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My Brothers and I's Jordan Talks Touring and Dreams
Indie pop goers My Brothers and I, have made a smashing success with their one hit wonder "Dream", off their latest album "Don't Dream Alone". Thus, it has lead them to hit the road, going off on a tour to get their name out into the open ever so further, with plans to play more shows and write newer material as well. Guitarist Jordan Roach discusses their time spent upon their current release, touring plans, and the future.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Jordan: Scott, the eldest brother, grew up next door to Jordan and both have been in bands since middle school. As Erik, the middle child, grew up he joined playing guitar, keys and singing. A few years later David, the youngest, started to write his own material and Johnny joined in at that same time to create the band it is now.
2. Why the name My Brothers and I? Does it have a meaning to it?
Jordan: The brothers were starting to write songs together and gathered enough material for a live show. They just told people that "hey, my brothers and I are playing a show." The name stuck, so the meaning behind it is literal.
3. Tell us about your thoughts on your local music scene? Are there any new and upcoming bands that you are into?
Jordan: Portland's a great city for musicians and fans of music. We really look up to Typhoon and all that they have done as well as the numerous impact local artist like Pink Martini, The Shins, Modest Mouse, She and Him, Esperanza Spalding and Blind Pilot...the list goes on. As of recently though, we really enjoy the soothing vocals (also siblings) of Joseph. They always seem to be touring away from Portland though, but they're great.
4. How would you describe your style?
Jordan: Indie-pop. We all have different styles and tastes as musicians and fans of music which I think is great. It helps our music relate to a larger audience. It's nice when people say the songs on your album don't all sound alike. That'd be boring.
Jordan: That's cute you say it's a "smash hit." I think the response of the song has been overwhelmingly positive and that's the message we wanted to bring. It really came together in the studio with Scott, our drummer, really writing a lot of it. I think his inspiration really took ahold of us all and gave us momentum for not only this particular song, but the album as a whole.
6. Let's talk a little about your latest release, what are the listeners in store for with this release?
Jordan: Grooves and catchy lyrical hooks. Some of these songs are a little more light-hearted and some are a little more thought provoking. I think the listener is in for a real sweet treat.
7. What's your take on "Don't Dream Alone" as a whole?
Jordan: I think it's easy to go through life being selfish and trying to do what's best for you. As a society we've seen people try to attain this "American" dream and gain wealth and popularity with no real community of friends or loved ones to show for it. The gap between the rich and the poor is expanding without any real concern and everything is becoming digitized from dating, music to all interactions...there comes a point when you have to look up from your phone and ask what's the point in all this? "Don't Dream Alone," in a nutshell is basically, "life is better when there are other people around who you love to share it with," even though it's not always going to be easy.
8. Why did you want to go and do this mini tour instead of a full- fledged tour?
Jordan: Hmm, probably timing. I'm not sure we did a mini tour instead of a full-fledged tour, but rather this is a tour to get "our feet off the ground." A starting point of sorts.
9. What have you done to prepare yourselves for the tour?
Jordan: Hydrate. Carb load. Crunches. And FIFA on the Xbox.
10. What can fans expect to hear? More new songs or old songs?
Jordan: We'll play most, if not all of our songs on the album with a few new songs and some covers. We like to play covers. It creates a quick connection to listeners. What would you like us to cover?
11. Once the tour in the U.S. is over, what do you have planned afterwards?
Jordan: World domination like Pinky and the Brain...and probably more live shows and writing. The response of our album has been super encouraging and positive, so we'll just keep the momentum going with all the love we're getting. 12. How easy is it to keep the motivation going on a daily basis for My Brothers and I?
Jordan: Some days are harder than others, such as life. But our character is built through struggles not the easy times. We hope our music has depth to it that resembles the joy and difficulties of life. Music is and will always be in each of us and that can be, to quote Monk, "a blessing and a curse."
Soulfly Announces New Tour
Soulfly has announced a new tour with support coming from Suffocation, Battlecross, Abnormality, and Lody Kong. Check out the list of dates below.
