Category: News

  • Slipknot Documentary to Hit Theaters

    Maggots of the world get ready to see Slipknot in a different light. The bright lights to be exact. Well, sort of. Slipknot has announced that the band’s documentary, Day of the Gusano, will come to the big screen at the end of summer.

    slipknot documentaryThe documentary, produced by MusicScreen, and directed by Slipknot’s Shawn “Clown” Crahan, will hit over a thousand screens world-wide on a very limited ‘one night only’ showing on Sept. 6. Cities that will be lucky enough to hold screenings and ticket information will be announced sometime in July for the one day only event.

    Day Of The Gusano, features the band’s first ever visit to Mexico City in December 2015. The documentary consists of exclusive interviews with band members expressing how important Slipknots fan base is to them. The documentary also shares interactions with band members listening to stories from their fan base in Mexico City during the inaugural Knotfest.

    When talking about the upcoming documentary, Clown stated,”Slipknot still has dreams for itself. Finally playing Mexico was one of them. It’s been a surreal life of rock and roll for Slipknot and the fact that the dreams still go on for us is simply incredible. Thank you.”

    Guitarist Jim Root added,”We had such a great time at Knotfest Mexico… Not only with all the friends and bands that were there, but with the fans and the crowd we had to document it with. Now we get to share it with the world.”

    Slipknot has been nominated for several Grammy awards throughout its career, taking one home in 2006 for the song “Before I Forget.” Four of the band’s five studio albums, have reached platinum status by the RIAA, with the band’s debut album reaching two times platinum status. Slipknot has earned 13 platinum and 44 gold certifications from around the world with over 17 million unit sales.

    Slipknot is: Corey Taylor (vocals), Shawn”Clown” Crahan (custom percussion), Jim Root (guitar), Mick Thomson (guitar), Craig “133” Jones (samples, media, programming), Sid Wilson (turntables), Chris Fehn (custom percussion), Alessandro Venturella (bass), and Jay Weinberg (drums).

  • 71st Annual Tony Award Wrap-Up

    New York’s annual celebration of Broadway theater has once again come and gone. The 71st annual Tony Awards, hosted by Kevin Spacey, showcased the best Broadway has to offer in theater, awarding the past calendar year’s best productions and performers. Dear Evan Hansen (6), and Hello Dolly!(4), took home the most awards at the 71st ceremony.

    71st Tony Award winners and nominees:

    Best Musical:
    Winner: Dear Evan Hansen
    Come From Away
    Groundhog Day The Musical
    Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical:
    Winner: Bette Midler, Hello Dolly
    Christine Ebersole, War Paint
    Patti LuPone, War Paint
    Denee Benton, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
    Eva Noblezada, Miss Saigon

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical:
    Winner: Ben Platt, Dear Evan Hansen
    Josh Groban, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
    Andy Karl, Groundhog Day The Musical
    David Hyde Pierce, Hello, Dolly!
    Christian Borle, Falsettos

    Best Revival of a Musical:
    Winner: Hello Dolly!
    Falsettos
    Miss Saigon

    Best Play:
    Winner: Oslo
    Indecent
    A Doll’s House Part 2
    Sweat

    Best Revival of a Play:
    Winner: August Wilson’s Jitney
    John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation
    Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes
    Present Laughter

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical:
    Winner: Rachael Bay Jones, Dear Evan Hansen
    Stephanie J. Block, Falsettos
    Jenn Colella, Come From Away
    Kate Baldwin, Hello Dolly!
    Mary Beth Pell, Anastasia

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play:
    Winner: Laurie Metcalf, A Doll’s House Part 2
    Jennifer Ehle, Oslo
    Sally Field, The Glass Menagerie
    Laura Linney, Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes
    Cate Blanchett, The Present

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play:
    Winner: Kevin Kline, Present Laughter
    Chris Cooper, A Doll’s House, Part 2
    Corey Hawkins, John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation
    Denis Arndt, Heisenberg
    Jefferson Mays, Oslo

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play:
    Winner: Cynthia Nixon, Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes
    Jayne Houdyshell, A Doll’s House, Part 2
    Johanna Day, Sweat
    Condola Rasha, A Doll’s House, Part 2
    Michelle Wilson, Sweat

