HIGH VOLTAGE MAGAZINE

Matt Nathanson Hits The Road Making “All Night Noise”

2011-10-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

Matt Nathanson is more than just a pretty face…but let’s be honest, that pretty face doesn’t hurt at all.

Following up the break-out success of 2007’s Some Mad Hope, Matt’s latest release, Modern Love, has solidified him as the singer/songerwriter-dude who can craft a hit. Digging deeper into his musical influences, Modern Love, hits a whole new level of infectious, catchy, and well-done song craft.

With his hit “Faster” all over the radio, Matt is on the road, crossing the country with his headlining “All Night Noise” tour. His live shows are ridiculous in a good way: wild, energetic, and occasionally hilarious, as he's not necessarily known for his ability to self-censure but always hitting high marks in musicianship and quality performances.

On October 29th, Matt makes a stop in Los Angeles at the famed Wiltern, but before and after that, check the dates below to catch a musical ride with the “All Night Noise” tour.

All Night Noise Tour Dates:

10/21 Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Sound

10/22 Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory

10/23 Portland, OR @ Music Millennium (In-Store Performance & Signing)

10/23 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom

10/25 Vancouver, BC @ Venue OR Commodore

10/28 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades

10/29 Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern

10/30 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

10/31 Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee

11/2 Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa

11/4 Birmingham, AL @ The Backroom @ Workplay

11/5 Nashville, TN @ The Cannery Ballroom

Download Black Box Revelation's New EP "Shiver of Joy"

2011-10-04T16:42:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of The Black Box Revelation? Well, you should. A bluesy, garage rock duo who…well, just call them Belgium’s answer to The Black Keys. Such a sound is a lot for only two to bear but Jan Paternoster and Deis Van Dijck make a hell of a noise that's retro yet modern, and prone to making you dance. Thick on riffs and thudding percussion, they’re young guns, but extremely well armed with dark and catchy hooks and occasional stretches in the music where you may think someone’s got Led Zeppelin on the brain.

In advance of hitting your brain with their forthcoming full-length LP, My Perception, the Belgians have just dropped the free EP Shiver of Joy, a sharp and riff-heavy collection of b-sides solid enough to have made the album cut.

Download this puppy right HERE and enjoy this rock solid arrival on the scene. And if you happen to be in Los Angeles this week, you can catch the lads on October 3rd & 4th at Filter Magazine's Culture Collide Festival.

In The Studio: The Return of Garbage

2011-10-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

Garbage is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on their fifth studio album and their first in seven years. Shirley Manson (vocals, guitar), Steve Marker (guitars, keyboards), Duke Erikson (guitars, keyboards) and Butch Vig (drums, loops) are recording the album in a basement in the Atwater Village area of Los Angeles, CA, the first to be recorded outside of Madison, WI. The still untitled album is scheduled for release in Spring 2012, and is being produced by Garbage, engineered by Billy Bush, and mixed by Butch Vig and Billy Bush.

"Years-worth of pent-up music came out in some bizarre ways- bleary cell phone memos became real songs, conversations turned into lyrics, and new computer gizmos inspired wicked tangents," said the members of Garbage. "Ghosts came in, had their say. Everyone brought ideas, and everyone fought their corner. At the end of the day it all gets shoved through the four-way brain filter that is Garbage and it ends up sounding like nobody else. Red feathers and black tar."

Even though it's been seven years, there hasn't been a female-fronted band since that has matched their inimitable sound, brashness and energy. Now free of all their corporate obligations, the band has been able to start again with a clean slate on their own terms. They add, "We are making a record filled with the music we love to hear. The new songs have been inspired more by what we haven't been hearing rather than by what we have."

After forming in Madison, WI, Garbage released their self-titled debut album in 1995 and rode a wave of visually arresting, female-fronted alternative rock bands. The album spawned the hit singles "Stupid Girl" and "Only Happy When It Rains" and was certified double platinum in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Their second album, Garbage 2.0, was nominated for two Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and Best Rock Album. 2001's Beautiful Garbage was named one of Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 10 Albums Of The Year. In 2005, Garbage released Bleed Like Me, earning the band it's highest chart position with a No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. In 2007, the band released a retrospective collection called Absolute Garbage. Garbage has sold over 12 million albums worldwide.

