Tag: London

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Announce Select North American Tour Dates

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Tour
WITH SUPPORT FROM STARSET AND BAD WOLVES

TICKETS ON SALE FEBRUARY 9th
New York, NY – February 6th, 2018 – Today, multi-platinum hard rock band, Five Finger Death Punch, are excited to announce that they will be getting back on the road this Spring for select North American co-headlining dates with past tour mates Shinedown to surround their performances at some of the  biggest U.S. Spring festivals including Carolina Rebellion and Welcome To Rockville. The bands are bringing along a very special support package: modern rock powerhouse Starset who will showcase songs from their latest release, Vessels and newcomers Bad Wolves who are currently dominating the rock and metal charts around the globe with their cover of The Cranberries‘ “Zombie” which was released in memory of Dolores O’Riordan who was supposed to record guest vocals on the song the very day of her tragic passing. Proceeds will go to her 3 children.
5FDP and Shinedown are reuniting for this exclusive, short run for the first time since co-headlining their massive North American arena tour in Fall 2016. The shows will kick off May 6th in Nashville, TN. VIP pre-sales begin today at 11am est and local pre-sales on Thursday, February 8that 10am local time (Feb. 15 at 10am local time for Birmingham and Lexington shows). Ticketmaster presale runs from 10am-10pm local time on Thursday, February 8th. The general ticket on-sale will kick off this Friday, February 9(February 16 at 10am local time for Birmingham and Lexington shows). Watch an exclusive tour preview HERE. For more information and VIP offerings, go to www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com. See below for full tour routing.
Late 2017, 5FDP released their greatest hits album, A Decade Of Destruction, with two new tracks “Trouble” and “Gone Away” (their own rendition of The Offspring’s 1997 hit single).Both tracks garnered much critical acclaim and great success, as latest single “Gone Away” received over 10 million streams since its debut on December 1st and over 10 million video views in less than a month. Check out the official video for “Gone Away” and also, the lyric video. “Gone Away” is already #25 on the Active Rock chart and climbing steadily. In addition, the first single from the collection, “Trouble” racked up over 2 million streams worldwide in just a few weeks making it the band’s biggest streaming debut for a lead track. Both songs have topped the iTunes Rock and Metal charts globally. PRESS HERE to purchase A Decade Of Destruction on Amazon and HERE via iTunes. The album is also available to stream via Apple Music and Spotify.
5FDP rounded out 2017 by celebrating two new RIAA platinum certifications for their 2011 album American Capitalist, and 2013’s The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell, Vol. 1. War Is The Answer, the band’s 2009 album, and their hit single “Bad Company” were previously certified platinum in 2016 and 2013, respectively. The band has amassed a total of over 2 billion streams worldwide to date!
5FDP’s seventh full length album is anticipated to be released this coming Spring – watch out for more announcements coming soon!
 
Previously Announced 5FDP Festival Dates
4/20/18 – KUPD’s UFEST – Tempe, AZ
4/21/18 – Las Rageous – Las Vegas, NV
4/27/18 – Welcome To Rockville – Jacksonville, FL
4/28/18 – Fort Rock Fest – Sunrise, FL
5/5/18 – Carolina Rebellion – Concord, NC
 
Upcoming 5FDP / Shinedown US Tour Dates
5/6/18 – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
5/8/18 – Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY **
5/10/18 – BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
5/11/18 – Westfair Amphitheatre – Council Bluffs, IA
5/12/18 – Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI *
5/14/18 – Salem Civic Center – Salem, VA
5/16/18 – Legacy Arena – Birmingham, AL **
5/17/18 – Ford Center- Evansville, IN
5/18/18 – Mark of the Quad – Moline, IL
5/20/18 – Alerus Center – Grand Forks, ND
5/30/18 – Casper Events Center – Casper, WY *
* – 5fdp & Bad Wolves only  ** General Onsale Feb 16
 
About Five Finger Death Punch
Confidently leading heavy music in the 21st century, Five Finger Death Punch continue to make the impossible a reality at every turn. Since their emergence in 2007, the hard rock band has achieved six consecutive RIAA Gold-certified albums and two platinum singles culminating on their gold-selling #1 album Got Your Six, while at the same time being one of the top rock streaming acts globally.  They frequently play all major festivals from Download to Rock Am Ring to Rock on the Range and sell out arenas around the globe to countless screaming “Knuckleheads.” Their forthcoming seventh offering will undoubtedly raise the bar again.
 
About Starset
Columbus based visionary rock band Starset have long been interested in the cosmological — their music radiates themes that center on science and technology and its potential affects on society now and in the future. This last year of success for Starset has proven that the band is a modern rock powerhouse to reckon with. The band’s latest release, Vessels, debuted at #11 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart and #3 on the Rock Chart. Front man Dustin Bates collaborated with Marvel Comics to release a Starset themed graphic novel in the Fall of 2017, and the band recently reached a massive milestone by surpassing 1 Billion views on YouTube. The band’s current single “Satellite” was just released as a remix by TRAILS and has over 1 million views.  The remix hit #1 on the Hype Machine Remixes Only Chart and #7 on the Hype Machine Most Popular overall chart.
 
About Bad Wolves
Consisting of of vocalist Tommy Vext (ex-Divine Heresy), drummer John Boecklin (ex-DevilDriver), guitarist Doc Coyle (Vagus Nerve, ex-God Forbid), guitarist Chris Cain (Bury Your Dead), and bassist Kyle Konkiel (ex-In This Moment), BAD WOLVES burst onto the scene in 2017 with the self-released debut single “Learn To Live” and quickly became ones-to-watch. The Los Angeles-based five-piece recently signed to Eleven Seven Music and will release a debut album later this year. The upcoming album will feature “Toast To The Ghost” and a cover of The Cranberries seminal single’ “Zombie“, released in honor of Dolores O’Riorden, who was scheduled to record guest vocals on the song the day she passed away. “Zombie” quickly shot to the top of rock and metal charts around the world upon its release. All proceeds from the track will go to her three children.

MONSTER MAGNET Unleash Title Track of “MINDFU*KER”

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Announcement/News
MONSTER MAGNET Unleash Title Track of “MINDFUCKER”
via Brooklyn Vegan 
New Album Out March 23rd via Napalm Records
“Ladies and gentlemen, I humbly present for your consideration the title track from our new album: MINDFUCKER. We got the rock if you want it! I hope you can dig it”, Dave Wyndorf, MONSTER MAGNET frontman.
Today the title track and first single “MINDFUCKER” has been made available for streaming.  Get a first listen to the track HERE, courtesy ofBrooklyn Vegan.
MONSTER MAGNET puts the pedal to the metal with “MINDFUCKER”,their 11th record.   “MINDFUCKER” is different, a step forward and a step back at the same time to the almighty roots of hard rock music, kindled by the unpretentious Proto-punk era. Up tempo, savage in both sound and spirit,“MINDFUCKER” is the real deal! The album has the potential to surprise and to whip up the love for the genre, while still giving the sludgies and stoner freaks exactly what they wish for in a new MONSTER MAGNET album.
“MINDFUCKER” will be released on March 23, 2018 and can be pre-ordered right HERE!
MONSTER MAGNET will be on tour in Europe this May and June, a complete list of dates can be found below.  The band is currently planning a full North American tour as well.  Details coming soon!

“MINDFUCKER” Track Listing:
1. Rocket Freak
2. Soul
3. Mindfucker
4. I’m God
5. Drowning
6. Ejection
7. Want Some
8. Brainwashed
9. All Day Midnight
10. When The Hammer Comes Down
MONSTER MAGNET line up:
Dave Wyndorf (vocals, guitar)
Garrett Sweeny (guitar)
Phil Caivano (guitar)
Chris Kosnik (bass)
Bob Pantella (drums)
MONSTER MAGNET European Tour:
03.05.18 DE – Wiesbaden / Schlachthof
04.05.18 DE – Berlin / Desertfest Berlin
05.05.18 NL – Nijmeden / Doornroosje
06.05.18 UK – London / Desertfest London
08.05.18 DE – Cologne / Live Music Hall
09.05.18 DE – Saarbrucken / Garage
11.05.18 ES – Bilbao / Santana 27
12.05.18 ES – Madrid / Sala Riviera
14.05.18 CH – Pratteln / Z7
15.05.18 IT – Milan / Alcatraz Club
16.05.18 DE – Bochum / Zeche
18.05.18 DE – Nuremburg / Hirsch
19.05.18 NL – Groningen / Vera
21.05.18 DK – Copenhagen / Pumpehuset
22.05.18 SE – Stockholm / Debaser Strand
23.05.18 NO – Oslo / Blâ
24.05.18 SE – Malmö / Kulturbolaget (KB)
26.05.18 DE – Bremen / Schlachthof
28.05.18 BE – Leuven / Het Depot
29.05.18 BE – Ghent / Vooriut
31.05.18 UK – Manchester / Gorilla
01.06.18 UK – Glasgow / The Garage
02.06.18 UK – Belfast / Limelight
03.06.18 IR – Dublin / The Tivoli
For More Info Visit:
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Jack White releases new track “Corporation”; tour tickets on sale today

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Cleveland, Cleveland Show
JACK WHITE RELEASES NEW TRACK “CORPORATION”
FROM BOARDING HOUSE REACH

BOARDING HOUSE REACH AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW

GET “CONNECTED BY LOVE,” “RESPECT COMMANDER,” & “CORPORATION” INSTANTLY WITH ALL DIGITAL PRE-ORDERS

JACK WHITE 2018 TOUR TICKETS ON SALE TODAY
TOUR BEGINS APRIL 19 IN DETROIT

BOARDING HOUSE REACH OUT MARCH 23
Jack White has released a third track from his eagerly anticipated solo album, BOARDING HOUSE REACH (outMarch 23 via Third Man/Columbia). “Corporation” is available now digitally worldwide. BOARDING HOUSE REACH is also available for pre-order digitally today, as well as on CD and standard black vinyl. All digital pre-orders of BOARDING HOUSE REACH come with an instant download of single “Connected by Love,” “Respect Commander,” and the latest track “Corporation.”

