SD News

One of our longtime favourites, Underoath, are going on what could be termed a vanity tour just before hitting the Rockstar Mayhem traveling circus this summer - and they've handpicked Ill Patriot and hip-hop whiz kid POS to open five dates. Apparently Chris Underoath loves this guy. *shrugs* We just report the news. [JFH]

If you're planning to be in or around NYC this summer, July 12th would be a good date - Thursday will play with Hot Water Music and Paint It Black that night. Place called Terminal 5. Never heard of it. [absolutepunk]

If you're a fan of the gospel rap(exemplified best by crews including Cross Movement, Mars Ill, Lightheaded and the like), help support Sphere of Hip Hop, who're having their fundraising month; they're still about five grand short of their needed total, and they've got four albums created for this occasion to download. Click and donate, and tell your friends. Peace.

Seems a long time ago they were playing college bars and tiny clubs - Tokyo Police Club are big enough that MTV is giving peeps a chance to redo their 'Tesselate' video - if you think you're Spike Lee, check this out.

sweetdisaster's recommended reading this week is 2005's Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation by Jeff Chang(founder of Quannum Records, among his other endeavours). A killer book by a guy who knows his stuff - and this segues nicely into the next topic: one of the flashiest guys in hip-hop history, Slick Rick, is a free man after more than a decade in the can. He was arrested very publicly in 1991 at the age of 25 after a gun incident, and the threat of deportation to his native England was over his head for the last eleven years, but after a decade of 'exemplary' behaviour, New York state governor David Patterson has granted him a full pardon. Welcome back, Slick Ricky!

Whether or not you were a fan of Joy Division - or, like me, may have never heard a single song - the biopic of Ian Curtis and his band, Control was masterfully executed, and now it's headed to DVD next week, June 3rd. Highly recommended. [Aversion]

It's been a while since we last joined you in progress here at the D - real life and all its trappings - but since we last spoke(RJD2? Are you here??) my beloved Toronto Blue Jays have won 11 of their last 14 games including this past weekend's four-game sweep of the lowly KC Royals, my fantasy-baseball team still has a winning percentage of .448, good for fourth of six in the league, and summer is upon us here in lovely metropolitan Ottawa, Canada. Hope this finds you well!

A much-anticipated Oliver Stone production called simply W, profiling the presidency of a certain Bush(not the senior one), has pulled in a good casting call to portray US vice-president Dick Cheney: actor Richard Dreyfuss(Mr. Holland's Opus, among others) has been tapped for the role. Josh Brolin will play the President, with Mission: Impossible's Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice and James Comwell as Bush Version 1.0. The Daily Show's Rob Corddry will portray former White House press secretary Ari Fliescher, and I'm excited for this movie. [Paste]

Speaking of quality films, if the mid-'90s atrocity Space Jam soured you on Michael Jordan on the big screen forever, maybe you wanna hold up a second - director Spike Lee(Inside Man, Malcolm X, etc) is making himself a documentary about the best player ever to stalk a basketball court(arguably, but just barely). The NBA is helping out, kicking in footage from 2001-2003, MJ's last two years in the league following his initial retirement and subsequent comeback.

One of my all-time favourite bands are having their album produced by a pop-punk prince: Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus will be behind the board for New Found Glory's next album, their first full-length since jumping ship from their major-label home last year. They put out an EP with Boston's Bridge 9 Records; no word on who will release the new album. But we do know that Mike will own it. It would seem NFG are perhaps making a return to their hardcore roots, as they're going on tour to the UK this fall with Set Your Goals, Crime In Stereo and Four Year Strong. Good bill. [punknews]

XXXChurch has lost out on a Myspace Impact Award, which would've pulled down ten large for the organization - the winner? Mike Park's Plea For Peace outfit, a worthy champion. The annual award honours those who make a positive impact on the community at large. Congratulations!

It's with no small sadness we bring word of the demise of Toronto's Cursed, old friends of the D - we used to go hang out with the band at SAW in downtown Ottawa six-seven years ago, but sadly, the band called it quits last week after having almost everything they had stolen from them while on tour through Europe. To the scumbags who did it: you'll get yours, a-holes, in the end. To Cursed: thanks for the years, brothers. I still remember well the band playing SAW(cap. perhaps 75 people) years ago, and being told by the soundman to turn everything across the board dowwwwwn - they were simply too damn loud. It was excellent.

A mother of a classic pop-punk tour has been announced: Lagwagon will hit the bricks this summer with Only Crime and MXPX. If this doesn't come to Ottawa, I'll go to wherever it is.

