End o' week musings

"Wait a minute!" you say. "It's not Friday! Mickie's ripping us off!"

Well, yes and no. I will be attending the Vans Warped Tour tomorrow, so there won't be any exciting blogging from me. So feeling a tad guilty, I thought I'd give you my ramblings today.

Starting with last Saturday, I went to the International Make-Up Artist Trade Show at the Pasadena Convention Center. There were lots of monsters, accident victims and fantasy creatures walking the floor, as well as a few really cool beauty items for us regular gals.

Sunday I spent some time at the beach, paddling in the waves and soaking up a little sun. My friend, Carlos, joined me and we went to Leo Carrillo, where you can bring your dog (on leash) and even camp. It was so much fun watching the pups play in the surf and laze in the sand. I'll have to reserve an overnight so my pup, Atticus, and I can get in our fill of boogie boarding and barbecuing.

Monday was mom day for me. My mother arrived on the early train and we headed out to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens in Claremont. We wandered through the grounds for a few hours and then drove into Claremont Village, where we ate at Walter's and then strolled the main drag. My mom loves the train, but she let me drive her home where we hung out and chatted the remainder of the afternoon away.

I was worn out when I got back home so I took a nap and then found myself getting in the car and heading out to Mr. T's Bowl in Highland Park. My friend's band, the Abe Lincoln Story, was playing and I also caught The Digs, who were quite good. I stayed a little late to see the first few songs of the last group- they were terrific, but I knew I needed to get some sleep, as the rest of my week was promising to be extra busy.

In my free time (ha ha ha!) this week I practiced my dancing and singing and wrote lots of stories. At work I'm also learning how to edit the videos that we put on the Web. Tonight it's off to the Warped Tour Pre-Party with Gallows, Friday you know and Saturday it's all-dance with the a performance at the Baldwin Park's 24-Hour Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society and a trip out to San Bernardino for Mecda IE's Punk Raqs show.... perhaps I'll get to sleep in Sunday... yeah, right!

This just in- congrats to my friend, Joe Walla, on the happy arrival of his two newest babies (read guitars), check out the cute photo!

In rotation this week: Oojami, Tribe of Gypsies, Janis Joplin, Joe Walla Band, Gwar and Chico's Bail Bonds.

Keep your cool despite the heat and tell someone something nice (be honest) this week

and, as always,

keep on rockin'

Mickie

Bon Jovi on "Ellen" today and Friday

All the anticipation in the world paid off last week for Island Records group Bon Jovi, as their new album LOST HIGHWAY (released June 19th) gave the band the first #1 U.S. debut of their career on the Billboard 200, on opening week sales of more than 291,000 copies – their biggest-ever one-week sales total. LOST HIGHWAY also debuted #1 on Billboard’s Rock Albums chart, Billboard’s European Top 100 chart, in Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Austria, Thailand and Japan where Bon Jovi’s #1 chart debut gave them their 4th #1 career album – breaking the record which they shared with the Beatles, of three #1’s.

“LOST HIGHWAY is a career-defining collection of new songs that is resonating with Bon Jovi fans in a way that established a new standard of success for the band,” said Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group. “Bon Jovi has once again proved that their loyal following not only transcends any changes in the marketplace, but in fact has grown in numbers. 2007 is shaping up as a monumental year in Bon Jovi’s history.”

As Soundscan album sales officially began at midnight, 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Bon Jovi’s “Stripped” live performance was put up on 602 Clear Channel radio station websites from coast-to-coast. The program features six live song videos – the new single, “(You Want To) Make A Memory,” the album title track, “Lost Highway,” “Wanted Dead Or Alive,” “Hallelujah,” “Whole Lot Of Leavin’,” and “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” – plus an exclusive interview.

The 602 stations – representing an on-air audience of 40 million across the Mainstream Rock, Classic Rock, Hot AC, Country, and News/Talk/Sports formats – marked an all-time record number of participating stations for a Clear Channel Stripped promotion. More than 1.1 million homepage impressions were logged altogether in the first 48 hours.

That same Tuesday morning, NBC’s Today Show announced that Bon Jovi drew the biggest outdoor audience in the show’s history, for the band’s live 4-song performance outside on the Plaza. TV continued for Bon Jovi on Wednesday morning, on ABC’s The View, which will be followed by two more dates on Ellen next week (June 28-29).

First week sales received a further boost with the premiere tv broadcasts of Bon Jovi’s “Unplugged” acoustic performances on MTV, VH1 and CMT – on June 22nd, 23rd and 24th (Friday through Sunday), respectively. Fans were treated to live acoustic versions of “(You Want To) Make A Memory,” “Lost Highway,” and a duet with guest LeAnn Rimes on another new album track, “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore.” The All American Rejects joined Bon Jovi for a reprise of their classic “It’s My Life.” New arrange­ments (many of them featuring full strings accompaniment) were charted for many of Bon Jovi’s classic hits as well as some rarely-heard album cuts.

Across the river, New Jersey homeboys Bon Jovi will be the inaugural performers at The Rock, the brand new arena at Newark’s Prudential Center (new home of the Devils hockey team), with 10 nights starting October 25th – the band’s only tour dates of 2007. Ticket sales were so brisk for the first five shows (Oct. 25, 26, 28, 30 and Nov. 1) that five additional nights have been added (for Nov. 3, 4, 7, 9, 10).

Earlier this month, Bon Jovi partnered with Ticket­master for the first-ever advance concert ticket + digital album package presale. For a period of 10 days ending June 22nd, every concert ticket purchased through the exclusive online presale program was bundled with a digital download of LOST HIGHWAY. Tickets are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com.

In April, Jon Bon Jovi and David Bryan served as mentors to the six finalists on “American Idol,” as seen by 30 million viewers. The performance of “(You Want To) Make A Memory” on the second night launched the album pre-sale at the www.bonjovi.com website as well as the exclusive video premiere on AOL. LOST HIGHWAY follows the success of Bon Jovi’s record-breaking world tour and multi-platinum album Have A Nice Day, released September 2005.

Bon Jovi has sold over 120 million albums around the world and performed more than 2,500 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 32 million people.

June on tour and readying album for August

Recently wrapping up the recording of their second album on Victory Records Make It Blur (release date: August 7, 2007), Chicago indie rockers JUNE aren't sitting around on their butts, waiting for the album to come out. They're doing what comes naturally - they're hitting the road. Currently finishing their early summer tour with A Change of Pace and This Providence, June are continuing on in their van for a tour with Boys Night Out and Emanuel up until release date.
"It's going to be great just to be out on tour," says drummer Mark Sutor. "We know all these bands well, so the shows should be a ton of fun. We've been off for about nine months writing/recording, so touring will be awesome."
Make It Blur is a marked departure from the band's debut album, 2005's If You Speak Any Faster. With Marc McClusky (Hit the Lights, Powerspace) in the producer's chair, the band set out to create their opus, the album they'd be incredibly proud of. And Make It Blur is just that - an album they're incredibly proud of.
"We took way more time with this record compared to our last one," explains Mark. "We thought we did enough work the last time, but to go with the theme of the record, we knew how much more work we had to do this time around. We demoed every song numerous times and went over them with different parts until we were completely stoked with every idea. On the last record, we went in and recorded all the ideas we had and that was just the 11 songs that made it onto the disc. With this record, we had 18-20 songs to choose from."
Culling it down to the 12 strongest songs, their hard work really paid off. From the orchestral oomph of the opening track "No Time For Sense" to the acoustic-led intricate guitar work of "Finally" to the harmonica-laden pop gem "I'd Lose Myself", Make It Blur is an album that bypasses transition and lands them in the winner's seat. With each of the 12 tracks a standout, June has created a cohesive album that shows incredible growth and truly presents the band as seasoned musicians not afraid to show their really tight melodic edge while demonstrating their musical chops at the same time.
"We definitely drew from our influences much more on this record," he continues. "It has a lot more of a pop feel. Influences range from Maroon 5, Third Eye Blind, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake, etc. I think the fans are going to love the songs because I feel like we have matured a lot more in-between the last record and this one."
Make It Blur is the sound of a band on the verge of hugeness... With this album, their potential to break through in a big way isn't blurry... It's crystal clear.

JUNE on the road
Jun 27 Marquis Theatre Denver, CO
Jun 28 The Rock Papillion, NE
Jun 29 Picador Iowa City, IA
Jul 5 Belvidere Theatre Belvidere, NJ
Jul 6 Revolution Hall Troy, NY
Jul 7 The Buffalo Icon Buffalo, NY
Jul 8 TLA Philadelphia, PA
Jul 9 Webster Theatre Hartford, CT
Jul 10 Knitting Factory New York, NY
Jul 11 Axis Boston, MA
Jul 12 Sonar Baltimore, MD
Jul 13 Peppermint Beach Virginia Beach, VA
Jul 15 The Casbah Charlotte, NC
Jul 16 The Masquerade Atlanta, GA
Jul 17 Orpheum Tampa, FL
Jul 18 The Social Orlando, FL
Jul 19 Ray’s Downtown W. Palm Beach, FL
Jul 20 Jack Rabbits Jacksonville, FL
Jul 21 The Beta Bar Tallahasse, FL
Jul 23 Meridian-Red Room Houston, TX
Jul 24 White Rabbit San Antonio, TX
Jul 25 The Door Dallas, TX
Jul 27 Skate Park Cordova, TN
Aug 17 House of Blues Chicago, IL

Conscientious Projector Series continues

Conscientious Projector Screens In Debt We Trust: America Before the Bubble Bursts
The United States is a nation in debt, with millions of Americans susceptible to the lure of instant credit and burdened by the consequences when the bill comes due. In Debt We Trust, to be presented on Thursday, July 12 at 7 pm at The Armory Center for the Arts, examines the devastating impact of consumer debt and predatory lending practices on individuals and families. Absorbing and comprehensive, the film also warns of a national security crisis that our national debt of nearly nine trillion dollars might bring. Written, produced and directed by Danny Schechter, author, social critic, and Emmy-winning former senior news producer for CNN and ABC News.

Robyn Smith, Deputy Attorney General for the California Department of Justice and founding member of Sustainable World, will facilitate a community discussion following the film. The Armory is located at 145 N. Raymond in Old Pasadena. Admission is free and the facility is accessible to disabled persons. The series is co-sponsored by All Saints Church's Sustainable World Ministry and the ImagineAction-Theatre of the Oppressed in association with The Armory Center for the Arts. For more information, contact Marty Coleman at 626.792.4941.

