-824 days

Pieces of 3
Live at The Colony Cafe
Woodstock, NY
February 9th, 2008
filmed by: Chris Pohlman

1. Earth Rotates featuring Anni Krueger, Kwame (aka Gangstroph The Baptist) and Josh Eppard on drums
2. Box of Hammers (tease) / jam / new song? “Beat The Mets”
3. Shadowplay (Gartdrumm returns to his drumset)
4. Halloween
5. Bedroom in Hell
6. Endless Alibi
7. The Emerald Undertow / Careless Kim
8. Amaze Disgrace

Before Revisions, the Eppard Brothers live duo, the Progressive Nation Tour, 3 Nights of 3, percussionist Joe Stote’s departure… there was Pieces of 3.

3 had just returned from a long year of touring in support of their first full Metal Blade release The End is Begun (when the band initially signed to MB in 2005 Wake Pig was rereleased with 2 bonus songs- “One Way Town” and “Circus Without Clowns.”) They hit North America hard with British progressive rock greats Porcupine Tree and also the German hard rock legends Scorpions. Before 2007 came to a close, 3’s music video “All That Remains” was voted into the top 20 of MTV Headbanger’s Ball’s music videos of the year!

For this show… Joey Eppard, Daniel Grimsland, Billy Riker and Gartdrumm kicked it at home for a fun, anything goes-kinda gig, performing songs that don’t usually see the light of day. Prior to the above video- Joey, Billy and Gartdrumm performed some covers and Geez Louise material with Tom Benton (who founded Planet Noise Records to put out 3’s Paint By Number. Half Life, Summercamp Nightmare and Wake Pig were also released on the label before 3 got picked up by Metal Blade. Planet Noise Records put out Joey Eppard’s solo album, Been to the Future as well. Tom Benton now owns and operates the Tom Benton School of Music / Planet Noise Music store in Woodstock. Joey gives guitar lessons at that location on Sundays). Joey entertained the crowd with a few solo songs before his current bandmates joined him on stage.

Enjoy the set! It would’ve gone on longer had the kick drum head not fallen apart. Well, that’s what happens when you let Josh Eppard use your kit!

Which College-related Rap Song is best?

Haven’t had enough of last year’s overplayed hit? I came across this Sam Adams one on strikegently.com today. I know which one I like the best (the most creative one)… But yeah, I want to see which one you like the best… Each option is linked to a youtube video, so scope ‘em out and take your pick!

photo: Blondie at Applehead

Leigh Foxx at Applehead Studios in Woodstock, NY
during a session for the forthcoming Blondie record, Panic of Girls
photo by: Chris Stein

yoinked from the official Blondie website, blondie.net

Kickin’ off the Summer of Prog(ression)

Being a fan of King Crimson and Liquid Tension Experiment (Tony Levin + 3/5 of Dream Theater)… I’m supremely stoked for tonight. I’ve been kicking myself for not finding some way to catch the Liquid Tension Experiment decade reunion show at BB King’s in 2008 as well as any dates on the King Crimson + Porcupine Tree’s Gavin Harrison (drumming duo!) tour that same year. Well tonight should be just as epic. It’s the first date of a North American Tour Stick Men are embarking on in support of their new Soup record. The Stick Men are Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson’s drummer), and Michael Bernier; they will be supported by the new collaborative project- Gartdrumm/Orchid. I’ve seen a bunch of videos on youtube and the music, intricate as it is (Levin and Bernier play the Chapman Stick - a 12-stringed bass/guitar hybrid) is nothing short of beautiful. I also learned that on June 20th Adrian Belew (King Crimson) will be performing at the same venue (The Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, New York) with support from Gartdrumm’s 3 bandmate, Joey Eppard.

I won’t lie… I started listening to the Progressive Rock genre founding King Crimson after I saw Coheed and Cambria’s Travis Stever wearing a very bold shirt at many shows in 2004. I did some research and learned that the t-shirt design was actually the album cover of the King Crimson 1969 classic debut, In The Court of the Crimson King. I thought Coheed and Cambria was straight up prog (they’re more of a forefather of New Prog - which I define as, alternative rock with progressive tendencies) until I dug into King Crimson’s 13 full albums. From there my musical taste evolved to the more progressive end of the musical spectrum and I discovered the greatness and presence of it in 3.

I have yet to see any bit of King Crimson live, so I’m beyond excited. I’ve seen plenty videos of Tony Levin and his incredible stage presence, and saw the recent DVD of him with Peter Gabriel (Tony Levin has played on every single Peter Gabriel solo record). I actually met Tony Levin in 2007 at one of the 3 & Porcupine Tree shows.

Anyway, I’m psyched the audio of tonight’s show will be up on aftershowmusic.com to re-experience the majesty of the night.

Michael Bernier, Pat Mastelotto, Tony Levin at rehearsal
photo yoinked from Tony Levin’s blog.

> Soup record info + purchase link (album artwork by Michael Bernier and some of the mixes were done by Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson!)

> The Daily Freeman review of Soup

> The Daily Freeman: Stick Men Launch Tour in Bearsville

May 9 Woodstock / Bearsville Theater
May 11 Montreal / Cabaret Juste Pour Rire
May 12 Toronto / Lee’s Palace
May 13 Detroit / Magic Bag
May 14 Cleveland / Beachland Ballroom
May 15 Chicago / Martyrs
May 16 Minneapolis / Cedar Cultural Center
May 17 Milwaukee / Shank Hall
May 18 Cincinnatti / Southgate House
May 19 Pittsburgh / New Hazlett Theater
May 20 West Springfield, VA / Jaxx
May 21 Annapolis / Rams Head
May 22 Sellersville, PA / Sellersville Theatre

Jun 3 Fukuoka / Gate’s 7
Jun 4 Kurashiki / Red Box
Jun 5 Yonago / Belier
Jun 6 Osaka / Janus
Jun 7 Nagoya / Bottom Line
Jun 9 Sendai / enn
Jun 10 Tokyo / STB139
Jun 11 Tokyo / STB139

Cage + Kid Cudi?

