Blind Revision Announces New EP

BLIND REVISION ANNOUNCES NEW EP TO BE RELEASED MAY 14

Female fronted rock band Blind Revision announces the release of their brand new 5 track EP, “Of White And Grey.” The title refers to the white and grey matter of the human brain. The EP will take the listener on a dark journey through the depths of the human mind. The EP will be available worldwide on May 14, on platforms such as itunes, Spotify, Tidal, and many more.
 
As a concept EP, the musical project centers on one main narrator, referred to as the subject. In each song, the subject faces an internal “demon.” The demons include feeling sensitivity, anxiety, addiction, the demon of love, and the fear of death. Staying with the psychological theme, each song also represents a different lobe of the brain, with the track names corresponding to each lobe. Overall, the EP seeks to describe the feelings of these “demons” that many people face in their daily lives.
 
Instrumentally, “Of White And Grey” blends melodic soft vocals with progressive rock riffs and metal breakdowns. Listeners will enjoy catchy hard rock choruses and intricate guitar shredding during the verses. 
 
In addition, the Rhode Island based band will be embarking on an east coast tour of the U.S. starting May 17. Find out when you can see them in your area:
 
Tour dates:
May 17 - Cherry Street Station - Wallingford, Connecticut
May 18 - Mill Hill Saloon - Trenton, New Jersey
May 19 - Strange Brew Tavern - Allentown, Pennsylvania
May 20 - Raw Ink Studio - Gaithersburg, Maryland
May 26 - 3065 Live - Wareham, Massachusetts
June 2 – Jimmy’s Saloon – Newport, Rhode Island

Alternative Press Music Awards nominees

The Journeys Alternative Press Music Awards, Fueled by Monster Energy, are planned for July 17 in Cleveland, OH. 

All Time Low, Against Me!, Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness, Bone Thugs, Korn, Machine Gun Kelly, New Years Day, ONE OK ROCK, Pierce The Veil, The Pretty Reckless and Sleeping With Sirens will all perform at the awards ceremony.

Below are a list of the nominees. Head over to altpress.com/vote to cast your vote!

Best Vocalist:
Ben Barlow, NECK DEEP
Cody Carson, SET IT OFF
Derek DiScanio, STATE CHAMPS
John O'Callaghan, THE MAINE
Keith Buckley, EVERY TIME I DIE
Lynn Gunn, PVRIS

Best Drummer:
Arejay Hale, HALESTORM
Aric Improta, NIGHT VERSES
Dean Butterworth, GOOD CHARLOTTE
Frank Zummo, SUM 41
Matt Mingus, DANCE GAVIN DANCE
JP “Rook” Cappelletty, MACHINE GUN KELLY

Best Bassist:
Alex Dean, ARCHITECTS U.K.
Chris Hinkley, I THE MIGHTY
Fat Mike, NOFX
“Fieldy” Arvizu, KORN
Ryan Scott Graham, STATE CHAMPS
Sergio Vega, DEFTONES

Best Guitarist Presented By PRS:
Ben Weinman, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN
Claudio Sanchez, COHEED AND CAMBRIA
Jordan Buckley, EVERY TIME I DIE
Reba Meyers, CODE ORANGE
Steve Menoian, I PREVAIL
Teppei Teranishi, THRICE

Most Dedicated Fanbase Presented By Fearless Records:
MELANIE MARTINEZ
MOTIONLESS IN WHITE
PARAMORE
PVRIS
SLEEPING WITH SIRENS
TWENTY ONE PILOTS

Song Of The Year Presented By Epitaph Records:
A DAY TO REMEMBER, “Paranoia”
ANDY BLACK, “We Don’t Have To Dance”
PIERCE THE VEIL, “Circles”
MACHINE GUN KELLY, “Alpha Omega”
REAL FRIENDS, “Mess”
WATERPARKS, “Stupid For You”

Best Underground Band:
BROADSIDE
KNOCKED LOOSE
MOVEMENTS
PALAYE ROYALE
SILENT PLANET
WITH CONFIDENCE

Breakthrough Band:
AVATAR
CREEPER
ICE NINE KILLS
MOOSE BLOOD
ONE OK ROCK
WATERPARKS

Best Hard Rock Artist:
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
HALESTORM
HIGHLY SUSPECT
IN THIS MOMENT
KORN
THE PRETTY RECKLESS

Best Live Band:
BEARTOOTH
DANCE GAVIN DANCE
FALLING IN REVERSE
IN THIS MOMENT
ISSUES
NOFX

Best Music Video Presented By Journeys:
HIGHLY SUSPECT, “Bloodfeather”
I SEE STARS, “Calm Snow”
KORN, “Insane”
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, “This Light I Hold” (featuring Jacoby Shaddix)
STATE CHAMPS, “Losing Myself”
SUM 41, “Fake My Own Death”

Best New Artist Music Video Presented By Journeys:
K.FLAY, “Blood In The Cut”
PUP, “Sleep In The Heat”
SWMRS, “Palm Trees”
TINY MOVING PARTS, “Common Cold”
WATSKY, “Don’t Be Nice”
WITH CONFIDENCE, “Voldemort”

Artist Of The Year Presented By Monster Energy:
A DAY TO REMEMBER
BLINK-182
FALL OUT BOY
GOOD CHARLOTTE
GREEN DAY
MACHINE GUN KELLY
PANIC! AT THE DISCO
PIERCE THE VEIL
SUM 41
THE PRETTY RECKLESS

