A sad update: Relient K met with disaster on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Thursday morning when their bus caught on fire. I absolutely can't imagine. They were on their way to our lovely Cornerstone Festival, and this forced them to cancel their main stage performance last night. For the ordinary joe, this is like losing your house and all the things that you needed for your entire livelihood. Apparently, lost in the fiery carnage was a laptop of Matt Thiessen's that had "about 100 unfinished songs." Absolutely incredible. We here at sd wish the rK boys all the best in picking up the pieces.
Well, folks, here's something you won't see often - someone other than Mike doing an update. He's off to the farm - Bushnell, IL, USA, more specifically, to Cornerstone '07. If you kiddies haven't heard about it, check it out here. Lots of music, lots of heat, and consequently a lot of sweaty, sweaty people. Trust me on that one.
Sadly, despite the close proximity we'll be in this week (Bushnell is only three hours from my humble abode here in the plains of central Illinois), we won't be able to hang. Ah, well, them's the breaks.
So, um, do I have any music news? Let's see:
In honor of the one-year anniversary of the release of their album Dog Problems, The Format are offering the aforementioned album for free (no, that's not a typo - zilch, nada, nil, and other various synonyms) on their website. The catch? You have to provide an E-mail address that will be added to the mailing list, which you can opt out of at any time. I personally haven't heard this album, but free is a price I can dig. At any rate, the window of opportunity is limited; the band's only offering this until July 16th. Get it while you can.
This isn't really news, but nothing does my heart prouder than hearing Derek Webb rock it out a little, classic-like. If any of you haven't heard his song "Name," remedy that immediate-like here. (And please excuse my "-like"s; I swear I was just possessed by the gods of atrocious grammar.)
Okay, somewhat recent news - friggin' awesome Swede-rockers Blindside have new tracks up on their myspace off their just released EP The Black Rose. I didn't get to hear much from The Great Depression, but Silence and About a Burning Fire were positively amazing albums, and Lindskoog & Co. rarely disappoint.
Speaking of disappointments, that's all from me. Looking forward to Mike's imminent return to Canadaland next week, and he can get you back in the loop with C-stone news and other great stuff.
Have fun storming the castle!
One of this summer's most hotly-anticipated records has to be Modern Life Is War's second outing, Midnight In America(due out August 21st on the venerable Equal Vision label). Iowa's finest(with apologies to, um, Slipknot) have done us the favour of posting two songs from the new album on their Myspace page, so get over there, sweet cheeks. [punknews]
Chicago's Smoking Popes have put up a whopping four new songs on their Myspace; the tunes aren't in their finished form, but you get the idea. 'Janesville' is already a future Popes classic, says this hack writer.
Sure, MuchMusic is considered the nation's music station(and Toronto boys Billy Talent cleaned up at last weekend's annual MM Video Awards ceremony), but the Quebecois version - MusiquePlus - has announced sponsorship of Fat Wreck Chords' impending Canadian tour, making them infinitely cooler.
Heads up, San Diegoans: this year's Street Scene festival(September 22-23, Del Mar Fairgrounds) will feature headliners The Killers, Muse and Panic! At the Disco. Also appearing(wow): Brand New, Mute Math, Ozomatli, Canadian punk legends the Supersuckers and many more. I wanna go!
It feels like yesterday that Silverstein put out Discovering the Waterfront, but July 3rd - that's like two weeks away, kiddies - will see the release of their next album Arrivals and Departures. The internet kills all sense of space and time, that's my theory.
Shows? A new record? Apparently these are possible for the....Sex Pistols? What? NO WAY, honkey. But this transcription of a recent radio interview says otherwise. Innnneresting.
Tonight onstage as part of the One Man Revolution tour(he's opening for Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello under his Nightwatchman moniker), Thrice's Dustin Kensrue mentioned that the upcoming Thrice four-disc album will likely consist of two discs at a time upon release, a couple months apart. I don't care how they release it - the record(s) will kill. [absolutepunk]
My pals No Trigger are hitting the bricks in Europe with Set Your Goals - for fifty-three consecutive shows. Now, all bets are off as to whether every last one of those fifty-three straight days of rock will go smoothly - here's hoping, and guys, if you're reading this: watch that rear differential! Incidentally, if you're overseas this summer, the dates are over here.
Depending entirely on your skill with the fake guitar, you may get to hear The Sleeping on the soundtrack for Guitar Hero III - they're included as a secret unlock! "If your heart was broken - you'd be dead..."
