Heavy Metal band Baroness returns with their
fifth studio album titled “Gold & Grey”. The album which was released on
June 14th is the follow to the bands popular 2015 release “Purple”. Featuring
17 brand new tracks from the Georgia based group and produced by David Fridmann
“Gold & Grey” is the first release via the bands own Abraxan Hymns label. The
release is also the first to feature guitarist Gina Gleason who joined the
group in 2017 after the departure of Peter Adams.
Right from the start “Gold & Grey”
showcases why Baroness is at the fore front of progressive heavy metal. With
tracks like “Front Toward Enemy” and “I’m Already Gone” laying the foundation
in the albums opening minutes with thick over driven guitars and singer John
Baizley’s signature soaring vocals listeners are quickly immersed in a bevy of
sonic goodness. As the album progresses so does the diverseness of texture and
tones. Tracks like “Tourniquet” and “Blankets of Ash” feature spacey vocals and
layered acoustic guitars while the songs “I’d Do Anything” and “Emmett-Radiating
Light” feature piano rich sound scapes which seep deep in to your inner core
making for a nice mixture of dark and light.
The latest offering from Baroness takes
listeners on a musical vacation that some may never want to come back from. Brimming
over with emotional subject matter and robust instrumentation “Gold & Grey”
is another notch in Baroness’s musical belt. The addition of guitarist Gina
Gleason I feel has really taken the band to the next level. Not only does
Gleason’s playing compliment the band nicely but so do her backing vocals which
compliment Baizley’s leads. Despite “Gold & Grey” having a few too many
slow moments for my liking the songs that weren’t balls to the wall rockers
were still enjoyable making this an album I would certainly recommend checking
out.
Punk Rock
God Fathers Bad Religion have just released their seventeenth studio album
titled “Age of Unreason” The album is being released vie Epitaph Records and
features 14 brand new tracks which were produced by Carlos de la Garza. This is
the bands first release since 2013’s “True North” marking the longest gap
between albums in the bands history. “Age
of Reason” is also the first album to feature guitarist Mike Dimkich and
drummer Jamie Miller.
Bad Religion is a band that holds a special place in my musical heart as they were one of the first punk bands me and my friends really got into. 1994’s “Stranger Than Fiction” was often the soundtrack to our skateboard adventures as were many of the bands subsequent releases. Needless to say the bands activity has been on my radar for quite some time so when it was finally announced that “Age of Reason” was going to be released after a seven year recording hiatus the album quickly moved to the top of my listening queue. Tracks such as “My Sanity”, “The Age of Reason” and “The Old Regime” are classic BR through in through as all three feature the bands signature fast paced drumming, intermittent guitar soloing topped off by vocalist Greg Graffin’s thought provoking lyrics. Songs such as “Lose Your Head”, “Candidate” and “Downfall” show the band stretching their legs a little bit as they experiment with a variety of beats and tones giving the album a nice balance of familiarity and freshness.
From beginning to end I found Bad Religion’s “Age of Reason” to be a fun and energetic listen. Even after a couple of consecutive listens I still found myself going back and listening to some of the previously noted tracks as I just couldn’t get enough. Does the release have the rawness of albums like “Suffer” or “No Control”? Not so much. However, the band, its fans and the world as a whole are in a completely different place than they were in the late eighties and early nineties. “Age of Reason” is classic Bad Religion with a modern twist which listeners new both new and old will enjoy time and time again.
Featuring some of the biggest bands in rockas well as the genre’s rising stars,The Rockstar Energy Drink DISRUPT Festival is a brand-new music experience making its debut across North America this summer.The touring festival will feature unique line-ups in each city, with performances varying from artists including The Used, Thrice, Circa Survive, Sum 41, The Story So Far, Atreyu, Sleeping With Sirens, Andy Black, Four Year Strong,Memphis May Fire, Trophy Eyes,Meg & Dia, Juliet Simms and Hyro The Hero.
Please visit rockstardisrupt.com for full line-up details by city. The 25-city rock roadshow of the summer will kick off June 21st in Dallas, TX at the Dos Equis Pavilion and make stops in Austin, Atlanta, Toronto, Denver and more,before wrapping July 28th in Albuquerque, NM at the Isleta Amphitheater.
Fans will be immersed into a full-day interactive experience where they will not only be able to see some of their favorite bands live, but will also be exposed to the latest in lifestyle brands and pop-up activations. Unlike most other festivals, there will only be one band performing at a time,avoiding conflicting set times and allowing fans to experience the full lineup in one rock-filled day.
The event will start on an outdoor stage on festival grounds with surrounding activations before shifting into an amphitheater setting around sundown allowing for larger stage productions as well as comfortable seating options for fans. Concert-goers will get the best of both worlds with a festival environment during the day as well as a high-production amphitheater concert at night from some of the most exciting live performers in the rock scene today.
Fans who bring any empty 16 ounce can of Rockstar Energy Drink to recycle at the main gate will have the opportunity to skip the line and be entered to win a signed festival guitar and exclusive meet & greet with festival headliners.
Energy Drink DISRUPT Festival Dates
June 21–Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
June 22–Austin, TX @ Austin 360 Amphitheater
June 23–The Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
June 25–West Palm Beach, FL @ Coral Sky Amphitheatreat S. Florida Fairground
June 26–Tampa, FL @ MID FLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
June 28–Atlanta, GA @ Cellairis Amphitheare at Lakewood
June 29–Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
July 2–Syracuse, NY @ St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
July 3–Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
July 5–Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
July 6–Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
July 7–Hartford, CT @ XFINITY Theatre
July 9–Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
July 10–Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
July 12–Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July13–Thornville, OH @ Legend Valley
July 14–Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
July 15–Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July 17–Denver, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*
July 20–Irvine, CA @ Five Point Amphitheater presented by Mercury Insurance
July 23–Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
July 24–Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre
July 26–Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 27–Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion
July 28–Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
*not a Live Nation date DISRUPT is presented by Live Nation and Synergy Global Entertainment, Inc. (SGE).
