Category Archives: Download This!

Check It Out: Maidenstone

MaidenstoneThis post goes out to everyone who thinks I only ever talk about punk rock.

You know folks, I do like other genres of music and one of them is hip hop.

So let’s talk about hip hop shall we?

One thing I have always liked about hip hop is the beats that fuel the lyrics.  I am sure many of you can agree with me that a rap song with terrible beats is nothing to talk about.

Akron, OH’s Maidenstone specialize in beats and unique instrumentals.  They are not a rap group, but rather a couple of pals who decided to borrow lyrics from various rappers and supply samples and beats taken from a wide span of musicians and composers.  The result is an outstanding mixtape and does not focus on just one genre.

Here, check it out:

Consisting of pals Cory Maiden and TJ Firestone, Maidenstone dropped their hip hop collaborative in December on BandCamp.  The best part?  It’s free for anyone who wants to hear what they threw together.

I think one thing about Maidenstone is that the samples are well-thought.  “Holy Shit Batman” caught my attention thanks to the eccentric samples of Pulp and The Jesus and Mary Chain while “We Are Groot” had some Pet Shop Boys.

“Dark Arts” was insane and I hope to hell Mos Def hears this.  Who knows, maybe he will be making a request for Maidenstone to create beats for his next release.  That Peer Raben sample was just dark but powerful.

Of course I loved “Son of a Gun”.  If anyone knows me, ODB is one of my favorite rappers out there.  Add some piano and horns playing track from Perez Prado, and you have yourself a crazy ass track.

Another track I have to make mention of is “Vertical Kryptonite” and not just because Big Boi is on it, but because Maidenstone sampled The Greatest Show on Earth and it fits perfectly.

Sometimes tracks can be recreated in a good way.  I am not talking about some shitty Genesis cover by Disturbed.  I am talking about taking great songs and putting a new twist.  It is kind of like a remix, but to me, this is a little more complex.  Seriously, just listen to this.  I guarantee you are going to dig some of it.

I also love their puck rock inspired covers to their mixes.  Dammit, I just can not stay away from punk references, can I?  Oh well.  Download this and enjoy.  I know I did.

Song Premiere: Borders – Holiday

I’m very stoked to be able to premiere a track by a band called Borders for you all to enjoy.

Featuring Dustin Andrews, formerly of Of Us Giants, this alt rock band has put out one hell of a single and I was asked to showcase it on my site.  After I listened to it, I could not wait to share it.

Check it out:

Borders

Download Link: Borders – “Holiday”

Last year around this time, I was talking up Of Us Giants and was more or less shocked when the band called it quits before they even got to tour.  Things happen for a reason I suppose.

Borders pretty much carries the torch that was prematurely dropped by Of Us Giants.  I am looking forward to hearing their full-length titled Wandering Youth that should drop in May.

 

Download This: Signals Midwest – Wherever I Might Land

Signals Midwest - Wherever I Might LandI am always stoked to hear when bands I’ve befriended are getting ready to go on their first European tour.

Signals Midwest recently announced that they will be taking their talents overseas in September.  The band will be playing 24 shows in 24 days.  There is no doubt in my mind that this will be one of the coolest experiences for them boys.

As if it is not hard enough to tour the states in a used and abused mini-van while crashing on couches, imagine flying your gear over the pond and playing shows in an all new environment.

This will not be cheap by any means and is going to be self-funded by the band who have already admitted paying $5,000 alone for the flights.  This of course does not even include any of the souvenirs they will be buying me.

In an attempt to help them pay off some of those expensive flight tickets and passport fees, the band threw together an acoustic EP on Bandcamp titled Wherever I Might Land.  

For a mere $5, you can not only help out the band make their debut overseas tour a tad more comfortable, but you can also snag a great EP full of slowed down versions of their material and a brilliant cover of Iron Chic’s “Time Keeps On Slipping Into The (Cosmic) Future.”

The money earned from this release will help offset any costs for the band.  I think this is an excellent approach at recovering some of the costs incurred rather than jumping on a Go Fund Me campaign and begging for some extra cheese.