As everyone may already know - Lovedrug have lost everything they own on their current tour, as their van - stolen in Detroit - was later found burned to a crisp, as they say. This is a very talented band, touring on a very good record(Everything Starts Where It Ends), being very good people. If you wanna swing by their website or Myspace and pass along a kind word, I know for fact they'd appreciate it.
My man Pigeon John, besides being one of the freshest MCs in existence, is also not acting a role to get himself some street cred. And people are noticing. Good interview.
There's been a lot of talk in the Canadian media - particularly the southern-Ontario Canadian media - surrounding Research In Motion(makers of the BlackBerry) CEO Jim Balsillie's purchase and subsequent move of the NHL's Nashville Predators, with the assumption being he's moving the team to Hamilton, Ontario. Well, finally, something else to discuss about the Hammer: Tool, with openers Big Business, will play H-Town's Copps Coliseum in a week or so - next week Sunday, the 24th, to be precise. Then swinging they are down to the US, coming back up to Montreal for a gig July 10th at the Bell Centre. [theprp]
Good news for Protest the Hero fans: the band are maybe even as we speak working on their next album, aiming to have it done and in our hands by the fall on Vagrant Records. Love us some Protest here at the D, we do.
August Burns Red, while hotly anticipating dropping Messengers on an unsuspecting public this coming Tuesday(June 19th), are also working on re-issuing their 2004 debut album Looks Fragile After All. CI Records will handle that chore, effective July 24th. I've never heard it, so I want someone to buy it...for....me. Yes.
I only saw them live once, but they were super tight, and super rad guys as well: Orange County's Scars of Tomorrow broke up not too long ago, and two new projects have taken flight, one called Hollowed, the other SSNOVA.
Underoath's forthcoming DVD is called simply 777. Their website, coincidentally, is underoath777.com. For those unaware, the number 777 Biblically represents completeness in Christ. I think. I'm no theologian though, so if I'm wrong, email itacs@hotmail.com and tell me so.
Pastepunk mastermind Jordan Baker gave Kingston, ON's I Hate Sally some love earlier this week, comparing them to a crossbreeding of Mastodon and From Ashes Rise. However, he referred to the name of their label(that being Density Records) as "a bit silly." And I'm sitting here on my white duff thinking, "...and 'I Hate Sally' isn't a bit silly?"
Recommended listening: I first heard City Sleeps in 2005 with a song called 'Prototype' that absolutely caved my skull in for reasons I couldn't elucidate with much more detail than, "Uh, I just loved it, man." Sometimes a song just nails you down and will not let up, and CS achieved that. Well, the band is now with Trustkill Records, and hopefully one of Atlanta's best-kept secrets will blow up - finally. Check out their Myspace and be rocked.
Following the release of the 50th-anniversary compilation album earlier this year, the Stax Records 50th-Anniversary Reunion Benefit show goes June 22nd in Memphis, Tennessee. Co-hosted by American Idol's Randy Jackson and the one and only Chuck D., performers include Booker T and the MGs, Isaacy Hayes and newer signees Angie Stone and Soulive. Partial proceeds will go to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. [Paste]
Hard as it is to believe - we're being sarcastic; with today's musical climate it's not at all hard to believe - Coalesce are rumoured to be booking shows with the likes of Daughters and See You Next Tuesday, planned for this August. Hmm. [lambgoat]
Former Solid Staters turned Roadrunner act The Agony Scene have a song from their upcoming third album online.
Well, the hammer has indeed dropped in the Dillinger Escape Plan camp: drummer Chris Pennie is out, going full-time with his band Coheed & Cambria(who're good in their own right), while newcomer Gil Sharone takes over for DEP. He previously did time in Fishbone, which is good enough for me. In slightly better news, the Plan - with new drummer Sharone kickin' it on the skins - will release a new album called Ire Works this fall. This statement from the band bodes well for fans: "Know that what we are in the process of recording will be everything we have ever been capable of, and now more." Good on ya, lads.
It's taken twelve years, and no doubt a lot of frustration, but finally Jars of Clay are, in the words of Fleetwood Mac, going their own way: they've officially left their only label home at Essential Records to form Gray Matters, their own label with their own rules. The first album released will be a Christmas collection out this October. Finally. One of the best bands to be chained in the Christian market is gonna blow minds outside of it. [buzzgrinder]
Could this be the beginning of the end for arguably the most talented American Idol winner of them all - the first? Kelly Clarkson has apparently had to cancel her US summer tour - due to low ticket sales. Wow.
In better news, Mae have put up the first new song from their forthcoming third album Singularity: check out 'Brink of Disaster' over here.
