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.

Fireworks Release In-Studio Album Teaser

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Fireworks have released an in-studio album teaser to give fans a sneak peek at what they can expect from the band’s upcoming full-length on Triple Crown Records, scheduled for release sometime this spring. The band recorded the album with producer Brian McTernan at his Salad Days Studios. Check out the clip below.

Catch Fireworks on their co-headline The Manscout Jamboree Tour with The Wonder Years featuring support from Such Gold, Make Do And Mend, and Living with Lions. The tour kicks off April 8 in Lansing, MI (see dates below).

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The Secret Handshake – My Name Up In Lights

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Artist: The Secret Handshake
Album: My Name Up In Lights
Label: Triple Crown Records
Purchase: Triple Crown Merch Store
Release Date: April 21tst, 2009

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.o
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 8.5

Luis Dubuc’s The Secret Handshake have been hard at work since the release of his debut, One Full Year. Amidst a whole lot of touring and gaining new fans each and every day, The Secret Handshake have made themselves known as a band with a lot of credit for being high energy on the road, but with only one full album under your belt you can only do so much. Now with a fresh sophomore album, My Name Up In Lights is an album set to take The Secret Handshake to higher levels then ever before.

The opening track “All For You” sets up the album at a fun, fast paced adventure into figuring out what you can accomplish with the rest of your life. the guitar splashes in the opening track really help to show what Luis has learned since he started out, adding more musical diversity and rock-appeal to songs.

While guitars can be fun, it’s hard to fight the catchiness of a well placed piano hook in songs like “Nothing To Change That” and “Saturday”. Which are both fun songs with piano parts that will have you youtube-ing all night finding out how to play them.

While Luis still remains within the whole hipster/scene vibe of his tunes, he is also able to switch up styles and still remain relevant to the rest of his album. Tracks like “Hey Girl” and “Make Up Your Mind” which rock with a certain swagger compliments of unique drum and bass parts that give the tracks a certain poise about them that make them unique from their contemporaries.

It’s all to apparent that The Secret Handshake has achieved a certain maturity through My Name Up In Lights. While some songs remember what has happened before (see: “TGIF”) and what could be (see: “Last Song”), there has obviously been some growing up in between One Full Year and this new release. There’s nothing better then seeing an artist you’ve enjoyed since the beginning mature as a musician and find their own place in the scene, it’s hard to deny that My Name Up In Lights has separated The Secret Handshake from a lot of other bands who have electronic beats and instruments, because experience breeds talent, and it’s something this album proves to be true.

As Tall As Lions Announce Digital EP

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As Tall As Lions are set to release a new digital EP entitled Into The Flood November 29th on Triple Crown/East West. The band  recorded the EP with Mike Watts over a six day period in October at Vudu Studios in Long Island and are excited for their fans to get a taste of something new before they hibernate in early 2008 to record the follow up to 2006’s self titled LP.

“These new recordings are filled with life” says lead singer Daniel Nigro, “For the first time during the recording of Into The Flood we were able to let go of our perfectionist approach to recording and just play. We tried not to over-analyze the tones or the performances which led these songs to flow closer to what you see at our live show.”

Into The Flood Track Listing
1. 505
2. Into The Flood
3. We’re The Ones That Keep You Warm At Nite
4. Breakers
5. Blacked Out

The Receiving End of Sirens E-Card; Album Art; Track Listing; Pre-Order

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The Receiving End of Sirens will release their new album, The Earth Sings Mi FA Mi, on August 7th via Triple Crown Records. You can check out the new e-card here and the album art and track listing below. In the mean time pre-order your copy from one of the following places (SmartPunk, Interpunk, Triple Crown Records).

The Receiving End of Sirens

Track Listing

1. Swallow People Whole
2. Disappear (Oubliette)
3. The Crop And The Pest
4. The Salesman, The Husband, The Lover
5. Smoke And Mirrors
6. A Realization Of The Ear
7. Saturnus
8. Wanderers
9. Stay Small
10. Music Of The Spheres
11. The Heir Of Empty Breath
12. Pale Blue Dot

The Secret Handshake Set Release Date

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The Secret Handshake aka BAPE wearing, emo-tronic sounding, laptop extraordinaire Luis Dubuc will release his debut full length, One Full Year, September 25th on Triple Crown Records. One Full Year is the follow up to the March 2007 EP Summer Of ’98 which featured TSH remixes from Spank Rock, P.O.S., The Toxic Avenger and Dillinger Escape Plan.