White will herald BOARDING HOUSE REACH with an extensive run of North American headline tour dates, along with shows in London, Paris, and Amsterdam. The tour – which also includes headline festival performances at Atlanta, GA‘s Shaky Knees, Boston Calling 2018, NYC’s Governor’s Ball, and New Orleans Jazz Fest – begins April 19 in White’s hometown of Detroit at Little Caesars Arena and continues through late August. Tickets for all announced headline dates are on sale at 10am local time today. For complete tour information, please visit jackwhiteiii.com/tour-dates.

In addition, every ticket purchased online for the upcoming North American headline shows will include a physical CD copy of BOARDING HOUSE REACH. Fans will also have the option to upgrade their CD to the standard black vinyl LP.

JACK WHITE 2018 TOUR
April 19: Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI
April 20: Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
April 21: 20 Monroe – Grand Rapids, MI
April 23: Baxter Arena – Omaha, NE
April 24: Providence Medical Center Amphitheater – Bonner Springs, KS
April 25: Chaifetz Arena – St. Louis, MO
April 27: Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX
April 29: Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX
April 30: Revention Music Center – Houston, TX
May 1: Revention Music Center – Houston, TX
May 2: Austin360 Amphitheater – Austin, TX
May 4 – 6: Shaky Knees Music Festival – Atlanta, GA *
May 6: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – New Orleans, LA *
May 26: Boston Calling Music Festival – Boston, MA *
May 27: Brewery Ommegang – Cooperstown, NY
May 29: The Anthem – Washington, DC
June 1: Governors Ball Music Festival – New York, NY *
June 2-3 – Bunbury Music Festival – Cincinnati, OH *
June 4: Express Live! Outdoor Amphitheater – Columbus, OH
June 6: Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica – Cleveland, OH
June 7: Dome Arena – Rochester, NY
June 8: Artpark Mainstage Theater – Lewiston, NY
June 9: Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON
June 27: Hammersmith Apollo – London, UK
June 28: Hammersmith Apollo – London, UK
July 2: AFAS Live – Amsterdam, NL
July 3: L’Olympia – Paris. FR
July 4: L’Olympia – Paris. FR
July 7: Rock Werchter – Werchter, Belgium *
July 12 – 13: Mad Cool – Madrid, Spain *
July 14: NOS Alive – Lisbon, Portugal *
July 15: Ilosaaririock Festival – Joensuu, Finland *
August 6: The Armory – Minneapolis, MN
August 8: 1st Bank Center – Broomfield, CO
August 9: SaltAir – Salt Lake City, UT
August 11: Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Portland, OR
August 12: Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC
August 13: WAMU Theatre – Seattle, WA
August 15: Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – San Francisco, CA
August 19: Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA
August 21: Viejas Arena – San Diego, CA
August 22: Comerica Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
August 23: The Chelsea @ The Cosmopolitan – Las Vegas, NV

BOARDING HOUSE REACH sees Jack White expanding his musical palate with perhaps his most ambitious work thus far, a collection of songs that are simultaneously timeless and modern. Written and conceived while holed up in a spartan apartment with literally no outside world distractions, White exclusively used the same kind of gear he had when he was 15 years old (a quarter-inch four-track tape recorder, a simple mixer, and the most basic of instrumentation). The album explores a remarkable range of sonic terrain — crunching rock ‘n’ roll, electro and hard funk, proto punk, hip hop, gospel blues, and even country — all remapped and born anew to fit White’s matchless vision and sense of restless experimentation. BOARDING HOUSE REACH is a testament to the breadth of Jack White’s creative power and his bold artistic ambition.

BOARDING HOUSE REACH features White on vocals, acoustic and electric guitars and drums, organ, and synthesizers. He’s backed by a remarkable new lineup of musicians that includes: drummer Louis Cato (Beyoncé, Q-Tip, John Legend, Mariah Carey), bassists Charlotte Kemp Muhl (The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger) and NeonPhoenix (Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z), synthesizer players DJ Harrison and Anthony “Brew” Brewster (Fishbone, The Untouchables), keyboardists Neal Evans (Soulive, Talib Kweli, John Scofield) and Quincy McCrary (Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Pitbull), percussionists Bobby Allende (David Byrne, Marc Anthony) and Justin Porée (Ozomatli), and backing vocalists Esther Rose and Ann & Regina McCrary of Nashville’s beloved gospel trio, The McCrary Sisters, as well as longtime collaborators like drummers Daru Jones (Nas, Talib Kweli) and Carla Azar (Autolux, Depeche Mode, Doyle Bramhall II). Singer-songwriter C.W. Stoneking also appears, contributing a stirring spoken word performance to the album’s “Abulia and Akrasia.”

BOARDING HOUSE REACH was produced by Jack White III and recorded at Third Man Studio in Nashville, TN, Sear Sound in New York, NY, and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, CA; the album was mixed by Bill Skibbe, Joshua V. Smith, and White at Third Man Studio in Nashville, TN.

“Connected By Love” b/w “Respect Commander” is available now digitally worldwide and as a physical 7-inch vinyl single pressed at Third Man Pressing in Detroit, MI. The single is accompanied by a brand-new music video from director Pasqual Gutierrez – watch it now HERE.

“Connected By Love” was greeted with rapturous global applause upon its arrival earlier this month, withRolling Stone exclaiming, “The four-year wait is over” with the “blistering first single” from BOARDING HOUSE REACH. Billboard declared the song “a classic White confessional blues burner,” while Entertainment Weeklycalled it “thrillingly weird…a searing, organ-lined plea to a former flame.” NPR‘s Bob Boilen raved: “Connected By Love” is “a blend of old guitar blues that is simultaneously on the edge of rock’s horizon.”

White and Third Man Records have also revealed details of their BOARDING HOUSE REACH-themed Vault Package #35, marking the ONLY limited edition of the new album. Vault Package #35 is highlighted by a limited edition, colored vinyl version of BOARDING HOUSE REACH that will be the only vinyl variation of the LP to be made available. Pressed at Third Man Pressing in the Cass Corridor of Detroit, the 180-gram, blue and black swirl vinyl edition features exclusive Vault-only cover art which dramatically depicts White’s stylized face and is printed on arresting holographic foil paper in the classic Stoughton tip-on style. The LP is further accompanied by a unique-to-this-package 12″ x 24″ insert featuring the complete album lyrics.

The BOARDING HOUSE REACH Vault package also includes a two-song demo 7-inch single, offering up embryonic versions of “Connected By Love” and the album track, “Why Walk a Dog?” The former take – billed here under its original title, “Infected By Love” – was recorded entirely by White in the aforementioned Nashville apartment. White found keyboard tones on this recording that the world’s most seasoned session musicians could not recreate in the studio and thus, some of those tones were sourced from this simple demo to be utilized on the final album version. Meanwhile, “Why Walk a Dog?” was recorded, like much of the BOARDING HOUSE REACH demos, alone at his private songwriting refuge. With its expressive synth and drum machine cadence, the track is overtly hypnotic even in this early state. Indeed, the “Connected By Love” and “Why Walk a Dog?” single provides a fascinating insight into White’s process, revealing the creative progression of his songs from inception to completion.

In addition to the recorded material, Vault Package #35 comes with three separate and exclusive photographs shot during BOARDING HOUSE REACH recording sessions. Taken by noted photographer – and White’s longtime friend – David Swanson at Sear Sound in New York and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, these large-format, high quality glossy reproductions are exclusive to the Vault. The photographs will be coupled with three foil-stamped poetry broadsides, printed on silky metallic papers (black, white, and blue) containing White’s poems from the new album tracks, “Abulia and Akrasia,” “Ezmerelda Steals the Show,” and “Get in the Mind Shaft.”

Lastly, BOARDING HOUSE REACH Vault Package #35 will also include, for the third year running, a custom 2018 Third Man Records challenge coin, complete with album-specific artwork. The substantial and stylish coin doubles as a 45 adaptor and grants its holder 10% off purchases in both Third Man Records storefronts. Past Third Man Challenge coins will no longer be valid at Third Man storefronts once Vault Package #35 ships.

Third Man Vault subscriptions are open now through January 31. All BOARDING HOUSE REACH Vault packages will ship to arrive on and as close to the album’s official March 23 street date. Learn more about this package, additional Vault benefits and subscribe now at Third Man Records HERE.

BOARDING HOUSE REACH 
TRACK LISTING
1. Connected By Love
2. Why Walk A Dog?
3. Corporation
4. Abulia and Akrasia
5. Hypermisophoniac
6. Ice Station Zebra
7. Over and Over and Over
8. Everything You’ve Ever Learned
9. Respect Commander
10. Ezmerelda Steals The Show
11. Get In The Mind Shaft
12. What’s Done Is Done
13. Humoresque

Third Man Records founder Jack White is a 12-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and 35-time nominee. His most recent full-length release, 2016’s JACK WHITE ACOUSTIC RECORDINGS: 1998-2016 (Third Man Records/Columbia), collected 26 acoustic-based songs from throughout White’s wide-ranging musical career, spanning album tracks, B-sides, remixes, alternate versions, and previously unreleased material from The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and White’s groundbreaking solo career. The collection debuted at #1 onBillboard‘s “Vinyl Albums” chart upon its September 2016 release – a position also achieved by 2012’s RIAA gold certified solo debut, BLUNDERBUSS, and 2014’s chart-topping LAZARETTO, both of which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 as well.

