Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Interview: Christopher John

>> I've been friends with Chris for over a year now. In that time, I've gone to a bunch of his shows, and I've been able to see him perform with a different band every time. Each band, or "project" as he calls them, has been a little different than the last. Most recently, I saw Chris performing as Christopher John, a side project he's had for a few years now. He's got big things in the works, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what he does next.

Introduce yourself.
My names Christopher John, but you can call me Chris. I’m a 19year old singer/songwriter from Queens, NY.

When did you officially start playing shows as Christopher John?
I’ve been playing shows as Christopher John for 5 or 6 years now, but it has always been a side project. A lot of the fans of the various bands I was in picked up on that, but now this is my main endeavor. So come through, it’s still me.

How have your experiences in other bands helped you with this project?
I regret nothing and learn from everything. Everything happens for a reason. Every second you spend in a band you learn things. Above all the networking with musicians and promoters, learning the right way to get recordings together, and the best things to do at a live show, my past bands have let me gather up a solid crew of friends rather than fans on Long Island.

Aside from the fact that it's under your name, what sets this project apart from the others you've worked on in the past?
This project has elements of all my past experiences. So listen close and hear Table 21, Pretty Boy Beatdown, and Stick To The Plan. Among plenty of other LI and out-of-state influences.

Do you have any shows coming up?
On the drawing board, yes some really cool ones actually, are they confirmed and in place, no not yet.

Who would you love to tour with in the future?
Definitely Lil’ Wayne, A Rocket to the Moon, or Taylor Swift. (she’s bangin.)
*Side note- Chris, you're welcome for the Rocket obsession :)

For those who know of your various other bands, or who have never heard your music at all- What would you say to make them listen to your new songs?
Damn, if I knew the right thing to say do you think I’d have to say it? I would have to say that give it a listen just once and I’ll bet you will have it stuck in your head, and if not come down to the live shows. (I sort of love to party♥).

What are some goals you'd like to accomplish with your music?
Honestly. I do this because I love this. And second to that I love the faces of the kids who come out to the shows and shout the things I write, in my boxers at 3am, back at me.

What are your plans for the rest of 2010? For the future in general?
I am currently getting ready to record a brand new 5 song EP sometime in the next 4 months. When its all together, you can expect a CD release party like LI has yet to experience. Pure party.


Bonus Round:

Favorite:
Social networking site? Facebook
Song to play live? At the moment its “I know who my friends are”
TV Show? South Park or Tosh.0
Thing to do on a Friday night? Work as a waiter at my brother’s restaurant

This or that:
Electric or Acoustic? Kidding me? Acoustic all the way
Hamburgers or Hotdogs? Is that a sexual question…
Aim or Twitter? Aim
Physical Copies or Digital Downloads? Digital Downloads, and spread it like wildfire. I condone the illegal download of my current music as long as you tell everyone you know.

Behind The Scenes:
If you could have any superpower, which would you choose? Patience. That’s a superpower right?
What are some of your biggest pet peeves? Stepping on a lego with bare feet. Ouch.
Do you consider Pluto a planet? No, he’s a dog from that cartoon on boomerang.
If you could have a life-time supply of any food, what would you want? Coco-puffs. They are DELICIOUS. Make it happen Kelloggs!!


Get Connected with Christopher John:

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Monday, August 30, 2010

Tour Dates: My Small Package Tour

>> The wait is over- All Time Low have finally released their dates for the My Small Package Tour, featuring A Rocket To The Moon and City (Comma) State. Presale for members of The Hustler Club will begin Wednesday, September 1st at noon.

Dates:

10/18/10 | Philadelphia, PA | North Star Bar
10/19/10 | Boston, MA | Middle East (Downstairs)
10/20/10 | Hartford, CT | Webster Theater
10/22/10 | New York, NY | The Fillmore at Irving Plaza
10/23/10 | Towson, MD | Recher Theatre
10/24/10 | Detroit, MI | Shelter
10/25/10 | Cleveland, OH | Grog Shop
10/26/10 | Chicago, IL | Lincoln Hall
10/28/10 | Milwaukee, WI | The Rave II (Downstairs)
10/29/10 | Minneapolis, MN | Triple Rock
10/30/10 | Iowa City, IA | The Blue Moose Tap House
11/01/10 | St Louis, MO | Firebird
11/02/10 | Omaha, NE | Slowdown
11/03/10 | Denver, CO | Marquis Theatre
11/04/10 | Salt Lake City, UT | Avalon Theater
11/06/10 | Seattle, WA | El Corazon
11/07/10 | Portland, OR | Hawthorne Theatre
11/08/10 | Orangevale, CA | The Boardwalk
11/09/10 | San Francisco, CA | Bottom of the Hill
11/10/10 | Los Angeles, CA | Troubadour
11/12/10 | Anaheim, CA | Chain Reaction
11/13/10 | Tucson, AZ | The Rock
11/15/10 | Dallas, TX | House of Blues - Cambridge Room
11/17/10 | Orlando, FL | The Social

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Saturday, August 28, 2010

Get Hyped: Bryce Avary Announces Intimate Solo Tour

>> Bryce Avary of The Rocket Summer will be going on an intimate acoustic tour on his own this fall. Only a few dates of this "Bryce Avary, His Instruments And Your Voices" Tour have been announced so far. You can see those below, and click here for more information.

