Friday, February 29, 2008

La Scala

La Scala plays the kind of music found in the Sicilian alleys frequented only by the forlorn street singer, or in the smoky cabarets of prewar Paris, or in the tiny hillside villages of the Eastern bloc, tucked away all those years behind that iron drapery. It is this spirit, this old world sense of melody, that La Scala employs with such expert skill, creating a sound that is equal parts rock, Eastern European folk, and saccharine 1960's Continental Pop music.

The frontman at work in La Scala is Balthazar de Ley. A childhood split between Paris France and Champaign USA taught him the art of melancholy and the art of song, both of which he honed in his previous endeavors with bands such as Menthol and Hum. The driving rhythms are provided by drummer Joshua Lohr, formerly of The Dirty Things, and electric bassist Ryan Jewel. Rounding out the lineup is Kirk McMahon, responsible for the tremolo guitars and the thick blanketing of reverb.

The band made its live debut in early 2007 with a commanding performance Chicago's Empty Bottle. This first live set and the general sense of elation it spread throughout the club quickly earned the band invitations to appear at a number of other esteemed Chicago venues such as Metro, the Double Door, and the Hideout.

Roughly six months after this first performance, La Scala began work on its debut EP, which is soon to hit the shelves on the Highwheel Records imprint. Entitled The Harlequin, it was recorded in one of Chicago's dark corners and mixed by renowned producer Brian Deck (Iron & Wine, Modest Mouse, etc.).

UNEARTHLY TRANCE: Unveil More Album Details, Two New Songs; Tour Dates

UNEARTHLY TRANCE has also announced a three-week Eastern U.S. tour with PELICAN and BLACK COBRA that will kick-off later this month. A listing of confirmed UNEARTHLY TRANCE tour dates can be found below with many more to be announced soon.

UNEARTHLY TRANCE are available for interviews upon request. To speak with the band, simply contact Betsey Cichoracki at Relapse Records via any of the means listed below. Updated UNEARTHLY TRANCE news / tour information will be made available via the Relapse Records website: www.RELAPSE.com and UNEARTHLY TRANCE websites: www.UNEARTHLYTRANCE.com / www.myspace.com/utny.

UNEARTHLY TRANCE Tour Dates:

February 26 Akron, OH Annabell’s Lounge (w/ Fistula, Unclean)
February 27 Indianapolis, IN Zaines Too (w/ Racebannon, Coffinworm)

***All dates from February 28 thru March 15 w/ Pelican, Black Cobra***

February 28 Chicago, IL The Empty Bottle
February 29 Dekalb, IL The House
March 1 Bloomington, IN Rhino’s
March 2 St. Louis, MO The Gargoyle
March 4 Memphis, TN Hi Tone
March 5 Birmingham, AL Bottletree
March 6 Pensacola, FL Sluggos
March 7 Gainesville, FL Common Grounds
March 10 Orlando, FL The Social
March 11 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbit’s
March 12 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn
March 13 Charlotte, NC Casbah
March 14 Charlottesville, VA Outback Lodge
March 15 Louisville, KY Headliners
March 16 Richmond, VA Artists Underground Café
March 17 Doylestown, PA Siren Records (w/ Rape-X)

Foxy Shazam Announces US Tours w/ Portugal The Man and The Fall of Troy

Enter, Foxy Shazam.

Taking their queue from contemporaries like At the Drive-In, Gogol Bordello, Man Man, and others in the modern piano-driven punk era, FOXY SHAZAM construct a formula of chaotic and disjointed, convulsive punk rock, on their latest, critically acclaimed album, Introducing Foxy Shazam. Complete w/ apocalyptic lyrics and doom-ridden instrumentation, the album seemingly rises and intoxicates like vapors from a cryptic, acid-laden party in hell. Imagine the soundtrack to a bad trip featuring demon-gnomes encircling and bouncing about, eyes bulging like that creature on the plane in Stephen King's Twilight Zone. Freaky shit!

But Foxy Shazam just want to have fun. Their current US tour sees the band touring the length of the country, calling to action the kids who want to disrupt normal routine and lash out against daily false-reality. Stage dive, start a pit, and don't worry about making sense.

The band released their debut album The Flamingo Trigger (2005), and then went on to tour exhaustively, performing over two hundred shows within a span of eighteen months. The word of mouth about the band began to spread catching the attention of many, including The Number Twelve Looks Like You's front man and band manager, Jesse Korman. Foxy Shazam was then quickly introduced by Jesse to Nick Storch of New Weathermen Records. Storch recalls "He (Korman) told me I had to check them out and at first I had no idea what was going on in their music and put it aside. A few weeks later I put their demos back in with a fresh mind and it clicked right away, these guys are chaotic but there's also a real pop sensibility that doesn't usually occur with bands this far out." Foxy Shazam is the second artist to be signed to the label in partnership with Ferret Music.

Foxy Shazam Live!

Feb 19 2008 Club NVO Logan, Utah
Feb 21 2008 Red Raven Espresso Parlor Fargo, North Dakota
Feb 22 2008 Station 4 St. Paul, Minnesota
Feb 23 2008 Beat Kitchen Chicago, Illinois
Feb 24 2008 The House Cafe DeKalb, Illinois
Feb 25 2008 The SPEC Decatur, Illinois
Feb 26 2008 2 Cents Plain St. Louis, Missouri
Feb 28 2008 Frankies Toledo, Ohio
Feb 29 2008 Peabody’s Down Unders Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 2 2008 Kathedral Toronto, Ontario
Mar 3 2008 Club Lambi Montreal, Quebec
Mar 5 2008 Living Room Providence, Rhode Island
Mar 7 2008 Crocodile Rock (downstairs)k Allentown, Pennsylvania
Mar 8 2008 Cue Club II Delran, New Jersey
Mar 10 2008 Monkey Bar Huntington, West Virginia
Mar 11 2008 The Muse Nashville, Tennessee
Mar 12 2008 Vinos Little Rock, Arkansas

w/ Portugal The Man!
Mar 17 2008 Chic’s Bar and Billiards s El Paso, Texas
Mar 18 2008 Modified Arts Tempe, Arizona
Mar 19 2008 Soma Sidestage San Diego, California
Mar 20 2008 Chain Reaction Anaheim, California
Mar 21 2008 The Troubadour West Hollywood, California
Mar 22 2008 Richards Fresno, California
Mar 23 2008 The Blackwater Cafe Stockton, California
Mar 25 2008 Golden State Hall Bakersfield, California
Mar 27 2008 Bottom Of The Hill San Francisco, California

w/ The Fall of Troy!
Apr 18 2008 Marquis Theater Denver, Colorado
Apr 19 2008 The Bottleneck Lawrence, Kansas
Apr 20 2008 Triple Rock Minneapolis, Minnesota
Apr 22 2008 Reggie’s Live Chicago, Illinois
Apr 23 2008 Magic Stick Detroit, Michigan
Apr 24 2008 The Intersection Grand Rapids, Michigan
Apr 25 2008 The Mad Hatter Covington, Kentucky
Apr 26 2008 Beachland Tavern Cleveland, Ohio
Apr 29 2008 The Club @ Water Street Music Hall Rochester, New York
Apr 30 2008 The Salt Lounge London, Ontario
May 1 2008 The Mod Club Toronto, Ontario
May 2 2008 Club Lambi Montreal, Quebec
May 3 2008 The Loft @ The Chance Poughkeepsie, New York
May 6 2008 Todd’s Place New Haven, Connecticut
May 7 2008 The Ottobar Baltimore, Maryland
May 8 2008 The Soapbox Laudrolounge Wilmington, North Carolina
May 9 2008 The Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
May 10 2008 The Social Orlando, Florida
May 11 2008 Studio A Miami, Florida
May 13 2008 The High Ground Metairie, Louisiana
May 14 2008 Meridian Red Room Houston, Texas
May 15 2008 The Door Dallas, Texas
May 16 2008 House of Rock Corpus Christi, Texas
May 17 2008 White Rabbit San Antonio, Texas
May 19 2008 The Clubhouse Tempe, Arizona
May 20 2008 Glasshouse Pomona, California
May 21 2008 The Knitting Factory Hollywood, California
May 22 2008 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, California
May 23 2008 Hawthorne Theater Portland, Oregon
May 24 2008 El Corazon Seattle, Washington



For more information, visit:
www.myspace.com/foxyshazam
www.ferretstyle.com

O'Death Announce US Tours w/ Murder By Death and Langhorne Slim!

O'Death US Tourdates!

Headlining w/ Langhorne Slim supporting:
March 17 Ft Worth, TX Lola's
March 18 Tulsa, OK Continental
March 19 Lawrence, KS Jackpot
March 20 St Louis, MO Bluebird
March 21 Dekalb, IL Otto's
March 22 Milwaukee, WI TBA
March 23 Lexington, KY The Dame
March 25 Pittsburgh, PA Howlers *(O'Death solo)

Supporting Murder By Death w/ Kiss Kiss opening
March 27 Bloomington, IN TBA
March 28 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop
March 29 Chicago, IL Abbey Pub
March 30 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
April 1 Rochester, NY The Club @ Water St.
April 2 Albany, NY Valentine's
April 3 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
April 4 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
April 5 Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs
April 6 Hartford, CT Webster Underground
April 8 Providence, RI Living Room
April 9 Washington, DC Black Cat
April 10 Chapel Hill, NC Local
April 11 Harrisburg, VA Garibaldi's
April 12 Wilmington, NC Soapbox Laundrolounge
April 13 Columbia, SC New Brookland Tavern
April 15 Miami, FL Studio A
April 16 Ybor City (Tampa), FL The Orpheum
April 17Tallahassee, FL Beta Bar
April 19 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
April 20 Nashville, TN Exit/In
April 22 Memphis, TN Hi-Tone
April 23 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway

* The band will also have their brand new "Spider Home" 7" (b/w "Silk Hole") available for the first time on these dates courtesy of Gigantic Records!

Five guys, maybe three shirts between them, take to the stage. There’s a banjo, a fiddle, a drum set littered with gas cans, chains, and broken cymbals. Then they all start howling, stomping; it’s an anachronistic jug band party in a junkyard with sing-along hooks and weathered vocals from another time. Their fans, an ever-expanding congregation, sing along and follow the band with an almost religious fervor, and as vocalist Greg Jamie’s eyes roll back into his head there’s a sense that something almost sinisterly spiritual has overtaken everyone in the room. This is the world of O’Death.



Originally formed in 2003 while the members attended SUNY Purchase, the band – with Jamie on guitar and vocals, Gabe Darling on banjo, David Rogers-Berry on drums, Jesse Newman on bass, and Bob Pycior on fiddle – self-released their first album in 2004. They quickly took to the task of stirring up a wholly original scene of NY musicians with their reverently twisted take on Americana filtered through a wealth of musical influences as divergent as Bill Monroe, Dock Boggs, Neil Young, The Microphones, and The Misfits via a series of shows at the now defunct Apocalypse Lounge

As they gathered the songs for their second LP, Head Home, the band perfected their mesmerizing and riotous stage presence and took to turning their share of heads across the country, playing over 100 shows in 2006, and gracing the stage alongside acts including Battles, Dr. Dog, Art Brut, Les Savy Fav, Man Man, and Deerhunter.

