Artist of the Week: Straylight Run

Straylight Run is an indie rock band based in Baldwin, Nassau County, Long Island, New York. They are currently unsigned after being dropped from Universal Republic Records East. Their latest release is the EP Un Mas Dos, preceded by the full-length album entitled The Needles The Space.

When he was still a member of Taking Back Sunday, John Nolan wrote several songs that he didn't feel would go well with the band. After their departure, John and Shaun Cooper recorded several demos with Taking Back Sunday drummer Mark O'Connell. The band began to take its present form when drummer Will Noon was invited to join after his former band, Breaking Pangaea, broke up. Breaking Pangaea's former lead singer was Fred Mascherino, who later took Nolan's place in Taking Back Sunday. Shortly thereafter, John's sister, Michelle DaRosa, joined Straylight Run. The band's name was taken from the final section of William Gibson's cyberpunk science-fiction novel Neuromancer.

The band gained popularity after posting six demo songs for free download on their official site. By September of that year, they were playing to sold-out crowds in various cities in the Northeastern United States.

Due to John's and Shaun's involvement in their previous band, they were bound by contract to release an album under Victory Records. They began to record their first album in April 2004 and released their self-titled debut album Straylight Run on October 12, 2004 after a one-month postponement. The album sold over 11,000 copies in the first week, and made the Billboard Top 100 Albums list. In late 2005, the band toured with Simple Plan, which in interviews and from the stage, band members have stated was a mistake, done because they were offered a lot of money.

On June 3, 2008 Michelle DaRosa announced that she would be leaving Straylight Run to pursue a solo career. In her MySpace message, she left the door open to rejoining the band at some future time.

Michelle DaRosa
Michelle DaRosa was born Michelle Nolan on September 13, 1980 in Rockville Centre, Nassau County, New York to Tom and Linda Nolan. Like her brother and former bandmate, John Nolan, she grew up in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York.

Before Straylight Run, she provided background vocals for two of the songs off of Taking Back Sunday's debut album, Tell All Your Friends ("Bike Scene" and "Ghost Man on Third"). Also, Michelle was formerly a nanny, hairdresser, and a ballet dancer. She is married to fellow musician, Jeff DaRosa (of Dropkick Murphys fame), and has since taken his last name.

On June 3, 2008 Michelle left Straylight Run on friendly terms to pursue a solo career. She already has a new band called Destry, with Shaun Cooper, bassist of Straylight Run, and Sam Means, guitarist of The Format.

Current Members
John Nolan
Shaun Cooper
Will Noon

Former members
Michelle DaRosa

Discography
Straylight Run (2004)
Prepare to Be Wrong EP (2005)
The Needles the Space (2007)
Un Mas Dos EP (2008)

The All-American Rejects: AOL Sessions

The All-American Rejects - I Wanna


The All-American Rejects - Mona Lisa

Useless Radio Show: Episode 11

Episode 11: Raining
You can't stop the rain so you might as well accept it and enjoy this episode.

Playlist:
(Blind Melon – No Rain)
Ace Enders - Rain
Motion City Soundtrack - Feel Like Rain
October Fall - Caught in the Rain
Ericson - The Rain
Steel Train - Kill Monsters In The Rain

The All-American Rejects - The Wind Blows

Weekly Recap: 4/19 – 4/25

News:

1. The Friday Night Boys have titled their new album, Off the Deep End.
2. The Rocket Summer's new album, Of Men and Angels, is scheduled for release this summer.
3. Breathe Carolina has signed to Fearless Records.

Streaming Music:

1. The Higher has posted a new song off their upcoming album on myspace.
2. View From An Airplane have updated their myspace with new songs and a new layout.
3. Taking Back Sunday have posted "New Again" on their myspace.

Download:

1. You can download "Dorchester Hotel" - a new song from The Sounds right here.
2. Download two songs by Deastro entitled "Spritle" from the Spritle 7" and "Parallelogram" from his upcoming album, Moondagger.

