What Happens In Vegas…Tour

The What Happens in Vegas…Tour 09

June 20, 2009 @ Chain Reaction Anaheim, CA

The Cab, The Secret Handshake, The Summer Set, Eye Alaska, Anarbor

Walking up to Chain Reaction, all I could see was a big line of girls, busses with trailers, and a couple fire marshals standing outside the building. The first thing I thought was,“oh gosh, some little girl just saw Alex Marshall from The Cab for the first time and probably fainted from excitement”…it was just a theory though…turns out there was actually way to many people trying to get into the venue and there was a scare that the tiny cramped space of Chain Reaction would surpass its maximum occupancy. Eventually they sorted everything out and fans were started piling into the venue

Just finishing their soundcheck, up first was the Pheonix, Az based band, Anarbor. They played songs off of their latest EP Free Your Mind, released in March 09 and their 2008 EP, The Natural Way. Their set was filled with energy and caused loving fans to ooze with giddiness as the band played just to them. The band ended their set with the song “Let the Games Begin,” accompanied by surprise guest. Cash Colligan, The Cab’s guitarist. Cash hopped on stage for an intense guitar solo, leaving the crowd with a sincere readiness for the next band’s intensity as well.

Next up were Orange County natives, Eye Alaska. With powerful lyrics and an amazingly unique sound, these boys were still for me, the best of the night. They opened with the commanding single “I Knew You’d Never fly” off their first EP Yellow and Elephant, released June 2008. The song went over well with the crowd, who seemed to sing and dance along to the medley of powerful pop rock. Vocalist Brandon Wronski, with his trademark backpack on, had some very unique dance moves and even had the crowd participate and do a few birdlike moves throughout the set. There was an entirely different atmosphere when they were performing, almost breathtaking. You can see the passion these boys had and it showed that they absolutely love what they do. The closing song was “Walk like a Gentleman,” the newest single off of their upcoming record, “Genesis Underground,” scheduled to release 7/7/09. During the final Chorus of the song, Brian Dales, vocalist of The Summer Set, came along on stage to help finish the song off. Without a doubt, the crowd enjoyed this special appearance as well.

Third up was The Summer Set. This 5 piece band from Scottsdale, Arizona made some definite impressions on the attendees. Female fans were going crazy left and right. John Gomez wore his trademark glasses with the lens’ popped out and apparently it was an inspiration to about 40 girls who did the same thing to their glasses that night…I found that very interesting to say the least. The band played most of their songs off their first EP In Color, and even played a new unnamed song off of their new album (which is also unnamed at the moment. Even through vocalist Brian Dales awkwardly dropping his mic chord during the song “Cross Your Fingers,” he still had the crowds support as they sang along for him.) The last song for them was the band’s cover of Usher’s “Love in This Club.” During the middle of the song, Eye Alaska’s vocalist Brandon Wronski jumped on stage and displayed even more unique dance moves to the show and helped sing the last chorus. Very, very entertaining to say the least.

Next was the 3 piece electronica pop band from Dallas, Texas The Secret Handshake. For being just a unit of 3, they had LOTS of energy, turning the whole room into one huge dance party. The band played a couple of songs off their newest album released April 2009 entitled, My Name Up in Lights, as well as a couple from their first album, One Full Year. To my pleasant surprise, they even performed their cover of Skee Lo’s “I Wish,” featured on Fearless Records “Punk Goes Crunk.” It was such a big dance party that vocalist Luis Dubuc decided to join in the fun and jumped into the crowd and enjoy the frenzy from down there for a bit.

Now for the Vegas bred headliners of the night; The Cab. Providing a very tasty and enjoyable set, they played nearly every song from their 2008 release, Whisper War. During “Can You Keep a Secret,” vocalist Alex Deleon decided to sporadically cover The Black Eyed Peas,’ “I’ve Got a Feeling.” After this sweet surprise, the band decided to slow things down a bit and sing a couple of acoustics, then raised the energy once again by performing their cover of Rihanna’s “Disturbia”. “If you got an ass shake it, that’s what they’re there for.” Those words were straight from the mouth of loveable Alex Deleon in an attempt to make the crowd even more hyped as they were. Wasn’t even sure if it was possible, but the statement caused quite the flurry from the crowd which left us all on cloud nine with a great night of music on our minds.

