New Jersey based Rock & Pop Festival THE BAMBOOZLE hit the road for their 3^rd nationwide tour this Summer kicking off on May 21 in Columbia, MD.  The tour featured headliners Boys Like Girls, All Time Low, Third Eye Blind, & LMFAO,hit 26 major U.S. cities in two short months

The Bamboozle Festival started in New Jersey in 2005, and has since stretched its wings launching festivals in CA and Chicago.  Average attendance for the NJ festival tops 35,000 per day, with this year’s lineup features PARAMORE, KE$HA, MGMT, WEEZER, & DRAKE. This year will also mark the 3^rd year of the traveling Bamboozle festival, “The Bamboozle Roadshow.”

WPPJ Had a chance to spend all day at the outdoor festival, catching bands like ALL TIME LOW, BOYS LIKE GIRLS, LMFAO, THIRD EYE BLIND and FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS. However, the coolest part of the day was getting a chance to catch up with Pop- Punk Icons Simple Plan.

Simple Plan let us onto their tour bus to discuss The Bamboozle Roadshow, Pittsburgh, and their new album which is currently in pre-production

If you want to find out more about Simple Plan, you can find the full interview below. Or listen to WPPJ, the interview will be featured all month long.

http://www.zshare.net/download/7897754822798482/

For more information about the Bamboozle Roadshow, and next years tour visit www.thebamboozleroadshow.com

With summer here, all music nerds want is that perfect “summer song” that they can listen to all the time reminding them of the wonderful season. Luckily, I have not had a hard time finding the perfect song. Introducing Veronica Falls, a band full of members from now defunct bands. Based in London, the trio (sometimes they have four people) has already garnered a lot of attention. With the perfect mix of that good summer lo-fi and the Beach Boy sound, “Beachy Head” is sure to be the perfect song for a barbeque with your friends or even at the beach. Roxanne uses her “rock-n-roll” voice to her advantage, this is one song you cannot stop your foot from bouncing to. With an album out shortly, we should all look forward to what lo-fi goodness this band will produce. Unfortunately this band is still looking for a label to pick them up for a full-length album.

For more information visit their myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/veronicafallshard

Also pick up their new EP here: http://boomkat.com/downloads/304294-veronica-falls-beachy-head

RIYL: Best Coast, Surfer Blood, Dum Dum Girls

Music Department

If you are an unsigned band or promoter please send your demo or album to WPPJ’s Music Department . WPPJ Is dedicated to playing music from all Genres. Including spinning local and unsigned artists:

Music Department
WPPJ Radio
Point Park University
201 Wood Street
Pittsburgh, Pa 15222

Also, because we’re a free-form station, we prefer submissions of full length albums or EPs, not just singles. If something is targeted for commercial radio, we probably aren’t going to play it anyway.

Please remember to send a press kit or “one sheet”, as well as your contact information and what genre you consider the band to be.  

Due to the amount of submissions that we receive, and because the WPPJ staff is composed of full time students, we can’t reply by phone or email to confirm that we received your cd or that it has been added. Do not send emails regarding submissions to any station staff members besides the music directors.

*** Like all radio stations, WPPJ must comply with FCC rules. Please include lyrics when sending music to WPPJ so we can make sure we are within regulation!***

Originally posted 2010-05-26 18:46:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Mesa, AZ based punk rock royalty AUTHORITY ZERO has managed to weather the storm of the music industry and endure living on the road away from friends and loved ones. For the release of their fourth studio album, ‘Stories of Survival’, AUTHORITY ZERO used their music as a conduit to convey not only the trials and tribulations the group has endured, but also the current economic difficulties faced across the globe.

“The album title was a no brainer, as it encompasses everything this record stands for. This record has so much to do with survival, not only as a band, but as an individual living in a crazy world,” says Jason DeVore of AUTHORITY ZERO. Founded in the summer of 1994, the band has flourished for nearly two decades. Initially their goal was simple; create a sound that paid tribute to their punk rock forefathers, but not confined by the musical barriers that typically bound the genre together. Their live show and energy on stage quickly drew comparisons to that of Rage Against the Machine, and the local independent record chain Zia Records caught on. In 2001, Zia issued AUTHORITY ZERO’s debut, self-titled EP ‘Patches In Time’, which gained significant airplay on college radio, as well as indie powerhouse The Edge 106.3. Within months, the now classic EP became one of Zia’s best-selling releases.

