Athousandguitars.com: Music, News, Reviews and Awesomeness

Heroes Wear Red and the MK Music Video Project

2010-07-30T10:00:00.003+02:00

With the release of the new Heroes Wear Red single “Bring Me Love” only weeks away, the announcement of the MK MVP winners is incredible news for the band about to take your breath away.

MK Music Video Project (MVP) - top 10 announced

Ten local artists will each get R50k from MK to produce a music video

Lights, camera, action! The top 10 MK Music Video Project (MVP) artists for 2010 have been selected. Aiming to invest in and uplift the South African music and production industry, MK recently commissioned 10 local music videos by putting a tender out to pitch. 196 pitches were submitted in the space of a month.

To enter, bands had to partner with a reputable and registered South African production company and conceptualise a superior quality, creative music video concept for one of their as yet un-filmed tracks.

With a balance of both established artists and newcomers, the music videos are set to be world class. The top 10 are:

• Jack Parow, Tussen Stasies submitted by Ten10 Films
• Foto na Dans, Die Vloed submitted by Admit One Productions
• The Cavalier, Kiss and Tell submitted by Tough Sunday Productions
• Will Mono ft. Jax Panik, Ken My Nie submitted by Foml Films
• Thieve ft. Die Heuwels Fantasties, Way To Go submitted by The African Attachment
• MC, Earl & Algemi, Dakskroef submitted by Blixem Productions
• Heroes Wear Red, Bring Me Love submitted by Mannequin Productions
• Winterstasie, Los My submitted by The Magic Factory
• 4am, Steering Ships submitted by Unleashed
• CrashCarBurn, Long Live Tonight submitted by 7Films

The top 10 were chosen by a MK selection panel who considered elements such as the production company’s experience; the choice of artist and song; the creative concept and treatment of the music video; the budget and production value; how well the concept complemented the MK brand and the appeal for its viewers.

Says Victor Edward Eckard, Head of Content at MK: “MVP was created to recognise and expose the wealth of talent that the South African music industry has to offer. It aims to encourage collaboration, uplift the industry and offer both bands and production companies a platform through which to showcase their work. Year on year we hope to grow this project and if the quality of the pitches we received is anything to go by, we can look forward to some interesting and powerful collaborations and of course, exceptional content.”

Song of the week: One Headlight - The Wallflowers

2010-07-30T09:00:00.002+02:00

Jakob's dulcit tones never fail to calm the soul.

Who you should be listening to

2010-07-29T10:00:00.038+02:00

While I was listening to the new album from The Rescues recently, it dawned on me how many awesome artists Athousandguitars.com has let me stumble upon and I thought some of them needed to be reiterated.

We've featured a lot of bands, all of which we enjoy, but the ones that are just jaw-droppingly, adjective-eludingly awesome are these:

The Rescues have come to save your hope in melodic rock
The Monroes: A new hope for South African rock
Learning how to do Doo-Wop Punk with Locksley
The soulful, sultry vibe of Joshua Grierson
Empires - our new favourite band
Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers: the soundtrack to life
Bringing life to house music with GoodLuck
Paper Tongues: brilliance in the making
Electric Owls: the future of indie rock

And of course, my favourite Ron Pope.

These are the best of the best we don't think you can carry on without listening to!
Who else do you think falls into this category?

Green Thursdays: Assemble your own windowfarm

2010-07-29T09:00:00.000+02:00

Britta Riley and Rebecca Bray with the first window farm, May 2009 (Photo: Julia Makarova)

Wishing for some homegrown greens but don't have any balcony or outdoor space to grow food in your apartment? Warren covered it before, but now you can actually order a kit and assemble your own windowfarm - a hybrid, hydroponic gardening system that's made out of recycled materials and hung vertically in your window. Created in 2009 by artists Britta Riley and Rebecca Bray for an artists' residency at NYC's Eyebeam Center for Art and Technology, the project is an open-source collaborative effort that's been developing through communal R&D.I.Y (research and do-it-yourself). The artists talk about the latest developments in this video:

According to the Windowfarms website, thanks to the efforts of the 13,000-strong windowfarming community, there have been a number of significant upgrades to the original design (now in version 3) including these features:

- quieter
- easier to set up
- more elegant, but still do-able with recycled water bottles
- more plants for less electrical input (up to 32 plants on one air pump)
- modular, meaning you can have vegetative, fruiting, and flowering plants all in one system
- can allow up to 25 plants to grow simultaneously year-round

Though we're a little skeptical of the impact that large-scale vertical farms will actually have, small-scale, low-impact vertical gardens such as the windowfarm concept may be a more realistic proposition. And it's not just the satisfaction of enjoying the fruits of some good ol' urban gardening dreamed up by a community of DIYers: the kits themselves are put together by disabled veterans and other physically & medically handicapped workers at Poughkeepsie NY's Mid-Hudson Workshop for the Disabled.