Check out freshred.com for your music needs

freshred.com, a brand new music Web site that seamlessly integrates live concert listings, music recommendations and a simplified, complete user experience, has officially launched today.
"We are the online music resource for die-hard and casual live music fans to learn about all bands and music events coming to Los Angeles," freshred.com's brainchild, Founder Mayur Khandelwal explains. "We've created the most comprehensive, community-focused, online music search engine allowing users to browse for venues, bands and music related events all in one place."

freshred.com features include weekly, customized newsletters with recommended "Shows of the Week" from music experts, a venue directory and special promotions including free concert tickets and prize giveaways from freshred.com's sponsors. Some of the Web 2.0 tools that fans will find useful include auto-notices when favorite acts add a show in LA, RSS feeds and personalized weekly calendars. Unlike other music sites, which depend on promoters and artists to provide event information, freshred.com seeks to collect as much listing information as possible. The site invites venues, bands and promoters to create a username and password and submit user protected up-to-the-minute show listings, ensuring that all freshred.com listings are accurate.
"In its current form, freshred.com tracks approximately 90 venues and 1,000 listings a week," says freshred.com's Khandelwal. "This is double the listings of other sites and in a format that's much easier to use. With over ten thousand local bands in Los Angeles, we thought it would be the perfect city to launch. Phase two will include a user’s forum for fans to post their own show reviews."
freshred.com provides a simple, easy-to-navigate, online resource for live music listings in the Los Angeles region. As the ultimate site for music artists of all genres and music venues to connect with live music fans, freshred.com helps to increase event awareness and audience attendance.
For more information on LA's premiere online live music guide refer to www.freshred.com.

5th Projekt to perform at Harry Potter event

It is with great pleasure that we can announce a rather special 5th PROJEKT concert. Casa Loma in Toronto is, of course, Canada's most famous castle. The former home of Sir Henry Pellat, replete with secret passages, secret suites, an 800-foot tunnel and a five-acre estate garden, will host this one-off event marking the book release party of the seventh and final instalment of the Harry Potter saga, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This wonderful evening will also include dinner, dance and an opportunity to purchase the new book.
The concert follows up 5th PROJEKT's debut album CiRCADiAN, released on their own label Organik Rekords. The album is a multi-faceted work that addresses themes of balance, discovery and the relationship between humanity and the environment.
5th PROJEKT's music has been described in critical circles as unique, imaginative, cinematic rock. CiRCADiAN entered at number 5 on CIUT FM and the band received a nomination for Best International Artist at the 2007 Orange County Music Awards in California. They were also nominated for Best Alternative artist at the Toronto Independent Music Awards. The band has enjoyed critical acclaim and numerous awards.
5th PROJEKT formed in 2003 when disparate souls converged over a kindred musical spirit. The stunning vocals of Tara Rice beautifully complement the guitar of Skodt D. McNalty and the rhythm section of Peter Broadley on bass and Scott Honsberger on drums. CiRCADiAN is the culmination of four years of hard work and inspiration. "In A Coma" sets things going with dreamlike lyrical meditation while "One To Throw Away" takes to task our blatant disregard for the fragile ecosystems that surround us, including our own bodies. The multi-layered "Resistance" features the line "They appear as quickly as they escape, these dreams and revelations," reflecting the album's general musical theme of ambience and surreal atmosphere.
It is this original and eclectic sound that has resulted in their music being showcased at the release party for the Harry Potter book should be quite a night.
"This album is one great kaleidoscopic orgy of sound. True to independent form, the band has added all sorts of experimentation. The four-piece band is in itself an orchestra with listed instruments going well beyond the guitar, bass and drums to include the 'gna gna', a pint glass and field recordings." Neal Moogk-Soulis, Imprint
"5th PROJEKT have fused their influences together to create a distinct sound within the independent music scene." Sarah Hanson, The Gauntlet
"From the dreamy opening first track "In a Coma?", you will be mesmerized by the luscious beauty of Tara Rice's vocals. Although you could call 5th PROJEKT prog rock, the variety in their music is evidence of their refusal to fit neatly into one genre. No two songs are the same, which makes it that much more pleasurable to listen to." Charmaine Merchant, The Spill
CiRCADiAN is available on the web at www.5thprojekt.com/emporium , CD Baby and iTunes.

Hip-hop's Noreaga offers new release

Renowned indie hip-hop label Babygrande Records, home to such acclaimed acts as Hi-Tek, GZA, Jedi Mind Tricks & more, is pleased to announce one of the hottest releases of the summer: Noreaga’s Noreality.
Streeting in September, Noreality heralds Noreaga’s highly anticipated return to hip-hop, after broadening his base (and showcasing his versatility) with 2004’s reggaeton project Y La Familia… Ya Tu Sabe. Now, with the release of Noreality, Noreaga takes it back to hip-hop and back to the streets where his last album scanned over 400,000 copies.
Noreaga's resume reads like a veritable who's who of hip-hop elite, having both appeared and collaborated with the likes of Jay Z, the iconic Big Pun, R. Kelly, Swizz Beats, Pharrell, Cam'ron, DJ Clue and many more. One of hip-hop's most respected stalwarts, Noreaga's viability has consistently withstood both fluctuating creative and commercial climates, having sold millions of units throughout the past 8 years. Noreaga is not only focused lyrically but he’s also focused on his own business and new label: Thugged Out Militainment.
Produced under Thugged Out Militainment and released in partnership with Babygrande, Noreaga has officially gone independent for his forthcoming Album/DVD Noreality. Noreaga wants his fans to be clear that Noreality is not a mixtape; rather, it is an album he created while shooting his DVD reality show and that’s what it inspired it—his everyday life.
Noreaga adds, “I just want to give the fans that something extra this time.”
Noreaga delivers on that promise, back at it again with 2007’s Noreality, featuring high profile, A-list guest appearances from Jadakiss, Three Six Mafia, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Prodigy (of Mobb Deep), Bun B, Tru Life, David Banner, Capone, Kurupt & more. With production by Swizz Beatz, among others, the album is the next chapter in a storied 10+ year career from one of hip-hop's most accomplished and respected emcees. The DVD version, which will be in limited quantity, features Norega’s reality show about his everyday life.
Chuck Wilson, Babygrande’s CEO added, “Noreaga is a legend and a pioneer. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with him and even more thrilled that N.O.R.E. is back on that street sh*t we all love.”

www.babygrande.com

ASPCA to work with the National Football League

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced that it is working with the National Football League on the development of educational materials to assist the league in its annual presentations to NFL teams.

To supports its players, the NFL makes several presentations to its teams each year on a range of issues. This initiative will draw on the ASPCA’s expertise to enhance awareness in the NFL on the proper treatment of animals.

“The ASPCA’s mission remains as vital today as it was 141 years ago—to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals,” said Ed Sayres, president & CEO of the ASPCA. “We do this every day through various outbound communications, as well as through our cause-marketing relationships with corporate entities and our Humane Education department. The ASPCA also serves in an advisory capacity on humane animal care standards to corporations and industry around the country.

“This initiative is a natural extension of our existing education and advisory outreach. We applaud the NFL for taking the responsibility to educate its players and teams on the importance of caring properly for animals and helping raise awareness for everyone about this issue.”

The NFL’s education and training programs for players are designed to help ensure that the NFL and its teams are respected in their communities.

“Our mission in Player Development is to assist our players in being productive citizens on and off the football field,” said NFL Vice President of Player Development Mike Haynes. “We appreciate the ASPCA’s support in helping us deliver the right messages about animal care. We look forward to working with the ASPCA on other joint ventures.”

The ASPCA will explore other opportunities with the NFL to advise the league and raise awareness on the importance of the humane treatment of animals, which could include working locally with NFL teams in their markets.

About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) was the first humane organization established in the Western Hemisphere and today has one million supporters. The ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides national leadership in anti-cruelty, animal behavior, humane education, government affairs and public policy, shelter support, and animal poison control. The NYC headquarters houses a full-service animal hospital and adoption facility. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York’s animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series “Animal Precinct” on Animal Planet. Visit www.aspca.org for more information.

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Don't miss The 88 in LA and the OC

Los Angeles pop-rock powerhouse The 88 will be performing three LA/OC shows in the upcoming weeks:
Friday, July 13 – The Troubadour 9081 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood. Headlining. All ages, 8 pm, $12 adv. Presented by KCRW. Satisfaction opens. More info: http://www.troubadour.com/
Wednesday, July 25 – Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa. All ages, 7 pm, $29.50 available via Ticketmaster. Presented by Lexus & Indie 103.1. Guster & Toad The Wet Sprocket also perform. More info: http://www.ocfair.com/pacificamphitheatre
Saturday, August 4 – The Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St. Costa Mesa. Headlining. 21+, 9 pm, $10. Satisfaction opens. Tickets 1-800-594-TIXX. Presented by Detroit Bar & Indie 103.1. More info: http://www.detroitbar.com/

The past month has been explosive for The 88: They signed with Island Def Jam Records (www.islandrecords.com ), whose roster of superstar international artists includes Fall Out Boy, The Killers and The Bravery; The 88’s song “Coming Home”, from their 2005 album Over and Over, is currently featured in a national television ad campaign for retail giant Sears; and the band is busy in the studio working on their highly-anticipated third CD.

http://the88.net

The Fader to release limited-edition vinyl featuring Black Lips and Yacht

The FADER magazine, the definitive voice of emerging music, and Southern Comfort announce the third installment in this series of four limited-edition 7-inch vinyl releases curated by the editors of The FADER. The records will be created and distributed to top DJs, artists and influencers. This rare pressing of only 500 copies of each edition will also be accessible to readers of The FADER, as they have a chance to win the exclusive recordings online at www.thefader.com.
Continuing their tradition of showcasing emerging artists, which previously included M Ward, Ladyhawk, Busy Signal and dancehall master Mavado, the third edition of the Southern Comfort/The FADER 7-inch series features previously unreleased tracks by Black Lips (on the A-side) and YACHT (on the B-side). Philadelphia-based artist Andrew Jeffrey Wright designed the vibrant, head trip-inducing cover.
Black Lips kick off the 45 with an anthemic rendition of The Tamrons' 1967 track "Wild Man." Blending surf riffs and a pulsating kick, Atlanta's Black Lips flaunt a no-limits approach and their signature frenzy before crashing into a wall of static.
The B-side, YACHT's "No Favors Policy," finds Portland resident Jona Bechtolt abandoning his usual electronic-based tactics and returning to the big guitar grunge influences of his Pacific Northwestern youth.

