Against Me!‘s Tom Gabel has been doing a little sumptin sumptin on the side. The front man of the ever popular Against Me! is doing things his own way this time. He will be releasing a solo album on Oct 28th, 2008 called Heart Burns.
Leading up to the release Tom Gabel has been releasing music videos via MySpace of songs that will be appearing on his project. I hadn’t had a chance to check them out until now…and now you can too:
From what I am gathering the EP to be released will actually be live performances. This is really a highly anticipated release for me. This comes from the guy who used to HATE Against Me! too.
When I first got into Against Me! there was already a huge following and a couple of albums had been released. I listened to a few tracks and tried real had to like them but I couldn’t. It was mostly from fans telling me how awesome they were and how incredible they sounded before my ears even got a taste. Scene kids jamming them down my throat was not helping the situation when I worked at a record store.
I still gave them a couple more chances and even saw them play with Smoke Or Fire. Soon after hearing them a few more times I started hearing the more folk driven tracks and I suddenly liked them. When I caught them live my opinion changed entirely. They were so fun, full of smiles, and played their hearts out. Sing-a-longs galore. Suddenly I liked what I once hated…
I remember when New Wave came out earlier this year. Die hard fans soon hated the band and called them sellouts. They were upset the band went mainstream. I became a bigger fan myself after hearing that album, it is insane. That’s music industry for ya though… You have to pay the bills some how and if selling out means helping ensure a financially sane future then I say go for it…
Oct. 28th is right around the corner and if you like Against Me! you should support Tom Gabel and pick up his solo release.
Comic Actor/Musician duo Jack Black and Kyle Gass also know as Tenacious D are going to be releasing The Complete Masterworks 2 DVD on November 4th. This 2 disc DVD release will includes almost 3 hours of footage including a behind the scenes documentary with Tenacious D as they filmed The Pick Of Destiny. Also included are live performances, videos, and also appearances on SNL and Conen O’Brien.
I have been a fan of Tenacious D since I discovered them one night on HBO back in the late 90’s. I believe there were only six episodes that were shown and soon it disappeared though as per Kyle Gass, HBO was looking to take over creative control and they band preferred to do it on their own.
In 2001 the band released their debut CD Tenacious D with a full backing band including Dave Grohl. They toured constantly and I am happy to say I saw them twice that year, once headlining to Agora and the other when they opened for Weezer at CSU. I witnessed the Sax-a-boom…
Their first DVD collection The Complete Master Works was released in 2003. The DVD included all of their HBO episodes making that alone worth the purchase. Full of videos and live perfomances I must have watched it a dozen times the week I bought it. The duo is hilarious.
The movie Tenacious D in The Pick Of Destiny was released in theaters in 2006. It was a funny movie but…well you need to see it for yourself if you have not. That’s all I am going to say about that. The soundtrack to the movie was all Tenacious D as well making it their second CD release.
Now comes The Complete Masterworks 2. I am very interested to see what this DVD will contain.
But who can wait???
I found this small clip on MySpace and can not wait to see this DVD….
California punk rockers Unwritten Law have recently released their second live DVD for your visual and listening pleasure. This time around the band has teamed up with Suburban Noize Records to release Live & Lawless, a CD/DVD release that is more of a celebration of their success as a modern punk rock band rather then just another live show.
Recorded in March of 2008 at the historic Key Club on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip, the band consisting of singer Scott Russo, guitarist Steve Morris, bassist Pat “PK” Kim, and temporary stand-in drummer Dylan Howard, make a point to play their hearts out to their hardcore fans.
Unwritten Law
Formed in the early nineties, Unwritten Law first started out as a speedier punk band but throughout the years they took different approaches to making music, and soon matured into more of a hard rock act. 1998’s self titled album had a couple of tracks that were put into heavy rotation on the radio but nothing more than that. In 2002, the band came out with Elva and their song “Seeing Red” became a chart topping hit.
Just one year later, the band was approached accidentally by VH1 (they meant to call Jimmy Eat World) to see if they would play some acoustic tracks. The result was Music In High Places, a part studio part live acoustic album that coincided with a separately released DVD called Live In Yellowstone.
Live & Lawless is the band’s first start-to-finish live DVD. This release also comes with a CD full of the tracks the band played that night in Hollywood. The CD has seventeen tracks plus a bonus track. The DVD covers the twenty-two song set and also contains some bonus footage.
