Who: Aloud, indie-rock group What: in concert (21+) Where: First National Bar, W. Center St., Pocatello ID - view on map When: Saturday, November 6, 2010, Doors @ 9:00pm
Aloud is known for their strong vocal harmonies, two lead singers (newly weds Henry Beguiristain and Jen de la Osa), and strong songwriting. They released their new CD, "Exile," on 10/12/10 on Lemon Merchant Records, and are on a 50+ date national tour.
They will be performing in Pocatello at First National Bar on Saturday, November 6th, a Pocatello debut.
Young, dynamic indie-rock group Aloud is proud to present their newest album, "Exile," to be performed live on the National Exile Tour, arriving in Pocatello on Saturday, November 6, 2010, doors at 9:00, Aloud performs at 11:30 at First National Bar.
"Exile" is Aloud’s third full-length CD, and is the debut album from talented producer engineer Daniel Nicholas Daskivich. The album was fan-funded via Kickstarter.com, and will be released nationally in 10/12/10 on Lemon Merchant Records.
Aloud is excited to make their Pocatello debut as the fourteenth stop on the Exile Tour, encompassing the entire US in over 50 performances this fall. Aloud is based in Boston, MA, and has given up virtually all of their material possessions to make this tour happen. “Imagine getting married, selling off all your random material crap, and heading out on tour? Aloud are living the dream. ‘Instead of buying a house, we're touring cross-country,’ says de la Osa, laughing.” (Boston Phoenix)
"Exile" represents a sea change for Aloud. Bandleaders Henry Beguiristain and Jen de la Osa spent over a year in the studio creating the album, following the departure of their original rhythm section. The result is a new sound. Screaming guitars and crashing cymbals, previously two of Aloud’s greatest assets, are nowhere to be heard on "Exile." They’ve been replaced by acoustic and strange sounding guitars, string instruments, horns, pared down drum kit, finger snaps, handclaps and sound effects. Many of the tempos are much slower, revealing a previously unheard of intimacy and vulnerability, especially in the vocals. "Exile" is a stunning and strange collection of songs, featuring often-unfulfilled, complex characters coming to terms with bleak circumstances, while searching for hope and relief in unlikely places. Playground Boston says, “Front-to-back, this new album is downright beautiful!”
The mid-tempo single ‘Old Soldier’ starts with a whisper and grows into a brilliant, psychedelic explosion of sound and instrumentation, including heavily effected electric guitars, marching drums, euphonium, trumpets, strings, mandolin, and Henry and Jen’s opulent vocal harmonies. Boston Band Crush says, “’Old Soldier’ is a mature piece… deliciously advanced, as if Aloud was imbued with some next-level skills of composition and arrangement, beyond the ken of your average, everyday songwriter.”
In the love-turned-death ballad, ‘To Die At Sea’, Jen sings longingly over an acoustic guitar and lush string quartet. The song is so beautiful and alluring that the listener easily ignores the deeper macabre message, as the siren entices her lover to dive with her to “the bottom of the sea.”
Title track, "Exile In The Night," is dominated by a Latin-tinged rhythm, ghostly soundscapes and a haunting melody. The Deli describes the song as, “one of the most effective songs the band has written to date… the perfect combination - the chorus melody is a beautiful, lilting duet between Jen de la Osa and a high register piano over a groovy rhythm propelled by a guiro.” The song was heavily influenced by the music of Feist and the memoirs of Reinaldo Arenas (the celebrated, exiled Cuban poet). Jen explains the song’s origin, “There's a history of exile in our families, so it always been something that was always around. I wanted to write about that feeling of seeing some other place in the city you now find yourself in, or seeing ghosts and old faces in those of strangers.”
Overall, "Exile" is Aloud’s most sophisticated and experimental album to date, showcasing their new-found love of orchestration, Sgt. Pepper-like production, and rich, lyrical imagery.
Press: "’Exile,’ is arguably their most expansive, sophisticated, and stylistically diverse work to date." -The Boston Globe
"Aloud has delivered a stunning, multifaceted opus... Exile exudes confidence, and great things are still to come." –The Weekly Dig
"...one of the best straight-up rock shows you can see/hear... Be prepared to be blown away." –Cheap Thrills
ALOUD UPCOMING CONCERT DATES: 11/2/10 – Front Range Community College, Westminster, CO 11/2/10 – Astroland, Boulder, CO 11/3/10 – Moe’s, Englewood, CO 11/5/10 – The Woodshed, Salt Lake City, UT 11/6/10 – First National Bar, Pocatello, ID 11/8/10 – Reef, Boise, ID 11/10/10 - Wenatchee Valley College, Wenatchee, WA 11/11/10 – Mars Bar, Seattle, WA 11/12/10 – Backspace, Portland, OR 11/13/10 – Diablo’s, Eugene, OR 11/16/10 – The Mint, Los Angeles, CA 11/17/10 – Blue Café, Huntington Beach, CA 11/18/10 – San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 11/20/10 – The Bunkhouse, Las Vegas, NV 11/22/10 – The Hut, Tucson, AZ 11/28/10 – The 806, Amarillo, TX 12/1/10 – Hole in the Wall, Austin, TX 12/2/10 – Stafford on Main Street, Bryan, TX
More dates are being added daily. Visit www.allthingsALOUD.com for the latest concert dates.
