The next installment of the hit video game Guitar Hero® is set for release tomorrow, September 1. Guitar Hero 5 will offer the predictable array of "new features" as it's publisher Activision prepares for a video game showdown with rival series Rock Band. The much hyped The Beatles: Rock Band set for release on September 9.
How can you possibly compete for video game supremacy when your going up against the Fab Four? You can't. I mean, of course its possible that the makes of Guitar Hero can make a game that is technically superior or whatever, but the reality is that both games have a similar format and gaming experience. So when one game brings the music and characters of The Beatles to life then that's really quite the scoop and the toughest of acts to follow. Judging from the screen shots and videos that I've seen of both games, Rock Band: The Beatles seems to be a much more visually stunning and imaginatively crafted project too, as its developers Harmonix Music Systems seem to have gone to town to make the most of their exclusive license.
So, again, the begging question: What does Guitar Hero 5 do to try and score sales in it's showdown with The Beatles: Rock Band It aims low. Below the belt in fact. Guitar Hero 5 will include Kurt Cobain as a playable guest character (among bonus characters will included Matt Bellamy of Muse and Shirley Manson of Garbage). My knee-jerk reaction: this is a shameless cash-in and just bad taste. I'm sure Activision could attempt to come out with some PR spin about the inclusion of Cobain, but take one look at the teaser in-game footage released on YouTube two days ago and tell me that this doesn't look shoddy. It's not exactly the best likeness - I know its "only a video game" but what exactly happened to his mouth? (Check out the video here or embedded below.)
The makers of the new Rock Band game had to 'reanimate the dead' if you'll pardon the pun, by recreating the likenesses of two deceased band members George Harrison and John Lennon. The general consensus (and really the whole marketing strategy) is that The Beatles game will be a fitting tribute to the music of The Beatles with the game set to be another medium for their music and imagery to flower and flourish. Whereas the inclusion of Kurt Cobain in the latest Guitar Hero looks like an act of last-ditch desperation to score as many sales as possible.
For the record, Guitar Hero 5 will feature two Nirvana songs, those being Lithium and predictably Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Shooting Green Day Was A Trip!
Earlier this month I shot and reviewed Green Day at Copps Coliseum - click here for a link to the article and review. It was a pretty big deal to me. Not only did I get to photograph one of the world's most famous bands, but also some of biggest heroes in music and life.
Green Day are the band that got me started in music. As a troubled 15 year-old stuck in my bedroom on an isolated house on a hill in north Scotland, I found both refuge and rebellion in music for the first time when I bought a copy of Nimrod and cranked the volume up loud on my little portable CD player. That album started off my addiction to music, unlocking a passion inside of me that had lain dormant. We've all got to start somewhere, and even my parent's collection of Beatles records didn't provide that initial draw. At 15 I was looking for something new, something from my generation and time - Green Day provided that.
Green Day lie at the root of my passion for music, being the band that started off my addiction and led me to go on to listen to so many bands past and present, and to see so many bands live. My addiction to music would lead me to combine that with my passion for writing, when I had an epiphany at University while studying journalism and realised that I could combine my passions and become the ultimate hack of the music industry: a music journalist.
Imagine my excitement then when I found out that the last-moment that (after much endeavour) I'd be added to the photo list for this Green Day's show at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton - cue a spontaneous video blog to YouTube as my levels of pre-show excitement hit a giddy high. Ah, that video is somewhat regrettable, but whatever.
Shooting Green Day was an amazing trip! The rules were "first 2 songs, no flash" which is 1 song less than the usual law of the photo pit which is in place at most concerts. I'm pretty pleased with the shots I got - my trusty little old school 50mm Nikkor lens did not let me down. My favourite shot is below, others can be found in the show review. It was an amazing night.
Thanks as always to the band, label and the show promoters for putting me on the list.
Incidentally, here are some snapshots below from a road trip I took in May this year after becoming a resident of Canada. It was a rite of passage and also a time used to try and get some perspective on life after my whole world as I knew it had just recently come crashing down around my feet. I took very few belongings with me, but the soundtrack to my adventure was 21st Century Breakdown.
