I the MIGHTY With this Ring(ing in my ears) I thee WED
One of my Top 10 SXSW showcases this year was by San Francisco based I the MIGHTY.
Led by the captivating delivery of singer Brent Walsh and mightily anchored by guitarist Ian Pedigo, bassist Chris Hinkley and drummer Blake Dahlinger, I the MIGHTY made an indelible impression on me as an act ready to breakout in a big way.
Soon after the Mighty onslaught of Austin, Equal Vision Records released a 6-track ItM Ep produced by Erik Ron (VersaEmerge, Panic! At The Disco, Good Charlotte, Four Year Strong, Hit The Lights, Saosin, Blameshift).
Karma Never Sleeps is a 6-pack of stacked tracks Dancing On A Tightrope across a Cutting Room Floor...
1. The Dreamer
2. Dancing On a Tightrope
3. Cutting Room Floor
4. The Frame III: Sirocco
5. These Streets Are Alive
6. Escalators
Back in March of 2010, ItM self-released an Ep called Hearts and Spades. You can download it for free at their Bandcamp page (the band has included a "Thank-you" letter...Hearts for their fans are in Spades)
I the MIGHTY Hearts and Spades
1. Technicolor
2. Modern Medicine
3. Hearts and Spades
4. I the Mighty Defeatist
5. Just Drive
I the MIGHTY Tour Dates
May 04 - Ogden, UT @ Mojo's (w/ Ice Nine Kills)
May 05 - Boise, ID @ The Venue (w/ Ice Nine Kills)
May 06 - Missoula, MT @ The Connection
May 07 - Seattle, WA @ Studio 7 (w/ Ice Nine Kills)
May 09 - Orangevale, CA @ The Boardwalk (w/ Ice Nine Kills)
May 10 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction (w/ Ice Nine Kills)
May 11 - Fresno, CA @ Kuppajoe's
May 12 - Modesto, CA @ FYE
And for those who appreciate tradition done in a non-traditional way, their instrumental rendition of "Carol of the Bells" is Holiday music at its atmospheric best.
As Larry David might say....it's Migh-ty, Migh-ty good!
Ever wonder what it's like to be Falling In Reverse
Ever wonder what it's like to be Raised By Wolves
Or to be serenaded by a Dead girl
Or to be abused by The Used
Or to Get Wasted until 6:66 in the morning
If so, you know you're Warped
This year, March ended with the roar of a Lion...
The VANS WARPED TOUR kick-off party and press conference assembled at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles on the 29th of March.
Vans Warped Tour artists, including Cherri Bomb, Neo Geo, Vampires Everywhere!, Dead Sara and The Used joined tour founder Kevin Lyman and Steve Van Doren of Vans to celebrate.
Also on hand were local scenesters including Mixi from Stitched Up Heart, Davey Suicide, Danielle Fidelity from Hollywood Waste, photographer Michelle xStar, Ana Lovelis (Cherri Bomb mom) and Todd Brodginski from MSO.
A sea of fans packed the club early and were first treated to a screening of the new tour documentary film NO ROOM FOR ROCKSTARS (from Stacy Peralta and the producers of Dogtown & Z-boys) before Forever Came Calling (the group featured in the NRFR film) came out to kickstart the heart of the party with some live rock 'n roll.
Next up was Matt Toka and his trademark bright green hair. Toka is a real go-getter as he passionately hurtles himself into every performance as if it's his very last. Strutting the stage with great aplomb, his amped up music explodes like a bomb.
Detonating the crowd with favorites "Say10" and "666" ("6:66 in the morning") from his upcoming Reprise/Warner Bros debut, Matt and his band pepper their sets with classic riffs from the likes of Metallica to keep the intensity level at a fever pitch. It's all leading to what I'm imagining will be a bunch of bright green hairdos amongst the throngs along Warped this summer.
Fading from green into yellow, came the first "surprise" guest of the night. Singer Ryan Key, along with violinist Sean Mackin and guitarist Ryan Mendez, stripped down a couple of Yellowcard favorites; "Ocean Avenue" & "Sing For Me".
