News Update Week Ending 1-4
Kekal News
The 7th full-length album from Indonesia/Canada based experimental / progressive artist Kekal will be the first NePlusUltra Music release. The first pressing of compact disc will be a special digi-pak release with hand numbered and limited to 777 units in honor of this landmark occasion. The title "Audible Minority" is based on the fact that the music on the album has mapped itself into the extreme minority status: something beyond recognition of the musical norms. "Audible Minority" is a stateless, nameless, and label-less manifesto made from all the bitterness and pain. The album that is entirely bleak, gloom and dark. A perfect collision of metal and extreme electronic music as well as dark, stripped-down emotional jazz and blues. Kekal combines organic rock instruments with the use of multilayered 'power electronics' feedback noises, loops, samples, Moog synths, turntable scratches and theremin, to mention some. Almost 2 years in the making, "Audible Minority" was constructed during various personal events of the band members' lives. "Audible Minority" is available through an exclusive deal with Open Grave Shop. The preorder deal comes with an immediate download of the entire 11 track album. The digi-pak hard copy release will be shipped to preorder in January.
Bombworks Records Signs Disaffection
Bombworks Records has signed old school thrashers Disaffection. Hailing from Brazil, this 5-piece plays old school thrash / speed metal in the vein of bands like Exodus, Kreator, Ultimatum, Slayer (Reign in Blood era), Flotsam and Jetsam, and Austrian Death Machine. The music is chock full of fast and furious riffing, blazing guitar leads, head busting drumming, and in your face throwback thrash vocals. The pace never lets up, to the joy of headbangers worldwide, and the music is sure to satisfy any self-respecting speed freak. The band has been playing together since 2005, and they will be
releasing their first full length on Bombworks Records in the summer of 2009.
Check out the band's myspace at:
myspace.com/disaffectionthrashers
Benefit Concert For John Spalding
On January 3rd, the Comet Tavern presents the first John Spalding Memorial Benefit. This will be an intimate but exciting Comet kick off to the John Spalding Benefit Shows coming up through January. John was a much beloved player in the late 90s Seattle music scene, in the bands Raft of Dead Monkeys, 90 Pound Wuss, and as a friend to many. All proceeds go to John's also much beloved widow Jody. The bands scheduled to play are Slender Means, Suffering and the Hideous Thieves, & Sam Squared. Jeff Suffering explains Suffering & the Hideous Thieves participation: "The band is Jeff Suffering, Seth Warren, Kris Rosentrater, and Jarred McFarlane. Jarred is new the others have all been in the band before. Although Jarred has played with me on other projects over the last two years, and engineered the last song S&THT recorded entitled "Love Never Fails" which was exclusively released on a Lujo comp for Erik Aucoins wedding. We may be doing a 90lb. Wuss tune and "Colony" by Joy Division which is the last song I ever played with John. I also want to do a version of "Love Rescued Me" an old hymn that Rose and Liz played at Johns funeral. The other songs will all be from the Suffering and the Hideous Thieves catalog." The show is $8 and starts at 9 pm. It is a 21 and over show.
Code Of Ethics News
Christian electronic / pop band Code of Ethics is releasing Lost In Egypt on February 10, 2009 to the US and internationally through an exclusive distribution partnership with Go Global Entertainment and Koch Entertainment Distribution. Lost In Egypt is the first new recording from Code of Ethics in 8 years since their Dove award nominated project Blaze. Soon after their last release, Code of Ethics front man and founder Barry Blaze left for Jacksonville, Florida with his wife Cynthia to lead worship at a North Florida Church. It was in 2004 that Blaze suffered a near fatal motorcycle accident that left him with head trauma and permanent hearing and vision loss. It has since taken four years and multiple surgeries to restore only partial hearing and vision, but inner healing came as he let fear and vulnerability develop his faith into a firsthand experience of trusting God with blessing and tragedy. It is the need to share this God Story that has lead Blaze to once again record. "Lost In Egypt is that original electronic /pop sound that CoE has been known for," says Blaze. Only a handful of hardcore, longtime CoE fans would know that the title track was written as part of his very first demo tape. Blaze adds, "I have changed the music but the lyrics have stayed the same. But this song means so much more to me now than when I first wrote it."