Green Day are the band that got me started in music. As a troubled 15 year-old stuck in my bedroom on an isolated house on a hill in north Scotland, I found both refuge and rebellion in music for the first time when I bought a copy of Nimrod and cranked the volume up loud on my little portable CD player. That album started off my addiction to music, unlocking a passion inside of me that had lain dormant. We've all got to start somewhere, and even my parent's collection of Beatles records didn't provide that initial draw. At 15 I was looking for something new, something from my generation and time - Green Day provided that.
Green Day lie at the root of my passion for music, being the band that started off my addiction and led me to go on to listen to so many bands past and present, and to see so many bands live. My addiction to music would lead me to combine that with my passion for writing, when I had an epiphany at University while studying journalism and realised that I could combine my passions and become the ultimate hack of the music industry: a music journalist.
Imagine my excitement then when I found out that the last-moment that (after much endeavour) I'd be added to the photo list for this Green Day's show at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton - cue a spontaneous video blog to YouTube as my levels of pre-show excitement hit a giddy high. Ah, that video is somewhat regrettable, but whatever.
Shooting Green Day was an amazing trip! The rules were "first 2 songs, no flash" which is 1 song less than the usual law of the photo pit which is in place at most concerts. I'm pretty pleased with the shots I got - my trusty little old school 50mm Nikkor lens did not let me down. My favourite shot is below, others can be found in the show review. It was an amazing night.
Thanks as always to the band, label and the show promoters for putting me on the list.
Incidentally, here are some snapshots below from a road trip I took in May this year after becoming a resident of Canada. It was a rite of passage and also a time used to try and get some perspective on life after my whole world as I knew it had just recently come crashing down around my feet. I took very few belongings with me, but the soundtrack to my adventure was 21st Century Breakdown.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Virgin Festival 2009 Ontario Announced!
I am stoked. I just found out the line-up for this year's Virgin Festival in Ontario - (a.k.a. V-Fest Toronto, except it's not in Toronto this year). Nine Inch Nails and The Pixies!!!! YESH!! And Franz Ferdinand too!! And Lights will be back this year too.
Even better, this year the festival will not be on Toronto island, which caused big headaches last year as we all had to wait like refugees to be transported off the island at the end of each night by the ferries that connect the isle to civilization. But instead, V-Fest 2009 in Ontario will be held at some place called Burl's Creek Park, which is probably going to be just as problematic to exit from at the end of the weekend but hey at least its on dry land. Maybe there will even be camping on site like a real festival... oooh...
Oh, I realise that it's been months since I've made a blog post, but that's due to a thing called life, some shit hitting a fan, and also the fact that really there's not been that much worth talking about. Well, aside from a few of the festivals I've covered recently in Toronto. Oh and of course Michael Jackson's death, but honestly I knew how that was going to play out: mass media sympathy to mass joking and disrespectful comments (let sleeping dogs lie already) to mass stupid distasteful cash ins and 'celebrations and tributes'. But yeah, apart from Jacko passing away - R.I.P., show some respect for the dead - there's been nothing much to talk about, especially here in the Greater Toronto Area... until now.
Virgin Festival Ontario is gonna be one hell of a festival. The line-up is incredible; full line-up and info here. The motherfucking Pixies!
Even better, this year the festival will not be on Toronto island, which caused big headaches last year as we all had to wait like refugees to be transported off the island at the end of each night by the ferries that connect the isle to civilization. But instead, V-Fest 2009 in Ontario will be held at some place called Burl's Creek Park, which is probably going to be just as problematic to exit from at the end of the weekend but hey at least its on dry land. Maybe there will even be camping on site like a real festival... oooh...
Oh, I realise that it's been months since I've made a blog post, but that's due to a thing called life, some shit hitting a fan, and also the fact that really there's not been that much worth talking about. Well, aside from a few of the festivals I've covered recently in Toronto. Oh and of course Michael Jackson's death, but honestly I knew how that was going to play out: mass media sympathy to mass joking and disrespectful comments (let sleeping dogs lie already) to mass stupid distasteful cash ins and 'celebrations and tributes'. But yeah, apart from Jacko passing away - R.I.P., show some respect for the dead - there's been nothing much to talk about, especially here in the Greater Toronto Area... until now.
Virgin Festival Ontario is gonna be one hell of a festival. The line-up is incredible; full line-up and info here. The motherfucking Pixies!
Monday, May 25, 2009
2009 Glastonbury Festival Line-Up Announced!
The complete line-up for Glastonbury 2009 has been announced. A press release regarding this just landed in my e-mail Inbox.
