Category Archives: Publicists

Albums & EPs, Live Nation, News, Tours, Tracks

Five Finger Death Punch Announce Massive Spring 2020 U.S. Arena Tour

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Special Guests Papa Roach, I Prevail,
& Support from Ice Nine Kills

4x Platinum, 6x Gold record selling rock juggernaut Five Finger Death Punch have announced that they will kick off the 2nd leg of their current U.S. arena headline tour in April, featuring special guests Papa Roach, I Prevail, as well as highly acclaimed newcomer Ice Nine Kills. The tour is co-produced by Frank Productions and Live Nation. See all dates below.

VIP presale, artist fanclub presale, and cyber monday presale begins today at 10:00 AM (local time). Citi is the official presale credit card of the tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase U.S. presale tickets beginning Tuesday, December 3rd at 10:00 AM (local time) until Thursday, December 5th at 10:00 PM through Citi’s Entertainment program. Local promoter venue and radio presales will kick off on Thursday, December 5th at 10:00 AM (local time). Tickets will go on-sale to the general public beginning Friday, December 6th at 10:00 AM (local time).

Five Finger Death Punch are currently touring US arenas before heading to Europe right after the holidays for their nearly sold out European arena run with very special guests Megadeth and global breakout rock sensation Bad Wolves. Information on all tour dates including links to tickets and VIP packages can be found HERE.

FFDPTour

Five Finger Death Punch Spring 2020 Tour Dates:

  • 4/8 – Sunrise, FL // BB&T Center
  • 4/10 – Duluth, GA // Infinite Energy Center
  • 4/11 – Pelham, AL // Oak Mountain Amphitheater
  • 4/13 – San Antonio, TX // AT&T Center
  • 4/14 – Ft. Worth, TX // Dickies Arena
  • 4/16 – Houston, TX // Toyota Center
  • 4/18 – Phoenix, AZ // Talking Stick Resort Arena
  • 4/19 – San Diego, CA // Viejas Arena
  • 4/21 – Los Angeles, CA // The Forum
  • 4/23 – Tacoma, WA // Tacoma Dome
  • 4/25 – Portland, OR // Veteran Memorial Coliseum
  • 4/27 – Morrison, CO // Red Rocks Amphitheatre
  • 4/29 – Kansas City, MO //Sprint Center
  • 5/3 – Baltimore, MD // Royal Farms Arena
  • 5/5 – Worcester, MA // DCU Center
  • 5/6 – Newark, NJ // Prudential Center
  • 5/8 – Cincinnati, OH // Heritage Bank Center
  • 5/12 – Detroit, MI // Little Caesars Arena
  • 5/14 – Pittsburgh, PA // PPG Paints Center
  • 5/15 – Camden, NJ // BB&T Pavilion
  • 5/17 – Nashville, TN // Bridgestone Arena
  • 5/19 – Rosemont, IL // Allstate Arena
  • 5/20 – St. Paul, MN // Xcel Energy Center

Coinciding with the unveiling of their next massive tour, Five Finger Death Punch have announced their long awaited eighth studio album, titled F8. The album will be released globally on February 28th, 2020 and is available for pre-order now.

Five Finger Death Punch have amassed over 3 billion streams to date, over 2 billion video views and are the 3rd biggest artist in the hard rock space measured by total consumption (sales and streams) – surpassed only by Metallica and AC/DC. Newly signed to Better Noise Music, they’ve garnered 22 top 10, hit singles over the last few years.

Today, Five Finger Death Punch also premiered the debut single from F8, “Inside Out” one of the most personal songs that the band has released to date. Watch the official lyric video HERE.

Fans who pre-order the album digitally will receive an instant download of “Inside Out” along with two other new tracks before the release on February 28th. The album will be available in the following formats: CD, digital download, mastered for iTunes download, double gatefold vinyl and picture disc vinyl. The band also curated special F8 merchandise bundles of albums with exclusive t-shirts, hoodies and more, available for pre-order HERE.

Says Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Zoltan Bathory, “We had an extremely successful, yet tumultuous couple of years as a band. We didn’t just weather the storm but came out on the other side better than ever. It was a focused sober group recording, our most important album to date and without a question it shows.”

“This album represents rebirth, progression, transcendence both personally and musically.” Vocalist Ivan Moody adds, “This record to me is ‘absolution’ – everything I’ve done in my life has led up to this moment.”

F8 was produced by Five Finger Death Punch with long time producer Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Disturbed, Slash, etc). See the full tracklisting for F8 below.

FFDP F8

TRACKLISTING FOR F8:

  1. F8
  2. Inside Out
  3. Full Circle
  4. Living The Dream
  5. A Little Bit Off
  6. Bottom Of The Top
  7. To Be Alone
  8. Mother May I (Tic Toc)
  9. Darkness Settles In
  10. This Is War
  11. Leave It All Behind
  12. Scar Tissue
  13. Brighter Side Of Grey
  14. Making Monsters (BONUS)
  15. Death Punch Therapy (BONUS)
  16. Inside Out (Radio Edit) (BONUS)

The new album F8 follows Five Finger Death Punch’s hugely successful 2018 release, And Justice For None, which debuted in the Top 5 around the world and became the #1 streaming Hard Rock/Heavy Metal album of that year. They’ve built a rabid, global fan base by creating a unique sound that blurs the line between rock and metal, which has never been more apparent than on their upcoming eighth studio album F8 and their upward trajectory doesn’t seem to waver.

Five Finger Death Punch Is:

Zoltan Bathory
Ivan Moody
Jason Hook
Charlie Engen
Chris Kael

Download/Stream Five Finger Death Punch:

Spotify | Apple Music

Five Finger Death Punch Online:

Website | Twitter | Instagram  
Facebook | YouTube



Featured photo (top) by Stephen Jensen


Bands & Musicians, Emails, Interviews, Kataklizmic Design

INTERVIEW: My Immortal Enemy Singer Discusses Impending Debut Album — ‘Akuma’

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Rock and punk fans should keep an ear out for the band My Immortal Enemy, especially if some of your favorite bands include Beartooth, Avenged Sevenfold, My Chemical Romance, and AFI.  Steven Juliano is their vocalist, Joel Chandler is bassist, Ryan Loomis is on drums, and Ryan Heggum is the guitarist.

