Tag Archive | "tour"

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Good Old War’s Come Back As Rain is out now on Sargent House

Posted on 13 March 2012 by Ohio

“‘Come Back As Rain.’ is as breezy and melodic as they come, almost reveling in the simplicity of their harmonic vocals and country like melodies.” -URB

“Consider Come Back As Rain the quintessential road-trip album… This album could transform any grey day into a blissful one, and these guys serve as a breath of fresh air.” – Music Baeble

“Come Back as Rain may be the perfect summer soundtrack for listeners.” -All Music

Good Old War will be playing the following SXSW shows:

March 16th, 2012 @ 4pm
D’Addario presents The Players Pitstop Day Party
Rusty’s
405 E. 7th St.

March 16th @ 12am
Official SXSW Showcase
(with Ingrid Michaelson)
The Central Presbyterian Church
200 E. 8th St.

Good Old War is currently on a headlining US tour, with support from The Belle Brigade & Family Of The Year. For a full list of US Tour dates visit:

www.goodoldwar.com

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Big Black Delta at the Bootleg Theater

Posted on 24 February 2012 by Flak

Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of getting my eardrums blown out by the mighty Big Black Delta. Headed by front man and light enthusiast Jonathan Bates, this isn’t his first rodeo. You might know of a little Los Angeles band by the name of Mellowdrone (shout out to my old coworker Brian Borg) that Jonathan is also the head of.

This time around, he is pairing up with the percussion duo that is Mahsa Zargaran and Amy Wood. That’s right, two drummers.

They have been a busy trio, with their album BBDLP1 recently dropping and some opening sets for France’s own M83 (which yours truly photographed and danced to). The album has a more refined electronic feel to it, with solid production throughout.

For me, the live show is where the trio shines, with Jon preferring the engineers to turn the lights down low, to ensure that all can marvel at his custom light rig. It danced to the music with us, as the front row screamed the lyrics alongside me. Even the most jaded cool kids in the back could be seen tapping their foot in excitement.

I shot Jon rockin it at the M83 show a little while back.

Most people, including me, wondered why they need two drummers, and I think I finally am beginning to understand. With Jon on his laptop, and the programmed sounds booming, I found myself watching each drummer, picking out which part of the incredibly full and layered sound they were contributing. Exchanging smiles to each other throughout the set, these ladies were confident of two things: 1. They’re gorgeous 2. They’re melting faces.

As for Jon, he seems like a quiet dude, but it’s only a matter of time before he can’t help but smile in front of thousands of adoring fans.

At the end of the set, a show goer jumped on stage and grabbed the set list, but at least I know for sure that BBD played my favorite songs, opening with Huggin & Kissin, played BETAMAX somewhere in the middle (one of my favorite music videos from last year), and closed out explosively with everyone’s favorite song, IFUCKINGLOVEYOU.

Jon in front of the mighty light rig.

Seeing Big Black Delta is strange. It’s like they are superstars that no one knows about yet. Then again, I guess that’s the dream of every hipster, innit? This band is doing something very original, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Last night was the most packed, and the most fun I’ve ever had at The Bootleg Theater, and I’ll be ready and waiting for the next show.

Check out their website for tour info, and to pick up a copy of their album. You won’t regret it. Also, shout out to United Ghosts and V for Valente for opening up and bringin’ it.

Until next time my friends,

~Flak

P.S. “Aliens?”

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Mansions on the Moon Prepare to Kick Off Tour

Posted on 19 February 2012 by Flak

Mansions on the Moon is what I’m rockin’ to today, and my buddy\mega talented Videographer CRUZ gives us a taste of what is coming on their tour. Here’s the trailer (chock full of my new jam, Take a Look) and the tour dates. Hopefully you’ll catch me at that Mint show on March 9th, son!

 

Mansions On The Moon, Lightyears Tour 2012 from CRÜZ ON TOUR on Vimeo.