Goo Goo Dolls Announce New Fall Tour Dates

2011-10-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

Having wrapped a three-month summer tour in support of their current album Something For The Rest Of Us, The Goo Goo Dolls have announced that they will continue touring through the fall, launching a new string of dates on October 12^th in Milwaukee. Tickets go on-sale this week, so check out www.googoodolls.com/tour for more information.

In other Goos news, the band's blockbuster single "Iris" has soared to No. 1 on the U.K. iTunes chart after being performed by two finalists on the British edition of The X Factor. In addition, the band's Greatest Hits album re-entered the chart at No. 18. "Iris" has been a steady seller in Great Britain since its original release in 1998, enjoying more than 433,000 in sales, and racking up more than 30 million views on YouTube. The song is expected to top the U.K. Singles chart this weekend, which would be its highest chart position ever.

"I love the fact that young artists are inspired to sing this song. It opened a lot of doors for us," says Rzeznik. "To see it hit No. 1 in the U.K. and connect with a growing new audience is cool."

Finally, the band, which is singer-guitarist Johnny Rzeznik, bassist Robby Takac, and drummer Mike Malinin, has just recorded a brand-new song, entitled "The Best Of Me," which will be heard on an upcoming episode of CBS's hit remake of Hawaii Five-O, as well as on a soon-to-be released soundtrack album.

The Goo Goo Dolls upcoming tour dates are as follows. Ryan Star supports on all dates except for those starred.

10/12- Milwaukee, WI, Pabst Theater

10/15- Chicago, IL, Mix Second Chance Homecoming*

10/16- Morgantown, WV, Morgantown Event Center

10/17- Nashville, TN, Ryman Auditorium

10/19- Ithaca, NY, State Theater

10/21- Utica, NY, Stanley Performing Arts Center

10/22- Hampton Beach, NH, Hampton Beach Casino

10/23- Torrington, CT, Warner Theater

10/25- Williamsport, PA, Williamsport Community Arts Center

10/26- Charlottesville, VA, John Paul Jones Arena

10/27- Greensboro, NC, Carolina Theatre

10/29- Lake Charles, LA, L'Auberge du Lac Hotel & Casino*

10/30- Tupelo, MS, BancorpSouth Arena

11/02- Fort Myers, FL, Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall

11/04- Gainesville, FL, Gator Growl*

11/05- Melbourne, FL, King Center for the Performing Arts

11/07- Richmond, VA, The National

11/08- Reading, PA, Sovereign Performing Arts Center

11/09- Wilmington, DE, Grand Opera House

11/11- Montclair, NJ, Wellmont Theater

11/12- Huntington, NY, The Paramount

11/13- Erie, PA, Warner Theater

Hey Bands! Come Open For Us, Signed Yelle.

2011-09-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

For all the musicians out there who have ever seen an opening act at a live show and thought they could do better, now is your chance to prove your skills! French electro-popsters, Yelle, is launching a contest to find an opening act for each of their upcoming shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and New York. If you think you have what it takes to share the stage with Yelle, send some music and info about yourself to yelle.contest@gmail.com.

The dance-pop trio also enlisted London-based producer Second Date (a.k.a. Henry Birkbeck) to remix “Comme Un Enfant,” off their latest album Safari Disco Club (V2/Cooperative Music USA/Downtown Records). His production places emphasis on intricate beats, warm bass, poppy vocals and arpeggiating piano - the latter of which has become Second Date's trademark.

Yelle have also released a trailer for the upcoming worldwide Safari Disco Tour;- watch it and get ready to dance the night away in a city near you!

Yelle US Tour Dates:

11/10: Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern

11/12: San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine

12/02: Miami, FL @ Fillmore

12/03: Orlando, FL @ Social

12/04: Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits

12/05: Atlanta, GA @ Loft

12/07: Baltimore, MD @ Sonar

12/08: New York, NY @ Webster Hall

12/09: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall

12/10: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

UK Soul Ambassadors The New Mastersounds Announce the Breaks from the Border Tour

2011-09-22T03:15:00.000-07:00

The ambassadors of the Northern England Soul scene, the New Mastersounds are hitting the road this November in support of their new record Breaks from the Border, their first album recorded on U.S. soil.

