‘SixPence None The Richer’ Vocalist

Leigh Nash

Interviewed by

Jonathon Freeman-Anderson

LAFM: How do you feel about the Koffeehouse’s 4th Annual “Evening of Independence” charity concert benefiting MusiCares® on Sat, Aug. 7 at the magical Ford Amphitheater? I’M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. IT’LL BE FUN TO PLAY IN L.A.; IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I’VE PLAYED ANY SHOWS THERE. BEING ABLE TO PLAY THE FORD IS VERY EXCITING AND WE’RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ANYTHING MUSICARES.

LAFM: Does Six Pence None The Richer have anything new coming out? You have not released anything since 2008. I KNOW. WE DO. WE HAVE A NEW FULL LENGTH RECORD COMING OUT CALLED, ‘STRANGE CONVERSATION.’ IT’S SUPPOSED TO COME OUT EARLY 2011…SO SPRING TIME AND WE’LL HAVE A SINGLE OUT THIS FALL.

LAFM: Is the album completely finished? YEAH, THE ALBUM IS DONE. WE RECORDED IT WITH JIM SCOTT BACK IN FEBRUARY. IT’S COMING OUT ON BMI/CMG.

LAFM: How is having a family mixing with the music life? MY SON IS SIX AND A HALF. HE’S MUSICALLY INCLINED. HIS DAD’S ALSO A MUSICIAN AND HE WRITES LITTLE PHRASES ON THE PIANO JUST STARTING LAST WEEK. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED. I THINK MAYBE HE’LL BECOME A LITTLE COMPOSER. THAT’D BE FINE WITH ME.

LAFM: How do you feel about the internet affecting the music business? WELL, IT’S GREAT. WE NEED TO GET INTO IT A LITTLE FURTHER AND REALLY SEE HOW DIFFERENT IT IS. I RELEASED A SOLO RECORD ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND I ALREADY GOT A TASTE OF HOW DIFFERENT THINGS ARE NOW.

I MEAN I’M ONLY IN MY EARLY 30S, BUT IT’S FUNNY HOW QUICKLY ALL THIS HAS CHANGED. I FEEL THAT JUST SO MUCH HAS TRANSPIRED IN THIS INDUSTRY THAT IT’S ALMOST UNRECOGNIZABLE. IF YOU JUST DISAPPEARED FOR TEN YEARS THEN COME BACK, YOU’D BE LIKE WHAT IS THIS? IT’S A WHOLE DIFFERENT PLANET. IT’S TAKING A LOT TO GET USED TO AND FOR A BAND THAT STARTED IN 1992. SO IT ALMOST 20 YEARS LATER NOW BUT WE’RE STILL YOUNG SO IT’S WEIRD, REALLY WEIRD.

LAFM: Do you have to reestablish yourself? EXACTLY. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT’S KIND OF LIKE STARTING OVER. A LOT OF WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST GOING TO ENTAIL FINDING OUR OLD FANS AND GETTING THEM TO CONNECT AGAIN AND ALSO, OF COURSE, CONNECTING WITH NEW FANS HOPEFULLY.

LAFM: with songs featured on Dawson’s Creek and Smallville, are you planning to get your new songs on any of the many teen vampire shows out now? I KNOW. OUR MUSIC IS VERY APPROPRIATE FOR VAMPIRE LOVE SCENES. SO, HOPEFULLY THAT’LL WORK OUT. HAHAHA.

LAFM: How is the band’s sound evolving? YEAH, WE SET OUT ON THIS RECORD TO MAKE A SIMPLER SOUNDING RECORD. IT’S NOT A TON OF ORCHESTRATION. THE SONGS ARE RECORDED PRETTY SIMPLY WITH A BAND PLAYING ALL TOGETHER AS A BAND ALONG WITH MY VOCALS AND EVERYTHING.

WE MADE A CONSCIENCE DECISION THAT BEFORE WE STARTED RECORDING THAT ANY PART THAT WAS ADDED AFTER THE BASIC TRACKS WOULD BE ADDING TO THE SONG AND POINTING TO THE VOCALS OR IT WOULDN’T BE PUT ON IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A CLASSICALLY POP RECORD. WE FEEL THAT IT IS ONE. WE LOVE IT. WE THINK IT’S PRETTY COOL. WE HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

LAFM: How do you feel about producing albums in the music market today? I ALWAYS THOUGHT IF I WAS GOING TO HAVE A SOLO CAREER, AND I GUESS I’LL TRY TO MAKE RECORDS AND DO SOME STUFF WHEN ‘SIX PENCE…’ IS NOT BUSY, THAT SOUNDS IDEAL BECAUSE I ENJOY DOING LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL TO JUST RELEASE SINGLES. I THINK THAT’S A REALLY AWESOME CONCEPT.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK, ‘OH NO, NO DON’T DO THAT. DON’T KILL THE ALBUM,’ BECAUSE IT’S SUCH A BIG DEAL TO PEOPLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I’M THE KIND OF PERSON THAT I REALLY LIKE THE HITS. HEHE. I’M NOT GONNA LIE, I DO. AS A MUSIC LISTENER, IF I’M GOING TO MAKE A PLAYLIST FOR MYSELF ONTO A CD OFF MY ITUNES, IT GENERALLY ALL OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS’ HITS. THAT’S WHAT I WANT AS A LISTENER.

I’M NOT THE OBSCURE-ALBUM-TRACK-GIRL AND A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND THE GUYS IN THE BAND ARE VERY MUCH LIKE THAT GETTING MORE OBSCURE STUFF. I GET LIKE ‘BARRY MANILOW’S GREATEST HITS.’ I’M KINDA SORRY I SAID THAT, BUT IT’S TRUE.

LAFM: What new artists or music are you listening to for inspiration? I WENT TO A SHOW THE OTHER NIGHT. WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS, I REALLY ENJOYED THAT A LOT AND I NEED TO GET HIS RECORD. I SAW THAT IN NASHVILLE, MY HOMETOW, THERE’S A LOT OF ORIGINAL STUFF HERE. IT’S A TREASURE TROVE OF LOTS OF ORIGINAL BANDS. YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOOK MUCH FURTHER THAN YOUR OWN TOWN. I BET IT’S LIKE THAT WITH LOS ANGELES TOO.

LAFM: What do you say to new artists? ALL THE “NEW” ARTISTS ARE 10 YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME THAT I SEE I NASHVILLE. TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, THEY SEEM TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON THAN I DO. THERE ARE SO MANY SELF-STARTERS. WITH THE CLIMATE THE WAY IT IS YOU HAVE TO BE SMART, MOTIVATED, AND AWESOME. I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THOSE KIDES COMING UP.

LAFM: Have you thought about working with other mediums? IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL TO HAVE A SIX PENCE CARTOON. WE’RE JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT WE DO, HOPEFULLY WE’LL FIND THE RIGHT MEDIUM, AND MAYBE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WILL ARISE TO GET US MOTIVATED AND EXCITED. RIGHT NOW, THAT’S MAKING THE MUSIC THAT WE LOVE TO MAKE AND GETTING OUR AUDIENCE BACK, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES TIME.

LAFM: How has your label been working out for you? THEY HAVE BEEN SO EXCITED AND WONDERFUL DURING THIS PROCESS. WE HAVE NEW MANAGEMENT ALSO THAT WE’RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT AND WE FEEL LIKE IT’S A GOOD FIRST PAGE THAT WE’RE STARTING ON BECAUSE IT’S BEEN AWHILE SINCE WE’VE DONE THIS.

LAFM: How is touring look for the album? WE’RE WAITING FOR OFFERS AND TRYING TO GET THE RECORD OUT THERE SO WE CAN GET ON A DECENT TOUR IN THE FALL, OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

LAFM: Whom would you like to open or close for soon? OH, THERE’S A PRETTY GOOD LIST, BUT UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THE BANDS THAT WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO TOUR WITH AREN’T TOGETHER ANYMORE. I MEAN I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE AWESOME TO DO SOME SHOWS WITH GARBAGE, LIVE, AND OF COURSE, THINKING WAY TOO BIG, BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT SIX PENCE AND U2 WOULD JUST BE THE BEST SHOW EVER. HAHA.

MAYBE I’M TAKING IT A LITTLE BIT TOO HIGH AND WHO KNOWS WHEN THOSE GUYS ARE GOING TO TOUR AGAIN. YOU KNOW IF COLDPLAY WANTS, BUT MAYBE THAT’S TOO LOFTY ALSO. HOPEFULLY, THE RIGHT THINGS WILL COME ALONG. WE’RE FANS OF LOTS OF DIFFERENT BANDS. I KNOW BONO’S A FAN, BUT I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN’T BEEN ON THE ROAD IN EIGHT YEARS MIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

LAFM: Is there are any favorite genres of music for you that you think need more publicity? A REALLY ENJOY MINDY SMITH FROM NASHVILLE. SHE’S KIND OF AN ALT-COUNTRY-POP CATEGORY. I THINK SHE’S AMAZING. THERE’S A SINGER/SONGWRITER NAMED KATE YORK THAT SINGS HEART-WRENCHINGLY BEAUTIFUL SONGS.

LAFM: How do you feel about new sounds in the music? I LIKE THAT BAND PHOENIX. UNFORTUNATELY, I TEND TO CATCH ONTO THINGS WAAAY AFTER EVERYONE’S KIND OF OVER IT. I DON’T KNOW WHY. I KIND OF JUST LISTEN TO MY FAVORITES, PEOPLE WHO AREN’T MAKING MUSIC ANYMORE MOSTLY.

I LISTEN TO A LOT OF LEONARD COHEN AND OLD COUNTRY MUSIC LIKE GEORGE JONES, DOLLY PARTON, AND LORETTA LYNN. OLDER STUFF APPEALS TO ME MORE. MATT, MY PARTNER IN THE BAND, REALLY SEEKS OUT NEW MUSIC AND IS A HUGE FAN OF A LOT OF NEWER ARTISTS THAT I’VE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF. I TAKE A LOT OF COMFORT IN THE MUSIC THAT I’M FAMILIAR WITH, YOU KNOW. I THINK I’M AN OLD LADY IN MY SPIRIT. I CLING TO THE PAST.

LAFM: Your hit ‘Kiss Me’ will always be a classic song. How do you feel about it still having decent rotation? I’M VERY THANKFUL. I’VE BEEN SO BLESSED SO THANK YOU. GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF THAT SONG.

LAFM: Do you have any final words of wisdom? I’M SO THANKFUL THAT I GET TO BE A PART OF PEOPLE’S LIVES WITH MY VOICE. I FEEL SO BLESSED TO GET SO MANY WONDERFUL MESSAGES ON FACEBOOK ON THIS AND THAT FROM FANS THAT MAKE ME FEEL LIKE WHAT I DO IS WORTH IT. I’M THANKFUL TO GET TO DO IT AND HAVE A VOICE IN THE WORLD.

Ashers Interview
With Mark Civitarese
Interviewed by Jonathon Freeman-Anderson

 

Ashers is a progressive punk rock group with a recent album off Concrete Jungle Records, titled, Kill Your Master, currently available for purchase and will be on the road in Europe throughout August. Punk legend, Mark Civitarese from The Unseen, has taken a moment during his busy schedule to sit down with Los Angeles Film and Music Online and discuss punk music today, influences, and playing bar mitzvah’s for Aerosmith’s kids. Ashers album, Kill Your Master, was released July 13, recorded in February at The Outpost in Stoughton, MA, and was produced by Ashers and Jim Siegal (Blood for Blood, Cave In, Dropkick Murphys).

The incredible artwork and cover design comes from Amy Toxic, and the layout by Justin Brooks. Harkening back to the days of The Refused, and looking forward to similarities to Thrice, Ashers are intent on being punk’s new sound of aggression. Especially with Kill Your Master, Ashers created an incredible piece of work combining elements of hardcore, rock, punk, and metal to create a unique sound that should be an inspiration and collection staple for all fans of aggressive music. It is their first release since their debut EP, "Cold Dark Place" (Welfare Records), in 2008.

LAFM: Where did the group grow up? WELL WE ALL COME FROM NEW ENGLAND. JOE, CASEY, AND I ARE FROM THE BOSTON AREA. JUSTIN GREW UP IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND BILLY IN CT TILL HE MOVED THIS WAY IN THE MID 90S.

LAFM: How do you feel about Los Angeles? UM-WELL Weird QUESTION I DIG LA. I LOVE EARLY CALI PUNK AND SHOWS IN LA AREA ARE USUALY GREAT. I HAVE A LOT OF FREINDS THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA. HOWEVER, AS FAR AS NON-PUNK RELATED I THINK THE PEOPLE IN LA ARE VERY FAKE. ACTUALLY I TAKE THAT BACK PEOPLE ARE FAKE EVERYWHERE HAHAHA.
         
LAFM: Where else would you like to find exposure besides LA? Where else might appreciate your style? EVERYWHERE NOT JUST LA. I WANT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO HEAR ASHERS. JUST BEING KNOWN IN ONE TOWN IS SILLY UNLESS YOUR LOCAL AND NEVER WANNA LEAVE TOWN.

LAFM: What was your first experience with music? UM AS FAR AS PUNK, IT WAS WHEN A FRIEND GAVE ME SLAP SHOT AND MINOR THREAT AND SEX PISTOLS CASSETTES. FROM THERE I GOT MISFITS WALK AMOUNG US AND THAT WAS IT.

LAFM: Who are your major influences as performers? Singer? Guitarist? Drummer? DRUMMERS THERE IS ONE CHUCK BISCUITS AMAZING HE PLAYED WITH CIRLCE JERKS D.O.A BLACK FLAG DANZIG AND SOCIAL DISTORTION. HIS PLAYING IS SECOND TO NONE. GUITAR WISE WELL I DONT PLAY GUITAR BUT MY FAV PUNK GUITARISTS ARE G.B.H CONFLICT I DONT EVEN KNOW THE NAMES BUT BOTH BANDS HAVE AWESOME GUITAR. I ALSO DIG LARS FROM RANCID A LOT GUITAR WISE OH AND OF COURSE GREG GINN FROM BLACK FLAG
        
LAFM: When and why did you start playing? Individually? As a band? FOR ME PERSONALLY I STARTED TO HELP WTH MY SANITY HAHAHA MUSIC GIVES A GREAT RELEASE OF AGRESSION WHEN YOU PLAY HARDCORE MUSIC. AS FOR ASHERS, WE STARTED BECAUSE BILLY AND I WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING NEW AND HARD. WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR YEARS AND BOTH WER ALWAYS IN OTHER BANDS. ONCE THE UNSEEN SLOWED DOWN I DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE T PASS THE TIME AND SEE WHERE IT WENT. 2 YEARS LATER WE HAVE OUR FIRST FULL LENTH COMING OUT AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT ALBUM. DIFFERENT THEN THE UNSEEN FOR SURE.

LAFM: Where and when was your first performance? GEEZE UM I THINK IT WAS A VFW HALL SHOW. NOTHING I CAN EVEN REMEMBER SO IT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN TOO GREAT HAHAHA.

LAFM: how did the band come together? Were you friends or did you have auditions? I STARTED ASHERS AND BILLY FROM 'CRASH AND BURN' HE BROUGHT ALONG HIS BASSIST JOE FROM THERE THE 3 OF US WENT THROUGH A FEW DRUMMERS AND SECOND GUITARISTS. HOWEVER, AS A REAL BAND THIS LNE UP IS ORIGINAL WE HAVE TOURED AMERICA 3 TIMES AND EUROPE ONCE.

LAFM: Are you each involved at all in any other bands or projects besides this? If so, what? Why? Moreover, how is it going? BILL AND I ARE BOTH INVOLVED IN A FEW THINGS. BILL JUST FINISHED AN ACOUSTIC ALBUM THAT HE HOPES TO HAVE OUT SOON. I STILL HAVE THE UNSEEN THAT WILL EVENTUALLY DO AN ALBUM AND TOUR. BUT ASHERS IS THE MAIN FOCUS WE REALLY WANNA DO SOMETHING WTH THIS BAND

LAFM: What are the musical influences for the new album? WELL WE DID NOT SET OUT TO TRY AND SOUND LIKE ANYTHING ELSE BUT I HEAR ELEMENTS OF FILTH, MOTORHEAD, ZEKE, BLACK FLAG, NEGITIVE APROACH, I ALSO HEAR UNSEEN CUZ OF MY VOICE THOUGH I TRY TO DO DIFFERENT STUFF WITH MY VOCALS ON THIS. I DONT KNOW I GUESS I THINK OF IT AS AN AGRESSIVE DARK HEAVY ALBUM. 

LAFM: Do you have any previous or concurrent releases, i.e. other CDs and DVDs? ASHERS HAS THE NEW ALBUM KILL YOUR MASTER WE ALSO HAVE A E.P CALLED COLD DARK PLACE.

LAFM: How does your new album compare to your previous work or your peers’ work? IT’S SIMILAR IN WAYS BUT DIFFERENT I ALWAYS TRY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THIS ALBUM IS THRASHIER THEN ANYTHING I HAVE DONE AND IT IS VERY RAW SOUNDING. HAVE TO LISTEN TO GET YOUR OWN OPINION HA HA.

LAFM: Is all/any of your work original? Do you have material from other songwriters? How has the collaboration process worked for you? BILLY, JOE, AND I WRITE THE ENTIRE ALBUM ASIDE FROM CLASS OF 94. THAT SONG IS A CLASSIC RAP R N B TUNE.
     
LAFM: Where can we buy or listen to your music? WWW.MYSPACE.COM/ASHERSTHEBAND ; HAS TUNES. YOU CAN BUY IT FROM WWW.INTERPUNK.COM ; OR THORP RECORDS OR AT A SHOW PERHAPS IN STORES TOO IF STORES STILL CARRY CDS.
     
LAFM: Where can we see you performing live? WELL WE TOUR A LOT. WE JUST DID 2 WEEKS IN THE STATES WE GO TO EUROPE FOR 20 DAYS ON AUG 4. WE PLAN TO DO A FULL AMERICAN RUN IN THE FALL.

LAFM: What is the audience you are trying to reach? ANY ONE THAT CARES ABOUT HEAVY MUSIC. PUNK OR HARDCORE OR EVEN METAL. WE DONT WANT TO LIMIT OURSELVES TO ONLY PUNKS. THAT IS BORING. WE WANT TO MAKE MONEY SO WE CAN BUY SAINT IDES SPECIAL BREW!