My Immortal Enemy
Photography: Cats Eye View Photography

If Juliano’s name sounds familiar, then perhaps you’ve heard of the band I Am Ghost from Epitaph records. Juliano is hitting the ground running with My Immortal Enemy, and their new duet album Akuma, featuring 12 head-banging rock songs, is coming out soon on January 10th, 2020. Their album was recorded at Indigital Studios in Santa Cruz, CA. It was mixed/mastered by Zack Ohren who has previously worked with Machine Head, All Shall Perish, and Set Your Goals.

Most of the members are still in their early 20’s and are excited to hear what music lovers think of their new record. They can’t wait to hit the road and meet their fans on tour, hopefully sometime in 2020.

Juliano generously gave Burning Hot Events some of his time to discuss the album concept, choices behind its development, and band evolution:

Interview with Steven Juliano, Singer of My Immortal Enemy

Q & A with music journalist Brittney Coon

The word “akuma” is Japanese for “demon” or “devil”, and Akuma is also the name of a character from Street Fighter. What is the inspiration for your album title?

Juliano: From the very beginning, before we had even written a song, I had a concept for this record. With my last band (I Am Ghost), rock-opera-albums was our thing, but after the band disbanded I started a few other music projects and kind of steered away from all that. The reason being concept albums are a lot of work. Mentally hard work. I wasn’t ready to wrap my head around such a large endeavor then.

This time I felt I was ready again, knowing all too well I was making a lot more work for myself lyrically. But I like challenges, I guess. I’m a glutton for punishment as they say. So, I created this detailed story; a semi-fictional tale with me as the protagonist, the devil (Akuma) the main antagonist. It’s a life journey story in a sense, something I believe we can all relate to.  

On your website and on SoundCloud, the track “Paradise” shows an image of Baphomet, a Satanic deity. Lyrically, does your album contain a lot of occult elements? If so, does this reflect your personal beliefs, or is it more of a stylistic choice?

Juliano: It’s all about the concept of the album, honestly, and has nothing to do with our religious beliefs. None of us in My Immortal Enemy are Satanist. None of us are very religious to begin with. I’ve been asked by a lot by people on what the artwork means, why all the dark/religious undertones, etc… and it’s hard to explain since the album isn’t out yet. Once you hear it all in context, it makes sense. 

What drew you to having Zack Ohren produce your debut album?

Juliano: The band actually wrote/produced the album ourselves and Zack did the entire mixing/mastering. Before he came on board we had another guy, a semi-famous gentleman whose band had sold millions and millions of albums in the past. So we thought it was a no brainer to have him mix our album. Well, his mixes were turning out… terrible. And not only terrible, he was taking months to get mixes back. There was a definite low period in the band. I had never gone through anything like that before in my career. We all felt helpless, like our album had been hijacked. Finally, I just called up the guy and fired him.

Soon after the search was on for a new mixing-engineer. My bass player told me about a guy he’d worked with in the past, a guy whose discography of bands was perfect for what we’re trying to convey. At the time, Zack was working on the new Machine Head album but graciously took on our project. 

Out of all the tracks on your new album, why did you choose “The Laughing Heart” as your first single?

Juliano:  Figuring out the first song to release is always difficult. Especially from a new band no one’s heard of yet. You have all these questions swirling in your head: “Do we release an aggressive song? A “radio song”? What if no one likes it? Blah blah blah.” All artists are insecure in a way. If they say they’re not they are lying. We decided it was best to release something that had a little bit of everything.

What I’ve learned from doing this for so long is that not everyone is going to like your music. It took me quite some time to realize that. Easier said than done… I know. But in the end you just have to put out songs you dig and keep moving forward. Second thing I’ve learned (mostly by trial and error) is that if you’re writing honest music with honest lyrics, people tend to lean towards that more often than not.   

Currently showing four men as your band members, who is the female vocalist on tracks such as “Into the Blue”?

Juliano:  At the early conception of the band we had a female guitarist who played and sang on the album. But, as in life, shit happened… shit that was completely out of our control. One minute she’s all about that tour life… the next minute she’s like “I’m going to get married and I don’t want to be in a band anymore.” Ultimately she moved away and gave up.

That’s the hardest part of being in a serious band; finding people who are all on the same page. Some would think finding great, seasoned musicians is the hardest part, but that’s not true at all. That’s the easy part actually. Finding musicians who you get along with and are willing to put in the long hours is definitely the hardest part. 

We know how difficult it can be to retain band members in a new band. With six members listed on your Facebook page, have you gained and lost many members over the past year? If so, how were you able to recover?

Juliano: We’ve been lucky enough to keep the four main members, all of whom are the main song writers of the group. So in retrospect it’s been rather painless. Most touring bands have members who are really just hired guns anyways, so the fact we’ve kept our core unit in tact is a blessing. 

How is this band different, in sound or otherwise, than I Am Ghost?

I Am Ghost’s Those We Leave Behind Album Cover

Juliano: The biggest difference with My Immortal Enemy and I Am Ghost is that I Am Ghost had a strong, almost ungodly major label push from day one. I Am Ghost was signed by Epitaph Records very early in our career. We signed a three album deal after only a couple of shows under our belts. And when I say couple, I mean only like three of four shows… ever.  After that we became another monster. We had real management and agents and a team of publicists… big dogs that would never even return my emails in any of my previous bands… and all this happened literally overnight.

