Nine Inch Nails, a pioneer in the industrial music movement, has been signed by Columbia Records and will release a new studio album in 2013. Front-man Trent Reznor, who left Interscope Records in 2007 to become an independent recording artist says, he has been less than honest about what he’s been up to lately…
“For the last year I’ve been secretly working non-stop with Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder on a new, full-length Nine Inch Nails record, which I am happy to say is finished and frankly fucking great. This is the real impetus and motivation behind the decision to assemble a new band and tour again. My forays into film, HTDA and other projects really stimulated me creatively and I decided to focus that energy on taking Nine Inch Nails to a new place. Here we go!”
The band is performing at a number of festivals this summer, including Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Leeds, Reading, Made In America and the Voodoo Festival. The new Nine Inch Nails lineup – Alessandro Cortini, Josh Eustis, Robin Finck, Trent Reznor and Ilan Rubin – will debut on July 26 at the Fuji Rock Festival in Naeba, Japan. The show will mark Nine Inch Nails’ first live performance in nearly four years.
Syracuse’s Westcott Theater and Albany’s Red Square open their doors to a modern experimental supergroup Friday May 31st and Saturday June 1st as Club D’Elf is accompanied by organist and composer Marco Benevento, of the critically acclaimed Benevento/Russo Duo. Club D’Elf defies convention and classification, as they draw on influences from electronica, jazz, dub, progressive rock and traditional and world music.
Led by bassist/composer Mike Rivard, the Club D’Elf “club” is designed to be a constantly evolving and revolving musical brotherhood, regularly rotating members, hosting superb artists and incorporating new sounds. Club guests have included legends John Medeski and Billy Martin of Medeski Martin and Wood, the hip hop/jazz crossover artist DJ Logic, Marc Ribot, Skerik and of course Marco Benevento. These uniquely gifted talents keep Club D’Elf fresh with new ideas and spontaneity. This isn’t Mike Rivard’s first rodeo either; Mike brings his experience laying down grooves for big names such as Morphine, Aimee Mann, G Love and Jonathan Brooke among others. Club D’Elf’s sound grows out of this rhythmic root, past tradition and custom, into the cosmos. Who knows where listeners may end up when Marco Benevento’s graceful piano melodies dance over Mike Rivard’s deep, thuddy Morroccan trance bass lines? No matter where you end up, this show is sure to keep your mind fed and your body grooving.
Tickets are $15.00 at the Westcott Theater and the show starts at 10pm. At the Red Square the show is $12 and $15 at the door, show starts at 8pm.
Equifunk is returning to the beautiful Camp Equinunk in Pennsylvania, August 16-18. Nestled in the Pocono Mountains, this three day music festival is very different from most musical festivals around today. People can rent cabins on the campgrounds or can go the more traditional route with tent camping. There are camp related activities such a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, tennis, and pick up softball games. A pool is also on the grounds to cool off in throughout the weekend and will also act as a place for a gigantic pool party on Saturday.
The music will be going all weekend with artists such as Soulive and the Shady Horns with special guest Maceo Parker, The New Mastersounds (performing two sets), JJ Grey & Mofro, Keller Williams with More than a Little, Boombox, Anders Osborne, The Nigel Hall Band, Marco Benevento, Monophonics, The Main Squeeze, Superhuman Happiness, I’ll Be John Brown, James Casey (Artist at Large), and King Lincoln (Featuring Duane Trucks). For the first time in the history of the festival they will have music all day on Sunday showcasing Pork Tornado with Jon Fishman, The Revivalists, The London Souls, The Heavy Pets, The Main Squeeze, and M&M (A supergroup comprised of Stanton Moore, Marco Benevento, Robert Mercurio, Papa Mali, and Maceo Parker). Another supergroup performing Sunday, comprised of Eddie Roberts, Pete Shand, Stanton Moore, Nigel Hall, and James Casey, will be named by the fans on their Facebook page.
Tickets are on sale now and whether you go for cabins or tent-camping your ticket includes all the beer you can drink and all meals from dinner on Friday night through breakfast Sunday morning.
From Memphis, Tennessee, Skillet, a Grammy-nominated Christian rock/metal band with their never disappointing shows is ready to blow the crowd away this weekend at Rock on the Range for the second time since their performance in 2010.
