Dinosaur Jr - Win Tickets!!!

Dinosaur’s tunes are indispensable, they're songs that have been rattling around my head for as long as the band has been playing them. “Repulsion,” from the first record, still knocks me out. The second record, “You’re Living All Over Me,” is an exception in that I can’t listen to any one tune on that record without needing to listen to the whole damned thing. J once said that he writes songs that he himself would want to listen to, and he’s got great taste. I never took the Cure seriously until I heard what these guys did with “Just Like Heaven,” a monster of a cover that hits the level of what Hendrix did for Dylan with “All Along the Watchtower.”

When Brian at Bleemusic floated the original Dinosaur line-up reunion idea a few years ago, I was dubious, We all know the trend for reunions right now. J, Lou, and Murph never had a “stable” marriage to begin with. But, of course, the tensions within their layered relationships as a band helped to make them so insanely powerful. Kids seeing the band on the YLAOM tour would come backstage after the show, dazed and transformed. It wasn’t just the wall of J’s Marshall-driven guitar or Lou and Murph locked in as tight as any bass/drum duo ever has been. It was vitality of the tunes themselves, delivered with emotion distilled to rock-bottom rock-n-roll essentials.

Icons & stalwarts of an undeniable sound, if you haven't already heard Dinosaur Jr then slap yourself in the face & go play some of their tunes! Or just click on our comps link below & enter yourself into our competition to win a pair of tickets to see them play 02 Academy Oxford UK on August 19th.

Competitions@ebtm.co.uk

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Imperial Never Say Die Tour - Win Tickets!!!

Having continually pushed the envelope within the realms of the aggresive music scenes to bring audiences all over Europe unmissable tours and exciting new talent from around the world Avacado Booking unleash the IMPERIAL NEVER SAY DIE! CLUB TOUR 2009 on unsuspecting European audiences.

2009 will be chased out on it's heels by these motley crew of sonic slaughterers:

DESPISED ICON (headliner Germany)
ARCHITECTS (headliner UK)
HORSE THE BAND
AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK
IWRESTLEDABEARONCE (rotating slot)
OCEANO (rotating slot)
THE GHOST INSIDE

Montreal titans DESPISED ICON will be showing European audiences once again why their corrosive brand of death metal, hardcore and grind will destroy every venue on this tour, their latest CD is only one aspect of what this band are about, live they are truly brutality incarnate! They had this to say about their involvement: "We’re excited to be coming back to Europe on this year’s “Never Say Die” tour.We're finally going to play a few new tracks for you guy's, we'll be sharing the stage with some awesome bands. We can't wait to be a part of this tour!"

ARCHITECTS will be headlining the UK leg of the tour melting faces with tracks from their blisteringly acclaimed record (Century Media). They're no strangers to Never Say Die! and had this to say about this years ferocious outing: "We're stoked to be part of Never Say Die again! Last year was arguably the best tour we've ever been part of so to do it all again as co-headliners is truly awesome. We won't have played a headline show in the UK for 9 months by the time the tour comes around, so we hope to see some familiar faces out at the shows, and Europe is always amazing for us too. We can't wait!"


Dates:
30.10.2009 UK Brighton Concorde 2
31.10.2009 UK Birmingham 02 Academy 2
01.11.2009 UK Sheffield Corporation
02.11.2009 UK Glasgow Cathouse
03.11.2009 UK Manchester Academy 2
04.11.2009 UK London The Electric Ballroom
05.11.2009 Germany Münster Sputnikhalle
06.11.2009 Germany Hamburg Markthalle
07.11.2009 Germany Köln Essigfabrik
08.11.2009 Holland Eindhoven Effenaar
09.11.2009 Luxembourg Esch-Alzette Kulturfabrik
10.11.2009 Switzerland Solothurn Kulturfabrik Kofmehl
11.11.2009 Germany München Backstage Werk
12.11.2009 Austria Wien Arena
13.11.2009 Slovenia Ljubljana Kino Siska
14.11.2009 Italy Cesena Vidia Club
15.11.2009 Italy Roncede New Age Club
16.11.2009 Germany Schweinfurt Alter Stattbahnhof
17.11.2009 Czech Rep Prague Abaton
18.11.2009 Germany Berlin SO36
19.11.2009 Germany Kalrsruhe Substage
20.11.2009 Germany Leipzig Conne Island
21.11.2009 Belgium Hasselt Muziekodroom

Ferocious, brutal & down right dirty this tour will kick ass and we've got two tickets to give away for the October 31st set at 02 Academy Birmingham UK.

If you want to be in with a chance of winning these tickets, then drop us an email at the comps link below with your name/age/contact telephone number.

competitions@ebtm.co.uk

- Please note, by entering this competition you are agreeing to enter our email newsletter.
- Please be assured all information supplied will be safeguarded.

Michael Jackson - Who's Bad?!

Oh come on, every else is so we thought it best to add a few words to the Michael Jackson saga!! We're pretty devastated here at EBTM as the man the legend has gone & joined forces with Elvis, Kurt Cobain & Jim Morrison on the great old rock stage in the sky (what a sound these guys could make together!) .

