Thursday, July 31, 2008

New video from The Classic Crime

Seattle alternative rockers, The Classic Crime, have posted the video for their latest single, "Abracadavers" off of The Silver Chord which hit stores and iTunes earlier this month.

Check out the video below and be sure to hit up their MySpace to listen more tracks off their latest release.

Abracadavers

From TV Screen to Main Stage


The popular video game, Rock Band, is trading in gamer instruments with real ones this Fall with the announcement of the first ever Rock Band Live Tour. Co-headlining this premiere event are Fueled by Ramen's Panic! At the Disco and Vagrant Record's Dashboard Confessional. Also on the roster are The Plain White T's and The Cab. Tickets will be available Friday, August 8th at 10:00AM local time.

According to the website, "The concert tour will let Rock Band bands rock their way onto the main stage with a truly interactive experience that allows fans to compete in head-to-head competitions for the chance to play on the main stage in-between the tour acts' sets. Bands will be selected through local radio promotions, national contests and on-site at each show."

The dates are as follows:

October 5 - San Diego, CA @ San Diego Sports Arena
October 8 - Glendale, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena
October 9 - Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
October 10 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
October 11 - San Jose, CA @ Event Ctr. At San Jose State
October 12 - Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena
October 14 - Everett, WA @ Comcast Arena
October 16 - West Valley City, UT @ The E Center
October 17 - Broomfield, CO @ Broomfield Event Center
October 18 - Lincoln, NE @ Pershing Center
October 19 - Saint louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
October 21 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
October 22 - Rosemont, Il @ Allstate Arena
October 23 - Ypsilanti, MI @ East. Michigan University
October 24 - Toronto, ON @ The Flats At Arrow Hall
October 28 - Bridgeport, CT @ Arena At Harbor yard
October 29 - Lowell, MA @ Tsongas Arena
October 31 - Fairfax VA @ Patriot Center
November 1 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Wachovia Spectrum
November 2 - Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
November 4 - Duluth, GA @ The Arena At Gwinnett Center
November 6 - Tampa, Fl @ USF Sun Dome
November 7 - Coral Gables, FL @ BankUnited Center (UM)
November 8 - Gainesville, Fl @ Stephen C. O'Connell Center
November 9 - Orlando, FL @ UCF Arena
November 11- Bossier City, LA @ CenturyTel Center
November 12- Grand Prairie, TX @ Nokia Theatre
November 13- Austin, TX @ Frank Erwin Center
November 14- Austin, Tx @ Frank Erwin Center

For more information visit the tour's official website.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Vanilla Sky TV Episode 13


In case you haven't seen it... the Italian pop/punk band, Vanilla Sky, has released their latest episode of Vanilla Sky TV featuring behind the scenes of their recent adventure to Turkey.

Check it out below, and catch the rest of the episode on YouTube (user: VanillaSkyTV)

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Fender University









Fender guitar is offering an exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to it's manufacturing headquarters and world renowned Fender Custom Shop. The session will include a series of music workshops, hands-on educational experiences, performance opportunities and special guest appearances. Enrollment into the inaugural session is limited to 35 guitar and bass scholars worldwide and is open to players of all skill levels and musical styles over the age of 21.

For more information visit http://www.fender.com/university/

Friday, July 25, 2008

Rock Your Religion


Rock Your Religion is a partner of VH1's Save the Music Foundation, which serves to maintain music education in the U.S. school systems.

Designed with this notion:
re-li-gion (ri-lij-uhn) noun.
A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe.

rock (rok) verb.
To wear with conviction.

and inspired by Emperor Constantine, in this sign, you will conquer.

The collection currently features several ancient religious symbols with a rock star flair, that can be worn as cuffs or pendants.

Recently, the company has teamed up with Howard Dorough (aka Howie D) of the Backstreet Boys to design a pendant that will benefit the Dorough Lupus Foundation.

Check out their online store and order up some jewelry for a good cause.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Songs I'm Jammin'

Here are some songs I'm personally diggin' these days:
(most of them are pop/"punk"... hate the genre all you want, you know you find yourself listening to it anyway)

"On and On" by Vanilla Sky (can someone seriously bring these guys to the US to play already!)

"Saturday" by Kids in Glass Houses (They're from the UK... and I'm smitten.)

"Sometimes When You Lose, You Win" by Karate High School (props to my friend, Chris Douglass)

"Think of You Later" by Every Avenue (I've got a broken heart... excuse me if this song helps me pretend like I'm taking things well.)