Rammstein’s long awaited seventh album is finally here! The untitled
release hit the shelves in the United States on May 17 via Caroline and consists
of 11 new tracks produced by Olsen Involtini and the Rammstein. The album which
features the singles “Radio” and “Deutschland” is the German based bands first
studio album since 2009’s “LIEBE IST FÜR ALLE DA” which peaked at number 13 on
the U.S Billboard 200.
After a 10 year recording hiatus German
industrialist’s Rammstein are back with a hard hitting package of 11 new songs
which certainly make up for the bands extended absence. It doesn’t matter you
go for the CD, Digital Download or the 2 LP version (like us) you will not be
disappointed. Prior to this release I had always gotten my Rammstein fix in CD
or Digital forms. Given the nature of the music I had always felt it would sound
best on these formats. With untitled though I decided to give the 2 LP version
of the release a try. Needless to say I was not disappointed as the vinyl
delivered! The heavy weight vinyl set at 45rpm’s gives the guitars and drums a
tight, robust sound that mixed nicely with the electronic and vocal elements of
the record. Tracks like “Radio”, “Sex” and, “Weit Weg” are all heavy hitters
that will get you moving while more subdued tracks “Was Ich Liebe” and “Hallomann”
paint eerie landscapes that could easily be the soundtrack to your favorite
thriller or horror film.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder and that is
definitely my sentiment as it pertains to the latest offering from Rammstein.
The band along with producer Olsen Involtini has put together a great sounding
release that is diverse enough to allow for consecutive listens time and time
again. The double LP version of the release offers a little something extra for
fans as it included 6 beautiful prints of the band (one for each member)
printed on high quality paper stock suitable for framing. The only negative I
found was that the LP version did also contain a digital version thus making it
impossible (without a second purchase) to obtain a mobile version of the album.
If this is something you can do without I highly recommend the vinyl however,
if you are on the go and don’t have a lot of time to sit down and listen to an
album then the digital or CD version of the release will still provide you an equally
enjoyable listen.
The 17-track release which arrives this Friday is described by NPR as “…Baroness has redigested every sound of the band’s career thus far and synthesized it into something greater. Gold & Grey is the sound of a band becoming a universe unto itself.” Mojodubbed the album “an epic beast,” Stereogum referred to it as “anthemic” and MetalSuckssaid the collection “perfectly encapsulates how Baroness excel at reaching shining peaks and descending into gloomy valleys.” Baroness have recently been featured on the covers of Decibel Magazine, Kerrang! and Loud!, while Revolver will debut a series of collectible covers later this month.
“This is the most clear representation of the artistic vision I have for the band that we’ve ever done,” explains singer/guitar player John Baizley. “Where Purple was me lyrically trying to work out how to adjust to a new normal, I think Gold & Grey is a more grown-up and more subtle collection of words that reflect how I am trying to deal with the longer term effects of having experienced so many terrible things. I choose to use the band as a place where I can take all of this stress, pain, anxiety, all these realities, and make them something good.”
Baroness is in the midst of a tour of Northeastern U.S. independent record stores, performing acoustically this evening at Philadelphia’s Creep Records, with a full band performance slated for Brooklyn’s Rough Trade on release date. A South American tour is slated for later this month, followed by both North American and European treks.
Tour dates:
June 10 Philadelphia, PA Creep Records
June 11 Fords, NJ Vintage Vinyl
June 12 Babylon, NY Looney Tunes
June 14 Brooklyn, NY Rough Trade
June 15 Poughkeepsie, NY Darkside Records
June 16 Boston, MA ONCE/Newbury Comics
June 19 Mexico City, Mexico MX at Lunario
June 21 Santiago, Chile Blondie
June 22 Buenos Aires, Argentina Uniclub
June 23 São Paulo, Brazil Fabrique Club
July 11 Lancaster, PA The Chameleon
July 12 Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance
July 13 Huntington, NY The Paramount
July 14 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre
July 16 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
July 17 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls Theatre
July 19 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
July 20 Detroit, MI The Majestic
July 21 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe at Old National Centre
July 23 Palatine, IL Durty Nellie’s
July 24 Des Moines, IA Wooly’s
July 26 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room
July 27 Lawrence, KS The Granada
July 28 St. Louis MO The Ready Room
July 30 Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom
July 31 Birmingham, AL Saturn