The line-up obviously includes some big names but to me its all looking just a little disappointing. Looking particularly lame is Sunday's order of play for the Pyramid Stage - check it out: Madness, Tom Jones, Status Quo... Tony bloody Christie!!! I thought this must be some kind of joke, I mean it's 2009 not 1989 or 1979 even. So I double-checked on the Glastonbury festival official website, and it's completely genuine. So the Sunday of Glastonbury is being headlined by a bunch of cheesy has-beens.
Generally the 'Other Stage' looks a whole lot more appealing - for example, on Sunday, I'd imagine a lot of people might be more interested in checking out the likes of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Glasvegas and The Prodigy.
There are plenty of really good bands scattered throughout, but overall I think that the festival is missing a few really big names. Not sure precisely who those names should be, but for sure something is screwed up when Status Quo are on the Pyramid Stage for Sunday. In the past bands like Radiohead and REM have graced that stage to give historic performance. This year's line-up just doesn't cut the mustard for me.
Now marvel as I engage my astonishing copy & paste skills...below is the complete line-up for Glastonbury Festival 2009:
THURSDAY JUNE 25
Queen's Head Stage:
Metronomy
Kap Bambino
Ebony Bones
Golden Silvers
Alessi's Ark
Liz Green
The Gentle Good
Charlene Soraia
Stornoway
We Have Band
Maximo Park
FRIDAY JUNE 26
Pyramid Stage:
Neil Young
The Specials
Lily Allen
Fleet Foxes
Special Guests
Regina Spektor
Gabrielle Cilmi
Bjorn Again
Other Stage:
Bloc Party
The Ting Tings
Lady GaGa
Friendly Fires
White Lies
The View
The Maccabees
The Rakes
The Whip
Mr Hudson
John Peel Stage:
Doves
Jamie T
Jack Penate
Little Boots
Metronomy
VV Brown
The Virgins
Fucked Up
Rumble Strips
Dan Black
General Fiasco
Jazz/World Stage:
Q Tip
The Streets
Steel Pulse
Lamb
Hot 8 Brass Band
Stephanie Mckay
Speed Caravan
The Perceptions
Rolf Harris
Warsaw Village Band
Acoustic Stage:
Ray Davies
Fairport Convention
Jason Mraz
Scott Matthews
No Crows
Hugh Cornwall
Ben Taylor
Sean Taylor
Alyssa Bonagura
John Smith
The Park Stage
Animal Collective
The Horrors
Noah And The Whale
Special Guests
Emiliana Torrini
Special Guests
James Hunter
Golden Silvers
Bishi
Lay Low
Queen's Head Stage:
Jason Mraz
The Big Pink
The Rakes
Rumble Strips
The Virgins
Dan Le Sac Vs Scoobius Pip
Tommy Sparks
The Low Anthem
Team Waterpolo
Hope And Social
Dead Like Harry
Yr Ods
City Stereo
The Mojo Fins
Maura Kincaid
The Slips
Sub Universe
Smash n' Grab
East Dance
David Guetta
Layo and Bushwacka!