Dates: (*List updated on 10/12/10!)
10/12/10 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
10/13/10 - Atlanta, GA @ Smith’s Olde Bar
10/14/10 - Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club
10/17/10 - Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head On Stage
10/18/10 - Providence, RI @ The Met Cafe
10/19/10 - Hartford, CA @ Webster Underground
10/20/10 - Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar
10/21/10 - Toronto, ON @ Wrongbar
10/23/10 - South Hackensack, NJ @ School of Rock
10/24/10 - Allston, MA @ Harpers Ferry
10/25/10 - New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall
10/27/10 - Pontiac, MI @ The Pike Room
10/28/10 - Lansing, MI @ The Loft
10/29/10 - Chicago, IL @Beat Kitchen
10/30/10 - Minneapolis, MN@ Triple Rock Social Club
11/1/10 - Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
11/4/10 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
11/5/10 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Sound
11/6/10 - Boise, ID @ The Venue
11/8/10 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
11/12/10 - San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside
11/13/10 - Bakersfield, CA @ Jerry's
11/14/10 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
11/15/10 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
11/17/10 - Tucson, AZ @Club Congress
11/18/10 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launch Pad
11/20/10 - Tulsa, OK @ Marquee
11/21/10 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory
11/23/10 - Austin, TX @ Stubbs
11/26/10 - Houston,TX @ Bronze Peacock
11/27/10 - Dallas, TX @ Prophet Bar

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Thursday, August 26, 2010

Tour Dates: The Travelin' Show featuring The Summer Set + Guests

>> The Summer Set have announced details of their first headlining tour. The Travelin' Show Tour will run from October 19th through November 27th, and will feature performances from Stereo Skyline, Mod Sun, Austin Gibbs, The Downtown Fiction, and School Boy Humor.

The Travelin' Show Tour Dates:

(with The Summer Set, Stereo Skyline, Mod Sun, Austin Gibbs and School Boy Humor)
Oct 19 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
Oct 20 – Dallas, TX – The Door
Oct 22 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits
Oct 23 – West Palm Beach, FL – Ground Control
Oct 24 – Orlando, FL – The Backbooth
Oct 26 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Oct 27 – Nashville, TN – Rocketown
Oct 28 – Greensboro, NC – Greene Street
Oct 29 – Vienna, VA – Jammin Java
Oct 30 – Hartford, CT – Webster Underground
Oct 31 – Pawtucket, RI – The Met

(with The Summer Set, Stereo Skyline, Mod Sun, The Downtown Fiction and Austin Gibbs)
Nov 02 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
Nov 03 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East Restaurant & Night Club
Nov 04 – South Hackensack, NJ – School Of Rock
Nov 05 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
Nov 06 – Buffalo, NY – Xtreme Wheels
Nov 07 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
Nov 09 – Toronto, ON – The Mod Club Theater
Nov 10 – Pontiac, MI – iLounge
Nov 11 – Indianapolis, IN – The Emerson Theater
Nov 12 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
Nov 13 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave Bar
Nov 14 – St. Paul, MN – Station 4
Nov 16 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theatre
Nov 17 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
Nov 19 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
Nov 20 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Nov 22 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom Of The Hill
Nov 23 – Thousand Oaks, CA – Thousand Oaks Center
Nov 24 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction
Nov 26 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock
Nov 27 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile


2010
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Video Killed The Radio Star - 8/25/10

>> Cody Carson from Set It Off recently covered "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz. Make sure to check out Set It Off on their headlining tour this fall. More details on this tour can be found at about 3:56 into this video, and dates can be found on the Set It Off MySpace.


>> MGMT have released a new music video for their song "Congratulations."



>> The Downtown Fiction premiered their video for "I Just Wanna Run" yesterday. You can view the video below (or at mtv.com).



>> The Maine posted a short tour documentary video from the road.


>> Below is a video of Never Shout Never covering "It Ain't Me Babe" by Bob Dylan on Billboard's Mashup Mondays.
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Get Hyped: Punk Goes Pop 3

>> Fearless Records has released details of the third installment of their 'Punk Goes Pop' series. It will be released on November 2nd, 2010. The track listing can be seen below.

  1. Breathe Carolina - Down (Jay Sean)
  2. Woe, Is Me - Hot N Cold (Katy Perry)
  3. Artist Vs Poet - Bad Romance (Lady Gaga)
  4. Mayday Parade - In My Head (Jason Derulo)
  5. Asking Alexandria - Right Now (Akon)
  6. This Century - Paper Planes (MIA)
  7. The Word Alive - Heartless (Kanye West)
  8. Family Force 5 - Bulletproof (La Roux)
  9. Of Mice & Men - Blame It (Jamie Foxx)
  10. Miss May I - Run This Town (Jay-Z)
  11. The Ready Set- Airplanes (B.O.B)
  12. Cute Is What We Aim For - Dead And Gone (T.I.)
  13. Sparks The Rescue - Need You Now (Lady Antebellum)
  14. We Came As Romans - My Love (Justin Timberlake)

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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Interview: Set In Color

>> Considering the fact that they're from Long Island just like me, Set In Color is a band that I've known for a while. I've seen them live quite a few times, and I run in to them at a lot of the shows I go to. It's always good to see them, whether they're playing their hearts out on stage or just hanging out with friends and fans. The guys answered a couple of questions for me back in May*. I had something else in mind when I asked them initially, but I realized that I might as well post the answers. Better late than never, right?
*Just remember that these questions were answered a few months ago, especially when the guys start talking about time frames like they do for the first two questions.


Who are some of your biggest influences?

Trey Ewald- Third Eye Blind, All Time Low, Boys Like Girls, Parachute, Hanson, the list goes on and on, we're influenced by everything.

Topher Mayer- I'm interested in all genres of music and I feel like I get a little something from everywhere.

Anthony Purpura- A lot of them are people from other bands and fans.

