Paramore Announce Tour

Paramore announce fall tour

Fresh off the release of their latest album After Laughter, Paramore have announced a cross-country tour.

9/06 - Jacksonville, FL @ Moran Theatre*
9/08 - Miami, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach*
9/09 - Orlando, FL @ Dr. Phillips Center*
9/11 - Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium
9/13 - Washington, DC @ MGM National Harbor Theater
9/15 - Detroit, MI @ The Fox Theatre
9/16-17 - Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest
9/19 - Sioux City, IA @ Orpheum Theatre
9/21 - Denver, CO @ BellCo Theatre
9/22 - Orem, UT @ Utah Valley University Events Center
9/24 - Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
9/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theater
9/27 - Phoenix, AZ @ Comercia Theatre
9/29 - Houston, TX @ Smart Financial Center at Sugar Land
9/30 - Dallas, TX @ Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
10/02 - Atlanta, GA @ The Fox Theater
10/04 - New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/07 - Boston, MA @ Boston Opera House
10/10 - Bethlehem, PA @ Sands Bethlehem Event Center
10/12 - Montreal, QC @ St. Denis Theatre
10/13 - Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
10/15 - Akron, OH @ Akron Civic Theatre
10/17 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium

*Best Coast not performing

Linkin Park’s Controversial Comments

Linkin Park's New Sound Draws Criticism

Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington recently told Music Week that fans should "move the fuck on" from the sound of Linkin Park's debut album, Hybrid Theory. He also attacked those decrying the band as sell-outs by stating, "then stab yourself in the face!"

Well, isn't that nice?

What do you think of Linkin Park's new sound? Have they sold out or simply progressed their sound? (We're taking bets at how many more  of their songs end up in Transformers movies.)

No More Moshpits?

Bands may introduce "safe spaces" at shows

Yes, you read that correctly. According to an article we stumbled across on The Guardian, moshpits could  soon be a thing of the past. 

"DIY punk groups such as PWR BTTM, Diet Cig and Adult Mom have introduced safe spaces at their shows – and moshpits have often been the first casualties," the article reads.  

“At least at our shows, we’re trying to create a safer space, and, right now, I can’t see a way to have moshing that’s completely respectful of everyone there. We get to feel safe on the stage, and we want to extend that feeling to our audience.” Diet Cig’s Alex Luciano.

I get that, I completely do. You want people do feel safe at your shows and that's great! But do you really have to go and be that SJW (social justice warrior) that ruins the fun for everyone else so a handful of people don't feel alienated at a show?

Yes, shows are full of creeps. I witnessed my female friend be sexually harassed at a show and it pissed me off. On the other hand, I have been at a number of shows where the band stopped playing because of aggressive molshing and/or seeing sexual harassment in the pit. I mean, it's pretty easy to spot when you're on stage, and it's a major distraction for the band. 

Former Gallows frontman, now the face of Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes takes quite a stand on the issue:

However, moshpits can be quite the outlet for some, says While She Sleeps guitarist Sean Long:

“Moshpits are so accepted and popular in our scene because these people don’t have that outlet in real life. Some fans are bottled up with emotions; without expressing them, you might end up depressed or angrier. Shows can be quite an experience for people who are suffering.”

At The Worcester Palladium - Upstairs I witnessed something amazing. While standing on the upper-level looking down on the madness that was a pit someone fell. What happened next? Did they trample him? Kick him in the head? No! EVERYONE stopped, helped the kid up, and then continued to mosh. I know that isn't always the case, but not everyone who goes into the pit is an asshole.

Author of the article, Hannah Ewens does make an excellent point when she writes, "While I don’t go near aggressive moshpits these days, I don’t care if others go in to them. What I do mind, though, is [someone] smacking a beer out of my hand, or hitting into me hard when I’m standing nowhere near that front-middle danger zone. It raises the question: if moshpits are a priority, where does that excessive freedom of movement stop? What are its boundaries and limits?"

I tend to avoid moshpits because of my medical condition. If I get hit in the wrong spot it's game over for me; I'd be in the hospital before the end of the set. BUT! Huge but here (not Kim Kardashian butt, though) that doesn't mean I don't want people to stop moshing. Just because I might be inconvenienced at a show doesn't mean I will go out of my way to ruin the fun for everyone else. Sometimes a kid will start moshing near me and I'll move, problem solved.

Sadly, there will always be creeps and assholes at shows. The best thing we can do though, is come together as a scene and try our best to put an end to it. If you see something weird at a show, say something. If you don't want to be in or near a moshpit, don't. Move somewhere else. Safe spaces are a good idea in retrospect, but bands aren't going to create a "safe space" in the middle of the floor.  

Paramore’s New Groove: Take It or Leave It?

Paramore have come out of the woodwork slowly but surely, while teasing us all along the way. The band had stayed silent since their last tour in 2015 (unless you want to count the band’s cruise ship extravaganza Parahoy! last spring). They hinted at new music in several interviews and social media assumption articles, but only in the past few months has Paramore started to make it known they’ve been up to something special.
 
The band became the talk of the town again once ex-drummer Zac Farro started popping up on Hayley Williams’ social media. Many rumors started to stir, only to later be confirmed by the band that Farro would, in fact, be performing on the newest record (and perhaps indefinitely). The band started then teasing the album artwork on social media piece by piece, insinuating that a new era of Paramore was downloading.