Kid Cudi Let The Bag Out Of The Cat On KidCudi.com

I just woke up not too long ago from a death like sleep after an insane night. The earlier half of the night was spent in the studio with Cudi til about 1 AM. The song came out dope and I got to hear the album so loud last night. It bangs so hard and I smoked like 20 blunts and drank like 80 drinks. I partied with Daryl Palumbo and Nick Hook after. I returned home at 7 AM.

There is a crow outside my window looking at me.

xo

(via chrispalko)

Cage + Kid Cudi? Ill! Can’t wait to hear that joint.

On the other end of the spectrum-ish, I can’t wait to hear/see Avenged Sevenfold with Mike Portnoy! Them is touring.

Blending the two ends of that spectrum- Flannel Channel makes me feel like I’ve gotta sit here with a full bladder ‘til I explode/it comes out. Looks like there’s two Weerd Science joints on there now. “Asylum” (according to his Homecoming Show back in February) and “Rumors” (according to FC’s live ustream last Wednesday). Emily Long is on that shit, man. Local rappers Phil Puma, Pugs, Rick Whispers, Mazeman… Former Epic recording artist Sarai (the label dubbed her “Feminem” half a decade ago). Then back to the other side we’ve got Josh Eppard, Joey Eppard, Ant Masington, Chris Bittner, Gartdrumm, Ryan Moran, Alanna Quinn, Jared Colby… Shit. And that’s only what I’ve pieced together from CJB & Dirty Ern’s tweets! Sick sauce!

I’m stoked about music again.

> www.ChrisPalko.com (Cage)

> www.KidCudi.com

> www.AvengedSevenfold.com

> www.MikePortnoy.com

> twitter.com/FlannelChannel

Skate Til You Die! 2010

April 27th, 2006 Hudson Valley, New York’s Coheed and Cambria hit up San Jose State University Events Center in San Jose, California on their co-headlining tour with Avenged Sevenfold. Co&Ca drummer, Josh Eppard, called up his Uncle John The Baker to let him know he’d be close by- approximately an hour and a half drive away from Richmond, California. April 26th John Eppard hopped on his skateboard and began the 60+ mile trek south, to the other end of the San Francisco Bay. John skated about 40 miles, before he had to call a friend to pick him up and bring him the rest of the way to the show.

Later that year after a show at Burnt Ramen Studios John set out to finish what he’d started that day- a long distance skate from Richmond to San Jose- along with 3 friends… at midnight. 3 hours deep, the group took a pit-stop in East Oakland to rest up for the remainder of the journey. By the morning the fellowship was down to 3, but they skated on, for about 5 more hours, to Hayward. At that point, the troop was knocked down to two- JTB and Jared Power. Allegedly the third skater had called his mom to bring him home. John and Jared, however, forged ahead about 10 more hours to Sunnyvale.

In May 2009 the two hooked up and skated with a few others from Richmond to San Jose hitting up and playing Instant Asshole shows along the way to raise money for Adaptive Action Sports and Local Hard Core Kids Scholarship program. Dubbed, “Skate Til You Die!” after an Instant Asshole song (available only on 7”), John and Jared are going to do it again!!!

May 28th, 29th and 30th will be the second annual Skate Til You Die! benefit skate extravaganza… complete with live music every night!

Anyone who wants to join at any point of the passage can do so. Here’s how it’s goin’ down… The benefit will be kicked off 7:00 PM on Friday, May 28th, 2010 at Burnt Ramen Studios in Richmond with music from cht, Rhygin HC, Speed Wobbles, Follow Blindly, and John’s Instant Asshole. Admission is $5 and there will be no age restriction. Around midnight, when the show ends, John, Jared, and whoever else will “get the show on the road” with a 3 hour midnight skate to the Instant Asshole house in East Oakland.

After a good night’s rest, the crew will skate about 8 hours to Fremont on Saturday, May 29th, 2010. From there they’ll take a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train or be driven to Gilman Street in Berkeley. The show will be at 924 Gilman and start 7:30pm. The 24 year old all ages drug/alcohol/violence free DIY venue has been in the news lately because of an asinine recent rent spike. The historic west coast safe-haven for punk rock is in danger of shutting its doors (and maybe even turning into a hipster clothing store - well, that’s what happened with east coast’s CBGB). There’s more info on the situation and what you can do to help keep the punk project alive in Berkeley here. Oxnard’s classic punk band (one of the founders of “Nardcore” - not the legendary Bad Brains masterful guitarist) Dr. Know will be performing along with Instant Asshole as well as Minneapolis’ In Defence, and Bay Area reps Deadfall, Fix My Head. Admission is $8. Soon as the show ends, skaters have an hour and half skate back to East Oakland for sleep at the Instant Asshole house.

Sunday, May 30th, 2010 the skaters will get transported to Fremont where they’ll recommence rolling down to San Jose. The near 6 hour skate will end at a venue/house to be announced. I’ve seen this line-up posted around the web saying they’ll be at “Secret Generator Spot.” Instant Asshole, Follow Blindly, Duck And Cover, We Must Dismantle All This! (Urbana, Illinois), Vigilante Death Squad, D.E.G., Rhygin HC, and San Jose’s Mental Disaster.

With the funds raised, Skate Til You Die! will be making a donation to The Melanoma Research Foundation in memory of Douglas Gillespie, a pioneer in extreme sports and in the development of sports recovery nutrition. Another portion of the proceeds will go to their Skateparks That Rock Foundation, specifically for music at the infamous Skatopia.

You can participate in a number of ways. Obviously you can sign up to skate any stretch or the length of the tested course (you can do it! Hell, John’s 47 and did the skate to Fremont from Richmond a few weeks ago). You can sponsor a specific skater. You can also donate flat out.

