Junkstars’ Latest LP Is A Win For Punk Purists Everywhere

Courtesy: Despotz Records

Sweden is one of the richest nations in the world in terms of its musical culture.  Originally known for bringing ABBA to the world so many decades ago, a lot has changed for the northern European nation since then.  Now it is known as one of the world’s major centers for “extreme metal.”  Bands such as In Flames, Amon Amarth, Meshuggah, Soilwork, and others have and continue to call Sweden home.  Dark prog-metal acts such as Leprous, Evergrey, and Opeth among others also call Sweden home.  And of course there is also the far more extreme black metal bands such as Ghost, Marduk, Naglfar, etc.  Considering the broad spectrum of metal that Sweden has to offer the world one would think that other than save for ABBA, metal seems to be the only music that Sweden has to offer.  Enter Junkstars.  The Stockholm , Sweden-based trio is one of a handful of acts that is trying to change the musical culture and reputation of its home state.  With two albums already under its collective belt since 2012 the band has already made quite the impact on audiences; audiences not just in its home country but around the world.  It added to that impact late in 2015 with the release of its third full-length studio recording This Means War.  Considering the album’s overall sound and its lyrical themes one can only assume that the album’s title is a direct statement about its mission of change.  It might not be.  That is just this critic’s own take on the album’s title.  Regardless of whether or not this was the aim with the album’s title, its overall presentation presents a band that (to this critic) has clearly declared war on that reputation established by all of those other Swedish bands.  And if the band’s latest album is any indication Junkstars is definitely winning that war.

Junkstars’ new album This Means War is an explosive salvo from the Stockholm , Sweden-based punk rock trio.  This is regardless of whether or not the title of the band’s new album is meant to be a statement about the band’s identity among all of Sweden ’s various metal acts.  The album’s opener ‘’Kill the Ravens’ is just one song that exemplifies this argument.  The song is a no-nonsense composition into which the band wastes no time launching with its pure punk rock sound.   That sound in question is one that fans of Rancid, Social Distortion, The Distillers, and others of that ilk will appreciate.  It is just part of what makes this song stand out in the bigger picture of the album’s presentation.  The song’s lyrical content is just as important to note.  The song’s lyrical content comes across as a social commentary of sorts.  That can be inferred as front man Max Malmquist sings, “Raise your walls and seal your fate/Either way it’s all too late/You have it all/You have control/But deep inside/You’re weak and small/All alone within your gates/Filled by greed/And fed by hate/You have it all/You have control/You’ve isolated your on souls.”  The song’s lead verse, it comes across as a damning indictment of the world’s elitists and their associated collective mindsets.  The song’s second verse plays even more into that theme as Malmquist sings defiantly, “The time has come for you to pay/Cause we can’t stand it one more day/With strength in numbers we’ll prevail/We’re organized and we won’t fail/We’ll burst right through your city walls/And occupy your royal halls/You had it all/You had control/But now your empire shall fall.”  One can almost see Malmquist and his band mates—Tobbe Ljungqvist (bass, vocals) and Mathias Wanneberg (drums)—pumping their fists along with their audiences as they sing these lines.  It plays into the band’s statement about the aim of the songs to address the world’s ugliness. It also echoes just one of the familiar themes presented in so many classic punk anthems that have come before.  Keeping all of this in mind it serves to show why ‘Kill The Ravens’ is just one example of what makes This Means War a standout pure punk album.  ‘Snakebites’ is another example of what makes this record stand out in the punk rock field.

