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.

Alternative Press “Bands You Need To Know” Tour

By Leave a Comment

The Alternative Press Magazine “Band You Need To Know” tour will be kicking off March 16th 2007, in Houston, Texas. The bill includes As Tall As Lions, Cute Is What We Aim For, Circa Survive and Envy On The Coast.

Tentative AP Tour Dates:

3/16/07 Houston, TX Meridian
3/17/07 Austin, TX Emo’s (AP SXSW Party)
3/18/07 Ft. Worth, TX Ridgela Theatre
3/20/07 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
3/21/07 Pomona, CA The Glasshouse
3/22/07 San Diego, CA House of Blues
3/23/07 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
3/24/07 Los Angeles, CA Avalon
3/25/07 San Francisco, CA Slim’s
3/27/07 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
3/28/07 Seattle, WA El Corazon
3/30/07 Boise, ID The Big Easy
3/31/07 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue
4/2/07 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre
4/3/07 Omaha, NE The Rock
4/4/07 Minneapolis, MN Trocaderos
4/5/07 Chicago, IL Metro
4/6/07 Cincinnati, OH Bogarts
4/7/07 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
4/8/07 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
4/10/07 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
4/11/07 Orlando, FL House of Blues
4/12/07 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution
4/13/07 Jacksonville, FL Free Bird Café
4/14/07 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
4/19/07 New York, NY Irving Plaza
4/20/07 Asbury Park, NJ Stone Pony
4/22/07 Boston, MA Avalon

Cobra Starship On Tour

By 1 Comment

Cobra Starship are currently out on tour with Panic! At The Disco! and Jack’s Mannequin and will be heading out on more tours throughout the winter. Check out all the tour dates below.

On Tour 2006-2007

NOVEMBER
11/28 – 12/8 – w/Panic! @ The Disco & Jack’s Mannequin
28 Denver, CO Magness Arena
29 West Valley City, UT The E Center
DECEMBER
1 Portland, OR Memorial Coliseum
2 Vancouver, BC Pacific Coliseum
3 Everett, WA Everett Events Center
5 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
6 Long Beach, Ca Long Beach Arena
7 Glendale AZ Jobing.com Arena
8 Las Vegas, NV Orleans Theatre
9 San Diego, Ca ipayOne Center
12/13 – 89X Christmas Show w/Fall Out Boy & New Found Glory
13 Detroit, MI State Theater
12/14 – w/Cute Is What We Aim For & All Time Low
14 Toronto, ON The Mod Club Theatre
12/15 – 12/17 – “HanuCOBRA” w/All Time Low, Moros Eros, & Special Guests
15 Albany, NY Valentines
16 Levittown, NY Club Ritual
17 Asbury Park, NJ The Stone Pony
FEBRUARY
2/7 – 2/21 – w/Cartel, Boys Like Girls, & Permanent Me
7 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
9 New York, NY Nokia Theatre Times Square
10 Millvale, PA Mr. Small’s Theatre
11 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
12 St. Louis, MO Mississippi Nights
14 New Orleans, LA House of Blues Parish
15 Dallas, TX Gypsy Ballroom
16 Houston, TX Meridian
17 Austin, TX Emo’s Alternative Lounging
19 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
20 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
21 San Diego, Ca House of Blues
2/23 – 2/28 – w/Cartel, Boys Like Girls, & Quiet Drive
23 Las Vegas, CA House of Blues
24 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
26 Orangevale, CA The Boardwalk
27 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre
28 Seattle, WA El Corazon

***Additional dates in March to be announced shortly***

Hellogoodbye Show Review – Nov 24, 2006

By 4 Comments

Hellogoodbye, Reggie & The Full Effect, Cute Is What We Aim For, & Dave Melillo
House of Blues in West Hollywood, CA
November 24, 2006

The House Of Blues, spanning the entire United States in the biggest and most famous cities, you can always count on HOB to put on a quality show. Extensive security and a very short list of items you can bring in (that doesn’t include bottled water or any form of camera) makes for a very different dynamic for a concert. Stage lighting equivalent to that of an arena or broadway performance, I’ll just stick to staying short and say you can definitely expect a “show.” Sorry, no photo pass for this one, you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Dave Melillo, one of Drive Thru Record’s youngest artists (signed at age 16), followed the typical DTR format and released an EP entitled “Talk Is Cheap” for free online earlier this year. I’m a big fan of the EP and have been excited to see him perform live ever since hearing it. With a band that couldn’t possibly be out of their teenage years, I was quite skeptical as he stepped on the stage. From the first note it was quite clear that with your eyes closed you’d believe you were listening to someone far beyond his 17 years. Playing his entire EP and the debut song, “Wait For It”- Dave is a true testament to the idea of talented people becoming younger and younger. If this is what he sounds like now, I can only imagine what he will create in the coming years.