Lost In Egypt's lead-off track, "Smile," reminds us that no matter what trials or tribulations we may be going through, that we can just smile and have peace for awhile when we rest in God.
For more info, visit:
myspace.com/coeofficial
Newsboys Event Draws Capacity Crowd
Christian music mainstay newsboys and international outreach organization Global Tribe hosted its debut REACH event last month at Tucson Electric Park in Tucson, Ariz. Drawing a capacity crowd of 15,000, more than 600 attendees responded to the Gospel message presented by newsboys frontman Peter Furler. Concert-goers were lined up as early as 8:00 am to attend the 5:00 pm event launched in partnership with Family Life Radio, Chick-fil-a, and more than 25 local churches. Hundreds of church volunteers were also present to assist those who responded for prayer and counseling, helping them to connect with a local fellowship. “Having 15,000 people at the REACH event was great, but the most exciting aspect was watching hundreds get out of their seats and respond to the Gospel,” says Furler. “Equally gratifying was all the churches in the community coming together for one night to impact their city. This is the heart of REACH and where we hope to see our contribution in the foreseeable future.” President of Family Life Radio, Dr. Randy Carlson comments, “As a result of the effort of hundreds of volunteers and staff, REACH Tucson has set a Family Life Radio record—it’s the largest event in our ministry history and fulfillment of our Community Transformation strategy.” A Global Tribe ministry, REACH was created as a means to reach out to family, friends, and neighbors through a fun evening of music and leaning about Jesus. It is designed to be a resource for local churches to impact their communities with the message of Christ at a time when young adults are leaving the church in large numbers. With five gold albums, sales exceeding six million units, more than 20 No.1 radio hits, and a mantle of Dove Awards as well as Grammy nominations, newsboys has achieved phenomenal success in its near two decades together. Known for its amazing live performances and groundbreaking tours, the band continues to sellout festivals and concerts worldwide, satisfying diehard fans and winning new ones in the process. newsboys fourteenth record, GO, debuted at No. 51 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.
Slacker Announces Commercial-Free Radio
Slacker, Inc., today announced the availability of Slacker Radio Plus, a new value-priced offering which gives listeners access to all of the features of the free Basic Radio service, plus the ability to skip an unlimited number of songs in a commercial-free environment. "Slacker Personal Radio provides music lovers with an effortless way to hear and discover music that suits their unique tastes," said Dennis Mudd, CEO of Slacker. "Slacker Radio Plus is a great and inexpensive option for Slacker listeners who want more control over their Personal Radio experience." In addition to unlimited song skipping and ad-free listening, Slacker Radio Plus subscribers can also request an unlimited number of songs when creating their own custom stations. With unlimited song requests, listeners can easily create perfect radio stations that suit their specific music tastes. Slacker Personal Radio enables listeners to create their own Personal Radio stations or listen to and personalize over 100 expert-programmed genre stations ranging from Holiday Classics to today's hottest hits. Personalization options include rating songs or artists, playing more popular vs. more eclectic music and listening to newer vs. classic songs. The availability of Slacker on a wide range of devices on the go and throughout the home allows music lovers to enjoy their favorite stations wherever they are. Whether listening on a laptop, home TV or bedside radio, or anywhere with the Slacker G2 Personal Radio Player, Slacker listeners have instant access to their favorite music along with artist profiles, album reviews and cover art. Slacker Basic Radio remains free to use, while Slacker Radio Plus is available today at $3.99 per month with an annual subscription.
Check it out here:
Slacker.com
Philmont News
Forefront Records' pop-punk act Philmont embraced the spirit of Christmas by teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to build a house in Sea Island, S.C., earlier this month. The band not only gave of its time but also its talent, hosting a series of benefit concerts to raise nearly $7,000 for the organization.