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High-energy Boston pop punk band Bleacher Days 12/12 at Black Forge

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Pittsburgh Event, Pittsburgh Premiere

The high-energy Boston pop punk band Bleacher Days will be setting out on tour next month with Riviera (who recently performed at the Warped Rewind at Sea event). The punk package will be stopping in Pittsburgh on 12/12 at Black Forge.

Bleacher Days’ new EP I only Saw True Purpose will be out on 12/8 and was produced by Chris Piquette (Trophy Wives, Lions Lions). You can see a music video for the single “Once Again” here: https://youtu.be/S0IVPoGjdk4. The angst-charged, introspective songs on the new EP are poppy, but still pack enough punch to keep the mosh pits moving. Vocalist Wren Mohammed says the new record “is the product of frustration resulting from our lives and our relationships. The songs are a blunt chronicle of the back end of a 7 year relationship I was in and start to finish, each song is just frustration.”

Boston-based pop punk band Bleacher Days has arrived with a new music video for their single “Some Strain of You,” premiering with Idobi Radio. The track comes via the band’s new EP I Only Saw True Purpose that was produced by Chris Piquette (Trophy Wives, Lions Lions).

“The EP as a whole is essentially chronicling the end of a 7 year relationship I was in,” says vocalist Wren Mohammed. “‘Some Strain Of You’ functions as the moment you realize future plans you may have envisioned with someone simply aren’t gonna go the way you planned all this time, while also working as a criticism for someone using substances (be it drugs, alcohol or even an over usage of escapism such as television or video games) to deal with those negative emotions, as well as criticizing your own naivety. Those things, though they may numb the pain, are simply not healthy for you in such large and frequent doses. You’ve got to rid yourself of bad habits for yourself, and no one else.“

When asked about the video, Mohammed told Idobi “Honestly the video was kind of spontaneous. We hit up our boy Dan Fried (Just Fly Casual) and sent him the song, not really knowing what we wanted to do with it. He had the idea of shooting the gang in some cool spots. So we brainstormed and just went to some places around Massachusetts we thought we look cool on camera haha. It all worked out because we ended up going places where we all had some memories with certain people that we didn’t exactly want to think about, and we managed to make new memories through shooting the video. So like recording the EP itself, the experience was wicked cathartic. It’s a real good look into who we are as people and how interact with each other. Some of our friends even make some guest appearances in it!“

Bleacher Days will be setting out on tour this December with Riviera (who recently performed at the Warped Rewind at Sea event). The punk package will start in Stroudsburgh, PA and end in Attleboro, MA on 12/16 (full list of dates below).

In its first year of hard work, Bleacher Days has made an immediate impact on New England shows, rallying bands together and promoting in person on their way to selling out a 250 cap room with their most recent headliner. A feeling of camaraderie consumes the room when the band takes the stage and the relationships within the band run deeper than the band’s one year age would suggest. Longtime friends, past musical projects, and once abandoned ideas is what brought Bleacher Days together.

I Only Saw True Purpose is available now on Spotify.
some strain of you
bleacher tour
***

Tour Dates:
12/8 Stroudsburgh, PA @ Sherman Theater
12/9 Winchester, VA @ Blue Fox
12/10 Chicago, IL @ Township
12/11 Cleveland, OH @ Marshall’s Locker Room
12/12 Pittsburgh, PA @ Black Forge 
12/13 Columbus, OH @ Donato’s Basement
12/14 Erie, PA @ Basement Transmissions
12/15 West Haven, CT @ The Cave
12/16 Attleboro, MA @ Patterson Creations
***
once again
***

Review: Foreigner @KeyBank Pavillion

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Concert Review, Pictorial, Pittsburgh Event, Pittsburgh Premiere

Foreigner
August 12th, 2017
Key Bank Pavilion

 

Words and pix: Ed Thompson

I can sum this review up in three easy words. And I don’t think that anyone that was at Pittsburg’s Key Bank Pavilion Saturday night would disagree.  Kelly Hansen ROCKED!!!

 

The band hit the stage from behind a huge black curtain to the opening song Double Vison.  From the first note to his last breath of Hot Blooded, Kelly Hansen rocked from one end of the stage to the other and everywhere in between.  Even as far as where the seats end in the seating sections of the pavilion.  Yes, Kelly Hansen went DEEP into the crowd and got the already frenzied crowd rocking even more. He literally had enough energy for the entire band. Thinking he does that every night being in his mid 50’s is hard to believe, but apparently, he does. He looked like a young Mick Jagger running from one end of the stage to the other and jumping and leaping in between.  Hansen was rough in my opinion in his early years filling in for the great Lou Graham.  He didn’t really have an identity with the band other than “he’s filling in for Lou”. But between that time and last night in Pittsburgh, Kelly truly has found an identity. And it’s as “Foreigner’s Front man” without any doubt.  He controlled the stage like he owned it and in turn owned the band. It helped that he had Foreigner’s founder and legend Mick Jones with him tonight in Pittsburgh. We were lucky enough to be one of the cities that Mick’s wanted to play in.  It was truly great to see him play again. Last time I got to see Mick and the band itself was in the late 90’s right after Lou Graham had his brain surgery. While it was tough seeing Lou struggle to cover the basic’s in the Foreigner catalog back then, last night was the exact opposite. Kelly covered the night’s setlist and covered it well. Maybe even too well.  He left the crowd screaming for more even following the encores. Seeing the legendary Mick Jones was great though. Such a master at his craft and really controlled the music end of the show. I’m not sure how much Mick plans to be on the road in the future, so I feel lucky to have been able to see him perform again and also get some great images of him having fun.

Getting back to the concert itself, I have said, the band itself was electric.  The stage was all white with mostly white lighting throughout the show which really made the photos I got to take to pop. Kelly wearing white with sunglasses on really helped the photos look great too.  Following Double Vison, both Head Games and Cold Ice were next on the set list. Both really showed Hansen’s vocal strength and durability. Waiting for a Girl Like You gave him and the band a chance to slow down and catch their breath. Following that, Hansen and the band gave the crowd a choice of the next song they wanted to head and Blue Morning, Blue Day once overwhelmingly. Turning up the energy next with Dirty White Boy and Feels Like The First Time. The highlights of the night in my opinion from the reaction from the crowd was both Urgent and Juke Box Hero.  Both were huge hits for the band in the 80’s of the Foreigner 4 album. Both had great lead ups to the song but I think the sax solo on Urgent by Thom Gimbel really was incredible.  SO loud and so strong. Not one note missed or added. Just incredible the way that sax echoed off the roof of the pavilion and into the crowd. Starrider closed the set out and left the crowd in awe. Begging for more, the nearly sold out crowd got two more from Hansen and Company. I Want To Know What Love Is, is a weird one for more on the encore list.  To me, and this is only me, the first encore should pick up where the last song left on at.  To slow it down kind of seems like wasted energy for me, but still, Kelly nailed every note and then some. Picking it back up and closing the night out was the band’s anthem Hot Blooded. And truthfully, that’s the way they left the crowd. This was an incredible night and show. So much energy and positive vibes left me ready to run home from the show.  It was like watching a Rocky movie. Incredible show guys and put this one down as a “must see” if the band comes to your town.

Concert Review: Rusted Root Pittsburgh PA @ Station Square

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Concert Review, Pictorial, Pittsburgh Event, Pittsburgh Premiere

Review and photos: Ed Thompson

Heading out to cover and photograph Rusted Root this past Friday was more than an adventure.  It was more of a goal and vision. Keep in mind, this review is not meant to be about me at all. But my health recently took a turn for the worse having been diagnosed with skin cancer.  The date on the calendar that was circled for my surgery was June 22nd. The next date circled and marked was June 23rd. The night I was going to cover and photograph a band I have always liked and felt a “powerful” feeling to over the years. That band is Rusted Root. And the band also promised to perform some new material for the first time ever. So, I was even more excited and had more urgency to get to the show. Rusted Root is a brand that I feel I kind of got to hear developed back in the years 1986-1989 while hanging out with lead singer Michael Glabicki and Jenn Wertz in high school. Hearing the two of them sing with Mike playing his guitar have always been powerful and great memories to me.

Fast forward to this past Thursday, with half my face bandaged and swollen from my surgery, I felt the need to get to the Root show and see and hear Mike and his bandmates play their rhythmic, tribal and powerful hymns to help me heal and more so “feel good”. And it worked!! For those two hours, I felt like everyone else and my pain truly disappeared. I also never once felt the big bandages that covered half my face.  For that, I thank this great group of musicians and individuals.

With THAT out of the way. Rusted Root once again OUT performed themselves the last time I shot them. Having just seen them back in early April at Jergal’s Rhythm House in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, I had an idea what tonight’s show was going to be like. But boy was I wrong. Tonight’s show at Pittsburgh Station Square was truly a completely different show. The setlist was different, the atmosphere was different and the melodies that tie their songs from one to the other were different too. I can never keep count, but tonight Root’s Liz Berlin played like 309 different instruments. Sometimes two or three at the same time. Her ability to do this amazes me more and more each show I see Rusted Root. Vocals are not up for discussion. Her vocals are tops amongst female vocalists. She is like a chameleon. She can sing and harmonize with anyone doing anything.

Michael and his bands mates hit the stage exactly at 9 pm to a huge crowd outside in the steady rain at Pittsburgh’s Station Square.  The rain held off till the band decided to hit the stage and then it baptized everyone there from start to finish. The opening song ironically was Rain. An incredible song and one that truly set the tone for the damp night. It however in no way made the crowd even think about heading for shelter. I think it may have been a sign for more onlookers to come join the Root Party just starting. The transition from Rain into VooDoo was great and unexpected. I never expected VooDoo early in the show but it was a nice change. Man, Not Machine followed and was as always powerful. The lyrics and music give me chills every time.  And like I said earlier, at this point Liz Berlin had used around 15 instruments to add to the already great melodies of the show. In reality, Liz had only used about 4 so far, but you get my point. She can do anything on a stage. And then some.

