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Tour Report

I went and saw Classics of Love and Andrew Jackson Jihad last night at the Radio Room in San Diego. Hands down the best show I’ve seen this year. Classics of Love had some much energy and totally tore up their set. They also threw some classic Operation Ivy and Common Rider material. I was blown away.

Andrew Jackson did not disappoint either. For a two-piece band their sound was pretty immense. I have to thank my brother-in-law Mike for knowing that the show was going on in the first place. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t have even known that it was going on. Overall it worked out to be a pretty damn good day, especially if you consider that we didn’t even have tickets and the show was sold out.

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Alex Gomez – Love Sex & Drugs

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Hank III combined with Jon Spencer, Maybe? Black Sabbath with a slide guitar, I don’t rightly know. Either way, I have this disc from Alex Gomez. It is chock full of some seriously raw electrified blues. It slides this way and the other. It shreds (speaker cones) a bit. It is raw. I’ll make you throat hoarse if you try to sing along. Honestly I’m not completely sure of what to make of it yet. I’ve had the CD in the car for a while and it seemed to work there when the Mexican radio wasn’t quite up to par. I’m listening to it right now after several blue ribbon awarded adult beverages and it keeps getting better. Let me tell you more though. There are 10 songs. They all sound a bit similar, but once you hook into the loose slide groove, they don’t degrade in quality for the duration. So I’m hangin’ on a sort of fence on this one. I can’t say I’m adding it to heavy rotation, but I’m not going to dismiss it either. You listen. You decide.

–Jerry Actually

Provoke – This is Real

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So I’m listening to “This is Real” from the Brisbane, Australia band Provoke and something occurs to me. Is globalization affecting music? I think that it is. This is some serious East Coast Hardcore. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing by any means, but I find it intriguing that so many miles and so much water can separate scenes only to have music that sounds like it came from the same mean streets that brought Agnostic Front or Sick of it All or Slapshot. Maybe, instead, it is something more universal. Maybe the bullshit blue collar upbringing, the angst filled days and hope-crushing nights affect us all in a similar manner? What if this is the natural expunging of a pain that we all feel? Before I go off on a crazy sociological tangent, I’ll try to rein it back in a bit. Provoke is a four piece (currently) band from Queensland Australia and have been bringing the heavy noise since 2005. “This is Real” gives up 10 tracks, nine of which clock in well under my three minute cutoff. The final track is obviously a ballad at 4:03 and based on that I won’t even discuss it ‘round these parts. As a final note, it is refreshing to hear some honest-to-goodness hardcore that doesn’t sound like you’ve heard all their shit before. Yes it rings true to what you’re looking for, but as far as this Yank’s ears go this is some sweet new angst. Go get this. If you need some help finding it, shoot me an email and I’ll see if I can’t help you get a copy for yourself.

–Jerry Actually

Death by Stereo

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I Scream Records signs deal for the European release of the new Death By Stereo album!
In stores in Europe on October 5th!!

I Scream Records signed a deal with Serjical Strike Records, Death By Stereo’s new label, for the release of “Death Is My Only Friend”, in Europe.
Laurens Kusters says: “We’re extremely excited to have Death By Stereo join our, ever growing, European roster.”

Since their inception in 1998, Death By Stereo has been balancing consciousness and chaos with their unique genre-bending amalgam of hardcore, metal and punk.
“Death Is My Only Friend”, the band’s 5th studio album, was produced & recorded by Jason Freese (Green Day, Jewel, Goo Goo Dolls) and mixed by Jay Baumgardener (Linkin Park, Evanesance). “Death is My Only Friend” finds the band’s sound venturing into uncharted musical waters and they have created the biggest sounding Death By Stereo record to date.
“We are excited to be at our new home at I Scream Records for our European release. Europe has always been important for us and we can’t wait to come back over.” ads the band.

The European release date for “Death Is My Only Friend” is set for October 5th!