Chris Capuano- All Time Low, Mayday Parade, and We The Kings just to name a few.


How long has the band been together?

Trey- The band has been together for about a year and a half, but we've been playing with our current line-up for about five months.

Topher- I've been apart of Set in Color for a little over 6 months. The rest of the guys have been together much longer.


Do you get compared to other bands a lot? If so, who?

Topher- I've heard people say anywhere from All Time Low to The Jonas Brothers.

Anthony- Jonas brothers? Stereo Skyline? Haha I don't really know.

Chris- Occasionally we'll hear the Jonas Brothers which isn't such a bad thing.


What do you think makes you stand out from other artists?

Trey- A lot of bands in our scene write seemingly fake music, and when we write we try to keep it as honest as possible and write about personal experiences that our listeners can relate to.

Topher- I believe we have a different feel to our music then what is out right now. Were trying to break out and be as original and unique as we can.

Anthony- Our singer has a very unique voice.

Chris- The simple fact that we try to play poppy genuine heart-felt music that pleases many different people. We really love what we do and have a lot of passion in what we do.


What do you consider your biggest accomplishment so far as a band?

Trey- Some of our craziest shows were our home date of last year's Warped Tour and playing Six Flags Over Georgia with Mitchel Musso and Everlife. Those are two days we'll never forget.

Topher- To be at the point we are right now I consider very special, even though we are still very new as a band.

Anthony- Playing music that people enjoy.

Chris- Playing Warped Tour, and Lollapallooza.


What goals do you wish to accomplish in the future?

Trey- We just want to get our music to as many people who are willing to listen.

Topher- Hit the road full-time and release some new songs.

Anthony- Get a recording contract and tour the world.

Chris- Play Bamboozle and go on a National tour.



>> The guys in Set In Color have been working hard since they answered these questions for me back in May. They posted this video update in June showing what they'd been doing at the time- playing shows and having fun with it. Starting on September 7th, they'll be in the studio working on a brand new EP. They recently blogged about that, and how stoked they are on their MySpace. I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait to hear what Set In Color comes out with next :)



Get Connected with Set In Color:
www.setincolor.com
twitter.com/setincolor
facebook.com/setincolor
setincolor.tumblr.com


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Monday, August 23, 2010

It's Official: Jersey left Hey Monday

>> Earlier today, the rumors that had been circulating all week have been confirmed- Jersey Moriarty has officially announced his departure from Hey Monday. Both Jersey and the band have posted statements about the split. You can read the band's message below, and you can see Jersey's by clicking here.

Hey guys! We have some news that we are sad to announce. Our beloved bassist Jersey Moriarty has decided it is best for him to leave Hey Monday. This was a well thought out decision that he made towards the end of Warped Tour. We wanted to wait until everyone had some time for the news to sink in before making it public knowledge. This is in no way, shape, or form a bitter break between us and Jersey and we wish him the best in any of his future endeavors. We'll miss the hell out of him and his Peewee Herman impressions. :) You can go visit his blog to learn more about his decision. http://bit.ly/9XE1ZJ 
I hope that covers any questions you may have had. Thank you all for being so supportive and patient with us. I hope you are all enjoying "Beneath It All!" See you in the fall. Love you guys. 
cassadee and the boys
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Get Hyped: Lights US Tour Dates

>> Lights has announced some headlining tour dates in the US this fall.

Dates:
10/22/10 Portland, OR- Berbati's Pan
10/23/10 Seattle, WA- El Corazon
10/25/10 San Francisco, CA- Slim's
10/26/10 Los Angeles, CA- El Rey
10/27/10 Phoenix, AZ- The Underground
10/29/10 Dallas, TX- Prophet Bar @ The Door
10/30/10 Austin, TX- Emo's
10/31/10 Houston, TX- Warehouse Live
11/2/10 Orlando, FL- Backbooth
11/3/10 Atlanta, GA- Masquerade
11/4/10 Nashville, TN- Rocketown
11/5/10 Chicago, IL- Lincoln Hall
11/6/10 Detroit, MI- Eagle Theater
11/7/10 Cleveland, OH- Musica
11/9/10 Boston, MA- Middle East

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Max Bemis Discusses the Future of Say Anything

>> Earlier today, Max Bemis posted a message on twitter regarding the future of Say Anything. You can read this message below.



THE FUTURE OF SAY ANYTHING

Okay. So.....

Guess I’ll just go for it. This is going so be a sort of mega-update, because I know things have been a bit quiet on the Say Anything front lately. I have wanted to share what I have been going through for the past few months but we felt it was best to wait till the appropriate time so we can disclose everything that we really feel like saying. A lot of this is going to be said from MY perspective, because I think all of you guys reading out there will value it most from that angle (self indulgent much? yup. I sing in a band. sue me.)

To start, it’s worth it to mention that I've had a really intense ten years (wah, but...really I have.) There's no chip on my shoulder about it....sort.....of...... but basically since I was fifteen and we started this band, I’ve gone through a bunch of tumultuous stuff including the weird life that comes from being involved in music from such a young age, drug problems, mental health issues, abusive relationships, and pretty much not giving myself a break ever.

I managed to fall in love and get married and clean up my act, which has been my life's greatest blessing, but even that in and of itself has been a been a huge happening and full of excitement. Nothing has really settled per se and I've had very little real time off without anything crazy going on to distract me. I know being in a band is a truly lucky job to have, but it's also incredibly stressful if you take it as seriously as I do.

