Updates from Ryan of Julien-K

2007 was just the beginning for Julien-K. The response we have received playing Projekt Revolution and The Open Door tour have been incredible. All of this response with NO record out. We seem to have achieved what we set out to achieve: to build a core fan base without radio, and all the trappings that go with it. It has been amazing to immediately see after every show, hundreds of fans sending us messages – talking about how (pleasantly) surprised they were by our performances each night. No one had any idea who we were. We had to win by actually being good. Now it seems JK fans have become somewhat viral. We see you everywhere. The FIRST fans. The core group.

We want to thank our fans in Europe for being so understanding and supportive regarding our canceling the Jan. tour with Linkin Park . We are equally thankful to Chester and the boys for totally having our backs, and being amazing friends in what was a tough choice for us. SO. We do have good things planned for the rest of the year. Very good things. We are, of course, planning to make up with our European fans ASAP, and we have a LOT more in store for the US (and the rest of the world) as well this year...

...Maybe a record?

We're cruel. I know.

[Original Post by Ryan Shuck, at www.myspace.com. View original source here.]

New Celldweller demo available for download

Ho ho ho. (I’d like to make it clear right off the bat that not a single one of these “ho’s” is a noun...) It’s that time of year again – a time for
giving and a time for reflection. Well, maybe I’m just saying that because I’m sitting in an airport waiting for a flight. That’s probably more likely, but I’ll chalk it up to the holidays and that “holiday spirit.” I have to admit I have had thoughts of doing some ‘giving’ this holiday season and that ties directly into the reason that I’m running on 24 + hours without sleep. Now, this is actually kind of a Christmas story, so go make some brownies, pour yourself some hot chocolate and let me tell it to you:

There once was this little red-headed kid (red like a fire truck, not like Ginger from Gilligan’s Island.) He was pretty unpopular as a child and
learned to keep his mouth shut and just observe, lest his ass get kicked by the mean 5th and 6th graders who reveled in their pre-pubescent strength and superiority. It wasn’t long til Red (as we’ll call him from now on in this story) figured out that around the same time every year, there seemed to be a surgence of excitement revolving around some fat dude in a red outfit. As legend has it, fatty somehow shoe-horns his way down a chimney and brings the good children gifts. Simultaneously there was also another story of a king born into humility, spending the first part of his life in a barn because there was no place else to stay. Now this story was way more punk-rock and it appealed a lot more to Red than this stupid fat guy in a red outfit. The problem was that no matter what story people used as an excuse to celebrate during this time of year, all Red really ever seemed to glean from this season was an overwhelming sense of selfishness that didn’t seem to have much to do with the reasons people claimed to be celebrating in the first place. It wasn’t long til Red gave up on the whole thing and decided it was just another excuse people had made up to drive the masses into frenzies at retail stores and the like, driving them by some propaganda of fear or obligation – fear of not buying the right gifts or getting enough of the right gifts or the strain of being obligated to get someone something because you have to.

Fast forward a number of years. This poor little bugger’s head is still constantly swimming in thought and many times the only way for him to hold on to shreds of sanity is to unload these thoughts onto paper, thus making room in his head for more thoughts. He then takes these thoughts and puts them to song and for some odd reason there are people around who are genuinely interested in these scraps of his own life. So how does this at all tie into me and this whole rant being a “Christmas Story”?? Well as it turns out, I kinda know Red and this is where it all comes together: Over the last few years he has unconsciously taken stock of his life, his art and the meaning of it all. Things have changed in his head, and it’s a very good thing. Part of that change is that he has found some honesty and purity in this season after all – it’s just not going to be found on the TV or in newspapers. There are people who give unselfishly and that is the coolest thing of all. So I, uh “Red” I mean knows that there have been some very nice people out there who have been very supportive and patient and I, (I mean “He” dammit!!) wanted to do something for those people specifically.

Here comes the part about “24+ hours without sleep...” I am doing something I would ordinarily never ever do – I’ve decided to give away a Demo from the upcoming Celldweller CD. The song has been finished in it’s demo form for awhile, but it’s very unfinished compared to what it will sound like (in my mind at least.) Almost everything here will be replaced when I record it for real - The drums, vocals, synths, bass, guitars – everything.

So I decided to get it “rough mixed” and stayed up in between returning from Brazil and departing to my next destination to get this presentable for you. I really wish to make a hundred disclaimers for how this sounds and what is yet to be changed or fixed, but I’m too tired to care at this point and it really wasn’t the reason I wanted to give it to you to begin with. You can decide what you like. I guarantee there will be those that will like this version over the final version when it’s done – so be it. I only hope this is some small reward for those faithful Cellmates who have been patient to this point. So with no further adieu, I present you my gift to you this Holiday season, “Birthright” (formerly referred to as “Baseline”) I’ll catch you all next year.

[Original Post by Klayton, at celldweller.com. View original source here.]

dharmata 101 track review by Chain D.L.K.