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical:
    Winner: Gavin Creel, Hello, Dolly!
    Mike Faist, Dear Evan Hansen
    Andrew Rannells, Falsettos
    Lucas Steele, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
    Brandon Uranowitz, Falsettos

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play:
    Winner: Michael Aronov, Oslo
    Danny DeVito, Arthur Miller’s The Price
    Nathan Lane, The Front Page
    Richard Thomas, Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes
    John Douglas Thompson, August Wilson’s Jitney

    Best Book of a Musical:
    Winner: Dear Evan Hansen, Steven Levenson
    Come From Away, Irene Sankoff and David Hein
    Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Dave Malloy
    Groundhog Day The Musical, Danny Rubin

    Best Original Score:
    Winner: Dear Evan Hansen, Music & Lyrics: Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
    Come From Away, Music & Lyrics: Irene Sankoff and David Hein
    Groundhog Day The Musical, Music & Lyrics: Tim Minchin
    Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Music & Lyrics: Dave Malloy

    Best Direction of a Play:
    Winner: Rebecca Taichman Indecent
    Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson’s Jitney
    Bartlett Sher, Oslo
    Daniel Sullivan, Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes
    Sam Gold, A Doll’s House, Part 2

    Best Direction of a Musical
    Winner: Christopher Ashley, Come From Away
    Rachel Chavkin, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
    Michael Greif, Dear Evan Hansen
    Matthew Warchus, Groundhog Day The Musical
    Jerry Zaks, Hello, Dolly!

    Best Choreography:
    Winner: Andy Blankenbuehler, Bandstand
    Peter Darling & Ellen Kane, Groundhog Day The Musical
    Kelly Devine, Come From Away
    Denis Jones, Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical
    Sam Pinkleton, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

    Best Orchestrations:
    Winner: Alex Lacamoire, Dear Evan Hansen
    Larry Hochman, Hello, Dolly!
    Bill Elliott & Greg Anthony Rassen, Bandstand
    Dave Malloy, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

    Best Scenic Design of a Play:
    Winner: Nigel Hook, The Play That Goes Wrong
    David Gallo, August Wilson’s Jitney
    Douglas W. Schmidt, The Front Page
    Michael Yeargan, Oslo

    Best Scenic Design of a Musical:
    Winner: Mimi Lien, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
    David Korins, War Paint
    Rob Howell, Groundhog Day The Musical
    Santo Loquasto, Hello, Dolly!

    Best Costume Design of a Play:
    Winner: Jane Greenwood, Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes
    Susan Hilferty, Present Laughter
    Toni-Leslie James, August Wilson’s Jitney
    David Zinn, A Doll’s House, Part 2

    Best Costume Design of a Musical:
    Winner: Santo Loquasto, Hello Dolly!
    Linda Cho, Anastacia
    Paloma Young, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
    Catherine Zuber, War Paint

    Best Lighting Design of a Play:
    Winner: Christopher Akerlind, Indecent
    Jane Cox, August Wilson’s Jitney
    Donald Holder,Oslo
    Jennifer Tipton, A Doll’s House, Part 2

    Best Lighting Design of a Musical:
    Winner: Bradley King, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
    Natasha Katz, Hello, Dolly!
    Howell Binkley, Come From Away
    Japhy Weideman, Dear Evan Hansen

  • Godsmack Frontman Backpedals On 20th Anniversay Plans

    In a recent interview with Nivens from Kansas City rock radio station 98.9 The Rock, Godsmack frontman, Sully Erna, talks about working on the band’s seventh studio album, when fans can expect to hear new music from the new album, and back pedals a bit on his past comments regarding Godsmack’s plans to celebrate band’s 20th anniversary in 2018.

    After asking Erna if his statement about working on a new album was legit, Nivens asked when fans can expect new music from the band. Erna replied: “I’ve been working on it all year. Everyone’s been writing. That’s our main focus again right now – getting a new record out. Definitely next year. We’re gonna try to time this so we can drop the single right at the beginning of the year, January, and maybe drop the record by first week in April at the latest.”

