Mark Hoppus Comments On New Blink-182 Album Leak

Mark Hoppus has spoken out about the leak of the new Blink-182 album, 'Neighborhoods'.

Hoppus made the following comments:

"natives, after midnight, MH 4.18.2011, kaleidoscope, and wishing well are the songs written after the postponement of the tour.

yes, it’s a different mix. (In reference to “Hearts All Gone”)

no, it wasn’t us. from what i can determine, it looks like it leaked in russia first. i fell asleep at 4am, and for no reason woke up at 7, with a weird premonition. i checked my twitter and there it was."

Sara Quin Comments About Tyler, The Creator

Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara has posted an interesting blog regarding her opinion and thoughts about Tyler, The Creator, which can be read by clicking read more.

The Dangerous Summer Guitarist Responds To YMAEWK Break Up

Cody Payne of The Dangerous Summer has given his thoughts on the recent break up of You, Me And Everyone We Know.

Paramore Respond To Farro Brothers Exit and Statement

Paramore have commented on the recent departure and exit statement from Josh and Zac Farro.

In a forthcoming interview with MTV, vocalist Hayley Williams said:

"There's been a lot of things said online, especially in the past week, and it sucks ... it sucks to read it, and it also sucks to know that responding isn't really going to help, online, because things travel so terribly on the Internet, so we really wanted the opportunity to show our fans that we're OK, you know? The three of us are still here, we're not going anywhere. A lot of kids are still asking if the band is breaking up, and that just goes to show how broken the communication online can be, when rumors start traveling. So this is our way of showing that there's a future and we're stoked for it. You've just got to know that what's important is the three of us are still here, and that we want to do this, and that's the positive part about this."

MTV News will be unveiling their exclusive interview with Paramore on Friday at 4 p.m. ET with 'Paramore: The Last Word,' a live stream on MTV.com that will feature in-depth analysis of the band's future, real-time discussion with their biggest fans and exclusive footage of the band, past and present.

Ex-Deaf Havana Vocalist Comments on Exit

Former Deaf Havana Ryan Mellor has commented on his departure.

"I can't go into detail about certain aspects of my choice to leave the band, but there are a number of things that led to the decision," he admitted. "Basically when one element of your life is pulling you one way, and another is pulling you another you're either gonna snap or you have to let one go. Deaf Havana was started in my bedroom five years ago, and since then I have had the time of my life, but over five years people change, including myself of course. Most importantly goals, aims and ambitions change, not just in the band but with my life.

When you're a teenager all you want to be is a rockstar, you don't give a fuck about anything else, then a little bit later you just wanna try and get by playing music for a living. At the end of the day there are loads of little mini reasons for me having/wanting to leave, but overall I feel like I have made the right desicion. I needed some time off, and to ask a band on the rise to take a few months off is a lot to ask, and I couldn't expect them to wait around forever so I wish them all the best and know they are going to go far.

I'm still writing and recording stuff as we speak, so hopefully that will see the light of day when I feel like I'm ready to get back on top of everything."

Sparks The Rescue Guitarist Explains Departure

Patrick O'Connell has explained why he has left Sparks The Rescue.

"So a lot of people have been waiting for me to write something and explain why I left Sparks The Rescue. I'm sorry I took so long but here it is. It's nothing crazy or anything really. I just realized that the touring life is not for me. As much as I enjoy playing shows with the guys, it still got to me that I was not in maine around my family. the road isn't for everyone and I found out that I'm one of those people. I'm a blue collar guy from Lewiston, Maine. so I moved home and got a job painting. It's not glamorous but it lets me feel like I've worked my ass off and earned a pay check. Rough hands and sore muscles kinda shit. For the record I am not done with music. I most likely will be starting something up at some point just to play some local shows for fun. So keep an eye out for it if you like. Other than that if I haven't satisfied your curiosity well enough hit me up and I'll try to answer any questions I can. so before I finish this thing I'd just like to thank everyone that I've ever met and had a conversation with or has enjoyed our music or gone to a show or showed us to a friend or let us stay at your housee or anything. You guys gave me the opportunity to see the country and europe and feel welcome everywhere we went. and who knows. Maybe I'll see some of you around. Also please continue your support of Sparks The Rescue. They still mean the world to me and I want to see them on top of the world and they can't do it without you.

