ap Blog and Journals

check it ouuuuut! :D

Picture Perfect came out on the second of November, they will be sure to be a lovely add to this years AP Tour 2010. Coming from the mitten of Mishigan, full US tour are nothing new to these boys. Touring with four previous AP Tour bands on All Time Low's two tours, Man Whores and Open Sores as well as Compromising of Integrity, Morality and Principles in Exchange for Money, otherwise known as the Money Tour. These Fearless Record rockers are sure to bring a Picture Perfect time for this springs AP Tour.

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Follow:

@TheAPTour

@EveryAvenue

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Hahahaaa. My puns are so lame in this one. Oh well, sorry this is so late. Anyway, I'm stoked! This line up so far is straight up awesome.

Hello all.

THe AP Tour had just started releasing a few hints on the second AP Tour band to play this spring.

BAND #2/CLUE #1: This band have been around longer than the AP Tour, with an early lineup forming in 2003. (We reveal next Monday @ noon!)

BAND #2/CLUE #2: Anyone remember the TV show "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters"? This band has something in common with it. (We reveal Monday @ noon!)

BAND #2/CLUE #3: We've heard that this band love to kick rocks, but not in America... (Anyone figure it out? We reveal this Monday @ noon!)

BAND #2/CLUE #4: This band spent last winter on the road with not 1, not 2, but *3* former AP Tour bands.

Hmm. What do you guys think?

I think it might be Every Avenue. They formed in 2003 and their album Picture Perfect was released a day before The Almost's album Monster Monster.

I'll keep updating this journal with new hints and will do a writeup on the band when it is confirmed!

I want to know who you guys think the second band is.

Okay. So from clue four, I'm almost certian it's Every Avenue. They toured with All Time Low (AP Tour '08), The Maine (AP Tour '09), Mayday Parade (Fall Ball '09). I mean, it fits!

That's my final choice.

Every Avenue.

Your thoughts?

This is the article that I'm writing for my school's newspaper.

AP Tour Fall Ball October 15th, 2009 marked the first AP Tour Fall Ball to ever grace Pomona, California. The AP Tour, hosted by Alternative Press Magazine happens once a year in the spring since 2007 and has featured headliners such as All Time Low, Cute Is What We Aim For, and 3Oh!3. With the success of the tour this spring, they decided that concert-goers would not be able to wait for their next chance at AP tour tickets, and they were right. AP decided that having the tour once a year just wasn’t going to cut it, and so Fall Ball was born. This years line-up included The Secret Handshake, Set Your Goals, You Me at Six (who was unable to make it due to a bad case of bronchitis), Mayday Parade and The Academy Is… An evening of cocktail dresses, the opportunity to meet some of your favorite sweaty band members decked out in their nicest duds, and the chance to walk away with some cool stuff.

AP decided to hold a contest that went along with the “Fall Ball” theme of the tour. The best dressed fans at each of the tour dates would get to cut the line to get into the venue early, get their photos taken for altpress.com and to be onstage while their favorite band was performing. With a lot of hard work and hairspray, my friend and I were able to beat out the rest of the competition and walk away with the title of “Best Dressed” and what could be a once in a lifetime experience. As we sprinted to the front of the pit for the opening band, we were excited to see how fall’s AP tour would fare compared to the one that we had attended this spring.

The first group to take the stage was The Secret Handshake, a band that is sure to make you dance, or else (no really, their motto is: “if you don’t dance you hate your parents”). Their energetic front man Luis Dubuc took to the stage and immediately attracted all of the attention in the room. If happy-go-lucky songs like “Saturday” or “TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday)” don’t get your feet tapping then maybe a cover of a well-known classic like Skee-Lo’s “I Wish”, or a chart topper like Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA” will get you swaying. At the end of their lively set, the next band to take to the stage took the show in a completely different direction from The Secret Handshake’s head-bobbing beats and sing-a-longs.