LAFM: How do you connect and keep in touch with your fan base? I HAVE A MYSPACE A FACE BOOK. FANS CAN REACH ME ON THOSE. I ALSO DONT HIDE AT SHOWS OFTEN I CAN BE FOUND WATCHIN OTHER BANDS OR AT THE BAR OR THE MERCH TABLE. I TRY AND MEET FANS I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO MEET THEM SO THEY KNOW YOUR A REGULER PERSON NOT A SNOB THAT HIDES
    
LAFM: Do you have any representation yet? If so, how do you feel that you are being treated. What has been the experience like? WE DO PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING ON OUR OWN. WITH THE HELP FROM SOME CLOSE FRIENDS.

LAFM: Are you involved in anything else creatively? Any other mediums that you would see yourself working in or on? MUSICLY I STAY BIZZY. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF GUEST VOCALS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. I HAVE SANG ON DEATH BEFORE DISHONORS LAST ALBUM,  WENT TO NEW ZEALAND TO SING ON AN ALBUM BY A GREAT PUNK BAND THE RABBLE,  AND MORE  RECENTLY I WAS GONNA SING ON A SONG FROM A GREAT PSYCHOBILLY BAND THE CREEPSHOW  BUT TIME DID NOT PERMIT. I AM ALWAYS INTO GUEST STUFF ON OTHER ALBUMS. IT IS FUN.

LAFM: What are your plans for the future—near and far? JUST TO MAKE MUSIC AND TOUR. ITS PRETTY MUCH ALL I KNOW.

LAFM: What advice do you have for fans that appreciate your music and want to hear more artists similar to you? WELL I THANK ANYONE THAT SUPPORTS MY BAND! TO HEAR MORE BANDS, IT IS EASY, TRY LOOKING AT SHIRTS OR PINS THAT BANDS WEAR, OFTEN BANDS LIKE OTHER GOOD UNKNOWN BANDS! ALSO, CHECK THINGS LIKE MYSPACE AND SEE WHAT BANDS ARE IN THE TOP FRIENDS OF A BAND YOU DIG.

LAFM: What are a few of your favorite bands or idols? FAV BANDS G.B.H., DANZIG, BLOOD FOR BLOOD, DISCHARGE THERE ARE SO MANY. AS FOR IDOLS, I DONT HAVE ANY BUT I RESPECT PEOPLE LIKE TIM ARMSTRONG, MIKE NESS, WATTIE FROM EXPLOITED, THE STERN BROTHERS FROM YOUTH BRIGADE. THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND HAVE NOT CHANGED! I RESPECT REAL PEOPLE. SOME BANDS ARE FAKES THEY COME AND GO. THE ONES ABOVE THEM ARE IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL.

LAFM: What would you say to a fellow musician trying to make it right now in the music industry? GOOD LUCK HAHAHA THERE IS SO MANY BANDS AND NO ONE IS BUYING ALBUMS RIGHT NOW. IT IS AT AN ALL TIME LOW. IT IS VERY HARD TO MAKE IT AS A BAND RIGHT NOW. YOU HAVE TO REALISE IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TOURING TO BE KNOWN.

LAFM: Who would you like to open or close for, or collaborate with?
I’D LOVE TO PLAY WITH DANZIG SOMEDAY, OR SLAYER. FOR ASHERS I THINK MUNICIPAL WASTE WOULD BE A GOOD BAND TO TOUR WITH ALONGSIDE.

LAFM: What is the weirdest/funniest/or most controversial experience you have had working in the music industry? OH MAN, I DONT KNOW, I HAVE SEEN A LOT. I ONCE PLAYED THE BASSIST FROM AEROSMITH'S SON'S BARMITZVAH. THAT WAS A TRIP HAHAHA.

LAFM: Any final words of wisdom that you would like to impart to friends or family. NAH. HAHAHA WHO AM I TO SAY WHATS WISE.

LAFM: If there was one genre of music that you feel, is underappreciated or underestimated, what would it be, and why? IT IS HARD TO SAY THERE IS SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF MUSIC NOW. IT IS HARD TO SAY WHAT IS WHAT. I THINK ASHERS IS UNDERESTIMATED HAHAHA CHECK US OUT!

LAFM: in your opinion, what is the difference between music and noise? I GUESS I CAN JUST SAY MUSIC SHOULD HAVE SOME SENSE OF TEMPO OR TIMING IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT BUT AT LEAST SOME TEMPO. 

 

Kira
Interviewed by Jonathon Freeman-Anderson

Where did you grow up? I grew up in the suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark. How do you feel about Los Angeles, California, and the United States? I have family in Los Angeles, so I traveled to the states for the first time when I was 15 years old. My mom and dad was divorced and I was a bit of a troubled teenager, so they decided to send me over to my aunt to see if she could sort me out. After a month and a half, she gave up and put me on a return flight back to Copenhagen. Two years later I found my self a new ticket to the American dream. I got involved with a much older man from Flint Michigan and we lived in Los Angeles for many years and had a band playing local venues. I still miss L.A. There is so much to love and hate about the place. America got a hold of me somehow. I always like to return, even though, I am happy having my base in Copenhagen.

Where else would you like to find exposure besides US? Where else might appreciate your style? I’m a well established artist in my Home country Denmark and I have toured all over the world, with both my own music and as a guest in Tricky’s band. I feel that my music consists of elements I have picked up on my travels. I also lived in London for many years and that is somewhere I’m now working on getting a release for my next full length album. I just finished recording it in Iceland and had John Parish produce it. What was your first experience with music? I have been singing since I was a kid. As a way of shutting out the world, I sang when I did not want to listen and to create my own space in the world and still do somehow. Who are your major influences as performers? Harmony? Melody? Rhythm? All of the above I guess.

Where and when was your first performance? I guess I was 11, when they opened a local music venue in the town where I lived. I sang ‘Imagine’ and ‘we don’t need no education’ How did your band come together? Were you friends or did you have auditions? I usually become very close with the people that I work with. I don’t think I could ever work with regular session cats. I need to be sinked up emotionally, mentally and musically for it to really work. Usually I find, that if I play with strangers and we connect musically, we usually are in tune on other levels as well. This band I put together in Denmark, we all live in Copenhagen, What are the musical influences for the new album? My life. My troubles. My love. All of it, scrambled up.

Do you have any previous or concurrent releases, i.e. other CDs and DVDs? I have released 5 albums at home. My sixth is coming up soon. How does your new album compare to your previous work or your peers’ work? I guess there is a thread running through it, but I hope that I have developed some. I always find it hard to watch people that get caught up in their image and what other people expect them to do. That’s the nice thing about trying to break in to new territories. You get to be who you are right now. No one expects anything from you, so you can start from square one. Is all/any of your work original? Do you have material from other songwriters? How has the collaboration process worked for you? Yes, I write all of my songs. Some have been collaborations, usually with my partners, who have all been in music. It requires a certain intimacy and trust to be able to write with other people I find.

Where can we buy or listen to your music? In the states you can buy it online. In Scandinavia, it is in all the regular music chains. Where can we see you performing live? I am playing a few shows in the states soon. Check www.myspace.com/kiraonline for regular updates. What is the audience you are trying to reach? Anyone who will listen really. How do you connect and keep in touch with your fan base? Mainly through myspace and now recently on facebook. I’m a bit slow with stuff like that. Do you have any representation yet? 

If so, how do you feel that you are being treated. What has been the experience like? Oh, we all have our horror stories with the music business. But, for now I’m pretty happy, with whom I’m working with. Are you involved in anything else creatively? Any other mediums that you would see yourself working in or on? All music. What are your plans for the future—near and far? I want to continue traveling the world and go on recording albums. I’d like to get my own garden one day, plant some flowers, and see if I could keep them alive.

What advice do you have for fans that appreciate your music and want to hear more artists similar to you? Check out my girlfriend Marie Fisker. We have done a lot of stuff together. What are a few of your favorite bands or idols? Uhhhh, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, Pj Harvey, Neil Young, Gillian Welch, Tom Waits… There are SO many….What would you say to a fellow musician trying to make it right now in the music industry? Don’t let it bring you down, its only castles burning.

Whom would you like to open or close for, or collaborate with right now or in the future? Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, Pj Harvey, Neil Young, Gillian Welch, Tom Waits. What is the weirdest, funniest, or most controversial experience you have had working in the music industry? It’s all weird really. If there was one genre of music that you feel, the world underappreciated or underestimates what would it be, and why? We can’t agree all of the time. In your opinion, what is the difference between music and noise? Sometimes noise makes for beautiful music.

 

 

Los Lobos and The Steve Miller Band
At the Greek
Reviewed by
Jonathon Freeman-Anderson

Los Lobos and the Steve Miller band rocked the Greek recently to a roaring audience. Introducing the show, KLOS classic rock radio legend, Uncle Joe Benson, and comedian and late night TV personality, George Lopez, relayed to the audience that this event is truly for Los Angeles. The entire Nederlander show had such an amazing laid-back energy. From the outdoor concessions area to the friendly security to the impeccably cordial and quality inside concessions, the staff at the Greek theatre has to be by far the coolest group of employees that one has ever seen working so efficiently, cooperatively, and amicably together. Their kind manner only increased with the family nature and positive energy brought by the very diverse audience.

Parents had their children in one hand, their grandparents in another; both were acting like the opposite of their age, and the parents did not mind. Gorgeous Coors-light girls wandered the crowd giving out buckets full of bottle/can opener key chains deeming the event an opportunity to get averagely inebriated. The crowd was truly from Los Angeles as most of the front few rows were filled by drunken beautiful people late into Los Lobos’ set, which just meant their loss and better seats for some sonic scholars. When the audience started to fill in, the entire concert lit up as the audience began dancing and freely drinking. Families and friends of both bands permeated the area, as neither Los Lobos nor the Steve Miller Band are strangers to the Southern California area.

Los Lobos played all their hits, including the legendary classic, La Bamba, and set the tone for the evening as chilled out and fun. Even though the group has grown in their experience, they still can rock. They performed some Latin jams as the sun was setting that got all the women dancing. By far, Los Lobos is one of the most tight and professional bands playing today, and best of all they look like they love every minute of it. The drummer did not look to old compared to the rest of the band, driving the energy of the grooves with amazing timing and incredible feel, and occasionally playing both the drumkit and percussion instruments simultaneously. Including sax, keyboards, guitars, harmonies, and a variety of musical styles, every great music lover or, simply, someone who knows of Ritchie Valens and want to experience real rock history themselves should see Los Lobos.

Between sets, the audience and it seems the staff just let loose. People were finding corners throughout the outdoor venue to just hang out, smoke, drink, and laugh. The catch was some of these people were in their late 70s; some were in their early 20s, and one middle-aged one was your dad. Scary to have to double-check, but this concert had that feeling that anyone’s favorite high school teacher would show up, as well as dad, and the principal. Then, the audience would have to guzzle back and repress any flashbacks from the “after-school detention” era. On hand for the show were funnel cake vendors, Coors light mini-bars in every visible direction, $5 T-shirts, attractive hippies in their 50s, ancient party animals, wait…what was that, $5 T-shirts?! It should be mentioned that these shirts were on sale by the vendor…as well as, by some person in the parking lot that took $2 and a lighter for a T-shirt.

The Steve Miller band were on fire with a luminous and incredible backdrop of guitars and a giant, neon Fender guitar neck up the middle of the back of the stage. The band felt like they rocked on for a good two-hour set with one amazing encore. For The Kids Rock Free program at the Fender Center in Corona, Steve brought out 15-year-old, Dillon Brown, on summer break from Santiago High in Corona.

One fan uttered, “That’s gotta be the coolest way a kid can spend his summer.” Brown played leads with Miller on “Rock’n Me,” and was with the band for the encore, playing “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Swingtown,” and “Jungle Love.” Brown performed incredibly attempting to jam and solo with the rock legend with a good future if he plays his cards right. To go on a long city-spanning tour with Steve Miller must be the best summer vacation for anyone with any rock n’ roll experience. Well, Steve asked the audience to text a donation to help benefit the Kids Rock Free program, which Brown was picked from, and help kids learn how to play music free if their parents do some free community work. Steve’s ambition is to open many more schools just like the one in Corona, CA across the country.

Steve Miller’s latest album, Bingo, is a brand new mix of R&B covers that were sprinkled into the night’s show. With ease and killer performance, Steve wailed on the many guitars used to prove his new material is as uncanny and remarkable as his extraordinary catalogue of hits. Recent addition, Sonny Charles, sang most of the new material skillfully and danced the night away with Motown charm when otherwise not working the microphone. Miller’s drummer, Gordy Knudtson, performed respectably and strong, but it was Steve and his guitarist, Kenny Lee Lewis, whom stole the show with impressive licks and sweet bass grooves. The album was recorded at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch. Bingo is the first new Miller album since 1993’s Wild River.

Covering the entire gamut of Steve’s hits from “The Joker,” “Jet Airliner” to “Abracadabra” to “Take the Money and Run,” there wasn’t one moment that this group of legendary musicians fell off their game. On peak energy, with terrific tone and solid harmony, the Steve Miller band are hard-working, experienced rockstars with a heavy blues foundation and a respectable compilation of hit songs. Everyone with any classic rock sense would know at least two and needs to see this band live.

The energy, the honesty, and the ability are so incredible and fun to see live. Guaranteed, the Steve Miller band is an unforgettable show. Now, if only Miller would release a full-length album of new material, the world will know that he is as capable as any current hitmaker to produce hooks and heat seeking singles. Therefore, the current music industry tastemakers had better watch out, if the Space Cowboy ever drops a hot, new, fresh out the “Abracadabra” oven track, it ‘d definitely do its part to correct music history’s trajectory back towards quality.

 

 

CALEXICO DEBUTS AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL;
JOINS OZOMATLI, LOS SUPER SEVEN AND MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF SOUND FOR ¡VIVA MEXICO!
 

Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and Grandeza Mexicana Folk
Ballet Company Also Perform
 
Tickets On Sale Now
 
Arizona roots-rockers Calexico debut at the Hollywood Bowl for ¡Viva Mexico!, a special concert on the KCRW World Festival series that celebrates the bicentennial of Mexico's independence and the centennial of the Mexican Revolution. Calexico will feature mariachi and Spanish-language singing for this show in honor of these anniversaries. Influenced by the border town from which they take their name, Calexico’s musical style is a blend of traditional Latin sounds of mariachi/conjunto/cumbia/Tejano music and Southwestern United States country music, as well as '50s-'60s jazz and '90s-'00s post-rock. Calexico built their profile by touring as support acts for bands such as Pavement, the Dirty Three and Lambchop, and regularly playing festivals such as the Bonnaroo Music Festival, the Hurricane Festival and All Tomorrow’s Parties. Their music has been chosen for a variety of projects, from Michael Mann’s film Collateral, to background music on PRI’s This American Life. Rarely without an invitation to perform, Calexico is currently scheduled to appear in festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada.
 
WHEN: SEPTEMBER 18, 2010
                                    8 p.m.
 
WHERE:    HOLLYWOOD BO 2301 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90068
 
HOW TO PURCHASE: Tickets ($12 - $102) are on sale now at HollywoodBowl.com, at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office (12pm – 6pm, Tues. – Sun.); via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000, or through Ticketmaster. Groups of 10 or more may call 323.850.2050 for information about special rates, subject to availability.

 

TO RELEASE LIVE FROM FREEDOM HALL CD/DVD SET ON JUNE 22   LAST CONCERT RECORDED WITH LONGTIME MEMBERS BILLY POWELL AND EAN EVANS. ALSO, SUMMER TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED
From Amy Sciarretto at Roadrunner Records: Lynyrd Skynyrd will release Live From Freedom Hall on June 22 as both a CD/DVD set and as a stand-alone DVD. Live From Freedom Hall not only captures the band in its most natural state – on stage- but is also one of the last concerts to be recorded with longtime members Billy Powell and Ean Evans, both of whom passed away last year. The release is a tribute to and a celebration of Skynyrd. The track listing for Live From Freedom Hall is as follows: 
“Travelin’ Man”   
“Workin'”   
“What's Your Name?”   
 “That Smell”   
 “Simple Man”   
 “Down South Jukin’”   
 “The Needle and the Spoon”   
 “Ballad Of Curtis Loew”  
 “Gimme Back My Bullets”   
 “Tuesday’s Gone”   
 “Red White and Blue”   
 “Gimme Three Steps”   
 “Call Me The Breeze”   
 “Sweet Home Alabama”   
 “Free Bird”

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s latest, Gods & Guns, was released via Roadrunner/Loud & Proud, debuting on the Billboard Top 20 at #18, representing their highest debut since 1977. Throughout the past year, the band has been enjoying continued success and increased visibility, appearing on The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien, The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, FOX News Channel’s Huckabee, Hannity, Fox & Friends, PBS Soundstage and more.

The band was recently inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Their classic and beloved American rock anthem “Sweet Home Alabama” has surpassed the two million mark in downloaded ringtones.  With a catalog of over 60 albums and sales beyond 30 million, Lynyrd Skynyrd remains a major cultural icon that appeals to all generations. Lynyrd Skynyrd will return to the road for the next several months, touring with Bret Michaels and 38 Special in June before embarking on the Hannity Freedom Concert Series in August.
Tour dates

 

TRIPLE GRAMMY NOMINEES STONE SOUR REVEAL
NEW ALBUM TITLE
AUDIO SECRECY IN STORES LATE SUMMER
 

BAND TOURING STATES THIS SUMMER WITH UPROAR FESTIVAL

Los Angeles, CA (May 10, 2010) ­- Three-time Grammy nominees STONE SOUR have revealed that Audio Secrecy will be the title of their highly anticipated new album, which is slated for release later this summer. The band and producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains, Rush) are currently holed away at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, TN, where they’re putting finishing touches on the much-buzzed-about record. “Audio Secrecy is the summation of everything we want, everything we crave and everything we fight for,” says lead singer Corey Taylor. “The dimensions go further than anything we've ever tried before. It's metal, rock, slow, soft, hard, fast, bitter, beautiful and most importantly, it's REAL. You can't get an album like this out of a band that doesn't exist.

We're throwing caution out the damn window.”
The band (vocalist Corey Taylor, guitarists James Root and Josh Rand, bassist Shawn Economaki and drummer Roy Mayorga) will be previewing select songs from Audio Secrecy during their performances on this summer¹s Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival. The 36-date tour launches August 17 in Minneapolis, MN and will visit arenas and amphitheatres across North America before wrapping October 4 in Madison, WI.  Tickets for Uproar go on sale Saturday, May 15 in select markets and are available via www.RockstarUproar.com  and www.livenation.com .

