News Update Week Ending 06-15

Third Day on Billboard Magazine Cover
Atlanta-based rock band Third Day was selected as Billboard Magazine’s cover/feature story for the June 7 edition. This is the first time, since the trade’s redesign in 2005, that a Christian band has been featured as a full cover story. The piece includes not only the cover, but a four-page feature within the revered publication’s pages. Billboard Magazine, considered the “bible of the music industry,”is read weekly by more than 50 thousand people including music industry gatekeepers and music fans, world wide. While it’s been almost three years since the release of the Third Day’s last studio album, fans have been anxiously awaiting new music from the band, leading to the massive success of it’s new single, “Call My Name,” from the July 29, 2008 release, Revelation. Fans have a lot to look forward to as, together with superstar producer Howard Benson (Daughtry, Hoobastank, P.O.D. and Flyleaf), the band has boldly reshaped its sound for the next decade of its career. After the release of Revelation, the band will hit the road for a series of summer festival appearances and the highly anticipated Music Builds Tour featuring Third Day with Switchfoot, Robert Randolph & the Family Band and Jars of Clay.
For updated information on the tour:
musicbuildstour.com

Seventh Star Plays for the Last Time
Seventh Star has just announced the confirmation of their two final European shows. A statement from member Drew Russ sums it up:
"We will be playing two final shows this summer- July 31st at Freakstock in Germany and August 2nd at Total Armageddon Fest in Skadovsk City, Ukraine. We got the offer to play these shows after scheduling our last US show at Facedown Fest and since we never got to go back to Europe after our 2006 tour we jumped at the chance. Needless to say, we are extremely excited about this. It's pretty crazy to think that the last time Seventh Star will play will be in Ukraine. We'd like to thank everyone at TA Fest and Freakstock for giving us this opportunity and look forward to seeing all our Euro friends this summer!"

Jon Foreman Releases Summer EP
Though he’s just over 30, Jon Foreman’s lyrics sound like words of wisdom from a man who has learned several lifetimes’ worth of lessons. Although he has sold millions of albums and performed for countless sold out crowds with his band Switchfoot, Jon is a man still journeying towards self-discovery, unafraid of questioning anything in his path. Through a series of seasonally themed solo EPs, Jon shows a whole new side to his artistry that falls outside the Switchfoot aesthetic. “Because of the autobiographical nature of these songs, they became a self portrait that was far too personal for a band to release,” Jon explains. The latest installment, Summer, opens with “A Mirror is Harder to Hold,” a track that wholly reflects this sentiment. This final installment might be his most personal yet musically varied of the four EPs. Jon wistfully sings about the struggles of examining one’s self over sunny acoustic guitar strumming and the warm mariachi-esque horns that color several tracks on the album. “Again” is a slow-burning, contemplative ballad and an affirmation of Jon’s beliefs. Summer also includes “Resurrect Me,” the most up-tempo tune of the series. The track has an east-meets-west flavor with its driving rock beat and sitar-like guitar lines. Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer each serve as a chapter of Jon’s stripped down, intimate and direct vision. It is one that begins with a foray into death and decay, but eventually transforms into reflections on growth and rebirth. All four discs were produced by Jon Foreman with Grammy-nominated Charlie Peacock serving as the executive producer. As Summer is about to release, the song “The Cure For Pain,” from Fall, was used in the season finale of Grey’s Anatomy. Additionally, “This Is Home” was written and recorded by Switchfoot for the Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media theatrical release, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, which became the No. 1 movie at the box office. The song is heard over the end title credits of the film, and appears on the Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack CD, the No. 1-selling soundtrack at iTunes.
More information about Jon Foreman can be found at:
jonforeman.com