I am guilty. 100% guilty. It took countless listens and this being my fourth time seeing the band in concert, but I’m getting past the denial. I am addicted to Cute Is What We Aim For. Now, lyrically they are not my favorite. Songs that speak the truths of popular TV shows like The OC or Laguna Beach, but even though their subject matter isn’t always applicable, I still can identify to nearly every song. If I’m not able to identify, I’m still singing along. This 4-piece from Buffalo, NY has slowly begun to take over the world that is currently run by Fall Out Boy and Panic! and I wouldn’t be surprised if they achieved a complete monopoly by this time next year. Their live show is solid, and Shaant sings quite well considering the energy he exudes on stage. If you’re a hater, you’ll come around. If you’re addicted already, I’m starting a support group soon, let me know if you’d like to join. All in all, I am really impressed with this band and can’t wait to see them again. They’re my pick as the next big thing in pop music.

I said it earlier to a friend of mine, and I’ll say it again. Reggie and the Full Effect was the absolute worst choice for this tour. Not only does their music not fit the pop outline set by the other three acts, but the on-stage comments made by the once admirable James Dewees may very well make it so that half of the 14-year-olds in attendance will never be able to convince their onlooking parents to take them to a concert again. I’m not saying I’m not a fan of them, I actually appreciate their honesty and intensity, but not in this setting. James’ additional performance under his side project “Fluxuation” was NOT funny to anyone in the audience, it caused most of us to turn away from the man only wearing a bra and shorts and his “turkey” dancers. Basically, whatever respect I had for him, I lost.

Finally, after the hour long experience I mentioned above, Hellogoodbye took the stage. A packed out venue filled with frantic teenage girls, family friends, label staff and veteran scenesters was definitely ready to be uplifted. The band took no time changing my mood and performed nearly all of their recorded songs. Bright lights, confetti, balloons that Forrest insisted on pausing from his vocal duties to stomp, people dressed as food, and incredible music were all present in their performance. An amazing encore included “Oh, It Is Love” dedicated by Forrest to his own girlfriend was then supplemented by the audience favorite “Touchdown Turnaround” and an all-crowd dance party ensued. The only thing I could’ve asked for beyond the incredible performance was my personal favorite track “Two Weeks In Hawaii” but I guess you can’t have it all. Hellogoodbye puts on one of the most memorable and fulfilling performances in music today. I would gladly see them play every single night, and I don’t think I’d ever go to bed sad again. I shouldn’t even have to sell this to you so do yourself a favor, GO SEE HELLOGOODBYE LIVE!

This Providence Post New Song

By Leave a Comment

This Providence have posted a brand new song titled “My Beautiful Rescue” on their PureVolume page. Next month, you’ll be able to catch the band live on tour with Paramore, Cute Is What We Aim For and Hit The Lights.