With the re-release of Head Home (out now on Ernest Jenning Record Co.), the critically acclaimed NY act has created a perfect companion to their spellbinding live show. Part southern gothic spiritual, part moonshine fueled hoedown, these recordings, now presented with new mixes done by the band and Billy Pavone are a timeless addition to the canon of weird old America.

For more information, visit:
www.myspace.com/odeath
www.ernestjenning.com

Dream Theater To Launch "Progressive Nation Tour" May 2nd

LOS ANGELES, FEBRUARY 28, 2008—N.Y. progressive metal pioneers Dream Theater will embark on its 21-date North American “Progressive Nation” tour starting May 2 at Los Angeles’ Gibson Amphitheatre and concluding June 1 in Tampa, FL, highlighted by two shows at New York’s brand-new Terminal 5 (May 21-22), which sold out in just two days.

Opening acts Opeth, Between the Buried and Me and 3 were personally picked by Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, who helped organize the tour: “I’ve wanted to do something that focuses on the more progressive, musician-oriented side of hard rock and metal for 10 years now,” he says. “I decided it was time to stop talking the talk, lace up and finally walk the walk.”

The tour will be preceded on April 1 by the release of Dream Theater’s GREATEST HIT (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) on Rhino, the album’s tongue-in-cheek title refers to “Pull Me Under,” the first and only major radio hit for the quintet; this is the band’s first-ever best-of compilation, spanning 14 years and 22 songs, featuring rare edits, B-sides and three new Kevin Shirley mixes. The two discs are divided into “The Dark Side” (the metallic) and “The Light Side” (the melodic), with songs ranging from their sophomore 1992 release, Images and Words, through 2005’s Octavarium.

The band’s 22-year career has seen them sell more than 8 million albums worldwide, with their last three DVDs each having gone platinum. The band has been on the road since June 2007, playing to growing crowds in Asia, Australia and South America, on the “Chaos in Motion” world tour in support of their most recent Roadrunner Records studio album, Systematic Chaos, one of the most successful of their career. “Forsaken,” the second video from the disc, shot in Japanese anime, recently debuted on MTV 2’s Headbangers Ball after “Constant Motion” was voted #2 Video of the Year by viewers of the show last year. They were featured as Artist of the Month on Microsoft Xbox Live in December 2007

The group continues to grow its fan base all over the world, including Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Dream Theater topped the bill for the 2005 Gigantour alongside Megadeth, and has also co-headlined with both Queensryche and Joe Satriani. On April 1, 2006, the band played New York’s Radio City Music Hall, a show which sold out in just three days.


Apr 29, 2008 Mexico City, Mexico National Auditorium *
May 02, 2008 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheater
May 03, 2008 Oakland, CA Paramount Theater
May 05, 2008 Seattle, WA Wamu Theater
May 06, 2008 Vancouver, BC Orpheum
May 09, 2008 Calgary, ALB Macewan Hall
May 10, 2008 Calgary, ALB Macewan Hall
May 12, 2008 Minneapolis, MN Myth
May 13, 2008 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theater
May 14, 2008 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
May 16, 2008 Columbus, OH LC Amphitheater
May 17, 2008 Cleveland, OH Time Warner Amphitheater @ Tower City
May 18, 2008 Albany, NY The Armory
May 20, 2008 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater
May 21, 2008 New York, NY Terminal 5
May 22, 2008 New York, NY Terminal 5
May 26, 2008 Washington DC DAR Constitution Hall
May 27, 2008 Richmond, VA The National
May 28, 2008 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
May 30, 2008 Miami, FL The Fillmore
May 31, 2008 Orlando, FL Hard Rock
Jun 01, 2008 Tampa, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
Jun 04, 2008 San Juan, Puerto Rico Coliseo of Puerto Rico *

* the Mexico and Puerto Rico dates will be Dream Theater with special guests Between the Buried And Me (Opeth and 3 will NOT be appearing on these 2 dates)

Cassettes Won't Listen "Paper Float" Scott Thorough Remix/Fearless Music TV This Saturday /AOLSpinner MP3 Of The Day/"Paper Float" Video Teasers

Cassettes Won’t Listen is giving away one remix a week for the next month. This week is by renowned hip hop producer Scott Thorough, and last week’s was by German Producer, Styrofoam (The Notwist, Lali Puna, Ben Gibbard, American Analog Set, and more). There will be a new remix posted each week via his myspace page. Upcoming remixes are from Mad Decent (Diplo and DJA) Via RCRD LBL, Blockhead, Maker, Aaron LaCrate, and more.

When Jason Drake isn’t writing his electronic pop gems as Cassettes Won’t Listen, he can be found in the Def Jux offices where he is the Director of Marketing. Jason has been involved with the leading indie hip hop label since 2001, just as Aesop Rock's Labor Days was hitting record store shelves. While Cassettes Won’t Listen is informed by hip hop, the lyrics and voice of Jason are transcendent.

And on March 11th, Cassettes Wont Listen's will release Small-Time Machine, his first ever physical release. Entirely written, played and produced by Jason Drake, Small-Time Machine deals with many of the themes that touch us all, including: love, betrayal, hope, disappointment and the quest to find what's missing in each of our lives. Small-Time Machine is the next chapter in the career of one of the true new voices of the 21st Century.

Cassettes Won't Listen has had two digital-only releases, the EP Nobody’s Moving and the instrumental LP The Quiet Trial. Both records have received a lot of attention, including radio tastemakers WOXY and KEXP, SPIN, the NY Press, the notorious Perez Hilton as well as landing an exclusive front page feature on Myspace.com and being named one of Urb’s Next 100 for 2007.

In the wake of these releases, a wide range of artists, commissioned countless Cassettes Won't Listen remixes, including El-P, (featuring Trent Reznor), Midlake, Asobi Seksu, The Postmarks, Dr. Octagon, Pela, Dirty on Purpose, Mr. Lif, and Morcheeba, amongst others.

Cassettes Won't Listen embodies an otherworldly and distinctive blend of electronica and indie rock, with comparisons being drawn to the Postal Service, Beck, Hot Chip, The Notwist, and DJ Shadow. His live show blasts at a frantic pace with Jason hopping from turntables to guitar to keys and vocals as a true one-man band. Small-Time Machine is the sum of all these parts.

The free One Alternative covers EP of great 90's tunes from Cassettes Won't Listen is up to 7,500 downloads and still going strong. Tracklist includes songs by Pavement, Butter 08, Blind Melon, Liz Phair, and Sebadoh, and as an added bonus it features full instrumentals and acapellas so you can get your 90's love remix thing on.
www.cassetteswontlisten.com

www.myspace.com/cassetteswontlisten

Gnarls Barkley Completes Video for "Run"

Gnarls Barkley, the mysterious experimental pop duo consisting of artist/producer Danger Mouse and vocalist Cee-Lo, has wrapped the video for “Run”, the vigorous first single from the new album The Odd Couple.

The video is directed by the filmmaking team Happy, the partnership of Guy Shelmerdane and Richard Farmer. Since winning “Best New Director” honors at Cannes in 2002, Happy has directed a diverse collection of commercials, short films and music videos. Happy has been named among Creativity magazine’s Top 40 Directors for four straight years. The duo’s fun-filled concept is the perfect match for the rich, energetic surrealism of “Run,” casting Gnarls in an imaginary early ‘90s public access show called City Vibin’.

Contrary to rumor, MTV and VH1 censors did not reject the video because of liability issues related to strobe effects and seizures. “Initially, there were fears the video was going to fail the Harding Test,” says a spokesperson for the band. “But, for the moment, indications lead us to believe the video passed.”

The “Run” single has been rushed to iTunes early and will be released on March 24th. The Odd Couple follows on April 8th.

In other video news, Gnarls will be reuniting with director Chris Milk for “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul,” their second video off The Odd Couple. Chris Milk helmed the Grammy-nominated video for “Gone Daddy Gone.”

Gnarls Barkley is known for its adventurous videos that accompanied the hit singles from the acclaimed St. Elsewhere LP, including the shifting Rorschach patterns of “Crazy,” the expansive parody of “Smiley Faces” (featuring Dennis Hopper as an obsessive rock historian), and the indescribable “Gone Daddy Gone.”

www.gnarlsbarkley.com

THE EXPLICITS Ready to Launch Their Dark, Metallic Punk on the Masses 4/8

Jacksonville, FL - While her friends are consumed with college life, Renee Phoenix of the punk/metal band The Explicits was able to find time to close the books and record her self-titled debut, due out independently on Explicit Records on April 8, 2008. As a Junior at The University of North Florida, she somehow balances achieving her English degree with the demanding schedule that comes along with playing in an up and coming band. "The entire process was exciting for all of us," she describes of the recording of the album. "I'm a very impatient person so I couldn't wait for this project to be completed and blast it in my car."

Equal parts 70s punk, 80s punk and 00s screamo, The Explicits blend a frothy concoction that would make the Casualties pass out, Brody Dalle order something stiffer, and make Joan Jett a drinking buddy. Nonalcoholic beverages, of course (since the band are all under 21). With fierce and heavy guitars and rhythm section, Renee matches their intensity with her gravelly, otherworldly vocals, like a battle cry on the front lines. "During downtime in studio, we would all do these 80's metal screams as a joke," she says. "We all couldn't stop laughing."

Recorded with Florida-based buzz-worthy producer Stan Martell (A Fall to Rise, Burn Season, Down Theory), The Explicits is an album packed with feisty, metallic, adrenaline-drenched punk. From the power chord-driven epic blast of "Indestructible" to the upbeat classical punk rock distortion-filled "Static", this debut contains the sort of street credibility that seems beyond Renee's youthful 20 years. "I write what I feel like writing at the time instead of thinking, 'Hey, we're a punk band so we need to write a punk song, or a rock song, or whatever'," she says of the songwriting process. She describes her favorite track, the speed-metal thrash of "Hollywood", in videogame terms. "I picked that one to be the ending track on the record because I found the final parts of the song to be epic in a way, like the end of a great battle. Either that, or I've just been playing way too much Warcraft for my own good," she pauses, and then smirks, retracing her steps. "I'm a nerd, just forget I ever said that."

The Explicits' self-titled record will be released April 8, 2008 on Explicit Records. A Spring tour is being planned.

Overkill's "Skull And Bones" Exclusive Premiere On MTV2 Headbangers Ball

Philadelphia, PA - Old School Thrash and Nu Metal vocalists unite in the music video for "Skull and Bones!" Bodog Music's Overkill joined forces with today's hottest metal frontman Randy Blythe on the lead single from their latest release Immortalis. Now the feature video for the track is ready to be unleashed on the masses with its network debut on MTV2's Headbangers Ball set for Mar. 5 and a special early release on the Headbangers Ball Blog on Feb. 29. An exclusive behind the scenes package highlighted by an interview with Randy and Bobby Blitz is also now available online only at the Headbangers Ball Blog.

The live performance and mind melting narrative work together to pummel audiences in what is set to be a landmark metal video. Blitz explains, "The track comes to life with the Wacken footage. It is like a slasher engineering a runaway train... with 40,000 witnesses, mixed with the location shots we did with Randy and I. The video brought the song to visual life."

