NYS Music 20​12

Category: Special

  • KILLSWITCH ENGAGE announces Howard Jones leaving band, releases statement (**UPDATED**)

    Earlier today, Killswitch Engage announced via their Facebook that Howard Jones will no longer be the vocalist for the band.

    Via Facebook:

    To our family, friends and fans: We have decided to continue on without Howard Jones as the singer of Killswitch Engage. We love Howard and are thankful for the nine years that we’ve had him in the band. Out of respect for everyone involved we will not be discussing the specific reasons behind this decision. Howard is a part of our family and always will be, and we wish him well. He has left big shoes to fill, so we certainly have our work cut out for us to find the next singer of Killswitch, something we plan on making priority #1 going forward. Most importantly, thanks to all of you for all the support throughout the years and for sticking by us for all this time. We really do appreciate it and we very much look forward to having a new record for all of you in the not too distant future that we can all be proud of. Sincerely, Adam, Joel, Mike & Justin.

    This isn’t the first vocalist to have left the band, Jesse Leach left Killswitch in 2002 for personal reasons.

    UPDATE 1/6/2012-

    Howard released this statement via the Killswitch Engage Facebook page in response to his departure.

    Message From Howard: Well, I guess I will shed a little light without going too deep. As some of you may know, I’ve had a pretty interesting couple of years to say the least battling with some personal issues. One of the low points being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes that went unchecked for years. The rest of the band stuck with me through it, and to be honest they are the ones that kept me going. The whole experience definitely put a scare in me.

    Recently we’ve all been in writing mode but somehow I couldn’t get excited about the new album and all the touring that would go with it. The guys saw it before I did. In hindsight I now realize that my heart wasn’t in it. I have had an amazing decade with KSE. I love Justin, MikeD, Joel and Adam for hanging in there and standing by me no matter how bad it was. I have so many good memories, and those are the ones that I will keep. Will I be involved in music again? Sure, I have been in bands for a little over half my life, can’t stop now. Until then, get the new KsE album, it’s going to be good. Thanks everyone for letting me try to entertain you, and I wish myself well in my future endeavors. Gone fishin’ Howard

    Fans of Killswitch Engage are plagued with disappointment as Howard was a driving force for that band. He will indeed be missed amongst the line up. There has been hope that Jesse Leach would return to fill the shoes Howard was filling to begin with.

  • Local Limelight: Binghamton Band Dropclutch

    Local Limelight: Binghamton Band Dropclutch

    Few bands in the Upstate New York underground scene have enjoyed the type of success that Binghamton’s Dropclutch has seen in recent years. It is not difficult to say with certainty that these guys have put together a blueprint for success that many will undoubtedly emulate.

    The band burst onto the scene in 2005 with the release of their first EP. Like many of the scene’s greats, their DIY work ethic has helped in building the reputation of the band on all levels. Dropclutch has been getting quite a bit of attention on the local, regional and national level for years now. The strength of that first EP certainly helped though. It could be one of the best first offerings from an Upstate band in roughly a decade. With their initial success and the buzz that was invoked, the band was invited to share the stage with many artists including Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Lamb of God, Gwar, Framing Hanley, Skindred, Scum of the Earth, Throwdown, Bury your Dead,  and Days of the New. As the band’s star rose, they were also invited to play several high profile gigs including the 2006 Independent Music Conference in Philadelphia.

    In 2008, the band was ready to release their full length record. The band teamed up with producer Billy Graziadei (Biohazard, Suicide City) and the results were golden. The Reason, released in May 2008 was a smashing success. The first single, Pressure, off of their debut release was one of the most requested songs on many radio stations in the NY and PA areas before the album was even released! “The Reason” was 2nd in the U.S. for most album adds on commercial radio on FMQB, and 3rd in the U.S. for most album adds on CMJ Loud.

    “It was amazing to hear that we were the number two most requested band in the Southern Tier of New York. Our album hadn’t even been released yet and people were already digging what we were doing!” says singer Shawn Smartwood.

    Also of note was the selection of their song, Chemical, by The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain for inclusion on a compilation. The pair chose the song  for release on Guitar Center’s Fresh Cuts Volume Two.

    On Valentine’s Day 2011, the band dropped the single, One Bullet, which also was well received by fans and critics. The band plans on dropping a new record in 2012. I look forward in seeing where the band is headed next.

    One thing is for sure, the focus of the band is keeping things fresh for fans of their music.

    “We love our fans more than the world…” Smartwood explains,”…everything we do is dedicated to them. Without them we are nothing!!!”

    For more information on Drop Clutch –
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/dropclutch

    -Erik Jensen