Concert Review: Every Time I Die “Tid The Season” 2021

“Tid The Season” 2021

December 9-10, 2021
Riverworks, Buffalo, NY

Our Score: 3 out of 5 Stars

After a year hiatus due to Covid-19 Buffalo’s favorite sons Every Time I Die returned with their annual “Tid The Season” holiday bash. The sprawling Riverworks complex in Buffalo, NY once again played host to the two-day event which featured ice skating, curling, wrestling and bands such Circa Survive, Knocked Loose, Ice-T and of course Every Time I Die.

Media Mikes had the opportunity to check out day two of the event which started off with a full bill of wrestling courtesy of Empire State Wrestling. Highlights from the multi match card included hometown favorite Puf opening the event with a fun filled match which had him blasting opponents with an array of confetti cannons one of which he even saved for an unsuspecting referee. AEW stars Evil Uno and The Blade w/ The Bunny squared off in the main event which started out quite heated after Uno took multiple verbal jabs at Buffalo and its inhabitants. Being local The Blade and Bunny didn’t take very kindly to Uno’s tirade and the match quickly ensued. After a tense couple moments of back-and-forth action between the two participants Blade’s tag team partner Butcher (Andy Williams) emerged donning what appeared to be attire inspired heavily by Donald Gibb’s character in “Bloodsport”. Though the Butcher didn’t fair to well initially the match concluded with the duo’s signature finishing move “Full Death” being delivered to a weary Evil Uno before the count of 1,2,3, was made. Prior to leaving the ring the team thanked the ever-growing crowd for the continued support which helped usher the team to the locker room accompanied by a wave a cheers and chants.

After a brief intermission to clear the floor of the ring the music portion of the night would be kicked off by the extreme Hardcore group END. The band consisting of members from the bands Misery Signals, Counterparts, Reign Supreme, Shai Hulud, and Fit For An Autopsy wasted no time delivering to the near capacity crowd as they ripped through songs from their “Splinters From an Ever-Changing Face” release setting a high standard for the bands still to come. Three-piece Ontario rockers The Dirty Nil took the stage next and proved that big things can come in small packages as the three-piece group decimated the audience with their unique blend of fuzz infused overdrive. Certainly, a highlight of the performance was a rawkus rendition of the Metallica classic “Hit the Lights” which was performed near flawlessly and left the crowd wanting more. Vancouver natives Spiritbox would follow and though I personally found the set to be rather lackluster and vocalist Courtney LaPlante quite pitchy at times the band invoked a solid reaction from the crowd that you had to applaud.

Heading into the meat of the nights lineup we saw Los Angeles based The Bronx return to the stage for their second performance of the weekend (the band performed on night one of the event with their Mariachi El Bronx lineup). The band helmed by energetic front man Matt Caughthran kept the nights energy going despite battling feedback issues as they performed crowd favorites such as “Shitty Future”, “Six Days a Week” and “History’s Stranglers” before closing out the set with “Around the Horn” from the bands 2006 album “II”. Tid The Season regulars Knocked Loose would follow instantly re-igniting the crowd after a brief reprieve. Guitarist Isaac Hale dominated the stage left position with his precise chuggery while front man Bryan Garris commanded the attention of capacity crowd while the band performed such tracks as “God Knows”, “All My Friends” and “Counting Worms”. The set also featured a couple guest appearances including Brendan Murphy on “Billy No Mates”, Courtney LaPlante on “A Serpent’s Touch” and Keith Buckley on “Forget Your Name” all of which garnered loud roars from the bustling crowd. The Original Gangster Ice-T occupied the direct support slot this evening and despite a much different sound than the other bands on the bill Ice and his crew fit in perfectly as they threw down his signature West Coast rhythms backed by long-time DJ Evil E’s beats. Despite more widely known tracks like “New Jack Hustler” and “Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous” missing from the set Buffalo did get to hear “O.G. Original Gangster” along with a few other classics prior to Ice leaving the stage with his wife Coco and daughter Chanel in tow.

As a white banner projecting of a large burning fireplace dropped from the ceiling and Christmas music began to play through the PA the anticipation level jumped threefold as what has become the marker signaling for the evenings hosts Every Time I Die to take the stage. As a dangerous windstorm swirled outside and synthetic snow began dropping from the ceiling the band burst on to the stage with the song “Roman Holiday”. The band appeared as though they were shot of a cannon as the opening number set a solid foundation for tracks like “A Colossal Wreck”, “Post-Boredom” and “The New Black”. The set features a couple new tracks as both “Desperate Pleasures” and “People Verses” from the newly released “Radical” album made their way into the set for the first time fitting perfectly amongst more seasoned ETID tracks like “We’rewolf”, “Decayin’ With the Boys” and “Map Change”. Despite internal tensions within the band being reported recently the members of Every Time I Die showed they are consummate professionals at the top of their game as the band once again delivering to the sold-out Buffalo crowd.

Every Time I Die Set List:
1.) Roman Holiday
2.) Romeo a Go-Go
3.) Off Broadway
4.) A Colossal Wreck
5.) Desperate Pleasures
6.) Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space
7.) The Marvelous Slut
8.) Post-Boredom
9.) The New Black
10.) Sly
11.) Pigs Is Pigs
12.) The Sweet Life
13.) Champing at the Bit
14.) Cities and Years
15.) No Son of Mine
16.) Thirst
17.) I Been Gone a Long Time
18.) We’rewolf
19.) AWOL
20.) Bored Stiff
21.) The Coin Has a Say
22.) White Void
23.) Decayin’ With the Boys
24.) Floater
25.) Map Change
26.) People Verses
27.) Indian Giver

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: 2021, concert, die, review, season, tid, ...