Album Of The Year Presented By Journeys:
ANDY BLACK, The Shadow Side
TONIGHT ALIVE, Limitless
ARCHITECTS U.K., All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us
ATTILA, Chaos
BEARTOOTH, Aggressive
EVERY TIME I DIE, Low Teens
I PREVAIL, Lifelines
MOOSE BLOOD, Blush
PIERCE THE VEIL, Misadventures
WATERPARKS, Double Dare

MOOSE BLOOD ANNOUNCE USA SUMMER DATES

MOOSE BLOOD
ANNOUNCE USA SUMMER DATES
 
CONFIRMED FOR LOLLAPALOOZA
 
NEW ALBUM BLUSH OUT NOW

April 24, 2016 - Moose Blood have announced upcoming summer headline shows stateside in July and August. The run, which includes 2 rescheduled shows from the bands original headline tour, will kick off on July26th in Boston, MA! A full list of tour dates is below. Tickets are available at www.mooseblooduk.com/tour

In addition, the band was also recently confirmed for Lollapalooza, which will take place August 4th in Chicago, IL.

Moose Blood released their new album Blush last year on August 5th through Hopeless Records. It was met with glowing reviews and landed #1 on the Alternative New Artist Charts. It can be purchased through iTunes or the band's merch store.
 
Watch the official music videos for "Knuckles", "Honey" and "Cheek". "Knuckles" has seen recent adds with major radio stations such as SiriusXM's Alt Nation and Los Angeles' biggest rock station, KROQ.
 
Moose Blood recently finished a massive, nearly sold out headline tour in the states with Boston Manor, Trophy Eyes, and A Will Away. These upcoming summer tour dates will surely do the same.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

6/9-6/11 - Download Festival - Donington, UK
6/16-6/18 - Nova Rock - Nickelsdorf, Austria
6/22-6/24 - Jera On Air - Ysselsteyn, Netherlands
6/23-6/25 - Hurricane Festival - Scheessel, Germany
6/23-6/25 - Southside Festival - Neuhausen Ob Eck, Germany
7/4-7/6 - Rock For People - Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

7/26 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA**
7/27 - Chameleon Club - Lancaster, PA
7/28 - Baby's All Right  - Brooklyn, NY
7/29 - Amityville Music Hall - Amityville, NY
7/30 - The Ballroom @ Outer Space - Hamden, CT
8/1 - Double Happiness - Columbus, OH
8/2 - The Stache - Grand Rapids, MI
8/4 - Lallapalooza - Chicago, IL
8/6 - The Firebird - St. Louis, MO**

**Rescheduled show. Original tickets remind valid**
 

8/9-8/13 - Open Flair Festival - Eschwege, Germany
8/16-8/19 - Pukkelpop - Kiewit-Hasselt, Belgium
8/25-8/27 - Reading Festival - Reading, UK
8/25-8/27 - Leeds Festival - Leeds, UK

 

 

JEFF CAUDILL RELEASES LIMITED EDITION EP, ‘RESET THE SUN,’ FOR RECORD STORE DAY

JEFF CAUDILL RELEASES LIMITED EDITION EP, ‘RESET THE SUN,’ FOR RECORD STORE DAY

Singer-songwriter, Jeff Caudill, has released his much-anticipated new EP, Reset The Sun, today. Available digitally at iTunes today, the album will be released on limited edition vinyl tomorrow as part of Record Store Day. Visit http://www.recordstoreday.com/ to find a participating record store.

Additionally, Caudill has partnered today with RoughStock.com to premiere a video for his new song “I Wouldn’t Wait.” Watch the video now:

""I Wouldn't Wait" is the emotional center of the 'Reset The Sun' story. I wrote it a while back for a movie but it was never used, so I pretty much wrote my own movie around it. We picked a nice morning in Houston to film the video. It reminds me of Coldplay's simple-yet-effective video for "Yellow." Actually, this one's actually more yellow than theirs." - Jeff Caudill

“I Wouldn’t Wait” follows Caudill’s recent debut of his video for “If I Don’t Come Home.” Watch the video and read a Q&A with him now at LouderThanWar.com 

Watch the previously released lyric video for “Tears In My Ears”

Caudill is best known as the frontman for influential emo-rock band Gameface, who were an important part of the late 90’s Revelation Records scene alongside bands like Judge and Texas Is The Reason, and went on to influence many bands over the last few decades. The band went on indefinite hiatus in the mid-2000’s and briefly reunited in 2014 to perform a handful of shows and release their 6th studio album, Now Is What Matters Now. 
 
For the last decade, the revered frontman has stepped out of his scene to become in his own right a prolific Americana singer-songwriter. His music, inspired by bluesy-rock, indie rock and country, showcases his incredible gift of riveting songwriting and captivating vocals, as heard on the new EP. 
 
Caudill will be performing an album release show in Los Angeles, CA at Resident on May 13th

Toronto punks Pseudo announce US Tour

Formed in 2010, founding members Jonathan Lyte and Mikhail Castro, along with high school friend Kevin Baybayan decided that they would play music together.
 
The band found it’s footing in bands like Green Day and blink-182, eventually recording a 5 song EP that took great influence from the 90s pop-punk movement. 
 
At the end of 2012, the band parted ways with their bass player Kevin and recruited long time stalker Liam - Jonathan’s brother. Still a trio, the band continued with a new found sense of maturity and musical interests, which found the group playing more evolved styles of music drawing influence from the likes of Propagandhi, The Flatliners, PUP, Jeff Rosenstock, and Against Me! – to name a few. 
 
Over the years, Pseudo has become a rooted in their message to demonstrate to the punk scene and world at large that anybody, from all walks off life, can be part of something beautiful by creating music that reflects individual experiences, shortcomings, and the issues that we face being a band comprised solely of visible minorities. 
 
