawn Treader. [Infuze]
And one more Lewis tidbit: X-Men director Ralph Winter has signed on to help make The Screwtape Letters, another Lewis work. The film is scheduled for release in 2008.
Funny, I thought it was doing well: NBC series 30 Rock has been shelved temporarily to make room for The Black Donnellys, a drama focusing on four brothers involved in organized crime. Somewhere, Jerry Orbach is smiling.
...get it? Jerry Orbach? We're here all night, folks.
From TVU comes nice news: Soul Embraced are not dead; the band has new music up on their Myspace, which excites me to no end. The band still features ex-Living Sacrifice guitarist Rocky Gray and ex-LS drummer Lance Garvin. And yes, if you're a longtime reader, yes, I still hold Rocky responsible for the breakup of Living Sac so he could go play drums for that Evanescence thing. Hmph.
We all wondered when it would happen: Josh Scogin's old band, Norma Jean, is heading out on tour with his new band The Chariot, with A Life Once Lost and The Handshake Murders tagging on with even more rock. ALOL's Hunter album(2005) is one of the best of its kind in the last few years. Anyway, the tour goes down in March and onward; dates and venues on the way. [Decoy]
I bought Alkaline Trio's Crimson album today. It contains 'Time To Waste' and many other purely awesome songs. I highly recommend it.
A band infinitely more talented than your trashy little garage troupe, Minus the Bear, are busily recording Planet of Ice somewhere in the continental United States; the followup to 2005's amusingly titled Menos El Oso will be in our hands this summer on Suicide Squeeze Records.
Heard this a couple days ago, forgot to post it - The Police are confirmed to reunite and play the Grammys this month in Los Angeles. The awards ceremony goes February 11th, and a tour will follow this summer. Maybe within driving distance of Ottawa.
Maybe.
The new Chevelle can be heard first right over here. The first single is called 'Well Enough Alone,' brought to you by awesomeness.
An acquaintance of mine - a guy who lets me stick my recording device in his face and ask questions - will make his television debut tomorrow night(February 2nd), when Dustin Kensrue performs on The Late Show with David Letterman. Kensrue's solo debut album Please Come Home is available everywhere.
An interesting sidenote to The Almost's developing saga: besides being fronted by Underoath singing drummer Aaron Gillespie, the band's debut album Southern Weather will be a joint release between Tooth & Nail Records and Virgin Records. This is the first time T&N has ventured into this territory; those of us in the industry will be watching carefully to see how it's handled. Oh, and the release date has been pushed back to April 3rd. I'm guessing the decision to co-release it with Virgin was the main factor behind that call. Any guesses on who'll be the next T&N band called up from the bullpen to the starting rotation, so to speak? My vote is Aaron's main project.
Always cause for celebration - Goldfinger will release a new album this summer on SideOneDummy Records. Cue the mariachi band!!
Proving that they have a sense of humour to go along with integrity, some kickass riffs and a lot of basketball jerseys, some of the dudes in Terror have concocted a little side gig called Wings, Beer, Sports!. 1917 Records has some demo material online over here.
They never really got any attention, though they were certainly solid: perhaps in part due to the reuniting of Spitfire, Scarlet(who had two Spitfirees within their ranks) have called it quits. Two of them have already put together another band called Coworker.
Finger Eleven, in advance of their upcoming new album and tour with Evanescence and Chevelle, have posted their new single 'Paralyzer' online.
So random: actor James Avery, Sr., aka Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, was the voice of Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. What?? No way! This random factoid generated by the kind folks at Wikipedia, via Decoymusic.com.