According to a report from Lambgoat.com and The New York Post, Kentucky senator Rand Paul’s annual “Festivus Report” has shared his annual report for Christmas deriding U.S. government federal spending. The report highlights that over $200 million was allocated to music artists and their touring companies through the Small Business Administration’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. The program appears to have benefitted not only small enterprises but also well-known names in the music industry. Applicants were eligible to receive 45% of their 2019 gross revenue up to $10 million per grant. This news is not new, is several years old, and was a source of contention from bands and fans following the pandemic, but this is first time the amounts dispersed were made public. Some of the notable recipients identified in the report include Korn receiving $5.3 million, and Slipknot receiving $9.7 million, with an additional $1.05 million going to Slipknot’s Knotfest music festival. It’s noted by Paul that the $416 billion grant program was intended to aid struggling live venue operators, theatrical producers, performing arts organizations, talent representatives, and movie theaters – entities that suffered significant losses during the pandemic. Coincidently, Paul’s state of Kentucky ranks 2nd in the United States in dependency on government handouts, so this report is always curious to political pundits. Other artists called out by Paul includes Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Smashing Pumpkins, and non-Americans Nickleback (whose record label is US based, and thus their band is likely incorporated in the states.Continue reading
Tag Archives: Nickelback
ALBUM REVIEW: Sophie Lloyd – Imposter Syndrome
YouTuber. If there was ever a word with the ability to separate people into two distinct age groups in less than a second, then this is the one. It’s a term that didn’t even exist twenty years ago, yet for some, it’s just another word used without a second thought. But for others, it’s the grating sound of hyperactive internet personalities desperately trying to keep the attention of their trend-obsessed subscribers by constantly shouting, screaming, waving their arms about and overreacting wildly to literally everything.
ALBUM REVIEW: Stone Broken – Revelation
Formed in 2013, Stone Broken are a quartet who, despite their transatlantic sound, hail from Walsall. Revelation, on Spinefarm, is the British four piece’s third album and it is a polished slab of commercial hard rock.
Devin Townsend – Empath
Many words have been used to describe Devin Townsend over the years. Oddball. Eccentric. Quirky. Canadian. To name but a few. Since exploding into the confused consciousness of metal fans around the world on Steve Vai‘s ‘Down Deep Into the Pain’ video in 1993, Townsend has gone on to create a musical legacy so uniquely unconventional that his career almost defies description.Continue reading
New Trailer For “Once A Upon A Deadpool” Praises Nickelback After Diss
After the first trailer for the PG recut of the holiday-themed version of Deadpool 2 saw Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Fred Savage (The Princess Bride, The Wonder Years) slam Nickelback by comparing the Fox made Marvel superhero movies to the Beatles, if they were produced by the successful Canadian rock band. Now the tides have turned. In the new trailer ahead of tomorrow’s release of Once Upon A Deadpool, after the slam that Savage served in the first trailer is uttered, he piles on by calling them “overproduced, formulaic ear garbage.” Deadpool defends the band. Proving to be a Nickelback stan, Deadpool defends them discussing all of their record sales and accolades as facts to why they are beyond reproach. Reynolds slyly makes a few references to their Canadian roots he and the band both share. Then after he and Fred reconcile, and they both sing the smash hit “How You Remind Me”, headbanging gleefully. Check out the new trailer below and the rash of accomplishments Mr. Pool shares about the best-selling band ever from Roadrunner Records.Continue reading
Steve Vai, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger And More Guest On Devin Townsend’s New Album
In a series of tweets, Devin Townsend revealed he is nearing completion of his new album, Empath, due this spring via InsideOut Music. In addition to frequent collaborator Anneke Van Giersbergen (Vuur), Devy is working with Chad Kroger of Nickelback, Che Dorval, Mike Keneally, and others. He discussed the arduous process of making this album and how relieved he is that it is nearing completion. He also commented that the theme of the album is “anti-suicide”. Continue reading
Sons of Texas – Forged by Fortitude
Melding differing types of rock and metal together are American metalheads Sons of Texas. Formed in 2013 from, as their name suggests, the lone star state SOT are vocalist Mark Morales, drummer Mike Villareal, bassist Nick Villareal, and on guitar Jon Olivarez and Jes De Hoyos. Their new album Forged by Fortitude, coming two years after their début Baptized in the Rio Grande (both Razor & Tie/Spinefarm), is a continuation of their radio-friendly hybrid of rock and metal. Continue reading
Pop Evil – Up
It may be all too easy to scoff at bands that come from that America specialty of post-grunge hard rock acts following the likes of Nickelback, bands often cited as lowest common denominator rock and metal. What this does overlook is the genuine talent that does come through in this style, and at the very least that they do sometimes bring some great songs (even Nickelback have some anthems, don’t deny it). Relative unknowns in the UK and Europe, Pop Evil are big news in their native USA and are beginning to make some waves across the Atlantic (a pretty well received Download Festival main stage slot is a good start), and with good reason.
Pop Evil have always been a little bit different from the crowd they find themselves in, with a bit of an exploratory streak beyond their peers, whilst not proving wildly unpredictable or hard to follow. On this, their 4th effort Up (eOne Music) proceedings are immediate and huge from the start but also have an underlying sense of atmosphere, almost veering on eerie and morose at times.