Best Attractions to See in Montreal for First Time Visitors

Montreal is the second biggest city in Canada located in Quebec. It is an urban location first founded in the 17th Century and is a very diverse region, with many residents being able to speak a mix of languages, including French, English, both, or another foreign language. The area is a picturesque one and has a selection of unique and historical venues often used as tourist attractions for those visiting the province.
For holidaymakers looking to stay in Canada for the first time, choosing where to go can be quite a difficult choice. For the tourists wanting to experience both a busy city day as well as a quiet stroll in the country – Montreal would make an excellent holiday spot. It offers some of the most scenic and historical attractions in Canada.

Fun Places to Visit in Montreal

From visiting homely restaurants to going on hikes along the banks of the many calm rivers running through the forest parks, to visiting nightclubs and casinos – there’s always something for everyone in Montreal to guarantee a fun time.
The nightlife scene in Montreal is quite varied too, and offers a variety of clubs and entertainment venues such as casinos and gaming venues for tourists to enjoy whilst visiting. However, if flash casinos aren’t your thing, you can always cosy up in one of the many boutique hotels and play casino games like slots online, live table games, or even bingo. And if gaming doesn’t interest you, there’s the Ausgang Plaza, where you can enjoy live music, film screenings, and art installations.

For those who enjoy their food, Montreal features some of the tastiest Canadian-inspired cuisines around. Some of the best restaurants and eateries in the area include the likes of Schwartz’s Deli, BOUILLON BILK, and Toque! which serve up some of the most delicious food in the Montreal area, leaving you craving for more.

Best Attractions in Montreal

For those with a passion for travel and who want to make the most of a holiday in Montreal, there are plenty of places to visit around the city. Montreal includes a wealth of activities and places to visit for holidaymakers, some of which have been listed below.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is a museum offering a wide selection of exhibits focusing around visual arts, history and science.

Mount Royal

Mount Royal is a large rock hill in Montreal that features some of the most scenic shots in Canada as its picturesque peaks overlook the city. There are current plans for a railway station to be built underneath it.

Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal

A stunning feature of Old Montreal, this Gothic church is a centrepiece of Montreal and would make the most beautiful place for photo opportunities – especially at night when its magnificent blue windows are lit up.

Biodome

The Biodome is a large dome making up a garden centre that preserves four different ecosystems found in America, as well as being a habitat for several breeds of animals.

La Ronde

As the only Six Flags amusement park in Canada, La Ronde would make an amazing place to visit for those thrill-seekers out there who want to try out some of the fastest and iconic roller coasters which North America has to offer.

Overall, there are many fabulous places and attractions for couples and families to experience in Montreal. There’s always something for everyone to do, which makes Montreal a wonderful Canadian city ready to be discovered by holidaymaker

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: attractions, montreal, time, visitors

Album Review: Every Time I Die “Radical”

“Radical”

Every Time I Die
Epitaph
Producer: Will Putney
Tracks: 16

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Buffalo-based hardcore band Every Time I Die have released their ninth studio album titled “Radical”. Produced by Will Putney (Acacia Strain) and released via Epitaph Records “Radical” is the follow up to the bands 2016 release “Low Teens”. Consisting of 16 brand new tracks which could be described as a swampy summoning of southern rock and coarse poetry and clever wordplay.

Chants of LET’S GO BUFFALO! will undoubtably be raining down across the Queen City on October 22nd however not for its football team but instead for its native sons, hardcore legends Every Time I Die and in celebration of the bands newest studio album simply titled “Radical”. Packed with 16 mind melting tracks the band consisting of vocalist Keith Buckley, Guitarists Andy Williams and Jordan Buckley, Bassist Steve Micciche and drummer Clayton Holyoak put all their cards on the table and swing for the fences with this new album. Opening “Radical” is the track “Dark Distance” which begins with the wail of a warning siren which then fades into the background as the lyrics “Spare all the ones I love and slay the rest” are belted out via Buckley’s signature rasp only seconds before the rest of the band kicks in with a bombastic break down capable of doing mass damage if played in a confined space. As the album progresses listeners are treated to a unique variety of tones, noises and verbiage that is both frantic and thought provoking. Tracks like the catchy “Post-Boredom”, the hauntingly delightful “Desperate Pleasures” and “Distress Rehearsal” are all in your face, riff heavy bangers while tracks like the laid back, sonic landscape titled “Thing With Feathers” and the sludgy bass heavy “White Void” showcase the band stretching their musical legs while not straying to far from the sounds they are synonymous with.

No matter if you’re an early era ETID fan or you are into the more recent releases “Radical” is the album to unite all fans into one joint faction. Mind boggling guitar riffs and overdriven, grindy bass runs mix perfectly with bombastic drum beats and razor like vocals which will captivate listeners while punishing their senses. Don’t be left out in the cold this fall as “Radical” may not the album you want but it’s the album you NEED!

“Radical” Track Listing
1. Dark Distance
2. Sly
3. Planet Shit
4. Post-Boredom
5. Colossal Wreck
6. Desperate Pleasures
7. All This and War
8. Thing With Feathers
9. Hostile Architecture
10. AWOL
11. The Whip
12. White Void
13. Distress Rehearsal
14. SexSexSex
15. People Verses
16. We Go Together

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Filed Under: CD Reviews, Music Tagged With: album, die, radical, review, time

Top Gambling Movies of all Time

Gambling has been a big part of the human experience for centuries, so it comes as no surprise that this topic has seeped into the world of movies over the years.

Casino-related movies have spanned various epochs of times and places. Some take place in Las Vegas, while others take place in Monte Carlo or Atlantic City.

Movies usually take on a journey venturing into various topics, including comedies, drama and crime.

Let’s kick off our journey through some of the best cinematographic achievements related to gambling.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

For watchers who are not quite familiar with the topic of gambling, Ocean’s Eleven gives you a good overview of what it entails albeit a little farfetched.

The movie is based around the character of Danny Ocean and his crew whose main aim is to rob three Las Vegas casinos. There definitely was no claim of an online casino bonus here. The movie is jam-packed with gambling scenes, from the very start till the very end, as you can expect.

