MTV, Letterman, More On Atlas Genius’ U.S. Tour

Courtesy: Warner Brothers Records

Courtesy: Warner Brothers Records

Things have really been picking up for the men of Atlas Genius as of late.  The Aussie rock band has kicked off a full American tour in support of its debut release on Warner Brothers Records, When It Was You.  It will perform as part of Edgefest today in Dallas, TX.  That’s not all that the band has going on right now.  The band has also released the video for its new single, ‘Centered On You.’  It can be viewed online at
http://www.refinery29.com/atlas-genius
.  The official video for the single can be viewed via YouTube at http://www.youtu.be/vf39NInxM_A.  The new video and American tour are just a couple of reasons for Atlas Genius and its fans to be happy.  Along with its tour, the band has a couple of rather high profile performances coming up.

As one of MTV’s “Artists to Watch”, the band will perform live across all of MTV’s platforms on Tuesday, April 30th.  The performance will be streamed live online at
http://www.MTV.com
.  Audiences can check out MTV’s spotlight on the band online at http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2013/04/22/artist-to-watch-atlas-genius.  The performance will be held at the Studio at Webster Hall.  The band’s live MTV performance will be followed up with a live performance on the Late Show with David Letterman on May 2nd.  The band’s WB debut is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered online via the Warner Brothers Records store at
http://store.warnermusic.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=81&q=atlas+genius
.

The band’s complete U.S. tour schedule is available below.

ATLAS GENIUS – TOUR DATES

 

April

25 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s East *  SOLD OUT

26 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgeralds *  SOLD OUT

27 – Dallas, TX @ FC Dallas Stadium – Edgefest

30 – New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall – MTV Artist To Watch Live

 

May

3 – New York, NY @ Original Penguin SoHo store

4 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Piazza at Schmidt’s w/Family of the Year

7 – London, UK @ Electrowerks

19 – Mountain View, CA @ Live 105 BFD Festival

20 – Santa Barbara, CA @ SOhO Restaurant and Music Club **  SOLD OUT

22 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s Night Club **

24 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom **

25 – Quincy, WA @ The Gorge – Sasquatch! Music Festival – Bigfoot Stage

26 – Vancouver, BC @ Venue **

29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court ***

31 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater ***  SOLD OUT

 

June

1 – Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep ***

4 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café ***  SOLD OUT

6 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe at Old National Centre ***

7 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall ***

9 – Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindley ****

11 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa ****

12 – Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club ****

14 – Albany, NY @ Bayou Café ****

15 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair  **** SOLD OUT

17 – Pawtucket, RI @ The Met Café ****

18 – New York, NY @ The Bowery Ballroom  ****  SOLD OUT

19 – New York, NY @ The Bowery Ballroom ****  SOLD OUT

20 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Casino – Wolf Den  FREE SHOW

21 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival

23 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House *****

24 – Detroit, MI @ Shelter *****

27 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest

 

July

6 – Vancouver, BC @Kelowna’s Waterfront Park

10 – Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Blues Festival

13 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bunbury Music Fest

 

August

2 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza

4 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Music and Arts Festival

8 – Bakersfield, CA @ B Ryders

TBA – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands

 

September

20 – San Diego, CA @ 91X Fest

 

Supporting acts:

*The Neighbourhood

**The Postelles and The Colourist 

***The Postelles and Haerts

****Pacific Air and Haerts

*****Pacific Air

Fans can get every update on the band’s tour and all the latest news from the band online at
http://www.atlasgenius.com
,
http://facebook.com/AtlasGenius
,
http://www.youtube.com/user/atlasgenius
, and
http://twitter.com/#!/atlasgenius
.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to
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and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at
http://philspicks.wordpress.com
.

One Of Filter’s Best Records “Comes Out” In Its New LP

Courtesy:  Wind-Up Records

Courtesy: Wind-Up Records

Filter’s first new record in three years is a solid release for the band.  Having undergone numerous lineup changes and seemingly almost as many label changes, this new record is a testament to the band’s ability to keep going and making music.  So many lesser bands would have already folded long before.  But Filter has taken the road less travelled and crafted what is arguably one of its best records to date in The Sun Comes Out Tonight.  The record largely keeps the energy flowing from start to finish, holding back only a small handful of times.  The times that the band holds back are so spread out that even when they do make themselves known, it luckily doesn’t take anything away from the rest of the album’s songs.

