Mayday Parade releases new album.

Mayday Parade - Monsters in the Closet

Mayday Parade released the new album "Monsters in the Closet" on October 8th.

Click the link to download "Monsters" from iTunes or check it out on Spotify now.

The Pretty Reckless are Going to Hell

The Pretty Reckless have had one hell of a time recording their second record "Going to Hell". While working on the record at Water Music Studios in New Jersey, they were hit by hurricane Sandy. Losing all their guitars, gear and progress to the flooding, the band had to push back their release and start re-recording everything. 

In order to keep in touch through the set backs, The Pretty Reckless have started "Hell Mondays" by releasing new materials every Monday to give fans something to look forward to on "the most hellish day of the week".

Record preparations are in full swing as the band released one song, a teaser for another and tickets to the Going To Hell tour went on sale Friday. 

For tour information and record updates, check out the new TPR site goingtohell.xxx and listen to the first release off "Going to Hell", "Follow Me Down" below. 

Nick Santino to Release Solo EP

Former A Rocket to the Moon front-man, Nick Santino, seems to be wasting no time launching his solo career. While he'll still be on Rocket's last tour until the end of July, Nick announced the upcoming release of his solo EP "Going Home" just a couple of weeks ago. 

Though "Going Home" isn't set to be released until July 30th, the four song EP is up on iTunes for pre-order and preview. Fans that tuned into Nick's StageIt shows (or caught them on YouTube) last year may recognize some of the new songs from his acoustic performances.

In the meantime, Nick Santino has a tour and a band to wrap up. A Rocket to the Moon's last show, scheduled for August 31st in Boston, sold out in just 12 hours, but there are still a hand full of 8123 dates left with The Maine.

Empty amps and PA systems.

The internet is abuzz. Teenage girls and middle-aged metal heads are in uproar over the recent realization that Black Veil Brides are using empty amps on the Vans Warped tour. It isn't a big shocker. Big amps are something of a rock icon, but that just isn't practical anymore.

Contrary to popular belief, empty amps don't always mean your favorite bands are playing tracks. There are just better ways, clearer ways even, of getting the sound from the stage to the crowd, especially in large outdoor venues like the main stage at Warped. Real amps are often miked; sound comes straight through the PA system. The result? Better quality, less instrument-fighting-instrument and better control of sound distribution to the crowd.

Okay, it may be a little less "rock n roll" to do things the practical way, but it sounds better. We could stack amps across the back of the stage, have an awkward and deafening sound at the front and not understand anything, but would that really make sense? The fact is venues are bigger, sound is better, and we need a system that keeps up with the times. Empty amps give you the sound and the appearance of a real rock show, you just get to hear the music.

Where you stand on BVB's rock status doesn't matter. Similar setups are used by tons of bands, old and new, rock and not-so-rock. Carry on, do your thing and don't worry about how a band is getting its sound to you. Unless they're lip-syncing. Don't tolerate that.

Favorites: June 21, 2013

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-drunk/id325306627

 So, I've always kind of felt like BLG was a joke. I don't know why. I mean, I know why now, they've apparently done some weird country thing, but I don't know why they were a joke before.

Anyway, this weeks favorite is Love Drunk by Boys Like Girls, because I like it (except when Taylor Swift shows up--nothing against her, it just sounds so weird). It's got some cool sounds and some sick writing and I play it kind of all the time.

Also, I seriously recommend the song "Go" to anyone with some hard choices to make.

Cautioners - Conditional Identity

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/conditional-identity-ep/id656391001

In a world where we can fix everything with Pro Tools, existing only online is a risky move, but the UK band Cautioners have done it flawlessly. When their debut EP "Conditional Identity" dropped they hadn't played a show yet.

EP's don't give you a lot of time at live show and they don't provide a whole lot of material to get a feel for a band, but this EP is one of the better executed. With only six tracks Cautioners manage to give a taste of everything with tracks ranging from guitar heavy instrumental driven to soft and soothing vocal driven.

The range doesn't give you an unsettling feeling though; every track seems to flow into the next effortlessly. The EP starts out with "Staging Area", an appropriate title for sure as it sets the theme with it's melancholy opening building to a pop-rock vibe climax. From there it slides into "The Build Up" and "Iteration V", carrying you on a wave of building and backing off.

