Chevelle News
Multi-platinum Epic Records recording artists Chevelle will return with their fifth studio album titled: Sci-Fi Crimes on September 1st. The band’s brand new single “Jars” was the number one most added track at rock radio and the single is quickly becoming one of the band’s biggest hits to date entering the Top 20 after only two weeks. The Chicago-based trio spent seven weeks co-producing Sci-Fi Crimes with Brian Virtue (Jane’s Addiction, 30 Seconds to Mars, Deftones) in Nashville, Tennessee. Chevelle are currently on the road all summer long with Staind and Shinedown where they are previewing some of their new material, alongside hits from their previous releases. Sci-Fi Crimes is the follow up 2007’s smash album Vena Sera. Formed in 1995, the Chicago-based band has remained a staple in the rock scene with six Top 5 Modern Rock hits under their belt, including the #1 songs “Send the Pain Below” and “Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)” as well as fan favorites, “The Red” and “The Clincher”. The band is made up of Pete Loeffler (vocals, guitars), brother Sam Loeffler (drums), and brother-in-law Dean Bernardini (bass). A quick glance at the title of their new album may give their legions of longtime fans pause. Sci-Fi Crimes Song titles like “Roswell” and “Highlands Apparition”? Have the same guys who delivered 2004’s dynamically crunchy This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In) and the melodic heaviosity of 2007’s Vena Sera gone conspiracy-theory flaky, wearing tinfoil hats and praying to Mr. Spock? “Much as I love the Flaming Lips, we’re not going off in that direction,” laughs singer/guitarist Pete Loeffler. “If anything, this record represents a natural progression in the band’s maturity and sound. We really wanted to take the time to write about some of our experiences and feelings since our last tour, both during and in the time afterwards.” In fact, the title Sci-Fi Crimes was inspired by some off-road adventures with one “friend,” whom Pete describes as “this really off-the-wall character, who was driving us around, who believes so whole-heartedly in aliens and UFOs that the subject just really piqued my interest.” Chevelle’s new album is the work of a band taking stock of itself after a strenuous decade of recording and touring (“Weird to think we’re a ‘veteran’ band; I’m kind of shocked by how long we’ve been going,” Pete muses) and, especially, a blistering tour schedule behind Vena Sera. Too often lumped into the “just another hard rock band” ghetto, Chevelle emerges with Sci-Fi Crimes as an admittedly heavy-sounding group whose wit and intelligence now stand fully revealed.
Action Sports Rider Willy Watts To Perform In X-Games
United FMX rider Willy Watts will share the spotlight with some of the world’s best freestyle motocross riders in X-Games 15‘s Motocross Best Trick competition that takes place Friday night, July 31, 2009. The X-Games will be broadcast nationally on both ESPN and ABC networks beginning July 30 through August 2. With a never-before-seen trick, Watts has already been receiving international attention after being accepted into the “Big Trick” category at this year’s induction ceremony. Attracting fans from all around the globe, he continues to push the limits of this growing sport, freestyle motocross. The number of viewers for this year’s X-Games is expected to eclipse 15 million with some of the best numbers happening during Friday night’s Motocross Best Trick Competition featuring Watts. (See video of Watts as he trains for the 2009 X-Games here.) Watts, who performs events for Reach Your City Ministries and is a regular at The Freedom Experience, a Billy Graham-style crusade featuring illusionist Brock Gill and action sports, also shares his faith at churches and Christian events around the world. We could not be prouder,” says Gresham Hill, Reach Your City president. “Willy is truly one of the most amazing athletes in motocross today and a committed Christian. He deserves the opportunity to compete with the world’s best because he is one of the world’s best.” Motocross enthusiast and competitive rider Brock Gill, known for wowing crowds internationally with his illusions, humor and amazing escapes, becomes the first illusionist to sponsor an X-Games athlete. Gill, who performs a remarkable blindfolded motorcycle ride at his shows, says, “I can’t think of a better person to be placed on one of the world’s biggest stages. I am one of Willy’s biggest fans and will be watching with millions of others as he goes for the gold in his first X-Games.” In addition to Gill, The Freedom Experience has sponsored Watts at this year’s X-Games. Competing with Watts will be Travis Pastrana (USA), who won the Gold in this competition during X-Games 13 after successfully landing a double back flip. Also competing will be Kyle Loza (USA), Scott Murray (USA), Charles Pages (FRA), Todd Potter (USA), Cameron Sinclair (AUS) and Blake Williams (AUS).
