JT Woodruff is the lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist for the band Hawthorne Heights. The group is set to release their 5th studio album titled “Zero”. The band will also be headlining this year’s Van’s Warped tour which kicks off on June 15^th in Seattle, WA. Media Mikes had the chance to talk with JT about the upcoming release and what he is most looking forward to about this summer’s tour.

Adam Lawton: What are you most looking forward to about headlining this year’s Warped Tour?
JT Woodruff: We are totally stoked about this summer’s tour. We love writing and performing music but we are a band that loves listening to live music as well. Warped Tour has music going on all day long so when we aren’t playing we are going to get to see a lot of great acts and get to meet a bunch of cool people. It’s going to be a long hot summer but it’s going to be one of the best summers we have ever had. We appreciate Kevin Lyman and everyone at Warped Tour for inviting us out. We are really looking forward to it and ready to hit the ground running.

AL: With the set times for Warped Tour tending to be a bit shorter will you be playing any material off the new album?
JT: Yes. We have a couple different set lists than span our albums. Those do include material from th

e new album. With only getting a half hour we want to let people know we have a new album coming out but we also want to play songs we think people want to hear. We may even throw in a curve ball here or there.

AL: Did the band try any different approaches with the recording of the new album?
JT: Things were a little different this time around. We had never recorded in Nashville before so that was new and we had never worked with producer Brian Virtue before either. As far as the overall tone of the album we had never done anything that was concept based. This was a giant leap for us. We wanted to do this as a way to tread new ground. The songs still song like us but they may sound like they are coming from a different place. We wanted to make an album that was very cohesive and straight forward. The idea was to let the tempo dictate the story and to let the overall aggressiveness or lack of aggression carry the song.

AL: Did you find it easier or more difficult to write knowing you were following a concept?
JT: I looked at it both ways from time to time. You might end up working on a song that when your done doesn’t fit the but you really like the song. You start looking for ways to make things fit but if that doesn’t work you have to just hold it back for another time. Things tended to flow pretty easily. When you’re writing a song your sort of telling a miniature story anyway so this I think was a little easier as you had something to work off of. There was a basis or guide and I just tried to figure out how I could tell that story in 3 minutes of a song either lyrically, emotionally or sonically. It was definitely a learning experience.

AL: After Warped Tour wraps up has there been any discussions of a solo headlining tour?
JT: We are working on stuff for the fall right now however nothing has been set in stone. Sometimes things take awhile to plan and other times things happen overnight. I can tell you though that we will be out touring in some form or another after Warped Tour ends. We also want to try and do some international touring as well this year. Right now we are just focused on 8 weeks of playing in the sun and meeting the fans and talking about the new album.

Queensrÿche
“Queensrÿche”
Century Media
Tracks: 11
Total Running Time:
35:09
Release Date:
June 25, 2013 (USA/Canada);
June 24, 2013 (Europe)

Our Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

“I don’t know. We don’t really have a plan right now. Honestly, this has been a really long tour and everybody’s just kind of burnt out… It’s probably just time to get home and chill and recharge the batteries. And then we’ll start talking in a couple of months about ‘Oh, do you wanna do something?’ and we’ll see what happens.”
~ Geoff Tate’s response to me on November 12, 2011 after being asked what the near future might hold for Queensrÿche (click here for full interview)

Of course, what did happen soon after my interview with the now-ousted lead singer has now become the stuff of tabloid fodder and rock and roll infamy. The sordid details – including Tate allegedly spitting on, punching, and perhaps even wielding a knife on his former band mates – will be hashed out in a courtroom sometime later this year when Tate and company battle to see who legally has the right to carry on using the band’s moniker. Until then, there are actually two Queensrÿches: in the red corner, there’s the one comprised of Geoff Tate and a seemingly ever-changing backing band comprised of hired heavy metal heavies and, in the blue corner, there’s the one that includes the rest of the Rÿche’s instrumentalists with new front man, Todd La Torre, formerly of Crimson Glory.

Tate’s camp has already released a hastily-produced album’s worth of new material, “Frequency Unknown” – or “F.U.”, for short (subtle, eh?) – that has been lambasted by fans and critics alike for doing nothing but tarnishing the already-damaged Queensrÿche name even further.

The Todd La Torre-led band’s album sets a markedly different tone from the onset. Rather than responding to Tate’s pugnaciously-titled “Frequency Unknown” by calling it “See Tate’s Fallacy Unfold” or some such, they’ve simply emblazoned the LP’s jacket with the band’s iconic “Tri-Ryche” logo and entitled it “Queensrÿche.” It’s a perfect choice because this eponymous release finds the group musically reconnecting with its roots, rebuilding its self-identity, and – ultimately – reclaiming a legacy.

“Queensrÿche” is an amazing return to form that (gasp!) actually sounds like a Queensrÿche album – and producer James “Jimbo” Barton, the man behind the mixing desk of the band’s biggest and best albums, “Operation: Mindcrime”, “Empire”, and “Promised Land”, undoubtedly has a lot to do with that. He knows how to blend all of the amazing musicianship at his disposal into an aural atmosphere that is unique and immediately identifiable as Queensrÿche.

