01.31.06 (RockAndMetal.com) "Songlines," the new studio album from THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND, is now set for a February 21st release via Columbia Records. The album had been previously slated to hit stores February 7th. "Songlines," the band's first new studio album in nearly four years, signals THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND's arrival at a spiritual plateau after a decade long journey of musical discovery. While "Songlines" embraces the group's big-eared love of Rock, Blues, Jazz, Latin and World Music, it is unquestionably their most cohesive album to date. It's the first studio offering to showcase the straight-up band, direct and pure and working-as-one, striking an uncanny balance between the power and mystery of the group's transcendent live performances and the coherent focus of a beautifully conceived and realized studio production. Also the first release to feature the full-throated, impassioned vocals of their newest member, Mike Mattison, "Songlines" features several originals written by THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND with collaborator Jay Joyce - from the Hammond B3 groove of 'I'll Find My Way' to Joyce's anthemic, fiery 'Revolution' and the shimmering Derek Trucks instrumental, 'Mahjoun.' Elsewhere, traditional Blues (a wickedly funky 'Crow Jane' rendered in with a cutting falsetto by Mattison) mingle with the band's stirring, tent revival take on Roland Kirk's classic 'Volunteered Slavery,' and their epic reading of the Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn composition, 'Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Madni' - a song that swells from a delicate tone piece to a whirling dervish and back again. "Songlines" takes its name from an Aboriginal tradition which claims the culture's totemic elders traveled the Australian continent literally singing their world into existence. In turn, the "songlines" they created became a map for finding one's way through life. Derek Trucks has followed his own songlines from a very early age. A professional, touring musician since the age of twelve, Trucks now spends over 300 days a year on the road with THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND and THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND. Now 26 years old, Derek Trucks is the youngest guitarist to place on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time" list last year. As always, THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND are currently out on the road touring, and will be playing these upcoming dates and venues: 02/08 Crystal Bay, NV [Crystal Bay Club & Casino] • 02/09 Santa Cruz, CA [Rio Theatre] • 02/10 San Francisco, CA [The Independent] • 02/10 San Francisco, CA [The Independent] • 02/12 Sacramento, CA [Crest Theatre] • 02/15 Eureka, CA [Indigo Nightclub] • 02/16 Portland, OR [Aladdin Theater] • 02/17 Bellingham, WA [Nightlight Lounge] • 02/18 Seattle, WA [The Show Box Theatre] • 02/19 Eugene, OR [Taboo] • 02/21 San Luis Obispo, CA [Cuesta College Auditorium] • 02/23 West Hollywood, CA [The Roxy Theatre] • 02/24 Solana Beach, CA [Belly Up Tavern] • 02/25 San Juan Capistrano, CA [The Coach House] • 03/30 Savannah, GA [Trustees Theater] • 03/31 Athens, GA [The Georgia Theatre] • 04/08 Washington, DC [9:30 Club]
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01.30.06 (RockAndMetal.com) The debut album from New York City-based JONNY LIVES! will be released by Warner Music Group on May 10th. Lush and dirty, glossy and gritty, JONNY LIVES!' Lower East Side sound blares with an urgency that'll push you out of the way if you don't move with it. Says Jonny Dubowsky, namesake and leader of the band: "The East Village of NYC is our muse. People are up to no good every single night. They pack the bars and pour out into the streets. There's a copious amount of debauchery going on, and it's all inspiration for our music." Hailing from the same scene that championed THE STROKES, THE MOONEY SUZUKI, FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE and the YEAH YEAH YEAHS, JONNY LIVES! take cues from the Brit Pop, R&B and LES Punk scenes of the 60's and 70's, updating it with unbridled, anthemic Rock. "We're enchanted with The Kinks, the Stones, and The Who," says Dubowsky, who writes "little vignettes ... I paint a situation out of thin air, play around with the characters, and tell whatever story I want to tell." Dubowsky, who attended NYU as a philosophy major, has been "inspired by great writers: Walt Whitman, Marcel Proust ... I read a lot," he chuckles. His own writing often produces "three or four a day" and always comes from whatever's going on... "'Get Steady' came about after we'd just gotten back from a crazy time playing the UK. I started working out a riff that suddenly turned into this sleazy, psychedelic groove. It felt dirty to even play it - the song reeks of sex and booze." 'Everybody's Trying To Break You Down,' on the other hand, was inspired by Yoko Ono's exhibition of interactive performance art at Carnegie Hall. "She stood on stage wearing nothing but a burlap sack, and everyone in the audience came up and cut off a piece of the sack, bit by bit, until she was naked. The song is about a female bartender who hates where she is in her life, who feels like everybody is picking her apart, taking pieces of her. It's from the perspective of a guy who is in awe of her and doesn't understand why she's letting people treat her that way." 'Cliche,' featuring some guest-star guitar cameos, is a night in the life of a New York Summer... "It's fucking hot, sticky, muggy ... and people are out for cheap one-night stands at that point. The whole sweaty sentiment summed up in the likes of: 'It's a cliche/Everything I say/And all the games that we play/Every single day/You know you wanna.'" With an impressive fan base for their live shows in the UK, a hand-full of impressive performance write-ups, and some very catchy songs, JONNY LIVES! are currently haunting the East Village - gigging, drinking, writing, and...living. "There's a lot going on, and it mostly happens at 3am when everyone else is asleep. But not us. We're out every night writing about life as it happens."
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01.27.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Proud Galleries has announced confirmed locations and dates for the 2006 exhibition tour of a unique photographic show that faithfully captures former BEATLES member PAUL McCARTNEY's life on the road. Based upon the book "Each One Believing: Onstage, Off Stage And Backstage," published by Chronicle Books, the show is comprised of over 40 pictures taken by photographer Bill Bernstein over the course of the most successful tour of McCartney's post-BEATLES career. The tour is set to visit cities across the United States throughout 2006, beginning with the March 4th opening of "Paul McCartney's Each One Believing: The Tour," at San Diego's Morrison Gallery. Each exhibit is slated to run from three weeks to two months in order to give fans the opportunity to view the show first-hand. Other locations include San Francisco's San Francisco Art Exchange (April/May), Photographic Image in Portland, Oregon (June 1st-June 25th), Seattle's Benham Gallery (July), Stephen Cohen Gallery in Los Angeles (August), Denver's Walnut Street Gallery (September 7th-November 2nd), and Inspire Fine Art in Chicago (November 17th-December 31st). The original exhibition opened to both public and critical acclaim last Fall at Proud Galleries in London. "Each One Believing: The Tour" illustrates PAUL McCARTNEY's first solo tour in nearly a decade, and includes images taken onstage and backstage during a journey which saw sold-out concert performances in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Rome, Moscow and more. Poignant and candid, funny and illuminating, the tour is a road trip with PAUL McCARTNEY like no other. Bernstein's lens captures the excitement evoked by the grand lighting of stage sets; the heightened energy of the band in mid-song; and the intimate shots of McCartney alone playing at his "Magic Piano" or onstage with his beloved Hofner bass guitar. "The response that 'Each One Believing' has received has been overwhelming," says McCartney. "Everywhere we go, people tell us how much they enjoy the unique balance between the engaging photographs and first-hand written accounts and events from the tour. It seemed a natural when we were approached to put the exhibit on the road and so we did." Photographer Bill Bernstein had unprecedented on-stage, off-stage, and backstage access, providing dynamic images both of PAUL McCARTNEY's public appearances and the quiet one-on-one moments. Exhibition and sale prints will be signed by both McCartney and Bernstein. "Each One Believing: Onstage, Off Stage And Backstage" exclusive prints are currently available for purchase in the PAUL McCARTNEY online shop at www.paulmccartney.com.
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01.27.06 (RockAndMetal.com) THE GREAT KAT has announced the first Shred/Classical music ever heard in a Hollywood movie soundtrack, with the female crossover Metal guitar virtuoso (voted one of "Top 10 Fastest Shredders Of All Time" by Guitar One Magazine) performing Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody #2" in Jason Bunch's new comedy film "Coming Attractions," which will be out in movie theaters in the Spring. The track, taken from THE GREAT KAT's recently released "Wagner's War" album, is heard during the movie's "Halftime Show" sequence with wrestling star "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, "Seinfeld" actor James Hong, during a cartoon with the voice of Jackie "The Jokeman" Martling from "The Howard Stern Show," and also during the movie's trailer. Produced, written and directed by comedy writer Jason Bunch, "Coming Attractions" stars outrageous basketball legend Dennis Rodman, "The Karate Kid"'s Pat Morita (in his last movie appearance), "Police Academy"'s Michael Winslow, and model Angie Everhart. Filmed as a fast-moving sketch comedy in the style of "Kentucky Fried Movie" and "Saturday Night Live," the film features college humor, gross-out skits, and movie and commercial parodies, and is punctuated by energetic music. THE GREAT KAT was born Katherine Thomas in Swindon, England, who moved to the U.S. at the age of three. After listening to Beethoven since birth, Thomas realized that her mission was to become a composer and musical revolutionary. THE GREAT KAT began Classical piano studies at the age of seven, and Classical violin studies at the age of nine in New York. At 15 years old, she was accepted to the prestigious Juilliard School Of Music in New York City as a scholarship student on violin. THE GREAT KAT has performed as a Classical violin soloist at Carnegie Recital Hall as winner of the Artists International Competition. She has also toured as a violin soloist in Mexico, the U.S. and Europe. However, after realizing that Classical music was releatively "dead," THE GREAT KAT discovered Metal music, and began weaving Classical music with Speed Metal. For instance, she began transcribing intricate violin solos to the guitar, thereby creating the unique crossover genre of "Shred/Classical" ("She can zoom up and down a fretboard faster than a hungry cheetah on steroids. Her fretboard speed is awesome," states Guitar Player editor Michael Molenda). THE GREAT KAT is currently the only musician taking authentic Classical music scores (Vivaldi, Beethoven, Bach, Wagner, Liszt, Rossini) and reorchestrating them with shred guitar virtuosity. Her music is known for its phenomenal speeds, complicated Classical motives, counterpoint layering, guitar riffs, maniacal screams, heavy rhythms and thrashing sounds. Quite simply, THE GREAT KAT is on a mission to bring Shred/Classical music to the entire world through the use of MIDI and live instruments, computer technology, and the Internet via her website at www.greatkat.com.