Groundbreaking Director Kevin Custer manned the helm on the narrative segments and was amped to be apart of the project. "Hell yeah... I packed up the cameras in NYC and headed down to Virginia to rock out a slamming shoot with Bobby and Randy," Custer said. "We had a blast - everyone was on point. The vid looks sick!" Known for creating killer videos for the likes of Hatebreed, Madball, Beneath The Massacre and more, his guerilla tactics and "shoot to kill" mentality were just what was needed to bring the dark disturbing narrative to life on "Skull and Bones." Centering on the live footage captured for the recently released Live At Wacken DVD, the disturbing nature of this song was captured in the performances of Blitz and Blythe.

When asked to collaborate on the video, Blythe joined on with fury. "There's nothing more fun than drinking beer and lip syncing along to heavy metal for 10 hours in a 20 degree warehouse with Bobby Blitz," exclaimed Randy. "Getting to make a video with f#%&ing Overkill in my home town wasn't just cool, it was my sacred duty to help them crack some skulls and break some bones!"

The Live At Wacken DVD was released through Bodog Music on Feb. 5, 2008, giving fans a front row look into how Overkill has remained the reigning masters of metal for over two decades. The DVD promises an in your face look into the lights, music and mayhem, as Overkill closed the 2007 Wacken stage in front of 40,000 fans.

Midnight Juggernauts To Release Debut Album On Astralwerks May 27

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES & COACHELLA CONFIRMED

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Midnight Juggernauts are proud to announce the release of their long-awaited debut album Dystopia on May 27th through Astralwerks. Complementing this release will be an extensive U.S. Spring tour and Coachella appearance. These are the same live shows that garnered extensive critical praise from the press and fans alike when they supported Justice, so do not miss your chance to see them!

The guys (Vincent Juggernaut, Andy Juggernaut & Daniel Stricker) originally started making music together casually in a friend’s studio, songs of which can be heard on their upcoming release. The guys could not have imagined what was just around the corner for them. Equipped with select tracks available on their Myspace, the band soon began to tally up countless virtual friends and requests. Shortly thereafter, a chance meeting with Parisian Ed Banger’s Justice took place and after hearing the album and seeing them live, they promptly urged the trio to join them on a voyage across the United States during the fall of 2007.

With this opportunity to perform outside of their homeland, all ears were certainly eager to hear what these fellows had to offer. Midnight Juggernauts certainly did not disappoint and soon became a familiar name and sound in the USA, leaving music fans yearning for more. With their intense dance-oriented live performances, flirting with sounds reminiscent of E.L.O, Air and Eno-esque synth arrangements, it became clear to most that no one else sounded quite like they do. Consequently, record deals were offered and the press soon began to spread the word.

Now, Astralwerks is proud to announce the release of their already critically acclaimed debut Dystopia out on May 27th, a headlining North American tour with Shy Child supporting, plus a Coachella performance. But don’t just take our word for it:

"Dystopia takes uplifting Numan synths, Daft Punk beats and Pink Floyd's affinity for all things astronomical and Orwellian, then melts them all together with the help of some good psychedelics." - Rolling Stone

"Dystopia will help folks get a jump on their Best of '08 lists, furthering dance music's indie rock crossover." - Spin

"Favorite new band: Midnight Juggernauts. - Pitchfork (chosen by Justice)
Check out the video for “Shadows”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtynjqYUOvk

MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES with Shy Child
4/22 Vancouver, BC Richard’s
4/23 San Francisco, CA Mezzanine
4/25 Indio, CA Coachella
4/29 Denver , CO Hi-dive
5/2 Chicago, IL Double Door
5/3 Toronto, Ontario Anti
5/4 Montreal, Quebec Les Saints
5/6 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
5/7 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
5/9 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

www.midnightjuggernauts.com
www.myspace.com/midnightjuggernauts

The Billionaires new release date: April 1st

Silverlake/Martha's Vineyard – Really Real For Ever, the astounding indie pop debut from Los Angeles-by-way-of-Massachusetts group The Billionaires, displays an extraordinary songwriting spectrum. It’s hard to imagine a listener listening to sterling songs like “The End of Summer Song” and “Butterflies” and not coming away all smile. By the end of the final track, “Confidence”, you’ll be sitting a home alone with a fist full of Percocets and a bottle of vodka, trying to feed that sucking vacuum that is all that is missing in your life.

The album is the product of the environment in which The Billionaires grew up. A bunch of working class kids from Martha’s Vineyard, that tiny island off the coast of Massachusetts, where the Summer is Peyton Place and Winter is The Shining.

Tim Laursen, one of the band’s many singers, explains the bands beginning: “We have grown up together playing music but mostly being a part of a large creative group of friends, a sometimes very drunk, loving, angry, and sexy group of people. Sometimes there is no loving: just drinking and fishing and starting fires. We spread out over the island chasing kicks like fried clams or house parties. We are now looking for you to hang out with us.”

The band recently relocated to Los Angeles, where they recorded their debut with the help of producers Todd Philips (Bullet LaVolta, The Juliana Hatfield Three, Model/Actress) and Wally Gagel (Sebadoh, Folk Implosion).

KT TUNSTALL TO JOIN DARYL HALL ON LIVE FROM DARYL’S HO USE

LOS ANGELES, FEBRUARY 29, 2008—Celebrated U.K. singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, will be the special guest of Daryl Hall on the fifth installment of his free webcast, Live From Daryl’s House, on March 15 at 8 p.m., exclusive at www.livefromdarylshouse.com.

The two collaborate on versions of “Kiss on My List” and “Out of Touch,” as well as her own hit, “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree,” as well as a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About.” The show takes place in London, where Daryl has a home.

"Working with KT Tunstall was a fantastic musical experience," said Daryl. “She's got a really great voice, with a solid guitar style and a very centered way of looking at music. Our voices really blend well and I'd love to work with her more in the future."

The Scottish singer-songwriter has been nominated for two Grammys and won three Brit Awards, selling more than four million albums worldwide after capturing the attention of the public with a performance of “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” on the U.K. TV show, Later with Jools Holland. Her debut album, Eye to the Telescope, peaked at #3 on the British charts and earned her a 2005 nomination for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. Her second album, Drastic Fantastic, debuted in the Top 10 in the U.S. last September.

“I had such a wicked time,” KT enthuses about appearing on Live From Daryl’s House. “It was a dream to sing with such a great singer. Daryl really has an amazing voice. I’ve never sung with a guy able to do the things he can with his voice.”

Live From Daryl’s House debuted November 15th, featuring Hall’s longtime collaborator T Bone Wolk. Other guests on the webcast included partner John Oates on a holiday special highlighting their Home for Christmas album and, most recently, Daryl was joined by Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy on the fourth installment of the series (which is currently being shown on www.livefromdarylshouse.com).

Each new edition of Live From Daryl’s House takes place at one of Daryl’s homes in either upstate New York, Maine, the Bahamas or, like this one, London.

“Daryl’s House is a state of mind,” he says, one that KT Tunstall has now experienced for herself.

“It’s such a great vibe,” KT said. “We had a great laugh. Working with such hugely talented and respected musicians, it was such a great vibe, I felt I’d known them for years. Daryl has a great thing going on there. It’s pure music.”

KT TUNSTALL TO JOIN DARYL HALL ON LIVE FROM DARYL’S HO USE

LOS ANGELES, FEBRUARY 29, 2008—Celebrated U.K. singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, will be the special guest of Daryl Hall on the fifth installment of his free webcast, Live From Daryl’s House, on March 15 at 8 p.m., exclusive at www.livefromdarylshouse.com.

The two collaborate on versions of “Kiss on My List” and “Out of Touch,” as well as her own hit, “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree,” as well as a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About.” The show takes place in London, where Daryl has a home.

"Working with KT Tunstall was a fantastic musical experience," said Daryl. “She's got a really great voice, with a solid guitar style and a very centered way of looking at music. Our voices really blend well and I'd love to work with her more in the future."

The Scottish singer-songwriter has been nominated for two Grammys and won three Brit Awards, selling more than four million albums worldwide after capturing the attention of the public with a performance of “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” on the U.K. TV show, Later with Jools Holland. Her debut album, Eye to the Telescope, peaked at #3 on the British charts and earned her a 2005 nomination for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. Her second album, Drastic Fantastic, debuted in the Top 10 in the U.S. last September.

“I had such a wicked time,” KT enthuses about appearing on Live From Daryl’s House. “It was a dream to sing with such a great singer. Daryl really has an amazing voice. I’ve never sung with a guy able to do the things he can with his voice.”

Live From Daryl’s House debuted November 15th, featuring Hall’s longtime collaborator T Bone Wolk. Other guests on the webcast included partner John Oates on a holiday special highlighting their Home for Christmas album and, most recently, Daryl was joined by Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy on the fourth installment of the series (which is currently being shown on www.livefromdarylshouse.com).

Each new edition of Live From Daryl’s House takes place at one of Daryl’s homes in either upstate New York, Maine, the Bahamas or, like this one, London.

“Daryl’s House is a state of mind,” he says, one that KT Tunstall has now experienced for herself.

“It’s such a great vibe,” KT said. “We had a great laugh. Working with such hugely talented and respected musicians, it was such a great vibe, I felt I’d known them for years. Daryl has a great thing going on there. It’s pure music.”

MINSK: Announce Spring Tour

MINSK has announced a Spring tour in support of their The Ritual Fires of Abandonment album.

MINSK will begin this two-week run of dates on March 18th in Columbus, OH, working their way to meet up with Atlanta’s ZOROASTER in Wilmington, NC. From there, the two bands will tour together through much of the South East. A complete listing of MINSK tour dates can be found below with more to be announced shortly.

MINSK has announced the plans for the vinyl release of their Out Of A Center Which Is Neither Dead Nor Alive album. This double vinyl release is expected to see a Spring 2008 release date through Original Sound Recordings. Further information on this release and a preview of the artwork will be made available shortly via the Original Sound Recordings website.

MINSK Tour Dates:

March 18 Columbus, OH Café Bourbon Street
March 19 Cincinnati, OH Dirty Jack’s
March 20 Johnson City, TN The Hideaway

***All Dates from March 21 thru 29 w/ ZOROASTER***

March 21 Wilmington, NC The Soapbox
March 22 Spartanburg, SC Ground Zero
March 23 Charlotte, NC The Milestone
March 24 Athens, GA Tasty World
March 25 Gainesville, FL The Atlantic
March 26 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbit’s
March 27 Winter Park, FL The Haven
March 28 Tampa, FL The Brass Mug
March 29 Savannah, GA The Jinx
March 30 Nashville, TN The End
May 8 Chicago, IL Reggie’s Rock Club (w/ Battlefields, AmenRa)

Playboy Rock the Rabbit at SXSW 2008

Playboy’s Rock the Rabbit is calling up its Playmate friends and some of its favorite artists and hopping down to the 301 in Austin, Texas for a night of revelry. After a ridiculously good time last year, Playboy and C3 Presents are proud to announce that for the second year running, Playboy’s Rock the Rabbit will host the Annual Late Night Party in Austin. Partygoers will be able to preview the Rock the Rabbit t-shirt collection and sign up to Rock the Vote, while enjoying live performances from some of the hottest music acts around.

