Times Of Grace To Give Away Song This Friday
Times of Grace, the new project that reteams Killswitch Engage guitarist and producer extraordinaire Adam Dutkiewicz with original KsE vocalist Jesse Leach, are offering an exclusive, free download of the song, “Strength in Numbers,” on Friday, October 15 at 11 AM ET. The song will be downloadable for 48 hours at roadrunnerrecords.com and will be available for purchase digitally on October 19. “Strength in Numbers” is the dynamic first taste of the band’s debut, The Hymn of a Broken Man, which is due in stores on January 18, 2011. Times of Grace is the second go-round for Dutkiewicz and Leach, who enjoyed incredible collaborative chemistry on KsE’s definitive debut, 2002’s Alive or Just Breathing. Times of Grace doesn’t revisit the pair’s fruitful past; rather, it finds them taking a creative left turn away from what they’ve previously done, without diluting their signature styles as they explore new musical terrain. There’s an old adage that says the only way out is through, and with Times of Grace, the singer and guitarist were able to use the vehicle of music to overcome and work their way through personal struggles. Times of Grace just shot the video for “Strength in Numbers” with director Robby Starbuck just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. The video will make its debut imminently.
The Great Transparency On Tour Now
THE GREAT TRANSPARENCY announces the REBUILD YOUR LOVE TOUR that kicked off Friday 10/8. With only a short break after the POP RALLY TOUR with Satellites and Sirens, TGT is very excited for this tour that will not only included the acoustic duo Temple Veil as special guest on many of the dates, but also because they will be performing some of their new never before heard music. The Great Transparency (Columbus, Ohio) is a Power Pop group that that is the latest signing of Razzbarry Records consist of band members Jeremiah Wagner, Tommy Clingan, Jameson Leasure and Chris Chapman, They have toured the country playing over 175 shows this past year, while independently selling over 2000 copies of their latest EP, If Worse Comes To Worst.
Tour Dates:
10/15 – Elkton, VA
10/16 – Virginia Beach, VA
10/17 – Greensboro, NC
10/18 – Greenville, SC
10/19 – Lake City, FL
10/20 – Lake City, FL
10/21 – Monroe, GA
10/22 – Mobile, AL
10/23 – Franklin, TN
10/24 – Kettering, OH
Your Memorial To Release Debut On 11/23
Your Memorial will be releasing their Facedown debut album, Atonement, on November 23rd, and you can hear the title track from their stunning new album here. The band chose Atonement for the first single because “It really encompasses the overall theme of the album both lyrically and musically. We hope you enjoy it, and stay tuned for more album updates to follow.” Your Memorial will be heading out on tour supporting Atonement beginning on the first of November. The pre-order for Atonement will be available in one week at the Facedown merch store where you be able to choose among multiple pre-order packages.
Tour Dates:
11/1 – Morada, CA
11/5 – Spokane, WA
11/6 – Boise, ID
11/7 – Provo, UT
11/9 – Wichita, KS
11/10 – San Antonio, TX
11/11 – McAllen, TX
11/12 – Dallas, TX
11/13 – Albuquerque, NM
11/14 – Phoenix, AZ
Blue Like Jazz Movie Saved
The grassroots brain child of two Nashville men has saved the making of the “Blue Like Jazz” movie, based on the New York Times Bestseller, by raising $125,000 in only 10 days. Blue Like Jazz,” which is scheduled for theatrical release in fall, 2011, has garnered an unprecedented response at Kickstarter.com, a “crowdfunding” website that raises money for creative projects. With over 2,000 backers and $155,000 now raised, “Blue Like Jazz” is poised to become Kickstarter’s biggest raise ever if it exceeds $200,641 by the campaign’s closing date of October 25th. In a message to the campaign’s supporters, the movie’s director, Steve Taylor, explained that the additional monies raised would be used to help provide much-needed resources for the movie’s production, set to begin in late October. “We’re still a very ‘indie’ production,” says Taylor. “All of us in the writer/producer/director categories are deferring getting paid until the movie’s profitable. Any additional money we raise goes ‘on the screen.’” Due to the amount being raised and matched donations from financial backers, the movie will begin filming at the end of the month in Nashville, Tenn. and in Miller’s hometown of Portland, Ore. Marshall Allman (“True Blood,” “Prison Break”) will star in the lead role. Miller’s Blue Like Jazz has sold 1.3 million copies to date, and the writing of the movie’s screenplay was even highlighted in his latest New York Times bestseller A Million Miles In A Thousands Years. “We are floored by the outpouring of support we have received with this campaign. We could not be happier about where we are headed. We raised our goal of $125,000 in only ten days, but his campaign is not over,” explains Prichard, one half of the founding duo of savebluelikejazz.com. “That number was the bare minimum. We want to keep raising money so we can make an even better movie. We want to blow the Kickstarter record out of the water. We want this to be the biggest crowd sourced creative project in