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For the devoted who tattoo the lyrics and “TigerBat” logo on their bodies, Tiger Army is more than a band – it’s a way of life. Nick 13’s songwriting channels the frustration, loneliness and despair into a triumph of perseverance, buzzing with power and dark romance. The loyalty of the band’s following is evident on their Facebook page and website, where hundreds of photos of Tiger Army related tattoos can be found. The worldwide psychobilly scene owes an enormous debt to the Southern California trio, whose four albums and relentless touring have infused the genre (a blend of punk and rockabilly with dark elements) with the interest of countless new listeners, particularly in North America where it was virtually unknown before the band’s first release. Tiger Army embraces its psychobilly roots but transcends the genre with nuanced introspection and a staunch stance against novelty. They follow the example laid down by The Beatles who always maintained a connection to their first musical love, the rockabilly of artists like Buddy Holly and Carl Perkins, even while expanding and redefining it – in some cases beyond recognition. Tiger Army’s most recent album, Music from Regions Beyond, spawned the band’s first radio single, “Forever Fades Away,” which went to #1 on L.A.’s influential KROQ FM. The video for the track was seen on MTV2 and Fuse TV, as well as being performed on their first live national TV appearance on The Jimmy Kimmel Show. The group’s back catalog continues to inspire their legion of fans. 13 says, “accomplishing something like selling out the Wiltern [Theatre in Los Angeles] two nights in a row when Regions came out felt great, but what was even better was that the audience didn’t just know the words to the song with radio play, they knew every song.” This a testament to the band’s slow, steady climb that’s owed far more to the grassroots, word-of-mouth support of fans than media hype. Tiger Army has transformed into an international phenomenon as the band grew from handpicked direct support for acts like Social Distortion, Morrissey and AFI to headliners in their own right. It’s a groundswell that has seen the band sellout multiple night stands in cities as far away as Helsinki, Finland. Tiger Army’s following stretches across the world: London, Tokyo, Sydney and beyond. They’ve performed at Reading & Leeds, Groezrock and several other festivals. Tiger Army’s draw in greater Los Angeles exceeds that of many nationals who’ve received many times the airplay or had major label dollars behind them. In addition to their multiple headlining runs, including the “Razor’s Kiss” and “Dark Romance” tours, the band has sold out mutliple night stands at the House Of Blues in Hollywood and Anaheim before launching their own annual Southern California event – Octoberflame. Now four years strong, Octoberflame spans several nights before Halloween featuring a variety of support acts curated by Nick 13 from across mutliple genres and related scenes, all headlined by Tiger Army with set lists that span their deep catalog and influences. Tiger Army played their first show in 1996 at the Bay Area’s legendary punk collective, 924 Gilman Street, known as the venue where everyone from Green Day to Rancid got their start. Despite lacking a full touring lineup at the time, Tiger Army signed a deal with Epitaph imprint Hellcat Records strictly on the strength of Nick’s songs and vision. The first album followed in late 1999 and the fledgling psychobilly scene in North America took flight shortly thereafter. Songs like “Nocturnal” and “True Romance” presaged the dark palette that would paint much of underground music in the coming decade. Now based in Los Angeles and featuring a full lineup, Tiger Army embarked upon eighteen months of touring in support of II: Power of Moonlite, including trips to Europe and Japan and sharing stages with Dropkick Murphys and UK punk pioneers The Damned. Two sold-out record release shows at the House Of Blues on the Sunset Strip marked the June, 2004 arrival of III: Ghost Tigers Rise before another year of touring. The years that followed saw accollades from outlets from The New York Times to Entertainment Weekly and continued worldwide touring. The organizers of the Stagecoach Festival and Hootenanny invited Nick to appear as a solo act at both events before he had even recorded a note of music for his debut. Nick 13 released his self-titled debut solo album with Sugar Hill Records in 2011. The record’s earnest mix of California Country and the midcentury Nashville sound with a contemporary twist earned Nick appearances at Austin City Limits and SXSW, as well as performances on several shows for Nashville’s WSM radio. While recent years have seen more focus on his solo work, 13 is emphatic that Tiger Army will return at full force when the time is right. Not a single year has passed without the band performing live. Tiger Army remains Nick 13’s vision and mission. At a time when much of contemporary rock music has been reduced to meaningless theater performed by pretenders, Tiger Army is an antidote, bracing in their authenticity. Tiger Army Never Die
