In the wake of Canada's national Broadcaster "The CBC" dropping the ball puck and losing the iconic "Hockey Night in Canada" theme song Moe Carlson and Luke Hoskin of Canada's Protest The Hero have submitted an entry to "Canada's Hockey Anthem Challenge". The contest was launched after The CBC failed in negotiations with the song's copyright holder and the music was snapped up by rival Canadian network CTV. The winner of this contest will become the closest thing to royalty we have in this country (Next to the Queen of England that is).
Every Time I Die 07/05/08 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
These are all bands I shot at the Van's Warped Tour in Selma, Texas. Checking out the Warped Tour is kind of like speed dating bands, and with 8 stages going it's hard not to find a band you want to have a relationship with. In eight hours I averaged a little better than a different band every 30 minutes. A lot of bands I had seen before, a lot of bands I hadn't but I still had a lot of fun.
Thanks to MSOPR, Live Nation and the Van's Warped Tour for inviting me out.
Against Me! 07/05/08 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
The Briggs 07/05/08 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Paramore 07/05/08 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Protest The Hero 07/05/08 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Street Dogs 07/05/08 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Street Dogs on the Highway 1 Stage - more photos photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer
I don't travel well anymore.
Bonaroo, or Coachella, for me, constitutes a nightmarish scenario like a Seinfeld episode gone dark and demented. Camping for 3 days in the middle of nowhere, my fate controlled and decided by pimply faced kids in EVENT STAFF t-shirts, at the mercy of the elements sun, wind, and rain, and the ever present lines of people queuing up for basic amenities like drinking water, showers, and bathrooms, the whole idea gives me a case of the willies.
When I was younger pup, in my teens and twenties, the idea would have appealed to me to no end, and in fact back then I traveled quite a bit, often camping out in my car. By the time I was in my mid thirties I was firmly of the opinion that basic amenities such as air conditioning, clean sheets, and soft pillows were a minimum for travel and since then my criteria have only tightened.
Had it not been for the fact that Protest The Hero and Paramore were playing Warped I seriously doubt that I would have made the 5 hour trek down to San Antonio and back, but it had been 3 weeks since I covered a show, no better prospects were forthcoming and I was looking for any excuse I could to get out of the house. Besides it was a one day show, only a day trip, and even I am not too old and whiney for that. Luckily Mike over at Earshot Media has a few bands on the tour (he ALWAYS seems to have a few bands on the tour) and after a few emails I was hooked up.
Todd Rundgren photo by Clint Gilders - Staff Photographer
After a June that got off to a nice start and then sputtered, Austin's road show scene starts to perk back up in July and August is starting to shape up nicely as well.
For those wanting to make the trek Willie Nelson and crew will be holding their annual July 4th picnic tomorrow down at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Selma. Those that pass out in their cars will be in for a rude awakening come the following morning however as the parking lot is set to be the main stage for Van's Warped tour which starts bright and early at noon on Saturday. Look for club kingsnake to be there working the main stages. Hot bands to watch out for will be Protest The Hero, Reel Big Fish, and The Briggs.
They're a band, they're a cartoon, they are Dethklok and the will be bringing the popular Adult Swim cartoon to life over at the Austin Music Hall on Sunday, July 6th. Also on the bill are Chimaira and Soilent Green, this show was moved from La Zona Rosa due to "overwhelming demand". If metal is just not your thing you can boogie on over to Stubb's and catch KC and The Sunshine Band (no joke!) also on July 6th.
Todd Rundgren, taking a break from The New Cars, will be doing a show over at Antone's on July 19th. Bring your copy of Hermit of Mink Hollow on vinyl and maybe he will sign it.
La Zona Rosa really heats up towards the end of the month with Alkaline Trio on July 21st, Good Charlotte on July 23rd, the Wolf Parade plays on July 25th. Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters will be over at Stubb's on July 26th.
August sees a big flurry of road shows right off the bat. The Backyard, in it's final season, hosts 311 & Snoop Dog for 2 nights on August 2nd and 3rd. Also on August 2nd is Less Than Jake over at La Zona Rosa
followed by The Faint on August 11th.