The album opens with the foreboding instrumental “X2”, one that harkens back to the sonic collage that led off 1994’s “Promised Land” LP. From there, the band launches into a percussive and dual-guitar driven array of songs that firmly plant themselves in the sonic splendor of QR classics like “Screaming in Digital” and “Best I Can.” There’s no question that La Torre’s dynamic pipes are a major component behind why the songs work as well as they do. Vocally, his delivery is often similar to Tate’s, ranging from low baritone whispers to blistering highs, but he’s much more than just a sound-alike. He’s often more aggressive than Tate and that seems to have brought the best out of all of the other Tri-Rychers backing him – especially drummer Scott Rockenfield. He hasn’t sounded this pumped since the days of the glorious “Empire.” Indeed, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard the ‘Rÿche fire all thrusters and blast out satisfying crunchers like these.

My only minor complaint is that, after 35 minutes, the disc spins to a halt. Luckily, the album is so good that it’s worth listening to again – something that hasn’t been true of a Queensrÿche release for the better part of a decade. Does the new album have the power or majesty of their 1988 masterpiece “Operation: Mindcrime”? No – but that’s a lot to ask of a band that’s just undergone a major line-up change and is still in the midst of the biggest rock and roll drama since the Roger Waters / David Gilmour “which one’s Pink?” debacle. But it’s damn good and – perhaps more significantly – it’s now once again possible to imagine Queensrÿche making a record as good if not better than that seminal album because, like “Mindcrime’s” protagonist, Nikki, they seem to remember how it started and are no longer dedicated to chaos.

Track list:
1) X2 (1:09)
2) Where Dreams Go to Die (4:26)
3) Spore (3:25)
4) In This Light (3:24)
5) Redemption (4:16)
6) Vindication (3:26)
7) Midnight Lullaby (0:56)
8) A World Without (4:11)
9) Don’t Look Back (3:13)
10) Fallout (2:46)
11) Open Road (3:54)

John 5 has played guitar for many notable acts in variety of music genres. He is currently the guitarist for Rob Zombie who recently released his 5th solo studio album titled “Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor”.  The band is set to headline the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival this summer and Media Mikes caught up with John during rehearsals to discuss the tour, the new album, scoring Rob’s latest film “The Lords of Salem” and if he has been able to recover any of his recently stolen guitars.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about the bands upcoming run on this year’s Mayhem Festival?
John 5: The summer time is my favorite time of the year to tour. I love playing in the states and getting to see all of my friends. Touring is hard at time but the way we do it is great! We can sleep till whenever we want, get up eat some breakfast, maybe go get a massage and play some guitar. I can go watch bands play and just hang out. Then we get to go out on stage and hear the people scream. It’s a blast and I can’t complain. It is something I don’t take for granted. Getting out there and meeting everyone is just really great. Mayhem is going to be a blast!

AL: Will you be unveiling a new stage show on this run?
J5: Everything is going to be brand new. We are really excited to have everything come together. This is something that I am excited to see as well. We also are going to be playing some tracks off the new album which is something I am definitely looking forward to. We love playing the hits also but
getting to play new material live is always fun. People will have to wait until the tours first show on June 29^th to hear what we will be playing.

AL: What has it been like adapting the songs from the new album in to a live setting?
J5: I am a total perfectionist so what we do is we go to our drummer Ginger’s house and myself, Piggy .D and Ginger set up in the living room and we just play the new songs. It’s kind of like when Rocky goes to Russia and he’s training with logs and paint cans. (Laughs) We just are jamming in a living room. From there we take things to a big room. I think once we start getting together with Rob things are going to sound incredible. I am very excited.

AL: Have you and Rob been working on any special features for “The Lords of Salem” DVD release?
J5: Yes we have. Being a movie fan I love special features. Rob had started doing interviews with all of the actors talking about the behind scenes stuff and I got a call one day after he finished and he told me he had a film crew coming down to talk to me about my work on the score for the film. Griffin and I were filmed very last minute but we will be on there.

AL: What type of reactions have you gotten now that people have seen “Lords of Salem” and heard the soundtrack?
J5: I think when people hear things from me they are never surprised anymore as I do so many different styles of music. We have gotten so many great reviews on the score Griffin and I wrote. I am so thankful for that as I was very focused and did my best. Without Rob’s help it would have been difficult as he was able to steer me in the direction towards what he wanted. The score was a lot of fun and things came out really well.

AL: Being a guy who is always busy what else are you currently working on?
J5: I am always working on my instrumental stuff and am half way done with my next record. I am also always writing with other people as well. I wrote a song on the last Rod Stewart record which ended up being a number 1 record over in the UK and is also doing well here in the states. I don’t take anything for granted. I am really happy and lucky to have all these things happening. I appreciate all of the fans and their nice comments. I read them all and talk to every fan out there.

AL: Recently you had a bunch of gear stolen from your home. Have you been successful in retrieving any of those items?
J5: Actually I just got two guitars back. This guy had called my webmaster that lives in England who then sent me an email saying that she had talked with a guy that just bought two of my guitars. I guess he had recognized them from the internet and sure enough they were my guitars. The guy gave me the guitars back but the person he bought them from vanished. Maybe more will turn but I am very glad I got these two back. So much stuff was taken it was terrible.