August 4 Baton Rouge, LA The Varsity Theatre
August 5 Atlanta, GA Buckhead Theatre
August 6 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
August 7 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
August 9 Orlando, FL Plaza Live
August 10 Jacksonville, FL 1904 Music Hall
August 11 Charleston, SC The Music Farm
August 13 Charlotte, NC The Underground
August 14 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
August 16 Richmond, VA The National
August 17 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Sound Stage
September 23 Newcastle, UK O2 Academy
September 24 Glasgow, UK O2 Academy
September 26 London, UK O2 Academy Brixton
September 28 Bristol, UK O2 Academy
September 30 Birmingham, UK O2 Academy
October 1 Manchester, UK O2 Apollo
October 3 Belfast, UK Ulster Hall
October 4 Dublin, IE Olympia Theatre
October 6 Paris, FR L’Olympia
October 7 Luxembourg, LU Rockhal
October 9 Madrid, ES La Riviera
October 10 Lisbon, PT Coliseum
October 12 Barcelona, ES Razzmatazz
October 14 Milan, IT Fabrique
October 29 Warsaw, PL Torwar Arena
October 31 Prague, CZ O2 Universum
November 1 Berlin, DE Mercedes-Benz Arena
November 3 Stuttgart, DE Schleyerhalle
November 5 Zurich, CH Hallenstadion
November 7 Frankfurt, DE Festhalle
November 8 Munich, DE Olympiahalle
November 10 Leipzig, DE Arena Leipzig
November 11 Hamburg, DE Barclaycard Arena
November 14 Cologne, DE Lanxess Arena
November 17 Vienna, AT Stadhalle
November 19 Amsterdam, NL Ziggo Dome
November 21 Antwerp, BE Lotto Arena
November 27 Helsinki, FI Hartwall Arena
November 29 Stockholm, SE Tele2 Arena
Photo courtesy of Baroness
Baroness is John Baizley (vocals/guitar), Gina Gleason (guitar), Nick Jost (bass) and Sebastian Thomson (drums). Baroness received a GRAMMY® Award nomination for the song “Shock Me” (from the 2015 album, Purple) in the “Best Metal Performance” category. Purple saw worldwide praise with Pitchfork saying it features “some of the biggest, strongest songs Baroness has ever written” and Mojo proclaiming “Baroness have delivered their masterpiece.” The album received numerous year end accolades including “Shock Me” at #10 on Entertainment Weekly’s Top 40 Songs of 2015, #6 on Pitchfork’sBest Metal Albums of 2015 and #7 on Rolling Stone’s 20 Best Metal Albums of 2015. The band’s catalog of studio recordings is: Gold & Grey (2019), Purple (2015), Yellow & Green(2012), Blue Record (2009), Red Album (2007), A Grey Sigh in a Flower Husk (Split LP, 2007), Second (EP, 2004) and First (EP, 2004).
New Years Day has just announced a handful of tour dates with legendary rock band Godsmack. The female fronted rock band will join the tour as direct support starting on July 12th in Rochester and wrapping on July 26th in Uncasville. Before the Godsmack tour New Years Day will hit the road for their Unbreakable Headline Tour. For more information on the band’s upcoming tour dates and to purchase ticket, visit New Years Day’s website HERE.
The band recently released the music video for their lead single, “Shut Up”, which was directed by Galileo Mondol (Raging Nation Films), and stars Sirius XM’s Jose Mangin. Watch the American Psycho inspired music video HERE.
“Shut Up” is off of the band’s newest full-length album, Unbreakable, and is currently #15 on the Active Rock Mediabase chart, #17 on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart, and #19 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The track just surpassed 2.9 million total worldwide streamsand has been featured on “Rock Hard“, “Heavy Queens“, “New Metal Tracks“, “New Noise“, and “Fierce Femmes” playlists, along with Apple Music’s Breaking Hard Rock” playlist and Amazon Music’s “Rock Scene“, “Brand New Music“, and “Fresh Hard Rock” playlists.
Unbreakable, the band’s most recent full-length album, was produced by Mitchell Marlow (All That Remains, In This Moment) and Scott Stevens (Halestorm, Shinedown & American Authors), is available for purchase and on all streaming platforms HERE.
Formed in Orange County, Calif. by Ashley Costello, New Years Day shook the scene with theirCentury Media debut, Victim to Villain, in 2013 featuring their breakout single “Angel Eyes.”The five-piece later cemented their place in the heavy music landscape with their Epidemic EP and critically-acclaimed Malevolence full-length in 2015, clocking more than 20 million views on YouTube. The band has since become the most visually-captivating group in modern rock, playing for millions of fans around the world, sharing the stage with Ozzy Osbourne, Halestorm,Nine Inch Nails, Escape The Fate, Hellyeah and Five Finger Death Punch while also headlining the longest-running touring festival, Vans Warped Tour, in 2017. As new challenges and new worlds beckon, the band released their most recent EP, Diary of a Creep, in January to pay tribute to the artists who shaped them thus far. The EP featured renditions of Garbage’s “Only Happy When It Rains,” New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle,” No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak” and their original track “Disgust Me”.
