New summer anthem? I think so. I didn’t realize how close Van’s Warped Tour is! Are you ready? NVMP certainly is! 2012 will be the 10th year we tear up the tour and bring you the latest bands to check out. Stay tuned for more! Happy Summer, Happy Warped Tour, Happy Music Festival Season!!!
Secret Music’s video for “Ghost in the Graveyard” April 9, 2012
This catchy synth/guitar song from Secret Music has a flaming video portraying a break from monotony by running into fire. Ted Batchelor, the stuntman in the video, is the Guinness World Record Holder for Longest Body Burn; he leaves his wife and mundane, suburban lifestyle behind to ‘awaken the voice of his soul’ by running through the desert and lighting himself on fire.
The track was produced by Passion Pit’s Ayad Al Adhamy and is off the band’s self-titled debut, which dropped March 6th on Black Bell Records/Warner Music’s ILG. Secret Music will be touring with Middle Class Rut and Beware of Darkness starting on April 21st, see dates below.
Secret Music Spring 2012 Tour:
w/Middle Class Rut and Beware of Darkness
4/21/12 – The Juggermaut Gallup, NM
4/22/12 – The Black Sheep Colorado Springs, CO
4/24/12 – Marquis Theatre Denver, CO
4/25/12 – Club Sound Salt Lake City, UT
4/26/12 – Neurolux Boise, ID
4/27/12 – Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR
4/28/12 – T A Club Spokane, WA
4/29/12 – El Corazon Seattle, WA
5/02/12 – Fulton 55 Fresno, CA
5/03/12 – House of Blues San Diego, CA
5/04/12 – Constellation Room Santa Ana, CA
5/05/12 – Silverston Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
5/06/12 – Troubadour West Hollywood, CA
– Oz Litvac
Break Anchor’s Debut EP “Black Hearts & Blackouts” March 26, 2012
Review by Angela Blasi
Released March 20, 2012 on Paper + Plastick Records behold the debut EP from Break Anchor. This pop-punk outfit channels the spirit of East Bay sounds from a scene gone by and is fronted by the well-known Jay Navarro (Suicide Machines and Hellmouth). Comprised of his own angst and battles with the trials and tribulations of his life, this EP beautifully expresses his gritty, downtrodden yet resilient spirit. The opening track “All I Have” had me hooked from the first line; its subtle-driving guitar riff building with choral vocals only to break into a hard, driving piece that never loses momentum. Even lyrically, I enjoy the content as it reflects some of my own sentiments living in this Great Recession economy. The vocals scream, “Everything is money!” while I envision myself signing this at high volumes in the summer sun; my own fuck you to the establishment.
Without hesitation, the second track “Can We Pretend” is focused and hard-hitting from the start. Carried by the punchy bass progression, it’s a personal track that is easy to relate with. It’s raw without being unclean, passionate without being overbearing. There is a sense of belonging in these first two tracks, fantastically conveyed to the listener in a time when the definitions of success and identity are blurred. This brings me to the last track, “Failure of Epic Proportions.” “You try and convince me this is what I’ve been working for/ Time flies/ I don’t know, I work so much I don’t know you anymore/ Growing up makes us forget who we were.” Simply stated yet poignant, Navarro’s lyrics easily bring life to the heart attack feeling of measuring one’s own failures and successes. A slower track, this last song doesn’t lose focus of the other two, despite being a more emotionally charged piece. This is definitely one of those songs to listen to when feeling particularly disenfranchised and disconnected from the well-to-do establishment, seemingly oppressing us all. The song then ends with the calming serene sounds of ocean waves, as if to signify the finding of inner peace through the hell and turmoil that is self-discovery.
I’m excited to hear more from this band; their music is refreshing to hear. They have met their goal in achieving a fresh sound that is in your face while bringing to life the influences of punk rock from past days. From the first listen I was hooked and left wanting more. The EP never compromises the heart of its members, giving the listener three tracks of unadulterated feelings, eloquently stated while being melodically raw with rich hooks and riffs.