My Immortal Enemy’s Akuma Album Artwork
By: Steven Juliano

My Immortal Enemy, on the other hand, is all DIY. We do everything ourselves. We paid for the recording and mixing of our album ourselves… which was very expensive. Our upcoming music video we paid ourselves. We book all our own shows. I design all the artwork in the band. The negative in all that is its financially draining. The positive, and you have to always look at the positive being in a band, is that there is zero outside influence regarding our music, and for the moment, we rather enjoy the freedom. As to the actual musical styles between the two, My Immortal Enemy is definitely very similar, although I wasn’t trying for that to happen at all. It just kind of happened, I guess. 

Your website currently shows a “coming soon” message under the “Tour” section. Are tour plans currently in the works to support the album release?

Juliano: We wanted to take off a few months and get the album release in order. All that takes a lot of work since we are doing it ourselves. Also, being that it’s winter, there really is no reason to hop into a van and travel the US battling all that darn rain and snow. Again, I’ve been touring since I was 19 years old, so subsequently I know how it goes. Winter dates more likely than not get canceled because of bad weather, and most importantly it’s too dangerous traveling. We will be back early 2020 with tour dates, so rest assured. We hope to play as many shows and in as many different places as we possibly can. 

What headlining bands would you love to tour with?

Juliano: The cool thing about our band is I feel we could tour with anyone and do ok. We have that definite metal vibe but I’m a punk kid at heart and I think we’d do well on a punk tour, or a hard rock tour. I think we’d fit in well on a pop punk tour… hell, throw us on a ska tour we’d survive. But bands that would be fun to tour with would be bands like Beartooth or Avenged Sevenfold, or even My Chemical Romance now that they have gotten back together. 

How are you going to celebrate the release of your new album?

Juliano: This might sound stupid but it feels as though we’ve gone to war in some far off country and have finally returned home… like years later.  There’s definitely this “Holy shit man, we did it. We made it home alive…” type mentality with the four of us, which in the end has only brought us closer together. Ultimately, bad things happen in life… things completely out of your control and you can either be resilient or just give up.

But we honestly believe in this album. We think it’s not just good, but rather exceptional. Especially if you know all the history surrounding its inception… of how many times we were knocked down but kept getting back up. My Immortal Enemy are fighters, that’s for damn sure.

Order Akuma:

Arrives in stores everywhere January 10th, 2020. You can now pre-order your physical copy of My Immortal Enemy’s debut 12 song album, “Akuma” HERE. Signed by entire band. Includes two stickers and 1.5 inch button. Bundle pack includes Black Skull/Coffin T-Shirt. FREE shipping (if in the USA). Album ships world-wide.

Also Available for Pre-Order at:

Amazon | Apple Music

Track Listing:

  1. Dangerous
  2. I Devil’lyn
  3. Into The Blue
  4. The Laughing Heart
  5. Atlas
  6. Paradise
  7. Blood On My Hands
  8. Chances Are
  9. After the Funeral
  10. Shiver
  11. Dearly Departed
  12. Hellos Are Harder Than Goodbyes

Stream My Immortal Enemy:

Spotify | SoundCloud | Deezer
YouTube | Play Music | iHeartRadio

Connect with My Immortal Enemy

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

News, Speakeasy PR, Tours

Faith No More Return, First European Performances in Five Years 

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SAN FRANCISCO – Faith No More return to the road next summer, announcing what will be the band’s first European performances in five years: Hellfest (June 20), Sunstroke (June 13) and Tons of Rock (June 26), with more European festival performances to be announced soon.

“Five years, four colonoscopies, two root canals and a handful of prostate exams tell us that it’s time to carpe diem our asses back to Europe asap,” said the band, collectively.

Faith No More last played in Europe in June of 2015, following the May 2015 release of Sol Invictus (Ipecac/Reclamation Recordings). The collection debuted atop the international sales charts: #2 in Australia, #4 in Germany, and #6 in both the U.S. and UK. Rolling Stone dubbed the 10-song album “triumphant,” the New Yorker called it “a reminder of everything that made Faith No More great in the first place,” and the Los Angeles Times said, “Faith No More has a history of defying expectations, and that’s what it’s doing again with Sol Invictus.”

The San Francisco-born, platinum-selling band have released seven studio albums: We Care A Lot (1985), Introduce Yourself (1987), The Real Thing (1989), Angel Dust (1992), King For A Day… Fool For A Lifetime (1995), Album of the Year (1997) and Sol Invictus (2015).

Faith No More Is:

Mike Bordin (drums)
Roddy Bottum (keyboards)
Bill Gould (bass)
Jon Hudson (guitar)
Mike Patton (vocals)

Faith No More Online:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Featured photo (top) by Jimmy Hubbard



Concerts, Kataklizmic Design, Media, Photo Galleries, Reviews

REVIEW: Lindsey Stirling Enthralls in Hometown Show at Comerica Theatre (11-23-19)

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PHOENIX — There is an age-old argument over when exactly the Christmas season starts. Some would say that the day after Halloween is the official date that you can start preparing for Christmas, and others argue that the day after Thanksgiving, and not a day before, is the proper date to throw some Christmas music on and start feeling festive. It should be postulated that neither of these are correct: The first day that it officially feels like Christmas is the day of the first concert in Lindsey Stirling’s annual winter tour.

The tour is in its third year now, first named “Warmer in the Winter” in 2017, “The Wanderland Tour” in 2018 and now “Warmer in the Winter” again. Stirling, an Arizona native, noted during the show that the name came from all of the warm winters she spent here in Arizona. “The Wanderland Tour” bypassed Arizona, which may possibly explain why the tour changed names last year.

Arizona winters are indeed warm, and this one was no exception up until earlier this week. As the doors opened and the public began pouring into Comerica Theatre in Downtown Phoenix, there was a chill in the air, one that announced that winter actually does come to Arizona. In the moments leading up to the first wisp of smoke from the machine on stage, the audience filtered into the theatre and found their seats with a growing buzz of anticipation, as excited conversations built toward a crescendo as showtime drew closer. All ages had come out to see Lindsey Stirling, from the wide-eyed young girls who wore dresses that looked much like the dresses that Stirling wears in her music videos, to the older fans who looked like they were ready for a Sunday morning church service. For the young, they had come to see their hero. For the older, to see an artist who has redefined what it means to be a violinist. No one left disappointed. 