Sadly there'll be no MJ gigs later this year, but undoubtedly we'll be immersed with unheard albums (check your TuPac history on this one) , a musical & without fail you know Elton John's going to bring out a "Thriller in the Wind" tribute song. Rest in Peace MJ.

The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Gig Review

So, last night EBTM went out to see The Voluntary Butler Scheme at Start The Bus in Bristol. Once again we were blown away. Rob Jones is not only the most loveable person we have ever met but the most technically gifted musician and writer of heartwarming, real life lyrics that we have experienced. Shy and unassuming as Rob is, The Voluntary Butler Scheme is the biggest noise you will ever hear from one man.
For anyone who hasn't experienced VBS here's how it goes. Rob, combined with sequencer and every other instrument available to man, creates a sound akin to Arcade Fire. On his own. But with better lyrics.
We recommend you check out The Voluntary Butler Scheme. Just don't stay out past bedtime and come to work feeling really, really rubbish…………..


Words By Whiney Crackhouse.

Macbeth Eliot Giveaway!

We have just landed our new range of Macbeth shoes and to celebrate the fact, Tom DeLonge and the rest of our friends at Macbeth have chucked in 12 FREE pairs of Eliots to give away to you lucky, lucky people.

We love this vegan friendly shoe and we love you lot too, so, if you want to be part of this big old love parade, just email the link below with the word MACBETH. No questions, no tie-breaker, you've just gotta be in it to win it, good luck!

Click here to enter.

Download Festival - Review

Download Festival 09' - What an absolute blinder of a w'end!! EBTM were down in full force with our guys "The Whispering Eye" and "Murr Man", covering as many angles for you as possible. You were there right? So what were the highlights of your weekend, any bands blow you away, or fail to rise to the occassion? Did you see EBTM throwing out free T-Shirts? Add your comments to the bottom of this blog & let us know about your Download experience! x


Day 1 - Whispering Eye:

The sun is blistering hot when we arrive on the download site, which is nice as we were told it was going to rain all weekend.
First up is a trip to the Red Bull stage to see our friends in Young Guns, who put in a great performance to a busy tent. The sound was a bit hit or miss, but singer Gus doesn't let that deter him as he throws himself into a crowd to get people moving.
Next up we head to the mainstage to catch Billy Talent. Having seen them last week at the Underworld, it's great to see them playing just as an exciting set on the massive stage.

We catch two or three songs of Killswitch as we head over to see Bring Me The Horizon. Killswitch are on great form - their songs are massive and they always entertain.

Bring Me The Horizon are equally as exciting. The crowd love it as Sam from Architects joins them for a song. Horizons last album saw them silence a lot of the haters and their set today further enforces this. Top stuff.

We head to the Red Bull stage to catch new UK band Don Broco next. They put in a great performance, sounding similar to a more yobby Enter Shikari. Ones to watch!
So, next is the much anticipated return of Limp Bizkit. I was expecting it to either be terrible or amazing, but actually found it to be neither, just pretty average. There are some forms of music you can't play as you get older and watching a 40 year old Fred Durst bounce round the stage like a 16 year old poser, suggests that Nu Metal is one such genre.


We forgo half of Faith No More's reunion set to catch Blackhole and it's a damn good thing we did. Massive riffs and singer Rick's incredible voice and awesome stage presence makes then Band of the day in our eyes. We catch the second half of Faith No More's set on our way back to the guest bar and it is awesome. The entire stage is draped in red curtains and it looks amazing, but the band sound even better playing a set of hits alongside fan favourites, it really is a joy to watch. Perfect way to end day 1.

Day 2: Murr Man -

Arriving a day later after watching You Love Her Cos Shes Dead play Bristol the night before, (see previous blog, check this band out!!) I was instantly hit by the atmosphere of the place, the crowds still buzzing off Friday's sets and the parties across the campsites. I take time out to wander around the festival, the place is buzzing pure happiness & the vibe is great, even the queues for the beer tents this year were kind to us!
Down take to the main stage and tear the place up. Great set & the mosh pits feed off of Phil Anselmo's every word. I head over to the 2nd stage to witness Thunder, a fairly tepid set reduces the spirits a little after Down, but these guys are legendary so we can forgive them, can't we?

We arise hot and tired on Saturday. The sun is already beating down hard as we head to the Red Bull stage to see Exeter boys The Computers set. We miss the beginning where apparently there were some technical issues. By the time we get there however, they are firing on all cylinders and stomp their way through a set of Bronx-esque angry punk rock ditties.

Our next port of call is our pals in Fightstar. They pile through a huge set that sees them lean slightly towards their heavier material. They go down an absolute storm and have a crowd bigger than any other we see at the second stage the whole weekend. It would appear that the band have finally earned their spurs from the metal crowd as not a bottle is thrown and some of the biggest circle pits of the day are opened.