 On April 19th, Paramore released “Hard Times,” the first piece of music since their self-titled full-length in April of 2013. The long-anticipated album Paramore was much more on the pop side than the rock side, but many people found it to be “awesome” and “fun” and “different, but in a good way.” Dedicated fans considered this album to be the band’s biggest breakthrough as they were “doing what they truly wanted to do” and were “finally happy,” especially after the turmoil of the Farro brothers’ departure after Brand New Eyes in 2009. However, this is not the majority response I have seen about “Hard Times” (or the recently released “Told You So”) and the upcoming release After Laughter.
 
Now, I’ve been a die-hard Paramore fan since Day One. If anyone knows one fact about me, it’s that Paramore are my bread and butter for survival. Naturally, then, I have been receiving the same question over and over again: “How do you feel about the new Paramore music?” Well, of course, I love it, but don’t let my dedication to the band deter you from making a very clear point about the band’s musicianship and development. Let me explain why.
 
Ever since the release of “Hard Times,” Paramore have consistently been breaking the internet Kim-Kardashian-style. The issue that has been erupting all over social media is Paramore’s new controversially pop sound. Many fans are upset that Paramore are tearing away from their alternative-rock roots, while others are quite pleased with the direction they’re falling into.
 
Paramore’s sophomore full-length “Riot!” (2007) is the album that ignited the airways as well as their musical career. The album is full of classic pop-punk elements paired with Hayley’s striking vocals and relatable, cathartic lyrics. However, many fans (of Riot-era Paramore) cannot grasp Paramore’s need for growth and new direction. They’re upset by the first note and can’t give the song a chance. As a long-time fan, I was also taken aback by their sound at first. With the release of Paramore, it took me a long time to warm up to songs like “Fast In My Car” and heavily listened to songs more like “Part II” and “Now”. However, I expected them to continue to lead in a more mainstream direction, but not this poppy. Does it upset me? Not at all. Do I feel Paramore is losing touch with their roots? Musically, yes. As a band, not the slightest bit. The lyrics in “Hard Times” are no different than any other record, and the message of After Laughter is as melancholy as ever before.
 
When prompted during an interview with iHeart Radio, Williams states, “After Laughter is about the look on people's faces when they're done laughing. If you watch somebody long enough, there's always this look that comes across their face when they're done smiling, and I always find it really fascinating to wonder what it is that brought them back to reality. So, that's what After Laughter is.”
 
Amongst their interviews with highly reputable publications such as The Guardian and The New York Times, Paramore have openly discussed the trials and tribulations they have endured and continue to struggle with while trying to find the willpower to stay in the industry. Collectively Hayley Williams, Taylor York, and Zac Farro have given their honest input about the aftermath of the Farro brothers leaving, the courage in experimenting and changing their sound as a band, the recent lawsuits against the band by ex-bassist Jeremy Davis, and their overall fight for existence in the real world.
 
At first glance, “Hard Times” and “Told You So” have an indie-pop sound much like their colleagues in Chvrches and Tegan and Sara (who have been through a similar sound development over the course of their career). However, if you pay attention to the lyrics and message behind the music, Paramore are putting out an album more raw and honest than anything they’ve released in the past. To be truthful, I personally believe this album may be the band’s most genius release as it is saturated with irony and contradiction. It highlights the reality of dancing to a sad song. The upbeat and electronic music mask the subliminal messages of barely being able to make it out alive and struggling to see the light of day (a concept very well depicted in the music video for “Told You So”). “I couldn’t imagine putting something on an album that says ‘life’s great, everything’s cool, party with me,’” Williams said in the interview with The New York Times.

Whether you can get down to their catchy tunes or not, Paramore deserve a round of applause for their elegantly portrayed play on mainstream music by weaving in the harsh reality of life and its downsides. The album is not just a mere piece of music being put out in the world; it is a collection of life experiences Williams, York, and Farro have persisted through to make it up to this point together and individually. If the pop sound throws you off, there’s nothing wrong with that--to each their own, right? To say that Paramore are selling out for experimenting with different musical genres (as they have on every album they’ve released), then you have missed their point entirely. I advise everyone, fans new and old, to give After Laughter a well-deserved chance come release day on May 12th. At the end of the day, whether you stick around or not, Paramore is still a band.
 

Dashboard Confessional Announce Tour With All American Rejects and The Maine

Dashboard Confessional to Tour With

All American Rejects and The Maine

Tickets go on sale this Friday.