Showbread Debuts New Song From Upcoming Album
Showbread has released a new song, Lost Connection With The Head, on their myspace page. The song is the single from their forthcoming release The Fear of God on Tooth & Nail Records on Aug 11th. The band is planning on releasing a new song per week on their myspace page. Speaking on the album Showbread guitarist Mike Jensen says of their new album “It’s the best definition of Showbread”. Reuniting for the third time with acclaimed producer Sylvia Massy Shivy (Prince, Tool, Johnny Cash) and engineer Rich Veltrop (Phantom Planet, Slayer), the creative energy on the record is at its best. “I think it’s a kind of developed re-imagining of the sound on our first two albums” explains singer Josh Dies, “The energy and aggression from No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical is there and the rock and roll foundation from Age Of Reptiles is there. At the same time, it doesn’t sound like either of those records.” The band is set to tour mid August through the fall (dates posted on myspace) and have appeared on this year’s Cornerstone festival in July. A video for Lost Connection With The Head was shot was shot last month in Rincon, GA.
Hands’ New CD Is Out Now
This week, Facedown Records released Hands’ new album, Creator. Hands are a band in which rock and roll meets ambient hardcore and warm silvery singing rivals hardcore screams. Hands unfurl hugely anthemic prog-rock ballads bearing the influence of Isis while at the same time laying out solidly progressive hardcore tracks inspired by bands such as Life In Your Way and Misery Signals. Alternative Press Magazine has hailed Hands as “wave after wave of musical awesomeness.” Hands is on tour all summer with a stop in Germany for Freakstock Festival, then back to the states to play two dates with Demon Hunter, Living Sacrifice and The Crucified at Pomona’s Glasshouse.
For more information on Hands, visit:
myspace/wearehands
Skillet Announces New Fall Tour
As they prepare for the August 25th release of their already-critically acclaimed CD “AWAKE” (Atlantic/Ardent/INO), the GRAMMY® nominated outfit SKILLET is celebrating a new #1 Rock single with “HERO” and has announced plans for their 50 city “AWAKE & ALIVE” fall tour, which will feature Hawk Nelson, Decyfer Down and The Letter Black. On the heels of fall and spring legs of their “COMATOSE” tour, which saw an average of 70% of their shows sell out and also landed them in Pollstar’s Concert Pulse Top 50 tours, SKILLET will spend September to December rocking across the country, hitting such major markets as New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Phoenix, Seattle, Dallas, and their hometown base of Chicago (full tour schedule below). As they become more and more well known for their electric, pulsating and of course rocking live show, lead singer John Cooper says the band will continue to push the envelope when it comes to giving their fans the best show possible: “Skillet wants this to be the biggest, baddest tour we’ve ever done, and we’re happy to be going out with these bands” he says. “We always try to put everything we have into our shows and the “Awake and Alive” tour will not disappoint – we’re pulling out all the bells and whistles we can, and these new songs are going to be incredible to perform live. We can’t wait to get out there and see everyone – our fans are amazing.” As “Hero,” the first radio single from “AWAKE” is also climbing the CHR Christian rock charts, this week jumping to #11, and continues to be a top 20 best-selling i-Tunes® rock single, “Monster” will be solicited to Mainstream and Active Rock radio this month. To top it all off, with over a month before “AWAKE” hits the market, SKILLET is already garnering critical acclaim for their 7th studio project.
For more information on the new album & tour dates, go here:
myspace/skilletmusic
Project 86 News
Get Project 86’s new album “Picket Fence Cartel” available in stores and online now! Grab it up wherever it is you drop your green on music these days. You can also download it over at iTunes or AmazonMP3. The band is currently on the Scream The Prayer tour, head over to their MySpace page for dates and details, as well as to hear new music.
