Patrick O’Connell, guitarist and back up vocalist for the band Sparks The Rescue, is leaving the band. The leave is definite, but word on why exactly he is departing has yet to been exposed. Official statement can be found on their MySpace shortly.

Alt-punk pioneers Alkaline Trio will be auctioning an electric guitar used in recording their latest album, to raise money for the defense fund of Damien Echols (who is on death row), Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr., who were convicted of murdering three eight-year-old boys in 1994.

The special Japanese manufactured guitar is a black 2009 Fender HH Jaguar with a Gibson ‘57 Humbucker in the bridge used on most of the recording of THIS ADDICTION and is featured in the photos within the album and has been used (until now) at almost every show thus far on Alkaline Trio’s THIS ADDICTION tour.

The guitar is signed by all three-band members; Matt Skiba (vocals, guitar), Derek Grant (drums), and Dan Andriano (vocals, bass).

The auction will last for 17 days, from March 22 to April 8th, one day for each year the West Memphis Three have spent behind bars. June 3rd will mark the 17th year anniversary that Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin have been behind bars.

The starting bid for the instrument has been set at $999.

Minus the Bear had announced their 2010 North American Tour on twitter, fan pre-sale starts tomorrow! http://minusthebear.com/2010/03/springtour10/

A message from Foxy Shazam:

hello, you guys know about www.ChatRoulette.com? it’s this underground social website thing that connects strangers around the world through their webcams.  whoever uses it can meet thousands of people everyday! It goes from kittens playing one second and then amateur porn the next. It can get  pretty gross, yet adorable.

So that got us thinking- If this site is nothing but a place for people trying to get lucky, then lets put a little Foxy in their lives! So, for one week, starting Monday, March 8th, our new album will stream in its entirety, letting you guys hear our self-titled album a month before it hits stores on April 13th. Try to get lucky and land on the Foxy Shazam webcam and you’ll get an advance listen to the new record, but the only way to hear it is to spin the virtual wheel and get lucky.  Good luck!

Don’t want to spin the wheel in fear of perverts? Then check out our digital and physical pre-order at http://foxyshazam.com on Tuesday, March 9th.  When you pre-order you’ll get two tracks- ”Wanna Be Angel” and “Unstoppable.”  Also, look out for Yahoo Music to be premiering our new music video for “Oh Lord” on Wednesday, March 17th!!!

bye

FOXY

Buffalo’s riotous rock group Every Time I Die have unveiled a sweat drenched, whisky soaked new video for “After One Quarter of a Revolution” from their recently released album, New Junk Aesthetic.  Compiled of clips from an insanely ferocious show at The White Rabbit in San Antonio, TX, the video is a two minute ripper of stage dives and face melting shredding that will make fans salivate to see them live and pick up the album.

Watch “After One Quarter of a Revolution” now: http://tinyurl.com/ybajenl

“After One Quarter of a Revolution” is the latest video from the band’s blazing hot new album, which has been considered by many critics and fans as their best release in years.  “New Junk Aesthetic is the most complete Every Time I Die album yet. It’s the kind of album that will maintain lifelong fans, gain new fans and win back the fans that may have thought ETID had fallen off their game. The truth is Every Time I Die has never sounded better, and New Junk Aesthetic, musically speaking, should be classified as a weapon of mass destruction,” (Absolutepunk.net).

Witness the “destruction” by watching their new video now and catching them on tour this spring and summer!