Arshad Aslam has appeared on variety of television shows such as “How I Met Your Mother”, “Raising Hope” and “Greek”. Currently he plays the role of Hasaad in the new MTV series “Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous”. Media Mikes had the chance to talk with Hasaad about his work on the show as well as his upcoming debut music release.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about your role on the show?
Arshad Aslam: “Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous” is show about this kid who really has no talent but he is very determined to become famous. Bo Burnham who plays Zach went around and asked kids what they wanted to when they were older and the top answer was to be famous. These kids had no goals other than to be famous. Bo took that idea and made a show out of it. I play the role of Hasaad who is Zach’s lead camera man. Throughout the show we are constantly interacted with Zach and his family. This is a really fun character to play as Hasaad is nothing like me.

AL: What initially interested you in the role?
AA: It’s totally fun to play someone who is not you. When I went in to the audition I had this attitude that they just loved. I’m just a fun guy so playing this character that is more businesslike is great. Hasaad is not really a jerk or anything but he is a guy who just wants to get things done. It’s a pretty cool role.

AL: How does working on this show compare to some of the other shows you have worked on?
AA: This show is a mockumentary. I had never done anything like this before and it is a different type of acting. On the other sitcoms I have done you tend to have come in and give an extra character and things like that. On “Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous” things are very real which I think is the biggest difference from my other roles.

AL: Do you and the other cast members get a lot of freedom with your lines?
AA: There is a ton of improvisation going on. Bo is always throwing random things at everyone which makes things really fun. Literally every take he is throwing new lines in so we always have to be ready. This is funny stuff that he is saying so you have to constantly try and stop yourself from laughing in the middle of a scene. I had a lot of fun.

AL: Can you tell us about your upcoming music release?
AA: I have been working on this album for quite some time now. I have been working on it off and on due to the other projects I have been involved with. The album has 14 tracks so it’s kind of a throwback to the 90’s. (Laughs) I wanted to make an album that would hit everybody. It’s a very eclectic mix of music. There is rock, pop, hip/hop and electronic elements. There’s something for everybody but it’s still very cohesive. I am really excited for it to come out.

AL: What are the release plans for the album?
AA: The first official song release is happening mid June. I have partnered with the Straight But Not Narrow organization as the song has an anti-bullying type message. The song is titled “Someone You Love” and it’s about believing in yourself and not allowing anyone to put you down. The organization is run by Josh Hutcherson who was in “The Hunger Games”. Everyone there has been really cool to work with and is very strong about their message. It’s been great working with them and things have evolved very organically.

Jimmy Eat World
“Damage”
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Number of Discs: 1
Label: RCA
Running Time: 37 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I am not the biggest Jimmy Eat World fan. I am a huge though a fan of their 2001 release “Bleed American”, with hit tracks like “The Middle” and “Sweetness”. I have yet to see them replicate that success since. “Damage” is the band’s seventh studio album and their follow up to 2010′s critically-acclaimed “Invented”. I have to admit even though it doesn’t have the pop and energy of “Bleed American”, it packs some good songs and certainly grows on you over time. I recently listened to the new Black Sabbath album “13″ and I liked it but after they were over I couldn’t see myself listening to them over and over. That is not the case with “Damage”. I have a feeling that this album is going to become an indie hit over this summer for sure.

This new album was produced by Jimmy Eat World and Alain Johannes. Some of the tracks on the album are better than others but all together it is a pretty well-rounded pop album. My favorite track on the album is the title track “Damage”, it is catchy and packs a great chorus. I can see this becoming quite popular for them. Their first official single “I Will Steal You Back” is another great song and like I said, I see this one becoming a summer hit. All the tracks add up to just under 40 minutes, which is not incredibly long but they are short, sweet and to the point. If you are a long-time fan, you should definitely enjoy this. I just wish they added a little more energy into some of the tracks. But like I said, after listening looping it over a few times, the album is starting to grow on me more and more.

Track Listing:
1. Appreciation
2. Damage
3. Lean
4. Book of Love
5. I Will Steal You Back
6. Please Say No
7. How’d You Have Me
8. No, Never
9. Byebyelove
10. You Were Good

Queens of the Stone Age
“…Like Clockwork”
Release Date: June 4, 2013)
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Matador Records
Running Time: 46 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“…Like Clockwork” is Queens of the Stone Age’s first album since 2007’s “Era Vulgaris”. I was a huge fan of 2002’s “Songs For The Deaf” but I never felt that they really topped that album since. Well “…Like Clockwork” is a great revival for the band and they have never sounded better. Each track is epic and very kick-ass, with each one out doing the next. The drumming role has been split with Joey Castillo tackling tracks 1-3 & 6 and Dave Grohl on 4-5 & 7-9.  This has been the first time that Grohl has returned since “Songs for the Deaf”, so I was super excited about that as well. “…Like Clockwork” also delivered the band their first number one debut on the Billboard 200, making it the highest U.S. chart position to date and their first album to top the charts in the United States. So these guys are on FIRE!

