Driven Far Off

The latest on the indie, alternative, and rock music scene including news, music, contest, interviews, and more. Best described as your favorite place to find new bands.

Copeland – Eat, Sleep, Repeat

By 2 Comments

Copeland Eat, Sleep, Repeat

Artist: Copeland
Album: Eat, Sleep, Repeat
Label: The Militia Group
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: October 31st, 2006

Overall: 10.0
Music: 9.9
Lyrics: 10.0
Production: 9.8

Like a lot of people Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢m sure, I had huge expectations, not to mention huge excitement for the newest Copeland record â┚¬Ã‹Å“Eat, Sleep, Repeatâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢. When excitement and expectations run so high it then becomes very easy to be let down, even by the slightest things. Let me be one of the first to say that this record is different than the previous two, yet it does not disappoint someone looking for music with passion behind it.

The album as a whole has almost a creepy/lonely feeling which the first song â┚¬Ã…”Whereâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s my headâ┚¬? sets the stage for. The song, which is a little over 2 minutes, never fully breaks into the full band but rather at its peak itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s simply vocals with a lot of background drums/noise. Musically â┚¬Ã…”Careful nowâ┚¬? seems like it could have been a track off â┚¬Ã‹Å“In Motionâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢, however vocally it strays from the traditional Copeland sound.

â┚¬Ã…”Love affairâ┚¬? is the song I can see being that song that everyone loves, whether they admit it or not. The song, which is one of the longest on the record, starts slow and then continually builds into this epic love song which then musically changes to be piano and believe it or not, trumpet lead. â┚¬Ã…”Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢m safer on an airplaneâ┚¬? and â┚¬Ã…”The last time he saw Dorieâ┚¬? are two of the slower, mellower tracks (comparatively speaking).

Besides â┚¬Ã…”Love affairâ┚¬?, my personal favorites are the last two tracks on this beautiful record. â┚¬Ã…”Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢m a sucker for a kind wordâ┚¬? is one of the more upbeat songs, probably a song that will stick out with its very predominant melody in the chorus and verses. The record concludes with a song you probably would not expect to hear on the record. The song starts with Elton John like piano, which then is later accompanied by an amazing strings section. I didnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t know what I was expecting with this latest release from the guys of Copeland, but needless to say they have come through in a big way. Please go buy this record on October 31st.
Track listing

1. Where’s My Head
2. Eat, Sleep, Repeat
3. Control Freak
4. Careful Now
5. Love Affair
6. I’m Safer On An Airplane
7. By My Side
8. Cover What You Can
9. The Last Time He Saw Dorie
10. I’m A Sucker For A Kind Word
11. When You Thought You’d Never Stand Out

Dustin Kensrue Signs To Equal Vision

By Leave a Comment

Dustin Kensrue, front man for Thrice, has signed to Equal Vision Records for his solo release. You can read the press release below.

Known and respected by many as the vocal frontman for Orange Countyâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s, critically acclaimed THRICE, Dustin Kensrueâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s vocal and songwriting ability has taken him down a road he has not traveled in quite some time. Co-produced by Dustin and fellow THRICE band mate, Teppei Teranishi, this highly anticipated release hits stores January 23rd, 2007.

The perpetually modest and self-effacing Dustin Kensrue explains the circumstances that led up to the writing and recording of his debut solo album Please Come Home, as â┚¬Ã…”Before I ever played in a band, I would take my acoustic guitar wherever I went and would sing and play for whoever was around. I wanted these songs at their core to work in that street corner kind of sense, just a guy with his guitar a voice and a story to tell.â┚¬?

Free Mute Math Song

By Leave a Comment

Mute Mathâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s â┚¬Ã…”Plan Bâ┚¬? off their new self-titled album is iTunesâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ Single of the Week.Ԛ  For the next 5 days, you can grab it for FREE right here.

SideCho Records Announces Three New Signed Bands

By Leave a Comment

SideCho Records is proud to announce their recent signings of Ghosts & Liars, The Only Children, and Peachcake. These are the latest additions to the record label’s growing roster, which already includes bands such as 1090 Club, The Spores, Tokyo Rose, and Blinded Black (another recent signing).