Easy Star Allstars
Iration Steppas ft Mark Iration
Dreadzone
Tom Middleton
The Egg
Paul Woolford
Pama International
West Dance
Erol Alkan
Crookers
The Whip
Annie Mac
Skream And Benga
Whomadewho
Joe Goddard (Hot Chip)
DeepGroove
Nathan Detroit
Avalon Stage:
The Blockheads
British Sea Power
Michael McGoldrick, Iain Fletcher and Andy Dinan
The Puppini Sisters
3 Daft Monkeys
Baskery
The Mandibles
The Glade:
Tom Real
Beardyman with The Bays
James Monro
Banco de Gaia
Pathaan
Outmode
Mum Suleiman
Clive Craske
SATURDAY JUNE 27
Pyramid Stage:
Bruce Springsteen
Kasabian
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Dizzee Rascal
Spinal Tap
Eagles Of Death Metal
Tinariwen
VV Brown
Other Stage:
Franz Ferdinand
Pendulum
Maximo Park
Paolo Nutini
Peter Doherty
The Script
Jason Mraz
Metric
Peter, Bjorn and John
Broken Family Band
John Peel Stage:
Jarvis Cocker
White Lies
White Lies
Florence And The Machine
Passion Pit
Gaslight Anthem
Hockey
The Temper Trap
Esser
The Big Pink
Baddies
The Nightingales
Jazz/World Stage:
Playing For Change
Baaba Maal
Lonnie Liston Smith
Jamie Cullum
Rokia Traore
Erik Truffaz
Acoustic Stage:
Kilfenorca Ceili Band
Tindersticks
Newton Faulkner
Lisa Hannigan
Gary Louris and Mark Olson
Lunasa
Bap Kennedy
Hope And Social
Stornoway
Cora Smyth Band
The Park Stage:
Bon Iver
M Ward
Special Guests
Shlomo and Guests
Horace Andy
Easy Star Allstars
The Memory Band
Bombay Bicycle Club
The Low Anthem
First Aid Kit
Queen's Head Stage:
Guilty Pleasures
Dan Black
The King Blues
The Shortwave Set
Special Guest
The Wombats
Official Secrets Act
Noah And The Whale
Emmy The Great
Broken Records
Special Guest
Peggy Sue and the Pirates
Marina and the Diamonds
Theoretical Girl
Blue Roses
The Glitterati
East Dance:
2ManyDJs
Deadmau5
Pete Tong
La Roux
Wiley
Tinchy Stryder
Eric Prydz
Heartbreak
We Have Band
West Dance:
Josh Wink
Yoda
DJ Food
Qemists
Timo Maas
Japanese Popstars
Hudson Mohawke
NAPT
Emperors Machine
Jam The Channel
Avalon Stage:
The Wonder Stuff
Edward II
Eliza Carthy
Badly Drawn Boy
Solas
The King Blues
The Lancashire Hotpots
Wheeler Street
The Martin Harley Band
The Glade:
Stereo MCs
Stanton Warriors
DJ Fresh
Dub Pistols
Don Letts
Dr Meaker
Tayo
Rusko
Sancho Panza
Nairobi
Jinx
SUNDAY JUNE 28
Pyramid Stage:
Blur
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
Madness
Tom Jones
Amadou Et Mariam
Tony Christie
Status Quo
Easy Star AllStars
Other Stage:
Prodigy
Glasvegas
Bon Iver
Bat For Lashes
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Enter Shikari
Brand New
Art Brut
Boxer Rebellion
In Case Of Fire
John Peet Stage:
Echo And The Bunnymen
The Wombats
Noisettes
Ladyhawke
The Soft Pack
Just Jack
Emmy The Great
Twisted Wheel
We Have Band
Wave Machines
Good Books
Jazz/World Stage:
Black Eyed Peas
Manu Dibango
Roots Manuva
Khaled
Orquesta Aragon
Linda Lewis
Abdullah Chhadeh And Syriana
Acoustic Stage:
Georgie Fame
Roger McGuinn
Sharon Corr
London Community Gospel Choir
Beth Rowley
Imelda May
Penguin Café Orchestra
Kate Walsh
Martin Harley Band
Lucy Wainwright Roche
The Park Stage:
Seun Kuti and Fela's Egypt 80
Cold War Kids
Tunng and Tinariwen
Alela Diane
Terry Reid
The Rockingbirds
Alberta Cross
Chief
Micachu and the Shapes
Bristol Community Choir
Queen's Head Stage
Robyn Hitchcock
The Aliens
Magic Numbers
Bombay Bicycle Club
Joe Gideon And The Shark
Vagabond
Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong
Fight Like Apes
The Capitol Years
Soft Toy Emergency
Priscilla Ahn
Jersey Budd
Two Door Cinema Club
Major Major
East Dance:
Calvin Harris
Mr Scruff
VV Brown
Rob Da Bank
Frankmusik
Wonky Pop DJs
Kissy Sellout
Wonky Pop DJs
Ou Est
Chris Coco
West Dance:
Peaches
Jodie Harsh
Beat Torrent
Freq Nasty
Dirty Vegas
Quiver
Filthy Dukes
Don Diablo
Goldfish
Stuart Wilkinson
Transformer
Avalon Stage:
Peatbog Fairies
Seth Lakeman
Dodgy
Will Young
Teddy Thompson
The Mummers
The Destroyers
6 Day Riot
Stornoway
The Glade:
Gong Sunday
Steve Hillage Band
Eatstatic
Richard 'Kid' Strange and the Party
Second Class Citizen
Back to the Planet
3 Daft Monkeys
Hybrid Cinematic Set
Breakfast with Howard Marks
The line-up obviously includes some big names but to me its all looking just a little disappointing. Looking particularly lame is Sunday's order of play for the Pyramid Stage - check it out: Madness, Tom Jones, Status Quo... Tony bloody Christie!!! I thought this must be some kind of joke, I mean it's 2009 not 1989 or 1979 even. So I double-checked on the Glastonbury festival official website, and it's completely genuine. So the Sunday of Glastonbury is being headlined by a bunch of cheesy has-beens.