Audio Secrecy is the follow-up to the gold-certified Come What(ever) May, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and spawned three radio hits: “Sillyworld,” “Made of Scars,” and the No. 1 smash hit single "Through Glass." Revolver magazine gave the disc four stars and praised the quintet for “demonstrating a dynamic range equaled by few of their peers.” Billboard hailed the record as “an intense, taut piece of work,” and Alternative Press called the group “masters of ass-kicking,” adding, “In a better America, Stone Sour would be the face of American rock.”  Stone Sour's self-titled debut, also certified gold, spawned the band's first breakthrough hit "Bother," which was spotlighted on Spider-Man soundtrack.

This week's episode of the Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival’s UPROAR TV pays a visit to Disturbed in the studio as they record their upcoming album Asylum, due in August.  The video gives fans the first ever opportunity to hear a quick tidbit of a new song if they listen closely.  To watch the latest episode of UPROAR TV, visit www.YouTube.com/RockstarUproar. 

Disturbed will perform several new tracks when they headline the upcoming Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival August 17-October 4 along with Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Sour, Hellyeah and more. "I don't think you can say that this stuff sounds like any other Disturbed record specifically, but it reminds you of every other Disturbed record," offers singer David Draiman in the clip.
For more information on the Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival visit www.RockstarUproar.com.
For more information on Disturbed visit www.Disturbed1.com.

God of War 3
Reviewed by
Jonathon Freeman-Anderson

Finally, the best game of the year has arrived and just in time for “Clash of the Titans.” While God of War 3 may be a fictionalized action story revolving around Greek mythology, no expense was spared to produce the next installment in one of Sony’s greatest game franchises of all time. In fact, the original beloved face of Hercules, Kevin Sorbo, plays the voice of Hercules in GOW3.

Three years in the works and the game absolutely delivers upon the wait time by, for starters, not having any wait time. Zero loading time for a game that plays more like a Blue Ray movie with massive multi-dimensional landscapes and perfect texture for every frame and perspective. Kratos, whether being controlled at a tiny scale or fully in the cameras face has spot-on exact detail. The story for the third brings the saga to a very complete close, but considering how well GOW3 should fare economically there should be some foreseeable fourth installment. Perhaps, Kratos takes down the Roman Gods for ripping off the Greeks, therefore showing that not even time or historians can control Kratos’ wrath. Then again, they could sell out, have Kratos become a vampire, ghost, or werewolf…something lame.

Sony Santa Monica Studios produced the game and is directed by Stig Asmussen, who said, “The game is by no means meant to be an educational foray into Greek mythology, but that if it inspires a person to look into it then that’s good. It’s really about staying as consistent with what’s out there for video game fans and incorporating as much as possible into the game. Everyone is very proud of the work put into this game.”

While going through the game, there are gameplay features that seem to be awesomely amalgamated elements from other popular games. For example, players’ time the buttons correctly to a rotating disc playing a musical pattern, similar to “Guitar Hero.” In addition, there is a great first person moment similar to “Fight Night,” where the camera is Kratos head and it sees exactly what he sees. If blood splatters into his face so bad that his vision is blurred or blinded then so is the player. Some may say that that is not similar too much to “Fight Night,” as many players really just want to feel like Kratos.

 

To see from his POV is a huge plus for hardcore Kratos fans. There is a fun, surreal dream sequence running through the dark with distorted visions a la, “Max Payne,” and probably many more comparisons that effectively introduced popular game conventions into the God of War universe. The fact is that God of War, itself, in its original game introduced many gaming conventions that were later employed by many games in gameplay, style, and in respect to “Dante’s Inferno,” debatably the concept.

The creators of this third game stayed true to the dynamics of what made the previous two successful except they increased the idea of scale tenfold to the extreme. Kratos traverses massive landscapes that are also Titan characters; so large that their movement affects how Kratos moves and how story sequences are told. There is no game out comparable to the size and astounding visual detail put into this game. Beyond the scope of where Kratos goes, the game is rated M for gore…enough gore to be confused as correct historical reference to the bloody, horrific battles that are told in school to have been committed by the Greek Gods and their subjects.

If anyone had intended to go out of their way to truly envision the use of gore as an art form, it was Sony Santa Monica and how. Another difference is the extent of the combos that can be committed by Kratos is higher than ever as it is possible to sequence through every weapon in his arsenal, mid-combo, strung together to maintain a combo count. In addition, magic is included for every weapon, making combos that much more explosive. Testing the limits of how many enemies can appear on the screen simultaneously has made this combo feature essential.

Sony Santa Monica has succeeded in making this the best game so far this year for bonus content, graphics, sound, and gameplay. The game is an awesome way for a Greek God to go out. Despite the story being not exactly parallel to Greek mythology, the overall game has an incredibly addicting effect. The action, gore, and visuals are phenomenal beyond either of the two previous home-game console installments, or the most recent PSP release, “Chains of Olympus.” Ultimately, this game will have a very long play life for any gamer who is a fan of beautiful action, interesting puzzles, and an epic story.

MUSIC NEWS

Compiled by Jonathon Freeman-Anderson

THE STEVE MILLER BAND SET TO RELEASE BINGO! DUE OUT JUNE 15

THE FIRST NEW STUDIO ALBUM IN SEVENTEEN YEARS!

 
From Amy Sciarretto at Roadrunner Records: Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records is pleased to announce a worldwide partnership with American rock ‘n’ roll pioneers, The Steve Miller Band and Miller’s new imprint Space Cowboy Records. Recorded at film producer George Lucas’ infamous studios at Skywalker Ranch, BINGO! is the band’s first studio album in 17 years. A true return to Miller’s roots, BINGO! echoes his early years in the Chicago music scene and features carefully chosen and crafted tracks performed in distinctive Steve Miller Band fashion.

“With the continuing evolution of the music industry and all the new exciting opportunities that are available, I feel this is a perfect time to start a new record company and establish new innovative partnerships. I am looking forward to a long relationship with Roadrunner / Loud & Proud,” says Miller of the new endeavor.

 “After many years of discussion and sharing ideas, the time has finally arrived for Loud & Proud and Steve Miller to work together,” commented Loud & Proud President Tom Lipsky. “We are proud to be Steve’s global label partner and excited to be involved with this landmark project.” The Steve Miller Band is one of the biggest selling recordings, touring, and catalog artists of all time, having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide throughout its career. SMB’s Greatest Hits 74-78 compilation reached prestigious Diamond Award certification with sales of more than 13 million units sold.

Roadrunner Records President Jonas Nachsin comments “Loud & Proud has been gaining serious momentum in the past few months and now boasts a substantial roster with the addition of the incredible Steve Miller Band. Roadrunner is thrilled to be marketing an artist of Steve’s legendary status along with our own diverse rock roster. “BINGO! was co-produced by Andy Johns (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen), with artwork designed by the legendary Storm Thorgerson. These recordings feature longtime Steve Miller Band member Norton Buffalo, who sadly passed away in 2009.  

 

KORN SET TO RELEASE KORN III - REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE DUE SUMMER 2010

From Amy Sciarretto at Roadrunner Records: Roadrunner announced recently that the worldwide signing of multi-platinum, genre-defining hard rock band Korn to the label. Korn III - Remember Who You Are is the band's ninth album overall and their first album for their new label. It was produced by Ross Robinson, who also manned the boards for the band's explosively definitive self-titled 1994 debut, as well as the follow up, 1996's Life is Peachy.

Bursting onto and instantly dominating the hard rock scene in 1994, Korn have proven to be one of the pre-eminent bands in the world, as well as one of the most influential and significant bands on the hard rock musical landscape for the past two decades. "We called this record Korn III - Remember Who You Are because it really feels like a return to that attitude we had on the first two records," bassist Fieldy said. "And when it came to putting this record out, we could not think of anyone better to help us than Roadrunner, the only label that even understands rock music anymore." Over the course of eight releases, Korn have sold over 30 million albums worldwide, inspiring a disciple-like devotion among their fan base along the way.

Korn also notched six Grammy nominations and have won two; one for Best Short Form Music Video for "Freak on a Leash" from 1998's Follow the Leader, as well as one for Best Metal Performance for "Here to Stay" from 2002's Untouchables. They have also been nominated for nine MTV VMAs, having picked up two wins for "Best Rock Video" and "Best Editing" for "Freak on a Leash." Korn also launched their own massively successful touring festival, "The Family Values Tour." It's beyond evident that Korn are one of a kind and have secured a firm place in the history of rock 'n' roll, thanks to their signature blend of twisted, throbbing guitar riffs, syncopated chaotic funk beats, a schizophrenic bass thump and an unmistakable cathartic howl.

Korn's current lineup is Jonathan Davis (vocals), Fieldy (bass), James "Munky" Shaffer (guitar), and Ray Luzier (drums). Korn III - Remember Who You Are retains that savage, raw energy that made Korn such a crucial fixture to an entire generation of diehard fans. The band will spend the summer headlining the third annual Rock Star Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. They will also embark on a South American run, as well as headline the Jagermeister Music Tour in America beforehand.

PUBLIC IMAGE LTD:
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2010
 
From Libby Coffey at MSO: Since returning in December 2009 for seven monumental concerts in the United Kingdom–their first shows in 17 years–PUBLIC IMAGE LTD (PiL) now continue into 2010 with a headlining North American tour starting Saturday, April 17 in San Francisco. After fronting the Sex Pistols, John Lydon formed Public Image Ltd in 1978.

With their experimental sound fusing Rock, Dance, Folk, Ballet, Pop and Dub, PiL are regarded as producing some of the most diverse music of the 70s and 80s. As a band, the music and vision constantly evolved like no other, culminating in an incredible live experience. The North American tour started by a special performance at the COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL on Friday, April 16 in Indio, CA marking their first show in the United States in 18 years. Cited as one of the most innovative and influential bands in music history, PiL return to a country where they enjoyed a special relationship throughout their career for what are set to be stunning shows.

The North American dates will be followed by a series of high-profile summer European Festival appearances. John Lydon (vocals), Lu Edmonds (guitar), Bruce Smith (drums), and Scott Firth (bass) earned critical and public acclaim for their concerts in December 2009, with many British media outlets championing them as the shows of the year.

 John Lydon: “I sound like a bag of kittens thrown down the staircase.” 2010 sees the 30th anniversary of the band’s first U.S. tour and their U.S TV debut on “American Bandstand,” where singer John Lydon invited the audience onstage to dance with the band! Host Dick Clark famously introduced their appearance as "a memorable moment in rock n roll, something special and interesting.” With a wide and varied back catalogue spanning three decades, Public Image Ltd will be showcasing the unique sounds of tracks such as “Public Image,” “This Is Not A Love Song,” “Rise,” and “Disappointed,” with many further surprises in store. Lu Edmonds: Multi instrumentalist and former guitarist in The Damned Lu joined PiL in 1986 recording and playing on the album Happy?

and co-writing the album 9 adding yet another dimension to the PiL sound. Lu is also associated with a variety of eclectic and acoustic bands including The Mekons and Siberian band Yat-Kha. Bruce Smith: Former drummer in The Pop Group and The Slits became percussionist for PiL also in 1986 playing and recording on the albums Happy? and 9.

Seen as a drumming virtuoso, Bruce Smith brought his unique style into the fold. Bruce has also played with the likes of Björk and Terence Trent D’Arby. Scott Firth: A bass player/multi instrumentalist that has collaborated and played with a variety of top musicians and bands including Steve Winwood, John Martyn, Elvis Costello and The Spice Girls. Scott’s arrival into the band in 2009 resulted in John Lydon declaring him “Genius at work!”

The preliminary North American tour dates are as follows, with more shows to be added:
DATE
CITY
VENUE
Tue 4/20
Seattle, WA
Showbox at The Market
Wed 4/21
Portland, OR
Crystal Ballroom
Fri 4/23
Salt Lake City, UT
The Depot
Sat 4/24
Denver, CO
Ogden Theatre
Mon 4/26
Kansas City, MO
Midland Theatre
Sun 5/2
Chicago, IL
House of Blues
Tue 5/4
Boston, MA
Royale Boston
Wed 5/5
Boston, MA
Royale Boston
Fri 5/7
Toronto, ON
Kool Haus
Sat 5/8
Montreal, QC
Theatre L'Olympia de Montreal
Tue 5/11
Baltimore, MD
Rams Head Live
Wed 5/12
Washington, DC
9:30 Club
Fri 5/14
Pittsburgh, PA
Club Zoo
Sat 5/15
Atlantic City, NJ
The Borgata Music Box
Tue 5/18
New York, NY
Terminal 5For further PiL information, see: www.pilofficial.com

Hail The Villain to hit the road with Sevendust prior to release of debut album,
Population: Declining

From Amy Sciarretto at Roadrunner Records: Hail The Villain have emerged out of Oshawa, Ontario to unleash the band's master plan on an unsuspecting population with the launch of one of the most creative and technologically advanced websites ever built for a band: www.hailthevillain.com. The band is not satisfied with just writing songs, making an album, and going out on tour.

They want to create an entire Hail The Villain universe that includes not only the music, but also a dynamic live show, animated videos, a comic book, and their unique website. Designed and built by RUNE Entertainment and GRAND Creative Studios, the website opens with the story of family man and steel factory worker Drake Carter ending his affair with seductive co-worker Thea Landa. This sparks a chain of events that leads to Drake's murder at the hands of his former lover and secret Villain as she moves to claim his soul. Freezing time in that brutal and savage moment, the website allows users to navigate through the scene to unlock character back-stories, clues and downloads, to participate in the story by becoming "Villain-ized" and to share messages with the band. "This is one of the most interactive websites that we've ever seen," enthuses Hail The Villain singer Bryan Crouch.

"It truly brings our fans into our Universe and allows us to have direct communication with them through our video channels, and the Book of Souls. It is a site where you can lose yourself for hours in the story that we created. I wish more bands were doing things like this." The concept for the website grew out of a series of sketches the band had created as a rough draft for a comic book inspired by the sounds of their new album, Population: Declining which will be released via Roadrunner Records on June 8, 2010. Armed with the band's ideas, RUNE and GRAND set out to design a website with a difference, building a range of engaging features to plug into and enhance a story crafted to display the band's music.

"When we met the group they told us that they were looking for an atypical band website and essentially gave us carte blanche to go off and create something unique," explains GRAND co-partner Luke Canning. Taking that brief as their starting point, the challenge for us was to build a site that would set Hail the Villain apart from the cacophony of acts populating the pages of MySpace and Facebook. Taking the point-and-click concept to a completely new level, HailTheVillain.com presents a series of artfully illustrated environments to explore, with clues and hints, character bios and Easter eggs hidden at every turn. Numbers scrawled in matchbooks unlock audio content when punched into a phone booth, while a map hidden in the glove compartment foreshadows a darker plot twist that will be revealed in one of the upcoming comics.

To drive audience participation, users are invited to activate their webcam at the start of the experience. As they journey through the site, visitors will uncover various opportunities to upload and modify pictures of them, record and share videos with the band and other fans, and stumble across several other surprises. Hail The Villain's debut album, Population: Declining was produced by Darryl Romphf and will be released on June 8 through Roadrunner Records. The album's release is preceded by the first single, "Take Back The Fear," and it is accompanying animated video, produced by RUNE Entertainment. "Take Back The Fear" was recently shipped to Rock and Modern Rock radio and has already seen early adds from KQRC/Kansas City and 89X/Detroit.

Prior to the album's release, Hail The Villain hits the road in the U.S. for a month of dates opening for Sevendust:
April 21 Knoxville, TN - Valarium
April 22 Louisville, KY - Headliner's
April 25 Ladson, SC - Ladson Fairground
April 27 Fayetteville, AR - Majestic Lounge
April 28 Huoma, LA - The City Club
April 30 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
May 1 Orlando, FL - Tinker Field
May 4 West Springfield, VA - JAXX
May 5 Richmond, VA - The National
May 7 Clifton Park, NY - Northern Lights
May 8 Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock
May 9 Syracuse, NY - Westcott Theatre
May 11 Wantagh, NY - Mulcahy's
May 12 Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club
May 14 South Bend, IN - Club Fever
May 15 Kenosha, WI - Eagles Ballroom
May 16 Flint, MI - The Machine Shop
May 20 Ft. Wayne, IN - Pierre's
May 21 Traverse City, MI - Ground Zero
May 22 Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
June 6 St. Louis, MO - KPNT PointFest
 
THE CLADDAGH FUND
ANNOUNCES WINNER OF DROPKICK MURPHYS’
‘LANSDOWNE TO DUBLIN’ RAFFLE

ECHOSTOR TECHNOLOGIES ASSISTS THE CLADDAGH FUND
WITH FUNDING AS CORPORATE PARTNER

“Celebrity OysterFest 2010” WITH DROPKICK MURPHYS AND FRIENDS
IN MILTON, MA MAY 12 MARKS NEXT FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR
THE CLADDAGH FUND

From Kristine at AM-Media: The Claddagh Fund--the charity established in 2009 by Dropkick Murphys founder Ken Casey--has announced the winner of its “Lansdowne To Dublin” raffle. Carol A. Curley from Casselberry, Florida is the winner of an all expense paid trip to Dublin, Ireland to see Dropkick Murphys play at the Olympia Theatre on April 22, 2010. This raffle was made possible through the support of The Claddagh Fund’s corporate partner EchoStor Technologies (www.EchoStor.com).

Over $20,000 was raised for charity through the raffle. Proceeds will be split between the Belvedere Youth Club in Dublin, Ireland (through the American Ireland Fund) and Springboard (www.springboard-opps.org) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Since beginning in 1992, Springboard has been committed to supporting the positive development of people, communities, and society within a local and global platform through building capacity, mutual understanding, and peace. Springboard promotes the appreciation of diversity within local and global contexts to contribute to the development of civic leadership within society and especially among young people. 

The Belvedere Youth Club is a children’s center in Dublin, Ireland. The money donated will fund the “Weekend Holiday Program,” a weekend retreat for inner city children who will travel free of charge to the Club’s cottage in County Wexford to enjoy sports, arts and music in a relaxed environment. The next fundraising event for The Claddagh Fund will be “Celebrity Oysterfest 2010” on May 12 from 6pm-10pm at 88 Wharf Riverfront Grille in Milton, MA, which is co-owned by Casey. The evening is sponsored by EchoStor Technologies and will be hosted by Dropkick Murphys and some of their famous friends. It also marks the grand opening of the restaurant’s newly renovated patio.

