New Atlantic - The Streets, The Sound, The Love

New Atlantic
The Streets, The Sound, The Love
(Eyeball Records)

Over the past few years the east coast has been buzzing about New Atlantic. Among the devoted fans were a few naysayers who doubted New Atlantic's powerful pop-rock would go anywhere at all. With a few national tours under their belts and now their highly anticipated debut, The Streets, The Sound, and The Love, New Atlantic puts all the negative energy behind them and focus on what's to come. They cover it all from missing the ones you love while on the road ("Cold Hearted Town"), to reassuring those you've left that you'll be back and think of then often ("Layer Up"), and knowing when it's time to let go ("The Ever After".) It's safe to say that New Atlantic are worthy of all the praise they've gotten, from word of mouth to interviews everyone can find something to rave about. Their sound is smooth and uplifting, and the lyrics are truthful and comforting at best. If they continue to push themselves to be greater than they already are, that's all I could hope for. The Streets, The Sound, and The Love is a great addition to any music lover's library, you'll be spreading the word in no time. — Naimah Holmes

MySpace | Official Site | Eyeball Records

Sayyes. - For Tents and Starry Skies

Sayyes.
For Tents and Starry Skies

Sayyes. are a band from Alaska. I know very little about the state but I do know that rock is alive and well there. Singer/guitarist Eric Gettinger's vocals go from soft and soothing to forceful and emotive in little over a second flat. Accompanied by Alex Bourne on keys, guitarist Jerimiah Patterson, bassist Jered Williams, and drummer Daniel Randle, Sayyes. have a sound of their own.

"Perfect One" finds that love is everything but perfect, and that realizing the love you have for yourself is greater than any external source. "Quadballs" is a pop-punk song that's sure to get you moving with thoughtful lines such as "Everything that you want / That you dream about is just two steps away / So don't be afraid." "Hold It Against the World" makes you realize that whatever it is you're going through is smaller than you think. Bearing witness to someone acting as if they've already been defeated is a hard task to take on. Helping them realize that they're stronger than they think is even harder. "My Summer Part 1" is a beautiful take on loss with lines such as "What am I suppose to do when you say I'm done now / I can't forget but I'll forgive." Heartbreak is something you learn from regardless if you're ready to let go. Looking for comfort within his faith Gettinger sings "God help me / Don't leave me out in the cold / I feel so alone / I know that I cannot do this alone / So I'm trusting you." "The Ballad (Speechless)" showcases the bands talent as musicians in a technical light. One by one each instrument is folded into one another. All the while being woven through warm vocals, then all is blended into a delicate guitar solo with a lush string arrangement. Lyrically the band is ahead of their time, and the music is close behind. At times rushed, and maybe a little over eager, Sayyes. know what they're going for as a whole. Who could say "no" to that? — Naimah Holmes

MySpace

OTM: Ike

Ike, the little band that could. Formerly know as The John Faye Power Trip, they keep the hits coming. Philadelphia is lucky to have them still around. I'm suprised New York or LA hasn't stolen this four piece rock band away from us!

Led by the ever so talented Mr. John Faye, Ike have been at it since 2003. Sharing the stage with REM, Butch Walker, Matthew Sweet, and Jersey's own Bon Jovi (after winning a nation wide contest.)

With two full-length CD's, and constant rotation on local stations such as WMMR and WXPN, we can expect this rock band to keep us rockin along wherever we may be heading. — Naimah Holmes

Look for their new album, Where to Begin will be out December 26, 2007.

UPCOMING DATES
Nov 2 @ University of Delaware / Mitchell Hall (John Faye solo) --- Newark, DE
Nov 17 @ Kelly's Logan House --- Wilmington, DE
Dec 1 @ Grape Street Philadelphia --- Philadelphia, PA
Dec 15 @ Living Room Show --- Yardley, PA
Dec 26 @ World Cafe Life --- Philadelphia, PA

MySpace | Official Site

Hanson Walk to Spread Awareness

WEST HOLLYWOOD — The City of West Hollywood, recording artists Hanson and TOMS Shoes will join together to help fight poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa. The partnership is a component of the City’s “Global AIDS Initiative” which was created with the goal of advocating for and supporting education, outreach and funding efforts to combat the AIDS pandemic in Africa.  The goal is to raise awareness about the correlation between poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa and to inspire people to look for simple ways to make a difference in their community and the world.