For more info about Philmont, visit:
myspace.com/philmont
CompassionArt Giving Away 100 Million Songs
The award-winning CompassionArt charity is giving away 100 million brand new songs from its upcoming CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty CD/DVD. This groundbreaking giveaway features six songs written collectively by 12 acclaimed songwriters and recorded by the most well-known artists in the whole genre of Christian/Gospel music. Requesting donations for the songs, the goal is to engage people everywhere to help end world poverty. The songs, including the current radio single “King of Wonders” being heard on the K-LOVE Radio Network and other stations across the country, will also be featured on the 14-song charity album, CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty. The album, which includes a 50-minute DVD CompassionArt documentary, will be available at both physical and digital retail outlets everywhere beginning Jan. 27, 2009 in the US through EMI CMG. The recording also released last month in Europe and Scandinavia through Fierce!/Kingsway, Asia, Africa and South America through Integrity and Australia and New Zealand through Crossroads. The 19 genre-defining songwriters/guest vocalists featured on the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty recording include: (Songwriters) Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu G, Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Martin Smith, Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin and Darlene Zschech; and (Guest Vocalists) Kirk Franklin, Amy Grant, Joel Houston, Leeland Mooring, Christy Nockels, tobyMac and CeCe Winans. Together, they combine for: 101 million albums sold, 103 No. 1 songs, 32 GRAMMY Awards and 9 GRAMMY nominations this month alone, 202 Dove Awards, 18 Stellar Awards, 3 American Music Awards, and 116 CCLI Top 500 songs sung by millions in churches around the world. Remarkably, all 19 of these artists have come together to help the poorest of the poor through the CompassionArt: Creating Freedom From Poverty songs. None of them will ever receive a dime for their efforts. And this is not just a one-time offering, but will be a forever offering for the life of the songs through CompassionArt. In addition to the songwriters and guest vocalists, the publishers, managers, record labels, copyright institutes and agents involved are donating their efforts on this project to CompassionArt. “We started with 12 of the best-known Christian recording artists, who have come together to create an album and a book, with all proceeds and royalties going to break the hold of poverty on people’s lives around the world,” says CompassionArt founder and Delirious? frontman Martin Smith. “But we’re not stopping there; CompassionArt is evolving to connect, inspire and release compassion all over the world. You are an integral part of this process. Please join us in this next step by downloading and donating what you can for these songs.” Four collective projects were chosen to receive 50% of the proceeds from these songs: Hand of Hope, offering relief and restoration for families caught up in Mumbai, India’s sex trade and food and education for children scraping survival on a rubbish dump in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Stop The Traffik, a global movement against the trafficking of people that has more than 1,000 member organizations in 50 countries and a grassroots following of ordinary activists around the world; Ray of Hope, a team of people in remote parts of Brazil that meets the needs of children; food, education, support, advice, clothing, medical aid; and Watoto, a charity helping orphaned children to abused mothers, and helping to restore hope to people whose lives have been devastated by suffering, providing creative life centers, encouraging artistic education and plans for a better future for all. Check out the limited time download here.
Heavy Metal Church
From article on Reuters: Forget hymns- heavy metal is the soundtrack for a unique Colombian church. Pantokrator - Greek for all-powerful -- is the name of the unrecognized Colombian church complete with its own heavy metal band who open the church's doors in a Bogota suburb at 7pm every Wednesday and Saturday night. They hold 'rock concerts' for the church's faithful, all of them being heavy metal rockers. Check out the video here.
