Away Team

March 28, 2012 – Goomba Music is proud to announce the signing of AMERICAN HI-FI.  The original line-up–Stacy Jones (singer/guitarist), Drew Parsons (bass), Jamie Arentzen (guitars) and Brian Nolan (drums)—is currently recording their as-yet-untitled new album in Los Angeles, CA with an expected worldwide release date this fall.  It’s being produced by the band and John Fields (Switchfoot, Jimmy Eat World) and recorded at Stacy Jones’ studio, The Deathstar.

“It feels great to make music with these guys,” exclaims Stacy Jones.  “11 years in, American Hi-Fi is a brotherhood.  We made this record because we feel like the world needs a few more guitar bands.  We are just doing our small part to keep Rock-N-Roll alive!”

For the past six years, members of American Hi-Fi have been working with Miley Cyrus.  Singer Stacy Jones has been her music director and drummer, Jamie Arentzen has been her guitarist and Drew Parsons has played bass at a few concerts.  Stacy and Jamie have been featured in everything Miley Cyrus since the beginning of her “Hannah Montana” days, including the 2009 movie and “Best Of Both Worlds” concert film/DVD.

Over the course of their 10-year career, American Hi-Fi has sold over 1 million albums thanks to hit singles such as the Top 10 smash “Flavor Of The Weak,” “Another Perfect Day” (which was used as Coca-Cola’s theme for the 2002 Winter Olympics) and “The Art Of Losing,” and they’ve toured the world with artists such as Elvis Costello, Matchbox Twenty, Bon Jovi, Sum 41 and Fall Out Boy.  Before teaming up as American Hi-Fi, the band members performed as part of various influential bands from the ‘90s Alternative Rock scene, including Veruca Salt and Letters to Cleo, and with Tanya Donelly, Tracy Bonham, Aimee Mann, and Juliana Hatfield individually.  Their songs have been heard on TV shows and commercials such as Coors, Labatt Blue, Verizon, “Boston Public,” “24” and “Dawson’s Creek,” video games including “Guitar Hero 3,” and in movies including “American Pie 2,” “Freaky Friday,” “Van Wilder” and “Superman Returns.”  And Stacy has produced albums at The Deathstar for such artists as The Downtown Fiction, Ingrid Michaelson, Meg & Dia, The Cab, Plain White T’s, Hey Monday and Academy Is… and many others.

Stay tuned for in studio video updates, track listing, tour dates and other news from American Hi-Fi.

For More Info on American Hi-Fi click here.

CHICAGO, IL – Syracuse based veteran hard-rockers Brand New Sin have announced tour dates in support of their latest offering UNITED STATE(Goomba Music). On some of the dates the band will perform as direct support for the legendary Slash.   The dates are as follows:

