>> Hello, hello! Greetings from 2019! This lil blog hasn't been updated in well over a year and it was time to change that. I have no idea how often I'll update this going forward, but figured I'd start with an update on where life has taken me on my adventures in music.
>> Currently, I'm working at Fearless Records which is a dream come true. I run the socials for the label and do a lot more as half of the digital marketing team. If you've read any classic post from this blog, you'll know I used to street team for Fearless and review virtually all of the releases... so it's pretty sweet that I get to be a part of those releases on the label side now. I also get to work with a few unsigned artists in my spare time, including Patent Pending and Makeshift. It's the best of all worlds.
>> This blog started in 2008 as a fun way to keep track of and share the music that inspired me. Looking back eleven years later, it was the beginning of my wild journey in this wild industry. From writer to publicist to digital marketer to some combination of the three, I wouldn't change a thing.
>> I recently started a small thread on Twitter where I've been highlighting awesome artists - mostly friends, all worth hearing - and that inspired this return to ye olde Music Obsession. I suppose the goal as of now is to start using this platform again to highlight the incredibly talented artists in my life and see if it grows from there. My inbox still gets flooded with daily press releases - which I love, don't get me wrong - but if you have a passion project that deserves a spotlight, let me know. And if you see this post, tweet me a hell yeah or something.
>> 2017 was a wild year all around. I started working at a major label that I had wanted to work at for years, my writing was published in print for the first time, and I had my first taste of touring. While there wasn't time to keep this site updated, there was plenty to share.
I had the pleasure of seeing Kasador in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Buffalo, Muskoka, Montreal, and Toronto this year in addition to spending time with them in Kingston and Waterloo, too. They’ve come to New York so often this year and it’s been amazing to see the difference from last January to now, to watch the set list change and see them play in so many different settings. Every Kasador show is a special one, but the back to back days at The KEE to Bala were some of my favorite days of 2017 by far. Spending a week in Canada with these guys was incredible and I’m excited for the next time I get to hit the road with them. (Video)
I first heard Raleigh Ritchie about two years ago, and I have been listening daily ever since. He has a song for every mood - softer thoughtful tunes, heavier hip hop tracks, and the smoothest R&B jams. All perfect. This show at Bowery Ballroom was his first show in the US and I was so excited to be there to witness the moment. I got to attend with two of my favorite people, and the show was incredible. His energy was unreal and it was so wonderful getting to see him as excited as the audience. Truly unforgettable, and I can’t wait for him to return to NY.
I’ve known the guys in Patent Pending for nearly a decade, and they’re some of the greatest people I know. They made a song and video a few years back to try convincing Simple Plan take them on tour. It finally happened this year (!!) and it all started with the Pendings opening for SP in New York City two days before my birthday. It’s by far the biggest show I’ve seen them play over the years and I’ve never been more proud. Side note: Shout out to this band for including my lil face in the album artwork for Other People's Greatest Hits and for covering "Spice Up Your Life" at my request.
BONUS - Save Each Other anniversary show on 12/22 at Revolution. The room was packed with so many friends, and being surrounded by so many amazing people with such positive energy was unreal. It made me remember why I loved growing up in the Long Island music scene which is a reminder I definitely needed.
Nick Jonas @ Archway Under the Manhattan Bridge - August 15
Working at Island Records has been the greatest, and one of the beautiful perks was seeing Nick Jonas perform a super special set underneath the Manhattan Bridge. He performed “Find You” for the first time in addition to the ultimate jams like “Jealous.” It was really special getting to see an artist I love perform an intimate set with coworkers and teammates (and Pete Wentz) by my side.
I’ve lost touch with pop punk to a certain degree. I don’t go to as many local shows on Long Island now that my schedule is always so slammed, and I’m working in the land of pop. Going to this house show in New Jersey and seeing so many great friends and people equally passionate about one of my favorite pop punk bands was the exact reunion I needed with the scene. With The Punches will forever hold a special place in my heart, and getting to sing along to their songs from the front row one more time was the absolute best. The ultimate bonus was getting to support the amazing guys in Keep Flying at this event. So many people drove out to show love for these guys and for good reason. The energy was wild and so full of love that day and I would have been devastated if I had missed it.
