Posts Tagged ‘Red Leader’


14.01.2009

Scream Hello: Everything Is Always Still Happening

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

Teaser EPs that come before full lengths are obviously meant to entice the listener to pick up the LP when it finally hits the streets. Sometimes the idea works, sometimes not. Scream Hello’s Smart & Stupid EP definitely worked. The EP perfectly encompassed the nuances and eclecticism of the band. Simply put it showed all Scream Hello was doing right. Unfortunately, while Smart & Stupid did its job, the LP follow up, Everything Is Always Still Happening, falls a bit short of the high expectations raised by the proceeding EP.

The LP starts off promisingly with the rocking and expressive “35 Plums” and “You Have Good Taste”. The six-minute “The Kicker” twist and turns but never really finds its way through all the tempo changes. “Bullets” is raging but always makes me do a double take when it comes on. The song sticks out like a sore thumb on Everything Is Always Still Happening. “Cocoon” and “Golden Anniversary” follow the band’s endearing formula with telling lyrics and an undeniable charm. Unfortunately, the band doesn’t ever touch on the simple brilliance of “rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” from the Smart & Stupid EP. But they make up for it on the album’s last three songs. The seven minute plus “We Don’t Exist” pretty much nails the band’s evolving sound with the addition of some metal riffs for good measure. “Vinegar & Baking Soda” makes an encore return from the Smart & Stupid EP and is certainly a welcome addition. The album ends with the six minute “20/21″ and I love the lyrics. We all want an adventure with meaning/So go and get it, if you want it/It’s there. Everything Is Always Still Happening is certainly an adventurous listen.

Scream Hello’s Smart & Stupid EP showcased a band truly on the brink of something special. The uneven Everything Is Always Still Happening proves the band may not be quite there just yet. But, that’s OK. There is certainly enough ambition here to to get excited about the band’s future. Frankly, I have no idea what Scream Hello’s next release will sound like. And that might be the most exciting conclusion of all.

Full Disclosure: This band’s press is handled by Beartrap PR. I work with Beartrap PR but I do not represent this band. These are my honest opinions. No shit, I swear!

Genre: Indie/Pop/Rock

RIYL: Hey Mercedes, Piebald, Braid

Label: Red Leader Records

35 Plums

01%2035%20Plums.mp3

Cocoon

07%20Cocoon.mp3

www.myspace.com/screamhello

05.12.2008

Polar Bear Club – More Touring

posted by Will

in Music News

POLAR BEAR CLUB – Touring the World (sort of)
——————————————————-

* U.S. Shows with Fireworks begin on Friday (Dec 05 – 16)
* Canadian dates with Cancer Bats (Dec 17 – 21)
* UK / European tour with The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner (Feb 02 – Mar 04)

——————————————————-

No rest for New York’s Polar Bear Club as they continue with a heavy touring schedule in support of their Red Leader debut, Sometimes Things Just Disappear (released 03/11/08).

Beginning on Friday, the boys will leave for nearly two weeks of shows in the U.S. with Fireworks, immediately followed by five days in Canada with Cancer Bats. Then in February, the band will travel overseas for a month of shows in the UK and Europe with The Gaslight Anthem and Frank Turner.

While it’s not exactly a “continuous” world tour, 14 countries in the span of three months counts for something, right? Consider that in that same time period, I will have traveled to exactly one state. Maybe two if I decide to drive ten minutes due south.

If you’d like to attend any of these shows or speak with Polar Bear Club, drop me a line here.

