The Music Elitist

If you follow music news you’re probably aware of the unusual amount of band reunions that have happened in the last 6 months or so. No Doubt, blink-182, Limp Bizkit, Creed, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Get Up Kids and many more have all announced reunions of some kind whether it be a tour, a new record or both.

My theory on this recent boom in band reunions is that the economic downturn this country (and the world in general) has experienced is forcing artists to go back to what people are familiar with and what made them popular in the first place because it is more secure. Being an entertainer is probably one of the most volatile careers because you can be at the top of the world one day and then back at the bottom the very next.  If you don’t keep people interested, you’re gonna lose them. And in a time when people are picking and choosing what they want to spend their money on, things like music and movies may be the first thing people cut out.

When it comes down to it, most people would rather listen to blink-182 than +44 or Angels & Airwaves. More people would probably rather listen to No Doubt than Gwen Stefani’s solo material (I know I sure as hell would).

This is definitely not me trying to fault these artists in any way. In times like these you gotta do what you gotta do. And on the contrary, with the exceptions of Creed and Limp Bizkit, I am pretty happy and excited about most of these reunions. At least this recession has brought us something positive.

It’s been over 4 years since Hand to Hand’s last full-length LP (2005’s A Perfect Way to Say Goodbye) and since that time the entire band lineup has changed, with the exception of lead vocalist Rob Kellom. To describe the band’s current sound as metal or metalcore does not nearly do it justice. Their record label Lifeforce Records describes sound of Design the End / Follow the Horizon as a combination of Anberlin, Forever the Sickest Kids, Underoath, Escape the Fate & Haste the Day. Not really hearing the FTSK part, but the rest is pretty much dead on. While the music may have gotten a little more pop-friendly, it definitely has not lost it’s edge. The very first track “In This City” proves that immediately and is a great intro into the anthemic “State of Emergency”. I remember hearing that song at the last few shows that I have gone to and couldn’t wait to hear it recorded. My other 2 favorites so far have been “Mr. Warwithin” and “Love Muscle” (which was released as demo on their MySpace about a year and a half ago). This is all in all a really great record and I highly recommend picking it up.

The record will be in stores in the U.S. Tuesday, May26th (Monday, May 11th in Europe). If you live in the Central Florida area there is an in-store acoustic performance at Park Ave. CDs in Orlando the day of the release and the CD release show is Saturday, May 30th at The Social with Gorilla Fight, My Complex Island and Adeste. They will then be embarking on an east coast tour:

6/3/09
Jacksonville, Florida
The Pit
w/ Teamwork, A Fall to Rise, The Fear of Falling, and Nomenclature

6/4/09
Charleston, South Carolina
The Oasis

6/5/09
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Ground Zero
Burnfest!

6/6/09
Asheville, North Carolina
Stella Blue
w/ By Morning, Social Ghost & Milestone

6/7/09
Knoxville, Tennessee
The Catalyst
w/ Crisis in Hollywood

6/9/09
Covington, Kentucky
The Mad Hatter
w/ Crisis in Hollywood and The Burning Season

6/14/09
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Croc Roc
w/Crisis in Hollywood, DeSoto Jones and Casting Out

6/16/09
Richmond, Virginia
The Camel
w/ Crisis in Hollywood, Varcella and Thru the Rear View

6/17/09
Blacksburg, Virginia
The Lantern
w/ Aside Oceans, Love & Reverie and Porcelain Smile

6/18/09
Charlotte, North Carolina
Tremont Music Hall
w/ Crisis in Hollywood

6/20/09
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Swampgrass Willy’s
w/ Crisis in Hollywood and The Siren

So there’s gonna be some changes around here very soon. I again apologize for the long waits between posts. I have been very busy lately and brainstorming some ways to make this blog (and possibly some new ones) more interesting and entertaining for all parties involved.