Playboy and C3 Present . .

THE 9TH ANNUAL LATE NIGHT PARTY
Thursday, March 13th 2008
11PM
The 301

WITH PERFORMANCES BY . .
Justice
Moby DJ Set
MGMT
The Heavy
The Rub

AND . .The World Famous Playboy Playmates!
Alison Waite (Miss May 2008)
Lauren Michelle Hill (Miss Feb 2001)
Hiromi Oshima (Miss June 2004)
Deanna Brooks (Miss May 1998)
Shallan Meiers (Miss Sept 2002)
Shannon James (Miss May 2007)
Janine Habeck (Miss Sept 2006)
Qiana Chase (Miss July 2005)
Ida Ljungqvist (Miss March 2008)
Michele McLaughlin (Miss Feb 2008)

The 9th Annual Late Night Party in Austin is for guests 21+.


For the second year in a row, Playboy’s Rock the Rabbit initiative will fuse rock, hip-hop, art and fashion in conjunction with Playboy’s annual March music issue. Rock the Rabbit 2008 includes an impressive line-up of legendary artists, including Duran Duran and Iggy Pop, as well as other cutting-edge musicians across a variety of genres, both established and buzz-worthy up-and-comers.

On newsstand now, Playboy’s March Music issue has within its pages a fashion pictorial shot by famed shutterbug Mick Rock, with featured artists including Iggy Pop, Daft Punk, The Shins, Gogol Bordello, Hot Chip, and Duran Duran. The other artists featured in the Rock the Rabbit 2008 program are profiled online at www.rocktherabbit.com, and include the Mercury Award-nominated artists Jamie T and New Young Pony Club, new Saddle Creek signing Tokyo Police Club, UK girl wonders The Pipettes, and hotly-tipped Austin duo Ghostland Observatory.

As part of this year’s program, Rock the Rabbit artists will put their twist on the iconic Playboy Rabbit Head logo by creating limited edition t-shirt designs. Original prototypes of all t-shirt designs will be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting Rock the Vote (www.rockthevote.org). A special collection of Rock the Rabbit t-shirts will be available nationwide at select Bloomingdale’s locations and online at ShopTheBunny.com.
For more information on Rock the Rabbit, visit:
http://www.rocktherabbit.com
or
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Playboys-Rock-The-Rabbit/8199043994
or
http://www.myspace.com/playboyrocktherabbit

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Hurt Announce New Tour Dates With Breaking Benjamin!

(New York, NY) – Capitol Records rock quartet HURT will join previously announced Seether and Three Days Grace opening for Breaking Benjamin for a number of shows beginning today in Lowell, MA through March 9th in Richmond, VA, before a new headline trek begins March 11th through March 22nd (full schedule below). The band has been on the road consistently since the Sep. 25th release of their sophomore smash Vol. II, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard New Artist Chart. Vol.II has spawned the hit "Ten Ton Brick" which is currently number 5 and climbing on the active rock radio charts, making it the group’s highest charting single to date.

"We make music to share it with the world and are happy to do so with every opportunity," said lead singer J. Loren

According to The Bristol Observer, the deep intensity felt on Vol. II is expressed in the band’s live show, "Hurt didn’t just explode, they went supernova. To say the band is intense doesn’t cover half of it." The paper boasts that during a recent performance at Hartford’s Webster Theatre, Hurt "took the audience along a journey into anguish, passion, pain and despair" and "ultimately, the audience had no choice, they had to let go of the emotions inside."

Vol. II is a continuation of Hurt’s 2006 debut Vol. I, which brought to life two top 20 active rock hits with "Rapture" and "Falls Apart." The album produced by Eric Greedy (Ringo Starr, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) furthers their signature post-grunge alt-metal sound with a melodic melding of aggression and frustration with soaring harmonies, quieter interludes and intelligent, affecting lyrics. .

Hurt is comprised of J. Loren (vocals, strings), Evan Johns (drums), Josh Ansley (bass), and Paul Spatola (guitars).

For more information on Hurt, please visit www.myspace.com/hurt or www.hurtband.com

For album cover and photos of Hurt, please visit www.capitolpub.net.

# # #

Hurt , Seether, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin

Feb 15 Lowell, MA Paul E. Tsongas Arena
Feb 16 Atlantic City, NJ Trump Taj Mahal
Feb 18 Champaign, IL Assembly Hall
Feb 19 Rockford, IL Rockford Metro Centre
Feb 21 Cape Girardeau, MO Show Me Center
Feb 22 Southaven, MS Desoto Civic Center
Feb 24 San Antonio, TX Freeman Coliseum
Feb 25 Corpus Christi, TX Concrete Street Ampitheater
Feb 27 North Little Rock, AR ALLTEL Arena
Feb 28 Valley Center, KS Kansas Coliseum
March 1 Bossier City, LA Century Tel Center
March 2 Orange Beach, AL The Amphitheater at the Wharf
March 3 Pascagoula, MS Thunders Tavern
March 4 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
March 5 W. Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Ampitheater
March 7 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Complex
March 8 Johnson City, TN Freedom Hall Civic Center
March 9 Richmond, VA The National


Hurt Headline Dates

March 11 Lancaster, PA Chameleon
March 12 Townson, MD Recher Theatre
March 13 Falls Church, VA State Theatre
March 15 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre
March 16 Orono, ME The Ultra Lounge
March 19 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
March 20 New York City, NY Bowery Ballroom
March 22 Rochester, NY The Club at Walter St.

REEL LIFE BLOG: "Fog_City_Mavericks"_from_Anchor_Bay_Entertainment

BURBANK, CA – The Star Wars saga. Unforgiven. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Toy Story. Letters from Iwo Jima. Finding Nemo. Amadeus. American Graffiti. The Godfather trilogy. The Indiana Jones films. The Right Stuff. Apocalypse Now. Lost in Translation. What do these legendary films have in common? Their creators are part of the fiercely independent filmmaking community based not in Hollywood, but in the San Francisco Bay Area. From famed cinema documentarian Gary Leva (“R2-D2 Beneath the Dome”) comes Fog City Mavericks, an in-depth look at the Bay Area visionaries whose collective imaginations and innovations have both refined and redefined the predominant art form of the modern age. Anchor Bay Entertainment will release the Starz Originals documentary Fog City Mavericks on DVD April 8th. SRP is $19.97 and pre-book is March 6th.

Written and directed by Leva and narrated by Peter Coyote (E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial), Fog City Mavericks charts the nearly 150-year relationship between motion pictures and San Francisco, from a simple bet posed to 19th century photographer Eadweard J. Muybridge to the fertile filmmaking community today that includes such luminaries as directors Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather films, Apocalypse Now, The Conversation) George Lucas (American Graffiti, the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films), Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven, Flags of Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby), Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff, Henry and June), animator John Lasseter (Toy Story, Cars) actor/producers Robin Williams (Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting) and Michael Douglas (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Basic Instinct), and producer Saul Zaentz (Amadeus, The English Patient).

Not only have these filmmakers been honored with numerous international awards and citations for their achievements, but their iconoclastic visions and technical innovations have come to define the best of independent cinema. From pioneering digital cinema to CGI animation and multi-channel surround sound, for more than a century, the Fog City Mavericks have touched our hearts, opened our eyes and expanded the possibilities of cinema.

Fog City Mavericks pierces the foggy veil of this unique artistic community, featuring clips and rare behind-the-scenes footage, commentaries and all-new, revealing interviews with George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Robin Williams, Saul Zaentz, John Lasseter, Matthew Robbins, Chris Columbus, Milos Forman, Anthony Minghella, Michael Douglas, Sofia Coppola, Steve Jobs and many, many more affiliated with what some – including geographic Hollywood – enviously call “the Mill Valley Mafia!”

Fog City Mavericks premiered on the Starz channel last September to immediate critical acclaim. TV Guide said “It paints a great portrait of the city as an incubator for artistic individuality,” while the Hollywood Reporter declared the documentary “mesmerizing.”

White Rabbits Debut New Single "Cotillion Blues" Today On RCRD LBL/Playing FREE Show at BAM Tomorrow/Exclusive "Untitled" Paste Magazine Performance

hite Rabbits came to New York via the plains if the Mid West, Missouri to be more exact. After years of attending university classes, working in record stores, playing in various bands and finally cultivating their local celebrity as White Rabbits, they packed it in and moved eastward.

Upon arriving in The City, they band promptly moved to a remote and foreboding province of Brooklyn and set up camp in a near warehouse sized loft in which they all lived, ate and practiced in. The close quarters only added to their natural camaraderie and the constant practicing laid the foundations for the close rhythms and arrangements that would become their trademarks.

The band was quickly signed by Say Hey Records, so quickly in fact that it was after their first New York show. There then began a months long process of arranging, production and recording with the cooperation of Chris Zane (Les Savy Fav / Calla / Asobi Seksu) which culminated in their debut, “Fort Nightly”.

Almost immediately “Fort Nightly” garnered critical and fan acclaim with high marks from indie king makers Pitchfork and the NME, and no one took exception to the comparisons to The Specials, The Squeeze or The Band.

The recent few months have been a whirlwind of tours and shows that have seen the Rabbits criss-cross the United States two times over and sharing bills with bands like, The Walkmen, Tokyo Police Club, Kaiser Chiefs, The Cribs, Peter Bjorn and John, a stage at Lollapalooza and many others. The constant playing has solidified the band’s reputation as an incendiary live act due to their sheer energy of performance, 2 drummer rhythmic attack and 3 part harmonies. They are the very definition of group sounds.

The band also made a quick trip across the pond to play a slew of shows in London as well as a mud-soaked stage at Glastonbury, and a radio session with Dermot O’leary on BBC2. However, the highlight of the year came in July when the band performed “The Plot” on The Late Show with David Letterman.

White Rabbits have succeeded in realizing a tremendously vibrant and creative debut record with “Fort Nightly”. They communicate joy without being cloying or saccharine sweet, and the listeners could easily find themselves clapping along to any one of the darker moments. White Rabbits combine style and panache, both musically and sartorially, for a thoroughly fresh and unexpected experience.

www.whiterabbits.com

whiterabbits.rcrdlbl.com

EVENT: March 4 - Guild Friends of the Jacksonville Symphony - A Day at the St. Johns Town Center

Jacksonville Symphony Guild

Guild Friends of the Jacksonville Symphony

Champagne Luncheon and Reception

“A Day at the St. John’s Town Center”

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

St. John’s Town Center

10:30 a.m. Champagne reception at Louis Vuitton

11:30 a.m. Luncheon at Maggiano’s – Fashion show by Ann Taylor Loft –

Music by violinist Megan Lineberry, an alumna of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra.

The Guild Friends of the Jacksonville Symphony hosts its second annual luncheon, honoring The Symphony Guild’s past board presidents who served from 1950-1981. The event raises funds to underwrite a guest artist for next season’s opening Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra pops concert.

The Phenomenauts Announce New Album "For All Mankind" out April 8th on Silver Sprocket!