American history. We want ‘Blue Like Jazz’ to go down in history as having the largest amount of financial backers for a film. Let’s keep this momentum, let’s make a better movie and let’s make history.” “If it weren’t for your contributions, the movie would have been dead,” adds Blue Like Jazz author Donald Miller. “It’s amazing to think what’s been accomplished in two weeks.” The viral campaign, which set out to raise $125,000 in one month, surpassed their goal in less than half the time. After seeing the news on the author’s blog that the movie was being put on indefinite hold due to a lack of funding, two fans of Miller’s famous Blue Like Jazz, Zach Prichard and Jonathan Frazier, created a grassroots style effort to save the film with the launch of www.savebluelikejazz.com. One of the movie’s investors committed to matching the amount raised if their campaign reached $125,000. To see the original video post from Prichard and Frazier, visit www.savebluelikejazz.com. The website encouraged viewers to download and pass along “Save Blue Like Jazz” posters, place Twitter hash marks of #savebluelikejazz, “like” on Facebook and, most importantly, donate on www.kickstarter.com. Pledge incentives included recorded voicemails from Miller, “Associate Producer” credits in the film’s end titles, t-shirts, screening tickets, digital downloads, personal “thank you” calls from the film’s director and more. The campaign continues through October 25th, 2010.
Sons Of God Ready To Record New Album
On the heels of the bands previous release The Genesis Prologue EP, which has generated over 5,700 downloads via comeandlive.com alone, Sons of God is set to record their debut full length album. They will be recording with Jared Fox in Nashville at Fox Den Studios. As with all Come&Live! releases, the album will be given away as a free gift to anyone interested. The band has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund this project. They must raise a grand total of $7,000 by November 8th. If only a portion of the money is raised by the deadline, the band will not receive any of the financial support pledged. Individuals are encouraged to donate in increments ($10, $25, $50 etc.) with each donation tier corresponding with a reward. Depending on how much is donated, the reward can include a “thank you” in the liner notes of the album, a physical copy of the CD, posters, hoodies, an iPod shuffle, phone calls, concert tickets, your company logo in the packaging, and more. “For over 3 years we’ve been patiently awaiting the day where we can release a record that we poured our hearts and souls into together, and that day is drawing near!” shares the band. “Your giving will always play just as much a part as our giving, and will always come full circle, not only in our ministry but in yours as well.” The heart and sole purpose of Sons of God is to spread the Gospel through music. Please consider helping them continue to do this via a full length album. The band is very appreciative of the support already received from fans and media outlets: “Thank you so much for your generosity, and thank you for being a part of this with us.” Visit their Kickstarter campaign here.
Josh White’s New Worship Project To Release November 9th
BEC Recordings’ introduces the organic worship album, Anchor, from Josh White, formally the lead singer of Telecast. Now a church planter and worship leader in Portland, Oregon, Josh White delivers a unique collection of folk/bluegrass worship tracks. You can get a free download for “You Amaze Me” here – a track for a tweet. The album releases on November 9th on BEC Recordings. White’s church is located in the Hawthorne District of Southeast Portland, a Bohemian part of town, known more for its hippies and hipsters than churches. “I met my wife Darcy in this neighborhood 14 years ago,” recounts White. “We know the culture and the people, which in turn fuels the heart and vision of the church: to preach the gospel to some of the most unchurched people in the country.” The songs on Achor are the songs of White’s church, Door of Hope, and are used in its worship services. The meaning behind both the church name and the album title come from Hosea 2:15. The valley of Achor is the valley of trouble; so named after Achan’s sin was discovered and judged in the days of Joshua. The prophet Hosea proclaimed that the God’s restoration would transform the valley of trouble into a door of hope. “Where I did the Brit rock sound with Telecast, these songs reflect the acoustic, folk music of Hawthorne. It’s a mix of folk and bluegrass in worship, almost like a Jesus Movement folk worship revival,” says White. Produced by Sebastian Rogers, Achor took White down a new path of album recording. The freshness of recording reflects the content of the songs, which seek an intimate, new relationship with Christ. Josh White wants to see people come alive in Christ and believes Achor is but one piece contributing to this awakening. “There is a prophetic element to worship; it is necessary and powerful. Hearts open through music, stirring emotions and inserting a message into hearts. These songs come out of what we’re experiencing at Door of Hope; they are part of a movement to turn this city upside down.”
