Theory of a Deadman has announced an unplugged tour for February 2025. They will have support from Ayron Jones and Mick Blankenship. Tickets and VIP are on sale now at theoryofficial.com!
2/6 – Memphis, TN – Graceland
2/7 – Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre
2/8 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Theater
2/11 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
2/12 – Grand Junction, CO – The Avalon Theatre
2/14 – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels
2/15 – Maricopa, AZ – The Events Center at Harrah’s Ak-Chin (New date!)
2/16 – Riverside, CA – Fox Performing Arts Center
2/18 – San Diego, CA – The Magnolia
2/20 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live Sacramento
2/21 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort Theatre
2/23 – Seattle, WA – The Moore Theatre
2/24 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
2/25 – Airway Heights, WA – Spokane Live
2/28 – Toppenish, WA – Legends Casino Event Center*
Sleeping With Sirens will be hitting the road for their “Let’s Cheers To This” tour on September 21st. With special guest Holding Absence, this 21-date run kicks off in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can snag tickets and VIP experiences at sirensmusic.co!
9/21 – Minneapolis, MN – Uptown Theater
9/22 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club (Added date!)
9/24 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s NightClub
9/25 – Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s
9/27 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!
9/28 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life Festival 2024
9/30 – Richmond, VA – The National
10/1 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
10/2 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
10/4 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
10/5 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center
10/6 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
10/8 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
10/9 – Albuquerque, NM – El Rey Theater
10/11 – Reno, NV – Virginia Street Brewhouse
10/12 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival 2024
10/14 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
10/16 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
10/17 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
10/19 – Las Vegas, NV – When We Were Young Fest 2024
10/20 – Las Vegas, NV – When We Were Young Fest 2024
Pop-rockers Imagine Dragons are hitting the road this week for the North American leg of their Loom World Tour. The band is setting out in support of their latest album Loom, which was released June 28th. Tickets and VIP are available at imaginedragonsmusic.com!
7/30 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
8/2 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
8/4 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
8/6 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
8/8 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
8/9 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
8/12 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
8/14 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
8/16 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
8/18 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
8/20 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
8/22 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
8/23 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
8/26 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
8/28 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
8/30 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
9/1 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
9/4 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
9/6 – Houston, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
9/8 – Ridgedale, MO – Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
9/28 – George, WA – The Gorge Amphitheatre
9/29 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
10/2 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
10/5 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
10/6 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/9 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
10/11 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
10/12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
10/17 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
10/20 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
10/22 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
10/23 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl (New date!)
10/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl (New date!)
10/27 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl (New date!)
Revolution Rabbit Deluxe is a Welsh band that expertly blends a multitude of genres, ranging from power pop and Brit rock to alternative/indie and punk. This four-piece outfit has carried the late 70s/early 80s punk rock and new wave movements into modern times, laying bare their growth and musical maturation with each release. So far, Revolution Rabbit Deluxe has given us four albums – Swipe Left (2019), Myths and Fables (2020), The Great Divide (2022), and Control Freaks (2023).
I recently had the opportunity to chat with the band about their history, influences, writing process, and much more!
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Mostly Music: First and foremost, how did Revolution Rabbit Deluxe get its start? And what is the story behind the band’s name?
Ant: The band originally met at a social group based around music for people with mental health issues. We released our first four CDs before a lineup change as several members needed to drop out due to other commitments. Now the band comprises: Lee – drums; Max – lead guitar; Jim – bass; and Ant – vocals and guitar. Ant, the only original member, has Asperger’s, both a blessing and a curse.
The name Revolution Rabbit Deluxe came to me while I was driving. I’ve had a lifetime love of rabbits and was playing with words that conjured humorous images. Transposing a rabbit face over the famous Che Guevara poster made me laugh, so I knew Revolution Rabbit was the name for me. I added the deluxe part to set us apart in some way. The name has nothing to do with certain adult entertainment aids.
MM: Funnily enough, now I have the image of Che Guevara with a rabbit face. So thanks for that… Did you all come from similar musical backgrounds – shared influences and the like – or did y’all have to find a way to blend several different styles?
Max: As a kid, I grew up on a diet of 60s and 70s classic rock and pop, then got into alternative rock, punk, grunge, and metal as a teenager. Although I’ve been playing guitar for longer, most of my previous experience in bands was as the drummer, so I’m more interested in incorporating rhythmic expression and simple melodic lines in my guitar playing rather than overly complex solos. When I joined RRD, I learnt that Ant (Rev Rabbit) and I shared a love of stuff like Pixies, Sonic Youth, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins so those influences are probably the strongest ones in there.
Jim: I had an eclectic upbringing as far as musical influences are concerned- my parents were huge fans of Max Bygraves and similar vocal artists but my Norwegian grandmother turned me on to the 90’s black metal scene with groundbreaking bands such as Burzum, Emperor, Bathory and Darkthrone- she taught me to death growl like a monster. I also really like Bananrama.
Ant: I love guitar solo work that is rhythmic and lean. Lines that add to the song rather than show off the skill of the lead guitar. Max is exactly that, a welsh joey Santiago. Jim is a metal bass player with Scarsun, but he wanted to work on a different project, and so he fell right into place. His bass playing is not as frenetic as in his metal band but is solid and underpins the melodic changes. Lee, our drummer, is an exceptional talent. Able to play versatile styles and keep the beat driving forward.
MM: You guys released the album Control Freaksin October last year, which I got to review and enjoyed very much. Can you tell me about the writing and recording process for the album? Was it approached any differently from your previous works, and what was the frame of mind while piecing it together?
Ant: The writing process is usually the same. Riff, melody, vocals. But this time, I tried to write a few songs in reverse. With “Cult of Me Me Me,” I wrote the lyrics first, then the melody and then the riff. I found it an interesting process as the lyrics weren’t constrained by the metre of the melody. It was very freeing.