Founded in 1996 by lead singer and bassist, John Cooper and former guitarist Ken Steorts, both musicians met through two different bands, Cooper from Seraph and Steorts from Urgent Cry. The bands toured together briefly before disbanding, then John and Ken were encouraged by their pastor to start their own side-project. Soon enough, Skillet was formed with another member, Trey McClurkin (former drummer) and they signed with the major Christian record label, ForeFront Records. Later that same year, their self-titled debut album was released into the world. In 1997, the band announced they were to drop another record, Hey You, I Love Your Soul, released April 1998. In their record, a noticeable change was made known as they went from post grunge to a lighter alternative rock style. Through this change, Cooper’s wife, Korey, joined as a touring member on keyboards. Through the years of 2000 till 2002, they released three albums, Invincible, Ardent Worship, and Alien Youth. During this time span, quite a few changes were made to the band; Steorts left in 2000 to be with his family and to launch a college in Memphis (Visible Music College) and Kevin Halaand replaced him as their new guitarist; Korey became a permanent member as keyboardist; and McClurkin left and was replaced by Lori Peters. Before the release in 2001, Halaand left the band and the position was taken over by Ben Kasica.
The 2003 release of Collide blessed the band with more incredible changes and some in the new future, like Lava Records, a division of Atlantic Records signing them. Then, in 2005, the album was nominated for a Grammy under the Best Rock Gospel Album. October 3, 2006, another incredible record was dropped, Comatose, which was nominated for another Grammy for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album. In early 2008, it was announced that Peters was retiring and had trained Skillet’s new drummer, Jen Ledger, during the Christmas season. Their eighth record, Awake, was successfully released in 2009 with the top singles, “Hero”, “Awake and Alive” and “Monster”. Grammy nominated producer, Howard Benson, produced the album and the band lost another member (Kasica) and gained a new one, Seth Morrison. In March of 2011, Skillet released an EP with remixed versions of their songs from the Awake record: Awake and Remixed EP. Their single, “Awake and Alive”, was featured on the recent Transformers franchise soundtrack. In early 2012, the band announced that they were in the studio ready to work on their next record, Rise, scheduled to be released June 25, 2013, and their current three singles are “Sick of It”, “American Noise”, and “Rise”.
Be sure to catch the Skillet’s mind-blowing performance this Sunday at Rock on the Range.
The Blind Owl Band has set out to raise funds with Kickstarter to promote their new album and 2nd recorded effort. The band returned to Granary Studio in Morrisonville, NY in March and April 2013 and recorded 13 unreleased original tracks with Larry Dolan returning as producer.
The album features songs that were born within the walls of the Granary recording studio during the recording of “Rabble Rousing” in the fall of 2011 such as “Jazzy Magee”, “Christians Head”, “Cherry Tree” and new songs that have yet to be played live, such as “Rain On”.
Now as The Blind Owl Band gets ready for summer, they are looking for support to independently release this album. The recording is done, a release date of July 10th has been set. The band now needs the help of their fans to fund the mastering, printing and advertising of this album.TheKickstarter project has a goal of $5000 and we think these guys deserve the help!
The band is touring in support of their Kickstarter Project from May 16 to May 26, you can also Follow the release of the album via their Facebook page or at TheBlindOwlBand.com.
The Blind Owl Band
Arthur Buezo (Guitar, Vocals)
Christian Cardiello (Bass)
James Ford (Banjo, Vocals)
Eric Munley (Mandolin, Vocals)
Tour Dates:
May 16 – Atwoods Tavern, Cambridge, MA
May 17 – Pizza Stone, Chester, VT
May 18 – Strawberry Jam, Northville, NY
May 18 – Olive Ridley’s, Plattsburgh, NY with Lucid
May 19 – The Wherehouse, Newburgh, NY
May 20 – The Living Room, NYC, NY
May 21 – Free Range Busking Day
May 22 – Underground Arts, Philly, PA with The Brummy Brothers
May 23 – The River St. Jazz Cafe, Wilkes-Barre, PA
May 24 – Touch Fest 2013!! South ADK’s
May 25 – The Dutch Treat, Franconia, NH
May 26 – Rosa Flamingo’s, Bethlehem, NH
May 26 – Red Square, Burlington, VT
Originating from Vacaville, California, amazing rock band Papa Roach, who we all have grown to love over the many years has returned to the main stage at Rock on the Range for the fourth time since their last performance in 2010.
The band first started in early 1993 with high school friends, Jacoby Shaddix (vocals), Dave Buckner (ex-drummer), Will James (ex-bassist), Tobin Esperance (current bassist) and Jerry Horton (guitar) meeting each other over the years and created something incredible. They chose the name Papa Roach from Shaddix’s step-grandfather, Howard William Roatch, whose nickname was Papa Roach.