The movie itself starts off with the main protagonists playing at a poker table and from there, things truly escalate.

Molly’s Game (2017)

Another movie based around the topic of poker and casinos is Molly’s Game. Based on a true story, the movie is based around former Olympic skier Molly Bloom, who chose to run high stakes poker games in a bid to become successful.

Molly, uses her beauty in a big way to capture men’s attention or do business. She starts running games for her boss, before splitting up with him and running the show solo.

The whole deal eventually spirals out of control, as the authorities get involved. Molly is ultimately prosecuted for organising an illegal gambling ring.

The Grand (2007)

The Grand, is a comedy movie directed by Zak Penn. It roped in some of the most renowned actors in the world, including Ray Romano, Dennis Farina and Chris Parnell amongst others.

What makes this movie interesting is the fact that the script was open-ended and the actors involved were given basic directions about their own characters. The game of poker on set was actually played out in real-time, without any predetermined winners.

The movie itself features a lot of poker, but it’s not really about poker hands or movies, but rather the concept of how one tournament can change one’s path in life.

High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (2003)

Although some people might not be familiar with Stu “The Kid” Ungar, this persona has left an indelible mark in the poker world.

The film tells the story of the rise and fall of this character: from playing gin rummy in his early years, before transitioning to Texas Hold’em and ultimately dominating the game until his untimely death.

There are plenty of poker games played out in this movie. It tells the story of Stu Ungar in great detail, covering the span of his career as well as his demons which ended it.

Although plenty of critics of the movie were against the idea of glorifying his somewhat disturbing behaviour, it simply tells the account of this character. Without a doubt, he exhibited all symptoms of a self-destructive personality, but no one can doubt his love for the game of poker or his brilliant skills.

Of course, this is a non-exhaustive list that covers some of the best poker and casino movies of all time. There are plenty more movies worth checking out, including Casino Royale, The Cincinnati Kid and All In The Poker Movie.

If you’re a film and gambling aficionado, these movies are definitely worth a watch.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: gambling, movies, time, top

Film Review “No Time To Die”

Directed by: Cary Joji Fukunaga
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes
Distributed by
United Artists Releasing
Running time: 163 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

James Bond has been played by several different actors and has been on 25+ on-screen adventures in the course of nearly 60 years, but it has never once felt like his story had closure. Most of the time, actors come and go from the role because that’s the idea of the character – that the story and adventure never ends. No Time to Die shakes things up a bit by definitively putting a cap on Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond and delivering a true finale for a full circle, five-film arc.

The film opens pretty soon after Spectre, with Bond enjoying retirement with Madeleine Swan (Lea Seydoux) and trying to keep a low profile. But after a riveting action sequence that pulls them back into the action, the film makes a pretty significant time jump that not only seasons Bond even further but makes the world around him change more than he ever expected. The biggest changes are that of the mantle of 007 being taken up by Nomi (Lashana Lynch) and a new villain arising with Safin (Rami Malek) with ties to both James and Madeleine’s past.

I’ve seen every single James Bond film ever produced and particularly have grown up watching Daniel Craig’s ventures since I was pretty young, so perhaps I’m biased when saying that I think he is the quintessential Bond in my eyes. From the genuine grit behind his action to the way he knows not only what to say but how to say it in the most suave way possible – it just doesn’t get better than him, in my opinion; and Craig gives perhaps his best performance as Bond here in his final outing. Yes, he’s delivering one-liners and punching the baddies like there’s no tomorrow, but there’s sincere emotion and nuance in his performance this time around that makes for what is easily the most emotional James Bond movie to date.

Cary Joji Fukunaga takes over directing duties this time around, and it absolutely shows. You can always count on the 007 franchise to deliver top notch action, but Fukunaga goes the extra mile to adding some truly impressive one-shots in there and matches it with absolutely gorgeous cinematography – perhaps the best looking James Bond film, aside from Skyfall? However, it’s evident that the reason why Fukunaga was the guy for the job is how he blends classical spy elements into the story while also balancing really solid character work and a true send off for Bond.

At 163 minutes, No Time to Die spares no expense when it comes to telling its story with various locations and a vast array of characters. While I greatly enjoyed the film, I do think it would have benefitted from a bit of a tighter edit at the end of the day. My only other real gripe here is that I thought Rami Malek’s villain, Savin, was somehow undercooked by the end despite such a long running time. It’s hard to elaborate on why he’s disappointing without diving into spoilers, but it feels like there’s a lot of setup for him and not a ton of payoff for the actual character and his motives.

Even with those gripes in mind, they really feel miniscule when everything is said and done – because what the film needs to get right, it absolutely nails with immense class and bravado for Craig’s final bow. After years of being delayed, the film does not disappoint in the slightest and somehow feels like both the most genuinely big blockbuster we’ve gotten in almost two-years as well as the most ideal and emotional final chapter you could ask for when it comes to that of James Bond.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: die, film, review, time

EVERY TIME I DIE SHARE NEW TRACK “PLANET SHIT”

NEW ALBUM RADICAL OUT OCTOBER 22

Photo By: Michael Watson

Buffalo-based hardcore heroes Every Time I Die have unveiled another track in anticipation of their ninth studio album Radical out October 22 via Epitaph. Today, the band unleash “Planet Shit,” which takes an unflinching look at the inevitable social upheaval born of generations of inequity. “I was just calling it like I was seeing it,” expresses vocalist Keith Buckley. The track follows the previously released “Post-Boredom,” “AWOL,” “A Colossal Wreck,” and “Desperate Pleasures.”

Produced and mixed by Will Putney (Acacia Strain, Body Count, The Amity Affliction), Radical is 16 tracks of peak-ETID, alchemized by a swampy summoning of southern rock and coarse poetry, the music swirls beneath sardonic and clever wordplay, cementing the band as leaders, not followers.

