Driven Far Off

The latest on the indie, alternative, and rock music scene including news, music, contest, interviews, and more. Best described as your favorite place to find new bands.

Archives for 2006

The Killers Sam’s Town

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Ok, so this news is a little old, but in case it evaded the emo/punk news sites, I’ve got some news about indie rock giants the Killers.Ԛ  Their much-anticipated sophomore album, Sam’s Town, will be dropping October 2nd.Ԛ  They’ve leaked “When You Were Young” and have also made the album art and track listing public:

1. Sam’s Town
2. Enterlude
3. When You Were Young
4. Bling
5. For Reasons Unknown
6. Read My Mind
7. Uncle Johnny
8. Bones
9. My List
10. This River Is Wild
11. Why Do I Keep Counting
12. Exitlude

Personally, I cannot wait.

Panic! At The Disco Lawsuit

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Brent Wilson, former bassist of Panic! At the Disco has announced plans to file a lawsuit against the band.

You can read the MySpace bulletin post below:

A court case is in the making. Brent and his lawyer have taken the next step. A letter has been sent to Panic! stating that Brent will be taking them to court if he has not received an agreement from the band within 14 days. If this 14 day grace period is neglected, further measures will be taken. If Panic! does not agree to Brent’s proposal, the case may take anywhere from two to four years. If, in the event the band does not come to a settlement, the IRS will have to get involved and things will get even uglier. In the mean time, the family thanks all of you for your support.

The Barkers’ Travis, Shanna Split

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In a recent article on People, its stated that Travis Barker (Blink 182, Transplants, +44) has filed for divorce from his wife and Meet the Barkers costar Shanna Moakler. You can read some of the article below.

“I can confirm that Travis filed this morning,” Barker’s rep, Dvora Vener, tells PEOPLE.

Through her publicist, Moakler tells PEOPLE, “My only concern right now is for the welfare and best interests of my children.”

Barker, 30, plays drums for the band the Transplants as well as for blink-182, which is on indefinite hiatus. Moakler, 31, is a former Miss USA who has appeared in films including Big Momma’s House 2 and Pauly Shore is Dead.

Sidecho Signs…

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Sidecho Records has officially added another rock act to complement their already eclectic roster. Ladies and Gents, please welcome Blinded Black. You can read the press release below.

Blinded Black deliver a unique style by combining a heavy synthesizer sound with power-rock. Hailing from St. Louis, MO, the band developed a strong fan base with constant self-promotion and non-stop touring. The band will deliver their debut LP early 2007 that is tentatively titled If Timingâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s Everythingâ┚¬Ã‚¦

Blinded Black have appeared on tours with Bleed the Dream, A Change of Pace, Limbeck, Letter Kills and have made multiple Warped Tour appearances. The fruits of constant touring propelled Blind Blackâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s current EP, Sealed with a Stitch, to the third top-selling rock artist at Vintage Vinyl, with Fall Out Boy taking second place.

Alternative Press magazineâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s Aaron Burgess has featured Blinded Black in its â┚¬Ã…”Unsigned Band of the Monthâ┚¬? section. The passion Blinded Black put into their music, expresses their desire to grow and produce the best music possible.

Updated tour information and sample tracks can be heard at www.myspace.com/blindedblack

John Ralston Announces 2006 Tour Plans

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John Ralston has announced he will embark on a summer tour through the U.S. beginning August 16th. The tour will kick off in Houston, TX in support of Ralstonâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s Vagrant Records debut Needle Bed, released June 6th, 2006.

Currently Ralston is on the road playing guitar in Dashboard Confessional, and is performing â┚¬Ã…”Gone, Gone, Gone,â┚¬? during the bandâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s set on this tour. He will be revisiting many of the cities he has been to in July and August, playing intimate sets at smaller venues, and will share the stage with The New Amsterdams, Brandtson, and New Found Glory on select dates.