We know it's been a while - too long! Just to get y'all up to date really quick, we've been settling into our crazy new lives here in LA and working on a fresh batch of new songs to be released in the near future. Stay posted. I know it's been said, but we seriously believe that the ones we've been working on are some of the best songs we've written in one of the craziest eras this band has seen to date. We can't wait for you to hear them!
Also, more immediately important, we've entered Taylor Guitars and Elixir Strings' Test Drive Acoustic Competition, and we need your help! If you've been following us on twitter, I'm sure you've seen the posts to help by voting at
...once a day in order to keep us in the top 50. If we see you retweeting (@gnightsunrise) or helping to spread the word on Twitter, you'll be entered into contests to win free merch and gnsr goodies :)
Also, if we get enough help to make it to the second round of voting, we'll start releasing some fancy acoustic videos of new and old material.
Last but not least, if you help us make it to the final round of the competition, we'll be releasing a BRAND NEW ACOUSTIC EP!!
Once again, PLEASE help us out with this competition by taking one minute out of your day to vote.
We miss all of you and can't wait to see you again.
until then...
love, goodnight sunrise
Keep up with Goodnight Sunrise on Myspace - www.myspace.com/goodnightsunrise Facebook - www.facebook.com/goodnightsunrise Twitter - twitter.com/gnightsunrise
The 2010 Utah Arts Festival is three weeks away. Do you plan on visiting the Festival every day? Purchase a 4-day pass for only $25. It’s a $15 savings. You’ll have more cash for art, food and fun. This discount ends June 11.
Don’t miss the start of four days and nights of great music. Opening Night of the Festival brings folk icon Michelle Shocked followed by Americana rockersCowboy Junkies on the Amphitheater Stage.
Thursday, June 24: Michelle Shocked, 8:45pm & Cowboy Junkies, 9:45pm.
The Main Library’s Urban Room becomes a concert hall with one of the three full-time organists for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Richard Elliott. A wall of 30 speakers and the lively acoustics of the Library’s glass foyer will intensify the sounds of Elliott’s 206-rank Æolian-Skinner organ.Friday and Saturday evenings will feature the performance of the complete Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" while Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon will feature a variety of musical selections.
Thursday, June 24, 7:30–8 pm; Friday, June 25, 7:15–8 pm; Saturday, June 26, 3:30–4 pm & 7:15– 8 pm.
Volunteer
It takes more than 1,000 volunteers to help build, run and tear down the biggest cultural event of the summer. Want to share your talents?
In the next few days you'll be able to download the free Utah Arts FestivaliPhone app directly from Apple’s iTunes store.
You can have the entire Festival guide at your fingertips, and build your own personal Festival schedule. It’s your digital guide to the Festival. Thanks to EyebrowMan Interactive and Third Sun Productions for this exciting addition to the Festival experience.
CAKE headlines the Summer Solstice Concert, outdoors on June 19 at Library Square.
The Concert is a fundraiser for the 2010 Utah Arts Festival
Tickets on sale now at www.summersolsticeshow.com Gates open at 7, show starts at 8. Your Concert ticket includes a 2 for 1 voucher to the 2010 Utah Arts Festival.
Indie rockers, CAKE, are best known for their hits “The Distance,” “Never There,” and their “Rarities and B-Sides” album in 2008 covering Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" and Barry White's "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up." The band is poised to release a new album this year.
Follow the Utah Arts Festival on Facebook and Twitter to find the latest information on music headliners and performing artists.
Utah Arts Festival • 230 S 500 W, Suite 120 • SLC, UT 84105 • 801-322-2428 • www.uaf.org
Market the Band Online: how bands and musicians can use social networking to create an effective online presence
In days gone by, people would surf the net for information. Not so anymore. Now you have to get your information to the people via social networking sites.
The more social networking you do, the more fans you'll have, the larger the turnout at your gigs, and the more money you'll make. It's all about spending time to make money. And, the more social networking you do, the more sites on which you have a profile, the more Google hits you'll get, the more fans you'll get ....
It's the way of web 2.0.
Here are my Top Four Picks for a band presence on the Internet, plus a few more suggestions.
1. Your own website I know, I know. Having your own website costs $. You'll have to decide as a band if you can afford one or not. Personally, I think it's worth the investment, as long as its a GOOD website. If you just CAN NOT afford your own website, try http://sites.google.com or www.weebly.com.
