CMJ » Kristen Bayusik

Metallica Launches Its Own Festival

Kristen Bayusik — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:12:20 +0000

Let’s face it: There aren’t a whole lot of festivals that combine metal and indie-rock bands on the same bill. If you happen to be a fan of both, this can really make picking which festivals you want to hit up over the summer a real pain. Never fear, Metallica is here. The band has been leaving cryptic hints about “saving the date,” which has finally been revealed. On June 23 and 24, Metallica will be holding its own festival at Bader Field in Atlantic City, NJ. Titled Orion Music And More (after one of the band’s most ass-kicking songs), the festival will feature an unexpected lineup; audience members can go from headbanging to the stoner metal riffs of the Sword to dancing their way through sets from Arctic Monkeys and Titus Andronicus.

And if the concept of Metallica throwing its own festival isn’t enough, this will also be a celebration of the Black Album’s 20th anniversary. One night will feature the band playing that album in its entirety, the other all of Ride The Lightning, which is a first for the band.

Check below for the initial band list and the LiveStream announcement. More bands will be announced soon, as well as other details about the festival. The website states that the festival will also feature a “lifestyle element, showcasing the band’s individual interests and allowing fans to interact directly with each of the band members.” We have no idea what that means, but judging from what’s been announced so far, it’s bound to be pretty awesome.

Watch live streaming video from metallica at livestream.com

Lineup:
Arctic Monkeys
Avenged Sevenfold
Modest Mouse
The Gaslight Anthem
Cage The Elephant
Fucked Up
Best Coast
Hot Snakes
Titus Andronicus
Gary Clark Jr.
Lucero
Roky Erickson
The Black Angels
The Sword
A Place To Bury Strangers
Liturgy

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Ben Kweller – Go Fly A Kite

Kristen Bayusik — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:48:03 +0000

After self-producing his last full-length record, Changing Horses, Ben Kweller steps it up on his latest, Go Fly A Kite, by releasing it on his own brand-new record label, the Noise Company. A Texas native, Kweller often maintains an easy, Southern country/blues sound on his records. It’s almost like Go Fly A Kite takes the best things about all of Kweller’s previous works and combines them into 11 rockin’ gems. BK keeps it simple on this one, going heavy on piano and electric guitar. But the simplicity of the instrumentation is what perfects the record.

Sometimes all you want is a fun record, and that’s exactly what Go Fly A Kite is. While all of the songs are catchy and sing-along-worthy potential singles, they also hold up collectively as an album. Although a lot of the songs are about bittersweet friendships and relationships gone awry (“Jealous Girl,” “Gossip”), the sunny, upbeat piano and warm guitar tones give a feel of hopefulness.

“Mean To Me,” the album opener and first single, kicks off the record in high gear, like the first track you’d want to hear when you set off for a long road trip. It keeps on going with “Out The Door,” which carries over a little of that twangy folk guitar that was so prevalent on Changing Horses. “Gossip” and “Free” slow it down a bit, reminding the listener that there are some deep lyrics behind these pop melodies.

Go Fly A Kite is a great way to kick off the Noise Company’s catalog. If this first release gives any suggestion for things to come, we can expect awesome records ahead from both Kweller and his label.

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iHeart College Radio

Kristen Bayusik — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:30:44 +0000

For many college radio stations, going streaming isn’t always good news, especially when it means a station’s broadcast has been taken off the air. However, this week brings great news for streaming college radio. Media giant Clear Channel announced that this month it will add college radio stations to iHeartRadio, its free digital radio service. iHeartRadio currently offers more than 800 broadcast radio and commercial-free digital stations from 150 cities, and it also allows its users to create custom stations of their own.

iHeartRadio is starting off with a little over a dozen college stations from across the country. A press release states that more will be added in the future. Here is a list of stations that will appear on iHeartRadio:

01. Appalachian State’s WASU – North Carolina
02. Connecticut College’s WCNI – Connecticut
03. Dartmouth College’s WFRD – New Hampshire
04. Denison University’s WDUB – Ohio
05. DePaul University’s Radio DePaul – Illinois
06. Emerson College’s WERS – Massachusetts
07. Flagler College’s WFCF – Florida
08. Green River College’s KGRG – Washington State
09. Ithaca College’s WICB – New York
10. Rice University’s Rice Radio – Texas
11. Seton Hall University’s WSOU – New Jersey
12. Stanford University’s KZSU- California
13. Temple University’s WHIP – Pennsylvania
14. College Of Wooster’s WCWS – Ohio