Set Your Goals got creative with their entrance and came out to a sound clip of an episode from Saved by the Bell where Kelly Kapowski gets asked to the prom, and one of their singers came out with a blow up doll, which, by the way, didn’t resemble Kelly at all. The rest of the band filed in after a little entertaining performance and proceeded with their first songs, throwing most of the girls in the crowd into an angry frenzy as they were jumped on by over-zealous stage-divers and crowd surfers. The Secret Handshake fans were not pleased by the sudden rush of testosterone pumping through the pit and by the time Set Your Goals finished up their amazing set (I am now a fan), they receded backstage missing a microphone and buckets of sweat that had been lost while they were running around stage.

Set Your Goals was certainly a tough act to follow, but Mayday Parade, a big crowd favorite, pulled off their set quite well. Nearly everyone in the crowd was belting out their opener “Jamie All Over” and nobody was standing still. It seemed like the entire pit was jumping in unison. They played mostly old crowd favorites such as “3 Cheers for 5 Years” and “Jersey”, and included only one or two songs from their new CD Anywhere But Here, released on October 6th. In the middle of their set, Derek Sanders took his place behind the piano and played “Miserable At Best”, a beautiful ballad that I’m sure left no dry eyes in the venue. As Mayday Parade closed up their set, we got our VIP passes out and headed backstage for The Academy Is...

So that there was no confusion or problems, we followed The Academy Is… up the ramp after their first song had already started, and we mostly stayed off to the side of the stage, but the feeling was surreal. Imagine one of your favorite bands, singing some of your favorite songs, mere feet away from you. At first there was a worry that we’d be a distraction standing on the stage, but the band was completely in the zone Thursday night as they trekked through most of the crowds old favorites and playing only one song from their new EP, which has yet to be released. Their lead singer, William Beckett threw himself (and his microphone stand) around with reckless abandon pouring his soul out into the words that he was singing. We left the stage halfway through their last song, “Slow Down” and made our way back into the crowd, our hearts still beating with the thrill of being on stage in front of so many people, dancing like fools and thought it was their last song, there was no lack of energy from the band as the concert slowly winded down.

The best thing about the tour coming through Pomona’s Glasshouse is that the venue is so small, that it seems like no matter where you’re standing you’re right there in the middle of the action and you can always see the stage. Also, since the venue cannot hold as many people as some of the bigger venues that the bands tour, it’s easier to meet your favorite band members outside or by the merch tables afterwards. Use the calm after-show atmosphere to scout around for that last member of Set Your Goals who’s autograph you’re missing or talk to some of the local talent of the area who are always around selling CD’s (bands and musicians of Thursday night included Close But Not Quite, Uh Oh! Explosion and Justin Tyler). No one could argue that bringing AP Tour around twice a year was a bad idea. In fact, if they started coming around three or four times a year I’d still be buying tickets as soon as they are released at presale. The AP Tour never disappoints, so buy your ticket early for the Spring or they might be gone faster than you can say “William Beckett wore what?!”.

Set Your Goals This Will Be The Death of Us in stores now!

