news

Brand New announce their "only Stateside shows this summer"

Scott Heisel on 5/29/09 @ 9:17 PM

Enigmatic rock act Brand New have announced plans to do a short U.S. tour of small clubs this July, after they return home from their U.K. tour with Moneen (dates). According to the band, "these shows will be the ONLY shows Stateside this summer." Pre-sale tickets are available now here, with regular tickets going on sale to the public June 11. Dates:

7/7 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
7/8 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
7/9 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
7/10 Philadelphia, PA @ Northstar
7/11 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
7/12 Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East (Downstairs)
7/17 San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
7/18 Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
7/19 San Diego, CA @ Epicentre

There's still no official word on when the band's new album, the follow-up to 2006's The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me, will drop, but once we hear anything, we'll let you know.

My Chemical Romance to record with Brendan O'Brien

Tim Karan on 5/29/09 @ 4:31 PM

Way back in February, My Chemical Romance went on the record as saying that the upcoming follow-up to 2006's The Black Parade will be a "back-to-basics" affair. Now the band are gearing up to enter the studio with producer Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Mastodon).

A news brief on the band's homepage states:

" In the next few weeks, My Chemical Romance will head into the studio to record their fourth full-length album with producer Brendan O'Brien. He has previously worked with AC/DC, Mastodon, Bruce Springsteen, and Pearl Jam, among others. He's good."

Sigur Ros to perform for Dalai Lama on June 2

Laila Hanson on 5/29/09 @ 4:11 PM

Icelandic masters of ambience Sigur Ros have a very special performance coming up while they work on the follow-up to 2008's Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust. When the Dalai Lama comes to Iceland to give a public speech near the band's hometown, they will perform for the spiritual leader. Full details are available on the news section of the group's website.

Placebo Battle For The Sun stream

Laila Hanson on 5/29/09 @ 3:41 PM

Brit-rockers Placebo are following the trend of free album streams (Marilyn Manson, The Audition and Taking Back Sunday are just a few of the bands who have offered up ear candy before their albums drop) by posting up their latest effort, Battle For The Sun on their website. The record doesn't drop until Tuesday, but you can listen to it for free here after signing up (don't worry, that's also free) on their website here.

Kevin Lyman backs Millionaires, hates haters

Tim Karan on 5/29/09 @ 2:44 PM

Warped Tour guru Kevin Lyman recently posted a news brief on the Warped site sticking up for brat-pop dance trio Millionaires, who are playing this year's tour.

Lyman says:

"Alright HATERS, this one is for you. It is funny to see how much time many of you spend being negative about the smallest things, I sure hope you get it out of your system now or you may grow up and have one miserable life. HATERS really don't get ahead, you may not like something but move onto something you like and support and use your energy up in a positive way. Over the last 15 years the HATERS have bashed artists like Eminem, Kid Rock, The Black Eyed Peas, and many many more who have appeared on the warped tour, and look where their careers ended up.

That's the great thing about the Warped tour, if you don't like someone go see someone else, check out a non-profit or eat a hot dog........ with that I want to introduce you to a band that surely has riled up a few people... The Millionaires.

PS.....STOP HATING, you will find out how good you might feel."

For the record, earlier this year, we included Millionaires in our list of five bands we promised not to write about. But the unwritten rule was that it meant we wouldn't write about them in the magazine. So, technically, we're still okay.

The Maine acoustic performance

Laila Hanson on 5/29/09 @ 2:31 PM

Fearless Records' Arizona indie/pop rockers The Maine have released a live acoustic performance of, "I Must Be Dreaming." You can check it out, via Purevolume Sessions, right here.