Or, the Whale
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Or, the Whale is a lullaby of just the right amount of music and harmonies to make a grown man sway. Their anachronistic approach to a updated down-home vibe creates a powerful testament to what musicians can create after letting go of the norm. Or as per the Influences listed on their MySpace page - hooting, hollering, clapping, yelling, swearing, singing.
Solos and bridges are a mass tinkering of flavorful instrumentation. The harmonies are supportive and shiver-producers. Their full and complete sound will keep your ears tuned in for the hidden gems of future listening sessions. This band is pure innocence and the model of integrity.
Recommended Listening: "Call and Response", "Threads" and "Crack a Smile". The guitar tones in "Saint Bernard" are also quite tasty.
The band is currently on a national tour; and probably causing a lot of people to dance for the fun of dancing.
www.myspace.com/orthewhale
Read more band reviews
Monday, August 13, 2007
Live Review: Ozzfest (Chicago)
DevilDriver, Ankla and Hatebreed ruled the day over at the side stage. All hail to any group capable of inciting hundreds of people to jump up and down, form a giant circle and mosh around in such nasty heat.You don't have to be a fan of metal to appreciate the entertainment value and the solid musicianship, particularly the fast and furious shredding by Lamb of God guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler or the duel drums of Ankla, a Latin-flavored group formed in 2001 by former Puya guitarist Ramon Ortiz.
Static-X and Lamb of God are known for amazing shows. Neither disappointed on the main stage.
Fronted by Wayne Static, an atheist, vegetarian and former Chicagoan, Static-X delivered its evil-disco brand of metal with new material from "Cannibal" along with thrash-in-place staples such as "Bled For Days," "Cold" and "Push It."
Sum 41: The great white hope of punk pop
SheKnows.com: The name of the album, "Underclass Hero," is that in any way a nod to John Lennon's "Working Class Hero?"Drummer Steve Jocz: Yeah, I think we had that in mind. Of course then Green Day came out and released "Working Class Hero" which is like 'Yes that is awesome that that happened.' It's a subtle nod. The idea was a cool line and we took it changed it into something else. The title, it's not really about a class in particular. It was more as I was telling you, Dave left and we got rid of our management so everyone really thought we were just f*#*! and this record wouldn't pack it and we didn't know what we were doing and Deryck produced it and that's not going to work. We were the underdogs, no one thought this was going to happen and now, here we are.
Metal Queen Management (MQM) is announces MQMusicFest 2007
Being held on Sunday, August 19, 2007 at The Phoenix Concert Theatre, This year's festival is a 12-hour rockmusic marathon, kicking off at 12:00 noon and lasting non-stop until 12:00 midnight.
MQMusicFest will showcase the very best of Canada's up-and-coming, aswell as established, musical talents. This year saw over 60 bandsapply through Sonicbids to play MQMusicFest, yet only a select fewwere chosen. Artists confirmed to date include:
Edwin http://www.edwinonline.ca
Mudmen http://www.mudmen.ca
Revolver http://www.revolvertv.com
Crash Kelly http://www.crashkelly.ca
Automan.ca http://www.automan.ca
Sin Dealer http://www.myspace.com/sindealer
Crackpuppy http://crackpuppy.net
Automatic Band http://www.myspace.com/automaticband
Scarlet Sins http://www.scarletsinsonline.com
Sixes & Sevens http://www.myspace.com/mikemcavansixesandsevens
Basia Lyjak http://www.myspace.com/basialyjak
Zeroscape http://www.zeroscapemusic.com
Fidget http://www.myspace.com/fidgetpunk
High Voltage http://www.myspace.com/highvoltage89
Ash Lee Blade http://www.myspace.com/ashleeblade
Crazy Babies http://www.crazybabies.com
More Info
MQMusicFest will showcase the very best of Canada's up-and-coming, aswell as established, musical talents. This year saw over 60 bandsapply through Sonicbids to play MQMusicFest, yet only a select fewwere chosen. Artists confirmed to date include:
Edwin http://www.edwinonline.ca
Mudmen http://www.mudmen.ca
Revolver http://www.revolvertv.com
Crash Kelly http://www.crashkelly.ca
Automan.ca http://www.automan.ca
Sin Dealer http://www.myspace.com/sindealer
Crackpuppy http://crackpuppy.net
Automatic Band http://www.myspace.com/automaticband
Scarlet Sins http://www.scarletsinsonline.com
Sixes & Sevens http://www.myspace.com/mikemcavansixesandsevens
Basia Lyjak http://www.myspace.com/basialyjak
Zeroscape http://www.zeroscapemusic.com
Fidget http://www.myspace.com/fidgetpunk
High Voltage http://www.myspace.com/highvoltage89
Ash Lee Blade http://www.myspace.com/ashleeblade
Crazy Babies http://www.crazybabies.com
More Info
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Live Review: Slayer & Marilyn Manson
The night started like most, get to the parking lot – pay too much to park – have a beverage – see the cops bust some guy's stones for pissing on the fence but then let him go – a few battle cries of "Slayer!!!" echoing throughout the lot. The one difference was the mix of fans, from the hardcore blue collar Slayer fans in ripped jeans and T-shirts to the "everyday is Halloween" Manson fans all decked out in the Goth finest. This should be interesting...