‘Kill The Ravens’ is a key example of what makes Junkstars’ new album This Means War stand out among 2015’s vast sea of punk offerings.  It is just one example of what makes the album stand out, too.  ‘Snakebites’ is another of the album’s key compositions.  The Rancid influence noted before is front and center in this song in regards to its musical arrangement.  From the song’s driving tempo, established by Mathias Wannenberg to Malmquist’s equally up-tempo guitar line and Ljungqvist’s low end, the song’s musical arrangement will impress any punk purist.  The same can be said of Malmquist’s own vocal delivery.  His gravelly delivery is just as similar to that of Rancid’s own front man Tim Armstrong.  That’s just half of what makes this song stand out in the grand scheme of the album’s musical picture.  The seeming social commentary exhibited in the song’s lyrical content makes the song stand out even more.  That can be argued as Malmquist sings here, “A thousand years of ignorance/A lifetime of decay/Despite a million warnings/We face ourselves today/Bring your friends/Listen up/It’s already too late/Gather a militia and resurrect our fate/Our actions led to this/Therefore stand your ground today/Get it straight/Gear up/Don’t look the other way.”  Malmquist comes across here as saying that mankind has put itself in its current position “despite a million warnings.”  And because of what mankind has done throughout the eons there’s no turning back.  Man must stand up and take the chance to make things right.  That can be argued even more as he sings in the song’s chorus with his band mates, “Snakebites (snakebites) coming our way/Blood stains (and shattered brains) all over the place/We won’t (no, we won’t) become their prey/Snakebites (snakebites)/It’s Judgment Day.”  It’s a straight forward message.  And the fact that it is delivered so clearly in such a small space of time (the song’s run time comes in just under three minutes) is even more impressive.  Malmquist didn’t try to get verbacious with the message.  He got right to the point and made it relatively accessible for listeners.  The song’s driving musical arrangement added to that, the whole of the song shows why it is another key addition to the album.  It is still not the last of the album’s prime compositions, either.  ‘Old Man’s Dead House’ is one more of the album’s key moments.

‘Kill The Ravens’ and ‘Snakebites’ are both key examples of what makes Junkstars’ new album This Means War stand out in the punk rock community.  That is thanks to both their musical arrangements and lyrical themes.  The same applies to ‘Old Man’s Dead House.’  This song, seemingly about youthful rebellion, is another of the album’s key compositions.  Listening to this song, audiences will again note its musical arrangement.  That arrangement borders on pop punk.  But still maintains its pure punk identity even with its catchy, radio ready sound.  That balance of pure punk and radio friendly rock is just one portion of what makes this song stand out.  The song’s anecdote about an old man’s house (the forbidden zone so to speak) and the urge to defy that authority is just as important to the song as its musical foundation.  Malmquist sings in this song, “In the town where I was born/Was a house that nobody wants to be in/It was dark/It was cold/And we couldn’t stand the feeling/To get in and explore/To see what’s going on/What’s behind of the door/Let’s take it to the floor/They all told us not to go/And we didn’t have the rights to/But who cares what you get told/When you’re young and want that feeling.”  That is as clear as a song can get in its message.  It isn’t so much about the house as it is about that coming of age through which everyone goes.  In this case that coming of age was attributed at least in part to exploring a creepy old house that was off limits.  Part of growing up for anyone is testing one’s boundaries and defying authority at least to a point.  That Malmquist and company would base that coming of age story in such fashion makes that coming of age message all the more entertaining.  The combination of the wonderfully told tale and the song’s equally infectious musical foundation makes even clearer why this song is another of This Means War’s key compositions.  Together with the other noted songs and those not noted here, all nine songs join together to make This Is War an album that is winning the war against the watered down, radio ready, bubble gum pop punk that is currently polluting the world’s airwaves.

Junkstars’ new album This Means War is a win in the musical war against all of the watered down, radio ready, bubble gum pop punk that is currently polluting the world’s airwaves.  This is clear from the album’s beginning to its end.  From the seemingly damning indictment of the world’s elitists in the album’s opener ‘Kill The Ravens’ to the alleged social commentary of ‘Snakebites’ to the catchy coming of age story within ‘Old Man’s Dead House’ this record presents plenty for punk purists to appreciate.  That includes not just those songs but the rest of the compositions not noted here.  All things considered This Is War shows in the long run to be another win in the musical war against all of the watered down, radio ready, bubble gum pop punk that is currently polluting the world’s airwaves.  It is a record that every punk purist will want to hear and should hear at least once if not more.  It can be ordered now in a variety of bundle packs via Junkstars’ online store at http://despotz.bigcartel.com/artist/junkstars.  More information on the band’s album is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

 

 

Website: http://www.junkstarsofficial.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/junkstarsofficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/thejunkstars

 

 

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a toi meshen Gets Off To A Good Start With Its Self-Titled Debut LP