    Blabbermouth reports that in a recent interview with Wisconsin radio station 93X, Erna back tracked on previous comments about the bands plans to tour and perform the bands self titled 1998 debut album in it’s entirety to celebrate the bands 20th anniversary. Erna stated: “We don’t know that yet. That’s been circulating, ’cause I opened my mouth a little bit soon, but as we get deeper into writing this new record, that may change. So we’re not making any promises on that yet.”

    In March, Erna told Houston radio station 94.5 what Godsmacks original plans were. Erna stated: “We’re gonna do a massive production. We’re gonna kind of base it around the theme of the first record. We’re even talking about coming out and doing the first record front to back to open the show.”

    Erna added the reason why the band has held off writng the new album until recently. Erna commented: “We wanted to do something this year, but we were just, like, ‘You know, let’s just wait another second, because if we release this at the top of 2018, it will be our 20th-year anniversary of the first record, and we wanna do something special.”

    Erna then added: “I have to write a really great record for us, and that’s the tough part.”

  • Rock AM Ring Festival Resumes After Possible Terror Threat

    With the most recent tragedy at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England still fresh, authorities are taking every security threat very seriously. Germany’s annual rock festival, Rock AM Ring, had to be halted on it’s opening night Friday for what authorities called “concrete leads,” in a possible terror threat against the festival that police wanted to eliminate before the festival continued.

    With over 80,000 fans attending the festival over the weekend, authorities wanted to make sure that everything and everyone is safe. Friday’s lineup included headliners Rammstein, Five Finger Death Punch, In Flames, Clutch and many more.

    rock am ring festivalAfter the Ariana Grande concert bombing, Rock Am Ring disallowed back packs at the festival and beefed up security to 1000 officers. Festival promoters made the following statement to fans after they were informed by the police:

    Due to a terrorist threat, the police have advised us to interrupt the festival. We ask all festival visitors to leave the festival site in a calm and controlled manner towards the exits and camping grounds. We have to support the police investigations. All visitors will be kept informed about any developments on all Rock Am Ring social media channels, radio and the speakers. We hope that the festival will continue tomorrow. Thank you for your cooperation.

    One of the concerns involved a person who helped erect and organize the security fencing for the event. The Koblenz police released a statement about the possible threats:

    Because of the last attack on a concert in Manchester, the security concept for Rock Am Ring was modified in advance and the number of security officers was significantly increased to around 1,200… Since a threat could not be ruled out, all necessary measures were taken immediately. We cannot provide any further details on the background information. We take all tips and suspicious incidents extremely seriously and investigate closely.

    Rock AM Ring resumed early Saturday in Nurburg, once promoters got word that everything was clear. Festival organizers released a statement telling fans the festival would indeed resume, “After intensive searches and sweeps of the complete festival site by the police, the suspicion of a potential terrorist threat has not been confirmed.”

  • Woodhenge Music, Art and Sustainability Festival 2017 Announced

    Off the grid sustainable community, Woodhenge, has announced its first Woodhenge Music, Art, and Sustainability Festival, located in Adams Center near the Adirondacks, the community will host the festival on June 23-25, 2017.

    The three day event features a diverse mix of music genres including rock, jam, jazz, reggae, bluegrass, electronic, and funk, and features over 20 artist including Formula 5, Space Carnival, Root Shock, Intrepid Travelers, Lord Electro, Jiggawaltz and Drumadics.

    Fans will have the privilege to explore each morning the 60+ acres of nature and trails the area has to offer, along with yoga and workshops focused on how to live mortgage free, creating a sustainable lifestyle, optimal nutrition, and how to build with recycled materials. The event itself will be held in a field, between the village’s garden and orchard.

    In 1997, James and Krista Juczak, created the eco/self reliance village known as Woodhenge. The mortgage free community is set in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains along the outskirts of a large forest, complete with a stream and waterfall set between a pond and an orchard. The off the grid solar and wind powered sustainable community practices upcycling, using environmentally friendly materials along with alternative building techniques.

    The village grows and cans most of their own fruits, berries, nuts and vegetables in their community garden and raises their own ducks and honey bees for honey and eggs. The community also hosts several workshops throughout the year on building a tiny house, living off the grid, and renewable energy.