Lindsey Stirling
| Photographer: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

The “Warmer in the Winter” tour was a delight in every way possible. From the first few moments after the smoke machines kicked on to announce the start of the show until the final notes of the last song, “I Wonder While I Wander,” each and every second was packed with magic. Stirling and her dancers moved effortlessly through incredibly difficult maneuvers, drawing the crowd in. She is well known for her violin skills and her dancing, but she is also an incredible singer with a wicked sense of humor. Backed by a talented band including Kit Nolan on the keyboard and Drew Steen on the drums, Stirling danced, sang, and cracked jokes throughout the night. 

Lindsey Stirling
| Photographer: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

The production includes special effects, props, and costuming that inspire awe and joy. The backdrop was a massive screen, which was one of the key elements to the show. Throughout the night, it would be used to show a clip of Stirling’s alter ego Phebla, become a backdrop of the universe while she played “Between The Twilight” from her newest album Artemis, and finally to have us fly through a field of mushrooms as a nod to Alice In Wonderland during “Carol of the Bells.” She explained that she named the album after Artemis because Artemis is the Goddess of the moon, and the moon brings light into the darkness. 

Her concerts are always an inspirational and moving experience because heartfelt speeches in between songs are a regular part of the show. She told the audience, “I want you to think about how amazing you are, because I think that’s something you may not tell yourself enough…every single person in this room is incredible and powerful…as I play this song, maybe even close your eyes and see yourself for how beautiful you are and for your own light, because the world needs every single person to shine.” As she started to play “Between The Twilight”, the spotlight turned off, and the screen behind her showed the universe, or the stars in it at least. The ethereal sound took the audience on a journey of light, of sound, of beauty.

Stirling is also a fierce advocate for her fans. After a visually stunning “We Three Gentlemen,” She gave an emotional speech, talking about her journey to get where she was. She then told the audience “Nobody else can write your story. Never let anyone else tell you what you can do, what you can’t do, what you’re good at, what you’re not good at — because you’re the only one who knows what you can do, what’s inside of you.” She admitted that her insecurities had not changed from before she found fame until now. 

Lindsey Stirling
| Photographer: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Stirling spoke at length, her voice quivering a bit as she talked about losing her best friend to cancer 4 years ago, and her dad 3 years ago. It was an emotional, vulnerable speech. She spoke about angels and how she felt they surrounded her. This led into “Angels We Have Heard on High,” during which she stood at the top of the stairs in front of the screens with a mesmerizingly beautiful light that followed her every move with her bow. It was the most impactful song of the show. 

She spoke with gratitude of how much she appreciated the shows in Arizona, saying that she looked forward to them because, “I feel like this is my family.”

“Thank you guys so much for coming! It’s only because of you guys and the support I had from home from the very beginning that I am here. Thank you.” 

Lindsey Stirling
| Photographer: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

During Stirling’s “favorite song to play,” “Hallelujah,” the tone switched away from happy, jovial, and infectious. The entire venue was utterly captivated by the otherworldly beautiful sound of the violin and backing guitar. There were some in the audience wiping away tears as the last notes faded away and Stirling again thanked everyone.

There are those that dedicate their life to the mastery of the violin, and others who train to lead the dance troupe at the theatre. To be able to do both at once – and do it well – is rare indeed. As the show started it became apparent the immense amount of planning and attention to detail that went into each and every step of this spectacular display. Each costume change was so well-planned that it would not be noticed or delay the show, and each dance move was tightly choreographed. Stirling has a zest for performing, a love for the fans, and a respect for her craft that lends itself to a show that would be hard to equal. 

Lindsey Stirling
| Photographer: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Everyone had gathered for a concert, but those in attendance received so much more than that. Viewing the show through the eyes of one who has seen many, it was an incredible, exciting show — one that lingers in the back of the mind. She is a wonderful role model to the young that view her as a giant. They aspire to one day reach her greatness after witnessing the impact of her beauty and grace.

Lindsey Stirling
| Photographer: Mark Greenawalt © All Rights Reserved

Stirling has a self-awareness that gives strength and power to those around her, saying what people need to hear before they even know they need to hear it. She is, in a word, rare. She is a once in a generation talent who has captured the imagination of the young, inspires the broken and gives peace to all who hear her. As the show ended and we walked into the cold night air of her hometown, it was hard not to feel refreshed and ready to celebrate the season. And that, in the end, is the magic of Lindsey Stirling.

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Mark Greenawalt

Lindsey Stirling – Comerica Theatre 11-23-19

Photography © Mark Greenawalt
All Rights Reserved

BMG, News, Tracks

Evanescence Releases “The Chain” (from “Gears 5”) – Their First New Rock Recording in Eight Years

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Los Angeles, CA — Transcendent, two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning rock band, Evanescence, has returned with their first new rock recording in eight years, “The Chain (From Gears 5).” Listen HERE.

The band recorded their signature-rock version of the Fleetwood Mac classic following lead singer Amy Lee having lent her vocals to the launch trailer for Xbox Game Studios’ Gears 5 for Xbox One, Windows 10, and Steam, from the massively popular Gears of War series. The spot aired as part of a multi-million-dollar ad campaign this fall in conjunction with the launch of the game. Watch it HERE. 

Gears 5 was Microsoft’s most successful video game launch since Halo 4 in 2012. 

Amy Lee firmly re-establishes herself as one of rock’s pre-eminent vocalists, exhibiting an impressive range that still packs a wallop” –Variety

“The Chain” is the first release in what is expected to be a very active period for Evanescence. Following their critically acclaimed foray into symphonic music with 2017’s Synthesis album and world tour, the five-piece has reemerged by embracing a heavier sound, albeit with their trademark style that has made Evanescence integral in establishing a global, critical mass in rock, and among the most unique artists of the millennium. The band is currently working on new original music, which will start rolling out in 2020 in advance of their next studio album. Stay tuned for more details to come. 

