Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown Premiere New Song “On To The Next” Band Touring With Black Stone Cherry On Co-Headline Run
Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown have shared the brand new song “On to the Next” over at Guitar World. The riff-roaring track is the first taste of new music from the band’s next album, tentatively due this summer. The song and the forthcoming album were recorded with Joel Hamilton (Highly Suspect, Pretty Lights).
“‘On to the Next’ was inspired by the Shakedown’s live show,” guitar virtuoso Tyler Bryant said, offering some insight into the tune. “We show up, we leave it all on the table, and we get gone. We’ve done this regardless of any obstacle since we formed the band. This is something I’m incredibly proud of as I’ve always valued resilience. The ‘we’re here no matter what’ mentality has inspired me to stick to my guns and charge forward.”
He shared a deeper look into the personal and universal meaning behind the song, saying, “With that said, I’m often confronted with self-doubt and anxiety. That’s natural when you go wholeheartedly all in, with anything. Over the course of the new recording sessions, these feelings are key players behind a lot of the lyrics. However, they aren’t welcome in ‘On to the Next.’ The lyrics were born from the attitude of the music and for me, this is purely a song of empowerment.”
Bryant finished, “When I walk on stage, I wanna feel like the biggest badass in the room. No matter how many awesome Shakedown fans show up, 10 times out of 10, I’m the only one who can make me feel like that. I want this song to make someone else feel like they’re the one if they need it while they’re going through their day. ‘On to the Next’ is me making a conscious decision to leave every stage I step on a pile of bricks. That’s just me, though. When I find myself in that vicious feedback loop of doubt and anxiety, I know I’m not the only one who struggles with that. Everyone has their own mountains to climb and we’ve all got to harness our own unique mojo and use it to our advantage. The song exists purely to make whoever is listening to it feel like a total badass.”
TBSD are touring with Black Stone Cherry on a co-headline run this spring. All dates are below.
TYLER BRYANT AND THE SHAKEDOWN ON TOUR:
WITH BLACK STONE CHERRY:
3/28: Charlotte, NC @ Amos
3/29: Greenville, SC @ The Firmament
3/30: Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
3/31: Mcminnville, TN @ Volcano Room at Cumberland Caverns
4/4: Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live
4/5: Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
4/6: Dallas, TX @ Trees
4/11: Joliet, IL @ The Forge
4/12: Lafayette, IN @ Lafayette Theater
4/13: Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
4/18: Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop Concert Lounge
4/19: Grand Rapids, MI @ Elevation
4/20: Racine, WI @ Rt 20
4/25: Hopewell, VA @ Beacon Theatre
4/26: Fredericksburg, VA @ Hard Times Four Mile Fork
4/27: Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho Theater
4/29: Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
4/30: Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
5/1: Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony
5/4: Panama City Beach, FL @ Panama City Bike Week*
5/16: Belvedere, IL @ The Apollo Theater
5/17: Columbia, MO @ Blue Note
5/18: Lawrence, KS @ The Granada
5/24: Greensboro, NC @ Blind Tiger
5/26: Pryor, OK @ Rocklahoma*
5/31: Huntington, WV @ V Club
6/22: Bristol, TN @ Thunder Mountain Music Park
7/12: Telluride, CO @ Ride Fest*
7/13: Telluride, CO @ Ride Fest*
*Festival
Joyous Wolf Release New Singles, “Quiet Heart” and “Place In Time”
New EP, Place In Time, out 4/19 Via Roadrunner Records
Southern California based Rock band JOYOUS WOLF has released the first two singles off of their upcoming EP, Place in Time; “Quiet Heart” and “Place In Time,” which is due out 4/19 via Roadrunner Records.
VERIZON WIRELESS has also launched a new ad campaign featuring guitarist Blake Allard and his father, which can be viewed online HERE.