The windowfarm kits now being offered range from the Core kit ($39.95) which has only the basic, hardest-to-find parts and will take you 20 hours to assemble - to the Gourmet, which has all the parts and bottles and will take only an hour to assemble (but costing a whopping $749.95). But if you really want to take a crack at it yourself, Windowfarms.org has step-by-step illustrated instructions that will guide you through the process.

Windowfarms via Designboom

The Rescues have come to save your hope in melodic rock

2010-07-28T10:00:00.025+02:00

It's rather a rare thing in the business of discovering new music that you'll stumble on a band that makes your jaw drop with each new song of theirs you listen to. Such was the case when I stumbled upon The Rescues. I'll admit that I only found them because their single "Break Me Out" was the single of the week on iTunes a while back, but after getting their whole album, my cloud of smugness was emanating a hells-yes-I've-hit-the-jackpot vibe. They’re going into my ‘awesome find’ file next to Ron Pope and Stephen Kellogg.

To give you an idea, The Rescues' new album Let Loose The Horses has the light melodic touch if Imogen Heap, the growl of The Hold Steady, with a bit of The Narrative thrown in. Check out the video for “Break Me Out” below to see what I'm on about:

Born of the City of Angels, Kyler England (cool name!), Rob Giles, Adrianne Gonzalez and Gabriel Mann have only just released their full-length debut album this June but are already garnering fans throughout the world.While they have an indie flavour to their music, they’ve already risen onto a major label (Universal Republic) from their indie singer-songwriter roots.

I’m stealing a bit out of their online bio that describes them as having “the earthiness of Fleetwood Mac”, because I think that’s the word I’ve been looking for this whole article - earthiness. There’s a wonderful raw and authentic element in songs like “You’re Not Listening” and “Let Loose The Horses” that doesn’t let you back the definition of the band into one distinct genre - they segue swiftly and effortlessly from polite indie pop to emotional folk tunes to ballads and it’s absolutely riveting.

Having already had songs on big-time shows like One Tree Hill, Private Practice and Grey’s Anatomy, it looks like the only way from here is up for The Rescues and we’re so happy to be listening to them as they go there.

You can join the rescues online at www.therescues.com, Facebook, Twitter, or buy their music on iTunes.

ⓒ athousandguitars.com 2010

Gig Guide 28 July 2010

2010-07-28T09:00:00.028+02:00

- Friday 30 July: Cameo @ The Woods, JHB
- Friday 30 July: Blue Steel @ DogBox, PTA
- Friday 30 July: Cutting Jade, Revenge On Murphy @ Muso's International, JHB
- Saturday 31 July: Miller Rock The Races @ Greyville Racecourse, DBN
- Saturday 31 July: The Plastics album launch @ The Assembly, CPT
- Saturday 31 July: Revenge on Murphy, Oursilnce, Live This Down @ The Black Dahlia, Boksburg
- Sunday 01 August: GoodLuck @ Vacca Matta, Suncoast

Remember to vote for Athousandguitars.com in the SA Blog Awards from the 1st to the 27th of August!

Send all your gigs to monica@athousandguitars.com to get them featured here!

Locksley to perform free show in NYC

2010-07-27T11:00:00.004+02:00

LOCKSLEY have announced a special free show this week in New York City. Fans of the band will get the opportunity to see the band perform live free of charge in the unique venue of Brooklyn Bowl. Come early! Stay late and challenge the band to a bowling match!

BROOKLYN BOWL
6:30pm Doors
8pm Show
Wednesday, July 28
61 Wythe Ave.
FREE
www.brooklynbowl.com

The band also recently stopped by NYC’s Fuzztopia studios for an acoustic performance. Check video now!

“Oh There’s A Love” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fmR33Fmbng

“The Whip” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFvlwXjMq5g

“Darling, It’s True” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptx_2yn3Zj4

Locksley’s latest album Be In Love is in stores now!

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.locksley.com

www.twitter.com/locksleymusic

www.facebook.com/locksleymusic

Brand New 27 July 2010: Tom Jones, RIngo Starr, Avenged Sevenfold

2010-07-27T10:00:00.023+02:00

There were a huge amount of releases for this week that I had never heard of, so we'll try and streamline it down to the best buys.

First up is Tom Jones. I had to fight the urge to put up a shirtless photo of the dude from the '70s here, so let's try and be serious and judge him on his current tunes. Jones has released so many studio albums that I didn't even try counting them up, but I will tell you that this one, entitles Praise & Blame excites me because the first single is a cover of a John Lee Hooker tune - "Burning Hell" - bring on the blues!