TOUR DATES:
4/22/2016 San Antonio, TX - Korova
4/23/2016 McAllen, TX Cine - El Rey
4/24/2016 Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey*
4/25/2016 New Orleans, LA - Southport Hall
4/26/2016 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
4/27/2016 Fayetteville, NC - Rock Shop
4/28/2016 Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
4/29/2016 Long Island, NY - Revolution
4/30/2016 Providence, RI - Fete Ballroom
5/1/2016 Lowell, MA - Mill City Ballroom
5/3/2016 Rochester, NY - Water Street Music Hall
5/4/2016 Joliet, IL - Bada Brew
5/5/2016 Valparaiso, IN - Big Shots
5/6/2016 Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom
5/7/2016 Dayton, OH - Oddbody's
5/8/2016 Indianapolis, IN - 5th Quarter
5/10/2016 Kansas City, MO - Riot Room
5/11/2016 Colorado Springs, CO - Black Sheep
5/12/2016 Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
5/14/2016 Walla Walla, WA - Main Street Studios
5/15/2016 Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
5/17/2016 Portland, OR - Dantes
5/18/2016 Orangevale, CA - Boardwalk
5/19/2016 Oakland, CA - Oakland Metro
5/20/2016 Los Angeles, CA - Whisky A Go Go
*no Suffocation
BAND-MAID Announces New Album, UK Debut
Japanese all-girl rock group BAND-MAID has announced their upcoming album Brand New Maid, set for release on May 18. The album will contain 8 songs, including the new single “alone”. Brand New Maid will be released in 2 separate editions containing alternate bonus material. Four track titles have already been announced:
・alone
・FREEDOM
・ORDER
・the non-fiction days
・(other titles TBA)
BAND-MAID also premiered their new look with updated fashion takes on their popular “maid” image, adding even more excitement for the band’s upcoming overseas debut at Sakura-Con in Seattle, Washington, March 25-27. The band will follow up on their self-proclaimed mission of “world domination” with an appearance at MCM London Comic Con on May 27-29.
Sakura-Con (Seattle): http://sakuracon.org.
MCM Comic-Con (London): http://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london.
Brazilian Gothic Metallers Semblant Sign To EMP LABEL GROUP, Will Re-release groups independent LUNAR MANIFESTO LP in Summer. Video for “What Lies Ahead” Surpasses 2 Million Views On Youtube!
EMP Label Group, the label owned by Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, has signed Brazilian Gothic Metal act Semblant, and will re-release their hugely successful independent digital release Lunar Manifesto __in July through eOne in North America and SPV in Europe.
Hailing from humble beginnings in Curtibia, Brazil, Semblant has found a huge audience throughout North and South America, Europe and beyond with their brand of dark, progressive, gothic Metal, highlighted by the dual vocals of Mizuho Lin and Sergio Mazul.
Being compared to acts ranging from Nightwish to Lacuna Coil to Evanescence, SEMBLANT, vocalists Mizuho Lin and Sergio Mazul, guitarists Juliano Ribeiro and Sol Perez, keyboardist J. Augusto, and drummer Welyntom "Thor" Sikora has found huge success with their independent release Lunar Manifesto,__ with the video for “What Lies Ahead” reaching over 2 million views on Youtube this week, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIedr_9_9hA as well as follow up “Dark of the Day” nearing 500,000 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AamdEYGZwFA.
Says EMP A&R and Operations Director Thom Hazaert, who discovered and signed the band to EMP, “When I first stumbled onto Semblant, like most of the World, on Youtube, I was instantly struck by (female vocalist) Mizuho (Lin), and how interesting the band was. Numbers don’t lie, and I watched the video shoot from a million views to almost 2 million inside of a month. So, I did a little more homework and found out some more about them. Literally a week later, through a random introduction from one of my A&R assistants, I met the band, and the owner of their previous label who was looking for a new home for them.” He adds, “At that point, the universe worked its magic, and before you know it, we were in serious talks to bring the band over to EMP.”
Says Ellefson, “I can’t say how excited we are that we were able to find such an incredible band, who has already found huge success on their own, and to be able to get involved and take it to the next level. Discovering and nurturing bands like this is the reason why I started this label, and why myself and Thom have developed it the way we have. It is already becoming a great cannon for promising artists, and Semblant absolutely fit the bill.” Ellefson adds, “And the way we found them, with the band being from Brazil, just makes it that much cooler. There has always been a strong Metal culture in Brazil, which is really emerging now internationally with bands like Angra, Semblant, Machinage etc., and we were so blessed to be able to pick up one of their most promising exports.”The band will tour the US in June, with a planned 7/8 release date for Lunar Manifesto, which will be released in CD and limited edition LP formats.
