Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Virgin Mobile Announce FreeFest

The Pilmco Raceway in Baltimore, Md has always been called "home" to Virgin Mobile USA's Virgin Mobile Fest. In recent years, this large end of the summer event has played host to big name acts like the Foo Fighters and Kayne West. Well, this year things are going to be radically different.

The event has moved out of Baltimore to the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md, and has been aptly retitled, "Free Fest." That's right, this year's festival, to be held on August 30, will be FREE of charge. That may only be the second best part of the event, given that the headliners will be recently reunited Blink 182 and current tourmates, Weezer. Also scheduled to perform are Franz Ferdinand, Jet, Taking Back Sunday, Public Enemy and The Hold Steady.

The reason for Free Fest? Tough economic times. The event is hoping to please music fans who have had to cut back on luxuries, like concerts. 35,000 tickets will be made available for FreeFest. Virgin Mobile customers and past Virgin Fest ticket buyers will be invited to a private ticket sale on Thursday, June 24. General tickets will open to the public at 10 AM on Saturday, June 27. Tickets will be made available through TicketMaster, who have surprisingly agreed to waive their service fees for the event.

Please note that although Free Fest is free, attendees are encouraged to donate $5, which will go to surrounding homeless shelters. Also, VIP areas will be available to those who volunteer at least 13 hours at the shelters.

For more information, visit www.930.com or www.virginmobilefreefest.com

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

photos: Jack's Mannequin + The Fray

photos by Amy Willard

Jack's Mannequin


The Fray

Monday, June 22, 2009

Shot of the Night: The Fray

photo by Amy Willard


The Fray

Isaac Slade from The Fray delivers to a packed audience at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia Maryland on June 16.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

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Thursday, June 18, 2009

Shot of the Night: Piano Man

Amy Willard captured this stunning image of Jack's Mannequin front man, Andrew McMahon, leaping from his piano during Tuesday's set at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD.

Jack's Mannequin

Local Front Man Loses Battle With Cancer

Clark Sabine, the front man of local indie rockers, Statehood, lost his battle to cancer this week at the age of 33. The band released this message on their website:

We are deeply saddened to tell you that Clark passed away on Tuesday evening at a hospice in Arlington, VA. He was first diagnosed with melanoma in February of 2008, and after a series of surgeries and treatments, we thought he was in the clear. In the fall the cancer returned and spread to other parts of his body. Experimental treatments were in the works, but we needed chemotherapy to shrink some of the tumors before beginning this treatment. In May, we found out that the chemo was not working and that the condition was terminal. Clark was 33 years old.

As a band, we had 10 songs in line for a second Statehood record, and we'll talk about where we go with that in weeks to come. While Clark was in hospice care, he did some additional tracking with our friends Nikhil and Jason, and we listened to newer recordings to sort out details in the songs. Music was insanely important to Clark, and it gave him comfort to keep working on songwriting until the end.

Playing in a band with Clark was extraordinary and something to look forward to week in and week out. Often at practice we'd be laughing until we couldn't breathe from Clark's wild sense of humor and adventure. Anyone who knew him, even in passing, knows exactly what we mean. To say that he will be missed is an absurd understatement.

Thank you to everyone who gave Clark and the band support through these trying times. We will come back with more information as soon as we have it.

- Eric, Joe and Leigh



Our hearts are with the Sabine family and the Statehood community

Monday, June 15, 2009

Rise Against

photos by Ashley Perry




Celtic rock bassist takes the rabbit out of the hat

Nathen Maxwell, famed bassist from Flogging Molly, has unveiled his solo project: Nathen Maxwell and the Original Bunny Gang. For thirteen years, Maxwell has performed and recorded with the popular Celtic rock band. In addition, he has contributed heavily to the group's song writing. After recording Float with the Los Angeles band, Maxwell was encouraged by frontman, Dave King to "tell his own story." With that blessing, Maxwell sought out the band's long time producer Ted Hut (The Gaslight Anthem, Bouncing Souls, Street Dogs) to work with him in the studio.

Nathen Maxwell and the Original Bunny Gang are expected to release their debut album with SideOneDummy titled White Rabbit, later this summer. The record will feature a unique side of Maxwell, blending rock, reggae, and folk.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Bid to Bowl with Scary Kids + more

Van's Warped Tour is teaming up to help join the fight against cancer and participating in the T.J. Martell Foundation Bowling Tournament presented by The Edge 103.9 Radio. The event will take place June 29, 2009 in Phoenix, AZ. Head on over to Ebay for your chance to bid on a spot to bowl. Bands participating this year include:
NOFX
Bad Religion
Less Than Jake
Underoath
Anti-Flag
Bayside
Scary Kids Scaring Kids
The Maine
Innerpartysystem
There For Tomorrow
Hit The Lights
The White Tie Affair
Meg & Dia
Big D & The Kids Table
Senses Fail
TAT
The A.K.A.s
Sing It Loud
Lights
Madina Lake
Black Tide
The Architects
Escape The Fate
A Rocket To The Moon
Dear and the Headlights
TV/TV

Check out Scary Kids' plug for the event

Friday, June 12, 2009

Girl In A Coma in DC Next Week


Blackheart Records independent rockers, Girl In A Coma, will be hitting up DC's The Red & The Black this Tuesday, armed with their latest release, Trio B.C. The 13 track record showcases the talent of this San Antonio trio comprised of: Jenna Alva (bass), Phanie Diaz (drums) and her younger sister, Nina Diaz (vox/guitar). Their sound takes inspiration from across the music spectrum featuring licks from oldies to alternative, indie to mainstream.