4/25/12      Philadelphia, PA      Dobb’s

    4/26/12        Huntington, WV      The V Club

    4/27/12        Rock Hill, SC            The Money

    4/28/12        Columbia, SC           New Brookland Tavern

    4/29/12         Pendleton, SC         The Twisted Spoke

    4/30/12         Atlanta, GA             The Masquerade

    5/3/12           Baltimore, MD        Ram’s Head Live       w/ SLASH

    5/12/12         Rockford, IL            Bar 3

    5/14/12        Minneapolis, MN    The Brick                    w/SLASH

    5/16/12        Madison, WI           Orpheum Theater      w/ SLASH

    5/17/12       Grand Rapids, MI    Orbit Room               w/ SLASH

    5/18/12       Lansing, MI             Uli’s Haus Of Rock

    5/19/12       Battle Creek, MI      Planet Rock

    5/22/12       New York, NY          Irving Plaza      w/ SLASH

Brand New Sin has risen to new levels with their latest recording, and is ready to unleash the disenfranchised roar of UNITED STATE, released October 11, 2011 (US) and  October 31, 2011 (Europe) on Goomba Music.   The enduring trio of Kris Wiechmann (Vocals/Guitar), Chuck Kahl (Bass), and Kevin Dean (Drums) are joined by the new blood of Tommy Matkowski on lead guitar. Tommy’s playing is truly the finishing piece to this already powerful puzzle, lending a fresh and deeply rooted hard rock style to the Brand New Sin sound. This line-up spent much of 2010 on the road together defining the terms of United State, including opening shows for Slash & Myles Kennedy.   UNITED STATE expands on their 2009 independent release, Distilled, delivering some of the most accomplished and self-defining tracks of the band’s career. It’s clear that the lyrics of these autobiographical songs resonate in the state of mind of so many today. UNITED STATE is a time capsule of the struggle to survive and overcome in our current society. Many of the songs are about self-reflection. Wiechmann taps into the psyche of the masses: the moments that define each of us. “Infamous” and “Elbow Grease” animate the thoughts of a listener pondering their own past. The rage of songs like “Goddess Of War” and “Bed Of Nails” call out those that try and take advantage of the plight of others, while the anthemic “All My Wheels” tells a story of the struggle to live life never looking back, never regretting, uncompromised.   UNITED STATE sees a determined and confident Brand New Sin voicing the rage of the world, through fiercely developed statements in lyrics, riffs, and powerfully crafted guitar solos, backed by a driving rhythm section that continues to define strength

DARK NEW DAY- New Tradition

Goomba Music

Rating: 9 out of 10

Reviewed By: Jay Rybak

Take one cup Virgo’s Merlot, add one part Eye Empire, mix in two parts Evanescence, topped off with a pinch of Sevendust, and you have the mind-numbing rock recipe that is DARK NEW DAY.  The supergroup consisting of vocalist Brett Hestla (Virgo’s Merlot), drummer Will Hunt (Evanescence), guitarists Troy McLawhorn (Evanescence) and Clint Lowery (Sevendust), and Corey Lowery (Eye Empire/Stereomud) on bass, are about to release their highly anticipated sophomore release, New Tradition on Feb. 28th.  The album has been five years in the making, and believe me it was worth the wait.

The opening track, “Fist From The Sky”, rips into your ears with the finger-bleeding bass and gritty guitar reminiscent of early Down.  As we delve further into “New Tradition”, we find the killer up-tempo rocker that is “I Don’t Need You”, a masterful sonic blend of STP meets Default.  Other highlights along the way include the title track, and “Tremendous”, by now I’m rocking out so hard I’m fit to be tied.  What a coincidence, here comes the “Straightjacket”, a track that, if one didn’t know any better, could easily be mistaken for Whitfield Crane’s bridge from Ugly Kid Joe to Another Animal. 

Now on to the three way tie for my favorite songs on the album.  Is that a new Taproot song I hear?  No, it’s way better.  “Caught In The Light” has a “Hello Taproot, meet your far superior evil twin” feel to it that can’t be ignored.  Nor should it be.  Enter the next contender, “Fiend”, this is pure Sevendust meets Sixx A.M.  Enough said.  You want radio friendly?  You got it.  While the entire album is somewhat radio friendly, and moreso kick-ass, “Breakdown” screams rock radio staple.

This album comes very highly recommended.  Don’t be the inferior evil twin, get your ass to your local record store on Feb. 28th and pick up your copy.  Or if you’re too busy plotting and scheming you can pre-order it here.

DARK NEW DAY–Clint Lowery (guitarist from Sevendust), Will Hunt (drummer from Evanescence), Troy McLawhorn (guitarist from Evanescence), Brett Hestla (lead singer/guitarist from Virgos Merlot) and Corey Lowery (bassist from Stereomud and Eye Empire)—will release their highly anticipated sophomore album, NEW TRADITION, February 28 on Goomba Music (distributed by eOne Music). The first single, “New Tradition” is currently being serviced to radio stations nationwide.