Stitched Up Heart Joins Sick Puppies on HardDrive Live Tour
Stitched Up Heart have been announced as part of the upcoming 2016 HardDrive Live Tour, which is set to hit the road next month and also features Sick Puppies, Red Sun Rising, HUDSON and Smashing Satellites on the month long trek. The tour is scheduled to kick off in Houston, TX on April 22nd and will run through May 21st where it will wrap up in St. Louis, Missouri. The 2016 HardDrive Live Tour is produced in conjunction with Ledge Entertainment. Please see below for a complete list of dates that Stitched Up Heart will be performing at.
TOUR DATES:
APRIL:
24: Corpus Christi, TX @ House of Rock *
26: Birmingham, AL @ Workplay Theater
27: Destin, FL @ Club LA
30: Orlando, FL @ The Social
MAY:
03: Johnson City, TN @ Capone’s
04: Chattanooga, TN @ Revelry Room
07: Lancaster, PA @ The Chameleon Club ^
08: Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
09: New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre
11: Buffalo, NY @ Iron Works
12: Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop
13: Arlington Heights, IL @ Home Bar
14: Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere’s Entertainment Center ^
15: Battle Creek, MI @ The Music Factory ^
17: Bloomington, IL @ The Castle Theater
18: Nashville, TN @ Exit In
* = No Red Sun Rising
^ = No Red Sun Rising/With Smashing Satellites
DEVIL YOU KNOW Announce “Make America Metal Again” North American Headlining Tour
DEVIL YOU KNOW will kick off their first-ever North American headlining tour on April 15th in Fresno, CA. The tour, dubbed the “Make America Metal Again” (see the Donald Trump approved tour ad-mat attached), will also feature the band ONI as direct support.
Francesco Artusato (guitars) states: "We are very excited to get on the road with the band ONI for our headliner tour. I got to meet the guys in this band a few months ago when I was asked to do a guest solo for their record. That's when I realized the incredible talent each one of them has. Extremely skilled musicians and the songs are sick. It’s a very cool team of people, including Josh Wilbur who produced their album (and our last record as well. He's the best!). Their record sounds really cool and I can't wait to see them perform it live. It's going to be a very fun tour for all of us!
“This is also our very first official headlining North American tour of our band’s career and we are looking forward to performing a lot of new material from They Bleed Red, which has yet to be ever played live. We are also offering VIP ticketing packages at each show, where for only $50 you get a guaranteed group photo with the band, as many autographed items as you like and a free t-shirt of your choice from our merch booth. They are on-sale now at the link below. Meet and greets will be at 6PM sharp each day.
“This tour is going be rad! We can’t wait to bring Metal back to America again and kick ass across the States, says Jake Oni, lead singer and founder of the band ONI. Jake went onto say “We were thrilled that our friends in DYK asked us to do the 'Make America Metal Again' US tour. Since my band is like a combination of 'Dream Theater meets Slipknot' with metal-pounding riffs played by passionate, really talented musicians, it’s the perfect complement to a night of Metal Madness. Our new single “Eternal Recurrence,” is available for streaming now at the link below, so please check it out and we look forward to meeting you all in person this spring across the U.S."
TOUR DATES:
4/15 Fresno, CA – Fulton 55
4/16 Stateline, NV – Vinyl@Hard Rock Café
4/19 Seattle, WA – Studio
4/22 Boise, ID – Diamondz
4/23 Idaho Falls, ID – The Falls
4/24 Billings, MT – Pub Station
4/26 Omaha, NE – Sokol Underground
4/27 St. Louis, MO – The Fubar
4/30 Ringle, WI – Q&Z
5/1 Battle Creek, MI – Music Factory
5/4 Detroit, MI – Ritz
5/5 Pittsburgh, PA – The Alter Bar
5/6 Rochester, NY – Montage Music Hall
5/7 Manchester, NH - Jewel
5/8 Salsbury Beach, MA – Splash
5/10 Providence, RI – Fete Music Hall
5/11 Amityville, NY – Revolution