Next up were the impassioned musings from a Dead girl by the name of Sara. Having seen Dead Sara a few times already this year, it was cool to see them on a bigger stage with a booming sound system and a larger crowd to elevate the energy in the room as singer Emily Armstrong and guitarist Siouxsie Medley delivered yet again with an unforgettable epic rendition of their signature song "Weatherman".
Seeing Ms Armstrong leap from the top of a Marshall stack after the bridge in "Weatherman" is not revolutionary but it sure does seem that way every time. Dead Sara is alive and well in the city of Angels.
The limitless boundary of the Walking Dead was further unhemmed by the straight line stitch of the deluge of The Used.
Singer Bert McCracken and the rest of The Used wrecking crew kicked off their rampage with "the best song ever written" (Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit") before instigating a high voltage rock 'n roll set geared to use and abuse anyone not already having nothing but a good time.
Headlining the evening were Falling In Reverse whom have been busy playing shows in L.A. as of late. A few months ago, they played a raucous sold out show at the House of Blues on Sunset before signing on last minute to open for Guns N' Roses at the Hollywood Palladium.
As was expected, the majority of fans in the audience were in attendance to see the "King of the music scene" Ronnie Radke (as he anoints himself in "Tragic Magic") escape the fate of mediocrity once again.
He's a penultimate showman whom knows how to get the most out of both his band and his eagerly responsive flock of worshippers.
At one point, the floor in the mosh pit was vibrating beneath our feet from the exuberance of hundreds of bodies madly falling in reverse over and over again.
Expect the same to happen all summer long...though replace the climate-controlled air conditioning with blazing hot UV rays and you have a hot tamale recipe to unleash a cherished moment of infamy.
"Hi my name is _____ and I'm a Warped Tour addict...
I'm Not A Vampire but I feel one corsing through my veins"...
VANS WARPED TOUR 2012:
6/16 Salt Lake City, UT Utah State Fairpark
6/17 Denver, CO Sports Authority Field at Mile High
6/20 Las Vegas, NV Plaza Hotel & Casino
6/21 Irvine, CA Orange County Great Park
6/22 Pomona, CA Pomona Fairplex
6/23 San Francisco, CA AT&T Park Lot A
6/24 Ventura, CA Seaside Park
6/27 Chula Vista, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
6/28 Scottsdale, AZ Camelback Park
6/29 Las Cruces, NM New Mexico State University
6/30 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
7/01 Houston, TX Reliant Center Parking Lot
7/03 Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavilion
7/05 Maryland Heights, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7/06 Auburn Hills, MI The Palace Of Auburn Hills
7/07 Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
7/08 Shakopee, MN Canterbury Park
7/09 Bonner Springs, KS Sandstone Amphitheatre
7/10 Noblesville, IN Klipsch Music Center
7/11 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
7/12 Burgettstown, PA First Niagara Pavilion
7/13 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
7/14 Montreal, QC Parc Jean Drapeau
7/15 Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
7/17 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
7/18 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion
7/19 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center
7/20 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
7/21 Uniondale, NY Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7/22 Hartford, CT The Comcast Theatre
7/24 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
7/25 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live At Virginia Beach
7/26 Atlanta, GA Aaron's Amphitheatre
7/27 Orlando, FL Central Florida Fairgrounds
7/28 Miami, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
7/29 St. Petersburg, FL Vinoy Park
7/30 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7/31 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
8/01 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheater
8/04 Redmond, WA Marymoor Park
8/05 Portland, OR Rose Quarter Riverfront
(Special thanks to Libby, Angela & Michele @ MSO and photographers Melissa Libertelli & Manny Hebron)
Singer. Songwriter. Wordsmith. Entrepreneur. Business Manager. Prognosticator. Rockstar. Pinup. Style maven. California girl.
Lucy Levinsohn, lead singer of LA-based popcore band EVOLOVE, is a rising star on the move.
She's busy finishing up her band's first full-length album, Acoustic Sessions Vol. 1, but took a quick break from tracking vocals to partake in a friendly set of questions for the launch of a brand new M2AM feature called Mackin' On.