    Known as the “King of Scrounge,” Juczak took 5 years to build his 3000 square foot home, set on 50 acres, out of recycled material including beams salvaged from an old bowling alley, and a two-story concrete column made out of scrapped manholes. Windows, doors, sinks, tubs, and other items were bought cheap, or salvaged for free from renovated buildings. The mortar holding the walls is made from 80% paper sludge waste from a nearby mill. The other 20% is made of masonry cement. Juczak has also buried a 10,000 gallon fuel tank used as a guest home buried into the side of a hill.

    Woodhenge has also hosted other music festivals in the past including Summer Solstice Campout in 2016, and the Halloween Costume Fiesta.

    Fans who purchase full weekend passes to the festival online will save some cash. The online pass costs $50 for all three days, and $60 at the gate on Friday, June 23. Other passes range between $20-$40. Camping is available in the field, and in the forest close by.

  • The Brooklyn Bowl and Brewery in Contract for $37.4 Million

    The Atlas Capital Group is looking to ‘strike’ a deal with the Williamsburg Building owners which houses the Brooklyn Bowl and Brewery. According to The Real Deal, ACG’s intentions are not entirely clear, but they are likely to,  “eventually reposition it.”

    Brooklyn Brewery
    Tea Leaf Green at the Brooklyn Bowl

    The real estate group will not make a move until at least 2021- that is when the lease for the Brooklyn Bowl expires and the brewery adjacent to it is set until 2025. It is unclear as of now, but ACG will likely want both parts of the property and will not take action until the latter date. More information is still to come.

    Jam Base spoke with co-owner Peter Shapiro who said, “In terms of the story nothing changes for us. We hope to be 61 Wythe Avenue [the current location] for a long time.”

    The Bowl has been a hot spot for fans and bands of all sizes since 2009. It’s held acts such as Guns N’ Roses, Elvis Costello, the Roots to just recently, the auction of Jerry Garcia’s famed guitar, ‘Wolf’.

  • Jerry Garcia’s ‘Wolf’ Crosses Auction Block for $1.6 Million

    Any Dead fanatic would recognize this guitar – Wolf was built by Doug Irwin in 1972, played by Jerry Garcia on and off until 1993, was sold to philanthropist Daniel Pritzker in 2002, who just let it roll through an auction at the Brooklyn Bowl for almost $2 million.

    jerry wolfThe guitar sold for $1.6 million with a buyer’s premium of $300,000 on top of a dollar for dollar match from an anonymous organization, meaning the Southern Poverty Law Center received $3.2 million form the auction. The SPLC is an organization, “dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to [seek] justice for the most vulnerable members of our society.”

    Pritzker said, “I’ve been a fan of the Dead since I was a kid, and playing this iconic guitar over the past 15 years has been a privilege. But the time is right for Wolf to do some good.”

    jerry wolfWolf saw action across the globe in the hands of Jerry Garcia, from New York to the Great Pyramids of Egypt. It was recognized for Garcia’s love of the instrument, the devilish cartoon-like wolf engraved below the bridge and the effort that went into making it.

  • Foo Fighters Break Out with New Song and Music Video

    Foo Fighters are back with a new song, “Run.” The music video, directed by frontman, Dave Grohl, depicts members of the band breaking out of a nursing home while Grohl sings, “Wake up, run for your life with me.” This surprise release is the first new work they’ve put out since the 2015 EP Saint Cecilia. If this song represents what to expect from their upcoming ninth studio album, it’s going to be a banger.

    Visit the Foo Fighters website for tour information, photos, merch, a mix-tape generator, and newsletter.

  • I Prevail Part Ways with Drummer

    Detroit rockers I Prevail have announced on social media that they have mutually parted ways with drummer Lee Runestad. No word was given as to the reasons for Runestad’s departure from the band, just a statement by remaining members on social media that read “Life an unpredictable journey that takes us all down different paths.”

    Fans who had VIP meet and greets with the band during the band’s most current headline tour, started to speculate if something was going on, as Runestad was absent from the fan interactions, hinting at a possible falling out.

