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.

Yellowcard Acoustic and Electric

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Yellowcard will be playing at the Troubadour in Hollywood on March 29th and 30th. One night will be electric and one night will be acoustic. The band will decide which night to play either acoustic or electric so you probably wont know until the night of the show. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, February 17th

Article #7 – Christian Genre

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Why is “Christian Music” a separate category altogether? This may be a touchy subject, but one which I find interesting and one I just don’t understand. Okay, let’s break this down. Every name for genres of music describe the actual style of the music, rather than the content. Rap, country, rock, jazz, classical. They all refer to the style of the bands or artists in that category. Christian music on the other hand could be rock, pop, country or whatever style and still fall in the “Christian” category.

I’ve been trying and trying to think of another genre that categorizes bands based on content rather than style and I just cant think of another one. At least not on the same mainstream scale. Last time I checked they didn’t have an Amish only radio station (joke intended).

I may sound like it, but I don’t have a problem with real “Christian music” or rather “worship music”. The part I find interesting and fail to understand is why a band who has Christian beliefs gets lumped into the Christian category. What makes a band a Christian one? As soon as they mention Jesus, are they a Christian band? As I recall Brand New has a song named “Jesus” and they don’t get lumped into the genre with bands like Relient K, Hawk Nelson, Emery, and others. I’m not arguing whether it’s good or band to get that label, I’m still trying to figure out what or who determines those things.

I know there are a lot of bands that don’t want to be labeled “Christian” because that alone would cut off part of the fan base. Some people hear that about a band and won’t listen to them or won’t give them a chance based on that.

Good music is music that is honest. A band’s thoughts, opinions, and feelings on love and life will come out through the lyrics. Some people believe in God, some don’t. Some people believe in faith and hope, and some don’t. Some people like rock and some like rap.

To Write Love On Anberlin

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To Write Love On Her Arms will be accompanying Anberlin on their upcoming national tour. Jamie will be speaking every night before Anberlin plays! Please support this AMAZING movement any way you can and check out the shows below!

We are going on tour with Anberlin!

Hi Guys.

It’s late and I have to wake up in a couple hours to fly to Raleigh, but this can’t wait.

Anberlin has invited us to join them on their nationwide Spring Tour. Anberlin’s amazing new album “Cities” comes out on February 20, and the tour begins the next night in Charlotte. These shows are going to be so good as, along with Anberlin, it’s Bayside, Meg & Dia, and Jonezetta.

On that note, you need to know that “Cities” is ridiculously good. I kidnapped Deon’s iPod on our flight home from India, listened to the whole album, pausing only to tell him and Stephen “this is so good.”

David, Lauren, Trisha and I will be at every show. TWLOHA will have a table, complete with merch, info, ways to get involved, and a list of local resources each night. That’s something we’re excited about, being able to connect people to help in each city that we visit.

Last but not least, Anberlin has invited me to speak briefly before their set each night. It is hard to explain how much that means to me, that one of my favorite bands would trust me with their stage for an entire tour. I was driving around today, thinking about it, getting so excitedâ┚¬Ã‚¦ What would you say if you had five minutes? Five minutes to address difficult things, to try to get to that place where pain and hope collide, to tell people that they’re not alone…

02/27 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
02/28 – Buffalo, NY @ The Buffalo Icon
03/01 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews
03/02 – Chicago, IL @ The Metro
03/03 – St. Paul, MN @ The Station
03/04 – St. Louis, MO @ Creepy Crawl
03/05 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
03/07 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
03/08 – Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
03/09 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
03/10 – Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
03/11 – Las Vegas, NV @ University Theatre
03/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theater
03/15 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
03/16 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
03/17 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
03/20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Avalon Theater
03/21 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
03/23 – Dallas, TX @ The Door
03/24 – San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
03/25 – Houston, TX @ Meridian
03/26 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
03/28 – St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
03/30 – Orlando, FL @ Club Firestone
03/31 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
04/01 – Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
04/03 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
04/04 – Indianapolis, IN @ Irving Theater
04/05 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
04/06 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s
04/07 â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Columbia, SC @ Headliner’s

Fox Chase Drive – EP

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Fox Chase Drive

Artist: Fox Chase Drive
Album: EP
Label: Unsigned
Purchase: Myspace via Paypal
Release Date: 2007

Overall: 9.2
Music: 9.3
Lyrics: 8.9
Production: 9.4

Catching the attention of my friend and I in mid-2005, Mississippi’s Fox Chase Drive had some rough demos online that to this day remain two of the most played songs on my iPod. I automatically set out trying my best to promote them. They’re my favorite unsigned band. I was stoked when they got their new material done.

