Velocity/Rise Records have signed Boston pop-punk band A Loss For Words. The band are currently in the writing stages in between tours for the as-of-yet untitled Velocity/Rise debut, and will be recording with acclaimed producer Andrew Wade.
Seventy-two years ago last week, the 33-1/3 long-playing vinyl record was invented. And while most music fans have moved on to streaming Bluetooth audio, MP3s and other digital music formats, LP sales are higher today than at any time in recent history.
The mood inside the Sound Academy was tense. Two bands on the Snocore Tour had already canceled their sets, the loudspeaker was playing songs on repeat, and instead of the first band starting at its scheduled time, a confused-looking roadie walked across the stage and babbled away on his cell phone.
Green Day is continuing their march to an inevitable Number One album, setting up rock-opera shop at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom on May 18th for the East Coast live debut of 21st Century Breakdown. The band’s Bay Area guerilla gigs in April all featured the record in its entirety. But at the Bowery, Green Day played a pocket-jukebox edition of the album, starting with the opening title track and the first single, “Know Your Enemy.” Then the new six-piece band – with singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool assisted on guitars, keyboards and extra… Read more »
No matter who is crowned the next American Idol on Wednesday night, season eight has already been one for the books. After a wild five months that has included emotional breakdowns from near-finalists, a comedian/singer who almost crashed the top 13 with his over-the-top shtick, the first top 13, a wild card round, a judges’ save and some serious bickering in the expanded judging panel, you’d think that whatever happens on the finale would be anticlimactic. But thanks to the surprise exit of early favorite Danny Gokey last week, tonight’s sing-off between Kris Allen and Adam Lambert has injected some… Read more »
Green Day played the biggest show of its week-long tour of the San Francisco Bay Area April 14th, performing its upcoming album, 21st Century Breakdown, in its entirety. After only eight full rehearsals of the opera and those two club dates, the six-piece Green Day – Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool with guitarist Jason White, keyboardist Jason Freese and guitarist Jeff Matika – had the Quadrophenia-like hang of 21st Century Breakdown’s classic rock melodies and lifetime-punk drive down solid. “I”m not fuckin’ around,” Armstrong crowed in “Horseshoes and Handgrenades,” and there was no insecurity in the way… Read more »
Guess who’s back? Eminem appears on the cover of the latest issue of XXL magazine dressed as the Punisher – and, judging from the interview excerpts published on the magazine’s Web site, Em kept up with what was going on in hip-hop during his absence. “I stayed up on the music, and obviously I watch TV and saw what was going on,” he said. “And without naming any names, it just felt like hip-hop was going downhill. And it seemed like kinda fast. You know, in them three years, it was like everybody just cares about the hook and the… Read more »
The news about Chris Brown’s alleged assault on girlfriend Rihanna has clearly touched a nerve with the public. The range of emotions runs the gamut, from those agreeing that Rihanna should not be made a scapegoat in this saga, to others begging for a story about how, “media commonly condemns celebs before all the facts are out or before they have been convicted.” Brown, 19, turned himself in and was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats in the incident, though the District Attorney’s office kicked the case back to the police on Wednesday asking for more evidence. There were… Read more »
Chris Brown who was arrested a week ago in connection with a domestic violence investigation, said Sunday he is “sorry and saddened” by what happened and is seeking counseling from his pastor and loved ones. The 19-year-old R&B singer also said much of what has been reported of the incident is untrue, although he did not elaborate. “Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person,” Brown said in… Read more »
Americans have spoken, and their collective voice has summoned for change. After years of ads, infomercials, primaries, debates and an online campaign that generated a groundswell of support among the nation’s disaffected youth, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has defeated the Republican pick for president, Arizona Senator John McCain. The junior senator from the state of Illinois announced his candidacy 22 months ago, beginning his historic, barrier-busting bid for the nation’s highest office. CNN called the election for Obama at 11 p.m. ET, as the polls closed on the West Coast. He will be America’s 44th president. Obama is projected… Read more »