Check out the long-awaited new single from Shai Hulud! It's called 'Misanthropy Pure,' the title track to the new album, and the video is over here. You're welcome.

They broke up in 1995, but not before a teenaged future sweetdisaster chief became a fan: Big Drill Car are doing a couple of reunion gigs in Huntington Beach, CA this summer. How 'bout that.

Not to leave things on a sour note, but I'm compelled - the first live concert I ever saw was contemporary-Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman, in 1996; Chapman has sold a ton of records, won a ton of awards from the Christian scene and the secular side, and remains one of the pillars of my early musical education. Last week his youngest daughter was killed in the driveway of their Tennessee home in a horrific accident, and the family, needless to say, is distraught. Maria was five years old, the youngest of the three Chinese children Chapman and his wife have adopted from that country. In lieu of flowers or well-wishing(thought prayers are very much in order), please think about making a donation to the adoption agency the Chapmans founded a few years back. Thanks.

Like 'em or not, Coldplay have always stuck to their guns - and their principles, one of them being not selling their music to anyone who isn't worth it. Seems football(what we in north America call 'soccer') is a cause near and dear enough to their hearts that the band have struck a deal with ESPN to incorporate their material into coverage of the Euro2008 soccer tournament next month. Much of the music heard will be from the band's new album Viva La Vida, out June 12th. [Sports Illustrated]

Hey, guess what, everyone? Maybe it's fitting that I'm posting today - this marks the 1000th blog entry for sweetdisaster! That's a huge milestone for us here at the D; since our inception in September of '03 we've shed our sweat and blood to bring you good music and good vibes - thanks for the clinging onto our bandwagon all this time!

Perhaps it's also fitting that a band I've personally enjoyed since well before the D came into being leads off the news this afternoon: Rancid are alive and kicking - and touring their asses off this summer, including back-to-back two-night stands in Toronto(August 2nd-3rd at the Kool Haus) and Montreal(August 5th and 6th at the Metropolis). Not to be outdone, NYC will host the band for five straight nights at the Irving Plaza Fillmore(who are they, Springsteen?). Following that, there are a couple of shows in Edmonton and Calgary, and the tour wraps with a mammoth weeklong residency at the Henry Fonda Theatre in their hometown of Los Angeles; openers include - variously - The Aquabats, MxPx, Adolescents and TSOL. Wow. [pastepunk]

Short update today - Big Cheese is off to go watch August Burns Red, Evergreen Terrace, Misery Signals and As I Lay Dying tear it up in downtown Ottawa. Update tomorrow on that, promise.

Last week a very distasteful remark was made by one of our staff concerning a band member stricken by cancer. Whose fault it is is immaterial - I'm the founder/operator of this website, and I take full responsibility. To the parties offended, I apologize sincerely. The comment has been removed, and to anyone at all who read it and was offended by it, on behalf of the staff here, I apologize.

- Mike Postma/Founder, sweetdisaster

So the Foxboro Hot Tubs are going on tour... Although they have a a 1960's sound about them, they can't shake off of the fact that they look just like all three members of Green Day. Hmmm...


Uni-Brow Sludge, Noel Gallagher, recently said that hip-hop wasn't good enough for some of the festival circuit in England. None other than the jigga himself, Jay-Z stepped up to state how disrespectful that was. He also added "I don't mean to battle ya son, I got 99 problems and my brow ain't one."


Oh no, Motley Crue decided to push back the release of their new album. What on earth are we to do? Oh wait, it's 2008. ANYTHING ELSE!


Mike Ness is hitting the road until July. If you don't know who that is, do your homework!


It seems as if The Faint have split with long time label Saddle Creek. The electropunk band has started their own label, blank.wav, and intends to release the band's new album sometime this fall.


Mates of State have a new album coming out, and the video looks like something The Flaming Lips thought of!

I generally don't have much

I generally don't have much to say on the music front, but it makes me very sad that two of my favorite local-ish bands in recent years have broken up: Chicagoans Blame Twilight called it quits (I'm still searching frantically for their song 'Echo'), as have old friends of mine Bastian (I reviewed their Fingerprints EP back here). I'm especially disappointed at the latter disbanding, since they were putting out material that was absolutely killer. (Go listen to their song "Shame" on their myspace linked above and tell me that wouldn't be perfect on Christian alternative radio.) Alas, the good ones are very rarely with us for long.

Ned's Atomic Dustbin is getting back for a few dates. Really?


The Weakerthans are hitting the road this summer... and if you live in Canada and Europe you are lucky. If not, you're screwed... just like me.


Talking Head's mastermind, David Byrne is set to make new music with his latest new instrument... a building. Seriously. The crazy bastard will be turning parts of historic New York buildings into microphoned instruments. The story was covered in detail in this month's issue of Why Would Anyone Do That? Magazine.