Pseudo has recorded 1 studio EP and 1 LP with an alt-punk sound that balances pop-punk and emo with progressive elements to create a well-rounded power band that knows no limits to creativity, spunk, rhythm, and style.

Pseudo US Tour
April 27 - Grand Rapids, MI – Mulligan’s Pub
April 28 – Hamtramck, MI – New Doge Lounge
April 29 - Port Huron, MI - SchwonkSoundStead
April 30 - Columbus, OH – The House With No Name
May 1 – Cincinnati, OH – The Comet
May 2 - Cambridge, MA – Out of the Blue Art Gallery
May 3 - Rochester, NY – Bug Jar
May 4 - Manhattan, NY – Fat Baby
May 6 - Queens, NY – Shillelagh Tavern
May 7 - Philadelphia, PA – The Pharmacy (backspace)
May 8 - York, PA – Skidrow Garage
May 10 - Washington DC, MD – The Void
May 11 - Memphis, TN – Murphy’s
May 12 - Winchester, VA – Valley Cat Studios
May 15 - Statesboro, GA - BiRDHAUS
May 16 - Columbus, GA – The Estate
May 17 - Athens, GA – Bombs Away Books
May 19 - Hudson, FL – What We Live For Studios
May 20 - Atlanta, GA – Swayze’s
May 24 - Orlando, FL – Uncle Lou’s
May 25 - Jackson, MS – Offbeat
May 26 - New Orleans, LA – Euphorbia Kava Bar
May 27 - Baton Rouge, LA – 524
May 28 - Little Rock, AR - TBA
May 30 - St. Louis, MO – Kismet Creative Center
May 31 - Kansas City, MO – House show TBA
June 1 - Norman, OK – Red Brick Bar
June 2 - Denton, TX – Fannin House
June 3 - Beaumont, TX – Red Room Lounge
June 4 - Houston, TX – Rudyard’s
June 6 - San Antonio, TX – Imagine Books and Records
June 7 – San Marcos, TX – Valentino’s Pizza
June 8 – Oklahoma City, OK – Your Mom’s Place
June 10 - Colorado Springs, CO – Triple Nickel Tavern
June 11 - Denver, CO - Backspace
June 14 - Phoenix, AZ – Palo Verde Lounge
June 15 - Reno, NV – Studio on 4th
June 16 – St. George, UT – Jazzy’s
June 17 - Anaheim, CA – Out of the Park Pizza
June 19 – Long Beach, CA – Blacklight District Lounge
June 22 – Los Angeles, CA – The Smell
June 23 – Berkeley, CA – 924 Gilman
July 1 - Rexburg, ID - TBA
July 4 – Great Falls, MT – The Back Alley Pub
July 7 - Bozeman, MT – The Haufbrau
July 12 – Eau Claire, WI – The Rash
July 13 - Ames, IA – Mutant Lair
July 14 - Moline, IL – The Island QC
July 15 - Wichita, KS – Kirby’s Beer Store
July 16 – Madison, WI - Frequency
July 17 – Green Bay, WI – Gasoline

Alt Press Music Awards nominees for Best New Artist Video

The coveted Alternative Press Music Awards are taking place July 17th at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. Returning to the home of AP, the 2016 APMAs were held in Columbus due to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. But hey, what can you do?

All Time Low, Sleeping With Sirens, Pierce The Veil, Against Me!, Machine Gun Kelly, Korn, Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness, New Years Day, ONE OK ROCK, the Pretty Reckless and Bone Thugs have been announced as this years entertainment, and I'm sure AP has a few surprises up their sleeve. And most importantly, Andy Black of Black Veil Brides, will be hosting.

Here are the nominees for 'Best New Artist Video presented by Journeys'

K.Flay - "Blood in the Cut" (Every Where Is Some Where, Interscope Records/Night Street Records)

PUP - "Sleep In The Heat" (The Dream Is Over / SideOneDummy)

SWMRS – “Palm Trees” (Drive North, Fueled By Ramen)

Tiny Moving Parts – “Common Cold” (Celebrate, Triple Crown Records)

Watsky – “Don’t Be Nice” (x Infinity, Steel Wool/Empire)

With Confidence – “Voldemort” (Better Weather, Hopeless)

The Nearly Deads Interview

We had the chance to chat with The Nearly Deads before they head out on the "Break Into Action Tour." Their new album Revenge of The Nearly Deads comes out May 26th. Check out what they had to say and be sure to pick up your ticket for their May 18th show in Lowell at Mill City Ballroom.

Crowdsurf Central: In a market where it's hard to have a female front a band, how have you made yourselves stick out?

The Nearly Deads: I don't believe that it is hard to have a female front a band. As far as standing out, ANY band has challenges with this. Due to the decline of the music industry, the availability of ProTools, and the fact that there are a lot more bands and a lot less venues now, it's a challenge for anyone to be unique. The fun thing about that is that people can sense if you're being fake or phony from a mile away, and as long as you stay authentic and true to yourself, you'll find a fan base that loves you for exactly what you do. You can't be too caught up in what the industry expects, because if you are, you're two steps behind the game anyway. As for us, I think our mix of piano-driven grunge and powerful pop vocals (I'm classically trained) help us stand out as well as our sense of humor and attention to detail in our music videos and artwork. 

CSC: What was the inspiration behind your zombie music video?

TND: With a name like The Nearly Deads and a brand new EP coming out, our producer really wanted to do a zombie video for us. We bought The Walking Dead Season 1 DVD and used a lot of their zombie special effects makeup tips. It was also right before Halloween and The Walking Dead Season 2 premiere, so what could be more perfect? 

CSC: You're on tour now - what are you looking forward to most about being on the road?

TND: I'm really looking forward to meeting our hardcore fans and making some new ones! Plus, being able to play music every night with my best friends just feels like home. 

