HM News Update: Week Ending 12-16
Kingston Falls Enters Studio
Kingston Falls just finished up a winter tour and are now recording for their Facedown debut titled, "Armada On Mercury."
They are recording at Foundation Studios with Joey Sturgis (Devil Wears Prada) and the album will be released on March 18, 2008. You can check out a brand new blog from the band about everything going on at their myspace. While you are there, check out a couple of pre-production songs that will be re-recorded for the new album.
Show Dates:
Dec 22 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Sunset Hall
Jan 17 - Duluth, MN @ The Knockout
Jan 18 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Vault
Jan 19 - Willmar, MN @ First Street Warehouse
Feb 8 - Rochester, IN @ Solid Rock Promotions
Tim McAllister Gives It Away
After a 15 year hiatus, Flock 14 and World Theatre front man Tim McAllister releases his first solo album, Strong Tower, to raving reviews. McAllister says "I am both confused and certain. Melancholic and mad. These dichotomies define who I am. They also define my music. Despite, or perhaps because of this, I know many find a strange type of hope in the music." HM subscribers can download the album free at timmcallister.com.
Pillar Gets Nominated For Its First Grammy®
Pillar, one of the biggest selling Rock bands in Christian Music history, received its first-ever GRAMMY nomination today. The band received the nod in the category of Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album for The Reckoning, at a press conference held at the Music Box in Hollywood. The nominations were announced by The Recording Academy. Pillar front man Rob Beckley, who is currently in Germany preparing to take the stage for a concert, shares, “Musically speaking, it doesn’t get any higher than this. The only way to top what has happened today, would be to win this GRAMMY Award. After all of our years on the road and in the studio, there are few words to fully capture our feeling during this moment. We totally love what we are privileged to do; and that’s play rock and roll for a living, and be a part of seeing people’s lives changed in the process.” The 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on “GRAMMY Sunday,” Feb. 10, 2008, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live in high definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Since Pillar’s Dove Award-winning debut Above in 2001, the band has tallied eight No. 1 radio singles, twelve top 5 hits, four Dove Awards, a GRAMMY nomination, seven national headlining tours, covers of numerous national magazines, sales well into the hundreds of thousands, and played for millions. Pillar’s fifth in-studio project, For the Love of the Game, will hit stores on February 26, 2008. For The Love Of The Game is big, fun, infectious rock and roll that further solidifies Pillar’s position as fearless leaders in the Christian Rock world. Additionally, February of 2008 will bring the start of Pillar’s 3-month headlining tour. Pillar is: Rob Beckley, vocals; Lester Estelle, drums; Noah Henson, guitar; and Kalel, bass. For more information on Pillar visit: pillarmusic.com or myspace.com/pillar.
Skillet Gonna Try And "Win A Grammy® for Mammy"
As 2007 comes to a close, Lava/Atlantic/Ardent/INO band SKILLET continues to celebrate a fabulous year with their second consecutive GRAMMY nomination. The critically-acclaimed and best-seller COMATOSE is nominated for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album in the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, to be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 10th. The show will be broadcast at 8pm et/pt on CBS. On top of the GRAMMY news, Skillet has also been lauded with R&R’s No. 1 Christian CHR Song of the Year with their massive hit “The Last Night”, which was also R&R’s No. 2 Christian Rock song of the year. In addition, Skillet was named 2007s No. 2 top artist on both the CHR and ROCK year end lists. Skillet garnered four consecutive No. 1 singles from COMATOSE with “Rebirthing”, “The Last Night”, “The Older I Get” and “Comatose”. Skillet will release the COMATOSE CD/DVD Deluxe edition on December 26, 2007, and along with new cover art and the full COMATOSE CD, the deluxe edition will also feature:
1 BRAND NEW studio track, “Live Free or Let Me Die”
5 acoustic tracks:
“Rebirthing”
”Yours to Hold”
“The Older I Get”
“Whispers In The Dark”
“Say Goodbye”
3 music videos (“Rebirthing”, “Whispers in the Dark”, “Looking for Angels”)
Behind the scenes video - making of the record
FREE Wallpaper
FREE Ringtone -“Falling Inside the Black”
Skillet will kick off 2008 on the Winter Jam tour, hitting the following cities:
Winter Jam Tour Schedule: (All dates subject to change)
January 10 Johnson City, TN Freedom Hall
January 11 Chattanooga, TN McKenzie Arena
January 12 Roanoke, VA Roanoke Civic Center
January 13 Charlotte, NC Bobcat Arena
January 18 Tampa, FL Sun Dome Arena
January 19 Orlando, FL UCF Arena
January 24 Normal, IL Redbird Arena
January 25 Columbus, OH Schottestein Center
January 26 Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati Gardens
January 27 St. Charles, MO Family Arena
January 31 Evansville, IN Roberts Stadium
February 1 Little Rock, AR Alltell Arena
February 2 Birmingham, AL BJCC Arena
February 7 Augusta, GA James Brown Arena
February 8 Jacksonville, FL Memorial Coliseum
February 9 Mobile, AL The Mitchell Center
February 10 Tupelo, MS Bancorp South Center
February 15 Greenville, SC The Bi-Lo Center
February 16 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
February 17 Norfolk, VA Constant Convocation Center
February 22 Columbia, SC The Colonial Center
February 23 Jackson, MS MS Coliseum
February 24 Southaven, MS DeSoto Civic Center
February 28 Oklahoma City, OK The Ford Center
February 29 Tulsa, OK Mabee Center
March 1 Wichita, KS Charles Koch Arena
March 2 Colorado Springs, CO World Arena
March 6 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena
March 7 Ft. Wayne, IN Allen County Memorial Coliseum
March 8 Knoxville, TN Thompson Boling Arena
March 9 E. Lansing, MI The Breslin Center
March 13 Huntington, WV Big Sandy Superstore Arena
March 14 Fayetteville, NC Crown Coliseum
March 15 Atlanta, GA Phillips Arena
March 16 Nashville, TN The Sommet Center
Paramore Gets A Grammy Nomination, too
Fueled By Ramen recording group Paramore has been nominated as “Best New Artist” at the upcoming 50th Annual Grammy Awards, it was announced this week. The news comes just as “RIOT!,” the band’s acclaimed second album, has received RIAA gold certification for sales exceeding 500,000 units. Released earlier this year, the album features the breakthrough hit singles, “Misery Business” and “Crushcrushcrush.” The Tennessee-based quartet has been on the road nearly nonstop since the album’s June release, most recently headlining a major North American tour with 22 sold out performances. Paramore will ring in 2008 with a live performance on MTV’s annual New Year’s Eve extravaganza, and then head off to the United Kingdom for a hugely anticipated headline tour that includes two-night stands in such cities as Manchester, London, and Birmingham. Paramore is set to star on the upcoming cover of Alternative Press’s February issue. Last summer, lead singer Hayley Williams was among the stars featured on Alternative Press’s July cover, joining a number of her fellow Vans Warped Tour ‘07 roadmates. Elsewhere, Revolver called “RIOT!” “a masterful mix of springy drum beats, crisp guitar hooks, and (Williams’) girlish snarl,” while Spin praised the album for its “arena- rocking potential.” “RIOT!” debuted at #20 on the Billboard 200 this past June, marking one of the highest sales and chart debuts in Fueled By Ramen’s history (second only to Fall Out Boy). The album’s first single, “Misery Business,” has proven Paramore’s biggest hit to date, reaching the Top 5 at Modern Rock radio, while also scoring at Top 40, Hot AC, and Active Rock. The song’s accompanying video also exploded across the MTV spectrum. Having already been a #1 video at MTV2 and a #2 sensation at MTV, the clip is also a top airplay favorite at mtvU, MTV Hits, and MTV.com. In addition, “Misery Business” reached #1 most-played video status at Fuse, with further national play coming on Music Choice and The N. “Crushcrushcrush,” the follow-up single from “RIOT!,” has just begun breaking out at Alternative radio nationwide. The track’s video – directed by Shane Drake (who previously helmed the “Misery Business” clip) – recently debuted on MTV’s TRL, and has already reached #6 on the countdown. “Crushcrushcrush” remains in Big 10 rotation at MTV, while also notching top 10 play at MTV2. What’s more, the clip is receiving further play at Fuse and The N. Both “Misery Business” and “Crushcrushcrush” can be viewed online at youtube.com/user/FueledByRamen, where Paramore’s videos have scored over 20 million total plays thus far. Since the release of their debut album, “ALL WE KNOW IS FALLING (Fueled By Ramen; 2005),” Paramore continues to grow its fervent fan following online with each passing day. Paramore.net, the official band website, averages 70,000 page views per day while the band’s MySpace page - myspace.com/paramore - has logged over 17 million total plays thus far with their friends tally now exceeding 500,000. Paramore’s PureVolume site - purevolume.com/paramore - has notched more than 4 million streams to date.