SYG on the Alt Press Fall Ball Tour

Sep 25 Clutch Cargo’s Pontiac, Michigan
Sep 26 Newport Music Hall Columbus, Ohio
Sep 27 Intersection Grand Rapids, Michigan
Sep 28 House of Blues Chicago, Illinois
Sep 29 In Store Performance @ Vintage Vinyl St. Louis, Missouri
Sep 30 The Rave Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Oct 2 Station 4 St. Paul, Minnesota
Oct 3 Sokol Auditorium Omaha, Nebraska
Oct 4 Gothic Theatre Englewood, Colorado
Oct 6 In the Venue Salt Lake City, Utah
Oct 7 Knitting Factory Boise, Idaho
Oct 8 El Corazon Seattle, Washington
Oct 9 Wonder Ballroom Portland, Oregon
Oct 10 Senator Theatre Chico, California
Oct 11 The Regency Ballroom San Francisco, California
Oct 13 The Dome Bakersfield, California
Oct 14 Avalon Hollywood, California
Oct 15 Glass House Pomona, California
Oct 16 House of Blues San Diego, California
Oct 17 Rialto Tucson, Arizona
Oct 18 Marquee Theater Tempe, Arizona
Oct 20 White Rabbit San Antonio, Texas
Oct 21 The Door Dallas, Texas
Oct 22 Warehouse Live Houston, Texas
Oct 24 Culture Room Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Oct 25 Freebird Live Jacksonville, Florida
Oct 27 House of Blues Orlando, Florida
Oct 28 The Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 29 Rocketown Nashville, Tennessee
Oct 30 Amo’s Southend Charlotte, North Carolina
Oct 31 The NorVa Norfolk, Virginia
Nov 1 9:30 Club Washington DC, Washington DC
Nov 3 Theatre of the Living Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 4 Northern Lights Clifton Park, New York
Nov 5 House of Blues Boston, Massachusetts
Nov 6 Toad’s Place New Haven, Connecticut
Nov 7 Starland Ballroom Sayreville, New Jersey
Nov 8 The Crazy Donkey Farmingdale, New York
Nov 10 Crocodile Rock Cafe Allentown, Pennsylvania
Nov 11 The Fillmore at Irving Plaza New York, New York
Nov 12 Town Ballroom Buffalo, New York
Nov 13 The Guvernment Toronto, Ontario
Nov 14 House of Blues Cleveland, Ohio
Nov 15 Altar Bar Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hurrah! In celebration of their headlining slot on the AP Fall Ball, The Academy Is... releasing a 5 track EP titled "Lost In Pacific Time." Gimmie gimmie more...

As most of you gamers probably know, Madden 10 is in stores everywhere today. If you've picked up your copy, make sure to check out Set Your Goals "Gaia Bleeds" featured on the soundtrack!

Catch Set Your Goals right now on the Gig Life Tour and this Fall on the AP Fall Ball Tour!

Issue 254 of Alternative Press came out yesterday and there's a big feature on Cobra Starship in it, including a full-page photograph I took of Gabe.  Living in England means I'm going to have to wait a little while to see it myself but if anyone picks up a copy I'll be super happy if you scan in the page for me!  Or just tell me if it looks any good :)

Justine

THIS WILL BE THE DEATH OF US
ON VINYL & LIMITED EDITION LITHOGRAPHS!!!!



We have added some great stuff to the Kings Road Merch store.

This Will Be The Death Of Us Vinyl 3-Pack-$34.99



Get all three pressings of This Will Be The Death Of Us on vinyl. A limited quantity of Blue (of 200) only available on the tour with Four Year Strong, a copy on white (of 800) only available from Kings Road Merch, and a limited quanitity on black (of 1200) which is already spoken for at retail and in stores. One stop shopping for all three RIGHT NOW!

This Will Be The Death Of Us White Vinyl- $12.99



This is the online exclusive pressing only available from Kings Road Merch and outside of the 200 that will be gone in the blink of an eye, it's the most rare version.

Also Available

This Will Be The Death Of Us Limited Edition Lithograph-$10



This is a SEVEN color screen-printed litho of the amazing album art. Printed on 100lb french white paper, this poster is 18"x24"

This Will Be The Death Of Us CD/Shirt Bundle $17.99



Thanks!

ALTERNATIVE PRESS ANNOUNCES LINEUP, ROUTING FOR THE 2009 AP FALL BALL TOUR

ALTERNATIVE PRESS, the Cleveland-based magazine that is getting ready to celebrate its 25th anniversary covering contemporary punk and youth culture, returns with “THE FALL BALL.”

After the smashing success of the 2009 AP Tour this past spring, we decided that one AP Tour a year isn’t enough. That’s why we’re proud to announce the first-ever fall AP Tour! Dubbed “The Fall Ball,” this edition of the AP Tour will once again feature five of the best and brightest bands in our scene, and will run from late September through mid November across North America.