Generally the 'Other Stage' looks a whole lot more appealing - for example, on Sunday, I'd imagine a lot of people might be more interested in checking out the likes of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Glasvegas and The Prodigy.
There are plenty of really good bands scattered throughout, but overall I think that the festival is missing a few really big names. Not sure precisely who those names should be, but for sure something is screwed up when Status Quo are on the Pyramid Stage for Sunday. In the past bands like Radiohead and REM have graced that stage to give historic performance. This year's line-up just doesn't cut the mustard for me.
Now marvel as I engage my astonishing copy & paste skills...below is the complete line-up for Glastonbury Festival 2009:
THURSDAY JUNE 25
Queen's Head Stage:
Metronomy
Kap Bambino
Ebony Bones
Golden Silvers
Alessi's Ark
Liz Green
The Gentle Good
Charlene Soraia
Stornoway
We Have Band
Maximo Park
FRIDAY JUNE 26
Pyramid Stage:
Neil Young
The Specials
Lily Allen
Fleet Foxes
Special Guests
Regina Spektor
Gabrielle Cilmi
Bjorn Again
Other Stage:
Bloc Party
The Ting Tings
Lady GaGa
Friendly Fires
White Lies
The View
The Maccabees
The Rakes
The Whip
Mr Hudson
John Peel Stage:
Doves
Jamie T
Jack Penate
Little Boots
Metronomy
VV Brown
The Virgins
Fucked Up
Rumble Strips
Dan Black
General Fiasco
Jazz/World Stage:
Q Tip
The Streets
Steel Pulse
Lamb
Hot 8 Brass Band
Stephanie Mckay
Speed Caravan
The Perceptions
Rolf Harris
Warsaw Village Band
Acoustic Stage:
Ray Davies
Fairport Convention
Jason Mraz
Scott Matthews
No Crows
Hugh Cornwall
Ben Taylor
Sean Taylor
Alyssa Bonagura
John Smith
The Park Stage
Animal Collective
The Horrors
Noah And The Whale
Special Guests
Emiliana Torrini
Special Guests
James Hunter
Golden Silvers
Bishi
Lay Low
Queen's Head Stage:
Jason Mraz
The Big Pink
The Rakes
Rumble Strips
The Virgins
Dan Le Sac Vs Scoobius Pip
Tommy Sparks
The Low Anthem
Team Waterpolo
Hope And Social
Dead Like Harry
Yr Ods
City Stereo
The Mojo Fins
Maura Kincaid
The Slips
Sub Universe
Smash n' Grab
East Dance
David Guetta
Layo and Bushwacka!