Tour Dates:

7/13 Costa Mesa, CA Pacific Amphiheatre
7/14 San Francisco, CA Masonic Auditorium
7/15 Las Vegas, NV The Pearl Concert Theater
7/17 Boise, ID Idaho Botanical Garden
7/18 Sandy, UT Sandy City Amphitheater
7/21 St. Paul, MN Myth
7/22 Council Bluffs, IA Stir Cove at Harrah’s Casino
7/23 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
7/25 Columbus, OH Express Live!
7/26 Detroit, MI Fillmore Detroit
7/29 Big Flats, NY Tag’s Summer Soundstage
7/30 Bethlehem, PA Sands Bethlehem Event Center
8/3 New York, NY Central Park Summer Stage
8/4 Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods Resort Casino – Grand Theater
8/5 Gilford, NH Bank of New Hampshire Pavillion
8/6 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
8/8 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
8/9 Philadelphia, PA Festival Pier
8/10 Vienna, VA Wolf Trap
8/12 Nashville, TN Ascend Amphitheater
8/13 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/15 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Festival 

Against Me! Announce Fall Tour

Against Me! are headed out on tour with Bleached and The Dirty Nil. Dates below:

9/2 Garrick Theatre - Winnipeg, MB
9/3 Louis’ Pub - Saskatoon, SK
9/5 Union Hall - Edmonton, AB
9/6 Marquee Room - Calgary, AB
9/8 Vogue Theatre - Vancouver, BC
9/9 Showbox at the Market - Seattle, WA
9/10 Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR
9/12 Ace of Spades - Sacramento, CA
9/13 The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
9/14 The Fonda Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
9/15 The Glass House - Pomona, CA
9/16 The Observatory North Park - San Diego, CA
9/17 The Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ
9/19 Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, NM
9/21 Tricky Falls - El Paso, TX
9/22 Paper Tiger - San Antonio, TX
9/23 Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
9/24 White Oak Music Hall - Houston, TX
9/26 Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK
9/27 The Ready Room - St. Louis, MO
9/29 Live on King Street - Madison, WI
9/30 Concord Music Hall - Chicago, IL
10/1 Majestic Theatre - Detroit, MI
10/3 Bogart’s - Cincinnati, OH
10/4 House of Blues - Cleveland, OH
10/5 The Waiting Room - Buffalo, NY
10/6 The Phoenix - Toronto, ON
10/7 Corona Theatre - Montreal, QC
10/8 Mr. Small’s Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA
10/10 Paradise Lounge - Boston, MA
10/12 Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA
10/13 The 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
10/14 Brooklyn Steel - Brooklyn, NY
10/15 Stone Pony - Asbury Park, NJ
10/17 Norva Theater - Norfolk, VA
10/18 Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC
10/20 The Cannery - Nashville, TN
10/21 The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
10/22 CenterStage - Atlanta, GA
10/24 Culture Room - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Blind Revision Interview

Hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, Blind Revision a bad ass female fronted band with influences from all sorts of heavy rock music.  Each member brings their own influences to the table to form a powerful and intricate sound.  Blind Revision is not one to sleep on.

Just last week, we got a chance to chat with Blind Revision about their upcoming EP Of White and Grey which will be released May 14th and their East Coast tour that starts up May 17th.   


Crowdsurf Central: Tell me a little bit about Blind Revision.  What is the story of how you guys started playing and writing together?

  • Phil: I had met Kirk at orientation during our first year of college and we ended up living together for most of our time there. We had always tried starting a band, and played the open mic nights at campus events when we could. Fast forward a few years and we were looking for someone to sing, so we posted in a Facebook group for musicians at our school and Jen responded. We played together that summer, but when school started back up I was too busy with classes to continue. They started Blind Revision, and when an opening for a bass player came back up, I was invited to play with them, again.
  • Jake: I’m kind of the newbie of the band. My last band, Neverless, played a show with BR a few years ago with our mutual friends, Chronovore. About a half a year later, Blind Revision lost a guitarist and a bassist and Jamie asked if I wanted to jam with them. The rest is history, and almost two years later I couldn’t be happier.
  • James: Kirk, one of the guitar players, and I have pretty much known each other off-and-on for as long as we can remember, but we really started hanging out a lot when we started playing our respective instruments.  A couple years into us both attending separate colleges, we decided to start jamming again with Jen who Kirk met at college.  We added a bass player and another guitarist, called ourselves Blind Revision, and then started to play some shows.  Over time we adjusted our line-up to include our other guitar player Jake, who came from a recommendation from a friend of mine in our local scene, and our bass player Phil who Kirk also met when he first attended college.
  • Jen: That pretty much sums it up!

Crowdsurf Central: When you write, where does the music and lyrics come from? Like what would you say your process is?

There’s no real formula for it, it just happens. The music is typically a collaboration between everyone. Someone will propose a riff or a skeleton of a song and we will add in the meat and tendons and other organs that make the song come to life. Jen will write lyrics to the song once we are all happy with the way the music sounds.

Crowdsurf Central: I noticed that on this newest EP, you guys kind of have two titles to each song. What made you guys decide to do that? 

The EP is a concept about a main character that is dealing with different problems, each corresponding to a different lobe of the brain. The last song, Ashes, is about the end of the world, and the end of the protagonist’s world as well, and does not correspond directly to one area, as that song symbolizes the ending to the character’s story.

Crowdsurf Central: So shortly after the EP release you guys are going on tour.  Where are you going/Where are you most excited to go?

We are going to Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, consecutively. We will then have shows in Massachusetts and our homecoming Rhode Island show. In general we are just excited to play a show in a new venue / state every day. We love meeting new people at shows too.

Crowdsurf Central: Who will you be touring with?/ Who are you most excited to play with?