Courtesy: Misery Pill Records

Orange County, California is one of the most historic regions of the country in regards to the modern history of music. It has been home to the likes of Agent Orange, Fu Manchu, Offspring, Aquabats, Thrice, Social Distortion, and so many others. Odds are most music lovers out there have probably not heard of most of those bands save perhaps for the likes of Offspring (no, it’s not THE Offspring, just like it’s not THE Deftones) and Social Distortion at least in terms of that short list. Orange County, California has been home to some of the biggest acts both in the mainstream and the underground. That’s the point of that statement. There are more acts than can be noted in one sitting, plain and simple. One of the region’s bands looking to add its name to that already expansive list goes by the name of, a toi meshen. Yes, that is really the band’s name. It is pronounced A Toy Machine. The band released its self-titled debut album this past October (October 1st to be exact). The ten-track, thirty-seven minute record is an interesting first effort from the band. That is thanks in large part to its sound. The easiest way to define the band’s sound is in its similarity to that of Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, and certain other more well-known acts. That is thanks to its balance of rap and rock elements throughout the course of the record. Interestingly enough even with such comparison, the band actually holds its own against the likes of LP and other rap rock acts. One of the best examples of that ability lies in the album’s opener ‘Waste of Time.’ That song will be discussed shortly. ‘Phony People’ is another key example of the band’s famliar sound and its abiilty to use said sound to hold its own against its more well-known counterparts. ‘Tear Down,’ the album’s penultimate is one more example of the band’s sound and its ability to use that sound to hold its own against its more well-known counterparts. All three songs noted here each show in their own way what audiences can expect from the band’s self-titled debut. Together with the other seven songs not noted here, the album in whole proves to be one that is a promising start for the band.

a toi meshen’s self-titled debut album is a good start for the band. Listening through the course of its ten total tracks, it is easy to make a comparison between this five-piece Orange County, CA-based band and the likes of Breaking Benjamin, Linkin Park and to a lesser degree Shinedown among other more well-known counterparts. Even with such comparisons easily made, it can be said of the band and its debut album that both do a good job of proving independent acts (both those signed to indie labels and those that are unsigned) can and in many cases do hold their own against their more well-known counterparts. That is proven right off the top in the album’s opener ‘Waste of Time.’ This rap-rock composition takes the influence of the noted acts to form a song that radio programmers would be just as comfortable adding to their stations’ play lists as any of the songs from said acts. Audiences can hear that mix of sounds for themselves via the band’s bandcamp page at http://atoimeshen.bandcamp.com/releases. In terms of the song’s lyrical content, vocalists Tony Lanza and Daynon Lato don’t come out and say whether the song is referring to a broken romantic relationship or friendship at any point in the song. That is exemplified as Lanza raps over Lato’s own vocals in the song’s lead verse, “At a time/To define/Who we are/Where we at/How it is/It ain’t a prophecy/We relaying/A part of a tragedy/You cannot/Justify/What you do/Cuz I’m not gonna wait/You can never create/You in a blind state/Destroy your fate/Take me back/To the day/When I was never locked in a cage/Easy to rock the spot/Drop/My world is hot/Moving on/Understand where we stand/How we dropping the plan/Looking back at our time/I realize it was never mine.” And that is just the start. In the song’s second verse, the duo’s call and response paints even more of a vivid picture as they sing/rap against one another, “Rising up/From the fall/As I call/Just to weaken you all/Is it making me stronger/I feel the anger within/Begin my ultimate sin/Rah/Said to me/Now the hold that you had is now gone/It’s a twist of reality/Don’t get it twisted/Avoid the fact you missed it/I’m the one/That is breaking you down/Now I see all the madness around/And I’m not gonna take it/So check it out/I’m at the very point/To kill the joint.” Yet again there is some ambiguity in the song’s lyrical content. That ambiguity is maintained in the song’s third and final verse. considering the fact that the band left the song’s interpretation at least somewhat in the air is actually a good thing. The song is clear enough lyrically that listeners know that it comes from a very personal place. Now whether or not the song comes from a romantic or general personal standpoint is another story. And in all honesty regardless of which angle is the correct one, it could be used for both in examining these lyrics. That dual use of the song’s lyrics coupled with the song’s overall musical content makes it a solid example of what makes this record a good first effort from e toi meshen. It’s just one example, too.   ‘Phony People’ is another example of what makes this album a good first effort from the band.