“Unbreakable is a punch to the throat and the band’s best offering to date. This record is utterly flawless and will be noted as New Years Day’s official entry into the upper echelons of rock royalty.” – Outburn “The album is filled with well-written, memorable lyrics that put Costello’s newfound confidence prominently on display. Paired with some of the band’s heaviest riffs, Unbreakable finds the band making some of their most powerful and necessary music to date.” – Metal Insider
“Sonically, Unbreakable is by far New Years Day’s best sounding album to date. Aside from the rattling of Alternative Metal that will have listeners banging their heads and thrashing all around, Unbreakable is a powerful album from top to bottom.” – Cryptic Rock“the best album from the band to date.” – Tattoo.com
NEW YEARS DAY TOUR DATES
Headline Dates w/Diamante and Savage After Midnight
June 11 – Bakersfield, CA – 1933
June 13 – Fresno, CA – Strummers
June 14 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
June 16 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
Headline Dates w/Rivals and Savage After Midnight
June 17 – Tucson, AZ – Club XS
June 20 – Austin, TX – Empire Garage
June 21 – Dallas, TX – Trees
June 23 – New Orleans, LA – Parish at House of Blues
June 25 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
June 26 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
June 28 – Syracuse, NY – Wescott Theater
June 29 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora
June 30 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest*
July 2 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
July 4 – Montreal, QC – Café Campus^
July 5 – Toronto, ON – The Mod Club^
July 6 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
July 7 – Scranton, PA – Stage West
July 9 – Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar
July 10 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Stache
July 29 – Minneapolis, MN – Amsterdam**
August 3 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre**
August 5 – Sacramento, CA – Holy Diver**
w/Godsmack
July 12 – Rochester, NY – Main Street Armory
July 13 – Detroit, MI – WRIFF Fest*
July 14 – Baltimore, MD – MECU Pavilion
July 16 – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Metro Credit Union Union Amphitheatre
July 17 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheatre
July 19 – Portsmouth, VA – Union Bank & Transfer Pavilion
July 20 – Glens Falls, NY – Cool Insuring Arena
July 23 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
July 24 – Oxon Hill, MD – MGM Nataional Harbor
July 26 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Casino
August 2 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheater*
September 27 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life*
October 12 – Manchester, TN – Exit 111 Festival* w/Halestorm
November 13 – Paris, France – Pleyel
November 14 – Cologne, Germany – Palladium
November 16 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle
November 18 – Offenbach, Germany – Capitol
November 19 – Hamburg, Germany – Grobe Freiheit
November 20 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live
November 24 – Glasgow, United Kingdom – The SSE Hydro
November 25 – Nottingham, United Kingdom – Motorpoint arena
November 27 – Cardiff, United Kingdom -Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
November 28 – London, United Kingdom – Alexandra Palace
CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF SKID ROW’S LANDMARK, SELF-TITLED DEBUT WITH U.S. TOURTICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY!
Revered vocal powerhouse SEBASTIAN BACH will celebrate the 30th anniversary of SKID ROW’s acclaimed, self-titled breakout debut album with a U.S. Tour where he’ll be performing the record in its entirety plus other songs from his celebrated catalog. The tour will kick off in Nashville, TN on August 30th and will end in Pinellas Park, FL on November 2nd. Tickets and VIP Meet N’ Greet upgrades go on sale Friday, June 7th at http://www.sebastianbach.com/.
In a statement from Bach: “In 1989 we put out the first record ‘Skid Row’. 30 years later, people still dig the music we created in a garage all those years ago. In commemoration of this 30th Anniversary digital deluxe release, my band is going to perform the first Skid Row record, in its entirety, on the road, LIVE this fall! It’s going to be fun to do something that has never been done live before! We are looking forward to seeing you all for this one time event! Note: This concert is 100% live in every way! All real! All the time! No tapes! No fakes! Come and see a real rock band while they still exist! We give it to you straight from the heart ‘cuz that’s the only way we know how! See you on the road!”
Released in the winter of 1989, SKID ROW’s self-titled record is one of heavy rock’s most successful debut albums, landing in Billboard’s Top 10 and going on to sell millions of copies around the world. The record transformed the band from local New Jersey quintet into a global phenomenon whose rebellious attitude and jaw-dropping talent set the bar and tone for rock music in the late 80’s and early 90’s. SKID ROW’s singles, “18 and Life,” “Youth Gone Wild” and “I Remember You,” are among the decade’s most recognizable rock anthems that still receive heavy airplay on radio stations across the country. The group again achieved commercial success with its second record Slave to the Grind (1991) certified multi-platinum, reaching number one on the Billboard 200.
SEBASTIAN BACH is recognized globally as a vocalist, television star, actor and beyond! Bach hit the spotlight in the late 1980’s as the iconic frontman for mainstream heavy metal / hard rock act SKID ROW. Since his departure from Skid Row in the mid 90’s, SEBASTIAN BACH still remains one of the most relevant rock figures in pop culture today, with over 20 million records sold, three solo records, network television appearances on AXS.tv, MTV, VH1 and CMT, guest appearances on “Gilmore Girls,” “Trailer Park Boys,” “Californication” and other popular television shows, and several acting stints on and off Broadway. BACH’s last album, Give ‘Em Hell, impressively, landed on the U.S. Top Hard Rock and Top 200 Billboard charts, proving his prowess decades after his initial debut. BACH’s critically acclaimed Harper Collins memoir “18 And LIFE on Skid Row” was released December 6, 2016.
SEBASTIAN BACH’s band is :
Drums: Bobby Jarzombek (HALFORD, FATES WARNING) 2005-2019
SEBASTIAN BACH Tour Dates: Aug 29 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge Aug 30 – Anderson, SC – William A Floyd Amphitheater Aug 31 – Charlotte, NC – Amos Southend Sep 2 – Huntsville, AL – Side Tracks Music Hall Sep 3 – Columbus, OH – Skully’s Sep 4 – Cleveland, OH – Phantasy Sep 6 – Stafford Springs, CT – Palace Theater Sep 7 – Block Island, RI – Ballard’s (afternoon show) Sep 9 – Laconia, NH – Granite State Music Hall Sep 10 – Hampton Beach, NH – Wally’s Sep 11 – Portland, ME – Aura Sep 13 – Harrison, OH – The Blue Note Sep 14 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop Sep 15 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection Sep 18 – Kansasville, WI – 1175 Sep 19 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall Sep 20 – Lombard, IL – Brauer House Sep 21 – Dubuque, IA – Q Casino Sep 22 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall Sep 25 – New York, NY – Sony Hall Sep 26 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live Sep 27 – Lynchburg, VA – Phase 2 Sep 28 – Waterloo, NY – The Vine at Del Lago Sep 29 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s Oct 1 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse Oct 3 – Wichita, KS – WAVE Oct 5 – Golden, CO – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse (Outdoor) Oct 6 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater Oct 10 – Ramona, CA – Ramona Mainstage Oct 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Whisky A Go Go (Night 1) Oct 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Whisky A Go Go (Night 2) Oct 17 – Roswell, NM – Liberty Theater Oct 18 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom Oct 19 – Waco, TX – The Backyard Oct 20 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill Oct 22 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Oct 23 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater Oct 24 – Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock Oct 25 – Lafayette, LA – The District Oct 26 – Miramar Beach, FL – Village Door Music Hall Oct 28 – Miami, FL – KISS Kruise Pre Party @ Double Tree Oct 30 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Oct 31 – Savannah, GA – Victory North Nov 1 – Ft. Myers, FL – The Ranch Nov 2 – Pinellas Park, FL – England Brothers Park
Image Comics is pleased to announce that a second printing of Image Comics’ President Todd McFarlane’s Spawn #297 has been greenlit in order to keep up with increasing demand for the long-running series.