CSC: Which cities are you most excited to play?

TND: I'm very excited to finally play The Studio at Webster Hall in NYC and Whisky A Go Go in LA.

CSC: Bad Seed Rising is touring with you, have you listened to them at all? What surprises you most about them?

TND: I have indeed listened to them and seen them play live. What most surprised me was when Francesca opened her mouth to scream the first time, I was NOT expecting that! I had only heard a few songs before I saw them live, and none of them had screaming. I was totally impressed and couldn't be more excited to hit the road with them. 

CSC: Tour ends right before your new album comes out, how much of the new album will you be playing on tour?

TND: We'll be playing almost the entire thing! Definitely a lot of new music on this run. 

CSC: Is there a "Revenge of The Nearly Deads" tour planned?

TND: We always have things in the works so stay tuned! 

Venue Review: Middle East (Downstairs)

Middle East (Downstairs)

Cambridge, MA

The Middle East is my favorite venue in Boston. The venue held some of the most memorable shows I've been to, including a handful of my first real shows. All types of musicians have played here over the years, making it a Mecca for some music fans.  The venue is also a restaurant (or is it the other way around?) and offers great Middle Eastern cuisine. The establishment, with its separate concert venues, "is the nexus of metro Boston's rock-club scene for local and touring bands", according to Boston Phoenix newspaper.

Located on busy Mass Ave (Massachusetts Avenue for you outsiders), The Middle East is near the Central Square area of Cambridge, a stones throw from the Central Square stop on the Red Line. I'd like to say I have a secret place to park, but in reality it's just the Green Street Garage. Located about two blocks away, the garage offers ample parking for a great, great price. You'll probably pay $13 to park, which for Boston is a great price. If you aren't driving or taking The T, a taxi ride is no problem either as plenty rush up and down the street. Because of its prime location on a corner, the venue is hard to miss. And if you're one of those who needs a landmark, it's across the street from McDonald's (I was kicked out of there once). Location (10) - Accessibility (10)

 Once inside the restaurant you head down a staircase and enter the venue. A wide open floor is in front of you with the stage located against the far wall. On your left is an elevated sitting area if you want to watch the show but avoid the crowd. In reality, it's a well decorated basement, and things can get cozy if there's a big crowd. With a capacity of 575 it can be hard to move around at times so make sure you have your drink and don't need to pee because you won't get your spot back. Crowd capacity (9)

Sound is never really a problem here. Having been around for years, the crew at The Middle East have had time to perfect their craft. If you're up front you'll likely be able to hear the show through the monitors since there isn't a barrier. The thump of the sub-woofers will rattle your bones and sends chills down your spine. But... it is a basement show and the sound can sometimes be affected by that. Sound (9)

Drink selection is no problem here. Two full bars downstairs, one on your right and the other in the elevated seating area. Drinks (10)

Mainly staffed by college-aged students (doors, coat check, etc.) a friendly atmosphere fills the venue. At shows I've attended, security only gets involved if there are aggressive crowdsurfers or fights in the pit. Bands and security don't put up with either and always watch out for the safety of concert-goers. Staff (10) Security (10)

For the most part, the venue is kept clean. But, by the end of the show the bathrooms are always a mess. Cleanliness (7)

 The great reputation of The Middle East draws bands from around the United States, but due to its limited capacity won't always draw the biggest names. The Menzingers have played here a few times but have since moved on to bigger venues in the city. You'll mainly find underground bands looking to make a name for themselves play here with an occasional local act. Expected Shows & Tours (6)

I love this venue. Each and every time I've been has been a blast, and like Jordyn said last week about College Music Hall, the only way to have a bad night is to ruin it yourself. Hot, sweaty, steamy basement shows are something every punk fan needs to experience, and you won't find a better place to get that experience that at The Middle East Downstairs. Overall Experience (10)

Overall Score: 91

LIZZY FARRALL SIGNS TO PURE NOISE RECORDS

LIZZY FARRALL SIGNS TO PURE NOISE RECORDS;
WATCH HER NEW VIDEO FOR LEAD SINGLE, “BROKEN TOY,” NOW!

Pure Noise Records are proud to announce the signing of Chester, UK born singer songwriter Lizzy Farrall.

"I've been fan of Pure Noise for a while and I really respect what they do and how they treat their artists. I am really looking forward to working along side such talented musicians and seeing what the future brings." says Lizzy.
"This song is about  past relationship and still having feelings for that person when they have, themselves moved on" says Lizzy.  She continues, "the video is about finally letting go of that person and putting the memories and hope that things may work out finally to rest."

Parkway Drive Announce ONLY North American Dates of 2017

Parkway Drive announce tour with the Word Alive and Wage War

The Australians in Parkway Drive are heading out on a short run of the United States this summer.

The Word Alive and Wage War will support.

Dates:

6/20 Cincinnati, OH – Bogart's
6/21 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
6/22 Clifton Park, NY – Upstate Concert Hall
6/23 Montebello, QC – Rock Fest
6/24 Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
6/25 Huntington, NY – The Paramount
6/26 Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts

Coast Modern Interview

Last night, Coast Modern took the Brighton Music Hall stage to fill a series of Bostonian heads with summer vibes and good feelings for the warm weather approaching.  I got to sit down with the indie duo to talk a bit about their new releases and their current tour. Check it out!

Dylan: Hey guys, so we’re looking forwards to your Boston date tomorrow, but I just wanted to ask you guys a couple questions about how things have been going and about the band itself. So how’s the tour itself been going? Do you guys have any highlights from the previous dates? 