Easy Star Allstars
Iration Steppas ft Mark Iration
Dreadzone
Tom Middleton
The Egg
Paul Woolford
Pama International
West Dance
Erol Alkan
Crookers
The Whip
Annie Mac
Skream And Benga
Whomadewho
Joe Goddard (Hot Chip)
DeepGroove
Nathan Detroit
Avalon Stage:
The Blockheads
British Sea Power
Michael McGoldrick, Iain Fletcher and Andy Dinan
The Puppini Sisters
3 Daft Monkeys
Baskery
The Mandibles
The Glade:
Tom Real
Beardyman with The Bays
James Monro
Banco de Gaia
Pathaan
Outmode
Mum Suleiman
Clive Craske
SATURDAY JUNE 27
Pyramid Stage:
Bruce Springsteen
Kasabian
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Dizzee Rascal
Spinal Tap
Eagles Of Death Metal
Tinariwen
VV Brown
Other Stage:
Franz Ferdinand
Pendulum
Maximo Park
Paolo Nutini
Peter Doherty
The Script
Jason Mraz
Metric
Peter, Bjorn and John
Broken Family Band
John Peel Stage:
Jarvis Cocker
White Lies
White Lies
Florence And The Machine
Passion Pit
Gaslight Anthem
Hockey
The Temper Trap
Esser
The Big Pink
Baddies
The Nightingales
Jazz/World Stage:
Playing For Change
Baaba Maal
Lonnie Liston Smith
Jamie Cullum
Rokia Traore
Erik Truffaz
Acoustic Stage:
Kilfenorca Ceili Band
Tindersticks
Newton Faulkner
Lisa Hannigan
Gary Louris and Mark Olson
Lunasa
Bap Kennedy
Hope And Social
Stornoway
Cora Smyth Band
The Park Stage:
Bon Iver
M Ward
Special Guests
Shlomo and Guests
Horace Andy
Easy Star Allstars
The Memory Band
Bombay Bicycle Club
The Low Anthem
First Aid Kit
Queen's Head Stage:
Guilty Pleasures
Dan Black
The King Blues
The Shortwave Set
Special Guest
The Wombats
Official Secrets Act
Noah And The Whale
Emmy The Great
Broken Records
Special Guest
Peggy Sue and the Pirates
Marina and the Diamonds
Theoretical Girl
Blue Roses
The Glitterati
East Dance:
2ManyDJs
Deadmau5
Pete Tong
La Roux
Wiley
Tinchy Stryder
Eric Prydz
Heartbreak
We Have Band
West Dance:
Josh Wink
Yoda
DJ Food
Qemists
Timo Maas
Japanese Popstars
Hudson Mohawke
NAPT
Emperors Machine
Jam The Channel
Avalon Stage:
The Wonder Stuff
Edward II
Eliza Carthy
Badly Drawn Boy
Solas
The King Blues
The Lancashire Hotpots
Wheeler Street
The Martin Harley Band
The Glade:
Stereo MCs
Stanton Warriors
DJ Fresh
Dub Pistols
Don Letts
Dr Meaker
Tayo
Rusko
Sancho Panza
Nairobi
Jinx
SUNDAY JUNE 28
Pyramid Stage:
Blur
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
Madness
Tom Jones
Amadou Et Mariam
Tony Christie
Status Quo
Easy Star AllStars
Other Stage:
Prodigy
Glasvegas
Bon Iver
Bat For Lashes
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Enter Shikari
Brand New
Art Brut
Boxer Rebellion
In Case Of Fire
John Peet Stage:
Echo And The Bunnymen
The Wombats
Noisettes
Ladyhawke
The Soft Pack
Just Jack
Emmy The Great
Twisted Wheel
We Have Band
Wave Machines
Good Books
Jazz/World Stage:
Black Eyed Peas
Manu Dibango
Roots Manuva
Khaled
Orquesta Aragon
Linda Lewis
Abdullah Chhadeh And Syriana
Acoustic Stage:
Georgie Fame
Roger McGuinn
Sharon Corr
London Community Gospel Choir
Beth Rowley
Imelda May
Penguin Café Orchestra
Kate Walsh
Martin Harley Band
Lucy Wainwright Roche
The Park Stage:
Seun Kuti and Fela's Egypt 80
Cold War Kids
Tunng and Tinariwen
Alela Diane
Terry Reid
The Rockingbirds
Alberta Cross
Chief
Micachu and the Shapes
Bristol Community Choir
Queen's Head Stage
Robyn Hitchcock
The Aliens
Magic Numbers
Bombay Bicycle Club
Joe Gideon And The Shark
Vagabond
Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong
Fight Like Apes
The Capitol Years
Soft Toy Emergency
Priscilla Ahn
Jersey Budd
Two Door Cinema Club
Major Major
East Dance:
Calvin Harris
Mr Scruff
VV Brown
Rob Da Bank
Frankmusik
Wonky Pop DJs
Kissy Sellout
Wonky Pop DJs
Ou Est
Chris Coco
West Dance:
Peaches
Jodie Harsh
Beat Torrent
Freq Nasty
Dirty Vegas
Quiver
Filthy Dukes
Don Diablo
Goldfish
Stuart Wilkinson
Transformer
Avalon Stage:
Peatbog Fairies
Seth Lakeman
Dodgy
Will Young
Teddy Thompson
The Mummers
The Destroyers
6 Day Riot
Stornoway
The Glade:
Gong Sunday
Steve Hillage Band
Eatstatic
Richard 'Kid' Strange and the Party
Second Class Citizen
Back to the Planet
3 Daft Monkeys
Hybrid Cinematic Set
Breakfast with Howard Marks
Thursday, May 14, 2009
24 Hours Till 21st Century Breakdown
This Friday, Green Day launch their eigth studio album, 21 Century Breakdown. It is an album that is set to catipult the band to the top of the charts everywhere. I'm sure you're well aware of all the hype leading up to the album launch. It is a release that once again will establish the Green Day as the biggest and most important band on the planet.