Killswitch Engage

Killswitch Engage will release their new “Self Titled” album June 30th on Roadrunner Records.

Hanne Hukkelberg - Blood from a Stone

Composed in a small coastal Norwegian village north of the Polar Circle, the ten songs on Blood from a Stone are the perfect thing for a rainy day or a ride home late at night. Hanne Hukkelberg’s minimalist indie-rock is both diverse and focused. Read the rest of this entry »

Broadway- Kingdoms

Hailing from the bustling city of Orlando, Florida, BROADWAY climb over the post hardcore horizons and find their place quickly on either side of popular screamo/post hardcore acts with ease and elegance. With a sound just as much post harcore as it is intricately heavy, they could be compared to The Devil Wears Prada, Emarosa, A Skylit Drive and so on.

Kingdoms, the band’s debut full length album, releasing on Uprising Records on 7/07/09, is by far one of the best formulated and formatted albums of its kind. From riveting guitar riffs, to astounding vocal chops, the band leaves no inconsistencies to distract from the talent of the music. In addition to being a powerhouse band alone, guest vocal from the likes of Jonny Craig (Emarosa) and Craig Ownes (Chiodos) don’t hurt the enjoying process of the album in the least bit.

“Don’t Jump the Shark Before You Save the Whale,” featuring guest vocals from Jonny Craig, is a song that flaunts the musical abilities of each member, especially vocalist Misha Camacho. The song displays his abilities to pound out clean vocals, in addition to hammering out rugged low growls. Beautifully topped off by the vocal serenading of Jonny Craig, this song, and album, is an all around win.

Track 10 of the album, “Awol,” holds the place of the infamously aesthetic album ballad. Gladly, I see the band didn’t decide to go with the usual protocol of opting to close out the album on a silent, soft note. By making “Awol” as collective as each of the other songs, they actually broke a reoccurring mold I find in their music genre. As lovely as the song may be, it’s got nothing on “Prom Queen Has No Friends,” which they did decide to close the album out with. Upbeat, rhythmic, genuine, and all around ridiculously enjoyable, chances are I’m going to be obsessing over Broadway for quite the while. 

Microsoft the Innovator

Microsoft once to be an innovator as well.  That is why the made this video show casing controler-less controls where the user uses their own body as the controler. This technolgy will be used with the X-Box 360. And the video shows users scanning a skateboard into the game by holding it up to the screen.  The system supposeldy remembers the dimensions of the skateboard so the player can pretend to ride it in a skateboard game.  This new technology is being called Project Natal.  But Microsoft is quoted as saying that the technology may not be able to do what you just watched in the video saying:  ”Product vision: actual features and functionality may vary.”  So some of the features are just hype.  But if any of the features will one day be a reality, then I am excited for Microsoft.  They want to take charge as video game invotaors.  Will the succeed?  Only time will tell.

Click here to watch the video.

New Gasoline Heart

Gasoline Heart have posted up 10 tracks (of the 12) that will appear on their new full length “Nostalgia Aint What it Used to Be” that will be released digitally on June 23rd. A physical release will come later on P is for Panda. Check out the new songs on myspace.

Gracer

Both of the Gracer songs are up on Purevolume here and a video epk is up at their myspace page.

New Craig’s Brother Song

That’s right friends, the day is upon us and that day means a NEW Craig’s Brother song is available. Click here to download the song “Thousand Yard Stare” and tell all your friends. Look for Craig’s Brother’s new full length out soon.

New G.I. Joe Trailer

Check out a new trailer for the upcoming G.I. Joe “Rise of Cobra” film below.