Tom Green Owns Xzibit in Freestyle Battle

Goot - Neon (John Mayer cover)

Useless Radio Show: Episode 10

Episode 10: Acousticast
I love acoustic music and this episode is full of it so if you love acoustic music, too, you should listen to it.

Playlist:
The Color Fred – Complaintor (acoustic)
Goot - I Love Your Existence (acoustic)
Dropout Year - A Coming Of Age Story
House of Heroes - Serial Sleepers (acoustic)
Freshman 15 - Phoenix Can Keep You (Acoustic)

Music Video: Sparks The Rescue - Autumn

Weekly Recap: 4/12 – 4/18

News:

1. Say Anything have begun mixing their new album. More soon.
2. The Higher will release their new album, It's Only Natural, on June 23rd.
3. Anchor & Braille's debut album will be released on June 30th, not April 30th as previously reported.
4. There for Tomorrow will release their new album, A Little Faster, on June 9th.
5. Taking Back Sunday will release New Again on June 2nd.

Streaming Music:

1. The Audition have posted another new song clip on myspace.
2. Mae have posted "Night/Day" on their website for listening.
3. We Shot The Moon have posted two songs, "Miracle" and "Woke Her Up", onpurevolume.
4. Stream a new song from The Click Five entitled "I Quit! I Quit! I Quit!" here. The song is off their upcoming album out this summer.
5. Sebastien from Simple Plan has posted some acoustic tunes.
6. The Color Fred EP, Intervention EP is streaming here.
7. Freshman 15 have covered MIA's "Paper Planes."

Download:

1. Fall Out Boy (feat. Lil Wayne) "America’s Suitehearts" remix is now on the internets.

Artist of the Week: Ace Enders

Arthur Carl "Ace" Enders (born April 19, 1982 in Hammonton, New Jersey) is an American musician. Enders is the former lead singer and guitarist of the defunct band The Early November. He was also the lead musician, songwriter and co-producer in his side project, I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business. He currently releases music under the name Ace Enders and a Million Different People. He is the owner of the independent record label Regular Music.

Enders began playing guitar after being inspired by watching his step dad play in a band. Left-handed, Enders taught himself how to play his step dad's old right-handed guitar.

The Early November
In February 2001, Enders along with guitarist Jim Sacco, bassist Sergio Anello and drummer Jeff Kummer formed The Early November. In 2003, after the release of their first EP For All Of This, the band released their debut full length album The Room's Too Cold.

In 2004, Enders started his own solo project I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business, releasing the self-titled album on October 26, 2004. Enders has stated that I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business "was a one-album thing".

Recording of the third Early November album began in February 2005. The album, titled The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path, was a triple disc concept album with an entwining plot of a torn family, from the perspective of a growing child. The album took over a year to complete due to a multitude of issues. Before conceptualizing The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path, Enders contemplated leaving the music business and possibly going into retail or construction.

February 21, Arthur Enders performed an acoustic set at Australia's Soundwave festival in Brisbane. He performed 'Ever So Sweet' an Early November track from album 'The Rooms Too Cold'. Prior to playing this track he referred to the song being by his old band that he was in "back in the day" and made reference to missing The Early November, the track was performed with greater intensity and passion to the rest of his set.

Members
Arthur "Ace" Enders – vocals, rhythm guitar
Joseph Marro – guitar, keyboard, piano
"Ultra" Bill Lugg – lead guitar
Sergio Anello – bass
Jeff Kummer – drums

Albums
An Excellent Attempt at Next to Youism (2003)
The Room's Too Cold (2003) US #107
The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path (2006) US #31

EPs
For All of This (2002)
The Acoustic EP (2003)
The Early November/I Am the Avalanche (2005)

I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business
I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business was the side project of Arthur "Ace" Enders, lead singer and guitarist of The Early November. The self-titled album is the only planned official release under the name I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business. The song "The Best Happiness Money Can Buy" appeared in a movie trailer for Must Love Dogs. Enders is still signed to Drive-Thru Records, and is now working on a solo project known as Ace Enders and A Million Different People.

