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Say Anything Set Release

RCA reports: Los Angeles rock band Say Anything will release its [overused cliche removed] third album on October 13th on RCA Records. Self-titled, the 12-song collection was produced by veteran producer/mixer/engineer Neal Avron, who has also worked with Weezer, The Wallflowers, Fall Out Boy, and Everclear, among many others. The band � which is frontman Max Bemis, drummer Coby Linder, bassist Alex Kent, guitarists Jake Turner and Jeff Turner, and keyboardist Parker Case � recorded it in early 2009 at the Boat Studio in Los Angeles.

"In Defense was our opportunity to pay homage to our fans, to the bands we grew up listening to, even to our own artistic abilities," says Max Bemis. "Our new album steps out of tradition and tries to do things differently by making an impression not just based on a sense of artistry or maturity. We want to be able to affect anyone who listens to it. It's a bigger, more accessible undertaking, but it's twice as complex."

Bemis adds that the song cycle tells an uplifting story about finding oneself and trusting again, and is not dominated by the themes of drug addiction, insanity, and abusive relationships that fueled In Defense. "The songs on this record were inspired by an amazing adventure I had actually becoming a worthwhile person again," he says. "I had to let go of my self-loathing and general sense of self-imposed alienation, which led me through a journey of self-discovery, at the end of which I fell in love and got married." - more on this story

More on Say Anything - Say+Anything" >Say Anything CDs

Meet Shadows Fall

Adrenaline reports: New England metallers Shadows Fall will be appearing at the Mayhem Fest on August 8 in Hartford, CT for a special autograph signing. The signing will take place at the venue, the Comcast Theatre, at 3PM.

Microsoft is currently offering the new SHADOWS FALL track "King of Nothing" as a free download. The song is available here (Ironically on a Myspace page)

The new Shadows Fall album, Retribution, streets September 15 on the band's own label, Everblack Industries - more on this story

More on Shadows Fall - Shadows+Fall" >Shadows Fall CDs

Black Francis Club Tour

PR reports: A rare chance to see Black Francis perform songs from his entire career, in a small club setting.

My name is Black Francis (sometimes known as Frank Black). While performing solo or with a band I will play selections from most of these releases. Of course, some releases are better known than others, and in true show biz fashion I will usually perform several selections from my "A" list, but I will not perform medleys. And I generally do not perform so called encores, because I have always found this show biz mechanism (now it is a mechanism) to be overused and as a result lacking in the drama that perhaps occurred in the encores of yesteryear; plus, shouldn't an encore be a repeat performance of some selection that has already taken place earlier in the concert? I think some people would be confused if I repeated a song for an encore.

For some artists the live performance is the chicken before the egg of writing or recording of repertoire. For other artists the writing or recording of repertoire is the chicken before the egg of live performance. For other artists still there is the feeling that the live performance or the writing or recording of repertoire is that EGG which comes first. I am one of those artists who cannot remember which came first: the chicken or the egg? I can remember back as far as age 8 performing with the Boston Folk Song Society. It was a Woody Guthrie song.

why oh why oh why oh why?
why oh why oh why?
because because because because because because because - dates

More on Black Francis - Black+Francis" >Black Francis CDs

Classic Punk From The Gears and The D.I.'s Revisited

conqueroo reports: The Gears were formed in 1978, the heyday of Los Angeles punk, when two childhood buddies from the Glassell Park neighborhood of L.A. � singer Axxel G. Reese and drummer Dave Drive � joined forces. They created the "punk surfabilly" sound after seeing the early Hollywood punk bands while being influenced by other SoCal cultures. The band's recorded tour de force was the live album Rockin' at Ground Zero. Shortly after this epic live recording in 1982, the Gears' guitarist Kidd Spike angrily smashed his ax to smithereens mid-set at the Starwood and the Gears were done. Out if the ashes of The Gears, vocalist Reese and drummer Drive launched a new band called The D.I.s (Drill Instructors).