The energy starts flowing right from the album’s opener, ‘We Hate It When You Get What You Want.’  This slightly techno-infused song will take long-time audiences back to the days of the band’s 1995 debut record, Short Bus all while sounding quite a bit like Linkin Park.  There are those that might consider such a comparison to be musical heresy of sorts.  But if one hadn’t known that this was Filter, it would have been rather easy to think it was the latter of the two.  This isn’t such a bad thing though.  The song’s energy and front man Richard Patrick leads the onslaught, while drummer Jeff Friedl, guitarist Jonathan Radtke and bassist Phil Buckman come together to make a song that is a proper opener.  The drive of the guitar and drums make this song an obvious hit both on the record and in a live setting.  It would be easy to see any live audience taking in the song, fists high in the air, voices raised, singing along together.  Being that this is the first impression for the band since its last release three years ago, it is an excellent first impression for the band in its return.

The album’s next song, ‘What Do You Say’ takes over at the end of the LP’s opener and keeps the energy flowing at top level.  And just as with the album’s opener, it’s just as certain to have live audiences singing along and pumping their fists along as Patrick sings, “Hey, hey what do you say/It doesn’t really matter/Cause it’s all the same/Hey, hey what do you say/They’re just gonna blame us anyway.”  Lyrically, this song comes across in a slightly cryptic manner.  The really good thing about it though is that it isn’t just one of so many countless songs about one’s relationship issues.  And the equally powerful hooks and choruses make the song even better and another sure bet to be a fan hit.

The energy kicked up by the album’s first pair of songs pulls back just slightly in its third song, ‘Surprise.’  That pullback is only momentary, as the energy kicks back into high gear in the album’s rather electronica infused semi-title track, ‘What The Sun Come Out Tonight.’  And it doesn’t let up from there until the band gets just past its halfway mark in ‘First You Break It.’  Again, that reduced presence is only temporary as the band once again sheds its softer sound in favor of something with more kick in ‘Burn It’ and ‘Take That Knife Out Of My Back.’  By the time listeners reach the album’s final pair of songs, which is definitely the album’s calmest, they will be left almost breathless thanks to the musical rollercoaster on which they have been taken over the course of the album’s previous ten songs. By the time the last notes of ‘It’s Just You’ fade away, listeners will know that they have just experienced one more album that is more than deserving of being added to the ever growing list of the year’s best rock records.

Audiences will have the chance to experience the music from this brand new album as Filter will be hitting the road beginning next Thursday, April 18th in support of it.  The band will perform at the Black Sheep in Colorado Springs, CO that day.  Filter’s North Carolina based fans will also get the chance to experience the band’s new music live as the band will make not one but two stops in North Carolina on its tour.  The first of the band’s NC dates will be at the Red Hat Amphitheatre in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday, May 31st.  The band’s second NC date is scheduled for Sunday, June 2nd at the Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Fans can get a full listing of tour dates from the band’s Facebook page,
http://www.facebook.com/Filter
.  Fans can also go to the band’s Facebook page to pre-order the album, which is due out June 4th.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to
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and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at
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.

Delta Rae Work With Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham On Song; Premiere Video For New Single

Courtesy:  Warner Brothers Records

Courtesy: Warner Brothers Records

Durham, NC’s own Delta Rae has kept busy ever since releasing its debut record, Carry the Fire last year on Warner Brothers Records.  The band recently teamed up with Fleetwood Mac’s very own Lindsey Buckingham on the band’s re-recorded version of its new single, ‘If I Loved You.’