The guys in Kasador recommended I listen to The Glorious Sons who are also from Kingston, and I am so glad they did. This band RIPS. They released their album ‘Young Beauties And Fools’ this year which I still can’t stop listening to. Mercury is definitely a more intimate setting compared to the venues they play in Canada - for reference, they sold out the K-Rock Centre in Kingston which is sure to be an amazing show in February - so seeing them live for the first time in a small room like that was a treat.
Admittedly, I never thought I’d get to see Heavy English live. Their album Pop Wasteland is an incredible piece of art that I had the opportunity to help support, and I’m still thrilled I got to hear those songs performed live at one of my favorite venues. That combined with a set from my favs in Rare Futures? Can’t beat it!
Fall Out Boy @ Elvis Duran’s Summer Bash on 34th St - July 27
Another incredible Island perk is working with one of my favorite bands. Fall Out Boy performed on a stage on the street in front of Madison Square Garden for a Z100 event. Not only did I get to see the show, but I actually got to pop into the photo pit for some social content. The Empire State Building was directly behind the stage, and it lit up purple in honor of the band's forthcoming album MANIA. It was such a unique moment that combined two things I love so, so much - NYC and FOB.
Joywave released one of my favorite albums this year. It was introspective and catchy and overall everything I wanted in an album, so naturally I had it on repeat for days at a time. Seeing those songs live in addition to the jams from their last album was the best, especially since it had been about two years since the last time I saw them. I attended their 2015 show at Bowery Ballroom with my cousin Mark who actually passed a few months later, so seeing them in 2017 at the same venue without him was strange yet beautiful. I'm very glad I got to keep the tradition alive in some way. Go make me happy and listen to the album Content, okay? It's flawless.
I first met Texas King in April of 2016 at Launch Music Conference. This show in September was the first time I’d seen them since then, and it was the best! I have Texas King to thank for telling me about Kasador, and in a full circle moment, I got to see TK play a sweet show with Kasador’s frontman Will on my last night of my first trip to Canada. It was really stellar seeing them play songs I’d listened to and loved for over a year, and I’m genuinely thrilled to have these guys as friends. They've finally released their album Circles and I'd highly recommend giving that a spin.
Honorable Mentions
Envy On The Coast (ft Matt Fazzi!) @ Brooklyn Bazaar (March 17) & Mulcahy’s (Dec 23)
The Killers @ Brooklyn Steel (September 19) & Global Citizen Fest (September 23)
>> Deaf Poets are a garage rock band from Miami, FL. While that's not the musical norm where they're from, Sean Wouters (Lead Vocals/Guitar) and Nico Espinosa (Vocals/Percussion) never let that stop them from creating in their own way. Having just released their stunning album, titled Lost In Magic City, the dynamic duo is an act that needs to be on your radar. Read our interview with the duo below, and be sure to pick up a copy of the album if you haven't already.
How long have you guys been making music together?
Nico: In Sean's room while we were recording the album, I was sitting there thinking, we’ve been making music in this room for thirteen or fourteen years. We were thirteen when we started playing together in different projects. We finished the record there, we’re already writing the new one, and it feels like it’s just a circle. We’ve been going on and off with different bands for a while we know each other so well.
And I’m sure your writing styles have evolved together since you’ve been together so long.
Sean: Our influences consistently change. Nico loves Kendrick, I love My Morning Jacket. Our influences always vary but when it goes back to what we really love and our roots it’s always gonna be classic rock, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, all those kinds of sounds and tones that’s what we’re trying to do.
Your song "Celestine" is really gripping. What were your favorite parts about shooting the video for the song?
