We Are! The New Year

It's been about a month since I gave you guys some fresh blood, and I thank all you guys out there for being patient with me. I was so unbelievably burned out and needed to recharge so badly, so I've just been taking the last few weeks to recoup and look for some new bands for you guys. But like I promised before, I'm sure that this new crop of groups will have been well worth the wait. I have about ten or so new groups, all different, all amazing, that I want to introduce at the forefront of this new wave of New Rock News 43, and I'm gonna start the swell with these guys.
We Are! The New Year is a five-piece pop-punk band out of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and with a sound like this, I'd bet anything that these guys will be on Warped Tour next year, most definitely. Composed in the ever pop-punkish sense of Chad Childers (lead vocals), DJ McAuley (guitar and vocals), Pat Shively (guitar and vocals), Marc Kubushefki (bass), and Clay Stauffer (drums), We Are! The New Year blast out a sound that's closer to All Time Low and We the Kings than I've heard in a very long time. In a world where pop-punk is a term that can be applied to bands with a sound like Sum 41 or Forever the Sickest Kids, there are so many groups that just seem to copy the sound of someone else, and call themselves a new pop-punk band. This, I'm happy to say, is not the case here. WA!TNY's rhythms are diving and filled with enough hooks to fill an entire album, and this is just from listening to a few of their songs.
I am immediately impressed by the sound of their track "Stuttering" from their release An Amazing Situation. From the first chords of the song, I am delivered a driving rhythm by the team of Kubushefki on bass and Stauffer on drums. One of the best things about this rhythm section is the way that Kubushefki's bass lines seem to take off in a different direction from Stauffer's drums at times, only to land back in time and sync, creating a chaotic yet altogether well structured song. Stauffer, meanwhile, impresses me with tricks all his own as his fills and rolls pulse the song to new heights. Shively and McAuley, too, deliver a hardcore performance, as they're able to balance brilliantly between commendable technique and hard-rock spontaneity. The stop-start chords they rip from their guitars are only furthered by the driving sing-along chorus which is completed with a perfect bow and card by Childers' high-pitched yet oh-so-catchy vocals. The great mini-solo, and xylophone tones thrown in by Stauffer just after the bridge don't hurt either. This is clearly a five-star track, and if the question would be could I see this song vamping up a crowd at a Warped Tour show, the answer is most definitely yes.
If the musical career doesn't work out for these guys, they can certainly make a living coming up with odd, though albeit interesting names for songs. In a tradition that seemed to be perpetuated by Fall Out Boy, I embark on WA!TNY's second track, "Confessions of a Spider." A weird title? Perhaps, but the concept is something that intrigues me, and at the end of this track, I'm a little jealous I didn't come up with the idea myself. Childers is on top of his game and the world in this one, his voice blending in brilliant ways with the guitar notes and riffs of Shively and McAuley to create a shining tapestry of musical tact and melodic heart. If nothing else, this track will make you get up out of your seat and pump your hand in the air as Stauffer and Kubushefki pull the song through a pulse-heightening bridge and solo. A song with a great, original idea that's creatively written, I give this one two thumbs up easily.
As I'm about to close up shop on WA!TNY's Myspace page to come and write this article, I'm pulled back for one last song, and in my opinion, I hope this is the last track on their album, because it leaves you wanting more, and waiting longingly for their next release. "From Now Till Never" is simple in its structure, but that seems to be what makes it so great. Some songs do well because they're very complicated and boast a guitar of bass virtuoso like Clapton or Bruce, but others are great simply because their well-written and don't need that complex component to become a staple at live shows. I'm sure this song is one of those, because I know if I were going to see these guys live, this is one I'd definitely love to hear. With a driving rhythm and guitar chords that are crisp and clear, I am left at the end wanting more from these guys.
We Are! The New Year is most certainly the best way to make my comeback. These guys convey power and passion with no sign of stopping, and that is precisely the feeling I wanted to convey with New Rock News 43. Sometimes I need a break, and sometimes I feel disillusioned, but in the end I wake up, and after hearing bands like this one and the others I will soon reveal, I know I could never stop doing this. There is just too much talent out there, and it's just too much fun showing you guys new groups to rock out to.
I will be back soon with a new band for you guys, and until then it would certainly behoove you to check these guys out. We Are! The New Year promises to be a band that will soon grace the cover of Alternative Press, though I'm gunning to have them interview here first haha. Peace guys, new blood soon. It's great to be back!!

