Posts By Asher
0 Westman Journal – Matt Blais to make a Halloween appearance in Brandon
0 Date and Venue Change: Nov 16 – Blind Beggar Pub – Blankfest-Calgary Returns For Third Annual Music Benefit For The Homeless; Band Line-Up Announced
Date and Venue Change: Nov 16 – Blind Beggar Pub – Blankfest-Calgary Returns For Third Annual Music Benefit For The Homeless; Band Line-Up Announced
‘It’s About The Homeless, Nothing More, Nothing Less’
Due to the unforeseen closure of Studio 37, the venue selected to hold this year’s Blankfest Calgary on November 2nd, the music charity fundraiser for the homeless shelter The Mustard Seed found itself without a home. Organizers of the benefit show were adamant on not cancelling the event and found a new date and home for the community fundraiser, which will now be held on Saturday, Nov 16 at The Blind Beggar Pub (5211 Macleod Trail). The following line up for the event will consist of nine Alberta bands ranging in various genres of rock n’ roll, metal and hip hop, performing between 6:30pm to 2am to share their tunes, raise awareness, funds and clothing for the city’s homeless. As the event slogan goes, ‘It’s About The Homeless, Nothing More, Nothing Less.’.
Event Details:
Blank-Fest Calgary III
Saturday November 16th
Blind Beggar Pub, 5211 Macleod Trail, Calgary, AB
Doors 6:30 pm
18+
Supporting: The Mustard Seed
Admission: A blanket, warm clothing or monetary donation of choice at the door.
Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/225731990918093/
Bands:
Same Monkey (Calgary) – Rock – https://www.facebook.com/samemonkeymusic
Wellington Folk (Calgary) – Folk/ Rock – https://www.facebook.com/thewellingtonfolk
Mike Ferraro (Calgary) – Acoustic – https://www.facebook.com/candeloramusic
King Dylan (Calgary) – Hip Hop/Rap – https://www.facebook.com/TheRealKingDyl
Abbie Thurgood & The Hired Guns (Calgary) – Country/ Rock – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Abbie-Thurgood/310544270227
Atacama Republic (Calgary) – Rock – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Atacama-Republic/103289433057261
Matt Blais (Calgary) – Blues Rock – https://www.facebook.com/mattblaismusic
The Heartwicks (Calgary) – Rock – https://www.facebook.com/theheartwicks
Leave the Living (Red Deer) – Metal – https://www.facebook.com/leavetheliving
Over the last two years, the full-to-capacity event has raised nearly $2,000 and over 400 blankets including winter clothing items for the homeless whom live in one of Canada’s coldest cities. Blankfest Calgary is just one of many events across North America inspired by founder Kenn Rowell, who has been organizing Blankfest in New York City since 1997 and has encouraged others to hold Blankfests in various parts of the USA, Canada (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver) and Europe to help the homeless with the support from their music communities. (full Blankfest background info below.)
For more info, please visit the following link:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlankFest.Calgary
About Blankfest:
BlankFest Documentary I – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_nZr7wZhjc
Blankfest Documentary II – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtUy2Oms2Cw
BlankFest Documentary III – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QNKJIPP21Y
Blank-Fest is an annual benefit concert, usually held one-to-two weeks before Christmas, which raises blankets for the homeless. It was founded in 1997 in Nyack, NY (a suburb approximately 20 miles outside of New York City) by Kenn Rowell who is the frontman for the NYC-based band, The Baghdaddios.
Rowell, in previous interviews detailed how he had always wanted to do “something charitable” on Christmas Eve. Among the many things he considered were keeping the disabled father of an old neighborhood friend company, singing in the children’s ward of a hospital and collecting blankets from friends to dispense amongst New York City’s homeless on Christmas Eve. Doing just that, for the first time in 1996, he enjoyed the experience so much that he decided to do the same thing again, next year. It was at that time that his friends told him that they had no more blankets to donate saying that Rowell had “cleaned them out” from the previous year.
Since inception, over 15 years ago, Rowell estimates that Blank-Fest has collected over 10,000 total donations for the homeless. For the original flagship show out of Nyack, with the exception of one year (2001) donations in every year has increased. Much of this growth can be attributed to increased exposure through local radio, the internet and the press, including featured articles in the New York Daily Newsand mentions in the New York Post.[1] In addition there have been satellite shows that have been formed in other states, cities and countries. So numerous have donations been in recent years that volunteers have had to split the distribution/delivery of blankets to the less fortunate on multiple nights, starting on Christmas Eve. Often excess donations are distributed to homeless shelters as well.