Momentum and frenzied buzz surrounding the classic antihero series continues to build leading into historic Spawn #300 and record-breaking Spawn #301 when Spawn becomes the longest running creator-owned comic in the world.
The road to Spawn’s record-setting 300th issue continues as Al Simmons’ war with Heaven and Hell is brought to light in issue Spawn #297. McFarlane and Jason Shawn Alexander continue their exploration of the epic Spawn saga, leading to the recording-setting 300th issue!
Spawn #297 second printing (Diamond Code APR198592) will be available on Wednesday, June 26. The final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, June 3.
Spawn is currently being adapted for film—a gritty, R-rated reimagining—which will mark Image President, co-founder and Spawn creator, Todd McFarlane’s film directorial debut. McFarlane, an Emmy/Grammy-winning producer/director is also on board as screenwriter and co-producer with Blumhouse Productions.
Spawn sold an unprecedented 1.7 million copies at the time it was released and is one of the world’s best-selling and longest-running monthly comic books, with hundreds of millions sold worldwide in more than 120 countries, and 15 different languages.
The comic became an Emmy Award-winning animated series on HBO and a New Line Cinema feature film that grossed more than $100 million. McFarlane went on to direct and produce award-winning and critically acclaimed projects for top movie studios and record labels.
ALBUM PRODUCED BY AND FEATURING GRAMMY®WINNER SHOOTER JENNINGS
ON TOUR NOW – PLAYING DC TONIGHT
SEATTLE MARINERS HOSTING “DUFF McKAGAN NIGHT” ON JUNE 17 @ T-MOBILE PARK
McKAGAN TEAMS WITH NON-PROFITS FOR SOCIAL CAUSE CAMPAIGN
Today sees the release of TENDERNESS, the much-anticipated solo album from Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan – click HERE to stream/purchase.
Produced by (and featuring) recent Grammy winner Shooter Jennings, TENDERNESS (UMe) sees McKagan reflecting on his experiences traveling the globe over two and a half years on Guns N’ Roses’ Not In This Lifetime tour. Encountering heartbreak, anger, fear, confusion and divide on his travels during this tumultuous time in our world history, McKagan channeled a collective hurt into songs of monolithic power.
On June 17th, the Seattle Mariners will celebrate the release of TENDERNESS by hosting “Duff McKagan Night” at T-Mobile Park. Package options include a ticket to see the game, a ticket to Duff’s June 16th gig at Showbox, a limited edition Mariners/Duff t-shirt, a copy of TENDERNESS and more – click HERE for additional info. McKagan’s Seattle takeover includes an instore at local music shop Easy Street Records on June 18th.
The June 16th Showbox date is part of McKagan’s North American tour, which kicked off last night in Philadelphia and will be followed by a European run that begins August 22 in Poland. All tour dates see Duff backed by Shooter Jennings and his band (see itinerary below). The shows will see McKagan bringing TENDERNESS to life, along with a few surprises.
The album, meanwhile, is getting rave reviews. Here’s what the press is saying:
“McKagan and Jennings have crafted an acoustic-Thunderous masterwork. Urgently and unflinchingly addressing the pressing issues of this bleak political era, Tenderness is one of the most crucial and topical albums of 2019 — yet its heart-on-leather-sleeve vulnerability also makes it an instant Americana classic.” – Lyndsey Parker, Yahoo Entertainment
“…a superb set of roots-rock ruminations…with Jennings’ help, [McKagan] crafted a mix of rock and Americana evoking both the Glimmer Twins and the Gutter Twins…” – Sarah Rodman, Entertainment Weekly
“On Tenderness, Duff McKagan takes a hard look at some of the most important issues facing our country right now, and delivers his message with a musical vibe that’s equal parts Rolling Stones, Lou Reed, and Lies-era Guns N’ Roses.” – Spencer Kaufman, Consequence of Sound
“The record is miles away from the type of hard rock McKagan is known for playing with Guns N’ Roses or Velvet Revolver, or the more gritty and punky sounds he immersed himself in as a teenager in Seattle or with his own 2000s-era solo band, Loaded. Rather, these are intimate, stripped-down compositions, centered around McKagan’s strummed acoustic guitar and raw vocals, that run the gamut from the piano-based title track to the Rolling Stones–like “Chip Away,” a call to strength in the face of social and cultural injustice. Other standouts include the pedal steel–inflected “Last September,” which tells the story of an abusive relationship, and the haunting “Parkland,” which captures the dichotomous feelings of shock and numbness that characterize the American reaction to school shootings and other acts of mass violence. To be sure, these are big-picture songs that focus on topics affecting all people.” – Rich Bienstock, Guitar Player
“People are going to herald this as one of the best albums of the year. This is Americana-Duff McKagan. It’s not what you expect.” – Larry Flick, SiriusXM radio host
“Best Crossover Album” (Best of LA Music Issue) – Brett Callwood, LA Weekly
“..A somber, deliberate work…evokes Mark Lanegan-style Americana…” – Alison Stewart, Chicago Tribune
McKagan has created a campaign that puts the album’s themes into action and he’s inviting fans to join him in an effort to give support to organizations doing great work. Those include Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, 320 Changes Direction, and To Write Love on Her Arms, among others. For more information, please visitpropeller.la/duff.