It’s refreshing to see a major company like Clear Channel partnering with smaller stations. Sources from both ends are pleased about the new addition to iHeartRadio. John Hogan, the president and CEO of Clear Channel says in a press release, “Many of our top on-air personalities started their radio careers at college radio stations, and we are glad to give back.” Omar Ahmad, station manager of WSOU, one of the stations that will be included in this launch, expresses the benefits it will offer for college stations. “iHeartRadio is giving college radio a chance to survive in the real world. Now people can listen from their mobile devices from anywhere in the country, and that is big for a college radio station.”

iHeartRadio is currently the No. 1 free radio app on the iPhone and Android, so it’s clearly a great new outlet for these college stations to be heard on. Hopefully more will be added very soon.

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Team Clermont Celebrates 15 Years

Kristen Bayusik — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:44:24 +0000

Team Clermont has spent the past 15 years helping both new and established artists maintain exposure in the press and at radio. 2011 was especially eventful for the company, with big showcases at CMJ and SXSW and ending off the year promoting a record that was No. 1 for six weeks in a row on the CMJ charts. 2012 brings the company’s 15-year anniversary. Team Clermont’s Shil Patel and Steve Hendriksen talk with CMJ about the past, as well as their plans for the future.

CMJ: What are some of your favorite memories of 2011 as far as things you did or worked on as a company?
Steve Hendriksen: 2011 was a great one for us! We had the chance to put on our annual showcases at CMJ and SXSW, as well as our first showcase at Raleigh, NC’s Hopscotch Music Festival (where I actually got to join John Vanderslice on stage for two songs). Also, having the chance to see M83 on Halloween night was pretty legendary.

Shil Patel: I had a great time at the festivals too—SXSW, 35 Denton, CMJ and the rest. At SXSW, one of the highlights was getting to see Telekinesis record a few songs with Jim Eno (Spoon) at his studio. At 35 Denton I saw Big Boi, Reggie Watts, and saw Michael Cera pop up everywhere. And at CMJ I had a great time at our showcase and at our party at Barcade. We promoted so many incredible albums, including M83‘s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, which ended the year at No. 1 for six weeks in a row on the CMJ Radio 200 chart.

Were there any releases that surprised you by how well they were received at college radio stations?
SH: We sent out a single from a New Zealand group called Kids Of 88 in the early part of 2011 that stations really seemed to jump all over.

SP: I go back to that M83 album. We all knew it would do well, considering that Saturdays=Youth was M83′s first album to come in at No. 1 on the chart. But I was really blown away by all the support that kept Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming at No. 1 for so long. For a couple weeks over 70 percent of the stations that submitted charts had M83 in their Top 30. That was very impressive to me.

What are some releases you’re looking forward to hearing in 2012?
SH: Bear In Heaven! I loved their 2009 release, Beast Rest Forth Mouth, and I can’t wait to see how they’re going to follow it up.

SP: I agree with Steve: Can’t wait to hear that Bear In Heaven. I’m also really looking forward to the upcoming Magnetic Fields, Sharon Van Etten, Shearwater, Tindersticks, Nite Jewel and Andrew Bird releases, as well as getting my hands on all those Palace reissues.

It looks like 2011 treated you guys pretty well, and 2012 should too with your 15-year anniversary coming up. So now for a little history: How did Team Clermont get started as a company?
SP: Bill Benson and Nelson Wells were both working for the same promotion company in 1997 that Nelson co-founded a few years earlier. They formed a new partnership and bought that previous company (Revolution Promotion Management, the company that broke Hootie And The Blowfish and helped get them signed). With the new company, they streamlined and sharpened their focus on mostly indie artists and less Triple A-leaning artists. However, Team Clermont carried on with almost all of the same great clients: Warner Bros., Geffen, Tim/Kerr Records and more, and with artists like R.E.M. and Little Red Rocket (who later became Azure Ray featuring Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink, two former Athenians).

What’s changed the most about college radio in the past 15 years?
SP: I’ve been at Team Clermont since the beginning of 2007, and in that period of time there have been several changes. Of course, technology has changed so many things. Many of the stations we work with were among the first to develop their online presence, offering video of in-studio performances, creating regular podcasts and utilizing social media in creative ways. There seems to be more options for stations to make their presence felt.

