Weerd Science Homecoming 2010

The most excellent cure for snowed-in-cabin-fever is a free night of Weerd Science! Someone must’ve been looking out because Kingston, NY was completely clear of any snow the day of (hell, it was even t-shirt weather during the day) and didn’t begin to flurry well until after the Science team parted ways on Wednesday, February 24th. See, this was a free show to make up to the fans who came out on Saturday, January 16th to see Weerd Science, but instead got a completely different show. Josh Eppard was amidst recording his first Terrible Things record in Birmingham, Alabama with bandmates Fred Mascherino and Andy Jackson at producer Jason Elgin’s Syncromesh Studios. Since this show was booked before he even joined the band (originally called, Initials - now signed to Universal Motown Records) he shelled out all the cash in his pocket to hop a plane to Albany in time to drive the hour south to the “city with no name” for what was supposed to be his homecoming… the first hometown Weerd Science show since the impromptu sold-out performance at The Forum during a brief Coheed and Cambria tour break in 2005. However, as luck would have it, all the New York area airports locked down and were put on terror alert while Josh’s plane was in the sky. His flight was rerouted and took an emergency landing in Baltimore where he was eventually forced to share a hotel room with a total stranger after being told repeatedly that the flight would continue its course to Albany. The rest of the team traveled from Albany, Rockland, Queens and Trevose (Pennsylvania) for the deeply anticipated gig and ran around trying to pull a show together while eagerly awaiting Weerd Science’s arrival, completely unaware of the terror alert lockdown. Thankfully several Super Posse members were present and able to throw on impromptu performances. Mattrix, Session 606 and Rick Whispers performed sets giving the night some awesome music even if it wasn’t Weerd Science. After the music, the team gave the audience a listening party of Sick Kids… prepared to wait all night if they had to until Josh got into New York to finally perform the show. As “L1 Leader” was finishing they learned that Josh’s plane wasn’t going to get back in the air. Feeling completely defeated, they vowed to find a way to make things right.

What better way than to do a free show?

As soon as I left The Basement that night, I stopped at the Mobil to grab a cup of coffee before getting on the Thruway for my hour and change drive and I got a text message. Actually it was a tweet from John The Baker linking to an article that explained why flights were delayed. The article at that time claimed it was a terror threat. The next morning I learned what caused the chaos displacing thousands was… a man walked through a door he wasn’t supposed to. Amazing! That’s some Weerd Science for sure.

Anyway, it looked as if yesterday’s free show would be canceled due to inclement weather. Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, Albany (Josh and Wavis’ new hometown) saw a foot of snow and several thousand homes throughout the Northeast suffered power-outages, including DJ Dirty Ern’s parents’ house in Woodstock. Down in Rockland I saw… slush. In Queens (where Dirty Ern now lives) there was nothing but a hell of a lot of rain. Ant “Session 606” Masington was snowed in over in Pennsylvania… but the forecast for Kingston said the weather would remain clear until about 3AM. There was a 30% chance of snow from midnight until then. A perfect window of no-snow for the show! So I drove my ass from sunny Rockland up to snowy Albany… grabbed Weerd and Wavis as quickly as I could and brought them, safely, down to barely-drizzly Kingston. Not too long after, Jimmy Eppard showed up with his gear to handle the live sound mixing (and contribute additional background vocals). Ern arrived, and the hometown crowd began to fill in. All sorts of old friends, new friends, familiar faces and not-yet-familiar faces. I was super stoked to see CJB (Chris Bittner), Gangstroph The Baptist (Kwame Wiafe-Akenten), Pat-in-the-Hat and VinUcci of the Super Posse! Weerd Science, Wavis and Dirty Ern did a few songs and decided that G.T.B. needed to come up on stage with them. Josh called his boy out and I was hit with such a wave of nostalgia! Kwam’s presence is undeniably grand and I feel freakin’ privileged every time I see him on stage (I’ve had the pleasure eight times before - CBGB/2005, West Strand Grill/2005, Chameleon Club/2007, Webster Underground/2009 x2, The Nyack Center/2009, Studio 98 Somerton/2009, The Chance/2009). I’ve loved that man’s aura since I first met him in 2003 while I was buying up all of Coheed and Cambria’s merch from him at the shows. Clearly I’m not the only one who feels this way because the crowd kept chanting his name between songs! They did a few more songs, then took a break and mingled for a bit. They performed “Clap if You <3 Someone,” gave us a taste of a completely unheard song- “Asylum,” first time ever live- “Ordinary Joe”… Unless that was during the first set? Hell I can’t remember. I’ll just list the other songs that I remember for sure. Josh gave a taste of the unreleased “Heaven Burns” a capella (the studio mp3 is on KillYourRapper), the intro to Sick Kids (which features Clip Payne of the Parliament Funkadelic), “Drugs,” “My War, Your Problem,” “God Bless Pepsi,” “Fuck You and Your Filthy A&R Dept.,” “Girl, Your Baby’s Wormfood,” “Joshua, They’re Laughing At You,” “Conspiracy Theories w/Out Mel Gibson,” “How To Be A…,” and they gave us a taste of “The Zodiac (Underground Rap Killer)” off the forthcoming Sick Kids (due out on Super Rap / Equal Vision Records 2010).