Papa Roach released their debut and self-produced record, Old Friends from Young Years, in February 1997. In 1999, the band signed with DreamWorks Records and in 2000, released their debut major-label triple-platinum record, Infest, with the hit single, “Last Resort”. In 2003, the band released their third gold album, Lovehatetragedy, with the first single being, “She Loves Me Not”. Though it did not sell as well as the first record, it was marked as a change in their music style, from nu-metal to rock. By 2005, the band released their fourth platinum record, Getting Away With Murder, with the two leading singles, “Getting Away With Murder” and “Scars”.
2006 and 2007 were changing years for Papa Roach, as Shaddix lost his great-grandfather who committed suicide after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. The band gave their respect to him with their fifth album, The Paramour Sessions, as well as while playing live performances of one of their songs, “Roses On My Grave.” On April 25, 2007, it was announced that Dave Buckner was leaving the band due to personal issues. He was replaced with Papa Roach’s current drummer, Tony Palermo. In 2009, the band announced their sixth record, Metamorphosis, with the leading singles, “Hollywood Whore”, “I Almost Told You That I Love You”, and “Lifeline”. In 2010, the band switched record companies to Eleven Seven Music and released their seventh record that same year, Time For Annihilation, with the leading single, “Kick in the Teeth”. Their recent record, The Connection, was released on October 2, 2012, with the hit single, “Where Did the Angels Go?”
Papa Roach has toured with Nickelback, Motley Crue, Halestorm, and many more. Last summer, they were part of the Uproar Festival and shared the stage with Shinedown, Godsmack, In This Moment, and Adelitas Way.
This is one of the highly anticipated performances at Rock on the Range and one that will have the crowd buzzing with excitement.
Woodstock native Jim Weider heads up the Thruway to present Project Percolator featuring Garth Hudson at The Egg on Saturday, May 18th. Jim Weider talked with about his project, growing up in Woodstock and fondly recalls his time spent as a member of The Band. His resume is long, his music is well crafted and he aptly presents something that is uniquely him.
Tabitha (TC): Let’s start off by talking about Project Percolator. Describe what people can expect from a live show.
Jim (JW): It’s all groove instrumental with my Telecaster Guitar. It’s rock style and blues over the top. We have several albums out and it is structured songs. I like to write instrumentals that are structured just like vocal tunes. There will be verses, bridges and everything. Then we have sections in the songs where we stretch it out. We play them differently each time. We might go into a Led Zeppelin line so it’s as exciting for the audience as it is for the band. All the musicians are so great behind me; depending who takes off, we follow the other. We try and jam out on certain songs. We’ll do “The Weight” by The Band, with a reggae feel and then in the middle we’ll jam it out then go into double time. If Garth Hudson (The Band) takes off on the keyboard, we’ll all follow him. So we do everything differently each night. It’s kind of exciting for both of us – the audience and us. I always have a blast playing with these guys. Rodney Holmes is just an amazing drummer to be seen. Avi Bortnick (John Scofield Band) is on guitar and he plays much different than me. Of course having Garth is a true dream. We’ve been together for many, many years. Garth comes up with amazing sounds. You’ll hear Garth Hudson like nobody’s ever heard him before because the way this band opens it up and lets us play. Everybody has a blast.
TC: How did you determine with whom you would work with for Project Percolator?
JW: It started about seven years ago with Percolator. I wanted to branch out from my blues – rock records into something different. I just felt like I was cornering myself. I wanted to get into groove music. I started writing and came up with drum loops. I was lucky enough to get Rodney Holmes. He played with Santana and Brecker Brothers. He freed up and joined me. Once I got Rodney, we toured Europe and United States. Rodney’s been with me the whole time. The bass player, Steve Lucas (Bruce Cockburn) joined up on the Pulse record. We’ve been together for quite a while now. We’re going to play some new tunes, and we’ll bring in some Dylan stuff and some Band tunes also, which we do our own versions.
TC: You have worked with Garth Hudson for a number of years, most notably with The Band. How is working with Garth similar or different in Project Percolator than prior commitments?
JW: Garth does some shows with us. He just fits in because Garth always made all the great atmospheric sounds for The Band. He was always into effects and sounds so putting him in the midst of Project Percolator works out perfect. He goes with the flow. He uses his ears and comes up with some great stuff and then we’ll break it down, then it’ll just be Garth by himself. He just fits right in with this kind of music because it’s wide open and flowing. It’s like a glove and very entertaining. I get a kick out of it and so does the band. I think the audience will too.
TC: What sparked the idea for Project Percolator?
JW: I had done a couple of blues-rock records. There were a million blues bands and I had done the roots rock thing with The Band. I just wanted to stretch out more. Get more down to the R & B feel where it’s about the groove. So I started with loops. I started recording by myself. On the first record the drums were over-dubbed. We’ll do some songs with some loops still. I just wanted to get out of that corner write something totally unique that’s not your standard blues shuffle. I really felt like I needed to come up with something fresh and I just stayed with it. Of course I still played with Levon up until his time of passing.