In its Rockin' at Ground Zero (Deluxe Edition) two-CD reissue, due out September 8, 2009, Hep Cat Records features the complete 1980 LP packaged with the first single ("Let's Go to the Beach") as well as five never-before-released demo recordings from 1979, a total of 23 Gears songs, all remastered. This edition also contains Rare Cuts!, 22 studio recordings by The D.I.s, including the entire Billy Zoom-produced five-song 12" vinyl EP Lock and Load. This comprehensive Gears collection, 45 songs in all, carries a list price of $19.98 and includes two fold-out posters.

Hep Cat will also release the original Gears Rockin' at Ground Zero as a single CD with five previously unreleased demo recordings that include the rockabilly'd-up title track, "Rockin' at Ground Zero," and the never-before-released "Girl Crazy." This 23-song remastered collection packaged in a digipak with a fold-out poster - more on this story

More on Gears - Gears" >Gears CDs

Bleeding Through Satyricon Tour

ESM reports: Bleeding Through, a proud new addition to the Rise Records roster, will be hitting the road this Fall supporting Satyricon beginning September 25 in Baltimore, MD.

The Orange County sextet has sold over a quarter million records around the world over the course of its career. This is Love, This is Murderous (2003), The Truth (2006) and last year's uncompromising Declaration has propelled the hard-working, straight edge band from the hardcore underground scene to a worldwide stage.

They've done Ozzfest (twice), MTV's Headbanger's Ball: The Tour, as well as Vans Warped Tour. You give them a stage and they'll demolish it! They've toured with bands like Slayer, Marilyn Manson, HIM, AFI, Bullet For My Valentine, and Senses Fail across North America, Europe, Australia, South America and Southeast Asia. - more on this story

More on Bleeding Through - Bleeding+Through" >Bleeding Through CDs

Mystic Prophecy Revisited

MMP reports: Mystic Prophecy is present on the power metal scene since 2000 and in just nine years they earned the title of one of the most talented bands in the genre's history. The group was formed in 2000 in Germany, when four musicians - vocalist Roberto Dimitri Liapakis (Valley's Eye), bassist Martin Albrecht (Valley's Eye, ex-Stormwitch), drummer Dennis Ekdahl (Raise Hell, In Cold Blood) and guitarist Gus G. (Firewind, Nightrage, Dream Evil, Arch Enemy) � decided to join forces in a new power metal project which they named Mystic Prophecy. While power metal was no longer as popular as it was in the 80's or even the 90's, the band decided to stay true to their concept and write material that easily combined both classic and modern schools of metal�

These exclusive re-releases of the group's first three albums � "Vengeance", "Regressus" and "Never Ending" showcase the amazing skills of the band that put power metal back on the musical pedestal�

"Vengeance" The band's debut offering was released on August 24th, 2001, by a small record label called B. Mind Records. The album's content was surprisingly heavy and nowhere near the light guitar riff-based direction that was so popular among many other modern power metal bands. Mystic Prophecy delivered a good old solid metal blast, complete with shredding guitars, phenomenal solos and intense drumming. However, the band's most significant feature was the voice of Roberto Dimitri Liapakis. His vocals were far from the typical, high-pitched power metal singing, leaning towards a deeper, more powerful sound. Thanks to breaking most of the stereotypes considering power metal vocalists, Mystic Prophecy managed to introduce a fresh new sound for the bit stale genre. The album featured a handful of thrash-influenced tracks, such as "Sky's Burning", "When Shadows Fall" and "River of Hate", as well as some more melodic efforts like "In The Mirror" and "Damnation and Darkness". Overall, "Vengeance" was a massive success for the band, spawning a great number of positive reviews in the press. - more on this story

More on Mystic Prophecy - Mystic+Prophecy" >Mystic Prophecy CDs

The Medders Go To Prison

PR reports: Recently, Nashville's band of brothers, The Medders, held a show at the Davidson County Corrections Development Center, aka Metro Prison. Like many, lead singer Cheyenne Medders had his fears and reservations about performing for convicted criminals. He explains below. Don't forget, their new self-titled album is due out on August 25th.