Catch Joyous Wolf LIVE with Buckcherry on the WAR PAINT Tour:
03/30 @ Wally’s – Hampton Beach, NH
03/31 @ The Chance – Poughkeepsie, NY
04/02 @ Boathouse – Newport News, VA
04/04 @ Arizona Bike Week – Westworld of Scottsdale – Scottsdale, AZ
04/07 @ Tarheel – Jacksonville, NC
04/09 @ The Loft – Atlanta, GA
04/11 @ Firmament – Greenville, SC
04/12 @ Cotton Eyed Joe – Knoxville, TN
04/13 @ Fergs Live – Tampa, FL
04/14 @ Surfer Bar – Jacksonville, FL
04/16 @ Vinyl – Pensacola. FL
04/17 @ Culture Room – Ft Lauderdale, FL
04/19 @ Graceland Soundstage – Memphis, TN
04/20 @ Warehouse Live – Houston, TX
04/23 @ The Complex – Springfield, MO
04/24 @ The Eclectic Room – Angola, IN
04/26 @ Temple Live – Ft. Smith, AR
04/28 @ Lava Cantina – Colony, TX
04/30 @ Studio – Colorado Springs, CO
05/01 @ Harry’s Hideaway – Denver, CO
05/03 @ The Royal Bar – Salt Lake City, UT
05/04 @ Brooklyn Bowl – Las Vegas, NV
05/05 @ Canyon Club – Montclair, CA
Joyous Wolf is a Rock band from Southern California formed in 2014 by vocalist Nick Reese, guitarist Blake Allard, bassist Greg Braccio, and drummer Robert Sodaro. Reese and Sodaro met on their first day of 6th grade during student orientation. They went to different high schools where Sodaro would go on to befriend Braccio. During that time Reese, by chance, met Allard in the acoustic room at Guitar Center where they would jam CCR’s “Born on the Bayou”. There was an immediate dynamic between the two that ultimately led to an exchange of information. Months later Reese reached out to both Sodaro and Allard with the interest of starting a new project with them. Braccio would soon follow suit.
In the waning months of 2014 early jam sessions would yield the foundation of what Joyous Wolf has become. Fusing together influences ranging from Heavy Metal to Delta Blues, Joyous Wolf creates an expressive, high-energy fingerprint that separates themselves from their contemporaries in the realm of Modern Rock.
A review on Empath, the ninth solo album
and eighteenth studio album by Devin Townsend.
Devin Garrett Townsend is a Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer. Across all his bands and projects, Townsend has released twenty-three studio albums and three live albums. Townsend’s trademark production style, featuring a heavily multitracked wall of sound, has been compared to the styles of Phil Spector and Frank Zappa. His vocal delivery ranges from screaming to an opera-esquesinging. Townsend’s musical style is rooted in metal, and his albums are written to express different aspects of his personality.
Empath is the upcoming eighteenth studio album by Canadian metal musician Devin Townsend, released on his own labelHevyDevy Records on March 29, 2019. It is his first solo album since Dark Matters, which was a part of the 2014 double album Z, and his first release to act solely as a solo album since 2007’sZiltoid the Omniscient. #DevinTownsend #Empath #Metal
Holy Fawn Debut “Dark Stone” Video As Under The Radar Gem Death Spells, Gets Proper Release Via Triple Crown Records
“This record came out of nowhere and absolutely knocked me on my ass. I knew nothing of it, had zero idea what to expect and literally had goosebumps for a majority of my first listen.” – Riley Breckenridge (Thrice)
“The album is beautiful, heavy, & hypnotizing- listening from top to bottom will take you on a trance-inducing journey” – Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God)
“ a little-known indie band from Arizona being touted as the next big thing by respected musicians isn’t something I’m likely to gloss over lightly… I was sufficiently impressed, but it wasn’t until the band released the first single from Death Spells, ‘Arrows’… that I fully realized how exciting and potentially important this band could be.” – David Zeidler (Heavy Blog Is Heavy/Arctic Drones)
Holy Fawn, the Phoenix based band who describe themselves as “four creatures making loud heavy pretty noises, release a video for “Dark Stone” (https://youtu.be/yb7TEn8079I) as the band’s buzzed about under-the-radar album, Death Spells, gets a proper release via Triple Crown Records (home to Caspian and Covet).
Death Spells initially received a DIY, regional release in 2018, with the band’s friend putting out the 10-song album via his label, Whelmed Records. Word about the young band began to grow out of the Southwest with fans and friends sharing the songs and “Drag Me Into The Woods” video (https://youtu.be/21RwvD_ohVM) via social media, eventually tipping off a handful of in-the-know writers and musicians. Stereogumproclaimed it as one of the “Top 50 Records of 2018,” New Noise dubbed it a “sonic adventure,” and Heavy Blog Is Heavy/Arctic Drones’ writer David Zeidler saying, “ a little-known indie band from Arizona being touted as the next big thing by respected musicians isn’t something I’m likely to gloss over lightly… I was sufficiently impressed, but it wasn’t until the band released the first single from Death Spells, ‘Arrows’… that I fully realized how exciting and potentially important this band could be.” Thrice’s Riley Breckenridge said he “literally had goosebumps for a majority of my first listen” and Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe offered, “listening from top-to-bottom will take you on a trance-inducing journey.”