AUG 02Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Chicago, ILԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Beat KitchenԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 03Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Detroit, MIԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ St. Andrews HallԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 04Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Cleveland, OHԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Agora BallroomԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 05Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Buffalo, NYԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ The IconԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 06Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Toronto, ONTԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ The Opera HouseԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 08Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ New York, NYԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Bowery BallroomԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 09Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ New Haven, CTԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Toad’s PlaceԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 11Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Boston, MAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ AxisԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 12Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Farmingdale, NYԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ The Crazy DonkeyԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 13Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Hackensack, NJԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ School Of RockԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 15Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Huntington, WVԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ HyampԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 16Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Charlotte, NCԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Tremont Music HallԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 17Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Towson, MDԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Recher TheatreԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 18Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Norfolk, VAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ The NorvaԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 20Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Philadelphia, PAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Theatre Of Living ArtsԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 22Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Providence, RIԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Living RoomԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 30Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Seattle, WAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ El CorazonԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
AUG 31Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Portland, ORԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Hawthorne TheaterԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 01Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Orangevale, CAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ The BoardwalkԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 02Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ San Francisco, CAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Slim’sԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 03Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Anaheim, CAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ House Of BluesԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 05Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Azusa, CAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Smart City GrindsԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 06Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Hollywood, CAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Knitting FactoryԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 07Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ San Diego, CAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ SomaԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 08Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Las Vegas, NVԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ House Of BluesԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 09Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Tempe, AZԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ The ClubhouseԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 11Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Salt Lake City, UTԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Avalon TheaterԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 12Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Denver, COԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ CervantesԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 14Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Lawrence, KSԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ The BottleneckԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 15Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Dallas, TXԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ The DoorԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 16Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Spring, TXԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ JavajazzԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 17Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ San Antonio, TXԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ White RabbitԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 19Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Atlanta, GAԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ The MasqueradeԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 20Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Jacksonville, FLԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Jack RabbitsԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 21Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Gainesville, FLԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Common GroundsԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 22Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ West Palm Beach, FLԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Ray’s Downtown BluesԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 23Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ St. Petersburg, FLԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ State TheatreԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS
SEP 24Ԛ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ Orlando, FLԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ The SocialԚ Ã”šÃ‚  Ԛ PURCHASE TICKETS

Cute Is What We Aim For – The Same Old Blood Rush With a New Touch

By 1 Comment

Cute Is What We Aim For

Artist: Cute Is What We Aim For
Album: The Same Old Blood Rush With a New Touch
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: June 20, 2006

Overall: 5.5
Music: 5.6
Lyrics: 5.7
Production: 5.4

Having followed this band since last summer, I had high hopes for this album. They were shattered to an extent. There’s an odd thing going on with this disc. Usually, the first half of an album is good and the last half is forgettable. It’s reversed here.

Cute have delivered twelve tracks that leave me mixed on where this album stands in my collection.

“Newport Living” suffers from an awkward opening and bad lyrics like, “If you lie, you don’t deserve to have friends.” Whereas “Risque” is just skippable altogether. Fan favorite “There’s a Class For This” suffers from new production and an out of place and bored William Beckett. “Sweat the Battle Before the Battle Sweats You” is a decent song that sounds more full in comparison to the ones before it. “The Fourth Drink Instinct” was the first compelling song on the album.

“Sweet Talk 101” has an opening that could very well be ripped from Coheed and Cambria’s “Three Evils.” Seriously, listen to their openings back to back. Sketchy.

There’s also the songs that helped this band gain its popularity. “Finger Twist and Split” sounds overproduced now, opposed to the more natural feel of the demo. It still tends to stick out more than other songs on here. “Lyrical Lies” suffers from Shaant trying to be fancy with his vocal style and it takes away from the charm of this slow burner. “Teasing To Please” could possibly be the best song on this disc, actually improving on the demo.

New tracks “I Put the Metro in Metronome,” “Curse of Curves,” and “Moan” try their best to make this album worth a purchase as they’re all gems. “Curse of Curves” sounds sped up when compared to the original internet preview. Maybe it’s just me, but if anyone else can tell, please let me know.

The album is definitely pulled down by the repeated use of certain lyrics. I’m not just talking in certain songs, either. The word “gent(s)” is used numerous times throughout the disc. It also takes choruses to a new annoyance, having them repeat more times than they should.

I used to think Matt Squire could do no wrong, but alas, good things don’t last. This is my least favorite Squire-produced album, and honestly, there were not any others that I disliked.

The band is still young, and I don’t think they were ready to step up to Fueled By Ramen. This is one of the label’s weakest signings of the past two years. They have potential, but they need to stop trying so hard to be witty and liked. This album is a victim of “the angles.” If you’re just glancing at it, it seems like a pretty safe bet, but in the age of the “myspace generation” the real thing just isn’t what you were hoping for.

Tracklisting
1. Newport Living
2. There’s a Class For This
3. Finger Twist and Split
4. Risque
5. Sweat the Battle Before the Battle Sweats You
6. The Fourth Drink Instinct
7. Sweet Talk 101
8. The Curse of Curves
9. I Put the Metro In Metronome
10. Lyrical Lies
11. Moan
12. Teasing To Please(Left Side, Strong Side)

Standout Tracks: The Fourth Drink Instinct/The Curse of Curves/Moan/Teasing To Please