Max: Ant would send us mp3s of the tracks as they stood at the time so that we could add our parts in our own homes. The completed parts were sent back and slotted into the tracks and then mixed and mastered. It was kinda like working on a jigsaw puzzle.
Ant: The process was a little different to the past four albums. Instead of coming to the studio, we had the luxury of working on the songs at our own pace, allowing experimentation. The general vibe of the album was those aspects of our society which control us either consciously or subconsciously. The frame of mind was definitely anger tinged with frustration at the status quo. It was intended to be both reflective and inspiring to greater action. It resulted in an album of hard-hitting rockers and softer introverted pieces. Our biggest experiment was the orchestrally based Girl from Irpin based on the harrowing photo of a young girl who had been killed by a Russian rocket attack.
MM: “Girl From Irpin” was one of my favorite tracks on the album. It was definitely a standout. Do you have a favorite song on the album, or maybe just one you connect with a bit more than the others?
Ant: Thanks for the kind comment on “Girl from Irpin.” Two tracks were standouts from a writing perspective – “Fabian Control Freaks” and “G7 Countdown.” Both subjects close to my heart. The control of everything for our so-called betterment by people that have everything in their ownership and control. It’s easy for people sat on billions telling us what to do when most of us are close to the poverty line. It gets me so angry I could turn green, rip my shirt, and go on a rampage as the Incredible Sulk.
MM: I don’t think you’d be alone in that… While we’re playing the “favorites” game, do you have a favorite song to play live?
Lee: I like them all.
Ant: I like “Resolving in E,” nice simple riff based C and Em with a shouty chorus that usually gets people up.
MM: What is your favorite thing about live shows?
Ant: For me it’s the end of the show. I have terrible stage fright. But it’s good to hear the audience applause on a job well done.
MM: I admire you greatly for getting up there in spite of stage fright. I could never!!! For fun, what would be your dream lineup – that includes Revolution Rabbit Deluxe?
Ant: XTC to start for their energy, especially early days. Pixies to continue the mood. Then us (how dare I) followed by U2 when they rocked stadiums. Closer, the almighty McCartney opening on “Jet” and closing on “Hey Jude” after an hour of classics.
MM: Ah yes. Mr. McCartney. Gotta include him. Legend.So last but not least, what are the band’s plans for 2024?
Ant: We are in the process of recording the sixth album, Seethe, which should be out at the end of the year. We are playing in South Wales regularly. We plan on updating our website soon to include our new drummer and bassist plus a video to accompany the new single due out in September. Thank you for this, I hope you have enjoyed the process as much as we did.
MM: Thank all of you for your time!
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Be sure to follow Revolution Rabbit Deluxe on all their socials so that you can keep up with band updates and hear that new single as soon as it drops! And go listen to Control Freaks on your favorite streaming service!
English peers Deep Purple and Yes are touring North America together this summer in honor of 50 years of the former’s infamous track “Smoke on the Water.” (Don’t do the math. Haha!) The 1 More Time Tour will visit 19 cities with stops in Florida, Ontario, and several places in between. Tickets are available at deeppurple.com and yesworld.com! Deep Purple is also offering VIP experiences.
8/14 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live
8/15 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Event Center
8/17 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
8/18 – Durant, OK – Choctaw Casino, Grand Theatre**
8/19 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
8/21 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
8/22 – Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill
8/23 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
8/25 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
8/27 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
8/28 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
8/30 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort
8/31 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
9/1 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Switchfoot, Blue October, and Matt Nathanson have announced a co-headlining tour. Each night, the lineup order will change. The “Help From My Friends Summer Tour” kicks off July 24th in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can get tickets at switchfoot.com, blueoctober.com, and mattnathanson.com! Switchfoot and Blue October are also offering VIP meet-and-greets.
7/24 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/25 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
7/26 – Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center
7/27 – Bethlehem, PA – The Wind Creek Event Center
Alt-rockers The Smashing Pumpkins will be performing live across North America this summer. They’re doing dates with Green Day, The Glorious Sons, and Pvris, in addition to the OSHEAGA Festival in Montreal on August 3rd. Tickets to all shows are available at smashingpumpkins.com!
7/29 – Washington, DC – Nationals Park^
7/31 – Bala, ON – The KEE to Bala
8/1 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre^
8/3 – Montreal, QC – OSHEAGA Festival 2024*
8/4 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater+
8/5 – Queens, NY – Citi Field^
8/7 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park^
8/9 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park^
8/10 – Hershey, PA – HersheyPark Stadium^
8/13 – Chicago, IL – Wrigley Field^
8/14 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre#
8/16 – Springfield, IL – Illinois State Fair#
8/17 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field^
8/18 – Sioux City, IA – Battery Park#
8/20 – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall+
8/21 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre#
8/22 – Cincinnati, OH – Great American Ballpark^
8/24 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Field^
8/27 – Simpsonville, SC – CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park#
8/28 – Atlanta, GA – Truist Park^
8/30 – Nashville, TN – GEODIS Park^
9/1 – Pittsburgh, PA – PNC Park^
9/4 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park^
9/7 – Denver, CO – Coors Field^
9/10 – Southaven, MS – BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove#
9/11 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field^
9/14 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium^
9/18 – Phoenix, AZ – Chase Field^
9/20 – San Francisco, CA – Oracle Park^
9/21 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort+
9/23 – Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park^
9/24 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live Outdoor Venue+
9/25 – Portland, OR – Providence Park^
9/27 – Las Vegas, NV – BleauLive Theater#
9/28 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park^
^ The Saviors Tour w/Green Day, Rancid, The Linda Lindas
Mostly Music 