Revolver : “this California hard core quartet continues on it’s tough but tuneful course, nestling blunt social criticism in melodies so upbeat it’s hard to believe the band is as pissed off as it claims.”
Alternative Press : “Ragers like “Welcome To The Party” or “Fear Of A Brown Planet” are reminders that few bands are able to combine melody and unbridled aggression as ardently as DBS-and for the most part, frontman Efrem Schulz’s operatic vocals manage to complement the band’s technically minded music instead of overshadow it.”

Death By Stereo will be on tour in Europe this November as a part of the 2009 Persistence Tour (with Ignite, Evergreen Terrace and more)
November 27th – De Mast in Torhout (Belgium)
November 28th – Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen (Germany)
November 29th – Klokgebouw in Eindhoven (The Netherlands)
November 30th – Backstage Werk in Munich (Germany)
December 1st – Gasometer in Vienna (Austria)
December 2nd – Posthalle in Würzburg (Germany)
December 4th – Garage in Saarbrücken (Germany)
December 5th – Alter Schlachthof in Dresden (Germany)
December 6th – Docks in Hamburg (Germany)

For more info: www.deathbystereo.com
Death By Stereo on myspace: www.myspace.com/deathbystereo

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Think Fast! Records

Think Fast! Records Signs Worldwide Distribution Deal with Trustkill Entertainment

Up and coming rising hardcore label Think Fast! Records has signed a worldwide distribution deal with Trustkill Entertainment. The label’s bands and releases will be in good hands with Trustkill’s global network of executives and marketing/distribution partners in the physical, digital, and mobile landscape.

“We’re very excited to have a label like Trustkill get behind our distribution efforts. Our new deal will allow a growing hardcore/punk label like Think Fast! to be spread on a larger scale and on a global level” comments Think Fast! co-owner, Ryan O’Connor.
Continue reading Think Fast! Records

Os Mutantes

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NEW OS MUTANTES SONG PREMIERES ON STEREOGUM TODAY
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR KICKS OFF AUGUST 28

Revered Tropicália band Os Mutantes have emerged after thirty-five years to record a sumptuous new album entitled Haih or Amortecedor due out 09-08 on Anti Records. The new songs are the result of an astonishing collaboration between band leader Sergio Dias and Tom Zé, renowned Brazilian musician and fellow instigator of the Dadaist influenced cut and paste Tropicália movement. The result is an album which both captures the classic Os Mutantes sound while moving it distinctly forward.

When the first new song “Teclar” debuted in July, Pitchfork remarked: “Lead Mutante Sergio Dias isn’t trying to sound like a kid anymore, something more veteran figures should probably try when they record new stuff. The track is slower and more languorous than the Os Mutantes of old. Hints of Eastern melodic scales and pastoral British folk creep in alongside the mix of traditional Brazilian music and Beatles-informed psych that first brought this band into the game.”

The Mutantes are now set to premier a second song off their anticipated new album today at www.stereogum.com. Like most of the new songs, “Anagrama,” is collaborative composition between Dias and Zé. The result is an enthralling mix of modern psychedelia and sensuous folk pop.

“When I first wrote this song it was too personal but I loved the melody,” Diaz explains. “So underneath there are lines of some other lyrics that I am singing. It’s a very poetic love song but it was just too personal, so Tom Zé did this really amazing thing where he cut off the last syllable of every word so you would have to figure them out in your head. There is a telephone voice referencing the other lyrics. The music is kind of a here there and everywhere, a bossa nova with a bit of Loving Spoonful in the guitar.”

The band will embark on an extensive North American tour beginning August 28th in Los Angeles.
Continue reading Os Mutantes

Phantom – The New Piracy

LOS ANGELES ROCK OUTFIT PHATHOM
RELEASE 2 MORE TRACKS FROM THEIR NEW CD
‘THE NEW PIRACY’
VIA FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD CAMPAIGN

Here all tracks release here:
http://hardlineent.com/phathom/the_new_piracy/

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Los Angeles based band, Phathom-Matthew Sikora (Vocals, Guitar), Jason Stone (Guitar, Vocals), Yannick d’Assignies (Bass, Vocals) and Anton Tilgren (Drums) are ready to give away two more tracks from their latest CD ‘The New Piracy’. Instead of your tradition street date release the band has opted for an ongoing online campaign where they will give away 2 new songs each month as free downloads. The first 4 songs have already hit the Internet produced by Charlie Paulson of Goldfinger/Black President and co-produced and recorded by Mike Sutherland (Pennywise, Pepper, as well as Phathom’s “Zombie Love”). This month’s tracks are titled, “Bliss” and “House Of Glass”.