A limited number of tickets are available for $75 per person, which includes unlimited beer and wine, complimentary appetizers and raw bar. For more information on The Claddagh Fund, go to www.claddaghfund.org. About The Claddagh Fund, The Claddagh Fund was established by Dropkick Murphys founder Ken Casey in support of non-profits that champion the causes of children, veterans and those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. The Claddagh Fund is committed to the three attributes symbolized in the Claddagh ring: friendship, love, and loyalty. The Claddagh Fund seeks to harness the passion of Dropkick Murphys friends, family, and fans to significantly improve the quality of life of children, their families, and the most vulnerable populations in the community.

ROCKLAHOMA
DAILY BAND LINEUP ANNOUNCED

SINGLE DAY TICKETS ON SALE NOW
 From Kristine at AM-Media: The daily performance lineup for Rocklahoma 2010 has been revealed, and single day tickets for the Memorial Day Weekend event are on sale now. Rocklahoma 2010 features an all-star roster of top rock artists from the past three decades, including ZZ Top, Godsmack, Tesla, Buckcherry, Cinderella, Chevelle, Theory of a Deadman, Saliva, Saving Abel, Fuel, Sevendust and one additional Main Stage band to be announced on May 10 (see below for the full line-up listed by day). Single day tickets are available for $45 plus service fees. Three-day general admission tickets are still available for $110 and three-day VIP tickets start at $292. The multi-day destination camping rock festival takes place May 28-30, 2010 at “Catch the Fever” Festival Grounds in Pryor, OK. 

The daily lineup is as follows:

FRIDAY, MAY 28
Godsmack
Special Guest Band to be announced May 10
Buckcherry
Saving Abel
Adelitas Way
Richy Nix
The Veer Union
Brookroyal
New Medicine
Bad Things
Krank
Firstryke
O’Dette
Mad Max
New Cool World
Black Tora

SATURDAY, MAY 29
ZZ Top
Cinderella
Saliva
Fuel
Janus
Shaman’s Harvest
Burn Halo
Like A Storm
Taking Dawn
Gypsy Pistoleros
The Last Vegas
Problem Child
The Glitter Boys
Wildstreet
O’Dette – Set #2
Krank – Set #2
Bad Things
 
SUNDAY, MAY 30
Tesla
Chevelle
Theory of a Deadman
Sevendust
Aranda
Lacuna Coil
Taddy Porter
Nigel Dupree Band
Year Long Disaster
Within Reason
Bad Things
Wildstreet – Set #2
Problem Child – Set #2
The Glitter Boys – Set #2
Firstryke – Set #2
Mad Max – Set #2
New Cool World – Set #2
 
 

Established in 2007 as a classic rock destination festival with the motto “life, liberty and the pursuit of rock,” Rocklahoma was revamped for 2010 as organizers teamed with AEG LIVE to create an event encompassing a much broader mix of classic, current and up-and-coming rock artists. Rocklahoma is located just 45 minutes northeast of Tulsa, in Pryor, OK. The “Catch the Fever” Festival Grounds is a premiere destination for a multi-day festival and includes on-site camping with access to restrooms and shower house, a general store for campers, VIP reserved seating, hospitality areas & much more. For additional information, please visit www.rocklahoma.com.

ELECTRIC ZOO ANNOUNCES INITIAL LINEUP
EARLY BIRD 2-DAY PASSES ON SALE NOW
New York’s Electronic Music Festival
September 4th & 5th, 2010 (Labor Day Weekend)
Saturday, September 4th
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
Paul van Dyk • Benny Benassi •ATB

Sunday, September 5th
ARMIN VAN BUUREN
Above & Beyond • John Digweed • Fedde Le Grand
50+ Artists Over Multiple Stages
Early Bird 2-Day Passes on sale now!

Country Star Laura Bryna Interview
By
Jonathon Freeman-Anderson

Laura Bryna is an up and coming country, rock, pop crossover celebrity. An artist of multiple mediums on a Renaissance scale magnitude, Bryna is conquering acting, singing, dancing, and pop culture journalism. With recent touring, opening up for Clint Black, and the success of her last album, “Trying to Be Me,” as well as, hosting True Country, Bryna’s career is off to an awesome start. Beyond such personal success, Bryna is a philanthropist, giving her time working with the U.S. Air Guard, National Guard Youth Foundation, and especially, the “Make-A-Wish” Foundation. Bryna wrote a sweet song titled, “Make-A-Wish,” featuring children from the foundation in the video.

How is it working with acclaimed producer Rob Boldt on the next album? “The upcoming project is coming along great. We just worked on two songs, were going to record vocals on two more songs. When you’re imagining it come together, when you’re imagining what it is in your brain and in your heart and then, being able to let it come out for everyone is neat. Collaboration is great.”

How has it been working with True Country on Go TV? “It’s neat to be on the cutting edge of one of the first mobile country music channels. It’s cool to get updates right on your phone. It’s great to be able to interview your fellow peers. We’ve worked on the road together and it’s not the usual questions that you get. We get the inside scoop, not invasive, but things we can bring the fans. It’s a great intimate connection, but not too in your face. It’s informative and fun. Just another way to connect with fans. It’s fun to do both, be interviewer and interviewee, with a relaxed kind of hang out thing.”

You are the U.S. Air Guard spokesperson, National Guard Youth foundation, and help “Make-A-Wish,” quite the Renaissance woman, what drives you? “The goal of my life is to really be out there and help people, make them smile; I’ve always loved acting, singing, and dancing. I’m involved with a lot of things regarding children because they’re the future. These kids just want to dream and play soccer or something, but they have cancer. These kids just want a second chance to be the next chef, cosmetologist, whatever their dream is and my goal is to spread the word about all these people. They all want to help and succeed and I want to help them do it. My parents instilled in me to give back and help people.”

Mixing pop, rock, and country…what, do you consider yourself? “I’m kind of a mess, you’d say, I listen to so many different kinds of music. I am labeled because, as Sinatra or Presley would have said, “my way,” I’m doing things my way. I like things that are different and I like to smoosh all the different styles together. I have so many “isms” and a word that I come up with, my manager translates usually. It’s all about being true to yourself. Your fans will read through to that.

Talk about the “Make-a-wish?” Foundation and Song, its popularity, how do you feel? “Anything that I can do to bring awareness to these kids is great. The video was great for the song. If possible, I wanted to have a make-a wish kid in the video and the majority of these kids in the video are those kids. They’re all bright-eyed bushytailed and want to go to Disneyland, but might die the next die. It is hard and inspiring.”

The album “Trying to Be,” was promoted on a tour where you were opening for Clint Black, whom else would you like to open for in the future? “Actually, I have opened for so many people. I’m blessed to be able to do that. I would love to be the headliner soon. I’m a huge writer and a fan. I love so much music. My music collection goes from Snoop Dogg, to Celine Dion, to Bette Midler, to Winona Judd to Rene Fleming, so many incredible artists are out there. It’s fun just to collaborate and see what you come up with. If someone’s a classical singer and someone’s country, mix it up.”

From Maryland to Nashville, to New York to Los Angeles, has the adjustment been smooth? “I’m kind of living out my suitcase. Having a home in NY, LA, Nashville, Maryland, everyone’s been really welcoming. Clint’s been so sweet going on tour. ‘Hey, here’s what you’re going to see on the road.’ I love how down home it is in Nashville. In L.A., you can’t beat the weather. It’s a social thing and lots of friends. I love it.”

“What is one thing when you are on the road that you can’t live without?” “That sounds like one of my questions. I knew someone would turn that around on me. I have a couple, and that’s hard. Obviously, I enjoy my glitter eye makeup and I love whip cream. I’ll put in on my hot chocolate. Maybe we should have the tour sponsored by Ready Whip.”
“The band’s been fun. I’ve been blessed to have a great band in Nashville and in LA. It’s fun to just, be busy creating what we love. What better way to have a blast than people that you love.”

What do you do for fun? Whom do you like to hang out when you are not working? “I don’t consider what I do work, but I have three birds, Tyler, Harmony, and Snuggles. Those are my babies, parrots. All will be 11 this year. Spending time with them is hard being on the road. I love going to Walter Reed hospital and visit the men and women from Iraq and Afghanistan. I’d love to go on a USO show. I was supposed to go to Afghanistan, but the timing was off. I love to volunteer.”

What advice do you have for fans that appreciate your music and want to hear more artists similar to you? What would you say to a fellow musician trying to make it right now in the music industry? “Honestly, for me, the advice that I’d give someone is learn as much as you can in your craft; actress, singer, dancer, or all three. Listening to music, inspiration, for me, I did internships, music classes, acting, dancing, everything. You want to learn as much as you can. Don’t take no for an answer. Keep rolling; figure out what’s best for you. Don’t let anyone tell you no and keep fighting. We’ve all had bumps in the road. It’s the bumps that you write about in country songs, not the success. It’s a theme in all genres of music actually. They make you stronger. Some people are grateful because they wouldn’t know how to play or succeed without those bumps at all otherwise.”

What’s the weirdest/funniest experience you’ve had working in the music industry? “Being on the road with Clint, I ended up going on stage one night and my pants were unzipped, it was really funny. I was about to go into this heartfelt thing and a fan came up from the audience and yelled, ‘you’re pants are unzipped.’ I just had to go with it. I wanted to fall in a hole and die. My band and the fans were trying to tell me and it was so funny. It’s those moments, it can’t all be serious. Clint made me a concoction that’s not alcoholic, hot water and honey, and I came onstage drinking it, and people were like what’s the weird yellow liquid she’s drinking. It’s one big extended family on the road and you go through life together having fun.”

If there was one genre of music that you feel, is underappreciated or underestimated, what would it be, and why? “The Blues is underestimated or Jazz too. I think the musicians in those genres are definitely underappreciated. They’re so incredibly talented and have such sad things, but can melt your heart in two seconds. The intricate detail is so amazing, the chord structures. It’s a very intellectual form of music and I think they have so much emotion that they bring to their music and I wish there was more of it. The heartbreak you hear in Etta James or Billy Holliday is phenomenal.”

Any final words of wisdom that you would like to impart to friends or family. “I would just say live life to the fullest. I know it’s cheesy; I have that song ‘Life is Good.’ It’s about not sweating all the little stuff, taking it in with stride. There are different hurtles and goals and accolades to accomplish, and its fun to dream and keep dreaming. Be happy, healthy, and I wish that for everybody.”

 

“Stolen” Director and Producer
Anders Anderson and Andy Steinman
Interviewed by
Jonathon Freeman-Anderson

A2 Entertainment Group duo, Anders Anderson and Andy Steinman directed and produced, “Stolen.” Distributed by IFC Films, “Stolen,” features Jon Hamm, Josh Lucas, James Van Der Beek, and Rhona Mitra, and will have a limited release in theatres beginning March 12 (in N.Y.) and March 19 (in L.A.).

Talk about the process of getting this film off the ground. “We needed a feature to get into the industry, came across the script, and knew that this would be the first step. We knew someone who had an in with Lucas and got him the script. Within 6-8 weeks we were shooting, it was insanely fast.” Why do you think it was so quick? “We were running up against the strike. We needed to get things running if we were even going to have a film. So we went fast.”

How did Josh Lucas get interested in the project? “We have this script that we think is great and we have this great contact. We were praying, if he likes it then let’s roll it. It made it incredibly stressful. Anders and I grabbed footage from movies and music everywhere. Made a montage and sent that to Josh so we could legitimize ourselves. After we sent him that, it was only a few days and he was on the phone with us.”

Did everything work out as you had planned? “It never plans out the way you planned ever. Its cool cause when you screw up at least you can say that you had a plan. When you’re dealing with low budget, you’re not the person really calling the shots and you’re trying to work creatively within that.

We planned everything and then we planned for what would go wrong. Something new pops out and we were always working on how to make this work. ‘Organized chaos’ is what it was for pre, post, and on-set production. You can try to plan and think of everything, but it’s really just rolling with the punches. It’s amazing how you try to think of every scenario, but sometimes two scenarios would combine. It kind of evens things out when you say, ‘I’ve never seen that happen before on a movie, good and bad.’”

What was the most interesting experience during production, good or bad? “We ran the gamut. On the great side, the cast was so amazing to have. Everyone involved with the movie was amazing. For first time filmmakers and the first time out, we were so thankful for our talent and the bad side was time. It evened itself out with who we got to work with.” Anders seconds that with the cast. “If this was a low budget film with a big director, you could get the cast, but if it wasn’t for casting director Stephanie Corsalini, we would have had no one. If it wasn’t for her then we wouldn’t be able to meet any of them.”

How did you like working with all the actors? “It was phenomenal. Meeting all of the actors it was like, I can’t believe it, but it was a lot of fun. It brought some sort of lightness to the other stuff with the strike and the fires happening simultaneously.” What was it like working with Josh Lucas and James Van Der Beek? “Josh was such an integral part of the movie. Working with him was amazing, though it was a limited amount of time. It was a tight shooting schedule, but it was awesome. He had many ideas and said that he could really connect with the character. He brought such confidence with everything that it made us feel confident. Lucas would say, ‘Hey guys these are sort of things that I’ve dealt with as an actor’ and he has imparted a lot of advice upon us.”

“Working with James Van Der Beek, he surprises you because everything he does in a scene you never expect what he’ll do with the line. We would say, ‘did you see that look he gave us?’ He’s so good at his craft and to be able to go toe to toe with Josh in 1958 and then put on the makeup and practically a different character where his character becomes totally dark is amazing. Being able to hold himself with Jon and Josh was amazing. The underlying subtlety is amazing. It’s borderline shocking. All the subtleties are striking that it becomes art.”

How did Van Der Beek get involved? “For some reason, this movie had some buzz about it, but probably because of Josh coming on board so quickly. Then, James came in and said ‘look what I want to do with this.’ We’re like ‘sure you’ve got the role.’ He’s not afraid to take it, throw it out there, and just do it. ‘This is what I got.’ He approaches on such a practical way with no ego. He’s fearless when he first comes out, all the time.”

How did the story develop? “Once we got the script, we started working with Glenn Taranto, the writer. We impressed on him what kind of movie we wanted to make and when Josh reassured us in the direction that we wanted to go, we just tweaked the script. We change it as we go to what we can do. During the short pre, throughout production, and even in post, we continually make changes.

The original was called “The Boy in a Box.” I remember a similar story in the 70s, I think, but the origins are real somewhere. Glenn’s family is involved in the police dept. in Jersey. He was always interested in these stories. To fictionalize it about a cop seeking answers about a child who no one discovers for 50 years was the idea.

Was the writer happy with the changes that made to the script? “Once we came on board we also wanted to add some elements, and Glenn was smooth with it. Attributed to Glenn, this is his first feature as a writer. He liked what we had to say and the ideas we had and everyone brought something to the table.”

Anders added, “Andy and I pride ourselves on being able to collaborate with people. In the end, it’s about many people trying to bring an effort together. We want people to feel involved. We add some extra elements and are very honest. We wanted a breakthrough script and Glenn wanted a great producer/director team who could take it somewhere.”

How did the process of filming in the ‘50s period and transitions back and forth between the present and past develop? Andy replied, “It was Anders and I, we knew that the transition between the time periods was crucial for an audience member. We looked

 

CALVIN HARRIS ANNOUNCES US TOUR DATES THIS FEBRUARY AND MARCH

Calvin Harris-Brit Award nominee for Best Solo Male, writer and producer of several #1 hit singles, live crowd-pleaser and of course the man who Created Disco-is about to embark on a major-or, to put it properly, MASSIV-tour of the U.S and Canada, in support of his chart-topping new single "You Used To Hold Me"-available February 8th backed with monster-anthem remixes, taken from his #1-Bestselling Album "Ready For

The Weekend" out on Ultra Records. "You Used to Hold Me" follows in the footsteps of his previous chart topping & dancefloor smashing singles ‘I’m Not Alone’, ‘R.F.T.W’ & ‘Flashback’ and is backed by a series of huge club mixes courtesy of Laidback Luke & Nero, and an explosive video packed full of monster truck action.

2009 was a break out year for Calvin that saw him sell in excess of 1 million singles & 150,000 albums in the UK, write & produce several #1 hit singles for both himself & others, sell out his entire tour ( with over 50,000 + tickets sold in advance), crowd winning performances across all of the UK’s major summer festivals, Calvin also completed several high profile DJ tours and residencies across the globe and saw him truly step out of the shadows into becoming one of the UK's most unique and engaging pop stars on every level.

This February and March he's bringing his triumphant chart-topping bangers to a dance floor near you. A connoisseur of the true art of dance music, Calvin Harris looks set to lead the genre well into the next decade. Several of Calvin's forthcoming U.S. dates, and both of his dates in Vancouver as a part of the Winter Olympics after-parties, are with hotly-tipped artist /DJ /Producer Burns. Calvin Harris US Tour

Dates: Feb 24, Miami Beach, FL, LIV Night Club*, Feb 25, Vancouver, BC, Gossip Nightclub*, Feb 26, Vancouver, BC, Celebrities Nightclub*, Feb 27, Los Angeles, CA, Avalon*, Feb 28, San Diego, CA, Voyeur Night Club*, Mar 19, Montreal QC, Metropolis, Mar 20, Toronto, ON, Sound Academy, Mar 24, Miami Beach, FL, LIV Night Club, Mar 27, Miami Beach, FL, Louis Lounge, April 2, Halifax NS, The Palace, April 3, Washington DC, Glow, *with Burns.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE CONTINUE HEADLINING TOUR WITH GUEST VOCALIST DUE TO HOWARD JONES’ UNEXPECTED ABSENCE

Recently, it was announced that Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones had to unexpectedly leave the band’s current headlining tour, leading to a flurry of rumors and questions about the status of the tour and the band. The band has further issued the following statement addressing the matter, saying: “It became overwhelmingly obvious to all of us around Howard that he is in no condition to be on tour right now and that he needed to get off the road and get himself better.

It’s a personal matter and while we understand everyone’s curiosity and concern for Howard and the band, we appreciate everyone respecting Howard’s privacy at this time.” Longtime friend Phil Labonte of All That Remains was able to fill in and help out the band for a few shows and it appears as though he will be filling in for the remainder of the tour, which runs through March.

KsE endured and survived a similar situation in the past, where guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz was forced to sit out a tour due to a back injury. KsE also said, “We seriously considered cancelling the tour since we don’t want to give fans that paid good money anything less than KsE at full-strength. But after trying a few shows with Phil, and after feeling the love and support that we were getting from the crowd, it became increasingly apparent to us that the shows came across as fun and unique, and the fans seemed to be enjoying it.