MCed by Rowell’s long-time band, The Baghdaddios, the first Blank-Fest only featured a handful of local, Hudson Valley area-based groups including international touring act Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, The Wheel and future Bruxelles part-owner Debruyn who performed as a solo artist. While always priding itself on featuring local independent, or “homegrown” music acts, in addition the benefit has attracted likewise talented songwiters and bands which boast an impressive list of major recording label ties and a solid reputation for touring and recording including EMI artist Patti Rothberg, pedal steel guitar greatBuddy Cage, former Misfits guitarist and founder of The Undead, Bobby Steele, Soulfly lead guitarist Marc Rizzo, Sirius Radio personality Meg Griffin, international jazz oomposer Mike McGinnis and the founder of the Anti-folk school of music, Lach.
Efforts to duplicate the successes of the early Nyack shows proved elusive at best until New Jersey-based independent artist activist, Richard Kubicz read about Blank-Fest’s efforts in the Daily News and proposed a “sister show” at a local club in Garwood, NJ. The first Blank-Fest-NJ, promoted extensively through Kubicz’s D.I.Y. music website Let’s Rock America [1] was a resounding success, netting 200 blankets which were donated directly to a neighboring homeless shelter in Cranford and garnered notice in the Bergen County press in 2006. Last year’s second annual Jersey show produced similar results. Similarly, Blank-Fest UK [2] was founded in Nottingham, England after a local recording studio owner heard an interview with The Baghdaddios on the British Armed Forces Radio Network, BFBS Radio One during the group’s Summer 2007 tour of England. Upon hearing about both the American and UK efforts Ontario-based photographer Gaynor Fletcher approached Rowell regarding the formation of a Blank-Fest Canada show. Also, debuting in 2007, in Guelph, ON, the inaugural Canadian event featured popular Canadian folk artist James Gordon and was covered extensively by the Canadian media,[2] raising well over 100 blankets.
In addition to these shows former Baghdaddios bassist, John Sidoti joined forces with local internet radio personality Ron Purtee to develop the first-ever Blank-Fest Wisconsin,[3] also in 2007, in theMilwaukee-area suburb of Racine.
Currently, there are 8 Blank-Fest shows serving 7 major metropolitan areas in three countries. In addition to those mentioned previously, 2008 has seen the addition of three additional shows: Blank-Fest Florida, which is hosted in Northern Florida (Lake City, near Gainesville, FL) and Blank-Fest VA, which is hosted in Richmond, VA (see links below).
In addition, promoters in Bridgeport, CT as well as Calgary and Ottawa, Canada have begun work for premiere Blank-Fest shows in December 2009. The first Blank-Fest Quebec (which was also the first “post-Holiday Season” Blank-Fest show) which took place on Saturday evening, February 21, 2009, garnered approximately 503 total donations.[4]
Currently plans are in development to expand Blank-Fest even further. There has been talk of shows in Texas, Northeast Pennsylvania, Ohio and Atlanta, GA. Several additional popular artists have been approached regarding future such shows. Quoted in a newspaper interview in 2000, Rowell maintained that “as long as there is the issue of homelessness we will continue to have a Blank-Fest”, further adding that he wishes “we didn’t have to hold these shows” but that, until the situation dramatically improves, everyone involved understands that they really have no other choice.
0 UNTIL DAWN Distributing New Album ‘Horizon’ via STM Records; Offering FREE Download ‘Roamers And Lurkers’ On SMNNews.com
ALBUM PROMO CAN BE REQUESTED HERE
RIYL: Soilwork, Killswitch Engage, In Flames, Metallica, Trivium, All That Remains
UntilDawn.ca | Facebook| Twitter | Youtube | Reverbnation | CBC 3
Soundcloud | Last FM | Bandcamp | iTunes |CD Baby
UNTIL DAWN Distributing New Album ‘Horizon’ via STM Records; Offering FREE Download ‘Roamers And Lurkers’ On SMNNews.com
(L-R) – Steve White – Guitar, Darren Ehler – Bass, Adam Macleod – Vocals, Luke Worrell – Drums, Deke Worrell – Guitar (Photo Credit = Barrett Klesko – FadeBlack Studios United)
Until Dawn has teamed up with STM Records for the distribution of their debut album ‘Horizon’ that was released independently earlier this August.