Patrick"

Fall Out Boy Drummer Speaks Out On Band Future

Fall Out Boy drummer, Andy Hurley, has commented on the future of the band via the Fuck City message board:

"I really wish I could tell everyone if we were done or not. But I just don't know. It's not looking great right now, but when we went into the break it was for sure that we'd come back in 2 or 3 years. I still think we will come back, but I just don't know. There's no official decision one way or another. Pete loves fob. I love fob. Patrick loves fob. and Joe loves fob. It's just that we're in different places right this very instant. which is why we took the break.

I honestly think all the pressure of people asking stuff like they are on Twitter every five seconds is more damning to the band than anything. The whole point of the break was to just get away, and not think about it, and in 2 years or so, come back and decide where to go from there. I believe in us, and I believe we will get in a room, hash out the bullshit like in Some Kind Of Monster (haha) and we will be super stoked to do another record. I know all of us are already, but just not at this exact moment."

Avenged Sevenfold Comment On Drummer's Death

The members of Avenged Sevenfold have commented on the recent death of drummer, James "The Rev" Sullivan.

"It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan. Jimmy was not only one of the world's best drummers, but more importantly he was our best friend and brother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jimmy's family and we hope that you will respect their privacy during this difficult time.

Jimmy you are forever in our hearts.
We love you.

M Shadows, Synyster Gates, Zacky Vengeance and Johnny Christ"

Breathe Carolina Comment On Fight with Security

Breathe Carolina have commented on an incident between the duo and security at their show a Chain Reaction in Anaheim, Ca this past weekend.

The duo said:

"We want to apologize to our fans who saw us fighting security last night- we are peaceful people, but they threw the first punch and we had to defend ourselves.

Just because they have shirts that say security on them does not make them right- we are all just people, I guess they felt like they had to make themselves feel better by trying to fight us because of their own insecurities.

Security guards are supposed to stop fights- not start them- sorry again to our fans, but this is real life and sometimes bad things happen."

Jared Leto Comments on 30 Seconds To Mars Album Leak

30 Seconds To Mars' Jared Leto has commented on the bands new album 'This Is War' leaking on to the internet.

Leto told Rock Sound:

It’s sort of inevitable that it’s going to leak at some point," he admitted recently. "I think it gets pretty heated these days, because if it leaks they [the record label] tend to go after whoever leaked it pretty hard. It’s a pretty intense thing but I stay out of that.”

Attack Attack! Drumer Comments on Vocalist Departure

Attack Attack!'s drummer Andrew Wetzel has commented on the recent departure of vocalist Nick Barham.

Wetzel said:

"Why hello boys and girls!

Thought we'd throw you all a quick little update about what's currently going on in the AA! lineup.

The band and Nick parted ways recently in a mutually agreed non-explosive fashion, which we all believe is the best for both sides.

Caleb is going to retire his keys and start screaming in the front of the band.

We DO NOT have a new person in our band.

Don't worry, our music will still be full of Caleb's programming, keys, and all the good things he concocts. It will just be back-tracked live with the 808 samples and other nonsense on my iPod.

Anyways, we're not gonna stop touring, playing shows, and having a generally wonderful time with all of you.

See you in your town soon!

Love,
Wetzel"

Craig Owens Comments on Chiodos Exit Video

A video of Craig Owens commenting on his recent departure from Chiodos, can be seen by clicking read more.

Tom Delonge Comments On Death Of Les Paul

Tom Delonge has commented on the recent death of Les Paul:

"A true musical pioneer whose inventions and innovations have influenced every facet, genre, and spectrum of the industry. The world may have lost an icon, but his name and legacy will live on forever. Thanks Les.”