John Ralston tour dates:
8.16 Houston, TX @ Walterâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s
8.17 Austin, TX @ Emoâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s
8.18 Denton, TX @ Haileys
8.19 Conway, AR @ Soundstage
8.21 Iowa City, IA @ Gabeâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s Oasis (w/ The New Amsterdams)
8.22 Minneapolis, MN @ Ascot Room
8.23 Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Club
8.24 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
8.25 Detroit, MI @ Shelter
8.26 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
8.27 Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks
8.29 New York, NY @ Knitting Factory
8.30 Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground
8.31 Providence, RI @ Century Lounge (solo acoustic)
9.1 Boston, MA @ Middle East (upstairs)
9.2 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar (matinee show)
9.3 Washington, DC @ Rock n Roll Hotel
9.5 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
9.6 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
9.7 Jacksonville, FL @ Fuel Coffeehouse
9.8 Orlando, FL @ Social
9.9 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Respectable St.
9.10 Gainesville, FL @ 1982
Supporting New Found Glory:
10.4 Cincinnati, OH @ Madison Theater
10.5 Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Zoo
10.6 Buffalo, NY @ Club Infinity
10.7 New Haven, CT @ Toads
10.8 Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground

Gym Class Heroes – As Cruel As School Children

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ascruelas

Artist: Gym Class Heroes
Album: As Cruel As School Children
Label: Decaydance / Fueled By Ramen
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: July 25, 2006

Overall: 9.7
Music: 9.7
Lyrics: 9.8
Production: 9.6

Easily the best act on Decaydance, Gym Class Heroes follow up 2005â┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s â┚¬Ã…”The Papercut Chroniclesâ┚¬? with an album that shows what hip-hop has the potential to be today. â┚¬Ã…”As Cruel As School Childrenâ┚¬? serves up fourteen tracks of Travis McCoy spitting verses with more relevance than any modern day MC.

Donâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t let the man fool you, though. While Schlep may wear his heart on his sleeve, heâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s anything but emo, though others may try to say different due to the bandâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s label associations. Touching on subjects like love seems to brand one with a stigma thatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s become more and more derogatory as the millennium approaches the last stretch of its first decade.

Opening the album is the discâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s second single â┚¬Ã…”The Queen and I.â┚¬? From the first few notes of the song, you can tell that musically, the band has elevated to a level beyond that of their debut. â┚¬Ã…”Shoot Down the Starsâ┚¬? introduces us to something weâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ll hear a lot more over the course of the album; Travis sings with a voice full of soul, proving heâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s more than just an MC, heâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s one of the most charismatic frontmen in a group poised to break through multiple genre barriers. On â┚¬Ã…”New Friend Request,â┚¬? McCoy references the Myspace generation with seriousness, but more humor as one whoâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s ever had a conversation with him would expect. One of my favorite lines of the album is also in the song, quipping, â┚¬Ã…”On a scale of one to awesome, Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢m the shit!â┚¬? Heâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s quite the rival for Kanye West, eh? â┚¬Ã…”Clothes Offâ┚¬? featuring Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy could give us insight to what their own new album could sound like. â┚¬Ã…”Sloppy Love Jingle Pt. 1â┚¬? gives us some amazing spoken word parts that end up spread throughout the disc, and theyâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢re just as intriguing as the songs. From here on out, itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s song after song full of above average tracks that make this album a new hip-hop classic. Another couple of tracks that deserve recognition are â┚¬Ã…”7 Weeksâ┚¬? featuring William Beckett of theAcademyIsâ┚¬Ã‚¦ actually sounding happy to be making a cameo for once, and â┚¬Ã…”Scandalous Scholastics,â┚¬? a track paying tribute to hitting a homerun with a hot teacher. Solid gold.

Lyrically, musically, and passionately playing in a new class, it seems like the band has graduated from the gym to the music room. The one thing that stood out about this band from the beginning was the organic sound that stemmed from them actually playing instruments, rather than having electronic beats. Expanding on their sound this time, theyâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ve actually added effects and some other electronics to their parts, but it only makes them even more formidable as a group.

With the potential for a mainstream hit this year, Gym Class Heroes could help re-take hip-hop to a place without bling, bitchez, and hos. Please, give the world a Gym Class Heroes and Atmosphere tour. Theyâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢re doing it right.

Track Listing
1. 1st Period: The Queen And I
2. 2nd Period: Shoot Down The Stars
3. 3rd Period: New Friend Request
4. 4th Period: Clothes Off!
5. Lunch: Sloppy Love Jingle
6. 6th Period: Viva La White Girl
7. 7th Period: 7 Weeks
8. 8th Period: It’s OK, But Just This Once!
9. Study Hall: Sloppy Love Jingle Part 2
10. 10th Period: Biters Block
11. Yearbook Club: Boys In Bands
12. 12th Period: Scandalous Scholastics
13. 13th Period: On My Own Time (Write On!)
14. Detention: Sloppy Love Jingle Part 3