About The FADER
Founded by Rob Stone and Jon Cohen in 1998, The FADER magazine is the definitive voice of emerging music and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Through in-depth reporting and a distinct street sensibility, The FADER aggressively covers the most dynamic breadth of music and style emanating from the fringes of the mainstream to the heart of the underground. The FADER is the authority on what's next.

John Hamlin joins CMT

Emmy Award-winning producer John Hamlin has joined CMT as Senior Vice President, Production and Development, it was announced today by Bob Kusbit, head of development, CMT. Based in Nashville and reporting to Kusbit, Hamlin will oversee all Nashville television production and development, including series, events and music production. He will begin his post at CMT in late July.
Hamlin brings more than 25 years of television experience to the position, including 15 years as a producer for CBS News’ award-winning show, “60 Minutes,” where he was responsible for both editorial and production content with journalists Mike Wallace, Ed Bradley, Steve Kroft, Bob Simon and Anderson Cooper. Infusing his passion for music with his producing duties, Hamlin has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including U2, Madonna, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Gretchen Wilson, Willie Nelson and Sting, among others.
CMT Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Philips states: "John is a terrific addition to the CMT/MTVN family. His years of experience on one of TV's finest and most credible shows, combined with his enduring relationships within the music industry, will serve us well as we continue to expand our original programming."
Kusbit adds: “Luring John away from Mike Wallace and the gang took a little finesse and a lot of luck, and I’m proud to welcome him to Nashville and CMT. He’ll oversee a fantastic team and some of the network’s top properties, such as the “CMT Music Awards,” “Top 20 Countdown,” “Crossroads,” “CMT Insider” and any and all series originating from Nashville.”
Hamlin adds: “Everyone at MTV Networks have made it very clear to me that they are passionately committed to the future of CMT—and for good reason: Country music is one of the great American art forms, providing the soundtrack to the lives most of us live. The chance to combine my love of both music and television in one job is incredibly exciting. On top of that, I get to live in one of America’s best cities. It all adds up to an opportunity I am thrilled to have.”
Hamlin has worked on hundreds of live concerts around the world, and his previous experience includes posts at CBS Sports, NBC Sports and ESPN, where he has worked a number of high-profile sporting events, including multiple Olympics, World Series, Super Bowls and NBA Finals. Hamlin has received five national Emmy nominations and two wins, and is a recipient of the esteemed Edward R. Murrow awards for news writing from the Radio-Television News Directors Association.

CMT, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and Heartland entertainment, reaching more than 84 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network’s digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT’s broadband channel, CMT Loaded.

Fall of Eden takes it on tour

Metal newcomers Fall Of Eden will launch into Midwest and East Coast tour dates in July to promote the release of their new full-length, "Dawn Of A New Age."
Dropping their style of metal quite far from the tree, and grinding far beyond the perceived limits of the band's collective youth, Fall Of Eden has progressed musically by leaps and bounds since their debut/demo self-titled release of last summer. Their aim on the road is to make that point clear to all who attend.
Fall Of Eden offers complexity in their melodies, heaviness in their drive, and a relentless attack on pop sensibilities everywhere... all with the positivity and energetic lust for life that metal bands generally leave up to the punks.

U.S. TOUR JULY-AUG 2007 DATES:
7/9 (MON) ABERDEEN, SD @ RED ROOSTER
7/10 (TUE) MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ STATION 4
7/12(THU) KANSAS CITY @ EL TORREON
7/14 (SAT) DALLAS, TX @ MAXIMEDIA STUDIOS
7/15 (SUN) ALICE, TX @ DOWNTOWN RIOT
7/17 (TUE) AUSTIN, TX @ HEADHUNTERS
7/19 (THU) JACKSON, MS @ WC DON'S
7/20 (FRI) MARIETTA, GA @ SWAYZE'S
7/21 (SAT) AUGUSTA, GA @ THE MISSION
7/22 (SUN) BIRMINGHAM, AL @ HIGH NOTE
7/24 (TUE) CHARLESTON, SC @ CUMBERLANDS
7/25 (WED) NEW BERN, NC @ THE SALTY DAWG
7/26 (THU) ASHEVILLE, NC @ JOLI ROUGE
7/27 (FRI) RALEIGH, NC @ DIVEBAR
7/29 (SUN) TRENTON, NJ @ 449 ROOM
7/30 (MON) NEW YORK, NY @ MO PITKINS
8/2 (THU) BLUEFIELD, WV @ THE ROCK-IT CLUB
8/4 (SAT) CAPAC, MI @ TIMMY D'S

Information on FALL OF EDEN's music and projects can be found at: http://myspace.com/fallofedenrock

Valencia is on the road

I Surrender recording artists VALENCIA kicked off the summer with a killer performance at Bamboozle in May and are keeping up the momentum with a full schedule of recording and touring through the sweltering summer months. They are currently in the studio recording the highly-anticipated follow-up to their debut album, This Could Be a Possibility.
Valencia will spend two weeks in July on a headlining tour with Permanent Me and Self Against City, taking them up and down the Eastern seaboard. Following the headlining tour, you can catch them on Vans Warped Tour ’07 from July 26th through August 10th.

On the RoadValencia
Headlining Tour(w/Permanent Me and Self Against City)
Jul 6 Grog Shop Cleveland, OH
Jul 7 The Nite Owl Dayton, OH
Jul 8 Lawrenceville Moose Pittsburgh, PA
Jul 9 Webster Underground Hartford, CT
Jul 10 ICC Church Allston, MA
Jul 11 Knitting Factory New York, NY
Jul 12 Sterling Hotel Allentown, PA
Jul 13 School of Rock S. Hackensack, NJ
Jul 14 The Harmony Grange Wilmington, DE
Jul 15 Fletcher’s Baltimore, MD
Jul 17 Greene St Greensboro, NC
Jul 20 Jagger UMC Altoona, PA

Warped Tour
Jul 26 Montage Mtn Perf Scranton, PA
Jul 27 Co America Pk&St Detroit, MI
Jul 28 First Midwest Bank Chicago, IL
Jul 29 Metrodome Minneapolis, MN
Jul 31 Marcus Amph Milwaukee, WI
Aug 1 Riverbend MusicCtr Cincinatti, OH
Aug 2 Tower City Amph Cleveland, OH
Aug 3 Tweeter Center Camden, NJ
Aug 4 Nassau Coliseum New York, NY
Aug 5 Raceway Park Englishtown, NJ
Aug 7 Verizon Wireless Indianapolis, IN
Aug 8 Post Gazette Pav. Pittsburgh, PA
Aug 9 Tweeter Center Boston, MA
Aug 10 Darien Lake Buffalo, NY

Guitar Center to offer C.F. Martin & Co.'s one-of-a-kind History of Flight acoustic guitar

Guitar Center, the nation's leading musical instrument retailer, today announced the offering of C.F. Martin & Co. "History of Flight" acoustic guitar--the only one of its kind. Available exclusively through Guitar Center, this highly collectible handcrafted item will be available July at a sale price of $150,000.
From the Wright Brothers' first flight to man's exploration into space, this matchless work of art honors the technology that defines an entire century. Master Luthiers of the Martin Custom Shop crafted the guitar with inlays by world-renowned inlay artist Larry Robinson.
Originally created as a showpiece for the artists, and not meant for sale, Guitar Center recognized its incredible value and understood that it would be a remarkable collector's item for guitar aficionados. This follows other rare and high-end collector's offerings from Guitar Center including Eric Clapton's "Blackie" Stratocaster and his Cream-era Gibson ES 335 guitar.
"We're always looking for opportunities to offer our customers unique and collectible instruments and are very excited by this one-of-a-kind guitar," said Michael Doyle, Vice President of Product Marketing for Guitar Center. "This is another example of how Guitar Center is able to step outside the traditional role of an instrument retailer and partner with leading manufacturers to offer unique and exclusive opportunities for musicians and guitar enthusiasts. Martin, with this instrument, has created a definitive masterpiece that incorporates man's passion for flight with their passion for guitar."
The guitar is constructed from the finest materials available--including a solid Adirondack Spruce top matched with back, sides and neck constructed of rare and beautiful solid Brazilian Rosewood. The tonewoods serve as the canvas for Robinson's eighteen individual inlays, crafted from stunning blue paua pearl.
As an added bonus, the purchaser of this remarkable instrument will accompany Guitar Center's Chief Executive Officer, Marty Albertson, on the Guitar Center corporate jet from his or her hometown to the C.F. Martin & Co. headquarters in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. There, Martin's Chief Executive Officer, Chris Martin, will lead the new owner on a personal tour through the legendary guitar maker's historic facilities.

About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the leading United States retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates more than 200 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 95 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com . More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Web site at www.guitarcenter.com .The Guitar Center logo is a registered trademark of Guitar Center, Inc. Other brand or product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

Fender honors Eric Clapton honored with new guitar and amp package

To honor and support the philanthropic efforts of legendary guitarist Eric Clapton, Fender® is collaborating with Clapton to create a very special limited edition guitar and amp package featuring the new Eric Clapton Crossroads Stratocaster® guitar and Crossroads ’57 Twin-Amp™.

The Eric Clapton Crossroads Stratocaster guitar, or “Sun Strat®” will be produced in a limited run of 100 instruments globally; the Crossroads ’57 Twin-Amps will number only 50. All profits from the project will benefit the Crossroads Centre, Antigua, the drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation facility founded by Clapton on the small, idyllic Caribbean island in 1998.

Fifty of the guitars will be paired with the amps in exclusive Crossroads platinum packages for $30,000 each. The other 50 Crossroads guitars will be offered in packages for $20,000 each. The on-sale date is July 20, 2007 exclusively at www.fender.com—only eight days before Clapton’s monumental Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 in Chicago on July 28.

While Fender has a long tradition of producing world-class signature series instruments with top musicians, this latest venture represents an extraordinary collaboration. Fender Custom Shop Master Builders have dedicated meticulous effort to reflect the spirit of Clapton’s artistry and philanthropy. Each guitar will be crafted to Clapton’s specification and bear a unique “Crossroads Antigua” graphic designed and originally hand-drawn by Clapton himself.

The commemorative Crossroads ’57 Twin-Amps are modeled after the original ’57 Twin—one of the most collectable amps of all time—with the classic Fender sound and design that made them so desirable. This limited-edition amplifier features a custom engraved commemorative “Crossroads 2007” badge autographed by Eric and his “Crossroads Antigua” graphic is artistically embedded on the grill cloth.

