Category Archives: Music News

Alt Rock, Download This!, Music, Music News, New Release, Pop, Rock, Solo

Amanda Palmer Performs The Popular Hits Of Radiohead On Her Magical Ukulele

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Wait.  What???

Yeah you just read and saw correctly…  Amanda Palmer most known from The Dresden Dolls has released an EP of Radiohead covers done her way with her ukulele.  The EP includes tracks such as “Creep”, “Idioteque”, “FakePlasticTrees”, “No Surprises”, “High and Dry” and a special live string-quartet version of “Exit Music (For a Film)”. Needless to say it is amazing, well at least it is to me.

The EP is now available digitally for a minimum donation of 84 cents.  Yes, $0.84!

Palmer, a very vocal supporter of direct fan-to-artist support, has made the album available online through Bandcamp for a donation of 84¢ or more, 54¢ of which going directly back into Radiohead’s pockets for the legal use of their songs (with the remaining 30¢ going to PayPal to cover the transaction fee).  Of course you can donate more if you wish…

It will also be available available in extremely unique physical permutations starting Tuesday, July 20th at 3pm EST.

Music, Music News, Punk, Rock, Solo

Details On New Devils Brigade Album!

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Matt Freeman (sporting the hat in the pic to the left) is releasing a full length Devils Brigade album!!!!!!  As a long time Rancid/Hellcat fan I am just thrilled to have heard this.  The album will drop at the end of August and a tour will follow.  With any luck he will be playing a show in Cleveland.  One can only hope!

Matt Freeman is without a doubt one of my favorite bassists out there.  Having played with Op Ivy as well as Auntie Christ his most known material is of course with Rancid. He and Tim Armstrong have actually been friends since they were little kids so it is no wonder that their musical careers have revolved around one another.

Devils Brigade was just a side project with a song released here and there but until now Matt Freemon never took the time to record his own album.    See below on the following Epitaph press release about this exciting news!

RANCID’S MATT FREEMAN GOES UPRIGHT FOR
NEW DEVILS BRIGADE ALBUM

Celebrated Bay Area punk legend Matt Freeman of Rancid and Operation Ivy fame will release the long awaited, self-titled debut album for his side project Devils Brigade on August 31 via Hellcat Records.  The bass player has assimilated a touring band to join him this fall when they hit the road with labelmates Street Dogs on a US tour.

Devils Brigade was conceived in 2000, when bassist Matt Freeman began writing songs with Tim Armstrong between Rancid tours.  This led to a few EPs and some songs on Hellcat’s Give Em The Boot compilation, but the project was put on the back burner when Rancid began touring and recording again.  Years went by and after Rancid took a break from touring on the Let The Dominoes Fall record, Matt got the itch to reactivate the project with a new studio album.

“The original concept for this record was going to be a musical,” says Freeman.  “Tim had been kicking around an idea of doing a musical about the building of the Golden Gate Bridge.  He had the title “Half Way To Hell Club.”  This was based on the name for the bridge workers who fell off the bridge while it was being built and fell into the safety net that was between them and the ocean.  We grew up in the East Bay looking at that bridge and it has always been a part of our lives.  Six of those songs ended up on the Devils Brigade record.  The other songs were all original Devils Brigade songs from the first demo.  We thought they were still good and we should record them again.”

In early 2010, Matt and Tim entered the studio with DJ Bonebrake from the influential punk group X and recorded twelve quick tempered songs featuring Matt’s signature, snarling vocals along with his snap, thumping upright bass, which shine through on roots driven punk tracks like  “I’m Moving Through,” “Who’s Gonna Save Your Now” and “My Own Man Now.”

“It was a great vibe in the studio,” Matt adds.  “The record has a real live and loose vibe.  Loose in a good way.  Tim’s guitar style blended really well with DJ and everything clicked very quickly.  We had a lot of fun making this record.  I am going to take it out on the road whenever I can when Rancid is not doing anything.”

Stay tuned to www.hellcat.com and www.myspace.com/devilsbrigadeofficial for updates and news regarding Devils Brigade.

Cleveland, Country, Live Shows, Music, Music News, Punk, Rock

Those Darlins Return To Cleveland!

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You didn’t think I actually forgot about Those Darlins now did you?  I admit it has been quite some time since I talked about the band I was pretty much obsessed over in 2009.  After all I only saw them four times live and probably posted way too much about them but whatever…I like to share what I love.

Those Darlins have not really been around these skirts of town in a while.  Earlier in the year they played a folk festival down in Southern Ohio but I was unable to make it there.  Sadly Nikki Darlin broke her left forearm in two places while there forcing the band to cancel their tour.  If you want the full story of what happened click HERE.

Honestly I am not sure they have even been to Cleveland yet this year.

Well that is all about to change as Those Darlins have set a date for a Cleveland show.  So mark your calenders on September 21st and head on over to the Beachland Tavern to see one of my favorite acts do their thing.

Opening for them is rock act Turbo Fruits hailing from Tennessee, home of the Darlins too.  It’s going to be a great night.  Cowboy boots optional.

Music, Music News, Punk, Rock

Social Distortion Signs w/ Epitaph Records!!!

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Pretty sweet news!  Epitaph Records announced today their newest member of their family – punk rock legends Social Distortion!  If that is not enough, the band is working on all new material!  Read below for more info courtesy of Epitaph!