If your August 2nd isn't busy enough Stubb's has Bullet For My Valentine with Bleeding Through and The Cancer Bats on the same night. South African rockers Seether plays Stubb's on August 8th, something I am looking forward too.
April 25, 2008
The Sound Academy (formerly The Docks). Toronto, Ontario
There was a weird vibe surrounding The Sound Academy when I arrived for the co-headliner Protest The Hero/Chiodos show. I wasn't in a bad mood so I don't think it was transference on my part. Au contrair, I've been excited about this tour, dubbed "Beer The Musical", since I heard about it well over a month ago. Also when I mentioned my felling to a few others they pretty much agreed and were glad it wasn't just them. After some serious consideration (lord knows I must have spent 10 minutes thinking about it) I think it may just be growing pains. What was once The Docks is now the Sound Academy, and seems poised to become the go-to venue in Toronto for not-quit-big-enough-to-play-arenas bands.
From First To Last at the Sound Academy (more photos...) photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer
The opening act of the night was a recent signing to Underground Operations (UO) going by the name of Lights. UO founder London Spicoluk never ceases to amaze me with his diverse, seemingly out of character signings. Lights plays electro pop with little bit of an edge to it and describes herself as "..a small girl who dwells in Toronto and makes music. Most of what you hear comes out of my bedroom". This description paints a somewhat different picture to the confident, relaxed, powerful woman I met at The Sound Academy. Sure she was a little surprised by the size and fervor of the crowd and even quipped that this was the first time a circle pit had eruptd at one of her shows, but she handled it all in stride.
It's just over 48 hours until I leave for South By South West. I really can't believe how packed my calendar is. I have scoured Austin Tx, Showlist for all the non-sxsw parties, festivals and showcases that look cool. I have spent waaaay too much time on sxsw.com going through the band list, and I've also been poking around places like SXSW Baby! see what other intelligence I can gather.
SXSW 2007 nearly killed me. That might be a slight exaggeration, but only slightly.
This year's gonna be different.... This years gonna be different..... Say it with me "This years gonna be different." I'm going to have a plan when I set out each day. That will probably last until I hit 6th street and a cool day party beckons or my nose leads me to some Tamales or breakfast burritos. So as I forlornly stare at my quintuple booked thursday afternoon, here's a list of shows,parties, other happenings that I am leaning toward attending or are at least on my short-list.
There's not much I can say about protest live that hasn't been said here and here and here and here before.
Only the day before, Fortress had debuted at Number One on the Canadian album charts. There couldn't be a better time for PTH to play in Toronto. Tickets were scarce on the night of as was made evident when I queued up at the will call to pick up my photo pass for the show. One lucky person managed to buy the last two tickets available at the box office, while many others were left disappointed.
In classic Protest fashion the stage was lined with friends and family (I spotted at least a couple of the guy's mom's and dad's). The 40 minute set opened with the lead track from Fortress "Bloodmeat", and steamrolled on through "The Dissentience" and several other new songs. I wish I'd kept better track of the set list but my attention was focused on navigating the claustrophobic photo pit and later on securing a vantage point from the crowd. While the promoter had only sanctioned two photographers (myself among them) it appears that the boys in Protest had handed out photo passes to just about everyone with a digital rebel and kit lens who'd asked. With the pit full of security the likes of which you only see at a PTH show, at least a dozen photogs and a couple of videographers, frequent visits from crowd surfers, and dim stage lighting this was an exercise in careful maneuvering and cautious shooting. I think we actually got to shoot from the pit for four songs, and then were given free reign to shoot from the audience.
Tom Morello at SXSW 2007 - more photos... photo by clint gilders - staff photographer
In case you missed it, over the past couple days SXSW has listed a few more artists for this years music festival. Van Morrison will be playing a SXSW gig at La Zona Rosa in addition to his non-SXSW gig at the Austin Music Hall. Legendary punk band X will also be performing over at Emo's.
For all those doubting Thomas's and those that overlooked the fine print, there is a band listed as Body of War, after the film of the same name, and if you look at their listing it lists them as being Kimya Dawson, Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Tom Morello(Rage Against The Machine) and Special Guests. One can only wonder if my rumors of an Eddie Vedder or Rage Against the Machine surprise appearance are coming closer to fruition as their Special Guests. Certainly seems to be, what with Vedder having produced the soundtrack, the movie being shown at the festival, and with many of the artists from the soundtrack in town.