Members
Arthur 'Ace' Enders - Vocals/Guitar/Songwriter
Chris Badami - Drums
Bill Lugg - Slide Guitar
Jeff Kummer - Touring Bassist

Albums
I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business (2004)

Ace Enders and A Million Different People
Enders announced in Alternative Press magazine that he planned on recording a solo album, and began a new project named Ace Enders and A Million Different People.

In the summer of 2007, Enders took out a loan to build a studio in the basement of a shopping center. After three weeks of work, building finished and Pink Space Recording was created. After the studio was finished, Enders spent two straight days making demos that would later be named "From a Daze" and "Emergency". Enders signed on with manager Lucas Keller to work on Ace Enders and A Million Different People. He opened for the full Angels & Airwaves US tour in early 2008. On June 13 of that year, Enders put out an 8-track album called The Secret Wars available for free download on Fuse Tv. He recorded them in his own studio.

In December 2008, Ace Enders and a Million Different People released the single "Bitter Sweet Symphony", a cover of The Verve song, on the iTunes Store. All of the proceeds from the song went to VH1's Save the Music Foundation.

Ace Enders and A Million Different People released its second album, Enders' third solo album, on 17 March 2009, through Vagrant/Drive-Thru Records. The album is titled When I Hit the Ground.

Albums
The Secret Wars (2008)
When I Hit the Ground (2009)

EPs
Australian EP (2009)

Useless Radio Show: Episode 9

Episode 9: Driving
I took a road trip the other day and these are the songs I wanted to listen to.

Playlist:
Standard Of Living - The drive
Secret Handshake – Coastal Cities
Backseat Goodbye – Summer Drive Song
Say No More - Long Drive Home
Rookie Of The Year - Enjoy This Drive

Music Video: Eminem - We Made You

This is Eminem's newest music video and it is exactly the type of Eminem song that I hate. I am not a fan of the Eminem that thinks he is the funniest guy on the planet, but I love the line about the pink Alf shirt.

Weekly Recap: 4/5 – 4/11

News:

1. Cobra Starship have created cobracam.tv, where they will release a new webisode, regarding tour and the new album, every Monday. The first webisode is up now.
2. The Friday Night Boys will release their debut LP on June 9th.
3. Gym Class Heroes will be writing their new album this summer.
4. We Shot the Moon have finished their sophomore record.
5. Every Avenue is currently in the studio recording their second full length with producer Mitch Allan.
6. Say Anything have joined the Twitter ranks to discuss recording updates.
7. Copeland are on twitter posting updates and pictures of their current tour.

Streaming Music:

1. Hidden In Plain View posted an acoustic version of "Garden Statement" on myspace.
2. Mercy Mercedes have posted two new songs on purevolume.
3. Holiday Parade is now streaming Tickets and Passports on Purevolume.
4. Jamestown Story's new album, Love vs. Life, is now streaming on myspace.
5. A new Third Eye Blind song - titled "Away" - can be heard on YouTube.
6. Anarbor have posted a new version of their song "Where The Wild Things Are (Monsters)" on MySpace.
7. Standard of Living has posted a new song titled "My Favorite Mistake" for free download on purevolume.
8. Brighten has posted a new song on their Myspace called "Windy Heart".
9. The Ataris have posted a rough demo on myspace. Thoughts?

Download:

1. House of Heroes has put up an acoustic version of "Serial Sleepers" here.

Open Happiness - Studio Session

Performed by Cee-lo Green (Gnarls Barkley, Goodie Mob), Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco), Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes), and Janelle Monae!

