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Playing Favorites in So Cal

PR reports: As the date quickly approaches for the Playing Favorites' album release show, we have news of 3 more shows in addition to their show on December 7th:

12/7/2007 Los Angeles, CA, the Viper Room
12/8/2007 Silver Lake, CA, Spaceland
12/9/2007 San Marcos, CA, Loser Kids (1pm acoustic show w/ Angels and Airwaves)
12/9/2007 Anaheim, CA, Chain Reaction
- myspace.com/theplayingfavorites

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Former Megadeth Guitarist Turns Teacher

PR reports: Twenty-three years after graduating from MI's Guitar Institute of Technology, veteran rock and world music guitarist Jeff Young is returning to his alma mater as an instructor beginning in January, 2008.

After completing GIT in 1985, the Michigan native briefly taught guitar before joining Megadeth in 1987 to record and tour behind their platinum album So Far, So Good�So What! While Young found himself in the exciting epicenter of thrash metal, his own musical tastes extended well beyond that genre. - more on this story

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Van Halen The Choice of the People?

Van Halen reports: The immortal line from "Hot For Teacher" has never rung so true for VAN HALEN. The band saw its Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction earlier this year, and its landmark tour with original lead vocalist David Lee Roth is currently in full swing leaving trails of awestruck, sold-out crowds in its wake. Chalk up a recent People's Choice Awards nomination, and '07 has certainly been the year of VAN HALEN.

For the 34th Annual People's Choice Awards, VAN HALEN has been grouped alongside The Police and Genesis in the Best Reunion Tour category. The public can log on to the People's Choice Awards Website (link at the end of this post) and cast their votes. Fans have until December 5 to vote for VAN HALEN and the critically acclaimed tour The Hollywood Reporter calls "nothing short of spectacular." In addition to Roth, the latest incarnation of the legendary rock quartet features guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen and Eddie's 16-year-old son Wolfgang Van Halen on bass.

The 34th Annual People's Choice Awards broadcasts at 9 p.m. EST January 8, 2008 on CBS. This year VAN HALEN helps make up a who's who list of nominees in music, television and film including Johnny Depp, Jessica Alba, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake. The winners will be announced during the program. - Vote here

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Rudy Sarzo Remembers Kevin DuBrow

SleazeRoxx.com reports: Rudy Sarzo and Kevin DuBrow's musical relationship stretched across four decades in Quiet Riot. With the news of DuBrow's passing still only a few days old, Sarzo offered some insight into the singer who many consider responsible for setting off the '80s pop metal movement.

Sarzo and DuBrow first met in the '70s, and played together with late guitarist Randy Rhoads in an early version of Quiet Riot. "He started as a photographer. He had a massive mid-'70's rock'n'roll photo collection," Sarzo tells Billboard.com. "He started out by taking a lot of pictures of people like Humble Pie."

But it will undoubtedly be DuBrow's work with Quiet Riot, namely their chart-topping 1983 U.S. debut, "Metal Health," for which the singer will be best remembered. In fact, the album's success awarded DuBrow an opportunity to meet his hero. "He was a huge Steve Marriott fan. If there was anybody that Kevin would say 'I try to sing like,' it would be Steve Marriott," Sarzo says. "As a matter of fact, one of the highlights for him, back in 1983 I believe, we did a show in El Paso, Texas. The promoter said, 'Who do you want to be on the bill with you guys?' And he requested Humble Pie. So we got Humble Pie on the bill, and Steve Marriott jammed with us. It was a dream come true for Kevin. There was a party after the show; Steve Marriott actually had an even louder, bigger personality than Kevin." - more on this story

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Seasons Greetings From Robbers on High Street

PR reports: New York's own Robbers On High Street are starting off the holiday season with a bang! Available for download now, "Seasons Greetings," is an American Song-Poem Christmas cover song that will definitely get you in the holiday spirit.

The song is originally found on the album entitled Daddy, Is Santa Really Six Foot Four? released on Bar None Records. It was written by Raymond Moberly and first performed by Teri Summers and the Librettos.

Song-poems were a pop culture phenomenon in the 50s, 60s and 70s where everyday people would mail in their poems to "professional musicians" who would then set music to the poems for a fee, usually a few hundred dollars. - Download "Seasons Greetings" here!

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Pat Mason RIP

Punknews.org reports: Arsonists Get All The Girls' bassist Pat Mason has passed away on the night of his 21st birthday. The band has posted the following message on MySpace:

We can't describe the pain and sorrow that we all are feeling right now. Last night/early this morning our bassist, Pat Mason, passed away. Pat was an amazing person and brother to all of us. It was his 21st birthday and we all got to see him at band practice. He then proceeded to go out to the bars. He went to sleep at a friend's house. We don't know the full details but when friends tried to wake him up this morning he didn't wake up.

We could never trade him for the world and could never replace him. We will always love him and will always be in our hearts. We are going to continue with the band cause that is what Pat would have wanted. There will be a donation account set up soon for his family and possibly a local benefit show as well. - more on this story

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Silversun Remixed

Filter reports: After the burgeoning success of the Silversun Pickups debut album, Carnavas, the band is releasing a fresh 6-song EP that will be exclusively available on iTunes in the US on December 11th and worldwide on December 18th.