Ringo Starr, king of all things peace and love, is releasing Live At The Greek Theatre 2008 this week. I tend to be a bit judgmental of live albums - one or two songs is cool but a whole album is sometimes a bit much - but Ringo is known to use an all-Starr band and give really fun shows, so we'd recommend this record.

And to sate the appetites of those not nostalgic for the '70s is Avenged Sevenfold. Called Nightmare (there's just no way to get any more hard rock) this is the Californian band's fifth studio album and their first since the death of the band's drummer in 2009. We're actually quite big fans of Avenged Sevenfold so hope this is a worthy comeback!

Also out this week:
Evans Blues - Evans Blue
Sky Sailing (Owl City side project) - An Airplane Carried Me to Bed

Get the A Thousand Guitars iPhone app

2010-07-27T09:00:00.000+02:00

Athousandguitars.com is proud to unveil our new iPhone app! The app, A Thousand Guitars, is available online here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-thousand-guitars/id382029730?mt=8. (It will be available in any other country’s iStore under the simple search ‘A Thousand Guitars’.) It’s free, a small 2.1MB to download and very easy to use.

With links to our headlines, exclusive online content and our social network, we believe it’s the best of Athousandguitars.com in one easy-to-use app. If you do download it, feel free to let us know what you think about its design and usability!

For anyone out of the Mac world, we'll be heading into Blackberry and Android territory next - we're not leaving anyone out!

Endless love for Meat Loaf

2010-07-26T10:00:00.003+02:00

Something I don’t think I’ve spoken about enough since the release of his eleventh studio album in May is just how much I love Meat Loaf. As that Will Ferrell/Wedding Crashers scene of “Mom! Meat loaf!” echoes in my head, I must verify that I am talking about the man and the legend - the only Texas-born musician I’ve heard of who can call his genre “Wagnerian Rock”, aka Marvin Lee Aday... but I think we all prefer Meat Loaf.

Hang Cool Teddy Bear (who needs a sensical album name) was released on May 11th to almost top the Uk charts, while it only peaked at 27 in America (you Yankee philistines) and it came fully packed with awesomeness. Although, I am totally biased here because I became a lot more appreciative of the record when I found out Jon Bon Jovi had co-written some tunes. But check out the video for the album’s first single - “Los Angeloser” below to see the awesomeness I’m talking about.

Not exceptionally talented, or exceptionally good-looking or really exceptional in any way I can think of right now, Meat Loaf just won’t get pushed off his pedestal of awesomeness. Perhaps because he’s the antithesis of a rockstar in every way one can think of does he manage to pull off being a slightly old dude making a non-sleazy pop-rock video with lithe young girls in.

And there’s a free download off the album - “Prize Fighter Lover” that sounds like my favourite kind of sweeping-gesture-grand-’80s rock (eerily similar vibe to “I would Do Anything For Love”...) Grandiose musical gestures like “Everybody’s got someone they don’t wanna be/you don’t wanna be you/I don’t wanna be me” would fail for anyone else, I expect.

There are a few moments on the record that fail to win us over with a bit of musical schmaltziness, but overall, 29 years after his debut album, Meat Loaf is an all-round musical win and we hope he never stops.

ⓒ athousandguitars.com 2010

Free Music Monday: La Roux, Belle & Sebastian, Hanson

2010-07-26T09:00:00.031+02:00

I go back and forth every time I hear La Roux's "Bulletproof". Can't decide if it's a catchy club-pop song or if I just plain old hate it. But I like to think that this free acoustic version of the hit song will strip away everything else, leave us with the essence of the tune and finally make me decide.
Download "Bulletproof" (acoustic) here and let me know if you think it makes the song better or worse.

I don't like to forget the indie kids so I'm bring you a live Belle & Sebastian download this week too. This is fairly good quality for a live recording - we always like some vibe with our tunes anyway. Belle & Sebastian will be on tour in the UK in December, but if you can't catch those shows, this song will have to suffice.
Download "I Didn't See It Coming" (live) here.

And finally - i just couldn't resist - there's a new Hanson song for download. I've put this up with a mix of my morbid fascination with pop music, because I think the fact that Hanson still exist is crazy funny and because once upon a time - I won't deny it, I did like this band. Anyway, apparently they've changed quite a bit and this track off their latest album "has the maturity of David Gray, and the pop energy of Rob Thomas." What do you think?
Download "Waiting For This" here.

Martin Clancy inks deal with Seaport Music

2010-07-23T10:42:00.000+02:00

WHO IS MARTIN CLANCY?