CHECK OUT “PLANET SHIT” NOW
WATCH | LISTEN

While inspired by the unrest and upheaval around the world over the past five years, Radical focuses on humanity, decency, self-worth, and even a bit of spirituality more so than politics.

“I’m dealing with difficult matters this time that isn’t only personal for me but are also universal and more communal experiences,” Keith explains. “The songs are realistic in that they acknowledge that things require a lot of work. But it’s ultimately a very hopeful and uplifting record.”

RADICAL TRACK LISTING
1. Dark Distance
2. Sly
3. Planet Shit
4. Post-Boredom
5. A Colossal Wreck
6. Desperate Pleasures
7. All This And War
8. Thing With Feathers
9. Hostile Architecture
10. AWOL
11. The Whip
12. White Void
13. Distress Rehearsal
14. sexsexsex
15. People Verses
16. We Go Together

Every Time I Die has a handful of tour dates throughout the rest of 2021 including their holiday extravaganza, ‘TID The Season taking place in their hometown of Buffalo, NY on December 10 & 11. The band has also just announced that they will support post-hardcore band Underoath on the road early next year. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit https://everytimeidie.net/.

EVERY TIME I DIE TOUR DATES
2021
9/23 Memphis, TN Growlers
9/24 Birmingham, AL Furnace Fest
12/10-11 Buffalo, NY ‘TID The Season

2022
supporting Underoath
2/18 Dallas, TX Southside Ballroom
2/19 Houston, TX Bayou Music Center
2/20 San Antonio, TX The Aztec Theatre
2/23 Phoenix, AZ The Van Buren
2/24 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
2/25 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
2/26 San Francisco, CA The Warfield
2/28 Seattle, WA Showbox SODO
3/1 Vancouver, BC The Vogue Theater
3/2 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
3/4 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
3/5 Denver, CO The Ogden Theatre
3/7 Minneapolis, MN The Fillmore
3/8 Chicago, IL Radius
3/9 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
3/11 Toronto, ON History
3/12 Cleveland, OH Agora
3/13 Wallingford, CT The Dome
3/14 Boston, MA House of Blues
3/15 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
3/17 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Steel
3/18 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore
3/19 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore
3/20 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
3/22 Cincinnati, OH ICON
3/23 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore
3/25 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle

Every Time I Die is Keith Buckley (vocals), Jordan Buckley (guitar), Andy Williams (guitar), Steve Micciche (bass), and Clayton “Goose” Holyoak (drums).

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: die, planet, share, shit, time, track, ...

EVERY TIME I DIE ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM “RADICAL” AND TOUR

RADICAL
OUT OCTOBER 22


SHARE NEW TRACK “POST-BOREDOM”
WATCH | LISTEN

Buffalo-based hardcore heroes Every Time I Die have just announced their highly anticipated ninth studio album Radical out October 22 via Epitaph. Produced by Will Putney (Acacia Strain, Body Count, The Amity Affliction), Radical is the follow-up to 2016’s acclaimed Low Teens.

Today, the band shares “Post-Boredom,” a mixture of the nihilistic realism and persistent irritated optimism that powered punk rock in the late ‘70s and post-hardcore in the early ‘90s. “’Post-Boredom’ was the first song I ever wrote that gave me the feeling of real Truth,” explains vocalist Keith Buckley. “I wasn’t hiding any secret confessions in metaphors, I was very much fed up with living an unfulfilling life and felt that I needed a death (either figuratively or literally) in order to have a fighting chance at finding new meaning. I see this song from a distance. It’s reflective but also, finally, detached. not a full ego death, but indicative that the process needed to start immediately in my own life. If you read the lyrics and it resonates with you, then you also need to recognize that you might be feeling unseen in your current form. So, what are YOU going to do about it if given the gift of death?”

CHECK OUT “POST-BOREDOM” NOW
WATCH | LISTEN

While inspired by the unrest and upheaval around the world over the past five years, Radical focuses on humanity, decency, self-worth, and even a bit of spirituality more so than politics.

“I’m dealing with difficult matters this time that isn’t only personal for me but are also universal and more communal experiences,” Keith explains. “The songs are realistic in that they acknowledge that things require a lot of work. But it’s ultimately a very hopeful and uplifting record.”

Radical is 16 tracks of peak-ETID, alchemized by a swampy summoning of southern rock and coarse poetry, the music swirls beneath sardonic and clever wordplay, cementing the band as leaders, not followers.

TRACK LISTING
1.    Dark Distance
2.    Sly
3.    Planet Shit
4.    Post-Boredom
5.    A Colossal Wreck
6.    Desperate Pleasures
7.    All This And War
8.    Thing With Feathers
9.    Hostile Architecture
10.  AWOL
11.  The Whip
12.  White Void
13.  Distress Rehearsal
14.  sexsexsex
15.  People Verses
16.  We Go Together

Every Time I Die has a handful of tour dates throughout the rest of 2021 including their holiday extravaganza, ‘TID The Season taking place in their hometown of Buffalo, NY on December 10 & 11. The band has also just announced that they will support post-hardcore band Underoath on the road early next year. Tickets are on sale Friday, August 20 at 10am local time. For more information, visit https://everytimeidie.net/.

