Our good friends and perennial winners of Best Unsigned Band Competitions,  Brighten just announced that they are hitting the road with another band we are quite fond of, Envy on the Coast for a couple weeks next month before they head to Irvine for Bamboozle Left. If you’re lucky enough to live in any of these cities, attendance is mandatory!

Mar 16 2008
Cambridge Room @ HOB w/ The Maine and more! Dallas, Texas
Mar 18 2008
The Social Orlando, Florida
Mar 19 2008
Studio A Miami, Florida
Mar 20 2008
The Orpheum Tampa, Florida
Mar 21 2008
Landshark Cafe Atlantic Beach, Florida
Mar 22 2008
Rocketown Nashville, Tennessee
Mar 24 2008
Bulldog Cafe Louisville, Kentucky
Mar 26 2008
Mac’s Bar Lansing, Michigan
Mar 27 2008
Mojoes Rock House Tinley Park, Illinois
Mar 28 2008
The Basement Columbus, Ohio
Mar 29 2008
Xtreme Wheelz Buffalo, New York
Mar 30 2008
Siren Records Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Apr 5 2008
Bamboozle Left Irvine, California

So our friends (or I guess I should say friend) Number One Gun are set to release their third studio joint, The North Pole Project on January 15th. This record was written, performed and produced single-handedly by frontman Jeff Schneeweis, as you can see in the video for the album’s first single “Wake Me Up” posted above (and filmed, BTW in beautiful Chico, CA!). Check the video, then check the e-card for the new record THEN catch the band on their west coast tour with fellow Chico fame stackers Brighten. Dates are below: 

1/15/08-Seattle, WA- El Corazon
1/16/08-Portland, OR-TBA
1/17/08-Bend, OR-The Domino Room
1/18/08-Nampa, ID-Northwest Nazarene University
1/19/08-Salt Lake City, UT- Solid Ground
1/20/08-Las Vegas, NV-TBA
1/21/08-Phoenix, AZ- TBA
1/22/08-Victorville, CA- Club Karma
1/23/08-San Diego, CA- TBA
1/24/08-Anaheim, CA- Chain Reaction
1/25/08-Modesto, CA-The Modesto Underground
1/26/08-Sacramento, CA- Club Retro
1/27/08-Carson City, NV- The Warehouse
1/29/08-Fresno, CA- The Starline
1/30/08-Chico, CA- TBA

DO IT

So its pretty much become standard from every emo pop band worth its salt to do a Christmas song, and this year is definitely no different. But while most suck major balls, one of the best original numbers in this year’s Christmas song pool comes from our friends and fellow townsfolk Brighten. Check out the video for “Merry Christmas Baby” which also features John from The Maine, and come to terms with the fact that, try as hard as you might, but you will never match the ultimate cuteness effortlessly exhibited by Brighten at all times. EVER. Oh yeah and if you’re an one of the few A&R guys who didn’t get fired this month, get off your ass and sign these dudes NOW. THNX

So our friend Harland Spinks took some pretty rad pictures of last week’s Surrogate CD release party at Cafe Coda in Chico,CA  featuring Casing the Promisedland, Brighten, The Americas, and of course, Surrogate playing cuts off their (or I guess should say, in the name of disclosure, our) new CD Love is for the Rich, which, if you’re wondering, is now available from fine record retailers everywhere.

Surrogate

The Americas

Casing the Promisedland

Justin from Brighten serenading his old lady

For the full set, check out your boy’s Flickr here 

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