For this tour we’re on our own and on each stop we’re playing with some awesome bands from each state. We’re really excited to play our homecoming/release show with Sic Vita, The Morgana Phase, and Carpathia. It’s the perfect cherry on top of the tour sundae. We are also very excited to meet up with Novarium again in Maryland. We played with them previously in Salem, MA and they are phenomenal. Also the May 26th show is when our good friends in Frantic Endeavor are having their own EP release show and we couldn’t be happier to have been invited to play.

Crowdsurf Central: What are the plans for after the tour?

We’re extremely excited about this new material, so we won’t be stopping for long after these upcoming shows. We’ll probably continue playing a lot of New England shows to promote the EP while working on new material. We already have some rough ideas forming and even some full arrangements, but nothing to put out for a while. Lastly, we are working on a music video, but we don’t have a release date for it yet. Stay tuned!

Crowdsurf Central: Alright final question, and it’s a little unrelated.  Who in the band would win in a Pokemon battle and why? 

  • Jake: It’d be a pretty close call Pokemon-wise, but if it were a Yu-Gi-Oh duel I’m pretty sure I’d come out on top.
  • James: I would not know what to do with myself, so I would definitely be the first to go.
  • Kirk: Okay I would definitely win Yu-Gi-Oh. James and I have been training since we were kids.
  • Jen: No no. I would win Yu-Gi-Oh. Don’t underestimate my nerd power.
  • Phil: I think you just gave us something to do on tour. We will have to get back to you on this matter.

Catch Blind Revision on tour on one of the dates below and be sure to pick up their EP on May 14.

5/17 Wallingford, CT - Cherry Street Station
5/18 Trenton, NJ - Millhill Basement
5/19 Allentown, PA - Strange Brew Tavern
5/20 Gaithersburg, MD - Raw Ink Tattoo Studio
5/26 Wareham, MA - 3065 Live
6/2 Newport, RI - Jimmy's Saloon

Rise Against Announce Tour with Pierce the Veil

Another monster of a tour has been announced. This time it's Rise Against with Pierce The Veil.

Rise Against has a new album, Wolves, due out June 9th and PTV is currently out on tour with Sum 41.

"It's such an honor to be asked to tour with a band that I have been inspired by since I was a teenager. I love when things come full circle like that.  We are beyond excited to tear up the stage with them every night this Fall!  See you at the shows!" -Pierce The Veil frontman, Vic Fuentes

Tickets go on-sale this FRI 5/12 at 10am local time at www.riseagainst.com/tour and every pair purchased will come with a copy of Wolves.

Dates:

* Pierce The Veil only
9/14 - Abbotsford, BC @ Abbotsford Centre
9/16 - Calgary, AB @ Grey Eagle Event Centre
9/18 - Edmonton, AB @ Shaw Conference Center
9/20 - Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre
9/23 - Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre
9/24 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
9/26 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Orbit Room
9/27 - Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theatre
9/29 - Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
10/01 - Peoria, Illinois @ Limelight Eventplex*
10/03 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
10/04 - Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Pavilion
10/05 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
10/06 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony Summerstage

Linkin Park Announce Tour

Linkin Park Announce Summer 2017 North American Dates

With Machine Gun Kelly

As seen in the video above, Linkin Park and Machine Gun Kelly have announced a summer tour together! Full list of dates below!

Linkin Park / Machine Gun Kelly Summer 2017 North American Tour
7/27 — Boston, Mass. @ Xfinity Center *
8/1 — Philadelphia, Pa. @ BB&T Pavilion *
8/2 — Bristow, Va. @ Jiffy Lube Live *
8/5 — Uncasville, Ct. @ Mohegan Sun Arena *
8/7 — Detroit, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
8/8 — Toronto, Ontario @ Budweiser Stage
8/10 — Montreal, Quebec @ Bell Centre
8/12 — Cincinnati, Ohio @ Riverbend Music Center
8/14 — Chicago, Ill. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
8/15 — St. Paul, Minn. @ Xcel Energy Center
8/17 — Charlotte, N.C. @ PNC Music Pavilion
8/19 — Tampa, Fla. @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Ampitheatre
8/20 — West Palm Beach, Fla. @ Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre
8/22 — Houston, Texas @ Toyota Center
8/23 — San Antonio, Texas @ AT&T Center
8/25 — Dallas, Texas @ Starplex Pavilion
8/26 — Oklahoma City, Okla. @ Chesapeake Energy Arena
8/28 — Denver, Colo. @ Pepsi Center Arena
8/30 — Phoenix, Ariz. @ Talking Stick Resort Arena
9/1 — Lake Tahoe, Nev. @ Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys
9/2 — Las Vegas, Nev. @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
10/14 — Seattle, Wash. @ KeyArena **
10/15 — Vancouver, British Columbia Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena **
10/17 — Fresno, Calif. @ Save Mart Center at Fresno State **
10/18 — San Jose, CA @ SAP Center at San Jose **
10/20 — San Diego, CA @Mattress Firm Amphitheatre **
10/22 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl **
* Dates also with ONE OK ROCK
** Support To Be Announced


Read More: Linkin Park Announce 2017 North American Tour Dates | http://wcyy.com/linkin-park-summer-2017-north-american-dates-machine-gun-kelly/?trackback=tsmclip

Four Year Strong Announces Latin American Tour

FOUR YEAR STRONG CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF ‘RISE OR DIE TRYING’
WITH “LATIN AMERICAN TAKEOVER” TOUR

New England punk rock band Four Year Strong will continue the celebration of the 10th anniversary of their coveted album Rise or Die Trying this summer and has announced plans for a “Latin American Takeover” tour that will take place in countries throughout Latin America. Tickets can be purchased now at Fouryearstrongmusic.com. 