These guys aren't like anything you've seen or heard before. to be honest, when someone first told me about them i thought it was a gimmick. Devo meets Elvis? I would say "rocket roll" is the more apt label. But just that alone under-emphasizes the Phenomenauts' dedications. - Thrasher Magazine

A band that lives, loves and rocks on the grand scale of the cosmos - SF Weekly

The east bay's craftiest and bravest band - East Bay Express

This is a band that NEEDS to be experienced live, by everyone. - Punknews.org

THE PHENOMENAUTS are back with their third full length, For All Mankind.

Inspired by new wave and 70's punk, this is the third full-length from the world's bravest space band. A call to arms to defenders of science and honor across the galaxy, For All Mankind deals with the serious implications of science fiction, science fact, and offers new perspectives on Earth life as we know it.

The Phenomenauts' intergalactic pummeling punk rock assault, and over the top, interstellar live shows, have helped create a massive cult following and buzz around the universe and appearances on the likes of the G4 TV, the Sci-Fi Channel, the Discovery Channel, Myspace.com artist profiles, and much more.

To date, The Phenomenauts have toured the world w/ the likes of The Slackers, Aquabats, Demented Are Go, The Epoxies, the mighty Vans Warped Tour, and have trekked the states on numerous headlining tours.

This year will also prove to be most exciting for The Phenomanauts, as they slowly start to leak news of the exciting things they have in store for humanity, including upcoming music videos by the AstroBase (aka the Venture Brothers), crazy album packaging that folds out into a rocket ship and includes a custom Phenomenauts pin, massive US tourdates w/ The AKA's, and upcoming local San Francisco Record Release dates that will undoubtedly blow the roof off.

Be prepared as The Phenomenauts help keep us focused and guide us through the turbulent waters of what the future might become. If we follow their lead, things might turn out alright.

For Fans of
*Devo
*The Stray Cats
*Tiger Army
*Rock N Roll!

For All Mankind Tracklist
1. All Go For Launch
2. Man Alone
3. Cyborg
4. Make A Circuit With Me
5. Navitron
6. Tale of Europa
7. Heroes
8. She'll Launch
9. Infinite Frontier
10. Compensation
11. Don't Overheat on Me
12. Into a Time Warop
13. Science and Honor
14. The Colvin Moon

The Phenomenauts Live!
Mar 8 2008 CLUB RETRO Orangevale, California
Mar 29 2008 Slims CD/RELEASE PARTY San Francisco, California

US Tourdates w/ The AKA's coming soon!

For more information, visit:
www.silversprocketlabs.com
www.myspace.com/thephenomenauts

3 Opportunities To Witness Your New Favorite Band!

The hottest band from Ocala will be invading their homestate again soon – don’t miss your chance to view them live! A DAY TO REMEMBER will be sweeping the country starting next week as support to screamo stalwarts Silverstein. Haven’t you heard about ADTR’s brand of “mosh-pop” and their title of the “hardest pop-punk band out there?” Well, if you don’t believe the hype (and trust me, there’s TONS of it!) go see it for yourself! The band will be rocking Florida with these three dates:

March 1st – Orlando, House of Blues

March 2nd – Ft. Lauderdale, Revolution

March 4th – St. Petersburg, Jannus Landing

A re-release of the band’s Victory Records debut, For Those Who Have Heart, is out on Feb. 19th with a live DVD and extra bonus tracks, including a cover of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.” Think it will sound like a regular pop song? Take a listen at their Myspace and you’ll be surprised!

This live show is one for the ages, and has become a fixture in many a marketplace. Whether you want to join the pit or stay back and admire the showmanship, that’s your prerogative! Help represent Florida by featuring this great band in your publication! And in the process, take a listen to the newest rock anthems you won’t be able to get out of your head!

Check them out at: www.myspace.com/adaytoremember

And don’t forget to find all the press needs you could ever want at: http://victorypresscenter.com

Jimmy Eat World, Paramore announce tour dates

Jimmy Eat World and Paramore have announced the routing of a U.S. co-headline tour scheduled to kick off April 1st. Said Jimmy Eat World singer Jim Adkins, "We're very excited for the upcoming tour with Paramore. We got to know them last December while playing festivals together. They put on a great show and we think it's going to be an awesome bill." Adds Hayley Williams (Paramore), "If it all ends tomorrow, we will be happy knowing that we got a tour with the band that gave us a reason to play music."

Recently hailed by Blender as "the Judd Apatow of pop-punk," Jimmy Eat World have already shifted their new year into high gear, as the band is in the midst of an international headline tour that includes the UK, Europe and Japan. 2007 saw the release of Chase This Light, which Entertainment Weekly called "a masterclass in hard rocking for the soft-hearted". Executive produced by Butch Vig, Chase This Light features the singles "Always Be" and the chart-topping "Big Casino", which Rolling Stone described as "an exhilarating seize-what's-left-of-the-day anthem." For more information on the band and the upcoming tour, visit jimmyeatworld.com.

Fueled By Ramen recording group Paramore has toured nearly nonstop for over three years, most recently selling out a major headline tour of North America. Their sophomore album "RIOT!" has gone on to sell over 700,000 units and has been certified RIAA gold. The album features the breakthrough hit singles, "Misery Business" and "Crushcrushcrush", both Top 5 at Modern Rock radio and on MTV, FUSE, MTV2, and MTVu. The band has received coast-to-coast acclaim with a recent Grammy nomination for "Best New Artist" as well as with a variety of national publications. Alternative Press recently hailed Paramore as "Band of the Year" on the cover of their February issue while Revolver called "RIOT!" "a masterful mix of springy drum beats, crisp guitar hooks, and [Williams'] girlish snarl." Spin praised the album for its "arena- rocking potential." For more information, visit paramore.net and fueledbyramen.com.

Confirmed tour dates below.


April 1st - San Antonio, TX - Freeman Coliseum
April 2nd - Lubbock, TX - Lonestar Amphitheater
April 3rd - El Paso, TX - El Paso County Coliseum
April 5th - Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amph. (Bamboozle West)
April 6th - Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena
April 8th - San Jose, CA - Event Center at San Jose State
April 9th - Sacramento, CA - Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
April 10th - Salem, OR - Salem Armory
April 12th - Pocatello, ID - Holt Arena
April 14th - Orem, UT - McKay Events Center
April 16th - Council Bluffs, IA - Mid America Center
April 17th - Springfield, MO - The Shrine Mosque
April 18th - Des Moines, IA - Val Air Ballroom
April 19th - DeKalb, IL - Convocation Center
April 22nd - Dayton, OH - Hara Arena
April 25th - Rochester, NY - Gordon Field House
April 26th - Washington, DC - Bender Arena
April 28th - Albany, NY - Washington Avenue Armory
April 30th - Lowell, MA - Paul E. Tsongas Arena
May 2nd - Atlantic City, NJ - Taj Mahal Mark G. Etess Arena

Friday, February 22, 2008

White Rabbits Debut New Single "Cotillion Blues" Today On RCRD LBL/Playing FREE Show at BAM Tomorrow/Exclusive "Untitled" Paste Magazine Performance

White Rabbits came to New York via the plains if the Mid West, Missouri to be more exact. After years of attending university classes, working in record stores, playing in various bands and finally cultivating their local celebrity as White Rabbits, they packed it in and moved eastward.

Upon arriving in The City, they band promptly moved to a remote and foreboding province of Brooklyn and set up camp in a near warehouse sized loft in which they all lived, ate and practiced in. The close quarters only added to their natural camaraderie and the constant practicing laid the foundations for the close rhythms and arrangements that would become their trademarks.

The band was quickly signed by Say Hey Records, so quickly in fact that it was after their first New York show. There then began a months long process of arranging, production and recording with the cooperation of Chris Zane (Les Savy Fav / Calla / Asobi Seksu) which culminated in their debut, “Fort Nightly”.

Almost immediately “Fort Nightly” garnered critical and fan acclaim with high marks from indie king makers Pitchfork and the NME, and no one took exception to the comparisons to The Specials, The Squeeze or The Band.

The recent few months have been a whirlwind of tours and shows that have seen the Rabbits criss-cross the United States two times over and sharing bills with bands like, The Walkmen, Tokyo Police Club, Kaiser Chiefs, The Cribs, Peter Bjorn and John, a stage at Lollapalooza and many others. The constant playing has solidified the band’s reputation as an incendiary live act due to their sheer energy of performance, 2 drummer rhythmic attack and 3 part harmonies. They are the very definition of group sounds.

The band also made a quick trip across the pond to play a slew of shows in London as well as a mud-soaked stage at Glastonbury, and a radio session with Dermot O’leary on BBC2. However, the highlight of the year came in July when the band performed “The Plot” on The Late Show with David Letterman.

White Rabbits have succeeded in realizing a tremendously vibrant and creative debut record with “Fort Nightly”. They communicate joy without being cloying or saccharine sweet, and the listeners could easily find themselves clapping along to any one of the darker moments. White Rabbits combine style and panache, both musically and sartorially, for a thoroughly fresh and unexpected experience.

www.whiterabbits.com

whiterabbits.rcrdlbl.com

Portishead announce the release of Third 4/29/08

Portishead announce the release of 'Third' their hugely anticipated new album, their fourth album in total and first since 1998’s 'Roseland NYC live'. 'Third' is to be released on Mercury/Island on April 29th 2008. Portishead are scheduled to appear on the main stage at Coachella on Saturday April 26, 2008.


www.portishead.co.uk
www.myspace.com/portisheadalbum3

Progressive Nation Tour

Prog-rockers 3 are pleased to announce that they will be performing on the Progressive Nation tour this spring! The Progressive Nation features prog-metal extraordinaires Dream Theater, Swedish death metal kings Opeth, and the highly acclaimed Between The Buried and Me. The tour kicks off in Los Angeles on May 2 and wraps up June in Tampa, FL.

3 will be taking part in the Progressive Nation tour to support of the February 19 re-release of their latest album, “The End Is Begun.” The Special Edition of the album features a cover of Pink Floyd’s “See Emily Play,” as well as a bonus DVD featuring live footage of the band’s performance at the Metal Blade 25th Anniversary show from Worcester, Massachusetts and music videos for the songs “All that Remains” and “Alien Angel.”

Be sure to catch 3 on tour this spring and don’t miss the February 19 re-release of “The End Is Begun.”

3 on Tour w/ Dream Theatre, Opeth, Between the Buried and Me:
5/02 - Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheater
5/03 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theater
5/05 - Seattle, WA - Wamu Theater
5/06 - Vancouver, BC - Orpheum
5/09 - Calgary, AB - Macewan Hall
5/10 - Calgary, AB - Macewan Hall
5/12 - Minneapolis, MN - Myth
5/13 - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Theater
5/14 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
5/16 - Columbus, OH - LC Amphitheater
5/17 - Cleveland, OH - Time Warner Amphitheater at Tower City
5/18 - Albany, NY - The Armory
5/20 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theater
5/21 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
5/22 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
5/26 - Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
5/27 - Richmond, VA - The National
5/28 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
5/30 - Miami, FL - The Fillmore
5/31 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock
6/01 - Tampa, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall

36 Crazyfists New CD + Tour

Alaska-based rockers 36 Crazyfists have announced a May 27 release date for their forthcoming album The Tide And Its Takers. The record, originally slated for release on April 29, marks 36 Crazyfists’ Ferret Music debut. The Tide And Its Takers is produced by guitarist Steve Holt and mixed by the venerable and prolific Andy Sneap (Testament, Machine Head, Chimaira).