1. The word EvolovE is a palindrome. Any thoughts to writing a song entitled “Evolove” that explores the use of palindromes (phrases could include “Dammit, I'm mad!”, “Never odd or even” or Won’t it now”)?
LL: I have never thought of that, but it's a really good idea!
2. You wrote a song called “2012” about the apocalyptic Mayan prophecy. Do you personally put any credence in the prophecy? And if the world is to end on Dec 21, 2012, pick your Final Destination. Removing all logistics, where would you like to be and with whom?
LL: I recently heard that Mayan's didn't include Leap Years in their calendar and that by their estimations the World would have already ended so, I am not going to kiss my ass goodbye yet. But for the sake of answering the question I would pick a tropical destination for sure. I love the ocean and can live off of coconuts and fish :)
3. You’ve instituted a successful ongoing event in L.A. called Rockstars & Pinups which shines a light on buzzbands and the burgeoning Pinup/Burlesque scene. What led to this unique pairing of entertainment and do you have any special plans for the next installment?
LL: I love Pinup culture and I have incorporated it into my personal style. Rock in roll is very much a part of my lifeblood so it only made sense to combine the two into "Rockstars & Pinups. I've been really busy writing and recording EVOLOVE's upcoming Acoustic record but the next event I do is going to be even bigger than the previous.
The problem with putting on a successful event is you have to outdo yourself every time. Since this is a quality problem to have, I have started scouting talent and hope to have the next event before the end of summer.
4. Rather than chunes, what are your must-have fave five apparel brands to accessorize yourself with; whether on a desert island, a remote space station or a city under the sea?
LL: Stop Staring!, Express, Converse, American Apparel and Guess.
5. What’s your favorite food/snack?
LL: Favorite Food: Sushi. Favorite snack: Cheese and crackers.
Liquid accoutrement?
LL: Hot Tea, I love all kinds from English to Peppermint to Green. I never turn down a good cup of tea!
6. If you were auditioning for The Voice, what song would you sing and what, if any, changes to the arrangement would you make?
LL: Funny you should ask. This is the number one thing I have the hardest time figuring out. I have no idea and I wish someone would give me a great idea. If you have a suggestion, I am all ears.
(Ed. note; I suggested Pearl Jam "Black" with an inversion of gender, swapping "she" for "he" throughout)
7. You’re finishing up a new album that features acoustic renditions of songs from your first two Eps as well as some brand new material. Have you enjoyed deconstructing some of your most well known songs? Were the new songs written specifically with an acoustic format in mind or were they previously recorded but unreleased?
LL: This record has been a real learning experience. Not only is it EVOLOVE's first acoustic record, it's our first full length. I think we went into it thinking it was going to be a quick endeavor. We were wrong! It is taking a lot longer than we anticipated but it's sounding great. I'm actually in a session right now. The 4 new tracks are a combination of songs we have been performing live and a couple that have never been heard before.
8. Guilty pleasure app on your iPhone?
LL: Words with friends, Angry birds, and My fitness pal.
9. Armed with a discretionary $1888 in cold hard cash to splurge wantonly, how would you spend the dolla billz?
LL: I've become addicted to Stop Staring! dresses. I would most likely spend a boatload of the cash there. I would probably spend the rest on a lavish sushi dinner with my closest friends :)
10. If you could spend a day with anyone (living or dead), whom would it be and why?
LL: I would spend the day with Madonna. She is and will always be a music legend. A lot of people like to downplay her place in music history but she is a business genius if you ask me.
Props to the creative zeitgeist at Hollywood Waste and/or the fine upstanding living dead people in haunted mansioncore quintet NEW YEARS DAY for plotting out a perfect row of grave stones for today's launch of the "Let's Get Dead" video.
I mean, C'mon c'mon. Friday the 13th followed by Get Dead Day (aka New Years Day) followed by Tax Day.
Without hesitation, Let's Get Dead before Taxes.
But there's more to today than just being Saturday April 14. This is the day that the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N' Rose-less, two of Southern California greatest exports, will be inducted and enshrined into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame.