Nico: We worked with two guys actually in New York called Dogs of Passion, two Russian dudes that came to the states to do music videos and they got in contact with us and they had this whole concept. We tweaked it a little and it was really fun, and it looks like it was big budget but it was one camera and a couple lights
Sean: It was very DIY, but it worked out perfectly, the special effects were cool too.
Tell us about your latest single, "King (Don't Matter)."
Sean: It’s one of the most recent songs we ended up writing when we were finishing up the album. We wrote them about a month and a half before we did the finalization of it so it was the last addition to the album. It's kind of like a nostalgic heavy rock and roll song, reminiscent of bands were into like Nirvana and so on.
How do those two songs represent the full project?
Nico: It’s actually a good representation of what the whole album is. There’s probably "Celestine" and one more song that’s slow, and everything else is kind of fast paced, just like "King (Don’t Matter)." We figured it’s good contrast - we release something slow and something fast so you can get an idea of what we do.
Do you guys have a favorite track off the record?
Sean: For me, "King (Don’t Matter)" for sure.
Nico: For me I have to say "Eighty Eight" is one of my favorite tracks. "Are You DP", the first song, is one of my favorite tracks too. I love playing it live more than anything.
Sean: The whole album has a very live feel and that’s what we’re trying to capture, a very massive big sound but also a live feel to it.
Did you make a point of maintain that live feeling while recording?
Sean: Simplicity was what we were trying to get with it. We felt like with our last album we had, not necessarily overproduced it, but we put a lot of pieces in it and with this one we wanted to represent what we do live exactly in the recording. So that was the main direction - to have a heavy rock and roll album that once we played it live, it sounds exactly like that.
Nico: We wanted to have the live feel to it and have imperfections, they were welcome. If we were off beat, it’s rock and roll it doesn’t matter! It’s not meant to be perfect and that’s what we really like about it.
Sean: We wanted to go back to our roots, how we started music. There was a point in our projects where we were looking to perfect certain things, it has to be this it has to be that, but when we first started music it was just playing some rock and roll. It’s the same thing at this point, with this album we wanted to do that exact kind of thing.
You guys have personal touches on the record, but I really like the personal touches you have with the merch for this tour, too.
Sean: I think that’s essentially what it is, we really wanted to be completely behind every little piece of the band.
Nico: I guess we worked retail for so long that we already had an idea of how to market it. Everything that we do - the shirts and the crop tops and everything - we make everything ourselves. It has our own hand finish to it.
For anyone who doesn’t know your band yet what would you want them to know about you?
Sean: Easy thing is that we’re a rock band and deafpoets.net is our new website. Nico made it and it has everything - all of our social media pages, our new youtube page - everything that’s on it is exactly who we are.
Nico: We’re just two dudes who like playing music, two childhood friends doing what we love. Come to a show, have a beer with us! And we just want to thank anyone who helped us and our team behind the scenes.
>> If you’ve ever wondered where you’d want to be when the world ends, ponder no more. New Found Glory have won the coveted title of “Most Happenin’ Apocalypse Preppers” with their new video for “Party On Apocalypse.” This party has everything: an underground tunnel, nuclear fallout, skeletons, a dance off… and most importantly, a reminder that even if the end is near, your friends are always closer.
>> Echoing the sentiments of a nervous generation, guitarist Chad Guilbert notes, “Is the end of the world near...? It sure feels like it sometimes. If the end is inevitable, haven't you thought about rounding up all the people you love for a celebration? A Party On Apocalypse. This video was intended to feel like a 2002 TRL video, trapped in a Hollywood Apocalypse gritty film. Try to be a light in a dark place!”
>> The band is currently on the road on their 20 Years of Pop Punk anniversary tour which wraps up on May 18th, and their new album, Makes Me Sick, drops on April 28th. Get more information on both via www.newfoundglory.com.
>> Having made a name for themselves in their beloved Astoria music scene, Side Saddlejust released a brand new song and video to further highlight their signature indie rock goodness. Their latest tune, "Dog In The Night," marks the beginning of a new phase for the band as they relocate to Boston, MA, and you can see the video for it below.