Sat – Mar 9 Los Angeles The Mint

March 13 – 17 SXSW

Wed-Mar-21 Lawrence, KS The Granada

Thu-Mar-22 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room

Fri-Mar-23 Ames, IA M-Shop

Sat-Mar-24 Iowa City, IA The Mill

Sun-Mar-25 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry

Tue-Mar-27 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall

Thu-Mar-29 DeKalb, IL The House Cafe

Fri-Mar-30 Pontiac, MI iLounge

Sat-Mar-31 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge

Sun-Apr-01 St. Louis, MO The Gramophone

Tue-Apr-03 Memphis, TN Hi Tone

Thu-Apr-05 Birmingham, AL Bottletree

Fri-Apr-06 Athens, GA New Earth Music Hall

Sat-Apr-07 Atlanta, GA Terminal West @ King Plow

 

Until next time my friends,

~Flak

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Tech N9ne announces dates for 2012 tour

Posted on 10 February 2012 by Ohio

Following an outstanding 2011, premier independent hip-hop artist Tech N9ne is starting off the New Year with an ambitious start.  The Strange Music recording artist is gearing up to embark on  his “Hostile Takeover 2012” tour with Bad Boy/Interscope Records rapper, and MTV’s 2011 “Hottest Breakthrough MC,” Machine Gun Kelly.  The tour will kick off on March 24th in Tech N9ne’s hometown of Kansas City and continue through July.

A trailer announcing the tour and featuring some of Strange Music’s brightest acts such as Krizz Kaliko, Mayday, Prozak and Stevie Stone, who will be joining Tech N9ne on the “Hostile Takeover Tour,” was released in mid-January and can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlbe7UMKJaY.

 

With over 90 performances scheduled in just 99 days, the “Hostile Takeover 2012” tour will be the longest consecutive tour in rap history and the only time this year fans will be able to see the enigmatic Tech N9ne perform his one-of-a-kind stage show.

 

Over the last decade, the Kansas City recording artist has continued to build his Strange Music brand by developing a fervent following of devoted fans captivated by his uncanny energy and relentless touring schedule.  By the mid-2000s, Tech N9ne was performing over 200 shows a year in high-octane sets that have earned high-profile endorsements from the likes of Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes and many others.

 

In 2011, the rapper released his critically acclaimed twelfth studio album, All 6’s & 7’s, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Independent and Hip-Hop/R&B charts, and No. 4 overall on the Top 200.  Tech N9ne also delivered a show-stopping, stand-out feature on Lil’ Wayne’s The Carter IV, which sold nearly 1 million units in its first week of release last summer.
“Hostile Takeover 2012” tour dates are below.  For a complete listing, set-times and tickets, please visit http://www.strangevip.com.

 

March 24 – The Midland Theatre – Kansas City, MO

March 25 – Cotillion Ballroom – Wichita, KS

March 26 – Cains Ballroom – Tulsa, OK

March 28 – Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK

March 29 – Palladium Ballroom – Dallas, TX

March 30 – Juanita’s Café and Bar – Little Rock, AR

March 31 – The Varsity Theatre – Baton Rouge

April 1 – House of Blues – Houston, TX

April 3 – Brewster Street Ice House – Corpus Christi, TX

April 5 – Emo’s East – Austin, TX

April 6 – Wreckers – Lubbock, TX

April 7 – Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX

April 10 – Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM

April 11 – The Top Deck – Farmington, NM

April 12 – Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill Park – Coconino, AZ

