Mark Tremonti Reveals New Project + New Single

Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge/Tremonti) has finally shared what his new project is: an entire album of Frank Sinatra covers. He will be backed by surviving members of Frank’s orchestra, and included will be all the well-known songs and a few deep cuts from Ol’ Blue Eyes’ career.

The record, entitled simply Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra, is set to be released May 27th and is available for preorder at tremontisingssinatra.com. Mark has given the album to the National Down Syndrome Society, meaning that 100% of the proceeds go to the organization to help those with developmental disabilities. If you’re interested, you can read the full story about why Frank Sinatra and why NDSS here.

Check out the first single, Mark’s rendition of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”

Optic Oppression Share First Track From Upcoming Album (via Side-Line)

Optic Oppression, the electro-industrial-synth rock band I’ve been raving about since July, is releasing their first full-length LP on November 29th. The album, entitled Halfway to Hell, is available for pre-save on Spotify. (If you choose to do this, you will receive the digital rewards package, which includes behind-the-scenes videos and high resolution artwork.)

This morning, Side-Line offered readers the premiere of the first single from Halfway to Hell, a song called “Revolution.” Check it out here.

For more Optic Oppression goodness, visit the band’s official site, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.

My Chemical Romance Reunion

I know most of you following this blog have already heard the news, so I won’t spend a lot of time on that aspect of this post. In case anyone missed it, though:

On Halloween, My Chemical Romance announced that they were playing a reunion show December 20th at Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

There were people who didn’t care, and others who felt that the Rage Against the Machine 2020 reunion announcement overshadowed this one. For the most part, however, the internet seemed extremely excited. The massive influx of memes prove it. Well, that and the fact that the concert sold out in something like three minutes…

I fall into the second category — I am so happy about this and hope it leads to a full tour. I saw MCR years ago on The Black Parade World Tour, the leg during which Muse was the opening act. They played The Black Parade in its entirety, left the stage, then came back and did most of the highlights from Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. It was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to, hands down.

Whichever side you fall on, please just let the My Chem fans enjoy this!

My Lack of Posts

I didn’t share a new music post on Sunday; there have been no updates to the playlist challenge and no featured band or album of the week. I’m pretty sure there won’t be any posts next week, either. I apologize to the followers who actually pay attention, but everything kinda went to hell recently.

My grandmother has been sick and in the nursing home for a while. She was diagnosed with COPD and congestive heart failure years ago. Otherwise, though, she was healthy.

She has had stomach issues her entire life, and for the last couple of years she’s been in and out of the hospital, complaining of nausea and pain. Well, last week she was once again in the hospital for those symptoms. Her doctor told her that there was nothing else he could do unless she allowed them to do an endoscopy and actually figure out why she had those symptoms. She refused the procedure. My mom asked her why and my grandmother said she didn’t want to know. If it was serious, she felt like they couldn’t help her anyway. (Bear in mind, she’s 89.)

My mom and I both talked to her last Wednesday, right after she was released from the hospital and sent back to the nursing home. The very next day, my great aunt called and told us that she was dying.

She is in the final stages of COPD and congestive heart failure. Her lungs are filled with fluid. She is no longer responsive, though that could be because they are keeping her dosed with morphine for the pain. She has a DNR in place, so basically they can do nothing but make sure she’s comfortable.

I ask that anyone who reads this send up a prayer, positive thoughts, or whatever it is you do. This is a very difficult time, especially for my mom, and we need all the comfort we can get.

Thank you.

From Ashes to New Announce North American Tour

From Ashes to New is heading out on the “The Future is Now Tour” with special guests Badflower, Dead Girls Academy, and Killakoi. The tour kicks off September 16th in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and ends October 14th in Springfield, Missouri.

Tickets/VIP available here.