CM: The tour has been really amazing.  Touring with our friends in 888 and Missio has been really cool, but also the crowds have been really enthusiastic.  Like last night, we were in New York, and we’re used to New York being a bit more stoic than other states, but the crowd was jumping and really felt the songs which was awesome to see.

So then if that went well, I’m sure there must be a city you’re looking forwards to playing in. 

Dallas has always been really good to us, but honestly we just really love exploring. Seeing new places, meeting and playing for new people. Half the fun of the whole thing is getting lost. We just kind of like to post up at a venue and survey the food and coffee. And kind of just wander.

The food is pretty crucial to the tour energy.  I think you’ll enjoy Boston then. So what is the main story behind Coast Modern? How’d you guys form up?

Luke: So I moved to LA about like four years ago, and didn’t know anyone really expect for a few people.  But I knew I wanted to get involved with songwriting pretty heavily and a mutual friend of ours introduced me to Coleman and we started making some music pretty casually for other people.  The band wasn’t even really a thought for us.  After a quite a few years of making weird songs and trying to pitch them to people, Coleman moved away for a bit to kind of clear his head of this whole LA music scene, and when he came back we both decided we should start a full project.  We felt that it was important to be able to do our own weird thing, and now really worry about someone else trying to pick up our song.  It could really be for us and give us a lot of freedom and let it shine in all it’s beautiful glory. 

So then what is the formation of the band, is it just you two or do you have a full set up?

Coleman: We have a full set up.  Luke and I write and produce it all, but we have an amazing drummer and bass player that travel with us. 

Luke: It’s a different experience live, it’s a lot beefy-er. 
So then you two are the creative minds behind Coast. Can you tell me a little about the writing process you guys have for the music? 

Coleman: I really want to say it’s the same in that’s it’s different every time.  We both have so much experience producing, like I have 12 years of music producing under my belt, that we just have learned a lot from using different programs and different writing methods.  Weather it’s something like recording primarily on guitar or directly to cassette, which may have an appearance on the album, or simply using Reason has really just taught us a lot.  We used Reason the most for this upcoming record. 

Luke: Yeah I think the goal for us is to keep it fun and different every time so that we do get in a rut.  We like to surprise ourselves.  It usually just starts with us hanging out in a room, talking about what we’re thinking of, or just playing guitar. 

Coleman: Or joking about memes. Memes are the money of the future so we’re trying to fill our pockets now. We just want to be an internet. 

Well I can’t argue with that. Memes are going to be the future of all things. But in terms of the music, it all feels very organic in terms of the sound and image you’re going for. But I wanted to ask if you guys really had someone you look to for inspiration? Any idols that have inspired you to create?

Luke: Honestly, people that really like to do their own thing, and constantly evolve and change to be their own person I think is a really beautiful thing and makes me want to create. Also I would say the whole ethos of modern hip-hop, and how it’s like an anything goes environment is a really powerful thing. 

Coleman: I don’t think we have as many musical influences now.  We did growing up, but now I would really say a lot more of our influence comes from culture rather than other musicians. 

It seems like then every song can kind of come from a different place and has a different standing in your own repertoire. 

Coleman: Yeah, every song is different, and also the timeline of when we produce a song and when it comes out is very different.  Like “The Way it Was” came out right after we made it, but “Comb My Hair” is something we wrote two years ago. So at the time it was really listening to what was popping off.  Back then, we really loved psychedelic music, so it’s a wink at that kind of psychedelic style. Lyrics like “Wavy designs and ripples in time, It’s a feelin of emotion that I just can’t describe” we’re not really saying anything but it’s an imprint of psychedelia. And because we were thinking more loosely, we wrote that entire song without a narrative. But by the end, we kind of realized that the narrative created itself. 

Luke: There is a big aspect to just kind of turning off your conscious brain and letting what’s in it just flow out and there’s a massive influence of that in our music.  So it’s hard to pinpoint an influence when I can hear like Steve Miller and Pixies and just a lot of different individual sounds but not direct inspiration. 

Coleman: It’s like 90’s people doing 60’s music. 

Well hearing from you guys, and how it’s all made, I can say that as a listener you get that raw emotion and feeling from the music itself.  It’s very genuine, which isn’t always found nowadays. 

Coleman: It may come across as more tongue in cheek than others, but it does come from a deep place. 

So then last question, kind of unrelated, but what has been the weirdest thing that’s happened on the tour?

Coleman: Over the whole process of the Coast Modern thing, so much weird shit has happened so it’s tough just to pick one. Smashmouth tweeted at us so that’s definitely something. 

What?

Coleman: Yeah, Smashmouth tweeted at us “Yo, Comb My Hair is a smash” but they like hashtagged “#SMASH” ‘cause they were being koy. And then they DM’d us about “Guru” asking like “Hey can we cover Guru” and it’s funny because Smashmouth is like jokingly our idols. Cause they are so cheeky. But we always say like “Smashmouth is our idol!” So it was just like the universe smiling back when they asked us to cover “Guru.”

That’s insane. Talk about memes. But then you take that step back and realize that those are the guys that did All Star. 

Luke: I was pretty into Smashmouth, and now they're hitting us up, which is super cool and weird. 

Five Bands You Need to See at Warped Tour

We're jumping on that bandwagon and naming five bands you need to make sure you see this summer at Warped Tour.

Trophy Eyes

These punk rockers hail from the UK and are just starting to make a splash on the scene. Their newest work, Chemical Miracle, released on Hopeless Records in October of 2016 and copies have been flying off the shelf. Currently slated to play the stacked Full Sail University Stage, Trophy Eyes have a small run of shows across the UK (May 25-31) with Like Pacific before coming over to the US to prepare for Warped Tour.