This has led me, starting around our touring cycle for In Defense of the Genre, to start questioning whether I can stay in a band and keep doing this. Am I better suited to be a therapist or work in advertising? Despite the overwhelming devotion I feel towards our fans and my love for my band-mates, there have been more times then I'd like to say in the recent past in which I felt like packing it in and doing something else. Every show I play, I get swept back up in the pure energy of catharsis, but sometimes, alone in the back of the bus, when it all gets quiet again, that feeling ebbs and I’m left missing my wife, feeling emotionally battered, and needing a way out (starting to sound like a vh1 behind the music, but trust me the clichés are all true). As the songwriter, singer and leader of SA I put so much of myself into this band for so long that I have started to feel like I could cry at any second when I think of the strenuousness of it all.

By the time this new record came around, tons of expectations were being placed on SA, mostly of our own doing, and partially by our label; they had after all, supported our band through five or six years and three successful but not ridiculously humongous records, and wanted our band to sell millions of records. We may be a big band to a lot of you guys, and to ourselves (trust me we've exceeded every dream we ever had for this), but unfortunately we've just never gone platinum or sold out Madison square garden. Despite constantly growing, we've never gotten quite as big as your blink 182s or weezers or especially the keshas and biebers of the world. Our new record continued on this path, growing our fan base by another large fraction but not becoming some kind of crossover success story. Meanwhile, the rigors of touring and the fact that I have yet to have had a real break from the tour/record/tour cycle began to pile up and I almost lost it several times. Many of you know that, with my bipolar disorder, losing it for me can end up with me in the mental hospital or worse. I made a decision a few months ago to put Say Anything on a very very long hiatus, and pursue a solo career or start a new band.

I spent months planning on this idea. After all, taking a break from SA would mean a clean slate; I could play different sounding music if I felt like it, I could subvert expectations and perhaps even reach people that SA has yet to reach. I would most likely play all the instruments in this new project (including programming or playing percussion and playing the bass.) It's not like our fans wouldn't check out what I’m going to do next, so they'd still be there for me in theory. It is hard carrying the weight of 10 years of dense musical history; people expect certain things of you (as they should if they've taken the time to let your band into their hearts)...Plus it's weird life being in any public spotlight where your personal life and other things that shouldn't be criticized become an open playing ground for internet trolls; at least with something new I could have some ammo to fight back at these vicious little bastards with.

For a sensitive guy like me being crapped on is a hard thing to deal with, especially given the 10 years of non-stop craziness that I mentioned before and how much I care about music listeners, not even just our fans. I know you're supposed to not care but it started to feel like getting kicked in the nads by one of your good friends every time somebody said something mean. After reading the 500th plea for me to go back to doing drugs and make is a real boy again (these people don't realize that on drugs I’ll probably end up naked on their doorstep), I even considered stopping to play music all-together and going back to writing stories and screenwriting. That would show 'em right? That would shut em up!

So with that, I'll go back to the record label stuff for a second. Since the people who signed us had left our label, and our record had sold amazingly for an indie record these days but not a ton by major label standards, and with the industry itself pretty much crumbling, we started to realize there was a chance we weren't going to stay with our label, and that it wasn't the place for us. This remained so for many months and we waited it out, being prepared for either option (in theory, of course.) Mostly, we kind of wanted to get out of our contract and start anew, especially because I was planning on starting my new non-SA project, which would be great for a new label.

A couple of weeks ago my manager Jordan called me up and let me know we were finally out of our contract with RCA, a partnership that's lasted about half a decade. The first thing I felt was elation; now I could be a free agent and really get my solo project going and leave the past behind. It was time for new beginnings! However, as the hours passed by a solemn undercurrent of feeling trapped swept through my body. For some reason, the new direction I was going in began to feel like something I should be doing logically, but the sweet joy of escape gave way to a weird feeling of soulless obligation. Why was I doing this? Why did I feel compelled to basically leave Say Anything? It was something I should be doing financially and perhaps because I’m getting a bit older and now is a good time to strike while the iron is hot, but the idea of the solo project felt, at this point, like more of a way to pay bills rather than a passion. I came to see my motivation to make this choice came from all my pent up rage, exhaustion and emotional discharge from being in a successful band for so long. It was my way to "cheat" the responsibility of what I’d built rather than continue to grow with it. That isn’t to say doing a solo project at some point would be wrong. It’s just clearly this time it was for the wrong reasons. Once I had that realization there was no way I was going to do it as the next record I was choosing to write or put out, if I was going to even put out another record at all under any moniker, ever.

But if it wasn't the solo project (for now at least), what would I do? Quit music? I sat there and thought about things for a bit and came to realize that on a very visceral, simple level, only ONE thing brought me any excitement and joy. It was a fleeting, direct thought that involved a lot of heartfelt, boyish glee. That thought was remaining, steadfastly, with Say Anything. The only truly FUN and INSPIRING motivation I felt was to make different kind of Say Anything record, but a SA record nonetheless, and to build on what we have rather than tear it all down to start again. There would be no hiatus. There would be no fizzle or fade out for Say Anything. We would simply have to kick the crap out of anything we’d ever done and top it all, and make the record we've always WANTED to make but weren't truly allowed to.

I write this to tell you guys that were it not for you all, this choice would not be made. Whether you're a fan of all our records, the first one, the first two, all three or whatever, we've been BLESSED with the PERFECT fan base, as well as the respect of our community. Those who listen to us challenge us, are honest with us, believe in us and most importantly RELATE to us. How could I give up the connection I have with you guys? Giving up what Say Anything means to both us and you guys would be like giving up on some kind of a marriage just because things were getting a bit rough. We owe you guys and ourselves to outdo what we've done so far. I truly feel like that if, at this point, our band can't do it, I shouldn't be doing it at all. It was this faith that re-awakened me and filled with me with a great idea for a record and direction for the band. It’s also our intention to not take any short or longer break from SA until we feel we’ve solidified out place in your hearts and let you know we’re a permanent fixture..

