George Carlin RIP

I just heard the bad news. U.S. legendary comic GEORGE CARLIN has passed away at 71. George Carlin was perhaps one of the best comedians of the last 20 years. Carlin's hillarious comparison of baseball to football, and the legendary skit on the "Seven words you just can't say on television" (as a former college radio DJ I understand, lol,the name of the grind band ANAL CUNT was edited on air to AC, or even NOLA/USA black metal band GOATWHORE) S**t, C**t, ect. were hilarious, thought provoking and triggered a supreme court justice lawsuit in favor (arrgh) of the FCC. Of course, some of those rules of what and what not to say have been loosened between now and then.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/06/23/carlin.obit/index.html

Some people might have seen George Carlin on his last U.S. tour this past winter as he came through Kingston, NY at UPAC. Everyone was raving about his stand up comedic performance in Kingston, NY.
Very much like the hillariously, pognant and obscene Richard Pryor, big ups and hails to George Carlin.
I'm soo sad now, RIP George Carlin, love you man and hails.
BTW, CENSORSHIP IS UNAMERICAN.


Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal, \m/ -l-

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band extends US tour

"Look Bruce Springsteen's playing THREE nights at Giants Stadium"-A friend of mine.. You know Springsteen must have the fountain of youth, he doesn't look at day over 40 (at 58) and since the 80's he's in great physical condition.. Totally outside of the metal genre, and for classic rock this is as good as it gets... I just thought I would put in a good word for the "BOSS" Bruce Springsteen, although he doesn't need my help, because look Bruce is playing THREE nights at Giants Stadium in NJ, the home of the Super Bowl Champion NY/NJ GIANTS I may add... ( Thank you and Happy retirement Michael Strahan).. It's been over 20 years since I've last seen Springsteen and back then tickets were only $17.50. Bruce Springsteen does the hometown circuit quite a bit, and it's funny, I could never see myself (when I was booking bands) playing or booking in my hometown like that. If you count NYC as my hometown, well of course, but the Hudson Valley arrgh, hate it..I remember hearing that Clarence "the big man" Clemens (Springsteen's saxaphonist) used to wear a t-shirt back in the 80's stating "I have NO tickets".
I would think the idea would be to "get away" from your hometown and to be "Born to Run" instead of the multiple night, punching in a timeclock touring, which is everything rock and roll is supposed help you avoid.. Bruce Springsteen has been know to play oh, like 15 nights at the old Meadolands (New Jersey), 5 and 10 night stands at Giants Stadium (NJ), all shows, sold the fuck out, and people going apeshit over tickets, unprecedented in rock and roll history... For Springsteen fans, it's a different vibe when he plays in New Jeresy. When Bruce plays "Jersey Girl", any time he mentions "Jersey" or "Shore", people go nuts because it IS Bruce's home state too, and neither he, nor his fans have forgotten where he came from, and he still draws very well in the NY/NJ metro area.
I would loved to have seen Springsteen play solo, but I had my head up my ass those years.
To my parents worry back in the 80's, I've been known to wait on line for tickets in below freezing temperatures, or ring Ticketmasters phones off the hook for Springsteen tickets. I would have to say it was well worth it for a 4 hour, marathon dance show, full of passionate rock and roll and hillarious storytelling..
So I was at a local store the other day, and a local radio station was playing Bruce Springsteen's "Rosalita" as I was waiting in line busting out laughing hearing the lyrics to that song.. 20 years later, with a little experience, and knowledge in the music scene/industry, Springsteen's lyrics to "Rosalita" are ironically hilarious: "Tell him this is his last chance to get his daughter in a fine romance
Because a record company Rosie just gave me a big advance".

:Looks at fellow New Jersey band GOD FORBID'S commentary on the music industry/touring below:
Who in the FUCK is getting a big advance other than what's recoupable via the label through an artists "royalties". Not to mention how the music industry has changed in the 20 years since I've last seen Bruce Springsteen live. When a new CD dropped in '85, people would wait in line at the record store on it's first day release. Now, perhaps a month BEFORE a CD drops, on leaks, people download a CD before it's release. 
20 years later, so much has changed and I'm still uplifted by "Darkness on the Edge of Town". It's nice to know that 20 years later, Springsteen is doing very well,  record company advances and all, specifically on the touring circuit.
BTW, if you do catch Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band LIVE for the first time, realize that the sound of BRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE is NOT the sound of booing, but the sound of fans chanting his name: "BRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCE".
Keep in mind, that some of these shows are stadium gigs, and I hope Bruce sells the fuck out of GIANTS STADIUM (all three nights) and rocks yer socks off.
So get your tickets to see Bruce Springsteen now, you're in for one hell of a live show, and hopefully he'll play for 4 hours, running up and down a long stage as you'll be in for a treat. The last time I saw Springsteen at Giants Stadium I was 15 yearsold (1985). Great show. RIP Phantom.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S EXTENDED SUMMER 2008 TOUR:
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND have lined up the following Summer U.S. tour dates:
July 27 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Giants Stadium
July 28 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Giants Stadium
July 31 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Giants Stadium
August 2 - Foxboro, MA @ Gillette Stadium
August 15 - Jacksonville, FL @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum
August 16 - Charleston, SC @ Charleston Coliseum
August 18 - Richmond, VA @ Richmond Coliseum
August 19 - Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium
August 21 - Nashville, TN @ Sommet Center
August 23 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
August 24 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
August 30 - Milwaukee, WI @ Harley Davidson 105th Anniversary Festival
Thanks-"Some day we'll look back on this, and it will all seem funny"-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-
  

