Chicago, Illinois THE ATLAS MOTH have always been a hard band to fully categorize simply because of the myriad of elements and influences that seamlessly amalgam together to create one of the more distinct sounds in the American heavy music scene today. Over the years through the band’s endless touring jaunts and putting out releases that display the band’s crushingly heavy yet beautiful take on their style of progressive crushing psychedelic metal, The Atlas Moth have made quite the name for themselves.
Now with their third full length album “The Old Believer”, under their belts they have something they can rely on to help create further material and even further touring and show playing for themselves for many more years to come. Guitarist and vocalist Stavros discussed this release and plans in-store for themselves.
1. First of all, who are you, and what do you do in the band?
Stavros: My name is Stavros, I play guitar and sing in the atlas moth.
2. Can you give those of us who aren't familiar with The Atlas Moth a brief history of the band and can you please describe your sound for those who have yet to hear your music?
Stavros: We started back in 2007 as just a way to write some songs. It was just me and our original drummer. Soon after, Dave and Alex joined and we recorded our first EP in December 2007 with Andrew. He wasn't a part of the band when we recorded the EP with him but by the end of the session we asked him to join. At the time and, for the most part, our first record were very much in the sludge category. I'd say we have progressed greatly since the original concept but we came from a sludge/doom background and that's still something we that comes through our sound no matter what.
3. The Atlas Moth does the name in anyway involve an actual moth?
Stavros: It's one of the world's largest moths. It initially came from a documentary called driver 23/the atlas moth. We wanted a name that didn't pigeonhole us into a certain genre.
4. What would you say are the bands biggest collective musical influences, and also individual ones that you feel can be heard in the record?
Stavros: I'd say between the 5 of us Deftones and Pink Floyd are our main influences collectively. Personally, on the new believer, I was listening to a lot of new wave when we wrote it. We always look towards band that do different things.
5. You have released two full lengths on Profound Lore Records. Are you happy with being a part of the label, and what are some of your favorite label mates?
Stavros: Profound lore is fantastic and they have taken great care of us now. We are also lucky to have a ton of friends that are on the label with us like Wolvhammer, Pallbearer, Agalloch, Loss. We are actually out with Subrosa right now who are just incredible.
6. Could you take us through the all bearer writing process of The Atlas Moth? How does one of your epic songs come to be?
Stavros: On this record, we would sit at Andrew's home studio and Dave, Andrew or I would record a riff or keyboard part or loop or whatever and we basically would trade off tracking over and rearranging the songs until we had a good idea. We all write our own parts. The band is a completely collaborative effort.
7. What does The Old Believer mean to you all?
Stavros: To me, it was a way of stepping away from the doom/post metal scene. We started this band with the idea of being able to sound however we want and not think that something isn't possible. We never want the constrains of a genre and this was my way of saying we stand on our own.
8. How does the album art relate to the music on the album?
Stavros: I think it shows the varying contrast of light and dark. Our music tends to have both of those elements happening at the same time.
9. Can you tell us how this album differs from the previous ones? What can we expect and what is the message behind it?
Stavros: This is the most personal record. I think we have become greater song writers and it shows. The record was something that helped me get through a particularly dark time of my life and my hopes are that it will help someone else out the way it helped me out.
10. How did you guys choose who you wanted to have as guest vocals on the new album?
Stavros: Purely timing. We always wanted all of our friends to be a part of something with us but it always comes down to who is available at the time.
11. Do you think there is an element of the band’s sound that you would like to push out further on the next batch of songs? With so much going on in your sound, obviously there are elements that might get further explored?
Stavros: Ya know, I never try to write a certain way. I just play what comes naturally. If it just doesn't flow, I put my guitar back down. I want it to feel as natural as possible. But with that said, I really enjoyed some of the more electronic elements and would love to try to incorporate more of that in the next record.
12. What does the band have planned for the rest of this year?
Stavros: Right now we are on tour with Boris and Subrosa and we have a Canadian tour in sept with some friends who I cannot say yet but it will be rad. We are also doing a west coast run in October which includes a stop at the Southwest Terror Fest with Goatsnake and Neurosis.