SH: It’s exciting to see how stations are utilizing new technologies and social media to further their station’s goals and raise awareness. Stations have been able to capitalize on these free services in really creative ways, and it’s exciting to see what they’ll be up to next.

Are there challenges you face in radio promotion now that didn’t exist 15 years ago?
SP: Sure, I think one of the biggest challenges at the moment is the transition to digital servicing. Many other companies and labels are dealing with it as well. It makes sense to decrease the amount of CDs that are being mailed out for many reasons. When you take into account everything that goes into mailing a CD to a station (the CD itself, packaging, postage, fuel costs, etc.), it adds up monetarily and environmentally. I know that eventually we will get to a point where we no longer send out CDs, but right now we still ask our artists and labels to mail them out because many stations don’t yet have the time or the infrastructure to shift to an all-digital system. We want to make it as easy as possible for a music director to hear the music we’re promoting. As of now, we find that sending CDs cuts down the number of steps it takes for them to review the music.

This year calls for some more celebrations than usual. Have you made any plans yet for celebrating your anniversary?
SP: Yes! We’re working on throwing a 15th anniversary party from July 26-28. We haven’t thrown a Team Clermont Blue Ribbon Ball or Summer Festival since we did the Summer Camp in 2008, and we thought, “What better time to get all our friends in the music industry down to Athens than on our 15th anniversary?” We’re still in the planning stages, but we’ll fill everyone in on the details over the coming months.

SH: It’s going to be legendary.

Check out some of Team Clermont’s current and past projects on its website.

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Five Finger Death Punch Goes West

Kristen Bayusik — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:57:53 +0000

Look out, Canada: American Capitalist is coming your way! Five Finger Death
Punch will be heading to Canada this spring. Although the band has played dates in Canada previously, this will be its first headlining tour there. To make it even bigger, 5FDP will be taking longtime metal legends Soulfly along. The group will also be supported by Windowpane and Persist.

Guitarist Zoltán Báthory says in a press release, “As we are playing bigger and bigger venues, I think it became our responsibility to help expose some great metal bands to our more diverse audience.” Speaking of that diverse audience, Five Finger Death Punch has had a lot of recent success at college radio. American Capitalist has kept a consistent spot on the CMJ Loud Rock chart since its release last fall, and it’s also made appearances at Radio 200.

Tickets go on sale to the public the weekend of January 27 and 28 on Five Finger
Death Punch’s website.

Tour Dates For Five Finger Death Punch:
03/23 – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint *
03/24 – Pomona, CA – Fox Theater *
03/26 – Fresno, CA – Rainbow Ballroom *
03/27 – Modesto, CA – Modesto Center Plaza *
03/28 – Redding, CA – Redding Convention Center *
03/30 – Yakima, WA – Yakima Valley Sundome *
03/31 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre *
04/02 – Dawson Creek, BC – Encana Events Centre *
04/04 – Calgary, AB – MaEwan Hall, University Of Calgary *
04/05 – Edmonton, AB – “Thaw At The Shaw” at Shaw Center *
04/07 – Regina, SK – Agribition *
04/09 – Winnipeg, MC – Burton Cumming Theater *
04/11 – Rapid City, SD – Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena *
04/12 – Casper, WY – Casper Event Center *
* with Soulfly, Windowpane and Persist

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KUSF’s Year “In-Exile”

Kristen Bayusik — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:35:58 +0000

It’s been a year since KUSF, the radio station of the University Of San Francisco, was taken off the air, but the fight isn’t over yet. The secretive deal between the university and CPRN, Southern California’s Classical Public Radio Network, which would allow the sale of KUSF’s broadcast license for $3.75 million, has yet to be approved by the FCC. CPRN originally stated that it wanted to help preserve classical music on the radio. However, the website for the group Save KUSF states that the university, along with the University Of Southern California, was involved with Entercom, one of the top five largest radio broadcasting companies in the U.S.

Friends Of KUSF has brought in the help of volunteers and attorneys to dispute the sale of the station. Co-counsel Peter Franck told SFBG.com that he thinks “it’s a very important case, and the trend of college stations disappearing isn’t good. It’s about keeping the airwaves public.”

Rev. Stephen A. Privett, the president of the University Of San Francisco, has since claimed responsibility for the decision to sell the license. He initially stated that KUSF would be able to continue in an online-only format and that a teaching lab would be created for students. KUSF has indeed been broadcasting on an online stream as KUSF-In-Exile, but it has been with help from the Bayview District’s Light Rail Studios and WFMU. As far as the teaching lab goes, USF media studies professor Dorothy Kidd told SFBG.com, “As far as I know, students are not getting an equivalent educational experience. The new digital studio has not been set up.”