Ghosts & Liars features Chris Du Bray and Rachel Bowman, both of who are already familiar with the label. SideCho Records was home to Chris and Rachel’s former band, Some By Sea, and the new music will be a pleasant surprise for fans of the now-defunct band. Ghosts & Liars will be playing this year’s SideCho Records CMJ Showcase that is to take place at Arlene’s Grocery (95 Stanton St., NYC) on November 1. The debut album will follow in Spring 2007.

The Only Children boasts an already-impressive line-up including Josh Berwanger, formerly of The Anniversary, and drum appearances by both Christian Jankowski (also from The Anniversary) and Ryan Pope (formerly of The Get Up Kids). The band is currently in the studio at Black Lodge in KC and will be releasing an album in Spring 2007.

Last is Peachcake from Carefree/Cave Creek, AZ. Made up of Stefan Pruett on vocals and John Oâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢Keefe on keyboards, guitar andâ┚¬Ã¢â‚¬the combination of bothâ┚¬Ã¢â‚¬ keytar, Peachcake has already been gaining international buzz by winning the â┚¬Ã…”Best USAâ┚¬? category from the 2006 Toronto Independent Music Awards. Out now on Jim Adkinsâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ (Jimmy Eat World) Western Tread Records is a CD/EP split with another Arizona-based band Less Pain Forever, titled Now We Have Something To Celebrate. You can currently see Peachcake live on tour with Hellogoodbye, but youâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ll have to wait until next Spring for the new album.

Boys Like Girls To Open For The All-American Rejects

By Leave a Comment

Boys Like Girls have been tapped to open for the All-American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack and The Format starting on December 1st. The band will also be joining Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia, and Over It on the road for the month of November. You can find the tour dates below.

Oct 11 2006 7:00P
Bogart’s w/Lostprophets Cincinnati, OH
Oct 12 2006 8:30P
PennState University – Free Acoustic Show! College Town, PA
Oct 13 2006 7:30P
Crocodile Rock Cafe w/Lostprophets Allentown, PA
Oct 14 2006 8:00P
The Chance w/Lostprophets Poughkeepsie, NY
Oct 15 2006 7:30P
Northern Lights w/Lostprophets Clifton Park, NY
Oct 16 2006 6:30P
Stone Pony w/Lostprophets Asbury Park, NJ
Oct 18 2006 7:00P
Showplace Theatre Buffalo, NY
Oct 19 2006 8:00P
The Trocadero Philadelphia, PA
Oct 21 2006 8:30P
Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel Providence, RI
Nov 4 2006 8:00P
School of Rock w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It S. Hackensack, NJ
Nov 5 2006 8:00P
Webster Underground w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia, and Over It Hartford, CT
Nov 6 2006 5:00P
The ICC w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Allston, MA
Nov 7 2006 8:00P
Village Pub w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Amityville, NY
Nov 8 2006 8:00P
The Ottobar w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Baltimore, MD
Nov 9 2006 8:00P
The Championship w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Lemoyne, PA
Nov 10 2006 8:00P
The Harmony Grange w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Wilmington, DE
Nov 11 2006 8:00P
The Masquerade w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Atlanta, GA
Nov 12 2006 8:00P
Greene Street w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Greensboro, NC
Nov 14 2006 8:00P
Sector 7G w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Augusta, GA
Nov 15 2006 8:00P
The Backbooth w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Orlando, FL
Nov 16 2006 8:00P
Culture Room w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Nov 17 2006 7:00P
Fuel Coffeehouse w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Jacksonville, FL
Nov 18 2006 8:00P
1982 Bar w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Gainesville, FL
Nov 20 2006 8:00P
Walter’s on Washington w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Houston, TX
Nov 21 2006 7:00P
Stubbs Bar-B-Que w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Austin, TX
Nov 22 2006 8:00P
The Door w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Dallas, TX
Nov 24 2006 8:00P
Skrappy’s w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Tucson, AZ
Nov 25 2006 8:00P
The Sets w/ Spitalfield, Punchline, Valencia and Over It Tempe, AZ
Dec 1 2006 6:00P
iPayOne Center w/The All American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack and The Format San Diego, CA
Dec 2 2006 7:00P
Gibson Amphiteatre w/The All American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack and The Format Universal City, CA
Dec 4 2006 5:30P
Event Center @ San Jose w/The All American Reject, Motion City Soundtrack and The Format San Jose, CA
Dec 6 2006 5:30P
Quest Field Event Center w/The All American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack and The Format Seattle, WA
Dec 8 2006 6:00P
Salt Air Theatre w/The All American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack and The Format Magna, UT
Dec 9 2006 6:00P
Salt Air Theatre w/The All American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack and The Format Magna, UT
Dec 10 2006 5:30P
The Fillmore Auditorium w/The All American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack and The Format Denver, CO
Dec 12 2006 7:00P
Uptown Theatre w/The All American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack and The Format Kansas City, MO
Dec 15 2006 6:00P
The Eagles Ballroom w/The All American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack and The Format Milwaukee, WI
Dec 16 2006 6:00P
Roy Wilkins Auditorium River Centre w/ The All American Rejects Saint Paul, MN
Dec 18 2006 5:30P
Eastern MI Convocation Ctr. w/ The All American Rejects Ypsilanti, MI
Dec 19 2006 5:00P
Arragon Ballroom w/ The All American Rejects Chicago, IL
Dec 20 2006 5:30P
Assembly Hall – University of Illinois w/ The All American Rejects Champaign, IL

