Papa Roach and The Connection tour rock Baltimore!

   This past week I had the pleasure of getting to see some of my favorite people and friends, Papa Roach. I have been fortunate enough to not only work on tour with them in the past, but also to have seen them A TON over the past few years. Every time I see these guys perform I forget just how awesome their live show really is until they take the stage.

The band who is currently on tour to promote their most recent album "The Connection" hit Baltimore's Rams Head Live to rock out for a SOLD OUT crowd. Papa Roach took the stage, being serenaded by chants of PA-PA ROACH! PA-PA ROACH! PA-PA ROACH! The band opened with their hard hitting track "Burn" from their album "Time For Annihilation" and followed that up with a stellar 15 song set (16 in total). In case you've never seen a Papa Roach show live, there, in my opinion, is no better live rock show or otherwise out there. Frontman Jacoby Shaddix is a wild man on stage and delivers an in your face, high energy, and fan participation filled performance with never lacking vocal perfection. Oh, and when I say in your face I mean it. He frequently gets up close and personal with fans, climbing the barricade to sing to the crowd while being a part of it at the same time. On occasion he will even grab a drumstick and go nuts on a cymbal or drum. Guitarist Jerry Horton and bassist Tobin Esperance can be found to the left and right of Shaddix jumping, spinning, and head banging with all they can muster while drummer Tony Palermo sits behind his wall of drums smashing them at lightning speed. The words slow, calm, and low key aren't in any of these guy's dictionaries. They give you exactly what you want in a rock show and much more. If you missed them this time around, don't worry! Papa Roach will soon be announcing their "Viva La Cucaracha" tour, so keep your eyes and ears open for a show near you!

   2013 also marks the 20th anniversary of the band's existence. Here's to 20 great years of Papa Roach music and to 20 more, CHEERS!

SETLIST:

1. BURN
2. ...TO BE LOVED
3. GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER

4. ALIVE (N' OUT OF CONTROL)
5. SILENCE IS THE ENEMY
6. FOREVER
7. BEFORE I DIE
8. BLOOD BROTHERS
9. GIVE ME BACK MY LIFE
10. BETWEEN ANGELS AND INSECTS
11. WHER DID THE ANGELS GO?
12. STILL SWINGIN'
13. SCARS
14. LIFELINE
15. DEAD CELL
16. LAST RESORT

For news, tour dates, and information on Papa Roach visit Paparoach.com

Disturbed members Dan Donegan and Mike Wengren announce new side project "Fight Or Flight".

   

Dan Donegan, guitarist for multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated hard rock band Disturbed, has unveiled his new project, Fight or Flight. Fight or Flight will release their debut album, A Life by Design? on July 23rd via Warner Bros. Records. The first single, “First of the Last” will be hits radio May 21st.

“During our hiatus from Disturbed, the separation anxiety from the fans came rather quickly,” explains Donegan. He began writing songs on his own, and last year connected with Dan Chandler, front man for the band Evan’s Blue, about a possible collaboration. The two emailed each other songs back and forth and met in person whenever Chandler was in Donegan’s hometown of Chicago. When they had enough material to record, Donegan turned to his “Disturbed brother of over twenty years,” drummer Mike Wengren and the three entered the studio.

The result is a collection of hypnotic and hard-hitting songs fortified by Donegan’s trademark riffing and Chandler’s melodic sensibility. Ra’s Sean Corcoran on bass and backing vocals, and Jeremy Jayson on guitar and backing vocals complete Fight of Flight’s lineup.

“This is more hard rock,” Donegan affirms. “It’s got edgy moments, but there’s more melody across the board. We had the chance to experiment as well. There are acoustic guitars and some electronics even. It’s different all around.” The stomping first single “First of the Last” is an energetic anthem that’s meant to be cranked as loudly as possible. “It’s one of the more driving tracks on the record, and it’s got my signature style,” Donegan explains. “Lyrically, it’s more cryptic. Dan and I spent a lot of time discussing conspiracy theories, and those conversations inspired the song.”

For more information visit www.fightorflightofficial.com orhttps://www.facebook.com/fightorflightofficial

Serj Tankian set to release 2 albums in June/July.

   Serj Tankian is independently releasing two albums this summer through his own Serjical Strike Records.

Singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet and political activist

Orca, Tankian’s first true symphony, will be released on June 25 and the collaborative jazz infused album Jazz-iz Christ will be released on July 23.