Scope out The East Bay Express’ article on Skate Til You Die!
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/eastbay/skateboarding-down-the-bay/Content?oid=1369699

> Official Skate Til You Die! page

> follow Skate Til You Die! on twitter

John The Baker performing “Crack Baby” solo at Blakes on Telegraph in Berkeley opening for his other nephew, Joey Eppard’s band, 3 during their headlining tour on October 13th, 2008.

the MATH of Bernier/Schirmer/Bodie

Bernier/Schirmer/Bodie
chapman stick, rhodes, drums
audio: ”The Stuff That Stuff Is Made Of” rehearsal
video: stock footage

myspace.com/bernierbodie
myspace.com/schirmerbernier

I don’t know if the chicken or the egg came first, but being a MATH fan I became deeply excited listening to this performance. Sounds like this is a rendition of the twelfth jam from the [InsertYourNameHere] sessions, titled ”Absolute Proof (The Stuff That Stuff Is Made Of),” in trio + chapman stick form.

During June 2007 Mike Schirmer and David Bodie joined forces with David “Wavis” Parker, PEACEBOMB’s Max Oleson (where's Max?), founding MATH members - 3’s Joey Eppard and Billy Riker - to jam at Dave Daw’s Darkworld Studio in Kingston, NY. They let the tape roll and by the end of the session, Alana Orr (aka Orchid) showed up and graced the assembly with the magic of her bass shaping what’s now called, “We Were Optional.” Riker sold some gear and in turn commissioned graphic design of a logo, album artwork and a concert flyer by Jesse Kinbar of Eastside Creative. The group printed up a limited amount of copies of the jams ([InsertYourNameHere]) arranging the tracks from the last jam to the first, as well as a handful of t-shirts and tank-tops. They concluded the whole experience with a super fun semi-improv concert at Woodstock’s The Colony Cafe on June 22nd, 2007 featuring friends Kiss Kiss, Dr Manhattan, and Can’t Face The Falling. Being 3’s merch master, Max sold the remaining copies at 3’s merch table during their tours with Scorpions and Porcupine Tree.

MATH was formed in 1996 as an instrumental improvisational outlet for Billy Riker (guitar), Joey Eppard (bass) and Ed Cercone (drums). Their first session was recorded from a boombox to cassette. The collective performed a few feel-good shows (graduation parties, summer parties and even a meditational gathering) throughout that year and the next. In 2000 the trio got together to jam in a studio, this time utilizing Joey’s vocal prowess. A month later they celebrated the music by performing an improv show in Woodstock (which was apparently recorded). MATH didn’t return again until the magic of [InsertYourNameHere].

David Bodie has since joined Kayo Dot and drummed on the recently released record, Coyote.

I can’t find any info on what Mike Schirmer’s up to. He has toured with Mercury Rev, Ani DiFranco, Sarah Lee and rocks with InPravda.

Michael Bernier will be performing with his chapman stick student, Tony Levin, in their band Stick Men, along with King Crimson’s Pat Mastelotto in celebration of their Soup record release at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock on Sunday, May 9th. The latest improv project, Gartdrumm/Orchid will be providing support. The rest of this month Stick Men is scheduled to tour around the US & Canada. They’re also heading out to Japan for a bunch of gigs in June.

photo: Gartdrumm/Orchid

Eppard/Gartdrumm/Orchid
live at Keegan Ales
Kingston, NY
April 30, 2010
photo by: Chris Bittner (@CJB1110)

Joey Eppard, Chris Gartmann, Alana Orr jamming on a completely new project. This was the third or fourth live performance. Sunday, May 9th Gartdrumm/Orchid will be providing support for Tony Levin, Michael Bernier, and Pat Mastelotto’s Stick Men at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock.

Pugs - See You In Hell (free download)

Pugs is an Upstate New York rapper- born in the Bronx, raised in Yonkers and reppin’ Saugerties. He used to kick it with Weerd Science (known then as Lil’ J), Bobby Delicious and Wavis when they were working on the Newborn record in 1998/1999. Recently he put his debut self-produced record, See You in Hell, up for free download. He also just contributed to DJ Dirty Ern and CJB’s Flannel Channel Project. Pugs is currently working on his sophomore effort, Tilll The End of Time, expected out September 2010 on his label, Final Touch Records.

> myspace.com/pugs845

> twitter.com/pugs845

> facebook.com/pages/PUGS/172578582943

download the full record: http://www.datpiff.com/FINAL_TOUCH_RECORDS_PUGS_See_You_In_Hell.m111633.html

new Coheed and Cambria music video

The announcement has been made, on May 3rd Vevo will be premiering the new video Here We Are Juggernaut. They have put together a little preview to hold you over until the day comes.

Talk about this with others here.

Source: http://cobaltandcalcium.com/2010/04/29/here-we-are-juggernaut-video-coming-may-3rd/

Four more days until the premiere of Coheed and Cambria’s first music video off their fifth studio effort, Year of the Black Rainbow. Well it’s the second music video, but for the first single? ”The Broken” was the first studio track we got to listen to, back in February, on Co&Ca’s myspace page. A few days short of a month later, “Here We Are Juggernaut” was posted on the myspace page. Less than a week after that, the video for “The Broken” was exclusively posted on myspace videos. Phew. There’s been so many releases in lieu of YOtBR, I’ve lost track! Personally I’ve really enjoyed the song-by-song in-the-studio preview about-the-song videos for each song (there’s just two left!), though one can only hear so many times how much Matt Pinfield loves the band. Richard Christy, on the other hand, I enjoy merely because of a story I heard about him pissing himself during a Co&Ca set due to being too transfixed to walk to the bathroom.

Rewatching that video, it’s clear that was more of a promo video than a music video. Just for fun, I say we kick it back to their first music video.

I don’t know who the chick is, or the baby… but those doctor’s eyes have got to be Josh’s… and the dude… he’s Mike Birnbaum, (SSTB, IKS producer) without a doubt.