“In 2007 we put out a record called Rise or Die Trying, starting us down a path that would lead us all over the world, and drastically change our lives. With 2017 marking the 10 year anniversary, it's time to say thank you. Thank you to everyone that came out and supported our young band, thank you to everyone who still goes crazy at shows when we play RODT songs, and thank you to a record that gave us these last ten years.” - Alan Day
“Over the rest of the year we will be announcing Rise or Die Trying 10 year shows all over the world where we will be playing the record front to back, the first two of which we have completed Feb-April. Super excited to announce that we will finally be back in Latin America playing the few places we have been before plus a ton of new cities and countries! We are doing these shows at smaller, intimate venues to really make it something special. We are honored and privileged to come back south for the first time in years and promise to make it memorable for both you and us. Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Columbia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile, are you ready to sweat with us? 
 
Keep a lookout for announcements of shows near you this year and come out and get crazy with us as we play the record that brought us to you in the first place. Rise or Die Trying.” - Alan Day

Four Year Strong will also be touring in support of their latest, self-titled album which was released by Pure Noise Records and can be purchased now at iTunes. 

 

Four Year Strong Tour Dates:
July 19 Mexico Guadalajara -C3 stage
July 20 Mexico Mexico City - Teatro Ramiro Jimenez
July 21 Mexico Monterrey -Escena
July 22 Costa Rica San Jose - El Sotano
July 23 Colombia Bogota -Ozzy
July 24 Peru Lima -La Festiva
July 25 Chile Santiago - El Domo
July 26 Argentina Buenos Aries- Uniclub
July 28 Brazil Porto Alegre- Club Silencio
July 29 Brazil São Paulo -Stage bar
July 30 Brazil Curitiba - John Bull

Supporting the Local Scene: Do's and Don'ts

The New England scene is growing and is especially strong up here where we are (Haverhill, MA/Manchester, NH, Portland & Bangor, ME). I might be biased, but it is probably one of the strongest scenes around. Show turnout is great and it feels like we are one giant family. 

Despite that, here's a list of do's and don'ts just in case some problems arise. We found the list here and felt that we needed to share their tips.

  • Trashing other bands isn't cool. You might think it hurts their reputation, but it actually hurts yours. No one wants to play with or book an asshole.
  • Standing at the back of the room acting uninterested doesn't help either. Get up front and sing along.
  • Image is important. Cargo pants aren't trendy anymore (were they ever?).
  • Attending shows that you aren't playing is the best way to contribute to your local scene.
  • You don't need press to pack a show. You need a good work ethic.
  • Most higher-ups in the scene are friends with each other. Get in with one of them, you're good. Piss one off: you're screwed.
  • Physical promo materials are very important. Get out there and put up some fliers.
  • That being said. YOU CANNOT DEPEND ENTIRELY ON FACEBOOK FOR PROMOTION!
  • You need to conquer your hometown before you hit the road. If no one cares about you locally, how are you going to draw a crowd elsewhere?
  • Secondly, touring means nothing if people don't show up. Do not tour unless you know you can draw a crowd.
  • Don't play shows every week; it hurts your draw. Playing once every six to eight weeks will get more people to your shows. (Supply and demand, dude)
  • You won't get paid every time you play a local show, that's just the way it is. Sometimes exposure is as good as getting paid.
  • Once you PROVE you can consistently get a draw at a show you will get paid.
  • And finally: Go out of your way to help others in your scene, it will come back around. Go to shows, help run merch, help your promoter renovate the venue, do doors at a local show, buy local band merch. Help promote local shows.

Go to shows and have fun!

COHEED & CAMBRIA’S CLAUDIO SANCHEZ RELEASES 2ND ISSUE OF “THE AMORY WARS: GOOD APOLLO, I’M BURNING STAR IV” COMIC SERIES

Issue two of Claudio Sanchez’s comic series/space odyssey, The Amory Wars: Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV was released today via Evil Ink Comics/Boom! Studios.  The 12-issue sci-fi series is the 3rd in a line of comics that follow the story arc from Sanchez’s band, Coheed and Cambria’s concept albums.  The new series loosely follows the lyrics and tone of their platinum-selling 2005 album, Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (Columbia), and elaborates on the graphic novel of the same name which was released as a companion piece to the album on it’s original release. Purchase issues one and two now at http://www.evilinkcomics.com/. 

The story of Good Apollo flows around protagonist Claudio Kilgannon (son of Coheed and Cambria) who until now has been mostly in hiding since the death of his parents; his advancing physical powers have drawn him out.  It’s becoming clear to Kilgannon and those around him that the he is one mentioned in the prophecies, sent by God to destroy the universe he lives in because too many mistakes were made by the elite. But to Kilgannon, none of this makes any sense. Ambellina, the blue-skinned fallen Prise whose mission it is to watch over him – helps guide him on the decisions he has in front of him.
 
