02.25.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Fresh off their recent sold-out headlining tour, TEGAN AND SARA have been chosen to open the second leg of THE KILLERS' upcoming North American tour, which kicks off April 11th in Phoenix and finishes up in Chicago on May 11th. In addition, TEGAN AND SARA will be performing at South By Southwest in mid-March and at Coachella on May 1st alongside NINE INCH NAILS, NEW ORDER, BRIGHT EYES and ARCADE FIRE in support of their current release "So Jealous," currently available on Sanctuary/Vapor Records. Meanwhile, TEGAN AND SARA continue their current campaign in support of "So Jealous" with a television appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on March 23rd. Canada's TEGAN AND SARA are from Calgary, Alberta. Their previous releases include "This Business Of Art" (2000) and "If It Was You" (2002). Upcoming Tour Dates: 03/10 Seattle, WA [Crocodile] • 03/11 Boise, ID [Big Easy] • 03/12 Salt Lake City, UT [Velvet Room] • 03/13 Denver, CO [Bluebird] • 03/14 Santa Fe, NM [Paramount] • 03/16 Ft Worth, TX [Axis] • 03/17 Austin, TX [Eternal] • 03/21 Tempe, AZ [Marquee Theatre] • 03/24 Pomona, CA [Glass House] • 03/25 San Francisco, CA [Independent] • 03/26 Portland, OR [Aladdin Theatre] • 04/11 Phoenix, AZ [Marquee Theater] • 04/15 Las Vegas, NV [The Joint] • 04/19 San Francisco, CA [Fillmore] • 04/21 Portland, OR [Roseland Theatre] • 04/22 Vancouver, BC [Vogue Theatre] • 04/24 Seattle, WA [Moore Theatre] • 04/26 Edmonton, AB [Red's] • 04/27 Calgary, AB [MacEwan Hall] • 04/29 Spokane, WA [The Big Easy] • 04/30 Boise, ID [The Big Easy Concert House] • 05/01 Indio, CA [Coachella] • 05/02 Salt Lake City, UT [Kingsbury Hall] • 05/03 Denver, CO [Paramount Theater] • 05/05 Omaha, NE [Sokol Auditorium] • 05/06 Minneapolis, MN [The Quest] • 05/07 Milwaukee, WI [The Rave] • 05/09 Davenport, IA [The Col Ballroom] • 05/10 Kansas City, MO [Uptown Theatre] • 05/11 Chicago, IL [Riviera Theater]
[FREE MP3]

02.25.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Seattle's own NEVERMORE are currently at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, UK recording their brand new studio album, entitled "This Godless Endeavor," with producer Andy Sneap (Machine Head, Killswitch Engage, Arch Enemy, Testament, Opeth, etc.), who worked previously with the band on their "Dead Heart In A Dead World" release. NEVERMORE vocalist Warrel Dane called in to comment on the band's current activities: "Hello from the snowy hills of Derbyshire. The recording is going amazingly well! We already tracked 3 songs and it's sounding great! Heavy as fucking hell, and we are very, very excited to be working with Andy again!" "This Godless Endeavor", which marks the group's first recording with guitarist Steve Smyth (ex-Testament), is tentatively slated for a worldwide release via Century Media by late Summer, for which NEVERMORE are also recording a cover version of Ozzy Osbourne's 'Revelation (Mother Earth).' In other NEVERMORE news, the group's 2003 album, "Enemies Of Reality," has now been remixed and remastered by Andy Sneap, and will be relaunched with a European street date of March 21st, repackaged with slightly altered cover artwork and additional bonus enhancements in two video clips for the title track 'Enemies Of Reality' and the song 'I, Voyager', as well as a live video of 'Enemies Of Reality' performed at Germany's Wacken Open Air festival in 2004. NEVERMORE are also confirmed to perform some selected shows while being in Europe for their new album's recording session: On Friday, March 18th, the band will play an exclusive one-off show in London at The Underworld with support from Greek labelmates FIREWIND. NEVERMORE are also confirmed for a show in Thessaloniki, Greece, at Ydrogeios Club on March 26th, as well as for appearances at Germany's Bang Your Head Festival and the Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium, which takes place June 24th-26th.
[FREE MP3]