The Guana Batz were part of a British wave of psychobilly that sprang up in the early '80s, around the same time that bands like the Cramps were gaining underground prominence in America, and more straightforward rockabilly revivalists like the Stray Cats and the Polecats were hitting the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. The group was formed in the English town of Feltham, in Middlesex, in 1982, with a lineup featuring vocalist Pip Hancox, guitarist Stuart Osbourne, bassist Mick White (also of the similar Meteors), and drummer Dave Turner; White, an electric bassist, was soon replaced by stand-up acoustic player Sam Sardi. Playing hopped-up rockabilly with the speed and aggression of punk rock, the Guana Batz fit nicely into the British psychobilly scene epitomized by the Meteors, the Stingrays, and other bands who played at the good-naturedly rough Klub Foot in London. As such, the Batz landed a deal relatively quickly, releasing their debut EP, You're So Fine, on Big Beat Records by the end of 1983. An appearance on the Stompin' at the Klub Foot compilation netted them a better deal with ABC/ID, which released their full-length debut, Held Down...At Last! (aka Held Down to Vinyl...At Last!), in 1985, which shot straight to the top of the UK's independent charts. A follow-up, Loan Sharks, appeared a year later, and proved an even bigger underground hit (at least in the U.K.) than its predecessor. Live over London (recorded at the Klub Foot) followed in 1987, and Rough Edges continued the group's annual release schedule in 1988. Following that album, drummer Turner was replaced by Jonny Bowler, who debuted ..ra Glide in Blue (recorded for new label World Service). While the band continued to tour the U.K. and Europe (with new bassist Mark Pennington), their initial recording career ended there, and they disbanded during the '90s. Hancox and Bowler both moved to California, where they settled and started families. The Guana Batz reunited in late 1996, however, and recorded their most recent self penned album, Powder Keg followed by the all-covers album Undercover the following year. The compilation Can't Take the Pressure was released in 2000, with a competing best-of, The Very Best of the Guana Batz, appearing in 2001.The band continues to headline major festivals around the world with their always energetic and entertaining live shows and have most recently began to build their US following with their stateside line up featuring Gino Meregillano on guitar and Alex Pappas on drums.A new album is in the works and the band continue to prove their status as a major force in the recent second wave of the high energy,fun psychobilly scene that continues to grow.
Genre: Psychobilly / Punk
Location S.G.V, California, US
Profile Views: 286784
Last Login: 1/16/2012
Member Since 10/27/2004
Record Label Smelvis Records
Type of Label Indie
Miss MUSINK 2012presented by Sullen Clothing & hosted for the 2nd year in a row by The Sullen Angels!The Sullen Angels are back to host the best model search in the industry, Miss MUSINK 2012! There will be pre-voting for all the fans, 3 LIVE preliminaries full of gorgeous inked beauties, & a final show with the top 15 tattooed models who will grace the main stage Friday, March 2nd to see who will become The NEXT Sullen Angel & earn the title of Miss MUSINK 2012 from current title holder Miss MUSINK 2011 Heather Greet. http://www.sullenclothing.com/Home/Sullen-Angels/Sullen-Angel-Heather-Miss-MusinkJoin us at the 3 LIVE Preliminaries to help us choose the top 5 per date that will make to Finals at MUSINK!Location:The Continental Room115 W. Santa Fe AvenueFullterton, CA 92832January 31stFebruary 21stFebruary 28thVoting:Voting has already begun! Each group of girls from the 3 preliminaries will have a pre-vote from our fans. The voting is hosted on Sullen Clothing's Facebook page where you can vote daily on your favorite model, top 3 from this vote are guarenteed a spot in Round 2 of their Preliminary show.Entries:The Angels are now accepting submissions through Tuesday February 21st, 2012 for Miss MUSINK 2012. You must be an Inked Beauty over the age of 18 to enter. You can submit to be the NEXT Sullen Angel and Miss MUSINK 2012 via the Sullen Angels Facebook page or via the link below. You must "like" the Angels page for it to work. If you do not have a Facebook please email at least 3 photos showing yourself & your tattoos in a classy & tasteful way to camille@sullenclothing.comThanks to all of the lovely ladies and fans participating to help find Miss MUSINK 2012!