The video for the re-recorded song was released exclusively via RollingStone.com yesterday.  Audiences should note that while Buckingham had a hand in the new take on the song, he wasn’t in the video.  Regardless, fans can check it out now at
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/delta-rae-pair-with-fleetwood-macs-lindsey-buckingham-in-if-i-loved-you-premiere-20130326
.  Singer Elizabeth Hopkins takes vocal duties on the song.  She discussed the song in the band’s interview with Rolling Stone.  “This video captures what I love most about the song,” she said.  “It’s simple and raw.  Telling someone point blank that you don’t love them is difficult and painful.  I’ve done it.  It feels horrible, but there is also a release that comes along with it, a lifting of weight.  I think this video lets you focus on the rawness of that message.”

Fellow band member Ian Holljes commented on the excitement of playing with Buckingham, whose band is the favorite band of the members of Delta Rae.  “I can’t really accurately express how wild it was for us to learn that Lindsey Buckingham had played on ‘If I Loved You,” he said.  “I grew up on stories of how my parents (along with every other kid on campus) would blast the entirety of Rumours out of their college dorm room windows.  Fleetwood Mac and Lindsey Buckingham’s writing have been so influential to us so to have his talents and incredibly distinctive guitar playing laid over one of our tracks felt like the world sort of folding over on itself.  Ultimately it was rewarding on two huge levels – the thrill of having one of your heroes play on your song and the actual impact of his beautiful guitar work enhancing the song so meaningfully.”

Courtesy:  Warner Brothers Records/Sire Records

Courtesy: Warner Brothers Records/Sire Records

The band’s album is available in stores and online now.  It can be ordered direct online from iTunes at
http://bit.ly/Zp5laF
.  The band is currently touring in support of its debut release.  It will be in New Orleans on April 11th at Howlin’ Wolf.  It’s just one of many dates currently scheduled that will take the band through this summer.  Among the band’s current dates is a handful of dates in North Carolina between April 26th and May 4th.  For a full list of tour dates and to get all the latest news from the band fans can “Like” the band on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/deltarae
.  Fans can also get the latest news from the band and a free 11-track live album on the band’s official website,
http://deltarae.com
.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to
http://www.facebook.com/philspicks
and “Like” it.  Fans can keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at
http://philspicks.wordpress.com
.

Atlas Genius Debuting New Song Today

Courtesy:  Warner Brothers Records

Courtesy: Warner Brothers Records

Aussie rock band Atlas Genius has a surprise for its fans.  The band will debut a new song today.  The new song will debut on the band’s website, and through its social media pages, too.  It will debut at 11am.  Along with the new song debuting today, fans will get to see the band live as it tours in support of its new release, When It Was Now, which is set to be released next Tuesday, February 19th.  The band will perform live in Tempe, Arizona this Friday.  The band will follow up that performance with a show this Saturday in Las Vegas.  Fans in North Carolina will also get their chance to see the band live when it comes to Asheville, North Carolina’s Orange Peel next Wednesday, February 16th.

Atlas Genius’ fans can get a full tour schedule online on the band’s Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/AtlasGenius
and on its official website,
http://atlasgenius.com
.

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to
http://www.facebook.com/philspicks
and “Like” it or its companion page,
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Reviews/381028148587141
.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at
http://philspicks.wordpress.com
.

The Indecent Release Video For New Single

The young rockers of The Indecent have officially released the video for their new single, ‘Control.’  The new single is the title track off of the band’s new five track EP.  The video for the new single features footage of the band performing mixed in with singer Emily Brout making her way through a cityscape with people all around her.  There are also images of a person rowing a boat that turns out to be tethered to its dock among other images.

Courtesy:  Warner Brothers Records

Courtesy: Warner Brothers Records

The video is rather interesting and can be viewed via YouTube now at

.  Video or not, what these young musicians have on their hands with their new single is a song that will impress any punk rock fan.  Fans of The Indecent can get even more news and more from the band online after checking out its new video at
http://www.facebook.com/theindecent
,
http://www.theindecent.com
, and
http://twitter.com/theindecent
.

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to
http://www.facebook.com/philspicks
and “Like” it or its companion page,
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Reviews/381028148587141
.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at
http://philspicks.wordpress.com
.