Evil Tri-Mage Wilhelm Ryan is out to stop Kilgannon, and harness every last human soul to energize his ultimate power “Good Apollo..” introduces a character “Ryder," the writer of the fiction, who is beginning to lose his own hold on reality, as his heartbreak in life is beginning to affect the fictional story, and causing him to lose control of his characters as they pursue their own free will.
 
In issue 2,  Ambellina and Chase are convinced that Claudio is The Crowing, and after the latest incident, it’s tough for him to argue otherwise.  But how can one simply accept that his fate is to destroy all things? Ryder’s hallucinations are getting worse, pushing him to the brink of madness. Ryan has nearly been killed twice now, and feels he might have a even bigger purpose than merely ruling over civilization...  Inferno has another plan to defeat Ryan, and this time Claudio wants nothing to do with it. 
 
Claudio Sanchez, with the help of wife, writer Chondra Echert, veteran comic artist Rags Morales (Action Comics, Identity Crisis) and colorist Emilio Lopez have delivered a eye popping, complex thriller for both long time fans to delve deep into the Coheed/Amory Wars mythos as well as a smooth entry point for new riders to climb aboard for the ride.
 
Coheed and Cambria have always done things in a grandiose way, and this time is no different.  The comic release, though years in the making, dropped the very same month they embark on the 6 week “Neverender GAIBSIV tour (which is about half way completed) performing the progressive juggernaut of an album that inspired it, Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, in its entirety across the US and Europe. And over the last two weeks, they released the album’s vinyl for the very first time both on Record Store Day and through the band’s website, where thousands of copies became sold out in less than 30 mins.
 
The Neverender GAIBSIV tour is supported by The Dear Hunter, and includes performances at festivals including Carolina Rebellion and Rock on the Range.
 
Coheed & Cambria North American Tour Dates:
May 2 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle (SOLD OUT)
May 3 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works (SOLD OUT)
May 5 - New York, NY - Terminal 5 (SOLD OUT)
May 6 - Silver Springs, MD - Fillmore (SOLD OUT)
May 7 - Concord, NC - Carolina Rebellion
May 9 - Boston, MA - Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
May 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Fillmore (SOLD OUT)
May 11 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre (SOLD OUT)
May  13 - Minneapolis, MN - First Ave (SOLD OUT)
May 15 - St Louis, MO - Pageant
May 16 - Kansas City, MO - Arrest Bank Theater at the Midland
May 17 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE Outdoors
May 19 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
May 20 - Columbus, OH - Rock on the Range (SOLD OUT)
May 22 - New York, NY - Terminal 5

Vanna Says Farewell

In a somber Facebook post on April 28th, long-time New England favorite Vanna announced their farewell tour.

The hardcore band has had a huge impact on the New England music scene and bands throughout the area will be forever grateful for their influence.

The best way to go out is with your friends, and that is exactly what Vanna is doing. Local bands Crisis AD, Lions Lions, and Actor-Observer will be joining Vanna on select dates. Ghost Key, Sirens & Sailors, Unwill, Phinehas, and Backwordz will also join on select dates.

Vanna's farewell post on their social medica accounts was hearwrenching:

Our band has always strived to take the negative in our lives and use it to fuel positive change. To foster good in a world that can be so bad. That and to cause the biggest ruckus with our fans while doing so. The relationship we share with you all and with our music has brought us to places we never dreamed of going; countries we never thought we'd step foot on, stages we only dreamed of playing. But the biggest impression left is the overwhelming sense of family that this scene has given us and let us be a part of. It's helped us become the men we are today and, in a way, is partly responsible for different parts of our lives blossoming. After touring for over 10 years, living our lives on the road and on the stage, it's time for us to go chase those other dreams that may have waited on a shelf. We've started families, careers, and new lives all the while spending our nights sweating in a club or a Warped Tour parking lot with you and those sides of us and our lives need attention as much as Vanna did. Words can't begin to express what you have all done for us. In keeping with always sharing ourselves with you, we now turn to you to share one last time with us. Let's make this tour a celebration of every moment and memory as well as make a bunch of new ones with some amazing friends and bands. Come sing your hearts out and inevitably cry your eyes out with us as we leave a little piece of Vanna on every stage. This isn't goodbye forever, it's just a 'we'll see you around'. Our music will be here whenever you need it, we truly love you and we will miss you all. But remember, all good things must come to an end, but all good things can begin again. Viva Vanna

At the Hartford, CT stop of Warped Tour last summer, I was lucky enough to talk with frontman Davey Muise and one particular moment stuck with me: when he spoke about the passion New England fans have for their scene. It's all I've ever known, but I know it's something special.

Make sure you get out to one of the shows, they're going to be special.

- Viva Vanna -

Record Store Day a Huge Success

The trend of listening to vinyl is not going away. April 22 was Record Store Day and the numbers did not disappoint.

Vinyl album sales on Record Store Day at independent music stores were up 14%  compared to last year's RSD and stores saw a 2,000% increase in sales from the previous week.

Coming in at the top spot for purchases was the Grateful Dead's release, P.N.E. Garden Auditorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and following in the second spot was David Bowie's Cracked Actor.

Click here to see the FULL list of top-selling vinyl from April 22.