Opening with lead single ‘Footsteps’ is a statement of intent, displaying the album’s new found positivity in comparison to its predecessor’s gloomy tone, as its instant chorus and metallic crunch embed themselves firmly into your head. Not that it lapses after this as throughout, each song proves strong, if not as memorable as others. Even the obligatory ballad ‘If Only For Now’ has a darker feel opposed to the sugar coating that many would do. Leigh Kakaty’s vocals prove heartfelt and genuine and certainly match the band’s colossal, if somewhat unoriginal, sound.
This kind of stadium ready contemporary rock is certainly not for everyone’s taste and it very rarely sets the world alight in the sense of reinvention or necessity, and whilst Up doesn’t entirely buck this trend it certainly further evidences Pop Evil’s prowess and their edge above many of their peers. With a greater sense of atmosphere than many similar bands and an ear for a good tune, these guys have proven themselves as one of the strongest in their field. Big things await.
7.0/10
CHRIS TIPPELL
Nickelback To Cancel Upcoming US Dates, Chad Kroger To Undergo Surgery
Nickelback today announced the cancellation of al remaining date of their current US tour. The dates were for the ongoing second leg for the No Fixed Address North American Tour due to front man Chad Kroger’s diagnosis of an operable cyst on his voice box. Kroger will undergo surgery in three weeks, which includes weeks of vocal rest as part of his doctor ordered recovery plan. Initially only a handful of shows were canceled, with the band hoping to salvage the tour. Ticket refunds will be available at the point of purchase. For more information please visit http://www.livenation.com/ and http://www.nickelback.com/.
Kroger released a statement about the tour cancellation:
“I am sorry I have to interrupt the party this summer and I am definitely not thrilled with the prospect of being silent for many weeks to come when I could be out there playing for our fans. I am relying on my doctor and his team to help get my voice back in good form as quickly as possible.”
Kroeger’s medical team anticipates a full recovery and the No Fixed Address tour will resume with their previously scheduled European run, in Helsinki, Finland on September 30th. The band is hoping to return to North America on tour in 2016.
Nickelback tour dates – all canceled
Jun 19: Sleep Country Amphitheater – Portland, OR
Jun 20: The Gorge – George, WA
Jun 23: Sleep Train Amphitheatre – Wheat land, CA
Jun 24: Shoreline Amphitheatre -Mountain View, CA
Jun 26: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – Irvine, CA
Jun 27: Sleep Train Amphitheatre – San Diego, CA
Jun 30: Isleta Amphitheater- Albuquerque, NM
Jul01: Chin Pavilion – Phoenix, Ariz AK
Jul03: Mandalay Bay Events Center – Las Vegas, NV
Jul05: USANA Amphitheatre Salt Lake City, UT
Jul07: Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO
Jul10: First Midwest Bank Amphitheater Tinley Park, IL
Jul11: Klipsch Music Center Indianapolis, IN
Jul14: Wells Fargo Arena Des Moines, IA
Jul29: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St Louis, MO
Jul31: Riverbend Music Center Cincinnati, OH
Aug 01: DTE Energy Music Theatre Clarkston, MI
Aug 04: Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Aug 07: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center Darien Lake, NY
Aug 08: Hershey Park Pavilion Hershey, PA
Aug 11: Saratoga Performing Arts Center Saratoga Springs, NY
Aug 12: First Niagara Pavilion Burgettstown, PA
Aug 14: Nikon at Jones Beach Theater Wantagh, NY
Aug 15 : Mohegan Arena Uncasville, CT
Aug 18: Xfinity Center Mansfield, MA
Aug 19: Waterfront Park Bangor, ME
Aug 21: PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel, NJ
Aug 22: Susquehanna Bank Center Camden, NJ
Aug 25: Jiffy Lube Live Bristow, VA
Aug 26: Farm Bureau Live Virginia Beach, VA
Aug 28: PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte, NC
Aug 29: Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood , Atlanta, GA
Radio Legend Lou Brutus To Host Rock Fest
Lou Brutus. Photo by Robert Fortenberry
Rock radio legend Lou Brutus will be hosting Rock Fest in Cadott, WI on July 16-19, 2015. The four day event will feature over 50 bands including Avenged Sevenfold, Shinedown, Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Nickelback, All That Remains, Pop Evil, and others.
Brutus is frequently onstage to host some of the biggest festivals in music including Knotfest (San Bernardino, CA), where this past October, he also hosted its worldwide webcast. He’s also acted as stage host for Rock on The Range, Rockstar Uproar, Rockstar Mayhem, Sonic Boom, Band Camp and countless other concerts and festivals. He has traveled the globe for three decades covering many of the biggest music events in history including Live Aid, Live 8, Live Earth, and The Wall at the Berlin Wall.
He is best known for his eighteen plus years of national syndication hosting hardDrive and hardDriveXL, heard on over 100 radio stations in the United States and Europe, as well as his work on other national radio platforms. He’s done local shows in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC, and Providence.
Brutus has also hosted radio specials and/or created radio channels for Metallica, Slipknot, Stone Sour, Rush, Disturbed, Theory of A Deadman, Smashing Pumpkins, and numerous others.
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