VinUcci (Morbid Mentality Studios) filmed the full set so look out for it on his youtube page. He’s got a bunch of older sets on there too.

This was the last Weerd Science show for… who knows how long. In a few weeks Josh is going out on tour with Terrible Things for like 9 weeks. They just wrapped up recording their debut record. More shows are being added to http://myspace.com/terriblethings daily. They’re also playing the midwest leg of Warped Tour this summer.

March 12 - with Circa Survive - Exit / In (Nashville, Tennessee)
March 13 - with Circa Survive - WorkPlay Theatre (Birmingham, Alabama)
March 14 - with Circa Survive - The Village (Little Rock, Arkansas)
March 15 - with Daylight Broadcast and Evolett - Star Bar (Beaumont, Texas)
March 18 - Pure Volume House (Austin, Texas)
March 19 - East Side Arthouse (Austin, Texas)
March 20 - free Alternative Press show - Emo’s (Austin, Texas)
March 22 - Black Sheep (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
March 24 - with Jonny Craig (Emarosa), Tides of Man, Romance On A Rocketship, Eye Alaska, Mod Sun (Four Letter Lie) - Launchpad (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
March 25 - with Story of the Year and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - Marquis Theatre (Denver, Colorado)
March 26 - with Story of the Year and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - Murray Theatre (Murray, Utah)
March 27 - with Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - Icon (Pocatello, Idaho)
March 28 - with Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - The Underground (Reno, Nevada)
March 30 - with Story of the Year and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - Slim’s (San Francisco, California)
March 31 - with Story of the Year and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - The Boardwalk (Orangevale, California)
April 1 - with Story of the Year - Revelle Plaza at UCSD (La Jolla, California)
April 2 - with Story of the Year and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - The Clubhouse Music Review (Tempe, Arizona)
April 3 - with Story of the Year and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - The Rock (Tucson, Arizona)
April 5 - with Story of the Year and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - The Profit Bar (Dallas, Texas)
April 6 - with Story of the Year and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - White Rabbit (San Antonio, California)
April 7 - with Story of the Year and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster - The Channel @ Wired Live (Houston, Texas)

April 10 - with Dashboard Confessional - Northern Lights (Clifton Park, New York)

April 11 - The El ‘n’ Gee Club (New London, Connecticut)

July 29 - Warped Tour - Marcus Amphitheater (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
July 30 - Warped Tour - Comerica Park (Detroit, Michigan)
July 31 - Warped Tour - Midwest Bank Amphitheatre (Tinley Park, Illinois)
Aug 1 - Warped Tour - Canterbury Park (Shakopee, Minnesota)
Aug 2 - Warped Tour - Sandstone Amphitheatre (Bonner Springs, Kansas)
Aug 5 - Warped Tour - Race City Speedway (Calgary, Alberta)
Aug 7 - Warped Tour - Utah State Fairgrounds (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Aug 8 - Warped Tour - Invesco Field (Denver, Colorado)

———

• Eppard Extravaganza 12.05.09

Skate Demon

Yesterday 47 year old John The Baker skateboarded 8+ hours from Oakland, California to Caliskatz in Fremont, CA as preparation for his 3 day skate benefit tour. May 28, 29, 30th will be the annual Skate Til You Die tour starting in Richmond and ending in San Jose with 3 punk rock shows along the way.