On Tuesday, October 30, 2007, joined by West Hollywood City Officials, a special one mile walk will be staged through the streets of Los Angeles culminating with a performance by Hanson in the old Tower Records parking lot on the famed Sunset Strip. All fans in the area are encouraged to join the walk.

As part of the Walk tour, a one mile walk is staged in each tour market inviting the fans and local artists to join the band  and walk barefoot, encouraging those participating to take action by purchasing a pair of TOMS Shoes as part of these one mile Walks. For every pair of TOMS Shoes purchased, a second pair of shoes is donated to a child in poverty.

Visit Hanson.net for more details!

UPCOMING DATES
Oct 27 @ La Zona Rosa --- Austin, TX
Nov 2 @ House of Blues --- Anaheim, CA
Nov 3 @ House of Blues --- San Diego, CA
Nov 5 @ The Fillmore --- San Francisco, CA
Nov 6 @ Avalon --- Los Angeles, CA
Nov 8 @ House of Blues --- Las Vegas, NV
Nov 11 @ Cain's Ballroom --- Tulsa, OK
Nov 12 @ Beaumont Club --- Kansas City, MO
Nov 13 @ The Pageant --- St Louis, MO
Dec 2 @ The Phoenix --- Toronto, Ontario
Dec 3 @ Studio Theatre --- Hamilton, Ontario
Dec 5 @ Bronson Centre --- Ottawa, Ontario
Dec 6 @ Cowboy Ranch --- London, Ontario

MySpace | Official Site | TOMS Shoes

Miley Cyrus is Hannah Montana

I'm sure most of you have heard of the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana craze that's sweeping the nation by now, but did you know that High Voltage has a staff member on the entire tour? Well you do now! Me! And I'm here to let all you Miley fans know about the ultimate Miley party that will coming to each of your towns.

The ultimate Miley party is brought to you by MileyWorld.com and will start about two hours before doors at every stop on the tour. There you will have a chance to win cool prizes (like meet & greet passes to meet Miley herself), take your picture on the red carpet, and so much more. So whether you have concert tickets or not - come join the fun! Just look for the pink bus outside the venue and we'll be waiting to rock with you. And make sure you join MileyWorld.com to some extra goodies!

OTM: Operator Please

Isn't love ... lovely? Current new love is the Aussie band of young misfits known as Operator Please. Ah, it's so refreshing to know that some of today's youth still remember to say "please."

According to their MySpace page, they're classified as "Indie / Alternative / Rock," but according to me they're Me Likes / AweSome. Please enjoy.

Video: "Leave It Alone"


Upcoming Dates
Oct 19 @ MTV2 Gonzo on Tour --- Liverpool
Oct 20 @ MTV2 Gonzo on Tour --- York
Oct 21 @ MTV2 Gonzo on Tour --- Glasgow, Scotland
Oct 23 @ The Mercury Lounge --- New York, NY
Oct 24 @ The Knitting Factory --- Los Angeles, CA
Oct 30 @ Annandale Hotel --- Sydney, New South Wales
Nov 2 @ Corner Hotel --- Melbourne, Victoria
Nov 3 @ Adelaide Uni Bar --- Adelaide, South Australia
Nov 4 @ Amplifier Bar --- Perth, Western Australia
Nov 7 @ The Zoo --- Brisbane, Queensland
Nov 8 @ Southport RSL --- Gold Coast, Queensland
Dec 8 @ Homebake Festival - The Domain --- Sydney, New South Wales

MySpace | Official Site

HV Night / October 22

It's that time again!!!! HIGH VOLTAGE is throwing yet another wonderful bash at Safari Sam's (5214 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA).



ARTISTS
Blameshift
the VLA
Sunday Drivers
Twin Sticks

Doors @ 8pm. Just $5 to get in. Food is 50% before 9pm. Good times go on way past midnite!

Let us celebrate another day, the start of the work week, Rebecca's (from Twin Sticks) birthday, Jesica (High Voltage's very own) early birthday, and Halloween eve eve eve eve... eve!

* You read correctly, "costumes encouraged." It's close enough to Halloween, let out your inner ghoul!!!

We hope to see you there.

Be kind and let friends in the LA area know about the event!!