Despite the fact that its broadcasts are only online, KUSF still manages to make its voice heard. This past October, KUSF-In-Exile Music Director Irwin Swirnoff spoke at the CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival’s Saving College Radio panel, in hopes of helping other stations to protect themselves from a similar fate.

Save KUSF’s website announced a protest in front of the Entercom office and an event at the WIX Lounge to observe the one-year anniversary on January 18. The group regularly holds fundraisers and events. You can stream KUSF-In-Exile, find out more information and make donations at SaveKUSF.org.

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Macrock XV: DIY In VA

Kristen Bayusik — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:01:24 +0000

The annual Macrock music conference is returning to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley this spring on April 6 and 7. For those unfamiliar, Macrock is an annual music festival and conference that focuses on taking a DIY approach to promoting independent music. The conference started in 1997 and was originally based off of James Madison University’s radio station, WXJM. Since then, Macrock has expanded to a two-day festival, taking place in downtown Harrisonburg, VA. It features 12 showcases over the course of the weekend, spread out among six venues, all of which are within walking distance from each other.

Macrock runs under a few grassroots philosophies. The first being that every band should have a fair opportunity to play; last year’s festival had about 100 bands, and the Macrock organizers expect the same number this year. The conference is also not affiliated with any corporate sponsors, instead taking advantage of local businesses as sponsors. The staff is made up of student volunteers, and ticket revenues go to help fund the next year’s conference.

Confirmed bands for this year include:
Algernon Cadwallader
Big Troubles
Canon Blue
The Beets
Hunx And His Punx
Eternal Summers
Total Slacker
Lower Dens

More bands will be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition to the live music showcases, Macrock also features panels on a variety of topics. This year’s panels are not confirmed yet, but last year’s topics included independent radio, booking and sustainability. The panels take place before showcases start on Saturday. Badge information, including pre-ordering, will be available on the Macrock website soon.

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Grandpa Ashcraft Deems New Delta Spirit “Pretty Good”

Kristen Bayusik — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:25:32 +0000

It’s no secret that Delta Spirit’s catchy hooks have mass appeal. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that Grandpa Ashcraft digs the band’s upcoming single, “California,” while enjoying a nice cold libation in Yosemite, CA.

Delta Spirit’s self-titled third album will be released March 13 on Rounder. In support of its release, the band will be taking off on a North American tour with Waters. Check out dates below.

Tour Dates For Delta Spirit:
03/19 – Little Rock, AR – Revolution Music Room *
03/20 – St. Louis, MO – The Old Rock House *
03/21 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Café *
03/22 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall *
03/23 – Chicago, IL- The Metro *
03/24 – Indianapolis, IN – Radio Radio *
03/26 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom *
03/27 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club *
03/29 – New York, NY – Webster Hall *
03/30 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer *
03/31 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club *
04/02 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater *
04/03 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle *
04/04 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle *
04/06 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom *
04/07 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade *
04/09 – Birmingham, AL – WorkPlay Theatre *
04/10 – New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks *
04/12 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s *
04/13 – Austin, TX – Emo’s *
04/14 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theatre *
04/30 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge *
05/01 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre *
05/02 – Boise, ID – Neurolux *
05/04 – Seattle, WA – Neumo’s *
05/05 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom *
05/06 – Vancouver, Canada – Electric Owl *
05/08 – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades *
05/10 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore *
05/11 – Los Angeles, CA – The Music Box *
* With Waters

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Killswitch Engage Parts Ways With Singer Howard Jones

Kristen Bayusik — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:30:07 +0000

Massachusetts’ metalcore great Killswitch Engage announced today via its Facebook and official website that it has decided to continue as a band without singer Howard Jones. The group stated in a press release that it does not plan to discuss the specific reasons behind the decision. The press release also states, “Howard is a part of our family and always will be, and we wish him well. He has left big shoes to fill, so we certainly have our work cut out for us to find the next singer of Killswitch, something we plan on making priority No. 1 going forward.”

Jones joined Killswitch after the release of the band’s second album, Alive Or Just
Breathing, upon the departure of former vocalist Jesse Leach.

The band is scheduled to headline the 14th annual New England Metal And Hardcore Festival in Worcester, MA, this April.