Delta Rae Rolls On With Late Night Performance, Upcoming Performances

Durham, North Carolina’s Delta Rae is everywhere right now.  The band has a new video out.  It’s had performances all across the country, and all across the late night run.  And last night, it made another stop on the late night circuit as it performed on The Late Show with Jay Leno.  The video from last night’s show isn’t up yet.  But Delta Rae fans can keep an eye for video of the band’s performance online at
http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/episode-guide/2012-11-26/2012-11-30

Courtesy: Warner Brothers Records

Those who haven’t gotten to see the band’s live TV performances still get the chance to see the band live as it is still touring in support of its debut album, Carry The Fire.  The band will be performing at App State’s Legends Social Center in Boone, North Carolina this Thursday.  It will follow that up with a performance at the Blind Tiger in Greensboro on Friday.  The current tour dates come on the heels of the release of the video for the band’s latest single, ‘Dance in the Graveyards.’  Audiences can check out the video for the new single now online at

After checking out the band’s new video, fans can check on the band’s full tour rundown and get all the latest from the band online at
http://deltarae.com
,
http://www.facebook.com/deltarae
,
http://www.youtube.com/deltaraeband
, and
http://twitter.com/deltarae

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to
http://www.facebook.com/philspicks
and “Like” it or its companion page,
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Reviews/381028148587141
.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at
http://philspicks.wordpress.com
.

Delta Rae Releases Video For New Single

Durham, North Carolina’s own Delta Rae is making waves at radio stations across the country, and making fans out of even more audiences in the process.  Now the band has taken another step in its career as it has released the video for its new single, ‘Dance in the Graveyard.’  The video is a Dia de los Muertos themed piece.  By contrast, its upbeat lyrics make for a video that’s deeply moving. 

Photo Credit: Norman Wonderly

Band member Ian Holljes said of the inspiration behind the song, “These past few years have been the first of my life when I’ve lost people who were really close to me”, he said.  “The death of one of my closest friends as well as a mentor with whom I lived with left a really strong impression with me and inspired this song.  These people were wonderful parts of my life.  For me, they’re not resting in piece.  They remain vivid, important influences in my life.  They still move me, and in so many ways I’m still dancing with their spirits and the memories they left behind.  The song reflects both my personal attitude towards dying, but also how I want to remember the people I love who have passed on.”

Holljes went on to explain how these feelings translated to the vision for the song’s video.  “When it came time to shoot a video for the song, we wanted to pay homage to Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday whose rituals treat death with a similar celebratory feeling as the song—remembering the dead as vibrant and real—and create a story where the dead and the living are reunited to dance once more.”

Fans can check out the video for the song right now on YouTube at

.

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to
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and “Like” it or its companion page,
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.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at
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.

The Very Beast Of Vol. 2 Another Hard Rocking Tribute To RJD

Courtesy: Niji Entertainment Group

Ronnie James Dio was not a tall man when he was with us.  That was the very first thing that most audiences noticed about him at any live performance.  But while he was not a tall man in terms of stature, he was a giant in the way of his vocal power and prowess.  Perhaps the only vocalist who deserves to be compared at his level of power and talent would be Judas Priest front man Rob Halford.  And as was the case with Halford and his band mates in Judas Priest, the music crafted by RJD and his metal brethren serves to this day as an example of everything right with rock and metal.  Now almost three years after Dio’s untimely passing from stomach cancer, the legendary vocalist is being honored once more with the brand new release of Dio:  The Very Beast of Vol. 2.

Dio:  The Very Beast of Vol. 2 is the follow-up to 2000’s The Very Beast of Dio.  While it isn’t the only career retrospective from this legendary artist, it was a relatively comprehensive compilation at the time of its release.  It covered a large portion of James’ solo career.  This new compilation covers the second half of RJD’s solo career.  As noted in the compilation’s liner notes, the songs on this compilation come from RJD’s time post-Warner Bros.  One of the bonuses included is the song, ‘Electra.’  Ronnie had been working on the song for the second half of the Magica album.  Sadly it would be one of Dio’s final recordings before his death in 2010.  The best way to describe ‘Electra’ is old school rock at its best.  There’s almost a slight Type O Negative tinge to it, musically speaking.  Dio’s vocals are just as powerful as ever on this track.