April 13 – The Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ

April 14 – Celebrity Theatre – Phoenix, AZ

April 15 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA

April 16 – The Observatory Orange County – Santa Ana, CA

April 17 – House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV

April 18 – House of Blues – West Hollywood, CA

April 19 – The Majestic Ventura Theater – Ventura, CA

April 20 – TBD – TBD

April 21 – Pozo Saloon – Pozo, CA

April 22 – The Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA

April 23 – Cal Neva Resort Frank Sinatra Ballroom – Crystal Bay, NV

April 24 – The Phoenix Theater – Petaluma, CA

April 25 – Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA

April 26 – Fat Cat Music House & Lounge – Modesto, CA

April 27 – The Senator Theater – Chico, CA

April 28 – Arcata Community Center – Arcata, CA

May 1 – TBD – TBD

May 2 – McDonald Theatre – Eugene, OR

May 3 – Roseland Theater – Portland, OR

May 4 – TBD – TBD

May 5 – The SHowbox SoDo – Seattle, WA

May 6 – The Capital Theatre – Yakima, WA

May 8 – Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA

May 10 – Knitting Factory Concert House – Boise, IS

May 11 – TBD – TBD

May 12 – Saltair – Magna, UT

May 13 – Mesa Theater & Club – Grand Junction

May 15 – The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs

May 16 – The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs

May 17 – Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO

May 18 – The Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO

May 19 – The Venue – Casper, WY

May 21 – Al Bedoo Shrine Auditorium – Billings, MT

May 22 – Rushmore Hall – Rapid City, SD

May 23 – All Seasons Arena – Minot, SD

May 24– Fargo Civic Center – Fargo, ND

May 25 – Ramkota Exhibit Hall – Sioux Falls, SD

May 26 – Cabooze Music Club – Minneapolis, MN

May 27 – The Omaha Civic Auditorium Mancuso Hall – Omaha, NE

May 29 – 7 Flags Event Center – Clive, IA

May 30 – The River Center – Davenport, IA

May 31 – The Orpheum – Madison, WI

June 1 – The Rave / Eagles Club – Milwaukee, WI

June 2 – House of Blues – Chicago, IL

June 3 – The Egyptian Room @ Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN

June 4 – The Castle Theatre – Bloomington, IL

June 5 – IPFW Rhinehart Auer Hall – Fort Wayne, IN

June 6 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH

June 7 – The Fillmore Detroit – Detroit, MI

June 8 – Headliners – Toledo, OH

June 9 – The Agora – Cleveland, OH

June 10 – The Rostraver Ice Garden – Belle Vernon, PA

June 11 – The Silo Nightclub – Reading, PA

June 12 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY

June 13 – The Chance Theater – Poughkeepsie, NY

June 14 – Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA

June 15 – The Worcester Palladium – Worcester, MA

June 16 – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ

June 17 – Highline Ballroom – New York, NY

June 19 – Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD

June 20 – The NorVa – Norfolk, VA

June 21 – Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC

June 22 – TBD – TBD

June 23 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

June 24 – House Of Blues – Orlando, FL

June 26 – Club Cinema – Pompano Beach, FL

June 27 – Green Iguana Bar & Grill – Tampa, FL

June 28 – Plush – Jacksonville, FL

June 29 – Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex – Birmingham, AL

June 30 – Whiskey – Jackson, MS

July 1 – Orpheum Theater – Memphis, TN

July 3 – Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN

July 4 – Expo Five – Louisville, KY

July 5 – Pops – Sauget, IL

July 6 – TBD – TBD

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Lady Gaga Announces The Born This Way Ball Tour Dates

Posted on 08 February 2012 by Ohio

5-time Grammy Award winner Lady Gaga is set to make her triumphant return to the stage this Spring with The Born This Way Ball. In this brand new tour, Gaga will perform her latest album Born This Way as well as music from both The Fame and The Fame Monster.The Born This Way Ball, produced globally by Live Nation, will begin on April 27th, 2012 in Seoul, South Korea, and will travel the globe including cities that Gaga has never played before.

Lady Gaga’s last tour, The Monster Ball, captivated audiences around the globe, receiving rave reviews in every city. The Sun called it “the best live show you will see this year,” and the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards named it the Major Tour of the Year.

“The Haus of Gaga and I have worked for months conceiving a spectacular stage,” said Mother Monster. “The Born This Way Ball” is an Electro-Metal Pop-Opera; the tale of the Beginning, the genesis of the Kingdom of Fame. How we were birthed and how we will die celebrating.”

Tickets for The Born This Way Ball go on sale starting Febraury 17th at LiveNation.com with more dates to be announced! For complete tour and ticket information, visit www.ladygaga.com and www.livenation.com.

Tour Dates:
April 27 – Seoul, South Korea @ Olympic Stadium
May 2 – Hong Kong @ Asia World Aren
May 10 – Tokyo, Japan @ Saitama Super Arena
May 28 – Singapore @ Indoor Stadium
Jun 7 – Auckland, New Zealand @ Vector Arena
Jun 13 – Brisbane, Australia @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Jun 20 – Sydney, Australia @ Allphones Arena
Jun 21 – Sydney, Australia @ Allphones Arena
Jun 27 – Melbourne, Australia @ Rod Laver Arena
Jun 28 – Melbourne, Australia @ Rod Laver Arena
Jul 7 – Perth, Australia @ Burswood Dome


Official Sites:
LadyGaga.com
LittleMonsters.com
facebook.com/ladygaga
twitter.com/#!/ladygaga

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Big Sir – ‘Before Gardens After Gardens’ Review

Posted on 06 February 2012 by Flak

With over two dozen playthroughs over the past couple weeks, my first album submission of the year puts me on a good note. Big Sir’s latest album, Before Gardens After Gardens, is their first LP in many a year. Comprised of the beautiful East Coast songstress Lisa Papineau (known for her work with Air and M83) and legendary Mars Volta bassist Juan Alderete, Big Sir is a staple of the Sargent House family.