EVERY TIME I DIE TOUR DATES 2021
8/28           Worcester, MA      The Palladium*
9/23           Memphis, TN        Growlers
9/24           Birmingham, AL    Furnace Fest
12/10-11   Buffalo, NY            ‘TID The Season
* supporting The Ghost Inside

2022
supporting Underoath
2/18         Dallas, TX                    Southside Ballroom
2/19         Houston, TX                 Bayou Music Center
2/20         San Antonio, TX           The Aztec Theatre
2/23         Phoenix, AZ                 The Van Buren
2/24         Los Angeles, CA          The Wiltern
2/25         Anaheim, CA                House of Blues
2/26         San Francisco, CA       The Warfield
2/28         Seattle, WA                  Showbox SODO
3/1           Vancouver, BC             The Vogue Theater
3/2           Spokane, WA               Knitting Factory
3/4           Salt Lake City, UT        The Complex
3/5           Denver, CO                  The Ogden Theatre
3/7           Minneapolis, MN          The Fillmore
3/8           Chicago, IL                   Radius
3/9           Detroit, MI                    The Fillmore
3/11         Toronto, ON                 History
3/12         Cleveland, OH              Agora
3/13         Wallingford, CT            The Dome
3/14         Boston, MA                  House of Blues
3/15         Pittsburgh, PA              Stage AE
3/17         Brooklyn, NY                Brooklyn Steel
3/18         Silver Spring, MD         The Fillmore
3/19         Philadelphia, PA          The Fillmore
3/20         Sayreville, NJ               Starland Ballroom
3/22         Cincinnati, OH              ICON
3/23         Charlotte, NC               The Fillmore
3/25         Atlanta, GA                   Tabernacle

Every Time I Die is Keith Buckley (vocals), Jordan Buckley (guitar), Andy Williams (guitar), Steve Micciche (bass), and Clayton “Goose” Holyoak (drums).

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: album, announce, die, radical, time, tour, ...

TREMONTI TO RELEASE FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM MARCHING IN TIME ON SEPTEMBER VIA NAPALM RECORDS

New Solo Album By Guitarist/Songwriter Mark Tremonti Now Available For Pre-Order https://smarturl.it/MarchingInTime 

World-renowned guitarist/songwriter Mark Tremonti is back with his fifth album from his solo band, Tremonti. The new album, entitled Marching In Time, is scheduled for global release on September 24th via Napalm Records and is available for pre-order beginning today.

Mark Tremonti is no stranger to storytelling. Throughout his years with top-charting bands Alter Bridge and Creed, and most recently his solo band, Mark has never strayed from his love of writing memorable songs. With the upcoming fifth album, Marching In Time, the band looks to continue this trend while exploring their love for heavy music, drawing from current events from the last year to form the basis of each song. While its predecessor, A Dying Machine, was an overall concept album seeped in darker sentiments and story, the vibe of Marching In Time is different – emerging as a charging rock/metal offering that takes the listener on 12 individual journeys. Marching In Time is now available for pre-order here: https://smarturl.it/MarchingInTime. 

From the driving drum beat of opener “A World Away” to the epic closer “Marching In Time,” the new album is a reflective look at the world around us today. Tremonti’s unmatched musicianship bleeds through the album, showcased on tracks like “Thrown Further,” “In One Piece” and the thought provoking “Would You Kill.” Alternatively, the band displays their softer side on pensive tracks “The Last One Of Us” and “Not Afraid to Lose.” Epic title track “Marching In Time” tells the story of a father having a child during a global pandemic and how he prepares for life during that time – something Mark Tremonti recently experienced in his own life – while upcoming single “If Not For You” shows the evolution of the Tremonti sound in 2021.  Marching In Time was produced longtime friend and collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette – the producer Mark has worked with exclusively since 2007. 

The track listing for Marching In Time is: 
1. A World Away
2. Now and Forever
3. If Not For You
4. Thrown Further
5. Let That Be Us
6. The Last One of Us
7. In One Piece
8. Under the Sun
9. Not Afraid to Lose
10. Bleak
11. Would You Kill
12. Marching In Time
Marching In Time will be available in the following formats*:
-CD Digipak       
-Digital Album   
-2LP Gatefold Black       
-2LP Gatefold Marbled White / Black + Bonus Track (Band Store Only – limited to 500)-2LP Gatefold Sun Yellow + Bonus Track (Band Store Only – limited to 500)
-2LP Gatefold Crystal Clear + Bonus Track (Band Store Only – limited to 500)
-2LP Gatefold Pink Transparent (Napalm Mailorder Only – limited to 500)
-Die-Hard Edition: 2LP Marble Transparent Black + Guitar Pick + Print (Napalm Mailorder Only – limited to 500)   
-Deluxe Box: Flag, Wristband & More! (Napalm Mailorder Only – limited to 500)
*Additional formats will be available via individual retailers.

Tremonti will hit the road in advance of the release of Marching In Time, starting on September 3rd in Pryor, OK at Rocklahoma with longtime friends Sevendust. The tour will make stops in Kansas City, MO, Sayreville, NJ, Flint, MI and Joliet, IL, to name a few, before wrapping on September 26th in Orlando, FL. All tour dates, ticket information and VIP packages can be found at www.marktremonti.com.  

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: album, marching, napalm, records, release, september, ...

EVERY TIME I DIE RELEASE TWO NEW TRACKS

“A COLOSSAL WRECK” & “DESPERATE PLEASURES”

LIVESTREAM EVENT DECEMBER 19

Buffalo-based hardcore heroes Every Time I Die share two powerful new tracks “A Colossal Wreck” and “Desperate Pleasures.” Produced and mixed by Will Putney (Body Count, Kublai Khan, The Ghost Inside), the tracks offer a glimpse at the band’s forthcoming ninth studio record.

According to vocalist Keith Buckley, the tracks are “two sides of the same reactionary coin. While ‘A Colossal Wreck’ looks around at the current state of the world and says ‘life is a punishment and only the worst of us thrive’ and, ‘Desperate Pleasures’ takes a more optimistic approach and renounces the nihilistic/accelerationist attitude of the voice that came before. It says that without hope, even in the face of such universal anguish, only death is certain and to give up now when those around us need it most is a treacherous act of pure cowardice. That said, I’m not sure which is worse, bein-g a coward or being a cynic. Probably a coward. At least cynics have a sense of humor.”

CHECK OUT “A COLOSSAL WRECK” & “DESPERATE PLEASURES”

Acclaimed for their energetic and intense live shows, Every Time I Die have announced a live stream event for December 19 @ 2pm PT/5pm ET. Tickets for “Every Time I Die’s Online Telethon Extravaganza” can be purchased at https://tidathon.com.