“This cover was so fun to make. We love Fleetwood Mac and wanted to paint a dark and epic picture with our take on ‘The Chain,’” says Amy Lee. “The lyrics make me feel the power of standing together against great forces trying to pull us apart, perhaps even from the inside. I really wanted to drive that home in our version, and even made everyone in the band sing by the end of it! We’re beyond excited to share this with our fans and I’m really looking forward to playing it live.” 

At the end of the month, Evanescence will be heading to Mexico City to play Knotfest, followed by an appearance at Download Festival in Tokyo on March 29, 2020. After a short break, the group will be heading out on a massive co-headline tour of Europe and the U.K. with Within Temptation. The new batch of dates kicks off on April 4 in Brussels, Belgium and concludes in Birmingham, U.K. on May 1. Evanescence will also return to the U.S. shortly thereafter for a headline show at The Fillmore in Minneapolis, MN on May 14. All tickets are on sale now and can be purchased on the band’s official website HERE.

“Haunting, powerful, and packed with poetic truth, Lee’s voice is one of the strongest in the game—recognizable and unparalleled.” –Nylon

Evanescence 2019-2020 Tour Dates:

  • 11/30/19 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Knotfest 
  • 3/29/20 – Tokyo, Japan @ Download Festival 

  • 4/4/20 – Brussels, Belgium @ Palais 12 *
  • 4/5/20 – Paris, France @ Accor Hotel Arena *
  • 4/7/20 – London, U.K. @ The O2 *
  • 4/9/20 – Berlin, Germany @ Velodrome *
  • 4/11/20 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Festhalle *
  • 4/12/20 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion *
  • 4/14/20 – Milan, Italy @ Mediolanum Forum *
  • 4/15/20 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith *
  • 4/17/20 – Hamburg, Germany @ Sporthalle *
  • 4/18/20 – Leipzig, Germany @ Leipzig Arena *
  • 4/20/20 – Dusseldorf, Germany @ Mitsubishi Hall *
  • 4/21/20 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome *
  • 4/22/20 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome *
  • 4/24/20 – Brussels, Belgium @ Palais 12 *
  • 4/26/20 – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg @ Rockhal Main Hall *
  • 4/28/20 – Glasgow, U.K. @ The SSE Hyrdo *
  • 4/30/20 – Leeds, U.K. @ First Direct Arena * 

  • 5/1/20 – Birmingham, U.K. @ Arena Birmingham *
  • 5/14/20 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore 

* w/ Within Temptation

Follow Evanescence:

Website | Facebook | Twitter
Instagram | YouTube

Featured photo (top) by P.R. Brown


News, Night Owl PR, Tours

Former Taking Back Sunday Bandmates Team Up for Emo Night Tour in 2020

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Former bandmates Fred Mascherino and Eddie Reyes have reconnected and teamed up for their very own rendition of Emo Night. They’ll be taking their show on the road in January 2020 for a few dates that will include stops in Amityville (NY), Asbury Park (NJ), and Easton (PA). The festivities will include DJ sets, emo karaoke, and performances by The Color Fred and Fates Got A Driver.

“The Color Fred played an Emo Night that our friend Jon runs in Pennsylvania and we had a blast,” explains Mascherino. “He was spinning all of the bands that Eddie and I use to play with, so we thought it would be fun to do it in other places and have Eddie’s band help make it even more fun.”

The Color Fred is an indie rock band headed by former Taking Back Sunday guitarist/vocalist Fred Mascherino. Bend to Break, The Color Fred’s first full-length album, was released on October 30, 2007. The album hit #8 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. The band toured throughout North America and Europe, playing with bands such as Dashboard Confessional, Angels and Airwaves, and Four Year Strong. They released an acoustic EP titled The Intervention for Record Store Day in 2009 and did a virtual solo acoustic tour in support of its release.

Mascherino then entered the studio to record LP2 and wound up collaborating with his friends Josh Eppard (Coheed and Cambria) and Andy Jackson (Hot Rod Circuit) in what eventually became Terrible Things. The trio signed to Universal Motown Records, released their popular self-titled full-length, then spent most of their time on the road supporting bands including The Offspring, Minus the Bear, Bayside, Circa Survive, and Streetlight Manifesto. Mascherino then went on tour playing bass in The Lemonheads and guitar for Say Anything. During that time, he was producing and co-writing with bands eventually building his own studio, Diver Down. In late 2018, Fred decided to close the studio to the public and start recording his own music again. Coming full-circle, the new material is being released as The Color Fred. The first song “Don’t Give Up on Me” was released this past May. More new material is underway in the studio and will be released in the near future.

BMG, Music Videos, News, Signing

Jetty Bones Sign to Rise Records and Share Official Music Video for “the part:”

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Los Angeles, CA — Rise Records is excited to announce that Jetty Bones, the musical project led by Ohio-based musician, Kelc Galluzzo, has joined their roster of artists. In celebration of the news, the band has shared a new music video for their single, “the part:”, a standout song from their third EP, – (pronounced “hyphen”), which debuted earlier this year via Take This To Heart Records. Stream/download the effort HERE, and watch the new visual HERE. Jetty Bones is also currently working on new music, expected next year on Rise. 

Kelc has a message for Jetty Bones fans about this announcement and next chapter in the band’s career: “Growing up in Ohio, we used to have this local scene saying about how the dream was to ‘live in Ohio, start a band, then sign to Rise Records.’ Well, 12 years later, I finally get to say that those teenage dreams are a reality: Jetty Bones has officially signed to Rise and will be putting out a full-length record next year. As the final piece of the – era, here’s a music video and a promise to keep building this community around support and vulnerability as a part of the Rise family. Thank you for reminding me that fighting for passion, recovery, and the strength to help others has not been in vain. I don’t know if I can ever find the words to accurately explain how much I needed all of you (and still do), but I’m going to try my best for as long as you let me.” 