Returning to this album is Juan’s signature high treble Fender bass sound that made me fall in love with Non-Stop Drummer from their self-titled album. Also returning is the lovely layering of Lisa’s voice throughout the album. It always made me wonder what would happen if she had backup singers in tow at the live show. But I digress, on to the favorites of the album.

The second track, Ready on the Line is catchy as all hell, with a high tempo drum machine and heavy voice layering. As one of the singles from the album, I’m sure Lisa will break out her next level dance moves at their upcoming Los Angles shows.

This album and tour is pulling great features in for the ride. The sixth track, The Kindest Hour, features RX Bandits front man Matthew Embree with echoing vocals. The bass and strings are almost much to be admired, and had me wonder if it was in fact stand-up bass in this track.

My favorite track is Be Brave Go On. With accordions, Juan’s hypnotizing bass line, and odd timing, it was a no brainer. The lyrics are very relevant to this particular moment in my life, so those are automatic points in the book. The breakdown toward the end of the song carries the powerful mantra “Be brave and thankful all the way on, all the way, all the brave go on”, coupled with sharp synth to close out the song.

Big Sir has the ability to demand attention, while also being ambient and warming the mind from behind the eyes. The album releases on February 7th, and the small Los Angles tour before their European tour starts soon, so check out the dates, and join us.

Last time, Matt Embree and Cedric Bixler-Zavala came through, and Chris Tsagakis is a for sure guest this time around, so who knows what may happen.

Until next time my friends,

~Flak

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If These Trees Could Talk Announce New Album ‘Red Forest’ + Spring European Tour Dates

Posted on 23 January 2012 by Flak

IF THESE TREES COULD TALK ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM DETAILS
RED FOREST, TO BE RELEASED ON SCIENCE OF SILENCE RECORDS 
 

Band Schedules Two Week European Tour This April

Akron, OH post-rock outfit If These Trees Could Talk has announced plans to release the band’s third album, Red Forest on March 20th.  Vinyl treatment will be released on Science of Silence Records, while the band will self-release the CD and digital versions.  The nine song, 48-minute long album was self-produced throughout much of 2011 at NEMeadow Studios in Bath, OH.  Will Putney mastered the album and Charlie Wagers of Three Bears Design was at the helm for art direction and design.

Red Forest gives fans their first look into new music from The Trees since their critically acclaimed full-length Above The Earth, Below The Sky, which was released in 2009.  In 2006, The Trees released their debut self-produced eponymous EP, which was the launching point for their career.

“When we went into this record, we decided towards the end of the writing process that we wanted to self-produce and record it.  We had self-produced the last two albums, and wanted to continue on that path.  This afforded us the opportunity to take our time with the tracks and gave them space to grow.”

Red Forest Tracklisting:
1. Breath of Life
2. The First Fire
3. Barren Lands of the Modern Dinosaur
4. They Speak With Knives
5. The Gift of Two Rivers
6. Red Forest
7. Aleutian Clouds
8. Left to Rust and Rot
9. When the Big Hand Buries the Twelve

The writing of the record came about very naturally, say the band members.  “Once we decided that a song had made it far enough, we tracked it, re-tracked it and just kept adding onto it until we were happy with it.  It was very much a write-as-you-record kind of experience.  The recording console had a flat screen above it that played Koyaanisqatsi on repeat, which kind of encapsulates our feelings on what inspired the record.

In addition to releasing new music, The Trees will embark on a two week European tour in April.  “This is something that seemed out of reach, but has come to fruition in a very seamless way.  We couldn’t be happier to finally be playing for fans that have been asking for so long.  We really can’t thank them enough for all the support and passion that they have given us.“  Starting off at Dunk! Festival in Belgium on April 7th, the band will make their way through Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and finish with three dates at Astral Fest in Russia.  See below for a full list of dates.