But the best Coheed and Cambria music video ever may just be…

Phil Puma - Dance With The Devil (free download)

Phil Puma is an Upstate New York emcee by way of Queens. His mixtape, Dance With the Devil, is up for free download. Phil has worked with CJB and Dirty Ern at Applehead Studio as well as at Mazeman Studio. He has also recently participated in the Flannel Channel project.

> myspace.com/PhilPuma81

> twitter.com/philpuma81

> facebook.com/phil.puma

free album download: http://www.mixtapefactory.com/DANCE-WITH-THE-DEVIL.html

Terrible Things (uploaded new song "Revolution")

Terrible Things (Josh Eppard, Fred Mascherino, Andy Jackson - formerly Initials) have just posted their debut studio track for us to check out! Until now we’ve only been able to listen to Fred’s demo of “The Hills of Birmingham,” which hit 1,000,000 plays last week. That recording as well as the acoustic demo of “Up At Night” are on the first Terrible Things release- a 7” single put out on Saturday, April 17th for Record Store Day 2010.


live acoustic video of Fred Mascherino (The Color Fred) performing a new song at Café Metropolis in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on August 14, 2009. Fred’s new band posted the studio version of this song on their myspace profile. It’s called, “Revolution.”

> myspace.com/terriblethings

The Broken Radio (Saturday Nights)

I’m definitely tuning in tonight!

Last month, news of a very intriguing radio show surfaced on the interwebs. It’s called The Broken Radio and promises to exclusively play Coheed and Cambria as well as bands that are related in some form. It’s about time something like this existed! There’s such a deep world of art within the family that extends much further than just Claudio Sanchez, Travis Stever, Mic Todd, Josh Eppard and Chris Pennie! Last week was the inaugural show. The Broken Radio airs Saturday nights at 10pm EST on AM 1230 in Southern New England (the only AM station in Rhode Island) and streams on http://www.wblq.net for the rest of us to lend an ear. According to @BrokenRadio33, tonight they will be giving away a free “Guns of Summer” 7”. That’s the vinyl that Coheed and Cambria released exclusively for Record Store Day last Saturday! The gorgeous picture disc features “Guns of Summer” on one side and a demo version of “Pearl of the Stars” on the opposite. So tune in for your chance to win!

Last week’s playlist featured-

• Coheed and Cambria - The Broken
• Coheed and Cambria - Far
• Terrible Things - The Hills of Birmingham (demo)
• Mours - Sharks in London
• Weerd Science - Conspiracy Theories w/Out Mel Gibson
• Coheed and Cambria - A Favor House Atlantic
• Coheed and Cambria - Ten Speed (of God’s Blood And Burial)
• Coheed and Cambria - Here We Juggernaut (Live Acoustic 04.12.10)
• Coheed and Cambria - Wake Up (Live Acoustic 04.12.10)
• Coheed and Cambria - Far (Live Acoustic 04.12.10)
• Coheed and Cambria - Gravemakers and Gunslingers
• Coheed and Cambria - Under The Milky Way
• Coheed and Cambria - Junesong Provision

The Broken Radio logo was the winning submission in a design contest. The artist is Jerry Jimenez.

(via athousandtorches)

Flannel Channel with Weerd Science

@realjosheppard writin with @cjb1110 over a dirtyern12 beat w @bbbubbles

(via flannelchannelmusic)

This makes me so stoked to hear the whole Flannel Channel record! The FC project is like a collection of hip hop inspired beats created by DJ Dirty Ern and CJB (Chris Bittner)… mostly originating from the iPhone beatmaking app. They then took their beats to Applehead Studio, where CJB has been the house engineer for nearly a decade (pretty much since he left 3). There the duo breathed life into the beats, as only they could do, and brought in an array of talented friends to make each beat a beautiful song of their own. See, Chris has touched many classic records with his original production sound… such as the genre-definers: 3 - Paint By Number, Coheed and Cambria - Second Stage Turbine Blade, Coheed and Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, The Sleeping - Believe What We Tell You, Codeseven - Dancing Echoes/Dead Sounds, Straylight Run - Straylight Run, Anadivine - Zoo, Weerd Science - Friends and Nervous Breakdowns, Four Letter Lie - Let Your Body Take Over, The Sleeping - Questions and Answers, Medicated Kisses - Medicated Kisses… to name a few. I’ve been a fan of every record his name is attached to, whether or not I knew at the time he was associated with it. The duo started out sharing information on the project via twitter, and have since created a tumblr and a facebook page. Across all three resources I have been able to piece together that in addition to Weerd Science (Josh Eppard)… Gartdrumm (3), Joey Eppard (3), Alanna Quinn (Medicated Kisses), Ant Masington (Session 606), Emily Long, Jared Colby (Trapdoor Studios), Mazeman, Pugs, Rick Whispers, Ryan Moran (The Midnight Renewal), and Sarai have also participated in the project throwing their own essence into the mixing pot of Flannel Channel songs.

What was really fucking cool was- last night Dirty Ern began streaming live from Applehead on his iPhone giving us at home an exclusive glimpse of what goes on when Weerd Science is writing/tracking a song! After tuning into the Flannel Channel, every clip that’s been shared is stuck on loop in my mind. The final product is bound to be ridiculous. I’m writhing in anxiety until I get the chance to pop that record in my car stereo and let the magic seep into my ear canals! Thankfully I got to cool myself off a bit by chatting with fellow fans on the ustream page and then in a tinychat when the stream wrapped.

Now the question that remains… Where the fuck is Sick Kids?!?!?