Broken Poet Releases TobyMac's Alive and Transported
Celebrating the ten-year anniversary of Broken Poet Productions, filmmaker Eric Welch marks a decade of directing award winning music videos and live concerts with the release of TobyMac's first concert film, Alive and Transported. The project, released in stores May 27 in a DVD/CD package, documents TobyMac's Portable Sounds tour from 2007. Special, one night only screenings were done nationwide on June 9. As director and editor of the live concert, Welch highlights the incredible energy of a TobyMac performance. "I have always been impressed by the power of Toby's show as well as the diversity of talent he brings to his music," states Welch. "I knew his performance would make an amazing visual experience." Yet the release of Alive and Transported is more than just a remarkable project to release on his company's ten-year anniversary. Broken Poet Productions was actually formed while Welch was working on another project associated with TobyMac, dc Talk's live DVD Welcome To the Freakshow. "Having such a long history with Eric and Broken Poet it was only fitting that we work together on Alive and Transported," says TobyMac. "Eric always brings a relentless passion for whatever project he is working on and it shows in the quality of his work." Alive and Transported features current hits and timeless classics, presenting the GMA 2008 Artist of the Year and four-time Grammy winner in a format where the intensity of his music can truly come to life. With fifteen cameras and a sell out crowd, this film brings all the wonder of a TobyMac performance into a stunning High-Definition experience. "Starting with the launch of Broken Poet ten years ago when we released dc Talk's Welcome to the Freak Show, Eric and Broken Poet have consistently delivered groundbreaking videos with the highest standard of excellence," states TobyMac's manager Dan Pitts. "Alive and Transported follows in that tradition, and we couldn't feel better about the way it turned out." The theatrical release and companion DVD of Alive and Transported sets a milestone for Eric Welch and Broken Poet Productions. His music videos have garnered multiple nominations and awards, such as his recent ACM nomination for Rodney Atkins. Welch continues to create compelling live concerts across multiple genres and formats, including projects for artists such as Ben Folds, Mercy Me, and Rhonda Vincent. He is currently finishing production on videos for GMA Female Vocalist of the Year Natalie Grant and emerging artist Room For Two.
For more information on Eric and Broken Poet Productions, visit:
brokenpoet.com

The Goodnight Horizon Signs to Harvest Earth Records
Harvest Earth Records are pleased to announce the official signing of Indianapolis own The Goodnight Horizon. The band will be touring on the "Summer of Salvation" tour through June and will be at Cornerstone Festival. They will then be hitting the studio in August and their debut full length will see a late 2008 release.
For more info:
myspace.com/thegoodnighthorizon
harvestearth.com

Thousand Foot Krutch Preps For Fall Tour
As the summer approaches, Tooth & Nail's' Thousand Foot Krutch reflects on their 2007-2008 touring season and looks ahead to performances at the major festivals and forthcoming fall tour. In the past year, TFK has been part of two of the most successful tours in the market with the TobyMac Portable Sounds spring and fall tours and the most recent hit Comatose Tour with rockers Skillet and special guests Decyfer Down. The Comatose Tour, which featured three rock acts that fans can't get enough of these days, sold out in more than half of the 25+ markets including such major cities as New York City, Minneapolis, Lancaster, Dayton and Mobile. "Having TFK on the tour was a blast," states John Cooper lead singer of Skillet. "They brought an incredible show each night, and they also lit a fire under me to make sure we were doing our job so they wouldn't steal the show every night!" "Thousand Foot Krutch was the band that sealed the deal when it came to booking our recent May 11th Comatose tour concert," shares Chris Strayer of CMI Productions. Looking ahead, TFK will be a part of all major festivals including the commemorative 30th Anniversary of Creation East (June 25-28th). Closing their 2008, the band will be a part of the first-ever Creation Festival: the Tour beginning in the early fall (dates TBA). Strayer continues, "We have done many shows with these guys and have always been impressed with the energy and ministry they bring to the stage. They are an integral part of this falls Creation Festival: The Tour." This spring success followed the release of the band's latest studio project "The Flame In All of Us," which garnered such praise as "shows the passion and heart," "best album to date," and "bright new chapter for Thousand Foot Krutch." Fans voted the band's project as the "Best Album of the Year" in the Golden Ear Awards in Ignite Your Faith (April 2008). In addition, Thousand Foot Krutch's Active Rock/Alternative single "Falls Apart" debuted in the Top 40. The single climbed into the Top 30 marking the band's third Active Rock/Alternative single to break into the Top 30 on the charts following the hit songs "Rawkfist" and "Move."
For more information on Thousand Foot Krutch, please visit:
thousandfootkrutch.com

Dance Gavin Dance Posts New Song
Dance Gavin Dance have posted a new song titled here as Alex English from their forthcoming self titled album. The new album will be released on Aug 19th through Rise Records. Come see the band on their forthcoming tour with A Static Lullaby, Four Letter Lie, Secret And Whisper and Lower Definition.
More information and song can be found here:
myspace.com/dancegavindance