How did this opportunity arise? A local musician named Allan Douglas has been doing this for a couple of years, and he asked me to play the Metro Prison back in December of last year. I couldn't do it then, but I made sure to be available next chance I got, which turned out to be July 22. There were several of us, including Allan, Annie Williams, and a guy named Chris who sounded a lot like Roy Orbison or early Elvis.

What were your biggest fears about this gig opposed to others? Last minute second thoughts about the setlist included the fear that we would come across as unqualified to sing songs like my own "Gunslinger" and Buddy and Julie Miller's "Little Darlin'" which opens with "Little Darlin' love is not a crime / if it is then let me do my time / lock my heart up, throw away the key / I'm a prisoner that don't wanna go free." At the same time, my spirit was telling me that the audience would love it, so we went for it. At other gigs, my fears are that people won't listen, that I'm performing in vain. At the prison, nothing could be further from the truth. - more on this story

More on Medders - Medders" >Medders CDs

Playing For Change Tour

ID reports: After a series of shows that generated rave reviews in Los Angeles, New Orleans and the U.K., it was announced today that Playing For Change will launch a national concert tour. Kicking off on Oct. 20 at The Birchmere in Washington, DC, the fall tour will bring the Playing For Change movement to over 20 cities nationwide including Town Hall in New York on Oct. 25. The Playing For Change band features musicians from around the globe, many of whom appeared in the now ubiquitous "Stand By Me" video (which has been viewed on the internet more than 30 million times) including New Orleans based blues singer Grandpa Elliott and soul singer Clarence Bekker from Amsterdam.

Momentum has continued to build for the project as founder Mark Johnson and the musicians of Playing For Change were just named "Persons of the Week" on ABC's "World News Tonight with Charlie Gibson." This honor fell on the heels of Johnson's return from a triumphant keynote speaking appearance at the internationally renowned TED (Technology, Education & Design) Conference in Oxford, England. Playing For Change has been profiled many times nationally including NPR's Morning Edition, CBS News Sunday Morning and PBS' Bill Moyers Journal just to name a few. Meanwhile, the Playing For Change band recently performed a thunderous set headlining the world stage at England's Glastonbury Festival, played before a rapturous audience at Tipitina's, New Orleans' landmark concert hall and returned to the place where the movement began, kicking off the Santa Monica Pier's summer-long 100th anniversary celebration with an amazing hometown show on July 3rd. In addition, the Playing For Change band has performed on NBC's The Tonight Show twice within the last 4 months with more television appearances scheduled soon.

Grammy-winning producer/engineer/filmmaker Mark Johnson founded Playing For Change on the simple idea that the world can be connected through music. Starting in Santa Monica, California, Mark captured a performance of "Stand By Me" by legendary street blues singer Roger Ridley, then he took the show on the road. In New Orleans, he put headphones on Grandpa Elliott, who harmonized with Ridley's soulful rendition of the song. And he didn't stop there. Using innovative mobile technology and travelling the world, they filmed and recorded more than 100 musicians, largely outdoors, in parks, plazas and promenades, in doorways, on cobblestone streets and amid hilly pueblos. Each captured performance created a new mix in which essentially the artists are all performing together, albeit hundreds or thousands of miles apart. - more on this story

More on Playing For Change - Playing+For+Change" >Playing For Change CDs

The Willowz Set Release for Everyone

PR reports: Los Angeles' The Willowz are back with their vibrant energy and vintage inspired new wave sound. The band's new album, Everyone, is a strong statement of musical evolution. While staying true to their no-strings-attached soul infused garage rock sound, the band has incorporated stronger crafted pop hooks than ever before. [out Oct.6, 2009]