The New Mastersounds funk powerhouse includes Eddie Roberts (guitar), Simon Allen (drums), Peter Shand (bass) and Joe Tatton (keys). On tour the set will include cuts from "Breaks from the Border" the seventh studio recording from NMS released August 9th on Tallest Man Records. “Breaks” marks a new era in the bands sonic landscape by topping their unique syncopated grooves with group vocal stylings. This break from convention was met with enthusiasm from fans and critics alike.
Known for their power packed and dance inducing live show the New Mastersounds have been motivating hips to sway and rears ends to shake all over the world. This past year the New Mastersounds played not one, but two sets at Fuji Rock, when they were asked to step in to take Buddy Guy's spot, wowed crowds at the world famous Red Rocks, the North Coast Music Festival, Gathering of the Vibes, Moe.Down, Summer Camp and more.

Tour Dates

Oct 29 Honolulu, HI Hallowbaloo Festival
Oct 31 Maui, HI Paia Charley’s
Nov 02 Austin, TX The Parish
Nov 03 Houston, TX House of Blues - Parish
Nov 04 New Orleans, LA Tipitina’s
Nov 08 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge
Nov 09 Chattanooga, TN Rhythm n Brews
Nov 10 Savannah, GA Loco’s
Nov 11 Atlanta, GA Masquerade
Nov 12 Live Oak, FL Bear Creek Music Festival
Nov 13 Live Oak, FL Bear Creek Music Festival
Nov 16 Charlottesville VA Jefferson Theatre
Nov 17 Baltimore, MD Soundstage
Nov 18 New York, NY Highline Ballroom
Nov 19 Philadelphia, PA Blockley Theatre
Nov 20 Boston, MA Royale Theatre
Dec 31 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theatre w/ Tedeschi Trucks
Jan 01 Deland, FL Bondfire Festival
Jan 08 Boca Raton, FL Revolution
Jan 09 Ft Lauderdale, FL Jamcruise 10

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Add National Dates Supporting New LP "Am I The Enemy"

2011-09-22T02:43:00.000-07:00

Three years since their last full album and with nearly 2 million records sold worldwide, Am I The Enemy is the sound of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus in fighting form (available on iTunes). The single "Reap" was the first song written for the new LP - and in the words of frontman Ronnie Winter, "I think it's one of the best, because it pretty much spawned the entire sound for the new record."

"We have always supported various charities like To Write Love on Her Arms and the Take Action tour, which promote awareness against teen suicide and offer peer to peer counseling. 'Don't Lose Hope' is a direct message to those who feel like no one else cares," Winter reveals. "God does, and always has."

Recorded with producer John Feldmann [Goldfinger], the effort explodes with 12 hard-hitting rock tracks released via Collective Sounds.

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Tour Dates

Oct 13 - The White Rabbit - San Antonio, TX
Oct 14 - Trees - Dallas, TX
Oct 15 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
Oct 17 - The Rock - Tucson, AZ
Oct 18 - Martini Ranch - Scottsdale, AZ
Oct 19 - House of Blues - Anaheim, CA
Oct 22 - Oakland Metro Opera House - Oakland, CA
Oct 24 - Wow Hall - Eugene, OR
Oct 25 - The Venue - Boise, ID
Oct 27 - Club Sound - Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 29 - Manny's - Billings, MT
Nov 3 - The Hayloft - Mt Clemens, MI
Nov 6 - Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA
Nov 8 - The Studio at Webster Hall - New York, NY

Nov 10 - Mr. Smalls Theatre - Milwale, PA
Nov 11 - The Canal Club - Richmond, VA
Nov 12 - Amos South End - Charlotte, NC
Nov 13 - Exit / In - Nashville, TN
Nov 15 - The WorkPlay Theatre - Birmingham, AL
Nov 17 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Nov 18 - The Varsity Theatre - Baton Rouge, LA
Nov 19 - Floyd's Music Store - Tallahassee, FL
Nov 20 - State Theatre - St Petersburg, FL
Nov 23 - Freebird Live - Jacksonville Beach, FL

Mates of State Climb High on "Mountaintops"

2011-09-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Mates of State
Mountaintops
Barsuk (2011)

So what do we have here in the new Mates of State offering, Mountaintops?

Honestly, something so confectionary and fun on the ears that I almost can’t stand it, but what do you expect from the seemingly impossibly in love husband-and-wife duo of Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner?