Oreskaband - Oreskaband

Oreskaband
Oreskaband

Need to get rid of some pent up energy? Oreskaband has the perfect sound for you. I'm at a loss for words. I don't speak Japanese, wish I could, but that didn't stop me from playing Oreskaband over and over again. "Pantime" had me shaking my hips so much it hurt. "Yeah! Ska Dance" was worthy of skanking (yes I had a ska phase) around my living room and "Knife & Fork" didn't allow me a second to catch my breathe. Luckily "MonkeyMan (Monkey Monkey Man)" with its groovy sing along breaks allowed me to do so. When "The Boy-S" rolled around all bets were off and I was right back to where I started. By the end of it all my house looked like it'd been torn apart by the Tasmanian Devil himself. Now if only I had a Japanese to English dictionary so I'd know what I'm clumsily singing along to! — Naimah Holmes

MySpace | Official Site

Daphne Loves Derby - Goodnight, Witness Light

Daphne Loves Derby
Goodnight, Witness Light
(Outlook Music)

With just a few clicks of a mouse you can find out all you need to know these days about your favorite band. And you will without a doubt come across the Seattle area's Daphne Loves Derby. A four piece of twentysomethings who've learned to stretch their legs on their second album Goodnight, Witness Light (on Outlook Records). Vocalist Kenny Choi's voice has improved from sometimes straining to effortlessly emotive and full. Every aspect of the band has been elevated to a higher level. The transition from one track to the next was well thought out. DLD have found their stride and no longer second guess their steps.

"Cue the Sun" shows vulnerability and strength (And if I don't come home tonight/Just know I tried my best to fight/Please don't think I plan to lose to the night) in knowing that trying to get past your fears no matter how small takes courage. "To Struggle with Light Colors" finds DLD looking back on mistakes in love and life (She always said I was too silent/And I never found the words to entertain her/Maybe I tried just too hard to always be clever/While she always starved for simple words to keep her safe). Choi has become more confident, despite the mention of "the beast" that stays close behind, as mentioned in the bands debut "On the Strength of All Convinced." There are tales of strained relationships ("The Best Part About It Honey", missing home ("Hello Color Red"), and learning not only about yourself but just how big the world is("No One Is Convinced").

They've come a long way, and deserve all the good that comes their way.
Goodnight, and good luck. — Naimah Holmes

UPCOMING DATES
Oct 5 @ Gothic Theater --- Englewood, CO
Oct 6 @ Club NVO --- Logan, UT
Oct 7 @ Neonopolis at Jillians --- Las Vegas, NV
Oct 8 @ The Brickhouse --- Phoenix, AZ
Oct 9 @ Soma --- San Diego, CA
Oct 11 @ Glass House --- Pomona, CA
Oct 12 @ The Avalon --- Hollywood, CA
Oct 13 @ The Underground --- Roseville, CA
Oct 14 @ Slim's --- San Francisco, CA
Oct 16 @ Hawthorne Theater --- Portland, OR
Oct 17 @ Chop Suey --- Seattle, WA
Oct 20 @ Beat Kitchen --- Chicago, IL
Oct 21 @ Varsity Theater --- Minneapolis, MN
Oct 23 @ Mac's Bar --- Lansing, MI
Oct 24 @ Agora Ballroom --- Cleveland, OH
Oct 25 @ Xtreme Wheels --- Buffalo, NY
Oct 26 @ School Of Rock --- South Hackensack, NJ
Oct 27 @ The Harmony Grange --- Wilmington, DE
Oct 28 @ Trocadero (EARLY SHOW) --- Philadelphia, PA
Oct 29 @ Living Room --- Providence, RI
Oct 30 @ Webster Theatre --- Hartford, CT
Nov 1 @ The Knitting Factory --- New York, NY
Nov 2 @ Club Relevant --- Virginia Beach, VA
Nov 3 @ The Brewery --- Raleigh, NC
Nov 5 @ The Masquerade --- Atlanta, GA
Nov 6 @ The Orpheum --- Tampa, FL
Nov 7 @ AKA Lounge --- Orlando, FL
Nov 9 @ Javajazz --- Houston, TX
Nov 10 @ Rock Bottom Bar --- San Antonio, TX
Nov 11 @ The Door --- Dallas, TX

MySpace | Official Site | Outlook Music

Quiet Company - Shine Honesty

Quiet Company
Shine Honesty
(Northern Records)

Quiet Company's style is mellow, and singer Taylor Muse's voice has an almost airy quality that is by no means overlooked when accompanied by his delicate piano playing in Shine Honesty's 13 tracks. The transition from one song to the next is seamless, and almost unrecognizable.