TC: We just past the one-year anniversary of Levon Helm’s passing. Having worked closely with him for many years, how has his passing impacted you both professionally and personally?
JW: Well, you can’t put a finger on when you lose someone you’ve been with that long of a time. We played a lot of shows. It’s deep rooted and it’s a huge loss – as a friend and a musician. About four years ago, Jimmy Vivino went back to Conan on the left coast. When he did, I joined up. I still kept Percolator going but it was great to be back playing with Levon. We did a lot of shows. I never saw him happier. He was on top of his game. He was just very happy and it was great to be with him. He really inspired me. He had my back and looked over my shoulder since we started to work together.
TC: Do you have a favorite pastime or memory of Levon?
JW: Laughing across the country in the back of the bus at three or four in the morning. That’s what keeps coming up.
TC: How has being born and raised in Woodstock contributed becoming a musician?
JW: Everybody was playing music. One after another a new group would come out. Then The Band, from our hometown, came out and that was a huge inspiration. It was just one thing at a time that led to the fire burning to be a musician. All these great players were playing around town. I never went too far. I went down and saw Paul Butterfield playing at the local café. All these great musicians playing live and then I saw Sound Outs (impromptu concerts) before there was the Woodstock Festival. It was a big inspiration living around this area. It was a fantastic time to be alive for music. All the sounds were inspirational.
TC: When did you first begin to play for an audience?
JW: Early on we would play high school dances. We practiced in my grandmother’s garage. We had cookies and coffee and just practiced for a high school dance or a hippy party in some older person’s backyard barn until I was old enough to play in bars.
TC: What was your first band?
JW: It’s hard to remember. I think I came up with a brilliant idea smoking something other than cigarettes looking up at a bunch of trees laying in the woods going, “hey, I got a great idea for the band, Leaves of Green!”
TC: Your resume of musical endeavors is jam packed with various projects. You’ve done everything from session work, to production, touring, and even large telecast concerts. Is there and event or a project that stands out for you?
JW: Well I guess playing at Dylan’s 60th Anniversary at Madison Square Garden. We were doing all Dylan tunes with The Band. Playing the Berlin Wall with Roger Waters when that went down. Just being able to play Carnegie Hall was fantastic.
TC: What was your most surprising, yet satisfying collaboration?
JW: Being able to produce tracks on a Mavis Staples disc and playing with her was fantastic. I also recorded with Scotty Moore, so that was full circle. I also got to lead The Band at South-by-Southwest in Austin.
TC: Is there a collaboration you have yet to do that you would like?
JW: I’m not quite sure. I have to think about that. People ask me that a lot. I am starting to write a new album and I have a new live CD that I’ll have at the show. I had Blues great, James Montgomery play with us.
TC: What do you believe was a defining moment in your career?
JW: I’d say when I joined The Band in 1985 changed everything. Levon getting me in the band was pretty amazing.
TC: Besides music, do you have another passion, hobby or activity that you enjoy?
JW: Yes! I like to be outside. I like to go fishing and talk a walk in the woods in stuff. There is a reservoir not far from me, which is where I like to relax.
TC: What is your secret to longevity in the music business?
JW: Keep listening, keep the glass half full and just stay at it, don’t give up. It’s harder now than it’s ever been, but you just have to keep an open mind. Play for the love of music because if you do it for any other reason, you should get out.
All the way from Gothenburg, this killer Swedish metal band is set to play this Friday at Rock on the Range. This will be In Flames’ first time playing the event.
In Flames was formed by Jesper Strömblad in 1990 originally as a side project from his band at the time, Ceremonial Oath, which he left in 1993 to focus on working on In Flames’ music. During that year, he recruited the band’s then-guitarist, Glenn Ljungström and then-bassist, Johan Larsson. That same year, they self-produced their debut studio record, Lunar Strain, and since there was no vocalist in the band, Jesper asked Dark Tranquility’s Mikael Stanne to provide the vocals. The next year, the record was dropped. 1995 was a busy year for the band; In Flames gained a full time drummer, Björn Gelotte, and an official vocalist, Anders Friden, then later that year, they released their sophomore album, The Jester Race. In 1997, the band released their third record, Whoracle and added two more members, Niclas Englin as the guitarist, and Peter Iwers as the bassist. At the end of their tour in 1998, Englin quit the band and In Flames switched Gelotte from drums to guitars and hired a new drummer, Daniel Svensson. The next two years had the band on their feet and they released two records in that time frame, Colony and Clayman.