>> Side Saddle was the grand prize winner of Silver Sound Showdown 7 which allowed to them create the "Dog In The Night" video with unparalleled director Fletcher Wolfe. The stunning visuals perfectly match the energy of the song itself, making this something worth watching again and again.
>> New to Side Saddle? Be sure to give their 2016 album Stunner a listen and stay tuned for what they release next.
>>Get your shockers ready: Steel Panther is coming out with a new album, titled Lower The Bar, on March 24th. To properly celebrate, the band is hitting the road for their 2017 Girls In A Row Tour shortly after. Catch metal's favorite hooligans performing songs from the new album as well as classics starting April 5th. Tickets go on sale Friday 2/17 with dates and details available here.
>> Get hyped for the tour by watching the band's latest raunchy video for "Poontang Boomerang" here!
>> From First To Last just released a new song with former frontman Sonny Moore for the first time in a decade. Moore, who further made a name for himself as Skrillex after his time with the band, shared the song as a gift to fans on his birthday (January 15). Stream it below:
>> Having released their charming self-titled EP in 2016, indie rock band Kasador have announced a tour slated for early next year. The Ontario natives will be performing throughout Canada and the United States starting on January 12th, and I highly recommend catching at least one of these shows. See the full list of dates and watch the group's video for the groovy "Talk About It" below!
Kasador 2017 Tour Dates:
Jan 12 – Ottawa, ON – LIVE on Elgin
Jan 13 – Hamilton, ON – Stonewalls Restaurant Hamilton
Jan 14 – Waterloo, ON – Maxwell's Concerts & Events
Jan 19 – Buffalo, NY – Tralf Music Hall
Jan 20 – Watertown, NY – The Flashback Lounge
Jan 21 – Burlington, VT – Radio Bean
Jan 22 – Brooklyn, NY – Gold Sounds
Jan 26 – Kingston, ON – The Brooklyn
Jan 27 – Toronto, ON – Adelaide Hall
Jan 28 – Burlington, ON – The Dickens
Feb 02 – Brooklyn, NY – The Well
Feb 03 – New York, NY – PIANOS
Feb 04 - Philadelphia, PA – The Fire
Feb 09 – Guelph, ON – Jimmy Jazz
>> For the month of December, you can download Kasador's self-titled project for free. Snag the tunes at kasadorband.com.
>> After releasing their major label debut, titled Phantoms, Acceptance won the hearts of music fans in 2005 only to disband in 2006. Both the band and the album developed a cult like following in the years after, with each fan hoping for news from the artist. Fortunately, that news is finally here: Acceptance is back and proud to announce that their new album, titled Colliding By Design, will be released on February 24, 2016 via Rise Records. The band found the perfect balance between capturing what listeners loved about Phantoms while exploring new influences, and you can hear that in their first single from the project - "Diagram Of A Simple Man."
>> “This process has been really fun,” said vocalist Jason Vena. “I like the idea of continuing to make music and release it in various ways. We’re so grateful to have a second chance at this and I think you can hear that in the music.” Fans can pre-order physical copies of the album here as well as digital copies through iTunes here. The album artwork and track listing can be seen below:
Colliding By Design track list:
01. Diagram of a Simple Man
02. Colliding by Design
03. We Can Escape
04. Come Closer
05. Goodbye
06. 73
07. Fire and Rain
08. Sunset
09. Haunted
10. When I Was Cursed
11. Golden
>> Having released a long-awaited album earlier this year, Rare Futures are looking to end 2016 on a high note. The indie rock band will be performing songs from This Is Your Brain On Love in addition to other jams on a tour of the West Coast starting December 11th. On this run, Rare Futures will be traveling alongside Hearts Like Lions and RUMRS for a set of shows you won’t want to miss. See the full list of dates below!