Recorded in Linz, Austria in October of 2012, Orca was composed and demoed in Tankian’s home studio and fully realized after a successful Kickstarter campaign that helped fund a recording and debut performance at the regal Brucknerhaus with the “Das Karussell Ensemble”. With conductor Werner Steinmetz at the helm, the four acts of Orca mix influences from early 20th century composers with modern film compositional dynamics showing influences ranging from Ennio Morricone to Philip Glass. Listeners are met with a mingling of sounds and intertwining pieces that are both serene and bombastic at the same time, offering a fresh interpretation to the classical art.

According to Tankian, “Orca is known as the killer whale, but is really a dark dolphin, a symbolism for human dichotomy.”

Jazz-iz Christ is Serj’s brainchild, but truly is a collaborative effort between many musicians that Tankian curated to be part of the group and self-titled album. Among others, there are considerable contributions from renowned pianist Tigran Hamasyan, flautist Valeri Tolstov, and trumpet player Tom Duprey. Additional performances from Stewart Copeland and actor/musician Davis Alpay and Vincent Pedulla make for a very unique collaboration. The 15 tracks that comprise Jazz-iz Christ, a mostly instrumental effort except for 4 tracks, are an amalgam of progressive jazz, electronic, ethnic and even rock elements, displaying a unique presentation of the genre itself.

Both albums will be available worldwide on iTunes, Amazon and other popular digital distributors and will be available for sale in various limited deluxe physical formats through Tankian’s official website and the website for Serjical Strike Records. Pre-orders for the deluxe limited editions of Orca, which includes a 180 gram picture disc, merchandise, and a signed version of the actual score, will begin on May 1, while pre-orders for Jazz-iz Christ will commence on May 15. Audio samples from both releases are available for preview on Serj’s official website.

Upon completion of System of a Down’s summer touring in August, Tankian will hang back in Europe until the commencement of his own solo orchestral tour dates that begin on September 19 in Kiev, Ukraine. The concert program will include all four acts of Orca, but will also incorporate performances of many songs from Elect The Dead Symphony, which achieved critical and commercial success upon it’s initial release and tour in 2010.

Confirmed tour dates below, with more to be announced in the days to come:

19 Sep 13 Thu
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraina Hall

21 Sep 13 Sat
Yekaterinburg, Russia
Kosmos Hall

23 Sep 13 Mon
Novosibirsk, Russia
DK Zheleznodorozhnik

25 Sep 13 Wed
Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Philharmony

27 Sep 13 Fri
Moscow, Russia
Crocus City Hall

28 Sep 13 Sat
St. Petersburg, Russia
Orjktybyrsky Concert Hall

03 Oct 13 Thu
Florence, Italy
Teatro Comunale

04 Oct 13 Fri
Padova, Italy
Gran Teatro Geox

05 Oct 13 Sat
Rome, Italy
Auditorium Parco Della Musica

Rockstar Energy Uproar Festival 2013 lineup announced!

   

   The fourth annual Rockstar Energy UPROAR Festival will include a stellar lineup of multiplatinum superstars and breaking talent, featuring Alice In Chains, also with Jane’s Addiction. These seminal alternative rock bands will be joined by Coheed and Cambria and Circa Survive on the Rockstar Energy Main Stage. The Ernie Ball Festival Stage will host performances from Walking Papers (featuring Duff McKagan), Middle Class Rut, New Politics, Danko Jones, Chuck Shaffer Picture Show and the local Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands winner in each market.

The touring rock music and lifestyle festival will travel across North America from August 9 through September 15, 2013.

“I think it’s going to be a fun tour and we’re really looking forward to it. It’s only going to happen that one time, that way, and you’re going to be there,” says Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains.

Tickets for most Rockstar Energy UPROAR Festival shows go on sale Thursday, April 25 at Noon local time and are affordably priced between $10.25 and $89.75 (plus fees). Go towww.RockstarUPROAR.com and www.LiveNation.com for full details and to purchase tickets.

“We’re excited to bring a diverse lineup to this year’s Rockstar Energy UPROAR Festival,” says festival producer John Reese. Festival producer John Oakes comments, “Having such groundbreaking rock bands and incredible rising talent performing together will be an amazing experience for longtime fans and UPROAR newcomers.”

Check out an UPROAR exclusive interview with Alice In Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney here.

To see video clips of some of this year’s Rockstar Energy UPROAR Festival bands talking about the tour, click here.

The Rockstar Energy UPROAR Festival will be giving away a trip for two to the September 15 show in Irvine, CA. The grand prize winner will receive roundtrip airfare for two from a U.S. city, hotel accommodations, airport transfers, $500 spending cash, and 2 front row tickets to the show. Go here to enter for a chance to win.

The Rockstar Energy UPROAR Festival is proud to continue its alliance with MusiCares®, a nonprofit health and human service organization established in 1989 by The Recording Academy® that helps members of the music industry in times of financial, medical and personal hardship. Various fundraising and awareness campaigns will be implemented to support this charity and others which will be announced soon. More information can be found atwww.RockstarUPROAR.com/causes.