>official Skate Til You Die webpage
>Follow John The Baker on Twitter

>informative article on Skate Til You Die 2010

Mours: February 17, 2009

February 17, 2009
Mours at Darkworld Studio (Kingston, NY)

Inspiring Live (new) Music Weekend

Man, I’m kickin’ myself for not going to see Joey Eppard perform at the benefit for the Rosendale Street Festival Saturday night. I heard Josh Eppard ended up sitting in with him and the two played as only the Eppard Brothers can. Dang! But if I had gone I would’ve missed the wonderful Bears With Wings (they’re looking for a bass player) and the wicked Columbia (reminiscent of Breaking Pangaea. named after the space shuttle not the record label or misspelled country) at Valentine’s (downstairs) in Albany. I wouldn’t have missed the band I went there for though. Josh got to the venue in time to catch Nightmares For A Week. I’ve been dying to see them live since I first learned of the project about a year ago. Crazy that I haven’t been able to see them too because since their inception they’ve been constantly touring!

That being said… I’m so ready to see NFAW live again! I don’t believe the size of the stage or the audience did them much justice. I saw explosive energy sparking beneath, though it was still a damn energetic set. It was pretty amazing watching kids (in the audience) jump up and down in unison. It’s been ages since I’ve seen/felt that at a fun punk rock show. Actually, I think the last time was Anadivine’s reunion show at The Basement in Kingston May 25th, 2008… and I got a glimmer of it at John The Baker with Slimy Penis Breath’s 15 year reunion at The Basement on December 5th, 2009. The music brought back memories of Jerk Magnet, Anadivine, The Get Up Kids, The Ataris, Jawbreaker, Lucero, Alkaline Trio, hints of Pitchfork Militia… a whole era that’s sorely missed. NFAW certainly has that quality of accessibility cross-pollinated with intricacy touching upon a wide variety of genres resulting in a completely unique sound. A quality that seems to exist in all projects that grow off the branches of TheFamily3. I definitely agree with Alternative Press Magazine that Nightmares For A Week is a band you NEED to know.

I was compelled to pick up the NFAW EP “A Flood Tomorrow” (Music For End Times / Broken English) and upon listening to it in my car haven’t been able to turn it off. Sounds so much better than on myspace through laptop speakers! In addition to the crisp and sharply beautiful artwork was a phrase that I’m going to take to heart: Please copy and share this CD. http://www.mediafire.com/?iemzi2mmd41

1. Drown In The West (The Flood)
2. Smoking In Bed [featuring Alicia Castaneda on Violin and Mike Cashen on Vocals]
3. Tour Song [featuring Andy Parker]
4. Under The Wait
5. Graves

A Flood Tomorow was recorded at Leaning Tree Recording Studio as well as Nada Recording Studio by Sean-Paul Pillsworth (Nightmares For A Week. Ex-Jerk Magnet, Anadivine, Divest, Counterfeit Disaster) and John Naclerio (My Chemical Romance, Brand New, Matchbook Romance, Senses Fail, Midtown, Hot Rod Circuit, Polar Bear Club, The Audition, Just Surrender, NCM, I Am the Pilot, Every Avenue, The Forecast, These Green Eyes, Bedlight for Blue Eyes, AutoPilot Off, Joshua, Steel Train, Anadivine, Jerk Magnet, Next II Nothing, D.D.F., Southcott, Lounge, Verona Fair, Tattletales, The Starkiller, Soul For Sale). If you dig it please support the band and purchase the EP at a show ($5), on iTunes, Interpunk (remember that store?), NFAW’s merch store.

There’s a really good and detailed interview with and about Nightmares For A Week by Morgan Y. Evans from Crusher Magazine
>http://www.crushermagazine.com/features9_09/featnfaw.htm

Back on the “I wish I went” tip… Saturday, February 6th Joey Eppard performed at the art gallery- Cornell Street Studios in Kingston, NY. A real unique intimate way to experience the magic that is Joey Eppard in front of the vivid artwork of Scott Ackerman. I heard he performed a new, never-heard-before song. I also heard that there is no recording. Frig.