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01.26.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Drive-Thru Records recording artists ALLISTER are hitting the road for a 29-date tour with MEST and SCARY KIDS SCARING KIDS. The tour debuts January 31st in Grand Rapids, Michigan and ends in ALLISTER's hometown of Chicago, Illinois on March 8th. The band recently released their third full-length album, "Before The Blackout," this past Fall. And maybe more than anything, the disc is a defiant declaration from a veteran batch of road warriors who refuse to conform to trends and remain dedicated to touring endlessly and writing songs that remind them of the great Rock they grew up on, be it THE RAMONES, SCREECHING WEASEL or GREEN DAY. To achieve such an impacting sound on "Before The Blackout," ALLISTER shuffled their formula a little, adding elements of Power Pop and Album Rock into their Punk/Pop foundation. "So many bands right now sound the same," says ALLISTER vocalist/guitarist Tim Rogner. "We grew up on pop/punk, and that's what we love to write, but we also want to do something different, so we tried to incorporate more straight-up rock 'n' roll stuff like Foo Fighters and Marvelous 3, because I think a lot of that is missing from this kind of music." ALLISTER are known for their demonstrable commitment to the DIY ethics of Punk by fellow musicians and fans alike. "Before The Blackout" incorporates sing-along melodies, break-neck chord changes, and witty and sentimental lyrics - all elements that have cemented ALLISTER as a standout act on the modern music scene. 'A Study In Economics' is quintessential ALLISTER, while tracks like the heavier 'Blackout' and the edgier 'Waiting' demonstrate the band's growth both musically and personally. Their sophomore album, "Last Stop Suburbia," has sold over 80,000 copies to date. ALLISTER are a quartet comprised of Rogner (guitar, vocals), Kyle Lewis (guitar), Scott Murphy (bass, vocals) and Mike Leveranz (drums). Tour Dates: 01/31 Grand Rapids, MI [The Intersection] • 02/01 Pontiac, MI [Clutch Cargo's] • 02/02 Pittsburgh, PA [Club Zoo] • 02/03 Buffalo, NY [Showplace Theatre] • 02/04 Cohoes, NY [Saratoga Winners] • 02/06 State College, PA [Crowbar] • 02/07 Sayreville, NJ [Starland Ballroom] • 02/08 Philadelphia, PA [Theatre Of Living Arts] • 02/09 Towson, MD [The Recher Theatre] • 02/10 Hartford, CT [Webster Theatre] • 02/11 Allentown, PA [Crocodile Rock] • 02/12 Cleveland, OH [The Odeon] • 02/14 Cincinnati, OH [Bogart's] • 02/16 Sauget, IL [Pop's] • 02/17 Lawrence, KS [The Granada Theatre] • 02/18 Denver, CO [Bluebird Theatre] • 02/20 Salt Lake City, UT [In The Venue] • 02/21 Las Vegas, NV [House Of Blues] • 02/22 Tempe, AZ [The Clubhouse] • 02/23 Tucson, AZ [Skrappys] • 02/24 San Diego, CA [Soma] • 02/25 Anaheim, CA [House Of Blues] • 02/26 San Francisco, CA [Slim's] • 02/28 Orangevale, CA [The Boardwalk] • 03/01 Portland, OR [Hawthrone Theatre] • 03/02 Seattle, WA [El Corazon] • 03/06 Minneapolis, MN [Fine Line Music Cafe] • 03/07 Milwaukee, WI [The Eagles Club] • 03/08 Chicago, IL [House Of Blues]
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01.26.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Nuclear Blast Records has announced the signing of veteran band VOIVOD to a recording deal that covers the European territories. A legendary Metal monster carrying on the tradition of moving the genre forward into new dimensions, the Canadian band remains to be one of the most innovative around, as many of their releases where well ahead of their time. VOIVOD are currently in the middle of recording a new 13-track album (still untitled) in Montreal, Quebec with producer Glen Robertson (Tea Party), which is expected to be released in the next several months. VOIVOD began by cranking out VENOM, MOTORHEAD, TANK and JUDAS PRIEST covers in 1982, however it didn't take long for their muse to take hold, as original songs like 'Condemned To The Gallows,' 'Voivod,' 'Warriors Of Ice' and 'Blower' came to life shortly thereafter. By 1984, the quartet of Snake (Denis Belanger, vocals), Piggy (Denis D'Amour, guitar), original bassist Blacky (Jean-Yves Theriault) and Away (Michel Langevin) were offered an appearance on Metal Blade's "Metal Massacre" compilation series. Their first album, "War And Pain," followed. It brought the band to global notoriety thanks to its frightening amalgam of ugly noise and youthful spontaneity. Capitalizing on the debut's most chaotic aspects, 1986's "Rrrooaaarrr" offered diseased clusters of thrashing, headache-inducing songs. The band's unique vision came crashing headlong into 1987 with their first truly Progressive album, "Killing Technology." Boasting a spacier, yet no less teeth-rattling adventure, the album remains a high point in the band's discography. "Killing Technology"'s Technical Noise Metal epics like 'Forgotten In Space' and 'Overreaction' merely hinted at what was to come on 1988's "Dimension: Hatross," which remains one of the most innovative albums in the modern Metal genre. Its ebb and flow is clearly the work of songwriting prodigies answering their true call. No surprise, then, when 1989's "Nothingface" capitalized on the lab-borne Science Metal of "Hatross" while injecting a heightened sense of accessibility. A landmark tour with SOUNDGARDEN and FAITH NO MORE brought VOIVOD roaring into the '90s. The band's cosmic drama played out in the new decade with two albums that, while not unanimously acclaimed upon release, have become legendary among their fan base. "Angel Rat" (1991) and "The Outer Limits" (1993) are both textbook definitions of the phrase "ahead of it's time." People who didn't understand them then have been heard singing their praises in recent years. With Blacky out after "Angel Rat" and Snake exiting after "The Outer Limits," VOIVOD unleashed a ferocious album in 1995's "Negatron." With vocalist/bassist Eric Forrest, the trio continued the hard-hitting Space Metal vibe while easing the pace and offering huge slabs of hypnotic sound on "Phobos" (1997). Following that, a bits-and-pieces release ("Kronik," 1999) and a live album ("Voivod Lives," 2000) were deemed necessary in marking that era of the band's development. In 2003, Snake would return for the release of the self-titled "Voivod" in 2003, with former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted (dubbed "Jasonic") manning the bass, being added to the fold the previous year. Sadly, Piggy passed away on August 26th, 2005 from complications due to advanced colon cancer. He was just 45 years old.
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01.25.06 (Temple News/RockAndMetal.com) SEVENDUST have gone through some rough times both financially and musically in recent years, according to drummer Morgan Rose. So they considered it a relief when finally completing their latest album, "Next," which has since been picked up by Roadrunner Records in various territories. "I'm pretty amazed we actually pulled it off," Rose says. "I mean, since we had no label, no funding and had been ripped off so bad for so long, we had to go to the bank and literally put our houses on the line with children at home and make that gamble. "I remember," he added, "signing my name on the first form for $100,000 and saying 'Man I am responsible for a chunk of this money, and I don't have it, so I hope someone likes this record.'" The band also went through a difficult time when long-time band member Clint Lowery left to join DARK NEW DAY. His departure left SEVENDUST with a big hole to fill. However, the band didn't let it slow them down and they quickly moved on and created the music they wanted. "Clint is a great songwriter, and he added an element to our band without a doubt, but we were a band before he was in it," Rose says. "We knew that we could easily put a record together, so that wasn't the issue. The issue was how much material we would be able to write and how much would we have to choose from." Lowery's departure may have helped the band in the end, Rose said. "He (Lowery) tended to be kind of a stickler and would over-analyze a lot, so now we were able to let the songs breathe a little bit," he said. The band quickly replaced Lowery with long-time friend Sonny Mayo, and the band hasn't looked back since. "He's the easiest guy in the world to deal with, so that makes it real simple," Rose says. "We have known him since our first record, so we were able to build camaraderie." SEVENDUST has successfully battled through these hard times, and are now back on tour doing what they love. A new trek kicked off on January 18th, with WICKED WISDOM -- a band fronted by Will Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith -- opening for SEVENDUST. WICKED WISDOM have only been around for a short time, but the group's already come relatively far, playing on the second stage of Ozzfest last Summer. While it is strange to associate the wife of a Hip-Hop artist with Heavy Metal, SEVENDUST vouch for the group's talent and authenticity nonetheless. "She's a great girl and takes her stuff real serious," Rose says. "I'm pretty impressed with the fact that she is able to have a family, have an acting career, and be able to put a band together, and write songs and tour. She has a chip on her shoulder with some of these lyrics, so it's not like some innocent little thing - she really has something to say." Meanwhile, it's been a long career for SEVENDUST ever since their arrival in 1997. They never saw consistent mainstream coverage from the likes of MTV, and even to this day they've continued to remain relatively underground. The one thing that keeps them going are those loyal fans who come to each of their shows. This tour is not just more of the same, but the best they have ever had, Rose says: "(This tour is) better than any we have ever had. I don't understand why people keep coming out like this. I mean, the loyalty is just outrageous," he said. "We are not getting any MTV at all, and these kids keep coming out." Rose said that the group's show is sure to satisfy any fan. "We're actually playing stuff off the first record, and stuff that came off the other records that we haven't played in years. It's a pretty cool stage setup and it's something we have never done," he said. "The rest is going to have to be a surprise."
