Seems as if Michael Todd, Coheed and Cambria‘s bassist, felt it necessary to rob a Walgreens of some Oxycotin the other night right before a show. Apparently he showed the pharmacist a note on his phone saying he had a bomb, stole 6 bottles and then fled the scene in a taxi that dropped him off at the venue the band was playing at.
Seriously?
There are a few aspects to this event that just have me scratching my head:
First, you are a rock star, don’t tell me that no one could score you a mind altering drug at the venue.
Second, you are a rock star… Who the hell in their right mind robs a Walgreens, mind you, the day of a show that you are more than likely getting paid a pretty penny for?
Third, a cellphone note? Really? Wow dude. I guess it’s better than a machete.
Coheed and Cambria posted a statement on their Tumblr page:
Michael Todd was arrested today on what we consider very serious charges and therefore he will not be finishing up the current tour. Wes Styles, long time member of the Coheed family will take on bass duties starting tomorrow for the remaining dates. No shows will be canceled.
We are surprised to say the least and will address the situation with Michael after the tour. For now, we just want to have a great time out here and finish with some killer shows in Boston, Poughkeepsie, Quebec City and Halifax.
I’m glad the band was able to continue and I hope that when they say “address the situation” it means “kick him out of the band”. Millions of kids look up to you, way to be awesome about it Michael Todd. Hope it was worth it… Dumb ass.
You know, it’s been a while since I mentioned the southern bell brat pack also known as Those Darlins… Might as well pimp them out now for a moment while I have your attention.
Many Cleveland fans were bummed to learn that Those Darlins dropped off the bill last June. They opted to do so in order to perform a benefit show, so I guess we can not be too mad at them.
Regardless, they have yet to make a stop in Cleveland in 2011 and it looks like this Fall will be the next time they drop by.
On October 12th, Those Darlins will be playing a show at the Grog Shop with Peelander-Z. Can you say awesome!?!?
Stay cool Cleveland. The girls and Lynwood will see you in a few months…
Speaking of awesome… Looks like the girls and Lynwood are getting some well-deserved attention:
Too bad I would never drive that toaster in public.
Wow, what a bummer. I just learned that Frank Carter announced his departure from the UK punk act Gallows. In a statement taken from Frank’s website frankxcarter.com, the tattooed bad ass had this to say about why he is leaving the band:
It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce my departure from Gallows. It seems that Gallows have hit a crossroads in our writing process and unfortunately myself and the rest of the boys have different ideas regarding the sound of Gallows going forward. Gallows have decided they are going to continue on without me and I wish the boys the best of luck for the future.
This does not mean I am giving up on music. I have a new band called PURE LOVE which I have been working on with my brother Jim Carroll (Suicide File, Clouds, Hope Conspiracy) for a few months now. A lot of late nights in the studio have meant that we will be recording our debut album in September and then will hit the road later this year. I hope to see you all there.
I want to say thank you to my brothers Stephen, Jonathan and Richard, my parents and the rest of the boys in Gallows for their support not only over the past few months, but the past 6 years. I also want to thank all the fans that helped us build Gallows into something I could really be proud of. Without you it would have meant nothing. Thank you all. Forwards ever, backwards never. Pure Love.
Frank Carter
I am curious on this new band of his called Pure Love. I have been a huge fan of Gallows since the first time I saw them live at a Warped Tour years ago. It was one of those bands that I had never heard of before, but by set’s end, wanted to hear more.
Frank’s energy is unline anyone else and he never holds his tounge. He had no problem bashing non-punk bands at a Warped Tour a couple years ago (targeting 3OH!3 and Jeffree Starr) as well as climbed the rafters at a Grog Shop show while the kids moshed under him. He takes his performances to a personal level and marches in the middle of the crowd with mic in hand, it was quite the experience.
I would love to see both the Gallows and Frank continue in their musical careers, but am still a little disappointed that Frank will no longer be fronting Gallows.