Max Bemis Comments On New Say Anything Album

Say Anything front man Max Bemis has posted a blog regarding the forthcoming Say Anything album:

"I'm like a joyous father today because we get to announce that our new record "Say Anything" is coming out October 13th, 2009. As I've said recently of the record, my opinion is that it literally defines everything about the band we've built so far. If you like us or love us from the bottom of your heart, be excited.

Some deets: The running theme of the record is finding the mental superhero within yourself despite having seen some dark times. After all of the stuff you've heard me sing and write about that overtook me for the better part of a decade, I finally found a way to fight back, and this is the story of how.

A few of my favorite songs on the record are "Mara and Me", "Death for My Birthday" , "Do Better", "Crush'd" and "Hate Everyone". There going to be thirteen songs all together, the first one being a introduction to the record called "Fed to Death".

Though it's hard to describe the quote-un-quote sound, I can try; "Say Anything" is akin to Botch forcing themselves on the Beatles and fathering a strange Larry David-esque midget, who is abandoned due to his freakish nature and adopted by Billy Joe Armstrong. This record is quite a bit more fun than our last record, but still expectedly evil. The point is, we're very proud of it and we only hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed taking our music to what we perceive as the place we've always wanted it to go.
Hmmmm...any other tidbits...uhh...Debra Messing is indeed mentioned on the record. No joke! We love you, Debra!
-Max"

Brand New Comment On Online Following

Brand New's Jesse Lacey has spoken to Rock Sound about the bands fan following their every move online.

Lacey said:

"Kids don’t realise that they don’t want to know about the process. They think they want to, but when they find out a song isn’t really called something they get angry about it. Or if they hear something and it changes then it provokes the same response. If you don’t want to know then don’t look, don't ask about it. The record will be out eventually when the makers deem it complete and decide to give it to you. If you don’t want to know about the steps it took to get there then just relax and it will come."

Ryan Ross Comments on Decision to Leave Panic! At The Disco

Ryan Ross has commented on his and Jon Walker's decision to leave Panic! At The Disco in an interview with MTV.

Ross said:

It's been a little while, a few months since we started thinking that this might be the best thing to do. Jon and I had been writing a bunch of stuff on the road, and it just got to a point when we were off tour, when we were talking about getting together and working on this stuff, that it became pretty apparent that we all weren't wanting to go in the same direction. There was a period where we weren't really talking to each other all that much, and Jon and I were just living at my house and continuing to write. And we kind of realized we needed to get over not speaking and figure out what was actually going on. So we all sat down and pretty much came to the conclusion that the best thing for everyone was to do what we did."

The full article can be read here.

Brand New Comment On New Album

When speaking to Kerrang magazine, Jesse Lacey of Brand New commented that their new album may be too exhausting for the fans.

“I’m a little worried about it. It’s a pretty exhausting record. It’s quite dense, and I think some of the decisions we made don’t always go in the most obvious direction – sometimes we’d do something in a minor key where you’d expect something bigger or have feedback instead of something that might be more pleasing to the ear. We were thinking a lot more about what we’d want to play when we were up onstage rather than actually what you’d want to hear on a record. If you play it loud and you make it through six or seven songs you’re gonna be pretty tired.

I suppose I’m worried because I have odd reservations about albums in general these days. It’s hard expecting someone to listen to a record the whole way through, and I think the third quarter of some records often gets lost, particularly if the record requires you to put some work in. I’d almost like to release it like an old school vinyl album, have two number ones through six. But this is the record we wanted to make, and we’re all of an age where we need to sustain ourselves as much as we feed the audience.”

'And One Head Could Never Die' is released September 21st.

Every Time I Die Comment on Drummers Departure

Every Time I Die have commented on the recent announcement that drummer, Mike Novak is to leave the band.