Secret Service Entertainment Signs Josiah James
Secret Service Entertainment is proud to announce our latest addition to the family: Josiah James. Josiah James is a multi-instrumental Christian artist who was called to his singer-songwriter career at the age of only 14. Boasting natural vocal talents as well as advanced skills as a guitar and piano player, Josiah released his first full-length CD, “Alive in the Studio” at the age of 16. In the two years to follow, at only 18 years old, he delivered his second project, “Awaiting the Morning.” Both records were well received by fans and it has become apparent that Josiah’s faith and talent are catalysts to his unique ability to write songs that connect with his audience on a highly personal level. Following the praise of “Awaiting the Morning” Josiah’s next project was becoming highly anticipated by fans, and in late 2007 Josiah’s first full band single, “Reaching for the Stars,” recorded by Pendlwood Studios (John Reuben, Spoken, Inhale/Exhale, Seabird, House of Heroes) was released. It is seldom now that you find fans not singing along with Josiah at his shows, his songs are catchy, well written, and have become the anthems to many peoples lives. In Spring 2009, Josiah released his latest and most developed project to date, a debut full length, full band album titled, “The Morning Light.” Produced and recorded by Cobly Wedgeworth (Bidwell, Method Echo, Tyler Weinrich), the CD features a side to Josiah many haven’t heard before. “The Morning Light” is the perfect marriage of both the intimacy of Josiah’s singer-songwriter abilities and the dynamic sound a full band possesses. With “The Morning Light,” the diversity of his song writing, vocal range, and musical talents by his side, Josiah is now ready to move into the next phase of his career doing exactly what he was called to do.
For more information, visit:
josiahjames.com
The Glorious Unseen Set to Release Sophomore Album
Alternative worship band, The Glorious Unseen has just completed recording their sophomore album on BEC Recordings aptly titled “The Hope that Lies in You” releasing on August 25th. With a grassroots following from fans of hard rock bands like Underoath, Haste the Day, Classic Crime and mewithoutYou, The Glorious Unseen has written a new collection of authentic reflections dealing with the ups and downs of Christian life. This upcoming album serves as a battle cry of optimism in our increasingly pessimistic world. The Glorious Unseen wants to encourage listeners to not live in fear and isolation–even when the media is saying everything is a disaster. “If you sit and listen to the news, it’s very, very depressing,” shares worship leader Ben Crist. “You feel like you don’t even want to leave your couch because there is no hope outside. It gets us in a mode of isolation. But when we’re out there worshipping, everything is alive. God is alive–and moving. The title track is a reminder of the hope that lies in us as believers–and the hope that lies in God.” It was in his personal chaos that Crist found worship music and the birth of The Glorious Unseen. After college, Crist was searching for his next step when his former youth pastor started a Sunday night small group for anyone seeking community. “When I showed up, everyone was just really honest–really authentic in direct pursuit of God,” he says. “There was no fluff. No schedule. No agenda. We didn’t pass an offering plate. It was refreshing because we were just getting together to connect with God in worship.” It was in this community of believers that Crist soon fell into the role of worship leader. “I’ll never forget the first night I ever led worship. I was scared out of mind, but excited at the same time. But I felt like the Holy Spirit showed up, and it was a really intense night with this brutally honest worship.” Fast forward a few years and a label debut project later and The Glorious Unseen is ready to introduce new, fresh worship songs with their upcoming release. Serving as an anthem to the questioning soul is “Heavy Hearted,” the album’s first single hosts a melodic sound with pensive, thought-provoking lyrics.
“Whether we’ve grown up in church or are relatively new in the faith, we all feel like we’re under God’s judgment sometimes–whether that’s accurate or not,” Ben shares. “Maybe we feel like God doesn’t like us. Or that He’s disappointed in us. Heavy hearted is how we feel when we’re struggling or dealing with various addictions we go back to time and again.” Yet in those heavy hearted moments, Crist wants to remind listeners that there’s still Hope in the midst of them. The Glorious Unseen will be touring around the country; visit their MySpace for tour dates. The Glorious Unseen includes Ben and his band, which includes guitarist Ryan Stubbs, bassist Ben Harms, drummer Jon Todryk and pianist Patrick Copeland.
Mikeschair Infiltrates Radio Charts
It’s been said that the music of MIKESCHAIR demands attention; that it entertains as well as inspires those who listen. You already know this if you’ve heard their top 5 hit single, “Can’t Take Away,” which is being played on radio stations nationwide, or if you have your very own copy of their self-titled CD just released today from Curb Records. No matter what, these talented four young men – Mike Grayson, Sam Tinnesz, Jesse Hale, and Jon Haire – agree in stating that their music inspires action to change the world through love. Hailing from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, this quartet’s blend of soulful rock guitars and bass grooves, violin and electronic textures is tagged with catchy pop sing-along choruses. MIKESCHAIR was produced by Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp (Bebo Norman, Tenth Avenue North), with the exception of “Otherside” produced by Sean Neff. The band supports mikestable. At every MIKESCHAIR show, audiences are welcomed to visit the table, which is dedicated to offering information for various causes such as Food for the Hungry, IJM, Love 146 and more. It is the band’s hope for people to be aware of what’s going on in the world in terms of need, to give them empowerment while also give options. In addition, it’s the band’s mission to invite everyone to bring a non-perishable food item to their shows where every donated food item is then taken to local food banks and church outreach programs. This venture, which has actually been underway for a few years now, is continuing to grow as more items are donated at each concert. MIKESCHAIR is managed by Creative Trust, Inc., and booked by Jeff Roberts & Associates, both located in the Nashville, TN area.