Back on the “I’m glad I went” tip… Friday night I went to my second favorite NYC venue (of any size. #1 is a completely different market- The Nokia Theatre in Times Square) Sullivan Hall in the East Village. It was Funk Fest 4. The Rozatones were so good I walked away with two copies of their record, “Body on the Move.” Supremely unique band. Though it’s lead by the beautiful red-headed Revi Roza on guitar and vocals, I could not divert my eyes from the keyboard player, Adam Gold. I’m pretty sure he was rockin’ a Fender Rhodes, a Clavinet, AND a Moog Synthesizer. I couldn’t stop dancing either! Adam Gold remained on stage for the headlining act. The three-piece funk-hop, Sophistafunk.

After Sophistafunk’s set was the late night show at Sullivan Hall: BioDiesel. Deeply technical jungle-hop dance music consisting merely of Clay Parnell (bass guitar, samples) and Johnny Rabb (drums, samples). Rabb is the fastest drummer in the world, holding the record for 1,071 strokes in 60 seconds. He’s a prime example of “just because you can doesn’t mean you must.” Their set reminded me a bit of the Weerd Science dudes in that it consisted of a stupidly sick drummer (along with a laptop) and a bass player triple-wielding a keyboard and laptop. A few years back Josh performed awe-inspiring drums with Coheed and Cambria along with Dave “Wavis” Parker double-wielding the keyboards and third guitar (no laptops though, hah). Josh and Dave are both very proficient and diverse musicians pursuing what they love- hip-hop. Because Rabb’s so skilled doesn’t mean he has to melt faces with Math-Rock. Truly extraordinary.

Sunday I was hoping to spend Valentine’s Day with Zach Deputy at The Red Square in Albany. Unfortunately, his van broke down in Pittsburgh stranding he and his team and preventing them from making it to Utica and Albany. Shit happens. Especially when you drive all around the country performing upwards of 270 shows a year. The last time I went to see him I was stuck driving around to find a parking spot in New York City’s East Village and finally got into the venue as he was packing his gear up. Thankfully Sullivan Hall has a ridiculously amazing sound system and recorded the set because before The Macpodz were over I was able to get a CD of his performance. Didn’t stop me from buying his album, “Sunshine,” though it is more fun to listen to. Zach Deputy is all about the live show. He’s a man with one of the most unique, soulful and powerful voices my ears have ever had the pleasure of hearing and he performs solo… looping guitar and sounds to create the illusion and feel of a full band presence. I was introduced to Zach Deputy last March by CJB who was looking for some backing vox for a prodigious artist from South Carolina who traveled up to Woodstock to record with him. The prior day Zach Deputy suffered the ill-fortune of having his van stolen (with all of his equipment) in Paramus, NJ (thus the song “Paramus”). He maintained a cool-demeanor and pulled together all resources he could to get gear to finish up his sophomore record. I ended up at Applehead Studio with Wavis and Ant Masington (Session 606) where we contributed vocals to “Fresh Street,” “Sunshine,” and “Cool Yourself Off.” Ever since I’ve been trying my damnedest to experience Zach Deputy’s music the way it’s meant to… live.

Here’s a list of what I’d like to hit up over the next few months:

thu. Feb 18 - Weerd Science - Red Square (Albany, NY)

fri. Feb 19 - Nightmares For A Week, The Ricochet - The Basement (Kingston, NY)

sat. Feb 20 - Mirk and the New Familiars - Lark Tavern (Albany, NY)

wed. Feb 24 - Weerd Science - The Basement (Kingston, NY) FREE SHOW!