As I Lay Dying Gets Nominated, as well
Metal Blade Records is proud to announce AS I LAY DYING’s Grammy Nomination for BEST METAL PERFORMANCE for “Nothing Left,” the first single from their newest release, AN OCEAN BETWEEN US. “I thought someone was pulling my leg when I first heard that we're nominated for a Grammy this year,” says vocalist, Tim Lambesis. “I'm completely honored! Who would have thought you could play metal and still make your parents this proud? Now I'll have to go out and rent a tux to wear for the third time in my life. I knew I should have just bought one the first time…” This band that Alternative Press calls “…one of the best pure-metal bands America has to offer” had their highest BILLBOARD Top 200 debut of their career with this album (#8) – also the highest debut in their label’s 25-year history. Metal Blade owner and CEO Brian Slagel comments on the label’s 2 Grammy nominations: All of us at Metal Blade Records are extremely honored to have As I Lay Dying and King Diamond, nominated for Grammy awards. They both truly deserve this honor for the great artistry they have accomplished on these tremendous releases. The bleak, futuristic video for “Nothing Left” was shot in Van Nuys, California at Sound City Studios with Brian Thompson (Killswitch Engage, Angels & Airwaves) lending his directorial talents. “The high concept storyline mixed with the bands ripping performance should make this video a metal favorite,” says Thompson. The story, which was conceived by the band and fine-tuned by Thompson, follows a female character through a series of events which takes place within a decaying, future landscape. The video saw its initial debut on MTV2’s Headbanger’s Ball on August 11th and continues to run periodically on the show.
Clark Brothers Get In On Gram Nom Action
Tooth & Nail Records is proud to announce the nomination of Don Clark of their band DEMON HUNTER and of the design company INVISIBLE CREATURE for the 2008 ‘BEST RECORDING PACKAGE’ Grammy! The nominated package is that of Clark’s labelmates, THE FOLD, for their 2007 release called SECRETS MAKE YOU SICK. Clark and his brother Ryan run the company INVISIBLE CREATURE and have several other Grammy nods for their brilliant visuals. Ryan Clark was nominated in 2005 for his work on Norma Jean’s album O’ GOD, THE AFTERMATH. In 2006 the nomination was for THE BEST WORST-CASE SCENARIO by the band Fair. The Clark brothers’ band, DEMON HUNTER, have recently released their album STORM THE GATES OF HELL and are preparing for a 2008 tour. “Vocalist Ryan Clark busts out radio-ready hard rock choruses while his bandmates embroider their hardy grooves with strings and keyboards” says REVOLVER Magazine of the band's newest effort.
Ashley Cleveland Gets Nominated For ... guess what? A Grammy®!
204 Records is pleased to announce that two-time GRAMMY Award and three-time Dove Award winner Ashley Cleveland has been nominated for her latest album, Before The Daylight's Shot, in the Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album category for the 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which will take place February 10, 2008 at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. The GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live from 8:00-11:30 p.m. EST/PT on CBS in high definition TV and 5.1 surround sound. For a full list of nominees, visit grammy.com. "I turned 50 this year," comments Cleveland on her latest GRAMMY Award nomination, "and this is an incredible birthday present and a great shot in the arm in an industry that thrives on youth!" Before The Daylight's Shot showcases Cleveland at the height of her talents, relating her faith and experiences in a real way that connects with listeners on an emotional and spiritual level. Returning to her rock roots, she demonstrates her songwriting prowess on Before The Daylight's Shot, writing most of the album's cuts. Whether she's singing about purpose ("Ready Or Not"), faith ("Deeper Walk"), fulfillment (through her bluesy take on Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground") or enduring married love ("Twilight Hour"), there's a clear-eyed maturity and depth of artistry that lifts her into an exclusive class. Cleveland's sound is unmistakable with her blend of rock, blues, gospel and folk, exhibiting her distinctive brand of open-tuned guitar playing. The combination of her natural wonder of a voice and fierce songwriting talent has been captivating listeners since her 1991 debut. Beyond her own career, Cleveland is also one of Nashville's most in-demand session singers, having performed on over 300 albums for artists including Emmylou Harris, Jars Of Clay, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Etta James, Pam Tillis and Michael McDonald. As a spokesperson for SHARE (Songs of Hope And Recovery for Everyone), Cleveland also regularly performs at national events focused on addiction recovery. Ashley Cleveland's Before The Daylight's Shot is available on 204 Records and distributed by TAG Artist Group. For more information on Ashley Cleveland and Before The Daylight's Shot, visit ashleycleveland.com.