    I Prevail’s full social media statement:

    ATTENTION I PREVAIL FAMILY: We have mutually parted ways with our drummer Lee Runestad. We wish him and his family all the best. Life is an unpredictable journey that takes us all down different paths, but the important thing is to value every step along the way.
    That said, we are stoked to have our talented brothers Gabe Helguera (drums) and Eli Clark (bass) joining us as touring members going forward.
    Things have never been more exciting in the world of I Prevail and we have TONS of awesome stuff coming your way soon. Stay tuned.
    See you at Warped Tour this summer.
    -Brian, Eric, Steve and Dylan

    Runestad, took to his personal social media page and posted the following brief statement about his departure:

    Hey guys. It was a difficult decision, but I Prevail and I have decided to amicably part ways. I enjoyed my time in the band and wish I Prevail luck in its future endeavors.

    I Prevail has just wrapped up their own headline tour, which featured an amazing performance in the Capital Region at Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park in early May. I Prevail will head back out on the road this summer as part of the annual, Vans Warped Tour, performing on the Journey’s Left Foot stage.

  • Intrepid Travelers Drop First Leg of Summer 2017 ‘Everyday is Your Birthday’ Tour Ahead of Summer Camp Festival

    With a name based around the ideology of fearlessly hitting the road and even other dimensions, Intrepid Travelers have set their sights on their latest voyage– the first leg of their Summer 2017 Everyday is Your Birthday tour. With a stacked, 20-date tour launch, the Buffalo-based quartet of Donny Frauenhofer (vocals/keyboards), Brian Calisto (vocals/guitar), David Naimanis (vocals/bass) and Jon Fohl (vocals/drums) will kick off at Summer Camp Festival in Illinois and bring the birthday celebration mentality through the midwest and back home to the Empire State.

    IT will tackle notable gigs in the very near future, with their first summer tour date doubling as a Sunday, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Camping Stage festival slot at this weekend’s Summer Camp. From there, the funky, psychedelic rockers will bring their explosive improvisation, stockpile of musical elements and interwoven catalog, to the second annual IT Fest in Alden, NY from June 9-10. Last year, fans were delighted with three IT sets–one of those being a full cover of MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular from front to back.

    After notching their very own second festival, the group will keep the celebrations going at Woodhenge Music Festival for a weekend of sustainability-centered workshops and solar powered music. Fellow NYS 87/90 bands sit on the bill such as headliners Formula 5, as well as Boogie Low and Space Carnival. The boys will head to familiar territory at Buffalo Iron Works on June 29 for an official, Everyday is Your Birthday EP release party, giving them one specific night to relish in praises of their latest accomplishments. Among their summer tour dates and the peppered festival stops throughout, Intrepid Travelers have tacked an electric and acoustic set at Rochester’s Three Head’s Brewing as well as a set at Cobblestone Live! Festival in Buffalo onto the end of leg one, giving an abundance of veteran and potential fans a chance to see their receptive musical relationship.

    Through eclectic musicianship, stellar improvisation and quick evolution through an evident jazz-funk fusion outer shell, nods to reggae, bluegrass, classical and electronic tendencies by Intrepid Travelers are sure to take you through a cerebral journey of your very own.

    Summer 2017 Everyday is Your Birthday Tour Dates:

    5/28 – Chillicothe, IL – Summer Camp Music Festival
    6/9-10 – Alden, NY – IT Fest II
    6/24 – Adams, NY – Woodhenge Music Festival
    6/29 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works **EP Release Party**
    6/30 – Canton, OH – Royal Dock’s Brewery
    7/1 – New Philadelphia, OH – Bud and Tootie’s
    7/2 – Greenwood, IN – That Place
    7/3 – Louisville, KY – Magnolia Bar
    7/5 – Lawrence, KA – The Bottleneck
    7/6 – Cedar Rapids, IA – Dick’s Tap & Shake
    7/7 – Racine, WI – George’s Tavern
    7/8 – TBA
    7/9 – Madison, WI – The Wisco
    7/11 – Ann Arbor, MI – Club Above
    7/12 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
    7/13 – TBA
    7/14 – Youngstown, OH – Suzie’s Dogs Drafts
    7/15 – Rochester, NY – Three Heads Brewing ** Acoustic and Electric Set**
    7/16 – Buffalo, NY – Cobblestone Live! Festival