 

Glabicki and his bandmates blew through their set list keeping up with the increasing crowd size and continuing rain.  Glabicki’s vocals were unbelievably strong tonight. Rested strong. No strain or crackling at all. This would be the first show for Rusted Root on their latest mini-tour taking them through August.  Heading into the end of the show and subsequent three encores, Root played one of the band’s anthems and crowd favs X T C. In the ending part of the song following the last chorus, Mike’s vocals sounding like a steam engine coming back into the station at Pittsburgh’s Station Square. He left zero notes on the stage so to say closing out the set. X T C was a great ending for the show and really set up what would be a great three song encore. Before X T C, Root ran through more crowd favorites such a Monkey Pants and David Bowie’s Rebel, Rebel, a Root regular lately on their set list history.

 

Glabicki came out for a solo moment to kick off their encores that transitioned into Scattered which showed just how truly gifted Glabicki is on this guitar. Fast and so smooth. So very rhythmic and soulful. The rest of his band mates joined Glabicki for another crowd favorite; Send Me On My Way, a song that put Rusted Root on the map both nationally and internationally back in the early 1990’s. Glabicki fed off the crowd’s energy for the song and vice versa for the crowd off Glabicki. Berlin’s vocals were awesome too on Send Me. The other highlight of the song was guitarist Dirk Miler providing the flute end and obviously very important part of the band’s anthem. A really great way to wind down for the night. Closing out the night, was the powerful Back To The Earth. What can you say? Yet another feather in the band’s cap and for me the third or fourth exclamation mark for tonight’s concert.

 

The show tonight was as always great. I enjoy getting out to shoot Rusted Root and talk to Mike however short or long it may be.  The band sounds like they have some more new material to play and possibly release down the road. Two possibilities that any Root faithful should be happy to hear. Root plays June 30th in Portage County Ohio and in Sherman New York to kick off July.  The band will play the Red Rock’s in Colorado for the 4th of July. That’s a show I would not want to miss.

 

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John 5, 14-string guitarist Felix Martin and more

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Pittsburgh Event, Pittsburgh Premiere

cypher16promo13/4 – CYPHER16 @ REX THEATER

1602 E CARSON STREET

$22 GA

DOORS: 5:30/SHOW: 6:30

*MAXIMALISM USA & CANADA TOUR 2017 W/ AMARANTHE, CITIZEN ZERO, FAILURE/ANTHEM & SMASH INTO PIECES

 

www.facebook.com/cypher16

 

About CYPHER16:

CYPHER16 have come a long way since their formation in 2007. Based in London, United Kingdom, the alternative metal outfit has made a name for themselves by playing with Dark Tranquility and Lacuna Coil and touring internationally, headlining the DeepWoods Festival abd IIT Delhi Blitzkrieg Show in India, by performing at Bloodstock and Hammerfest. In 2015, CYPHER16 followed up their 17-date tour withAmaranthe by performing in China on festivals headlined by the Scorpions and Killswitch Engage.

 

CYPHER16 is on the road in support of their debut LP The Great Surveyor which is out now. The Great Surveyor is produced by produced by Romesh Dodangoda (Motorhead, Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon).

  

felix53/8 – FELIX MARTIN @ JAMES STREET (BALLROOM)

422 FORELAND STREET

AGES: 21+

$12 GA

DOORS: 7:00/SHOW: 8:00

*ON TOUR WITH CONSIDER THE SOURCE

 

www.facebook.com/felixmartinmusic

 

About FELIX MARTIN:

Although Berklee-educated modern progressive/world fusion guitarist FELIX MARTIN’s popularity first exploded in 2012 with the release of his Live in Boston album via Prosthetic Records, he originally began shaping his unique performance techniques at the age of just 13. His unparalleled ability to perform a striking genre-blend of metal, jazz, progressive, world and Latin music while nimbly executing it with personally-designed 14 and 16-string guitars is what preserves Martin at the forefront of fusion music today.

 

FELIX MARTIN will release his new album, Mechanical Nations, on February 24. good portion of Mechanical Nations is inspired by industrialized South American locations and the hard work of the people. Musically, Martin’s goal with this album was to discover unique sounds on the electric guitar while blending rock and metal with a Latin spark.

 

john_5061-s4/11 – JOHN 5 @ HARD ROCK CAFE PITTSBURGH

230 W STATION SQUARE DRIVE

$17-$20

DOORS: 7:30/SHOW: 8:00

 

www.facebook.com/John5official

About JOHN 5 – PS, he’s an LA local!

JOHN 5 has worked with a varied range of artists, performing as guitarist for some of the biggest headlining rock bands in the world such asRob Zombie and Marilyn Manson, as well as playing session with Paul Stanley, Rod Stewart, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more. Slash has called JOHN 5, “one of the most mind-blowing guitarists around” and Rob Zombie has dubbed him “a fucking shredder”. JOHN 5 has released seven solo albums to date, as well as a remix album, and has written music for the likes of Avril Lavigne, Garbage, Ricky Martinand others. His upcoming release, Season Of The Witch (out March 3) follows his previous solo work, Careful With That Axe, which debuted on the Billboard Heatseekers chart upon release in 2014.

Metal All-Stars Planning To Record Relief Song For Steve Grimmett’s Medical Costs

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Announcement/News, Video
Steve Grimmett’s Grim Reaper
Walking In The Shadows
Dissonance
Metal All-Stars Planning To Record Relief Song For Steve Grimmett’s Medical Costs
Jimmy Kay of Canada’s The Metal Voice streamed a live interview recently with Steve and Millie Grimmett to update fans on Steve’s ongoing medical condition.  Venom Inc.’s Tony Dolan and former Anthrax vocalist Neil Turbin joined the conversation.  It is the second interview Kay has had in the past week’s since announcement of Steve Grimmett’s hospitalization in Ecuador.

During the near hour-long interview, Kay was the first to announce a special fundraiser show in Grimmett’s hometown of Swindon (England).  Planned for April 1, the event is being organized by Brian Keene at Riff’s Bar.  Bands for the event will be announced shortly.

Also announced was a special collaboration of metal artists that are coming together to record Grim Reaper material in effort to help raise additional funds for Steve’s rising medical and recovery costs.  Spearheaded by Dolan, Turbin, Kay, and Sy Keeler (Onslaught), contributors currently include Gary Holt (Exodus), Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Blaze Bayley (ex-Iron Maiden), Doro Pesch, Lipps (Anvil), Marta Gabriel (Crystal Viper), Neil Turbin (Deathriders), Jonas Hornqvist (Bleed the Hunger), Ross The Boss (Manowar), Sy Keeler (Onslaught), Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (Overkill), Jimmy Mantas (Venom Inc.), Nick Bowcott (ex-Grim Reaper), John Gallagher (Raven), Mantas (Venom), and more to be announced soon.  The recording will be produced by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Anvil).

Grimmett’s wife Millie gave The Metal Voice an update on Steve’s medical condition.  “He has now had four operations;  yesterday he had the latest to clean the wound a bit more.  Doctors opened it up and put a drain in to stop any further infections.  The infection has now seemed to stabilize.  The wound, however, has been left open.  He can’t fly until ten days after a big operation so the earliest he could fly home is this Friday.  Because of the pressure of the plane, you have risks of blood clotting and renewed bleeding so we have to make sure Steve can actually survive the flight.  It  is a total of 19 hours door-to-door; it’s a grueling journey for anybody.”

Millie continued, “I have a meeting with the doctor tomorrow morning to discuss how he is doing and other recovery options.  There is another treatment using oxygen.  We are hoping they might be able to do that over the next few days which could speed up the process.  Now that I am here, Steve has perked up a bit and it makes me feel a lot better to see him.  We are alone out here and we want to go home.”

“They are very friendly, very nice,” says Millie of the hospital staff, ”even though we don’t speak the same language.  We still have a laugh, making Steve laugh, making him smile.  They do what they can with what they have.  They don’t have the same resources here.  Steve said to me the other day that last week he was in a ward downstairs and the gentleman by him had heart failure and they didn’t have a defibrillator so unfortunately the gentleman died.  They did all they could.  They have done a great job with Steve.”

Lying on his hospital bed, Steve Grimmett shared a few words, “I am very humbled.  I didn’t realize that I meant so much to other people.  I got no words other than thank you.  And when I’m out on my new leg, I’m going to come out and sing for a big party.”

Regarding reuniting with his wife he added, “it was such a relief to have somebody that I could talk to.  She is not only my wife, she’s my best friend and my soul mate.  It makes everything easier.  I found that in this metal community of ours, we have love and respect for each other and to be fair, I’ve never met any assholes.”

Steve Grimmett has been hospitalized in Ecuador since mid-January; the singer was amidst a tour in support of GRIM REAPER’s latest album, Walking In The Shadows.  Millie Grimmett has been updating fans around the globe of the singer’s condition via the band’s official Facebook page since reports started to surface on January 14.  Grimmett has endured multiple operations that have resulted in the near complete loss of his right leg.