SSPU's "Remixes" welcomes remixes by Jimmy Tamborello (of Postal Service), The One AM Radio, Jason Bently, Brian LeBarton, and greyarea. - more on this story

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Otep Chat

PR reports: KOCH Records recording artist OTEP has set up a new website in addition to its official site. ThisIsOtep.tv will enable fans to enjoy live web video chats with vocalist Otep Shamaya as well as a chat room for fans to directly communicate with the band. Additionally, the YouTube video for the band's new video for "Breed," (their excellent cover of the Nirvana track) will be embedded in the site.

The first live chat is scheduled for Monday, December 3 at 8:00PM EST at http://www.thisisotep.tv. Otep will ask fans trivia questions about the "Breed" video. Every question is going to require users to watch the video numerous times to find the answer which is hidden within the video. Fans will be rewarded with prizes such as copies of the band's new album The Ascension, stickers, posters, and other merchandise. Otep will regularly visit this site to conduct impromptu video chats after the "Breed" promotion on Monday. Fans will learn of Otep's visits to the Otep TV site via MySpace bulletins and email alerts.

OTEP are currently touring the U.S. in support of their recently released third album The Ascension. The band enlisted producer Dave Fortman (Mudvayne, Evanescence) for the record and also called on Grammy nominated guitarist Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne, Hellyeah) to co-write three songs. - http://www.thisisotep.tv

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Filter's Top 10 of 07: Black Lips

Filter reports: It's the most wonderful time of the year again! As always, when December hits, we at Filter reach out to our rock star friends to find out what they thought were the top ten best records released this year, or the ten records that they spent the most time listening to.

Today, we're checking in with Cole Alexander, lead singer and guitarist with Atlanta upstarts The Black Lips. The band made a splash this year with their fifth album, and their first on Vice Records, Good Bad Not Evil. Here are the records that Cole enjoyed most in 2007

Cole Alexander, The Black Lips
1. King Kahn And The Shrines, What Is?! (Hazelwood Records/Revolver)
2. Peter Bjorn And John, Writer's Block (Almost Gold)
3. BBQ, Tie Your Noose (Bomp)
4. Deerhunter, Crytograms (Kranky)
5. Amy Winehouse, Back To Black (Republic)
- Check out the rest of the list here

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Stolen Transmission Leave Island

Punknews.org reports: Stolen Transmission has split from their backers Island Records due to restructuring at the major label. Label co-head Sarah Lewitinn commented on her blog:

Stolen Transmission started IN MY BEDROOM as an indie label putting out hand made cds of bands that me and Rob Stevenson believed in. We werent funded back then, and we were really happy. We did everything because of how much we loved music. Now that I've had my experience with Island/Def Jam, I know how to actually do what's necessary to release an album and develop artists, and I helped set up 9 amazing releases from Permanent ME, the Oohlas, Monty are I, Bright Light Fever, the Horrors, Schoolyard Heroes, PlayRadioPlay!, Innerpartysystem, and the Photo Atlas.

I'm so f**king proud that the label went from me and a bunch of interns sitting in my bedroom smoking and watching degrassi and eating guac i had just made to me sitting in meetings once a week with JayZ and now it'll just go back to being run from my apartment again. We plan on continuing with Stolen Transmission and are really excited to be returning to our indie roots. - more on this story

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Girl in a Coma Western US Dates

PR reports: All-female trio Girl in a Coma are backing their Blackheart Records release 'Both Before I'm Gone' with a tour that includes a swing through Texas, with two dates in their hometown of San Antonio. They'll be playing with Social Distortion, The Cliks and The Toadies

They'll also be taping an episode of the hit TLC show "LA Ink" while they're in LA, during which charismatic singer-guitarist Nina Diaz, 19, who's written darkly about "tattooed lovers" in "Their Cell," will get inked herself.

3 - Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture
7 - Laredo, TX - GW Roadhouse
8 - McAllen,TX - Pink
12 - Austin, TX - Stubb's BBQ w/The Cliks
13 - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's w/The Cliks
- more dates

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Val Emmich TV and CD

PR reports: Indie rock artist Val Emmich has been keeping busy over the last few months recording the follow up to the critically acclaimed and independently released "Sunlight Searchparty" and it's companion b-sides and out takes album "Songs, Volume 1: Woodstock." Both albums follow the artist through a musical transformation shortly after he ended a tumultuous relationship with his former record label Epic/SonyBMG. The as-yet-untitled album will be finished mid-January and will feature an appearance by Blake Sennett, guitarist and sometime singer of LA based quartet Rilo Kiley. The label that will release the new album remains to be seen, but Emmich and his management are looking to have the album released in spring 2008.

As if recording the new album wasn't keeping Emmich busy enough, made a guest appearance on NBC's Emmy winning hit comedy series "30 ROCK" opposite Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. Val's episode on the show aired on NBC on the November 29th episode, titled "Cougars."