"With Flying Colors" by Phonocast [vocalist/keys, Nick Foxer (former keyboardist for AAR), owes me some Meet Joe Black and wine... this is his reminder.]

"Lies" by Sexy Is my Middle Name (it's Nick of October Fall... why not.)

"Woah Oh Me VS Everyone" by Forever the Sickest Kids (they make me want to dance while I'm driving, perhaps more so than Miley Cyrus)

"Wake the Sun" by The Matches (I saw them open for Yellowcard)

"Abracadavers" by The Classic Crime (I'm a sucker for anything remotely Alternative)



listen and enjoy. the weekend is almost here



_Amy

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

There are some things country should never touch


and one of those things is Matt Nathanson (pictured to the left, performing in Boston last Summer).

By Amy Willard
(photo also by Amy Willard)

I was kind of excited when I checked my inbox today and had some updates from MattNathanson.com, which featured 1. new tour dates (sadly none of them are in the DC/VA/MD region) 2. news that Sugarland has recorded a cover of "Come On Get Higher" from his '07 release, Some Mad Hope.

Being the cover enthusiast that I normally am, I immediately hit up the iTunes store to check out the mp3. But all I have to say is THANK GOODNESS there is a preview feature these days.

I'm not going ot lie, I was pretty hopeful on this cover. I mean, "Come On Get Higher" has go to be one of my favorite songs and I saw Sugarland at the WMZQ Festival in Virginia about a month ago (and actually enjoyed what I heard), so I figured this would be promising. (I also happened to catch Sugarland on Good Morning America this morning performing "All I Want To Do," so maybe, just maybe that was a sign or something.)

I couldn't be more wrong. I can tolerate country... to an extent-- mostly "All I Want to Do" and some songs by Rascal Flatts, but there some things that should not be done. This cover of "Come On Get Higher" has got to be one of them.

There is just some sort of passion within the vocals of Nathanson that matches the genius of the song overall. Unfortunately Jennifer Nettles, lead singer for Sugarland, doesn't quite have that same magic. Now, I'll give her some "props" on the pre-chorus. I did enjoy the female vocals for that, but once the chorus fully set in, I just had to call it quits.

Obviously for a popular band to cover a virtual unknown is a high compliment, and I'm sure the Nathanson crew is beyond flattered. I just wish it was a good cover.

So if you're sitting at home debating whether or not it's worth it to invest in the Love On the Inside's bonus track, I'm going to say pass.

I love Nathanson, and I can appreciate Sugarland, but no, iTunes will not be getting my .99 today.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Not so Permanent anymore


photo courtesy of MySpace.com/thekeepersrock

So in the the beginning of 2007 the Buzz got a chance to see a New York based band, Permanent ME, on the Friends or Enemies tour when it rolled through Washington DC. We liked what we heard and expected them to go far. Well, earlier this year the guys said farewell and decided to pursue other musical projects.
Former lead guitarist/vocalist, Brian Kapler, has started a new band called The Keepers. They feature a laid back--possibly "pseudo jam band"-- rock sound. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/thekeepersrock. We think fans of fellow Long Island rockers, Nine Days, will probably like these guys.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Because our heart is in Ohio?


Well, for this week's playlist it is. Here are songs from bands to check out from the state of Ohio.

"When Morning Comes" by Callihan [pop/punk]

"12 21 12" by Every Bridge Burned [hardcore/metal]

"Stay Out" by Hit The Lights [pop/punk]

"The Very Thing" by 8KOunt [rock/metal]

"My Addiction" by This Day Forever [pop/rock]

"Reason" by Silent Surface [rock]

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

A few shots of Motion City Soundtrack from this year's Honda Civic Tour


photos by Amy Willard


Justin Pierre opens Motion City Soundtrack's set with "My Favorite Accident"



Keyboardist, Jesse Johnson, pumps up the crowd during the performance



Pierre delivers a crowd pleasing performance



Bassist, Matthew Taylor


Taylor provides backup vocals during "When You're Around"





Monday, July 7, 2008

This Week's Playlist

Here's some songs to check out this week:

"Hang Me Out To Dry" by Cold War Kids

"Say So" by Uh Huh Her

"Home" by Ohad

"Wayfarer" by Jay Nash

"Green" by Brendan James

"Can't Let Go" by Landon Pigg

"Honest Eyes" by Crash Romeo

"Sometimes When You Lose You Win" by Karate High School