Photo By: Albert Sanchez
Tour Dates
Friday May 31st – City Winery, Washington, DC Saturday June 1st – City Winery, Boston, MA Monday June 3rd – Irving Plaza, New York, NY Thursday June 6th – Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL Saturday June 8th – Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, TN Monday June 10th – Historic Scoot Inn, Austin, TX Thursday June 13th – El Rey, Los Angeles, CA Friday June 14th – Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA Saturday June 15th – Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR Sunday June 16th – Showbox Presents, Seattle, WA Thursday August 22nd – Stodola, Warsaw POLAND Friday August 23rd – Astra, Berlin GERMANY Saturday August 24th – Blue Moon Festival, Amsterdam HOLLAND Monday August 26th – Gloria, Cologne GERMANY Tuesday August 27th – Alte Feurwache, Mannheim GERMANY Thursday August 29th – Islington Assembly Hall, London UK Saturday August 31st – Electric Picnic Festival, Dublin EIRE Sunday September 1st – Academy, Manchester UK Tuesday September 3rd – Le Trabendo, Paris FRANCE Wednesday September 4th – Ancienne Belgique, Brussels BELGIUM Friday September 6th – Dynamo, Zurich SWITZERLAND Sunday September 8th – Saniera Club, Milan ITALY
Debuting at #1 upon its May 1994 release, Beastie Boys’ fourth album was an unstoppable force, pervading every aspect of pop culture. Its charge to the top of the charts was led by “Sabotage” and its legendary Spike Jonze/Nathanial Hornblower ’70s TV police drama tribute, as ROLLING STONE dubbed Ill Communication 1994’s “soundtrack for summer.” Crowds and critics alike were floored by highlights “Sure Shot,” “Root Down” and “Get It Together,” as a VIBE (RIP)—in the magazine’s first cover story on a white artist–hailed Beastie Boys as “perhaps the most consistently innovative musicians to emerge out of hip hop.” It was a claim that Ill Communication has justified for years to come, and 25 years later Ill Communication’s impact has resounded with generation after generation.
Fast food-themed Black Sabbath parody kings MAC SABBATH are announcing their cheesiest tour yet! The band has been hungry to announce their latest plans, and today, are serving up some tasty tour news – MAC SABBATH will head out with the world’s only “Nedal” band, Okilly Dokilly, and oddball openers Playboy Manbaby on the American Cheese Tour! The tour will begin on July 26 in Tempe, AZ and visit many cities across the US, returning to Arizona at its end on September 7 (the last four dates will feature only Playboy Manbaby as support).
Mysterious MAC SABBATH frontman Ronald Osbourne says, “We are back and stacked with more cheese to please!”
Okilly Dokilly‘s Head Ned adds, “The Neds and I are really excited to be back on the road with our favorite McNeighborinos in MAC SABBATH and our buds in Playboy Manbaby. American Cheese is going to be a really fun tour, and we’re ready to kick out the steamed jams this summer.
“Playboy Manbaby‘s Robbie Pfeffer says, “We have been told that our families will be returned to us mostly unharmed as long we go on along with this tour and maintain a “good attitude.” We are excited about the prospect of seeing our families again, preferably alive. We would like to thank both Okilly Dokilly and MAC SABBATH for very forcefully allowing us to join them on this tour. We would also like to let them know that, as requested, we have not been in contact with any form of law enforcement and will comply with all current and future demands.”
MAC SABBATH American Cheese Tour Dates:w/ Okilly Dokilly and Playboy Manbaby
7/26 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
7/27 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole
7/28 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar
7/30 – Oklahoma City @ Tower Theatre
7/31 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads
8/1 – Springfield, IN @ Gathering of the Juggalos at Lawrence County Recreational Park (No Okilly Dokilly or Playboy Manbaby)
8/2 – Columbus, OH @ Al Rosa Villa
8/3 – Cincinnati, OH @ Woodward Theater
8/4 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
8/6 – St. Louis, MO @ The Ready Room
8/7 – Springfield, MO @ Outland Ballroom
8/8 – Tulsa, OK @ Shrine
8/9 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
8/10 – Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
8/11 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda
8/12 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
8/14 – New Orleans, LA @ Santos
8/15 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
8/16 – Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
8/17 – Lake Worth, FL @ Propaganda
8/18 – Melbourne, FL @ Iron Oak Post
8/20 – Jacksonville, FL @ 1904 Music Hall
8/21 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade – Hell
8/22 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle Music
8/23 – Wilmington, NC @ Reggie’s 42nd St.