Channeling the band’s namesake, Betty Jones, who broke out of her all girls’ Catholic school to remove herself from a situation where she wasn’t happy, Jetty Bones exists to encourage people to rise above everyday situations and push for a life with better meaning.

“The sound of an artist totally in control over her craft and her story.” –Chorus.fm

The group’s 2017 EP, Old Women, was a story of progress, growth, and the development of human connection – something often overlooked today. In a world so focused on outward appearances, Old Women takes you on a journey through one girl’s mental and emotional attempts to attach to something in a more genuine way, that something being other people. Its brisk, contemplative follow up, – (pronounced “hyphen”), is a bridge between Kelc’s journey to healthier interpersonal bonds and a future colored by close friends, As Jetty Bones still functions with Kelc’s crystal clear delivery and racing thoughts at its center and a network of trusted musicians bouncing in the margins, – is a testament to the artist’s growth, depth, and warmth. 

Currently on Tour in the U.S. With New Found Glory

Jetty Bones is also currently on tour in the U.S. supporting New Found Glory, along with Hawthorne Heights and Free Throw. The remaining run of dates continues tonight in Lancaster, PA at Chameleon Club and wraps next week at Saturn in Birmingham, AL on November 26. A list of shows is included below, with tickets available to purchase HERE. 

Jetty Bones Tour Dates Supporting New Found Glory:

11/20 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
11/21 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony
11/22 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount
11/23 – Richmond, VA @ The National
11/25 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
11/26 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn 

Follow Jetty Bones:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

“Blistering pop rock that isn’t afraid to hold back if the connection encourages listeners to strive for something better.” 
–Substream Magazine


Concerts, Kataklizmic Design, Media, Photo Galleries, Reviews

REVIEW: The Building Brings Soothing Vibes to Downtown Phoenix Bar (11-13-19)

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PHOENIX — In the middle of downtown Phoenix is a nondescript alley with a door halfway down it. Over that door is a neon sign with the words “Valley Bar” spelled out. It casts a stark and yet warm glow into the alley. It is not an easy venue to find, but it is absolutely worth the trek if you’re looking for great music. For this particular event, Heather Woods Broderick and The Building was playing on a Wednesday night.

Valley Bar entrance sign
| Photography: Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved.

The Building is fronted by Anthony LaMarca, a talented and accomplished music veteran. He is currently the guitarist for the band The War on Drugs, and has played drums for St. Vincent on tour. He also has his own record label, named Primary Records. Broderick has toured with Sharon Van Etten as part of her backing band and has also played in bands such as Horse Feathers. To be able to see musicians as talented as these two in a venue as intimate as the Valley Bar is indeed a treat.

By the time the show started just after 8:00pm, the entire audience had shown up. There were fewer than 20 people in attendance — likely due to a somewhat hard to find venue and a midweek show. For those of us fortunate enough to be in attendance, we were treated to a downright solid show.

Heather Woods Broderick (Vocals, Guitar, Keys)
| Photography: Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved.

Heather Woods Broderick

Broderick took the stage first with Andrew Carlson on the bass guitar, and Dean Anshutz on the drums. Carlson and Anshutz would be on stage for most of the evening, since they play in The Building as well. Broderick started with an acoustic guitar. Her fingers flew across the strings as a nearly ethereal sound came from the guitar — a sound that would be present for much of the evening. Her otherworldly vocals are enough to find your mouth agape. There is a beauty in the melancholic, enthralling tone of Broderick’s music.

While most of the songs are slower, she turned up the tempo with “Quicksand” from the album Invitation, which is a song that is rather drum heavy and a very nice change of pace. Anshutz was a joy to watch during the show because of his precision on the drums and how much he gets into it, but he was even more so during this song. Broderick also played “I Try” and ended the show on “Invitation”. With the voice of an angel and impressive control, Broderick yodeled through the closing notes of the final song, which is a delight that can only be experienced live since these fluctuations are not heard on the studio recording of the song.

Mid-show, she mentioned that she was surprised at how warm it still was outside and what there was to do in downtown Phoenix. Later on, she also spoke about touring with The Building, and said “They’re very sweet people and I love hearing them play their stuff every night.” It was also mentioned that there was a week and a half left in the tour.

The Building

The Building took the stage shortly after 9:00pm, and LaMarca greeted the audience with “We’re called The Building, we’re from Youngstown Ohio, thanks for being here!” and launched into the first song. He seemed to forget the lyrics after the first line of the song, but instead of powering through and going to the next line, he stopped the song and cracked a joke about the mistake. He noted that it was better to acknowledge the mistake and fix it, saying “It’s like when you go to a sandwich shop and you order turkey on a sandwich but instead they give you fish and it’s just not as good.” The song was restarted, and the night was back on track.

Anthony LaMarca (Vocals, Guitar) & Dean Anshutz (Drums), The Building
Photography: Rodrigo Izquierdo © All Rights Reserved.

There is a bit of a wistful feeling to these songs, perhaps owing to the fact that the drums were rarely used throughout the set. Watching Carlson play the bass grants a new appreciation for how precise each note needs to be. There is also a mellowness to the songs that feels a bit like quiet reflections in musical form. The soothing mood of the music would pair well with The Paper Kites on a relaxation playlist. 

Midway through the show, LaMarca stopped to chat with the audience. He noted that this was their first time in Phoenix and then asked if anyone had any dogs. Surprisingly, only one person indicated she did, and they had a conversation about the three dogs she owned. The latest album is named after LaMarca’s dog Petra, a German shepherd. There is a story on their website about the name of the record and his dog Petra, and it is one we highly recommend reading.