Rare Futures Westworld Tour:
12/11 - West Hollywood, CA @ The Viper Room*
12/12 - San Diego, CA @ The Hideout*
12/14 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge*
12/15 - Flagstaff, AZ @ The Green Room*
12/16 - Las Vegas, NV @ Eagle Aerie Hall
12/17 - Fullerton, CA @ Slidebar*
12/18 - San Francisco, CA @ Neck Of The Woods* *with RUMRS
>> With the days of mega-rockstars behind us, dipping your toes into the icy waters of the music business is a more frightening prospect than ever before. So imagine the courage it takes, then, to not only take on the industry unaided by a record label, but to leave your label and lose everything in the process. Icon For Hire lost everything leaving their label, including ownership of their first two albums. But even in the face of bankruptcy, addiction, and losing band members, Icon For Hire’s dedication to authenticity in their creative expression never wavered, and their faith paid off tremendously.
>> Aided by their fans (the Icon Army), Icon For Hire became their own label, and lost the shackles that had been holding them back from complete musical sincerity. A band that has always been dedicated to honesty, Icon For Hire could now push the boundaries of expression even further.
>> Though the path following their newfound independence was treacherous, they have said “the pros have far outweighed the cons so far. We adore having full creative control, and it’s a magical feeling to be in the driver’s seat of our own careers. Honestly, we have not experienced many cons so far, except for any fears that were present in the beginning, like, "Can we really do this?” In the end, we had been doing almost everything ourselves anyway, so not having a label wasn't a big adjustment.”
>> Now that the band has full control over the album making process, they’ve described their changing relationship with music, saying “We’ve certainly felt more freedom and joy throughout the creation process, which has been coming out in the actual songs. It’s been very empowering to not have to answer to anyone, or worry about impressing the right people at a label so they’ll promote us or something. We only feel responsible for our fans, for creating music that they resonate with. It’s much more fun.”
>> A crowdsourcing campaign that gave fans unprecedented access to the creative process of producing an album (perks ranged from providing backing vocals to appearing in music videos), paired with lead singer Ariel’s weekly videos on self-love and living an authentic life, strengthened the bond between artist and fan. This bond has culminated in the band’s most emotionally raw album yet, and a recently concluded tour they have cited as their most successful to date, noting “we’re playing to the biggest crowds we’ve had on a headlining tour, and everyone is singing every single word. The fans know our story and all that we’ve overcome, so this tour feels like a celebration of everybody's collective victories-personally and as a band.”
>> We live in uncertain times, constantly wary of insincerity, but in the arms of Icon For Hire, there is never a question that what you’re receiving is the unfiltered, hard-earned truth.
Of Mice & Men and Young Guns at Gramercy Theatre on September 16th, 2016
>> It’s a tall order to open for a pillar of the scene at their album release show. It’s an even taller order if you’re not a New York darling and instead hopped across an ocean from London. But in a scene not known for an easy in—I witnessed a girl in line livid about someone “wearing a Three Days Grace shirt at an Of Mice & Men show”—Young Guns were received with open arms and clapping hands. They managed to stitch up the space between uplifting radio jam and throw down rock song and win over everyone in the crowd, from the boy in the Lady Gaga jean jacket to the heavy metal kids with plugs the size of quarters in their earlobes. Young Guns stunned with their authenticity and vivacity, and easily could have stood on their own as a headlining act.
Young Guns
>> As for Of Mice & Men, there were, as always, the outcries of selling out on Facebook and the complaints of going soft on Twitter. But that didn’t stop the band from winning every heart in the room. This is a band that knows how to tap into and fully harness the complete spectrum of human emotion and uses that power for good. Even the parents in the back had a hard time keeping their feet on the ground. If you’ve written off Cold World without hearing it through, I implore you to sit and listen to the album just once—it’s a record made with love and honesty and it deserves to be listened to with open ears and open hearts.