Relient K Releases 26-Track EP
Relient K's The Bird and the Bee Sides - scheduled for July 1st release by Gotee Records - is by far the most ambitious EP of the band's career. In fact, with 26 songs (including 13 brand new ones) and a running time of 70 minutes, it may be one of the most ambitious EPs ever released, period. The band typically releases an EP between studio albums. So following Five Score And Seven Years Ago - which debuted at #6 on The Billboard 200 in 2007, becoming Relient K's highest charting album to date - the guys decided to make their latest EP something of an alternate career retrospective, comprised of b-sides, demos and other rarities from its 10 year history. "We were just trying to think of what our fans would want from a b-sides record," explains lead singer/guitarist/pianist Matt Thiessen. "We're like, they probably just want everything - so let's try to give it to them." Along the way, the band decided to include some new tracks, a concept that quickly morphed into "hey, why doesn't everybody in the band write a song?" Thus the EP begins with a baker's dozen of original new tunes collected under the moniker of The Nashville Tennis EP. With all five members writing and taking turns on lead vocals, it's perhaps Relient K's most diverse effort to date, including Thiessen's alt-country "At Least We Made It This Far," bassist John Warne's "The Last, The Lost, The Least," which is explosive both sonically and in its social commentary, and new drummer Ethan Luck's punk rock reggae "No Reaction," to name but a few highlights. Working in a Spring Hill, TN studio with producer Mark Lee Townsend and mix engineer J.R. McNeely, the team behind the boards for 2004's mmhmm, Relient K laid down the new tracks and raided its archives, remixing and re-mastering the 13 songs that comprise the second half of the EP, The Bird and the Bee Sides. There are tunes from The Vinyl Countdown, The Employee Of The Month EP, The Creepy EP, and, as Thiessen puts it, "a ton of other stuff that you can't even find on the internet - at least not yet." Rarities include several demos ("Here I Go," "The Stenographer" and "Jefferson Aeroplane"), "Hope For Every Fallen Man," a b-side from the Five Score and Seven Years Ago sessions, and an acoustic version of the Top 20 hit single "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been." Prior to street date, Relient K will launch an online scavenger hunt that will give fans a chance to download numerous b-sides that will not be included on the disc. The hunt begins June 16th at the band's MySpace site and will continue through June 30th.
For additional information and clues, visit:, please visit:
myspace.com/relientk

Code Of Ethics Helping To End Poverty
Christian Rock band - Code of Ethics is helping end extreme poverty through micro-finance by partnership with The Reckoning International. “We believe that solving the problems of chronic poverty and underdevelopment in the world are major long-term keys to peace and safety in our world and with a deep belief that God loves every human being and has given each of us gifts and talents to be discovered and used with excellence,” says COE founder and front man Barry Blaze. “People struggling with poverty and underdevelopment are not objects of charity; they are valuable partners for transforming the world. It is this motivation that is taking them to countries like Ukraine, Columbia, Kenya, Dominican Republic and Nepal, where recently through the funding from The Reckoning, the freedom of indentured Tharu slaves was purchased. They were given each a tract of land for farming, and money was also raised to purchase water buffaloes for these families to use in Farming and milking. And now, with the ability to prosper and be self-supporting, this same generosity will be provided by them to other individuals within their own communities and country along with the Love of God.” Blaze added, “Chronic poverty and underdevelopment is like quicksand to generations of people whose only goal is to survive. Charity does not help forever. What they really need is a chance - a working chance. We look forward to working with TRI here and all over the world." The Reckoning International is a faith-based nonprofit organization that seeks to mobilize volunteers to change the world through international development projects.
For more information on this organization, visit:
thereckoning.org

A Skylit Drive Debuts on Billboard Top 200
Progressive hardcore rockers A Skylit Drive have debuted on the Billboard Top 200 following the release of their full-length Wires and the Concept of Breathing. Keyboardist Kyle Simmons commented about the album’s success, “We just wrote the album we wanted to write and we were hoping it would do well. It was sort of shocking to see how well it did, but definitely a cool shock.” Starting June 26th and running through to July 23rd the band will hit the road to support the new record with Sky Eats Airplane and Breathe Carolina, being joined on July 2nd for the rest of the tour by Emarosa. Simmons went on to speak about the tour, “On our first tour ever, we did a week with Emarosa. We’ve played with Sky Eats Airplane and Breathe Carolina, so we know all of the guys and we’re really looking forward to getting out on the road with them. We’re really excited to play for new people and hopefully make some new fans.” The album is full of layered and dynamic rock with heavy arrangements, keyboards and uniquely melodic vocals that can belt as big as the singer from Styx. Speaking on the album, new vocalist Michael Jagmin says “We came up with the lyrics together, it’s very fantasy based like alien invasions and heroic knight tales. We’re all basically dorks at heart and instead of writing songs about being sad like a lot of groups today, we wanted songs that would make us smile later.”
For album updates, tour dates, and band information:
myspace.com/askylitdrive