Sum 41 Nominated for 3 APMAs

Sum 41 Nominated for 3 APMAs
 
Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Best Drummer

um 41 has been nominated for three awards at the 2017 Alternative Press Music Awards! The nominations include Artist of the Year, Music Video of the Year for "Fake My Own Death," and Best Drummer for Frank Zummo. Fans can vote for these categories and more at http://www.altpress.com/vote. 

Sum 41 released their latest album, 13 Voices, in the Fall and saw incredible success with Billboard charting positions that included #9 on the Top Albums chart. The 10-track album was recorded, produced and engineered by singer Deryck Whibley at his home in Los Angeles and marks the band's first LP in five years, following up 2011's Screaming Bloody Murder. Fans and press alike praised the album and the band has been touring nonstop to sold-out crowds around the world. Heralded by outlets like Billboard, Rolling Stone, People, Yahoo, Huffington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Ultimate-Guitar, myspace, Alternative Press and more, Sum 41 is back and better than ever. Fans can purchase 13 Voices now in stores at Target, on iTunes or streaming on Spotify.

Garnering a Music Video of the Year nomination for the APMA's is very exciting seeing as it was the bands first big return to their classic off the wall videos. Directed by Marc Klasfeld, who previously worked with SUM 41 on their videos for "Fat Lip", "In Too Deep" and "The Hell Song," "Fake My Own Death" depicts the band performing on a rooftop in downtown Los Angeles, where all their worst nightmares --including Kim Kardashian, Michael Jordan and Donald Trump-- come to attack them. Singer Deryck Whibley states, "The song is about leaving the past behind and moving on. With the video we're making fun of pop culture in a similar tone to some of our past videos like "Hell Song" and "Still Waiting". We're basically saying, that in the middle of all this bullshit we're just a rock band doing our thing." Fans can watch the video now:

In addition to "Fake My Own Death," the band released music videos for "War" and "God Save Us All (Death to POP)" from 13 Voices. Sum 41 also made their return to Late Night TV with a performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The band played fan-favorite "Fake My Own Death" and received a standing ovation only proving that the return from these Pop Punk veterans was exactly what people wanted. 

The entire band is thrilled with drummer Frank Zummo's nomination. Born in New York, Frank Zummo began drumming around age 3, when he discovered his father's drum kit. By age 7, he was an award-winning drummer, taking home top prize in Long Island Drum Centers "Battle of the Beats". Looking at Zummo's impressive resume, it's clear to see he never stopped. Zummo has performed on many TV shows over the years (The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien Show, Hells Kitchen, Master Chef, American Idol & Glee). He has also recorded on many platinum & gold records with Artists Kelly Clarkson, Orianthi, Gary Numan & The Used as well as on scores for the films "Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World" and "Beautiful Creatures." The immensely talented drummer of punk-rocker band Sum 41, EDM duo Krewella, and Street Drum Corps has also recently joined the SJC Drum family. Frank and SJC partnered with Shepard Fairey, American contemporary street artist, graphic designer, activist, and founder of OBEY to create a custom drum kit, which Frank used on tour with Sum 41 in the fall. On the very exciting nomination, Zummo says, "I play drums because of my Father and he passed away recently and this award nomination is a tribute to him! Thank you AP & our fans! I am completely blown away by this nomination! Please vote and spread the word!" 

Sum 41 is currently on the road with Pierce The Veil on the We Will Detonate! Tour, presented by Loudwire Live. With support from Emarosa and Chapel, the tour is hitting markets across the country with stops at a few festivals before wrapping up at Rocklahoma in Pryor, OK on May 26th. All tickets, including VIP packages, are available at http://www.sum41.com/tour. Be sure to catch songs from 13 Voices live on tour now!

Upcoming Sum 41 Tour Dates
4/25 - Austin, TX @ ACL Live At The Moody Theater
4/27 - New Orleans, LA @ House Of Blues
4/29 - Louisville, KY @ Expo Five
5/01 - Knoxville, TN @ The International
5/02 - Lancaster, PA @ Lancaster Convention Center
5/03 - Silver Springs, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Springs
5/05 - Memphis, TX @ Beale Street Music Festival
5/06 - Charlotte, NC @ Carolina Rebellion
5/07 - Huntington, NY @ The Paramount
5/09 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
5/10 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
5/12 - Council Bluffs, IA @ KIWR's Rockfest
5/13 - Somerset, WI @ Northern Invasion
5/14 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room/Old National Centre
5/16 - Portland, ME @ Aura
5/17 - Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
5/19 - Columbus, OH @ Rock On The Range
5/20 - Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
5/22 - Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
5/23 - Pharr, TX @ Pharr Event Center
5/25 - Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom

How Music Streaming Services Are Killing the Industry

We dug through the archives to find an old article. Streaming sucks. Here's why.