The Art of Economic Touring: From DALLAS of God Forbid

 DALLAS from GOD FORBID offers touring advice,  point well taken from DALLAS of NJ's own GOD FORBID.
Here are a few articles on the web since last year on the impact of gas prices on touring acts here in the USA, same thing in Europe btw.

http://www.austin360.com/music/content/music/stories/2008/06/0622gasbands.html

http://blogs.chron.com/brokenrecord/2008/06/touring_cant_replace_cd_sales.html

This post on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. today speaks the truth, keep in mind: 10 to 20% to a booking agency, crew costs if any, a percentage of ticket sales split between the tour package and they would be lucky to get 20% of the venues alcohol profits as the venue gets (sometimes) 20% of merchandising.. As merchandise (buy some merch!)  is the usual profit margin for touring acts...Then then the costs of gas, toll, transportation maintenance,taking time off from work or vacation time for touring, money out of pocket for touring costs and any touring support from label may be recoupable. ect..FROM A POSTER on BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "Nice to hear some brutal honesty from someone who knows. So may Blabberkids think these bands are all rolling in money, but that just isn't the case.

I'd be rich if I had a nickel for every dope I've heard say, "There's a thousand people there, and tickets were $15 apiece, so I can't see what the problem is when you're making $15,000 a night!", when in reality, any band in such a setting would likely be getting about a thousand bucks tops, and paying their own costs out of that, leaving maybe a hundred bucks per member per night played. Of course, off nights cost even more."
LOL, that's a sold out night, at the very most, if promoters come thorugh with guarentess and rider agreements.

FROM DALLAS of GOD FORBID via his blog:

The Touring Problem
After doing the open letter to Light This City, which I don’t consider a true blog, I saw that <fontcolor="#0066cc">The Fresh Meat Tour that Metalsucks sponsored was canceled</fontcolor="#0066cc">. It didn’t surprise me at all considering the money problems we had on the latest tour we just finished. In my past blogs, I talked about how we went over budget on tours because of dumb mistakes. On this tour I can say we didn’t make any dumb mistakes. We were totally on budget but what put us over budget was the fact that gas went up about 50 cents a gallon in about a 5 week period. Diesel actually was close to 5 dollars a gallon towards the end of our tour.
One night on the road I was HAMMERED and we stopped at a rest stop to go get food after a night of drunken shenanigans. It was daylight and as I stepped out of the bus I looked at the price for diesel and I immediately became sober. It was like getting hit by a fucking car. This was two weeks ago and gas was cheaper then than it is now.
At that point, I realized that the touring world and the metal touring world specifically was in a very shaky position. I knew that God Forbid was not going to be able to tour. We’ll go on tours if we’re a little over budget these days because we generally do well enough on merch to balance out those sorts of things but with the oil market it’s just too much of a risk to go out there and piss in the wind. Now imagine going out as a band who doesn’t have the name to be able to go out and headline and must rely solely on support tours?
Fucking impossible.

