If there’s one food that’s lends itself to metal, it’s burgers. Anyone from Chicago knows about the amazing Kuma’s Corner (even Lady Gaga, who ordered a Judas Priest burger when she was in town). However, Kuma’s isn’t on wheels, so for the rest of us, there’s the Grill ‘Em All truck. Usually anchored in L.A., the truck features burgers like the Behemoth and the Waste ‘Em All. Even though they’re mobile, for the most part, if you haven’t in L.A., you’ve been out of luck.
However, as part of a reality show featuring competing trucks, Grill ‘Em All have made it to the finale, which is luckily taking place in NYC. Seven trucks started out in San Diego, winding up in cities where they had nothing more than their telltale spices, and were forced to find fresh meat, bread, etc. In each city, the truck with the least amount of profit was sent packing until it was down to the final two.
Our friend Rev, who knows a thing or two about burgers, gave the truck high marks on his blog, Burger Conquest. We’re looking forward to giving it a shot this weekend, when the finale is filming. While times and dates for you to get your own metal burger haven’t been announced yet, we’ll definitely update you as soon as we hear about it via Twitter (you are following us on twitter, aren’t you?).
Victory Records have posted a free digital sampler for download on their site featuring new music from Sister Sin and Ill Nino among others. The press release says it’s “the perfect soundtrack to your backyard BBQ.” Really? What kind of BBQ are they having?
In addition to helping out with the No Label Needed contest and series, Darkest Hour guitarist Mike Schleibaum has been through a lot over the past 16 years since the band formed. Starting out on local labels, the band eventually went to Victory. They’ve since signed to E1, and are working on their first album for the label, due early next Year. Mike’s seen both sides of the coin on what path a band should take with their career. Here’s his take on it:
UNSIGNED VS. SIGNED: THE PROS & CONS 101
Here’s my two cents on the eons-old debate. I chose to focus on the benefits of both worlds; after all, it’s not about which one looks best on paper, it’s about what one works best for you.
DC Style with a little DIY on the side: The Unsigned Life
Control:
The number one benefit to life as an unsigned artist is control. As an artist that self-releases material and markets its own music you are in the unique position to write your own destiny. As you will see control is at the center of this debate, those that choose this path do so knowing full well the worth of this control.
Direct Accountability:
It’s knowing who does what and when they do it that gives the unsigned artist the ability to make sure things are handled the way they want, when they want. Read more »
Did you miss Slayer’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last Thursday and want to see it on a non-computer screen? You’re in luck, because the episode is re-airing this Monday.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Arizona has passed a bill that essentially legalizes racial profiling. There are people for and against it, and obviously on the entertainment side, many are against it. Among them is Rage Against the Machine frontman Zack De La Rocha, He started an organization called The Sound Strike that’s essentially boycotting Arizona. Among the artists participating are, of course, Rage Against the Machine, Cypress Hill, Tenacious D, Massive Attack, and Sonic Youth. Here’s some of Zack’s call to arms:
Fans of our music, our stories, our films and our words can be pulled over and harassed every day because they are brown or black, or for the way they speak, or for the music they listen to. People who are poor like some of us used to be could be forced to live in a constant state of fear while just doing what they can to find work and survive. This law opens the door for them to be shaked down, or even worse, detained and deported while just trying to travel home from school, from home to work, or when they just roll out with their friends.
Some of us grew up dealing with racial profiling, but this law (SB 1070) takes it to a whole new low. If other states follow the direction of the Arizona government, we could be headed towards a pre-civil rights era reality. This unjust law was set into motion by the same Arizona government that refused to acknowledge Martin Luther King Jr. day as a national holiday.
When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, they arrested her. As a result, people got together and said we are not going to ride the bus until they change the law. It was this courageous action that sparked the Montgomery bus boycott. What if we got together, signed a collective letter saying, “we’re not going to ride the bus”, saying we are not going to comply. We are not going to play in Arizona. We are going to boycott Arizona!
While we’re definitely against the bill, and can’t really fault De La Rocha for actively speaking out against it, the motives are a little off. For one, we agree with Damian Abraham from Fucked Up, who got into a Twitter war with some band we never heard of called Stars. “All this does is not give the people that like your band enough credit and assumes that they are in someway supportive of the bill,” he responded to Stars’ announcement they were boycotting the state.
Also, look at that list of performers boycotting Arizona. Way to go, Rage Against the Machine. When was the last time they toured again? Massive Attack? They’re from the UK, and only tour once per album. Street Sweeper Social Club? Wait, who’s in that band again? Oh right, RATM guitarist Tom Morello. Tenacious D? Is Kyle Gass going to not drink Arizona Iced Tea? It’s not like it’s not a worthy cause, but how much pull will these acts have in urging people to join the boycott? The biggest name on there is the guy that’s directed a few Rage Against the Machine videos, Michael Moore. He’s definitely got the biggest reach (and likely the biggest gut, but that’s a different story).
At any rate, sign the petition here.
How To Destroy Angels will release their 6-track EP for free on June 1st. The album can be pre-ordered to receieve the single “The Believers” before the release date.
The new single from Korn entitled “Are You Ready to Live” will be available for download for 24 hours starting sometime between 11:00-11:30 today 5/27 at www.roadrunnerrecords.com.
Walking through Times Square is enough to make any New Yorker scream. Yesterday Ozzy Osbourne did just that at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum on 42nd street.
In This Moment have released the album art and track listing for their new record A Star Crossed Wasteland due out July 13th.
While Danzig’s latest album, Deth Red Sabaoth, won’t be released until June 22, fans will be able to buy the album at his nine-date run next month, five dates of which are before it’s in stores. Dates here.
Posted by Bram Teitelman on Fri, May 28, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Touring, Truckin' Hostile