Read More Here
MITM Notes: The article was written by Stephen Wells, aka Well-Z, who also drums for The Hixon.
Read More Here
MITM Notes: The article was written by Stephen Wells, aka Well-Z, who also drums for The Hixon.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
The Ten Best Bands That Never Existed
Some of the longstanding "who's the best musician" arguments are so old they've grown tiresome. Who’s the best guitarist that ever lived? Who’s the best singer that ever walked the planet? Best band ever to ever play live? Despite copious lists and countdowns, no definitive answers have ever been reached. To this day, we have no conclusive proof as to whether The Beatles were better than The Rolling Stones . . . or The Who . . . or U2. This list makes no attempt to resolve any argument over the best musicians who ever lived. Rather, it resolves the question of ranking the best bands that never really existed.Some of the bands on this list never produced one note of audible music, others needed real musicians to give them voice, a couple served as alter egos and one band is made up of puppets. Regardless of their corporeal status, in one form or another, these bands embodied the ethos of rock and roll, either by capturing the essence of a certain genre, leaving a lasting influence on real-life musicians or, despite their manifestation as a fictional entity, by creating some rockin' tunes.
#10: The School Of Rock
Enter the Haggis: From Unemployment to Touring
Many musicians have great stories to tell about how their band was formed, how their love of music drove them to the studio or the stage.Craig Downie, founder of Enter the Haggis, has a much humbler story. "I needed a job," he said. "I was trying to be an actor and had done a few bits in theater or as an extra, but there was no steady income.
"So I had to decide which kind of impoverished performer I wanted to be," he said. "Did I want to be an actor waiting for a part, or did I want to be a musician and put together a band of people I could at least enjoy being poor with."
"Thrash was the pinnacle of metal," says Get Thrashed filmmaker Rick Ernst
"Thrash was the pinnacle of metal," says filmmaker and rabid thrasher Rick Ernst. "It was the fastest, heaviest, coolest stuff you could find."
Ernst's documentary, Get Thrashed, is currently making its way through the film-festival circuit. A New York screening sold out, and a San Francisco showing had headbangers lined up around the block. Ernst, a former intern for MTV's Headbanger's Ball, has perfect timing. After years on the scrap heap, thrash is experiencing a full-blown revival, featuring new-school shredders like Trivium, SSS, and Mastery.
Read More Here
Ernst's documentary, Get Thrashed, is currently making its way through the film-festival circuit. A New York screening sold out, and a San Francisco showing had headbangers lined up around the block. Ernst, a former intern for MTV's Headbanger's Ball, has perfect timing. After years on the scrap heap, thrash is experiencing a full-blown revival, featuring new-school shredders like Trivium, SSS, and Mastery.
Read More Here
Warner Music, home to Madonna and Metallica, Has Wider Third-Quarter Loss; Sales Fall
Warner Music Group Corp., the recording company of Madonna and Metallica, posted a wider third- quarter loss because of expenses tied to job cuts and a drop in compact disc sales. The shares closed at a record low.
The net loss of $17 million, or 12 cents a share, expanded from $14 million, or 10 cents, a year earlier, New York-based Warner Music said today in a statement. Revenue fell 2.2 percent to $804 million, missing the average $842.7 million of three analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The loss excluding some costs and gains also trailed projections.
Revenue from recorded music fell 3.7 percent in the quarter as albums by Linkin Park and Michael Buble didn't drive sales as much as new releases from Red Hot Chili Peppers, James Blunt and T.I. a year earlier. Increased sales of downloaded music and mobile-phone ringtones failed to make up for the decline in CDs.
Read More Here
The net loss of $17 million, or 12 cents a share, expanded from $14 million, or 10 cents, a year earlier, New York-based Warner Music said today in a statement. Revenue fell 2.2 percent to $804 million, missing the average $842.7 million of three analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The loss excluding some costs and gains also trailed projections.