The show starts with the band on stage in full force playing “Underground”. One of the first things I notice is that there are no bouncers in front of the stage and to me that is a nice thing to see. This show is strictly the band facing the fans. Hit songs “Teenage Suicide” and “Calin” were played to approving fans as they sang along as loud as they possibly could
The acoustic version of “Rest Of My Life” featured just Scott Russo and the crowd. His voice was on point throughout and did not crackle or show any signs of being tired even though sweat was dripping off his forehead. The rest of the band slowly snuck on stage where they smoothly depart into “She Says”. The crowd erupted as soon as they sang the refrain to the song.
“Before I Go” is a bonus treat to the crowd as the band starts a mini acoustic session with the entire band playing their acoustic instruments. I love the way this song sounds. They continue with “Elva” and surprisingly “Shallow”, a real old track by the band.
This was the first time I had heard the old school song performed acoustically and Scott Russo even admitted to the crowd that is was a special song they were going to play. I must say the song brought back some memories. Hearing the band slow the track down a bit and play it unplugged just made it that much more enjoyable. The only sad thing about this song is that I would guess two thirds of the crowd may never have heard this before. Arms waving and smiles were among the many but when it came time to sing along there was not as much partaking.
Before engaging in “Save Me” front man Scott Russo took a moment to spread some love to all the sardine packed fans in the front row. He asked everyone for some crowd participation before starting the song and just about everyone complied. With big thank yous it was clear that the concert was coming to an end.
Making this show even more memorable to myself, the very first song the band ever wrote, and one of my personal favorites, “CPH” closed out the show. Nothing like an oldie to wrap things up, especially when it was one of the first songs I heard as a teenager that caused me to become an Unwritten Law fan.
DVD bonus features included the music video for “Shoulda Know Better” as well as a intimate interview session with questions coming from the fans who were actually at the DVD shoot that evening. Hearing the story from Pennywise about Fletcher jumping a van into someone’s backyard was amusing. The band answered questions individually, shared their influences, decisions to change up their style, and even some more personal stories. The answer to how would Pat “PK” Kim look if he were bald had me laughing out loud as the bassist drew up a picture of himself.
There was not a dull moment throughout the entire live show. This DVD is pure evidence what a punk rock show should be. Seems like only yesterday a young punk rock me was in the crowd checking out Unwritten Law singing all of the songs they sang at the top of my lungs. Over ten years later, they still have it and show no signs of tiring out one bit.
Here’s a couple of clips from the DVD just for a small taste:
Rock act Clutch has recently released Full Fathom Five: Audio Field Recordings 2007-2008, a CD including many of the live tracks that appear on their first ever live DVD. The CD and DVD appear to be aimed towards the Clutch fan base as it is being sold only through Clutch’s official website, Merch.Com, and other Clutch websites. So far both releases are not available in retail chains.
Where Clutch has released live albums before, this is the band’s first live DVD to be released and also is their first release under the band’s own label Weathermaker Music. Clutch plans on releasing further material on their own label.
Clutch
Formed in the early nineties, Clutch was not your typical rise-to-the-top rock band. Gaining early commercial attention was something the band seemed to never worry about. Starting off selling out small clubs, they, through hard work and perseverance, soon found themselves selling out larger shows and were later headlining tours. Their sound is that of metal, stoner rock, and even a little blues mixed up. Their solid sound seems to lure in new fans with every release.
Speaking of fans, famous skater misfit Bam Margera labels himself and hug fan of Clutch and even helped direct the video for “The Crowd Goes Wild” for the band. As a return perhaps, Clutch played live for Bam Margera and a few lucky attendees on a ski slope on a past episode of Viva La Bam. That is about as mainstream the band has ever been as they really do not care for the predictable rock band approach.
If you have never seen Clutch live, you need to know that they are here to rock. They do not have fancy stage setups nor do they pause a lot in between songs. I can say this from experience as once I heard them through the doors of the House Of Blues in Cleveland. The show was sold out and my only way in fell through (it sounded great). I also can say that a year later I went back to the same venue with ticket in hand (visually just as amazing).
The CD and DVD capture tracks played by Clutch on four separate occasions in New Jersey, Pittsburgh (Mr. Small’s Theatre, one of the coolest venues I have ever been to), and overseas in Sydney. For a review of the DVD check out what Charile Doherty, a Blogcritics.Org writer had to say about it.