The last three shows of the tour were solo. We played 3 DVD release shows in New Jersey, Rochester, NY and Portland, Maine. We moved from a bus to a van. The gas was cheaper because we were using unleaded fuel instead of diesel. As we filled up the tank every 3-4 hours the tally at the pump ranged anywhere from 103 dollars to 116 dollars. Going from New Jersey to Rochester cost us about 200 bucks. Going from Rochester to Portland cost us another 350. Luckily for us we had good guarantees and we sold a lot of merch but my concern isn’t for us, it’s for younger bands. I feel like Lars Ulrich compaining about Napster before it was too late when I talk about this gas problem.
Most support bands get anywhere from 100-500 bucks a night. With a 6 hour drive, the averagefor a tour, those bands getting 100 dollars might as well stay home. They are spending a hundred dollars a day between 5 people to stay on the road because the gas is more thantheir guarantee. Those bands getting 500 bucks a day are only making about 200 bucks a day after the drive. What about a hotel here and there? They won’t be able to afford it. Before this gas crisis we’d make 500 bucks a day in a van and be able to make some good money if you went by our frugal standards of living. Those days are now gone. I believe Light This City broke up because of this to a certain extent and I believe you’re going to see a lot of bands dropping off a lot of tours. Especially the Thrash and Burn and Summer Slaughter tours. Those tours have so many bands that some aren’t going to be able to compete. It’s like politics. Imagine what the presidential election looked like 8 months ago compared to now. It’s a 2 person election now but 8 months ago it was a 16 person race. Only so many can compete.
It’s Darwin with these conditions.
Now, how to fix this problem? I wish I had any kind of real answer. I don’t. I do have some ideas about making the circumstances better.
First, it’s up to the bands who are in a position to tour. It is YOUR decision to say yes and no to tours. I know how labels and agents will pressure you into doing shit you know you don’t want to do or just can’t do. If that’s the case tell them to FUCK OFF! Seriously! Agents and labels want you to do those things because they make money when you do what they want. 10% for the agent and record sales for the label. It’s not hard to figure out.
Second, if you do decide you want to tour make sure there aren’t more than 4 bands on a package. Hell, if you can get it down to three, do it with three. Why? When people come to a show they only have X amount of dollars. If they have to decide which bands they want to spend money on because there are 5 bands they like, somebody will lose. That’s not conducive to touring these days. Maybe it was back when we started but now it’s a not even a gamble. It’s a lose-lose situation.
Third, if you happen to go on tour with a band almost the same size as you don’t act like the burden is just yours. Instead of having your one van and working with your one crew, see if there is any way for you guys to split things down the middle between the two of you. This is actually a great way to go about it. Have one merch guy everyone pays. Have both bands ride in one van if you’re not hiring any crew to save money on gas. The smart way of doing business wins in these times.
Fourth, look into bio-diesel touring. On the last tour, Brian from Light This City gave us the run down on it and we’re seriously considering it. He let us know they make these new types of diesel conversion modules that cut your cost on gas from 5K a month to 250 bucks a month. I looked it up and sure enough the technology is out there AND it’s been around for a long time. You need a diesel van and 3000 bucks to convert to this standard.
Here’s a website for you to check out: http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com/
Fifth, look at this gas crisis as a positive instead of a negative. Touring is not the only way to getyour band exposed. Instead of spending the money on gas, spend your money on viral marketing, spend 100 bucks a month to service your myspace, facebook, etc. Fuck it, spend your money on making a video on your own. With the technology surrounding us and the mind it takes to make good music there is no reason why touring is the ONLY way to get your band bigger. To tell you the truth, I’m kind of happy about the gas prices for our band because FINALLY there is something giving us a reason to say NO to a tour. In the past, we haven’t had the will to say no.
Remember, live shows should come once in a while. Not every day. Have you ever gone to a show and seen everyone just apathetic about being there? The market is over-saturated and this might be a sign for bands like us to say, ‘you know what? Next time we play, we know you’ll be there because you don’t know when you might get a chance to see us again.”
That’s how it was back in the day and it seems like history could repeat itself — Under different circumstances of course! How can things be so advanced but it seems like we’re sent back in time?
No one will ever know!
HORNS! Here's a website for you to check out: goldenfuelsystems.com

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-

SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR 6/24 VENUE CHANGE: FROM CLIFTON PARK TO POUGHKEEPSIE, NY THE CHANCE

  FROM ITP, TIMES UNION and BLABBERMOUTH.NET:
http://journals.aol.com/spakyle/Individualthoughtpatterns/entries/2008/02/19/another-upstate-new-york-venue-closing-northern-lights-clifton-park-ny/2453
http://www.saratogian.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/BigDaily;jsessionid=TBLyLTKFV2YCp42DJ82lynmK1xDTpN0DrZDxDyJ82QKg39ZbdBpM!892911437?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.pgpath=%2FTST%2FNews%2FLocal&r21.content=%2FTST%2FNews%2FLocal%2FHeadlineList_Story_2202073
Sooo, in a New York accent, can you say "Summa Slawta Touwa, Po'town, New Yawk"..Translation: SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance. VENUE CHANGE: FROM SUMMER SLAUGHTER MYSPACE:  POUGHKEEPSIE!!! ALBANY SHOW HAS BEEN MOVED TO POUGHKEEPSIE!! (June 24 - Albany, NY @ Northern Lights TO JUNE 24 Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance Theatre)..                                                                                                                                                  FROM THE CHANCE MYSPACE:  Summer Slaghter Tour moved to The Chance.. Due to the unfortunate fire at Northern Lights in Albany, the Summer Slaughter Tour has been moved to The Chance on Tuesday June 24th, doors open at 3:00PM!!!!!
We will be honoring all tickets purchased for the Northern Lights venue.