Free or professional, your band website has to have EVERYthing
- Links to your other social networking sites
- Band bio's (1-line, 1-paragraph, full bio) plus links to band member bio's.
- Photographs: professional press photos (at least one landscape, one portrait, in both black & white and color) plus fan photos
- Music: discography, .mp3's, videos ... if your site plays music in the background, make sure it doesn't auto-start.
- Gig schedule: include complete information. Dates and times, who else is playing with links to their sites, complete venue address, link to venue's website, all ages or 21+, cost. I would suggest having a calendar view (Google Calendar is handy), but also have a list view. List views are much easier for your fans (and the media) to cut & paste into their OWN social networking sites.
- Show your love. Include links to your best fans, colleague bands, venues and other companies that support your band (hotels, restaurants, local music media, promoters, etc.) and encourage them to link back to you.
Oh, and be sure to use text on your website. Gig posters are great, but the content isn't searchable. Use keywords to direct traffic to your site. No splash page, and avoid fancy javascript and such - it slows load time, and users can't cut & paste your content. And sure enough, you WANT users to cut & paste your logos, pictures and information in as many places as they want. Make it easy for 'em.
2. MySpace MySpace is going the way of the dodo, but still THE place for bands on the web. In the past I'd suggest having lots of information on your MySpace page, but not anymore. Keep your MySpace page clean and quick-loading. Just simply use it for your band's basic information and use links to your own website and other social networking sites if the reader wants more information.
For an example of a slow-loading MySpace, visit www.myspace.com/iconlive, and time how long it takes the page to load. Seriously. I'd stand in line just to NOT visit their page.
Include:
- music genre (be honest)
- based from where (city, state)
- pictures (press photos, a few fan photos, gig posters)
- music
- tour dates
- full band bio
- blog optional, but if you do MySpace blog, include the date in the title
- embed one YouTube video at most; more than that makes the page slow to load
- band members' full names, instruments
- contact information
- links to other social networking sites
Do NOT include a gazillion videos, pictures, gig posters, maps, banners, etc. on your page - especially if they're hosted elsewhere and only embedded on MySpace. Slows the load! If your MySpace page takes longer than 20 seconds to load, I'll close it. Keep It Simple, Stupid. Instead, use links.
3. Facebook If you're going to Facebook (and I think you should), do it right.
- Get a vanity url
- Make sure all your privacy settings are public
- Totally and completely fill out the information page
- Include professional band photos plus fan photos
- Each band member should have a Facebook too. They can suggest that their friends "like" your band page.
4. Twitter Twitter hasn't taken off in Idaho ... yet. But it will. You should have a specific twitter for the band, plus how ever many band members are interested in tweeting. Try very hard to bandtweet at least 4 times each week, daily is better, but not more than 5 or 6 tweets in a day. Oh, and check your mentions (@'s); reply to fans and RT as often as possible.
Cross Link! Make sure each of the above 4 sites have links to the other three, embed real-time updates where possible. MySpace, Facebook and Twitter can all talk to each other now, so when you status-update in one, it's automatically updated in the others. Make sure you've set them so they'll do that.
Bookmark and Share! Wherever possible, include bookmarking and share buttons (I know, I know ... I need to do that here too). Your share buttons should include Myspace, Facebook and Twitter, also Digg, del.icio.us, Reddit and StumbleUpon at least.
Optional, but good ideas Wikipedia Yes, you should be on wiki. Write a good band bio and post it up there.
YouTube If you have music videos, it's a must. But even if you don't, YouTube can be used to host 30- to 90-second commercials for your band, with background music and/or with spoken word. Consider vlogs and encourage fans to link to and embed.
Blog A great way to connect with fans. But if you start a blog, keep it up-to-date with a post at least once a week. If you can't commit to doing that, then don't even start. I'd suggest Blogger or WordPress (has better built-in social networking) and RSS feed (FeedBurner) it back to your website and other social networking sites via status updates.
Flickr or Photobucket Personally, I like Flickr better. But a picture / video hosting site is a super terrific way to increase hits to your sites. Be sure to label each photo with your band name (again, increases searchability). Use their slideshows and embed on your own website (not MySpace).
Mailing list A good email list is still the best social networking tool out there. Try to send an email no more than once a week, but not less than once a month. Keep it newsy but short. Include: a brief paragraph about recent events and upcoming gigs, plus links to all your other social networking sites with each email.
I like www.FanBridge.com. Check it out and see if it suits your needs. FanBridge makes four incredibly effective suggestions to build your mailing list:
* Give something away in exchange for an email address! By offering a free sticker, mp3 (which you can email them automatically via FanBridge), button, or even a free hug as a fan incentive you are much more likely to get new fans to sign up.