Tallahassee, Florida, rising pop-rockers MAYDAY PARADE and Chicago, Illinois’ internationally renowned THE ACADEMY IS… will share the spotlight, rotating headlining positions each night. Bay Area pop-hardcore sextet SET YOUR GOALS, electro-pop up-and-comers THE SECRET HANDSHAKE and U.K. sensations YOU ME AT SIX will round out the lineup.

AP’s FALL BALL TOUR includes built-in incentives for both the fans and the bands. At each date, fans who come dressed up in their best formal threads have a chance to win a backstage pass to meet and watch their favorite band from the stage, a photo shoot featured on Altpress.com and more! Also, AP will provide exclusive AP TOUR merch; each band will design their own T-shirt to be sold throughout the tour at their merch booths. FREE posters of all five bands will be available at each stop. Lastly, we have an exclusive offer for pre-sale purchasers only: With the purchase of a ticket plus an additional $9.99, attendees will get ALL 3 newsstand covers of The Fall Tour issue.

“We are really excited about the success of our branded spring tours; it only made sense to take it a step further with a fall tour” says AP Marketing Director Dawn Marshman. “This time around, we wanted to build on the already unique fan experience by adding in the contest element. Our goal is to make these tours an interactive experience for both fans and the bands. I am anxious to see all the fans lined up in their fancy attire!”

TICKETS & ROUTING:
Pre-Sale: Aug. 5 thru Aug. 7 at noon local venue time - Click Here for the pre-sale

Regular On Sale: Aug. 8 at 10a.m. local venue time

THE 2009 AP FALL BALL TOUR Routing:

09-24 Pittsburgh, PA (Altar Bar)

09-25 Pontiac, MI (Clutch Cargo’s)

09-26 Columbus, OH (Newport Music Hall)

09-27 Grand Rapids, MI (Intersection)

09-28 Chicago, IL (House Of Blues)

09-29 Sauget, IL (Pops)

09-30 Milwaukee, WI (The Rave)

10-02 St. Paul, MN (Station 4)

10-03 Omaha, NE (Sokol Auditorium)

10-04 Englewood, CO (Gothic Theatre)

10-06 Salt Lake City, UT (In The Venue)

10-07 Boise, ID (Knitting Factory)

10-08 Seattle, WA (El Corazon)

10-09 Portland, OR (Wonder Ballroom)

10-10 Chico, CA (Senator Theatre)

10-11 San Francisco, CA (The Regency Ballroom)

10-13 Bakersfield, CA (The Dome)

10-14 Hollywood, CA (Avalon)

10-15 Pomona, CA (Glass House)

10-16 San Diego, CA (House Of Blues)

10-17 Tucson, AZ (Rialto Theatre)

10-18 Tempe, AZ (Marquee Theatre)

10-20 San Antonio, TX (White Rabbit)

10-21 Dallas, TX (The Door)

10-22 Houston, TX (Warehouse Live)

10-24 Fort Lauderdale, FL (Culture Room)

10-25 Jacksonville Beach, FL (Freebird Live)

10-27 Orlando, FL (House Of Blues)

10-28 Atlanta, GA (The Masquerade)

10-29 Nashville, TN (Rocketown)

10-30 Charlotte, NC (Amo’s Southend)

10-31 Norfolk, VA (The NorVa)

11-01 Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)

11-03 Philadelphia, PA (Theatre Of The Living Arts)

11-04 Clifton Park, NY (Northern Lights)

11-05 Boston, MA (House Of Blues)

11-06 New Haven, CT (Toad’s Place)

11-07 Sayreville, NJ (Starland Ballroom)

11-08 Farmingdale, NY (The Crazy Donkey)

11-10 Allentown, PA (Crocodile Rock Café)

11-11 New York, NY (The Fillmore At Irving Plaza)

11-12 Buffalo, NY (Town Ballroom)

11-13 Toronto, ON (The Guvernment)

11-14 Cleveland, OH (House Of Blues)

Check our the tour sites:
www.altpress.com/theaptour
www.myspace.com/theaptour
www.twitter.com/theaptour