Live the Music
We The Kings is Hunter Thomsen (guitar), Coley O’Toole (auxiliary/background vocals), Travis Clark (guitar/vocals), Danny Duncan (drums) & Charles Trippy (bass). The band currently resides in sunny Bradenton, FL. Four album releases include Self Titled (2007), Smile Kid (2010), Sunshine State Of Mind (2011) and Somewhere Somehow (2013).
Everyone knows that the very best music can meddle with your mind, plunging you into the opposite extremes of both happiness and sadness all at once, in intense three minute bursts. It can transport you temporarily to a realm where anything is possible and nothing is out of reach. The latest key holders to that illusive turf are New Zealand’s The Naked And Famous (TNAF). This indie electronic ensemble makes driving, melodic pop with an ’80s post-punk influence that are centered around the talents of vocalist Alisa Xayalith and instrumentalist/vocalist Thom Powers. These young Aucklanders have at their disposal a seemingly effortless ability to capture the giddy fun and relentless hooks one has come to expect from the very best electro-pop, while at the same time striving for something grander, more brooding and atmospheric. But anyone who’s witnessed TNAF emerge from what they like to call their natural studio habitat to step onstage – where their songs become a truly enveloping experience – will testify to the sheer epic proportions.
At the age of 8, Jacob started taking acting lessons and began pursuing roles in community theater year-round. The multi-talented entertainer quickly realized his passion for making people laugh and smile and brought his positive energy online, turning social platforms into stages and amassing a highly engaged and super active audience of online supporters. Jacob initially generated massive buzz online in 2015. His first official Vine post—an anti-bullying message—would eventually be looped 15 million times. As he conquered Vine, he began to build a following on Instagram and Twitter. His unwavering commitment to delivering honest and heartfelt content has catapulted him to the “5th most engaged user on Twitter” and “one of the most engaged accounts globally on Instagram.” He also has become one of the most trafficked personalities on Musical.ly. In just one year, he added 6.4 million Instagram followers, he became a “Top 5 profile” on Musical.ly with 12 million followers and he added 1.8 million subscribers on his YouTube channel. In addition to creating a flood of viral content and hosting unforgettable meet-n-greets with his supporters, Jacob has been spending time exploring one of his biggest passions: music.
After the successful release of his first-ever, original song, “Sweatshirt,” which catapulted to Top 5 on iTunes Overall Top Songs chart and received an RIAA Gold plaque, Jacob released “Hit Or Miss.” It entered the Hot 100 at #72, went Top 10 on the iTunes Overall Top Songs chart and has accumulated 10.6 million-plus Spotify streams. In early October, Jacob released his third single “All My Friends” which reached #4 on the iTunes Pop Charts and #9 on the Overall Top Songs chart. It has since amassed over 2 million streams on Spotify and nearly 7 million views on YouTube. Continuing to explore music is the next natural step for Jacob as he continues to progress as a pop culture presence, while speaking to a phenomenal demand for content of all kinds.
From the days of playing greasy local juke joints to headlining major festivals, JJ Grey remains an unfettered, blissful performer, singing with a blue-collared spirit over the bone-deep grooves of his compositions. His presence before an audience is something startling and immediate, at times a funk rave-up, other times a sort of mass-absolution for the mortal weaknesses that make him and his audience human. When you see JJ Grey and his band Mofro live—and you truly, absolutely must—the man is fearless. Onstage, Grey delivers his songs with compassion and a relentless honesty that captures the fierceness and intimacy that defines a Grey performance. Grey and his current Mofro lineup offer grace and groove in equal measure, with an easygoing quality that makes those beautiful muscular drum-breaks sound as though the band has set up in your living room.
Less Than Jake are back!
“But they never went anywhere, “you protest. Well reader, in that sense you are correct. But this fall they’re not only serving up their first full-length in five years, but-after more than two decades together also embracing a total back to basics approach .
Throughout a career that has run the gamut from salt-releases and small indie imprints to large independent labels and major music conglomerates, the band has always been more than the sum of its parts. Now more than ever, though, they espouse their stature as a DIV collective that works together-or at least in tandem with a few trusted allies-on every element of their creative output. Drummer Vinnie Fiorello recalls, “We started out very internal and nowadays we handle a lot internally again.”
The result of their old school approach is the old school sound of See The Light created without any external meddling from corporate lackeys. “Everyone had their alone time with chords and some quick structures; we all put our ideas down before we got together,” says Vinnie,” Then we sat at an octagon table in our warehouse and went through: this is what we think about this song, maybe we should do it ska maybe we should do it punk-true band songwriting in essence.”