We quickly realized that we had to keep going and that we couldn’t possibly stop.” Refunds are available for any fans that have already purchased tickets, but as the band said, this tour will offer a chance to experience KsE in a unique way that you won’t be able to witness again. Furthermore, KsE would like to thank all fans who came out to support them during this difficult stretch, exclaiming “We really do feel that our fans are the best fans in the world.” The band also thanked Labonte for pitching in, saying “We can’t thank Phil enough for helping us out when we needed it the most.”

THE LIBRARY IS ON FIRE RELEASE "MAGIC WINDOWS, MAGIC NIGHTS" LP
APRIL 6 (FILL IN THE BLANK RECORDS/RED DISTRIBUTION) OUT DIGITALLY MARCH 2. UPCOMING DATES: March 5 - TLIOFHQ (w/ Dubbknowdubb + Hard Nips!), March 9 - Mercury Lounge, March 19 - The Knitting Factory (w/ Oneida), April 8 - Death By Audio (Special Guests TBA), In 2004, following the suicide of a close friend and band mate,

The Library is on Fire front-man Steve Five relocated to New York in a state of shock on the cold streets of Brooklyn; broke, broken, hungry, mourning, and steps away from pawning away his dead friend’s Univox Mosrite Copy guitar. Five, who had once toured as sound engineer for Brooklyn noise-rock band Ex Models (who have extensively toured with The Yeah Yeah Yeahs), now found himself working at Strand bookstore where he fatefully met reclusive Television guitarist Tom Verlaine, eventually meeting weekly over coffee at a nearby café. With an enriched intellectual youth, Five began writing a manifesto entitled “The Library is on Fire,” the title taken after a poem written by obscure war poet Rene Char.

The novelty namesake eventually metamorphosed into a recording project by Five in late 2007 in the college town of Kent, Ohio, culminating in the 2008 debut release of Cassette engineered by famed Guided by Voices producer Todd Tobias. Five enlisted drummer Pete Sustarsic and bassist Mark Shue to complete his line-up and the trio set off to play their debut performance together at Brooklyn's Glasslands Gallery supported by 2010

Grammy Nominees The Ting Tings. Eventually formulating a catalog of original tracks, the sadness, hopelessness, rage, and redemption that accompanies great loss had become acute in Five’s songwriting coming into fruition with a series of recording sessions with the legendary producer to channel these experiences into a comprehensive and resonant track-listing. Fast forward to 2009 - a consuming and prolific year for the band, writing over forty songs, playing countless New York shows and touring the U.S. with Brighton, UK noise punk trio My Device. Five engineered albums by punk duo Red Dawn II for Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace!

Label, the final USAISAMONSTER album, and Oneida’s triple disc set Rated O (Jagjaguwar) while also premiering collage work (and subsequent album art) in a group art show in Williamsburg, and recording a guest guitar appearance on Robert Pollard's (Guided by Voices) 2009 release Elephant Jokes. The Library is on Fire had been in pre-production at their Brooklyn loft for weeks prior, arranging instrumentation and making demos.

They had booked more than a dozen loft parties at the famed "TLIOF Headquarters," where they both reside and play, showcasing bands like The Miami Ice Machine, Knyfe Hyts, Pterodactyl, Oneida and Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices). The January recording sessions with Todd Tobias, lasting less than two weeks in the freezing Northeast Ohio cold, showed the band’s ability to work at a breakneck pace with pinpoint accuracy and culminated in the fifteen-song monolith LP entitled Magic Windows, Magic Nights (April 6/Fill in the Blank Records).

Derek Stanton of Awesome Color (Ecsastic Peace! label and 2009 tour with Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr) performs a guest solo on the track "A Cinematic Idea." With lo-fi cassette performances, urban NYC field recordings and tape samples with baroque orchestration blended with Tobias’ hi-fi analog indie production, Magic Windows, Magic Nights clamors with the noise of a band firing on all pistons Five’s melodic songwriting often veers from languid to raging, and eclipses the bands' 2008 Cassette debut with tightened Mascis-style guitar melodies and Brian Wilson-style pop concision, while the gunfire drumming of Sustarsic and polytoned sub-frequencies of Shue coalesce into a heavy slamming machine. Magic Windows, Magic Nights showcases a band who know the meaning of impermanence and transition, and how to bridge the gap between oblivion and survival.

 

SOULFLY TO RELEASE SEVENTH ALBUM OMEN ON MAY 4, 2010, BAND COMPLETES RECORDING IN LOS ANGELES, ALBUM TO FEATURE SEVERAL GUEST APPEARANCES

Longtime Roadrunner Records recording artist SOULFLY, lead by metal deity Max Cavalera, have just completed a stint at Edge of the Earth Studios in Los Angeles, where they recorded their seventh album. Roadrunner will release album, titled Omen, on May 4. Logan Mader served as co-producer. Omen follows up 2008’s Conquer, which enjoyed incredible critical reception.

Alternative Press awarded the album 4.5 out of a possible 5 stars, deeming it “a furious, sonically adventurous metal disc…awesome” while Kerrang! hailed Conquer as “packed with enough invention, aggression and sheer quality tunes to make most other metal bands blush.” In the true Soulfly style and tradition, the album will feature notable guest appearances.

Dillinger Escape Plan’s Greg Puciato and Prong’s Tommy Victor will lend their voices to separate songs, while Max’s songs, Zyon and Igor, will also appear on special B-sides, making Omen an album that is truly all in the family! Of the collaborations, Cavalera said “The first one is a song with Tommy Victor from Prong sharing vocals on a song called ‘Lethal Injection.’ The other is ‘Rise of the Fallen,’ with shared vocals from Greg Puciato, Dillinger Escape Plan's singer.

I also recorded two B-sides with both of my sons playing drums. Igor Cavalera plays on Exel's ‘Your Life, My Life,’ and Zyon Cavalera plays on Sepultura's ‘Refuse/Resist’ cover.” The album’s track listing is as follows: “Bloodbath & Beyond”
“Rise of the Fallen,” “Counter Sabotage,” “Jeffrey Dahmer,” “Lethal Injection,” “Great Depression,” “Mega-Doom,” “Kingdom,” “Off With Their Heads,” “Vulture Culture,” “Soulfly 7”

 

WALKEN: A Clever Crossover Takeover

San Fran crossover thrashers WALKEN are taking over! Their blend of heavy metal styles meld into an alloy that fans and media abroad find to be as energizing and infectious as it is massive. WALKEN have been constantly expelling their unique style of metal for the past 10 years.

Comprised of a tight-knit crew who converged to create heavy blues-inspired metal paired with classical melodies, WALKEN boast a high-octane, sporadic, metallic sound that reaches out to punk, metal and straight-up rock fans alike. Their latest release - simply entitled Walken - was released by the band themselves with distribution from Relapse Records.

Dan Black's Debut Album ((un)) Out Now Including Exclusive Bonus Tracks

NORTH AMERICA TOUR DATES: Feb 24 - Spaceland - KROQ $1.06 SHOW - Los Angeles, California, Feb 25 - Popscene/330 Ritch - San Francisco, California, Mar 15-20 - Austin, TX – SXSW, Mar 26 - Ultra Festival - Miami, Florida

 

DARKTHRONE REVEALS TRACK LIST AND ARTWORK FOR ‘CIRCLE THE WAGONS’

New Album From Black Metal Legend Available on Vinyl March 8th, CD April 6th. Norway’s legendary black metal duo, Darkthrone, has revealed the track list for the upcoming release, Circle the Wagons, a creative feast of metal and punk to be released on vinyl on March 8th, through the Peaceville Records webstore, and regular and special edition CD on April 6th (US). Side A 1. Those Treasures Will Never Befall You, 2. Running for Borders, 3.

I am the Graves of the 80s, 4. Stylized Corpse. Side B 5. Circle the Wagons, 6. Black Mountain Totem, 7. I am the Working Class, 8. Eyes Burst at Dawn, 9. Bränn Inte Slottet. The vinyl edition can be pre-ordered now at www.peaceville.com/darkthrone. The limited/numbered 180gm vinyl edition of 2000 comes with heavyweight sleeve, printed inner sleeve, and an art print of the cover on 250gm Tintoretto Gesso Paper.

Exclusive to the Peaceville store, orders will ship from March 8th and include a link to a digital version of the album (available when the regular and special edition CD versions of the album are released on April 6th). Artwork for the album comes once again courtesy of Dennis Dread, notable for his talents on previous Darkthrone albums, F.O.A.D and 2008’s Dark Thrones and Black Flags. Circle the Wagons was self-recorded at Necrohell II Studios. Fans that sign up for the Darkthrone mailing list at

http://www.burningshed.com/store/peaceville/freedownload/24/ will receive a free download of a new track off Circle the Wagons. From their thrash and death beginnings to their ascension to the pantheon of black metal greats, Darkthrone has always refused to stand still.

They continue to embrace and explore their roots and capture the real spirit of sonic greatness on Circle the Wagons. Darkthrone sails against the tides of trend and disposable metal, uncompromising and defiant as ever, an ideology expanded upon by Darkthrone drummer/lyricist, Fenriz, when explaining the meaning behind the title…“The new metal decade starts with our album.

It is a message to the invaders of our metal domain to circle their wagons! With our own brand of heavy metal/speed metal-punk we are a constant ambush on the modern overground metal traitors. Join us in our fight against instant gratification, and let's see who stands when the smoke clears.”

 

 

DROPKICK MURPHYS SIGN ON FOR 2010 BONNAROO FESTIVAL

DROPKICK MURPHYS are set to play the final day of this year’s Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, TN on Sunday, June 13. The band joins a diverse lineup for the three-day festival that ranges from Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Weezer, and Kris Kristofferson to GWAR. As previously announced,

DROPKICK MURPHYS will also be joining the final seven dates of the 2010 Vans Warped Tour, from August 7-15. Meanwhile, longtime SoCal punk favorites Strung Out and Oregon’s self-described “6 man hillbilly jamboree” Larry And His Flask have been announced as support acts for DROPKICK MURPHYS’ upcoming U.S. tour, kicking off February 23 in Norfolk, VA.

The reunited Face To Face joins DKM on a ten-date run through the U.K. and Ireland starting April 12 in Glasgow, Scotland. With four of the six previously announced St. Patrick’s Day week (March 12-17) shows at Boston’s House of Blues already sold out, DROPKICK MURPHYS have just added a special 1:00 PM matinee show on Saturday, March 13.

Opening acts for the annual run of hometown dates will be announced soon. The intensity and camaraderie of last year’s St. Patrick’s Day shows are captured on the live CD/DVD LIVE ON LANSDOWNE, BOSTON MA, due March 16 on the band’s own Born & Bred Records (ILG). Following in the tradition of 2002’s Live On St. Patrick’s Day From Boston MA—which has sold over 250,000 copies worldwide—LIVE ON LANSDOWNE features an entirely different 20-song set list and a guest appearance by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones on DKM’s platinum-selling single “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.”

DROPKICK MURPHYS tour dates are below:
Date City Venue
With Strung Out & Larry And His Flask:
2/24 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theatre
2/25 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
2/27 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
*DKM performance will begin immediately after the Admirals hockey game
2/28 Kansas City, MO Beaumont Club
3/1 Dallas, TX House of Blues
3/2 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
3/3 Austin, TX Stubb’s
3/5 Tampa, FL The Ritz
3/6 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution Live
3/7 Orlando, FL House of Blues
3/8 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore
3/9 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
3/10 Wallingford, CT The Dome at Oakdale Theatre
With Opening Bands TBA:
3/12 Boston, MA House of Blues
3/13 (1pm) Boston, MA House of Blues
3/13 Boston, MA House of Blues
3/14 Boston, MA House of Blues
3/15 Boston, MA House of Blues
3/16 Boston, MA House of Blues
3/17 Boston, MA House of Blues
With Face To Face:
4/12 Glasgow, Scotland Barrowland
4/13 Newcastle, UK O2 Academy
4/14 Leeds, UK O2 Academy
4/15 Manchester, UK Manchester Academy
4/16 Birmingham, UK O2 Academy
4/17 Nottingham, UK Rock City
4/18 Brixton, UK O2 Academy
4/20 Belfast, Northern Ireland St. George’s Market
4/21 Cork, Ireland Savoy Theatre
4/22 Dublin, Ireland Olympia Theatre
Festival Date:
6/13 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Festival
Vans Warped Tour shows:
8/7 Salt Lake City, UT Utah State Fairgrounds
8/8 Denver, CO Invesco Field
8/11 Pomona, CA Pomona Fairplex
8/12 Marysville, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
8/13 Nampa, ID Idaho Center Amphitheatre
8/14 George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre
8/15 Hillsboro, OR Washington County Fairgrounds

 

 

20 Buck Spin & Profound Lore Announce SXSW Showcase

20 Buck Spin announces today a joint label showcase at SXSW this year with our comrades at Profound Lore Records. The two underground metal labels have been friendly for some time and agreed that SXSW could use something beyond the usual suspects this year. Each label will bring three bands from their respective, constantly growing rosters. 20 Buck Spin will bring Brooklyn NY’s black metal futurists Liturgy, Providence, RI’s chaotic whirlwind schizos.

The White Mice and Toronto’s violence prone The Endless Blockade. Profound Lore brings a mix of new and veteran talent in the form of Indiana’s blackened doom bringers Coffinworm, Virginia amp destroyers Salome and Chicago scene vets Yakuza. The show will take place on Friday March 19th at Headhunters Club located at 720 Red River Street in Austin. The show will be opened by two bands not associated with either 20 Buck Spin or Profound Lore at approximately 7 p.m.

Those bands will be announced shortly. Additionally our long-time friend David D’Andrea has created exclusive poster artwork for the showcase. 20 Buck Spin has existed since 2005 and is based in Olympia, Washington. It is home to the above mentioned bands and others including Samothrace, Coffins, Laudanum, Stormcrow and more.

The acclaimed UK band The Hours made its avidly awaited stateside debut on January 26 with the release of "Ali In The Jungle," a four-song digital EP available on iTunes now.

Inspired by the historic 1974 world heavyweight bout between then-reigning champion George Foreman and former title-holder Muhammad Ali, "Ali In The Jungle" is a hard-hitting and hook-packed paean to the human spirit with an unforgettable litany of powerhouse triumph in the chorus.

An ideal introduction to The Hours for US music fans, the "Ali In The Jungle" EP includes "These Days," "A Thousand Years" and a lush orchestral mix of "Ali In The Jungle." A video for "Ali In The Jungle," a highly detailed stop-motion animation directed by Jonas Odell (U2, Goldfrapp, Madonna), will also be released.

The Hours came together when singer-songwriter-producer Antony Genn, whose resume includes stints with Elastica and Pulp, was inspired to write songs "that are honest blood and guts on the floor" after seeing a Patti Smith performance.

Genn rang up keyboardist Martin Slattery, his previous bandmate in The Mescaleros, Joe Strummer's post-Clash band, and The Hours formed shortly thereafter. After experiencing The Hours' music, Genn's good friend Damien Hirst, the controversial post-modern UK artist, threw his support behind the band, developing a clock's-eyed skull "logo" for The Hours' records and on-stage set .A live force to be reckoned with, The Hours have toured with Oasis and Kasabian and and opened seven UK shows for U2 in 2009.

The Radio Dept. widely anticipated new album "Clinging to a Scheme" to be released on Labrador Records April 21, 2010

Currently in the Top 5 most blogged about artists in the world! The Radio Department’s “Clinging to a Scheme” is without a doubt this year’s most eagerly anticipated Swedish indie pop album. It’s been four long years, but a simple press on Play and you’ll know it’s been worth every song. “Clinging to a Scheme” combines the best components from their previous albums “Lesser Matters” and “Pet Grief” with soul guitars, P-funk, cut/paste beats and 70’s futuristic orchestra. Breathtaking!

Just when all the fuss is exploding on the Brooklyn indie art and pop rock scene, Cantora Records are ready to unleash Brooklyn’s Bear Hands US debut single, and their sexiest tune yet, “What A Drag” on February 16th.

But this band doesn’t sound like they are remotely influenced in the least by what’s going on musically around them. They’re breaking the mold making them a truly refreshing and stand out group, opening their own rift, letting everyone know there’s a new sheriff in town.

“What A Drag” will be available digitally, in addition to a 1000 limited run pressing of white vinyl. It’s been nearly 2 years since singer /songwriter/ guitarist Dylan Rau and guitarist Ted Feldman graduated from Wesleyan college with degrees in film and 3 years since their first uproar in a Chelsea rehearsal space with fellow band mates drummer TJ Orscher and bassist Val Loper.

This is indeed quite the natural fit since Cantora is the label that is home to the cool Wesleyan sound featuring giants such as MGMT, the talented Francis and the Lights and uprising starlets Savoir Adore. It is certainly prime time to expose the fresh Bear Hands sound to the masses. “What A Drag” is their first recording using a keyboard, lending the band’s already addictive rhythm section an even more New Order-sque sound. With it’s induced tribal stomping drum beat, reverb heavy guitars, driving bass and Dylan’s soulful falsetto drop ins, “What A Drag” contains one of the strongest hooks that you’ll be hard pressed to shake out of your head.

Cale Parks takes it up a noch with his oh ‘so deep’ remix. And don’t skip the b -side “Can’t Stick Em” which contains another rigorous chunky bassline groove –booty call music for the indie-rock set! It is with great confidence all around that “What A Drag” is that special tune that’s going to get these lads out of the van and into the tour bus, falling in love, and quitting their day jobs. However, since they all agree that “There’s a sense of urgency living in NYC and a need to create”, this foursome don’t have plans to move anytime soon.

Even as they’re finishing up their debut full length album, Bear Hands will be promoting “What A Drag” along with songs from their previously self released debut, “The Golden EP” and boasting new material across the US nationwide this February leading up through SXSW. Bear Hands are by no means strangers to the road. They’ve toured and shared the stage with such luminaries as MGMT, Vampire

Weekend, Passion Pit, Hockey, Ra Ra Riot, Ambulance Ltd, Cursive, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Le Savy Fav, Obits, We Are Scientists, Airborne Toxic Event, Razorlight, Manic Street Preachers, Matt & Kim, Francis and the Lights, Manchester Orchestra, Imperial Teen, Cale Parks, The Honorary Title, Ghostland Observatory, The Antlers, Miles Benjamin Anthony and have played in front of thousands at festivals such as Reading, Leads, Siren and Rockness.

In support of Too Pure’s single club release of What A Drag, Bear Hands toured the UK with Passion Pit and Hockey and have since toured the UK twice. The single was pegged by the Sunday Times and numerous others as “Hottest Downloads” and “Instant Classic” receiving airplay on both BBC and Radio1 & NME Radio A Listed.

