Umphrey's McGee Soundstage

Umphrey's McGee will appear on PBS's critically acclaimed concert series, Soundstage, on February 5, 2009 - just in time to celebrate the release of Mantis. Look for the new material on Mantis to get a live workout in 2009, when the band hits the road in support of the new album. - more on this story

Defibulators Set March Release

PR reports: The Defibulators will release their debut album, "Corn Money," on March 3, 2009 on City Salvage Records.

Emerging from the thriving roots scene in New York City, this seven-piece band wields an arsenal of instruments (upright bass, banjo, fiddle, backhills harp, Telecaster, and junkyard percussion) with relentless energy and virtuosity.

A national tour including SXSW is slated for March 2009. AM NEW YORK described the band as "One of the most engaging live acts on the NYC roots scene." - more on this story

Benjamin Taylor Kung Folk Tour

PR reports: Benjamin Taylor will be touring North America this winter, bringing his eclectic brand of "Kung Folk" to audiences across North America.

Taylor's acclaimed recent release, The Legend of Kung Folk (Iris Records) reveals the humor, wit and skill of a singer-songwriter who's comfortable in both his own skin and with his musical legacy. Guests include Morcheeba vocalist Skye Edwards, UK artist Jamie Cullum and more.

Taylor's songs range from a sonically spacious acoustic piano/vocal duet with Cullum, "After It's Over," to the enormous stacked background vocals on "She's Gone," to the tongue-in-cheek sexuality of "Wicked Way," ironically sung from a woman's point of view, and the uplifting "You're The One For Me." Check out a live version of "Wicked Way," just selected as iTunes #2 folk track for 2008 - more on this story

Heads Up Again

MMP reports: Metal Mind Productions presents rerelease of one of the best albums in the history of funk/rock collaborations "Soul Brother Crisis Intervention" by Heads Up!.

"Soul Brother Crisis Intervention" will be released by Metal Mind Productions on 19th January in Europe and 10th March in USA (via MVD). New digipak edition is limited to 2000 copies. Digitally remastered using 24-Bit process on a golden disc.

The band is one of the most overlooked groups in the entire history of funk/rock collaborations. Their unique sound, which sprung out in the late 80's/early 90's period, combined such musical genres as punk rock, thrash metal, funk, jazz and soul! All of the musicians – Arty (guitar, backing vocals), Dave (vocals), Matty (drums) and Drew (bass, backing vocals) – showcased amazing skills, delivering a truly powerful dose of electrifying music, which followed the late 80's funk explosion (as almost every rock band desperately wanted to incorporate funk into their sound). - more on this story

Sugar Red Drive Eye Spring Release

PR reports: Formerly known as Mercury Rising, Poughkeepsie based band, Sugar Red Drive, prepares to release their debut album this spring. [where do they come up with these names?]

Keeping the eye on the ball, Sugar Red Drive has been dedicatedly rehearsing to hone their craft when they were not playing in front of an audience or attending school. This has earned them an overwhelmingly positive reception from big-named bands such as Seether, Live, Theory of a Deadman and Fastball, to name a few, whom Sugar Red Drive has opened for at various shows.

Ready to take Sugar Red Drive to the next level, they entered into Applehead Studios (Coheed & Cambria, The Static Age) in Woodstock, NY along with longtime songwriter and producer Pat Gasperini (drummer PJ's father) to record their debut album. Their first single, "One More Time," will be impacting radio soon and a US & UK tour is in the works. - myspace page

Emma Cook To Try Her Luck State Side

PR reports: Emma Cook, who the Toronto Star called a "meld of Alanis Morrissette warble with Ani DiFranco angst," is debuting her eclectic brand of music in the States this spring with the arrival of her first U.S. CD release, Hit & Run, set to street March 31, 2009.

Quickly becoming one of Canada's most vibrant singer/songwriter/guitarists, the Toronto Independent Music Award nominee also will kick off her first U.S tour in February at The Langdon Street Café in Montpelier, VT.

The first leg of the tour will continue through March, including dates at SXSW in Austin and the International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis. - more on this story

Marionette Take A Break From Recording To Tour

PR reports: Gothenburg Sweden based metal sextet Marionette has continued working hard
on the material for their as-of-yet untitled sophomore release.

Bassist and founding member Mikael Medin had the following to say about the bands progress in 2008, their upcoming UK tour, and the new songs. "The New Year is upon us, and it's going to be super busy! After Reiterfestspiele, we immediately began collecting and putting together song ideas and working on some new riffs: some of which had been written right after Spite was recorded, and some that were completely new. Before we knew it we had written a handful of songs. The writing process thus far has been awesome, working with our new guitarist Anton has been refreshing and rewarding: he has really been a great complementary force to where we are heading musically. Let's just say that the next album will be more extreme in every way than "Spite".

"We leave for the UK this week and we are very stoaked to be heading over there for the first time! The UK has always been a stronghold for Marionette fans – very supportive! - and we cannot wait to bring our live show over there. We look forward to meeting everyone at the show and enjoying our first trip as a band to the region: we know it won't be the last! We will end the trip with a gig in Tilburg at Little Devil in the heart of the town. We are looking forward to this, as it is our first time playing in the Netherlands! See you in the moshpit" - more on this story

Digital Rebellion: Unsigned Band A Top 10 Hit In US and UK

PR reports: Unsigned London-based band, The Boxer Rebellion, are today celebrating an amazing achievement as 100% completely independent artists.

Four years since the birth of their magnificent debut album, EXITS, The Boxer Rebellion digitally released their self-produced sophomore record, UNION, through iTunes on Tuesday January 13th.

24-hours later the band and their fans have officially entered the iTunes US and UK Top 10 Albums Charts. They are also enjoying the No. 2 position in the iTunes US Alternative Chart (behind My Morning Jacket) and No. 3 in the iTunes UK Alternative Chart (behind Kings of Leon and MGMT). - more on this story

Bad Food Continues To Rock

PR reports: As touring expenses continue to increase, the Denny's Allnighter program is continuing to support bands on the road with free meals and hosted afterparties with fans!

To follow up successful past Adopted Bands like Anberlin, The Cab, Katy Perry, Forever The Sickest Kids [stupid, stupid name], and Saving Abel, Denny's Allnighter has once again teamed up with some of the most exciting acts currently touring across the U.S.

Kicking off the new year with Denny's will be: Bring Me The Horizon, Cash Cash, The Sleeping, Tickle Me Pink, William Control and the newest winner of the Adopt-A-Band fan voting contest, You, Me, And Everyone We Know. - more on this story

. Bruce Springsteen Month: Tunnel of Love

Tunnel of Love is an album that disappointed millions upon release. They wondered where their jean and bandana wearing patriot had gone. He hadn't gone anywhere, he just wasn't the Springsteen they had come to love and adore. (4.5 stars) - Read the full Bruce Springsteen Month: Tunnel of Love review

. Paper Route - Are We All Forgotten

Paper Route is such an innocent name: one that conjures up visions of red-headed, freckle-faced boys joyously delivering local newspapers. But the only thing brought to your doorstep by this brief edition, is pain. (3.5 stars) - Read the full Paper Route - Are We All Forgotten review

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