Where The Ocean Meets the Sky News
Empires, the highly praised debut from musically adventurous South Jersey six-piece WHERE THE OCEAN MEETS THE SKY, is available today in stores and online from CI Records, the label that helped launch the careers of genre-related acts like AUGUST BURNS RED and TEXAS IN JULY. While currently wrapping a leg of the ‘Bro-Down Showdown’ tour with TEXAS IN JULY (Equal Vision) and THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE (Good Fight), WHERE THE OCEAN MEETS THE SKY are pleased to announce a brief “pre-holidays” November run – the ‘So Heavy’ Tour – alongside labelmates AN EARLY ENDING (dates below). In between tours, the band will perform two previously announce album release shows – Oct. 22 in Lemoyne, PA and Oct. 23 in Vineland, NJ. Everyone in attendance will receive a free copy of Empires courtesy of WHERE THE OCEAN MEETS THE SKY and CI Records. Empires is a sensationally strong debut from a band that refuses to have their music fit snugly into one genre label. The album as smart as it is heavy, as loaded with pop hooks and musical Easter eggs as it bristling with bone-crushing riffage. Its spirit of savage adventure will please the ears of fans of THRICE, BLESSTHEFALL, THE RECEIVING END OF SIRENS and more. “Our goal with this album was to create something lasting, something with depth, and something that pushes the boundaries of our music scene,” explains WTOMTS’s dynamic frontman, Blake Martin. WHERE THE OCEAN MEETS THE SKY have spent the last several years gearing up for their debut by touring relentlessly up and down the East Coast, sharing stages with the likes of BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, ALESANA, HASTE THE DAY, SKYEATSAIRPLANE and many more of today’s genre giants – along the way, laying the groundwork for an empire of their own.
Tour Dates:
10/15 – Wilimington, DE
10/16 – New London, CT
10/17 – Trenton, NJ
10/18 – West Babylon, NY
10/22 – Lemoyne, PA
10/23 – Vineland, NJ
10/27 – Grantham, PA
10/30 – Mexico, NY
11/4 – Rochester, NY
11/5 – Lansing, NY
11/6 – Galloway, NJ
11/7 – Williamsport, PA
11/8 – Bloomsburg, PA
11/9 – Milford, PA
11/10 – Columbus, OH
11/12 – TBA, OH
11/13 – Elgin, IL
11/14 – Pittsburg, PA
The Almost Post New Song
A new song from The Almost entitled “Wrong” is streaming now on the band’s MySpace page. The song is off of the band’s upcoming releases, the MONSTER MONSTER DELUXE EDITION and MONSTER MONSTER EP which will be available October 25th. The MONSTER MONSTER DELUXE EDITION will be available online digitally only and will feature all 12 songs on the original MONSTER MONSTER album released in 2009, as well as five additional songs and four music videos. Also available will be the MONSTER MONSTER EP which will feature the five additional songs and the four videos that are included on the deluxe edition. The EP will be available both digitally and physically: online and at shows. The MONSTER MONSTER EP is currently available for pre-order at The Almost Online Store and the Tooth & Nail Store. The band is currently out on the Hello Hurricane Tour with Switchfoot before heading out on a headline run with Seabird, Ivoryline and Colours.