“The band could not be more excited to re-release the record through MVD and The Orchard via STM Records and are hoping to expand our reach to our fans.” comments guitarist Deke Worrell.
The melodic metal band is known for its intense energy, intoxicating guitar riffs along with their lively stage shows, which they have shown with their location in the remote northern depths of Fort McMurray, Alberta will not slow them down. Building on their prior success and setting new plans to bring their music to larger audiences around the world, Until Dawn is melodic metal at its finest, and this is just the beginning.
An exclusive FREE DOWNLOAD of Until Dawn‘s track ‘Roamers And Lurkers’ is available at the following location here on SMNNews.com.
‘Horizon’ is available at UntilDawn.ca, iTunes, Bandcamp and all major music retailers.
Music Video – Until Dawn – ‘This Fallen Fortress’ – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxv2rt3-XLo
Track Listing: Horizon [Album Stream]
1. Roamers And Lurkers [Free Download]
2. Strings Of The Dammed
3. The Red Sun Rises This Day
4. Third Knee
5. This Fallen Fortress [Music Video] [Free Download]
6. A Conjurer Of Cheap Tricks
7. DNR
8. Time Tested Fortune
9. The Trial
10. Polar Parallels
11. Horizon [Youtube]
Bonus Tracks:
12. WM3
13. Richard
For more info, please visit these links:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Until-Dawn/116659511682711
https://twitter.com/UntilDawnMusic
iTunes: http://itunes.com/untildawn
0 The Infection Spreads Today! DEATH TOLL RISING Unleash New Album ‘Infection Legacy’ Out Now Oct 22nd
ALBUM PROMOS FOR MEDIA COVERAGE (ex. feature, interview, album review, airplay, etc.) CAN BE REQUESTED HERE
R.I.Y.L. = Carcass, Death, Strapping Young Lad, At The Gates, Bloodbath
Tour Dates | DeathTollRising.net | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Soundcloud | Last.fm
The Infection Spreads Today! DEATH TOLL RISING Unleash New Album ‘Infection Legacy’ Out Now Oct 22nd
L – R – Mike Puff (Bass), Tylor Dory (Guitar), Bryan Newbury (Drums), Jesse Berube (Vocals), Drew Copland (Guitar) – Photo Credit: Dana Zuk
Edmonton, AB death metal band Death Toll Rising is unleashing their sophomore full length assault ‘Infection Legacy’, out today, October 22nd. The release is the follow up to 2010 debut album ‘Defecation Suffocation’ and 2008 EP ‘Spontaneous Decapitation’.
“We are truly stoked to finally be getting this album out to the public. It has been a long process, but we couldn’t be more proud of how it turned out, it was definitely worth the wait! We all put our heart and souls into this to give our fans and new listeners something thrashy/blasty/heavy/brutal and still catchy as fuck.” comments guitarist Drew Copland.
A full album stream of ‘Infection Legacy’ can be listened on Beatroute Magazinehere or Soundcloud here along with being purchased on Bandcamp here.
Featuring a combination of death and thrash metal, the Edmonton-based band are known to devastate their audiences with their high octane performances that has lead them to share the stage over the years with high profile names such as Kataklysm, Cryptopsy, The Haunted, and Aborted (to name a few).
Originally formed in 2003 in Stony Plain, AB, Canada, Death Toll Rising have been grinding the Western Canadian metal scene steadily, gaining huge momentum over the last 3 years. New addition Tylor Dory on guitars has introduced a technical and progressive element to the band they have not had in the past. Add in the intense and relentless drumming provided by Bryan Newbury (recently recruited by Canadian prog/death powerhouse INTO ETERNITY), as well as the well-rounded rhythm provided by Drew Copland on guitar and Mike Puff on bass, and you get a monster that is only now being unleashed upon the masses with vocalist Jesse Berube topping things off with a combination of brutal death growls and Tomas Lindberg-esqe high shrieks, which will be plenty noticeable on their new album ‘Infection Legacy’.