Looks like former Haste the Day vocalist Jimmy Ryan's new thing Trenches has legs: they've written an album's worth of tunes, with plans to record in September. I've heard very good things.
WWE mastermind/head honcho/visible face Vince McMahon is a complete ass. People are being killed for real in the mideast with carbombs, and this d-bag is faking it? Idiot.
They've been a pathetic football team for the last decade - since running back Barry Sanders hung 'em up - and they've had their share of players running into the law, but the Detroit Lions have hit their nadir with this: defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is an idiot.
Some of the songs to be included for Guitar Hero III include:
'Cherub Rock - Smashing Pumpkins
'Even Flow' - Pearl Jam
'Knights of Cydonia' - Muse
'My Name Is Jonas' - Weezer (oh, hell yeah!)
'Paint It Black - The Rolling Stones
'Rock and Roll All Nite'- Kiss (this just keeps getting better!)
'Sabotage' - Beastie Boys
'Slow Ride' - Foghat (classic CanRock!)
Most of the cuts are original versions, to boot. As well, III will be compatible for PS3, Wii and Nintendo's cute little DS, which is a highly addictive apparatus, in my opinion. [STS]
Our Lady Peace are coming out of their hiatus of late, mentioning via MySpace that they're likely heading into vocalist Raine Maida's studio next month to begin work on another album. I'm stoked.
Wilco's Jeff Tweedy - besides being a superior musician - is also pretty smart about his band's music appearing in some new Volkswagen ads: "This is a subject we’ve discussed internally many times over the years regarding movies, TV shows and even the odd advertisement," he said this week. "With the commercial radio airplay route getting more difficult for many bands (including Wilco), we see this as another way to get the music out there. As with most of the above(with the debatable exception of radio) the band gets paid for this. And we feel okay about VWs. Several of us even drive them." More power to y'all.
Montreal's Blessed By A Broken Heart will hit the road in a couple months with headliners It Dies Today, along with co-supporting acts Bring Me The Horizon and a band I saw in 2000: Kittie. Kittie! Meow. [Decoy]
In case anyone still cares, Offspring have vowed to be done recording their first album in four years in about a months' time. And don't forget, ya gotta keep 'em separated.
In News About Bands That Are Still Relevant(lookin' at you, Offspring), Between the Buried and Me this week stated the following about their upcoming album: it's "adult contemporary progressive death metal." This I have to hear. It comes out September 18th on Victory Records.
Good Charlotte and Justin Timberlake will tour together this summer. No one I know or would want to know will be attending.
Anyone who used to be in Further Seems Forever and puts together a new band will always - always - get pub from us here at the D: ex-FSF guitarist Derek Cordoba has a new band called Kicked Out Heel Drag. Cumbersome name, perhaps, but no doubt they kill. Oh, and past or present associates with bands like Underoath and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are also involved.
Oh dang - Strife, in their In This Defiance-era formation, will play two shows in their home state of California next month. Of all the late, great bands I never got to see play live, of all of them, I implore Strife the most: pleaaaaaaaaaase get back together and come play my backyard.
Egypt-obsessed death metal band Nile's peppy new ditty is called 'Papyrus Containing The Spell To Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks From He Who Is In The Water.' We're not lying.
I'm not even gonna read this Def Leppard article beyond the words "we're almost done a new record." I'm just gonna breathlessly wait for that new record. And pour some sugar on myself. Awkward. [Billboard]
Fast on the heels of announcing they've hit 270,000 subscribers, XM Radio Canada have lost head honcho Stephen Tapp, who's bailing to "pursue other opportunities." What? You hit a nice figure - albeit not what they'd hoped for/expected - and the main man jumps the ship? Weeeeeeird. This means number-two man John Bitove(alert, savvy types will recognize him as the leading force in bringing Toronto their NBA franchise years ago) now jumps up assume control. [Milkman]
Bedouin Soundclash, who met at Kingston, Ontario's Queens University, got their music featured in a department-store-chain TV ad and subsequently conquered Warped and the world at large, will release their much-anticipated second album on SideOneDummy Records. Called Street Gospels, the album's lead single is called '12:59 Lullaby.' The album comes out August 21st. [punkbands]
Rumours abound that drummer Chris Pennie has left The Dillinger Escape Plan. Other dudes are filling in while the band is in the studio - if rumour can be believed - and Dillinger are allegedly scouting out replacements. There will apparently be a "major announcement" from the band this Friday.
This article is interesting...if a little depressing towards the middle.
How the hell is Marilyn Manson still selling almost ninety thousand copies of his music? Can someone explain this to me?