* Announcing that you have an email list from on stage during the show may seem cheesy, but it's a sure fire way to know that your audience will hear what you have to say. You could even mention that people who sign up for the list get a discount on your merch (maybe a dollar or two off... it will be worth it) or they are entered in a giveaway for a free CD or t-shirt.
* Have a friend go around the room with a clipboard, or direct them to the merch table where they can sign up. This person should be friendly and excited about the music so that fans will want to join in on the fun. If you ask a person one-on-one to sign up for an email list, they are much more likely to respond positively. You can also have this person stand by the door when people walk in to make sure no fans get missed.
* If you have an extra laptop computer, you can use the FanBridge Merch Table Signup form. This is a downloadable program that you can open full screen on your computer and it lets fans type in their info directly. The program saves it all to a pre-formatted file on your desktop that you can import into your account whenever you are next connected to the internet.
Texting list (known as a mobile list) Personally, I don't like getting gig announcements from bands via text message. But many people do. You should have that option available to your fans. FanBridge does that too.
First and foremost, every band (no matter how small you are, no matter if your biggest gig was playing for your Mom in the garage) MUST have a good bio. You never know when someone might want to write about you or when someone will want to share their excitement about your music with their friends and family.
Many bands make the mistake of thinking that they only need to reach out to their already-established fans. Not so!
This is a Web 2.0 world - meaning that most people get their news and information from their friends and family via Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, blogs and so on. You NEED to tap into Web 2.0 by making written information about your band and music easily accessible to writers and bloggers, accessible to people who DO NOT ALREADY know you!
Moreover, consider your future gigs. The venue (if they're worth their salt) will need to be able to promote you. Make it easy for them by giving them the exact words they'll need to describe you and your music to their patrons.
Actually, you need three bio's.
1. A one-sentence statement 2. A one-paragraph bio 3. A full 350- to 500-word biography
Write the full biography first, then pare it down to the smaller two.
What should go in a band biography? Essentially, you want to answer the W's and the H: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. Answer the following questions, then rewrite ALL of it in paragraph form. More on writing styles later. And yes, just like your 3rd grade teacher warned you: spelling, grammar and punctuation count.
Who: Name of your band. Who's in your band - first AND last names. No serious journalist will list first names only, unless they're Sting, Oprah or Prince. You may be popular, but you're not THAT popular ... yet. No one writes about Steven, but we do write about Steven Tyler. You may also want to include who runs your website, produces your recordings, does your pr, manages and/or books your band.
What: What music do you play? I know that no band wants to commit themselves to a genre, but you HAVE to come up with some descriptors for your music. Just think about food writers who have to describe what they're tasting, so will you have to describe to your audience what they'll be hearing. What instruments do you play? Also include a discography of your recordings.
Where: Where are you from? Where are you based now? Where have you played? We don't need an exhaustive list - but pick three or four venues of interest. That may include special one-time concerts at venues of note, or it may include your regular haunt. You may also want to include where you recorded, if its of interest.
When: When did your band originally form? When did the current line-up form? When did you last record or release a recording (either audio, video or both) and / or when will you?
Why: Yes, you really should come up with a reason why you're playing out. Why have you gotten into the music business? Why do you think people should come to your shows or buy your CD's? If this last one is hard to answer, just think about some positive comments you've gotten from the audience before and report that. You should also list any accolades or awards. They very well may answer WHY someone would want to listen to your music.
How: This will be personal and individual for each band. You may want to say how your band formed, how well you've done, how you intend to get your music out there, how someone can buy your music or see your shows and / or how someone can find out more information.
Writing styles: Think of newspaper and magazine articles you've read. Keep the tone mature, very newsy, informative and matter-of-fact. Yes, do use descriptive adjectives, but stay away from over-the-top language, particularly superlatives like "The Best," "The Most" or pretty much anything that ends with -est. Also stay away from euphemisms and slang. "Da Sickest Mo' Fo' Band from P-Town, Brah" just sounds STOOPID [sic] in writing.
Stay away from Jack Black-isms like "Melt Your Face" or "Searing Wicked Licks." They sound too trite, done and over. Furthermore, if you use "Off Da Hook," "Money" or "Kewl" in your bio, not only will I NOT write up your band, but I'll come find you and slap you silly, just on general principles. It is NOT 1996 anymore, folks, as much as Guy Fieri wishes it were. :-D
More advice: Write your bio in a word processor and do both a spell-check AND a grammar check. If your computer has a reader, have it read the bio to you out loud. Then have five or six friends who know you and your band read it and give feedback, then have an English teacher read it and bleed all over it with his/her red pen. Really, you want this to be right.
Perma-link your bio in several places on the Internet. Certainly it should be on your website AND on your MySpace, but also consider posting it to Google Docs and make it available for anyone to copy and download.
By the way, when your good bio is done, you're about ready to post it to Wikipedia. Consider it.
