our school system is fucked... By Katie Clark of Underground Operations
honestly.
i got an email from an eager young band today. Don't get me wrong... this is something I normally wouldn't do buuuuuuut this got me so fuming mad... you know the type of mad that makes you wanna write a letter to someone? Well, this is my letter...
I'm not the best speller in the world... this is why i thank god every day for spell check. However, as someone who completed high school and dabbled in the post secondary world, I understand the basics of grammar and spelling... especially when sending a letter that is of somewhat professional form. spell check has been created for our advantage... use it for Pete's sake.
I just don't get how someone with the lack of skills as what I'm about to show you could possibly graduate high school. What is the school system doing for the youth of today?... seriously.
here you are:
"Helloo we are a power pop punk band from Toronto, Ont called Fire and Sound we are a three piece band our ages are between 17 and 18 years of age we are yong tallent our band has been together for 1 year. We are playing alot of shows in Toronto we are trying to get on the show Dis Band We also followed some of the 2009 Warped Tour playing for the lines. We are working on some amazing new music and we are in the studio recording 5 new songs this week we will have a 12 songs demo when its finished. We just finished high school and we honestly want to be one of the biggest band in the world. We are trying to get our fan bace big and we were wondering if you could check us out and maby we could play a show or open for any bands if possible we wont dissapoint. Hope to hear back. "
Lately I've been learning that training a puppy teaches you more patience than booking a tour ever could - the question to be asked is, which will be more rewarding? If the day comes that I have to pick up Scott Flats shit off the sidewalk, we'll have our answer. Until then, eyes on the road..
First stop, North By NorthEast Music Festival - http://www.nxne.com . After a sweaty meeting of $3.50 caesar's and sunburns, the punk rock powerhouse that is Juicebox - http://juiceboxdotcom.com - and yours truly decided to throw a kick-off party for the ages, or at least until that 4am last call bell rings. I'll spare you the fine print, but if you're in Toronto next week ;)
From there, dragging our asshole parade to Scene Fest in St. Catharines, ON on June 27th - Pat Murphy being the dude that he is put together a pretty rad day out and was kind enough to have a handful of our bands in on the action. Do we feel like listing them all, no, go find out here - http://www.scenemusicfestival.com
A few days later, just to the right of the mountains in Calgary, AB you'll find us somewhere in the thick of Sled Island Music Festival. I don't even know how to attempt to explain the 4 days of music in store that Zak Pashak (soon to be Alderman Zak Pashak) whipped up. Yet again, another great dude having a chunk of our bands out. All good things Sled, go here: http://www.sledisland.com - out of control.
After all of that, I have no idea..just get a motorbike, pick a town..a patio..and then one of these fine shows/bands..
Warped Tour: Andrew W.K. & Gardening, Not Architecture are heading out for the full tour, the wonderful Sarah Saturday (G,NA) is running a workshop each day you should definitely check out - http://www.earnityourself.com/meetup - you'll also find The Flatliners on a couple legs of the tour down in California and then the NorthEast.
Baptized In Blood are almost done the new record, slated for a fall release via RoadRunner Records, and hitting the road with Fear Factory & 36 Crazyfists across North America through July.
Mockingbird Wish Me Luck are making their Dine Alone Records debut on June 22nd, followed by a run out west for Sled Island and dates throughout Ontario.
The Menzingers making their first Canadian visit in mid-July opening for The Gaslight Anthem and our good friend Tim Barry in Toronto, stoked! Look for more dates on this side of the border soon.
Everyone else is keeping busy around the campfire! Big John Bates playing Shambala Music Festival and more dates in BC, Cavaliers! played with Joey Cape (Lagwagon) and Tony Sly (No Use For A Name) last night in Toronto and are making their first trek out west in a few weeks, Carpenter is finishing up their new record and eyeing up October, Chuck Ragan can be seen at Sled Island in two forms - solo & with his band of merry men, Hot Water Music. Kingdoms are digging into new tunes, White Cowbell is prepping for Europe, This Is A Standoff just conquered Europe along with Passenger Action, Pillow Fight League are taking over television, Orphan Choir are gearing up for the fall, and Farewell To Freeway just slayed Canada again and are heading into the studio next month!
10-4.
PS: The new Off With Their Heads is rad, go pick it up.
March 21, 2010 A Novel Update
People seem to like twitter, so for you're following pleasure...
http://twitter.com/AndrewWK - Catch AWK on this years Warped Tour!
http://twitter.com/BaptizedInBlood - Wrapped up the Shadows Fall/Bison BC tour a couple weeks ago, killed it at the Road Runner showcase at CMW..read here - http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=174108 - and now writing and getting ready to record their Road Runner debut over the next few months.
http://twitter.com/bigjohnbates - taking on Canada through April, info - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=352369919851&ref=ts
Carpenter (don't tweet..ya I know, it's a dumb word..) but are busy in a Vancouver studio writing a new record.
http://twitter.com/cavaliers_ - did an amazing job backing up Chuck Ragan last month thru Ontario/Quebec with Chuck & Tim Barry. Writing a new record, playing a few shows, check em out on Explore Music last week - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qScNMWx86tA
http://twitter.com/ChuckRagan - you can find Chuck at Sled Island Music Festival in Calgary this summer - http://blog.sledisland.com
http://twitter.com/cobraskulls - coming across Canada next month with The Flatliners & Broadway Calls!
http://twitter.com/farewellfreeway - heading out with Callahan next month, across Canada, stay tuned for more info.
http://twitter.com/GNATweets - the Gardening, Not Architecture tour is starting this week w/Crazy Diamond (Connor from Boys Night Out), info - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=405958731829&ref=ts - after this, it's Warped Tour for the summer!
http://twitter.com/Kingdomstheband - killed it last night w/Silverstein and gearing up for an eastern Canadian run with Therefore I Am (Equal Vision), info - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102071103163442
Mockingbird Wish Me Luck don't tweet...yet, playing tonight in Thunder Bay with Alexisonfire and will have a stokeworthy announcement soon.