13. Anything else you want to say to the fans?
Stavros: Can't wait to see ya on the road.
MGA Entertainment behind the Lalaloopsy toy brand has branched out quite a bit since it's doll made it's way around with the Lalaloopsy dolls, Lalaloopsy baby dolls, plushie, figures, DVDs, and now entering the girl world with this new series of dolls called only as the Lalaloopsy Girls! Following the same styling as the previous lines this takes your beloved girls and turns them into gals of the teen life as all girls do, grow-up!
You of course get all your favorites with future characters a work in progress. The main website and Facebook page have launched giving a brief detail about the girls with glimpses of the dolls themselves as well! The story following all of this is said to go like this "Expect the unexpected when the Lalaloopsy Girls attend Lala Prep the Lalaloopsy Academy for the Learning Arts. They will take magical classes, share dorm rooms, secrets and lots of laughter! No matter what happens they will always be stitched together friends forever!"
Check out some photos of the dolls due out in the U.S. soon and out in the U.K. now along with this review of the dolls done by the Mommy and Gracie Show HERE.
Hard rockers Evol Walks formed only this year and have already made their mark upon the music scene. They have been hard at work writing and recording for their debut album coming out soon with further plans to play shows and tour of course! Lead vocalist Leah-Martin Brown discusses the band's progress of the new release, themselves, and future.
1. What type of band are you?
Leah-Martin Brown: We are a five-piece rock and roll band.
2. Tell us the brief history of your band.
Leah-Martin Brown: We formed at the beginning of this year after I made the move to Hollywood from Australia. After a few months of jamming we were invited to play the Global Rock Summit and have been making our way from there.
3. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
Leah-Martin Brown: We cover everything from classic, fun, "let's party" rock anthems to brooding love ballads. It really depends on the mood when we're writing.
4. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)
Leah-Martin Brown: Most definitely. The songwriting process tends to change from track to track, sometimes I will have the lyrics entirely written with melody and basic chords and song structure and we'll nut it out the finer details and maybe even rewrite in the studio. Sometimes I'll sit down with our guitarist CJ and he'll come up with some killer riffs while I sing different melodies over the top. We'll record the basic skeleton then go away and work on things as individuals then come back and hopefully have a finished track to bring to the other guys for their input. It's always a very collaborative process.
5. Who are your musical influences?
Leah-Martin Brown: There are so many different musicians we take our influences from. At the forefront would definitely be bands like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Black Sabbath but there's also artists like, JET, Monster Magnet and Stone Sour.
6. Tell me about your new single.
Leah-Martin Brown: 'Heartbreakin Woman' is an attitude driven rock 'n' roll song that's also meant to be a bit of fun. A lot of the phrases I took from arguments I'd had with an ex a while ago and then it sort of took off from there. It is definitely an awesome rock 'n' roll track that you can sing along and dance around to- which is the most important part.
7. How many songs have you written for your next release?
Leah-Martin Brown: Around 25/26 at the moment which will most likely turn into more... I'm guessing not all will make the final cut though. :)
8. Do you have any favorites?
Leah-Martin Brown: I love them all for different reasons but I'll have to come back to you on that when we complete recording them and we can compare notes!
9. What are the upcoming touring plans for you guys?
Leah-Martin Brown: We're currently finalizing these and look forward to sharing them very soon.
10. What can one expect from a Evol Walks show?
Leah-Martin Brown: Loud guitars, long hair, awesome energy and lots of fun!
11. What advice would you give to people who would like to do what you're doing?
Leah-Martin Brown: Work hard, don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough, love what you do and never, ever give up! It is really all about the work and the passion you have for your craft.12. How did the get band the name, Evol Walks?
Leah-Martin Brown: I was trying to think of a really cool name and I was listening to AC/DC at the time. Their track 'Evil Walks' came onto my iPod and I was singing along and it hit me! What a rad band name! The only thing is, I'm not really super "evil" so I was trying to think of another way we could use it. Evol was a fun play on the spelling as it can mean so many different things and still get the sound and vibe across.
13. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Leah-Martin Brown: We'll be available for purchase through iTunes etc. later in the year so for now you can listen to us on our Soundcloud www.soundcloud.com/evol-walks.
14. What plans do you have for the near future as a band?
Leah-Martin Brown: At the moment we're writing and recording our debut album plus playing some shows. :)
Former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way will release his debut solo album, entitled Hesitant Alien, on September 30th via Warner Bros. Records. The new album will be available for pre-order at all digital retailers beginning Tuesday, August 19th. Exclusive album bundles will also be available for pre-order on GerardWay.com on the same date. Fans who pre-order the album will receive the track "No Shows" instantly as a free download. The music video for "No Shows" will also be released on August 19th. Please see below for the full track-listing.
Working with producer Doug McKean, Way knew immediately what he wanted Hesitant Alien to sound like. "I wanted to make the small things sound big," he says. "My intention was to make 100 percent uncompromised art, using the currently least radio-friendly instrument, the guitar. I knew there would be lots of fuzz pedals. I knew I would play Fender instruments. I knew I would look at who my guitar heroes were in art school, Mary Timony and Carrie Brownstein, and I drew a lot of influence from shoe-gaze and Britpop. I want the record to sonically galvanize people." Hesitant Alien was mixed by Tchad Blake (Arctic Monkeys, Black Keys).
Lyrically, Way wrote about what he knew at the time, "which was struggle, beginnings, finding a newness in the mundane and the abstract," he says. "I looked to the Britpop poets like Jarvis Cocker and Damon Albarn, drawing upon every day life. I also experimented with the abstract, and looked at Frank Black's work both with the Pixies, and as a solo artist. There was no concept and no call-to-arms."
Fans will get their first listen to some of the songs on Hesitant Alien when Way performs his first solo shows at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in England. He will perform at Reading on August 22nd and at Leeds on August 23rd.
Listen to "Action Cat" HERE.
TRACKLISTING:
1. Bureau
2. Action Cat
3. No Shows
4. Casting Shadows
5. Millions
6. Zero Zero
7. Juarez
8. Drugstore Perfume
9. Get The Gang Together
10. How's It Going To Be
11. Maya The Psychic
Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum selling RCA recording artist Gavin DeGraw releases "You Got Me," which will be featured in the upcoming film DOLPHIN TALE 2, in theaters September 12th from Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures. The new track, which hits radio this week, was written for the film by legendary songwriter Diane Warren, a Grammy and Golden Globe winner and six-time Oscar nominee, and produced by Martin Johnson (Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne, Jason Derulo). The song is available at iTunes, Amazon and all other digital retailers now. Click the following link to listen HERE.
Southern country men Shotgun Rebellion have been keeping busy, since forming not that long ago. Over the years they have played shows and toured and released music like any other band would do. Now the future never looked brighter for them and they have further plans for new music and even more show and tour playing. Frontman vocalist and guitarist Rick Davis discussed these matters and much more.
1. What type of band are you?
Rick: We call our sound outlaw metal, it's a mixture of hard rock/metal with southern rock and outlaw country.
2. Tell us the brief history of your band.
Rick: Shotgun Rebellion formed with me and Jon Parr in September 2010. We started writing together as a side project because the bands we were in at the time, those band members were not into it as much as we were. So when our bands saw us doing shows it just ended up as Shotgun Rebellion which was our main interest and focus. Jon and I were both into bands like Down, Black Label Society, Pride and Glory, COC, and Pantera. Jon Parr had brought more of a traditional metal feel to the band, where I was half southern rock and half heavy metal like, Black Sabbath meets Lynyrd Skynyrd that's who I am as Rick Davis.