36 Crazyfists were just in Alaska filming the music video for the album’s first single, “We Gave It Hell.” The band tapped director Soren (Behemoth, Unearth, Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster) for the video.

The band is also gearing up for the upcoming “Bound By The Road” tour with DevilDriver, which kicks off February 27 in Modesto. The tour also features Napalm Death, Walls of Jericho and Invitro.

36 Crazyfists will be making their first appearance on a major US festival tour when they play this summer’s inaugural Rockstar Energy MAYHEM Festival. The festival features Slipknot, Disturbed, and Dragonforce headlining, with 36 Crazyfists landing a spot on the Jagermeister Second Stage.

Don’t miss your chance to catch 36 Crazyfists on tour with DevilDriver this spring, and stay tuned for MAYHEM Festival dates. The Tide And Its Takers hits streets May 27!!!

36 Crazyfists on the “Bound By The Road” tour:
2/27 – Modesto, CA – Fat Cat
2/28 – Orangevale, CA – The Boardwalk
2/29 – West Hollywood, CA – House of Blues
3/02 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock
3/04 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
3/06 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
3/07 – Fort Worth, TX – Ridglea Theatre
3/08 – San Antonio, TX – Scout Bar
3/09 – Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock
3/14 – Seminole, FL – Boomerz
3/15 – Port St. Lucie, FL – Mojo Room
3/17 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
3/18 – Fayetteville, NC – Jester’s
3/19 – Spartanburg, SC – Ground Zero
3/20 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
3/21 – Jacksonville, NC – Hooligans
3/22 – West Springfield, VA – Jaxx
3/24 – New York, NY – B.B. Kings Blues Club
3/25 – Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock
3/26 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theatre
3/27 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
3/28 – Bedford, NH – Mark’s Showplace
3/29 – Clifton Park, NY – Northern Lights
3/31 – Millvale, PA – Mr. Smalls
4/01 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall
4/02 – Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s
4/03 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
4/04 – Detroit, MI – Harpo’s Concert Theatre
4/05 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
4/06 – Mokena, IL – The Pearl Room
4/08 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
4/09 – Maplewood, MN – The Rock
4/11 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s
4/12 – Kansas City, MO – The Beaumont Club
4/13 – Salina, KS – The Blue Goat
4/15 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
4/16 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
4/17 – Farmington, NM – Gator’s Bar and Grill
4/18 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre

Aloha Tour In Support of Light Works. Add Member. Finish new album.

Aloha is hitting the road this spring in support of their latest release Light Works. Coming off the heels of 2005's Some Echoes, Light Works is an exercise showcasing the quieter side of Aloha. Each song is based on Tony Cavallario's acoustic guitars, but the world they inhabit is vintage Aloha: richly detailed, moody, intensely rhythmic and flowing with melody. It's probably Aloha's most inviting release, in spirit and in sound.

Aloha's spring tour will take them across the US including stops at the SXSW and MACRock festivals. The band will support The Velvet Teen on the west coast and play the Midwest and east coast with up and comers Anathallo. This will be the first tour with new member Nick Anderson, who joins the band on bass for this tour after working closely with the band on both Light Works and Some Echoes.

2008 looks to be a busy year for Aloha. Beyond the spring tour they will complete work on a new full-length album due out in fall of 2008. On top of that drummer extraordinaire Cale Parks has joined White Williams and will tour heavily with them throughout the year.

Tour Dates
3/03 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge %
3/10 Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar
3/14 Austin, TX @ Habana Calle
3/15 Austin, TX @ Waterloo Park
3/17 Tucson, AZ @ Plush &
w/ Headlights, The Evangelicals
3/18 Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory #
3/19 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop #
3/20 Petaluma, CA @ Phoenix Theatre #
3/21 Portland, OR @ Someday Lounge #
3/22 Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern #
3/24 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
3/25 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive *
3/26 Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot Saloon *
3/27 St. Louis, MO @ The Billiken Club *
3/28 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean *
3/29 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop *$
3/30 Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab *
4/03 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge *
4/04 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's *
4/05 Harrisonburg, VA @ Court Square Theater $
4/06 Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel *

* W/ Anathallo
# W/ The Velvet Teen
$ W/ Owen and Unwed Sailor
% W/ Anathallo, Rahim and President
& W/ Evangelicals and Headlights

Cassettes Won't Listen Get Remixed By Styrofoam, Mad Decent (Diplo & DJA), Aaron LaCrate, Blockhead, Maker/PRI Fair Game/Tomorrow At Club Europa in Gr

Cassettes Won’t Listen is giving away one remix a week for the next month. First is by German Producer, Styrofoam (The Notwist, Lali Puna, Ben Gibbard, American Analog Set, and more) and there will be a new remix posted each week via his myspace page. Upcoming remixes are from Mad Decent (Diplo and DJA), Blockhead, Maker, Aaron LaCrate, Scott Thorough, and more.

When Jason Drake isn’t writing his electronic pop gems as Cassettes Won’t Listen, he can be found in the Def Jux offices where he is the Director of Marketing. Jason has been involved with the leading indie hip hop label since 2001, just as Aesop Rock's Labor Days was hitting record store shelves. While Cassettes Won’t Listen is informed by hip hop, the lyrics and voice of Jason are transcendent.

And on March 11th, Cassettes Wont Listen's will release Small-Time Machine, his first ever physical release. Entirely written, played and produced by Jason Drake, Small-Time Machine deals with many of the themes that touch us all, including: love, betrayal, hope, disappointment and the quest to find what's missing in each of our lives. Small-Time Machine is the next chapter in the career of one of the true new voices of the 21st Century.

Cassettes Won't Listen has had two digital-only releases, the EP Nobody’s Moving and the instrumental LP The Quiet Trial. Both records have received a lot of attention, including radio tastemakers WOXY and KEXP, SPIN, the NY Press, the notorious Perez Hilton as well as landing an exclusive front page feature on Myspace.com and being named one of Urb’s Next 100 for 2007.

In the wake of these releases, a wide range of artists, commissioned countless Cassettes Won't Listen remixes, including El-P, (featuring Trent Reznor), Midlake, Asobi Seksu, The Postmarks, Dr. Octagon, Pela, Dirty on Purpose, Mr. Lif, and Morcheeba, amongst others.

Cassettes Won't Listen embodies an otherworldly and distinctive blend of electronica and indie rock, with comparisons being drawn to the Postal Service, Beck, Hot Chip, The Notwist, and DJ Shadow. His live show blasts at a frantic pace with Jason hopping from turntables to guitar to keys and vocals as a true one-man band. Small-Time Machine is the sum of all these parts.

The free One Alternative covers EP of great 90's tunes from Cassettes Won't Listen is up to 7,500 downloads and still going strong. Tracklist includes songs by Pavement, Butter 08, Blind Melon, Liz Phair, and Sebadoh, and as an added bonus it features full instrumentals and acapellas so you can get your 90's love remix thing on.

www.cassetteswontlisten.com

www.myspace.com/cassetteswontlisten

sBACH Announces Suicide Squeeze Debut

From the brainchild of (one half of) legendary Sacramento noise-duo Hella, Spencer Seim, comes the new project entitled sBACH.

Set for release this August on the Suicide Squeeze imprint, Seim promises to have no idea what the record will sound like until he sits down to record, but thinks it will sound something like his half of the landmark Hella record "Church Gone Wild, Chirpin Hard" (Chirpin Hard being Seim's contribution).

Known for his brand of 16-bit Nintendo-spazz guitar madness, sBACH will surely scramble brains around the world.

Seim also promises to take his new project on the road, which is awesome because he rips the axe like nobody's business. Be sure to befriend sBACH on Myspace, make him feel special.

For more information, visit:
www.myspace.com/sBACHband
www.suicidesqueeze.net

MOBY PREVIEWS UPCOMING ALBUM ON RCRD LBL

Moby is teaming up with RCRD LBL (http://rcrdlbl.com) to release an exclusive DJ mix of tracks from his upcoming record, Last Night (Mute Records/EMI).

With over 20 years in the business, 15 million records sold and 3 years since his last album, Moby comes back to a place on the dance floor with an album that taps his many influences and with a special exclusive preview mix of these tracks for fans to download only at the RCRD LBL site.

Throughout the campaign, fans will be able to download and embed Moby widgets for their desktop, website or blog to keep track of his tour dates, photos, new releases and more.

"Last Night" will be released on Mute Records on April 1 in the US, March 31 in UK

MOBY ON THE CONCEPT BEHIND 'LAST NIGHT':
'"Last Night" is basically a love letter to dance music in New York City. What I love about the New York approach to dance music is the eclecticism and the open minded-ness on the part of the musicians, the dj's, and the people in the bars and clubs. In making 'Last Night' I essentially tried to take a long 8 hour night out in New York City and condense it into a 65 minute long album.'

MOBY ON RCRD LBL:
I love the fact that as the old/traditional infrastructure of the music business is breaking down it's being replaced by new and more compelling institutions like RCRD LBL. The vice-grip hegemony of the corporate labels and corporate radio stations is loosening every day, which can only be seen as a good thing for music and listeners.

The XYZ Affair Extend Winter Tour/Bowery Ballroom Tomorrow W. Sam Champion & Drug Rug/ All Music Guide "Crush Band"

New York's The XYZ Affair has come a long way since lead singer Alex Feder's high school demos that make up their roots. Originally forming out of New York University's basketball Pep Band, the band solidified their current four person lineup – Feder on vocals and guitar, Chris Bonner on bass and backup vocals, Sam Rockwell on drums and backup vocals, and Russ Maschmeyer on guitar, keyboards, and backup vocals—just over two years ago, and has since been mastering the art of writing soaring arena rock colored with the duality of confident energy and boyish vulnerability.

With an affinity for four part harmonies, wall of sound fuzz guitars, big drums, and flashy guitar solos, the quartet has since birthed their triumphant debut A Few More Published Studies (recorded by Longwave's Shannon Ferguson, mastered by Aloha's TJ Lipple, mixed by Essex Green collaborator Britt Myers) to the liking of a growing legion of devotees.

Thanks in part to the band's fun, charming essence and raucous, understated sense of humor THE XYZ AFFAIR have only just begun to make their name known. Their career thus far has seen them self-releasing Studies, selling out New York City hotspot Mercury Lounge four times in the last year, and unleashing their viral video gem for the catchy album closer "All My Friends." The self-produced YouTube clip featuring cameos from Nickelodeon network personalities Marc Summers (former Double Dare host and Food Network personality), Jason Zimbler (Clarissa Explains It All), Danny Cooksey (Salute Your Shorts), and Michael Maronna ( The Adventures of Pete & Pete) was a major springboard for the band, garnering upwards of 15,000 views in the week of its debut with steady subsequent growth.

Far beyond the innate happiness and high energy of their songs, THE XYZ AFFAIR loves to keep you guessing, sporting an understated earnestness that sneakily shadows their explosive personality both on the stage and in the studio. Just as their songs ring out with a beckoning attitude, the music itself is beckoning to be brought to the masses.