“We are extremely honored to work with Eric on these limited edition Crossroads guitars and amps,” said Mike Eldred, Fender Custom Shop director. “At its essence, this is a passion project that allows Fender to support the Crossroads Centre, Antigua and to show our great love and appreciation for Eric.”

The Eric Clapton Crossroads guitar is, of course a Stratocaster; an instrument indelibly linked with Clapton. It’s an elegantly enduring design classic that was so right the first time out in 1954 that it has existed unchanged ever since, along the way becoming a worldwide cultural icon in singing, howling, lilting and even screaming ways its creators couldn’t possibly have imagined.

Master-Built in Fender’s Corona, Calif., Custom Shop, the Eric Clapton Crossroads Stratocaster guitar was created with Clapton’s own guidance and supervision by the very same artisans who handcraft Eric’s personal instruments. The arm-contour upper body flank features a smiling sun “Crossroads Antigua” graphic hand-drawn by Clapton himself. The guitar comes in a custom Anvil® flight case and includes a certificate signed by Eric.

The Crossroads platinum package is highlighted by the Crossroads Edition ’57 Twin-Amp—the perfect sonic companion to the Crossroads guitar. The Fender ’57 Twin-Amp is Eric Clapton’s personal amp of choice for studio and stage use. This unique Crossroads premium package will also include a guitar certificate signed by Clapton; an official Crossroads tour laminate, set list and program book; Clapton guitar picks; a commemorative Crossroads guitar strap and a framed, limited edition art print of the Crossroads instrument package.

Fender has been known worldwide for half a century as a company with a spirit and tradition of pioneering innovation. That spirit and tradition is newly revitalized in this project, bringing together an incredible collaboration of passionate guitar players to create products to satisfy one of the ultimate guitar players of all time—Eric Clapton, an artist with his own tradition of pioneering innovation and social consciousness.

About Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007: Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 takes place July 28 at Chicago’s Toyota Park, with a stellar lineup of blues and rock performers including Clapton, Jeff Beck, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Steve Winwood and many others. The 28,000-capacity event sold out in only 15 minutes. As with the first Crossroads Guitar Festival, held in June 2004 in Dallas, proceeds from the concert benefit the Crossroads Centre, Antigua.

About Crossroads Centre, Antigua: Founded in 1998, Crossroads Centre, Antigua was created to provide treatment and education to chemically dependent persons, those with other compulsive addictive behaviors, their families and their significant others. Treatment is provided through residential care, family and aftercare programs. The pathway to recovery is founded on the movement toward a change in lifestyle. Crossroads Centre, Antigua also operates a 16-bed halfway house in Antigua called the Bevon House (exclusively for Antigua residents) and facilitates a school-based education series, Breaking the Cycle, in all Antiguan schools. The Crossroads Centre has recently expanded its program to offer transitional living for men, in line with the Crossroads Centre’s philosophy on recovery, at The Sanctuary in Delray Beach, Florida, for those who have completed a residential treatment program. For more information, visit: www.crossroadsantigua.org.

About Fender Musical Instruments Corporation: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is the world’s foremost manufacturer of guitars, amplifiers and related equipment since 1946, and its name has become synonymous with all things rock ‘n’ roll. Iconic Fender® instruments such as the Telecaster®, Stratocaster®, Precision Bass® and Jazz Bass® guitars are known worldwide as the instruments that started the rock revolution, and they continue to be highly prized by today’s guitarists and collectors. FMIC brands include Fender®, Squier®, Guild®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, Charvel®, SWR®, EVH®, Tacoma®, Olympia® and Brand X®.

For more information, visit: www.fender.com.

Fender Crossroads Specialty Site: www.fender.com/crossroads.

Cement Shoes' album out today and on Warped Tour

“If you’re always up and you’re always willing to go out there to make things happen, you’re glory bound,” says Revolution Mother vocalist and pro skater Mike V. “It’s a general statement about the life that I’ve lived and that I’ve chosen for myself. And it’s very direct about where we are with the band.”

The aforementioned positive philosophy Mike V. speaks of also happens to be the story behind the title of the Long Beach, CA-based band REVOLUTION MOTHER (Mike V – vocals, Jason Hampton – guitar, Colin Buis – bass, Brendan Murphy – drums) striking Cement Shoes Records debut, Glory Bound, CD to hit the street on June 26. With an array of tracks produced by Mudrock (Avenged Sevenfold, Eighteen Visions) and Andy Johns (Godsmack, Led Zeppelin), Glory Bound is the most accurate musical snapshot of Revolution Mother circa ‘07 — and one that has been constantly evolving since the act’s inception.

Formed in late 2005 by original members Mike V and guitarist Jason Hampton, Revolution Mother immediately picked up where the pair’s former project — Mike V and The Rats — had ended. With Hampton holding a penchant for blues-based overdriven riffs and Mike V’s proven vocal delivery, the act slowly eased away from its former all-hardcore foundation, instead cutting loose with extended guitar solos, sweeping tempo shifts and more substantial arrangements.

Revolution Mother made its initial recorded mark with the summer 2006 release of its debut five-song EP, Enjoy The Ride, which had garnered significant praise from the indie music press. With its fresh material showcasing Hampton’s now-signature fretboard fury and songwriting direction, bolstered by the conviction of an act hungry to carve its own niche in the rock underground, Enjoy The Ride became a well-received debut. That same summer, the foursome embarked on a pair of national tours in promotion of the EP, including the Zumiez Couch Tour (supporting CKY) and its own headlining slot on the Mike V. Rebel Music Tour. Upon returning home to Southern California, Revolution Mother retooled its line-up, adding bassist Colin Buis (Twilight Transmission, Mean Season) to the fold. After some initial recording drummer Brendan Murphy (also from Twilight Transmission) joined the band completing the line-up.

The band hit the studio and after recording nearly 20 tracks from which the band chose for its album, Glory Bound is a fine-tuned, carefully selected set, highlighting all facets of the incredibly diverse Revolution Mother songbook.

Revolution Mother has also tightened its live set for the forthcoming summer’s Vans Warped Tour, and will be performing on its own stage, courtesy of the tour’s founder and longtime skateboarding advocate Kevin Lyman. The act will be appearing in support of Glory Bound on the entire summer tour, performing adjacent to the ramp on which Mike V. will skate. In fact, Revolution Mother likely has the best scenario of any band on the tour, with the ability to establish their own set times and perform as many times a day as they wish.

“It’s really up to us,” says Vallely. “What we do is in our hands. I want to be able to go out there and deliver on all this, and hopefully that’s what we’ll do. The main thing for me is that at the end of the day, the music’s got to stand up for itself. And I think it does.”


www.myspace.com/revolutionmother

AFM Diversity Award recipients honored

At its 97th convention held June 18-20, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), AFL-CIO honored the recipients of the second annual “AFM Diversity Awards,” recognizing outstanding accomplishment in the promotion and celebration of diversity within the music industry.

“The AFM is an organization that celebrates its varied and diverse membership,” said AFM President Thomas F. Lee. “I commend AFM Local 65-699 (Houston, Texas), Tyrone Martin Jr., (Local 101-473, Dayton, Ohio) and Dr. Fred Wheatt (Local 4, Cleveland, Ohio) for being selected as winners of the 2007 AFM Diversity Awards. The strength of our international union lies in the diversity, dedication and talent of our membership, and these awards are a step towards recognizing our members for their excellent contributions and achievements.”

AFM Diversity Committee Chair Otis Ducker said awards were given in three categories: the AFM President’s Local Union Award; the President’s Youth Award for individuals under the age of 35; and the Charles Walton Diversity Advocate Award for outstanding achievement by an individual in the promotion of diversity within the union and the community.

All winners were awarded a commemorative hand-carved trophy; the Youth Award winner also received a $2,000 scholarship.

Below is a list of winners, as well as the complete list of semi-finalists:

2007 AFM Diversity Award Winners

AFM President’s Local Award --
Houston Professional Musicians’ Association, Local 65-699

AFM President’s Youth Award --
Tyrone Martin Jr., Dayton Musicians Association, Local 101-473

AFM Charles Walton Diversity Advocate Award --
Dr. Fred Wheatt, Cleveland Federation of Musicians, Local 4

2007 Semi-Finalists

AFM President’s Local Award:

Lehigh Valley Musicians’ Association
Local 45
AFM President’s Local Award

AFM President’s Youth Award:

John W. Luckenbill, III
Local 399
AFM President’s Youth Award

Tony Lannen
Local 5
AFM President’s Youth Award

Eddie Yakkel
Local 433
AFM President’s Youth Award

Raphael Price
Local 47
AFM President’s Youth Award

David Brady
Local 8
AFM President’s Youth Award

Nathan Cepelinski
Local 180
AFM President’s Youth Award

AFM Charles Walton Diversity Advocate Award:

Gordon Stump
Local 5
AFM Charles Walton Diversity Advocate Award

Chris Kalogerson
Local 30-73
AFM Charles Walton Diversity Advocate Award

Ella Jenkins
Local 10-208
AFM Charles Walton Diversity Advocate Award

Deborah Wells
Local 389
AFM Charles Walton Diversity Advocate Award

Archie Alleyne
Local 149
AFM Charles Walton Diversity Advocate Award

Founded in 1896, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) is the largest organization in the world dedicated to representing the interests of professional musicians. With more than 90,000 members, the AFM represents all types of professional musicians, including those who record music for sound recordings, film scores, radio, television and commercial announcements, as well as perform music of every genre in every sort of venue from small jazz clubs to symphony orchestra halls to major stadiums. Whether negotiating fair agreements, protecting ownership of recorded music, securing benefits such as health care and pension, or lobbying legislators, the AFM is committed to raising industry standards and placing the professional musician in the foreground of the cultural landscape.

International President Thomas F. Lee was re-elected at this convention to serve a three-year term. He has led the AFM since his election in June 2001.

Jon McLaughlin hits #28 on Hot AC chart

American heartland singer-songwriter and pianist Jon McLaughlin greets the first day of summer as he bullets inside the Top 30 to #28-bullet on the Hot AC chart with “Beautiful Disaster,” the current single from INDIANA, his first album for Island Records, released May 1st. The song is also building a strong base at Pop radio, with spins on more than 30 stations. The song was recently highlighted by USA Today, which wrote: “The title’s first word is how he sees her. The second word is how she sees herself. The sad thing is he’s right.”

On Sunday, June 10th, Jon was featured on the prestigious NPR (National Public Radio) program “Weekend Edition,” which resulted in INDIANA rocketing up the Amazon charts. Next up for Jon is a live morning television performance of “Beautiful Disaster” on NBC’s The Today Show, on Wednesday, June 27th. Jon’s online presence is also rising; McLaughlin won the prestigious AOL Music Breaker program and is currently up for voting on Yahoo “Who’s Next” program.