From there we went through a few line-up changes all along still writing songs. I lived in Ada, Oklahoma and Jon was in Edmond so the distance had us working a part a lot. While writing the tunes I would use a 16 track digital recorder and send Jon just a basic drum track with the bass, vocals, and guitars. If we didn't have the words or a full idea on the lyrics, Jon would send me his lyrics and I would arrange or re-write or even add changes to whatever needed to be done. Later on we met Johni Walker in the mid summer of 2013, Johni, Jon, and myself had booked a tour and set out on a few weeks running from Oklahoma City to Jakcson Michigan, where we had played the Rockapalooza Festival opening up for Mushroomhead and Saliva, getting the chance to have played on the same stage as Mushroomhead.
During the tour we had met up with Randy Cooper from Texas Hippie Coalition in Indianapolis, Indiana with his new band Emperors and Elephants at a venue called the Indy Juke Box. Randy and I knew each other from Shotgun Rebellion and had opened up for Texas Hippie Coalition several during their Mid Western Tour. Shotgun Rebellion had gotten a gig opening up for Ted Nugent in Oklahoma City in August 2013. I told Randy about it that night and we decided to have Randy settle in with us for that show, which went so well, that Randy had a few months off from Emperors and Elephants until their album was due for release, so it worked out for everyone.
After that he had settled in with us some more on a few big shows with us opening for Jackyl , Michael Schenker, Feel Never Real, and Ted Nugent. During this time though, Randy and I talked about him adding on some guitar parts, on our soon to be released self-titled album, we contacted the producer because it was already finished and ready for release, but we pulled it and re-worked on the album changing the artwork cover, and re-released on February 18, 2014. It included a new song and video for "Roll On" which can be found on YouTube.
Randy and his new band Emperors and Elephant had left for tour in February so Randy was not able to do anymore shows with us due to his schedule with those guys. So Randy turned us onto his friends from Texas Hippie Coalition, Wes Wallace having said that Wes had just left Texas Hippie Coalition and we reached out to him, sent him the songs and he liked them so we all hooked up. From that first day it was like Wes was already a member of Shotgun Rebellion because he just fit so well.
Jon Parrs had left the band due to personal situations, so we went on to hire Eric Hatcher from Oklahoma City, while he was a native to New York City, he's been in Oklahoma City for more than 25 years so he's been Okiefield haha. Eric has since been a great fit and we're glad to have him be a part of our group and look forward to the future, because we got signed with David Adkins to help us out so our future keeps on growing.
3. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
Rick: Just about life, like our song "Addiction Road" it's praying not to be lead down that path again. "Squeeze My Shotgun" is about the Southern Midwest on a weekend. While "Lost My Way" is about pain and loss with that struggle we all face in life. I was raised by some good story tellers so a lot of the other songs like "Badman's Gun", "Devils Home Brew" came from a story I had heard from a family member while growing up just like my grandfather.4.Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)
Rick: Yes just go and re-read our band's history in question 2. I think I explained it pretty well.
5. Who are your musical influences?
Rick: We all have been studying the art that is rock n' roll, hard rock, and heavy metal for the past 30 years. So a lot of bands from those genres you can hear in our music, that there's just too many to count. There's a lot of different types of music that I am also into such as blues and some Southern roots type of fan. Wes can chicken pick the best of them and also shred til his fingers smoke and sizzle.
6. Tell me about your song "Train of Pain".
Rick: "Train of Pain" is one of the songs on the album that was released a while back and was called by this name until we pulled it. Only a few hundred copies were sold before we had done and re-worked and then re-released it as a self-titled album. This new version of the song and album as as good as the old version because our producer/engineer Jon Cheadle outdid himself when it came down to remastering it, making it be heavier the second time around, sounding way better overall. The album has 13 songs all great from start to finish. We had written 45 songs for this album during those first 3 years of playing and jamming anywhere we could, so we had of course picked the best out of the 45 to be those 13 songs when working with producer John Cheadle. His help had pushed us to play at our best and without being a slave driver at the same time at that haha. I got to say though it's been quite the experience working with him and we already have plans to do a second album with him as well. The album I'd say has a great mixture of hard rock/metal with just a dash of that Southern whiskey kick of blues for added flavor and effect.