Finch Bring Us New Demo

Finch have posted a new demo on their myspace page. The reunited band released an ep last fall that’s available on Itunes and Amazon, go buy it!

Set Your Goals Unleash New Song

Set Your Goals have posted up their new song “This Will Be the Death of Us All” on myspace here. Their new album and first for Epitaph Records, will be out July 21st.

Craig’s Brother New Record

Craig’s Brother have left some short messages on twitter here about the upcoming record. I guess it’s nearing completion. It’s been 5 years since their last ep. I bet the new Craigs Brother record will be explosive and awesome!

Zao-Awake?

With over 15 years of trudging out records, numerous line up changes, touring, and even a change in spiritual direction, Zao has still managed to stay at the top of their game and uphold their title as one of the founding fathers of metalcore. Throughout the years, their sound has stayed coherent, fresh, as well as progressive and mature. Any band that can make it to 10 album releases must be doing something right!

AWAKE?, the band’s most recent compilation of tunes, brings forth the original beautiful, sludgy sounding intensity that I haven’t seen from Zao since THE FUNERAL OF GOD, in mid 2004. Co-produced by As I Lay Dying’s Tim Lambesis, AWAKE? Combines elements of the original metalcore sound with the essential ingenuities that die hard Zao fans search for. I whole heartedly think Zao could be the U2 of the metalcore scene with their longevity and never failing legion of fans…minus the U2 member’s bad haircuts though.

Free Gasoline Heart Album

Download a free album from Gasoline Heart titled “Cucumber Riot”, which is a best of release featuring both old and new songs right here.

Landmines Cover and Free Mp3

In anticipation to their new EP, Richmond, Virginia’s LANDMINES have posted a cover of The Clash’s classic “Guns of Brixton” on their MySpace page. Due to an overwhelming response, Paper + Plastick Records (owned by Vinnie Fiorello of Less Than Jake) is giving the track away for free right now!! Download it here:

GM Sells Hummer Brand to Chinese Company

It other “The Economy Totally Sucks” news, GM has agreed to sell off it’s Hummer brand to a Chinese company. Man, talk about a bad idea. Oh well, sucks for Hummer owners. (You wouldn’t believe how many Hummers are driven around our local towns, they’re everywhere.

Pearl Jam Partners With Target Stores

Career rock band, Pearl Jam, have indeed partnered with the Target Store chain to release their upcoming studio album “Backspacer” (tentative title). The band has no official record label as they have finished up their contract with prior label, Sony Music. I didn’t catch the new song on Conan quite yet but I have it recorded so I’ll play it back tonight. I am hoping for a return to form on this new effort.

With Roots Above and Branches Below- The Devil Wears Prada

I once called a band “a force to be reckon with” in a late night review writing binge that happened to be heavily induced by caffeine, chocolate, and the eagerness to be done with listening to the album and writing about it. I basically put in that common phrase, as cheesey as it was, for the simple lack of better words. Today, as cheesey as it is, I must revive the saying and describe The Devil Wears Prada as a MAJOR force to be reckon with.

After TDWP’s re-release of Plagues in late 08, I believe the metalcore scene got handed their next band to set the bar. With the release of With Roots Above and Branches Below, we find that TDWP can indeed once again release an ensemble of great songs, in addition to amplifying the things that make them excel as a band. The key work in this album is definitely something to be proud of. So many bands saturate themselves in unnecessary key solos that add nothing to the band and their sound, instead of intensifying their sound by showing the effect a knowledgeable keyboardist can have to the overall listening experience. With that said, kudos to James Baney. Another stand out contribution to TDWP cluster is definitely found in the drumming abilities of Daniel Williams. He’s repeatedly shown great skill since his beginnings with the band and has yet to disappoint on WRAABB.

Overall, I wouldn’t advise The devil Wears Prada to worry about their place in the music scene at all. They’ve released a very solid album and gained a legion of fans because of that talent displayed on their records. As long as they can keep pushing out releases that don’t suck, we should be fine.