We reported last week that Mute Math are doing the Transformers theme for the upcoming movie(July 7th is a red-letter day); here's the rest of the soundtrack:
Linkin Park - "What I've Done"
Smashing Pumpkins - "Doomsday Clock"
Disturbed - "This Moment"
Goo Goo Dolls - "Before It's Too Late (Sam and Mikaela's Theme)"
The Used - "Pretty Handsome Awkward"
H.I.M. - "Passion's Killing Floor"
Taking Back Sunday - "What It Feels Like To Be A Ghost?"
Styles Of Beyond - "Second To None"
Armor For Sleep - "End Of The World"
Idiot Pilot - "Retina and the Sky"
Julien-K - "Technical Difficulties"
Mutemath - "Transformers Theme"
[tunelab]
It just ain't fair that after they stole my phone for three years as I valiantly paid massive cellphone bills, Rogers Media's like Picnic is shaping up to be such a rad day of music. The Roots headlining? C'mon, man. No fair.
Cold War Kids have landed a plum opening gig - they'll warm up stages for the The White Stripes for a "large portion of their upcoming tour." That is one hell of a bill.
Tricky devils. I think they're gonna make their fourth studio album, personally. Fantastic.
I think I've found greatest band ever.
DC's Darkest Hour put up a new song, from the forthcoming album Deliver Us. The record hits July 10th. [SPB]
Say what you will, but Fall Out Boy apparently don't take any guff from morons in the audience. Good for them.
A couple of celebratory things in the world of the D, leading off.
I can't remember if I already posted this, but if I did, nothing has ever deserved an encore performance more than my brother Dan, who proposed to the divine Mira six weeks or so back. The wedding is in October, and I shall thoroughly enjoy getting all dressed up to serve as a groomsman(like most of the species and genus 'hardcorus kidus', I dislike getting all gussied up, but there are exceptions.
As well - Christian Isaac Broaddus the First, son of our esteemed webmaster Brody and his wife Courtney, really likes his slide. Essential viewing!
To continue in the Good News vein, Cornerstone Illinois looms a couple weeks off on the horizon; there will be dozens of pictures taken of a variety of things(I wonder if the upside-down puppet show will return this year), and we'll apparently have a new and improved viewing gallery upon my return from the US of A.
So apparently a band in the news last week, Arizona's Blessthefall, are in fact God-fearin' lads, and their new album will be distributed into the Christian market by the venerable Word Records(weird, that), while Ferret will handle the majority of the worldwide distro. [IVM]
There's no guarantee that it will sound as fun as Tragic Kingdom - I think those days are long gone, really - but No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont told MTV that the band will try to work on new material during breaks in frontwoman Gwen Stefani's touring schedule. Apparently she's rather successful by herself. Who knew? [MTV]
Wow, they're like the tech-metal versions of MacGyver: Quebec's Despised Icon, following a nasty collision with a deer while on tour last fall with Hatebreed, had to resort to cans of Pepsi. "The entire side of our trailer was covered with blood and guts," says co-vocalist Alexandre Erian, "and we had to clean it off with cans of Pepsi." Disgusting...ly awesome!
My girlfriend sent me a clip from this item via Facebook earlier this week, and it rings true: behold, the dangers of too much Wii.
Looks like Blur have mended fences with former guitarist Graham Coxon: drummer Dave Rowntree(who's also looking to get involved in politics in the band's native England, incidentally) told a British newspaper that the band are heading into a week in the studio. Maybe an album will come of it, maybe not. [aversion]
Must've missed this in my daily Ottawa Citizen: Bono - we shouldn't have to explain at this point who he is - apparently called up Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to request a tete-a-tete on Africa, and was summarily turned down. Harper is overseas presently at a G8 summit meeting; however, that hasn't stopped Dubya and German Chancellor Angela Merkel from meeting with the U2 frontman(just in case you still hadn't put it together who this Bono guy is). [chartattack]
Full Blown Chaos are back in action; the NYC hardcore band has signed with the ever-growing Ferret Records, who will put out the band's third album Heavy Lies the Crown(produced by Biohazard's Billy Grazadei!) on August 21st. [AP]
What the hell - not only are Cartel pulling this recording-our-second-album-in-a-specially-constructed-bubble-as-part-of-a-TV-stunt-for-a-soft-drink-company thing, now they're hauling in Wyclef Jean! Clef entered the bubble(sounds like my next band name) to work with Cartel on 'Wasted.'
Maybe it's because it was gonna go down on Canada's east coast that I didn't even hear a word about it, but the Flip the Switch Festival scheduled for July 2nd in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, has been made to be kaputsky. Performers who were gonna throw down include Comeback Kid, Rise Against, Lifetime and more. How did we not hear about this?? If you were in fact attending, you can find out about refund info over here.