With the band’s quick success, Lava Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records, signed AUTHORITY ZERO for the release of their iconic debut album, ‘A Passage In Time’, in 2002. The album’s diversity drew comparisons to the likes of Bad Religion and Sublime, while the band took to the road for tours with Sum 41, NOFX, Alkaline Trio, Punk-O-Rama and the Warped Tour. As word continued to spread about the group’s captivating live show, AUTHORITY ZERO released their sophomore effort, ‘Andiamo’, in 2004. The album embraced more ska and reggae influences and paired them with Latin-flavored rhythms to create their most culturally diverse record to date.

AUTHORITY ZERO then charged ahead with two other well received releases, a live album titled ‘Rhythm and Booze’ and 2007′s ’12:34′. Incredibly successful runs alongside Slightly Stoopid, H20, Pennywise and Pepper followed these releases before the band returned to the studio to begin crafting ‘Stories of Survival’. Marking the return of original bassist Jeremy Wood, as well as the addition of longtime friend Zach Vogel on guitar, ‘Stories of Survival’ is also the first release for Viking Funeral, an imprint label founded by Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge, Ken Seaton of Hardline Entertainment and Suburban Noize Records.

The album begins with a sample of Winston Churchill’s “Blood, Sweat, Tears and Toil” speech as theopening chords to “The New Pollution” kick in and DeVore laments about the current state of corruption inthe music industry. The band seamlessly shifts to reggae for the socio-political observations in “Big Bad World” as the album runs the gamut of musical styles from driving punk rock to ska and reggae.AUTHORITY ZERO continues to forge their own path and cultivate a worldwide fan base of millions.

Through ups and downs, trial and error, the band has overcome obstacles and presses on with a vengeance. With their June 22nd, 2010 release, AUTHORITY ZERO is ready to tell their ‘Stories of Survival’.

Check out Authority Zero Live

JULY 16, 2010 at ALTAR BAR (All Ages) in PITTSBURGH, PA

Drusky Entertainment

Presents

AUTHORITY ZERO

General admission tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door

and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets,

www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000

April 19, 2010.  Shaant Hacikyan, the founding member of Cute Is What We Aim For has come full circle.  After struggling with alcohol addiction and successfully completing treatment, Shaant began writing music again and will be releasing a new album with a fresh reincarnated version of the band.  He is also prepping for a headlining tour with The Friday Night Boys, The Bigger Lights and Down With Webster, which kicks off May 11^th in Boston.

Shaant is back better than ever and ready to get on the road with a new line-up. Members of CIWWAF that are joining Shaant on tour are Michael Novak on Drums, former member of Every Time I Die and former members of Mandy K on guitar are Michael Brady and Kevin Scoma.

The band formed in January 2005 and in less than a year they were signed to Fueled by Ramen. The band’s 2006 debut The Same Old Blood Rush With A New Touch, produced by Matt Squire, spent countless months on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. They successfully headlined Alternative Press’ Bands You Need To Know tour (and graced the cover of the magazine) and were named one of Rolling Stones’ 10 Artists To Watch—all while the group were still teenagers.

The band was upstreamed to Atlantic Records and began recording their sophomore album, Rotation, with John Feldmann. Rotation, was released in June 2008, and hit the Billboard charts at No. 21. But despite the group’s positive press and frequent touring, all was not well within the ranks.

Despite the band’s fast paced success, by April 2009, the inner workings of CIWWAF started to fall apart. During this time Shaant was struggling personally, which led to alcohol abuse.  He quickly lost control of everything around him that was important and decided it was time to take control of his life again. Shaant checked himself into rehab in October 2009 and has been clean ever since. With a new outlook on life and respect for the industry, he returns triumphantly and with an open mind and heart.