Martin Clancy is a native of Dublin, Ireland who primarily writes and records in the medieval village of Haute De Cagnes, France. He is the first artist signed to New York’s Seaport Music record label. He is the artist in residence for the Seaport Music festivals. Martin DJs these events as part of his collective band gLab (pronounced Gee-Lab). In addition to gLab Martin has a dance outfit called Martin Clancy & The Witness Protection Programme. MC&TWPP will open for Yacht on August 6^th at the NYC Seaport.

WHAT IS SEAPORT MUSIC?

The new label owned by the New York Seaport organization, the same group of people that puts on free summer shows on the NYC coastline, whose huge outdoor festival has been home to Hot Chip, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Battles among hundreds of other Indie and dance acts. www.seaportmusicfestival.com. They just released a free compilation that features all of this year’s bands.

G-LAB “DELIVERY” MP3

MARTIN CLANCY & THE WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME “FLAT FOOT” MP3

ABOUT gLAB
gLab is Greg G (vox), Allie Jerome (vox) and Martin Clancy (music). The trio first met as Clancy, in the midst of a trans-Atlantic musical project with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, found himself in need of a savior to rescue his digital music files from a waterlogged, and seemingly dead, laptop he accidentally dropped into a storm drain. The files needed to be sent to the U.S. by that evening. Panicked, Clancy stumbled into a coffee shop where he found a phone booth and a tattered book of yellow pages bearing the date 1999. Flipping through the pages, Clancy spotted a small tombstone ad that read, “Mr. G Repairs…pretty much anything.”

After a quick call, Clancy found himself in a battered old Belingo van heading through the Dublin Mountains in the company of Mr.G. The pair ended up at an old brick warehouse -- both a repair shop and home for Mr. G, and a one Ms. Allie Jerome. With the laptop dismantled on a workbench piled with discarded motherboards and a sundry electronic parts, the musical contents of the all-important files became known, which lead to the appearance of a karaoke machine. The rest of the afternoon merged into one surreal memory, with Clancy recording the musical noises of Mr. G’s improvisational verse derived from a Japanese server manual and sung through copper tubing, and Allie’s percussive accompaniment on a martini glass while continually shouting "oh oh oh oh,” and thus becoming gLab.

Today, Clancy returns regularly to the warehouse to write and record with Allie and Mr. G – who, respectively, mix and pour musical libations and offer online repairs for all manner of electronic devices. Information on gLab, as well as the retail sale of a series of bespoke inverters, motherboard testers and laptop chargers, is available at http://www.glab.cc

WHAT THE PRESS IS SAYING ABOUT MARTIN CLANCY

“A dance Phil Spector meets galloping electro pop" - Brooklyn Vegan

"Fast becoming our favorite DJ producer" - State Magazine

“Witness Protection Programme is a clever concept …ridiculously over the top...the music's a delight.... a clash of Lemon Jelly, Daft Punk, Chic and a hint of Sly Stone and Material”.. Clancy’s production is Studio 54 in the 21st century ..**** “ - Scotland on Sunday

"Excellent..Clancy captivates with invention, hook laden tunes and real musicianship..well worth investigating” - Totally Dublin

"As stylish a dance record as your likely to hear all year….gels beautifully into a new and fascinating shape…a class act" **** Entertainment.ie

"Bloody brilliant…” - Irish Independent

“Divinely inspired…the aural equivalent of cinematic widescreen..…impeccable musical sensibility” - 4/5 Irish Times

“Essential investigation…” - RTE Guide

“A modern electric symphony ….a rich melting pot of styles, grooves and beats …like floating in a massive vat of soft gooey stuff ..A chill out record for the 21st century..” - 9/10 Hot Press

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.martinclancy.eu

www.glab.cc

www.myspace.com/martinclancy

Small Fries Friday: Draco Melfoy signs record deal

2010-07-23T10:00:00.035+02:00

- No jokes. Draco Melfoy (Tom Felton to real-world people) has just signed a record deal and is set to release his first album soon. Anyone know if he can sing...?
- American Hi-Fi have released their new music video for "Lost".
- Maroon 5 are launching their own radio station. Do you think Adam Levine won't sound like a tool when he has control of a DJ's mic?
- Keane seem to have dropped off the radar. But their side project, Mt Desolation has announced a new tour.
- Gavin Rossdale is explaining the re-launch of Bush. I can also explain it - his solo career tanked.
- Someone actually made a play out of Hitler's book Mein Kampf. Most bookshops I've asked don't even stock this book. That play director must really like failure.
- Chris Isaak could replace Simon Cowell on American Idol. I know it's just a rumour, but I did not see that one coming.
- Such classic Osbourne style - check Kelly and Jack's Mel Gibson t-shirts.
- Jersey Shore has signed up for a third season. Oh. Sweet. Lord.
- Want to win Sheryl Crow's full studio catalogue? Go to Rollingstone.com to do it.

