This pop-punk foursome has been turning heads all summer with their pop-punk tunage. I have been getting a kick out of all the rumors that are sprouting up as of late. I can tell you that they are not Dear Landlord as they played in New Mexico last night while Masked Intruder tore it up at Now That’s Class in Cleveland. No one from Nothington or Teenage Bottlerocket is in the band either. Beyond that, I don’t want to be the dick that ruined the punk rock Residents / Daft Punk for all of you.
Seriously, these guys are one of the most exciting bands to emerge this summer. They really need to put out their self-titled on vinyl. I think that would be an excellent idea.
I do not know about you, but I am pretty excited about this.
Chris from No Sleep Records posted this picture on his Facebook today (of course it still needs print and whatnot:
Into It. Over It. Tour Dates:
Oct 17 – Cleveland, OH – Now That’s Class
Oct 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Unitarian Church
Oct 19 – New York, NY – Santos Party House (CMJ)
Oct 20 – Boston, MA – Middle East/Upstairs
Oct 21 – Hartford, CT – Webster Underground
Oct 22 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
Oct 23 – Richmond, VA – The Camel
Oct 24 – Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
Oct 25 – Orlando, FL – Will’s Pub
Oct 26 – Gainesville, FL – The Fest
Oct 27 – Gainesville, FL – The Fest
Oct 28 – Gainesville, FL – The Fest
Oct 29 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl
Oct 30 – Louisville, KY – The Vernon Club
Oct 31 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
Growing up, one of my best friend’s little sister was diagnosed with Leukemia. I don’t need to get into exact detail, but I will say she recovered and is living a good life. She was young when she had to go through all the horror of finding out what she had and kept strong while going through treatment. It was an event I will never forget for as long as I live.
St. Louis act Greek Fire is pretty much experiencing the same thing I did years ago. Their drummer, Johnny Venus, was diagnosed with Leukemia. At this moment, he is still fighting to overcome it.
Greek Fire was formed in 2008 by members from Story of the Year and Maybe Today. If I had to describe their sound, I would have to say they resemble Muse and Thirty Seconds to Mars.
Once the band found out their drummer was diagnosed, they stepped up as any family would and devised a way to help pay for the treatment. Recently, the band made a video for their song “If This is the End (The Sound of Belief)” with all proceeds from the track going directly to Johnny’s medical bills. The song is full of hope and not only was created to help fund treatment, but to raise awareness to all who view it.
Over the past four years, Greek Fire has built a wide fan base through word of mouth that has been spreading rapidly in the past few months. The band recently kicked off a tour, with Story of the Year singer Dan Marsala filling in drums for Johnny, to support their album Deus Ex Machina.
From Greek Fire (as found on Johnny’s Tumblr page):
In February 2012, shortly after an amazing tour of Japan, GREEK FIRE drummer and longtime STORY OF THE YEAR drum tech Johnny Venus was diagnosed with Leukemia. As anyone can imagine, this devastating news came as a complete shock and rocked the entire camp to the core. Johnny is fighting the battle of his life, and even in these darkest of times his incredible courage and strength inspired Johnny’s fellow band mates to write a song about this profoundly difficult and emotional journey.
The song, “If this is the End (The Sound of Belief) was utilized for a video GREEK FIRE released via YouTube on May 15th, 2012. The video was made for zero dollars by a group of amazing and selfless individuals that donated their time and talents with no thought of reward or payment, and the result is a heartfelt and emotional offering of hope and support for anyone, anywhere who has experience with cancer. Greek Fire is releasing this video in hopes that it can help people find the courage and strength to fight with all of their heart, and that there are people everywhere in the world fighting with them. That is the mission: HOPE. Please share this video with as many people as you can. Nothing will make Johnny Venus and the band more proud than if it can help someone, somewhere, in some way.
Take a moment to watch the video about the song that surrounds the idea of believing. The ending is sad as hell, but is so real. Trust me on that. Share it too if you so desire.
If you would like to follow Johnny’s progress or end find out how to help, head over to his Tumblr page.
I hope Johnny’s is able to kick this illness and get back behind the drums to continue his dreams.
Once upon a time some guy named Frank Turner met songwriter Emily Barker. They just so happened to share a stage in 2006 and soon became great friends. The two musicians soon toured together in the UK after Turner asked Barker to join him. On that tour, Turner and Barker first performed the amazing duet “Fields Of June.” I know I was not there to see it and honestly, I never knew who Emily Barker was until today when I heard “Fields Of June” for the first time and fell in love with it.
I am thrilled they decided to do this. This was the surprise song of the day for this music lover.
I am not sure I have heard such a great duet since I was a little kid. Turner and Barker both take on strong roles on the song that really is a heart-breaker to absorb. Seriously, this is no love song.
As an added bonus, a silent movie inspired music video was made for the song. Check it out:
Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo are an amazing act to listen to and I am shocked I have been left in the dark about them for so long. I will be looking to check them out in serious detail. This song is available for download and on a 7″ through Xtra Mile Recordings. I am so tempted to order this vinyl as I know it will not be available for much longer.
Since 2006, Fun Fun Fun Fest has been nothing short of fun x 3. Every year, the music/art/food festival seems to turn it up a notch, so much, that last year I actually decided enough is enough and headed to Austin, TX, to check it out. The result, minus Danzig acting like a little bitch, was a killer weekend with friends fueled by amazing bands. In other words, I had fun. A ton of fun.
The festival was well organized, and all three days of music was well worth the $200 or so bucks I dropped on a wristband. By the want of the fest last year, I told myself and my friends I wanted to return the following year.
This year, the good people at FFF Fest have outdone themselves. Not only did they get RUN-DMC to reform, but they also had put together almost a dream lineup for this music lover. Refused, De La Soul, Seaweed, The Promise Ring, Bob Mould, Lucero, Lagwagon, Braid, OFF!, Against Me!, F’d Up, Superchunk, Minus The Bear…I can keep going…P.I.L., Explosions In The Sky, X, Turbonegro…
Seriously, check out all who will be playing this year:
This does not even include the FFFEST Nites, the nightly free (with wristband) concerts around the city.
I am planning on returning to Auditorium Shores in November to take in this festival. Since I have moved, I have not seen one live band due to a lack of venues, but this festival will make up for it. Not to mention Austin is one of my favorite cities and I am now only a 6 hour drive away…
St. Louis act Greek Fire is pretty much experiencing the same thing I did years ago. Their drummer, Johnny Venus, was diagnosed with Leukemia. At this moment, he is still fighting to overcome it.
Once upon a time some guy named 