European Tour Dates:
Apr 07  Dunk! Festival | Sottegem, Belgium
Apr 08  Kulturpalast | Wiesbaden, Germany
Apr 09  Kassablanca | Jena, Germany
Apr 10  Klub 007 | Prague, Czech Republic
Apr 11  Hydrozagadka | Warsaw, Poland
Apr 12  Fabrika | Poznan, Poland
Apr 13  Cassiopeia | Berlin, Germany
Apr 14  Druckluft | Oberhausen, Germany
Apr 15  Rhiz | Vienna, Austria
Apr 16  Instant | Budapest, Hungary
Apr 17  Tvornica Kulture | Zagreb/Sljeme Medvednica, Croatia
Apr 18  PMK | Innsbuck, Austria
Apr 19  The Waiting Room | Saint Petersburg, Russia
Apr 20  Tele-Club | Ekaterinburg, Russia
Apr 21  Milk | Moscow, Russia

The Trees music has been featured in various MTV and VH1 shows, Levi’s, Nike and Van’s webisodes as well as in Friday Night Lights and the Playstation 3 video game, InFamous.  Look for more music to be featured in the upcoming documentary The Other Dream Team, which will be premiering at the Sundance Film Festival this week.

Keep up to date with all band and label news:
www.twitter.com/treescouldtalk
www.facebook.com/treescouldtalk
www.ifthesetreescouldtalk.com

www.facebook.com/scienceofsilence
www.scienceofsilence.net

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The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus celebrate the release of their third studio LP, Am I The Enemy

Posted on 21 September 2011 by Flak

Press Release:

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus celebrate the release of their third studio LP, Am I The Enemy, with national tour dates throughout the fall.
Three years since their last full album and with nearly 2 million records sold worldwide, Am I The Enemy is the sound of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus in fighting form.  For a preview of what to expect from Am I The Enemy, give a listen to powerful single “Reap,” the first song written for the new LP – and in the words of frontman Ronnie Winter, “I think it’s one of the best, because it pretty much spawned the entire sound for the new record.”
On inspirational track “Don’t Lose Hope,” TRJA delivers a message they’re particularly passionate about.
“We have always supported various charities like To Write Love on Her Arms and the Take Action tour, which promote awareness against teen suicide and offer peer to peer counseling. ‘Don’t Lose Hope’ is a direct message to those who feel like no one else cares,” Winter reveales. “God does, and always has.”
Recorded with producer John Feldmann [Goldfinger], the effort explodes with 12 hard-hitting rock tracks released via Collective Sounds.

Tour dates below with more dates to be announced.


The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Tour Dates

Oct 13 – The White Rabbit – San Antonio, TX
Oct 14 – Trees – Dallas, TX
Oct 15 – Scout Bar – Houston, TX
Oct 17 – The Rock – Tucson, AZ
Oct 18 – Martini Ranch – Scottsdale, AZ
Oct 19 – House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
Oct 22 – Oakland Metro Opera House – Oakland, CA
Oct 24 – Wow Hall – Eugene, OR
Oct 25 – The Venue – Boise, ID
Oct 27 – Club Sound – Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 29 – Manny’s – Billings, MT
Nov 3 – The Hayloft – Mt Clemens, MI
Nov 6 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
Nov 8 – The Studio at Webster Hall – New York, NY
Nov 10 – Mr. Smalls Theatre – Milwale, PA
Nov 11 – The Canal Club – Richmond, VA
Nov 12 – Amos South End – Charlotte, NC
Nov 13 – Exit / In – Nashville, TN
Nov 15 – The WorkPlay Theatre – Birmingham, AL
Nov 17 – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
Nov 18 – The Varsity Theatre – Baton Rouge, LA
Nov 19 – Floyd’s Music Store – Tallahassee, FL
Nov 20 – State Theatre – St Petersburg, FL
Nov 23 – Freebird Live – Jacksonville Beach, FL

More on The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Art often thrives in the aftermath of adversity, and since we last heard from The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, there have been plenty of variables that the five-piece alternative rock act had to endure. But for the Middleburg, Florida-based band, hardships eventually ironed out thanks to unrelenting perseverance, paving the way for the band’s incredibly ambitious (and aptly titled) The Hell Or High Water EP in 2010, followed by its third and highly anticipated long player Am I The Enemy(bowing in August 2011).

Like the EP that preceded it, the project comes under a partnership with its management company The CollectiveDon’t You Fake It on the heels of the band’s voluntary parting of ways with Virgin Records, the company that first signed the band for 2006’s gold selling (spawning the smash single “Face Down”), followed by 2009’s

Lonely Road (which debuted in the top twenty of the Billboard 200). Reconnecting with its DIY roots, Am I The Enemyfinds the guys sounding more on fire than ever before, exuding confidence at every razor sharp turn of the amplifier or bellowing vocal execution from impassioned front man Ronnie Winter.