Lastly, keep it up-to-date. Check your bio every 2 - 3 months for accuracy of information. NO writer wants to look the fool by reporting incorrect information. Save us that embarrassment, and we'll write you up again.
Always include contact information at the end of your bio, even if your contact information is listed elsewhere on the Internet. Include a contact name, phone number and email address.
...Going Back to Indy... We will be featured guest on the Bob & Tom Morning show, Thursday April 1st. See the times and time zones below.
Ahoy there, I'm sending out a quick email with information on our upcoming tour to the Indianapolis for the NCAA Final Four. If you haven't heard already, we received an invitation to perform live on The Bob & Tom Morning Show. Bob & Tom are broadcast in 155 cities, and they are one of the most popular morning shows in the country. Unfortuantely, our segment will not be broadcast in all of the other cities. However, we will be broadcast on the internet, as well as the local feed which services most of Indiana. Those that can dial up 94.7 FM on their radio tuner can listen and enjoy. Even though it is the local feed, there are over 700,000 active listeners. This exposure will be incredible! See below all of the important information regarding the Bob & Tom show, as well as our tour shcedule and dates for this weekend.
The Bob & Tom Show - Thursday, April 1st - 10:00am - 10:20am - Q95 (94.7 FM) Those who live in the Indiana area can listen to Q95 (94.7FM) at 10 am to hear us performing live in the studio and trading jokes with Bob & Tom. Those who don't have the opportunity to listen on the radio, can still listen to their live radio stream on the internet. Simply Click here to go to Q95 website or go to: www.wfbq.com and click on the "Listen Live" button on the top left hand corner of the page. The button is next to the Q95 logo. Here are the times and time zone schedules:
Pacific Time - (West Coast) - 7:00am - 7:20am Mountain Time - 8:00am - 8:20am Central Time - 9:00am - 9:20am Eastern Time - 10:00am - 10:20am
Thursday Night - April 1st - Rock Before The Madness Concert at The Athenaeum Theatre This show is going to sell out. This theatre is absolutely fantastic! We will be filming the show and recording the audio to capture the beautiful essence of this nostalgic theatre. To purchase tickets in advance you can go to the Rathskeller located at: 401 East Michigan St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 or call them at 317.630.4652. Your best bet is to call in and buy tickets with a credit card. Once you buy your tickets you can pick them up at Will Call at the front door. We hope to see you there!
Here are the show details: 6:30pm - Doors Open 7:30pm - Red Wanting Blue 8:30pm - Jeremy Buck & The Bang 10:15pm - For the Taking - (Featuring Toryn Green from Fuel) Tickets are $10
Friday, April 2 - Wild Beaver Saloon - Broad Ripple We booked a last second show at the Wild Beaver Saloon in Broad Ripple which is the home of Butler University, of which made it into the Final Four for the first time in school history. You can be that this night is going to be nothing but insane madness. We are going to play a 2 hour show starting at 10pm. you don't need tickets for this show. just get there early enough to find yourself a spot to watch the show.
The Wild Beaver Saloon is located at: 723 Broad Ripple Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46220 Tel: (317) 722-0687
Sat. April 3 - NCAA Tent Party - 12pm noon We will be back rocking another tent party for Miller Light on Saturday. This show is an early one for us, since we'll be at the Wild Beaver all night long the night before.
Here are the details: The Tent is located at: 239 S. Meridian Street - Downtown, Indianapolis. It will be held in the parking lot directly across the street from Blu Nightclub. We play from 12:00pm noon - 2pm.
Thanks for the love and support. keep spreading the love!
The New EP is Now Available on I-Tunes We are excited to announce that you can now download our brand new EP on I-Tunes, So, please spread the word, and let your friends and relatives know about this good news. You can Download the new EP by clicking this link: Download on I-Tunes Here If you already have the CD, but know of a friend who doesn't, you can always "Gift-Them" the new EP. I-Tunes has a feature, where you can buy a song or album for someone else, as a kind gesture. You know they will love you forever if you do that, and of course, you know that we already love you forever, but we'll just love you a little bit more! If you prefer to have a hard copy of the EP, you can still order it on our website, or through CD Baby by click this link. Buy New EP - Hard Copy Here
Show Schedule Thur. Apr. 1 - Athenaeum Theatre - Indianapolis, IN - 8:00pm
Steve Means is "SOOOOOO excited about my new album "DO SOMETHING" that comes out this month!! (3/23 on iTunes) I can't wait for you to hear it. I've been out on the road the past 6 months, and was able to record this album in my down time.
Mostly at a variety of classy, Super 8 locations=) If you're anywhere around the Nashville area, I ask that you come out and get your dance on SATURDAY, March 27th at Exit/In. I'll be joined by my friends in EIKON & the one and only NATHAN ANGELO!!!