Click here to listen to Black Hearts & Blackouts
Break Anchor also recently debuted a music video for “A Failure of Epic Proportions,” watch below
Cake Fans Create New Video For “The Winter” March 23, 2012
Review by Hoverbee
Cake is known for including the average Joe in the creation of their music videos. The video for “Short Skirt/Long Jacket,” off the album Comfort Eagle and directed by lead singer John McCrea, is composed of footage presenting everyday people listening to the song and giving their reactions. Similar to that is the official video for “No Phone” off the album Pressure Chief which features members of the public wearing headphones dancing to the song. With the video for “The Winter” off the album Showroom of Compassion, the band has taken the concept a step further. Director and friend of the band Tracy Rowland presented them with the idea of including the listening audience again, only this time extending the opportunity to their global fan base. The video combines footage of nearly 200 participants singing along to the song. The massive undertaking by these fans, ranging in age from 5 to 55 and hailing from 165 different cities in 20 countries on 5 continents, is a wonderful way to express their love of Cake and to support the band. So, check it out!
The Darkness Returns? February 28, 2012
The last time the public heard anything about UK’s The Darkness was six years ago. Just when we thought we wouldn’t be graced with the sight of singer Justin Hawkins’ custom spandex suits, the band releases a brand new single called “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us.” The video features a 2-D animation of the band, giving us insight into their sense of humor and solidarity as a unit. Sort of corny yet carelessly fun, the first track off a full length release (date and name is yet to be determined) “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us” doesn’t seem to offer anything musically new from the group. Still laden with Hawkins’ signature falsetto screams and guitar god-like solo’s, it’s everything I would expect from a band that produced past hits with the same formula. Maybe the rest of the album will have more twists and turns for our listening pleasures, but as it stands this looks to be a pretty predictable album, albeit fun as hell to rock to. – Angela Blasi
The Black Pacific Debut New Video “Living With Ghosts” September 12, 2011
Review by Mark B.
The Black Pacific bring punk rock into the technological age with the debut of their new video “Living With Ghosts,” giving the public a view of the world through the eyes of the System, whose only task seems to be the paranoid spying on the public to control their moves and ensure their own survival. In this case, they‘ve taken a special interest in the lyrical truths of Lindberg and Co.
With Closed Circuit TV type glitches, binary codes and emphasized lyrics of importance flashing across the screen in hacker codec, it is an extremely visually appealing video. It gives the viewer a glimpse of the world through the eyes of the prying eyes that constantly watch us, using the wonders of technology against the public. As for the message, I was able to make more sense out of the lyrical content than the video itself (it took me two good views to really understand the visual messages). Here’s what I gathered from the video: Big Brother is always watching, the over-consumption of goods (oil in particular), is leading to our own destruction at the hands of greed and dependency and it is unclear who is actually to blame- the System that attempts to steer our lives, or the public who constantly gets abused because they allow it to happen, making themselves the root of their own problems. So who really is the enemy?
The most important message from the band comes through the words “ghosts are in the machine,” which flashes across the screen just before the start of the song. If you understand the real meaning of the term (if not, by all means look it up) it serves as a reminder that although we are individuals, having our own minds and taking our own courses of action, our lives are very much within the view of the public no matter where we are or what we do. There is always someone or something watching, and in this case it’s the System in our nation, our Ghost in the machine, the enemy of the people that attempts to control the course of our lives through any means necessary.
All in all, a fantastic video by the Black Pacific. Jim Lindberg’s lyrics have never been more sharp and biting, and he’s found just the right people to turn his words into a startlingly striking, yet bleak reality.
The Black Pacific is coming to your town (possibly) soon! Here is a list of their current tour dates:
9/27/11-Atlantic City, NJ- House of Blues*
9/28/11-CliftonPark, NY-Northern Lights*
9/29/11-Toronto, ON- TheSoundAcademy**
9/30/11- Québec City , QC- Agora Port de Québec**
10/01/11-Montréal,QC-CEPSUM -Univ.ofMontreal**
10/02/11-London,ON-John Labatt Centre**
10/4/11-Thunderbay,ON-Thunder BayCommunity Auditorium**
10/06/11-Winnipeg,MB-MTS Centre**
10/07/11-Saskatoon,SK-Credit Union Centre**
10/08/11-Edmonton,AB-Rexall Place**.
10/09/11-Calgary, AB- Scotiabank Saddledome**
10/11/11-Victoria,BC-Save On Foods Memorial Centre**
10/12/11- Vancouver , BC- Pacific Coliseum**
*supporting Rise Against
**supporting Rise Against and Flogging Molly
Happy Friday! May 13, 2011
Rock the hell out of your weekend!