US Winter Tour

2/20/2008 Cleveland OH Case Western U.
2/21/2008 Fort Wayne IN Mid City Grill
2/22/2008 Milwaukee WI Stonefly Tavern
2/23/2008 Minneapolis MN The Nomad Pub
2/24/2008 Chicago IL Beat Kitchen
2/25/2008 Des Moines IA Vaudeville Mews
2/26/2008 Lawrence KS Bishop Seabury Academy
2/27/2008 Omaha NE Waiting Room
2/28/2008 Denver CO The Hi Dive
2/29/2008 Salt Lake City UT Kilby Court
3/1/2008 Boise ID Neurolux
3/2/2008 Seattle WA The Comet
3/3/2008 Portland OR Doug Fir Lounge
3/4/2008 San Francisco CA Hemlock Tavern
3/5/2008 Visalia CA Howie & Son's Pizza
3/7/2008 Santa Cruz CA The Crepe Place
3/8/2008 Los Angeles CA El Cid
3/10/2008 El Paso TX Q8 Cafe
3/12/2008 Dallas TX The Cavern
3/13/2008 Austin TX
3/14/2008 Austin TX
3/15/2008 Austin TX
3/16/2008 Austin TX
3/17/2008 Tulsa OK The Continental
3/19/2008 Cincinnati OH Southgate House
3/20/2008 Dayton OH Nite Owl
3/21/2008 Toronto ON Drake Hotel
3/22/2008 Waterloo ON Trepid House Party
3/24/2008 Burlington VT Nectar's

Tait Towers with Bon Jovi Tour 2008: Tait Delivers State-of-the-Art Staging to Bon Jovi Tour 2008

Tait Towers -- the leader in innovative design and quality staging for the touring entertainment industry – has fabricated and delivered a state-of-the-art rock and roll stage system to the Bon Jovi Tour 2008. Designed by Performance Environment Designer, Spike Brant, the stage will afford concertgoers a unique and cutting edge concert experience.

With over 57 confirmed shows, set to begin at the Qwest Center in Omaha, NE on February 18 and ending at Twickenham Stadium in London on June 28, Tait Towers is proud to provide Bon Jovi a customized stage complete with a Tait Towers signature creation; four Venetian blind video screens, suspended from an elaborate track truss system, encompassing the stage in a horseshoe shape for maximum impact and flexibility. Both the track truss and under upstage is constructed of Chromalloy steel which is much lighter and four times stronger than normal steel. In addition, 18, 2-ton chain motors hold the track truss, and 16,000 pounds of automation and scenery, in the air.

The Tait Towers Venetian blind video screens are comprised of double-sided video monitors allowing concertgoers to see the projected images from every possible angle. The blinds expand from a 10’x10’ screen to a 10’x30’ showing the concert in 360*. When the screens are expanded, the audience can view the performance through the blinds. Each video blind has four axes of motion. Tait will work in daily collaboration with an Automation Tech on tour with the band.

Bon Jovi will utilize the Tait Towers Venetian-blind video screens for live playback as well as original video content.

The Bon Jovi Stage:

The back section, or upstage side, is constructed from 62 custom deck panels using Martin Video ‘LC 1140’ – a low resolution LED screen with the capability to rotate from 180 degrees to 90 degrees. The upstage deck moves in tandem with the Venetian blind video screens. Two techs – one responsible for the stage deck, the other responsible for the Venetian blind video screens – work together throughout the live performance to ensure a seamless choreography of stage movement and video imaging.

The front section, or downstage side, is a traditional rock-and-roll stage design with several key Tait Towers innovative technology features.

The Venetian Blind Video Screens - Four Axes of Motion:

The first axis is a curved track allowing the video screens to track the perimeter of the stage by traveling along the horseshoe shaped track truss.

The second axis is rotation, rigged from a rotator allowing the Venetian-blind Video Screens to rotate a full 360 degrees.

The third axis accommodates the need for live playback and original video content to be broadcast to concertgoers by allowing the Venetian-blind Video Screens to move up and down as a solid unit.

The fourth axis allows The Venetian-blind Video Screens to revert back to the original Venetian blind style starting point.

Details of Note:

$1.5 million control system.

Outputs positioning to video control handled by Control Freak in collaboration with Tait Towers.

Output allows an expanding screen to include more video content rather than cropping or changing the ratio of the existing video content

Upstage controlled by hydraulic proportional valve, 30 tons of servo controlled force, all linked by one Ethernet cable.

Each Venetian screen is 28 Venetian sticks with 1570 V9 high resolution video tiles designed and supplied by DeKalb, IL based live video company Nocturne Productions.

Required 4500 parts to fabricate and assemble, all parts designed by Tait Towers technical designers.

Video tracking system uses more than 3 miles of control and power cabling, and requires 200 amps of Three Phase 220 VAC. The system has 8 winches with a 4000# capacity each.

About Tait Towers
Tait Towers is a world leader in innovative design and quality staging and scenery for the touring entertainment industry. The firm, started by lighting design pioneer Michael Tait, began in 1978, when Tait was working for the super-group Yes. In the early 70’s, Michael Tait developed one of the first self-erecting ground support lighting towers, his signature creation became known as Tait Towers.
In February of 2006, Tait Towers announced it’s newly formed executive team with James J. “Winky” Fairorth and Adam D. Davis as equal partners with company founder Michael Tait. Fairorth, having joined Tait Towers in 1984, serves as the company’s President. “Tait’s competitive advantage stems from the philosophy ‘You are only as good as your last show.’ Our craftsmanship is at the top of our industry, we are known for having superior product – in both design and construction - with a lifespan greater than the client.”

Now Vice-President, Davis started working at the company in 1997 as a project manager. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in theatrical design. “It's an honor for me to be a part of such a creative and credible organization that works with cutting edge designers and clients who push the limits of the touring industry,” he says.

As a world-renowned stage manufacturer, working with popular cultures’ most influential artists, Tait offers inspired innovative design, flawless execution and common sense logistics to the biggest tours scaling the planet. “We turn cocktail napkins into reality!” claims Fairorth. It is this attitude that brings the stages to life that performers from The Police to the Spice Girls appear on. The company consistently demonstrates their ability to make hastily drawn napkin sketches a larger-than-life stage design reality.

Tait Towers specializes in Sets, Staging, Lifts, Tracking, Motion Control for touring shows and Live Multi Media Events. Skilled craftsmen work every level of a project to ensure the end result is superior to anything comparable. The company continues to experience an active production schedule which includes providing staging and scenery for The Rolling Stones, U2, Paul McCartney, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, The Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Tour, Martina McBride, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul McCartney, The Spice Girls, Super Bowl Halftime Shows, MTV VMA’s and many more.

www.taittowers.com ; www.vermillionmediagroup.com

Kevin Ayers The Unfairground Opens To Early US Rave Anticipation/ Out March 18th

The founder of British psychedelia has returned with his strongest album ever accompanied and complimented by the musicians he inspired. The Unfairground, which is full of “bright, airy, deliciously skewed melodies (Simon Cosyns, The Sun), was recorded in Tucson Arizona; Brooklyn, New York, London and Glasgow.

Receiving four stars from The Times’ Steve Jerbert, the songs on The Unfairground are described by Andy Gill of Uncut as “replete with the languid charm that has been Ayers’ stock in trade throughout his performance career; whatever the situation, Ayers amenability shines through, a wave of warmth that can lighten the heaviest soul.”

Kevin Ayers is one of rock's oddest and most likable enigmas. There are few artists who qualify more than this recluse for music’s highest accolades. He is the bridge between the psychedelia and the new sounds and sensibilities of Roxy Music, Eno and David Bowie on whom he was a primary influence. Launching Soft Machine in 1966 with Robert Wyatt, Daevid Allen and Mike Ratledge, Kevin Ayers has performed as a solo artist, working with noted musicians like Syd Barrett, Brian Eno, Mike Oldfield, Elton John, Lol Coxhill, Nico, Steve Hillage and John Cale.

Nick Kent recently cited Kevin Ayers and Syd Barrett as “the two most important British artists of the late sixties”, noting that “they defined and influenced how every act from Bowie to Roxy presented themselves”. Lured from his retreat in the South of France, by a battalion of admirers both old and young on this, his first album in over fifteen years, is heralded by Mike Barnes of Mojo as “a vintage harvest that stands comparison to his best work.” Kevin Ayers shines on this album and summons a new voice and honesty in the performances that stand now as the strongest he has ever committed to plastic, producing a “wave of warmth that can lighten the heaviest soul” (Uncut)

Kevin Ayers is one of the most significant and influential musicians of his generation. He has a distinctly unique sensibility, making ordinary lyrical subjects seem extraordinary with his rich low vocals, inventive wordplay, and bemused, relaxed attitude that belies the life of a poet and a bacchanalian lothario. Welcome to The Unfairground

Tristan Prettyman & Bonneville Environmental Foundation

February 14, 2008 - New York - Singer-songwriter and guitarist Tristan Prettyman and Virgin Records have donated "War Outta Peace," a track from Tristan's upcoming album Hello, to the non-profit Bonneville Environmental Foundation [BEF], which has used it in a DVD demonstrating the benefits of renewable energy to the organization's partners and supporters.

Virgin Records connected Prettyman with the BEF, which sells carbon-offsetting renewable energy certificates, called Green Tags, to replace traditional polluting sources of electricity with clean, secure, and renewable sources of energy that come from solar and wind power from across North America.

For donating "War Outta Peace," Prettyman will receive 30 Solar Green Tags from the BEF. Each Solar Green Tag represents one megawatt-hour of photovoltaic solar electricity and offsets approximately 1,295 pounds of CO2 emissions that would otherwise have been produced from electricity created from burning fossil fuels.

Prettyman's contribution to the BEF was a no-brainer for the eco-minded artist, who supported enough solar energy certificates from the organization to offset energy consumed in the recording of Hello - the San Diego, Calif., native's second album, which will be released by Virgin Records on April 15. The certificates for Hello offset approximately 38,000 pounds of CO2 emissions, the reduction equivalent of planting fives acres of trees or taking four cars off the road for one year.

"I was happy to donate my song to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation," Prettyman says. "It's just another way I can do my part for the environment." Prettyman drives a Toyota Highlander Hybrid, is an avid recycler, and purchases biodegradable cleaning products for her home. "I also have a little composting pile in my backyard, use canvas bags at the grocery store, and try to buy as many organic and fair-trade-certified items as possible."

"Madly," the first single from Hello, went to radio last month and Prettyman has confirmed spring tours for February 14 to March 7 (supporting G. Love & Special Sauce) and a headline run from March 19 to April 27. She will also appear on Last Call with Carson Daly on March 18.

For more about the Bonneville Environmental Foundation's Green Tags program, please visit: www.greentagsusa.org.

www.tristanprettyman.com
www.myspace.com/tristanprettyman

The Billionaires' new release date: April 1, 2008

Silverlake/Martha's Vineyard – Really Real For Ever, the astounding indie pop debut from Los Angeles-by-way-of-Massachusetts group The Billionaires, displays an extraordinary songwriting spectrum. It’s hard to imagine a listener listening to sterling songs like “The End of Summer Song” and “Butterflies” and not coming away all smile. By the end of the final track, “Confidence”, you’ll be sitting a home alone with a fist full of Percocets and a bottle of vodka, trying to feed that sucking vacuum that is all that is missing in your life.