The reality of depression and suicide has inspired artists to take part in the PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR, a traveling college music tour committed to reducing the stigma associated with mental health as well as making the access to help and hope for students safe and without fear. ALKALINE TRIO will headline the inaugural PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR--where impassioned artists join together to raise awareness and funds for depression and suicide prevention. ANBERLIN will support on the trek with newcomers SINGLE FILE opening the show. The PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR marks the first-ever suicide prevention tour happening on college campuses; the events are also open to the public. The trek will launch in April; look for tour dates and venues and a ticket pre-sale to be announced in early 2009. The PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR is created through a partnership between the non-profit organization To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) which boasts the largest audience on MySpace and Facebook: Postsecret.com; Synclive.com; and 1-800 SUICIDE The National Hopeline Network. Through 1-800 SUICIDE--which provides a life-saving service that is private and confidential for people in need--callers are routed directly to the closest crisis center in their immediate area so that quick referrals to behavioral health services and other supports can be offered. Since 1998, 1-800-SUICIDE has received over 3 million calls and rescued more than 4,000 individuals who had already initiated suicide plans. “In moments of bravery and confusion and honesty, people turn to 1-800-SUICIDE--over three million of them,” points out Jamie Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) and PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR partners. “The folks at the Hopeline Centers have been answering those calls for ten years, picking up the phone when it's mattered most. Now it's our turn. This is our moment to respond.” To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA)--a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide--exists to encourage, inform and inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Since 2006, they have responded to 80,000 messages from people in over 40 different countries. The Alive! Mental Health Fair--present onsite at every show day on the PICK UP THE PHONE TOUR--will contain booths with information, therapy and local help resources as well as offer education in suicide prevention with the goal of recruiting volunteers to be trained and staff local peer-to-peer hotlines and online crisis support centers at the college. The tour aims to inspire and raise awareness of students’ mental health rights by spreading the best practices and guidelines for colleges, students and faculty set forth by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. In another innovative move, the tour has partnered with Synclive.com to air live performances from the artists via the Internet as well as provide an immediate online confidential connection for fans in need. Synclive.com will create an essential connection for concertgoers in crisis who are unable to approach a booth at the show in-person either for direct help or to volunteer for the online counseling program. We’re extremely excited to be on this upcoming tour because it brings together two of our favorite things: great music--such as Alkaline Trio--but also a helping hand to those in need and serving a purpose greater than the typical tour,” notes ANBERLIN frontman Stephen Christian. “To Write Love on Her Arms, Hopeline, Post Secret and the fight for the prevention of suicide are all causes and organizations we firmly stand behind; we’re always excited about touring, but to tour with a purpose makes it an unbelievable experience.” ANBERLIN released their fourth studio album New Surrender (Universal Republic) in September 2009 when it debuted at #13 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. Originally hailing from Florida, the group--lead singer Stephen Christian, guitarist Joseph Milligan, bassist Deon Rexroat, drummer Nathan Young and guitarist Christian McAlhaney--have established themselves as one of alternative rock’s most exciting acts. The group reinvented themselves with their 2007 mainstream breakthrough Cities, and after releasing three successful albums on the well-respected indie label Tooth & Nail, the band signed with Universal Republic to release their major label debut New Surrender.
For more information on the Pick Up The Phone Tour, go to:
pickupthephone.org
Bosque Brown Preps Sophomore Album