Before I could over-think it and get scared, I called up Coby and Alex immediately to let them know I wouldn't be taking the hiatus. We were all so, so super excited about staying together, but made sure that we wouldn't do it unless it was under certain set in stone principles:

As of now, we have just begun writing a new Say Anything record, which will be released on a new label, most likely next year. However, we plan on approaching making this record in a way that I think will really excite you guys. Basically, as a band that grew up in Los Angeles, we were keyed into commerciality and "marketability" from an obscenely young age. Before we even recorded our first demo I was playing acoustic showcases for major labels.... we were sort of forced into looking at music from a commercial angle without even knowing it. That isn't to say everything we've created since then has been bull. In fact, since we're not mindless, soulless pieces of crap, that aspect of our formation sort of just grew into a keen sense of pop production and the will to have open ended music we could share with a lot of people.

The negative of that aspect, however, has caused us to have to worry about things that affect the artistic process and stifle creativity. For every percentage of amazing purely creative things that go into making a record, there is always a LARGE percent of it that involves bending over backwards to please the label, trying to be a huge band, and focusing too much on accessibility rather than what makes the band special. Some of you may have even sensed that and felt an aversion to what it's compelled in our music. Either way we aren't letting that demon into the recording process for our next record. It's one thing to listen to input and want success; it's another to build a record around what other people think. We in Say Anything have decided the only damn way we're even going to make another record is if we expel the devil out of making music. That doesn't mean we won't have catchy songs or want our band to reach tons of people. It just means we're going to make a record that embraces and FOCUSES on the quirks of Say Anything, and the things that you guys have led us to feel are the more important touchstones of the band: something that's as punk as it is post-punk, strong, original/ unusual songwriting, black humor, tons of creativity and honesty as well as a lot of good old fashioned piss and vinegar, plus whatever it is indefinably that makes our best songs our best songs.

We want to dive headfirst into what is TRUE about our band while simultaneously kicking our songwriting and musicianship ten years into the future, We have thought a lot about how Wilco turned their career upside down with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by taking the best parts of their band and amplifying the most odd and endearing aspects of it while maturing light years ahead. It may not have been what their label wanted at first, but it was what WE, their fans all wanted, and most importantly, the BAND itself wanted. Thus they redefined the band and ignited their career in a whole new, much more substantial direction. We aren't going to make a "back to basics" clone of our old material but we plan on the music being able to compete in its rawest sense with our old stuff. If Is a real boy is a factor, it's that we have a milestone in that record that we want to finally outdo. Screw not caring; we want to win over all of you who think that that record is the end-all-be-all of SA, so expect that if that's your favorite record by us, you're going to love this new one.

So for those of you who have been begging for this direction from the band; something edgier, something crazier, something more progressive and wackier, something more SAY ANYTHING and not so everybody-else, we invite you to join us in this new chapter and stay tuned for what we hope is what you've been waiting for this whole time. We in no way want to undermine how very proud we are of the last three records we've made, and they did come straight from our hearts and will always be a proud as them as we are of anything we create. It's just that we think it's an appropriate time to draw a line in the sand and say time to take this all a bit more seriously and make an ARTISTIC statement rather than whatever is going to make us popular amongst fans of, well, to be frank..... Crappy music.

If it weren't for this resolution, we may not still be in this band. However, we have all agreed to keep doing this based on these conclusions:

1) Say Anything has made the unanimous decision to NOT break up, or go on “indefinite” hiatus, or whatever they are calling it, EVER. We understand why so many of our peers have needed this and don’t fault them AT ALL but since we're a sort of a different kind of band, whose structure itself lends itself to a lot of freedom, we're going to attack things in a different way. If we ever take time off to do stuff, we'll do it. I may end up making that solo record one day and maybe it’ll be sometime sooner than later. However I promise you guys I’ll only do this when it's done in a righteous and from-the-heart manner and when I feel like I can take a short break knowing that you guys ( and we) feel confident that SA is here to stay. We will only ever take time off with the objective of coming back to one day tour more and make more records together ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. You can depend on us in this sense; we're not going anywhere. We won't present you with a fake "we're done" because it's not going to happen.

2) The first thing all of us are going to do is go on tour with two of our favorite bands, Motion City Soundtrack and Saves the Day, and then we're going to delve into writing a record that truly defines the next phase of our career. We will do everything in our power to make sure this music is life changing and as creative as it can be, and we will refuse to be bogged down by industry b.s while making it or let some false, outdated sense of commerciality do anything to interfere with CREATIVITY and what we really think the record should sound like, and it will sound both original and more purely encapsulate what you guys love about the band.

3) Say Anything will be releasing our next record on a brand new label. Whether it will be an indie or major label will depend on who is most in line with our vision of the kind of band we are and want to become. We certainly are in no mood to let ourselves get kicked around by people who don't get us, especially given that the industry is collapsing because so many record-people don't even know what they're doing or talking about, especially with a band that has REAL fans like you guys.

I want to again apologize for ever doubting that this was the right thing to do, and I ask for your forgiveness and hope you can see, through my music, how hard this road has been for me as a person and that I am glad it brought me here to a place where I feel triumphant and rejuvenated and free. It would be easy to not share the struggle I have gone through with you guys but I know in my heart it's something you deserve to know about. I can only hope you feel this way too based on what I’ve written.

And I want to thank you for saving me so many times and for being a strange semi-faceless crowd of some of my very best friends.