Make no mistake my friends; Green Day are the band of this decade. The album title could not be more apt. Green Day owned 2005. The American Idiot tour was collosal and the band's biggest to date. It felt like more than just a tour. It felt like a movement.
Now in 2009, as we near the end of the first decade of the 21 Century, Green Day are back with a follow-up album which will build on where the band left off. This is the music that will become the soundtrack of the decade.
Only 24 hours to go!
Brian, Music Vice editor
Make no mistake my friends; Green Day are the band of this decade. The album title could not be more apt. Green Day owned 2005. The American Idiot tour was collosal and the band's biggest to date. It felt like more than just a tour. It felt like a movement.
Now in 2009, as we near the end of the first decade of the 21 Century, Green Day are back with a follow-up album which will build on where the band left off. This is the music that will become the soundtrack of the decade.
Only 24 hours to go!
Brian, Music Vice editor
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Rise Against UK Tour Dates
Ah, the summer is coming and tour and festival announcements are coming thick and fast! I'm already getting stoked about a lot of shows and festivals that I plan to attend... I'm already more excited than a kid waiting for Christmas. Truly, it's gonna be an awesome summer for live music. What I'm looking forward to most of all is the Green Day tour, of which at the very least I will be attending at the Hamilton show.
Aside from Green Day, one of the other big tours coming this summer is the knock-out combo of Rise Against and Rancid, who will be playing shows across USA and Canada from June to July.
Rise Against then go onwards to Europe in August, where highlights include slots at both Reading and Leeds festivals.
As if that wasn't enough, Rise Against have now announced five UK dates for November. These shows will feature support from Thursday and Poison The Well - okay, so its not exactly as good as the North America dates with Rancid. At least it gives Rise Against fans in the UK another chance of catching the band live, especially as both Reading and Leeds Festivals have already sold-out.
Below are the dates to mark on your calendar. Get practising the words to Audience Of One!
Rise Against UK Tour Dates 2009:
November
17 Glasgow, Barrowlands
18 Newcastle, Academy
19 Manchester, Apollo
21 London, Brixton Academy
22 Cardiff, University
Rise Against & Rancid, North America Tour 2009:
June 4th Vancouver, BC Pacific Coliseum
June 6th Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
June 7th Calgary, AB Calgary Corral
June 8th Saskatoon, SK Prarieland
June 11th Denver, CO Red Rocks Ampitheatre
June 12th Kansas City, MO Beaumont Club
June 13th St. Louis, MO Pops (Outdoors)
June 15th Cleveland, OH Time Warner Cable Amp
June 17th Montreal, QC Parc Jean Drapeau
June 18th Quebec City, QC Agora
June 19th Ottawa, ON Civic Centre
June 22nd Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion
June 24th Detroit, MI Fillmore
June 26th Minneapolis, MN Myth
July 6th Seattle, WA WaMu Theatre
July 8th Reno, NV Reno Events Center
July 10th San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amp
July 11th Los Angeles, CA The Forum
July 13th Las Vegas, NV The Joint
July 14th Phoenix, AZ Mesa Arts Center
July 16th Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
July 17th Austin, TX Stubb’s
July 18th Houston, TX Verizon Wireless
July 20th Orlando, FL House of Blues
July 21st Orlando, FL House of Blues
July 23rd Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
July 24th Baltimore, MD Ram’s Head
July 25th Philadelphia, PA Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing
July 28th Boston, MA House of Blues
July 29th Boston, MA House of Blues
July 30th Buffalo, NY Agri Center
July 31st Toronto, ON Molson Ampitheatre
Aside from Green Day, one of the other big tours coming this summer is the knock-out combo of Rise Against and Rancid, who will be playing shows across USA and Canada from June to July.