“It’s been three years since our last full-length album, and in the time between, there’s been a lot of rebuilding where we’ve gotten a lot more focused, sorted out all our behind the scenes issues and got to the point of just really wanting to make a new record,” the front man asserts. “We knew that the fans were behind us after their support of The Hell Or High Water EP, but we wanted to take our writing to the next level without having to worry about any of the business stuff and just put all our focus on the music. It was just like riding a bike; right after we got into the studio, the training wheels came off and we were ready to get dangerous and test our limitations.”
Besides the band’s enthusiasm and tenacity, additional creative prodding came from producer John Feldmann, perhaps most familiar for his role as Goldfinger’s ringleader, but also known for behind the scenes work with The Used, Story of the Year, Good Charlotte, Plain White T’s, Saosin and Neon Trees (amongst countless others). Though the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus guys were lifelong Goldfinger fans, the connection came very organically after a co-producing session.
“It was totally genuine and we weren’t even looking for a producer type of deal, but just wanted to come up with some new ideas,” notes Winter. “We sat around with two acoustic guitars and right off the bat we clicked. We wrote the first single “Reap” (out April 26) and then turned around and wrote “Salvation” on the same day. We jumped right into demoing both of those songs a week after that and one thing led to another. Our work ethics blended really well, it was a ton of fun and there was no drama, which all made a huge difference in creating a record we’re all really proud of.”
Adds Feldmann: “It was a piece of cake working with the Red Jumpsuit guys. They were full of ideas and a real pleasure to record. Every one of them brought something unique to the record. This was a really fun record for me to make. Super talented musicians. Plus I kicked all their asses at ping pong.”
As for the tracks contained therein, die-hards and newcomers alike can look forward to a slew of sonic risks, wrapped around the group’s signature, post-hardcore, alternative rock romps. “There’s some cool digital programming and drum sound experimenting that we’ve never tried before and some crazy new chords with some really cool half step progressions,” reveals Winter. “John really opened some doors for us and I think any of our fans who are also musicians will notice it right away. Some of the chords are really peculiar sounding, but crazy awesome and cohesive with the rest of the record.”
A major case in point comes from the aforementioned “Reap,” which Winter asserts spawned the direction of the entire record thanks to its searing choruses, chugging verses and a ballsy “goes around comes around” attitude. The singer and producer’s second collaboration “Salvation” is an in your face anthem for anyone who’s ever faced adversity, while “Fall From Grace” firmly addresses the major label red tape from the group’s past and eventual realization to make music on its own terms. “Dive Too Deep” demonstrates the decade-nearing band dusting off an old riff that guitarist Duke Kitchens dreamt up when the guys were mere teens, but with a campfire crackling and the beer flowing, Winter finally found the right melody to match the undeniably catchy, emotional apex of the record.
As for the underlying theme, Am I The Enemy continues in the group’s thought-provoking, politically-charged direction that’s peppered previous projects, but has yet to be this bold. Regardless of one’s party line or personal beliefs, the band is sure to get listeners diving deep into the linear notes as they’re faced with probing rhetorical questions.
“We travel abroad all the time and I definitely feel like there’s a weird cloud in other countries regarding their perception of Americans,” explains Winter. “There seems to be this feeling that they think of us as bullies or the world police, though I don’t see it that way, especially when we’ve played for troops in Iraq, Cuba and here in the States. Sure there are problems, but if Am I The Enemy had a question mark after it, I would respond as a 28-year-old American by saying we’re actually trying to help strife-ridden countries learn about democracy, capitalism and freedom. We may have a bad economy and lying politicians, but as a society, I think we live in one of the greatest countries on earth.”
Listeners can certainly judge for themselves as The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus loads up its tour buses for its first proper North American tour since the last long player, backed by a bevy of international appearances. “We want to show fans we still care about them, even though we’ve been away for awhile,” sums up Winter. “We’re really excited about this record, more than anything we’ve ever released before, and we finally felt free to do what we wanted without having some huge shadow hanging over us.”
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus celebrate the release of their third studio LP, Am I The Enemy, with national tour dates throughout the fall.

Three years since their last full album and with nearly 2 million records sold worldwide, Am I The Enemy is the sound of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus in fighting form.  For a preview of what to expect from Am I The Enemy, give a listen to powerful single “Reap,” the first song written for the new LP – and in the words of frontman Ronnie Winter, “I think it’s one of the best, because it pretty much spawned the entire sound for the new record.”