‘Waste of Time’ is a clear example through its musical and lyrical content as to why a toi meshen’s debut album is a good start for the band. The personal, self-assured statement made through the song’s lyrical content set against its solid musical content makes it a song that could easily be the song to break the band on any mainstream rock radio station. It is just one example of what makes this album a good first effort from the band. ‘Phony People’ is another example of what makes this record a good first effort from a toi meshen. Just as with ‘Waste of Time,’ this song’s musical content clearly shows the influence of its more well-known counterparts. It can also be heard via the band’s bandcamp page. In regards to the song’s lyrical content, the song is a sharp indictment of all of the fake people in the world. This could apply to people in our everyday lives, the fake people who line the halls of the entertainment world, and anywhere else. Lanza and Lato make that clear as they rap/sing against one another, “Look at all the phony people out there/They’re the reason that I don’t even care/And now I’m forced to make you tell the truth/And make you realize that you’re full of/Lies.” The pair goes on in the song’s second verse, saying, “And I don’t believe/That you can prove/All the stories that you devise/Cause now I know/That what I see/Is far from perfect.” It’s not the first time that any band has crafted such an indictment of the fake people who fill the world. That is a given. But it is still a solid statement in its presentation here. That being the case, it becomes yet another example of what makes e toi machine’s self-titled debut record a good first effort. And together with ‘Waste of Time,’ both songs together paint an even richer picture of what makes this record a good first outing for the band.

‘Waste of Time’ and ‘Phony People’ are both clear examples of what makes a toi meshen’s self-titled debut a good first effort from the band. While both songs are good examples of what the album has to offer they are also not the only examples. ‘Tear Down’ is one more example of just what a toi meshen has to offer in its debut record. Much as with ‘Waste of Time’ this song is another radio-ready composition. That is exhibited through its up-tempo musical content. The balance of the song’s guitar and keyboard line throughout the course of the driving tempo will keep listeners fully engaged. The song’s lyrical content will keep listeners just as engaged as Lanza takes the lead, rapping “On the inside where it all began/Pressing on my mind for the right plan/And it feels out of time/And it feels like an SOS/From the outside as I’m looking in/Trying to make new in my old skin/And I don’t understand/Why you treat me the way you do/Yeah I don’t like it/I think twice/I won’t pay the ultimate price/Now I’m walking backwards/Falling from the weight of you/So here I am again/And I’m standing.” Lanza comes across as addressing a figure that aims to…well…tear down others emotionally and psychologically. That is made clear in the song’s chorus in which Lanza and Layto write, “Is this what you’re looking for/Tear down/You tear me down/And I’m about to break/I think I’m breaking/Tear down/You wear me own/I just can’t sit and take it/I’m just about to break/On the front side/Seeing crystal clear/Never too far from a lost tear.” No matter how much said figure tries to tear down the song’s speaker, that speaker never lets that happen, thus the line, “So here I am again/And I’m standing.” it comes across as a solid message of inner strength and self-confidence for listeners. That is just this critic’s own take on the song of course. It could very well be wholly wrong. If however it is somewhere in the proverbial ballpark then it shows even more why a toi meshen’s self-titled debut is a good first effort from the band. Of course it is not the only other song that could be cited as an example of what makes this record worth at least one listen. Any of the other seven songs that make up the rest of the album’s body could be cited just as easily. That being the case, all ten tracks featured in this record come together to show why this new record is a good effort in whole.

a toi meshen’s self-titled debut record is a good first effort from the band. This is exhibited from start to finish in the album’s ten-track, thirty-seven-minute run time. Musically speaking, the album presents a band that holds its own against the likes of Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown and other more well-known counterparts to the band. Lyrically, its personal stories and social commentary make it even more worth hearing. The combination of its musical and lyrical content together makes a toi meshen a solid start for the band. a toi meshen is available now and can be ordered direct via the band’s website at http://www.atoimeshen.com and the band’s official bandcamp page at http://atoimeshen.bandcamp.com. More information on a toi meshen is available online along with the band’s latest news at:

Website: http://www.atoimeshen.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/atoimeshen

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AToiMeshen

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The Bullhounds’ Debut Re-Issue Is One Of This Year’s Best