Jon moves into the final handful of dates on his month-long tour with Grammy award-winning guitarist Jonny Lang. The final shows on the tour – which began in Jacksonville, Florida on May 30th – comprise: House of Blues in Anaheim, CA (28); Konocti Harbor Resort in Kelseyville, CA (29); and the Fillmore in San Francisco (June 30th).

INDIANA’s title tune pays tribute to Jon’s hometown of Anderson. He has written songs for the album with the Matrix, Jamie Houston, Grammy-nominated Marcus Hummons, Matthew Gerard, and Kevin Griffin (of Better Than Ezra). The album was produced by Jamie Houston (credits: Santana, Jessica Simpson, Macy Gray, The Calling) and Greg Wells (Natasha Bedingfield, Veronicas, OTEP, Rufus Wainwright); and was mixed by Chris Lord Alge.

Jon will make his own big screen debut in Enchanted, the new Disney animated-and-live comedy starring Idina Menzel, Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams scheduled to open in the fall 2007. Jon will be singing (onscreen) a song written for the movie soundtrack by Ric Wake.


People magazine praised Jon’s “charm and chops, as evident on tunes like the title cut, on which this boy earnestly confesses that he’s not so ready to meet the big bad world.” Hoosiers and others who have been paying 3,000 visits per day to Jon’s myspace website (www.myspace.com/jonmclaughlin) can currently access four of his tunes: “Beautiful Disaster,” “Indiana,” “Industry,” and “Human.” Jon has 1.4 million plays on his myspace site and can also be reached via http://www.jonmclaughlinmusic.com/.

65daysofstatic announces tour dates with The Cure

We told you they would be huge: 65daysofstatic hand-picked to support The Cure in the fall, summer U.S. tour launches July 18th. New album The Destruction of Small Ideas hailed by Kerrang magazine as “utterly peerless.”

“Kicking off with their trademark electric crackle, it's clear that with their third album 65daysofstatic have resisted the urge to tone down their quite frankly mental tsunami of noise and make a play for the mainstream sales potential of an ever scene-conscious world. Instead, they have done what they've always done -- thrown the rulebook out the window and grown organically. With such clinical conviction 65DOS are utterly peerless in their chosen field of post-rock.” -- Razio Rauf, Kerrang Magazine

“65daysofstatic have made their masterpiece, or something close to it; three albums in, in the most dirty, shallow decade of music we’ve known, who else can say that? A handful, not enough. The Destruction of Small Ideas is a weight, a tower of babel, a journey, learnings, understandings, communication, evolution. I’ve been waiting. I was promised this or something like it. The rise and fall. All so deep, so rich, so comically dynamic and detailed and powerful for it that it makes me want to cry. How to make a record. Play loud.” -- Stylus Magazine

British post-rock quartet 65Daysofstatic has been hand-picked by goth-pop legends The Cure to support its entire North American tour this fall. The tour begins September 13th and runs through October, taking the band to arenas and amphitheaters nationwide -- including the legendary Madison Square Garden in NYC and Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles (see complete dates below.)

But, that won't be the first chance for American audiences to experience the band that's been all the rage in the UK, Europe and Asia for several years now. 65Daysofstatic launches its first U.S. tour on July 18th (see complete dates below) with co-headliners Fear Before the March of Flames.

In the first week of its release, 65Daysofstatic's new album The Destruction of Small Ideas sold out of its first pressing, forcing the label to scramble to meet the overwhelming demand. Likewise, press response overseas for the album has been phenomenal, with Kerrang magazine deeming the Sheffield, England quartet's latest “utterly peerless” in the post-rock genre, awarding the album a 4/5 K-rating.

The new video for the first single from the album, “Don't Go Down to Sorrow” has been posted online. Click HERE to watch.

The Destruction of Small Ideas is the highly-anticipated followup to its massively popular sophomore album. The 12-song collection released worldwide on April 30th via Monotreme Records. A three-song single “Don't Go Down To Sorrow” preceded the album on April 9th, building upon the critical and commercial success of One Time For All Time in the UK, Europe and Japan which catapulted the band to festival stages and pages in the NME, The Wire, Rock Sound and many more since its release in 2005. That album was released in the U.S. in fall 2006.

65daysofstatic made its American live debut to an enthusiastic audience at the SXSW festival this past March at the Fanatic Promotion showcase. (We don't want to gloat, but we've been telling the press for a year now that they'd be huge and it now looks like 65Daysofstatic's ascent has begun!) Stylus magazine calls the album a masterpiece and American press has begun to pick up on the band, including forthcoming coverage in Magnet, Paste and Harp magazines.

In the past year, the group has packed venues and headlined festival dates overseas, as well as recording three radio sessions for BBC Radio One. Recently, MTV Asia aired an interview and live set from the band's performance in front of more than 10,000 fans in Tokyo at the 2006 Summer Sonic festival.

During much of last year's activity, 65daysofstatic's UK label Monotreme Records inked a deal for an American release of the refreshing gene-splice of electronic glitch and guitar girth heard on One Time For All Time for fall 2006. The album's futuristic tone makes for a seductive score for an unwritten sci-fi epic that melds cutting guitars and electronic tones with sampled beats, live drums and computer glitch. But where IDM culture cuts out in the low end, 65daysofstatic delivers a thunderous wall of guitars that's reportedly still shaking some festival grounds since last summer's performances.

Following the European release of its acclaimed 2004 debut album The Fall of Math, 65daysofstatic spent several months touring the UK, playing to packed venues and festival tents. With the UK release of their second album, One Time For All Time in October 2005, 65daysofstatic further cemented its position as one of the most innovative bands to emerge in the UK, with its groundbreaking blend of drum'n'glitch beats, walls of guitar noise, broken laptop clicks and overwhelming melody. A relentless touring schedule in the UK and mainland Europe has seen the band share stages with the likes of Mono, Wolf Eyes, Hundred Reasons and Mogwai. The group headlined the Kerrang! Stage at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton, followed by a headlining Kerrang! 'Most Wanted' sponsored tour.

65daysofstatic Live:
* Supporting The Cure
07/18 Allston, MA ICC Performance Hall
07/19 Washington, DC The Rock and Roll Hotel
07/20 Brooklyn, NY Europa Club
07/21 Richmond, VA Alley Katz
07/22 Greensboro, NC Greene Street
07/23 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
07/24 Orlando, FL The Social
07/26 Houston, TX Meridian Red Room
07/27 Corpus Christi, TX House of Rock
07/28 San Antonio, TX White Rabbit
07/29 Dallas, TX The Door
07/31 Tempe, AZ The Clubhouse Music Venue
08/01 West Hollywood, CA The Troubadour
08/02 San Diego, CA Soma
08/03 Fresno, CA The Exit
08/04 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
08/05 Portland, OR Satyricon
08/06 Seattle, WA El Corazon
08/07 Boise, ID The Venue
08/08 Salt Lake City, UT Avalon Theater
08/10 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
*09/13 Tampa, FL - St. Petersburg Times Forum
*09/15 Atlanta, GA - Gwinnett Civic Center
*09/17 Charlotte, NC - Charlotte Bobcats Arena
*09/19 Washington, DC - Patriot Center
*09/21 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Spectrum
*09/23 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
*09/25 Boston, MA - Agganis Arena
*09/26 Montreal, Quebec - Bell Center
*09/27 Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
*09/29 Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
*10/02 Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater
*10/04 Salt Lake City, UT - E Center
*10/06 Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheater (Download Festival)
*10/08 Seattle, WA - Key Arena
*10/09 Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place
*10/11 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
*10/13 San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
*10/14 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
*10/16 Houston, TX - Toyota Center
*10/17 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center

The Destruction of Small Ideas Tracklisting:
Stream The Album HERE
01. When We Were Younger & Better (MP3)
02. A Failsafe
03. Don’t Go Down To Sorrow (MP3 VIDEO)
04. Wax Futures
05. These Things You Can’t Unlearn
06. Lyonesse
07. Music Is Music As Devices Are Kisses Is Everything
08. The Distant & Mechanised Glow Of European Dance Parties
09. Little Victories
10. Primer
11. White Peak/Dark Peak
12. The Conspiracy of Seeds

On The Web:
www.monotremerecords.com
www.myspace.com/monotremerecords
www.65daysofstatic.com
www.myspace.com/11488230
www.fanaticpromotion.com/current/65_one.html

Females on Fire compilation still accepting submissions

The Females on Fire Compilation CD series celebrates talented female artists from around the world, delivering songs in a tapestry of different genres & styles of music dedicated to messages empowering femininity, human equality, love, communication and vitality. The compilation series already celebrates over 65 talented female artists from around the world through its first two double compilations, delivering songs in a tapestry of different genres & styles of music.
With her record label, Warrior Girl Music, gilli moon, artist and producer, has launched Females On Fire as a vehicle and platform for female artists (now over 65 artists) to be heard and shine, with now two compilations and an ever growing, ongoing, tour.Promotion and distribution are directed to music supervisors (film and television), music publishers, national music conferences & seminars, record labels, the media (print and radio), producers, and artists looking for songs.
The CD is a perfect vehicle for artists to access the music industry, the media and make potential long lasting business relationships for their music. Retail distribution includes direct sales through the Warrior Girl Music Store and our distributors in the U.S, Canada and Australia.
THE CD’s mission is to create, promote and manage unique artistic creations guided by the artist's vision and under the artist's direction; creations that transcend race, age or gender and embrace passion, love for music and life, personal excellence and global consciousness.
The album is focused on 4 main elements, which the artists are asked to use as guidelines in their submission:
1. exposure of great talent and timeless songs.
2. a celebration of female fire and femininity.
3. following Warrior Girl Music’s mission above.
4. a highly creative and production-strong CD, competitive in the market place.
We will also be selecting some artists to tour with Warrior Girl Music artists to promote the CD.
The Females On Fire CD, Volume 3, is now open for submissions from female artists worldwide, of all genres (with a special submission process partnership with Sonicbids). Please see the Rules and Application at http://www.femalesonfire.com
Female Artists, or female vocals/fronted bands.
Deadline June 30.