Brand New Headlining Dates

By Leave a Comment

Brand New has announced that they will be playing a few smaller, headlining shows during their tour with Dashboard Confessional to fill in dates. More dates will be announced soon.

Nov 1 – St Louis, MO @ Mississippi Nights

Jonezetta – Popularity

By Leave a Comment

Jonezetta Popularity

Artist: Jonezetta
Album: Popularity
Label: Tooth And Nail
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: October 3rd, 2006

Overall: 8.5
Music: 8.8
Lyrics: 8.4
Production: 9.0

Iâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ll lay it out for nice and simple; Jonezetta is that smooth talking new student at school that is instantly friends with everyone. You would never know they were the newest band on the Tooth and Nail record label. Jonezetta are not messing around, they take â┚¬Ã…”pop punkâ┚¬?/â┚¬?indie popâ┚¬? and cram a whole lot of energy into every song. The record is infectious and just flat out fun. It should get should get at least a few people dancing.

This record hits hard, like I said Jonezetta are not messing around, they intend to bring the fun, dancey rock music. The first six songs on â┚¬Ã…”Popularityâ┚¬? come in strong and donâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢tâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ let up until you get to â┚¬Ã…”The love that carries meâ┚¬? which, even though slower does not lose the foot tapping drums.

My favorite song on the record would definitely be â┚¬Ã…”Communicateâ┚¬?. It starts out with acoustic, and electric guitars and vocals then having the entire band slide into the mix. The chorus of the song â┚¬Ã…”Isabelle, Isabelle itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s a long way home, to communicateâ┚¬? is one of the infectious parts I was referring to, It gets in your head and by the end of the song you singing along. The record flows very smoothly into the next song â┚¬Ã…”Man in a 3k suitâ┚¬? which sports [The Killers] reminiscent keys.

I knew Jonezetta was a talented band and that this was a pretty good debut album, but I didnâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢t realize how much I like the record until listening to a few times. I think people will like this after the first listen but I also think they will enjoy it the more they listen to it. This is no doubt worth peopleâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s ten bucks. Please support the band and go out and grab â┚¬Ã…”Popularityâ┚¬?

Tracklisting
1. Welcome Home
2. Get Ready (Hot Machete)
3. Communicate
4. Man in a 3K Suit
5. Backstabber
6. Popularity
7. Love That Carries Me
8. City We Live In
9. Bringin’ It Back Tonite… Everybody Start
10. Burn It Down!
11. Imagination