If you'll be on the H street corridor this coming Tuesday, be sure to swing by The Red & The Black and catch this upcoming all-girl band. The show starts at 8:30 PM. Tickets $10.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

New Video from The Fray

"Never Say Never" off of The Fray's self titled second LP.

Never Say Never

The Get Up Kids Announce Dates of Renuion Tour

As suspected, emo rockers, The Get Up Kids, will be hitting the road on a reunion tour at the end of this summer. This comes as no surprise after the band's warm reception at this past year's Bamboozle in East Rutherford, NJ. TGUK will be hitting up the "Old World" and then the "Left Coast" and we're hoping that maybe, just maybe they'll reach the "Right Coast," when more US dates are announced after July 4, 2009. In the meantime, here is the list of confirmed dates:

Aug 16 @ The Peel, Kingston Upon Thames
Aug 17 @ Academy 2, Birmingham
Aug 18 @ Academy 2 Manchester
Aug 19 @ Electric Ballroom, London
Aug 20 @ Batschkapp, Frankfurt
Aug 21 @ Pukkelpop Festival, Kiewit
Aug 22 @ Area 4 Festival, Ludinghausen
Aug 23 @ Uebel & Gefaehrlich, Hamburg
Aug 25 @ Postbahnhof, Berlin
Aug 26 @ E-Werk, Erlangen
Aug 27 @ Backstage, Munich
Aug 28 @ Abart Zurich
Aug 29 @ Eastpak Etnika, Ceccano
Aug 30 @ Estragon, Bologna
Sept 11 @ Harrah's, Kansas City, Missouri
Sept 15 @ Marquis Theater, Denver, Colorado
Sept 16 @ In the Venue, Salt Lake City, Utah
Sept 18 @ Neumo's, Seattle, Washington
Sept 19 @ Music Fest NW, Portland, Oregon
Sept 21 @ The Fillmore, San Francisco, California
Sept 23 @ The Glasshouse, Pomona, California
Sept 24 @ Avalon, Hollywood, California
Sept 25 @ House Of Blues, San Diego, California
Sept 26 @ House Of Blues, Las Vegas, Nevada
Sept 27 @ Clubhouse. Tempe, Arizona
Sept 29 @ White Rabbit San Antonio, Texas
Sept 30 @ Granada, Houston, Texas
Oct 1 2009 @ Diamond Ballroom, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oct 2 2009 @ Slowdown, Omaha, Nebraska
Oct 3 2009 @ Picador, Iowa City, Iowa

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Two of Our Favorite Guys

Two of the Buzz's favorites, Andrew McMahon and Matt Nathanson took some time on their recent tour to get to know one another via fan submitted questions.

check it out

Monday, June 8, 2009

There For Tomorrow Gain Intensity In New Release


By Sarah Rutz

photo by Amy Willard

There For Tomorrow’s new record, A Little Faster (Hopeless), hits stores on Tuesday, June 9th. That’s your cue to go out and get it, because their newest full-length album, following 2008’s self-titled EP, demonstrates the Orlando, Florida band’s talent to the fullest.

The record opens with ‘The Remedy’, an intense, rock-infused track that keeps listeners hooked from the very first guitar chords. Singer Maika Maile’s voice carries and is consistent throughout the whole record, tracks like ‘Backbone’ and ‘Just In Time’ showing his and the rest of There For Tomorrow’s ability to write and create songs that sound different, but are distinctly theirs.

The remainder CD is full of tracks that is sure to please: ‘I Can’t Decide’, a track that starts off acoustically and turns electric near the end slows things down a little bit, but it heads right into the powerful ‘Sore Winner’, which has a heavier tone to it.

The band has certainly grown from their previous EPs and first full-length, Points of Origin, and has developed a sound that cannot be mistaken.

When the entire CD ends, listeners are not left unsatisfied—if anything, they’re left waiting for more from this up and coming band. The only way to get more, though, is to catch them live so you can experience this band to the fullest.

Haven’t seen them live yet? Be sure to catch them this summer on the Vans Warped Tour—they’re on every date, so be sure to head on over to the Smartpunk stage at some point in the day to catch their great set.

Girl's Rock. No Seriously.

In this morning's Washington Post Express was an article about a local organization called Girls Rock! DC. The group brings together local musicians, teachers, and artists that encourages girls ages 8-18 to get their "rock on."

The camp gives instruction on a variety of instruments including: guitar, vox, bass, drums, and keyboard. Girls will work with volunteers to learn the basics of rock and spend the week putting together their own piece which they will perform at the final showcase. In addition, campers will learn about the history of women and music, band merchandise and promotion.

Although the camp itself is only open to young girls, the organization also holds workshops open to all ages. This week they will be featuring an Amp & Sound workshop to teach girls how to break down, set up, and sound check a performance. So, if you're interested in learning what roadies do, definitely don't miss this.

For more information check GirlsRockDC.org

Friday, June 5, 2009

photos: The All American Rejects

The All American Rejects perform at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC
photos by Amy Willard
www.skullcandy.com

photos: Hey Monday

Hey Monday performs at the Merriweather Post Pavilion as part of the Believers Never Die Part Deux Tour.
photos by Amy Willard