Look for details about the 2013 Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands to be announced in the coming weeks. As part of the 2012 Battle Of The Bands grand prize package, winners the Chuck Shaffer Picture Show will perform on the Ernie Ball Festival Stage for the entire 2013 UPROAR trek. The band recently recorded an EP with legendary producer Jay Baumgardner at NRG Recording Studios in Hollywood, CA, and won $10,000 worth of music gear and many other prizes as a result of being named the grand prize winner in this annual competition for unsigned bands.

The Rockstar Energy UPROAR Festival will entertain fans for a full afternoon and evening, with performances from the hottest rock bands, along with a concourse midway featuring band autograph signings, vendors and other activities.

The current Rockstar Energy UPROAR Festival tour dates are as follows:

Fri 9-Aug

Scranton, PA

Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain

Sat 10-Aug

Hartford, CT

The Comcast Theatre

Sun 11-Aug

Darien Center, NY

Darien Lake Performing Arts Center

Tue 13-Aug

Saratoga, NY

Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Wed 14-Aug

Mansfield, MA

Comcast Center

Fri 16-Aug

Bristow, VA

Jiffy Lube Live

Sat 17-Aug

Holmdel, NJ

PNC Bank Arts Center

Sun 18-Aug

Wantagh, NY

Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

Tue 20-Aug

Toronto, ON

Molson Canadian Amphitheatre

Thu 22-Aug

Tinley Park, IL

First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

Fri 23-Aug

Noblesville, IN

Klipsch Music Center

Sat 24-Aug

Clarkston, MI

DTE Energy Music Theater

Tue 27-Aug

Oklahoma City, OK

Zoo Amphitheater

Wed 28-Aug

Dallas, TX

Gexa Energy Pavilion

Thu 29-Aug

The Woodlands, TX

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *

Sat 31-Aug

Albuquerque, NM

Isleta Amphitheatre

Sun 1-Sept

Denver, CO

Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

Mon 2-Sept

Salt Lake City, UT

USANA Amphitheatre

Sun 8-Sept

Ridgefield, WA

Sleep Country Amphitheater *

Wed 11-Sept

San Francisco, CA

Shoreline Amphitheatre

Fri 13-Sept

Phoenix, AZ

Desert Sky Pavilion

Sat 14-Sept

Chula Vista, CA

Sleep Train Amphitheatre

Sun 15-Sept

Irvine, CA

Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

* Main Stage bands only

New label and summer tour for Less Than Jake.

Looks like the team is officially back! Following the 2012 reissue of the Fat classic Borders & Boundaries and the subsequent EP collection Greetings & Salutations, it only made sense to bring Less Than Jake back into the Fat folds for real. This fall will see a brand new Less Than Jake album on Fat Wreck Chords, their first full length of brand new material since 2008.

As the statement says, the new full-length will be Less Than Jake’s first LP release of fully brand-new material since 2008′s GNV FLA . It will also be the first Less Than Jake release of full brand-new material on Fat Wreck in over 10 years! The band has been writing and demoing new songs in its hometown of Gainesville, FL, for the last few months and will begin recording at the top of May. The new album will be the follow-up to the Greetings & Salutations collection, which is for sale in the band’s webstore.

Additionally, Less Than Jake has added a U.S. run of tour dates to its 2013 schedule. The June dates will be supported by Hostage Calm and Pentimento. Check out all of the group’s tour dates below – which include a current run through Europe.

Less Than Jake 2013 Tour Dates

Apr 22, 2013 Ljubljana, Slovenia Gala Hala Open Air
Apr 24, 2013 Pinarella Di Cervia, Italy Rockplanet Club
Apr 25, 2013 Seregno, Italy Honky Tonky
Apr 26, 2013 Munich, GermanyMonster Bash @ COLUMBIAHALLE
Apr 27, 2013 Berlin, Germany Monster Bash @ Festpllatz
Apr 28, 2013 Meerhout, Belgium Groezrock
Apr 29, 2013 Dordecht, Holland Bibelot
Apr 30, 2013 Paris, France La Maroquinerie
May 02, 2013 Gainesville, Florida Bo Diddley plaza
May 05, 2013 West Palm Beach, FL. SUNFEST

With Hostage Calm, Pentimento
Jun 11, 2013 Patchogue, NY Emporium
Jun 12, 2013 New York, NY Rocks Off! Boat Cruise
Jun 14, 2013 Montebello, QC Amnesia Rockfest
Jun 15, 2013 New Haven, CT Toads
Jun 16, 2013 Boston, MA Rocks On! Boat Cruise
Jun 18, 2013 Nags Head, NC Kelly’s
Jun 20, 2013 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
Jun 21, 2013 St Augustine, FL The Standard
Jun 22, 2013 Melbourne, FL County Line Saloon

Jun 28, 2013 Madison, WI Majestic Theatre
Jul 21, 2013 El Paso, Texas Ink Life Tour 2013 – Texas Tattoo Showdown Festival
Aug 10, 2013 Collingwood, ON Wakestock
Oct 12, 2013 Sao Paulo, Brazil WROS FEST
Oct 13, 2013 Sao Paulo, Brazil WROS FEST

Chimera reveal new LP and tour dates.