Tomfest Update
Mikee Bridges has posted the latest news on Tomfest: “It’s been awhile since I made some decisions about the fest and I wanted to write to update those that are interested. At this point there are no plans in place for another fest HOWEVER, there is an open door and the willingness to do it again. At this point I am being ultra careful and I am asking for your prayers for clarity. The question is not IF we can do the fest but SHOULD we do it. There are some possibilities out there and I just need confirmation in order to move forward. Many of you have written and I appreciate all of your letters. In the meantime please consider supporting joshuafest.com. It’s in October in Northern California and will be a great time. I am putting together a new project that I would appreciate your support in. It’s called GameChurch. Check out gamechurch.com. Set up a profile and tell us what you think. Right now the site is in a beta test so that we can work out the kinks. The latest version just went up a few days ago so bear with us. The password is ‘redpill’. The vision is this: GameChurch is 3 parts. The first is the website. Its all about video gaming, news, reviews, interviews and it has a spiritual side for those looking for something more. But if a person is only looking for legitimate content, they will find it. They don’t necessarily have to engage in anything spiritual unless they want to. There is a simple button to click to get to the spiritual side of what we are doing. The second is video game trade shows. We will have a booth at CES, Comic Con, E3, GenCon, PAX and others. We will be conveying the message that Jesus loves you right now, right here, as you are, to those in attendance. The third is a ‘gamer’ Bible that we have created. It is the Gospel of John with commentaries from and about the video gaming industry and in ‘gamer speak’. We will be passing those out for free at the shows. One of the ways we are driving traffic to the site is with our new web series called ‘The Leaderboards’ which will have its own website in the next couple weeks but for now you can click below. You can also view our interviews by clicking here.
The Rocketboys To Release New Single
Austin-based indie rock band The Rocketboys will release Wellwisher—a cohesive concoction of four brand new songs—on November 2, both digitally and physically. The song “Brothers” will be the first single off the EP. It can be streamed from the band’s MySpace page. The November 2 online release of Wellwisher will be preceded by a string of release shows and succeeded by a CD release tour. It’s been more than a year since The Rocketboys self-released their well-received, debut full-length, “20,000 Ghosts”. With tracks featured on a plethora of TV shows including 2010 Winter Olympic Games—among others—the 10-song debut showcased the talent and acclaim of the band of childhood friends. The Rocketboys took the recording process on the road for “Wellwisher”, tracking almost the entire EP while on tour. From the back of the van to kitchens and even at the office of Paste Magazine, The Rocketboys rallied their talented friends to play and sing various parts on the recording. Singer Brandon Kinder describes “Wellwisher” not as a concept album but a concept experience. The musical collaboration and nomadic recording process, combined with the lyrical themes of unity, brotherhood and relationships, all contributed to the final product. “It’s interesting how it all came together and meshed thematically,” Kinder said. “My lyrics about the importance of the people in your life, our friends who recorded parts across the country and everyone who helped us financially made the entire process about unity and collaboration.”
Tour Dates:
10/23 – Waco, TX
10/29 – Austin, TX
10/30 – Abilene, TX
11/4 – Dallas, TX
11/5 – Tyler, TX
11/6 – Shreveport, LA
11/7 – Hot Springs, AR
11/8 – Little Rock, AR
11/9 – Memphis, TN
11/10 – Nashville, TN
11/11 – Atlanta, GA
11/12 – Charleston, SC
11/13 – Macon, GA
11/14 – Gainesville, FL
11/15 – Tallahassee, FL
11/16 – Mobile, AL
11/17 – New Orleans, LA
11/18 – Houston, TX
11/19 – Bryan, TX
11/20 – Mcallen, TX
11/21 – San Antonio, TX
Petra’s Beat the System Reunion
The latest band to join the ranks of the re-united is the original line-up of the classic rock band, Petra! That’s right, before John Schlitt was the band’s signature frontman, diehard fans will remember that Greg X. Volz was the band’s original singer. Now, the rock band is back together again – Greg, Louie Weaver (Drums), John Lawry (Keys, Vocals), Bob Hartman (Guitar, Vocals), and Mark Kelly (Bass, Vocals)! On the newly updated, ClassicPetra.com, the band has posted new photos of themselves along with the following announcement of new music! “Petra will be back in the studio this Summer to re-record a CD of previous hits from the records: Never Say Die, More Power To Ya, Not of This World, and Beat the System. Classic songs like “More Power To Ya,” “Judas Kiss,” “Grave Robber,” “Adonai,” and “Beat The System” will be revamped with a modern production edge. In addition, the band will be doing a “Back To The Rock” 2010/2011 World Tour with the following info included on their site as well: “The tour begins in the USA on October 15th and stretches across the globe through 2011. Dates and venues are currently being scheduled.”