My favourite headline of the week goes to: Bret Michaels vows to help aging groupies. Oh, aren't you just a gem, Bret...

Song of the week: Mr Soul - Neil Young

2010-07-23T09:00:00.000+02:00

You just can't fault this bassline.

This tune was actually done with Buffalo Springfield, but we won't say no to a solo Neil Young performance.

Opeth to release 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall' DVD

2010-07-22T12:00:00.003+02:00

As part of the ongoing celebration of their 20th anniversary, Sweden’s Opeth is releasing live footage and audio from the band’s recent performance at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall. In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, due out September 21st, is a fierce testament to Opeth’s continued success in the progressive metal community.

Twenty years and nine records into their legendary career, Opeth’s “progressively creative spirit” (ARTISTdirect) remains unwavering, propelling the band through the “Evolution XX: An Opeth Anthology” tour, which brought the Swedish titans to six of the world’s most unique venues, and now, with the release of In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, into the homes of their fans.

The performance at the Royal Albert Hall (recorded on the 5th of April, 2010) includes two sets, the first consisting of the band performing 2000’s now-classic, breakthrough epic, Blackwater Park in its entirety, and the second, a chronologically arranged selection of material from the rest of Opeth’s extensive catalogue, totaling almost three hours of music. It is, like the rest of Opeth’s greatest work, “purposefully warped in all the right places” (Decibel). The front cover artwork concept pays tribute to Deep Purple´s Concerto for Group and Orchestra, underlining the band’s longstanding love for their prog-rock roots.

Thinking back to the concert, frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt says "Opeth had a magical night playing the Royal Albert Hall. It was a dream come true, and now afterwards, it still feels like a dream. We got it all on film, and this, our third live recording and DVD might be my personal favorite. One couldn't help to think of all the fantastic artists that played there over the years. Looking back at this night of celebration brings me fond memories of our 20th anniversary—this package is the delayed birthday present. Enjoy!"

The release will be available as three very special configurations:

1. Limited Edition Vinyl Box Set, which includes:

-Double-DVD set of Opeth’s performance at the legendary Royal Albert Hall, in its entirety, including bonus features.

-A set of four 180-gram LP’s of the concert’s live audio in its entirety. The vinyl is housed in black poly lined inner sleeves which are packaged as 2 double gatefold set with exclusive artwork. Vinyl only available in this box set.

-Exclusive, numbered lithograph with artwork designed by Mikael Åkerfeldt and longtime Opeth designer, Travis Smith.

-20-page, LP sized booklet printed on coated paper stock that chronicles the night’s events in photos.

-Expanded, exclusive artwork and more.

2. A 5-disc set that consists of 2-DVD and 3 CD’s. The set not only includes the legendary evening captured on video, but the concert’s live audio in its entirety as well.

3. Double-DVD set of Opeth’s performance at the legendary Royal Albert Hall, in its entirety, including bonus features.

Track listing is as follows:

Set 1

THE LEPER AFFINITY
BLEAK
HARVEST
THE DRAPERY FALLS
DIRGE FOR NOVEMBER
THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT
PATTERNS IN THE IVY
BLACKWATER PARK

Set 2

FOREST OF OCTOBER
ADVENT
APRIL ETHEREAL
THE MOOR
WREATH
HOPE LEAVES
HARLEQUIN FOREST
THE LOTUS EATER

The Monroes: a new hope for South African rock

2010-07-22T11:00:00.015+02:00

You may by now know that whenever anyone or any band manages to jolt life and originality into the local music scene, I pretty much want to go cartwheeling across my garden it pleases me so. So the day the interestingly-named new single from The Monroes, “Peter Pumpkin Had A Tumor” burst out of my radio was one that supremely rocked.

The Monroes are, in short, one of the most interesting and original bands I’ve heard off the local scene in a while. And *glimmer of pride * - they come from Pretoria. The only other band who made me quite as happy with their originality was The Oh So Serious Folk Collective - but that’s a whole other ball game.

The distinctive music we hear at the moment was brought together by a carefully designed band that ensured the ideal mix of eclectic rock and roll awesomeness. Ryan Howell on vocals, Kenny Valentine and Sid Webster on guitars Klement McCoy on bass and Miguel Loureiro work together to make an interesting mix of slightly hardcore, very melodic and very authentic modern rock music.