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Valient Thorr Announces Spring Tour Dates

Kristen Bayusik — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:52:57 +0000

It’s going to be a busy spring for Valient Thorr. It was recently confirmed that the band would be included on the bill for Holland’s Roadburn Festival this April, performing at the Au-Delà Du Réel event.

However, before that event arrives, the band will be embarking on a “2 Thorrsand 12” tour of North America and Europe. The North American leg kicks off March 1 in New York and will feature Corrosion Of Conformity and fellow Volcom labelmates Torche. Valient Thorr will also perform at this year’s SXSW festival before heading over to Madrid to start its European tour. In addition to the live shows, Valient Thorr has teamed up with High On Fire on a split 7-inch, which will be released as part of Volcom’s Ent Vinyl Club and features a brand new song.

Check below for tour dates.

Tour Dates For Valient Thorr:
03/01 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre *
03/02 – Baltimore, MD – Sonar *
03/03 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre *
03/05 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop *
03/06 – Grand Rapids, MI – Pyramid Scheme *
03/07 – Chicago, IL – Double Door *
03/08 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club *
03/09 – Kansas City, MO – Beaumont Club *
03/10 – Little Rock, AR – Downtown Music Hall *
03/11 – Memphis, TN – Hi-Tone Café *
03/12 – Dallas, TX – Trees *
03/13-17 – Austin, TX – SXSW *
03/22 – Madrid, Spain – Caracol
03/23 – Hondarribia, Spain – Psylocibenea
03/24 – Porto, Portugal – Hard Club
03/25 – Lisboa, Portugal – Caixa Economica Operaria
03/27 – Barcelona, Spain – Estraperlo Club
03/28 – France – TBA
03/29 – Grenoble – France – L’Amperage
03/30 – Parma, Italy – Circolo Onirica
03/31 – Romagnano Sesia (NO), Italy – Rock N Roll Arena
04/01 – Bozen, Italy – TBA
04/02 – Vienna, Austria – Arena
04/03 – Stuttgart, Germany – Keller Club
04/04 – Jena, Germany – Rosenkeller
04/05 – Berlin, Germany – Magnet
04/06 – Athens, Greece – An Club
04/07 – London, UK – Desertfest 2012
04/08 – Manchester, UK – Moho Live
04/09 – York, UK – Fibbers
04/10 – Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
04/11 – Brussels, Belgium – Magasin 4
04/12 – Marbehan, Belgium – Bois-Des-Isles
04/13 – Tilburg, Netherlands – O13, Roadburn Festival 2012
* with Corrosion Of Conformity and Torche

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Converge To Start Recording New Album

Kristen Bayusik — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:18:50 +0000

Only a few days into 2012, but there are already plans for some exciting releases to come. On Monday, via the band’s Facebook, Converge posted that it will be recording a new album soon.

“One more writing/refining session, then recording will begin. More news soon…” A short statement, but great news for Converge fans; the band released a split EP with Providence’s Dropdead last June but has not released a full-length album since 2009’s Axe To Fall.

In the meantime, you can catch up on older material you may have missed the first time around. The previously out-of-print compilation Unloved And Weeded Out has been re-pressed as a 12-inch LP on transparent brown, red and green vinyl. It’s available for purchase at Deathwish Inc.’s online store.

Converge @ House Of Vans, August 2011

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Cynic – Carbon-Based Anatomy

Kristen Bayusik — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:00:55 +0000

In the process of working toward a full-length album, pioneering progressive metal band Cynic has released Carbon-Based Anatomy, an EP of all new and previously unheard material.

Guitarist and vocalist Paul Masvidal calls the EP “a philosophical as well as musical journey, one that begins in the Amazon jungle on the lips of a shamanic wisewoman and ends in outer space.” His description is a fitting one. The first track, “Amidst The Coals,” sets the other-worldly tone for the rest of the EP. Amy Correia, who lent her ethereal vocals on Cynic’s 2008 release, Traced In Air, can be heard on the beginning of this track. Another significant song is the EP’s title track. “Carbon-Based Anatomy” builds up in volume as well as intensity as it moves along, showcasing Masvidal’s familiar, intricate guitar work. Drummer Sean Reinert’s percussion is punctuated by repeated beats on the toms and jazz-influenced cymbal fills.

The duo of Masvidal and Reinert, who formed Cynic in 1987, is joined by Brandon Giffin on bass and Max Phelps on guitar and vocals for a new live lineup, which is now touring with 3 and Scale The Summit through the end of the month before beginning a European tour.