In DMX news, you can see his new Christmas Card/aka Police Photo here.


Apparently, Phish got back together for a suprise gig. Just by "coincidence", the nacho stand across from the venue was barren after the concert due to "mass munchies" and paranoid feelings. Hmmm...


In Scott Stapp news... oh wait... oxymorons.

The band known for two brothers who share one eyebrow, Oasis, are one member less as their drummer couldn't stand the guitar-playing-cromagnon calling all the shots and left the band.


The Current Channel had an interesting special on the making of Narrow Stairs, the latest installment from Death Cab For Cutie. Uh, I love this band, but 9 minute jam songs? I thought that's why we had My Morning Jacket.


Russ Rankin, some may know as a member of bands like Mock Orange, Only Crime, and most notably Good Riddance, is putting out some solo shizza! Check it out over here!


So Alanis is going on tour again, does anyone remember her on this show?


In further insults, The Microphones have re-released their classic The Glow Part 2 with 20 extra tracks! When quoted they said "we know that this album came out in 2002, but we really wanted to upset people who bought the album, namely Steve."

Hiring Steve as our new blogger was the best managerial decision ever made by the braintrust here at the D. Just sayin'.

Innnnnnteresting - after Microsoft, seeing its Zune contraption doing not-so-hot, decided to start paying Universal and other major labels a dollar for every device sold, now comes word that indie labels are gonna get some cake too: The Orchard, IODA and perhaps others received "significant checks" from Bill Gates' Toy Company, to be split between labels and artists. Indie really is the new mainstream! How 'bout that. [buzzgrinder]

These Arms Are Snakes have jumped ship from the great Jade Tree label to the equally-great Suicide Squeeze imprint, and with Strike Anywhere having left a while ago too, that leaves...well, no one of great import in the greater scheme of things. What's a great indie label to do? Hopefully, not go under. Good luck, JT!! We love you!

As mentioned by our best hire of late, the renowned mud-slinger Steve, At The Drive-In's 'One-Armed Scissor'(great tune) will in fact be featured on Guitar Hero IV in the inevitable future. Maybe this will encourage The Mars Volta to stop being weird and get Jim Ward away from Sleepercar/Sparta activities and get ATDI to come play in my backyard. Yes.

We've heard nothing but raves here at the D about the new album: behold, a new video from R.E.M., for the single 'Hollow Man.'

I don't commonly make reference to my occupation here in lovely Ottawa, but it is true that I work at a top-40 Christian-music radio station - and a lot of the music I'm forced to play is pretty trite(not to say 'garbage'), but Leeland have stood out to me for their pure sincerity and knack for a solid pop melody, especially with the new single 'Count me In.' Check out Texas' finest over here.

I feel like I'm infringing upon Steve's territory: Dillinger Escape Plan think Disturbed are morons. Hilarious video/commentary at the link.

How these things happen is seriously beyond my ability to comprehend: not only was Skid Row's Sebastian Bach at Bamboozle New Jersey, but he sang three songs with my boys The Sleeping! How? How does this happen?? The video evidence is over here. Amazing!

Congratulations must go out to our friends at absolutepunk.net, who have become a proud member of the Buzznet family. Buzznet acquired AP.net this week, adding them to what already is the biggest music community on the web, second only to some other company.

One of the non-floorpunching bands on Facedown, For Today, are putting up new songs, one a day, for the next little while, including their first single 'Agape.' For fans of Protest the Hero, and up for your aural pleasure here! [theprp]

My old friend Liam Cormier, former Ottawa resident and now the voice of Cancer Bats, has a new label home: the band have signed with Black Market Activities/Metal Blade, who will release Hail Destroyer June 24th in the US. Congrats, guys!

An update from yours truly,

An update from yours truly, the techie of the crew: If any of you folks out there would like a way to keep updated on the happenings here at the D, we now have a (publicized) RSS 2.0 feed (thereby bringing us into the very early 21st century, maybe - someday, Web 2.0, someday). Check it out at the preceding link or the link above right with the cool little orange RSS logo.

Also, since I'm just such a nerd: I'm totally writing this using the ScribeFire extension for Firefox. Being able to blog without even having the Movable Type interface (using only the extension) is about the coolest thing I've encountered this week.

As always, gripe at me here about poor design or functionality.