Album opener "Right Where We Left Off" is an instant reminder of the keen self-awareness that endeared New Found Glory to millions of fans worldwide in the first place. And naming their album Not Without A Fight? That's a nod to that other side of the group Epitaph owner Brett Gurewitz called "the greatest pop-punk band in history," the side that is scrappy, that's from the do-it-yourself scene. The side of a band who probably never should have been lumped in with some of the more teeny-bop friendly fare they've often shared the rock radio and TRL charts with.
Lead single "Listen to Your Friends" flips the script by rocking a verse even catchier than its chorus; "I'll Never Love Again" boasts a killer singalong. "47" has a hooky scream that breaks new ground for the Florida-bred five-some while "Truck Stop Blues" summons the potent urgency of the burgeoning scene that New Found Glory arose from, recalling a bygone era when they shared small stages with their friends in Get Up Kids, Piebald and Saves The Day.
Not Without A Fight packs together the best elements of fan favorite albums like Sticks and Stones (2002) and Catalyst (2004) with a reinvigorated drive making for a declaration that's fresh and timely. There's pop, there's punk, there's crunch, there's those irrepressible melodies and Jordan Pundik's instantly recognizable voice is in fine form.
"Nobody in New Found Glory loves anything as much as this band," says guitarist Chad Gilbert, by way of explanation as to how they have managed to maintain the same lineup - Pundik, Gilbert, Steven Klein (guitar), Ian Grushka (bass) and Cyrus Bolooki (drums) - for over ten years. "You fight with your mom. You don't hang out with her all the time. But you love her! You're never going to hate her. We're family. It might sound cliche, but that's what it is."
That family first came together in Coral Springs, Florida in 1997. Nothing Gold Can Stay (1999) and New Found Glory (2000) became classics thanks to hard-touring and good natured relationship building the world over, which ensured the next two albums (Sticks and Stones and Catalyst) would both debut in the Top 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.
As happens all too often, the uber-successful and beloved band found themselves delivering Coming Home to a group of relative strangers who lacked the same investment in them as before. By 2006, many of the folks who worked with the band at the label had been replaced by new faces, from the president on down. "At major labels, people are always losing their jobs," Gilbert points out. "Someone can love your band one week and the next week that person is fired."
With their recording contract fulfilled and in between management, New Found Glory seized the opportunity to have some fun while weighing their options, releasing From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II (something their most ardent supporters had demanded for years) and a split EP with their alter-ego, International Superheroes Of Hardcore.
"It brought this different attention to our band that we hadn't had in a while," Gilbert says. "Through the major label years, some of those lines got blurred because of some of the things the label did representing our band. With the release on Bridge 9 Records, we were able to do things how we wanted to do them. It was awesome."
In the midst of all of this, the band continued to write their next album, which they ultimately decided to record before choosing a new label. That's where +44 / Blink 182's Mark Hoppus came in, agreeing to produce Not Without A Fight at the studio he co-owns with Travis Barker. "He's an old friend of ours," Gilbert explains. "We had no money to make the record so we wanted someone with the confidence to do the album for free and get reimbursed later."
Eventually, of course, the label situation needed sorted out, as the guys in New Found Glory have no desire to be in any kind of "business" other than than business of writing great songs, recording them and playing them live. "When we announced that we were no longer signed to Geffen two years ago, Brett Gurewitz was the first one to call me," Gilbert remembers. "'People at Epitaph are all music fans and have their shit together."
And as for that spectacular accolade from the man running their new record label home? "It's crazy!" Chad says, laughing. "The Descendents could take that crown way before we could, or Screeching Weasel, or Green Day. I don't know why he said that! He's crazy. It's flattering. It's really flattering. But I don't know what to say!"