Albums in Stores This Week – 4/7

The Thermals - Now We Can See
Genre: Indie/Alternative/Rock
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thethermals 

Track List:
1. When I Died
2. We Were Sick
3. I Let It Go
4. Now We Can See
5. At The Bottom Of The Sea
6. When We Were Alive
7. I Called Out Your Name
8. When I Was Afraid
9. Liquid In, Liquid Out
10. How We Fade
11. You Dissolve

Single File - Common Struggles
Labe: Sire / Reprise
Genre: Alternative / Pop / Rock
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/singlefile

Track List:
1. Mannequin Loveseat 3:17
2. Don't Hate 3:13
3. Girlfriends 3:02
4. Airports 3:33
5. Pizzagirl 2:56
6. Miss Cherry Lipgloss 3:05
7. Melody Of You 2:43
8. Blue Sky Happiness 3:23
9. Zombies Ate My Neighbors 3:01
10. Dear Meghan 3:13
11. Benson Shady Grove [Save Yourself] 3:04

FM Static - Dear Diary
Clips from all of the tracks on FM Static's album "Dear Diary" can be heard here. The album will be released on April 7th on Tooth and Nail Records.
Label: Tooth & Nail Records
Genre: Pop Punk / Alternative
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/fmstatic

Track List:
1. Boy Moves To A New Town With Optimistic Outlook 3:40
2. The Unavoidable Battle Of Feeling On The Outside 3:35
3. Boy Meets Girl (And Vice Versa) 3:02
4. Sometimes You Can Forget Who You Are 3:13
5. Man Watcha Doin? 2:07
6. The Voyage Of Beliefs (feat. Tricia from Superchick) 3:13
7. Her Father's Song 3:23
8. Take Me As I Am 3:33
9. Dear God 3:47
10. The Shindig (Off To College) 2:55

Holiday Parade - Tickets Passports
Genre: Rock / Pop / Acoustic
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/holidayparade

Track List:
1. Getaway 3:36
2. Turn It Up 3:07
3. Where Did I Go 3:19
4. Time For Me 3:03
5. Nothing Personal 3:17
6. Forever 3:37
7. Change My Mind 3:37
8. Look Out Below (This Love) 5:02
9. Southern Skies 4:05
10. Tickets & Passports 6:04

Dropout Year - The Way We Play
Label: Quickstar Productions
Genre: Pop Punk / Pop / Rock
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/dropoutyear

Track List:
1. This Notebook 3:49
2. Mile Marker 3:47
3. The Other Line 3:20
4. Counting Down 4:01
5. Pretty You 4:23
6. Lights Turned Low (Ready Go) 3:08
7. Change Today 3:22
8. As You Wish 3:46

Useless Radio Show: Episode 8

Episode 8: Introducing P.O.S.
This episode is all P.O.S. because you need to know him.

Playlist:
P.O.S. – P.O.S. Is Ruining My Life
P.O.S. – De La Souls
P.O.S. – Drumroll
P.O.S. – Optimist
P.O.S. – Goodbye

Music Video: The Lonely Island - Like A Boss (ft. Seth Rogen)

Weekly Recap: 3/29 – 4/4

News:

1. Good Charlotte's new album will be called Cardiology.
2. Apparently VersaEmerge has recorded a few songs with Three Six Mafia.
3. Mayday Parade have signed with Atlantic Records.
4. Hawthorne Heights will not be playing Warped Tour this year because they are going to be making their new album.

Streaming Music:

1. Cobra Starship have posted a new song, "Pete Wentz is the Only Reason We're Famous," on myspace.
2. A clip of Green Day's new single, "Know Your Enemy," can be heard here.
3. The Secret Handshake's new single, "All for You," is streaming here.
4. NeverShoutNever! will release a new EP, titled The Summer EP, this summer. A new song can be heard on myspace.
5. Holiday Parade have posted "Nothing Personal' on Myspace.
6. Mae has released a new song called "The Breakfast Song". Check it out here.
7. Sunset Shootout have posted the new song "My Baby Girl" on purevolume.
8. Sparks The Rescue have posted a new song titled "Pine Tree State" to their myspace.
9. Eye Alaska have posted a new song titled "Walk Like A Gentleman" with the launch of their new Myspace. The song is from the band's upcoming album, set for release this summer.
10. Secondhand Serenade recorded an acoustic session for Stripped Music.
11. Hello Hollywood have posted their surprisingly excellent cover of Chris Brown's "With You" on myspace.