Circleslide To Rock Apple Store
To celebrate the release of their sophomore album Echoes of the Light on Save the City Records, critically acclaimed Christian pop/rock band Circleslide will give a special live performance at the Apple store in Nashville’s Green Hills Mall on October 12, 2010 at 8p.m. CT. Fans will hear the guitar-driven band play songs from Echoes of the Light and have an opportunity to meet the band members. Released October 5, Echoes of the Light is already generating a buzz in the industry with early press featured by JCTV’s “1 Music Village,” Charisma Magazine, HM Magazine, ChristianityToday.com, CCM, New Release Tuesday, HearitFirst, BREATHEcast and more. Since the band’s debut project, which landed them on Christianity Today’s list of “Best New Artists of 2006,” among other accolades, Circleslide — whose lineup includes frontman Gabe Martinez, lead guitarist Jonathan DeAnda, bassist Eric Vickers and drummer Lee Yoder — has toured unceasingly, refining their modern rock ruminations, while keeping their ministry agenda firmly in focus. In addition to shows with newsboys, tobyMac, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Salvador, Jaci Velasquez and downhere, the guitar-driven band has headlined everything from clubs to churches and colleges, with plenty of youth camps and outreach events in between — all of which build off the group’s Youth With A Mission beginnings.The band was developing the new project last spring when Nashville was hit with a devastating flood that destroyed Martinez’s house, as well as all of the band’s gear, instruments, PA and trailer. “We were out of town when the flood happened,” remembers Martinez. “A friend who was staying at our house waded through five feet of water to save some vintage guitars, but other than that, we had to completely rebuild from scratch. The Nashville community really came together, though. So many people showed up to help us sort through the mess and rebuild — four different church groups, friends and neighbors and people we didn’t even know. Thanks to amazing organizations like MusiCares, Graceworks Ministries and Porter’s Call, we’ve been able to replace our music gear and home appliances, and we have a renewed realization that God has called us to this ministry. Nothing’s going to hold us back from spreading His word.” Circleslide’s ordeal, and the season of spiritual reassurance which followed, directly inspired the band’s recent songwriting process. Several cases in point include the guitar-charged romp “The Litany,” the pleading praise ballad “Open Door” and the endurance anthem “Eye of the Hurricane.” Additional vertically-tinged variety comes courtesy of the vulnerable yet gorgeous “Love Amazing,” the ethereal crescendos of “You Are Everything” and the vibrant fist pumper “Nothing Compares To You.” The progressive and lyrically poetic worship of “Looking Up” serves as a true spine chiller wrapped around the idea of unconditional surrender. Yet the project’s themes all tie together through the resplendent title track “Echoes of the Light,” which poignantly refers to God’s act of speaking light into existence, while simultaneously calling believers to be reflections of that light. The band has evolved sonically since the last project — not only do they sound more explosive, dynamic and melodic than ever, but the choruses are instantaneously contagious from an initial spin of the album. There’s also an increased continuity that comes from producer and fellow Save the City labelmate Brandon Bee (Stacie Orrico, Lanae Hale, Benjiman). Expect shades of anthemic alternative acts like Arcade Fire and The Flaming Lips, crossed with the edge of Kings of Leon and the envelope pushing likes of The Choir (from whom the band gleaned its moniker). The new album also reveals a worship side of Circleslide that fans have experienced at their live shows. Echoes of The Light is conceptual from start to finish, sequenced impeccably to take the listener through a roller coaster of musical and spiritual emotions. There is an undeniable and immediately apparent chemistry across the dozen cuts that is especially refreshing in an iTunes age of picked-apart albums in search of a single or two. All the while, it’s impossible to take a listen through Echoes of the Light and not be struck with an unbreakable sense of perseverance from Circleslide members in both professional and personal contexts. In exposing their own vulnerabilities, the guys’ authenticity is evident. At the same time, the album possesses an ability to inspire others from any walk of life looking for the resolve to press on. “It could be someone without a job, someone else having a hard time in general with the economy, a person dealing with death, a single mom with a crazy schedule or a college kid chasing a dream — no matter who you are, we want to remind you that you’re not alone and God has given you the ability to keep going, no matter how hard it gets,” assures Martinez. “Even in the midst of our brokenness, God is great and He’s there to walk us through the restoration process.”
For more information on Circleslide and Echoes of the Light, visit:
circleslide.net
©2010 HM Magazine All Rights Reserved
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