‘Electra’ is just one of the many songs that will have fans putting their horns high with pride.  ‘Metal Will Never Die’ is another high point to this compilation.  It’s a slower piece.  But the guitar work and RJD’s vocals are a powerhouse together. The production of the song makes his vocals hit even harder, too.  When he hits the song’s high notes, his screams will simply send chills up listeners’ spines.  If ever there was a metal anthem, this one is it.

Whether it’s these two songs, or any of the others included here, every one of the Dio Disciples around the globe will find something enjoyable about this record.  It’s available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered direct through his official website,
http://www.ronniejamesdio.com
and hit Facebook Fan page,
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio
.   

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to
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and “Like” it or its companion page,
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.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at
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.

Gloriana’s New LP Is Worth A Thousand Words And More

Courtesy: Emblem Records

The old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words is often tossed around for a variety of reasons.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, then country trio Gloriana’s new sophomore effort, A Thousand Miles Left Behind is worth a thousand words itself and then some.  So why don’t we track this and see if we can put up a thousand words for A Thousand Miles…?

A Thousand Miles Left Behind is an album that puts Gloriana a thousand miles ahead of so many other country acts today without losing any of its country or bluegrass roots from its last album.  Fans that may be new to the band can liken it to fellow country acts such as: Nickel Creek, Sugarland, and Rascal Flatts just to name a few.  Lyrically, the album’s content is nothing new.  It centers on the topics of love gained and lost.  But it’s the manner in which the songs examine these topics that make the songs so interesting.  The album’s opener, ‘Gold Rush’ would seem, thanks to its musical backing, that it’s about love gained.  It’s that happy sounding.  But a closer look at the lyrical content shows otherwise.  The band sings here, “A thousand miles left behind/The bridges crossed and the mountains climbed/The only thought that crossed my mind/Was winning you back and making you mine/So goodbye city of angels/I left my angel back at home.”  That verse alone gives something of a Proclaimers vibe.  The band’s song, ‘I’m Gonna Be 500 Miles’ has a similar vibe, lyrically.  And ‘Gold Rush’ is just as enjoyable as the aforementioned song.  Here’s a song about someone who has given up someone special, but only wants to be back with said person.  It would have been so easy to take the standard old school country track, and done an oh-woe-is-me style piece.  Instead, the band took the higher road and made something that is both catchy and hopeful.  Kudos to the band for that.  It makes for a solid opening to the album.  Fans get something somewhat similar later in the album when the band starts into ‘Carolina Rose.’

The band keeps the enjoyment level high after ‘Gold Rush’ with the equally fun, ‘Sunset Lovin’.’  The music in this piece is just as catchy and is bound to make it a fan favorite, too.  The song’s lyrics take it that extra level, too.  The band sings of a couple just sitting in a parking lot together, making out harmlessly to the radio as the sun sets in the distance.  If that’s not a throwback to old school romance, it’s anyone’s guess what is.  The band writes here, “Hey, oh/You and me and the radio/Kissing along to our favorite song/Hey, oh/I ain’t never gonna let you go/All we need is all we got/Sunset lovin’ in the parking lot.”  Again this isn’t something that fans of any musical genre hear all that much in today’s era of music.  So yet again, the band is to be highly commended for this.  It’s an entirely harmless song that in its own way, could be compared to something from Zac Brown Band.

‘Gold Rush’ and ‘Sunset Lovin’’ are both hit songs from what is without a shadow of a doubt a solid sophomore effort from Gloriana.  But of the album’s eleven tracks, there’s at least one that stands out more than others as a surprise.  That song is ‘(Kissed You) Good Night.’  From the opening musical strains and verse, listeners are led to believe it’s a song of lost love.  But the surprise is that it is in fact not that.  The band writes of a couple who almost misses a chance at love, but makes love begin at the last moment.  The band writes in the song’s chorus, “I turned off the car/Ran through the yard/Back to your front door/Before I could knock/You turned the lock/And met me on the front porch.”  The band goes on, picking things up even more, “And I kissed you/Good Night/And now that I’ve kissed you/It’s a good night, good night/baby/good night.”  There’s something special about the way in which the band wrote both the lyrics and the music to this song.  It all comes together to create a wholly vivid picture in the listener’s mind.  Some listeners could even potentially see this song playing out like a scene from a movie in their minds as they listen to the song.  That the song would start off like a standard piece about lost love, only to surprise listeners makes it that much more of a hit.  It’s obvious the band has a way with both music and words especially here.