The official Groovefest schedule, southern Utah: FRIDAY, JUNE 25 1:00 – 1:45 JOHN SOTTER 2:00 – 2:45 MOLLY VENTER 3:00 - 4:00 KORT McCUMBER BAND 4:15 – 5:15 KARLING ABBEYGATE 5:30 – 6:30 OAKHURST 6:45 – 7:45 JOHN LISI & DELTA FUNK 8:00 – 9:15 GREAT AMERICAN TAXI 9:30 – 11:00 TRAVELER
SATURDAY, JUNE 26 11:30 – 12:15 JOHN BATDORF 12:30 – 1:15 JOE BAKER& HIS BAREFOOT BRAKEMEN 1:30 – 2:30 THE GABRIELLE LOUISE SHOW 2:45 - 3:45 TREVOR GREEN 4:00 – 5:00 THE HENHOUSE PROWLERS 5:15 – 6:15 CHRIS LATERZO & BUFFALO ROBE 6:30 – 7:30 THE NEW FAMILIARS 7:45 – 9:15 THE SCOTT HOLT BAND 9:30 – 11:00 LUBRIPHONIC
First off, happy holidays! I hope that everyone was able to take a little time off and hang out with some family over the last week or so...maybe some of you already took advantage of our sale on iTunes; the new EP is only $4.99 for those who haven't heard.
We've been home working on writing even more new material and looking at potential tour plans for mid-March - keep your eyes peeled for West coast dates! We'll also be posting info regarding another live stickam video chat within the next few weeks, so check back at myspace.com/goodnightsunrise for more info.
We miss seeing you all on the road, but we'll be back soon...
The Gorgeous Hussies are pleased to announce their new live DVD titled Luscious Ladies! This is the first DVD released by the band and features all new songs performed before a live audience, filmed on November 22, 2008 in Davis County, Utah.
The live web-broadcast will be this upcoming Wednesday, July 1st at 8:00 PM Mountain Standard Time (7 PM PST or 10 PM EST).
It's not the same as making a flyer or sending out a bulletin to your Facebook and MySpace friends. People in the media need serious information.
The first thing you'll have to do is decide if this is a BIG EVENT or an Ordinary Event. -A big event is "newsworthy," something that happens only once a year, like an annual outdoor festival. Or it is something that's happening for the very first time, like this is the first time you're playing at a venue new to you, or the first time you're playing in Pocatello, a debut performance. A big event might also be a CD release party, a charity event or a fund raising event. -An ordinary event is a show you've done before and will probably do again. You're just getting the word out that you're playing there.
A press release for a BIG EVENT needs special attention and consideration. I'll briefly outline that below. A press release for an Ordinary Event can be quite simple, just a bulleted list of information is all we really need.
I'd suggest creating your press release in a Word document, then save it as a .pdf, attached in an email. You should also copy all the text IN the email - use as little formatting as possible. Oh, some bold or italics won't hurt anything, but don't get overly fancy. Include all your upcoming shows in these releases. Consider sending them out weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.
In the body of your press releases, make sure you answer The Big 5 W's and the H - Who, What, Where, When, Why and How
- Who - Tell us the names of all the bands (spelled correctly!) on the billing and in what order will they take the stage. The headliner should have a one-paragraph description of how incredible and exciting they are. Here is information on writing a Good Band Biography.
Include a two- or three-word description of each of the bands' genres. If there are two or less bands playing, it's ok to include the names of all the band members. If there are more than two bands, then that's too much information to include. The media member can do a bit more research if necessary. Remember to include contact information for each band - website, email and/or phone number.
Also include the name of the event or venue and the name of the person coordinating the effort (booking agent, producer, venue owner, etc.) Include that contact information also.
- What - Tell us what the event is. You're playing at a bar? a coffee house? outdoors? Include any age limits or restrictions too. Essentially describe what will go down at this event - think to yourself, "what do I want people to tell their friends after they're done reading this press release?" Briefly describe the venue so people will know what to expect if they've never been there before.
Include if people should bring something to this event, like chairs, blankets, cans of food, etc. Also include information about additional things that may be for purchase at this event, and if so, is it cash only? This would be important.
- Where - Give us the physical address of the venue, including the city, state and zip code! You'd be surprised at how important this is.
- When - Give us the day, date, start and end times. For example: Saturday, June 13, 2009 from noon to 9:00 p.m.
- Why - Include any superfluous information about this event, like information about a CD if this is a CD release party, giveaways, fund raising efforts, raffles, drink specials, etc.
- How - Tell us the cost at the door or ticket prices. If there are tickets to purchase, tell us where to find them, including address, telephone number, website and/or url.
The Joe Schmuck Band is a roots rock / reggae / punk band from Idaho Falls, Idaho. They're known for their silly costumes and six-part harmonies. For more information visit www.thejoeschmuckband.com, email joe@thejoeschmuckband.com or call (208) 555-3333.