The discs first track, "How Many Times Do You Want To Be In Love", is a question you may have never found the courage to answer. The music swells and the mood lightens just as you find yourself comfortable enough to do so. "Fashionable" shows the regrets of a failed relationship as Muse searches for something familiar to comfort him when all seems lost. He then learns, "Life is what you make it/Because love is what you've made of it/And I made a friend." At times you can be your biggest enemy and it's then that you have to light a fire under yourself. "Tie Your Monster Down" says perfectly "You've got to raise your voice sometimes to get things done/I'm not the monster here/You've got to break some legs sometimes to get things done." "So Graceful" is what every girl wants to have written for her, a sweet and simple reminder of the love you've always known to be there for you. "Circumstances" seems to have the band catching their breathe, a power pop tune, and the most forceful of the album (it's what I've known while listening that they are capable of all along). It almost seems too easy for them to come out of their shells.

Every song stands on it's own and tells of love, reassurance, and the excitement that comes with being on your own for the first time. While Shine Honesty is filled with melodic hope, it lacks the ability to pick up the tempo just as the song starts to build itself up, it seems to cave in on itself. Their strength is in the uninhibited lyrics, and their knack for lush, beautifully sculpted arrangements. It almost seems as if Muse is afraid he might break what it is he's built so meticulously.

The sense of a love so young is felt throughout the disc, and it becomes apparent that the songs are meant for the one who has his heart. All in all Shine Honesty is a love letter, a declaration of who and what got them to where they are today. You can almost tell that Muse just wants to get everything right, like an artist trying to capture a moment perfectly through painting - however this time, musically. — Naimah Holmes

UPCOMING DATES
Oct 5 @ Pianos --- New York, NY
Oct 6 @ Cafe Napoli's --- Watertown, CT
Oct 8 @ The Middle East Club --- Cambridge, MA
Oct 10 @ Arlene's Grocery --- New York, NY
Oct 12 @ Appalachian Brewing Co. --- Harrisburg, PA
Oct 13 @ Gooski's --- Pittsburgh, PA
Oct 14@ The Nite Owl --- Dayton, OH
Oct 15 @ The Poison Room --- Cinncinatti, OH
Oct 18 @ The Boro --- Murfreesboro, TN
Oct 19 @ the Nook --- Huntsville, AL
Oct 21 @ The Capture Studio Cafe --- Tuscaloosa, AL
Oct 22 @ Swell-o-Venue --- Jackson, MS
Oct 23 @ Cactus Jack's --- Ruston, LA
Oct 24 @ The Jackrabbit Lounge --- Shreveport, LA
Nov 8 @ The Darkside Lounge --- Dallas, TX
Nov 9 @ The Spot --- Tyler, TX
Nov 11 @ Stubb's BBQ --- Austin, TX

MySpace | Official Site | Northern Records

Isaac Hanson Hospitalized

Guitarist Isaac Hanson of the rock group Hanson has been hospitalized at Baylor University Hospital in Dallas, TX. After last night's performance in Dallas, Isaac was complaining of severe pain in his shoulders and chest. He underwent several tests throughout the night and has been diagnosed with pulmonary embolism.

Hanson's show tonight at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, OK has been cancelled. Isaac is currently undergoing treatment and will be re-evaluated shortly by doctors. Further information about the tour will be made available at that time.

EDIT: Just read that Kansas City and the rest of the tour dates have been postponed indefinitely. The band will continue their hiatus until Isaac is able to tour with them again.

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Isaac is only 26. I, for one, will be keeping my thoughts and prayer on Isaac today.

Matt & Kim - Matt and Kim

Matt and Kim
Matt&Kim
(Iheartcomix)

I've often wondered what would happen if the tall guy I often see in the local thrift store and the girl from the art center in town got together and made music; I can only hope that it would be half as great as these spunky Brooklynites. Matt & Kim power through 10 brutally poppy tracks and never miss a beat. You might just have to hit pause in an attempt to catch your breath. From the toe tapping "It's a Fact (Printed Stained)," to the spazy "YeaYeah," this band is a guaranteed party starter. You won't be able to keep still, and by the time you get to "Lightspeed" you'll be begging for mercy. This is without fail my new musical crush. They're fun, spontaneous, energetic, and playful. They've got it all and I want some more! — Naimah Holmes

UPCOMING DATES
Oct 2 @ Logan square auditorium --- Chicago, IL
Oct 5 @ Oberlin College --- Oberlin, OH
Oct 17 @ Bandersnatch Music Series --- Syracuse, NY
Oct 25 @ Paradise Rock Club --- Boston, MA
Oct 26 @ Starlight Ballroom --- Philadelphia, PA
Oct 28 @ The Fest --- Gainesville, FL

MySpace | Official Site | iheartcomix