Courtesy: MVD Entertainment Group

Rock is not dead.  To quote AC/DC front man Brian Johnson, “rock and roll will never die.”  And the upcoming re-issue of rock and roll super group The Bullhounds’ 2014 album Protector is proof of that. The band, whose members have recorded and performed with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Georgia Satellites, and Izzy Stradlin, released the band’s debut album overseas last year.  And on March 10th it will finally get a proper U.S. courtesy of MVD Entertainment Group.  The album’s title is quite fitting considering the musical and lyrical content that makes up the album’s twelve tracks.  From start to finish, this record is pure old school rock and roll.  It reminds listeners of everything that once made rock great and still does today, even among all of the down-tuned, crunching guitars and indecipherable cookie monster growls, and oh-woe-is-me lyrics that are out there.  It shows that even among all of those cookie cutter acts that make up the rock and metal communities, real, pure rock and roll is still very much alive and well.  Among the album’s dozen songs and forty-five minutes, there is not one bad moment.  The bluesy ‘If You Got No One’ is one of the strongest of the album’s moments thanks both to its music and to its uplifting lyrics.  Right after that song is the contemplative ‘What Makes A Man.’  This track is just as rich in its blues roots musically speaking.  Lyrically speaking, it is just as interesting as it makes its own statement without being overly preachy unlike so many of today’s younger bands.  And then there is the even deeper ‘Moments.’  This song is one of the most surprising of the album’s songs.  That is because it is the total antithesis of anything else on this record.  By its lyrics and the album’s overall musical style, one would expect it to be a huge ballad.  But it is not even that.  It is an emotional piece that offers so much both musically and lyrically.  It is just one more example of what makes Protector an early, clear candidate for both the year’s best new rock records and best new independent records.  That isn’t to take away anything from the album’s other songs, either.  Pieces such as ‘Mean, Mean Girl,’ ‘Little Lady,’ and ‘Drunk Tired’ are just as noteworthy as are the six songs that remain  after all of those.  Collectively, all twelve songs make Protector an album that any rock and roll purist should hear at least once.

The Bullhounds’ debut record Protector is an easy candidate for a spot on any critic’s list of the year’s best new rock records and independent records, too.  Every one of the album’s twelve tracks offers its own argument as to why the album is deserving of this honor.  Between the old school blues/rock sound that dominates most of the album and its softer moments, there is more than enough material on this record to put a smile on the face of any rock and roll purist.  One of the best examples of what makes this record so enjoyable comes in the form of ‘If You Got No One.’  ‘If You Got No One’ comes in just after the album’s midway point.  It is a fun, solid, straight forward blues-rock piece that offers just as much enjoyment from its musical side as its lyrical side.  Drummer Mauro Magellan’s solid, driving tempo teams with guitarist Rick Richards to create the song’s musical foundation.  Front man Erling Daell adds his own touch to the song with his positive lyrics.  Daell sings “Life can be really tough I know/But you gotta hang in there/Although things don’t always turn out the way you want/But don’t ever let that get to you/I know it can be hard/But all you gotta do/Is always look on the bright side of life.”  From there, Daell returns to the refrains of the song’s lead verse singing, “If you got no one to lean on/If you got no one to turn to/If you got no one to tell your troubles to/Yeah, if you got a whole lotta trouble/If you can’t make nobody see/You know my friend you can always lean on me.”  Daell’s almost Mike Neff style vocals add even more to the song, making it even more enjoyable and a prime example of why this album is well worth the listen.

‘If You Got No One’ is a great example of what makes The Bullhounds debut album one of the best new rock records and best new independent releases of 2015.  As impressive as the song proves to be against Protector’s other songs, it is just one of the album’s high points.  The band shows in ‘What Makes A Man’ that it doesn’t rest easily on its laurels.  ‘What Makes A Man’ slows things down considerably without losing any of the album’s musical or lyrical punch.  Daell sings in this song, “Customers of God!/File out of the churches/Casting me glances/With eyes that are sold on thinly veiled curses/They cut holes where my heart is/And I’m left asking/What makes a man/What makes a man/Is it logic/Is it faith/Is it skin and bones/What makes a man/What makes a man/Is it saying I don’t know when I don’t know/Well I don’t know.”  One would think that considering these lyrics, ‘What Makes A Man’ would be a much softer ballad-style piece in terms of its music.  But instead it holds the blues roots exhibited throughout the album’s other songs.  Its tempo is slower than that of many of the album’s other songs.  But it doesn’t let itself become the stereotypical introspective ballad that it easily could have become.  It’s yet another way in which Protector proves to be such an impressive record both as a rock record and an independent record.