>> Sometimes you meet a group of people and you hit it off immediately. I was lucky enough to have that very experience with The Great Heights Band from Baltimore, MD. We crossed paths at the Launch Music Conference in Lancaster, PA and the shared love of good laughs, good tunes and good tattoos was fantastic. Hearing that the band would be coming to New York in late August on their Songs In Acoustic Timing Tour was exciting, and we knew we wanted to do something to celebrate.
>> Neal Karkhanis and Eric Taft were the two members embarking on this stripped down tour to perform songs they've written (as well as a few covers) in a totally new way. The duo chose to perform two special songs for our readers here at The Music Obsession, including a brand new one called "The Mountain," and we're thrilled to share these videos with you.
The Great Heights Band performing "Stay"
>> Though stripped down, there's no denying this band's energy. The positivity and warmth present in these two songs translated beautifully to the full set later that evening. Neal and Eric performed these tunes and a slew of others in a packed room at The Bowery Electric - a room full of friends, fans, and newcomers alike. Each song in the set was accompanied by hand claps or a sing-a-long from the crowd, and it was a performance that would made attendees want to see these guys every time they're in town. Be sure to watch both of these videos, and stay tuned for more from The Great Heights Band.
>> Having completed a successful run on this summer's Warped Tour, Set It Off are set to unveil some new material. The forthcoming album, titled Upside Down, will be released on October 7th via Equal Vision Records and the band is celebrating in style. First, there will be an album release party on October 4th in Winter Park, FL on the campus of Full Sail University. This event will feature a performance from the band as well as a meet and greet and a Q&A moderated by the 2016 Vans Warped Tour Monster Energy Pit Reporter Tori Kravitz. You can find more information on this event here, and for those not in Florida, you'll be able to stream it here from 6pm-9pm EST.
>> Set It Off will hit the road for their Something New Tour two days later to further support the album. The comical punks in Patent Pending will be joining their long time friends on this run, and having watched these two bands perform together for years, I promise you won't want to miss these shows.
Something New Tour Dates:
Oct 04 - Something New Album Release Party - Winter Park, FL @ Full Sail Live*
Oct 06 - St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
Oct 07 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
Oct 08 - Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
Oct 09 - Birmingham, AL @ WorkPlay Theatre
Oct 11 - Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
Oct 13 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
Oct 14 - Lancaster, PA @ Lizard Lounge
Oct 15 - Howell, NJ @ GameChangerWorld (Loud Fest)
Oct 16 - Pittsburgh, PA @ The Club at Stage AE*
*Set It Off Only
>> Fans of puns and pop-punk rejoice: Sum 41 are back and stronger than ever, and they'll be hitting the road once again this fall on the Don't Call It A Sum-back Tour. Clever. Senses Fail and As It Is will be along for support on this month-long run that covers the USA and Canada. VIP packages will be available starting at 10AM local time on Thursday 8/11, and general tickets go on-sale this Friday 8/12 at 10AM local time through www.sum41.com. Don't forget to pre-order Sum 41's forthcoming album, 13 Voices, which is due out on October 7th via Hopeless Records.
Don't Call It A Sum-Back Tour Dates:
Oct 05 - House of Blues - Orlando, FL
Oct 07 - Revolution - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Oct 08 - State Theatre - St. Petersburg, FL
Oct 09 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Oct 11 - House of Blues - Boston, MA
Oct 12 - Fillmore - Philadelphia, PA
Oct 13 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
Oct 14 - Playstation Theater - New York City, NY
Oct 17 - Metropolis - Montreal, QC
Oct 18 - The Phoenix - Toronto, ON
Oct 19 - St. Andrews - Detroit, MI
Oct 21 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
Oct 22 - Mill City Nights - Minneapolis, MN
Oct 25 - Union Hall - Edmonton
Oct 26 - MacEwan Hall - Calgary, AB
Oct 28 - Commodore - Vancouver, BC
Oct 29 - Neptune - Seattle, WA
Oct 30 - Hawthorne - Portland, OR
Nov 01 - Regency - San Francisco, CA
Nov 02 - Riverside Municipal Auditorium - Riverside, CA
Nov 04 - Livewire - Phoenix, AZ
Nov 05 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA
Nov 06 - Mayan - Los Angeles, CA
>> Following a stint on Warped Tour and ever-growing enthusiasm for the project, Good Charlotte have announced a fall tour in support of their new album Youth Authority. Kicking off in late October, the month-long run will feature a slew of excellent openers including Set Your Goals(10/23 - 10/27), Four Year Strong(11/1 - 11/16), Hit The Lights(11/18 - 11/23), Big Jesus(10/23 - 11/23), and The Story So Far as direct support. Tickets go on sale at 10AM local time this Friday 8/12 via goodcharlotte.com.