Frankie and His Fingers ➔ By Land Or Sea - Hell Broke Loose

By Land Or Sea - Hell Broke Loose

1. Tinman
2. No Fizz Outta My Soda
3. The Gimme Gimmes
4. Frankenstein
5. I Saw You on a Map of Egypt
6. ➔Wood/Lead
7. Cool With Cars, Bad With Bridges
8. The Whole Thing
9. Gameshow
10. Stop It Kid, You’re Creepin’ Me Out
11. Children
12. Hell Broke Loose

The killer Kingston, NY 3 piece (formerly known as Frankie and His Fingers - the fun band with a girl drummer!) are celebrating the release of their debut LP at The Colony Cafe in Woodstock on Saturday, April 24th, 2010. Ulster County’s Nightmares For A Week (ex-Anadivine, Astronauts) and The Paper Planets will also be performing.

The record was recorded with Kevin McMahon at Marcata Recording.

Copies of Hell Broke Loose will be available at the shows. Pretty soon it may also be purchased online in both digital and physical formats.

Upcoming shows:

April 22 - The General Clinton Pub (21+) - Oneonta, New York
April 24 - The Colony Cafe (all ages) - Woodstock, New York
May 07 - Bowman Structure - Kerhonkson, New York
May 21 - Casey Joe’s Coffeehouse (all ages) - Arkville, New York

Joey Eppard, Paul McMahon, Frankie McGuinness during the Songwriters Circle at Woodstock Mothership in 2008

> myspace.com/bylandorsea
> Facebook
> Twitter

Best 420 Ever!

(lower quality video for mobile viewing)

What started out as just a random rehearsal spawned into a childhood dream becoming reality. Since they were kids Gangstroph The Baptist (Kwame Wiafe-Akenten Jr.) hoped one day he could share a stage with his BF4Ls, Joey Eppard and Josh Eppard. Stemming as far back as 1986 Josh & Kwam were recording songs together, but those songs never left the Eppards’ basement. In 2002 Josh & Kwam began to tour the world with Coheed and Cambria and G.T.B. became a staple at the shows, selling merch. From then until late 2007 you could always count on seeing Kwam’s friendly face and shootin’ the shit with him. Hell, on the Live at the Starland Ballroom DVD and in the In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 liner notes he’s even credited as being a band member with the position of “Merch Master.” In December 2004 Kwam’s dream half came true as he toured with Josh, but this time performed beside his homie as sort-of his straight-man for a few Weerd Science shows (with support from an unknown group at the time, Geneva’s Gym Class Heroes). March 22, 2005 they saw the first official release of their work. Equal Vision Records / Super Rap put out Friends and Nervous Breakdowns. Weerd Science toured again in May 2005 supporting Bane (on the run for The Note). I got the chance to really meet the guys during their stop at the infamous CBGBs in NYC and conducted an interview along with Nathan Rosenquist for the website we worked with, Cobalt and Calcium, backstage. Just before their third album, Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume 1: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness (September 20, 2005) was released, Wavis (David Parker) joined Kwam & Josh on tour as Coheed and Cambria’s first live keyboardist (and (only) third guitarist). Wavis stayed with Co&Ca until late 2007. Anyway, the rainy 4/20 last year was a dream come true. With DJ Dirty Ern, Joey Eppard, Gartdrumm (Josh’s drum mentor and replacement in 3), Ant Masington (WS live guitarist, Josh & Wavis’ Mours co-writer, Session 606) and Daniel Grimsland (3’s bassist)- the epic day at the local art gallery had to be captured somehow. Wavis ran over to Salvin and grabbed some microphones and lighting. He set up a make-shift recording rig and Jackie was called over to videotape (he also recorded the Sick Kids Applehead Studio video). He captured organic performances of 3 songs off Weerd Science’s forthcoming Equal Vision / Super Rap Records release, Sick Kids. The artwork on the walls of that room in Cornell Street Studios were Amy Ackerman originals. This whole thing was truly a different animal. You could call it acoustic, but I like to refer to these performances as the first Weerd Science UnRapped session (the term “unrapped” was initially coined by Ern during a conversation with Wavis and I outside Mariner’s Harbor). Absolutely beautiful. I love the 8 piece ensemble’s interpretation of the hip hop songs! The multiple vocalists, Josh on guitar… This shit is just way too cool. Many thanks to CJB (Chris Bittner) for making the audio files sound as good as they do! I included the mp3 of “Dear S.A.M.” in my first digital compilation, Butterflies and Butcher Knives (along with 18 other amazing songs from the Hudson Valley, NY region).

Happy 42(1)0! Stay safe

Emily Long - When I Was in Love With

Bad ass Brooklynite (by way of Tucson, Arizona) songstress, Emily Long, is celebrating the self-release of her debut LP, When I was in Love With, at Pianos in NYC on Saturday, April 17th at 10PM (sharp). The record is already up for preview and download on iTunes in addition to her 2007 Cosmetics Liquor Love Songs EP. The show doubles as Emily’s birthday party, so there will be cake! (and buttons, but don’t eat those too.) New songs will also be unleashed, being as she’s 8 songs deep into writing follow-up record. 2 previously unheard songs, “The Body” and “The End” were performed last month during Emily Long and her band’s appearance on WXCI’s Smorgasbord. Also during that appearance she stated production for her next album could begin in the fall. The record is on her own, Tiger Blanket Records.

This celebratory show comes after Emily Long and her band’s inaugural venture out to SXSW. Emily, herself, also just wrapped up a session at the famed Applehead Studio in Woodstock, New York where she recorded a track for DJ Dirty Ern (Weerd Science) and Chris Bittner (Bad Brains, Soulive, King Crimson, John Mayer, Codeseven, Anadivine, Four Letter Lie, Coheed and Cambria, Straylight Run, The Sleeping)’s hip-hop inspired Flannel Channel record.

Initially When I Was in Love With began when Emily Long and her band traveled up to Kingston, NY to record some scratch demos for the purpose of handing venues and whatnot an example of their work. After a session with David “Wavis” Parker (Weerd Science, original live Coheed and Cambria keyboardist) when they managed to track a whopping 9 songs in one day, Emily felt the recordings were much more special than mere demos. She took a trip back to her hometown, tracks in tow, and polished them up with Producer John Turi (who’s worked with Jimi Hendrix, Ronnie Spector, Bulldog, Aerosmith, The Crests and The Aquatones, but mostly known for his collaboration with Cyndi Lauper- Blue Angel) in her favorite, Loveland Studio.