In other Austin Music News...
National Product has been gathering some steam ahead of their visit to Austin's Red 7 tomorrow, and their show promises to be the hot set of the night. Tracii Gunns will be bringing his version of L.A. Guns to a new venue, the Rock City Icehouse, on Wednesday night.
On Friday Feb 29th NOFX, Flatliners, and No Use For A Name will be filling up the pit over at Stubb's, and Saturday March 1 Marilyn Manson and Ours will be playing over at the Austin Music Hall. On Sunday March 2, Built To Spill and The Meat Puppets will also be at Stubb's. Guitar virtuoso Pat Metheny will play the Paramount Theatre on Tuesday March 4th, the same night Willie Nelson opens at the Star Of Texas Fair & Rodeo at the Travis County Expo Center. Dropkick Murphy's play Stubb's on Friday March 7, then Protest The Hero plays Emo's on March 8th.
Looking out past SXSW we have some interesting stuff on the horizon. Acid Mother's Temple plays Emo's on March 17, Bob Mould at Antone's on March 20, The Moody Blues at The Austin Music Hall on March 21. New Model Army from the U.K look like they finally have their visa issues cleared up and will be playing at Elysium on March 28.
Willie Nelson will be playing the "new" Long Center on March 29th, the same night as Les Claypool over at Stubb's. Liam Finn, son of Crowded House/Split Enz founder Tim Finn, will be playing the Parish on April 2. George Clinton and PFunk will be playing the Swamp Thing / Crawfish Boil Festival on April 5th. Dropping Daylight and Sick Puppies over at Emo's on April 7th.
La Zona Rosa hosts Manchester Orchestra and Say Anything on April 9th, then Armor For Sleep and Saves The Day on April 10. Ministry will play La Zona Rosa on April 15, Buddy Guy and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band at Stubb's on April 18th. Panic at the Disco plays Stubb's on April 19th, followed by Cat Power the next night, and then Behemoth the following night.
Rush plays the Frank Erwin Center on April 23, David Allan Coe plays Stubb's on April 25, Joe Jackson plays The Paramount on April 28. Billy Talent and My Chemical Romance play Stubb's on April 28, and then to end out April we have Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco at the Frank Erwin Center on April 30.
Tokyo Police Club photo by clint gilders - staff photographer
I could hardly believe my eyes as I perused the SXSW 2008 Biglist. Yeah, there are cool bands coming from all over the world, but the 100+ acts making the pilgrimage from Canada set my mouth watering.
Finally..... It's finally here. After expected release dates in August 2007, and then September and November Fortress is set for release on Jan 29, 2008. I promise.
How exactly does one follow-up something as genre defining/defying as 2006's Kezia?
From the first dissonant bleats of "Bloodmeat" you know PTH has not strayed far from what made their debut album a masterpiece. Songs shoehorned together by an ADHD sufferer performed by idiot savants with mind numbing musical prowess. Over all the mayhem, potty mouthed Rody Walker manages to sing/howl/growl surprisingly smart lyrics.
What they have done is increase the production values, pen even smarter lyrics, and Rody's vocals have developed an admirable range. No longer limited to metal growls or nasal whine we get actual singing and layered harmonies (along with the metal growl and nasal whine).
The album is divided into two distinct parts. The first, entitled "On Conquest and Capture", is seven songs deep. The lead off track, "Bloodmeat", just owns from the seizure inducing into to the outro riff which grinds and chugs begging for raised fists and flying bodies. Then it's on to "The Dissentience" which raises the intensity level and teeters on the edge of some tricky time signatures. Only two songs in and I can't begin to count how many distinct riffs and time signatures have been thrown at the listener. This is Protest and they continue to weave an enthralling tapestry before crescendoing on "Spoils".
"Isosceles" is comprised of only three songs and has a much more flamboyant rock opera type vibe. I can't get into this as much as the septet that came before. It is a cool look at Protest The Hero exploring some new ideas and directions.
If you didn't like Kezia you probably won't like Fortress. If you didn't like Kezia you probably need to get a clue anyway.