John Reuben Releases New Single
John Reuben and Gotee Records are pleased to announce the upcoming project Sex, Drugs and Self-Control with the release of four videos and audio singles monthly, exclusively through iTunes. The debut song “Town Folk”, launched today available in both video and audio formats. Shortly after, on August 18, the song and video for “Jamboree” will also be released. Both videos, directed by Jeremy Hughes for Elevate Pictures, aptly show Reuben’s lighthearted nature, while exploring the ideas he paints in song. “Town Folk” visualizes several Old Testament stories, including Sampson, Daniel and Elijah via the imagery of a traveling circus. “Jamboree” features 4 humorous settings gone wrong. “This album is full of many questions that I have been struggling with over the past few years,” explains Reuben. “It felt often like there was a tension. Artistry, career and faith seemed to be standing at odds with one another. Sex, Drugs and Self-Control is really about basic questions. Questions like ‘Am I talking about honesty more than I’m actually being honest?’ Everything seems to come back to these questions and trying to understand how art and faith can work together.” Gotee has chosen to launch this project with these four single video and audio releases, as Reuben has made his name over the years as not only a compelling musical artist, but as a creative visual artist. Since his start as an ice cream vendor in the debut album’s “Do Not” video, to the Fight Club induced duck-duck-goose game in “Doin’,” to a male cheerleader in “Move,” Reuben has developed a dozen iconic characters throughout his career, and these 4 videos continue that track record. Gotee Records will continue to release one digital song and video exclusive per month exclusively to iTunes on the following schedule:
Town Folk – 7/14
Jamboree – 8/18
Confident – 9/15
Nobenah – 10/20
These singles will be leading up to the release of the full project Sex, Drugs and Self-Control releasing worldwide on December 22, 2009.
As Cities Burn Disbands
According to their MySpace page, As Cities Burn has broken up. “We are happily moving on after 6 good years. Our lives and our wives have called us in different directions. Thanks to anyone who has come out to a show, had words to say, or bought a cd to help us fill the tank.” This musically-evolving band will be missed.
For more information, go here:
myspace.com/ascitiesburn.
Thrice News
THRICE announce that Beggars, their highly anticipated sixth studio album, will be released on October 13, 2009 on Vagrant Records. California-based quartet recorded the 10-track set at producer and guitarist Teppei Teranishi’s New Grass Studios this spring. Fans can check out the new cover art for Beggars on thrice.net. “I’m really excited about this record,” said vocalist/guitarist Dustin Kensrue. “Beggars is more visceral and more raw – both in the songwriting and in the overall sound. It moves with a different energy than any of our past records. It was born out of us playing together in a room, almost as a backlash to the giant headgame that was The Alchemy Index.” Drummer Riley Breckenridge added, “”With The Alchemy Index, I think we broadened the scope of what we can do as a band, and while the writing and recording of the four EPs was a great learning experience, it was definitely an arduous, and at times, fragmented process. Beggars was a chance for us to apply the things we’d learned and push ourselves to create something more cohesive. At the root of that, was the four of us getting back in our studio, focusing on jamming song ideas out until they felt right, letting ‘happy accidents’ happen, and building on the energy of the four of us being in the same room together playing live.” Immediately after finishing Beggars, Thrice performed a few high-profile shows including Bamboozle Left and the first eight dates of the Vans Warped Tour. The quartet will be rejoining the Warped tour in August to perform on the last five dates in California. While on the road, Thrice debuted two new songs from Beggars, “All The World Is Mad” and “The Weight”. “All The World Is Mad” will be available to fans exclusively on July 23 via the Vagrant Records Track Pack for Guitar Hero® World Tour. In addition to the upcoming Warped Tour dates, Thrice is headlining the Big Easy Music Festival in Nanaimo, BC on August 29 and will also announce their US fall tour plans in the coming weeks.
Tracklisting:
1) All The World Is Mad
2) The Weight
3) Circles
4) Doublespeak
5) In Exile
6) At The Last
7) Wood & Wire
8) Talking Through Glass
9) The Great Exchange
10) Beggars
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