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

Like most small Northern California mountain towns, Chico has a serious cougar problem. Maybe “problem” isn’t the right word, many of them kill it at places like Monks Wine Bar; hell a few Synthesis Inner Sanctum matrons are quickly approaching cougar status. Still, I’ve never seen one of them kill a snake (though I’ve heard tales), so I’ve decided to give the time-honored Band You’ve Never Heard of Band of the Day distinction to Portland, Maine punk rock trio, Cougars Kill Cobras.

From the look of ‘em you might expect some quirky indie rock, but from one second listening to their ear-piercing feedback and pummeling beats and you know you are about to get your dose of garage-style indie-punk. Drawing firmly from the DC hardcore scene, this trio kills it with smart lyrics, abrasive scream-singing, distorted-octave riffs and tones that make you want to tear out your hair….in the best way possible. Check out their web site for useful information, or just check the space. And if you find the guitars are too gnarly for you, just hang in there for a second: it’s worth it, trust me.