Fans have been making donations to a page set up nearly a week ago to assist in the singer’s rising medical costs afer reports confirmed Grimmett’s insurance company has refused to pay.  Donations can be made HERE.
All forthcoming Grim Reaper dates are cancelled.  Updates as they relate to Steve’s status will be shared via the band’s official Facebook page.
The full The Metal Voice video interview can be seen HERE.
Walking In The Shadows is available now.  Profits from the sale of the album from today forward will be donated to Grimmett’s medical costs.  Visit HERE to order.
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MADONNA: REBEL HEART TOUR TO PREMIERE ON SHOWTIME® ON DECEMBER 9 AT 9 PM ET/PT

by Alan D. Welding, posted in TV appearance
unnamedShowtime Networks andMADONNA have announced that her highly-anticipated concert film, MADONNA: REBEL HEART TOUR will premiere on December 9at 9p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME, on-air, on demand and over the internet. MADONNA: REBEL HEART TOUR was shot around the world and features a collection of live and behind these scenes footage culminating in performances at the Sydney Olympic Park in March of this year. The film is co-directed by Danny B. Tull and Nathan Rissman, both of whom have worked extensively with Madonna on her feature films and tour movies. Madonna will be honored later this year as Billboardmagazine’s 2016 Woman of the Year award, at a star-studded event held in conjunction with the publication of Billboard‘s Women in Music list, which identifies the 50 most powerful female executives in the industry each year. For a first look at MADONNA: REBEL HEART TOUR, go to:https://youtu.be/Ql45ciCOnAo.
“When it comes to putting on a show, there is only one Madonna – an iconic performer that we’re thrilled to have on our air,” said David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. “With her unique creative vision and unmatched stage presence, our viewers will see an arena show packed with visual theatrics, stunning costumes and intricate choreography, featuring new hits and beloved classic songs.”
As the premier destination for the best concert films and music documentaries, MADONNA: REBEL HEART TOUR joins a growing list of Showtime Documentary Films featuring music’s biggest names including recent concert films from The Who, The Rolling Stones, Lenny Kravitz, One Direction, Mumford & Sons, U2, The White Stripes and Paul McCartney, along with the documentary films featuring Michael Jackson, David Bowie, The Eagles, Nas, The Police, Elvis Costello, Public Enemy, Ozzy Osbourne, Kings of Leon and Billy Joel. For more information on the SHOWTIME Music Makers collection, go to SHO.com/documentaries.  
 
The set list for MADONNA: REBEL HEART TOUR spans all decades of the iconic superstar’s illustrious career, including songs from Rebel Heart (the No. 1 dance hits “Living for Love” and “Bitch I’m Madonna”) to classic fan favorites like “Material Girl” and “Holiday” and a “Dress You Up” medley that included “Get Into The Groove,” “Everybody” and “Lucky Star.” Memorable highlights from the tour include her first-ever live concert performance of “Take a Bow,” acoustic versions of “Like A Prayer,” “Secret” and “Don’t Tell Me.”  At each tour date during the song “Unapologetic Bitch,” Madonna would bring someone up from the crowd to dance with her during the song. Some nights it was a fan, another night it was Katy Perry. Other guest dancers included: Amy Schumer, Ariana Grande, Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Diplo, Gwendoline Christie, Graham Norton and Anderson Cooper.
Produced by Live Nation Global Touring, the Rebel Heart Tour kicked off on September 9, 2015 in Montreal and visited arenas in 55 cities on four continents over seven months. Madonna performed 82 shows, plus a special fan club show in Melbourne. The tour grossed $169.8 Million with 1,045,479 in attendance, making her the top grossing touring female artist in the history of Billboard Boxscore with over $1.31 billion in ticket sales sold over the course of her career. Madonna is also the fourth top grossing touring act (behind The Rolling Stones, U2 and Bruce Springsteen) since tracking began in 1990.
The Rebel Heart Tour was directed by Jamie King with musical direction by Kevin Antunes (the band’s keyboardist Ric’key Pageot, drummer Brian Frasier-Moore, guitarist Monte Pittman, and background vocalists Kiley Dean and Nicki Richards), lead choreography by Megan Lawson, hair by Andy LeCompte, makeup by Aaron Henrikson, and costume design by Arianne Phillips.
 
Madonna also recently announced special evening of music, art, mischief and a live performance onDecember 2, 2016 to benefit Raising Malawi, the non-profit she founded in 2006.  Raising Malawi is currently constructing Malawi’s first pediatric surgery and intensive care unit which will double the number of life-saving surgeries performed on children each year, provide intensive care after critical surgeries and train specialized Malawian medical staff. The facility, which will be called the Mercy James Institute of Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, will open in 2017.


# # #
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Prime Video. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™ through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.
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I PREVAIL ANNOUNCES “REBELS WITHOUT A CLAUSE” HOLIDAY TOUR/ @Diesel Pittsburgh 12/14

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Pittsburgh Event, Tour
I Prevail’s Debut Album, Lifelines, Is Out October 21st Via Fearless Records
October 17, 2016 – Los Angeles, CA –  Just days before their debut album release, Detroit’s explosive rock band I Prevail has announced they’ll be returning to the road in December for their headlining “Rebels Without A Clause Tour 2016.” The band will be touring in support of their new album, Lifelines, which will be released on Friday viaFearless Records. Fans can purchase tickets to the shows on Friday, October 21st and pre-order the record now at  www.IPrevailBand.com.
I Prevail just wrapped up a support tour with Pierce The Veil, which has created a whirlwind of excitement for the upcoming record, Lifelines. The band’s highly-anticipated, first full-length album features a plethora of massive rock anthems like “Come And Get It,” “Scars” and “Stuck In Your Head.”
I Prevail will be joined on the “Rebels Without A Clause Tour 2016” by support bands Sleepwave, Hotel Books and Bad Seed Rising.
I Prevail Tour Dates:iprevail_18x24_flat_with_dates
Nov 27 – Peoria, IL – Limelight
Nov 29 – Iowa City, IA – Gabe’s Oasis
Nov 30 – Omaha, NE – Sokol Underground
Dec 2 – Ringle, WI – Q and Z Expo Center
Dec 3 – Fort Wayne, IN – The Hub
Dec 4 – Belvidere, IL – The Apollo Theater
Dec 6 – Syracuse, NY – The Westcott Theater
Dec 7 – Hampton Beach, NH – Wally’s
Dec 9 – Providence, RI – Fete Music Hall
Dec 10 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
Dec 11 – Asbury Park, NJ – House of Independents
Dec 13 – Hartford, CT – Webster Underground
Dec 14 – Pittsburgh, PA – Diesel
Dec 16 – Toledo, OH – Headliners
Dec 17 – Lansing, MI – The Loft
Dec 18 – Pontiac, MI – The Crofoot
For More Information:
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SXSW Music Festival Announces Artists Performing at 2017 Event

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Event
SXSW | March 10-19, 2017 | Austin, TX
 

SXSW Music Festival – Connection, Discovery, Surprise
Additional Performing Artists Announced

October 12, 2016 – Austin, Texas – The South by Southwest® Music Festival (SXSW®) has announced additional artists invited to perform at the 2017 event. Each year the SXSW Music Festival hosts an extraordinary mix of new, up-and-coming, international, and legendary artists performing in venues around Austin, Texas. The festival is the destination for industry professionals and influencers, international media, and fans who all share a passion for new music discovery. The 31st annual SXSW Music Festival takes place Monday, March 13 – Sunday, March 19, 2017.

The lineup will continue to inspire and excite as the SXSW Music Festival programmers curate a wholly unique festival experience. A few highlights are Charlotte Day Wilson (Toronto, Canada), The Drums (New York, NY), Girlpool (Los Angeles, CA), Imarhan (Tamanrasset, Algeria), La Dame Blanche (Pinar Del Rio, Cuba), Minus the Bear (Seattle, WA), Roosevelt (Cologne, Germany), and SOHN (London, UK-England).

This is a small sample of the wide array of artists who will be performing for the attending global creative community. Other invitees include:

The 4onthefloor (Minneapolis MN)
Aero Flynn (Eau Claire WI)
Annabel Allum (Guildford UK-ENGLAND)
ALMA (Helsinki FINLAND)
AluviÓn Afrobeat Pacifico (Bogota COLOMBIA)
Aquilo (London UK-ENGLAND)
ARY (Oslo NORWAY)
Autre Ne Veut (Brooklyn NY)
Aye Nako (Brooklyn NY)
Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires (Birmingham AL)
The Band of Heathens (Austin TX)
Bash & Pop (Hudson NY)
BeatKing (Houston TX)
Be Charlotte (Dundee UK-SCOTLAND)
Michael Bethany (Dallas TX)
Big Phony (Seoul SOUTH KOREA)
BIRTHH (Florence ITALY)
Biznaga (Madrid SPAIN)
David Blanco (La Habana CUBA)
The Blind Pets (Austin TX)
Blue Healer (Austin TX)
Busty and the Bass (Montreal CANADA)
Cardiel (Mexico City MEXICO)
Carnival Youth (Riga LATVIA)
The Ceremonies (Sherman Oaks CA)
Jorge Chafey (San Juan PUERTO RICO)
Chastity Belt (Seattle WA)
CJ Fly (Brooklyn NY)
Closeness (Omaha NE)
Kweku Collins (Evanston IL)
Charlie Cunningham (Leighton Buzzard UK-ENGLAND)
DakhaBrakha (Kiev UKRAINE)
Dardust (Ascoli Piceno ITALY)
Deep State (Athens GA)
Manu Delago Handmade (London UK-ENGLAND)
Delicate Steve (Frendon NJ)
Downtown Boys (Providence RI)
Draper (Sevenoaks UK-ENGLAND)
The Drums (New York NY)
The Dumplings (Zabrze POLAND)
Lincoln Durham (Austin TX)
Elle Exxe (Edinburgh UK-SCOTLAND)
Fastball (Austin TX)
Ripp Flamez (Cleveland OH)
Flamingods (London UK-ENGLAND)
Flasher (Washington DC)
Future Generations (Brooklyn NY)
Future Thieves (Nashville TN)
Ron Gallo (Nashville TN)
Sam Gellaitry (Stirling UK-SCOTLAND)
The Gift (Alcobaca PORTUGAL)
Girlpool (Los Angeles CA)
Giungla (Bologna ITALY)
William Harries Graham (Austin TX)
Gurr (Berlin GERMANY)
Half Waif (Brooklyn NY)
Heat (Montreal CANADA)
Hiccup (New York NY)
High Up (Omaha NE)
Hollerado (Toronto CANADA)
The Hollowbodies (Toronto CANADA)
IDER (London UK-ENGLAND)
Imaginary Tricks (Brooklyn NY)
Imarhan (Tamanrasset ALGERIA)
Joan of Arc (Chicago IL)
Kaiydo (Orlando FL)
Amy Klein (Brooklyn NY)
Kroy (Montréal CANADA)
Kučka (Perth AUSTRALIA)
La Dame Blanche (Pinar Del Rio CUBA)
Ladyhawke (Masterton NEW ZEALAND)
Letting Up Despite Great Faults (Austin TX)
SG LEWIS (Reading UK-ENGLAND)
Lng/SHT (Cancún MEXICO)
Lowell (Toronto CANADA)
LVL UP (Brooklyn NY)
Madame Gandhi (Los Angeles CA)
Mahogany (Philadelphia PA)
Mail The Horse (Brooklyn NY)		 mansionz (Los Angeles CA)
Måntra (London UK-ENGLAND)
Meat Wave (Chicago IL)
Yael Meyer (Santiago CHILE)
Middle Kids (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Raul Midón (Columbia MD)
Minihorse (Ypsilanti MI)
Mint Field (Tijuana MEXICO)
Minus the Bear (Seattle WA)
Missio (Austin TX)
The Moms (Morris Plains NJ)
Moor Mother (Philadelphia PA)
Morenito de Fuego (Monterrey MEXICO)
Mothers (Athens GA)
Moving Panoramas (Austin TX)
Mozart’s Sister (Montreal CANADA)
My Expansive Awareness (Zaragoza SPAIN)
Naked Giants (Seattle WA)
The National Parks (Provo UT)
Native Young (Cape Town SOUTH AFRICA)
The New Respects (Nashville TN)
Brett Newski (Milwaukee WI)
Now, Now (Minneapolis MN)
Oh Honey (Brooklyn NY)
Outer Spaces (Baltimore MD)
Overcoats (New York NY)
Palm (Philadelphia PA)
PAWS (Glasgow UK-SCOTLAND)
Pinact (Glasgow UK-SCOTLAND)
PINES (Adelaide AUSTRALIA)
Plush (San Francisco CA)
Priests (Washington DC)
Michael Prins (Haarlem NETHERLANDS)
Pronoun (Brooklyn NY)
Pure Bathing Culture (Portland OR)
Qawalistan (Islamabad PAKISTAN)
David Ramirez (Austin TX)
Ramirez Exposure (Valencia SPAIN)
Riel (Buenos Aires ARGENTINA)
River Whyless (Asheville NC)
Roosevelt (Cologne GERMANY)
Whitney Rose (Austin TX)
L.A. Salami (London UK-ENGLAND)
Sammus (Ithaca NY)
Satellite Stories (Oulu FINLAND)
Scotty ATL (Atlanta GA)
Señor Loop (Panama City PANAMA)
Joana Serrat (Vic SPAIN)
Shaded (Los Angeles CA)
She-Devils (Montreal CANADA)
SOHN (London UK-ENGLAND)
Dice Soho (Houston TX)
The Spook School (Edinburgh UK-SCOTLAND)
C.W. Stoneking (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
St. Tropez (Amsterdam NETHERLANDS)
SuperGlu (Colchester UK-ENGLAND)
Supermoon (Vancouver CANADA)
SWEAT (London UK-ENGLAND)
Lucía Tacchetti (Buenos Aires ARGENTINA)
Tamarron (Austin TX)
Tancred (Minneapolis MN)
Tess & Dave (Huntington Beach CA)
Thigh Master (Brisbane AUSTRALIA)
This Is The Kit (Bristol UK-ENGLAND)
Trill Sammy (Houston TX)
Tristen (Nashville TN)
The Undercover Dream Lovers (Brooklyn NY)
VANT (London UK-ENGLAND)
Anna Von Hauswolff (Gothenburg SWEDEN)
Weird Black (Rome ITALY)
Candy West (Dallas TX)
WhyJae (Houston TX)
The Wild Reeds (Los Angeles CA)
Charlotte Day Wilson (Toronto CANADA)
Frankie C. Wilson Jr. (Dallas TX)
Emily Wolfe (Austin TX)
Yemen Blues (Tel Aviv ISRAEL)

(This list is subject to change. More performers will be announced at a later date.)

To apply to perform or for more information on the SXSW Music Festival, please go to https://www.sxsw.com/festivals/music/. The final deadline to apply is Friday, October 21, 2016.

Listen to the artists that will be performing at SXSW 2017 by tuning in on your mobile device or desktop to SXSWfm® at http://www.sxsw.com/fm.

SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, TX, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries. The event, an essential destination for global professionals, features conference programming, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2017 will take place March 10-19, 2017.

New for 2017, the Interactive, Film, and Music badges will now include expanded access to more of the SXSW Conference & Festivals experience. SXSW Music registrants will still receive primary entry to programming associated with the Music badge, but can now enjoy secondary access to most other SXSW events. Likewise, Interactive and Film badgeholders have secondary access to most SXSW Music showcases and conference programming tracks. SXSW’s next registration deadline is October 21, 2016. For more information, please visit sxsw.com. To register for the event, please visit http://www.sxsw.com/attend.

SXSW Music 2017 is sponsored by Sonicbids, Esurance, Mazda, Monster Energy, Anheuser Busch, Capital One, McDonald’s, and The Austin Chronicle.

 

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VAMPS ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR IN NOVEMBER

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Announcement/News, Streaming, Tour, Video
TICKETS GO ON SALE AT 1PM EST TODAY!
 
NEW DOUBLE SINGLE OUT NOW:
 
“INSIDE OF ME” FEAT. CHRIS MOTIONLESS FROM MOTIONLESS IN WHITE
AND
“RISE OR DIE,” CO-WRITTEN BY VAMPS AND RICHARD Z.
 KRUSPE OF EMIGRATE / RAMMSTEIN 
 
(Preview the new music HERE)

 
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 19, 2016) – VAMPS, the visually arresting Japanese rock band featuring HYDE (L’Arc-en-Ciel) and K.A.Z (Oblivion Dust), are back! There is a swell of activity surrounding the band, including new songs with major guests, a Fall 2016 headline tour across North America and working on their next full-length album.
VAMPS just dropped not one but two songs with blockbuster features: “Inside of Me” features Chris Motionless from Motionless in White, while “Rise or Die” was co-written with Emigrate and Rammstein guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe.
The songs are available via Spinefarm Records now. Get them on iTunes and Apple Music HERE or stream them on Spotify HERE. For a preview of the new tracks, go HERE and check out the official music video for “Inside of Me.”
HYDE spoke about the new material, which was written and recorded earlier this year in Los Angeles with Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson (Papa Roach, Three Days Grace, 3 Doors Down). “The recording session with Howard Benson and his team was very creative,” Hyde said. “I truly enjoyed writing and recording these new songs. ‘Inside of Me’ contains themes of the forbidden and abstinence. ‘Rise or Die’ is a very catchy rock song that gets the audience pumped up when we play it live. I hope everyone likes these new songs.”
VAMPS will also crash U.S. soil for November headline dates and bring along special guest CITIZEN ZERO whose current single “Go (Let Me Save You)” is available through Wind-up Records and has already climbed up to #23 on the rock radio charts. Find out more about Citizen Zero here.
It’s a welcome return to America for VAMPS and the first time they will tour the U.S. since their special guest stint with SIXX:A.M. in Spring 2015. The tour kicks off November 7 in Los Angeles and will hit select major markets across the U.S., Canada and Mexico throughout November. Tickets go on sale at 1pm EST today – see a full list of dates and ticket links below.
“VAMPS are coming back to the States,” enthused K.A.Z. “We will return to some of the cities we performed at with SIXX:A.M. and APOCALYPTICAlast year. We will be playing some new songs and this will be a great tour. We are very much looking forward to seeing all the rock fans out there!”
VAMPS just concluded several sold-out shows in their hometown of Tokyo, Japan with support from U.S. rock heavyweights IN THIS MOMENT and Finland’s finest, APOCALYPTICA, the latter of which previously collaborated with VAMPS on the 2015 single “Sin In Justice.”
The rest of 2016 will see VAMPS working on the follow up album to 2015’s Bloodsuckers and the band expects to return to the U.S. for more shows next spring.
VAMPS – North American Tour 2016
With Special Guest CITIZEN ZERO
 
11/6 – San Francisco, CA – Social Hall SF – Social Hall SF Tickets
11/7  – Los Angeles, CA  – El Rey Theater –  El Rey Theatre Tickets
11/10 – Mexico City, Mexico – Teatro Metropolitan – (On-sale 9/22) Teatro Metropolitan
11/13 -New York, NY  – Irving Plaza –  Irving Plaza Tickets
11/14 – Toronto, ON –  Lee’s Palace  – Lee’s Palace Tickets
11/15    Chicago, IL  – Bottom Lounge  – (On-sale 9/22) Bottom Lounge
 
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Gemma Ray Announces Nov/Dec U.S. Tour Dates/ Nov 11 in Pittsburgh @Hambones

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Announcement/News, Pittsburgh Event, Tour, Video
 
NEW ALBUM THE EXODUS SUITE OUT NOW
credit: Steve Gullick
Watch “The Original One” video: https://youtu.be/qQuCJ_tZd_E
 