Emily first picked up the guitar at age 10 and joined numerous punk bands during her teenage years. In 2001 she contributed vocals to fellow Tucsonians, The Bled, for the song “My Cyanide Catharsis” off their self-titled DIY EP.

Her music has been featured in Prom Queen (web series), WB’s “Sorority Forever,” Jason Priestly’s “The Lake” and on the Bad Girls Don’t Cry compilation (along with Amy Winehouse and Duffy). I’ve read articles that draw comparisons to Blondie, Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper, Katy Perry, Wendy James, Concrete Blonde, Stevie Nicks, Martha Davis, John Waite, Joan Jett, The Runaways, and Joy Division. Emily Long’s influences are much more diverse. She states her influences as Queen, Blondie, Ronnie Spector, The Breeders, Liz Phair, The Gossip, Nirvana, The Comas, PJ Harvey, The Beach Boys, David Bowie, Wanda Jackson, Elvis, Hole, The Beatles, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, T. Rex, Celebration, Tammy Wynette, Gene Pitney, The Crystals, Barbra Streisand, Bonnie Tyler, Antony and The Johnsons, Ryan Adams, The Pretenders, The Cars expressing a love for punk, folk, indie rock, electronica and even disco. Emily Long truly has a sound of her own.

1. Anyone Else
2. Ringing Bells
3. Home
4. Long Enough
5. Near
6. Shoulda Run
7. The Truth
8. Joey (Concrete Blonde cover song)
9. Can’t Let Go
10. The Blackout
11. Cry Some More

April 17 - Pianos - New York
April 20 - Crash Mansion - New York (ReThinkPopMusic showcase with Haakon’s Fault, Average World, Ambassadors, The Glorious Veins - $5, open bar from 7-9PM)
May 28 - Lit Lounge - New York (with Devin & Little Angels - $6, 9pm)

> myspace.com/emilylongrocks

> @emilylongrocks

> facebook

Kayo Dot: Coyote, Cambria, Rock-A-Rolla

Here in Neeshland we don’t like the constriction of genres. We like music that breaks free from the ordinary. Kayo Dot is a perfect example of such music. I’ve seen their music be categorized as avant-garde, post-rock, post-metal, postmodern classical, progressive rock, experimental doom metal, post-hardcore, free jazz… Their sound is truly uncategorizable. There’s usage of many different instruments and their songs can extend to 18 minutes in length.

Coyote (April 20, 2010) Hydra Head Records
dedicated to Yuko Sueta

In just a few days Kayo Dot will be releasing their fourth studio record, Coyote. You can preorder directly from Toby Driver and receive an additional CD-R of a live 2009 performance in handmade packaging for $15 (in the US, which includes shipping… or $18 overseas). The material of the album began taking shape two years ago, in April 2008, as a collaborative long-form composition piece by frontman Toby Driver and NYC-based writer/filmmaker/video artist, Yuko Sueta. It was intended to be a film projected along with music; Yuko as the author and Toby as the composer. September 2008 Toby and Yuko shared a first draft at The Stone with the music performed by Toby (bass guitar, vocals), Kayo Dot’s Daniel Means (alto sax), Tim Byrnes (trumpet), Kayo Dot’s Terran Olson (piano), Kayo Dot’s David Bodie (percussion). Sadly, not too long after, Yuko became incapacitated from Breast Cancer. Toby re-adapted the music and Kayo Dot (with Tim) performed it on their May 2009 tour with Secret Chiefs 3. June-July 2009 the band shacked up with Producer Randall Dunn (Sunn O))), Earth, Six Organs of Admittance) in Seattle and recorded Coyote. Yuko passed while the record was in post-production. Cited musical influences include: early Cure, Faith and the Muse, Bauhaus, Herbie Hancock’s Sextant, and Scott Walker’s The Drift. According to Solid PR,

The lyrics and story were constructed with deliberate melodrama to pay homage as well to the intended gothic vibe, expressing the protagonist’s loneliness and longing to be in a better place, and her journey through her own personal looking-glass through a hallucinatory world of fear and wonder.

Original member (and pre-cursor band, maudlin of the Well, member) Terran Olson returned after several years during the odyssey to Coyote. This also marks the first Kayo Dot album drummer, David Bodie, appears on. The Kayo Dot website describes Bodie’s performance on the record as, “more rhythm-oriented than heard in previous Kayo Dot music.” Previously David Bodie has drummed in Bernier/Schirmer/Bodie, Time of Orchids, MATH, Counterfeit Disaster and Divest.

Fun factoid: Mia Matsumiya, Kayo Dot’s beautiful Japanese violinist, was the original model for the female face in Coheed and Cambria’s Second Stage Turbine Blade liner notes.

Currently Kayo Dot is up for Deli Magazine’s NYC Artist of the Month. Vote for them here (in the upper right corner).

to book Kayo Dot on their Coyote Tour contact:
US booking - Merrick Jarmulowicz / The Kenmore Agency (merrick@thekenmoreagency.com)
mainland European booking - Vincent Royers / Odyssey Booking (vincent@odysseybooking.com)

Currently in need of a UK Booking agent. Contact the band if you are interested!

Kayo Dot’s first magazine cover-

Featuring:

Kayo Dot: Toby Driver talks Coyote and goth fusion!
Red Sparowes: Post-rock supergroup return with their first album in four years, The Fear Is Excruciating, But Therein Lies The Answer!
Ufomammut: Italian progressive psych-doom trio celebrate ten years with their latest masterpiece, Eve!
Black Breath: Southern Lord’s latest signing unleash their debut album!
Jucifer: Sludge metal husband/wife duo go DIY!
Eluvium: Ambient/shoegaze/minimalist explorer Matthew Cooper goes pop!
Oxbow: Eugene Robinson remembers the making of Fuckfest in the first of our Classic Albums series!