After 11 years of being involved with this band, Mike "Ratboy" Novak has indeed decided to quit Every Time I Die. Yesterday morning we received text messages that he wasn't going to continue anymore. 15 years ago, when someone left their band, they would get drunk, fight their friends, and we'd learn about it from Kurt Loder at 10 minutes before the hour. Today it's in a text messages and you guys find out on a messageboard. To be honest, it was something we have seen coming for some time now, but were uncertain as to exactly when or how it was going to happen because, as everyone who has ever met him knows, his communication skills leave much to be desired. That being said, he simply didn't feel the need to talk to us about any problem he was having or discomfort he was experiencing with any situation in particular. For the past year it has felt like we were playing with a drum machine or a pre recorded backing track. He completely shut off communication with us, contributing only to the band when onstage and opting to take no part in any social activity while on tour or to be present for the filming of our upcoming DVD. Whatever his reasons were, he simply was not a part of us anymore mentally or emotionally. So now, us at Every Time I Die are confronted with a small hurdle which we will no doubt jump in order to become a new version of the killing machine we've always been. The person that fills the vacant shoes Ratboy left is going to be more hungry and more intense and bring a renewed energy to the stage, not simply be able learn the songs and repeat them for a half hour every night. Someone that doesn't take being in a band for granted and wants to destroy everyone and every thing sonically. Someone that can appreciate the amazing people we surround ourselves with and the opportunities we've been given. With our new record "The New Junk Aesthetic" on the verge of blowing the earth a huge gaping asshole, we couldn't be happier that our insecurities and personal conflicts are in the past. and if you dont believe us, just check out our myspace "mood". cannot wait to see you all again.

Protugal The Man Comment on Album Leak

Portugal The Man have commented on the recent internet leak of their new album, 'The Satanic Satanist'


The Satanic Satanist album leak

I am not going to start into this with my (now yearly) standard of proclaiming my support for downloading. I have done it too many times and it has typically become simply the preface to the message. The message that seems to get lost by the point the reader reaches the end of the sentence “We fully support downloading…”. There is more. If you are interested in the point of this piece then please read on. I know it is scary to read through something that will begin with “This is in no way an attack on you, the downloader” but, that is just how it starts…

Remember When?

This is in no way an attack on you, the downloader, but it is a note that I have taken and I wish to share. I realized something in the past few weeks. It took the festivals Bonnaroo and Hurricane and Southside to come to the point of this writing that begins at the point. I realized something about myself and my friends in this band as we looked through the lists of bands playing these festivals. I know relatively all the names of all the artists on the bill. I literally have or have had ALL of them on my ipod. Every “buzz” or “hype” band and most of them I don’t even remember how I got them but, somehow, I have them. One thing I can’t tell you about them is what album “that one song is on” or even for that matter the title of “that one song”. Honestly I can’t tell you if they even play “that one song”. Well, there were a handful of these artists that I do know, which I will list here: The Beastie Boys, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, The Pixies, and Faith No More… I will also include in here Moby for simple fact that I walked past his stage multiple times and each time I thought to myself “Oh hey, I know this!” I mention these bands (and will mention a few more current) because they are bands whose albums I owned, albums I waited for and albums I WORE OUT. Really, played them to extinction. They are groups that I was a part of. Do you remember the anticipation building as release date neared? Do you remember tearing open the package and putting that album on? Do you remember the fact that that album did not leave the stereo, the car, the walkman, the discman etc… until you had listened through from start to finish (often multiple times). Do you remember showing up at your record store late for the initial rush and finding that your album was sold out!? (maybe only in Alaska) Do you also remember checking in daily on the hope that a truck had been delayed in the days before and somehow your record would arrive randomly throughout the following days, completely bypassing the system of release and shipments? I do. I remember these bands. I remember being a part of something bigger. I remember how these things felt. I did it for bands I didn’t know, bands who I had not heard before but only read an advance review of. And sometimes, sometimes it was completely random, just for the sake of getting new music. As I watched Jason run out into the dark, the cold and the pouring rain towards the Faith No More set happening two stages away I thought about this. What is drawing him out into this mess? The only answer I could find was “The Album”. It was the memories that came along with the album. It was the endless plays it got throughout his high school years. It was the work that went into the purchase of this album. He was a part of this and despite all of us wanting to get out of the rain and start our 4 hour drive we could not deny him this. We all knew how he felt and we all knew that there was no stopping it. Where else would he get a chance to see this with our tour schedule and lack of stability that a home and a job holds. We would not stop him and we would deal with the end of festival traffic and the cold and wet would eventually dry away. There is a reason bands like Blur and Faith No More and Moby are playing to the massive audiences they are and the bands of now are playing to half interested crowds of people who know they are supposed to be here but aren’t quite sure why they are here and they kinda know some of the words to some of the songs and who shortly need to move on to the next show that they hear they are supposed to be into. I watched this and felt a teensy bit sad inside.

