Search Results for: the get up kids

Anyone who visited their Web site and thought that Hearts That Hate were the next big thing out of the emo scene is about to get a reality check from MC Lars. The fictitious band has a starring role in “Signing Emo,” the second single off Lars’ Laptop EP. The song, a send-up of the bandwagon-jumping that goes on in the music industry, finds a 40-year-old, overweight and out-of-touch A&R exec named Marty feeling pressure from his boss to ink an emo band – any emo band – to the label because the boss’ daughter likes Dashboard Confessional. Just before… Read more »

Renee Gilinger was on Philadelphia’s South Street recently asking the youthful, jeans-and-T-shirt crowd waiting in line for a heavy-metal concert, “Are you planning to vote?” Gilinger’s outreach is part of what is shaping up to be the nation’s biggest and most expensive effort ever to get out the youth vote. “It’s crazy to ignore this constituency,” said Gilinger, Pennsylvania director for the Young Voter Alliance, a coalition of Democratic and Independent groups working to register young people in five swing-vote states, including Pennsylvania. “I got names and contact information for 40 to 50 people,” she said. “That’s 40 to 50… Read more »

The Backstreet Boys were congregating backstage at Saturday’s Wango Tango On-Air festival when a herd of security guards nearly tumbled them. “They were like, ‘Move out of the way, get up against the wall,’” Nick Carter recalled later, smiling and likely embellishing a bit. “And then William Hung came through.” “Who?” Kevin Richardson asked. “Well Hung?” Joke or not, on a bill that included Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Jessica Simpson and a dozen other acts, William Hung was the headliner. After 14 hours of pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B and everything in between, the “American Idol” reject, dressed in a paisley… Read more »

It’s a good thing for Ryan Key that there’s no age requirement on nostalgia. His band, Yellowcard, is on the brink of a bright future thanks to a hit single that reminisces about the past. “It covers a broad, general topic without being too cheesy about it,” Key said of “Ocean Avenue.” “It’s one of those songs that kind of just captures that feeling of nostalgia and missing home and trying to get somewhere in your life that you can’t find anymore, because you’re all old and everything sucks and you’re not with your friends anymore.” Those sentiments seem better… Read more »

Whether he wore his Huggy Bear attire is unclear, but Snoop Dogg had some business meetings before he attended the “Starsky & Hutch” premiere a couple of weeks back. If the rapper appeared a little more lively than his usual laid-back self at Los Angeles’ Mann’s Westwood Village theater, it’s probably because his all-star group 213, featuring Warren G and Nate Dogg, signed a record deal hours before. “We just did the deal with TVT today, so y’all be on the lookout,” Snoop said as he strolled the red carpet in full-on pimp wear. “The album should be out late… Read more »

At a time when ProTools and Technics seem to be all the rage, P.O.D. are adopting a back-to-basics approach to their music. Ironically, they’re currently touring with Linkin Park, a band whose infamous use of digital editing tends to ruffle the panties of traditional musicians everywhere. According to P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval, however, it’s not such a big deal. “They’re good at what they do,” he says of his tourmates. “They have the old synthesizer and Depeche Mode type of vibe, and Chester and Mike and all the guys are great at what they do. But for me personally, I… Read more »

A year ago, Smile Empty Soul really were nowhere kids. With no album or single out yet, they were riding around in a dilapidated van that was crowded and playing in dilapidated clubs that weren’t. Now the bandmembers ride in a comfortable bus, get recognized even before they take the stage, and their single “Nowhere Kids” is blowing up at radio. Not only do Smile Empty Soul now have the luxury to travel in style, they can afford creature comforts and absurd indulgences. “We have a ridiculous amount of totally illegal fireworks on our bus,” bassist Ryan Martin admitted. “It’s… Read more »

Hot off the heels of two platinum albums and a sold out US tour, the members of R&B/Hip-Hop super-group B2K have parted ways. B2K’s Omarion, Lil Fizz, J-Boog and Raz have broken up after six years together. B2K’s hit singles include “Bump, Bump Bump” featuring Sean “Puffy” Combs, “Girlfriend” and “Gots Ta Be.” The group has received a bevy of awards, nominations and accolades including American Music Awards, MTV, BET, Billboard Music and Soul Train Award wins and nominations. Rumors have been speculating a breakup inside the B2K camp for some time now. Disagreements amongst the quartet are the reason… Read more »

Making good on its promise to sue online pirates, the recording industry filed a round of lawsuits against computer users in federal courthouses Monday. More than 260 civil lawsuits were levied against people targeted by the cutthroat campaign, which the Recording Industry Association of America hopes will stamp out the rampant piracy believed to be causing a slump in record sales. The users’ identities were given to the RIAA by their Internet service providers, who were compelled to do so by the more than 1,500 subpoenas that have been filed since July. The first of what may amount to thousands… Read more »

Parents, roommates – even grandparents – are being targeted in the music industry’s new campaign to track computer users who share songs over the Internet, bringing the threat of expensive lawsuits to more than college kids. “Within five minutes, if I can get hold of her, this will come to an end,” said Gordon Pate of Dana Point, California, when told by The Associated Press that a federal subpeona had been issued over his daughter’s music downloads. The subpoena required the family’s Internet provider to hand over Pate’s name and address to lawyers for the recording industry. Pate, 67, confirmed… Read more »