...DHARMATA 101 then stands for the international guests, because they are hailing out of the United States. Stylistically they’re sitting in between the chairs be offering a mixture out of Industrial, Electronica and Goth-elements. Their track “Outline (Of My Shadow)” is a quite good composition featuring a fair amount of acoustic guitars, Metal-guitar riffs and decent Electronic textures, while the natural sounding vocals need some more spins to earn acceptance...

[Original Post by Marc Tater, at chaindlk.com. View original source here.]

Crunch Pod's "Songs in the Key of Death" available

After a year of waiting, SONGS IN THE KEY OF DEATH is finally available for pre-order! Pick it up from Crunch Pod.

[Original Post by Eric Gottesman, at myspace.com.]

Strangeland Records goes out of business.

A Somber Announcement…
It is with deepest regret that I must announce that on March 17th Strangeland Records will be closing its doors forever. Sadly, while we had no shortage of verbal supporters and well-wishers, in the end we simply did not have enough paying customers to cover our expenses and keep the shop going.

An Honor to Serve…
Since day one Strangeland has been an ardent supporter of the local art and music community. In our short time here I’m proud to say that we’ve hosted over 150 DJs and 200+ bands. We’ve also displayed on our walls the works of over a dozen promising local artists. I’m personally honored to have had so many talented bands, DJs, and artists come through our doors. I can only hope the other local shops/venues will carry the torch and help to further our DC music and arts scene.

The Show’s Almost Over…
We’ll be celebrating the memory of Strangeland “Irish wake” style with a series of going away parties here at the shop…

Saturday 1/12 – Goth/Industrial Armageddon (2pm-10pm)
w/ Ego Likeness, Red This Ever, The Opposite Sex, XUBERX,
dharmata101, Rites of Ash and DJs Vlad, Shade, Liebchen, Kangal, Rift,
DuJour, Cheetahdave

Saturday 1/19 – Live @ Strangeland Apocalypse (2pm-12am)
w/ Three Faces of Eve, Salome, Absolute Vengeance, Freehand Arson,
Bliss, Ambition Burning, Vox Populi (more TBA)

Saturday 1/26 – Strictly Locals End of Days (6pm-4am)
w/ Muramasa, ODJ, Deinfamous, Alter-Ego, Encryption, Solace72,
Jungle Jessi, Quannum Logic, Harry Ransom, Brandon Black,
Miguel Lush, Nonchalant, Lycan, Psymon, Darkenetiks, Hollowpoint,
Ademaro, Shaft XXL, Axios

Last Chance Sale…
Our liquidation sale will begin on Friday, February 1st. From here on out we’ll be looking to get rid of everything, from merchandise to fixtures to DJ gear. The liquidation discount percentages will escalate with each subsequent week though the final day of business on 3/17. Details about the sale will be announced in late January.

What can you do to help?…
At this point the best thing you can do is spend some money here. Every dollar you spend at Strangeland from here on out is a dollar less that we will have to pay back to the bank. With that in mind, be kind; buy some CDs/vinyl/etc. as a final token of your appreciation.

The Changing Face of Music…
The independent music scene is dying a very painful death right now and it’s dying at the hands of its alleged fans. Downloading/piracy from major labels may strike a blow against “the man”, but doing the same for independent/underground music is KILLING those that make and make available that type of music, from the bands to the labels, the promoters to the shop & venue owners. Right now downloading is at the “fall of Rome” stage, with people ravenously downloading anything they can get their hands on, downloading stuff that they don’t even get around to listening to just so that they can brag about how many songs they have. At the same time fewer people are pulling themselves away from their computers (Tivos, Nintendo Wiis, online gaming, etc.) to see, support and buy merch from bands who are struggling to tour at all before going back to their day jobs.

The effects of this detrimental behavior won’t be truly felt until a couple years from now. As the support structure for underground music continues to erode at an exponential rate, indie labels/shops/magazines will continue to fold. As show attendance continues to decline, fewer bands will tour and venues will shut down. As club attendance continues to decline, once popular club events will cease to be. And certainly the effects will be TRULY FELT when all that remains on the desolate musical landscape is local level MySpace band demos and major label pop fodder… with nothing in between, thus robbing us of the next generation VNV Nation, Jesu, Rancid, Dimmu Borgir, etc. You can only rape independent music for so long before nothing is left.

Without support, art ceases to exist. So I urge you from the bottom of my heart, please support the bands you like. Buy their albums. See them live. Buy merch at their shows (very often this means dinner and gas money to them). In the end this is a very small price to pay in order to keep good independent music going.

One Final Note…
It has truly been a pleasure running the shop for these past two years. I’m thankful for all the new friends I’ve met, the excellent bands and DJs I’ve seen and the customers I’ve helped find and discover new music. After all, that was the point, wasn’t it? For everyone who has come in and bought something, checked out a show, handed out a flyer for us, for everyone who has shown Strangeland, my brainchild and baby, some love…

Thank You!

[Original Post by Ryan Hill, at livejournal.com. View original source here.]