FYI: To all Tommy Lee fans: Tommy will not be performing at the Six Stages Over Texas Benefit on March 20th in Austin, TX, as part of SXSW. This was recently reported in error.

 

THE RESURRECTION SORROW: Winter Touring Update

The boys in THE RESURRECTION SORROW have been busting their asses promoting their full-length Hour of the Wolf since its release in November! With killer reactions to the groups revved-up doom rock rolling in from fans, print and online media and radio stations across the country, the band has been booking shows like crazy to take their tunes to the fans.

With a steady stream of local and regional shows played over the last few months TRS are now booking the rest of the winter and spring months with more gigs, including Part I of the band's three-part "The Unholy Divine Tour." The next segment will be announced shortly.

But next up is this Saturday's brutal stoner throwdown at Ace of Clubs alongside Black Pyramid, Hull, Maegashira and Archon (as well a little guest DJ action from the Earsplit crew). 2/27/2010 Social Pariah Festival @ Holiday Inn - Fishkill, NY, 3/05/2010 Sounds Asylum - Goshen, NY, 3/06/2010 The Electric Factory - Utica, NY w/ Malice In Underland, Structural Integrity Compromised.

The Unholy Divine Tour, Part I: 3/10/2010 Mojo 13 - Wilmington, DE, 3/11/2010 The Smiling Moose - Pittsburgh, PA, 3/12/2010 The Depot - York, PA w/ Red River Revival, Backwoods Payback, Wrath of Typhoon, 3/13/2010 The Black and Red Bar - Washington DC w/ King Giant, 3/14/2010 The Brighton Bar - Long Branch, NJ w/ The Ominous Order of Filthy Mongrels, 3/15/2010 Lit Lounge - New York, NY w/ Maegashira, Archon

WOODHANDS SPRING 2010 TOUR DATES

March 18 - SXSW Paper Bag Records Showcase at Speakeasy
March 20 - SXSW Rolling Stone Party at Peckerheads
March 25 - Hodi's Half Note - Fort Collins, CO
March 26 - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO
March 27 - The Conspiracy Room - Kansas City, MO
March 28 - The Frequency - Madison, WI
March 29 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis, IN (Presented by My Old Kentucky Blog)
March 30 - 2720 - St. Louis, MO
April 1 - the Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
April 3 - Brooklyn Bowl - Brooklyn, NY
April 17 - The Boulder Theater - Boulder, CO (w/ Lotus)
April 20 - George's Majestic Lounge - Fayetteville, AR (w/ Lotus)
April 21 - House of Blues Dallas - Dallas, TX (w/ Lotus)
April 22 - The Ballroom at Wired Live - Houston, TX (w/ Lotus)
April 23 - Emo's - Austin, TX (w/ Lotus)
April 24 - Tipitina's - New Orleans, LA (w/ Lotus)

 

 

THE WORLD-FAMOUS THE BAKED POTATO JAZZ CLUB CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A TWO-DAY JAZZ FESTIVAL AT THE ANSON FORD AMPITHEATER MAY 22 AND 23, 2010

The world-famous The Baked Potato Jazz Club announces a two-day jazz festival celebrating their 40th anniversary of providing Los Angeles with the best in live jazz and hosting the greatest jazz legends of all time.

The Baked Potato's 40th Anniversary Jazz Festival is set for Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23 at the Anson Ford Amphitheater and will feature performances by Larry Carlton, Yellowjackets, The Jazz Ministry, Steve Lukather and Special Friends, The Michael Landau Group, Don Randi & Quest, Lee Ritenour and Friends, The Baked Potato All Stars, O.H.M, Scott Henderson Trio, VOLTO!, Holdsworth, Pasqua, Haslip, Novak, John Daversa Big Band, and Mitch Forman. Tickets are on sale now at www.thebakedpotato.com.

The Anson Ford Amphitheater 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068 Phone: 323-461-3673

www.fordamphitheater.org. Doors open at 1pm. Show starts at 2pm and goes until 11pm each day. 1-Day Tickets are $116 for Standard Seating, $146 for Premium Seating and $116 for Disabled Seating. 2-Day Tickets are $212 for Standard Seating, $262 for Premium Seating and $212 for Disabled Seating. Tickets are on sale now at www.thebakedpotato.com.

Opened in 1970, the world-famous The Baked Potato is the oldest jazz club in California and a Los Angeles historical music landmark, known for hosting internationally-known jazz greats such as GRAMMY®-award winning musicians Larry Carlton, Yellowjackets, Al Jarreau, Michael Landau and Steve Lukather before they got their start.

With music ranging from jazz to rock, to contemporary fusion, The Baked Potato also has a reputation of being a hidden spot for big-name artists to jam when they are in town. Attracting local musicians, music lovers and tourists alike to see world-class musicians in a very intimate setting, this is the place to see the best music that LA has to offer.

Other jazz legends to grace The Baked Potato stage include Virgil Donati, Dennis Chambers, Simon Philips, Terry Bozzio, Dave Weckl, Bunny Brunnel, Derek Sherinian, Mike Keneally and Alan Holdsworth. The kitchen offers massive baked potatoes stuffed with your choice of delicious toppings like Marinated Steak, Chicken Teriyaki, Sautéed Spinach and Mushrooms and serves until 1am. The Baked Potato is open nightly from 7pm-2am. Full bar. 2-drink minimum. Show tickets and dinner reservations available by calling 818-980-1615 or at www.thebakedpotato.com.

THE BAKED POTATO JAZZ FESTIVAL
OFFICIAL LINE UP

"DAY 1"
SATURDAY, MAY 22ND 2010

THE BAKED POTATO ALLSTARS
Jeff Richman, Neil Stubenhous, Mitch Forman, Tom Brechtlein

O H M
Chris Polland, Robbie Pagliari, Kofi Baker

SCOTT HENDERSON TRIO
John Humphries, Allen Hurst

V O L T O
Danny Carry, Kirk Covington, John Zeigler, Lance Morrison

MICHEAL LANDAU GROUP

HOLDWORTH, PASQUA, HASLIP, NOVAK
Allen Holdsworth, Allen Pasqua, Jimmy Haslip, Gary Novak

STEVE LUKATHER and SPECIAL FRIENDS

"Day 2"
SUNDAY, MAY 23RD 2010

JOHN DEVERSA BIG BAND

MITCH FORMAN and THE BAKED POTATO ALLSTARS
Mike Miller, Luis Conte, Joel Taylor, Trey Henry, Walt Fowler, and More....

DON RANDI & QUEST

LEE RITENOUR and FRIENDS

YELLOWJACKETS
Jimmy Haslip, Russel Furrante, Bob Minster, Will Kennedy

JAZZ MINISTRY
Abraham Laborial Sr., Abraham Laborial Jr., Micheal Landau, Greg Mathieson

LARRY CARLTON
Travis Carlton, Gene Coye

Interesting Facts About Musicians on The Baked Potato Jazz Fest Line Up: 1. Drummer Will Kennedy is re-joining the Yellowjackets after leaving five years ago after playing with them for 15 years. This will be his first show back with the band. 2. Gary Novak is playing with "The Michael Landau Group" and Allen Holdsworth at the festival and has recently moved to Yamaha Drums after many years with D.W. 3. Danny Carey - the drummer of TOOL. 4.

When was the last time this many world famous GRAMMY award winning guitar players, played one after the other for two days?? 5. Chris Polland - Original MEGADEATH guitarist 6. Scott Henderson of "Trible Tec" 7. Michael Landau - the #1 studio guitar player in L.A. and the guitarist for James Taylor. His bio is endless... 8. Allen Holdsworth the original inventor if modern Fusion who influenced all the rest of these guitar players in this festival. 9. Steve Lukather- leader and guitarist of "TOTO" 10. Lee Ritenour - world famous Contemporary Jazz Guitarist. 11. Larry Carlton - world famous GRAMMY award winning Contemporary Jazz Guitarist and studio guitarist from Jazz Crusaders and Stealy Dan.

VIA TANIA SPRING 2010 DATES

Wed- March 17 - Austin, TX - Official Showcase at The Velveeta Room @ SXSW

Sat- March 20 - Austin, TX - Popfrenzy Party at Maggie Maes @ SXSW

Tue- March 23 - Washington, DC - Black Cat Backstage

Wed- March 24 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie

Thu- March 25 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge

Fri- March 26 - Brooklyn, NY - Southpaw

Sun- March 28 - Cambridge, MA - TT The Bears

Tue- March 30 - Montreal, QC - L'Escogriffe

Wed- March 31 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern

Fri- April 02 - Chicago, IL - Schuba's

The most direct and deliberate offering on Via Tania's sophomore album Moon Sweet Moon is the transfixing track "Fields." Tania’s glassy vocal lines float over cascading flourishes of organic instrumentation, inciting an overwhelming sense of movement, propulsion and dislocation forging a truly unique sonic space between a modern day Billie Holiday and lateral musical storyteller Suzanne Vega, "Fields" hints at new frontiers for Tania. "I just wanted to change things up a bit,” Tania explains, “and I wanted to have extremely simple lyrics but very visual. I don't write too many pop songs, so now

I am going to keep trying to throw more out there. It's a fun one to play.” The visual accompaniment to Fields comes courtesy of Australian-based video mavericks Moop Jaw. Having recently created waves with their videos for Animal Collective, Neon Indian, Peaches and The Golden Filter, they’ve shot Tania on location in and around the spectacular highland settings of Australia’s Mount Buller.

The driving pulse of Fields will also lend itself to new remix interpretations from the likes of DFA’s The Juan Maclean (“I reworked this deeper and deeper into a deep house 4am banger” he says), an epic sonic travelogue from Modular’s KIM (from The Presets) and a kaleidoscopic glitch and paste version from Lemonade.

Accolades for Via Tania and Moon Sweet Moon portend to an exciting 2010. "Fields" and remixes will be available in April. Via Tania and full band will go out this Spring with a series of showcases at SXSW as well as extensive dates with Icelandic outfit Seabear.

 

 

DREAM THEATER THE PROGRESSIVE ROCK TITANS RETURN TO SOUTH AMERICA AND MEXICO FOR 11 SHOWS IN SIX COUNTRIES WILL RUN FROM MARCH 5-24.

WITH FIRST-TIME VISITS TO LIMA, PERU AND PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZIL

Progressive rock titans DREAM THEATER--James LaBrie (vocals), John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitar, vocals), Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, vocals) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards, Continuum)--continue their global assault with a March 5-24 tour of South America and Mexico.

The trek will encompass 11 shows in six countries, with first-time visits to Lima, Peru and Porto Alegre, Brazil. In an interview below with Mike Portnoy, the drummer discusses the band’s deep admiration for their fans in Mexico and South America. In Santiago, Chile in 2006, DREAM THEATER played to their largest audience ever (20,000) as a headlining act, a show that was released as a DVD on Portnoy’s YtseJam Records (www.ytsejamrecords.com).

The concerts in South America and Mexico--to be opened by Bigelf--will follow a monumental year of touring for the band in connection with their 10th studio release BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS (Roadrunner), for which they achieved a #1 debut on the Billboard European chart and 12 Top Ten album chart debuts around the world including the U.S.

In 2009, the legendary progressive metal masters--who’ve sold in excess of 10,000,000 records and DVD's worldwide--broke records in Europe, playing to festival crowds of over 80,000 fans and made their debut appearance in Israel in front of 10,000 fans.

Next came their headlining North American “Progressive Nation” headlining tour, followed by their overseas September/October 2009 “Progressive Nation” headlining trek reaching 15 countries. They finished the year with a December down under swing with seven shows in Australia and New Zealand.

2009 was also a watermark year for DREAM THEATER as a recording act. Beyond the aforementioned worldwide chart debuts, BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS--a highlight of their 25-year career. A video of the album’s “Wither” was shot in 2009 on location in the U.K. (London, Manchester), France (Paris, Lille) and Netherlands (Rotterdam): DREAM THEATER were also honored with the "Spirit Of Prog" achievement award at the 2009 Classic Rock Awards in London (November 2).

DREAM THEATER - SOUTH AMERICA/MEXICO 2010 TOUR DATES

Date Location Venue

FriMar 05, 2010 Monterrey, Mexico Esenica
SunMar 07, 2010 Mexico City, Mexico National Auditorium
MonMar 08, 2010 Guadalajara, Mexico Diana Theater
ThuMar 11, 2010 Santiago, Chile Movistar Arena
SatMar 13, 2010 Buenos Aires, Argentina Luna Park
TueMar 16, 2010 Porto Alegre, Brazil Pepsi On Stage
ThuMar 18, 2010 Curitiba, Brazil Master Hall
FriMar 19, 2010 Sao Paulo, Brazil Credicard Hall
SatMar 20, 2010 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Citibank Hall
MonMar 22, 2010 Lima, Peru Jockey Club
WedMar 24, 2010 Caracas, Venezuela Poliedro

www.dreamtheater.net
www.myspace.com/dreamtheater

BLACK COBRA: SXSW & Spring Tour + High On Fire Tour Announced

While the unstoppable touring duo BLACK COBRA are currently amidst a California retail in-store mini-tour promoting the vinyl release of their latest album Chronomega, they've also just announced their plans to get right back out there as soon as possible.

The band will hit the Southwest and Southern US for the second half of March, with a stop at the Tone Deaf Touring showcase at SXSW, joined by Weedeater, Liturgy, U.S. Christmas, Rwake, White Mice and more along the way.

Immediately following that tour, it has just been confirmed that BLACK COBRA will join the recently announced month-long US tour opening for the massive High On Fire! Also acts on the tour include Priestess and Bison BC, making this one of the grittiest, headbanging rock tours of the year.

March Tour + SXSW:
3/16/2010 Burt's Tiki Lounge - Albuquerque, NM w/ Spittin' Cobras
3/17/2010 The Conservatory - Oklahoma City, OK w/ Liturgy, White Mice
3/18/2010 Channel/Meridian - Houston, TX w/ Weedeater, ASG, Gates of Slumber, US Christmas
3/19/2010 Skillman Street Bar - Dallas, TX w/ Weedeater, Black Tusk, Gates of Slumber
3/20/2010 Encore - Austin, TX - SXSW Tone Deaf Touring Showcase w/ Weedeater, Rwake, Black Tusk, ASG, U.S. Christmas
3/21/2010 Zombies - San Antonio, TX w/ Weedeater, Black Tusk, Gates of Slumber, SBL
3/22/2010 Rogue - Fayetteville, AR w /U.S. Christmas
3/23/2010 Downtown Music - Little Rock, AR w/ U.S. Christmas
3/24/2010 The Muse - Nashville, TN w/ U.S. Christmas
3/26/2010 31st St Pub - Pittsburgh, PA w/ Bison BC
3/27/2010 Mickey Finn's Pub - Toledo, OH

BLACK COBRA Tour w/ High on Fire, Priestess, Bison BC
3/31/2010 Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
4/01/2010 High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
4/02/2010 Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
4/03/2010 Skully's Music Diner - Columbus, OH
4/05/2010 123 Pleasant St - Morgantown, WV
4/06/2010 First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
4/07/2010 The Middle East - Cambridge, MA
4/08/2010 Daniel St - Milford, CT
4/09/2010 Gramercy Theater - New York, NY
4/11/2010 Black Cat - Washington, DC
4/13/2010 Tremont Music Hall - Charlotte, NC
4/14/2010 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
4/15/2010 One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, LA
4/16/2010 Walters on Washington - Houston, TX
4/17/2010 Emo's - Austin, TX
4/18/2010 The Loft - Dallas, TX
4/20/2010 Fox Theater - Boulder, CO
4/22/2010 Hollywood Alley - Phoenix, AZ
4/23/2010 El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
4/24/2010 Detroit Bar - Costa Mesa, CA
4/25/2010 The Casbah - San Diego, CA

FEAR FACTORY's Mechanize In Stores Now!

FEAR FACTORY's long-anticipated new album Mechanize is on sale NOW! Mechanize is the band's seventh studio album and features original FEAR FACTORY members Dino Cazares (guitar) and Burton C. Bell (vocals) alongside bassist Byron Stroud (credited on the last two FEAR FACTORY albums in addition to touring and recording with Strapping Young Lad and Zimmers Hole) and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan (Death, Dark Angel, Strapping Young Lad, Testament). The CD was co-produced by the band with Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Paradise Lost) and mixed by Greg Reely (Front Line Assembly, Paradise Lost, Skinny Puppy).

 

DAVE MUSTAINE ANNOUNCES RETURN OF FOUNDING BASSIST DAVID ELLEFSON TO MEGADETH LINE-UP

Megadeth founder and frontman Dave Mustaine has announced the return of original bassist David Ellefson (1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group. This reunion is appropriately timed to Megadeth’s upcoming historic month-long Rust In Peace 20th anniversary tour which launches March 1 in Spokane, WA. At these incredibly special shows, Megadeth will play their landmark, genre-defining 1990 album Rust In Peace in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth favorites. "This shows the power of brotherly love and forgiveness,” Mustaine says. “David Ellefson belongs in Megadeth.

Next we are going to show you the power of getting your asses kicked...HARD!" David Ellefson concurs: "This is a huge moment for all of us, band and fans alike.

It is a great celebration of the music from one of the biggest landmark albums of our career." Ellefson will join Mustaine and Megadeth band members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar) on tour in support of the group’s current CD Endgame, which has received some of the highest critical accolades of the band’s career. "We'd like to thank James LoMenzo for several years of loyal service on the bass, and wish him the very best," Mustaine adds.

LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR Launch Record Label; Announce Album, Video, Tour

Emerging from the caustic burrows of Chicago comes the monolith of metal known as LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR, a sonic “fuck you” to the current trends and sub-genres of metal who carry the torch of metal’s roots (Celtic Frost, Slayer, Motorhead) with a death breath of fresh air, and spitting gas on the flames.

The Greek mythology-inspired carnage continues on LOTM's upcoming fourth full-length, Evil Power. The CD and digital download will be released on April 13, 2010 on The Grind-House Records, an independent record label started by Steve Rathbone, Chris Wozniak (both from LOTM) and Josh Diebel (former head of Alleysweeper Records).

The record will be distributed by Southern Lord Records, who have released the band's previous three albums on CD and vinyl, two EPs and DVD. Evil Power lays all in its path to waste with an approach as heavy as the Kraken, while showing off the band’s heavy rock and punk influences.

A deluxe LP version will be released in late summer 2010, featuring a bonus track not available on CD or digital download. Check out the Scott Jackson cover art, and hear the track "We Are Hades" at the band's MySpace page now: http://www.myspace.com/lairoftheminotaur.