Besides Grohl drumming in, “…Like Clockwork” has tons of great guest appearances line-up, some of which were really surprising. Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor lends some vocals on tracks “Kalopsia” and “Fairweather Friends”. Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears pops in on the vocals for “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” and “Smooth Sailing”. Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys appeared with vocals and guitars on “If I Had a Tail”. Brody Dalle, who also appeared on “Lullabies to Paralyze” and “Era Vulgaris”, sings also on the track. Lastly keep an ear out for Elton John, who plays his piano and sings on the track “Fairweather Friends”. So in terms of guest appearances this album easily scores a 5 out of 5 stars.

The album was produced by Joshua Homme and QOTSA, recorded by Mark Rankin with additional engineering by Alain Johannes and Justin Smith, at Josh’s studio, Pink Duck, in Burbank, CA. So I think it is save to that that “…Like Clockwork”, the bands sixth album that they are back and with a vengeance with some of their best material to date. So after debut at the top spot on the charts with more than 90,000 copies sold in the first week. The band, including founder Josh Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Dean Fertita, Michael Shuman and Jon Theodore will hit the roads of North American with a huge world tour in support of “…Like Clockwork”. So be sure to show your support and catch them live this summer! I am sure it is going to be epic just like the album!

Track Listing:
1. Keep Your Eyes Peeled
2. I Sat By The Ocean
3. The Vampyre Of Time And Memory
4. If I Had A Tail
5. My God Is The Sun
6. Kalopsia
7. Fairweather Friends
8. Smooth Sailing
9. I Appear Missing
10. …Like Clockwork

You may have heard composer’s Roque Baños work in films like “The Machinist” and “Fragile” but he recently made his U.S. film debut with scoring “Evil Dead”. His score is not only amazing it is down right terrifying. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Roque about his work on the film and what we can expect next.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you got involved with scoring “Evil Dead”?
Roque Baños: I sent a message to Fede Alvarez by Facebook. We didn’t know each other and I introduced myself to him thinking that he might not have any idea about me and my work. We answered very excited saying that he knew my work very well and he loved it. From there we started a very hard obstacle race to get the score. He temped the lock picture with my music from other movies and everyone was agreed that I should be the composer.

MG: How does it feel to have created a score that literally scares its viewers?
It is very satisfactory, seeing how the music does with the movie and the audience react to that in the way you were looking for. Our proposal was to create the most terrifying score you’ll ever hear.

MG: Tell us about the use of sirens in the score?
RB: I always look for a unique sound in a score that makes it special, as it was with the theremin in “The Machinist”, or a wolf-ghost-like sound in “Intruders”. So in Evil Dead, I wanted a sound that really freaked out the people. At the beginning of the process I was really scared for the movie, and couldn’t sleep for two weeks! I was hearing sirens very late at night in the city, and I thought this could be a good option to make the pope really scared. I tried an acoustic siren and Fede loved it! Me too, actually, each time the siren sounds, everyone is frighten!

MG: With your work on “The Machinist” and “Fragile”; what do you enjoy most about creating scary music?
RB: For me the most satisfying aspect of if is that you can experiment a lot with the music. Scary movies allows that more than any others, and I love that.

MG: Did you get any inspiration from the past “Evil Dead” films?
RB: I knew the very well, but I didn’t use any of them for inspiration. I just try to start from zero-point when I have to compose a new score for a film, that’s the way I think it gets more freshness on it. Fede and I talked a lot about that, and our goal was to create a “classical” score for the movie, more similar to those from the 80’s but with a modern sound on it.

MG: What was your biggest challenge on this score?
RB: To not repeat any music, or get boring with it. To try to caught the audience and stick them to their seat without letting them even breath. And of course, to get an emotion coming out from everyone, beside of the scare.

MG: Do you have plans to work with Fede Alvarez again in the future?
RB: Of course!! We have became very close friends and we have talked already about our next protect together. I wish it happens! Fede is a great director, very talented and very comfortable to work with.

MG: How does this project compare from your past score work?
RB: I believe this score is a resume of all my work since my first movie. I’ve truly put all my knowledge on it, and so far, I consider it my best one. It contains emotion, action, fear, despair…

MG: What do you have lined up next?
RB: I’ve done a couple of movies from Spain since there, and still trying to decide my best option to be next in the US.

Richard Pryor
“No Pryor Restraint – Life In Concert”
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Number of Discs: 9
Label: Shout Factory!

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Wow! If you are a Richard Pryor fan, you cannot honestly ask for more here. “No Pryor Restraint – Life In Concert” is a superb seven CDs and two DVDs collection that includes over 12 hours of Pryor in his prime from 1966 to 1992. Since it is titled “Life in Concert”, that is not just a title, it literally comes his early years right through his final onstage performances. Some people might have been able to take Richard Pryor all the time but I always though that he was very unique and always funny. If he was raunchy, there was a reason to be raunchy. Besides the CDs and DVD, this amazing set also includes a deluxe book with rare photos, multiple essays, exclusive celebrity tributes, a discography, a filmography, and a personal note penned by Richard’s widow, Jennifer Lee Pryor. The presentation of this release is very impressive by Shout! Factory.  They must be big fans of Pryor because they deliver him a lot of love and respect here.