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01.25.06 (RockAndMetal.com) LACUNA COIL will embark on a massive six-week North American tour this March as direct support to Rob Zombie. The trek, which kicks off in mid-month and runs through early May, will be the group's first stateside run in support of their highly anticipated new album, "Karmacode," which is set for an April 4th release via Century Media. It will also be the first time the band has played in the U.S. since their successful 2004 Ozzfest run. LACUNA COIL vocalist Cristina Scabbia describes her excitement over the upcoming tour: "Well, I can't even count the times I said 'Wow, we're so excited about this upcoming tour!' I mean we all know how much Rob influenced the scene, and how great his live shows are. We definitely can't wait to share the stage with him and his band. I'm sure it'll be a great experience. It'll be the perfect occasion for us to present the new songs from 'Karmacode' to the fans. This new album is killer, and you won't believe your ears. You guys never let us down, and we can't wait to see you all again. It's been a long time, and Lacuna Coil are more than ready to come back!" Cristina Scabbia also graces the cover of this month's Revolver magazine's "Hottest Women In Metal" issue and the inaugural issue of Virus magazine, while Alternative Press names "Karmacode" as "One of the most anticipated releases of 2006." The album's lead track, 'Our Truth,' received its worldwide debut on the "Underworld: Evolution" soundtrack. A video for the song was shot in Los Angeles by directorial duo Fort Awesome (Queens Of The Stone Age, Linkin Park, Disturbed, Chevelle, etc.) Look for the video to make its debut in mid-March. LACUNA COIL initially left their mark on the scene in 2004 with their album "Comalies," which opened several opportunities for them that were previously thought unattainable for an Italian band, such as two highly successful commercial radio campaigns alongside a breakthrough Ozzfest appearance resulting in over 500,000 copies sold worldwide, with a quarter of a million sold in the U.S. alone. Tour Dates: 03/17 Jacksonville, FL [Plush] • 03/18 Miami, FL [Global Gathering] • 03/19 Orlando, FL [House Of Blues] • 03/22 Atlanta, GA [The Tabernacle] • 03/24 Myrtle Beach, SC [House Of Blues] • 03/25 Norfolk, VA [Norva Theater] • 03/26 Washington, DC [9:30 Club] • 03/28 New York, NY [Nokia Theater] • 03/29 New York, NY [Nokia Theater] • 03/30 Philadelphia, PA [Electric Factory] • 04/01 Worcester, MA [The Palladium] • 04/03 Montreal, QC [Metropolis] • 04/04 Toronto, ON [Kool Haus] • 04/06 Columbus, OH [Promo West Pavilion] • 04/07 Detroit, MI [State Theatre] • 04/08 Chicago, IL [Riviera Theater] • 04/09 Indianapolis, IN [Egyptian Room] • 04/11 Milwaukee, WI [Eagles Ballroom] • 04/13 Des Moines, IA [Val Air Ballroom] • 04/14 Minneapolis, MN [Myth] • 04/15 Kansas City, MO [Memorial Hall] • 04/17 Denver, CO [The Fillmore] • 04/18 Salt Lake City, UT [Great Salt Air] • 04/20 San Francisco, CA [The Warfield] • 04/21 San Diego, CA [Soma] • 04/22 Las Vegas, NV [House Of Blues] • 04/24 Los Angeles, CA [The Wiltern] • 04/25 Los Angeles, CA [The Wiltern] • 04/27 Mesa, AZ [Mesa Amphitheatre]
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01.24.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Kill Rock Stars recording artists THE GOSSIP have revealed another winner in the new "Standing In The Way Of Control," released today. With THE GOSSIP, the first thing that strikes you is the rhythm. The band have been making punks dance since they debuted 5 years ago, before what is dubbed as today's version of Dance Punk existed. Soulful and jagged, you can hear everything from Dischord to Motown stylings in guitarist Brace Paine's playing. Now, with the addition of new drummer Hannah Blilie (Shoplifting, ex-Chromatics), they have a new thundering beat for the kids to dance to on the corners and in the clubs. However, the strongest thing that smacks you about THE GOSSIP is vocalist Beth Ditto's killer pipes. With all the guttural Blues and Soul of the South, her voice resonates with a confident howl that has quickly shot the band into league with other notable Punk/Garage bands of today. "Standing In The Way Of Control," their third album, was recorded by Guy Picciotto (Fugazi) at Seattle's Bear Creek Studios. From heartbreakers like 'Coal To Diamonds' to the anthemic title track (released in October as a single with a LE TIGRE remix), THE GOSSIP are unafraid to put it all out there and take their audience to new places. "Standing In The Way Of Control" is quite simply the sound of a band destroying and surpassing all expectations placed on them. Don't miss THE GOSSIP out on tour in support of the new album starting tonight. Tour Dates: 01/24 Portland, OR [Jackpot Records] • 01/25 Portland, OR [Wonder Ballroom] • 01/27 San Francisco, CA [Bottom Of The Hill] • 01/28 Los Angeles, CA [Echo] • 01/29 San Diego, CA [Casbah] • 01/30 Pomona, CA [Glass House] • 02/01 Eugene, OR [WOW Hall] • 02/02 Seattle, WA [Chop Suey] • 02/03 Tacoma, WA [UPS Wheelock Student Center] • 02/04 Olympia, WA [Capitol Theater Backstage] • 02/09 London, UK [Buffalo Bar] • 02/11 London, UK [Cargo] • 02/25 Melbourne, Australia [Spanish Club] • 02/27 Perth, Australia [The Rosemount] • 03/01 Adelaide, Australia [Jive] • 03/02 Brisbane, Australia [The Zoo] • 03/03 Sydney, Australia [Gaelic Club] • 03/05 Sydney, Australia [Laneway Festival] • 03/12 Salt Lake City, UT [Urban Lounge] • 03/13 Denver, CO [Larimer Lounge] • 03/16 Austin, TX [KRS SXSW Showcase] • 03/21 Atlanta, GA [Drunken Unicorn] • 03/22 Greensboro, NC [TBA] • 03/23 Washington DC [Black Cat] • 03/24 Philadelphia, PA [First Unitarian Church] • 03/25 New York, NY [Knitting Factory] • 03/26 Cambridge, MA [Middle East] • 03/27 Northampton, MA [Iron Horse] • 03/28 Montreal, QUE [La Sala Rossa] • 03/29 Toronto, ONT [X Space] • 03/30 Chicago, IL [Abbey Pub] • 03/31 Milwaukee, WI [TBA] • 04/01 Minneapolis, MN [Triple Rock] • 04/02 Fargo, ND [Aquarium] • 04/05 Seattle, WA [Neumos]
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01.24.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Bolstered and inspired by the support and devotion of their worldwide fan base, the MANOWAR have heard the call to arms and are now ready to return to the fray with their brand new single, 'The Sons Of Odin,' on February 27th. The 10-minute epic, crafted in classic Heavy Metal style, sets the perfect tone for the impending release of the band's still untitled full-length album, scheduled for an April 3rd release on the band's own label, Magic Circle Music. 'The Sons Of Odin' features MANOWAR's patented, lion-hearted Metal riffs mixed with arena Rock stomping grooves and orchestral arrangements. The single will also feature a remixed and re-recorded version of last Summer's first single, 'King Of Kings,' another fast and furious outing originally released only as a bonus on the band's latest DVD, "Hell On Earth IV." "We have the greatest fans in the world," attests MANOWAR drummer Scott Columbus. "For a long time, our fans have stood by us. They've given everything to the belief that together we are the defenders of the heavy metal faith. That's why we've been able to keep playing our brand of music. That's why we haven't wimped out or bowed to commercialism. Our fans are at the core of everything we do. That's the way it's been done from the beginning." MANOWAR live shows have also garnered a reputation for the band's "all-out" attitude. "The whole purpose of playing live is to blow people's heads off," says bassist and founding member Joey DeMaio. "That's what we do; that's the energy of this band. We're out there to kick ass. We're out there to turn our gear on and blast. We're out there to kill. That's what metal is. Anybody who says otherwise is not playing heavy metal!" MANOWAR have sold over 8 million records to date. Their most recent album, "Warriors Of The World," went gold almost immediately after it's release, topping the Metal charts around the world. The 2005 festival season marked some of MANOWAR's most notable appearances to date, with the Metal warriors headlining Europe's biggest festivals - including a three-hour-long concert at the Earthshaker Fest in Geiselwind, Germany. The band's performance included a 200-piece choir and orchestra and special guest appearances by all former MANOWAR members. Encouraged by the rabid fan reaction, it seems clear that the band's upcoming album will feature a well-balanced combination of die-hard Metal headshakers as well as monumental ballads in the vein of songs like 'Heart Of Steel' and 'Courage.' Meanwhile, MANOWAR will continue their "Demons, Dragons And Warriors World Tour" in Europe beginning in late March, featuring Italian Epic Metallers RHAPSODY as special guests, while introducing the newest female-fronted superstar group, HOLYHELL, to the world. Tour Dates: 03/25 Athens, Greece [Stadium Peace & Friendship] • 03/27 Winterthur, Switzerland [Eulachhalle] • 03/30 Zlin, Czech Republic [Novesta] • 03/31 Ostrava, Czech Republic [Poruba] • 04/01 Plzen, Czech Republic [Hala Lokomotiva] • 04/02 Pardubice, Czech Republic [Duhova Arena] • 04/04 Frankfurt, Germany [Festhalle] • 04/06 Munich, Germany [Olympiahalle] • 04/07 Stuttgart, Germany [Schleyerhalle] • 04/08 Nuremberg, Germany [Arena] • 04/10 Berlin, Germany [Max Schmeling Halle] • 04/11 Dortmund, Germany [Westfalenhalle]
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01.23.06 (RockAndMetal.com) The following message was sent out recently to LINKIN PARK fans by drummer Rob Bourdon: What's up, Linkin Park fans? I know it's been a long time since we've had a chance to see you guys face-to-face. I miss playing shows, and look forward to seeing all of you in mid-late '06. We have been writing new songs for the next LP album for the last three months or so. We have been working in pairs out of our home studios and trading ideas with each other every few weeks. Now that we have a bunch of material, we are going to head into a pre-production studio where we will all be working together. We have three separate rooms to work out of at the studio, which is really cool because we can still work individually if we need to. I personally like taking song ideas and working on the drums for a while on my own before letting the other guys hear what I have come up with. Songs can be passed around from room to room so each of us can add in our part. Since we are all there together, we can help each other to develop each of our parts and create the best songs possible. It is the ultimate creative environment for how we write music, since we write by recording into a computer, not by jamming together. We currently have around 50 rough ideas for songs, which will be narrowed down to about 15 when we enter the recording studio. We are very excited about the work we have done so far, and are working hard to get it done so you guys can hear it. As I'm sure you already know, Mike (Shinoda) is doing his own solo project, Fort Minor. It's different than Linkin Park's music as it is a hip-hop album. Called 'The Rising Tied,' it is an incredible album. I think it's one of the best of the year, and I'm not just saying that because Mike is my friend. Mike's been incredibly busy because not only has he been promoting his Fort Minor album and writing with us for the upcoming LP album, but he's about to go out on the road for a North American tour, as well as international touring in Taiwan and Thailand (with 50 Cent) and headlining shows in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Our own Machine Shop Recordings artist Holly Brook, who sings on the Fort Minor track 'Where'd You Go,' will be joining him to perform that song live on the road for all the U.S./Canada dates. Not only will the Fort Minor Militia fan club get chances to meet them out on tour at meet-and-greets, we're also inviting the LPU members of Linkin Park's fan club to participate in meet-and-greets and pre-sales for all the shows. Fort Minor Tour Dates: 01/28 St Paul, MN [Station 4] • 01/29 Chicago, IL [House Of Blues] • 01/31 Detroit, MI [St. Andrew's Hall] • 02/01 Toronto, ON [Phoenix Concert Theater] • 02/03 Boston, MA [Avalon Ballroom] • 02/04 Providence, RI [Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel] • 02/06 New York, NY [Nokia Theatre - Times Square] • 02/09 Atlanta, GA [Roxy Theatre] • 02/10 Washington, DC [Nation] • 02/21 San Francisco, CA [The Fillmore] • 02/24 Taipei, Taiwan, China [Taipei Soccer Stadium] • 02/26 Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Thailand [Aktive Square] • 02/28 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [Bukit Kiara Indoor Venue] • 03/01 Singapore, Singapore [Singapore Indoor Stadium] • 03/03 Brisbane, QLD, Australia [The Arena, Fortitude Valley] • 03/04 Newtown, Sydney, NSW [Australia Enmore Theatre] • 03/05 Melbourne, VIC, Australia [The Palace, St. Kilda] • 03/07 Auckland, New Zealand [The St. James Theatre]