The album is the product of the environment in which The Billionaires grew up. A bunch of working class kids from Martha’s Vineyard, that tiny island off the coast of Massachusetts, where the Summer is Peyton Place and Winter is The Shining.

Tim Laursen, one of the band’s many singers, explains the bands beginning: “We have grown up together playing music but mostly being a part of a large creative group of friends, a sometimes very drunk, loving, angry, and sexy group of people. Sometimes there is no loving: just drinking and fishing and starting fires. We spread out over the island chasing kicks like fried clams or house parties. We are now looking for you to hang out with us.”

The band recently relocated to Los Angeles, where they recorded their debut with the help of producers Todd Philips (Bullet LaVolta, The Juliana Hatfield Three, Model/Actress) and Wally Gagel (Sebadoh, Folk Implosion).

Jimmy Kimmel Takes a Bullet For My Valentine

Los Angeles, CA - (February 13, 2008) -- Hot and breaking Bullet For My Valentine, currently at #4 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums charts with their sophomore release, "Scream Aim Fire" (Jive/Zomba) will make their U.S. network TV debut on Wednesday, February 27 when they rock the house on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live." The Welsh metal-core band will play the title track from their brand new album, currently Top 30 at Rock radio, as well as "Tears Don't Fail," one of the hit singles from their first album, "The Poison." "Jimmy Kimmel Live" airs at 12:05 ET/11:05PM CT.

Immediately following their Kimmel appearance, Bullet For My Valentine will fly to Denver, CO where they will join fellow headliners Avenged Sevenfold and Atreyu to launch the 40-plus-city North American Taste of Chaos tour on Friday, February 29. Currently, Bullet For My Valentine is enjoying international success with a sold-out headline tour of Europe and the UK, and simultaneous Top 5 chart entries for "Scream Aim Fire" across the globe.

Bullet For My Valentine - Matthew "Matt" Tuck/vocals, Michael "Padge" Paget/Guitar, Michael "Moose" Thomas/drums, and Jason "Jay" James/Bass - currently grace the cover of Revolver magazine's themed "The Future of Metal." In addition, their "Scream Aim Fire" video has been added to Fuse-TV's "No. 1 Countdown Rock" and "Steven's Untitled Rock Show" (premieres Monday 2/18).

Son Lux Announces Beirut Remix * SXSW Appearances

At War With Walls & Mazes is a stunning debut wrung from classical precision and good old human gut-wrench. Son Lux’s first is a heady collection of songs breathing the same air and sharing the same space; painted from the same palette but set apart still—each is a distinct region of one broad, heaving sonic landscape. From afar, it’s an environment characterized by would-be contradictions: the austere grandness of chamber music undercut by undulating electronica; the intricately orchestral assembled via hip-hop collage; a day-plain pop ease silhouetted by deep soul. Up close, it’s clear that these contradictions are what hold the entire work together.

The prologue begins with the warm quaver of harmonica and a cold, androgynous breath: “Put down all your weapons/Let me in through your open wounds.” There’s a burst of drum, a piano hit that overwhelms the ears, and we’re on At War’s terra firma. First song “Break” is quiet and composed, punctuated by stabs of chaos—reversed instruments, errant electricity, an angry crowd—and given moody depth by the voice of Son Lux, which returns raw and whisper-pretty like Will Oldham’s. Next, “Weapons” flow in and out itself, building static, crystalline keys and thick bass into a pile of sharp edges that bounces like a rubber ball. An angelic cry breaks the rhythmic reverie and the snapping, cracking soundscape goes Richter. Conversely, “Betray” lays a slinky Portishead sulk for its bedrock, then morphs into a laidback, flute-textured upbeat. “Stay” counters this with a swarm of organ and violins, and a deep, unexpected blues.

The picture is always shifting—songs starting on a blast or ending in a whirling climb, occasionally dwelling in a single mood, but never succumbing to traditional structure. There’s “Tell,” which feels intimate, comprised of subtle tones, naked keys, low buzzing slide bass and voice sounding like a transmission from a tin-lined burrow. While the next plot over, “Wither” is a note-smashing hulk of machine crunch and skittering percussion, technically complex and seriously loud. Son Lux’s lyrics don't distract from the journey. Rather, the one and two-line snippets wind their way through the album’s space like mantras to be picked up or passed at will. In “Raise,” a macabre poetry moves with the music, coming in dulcet over bleeding sax, then getting swept up by swirling strings and pulsing electro. On “Stand,” a single unexplained sentence—“You stand between me and all my enemies”—is repeated ad infinitum, gaining in meaning even as it’s subducted under the piano-driven epic. As various permutations of voice, music and noise emerge, one imagines the Notwist’s Markus Acher lost in the bowels of Radiohead’s “Pyramid Song.” This is a very good thing.

After this undeniable apex, At War With Walls & Mazes approaches its quiet close. “War” is a sleepy overture to Son Lux’s wide embrace, glowing warm and full until white light gives way to the epilogue, and the album’s only outright motif: the “Weapons” melody, first heard with the prologue’s opening line. Then, Son Lux asked us to drop our weapons and let him in; now, leaving this place, his apparent plea seems much more like an invitation.

More about the artist Son Lux:

Meet a man driven wildly by music. A man classically trained, but rewired with his own two hands. A frequent collaborator, occasional curator and consummate “man behind the curtain” now emerging at the front of something yet unnamed. Somewhere between the concert hall and the club you’ll find his haunting liquid soundscapes, born of hip-hop composition, o’er-strung with chant, hinting at some divine unreachable. Meet Son Lux.

Ryan Lott was born in Denver in 1979. At 2, he moved to California; at 5, to Connecticut. His father made industrial adhesives; his mother made the home; he had one brother and one sister. He was the youngest. Piano lessons were a family rule and Ryan began at 6, counting down, in tears, the clicks of the 15-minute egg-timer. He hated it, and by the age of 12, he knew he wouldn’t be a classical concert pianist; instead he’d be a composer. He’d offset this revelation by performing covers of “Lithium” and “Suck My Kiss” on guitar in middle school dance bands. His parents brought him to Atlanta for high school; in turn, high school brought him drums, punk bands and a piano teacher who smuggled him a few lessons in jazz and pop.

In his third year studying composition and piano at Indiana University, Ryan began collaborating with a ballet and modern dance student who would become his wife. Writing music to her choreography set off a hunger in him that would soon grow into megalomania. In the newlyweds’ post-collegiate home of Cleveland, Ryan conceived a multimedia art gala dubbed CONNECT. The series’ second event featured 30 artists of various inclinations; he collaborated with 20, while entertaining dance commissions countrywide. With his wife and two friends, he founded the charitable ASH (Art Serving Humanity) Ensemble, and composed a piece for saxophone and tape that debuted in Slovenia. Back home, Ryan found himself performing to New York City for the first time—from inside of the Guggenheim—and collecting on two prestigious Ohio arts grants. In 2007, he moved to New York, accepting a job as a fulltime composer. His 12-year-old self smiled; Ryan should have rested.

But something was growing inside of the man. Through all his teeth-cutting on various styles and accomplishment through collaboration, there was something pushing against his guts: Ryan Lott needed to go solo. For three years he’d been compulsively collecting sounds—thousands of them—one and two-note fragments sampled from his personal collection and the local library’s. He turned his trained ear to recognizing consistent aural hues, built a palette, then began arranging not by melody—as a composer would—but by rhythm, as a beatmaker. He’d been making an album without realizing it. Now, for the first time, Ryan set out to make the music inside of him. It’d be a sort of pop, but divorced from verse-chorus form—memorable music without a hook. And he’d sing (also a first), but not traditional lyrics. His words would be small snippets—things read or overheard—open-ended and repeated like chants. Single notes became pulsing electronic orchestras; simple words became transcendent. Son Lux was born. And with it, the album At War with Walls and Mazes.

As befits the Ryan Lott legacy, Son Lux’s debut performance was a headlining college festival slot alongside Sufjan Stevens and Emmylou Harris (the result of winning a songwriting competition). His second show was at New York’s Knitting Factory, opening for Sole. Played live, At War becomes a thing of shifting parts and rhythms, Ryan breaking down the songs and reassembling at will, while overhead digital visuals warp, coil and collide in improvised harmony (courtesy of At War cover artist Joshua Ott). The impression left is warm and colorful with smatterings of darkness, something alien yet familiar, easy but indefinable. Like all good art, Son Lux is tapped directly into that great otherworldly unknown that feels right at home in the world we actually know.

Ryan composes two pieces of music a day for Fluid NY, a thriving editorial house, recently wrapped his third large-scale collaboration with the acclaimed Gina Gibney Dance company, is working on the next Son Lux album, has recently remixed Castanets (Asthmatic Kitty), and is currently working on a remix for Beirut as well as collaborations with My Brightest Diamond.

Son Lux Live!
March 15th SXSW Daytime Party @ Okay Mountain Gallery 1312 E. Cesar Chavez St.w/ Cryptacize
March 15th SXSW Late Night Show @ Lambert's w/ WHY?
March 22nd @ The Knitting Factory in NYC w/ Why? and Panther

For more information, visit:
www.myspace.com/sonlux
www.anticon.com

ISLANDS SIGN TO ANTI-RECORDS-ALBUM DUE MAY 20

Islands have signed to Anti-Records, home to such luminaries as Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Neko Case. May 20th will see the release of the band's Arm's Way album, finding them at their most confident, creative and realized. Ten tour dates in March, including two SXSW performances, will be followed by a full U.S tour beginning in mid-April and continuing on into May, including an appearance at the festival of the year, Coachella.

"After more than a year in the frozen pipes, we are beside ourselves (three times) to be presenting what we believe to be our finest work yet, on the finest label we could think of. It's been a long time coming, and it'll be a long time before it's gone."
-Nick Thorburn, Islands

Their debut Return to the Sea was heralded as a great work of maturation and emotional exploration, and Arm's Way is the natural extension of that evolution. While Return to the Sea featured guest appearances from everyone from Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade to Busdriver, Arm's Way is far more centered and focuses on the band's considerable abilities and the superb writing of singer Nick Thorburn. A sprawling symphonic work of art, the band co-produced the record with Ryan Hadlock (Blonde Redhead, Stephen Malkmus).

"Islands' singular vision makes them enormously important in today's music scene and an amazing addition to the Anti roster. We are thrilled that they will be part of what we do." -Andy Kaulkin, Anti Records president

TOUR DATES IN MARCH:
9-Mar Pontiac, MI CroFoot Theater
10-Mar Newport, KY Southgate House
11-Mar Memphis, TN Hi Tone
12-Mar Denton, TX Hailey's
13-Mar Austin, TX SXSW Anti/Utne Reader Showcase at Emo's
15-Mar Austin, TX SXSW Mess with Texas at Waterloo Park
17-Mar Norman, OK Opolis
18-Mar Columbia, MO Blue Note
19-Mar St. Louis, MO Off Broadway
20-Mar Bloomington, IN Rhino's