Starting off the fifteen track CD was “Dragonfly” a rather grungy track with Neil Fallon roaring throughout as the guitar riffs landed heavy and the drumming was stern. I especially got a kick out of the track originally found on Elephant Riders going into a little jam session and then unexpectedly slammed into From Beale Street to Oblivion’s “Child Of The City” without even missing a beat. Upon the completion of these two songs, the crowd went spastic.
“Texan Book Of The Dead”, the first single off the CD, showed Nail Fallon’s voice struggling a tad but hardly noticeable to the point where the song was dire sounding. “Oh Eee Oh Ahh Ahh” was sung during the track reminding of Alvin & The Chipmunks. The song is currently in heavy rotation on Sirius’ Faction Radio.
“The Mob Goes Wild” was nowhere even close to sounding like the studio recording with a slowed down chorus but I loved the organ playing and just the energy that could be felt throughout. Sometimes a change in tempo and pitch is a good thing. “Cypress Grove” simply rocked out with help from some sick harmonica playing. Once again there was a mid song jam session making for an incredible listen. “Ship Of Gold” and “10001110101” were two other favorites of mine that I enjoyed profusely.
The only vice I have with the performance was that the band really only focused on material from 1995 onward. Many of the songs played were welcome to my ears but I was kind of hoping to hear a rare track from Transnational Speedway League. We can all dream, can’t we?
This CD is just a sample of the twenty song live DVD that was released showcasing their abilities. I now have to go out and order the DVD because after hearing this I need to see it. Hell, any fan of solid rock music should check the DVD out and if for whatever reason you have no DVD player then this CD should at least give you a small fix of what Clutch is capable of doing. Do yourself a favor and order the CD or the DVD today by heading over to Clutch’s website, you won’t regret it.
For your viewing pleasure “Texan Book Of The Dead”:
Here is the video that Bam Margera directed, “The Mob Goes Wild”:
The Faint bring yet another installment of their new wave/dance/indie tunes to your ears with Fasciinatiion. Once a solid staple to Saddle Creek Records, the band parted ways in spring of 2008 stating they would be releasing material on their own label blank.wav. This is their first album in four years and is also the first to be entirely fashioned by The Faint. Fasciinatiion proves that this five-some has no problem doing things all by themselves.
Formed in Omaha, Nebraska around 1995 the band lured me in thanks to the release of 1999’s Blank Wave-Arcade. Their unique sound that had similarities to 80’s dance but with indie rock and even a little punk rock flair; something I had not found myself getting into before. Soon thereafter, I was listening to them on almost a daily basis. They were one of the original bands that introduced me to Saddle Creek records and helped get the indie label some well deserved recognition.
The Faint
I was excited to check out their latest release seeing how I really have not listened to The Faint in quite some time. Fasciinatiion started out strong with “Get Seduced” refreshing me on their dance rock style. Their electronic rock music was not missed by my ears. It would appear even after four years the band still has it.
“The Geeks Were Right”, the band’s first single off the album, was my favorite track. The more indie pressed song reminded me of She Wants Revenge and Interpol, but heavy on the electronic side. The music video for the song is extremely interesting too almost visualizing what a Max Headroom acid flashback might look like. Even better there are remixes of this track floating around on the internet; my favorite was “The Geeks Were Right (Does It Offend You? Yeah Remix).
The album seemed to stray away from the Faint’s unique sound I had grown accustomed to with more experimental tracks like “Machine In The Ghost” and “Fulcrum And Lever”. The vocals were a tad too robotic for me and the sounds were too experimental and unhurried.
The funky “Psycho” saved the album for me as it took direction back away from the slow, unusual songs previously mentioned. Deep blimps and bleeps at the beginning of the song kind of exceeded it’s welcome, but soon it mellowed out building for an good listen. “I Treat You Wrong”, with poor lyrics, really was a good track but was nothing to dance about.
I really feel that The Faint created a roller coaster effect on Fasciinatiion. The album does not seem nearly as constant and up-tempo as prior releases nor was there any of that punk rock flair that could be heard on Wet From Birth. It is one of their more unique albums, but certainly not their best effort. I am not saying this album is bad, but it does not compare to their more recent efforts.
This music blog could have a driver's license by now…