Static-X Addresses Lead Vocalist Questions
Announces UK, EU, Australia and Pacific Northwest US Touring Plans
Today, STATIC-X dropped a special video in which fans can see and hear the band’s mysterious, unnamed vocalist performing the band’s cult classic, “Bled for Days”, along with the original Wisconsin Death Trip band lineup of Tony Campos, Ken Jay and Koichi Fukuda.The clip also showcases the band’s stage production for their highly-anticipated upcoming US tour, and teases a brand new song from their upcoming album, Project Regeneration.
“Everyone wants to know who will be singing and how we will be pulling off the material live,”says Tony Campos. “Well, here it is. Watch this video and you will see and hear exactly what we will be doing on the tour.”
Since the announcement of their upcoming Wisconsin Death Trip 20th Anniversary Tour dates in the US, based on incredible demand, STATIC-X has confirmed shows in 10 more countries as part of their world domination! The tour will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band’s platinum selling debut, Wisconsin Death Trip, and serve as a touring memorial for their late lead singer, Wayne Static.
In addition, STATIC-X have announced the beginnings of a second US leg to take place in December.
North American meet & greets are available now via www.Static-X.org (and www.DevilDriver.com for their performance dates).Tickets are available now via individual venues and their websites.
See below for a full list of dates and individual support artists.
STATIC-X is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on their seventh studio album, entitled Project Regeneration. The album will feature 12 brand new STATIC-X tracks and contains several vocal performances and musical compositions by Wayne Static, along with a handful of high-profile guest vocal contributions.
“We are incredibly excited to announce that we will be taking the Wisconsin Death Trip 20thAnniversary Tour around the world,” says drummer Ken Jay. “The fans have shown so much love for the band and for Wayne and we couldn’t be more pumped for the rest of 2019. Thank you all for the encouragement and support!”
Ken Jay adds about the addition of the new vocalist, “For us, the goal was 100% about recapturing the vibe and the spirit of STATIC-X. We were never interested in using a hologram or using Wayne’s pre-recorded vocals. It has to be real and it has to have a soul and a pulse. STATIC-X has always been four guys. Two guitars, bass, drums, and vocals. We didn’t want to mess with that formula. This is the most electric version of Wisconsin Death Trip 2.0 that we can imagine, without actually having Wayne here with us.”
“At first, I was actually a little skeptical of how we could do all of this,” says Koichi Fukuda. “But, after I heard him sing, I was sold! I am so impressed with how far it has come in a short amount of time. We are working very hard to bring something very special to you all. I know that Wayne would be very proud of how much heart and effort has been put into this. It is truly an honor.”
“We were very lucky to find somebody who could fill such a unique role,” says Tony Campos. “We’ve all toured together and our bands came up together back in the day. This is just as special for him as it is for us. He was never interested in trying to make this about him and he was actually the one who suggested that the mask be the face of the memorial.”
WISCONSIN DEATH TRIP 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATES:
NORTH AMERICA Part 1
STATIC-X & DevilDriver co-headlining with support from Dope:
June 18 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater
June 19 – Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theater
June 21 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live
June 22 – Houston, TX @ The Warehouse
June 23 – San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec Theater
June 25 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
June 26 – Greenville, SC @ The Firmament
June 28 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage
June 29 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
June 30 – Scranton, PA @ Levels
July 2 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House
July 3 – London, ON @ London Music Hall
July 4 – Ottawa, ON @ Brass Monkey
July 5 – Hampton Beach, NH @ Wally’s
July 6 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
July 7 – Reading, PA @ Reverb
July 9 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Jergel’s
July 10 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
July 11 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Citadel
July 12 – Ft. Wayne, IN @ Clyde Theatre
July 13 – Detroit, MI @ Harpo’s
July 14 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall
July 16 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection
July 18 – Cadott, WI @ Cadott Rockfest
July 19 – Sioux City, IA @ Anthem @ Hard Rock Casino
July 20 – Joliet, IL @ The Forge
July 21 – Belvidere, IL @ Apollo Theater
July 23 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater
July 25 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory
July 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ Catch One
July 27 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
AUSTRALIA
STATIC-X with support from Wednesday 13 and Dope
Aug 22 – Brisbane, Australia @ Eaton Hill
Aug 23 – Melbourne, Australia @ Croxton
Aug 24 – Sydney, Australia @ Metro
Aug 26 – Adelaide, Australia @ The Gov
Aug 27 – Perth, Australia @ Rock Rover
RUSSIA
STATIC-X Only
Sept 20 – St Petersburg, Russia @ Cosmonavt Club
Sept 21 – Moscow, Russia @ Giavclub
UNITED KINGDOM
STATIC-X with Soil, Wednesday 13 and Dope
Sept 24 – Bristol, England @ SWX
Sept 25 – Cardiff, Wales @ Tramshed
Sept 26 – London, England @ Electric Ballroom
Sept 27 – Nottingham, England @ Rock City
Sept 28 – Leeds, England @ Stylus
Sept 29 – Southampton, England @ Engine Room
Oct 01 – Newcastle, England @ Northumbria Institute
Oct 02 – Glasgow, Scotland @ The Garage
Oct 03 – Manchester, England @ The Ritz
Oct 04 – Birmingham, England @ 02 Institute
EUROPE
STATIC-X with Wednesday 13, Soil and Dope
Oct 05 – Paris, France @ File 7
Oct 06 – Antwerp, Belgium @ Trix Club
Oct 07 – Hamburg, Germany @ Markthalle
Oct 09 – Cologne, Germany @ Essigfabrik
Oct 10 – Mannheim, Germany @ MS Connex
Oct 11 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Dynamo
Oct 12 – Pinarella di Cervia, Italy @ Rock Planet
Oct 13 – Munich, Germany @ Backstage
NORTH AMERICA Part 2
Dec 10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Royal Bar
Dec 11 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
Dec 12 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
Dec 13 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
Dec 14 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Dec 15 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater
+ More dates TBA!
As announced, the original STATIC-X lineup introduced on their 1999 platinum-selling debut full-length album, Wisconsin Death Trip – bassist Tony Campos, guitarist Koichi Fukuda and drummer Ken Jay – have joined forces once again to release a new album, Project Regeneration. The band has cultivated a treasure chest of vocal performances and musical compositions left behind by Wayne. Along with the help of STATIC-X‘s long-time producer Ulrich Wild, the band is in the process of completing the album now.
A new teaser featuring clips from a brand new music video, as well as five new STATIC-X tracks – “Road To Hell”, “Something Of My Own”, “Terminator Oscillator”, “Hollow” and “Disco Otsego” – along with a personal message from bassist Tony Campos about the inspiration behind Project Regeneration, is available to view now at www.static-x.org.
For the unfinished tracks, the band is inviting several of their friends to lend their voices for the completion of this very personal project. The guest vocalist curation process is being led by none other than SiriusXM programming pioneer Jose Mangin, who is working alongside the band as one of the executive producers for Project Regeneration.
STATIC-X has created a pre-order campaign allowing fans who purchase Project Regenerationin advance to have their name appear in the liner notes of the new album. Additional special pre-order package options are also available, including Project Regeneration merch bundles and several old school STATIC-X merch items to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Wisconsin Death Trip. Pre-orders are available via www.static-x.org.
Live Nation and SGE Present Rockstar Energy DrinkDisrupt Festival
Featuring The Used, Thrice, Circa Survive, Sum 41, The Story So Far, Atreyu, Sleeping With Sirens, Meg & Dia and more, in select cities Tickets On Sale Starting This Friday, March 29th at 10am Local Time
Featuring some of the biggest bands in rock as well as the genre’s rising stars, The Rockstar Energy Drink DISRUPT Festival is a brand-new music experience making its debut across North America this summer. The touring festival will feature unique line-ups in each city, with performances varying from artists including The Used, Thrice, Circa Survive, Sum 41, The Story So Far, Atreyu, Sleeping With Sirens, Andy Black, Four Year Strong, Memphis May Fire, Trophy Eyes, Meg & Dia, Juliet Simms and Hyro The Hero. Please visit rockstardisrupt.com for full line-up details by city.
The 25-city rock roadshow of the summer will kick off June 21st in Dallas, TX at the Dos Equis Pavilion and make stops in Austin, Atlanta, Toronto, Denver and more, before wrapping July 28th in Albuquerque, NM at the Isleta Amphitheater.
Fans will be immersed into a full-day interactive experience where they will not only be able to see some of their favorite bands live, but will also be exposed to the latest in lifestyle brands and pop-up activations. The entire festival will take place across two incredible stages, allowing fans to experience all of their must-see artists in one rock-filled day. Fans who bring any empty 16 ounce can of Rockstar Energy Drink to recycle at the main gate will have the opportunity to skip the line and be entered to win a signed festival guitar and exclusive meet & greet with festival headliners.