Orphan Choir, another non-tweeter, are hitting Kingston on Thursday with Against Me! & Cancer Bats - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184688394911&ref=ts - road trippin'
Passenger Action probably don't know what twitter is and that's why we love them, after a few shows this month in Alberta/Saskatchewan are off to Europe next month with This Is A Standoff.
http://twitter.com/ThePFL - The Pillow Fight League continues to grow, doing Ontario/Quebec events for the next few months with plans cooking to tour, TV pilot debuts Easter weekend - http://www.outtv.ca
http://twitter.com/theflatliners - are currently down under with No Fun At All, coming back in a couple weeks to meet up with Broadway Calls & Cobra Skulls to shred Canada in April, new record "Cavalcade" out on April 14th!
This Is A Standoff - spent the last couple weeks cleaning up Ontario/Quebec and now off to Europe for 2 months, dates w/Passenger Action along the way!
Walk Off The Earth - pairing up with Goodbye Beatdown for dates in BC through May and Ontario in June.
http://twitter.com/whitecowbell - destroyed Alberta/BC back in February, some one-offs in Ontario through March/April, eyeing up Europe later this year.
That was long, go have a cigarette..thanks for reading (if you made it this far)..oh, and thanks for the support & love, we turned 3 years old the other day!
Keep on truckin'
February 16, 2010 Fist pump this one punk police
Abandon All Ships have officially signed with Underground Operations Management and will be releasing their debut record here in Canada via our UO boutique label later this summer. not only do they have some of the heaviest parts known to bowels but the catchiest little vocoder instants mixed with poetic moments inspiring you to demand god to be your master. sick. its safe to say we like this even more cause the punk police are gunna barf. double sick. indoctrination into the AAS brotherhood.
lots more awesome news and tunes to come on this one.
www.myspace.com/abandonallships
February 9, 2010 People Of..
"People of Beardville, I need you to be radder" ..probably one of my favorite quotes from last weeks Chuck Ragan/Tim Barry/Cavaliers tour through Ontario & Quebec, good times and great shows!
Prepare for The Revival Tour to make its way to Canada later this year.
Otherwise, January has been nice and quiet but there's a handful of sweet tours we've been brewing that'll be ready to serve in the coming weeks/months.
The Menu:
- Baptized In Blood supporting Shadows Fall w/Goatwhore & Bison BC
- Big John Bates across Canada in April
- Farewell To Freeway in the US as part of the "Rise of Victory" tour and then w/Callahan across Canada in April/May
- Gardening Not Architecture joining forces with Crazy Diamond in late-March through Ontario/Quebec
- Kingdoms out with Straight Reads The Line in support of their final tour
- Orphan Choir playing a string of shows with the mighty Leatherface
- The Pillow Fight League has fights lined up in Chatham, Guelph, Montreal, Hamilton, Toronto..
- The Flatliners head east next week with The Snips and then off to Australia..returning home in April across Canada with Broadway Calls & Cobra Skulls
- This Is A Standoff tackle Ontario/Quebec in early-March before heading to Europe for 2 months with Passenger Action whom are doing a few dates in Alberta/Saskatchewan in March
- White Cowbell Oklahoma heading west next week to hit Alberta/BC over the Olympic break.
For all your dates/detail needs see: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=7059834135&topic=12881
You are now radder.
January 4, 2010 twenty ten?
Happy New Year Everyone.
To ring in the New Year, Stereos and The Artist Life will be playing an acoustic set at Boathouse in the Conestoga Mall on January 16th @ 1pm. After the performance the boys will be sticking around to sign autographs. Check out the flyer here.
They've also announced the make up show for Hamilton. Jan 22nd in the Wentworth Room at the Hamilton Convention Centre. All previous tickets will be honored and more tickets are on sale here.
Kingdoms are kicking off the year with a small run with To Cherish. Dates can be found on the bands Myspace.
Protest The Hero have locked themselves in the rehearsal space to write a new record. Until then, you can learn how to play Fortress by buying the Official Tab Book Here.
A lot more to come...
-UO
December 11, 2009 Fortress Guitar Tab Book Has Arrived!
Only two years after the album was released, Tim and Luke have finally completed the Official Fortress Tab Book!
We transcribed it ourselves and put our heart and souls into making it as beautiful and user friendly as possible (it's ring binded so it lays flat and stays open when you're reading it).
In the spirit of friendly fellerness, we are giving away a signed poster and signature pick packs with the first 100 online books sold. We will also hand number and sign those copies too.
We worked hard on this and tried to keep the price down because we know how expensive these can be in stores!
The brand new video for Protest The Hero is available for viewing right here.
Also be sure to check out the boys on their "Farting Out Fortress Start To Finish" tour with Abandon All Ships, Assassinate The Following and on select dates Kingdoms & I Am Committing A Sin.