Dates:

  • 9/16 – Spartanburg, SC – Ground Zero
  • 9/17 – Huntsville, AL – Sidetracks
  • 9/19 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
  • 9/20 – Destin, FL – Club LA
  • 9/25 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
  • 9/27 – Ringle, WI – Q & Z Expo Center
  • 9/28 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
  • 9/30 – Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s Entertainment Center
  • 10/2 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
  • 10/3 – Belvidere, IL – The Apollo Theater
  • 10/4 – Detroit, MI – Shelter
  • 10/9 – Watertown, NY – Exhibition Hall
  • 10/10 – Rochester, NY – Montage Music Hall
  • 10/11 – Sturgis, MI – Nikki’s
  • 10/12 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
  • 10/14 – Springfield, MO – The Complex

Generation Axe Tour 2018

The Generation Axe Tour 2018 will feature Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi. This year, the group of insanely talented musicians are trekking across North America, kicking off November 7th in Oakland, CA, and ending the run December 18th in Los Angeles.

Dates:

  • 11/7 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
  • 11/8 – Anaheim, CA – City National Grove of Anaheim
  • 11/9 – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
  • 11/10 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
  • 11/11 – Albuquerque, NM – El Rey Theater
  • 11/13 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
  • 11/15 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre
  • 11/16 – Salina, KS – The Stiefel Theatre
  • 11/17 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theater
  • 11/18 – Des Moines, IA – Hoyt Sherman Theatre
  • 11/19 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
  • 11/20 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live
  • 11/21 – Detroit, MI – Fillmore
  • 11/23 – Medford, MA – The Chevalier Theater
  • 11/24 – Niagara Falls, NY – The Rapids Theatre
  • 11/25 – Kitchener, ON – Centre in the Square
  • 11/27 – Bethlehem, PA – Sands Bethlehem Event Center
  • 11/28 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
  • 11/29 – Albany, NY – The Palace Theatre
  • 11/30 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, The Theater
  • 12/1 – Rochester, NY – Kodak Center
  • 12/3 – Greensburg, PA – The Palace Theatre
  • 12/4 – Westbury, NY – NYCB Theatre at Westbury
  • 12/5 – Richmond, VA – The National
  • 12/8 – Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle
  • 12/9 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
  • 12/10 – Davie, FL – Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
  • 12/11 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
  • 12/13 – Austin, TX – The Moody Theater
  • 12/14 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
  • 12/16 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex, Rockwell
  • 12/18 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

Behemoth Announce Fall North American Tour

Behemoth is touring this fall with At the Gates and Wolves in the Throne Room. The run kicks off October 20th in Phoenix, Arizona, and ends November 24th in Los Angeles.

Dates:

  • 10/20 – Phoenix, AZ – Van Buren
  • 10/22 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
  • 10/23 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theatre
  • 10/24 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
  • 10/26 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
  • 10/27 – Tampa, FL – Jannus Live
  • 10/29 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
  • 10/30 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
  • 11/1 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
  • 11/2 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
  • 11/3 – New York, NY – PlayStation Theater
  • 11/4 – Montreal, QC – M Telus
  • 11/6 – Toronto, ON – The Danforth
  • 11/7 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall
  • 11/9 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
  • 11/10 – Minneapolis, MN – Cabooze
  • 11/11 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman
  • 11/13 – Denver, CO – The Ogden Theatre
  • 11/14 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
  • 11/16 – Calgary, AB – Macewan Ballroom
  • 11/17 – Edmonton, AB – Union Hall
  • 11/19 – Vancouver, BC – The Commodore Ballroom
  • 11/20 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Market
  • 11/21 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
  • 11/23 – San Francisco, CA – The Recency Ballroom
  • 11/24 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern Theatre

Halestorm/In This Moment Touring Summer and Fall 2018

Halestorm and In This Moment are touring together this summer and fall, and they are bringing New Years Day along! Tickets are available at nydrock.com, the Halestorm official site, and In This Moment’s official site.