Tickets for DISRUPT will go on sale beginning this Friday, March 29th at 10am local time. A full list of dates and ticket links can be found at rockstardisrupt.com. Citi is the official presale credit card for the tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Tuesday, March 26th at 12pm local time until Thursday, March 28th at 10pm local time through Citi’s Private Pass program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com.
Rockstar Energy Drink DISRUPT Festival Dates June 21 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
June 22 – Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheater
June 23 – The Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
June 25 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre at S. Florida Fairground
June 26 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
June 28 – Atlanta, GA @ Cellairis Amphitheare at Lakewood
June 29 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
July 2 – Syracuse, NY @ St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
July 3 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
July 5 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
July 6 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
July 7 – Hartford, CT @ XFINITY Theatre
July 9 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
July 10 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
July 12 – Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July 13 – Thornville, OH @ Legend Valley
July 14 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
July 15 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July 17 – Denver, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*
July 20 – Irvine, CA @ Five Point Amphitheater presented by Mercury Insurance
July 23 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
July 24 – Boise, ID @ Ford Idaho Center Amphitheatre
July 26 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 27 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion
July 28 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
*not a Live Nation date
DISRUPT is presented by Live Nation and Synergy Global Entertainment, Inc. (SGE).
About Rockstar Energy Drink
Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles – from Athletes to Rockstars. Available in over 20 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in over 30 countries, Rockstar supports the active Rockstar lifestyle across the globe through Action Sports, Motor Sports, and Live Music. For more information visit: www.RockstarEnergy.com
In 2019, Pixies have announced that they are coming out with a new album this year. With it is coming a podcast series talking about their legacy as well as the making of new music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk2Z270Xxcs
Last night in St. Louis, they proved after decades, break-ups, reunions and everything in between, Pixies haven’t lost a step. This was the first performance from ANY band that I’ve seen in years where a group performed an hour of music non-stop. No breaks, no talking or addressing the crowd in between. It was Pixies playing music and proving the magic they still have.
The set included everything from changing light sequences to guitar tricks from Joey Santiago (who even played with his hat to strum his guitar strings). Pixies, currently on tour with Weezer, hit the nostalgia button for many people at the Enterprise Center. Weezer and Pixies made for a perfect pairing to tour together. It was a great blend of 90’s reminiscence and current music to remind us that the alternative music scene was wildly different years ago.
You can find upcoming tour dates and keep up to date with Pixies news on the band’s Facebook page here: Pixies on Facebook
Click on any photo below to open the gallery and scroll below the photos to watch some old videos and revel in the nostalgia.
Pixies in St. Louis, MO
Photos of Pixies at Enterprise Center.
All photos taken by Luke Spencer
in St. Louis, MO on March 24th, 2019.
Ghost is a Swedish rock band that was formed in Linköping, Sweden in 2006.Ghost is easily recognizable owing greatly to its eccentric on-stage presence. Seven of the group’s eight members, its ‘Nameless Ghouls’, wear virtually identical, face-concealing costumes.
“Dance Macabre” is a song by Swedish rock band Ghost. It was their second single off of their fourth studio album Prequelle. It topped the BillboardMainstream Rock Songs chart for two weeks in February 2019. #Ghost #DanceMacabre #Prequelle
The Damned Things Release “Something Good” *New Album, ‘High Crimes,’ Out April 26th* **Headline U.S. Tour in May**
Celebrated purveyors of heavy rock THE DAMNED THINGS have released their 2nd single, “Something Good,’ from the band’s eagerly anticipated, upcoming album, High Crimes, that’s due April 26 via Nuclear Blast Records. Fans can stream the new track now and watch the lyric video below.
Vocal powerhouse Keith Buckley comments on the new song: “”Something Good” is a feel-good song about feeling bad. It’s about hurting people you care about because it is not in your nature to do the right thing even when you want to. A dark moral story with a really sunny feel.”
High Crimes was produced by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR, AMON AMARTH) and is the follow up to 2010’s hugely successful debut album, Ironiclast.
Nine years ago, Scott Ian – guitarist and co-founder of legendary thrash metal outfit, ANTHRAX – took a meeting with the Joe Trohman (also a guitarist, and a co-founder, of the band FALL OUT BOY). He and Scott hit it off, and started making songs together. With the help of drummer Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy) and the irreverent vocals of Keith Buckley (EVERY TIME I DIE), THE DAMNED THINGS were formed. The band has gone through changes since its inception and now features Dan Andriano of ALKALINE TRIO on bass.