Above The Golden State's Debut Out July 22nd
New Sparrow Records artist Above The Golden State has quickly gained the early attention of radio and industry leaders as they prepare to release their self-titled debut on July 22. Crafting memorable pop melodies with sing-a-long hooks is only part of Above the Golden State’s aim. “Our first desire is to serve the Lord in everything we do,” says frontman Michael Watson. “We want this music to accomplish in our listeners the same thing that was accomplished in us through our favorite artists – to fix the gaze of our soul on Jesus!” Above The Golden State is already receiving high marks for their brand of pop-friendly rock, as the first single “Sound of Your Name” is currently impacting at AC/CHR radio. “These songs are meant to be sung in the heart and mind of the listener, like a soundtrack to our lives,” comments Watson. “Every one of us is singing a song to the Lord, whether we know it or not, our lives are ascending to God. How awesome that he would listen, even take notice of us, and what a responsibility to live every second unto him!”
The Portland, Oregon-based artist comprises Watson (vocals/guitars/songwriter), Brook Moser (drums) and Tim Aylward (keys). Fans of all music styles, naming influences from Weezer, Five Iron Frenzy and Delirious to The Beatles and Duke Ellington, Above the Golden State’s members will quickly describe their sound as “West Coast Rock, Pop.” “We’re doing our best not to call it surf-rock,” explains Watson, “But yeah, basically, it’s that with a touch of the rainy Northwest.”
For more information, tour dates and music, visit:
myspace.com/abovethegoldenstate

Hawk Nelson Gets Ready For Baseball Tour
Hawk Nelson embarks on an athletic and adventurous summer with the beginning of the Faith Nights Baseball Tour this past weekend, upcoming Olympic promotions featuring "Turn It On," and festival appearances filled with many surprises. Kicking off the Faith Nights Baseball Tour this weekend, Hawk Nelson will once again be entertaining baseball fans and families with a concert either prior to or following the baseball game. Along with Hawk Nelson performing will be RunKidRun and special guest Mark Stewart (Audio Adrenaline). Lead singer Jason Dunn will throw the first pitch at each game to add to the full experience followed by RunKidRun singing the seventh inning stretch. Hawk Nelson's song "Turn It On" will be featured on NBC for Olympic promotions aired during the late night programming of The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan and Last Call with Carson Daly. The band has previously been featured in such promos in the 2004 Summer Olympic promotions on NBC networks. Coming off of their highly successful headline tour, Hawk Nelson Green T Tour, this foursome will make appearances at all the major festivals, which will feature the mobile HawkMART, the merch store on wheels. The band will be appearing at the Creation 30th Anniversary and have a special surprise planned for all attending. Fans still remember the band parachuting into Spirit West Coast in previous years; therefore, the fans look forward to their unpredictable antics each show. Hawk Nelson released their third studio project "Hawk Nelson is My Friend" on April 1st, 2008. This album debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at No. 34, the band's highest chart debut. Coming next week will be the new CHR single "One Little Miracle," which was written after Jason's grandmother passed away. The new Rock single coming will be "You Have What I Need," and recently the song "Arms Around Me" was added to KLTY.
Hawk Nelson, RunKidRun, Mark Stewart Faith Nights:
6/26 Durham, NC
7/13 Memphis, TN
7/24 Fort Wayne, IN
7/25 South Bend, IN
7/26 Akron, OH
7/27 Appleton, WI
7/28 Comstock Park, MI
7/30 Pearl, MS
8/14 Frisco, TX
8/16 Tucson, AZ
8/20 Fresno, CA
8/22 Adelanto, CA
8/27 Modesto, CA

P.O.D. To Play Carson Daly On Thursday
INO/COLUMBIA rockers P.O.D. will kick off the summer this Thursday night on Last Call with Carson Daly when they perform “Tell Me Why” from their latest CD, “When Angels and Serpents Dance.” In addition, the band will pre tape a performance of " Shine with Me" to air on the show at a later date this summer. Last Call with Carson Daly airs on NBC at 1:35am ET/12:35 am CT, following Late Night with Conan O’Brien. In addition, fans can catch the band at several summer music festivals, including:
Saturday June 28 Los Angeles Convention Center
Wednesday July 2nd Council Bluffs, IA
Sunday July 27 Altamont Fairgrounds Altamont, NY 12009
For up to date tour info go to:
payableondeath.com

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