*Note - the two *'s associated with the 10/23 - 11/23 portion of the run should actually be four *'s as opener Big Jesus will be performing at those dates Youth Authority Tour Dates: Oct 22 - Phoenix, AZ
Oct 23 - Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theatre
Oct 25 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
Oct 26 - Pomona, CA @ Fox Theatre
Oct 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
Oct 29 - Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
Oct 30 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
Nov 01 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Nov 03 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Nov 04 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
Nov 05 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
Nov 06 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room
Nov 08 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
Nov 10 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
Nov 11 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
Nov 13 - Boston, MA @ House of Blues
Nov 14 - New York, NY @ PlayStation Theater
Nov 15 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Nov 16 - Washington, DC @ Echostage
Nov 18 - Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
Nov 19 - Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz Nov 20 - Nashville, TN
Nov 22 - Houston, TX @ House of Blues
Nov 23 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues *The two dates in bold are listed on the flyer but not on GC's website as of 11:15AM on 8/8
>> After taking three years off to collect themselves, Set Your Goals are back in action with one hell of an announcement. The band will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of their debut album Mutiny! by performing it in full across a series of shows. The East Coast dates of this run will take place in early December with Like Pacific, Can't Swim, and Search Party along for support. Misser will also be along for the ride, which is especially thrilling for fans who have waited patiently for that band to show any sign of life.
>> Tickets for these shows go on sale Tuesday August 9th at 11AM EST via setyourgoalsband.com. In addition, the band is releasing a fresh 10th anniversary reissue of Mutiny! in 4 limited variants and special, newly-envisioned cover art. The vinyl reissue will be officially released on September 30th via SmartPunk, and can be pre-ordered starting next Tuesday, August 9th. Get tickets, get vinyl, get stoked.
>> Nowhere near these cities? Want to hear more than just songs from Mutiny? No worries! The band addressed those concerns as you can see below:
We will be playing A LOT of Mutiny! shows through out 2016 and 2017! Fear not! One city-country-world at a time! US UK EU AUS JAP CAN WORLD
>> UFOs, possible lab experiments and alien abduction? Put on your shoulder pads and Trust No One because Rare Futures is taking us back to the 90s in a government issued rental car. With the release of the video for "This Is Your Future" off of their highly anticipated album This Is Your Brain on Love comes a basement-full of X-Files nostalgia. Through phone taps and back room interrogations we were able to find out that truth seeker Matt Fazzi was inspired to write the song after binge watching seasons of the X-Files with his wife and commiserating with Mulder's plight as a believer in the extraterrestrial and how ultimately love is what drives him to keep believing in something that he can't seem to prove to anyone else.
>> The video was shot in San Jose, California and is a DIY nod to any sci-fi nerd. It feels like you're walking in to a government experiment, a-la Stranger Things and the X-Files movie Fight The Future. There's even a guest appearance by two of our favorite government agents, but you didn't hear that from us.
>> Watch Rare Futures' latest video below. And remember, the truth is out there.
>> Want more nerdy goodness? Peep the band's interstellar stop-motion video for "The Pressure."
Upcoming Shows:
8/19/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Ortlieb’s
8/24/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Resident w/ Beware Of Darkness
8/25/16 – Fullerton, CA @ The Slidebar
8/26/16 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
9/03/16 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (w/ Gates)