I would have to say the best moments are found on "Man of Science" and I would tell you to go download this track, but I feel that to really appreciate it you need the experience of listening to the whole EP straight through.  Ride the wave.

Favorites: May 24, 2013

This week: Go Radio's "Lucky Street".

Jason Lancaster: Mayday Parade had him, he was good. Now Go Radio has him and he's great. Combining pop-rock music with poetic lyrics, the album has kind of a vintage feel, well captured by the worn design on the cover.

Listen to it and buy it:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lucky-street/id434786807

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Dana DeStefano & Dollparts, March 27, 2013

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dana-destefano-dollparts/id627973172

It's still not an easy world for a female rocker. No matter how talented you are, you can still be victim to degrading comments and Taylor Swift references, especially when you don't exactly sound like a rock star.

Although there are small technical issues commonly associated with independent releases, Dana DeStefano and Dollparts first album combines punk attitude with pop instrumentals, effectively destroying musical stereotypes.

There are brief moments on songs like "Change the Theme" and "New Years Eve" when the music is too much and overpowers the vocals, as well as an audio quality difficulty on "Trouble Sleeping", but for a group just starting out these moments are surprisingly rare.

The album gets better as it progresses with standout tracks like "Trailer Park Sharks", lyrics like "I hope you die" paired with a catchy pop tune, and "Naperville", a rebellious breakout from social norms.

This record is worth downloading at the very least for it's potential. This band knows what it's doing and there is a real lesson here about doing what works instead of what is familiar and overdone.

Dana DeStefano and Dollparts are out on tour this summer. For updates on their stops check out Facebook.com/DanaDeStefanoDollparts

Favorites: May 17, 2013

This week: radiosepia's "Digital Scars".

I've probably listened to this album twenty times this week. It's good for your imagination. It sounds like nature, but not like someone recorded crickets chirping in their backyard. It sounds like nature translated into music, which makes it a perfect soundtrack for basically everything.

Listen to it and buy it.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/digital-scars/id574904508

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Paramore, April 5, 2013

It's taken me a long time to get around to this review, mostly because I haven't known what to say. I've spent a lot of time listening to this album and trying to change my initial reaction, but every time I get the same thing. What happened to Hayley Williams?

Of course I was expecting a different sound from this record and even a bit of a different writing style since the departure of Josh and Zac Farro, but I wasn't expecting an entirely new sound from the singer.

The vocals don't just differ from past Paramore records, but vary track to track in such a way that makes it almost impossible to get used to what you're hearing. To make matters worse, the album is broken up by a series of weird interludes that throw off the flow completely.

The record starts with the drum-heavy "Fast In My Car" that seems more like a showcase of the bands new sounds than a song and ends with the much too long "Future", a nearly eight minute, slow instrumental that fakes you out several times by slowing down and fading out only to come back.

The truly low points come from "Ain't It Fun", an R&B/rock track featuring a full choir, and "Anklebiters", an upbeat pop song with cynical lyrics about learning to love yourself because "Someday you're gonna be alone".

On "Part II", Hayley throws back to RIOT!, reprising "Let the Flames Begin" with depressing lyrics like "What a shame we all remain such fragile broken things" and "Oh glory, come and find me". It's a far cry from the original "I believe that there's hope growing beneath it all".

By far, the weirdest moment comes on "(One Of Those) Crazy Girls". Musically, this song isn't bad, but the lyrics tell a story of some seriously twisted ex boyfriend stalking. When calling a hundred times fails, she shows up at the door with a copied key saying "If you're not here when I break in, I'm gonna go to your closet just so I can smell your skin" quickly followed by repeating "I'm not one of those crazy girls".

It's really not completely terrible though. Like anything, it has it's high points too. "Grow up" is one of the best songs on the record, making the difficult decision to grow up even though it means letting go of someone you love. This is also the only song that breaks away from the constant change ups and inconsistent beats on the record. Sometimes, stripping something down is the best thing you can do for it.

Mostly, good parts on this record are few and far between and buried in an unfortunate excess of sounds, but they are there and hopefully, those parts will be the ones carried to the future Paramore projects. Trial and error, right?

A Rocket To The Moon splits up

It's never easy to say goodbye to a favorite band, but A Rocket To The Moon has decided that after five years, it's time to part ways. 

"You need to get lost before you get found." front-man Nick Santino titled the blog post on arockettothemoon.net announcing the bands decision to move past their Rocket days. 