In December last year, the band released their first EP and the first single - the one that made me so happy - has been doing well on rock stations throughout the country. Check out the video below:

As I’ve said - I’ve had my head stuck in New York recently so haven’t had a chance to see these guys live yet, but have a sneaky feeling that their live shows will rock as much as their EP does. You can get all their gig info on their Facebook page. (Part of said page made me laugh uproarously when researching this article when they say their influences are “bands that are not shit” - good times.)

The ultimate conclusion being that we think you should go and buy The Monroes EP - now. You can get it online at iTunes and 7Digital.

There’s nary a place on the net where you can’t get a hold of The Monroes. Join them online on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, iLike and Reverbnation and watch their videos on Youtube and Vimeo.

ⓒ athousandguitars.com 2010

Clutch re-issue in stores now

2010-07-22T10:00:00.005+02:00

Today marks the re-release date of Clutch’s album, From Beale Street to Oblivion, via their own Weathermaker Music. The 22-song, double-CD set features upgraded artwork, multiple versions of the song “Electric Worry,” live songs from Australia, and five songs recorded at Maida Valle Sessions for the BBC.

Right now you can check out a cover of the Cream classic “Politician” exclusively at Revolver.

RETAIL LINK - Amazon

Be sure to check out Clutch on the Berzerkus Tour this summer. Also, be on the lookout for future Clutch reissues of Robot Hive/Exodus and Blast Tyrant this fall!

From Beale Street To Oblivion Reissue Tracklist:
Disc One
You Can't Stop Progress
Power Player
The Devil & Me
Child of the City
White's Ferry
Electric Worry
One Eye Dollar
Rapture of Riddley Walker
When Vegans Attack
Oppossum Minister
Black Umbrella
Mr. Shiny Cadillackness

Disc Two
Politician (BBC Studios)
Electric Worry (BBC Studios)
One Eye Dollar (BBC Studios)
Mr. Shiny Cadillackness (BBC Studios)
Cypress Grove (BBC Studios)
The Devil & Me (Live in Australia)
Child of the City (Live in Australia)
You Gonna Wreck My Life (Live in Australia)
White's Ferry (Live in Australia)
plus...
Electric Worry - Enhanced studio video clip

BEZERKERUS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

w/ Black Label Society, Clutch, Children of Bodom, and 2 Cents

9/21 Portland, OR @ Roseland

9/22 Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum

9/24 Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Expo Centre

9/25 Regina, SK @ Agribition Hall

9/26 Calgary, AB @ Big 4

9/28 Winnipeg, MB @ Winnipeg Convention Centre

9/30 Omaha, NE @ Anchor Inn

10/1 Clive, IA @ 7 Flags

10/2 Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom

10/3 St. Paul, MN @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium

10/5 Louisville, KY @ Expo Five

10/8 Asbury Park, NJ @ Convention Hall

10/9 Lewiston, ME @ The Colisee

10/12 Halifax, NS @ Cunard Centre

10/14 Montreal, QC @ Metropolis

10/15 Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy

10/16 TBA

10/20 New York City, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom

10/22 Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues

10/23 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

10/24 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore

10/26 Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock

10/28 Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater

10/29 Corpus Christi, TX @ Concrete St. Amphitheater

10/30 Grand Prairie, TX @ Verizon Theatre - Grand Prairie

10/31 Lubbock, TX @ Lonestar Pavilion

11/2 Austin, TX @ Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater

11/3 Tulsa, OK @ Brady Center

11/5 Grand Rapids, MI @ DeltaPlex

11/7 Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore

11/9 Rochester, NY @ Main Street Armory

11/10 Columbus, OH @ The LC Pavilion

11/12 Wichita, KS @ Cotilion

11/13 Kansas City, KS @ Uptown Theater

11/14 Denver, CO @ The Fillmore Auditorium

11/16 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex

11/18 Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theatre

11/20 San Francisco, CA @ Warfield

FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.pro-rock.com
www.myspace.com/clutchband

Green Thursdays: Barenaked Ladies say get outside, get $1 000

2010-07-22T09:00:00.000+02:00

Credit: Courtesy Reverb.org

Let me get this straight. You want me to leave my house, go outside and run around like a bunch of Barenaked Ladies? And you'll give me $1,000 toward a cool camping trip if you like the picture I take? In so many words, this is the 8th Green Music Group Challenge.

Members of the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies want to help decrease a terrible statistic: Most people spend 90 percent of their lives indoors. So they're encouraging fans to get outside for the latest challenge.

To compete, you'll need some feet and a camera. Walk outside and appreciate nature. Take a lunch break on a park bench or pitch a tent, for instance. You can find hiking trails by using the handy dandy Sierra Club trail-finder.

Once you're out in the elements, and enjoying that feeling, take a photo of your adventure, upload the photo to the GMG site and tag it with an "EIGHT."