The following CDS included are “Richard Pryor (1968)”, “‘Craps’ (After Hours) (1971)”, “That Nigger’s Crazy (1974)”, “…Is It Something I Said? (1975)”, “Bicentennial Nigger (1976)”, “Wanted/Richard Pryor – Live In Concert (1978)”, “Live On The Sunset Strip (1982)” and “Here And Now (1983)”. This is his best material available in one release. Also includes are nearly two hours of previously unreleased material, including “…And It’s Deep Too! The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings (1968-1992)” and “Evolution/Revolution: The Early Years (1966-1974)”. This is a collection of great rare recordings. Still want more…well you got it! Top that with three complete concert films on DVD. “Richard Pryor Live In Concert (1979)”, “Richard Pryor Live On The Sunset Strip (1982)” and “Richard Pryor… Here And Now (1983)”. Pryor had such a presence on stage and there is nothing like seeing him mesmerize his audiences live. Like I said easily one of the best compilation sets ever decided to this great comedian.

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Composer: Hans Zimmer
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Number of Discs: 2
Format: Limited Edition, Deluxe Edition
Label: WaterTower Music
Running Time: 113 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

When you see the name Hans Zimmer, you have to expect an epic and stellar score. The Academy Award, Grammy, and Golden Globe-winning composer is one of the most recognized and respected names in Hollywood. When you think of Superman, you expect an equally epic score. You can thank John Williams for that back in 1978 for the original “Superman” film. Well rest assured since the “Man of Steel” is amazing. When I hear a score and it literally gives me chills when listening to it, that is how I know that I am in love with it. From the moment this starts, I was completely taken back with this score. Easily one of my favorites scores of 2013 so far. Also did I mention that this score almost runs a whopping TWO HOURS!? No joke! If that doesn’t scream epic…nothing does!

This is the first time that he is teaming up with director Zack Snyder. Zimmer is known for his work with directors like Christopher Nolan, Ron Howard and Gore Verbinski. Speaking of two of these directors, Hans is composing the following upcoming films Verbinski’s “The Lone Ranger” and Nolan’s “Interstellar”. You also have to give it to Hans Zimmer for taking on a score like this. Since the sound of Superman is so epic and recognizable you want to make sure not to mess it up. But I feel that he did it perfectly.   This score is available in both the standard and deluxe editions.  So why would you you want to upgrade to the deluxe edition? Well one reason… it contains the track “Man of Steel (Hans Original Sketchbook)”, which clocks in at over 28 minutes long. Yes 28 minutes long! This exclusive track is performed solely by Zimmer and is it a fantastic portrayal of how he experimented in order to find the right sound for this score. Easily worth the price of the CD alone!

Believe it or not that is not the only bonus tracks included with the deluxe edition.  There are also an additional seven tracks, including one of my favorites “This is Madness!”.  When a track is called “This is Madness!” you can only expect it to be extremely epic and boy is it! Also the deluxe edition comes in a super cool embossed steel case, and fans will get access to multiple videos showing an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the music. But…wait there is still more…you will also get a chance to download all 24 songs in DTS Headphone: X, which reproduces a cinematic multi-speaker surround sound experience using only the user’s headphones. This is super cool and a must for any fan of film scores. All and all, I will say that this Limited Deluxe Edition is the only way to purchase this score!

Track Listing:
Disc 1:
1. Look to the Stars
2. Oil Rig
3. Sent Here for a Reason
4. DNA
5. Goodbye My Son
6. If You Love These People
7. Krypton’s Last
8. Terraforming
9. Tornado
10. You Die or I Do
11. Launch
12. Ignition
13. I Will Find Him
14. This Is Clark Kent
15. I Have So Many Questions
16. Flight

Disc 2:
1. What Are You Going to Do When You Are Not Saving the World?
2. Man of Steel (Hans’ Original Sketchbook)
3. Are You Listening, Clark?
4. General Zod – Junkie XL
5. You Led Us Here
6. This Is Madness! – Junkie XL
7. Earth
8. Arcade – Junkie XL

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FIRST TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR THE FOURTH ANNUAL CARNIVAL OF MADNESS

UNLEASHES AUGUST 13 IN CLEVELAND, OH WITH SHINEDOWN, PAPA ROACH, SKILLET, IN THIS MOMENT AND WE AS HUMAN

June 3, 2013 – The first batch of dates for the highly anticipated CARNIVAL OF MADNESS tour, powered by Monster Energy, have been announced.

Sure to be known as the premier rock tour of 2013, the CARNIVAL OF MADNESS–sponsored by Monster Energy–returns this summer with multi-Platinum rock band SHINEDOWN, along with PAPA ROACH, SKILLET, IN THIS MOMENT, and WE AS HUMAN. The tour commences in Cleveland, OH on Tuesday, August 13. Go to www.CarnivalofMadness.com for specific on-sale date and ticket information, and see below for the first batch of shows. More will be announced in the coming weeks.

VIP ticket pre-sales for these shows are now available to the “Shinedown Nation,” SHINEDOWN’s exclusive fan club. For more information about VIP pre-sale packages and “Shinedown Nation” membership, please visit the band’s official website, www.shinedown.com.

