Three bands to check out

Mayday Parade
A Lesson In Romantics Out Now on Fearless Records
Key Tracks: "When I Get Home Your So Dead," "Black Cat," "Miserable At Best"
RIYL: Panic! At The Disco, Jack's Mannequin, Brand New
MySpace: www.myspace.com/maydayparade

Why You Should Care:
Fearless Records (The label responsible for Plain White T's) just released Mayday Parade's debut full length A Lesson In Romantics on July 12th. The album is off to a great start as it debuted at #9 on Billboards Alternative New Artist Chart, #20 on the Top New Artist Chart and #41 on Independent Label Chart. The band has scanned almost 15,000 records in it's first 5 weeks. They're a great story... Last year they followed Warped Tour around in their van, played in the parking lot and sold CD's to kids on line (accumulating to 20,000 copies sold of their self-released EP). This year they were actually on Warped Tour and were one of the biggest stories on the tour, with more and more kids freaking out to their live show every day. For those who find themselves guilty of secretly (or openly) liking the All American Rejects, Fall Out Boy, Something Corporate or Taking Back Sunday - Mayday Parade is a band you need to check out ASAP. It's pop goodness at its most polished and most addictive.

The Secret Handshake
One Full Year Out Fall 2007
Key Tracks: "Summer Of '98," "Coastal Cities," "Pictures"
RIYL: Kenna, HelloGoodbye, Spank Rock
MySpace: www.myspace.com/thesecrethandshake

Why You Should Care:
Luis Dubuc is the Secret Handshake, a one man laptop show from Dallas, TX who's diverse music is a product of a wide range of influences ranging from Kenna to Daft Punk to Death Cab For Cutie. TSH's debut album One Full Year was produced by the up and coming production team Ocelot (recently signed to Check Yo Ponytail's label). One Full Year is a very well crafted electro pop record full of jams you're going to want to listen to over and over again. On TSH's EP that came out in March, Spank Rock, P.O.S., The Toxic Avenger and Dillinger Escape Plan all contributed remixes which created some great blog chatter on sites like BigStereo.net and Arjanwrites.com. TSH will be on tour with Powerspace through September and will then head out with Family Force Five in October. The Secret Handshake will play CLUB NME @ The Annex in NYC Thursday Sept, 20th.

All Time Low
So Wrong, It's Right Out Sept 25th on Hopeless
Key Tracks: "Six Feet Under The Stars," "Dear Maria, Count Me In," "Shameless"
RIYL: Blink-182, The Starting Line, New Found Glory
MySpace: www.myspace.com/alltimelow

Why You Should Care:
Because you love seeing 18 & 19 year old kids in their tighty whities (http://eastwest.ilgpress.com/alltimelow/media/). Because, at one point in your life a long time ago, you wish that you had a chance to be in a band like All Time Low. These All Time Low kids all just graduated high school in Baltimore and have attacked the punk rock world with a certain kind of charisma and zest for life that makes everyone who crosses their path a believer. They've sold 55,000 copies of their debut EP Put Up Or Shut Up, 42% digitally (which is a HUGE #) with almost no promotion or marketing behind it. It's been completely organic as they've been developing a rabid fanbase online and on the road. They've been on Warped Tour all summer (selling between 2-3,000 EP's a week) and the crowds have been growing and growing at every show. They'll follow Warped with a UK tour w/Plain White T's then a quick US run with The Starting Line and then a huge two month US tour with Boys Like Girls which is going to be completely out of control. Get in early! When their new disc drops Sept. 25th, prepare yourself for a big time Billboard debut that's going to shock a lot of people!