“I needed this music to get me out of a depression,” Shaant explains. “You can be that far down, but you can pick yourself back up. I want to make an impact. For a while I was scared to say that. I want to do to those who listen to the music I make what they have done for me, which is keep me alive. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do that for anybody but it’s my hope, and it’s a big hope.”

Feel free to read the exclusive interview here: http://www.altpress.com/features/qa_shaant.htm

For more information, please visit:

www.myspace.com/cuteiswhatweaimfor

Upcoming Tour Dates:

May 11 2010   6:00P Middle East       Boston, Massachusetts

May 12 2010   6:00P Highline Ballroom         New York, New York

May 13 2010   6:00P Diesel    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

May 14 2010   6:00P First Unitarian Church  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

May 15 2010   6:00P School Of Rock           South Hackensaw, New Jersey

May 16 2010   6:00P Recher Theater            Towson, Maryland

May 18 2010   6:00P Canal Club        Richmond, Virginia

May 19 2010   6:00P Tremont Music Hall      Charlotte, North Carolina

May 20 2010   6:00P Masquerade     Atlanta, Georgia

May 21 2010   6:00P The Social        Orlando, Florida

May 22 2010   6:00P Culture Room   Fort Lauderdale

May 23 2010   6:00P The State Theater        Saint Petersburg, Florida

May 25 2010   6:00P Meridian Red Room     Houston, Texas

May 26 2010   6:00P Antones            Austin, Texas

May 27 2010   6:00P The Loft            Dallas, Texas

May 28 2010   6:00P Launchpad        Albuquerque, New Mexico

May 29 2010   6:00P The Clubhouse Tempe, Arizona

May 30 2010   6:00P Soma    San Diego, California

Jun 1 2010      6:00P Chain Reaction Anaheim, California

Jun 2 2010      6:00P Troubadour       West Hollywood, California

Jun 3 2010      6:00P The Downtown Brew    San Luid Obisco, California

Jun 4 2010      6:00P Slims     San Francisco, California

Jun 5 2010      6:00P The Boardwalk Orangevale, California

Jun 7 2010      6:00P Hawthorne Theater      Portland, Oregon

Jun 8 2010      6:00P El Corazon        Seattle, Washington

Jun 10 2010    6:00P Murray Theater            Salt Lake City, Utah

Jun 11 2010    6:00P Marquis Theater           Denver, Colorado

Jun 12 2010    6:00P The Black Sheep          Colorado Springs, Colorado

Jun 14 2010    6:00P Station 4           St Paul, Minnesota

Jun 15 2010    6:00P Reggies Rock Club      Chicago, Illinois

Jun 16 2010    6:00P The Rave          Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Jun 17 2010    6:00P Eagle Theater   Pontiac, Michigan

Jun 18 2010    6:00P The Basement  Columbus, Ohio

Jun 19 2010    6:00P Grog Shop        Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Originally posted 2010-04-27 23:04:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

It’s a miraculous yet familiar tale…Group of friends form a band, work their asses off gigging around town,
cut some demos, secure a recording contract, write a hit or two, emerge from local obscurity to global
touring and sales success, hit a creative and interpersonal wall, disband, wander in individual obscurity
for a few years, get back together, older, wiser, and produces the best effort of their career and does it all
over again.

Okay, granted, it’s a grand simplification – but a fairly accurate depiction of Candlebox, whose 1993 selftitled
debut – released in the midst of the northwest existential musical, cultural maelstrom known as
‘grunge’ – rose above the grey Seattle mist to global notoriety. They grew up with the flannel-clad locals
but Candlebox was not a grunge band, riding the coattails of Nirvana, Pearl Jam and a ‘scene’ whose
explosion took on mythical proportions. They rocked without being labeled or attached to a movement,
pure and true to their melodic instincts, and sold six million records in the process.