When The Willowz formed in 2002, they were just teenagers with ambitious dreams. Fast forward seven years and the band has found itself featured on the soundtracks to such award winning films such as "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" and "The Science Of Sleep," and on numerous publications' "best of the year" lists. Nominated for L.A. Weekly's "Rock Band of the Year," making Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums of the Year [only a RS dork would call Orange County "the O.C."], and coveting [???] the O.C. Weekly's "#1 Rock Album of the Year" for their 2007 record, Chautauqua, The Willowz are gearing up for the release of their eagerly anticipated forth album, Everyone.

Opening the record is "Break Your Back," a track that starts out with simple percussion and colorful vocals before crescendo-ing into a massive, heavily layered song, paving the way for the remainder of this dynamic rock album. - more on this story

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Adelitas Way Vegas Party

EMI reports: Las Vegas rockers, Adelitas Way will hit the road with Shinedown this fall in support of their self-titled debut, which released July 14th on Virgin/EMI Music and debuted at #16 on Billboard's Top New Artist Chart. The tour will kick off in Richmond, VA on Friday, September 11 and will work its way across the Midwest and West coast then travel back ending in Orlando.

To mark the release of its self-titled debut, Adelitas Way recently celebrated at the Palms Casino Resort in its hometown of Las Vegas on the album's street date. A select number of fans who purchased their CD at ZIA Records along with local radio contest winners, gained entry to a private concert by Adelitas Way at The Lounge at the Palms Casino Resort and the after-party at Moon. Preceding their debut celebration, Adelitas Way appeared at WWE's Monday Night RAW in Orlando.

The album's kick off single, the power-rock anthem "Invincible," has already been tagged as WWE Superstars theme song, been used for spots promoting the 2009 season finale of the hit series "CSI: Miami" and is currently available on iTunes. Since then, the single been streamed nearly 200,000 times on Adelitas Way's MySpace page and is building national airplay as it climbs at both Active and Rock radio charts. - more on this story

More on Adelitas Way - Adelitas+Way" >Adelitas Way CDs

Skeletonwitch's Brutal, Evil, And In A Sadistic Way F**King Fun Cover Art

PR reports: Athens, Ohio's Skeletonwitch has unveiled the cover art of their new full length, Breathing the Fire, due out October 13th on Prosthetic Records.

The cover, designed by Andrei Bouzikov, who has previously done art for Municipal Waste and many others, can be viewed more

Scott Hedrick, the band's guitarist said about the cover, "The art really sums up the new album and what drew me to heavy metal in the first place: it's brutal, evil, and in a sadistic way, it's f#$king fun! Breathing the Fire is meaner, faster, and far more sickening than Beyond the Permafrost, and the art reflects that. We went for the jugular, and so does Andrei's art. He did an amazing job. It's f#$king killer when the artist and band share a similar approach: organic. Blood and sweat, ink and paint, tubes in amps, and non-triggered drums. A set of balls. Not gym shorts, sterile computer generated art, effects pedals and redundant arpeggios." - more on this story

More on Skeletonwitch - Skeletonwitch" >Skeletonwitch CDs

Susperia Norway Tour

Total Concept reports: Norway's Susperia continue to ease their way back into live action with vocalist Athera on a short Norwegian tour in September.

The shows come on the back of Atheras' successful return to the stage at Norway's Steinkjer Festival in June. The singer, who suffered a heart attack earlier this year which resulted in major open heart surgery, has made a rapid recovery and is looking forward to touring once again.

Commenting on the forthcoming shows he said "I can't wait to get back on the road again. It's something that at one point I thought I would never experience again, so I'm grabbing this opportunity with both hands." - more on this story

More on Susperia - Susperia" >Susperia CDs

Life On Repeat Inked

Equal Vision Records reports: Equal Vision Records have signed Salisbury, MD's Life On Repeat! The band - vocalist Patrick Purves, guitarists Andrew Baylis and Zach King, bassist Devon Voisine, and drummer David Walker - have been active for several years in various forms.