The top entry in this (eighth) Green Music Group Challenge will take home (and then outside) a $1,000 gift certificate for a Sierra Club Outing, which can be used toward hundreds of cool camping, hiking and kayaking trips. The deadline is noon July 30.

Every entry into the challenge also gives you a chance at the grand prize ... a Honda Insight hybrid. Perfect for driving to the campground.

(Story and image from www.treehugger.com)

Foto Na Dans presents Die Vloed

2010-07-21T11:00:00.001+02:00

DIE VLOED is a 5-episode “reality series” (mockumentary) which chronicles SAMA winners Foto Na Dans during their time in studio while attempting to record their new album, DIE VLOED.

Initially it comes across as an ordinary “behind-the-scenes” peek while the group is working on their upcoming album. But viewers soon see how matters turn chaotic and the group disbands to form two new bands - Foto and Dans.

Foto (Le-Roi, Niel and John) and Dans (Alex, Dirkie and John) could not be more different – in musical approach or execution, and things soon spiral out of control. In the end the band’s record company steps in (look out for a cameo by Rhythm Records boss Albert du Plessis) – but will it be enough to ensure Foto Na Dans’s existence – and the successful recording and release of DIE VLOED?

With DIE VLOED we encounter a meticulously-compiled puzzle of subtle comedy, along with a rare occurrence - artists parodying themselves (as opposed to actors depicting stereotypes). This makes DIE VLOED simultaneously innovative, brave, and very, very funny, with, among other things, singer Le-Roi Nel practising his “microphone drop” (with the help of an assistant) and guitarist Neil Basson getting metaphorically philosophical about the similarities between Foto Na Dans and a koeksister.

DIE VLOED will be broadcast on music channel MK (DSTV 324) in five parts, from Monday 26 July 2010. Watch DIE VLOED every night from 26 – 30 July just before 19:00, or catch the DIE VLOED omnibus on Saturday 31 July between 20:00 and 20:30.

DIE VLOED broadcast times on MK (DSTV 324)

· Monday 26 July just before 19:00

· Tuesday 27 July just before 19:00

· Wednesday 28 July just before 19:00

· Thursday 29 July just before 19:00

· Friday 30 July just before 19:00

· Saturday 31 July – Omnibus between 20:00 & 20:30

DIE VLOED produced by Testify Films. Concept by Jacques Koudstaal. Directed by Jaco Smit. Written by Jaco Smit & Jacques Koudstaal. Camera by Jacques Koudstaal. Edited by Jacques Koudstaal. Art Direction by Eugene Hayman. Sound Design by Neil Basson. Graphics & Designs by Eugene Hayman. Outtakes & Bloopers by Christian Wink. Also Starring: Clemens van der Walt as Clem van der Walt. Albert du Plessis as Albert du Plessis. Special Thanks to: Stella Wink; Rhythm Records; Jagermeister Music SA; Victor Edward Eckard and MK; Calahari Cosmos Studios.

A comeback for Alex Band that doesn't quite hit the spot

2010-07-21T10:00:00.003+02:00

There's no nicer way to say it other than that I was just plain old disappointed with Alex Band's new record, We've All Been There. But the reason is that Band (Aliceband, as my mom calls him) is the one dude of the modern pop-rock era that I've put more than just a few years into appreciating. And indeed, his fans have waited a good five years for this - a cliched, somewhat common album that doesn't do his outstanding vocal range and emotional depth any justice. So yes, We've All Been There is no earsore, but it sure is a disappointment.

Back in the beginning of the decade and the days of The Calling, a young Band was capable of writing one of the greatest love songs ever. No jokes - go and ask Billboard about “Wherever You Will Go”. But now it seems age, or a divorce, or just regular old record company troubles of the past few years have dulled Band's rock and roll spirit and his ability to dream unique dreams through his lyrics. We've All Been There feels like a mixture of the overworked bits of Bono and Enrique Iglesias, with a guitar.

The album’s title track is also a fairly charismatic tune in which Band opens up to his listeners about the paths taken and scars gained along his life’s road. This is the one point where I think his ‘we’re all one being-grand love to everyone’ type of vibe works properly on the record and it therefore makes an excellent and honest start to the record.

"Tonight", the lead single off the album is in fact the only song on the record that gives you a hint of Band's glory days. It's a dramatic love song that builds to a grand chorus in which Band gets to express himself at the top of his lungs. It's very easy on the ears and definitely deserves a listen. But it's such a steaming cliche that you might not even believe me when I tell you the video for the single is vampire-themed. You just can't make this stuff up.

But after this, a lot of the record fails to live up to the good start. “Euphoria”, “Never Let You Go” and “Start Again”, among others, feel overworked and like you’ve heard them before from every male singer on the radio.