I truly love you.

-Max
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Get Hyped: You, Me, and Everyone We Know Tour Dates

>> Dates have been announced for the Can I Do Laundry At Your House? tour, presented by Smartpunk. You, Me, & Everyone We Know will headline the tour with support from Queens Club and Take Cover.

Dates:
September 9, 2010 @ The Warehouse, La Crosse, WI
September 10, 2010 @ Gabe's, Iowa City, IA
September 11, 2010 @ Middlewest Fest, DeKalb, IL *
September 12, 2010 @ Sokol Underground, Omaha, NE
September 14, 2010 @ The Beaumont, Kansas City, MO
September 15, 2010 @ The Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS
September 16, 2010 @ Hot Topic - Town East Square, Wichita, KS
September 17, 2010 @ Conservatory, Oklahoma City, OK
September 18, 2010 @ Marquee, Tulsa, OK
September 20, 2010 @ Firebird, St. Louis, MO
September 21, 2010 @ Rocketown, Nashville, TN
September 22, 2010 @ The Hoosier Dome - Indianapolis, IN
September 23, 2010 @ Mixtape Cafe - Grand Rapids, MI
September 24, 2010 @ The Loft, Lansing, MI
September 25, 2010 @ Woobie's, Flint, MI
September 26, 2010 @ Beat Kitchen, Chicago, IL
(* YMAEWK and Queens Club only)


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Sunday, August 22, 2010

What I'm Listening To - "Southern Weather"

>> This is my Genius Playlist for "Southern Weather" by The Almost. It features some of my favorite songs, and a bunch that I haven't listened to in ages. This mix has 23 out of the original 25 songs from the playlist.





>> In the comments, tell me which songs you like best, or if there are any similar artists you think I should look into :)
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Friday, August 20, 2010

Get Hyped: This Is A Family Tour 2010

>> Attack Attack! will be headlining the This Is A Family Tour, running from November 11th until December 19th. Other acts on this tour include Pierce The Veil, Of Mice and Men, and In Fear and Faith.

Dates:
11/11/10 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
11/12
/10 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
11/13
/10 – Chicago, IL @ House of Bloues
11/14
/10 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cabooze
11/16
/10 – Denver, CO @ The Gothic Theater
11/17
/10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
11/19
/10 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
11/20
/10 – Portand, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
11/2
1/10 – Sacremento, CA @ The Venue with EMMURE
11/22
/10 – Fresno, Ca @ Rainbow Ballroom with EMMURE
11/23
/10 – San Francisco, CA @ The Grand Ballroom with EMMURE
11/24
/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues with EMMURE
11/26
/10 – Pomona, CA @ The Fox Theatre with EMMURE
11/27
/10 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA with EMMURE
11/28
/10 – Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre with EMMURE
11/30
/10 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues with EMMURE
12/01
/10 – San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit with EMMURE
12/02
/10 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues with EMMURE
12/03
/10 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues with EMMURE
12/04
/10 – Tallahassee, FL @ Floyd’s with EMMURE
12/05
/10 – Orlando, FL @ Club Firestone with EMMURE
12/07
/10 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution with EMMURE
12/08
/10 – Tampa, FL @ Jannus with EMMURE
12/09
/10 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade with EMMURE
12/10
/10 – Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theater with EMMURE
12/11
/10 – Norfolk, VA @ The Norva with EMMURE
12/12
/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts with EMMURE
12/13
/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts with EMMURE
12/14
/10 – Baltimore, MD @ Bourbon Street Ballroom with EMMURE
12/15
/10 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues with EMMURE
12/16
/10 – New York City, NY @ Irving Plaza with EMMURE
12/17
/10 – New York City, NY @ Irving Plaza with EMMURE
12/18
/10 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom with EMMURE
12/19
/10 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s with EMMURE

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Tour Dates: The Sleeping + The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

>> The Sleeping have announced that they will be playing 8 shows with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Dates & venues can be see below.

Dates:
9/19/10 @ The Lost Horizon, Syracuse, NY
9/21/10 @ El Mocambo, Toronto, ON
9/22/10 @ Underworld, Montreal, QC
9/24/10 @ School Of Rock, South Hackensack, NJ
9/25/10 @ The Crazy Donkey, Farmingdale, NY
9/26/10 @ Diesel Rock and Country Bar, Virginia Beach, VA
9/28/10 @ SECTOR 7G, Augusta, GA
9/29/10 @ Vinyl Music Hall, Pensacola, FL
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Get Hyped: Saves The Day Headlining Tour Dates

>> A message from the Saves The Day newsletter:

Hi friends!

Saves The Day are excited to announce four new headlining shows leading up to the start of their fall US tour with Motion City Soundtrack and Say Anything. Tickets for all four shows go on sale this Monday, August 23rd at 1PM local time, so make sure you grab yours then.

Check out the dates and venue info below, and remember to get your free download of the acoustic version of "let it all go" available at www.savestheday.com if you haven't already!


Saves The Day // September - October Headlining Dates

Tickets on sale Monday, August 23rd, 1PM local time

Dates:

September
30th - Mr. Small's Theater, Pittsburgh PA

October
2nd - Grog Shop, Cleveland Heights, OH
12th - The Rock, Tuscon, AZ
13th - The Nile, Mesa, AZ


>> Click here for more information on these, and the rest of Saves The Day's tour dates with Motion City Soundtrack and Say Anything.

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Get Hyped: Hey Monday/Cartel Fall Tour

>> Hey Monday will be co-headlining a tour this fall with Cartel. Supporting acts for this tour include The Ready Set, We Are The In Crowd and This Century. Pre-sales begin August 24th.