Every Time I Die Tour Dates:
March 10 – Syracuse, NY – Lost Horizon (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 11 – Poughkeepsie, NY – The Chance (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 12 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 13 – Kinston, ON – Time To Laugh (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 14 – London, ON – Cowboys (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 15 – Kitchener, ON – Elements (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 16 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 17 – Iowa City, IA – Blue Moose (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 19 – Winnipeg, MB – The Garrick (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 20 – Regina, SK – Distrikt (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 21 – Calgary, AB – The Republik (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 22 – Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 24 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 25 – Spokane, WA – The BLVD (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 26 – Boise, ID – The Venue (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 27 – Eugene, OR – WOW Hall (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 28 – Sacramento, CA – The Boardwalk (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 29 – Sparks, NV – New Oasis (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 30 – Las Vegas, NV – Area 702 Skatepark (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
March 31 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
April 1 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theatre (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
April 2 – Lubbock, TX -Tequila Jungle (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
April 3 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
April 5 – Louisville, KY – Headliners (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
April 6 – Erie, PA – The Hangout (w/Four Year Strong, Polar Bear Club, Trapped Under Ice)
July 2 – Houston, TX – The Showgrounds (Warped Tour)
July 3 – Dallas, TX – Superpages.com Center (Warped Tour)
July 5 – St. Louis, MO – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (Warped Tour)
July 6 – Indianapolis, IN – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Warped Tour)
July 7 – Burgettstown, PA – Post Gazette Pavillion (Warped Tour)
July 8 – Cleveland, OH – Time Warner Cable Amphitheatre (Warped Tour)
July 9 – Toronto, ON – Arrow Hall (Warped Tour)
July 10 – Montreal, QC – Parc Jean Drapeau (Warped Tour)
July 11 – Hartford, CT – Comcast Theater (Warped Tour)
July 13 – Mansfield, MA – Comcast Center (Warped Tour)
July 14 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake P.A.C. (Warped Tour)
July 15 – Scranton, PA – Toyota Pavilion (Warped Tour)
July 16 – Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center (Warped Tour)
July 17 – Uniondale, NY – Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Warped Tour)
July 18 – Oceanport, NJ – Monmouth Park Racetrack (Warped Tour)
July 20 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion (Warped Tour)
July 21 – Virginia Beach, VA – Virginia Beach Amphitheatre  (Warped Tour)
July 22 – Charlotte, NC – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Charlotte (Warped Tour)
July 23 – St. Petersburg, FL – Vinoy Park (Warped Tour)
July 24 – West Palm Beach, FL – Cruzan Amphitheater (Warped Tour)
July 25 – Orlando, FL – Central Florida Fairgrounds (Warped Tour)
July 26 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheater (Warped Tour)
July 28 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center (Warped Tour)
July 29 – Milwaukee, WI – Marcus Amphitheater (Warped Tour)
July 30 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park (Warped Tour)
July 31 – Tinley Park, IL – First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre (Warped Tour)
Aug 1 – Shakopee, MI – Canterbury Park (Warped Tour)
Aug 2 – Bonner Springs, KS – Sandstone Amphitheatre (Warped Tour)
Aug 5 – Calgary, AB – Race City Speedway (Warped Tour)
Aug 7 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah State Fairgrounds (Warped Tour)
Aug 8 – Denver, CO – Invesco Field (Warped Tour)
Aug 11 – Pomona, CA – Pomona Fairplex (Warped Tour)
Aug 12 – Marysville, CA – Sleep Train Amphitheatre (Warped Tour)
Aug 13 – Nampa, ID – Idaho Center Amphitheatre (Warped Tour)
Aug 14 – George, WA – Gorge Amphitheater (Warped Tour)
Aug 15 – Hillsboro, OR – Washington County Fairgrounds (Warped Tour)

In celebration of three decades of groundbreaking music, So-Cal’s quintessential punk rock group Bad Religion has announced plans to record a live album, 30 Years Live, during their upcoming spring 2010 House of Blues tour and offer it as a free “thank you” to loyal fans for a limited time only on May 18.

Beginning today, fans are invited to sign up at www.badreligion.com for a free digital download of 30 Years Live that will be available for a limited time only beginning May 18.  Sign up now to reserve your download!

The yearlong celebration continues as Bad Religion prepares to enter the studio to record their 15^th studio album which is expected for release this fall.  In a recent interview, prolific singer/professor/author Greg Graffin disclosed new information about Bad Religion’s recording plans and the upcoming tour as well as his forthcoming book “Anarchy Evolution” which is due out this fall via HarperStudio.  Read more here: http://tinyurl.com/yhrouy9

Buy your tickets for Bad Religion’s upcoming anniversary tour here and sign up for the limited digital download of 30 Years Live here.