Downloading.

I hope this is not a tough read and I apologize if it is but there is a message to all of it… My favorite bands today are album bands. Bands whose records, had I downloaded prior or not, I purchased. The albums that became a part of me through my becoming a part of the album. Bands like Grizzly Bear, Santi(o)gold, Lykke Li, The Knife, Fever Ray, Menomena, The Builders and the Butchers and so on and so on (sorry if I forgot some good ones but I am in the middle of finishing a thought that even this little side note is interrupting these are great bands though. Please buy these albums!)… Here is something to think about. Grizzly Bear just put out a new record with the backing of A Radiohead tour a Feist Tour, a TV On The Radio tour, all the buzz and hype you could throw at one group without it’s implosion resulting, and more TV performances than I have ever seen one band take on (and own! Good work guys!). Number 8 on the charts and 33k sold. Imagine what that could have been had we all lived up to the release date and the saving? If we had all been a part of it. It should have been number 1, or at least top 5. You would have Grizzly Bear, a band who we played with at the birth of our band, a band that has been working towards this goal and taking all the right steps, at the top of every radio playlist. You would be opening up the door to relevant new music. You would be pumping new life into something you believe in. Music. In doing this we would all be a part of it. We would be a part of a movement. The times of the “evil” music Industry are over and the people behind it are all hiding out, losing their hold. You are no longer keeping money from their hands but of the artists behind your favorite songs and albums. The Labels no longer have the power of weighted deals, they bend in our favor now, or better yet (in our place) completely fair. Less people buying records equals less money behind promotion, equals less money behind its release, equals less money behind the tour, equals less opportunities to see your favorite bands. This is coming as a music fan mind you. I am not begging not pleading, simply stating the facts. It is hard for bands like us to do this without help. That is why it is so important to buy music. It doesn’t matter how you get it, from the label, from us on tour, from Amazon, or Itunes. We have put a lot of work into this and want to share it with you. Lets be a part of something again. Example: Our manager just went to the Wilco show last night on a free ticket handed to him by a friend. He and his wife bought seventy dollars in merchandise from their favorite… favorite? God I am so jealous right now…. band. It all comes around. I always need to be fair as I find the end of these points and state this: I download music early. It is a great advance to the purchase. It is an early taste. It is an amazing treat for the fan. BUT. If you like these albums and these bands please buy the record. It means so much more…. AND if we or any other band makes the mistake of making a record that you absolutely hate. Well, don’t buy it. Don’t waste your money…. ANNNNNNNNNND that being said. My favorite albums have been growers. Just have a bit of patience with all of us artists. Its not always the easy listen right away.

The Band.

This is not meant to be depressing (wow, another killer way to start a paragraph) but there are some things you need to know about this band. This I am sure is not only relatable to ours but to other over your favorite bands as well. This is relevant to anyone who does what they love. This is for your understanding in what that local corner store, local shops, local construction builders… Here is a quick nod from my childhood. We built hotels throughout Alaska for a major tourism company. When we would go into small towns they would try to push young foreign and out of state labor into the building to save money and my dad fought every bit of it to spend local and hire local while he was working. He understood what he went through in starting his business and he understood what community is about. This is a community as is the tupperware group your mom goes to. As is the sandwich shop that we eat at between work. I am only writing this so you can understand the amount of work that goes into living for your love. Those of you with parents who run their own business and those of you who have their own will understand that I speak for you as well. It is something that gets lost and I feel it is time that you know these things. It is not about money but about what we do for what we love. If we all just worked together and pitched in a little bit then we could do something bigger than all this.