02.24.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Seattle Soul/Rockers MAKTUB will release their brand new album, "Say What You Mean," on April 12th via Velour Recordings. "Say What You Mean" is the follow-up to the band's impressive last album, "Khronos," which catapulted the band onto the national scene. MAKTUB forged a unique new musical road with "Khronos," which garnered reviews comparing vocalist Reggie Watts to the likes of Soul legend Al Green, and the band's sound to everyone from SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE to SOUNDGARDEN to LED ZEPPELIN. On "Say What You Mean," Watts' voice - with its astonishing falsetto and four-octave range - comes across brilliantly, with a versatility that weaves a unique fabric with Rock music. MAKTUB's Soul roots remain intact on the new album, but "Say What You Mean" is, at its core, Rock 'N' Roll. Veteran producer/engineer Bob Power (Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Meshell Ndegeocello, Citizen Cope, Ozomatli) lived with the band in Seattle for three months while producing and recording "Say What You Mean." Tour dates in support of the new album will be announced shortly. As one of the hottest bands to break out of Seattle in more than a decade, MAKTUB walk a high road of expectations. To come out on top in that market, to be voted "Best Band" in the Seattle Weekly over hometown heavies like PEARL JAM, to more than hold their own while sharing the stage with headliners ranging from INDIA.ARIE, SPEARHEAD and BEN HARPER to EARTH, WIND & FIRE and COLDPLAY, MAKTUB have to be that good. More than that, they've got to be different even as they draw from artists like PRINCE, LED ZEPPELIN and SLY STONE - those who also channeled multiple influences into a sound unlike anything previously played in their time. On "Say What You Mean," MAKTUB compress the diversity of their first two releases, "Subtle Ways" and "Khronos," into an exhilarating, high-impact style. Locked into a taut groove behind the vocal skills of Reggie Watts (known... [full story]
[FREE MP3]

02.24.05 (RockAndMetal.com) The following message has been posted by JACOBS DREAM regarding the release of their new album, along with some upcoming gig information: "We are on the verge of releasing our new album 'Drama Of The Ages,' out on Metal Blade Records on May 2nd. The album will debut our new singer Chaz Bond. Aside from Chaz, the band is back to its original members. We have come down a long road, and are excited about the new material. We hope the fans will be just as excited. We are currently trying to get a web site up and running to keep everyone updated. Hopefully this will be together in the next week or two. We are looking forward to touring and playing out as much as we can. March 4th will bring us to the Alrosa Villa in Columbus Ohio, the site where Dimebag Darrell was killed, along with 3 other innocent people and the shooter himself. This concert will be a benefit for the victims of that night. This hit home for us, because a lot of our early days were spent playing here. We are looking forward to this, and hope to see a lot of metalheads come out and lend support for these families. Effort is being made to make this a 2-day event to include Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th, but the 4th is the only sure date so far. Thanks and we hope to see you on the road. Keep it Metal!" Columbus, Ohio's JACOBS DREAM have become renowned contenders on the Metal scene since they originally formed in late 1994 under the name "Iron Angel," after which the band spent a good portion of three years fine tuning their classically fused Power Metal to perfection. JACOBS DREAM have since released an impressive demo in 1998, along with two well-received full-length albums via Metal Blade Records. JACOBS DREAM are often described as a "technical" band, but they don't purposely try to fit into any specific format. The backgrounds and influences of its members are widely varied, which gives the band an unusual collection of styles to throw into the mix.
[FREE MP3]

02.23.05 (RockAndMetal.com) MORRISSEY will release a new live DVD and CD on March 29th, both of which capture different facets of his "You Are the Quarry" tour, which ended in December. The DVD, "Who Put the "M" in Manchester?" (Attack/Sanctuary Visual Entertainment), was filmed on May 22nd, 2004, shortly after the release of "You Are the Quarry" at MORRISSEY's homecoming/birthday show in Manchester, England. The DVD showcases not only the album, but includes both MORRISSEY's solo hits and classic songs by his former band, THE SMITHS. The CD, "Live At Earls Court," captures the end of the "You Are the Quarry" tour, and was recorded over the final 5 sold-out dates in the UK.DVD Track Listing: 1. First Of The Gang To Die • 2. Hairdresser On Fire • 3. Irish Blood, English Heart • 4. The Headmaster Ritual • 5. Everyday Is Like Sunday • 6. I Have Forgiven Jesus • 7. I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday • 8. How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? • 9. Rubber Ring • 10. Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference • 11. Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice • 12. The World Is Full of Crashing Bores • 13. Let Me Kiss You • 14. No One Can Hold a Candle To You • 15. Jack The Ripper • 16. A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours • 17. I'm Not Sorry • 18. Shoplifters Of The World Unite • 19. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out. CD Track Listing: 1. First Of The Gang To Die • 2. November Spawned A Monster • 3. Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice • 4. Big Mouth Strikes Again • 5. I Like You • 6. Redondo Beach • 7. Let Me Kiss You • 8. Munich Air Disaster 1958 • 9. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out • 10. The More You Ignore Me • 11. Friday Mourning • 12. I Have Forgiven Jesus • 13. The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores • 14. Shoplifters Of The World Unite • 15. Irish Blood, English Heart • 16. You Know I Couldn't Last • 17. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
[WATCH]