01.23.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Candlelight Records has announced the worldwide signing of East Coast-based STARKWEATHER. The band's new album, entitled "Croatoan," was produced by Pierre Remillard (Cryptopsy), and features artwork by renowned artist Paul Romano (Mastodon, Earth, Godflesh). "Croatoan" is scheduled for a May 2nd American release. Long regarded as one of the first bands to blend Metal and Hardcore, STARKWEATHER are still an untapped band for the masses. They have been cited as a common influence on many of today's top-selling bands and remain one of the most passionate and intense groups of the genre on stage. STARKWEATHER formed in 1989 with Todd Forkin on guitar, Michelle Eddison on bass, Harry Rosa on drums and Rennie Resmini on vocals. They released an early gem in "Crossbearer" in 1993, and it's an underground neo-classic that many of today's Metal darlings have taken influence and inspiration from. "Crossbearer" was truly ahead of its time, and while many have heard of it but even fewer have actually heard it, it's an album that doesn't sound like anything else and is inimitable. Now emerging from a lengthy hibernating period -- their last full-length recording, "Into The Wire," came out in 1995 -- STARKWEATHER have since released only a split seven inch with SEASON TO RISK in 1996, and contributed a track to the "Definitely Not The Majors" compilation collection in 1997. Ultimately, and somewhat abruptly, the band disappeared off the radar. But in reality, they were flying under it. They even played shows, however sporadically, including a Hellfest appearance. STARKWEATHER have endured through periods of dormancy, but they never really broke up, so actually, "Croatoan" is not necessarily a "comeback." However, the band have officially "reawakened" on the new offering, featuring the core lineup of Resmini, Forkin, and Rosa, with contributions by Liam Wilson on bass and Jim Winters on guitar, plus additional percussion provided by Tim Simmons. While it is their first release in a decade, "Croatoan" is fresh-yet-vicious, kind of like a grizzly on its first hunt for food after awaking from a long hibernation period. The songs are lengthy and complexly constructed, but every time you return to the album, you unearth a new sound, a riff, a scream or a word that you didn't quite catch the first time around. An untamed beast of an album that'll draw fans of "legendary" bands like MORBID ANGEL and VOIVOD, "Croatoan" will nonetheless also attract fans of slow, sludgy bands like CROWBAR and NEUROSIS, while enticing fans of current darlings like KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SHADOWS FALL or THE RED CHORD into its lair. STARKWEATHER toured Europe for the first time in mid-2005, visiting the Netherlands, Germany, England, France and other countries, which the band plan to revisit again during 2006. American dates are also expected, with details to be announced separately soon.
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01.20.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Brando/Universal recording artists BLUE OCTOBER are set to release "Foiled," their first studio effort since "History For Sale," on March 14th. Formed in Houston, Texas in the late '90s by vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Justin Furstenfeld, his brother, drummer Jeremy, and devil-horned, multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye, the group's epic live shows and exploration of subjects like mental depression, drug use, love, betrayal, forgiveness and cathartic transcendence have helped them amass a strong, loyal following through four albums. 2003's "History For Sale," which was initially released independently by the band, sold more than 17,000 copies before being picked up by Universal. And when the song 'Calling You,' which was also included on the "American Wedding" movie soundtrack, began picking up airplay in cities like Dallas and other markets, BLUE OCTOBER was resigned to Universal. A double-live CD/DVD, "Argue With A Tree," which captured the amazingly symbiotic live relationship between the band and its fans, came out last February. That BLUE OCTOBER haven't followed the ordinary path to success is clear on the first single from "Foiled," 'Hate Me,' a song that recalls such aching Rock anthems as JOY DIVISION's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' or JANE'S ADDICTION's 'Jane Says' for frontman Justin Furstenfeld's unflinching look at his own illness, which caused him to be committed to a mental hospital back on a fateful "blue October" day back in 1997. "It's a song about a relationship gone badly," he explains calmly. "It's about being a selfish little prick in a rock band, and just being demolished by that realization." "I have to block out thoughts of you/So I don't lose my head/They crawl in like a cockroach/Leaving babies in my bed," he sings, the images underlined by the matter-of-fact sing-song way in which they're delivered. "It's like, let me just kind of clue you in on what it feels like in my own brain," he offers. That brand of intensity is welded to wide screen sound that evokes an array of eclectic influences such as fellow Texas Psychedelic bands TRIPPING DAISY and 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, as well as rockers such as Peter Gabriel, PINK FLOYD, FLAMING LIPS, U2 and COLDPLAY - attracting a hardcore group of fans who not only relate to, but ardently sing along with BLUE OCTOBER's songs. 'Into The Ocean,' with Delahoussaye's seductive violin siren call and plucked mandolin, openly contemplates a death wish with so much honesty, fans write to the band, claiming tracks like this have prevented their own suicidal impulses. "If I have saved other people, I don't know what to say," admits Furstenfeld. "But if I can do that for them, why the fuck can't I do that for myself?" It's a reasonable question to ask for Furstenfeld, whose first musical memory as a child was hearing fellow Texan Roy Orbison's plaintive 'Crying.' That led to an interest in other melancholy groups like THE SMITHS, THE CURE, RED HOUSE PAINTERS and IDAHO. Having been in therapy since he was 14, Justin Furstenfeld turned to music to get away from his problems. Songs like 'What If We Could,' about regret for a failed relationship, the apocalyptic 'Sound Of Pulling Heaven Down' and 'Let It Go,' with its mournful Neil Young-like harmonica line halfway through, deal with that self-doubt in no uncertain terms, as Furstenfeld asks in the latter: "Why do I feel this way?/Why do I kneel?/How could I let it go?/Why do I feel?" ""I don't remember writing these songs," he says. "They just come out when it's getting too much for me. It's like getting closure..." [full story]
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01.19.06 (RockAndMetal.com) The debut album from CAVALIER KING, "The Sun Revolutions," will be released on February 7th. It has been said that everyone is a hero at birth. But in most, no sooner is the cord cut than this noble endowment goes the way of the human tail. Not so for CAVALIER KING, the superhero-like alter ego of painter/musician Chris Taylor. The music hypnotic, poetic and defiant, "The Sun Revolutions" tells of an awakening in a fearful and ever-darkening world dominated by wrenching loss and worse, crushing tedium. The songs on the album are not merely stories, but epic expressions of chivalry, valor and the search for truth. CAVALIER KING's very first words, "So it came out one day that I don't pray to virgin mothers," leave no room for doubt. The song 'Renegade' is Taylor's unequivocal repudiation of the conventional, the superstitious, and the supernatural ideologies that pervade the populace. Then, in 'Sun Revolution,' the listener is taken into epic battle against the nefarious "Shadows Of Industry," for only in the context of combat, facing imminent death, will we gain awareness of the Eternal. He sings: "two warm bodies lie terrified under the manhole cover ill, writing the new constitution fighting the Sun Revolution....But today we will reign, forever." Unfortunately, however, CAVALIER KING's cause dissolves into an insatiable fever wherein he confuses the unwitting masses for the enemy. n the self-titled song, 'Cavalier King,' you witness the destruction of the known world at the hand of the once valiant and noble knight who -- like Alexander The Great -- has become the undisputed King. But as he stands triumphant at the end of his last battle, he realizes he is merely a king of corpses, for the vast carnage leaves him devastated, disillusioned and paralyzed by his own weakness for revenge. Over the years, Chris Taylor had been a nomad of sorts. He was raised in Northampton, Massachusetts, but as soon as he could, he left and began trekking from city to city, taking a variety of jobs. When Taylor wasn't studying, painting or working with flowers, he was writing songs. His lyrics were peppered with tales of vindication for outlaws, victims of society and underdogs "severely underestimated," as Taylor described them. He's nothing if not strong-willed, opinionated and dramatic. Yet at the same time, he's mesmerizing and so innately artistic that his persona is larger than life -- you can't help but become sucked in. The CAVALIER KING is the "Hyde" to Chris Taylor's "Jekyll," or more fittingly, "The Lizard King" to his inner Jim Morrison. "To live outside the law, you must be honest," Taylor says. Recorded at Mark Alan Miller's (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.) Slaughterhouse Studios in Hadley, Massachusetts, "The Sun Revolutions" are on the way, and CAVALIER KING will carry out the business of saving the world. Or destroying it. Or both.