I have already chipped in and downloaded the EP.  The Iron Chic cover is worth $5 alone…

Signals Midwest European Tour Dates

SIGNALS MIDWEST EU/UK SEPT 2014 TOUR DATES:

05.09.2014 – Volkach (GER) @ Festival
06.09.2014 – Bielefeld (GER) @ Uberseecontainer
07.09.2014 – Copenhagen (DK) @ Underwerket
08.09.2014 – Hannover (GER) @ Monster Records (acoustic)
09.09.2014 – Iserlohn (GER) @ Rad Room Rehearsals
10.09.2014 – Dendermonde (BEL) @ JH Zenith
11.09.2014 – Paris (F) @ La Mecanique Ondulatoire
12.09.2014 – London (UK) @ Old Blue Last
13.09.2014 – Manchester (UK) @ Wahlbar
14.09.2014 – Glasgow (SCO) @ 13th Note
15.09.2014 – Leeds (UK) @ Santiago Bar
16.09.2014 – Nottingham (UK) @ The Chameleon Arts Cafe
17.09.2014 – Birmingham (UK) @ Scruffy Murphys
18.09.2014 – Cambridge (UK) @ The Portland Arms
19.09.2014 – Lille (F) @ El Diablo
20.09.2014 – Diest (BEL) @ Jeugdhuis Tijl
21.09.2014 – Trier (GER) @ Ex-Haus
22.09.2014 – Bad Neustadt/Saale (GER) @ Juze
23.09.2014 – Landshut (GER) @ Wintergarten
24.09.2014 – Wiener Neustadt (AT) @ Triebwerk
25.09.2014 – Graz (AT) @ Sub
26.09.2014 – Micheldorf (AT) @ Baraka
27.09.2014 – St. Gallen (CH) @ Grabenhalle
28.09.2014 – Mainz (GER) @ Haus Mainusch

Escapist Records Offering Up Free Downloads Until The End Of 2013!

This is too good to not share.  From now until you pass out in public on New Years Eve, Cleveland’s very own Escapist Records are offering up all their goodies for free download.

Escapist Records

This is your opportunity to snag fresh and free tunes by such amazing acts as:
Harvey Pekar
Sweet Weapons
Light Years
Foxfires
+ plenty more killer releases…

You can also grab the awesome tribute to Integrity for zero cents!  Of course you can name your price too, but I am sure most of us are broke right about now…

Head over to http://escapistrecords.bandcamp.com and thank me later.

 

Friday Night At The Gurley House

Once again, the Gurley House in Akron, OH, has proved for a great evening of music.  There is nothing quite like seeing a show in the basement of a house that just makes it that much more personal.

Tonight I got to see four bands, some of which I have heard of and some who I have been wanting to check out after hearing about them through friends.  The result was four performances by different genre bands all of which caught my attention in various ways.

My resident pal Roscoe started off the night with an electric acoustic solo performance.  He played some of his material, some of which I really think needs to be recorded.  Seriously, it was good shit and even though he hardly plays solo shows anymore, he had no problem jamming out a few tunes.

The Ohioans followed with an acoustic set.  The last time I saw them is when they opened for Jeff Rowe in the very same basement a few weeks back.  I was really impressed by their initial set and really enjoyed the acoustic session.  If you like folky rock you need to check out this up and coming local act.  Head on over to their BandCamp page and download their  self-titled album for free and see why I dig these guys so.  Check out the track  “512”, one of my favs off the album.

Michigan’s Protected Left were supposed to be the headliners of the night, but one of the bands was running late due to a previous commitment.  The threesome had no problem shifting slots and just rocked out hard to the gathering of music loving people.  This band seriously rocked.  Mixing punk, metal, and thrash (sweet sweet thrash…), the band got all technical at times when playing reminding me of shit Strung Out likes to pull yet kept a melodic pop-punk feel throughout.   I loved this band’s sound and really hope to see them push out a full length one day.  Until then, head on over to their BandCamp page and download their 3-song EP titled Songs Of The Doomed for free.  Check out “At Least I Didn’t Cut My Ear Off” and tell me it is not catchy and just bad ass to listen to.  Not only do they play good tunes, but they are also a bunch of cool peoples to hang out with.  Really stoked I had the opportunity to meet them and see them play.  Can’t wait thill them come back to Ohio again.

The last band to play the night was a local act I had heard of through friends but had never seen (or heard) before.  The band, Cherry Cola Champions, not only has a great name for their two man act, but also pretty much blew me away with their set.  Just download the Cherry Cola Champions EP for free and see what I mean (check out “Fievel Goes Midwest”).  I honestly did not think I was going to be able to get into them after their first song, but suddenly I was hooked.  It was experimental at times and very post-hardcore.  I look forward to seeing these guys again.

So that was my Friday night.  What did you do?  Never mind telling me, I’m too tired now…  Just do me a favor and check out the bands I just talked about.  They are all free downloads and worth listening to.