Dave Ghrol reportedly has great umption. The Foo frontman said in a open letter... well, here:

"Hey, it's Dave! Remember me? Yeah, I'm the guy that's been listening to your band faithfully since 1983. I bought your first album 'Kill 'Em All' from a mail order catalogue called Under The Rainbow, I think. Actually I can't remember. It was 1983 for Christsakes! But that album changed my life and I've been listening to your albums ever since (even 'St Anger'!).

"P.S. Are you finished recording the drums yet?"

Genius.


DMX was arrested for drunk driving in Arizona recently, when asked where his dogs where at, they were unavailable for comment.


The rockfest that is Ann Beretta got back together recently. A good band getting back together!? Say it ain't so!


Oh Snap! At The Drive In will have music appearing on the next Guitar Hero installment. Fro-core!


Matt Pryor is releasing a solo album! Chances are if you don't recognize that name you have at least heard of the New Amsterdams or The Get Up Kids, both Pryor fronted projects. Any check this shiz out over here.


In other Get Up Kids related news, Reggie and the Full Effect is ready to pop a new album. Spoon is well... Spoon. And BlackPool Lights hasn't done much lately. That pretty much rounds them out.


Uh, so the mad tight bros in Taking Back Sunday got themselves a new guitarist. Meanwhile, Straylight Run is much better.


By the way, if you haven't gotten Unwed Sailor's Little Wars, you are a dumbhead.

Apparently, Kid Rock is set tour hit the road with Lynyrd Skynyrd this summer. Break out the sleeveless red flannels, mullets and spit cups on this one.


Guided By Voices is back... as the name of Robert Pollard's new record label. The GBV frontman wanted to revive the name without capitalizing or bastardizing his former project's fame but felt compelled to use it. Look forward to many a good release on Guided By Voices Inc.


Forget Judas Priest, My Chemical Romance is the newest name blamed for teen suicides lately. It appears that MCR was brought up in the case of a 13 year old British girl who hung herself recently. Which further proves my theory that Emo is the Hair Metal of today. Also, is there a difference anymore between emo and goth? Seriously!?


So it's official, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are married. This comes as a shock to those who have followed their musical careers as Mariah clearly outshines the younger Cannon. But to anyone who has followed their movie careers, Glitter and Underclassman pretty much say it all.

My bloody ears! My Bloody Valentine is hitting several dates in North America this summer. Considering their last album was like around 90-91, most of you people have no idea what I am talking about as obscure noise albums or bands that haven't done anything in over a decade are somewhat of a file 13.


The ever excellent Mirah will be releasing a rarities album called Modern Radio that comes out on June 24. Due yourself a favor and go buy Advisory Committee right now!


The Police are set to call it quits -forever. The rockin' grandpa trio are set to call it a day in August with a final show in NYC. Chances of them reuniting later? Highly likely. Frank Sinatra kept retiring until he died. In other Police related conversation... does anyone remember the fact that Sting was also in Dune and a voice-actor for Captain Planet?


Paramore's singer, Hayley Williams, recently said that her band's next album is going to be alot heavier as they have been more influenced lately by the likes of bands like H20 and Set Your Goals (mike just smiled here). Their new album "See Ya In The Pit" is to begin production soon.


Parry Farrell is set to launch Kidzapolooza in CA this summer. In other news, money grants all kinds of shame.


The Boss, Mr. Springsteen himself was FINALLY inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. How has this not happened before!? New Jersery is famous for like five things: The Mafia, Bon Jovi, Sinatra, Hoagies... AND BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN! Seriously! Were they gonna wait give one to Pete Yorn or something?


Common is set to star alongside batman himself, Christian Bale, in the next installment of the Terminator series due out next year. Apparently he has beef with robots.


Operation Ivy frontman Jesse Michaels is set to do a solo acoustic tour in works for his first new album of solo material. Sweet!


Uh, Terrance Howard (that guy who played a real jerk to Jamie Fox in Ray) is set to release an album supposedly in the vein of Cat Stevens and Richie Havens... this seems odd as some of his more notable roles have been in Hustle & Flow and Iron Man.


Speaking of Ray Charles, his family is in disputes with his former manager and current facilitator of his estate in royalities of his two posthumous albums. His 12 children (from 9 different mothers) claim that the manager should be giving them more entitlement to their father's current earnings...


And for all of you ill'n out there, don't worry. The Beastie Boys have most of the new album done, so we should get a taste before year's end.

Dude, if you're a punk in Boston or anywhere near it, you wanna be in Allston, Mass. on the 17th of this month for a monster show at the ICC Church, headlined by Set Your Goals with help from my boys in No Trigger and I Am the Avalanche Get real. No way that isn't one of the best shows of the year in Beantown.