Not only was the songwriting a true group effort, but -like the three EPs the band have released since 2008’s long-player GNV FLA -so was the actual recording of See The Light, which was tracked entirely at Gainesville’s The Moathouse, owned by LTJ bassist Roger Lima, who took lead production duties with communal input and assistance from his four band mates and live sound engineer.
“Roger has been recording our demos since the beginning of the band and steadily has worked his way up learning about studios from everyone we’ve worked with in the past “says trombone player Buddy Schaub. With no ticking clock and no studio fees piling up the band used their breathing room to create somewhat of a rarity in today’s prefab music world: a full-length album that gels as a complete thought, lyrically and musically, Buddy adds,”I think this is one of the closest representations of our band to date. We’re all really excited for this record t o get out into the world and we can1wait to hear what people thinkI”
Like 2000’s release Borders and Boundaries the new record was mixed at the famed Blasting Room by punk rock legend Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag) and Jason Livermore, but don’t let that lead you to believe that there’s anything same-ish about See The Light. ” f you’re expecting retreads and repeats,this record will disappoint,” exclaims Roger.” t’s all new songs and new vibes only recorded in our old school way.”
While some other bands of a certain vintage are latching onto musical trends you won’t find any dubstep beats or vocoder distortion on See The Light-a titie that nods to the band’s history of marrying dark lyrical content (the tunnel) to bouncy musical arrangements (the light at the end). Less Than Jake aren’t turning away from their roots, and echoing Mark Twain, Fiorello points out that the rumors regarding their genre’s demise are greatly exaggerated.” Punk has been declared dead every year for 30+ years and it’s still going stronger than ever. People like to declare things dead just because it’s dead to them but if bands are passionate about what they’re doing they’ll attract fans who are passionate.”
As fits a band born long enough ago to now be of legal drinking age, Less Than Jake pulls in a multi generational audience, which Vinnie notes is often a family affair, “Our crowd now is 16 to 40, and Ive met kids as young as eight or nine Dads bring their sons and it’s a weird rite of passage; moms bring kids in saying, ‘We’ve watched you guys for 15 years. ‘But will the band stick around long enough to draw in a third generation of fans? “I don’t know man, I think our guys on that would be NOFX and Bad Religion.
When you see Fat Mike or Bad Religion hang It up, maybe : but like them, we’re gonna ride that
out. “We’re glad to be along for the ride Hop on board when See The Light sees the light on November
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SAVE FERRIS is a ska-punk band formed circa 1995 in Orange County, Southern California. Their name is a reference to the 1986 film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
The band formed after the dissolution of a number of Southern California bands. With Monique Powell as manager, front person, and co-songwriter, the band began to book shows around Southern California to a great underground response.
Financed by Powell’s sister, the band released their debut EP “Introducing SAVE FERRIS” on Powell’s label, Starpool Records, in 1996. They ended up selling close to 20,000 copies of their EP out of the trunks of their cars, with huge support from Orange County independent record shops and fans. That year, Powell provided vocals on the Reel Big Fish song “She Has A Girlfriend Now” on their album “Turn the Radio Off” (Mojo).
With Powell as manager and lead, and as favorites of KROQ radio’s legendary Rodney on the Rock, SAVE FERRIS created a presence on LA’s KROQ radio, possibly being the first unsigned band to do this in LA alternative radio history. Later that year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gave the band a Grammy showcase award for best unsigned band, earning them a recording contract with Epic Records (SONY).
The Dillinger Escape Plan create maniacally intense, crushingly metallic, and decidedly hardcore punk-infused jazz-time-signature-invoking compositions displaying an unparalleled musical bravery, precision musicianship, meticulously thought-out, and complex structuring, and rigorous physical endurance. The band’s guitarists and drummer are regular features in publications geared toward the guitar- and drum-playing set. The depth of extremity and mental challenge presented by their music virtually defies description, at once recalling the mind-wandering spirit of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, the complex heavy metal of latter-day Death, Cynic’s solitary death metal achievement, and the progressive hard rock of Rush. Their performances bring to mind the anarchic charge of early Guns N’ Roses shows, and the sophistication that drives their craft should awe fans of classy art rock bands like Radiohead. This is bound to be one of the best live shows of the year! Don’t miss this!