So again, I emphasise the disappointing aspect of this album. I still believe that Alex Band has one of the greatest voices in modern music and that the songs he produces should be better than this. We’ve All Been There gets half the stars for the small gems of future brilliance hidden in the record and because, well, Band was my highschool crush and fifteen-year-old me would hate present me if I didn’t give him an extra star.

Star rating: 2,5

ⓒ athousandguitars.com 2010

Gig Guide 21 July 2010

2010-07-21T09:00:00.000+02:00

- Wednesday 21 July: Hikatori album launch @ Muso's, Northriding
- Thursday 22 July: Drive Thru Live @ Muso's, Northriding
- Thursday 22 July: Martin Rocka and The Sick Shop @ Tings an' Times, PTA
- Friday 23 July, Saturday 24 July: John Ellis (Tree 63) @ Bayside Church, East London
- Saturday 24 July: Son Of A Thousand Blues & Black Cat Bone @ The Blues Room, Sandton
- Tuesday 27 July: Evolver One @ Tings an' Times, PTA

Send your gigs to monica@athousandguitars.com to get them featured here!

Athousandguitars.com launches first iPhone app

2010-07-20T12:00:00.001+02:00

Happy birthday to ya!

2010-07-20T11:00:00.004+02:00

We've decided to discuss who's getting old and who's still awesome each week here; and to reminisce about some good news items that A Thousand Guitars has shared with each of the birthday rockers.

So here we go:

Today:
- Dave Evans, the first lead singer of AC/DC turns 57.
Check out our pics of AC/DC live in concert and read our gig review here.
- Chris Cornell turns 46.
Read our review of Chris Cornell's latest album Scream.
Temple Of The Dog reunite at Pearl Jam concert.
The Best albums of 2009.

22 July:
Rufus Wainwright: Download free music from Rufus here.

23 July:
Slash: Read our review of Slash's latest solo album.
Jonathan Gallant (from Billy Talent): Read our review of Billy Talent live and check out pictures.

26 July:
Dan Konopka (from Ok Go): Read our review of Ok Go's latest record and check out live pics.

Do you dig or detest this new birthday feature? Let us know!

Brand New 20 July 2010: Sheryl Crow, Honor Bright, Sleigh Bells

2010-07-20T10:00:00.021+02:00

There aren't that many exciting releases this week - possibly the first ominous sign that the American summer is starting to wind down. But one new album we are very interested to hear is Sheryl Crow's 100 Miles From Memphis. I'd been wondering what this lady had been up to since seeing her on Cougar Town a while back, which was a bit weird but she luckily proved herself in front of the camera. We'll be interested to see whether she can still prove herself in front of the mic. And if this is a country album, we're all the more excited! Welcome back, Sheryl Crow, it's been too long!

On the indie side of things, Honor Bright has Action! Drama! Suspense! coming out this week - nice album name. And indie success story of the year, Sleigh Bells are releasing Treats. I know a lot of hipsters in Brooklyn who are going to be very happy about that one.

Also released this week is:
Lil Joe - Lil Joe High School Dropout
Rick Ross - Teflon Don
These United States - What Lasts

Introducing Delooze

2010-07-20T09:00:00.003+02:00

Coming together in a whirlwind of genres and sounds Delooze are impossible to put in a box.

An English and French collaboration with a dash of Portuguese blood.

Electronic pop rock morphs with classical instrumentation and trip-hop to create an atmospheric beat and vocal induced explosion on stage.

With a voice that is powerful in contrast to her sparrow like frame, their vocalist effortlessly captivates her audiences. A trance of admiration often falls upon their gigs, engulfing packed out venues beneath an ecstatically charged veil of finesse.

This vocal intensity meticulously combined with machine like drumming, electronic in its rhythm yet heavy and metallic in its power, are a magical combination.

Click to watch the live video for forthcoming debut single 'Too Heavy To Stand Up' below.

The mysterious performers have been seen popping up all over London’s nightlife, hidden behind the mask of their mysteriously striking ‘D’ logo and giving little more away about themselves than their imminent debut single ‘Too Heavy to Stand Up’, a string of intimate gigs in some of the UK’s leading music venues and special appearances at the notorious Isle Of Wight and V Festivals 2010.

Both the soon to be unveiled debut single 'Too Heavy To Stand Up' and follow up 'We Are Transient' have been produced by Grammy Award winning producer, Dom Morley. The man behind Amy Winehouses 'Back to Black' and many a Mark Ronson project.

The much anticipated debut single 'Too Heavy To Stand Up' is due to hit the stores via Artrocker Magazine hailed 'label of the moment' Gash Digital on 20th September 2010.