7. How many songs have you written for your next release?
Rick: Well there are 30 songs left from the first album, that we didn't get to record or use so we're writing new one's all the time as well, so perhaps combining the two together into something just as good? We're really looking forward to working with Wes Wallace next time we're in the studio, but we still have some time to tour and play shows for this self-titled release. Although we have already played a few songs with Wes that will be on the next album live, so if you come to a show you can get an idea of what's in-store.
8. Do you have any favorites off this album?
Rick: Into the Nothing, No More, and Badman's Gun.
9. What are the upcoming show/touring plans for you guys?
Rick: Well we're said to play the Tulsa at the Undercurrent August 1st and Pre-Ride for Dime Party August 14th at the After Party Bar in Deep Ellum in Dallas, Texas. All of our shows can be found enlisted with address's and map locations at www.reverbnation.com/shotgunrebellion. Since we just signed with David, the ink's still fresh and he's already telling us he's been working hard that we'll be touring some more before this year's end. Plus we have a full tour happening next year so look for us in a town near you until then get a copy of our CD!
10. What can one expect from a Shotgun Rebellion show?
Rick: A lot of high energy action with in your face drums and guitar playing is always happening on our stages because it's one hell of a time at a Shotgun Rebellion shot!
11. What advice would you give to people who would like to do what you're doing?
Rick: You should do it because you love it and never want to stop. If it's not coming from your heart and soul, then you're not staying for the whole riding experience. It's a business to be remembered, yes there's fun but you need to take it serious enough that you don't over look it.
12. How did the get band the name, Shotgun Rebellion?
Rick: Jon Parr had come up with it while we were swapping ideas back and forth. He had sent me a couple of names then one just jumped off the page at me. I knew right then and there that this was our name as soon as I saw it. It just fits our style, sound, and who we are as musicians and individuals. We're all family orientated guys that know how to have a country boy styled good old time. Also Johni, Wes, and I all have been hunters and fishermen all of our lives, and do that stuff from time to time, so it all just fits.13. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Rick: You can find us at the following:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/shotgunrebellion1
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Shotgun-Rebellion/108501432544041
https://itunes.apple.com/album/shotgun-rebellion/id825697881
14. What plans do you have for the near future as a band?
Rick: Finishing up working on the rest of the new songs for the next album. Then finishing out this year with a late tour and full tour happening next year. We'll then start to record for our second album sometime next year as well.
Hasbro's My Little Pony line has been distributing various albums and now will be branching out into the EDM remixing area with their own DJ pony known as DJ PON3, shaping up her own release and coming out of the background into the foreground.
DJ PON3 started out as a background character who never actually speaks on the show. As an electronic music DJ, she lets the music she spins speak for her,” says Matthew Proulx, director, brand marketing & business development of Hasbro Studios. The album will feature original remixes by various artists from a selection of the series’ own music, originally written by Composer Daniel Ingram.
Stay tuned for the full roster of album artists and track listing. DJ PON3: MLP Remixed is expected to release this fall.
Machine Head will be hitting the road, joining them will be Children Of Bodom, Epica, and Battlecross on a live takeover this Fall! Set to commence on October 4th in Denver, the trek will trample its way through two dozen cities, coming to a close on November 2nd in San Diego.