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01.19.06 (RockAndMetal.com) It was a classic KORN move. The trend-setting, Grammy-winning band, who currently have the #1 Active Rock radio hit in the country, 'Twisted Transistor' (also Top Ten on the Alternative Rock chart," arrived in a vintage hearse on Friday The 13th to the landmark Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. The resting place for hundreds of Hollywood's greatest stars (founded in 1899) was the location chosen to announce their major North American headlining tour, "See You On The Other Side," also the title of their current smash album for which they were awarded platinum plaques at the press conference. KORN -- who've sold over 25 million albums to date -- have invited MUDVAYNE and 10 YEARS to join them on the new six-week arena trek, which launches February 24th in Bakersfield, California (the band's hometown) and runs through April 4th. The tour is in support with KORN's critically acclaimed seventh album, "See You On The Other Side" (EMI/Virgin), which entered the Billboard Top 200 albums listing at #3, marking the band's sixth top five entry on that important chart. In a mere matter of weeks, the album has already sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide, surpassing expectations and initial sales of their last few releases. Tickets for most shows start going on sale January 21. As an added bonus for their fans, KORN are offering a free one-year membership to the Korn BSC Online Fan Club with every ticket purchased online - another first for Korn in connecting the live concert experience with digital exclusive content and community. KORN launched the release of "See You On The Other Side" in grand style, shaking up the promotional music video genre with the 'Twisted Transistor' video, which cast some of today's leading Rap and Hip-Hop stars (Snoop Dog, Lil Jon, Xzibit and David Banner), impersonating the band in what is essentially a mini-movie. The band also made their first-ever performance in a U.S. television studio when they appeared November 19th on "Saturday Night Live," blasting out their blazing single 'Twisted Transistor' and their classic volatile hit, 'Freak On A Leash.' KORN also made national television airwaves, taking the art of live performance to the next level by becoming the first multi-platinum band to perform a set while at 37,000 feet on board a transatlantic private aircraft en route to New York from London. The plane, headed to New York for a KORN show at the Hammerstein Ballroom, was filled with European MTV contest winners and eight U.S. soldiers who have served in either Afghanistan or Iraq, and were on leave in Frankfurt, Germany and Venice, Italy. The following are confirmed "See You On The Other Side" tour dates and venues as of today: 02/24 Bakersfield, CA [Selland Arena] • 02/25 Reno, NV [Events Center] • 02/26 San Jose, CA [Events Center] • 02/28 Sacramento, CA [Arco Arena] • 03/02 Portland, OR [Theatre In The Clouds] • 03/04 Vancouver, Canada [GM Place] • 03/05 Tacoma, WA [Tacoma Dome] • 03/06 Boise, ID [Idaho Center] • 03/08 Denver, CO [Magness Arena] • 03/10 El Paso, TX [Coliseum] • 03/11 Albuquerque, NM [Tingley Coliseum] • 03/12 Phoenix, AZ [Dodge Theatre] • 03/14 Las Vegas, NV [The Joint] • 03/15 San Diego, CA [iPayone Center] • 03/16 Long Beach, CA [Long Beach Arena] • 03/20 Orlando, FL [TBA] • 03/21 Jacksonville, FL [TBA] • 03/22 Charlotte, NC [TBA] • 03/24 TBA, TBA [TBA] • 03/25 Baltimore, MD [TBA] • 03/26 Lewiston, ME [TBA] • 03/28 East Rutherford, NJ [TBA] • 03/30 Chicago, IL [TBA] • 03/31 Milwaukee, WI [TBA] • 04/01 St. Paul, MN [TBA] • 04/03 Youngstown, OH [TBA] • 04/04 Toronto, ON [TBA]
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01.18.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Sixties supergroup BLIND FAITH's debut was in front of a cool 100,000 people on a warm day in London's Hyde Park. Since June 7th, 1969 when that historic concert took place, it has never been seen in its entirety. That is until now, as Sanctuary Visual Entertainment have announced the upcoming release of a DVD entitled "Blind Faith - London Hyde Park 1969" on April 10th. The audience gathered that day were filled with anticipation awaiting BLIND FAITH's debut. The newly formed collective of four virtuoso musicians who individually were already Rock royalty, were the talk of the town and expectations both within the band and out amongst the counter-culture generation crowd were high. Fusing the Psychedelic Blues of Eric Clapton and the soulful vocals and keyboards of Steve Winwood, with Rick Grech on bass and Ginger Baker on drums, they didn't disappoint. The set may have lasted just over 40 minutes long, but fans were treated to a selection of timeless tracks including 'Presence Of The Lord,' 'Sleeping In The Ground,' and THE ROLLING STONES' classic 'Under My Thumb.' "Blind Faith - London Hyde Park 1969" also boasts archive footage of the various members of BLIND FAITH performing within their earlier musical guises. Clips of THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP performing 'I'm A Man,' TRAFFIC's 'Hole In My Shoe,' FAMILY performing 'Dim' and CREAM doing 'Sunshine Of Your Love' act as a gentle introduction to the main concert event. There is also a discography for all the members of BLIND FAITH pre-1969, plus a collection of rare photos set to the sounds of 'Well All Right.' By the end of the 1960s with hippies still dancing on the horizon and a man on the moon, a new form was taking shape on this musical stage: the "supergroup": a band of highly talented individuals creating a new musical experience. One of the very first of these was indeed BLIND FAITH, consisting of Steve Winwood, the "original blue-eyed Soul boy," who came from a musically supportive family and shot to prominence shortly after he joined THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP in 1963 at age 15. He went on to forge a wider musical path with TRAFFIC, who spawned hits like 'Paper Sun' and Hole 'In My Shoe.' Eric Clapton, however, was the "superstar" of BLIND FAITH, joining THE YARDBIRDS in 1963 and later leaving to join JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS. "Eric Clapton Is God" was a well-documented graffiti tag of the times, as his stature grew even further with CREAM. BLIND FAITH's Ginger Baker also came from the same group as well, previously gigging with several Jazz ensembles and R&B outfits. His unconventional playing, which got him sacked in some of his early bands, developed into a creative force that would later be admired by numerous other notable drummers. The final member of BLIND FAITH was bassist Rick Grech, who first joined THE FARINAS (who eventually evolved into FAMILY, a progressive, arty Folk/Rock band from Leicester. Grech did not come from the same Rock royalty as the other members of BLIND FAITH, but had nonetheless been admired for some time by Eric Clapton, and provided the essential solid support the band needed. "Blind Faith - London Hyde Park 1969" Track Listing: 1. Well All Right • 2. Sea Of Joy • 3. Sleeping In The Ground • 4. Under My Thumb • 5. Can't Find My Way Home • 6. Do What You Like • 7. Presence Of The Lord • 8. Means To An End • 9. Had To Cry Today
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01.17.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Demon Vision has announced the April 17th release of "T. Rex On TV - A T. Rex Compendium," the first official archive DVD to compile a collection of Marc Bolan and T. REX's quintessential appearances on several French, German and UK television shows through the 1970's. This fascinating, must-have three-and-a-half-hour release showcases five different sections that can be easily accessed in any running order. The first is the definitive 56-minute documentary "Dandy In The Underworld," produced in 1997 by Granada TV for Channel 4 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Marc Bolan's untimely death. Using archive footage of performance and interviews, the documentary recalls his early career, his period in the Experimental band JOHN'S CHILDREN, the Folk-based TYRANNOSAURUS REX, and T. REX, showing Bolan's progression from obscurity to superstar and subsequent decline. The film looks at influences on his music including the hippie movement, underground, and Soul music, his innovative Glam Rock style, as well as his influence on the early Punk scene. The film features contributions from all the major players in Bolan's career, including partner Gloria Jones, producer Tony Visconti, publicist Keith Altham, childhood friend Eric Hall, former JOHN'S CHILDREN manager Simon Napier Bell, former NME journalist Charles Shaar Murray, DJ and former "Old Grey Whistle Test" presenter Bob Harris, T. REX drummer Bill Legend, and many more. The second section of "T. Rex On TV - A T. Rex Compendium" is entitled "It's About Me Really...," containing interviews and music from the 25-minute "Music In The Round" program recorded in late 1971. In between four live performances of the classics 'Jeepster,' 'Cadilac,' 'Spaceball Ricochet' and 'Telegram Sam,' Marc Bolan is interviewed here by legendary European arts programmer Humphrey Burton, who at 41 is apparently already "too old to rock 'n' roll." Also included is a nine-minute interview by Russell Harty from 1972. Next, "Ten Greatest Hits" features rarely-seen performances of T. REX's most successful singles from 1971-1974 on various French, German and British television shows. Song performances include 'Ride A White Swan,' 'Hot Love,' 'Get It On,' 'Jeepster,' 'Telegram Sam,' 'Metal Guru,' 'Children Of The Revolution,' 'Solid Gold Easy Action,' '20th Century Boy' and 'Teenage Dream.' The DVD's next section is dubbed "Supersonic," featuring over 50 minutes worth of ultra-rare clips from that fondly-remembered mid-seventies music show, containing some seventeen performances, most of which have not been seen since their original airing. Song performances include 'The Soul Of My Suit,' 'New York City,' 'I Love To Boogie,' 'Funky London Childhood,' 'Crimson Moon,' 'Laser Love,' 'Ride A White Swan,' 'Telegram Sam,' 'Dreamy Lady,' plus a rare duet with girlfriend Gloria Jones (also the original singer of 'Tainted Love') performing THE TEDDY BEARS' reworked 'To Know You Is To Love You.' Lastly, "Bolan '77" rounds up seven songs from the Granada series "Marc" that Marc Bolan had just finished recording when he passed away, along with two live performances from the kids' pop quiz show "Get It Together." Song performances here include 'Dandy In The Underworld,' 'Groove A Little,' 'Celebrate Summer,' 'Let's Dance,' 'Sing Me A Song,' 'Endless Sleep,' and 'Debora.'