Summer Dates:

  • 7/27 – Kansas City, MO – Silverstein Eye Centers Arena
  • 7/29 – Toledo, OH – Centennial Terrace and Quarry
  • 7/31 – Baltimore, MD – UMBC Event Center
  • 8/2 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
  • 8/3 – Albany, NY – Albany Cap Center
  • 8/4 – Portland, ME – Maine State Pier
  • 8/6 – Buffalo, NY – Artpark
  • 8/10 – Council Bluffs, IA – Stir Cove
  • 8/14 – Missoula, MT – Big Sky Brewing Company Amp
  • 8/16 – Spokane, WA – Star Theater at Spokane Arena
  • 8/17 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theater
  • 8/18 – Eugene, OR – Cuthbert Amphitheater
  • 8/20 – Medford, OR – BiMart Amphitheater at the Expo, Jackson County Fairgrounds
  • 8/21 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
  • 8/23 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
  • 8/24 – Funner, CA – Harrah’s Resort Southern California

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Fall Dates:

  • 11/16 – Norfolk, VA – Ted Constant Convocation Center
  • 11/17 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavillion
  • 11/20 – Evansville, IN – Old National Events Plaza
  • 11/21 – Fort Wayne, IN – Expo Center
  • 11/23 – Syracuse, NY – Convention Center at Oncenter
  • 11/24 – New York, NY – Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom
  • 11/26 – Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Masonic and Performance Arts Center
  • 12/1 – Broomfield, CO – 1st Bank Center
  • 12/2 – Park City, KS – Hartman Arena
  • 12/4 – Springfield, MO – Shrine Mosque
  • 12/5 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
  • 12/7 – Hammond, IN – Horseshoe Hammond Casino
  • 12/8 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
  • 12/11 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theatre
  • 12/12 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom at Gilley’s
  • 12/14 – Orlando, FL – Amway Arena
  • 12/16 – St. Petersburg, FL – Mahaffey Theater, Duke Energy Center for the Arts

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The Summer Slaughter Tour 2018

The Summer Slaughter Tour (2018) features Between the Buried and Me, Born of Osiris, Veil of Maya, Erra, The Agony Scene, Allegaeon, Terror Universal, Soreption, and Entheos.

Remaining Dates:

  • 7/17 – Lynchburg, VA – Phase 2
  • 7/18 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Sound Stage
  • 7/19 – New York City – Irving Plaza
  • 7/20 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
  • 7/21 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
  • 7/22 – Philadelphia, PA – Theater of Living Arts
  • 7/24 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
  • 7/25 – Grand Rapids, MI – Intersection
  • 7/26 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theater
  • 7/27 – Guelph, ON – Guelph Concert Theatre
  • 7/28 – Montreal, QC – Heavy Montreal (No Terror Universal)
  • 7/30 – Columbus, OH – Express Live
  • 7/31 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Piere’s
  • 8/1 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s Nightclub
  • 8/2 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
  • 8/3 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theater
  • 8/5 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
  • 8/7 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SODO
  • 8/9 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
  • 8/10 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theater
  • 8/11 – Los Angeles, CA – The NoVo
  • 8/12 – Anaheim, CA – Grove of Anaheim
  • 8/13 – San Diego, CA – Soma
  • 8/14 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
  • 8/15 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
  • 8/17 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Live!
  • 8/18 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
  • 8/19 – Austin, TX – Empire Control Room & Garage

Black Veil Brides to Re-Record ‘We Stitch These Wounds’ + Three Nights at The Roxy

2019 marks the ten-year anniversary of Black Veil Brides. To commemorate this, the band plans to re-record its debut album, We Stitch These Wounds. Front man Andy Biersack told Loudwire that they didn’t feel the album was “representative, sonically, of the rest of our catalog.”

“We feel that a lot of the songs on that album are very strong, but have never been given their day in court, so to speak,” Biersack adds.

The anniversary celebration doesn’t end there. Not only is Black Veil Brides re-recording We Stitch These Wounds, they are also releasing every demo from back then and a live DVD with never-before-seen footage.

Read more details here.

In the meantime, BVB has decided to take it back to the early days of their career and play a three night run at The Roxy in West Hollywood. The shows are scheduled for Thursday, October 18th; Friday, October 19th; and Saturday, October 20th. (The last one is sold out.)

In other news, Andy will be releasing his second solo album some time in 2019, as well. It’s going to be a good year for BVB fans.