Saturday, June 20, 2009 Doors 6:30, Show 7:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Acoustic guitarist John Doe opens at 7, followed by the disco ensemble Chookoo Mookoo at 9. The Joe Schmuck Band plays from 11 to close. www.myspace.com/johndoe www.chookoomookoo.com
The Bar X Bar 123 East Main Street Pocatello, ID 83204 (208) 555-2222 www.barxbar.com Contact - Sherry Barry
The Bar X Bar is open to those 21+. Tickets $5 advance, $10 day of the show, available at Fine Records, 1st street Pocatello or online at www.weselltickets.com.
Now for a BIG EVENT. Remember, this is "newsworthy." It's your job to convince the journalist that this deserves an entire spot or article, more than a mention. Essentially, you're writing the article for us; but we'll contact you for more information if we need it.
THE JOE SCHMUCK BAND HEADLINES 2010 IDAHO MUSIC FEST Popular Regional Rock Band Releases New CD; Festival Expects Record Turnout
June 22, 2009, Pocatello, ID - The Joe Schmuck Band’s most recent release, “Schmuck-a-Luck,” hit the Billboard charts at #33 last week with support from heavy radio rotation and a viral YouTube video. Blah blah blah … (See how exciting that is? But don’t use over-hyped up words. Just the facts, ma’am. Just the facts. The leading date and place refers to the originating press release. The town is sometimes excluded if it may be confused with the location of the event. -SLG)
The Joe Schmuck band started fifteen years ago … blah blah blah … one paragraph bio.
Singer/songwriter John Doe takes the stage at 1:00 p.m., followed by the heavy metal band Screamo Creamo at 3:00 p.m. … blah blah blah … give me the line-up.
The Idaho Music Fest is a one-day event … blah blah blah … with grassy knolls and shady trees … blah blah blah … kids activity tent open from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. … blah blah blah … tell me about the venue and event.
Festival committee chairperson Jane Smith said, “Oh my heavens, this band just rocks!” … blah blah blah … Smith is hard at work preparing ... blah blah blah. (Note how the first and last name is given the first time, then only the last name is used thereafter. -SLG)
Ticket prices are $3 youths aged 7 to 12 years, $10 for adults ... blah blah blah. Tickets are available at the John Q Public Store, 123 East Main St. Pocatello, online at ... blah blah blah.
The Southeast Idaho Fairgrounds is located at 15243 Billings Rd., Pocatello, Idaho 83201
### (these three #'s denote the end of the press release. -SLG)
For more information: Put everyone’s names, web info and contact info here.
<-- Here's an example of a press release for a BIG EVENT. Click to enlarge. Note: the boilerplate is a block of text you use on each and every press release - essentially it's the mission statement of your band, venue, cause, group or event.
Royal Bliss has been on the road almost constantly since the release of their debut major-label release, "Life In-Between." They've played in 37 states and put over 40,000 miles on their motor home, touring with Candlebox, Buckcherry and more.
Here's a video from TuneLab Music’s interview with Royal Bliss at Rock on the Range in May, 2009.
Back home for a few weeks before heading off again, Royal Bliss made quite an impression on all of us headlining at Viva Salt Lake, an all day festival held at the Gallivan Center, Salt Lake City, Utah on June 6, 2009. The band seemed glad to be home, glad to be in front of their home fans and family members, and it showed in their performance. That night's rendition of "Devils and Angels" was the most inspired I've ever heard from them live. Boys, you were on point.
And the crowd was on point too. I've never heard an audience sing along so loudly - not just for the popular radio releases, but for the majority of songs on the set list that night. Neal Middleton even commented that he hadn't heard an audience sing "We Did Nothing Wrong" as loudly as we did that evening. So much so, that we woke up the guests of neighboring Marriot Hotel! They enjoyed the show watching from their windows.
From Sara's Blog: Cailin is now 9, and for her birthday Josh and I took her to the Viva Salt Lake show downtown at the Gallivan center. She had a blast and got to meet most of the Royal Bliss band members, which is awesome cuz they are are favorite band.
And from terrible-taya's blog: ... and finally, the only reason I went, the headliner, straight out of Salt Lake City, about to release their new album in Japan, (and if you can pull that off, you know you're great!) Royal Bliss. I can't even begin to describe how awesomely, amazingly, fantastically, pleasant they are! Every one got so excited, and I went with a bunch of little girls that couldn't handle it, so we had to go stand in the back where it wasn't so crowed. They are so great live! I love it! I really wish I was there now, singing along to "Devils and Angels" or "I Was Drunk." It was so much fun. I can't even believe.
And finally from the Larson Family blog: We were able to see Veer Union, Pop Evil, Ten Years and Royal Bliss. I hope some of you have heard of these groups, but especially ROYAL BLISS....why you ask. Royal Bliss is a local band going big in the music industry. They are amazing...really they are a rock band that knows how to rock but the lead singers Neil's voice is very soothing to me...it sounds weird but oh well! I encourage anyone and everyone to check them out.