This update for Ottawa's own Andrew Hill, who when he wasn't slapping my ass in my own home demanded more news news news!
Christian hair-metal fans everywhere - rejoice!
Their new record is pretty awesome(that being Temptation Come My Way) and now The Showdown are gonna hit 24 dates on this summer's OzzFest tour. Good for them. [CMcentral]
Sights & Sounds - featuring Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid and assorted others - have signed with Smallman Recs here in Canada. Expect total world domination shortly. [truthexplosion]
This one might be worth a roadie - Bleeding Through, on their off-days from this summer's Marilyn Manson/Slayer tour, have set up some shows with California's War of Ages, and these include a show in Hamilton, Ontario at the legendary Underground club on August 9th. Innnnteresting. The rest of the one-offs:
7/22 New Orleans, LA @ High Ground
7/23 Jacksonville, Fl @ Thee Imperial
7/26 Orlando @ The Back Booth
7/29 Charlotte, NC @ The Casbah at Tremont Music Hall
8/1 Lancaster, PA @ The Chameleon
8/3 Albany, NY @ Valentines
8/9 Hamilton, ONT @ The Underground
8/12 Akron, OH @ The Lime Spider
8/15 Iowa City, IA @ The Picador
8/17 Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck
8/20 Reno, NV @ New Oasis
8/26 Las Vegas, NV @ University Theatre
[lambgoat]
NYHC legends Madball have completed their sixth album, called Infiltrate the System. It'll be out worldwide this August.
Congrats to some rad guys from Guelph, Ontario, known as Arise and Ruin, who've signed with Victory Records! I met these cats while they were opening for August Burns Red a couple months ago, and it couldn't have happened to better dudes. Their label debut will be out later this year, and in the meantime, hit their MySpace.
Some other friends of mine are in a Long Island band called The Sleeping, and them boys are hitting the bricks for serious all summer long with bands like fellow Islanders Envy on the Coast and I Am the Avalanche. Check this out for all the dates. No Canadian ones. Dammit.
Buzzgrinder is reporting - via Radar - that former 4 Non Blondes singer/Xtina collaborator Linda Perry may be producing Green Day's next album. It would be the first time since 1994's breakout Dookie record that the band has not worked with producer Rob Cavallo. [buzzgrinder!]
This guy here is a moron.
A band that was through Ottawa opening for Greeley Estates not too long ago is reportedly being signed by Ferret Records - Blessthefall was formerly on Science Records, and this remains unconfirmed, and I'd be surprised if it's true. Doesn't seem right to me. UPDATE: Ferret will not be signing the band, but will be working with Science on some distribution stuff.
Champion Recordings is doing a good thing: they're putting together a compilation album to benefit Invisible Children, featuring the likes of My Son My Executioner, Advent(ex-Beloved), Sullivan, The Devil Wears Prada and more. For more info, check out Champion's website.
Egads, they didn't see this one coming - Cartel, who are currently attempting to record their new album in a bubble(the stunt is part of a TV show sponsored by Dr. Pepper), had their little environment cave in on them due to inclement weather this week. The show's blog has all the sordid - and wet! - details.
No friggin' way - founding drummer Jesse Smith has been rumoured to be rejoining Zao after his unceremonious exit - and rather unflattering depiction in the Lesser Lights of Heaven DVD - from the band in 2004. They are seeking another drummer....who knows.
Check out a video from Maylene & the Sons of Disaster for the song 'Dry the River' over here. In related news, the band has canceled their Cornerstone Festival appearance, which pisses me off, since I was quite looking forward to it. [theprp]
Oh, goody - eastern Canada's Wintersleep have finished work on their new album; no word on when it will be out, but it exists, and that's good enough for me. Wintersleep are amazing.
...correction to a previous rumour(we like rumour-mongering here at the D): Green Day are not working with Linda Perry.
Intrigue alert! Perhaps Rage Against the Machine are gearing up for a big ol' tour. That would make me happy. [punknews]
Number One Fan have broken up. I barely remember them, and I saw them play once.
Underoath are reportedly putting out a ninety-minute DVD with loads of live footage next month. [absolutepunk]
In a desperate attempt to regain what little fame they once had, The Hives have hooked up with Pharrell Williams to work on their new record. Sad.
I've never set foot in Hot Topic, as it isn't a hugely Canadian presence(yet - God forbid), but they've wasted no time selling out on the scene that birthed them - anything to attract whatever's hot.