The awesomeness known as These Arms Are Snakes (botch/roy/onalaska/kill sadie/amazingness) have made the jump from Jade Tree over to Seattle's Suicide Squeeze (home of Minus The Bear). They are also working on a new album to destroy us all that will come out in October sometime. Even if you are a guy who doesn't wear girl pants, you'll wanna get this.


In an attempt to piss more people off -punk legends Bad Religion are reissuing their last cd, Maps of Hell, with alot more songs and a dvd. I love how bands' loyal followers go out and get the album, only to be shown that those who wait are rewarded. Thanks guys! In other Bad Religion news, I had the "priviledge" of hearing their rarest album, Into the Unknown... yikes! No wonder this album caused their first breakup.


Anyone who's been by Pitchfork lately might get a kick out of how much they go fanboy for Radiohead. Radiohead may be great, but pics of their latest show playing their 17th alternate version of "just" is a tad bit too much.


Modest Mouse is apparently going to keep on the road after their upcoming tour with REM and the National. Dudes in messenger bags rejoice!


If you were a grunge dude who liked the gap at the same time, you're gonna love the fact that Candlebox is making a new album! If you live in such big cities as Beaumont Texas or Salem Ohio, you're gonna wanna break out the 80 dollar flannels for this one.


Dashboard Confessional is in the studio under the direction of members of Fountains of Wayne. Interesting to see how that might turn out.


Supcha boi Kayne West claims that the media is trying to make him out to be a an ego maniac who he says is trying to "Michael Jackson" him into being labeled as weird. Why would anyone think that?

Nine Inch Nails' The Slip is up and running for free download. Those things don't usually stay around for long so go and get it.


Courtney Love was rushed into the hospital this past weekend. It's reported that she has strep throat... which when cured, won't sober you up and bring back your career. Sad.


Glassjaw's (yes, Glassjaw) Justin Beck gave a pretty good interview recently where he talks about fame, the new cd, and how Gym Class Heroes suck... check it out over here.


The Explosion's swansong, Bury Me Standing, will finally see the light of day this year.


Pearl Jam appears to be working with Brendan O'Brien on their new album. When asked about going back to work with one of their old producers, frontman Eddie Vedder mumbled the following: "mubba dubba beebba boabba, fladeeba doabba." -Riveting.

The Cure have a new album coming out in September and every month until then they will be releasing a single on the 13th of every month. That way boys don't cry.


New Found Glory's alter ego, The International Superheroes of Hardcore are having their release show May 19th out in LA. If you live out that way, go for it!


So, Alkaline Trio and The Hold Steady may be releasing new material this summer... but that can't even hang tough with the fact that the New Kids On The Block will have their new single out any day now!
Did you see what they did to Donny in Saw IV?
BOOM!

Apparently, Metallica have a new album coming out in October. You will be able to find it at your local pharmacy right next the prunes.


Oh snap! Snoop Dogg is going to have none other than Lindsay Lohan collaborating on his new album. Pharell and Timbaland will be on it too, but that will probably work.


Incase you couldn't wait for the upcoming album, Florida's Underoath are set to release a live CD/DVD that comes out later this month.


Speaking of Underoath, most of their fans aren't old as Sub Pop Records (more famously known for putting out bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Sunny Day Real Estate, and The Postal Service), who turn 20 this year. In celebration of this, the label is having a limited run of Singles Club! Also, they are throwing a huge 3 day fest with a very very very rare show by Green River- the band that spawned Mudhoney and Pearl Jam and is generally known as being one of the earliest grunge bands. If you wore a flannel shirt in the 90's, this means something to you.


Beggar's Banquet is closing it doors. The label that brought many great bands over the years and most recently The National, is moving it's staff and roster over to it's parent 4AD, who have released the likes of Thom Yorke.


REM guitarist Peter Buck has recently stated his approach of making albums (like their newest effort Accelerate) has been far more successful than the likes of his respective bandmates Mike Mills and Michael Stipe. According to Buck (who also plays in the Minus 5), the band spent too much time in the studio "jamming". The evidence seems to be clear as their latest album debuted at number 2 on the charts rather than number 13... like their last album.


Everyone's favorite snaggle-toothed singer, Jewel, is apparently switching over from her newest incarnation of pop music to country. If that's your thing, I guess you might want to check it out.


Tina Turner is hitting road again. When she does, she'll turn to dust.


Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora is speculated to be the next rock star on VH1's Rock of Love. This show has as much to do about rock as chili burgers have to do with the Olsen Twins.


If anything could redeem VH1, it might be that Radiohead is going to be performing In Rainbows in it's entirety this weekend on air!

Millencolin is streaming their new album on suprise... myspace. Bet you didn't see that one coming, eh?