The band started out on tour with The Maine, so it only feels fitting that they should go out that way. This summer you can catch A Rocket To The Moon on tour with The Maine for the last time. They're encouraging all their fans to come out, share stories, sing, laugh and cry with them one more time. 

The tour will kick off June 4th in Tempe, AZ with an album release show for The Maine's new record "Forever Halloween" and will continue through the summer. You can check out dates and pick up tickets at http://8123.me/themaine/ 

Come out for a final Rocket show, and get ready for whatever comes next from Nick, Justin, Eric and Andrew.

The Summer Set - Maybe Tonight

After a lot of questioning around the internet, The Summer Set have stepped up to announce that they are the "Half Moon Kids".

If you're wondering, like I think most people are, "What is a 'Half Moon Kid'?", the band answered it on their new website halfmoonkids.com.

"The Half Moon Kids started as a tight knit group of friends on a midnight walk one warm summers night. The Half Moon Kids soon became a collective consciousness, a train of thought, that turned one seemingly light hearted night into a new perception of reality."

And that sets the scene for their new music video "Maybe Tonight". 

The new album "Legendary" will be available April 16th via Fearless Records.

Bring Me The Horizon have had a busy week.

In the past few days Bring Me The Horizon had their new album "Sempiternal" leaked. They responded to the leak with a tweet saying they were glad everyone liked the album and teased that there might be an early release. 

Then on Thursday they announced the album had been bumped up four weeks from it's original release date. The album will now be released on April 2nd. 

They also announced that they've posted an official stream of the new album on youtube for a limited time and are urging everyone to buy it when it's released so they can continue making new music. 

You can listen to "Sempiternal" here.

William Beckett live from the studio

William Beckett is putting on a stageit show from the studio where he is recording his first solo album.

Tonight at 7 pm Central he offers a look into the studio. Tickets are pay what you want.

You can purchase a ticket and see the show at Stageit.com

Forever The Sickest Kids announce a new album

Forever The Sickest Kids have announced a new record to be released by Fearless Records.

According to Jonathan Cook, the new album will be a rock one and he's related it to the "Underdog Alma Mater" days that everyone loves.

There is no official release date yet, but the guys are hoping for June 24th. 

Travis Barker isn't coming to Australia this time around

Sorry kids! It looks like Travis Barker won't be able to make it to Blink's Australian tour.

After the horrific plane crash Travis was in a few years back he's been nervous about getting back on a plane. The bands Facebook page states that this tour was decided on last year and they knew there was a possibility that Travis wouldn't be ready to fly by then and although he's been working through his fears, he is not ready yet.

Travis took to his own page to add that he's sorry he can't be there and hopes to return to Australia someday, even if it has to be by ship.

The band has recruited Brooks Wackerman to play drums on the tour that kicked off this past Wednesday.

Mayday Parade is back in the studio

Work has officially begun on the upcoming fourth Mayday Parade album. 

Producer Kenneth Mount tweeted "In the studio now with Mayday Parade. Starting their 4th full length album!!" on February 20th from the studio in Atlanta. 

They are hoping to have the album out this fall via Fearless Records.

A Rocket To The Moon - Ever Enough

A Rocket To The Moon recently released their song "Ever Enough" from their upcoming album "Wild & Free". Front man Nick Santino then headed to Vegas to film the road-trip style music video starring Debby Ryan. 

The video shows a young terminally ill woman escaping from the hospital to live while she has the chance. Packed with beautiful travel scenes, dancing in public and even a Vegas wedding, it's definitely tear provoking video. 

You can pre-order the new album at arockettothemoon.net/

Tonight Alive release new video

Tonight Alive is hard at work on their new album, but to hold fans over until it's done, they're releasing a new single and music video. The song "Breakdown" features Benji Madden of Good Charlotte and will be available on iTunes March 15th. 

The music video will premiere March 12th. You can check tonightaliveofficial.com for specific times. 

You can watch the official announcement from Tonight Alive here. 

Speaking of returns...

The future of Fall Out Boy starts now.

The guys are back together with a new album "Save Rock And Roll" due the first week of May and a Save Rock and Roll tour from May 14th to June 30th. Tickets go on sale later this week.

You can pre-order the new album at falloutboyrock.com  and see tour dates.

You can also read answers to burning FOB questions from Pete Wentz himself at petewentz.com