Alexander the Great - Faces Change

As someone who had already given a favorable review to Alexander the Great’s debut EP, I was quite interested to see what they would do with their first full-length album. To my delight, I found that Faces Change blows away Circumnavigation. The musicianship has improved incredibly, the melodies are tighter, the sound is more mature, and the band just seems more focused and more in control than the last time around.

Read the rest of this entry »

Top 25 Best Selling Video Games

TechRepublic.com has posted the 25 best selling video games of all times.  I own or have owned many of these games and am not surprised they are in the top 25.  All the gamers had or have these games.  Here is the list:

1. Pokémon Red, Blue and Green (Gameboy) - 20.08 Million Copies Sold
2. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) - 18 Million Copies Sold
3. The Sims (PC) - 16 Million Copies Sold
4. Nintendogs (Nintendo DS) - 14.75 Million Copies Sold
5. Pokémon Gold and Silver (Gameboy) - 14.1 Million Copies Sold
6. Super Mario Land (Gameboy) - 14 Million Copies Sold
7-tie. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Playstation 2) - 13 Million Copies Sold
7-tie. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (Game Boy Advance) - 13 Million Copies Sold
7-tie. The Sims2 (PC) - 13 Million Copies Sold
10. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Playstation 2) - 12 Million Copies Sold
11-tie. Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64) - 11 Million Copies Sold
11-tie. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (Playstation 2) - 11 Million Copies Sold
11-tie. Grand Theft Auto III (Playstation 2) - 11 Million Copies Sold
14. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen (Game Boy Advance) - 10.66 Million Copies Sold
15. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS) - 10.52 Million Copies Sold
16. Gran Turismo (Playstation 1) - 10.5 Million Copies Sold
17. Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (Nintendo DS) - 10 Million Copies Sold
18. Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo) - 10 Million Copies Sold
19. Final Fantasy VII (Playstation 1) - 9.8 Million Copies Sold
20. StarCraft (PC) - 9.5 Million Copies Sold
21. World of Warcraft (PC) - 9 Million Copies Sold
22. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! (Nintendo DS) - 8.61 Million Copies Sold
23. Gran Turismo 2 (Playstation 1) - 8.5 Million Copies Sold
24. Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64) - 8.47 Million Copies Sold
25-tie. Halo 2 (XBox) - 8 Million Copies Sold
25-tie. Donkey Kong Country (Super Nintendo) - 8 Million Copies Sold
25-tie. Super Mario Kart (Super Nintendo) - 8 Million Copies Sold
25-tie. GoldenEye 007 (Nintendo 64) - 8 Million Copies Sold
25-tie. Pokémon Yellow (Game Boy) - 8 Million Copies Sold

Source

Nations Afire

Nations Afire has crafted an intense blend of punk, rock and hardcore that is brilliantly captured on their debut cd The Uprising. The sonically triumphant five song record has elements from all of the members’ former accolades but expands beyond the bounds any one genre.

The five piece band from southern California, formed in early 2009, features current and former members of some of the most influential punk and hardcore bands from the past decade. Guitarist Chris Chasse has an impressive resume that includes a tenure with Rise Against (Siren Song of the Counter Culture ‘04 and The Sufferer & the Witness ’06). Bassist Brett Rasmussen and guitarist Nik Hill are both long standing members of the Orange County hardcore outfit Ignite and drummer Todd Hennig was the percussive force behind Death By Stereo for three albums. Newcomer front man Steve Ludwig has energized the aforementioned players with his melodic and powerful voice and has given this new group a look at a very bright future.

Bassist Brett Rasmussen explained “Most of us have known each other for quite a few years and we were all really excited to put together a new band that would be more than just a side project” Nations Afire has come out of the gate swinging and has signed on for a month long European tour as their first tour which includes festivals dates with NOFX, Rise Against and The Get Up Kids. “The plan is to tour a lot this first year and to get back in the studio to record a full length album sometime in ‘09” stated Rasmussen.

The Most Freaking Awesome Car News Ever!!!!