8/24 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall
8/25 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
8/27 – Montclair, NJ @ The Wellmont Montclair Theater
California punks Dad Brains return with their latest 7″ colored vinyl/EP ‘Dadditude’ on June 14. The 4 track EP will be available digitally via all DSPs on June 7th.
Frontman Pat Pedraza says, “I’ve never heard of a Fathers Day song in my life, so I was like, hey, we might actually do something original???? Hahahaha. As most of us know, it’s kinda challenging to be original nowadays. I couldn’t ask for anything more with this video and the fun we had shooting it. Families, friends, and kids getting together, kids playing instruments, getting food and water balloons launched at us, and a 20-year-old with a camera filming it…This was the highlight of my musical career so far!!!!
This band of new dads/longtime musicians (members have been in bands such as No Motiv,The Missing 23rd,Creep Division, and The F-ing Wrath) started out as a creative outlet to share the trials, tribulations, and awesome-ness of dadhood. Their 2018 self-titled EP caught on with listeners and a legion of like-minded moms and dads, which led to the split ‘MerryX-Mas’ EP with fellow punk parents The Ramoms, released last winter.
With their latest EP ‘Dadditude’, Dad Brains continue to mine their shared experiences of fatherhood on new tracks that examine the fears, anxieties and sheer joy that all parents experience.
Dad Brains will be playing a pair of local Ventura, CA shows around the release of “Dadditude” on June 14 and 16. See show flyer below.
Founding KISS guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame member Ace Frehley has released the music video for “Mission to Mars.”
The music video is entirely animated by artist Christopher Fequiere, a first for Frehley. Chock full of KISS fandom easter eggs, this video is the second music video that we’ve seen from the Spaceman LP. “Mission to Mars” follows the release of “Rockin’ With The Boys” that was released last year.
Ace Frehley released Spaceman last year via Entertainment One (eOne) to much critical praise such as Associated Press claiming that Frehley “oozes classic rock style and six-string chops that sound as good today as they did in 1975.”Spaceman debuted at #5 Rock, #5 Vinyl and #9 on Billboard’s Current Album Sales Charts and has gone on to sell more than 10,000 pieces of vinyl alone.
“No need to worry, I’ll be home soon, ’cause I’m rockin’ with the boys,” Frehley sings on“Rockin’ With the Boys,” which tells the tale of life on the road. Ace says he wrote the original version of the song back in KISS’s heyday in the ’70s. Both “Rockin With The Boys” and “Bronx Boy” are available on all streaming platforms today and are iTunes instant grat tracks for fans who preorder the album.
In addition to Ace’s distinctive guitar sound on each track, Ace played bass on all of the songs on Spaceman except for two. The listener might recognize the mighty dinosaur growl of a bass tone belonging to Gene Simmons on the album opener, “Without You I’m Nothing,” which Gene also co-wrote, and “Your Wish Is My Command.” Both songs were recorded at Frehley’s home studio in Rancho Santa Fe, California.
Ace’s reconnection with Simmons and fellow KISS vocalist-guitarist Paul Stanley (who joined Ace on a cover of Free’s “Fire and Water” for 2016’s covers LP Origins, Vol. 1) might be chalked up to the fact that Frehley has been sober for more than a decade (he celebrates 12 years of sobriety in September). Ace’s clean living no doubt has a lot to do with his productive streak, which began with the release of his top 20 Anomaly album in 2009.
Spaceman (a title suggested by Simmons, himself) serves as the first collection of all new Frehley-penned material since 2014’s Space Invader, which debuted at #9 on the Top 200 Chart. The LP scored the highest charting position of any former or current KISS band member ever and marked Frehley’s first return to the Top 10 since KISS’s 1998 Psycho Circus reunion album.
Space Invader received praise from critics. Rolling Stone wrote, “Gene Simmons has claimed Ace Frehley doesn’t deserve to wear Kiss’ Kabuki clown paint, but the former Spaceman’s first solo LP in five years says otherwise,” while Associated Press hailed, “…the original Kiss lead guitarist has recorded his best solo album since his groundbreaking self-titled album in 1978.”
Widely known as the original “Space Ace” and founding guitarist for 16 cumulative years (over 2 tenures) of the multi-platinum selling rock band KISS, Frehley is demonstrably the most popular original member. In addition to having the best-selling solo album career (vintage or current) among the original foursome, Frehley’s self-titled Ace Frehley, released in 1978, went on to sell over one million copies, producing the only Top 40 single, “New York Groove,” from any of the legendary KISS solo albums (peaking at #13).
Knocked Loose have announced their hotly anticipated new album, A Different Shade of Blue — a mammoth of a sophomore release and massive step forward for the band and for hardcore and metal as we know it. Recorded by producer Will Putney, the new LP was approached slower and more methodically. Abandoning the previous ‘live in studio’ recording approach for something more deliberate, the band cranked out twelve new tracks that deal with all manner of anger, especially loss in lieu of absence. Vocalist and lyricist Bryan Garris found catharsis as well as some of his most intensely personal lyrics to date.
Lead single “…And Still I Wander South” was revealed today which Garris explains, “is about wanting to move on, or better yourself for whatever reason, but you keep going back to the same old thing. Whether that be depression or whatever you may be going through. You always wander back to the same mindset.”
Knocked Loose, comprised of the young Cole Crutchfield (rhythm guitar), Bryan Garris (vocals), Isaac Hale (lead guitar), Kevin Otten (bass) and Kevin Kaine (drums), have taken a huge leap, moving from upstart hardcore-influenced favorites to bonafide key figures of the genre. Their 2016 debut, Laugh Trackswas a revelation, taking the world by storm and establishing the band as a major force spanning genres and generations.