Singer Kevin Martin and guitarist Peter Klett – the songwriting team that birthed Candlebox – were
reunited with original drummer Scott Mercado by the 2006 Rhino/Warner Brothers retrospective, The Best
of Candlebox. After being away from the music kingdom for nearly seven years, the band was welcomed
back with open arms, invited to play radio shows across the country with Top 10 multi-platinum artists.
More importantly, these longtime compositional compatriots discovered that the time and tide apart had
nurtured enhanced chemistry and mutual personal evolution that has now manifested in a cache of new
songs that leave their past works, for lack of a better phrase, far behind.

“I left the band after the Happy Pills Tour in 1999,” says Klett. “Got really drunk, did a bunch of drugs,
played golf, moved to California, moved back to Seattle, fell down the stairs and got sober. Kevin called
me while I was fronting a band called Redlightmusic and told me about the Rhino project. Said it’d be a
shame if we didn’t go out and do some dates, which we did in the summer of ’06. And the fans came out
and it was very validating. We started writing together again in early ’07 and it was beautiful.”
“When you’ve been writing about rock n’ roll for more than 20 years like I have, it’s easy to be sucked into
hyperbole, especially when you’re on assignment but with my pedigree and professional cred on my
sleeve, I report with all candor that the new Candlebox long play is one of the most musically
accomplished, lyrically insightful and downright magical records I’ve heard in years.”

Under the studio aegis of producer Ron Aniello (Barenaked Ladies/Lifehouse) and engineer Cliff Norrell,
(Henry Rollins, REM), Martin’s punk and Klett’s classic rock roots have woven to form a breathtaking
collection of eclectic tunes worthy of deeper assessment.

Into The Sun is set for release on 7/22/08 and Candlebox will take these songs to the people with a
worldwide tour and live presentation commensurate to the power of the record. The LP is a bold, eclectic
mix of rhythms and textures highlighted by the ambitious, eight-minute plus Pink Floyd-ian opus called
“Breathe Me,” a balls to the walls ballad inspired by Martin’s Australian wife. “You’re a deep-rooted tree,
an artist’s muse/I watch you listen, I watch you share/You make me want more, and you make me
scared/You’re so much more than I ever hoped.” Maturation of emotion cometh from the creative road
less traveled. “That song is about how much I love my wife,” says Martin. “Peter and I have evolved as
songwriters, musicians and friends. We paint with much broader strokes now.”

This growth is evident on the metallic rocker, “Underneath It All,” a heavy, crunchy, very electric and
existential examination of the gypsy in all of us, highlighted by Klett’s swirling, echoing Robin Trower-like
guitar riffs. “People think life on the road is a dream,” observes Martin. “It isn’t. It’s lonely and oft times,
troublesome. If it weren’t for the fans and their energy, I’d just as soon stay home. But that’s what feeds
the gypsy soul. That connection.”

DRUSKY ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS:
CANDLEBOX
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS:
CHUX BETA, ALIVE IN THE UNDERGROUND,
& MIKEY YURICK
JULY 24, 2010 at ALTAR BAR (21+) in PITTSBURGH, PA

My very first show of The Sarah Powers Radio Show set quite a high bar because of the talent that was showcased.  Phat Man Dee, Joy Ike, and Ben Alper were all gracious enough to share their hearts and musical talent.  The discussion that evening was not only one of music but most importantly spreading love to the earthquake victims in Haiti.  Phat Man Dee along with the assistance of Justin Strong, organized a benefit at the Shadow Lounge for the Yele Foundation.  In a very touching and personal show each guest spoke about how they believed their music could and more importantly, should help others.

“Sending Back the Spirit, A Benefit for Haiti” interview featuring Phat Man Dee, Joy Ike, and Ben Alper.

Originally posted 2010-02-06 02:47:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

THIS PROVIDENCE

Who Are You Now?

Evolution is an extensive process, however the Seattle rock act This Providence

have managed to condense this feat into a scant two years with their full-length

Who Are You Now? While their 2006 self-titled Fueled By Ramen debut

introduced the world to the band’s inventive brand of indie rock, with their latest

album they’ve proved how versatile they’ve become from spending the past two

years on the road and refining their craft—and they can’t wait to finally show the

rest of the world the fruits of their hard-earned labor.