Dates:
10/20/10 - TAMPA, FL - STATE THEATRE
10/21/10 - JACKSONVILLE, FL - FREEBIRD LIVE
10/22/10 - ATLANTA, GA - THE MASQUERADE
10/23/10 - NASHVILLE, TN - ROCKETOWN
10/24/10 - CINCINNATI, OH - MAD HATTER
10/26/10 - BALTIMORE, MD - THE RECHER THEATER
10/27/10 - NEW YORK CITY, NY - HIGHLINE
10/28/10 - HACKENSACK, NJ - SCHOOL OF ROCK
10/29/10 - PHILADELPHIA, PA - FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
10/30/10 - NEW HAVEN, CT - TOADS PLACE
10/31/10 - FARMINGDALE, NY - CRAZY DONKEY
11/02/10 - FOXBORO, MA - SHOWCASE LIVE
11/03/10 - POUGHKEEPSIE, AR - THE CHANCE
11/04/10 - FOURTH AVE, PA - THE ALTAR BAR
11/05/10 - CLEVELAND, OH - GROG SHOP
11/06/10 - DETROIT, MI - ST. ANDREWS HALL
11/08/10 - CHICAGO, IL - THE BOTTOM LOUNGE
11/09/10 - MILWAUKEE, WI - THE RAVE
11/10/10 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN - STATION 4
11/12/10 - DENVER, CO - MARQUIS THEATER
11/13/10 - SALT LAKE CITY, UT - AVALON
11/15/10 - SEATTLE, WA - EL CORAZON
11/16/10 - E. PORTLAND, OR - HAWTHORNE THEATRE
11/17/10 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA - GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL
11/18/10 - POMONA, CA - GLASSHOUSE
11/19/10 - LOS ANGELES, CA - EL REY THEATER
11/20/10 - SAN DIEGO, CA - EPICENTRE
11/21/10 - PHOENIX, AZ - THE NILE
11/23/10 - DALLAS, TX - THE DOOR
11/24/10 - AUSTIN, TX - EMOS
11/26/10 - ORLANDO, FL - HOUSE OF BLUES
11/27/10 - FT. LAUDERDALE, FL - CULTURE ROOM


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Get Hyped: Chiodos/Atreyu Fall Tour

>> Atreyu will be going on tour with Chiodos, Blessthefall, Architects, and Endless Hallway this fall.

Dates:

October 20th, 2010 @ House Of Blues in Anaheim, CA
October 21st
, 2010 @ The Regency Grand Ballroom in San Francisco, CA
October 22nd
, 2010 @ Roseland in Portland, OR
October 23rd
, 2010 @ Knitting Factory Concert House in Boise, ID
October 25th
, 2010 @ Showbox Showroom in Seattle, WA
October 26th
, 2010 @ Knitting Factory in Spokane, WA
October 27th
, 2010 @ MacEwan Hall Ballroom in Calgary, CA
October 28th
, 2010 @ Edmonton Event Centre in Edmonton, CA
October 29th
, 2010 @ Odeon Event Centre in Saskatoon, CA
October 30th
, 2010 @ Garrick Centre in Winnipeg, CA
November 2nd
, 2010 @ Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, CA
November 3rd
, 2010 @ Metropolis in Montreal, CA
November 4th
, 2010 @ Webster Theater in Hartford, CT
November 5th
, 2010 @ Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA
November 6th
, 2010 @ Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ
November 8th
, 2010 @ The Norva in Norfolk, VA
November 9th
, 2010 @ Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh, PA
November 10th
, 2010 @ Sonar in Baltimore, MD
November 12th
, 2010 @ House Of Blues Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, FL
November 13th
, 2010 @ The Masquerade in Atlanta, GA
November 14th
, 2010 @ Revolution in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
November 15th
, 2010 @ The Ritz in Tampa, FL
November 17th
, 2010 @ St. Andrews Hall in Detroit, MI
November 18th
, 2010 @ House Of Blues Chicago in Chicago, IL
November 19th
, 2010 @ Cabooze in Minneapolis, MN
November 20th
, 2010 @ The Beaumont Club in Kansas City, MO
November 21st
, 2010 @ Gothic Theatre in Englewood, CO
November 23rd
, 2010 @ The Backstage Live in San Antonio, TX
November 24th
, 2010 @ Palladium Ballroom in Dallas, TX
November 26th
, 2010 @ The Marquee in Tulsa, OK
November 27th
, 2010 @ House of Blues in Los Angeles, CA

(source)

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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Free Songs from Weezer & Anberlin

>> Click here for a free download of "Memories", a brand new song by Weezer. Their upcoming album Hurley hits stores on September 14th.

>> Download Anberlin's new song "Pray Tell" by clicking here. The new album titled Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place will be released on September 7th.
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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Recent Releases as of 8/18/10

>> Patent Pending released their new single "I'm Not Alone" earlier today. Click here to download it on iTunes, and click here to see the lyrics. The band will be releasing a CD/DVD of the same name on September 14th.

>> The Stronger The Love EP from Action Item is now available on iTunes.


>> New County (ex The Goodnight Anthem) released the Lives We Lead EP on iTunes yesterday.