The Buffalo, New York band have been forging their own musical path for over 20 years. Since establishing in 1998, the band has released eight studio albums; Last Night in Town (2001), Hot Damn! (2003), Gutter Phenomenon (2005), The Big Dirty (2007), New Junk Aesthetic (2009), Ex Lives (2012), From Parts Unknown (2014), and Low Teens (2016).

Every Time I Die is Keith Buckley (vocals), Jordan Buckley (guitar), Andy Williams (guitar), Steve Micciche (bass), and Clayton Holyoak (drums).

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: die, release, time, tracks

5 Most Popular Gaming Symbols of All Time

Slot machines have a long and illustrious history, with the first coin-operated examples dating back to the late 19th century.

While modern games boast digital displays, lots of reels, plenty of paylines, eye-popping graphics and a wide variety of themes, their mechanical precursors were necessarily limited by the technology of the time.

Even so, the symbols that were used during the early days of the industry are still widely recognized and replicated in the modern era. You can even find out what different slot machine symbols represent and get an appreciation for how the iconography has evolved over the decades.

As this market is enjoying double digit growth at the moment, now is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with the most popular and enduring symbols found on games, as well as the reasons that they are used.

Image Source: Pixabay

Lucky Number 7

Well known for its lucky status, the number 7 is a gaming symbol that you can reliably encounter in a huge array of different titles in the 21st century.

Aside from the fact that it is considered to be a fortunate figure by those with a superstitious learning, the proliferation of 7 as a symbol was helped along by the fact that the first slot machines featured symbols pulled from playing cards.

There are many other lucky numbers, depending on the cultural background you consider, but 7 still stands as a staple symbol and as such is often associated with major jackpot payouts.

Face Cards

Once again tied into the origins of slot-based gaming, playing card-inspired symbols are still widespread at the moment. While you might still find symbols related to specific playing card suits, it is the face cards that get much more attention; specifically the Jacks, Kings and Queens which most people will be familiar with.

Initially these symbols were nearly universally found on slot machines because the aim of the game was to line up the reels in such a way that you could create a solid poker hand and win a prize for your efforts. While the explosion of different symbols in the interim has allowed for a much greater number of possible winning combinations, this legacy is still reflected in the prevalence of face card symbols seen on current games.

Cherries

In some parts of the world slot machines are known as fruit machines, and it is easy to see why given that fruit-based symbols are commonly implemented across the board.

Of the various juicy options, the most common is the cherry, usually represented as a twin pair of fruits attached by a luscious green stalk.

The precise origins of fruit symbols is not known, with some claiming that they directly represented the prizes that would be awarded to winners before cash payouts were widely available. However, it seems likely that the real reason for their use is that they are easy to identify, as well as being attractive and eye-catching from a distance to help draw in the punters in a barroom setting, which was the natural home of such machines.

Bells

Another symbol that has survived for over a century and still makes a plethora of appearances today is the bell. Like cherries and other fruit symbols, a bell can be represented on the reels in a very alluring way. This symbol also marked the start of the move away from playing card symbols as machine makers aimed to simplify the mechanisms and thus make it possible to automate payouts.

The bell symbol even helped to inspire the name of one of the most popular vintage slots, the Liberty Bell. The fact that this symbol was also popular in the US already thanks to its connotations of independence and freedom helped to add to the appeal.

BAR

If you have ever seen a slot machine in the flesh or via an online casino, you will probably have seen the classic ‘BAR’ symbol used. In amongst the fruits, playing cards and bells, this might seem like an unusual inclusion.

Interestingly enough this symbol has a pretty intriguing backstory behind its inclusion on the majority of slot machines. It first started out as the logo of a chewing gum manufacturer, which included its branding to reels because it both made many of the machines and also offered its products as a prize at a time when cash-based wins were banned in many places. The shape of the logo was bar-like, and players began referring to it as ‘BAR’, which eventually caused the branding to be replaced by the symbol we know today.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: 5, gaming, popular, symbols, time

The Best Casino Movie Scenes of All Time

In films gambling is often shown as part of the plotline to illustrate a certain degree of tension. Someone is playing a game of poker and the stakes are high… Or there is a roulette spinning, all eyes on the ball and the protagonist questioning the bet just made.

The presence of gambling scenes does not dictate a specific genre. There are romantic comedies, action films, and thrillers. Let’s have a look at 5 of the best scenes from casino themed movies down below.

Poker, pokies, roulette, blackjack, dice…

There surely is a great way to get your hands on all the most scene-worthy games like roulette, blackjack, video poker, and pokies all in the same place. These are all offered at Televega casino, Australia’s favourite place to gamble. But sometimes you just feel like kicking back and watching a good movie.

When it comes to poker, there aren’t that many films that perfectly capture the essence of the game. But there are a few good ones where you can appreciate the build-up of tension.

In most cases, you’ll find the best casino movies featuring blackjack, roulette, craps, and pokies. Probably because these are easier to understand for the audience that may not be familiar with the hierarchy of poker hands.

Molly’s Game

This film was released in 2017 and tells the story of Molly Bloom. Getting seriously injured during a pre-game qualifier, she takes a year off and moves to LA.

Following some waitressing at a club, she starts running an underground business. The business involves setting up poker games for celebrities, business titans, and the like.

The new job isn’t exactly a career soar. But Molly steps up in the new world and starts running her own games. The film follows her down the rabbit hole of underground poker games.

Throughout the movie, you are left guessing whether Molly will come out on top, with poker adding more depth.

The best scene is the one with Harlan, the guy who “played poker, while the others were gambling” getting bluff by Bad Brad, the worst player. The scene comes commented by the movie protagonist, which lets even less experienced poker fans appreciate the drama.

Casino Royale

The 2006 movie Casino Royale is one of the most famous movie casino scenes. Agent 007 a.k.a. Daniel Craig is on another mission. Poker comes up, as it often happens in movies trying to hike up the sense of tension.