It's surely a foreshadowing of the 50th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in 2035 that will honor another great SoCal export; NEW YEARS DAY:
And if it was purely a scheduling coincidence...then a salutation to the ghetto nation of my hyper-active imagination for connecting the dot matrix along the crooked line.
So, LET'S start over again...and GET DEAD again.
In the pantheon of larger-than-life rock tandems, NYD singer Ashley Costello and guitarist Nikki Misery are one of the tandems of their generation.
Hard to imagine one without the other...like peanut butter & jelly, sushi & wasabi and Joss Whedon & weirdness.
Their stage presence and charisma is undeniable but let's see how they stack up against GNR.
Ash is also a bold memorable lead singer's name and, wholeheartedly, a much cooler name than Axl.
Her perfectly coiffed orange and black hairdo (in reverence for her favorite holiday, Halloween) is light-years more striking than Axl's scraggly red locks.
Ashley has rallied a nation of #Creeps to wear a white bandana on their knee in solidarity. Axl has only managed to adorn his own head with one.
Ms Costello's Appetite for Destruction looms larger than Rose's because hers is not self-destructive but powered by the destruction of the pre-conceptions of theatrical rock n' roll.
When it comes to Slash vs Misery. Both are pure propane when it comes to rock names. Slash loves to slash. Misery loves misery. The former has a badass black top hat, the latter, sick ass skeleton bone gloves. It's a pick 'em. RAWK!
Another twosome comparison that might also be apropos would be Ashley & Nikki vs. Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham (late 70s-era Fleetwood Mac).
Ashley & Stevie are both iconic rock singers that have hair to die for and are fashion trendsetters that inspire generations (both are Rockanostas!). Nikki & Lindsey are each band's secret weapon, armed with six strings. It's a toss up!
Pick your poison: Gold Dust Woman or Blood Lust Woman...
Gold is so 70s...BLOOD is definitely the new Gold!
NEW YEARS DAY
Let's Get Dead (Lyrics)
Avoid the dreadful guillotine, you know you've got to get this right
Where's the poison in your words?
You can kiss yourself goodnight
Jet black lipstick and a look in your eyes, you're running out of time
Lay your heart out
Let's get dead and start over again
Get your revenge
Don't let them get much further because they are getting away with murder
C'mon c'mon I dare to you impress me
Honey all that Im suggesting is you'll soon go out of style
Tick tock tick tock you're just wasting my time, I haven't got all night
Lay your heart out
Let's get dead and start over again
Get your revenge
Don't let them get much further because they are getting away with murder
Let's get dead c'mon!
It's time to turn the lights out, for the party's not over.
It's just getting started...
On April 24, NYD will be releasing a Creep-side called LIGHTS OUT, a fresh artery ready to pump more blood for THE MECHANICAL HEART.
NEW YEARS DAY
FIGHT TO UNITE TOUR
w/ Blood On The Dance Floor, BrokeNCYDE, Polkadot Cadaver, William Control, Deuce, The Bunny The Bear, Haley Rose
4/05/12 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theatre
4/06/12 – San Diego, CA @ The Epicentre
4/07/12 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Yost Theater
4/08/12 – West Hollywood, CA @ The Key Club
4/09/12 – Oakland, CA @ THE METRO
4/10/12 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
4/11/12 – Seattle, WA @ The Studio Seven
4/12/12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Sound
4/14/12 - Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
4/16/12 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze
4/17/12 - Joliet, IL @ Mojoes
4/18/12 - Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot Ballroom
4/19/12 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
4/20/12 - Buffalo, NY @ Infinity
4/21/12 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
4/22/12 - Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights
4/24/12 - New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater
4/25/12 - Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
4/26/12 - Baltimore, MD @ Sound Stage
4/27/12 - Greensboro, NC @ Greene Street Club
4/28/12 - Orlando, FL @ The Beacham
4/29/12 - Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
4/30/12 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
5/03/12 - Dallas, TX @ The Door
5/04/12 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
5/05/12 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
5/06/12 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