New Found Glory's first Epitaph album has no guest appearances, no frills, nothing but fantastic songs and powerful performances. "If you really listen to our music, you can't pigeonhole it. We play music that we love." Not Without A Fight is alternately the band's most streamlined and direct but powerful and broad album thus far.
"New Found Glory is back to where we want it to be: we tour, we play music and it's from the heart."
New Found Glory All Music Guide Biography
Renowned for their energetic live shows, A New Found Glory toured up and down the East Coast in the late '90s, selling out the entire pressing of their 1997 debut EP It's All About the Girls along the way. (The EP was released by Fiddler Records, which later reissued Girls with new cover art in 2003.) The full-length debut effort Nothing Gold Can Stay followed in 1999 on Drive-Thru Records, and the album was reissued later that year when A New Found Glory signed a major label contract with MCA. Another EP, 2000s From the Screen to Your Stereo, found the boys tackling a number of cover songs; the disc also paved the way for the release of the band's first gold-selling album, the self-titled New Found Glory, which appeared later that year. The latter album marked the official debut of the band's new moniker, which dropped the indefinite article A from their original name. A high-profile tour with blink-182, an opening slot on the Warped Tour, and an appearance in the teen flick American Pie 2 helped increase New Found Glory's exposure, and they stepped back into the studio at the end of 2001 to work on a follow-up record.
The results of those recording sessions were released in the summer of 2002 as Sticks and Stones. Propelled by the hit single "My Friends Over You," NFG snagged a headlining spot for the 2002 Warped Tour and watched their album climb to gold certification. After the tour and its resulting hype, New Found Glorythen re-entered the studio with a newfound restlessness. The result, issued in May 2004, was Catalyst, which found the band's sugary punk-pop steeped in new influences ranging from hardcore to thrash to new wave. The concert DVD This Disaster: Live in London appeared later that year, documenting the band's strength as a live act.
Catalyst peaked at number three on Billboard's Top 200 and eventually went gold, propelled in part by the success of "All Downhill from Here." Hooking up with producer Thom Panunzio (Ozzy Osbourne, Tom Petty), NFG released their matured fifth full-length, Coming Home, in September 2006. As before, they immediately hit the road in support of the album, adhering to a lengthy schedule of headlining dates throughout the U.S. and U.K. with the Early November andCartel in tow. The second edition of From the Screen to Your Stereo arrived in 2007, featuring pop-punk covers of songs like Lisa Loeb's "Stay" and Simple Minds' "Don't You Forget About Me." The group then joined the roster at Epitaph Records and set to work on a new album, Not Without a Fight, with blink-182'sMark Hoppus in the producer's seat. ~ Jason Ankeny & Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
The punk-inspired quintet Yellowcard formed in Jacksonville, FL, in 1997 but didn't solidify their lineup until a move to southern California in early 2000. Comprised of vocalist/guitarist Ryan Key (who had briefly played with Cali-based Craig's Brother), vocalist/violinist Sean Mackin, guitarist Ben Harper, drummerLongineu Parsons, and bassist Warren Cooke, the band officially debuted on wax in 2001 with One for the Kids (Lobster) and returned a year later with theUnderdog EP for Fueled by Ramen. The group had a really big year in 2003, replacing Cooke with Pete Mosely (of Inspection 12), signing with Capitol, issuing Ocean Avenue on the label, and heading out for a series of Warped Tour dates with the recently added Mosely replaced by Alex Lewis. Fall and winter found Yellowcard hitting clubs with acts like Matchbook Romance and Less Than Jake.