Bad Religion Tour Dates: (More dates to be added soon)
Mar 17 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
Mar 18 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
Mar 19 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
Mar 20 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
Mar 21 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
Mar 24 – Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
Mar 25 – Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues
Mar 26 – Las Vegas, CA – House of Blues
Mar 27 – Las Vegas, CA – House of Blues
Mar 31 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
Apr 1 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
Apr 2 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
Apr 3 – Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues

Interview with: Matthew Mcginn
Interview by: Shannah Lauren

When and how did you start playing music?
I actually got a piano when I was 3 years old, and started taking piano lessons. It actually taught me a lot! And it helped me eventually learn guitar on my own.

I know from experience how piano teachers can be, not good! How was yours?
[laughs] I know what you mean! My piano teacher would actually hit my forearm with a rod if I didn’t have perfect structure. It actually did teach me to keep my hands structured though! [laughs]

What bands influenced you the most growing up?
I had a lot of christian music influence me growing up actually, but I remember when I was in the fifth grade I was going through my “rebelling” stage and started listening to the radio. I remember the first song I liked was “Slide” by Goo Goo Dolls , and then just a lot of 90’s rock and definitely Matchbox 20 really influenced me.

You used to be known as Courage Call, why did you switch to be known as Matthew Mcginn?
It was just a lot of drama to the name, a lot of baggage. Especially when it came to the acoustic songs that I would write, it just didn’t make sense to be playing them as Courage Call so I made the switch and it was the right thing to do.

How did your fans take the switch?
I’m actually really glad that everyone took it nice, and had a signal of Courage Call. There was just a lot of weird things happening, especially with labels so it was good to have a fresh start.

You also switched styles a bit, changing from alternative to pop/country sound, what influenced you to make that transition?
Courage Call was supposed to sound like that actually! [laughs] I was the 90’s pop guy, and Pat was the rock guy. I loved being able to do that, but I wanted to write the songs that inspired me the most, which was acoustic songs. It’s what I always wanted to write, and I knew that it was what I needed to do.

How do you find it being an independent solo artist? Is it a lot less restricting?
Absolutely! It’s a learning experience. Having a label and management at one point had taught me a lot, and it builds character. Plus, it feels good being able to do this on my own and any accomplishment that I have I know is because I got myself there.

You just released your new EP, Under A Million Stars, which I thought was brilliant. how was it received by former and newer fans?
So far so good! [laughs] There is people who still love “Change Your Mind” by Courage Call here and there, but I’ve moved forward and I hope that they can accept that. I’m happy with the people who support me and the music that I write, and I love to see a lot of new faces.

As an upcoming artist, what are you planning for the new year?
I plan on making another EP called “Winter”, which are going to be a lot sadder songs. Surely after that, at the beginning of summer I’ll be giving out my free EP, because I feel that I can reach more people that way. The plan of every month is to give away a free song, which actually I’m hoping to have one done by Valentines Day.

As your own booking agent and manager, do you find it difficult to balance the two?
Sometimes! From time to time it can be a problem financially, because honestly it costs a lot to make music. At the same time, I learned a lot when it came to having all of that before, because instead you get to decide what it sounds like, and your opinions don’t get deleted. Instead of it being a business thing, I’m living my dream.

You interact with your fans a lot on via MySpace, in terms of videos of your songs and just released a free song for fans to download which is very unique. Do you feel it as important to be on a personal level with your fans?
The fact that I can make music and CD’s is a blessing, and if there is someone on the end supporting what I do then I let them know how much I appreciate them.

Now being 2010, should the fans keep an eye out for any touring or new music?
Little of both! I’ll be doing a College Tour in the South East actually. Then, 98% most of the month of March I will be doing a national run, hitting smaller venues and the South West. I hope to go out again in summer, but I plan on being on tour at the end of summer and all of the fall. To say the least, lots of touring!