You'll See The Ad And Read The Article (soon) In The Next Issue of HM, but...
...Now you won't have to wait any longer to find out a little bit on one of Rise Records' newest bands: Here I Come Falling. The band was discovered by label-mates The Devil Wears Prada, who after seeing the band firsthand brought them to Rise Records. With their debut Rise LP planned for early 2008, the band will release their dissonant screamo laced passages blended with technical metal fury, electronic elements and soaring melodic sections upon the world. Known for their furious, hold-no-bars live show, the band has already shared the stage with the likes of Norma Jean, Haste The Day, Drop Dead, Gorgeous and Alesana to name a few. They will hit the road for some dates in January with Once Nothing (Solid State Records) and a Feb tour with Burden Of A Day (Rise). Check myspace.com/hicf for tour details and album news!
In Some Other Non-Grammy® News, Memphis May Fire Release EP
The band dropped their self-titled Trustkill EP this week, to an eagerly awaiting fan base. With the EP, the Dallas, TX Memphis May Fire will debut their brand of pure, unadulterated rock, to an anxious and growing fan base! Buzz about the band has been flying around all over the Internet, and the band charted on “Top Unsigned Bands” by Myspace.com this past year. Print publications are picking up on the buzz, and there are already reviews planned in Alternative Press, HM Magazine, and Drumhead Magazine. Fans are able to preview the song "History Of Mercia" from the CD at Trustkill.com, and stream some other songs on the band's Myspace page. The band will be playing songs from the new EP live, on a mini-tour at the end of the December that will take them through their Southern US stomping grounds, alongside Twelve Gauge Valentine (Solid State) and The Handshake Murders (Goodfellow Records). Memphis May Fire have been recording and playing together since December of 2006, and released their first EP soon after, which ended up selling over 5,000 copies on tour. The band got together with the idea of focusing on music that suited them not just on the recording but mainly live. Upon first listen, it’s apparent that MMF’s influences are a combination of both traditional southern rock and contemporary metal. Trustkill records pres Josh Grabelle couldn't be more amped about the start of a long road. He comments, "there is a lot of really exciting, young, dangerous music coming out of Texas right now, and Memphis May Fire are the cream of the crop. Not since Bullet For My Valentine's "Hand of Blood" EP have we heard a more compelling set of songs for an EP, where absolutely EVERY song is bone-chillingly perfect, and timeless. These guys are on their way to something huge." The EP is available to order online at the Trustkill store here: trustkill.com/webstore/. See tourdates below.
12/28 Plano, TX (Dallas) Plano Center
12/29 Fayetteville, AR The Music Hall
12/31 Hot Springs, AR The Attic
1/1 Lexington, KY Eastland Church
1/2 Marietta, GA (Atlanta) Swayzes
1/3 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
1/4 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
1/5 Orlando, FL Island Oasis
“Much like a calm Underoath, Memphis May Fire fires off with dual vocals for the growling crowd as well as the gentler songbird moments for the indie scene. We take trips between rumbling hostility and its polar opposite, making for a never dull listen every time…. Energy and melody with fury and balance.”
-Skyline Press.net
Check out the band's e-card by clicking here.
Gwen Stacy Give Ferret Music Something To Talk About
Ferret Music’s newest signing has announced that February 5 2008 will be the official release date for their debut, The Life I Know. The band has released the track listing, and will be debuting the first song off the album, “The Path To Certainty”, on their Myspace page (myspace.com/gwenstacy). The album, produced by Brian McTernan (Cave In, Snapcase, Thrice) and Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, The Bled), will showcase the band’s furious, innovative, and experimental brand of hardcore. To top off all of the excitement, Gwen Stacey just announced a huge US tour with Haste the Day, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and Drop Dead, Gorgeous. Check ferretstyle.com for tour dates, and go to ferretstyle.com/store to preorder the album now!
The Classic Crime Performance On BlogTV Was Indeed Archived
The Classic Crime's intimate, live performance reported in last week's enewsletter was archived at this place. How's that for follow-up?
And now for something completely different:
Wallace and Gromit: Three Amazing Adventures came out on DVD last week.
The DVD includes three 30 minute Oscar winning and nominated claymation shorts with commentary and two never before seen episodes of Shaun the Sheep! That's some cool stuff, right there. (dot com)
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