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01.16.06 (RockAndMetal.com) New Jersey's THE EARLY NOVEMBER will hit the road in March in support of the "Sub City Take Action! Tour," which raises awareness and funds for suicide prevention. In the meantime, fans of the band can check out them out on FUSE's "Steven's Untitled Rock Show." The band recently dropped by the New York City studio to tape an interview with that show's host. In other news, THE EARLY NOVEMBER are putting the final touches on their next album with producer Chris Badami. Set for release this Spring, the triple-disc offering is a well-thought-out endeavor on behalf of THE EARLY NOVEMBER's frontman Ace Enders and bandmates Jeff Kummer (drums), Sergio Anello (bass), Joe Marro (guitar) and Bill Lugg (guitar). One disc will be dedicated to their acoustic, mellower side, while another highlights the group's heavier Rock sound. The third is a soundtrack complete with dialogue and characters - both of which intermingle among the first two CDs. The lineup for this year's "Sub City Take Action! Tour" also includes MATCHBOOK ROMANCE, SILVERSTEIN and AMBER PACIFIC. Go to www.takeactiontour.com for any additional info. Tour Dates: 03/01 Washington, DC [9:30 Club] • 03/02 Baltimore, MD [Sonar] • 03/04 Norfolk, VA [The Norva] • 03/05 Charlotte, NC [Tremont Music Hall] • 03/07 North Myrtle Beach, SC [House Of Blues] • 03/08 Orlando, FL [House Of Blues] • 03/09 Ft Lauderdale, FL [Revolution] • 03/10 Tampa, FL [Masquerade] • 03/11 Atlanta, GA [Masquerade] • 03/13 Austin, TX [Emo's] • 03/14 Houston, TX [Warehouse Live] • 03/15 Dallas, TX [Granada Theater] • 03/16 San Antonio, TX [The White Rabbit] • 03/17 McAllen, TX [LaVilla Real Event Center] • 03/19 Albuquerque, NM [Sunshine Theatre] • 03/20 Tucson, AZ [Rialto Theatre] • 03/22 Anaheim, CA [House Of Blues] • 03/23 Los Angeles, CA [House Of Blues] • 03/24 San Diego, CA [Soma] • 03/26 Tempe, AZ [Marquee Theatre] • 03/27 Las Vegas, NV [House Of Blues] • 03/28 Bakersfield, CA [Montgomery World Plaza] • 03/29 San Francisco, CA [Fillmore] • 03/31 Portland, OR [Roseland Theatre] • 04/01 Seattle, WA [The Showbox] • 04/02 Spokane, WA [The Big Easy] • 04/04 Salt Lake City, UT [In The Venue] • 04/05 Denver, CO [Ogden Theatre] • 04/06 Lawrence, KS [Granada Theatre] • 04/07 St Louis, MO [Mississippi Nights] • 04/11 Chicago, IL [House Of Blues] • 04/13 Pontiac, MI [Clutch Cargo's] • 04/14 Columbus, OH [Newport Music Hall] • 04/15 Cleveland, OH [House Of Blues] • 04/17 Pittsburgh, PA [Club Zoo] • 04/18 Poughkeepsie, NY [The Chance] • 04/21 Philadelphia, PA [The Electric Factory] • 04/22 Sayreville, NJ [Starland Ballroom] • 04/23 Hartford, CT [Webster Theatre]
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01.16.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Trustkill Records has announced the signing of FIRST BLOOD to a new recording deal. While the label plan to unleash the band's furious Hardcore with crushing, metallic guitar riffs and blood-curdling vocals upon the world soon, FIRST BLOOD are not an unknown band by any means. The group features ex-TERROR bassist Carl Schwartz on vocals and current TERROR member Doug Weber on guitar. Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, the band formed in early 2002 from the ashes of SWORN VENGEANCE, a band in which Schwartz and Weber were both members. Even without having played many live shows, FIRST BLOOD has quickly made a strong impact throughout the modern Hardcore scene. The group did their first show sharing the stage with legendary members of CRO-MAGS performing as THE AGE OF QUARREL, and made a notable appearance at Hellfest 2003. Previously releasing material on Division 36 Records and Deathwish Inc., FIRST BLOOD have since impressed many with their brutal delivery and in-your-face lyrics dealing with both social and political subjects. The band are currently writing and preparing to record their Trustkill debut full-length beginning next week at Oakland's Castle Ultimate, which is slated for release on May 2nd. They will also embark on their first tour in late February with IGNITE, COMEBACK KID and SINKING SHIPS, which will include both North American and Canadian dates. Carl Schwartz talks about the signing to the label saying, "Josh (Grabelle, Trustkill President) approached me about releasing something on Trustkill. I was psyched, as he did such a great job promoting Terror, but because of my obligations to that band I had to say no. When I recently left Terror, Josh and I continued our discussion and decided to go full speed ahead and make First Blood a full-time endeavor." Schwartz, a main contributor to FIRST BLOOD's lyrics and music alongside guitarist Kyle Dixon (Alcatraz, Ex-Embrace The End), elaborates: "Most of my lyrics deal with topics important to me; the ups and downs, frustrations and discontent with certain things in this world. Hopefully people can relate to my words and realize that they are not alone, and become inspired and confident enough to stand for what they believe to find a place for themselves in this world." A staunch supporter of veganism, Carl Schwartz is much-involved with PETA, appearing in a video interview on their website, in promotional DVDs, as well as full-page print appearances in several music-related magazines. Tour Dates: 02/26 Seattle, WA [El Corazon] • 02/27 Portland, OR [Rock 'N' Roll Pizza] • 02/28 Roseville, CA [Underground] • 03/01 San Francisco, CA [Pound SF] • 03/02 San Diego, CA [Epicenter] • 03/03 Anaheim, CA [Chain Reaction] • 03/04 Anaheim, CA [Chain Reaction] • 03/06 Tempe, AZ [Clubhouse] • 03/08 Denver, CO [Rock Island] • 03/09 Kansas City, MO [El Torreon] • 03/10 Iowa City, IA [Gabe's Oasis] • 03/11 St. Louis, MO [Creepy Crawl] • 03/12 Nashville, TN [The Muse] • 03/13 Birmingham, AL [Cave 9]
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01.13.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Britain's NOVEMBER COMING FIRE will release "Dungeness," the full-length follow-up to their "Black Ballads" mini-album on February 14th via Reflections Records. Progression is a double-edged sword for any underground band. Especially for one showered in compliments and given exposure at such an early stage of their career. When NOVEMBER COMING FIRE unleashed "Black Ballads" on IATDE Records in 2003, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Finally, here was a British Hardcore band with enough passion, enough smarts and enough talent to really stretch out beyond the confines of the genre and make serious inroads into the wider "alternative" sphere. So, just about 2 years on, the band are about to unleash their 12 song follow-up. The fact that "Dungeness" will likely be hailed as a "departure" by some may fill their original fans with foreboding. But they needn't worry, as the new offering demonstrates just how far a young band can come in such a short space of time. As the band themselves say: "We have developed a need to stretch ourselves creatively as far as we can. We only want to go forward musically. This extends to all areas of the band: Lyrics, structuring, packaging, touring and recording." And the results are excellent. The straight-ahead searing attack of "Black Ballads" is still present on "Dungeness," but tempered with heavier arrangements and more reflective passages. As on their first MCD, the band started working with Ben Philips from City Of Dis Studios in the Spring of 2005 to slowly but surely create "Dungeness." Wanting to build on their sound, NOVEMBER COMING FIRE incorporated elements of all their influences, old and new. "We have thrown ourselves into the last twenty-five years of alternative music. From Black Flag, The Misfits to Big Black, The Jesus Lizard, Nick Cave, Low, Queens Of The Stone Age, Old Man Gloom, Hot Snakes, Breach and even Tom Waits. And those are just the tips of the iceberg..." Coming from a scene made up of who knows who and so many rules on what you should and shouldn't be listening to, wearing or playing, NOVEMBER COMING FIRE are anxious to break every rule in the book now: "We are unashamed of who we are, what we look like and where we have come from, musically and socially. We grew up on music our parents played us: Queen, Black Sabbath, The Cure, Pink Floyd, and now we can comfortably take inspiration from this time in our lives as well as the music we got into in our teens and the new artists we encounter in this day and age." Beginning February 24th, NOVEMBER COMING FIRE will hook up with labelmates DOOMRIDERS and RISE AND FALL for a month-long European tour. Tour Dates: 02/24 Arnhem, NL [Goudvishal] • 02/25 Herten, GER [JZ Nord] • 02/26 Antwerpen, BEL [Hof Ter Loo] • 02/27 Norwich, UK [Ferry Boat Inn] • 02/28 Hartlepool, UK [The Studio] • 03/01 Nottingham, UK [Old Angel] • 03/02 Milton Keynes, UK [Pitz Club] • 03/03 Manchester, UK [Star And Garter] • 03/04 Swindon, UK [The Furnace] • 03/05 London, UK [Underworld] • 03/07 Paris, FR [TBC] • 03/08 Trier/Koln, GER [TBC] • 03/09 Munchen, GER [Backstage] • 03/10 Lustenau, AUT [CFY] • 03/11 Pinarella, ITA [Rock Planet] • 03/12 Bolzano, ITA [Bunker] • 03/13 Wien, AUT [Arena] • 03/14 Budapest, HUN [Suss Fel Nap] • 03/15 Warsaw, POL [Nemo] • 03/16 Praha, CZ [007] • 03/17 Lichtenstein, GER [JZ Riot] • 03/18 Bremen, GER [Wehrschloss] • 03/19 Amsterdam, NL [Bitterzoet - Reflections Fest Part III]
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01.12.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Atlantic Records recording artists DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE have announced details of their upcoming "Directions," an innovative anthology of 12 short films inspired by each song on the band's acclaimed album, "Plans." Every song, including the hit single 'Soul Meets Body' and the upcoming follow-up, 'Crooked Teeth,' will be delivered by a different director. The videos will be unveiled one by one on the band's website www.deathcabforcutie.com beginning January 23rd. The unprecedented collection came about as the brainchild of Otaku House, the production company owned and run by childhood friends Nick Harmer, bassist for DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, and video director Aaron Stewart-Ahn. They saw the opportunity to enlist a variety of talented young artists to each make a short film set to a Death Cab song, without the constraints of the traditional music video - no arbitrary performance footage, and the band themselves will not appear in the films. Though the budgets would be small, there would be no creative limits placed upon the filmmakers' imaginations. The ultimate goal was to create a series of small films that worked together as both individual pieces of art and as a unified whole. Stewart-Ahn and the band compiled a list of directors, including superstars, up-and-coming new talents, and even a graphic novelist who had never had his work animated before. "We named the project 'Directions,'" says Stewart-Ahn, "because it's a pun on 'Plans,' obviously, but ultimately because we feel this project is about unique directorial visions more than