Evil Power CD tracklist:
1. "Attack the Gods"
2. "Let’s Kill These Motherfuckers"
3. "Riders of Skullhammer, We Ride the Night"
4. "Evil Power"
5. "Goatstorm"
6. "Hunt and Devour"
7. "Metal Titans"
8. "Blood From the Witch’s Vein"
9. "We Are Hades"
10. "Death March of the Conquerors"
11. "The Violent Iron Age of Man"

The album was recorded in the dead of winter in Chicago at Semaphore Studios by Sanford Parker, and mastered by Scott Hull. Rathbone states, “If War Metal Battle Master was the war, Evil Power is the party after a bloody victory.” The album features new bassist, Nate Olp (vocalist/bassist of Demiricous) and guest backing vocals by General Diabolical Slaughter (Usurper), bringing mucho mayhem to the fold. A new video for the title track, Evil Power, will be released with the album.

Rathbone warns, “There will be blood! This video is unrelentingly brutal.” Directed by Ryan Oliver, the special effects master behind the "War Metal Battle Master" video and head of Chicago based Deathblow Productions.

His credits include The Toolbox Murders and Among the Dead. The video's horror theme graphically details the torment of some unlucky virgins, sacrificed to the mighty Minotaur. An uncut version will be available on the web (also in HD), and a TV edit will be shown on MTV2/Headbangers Ball, Fuse and On Demand.

Coinciding with the release, the band is headlining a U.S. tour through the Midwest and East Coast in April:

4/16/2010 Melody Inn - Indianapolis, IN
4/17/2010 Peabody's - Cleveland, OH
4/19/2010 M Room - Philadelphia, PA
4/20/2010 Sonar - Baltimore, MD
4/21/2010 The Charleston - Brooklyn, NY
4/22/2010 Velvet Lounge - Washington DC
4/23/2010 Broadway Joe's - Buffalo, NY
4/24/2010 The Summit - Columbus, OH

http://www.lairoftheminotaur.com
http://www.myspace.com/lairoftheminotaur
http://www.thegrind-houserecords.com
http://www.southernlord.com

BLACK BREATH Attack:

Brutal New Album Details + Tour With Converge

Seattle’s BLACK BREATH have stormed the scene with their uncompromising energy and infectious brutality. The band has played heavily alongside Nachtmystium, The Accüsed, Victims, Trap Them and tons more across the US through 2009, and in November Southern Lord released the first recordings from the young act in the form of the potent Razor to Oblivion EP, creating a deafening buzz immediately.

The next logical step of course; a full-length BLACK BREATH release. They traveled to the opposite coast, shacking up at Kurt Ballou's God City Studios (Converge, Trap Them, Disfear) to create the 10-track jaw-dropper dubbed Heavy Breathing, due out March 30th on Southern Lord. The massive album picks up where Razor... EP left off, infusing the band's rabid punk, metal and hardcore influences to create truly memorable hooks and buildups, yet incorporating more death metal influences this time around.

The more brutal, metallic direction of Heavy Breathing is like a fired-up blend of Poison Idea on a whiskey-soaked Dismember bender...A top label priority for 2010, BLACK BREATH will assault the masses on a major scale this year, touring constantly. The next major offensive has been planned, as the band will hit the road in May alongside Converge, with contributions from Gaza, Coalesce, Lewd Acts, Harvey Milk and more.

BLACK BREATH with Converge on all shows:
05/072010 Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH w/ Lewd Acts
5/08/2010 Magic Stick - Detroit, MI w/ Lewd Acts
5/09/2010 Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL w/ Lewd Acts
5/10/2010 Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS w/ Coalesce, Lewd Acts
5/11/2010 Marquis Theatre - Denver, CO w/ Coalesce, Lewd Acts
5/13/2010 Neumo's - Seattle, WA w/ Coalesce, Lewd Acts
5/14/2010 Satyricon - Portland, OR w/ Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts
5/15/2010 Slim's - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's w/ Coalesce, Lewd Acts
5/16/2010 *TBA - CA
5/17/2010 Chain Reaction - Anaheim, CA w/ Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts
5/18/2010 El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA w/ Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts
5/19/2010 The Clubhouse - Tempe, AZ w/ Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts
5/21/2010 Emo's - Austin, TX w/ Coalesce, Gaza, Lewd Acts
5/22/2010 *TBA - TX
5/23/2010 The Marquee - Tulsa, OK w/ Gaza, Lewd Acts
5/25/2010 The Hi Tone - Memphis, TN w/ Gaza, Lewd Acts
5/26/2010 *TBA - Louisville, KY w/ Gaza, Lewd Acts
5/27/2010 Rockettown - Nashville, TN w/ Harvey Milk, Gaza, Lewd Acts
5/28/2010 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA w/ Harvey Milk, Gaza, Lewd Acts
5/29/2010 *TBA - North Carolina w/ Harvey Milk, Gaza, Lewd Acts

http://www.myspace.com/blackbreath
http://www.southernlord.com
http://blog.southernlord.com
http://www.myspace.com/southernlordrecordings

ICARUS WITCH & Paul Di'Anno Tour Updates

Pittsburgh's masters of traditional metal ICARUS WITCH are on the road right now alongside original Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno! Not only are ICARUS WITCH direct support for the full tour, the band are also acting as the backing band for Di'Anno's full set, taking on double-duty every night of the tour. There has been a venue change for the San Antonio, Texas show, and an Aurora, Colorado date has been added to the routing since previous tour announcements.

ICARUS WITCH w/ Paul Di'anno:
2/25/2010 Reggies Rock Club - Chicago, IL
2/26/2010 Radmaker's Rock n Roll Tavern - Tolono, IL
2/27/2010 Emerald Theater - Mt. Clemens, MI
2/28/2010 Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
2/26/2010 Warriors of Metal III Open Air Fest - Chillicothe, Ohio

ICARUS WITCH's third full-length album Draw Down The Moon is to be released February 9th via Cleopatra Records/Koch Distribution. The nine-track album sees the band in a more mature, yet increasingly aggressive song writing mode, stripped of the extraneous bells and whistles of synths and samples and just straight-up rocking out!

The band was recently described as having a "Heavy influence of Iron Maiden combined with good old fashioned hard/rock metal production and great musicianship" by Don Jamieson, host of VH1 Classic's That Metal Show.

http://www.icaruswitch.com
http://www.myspace.com/icaruswitch
http://www.cleorecs.com

DEADBIRD / BURNED UP BLED DRY Split Seven-Inch Details Unveiled

The rumored split with two Arkansas greats has finally arrived. Rumors of the DEADBIRD / BURNED UP BLED DRY split coming out on various different labels came and went since the tracks were recorded by DEADBIRD's Chuck Schaaf back in 2006. Finally it was confirmed that At A Loss Recordings would release this 7", back in 2008.

After numerous technical difficulties, and competing schedules this massive little slab of wax is finally available to the public on February 24th, 2010. Sludge heathens DEADBIRD - whose last full-length Twilight Ritual was also released in 2008 by At A Loss - contribute one brutal track filled with the patented tempo changes and somber, regret-filled lyrics one would expect.

Rabid screams and tempos mesh with oppressive doom and hardcore-esque sing along anthems together in a way few bands make work. BURNED UP BLED DRY's side of the split offers up four tracks of high-speed, crusty, powerviolence and punk/hardcore rage. This is the first material to be released from the brutal late-90s act who brought BUBD back to life in 2005 after a six year hiatus. Bulging with views of hate and hopelessness for today's society, these tracks shall serve as your anthem for anger.

A full-color cover wraps all the way around the seven inch to unfold for an extended apocalyptic landscape, with a layout by Amjad Faur (Storm The Castle). All copies of the 7-inch will be pressed on various shades and colors of high-quality, opaque vinyl. Check out the color schemes here: http://tinyurl.com/yks5oxr.

Track Listing:

DEADBIRD
1. "Sickness and Conviction"

BURNED UP BLED DRY
1. "Punches Thrown"
2. "My Way To Hate"
3. "The New Reality of Distance"
4. "Something's Missing"

http://www.myspace.com/deadbird
http://www.myspace.com/burnedupbleddry
http://www.myspace.com/atalossrecordings

YOU SAY PARTY! WE SAY DIE! US TOUR DATES

09-Mar - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
10-Mar - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
12-Mar - San Fran, CA - Bottom Of the Hill
13-Mar - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex
15-Mar - Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room
17-Mar - Austin, TX - SXSW
18-Mar - Austin, TX - SXSW
19-Mar - Austin, TX - SXSW
21-Mar - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
22-Mar - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
23-Mar - Charlotte, NC - Snug Harbor
24-Mar - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
26-Mar - New York, NY - Knitting Factory
27-Mar - Boston, MA - TT The Bears
29-Mar - New York, NY - Piano's
30-Mar - Detroit, MI - Pike Room
31-Mar - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
2-Apr-Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
3-Apr-Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
5-Apr-Sault Ste. Marie - Loplops Gallery/Lounge
7-Apr-Winnipeg, MB - Royal Albert Hotel
8-Apr-Saskatoon, SK - Amigo's
9-Apr-Edmonton, AB - New City Compound
10-Apr-Prince George, BC - University of Northern British Columbia
16-Apr-Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater

Kicking off a selection on Canadian dates, playing a sold-out show with Phoenix at Vancouver's Cultural Olympiad, the You Say Party! We Say Die! live show is one not to miss. Be sure to catch their performance in a town near you!

RATT are back and raring to go.

The band is proud to announce April 20, 2010 as the release date for their Loud & Proud/Roadrunner debut, Infestation, an 11-song opus that is their first studio record in 11 years. The first single, “Best of Me,” hit rock radio on February 21. The song is available at all digital stores.

There’s been a flurry of activity in the Ratt camp in the past few years. Vocalist Stephen Pearcy has returned to the fold and the band has since signed to Loud & Proud/Roadrunner. The legendary Los Angeles rock squad, also featuring guitarist Warren DeMartini, drummer Bobby Blotzer, bassist Robbie Crane and new guitarist Carlos Cavazo, engineered Hollywood’s much-heralded Sunset Strip sound in the 1980s. “We wanted this to be like something that we would have written right after [1984’s]

Out of the Cellar,” Pearcy said. “We definitely went back to basics with the mindset of a band with a lot of excitement and some great songs to get out.” Infestation was produced by Elvis Baskette (Chevelle, Alter Bridge.) in the helmer’s Virginia studio, marking the first time the band has recorded outside of Los Angeles. The album is full of attitude and of reflection, cycling through a range of emotions.

There are party anthems that Ratt are known for alongside more contemplative, thoughtful tunes. The track listing for the album is as follows: “Eat Me Up Alive,” “Best of Me,” “A Little Too Much,” “Look Out Below.” “Last Call,” “Lost Weekend,” “As Good as it Gets,” “Garden of Eden,” “Take a Big Bite,” “Take Me Home,” “Don’t Let Go.”

Florida metallers TRIVIUM are pleased to announce Nick Augusto as their new permanent drummer.

Augusto was introduced to Trivium fans when he filled in behind the kit on last fall’s “Into the Mouth of Hell We Tour” trek. He is now stepping in to permanently replace the departing Travis Smith. Vocalist/guitarist Matt Heafy commented, “We’re really happy to have our good friend and fellow Floridian Nick Augusto join the Trivium family.

Nick’s drumming is very technical and diverse and he brings a real intense energy to the band and we can’t wait for everyone to hear the new song, ‘Shattering the Skies Above,” that we just recorded with Nick. I think it’s the best Trivium recording we’ve ever done; it’s raw, full of energy and I think Nick’s drumming really pushed us to a new level.” The always industrious Trivium are wasting no time in the wake of this line up shift and are staying busy as they work their new skinsman into the fold.

The band has recorded two brand new tracks: the aforementioned “Shattering the Skies Above” will appear on the forthcoming, digital-only God of War Blood & Metal EP, as well as a cover of Sepultura’s “Slave New World.” The band will also head right back out on the road, embarking on a tour of Asia, New Zealand, Australia and the UK, which kicks off February 11, in Jakarta, Indonesia and runs through March 24 in England. This will be the band’s final tour dates in support of 2008’s Shogun. Once the tour ends, the band will head back to the studio to work on their next album for Roadrunner Records.

 

YOUNG THE GIANT GOES INTO THE STUDIO WITH JOE CHICCARELLI

Roadrunner Records new recording artist, Young the Giant (formerly The Jakes) are headed into the studio to record their debut album. At the helm will be Grammy award winning producer Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, The White Stripes, My Morning Jacket). The band will be recording in Los Angeles and plan for the album to be released this summer. Frontman Sameer Gadhia says, “We are set to work with one of our greatest musical inspirations, Grammy Award winning producer, Joe Chiccarelli.

This will be our first effort with a major label push, and we can’t think of anyone else more suited for the task than Joe. We have much to learn from him, and now, with 95% of our album written, we can’t wait to make this final and most crucial step.” Hailing from Newport Beach, CA, the 5 piece band has been making music together since high school. Influenced by Kings of Leon, The Strokes and The Shins, among others, the band has crafted its own unique “sun-soaked indie rock” sound.

Having grown together musically for several years, Young the Giant self- released Shake My Hand EP under their former moniker, The Jakes, in 2008. As the band has existed since the members were in high school, a natural amount of change has taken place.

The members have decided that a name change would be more representative of their current state of mind, creative process and musical growth. The band has shared bills with The Whigs, Ghostland Observatory and Kings of Leon, and have a rapidly growing fanbase (over 1 million plays on MySpace).

The mighty Megadeth will join forces with Testament and Exodus for a month-long jaunt that will find these thrash titans crisscrossing the nation on the ‘Rust in Peace’ 20th anniversary tour.

These will be incredibly special shows that will delight Megadeth fans, as the band will be playing their landmark, genre-defining album, 1990’s Rust in Peace, in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth set list favorites. Megadeth’s latest, ENDGAME, was released in September 2009 and received some of the highest critical accolades of the band’s career.

The band performed on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and was nominated for yet another Grammy – the eight nomination of their storied career- for “Head Crusher.” Megadeth also enjoyed heaps of praise in the press, from outlets as varied as New York to Revolver to VH1’s “That Metal Show” to PopMatters. With ENDGAME, Megadeth have once again ascended to the top of the metal world. The tour will kick off on March 1 in Spokane, WA and will run through the end of the month. The dates are as follows, with tickets going on sale this Friday, January 29.

3/1 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
3/2 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
3/3 - Medford, OR - Medford Armory
3/6 - Calgary, AB - Big Four (Testament with Special Guests)
3/7 - Edmonton, AB - Shaw Conference Centre (Testament with Special Guests)
3/8 - Saskatoon, SK - Prairieland Exhibition Hall
3/11 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theater
3/12 - Pittsburgh, PA - Palace Theater
3/13 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
3/15 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
3/16 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
3/18 - Scranton, PA - Scranton Cultural Center
3/19 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
3/21 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
3/22 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
3/23 - Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall
3/25 - Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater
3/26 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s Amphitheater
3/27 - Lubbock, TX - The Pavilion
3/28 - El Paso, TX - Club 101
3/30 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theater
3/31 - Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Palladium (Testament with Special Guests)

JAVELINA Headline NYC Show Tonight; SXSW + Additional Tour Plans Announced

Philadelphia's riff mongers JAVELINA are set to headline a special Tuesday "Tones of Death" show at Fontana's in NYC tonight, the show also doubling as a listening party/signing with Tim "Ripper" Owens and Richard Christe's new band Charred Walls of the Damned. The show is free... and there's free Pabst Blue Ribbon while it lasts. The brutes will hit the road in March, stampeding south with a string of shows set up on their way down to Austin, where the band will shred SXSW attendees. Several post-SXSW shows are still in the planning stages and will be announced in mere days.

JAVELINA live attacks:
3/13/2010 Plaza Bowl - Richmond, VA w/ Howl, Tombs
3/14/2010 Earshot Records - Greenville, SC w/ Howl, Bison BC
3/15/2010 PS Warhouse - Atlanta, GA w/ Howl, Bison BC
3/17/2010 Emo's - Austin, TX
3/18/2010 The Pedicab Bar And Grill - San Antonio, TX w/ Withered, Howl
3/19/2010 Phoenix Project - Dallas, TX w/ Howl, Vorvadoss
3/20/2010 *TBA
3/21/2010 *TBA - Little Rock, AR w/ Howl
3/22/2010 *TBA - Nashville, TN w/ Howl
3/23/2010 *TBA - Indianapolis, IN w/ Howl
3/24/2010 *TBA - Pittsburgh, PA w/ Howl

The burly, bearded bastards JAVELINA unleashed their sophomore album Beasts Among Sheep last September via Translation Loss Records. Listed in Decibel's "Top 40 Records of 2009" list, the album is brimming with the band's brutal brew of sludgy, low-end filth metal as heard on their self-titled 2008 debut. The rabid hymns were captured at Volume Studios in Chicago by Sanford Parker, and mastered at the Boiler Room in Chicago by Collin Jordan. The cover art, as with the previous album, was handled by Jason Goldberg (Olde City Tattoo, The Bad Luck 13 Riot Extravaganza).

http://www.myspace.com/javelinaphiladelphia
http://www.translationloss.com
http://www.myspace.com/translationlossrecords

ELLIOT BERGMAN (NOMO) MAKES NEW BATCH OF ELECTRIC KALIMBAS FOR UBIQUITY.

NOMO US + FRANCE TOUR + BELGIUM DATE.
3/3 TOULOUSE, FRANCE @ CAFE REX
3/4 PAU, FRANCE @ LA CENTRIFUGEUSE
3/5 AGEN, FRANCE @ LE FLORIDA
3/6 LYON, FRANCE @ LE CLACSON
3/8 ST OUEN, FRANCE @ LES MAINS D'OEUVRES
3/9 LE HAVRE, FRANCE @ LE CABARET ELECTRIC
3/10 LILLE, FRANCE @ L'AERONEF
3/11 BRUXELLES, BELGIUM @ BAR DU MATIN
3/12 BEAUVAIS, FRANCE @ BLUES AUTOUR DU ZINC
3/13 CHALON-SUR-SARONE, FRANCE @ LA PRENICHE
4/10 ANN ARBOR, MI @ MICHIGAN THEATRE
4/12 BUFFALO, NY @ BIG ORBIT'S SOUNDLAB
4/13 POUGHKEEPSIE, NY @ VASSAR COLLEGE
4/14 BROOKLYN, NY @ UNION POOL
4/15 PITTSBURGH, PA @ ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM

 

NOMO bandleader Elliot Bergman has just completed a set of beautiful electric kalimbas that we are happy to offer for sale. This limited edition of 20 (for 20 years of Ubiquity!) was handcrafted in Bergman’s workshop out of Alowood, a beautiful hardwood that is sustainably grown in the Pacific Northwest.