Rise Against then go onwards to Europe in August, where highlights include slots at both Reading and Leeds festivals.
As if that wasn't enough, Rise Against have now announced five UK dates for November. These shows will feature support from Thursday and Poison The Well - okay, so its not exactly as good as the North America dates with Rancid. At least it gives Rise Against fans in the UK another chance of catching the band live, especially as both Reading and Leeds Festivals have already sold-out.
Below are the dates to mark on your calendar. Get practising the words to Audience Of One!
Rise Against UK Tour Dates 2009:
November
17 Glasgow, Barrowlands
18 Newcastle, Academy
19 Manchester, Apollo
21 London, Brixton Academy
22 Cardiff, University
Rise Against & Rancid, North America Tour 2009:
June 4th Vancouver, BC Pacific Coliseum
June 6th Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
June 7th Calgary, AB Calgary Corral
June 8th Saskatoon, SK Prarieland
June 11th Denver, CO Red Rocks Ampitheatre
June 12th Kansas City, MO Beaumont Club
June 13th St. Louis, MO Pops (Outdoors)
June 15th Cleveland, OH Time Warner Cable Amp
June 17th Montreal, QC Parc Jean Drapeau
June 18th Quebec City, QC Agora
June 19th Ottawa, ON Civic Centre
June 22nd Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion
June 24th Detroit, MI Fillmore
June 26th Minneapolis, MN Myth
July 6th Seattle, WA WaMu Theatre
July 8th Reno, NV Reno Events Center
July 10th San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amp
July 11th Los Angeles, CA The Forum
July 13th Las Vegas, NV The Joint
July 14th Phoenix, AZ Mesa Arts Center
July 16th Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
July 17th Austin, TX Stubb’s
July 18th Houston, TX Verizon Wireless
July 20th Orlando, FL House of Blues
July 21st Orlando, FL House of Blues
July 23rd Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
July 24th Baltimore, MD Ram’s Head
July 25th Philadelphia, PA Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing
July 28th Boston, MA House of Blues
July 29th Boston, MA House of Blues
July 30th Buffalo, NY Agri Center
July 31st Toronto, ON Molson Ampitheatre
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Amazing Susan Boyle
By now are probably aware of a lady called Susan Boyle. Her performance on the TV show 'Britain's Got Talent' - the same show that launched tenor Paul Pott's to global fame - has captured the hearts of millions of people across the world.
Susan Boyle is such an average lady - at least on first glance. She is 47 years old, unemployed, and lives in a village in Scotland. She's also never been kissed. It was not surprising that Simon Cowell gazed at her mockingly on first sight. The audience also seemed primed to split their sides laughing, at what on appearance looked like another wannabe-singer ready to get rejected by the judges and suffer the himulation of being embarassed on TV in front of millions.
But then Boyle sang. And, my how she sang!! If you have not seen this video yet then you need to. Susan Boyle has one of the most amazingly beautiful voices you will ever hear.
Click to watch Susan Boyle on YouTube
Susan Boyle is a rare gem, and such refreshing find for a music industry that is dominated by airbrushed popstars and rockstars. On top of that, she has now become the champion of all underdogs. Boyle is an inspiration to any one out there who may have been trambled in life - she has never let go of her dreams, and in the end she has done achieved the seemingly impossible, the incredible.
Susan Boyle is such an average lady - at least on first glance. She is 47 years old, unemployed, and lives in a village in Scotland. She's also never been kissed. It was not surprising that Simon Cowell gazed at her mockingly on first sight. The audience also seemed primed to split their sides laughing, at what on appearance looked like another wannabe-singer ready to get rejected by the judges and suffer the himulation of being embarassed on TV in front of millions.
But then Boyle sang. And, my how she sang!! If you have not seen this video yet then you need to. Susan Boyle has one of the most amazingly beautiful voices you will ever hear.
Click to watch Susan Boyle on YouTube
Susan Boyle is a rare gem, and such refreshing find for a music industry that is dominated by airbrushed popstars and rockstars. On top of that, she has now become the champion of all underdogs. Boyle is an inspiration to any one out there who may have been trambled in life - she has never let go of her dreams, and in the end she has done achieved the seemingly impossible, the incredible.
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