Boston Manor

After having previously missing a US tour due to issues with their work visas, Boston Manor trekked around the US with Like Pacific, Broadside, and Rarity in October. Their debut album Be Nothing landed in the nine spot of my Top-10 Albums of 2016. Their raw passion and vocals send chills down my spine. Like Trophy Eyes, Boston Manor is set to play on the Full Sail Stage, you might just want to set up there all day.

Wage War

What's this? A hardcore band? You read that right! I can't say enough good things about these guys. Hailing from Ocala, Flordia (ADTR, anyone?) Wage War's debut album Blueprints was an immediate favorite of mine. They really take the heavy riffs of ADTR's For Those Who Have Heart and mix it with vocals you might find on a Killswitch Engage album while sneaking in clean vocals at times. Still relatively unknown, I hope they can find more fans while out on Warped Tour. Their new song and music video, 'Stitch,' has been receiving positive reviews from everyone.

Bad Cop / Bad Cop

Did you hit up Warped Tour last year? If you did, you probably heard all the buzz generated by The Interrupters - expect a lot of the same from Bad Cop / Bad Cop. They're a ska band without the horns, basically. Dancey guitar parts, solid drumming, and a thumping baseline will make mosh pits at their sets some of the best Warped Tour has to offer. I mean... they're signed to Fat Wreck Chords. If you're a fan of NOFX and other skate-punk you'll love these guys... I mean girls.

Carousel Kings

One of Victory Records newest signings, I've been a fan of these guys for a while. After picking up their first two albums I was disappointed in the lack of new music coming from them until one day, BOOM, got an email from Victory telling me they had signed Carousel Kings. They're currently out on tour in support of their new album Charm City with our good friends in Abandoned By Bears. We were lucky enough to see their performance in Manchester, NH and it absolutely blew us away. Victory made no mistake by signing Carousel Kings. Their music is great, their stage presence is great, and we can't wait to see them succeed. **Note - Carousel Kings only appear on Warped Tour 6/15 - 7/5

Authority Zero Announce Sixth Full-Length Album

Authority Zero have announced their sixth full-length album, titled Broadcasting to the Nations, which is scheduled to be released on June 2nd through Bird Attack Records

Since '94 Authority Zero has brought their unique signature blend of anthemic melodic-punk and reggae to the masses. The band was formed in Mesa, AZ by a group of high school friends with ample ambition but no lofty expectations. After a few years, they refined and established their sound: a mix of SoCal punk with reggae and ska tendencies. With the release of their debut album A Passage in Time (2002, Lava Records), the band’s career gained momentum quickly and they’ve since spent their fair share of time on the road, having toured extensively with such acts as Pennywise, Sum 41, Flogging Molly and many more. They’ve released a total of 5 full length studio albums.

The band entered Fort Collins, Colorado’s legendary The Blasting Room Studio (Rise Against, Descendents, NOFX) in December of 2016 to start work on their album Broadcasting to the Nations with producer/iconic punk drummer Bill Stevenson (of Black Flag/Descendents fame) at the helm. DeVore describes the direction of the new material: “It’s really going to be an exciting album. It’s a combination I think of The Tipping Point (released in 2013) meets the first album A Passage in Time.

Patent Pending Are Getting Ready To Party

Punky New Yorkers Are Full Of Surprises For Their Upcoming UK Tour

American party pop-punkers Patent Pending are getting ready to hit the UK for a series of shows as part of their Spring Break Tour. To spice things up and get the party started, the band is preparing a new set that is sure to surprise their fans.

This is what singer Joe Pending had to say about the band’s upcoming tour:

“It's been a full year since our last proper headlining tour in the UK and we are losing our minds with excitement to get back out there and party with our European Second Family. We started brainstorming while preparing for this tour for new ways to turn the Patent Pending party atmosphere from a 10 to an 11, because we want this year to be absolutely bonkers! We've always pulled influence from all over the musical spectrum, so we decided that this year we want to take all of the things that we love about music and mash it all together in beautiful symphony of chaos and energy. The result is something that we are very proud of. We can't wait to finally share it with the world!!! Between the surprises that we're going to unleash starting April 17th and the things we have planned for the next 6 months, this is going to be the best and most insane year in Patent Pending history.”

Make sure you stay up to date on the band’s social media so you can be ready to sing along at the following shows:
April 17th @ Thekla, Bristol, England
April 18th @ King Tuts, Glasgow, Scotland
April 19th @ Waterfront, Norwich, England
April 20th @ O2 Academy 3, Manchester, England
April 21st @ Key Club, Leeds, England
April 22nd @ O2 Academy 2, Birmingham, England
April 23rd @ O2 Academy 2, Newcastle, England
April 25th @ Joiners, Southampton, England
April 26th @ The Scene, Swansea, England
April 27th @ Rock City, Nottingham, England
April 28th @ O2 Academy Islington, London, England
+ April 29th @ Teddy Rocks Festival, Blandford Forum, England

Tickets available from http://patentpendingmusic.com/tour.html

Venue Review: College Street Music Hall

College Street Music Hall

New Haven, CT

College Street Music Hall (CSMH) in New Haven, CT is one of New England’s newest musical treasures, having only opened in May of 2015. Located at 238 College St., long-time New Haven locals recall the venue’s predecessors. The building was originally constructed in 1926 as the Roger Sherman Theatre and has thus evolved over time (the Palace Theatre, born in 1984 and abandoned in 2002, until CSMH was created and opened in 2015).