Revenue from recorded music fell 3.7 percent in the quarter as albums by Linkin Park and Michael Buble didn't drive sales as much as new releases from Red Hot Chili Peppers, James Blunt and T.I. a year earlier. Increased sales of downloaded music and mobile-phone ringtones failed to make up for the decline in CDs.
Read More Here
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Silvertide Guitarist Nick Perri Joins Satellite Party
In a post on his band's MySpace blog, Farrell downplayed the moves.
"As is the case with all launched projectiles, parts fall off the back as the rocket climbs toward heaven," Farrell wrote. "Our new members are Nick Perri, and Jordan Plosky."
Farrell describes Perri as an "an exceptional young player" and "an amazing performer," saying the "room was struck by a bolt of lightning" during his audition.
Read More Here
MITM says: Nick is a great guitarist who's talents have yet to be fully recognized on the giant map of who's who in six-string mastery. As few of us can say, "we saw him when" back in the Philly club days. But while he's on tour with SP, where does this leave the new Silvertide album?
"As is the case with all launched projectiles, parts fall off the back as the rocket climbs toward heaven," Farrell wrote. "Our new members are Nick Perri, and Jordan Plosky."
Farrell describes Perri as an "an exceptional young player" and "an amazing performer," saying the "room was struck by a bolt of lightning" during his audition.
Read More Here
MITM says: Nick is a great guitarist who's talents have yet to be fully recognized on the giant map of who's who in six-string mastery. As few of us can say, "we saw him when" back in the Philly club days. But while he's on tour with SP, where does this leave the new Silvertide album?
Monday, August 6, 2007
The End of Slayer?
Tom Araya has told Worcester magazine that the next Slayer album may be their last. In an interview discussing the Slayer/Marilyn Manson coheadlining tour, the metal legend also discussed what the future may hold for Slayer and Araya feels that the end may be near."Well, there have been remarks made about seeing an old man headbang. And I have to agree," Araya said in the interview. "I think the Stones can do that, probably go out and do their stuff in their 80s, but it just wouldn't look right [for us], you know what I mean?
Music publishers join copyright infringement case against YouTube
A group of music publishing companies says it will join a copyright infringement lawsuit against Google's video-sharing site YouTube.
The National Music Publishers' Association said it was joining the lawsuit out of concern that many songwriters weren't receiving proper compensation when their music appeared on YouTube videos.
The lawsuit also includes as plaintiffs The Football Association Premier League and Viacom Inc.
Read More Here
The National Music Publishers' Association said it was joining the lawsuit out of concern that many songwriters weren't receiving proper compensation when their music appeared on YouTube videos.
The lawsuit also includes as plaintiffs The Football Association Premier League and Viacom Inc.
Read More Here
CHILDREN OF BODOM: New Video Footage From Recording Studio
Finnish metallers Children of Bodom have posted the first episode of COB TV News — a special report from the studio session for the band's brand new song "Tie My Rope" which will appear on the upcoming "Viva La Bands, Vol. 2" album, due on September 4 via Ferret Music / Filthy Note Records. Watch the episode below. Listen to the track on the group's MySpace page.
Read More Here
Read More Here
Judas Priest, Anthrax, Quiet Riot and more: "Guitar Hero Encore"
Back in the 1980s, heavy metal and New Wave music never mixed. No, never. If you wore a mullet or rocked a Mohawk, you may have shared a type of hair spray, but never a mix tape.Nostalgia, though, heals all wounds — at least in the recently released "Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s" (PlayStation 2, $49.99, rated T for Teen). In the latest edition of the popular "Guitar Hero" series, players can jump from the Vapors' "Turning Japanese" to Skid Row's lighters-up ballad "18 and Life." No problem.
It may surprise you to know that a favorite song isn't always the most fun to play — and that the opposite can be true. Back in high school, I hated Poison and Quiet Riot, but now I can't stop strumming them. Let's hear it for heavy-metal power cords! I wanna rock! ROCK!
Read More Here
Mesa, AZ Councilman Kyle Jones: Not a Fan of Heavy Metal
Downtown Mesa will throb for 10 hours on Sunday to the sounds of dark heavy-metal bands, and a city councilman isn't happy about it."It's not what we want our image to be," said Kyle Jones, who represents downtown on the council. "For me personally I'd just as soon we didn't have any of that kind of stuff."
The festivities, called Sounds of the Underground, run from noon to 10 p.m. at the Mesa Amphitheatre.