02.23.05 (RockAndMetal.com) DIECAST are currently destroying Europe alongside AGNOSTIC FRONT, and will return to the U.S. this April for a massive trek with CANDIRIA and DEATH BY STEREO. The group recently shot a video for the song 'Rise And Oppose' with director Kevin Leonard (Himsa, Terror, Walls Of Jericho), which will make it's debut late next month. Meanwhile, DIECAST bassist Jeremy Wooden has checked in with the following tour report; "What's up everyone, just checking in from the road in Europe. Our last trip in the states with Hatebreed, Agnostic Front, Love is Red and The Autumn Offering was amazing. The responses were unbelievable and it was without a doubt the most successful tour we've ever been a part of. Sully and the Hatebreed crew took awesome care of us, and we can't wait to hit the road with them again. We also got to meet our current tourmates Agnostic Front, who are like family to us now. Our trip home from California after Hatebreed was interesting to say the least. The Hoods and Winter Solstice were great tourmates, but the tour definitely had its ups and downs. Salt Lake City was quite an event, as I'm sure you've all seen and heard. On a more positive note, Farmington, New Mexico was the single greatest show we've ever been a part of. The Hoods had me laughing nonstop throughout the tour, and Winter Solstice taught me that even if you wear skin-tight jeans you can still be amazing people. I'm writing you from Bilboa, Spain and the show is about to start and I don't want to miss Death Before Dishonor, so I'm going to wrap this up. We'll be back on tour soon in the U.S. with Candiria and Death by Stereo in April/May; then it's back to Europe in June with Napalm Death and Most Precious Blood. Our new album, 'Tearing Down Your Blue Skies,' is selling better than we ever imagined, and we'd like to thank you all for your support. Without you, we are nothing."
[WATCH]

02.22.05 (AP) Alternative Country/Rockers THE JAYHAWKS have apparently called it a day after 20 years together. Singer Gary Louris has confirmed that the genre pioneers - formed in Minneapolis two decades ago - are no longer an active band. "I don't think we're going to do anything else," Louris told the Star Tribune. "We felt like we've done that enough. Everybody just wants to do something else. We haven't completely closed the door, but ... I'd say it's dead." A sold-out concert in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday reunited Louris with singer Mark Olson, who quit THE JAYHAWKS in 1995. The concert was part of a three-week tour. Since their formation, the band had issued five major-label albums that have sold about 1 million copies in total. Louris recently co-wrote new tunes with THE DIXIE CHICKS, and appears eager to try other career directions, such as record production. "When you're on the treadmill (with a full-time band), you never have time to learn anything else," he said. "I'm enjoying all these new experiences." Led by gifted songwriting, impeccable playing and honeyed harmonies, THE JAYHAWKS' shimmering blend of Country, Folk, and bar band Rock made them one of the most widely acclaimed artists to emerge from the alternative country scene. Drawing on influences like Gram Parsons, Tim Hardin and "Nashville Skyline"-era Bob Dylan, THE JAYHAWKS quickly became a local favorite, honing their sound in Twin Cities clubs before releasing their eponymous debut in 1986. Issued in a pressing of just a few thousand copies, the album was well-received by those who heard it; a major recording deal did not follow, however, so Minneapolis independent label Twin/Tone Records issued a release of demos the group had been stockpiling over the years in 1989, entitled "Blue Earth." THE JAYHAWKS were signed to major label American Records after producer George Drakoulias first heard "Blue Earth" playing in the background during a phone call to Twin/Tone's offices.
[LISTEN]

02.22.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Through the following update on ED GEIN's official website, it's been revealed that the band are working on material for their next album, which will be recorded soon and released via Black Market Activities later this year: "I finally had a chance to update the site. The shows page has been updated with info on our little 5-day mini-tour with The Red Chord that's coming up in March. The merch page is almost done! I know it's been a long, long wait, but it's almost ready. Look for that to be up in the near future. Our tour with Breather Resist back in October/November was a fucking blast! The tour had its ups and downs, but the Breather dudes are good friends, and it was a great time for sure! Thanks a million if you made it out to one of the shows. We were a long way from home for a long time, and it was nice to have some people come out that really care about music. Our tour with All Else Failed right after the tour with Breather Resist was awesome as hell too! Those guys are fucking hilarious and are an amazing band. Two months on the road with two of our favorite bands and friends old and new... it fucking ruled! When we got home from tour we took a couple weeks to relax and recuperate before we started writing again. It's coming along well. We are all pretty pleased with our new material. It's a little different, but not too different. We can't wait to go record! We have a few more songs to write and some vocals to structure, and then we'll be heading into the studio. It's still up in the air as to where we will be recording, but we are thinking that we'll probably end up at More Sound in Syracuse, and we may have a fellow musician (who shall remain secret for the time being) from a killer aggressive metal/grind band that I'm sure you all know and love (who will also remain secret for the time being) come in to engineer it. If it happens it will be killer! More info on that to come..."