As the night drew to a close, LaMarca announced the final song as “Peace’s Eternal Truth Renews All,” or “PETRA”. Each of the songs off of the latest album are quite personal, as he has battled Multiple Myeloma twice in the past few years and this was written and recorded during his latest battle, but PETRA feels more personal than the others. As the last notes faded, the show ended, and the few of us fortunate enough to be there made our way up the stairs and back into the alley in downtown Phoenix. Watching LaMarca and The Building in such a small venue is not an opportunity that should be taken for granted. All members of the band are extremely talented, and as such, the music was excellent.

The Building Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Photo Gallery

Photographer: Rodrigo Izquierdo

The Building & Heather Woods Broderick – Valley Bar 11-13-19

Photography © Reagle Photography
All Rights Reserved

Live Nation, News, Tours

KISS Announced Today The ‘End Of The Road’ Comes To Its End July 21, 2021, Last Leg of Shows Also Announced

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Rock n roll legends KISS have announced today the last legs of their final tour, the End Of The Road Tour. The initial tour announcement was met with huge fan demand for added shows, but the End Of The Road Tour will officially come to a close on July 21, 2021 at a NY location yet to be named. Produced by Live Nation, the tour will continue to wow audiences in 2020 with additional concert dates listed below. KISS will be offering VIP experiences and special KISS Army fan presales (info below).

Known for their trademark larger-than-life blistering performances, KISS has proven for decades why they are hands down the most iconic live show in rock n roll. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers who have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide have said this tour is devoted to the millions of KISS Army fans.

“All that we have built and all that we have conquered over the past four decades could never have happened without the millions of people worldwide who’ve filled clubs, arenas and stadiums over those years. This will be the ultimate celebration for those who’ve seen us and a last chance for those who haven’t. KISS Army, we’re saying goodbye on our final tour with our biggest show yet and we’ll go out the same way we came in… Unapologetic and Unstoppable,” said KISS.

KISS Meet & Greet Experiences will be available Tuesday, November 19 at 10am local time through 10pm local time HERE. KISS Army fan club presales will begin Wednesday, November 20 at 10am local time until Thursday, November 21 at 10pm local time. Visit the band’s website for more information. Tickets to the general public will go on sale starting Friday, November 22 at 10am local time HERE.

Citi is the official presale credit card of the End Of The Road Tour. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Wednesday, November 20 at 12pm local time until Thursday, November 21 at 10pm local time through Citi EntertainmentSM. For complete presale details visit HERE.

End of the Road Tour Dates

2-1-20 Manchester, NH SNHU Arena
2-4-20 Allentown, PA PPL Center
2-5-20 Buffalo, NY KeyBank Center
2-7-20 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena
2-8-20 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Complex*
2-11-20 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena*
2-13-20 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena
2-15-20 Peoria, IL Peoria Civic Center
2-16-20 Fort Wayne, IN Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
2-18-20 Springfield, MO JQH Arena
2-19-20 Wichita, KS INTRUST Bank Arena
2-21-20 Sioux City, IA Tyson Events Center
2-22-20 Grand Forks, ND Alerus Center
2-24-20 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center+
2-25-20 Lincoln, NE Pinnacle Bank Arena+
2-29-20 Laughlin, NV Laughlin Event Center
3-2-20 Bakersfield, CA Mechanics Bank Area (formerly Rabobank Arena)
3-4-20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
3-6-20 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
3-9-20 El Paso, TX UTEP Don Haskins Center
3-10-20 Lubbock, TX United Supermarkets Arena
3-12-20 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
3-14-20 Lafayette, LA Lafayette Cajundome
3-15-20 Biloxi, MS Mississippi Coast Coliseum
8-28-20 Burgettstown, PA KeyBank Pavilion
8-29-20 Atlantic City, NJ Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
8-31-20 Canandaigua, NY Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
9-3-20 Bangor, ME Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
9-4-20 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
9-5-20 Hartford, CT XFINITY Theatre
9-8-20 Atlanta, GA Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
9-9-20 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park*
9-11-20 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
9-12-20 Tinley Park, IL Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago, IL
9-14-20 Dayton, OH Wright State University Nutter Center
9-15-20 Milwaukee, WI American Family Insurance Amphitheater
9-19-20 George, WA Gorge Amphitheatre
9-20-20 Ridgefield, WA Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
9-22-20 Boise, ID ExtraMile Arena
9-24-20 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
9-27-20 Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
9-29-20 Phoenix, AZ Ak-Chin Pavilion
10-1-20 Austin, TX Austin360 Amphitheater
10-2-20 Fort Worth, TX Dickies Arena

*general on sale starts 12pm local time
+general on sale starts 9am local time

KISS Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube



Albums, Kataklizmic Design, Reviews

REVIEW: DIVISIONS — STARSET Takes Us on a Journey Through the Future

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Released on September 13th, 2019, DIVISIONS is the third studio album by STARSET. Fronted by Dustin Bates, STARSET is known for their elaborate shows and their detailed, cinematic rock albums. To watch STARSET live is to watch a spectacle of light and sound that leaves you in awe. There is an augmented reality app, aptly titled STARSET, that was first meant to be used during the live concert. This has since been updated to have some functions outside of the concert setting. During the “Immersion: Part One” tour, Bates and his bandmates wore spacesuits. Bates, in fact, has a significant tie to space: he was a teacher at the International Space University Space Study Program at one point, and has solidified his image of being both an extremely imaginative and talented musician and an accomplished scientist.

DIVISIONS — set on Earth in 2049, in a dystopian future that involves mind control via an implant. Four music videos were released in the lead-up to the album release: “MANIFEST,” “WHERE THE SKIES END” “STRATOSPHERE,” and “DIVING BELL.” Watching them helps understand the story behind the album, which in turn is linked to their show.

You do not listen to Starset —
you experience them.