The members of The Bullhounds go well beyond proving on Protector that it is indeed possible to teach old dogs some new tricks. And yes, that bad pun was fully intended. That is exhibited both in ‘If You Got No One’ and ‘What Makes A Man.’ It is exhibited in every one of the album’s other songs, too. One more new trick that the veteran musicians show off on this record is the album’s only real ballad, ‘Moments.’ What is truly intriguing about this song is that while it is a ballad, it is not necessarily the sort of song one typically thinks of when one thinks of ballads in the typical sense. It is very much a gentle, controlled song. But it isn’t the sappy, over-the-top sort of song that one typically associates with the term “ballad.” It is actually a very moving piece, musically speaking. And that coupled with its lyrics validates it even more. Daell reminds listeners in this song to not take any moment for granted no matter how big or small as he sings, “Feel it now/Feel for the moment/It will not allow/Any lingering/First it comes/And then it’s gone/And even memories will fade/So feel the moment/Before it slips away.” That is illustrated even more as he sings, “Let it go you fool/Cause you don’t know/When a precious moment passes on/A new one’s born.” He then goes on to sing in the song’s closing verse, “All you get/A string of moments/That is all you get/But you will find/That what you got/Is quite a lot/And that is all you need to know/So feel the moment/And let it go.” The band’s musical approach to the song coupled with its lyrical take make a perfect match. The emotional impact of the partnering is one that will hopefully keep in listeners’ minds to find something special in every moment every day. Such positive lyrics and touching music is difficult to find in today’s mainstream musical universe. That general lack of musical and lyrical positivity makes even clearer why this song is another welcome addition to Protector. It shows yet again, too why Protector is one of this year’s early candidates for a spot on any critic’s list of the year’s best new rock and independent records lists.

‘If You Got No One,’ ‘What Makes A Man,’ and ‘Moments’ are all prime examples of why Protector is one of this year’s best new rock and independent records. That is not to take away from the album’s other songs, either. Whether for the old school rock sound of ‘Fugitive,’ the swagger of ‘Little Lady,’ the Americana-infused ‘Drunk Tired,’ or any of the album’s other songs not noted here, audiences will find something to like about Protector. Speaking of ‘Drunk Tired,’ any fans of Hank III will appreciate that song as it definitely mirrors some of his work to some extent. But that’s a story for another time. All of those songs and the pieces directly noted here show without a doubt why any rock and roll purist should give Protector at least one listen. One listen may very well lead to more and a new favorite rock and roll record this year.

Protector will be available for every rock and roll purist to hear Tuesday, March 10^th. More information on Protector and all of the latest news from The Bullhounds is available online now at:

Website: http://www.thebullhounds.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheBullhounds

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

Chuck Ragan Announces Dates For New Album, Tour

Courtesy: Reybee, Inc.

Folk musician Chuck Ragan will release his latest full length studio effort next month.  The Northern Carolina based singer-songwriter will release Till Midnight on March 25^th via SideOne Dummy Records.  Ragin will hit the road in April only days after the release of his new album.  He and his band mates—Jon Gaunt (fiddle), Joe Ginsberg (bass), Tod Beene of Lucero and Glossary (pedal steel, electric guitar) and David Hidalgo, Jr. of Social Distortion (drums)—will join The White Buffalo and support act Johnny Two Bags for the five-week tour.  The tour kicks off Thursday, April 3^rd in San Francisco, CA and will wind down in Los Angeles, Friday, May 9^th.  It also includes a stop at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC on Friday, April 25^th.

Ragan explained that this tour will be a little different from most that people are used to seeing.  He explained that a portion of ticket sales from this tour will actually go to help support the Wildlands Network.  “As much as we love music and sharing it with the world, we’re aware that our means of travel does make an environmental impact on our surroundings,” he said.  “We’ve aimed to release some merch and means to offset our carbon footprint on this tour and help make a difference along the way.” For every ticket and package sold, one dollar will be donated to Wildlands Network to help better our air, water, forests, and the wildlife that inhabits them. VIP packages, limited edition sustainable merch bundles, and tickets are available here:

http://www.chuckragantix.com

Chuck Ragan Sustainable Merch Package
• One General Admission Concert Ticket
• Autographed Handwritten Lyric Poster printed on recycled paper
• Stainless Steel and BPA free “Till Midnight” Water Bottle
• Eco Friendly Tote Bag to help reduce and eliminate single use plastic bags.
• Autographed LP & CD versions of the New Album, “Till Midnight”

Chuck Ragan Ticket + CD / LP
• One General Admission Concert Ticket
• Autographed LP & CD versions of Chuck’s New Album, “Till Midnight”

Chuck Ragan Ticket
• One General Admission Concert Ticket

More information on Chuck Ragan’s upcoming tour, album and more is available online at http://www.facebook.com/chuckragan and http://www.chuckraganmusic.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 always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.