Sounds Like: All Time Low, Forever the Sickest Kids, We the Kings, Fall Out Boy

Key Tracks from An Amazing Situation: "Stuttering," "Confessions of a Spider," "From Now Till Never"

Check out We Are! The New Year more at: http://www.myspace.com/wearethenewyear and http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Are-The-New-Year/363498937146?v=wall&ref=search

A Night Out with a Bill That Rocked Out

So it's been a while since I posted anything here, and though I'm still not quite ready to unveil a new group in full detail, I went to an amazing show this past Friday which most certainly deserves my attention. Up at Swayze's Venue here in Marietta, I saw an amazing lineup comprising NRN43 veterans Have You Seen My Ghost and Fit For Rivals, as well as a couple new groups who impressed me so much that you guys can definitely expect some more literature on them real soon. In the way that only small venues can, Swayze's atmosphere brings with it the from-the-street-grit and musical originality that is oh-so-lacking in big arenas and concert halls. Granted bands like Van Halen or Alice in Chains are much too popular to play small venues anymore, but the point stands, small venues are where the passion can really be felt by us out in the crowd.
Though I missed the first act, number two on the bill was a band from here in Marietta called Valbanera. Now I'll be the first to say that screamo-punk is a very acquired taste, and especially for me, it takes time to really be able to appreciate that kind of sound. What really impressed me, however, was Valbanera's stage presence, and the way they really worked the crowd. It didn't matter if they were playing to 25 people or 2,500 people, the effect was the same: when they were up there doing there thing, there was nothing this side of the Milky Way that was gonna stop them. Holding the microphone over the crowd like he was playing Madison Square Garden, lead singer Gavin Caffrey brought all the emotion and artistic integrity right to the forefront of the blistering set. Valbanera's guitarists too, Peyton Foley and Brian Caffrey, shredded away blurring the lines between emo-punk and straight metal. But Tyler Seaman (bass and vocals) and Anthony Founds (drums) were not to be outdone either, and the rhythm section was as dynamic as could be asked. A powerful performance augmented by technical musicianship, Valbanera will most certainly find their way to my pages again. Keep your eyes open for them.
As if Valbanera's performance wasn't enough, the next act was LOVELOUD, an alternative-hard-rock quartet from Florida. I'd heard these guys on their Myspace and they were most certainly one of the bands that drew me out that night. I can say with concrete certainty that they will most certainly be featured here again, and very soon. A powerful performance that was pushed over the top by songs with amazing melodies that stick in your head, LOVELOUD's sound was so refined and brilliant, I could close my eyes and swear I was listening to a professionally-produced album. These guys sound amazing live, and after the show I caught up with Steven (guitar and vocals) and Jason (guitar) to talk about their sound and plans. These guys are down to earth, and with a set that blows fire and static in every direction, they're not going away any time soon. Keep your eyes open, LOVELOUD will arrive on New Rock News 43 in all their hard-rocking glory very, very soon.
The third band on the bill was also one of my main draws that evening: Fit For Rivals. I'd last seen FFR a few months ago when they played with Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and just as they rocked that show, this one was insane too. FFR have finagled their way onto Warped Tour for a few dates, and I'm stoked to report that one of those dates is here in Atlanta. These guys, for those of you who didn't read the last article I wrote on them (and shame on you for that), are amazing, and last night was no exception. Renee Phoenix's vocals were sharp and serrated, and the guitar interplay between Thomas Amason and Jesse Carroll was fantastic. I could go on and on about these guys, but I'm sure they'll be back here soon, so why take away from from a great article that's sure to grace us sometime soon? Point stands though: Fit For Rivals are definitely one of the up and coming acts from the Florida panhandle and nothing is gonna stop this gritty five-piece.
My last group that night was Have You Seen My Ghost. Once again, HYSMG's music is a bit of an acquired taste for me, but their shows are nonetheless incredible. Blasting off with the simple power-trio formula, HYSMG rides along pulse-pounding bass lines delivered by Lee Jennings and guitar fretwork that bounces back and forth between emo-punk and alternative-rock by Grayson Blanchette. These guys, whether or not you like their music, just give one undeniably amazing show. To detail just how different and incredible it is, for their encore last song (and yes, people were calling for an encore, so that should tell you something), HYSMG pulled everyone in the crowd up on the stage to provide crowd vocals. That is an amazing thing to see. The whole of everyone in the venue up their rocking out with the band...unheard of, and still so fucking cool. These guys definitely outdid themselves, and it was a night well spent.
If you're wondering if there's anymore to come from these guys, there most certainly is. A night spent with Valbanera, Fit For Rivals, LOVELOUD, and Have You Seen My Ghost: who could ask for more? Definitely the best concert I've been to in a long time.