Northern State goes on tour

Northern State set out this Summer on a whirlwind tour of Canada & Scandinavia! They will be celebrating their much anticipated third release “Can I Keep This Pen” out on Ipecac Recordings, Aug 28th. In honor of this highly festive occasion, Northern State will tour with Tegan & Sara on all their Canadian Dates and play the Peace & Love Festival in Sweden along with two other amazing shows. Upon returning to the US, the ladies will round out the middle of the Summer with some Cat Empire dates. But it doesn’t stop here! Watch this space for record release shows in August and a very special Fall US Tour.
Finally free of the Columbia/SONY machine, Northern State teamed up with producer Chuck Brody of Shitake Monkey (Wu Tang Clan, Yoko Ono etc.) and Adrock from the Beastie Boys and recorded an album for Ipecac Recordings. They pushed the limits in terms of what Northern State can sound like, with their classic old school hip hop sound weaving its way through a new electro-rock current. The ladies did an unprecedented amount of singing and were fortunate enough to have some talented friends like Mr. Murray Hill, Kaki King, and Katie Cassidy stop by and play on the album. When it was finished, they named it “Can I Keep This Pen?”

SCANDINAVIAN DATES
June 27, 2007 - Copenhagen, Denmark Loppen Sydområdet 4B 1. Sal
June 29, 2007 - Stockholm, Sweden Tradgarden
June 30, 2007 - Peace & Love Festival
Borlange, Sweden240 Kilometers North of Stockholmw/ Iggy & the Stooges, Alice Cooper, Sahara Hotnights, etc

W/ CAT EMPIRE
July 25, 2007- w/ the Cat Empire Providence, RI Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
July 27, 2007- w/ the Cat Empire Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live

CANADA (With Tegan & Sara)
Sep. 21, 2007 Victoria, BC The MacPherson Playhouse
Sep. 22, 2007 Vancouver, BC The Commodore Ballroom
Sep. 22, 2007 Vancouver, BC The Commodore Ballroom
Sep. 25, 2007 Edmonton, AB Francis Winspear Centre
Sep. 28, 2007 Red Deer, AB The Memorial Centre
Sep. 29, 2007 Calgary, AB Jubilee Auditorium
Sep. 30, 2007 Saskatoon, SK The Lakeview Auditorium
Oct. 1, 2007 Regina, SK Dorris Knight Hall
Oct. 3, 2007 Winnipeg, MB The Burton Cummings Theatre
Oct. 6, 2007 London, ON Centennial Hall
Oct. 10, 2007 Ottawa, ON The Bronson Centre
Oct. 11, 2007 Kingston, ON Sydenham United Church
Oct. 12, 2007 Montreal, QC Le National
Oct. 13, 2007 Montreal, QC Le National
Oct. 15, 2007 Quebec City, QC Theatre Petit Champlain
Oct. 16, 2007 Halifax, NS St. Matthews Church

www.myspace.com/northernstate
www.northernstate.net
http://www.ipecac.com/

POV's "Revolution '67" includes more than 60 contemporary jazz tunes

Summary: The P.O.V. series (a cinema term for “point of view”) is now in its 20th year on PBS. P.O.V. is broadcast Tuesdays at 10 p.m. (check local listings), June through September on PBS, with primetime specials in the fall and winter.

Air Date: P.O.V.’s Revolution ‘67 (www.pbs.org/pov/revolution67), airs on Tuesday, July 10 at 10 p.m. on PBS. (Check local listings.)

Description: Revolution ’67 is an illuminating account of events too often relegated to footnotes in U.S. history—the black urban rebellions of the 1960s. Focusing on the six-day Newark, N.J., outbreak on July 12, 1967, the film reveals how the disturbance began as spontaneous revolts against poverty and police brutality and ended as fateful milestones in America’s struggles over race and economic justice. Voices from across the spectrum—activist Tom Hayden journalist Bob Herbert, former Mayor Sharpe James and other officials, National Guardsmen and Newark citizens—recall lessons as hard-learned then as they have been easy to neglect since.

When black Newark, N.J., taxi driver John Smith was stopped for a traffic violation on July 12, 1967, the false rumor that he had been beaten to death by police spread through Newark’s impoverished neighborhoods. After six days of riots, 26 people died, 725 people were injured, and close to 1,500 people had been arrested.

Revolution ’67, directed by Marylou Bongiorno-Tibaldo, makes use of archival news footage, punctuated by editor Jerome Bongiorno’s bold animation, to illustrate the film’s events and statistics. A musical score comprised of more than 60 contemporary jazz pieces by international artists sets the mood for Newark in the late ‘60s.

Revolution ’67 documents the social forces at work: poverty, racial injustice, a city government and police force that didn’t sufficiently analyze the demographic change that had made Newark a black city, and the suburban and rural State Police and National Guardsmen sent into a conflict for which they were ill-prepared.

Statement: “I’m a native daughter and resident of Newark,” says director Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno, “and for as long as I can remember, Newark has been stigmatized by the riots of 1967. The questions remain: What really happened, who’s to blame, and why hasn’t the city recovered? Are the problems Newark faced in the ‘60s the same that plague it today? That’s why my husband and I made this film — to get those answers.”

Featured: Activists Tom Hayden, Amiri Baraka (then known as LeRoi Jones). Richard Cammarieri, Larry Hamm, Carol Glassman and George Richardson; journalists Bob Herbert and Ron Smothers; National Guardsman/historian Paul Zigo; historians Dr. Clement A. Price (Rutgers) and Dr. Kenneth Jackson (Columbia); former New Jersey Prosecutor/Governor Brendan T. Byrne; the late Hugh Addonizio, Newark’s mayor in 1967; recent Newark Mayor Sharpe James; former police officer/current Essex County Sherriff Armando Fontoura; photographer Bud Lee; and historian/author Nell Irvin Painter.

Soundtrack: In place of a traditional musical score, Revolution ‘67 features more than 60 contemporary jazz tunes by 20 artists from the United States, Japan, Israel and the former Soviet Union. Editor Jerome Bongiorno says, “Because of Newark’s preeminent place in jazz history, one of the first decisions we made when we began editing was to use jazz music." With recommendations from industry professionals and New York’s famed Blue Note jazz club and Berklee College of Music, Bongiorno collected material from an impressive group of talented musicians he describes as "fearless in their craft."

Filmmakers: Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno, Producer/Director,
Jerome Bongiorno, Cinematographer/Editor/Animator
Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno and Jerome Bongiorno are award-winning husband-and-wife filmmakers who formed their own production company, Bongiorno Productions, in Newark. Marylou is a producer and director; Jerome is a cinematographer, editor and animator. Marylou is a graduate of New York University’s Graduate Film Program.

The Bongiornos’ documentary “Mother-Tongue: Italian American Sons & Mothers,” featuring Martin Scorsese, earned an Emmy nomination. Their global warming-themed screenplay, “Watermark,” was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival/Sloan Summit.

Marylou and Jerome are in preproduction for the fictional version of Revolution ‘67, executive produced by Spike Lee. They are currently completing a series of short films on post-Katrina New Orleans and flood-plagued Venice, Italy. They are the recipients of a Film Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and are long-time residents of Newark, N.J., where Marylou has lived all her life.

Credits: Revolution ’67 is a co-production of the Independent Television Service (ITVS) and American Documentary P.O.V. in association with WSKG.

Running time: 86:46

P.O.V. Web: The Revolution '67 companion Web site (www.pbs.org/pov/revolution67) offers a streaming video trailer of the film, an interview with Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno (video, podcast and text); a list of related Web sites, organizations and books; a downloadable discussion guide and classroom activity; and the following special features:

Film Update - Directors' Cut: Watch a special video update from the filmmakers about Newark today.

Special Podcast – New Jersey Historical Society Panel: The NJ Historical Society is holding a special exhibition this summer in observance of the 40th anniversary of the Newark Riots. The museum hosted a special screening of Revolution '67 and assembled a panel of historians and activists to discuss the 1967 riot and its aftermath. Listen to an audio podcast or read a transcript of the conversation.

Outreach: P.O.V. is working with PBS stations and groups across the country to foster community dialogue around the issues presented in Revolution ‘67. For a list of upcoming screening and discussion events, go to http://www.amdoc.org/outreach_news.php.

P.O.V. is also working with nationally recognized media educator Dr. Faith Rogow to develop a facilitation guide to help event organizers carry out substantive and sensitive discussions around the film’s content. The guide contains discussion questions and background information. Cari Ladd is creating a lesson plan. In addition, the American Library Association and P.O.V. are creating a multi-media resource list of books and videos that further explore the issues in the film. The materials will be available free of charge at www.pbs.org/pov/outreach.

P.O.V.: Produced by American Documentary, Inc. and celebrating its 20th season on PBS in 2007, the award-winning P.O.V. series is the longest-running showcase on television to feature the work of America's best contemporary-issue independent filmmakers. Airing on PBS on Tuesdays at 10 p.m., June through September, with primetime specials during the year, P.O.V. has brought more than 250 documentaries to millions nationwide, and has a Webby Award-winning online series, P.O.V.'s Borders. Since 1988, P.O.V. has pioneered the art of presentation and outreach using independent nonfiction media to build new communities in conversation about today's most pressing social issues. More information about P.O.V is available at www.pbs.org/pov.

Major funding for P.O.V. is provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Ford Foundation, the Educational Foundation of America, PBS and public television viewers. Funding for P.O.V.’s Diverse Voices Project is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, with additional support from JPMorgan Chase Foundation, the official sponsor of P.O.V.'s 20th Anniversary Campaign. P.O.V. is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KCET Los Angeles, WGBH Boston, and Thirteen/WNET New York.

Ill Bill's latest album due out in September

On September 11, the new album from Brooklyn’s own ILL BILL hits the streets!! The Hour of Reprisal (Uncle Howie Records/Perfect Game Recording Co.) is the best punk album of 2007! That’s right – PUNK album. Why? In the same way REAL punk rock was born out of dissatisfaction with the status quo and was in your face about whatever was on your mind, be it politics, history, social condition, etc., so is ILL BILL’s The Hour of Reprisal.

The Hour of Reprisal features cover art by Larry Carroll, the man behind Slayer’s Reign In Blood, South of Heaven, Seasons in the Abyss, and Christ Illusion covers, and includes a BONUS DVD of ILL BILL’s wild set at the historic CBGB’s in its entirety!! The DVD also features a guided tour of every historic filthy inch of CBGB’s hosted by ILL BILL himself.

For The Hour of Reprisal, ILL BILL brought in the most special guests and friends including Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage), Max Cavalera (Soulfly/Sepultura), HR and Darryl Jenifer (Bad Brains), Raekwon the Chef (Wu-Tang Clan), B-Real (Cypress Hill), Everlast (House of Pain), Necro, Immortal Technique, Vinnie Paz (Jedi Mind Tricks), Tech N9ne, and Slaine (La Coka Nostra), making the album an all-star display of rap and metal talent. The album also features several amazing producers including Necro, DJ Lethal, Muggs, T-Ray and, tracks by ILL BILL himself.