Up against a dangerous terrorist and eyeing the pot with 120 million, James Bond proves yet again he’s always one step ahead of the opponent. Perfectly tense and deliciously nerve-racking, this one is a must-see. The pressure of the real game is portrayed to perfection. As a result, the viewers gain a better understanding of the real atmosphere at the table.

Ocean’s Eleven

Ocean’s Eleven is an illustration of how the gambling theme can become an excellent setback for an action-packed masterpiece. George Clooney’s character is after robbing three Las Vegas casinos in one take.

One of the most iconic scenes is the one with Clooney joining Pitt at the poker table. “What’s the first rule of poker?” – “Leave emotions at the door.”

Even if you aren’t a fan of those two guys and their indirect verbal square off, the tips offered by Pitt to his disciples are worth hearing. Just to brush up on the basics.

And if you start missing Ocean’s Eleven right after watching, there are two sequels and a spin-off.

Casino

Made in 1995, this is the kind of movie that you may still have on VHS as a memory of the time long gone. This one is a must-see and must-rewatch if you have trouble remembering the cowboy scene.

In that scene, a cocky cowboy feels like putting his feet up during a game of blackjack.  Predictably, he gets dragged out and thrown through the door and out, literally. Respect and all that, to be expected in a movie featuring De Niro and Pesci.

Besides that, the movie is filled with masterfully-captured casino scenes.

Indecent Proposal

Released in 1993, this one has a few memorable scenes featuring roulette and dice. Indecent Proposal is about a couple of high school sweethearts who find themselves in a difficult situation. Hoping to score a big win to realize a fantasy real estate project, they end up losing everything.

As everyone knows, relying on a casino win to build your life up is never a good idea.

There are two interesting scenes worth mentioning. One when they lose their money playing roulette. The other one with Demi Moore kissing the dice before rolling out a seven (with stacks of chips at stake).

Final words

There are many gambling-themed movies out there, but only a few ones worth rewatching. Hope all the five movies listed above make it to your personal list of favorites.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: casino, movie, scenes, time

Are these the Top 5 Casino Movies of all time?

Throughout cinema history, the role of the casino has been an important one. Setting the scene for power struggles, deception, intrigue and of course, winning big. Here are some of the top 5 casino movies of all time.

Casino

The epic crime drama Casino is the leader of the pack when it comes to the top ranked casino movies. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film teams Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone as we follow De Niro’s character Ace through his career running the Mafia fronted Tangiers Casino in the ever-evolving gambling industry of Las Vegas. The film has been a fan favourite since 1995 when it also won critical acclaim on release, seeing Stone secure the Golden Globe for best actress for her role as Ginger McKenna along with an Academy Award nomination. Inspired by real people, the Casino story continues to mesmerize and thrill.

Casino Royale

Nothing brings to mind a casino setting more than a James Bond movie and Casino Royale is top of the list when it comes to 007 casino show-downs. This 2006 film sees the famous MI6 agent come face-to-face with terrorist financier and money launder Le Chiffre, played by the mercurial Mads Mikklesen, who Bond must bankrupt in a high-stakes poker game. Poker expert Thomas Sandbrook was on hand for filming and the scene is shot with meticulous accuracy and detail, so if you are looking for some No Limit Texas Hold’Em tips, this is the movie to watch. With all the excitement of a real-life poker game, Casino Royale really brings to the big screen the adrenalin rush of gambling in a lavish casino setting. The scene is the epitome of casino chic and Bond girl, Vesper Lynd, brings more than just money to the table, providing a rarely seen meaningful female love interest for Bond, which continues the Casino Royale story arc into Quantum of Solace.

The Hangover

Unlike the previous two films on the list, The Hangover doesn’t quite bring to mind the same level of casino sophistication and high rollers. Instead, the film focuses on a group of regular joes and what happens when a night of bachelor party casino fun goes awry. Outrageous, slap-stick and unapologetically crude, The Hangover is a great casino movie for those after the more hilarious side of Sin City. Featuring unexpected cameos, a missing groom, a bizarre baby subplot and even a tiger, this comedy became a star vehicle for the then relatively unknown Zach Galifianakis as well as one of the highest grossing film of its release year, 2009. The first of three films of the same name, The Hangover is the perfect gross-out comedy and has a plot that will keep you guessing.

Ocean’s Eleven

The original heist franchise began all the way back in 1960 before being revived in 2001 by director Steven Soderbergh. The 1960’s film cast the Rat Pack, synonymous with casinos and Las Vegas, in this high-speed caper about a group of friends trying to steal millions from an unsuspecting casino boss. George Clooney and Brad Pitt star in the remake and their natural onscreen chemistry helps to create a film that is both light hearted and technically sound, satisfying critics and fans alike. Since then, Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven followed up with two sequels, creating the Ocean’s Trilogy, and even brought an all-female ensemble cast together for the 2018 release, Ocean’s 8.

The Sting

Following on from their success in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting sees Paul Newman and Robert Redford bring their incomparable partnership to the screen once more as a pair of grifters looking to outsmart the Mob. Inspired by real-life con artists, Fred and Charley Gondorff, The Sting is as exciting today as its 1973 release. The title pays homage to that pivotal moment when a con cashes in and takes money from his unsuspecting target or mark. Although the plot may be a little complex for some, all the twists and turns give rise to plenty of jaw-dropping gambling moments with stakes staying high until the very last frame of the film.

Conclusion

Casinos have always been and will most likely be forever an exciting and popular element for movies. But actually, it is also the other way around, meaning that Casino-Software Developer more and more create games which are based on popular movies and/or franchises, just like for example Batman: The Dark Knight. This Casino-Slot has literally gone through the roof targeting the fans of the Batman-Franchise. If you want to know more about the Slot, you can read an in-depth review about the game on www.top10-casinosites.net.