Drums and keyboards surrounded by a shiny gauze of he/she pop harmonies at an almost celestial level? Yes. Complementary is an understatement as only some seriously like-minded individuals can pull this stuff off and make it so you don’t feel the unrestrained urge to hurl. Mountaintops smacks three back-to-back-to-back pop gems that are air on the tongue and light to the visuals: opener “Palamino” goes aerial with its chorus, and at its literal half point grounds itself in Hammel’s percussion, “Maracas” is that thing that should be a pleasure of guilt but then you yell “Fuck that!” because it’s so damned well done, and “Sway” simply does.

Where Mates of State excel is probably where others fail (Matt & Kim); while gleefully earnest throughout, there is no lack of depth and true lyrical poignancy in their indie/pop craft. Because it’s not all sunshine and seashells on Mountaintops; it’s just that Hammel and Gardner are delightful enough to make it feel like so. In "Basement Money", where the struggle of where art meets financial compensation is tackled, the urge to groove is no less present than in "Total Serendipity" which is a crash course in noise-pop (yes, that's brass you hear in the rear); somewhat jangly, but emotionally upwardly mobile. When the mood tempers, some of the human trials and tribulations of married and music making-life are excavated: “Unless I’m Led” has an almost lullaby quality, and the album closer, “Mistakes”, leaves something slightly unsettled in hearing the lyrics “"I need you, but it's not normal if I refuse to be by myself."

All things in Mountaintops compose an album that sounds like a genuine partnership of fun and artful confessional upon their usual sound canvas of harmonies, subtle textures, and pretty pictures are painted. Nothing to rock out to here, folks, but plenty to make the head and heart bob.

Foo Fighters Drop Their Trousers

2011-08-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

If you've ever longed to see Dave Grohl's bare ass (or the rest of the Foo Fighters for that matter), your prayers have been answered. The band has posted a new music video this morning entitled "Hot Buns" in which the Foo's play truckstop truckers who proceed to wash off the road... Oh, just watch:

Hot Buns - Foo Fighters

The Trews - Hope & Ruin

2011-08-23T09:00:00.001-07:00

The Trews
Hope & Ruin (2011)
(Bumstead Records)

There are a few running themes throughout The Trews’ fourth studio album, Hope & Ruin, such as redemption, heartbreak, crafty vocal arrangements, homage to CCR, roots rock, guitar distortion, familiarity, and when all neatly line up in a music row, they fair well as a soundtrack to gassing up and hitting the blacktop for an extended session of road-therapy.

Canadians Colin MacDonald, John-Angus MacDonald, Sean Dalton, and Jack Syperek find their musical strength in delivering sharp rockers with an edge of pop sense. From the onset of the kickstarter and blaring opening track, “Misery Loves Company”, Hope & Ruin is all rock anthemic, healthily touched with alt-country and blues. The Trews don’t stray far from where they’ve musically been and that’s not necessarily a bad thing; their sonic trajectory makes for a steady emotional montage of “seeing” the music as well as occasionally thrashing to it.

Some of the best moments on the album are polar opposites; see “People Of the Deer” (apparently based upon the Canadian book of the same name), possibly their noisiest song ever, and by ‘noisiest’ I mean their hardest twist of the dial towards a straight-edged rocker with prolific use of a wah-wah pedal, and the twang doesn’t diminish the vocal urgency of “Burned” especially when the guitar starts to peel off into Luther Dickinson territory. I’m not mad at them because “One By One” is solid and a delicate rhyming scheme (aka poem) set to music and a good reminder of why lyrics do matter; they help when trying to tell a fucking story. “I hate myself for being miserable; a six-day binge is bound to do it, though” isn’t necessarily a pretty mental picture, but it is a knife of honest exploration.

Grand experimentation may have been kept to a minimum on Hope & Ruin, but then why mess with a good thing?

Go see The Trews tonight at The Viper Room.

Official Website | Twitter

Share To Care: Music For Life

2011-08-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

It's an exciting day in the High Voltage offices, we've just launched our first PledgeMusic campaign to put out a very special digital compilation to help save High Voltage. Why is the album so special? Because it features 20 b-sides, live, or yet-to-be-released tracks by some our favorite artists (we think you'll like them too). It's also special because a portion of the proceeds are going to the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF. You may remember our post earlier this month about the 40th Anniversary of the Concert for Bangladesh and if so you'll remember it's still the Month of Giving, so here's our gift to YOU! Who doesn't love awesome music? Especially when it's for a good cause.

