Malasimbo was a success,‭ ‬but‭ ‬it was only the first step in making the country a viable spot for music festivals.‭ ‬On May‭ ‬1,‭ ‬Volume Unit Entertainment‭ (‬the organizers of the Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival‭) ‬will be holding the first Manila Music Festival,‭ ‬and they hope to bring Malasimbo‭’‬s magic to the city.‭ ‬The event will be held at the Alpahaland Bay City at Aseana Avenue,‭ ‬Paranaque,‭ ‬near the Mall of Asia.‭

The diverse line-up features‭ ‬legendary artists both foreign and local,‭ ‬and they will share the stage with some of the country‭’‬s finest up-and-coming talent.‭

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The great thing about the internet is that musicians now have a great tool at their disposal. Sites like Bandcamp made everything centralized and made it easier for musicians to release their music on their terms, whether they want to release something as a free download or a reasonably priced MP3 bundle. This idea is really clever as it guarantees that the band gets 100% of the profits from the sales of their albums. For less commercially-inclined artists, this also gives them a chance to just get their music out there. Bands can also opt to sell their albums in a name-your-price basis, a business model used to great effect by Radiohead.

It’s not only unsigned and undiscovered musicians who use this platform. Even more established acts like Sufjan Stevens and Red Fang have Bandcamp accounts that they use to sell their records. We here at Splintr support talent from around the world, and Bandcamp has proven to be hub of some of the best artists you may or may not have heard of.

With countless talented bands all over the word, it can be a chore to sift through the artists currently on Bandcamp. Hence this new monthly feature on Splintr where we showcase the best releases on Bandcamp. The artists included on these lists release their albums either for free or on a name-your-price basis which makes it easy for you, the reader, to listen to these amazing albums at your own disposal.

1. Home Brew – “Taste Test”

Home Brew is a hip-hop crew from Auckland, New Zealand. They make soulful hip-hop filled to the brim with soul samples, classic-sounding beats, and amazing flow. “Taste Test” is their fourth release and will surely please fans of East Coast hip-hop, A Tribe Called Quest, and our very own The Mighty Miscellaneous.

http://homebrew.bandcamp.com/album/taste-test

http://www.homebrewcrew.co.nz/

2. Adam Smith – “Islands”

There’s a current trend in electronic music where lo-fi sensibilities and quality production have found a middleground; where lush soundscapes collide with 80‘s dance beats and the reverb-drenched vocals are indistinguishable from samples. “Islands” is the perfect album for a drive around the town. Highly recommended for fans of Toro y Moi and Washed Out.

http://itsadamsmith.bandcamp.com/album/islands

http://www.itsadamsmith.co.uk/

http://twitter.com/itsadamsmith

http://facebook.com/helloadamsmith

3. Nude Beach – “II”

What do you get when you mix The Ramones and Bruce Springsteen? You get Nude Beach. This rock n’ roll band from Brooklyn make anthemic powerpop songs that would make The Boss proud. If CBGB’s were still around, these guys would surely own that place. Recommended for fans of The Gaslight Anthem, Titus Andronicus, and Cheap Trick.

http://nudebeach.bandcamp.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nude-Beach-band/107185392695282

http://nudebeachband.blogspot.com/

4. Andres Correa – “Un Lugar”

Some people might dismiss this album as plain bossa nova. Give it a chance, because if you listen closely, the music of Bogotan singer-songwriter Andres Correa is clearly steeped in the musical history of Latin America, with some songs even being reminiscent of 60‘s Brazilian music. Recommended for fans of Caetano Veloso, Joao Gilberto, and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

http://andrescorrea.bandcamp.com/

http://www.facebook.com/andrescorreacanciones

http://twitter.com/AndresCorreaR

5. Holy Night – “The Second Cumming”

Holy Night are a hardcore/noise rock band from Rhode Island. Their music may not be fast, but it’s definitely furious. Punk rock is at its best when it’s fueled by anger and nihilism, and this is as nihilistic as it gets. This is face-punching music. Don’t ever play this in a car or else you run the risk of running someone over. Recommended for fans of Pissed Jeans, Flipper, Ceremony, Black Flag.

http://holynight.bandcamp.com/

So there you have it. That’s the Top 5 Bandcamp releases for the month of April. Keep an eye out on this site for further installments. You owe it to yourself to discover some great music, we’re just here to guide you along the way.

If there’s one thing that the Ed Kowalczyk and Vertical Horizon concert on Saturday proves is that there is a market for 90‘s nostalgia. A lot of us were there during the 90‘s and a lot of us have fond memories of it. Sure, it wasn’t perfect but at least it’s better than what came afterwards. Love it or hate it, the 90‘s was a time when new and exciting things started to happen… of course, only to be co-opted by the faceless corporate hacks.

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Sounding The Seventh Trumpet (2002)

Avenged Sevenfold are known for their synthesis of punk, metal, and 80‘s rock ala Guns N’ Roses. In the grand scheme of things this is nothing new, but what separates Avenged Sevenfold from other bands is their technical proficiency. “Sounding The Seventh Trumpet” was recorded when the members were still in high school, and it shows. This is a band still finding their way, finding out what they want to sound like. The production also leaves much to be desired, but it is evident that the band’s nostalgia for 80‘s metal wasn’t out of irony… they can actually play the stuff. From power ballads to straight up metal, they have the chops to do it.

Waking The Fallen (2003)

Released on Hopeless Records just one year after “Sounding The Seventh Trumpet”, “Waking The Fallen” also featured a more solid lineup consisting of M. Shadows on vocals, Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance on guitars, Johnny Christ on bass, and The Rev on drums. The sound is much more cohesive and much more gritty without sacrificing the band’s penchant for melody. This was also released at a time when people are starting to take notice. Numerous publications have featured the band, and the backing of a relatively well-known label like Hopeless also gave the band some well-deserved recognition.