Forged on musical bonds built at an early age, Knocked Loose came together in the small yet relatively formidable hardcore / punk scene of the greater Louisville, KY area. Though the scene was relatively strong, a lack of available bands, touring parties and scarcity of gigs forced diversity- mixing genres and challenging young ears with new ideas, approaches and styles. That diversity – death metal bands mingling with youth crew, screamo on the same bill as Am-Rep-style bands and on and on- created the basis of Knocked Loose musically and the genesis for their approach, an amalgam of heavy influences that never commits to any singular style but maintains a loyalty to the hardcore tradition.
Knocked Loose is the obvious evolution to decades of bands like Integrity, Disembodied, Botch and others- total and complete integration between metal and hardcore into a singular, seamless entity. Since its inception, hardcore has evolved from the germ of “Slayer actually has punk parts” to crossover to the addition of everything from death metal to rap to shoegaze. Knocked Loose is the proverbial fish walking on land- the end of the evolution, and possibly the apex of the metallic hardcore punk movement thus far. Ably combining the teeth-clenching hatred of a hardcore band with the unmitigated technicality and ferocity of metal, Knocked Loose have conceived state of the art hatred- a true melting pot of ideas that combines pit-ready riffs, memorable songwriting and deviously clandestine melody into a boiling-over pot of vitriol.
While some musical influences are easily identified – Pantera, Hatebreed, Obituary and more - the band’s palette and canvas has expanded by leaps and bounds, incorporating Gothenburg-style death metal (At the Gates, early In Flames), slam metal (Devourment, Dying Fetus), blood-thirsty thrash (Sodom, Kreator), black metal (Craft) and the mind-boggling complexity of latter noisy hardcore like Snapcase and Bloodlet. Clocking in at a lean and mean 37 minutes and featuring guest vocals from Emma Boster of Dying Wish and Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die, A Different Shade of Blue grabs the listener by the throat from the jump and slowly tightening that grip for the duration.
A Different Shade of Blue is due on TKTKTK via Pure Noise Records this August 23. For further info and pre-order details, visit here.
The Hollywood Vampires – return with new music from their explosive second album, “Rise.” Rock and roll royalty Joe Perry,Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp and shock rock icon Alice Cooper join forces once again for the unmissable rock album of 2019.
Seconds into the opening track “I Want My Now,” it’s clear this supergroup has created something special – the chemistry between the individuals is unmistakeable when they come together on stage or in the recording studio. Forget the star-studded lineup’s individual reputations, “Rise” is some of the purest, unapologetic and most enjoyable rock and roll of the year, made by masters of the craft and true fans of the form.
Unlike their 2015 debut record, the new album “Rise” consists mainly of original material, written by the band. There are however, in the spirit of the Vampires’ original mission, three covers of songs originally written and recorded by some fellow rockers who died far too young: an intimate and intense version of David Bowie’s “Heroes”, beautifully performed by Johnny Depp; the late Jim Carroll Band’s “People Who Died,” and Johnny Thunder’s “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory,” sung by Joe Perry. Raucous rock anthems like “The Boogieman Surprise” and “Who’s Laughing Now” (the first single from the new album), capture the natural, raw, celebratory attitude of Hollywood Vampires displayed in their rowdy shows around the world. But the album shows off their range as well with tracks like “We Gotta Rise” – a tongue-in-cheek politics song in the the tradition of Alice’s “Elected” – to the psychedelic gothic epic of “Mr. Spider.”
“‘Rise’ is not only a totally different animal than the first Vampires album, it is unique to anything I’ve ever been a part of. I approached it very differently than I usually do when working on an album. Each of us; Joe, Johnny, Tommy and myself have written songs on this album. What is different though is that I didn’t try to change any songs to be more “Alice-like.” Because each of us has different influences, the sound of this album is very cool. I think that with this album, we are establishing what the Vampires’ sound really is, whereas with the first album we were more tipping our hats to our fallen rock n roll brothers.” – Alice Cooper
“’Rise’ came from pure creative energy, which is just like playing live with the Vampires. The record showcases everyone doing what they do best without anyone looking over our shoulders. There was no pressure or deadlines, allowing us to write and record an album that is one of the freest and most honest sounding records I’ve been part of. I can’t wait to perform some of these tunes live for our fans.” – Joe Perry
earMUSIC, the global independent rock label of Edel Germany GmbH, is proud to announce the worldwide signing of Hollywood Vampires. Following the release of Alice Cooper’s 2017 studio album “Paranormal” on earMUSIC, his best chart-performing work in decades, the label is proud to welcome the band to their family.
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO TO “WHO’S LAUGHING NOW” HERE:
The Hollywood Vampires who previously performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Rock In Rio and the 2016 Grammy Awards in addition to hugely successful U.S. and EU/UK tours last year, will embark on a seven-date U.S. West Coast tour in May.
THE HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES ON TOUR:
5/10 – The Joint – Las Vegas, NV
5/11 – Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
5/12 – Warfield Theatre – San Francisco, CA
5/14 – The Fillmore – Denver, CO
5/16 – Sandia Resort – Albuquerque, NM
5/17 – Talking Stick Casino – Scottsdale, AZ
5/18 – Fantasy Springs Resort Casino – Indio, CA
**************************
TRACK LIST
I Want My Now
Good People Are Hard To Find
Who’s Laughing Now
How The Glass Fell
The Boogieman Surprise
Welcome To Bushwackers (feat. Jeff Beck & John Waters)