ILL BILL is the voice of disenfranchised youth without any gender, racial or cultural boundaries. He's pissed off about what affects him, as well as the world around him. That said, he even manages to apply his chaotic lyrical flow over hard, menacing tracks to a song called "Riya," about the birth of his first child earlier this year. There is truly no other rap artist alive quite like ILL BILL.

Be sure to check out The Hour of Reprisal, which streets September 11, and don’t miss ILL BILL on tour this August!!

ILL BILL with Kottonmouth Kings, Tech N9ne, and Hed(pe)
8/09 – New York, NY – Grand Ballroom at The Manhattan Center
8/10 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theater
8/11 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
8/12 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
8/13 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva Theatre

Adema to headline tour

Alternative rock mainstays Adema, announce upcoming headline dates in support of their all-new release Kill The Headlights, out August 21 (Partnership/Immortal Records). The tour dates feature Adema as headliners with tons of great local support along the way. PLUS Adema’s first single, “Cold and Jaded” hits radio waves after July 4!!

The band are adding special festival gigs to their routing. Don’t miss Sandy Downs Festival in Idaho Falls with Papa Roach, Seether, Candlebox, and more!!

Adema was recently picked up by the prestigious Union Entertainment Group, who also manage such well-known bands as Nickelback, Default, and Candlebox.

The current lineup for Adema includes vocalist Bobby Reeves, guitarists Tim Fluckey & Ed Faris, bassist Dave Deroo, and Kris Kohls on drums. This is a new Adema with a new sound and new determination that is sure to rock fans all across the country!! Be sure to check out the new single, “Cold and Jaded” starting in July, and don’t miss Kill The Headlights on August 21!!!


Adema’s upcoming summer tour dates are as follows:

6/20 – Los Angeles, CA – Viper Room
6/21 – San Diego, CA – Canes Bar & Grill
6/23 – Fresno, CA – Babylon Club
7/13 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock
7/14 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
7/15 – El Paso, TX – Club 101
7/16 – Lubbock, TX – Jake’s Backroom
7/18 – San Antonio, TX – Club Kristal
7/19 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
7/20 – Dallas, TX – The Loft
7/21 – Little Rock, AR – Revolution Music Room
7/24 – Chicago, IL – Double Door
7/26 – Louisville, KY – Headliners
7/27 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre
7/28 – Huntington, WV – Monkey Bar Live
7/29 – Sandusky, OH – The Underground
7/31 – Falls Church, VA – State Theatre
8/02 – New York, NY – Knitting Factory
8/03 – Southbridge, MA – Artist Development Complex
8/04 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance
8/06 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theatre
8/08 – Fayetteville, NC – Jester’s Pub
8/09 – Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend
8/10 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Club
8/11 – Port St. Lucie, FL – MoJo Room
8/18 – Idaho Falls, ID – Sandy Downs Festival – w/Papa Roach, Seether, Candlebox, and more!!
8/22 – Long Beach, CA – The Vault 350

Adema on Loco Bazooka:
9/22 – Mansfield, MA – Tweeter Center

S.O.D. to release new effort in August

Megaforce Records and metal/hardcore pioneers S.O.D. will release Rise Of The Infidels, on August 21, 2007. It is an extended EP (perhaps the longest in the music biz) with four unreleased S.O.D. songs, plus a live concert from Seattle is included.
One of the crucial bands in the musical chain linking hardcore punk with metal, the Stormtroopers of Death - known as S.O.D. – were actually intended to be a one-off side project, done as a lark. S.O.D. began in the mid-1980's during a break in the recording of Anthrax's Spreading The Disease. What started out as a quick, satirical release for Scott Ian, Charlie Benante, Dan Lilker, and the infamous Billy Milano, S.O.D. has turned into a seminal band influencing countless hardcore, metalcore, and post-hardcore bands. Their first album, Speak English Or Die, has sold over 400,000 and remains an underground classic.
S.O.D. was always about brutal satire, but done with complete honesty. Anyone who has witnessed their severe, yet astonishing live show, knows that S.O.D. is like no other band on the planet.

Track Listing:
1. Stand Up And Fight
2. Java Amigo
3. United And Strong
4. Ready To Fight Live At The Fenix
5. Ballad Of Nirvana/March Of The S.O.D.
6. Sgt D And The S.O.D.
7. Kill Yourself
8. Milano Mosh
9. Speak English Or Die
10. Fuck the Middle East
11. Douche Crew
12. Ballad Of Jimi Hendrix
13. Ballad Of Jim Morrison
14. Ballad Of INXS
15. Ballad Of Frank Sinatra
16. Ballad Of Nirvana
17. Ballad Of Freddy Mercury
18. Cromatic Death
19. Fist Banging Mania
20. No Turning Back
21. Milk
22. Pussywhipped
23. Freddy Krueger
24. United Forces

Xavier Rudd launches tour

On the heels of his celebrated performance at Bonnaroo last week, Xavier Rudd – the acclaimed Australian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist – has just launched an extensive U.S. Tour this week in support of his second Anti- album, White Moth. The disc, which dropped this past Tuesday (June 19th) and counts the single “Better People,” has pulled exceptional early reviews from North American critics.
Relix enthuses “With White Moth, Xavier Rudd sought to properly lasso—at long last—the catharsis of his live shows: the sound of his unhinged guitar, thumping stomp boxes and mystically creepy didgeridoos bounding out of the P.A. system. If obtaining an accurate reflection of your live experience is one of the biggest challenges for a genuine stage musician, Xavier pulls it off with his hot-wired Weissenborn.”
Rolling Stone writes, “Aussie multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd is a singer-songwriter with a tenaciously laid-back mien and a love for both surfing and classic roots sounds.”
And San Diego City Beat insists, “White Moth, could be Jeff Buckley's Grace remade by Ben Harper. The whole thing is very unprocessed and raw…But it's all Rudd when it comes to making the didgeridoo sound menacing. Virtuoso isn't really a word one would apply to a guy who plays a sacred instrument that's basically a big hollow stick, but Rudd's ability to make the thing sound like an angry, lonely dingo baying at the moon is pretty nuts.”
Echoing the sentiment of the aforementioned “Footprint,” the U.S. trek in support of White Moth is presented in partnership with CLIF Bar’s Green Notes program and embraces a greening initiative to, as Xavier explains, “reduce our carbon footprint on the environment.”
The disc also finds Rudd speaking out against his country’s Aboriginal land right policies which have led to the wholesale displacement and mistreatment of its indigenous people. Xavier and co-producer Dave Ogilvie (David Bowie, Marilyn Manson and N.E.R.D.) recorded the bulk of White Moth in the woods of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast at Gggarth Richardson’s studio, The Farm.
Rudd’s headlining trek through North America wraps on July 31st in Northampton, Mass. The next day, Rudd – who supported DMB in his homeland earlier this year – again joins The Dave Matthews Band as a special guest on select East Coast dates of its Summer Tour through the U.S.

Here are Xavier Rudd’s remaining headlining U.S. Tour Dates with support act Serena Ryder:
6/22, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO
6/25, El Rey, Los Angeles, CA
6/26, House of Blues, San Diego, CA
6/29, Roseland Theatre, Portland, OR
6/30, The Showbox, Seattle, WA
7/6, Grandstand Stage, High Sierra Music Festival, Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy, CA 7/7, Big Meadow Stage, High Sierra Music Festival, Plumas County Fairgrounds, Quincy, CA 7/19, The Eagles Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
7/20, St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, Michigan
7/21, Lifestyle Communities Pavillion, Columbus, Ohio
7/23, Vogue Theater, Indianapolis, IN
7/24, House of Blues, Cleveland, OH
7/26, Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
7/27, Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
7/28, 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
7/29, 8 X 10, Baltimore, MD
7/31, Pearl Street Ballroom, Northampton, MA

Here are Xavier Rudd’s opening dates with The Dave Matthews Band:
8/1 Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts Mansfield, MA
8/2 Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts Mansfield, MA
8/4 New England Dodge Music Center Hartford, CT
8/5 New England Dodge Music Center Hartford, CT
8/7 Tweeter Center at the Waterfront Camden, NJ

Sammy Hagar's DVD available; tour planned

Forget birthday candles, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer and former Van Halen front man Sammy Hagar will celebrate his birthday in unique rock ‘n’ roll fashion. Hagar has announced plans to launch an upcoming cross-country tour to include 60 stops starting at his annual birthday bash at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Hagar’s 60-stop tour will conclude in St. Louis at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2008 and will include performances by a number of special celebrity friends. Hagar will also release a single on Cabo Wabo Music® called “Open,” which will be released to rock and classic rock radio stations on July 2nd and will also be available to fans for download via iTunes.

The sure to be hard rockin’ show Hagar will be bringing to fans on his tour will include 3 jam-packed hours of performances by Sammy Hagar and core Sammy rockers. Hagar will be, in a sense, stuffing his amazing Cabo Wabo™ Village that accompanied him at each stop of last summer’s Livin’ It Up! Tour into the indoor venues on the upcoming tour. All this to create the Cabo Wabo vibe that devoted RedHeads have come to know and love. Each show will open with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony’s Mad Anthony Express performing early Van Halen numbers and a variety of early rock classics. Next, fans will be treated to a performance by Los Tres Gusanos which will play early Sammy Hagar songs and, finally, Hagar and Anthony will come together as The Other Half (of Van Halen), performing a number of Van Halen tunes from the Sammy Hagar era. Tickets for the tour will go on sale soon. Fans can check www.redrocker.com for more tour information as it becomes available.

“The honor of being inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame is simply awesome; it’s been a great year all around and I feel like celebrating, which of course means rockin’ out,” said Hagar. I just have to figure out how to squeeze an outdoor show into an indoor venue, but I’ll get it done. It’s going to be one red-hot, kick ass fiesta.”

Hagar made the exciting tour announcement on, Wednesday, June 20th at his red carpet DVD launch party at the Pageant Concert Nightclub in St. Louis where Hagar held a special screening of his live DVD Livin’ It Up! In St. Louis as well as a rare unplugged acoustic performance by Sammy Hagar and The Wabos. Tickets to last night’s screening and performance sold out in a matter of seconds, believed to be record timing for a sold out show in St. Louis. Hagar also holds the city record for selling more tickets in St. Louis than any other musical entertainer in St. Louis history. The Livin’ It Up! In St. Louis DVD was released on Tuesday, June 19th by Image Entertainment and includes live footage from the St. Louis stop of Hagar’s summer 2006 cross-country “Livin’ It Up” Tour as well as bonus interviews, tour footage and music videos.