The album tracklisting will slowly be revealed over the course of the 45 day PledgeMusic campaign and each announcement will come with some more exclusives from the artists (maybe revealing a new album cover, a story from the band about the recording process, etc). You'll have to pledge to receive the exclusive artist updates tho!

We've come out the gates with a track called "Before I'm Gone" by Hurricane Bells featuring Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October. You can hear it, view more details, and pledge here: http://bit.ly/pledge4HVM

In the immortal words of the movie Empire Records, "DAMN THE MAN - SAVE HIGH VOLTAGE!"

Big Black Delta: Debut Album BBDLP1 Out September 26th/September Residency @ The Satellite

2011-08-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

"Big Black Delta’s maiden voyage (which will be out on Coming Home Records) is a triumph of man and machine, not to mention man over record-industry machinations. ” - Buzzbands LA

"As a successor to the free debut EP BBDEP1, Los Angeles experimental pop project Big Black Delta’s debut LP BBDLP1 will be released on September 26^th on Coming Home Records. Citing “being out of tune” as a muse, the songs on the album are the spawn of multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Bates’ imagination and inspired musical exploration. It was recorded entirely on a laptop given to him by Alessandro Cortini (Nine Inch Nails, SONOIO) in and all over Los Angeles, from assorted apartments and friends’ houses to backyards across the city, often at all hours of the night. Guests on the album include Cortini, who played his buchla on “The Zebrah,” as well as Morgan Kibby (M83, White Sea) whose vocals are featured on “Dreary Moon.” Big supporter of the band, Los Angeles tastemaker Kevin Bronson premiered the track "Capsize" on Buzzbands.la yesterday.

Venezuelan-born Jonathan Bates, formerly of the Los Angeles band Mellowdrone, began his solo project Big Black Delta out of the desire to create a new kind of pop music. By purposefully doing everything slightly wrong in the studio, using any instrument available, and combining it with UFO folklore, the Big Black Delta project was born."

Now that’s press release-talk. Real speak as verifiable by the common ear says that Big Black Delta is a masterful punch of dynamic and celestial sounding electronica beneath a joyful halo of pop. In the true spirit of “I get by with a little help from my friends”, Jonathan Bates taps a variety of sources for inspiration and support in order to create this body of sonic atmosphere for the body to move to. Seriously, I’m listening to the album now and digging it. Yes, in the studio it’s all Bates, but when BBD comes to you live on stage it’s packing two side arms in the form of female drummers, Amy Wood and Mahsa Zargaran (Sabrosa Purr).

Come September, Big Black Delta sets up house in Los Angeles at The Satellite for a month-long, Monday night residency of groove. If you haven’t done so already, you can Soundcloud BBD tunes here, download the free debut EP BBDEP1 here, and residency dates are below.

9.05 Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite (Residency)

9.12 Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite (Residency)

9.19 Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite (Residency)

9.26 Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite (Residency)

Band of Horses Pick Up Where Kings of Leon Leave Off

2011-08-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

As we all know, the Kings of Leon/Band of Horses tour has come to an indefinite halt until Kings of Leon’s internal band “issues” can be resolved; the High Voltage team wishes them the best as a band and as individuals.

In an effort to still reach as many fans affected by the tour cancellation as possible, Band of Horses has strung together a series of club shows. A statement from the band:

“Hey there Friends Of BoH! We're thrilled by all the support you're showing us, and have been working behind the scenes to do everything we can to come see you. Unfortunately, we won't be able to hit up all of the places we'd planned on visiting with Kings of Leon. BUT!!! We're happy to announce that we're going to play SOME SHOWS!!! Details are below. We are working on adding more, and will have another update very soon.

We would like to thank Kings Of Leon for the opportunity to play the shows we did, and wish them all the best.