Location (9) & Accessibility (7):
The venue is located in the heart of New Haven’s arts district and the infamous Yale University campus. After concerts, attendees may find themselves at any of the popular bars and restaurants surrounding the venue as well. Patrons come from all over New England for concerts at CSMH, and it is highly accessible via the Metro-North railroad, bus, cab, car, or foot. Finding parking will never be an issue for concert-goers, as the Crown Street and Temple Street garages are close within walking distance from the venue and have inexpensive hourly rates. However, you should be prepared to wait a while on your way out as traffic gets backed up very easily in these tight, multi-level garages. 
 

Crowd Capacity (10):
CSMH is considered a “multi-capacity” venue, though its max settles around 2,000 attendees. Depending on the act and event, the seating chart can be altered. The venue itself has three major sections: the floor (which may be seated or general admission standing), the balcony (seated), and the loge (seated). The venue also has an ADA section for patrons that request for accommodations, located on the floor for greater accessibility. For most smaller scale shows, there is a GA floor with optional balcony seating that is unreserved. For some of the bigger acts, there is a reserved seated floor, with the balcony and loge also being reserved. Again, the seating will vary each night, so be sure to check the seating chart for your event before you purchase your tickets. The venue is quite large from the inside, and the tiered floor section allows for higher visibility—unlike most venues that have a single-level standing room. That being said, do not be afraid of GA floor shows at CSMH! If you can’t get to the front row, find a sweet spot on the barricade on one of the tiers and you’re guaranteed a great view for the night.

Sound (9):
Although sound is something that will vary depending on the band performing and who is working the booth that night, CSMH is very well equipped for just about anything. The sound system for the most part is filling and crisp. I have never had an issue hearing an instrument during a show—that is, as long as the band’s sound crew remembers to turn up the vocalist’s mic. For a greater majority of shows I’ve attended at CSMH though, the sound is controlled by one of the venue’s house engineers, of which there have rarely been any complications.

Drink selection (8):
Personally, I have never been to any of the bars at CSMH, but I can comment on the accessibility and success of them. There is a large bar inside where floor access begins, with at least 4 bartenders working throughout the night. Drink selection is pretty wide, as there are a plethora of beers on tap, several shrines of hard liquor, and wine for those keepin’ it classy at the rock show. There is also a soda + water bar towards the center back where under-aged attendees can get their fix without having to wait in line with the hard-hitters going back for their 4th beer. On the second floor “lobby,” there are two more bars for easier access from the balcony and loge sections. I must say, the designers were quite intelligent to put the restrooms on either sides of every bar as well. I have heard that drinks are a little over-priced, but isn’t that expected at higher scale venues anyway? You get what you pay for, for sure.

Staff (10) & Security (10)
I may be a bit biased being part of the staff at CSMH, but I must say: of the venues that I’ve been to, I’ve never endured friendlier or more efficient staff and security. A good amount of the employees at CSMH work for or with the promoters, like Manic Presents (formerly Manic Productions; the people who probably put on your favorite shows in CT since… ever), so working at CSMH is far from their first rodeo. For smaller shows or shows that have a GA floor, many of the ushers double-up with security to ensure safety of patrons and to make sure everything is running smoothly. The security guards are also very approachable and know how to focus on the important things at shows. I have only been to one show at CSMH where I’ve witnessed crowdsurfing (I’ll discuss why in the section about shows & tours), but the security worked quickly and with care. Also, as a photographer, I must commend the staff and security on their planning and attention to detail. Many venues that I’ve been to, they are not aware of what press and tour passes look like before the show, and I often tussle with security trying to get into the pit because of this. CSMH employees are well aware of what each pass looks like and will only give you a hard time when they know you’re where you aren’t supposed to be. Claps all around.

Photo by: Bradford Mahler Photography (2015)

Photo by: Bradford Mahler Photography (2015)

Cleanliness (10)
Without a doubt, CSMH is one of the cleanest—if not the cleanest—venues I’ve ever been to. Yes, a great percentage of this can be due to the fact that the venue is still too new to have wear-and-tear damage yet, but the age of the venue does not necessarily correlate to its housekeeping. Beer spills don’t last very long, as a member of the cleaning crew has probably already wiped it up by the time you get back to your seat. The bathrooms are usually pretty well maintained as well. Of course, cups and left over items are inescapable after a show, but I have never been grossed out in any of my own experiences at CSMH thus far.

Expected Shows & Tours (7):
Before I go into explaining my lower score on this section, I must prelude by saying that due to how new CSMH really is (only two years old as of May 2017), as well as its size compared to other venues in CT, the tours that come around are often less connected to our underground music scene. Thus, I have usually been less familiar with the bands that have played here in the past. The promoters that book shows at CSMH have put on amazing shows at any and all of our other venues (The Space, Webster Theater, Oakdale Theater, etc.), but up until recently many bands making the underground scene’s headlines have not stepped foot. CSMH has had some of the scene’s highlights in the past—Every Time I Die’s tour with Real Friends was one of the first to hit CSMH’s stage shortly after it opened—but there are certainly shows to look forward to coming up this year. Mayday Parade’s tour with Knuckle Puck, Julien Baker, City & Colour, Flogging Molly, and Thrice are just a few to name, with plenty still to be announced. Though I will keep the score low, as CSMH’s roster is still blooming, I guarantee by the end of this year you will notice more of your favorite bands’ tours stopping by CSMH for the night.

Overall Experience (9):
All in all, the only way to have a bad night at College Street Music Hall is to ruin it yourself. Walk around downtown and grab a bite to eat (or pregame, if you’re into that kinda thing) as New Haven’s nightlife is always thriving in this area. The staff and security keep the place running beyond par and are actually good at their jobs. There’s not a bad seat in the house for any show, but like any other venue just make sure you’re purchasing the kind of seating arrangement that you’re actually interested in. The seating chart may get tricky if it’s your first time here, so it’s imperative that you check before buying your tickets (unless it’s a GA show—you have one choice). I, personally, am excited to see more bands in our scene take on CSMH’s stage, as it is an acoustically pleasing space with heavenly architecture and holds all the ingredients to make a perfect concert experience. 