THE DAMNED THINGS will kick off a month long headlining U.S. tour on May 1st with an intimate and undoubtedly unruly show at The Whisky in Los Angeles and will wrap in San Diego on May 25th. Tickets are onsale and going fast at thedamnedthings.com.
THE DAMNED THINGS are: Dan Andriano – Bass Keith Buckley – Vocals Scott Ian – Guitar Andy Hurley – Drums Joe Trohman – Guitar
THE DAMNED THINGS Tour Dates: May 1 – Los Angeles, CA – The Whiskey
May 4 – Jacksonville, FL – Welcome To Rockville
May 6 – Lancaster, PA – The Chameleon
May 7 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bazaar
May 9 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Rex
May 10 – Nashville, TN – The Cowan
May 11 – Rockingham, NC – Epicenter Fest
May 12 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall
May 14 – Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation @ The Intersection
May 16 – Flint, MI – Machine Shop
May 17 – Chicago, IL – The Bottom Lounge
May 18 – Springfield, MO – Outland Ballroom
May 19 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey
May 21 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theater
May 22 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
May 24 – Tempe, AZ – Tempe Marketplace (KUPD Concert Series)
May 25 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
Many music listeners are always looking for something new. A young band that sounds different from everything in the typical format of song writing. A new sound combining elements of genres and meshing them into a totally unique experience. An album or EP that isn’t one song and then surrounded with Oscar Meyer levels of filler. Music lovers want to become excited about something they find.
The UK’s Parting Gift might have filled all those qualities just listed. Combing elements of post-hardcore and shoegaze, the style of Parting Gift is an interwoven mesh of styles that you can point out at almost any time. On paper it can still be a bit odd to define, but once you hear the music you understand almost instantly.
Ensom has a theme of anxieties and approaching fear, while being presented as a true form of art. Much of the writing by Zac Vernon is from a pessimistic viewpoint. In the press release for the EP, Vernon said:
“As you grow up you realize that the world isn’t always a happy place to live in. Speaking from personal experience, I have seen a lot of bad things happen. Going into Parting Gift, I was viewing everything in a really negative light. Even though things have changed now, I can still channel all of that negativity into the way I write. I could be in the best mood but I could still come up with the darkest lyrics. I just couldn’t write something happy now.”
Ensom starts off with “Pale” and the tone for the entire EP is set within these three and a half minutes. There is a split in style between an increasing speed through the rhythm and percussion, while the vocals are being sang somewhat calmly. The bridge at about two minutes in hits with a hint of shoegaze amidst the post-hardcore before going back to the chorus, all with a peaceful fade out at the end.
“3:07 (Moonlight)” is a shorter song, clocking in under three minutes. It’s calming and the guitars really add a great sound to the second half of the track. It’s a quick breath that relies more on the fade out and taking in the moment.
“Without Sin” follows at almost six minutes long and stands out as the centerpiece of Ensom. The vocals feel faded as an echo at moments and at no point does the song feel like it’s dragging or going through the motions. Lyrically, talking about death and losing the ones you love is haunting when heard with this music. It’s memorable and there is a lot to take in.
Following that is “Cold” which is similar to “3:07 (Moonlight)” in style. A quick track under three minutes relishing in the feedback and ethereal sound. Almost an entire minute is devoted to the gaze as you trail off while listening.
Ensomcloses with its title track that brings in more of the post-hardcore and energy back after the break in “Cold”. Hearing the words “Nowhere to hide” and “Please let me go before I drown” feels almost like a cry for help and it works in this song. The drum hits come in strong and this is a solid way to end an EP. It makes everything you just heard feel big and important.
While the style of two full shoegaze rock songs sandwiching the long “Without Sin” somewhat bloats the overall package, the entire of the EP is still strong. It feels new and refreshing while offering a wildly different sound than what is heard in the typical rock scene today, while proving the radio format doesn’t have to be a standard for a band’s writing.
Writing out how Parting Gift sounds is difficult. Once you give it a chance through the song “Without Sin”, you understand almost instantly what the band is going for. There is a natural song writing ability matched with a unique sound. Combining different sub-genre elements while writing about fears has proven to be something these Brits know how to do well.
Here’s hoping we hear a full album sometime soon. Until then, Parting Ways and Ensom are worth supporting as a new dark horse breakout band with something special to get behind.
