Frontman Tim Skipper unpacks the story behind House of Heroes’ concept record Colors, including the difficulties and freedoms that come with tackling such a project, and the band’s early ties to Twenty One Pilots.
Last week Yellowcard made the announcement that their forthcoming self-titled album would also be their last. After nearly 20 years, the pop punk outfit has decided to call it quits. So it only seemed fitting that we use this week’s playlist to honor the band and take a look back at their long and noteworthy career.
As always, the rules are 22 songs and a two song encore. Check out the full track listing below and stream the playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.
This week’s episode of Encore looks at our favorite albums so far from 2016. Next week we’ll be posting our contributor and moderator list feature, but, before that you can hear your favorite podcast hosts explain what albums they like the best and how they came up with their very scientific lists. We also talk about beer, the NBA finals, Yellowcard saying goodbye, Paramore, Every Time I Die, Eisley, and a little about Blink-182 (but expect much more on that album in the next episode).
We’d love to hear what albums you’ve been enjoying this year as well, so please hit the the little quote bubble to join us in the forums and let us know. Also, feel free to leave any questions you’d like us to tackle in future episodes. Thanks to everyone who listens.
Jean-Philip Groebler, lead singer of St. Lucia, has been immersed in music since he was part of a well-known choir in his native Cape Town, South Africa. Since then Groebler has written jingles for numerous commercials and two albums under the St. Lucia moniker. At Bonnaroo, he talks with me about his latest release. Later in the day he joined Halsey on stage for a rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Thunder,” which turned into a rain dance as storms interrupted the performance.
Civil Twilight are an indie rock band from Cape Town, South Africa and have been together for fifteen years. At Bonnaroo, the band talked with me about their latest release, Story of an Immigrant, their TV commercials, and the festival experience.
Cardiknox are an indie dance-pop act formed of Lonnie Angle and Thomas Dutton (formerly of Forgive Durden). The duo is about to begin their “Make America Dance Again” tour and have played numerous festivals over the past few years. The band talks about their recent release Portrait, collaboration, and getting crowds excited in my interview with them from this year’s Bonnaroo.
Late last week, I had a chance to sit down for an extensive phone conversation with the wonderful Sam Means. Back in January, Sam released his debut full-length solo record Ten Songs, a record I have connected with a lot during these long, hot summer days in the Northeast. We discuss that record pretty thoroughly before delving into a number of other topics, including why Dog Problems has remained relevant even ten years later and why he feels a The Format reunion is “inevitable,” even if it’s not imminent.
It’s been a few months since I captured images of Self Help Fest 2016 in San Bernadino, CA, but what can I say? Time flies! But better late than never. Check out the gallery below featuring images of A Day to Remember, The Wonder Years, Underoath, August Burns Red, Yelawolf, Letlive., Further Seems Forever, and more.
Austin Plaine is a singer/songwriter who decided that playing the guitar and writing heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics was more rewarding than trying to be a lawyer. Plaine passed up the LSATs and began writing music. He finished his self-titled album last year and I spoke with him at Bonnaroo this year about all of this and more. You can find the full video interview below.
Aparna Nancherla thinks depression is funny, or at least her goal is to make listeners laugh when she talks about the topic. The DC native has received the attention of Conan O’Brien, Amy Schumer, Wyatt Cenac, Adam Devine, and many other prestigious comedians. Nancherla fit right in on the comedy stage at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and you can find a video of our talk about her new album below.
One of my favorite things about the forums is watching talented and motivated people come together to make awesome things. Today I’m excited to feature the latest in the “member compilation” series that has been taking shape in our music forum — a tribute to Saves the Day. Below you’ll find a stream of the 12-track cover album dedicated to the band.
Mason Maggio of The Republic of Wolves is releasing his new EP under the moniker Souveneer, titled Merit Badge Season, on June 28th. The album will be available on Spotify and iTunes tomorrow, but you can stream it right now below.
Read More “Souveneer – ‘Merit Badge Season’ (Album Premiere)”
I’m lucky. I’ve never lost anyone close to me during my adult life. My grandfather died when I was very young and my six-year-old brain really didn’t understand what was going on. I’ve never gone through what Jeremy Bolm has. The Touché Amoré frontman lost his mother to cancer in the fall of 2014 and much, if not all of his band’s upcoming new album, Stage Four, revolves around processing her death and remembering their life together. The album’s first single, “Palm Dreams,” is a soaring piece of post-hardcore that showcases the continual growth of the band’s songwriting while Bolm attempts to learn even more about his mother even after her passing. In the song premiere’s accompanying article, Bolm tells NPR that “’Palm Dreams’ was written around the realization that I never had a full understanding why my mother moved from Nebraska to California in the ‘70s.”
Detroit’s very own True Love are bound to set the hardcore world on fire with their Bridge Nine debut, Heaven’s Too Good For Us. The LP’s 13 tracks clock in at just over 17 minutes, leaving you breathless and wanting more of the band’s incredible hardcore fury. One things for certain: True Love’s anthems are crushingly uncompromising. Check out the album below, pre-order at Bridge Nine, and catch their set on August 7th in Philadelphia at This Is Hardcore Fest.
Read More “True Love – ‘Heaven’s Too Good For Us’ (Album Premiere)”
Fans have been waiting with bated breath for a new album from Pierce the Veil. I recently talked with Jaime Preciado (bass) and Tony Perry (lead guitar) about what led to the the delay of their recently released album, Misadventures. The guys also talk about how fans might deal with the violence that occurred at the Bataclan Night Club last year (a venue they once played), as well as the violence at Pulse Night Club, and the murder of Christina Grimmie in Orlando, Florida. We also discuss the band meeting with fans that have terminal illnesses through the Living the Dream Foundation. You can find the entire interview below.