Spotify had 30 million monthly customers in March 2016 and most recent numbers show Apple Music with 13 million subscribers as of August of this year. A basic monthly subscription is $10.00 which comes to about $300 million each month for Spotify ($3,600,000,000/year) and $130 million each month for Apple Music ($1,560,000,000/year). The average pay out is per stream is estimated around $0.0084 per play. (Less than $0.01, can you believe that shit?) I've always sucked at math but I'll give it a shot. To make it easy we will say the average number of songs on a record is 10 tracks. Assuming the average length of a song is three minutes the album is thirty minutes long, you would have to listen to one album nearly 1,190 times before paying the average $10 for the album.  To put that in perspective listening to that album 1,190 times comes out to a total of 35,700 minutes, which means you would have to listen to the album on repeat for 25 consecutive days for the band to earn your $10. Moral of the story? Buy physical music. Buy digital albums. Go to shows. Record companies don't give a damn about streams, they care about actual album sales, most importantly first week album sales.

Listen to Davey of Vanna talk about the subject:

Video courtesy of Vanna.

And if you missed the news earlier this year, Apple is planning to remove downloads from iTunes and force users to stream their music. We aren't joking, either. Read it here.

Buy Albums. Go to Shows. Buy Merch. Support Your Favorite Bands.

BOOZE & GLORY EMBARKS ON WORLDWIDE TOUR

BOOZE & GLORY EMBARKS ON WORLDWIDE TOUR IN SUPPORT OF NEW ALBUM, ‘CHAPTER IV,’
AVAILABLE NOW FROM BURNING HEART RECORDS

Los Angeles, CA – London’s working class street punk band BOOZE & GLORY will embark this month on a year-long, worldwide tour in support of their newly released fourth studio album, Chapter IV, which is available now from Burning Heart Records. Buy the album now at iTunes (digital) and RoadDogMerch (physical).

The excursion will kick off in a few short days in Germany and will carry the band to the U.S. and Mexico and on to Europe and Japan. Tour dates and tickets can be found at http://www.boozeandglory.com/. 

“We just released Chapter IV, Our fourth studio album (first one on Burning Heart Records). We are very proud of the result and the new steps taken. We spent longer than we have previously writing and recording this album and now we have set sail on a worldwide tour. In May we embark on the first part of our USA tour in 2017, and are hitting up the West Coast, Texas & Mexico and ending it all with Punk Rock Bowling.” - Liam Booze

Formed in London in 2009, Booze & Glory started life as a straight-ahead salute to the rowdy street punk and Oi! bands of the late ‘70s and ‘80s UK scene. Thanks to some of the most infectious songwriting to emerge from the capital’s mean streets for a long time, and with a heroic and ruthless dedication to playing live, the band were steadily embraced by a colossal international fan base, with the debut video London Skinhead Crew notching up in excess of 7 million views on YouTube along the way. Triumphant trips to Asia, South America, the US and pretty much anywhere that would have them ensured that Booze & Glory’s first three albums – Always On The Wrong Side (2010), Trouble Free (2011) and As Bold As Brass (2014) – became essential listening for fans of balls-out and snotty rock’n’roll.
 
Newly signed to legendary Swedish imprint Burning Heart, Booze & Glory are set to claim 2017 as their own with the release of Chapter IV. With plans to play over 150 shows over the next 12 months, including a full month in the US and festival appearances across Europe, the boys’ mission to spread the ageless joy and fury of pure punk rock looks certain to continue long into the future. With a record as strong as Chapter IV behind them, the B&G crew have nothing but glory on the horizon. Up the punx! 

BOOZE & GLORY Tour Dates:
April 28 - Magdeburg, Germany - Factory
April 29 - Schleiz, Germany - Fruhlingfest Der Oi Musik
May 12 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
May 13 - Portland, OR - Dante’s
May 15 - Reno, NV - Shea’s Tavern
May 16 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
May 17 - Fresno, CA - Strummers
May 18 - Ventura, CA - Garage
May 19 - Pomona, CA - Character’s
May 20 - Long Beach, CA - Alex’s Bar
May 21 - Atascadero, CA - Sweet Springs
May 23 - Lancaster, CA - The Horn Bar
May 24 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
May 26 - Tijuana, Mexico - YouRevolution
May 29 - Las Vegas, NV - Punk Rock Bowling Festival
May 30 - Tempe, AZ - Yucca Tap Room
June 1 - Houston, TX - Walter’s
June 2 - San Antonio, TX - Korova
June 3 - Dallas, TX - Three Links
June 16 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
June 20 - Edinburgh, UK - Bannermans
June 21 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
June 22 - Grimsby, UK - Yardbirds
June 23 - Manchester, UK - Star and Garter
June 24 - Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK - Riverside
June 25 - Watford, UK - The Flag
July 1 - Goniadz, Poland - Rock Na Bagnie Festival
Aug 6 - Blackpool, UK - Rebellion Festival
Aug 10 - Alsfeld, Germany - Ehrlich & Laut Festival
Aug 11 - Dusseldorf, Germany - The Tube
Aug 18 - Vyskov, Czech Republic - Pod Paroe Festival
Aug 27 - Niedergorsdorf, Germany - Spirit Festival
Oct 12 - Fukouka Shi, Japan - Graf
Oct 13 - Osaka, Japan - Bronze
Oct 14 - Nagoya Shi, Japan - Club Upset
Oct 15 - Shinjuku, Japan - Loft
Nov 2 - Wroclaw, Poland - Stara Piwnica
Nov 3 - Rostock, Germany - Subculture Fight Festival
Nov 17 - Paris, France - Pena Festyare
Nov 18- Saint Brieuc, France - Ink Mas Party

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