Artist of the Week: Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters is an American rock band formed by singer/guitarist/drummer Dave Grohl in 1995. Grohl formed the group as a one-man project after the dissolution of his previous band Nirvana in 1994. Prior to the release of Foo Fighters in 1995, Grohl drafted Nate Mendel (bass), William Goldsmith (drums), and Pat Smear (guitar) to complete the group. Goldsmith left during the recording of the group's second album The Colour and the Shape (1997), soon followed by Smear. They were replaced by Taylor Hawkins and Franz Stahl, respectively, although Stahl left prior to the recording of the group's third album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999).

Chris Shiflett joined as the band's second guitarist after the completion of There is Nothing Left to Lose. The band released its fourth album One by One in 2002. The group followed that release with the two-disc In Your Honor (2005), which was split between acoustic songs and harder-rocking material. Foo Fighters released its sixth album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace in 2007. Over the course of the band's career, three of its albums have won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album, and all six have been nominated for Grammys.

Dave Grohl joined the band Nirvana as the group's drummer in 1990. In order to occupy himself during tours, he took a guitar with him and wrote songs. Grohl held back these songs from the band; he said in 1997, "I was in awe of frontman Kurt Cobain's songs. And intimidated. I thought it was best that I keep my songs to myself." Instead, Grohl occasionally booked studio time to record demos, and even issued a cassette of some of those songs called Pocketwatch under the pseudonym "Late!" in 1992.

Cobain was found dead in his Seattle home on April 8, 1994, and Nirvana subsequently disbanded. Grohl received offers to work with various artists, and almost accepted a permanent position as the drummer in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Ultimately Grohl declined and instead entered Robert Lang Studios in October 1994 to record twelve of the forty songs he had written. With the exception of a guitar part on "X-Static" by Greg Dulli of the Afghan Whigs, Grohl played every instrument and sang every vocal on the tracks. "I was supposed to just join another band and be a drummer the rest of my life," Grohl later said. "I thought that I would rather do what no-one expected me to do. I enjoy writing music and I enjoy trying to sing, and there's nothing anyone can really do to discourage me." Grohl completed an album's worth of material in five days and handed out cassette copies of the sessions to his friends for feedback.

Grohl hoped to keep his anonymity and release the recordings in a limited run under the title "Foo Fighters", taken from the World War II term "foo fighter", used to refer to unidentified flying objects. However, the demo tape circulated in the music industry, creating interest among record labels. Grohl formed a band to support the album. Initially, Grohl talked to former Nirvana band mate Krist Novoselic about joining the group, but both decided against it. "For Krist and I, it would have felt really natural and really great", Grohl explained. "But for everyone else, it would have been weird, and it would have left me in a really bad position. Then I really would have been under the microscope."

On 17 September 2008 Dave Grohl announced on The Chris Moyles Show that the band would be taking a long break from music so that they could return with a new sense of purpose, and also informed fans not to expect any new music for a while. "We've never really taken a long break, I think it's time," Grohl commented. "After doing Wembley, we shouldn't come back there for 10 years because we've played to everybody. We're over in the UK every year, every summer, so I think it's time to take a break and come back over when people really miss us."

However, on February 12th of 2009 Hawkins denied the band was planning on taking a break of that duration. "We've gotten together and minced ideas already," he said. "Just basic ideas and we'll probably do that over the next year until we have a log of ideas. We'll take our time and let everybody else enjoy other things -- their families and stuff. I'd say maybe by summer we'll get in the studio and start getting serious about a record."

Current members
Dave Grohl – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, bass guitar, drums (1995 – present)
Nate Mendel – bass guitar (1995 – present)
Taylor Hawkins – drums, backing vocals (1997 – present)
Chris Shiflett – lead guitar, backing vocals (1999 – present)

Discography
Foo Fighters (1995)
The Colour and the Shape (1997)
There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999)
One by One (2002)
In Your Honor (2005)
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007)

Performance: Rise Against - Dirt Whispered

New live and backstage webisode of the band on tour.