anything else. We wanted to create a situation where that would be the emphasis, and I feel the list of directors alone proves that." Among the filmmakers contributing to "Directions" are Lance Bangs, famed for his work alongside director Spike Jonze, as well as his videos for such artists as R.E.M. and GREEN DAY; P.R. Brown, who has directed videos for Billy Corgan, Matisyahu and MOTLEY CRUE; Ace Norton, a stop-frame animation maestro; acclaimed graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown ("Clumsy"); the Cincinnati-based motion design collective, LIGHTBORNE; long-time DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE photographer Autumn De Wilde; writer/director Rob Schrab, the mind behind the legendary never-aired Jack Black pilot, "Heat Vision" and "Jack," and co-founder of the Channel 101 website; acclaimed music video directors Laurent Briet and Monkmus, as well as Stewart-Ahn himself, following up his critically-hailed video debut, THE DECEMBERISTS' '16 Military Wives.' "Each interpretation is phenomenal, and our hats go off to everyone involved," says DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE vocalist/guitarist Ben Gibbard. "It's our hope that this project serves as a model to both labels and bands as a way to grant the directors the type and amount of freedom we've enjoyed in the creation of the music itself." "We have truly been blessed to have met so many creative and energetic artists over the years of being a band," says Harmer. "It just seemed so appropriate to build a project that so many artists that we admire could be a part of, and it's so inspiring to stand back and watch them work." "It's thrilling to have so many enthusiastic artists involved," comments DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE guitarist Chris Walla, "and better still that they're such a varied bunch: Some are heroes; some are exceptionally talented friends; some are brilliant people none of us had heard of. I don't know of any projects quite like this one."
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01.12.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Guitar virtuoso ZAKK WYLDE is set to be inducted into Hollywood's Rockwalk next week on Tuesday, January 17th at noon. The event is free and open to the public. ZAKK WYLDE has played a significant role for Ozzy Osbourne, who hand-picked Wylde in 1987 at the age of 19 to be his new axe slinger. As a sidekick to the former BLACK SABBATH singer and future MTV reality show superstar, he had the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of such renowned fretsters as Tony Iommi, Randy Rhoads and Jake E Lee. In addition to his responsibilities as Ozzy's main guitarist, Wylde was responsible for co-writing many of Osbourne's best-selling multi-platinum albums including "No Rest For The Wicked," "No More Tears," and "Ozzmosis." ZAKK WYLDE started his solo career in 1994. After a brief collaboration with Axl Rose and company to join GUNS N' ROSES didn't materialize, Wylde went on to perform with THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND and LYNYRD SKYNYRD before recording his first solo effort, "Pride & Glory. In 1998, ZAKK WYLDE formed his own band, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, while still maintaining his role as Osbourne's lead guitarist. To date, the band has released six albums and has sold in excess of one million units worldwide. Once asked whether BLACK LABEL SOCIETY are Rock 'N' Roll, Heavy Metal or Southern Rock - or a bastardization of the three - Wylde said: "We're a fucking hardcore iron company. Believe me, this ain't fucking Britney Spears!" Wylde's musical mastery has spawned numerous instrument product endorsements as well. His signature products include four custom Gibson guitars, a custom Epiphone guitar, a limited run Marshall amplifier, EMG pickups, GHS strings and Dunlop pedals. Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, Rob Zombie, Slash and Duff McKagan of VELVET REVOLVER, Robert Trujillo of METALLICA, John 5, baseball greats Mike Piazza and Scott Spiezio, wrestlers Steve Austin and Chris Jericho, Vinnie Abbott and Rex Brown of PANTERA, Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez of ALICE IN CHAINS, Kerry King of SLAYER, Jim Ladd, and more celebrity guests to be announced will be in attendance to congratulate ZAKK WYLDE as he is inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk. The only sidewalk gallery dedicated to honoring those artists who have made a significant impact and lasting contribution to the growth and evolution of Rock 'N' Roll, Blues and R&B, ZAKK WYLDE's handprints and signatures will reside on Hollywood's RockWalk alongside other equally accomplished musicians and innovators such as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Lou Reed, Johnny Cash, AEROSMITH, B.B. King, VAN HALEN, James Brown, George Martin, SONIC YOUTH, Brian Wilson, Carlos Santana, Carl Perkins, John Lee Hooker, THE RAMONES, Bonnie Raitt and Holland-Dozier-Holland, among others.
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01.11.06 (RockAndMetal.com) New Jersey quartet ARMOR FOR SLEEP have announced the first headlining national tour in support of their new album for Equal Vision Records, "What To Do When You Are Dead." Support will be from three other bands in BOYS NIGHT OUT, CHIODOS and ACTION REACTION. ARMOR FOR SLEEP have been on the road constantly here and abroad since the album's release. In fact, the band returned from England as a headlining act this month. "What To Do When You Are Dead," which has sold over 119,000 copies to date, is the culmination of two months in the studio with noted producer Machine, combining the band's stunning ability for writing catchy, hook-laden Rock with evocative, introspective vocal melodies. The album has also gained widespread acclaim in national and international press with recent features in Thrasher, Rock Sound (UK) and Alternative Press (5 out of 5 Stars review, "Meet Your New Favorite Band"). ARMOR FOR SLEEP vocalist/guitarist Ben Jorgensen was also quoted in a recent issue of SPIN magazine. Even online giant AOL.com has taken notice of the band, covering them consistently since the release of "What To Do When You Are Dead." Not content to sit back and bask in their accomplishments, ARMOR FOR SLEEP wrapped up shooting their second video, 'The Truth About Heaven,' amidst their hectic touring schedule. Directed by Alan Ferguson (Fall Out Boy, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes) the video further develops the concept of the after-life, which is interwoven throughout the new album. The band have also already begun writing new material for their next effort, which fans will get a taste of on the upcoming national tour. Tour Dates: 01/26 Boston, MA [Axis] • 01/27 Latham, NY [Saratoga Winners] • 01/28 New York, NY [Avalon] • 01/29 New Haven, CT [Toad's Place] • 01/30 Baltimore, MD [Otto Bar] • 02/01 Raleigh, NC [The Brewery] • 02/02 Nashville, TN [Rocketown] • 02/03 Atlanta, GA [The Loft @ Earthlink Live] • 02/04 Orlando, FL [The Social] • 02/05 Ft. Lauderdale, FL [Culture Room] • 02/06 St. Petersburgh, FL [State Theatre] • 02/08 Houston, TX [Java Jazz Cafe] • 02/09 Austin, TX [Emo's] • 02/10 Dallas, TX [The Door] • 02/11 San Antonio, TX [White Rabbit] • 02/13 Tucson, AZ [The Rock] • 02/14 Tempe, AZ [The Clubhouse] • 02/15 Las Vegas, NV [Jillian's] • 02/16 Los Angeles, CA [Troubadour] • 02/17 San Diego, CA [Soma] • 02/18 Pomona, CA [Glass House] • 02/19 San Francisco, CA [Slim's] • 02/21 Sacramento, CA [The Boardwalk] • 02/22 Portland, OR [Hawthorne Theatre] • 02/23 Seattle, WA [El Corazon] • 02/24 Pullman, WA [CUB Ballroom] • 02/25 Boise, ID [The Venue] • 02/27 Salt Lake City, UT [Lo-Fi Cafe] • 02/28 Denver, CO [Rock Island] • 03/01 Lawrence, KS [Granada Theatre] • 03/02 Des Moines, IA [House Of Bricks] • 03/03 Minneapolis, MN [The Ascot Room @ The Quest] • 03/04 Chicago, IL [Metro] • 03/05 Grand Rapids, MI [The Intersection] • 03/07 Huntington, WV [Hyamp] • 03/08 Cleveland, OH [Peabody's] • 03/09 Detroit, MI [St. Andrew's Hall] • 03/10 Toronto, ON [Opera House] • 03/11 Buffalo, NY [Showplace Theatre] • 03/13 Pittsburgh, PA [Mr. Small's Theatre] • 03/14 Philadelphia, PA [Theatre Of The Living Arts] • 03/15 South Burlington, VT [Higher Ground] • 03/16 Portland, ME [The Station] • 03/17 Providence, RI [The Living Room] • 03/18 Syracuse, NY [Club Tundra]
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01.10.06 (RockAndMetal.com) 2006 brings a new state of mind for guitar great ERIC GALES with his new release, "Crystal Vision," set for release via Blues Bureau Records on January 24th. The new album takes the next logical step in Gales' career, further establishing him as one of the rare musical talents of his generation. The left-handed guitarist, who possesses extraordinary ability and expressive vocals, is a natural for people to compare to Jimi Hendrix. Over the years, ERIC GALES has developed a unique hybrid Blues/Rock sound that also draws upon influences as diverse as Albert King and Eric Johnson. Utilizing a unique amalgam of styles, Gales easily stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre. ERIC GALES grew up in a musical family with four brothers, two of them who learned to play the guitar upside down and left handed in the same fashion that he does. His brother Eugene Gales also played bass in THE ERIC GALES BAND, and brother Jimmy King had a thriving career as a blues artist before his untimely death. ERIC GALES released his first record at the tender age of sixteen for Elektra Records to an amazing response from the media and music fans around the globe. A Guitar World magazine reader's poll named Gales as "Best New Talent" in 1991. After recording a second record for Elektra, all three brothers teamed up for "The Gales Bros. Left Hand Brand" which was recorded for the House Of Blues label in 1996. Over the years, it has not been uncommon to look out in the audience and see artists like Carlos Santana, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, B.B. King and Eric Clapton looking on with interest as ERIC GALES has taken his God-given talent and worked crowd after crowd into a frenzy. The new millennium presented new opportunities for Gales, as he was signed to a deal with Nightbird Records, which was affiliated with Jimi Hendrix's sister Janie Hendrix and Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. and distributed through MCA/Universal Records. Under that deal, ERIC GALES recorded the critically acclaimed "That's What I Am" in 2000 and hit the road, mesmerizing fans around the world with his uncanny connection to his guitar. In 2004, Gales made headline music news when he was chosen to perform with Carlos Santana, Joe Satriani, ALICE IN CHAINS' Jerry Cantrell and others on the "Experience Hendrix" tour to honor the late, great, Jimi Hendrix. ERIC GALES' masterful guitar and vocal performances on "Crystal Vision" portend a great response from loyal music lovers, as musicians of his quality and intensity are few and far between.