Originally formed in the suburbs of Seattle in 2003 by Australian-born vocalist

Daniel Young and guitarist Gavin Phillips, the band’s current lineup also features

bassist David Blaise and drummer Andy Horst and is their strongest to date. “It’s

like a family, it’s really awesome,” Young says about the band’s current status.

“We finally feel like a real band.” In fact these four musicians are probably closer

than the average nuclear family when you consider the fact that they spent the

last year together holed up in the Pacific Northwest in order to write the songs

that would appear on Who Are You Now? “We took a long time off the road

before going into the studio because we wanted to write the right record, unique

songs with substance and honesty. You can’t rush that,” Young explains, “I think

the end result is much stronger because of that.”

Recorded with Matt Squire (Panic At The Disco, Boys Like Girls, All Time Low) in

Los Angeles, the album is a collection of extremely varied rock songs that were

influenced by everyone from the Cure to the Beatles and showcase This

Providence’s rock edge as much as it does their stripped-down sensibilities.

From dance-floor anthems like “That Girl’s A Trick” to pop-inflected rockers like

“Playing The Villain” and ambient acoustic explorations like “Chasing The Wind,”

This Providence have truly realized their musical potential with Who Are You

Now? “When we started talking about this record we realized that less is more,

so we tried to really simplify things this time around,” Young explains. “There’s

definitely no lack of depth, but I think there’s a sweetness to the simplicity of

some of these songs and that’s something we really wanted to capture.”

This approach is perfectly illustrated on the aforementioned “Playing The Villain,”

a crowd-pleaser that could appeal as much to fans of Oasis as it could This

Providence’s previous tourmates Paramore. “We ended up getting the title for the

album from that song and I love the way it’s structured because it’s something

that’s totally different for us,” says Young. “When we started writing the record we

talked about how we wanted it to have more of a rock ‘n roll feel and I think that

track captures the vibe of where we were at that point perfectly.” The band also

insist that Squire had a huge hand in helping sonically shape these songs and

was on the same page as the band throughout the recording process. “We

actually learned a lot about songwriting and production from him,” Young beams,

“he just totally got what we were after from the start.”

Lyrically, these songs center around a short story Young wrote that was inspired

by Oscar Wilde’s The Picture Of Dorian Gray—and in some ways you could say

that Who Are You Now? serves as the soundtrack to his autobiographical tale. “I

dug into my childhood for inspiration about the record, so there’s a lot of talk

about love and loss as well as the theme of the hospital because I spent a lot of

time in hospitals as a kid,” he says. “I’ve experienced a lot so it’s kind of a big mix

of all that.” However despite the intensely personal nature of the album, it’s also

clear that anyone who’s ever experienced love or loss can relate to songs like

“Selfish” or “Somebody To Talk To” on a purely emotional level. “I’m really proud

of the way my lyrics turned out this time around,” Young says. “It’s definitely the

best work I’ve ever done.”

Ultimately after spending the last year concentrating on the Who Are You Now?,

This Providence are just excited for people to listen to these songs and they plan

on spending most of 2009 on the road making sure they’re heard by as many

people as possible. “I think I’m going to be playing guitar a little bit more [on tour]

because we want the live show to sound bigger. We want it to enrapture you,”

Young explains when asked about what fans will have in store for them this time

around. “We definitely are going to maintain our energy level and have the crowd

involved as much as we have in our past, but I think everything about the live

show will sound bigger to mirror these songs,” he summarizes.

Be sure not to miss This Providence this Saturday live from the Altar Bar at 7 O’clock. To purchase This Providence’s new album “Who Are You Now” head over to www.itunes.com/thisprovidence Keep an eye open forWPPJ DJ’s for your chance to win a WPPJ T-shirt and some other cool prizes.

Originally posted 2010-04-03 19:16:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

On January 27, 2009 WPPJ DJ Sarah Powers had a very special guest play a live performance from the heart of WPPJ studios. Pittsburgh’s own Jimbo Jackson stopped by to give listeners  a taste of what they could expect if they happen to catch him performing at one of the local open mic nights available throughout the city.