I sleep on a hard wood floor in the house of people I did not know before Ryan’s joining of this band. I sleep on this floor with Ryan and Ian, our tour manager. Our tour manager sleeps on this floor with us because he will not let us pay him when we cannot pay ourselves. Jason sleeps in the basement of The Builders and The Butchers for random rent payments while he is home and Zach stays in the guest room at his ex-girlfriends and her new boyfriends place for 75 dollars a month. Our manager has worked endless hours for the past four years with little to no payment. Really, we call him on weekends. He is working right now and was working until late last night, I know… I talked to him. Austin Sellers is in my opinion one of the best artists in Portland and has done posters from Berbatis to The Doug Fir to Holocene and AMAZING ones at that. He and I have spent countless hours together and apart on this album artwork present and past for little to no pay. Ryan Rothermal and Mike Ragen and Robbie Johnston worked for two days straight on our music video not to mention days of post work and editing and went out of their own pocket to make a music video that we could all be happy with as artists… OK, this is getting overly “artsy” but it is the only word I gots without sounding like a douche. Nothing worse than a douchey artist.. We play music because we love it and nothing will change that ever. We tour because we love it and not because of money. If I wanted money I would have stayed in Alaska and worked construction rather than starve for this. Rather than fight through three dollar meals and countless nights sleeping in the van. The point we are at now is so far from where we have come and yet still so far from a standard of living. Remember that “homeless” story from “Waiter: You Vultures”. An odd choice of talking points. All of us do it. All of us who believe in it. All of us are still living it.

The Leak.

I had mixed feelings when I hear the album had leaked. On one hand it was exciting to think that people were actually searching so hard in advance (We have never had an album leak more than two weeks in advance of release date). On the other hand I was somewhat frustrated, not in an angry way. Just looking back at our history of touring and shows gradually getting bigger and bigger but still watching sales drop from our low thousands to the lower thousands. It was more frustrating to hear how it leaked seeing as how all the links we had sent out were private and coded. There is a certain level of professionalism that has been lost along with the idea that is the album. To hear about these things happening from the people that should understand music as much as any musician is just heartbreaking. I am happy vinyl is coming back, it needs to. We need to have albums and music. I need to.

We love being a part of this. We need to believe in something again. Thank you for everything

Love

John
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Bonnaroo and More…
06.20.2009

I don’t think I can fully express the excitement we feel post-Bonnaroo sets. Bonnaroo is and always will be our first major festival and we couldn’t have had a better time… well, I could have done without the birthday shower, but I’ll get to that later… Thank you everyone who watched our sets, those who knew us and those who did not. We are very happy to have shared this experience with all of you. We are very lucky to have been there this year in such great company (Grizzly Bear, Santigold, Bon Iver, Dirty Projectors, Dirty Sweet, and the headliners that go without saying… WE LOVE YOUR MUSIC!) We have toured for three and a half years straight and have played well over one thousand shows as a band and finally feel ready for events like this. Practice makes…. Well, leads to more practice with sugary sprinkles of fun…

Wednesday/Thursday June 10th/11th:

We played a very fun show at a very fine club in St. Louis called Blueberry Hill on Wednesday before beginning our trek. From the look of the piles of memorabilia they absolutely LOVE Chuck Berry, who was also playing said club later in the month. This is only relevant to the story due to the fact that it was a really great show in a place we don’t often play and it was only an extension to the excitement we had felt for the coming Bonnaroo. At around 1 am we began our overnight drive towards Tennessee, arriving somewhere between 8 and 9am a good hour before band, actually VIP check in (sorry, we don’t get to use that all too often.). Finding that we had prepared for east coast time I should probably take a step backwards here and let you know that the time is actually between 7 and 8am and we are now officially the nerds that showed up too early for the party… Not a very rock and roll start.