You Me At Six are also a band predicted for a hard time this festival, but as the band bound on stage, it appears that they are not going to let these worries affect them. The worries turn out to be unfounded after all as they put on a great show . Highlights include latest single Finders Keepers and an inspired cover of Lady GaGa'sPoker Face. (I have to agree here, the Lady GaGa tune was inspired, but busting out a Rage Against The Machine cover was ill advised!)

Pendulum are sounding massive as we make our way in front of the mainstage. After a bite to eat, it's time to check out Architects. The Brighton metallers are one of the most anticipated bands of the festival, and they don't disappoint, unleashing a tirelessly heavy tirade of riffs. Brilliant stuff!

The Blackout who are filling in for a sadly missing The Ghost Of A Thousand on the Red Bull stage. As much as I am gutted that TGOAT pulled out. The Blackout pull out all the stops. Banter is great and the songs are even better. They sound massive as they drown out the unrelenting barrage of Slipknot. We manage to catch the last 5 or 6 songs of Slipknot and they are massive. Revolving drum risers, getting the whole crowd to crouch down and jump up at the same time through to closing song "Spit It Out", they really are unstoppable. Absolutely awe-inspiring!

There's no doubting Pendulum's abilities, great set & the sound is huge but it just doesn't compete with past masters The Prodigy, so, after a few tunes I head to the second stage to see Liam, Keith & the unstoppable Maxim bring the house down.

Ripping into Komanchi, a gabba beat laden tune before launching into the classics of Firestarter & Smack My Bitch Up I can't bring myself to stop dancing and as the crowds carry the party on into the night & the echoes of Maxim's MC'ing ring through my ears there's only one place left for us to go, the Jager tent backstage :)

Day 3:

First up today is the brutal onslaught of Suicide Silence. I am picky of my extreme metal, but these guys are definitely on my list of loves. They are brilliant and as the sun bakes down once more, I am simply left wishing I had long hair so I could windmill it. New album is going to be a belter! Jett Black are the next band for us. These High Wycombe boys are always entertaining, and it's a crime that songs such as "When It Comes To Loving, I Have No Friends" have not seen them grow in stature more than they have. Still, if todays rammed tent and the bands ultra tight set are anything to go by- good times are ahead!


Taking to the stage at 11am on the 3rd day is never ideal, but brighton band Brides get things off to a great start in the Tuborg tent, expect big things from these boys. Constant between song banter with the crowd goes down well and they hit us with the tune Frank West before we say goodbye & wander back across the fields to take in the rest of the day. Despite all the weather warnings we're truly blessed with the sun this w'end.

Journey sound awesome -

(Epic set, easily the highlight of my w'end. No denying the crowd love Journey and in turn Journey love each and every one of us. Not a dull moment in this set, thanks guys!) as we make our way over to see stoner rocklegends Clutch. In a weekend with so many strong bands and incredible sets, it is testament to the might of Clutch that they seem to effortlessly drop one of the sets of the festival! New songs sound great and old faves are dropped with a heavy groove that no other band can come close to matching. If you do not know this band, go buy their albums. They are incredible!

Brief glimpses of Whitesnake (awesome, despite Radio 2 esque between song banter)

and Therapy? (sadly marred by terrible sound and also not quite pulling enough from the old albums for my liking!) lead us up to the Red Bull Stage where we catch the last 4 songs of Flood Of Red's set. The Scottish guys put in a great performance, and it would appear that the rumours of a massive leap forward on their imminent debut album is true. It does sound incredibly like Circa Survive however, which is a little bit worrying, but time will tell as to whether they can carve their own niche. Our lift home sadly calls two songs into We Are The Ocean's set which is sad as we were genuinely excited to watch the band close the RedBull stage. Still a promising start and a busy tent suggest they will have no trouble closing the weekend on a high.
We watch Def Leppard play one of the most boring and insipid sets on our way to meet our lift home. Shame it wasn't Slipknot closing as Def Leppard leave the weekend ending on a bit of a geriatric bum note!

Oh well, everything else has been incredible!

You Love Her Coz Shes Dead - Competition!!!

Two piece electro group You Love Her Coz Shes Deadfeatured on Episode 7, Series 3 of the programme Skins. This first went out Oct' 08' & is due to be aired again next month, so if you missed it first time around check them out...these guys are hot stuff!

With their recent self-release of "Me Versus You" (on limited white 7") YLHCSD invited EBTM to to the Louisianna, Bristol to see what all the hype was about...we weren't disappointed. The club was rammed & the crowd were loving every moment of it dancing our way through standout songs Young Tender Hearts Beat Fast & Me Versus You. With the guys heading to Paris to play a show the next day & with yours truly hitting Download Festival a few hours later, this was the perfect way to launch into the w'end. I can't wait to see YLHCSD at the Barfly, Camden next month...so watch this space, we'll have more updates on the guys at that show!

YLHCSD were kind enough to offer EBTM fans a signed T'shirt & ltd' ed' white 7". All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning, is click the comps' link below & leave the bands name YLHCSD followed by your full name/age/contact telephone number.

mailto:competitions@ebtm.co.uk

- Please note, by entering this competition you are agreeing to enter our email newsletter.
- Please be assured, all information given will be safeguarded.