The most freaking awesome car news ever. GM will be making a special limited edition “Bumblebee” version of the new Chevrolet Camaro. The car will have the same yellow paint as the film (close to it) along with the black racing stripes along with Transformers emblems on the wheels and door sills plus a special stitched emblem on the seats!! Holy cow, I think I just might have to trade my car in to get this. Well not really, but still I can dream can’t I?

New Taking Back Sunday Song

Taking Back Sunday have a new song on their myspace page. I’m not a big fan of their single which I’ve heard on Sirius/XM a few times, to be frank, I think it sucks. I’m still holding out hope that the new album is good, I’m a long time fan and I love everything they do. Hopefully it’s better than the single. Taking Back Sunday “New Again” hits stores on June 2nd (The same day as Emery and The Crucified, two MUST HAVE releases).

New Linkin Park Song Streaming

Stream a new Linkin Park song titled “New Divide” over on their website here. This song will appear on the Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack for which they wrote the music for.

Jess Penner Writes for Commercial for Days Inn

Jess Penner, frontwoman for alt rock band Chandelle and once member of Spooky Tuesday, has written the theme song to the new Days Inn Commercial called “Here Comes the Sunshine” and it’s currently making the rounds on TVs across the country. So the next time you see that ad for the Days Inn hotels with a catchy sugary sweet song playing in the background, remember who wrote it! You can check the song out on Jess’s myspace page.

Gin Blossoms Tour Dates

Famed (and revitalized) 90’s alt rock band Gin Blossoms have a bunch of new tour dates posted on their myspace page. This band is known for such hits as “Till I Hear It From You” “Follow You Down”, “Hey Jealousy” among others. Plus I have their 2006 comeback record “Major Lodge Victory” and it’s super cool, sugary sweet alt rock.

Nations Afire One of the Hottest Up and Coming Bands

I just wanted to drop you all a line today and let you in on something killer. There is this new band called “Nations Afire” that pretty much rules every band in existence right now. Nations Afire feature current and former members of Ignite, Rise Against, and Death By Stereo. Consider them a mix of the aforementioned bands with melodic vibrant and aggressive vocals. Lots of singing can be found in their music as expected. If I can recommend any band right now at this very moment, it’s going to be Nations Afire because they have impacted me in a personal way and their music has energized my soul. [myspace]

Shaq the MMA Fighter

Sports.Yahoo.com reports that aside from being the actor, basketball player, and active twitterer Shaquille O’ Neal apparently has an interest in MMA fighting as well.  He is learning the mixed martial arts that the MMA fighter and by the looks of it  he might be gearing up for an MMA fight sometime in the future.

O’ Neil trains at t Jonathan Burke’s Gracie Gym in Orlando.  O’ Neil has been traing with Burke for ten years now and has been learning the mixed martial arts that MMA fighters learn.  And he has been doing a great job learning the techniques thanks to his hard working according to Burke:  ”We can work drills twenty times through, and he works his tail off on everything,” Burke said. “He has way more talent with this stuff than people would imagine.”  O’ Neil’s is said to have strong knees and aggressive rear naked choke.

But will he actually enter a match?  His trainer says that it is possible but not while he playing in his regular basketball season.  I hope O’Neil does actually enter an MMA ring.  I would love to watch O’Neil show us his Shaq-Fu skills he has acquired through his intense training.  The man is a beast on the basketball court I am sure he would be a beast at the MMA floor.  The shear unusualness of a basketball player competing who is 7′2′ and weighs 325 lbs. and is beloved by so many people would make for an interesting and popular fight.

Click here for the source of this story.

Chevrolet Camaro Hits the Streets!

By now, you should start seeing the new Chevrolet Camaro on streets. The car is officially at dealers now and the demand is so high that it’s helping to keep down and out autoworkers on overtime. Read this post here. However, GM has just issued a voluntary recall on the car for a battery cable issue. Read it here.

New Sherlock Holmes Poster starring Robert Downey Jr.

Here is the new poster for upcoming movie  Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr via empire movies.com.