>> Beneath It All, Hey Monday's new EP was released yesterday. You can get a bonus song called "Fall Into Me" when you purchase the EP on iTunes.
The band also announced that they will be doing acoustic performances & signings on the following dates:

>August 21 - Hot Topic at Altamonte Mall (Altamonte Springs, FL)
In-Store Performance and Signing (pre-order Beneath It All or get t-shirt at the Hot Topic location to get a wristband to get in)
2:00PM
INFO: http://bit.ly/a0zArn

> August 24 - Manifest Disc (Charlotte, NC)
In-Store Performance and Signing
5:00PM
INFO: http://manifestdisc.com

> August 25 - Best Buy (Reston, VA)
1861 Fountain
Drive / Reston, VA 20190
6:30PM

> August 26 - Best Buy (Fairless Hills, PA)
310 New Oxford Valley Rd / Fairless Hills, PA 19030
6:00PM

> August 27 - Looney Tunes (Long Island, NY)
In-Store Performance and Signing
6:00PM
INFO: http://bit.ly/bRTVTV

> August 28 - Hot Topic Christiana Mall (Newark, DE)
In-Store Performance and Signing (pre-order Beneath It All or get t-shirt at the Hot Topic location to get a wristband to get in)
2:00PM
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Free Music from Facedown Records, The Gay Blades, & The Queue

>> Click here for a free download of "Shake This Town", the latest single from The Queue.
>> Want a free song from The Gay Blades? Go to TheGayBlades.com & simply click to tweet for your free download of "Try To Understand."
>> Through AltPress.com , you can download the Facedown Records Summer Sampler for free. The sampler includes the following tracks:
  • For Today - "Devastator"
  • My Epic - "Lower Still"
  • War Of Ages - "Collapse"
  • In The Midst Of Lions - "The Machine"
  • A Hope For Home - "The Overman"
  • Impending Doom - "Orphans"
  • Call To Preserve - "Empty"
  • A Plea For Purging - "Shiver"
  • The Burial - "Demons Never Sleep"
  • Onward To Olympas - "Sink Of Swim"
  • As Hell Retreats - "Poor God"
  • Wrench In The Works - "Project AK-47"
Click here to download!

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Monday, August 16, 2010

Get Hyped: Fearless Friends Tour 2010

>> Dates have been announced for the Fearless Friends Tour 2010. The tour will run from October 13th through November 28th. Mayday Parade will headline with support from label-mates Breathe Carolina, Every Avenue, Artist Vs Poet and Go Radio.

Dates:

10.13.10 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
10.14.10 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
10.15.10 – Sayreville, NY @ Starland Ballroom
10.16.10 – Farmingdale, NY @ Crazy Donkey
10.17.10 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
10.19.10 – Williamsville, NY @ Infinity
10.20.10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
10.21.10 – Towson, MD @ Recher Theatre
10.22.10 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend
10.23.10 – Jacksonville Beach, FL @ Freebird Live
10.24.10 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
10.26.10 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
10.27.10 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
10.28.10- Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
10.29.10 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
10.30.10 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
10.31.10 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cabooze
11.2.10 – Des Moines, IA @ People’s Court
11.3.10 – Sauget, IL @ Pop’s
11.4.10 – Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont Club
11.5.10 – Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
11.6.10 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
11.8.10 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
11.9.10 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
11.10.10 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
11.11.10 – Orangevale, CA @ Boardwalk
11.12.10 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
11.13.10 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
11.14.10 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
11.16.10 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
11.17.10 – Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
11.18.10 – Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theatre
11.19.10 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre
11.20.10 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
11.21.10 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
11.23.10 – San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
11.24.10 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
11.26.10 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
11.27.10 – Tampa, FL @ State Theatre
11.28.10 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution

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Friday, August 13, 2010

Get Hyped: The Harmony Tour 2010

>> The Maine just posted this announcement about their upcoming appearances on The Harmony Tour with Never Shout Never, I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business, and Carter Hulsey.

Hey everyone we are very excited to announce that we will be on tour this fall starting October 19th with Never Shout Never, I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business, and Carter Hulsey. It is going to be an awesome time so we hope to see you all there. We cant wait to hang out with all of you again and play some more new songs from Black and White and all the old songs as well. Check out the dates below and make sure to keep looking out for ticket info because a lot of these shows are going to sell out fast! Cant wait to see you this fall.

Love,

The Maine

Dates:

10/19 Seattle, WA The Showbox @ The Market
10/20 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
10/22 San Francisco, CA The Grand Ballroom @ The Regency
10/23 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
10/24 San Diego, CA House of Blues
10/26 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
10/28 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
10/30 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
10/31 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballroom
11/02 Houston, TX House of Blues
11/03 Dallas, TX House of Blues
11/05 Orlando, FL House of Blues Orlando
11/06 Tampa, FL The Ritz
11/07 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution
11/09 Atlanta, GA Center Stage
11/10 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
11/11 Richmond, VA The National
11/12 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live
11/13 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts
11/14 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts
11/16 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre
11/17 Boston, MA House of Blues
11/18 New York, NY Nokia Theatre Times Square
11/19 Asbury Park, NJ Paramount Theatre
11/20 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock Café
11/21 Pittsburgh, PA Club Zoo
11/23 Cleveland, OH House of Blues Cleveland
11/24 Pontiac, MI Clutch Cargo’s
11/26 Milwaukee, WI The Rave
11/27 Chicago, IL House of Blues

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Thursday, August 12, 2010

Video Killed The Radio Star - 8/12/10

>> New Video from The Maine (@TheMaine) - Black & White Q&A -


>> "Don't Stop Now" (Acoustic) by The Maine -


>> Blackbird (Acoustic Cover) by The Rocket Summer -


>> "My Blue Heaven"
(Live from Orensanz) by Taking Back Sunday -
My Blue Heaven Live From Orensanz

Taking Back Sunday | MySpace Music Videos



>> “Tell Me I’m A Wreck” by Every Avenue -
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