Hooking up with Class of 98’s Nick Baumhardt was a great choice, as his own band shows he knows a thing or two about crafting great songs. For being an unsigned self-release, the production here is solid. Everything sounds clean and crisp.

Blaring guitars open “24 to Nothing” and proceed to set the pace before the explosive chorus. A hearty synth line in the chorus is reminiscent of Motion City Soundtrack and The Reunion Show.

A new version of former demo “Close the Door” is much better than its predecessor and should have fans of sold pop/rock drooling for more.

“Promise Me So” closes the disc with enough sugary goodness to give you a cavity or two.

The only drawback to this EP is the super-short track listing. I would’ve enjoyed having the song “So California” re-recorded and tacked on to the end. Actually, I would’ve enjoyed anything else they could cook up. This band will be going places soon enough as some of our brothers-in-media are finally picking up on how good these dudes are. It’s only a matter of time before labels come knocking.

Track Listing:
1. 24 to Nothing
2. Close the Door
3. Promise Me So

Hot Rod Circuit – The Underground is a Dying Breed

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Hot Rod Circuit The Underground is a Dying Breed

Artist: Hot Rod Circuit
Album: The Underground is a Dying Breed
Label: Immortal Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: March 20th, 2007

Overall: 8.0
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 7.5

This will be the record that saves 2007 from completely being taken over by the Fall Out Boys of the world [you can quote me on that]. â┚¬Ã…”The underground is a dying breedâ┚¬? could not have been a better title for this album that shows Hot Rod Circuit has always stayed true to the music they believe in whether its popular in the mainstream or not.

The record has a raw production to it that makes you feel like its 1999 again but never once does the production take away from the songs or make you feel like its a bad recording. The drums hit hard during the chorus of â┚¬Ã…”Vampireâ┚¬? which has a subtle hook and a ton of replay value. Lyrically â┚¬Ã…”What we believe inâ┚¬? is the punk version of snow patrols â┚¬Ã…”Chasing carsâ┚¬? with the same vibe of needing to take advantage of the moment.â┚¬?U.S. Royaltyâ┚¬? starts off twangy but quickly jumps into the catchy rock that this band excels in. The singing on â┚¬Ã…”Cali’sâ┚¬? verses has an interesting feel to it, which takes most of the song to get used to.

Hot Rod Circuit returns to the days of â┚¬Ã…”Sorry about tomorrowâ┚¬? on their stellar new new record. My only grip with the album is that it’s over too fast. I urge everyone to race down to the store the day this comes out and pick it up, and roll down the windows as you drive down the freeway.

Track Listing
1. Stateside
2. Vampire
3. Battleship
4. What We Believe In
5. 45’s
6. Holding On To Nothing
7. US Royalty
8. Ventricle
9. Spit You Out
10. Cali
11. 6-8

Cities Apart – Anniversary

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City Apart

Artist: Cities Apart
Album: Anniversary
Label: Unsigned
Purchase: Cities Apart Store
Release Date: November 15, 2006

Overall: 7.4
Music: 7.4
Lyrics: 7.3
Production: 7.0

South Carolina’s unsigned Cities Apart are looking to state their claim on today’s ever-growing rock scene. Channeling Taking Back Sunday and other popular artists, they have produced a debut EP worthy of playing through your speakers.

There’s nothing overly groundbreaking on “Anniversary,” but proficient songwriting and musicianship is present. There’s some especially sick bass lines sprinkled throughout the disc.

“Lost and Found” opens the album on a high note. “Softly Spoken” opens strong with and has a great bridge, but the first part of the chorus falters a bit. “Agree to Disagree” has one of those bouncing bass lines I mentioned earlier that I thoroughly enjoy. “1,000 Miles Off Course(We Want to Survive) starts off rocky, but picks up about halfway through. Had the whole song been consistent, this would have been the best track on the album. The powerful “Muddy Water” would be the perfect backing track to a commercial for this band. Finally, “Honesty Kills” forgetfully closes the disc as the weakest song present.

I’d like to hear what the band could do with a larger production budget. There’s plenty of potential here, and with time, I’m sure they will take the next step and come into their own. If their new demos are any indication, the next album will be leaps and bounds above how good this EP already is.

Track Listing:
1. Lost and Found
2. Softly Spoken
3. Agree to Disagree
4. 1,000 Miles Off Course(We Want to Survive)
5. Muddy Water
6. Honesty Kills