NEW TRADITION is the follow-up to 2005’s debut album, TWELVE YEAR SILENCE, which was released on Warner Bros. Records. In 2006, the band released THE BLACK PORCH ACOUSTIC SESSIONS EP after being on tour for over a year with Chevelle, Seether, Crossfade, and many others. After the EP’s release, they got to work on what would eventually be their second album, known at the time as HAIL MARY. Going through many employee and management changes, Warner Bros. decided to release the band from their contract, leaving the HAIL MARY album to be unreleased. It was at this point that DARK NEW DAY went on a hiatus, with the members either returning to their previous bands or venturing out into new projects.

The fire for new DARK NEW DAY material continued to burn in both the band members and the diehard fan base alike. The band came together in 2011 to compile tracks from HAIL MARY, along with newly written and recorded songs, for a special album which will be released as a “Thank You” to all the loyal fans that have continued to follow the band and request more material from the group.

“We’re very excited about the new DARK NEW DAY release,” proclaims guitarist Clint Lowery. “It seems the time is right to make these songs public and share with the fans that continue to support this project. We believe this music is still very valid and powerful today, and think its mandatory we give these songs a fair chance out in the music world. We owe it to ourselves and the DND fans. NEW TRADITION sums up the mindset we were in writing the follow-up to TWELVE YEAR SILENCE.”

Here’s the complete track listing of NEW TRADITION:

1. Fist From The Sky
2. Come Alive
3. I Don’t Need You
4. New Tradition
5. Tremendous
6. Sorry
7. Straightjacket
8. Take It From Me
9. Caught In The Light
10. Sunday
11. Fiend
12. Breakdown
13. Burns Your Eyes









For more DARK NEW DAY click here.

January 6, 2012 — Prepare for the return of a DARK NEW DAY.   DARK NEW DAY–Clint Lowery (guitarist from Sevendust), Will Hunt (drummer from Evanescence), Troy McLawhorn (guitarist from Evanescence), Brett Hestla (lead singer/guitarist from Virgos Merlot) and Corey Lowery (bassist from Stereomud and Eye Empire)—will release their highly anticipated sophomore album, NEW TRADITION, February 28 on Goomba Music (distributed by eOne Music).  The first single, “New Tradition” is currently being serviced to radio stations nationwide.

NEW TRADITION is the follow-up to 2005’s debut album, TWELVE YEAR SILENCE, which was released on Warner Bros. Records.  In 2006, the band released THE BLACK PORCH ACOUSTIC SESSIONS EP after being on tour for over a year with Chevelle, Seether, Crossfade, and many others.  After the EP’s release, they got to work on what would eventually be their second album, known at the time as HAIL MARY.  Going through many employee and management changes, Warner Bros. decided to release the band from their contract, leaving the HAIL MARY album to be unreleased.  It was at this point that DARK NEW DAY went on a hiatus, with the members either returning to their previous bands or venturing out into new projects.   The fire for new DARK NEW DAY material continued to burn in both the band members and the diehard fan base alike.  The band came together in 2011 to compile tracks from HAIL MARY, along with newly written and recorded songs, for a special album which will be released as a “Thank You” to all the loyal fans that have continued to follow the band and request more material from the group.   “We’re very excited about the new DARK NEW DAY release,” proclaims guitarist Clint Lowery.  “It seems the time is right to make these songs public and share with the fans that continue to support this project.  We believe this music is still very valid and powerful today, and think its mandatory we give these songs a fair chance out in the music world.  We owe it to ourselves and the DND fans.  NEW TRADITION sums up the mindset we were in writing the follow-up to TWELVE YEAR SILENCE.”  

Here’s the complete track listing of NEW TRADITION:

1.  Fist From The Sky

2.  Come Alive

3.  I Don’t Need You

4.  New Tradition

5.  Tremendous

6.  Sorry

7.  Straightjacket

8.  Take It From Me

9.  Caught In The Light

10.  Sunday

11.  Fiend

12.  Breakdown

13.  Burns Your Eyes

For more DARK NEW DAY visit the band’s Facebook page here.