fri. Feb 26 - Session 606 - Puck Live (Doylestown, PA)

fri. Feb 26 - Bernier/Schirmer/Bodie - The Basement (Kingston, NY)

sat. Feb 27 - Joey Eppard, Gartdrumm/Orchid, The Ricochet - Bearsville Theater (Woodstock, NY) [Cahill Elementary School Benefit]

wed. March 3 - The Ataris, Nightmares For A Week - Bogies (Albany, NY)

wed. March 3 - Frankie D & the Boys - Olives (Nyack, NY)

fri. March 5 - The Flatline Symphony - CJ’s Bar (Smyrna, DE)

fri. March 5 - Cock Lorge - Pianos (New York, NY)

mon. March 8 - Emily Long - Angels & Kings (New York, NY) [Akoustic Mondays]

wed. March 10 - Frankie D & the Boys - Olives (Nyack, NY)

sat. March 13 - Alana Orchid - The Colony Cafe (Woodstock, NY) [Benefit for local Battered Women’s Shelter]

mon. March 15 - Terrible Things - Star Bar (Beaumont, TX)

wed. March 17 - Frankie D & the Boys - Olives (Nyack, NY)

thu. March 18 - SXSW - Austin, TX

fri. March 19 - Portugal. The Man - Highline Ballroom (New York, NY)

fri. March 19 - SXSW - Austin, TX

sat. March 20 - Alternative Press’ Bands You Need to Know Free Showcase - Emo’s (Austin, TX)

wed. March 24 - Frankie D & the Boys - Olives (Nyack, NY)

thu. March 25 - Benefit to save Bannerman’s Castle - The Loft (Poughkeepsie, NY)

fri. April 2 - Cock Lorge - Pianos (New York, NY)

fri. April 2 - Bears With Wings, Turbine - Bogie’s (Albany, NY)

sat. Apr 17 - Emily Long - Pianos (New York, NY)

sat. Apr 17 - Zach Deputy - Sullivan Hall (New York, NY)

wed. Apr 28 - Brand New, P.O.S. - Northern Lights (Clifton Park, NY)

sat. May 8 - Skate Fest - The Palladium (Worchester, MA)

thu. June 10 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN

fri. June 11 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN

sat. June 12 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN

sun. June 13 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN

thu. July 29 - Warped Tour - Marcus Amphitheater (Milwaukee, WI)

fri. July 30 - Warped Tour - Comerica Park (Detroit, MI)

sat. July 31 - Warped Tour - Midwest Bank Amphitheatre (Tinley Park, IL)

sun. Aug 1 - Warped Tour - Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN)

mon. Aug 2 - Warped Tour - Sandstone Amphitheatre (Bonner Springs, KS)

thu. Aug 5 - Warped Tour - Race City Speedway (Calgary, Alberta)

sat. Aug 7 - Warped Tour - Utah State Fairgrounds (Salt Lake City, UT)

sun. Aug 8 - Warped Tour - Invesco Field (Denver, CO)

No One Can Fix Us

“The Broken,” the first track to be released off the end/beginning to Coheed and Cambria’s 5 record saga is the first glimpse into what the talented ex-Dillinger Escape Plan drummer, Chris Pennie brings to the new sound of the New Prog band. Chris Pennie has been the live drummer since 2007. Immediately after Josh Eppard’s departure, drum tech Michael Petrak filled in through the end of 2006 (along with Matt Williams on bass). Apparently Pennie contributed to the songwriting on 2007’s No World For Tomorrow however, he himself could not perform on the record due to contractual obligations. Instead, Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins played drums on NWFT. So this really is our first glimpse into how Chris Pennie’s feel has evolved the sound of the band.

Lyrically and musically it feels like this song will become an anthem for those self-declared misfits seeking comfort. Highly relateable, it seems. Personally I was hoping for more nuances from the Shabutie era considering Year of the Black Rainbow will be the prequel to the story, but it’s been over 10 years. Thank goodness the Penelope EP eventually leaked. If you’re down with huge-sounding radio rock, you’ll certainly be down with this rockin’ new song from Coheed and Cambria [produced by Atticus Ross (Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction) and Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Tool)].

Year of the Black Rainbow - May 13, 2010 - Columbia Records

1. One
2. The Broken - 3:53
3. Guns of Summer
4. Here We Are Juggernaut
5. Far
6. The Shattered Symphony
7. World of Lines
8. Made Out of Nothing
9. Pearl of the Stars
10. In the Flame of Error
11. When Skeletons Live
12. The Black Rainbow

Preorder: >http://www.sonymusicdigital.com/coheed-and-cambria/pages/5450630

Co&Ca will be touring preceding the release with Earl Greyhound. A few more dates have been added with Circa Survive and Torche.