As you can see, the movie- and the gambling-branch kind of synergize with each other. Hollywood knows to use the exciting and kind of mysterious atmosphere of Casinos for their movies, just as casino businesses target fans of movies with slot games which are much more interesting than the usual classic casino slots we all know, because of implementing movies.

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Minecraft is now the most popular game of all time!

Created by Swedish developer Markus Persson and first released in 2011, Minecraft has now become the most successful game of all time. Microsoft purchased the game in 2014 and it has now become the best-selling game of all time and is available for purchase at just $20 USD. This is following over 180 million copies worldwide and over 110 million players actively playing the game each month. This gives an indication of the following of the game, which sees fans regularly picking up their Minecraft t shirt at Popgear. This is just one of many examples of the loyal fan base to the game.

So what exactly is Minecraft?

The game sees players travel and explore a 3D pixelated world, in which they build structures and can battle against other players and computer generated opponents. You can also team up with other players in the same world. There are a number of different game types available but the most popular is survival mode. This covers players using the available resources in order to build the world around them and survive. Another option is creative mode, in which players have unlimited resources available to them. There is also a Java edition option in Minecraft.

Minecraft has now become available across a number of different platforms including the Xbox 360. This was released in 2012 and broke the sales record on the day with 400,000 players worldwide. It was then also released on the PS3 and had surpassed one million sales in just five weeks. Minecraft is now available across the likes of PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

The sales and success of the game has been remarkable and has resulted in the game picking up a number of awards. This included it winning numerous Editor’s Choice awards for the Innovative and best single player Indie. Following the release of the game and the original success, the game also won awards at the Game Developers Choice awards in 2011. It won the Best Debut game, Best Downloadable game and the Innovation award. These all gives further examples of the popularity and success of Minecraft from the off.

Moving to more recent times and the game has also placed sixth in Time’s best video game list of all time. This is why it now stands as one of the greatest and most influential games of all time.

There has also now been four further spin-off releases of the game. The first of these is Minecraft: Story Mode. This became available in 2015 and was released across all platforms, including Windows, PS4 and Xbox One. Minecraft Classic was another of the spin-offs and was released in 2019 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the hugely successful game. This covered an updated version of the original.

Minecraft Earth was also released last year by Microsoft and covered many of the same aspects from the original game. Finally, Minecraft Dungeons is set to be released in the coming months and is another exciting spin-off of Minecraft.

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Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: game, minecraft, popular, time

Time to Help Choose the Winners of the 2019 Media Mikes Awards

Award season is in full bloom and once again it’s time for the readers of Media Mikes to vote for their film favorites for the 2019 Media Mikes Awards.

Last year over 3,000 readers submitted their choices in the following categories:

  • BEST PICTURE
  • BEST DIRECTOR
  • BEST ACTOR
  • BEST ACTRESS
  • BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
  • BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
  • BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Members of the Media Mikes staff will vote on the following categories:

  • BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
  • BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
  • BEST MUSICAL SCORE
  • BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Votes can be submitted either through our Facebook page or by email. Emails can be sent to [email protected] Votes can be submitted through February 5, 2020, with the winners announced on Friday, February 7th.

Random voters will be chosen to receive some great 2019 movie swag!

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: 2019, awards, choose, media, mikes, time, ...

Book Review: “A Long Time Ago In a Cutting Room Far, Far Away”

  • A LONG TIME AGO IN A CUTTING ROOM FAR, FAR AWAY
  • Author:  Paul Hirsch
  • Hardcover
  • 384 pages
  • Published by Chicago Review Press Fo

A few years ago I had the pleasure of hosting a test screening for director John Hancock’s film, “The Looking Glass.”  After the film, as I drove John, his wife Dorothy Tristan (the film’s star and co-writer) and film editor Dennis O’Connor back to their hotel, I was amazed by the conversation between the director and editor.  They discussed certain scenes in the film, curious whether they had gone a beat too long or perhaps not long enough.  What impressed me the most was that even the suggestion of removing ONE FRAME of film – 1/24th of a second – could have a true impact in how the film was presented.

Armed with this very limited knowledge, I was eager to read the new book “A Long Time Ago In a Cutting Room Far, Far Away,” written by Academy Award winning film editor Paul Hirsch.  Where to begin?

The book is a rare inside glimpse into the careers, and minds, of three of the most acclaimed filmmakers of their time:  Brian De Palma, George Lucas and John Hughes. 

Mr. Hirsch got his start with De Palma, editing the director’s first five features, including “Phantom of the Paradise,” “Obsession” and “Carrie.”  It is while editing “Carrie” that he is shown photographs from a currently-in-production space opera called “Star Wars.”  Impressed with what he’s seen, Mr. Hirsch secretly wishes he could work on “Star Wars.”  His wish is granted when Lucas invites him to help edit the film alongside co-editors Marcia Lucas (George’s wife) and Richard Chew.  Soon Mr. Hirsch realizes it’s just him on the project and his stories about the finalization of the film, right down to the color of Darth Vader’s light sabre, are amazing. For his work on “Star Wars,” Mr. Hirsch, Mr. Chew and Ms. Lucas were awarded the Academy Award for Best Film Editing.

The book is written in a very simple style.  Not a lot of technical jargon, just great stories told to you as if Mr. Hirsch was sharing them over dinner.  There are many chapters devoted solely to one film, including “Carrie” (we learn about De Palma’s love for the split-screen), “Star Wars,” “The Fury,” “Blow Out,” “Ferris Buehler’s Day Off,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Ray” and so many more.  A veritable journey down the Yellow Brick Road to revisit some of the most popular and influential films of the past four decades.

If you’ve always wondered about how a film is put together, or just want to learn some behind the scenes secrets of your favorite films, then this is the book for you!  You can order “A Long Time Ago In a Cutting Room Far, Far Away,” which will be released on November 5th, by clicking HERE.   

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: book, cutting, long, review, room, time, ...
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