Check out Valbanera more at: http://www.myspace.com/valbanera
Check out LOVELOUD more at: http://www.myspace.com/weareloveloud
Check out Fit For Rivals more at: http://www.myspace.com/fitforrivals
Check out Have You Seen My Ghost more at: http://www.myspace.com/haveyouseenmyghost

I'll Be Back Soon

It's been like two weeks since I last had some fresh blood for you guys, and for that I do apologize. I might be taking a short break after this article for a few weeks so that I can recharge my batteries and continue writing articles that are top-notch and in-depth. I hope you all understand and don't hold it against me. I wish I could be able to write non-stop for you guys all the tie and get bands for you every week without fail, but sometimes we just need a break to keep everything intact.
I assure you all that this is not in any way the end of New Rock News 43, it's just a short break for a while. When I get back, I will have a whole new crop of groups and artists that will blow your minds and totally melt your speakers. I have already started collecting the new cream of the crop, and rather than write a shoddy article about a group who would clearly deserve better, I think it would be better for me, for the groups, and or course for you guys for me to wait just a little bit and craft some really great write-ups so that these groups are done the justice they deserve.
I can honestly say that so far of the groups I've started collecting and researching, I have ones that will appeal to those of you out there who love hard-rock, alternative, pop-rock, pop-punk, and even some really eclectic stuff.
These new articles are gonna be great, so just be patient for a little bit longer. You guys will most certainly not be disappointed, I guarantee that. I promise that they will all be well worth the wait. Peace guys, I'll be back soon. Until then, keep your fists up and keep rockin'.

Seven Story Fall Poised for the Silver Screen

This is gonna be a short post, guys. I don't have a new band for you just yet, but I have exciting news anyway. Seven Story Fall, an amazing pop-punk band from here in Atlanta, and a New Rock News veteran group, just finished shooting their first ever music video today, and I WAS THERE!!! I can honestly say that these guys made an awesome video, and aside from looking for my face in the front row of the crowd haha, just let yourselves give in to the amazing performance these guys put on for you.
SSF is now a four-piece, as former lead-vocalist Mike Hart is pursuing other opportunities (and for those of you who haven't checked out his Myspace page, he's got some really great stuff up on there). From here, bassist-backing vocalist Ryan McManus has assumed responsibilities of lead-vocalist and bassist, and his rhythms coupled with those thrown out by drummer Wesley Moore make for an incredible base for guitarists Justin Calalay and T.J. Routon. Just watching the way these guys flow in and out during a video shoot shows just how talented they are. Routon's and Calalay's guitar parts were as serrated and melodic as ever, and McManus's vocals and frontmanship made this simple video shoot feel like a real concert. Behind it all, it was just a pleasure to hear Wesley Moore driving the rhythms into these songs with the force and grace of any born-to-be rock drummer. Every beat is timed and calculated, and falls brilliantly with McManus's bass notes.
I'm not gonna say what track the video was for. That's not for me to reveal. But what I can say is that I saw the video in all its raw parts up close and personal, and I can't wait to see it put together. Directed by visionary Chris Grieder, who's directed videos for music giants such as There For Tomorrow and Mute Math, this video is gonna be something special; I can tell. I can honestly say that from what I saw, Grieder's effort will yield an impressive video, and for the first single off a new album, this video is gonna rock.
Seven Story Fall will be releasing their new album this summer. Recorded with music wizard James Paul Wisner (Paramore, Underoath, Dashboard Confessional), the new album, from what little snippets I heard today, promises to be an amazing collection of songs that will prove to be the must-hear track-listing for the summer. I can't wait until this video and album come out. And when they do, Seven Story Fall will be unstoppable.
Don't forget to look for me in the front row next to the huge speaker. I'm the one rockin' out to the incredible music. You can't miss me, ha!

Check out Seven Story Fall at: http://www.myspace.com/wearesocontagious