In late 2004, Ocean Avenue was certified double platinum by the RIAA, and singles such as "Way Away," "Only One," and the title track continued to impact MTV and Top 40 radio for the rest of the year. The same year, Lewis was given his walking papers when Mosely approached the band about rejoining.Yellowcard's sophomore effort, Where We Stand, was reissued in June 2005, and Lights and Sounds was released in early 2006. Though ultimately not as well received by fans as prior albums, upon its first week of release, Lights and Sounds entered the Billboard 200 at number five and earned the number one spot on the Alternative Album chart, quickly gaining momentum on the 2.5-million-selling Ocean Avenue. Meanwhile, founding member Harper (who also runs Takeover Records) left the group amid some band controversy and was replaced by Staring Back guitarist Ryan Mendez. The band returned to the studio later that year and got to work on their fifth full-length, Paper Walls, which was released in July 2007. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
Genre: Alternative / Metal / Rock
Location Los Angeles, California, US
Profile Views: 4660
Last Login: 6/14/2011
Member Since 4/2/2009
Type of Label Unsigned
Both Maybe I'll Catch Fire and a self-titled singles collection followed in early 1999. The new millennium also included a series of changes: Glenn Porterexited in early 2000 and ex-Smoking Popes drummer Mike Felumlee madeAlkaline Trio a three-piece again. From Here to Infirmary followed on Vagrant in spring 2001 and was met with only lukewarm fan response. But a split EP released by Jade Tree the next year found the Trio in top form again alongsideHot Water Music, both bands contributing original tracks and covers of each other's songs. Good Mourning was released two years later, and the lineup by now included new drummer Derek Grant (ex-Suicide Machines, Thoughts of Ionesco). Good Mourning did well, grazing the Billboard charts and scoringAlkaline Trio spots on late-night TV and summer tours. Crimson followed in 2005 and continued the band's streak. Touring persisted over the summer, both as a headliner and in support of My Chemical Romance. A spring 2006 run (with openers Against Me!) delighted devout fans from early on with a set that mostly contained tunes from initial releases, including an entire run-through of the fan-favorite Goddamnit! By fall, Alkaline Trio had found a new home at V2 Records and began work on their next album, although label restructuring problems in January 2007 led to the band being let go before anything was released. That same month Vagrant issued the CD/DVD Remains, which rounded up B-sides and rarities, and in May it was annouced that the Trio had found a new home on Epic. ~ Mike DaRonco, All Music Guide
The roots of Against Me!'s rousing punk-folk sound lie in Tom Gabel's guitar-and-stool troubadourship around his native Gainesville, FL, beginning in 1997. The then 17-year-old Gabel performed as a solo act wherever anyone would have him, drawing much influence from early acoustic protest music. The band around him would eventually solidify by 2001 -- including guitarist James Bowman, drummer Warren Oakes, and bassist Andrew Seward -- and get considerably louder as punk bands often do. But there would always be some anarchism andBilly Bragg in the raucous braggadocio. After a few initial 12" and 7" releases,Against Me! issued the fan-favorite Reinventing Axl Rose through No Idea in 2002. The underground hit blended elements of punk, folk, and country into socially conscious and impassioned anthems for late-night basement shows and bars. Continuing their reputation of always being on the road, countless tour dates were played around the country. The slightly more polished As the Eternal Cowboy followed from Fat Wreck in 2003, and after a DVD (We're Never Going Home) and another 7", the band returned with their most mature effort to date, 2005's Searching for a Former Clarity. A subsequent headlining tour in support of the introspective and politically aggressive album saw the band proudly hitting every U.S. state. They signed to Sire Records in December 2005 and were back on the road by spring 2006 opening for the Alkaline Trio. That summer foundAgainst Me! on the main stage at Warped Tour, their first time on the festival. Though the guys were officially now on the roster at Sire, they released the live album Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live in London!!! on Fat Wreck in August 2006. Recorded while on tour in London with Murder by Death, it harnessed the band's notoriously invigorating live show as well as any album could. Finally, in July of the following year, the band's major-label debut, New Wave, a decidedly more rock-oriented record produced by Butch Vig, hit shelves. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
Hell or Highwater (originally known as The Black Cloud Collective), is the side-project that Brandon Saller (drummer/back-up vocalist for Atreyu) started after the band went on hiatus. Stepping out from behind the drums and up to vocals/guitar full-time, we see an explosive change in form for him. Their debut album “Begin Again” will be available for purchase on iTunes August 9th and you can download the first single from that album “Gimme Love”
Genre: Alternative / Indie / Rock
Location Redondo Beach, Un
Profile Views: 424180
Last Login: 1/5/2012
Member Since 4/5/2005
Website thedarlingsmusic.com
Record Label Gadsen Records