Hopefully Pure Love will be as amazing as Gallows were. Guess we wait till September to find out… Until then, enjoy some videos I found:
I came across a new demo from a new band called Crow Bait. Not only is the band’s name awesome, but the band also features members of: Jonesin’, Iron Chic, Wax Phantom, Sister Kisser, Halfway To Hell Club & more. That right there is damn awesome!!!
I have been digging Old Man Markley‘s self-proclamed genre of “Newgrass” for quite some time now, but it appears that I forgot to let the rest of the world know. The band released Guts N’ Teeth on Fat Wreck Chords back in January and I guess I enjoyed it so much that I failed to talk it up a bunch. So, 5-months later, without further au-due, ladies and gentlemen, Old Man Markley…
So, wait – what is this “Newgrass” genre I speak of? It is a fine mix of punk, folk, and bluegrass making for one catchy sound. Think old school country jam meets folk rock / punk rock fueled by countless rounds of draft beers at your favorite drinking hole with friends.
If having a good time could be put in music form, “Newgrass” is probably what it would sound like.
Back in 2007, the band started off in LA jamming out in a bluegrass fashion as well as took countless bluegrass favorites of theirs and covered them in a much different way based upon their own punk rock standards. After a couple years the band, containing up to nine people currently, took all they knew musically and pushed out their debut album Guts N’ Teeth. The result is one of the best CDs I have heard in 2011 and I am not just saying that. Put it this way, the moment I heard the opening track, I placed my order for the vinyl because I had to have it in my collection.
“For Better For Worse” was that catchy track I heard. I was an instant fan. It was a mix of all the current types of music I have been digging lately – Folk, country, punk, and bluegrass. The song was full on energy even if singing of a girl that can’t be had. Resembling something sounding like Tumbledown meets Dropkick Murphys, the song made you want to throw a foot to the ground a few hundred times while tossing back drinks. Does it sound to you as if I liked this track? You bet your ass I did.
Following was “At The Bottom”, a banjo-heavy track full of group vocals backing up singing about passing out at the bottom of a bottle. “Running Weight” was a fiddle frenzy track that was more like an adventure if anything about getting from point A to point B without getting caught.
“Do Me Like You Do” was an entertaining cover of the 1924 song written by Gene Austin and Roy Bergere. Covered usually by jazz artists, this mean bluegrass version was full of fun a quarrel at the same time. Slowing down things a bit was “Song Songs”, a song about all the songs that many members of this band have probably written for others throughout the years.
Another track that caught my ear was “Letterman”, a song of an angered escape surrounded by some amazing folk rock music, especially the harmonica playing. With harsh lyrics like, “so now your hiding in a sad song, we don’t want to sing along”, it’s clear that the song is not aimed for good feelings one bit. “Lowdown Blues” was a prime example of what the Stray Cats would have sounded like if they ditched the whole rockabilly feel and moved to the mountains.
I would not have been surprised if Tim Barry and the Avett Brothers had something to do with “Living and Learning”. Hell, even Slobberbone hints throughout this track. I guess it’s that time where I tell you if you need to listen to one track on this album it’s this one. Seriously, good shit right here.
For a bunch of punkers from L.A. who used to be in bands such as Youth Brigade and Angel City Outcasts, Old Man Markley is downright impressive. Mandolins, banjos, fiddles, autoharp, harmonica, washboard, and high spirited singing full up this album of non-stop folk/punk/rock goodness. Like I said before, this is one of my favorite albums of 2011 and to think, it came out in the beginning of the year. I dare anyone out there who says they like folk or country to tell me that there is not at least one song on this album that made them thing “damn, them boys is good”, because as a pretty solid fan of those genres, that is exactly what I said.
Old Man Markley will be touring with NOFX and Anti-Flag this Fall and as luck would have it, they are hitting Cleveland. I know I will be in attendance that night. Something tells me I will not regret it.
Can I just comment on the above video? Best. Video. Ever.
I am curious on this new band of his called 