On the exact opposite end, but equally surprising in its enjoyment is the song, ‘Go On…Miss Me.’  Again, instead of taking the classic old school oh-woe-is-me road, the band takes a funnier, more modern road.  Rachel Reinhert sings in this song about a guy who had done her wrong.  But rather than sulk about it, she sings, “Whoa, no way/You’ll ever trick me/You’ll never pull me in to fall for you again/’Cause your cheating heart/Will never win/So go on…Miss me.”  This shows a strong, empowered woman both lyrically and musically, who won’t let one bad experience hold her down.  One more time, kudos to Gloriana as a whole for taking the high road here.  Even better in this song is a moment when Reinhert sings about the man in question living in his parents’ basement.  There’s a little guitar lick that seems to be the musical equivalent of her thumbing her nose at the guy.  It’s just a small moment.  But it’s sure to bring laughs from listeners.

‘(Kissed You) Good Night’ and ‘Go On…Miss Me’ are just a couple more example of what makes Gloriana such a stand out group, as are the previously mentioned pieces here.  But the reality is that the album in its entirety is a solid work that successfully continues to bridge the ever shrinking gap between pop music and country music.  It’s one that is loaded with more than its share of fan favorites.  And speaking of fan favorites, fans can enjoy the music anywhere as the album is available in stores and online now.  Or they can experience the band’s sound in person, too.  Gloriana will be performing at Mount Olive College next Friday, October 12th in Mount Olive North Carolina as part of the college’s annual Fall Festival.  Fans can get a full run down of the band’s tour dates online and all the latest news from the band now at
http://www.facebook.com/gloriana
and
http://gloriana.com
.

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to
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and “Like” it or its companion page,
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.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Blaqk Audio’s New LP Is A “Bright” New Record

Courtesy: Superball Music

AFI’s Davey Havok and Jade Puget have hit the switch yet again on the way back machine and taken audiences once more back to the heyday of the techno boom with the new Blaqk Audio record, “Bright Black Heaven.”  This album takes listeners even deeper into the electronic influences of both men with tracks the likes of ‘Faith Healer’, ‘Everybody’s Friends’, and ‘Bliss.’ 

‘Faith Healer’ is a blatant throwback to Depeche Mode.  Even the vocals are eerily similar to that of Depeche Mode’s front man Dave Gahan.  While it’s a blatant throwback to Depeche Mode, the keyboard parts actually throw in a more twenty-first century touch with their effects, bridging that generational gap and bringing the two together for what is the album’s first really catchy track.

‘Everybody’s Friends’ is another high point to “Bright Black Heaven.”   While the song is lyrically steeped in the standard topic of relationships, it’s the music that really stands out.  This song is an instant club hit.  It would have just as popular in the 80’s thanks to its keyboard work.  The real surprise of the song is that as catchy as it is, it would be interesting to hear a remix of this song.  A remix might actually be that much catchier.  Much the same could be said of ‘Bliss.’  But instead of mixing older techno and new, this song instead favors more of the newer sound, showing growth from the duo’s debut album, “Cex Cells.”  Hearing this track and comparing it to work from “Cex Cells” it would be no surprise to see this duo out on tour with the likes of Linkin Park or even collaborating with them at one point or another.

Speaking of touring, no dates are currently listed.  But fans can get all the latest tour dates when they come along by going online to
http://www.blaqkaudio.com
,
http://www.facebook.com/blaqkaudio
,
http://twitter.com/realblaqkaudio
, and
http://www.youtube.com/blaqkaudioofficial
.  The duo’s new album, “Bright Black Heaven” is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered online via iTunes at
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/blaqk-audio/id258737071

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to
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and “Like” it or its companion page,
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.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.