Love, BoH”

Band of Horses is even asking their fans to help them pick the setlist for each show. Check the BoH Facebook page for details. The new club dates are as follows:

8/5/2011- The Fillmore, Charlotte, NC

Tickets on sale THURSDAY, AUGUST 4th at 10am EST here: Ticketmaster

8/9/2011- Theater of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Tickets on sale Thursday, August 4th at NOON EST here: Ticketmaster

8/10/2011 - Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY
Tickets on sale Friday, August 5th at NOON EST here: Ticketmaster

"Month of Giving": Legendary Musicians Join UNICEF To Fight Drought & Famine in Africa

2011-07-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

In 1971 George Harrison and Ravi Shankar staged two concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden that brought together a star-studded cast of musicians to alert the world to the plight of the Bangladeshi people, victims of simultaneous floods, famine and civil war. The Concert for Bangladesh, the first major music benefit for a humanitarian cause, supported UNICEF programs and efforts in that country. The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF continues to support UNICEF programs in Bangladesh and has expanded its reach to other countries where children are at risk.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking event, once again the music community is stepping up for UNICEF, this time to help provide emergency relief for children in famine and drought-affected regions in the Horn of Africa, a situation which UNICEF calls the “worst humanitarian emergency in the world,” with Somalia being the epicenter of the crisis. Today the Horn of Africa faces what is being called the worst drought in 60 years, and famine has been declared by the United Nations in two regions of southern Somalia. More than 2 million children are malnourished, to include half a million children who are at imminent risk of death.

As part of the Month of Giving, musicians and performing artists across the world will engage with fans at their concerts, and by tweeting and posting content to their websites and Facebook pages. These artists include the original Concert for Bangladesh performers Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, andLeon Russell, as well as Arcade Fire, Monty Python, Elvis Costello, Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Doors, Selena Gomez, The Go-Go’s, Brian Wilson, My Morning Jacket, Nas, Jackson Browne, and more.

In a worldwide 72-hour online event, The Concert for Bangladesh feature film will be available for free streaming in its entirety from Saturday, July 30th through Monday, August 1st on iTunes, georgeharrison.com and theconcertforbangladesh.com. There are many ways to show your support for UNICEF’s efforts in the Horn of Africa; yesterday The Concert for Bagladesh debuted digitally exclusively at the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com). Each download will benefit the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF, as all artists, songwriters and publishers associated with the concert will keep no income from the digital sales of the album and have waived all fees.

Here's a video message with information about how to help:

In the U.S., supporters can text FRIEND to UNICEF (864233) to make a $10 donation to the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF or visit theconcertforbangladesh.com to donate and learn more.

Pearl Jam Drops Teaser For “Pearl Jam Twenty” Documentary

2011-07-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

They might chafe against such hyperbole but truth is truth: Pearl Jam is American rock music royalty.

But love for them travels well outside of US borders, so this is making a lot of music fans all over the world very happy right now.

The official trailer for PJ20 is here. Cameron Crowe’s documentary of insight and perspectives accounts the history of the band, their rise, successes, and struggles at a level never before seen or heard before: from their own unguarded mouths. Set to the tune of “Given To Fly”, the trailer teases with treasures we can’t wait to see aka rare and unseen photos and footage from the 20 years of the band’s life, guided by the music. Check out the footage of them at work, at play, of Eddie Vedder diving from high places (dude was a wild man), and try not to lose you minds in anticipation of so much unfiltered Pearl Jamminess.

Get teased:

Anticipation is the key as PJ20 is slated for fall release; an initial screening at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10th and then worldwide release on September 20th. But wait, there’s more! In celebration of the band’s twenty-year anniversary, Pearl Jam is hosting and headlining a Labor Day destination weekend concert celebration at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, WI. Can you say Queens of the Stone Age?

Get all of the PJ20 and destination weekend info at the official PJ20 website.

Neon Indian Returns With Fall Tour And “Era Extraña”

2011-07-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

When last we saw Neon Indian aka Alan Palomo, he was synthing and popping and synth-popping it up on stages at the best festivals around like South By Southwest, Sasquatch, Bonnaroo, and as the opener for the likes of The Flaming Lips and those Frenchies, Phoenix. All of that on the heels of carving out a creative space for himself appreciated by the masses and critics, alike, with his debut “Psychic Chasms”. Not bad, Mr. Palomo!

But hey, here we are some two years later and Neon Indian is ready for a return. A fall tour kicks off immediately following the September 13th release of the full length “Era Extraña”, said to be a darker body of work written and recorded in Helsinki, Finland. "It's the closest you can get to feeling like you're at the edge of the earth," says Palomo. "And there were moments where I lost sight of what I was really there to do."

We can only hope that “Era Extraña” has a track with even half as catchy a title as “Psychic Chasms” charmer “I Should Have Taken Acid With You”.