SHINEDOWN makes their triumphant return to the CARNIVAL OF MADNESS after headlining the 2010 inaugural launch, with a lineup that also included Sevendust, Chevelle, Puddle of Mudd, and 10 Years. The first CARNIVAL OF MADNESS proved to be one of the biggest tours of the summer, heralded as a Top 50 tour by Pollstar. Last year’s trek featured Evanescence, Chevelle, Halestorm, and New Medicine.

CARNIVAL OF MADNESS 2013 TOUR DATES

DATE CITY VENUE

Tue 8/13 Cleveland, OH Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
Wed 8/14 Philadelphia, PA Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Fri 8/16 Canandaigua, NY Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
Sat 8/17 Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
Sun 8/18 Bloomington, IL US Cellular Coliseum
Tue 8/20 Burgettstown, PA First Niagara Pavilion
Wed 8/21 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Fri 8/23 Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Sun 8/25 Cedar Rapids, IA U.S. Cellular Center
Tue 8/27 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Wed 8/28 Big Flats, NY Tags
Fri 8/30 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Sat 8/31 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live
Sun 9/1 Raleigh, NC The Red Hat Amphitheater
Fri 9/6 Allegan, MI Allegan County Fair
Tue 9/10 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Sat 9/14 Sacramento, CA Discovery Park

About Monster Energy:
Most companies spend their money on ad agencies, TV commercials, radio spots, and billboards to tell you how good their products are. At Monster Energy, we chose none of the above. Instead we support the scene, our bands, our athletes and our fans. We back athletes so they can make a career out of their passion. We promote concert tours, so our favorite bands can visit your hometown. We celebrate with our fans and riders by throwing parties and making the coolest events we can think of a reality. www.monsterenergy.com

About In De Goot Entertainment:
In De Goot Entertainment powers CARNIVAL OF MADNESS and boasts an artist roster that defines rock music today! The management company opened its doors in 1993 and has grown into one of the premier rock management companies in the U.S. We represent a wide range of Platinum-selling rock acts and underground fan favorites. The company takes great pride in helping artists succeed in all areas of their career. With decades of music business experience shared amongst the staff, we strive to provide expert guidance and insight for the acts we represent. www.indegoot.com

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Paul McCartney/”Out There” Tour
Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida
May 19, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Even though it was only six months ago that I caught Paul McCartney live it was a no brainer when I had the chance to see him again this past week. And I’m glad I did.

One thing fans like about Macca is that he always changes up his shows…every few months the set list changes….so that the performances seem fresh and new. This show was no exception. Added bonus: the performance of (5) Beatles and (2) Wings songs he had, until this tour, never performed live as a solo performer, including opening the show with “Eight Days a Week,” which he had performed live exactly once – while with the Beatles in 1965. Other debut song included “Your Mother Should Know,” “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite,” “Lovely Rita” and “All Together Now.” The Wings’ songs were “Listen to What the Man Said” and “Hi, Hi, Hi.”

Even the more familiar tunes he played were re-arranged in his set, making it a game among the audience to sit in the silence between songs and strain to hear the first notes of the next to see what it could be. As in recent shows, he included touching tributes to the late John Lennon and George Harrison, as well as a more recent song, “Valentine,” that he wrote for his current wife, Nancy. His first wife, Linda, was also honored, first with a performance of “Maybe I’m Amazed” and then with some background film footage shot during the photo shoot for the “Band on the Run” album cover.

Paul and his most excellent band (guitarist Rusty Anderson, drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., guitarist/bassist Brian Ray and keyboardist Wix Wickens) played for almost three hours, including encores. These guys have played live together for over a decade (longer then Paul played with the Beatles or Wings) and their comradery on stage is obvious and honest. If you’ve seen Paul and company play before (this makes my 8th time) I urge you to see him again. If not, I urge you to see him for the first time. I had the great fortune of seeing Elvis Presley perform live right before his passing and I’ve always been grateful that I had the opportunity to see a true musical legend in concert. I get the same feeling every time I see Paul McCartney.

Track Listing:
Eight Days a Week, Juniors Farm, All My Loving, Listen to What the Man Said, Let Me Roll It (with a little bit of Jimi Hendrix’ “Foxy Lady” thrown in), Paperback Writer, My Valentine, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, The Long and Winding Road, Maybe I’m Amazed, I’ve Just Seen a Face, We Can Work It Out, Another Day, And I Love Her, Blackbird, Here Today, You’re Mother Should Know, Lady Madonna, All Together Now, Mrs. Vanderbilt, Eleanor Rigby, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite, Something, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Hi, Hi, Hi, Band on the Run, Back in the U.S.S.R., Let It Be, Live and Let Die, Hey Jude

First Encore
Day Tripper, Lovely Rita, I Saw Her Standing There

Second Encore
Yesterday, Helter Skelter, Golden Slumbers, Carry that Weight, The End

Legendary punk guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein is back with a brand album titled “Abominator”. The album is the first solo titled release from the Misfits guitarist who splits his time between “Doyle” and performing with original Misfits singer Glenn Danzig. Media Mikes had a chance to speak with Doyle recently about the album, his thoughts on performing with Danzig and if he thinks a Misfits reunion will ever come to fruition.