Total Score: 89

Why do so many people bash I Prevail?

Seriously, can somebody explain this to us? Maybe we're behind on the times and missed something, but the latest internet trend in the music world is to bash I Prevail and we can't figure out why.

There's always the: "They're only popular because they got lucky with a cover" arguement. Right, that's why it has over 32 MILLION plays on YouTube and 30 MILLION plays on Spotify. Do you know what that's called? Good fucking marketing. They took the most popular song at the time and covered it. Pop goes punk. Genius. And they did a great job with it.

Or maybe people will say: "They're just another A Day To Remember." Oh, what a shame. There have never been two bands in the history of history that sound like each other. Literally. It's never happened. EVER. 

Anyway, what it boils down to is people jumping on stupid trends (Pokemon GO, "bae," Netflix & chill) and thinking it makes them cool. Sorry that you play in a local scene where everyone hates their hometown and hangs out at the mall on the weekend instead of going to your show. Until your band headlines Warped Tour, sells out shows around the world, and has 60 million+ plays of a song, you can just shut up. 

And in case you haven't noticed, I Prevail truly care about their fans and the safety of their fans at shows. So shut up. Bashing others will get you and your band nowhere.

COHEED & CAMBRIA’S CLAUDIO SANCHEZ RELEASES NEWEST INSTALLMENT OF “THE AMORY WARS: GOOD APOLLO, I’M BURNING STAR IV”

COHEED & CAMBRIA’S CLAUDIO SANCHEZ RELEASES NEWEST INSTALLMENT OF HUGELY POPULAR COMIC BOOK SERIES “THE AMORY WARS: GOOD APOLLO, I’M BURNING STAR IV”

Issue one 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 massive 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 the first issue 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 who’s 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 imprison every last human living in Heaven’s fence, or worse, steal their souls.  “Good Apollo..” introduces a character that crosses the fictional plane of the series: the “Writing Writer” Ryder, the alleged creator of these worlds, whose heartbreak in life is beginning to affect the fictional story, and causing him to lose control of his characters to their own free will.
 
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 hop on the train.
 
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, drops the very same month they embark on the 6 week “Neverender GAIBSIV tour, 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. They are also set to release the vinyl for the first time, which will include a Record Store Day exclusive color, a tour version, and a web exclusive version available April 28 via http://www.coheedandcambria.com/. 
 
The upcoming Neverender GAIBSIV tour will be supported by The Dear Hunter, and will include performances at festivals including Welcome To Rockville, Las Rageous, Carolina Rebellion and Rock on the Range.
 
Coheed & Cambria North American Tour Dates:
April 11 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox (SOLD OUT)
April 13 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater (SOLD OUT)
April 14 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
April 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium
April 17 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory
April 18 - San Diego, CA - Observatory North Park (SOLD OUT)
April 19 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee
April 21 - Las Vegas, NV - Las Rageous Festival
April 22 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
April 23 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
April 25 - Austin, TX - Stubbs BBQ
April 26 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues (SOLD OUT)
April 27 - Houston, TX - House of Blues (SOLD OUT)
April 29 - Jacksonville, FL - Welcome To Rockville
April 30 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live (SOLD OUT)
May 2 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle (SOLD OUT)
May 3 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
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

SHARPTONE RECORDS SIGNS ALAZKA

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR THEIR NEW SINGLE, “EMPTY THRONE”

Los Angeles based independent record label SharpTone Records announces today the signing of German melodic-hardcore act ALAZKA. The band joins the label’s burgeoning roster that includes acts such as Attila, Emmure, Miss May I, We Came As Romans and While She Sleeps among others. 

In conjunction with the signing announcement, ALAZKA has debuted a video for their new single, “Empty Throne.” Watch it now:

Based in Western Germany, ALAZKA started their journey in 2012 as Burning Down Alaska. After a few personnel changes, they released their debut EP Values & Virtues in March 2015 via Redfield Records. Since then they have played four European tours, including their own headline tour and the “Impericon Never Say Die! Tour,“ as well as several well known festivals across Europe (With Full Force, Summer Breeze, Graspop Metal Meeting, Southside Festival e.g.). Further they have played support shows for Bands like Northlane, The Ghost Inside and Parkway Drive on several occasions. In January 2016 Kassim Auale joined the band as a second vocalist. He first appeared on the song “Blossom” which was released right before their first European headline tour. At the end of March 2017, the band announced that they have changed their name to ALAZKA, as they felt like the time had come to finally choose a name that fits the musical style and personality the band strived for, since their old name was something they had chosen back when the band was founded and most of the current members were not even a part of the band. 

Do surprise albums work?

Recently, the Australian rock band Northlane released their newest album Mesmer. However, it came as a surprise to everyone. There was no buildup to the album, no hint that there was new music coming from the band, and it caught everyone by surprise.

Trying to follow in the footsteps of Avenged Sevenfold, Northlane surprised its fans with a new Mesmer, and the sales numbers weren't the best. While Mesmer only sold 1,800 copies in the first week, the band's 2015 album Node sold 3,500 in its first week.

Last year, Davey Muise put out a video about the importance of first week sales, you can watch that video here:

So the question is, does the surprise release work? Avenged Sevenfold sold 72,000 copies of their surprise album, The Stage in the first week. While that number isn't awful, their previous album The Nightmare (which was well-hyped) sold 169,000 copies in its first week.

What do you think about this topic? Let us know in the comments!