Jimbo Jackson is perhaps best know for his band Jimbo and the Soupbones, the group that was named “the best band in the ‘Burg”  by a panel of music industry judges earlier this year.

For More information about Jimbo Jackson or the band Jimbo and the Soupbones, check out their story in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_637639.html

Or visit their website

http://jimboandthesoupbones.com/site/

Originally posted 2010-01-31 19:25:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Bigger Lights will be supporting Cute Is What We Aim For on tour kicking off on May 11^th in Cambridge, MA. The tour will also include The Friday Night Boys and Down With Webster. TBL just released their new single “Jessie” on iTunes and will be releasing their debut self-titled album on March 30^th via Doghouse Records.

The Bigger Lights, consisting of vocalist Topher Talley, guitarists John Kendall Royston and Chris McPeters, bassist Dan Mineart, and drummer Ryan Seaman have written and captured a memorable collection of radio- ready pop/rock anthems, each with distinguishably diverse influences filling its own unique place on their new album. Their new single, “Jessie” is incredibly infectious with a chorus guaranteed to be stuck in your head for days on end!

Alternative Press Magazine stated, “TBL’s infectious energy is rivaled only by its songwriting ability”. As well has Substream Music Press announcing “a welcome return to a time of big hooks and melodic vocals sans sythns. The Bigger Lights may just be one of a set of bands that will redefine our current scene.”

To buy “Jessie,” please go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jessie-single/id352499837.

For more information on The Bigger Lights, please go to: www.myspace.com/thebiggerlights.

Originally posted 2010-04-26 23:09:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Drusky Entertainment, WPPJ Radio, & Point Park University presents:

I CAN MAKE A MESS LIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESS
featuring Ace Enders of The Early November

co-headlining with:
ANTHONY RANERI OF BAYSIDE
Lead singer of Bayside

plus special guests:
DOLSON and ANDROID PLANET

Tickets at the door only. Free for PPU students with student ID, $10 for non-students

http://www.myspace.com/aceendersandamilliondifferentpeople
http://www.myspace.com/anthonyraneri

Originally posted 2010-04-05 17:58:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

DONORA

On March 12, 2010 Old Avenue performed Live from WPPJ and stuck around for an on-air interview with Matt “Couch” Cooper.

Old Avenue has been causing a stir since the summer months when their performance momentum picked up throughout the triangle area. Immediately after adding the final member to their current lineup, Old Avenue performed as the headlining band for STRUT ’09 at the convention center. Shortly after they performed at Duke University in front of 1,500 students, and at the Midtown Music series at North Hills with the Embers to a crowd of 10,000. These performances led to repeat and additional bookings throughout the triangle, and have kept this eager band busy for months.

With a sound that can only be described as funky, jazzy, infectious grooves that will make you dance, with melodies that were meant for sing alongs, Old Avenue is the essence of the upbeat happy tunes we’ve all been missing. As a five piece band with a great back story that links all members back to Cardinal Gibbons High School, each member will tell you that they feel fate brought them together.

Equally and independently amazing musicians, with talent well beyond their years, Old Avenue is bound to make waves with the release of this new album. ‘Knockin’ on Doors’ is a refreshing break from the emotional angst that our youthful music lovers have been buried in for years. The upbeat, catchy tunes that pour from the piano keys and sing through the sound of the saxophone, immediately catch onlookers off guard. Old Avenue’s music projects an “It’s ok to smile.it’s even ok to dance” attitude.

Old Avenue will begin touring full time in January. They will begin with regional tours during the winter and expand to national touring by spring of 2010.

Old Avenue is – Greg Sullivan – vox/keys, Mark Cloos – guitar, Jason Hazinski – sax, Cameron Conklin, bass – Sean Steigerwald, percussion.

To Purchase Old Avenues New Ablum Knocking on Doors go to

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-over-right/id350521068?i=350521078&ign-mpt=uo%3D6