Plus! Wold, Årabrot, Public Guilt, Mouse On The Keys, Caspian, Errors, live action: Sir Richard Bishop, The Ex & Brass Unbound, White Hills + Pontiak, over 100 album reviews and much, much more!

Only in Rock-A-Rolla issue 25, out now!

Buy issue 25 now: http://www.rock-a-rolla.com/backissues.htm

> www.kayodot.net

“Year of the Black Rainbow” day

From the moment I first heard the song “Far,” my ears perked up. Interesting. Different. Yet completely understandable. After watching this video from Claudio Sanchez’s acoustic performance yesterday, I’ve completely fallen in love with this song - to the point of tears. As if that wasn’t enough, watching the video explaining what makes “Far” truly did make me cry. Coheed and Cambria have managed to escape the “emo” label, but that doesn’t stop their music from bringing us to our knees like little bitches!

Thank you so much Broken Radio for capturing that moment!

Terrible Tuesday: Original 3 Edition 04.06.10

Joey Eppard, Josh Eppard, Chris Bittner
photographer: Nicole Terpening

Here’s what’s up with current 3. They’re in pre-production of their seventh record and are back with Metal Blade Records. Gartdrumm (Josh’s mentor and major drumming inspiration) has been posting teaser vid clips on his facebook page as well as his twitter (@Gartdrumm).

Joey’s got a couple shows coming up (he’s still giving guitar lessons on Sundays at Planet Noise Music in Woodstock)

April 10 - Powder Mill Barn - Enfield, Connecticut
April 17 - Harmony - Woodstock, New York

Gartdrumm’s latest side project, Gartdrumm/Orchid will be providing support for Stick Men’s hometown and Soup record release show.

May 09 - Bearsville Theater - Woodstock, NY

Daniel Grimsland has been performing live with The Ricochet, filling in while they find a permanent bass player. He also performed on the record, Don’t Feel.

That’s what’s up with 3. Moving on, founding drummer of 3, Josh Eppard (world-renown for his open-handed, single pedal style), has been touring the United States with his latest project, Terrible Things. Tonight they’re performing at White Rabbit in San Antonio supporting Maylene & the Sons of Disaster (ex-Underoath) and Story of the Year. Tomorrow they’ll be in Houston, Texas at The Channel @ Wired Live with the same line-up. Terrible Things will then be performing two shows on the East Coast. Their debut album is set to release summer 2010 on Universal/Motown Records. Terrible Things will be performing several dates on the Midwest leg of Warped Tour.

April 10 - Northern Lights - Clifton Park, NY (Dashboard Confessional, Terrible Things)
April 11 - El ‘n Gee - New London, CT (Terrible Things)

Joey, Josh, and even Gartdrumm have also recently contributed to Chris Bittner’s latest project, Flannel Channel. The Flannel Channel is CJB and DJ Dirty Ern’s collaborative studio project… with a slew of artists. Genre-defying. From iPhone App to the multi-million dollar facility, Applehead Studio in Woodstock.

I’m lucky enough to have previewed each song… and I’ve gotta say, I haven’t heard anything like them before. The actual songs blow the original concept out of the fucking water! It’s like organic hip hop with an r&b tinge… super soulful with a rock sensibility… It’s just beautiful. I can’t wait for the whole thing to get further along and be shared!

Additional artists who’ve been tracked thus far include:

Alanna Quinn (Medicated Kisses)
Ant Masington (Session 606)
Emily Long
Jared Colby (Trapdoor Studios)
Mazeman
Pugs
Rick Whispers
Ryan Moran (The Midnight Renewal)
Sarai

subscribe to the RSS feed or just check up on http://flannelchannelmusic.tumblr.com every now and then for the latest on Flannel Channel. Currently there's videos and photos from the sessions up.

There’s also twitter (@FlannelChannel)

and you can become a fan on facebook- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flannel-Channel/110316222320413

That’s what’s up!

The Age Old Battle: Coheed and Cambria vs. My Chemical Romance

Now I’m tuned in… and I can’t look away! It’s down to a pretty real battle I’ve witnessed first hand. My Chemical Romance vs. Coheed and Cambria. No, I haven’t seen the members throw down. As far as I know, they’re totally cool with each other. The two have played plenty of shows together, stemming back to the early days. Pre-obscene make-up and comic books.

I first took note (and created a mental rivalry) back when Co&Ca filmed their Live at the Starland Ballroom DVD. Though MCR was a scene giant, Co&Ca had a slightly larger fanbase- fresh off their first headlining Warped Tour- selling out the show within minutes (I guess the tickets being $0.92 helped too… and I could swear one of the MCR dudes was biting off Claudio’s hair). That was August 20th, 2004. A few months later the two bands performed at the same venue, this time as a benefit for the victims of the massive Christmas Tsunami. January 12th, 2005 was the date. Taking Back Sunday headlined and My Chemical Romance performed second to last. Coheed and Cambria had the spot before MCR. Most felt Co&Ca’s set was a flop, since they utilized their half hour by sharing 3 songs no one had ever heard before. Soon as I realized this was happening, I hit the record button on my digital camera to capture some audio, shitty as it may be, to preserve the moment and share with my friends around the world. News from the band was few and far between and I felt the need to share my privilege. They’d been writing in Applehead Studio for their third LP, Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV | Volume I: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness and took a break for this worthy cause organized by Linkin Park’s Music For Relief and the new defunct 92.3 K-Rock. The line-up for this first concert was Like Yesterday, The Banner, Senses Fail, Coheed and Cambria, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday. Yeah, even though Coheed and Cambria headlined the same venue 4/5 months earlier with tickets selling out faster than this event, My Chemical Romance shot up in national fame and at this point were nearly as popular as Taking Back Sunday. The line-up for Sunday, January 16 was: Like Yesterday, The Youth Ahead, Gym Class Heroes, Silverstein, Underoath, MewithoutYou, Catch 22, The Early November, Midtown and The Starting Line. Overall $150,000 was raised and donated.