Confirmed Tour Dates w/MC Chris:

7/11/07 Baltimore, MD Ottobar
7/14/07 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
7/15/07 Charleston, SC Village Tavern
7/17/07 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
7/18/07 St. Petersburg, FL The Tamiami
7/20/07 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon
7/21/07 New Orleans, LA The Parrish

UK Tour Dates:

7/24/07 Glasgow, Scotland King Tut’s
7/25/07 Liverpool Barfly
7/26/07 Barrow-In-Furness Nine’s
7/27/07 Newcastle The Other Rooms
7/28/07 Sheffield Corporation
7/29/07 Leeds Cockpit
7/31/07 Wolverhampton Little Civic
8/1/07 London Barfly
8/2/07 Peterborough Park
8/3/07 Nottingham Junktion7
8/4/07 Kingston Peel
8/6/07 Exeter Cavern
8/7/07 Southampton Joiners
8/8/07 Swansea Sin City
8/9/07 Northampton Racehorse

Track Listing
1. Too Young
2. Summer Of ’98
3. Coastal Cities
4. Wanted You
5. Everyone Knows Everyone
6. Don’t Call
7. Denton, TX
8. Midnight Movie
9. Gamegirl
10. Picture
11. Don’t Count On Me
12. Make You Mine
13. Lately
14. *Crosses Fingers*

www.myspace.com/thesecrethandshake

Triple Crown Sign…

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Triple Crown Records has signed The Secret Handshake who consists of Luis Dubuc. Itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s pop. Itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s electronic. Itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s indie. And itâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s all written and played by Luis with his Wurlitzer piano and Apple computer. Triple Crown would like to welcome you to Luisâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢ world.

Triple Crown Records (Brand New, As Tall As Lions, TREOS, Hit The Lights) welcomes The Secret Handshake to their family. They will be recording their debut full length with Cory Kildruff, formally of The Rise. The band will hit the road with new label mates As Tall As Lions in August. Previously, The Secret Handshake released an EP on Doll House Recordings entitled â┚¬Ã…”This is Bigger Than You and I.â┚¬? You can check out The Secret Handshake on their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/thesecrethandshake

Hit the Lights – This Is A Stick Up… Don’t Make It A Murder

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Hit The Lights

Artist: Hit The Lights
Album: This Is A Stick Up… Don’t Make It A Murder
Label: Maverick
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: April 11, 2006

Overall: 9.0
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 8.3
Production: 10

I’m a pretty nostalgic person. I long for my early high school years at times. Pop-punk was the dominant musical choice for me back then. Every time I find a really good pop-punk band, I get a warm feeling inside. I’ll open the windows, (be it indoors or in a car) blast the music, and proceed to rock out.

In the case of Lima, Ohio’s Hit the Lights, I turn the volume up even more than before. “This Is A Stick Up…Don’t Make It A Murder” is reminiscent of old New Found Glory, but also brings to mind current day pop-punk powerhouses from Chicago and Atlanta respectively.

The album opens with a voicemail sample that leads into “The Call Out (You Are the Dishes.)” The song is a statement. This band knows what they want, and their attack plan is to use songs like this to get you to sing along. “We won’t back down,” is their battle cry and you might as well accept the fact that it’s true.

“These Backs Were Made for Stabbing” has a bridge so infectious that you won’t realize the words are coming out of your mouth, too. Colin changes the dynamics of his voice so much in this song, allowing his range to shine through.

The chorus of “309” is begging to be sung along to. Halfway through the song, a line sticks out to me so much. “Like the way that your eyes travel to the floor when you tell a lie.” The way Colin sings this lyric just hits home. I love this song.

“Bodybag” is one of the catchiest tracks on here. It would be an ideal single. The group vocals in the middle of the song are properly placed and while being short, are easy to clap along to.

“Talk Us Down” opens up sounding like Cartel at their finest. Even the lyrical content is similar, such as “Cities never sleep when we’re gone.” While the similarities are there, I can’t help but enjoy this song more than Cartel. Sorry guys.

“Save Your Breath” has all the spiteful lyrics that made Fall Out Boy’s “Take This To Your Grave” a gem. I dare you to try not to play this song on repeat.

“Sincerely Yours” and “100 Times” are right at home on that mix tape you’re thinking about giving to the girl that just broke up with you.

“It’s All the Rage” makes a bold statement with the line “We are exactly what you want to be. Where you’ve been and what you’ve done mean nothing.” Where that may seem cocky from an outsider’s perspective, this band wants people to know that it’s still cool to like FUN music. You don’t just have to like artsy stuff to be cool.

“Speakers Blown” would be another great single. It’s got one of those choruses that sticks with you for a couple of weeks.

After seeing the band perform “Until We Get Caught” live, I realized this song has the ability to rally people together to rock out. Colin demands, “Hands in the air!” and up they go, accompanied by shouts. The song is great on the disc, but you really need to hear it live and see the crowd to get the full effect of its potential.

“Make A Run For It” closes the album with group vocal chants of “We’ve got this down to a science baby.” That they do.

The production on this album is flawless. Anything Matt Squire touches is gold.

While not breaking any new ground musically, Hit the Lights have delivered a debut LP full of everything that made me love this style of music. I haven’t spun an album this much since theAudition’s “Controversy Loves Company” was released.

If for some reason, Cartel don’t become the next pop-punk kings, Hit the Lights are poised to take the throne. The potential of this band is insane. Listen to them, love them, support them, and just have fun listening to them. Thank you Hit the Lights for making an album that I’ll be blasting in my car this summer.

Track Listing
1. The Call Out (You Are the Dishes)
2. These Backs Were Made for Stabbing
3. 309
4. Bodybag
5. Talk Us Down
6. Save Your Breath
7. Sincerely Yours
8. 100 Times
9. It’s All the Rage
10. Speakers Blown
11. Until We Get Caught
12. Make a Run For It