On inspirational track “Don’t Lose Hope,” TRJA delivers a message they’re particularly passionate about.
“We have always supported various charities like To Write Love on Her Arms and the Take Action tour, which promote awareness against teen suicide and offer peer to peer counseling. ‘Don’t Lose Hope’ is a direct message to those who feel like no one else cares,” Winter reveales. “God does, and always has.”

Recorded with producer John Feldmann [Goldfinger], the effort explodes with 12 hard-hitting rock tracks released via Collective Sounds.
 

Tour dates below with more dates to be announced.

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Metronomy Playing at the Troubadour on Oct. 18th

Posted on 15 September 2011 by Flak

British bad-asses Metronomy are coming soon to Los Angeles. Join them at the Troubadour on October 18th. Never heard of them? Check out their song/video The Look from their lovely, Mercury Prize nominated latest album, The English Riviera.

 

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Portishead Announcement North American Tour This October 2011

Posted on 15 July 2011 by Broke In The OC

 

 

PORTISHEAD ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR THIS OCTOBER 2011
“…music…for people who want to utterly pulverize boredom.”
-Sasha Frere-Jones, New Yorker
Nobody sounds like Portishead.  The progression of their albums has clearly established their uncompromising stance towards their future. For the first time since 1998, Portishead announce their North American tour this October 2011.
Portishead kick off their tour at this year’s All Tomorrow’s Parties presentation, I’ll Be Your Mirror  Saturday October 1 & Sunday October 2 taking place in Asbury Park, N.J.  Portishead co-curated these two days of the 3 day festival.  According to Adrian Utley,We’ve always thought that we must come back to tour in the states, something we wanted to do with the release of Third, but our schedule just wouldn’t allow it. Being that we were asked to curate  I’ll be your Mirror, this just seemed like a good start to touring the states – it set’s it off in absolutely the right way. We are absolutely delighted to come back.”
Following ATP, Portishead will take the stage at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom for two nights, followed by shows in Montreal, Toronto, Chicago,  Mexico, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver. The tour ends in Denver on October 27th.

 

 

After an 11- year hiatus, Portishead’s album Third, the long-awaited follow up to their 1997 self-titled release, debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart, received rave reviews  and has been hailed as an “unexpected yet totally impressive return” by Rolling Stone Magazine, and “Worth the wait” by Newsweek.   “‘Third’ is more polymorphous, more extreme, more propulsive and often harsher than previous Portishead albums” claimed New York Times.  “…anyone can make abrasive music, but few can do something new and compelling with apocalyptic heaviness” wrote Spin Magazine.
Following Third’s release, Portishead made their only U.S. performance on April 26th at the Coachella Music Festival after an invite only private rehearsal at LA’s Mayan Theater. “Beth Gibbons and Co. delivered bigtime, turning out stirring new songs from their first album in more than a decade. The band’s warm peels of sound moved across the field like an aural massage, the six touring members locked in together with incredible precision, every turntable scratch and haunting synth gorgeously amplified,” praised Rolling Stone. Appropriately Portishead ended their set with “Thanks for waiting.”

Joining Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley on stage are Jim Barr (bass), Clive Deamer (drums), and John Baggott (keyboards).
A limited run of tickets are available for purchase thru the Portishead website July 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th.  Direct Link: http://portisheadtickets.sandbag.uk.com/
 
Tickets go on sale to the general public July 15th and 16th, with the exception of Chicago, on sale date July 22nd.
Support for Portishead on this tour is THOUGHT FORMS.

 

PORTISHEAD TOUR  DATES:
October 1 & 2               IBYM, Asbury Park, NJ
October 4                     Hammerstein Ballroom NY
October 5                     Hammerstein Ballroom, NY
October 7                     Jacques Cartier Pier, Montreal
October 9                     Sound Academy, Toronto

October 10                     Sound Academy, Toronto
October 12                   Aragon, Chicago

October 15                   Mexico, Corona Festival
October 18                   Shrine LA
October 21                   Greek, Berkeley, SF
October 23                   WaMu, Seattle
October 24                   PNE Forum, Vancouver
October 27                   1st Bank Center, Denver

 

For all media inquiries contact:

 

-Broke in the OC
www.brokeintheOC.blogspot.com

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