Previously known as Amen The Animal, Baylis explained the name change was necessary as the former, "carried a hefty load of history, including old members. It didn't feel right carrying on as Amen The Animal when I was the only original member of the lineup." As Amen The Animal, the quintet garnered buzz with their self-released EP, My Iron Heart.

With somewhat of a fresh start, Life On Repeat are preparing to spread their infectious brand of pop-rock with melodic hooks, dance-able beats and driving guitars in the form of a digital EP to be recorded with producer Brian McTernan (Thrice, Circa Survive, Senses Fail) in August and released later this fall. "He's responsible for so many successful albums that each of us grew up listening to. When we heard that we had the opportunity to record with him, it was a no-brainer," explained Walker. - more on this story

More on Life On Repeat - Life+On+Repeat" >Life On Repeat CDs

From Hell to Platinum for Lamb of God

Adrenaline reports: 'Walk With Me In Hell', the third DVD from Richmond, VA's metal icons Lamb Of God, has officially reached platinum status.

The DVD originally debuted at #2 on Billboard's Video Music chart, selling over 13,000 units in its first week of release. 'Walk With Me In Hell' shipped gold that week and came in behind pop mainstay John Mayer. - more on this story

More on Lamb Of God - Lamb+Of+God" >Lamb Of God CDs

The Soft Pack Hitting The Road

PR reports: Los Angeles transplants and irreverent rockers The Soft Pack are set to tour this fall at a slew of North American venues.

Before embarking on a headlining tour, they'll open three California shows for France's Phoenix. The talented four-piece, who play stripped down, straight ahead rock 'n roll, have had quite the year: They've had a successful residency at LA's venerable venue, Echo, criss-crossed the US and Canada on tour with White Lies and Friendly Fires, and found a new home with Brooklyn-based label Kemado Records.

In anticipation of the release of their debut LP (date TBD), which they will record with Eli Janney (Obits, Secret Machines) in Brooklyn this August, Matt Lamkin (vocals), Matty McLoughlin (guitar), David Lantzman (bass) and Brian Hill (drums) will bring infectious riffs, smart lyrics and incredible energy to stages across North America. - more on this story

More on Soft Pack - Soft+Pack" >Soft Pack CDs

Katie Kerkhover Eyes Digital Release

ABC reports: Katie Kerkhover: Take two parts rock and roll attitude, one part punk swagger, add a splash of girl power anthems, then shake vigorously over a healthy dose of sex appeal and stage presence, and you will have a concoction that will quench the staunchest of rock n' roll thirsts, and leave a habit you cant kick.

The music of Katie Kerkhover is this potent combination; infectious, and addictive. Her blistering blend of modern rock and throwback salutes to childhood influences, have Katie poised to join the top ranks of the Rock n' Roll community.

Her self-titled debut was released July 16 on Big Khaos Music. It will be available on iTunes in the coming weeks. - more on this story

More on Katie Kerkhover - Katie+Kerkhover" >Katie Kerkhover CDs

. Sex Slaves - Wasted Angel

Think of your favorite band. The one that makes you smile when you hear the first few notes of their song or makes you scream your voice hoarse at their live shows. Well press the mental erase button on those has-beens and prepare to meet your new favorite band. (5 stars) - Read the full Sex Slaves - Wasted Angel review

.... Road Trip: Waterfront Invasion - Chinasaurs Put the Bite on Baltimore!

The invasion of Baltimore's Inner Harbor this summer is not so far off from pulp fiction. It's absolutely true that a seventy-foot long Mamenchisaurus has been sighted in the area. As scary-looking as the big fellow is though, he's not in the mood to cause any trouble. - Read the full Waterfront Invasion - Chinasaurs Put the Bite on Baltimore! Road Trip article

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