Adam Lawton: Can you give us some background on how this album came together?
Doyle: I was driving one day and I got a message from our singer Alex Story telling me he had some ideas that he wanted to discuss. The first thing he said when I called him back was that we needed to change the name of the band. He said he wanted to drop the name “Gorgeous Frankenstein” in order to start a whole new band named “Doyle”. I asked if he was sure he wanted to do that and he said that is what he definitely wanted to do. So I said “Let’s do it”. The problem we were having with “Gorgeous Frankenstein” was that no one recognized that as me. We would go play shows and there would be 50 people there who only showed up because they were going out. They didn’t even know I had a band. When I was doing shows with Danzig people would come up to me after and say they didn’t even know my band was playing. Just before the Danzig tour started I had the new CD over nighted to me from the studio and we have been using it as a promotional tool to tell everyone we changed the name and it has been working really well.

AL: Can you tell us about the bands line up?
Doyle: It’s pretty much everyone from Gorgeous Frankenstein minus the wife. Alex Story sings, I play guitar, Left Hand Graham is on bass and Dr. Chud is playing drums.

AL: What did the other guys in the band think when you brought the idea of a name change up?
Doyle: They were all for it and thought it was a great idea. I am not a guy who is full of himself so that’s why we never called the band “Doyle” from the beginning. Now things just make so much sense because when I play with Glenn he puts my name up and everyone knows who that is.

AL: What were the writing/recording sessions like for “Abominator”?
Doyle: The music exactly as you hear it on the record is what was made first. I sent everything to Alex and he worked his magic. He writes all the melodies and vocals and then sends it back to me. I don’t ever have to change a thing. He is really great and a genius song writer.

AL: Now not only did you write the songs for this album but you also wrote enough for 2 more correct?
Doyle: The third one we have about 10 songs we are working on writing. We have about three and a half songs to go on the second one and then it will be done. I just keep writing and arranging songs and sending them to Alex. Sometimes within two days he has them sent back to me. I would listen to this stuff and just think “Oh my God!” I just wonder how he is doing it.

AL: Do you have release plans for the other 2 albums yet?
Doyle: We haven’t released the first one yet! There are some advanced copies out but we plan to officially release “Abominator” with an extra track on it called “Drawing Down the Moon” there also will be all the lyrics, extra photos and some more art work. The following albums will be released later on as once we start touring we aren’t going to stop. We may end up just doing singles with those songs and once those all come out then release the album.

AL: Have you set up any tour plans to support the album?
Doyle: We picked up management recently and we are working on bookings as we speak. We are looking to be out on the road by August or a little bit later in the year with some bigger bands.

AL: What has it been like working with Glenn now as compared to working with him in the early eighties with the Misfits?
Doyle: The crowds are a lot bigger these days which means more money and more fun! We have a great time being on stage together and performing for the fans.

AL: What do you foresee happening with the Misfits reunion?
Doyle: I don’t see it happening right now but if and when it happens I am in. I still see Jerry all the time but that is about it.

If you are a fan of film scores, then you are going to want to keep an eye out for Lucas Vidal. At the young age of 28, Lucas is taking over Hollywood with his fantastic talent. Last year, he scored the film “The Raven” with John Cusack and this year he took on the score for one of the biggest films of the year “Fast & Furious 6”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Lucas about taking over this franchise and his work on the film.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you got attached to score “Fast & Furious 6”?
Lucas Vidal: Universal called me and said they wanted me to meet for the film. So I went for the meeting and sent them a couple of tracks from my other films and they really liked them. So that was how it started. This was going back to last year about eight months ago.

MG: How much time does it take for you to prepare for a film of this scale?
LV: Oh, a lot of time. I had to watch all the previous films, analyze them and also their scores. I had to study the sound of the franchise. It took me about a month at least just to make sure that I was ready.

MG: You became one of the youngest composer to ever score a major studio picture of this scale; how does that feel and does it compare with its own pressures?
LV: There is a little pressure yes, since now people are looking closely at my career. But I am good and I am very happy with it. The most important thing is to stay focused and keep working. The best thing is that I am learning from some really talented people, like the best orchestrators, music editors etc in the business. So that is the best part. Yes,  am young but I am learning a lot in the process.

MG: How was it following great artists like Brian Tyler, David Arnold and BT?
LV: They are all really good composers. I just tried to do my best, while also respecting their work as well. I was very fortunate to be able to be a part of this franchise. I respect them a lot and for me it was like a privilege. It was an honor.

MG: How do you feel that “Fast & Furious 6” differs from the past films in the series?
LV: It is similar to the others, yet still different. This one has a certain European feel to it. There is also a lot of electronic music.

MG: Tell us about your biggest challenge on this score?
LV: I had to also respect the theme song from the past films, as well. So that to me was the biggest challenge. I was doing something new but at the same time respecting the franchise.

MG: What was the timeline on this project from beginning to end?
LV: I think it was at least six months. It was pretty intense. There were five film editors involved, so there was a lot of people working on the film and the picture was constantly changing.

MG: After “Fast & Furious 6”, what do you have planned next?
LV: I am scoring a film called “Mindscape” and I have a project for the Boston Ballet. Then I have about three or four other films coming up as well. So I am going to be busy, man!