City Of Evil (2005)

Arguably their most well-known release, “City Of Evil” was the band’s most commercially successful album to date, debuting at #30 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album’s singles also received heavy airplay on MTV, and was responsible for the band’s headlining stints in different shows like Ozzfest and the Vans Warped Tour. The album also featured a change in sound, with the band abandoning their metalcore roots and focusing more on a gritty hard rock sound. The change paid off and their fanbase grew, thus propelling the band to superstardom.

Avenged Sevenfold (2007)

Despite debuting at #4 of the Billboard 200 charts, the band’s self-titled album was met with mixed reviews. While some praise the band’s ability to write hit songs, some criticized the band for being unoriginal. Despite the criticisms hurled at the record, it still won Kerrang’s “Best Album Of The Year” award in 2008.

This was also the last album to feature The Rev.

Nightmare (2010)

On December 28 2009, James “The Rev” Sullivan died of an apparent overdose. This prompted the band to stop work on the album, especially since Sullivan contributed a lot during the writing process. The band decided to march on, realizing that this is what The Rev would have wanted. They headed to the studio to record with Mike Elizondo and asked Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater fame to play the drums. The result is a poignant album that does not only reflect the band’s mental state at the time of The Rev’s passing, but also as a celebration of James Sullivan’s contribution to Avenged Sevenfold.

Tomorrow night Avenged Sevenfold will be performing songs from these records at their concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Be there and witness for yourself how this hard-working rock band puts on a great show. Whether or not you’re a die-hard fan, it’s easy to appreciate a band that’s as passionate about their music as these guys. Tickets are available on all Ticketnet outlets.

Ticket prices‭ (‬excludes 6% service charge) are: Patron Standing 3,500, Patron Seated 3,500, Lower Box 3,000, Upper A 1,500 and Upper B 600. For more information, log on to www.ticketnet.com.ph or call the Ticketnet hotline at 911-5555.

Last Home is one of the best bars in Manila. It’s tucked away in its own little corner of Pioneer, the venue is relatively small and yet it’s cozy as fuck. The name is oddly fitting. This place is perfect for intimate performances and open mics, and this Saturday you’ll get the chance to watch bands like Reklamo, Mr. Bones and The Boneyard Circus, and Bagetsafonik play stripped down acoustic sets.

Be there and enjoy the drink, the food, and the awesome music.

Live was an anomaly: during the time of alternative rock and grunge, they have managed to find mainstream success not just by riding the coattails of a particular fad but by making an album that’s worth listening to. That album was their sophomore effort “Throwing Copper”, which was released in 1994. 18 years later, and the album still holds up despite being responsible for all the shitty alternative rock bands that came afterwards.

Every band has that one album where everything clicks: the songs are great, the musicians are at the top of their game, and the production is really on-point. For Live, “Throwing Copper” was that album. The record is filled with memorable songs that became hits for good reason. Songs like “Selling The Drama”, “I Alone”, and “Lightning Crashes” are perfect examples of the band’s songwriting savvy. While some of the tracks may seem dated, it’s obvious why people love Live.

The band’s musicianship is on display, with Chad Gracey’s drums driving the more upbeat songs forward. Even Ed Kowalczyk’s vocals are nothing short of perfect, display equal amounts of intensity and warmth.

We cannot discuss this album without mentioning the production of fomer Talking Heads and Modern Lovers guitarist Jerry Harrison. Instead of burying the mixes in countless production flourishes, he opted to keep it simple, preserving the track’s rawness without sacrificing quality and precision. The production is classy, and it worked in the band’s favor. The rockier bits of the album like the aforementioned “Selling The Drama”, “Top”, and “Dam At Otter Creek” pack a punch, while the instrumentation and production on the slower songs like “Lightning Crashes” and the country-infused hidden track “Horse” worked best by focusing on the melody and songwriting.

“Throwing Copper” is a classic alternative rock album, but make no mistake: this is not a relic. While the band may be past their prime, this record is a perfect document of how, at one point in time, everything clicked together.

You can catch Ed Kowalczyk perform Live’s biggest hits on his show on April 28th at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Vertical Horizon.

We have lost one of the most talented and influential musicians in history. RIP Levon Helm, and happy trails. Without you, The Band wouldn’t have sounded the same.

“Across the great divide, just grab your hat, and take that ride” – The Band, “Across The Great Divide”

blun-der-buss
n.

1. ‭ ‬A short musket of wide bore and flaring muzzle,‭ ‬formerly used to scatter shot at close‭    ‬range.‭
2. ‬A person regarded as clumsy or stupid.

The White Stripes were one of the bands at the forefront of the whole garage rock revival.‭ ‬Their minimalist punk-infused style of raw delta blues was not only unique,‭ ‬but also influential.‭ ‬Ever since their start,‭ ‬they have always been imitated,‭ ‬but no one‭ ‬really came close to their energy and creativity.‭ ‬On Februrary‭ ‬2011,‭ ‬The White Stripes announced that they had broken up.‭ ‬While for most bands this signifies the end,‭ ‬for Jack White this only signifies excitement over what he‭ ‬will do next.

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been an important part of the music industry ever since its inception in‭ ‬1986.‭ ‬They‭ ‬honour‭ ‬the people who have worked in the music business,‭ ‬from performers to producers and even the session musicians who have worked in some of the most important albums in history.

This year,‭ ‬12‭ ‬performers have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Fame,‭ ‬and we here at Splintr think that it is our duty to share the good news to you folks.‭

These performers join the likes of Sam Cooke,‭ ‬James Brown,‭ ‬and Elvis Presley.‭ ‬Talk about being in good fucking company.

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