02.21.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Sanctuary Visual Entertainment has announced the most significant T. REX event to happen in over twenty-five years. Set for simultaneous release on May 16th are the "Born To Boogie" double-DVD and double-CD collections. Eagerly awaited by Marc Bolan, T. REX and Beatles fans alike, the DVD includes Ringo Starr's legendary 1972 film, "Born to Boogie," the only two full concerts ever recorded with T. REX, plus a wealth of extra material. In the early '70s, "Born To Boogie" was shown at cinemas throughout the UK, and had a limited VHS release in the early '90s. Since then, the film's fate has been the source of much speculation. Featuring Ringo Starr, Marc Bolan and Elton John, with a cameo from Geoffrey Bayldon (Catweazle), only a few well-used 35mm cinema prints of the completed film were thought to have survived. Having lay scattered and undiscovered for over 30 years, "Born To Boogie" finally brings together all the extra material from the filming of the epic 1972 Rock 'N' Roll motion picture. At 5 hours and 25 minutes, "Born To Boogie" reveals Marc Bolan and T. REX at the height of their success, bringing Ringo Starr's visionary film back to its true color and vibrancy, and revealing hours of material never used in the final cut. A stunning sound and vision experience, "Born To Boogie" has been painstakingly restored and remixed from the original 16-track recordings and original color film negative. Cleaned, repaired and transferred to high definition video, the picture is presented in the best possible condition. The original audio recordings have also been remastered by original producer Tony Visconti at his New York studio encoded in Dolby Digital 2.0 and 5.1 Surround Sound, and the new DTS 96/24 format. The DVD also includes exclusive rare, never-before-seen-footage throughout the 2 discs and DVD menus. Almost 2 years in the making, the DVD and CD are a unique opportunity to rediscover the true T. REX sound. Tony Visconti says of the live... [full story]

02.21.05 (RockAndMetal.com) FROM A SECOND STORY WINDOW have embarked on an extensive U.S. tour, first alongside INTO THE MOAT, THE ACACIA STRAIN and THE RED DEATH, which will run through March 16th. The band will then hit the road for another two weeks beginning April 2nd with THE END and CIRCLE TAKES THE SQUARE. Tour Dates: 2/17 Poughkeepsie, NY [The Chance] • 2/18 Binghamton, NY [Club Ra'nelles] • 2/19 Fredericksburg, VA [KC's] • 2/20 Lancaster, PA [American Legion Hall] • 2/21 Norfolk, VA [Michael Bobs] • 2/22 Myrtle Beach, SC [The Limelight] • 2/23 Charlotte, NC [The Milestone] • 2/24 Nashville, TN [Muse] • 2/25 Birmingham, AL [Cave 9] • 2/26 Memphis, TN [Skatepark Of Memphis] • 2/27 Baton Rouge, LA [The Darkroom] • 2/28 San Antonio, TX [Sin 13] • 3/1 El Paso, TX [Surge's] • 3/2 Phoenix, AZ [Phix Gallery] • 3/3 Corona, CA [Showcase Theatre] • 3/4 Lancaster, CA [El Dorado] • 3/5 South Gate, CA [Allen Theatre] • 3/6 West Hollywood, CA [Whisky A Go-Go] • 3/7 Ventura, CA [American Legion Hall] • 3/8 Orangevale, CA [The Boardwalk] • 3/9 Reno, NV [Stoney's] • 3/10 Salt Lake City, UT [The Circuit] • 3/11 Boulder, CO [Club 156] • 3/12 Wichita, KS [The Eagles Lodge] • 3/13 Tulsa, OK [The Pinkeye] • 3/14 Newton, IA [The VFW] • 3/15 Milwaukee, WI [Shorewood Legion Hall] • 3/16 Grand Rapids, MI [Ten Bells] • 4/02 Harrisonburg, PA [Macrock Festival] • 4/03 Montclair, NJ [Bloomfield Ave Cafe] • 4/04 Port Jefferson, NY [Club Vegas] • 4/05 Wilkes-Barre, PA [Cafe Metropolis] • 4/06 West Haven, CT [American Legion Hall] • 4/07 Poughkeepsie, NY [Club Crannel] • 4/08 Wakefield, MA [United Methodist Church] • 4/09 Providence, RI [The Green Room] • 4/10 Syracuse, NY [Wescott Community Center] • 4/12 Toledo, OH [The Underground] • 4/13 Ft. Gratiot, MI [Noruh Grotto] • 4/14 Lansing, MI [Mac's] • 4/15 Arlington Heights, IL [Knights Of Columbus Hall] • 4/16 Milwaukee, WI [Chaos Festival] • 4/17 Indianapolis, IN [Bubba's Bowling Club]
[FREE MP3]

[ Music News: 02.14.05 - 02.20.05 ]
[ Top ]