   Metal titans CHIMAIRA announce a massive crowd funding campaign surrounding the release of their brand new LP, “ Crown of Phantoms.” The album will be released on Tuesday, July 30. 2013.

 

The band is seeking support for a special fan edition CD/DVD. This edition and its perks will only be available to campaign supporters and will not be sold anywhere else. Specifically, supporters will be contributing to the following:

• Two narrative music videos
• A behind the scenes, “Crown Of Phantoms” making-of documentary
• Seven additional tracks exclusive to the fan edition
• Various behind the scenes videos
• Expanded version of “Dr. Z” with fan determined ending
• Full length album commentary that features dialog from all the band members as they listen to the record start to finish
• Graphic art storyboards created specifically for the music videos included in the fan edition booklet
• Original Artwork & Packaging exclusive to the fan edition

To further conceptualize their plan, the band has released a video explaining, with some satire, the details of their campaign along with a sneak peek of a brand new track called ” Kings of the Shadow World ” and a visual display of the many creative perks they’re offering to contributors. Visit the official campaign site for full details on the endeavor and its perks.

For more than a decade, CHIMAIRA has been imposing its gravity on the metal community by continually touring the globe and selling more than a million albums worldwide. Their brand of heavy music has evolved and transcended both itself and the trends while maintaining its persistent, bludgeoning force. In 2013, CHIMAIRA continues to direct the masses and define a dark future with their new album, “ Crown of Phantoms. ” Frontman Mark Hunter comments on the band’s forward progression:

“When I started this band I had a desire to make extremely heavy, eclectic metal. Nothing has changed in that regard. I wanted to merge all the styles I loved into a hybrid of sounds. Having the chance to reinvent the group gave me the opportunity to work with unbelievable players and take the essence of Chimaira to uncharted territory. Assembling the right team was essential to creating what I feel is some of the craziest and most passionate music I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of. The past defines us while the present refines us.”

CHIMAIRA is: Mark Hunter (vocals), Emil Werstler (guitar), Austin D’Amond (drums), Matt Szlachta (guitar), Jeremy Creamer (bass), Sean Zatorsky (keyboards)

TOUR DATES

5/10/13 Louisville, KY
Diamond Pub and Billiards

5/11/13 Milwaukee, WI
The Rave

5/12/13 Minneapolis, MN
Epic

5/14/13 Omaha, NE
Sokol Auditorium

5/15/13 Kansas City, KS
The Granada Theater

5/16/13 Joliet, IL
Mojoe’s

5/17/13 Grand Rapids, MI
The Intersection

Website: http://www.chimaira.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chimairaofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chimairaband

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/artist/chimaira

A Skylit Drive begins work on new album.

  A Skylit Drive entered Crushtone Studios in Cleveland, OH this past week to work with platinum producer Jim Wirt (Incubus, Hoobastank, Alien Ant Farm.) The band worked on two tracks that will be on their upcoming album being released on Tragic Hero Records. “I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent in Cleveland with producer Jim Wirt,€ says vocalist Michael Jagmin. €œIt’s a nice change of pace writing with someone outside of the band. We’re used to writing our albums completely secluded locked away in a practice spot somewhere. Including someone as knowledgeable as Jim into the mix has been a great benefit for us.€ They will be retuning to Cleveland to write more songs with Wirt after their concert in the Philippines for the PULP Summer Slam €˜13. A Skylit Drive will also record demo tracks with Kit Walters (Alesana, Letlive, He Is Legend) and Mitchell Marlow (In This Moment). Their new single “Fallen” can be purchased on iTunes.

A Skylit Drive is a post-hardcore band from Lodi, California. Their first full-length album Wires and the Concept of Breathing broke into the Billboard Top 200 and helped to establish the band as a prominent act in the music scene. The band’s current line-up consists of Michael Jagmin (vocals), Brian White (bass/vocals), Nick Miller (guitar), Cory La Quay (drums), and Kyle Simmons (keyboards/synthesizers).

The band will be performing in the Philippines on 4/27/13 as part of the PULP Summer Slam 13.