For more info and to connect with other fans of Coheed and Cambria, visit the fansite, Cobalt and Calcium.

you’re such a fiend

Cubic Zirconia with Cage

“Josephine” single release show

01.30.10 Music Hall of Williamsburg

What a fucking full sensory experience! I haven’t had so much fun at a show in a long time. The line-up was Finger on the Pulse, Burt Fox, Telephoned, Cage and his band, and Cubic Zirconia. I thought I knew what I was in for, but honestly I had no idea. I went to this show under the guise of a hip-hop/dance performance, but what I got was so much more. There was a sexy dance troupe (LICK) performing to the music the DJs spun between sets. All things considered, it was the most well-oiled show I’ve been to! The flow from act to act was smoother than silk. The entire show was a celebration of the release of Cubic Zirconia’s raging second single, “Josephine.” It’s too bad PartyFM isn’t around anymore because I could totally hear the track being played on there. Telephoned performed some wicked dance renditions of pop songs, that I could totally also hear on PartyFM. Cage performed with his band which this night consisted of the super fun to watch and ridiculously talented Cardboard City All-Stars: F. Sean Martin (House of Blow, XO Skeletons, Ex-Hatebreed) on guitar, Joshua “Jarvis” Morgan Holden (Head Automatica, ex-American Nightmare/Give Up The Ghost) on bass, DJ Chauncey Johnson (Yak Ballz, House of Blow, XO Skeletons), Daryl Palumbo (Glassjaw, Head Automatica, House of Blow, United Nations, Geometry) on guitar (and some vox), and Nick Hook Conceller (Cubic Zirconia, ex-Men Women & Children) on keys. I snagged some shit video clips of “Eating It’s Way Out of Me,” “It’s The 80’s Again,” “Too Heavy For Cherubs,” “I Found My Mind in Connecticut,” “Ballad of Worms,” “Captain Bumout,” “Depart From Me,” “I Never Knew You,” “Shoot Frank (remix),” “Look At What You Did.” Cubic Zirconia were way too much fun. I couldn’t stop dancing! And that carried right on to the afterparty next door.

>more photos

FOB Part Ways, but Still and Forever Homies

ahomeboyslife:

to make it perfectly clear…

i dont know the future of fall out boy. its embarrassing to say one thing and then have the future dictate another. as far as i know fall out boy is on break. (no one wants to say the “h” word). as much as i dont have a solo project, i also cant predict that id ever play in fall out boy again. not due to personal relationships as much as a band we grew apart. in this statement id like to include there is the possibility that fob will play again with out me or i will be a part of it when everyone is on the same page. it is no ones fault and there is no animosity about the decision. i felt as fans you deserve to know. there is no singular reason for this. the side projects or bands are supported by all members of the band. i am the single biggest fan of fob and if this is our legacy than so be it. i am proud of it.

-Pete Wentz

The beat’s going on for the members of this multi-platinum band. Patrick Stump (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, producer) has a new project where it appears he will be the full band?

Drummer/Percussionist (Andy Hurley) and lead guitarist/backing vocalist (Joe Trohman) are in the final stages of Pre-Production on their latest project, The Damned Things. This band also features Keith Buckley (Every Time I Die), Scott Ian (Anthrax) and Rob Caggiano (Anthrax).

Pete Wentz has been tweeting back and forth with Craig Owens (Cinematic Sunrise, Ex-Chiodos, Isles & Glaciers, Ex-The Sound of Animals Fighting) about a project they’ve allegedly begun with each other.

“Light that smoke, yeah, one for giving up on me… and one just cause they’ll kill you sooner than my expectations”

Song: Rare Weerd Science "Kabul"

Weerd Science - Kabul (unreleased)

photo by: Nicole Terpening

free download: http://killyourrapper.com/2010/02/02/kabul/

many many thanks to CJB for diggin’ this gem outta the crates!!!

Josh Eppard originally recorded "Kabul" at Applehead Studio with Chris Bittner and Mike Birnbaum (sitar) in Woodstock, New York.