Bosque Brown have been quietly working on their sophomore full-length for the past 15 months with producer Chris Flemmons (Baptist Generals) in Denton, TX. Baby features a fuller sound and more expansive instrumentation than previous releases. The Bosque Brown debut, Plays Mara Lee Miller, was recorded in a few short days on relatively few takes and a follow up ep, Cerro Verde, which features lead singer Mara Miller singing over her sparse guitar playing. Baby benefits from the band's ability to record close to home and take as much time as needed to finish this sophomore full-length. The process began with several home recorded demo songs and the band began to play them, adding parts and adjusting their contributions. Baby becomes a natural outgrowth of Bosque Brown playing together as a live band, the band taking their time to find the right sounds, adding things in, taking things away, and letting the songs grow under Flemmons' watchful guidance. Vocals are a focal point of Baby with these vocals, often Miller's vocals doubled up or harmonizing with her sister Gina, contrasting with varying percussive sounds from the drums, piano, and keyboard. Drummer Winston Chapman and Flemmons, himself a longtime drummer, experimented with prepared drums, mic placements, and recording techniques to color the percussion during the recording process. Many failed experiments gave birth to solidified versions of the songs as the drums coalesced with the vocals and other instrumentation. Acappella tracks with heavily layered vocals and echoing reverberation borrow from the sacred harp tradition and break up Baby into four segments. This reverb collapses into close vocal phrasings for other album tracks that gradually add in thick instrumentation. Lush and soaring keyboards, organs, pedal steel, and effects blend with varying drum and percussion rhythms which pace the songs as singer Mara Miller's vocals are met with harmonies from her sister Gina Milligan and guitarist Jeremy Buller. Flemmons' production selectively tweaks room effects and recording techniques to capture both the intimacy and expanse of his home recording space. In her often personal lyrics, Miller reflects back on her small-town Texas upbringing as an adult coming to terms with that rich history after moving away. On "O River", references to old time hymn lyrics mix with the imagery of a dark and cold flowing river, perhaps a subtle reference to Texas' Bosque River, the band's namesake. "White Dove" and "Soft Love" bookend Baby, opening the record with a sense of dark desperation and finding a hopefulness in her love, moving past the ambivalence of the three part "On and Off" which punctuates the flow of the album with a tossing and turning of ideas. The artwork for Baby was done by Mara's longtime friends Sean Horton and Melissa Mudry who she knew from small-town life. They introduced her to the short-lived Lift to Experience which had a large cult following in Texas and helped open Mara up to Texas musicians like Townes van Zandt and the outlaw country of The Flatlanders and Hank Williams. The photos are from Melissa's grandmother who had a ranch in Texas and portray the themes of Baby in Sean and Melissa's eyes. Burnt Toast Vinyl discovered Mara Miller through folk singer Damien Jurado who met Miller on tour. Jurado was acting as a bit of a freelancing A&R rep, funneling prospective acts and demos to the label. Arrangements were made for Mara and her husband and fellow bandmate Ryan to travel to Seattle and record Plays Mara Lee Miller. This debut was released in 2005 and Mara and Ryan were joined by Mara's sister Gina and friends Jeremy Buller and Winston Chapman to form the live version of Bosque Brown. The band's live shows quickly captivated music fans in the Dallas/Denton/Ft. Worth area, bolstered by Miller's striking stage presence. Plays Mara Lee Miller found its way onto many Top 10 of 2005 lists, including top release of 2005 by the Dallas Observer, and garnered the band several local music award nominations. A four song ep, Cerro Verde, was recorded in 2006 and released as a one-sided vinyl LP with an accompanying cd. Cerro Verde was a stripped down effort, chronicling Miller's family experiences in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The Bosque Brown track "Fire Fight" was featured on the Jumping Off Bridges independent film soundtrack which debuted at 2007's SXSW film festival. Bosque Brown have headlined their own shows and have played with bands including Midlake, Two Gallants, John Vanderslice, Will Johnson, the Baptist Generals, Bobby Bare Junior, Damien Jurado, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jolie Holland, and The National. Now, Bosque Brown are ready to emerge from the recording process and share their new songs with the world.
Check her out at:
myspace.com/bosquebrown
Langerado Music Festival Announces Lineup
Held for the first time this year at Bicentennial Park on Biscayne Bay, Langerado now calls Miami - one of the world's must cultural cities - home. Today, festival organizers make an initial artist announcement to make the Magic City proud. Langerado is also proud to welcome back veterans from Langerado's past including Matisyahu and Robert Randolph & The Family Band and extend a warm welcome to the many artists performing at the festival for the first time. Other artists scheduled to play are Mute Math, Cold War Kids, Dashboard Confessional, and many more. Tickets are on sale now. In addition to world class music, Langerado will offer local arts and crafts, delicious food vendors, and a variety of festival activities for the whole family - all on-site at Bicentennial Park's 30 acres of waterfront. With Bicentennial Park located just minutes from Downtown Miami and Miami's South Beach, visitors and locals can enjoy easy access to Miami's many hotels, international restaurants and sizzling nightlife. Taking advantage of Miami's after-hours scene, Langerado will host official late night shows and parties at various local venues throughout Miami including world-famous South Beach, the Design District, Coconut Grove and beyond.
Check out their website for more info:
langerado.com
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