Track Listing: Infection Legacy
1. Infection Legacy [Youtube]
2. Judas Cradle
3. Scorched Earth Policy [Youtube]
4. Born To Defile
5. Malice Incarnate [Youtube] [Bandcamp]
6. Crack Open A Cold One
7. Slaughter To Survive
8. Revelation Despair
9. Septic Entity
Upcoming Show Dates:
Oct 26 – The Studio – Edmonton, AB w/ Nihilate (Vancouver), Quietus, Obsidious –Show Details
Nov 10 – The Palomino – Calgary, AB w/ Kataplexis, Vile Insignia
For more info on Death Toll Rising, please visit the following links.
Official website: http://www.deathtollrising.net/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/deathtollrising
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/deathtollrising
EPK: https://ashermediarelations.com/epks/epk-death-toll-rising-infection-legacy-2013/
0 Out Today! Loud Rockers BREACHED Release New EP ‘Left Behind’
EP PROMOS FOR MEDIA COVERAGE (ex. feature, interview, album review, airplay, etc.) CAN BE REQUESTED HERE
(RIYL = Incubus, Deftones, Alexisonfire, Staind)
Tour Dates | BreachedMusic.com | Facebook | Twitter
Youtube | Reverbnation | Soundcloud | CBC 3 | iTunes
Out Today! Loud Rockers BREACHED Release New EP ‘Left Behind’
L-R = Neil Uppal – Drums | Mike Diesel – Guitar |Ryan Alexander – Bass | Bobby Noakes- Vocals
(Photo Credit – Jaylyn Todd – jaylynphoto.ca)
Performing this past weekend their local EP launch show at Indie Week in Toronto, ON to a packed Rivoli. BREACHED are ready to crank the stereo speakers of their heavy loud rock fans with their third and latest EP ‘Left Behind’, out today, October 22nd.
Vocalist Bobby Noakes comments:
‘We are excited to release ‘Left Behind’, our third EP. The songs encapsulate all of the energy and emotions we were aiming for perfectly. I took a much more reflective approach to my lyrics than I have in the past and it feels great. We continue to find ourselves through our songs and ‘Left Behind’ showcases our strongest songwriting yet.’
The EP was recorded in between Canadian and US dates during the spring and summer months of this year while the band toured to promote their second EP ‘Revolution Sessions’, an acoustic version of their debut EP with a bonus stripped down cover of Alice In Chains ‘No Excuses’, which was also joined by a series of in-studio music videos.
Creating an alluring blend of melodious, metal-tinged rock ‘n roll, it didn’t take long for Breached to start winning over fans with their live shows and five-song self-titled EP. The band’s tight harmonies and nail-hitting screams combined with overdriven guitars, intricate tempos and powerful lyrics provide a unique blend that audiences can’t seem to get enough of.
The EP can be purchased on iTunes here and at the band’s official website here.
The title track is streaming at the following links.
Soundcloud: http://snd.sc/16xVsES
Youtube: http://youtu.be/tj05vofLo1w
Track Listing: Left Behind
1. Left Behind (4:04)
2. Piece By Piece (2:59)
3. All We Need (3:09)
4. Brighter Days (3:51)
5. Here With Me (3:17)
Total Time: 17:20
In additional news, the band created an infomercial spoof for ‘Left Behind’ on youtube at the following link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBVd5cDt05Y
‘Revolution Sessions’ – Music Videos
Let Go – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOCIjtOpU6I
No Excuses (Alice In Chains cover) – http://youtu.be/ZfINQnXC8ko
Music Video – Control – http://youtu.be/wRWGsxvYkl4
Music Video – Happy? – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iRWTBWmrjI
Music Video – Time – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39HzhYn_GHY
For more info on BREACHED, please visit these following links:
www.breachedmusic.com | http://www.facebook.com/breachedmusic | Twitter @BreachedMusic
0 Metal Made In Canada – Interview – Insurrection
Metal Made in Canada is proud to present you an interview with Gatineau’s death metal band Insurrection. Vincent Laprade Séguin (guitar), Francis Girard (bass) and Philippe Moreau-Latreille (drums) speak with radio hosts Jay Cross and Katrina Starke Kuras about Insurrection’s new album, Prototype, and their fundraising campaign.
http://blog.metalmadeincanada.ca/en/2013/10/16/interview-insurrection-2/#.UmXZlXCsiSp
ashermediarelations.com 