Seeing as how we now have just been handed down an extra hour through the miracles of time travels we figured the best way to advantage this bending of space was to spend it at a local eatery. “Hello Waffle House, and how are you?”. Having now eaten away our miracle hour (and to be fair, destroying multiple golden years through the sweet buttered grease film that coats all that is “waffle house”) we were now ready for band check in… Sorry, VIP check in… Being the VIPs that we surely are, tour manager Ian Shaw and I walk ourselves over to the pool of the drug thirsty and party hungry that was making up the swaying mass, an assumed attempt of a line. A line that only journalists and musicians can form, a line free of system and direction, no beginning and no end. Being confused by this quite justified pile up of superior importance Ian and I hung back, waiting to see what might happen once the doors opened. We would not be given witness of the event. These people are at work right?

Enter storm number one.

While we waited in line the first downpour came, prompting Ian and I to casually back away from the line, outwardly cool and collected inwardly cold and wet and ready for the shelter of our van. [Sidenote* I feel like we completely missed protocol. Ours was the only van I saw or at least one of the small few. Are all these bands really able to travel by bus? Highly suspicious.] Halfway back to the van and halfway through the shower that was quite honestly needed I decided that we were far enough out of view of the other bands and the writers and radio people that we could finally make our break. The race was on. In fact, there was no way to be it of sight and also not the last time I would be running through the rain during this years Bonnaroo. We waited out the rain and line in the van and eventually we got our passes and headed over to the festival to check out the setup and to grab lunch. As we pull in to park @SPINearth gives us friendly wave and we return the gesture of kindness. Are you appreciating the tweet speak? As we sit down to our lunch the woman taking our ticket relays the fact that “the early bird gets the worm” while simultaneously and unintentionally pointing out that we are the first people in and that yet again it is freshman year of highschool and I walked into the first day with the same haircut I wore all through middle school. Not wanting to look overly eager we head back to the hotel to wait for our 3 o’clock check in and our additional 4 hours of sitting ahead of us. As we loiter around the entrance to the Country Inn we watch a minute and a half rough edit of our music video for “Do You” sent over by Ryan Rothermal and www.decoy.tv , which, btw, is looking pretty insane. An hour into the wait we run into Mike Noyce from Bon Iver who Zoe is friends with and he invites us onto their bus for the remainder of the wait and where we would meet the rest of their group. I will use this space to mention the fact that they were all very kind and inviting. Really great people from crew to band. Also one of the bands very deserving of the bus that carries them.

Around 3 o’clock we meet up with our manager Rich Holtzman and meet our booking agent Matt Hickey for the first time. Both are ecstatic to see us and us them. I wish I could use ditto here but I’m not exacty sure if it is possible. We’ll just deal with that portion as-is and move into the night seeing as we were fairly busy between hotel and show time and didn’t get to see any bands this day despite wanting to see passion pit and delta spirit (who was supposed to be on directly before us).

We find out on arrival to That Tent that… That delta spirit has missed their flight and we will be getting an hour long sound check because of this unfortunate turn of events which in turn was a fortunate event for us seeing as how we are now being given and additional hour of sound check to our prior zero.

[Sidenote number two* From what I understand Delta Spirit was given a later set time due to their situation. Blessing in disguise for both of us]

It was fairly obvious that all this sound checking and light flickering confused the crowd somewhat who cheered at every break between songs presumably for the tardy Delta Spirit who would have been playing, though looking back on the event it is safe to say they would have cheered for anything and anyone. Bonnaroo is the festival for the true music fan and it was apparent from the moment we walked out to the moment we left. 8:30 PM rolls around and we ready ourselves for the show. As nervous as we all were ( and still are today as I am writing this blog from my phone on the way to hurricane/southside festival in Germany.) we were very lucky to be walking into the event with the excitement and experience that one thousand prior shows gives a band. A band that has played one thousand shows and is only more excited about the thousand to come. Now since I am writing this blog not as a singular Portugal. The Man but as a member of the family that is I will point out how important it is to a band to have the level of commitment and dedication that the other members of this band/tour manager/manager/agent have. I love you guys.

Darkest Hour Video Commentary on New Album

2 videos of Darkest Hour talking about their new album, 'The Eternal Return' can be viewed by clicking read more.