After days of weather drier than a nun’s EXCUSE ME the Take Action Tour was coming to town. Toronto, that is. It was wet, freezing, and the excitement was buzzing in the stagnant air. Since I was unaware that I would be attending the show for certain, I was unprepared for what I was about to witness. Naw, I’m kidding, that’s a huge exaggeration. Years of being an active concert-goer, music-aficionado, and now photographer has prepared me for the friendliest and fiercest of chagrins.  (faces). One thing I was not used to though, was the amount of metal visible on fans’ faces. Never in my life have I seen more. Oh wait, did you think I meant piercings? I’m talking about braces. One other important observation. Well, it’s not exactly important, it’s just pathetic. Two guys, both in grade 12, were trying to impress a group of naïve girls, desperately demanding attention of any sort. “We just had nothing better to do on a Tuesday night,” said the “I’m the product of a Korean and Italian making babies” 17-year-old, who donned a burgundy American Apparel sweater and a dress coat. “yea, we go to these so much that I don’t even care anymore”, said the tall blonde who was constantly looking around for a set of better looking fangirls to prey on. Behind me was something refreshing—a girl genuinely excited to be there and completely oblivious as to what was awaiting her inside. “I have seat number 36! Nobody better sit there, or I’ll punch them in the face.” Important note: the Phoenix Concert Theatre is standing room only. I decided to break the news to the girl who was probably expecting a Billy Joel type seating arrangement. “oh, ok” was her response. She played it off quite well, I must say.  Upon eavesdropping on the conversation between her friend and her father, I thought I might ask her a few questions. “Is this your first concert?” I said. “uhhhh yea, it is. “ “IT’s not mine, though!” piped up her eager friend. To be honest, I don’t care because I wasn’t asking you. “Oh, that’s really cool! Who did you come to see?” “Only one band. Mayday Parade!” I informed her about my past experiences with seeing the band and only told her good things, hoping it would heighten her already unparalleled excitement. I was done with that girl and continued my pursuit in finding my friend in order to butt in front (sorry people with integrity who never skip the line). I heard her tell her father about all the concerts he would be driving her to, most notably “OMG CHRISTOFER DREW” and “Dad, do you know where Arrow Hall is? That’s where Warped Tour is, on the 9^th of July. I even know the date!” (I’m pretty sure it’s the 10^th, sugar) Finally, I got a hold of my friend Alesia, who was pretty close to the front of the line. Hell, in that cold, I was NOT complaining! The usual “Hey, listen to my band!” dudes were hounding the crowd, asking receptive teens to put on a set of headphones and check out their latest track. I, being the easily annoyed person that I am, devised a plan. I told my friends to play along and go with what I’m saying. As the two guys from Lacerda approached me, I began to rant about how fucking cold it is in my loudest and proudest Croatian voice, trying to deter them from coming to talk to me. Then, the unspeakable, the unthinkable, the highly undesirable of all encounters happens: one of the guys understands me. “Oh, sada moras nas slusati!” [translation: now you have to listen to us!] says the band guy with the jet black hair. “No fucking way,” I say, “this did not just happen to me.” Embarrassed, I elect to talk to the guys, as my friends piss their tights and jeans about what just happened. “Do you have Twitter?” one asks. “Of course!” Friendly reminder: almost nothing goes undocumented these days, fellow mischievous friends. I put the headphones on and think, “hey, this band isn’t all that bad.” And then they suckered me into buying a cd. If I like it, I’ll review it and tell you guys about it… A few more minutes pass and we finally make it to the covered portion of the line-up, the highly coveted waiting spot for anyone who has ever attended a concert at the Phoenix in the blistering cold and heavy precipitation.