After topping the rock charts in 2014 and 2015, The Pretty Reckless returns with their extraordinary third studio album Who You Selling For, due October 21st on Razor & Tie. The new album is the band’s anticipated third studio album and the follow up to Going To Hell, which spawned the biggest rock song of 2014 in “Heaven Knows” and a total of three #1 Mainstream and Active Rock hits. The first single from the new album, “Take Me Down,” premiered worldwide July 15th on iHeart Radio and impacted at rock radio four days later on July 19th, quickly climbing to #7 on the chart.
It’s a Post Jam Cruise Jammin’ Concert
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe are back in action. The show will give fans the chance to experience what is highly regarded as one of the best live bands on the planet. Karl, who now serves as the saxophonist in The Rolling Stones, is fresh off a tour with the legendary rock band that included the highest grossing concert festival of all time, Desert Trip. With KDTU, he’ll be showcasing material from his forthcoming studio album, due in early 2017, as well as previous acclaimed KDTU recordings like New Ammo and Brother’s Keeper. Audiences can also expect a handful of KDTU’s super-charged covers by the likes of Prince, The White Stripes and Beastie Boys.
You can’t fake the funk, and The Motet bring it on hard with a signature style that slaps you in the face with sounds that are fresh and unique. The Motet is an American funk, afrobeat and jazz influenced group based in Denver, Colorado. An exuberant, lithe outfit, the Motet is known for their high-energy live shows and cross-pollinated musical sound. It’s a sound they’ve captured on such albums as Breathe, Play, Music for Life, and Instrumental Dissent. The album Dig Deep found them incorporating electronics into the mix. The band’s seventh studio album, the eponymously titled The Motet, featured a more collaborative approach than previous albums. Their newest album, Totem, was released July 8th, 2016.
Dropkick Murphys are an American Celtic punk band known for their loud, energetic live shows. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums and making a name for themselves locally through constant touring and yearly St. Patrick’s Day week shows held in and around Boston. The single “Tessie” became the band’s first mainstream hit and one of their biggest charting singles. The band’s final Hellcat release, The Warrior’s Code, included the song “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”; the song was featured in the Academy Award-winning movie The Departed, and went on to become the band’s Platinum-selling single and remains one of their best-known songs. The band then began releasing music through their own imprint label. The Meanest of Times made its debut at No. 20 on the Billboard charts and featured the successful single, “The State of Massachusetts”, while Going Out in Style was an even bigger success, making its debut at No. 6, giving the band their highest-charting album. The band’s eighth studio album, Signed and Sealed in Blood made its debut at No. 9 on the Billboard charts. The band is currently recording their ninth studio album which they expect to have released by the end of the year or early 2017.
Our teams are gathering THIS SUNDAY NIGHT alongside the @celebrationftl family for Worship Night! We are pretty excited about it.
If you’re in the area, join them at Revolution Live at 6pm!
October 9th | Revolution Live | 6pm
Simon Allen and Eddie Roberts had played together as The Mastersounds, though with a different bassist and no organ. Through friends and the intimate nature of the Leeds (UK) music scene, Pete Shand and Bob Birch were added on bass and Hammond respectively and The New Mastersounds were born. Though it was raw, and more of a boogaloo sound at first, it was powerful from the start. Their first rehearsal was hot enough for Blow it Hard Records to release on two limited-edition 7” singles. Fast-forward 15 years and the recorded catalogue boasts 24 more 7” singles, 9 studio albums, 2 live albums, 1 remix album and 3 compilation albums, released variously in UK, USA and Japan, where they continue to tour extensively. Joe Tatton, another veteran of the Leeds scene, joined back in 2007, replacing Bob Birch on organ and piano. As an example of the respect this band commands, Peter Wermelinger – DJ, collector, and author of the crate-diggers’ bible The Funky & Groovy Music Lexicon – places the 2001 NMS track “Turn This Thing Around” in his all-time top-ten tunes, along with the likes of Eddie Harris, Funkadelic, and Herbie Hancock. The New Mastersounds are at the very top of an elite selection of acts that bring the true soul out of funk.
Turkuaz is a 9-piece “Powerfunk” outfit from Brooklyn, NY, whose modern take on the classic funk sound has established them as leaders in the funk revolution that’s currently taking place in the genre. Blending elements of Pop, R&B, and Soul with their distinct aggressive funk core, Turkuaz sounds like the musical love child of Sly & the Family Stone and Talking Heads. Turkuaz’s sound is more accessible than ever and poised to break out to a more mainstream audience. With a playful feel that evokes the best of 80s dance music, Turkuaz’s tightly arranged songs are built on thick grooves, driven by powerhouse rhythm and horn sections, as well as four distinct vocalists.