Come January, Emmich will make yet another guest appearance, this time with a recurring role on ABC's brand new series "The Cashmere Mafia" opposite Lucy Liu which will premiere on December 4. Emmich will play a photographer/Lucy Liu's love interest in the show. - Watch the 30 Rock episode

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Every Avenue Tour and CD Release

PR reports: Every Avenue, the charismatic and driven, quintet of pop-infused rock from Marysville, MI releases their debut full length album, Shh, Just Go With It on Feb 19, 2008. This album was produced and recorded by Zach Odom and Kenneth Mount (Cartel, Mayday Parade).

A demanding schedule of no sleep and rock shows is something Every Avenue is very accustomed to and their 2008 touring schedule will prove to be no different. "We'd rather be touring and playing music than anything else," says guitarist Jimmie Deeghan.

Every Avenue will be kicking off 2008 touring with All Time Low and label mates Mayday Parade on the Man Whores and Open Sores Tour 2008.

12.27.07 - Baltimore, MD @ Ramshead Live! w/ All Time Low
12.31.07 - Telluride, CO @ Telluride Conference Center
- more dates

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Neimo in NYC

PR reports: The sound of the Parisian underground has reached our shores once again and is about to nestle it's refined yet raw rock n' roll self amongst our own indie scene alongside fellow natives such as Justice, Soko and Sebastian Tellier (to name but a few).

Much like these aforementioned fellow "Frenchman", Ne�mo are not compelled to sing in their native tongue but make music that so inspired them when growing up, therefore defying previous notions that foreign rock cannot break the American music scene. In this ever connected world we live (thanks to myspace), their talent and sheer energy has enticed music fans and the industry to take note and now they are about to grace our land and senses through out the holidays in NYC.

Now with their second album Modern Incidental set for release next spring and after signing to U.S based Shangri-La Music, the new music company headed by Jeff Ayeroff (co-founder and former CEO of Virgin US and Work Group, and more recently Vice Chairman of Warner Records), the lads are now ready to revolutionize and refresh rock n' roll and shall venture across the Atlantic this December to play in New York City for a full month.

Dec 5 - Pianos 8pm
Dec 8 - Arlenes -Midnight
Dec 12 - Pianos 8pm
Dec 15 - Luna 9pm
Dec 19 - Pianos 8pm
Dec 22 - Tiswas 11pm
Dec 29 - Midway 10pm - "Hot Girl" Video

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Bury Your Dead Enter Studio with New Singer

PR reports: Never ones to dwell on the past, Boston natives Bury Your Dead are forging ahead to the future with new vocalist Myke Terry (formerly of Cassius) in tow.

The band has returned to Florida's Audiohammer Studios, the exact studio where their previous release Beauty and the Breakdown was recorded. Bury Your Dead have also brought back producer Jason Suecof (Trivium, God Forbid), continuing with the theme of tradition.

Keeping everyone on the edge of their seats, drummer Mark Castillo adds, "All I have to say is the new Bury Your Dead isn't what people are going to expect. You really have to hear this." The yet untitled album is due in stores this spring. -

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And Justice for Newsted

antiMusic reports: From time to time we receive articles from our readers that we pass on. We received such an article this weekend from Tom Acemoglu about a surprising detail about the Metallica songs included in the new Rock Band game. This originally appeared on his Myspace blog and is edited a little bit to fit here. Here is Tom with the 411:

Tonight I was playing Rock Band after having downloaded some extra content for the game on Xbox live. I downloaded a David Bowie pack (which included "Moonage Daydream" and covers of "Heroes" and "Queen Bitch"), a Runaways cover ("Cherry Bomb"), a T. Rex cover ("Bang a Gong"), and a Metallica pack ("Blackened", "And Justice For All", and "Ride the Lightning"). I wanted to try the Metallica songs right away, to see if they'd be hard to play. [due to where he is living] playing the Rock Band drums so late was out of the question.

I switched over to "Blackened" and I noticed that you could play bass on it. A quick note on why this is noticeable: When "...And Justice For All" was released in 1988, it seemed to have been packaged with almost no low end, which mostly means that the bass guitar track was rendered inaudible. This was done for a bunch of reasons, mainly because of the band's lack of confidence due to the then recent loss of their bass player Cliff Burton. The new bassist Jason Newsted had a long bubbling annoyance regarding the erasing of his bass tracks. What happened? Why no bass? You could even almost hear it on two "Justice"-era b-sides, "Breadfan" and especially "The Prince", both of which boasted rough mixes and no real mastering job to speak for. - more on this story

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.... Review: Trisha Yearwood - Greatest Hits

Yearwood's a singer that you'd willingly listen to, even if she was singing crap lyrics. But fortunately she's been blessed with many a fine song over the years, most of which are included here. (4 stars) - Read the full Trisha Yearwood - Greatest Hits review

.... Psyopus Interview

Matt Hensch recently spoke with Psyopus guitarist Chris Arp to find out the latest on the band and some interesting insights on what to expect next. - Read the full Psyopus Interview

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