Tour
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DEC 05 – Syracuse, NY @ Westcott C.C. w/ Another Breath, Like Wolves, more
DEC 06 – Albany, NY @ SUNY Albany w/ Forfeit, After The Fall
DEC 07 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott w/ Forfeit
DEC 08 – New Haven, CT @ Peoples Center
DEC 09 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire w/ Fireworks
DEC 10 – Baltimore, MD @ Charm City Arts Space w/ Fireworks
DEC 11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks w/ Fireworks
DEC 12 – Indianapolis, IN @ The ESJ w/ Fireworks
DEC 13 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s w/ Fireworks
DEC 14 – Romeo, MI @ Static Age w/ Fireworks
DEC 16 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place w/ Fireworks
DEC 17 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Babylon w/ Cancer Bats, The Holly Springs Disaster
DEC 18 – Montreal, Quebec @ Underworld w/ Cancer Bats, The Holly Springs Disaster
DEC 19 – Kingston, Ontario @ Time To Laugh w/ Cancer Bats, The Holly Springs Disaster
DEC 20 – London, Ontario @ Rumrunners w/ Cancer Bats, The Holly Springs Disaster
DEC 21 – Toronto, Ontario @ The Mod Club w/ Cancer Bats, The Holly Springs Disaster
FEB 02 – Portsmouth, UK @ Wedgewood Rooms w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 03 – Birmingham, UK @ Academy w/ w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 04 – Manchester, UK @ Academy 2 w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 05 – Bristol, UK @ Academy 2 w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 06 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 08 – London, UK @ Shepherds Bush Empire (NME Awards) w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 10 – Koln, Germany @ Underground w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 11 – Berlin, Germany @ Kato w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 12 – Malmo, Sweden @ KB w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 13 – Gothenburg, Sweden @ Sticky Fingers w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 15 – Helsinki, Finland @ Tavastia w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 17 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Debaser Slussen w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 18 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Lille Vega w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 19 – Hamburg, Germany @ Knust w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 20 – Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schlachthof w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 21 – Munich, Germany @ 59:1 w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 22 – Vienna, Austria @ Flex w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 24 – Milan, Italy @ Zoe Club w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 25 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Mascotte w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 27 – Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique Orangerie w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 28 – Groningen, Netherlands @ Vera w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
MAR 01 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
MAR 02 – Norwich, UK @ Waterfront w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
MAR 03 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock CIty w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
MAR 04 – Dublin, Ireland @ The Academy w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner

Listen to Burned Out In A Jar (Free MP3)!

- Jam-packed with ace, life-affirming tunes for fans of Rise Against, Hot Water Music, Propagandhi and great, gruff punk anthems in general.Rock Sound
- PBC has something special – an original voice – and the album is one that can be respected by fans of indie, hardcore and punk alike.Wonkavision
- This immensely talented quintet have all the poise of seasoned veterans. Scary thing is, they’re only just beginning.Alternative Press
- One my favorite albums to come out this year and quite possibly one of my favorite albums of all time.ScenPoint Blank
- Packing unrelenting power and passion…Sometimes Things Just Disappear has classic written all over it.Exclaim

26.06.2008

Scream Hello: Smart & Stupid EP

posted by Bradley

in Music Reviews

There was a time when music was simpler. Bands kept their names to 5 syllables or less, adjectives and hyphens were mysteriously absent from genre designations, and file sharing was more trouble than it was worth on a 56k dial up connection. Bill Clinton was President of the United States; Bob Nanna was the pinnacle of musical influence.

Nearly a decade has passed since Braid’s Frame and Canvas and Piebald’s If ft Weren’t for Venetian Blinds it Would be Curtains for Us All. It took less than 20 minutes for Scream Hello’s latest EP Smart & Stupid to prove that many of the so called “ indie evolutions” that happened in between then and now were little more than pleasurable distractions. Less than 20 minutes to bring me back to the days when I was more concerned with getting laid than making a mortgage payment. Bravo.

Somehow, through an amazing act of balance, Scream Hello manage to project their obvious influences while maintaining a uniqueness all their own. Hooks that will echo in your head for days, smart lyrics, proficient vocals, all served up with an enthusiasm and air of fellowship; one that is seemingly absent in many bands as they struggle for a foothold in a fickle industry that will chew you up and spit you out faster than you can take the exclamation mark out of your name. Whether these New Jersey boys care much remains to be seen, but damnit if they aren’t having a blast in the meantime.

And contrary to the beliefs of some of the more aggressive reviewers out there, including the piano ballad “rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” on this EP does not correlate with the “Stupid” in it’s title. In overhearing my umpteenth playing, my wife casually stated that it made her heart swell. And suddenly, like magic, the mortgage payments took a backseat and I was concerned with getting laid once again.

Everybody wins.

Genre: Indie/Pop/Rock

RIYL: Hey Mercedes, (old) Piebald, Braid

Label: Red Leader Records

Breakin’ Shit

02%20Breakin%27%20Shit.mp3

www.myspace.com/screamhello