These instruments sound great acoustically, but they really shine when plugged in to an amplifier or PA system. The kalimbas use piezo pickups to amplify the sound, and are fitted with a standard 1/4 jack so you can plug in to any guitar, keyboard or bass amp.

Each electric kalimba is carefully tuned to a minor pentatonic scale, and can easily be retuned to any tonality by adjusting the tines. Bergman attests that this is his best batch of instruments to date, and that each instrument plays and looks great. Bergman’s creations contribute heavily to the sound of NOMO and they have been featured in several NPR segments over the past few years.

With a theme stolen from Italian novelist Italo Calvino, each tune on Invisible Cities is a little world of its own, dense with rhythm and timbre. Hot horns blaze through intersecting lines, heavy percussion drives the band down winding streets, the bass rumbles in some subterranean corridor. The sounds come from far reaching points, not from a fixed place on a globe, but from an area of the human spirit; One that is joyous, open and in motion.

Like Ghost Rock, Invisible Cities reaches into new places both sonically and emotionally, and pulls up some real bangers: The title track’s horns are drenched in Echoplex and its driving beat is straight from the swamp. “Bumbo,” a Moondog tune, gets a NOMO island makeover, with a set of antique fire extinguishers clanging away in a 21st century steel drum style. “Crescent” is a shimmering silver stream of electric kalimbas, with handclaps and bamboo flutes giving the tune a more delicate feel than NOMO has offered up on previous albums. Giving “Elijah” a listen, it’s immediately apparent that this is stirring spiritual jazz of a higher order; the tune was written as a lament for one of bandleader Elliot Bergman’s childhood friends.

Warren Defever’s immaculate production work creates a space where the music can grow, develop, layer on top of itself, and reveal this band in artful new ways. Defever convinced the band to come into his UFO Factory studio in Detroit’s Eastern Market the morning after their long tour ended.

The surrounding market streets were littered with rotting produce and street sweeper tines, which Bergman (who has a propensity for spotting, collecting and repurposing musical junk) quickly gathered and converted into electric kalimbas-with the help of a now-defunct lumber mill, which generously donated piles of beautiful hardwood scraps.

This new set of instruments created the foundation for many of these new tracks, and has spawned a very popular side business. But NOMO is not just a band of thieves, garbage pickers, drifters, jammers, and players. In their soul, NOMO truly is a party band. From their roots, rocking sweaty basement shows in Ann Arbor and Detroit, to their current gig, rocking sweaty basement shows and the occasional jazz festival in Brooklyn, Chicago, New Orleans, London, Sevilla, or Montreal, the band has developed its own form of celebratory dance music.

 

The Radar Brothers' are reborn to release The Illustrated Garden

The Radar Brothers died on January 29th, 2008. The band was on stage at the Echo in Los Angeles playing the record release show for their new album, Auditorium. What should have been a joyful celebration of their new record turned into a wake.

The audience already knew that the three members sharing the stage with Jim Putnam had announced their plans to leave, so when the band invited their LA musician friends on stage for a final sing-along, it felt like the end. Not so fast….singer/guitarist Jim Putnam’s been playing and recording music his entire life.

After a brief hiatus, his passion prevailed.The past 18 months has seen the emergence of a newly energized Radar Brothers In bass player Be Hussey and drummer Stevie Treichel, Putnam has found two partners who are equally passionate about the band. Jim asked longtime Radar Brothers fan, Stevie Treichel to join in on drums for the tour promoting Auditorium and "lured" him into permanent membership with the recording of The Illustrated Garden.

Stevie describes the process,"For The Illustrated Garden, the songs happened very organically with Jim introducing several ideas but welcoming our input as well.

Be [Hussey] and I also were encouraged to introduce song ideas that we could colloborate on." Bass player Be Hussey played in various bands around LA and has an analog/digital recording studio, comp-ny (www.comp-ny.com), in the Equestrian District. Much of the material from The Illustrated Garden was recorded at comp-ny while Jim was on tour doing sound for Silversun Pickups.

One listen to The Illustrated Garden and as you might expect from a band featuring two engineers, the songs were meticulously crafted and have a warm and layered sound while incorporating the spontaneity of a live performance.

It’s a refreshing balance not easily accomplished by most bands. Hussey said, "The 2 studios complement each other quite well as my studio has a large live room and is a good collaborative space, while Jim's [Phase IV Intergalactic Recording studio] has a lot of classic sonic muscle." Radar Brothers will perform at SXSW at the Merge Showcase on March 18th at Cedar Street Courtyard and a US tour is planned for early summer. Keyboard player Brian Cleary (The Movies), and guitarist Dan Iead (The Broken West) will join the new Radar Brothers touring band and on future recordings.

PELICAN: LP Info, Release Show, Coffee Blend, Scion Rock Fest Participation

PELICAN's Southern Lord Recordings debut full-length What We All Come To Need - originally released in October - was issued in double-LP format on February 23rd. The deluxe vinyl version bears a beautiful heavyweight gatefold jacket, and the fourth side of the release contains three bonus tracks not available on the CD version.

In celebration of the vinyl release of the album PELICAN will play a hometown show in Chicago on March 12th alongside Pinebender and Follows (ex-Russian Circles). This record release show will also be the sole location to purchase PELICAN's Ephemeral Bean Blend; the band's own limited edition collaboration with Intelligentsia Coffee of Chicago.

The band states: "The richest, most complex flavors take patience and skill to craft and are over far too quickly. In that spirit we are proud to present this blend of coffee beans, who have known artisan care from their moment of inception at the farms at which they were grown to the roastery where their delicate nuances were honed to perfection by the skilled craftsmen at Intelligentsia.

Enjoy the moment while it lasts." PELICAN will also take part in the recently-announced Scion Rock Fest in Columbus, Ohio on March 13th. The free event features more than 20 bands including Shrinebuilder, Yob, Absu, D.R.I., Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Trap Them and more.

DRAGONETTE ANNOUNCE FURTHER TOUR DATES MAIN SUPPORT FOR LITTLE BOOTS THIS SPRING

March 6 - Neumos, Seattle, WA *
March 9 - The Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA *
March 7 - Hawthorne Theater, Portland, OR*
March 10 - El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA *
March 12 - The Glass House, Pomona, CA *
March 13 - Casbah, San Diego,CA *

*New Tour Dates*
April 22 - Masquerade Hell Stage, Atlanta, GA
April 23 - 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
April 24 - Pure (Making Time), Philadelphia, PA
April 28 - Middle East, Boston, MA
April 29 - SAT, Montreal
April 30 - Phoenix Concert Hall, Toronto **
May 01 - Metro?, Chicago, IL

* with Fan Death
** Co Headline with Little Boots

EAST OF THE WALL Announce March Tour With Goes Cube

New Jersey's EAST OF THE WALL will be embarking on a month-long tour to Austin's South By Southwest festival this month along with Goes Cube. EOTW will be touring in support of their recently released split EP with Rosetta and Year Of No Light, on Translation Loss Records. The band will also be road testing new material from their forthcoming record Ressentiment, which will see a release through Translation Loss this summer. The tentative routing is as follows. Dates and venues are still "TBA" and cities are subject to change so check http://www.eastofthewall.com or http://myspace.com/eastofthewall for up-to-date info.

3/05/2010 - New York, NY
3/06/2010 - Philadelphia, PA
3/07/2010 - Washington, DC
3/08/2010 - Raleigh, NC
3/09/2010 - Savannah, GA
3/10/2010 - Jacksonville, FL
3/11/2010 - Orlando, FL
3/12/2010 - Tampa, FL
3/13/2010 - Tallahassee, FL (no Goes Cube)
3/14/2010 - Birmingham, AL (no Goes Cube)
3/15/2010 - Baton Rouge, LA
3/16/2010 - Houston, TX
3/17-20/2010 - Austin, TX (SXSW)
3/21/2010 - Dallas, TX
3/22/2010 - Kansas City, MO
3/23/2010 - Iowa City, IA
3/24/2010 - Madison, WI
3/25/2010 - Chicago, IL
3/26/2010 - Indianapolis, IN
3/27/2010 - Columbus, OH

http://www.eastofthewall.com
http://www.translationloss.com

ALDAARON – Nous Reviendrons Immortels

ALDAARON came to light in the year 2004 in the obscure forests of the French Alps. Drawing their inspiration from the mysticism of nature and from an idealized and distant past, the music of ALDAARON is the union of furious epic melodies and atmospheric parts.

The lyrics express the solitude, sadness and might that some can feel standing alone on a mountaintop or walking by night in a winter forest, communing with the spirit of the age-old woods and the eternally snow-covered summits. ALDAARON has shared the stage with Mayhem, Nargaroth, Nefarium,

Nocturnal Depression, Otargos, Pantheon I, Aes Dana, Artefact, Evohe and many more in their brief history as a band. Following the 2007 release of their Des Légendes et Anciens Dieux demo, the band's first official album Nous Reviendrons Immortels shall be released March 9th, 2010 by Paragon Records.

Nous Reviendrons Immortels tracklisting:
1. Neiges Sépulcrales
2. Seigneur De L'hiver
3. Instrumentale
4. En Route Vers La Bataille
5. Nirnaeth Arnoediad Partie 1
6. Nirnaeth Arnoediad Partie 2
7. Royaume
8. Prophéties

http://www.aldaaron.fr
http://www.myspace.com/aldaaron

SECTIONED – Purulent Reality

SECTIONED was formed in 2006 by Zoltan Valter in Broadstairs, England. The goal was to play death metal the way he envisioned. The band released their Elme promo in 2007 and worked hard spreading them all over the world, which led to many rave reviews of the demo. After several line-up changes and fine tuning of the band's approach, SECTIONED started recording for their debut album Purulent Reality in 2009. The new lineup features members from Dimentianon and ex-Frost [Hungary] members, and is definitely the strongest lineup to date.

They've played shows in the US and Europe including a show in Holland opening up for the legendary Thanatos. In late August of 2009 SECTIONED returned to Hungary with the new line-up and played another triumphant show. SECTIONED is a full-time death metal band that has nothing to do with religion or politics. They play death metal in the vein of the Florida and Swedish greats, which includes intricate solos, brutal vocals, and a very in your face approach which the band proudly stands for. Their debut full-length Purulent Reality will be released by Paragon Records on March 9th, 2010.

Purulent Reality tracklisting:
1. A Lonely Grasp of Winter
2. My Love of Decay
3. Loneliest Man
4. Behind My Eyes
5. Mirrors
6. Village of the Sun
7. Purulent Reality (Outro)

http://www.myspace.com/sectionedx

AETHERIUS OBSCURITAS – Black Medicine / Fekete Orvosság
Technical, harsh, classic-yet-diverse Hungarian black metal, recommended to fans of Taake, Armagedda, Dissection and Ragnarok.
http://www.arkhorrl.hu
http://www.myspace.com/aetheriusobscuritas

FAUST – From Glory to Infinity
Technical Italian death metal featuring an "all-star lineup" including band founder Aleister - Guitars/Vocals [Ancient], Steve DiGiorgio - Bass [Testament, Autopsy, Sadus, Death, Iced Earth], Darek 'Daray' Brzozowski - Drums [Dimmu Borgir, Vader, Vesania], Luca Princiotta - Guitar [Doro, Blaze Bayley, Clairvoyants] and Ghiulz - Guitar [Profanatum, Obscurity].
http://www.deathmetal.it

DARK CELEBRATION – Phlegeton: The Transcendence of Demon Lords
These Brazilian metal merchants surge with classic South American/Floridian-styled death metal sound in the vein of Morbid Angel and Krisiun.
http://www.myspace.com/darkcelebration666

And coming soon:
KHORS – Flame of Eternity’s Decline/Cold 2xCD, coming spring/summer 2010
DARKESTRAH – The Great Silk Road [reissue], coming early 2010

http://www.paragonrecords.org
http://www.myspace.com/paragon_records

 

Mark Rizzo is Soulfly and the Cavallera Conspiracy’s phenomenal virtuoso metal flamenco guitar player. Rizzo has been playing guitar since he was eight in 1986 and recently has debuted his third solo album, fifth solo tour, recorded and is performing with Soulfly on production of their seventh studio album, Omen. In interviewing Rizzo, I found him to be real cool, personable and happy about his life, the direction of his music, and most things about the metal scene. “I have fun playing songs live. It’s always a little different,” Rizzo said.

The new album, Legionnaire, is all instrumental, combining a variety of influences. Heavily crossing metal with flamenco, Rizzo says, “It’s great to see kids slamdancing to instrumental metal.” Instrumental virtuoso guitar shows are more known for jazz shows, but Rizzo puts on a high energy show. “I get a lot of Soulfly fans at the concert. So I mix it up. The show isn’t all instrumental. I do vocals on some songs and cover Sepultera, Slayer, and Pantera.” Rizzo continued on about the work on the record. “I think if you listen to it, you’ll notice the growth.

I try to put out a better record every time. It’s definitely more focused on the musicianship and a better representation of all the styles that I’m into, I tried to combine them even more on every song, and is honestly, the closest I’ve gotten to combining all of my different influences.”

After completing a full Midwest tour and some east coast shows in and around Rizzo’s home state, New Jersey, he’s come back to get working on the new Soulfly tour. “With the new record coming out in May, and spending March touring, I’m gonna be real busy for a while,” exclaimed Rizzo.

As far his influences are concerned, Rizzo commented, “I listen to Satriani, Maustein, Greg Howe, Slayer. Just great guitar playing is the type that I listen to.” This goes for Soulfly as well, “since joining the band in 2003, each record has gotten better and better. I think both bands [Soulfly and Cavallera Conspiracy] are striving to put out a better record, but the live show is more important now. Technology, now, has made it all about the live show. In a way it’s good because it separates the guys that are really hungry versus the guys that are not.”

Rizzo talked about the difference between American metalheads and European metalheads. “The fans are definitely feed off it in Europe. They’re more sincere and hungrier. I wished it was like that in the U.S. It used to be. Nowadays, kids are just not impressed it seems anymore. Europe is huge on metal. In America, kids seem to jump on whatever’s popular, but in Europe there are some serious diehard fans.”
In reminiscing about influential metal experiences, Rizzo, mentioned, “When I started playing in the 80s, my older brother, 8 years older, was all about the thrash metal and the crossover hardcore thrash metal scene.

I still feel that was the exciting time for metal, the late 80s, thrash. As well as when I was coming up and started going to shows in the early 90s, all crossover death metal bands made it more about the musicianship. Amazing music. Right now, there’s some really great bands out there too. A couple years back it disappeared. Now there are so many great bands.”

Explaining what inspired the new record, Rizzo said it had to do with a lot of the interesting guitar players out there working, “Andy James is a great instrumental English guitar, I listen to Flamenco/Metal virtuoso Ben Woods from L.A. who’s doing similar stuff as I am. I like to listen to different and weird stuff and instrumental guitar music. Draw from the virtuosos, if you can get a little bit from them than you can incorporate a little into your own. I learn as much as I can. I’m always trying to get better. It’s weird. I’m not really a jazz player, but I believe that there’s a lot of musicianship in metal. A lot of people don’t appreciate the musicianship in metal.”

The question came up as to what makes music a success today and Rizzo said that, “It’s a matter of people looking for it. There’s so much stuff. It’s hard for people to go out and get to a show. Kids can watch stuff on Youtube. I do it too, but when I was growing up every metal band that came through town, we were there. Now, it’s harder to make those live connections. Back then, it was your only connection. Now you have the internet. So, bands get extreme exposure now. Back in the day, the connection to getting to live music was on a higher level.”

As far as downloading is concerned, Rizzo says, “It ain’t right, but people will do it.” In response to how it affects the American metal scene and the musicianship involved, Rizzo says that it’s weird when it comes to how people respond to one genre versus another. “I hate how American metalhead musicians are looked down upon. Guys that rap have limited talent and that’s considered an art form while metal musicians are considered the low of the low. Many of these guys have dedicated their life to metal and metal musicianship takes a lot of hardwork. The American media may consider it stupid, but in Europe they love it and treat the metal musicians with respect.”

In performance Rizzo likes to keep things different. “There’s definitely improv in the bands. I like to stay true to the record, but every night I like to improvise a little. Every night is going to be a different show.” As to his own solo work, Rizzo is literally working solo. “Legionnaire, I put out on my own. You can only get it off Itunes or on markrizzo.net, Facebook, or myspace. More fans should support the artists that put out an album solo instead of a record producer who may not be working at that label in a year. We’ve done five U.S. tours, I’m able to sell merchandise and records just fine. I have no interest to even have a label. I’d rather do it myself. Nobody gets it, that’s fine. I have a great time. Honestly, all I really care about is my connection with the fans.”

Education is also important to Rizzo in staying in touch with fans. “I put out an instructional DVD a couple years ago that goes over everything on my first record. Rockhouse put it out and it’s in all the guitar centers. When I was a kid, and still am, I’d buy videos and DVDs, and was influenced by all my favorite players. It’s a great thing for kids to learn from.

In comparing genres and putting on a show versus living the music, Rizzo says, “it’s real, what metal does is real, and I just plan to keep doing what I’m doing. I don’t plan on slowing down. I’ve got a lot more.” As for fans, and kids growing up listening to him and hoping to someday play alongside Rizzo, as he listened to Sepultera and is now playing alongside the Cavalleras, Rizzo says, “You just gotta work hard, practice real hard. Learn as much as you can. Learn other people’s songs. It was real natural to play with Soulfly because I played Sepultera songs. I’ve been playing these songs for years in cover bands. Do you homework. If you really love it, it won’t feel like work.”

Finally, Rizzo wanted to thank all the fans for all the support on his entire career. “We’ll see you on tour and check out the new Soulfly record, Omen, when it comes out. It’s a very straight forward record, it’s very reminiscent of the Cavallera Consipiracy record. Both were produced by Logan Mader. It’s real brutal. Definitely a heavier record. Short tunes to the point. Check it out.”
For more on Mark Rizzo, you can check out his new solo record, Legionnaire, at markrizzo.com, or look him up on myspace or Facebook.

This Blog is intended to write about music of all genres and keep LAFM.com fans and readers aware of everything that is or will be happening. I may use humor occasionally to spice things up, but generally you’ll see straightforward interviews, music news, CD reviews, and previews. If there is anything that anyone wants to send me or talk about musically. Please send all inquiries to sonicscholar@gmail.com.