Tickets are $20.
00 and are available now through ticketweb. com
or by calling 845-471-1966 FROM NORTHERN LIGHTS website:

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

10:21am

The staff and management of Northern Lights wishes to extend their sincerest thanks to all of our friends, family, local businesses and volunteers who have assisted us over the past week.  We are continuing to repair the damage caused by the fire and hope to return to normal operations soon. 

In the meantime, the following shows have been postponed: 

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - Follow the Flies  

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - Full Moon Madness w/ Lost in Purgatory

Thursday, June 19, 2008 - Bruce Martin Benefit w/ Mark Frederick Band

Saturday, June 21, 2008 - The Audiostars

Sunday, June 22, 2008 - ODB's Brooklyn Zu w/ Topher Mohr

Monday, June 23, 2008 - ARC Disco w/ DJ Rockin' Ronnie Radar
Tuesday , Juen 24, 2008 - Summer Slaughter

We expect these shows to be re-scheduled in the near future.  Please continue to monitor our website for any additional information.

- Crista Leigh, Promotions Manager.

Thursday, June 12, 200812:44pm

Due to a small electrical fire, which caused smoke and water damage, all immediate shows at Northern Lights have been temporarily postponed.  Should you have any questions or concerns, please call the box office at (518) 371-0012.  Please continue to monitor the website for any updates on the situation. 

- Crista Leigh, Promotions Manager.

Also, if you happen to live in the United Kingdom, (ENGLAND) the SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR will hit up the UK in the fall with a different lineup: SUICIDE SILENCE, THE BERZERKER and others.

SUICIDE SILENCE, AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, BORN OF OSIRIS, ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY, and THE BERZERKER
August 29 - Liverpool, UK @ Barfly
August 30 - Glasgow, UK @ The Garage
August 31 - Wrexham, UK @ Central Station
September 2 - Sheffield, UK @ Corporation
September 3 - Nottingham, UK @ RescueRooms
September 4 - Wolverhampton, UK @ Wulfrun
September 5 - Oxford, UK @ Zodiak
September 6 - London, UK @ Islington Academy
September 7 - Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

VADER: bass player NOVY leaves the band

Hmm, a quick peek on MYSPACE and there's a bulletin from Polish death metal heroes VADER. Seems like VADERS's bassist "Novy" has left the band. VADER will employ a session bassist for their U.S. run on the 2008 Summer Slaughter tour. Of course that session bassist and Polish metal head is ex DECAPITATED bassist MARTIN.
FROM VADER:

Line up change in VADER!
After 5 years of working with VADER, our bassist Novy (true name Marcin Nowak) decided to part ways with the band! He made his decision right after recently finished European tournee. We would like to thank him for all those years of successful cooperation and just the great work he did for the band within that time. The band members wish him all the best for the future!... Unfortunately, Marcin's decision of leaving the band was made not only after the finished tour in Europe, but also just before the upcoming (and very important) US tour Summer Slaughter Tour 2008 (when we appear alongside Black Dalhia Murder, Kataklysm, Cryptopsy and other bands).This is a very hard situation for the band but don't worry- we have already found a replacement - the session bassist for this tour will be Martin (ex- DECAPITATED). We are convinced that together with him VADER will be a killer! The session bass player for the shows planned for the rest of 2008 will be announced after the US tour. On August 3 VADER will appear on the Polish Woodstock Festival. On August 30 the band will play a special anniversary show in Warsaw. In October panzerdivision under command of Peter will hit the road again, playing a tour through across Scandinavia and the Baltic States.
(Mariusz Kmiolek - Massive Music Management).
The band needs a new bass player. If you are interested, contact us: info@vader.pl. We are looking only for a serious and experienced musician.


Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

SUMMER SLAUGHTER 2008 CANADA: TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

Promoters for SUMMER SLAUGHTER 2008 Canadian leg have confirmed German tech death metal heroes NECROPHAGIST shall headline this Canadian tour along with  INTO ETERNITY, BENEATH THE MASSACRE and a host of other extreme metal bands.
 Grind core legends BRUTAL TRUTH have been added to the TORONTO (ONTARIO) date of the Canadian leg of the 2008 SUMMER SLAUGHTER TOUR.

NECROPHAGIST, DYING FETUS, BENEATH THE MASSACRE, INTO ETERNITY, NEURAXIS, WHITECHAPEL, VEIL OF MAYA, DIVINITY and COMMON GRAVE

Confirmed dates are as follows:

Aug. 14 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial
Aug. 15 - Montreal, QC - Club Soda
Aug. 16 - Toronto, ON - Opera House
Aug. 18 - Thunder Bay, ON - Kilroys
Aug. 19 - Winnipeg, MB - Garrick Center
Aug. 20 - Regina, SK - Riddell Center
Aug. 21 - Calgary, AB - Warehouse
Aug. 22 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite
Aug. 23 - Prince George, BC - Roll-a-Dome
Aug. 25 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom (no COMMON GRAVE, DIVINITY)
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal- \m/ -l-