Watch the “We Do War” video: https://youtu.be/dxlM0T7vonE
Berlin-based, British-born Gemma Ray will bring her unique torch song psychedelia to the U.S. via a November/December tour in support of her new album The Exodus Suite. The tour will take Ray and her band throughout the country, beginning November 11th in Chicago, IL and wrapping up on December 6th in Los Angeles, CA. A current itinerary is below.
The Exodus Suite – released on June 10, 2016 – has earned Ray international praise, from outlets including Paste (“shadowy beauty”), Mother Jones (“Spine-tingling”), American Songwriter (“riveting”), She Shreds, Mojo (“beautiful, as ever”), Uncut (“a moving collision of past and present”), and Rolling Stone Australia (“deep and meaningful seduction”), among others.
Her sideways blues songs are cinematic and brooding, and sit more comfortably in the Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds/PJ Harvey school, “blowing sugary femme-pop out of the water” (NME). It should come as no surprise that Ray has collaborated with several Bad Seeds, as well as the late great Alan Vega of Suicide, Howe Gelb, Sparks, Heavy Trash and the Filmorchester Babelsberg, among others.
Recorded live in seven days at Berlin’s infamous Candy Bomber Studios (situated in the former Tempelhof Airport) by Ingo Krauss, the title The Exodus Suite reflects the personal-political themes of the songs within. An unexpected yet inescapable influence on the album sessions was the presence of 8,000 Syrian refugees housed in the hangar beneath the studio during recording. While Ray’s lyrical explorations of love for all life, exile and relocation, nature’s sovereignty, technology, class, and most of all the need for human empathy were all written prior to entering the studio, she explains, “I realized, more after the fact, that it gave an immediate mirror to some of the lyrics which are, though not political in any direct sense, influenced by these strange and tense times.”
Gemma Ray tour dates:
NOV. 7             CHICAGO, IL                SCHUBAS
NOV. 9             CINCINNATI, OH          MOTR
NOV. 10           GRAND RAPIDS, MI    FOUNDERS BREWING
NOV. 11           PITTSBURGH, PA        HAMBONE’S
NOV. 12           PHILADELPHIA, PA     PHILAMOCA
NOV. 15           BOSTON, MA               ATWOODS
NOV. 16           BROOKLYN, NY          THE OWL
NOV. 17           ARLINGTON, VA          IOTA
NOV. 18           DURHAM, NC              DUKE COFFEEHOUSE
NOV. 19           ATLANTA, GA              THE 529
NOV. 21           HOUSTON, TX            SATELLITE
NOV. 23           AUSTIN, TX                 MOHAWK
NOV. 27           TUCSON, AZ               CLUB CONGRESS
NOV. 28           SAN DIEGO, CA          SODA BAR
DEC. 2             SPOKANE, WA            OBSERVATORY
DEC. 3             PORTLAND, OR          BUNK BAR
DEC. 6             LOS ANGELES, CA     BOOTLEG THEATER
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INTERVIEW: JEAN PAUL GASTER OF CLUTCH (CLUTCH @STAGEAE OCT 1)

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Announcement/News, Interview, Pittsburgh Event

Every time that Clutch rolls into Pittsburgh a few things are guaranteed: 1.  The show will be packed  2.  There will be mass quantities of beer consumed at said show and 3. drummer for Clutch, Jean Paul Gaster will put on a drum clinic just by playing with the band.

No matter how many times I have had the opportunity to speak with JP, there always comes across a sincerity and thoughtfulness that you do not get from every “rockstar”.  The Clutch guys are different; they are blue collar Maryland men with amazing work ethics.  JP is no exception.  In fact, when I first called him he was unable to answer because he was practicing drums.  First off, one does not hear that often from a seasoned pro and secondly, he called me back right away and apologized.  Trust me this is an anomaly when it comes to interviews.

Clutch plays Pittsburgh’s Stage AE October 1 with guests Zakk Sabbath and Kyng.  Before one of the most killer line ups of the year comes here I had the pleasure of chatting with JP.

You have a tremendous work ethic and constantly work on your craft.

I spend a lot of time practicing.  I very much enjoy it.  It’s the kind of thing that the more I do it the more I’m working at it.  Its kind of a process.

Do you still take lessons from people?

I have not taken lessons for roughly year or so.  The last time was when I got together with Johnny Vidacovich we spoke in great detail about brushes and that was pretty eye opening for me.  I’m always checking stuff out paying attention to stuff, maybe even getting on YouTube.  You can pick up a lot of stuff and I try to take advantage of it.

Your style is very much “less is more”, serve the song.  Is that the type of playing that you are attracted to looking at those videos?

Very much.  When I was younger I may have tried some pyrotechnics, but I was never really drawn to that style of drumming.

now-availablePsychic Warfare has been out for around a year and Clutch played Pittsburgh just before the album was released.  You have just returned from Europe and have been on the road for a long time.  Does it get tedious at this point?

Well, there is an element of that but I don’t think tedious is the right word.  It gets draining, it can be difficult.  In fact this last tour was physically tough.  There were a lot of fly-in dates, going to the airport, get a couple hours of sleep, do a gig and then go right back out to the airport.  You know if you do that several times in a row that will kick your ass.  There is a lot of downtime too in between shows, that;s tough being away from home on a tour bus with a ton of other guys, but more often than not its a blast.  You know give me a break, you get to play music for a living, you get to go all around the world, that’s an amazing experience.  It’s the best job in the world and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Psychic Warfare is your 11th record, how have you evolved with this album?

Well, each record is a different snapshot of where the band is at any given moment.  What I mean by that is musically, personally, business wise too.  So each one has its own identity, we make a point not to repeat ourselves, challenge ourselves, experiment with sounds, sometimes you get way way far out there because that’s where the creativity is.  But then again having said that, we are the same four guys playing the same four instruments, there is going to be that element that at some point it’s going to sound like Clutch.  We might be writing something and I’ll say well it sounds like this or this sounds like another song from a particular record.  But at the end of the day it’s all four making music, I think we got those fucking terms down and you just accept who you are.

You guys just put out a video for A Quick Death In Texas.  A pretty fun video, but did you have fun making it?

Well, yeah.  It’s the closest thing to acting that any of us have ever done and we had great costumes and got a little “pissed” at the office, that helped us get into character.  It was a good experience, it was fun, its something we hadn’t done before.  We tried to make it tongue in cheek and we got to play cowboys, kind of ridiculous!

Classic Rock Magazine has Psychic Warfare as a nominee for album of the year.  How does it feel to get industry awards like that?

There are two sides to that, it’s a bit demonstrative. We struggled for many years and it maybe has not been until the last three records that people have really taken notice of the band, but we have also had a lot of loyal fans since the beginning and for that we are grateful. The fact that we can attract that kind of attention and release on our own label is sweeter, for so many years we had to be on other labels.  We are able to have our own label and for the fans to perceive Psychic Warfare as well as (they have), that’s incredible for us as a band.

What do you think the biggest mistake Clutch has made in their career?

I remember clearly having gotten the Pantera tour in like 1998.   We were all fans of Pantera at the time.  We really compared ourselves at that time to more of a heavy jam band.  Rather than get up there and play our heavier songs and try to make the best of it crowd, we found ourselves jamming and probably we should have played a more straight up kind of a set.  The fans were spending a lot of time trying to accept us and we spent a lot of time trying to be like The Band of Gypsies. And as much as I love that style of playing I think it kind of got lost on some of the fans, maybe we could have done a better job.

Kyng and Zakk Sabbath are coming out with you for this tour.

Kyng are friends of ours, great band out of California, very talented guys who just made a record with Machine who is our producer that we have worked with several times.  I’m anxious to hear their new album.  And Zakk Sabbath, give me a break!  Zakk Wylde is one of the premier guitarists of our generation and him playing those songs (Black Sabbath) is going to be so great to see, he’s an incredible player and his band…Joey Castillo is playing drums and he is one of my favorite drummers from the Sugartooth days and Blasko (Rob Nicholson) is playing bass and we have been friends with him back to his band Drown, I think we toured with them back in ’98.  We’ve known Blasko for a long time and I think it’s going to be a great tour with a great line-up.

What is going on with your side projects?

Yeah, I’m always trying to stay involved in different things.  I just did a blues gig in Maryland.  Next week I’ll be working with Mark Morton (Lamb of God), Yanni Papadopoulos (Stinking Lizaveta) and Chris Brooks (Lionize) on new material (for Mark Morton’s solo album).  If things come up I try to do them because for me, it’s my passion.

You are known for your love of vintage gear.  Is there a “great white whale” out there that you seek?

Well, I love the 1920’s era Ludwig Black Beauty. And they can be found but they are just very expensive.  I need to stay off of Ebay.  A couple beers and Ebay pretty much guarantees I am going to buy a new snare drum.

Really looking forward to the tour coming Oct 1 in Pittsburgh.

We’ve been playing Pittsburgh for many, many years.  I’m thinking the first time we played there was in 1994 with Sepultura.  Pittsburgh has been good to us.  There is some great halls there and some great food.  It’s kind of hard to beat.

  • Clutch – Psychic Warfare World Tour 2016

    STAGE AE — PITTSBURGH, PA

    BUY TICKETS 

Opening Artist

Zakk Sabbath

KYNG

School of Rock

Pricing

– $29.00 Advance
– $32.00 Day of Show

Additional ticket fees not included. fees vary by market

Date

October 01, 2016
Doors open at 7:00 PM

Location

Stage AE
400 North Shore Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
 Get Venue Info

Clutch1

Artist Link

http://www.pro-rock.com/

More Info

General Admission – All Ages

This show is indoors

Presented by PromoWest North Shore and Opus One

– See more at: http://promowestlive.com/events/1687#sthash.dJpZScCY.dpuf

 

 

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John 5 Visits Planet of the Apes for New Video

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Announcement/News, Video

The latest video in a monthly series of releases from guitarist John 5 pays homage to the legendary sci-fi characters of Planet of the Apes with his new single “Here’s to the Crazy Ones”.

Either click on the image to watch or click here.

The song is available for purchase wherever digital music is sold.