From 2002 till 2008, In Flames continuously released records every year, Reroute to Remain, Soundtrack to Your Escape, Come Clarity, and A Sense of Purpose. Niclas returned briefly in 2006 then left again, coming back to tour with the band in 2009. In 2010, the band released their tenth album, Sounds of a Playground Fading and in 2011, the band signed with Century Media, and that same year, In Flames gained Englin as their current guitarist.
All in all, through the many fiery years, In Flames is ready to show everybody what they’ve got up their sleeves and blow them all away. Rangers, get ready for Sweden’s very own In Flames.
From Grand Rapids, Michigan, Pop Evil returns to Rock on the Range to make their mark for the third time since their last performance in 2011.
Pop Evil wasn’t always known as Pop Evil. Before in 2001, the band was called TenFive when Leigh Kakaty started it and they were formed through different Michigan bands. In the years 2004 and 2006, the band released two EPs independently, War of the Roses and Ready or Not. By November 2007, the band signed with G&G Entertainment and that same year, they lost their bassist, Jaime Nummer, and Matt DiRito joined as the band’s current bassist. Pop Evil’s debut album, Lipstick on the Mirror, was released August 2008, featuring the singles, “Hero”, “Somebody Like You”, “100 in a 55”, and “Stepping Stone”. In 2010, Pop Evil announced their third record was in the works then at a concert in Columbus, Ohio, the band symbolically ripped their contract with Universal Republic to work with eOne, and there, they announced the release date of the new album, War of Angels, which dropped in July 2011. During that year, former drummer, Dylan Allison suffered a neck injury and was forced to quit the band. Josh “Chachi Riot” Marunde filled in as the current drummer. On April 6, 2012, Pop Evil announced the departure of their former guitarist, Tony Greve, who was quickly replaced with Nick Fuelling. As of May 14, 2013, the band released their fourth record, Onyx, with the two leading singles, “Trenches” and “Goodbye My Friend”.
Check out the band’s latest record and this is one band you will not want to miss this weekend.
Upstate New York’s very own Maria Brink and her kick-ass band, In This Moment, returns to Rock on the Range for the second time this Sunday, continuing to support their latest record, Blood.
Forming in 2005, lead vocalist, Maria Brink, and lead guitarist, Chris Howorth, started out with a small group, adding a third member, Jeff Fabb (former drummer), and named the band Dying Star. They eventually changed their music direction and the name to the one we all know, In This Moment, and added two more membersBlake Bunzel (former guitarist) and Josh Newell (former bassist). Later in 2005, Newell was replaced by Pascual Romero after leaving the band, who was immediately replaced by Jesse Landry. In 2009, Landry was replaced by Kyle Konkiel, who was replaced by their current bassist, Travis Johnson in 2010. By 2011, Fabb and Bunzel left the band and both were replaced by the current drummer, Tom Hane, and guitarist, Randy Weitzel.
Their first record, Beautiful Tragedy, was released in 2007 and the following year, their sophomore album, The Dream was dropped. In 2010, A Star-Crossed Wasteland was released with their well known singles, “The Gun Show” and “The Promise” featuring Otherwise’s singer, Adrian Patrick. In the summer of 2012, In This Moment successfully released their fourth album, Blood, with leading singles, “Blood” and “Adrenalize”.
In This Moment has featured in many festivals over the years such as Ozzfest in both 2007 and 2008, Warped Tour in 2009, Download Festival in 2009, Mayhem Festival in 2010, Music as a Weapon V tour in 2011, and Uproar Festival last summer as well as Rock on the Range last year.
It will be New York’s very own dark angel’s scream that will haunt everyone till the end of the festival. Be sure to catch them this Sunday, it will be one not to miss.
The music will be going all weekend with artists such as Soulive and the Shady Horns with special guest Maceo Parker, The New Mastersounds (performing two sets), JJ Grey & Mofro, Keller Williams with More than a Little, Boombox, Anders Osborne, The Nigel Hall Band, Marco Benevento, Monophonics, The Main Squeeze, Superhuman Happiness, I’ll Be John Brown, James Casey (Artist at Large), and King Lincoln (Featuring Duane Trucks). For the first time in the history of the festival they will have music all day on Sunday showcasing Pork Tornado with Jon Fishman, The Revivalists, The London Souls, The Heavy Pets, The Main Squeeze, and M&M (A supergroup comprised of Stanton Moore, Marco Benevento, Robert Mercurio, Papa Mali, and Maceo Parker). Another supergroup performing Sunday, comprised of Eddie Roberts, Pete Shand, Stanton Moore, Nigel Hall, and James Casey, will be named by the fans on their Facebook page.