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01.09.06 (RockAndMetal.com) FAMILY FORCE 5 dish up a smokin' hot mix of Crunk Rock and mind-altering southern grooves on their forthcoming debut for Maverick Records, "Business Up Front/Party In The Back." A phoenix rising from the ashes of the Dirty South, FAMILY FORCE 5 have already begun to forge their indelible mark upon Southern Rock with their unique brand of grooves and grits - a lethal mix of Punk, Rock, Funk and mind-altering grooves that's "guaranteed ghetto music straight from the heart." For instance, imagine Rick James fronting THE MC5 or Ronnie Van Zant as lead singer for THE GAP BAND. No other band mixes New Wave guitars with the nasty groove that can only come after a lifetime diet of fried chicken and collard greens. Formed two years ago in Atlanta, Georgia, FAMILY FORCE 5 features three blood brothers who have chosen to build their young quintet with two friends. Solomon Olds (a.k.a. "Soul Glow Activator") plays guitar, sings and generally leads the charge while breakdancing, Jacob Olds (a.k.a. "Crouton") plays drums and shares the vocals, Joshua Olds (a.k.a. "Phatty") plays bass, sings and doubles as Jacob's twin brother, Nathan Currin (a.k.a. "Nadaddy") mans the decks and plays the keys, while Brad Allen (a.k.a. "20 Cent") plays guitar and often hangs from the ceiling. FAMILY FORCE 5 play a set loaded with hits of the future in such tracks as 'Kountry Gentleman,' 'Drama Queen,' 'X-Girlfriend,' 'Earthquake' and others, which are soon to come to a radio station and video music channel near you if they haven't already. Already having opened for the likes of ALTER BRIDGE, VELVET REVOLVER and THE CURE, don't miss your chance to see, hear, and experience the righteous Crunk Rock FAMILY FORCE 5 utilize in making your favorite Rock club feel like it's ladies' night at the local roller rink, as the band are set to embark on a six-week U.S. tour. Tour Dates: 01/14 Chattanooga, TN [Club Fathom] • 01/17 Jacksonville, FL [Jack Rabbits] • 01/18 Orlando, FL [The Social] • 01/19 Tampa, FL [Orpheum] • 01/21 Tallahassee, FL [Floyd's Music Store] • 01/26 Lexington, KY [The Dame] • 01/28 Cincinnati, OH [The Underground] • 01/29 Chicago, IL [Schubas Tavern] • 01/31 Pittsburgh, PA [Club Cafe Live] • 02/01 Cleveland Heights, OH [Grog Shop] • 02/02 Akron, OH [The Lime Spider] • 02/04 Louisville, KY [Dixie Valley] • 02/08 Athens, GA [Tasty World] • 02/09 Columbus, GA [Soho Bar & Grill] • 02/10 Birmingham, AL [Trinity] • 02/11 Mobile, AL [The Mug] • 02/12 Montgomery, AL [Off The Wagon] • 02/14 Charleston, SC [The Music Farm] • 02/15 Charlotte, NC [Casbah @ Tremont Music Hall] • 02/16 Raleigh, NC [Lincoln Theatre] • 02/21 Baltimore, MD [Fletcher's] • 02/22 Richmond, VA [Alley Katz] • 02/23 Virginia Beach, VA [The Peppermint Beach Club] • 02/24 Columbia, SC [Headliner's]
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01.06.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Atlanta, Georgia Modern Hard Rockers FIGHT PARIS are set to hit the road for a lengthy seven-week U.S. tour with SCARLET, CALICO SYSTEM and THE ESOTERIC beginning January 13th at the Peppermint Club in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The newest addition to a growing roster of quality bands on Trustkill Records, FIGHT PARIS have been together for a few years now, playing gigs on both coasts, and spreading their "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll" philosophy to unsuspecting kids everywhere. Comprised initially with a core line-up of vocalist Kevin Phillips, guitarist Neil Warren and drummer Jason Krutzky, FIGHT PARIS went through several changes before finalizing the line-up with the addition of guitarist Matt Tanner and bassist Champ Champagne in the Summer of 2003. FIGHT PARIS have already played numerous shows in Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and practically every venue in and around Atlanta, Georgia with bands including CHIMAIRA, GOD FORBID, COLD, DOPE, SCHOOL FOR HEROES, 36 CRAZYFISTS, UNDEROATH, HOTWIRE, [MINUS.DRIVER], SCATTER THE ASHES, and more. FIGHT PARIS strictly adhere to a "party hard, work harder" philosophy. Until scoring a deal with Trustkill about a year ago, they recorded their own music, created and distributed their own merchandise, and even self-released the 6-song "Satisfaction Guaranteed EP" on their own SouthernStyle Records label. Tour Dates: 01/13 Virginia Beach, VA [Peppermint Club] • 01/14 Fredericksburg, VA [KCs] • 01/15 Philadelphia, PA [First Unitarian Church] • 01/16 Montclair, NJ [Bloomfield Avenue Cafe & Stage] • 01/17 Long Island, NY [Centereach VFW Hall] • 01/18 Wakefield, MA [United Methodist Church Once Was] • 01/19 Rochester, NY [Steel Music Hall] • 01/20 Fulton, NY [Fulton VFW] • 01/21 Detroit, MI [The Modern Exchange] • 01/22 Grand Rapids, MI [Ten Bells] • 01/23 Chicago Heights, IL [The Music Box] • 01/24 Omaha, NE [The Rock] • 01/25 Kansas City, MO [El Torreon] • 01/26 Denver, CO [Rock Island] • 01/27 Ogden, UT [Club Boom Va] • 01/28 Boise, ID [The Venue] • 01/29 Reno, NV [VFW Hall] • 01/30 Sacramento, CA [Junta] • 01/31 San Francisco, CA [The Pound @ Pier 96] • 02/01 Bakersfield, CA [Jerry's Pizza] • 02/02 Hollywood, CA [Whisky A Go Go] • 02/03 Lancaster, CA [Cedar Center] • 02/04 Corona, CA [Showcase Theatre] • 02/05 Las Vegas, NV [The Clubhouse] • 02/06 Phoenix, AZ [Phix Gallery] • 02/07 El Paso, TX [House Of Rock N Roll] • 02/09 Corpus Christi, TX [The Underground] • 02/10 San Antonio, TX [Bonds 007] • 02/11 Houston, TX [Java Jazz] • 02/12 Baton Rouge, LA [The Darkroom] • 02/13 Panama City Beach, FL [The Showcase] • 02/14 Orlando, FL [Backbooth] • 02/15 West Palm Beach, FL [Ray's Downtown Blues] • 02/16 Clearwater, FL [688 Skatepark] • 02/17 Jacksonville, FL [Thee Imperial] • 02/18 Atlanta, GA [Masquerade] • 02/19 Augusta, GA [Sector 7G] • 02/20 Tupelo, MS [The Rockwell Center] • 02/21 Memphis, TN [The Complex] • 02/22 Nashville, TN [The End] • 02/23 London, KY [Levi Jackson Clubhouse] • 02/24 Carmel, IN [Carmel Performing Arts Center] • 02/25 Bloomington, IL [Lafayette Club]
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01.05.06 (RockAndMetal.com) Currently riding high with a new studio album released by Sanctuary Records entitled "Black & White 050505," SIMPLE MINDS will undertake a major 40-plus date European tour that will kick off in Dublin on January 30th. Understandably, many concerts on the tour are selling out quickly, and as a result, the band have now added second shows in several cities. The 12 dates in Ireland and the UK are slated for venues of different sizes, behind which SIMPLE MINDS guitarist Charlie Burchill explains: "In support of 'Black And White 050505,' we have decided to build things up from the street level. For the present, we want to prove once again that we can do great live sets in all manners of venu