 

 

Some names may be trademarks of other companies

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Woman’s Hour Announce Her Ghost Single Via Secretly Canadian

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Streaming

London-via-Kendal four piece Woman’s Hour have joined the Secretly Canadian family and will release a brand new single, “Her Ghost”, through their new label in March. “Her Ghost” is available digitally now with the full digital single including b-side out 17th February and a limited edition 7″ vinyl released on 24th March.

The band will be supporting the single’s release with a string of UK live dates including a special headline date at London’s Purcell Room. The dates also see Woman’s Hour visit the US for the first time, including performances at this year’s South By South West Festival in Austin, Texas and headlining shows in New York and Los Angeles.

“Her Ghost’’ is Woman’s Hour’s first release with their new label following a year which saw them become the 6th most blogged band of the year (Hype Machine), receive praise from the likes of Pitchfork, The Fader and The Line of Best Fit.

Placing the heart-wrenching vocals of Fiona Burgess against an intricate backdrop of expertly-crafted electronic textures, the new song finds its power through restraint with the band’s attention to the smallest of details reflected in the richness of the end result. At once achingly subtle and breathtakingly powerful in its melodic display, “Her Ghost” is testament to a band fully in command of their unique identity and sound.

Woman’s Hour are Fiona Burgess, William Burgess, Josh Hunnisett and Nicolas Graves.

Forthcoming Live Dates

March 11th – 16th  South By South West Festival, Austin, Texas
March 17th  Bardot, Los Angeles
March 19th  Mercury Lounge, New York
March 21st  Glasslands, New York
April 3rd  The Purcell Rooms, London
April 25th  Gulliver’s, Manchester
April 26th  Cathedral, Sheffield
April 27th  Bodega Social Club, Nottingham
May 7th  Louisiana, Bristol
May 8th  The Great Escape Festival, Brighton

Press for Woman’s Hour

“Reminiscent of Beach House’s darkly quixotic work, saturated with fragility and painful longing.”
Pitchfork
“Shades of The xx and a softer Grimes”
NME
“Woman’s Hour are the architects of the most intelligent new music we’ve heard this year.”
The Line of Best Fit

Woman’s Hour Online
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Secretly Canadian Online
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Little Racer Premieres “Dancing” Track + Free Download

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Free Music, Streaming, Video

Click Here To Stream + Download “Dancing” On Filter

Little Racer is a four-piece from Brooklyn consisting of Elliot Michaud (vocals, guitar), Ish Nazmi (bass), Wade Michael (guitar), and Dave Tedeschi (Drums). Shortly after forming in 2010, their eponymous single Little Racer found it’s away across the ocean to the BBC and London imprint Young and Lost Club, who subsequently released the 7″ single  The Town/Split for the Coast in late 2011.  After a short visit to London to support the single, they returned to New York to write and record a follow up EP.  With influences ranging from New Order to Cat Stevens, their ringing guitars and choruses will most definitely take you away from it all, even if only for 24 minutes.

 

Click Here To Download “Vanessa” On Young And Lost Club

Click Here To Watch “Split For The Coast” Video 

Click Here To Listen To “Split For The Coast” // “The Town”

 

Links: 

Bandcamp

Facebook 

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REAIN – “Soul Food for Thought” Video / UK Hip Hop

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Video

About the Video:

This is the title track off of the E.P. by DJ VR and Reain. The concept for the song, as the title suggests, encourages the listener to think in more depth about hip hop music, its more commercial artists in particular; human morals; and individual influence. The track discusses the moral decline in humanity and how this is reflected in hip hop and throughout human society. However, it is not too late for a change, he suggests, as ‘It’s our world, we’re spinning it. We could have a big turnaround if we all do a little bit!’

The video, directed and edited by Yvan Durraive at Dirtybet Entertainment, depicts the dark and light elements of the song. This is highlighted by the black and white face paint feature, which represents the sombreness of the beat and the general mood contrasted by the enlightenment of the lyrics and the overall message.

The track opens with the lyrics ‘Four beats to the bar but it’s not a song, it’s a conversation…’ and we find Reain often seated in the video which does give it a real conversational feel, like he is sitting down talking to the viewers/listeners. DJ VR’s use of percussion is a real highlight for this song, giving it a mystic and jazz-like ambiance. On that note, look out for the great wall painting of the legendary John Coltrane.

One serving of Soul Food for Thought coming up. Enjoy!

reain-pic2

 

About REAIN

REAIN, also known as Jim Reaper, is a hip hop artist from London, United Kingdom. The spelling is a merge of ‘reign’ and ‘rain’; the idea is that this emcee reigns like a king and flows like the rain. His first notable step was his impact on the the British rap battle scene. Reain, under his former battling alias Wha’s His Face, has the following accolades to his name: The Jump Off’s UK Spin the Mic (a one-on-one knock out style competition) champion; US Spin the Mic (held in New York) semi-finalist; and World Rap Championships finalist alongside Possessed (from Rhyme Asylum, a hip hop crew from the UK) – the team faced Thesaurus and Illmaculate in the Las Vegas showdown. All of this earned Reain a spot on the UK’s expansive underground scene.

He then followed up his battle success by releasing The Metaphorcast. This solo album demonstrated Reain’s song writing abilities and skilful use of metaphors beyond the emcee battling arena. The album received great magazine and website reviews, airplay on Choice FM and various radio and internet stations, and his video for Capital City was aired on MTV Base and other channels. Reain also performed in many cities in Britain, often teaming up with Rhyme Asylum.

Reain decided to shift his focus to higher education. However, he has been writing songs, keeping his skills sharp and expressing his passion for hip hop. Now with a number of projects in the pipeline, he aims to make a return to releasing music. Having grown and being more experienced, he will be expressing this in his new music.

In his own words he says:

‘A lot has happened in my life and the music game has changed too. I see myself as a well-rounded artist and I’m not afraid to talk about a wide range of topics in my music, ranging from raw battle bars to even God. I want to offer a positive alternative to all the clubby-poppy-drug selling-violence glorifying-sexualized hip hop. I’ve learnt a lot and I have something genuine to say. That’s one of the reasons why I love hip hop, it gives you the opportunity to say what you want to say. I just hope that people will listen’

So, let’s keep our ears to the street and hear what he has to say!

Find more info on REAIN & Dopeshit Records here:

Facebook
Twitter
dopeshit.org
YouTube

 

Motionless In White’s new single “If It’s Dead, We’ll Kill It”

by Alan D. Welding, posted in Announcement/News, Pittsburgh Event, Tour

Motionless In White’s new single “If It’s Dead, We’ll Kill It” (feat. Brandan Schieppati) is now available for digital download on iTunes.

The Pennsylvanian metal outfit deliver a brand new lyric video for the single, which the band premiered earlier today. Just in time for halloween, the video offers a combination of clips from horror movies, spliced with live footage from Motionless In White’s sold out London, UK show last month. “If It’s Dead, We’ll Kill It” is featured on their highly-anticipated new album Infamous, set to release November 13th.
Get more information about the album at:
MotionlessInWhite.net/Infamous

“If It’s Dead, We’ll Kill It” was written about my disgust for people in the world who have developed this sense of entitlement that they think gives them the right to dictate standards others need to live by. I’m more specifically talking about the beauty standard, ” Lead singer, Chris Motionless explains. “I asked my hero Brandan Schiepatti from Bleeding Through to scream along with me on this song. He and his lyrics have always been what I’ve looked to for guidance and influence when I felt lost, so I am hoping to do the same for others out there. This song means more to me than anyone can understand. I’m coming for you mother fuckers.” Read more about “If It’s Dead, We’ll Kill It”

Gaining a reputation for constantly challenging the concept of “playing it safe”, Motionless In White are unafraid to make music as intense as it is intricate. Having built upward from the success of their debut album Creatures, which has sold over 50,000 copies, the band’s ability to interweave powerful lyrics and strong musicianship with striking imagery has captivated both fans and media around the globe.

To follow-up their sold out UK headline tour, the band are gearing up for their first North American headliner this November / December, and will return overseas on a UK run with Asking Alexandria in early 2013.

Rockstar Energy Drink presents The Infamous Tour Dates:
Motionless In White, Chelsea Grin, Stick To Your Guns, Crown The Empire, & Upon This Dawning

Nov 8 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
Nov 9 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
Nov 10 – Stroudsburg, PA @Sherman Theatre
Nov 11 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Nov 12 – Springfield, VA @ Empire
Nov 13 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos
Nov 15 – St Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
Nov 16 – Orlando, FL – Club 57 West
Nov 17 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
Nov 18 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
Nov 20 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
Nov 21 – Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
Nov 24 – Montreal, QC @ Le Tulipe
Nov 25 – Toronto, ON @ Virgin Mobile Mod Club
Nov 26 – London, ON @ London Music Hall
Nov 27 – Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot Ballroom
Nov 28 – St. Louis, MO @ Fubar
Nov 30 – Dallas, TX @ The Door
Dec 01 – San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Dec 02 – Odessa, TX @ Dos Amigos
Dec 04 – Tempe, AZ @ Nile Theatre
Dec 05 – West Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues
Dec 06 – Pomona, CA @ Glass House
Dec 07 – San Diego, CA @ Soma
Dec 08 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
Dec 10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
Dec 11 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
Dec 12 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s
Dec 13 – Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
Dec 14 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Ironworks
Dec 15 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
Dec 16 – Philadelphia, PA @ TLA

UK Tour w/ Asking Alexandria

Jan 15 – Dublin @ The Academy
Jan 16 – Belfast @ Mandela Hall
Jan 17 – Glasgow @ Barrowland
Jan 19 – London @ O2 Academy Brixton
Feb 10 – Birmingham @ O2 Academy Birmingham
Feb 11 – Manchester @ Manchester Academy