Neon Indian Tour Dates:

9/15 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
9/16 Washington DC - Rock n Roll Hotel
9/17 Carrboro, NC - Moog Festival
9/19 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
9/20 Birmingham, AL - Bottletree *
9/21 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks *
9/22 Houston, TX - Fitzgeralds *
9/23 Austin, TX - The Mohawk
9/24 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
9/26 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
9/27 San Diego, CA - Belly Up Tavern *
9/30 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *
10/1 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop * ^
10/3 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
10/4 Vancouver, BC - Venue *
10/5 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe *
10/7 Boise, ID - Reef * ^
10/8 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge * ^
10/10 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater *
10/12 Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar * ^
10/13 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry * ^
10/14 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall * ^
10/15 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop * ^
10/16 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick * ^
10/18 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace * ^
10/19 Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
10/20 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall ^
10/21 New York, NY - Webster Hall ^

* w/ Com Truise
^ w/ Purity Ring

Eli James - Pump Up The Jam Tour

2011-07-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already heard, High Voltage has joined Eli James on the road this summer. Eli James is the modern one-man band whose taking art & music to the next level as a live drummer/DJ DIY-combo. With his custom LED drum kit, his passion for music and drive to make the people smile, dance and get inspired along the way; Eli will slowly change the average fan's expectations of what should go into a live show with his dedication & onstage animation.

The tour started last night in San Antonio, TX and will be making it's way around the country over the next few weeks. Chelsea will documenting the journey along the way, so make sure to read the On The Road with Chelsea column every so often to see road stories, reviews on music we've discovered along the way, etc. Full tour dates below:

PUMP UP THE JAM TOUR 2011

Date	City	Venue
July 19, 2011	San Antonio, TX	Boneshakers
July 20, 2011	Austin, TX	Beauty Bar
July 21, 2011	Houston, TX	Super Happy Fun Land
July 23, 2011	Birmingham, AL	The Nick
July 27, 2011	Worcester, MA	Lucky Dog Music Hall
July 29, 2011	New York, NY	Pianos
July 31, 2011	Philadelphia, PA	Dockside Bar
Aug 3, 2011	Madison, WI	The Frequency
Aug 5, 2011	St Louis, MO	2720 Cherokee
Aug 6, 2011	Warrensburg, MO	400 Bar
Aug 11, 2011	Denver, CO	Moe's Tavern
Aug 13, 2011	Las Vegas, NV	Artifice Bar
Aug 19, 2011	West Hollywood, CA	Sunset Strip Music Festival
Aug 20, 2011	West Hollywood, CA	Sunset Strip Music Festival

Facebook | Twitter

The Stone Foxes Go "Psycho"

2011-07-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about the summer is the music that comes with. It’s free-flowing, it's everywhere, and everyone’s in tour mode! We love that, yes we do, and we love the fact that San Francisco’s own sons of stomp-rocking blues, The Stone Foxes, are sharing the summertime love.

A 7-inch vinyl of two tracks, “Psycho” and “Serious People”, is enroute for release in August/September, but in the meantime you can get your hungry little hands and ears on these tunes right now. "Psycho" is a grit and swampy drag-fest of your brain on the blues, and what could possibly be wrong with that? You can download both freely from their email list here, and stay tuned for the digital release of their next album on July 26th.

As for that summer tour, see below because they’re pulling support duty with George Thorogood & the Destroyers, as well as festivals and club dates on the menu.

TOUR DATES
7/13/2011 Telluride CO, Sunset Concert Series
7/15/2011 Moscow ID, Rendezvous in the Park
7/15/2011 Moscow ID, John’s Alley
7/16/2011 Missoula MT, Top Hat
7/19/2011 Boise ID, Reef
7/20/2011 Pocatello ID, FlipSide Lounge
7/21/2011 Ketchum ID, Whiskey Jacques
7/29/2011 Reno NV, Biggest Little City Club
8/04/2011 Bellingham WA, Wild Buffalo House of Music
8/05/2011 Tulalip WA, Tulalip Amphitheatre ***
8/06/2011 Shelton WA, Little Creek Casino***
8/07/2011 Portland OR, Oregon Zoo Amphitheatre ***
8/09/2011 Spokane WA, Knitting Factory***
8/13/2011 San Francisco CA, Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival
9/09/2011 Bowling Green OH, Black Swamp Arts Festival
10/9/2011 Joshua Tree CA, Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival
10/15/2011 Pensacola FL, DeLuna Festival
10/28/2011 New Orleans LA, Voodoo Fest

*** w/ George Thorogood & the Destroyers

Vicky Cryer Is....

