photos by Dan Gonyea, words by Black Bubblegum

Nakatomi Plaza are no more. As previously discussed the two day wave goodbye called Buddy Fest took place back on 9/11 & 9/12, and featured appearances from Avec, Cities for Small Towns, Lemuria, in addition to a pair of sets from Nakatomi.

Oscar from Nakatomi's NEW band, Ludlow Lions, who also played one of those shows, is starting to pick up steam too with the addition of a show tomorrow (10/9) at Union Pool, as well as inclusion at CMJ as part of the Deus Ex Machina party at Matchless on 10/23. That CMJ show will also feature appearances from Milagres, Madeline, Ribbons, Big Push, and Ghost Robot Ninja Bear.

More pics of Nakatomi Plaza at Buddy fest, as well as full Ludlow Lions dates are below....

Continue reading "Nakatomi Plaza played their final shows (pics), Ludlow Lions have some scheduled (Union Pool, CMJ) "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Nakatomi Plaza - "Bomb Shelter" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nakatomi Plaza - "The Finish Line" (MP3)

Nakatomi Plaza opening for Frodus at Death By Audio (more by Ryan Muir)

Nakatomi Plaza is waving goodbye, this time for REALS. The band's pay-what-you-want new and final LP, Ghost, is available on their website in digital format now, and will hit record stores on 9/29. Dig one a pair of MP3s from Ghost above, and hop on that pay-what-you-want soon, because it ends on 8/31.

In addition, you can pick up that CD at one of the shows on Nakatomi Plaza's final lap of dates billed as "The Coda Tour". The tour includes two dates in NYC at Buddy Fest, a festival held at Shea Stadium on 9/11 & 9/12 which will feature many of Nakatomi Plaza's compatriots (hence "Buddy") including Ludlow Lions who are Oscar from Nakatomi's new band. Full tour dates as well as set times/details for Buddy Fest are below.

Continue reading "final Nakatomi Plaza tour dates, Buddy Fest @ Shea Stadium"

photos by Ryan Muir, words By Black Bubblegum

Cymbals smashed with an Epiphone Crestwood. Airborne pizza slices. That vein in your neck that bulges from screaming. Somersaults. An open microphone for the audience to scream out vocals, gang style. These were all present at Frodus's lone NYC date at Death By Audio on Sunday (May 11th), one of a trio for the band over the weekend.

Did I mention the songs? Vocalist/guitarist Shelby Cinca writhed around on the stage floor, banging out faves like "Lights On For Safety", "The Awesome Machine", and "Explosions" (full setlist below). Jason Hamacher (drums), channeling Dale Crover, seemed more energized than ever as his gloved hands bashed the shit out of the Frodus logo'd drumkit. Jason, you may want to have those drum heads checked out.

The madness continues in June, but without bassist Liam Wilson of Dillinger Escape Plan, as former Decahedron bassist Jake Brown will join them on their previously announced dates in June. Full tour dates are also below.

The slowly fading Die Hard obsessives (thats a guess) Nakatomi Plaza played right before Frodus. They hammered out an energetic set of Dischord influenced post-hardcore/punk which provided a great intro for the similarly influenced Frodus. I spoke with guitarist/vocalist Oscar after his set,and he assured me that the trio would play a few more local shows before they go kaput. Whoop it up at those dates NYC.... Yippee-kai-yay motherfucker!

Himalaya and Limbs opened the affair, though unfortunately I missed both due to a certain triple bill of metallic awesomeness at Music Hall of Williamsburg (more on that later). More Frodus pics and tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Frodus & Nakatomi Plaza @ Death By Audio in NYC - pics "

by Black Bubblegum

Lebron James ain't got nothin on Shelby Cinca's vertical (more by Jacob Blickenstaff)

Frodus have announced more tour dates in June, dipping into Florida for two nights and playing their hometown of Washington, DC for the third. These tour dates are in addition to dates this weekend in Baltimore, Philly, and NYC. As previously mentioned, the NYC show is in Brooklyn at Death By Audio on May 10 (Sunday) with the newly added Nakatomi Plaza. The show is $10 at the door. Full tour dates, and the Mike Wohlberg designed flyer (which doubles as an incred-amazing, limited-to-50 silkscreen poster) are below.

We can also confirm that Frodus has begun work on NEW MATERIAL with bassist Liam Wilson of Dillinger Escape Plan. No word on the format of that material (7", EP, LP?!?).

Nakatomi Plaza are calling it a day soon after this show ("We're breaking up..."), but not without leaving a farewell album, Ghosts, and a final round of touring, so as Funkmaster Flex sez... "keep it locked" for more info.

The Dillinger Escape Plan are currently working on their new LP, which Ben Weinman professes will be "dark and evil".

The flyer, and a bunch of videos including their cover of Devo's "Explosions" from their amazing performance at the Slip/Lovitt show, are below...

Continue reading "Nakatomi Plaza (who are slowly breaking up) are playing NYC w/ Frodus (who added more tour dates) "