Christian Jacobs is lead singer for the California ska band The Aquabats! and is also the Co-Creator of the popular children’s television show “Yo Gabba Gabba!”. Season 1 of “The Aquabats! Super Show!” was recently released on DVD and season two of the show will kick off in June on The Hub Network. Media Mikes had a chance recently to speak with Christian aka “The MC Bat Commander” about the show and what we can expect from season 2.

Adam Lawton:  What made you decide to take The Aquabats! from the stage to television?
Christian Jacobs: That was an idea we had early on. The band started in 1994 and by 1999 we had already shot a pilot for Disney/Buena Vista Television. I had grown up acting and being around television and when I wasn’t playing in the band I was doing production for music and skateboard videos. The whole idea behind the band was very organic and the idea for the show was something that just clicked in my head. I thought it would be cool if we were like a punk rock version of The Monkees. I didn’t want it to be a band that was put together by the studio and playing songs written by Neil Diamond. I wanted this to be about guys who were friends that played songs together in the garage. We were never trying to change the world or anything with this band we just wanted to have fun. We knew the days as a band would be numbered so taking it
to television was a way to keep things going. We have been around now for almost 20 years and the fact that this stuff is now just coming out is really weird. I think the main reason we stay together as a band is because of the television show. We don’t go on tour much anymore but we are always playing together. We just kept going hoping for the show to come along. I got a lot of questions from friends and family as to why I was still doing this band. Now that the show has finally happened I feel vindicated.

AL: Was it hard adapting the bands live show in to a television format?
CJ: For me that was the trickiest part. I was always a fan of shows like “Ultraman” and “Batman” so the tongue and cheek aspect of things was the easy part. The hard part was how we were going to build the music into the show. We didn’t want it to seemed force which tends to be the case with a lot of shows that evolve around music. We decided to skip over the band aspect of things and went right for a musical type approach. Yes we perform on the show but we don’t talk about it or glorify the fact that we are a band. It leaves a lot of things unanswered and I like it that way.

AL: How did working on this show compare to working on “Yo Gabba Gabba!”?
CJ: Scott the other co-creator of the show and I have been friends for a long time. We had both been trying to get “The Aquabats!” show off the ground for quite awhile. We decided to focus on this other idea we had and see what would happen with it. It seemed like with “Yo Gabba Gabba!” nothing could go wrong. “The Aquabats!” was totally the opposite. I have never had something move so quickly and organically as “Yo Gabba Gabba!”. This show was born like a magical unicorn and the “The Aquabats!” was like the hunchback with one eye. (Laughs) Working on “Yo Gabba Gabba” gave us a lot more energy to put towards “The Aquabats!”

AL: Can you give us any ideas as to what’s in store for season 2 of “The Aquabats! Super Show!”?
CJ: Season 2 of the show kicks off in June and we have some really cool stuff happening this season. We have pro skateboarders Tony Hawk and Eric Koston playing some roles n the first episode and they are not skateboarding which is pretty funny. Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo has a very pivotal role this season. Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance helped us write a couple episodes and he actually directed the last episode of the season which was really cool. I think the biggest thing for season 2 is that it deals with the back story of “The Aquabats!” Each separate member of the band has their own recollection of how the band came together and that’s fun because it ends up leaving more things unanswered. There’s going to be some new villains this season, some crazy chase scenes and a lot of stuff we weren’t able to do in season one. It’s a bigger season for sure.

Doyle
“Abominator”
Monster Man Records
Tracks: 11

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Former Misfits/Gorgeous Frankenstein guitarist Doyle Wolfgang VonFrankenstein is back with a brand new album titled “Abominator”. The album is the debut release from the group simply titled “Doyle” which members consists of guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein, vocalist Alex Story, bassist Left Hand Graham and former Misfits drummer Dr. Chud. The album is being released via Monster Man Records and features 11 all new tracks by the ghoulish group.

Half Danzig era Misfits meets early Pantera. That is what you can expect from the debut album by the hulking monster known as Doyle. Though this is not Doyle’s first venture outside of the “Misfits” moniker it is definitely his most promising and powerful. Vocalist Alex Story’s gritty style fits perfectly with Doyle’s riffing which appears to be at the top of its game. Tracks such as “Abominator” and “Mark of the Beast” are perfect examples of this as both tracks feature intricate riffs that border on the verge of metal while tracks like “Learn to Bleed” and “Headhunter” are more rooted in the classic punk genre.

From start to finish “Abominator” is pedal to the metal energy! The album does a great job not only paying homage to the classic “Misfits” sound Doyle is known for but it also infuses a progressive element that will captivate virgin listeners. The only thing I found to be a negative was at times there seemed to be a lack of bass in the overall mix however it wasn’t enough to make me not want to listen to the album on repeat a few times over. If you haven’t got your copy of the album yet I don’t know what you are waiting for? As the longer you wait the longer you’re going to be missing out on some really killer sounds.

Track Listing:
1.) Abominator
2.) Learn to Bleed
3.) Dreaming Dead Girls
4.) Headhunter
5.) Valley of Shadows
6.) Land of the Dead
7.) Cemeterysexxx
8.) Love like Murder
9.) Mark of the Beast
10.) Bloodstains
11.) Hope Hell is Warm
12.) Across State Lines