TOUR DATES:
10/04/2014 The Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
10/05/2014 Aftershock - Merriam, KS
10/06/2014 House Of Blues - Dallas, TX
10/07/2014 House Of Blues - Houston, TX
10/09/2014 Hard Rock Live - Orlando, FL
10/10/2014 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
10/11/2014 The Fillmore Silver Spring - Silver Spring, MD
10/12/2014 Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
10/14/2014 Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
10/15/2014 Metropolis - Montreal, QC
10/16/2014 Terminal 5 - New York, NY
10/17/2014 Rock and Shock/The Palladium - Worcester, MA
10/18/2014 Agora Theatre - Cleveland, OH
10/20/2014 Concord Music Hall - Chicago, IL
10/21/2014 The Rave II - Milwaukee, WI
10/22/2014 Skyway Theatre - Minneapolis, MN
10/23/2014 Pyramid Cabaret - Winnipeg, MB
10/24/2014 O'Brians Event Centre - Saskatoon, SK
10/25/2014 The Republik - Calgary, AB
10/26/2014 Shaw Conference Centre - Edmonton, AB
10/28/2014 Vogue Theater - Vancouver, BC
10/29/2014 Showbox SODO - Seattle, WA
10/30/2014 Hawthorne Theatre- Portland, OR
10/31/2014 Fox Theater - Oakland, CA
11/01/2014 Hollywood Palladium - Los Angeles, CA
11/02/2014 House of Blues - San Diego, CA
Mattel's Monster High line revealed a lot of new dolls at this year's San Diego Comic Con. A lot of which are due out this fall, which includes Sweet Screams, Haunted, Vinyl figure collection, 6-pack box set, and so much more! Find out about all of the upcoming guys and ghouls HERE.
J-Pop female vocal duo YANAKIKU made their USA debut at San Francisco's J-Pop Summit last weekend, giving American fans their first opportunity to see YANAKIKU's high-energy performance and comedic MC. The duo gave a special name to the packed audience in San Francisco's Japan Town, proclaiming "You are the lettuce, we are the meat!" before beginning their live set which included recent releases "FUJIYAMA DISCO" and an English version of their unreleased song "Ninja Iroha".
Vocalists YANA and KIKU spoke in frequent English to the audience, giving a positive message that "Music is stronger than our differences," a statement with special meaning to YANA as a representative of San Francisco's sister city Osaka.
In addition to their live performances, YANAKIKU served as judges for J-Pop Summit's cosplay and idol performer contests, as well as taking photos with fans and giving KIMOCOS (Kimono Cosplay) and Shuji calligraphy demonstrations at their booth.
YANAKIKU's new song "Orihime" was released July 2 on iTunes and Spotify worldwide. They will follow their J-Pop Summit performance with a return engagement at London's Hyper Japan Festival July 25-27.
SET LIST:
SE ("We are YANAKIKU")
"High BEAM"
MC
"PAKU PAKU KINGYO"
"NINJA IROHA English Version"
"Orihime"
MC
SE
"FUJIYAMA△DISCO"
MC
"HELLO WORLD"
Internationally renowned rock icons X Japan announced today that tickets for their highly anticipated October 11th concert at Madison Square Garden will go on sale this Friday at 10:00AM EDT at http://www.ticketmaster.com/XJapan-tickets/artist/723909. The Madison Square Garden concert event is sponsored by New York Comic Con.
X Japan, led by co-founder, drummer, pianist and songwriter Yoshiki, will return to New York City for their first concert since 2010, performing both fan favorites and previously unreleased music from the band’s decades of recordings. This Madison Square Garden concert marks a significant milestone for the band who made their U.S. debut with a Rockefeller Center press conference over 20 years ago, which presented the fierce J-Rock stars to an American audience. The band is finally fulfilling the promise they made to the fans to return. The group has since toured 16 countries, sold over 30 million albums and singles combined, and sold out Japan's 55,000 seat Tokyo Dome a record-setting 18 times. The concert trailer for X Japan Madison Square Garden can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/qI-zQehlQaI.
X Japan has had a notoriously tumultuous career, even among the world of rock, which includes the loss of two of its five founding members to tragic death. Amid death and breakups, the band has steadfastly maintained X Japan's vision and this year brought themselves together to perform where their U.S. story started, in New York City.
In line with October’s Madison Square Garden concert, Yoshiki and X Japan will appear at New York Comic Con, where Yoshiki will participate in a panel with Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee and discuss the pair’s collaborations, including the comic based on Yoshiki, Blood Red Dragon. New York Super Week is an immersive and inclusive experience that will bring the energy, passion and color of the entire pop culture universe to every corner of all five boroughs of New York City. Featuring concerts, comedy shows, gaming events, lectures, podcasts, storytelling, food tastings, and more – New York Super Week will take place October 3-12, leading into the East Coast’s biggest and most exciting convention – New York Comic Con.
