News: Andrew W.K. To Host Weekly Show On Glenn Beck’s Radio Network

Posted by admin on Apr 29, 2015 in Latest, News, Reads | 0 comments

–Written by Kevin Madert

In an announcement earlier this week that would be weird if anyone other than Andrew W.K. was involved, Glenn Beck confirmed the rocker/pianist/television host/motivational speaker/all-around partier as the latest addition to TheBlaze. W.K. will host the semi-eponymous America W.K. on Beck’s radio network from 10:00AM-12:00PM, debuting this Saturday, May 2. The show is described as follows by W.K.’s website:

“Andrew will host a raw and penetrating discussion of what it is to be alive – meaning, motivation, mind set, and making dreams come true, all included in a celebration of life itself – and all with a positive and honest outlook. Andrew will also field questions and input from the audience, adding an engaging interactive component.” – via AndrewWK.com

News: Four Year Strong Stream Another New Song

Posted by admin on Apr 28, 2015 in Latest, News, Reads | 0 comments

I’ve got this buddy up from Boston, actually, he grew up in Worcester, and for those who know the area, that is a major difference that is very relevant to this topic. He swears up and down that Four Year Strong haven’t been the same since their debut album, It’s Our Time. Now, this is mostly because he’s a deeply stubborn man, but it’s also because he’s one of the hometown faithful of the band. I’d argue, of course, that Rise of Die Trying was a phenomenal album, as will most anyone else, but they aren’t going to sway his opinion.

But yesterday, these Worcester natives released “I’m A Big, Bright, Shining Star”, the second single off their upcoming self-titled album. And if I didn’t know any better, I’d say this song alone was good enough to make him change his mind. The track contains all of the elements of classic Four Year Strong; a little gritty, heavier than a lot of their later work, and most importantly: gang vocals. Very, very well done gang vocals. Check out the song for yourself after the jump, and stay tuned for Four Year Strong’s self-titled album, due out on June 2nd via Pure Noise.

Dreamscape Artist Spotlight: Michal Menert

Posted by admin on Apr 28, 2015 in Featured, Latest, Noise | 0 comments

–Written by Kevin Madert

Dreamscape is fast approaching, and we can’t wait to join Badvss Raves and all of you at Camp Ramblewood May 8-10. In the days leading up to the festival, we’re hoping to get you better acquainted with some of the artists playing the festival; if you read about them here on the AltFreq page, you should definitely catch their performances at Dreamscape.

Colorado native Michal Menert has come a long way since his days as co-producer on Pretty Lights’ debut full-length Taking Up Your Precious Time. In the decade since that album’s release, he’s built a name for himself with his never-stationary sound and his admirable work ethic, overcoming plenty of obstacles in the process. Dig a little deeper with us as we highlight one of Dreamscape’s most forward-thinking performers.

Breaking: Camp Bisco Returns for 2015, Finds New Home In Scranton, PA (UPDATE)

Posted by admin on Apr 28, 2015 in Featured, Latest, News, Noise, Reads | 0 comments

–Written by Kevin Madert

UPDATE: Camp Bisco has confirmed via Twitter it will return in 2015. The festival will be held at Montage Mountain in Scranton, PA July 16-18. Regarding a lineup, the festival simply teased “stay tuned.”

Originally posted 4/28: It’s a great day for music lovers, festival goers, and East Coasters alike. Long-running Disco Biscuits-helmed Camp Bisco appears to be returning for the summer 2015 season, albeit in a new home: Scranton, Pennsylvania. The official Bisco website was replaced earlier today with a word search (see below), which was also posted to Bisco’s various social media outlets.

Show Preview: Atmosphere w/B. Dolan, Dem Atlas, and DJ Adatrak @ Echostage (Thur. May 2)

Posted by admin on Apr 28, 2015 in Featured, Latest, Noise | 0 comments

–Written by Kevin Madert

While spring has struggled to shake the persevering grasp of winter, I’ve struggled to maintain my composure in the lead-up to May 2. Between this recent bout of cooler weather and my steadily rising anticipation for Atmosphere’s Echostage debut this coming Saturday, neither I nor spring seem to be succeeding. The Minnesota-based duo is bringing the Fortunate Tour to the nation’s capital with B. Dolan, Dem Atlas, and DJ Adatrak along for the ride.