I love the officially unreleased (or is it unofficially released?) single, "I Was Drunk." It seems to be everyone's favorite song from Royal Bliss, certainly the most memorable and arguably the most-requested song on Bliss' live set list. Here, Texas Musketeers and their Ladies, at the 2009 Scarborough Faire to the tune of Royal Bliss' "I Was Drunk". From darthecp.
There are a host of such fan-made Royal Bliss videos; as I come across them, I'll post 'em up.
I caught up with Royal Bliss at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa, CA on Thursday night, June 11, 2009. We visited for a bit in the motor home, introduced them to my sister and brother-in-law and watched the show. The crowd gets bigger and bigger each time they play there - the local radio station, 101.7 The Fox, gives them real support.
Coming back from Santa Rosa, Royal Bliss played in Reno and in Jerome, Idaho.
On June 14, a young family member of Neal Middleton's, Cameron Eby, was tragically killed in a car accident. The band attended a post-funeral party in the young man's honor. Here they are.
Who: Various Classic Rock Bands What: 3-day Festival Where: Three Forks, Montana When: August 7, 8 and 9, 2009 How Much: $50 - $300
Over the last 10 years, Rockin' the Rivers has become one of the largest music festivals in the Northwest. Near Three Forks, Montana in the Jefferson River Canyon, the venue is a natural amphitheater sprawling over 140 acres. More than 6,000 people attend each year, camping in tents, motor homes, RV's, trucks and trailers.
LOOKING FOR A 2ND GUITARIST! -decent gear -practice 2-3 times a week -play outta town from time to time -no alcoholics/junkies/burnouts -preferably death metal chops
if u are or know anyone who is...hit us up! -DIMM
From the Spencer Nielsen Band:
SPencer Nielsen raps Biz Markie "Just A Friend", Dan Pectal on drums, Pat Briggs on guitar....This was the last song of a six hour day...we were in the ZONE..i believe................SN
From The Sammus Theory:
Paul's artist profile on Evans drumheads and New endorsement!
Check out Paul's artist profile on Evans drumheads website here - http://evansdrumheads.com. Paul will also be using Humes and Berg hard cases for his drums out on the road, who now proudly endorse Paul. Stay tuned for more! And ...
Sick Drummer Magazine has posted a nice little clip about us on their homepage. Go look and make sure to leave a comment and let them know you know who we are!
ALSO, Hollywood Music TV interview is here! We met up with Jimmy Roc from HMTV and www.youaintrock.com for an interview outside the Slide Bar in Fullerton, CA. Check it out!
From Wisebird:
Desert Rocks '09 Review on Jambase! Hello cyberfriends,
Check out Corby Anderson's wonderful review of Desert Rocks '09. For those of us who were there, this review truly captures the magic that took place! As this review indicates, there was killer music all weekend but Mother Nature stole the show.
Wisebird gets some nice love on the second page of the review...Please read!
Attempting to pigeonhole Whitewater Ramble’s sound as conventional bluegrass would be churlish. In their latest album the Fort Collins-based quintet demonstrates versatility by delivering a sound that seeps through the boundaries of traditional bluegrass and spills into the crevices of jazz, funk and jam.
Recorded live at the Zebra Lounge in Bozeman, MT, the album is a collection of cover songs and originals that are nothing short of infectious. The CD’s first track, “Purgatory Shuffle,” opens with blues-tinged instrumentation that tumbles into a fast paced medley of nuanced roadhouse rhythms, thus foreshadowing the whiskey-quaffing, buck-dancing party to come. The following tracks, including adaptations of Stealers Wheel, Michael Jackson and Grateful Dead classics, deftly reconcile bluegrass’ structural conventions with buoyant piano riffs, frenetic finger picking and brazen bass grooves punctuated by hoots and hollers from the crowd.
Like any great jam band, the group is at its best when playing live. And although the tracks were recorded in a crowded nightclub, it’s likely that the pieces would be just as intrinsically raw had they been recorded in a studio, which is perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the band’s noise. The unadorned vocals paired with the foot-stompin’ melodies make Live from the Big Sky effortlessly visceral and compulsive. And by culling key elements from old-school and new-school styles, the band has accomplished what so many of their contemporaries have failed to do, which is create a sound that is devoid of any discernable genre, yet sympathetic to the ear.
From Going Second:
Hey everyone! We've got some great news from G2 headquarters! Our manager Bryan Sansom has made some huge headway with our east coast tour this August. It's looking like with some help from a friendly record label we're going to be playing shows in Tennessee, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, DC, Virginia, SC, NC and Georgia! So get ready east coast, here we come!!!
mike
From Miggs:
MIGGS on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, July 7 2009. Check your local listings!
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