After hearing the security bitch and moan about having to check coats in as soon as we enter the venue, I was extremely stoked to get my ticket and photopass and GTF in there. I see a fellow photographer at the front of the coat check, and he informs me that we must pay the 2.25 to have our shit hung up in a sketchy walk in closet. I can already hear There for Tomorrow storming the stage, and I’m thinking “shit, seriously? I have to wait in this long ass line just to have to walk back down it to get to the stage?” Yes, I’m that lazy. Don’t screw around with me and unnecessary distances to be made by foot. Upon paying up and having my heavy coat handled, I happily made my way into the concert hall. And then I thought, “great. I already missed a band for coat check.” As I made my way across the back end right before the barricade restrains the underagers from the legal, I remembered how excited I am to be turning 19. SERENITY AND SCREWDRIVERS NOW! Anyway, a security guard of great stature looks extremely fed up. “The Coat Check is NOT HERE! You guys are not even in the right line! Fuck, you might as well just join the crowd.” Following that bold statement, a rush of adoration YAYs fills the 10 metres in my immediate vicinity. I squeezed my way through avid fans, avid eaters, and avid statue-imitators. For Christ’s sake, you’re at a concert. Expect to be pushed around. Don’t mind a 5’4 girl who’s half your size trying to smoothly pass through, k? As a slew of girls cheer, chant, holler and make extremely sexual sounds as they await the next band’s jump to the stage, A Rocket to the Moon takes the platform. I quickly maneuver my way through the packed house to get to the photo pit, a place where your dreams are made or broken. Yea, I’m talking to you, bass player. Nobody’s ever going to get a good shot of you if you stay in that secluded corner with horrible lighting. The gravity defying fans cause the floor to shake as the band tears up the stage. They played crowd favourites “Annabelle” and “Dakota” and I can assure you, every member of that audience wishes either of those songs were named after them. Their reaction was enough evidence to prove that these boys have a pretty decent following. I think it’s safe to say that without such a strong and positive reaction from the fans, ARTTM would not have put on such a pleasing set. After break, Mayday Parade hit the stage, prompting the faithful to once again take action and go nuts. Derek Sanders piloted the band through tracks from the highly acclaimed A Lesson in Romantics and new songs from their most-recent album Anywhere But Here. Though a fan, I think it’s safe to say that my fellow part-takers enjoyed the old hits a little more than the new.
I might add, the last time I made it out to the Take Action Tour was in March 2008, with a completely different group mentality. Though all were there to have a good time, I wasn’t one of the goers prepared to be thrown into the mosh pit. In case you don’t know, the line-up was much more intimidating and brute. The Human Abstract, The Bled, From First to Last, August Burns Red. Need I say more? Yeah, people rushed the stage while Every Time I Die tore it up. The boy to girl ratio must have been 5:1, whereas tonight’s concert was just the opposite. The tour may be going into a separate direction, but it’s still got a solid following. The most important thing is that proceeds go to a good cause. Take Action, everyone. Don’t be passive. Be Active!

UPDATE:

The recently completed ninth annual Take Action Tour just wrapped up with one last triumphant hurrah in Dallas on March 2, 2010. The tour, whose mission is to create a better world, continues to inspire and make change in a proactive manner.

The Impact of the 2010 Take Action Tour:

• Over $60,000 raised to help further the mission of Patrick Pedraja and his organization Driving For Donors

• Over 30,000 fans in 31 cities proved that the world can be made a better place

• Tour reaches goal enlisting over 2010 fans to sign up for the National Marrow Registry!

• Nearly 8,000 copies of the Take Action Volume 9 compilation sold

Headlining band We The Kings, along with Mayday Parade, A Rocket To The Moon, There For Tomorrow, Stereo Skyline, and Call The Cops united an impressive amount of fans across the U.S. and Canada that cared about more than just attending a great show. The active and engaged audience stood up to make a difference by raising funds, awareness and actual life saving donor volunteers for Driving For Donors (an organization started by now 14-year-old Patrick Pedraja who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 10) whose mission is to sign up people to the National Marrow Registry.

Take Action 2010 raised over $60,000 for Patrick Padraja’s mission through the unique model of donating 10% of each ticket sold to charity, along with other fundraising efforts including donating 5% of the suggested retail price of each Take Action Volume  9 compilation sold.

Hopeless/Sub City would like to thank all the bands and labels involved this year that brought the message directly to fans that each one of us can take action and make the world a better place.

Take Action looks forward to continue to support Patrick Pedraja and Driving For Donors’ mission of saving lives and everyone at Hopeless Records & Sub City Non Profit is grateful for the opportunity to organize this tour to benefit him and be involved in such a great cause in even a small way. Hopeless Records & Sub City Non Profit is hard at work on the next Take Action Tour and will be announcing the next benefiting charity soon. All The latest information can always be found at Takeactiontour.com.

There are over 5,000 bands signed up for the 14th annual Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands. Vote for your favorite!

Less Than Jake just posted a couple of shows in CO, MA, FL, and NV. Check out their MySpace.