May 11, 2010 – Los Angeles, CA – Epitaph Records is proud to welcome Southern California’s iconic rock ‘n’ roll group Social Distortion to the label with plans to release their first studio album since 2004 in fall 2010. The signing pairs one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most renowned bands with one of the most respected independent labels for what could be the greatest match in decades.

“We feel that Epitaph has a natural understanding of Social Distortion; both the history of the band and the direction we want to go,” says frontman Mike Ness. “Combine that with their successful track record and it felt like a good next step for us. We’ve always been open to new ideas and pushing the envelope, but we have also been very conscientious about the decisions we’ve made. We considered a lot of options, but in the end, Epitaph feels like the right home for us. We’re looking forward to taking this step forward, opening some new doors with this upcoming album and this next chapter of Social Distortion.”

“My relationship with Mike goes way back to the beginnings of our careers in the LA music scene,” adds Epitaph owner and president Brett Gurewitz. “Through the years Social Distortion have been a matchless voice in American rock and roll and I couldn’t be more thrilled to play a part in the next chapter for this great band.”

In March the band entered a Burbank studio to record their yet to be titled seventh studio album, produced by Mike Ness, which is slated for release this fall.

“We went back to tape, old compressors and old microphones,” Ness recently told Spinner.com. “We’re just really trying to fight modern technology as much as possible.”

“The record reminds me very much of Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (the band’s 1992 release), but also I’m bringing elements of early New York ’70s punk,” said Ness.

Social Distortion also recently announced a U.S. summer tour with Dan Sartain and The Action Design. The tour kicks off July 27 in Poughkeepsie, NY and makes seven stops in the Northeast before the band heads to Chicago for an August 7 main stage performance at this year’s Lollapalooza. Dates with Dan Sartain and The Action Design resume in Green Bay, Wisconsin on August 8. A complete list of tour dates follows.

Formed in Fullerton, CA in 1979, Social Distortion have spent the last three decades performing their signature style of roots driven rock ‘n’ roll and hard luck stories for fans worldwide while recording six classic, critically heralded albums including Mommy’s Little Monster, Prison Bound, Social Distortion, Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, White Light, White Heat, White Trash and Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Social Distortion Tour Dates:
July 27 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance
July 28 – Hampton Beach, NH – Casino Ballroom
July 30 – Providence, RI – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
July 31 – Hartford, CT – The Webster
Aug 1 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
Aug 3 – Wantagh, NY – Mulcahy’s
Aug 4 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
Aug 5 – Rochester, NY – Nola’s BBQ
Aug 7 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
Aug 8 – Green Bay, WI – Oneida Casino
Aug 10 – Council Bluffs, IA – Stir Cove @ Harrah’s
Aug 11 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
Aug 13 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
Aug 14 – Medford, OR – Medford Armory

…and no Cleveland show…yet I hope.

Festival, Music, Music News, Punk, Road Trip

The 2010 Interpunk American Skate Fest @ Skatopia – June 25th & 26th

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This goes out to all you skateboarders and punk rockers out there…

There is a pretty interesting festival that is going to take place in Rutland, OH this June.  The 2010 Interpunk American Skate Fest will be taking over the skateboarding mecca that is Skatopia on June 25th & 26th.  Tickets are $55 for two days (camping not included) worth of punk rock, skateboarding demos, and endless enter-at-your-own-risk fun.

Interpunk stated the following on their website:

Music! Mayhem! Skateboarding! Anarchy! Interpunk American Skate Fest!!!

This summer marks the beginning of the Interpunk American Skate Fest at Skatopia! This is the first in what promises to be a long line of amazing bands, skateboarding demos, and entire weekends of chaotic fun.

Despite being the first link in the chain, an amazing lineup of bands are ready to blow you away and drench you in blood. Brace yourself before checking out the list of bands below or you risk snapping your wrist in half from clicking the buy tickets link.

The festival grabbed my attention not only at it’s location but also the line up that includes:
GWAR, Fishbone, Meat Puppets, 7 Seconds, Youth Brigade, DOA, Agent Orange, DI, CJ Ramone, Murphys Law, Nassau Chainsaw, Teenage Bottlerocket, El Destructo, Frontside Five, Machine 22, Downtown Brown, Mustard Plug, Greg Ginn & The Taylor Texas Corrugators, Sleeper Agent, Fast Piece Of Furniture, Agression, Dirty Filthy Mugs, Trusty, Pinstripes, McRad, Minus One, Shot Baker, Kirkwood Dellinger, Dirty South Revolutionaries, Rezzin & More…

That is a sick line up if you ask me…  I am not sure if I am going to hit this festival up yet but at only $55 for a weekend of amazing bands including some classic artists it is worth it.  What?  You can’t make both days, well just fork over $30 and you will have yourself one full day of punk rock goodness.

All of the bands will perform on the recently built Amity Whitelight Amphitheatre located in the skate park.  Don’t be too quick to judge the picture of the stage below, it is petty large in size (that’s what she said…) and I am sure it will be a little built up once all the equipment and bands take over.

Honestly looking at the above picture though remind me of something you would see at a campground  It is not fancy and does not look like the kind of amphitheatre I would imagine to host such an event but I am sure that Skatopia and Interpunk are going to pull this off.

It’s about time something awesome in Ohio happened.  If I do decide to hit up this festival I will be sure to share.  I think I will be leaving my board at home though as I am not the skateboarder I used to be and I like my bones not broken.

Click HERE for information on purchasing tickets to the 2010 Interpunk American Skate Fest.
Click HERE for Skatopia information and directions.