Since the band’s formation and in the spirit of DIY Phathom has remained independent of any record label aid and currently resides with Hardline Entertainment under the management of Ken Seaton.

The Phathom online campaign has the support of Rockstar Energy Drink’s site www.RockStar69.com and www.Gibson.com, www.TheInterlude.com and www.addicted2shows.com who will also be posting the songs for free download.

For up-to-date news check out:

www.PHATHOMSOUND.com

Skinlab – The Scars Between Us

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Skinlab’s upcoming album ‘The Scars Between Us’ is now streaming in its entirety at http://tunelab.com/2009/08/12/album-stream-skinlab-the-scars-between-us/

The album stream is only available for a 72-hour period, and TuneLab.com is the only place you can hear the entire album. ‘The Scars Between Us’ hits US stores on September 15th via Stand Up and Deliver Records.

Echo Screen – Goodbye Old Life

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(c)2009 ES Music
[rating:3/5]

For those of you unfamiliar with Echo Screen, They are, as far as I know, a poppy-rock quartet from straight outta Jersey. Goodbye Old Life may or may not be a departure from the bands previous two efforts, but then again it might. It is way in the pop vein, but in a weird good way. It is, oddly, like a mix between James Taylor, Neil Young and Ben Folds. Normally not my cup o’ tea, but I’m kind of in a groove with this five track EP. I say what the hell, Echo Screen is alright, even if they sound almost nice enough to be grandmother safe. The tracks tend to alternate between quick slow quick (to an extent, ’cause track five wrecks that scheme) They all have a flowing dreamy feel to them, but consequently I prefer tracks 1. “I Amsterdam” and 3. “When I Escape (L.A.)”, the later very obviously about Snake Plissken. Never the less, some not-so-bad stuff, from the East. Then again, what did I expect? New Jersey has all the best bands.

–Jerry Actually

It Dies Today – Free Download

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IT DIES TODAY
DEBUT NEW SONG DOWNLOAD AT THE GAUNTLET.COM
BAND SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM “LIVIDITY”
ON TRUSTKILL SEPTEMBER 15TH
HEADLINE TOUR WITH VANNA AND
ARSONISTS GET ALL THE GIRLS STARTS SEPT. 10TH
The wait is over and Trustkill band IT DIES TODAY are set to release their long awaited album LIVIDITY, out September 15. Look for the band to kick off a tour with Vanna and Arsonists get all the girls on September 10 in support.

Free download of a brand new track now at The Gauntlet.com.

Hailing from Buffalo, NY IT DIES TODAY formed in 2001. The group creates a blend of brutal riffs and punishing breakdowns that are coupled with huge anthemic and driving melodies. This dichotomy within their sound has gained them fans across the metal, hardcore and rock scenes. At their formation, most band members were only 16 years old and although now only in their early 20s this is a band who has already accomplished more than bands twice their age and they have only just begun.
Look for the true strength, ability and resolve of this band to explode with “Lividity” on September 15.

Live with Vanna and Arsonists Get All The Girls
September 10 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
September 11 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground
September 12 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Loft
September 13 – South Hackensack, NJ @ School Of Rock
September 14 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
September 16 – Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligan’s
September 17 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
September 18 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero
September 19 – Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box
September 23 – Houston, TX @ The Java Jazz
September 24 – San Antonio, TX @ Scout Bar
September 25 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
September 27 – Denver, CO @ The Marquis Theatre
September 28 – Farmington, NM @ Gator’s
September 30 -=2 0Tempe, AZ @ The Sets
October 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky A Go Go
October 6 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
October 10 – Detroit, MI @ Harpo’s
October 14 – Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
October 15 – Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon
October 16 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
October 17 – Toronto, CA @ Wreck Room

www.myspace.com/itdiestoday
www.trustkill.com/artist/It+Dies+Today
www.trustkill.com