News: New Yorker Article on the Early Days of Music Piracy

Posted by admin on Apr 27, 2015 in Latest, News, Reads | 0 comments

I’m a sucker for a history lesson on the makings of the modern day music industry.I’m such a nerd about the topic that I wrote no less than five research papers in college about modern music industry topics like piracy and digital media. It’s a fascinating subject, in the past 20 years alone we’ve been through so many ups and downs, so many technological advances, and the whole time the industry has had to keep up, with varying degrees of success. This article published by The New Yorker covers one of those not-so-successful attempts to keep up with the times. The article goes in depth on one of the biggest music piracy rings to hit the industry in the early days of the internet and leaked albums.

It’s a long read, but it is very much worth it. If only I had this as a source back when I was writing papers on the subject…

Check out the article, “The Man Who Broke the Music Business”, and let us know what you think!

Must-Hear: Refused Release New Music For First Time In 17 Years

Posted by admin on Apr 27, 2015 in Latest, News, Noise | 0 comments

–Written by Kevin Madert

Remember when words like “punk” and “hardcore” meant more than donning all black and playing the Vans Warped Tour? Refused does, and they’re here to give us a refresher. The long-defunct Swedish foursome – cited as an influence by everyone from Blink-182 to Rise Against – originally broke up in 1998, and other than a string of festival appearances in 2012 haven’t made much noise since.

That’s until today, when the group premiered “Elektra,” an acerbic, shot-from-a-gun track that will serve as the lead single for the group’s upcoming fourth album Freedom. “It’s not a reunion anymore,” frontman Dennis Lyxzén said in a press release. “This is one of the most radical things we’ve ever done, both musically and lyrically.” You can stream the video for “Elektra” below and decide for yourself.

AltFreq Weekly Planner (4/26/15-4/29/15)

Posted by admin on Apr 26, 2015 in Featured, Latest | 0 comments

–Written by Kevin Madert

It’s nearly impossible to keep track of all the events going on in the area, so we’re here to let you know what’s happening in live music over the next few days. Watch out on Thursdays for the “Weekend Planner” where we’ll cover the most important 72 hours of the week.

Weekend Wind-Down No. 15: Mixed Bag #2

Posted by admin on Apr 26, 2015 in Featured, Latest, Noise, Weekend Wind-Downs | 0 comments

-Words & list by Kevin Madert

This week, think less about why these songs belong together and more about how they coalesce to provide a soundtrack for your weekend decompression. It’s a collection comprised of vocal numbers – LCD Soundsystem’s lengthy & laid-back “All My Friends” kicks us off – and songs like “Catherine Wheel” and “Soft Trees Break The Fall” that at times are barely there. AltFreq recommends you grab a pair of headphones, find a comfortable place, and fade into the diverse soundscapes of this week’s Wind-Down.

Quick Six: The Best of Boston

Posted by admin on Apr 25, 2015 in Editorials, Featured, Latest, Reads, Uncategorized | 0 comments

In our recent piece on the debut full length album from Actor|Observer we got to talking about that signature style of Boston post-hardcore that has become such a staple of the region’s music scene. And it isn’t the first time we’ve talked about the music scene up in Boston either. The city is chock full of amazing talent and even more amazing dedication. So many bands have worked their way up through the Boston scene, some have grown up past that to reach national and international touring levels, but the majority of them never made it past the regional level. But regardless of their level of fame, so many of them will forever remain local heroes. That’s the thing about Boston, it isn’t concerned with fame, even the smallest local bands can reach the same level of acclaim as the internationally touring acts. Just ask any older Boston musician about The Cadence – which I would include in this list if there were any recordings of their music still available anywhere but MySpace – and you’ll realize that talent counts for a lot more than album sales in Boston. And here are six bands that have proved that point throughout their entire careers.