EMI CD sales plummet to tune of 20%
Music revenues fell by 13.4 per cent in the quarter. EMI added that it had been the victim of “difficult market conditions,” as a 26 per cent surge in digital revenues failed to offset plunging physical sales.
Revenues at EMI’s publishing arm grew 12 per cent on a constant currency basis, partly on the back of litigation settlements.
Read More Here
Revenues at EMI’s publishing arm grew 12 per cent on a constant currency basis, partly on the back of litigation settlements.
Read More Here
Who Needs Record Labels? Unsigned Canadian Matthew Good Debuts at #17 this week in US iTunes Store
This is the story the record labels have always feared.Canadian rocker Matthew Good had been recording professionally in North America for the past 12 years. When his U.S. record deal with Atlantic Records expired, he had some choices to make: try to find a new label that would distribute his music in the States, try to get a new deal with Atlantic, try something totally different, or completely give up on getting his cds (which are hugely popular in Canada) heard here in the USA.
Major Label’s Proxy Has a New Scapegoat for Its Lack of Business Acumen: Internet Radio
Internet radio has mushroomed over the last few years to more than 2,500 stations. Most estimates say that 50 million people tune in at least monthly to webcasts. A big part of the draw is the eclectic programming, which recalls the golden age of anything-goes FM radio in the 70s.
But on March 2, the Copyright Royalty Board increased per-song-played royalty rates from 0.0008 to 0.0019 over the next three years—based in large part on the RIAA’s traditional Orwellian testimony about artists’ rights. That’s just one less zero to the left of the decimal, but small webcasters’ rates will be 300 to 1,200 percent higher (depending on the size of their audiences), effectively shutting down most sites.
The Save Net Radio Coalition - a grassroots organization of listeners, webcasters, record labels and artists fighting the rate hikes—calls July 15, the day the first bill is due (and retroactive to 2006), “The Day the Music Dies.”
Read More Here
But on March 2, the Copyright Royalty Board increased per-song-played royalty rates from 0.0008 to 0.0019 over the next three years—based in large part on the RIAA’s traditional Orwellian testimony about artists’ rights. That’s just one less zero to the left of the decimal, but small webcasters’ rates will be 300 to 1,200 percent higher (depending on the size of their audiences), effectively shutting down most sites.
The Save Net Radio Coalition - a grassroots organization of listeners, webcasters, record labels and artists fighting the rate hikes—calls July 15, the day the first bill is due (and retroactive to 2006), “The Day the Music Dies.”
Read More Here
Every Time I Die: New Song on MySpace Now Available
Buffalo, New York based rockers Every Time I Die have recently released the second track off of their upcoming release The Big Dirty, September 4th on Ferret Music. The new track is entitled “No Son of Mine”. Singer Keith Buckley had this to say about the track:
“This song deals with the mindless allegiance that people have towards certain recognizable public figures. Particularly in the music scene, debauchery and excess are heralded above all else, and for that reason it is easy for new bands coming up to apply a little makeup and declare themselves "addicts" as if it were a marketing strategy. In "no son of mine", I'm saying it takes time and effort to become the reprobates we are, and once achieved, is something we declare proudly only because the true sadness of it is too much to handle.”
To get an even better idea of just how great this album is be sure to check out the first official review of the album which will be posted on www.absolutepunk.net this Friday. The Big Dirty is definitely an album not to be missed and sure to be on many critics year end best of lists. Don’t miss out be sure to pick up The Big Dirty in stores on September 4th.
“This song deals with the mindless allegiance that people have towards certain recognizable public figures. Particularly in the music scene, debauchery and excess are heralded above all else, and for that reason it is easy for new bands coming up to apply a little makeup and declare themselves "addicts" as if it were a marketing strategy. In "no son of mine", I'm saying it takes time and effort to become the reprobates we are, and once achieved, is something we declare proudly only because the true sadness of it is too much to handle.”
To get an even better idea of just how great this album is be sure to check out the first official review of the album which will be posted on www.absolutepunk.net this Friday. The Big Dirty is definitely an album not to be missed and sure to be on many critics year end best of lists. Don’t miss out be sure to pick up The Big Dirty in stores on September 4th.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Company sets scene for local musicians
JD Music Productions began as a support for bands by offering musicians assistance with live-sound engineering, management and tour planning in 2003. Today it is a full-service artist development and cd-production studio, boasting state-of-the-art gear, a serene setting and affordable prices for recording artists.James Gross, 29, of Prior Lake, started the production company after completing an advanced music diploma for guitar at Music Tech College in Minneapolis.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)