I had just volunteered to help out with a baby fansite with big dreams… and this was pre-youtube. Anyway, I sent the videos to Brian who sent ‘em to someone else to strip the audio and make it sound as decent as possible. AbsolutePunk.net recognized our “exclusive” and wrote about Cobalt and Calcium for the first time. A few weeks later Claudio Sanchez registered to post some silliness about the studio and figure out how to download the live audio sets we’d gathered from all the other failed/abandoned fansites and others’ harddrives. It’s funny how things work out.

I like “Helena” and all, but overall I feel Coheed and Cambria has better songs than My Chemical Romance. I hope Co&Ca wins. That’d be some poetic justice for sure. Especially after MTV’s review of CoCa’s set that show was nothing but negativity… about what blossomed into some of the best Rock songs of the decade. > MTV: Taking Back Sunday, MCR Unite for Tsunami Benefit

My Chem got to the championship by hammering Muse in the semifinal, winning 69-31, getting balanced scoring from the Way brothers and a triple-double from guitarist Ray Toro, who abused Muse’s Christopher Wolstenholme in the low post. Thanks to the fanatical support of their MCRmy, My Chem have knocked off not only Muse, but upstarts Panic! at the Disco, tournament favorites 30 Seconds to Mars, the mighty Pearl Jam and the upset-minded Gorillaz, and now they stand on the precipice of claiming their first-ever championship.

Of course, it’s not going to be easy, because standing in their way are Coheed and Cambria, who may be unstoppable at this point (they are definitely the Duke to MCR’s Butler), especially after C&C mauled Tokio Hotel in the semifinal, winning 62-38 (the actual numbers were 30,788 votes to 18,491). And yes, we’re aware that there were some, uh, shenanigans being employed by Coheed fans, but they don’t seem to have overly skewed the results, so Coheed move on! (Take heart, Tokio fanatics, the band’s defeat will not be in vain: We’re going to safeguard finals voting against any further chicanery using top-secret technology.)

So who will come out on top in our Musical March Madness championship game, My Chemical Romance or Coheed and Cambria? The MCRmy or the Children of the Fence? It’s going to be one for the ages, for certain.

> MTV’s Musical March Madness: Championship Matchup Revealed!

Polls are open until April 6th at 10pm (EST, I assume)
Vote here > MTV News’ Musical March Madness Championship Game: My Chemical Romance Vs. Coheed And Cambria

Portugal. The Man are Led Zeppelin’s latest labelmates

First off, where’d the “.” go in PTM’s name? I’m certain it caused all sorts of confusion, but that shit was badass!

We were approached by Atlantic Records about seven or eight months ago and as of a couple of days ago have made a decision to join their family, and let them into ours. This decision was not made based on one or two talks, or without other labels contacting us, but based on history of the label and the history of our band

On Atlantic they join fellow former Equal Vision Records band Circa Survive who’s third record and debut major release, Blue Sky Noise, will be released on 420. Well Portugal. The Man wasn’t totally on EVR. I believe it was somewhat of a distribution deal for their own imprint, Approaching AIRballoons. I’m curious to see how that will play out now. It’s certainly been a while since Swan Song Records.

March 2nd, 2010 P.TM released their final EVR record, American Ghetto. Portugal. The Man’s last 3 records were put out on Equal Vision (2008’s Censored Colors, 2009’s The Satanic Satanist). Their Atlantic debut will be their sixth full-length record.

Their debut, Waiter: “You Vultures! (Fearless Records) was my favorite record of 2006 and I’ve admired nearly everything about them ever since. They’ve consistently released a delicious album a year (not to mention the bunch of EPs sprinkled in) ever since.

We are people. We are people that happen to love music, we happen to live, eat, sleep, think and love within this bubble of music. Going into these talks we made it perfectly clear, painfully clear, that we love what we do. We live for it. No amount of money could change this band… to be fair to that statement, we already do this on our own and have done it for sometime now. Don’t expect to hear from our mouths things like paying our dues, or working towards this moment. No mention of eating poorly or sleeping on hardwood floors. That is what we do for music. We did not go through all that because we thought one day we would hit our payday, we did it because we love what we do. This will not change… It is who we are. We walked into this as skeptical as anyone would be.

quotes yoinked from John Gourley’s blog on >http://portugaltheman.com/news/dear-family-we-love-you/

Final Four: Coheed and Cambria, Muse, My Chemical Romance, Tokio Hotel

Incredible! I came across this on March 17th (via PropertyOfZack) and haven’t paid much mind. From scanning twitter and my facebook news feeds, and logging into to Cobalt and Calcium every now and then I’ve seen that fellow fans have absolutely taken this into their hands and have been voting day and night. I assumed since Coheed and Cambria was up against Paramore, there’d be no chance. Man was I wrong! This little MTV tournament thingi has thus far proven that Coheed and Cambria fans are more dedicated than fans of Paramore, Mastodon, Phish, Alice In Chains… Really? I’m still having problems believing this has gotten to this point. It’s now the Final Four and Coheed’s fans are up against Tokio Hotel’s. There’s no doubt in my mind that though hardcore Tokio Hotel fans are most likely confused young preteens who post every detail of every breath they take on the interwebs, Coheed and Cambria’s gonna sweep this one too.

I just voted for Coheed and Muse. Who’d thought New Prog was gonna rule MTV in March 2010?

Man, I’m so proud of us for publicly defeating fans of the likes of John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Radiohead, MGMT, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, Owl City, The Gaslight Anthem, Coldplay, 30 Seconds to Mars, Green Day, Blink 182, Foo Fighters, Nickleback… Rock on!

Voting takes place around here somewhere: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1635328/20100402/muse_uk_.jhtml

P.S. The Children of The Fence own the Internet. kthx bai