– TNT
“American Trash” by Innerpartysystem. Yes, this is my nice way of telling you that you are not the most important person in America. Go live your own life instead of idolizing reality TV non-stars, turning your skin orange by laying in cancer boxes and pretending your hot shit when you’re not. Actually, this is my way of telling our non-poser readers to tell all the posers out there, or better yet “American Trash,” to get a life and live it.
“Sail” by AWOLNATION. I heard this song on 101.9 WRXP on my drive home from what felt like the longest week ever and it made my day, perhaps even my weekend. Great song and video.
New Animated Video by Cake For “Long Time” April 15, 2011
Video Review by Hoverbee
Click Here to watch the video for "Long Time" at MTV.com
Cake has released a video for the second single, “Long Time,” off of Showroom of Compassion. The animated music video was created by French production company Callicore Films, an art studio that focuses on CG Art and the resistance against “the cultural dictatorship of media.” Founded by distinguished French artist Laurent Mercier and his partners Linda Mercier and Xavier Semen, Callicore has worked with John Lee Hooker Jr., Arrested Development, The Buzzcocks, Marky Ramon and more. Their collaboration with Cake resulted in the sad story of a vagabond and his monkey who have been imprisoned for going against the grain and not following the same road as others. The video mimics the lyrics of “Long Time” by cutting together scenes of the imprisoned vagabond and his monkey, flashbacks of happier days when they were free and an image of a ticking clock. In the end of the video, while being transported to their execution, the vagabond breaks through a panel in the truck finding a way to escape, but is unable to fit through the hole. He realizes his monkey friend will fit through the hole and sacrifices himself by setting his monkey friend free. Although a sad story, the video is a fitting visual companion for the song.
Deryk Whilbley of Sum 41 Says New Album Will Be Darker February 19, 2011
Sum 41 announced an album entitled Screaming Bloody Murder due out March 29th. Front-man Deryk Whilbley says it’s going to be “darker”; I have listened to the new single and if I had to compare it to another band’s style, I would say it sounded like Bullet for my Valentine, minus the screaming. “Screaming Blood Murder” is a solid single for the album and I think more good can come from it. Deryk was going through a divorce with Avril Lavigne while writing the album and said it affected his song writing. Whilbley explains “The thing that helped me make this record, or gave me the freedom to do what I wanted to do, was that I just said fuck everybody. I don’t give a shit about radio, I don’t give a shit about press, I don’t care what critics say about this record. All I care about is the band and the fans. People will come to our shows regardless, we don’t need anyone.” I think this is a very effective approach towards writing music. Personally, I like darker styles of music but from Sum 41 this could either turn out really bad or sound amazing. After all Sum 41 is a punk/rock band that had some alternative metal moments earlier in their career, which was a very successful style for them. When the new album is released I will certainly be purchasing it, but for everyone else, listen to the single first. I have a feeling some of their loyal fans might lose interest.
New Music and Videos February 8, 2011
“Cameras” by Matt and Kim
What makes a great pair? A phenomenal song with a video that keeps your full attention! I love the catchy pop hooks that keep me grooving and I’m loving the sounds of the fight behind the song, what a great addition. The chorus gives me the impression that the song was meant for none of this to be caught on camera, in a way telling us to go live our own lives; not everything needs documentation. “No time for cameras, we’ll use our eyes instead / No time for cameras, we’ll be gone when we’re dead / No time for cameras, we’ll use our minds instead / I see flashes of gold.” Well said Matt and Kim.
“Born Under A Bad Sign” by Moneybrother
I can’t get enough of this song! I love to listen to it while working out. It has a familiar sound, like Kaiser Chiefs meet The Clash. NVMP will be sure to let you know how Moneybrother is live, as they will be opening up for Flogging Molly on the Green 17 Tour, more details to follow.
“What You Know” by Two Door Cinema Club
I am loving this indie track. The video is fun to watch, as in “what the hell am I watching here?” all while falling in love with the track. I can’t put my finger on it as of why, but when I watch, all I can think of is the chick in that Robert Palmer video for “Addicted to Love.” Oh well, just enjoy some new music.
“Sail” by AWOLNATION
If you haven’t head of AWOLNATION by now, then wise up fools! Finally, a new video has been released, but maybe you can blame it on my ADD. The piano and the la-la-la’s tie the song all together, with the ‘sail”s stretched out ever so slightly. The electronic dance beats with an alternative vibe leaves us craving more from AWOLNATION. We have no idea what will happen next in the video, but we hope to find out soon.
Nevermind The Posers 