As a testament to his long lasting and thriving music career, 2007 has held a number of accolades and highlights for Hagar. In March, he was inducted into the prestigious Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame with his fellow Van Halen bandmates. Hagar was also honored by the San Francisco chapter of The Recording Academy at the 2007 Recording Academy Honors event (formerly The Governor’s Award) in April for his outstanding work of excellence and integrity. Most recently, Hagar sold 80% of his Cabo Wabo Tequila brand to Gruppo Campari’s Skyy Spirits.
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ABOUT Livin’ It Up! In St. Louis
Caught live in St. Louis on their sold out 2006 U.S. tour, Sammy and The Wabos bring down the house with songs from their new album, Livin’ It Up!, as well as some of Sammy’s famed solo work. Joined on stage for the second half of the show by legendary Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, the band rips through some of rock radio’s classic tunes. From “I Can’t Drive 55” and “Mas Tequila” to “Finish What You Started” and “Right Now,” it’s one big Cabo party with the “Red Rocker”! Songs include Mas Tequila, Mexico, There’s Only One Way to Rock, Rainy Day Women (#12/#35), The Girl Gets Around, Rock Candy, I’ll Fall in Love Again, I’ll Take You There, Sam I Am, Little White Lie, I Can’t Drive 55, Heavy Metal, Good Enough, Summer Nights, Right Now, Finish What You Started, Best of Both Worlds, Fight for Your Right and Cabo Wabo. The DVD’s special features include interviews with Sammy Hagar, as well as each of The Wabos-- Vic Johnson, Mona Gnader, and David Lauser in addition to Michael Anthony. Also included is the “Sam I Am” music video, the making of “Sam I Am,” the “Tropic of Capricorn” music video, a “Got Cabo?” video tour of Cabo San Lucas and a “Tequila Made Me Do It” tour video.

More details about the upcoming tour dates and ticket sales will be announced shortly. Stay tuned to www.redrocker.com for information as it becomes available.

For more information about the live Livin’ It Up! In St. Louis DVD, please visit www.image-entertainment.com.

End o' week musings

Happy summer! I hope the season makes for some wonderful memories.

See the chick on the pig? That's me at Legoland last year when my family went to check out the new pirate cove area. My brother and I are huge Lego fans and are already talking about going there again soon! LOL! I also thought of summer when I saw this respledent fruit and cat bowl and the saddest littlest mermaid... or would that be merdog??

As I write this, my co-workers are drifting in and out preparing for our Hawaiian-themed pot luck. I spent part of my early morning cutting up melons, kiwis, bananas and pineapple for a big fruit salad (darn, I forgot the kitties!). You did catch the early part, right? Yes, I sacrificed for my co-workers, but they're worth it.

This past week I warbled and shimmied and practiced everything I needed to prepare for upcoming shows. I also worked on my costume and made a television (with the help of my friend Manny) out of a cardboard box for a prop for my next dance show.

My other big excitement this week was attending Claremont Manor's invitiation-only Canine Couture Extravaganza. There's nothing more fun than pups in costumes! The dogs seemed to really enjoy their time strutting up and down the runway and especially liked the treats - and hotdogs - they received for their time in the spotlight.

Be sure to check out http://www.sgvn.com/ and read my story on Gallows, a British punk band who will be in SoCal next week for two shows.

In rotation this week: Megadeth, Tribe of Gypsies, Cheb Sabbah, Rob Zombie, Best of Britney Spears, Oojami, Queen (3 CDs worth!) and Gwar.

Spread some sunshine and warmth of your own this week

and

Keep on rockin'

Mickie

Bred In Captivity to play in Whittier

Local singer/songwriter Bred in Captivity will offer his best acoustic guitar grooves for an intimate evening show. BIC was recently featured in my Flipside column and as a guest on KUCI 88.9 FM radio. Here's the 911:

Bred In Captivity
8 p.m. Friday, June 29
Dr. Java Coffee Company
15590 Whittwood Lane, Whittier
(562) 902-5282
www.myspace.com/bredincaptivity

GMA Dove Awards Saturday

GMA DOVE AWARDS TO BE TELEVISED ON KABC IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEKEND

The “Grammys” of Gospel Music Features Exciting Performances and Big Winners

WHEN: Saturday, June 23, 2007; 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: KABC – Channel 7 in Los Angeles

The 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held in Nashville at the end of April and are currently airing in national syndication. The Doves is gospel music’s biggest night of the year, where top artists from every style of gospel music come together for a night of music and celebration as the GMA bestows gospel music’s highest honor -- the Dove Award.
And, while the awards are the reason for the show, music performances definitely take center stage at the Dove Awards. During the two-hour show hosted by Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell, Female Artist of the Year Natalie Grant and gospel great Donnie McClurkin, some of gospel music’s hottest and most diverse artists perform at Music City’s famed Grand Ole Opry House.

Some of the show’s highlights include:
· A rousing opening performance of “Lose My Soul” by TobyMac, Kirk Franklin, American Idol finalist Mandisa and a gospel choir
· An equally show-stopping closing and farewell performance by The Crabb Family
· A stirring performance by Chris Tomlin accompanied by Christy Nockels, Ayiesha Woods and others in an harmony-heavy arrangement of "Amazing Grace"
· Aaron Shust’s simple, acoustic rendition of "My Savior, My God" which was named the Song of the Year
· Brian Littrell, Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day’s Mac Powell and Casting Crown’s Mark Hall, four of Christian music’s leading men, took the stage to perform “By His Wounds”
· Gospel a Capella group Take 6 offers their breathtaking combination of R&B, jazz and pop
· Brian Free & Assurance showed why Southern Gospel performances always elicit standing ovations
· The Doves also showcased some of Christian music’s up-and-coming new bands – Family Force 5, Decemberadio, Leeland and Red – in live performances from Michael W. Smith’s Rocketown club

MORE INFO: www.doveawards.com; www.gospelmusic.org

Patrice Pike returns to LA

AUSTIN SINGING SENSATION PATRICE PIKE
RETURNS TO LOS ANGELES
“She’s Tina Turner, Bessie Smith, Janis Joplin, and Robert Plant all rolled up into a tiny but explosive package,” Rolling Stone Magazine.

WHO: Austin recording artist Patrice Pike, a year since she rocked television sets across America on CBS’s reality sensation Rock Star: Supernova, returns to the City of Angles to perform at the Knitting Factory. Pike became an Austin hero after picking up five awards at this year’s Austin Music Awards, including Musician of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rock Band, Best Female Vocalist and an Induction in the Music Hall of Fame.

WHAT: Throughout June, Pike has worked her way west from hometown Austin all the way to California. At the concert, Pike will perform original hits as well as songs featured on Rock Star: Supernova including “Beautiful Thing” the first single off her album “Unraveling,” released by her own new label Tape Slap Records.

WHEN: Sunday, July 1, 2007
9:40 pm

COST: $8 adv / $10 door

WHERE: Knitting Factory
7021 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028

For more information on Patrice Pike visit her website http://www.patricepike.com/

Justin Lanning to release debut in July

Talented and tuneful singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Justin Lanning has been perfecting his unique songs for most of his 21 years, and the young troubadour with heartthrob looks and ear-catching melodies is finally breaking out on July 10 with his polished debut album Behind These Eyes. The collection of energetic power-pop and lush ballads on Lanning’s own King George/Mesa Bluemoon Records has produced a first single, “Take My Breath Away,” that has reached the Top 10 in the Adult Contemporary charts, rising above tunes from such notable contemporaries as John Mayer, Nickelback, Snow Patrol, Bon Jovi and Daughtry. “Take My Breath Away” is currently receiving airplay on more than 60 stations across the country, which translates into more than 7,000 total spins in the AC format monitored by industry trades FMQB and Radio & Records. Lanning has also been featured prominently on AOL's KOL internet radio as well as AOL's RED website.

Lanning will celebrate all of these accomplishments, and preview the triumphs to come, with a record release party for Behind These Eyes on Wednesday, July 11 at Hollywood hotspot and legendary rock venue the Roxy Theater on the Sunset Strip. Starting at 9pm, Lanning and his crack band of expert players will take the stage for live renditions of the album’s remarkable tunes, sure to please the legions of rabid female fans that are already fixated on Lanning through his heavy MySpace buzz and recent live appearances in Los Angeles.

But hit singles aren’t the only thing on the gifted musician’s mind. Lanning also recently lent his artistic skills to a variety of life-affirming charity projects, including performances at high schools to raise awareness of drug abuse. Similarly, Justin contributes his time to The Art of Elysium, a non-profit organization that encourages working actors, artists and musicians to volunteer with entertaining and comforting children who are battling serious medical conditions at hospitals in the Los Angeles area. Additionally, Lanning is an avid supporter of PETA and gives out educational materials at his performances.

Behind These Eyes references many of the twenty-one year-old Lanning’s idols: the glossy, power-pop sheen of Bryan Adams; the storytelling prowess of Billy Joel; the classic harmonic sophistication of the Beatles and the Beach Boys; and the youthful exuberance of James Blunt. But like those musical heroes, Justin is his own man, and his personal songs come from a deep emotional well that is unique to him.

Self-taught from a young age on a variety of instruments, including guitar, piano, bass and drums, Lanning not only writes and performs his songs but also owns the publishing rights and masters and acted as his own A&R rep. Lanning even co-produced two tracks along with seasoned veteran Jeff Bova (Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Joe Cocker) and acted as financial backer for his upcoming album, which features additional songs produced by Steven Miller (Dave Matthews Band, Pink, Mandy Moore) and will be released on Lanning’s own King George Records with promotion and distribution through Mesa Bluemoon Recordings.

Lanning sees himself as a multi-media artist as well. A visit to his MySpace highlights the various episodes of Justin’s World, webisodes that feature the life and times of the enthusiastic sprit of Lanning as he heads through a variety of Left Coast adventures. Justin’s World has already gathered a cult following, with tens of thousands of viewers watching each and every episode. His electrifying presence, both onstage and on camera, is bolstered by his experience as an actor with over 20 commercials and TV shows to his credit, including winning MTV’s Score with Ryan Cabrera and a recent role as a murderer on CSI: Las Vegas.

www.myspace.com/justinlanning