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New Project From Black Flag’s Greg Ginn

Kristen Bayusik — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:00:20 +0000

Greg Ginn, the man behind Black Flag, is continuing to evolve musically. His latest project is essentially a one-man band going by the name of Greg Ginn And The Royal We. We Are Amused, the debut album, will be released November 8 on SST. Ginn describes it as, “something new, for new people.” On We Are Amused, Ginn delves into his own brand of electronica. Although the album will definitely feature the guitar artistry for which Ginn is known, it will also feature some different instruments, including a theremin, an electronic instrument that is basically an oscillator, where the person playing it controls the frequency with his or her hands.

Along with the new album, the Royal We will be performing live, starting with a brief tour of Texas. The live shows promise to be visually stimulating, with each song featuring a synched video crafted by engineer and drummer Mike Shear. The videos will highlight cuts from silent films, specifically ones with Charlie Chaplin.

“I try to play what I like to hear,” Ginn states of his new project. “Skrillex. I like him a lot.” For those whose familiarity with Greg Ginn is primarily through the visceral grittiness of Black Flag, it may be surprising to hear this. However, the new direction of this project really shows what an innovator Ginn truly is.

Stream We Are Amused below.

Greg Ginn and the Royal We We Are Amused by monkey11235

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Brooklyn Vegan/Rocks Off Boat Party @ The Jewel: October 22

Kristen Bayusik — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:00:16 +0000

Skeletonwitch - Photo by Kristen Bayusik

For a band hailing from Norway, playing a show in New York City is a great experience. Playing a show in New York City on a boat? That’s an awesome experience. Celebrating the tail end of the 2011 CMJ Music Marathon, Kvelertak got to have both of those experiences. After performing with Skeletonwitch in Brooklyn at Europa Friday night, both bands headed over to the marina on FDR Drive and played a show on the Jewel, sponsored by Rocks Off and Brooklyn Vegan.

Opening acts included Psychic Limb and Tombs. They both drew crowds in front of them immediately upon starting their sets, so by the time Skeletonwitch and Kvelertak came on, the audience was already well pumped up. Many people in the audience stated that they were very familiar with all of the bands and had been looking forward to seeing them all CMJ week. Kvelertak was especially highly anticipated, as its U.K. tour dates have outnumbered its U.S. ones recently.

The small space on the boat as well as the fact that the bands all played on the floor provided an intimate atmosphere; audience members were able to get incredibly close. It was the equivalent of seeing your favorite bands at a basement show or someone’s house—except being surrounded by water and being able to see the Statue Of Liberty out the window while rocking out to them. It also gave everyone a chance to cross “mosh pit on a cruise ship” off of their bucket lists.

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UPDATE: 2011 College Radio Awards In Photos

Kristen Bayusik — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:25:16 +0000

Thor Slaughter (KWVA) took home awards for Will Never Sell Out and Best Newcomer.

A much-anticipated part of College Day, the annual College Radio Awards are a showcase of the finest members of college radio. Nominated and voted on by radio peers, these awards are well deserved. Congratulations to everyone who was nominated. Here are the winners!

All photos by Paul Williams.

Radio Station

Station Of The Year:
WKDU (Philadelphia)

Music Director Of The Year:
Omar Husain, CJLO

Specialty Music Director Of The Year:
Claire Sullentrop, WSOU

Biggest Champion Of The Local Scene:
WKDU (Philadelphia)

Will Never Sell Out:
Thor Slaughter, KWVA

Biggest Community Resource:
KVRX (Austin)

Biggest Improvement:
WUTK (Knoxville)

Best Use Of Limited Resources:
RLC (Piscataway)

Best Newcomer:
Thor Slaughter, KWVA

Most Adventurous:
WFMU (Jersey City)

Best Student-Run, Internet-Only Station:
KUSF In Exile (San Francisco)

Outstanding Leadership In College Radio:
Marissa Greenberg, WPUB

Industry

Promoter Of The Year:
Kaity Davie, The Syndicate

Promotion Company Of The Year:
The Syndicate

Best Mentor:
Rev. Moose, The Syndicate

Best Online Resources:
The Syndicate

Best Taste In Music:
Kaity Davie, The Syndicate

Most Likely To Be Your Boss In 10 Years:
Lisa Hresko, CMJ

I Open Their Package First:
Sub Pop

Sexiest Phone Voice:
Kaity Davie, The Syndicate

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