As you travel through the journey that is DIVISIONS, you will hear more than just the songs. “WHERE THE SKIES END,” for example, is bookended by audio clips from a video called “A New Horizon” that played at the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York. The name of the exhibit was “Futurama,” and was a vision of the future – a future that came true in many ways. Ronald Reagan can be heard in “STRATOSPHERE,” taken from a speech he gave in 1987 to the UN about war, in which he said “I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing a threat…From outside this world.“

The first track is only Bates speaking with synth playing, building until the end of the song. “A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE” lays out the rest of the album:

This place is a desert for the mind
Devoid of emotion and barren of thought
No real thought, at least
It’s no surprise
Most minds here have long since atrophied from lack of use
They wait in flatline for the next rushing jolt of synthetic stimulation
The real world can’t compare, even if it were allowed to
Contemplating the real world leads to seeing the world for what it is: a prison... (Continues)

“MANIFEST” is a mix of heavy rock riff and poppy sounding choruses. It leaves you off balance a little, though it is a very enjoyable song, and it just takes a couple of listens to get used to the genre switch. It showcases the genius of Bates: as the music switches between rock and pop, the lyrics describe a love that seems to be a bit unstable:

Every time I’m onto you
You change it up‚ you always do

The song ends with a cadence of crashing guitars and drums, leaving the listener with a second or two of silence to regroup a bit before the synth beginning of “ECHO”.

“Echo” is a symphonic song, soaring behind lyrics that seem to be steeped in Greek Mythology. From the mention of the Odyssey at the beginning, up to and including the lyrics:

I call and I can hear you sing
But oh, it’s only my echo
It’s only my echo

In Greek Mythology, Echo was cursed by Hera to only be able to repeat the last words that another would speak. She met, and fell in love with Narcissus, who fell in love with himself. That ended rather poorly for both of them. The song seems to be more than just the story of Narcissus, it indeed seems to be told from the viewpoint of a narcissist:

I thought it was destiny
I was gonna conquer the sky
Then plummet to the ground and be
Anchored by your side
But when every time I found myself upon new heights
I would climb again and leave you in the moonlight

It should be noted that the person referred to here followed the singer silently for most of the song, so the accusation of giving up early toward the end rings quite false. It is, again, a well-crafted song by Bates.

“WHERE THE SKIES END” seems to be a near defiant look at the future, a musing that is sung over music that alternates between a heavy riff and synth. The lyrics speak of the change between the current and the previous generations — one that could possibly apply to today as well:

These aren’t the dreams of our fathers
There’ll be no wishing on stars
We are the sons and the daughters
Let them come test who we are

“PERFECT MACHINE” is far more synth heavy, the music slowing down a bit, and seems to be a tragic song in some ways. In the first verse it becomes quite apparent the protagonist is not exactly the nicest person in this scenario; in fact, they sound downright manipulative:

And if I bend just right
I can make it
I didn’t want you
I wanna watch you change
From a butterfly and into chains

By the end of the song, the subject seems like they have reached the point where they have acknowledged their faults and are trying to protect the other person from them. 

As the outro plays, you can hear what sounds like a subway, or perhaps a bus station, and a disembodied voice in the background repeating propaganda. It is a masterful touch to remind you that this is set in a dystopian future

“TELEKINETIC” is absolutely connected to “A Brief History Of The Future”. This is a heavy, heavy song, reaching past the rock genre and going into the metal, with a scream punctuating the song. One cannot help but to be reminded of the band RED during this song. Bates weaves in a comparison of being a puppet and voodoo, and in between it all, the mention of the hit of the chemicals in the brain that popped in the first song.

Fake
I’m just a puppet in your play
You pull the strings and I obey
High, that oxytocin hit me just right there
It’s counterfeit
Zombie, zombie, could it be a hex?

As the song ends, as your ears are possibly still ringing, “STRATOSPHERE” starts. This is the first true pop rock song on the album. In the first half, the drum kick is the heaviest element of the song, unless you listen closely to the lyrics. It is indeed a beautiful, tragic song; a song of longing and missing someone that you once loved.

There is duality between “STRATOSPHERE” and “FAULTLINE,” with the latter sounding more like a sarcastic, angry song about a hurt partner pushing back against the other in the relationship:

First you gotta know
How to play the victim
Hate to tell you so
But you repeat the symptoms like an aftershock
And I only want to make it stop

It is such a sharp contrast in music style and lyrics that it feels out of place, and yet it will resonate with anyone who has ever gone through a rough breakup, and indeed with anyone leaving an abusive relationship.

“SOLSTICE” has a bit of a heavy sound to it, with a great beat with some EDM behind it, though it quickly becomes very repetitive. Musically it’s a great song, lyrically it leaves one wanting more. It is the least impactful song on the album, though it is still an enjoyable song musically.

“TRIALS” is, quite simply, a song of defiance — a story of looking straight into the teeth of the darkest days and triumphing. Set over a driving drumbeat, it is another song that reminds me a bit of RED and moves closer to metal and away from rock. 

“WAKING UP” shares the same kind of driving drumbeat, though the message changes quite a bit. There is a near EDM feel to this song as well, and seems to be more about the message of someone throwing off the mind control device. It is truly enjoyable, though there is some repetition.

“OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE” is one of the most enjoyable songs on this album, both in music and in message. There are many concepts being explored here, one of which is a mind that has been awakened and is now contemplating the vastness of the universe, and that there may indeed be other worlds out there.

“DIVING BELL” is a beautifully juxtaposed song. It feels relaxed, but has an urgent question: 

If I stare into the abyss
Will it stare into me?  

It is not often that you witness the process of living with depression and trying to push away from those who love you. It is a perfect end to one of the most well-put-together albums of 2019.

STARSET is amidst their “DIVISIONS: 2019” tour in support of this album, and unsurprisingly, the show looks just as incredible as previous tours. Finishing the U.S. leg of the tour in Newport, KY, they will be embarking on a European leg starting February 8th, 2020.

View tour dates: HERE

Get the album, allow your imagination to take you on the journey that STARSET has laid out before you, and then go see them live.
You will not regret it.

STARSET Online:

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Instagram | YouTube