What the boys in Protest have done is craft and album which is an evolution from Kezia not a reprise . What I love about Protest is that they mix jaw dropping musical prowess with intelligent lyrics, and just enough pop sensibility creeps in to afford them a wider appeal.
Arif Mirabdolbaghi of Protest The Hero - more photos... photo by clint gilders - staff photographer
Protest The Hero
Genre: thrash/progressive/metal
Hometown: Whitby, Ontario http://www.myspace.com/protestthehero
Saturday, March 8 8:00 p.m.
w/ Silverstein, Devil Wears Prada, A Day to Remember
Emo's (Main Stage) (6TH AND RED RIVER)
One of the loudest bands I have ever heard, Canada's Protest The Hero has a new record, Fortress, and a new tour. While they won't be here for the music portion of SXSW, patrons of the film and interactive portions of the festival can check out their set at Emo's on the opening Saturday night. We got a chance to talk with Arif Mirabdolbaghi, who provides the deep bass thwack for the band, about the new album, their tour, and their influences. Click on the "continued" link below to listen to the interview.
Tom Morello at SXSW 2007 - more photos... photo by clint gilders - staff photographer
The answer is it's never too early to talk about SXSW, and with March right around the corner the news will start to come fast and furious. Aside from Moby and Daryl Hall only a few other artists have been announced so far, like Rapper TECH N9NE and London based Avant-Dubbists Dokkebi Q. Other than that the folks at SXSW have been pretty tight lipped, and though I have heard no rumors as yet I will be happy to start a few, or maybe re-kindle some old ones.
Jeff's SXSW 2008 Rumors and Speculation
Morrissey is playing/Morrissey isn't playing/Morrissey is god, take your pick. Your probably 50/50 on this one as the morose meatless musician seems to play here a lot, and has played SXSW more than once in the past.
Any band with the word "Black" in their name has a 20% shot just based on percentages. Score an extra 30% if they have played SXSW in the past and an extra 10% if one of the band members has a hair color not found in nature.
The Zico Chain, probably not. Though I wish they were coming, they did the last 2 SXSW's in a row and to ask lightning to strike a third time so soon is probably pushing it. If they do show up I will be there.
Rage Against The Machine. If I were a betting man, and sometimes I am, I would say chances are good that Rage will play SXSW 2008. Tom Morello played SXSW last year and that was the rumor then, Now with a few more festivals under their belt the reformed Rage is ripe for the picking.
Slayer/Metallica, both probably not. Austin is not known for it's depth in the metal culture, nor is SXSW known for attracting a metal crowd. Slayer won't be touring til fall anyway and I just don't see Metallica on the bill.
The Toadies I would bet will either do an official SXSW showcase or do their own show at one of the premier venues just prior. Either at Stubb's of the Austin Music Hall. Since their 2 sold out nights before SXSW at Stubb's last year they have booked a few more shows and word on the street is that there may be some new Toadies material in the pipeline.
I suspect Blind Melon will showcase. With Travis Warren taking over the reigns from the late Shannon Hoon in 2006, these guys have been polishing themselves up for the road. They are already booked into one festival in early March, it would be great to see them here as well.
Wilco MIGHT, MIGHT show up and showcase. They will be touring around then and have a week downtime before starting an Australian tour.
Led Zeppelin/The Police/Van Halen - keep dreaming. Unless they hold it in Zilker Park we don't have a venue that will hold the crowd they would draw, and the price on the wristbands would need a substantial increase just to cover the parking fee's for all the tour buses. While I would love to be wrong, I just don't see it happening.
Something with Les Claypool. Could be Primus, could be his Fancy Band, could be something we have never heard of yet. I just have a feeling.
Amy Winehouse? I'm takin odds that they will never let her in the country again, much less issue her a work visa.
Now for some Austin music news that's NOT speculation.
For all of you coming in early for SXSW Interactive, Canada's Protest the Hero will be playing at Emo's on Saturday March 8th. It's not a SXSW showcase but will be a good way to take a break from all the interactive activities.
Here are a few more picks of some of the bigger named road shows coming to Austin in 08.