2011-07-14T19:17:00.000-07:00

...going to cause a stir in hipster-central on Friday, July 15^th at the LA tastemaker of venues, Silverlake’s The Satellite. A brand new project (I guess it’s okay to call them supergroup) under the moniker Vicky Cryer will be taking the stage. Ooh la la, I say. Now expect the musically inclined, as well as the downright curious, to be in the house as Vicky Cryer is comprised of some no-joke musicians that we’ve all heard/seen one or twice at a concert or while digging the tunes in our iTunes library.

Jason Hill of San Diego’s defunct Louis XIV sifted through his rolodex and recruited friends Jeff Kite for keys (of Julian Casablancas’ band), Matt Stoermer on bass (from The Killers), and- get this- Dominic Howard (Muse) and Alex Carpetis (yet another from Julian Casablancas’ band) on drums. Say what, now?

“We’ll have two drummers, one left-handed and one right, mirroring each other onstage,” he says. “It’s like thunder. The power is ridiculous."…Jason Hill, Buzzbands LA.

Should make for a mighty percussive evening. In the meantime, feel free to stream the Vicky Cryer EP right…here:

Mastodon Album... Trailer?

2011-07-13T12:40:00.001-07:00

We're all used to movies making trailers to entice us to the theaters on opening weekend, but an album trailer? I wouldn't even think that would work, typically speaking. However the visual treat Mastodon provides in their trailer for upcoming album, The Hunter, featuring a new track entitled "Black Tongue" is up to par with their live shows, branding and other hi-jinx. So for your viewing pleasure...

Official Site | Twitter

The Strokes Premiere Video for "Taken For A Fool"

2011-07-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

New York City's The Strokes continue to be too cool for, well, everything in their new music video for "Taken For A Fool" -- from the effects, to the edits, to their sense of fashion The Strokes haven't lost their touch on inventing the new hipster. Watch the video below:

Twitter | Official Site

Hanson's Musical Ride Tour

2011-07-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

Indie-pop darlings Hanson announce fall tour where they will let the fans decide which ALBUM to play each night. Drummer, Zac Hanson, adds "This tour is a unique way of saying thank you to the many fans that have followed the band for years, who will, for the first time, get a chance to help shape the show they see each night."

Tickets go on-sale Friday, July 8th and voting begins on Hanson.net Monday, July 11th. Not to mention the tour ends with two nights at Disney World, now that's magical any way you spin it.

Visit Hanson.net for the full list of tour dates.

Twitter | Official Site

New Releases To Look Out For...

2011-06-24T14:17:00.001-07:00

Heads up High Voltage fans, there's a lot of new albums coming out this summer. Here's a quick guide to a few we think you should pick up:

1. Louisiana born blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd will be releasing How I Go on August 2nd. Similar to Jonny Lang, KWS started at a young age and barely in his 30s now continues to deliver feel good blues albums.

2. 100 Monkeys are set to release their sophomore album, Liquid Zoo, on June 28th. Judging by the new tunes we've heard live, this album should be a more focused rocker with the same quirkiness present on their debut album, Grape.

3. Indie-rockers The Postelles are blowing us away with their self-titled release set to hit stores on July 5th. Make sure you catch a live show by these guys too!

Sunset Strip Music Festival 2011

2011-06-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard the news by now (or saw our line-up leak flyer photo on twitter last night), but the SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL 2011 line-up is out. Headliners include Motley Crue, Bush, Matt & Kim, She Wants Revenge and many more. While previous headliners Ozzy Osbourne and Smashing Pumpkins are quite the rock legends in their own right, it will be nice to have the Kings of The Sunset Strip (Motley Crue) back where it all began. This is one of those rock moments not to be missed!

Full line-up here.

Official Site | Facebook | Twitter

The PreZcotts cover Metallica

2011-03-15T01:09:00.000-07:00

They are some songs you just don't cover unless you can do it justice, I would file "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica in that category. And well, The PreZcotts (aged 11, 13, 14 & 16) own their cover of "Nothing Else Matters" not to mention the 10 year old guitarist, Yuto Miyasawa, who shreds the guitar solo. Check this video out:

Facebook | Official Site