Thu 01/10/08 George Strait Frank Erwin Center
Thu 01/10/08 Little Big Town Frank Erwin Center
Tue 01/15/08 As I Lay Dying La Zona Rosa
Sun 01/27/08 Robin Trower La Zona Rosa
Thu 01/31/08 The Bangles La Zona Rosa
Fri 02/01/08 Flogging Molly Stubb's Bar-B-Q
Mon 02/04/08 Go-Go's TBA
Thu 02/14/08 Sherwood Emo's
Wed 02/20/08 L.A. Guns Rock City Icehouse
Fri 02/22/08 Cobra Starship Emo's
Fri 02/29/08 Flatliners Stubb's Bar-B-Q
Fri 02/29/08 NOFX Stubb's Bar-B-Q
Fri 02/29/08 No Use For A Name Stubb's Bar-B-Q
Tue 03/04/08 Pat Metheny Paramount Theatre
Sat 03/08/08 Protest The Hero Emo's
Sat 03/08/08 The Devil Wears Prada Emo's
Mon 03/17/08 Acid Mother's Temple Emo's
Fri 03/21/08 The Moody Blues Austin Music Hall
Sun 04/06/08 B.B. King Austin Music Hall
Tue 04/15/08 Ministry La Zona Rosa
Sat 05/17/08 Reverend Horton Heat Stubb's Bar-B-Q
Sun 06/08/08 The Cure Austin Music Hall
Protest The Hero at Warped Tour, Barrie. photo by clint gilders- staff photographer
Protest The Hero is playing six free sets in Toronto this weekend at the Northern Digital Expo!! It's an awesome video game trade show, conference, competition and you can get in for free all weekend long to hang out, and maybe even try your GH3 skills against Moe.
All you have to do when you get to the front gate is say:
Protest The Hero's 'Fortress' January 29th 2008
That's their new record. It's gonna be like god, and butter, and soup. Everything good.
Protest The Hero - more photos... photo by clint gilders - staff photographer
October is shaping up to be pretty hard rocking month here in Austin, with a whole bunch of neat tours coming through town, but with a whole bunch of interesting conflicts. Even the Frank Erwin Center is getting in on the act.
Canada's Protest The Hero will be playing, along with All That Remains down at Emo's on 10/5, but I'm torn because thats the same night The Meat Puppets and Sonic Youth will be playing at Stubb's. I don't know if I can see both shows but I am willing to try. Luckily nothing seems to conflict when fellow Canadians Alexis On Fire play Emo's on 10/11.
Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush will be dusting off their amps and playing at Antone's on 10/6. Talk about classic rock, I think I still have an LP of theirs from the 70's somewhere around here. For even more classic rock, check out Peter Frampton out at The Backyard on 10/18, or the Doobie Brothers on 10/26. Chris Isaak will also be playing The Backyard on 10/13.
Vinnie Paul of Hellyeah - more photos... photo by brian rampacek - staff photographer
Korn will be bringing their back-assward logo typewriter to town, on 10/17, along with Vinnie Paul's Hell Yeah, Five Finger Death Punch, and Droid over at the Frank Erwin Center. If you can't catch that show, then head over to Emo's on the same night to catch the Melvins.
Another set of Canadians, the Tragically Hip, will be playing La Zona Rosa on 10/18 and that conflicts
with Chevelle's make up set on the same night at Stubb's.
The Erwin Center will be the scene of mobs of teenagers on 10/23 for Cute Is What We Aim For, Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes and the Plain White T's. A mob of grown up teen's will probably be at the show by former teen hearthrobs Hanson at La Zona Rosa on 10/27.
Finishing out the month on 10/28 we have Sinead O'Connor at Hogg Memorial Auditorium, Dax Riggs on 10/30 at Stubb's Bar-B-Q and make sure to wear a costume on Halloween when you catch The Dandy Warhols at La Zona Rosa.
Thats just a FEW of the interesting road shows coming next month. Looking WAAAAAAY off in the distance Robert Smith and The Cure will be playing at the remodeled Austin Music Hall on June 8th, 2008 and thats a show I will be at, photo pass or not.
It's just over 48 hours until I leave for South By South West. I really can't believe how packed my calendar is. I have scoured 
Finally..... It's finally here. After expected release dates in August 2007, and then September and November Fortress is set for release on Jan 29, 2008. I promise.
