Von Ehrics newest CD, Two Foot Stomp, is an up and down ride filled with Punkabilly drive and an authentically Texas flavor. Songs like the first single, "Lord I Pray" are new, refreshing, and fun while other like "Rock and Roll" fall a little flat in energy and creativity. The album is an overall success in authenticity, with a real feeling that you could stumble across the Von Ehrics playing around town in Denton, the funky college town music hub of North Texas where Two Foot Stomp was recorded. The album is also successful in screaming "if you think this is good, our live shows are 100 times better".  I am convinced, and definitely will be buying a ticket next time these boys roll through Colorado.

The Highlights:

"Lord I Pray", the album’s first single, is also it’s height of creativity, combining gospel, thrashy rock guitar, and a hyperactive drum set. “Lord I Pray” is soulful and cynical at the same time. The single is a satirical reflection on consumerism, but avoids a “preachy” feel for a rather funny one as lead singer Robert Jason Vandergrift prays for material good while being back up by a full gospel choir.

"Down the Road Tonight" also shines on the album. The song is reminiscent of REM's "It's the End of the World as We Know It". That is, if the whole world existed in Texas. You could probably take the lyrics and make them into a scavenger hunt in downtown Austin. Overall it’s super fun.

"Goodbye/The Ride" is a fun, biting little break up song. Vandergrift sings in sweet and slow ballad voice, which we soon learn is totally ironic:

"It's a beautiful night,
the stars are all bright
I've got the moon on my left
and my girl on my right
things are changing tonight
she can kiss my ass goodbye"

then the speedy drummer kicks and one gets a feel of how the guys really feel. I always love a fun break up song.

The guitar lines are a great highlight throughout the album. Just listening to the things Gabe Aguilar (drums) and Clayton Mills (guitar) make up is one of the best parts of the album.

The Not-so-Great:

"Rock and Roll" is a halfhearted cry for what else, rock and roll. I'm not really that convinced, based on this song that the band believes in the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. The Von Ehrics take lyrics that belong in a song like Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock N Roll” and play them with the enthusiasm of Neil Young's “Hey Hey, My My”.

It sounds like the guys wanted a Beastie Boys' "You Got to Fight for Your Right to Party”, but were just kind of tired or hung over or something that day.

"Downtown" is another one of the tunes that is missing the party soul. Maybe the song is much better live, at the actual party. Though the song is low energy, guitarist Clayton Mills picks it up with an exciting solo.

"Texas" (When I Die) is the albums only successful anthem, but it really gets the job done.  It's not a call to rock out or party hard, as the boys attempted in other songs, but an anthem for Texas; the state that encompasses of both of the previous. "Texas" succeeds where some of the other attempts on the album failed in my opinion because Texas is very unique to the Von Ehrics. You can hear conviction in their voice as they sing "when I die, let me go to Texas".

“Texas” is the true call of Two Foot Stomp , and really ties the album together as its last track. Two Foot Stomp is a call to this: party, rebel, dance around, stomp your feet, and do it all in Texas.  I am totally in support of it!

Eufórquestra (pronounced: yoo-FOHR-keh-struh) will bring their High Intensity Global Dance Music out west from Colorado for a string of debut shows in the Northwest from August 9-14, 2011.

Eufórquestra is a seven-member unit that relocated to Fort Collins, CO in Summer 2008 after spending five years in Iowa City, IA. The band’s own brand of High Intensity Global Dance Music is a percussion and horn driven blend of modern music that fuses afrobeat, reggae, dub, funk, rock, soca and highlife with traditional sounds from Cuba, Brazil, West Africa and beyond. This is cutting edge music that ignites dance floors across the country with a sound that “explodes, dances and melts in your ear with sheer bliss” (Chris M. Slawecki; www.allaboutjazz.com).

Download their latest album “Soup” FREE at www.euforquestra.com.

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NORTHWEST TOUR DATES

Tuesday, August 9 & Wednesday, August 10

Bluegrass Ball

Horizon Resort Casino :: Tammarack Ballroom

Stateline, NV

(Phish after party featuring Travelin’ McCourys, Emmitt-Nershi Band, DJ Logic, Dead Winter Carpenters, Euforquestra and more)

Thursday, August 11

McMennemins’ Old St. Francis School

Bend, OR

Friday, August 12

WOW Hall

Eugene, OR*

* Special performance featuring one full set of live Talking Heads music

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

The Triple Door Musicquarium

Seattle, WA

SUNDAY, August 14

The Goodfoot Lounge

Portland, OR

In anticipation of the first-annual Escape to New York this August 5-7 at the Shinnecock Reservation in The Hamptons, the festival is proud to announce its DJ/Dance lineup. In addition to previously announced performances from Patti Smith, Of Montreal, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Best Coast, and more, this year’s party will feature Elliot Lipp, Xaphoon Jones (Chiddy Bang), VHS or Beta (Live Set), Them Jeans, Futurecop!, Brenton Duvall, Sub Swara, Andy Rourke (The Smiths-DJ SET), DJ Rekha (Bhangra Brunch), Turntables on The Hudson's Rich Medina, Mister Saturday Night, and many more to be more to be announced. Set times TBA. See full dance/DJ Lineup below.

Tickets to the festival are currently on sale, and anyone who purchases tickets this week will be entered into a contest to win side-stage passes to the festival. Weekend Ticket buyers will also be given free camping at the festival and a $20 food and drink vouchers. And festivalgoers who purchase three or more weekend tickets will receive a $150 food and drink voucher. Buy tickets HERE!

Curated by Fred Fellowes, the founder and creative director behind The U.K’s Secret Garden Party, Escape to New Yorkis a three-day festival/vacation unlike any other in the U.S. Held on the picturesque Shinnecock Reservation adjacent to Southampton, NY, patrons will be treated to performances by the likes of Patti Smith, Of Montreal, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Best Coast, Mates of State, Chairlift, The Psychedelic Furs, White Rabbits. In addition to the festival’s musical acts, Escape to New York will also feature dazzling art installations curated by Winkel & Balktick, performance artists, luxury camping (aka. “glamping”) an intimate acoustic stage, speaker tent, and the largest brunch on The East Coast, catered by Silkstone!

Guests will be able to enjoy freshly prepared dishes from some of the best restaurants in the country, including seafood from Luke’s Lobster, American BBQ from Brinkley’s, ceviche and hanger steaks from Ofrenda, and traditional tacos with homemade guacamole from the soon-to-open Pulqueria. In addition, attendees will be able to choose among Mediterranean food, innovative sandwiches, Vietnamese cuisine and much more.

Tickets are $275 for the three-day festival and $100 for day tickets. Tickets and camping/”glamping” packages can be purchased exclusively at www.escape2ny.com. And the first 525 three-day-ticket buyers will also receive free camping in at one of two beautiful campgrounds at Westhampton Beach or Battle Row Campground. More details on festival accommodations can be found HERE.

Escape to New York marks a long-time dream of Fred Fellowes to bring his lauded Secret Garden Parties to the U.S. Founded in 2004, The annual Secret Garden Party grew in size and scope to become on of the most unique festivals in the U.K., with 30,000 revelers enjoying the gathering’s mix of music, cutting edge art and theater, and carefree, hedonistic delights. After much anticipation, this year’s inaugural Escape to New York will finally bring Fellowes’ unique festival stateside, offering New Yorkers and East Coasters alike an opportunity to enjoy a vacation unlike any other.

Dance/DJ Lineup:
Elliot Lipp, Xaphoon Jones (Chiddy Bang), VHS or Beta (Live Set), Them Jeans
Futurecop!, Brenton Duvall, Sub Swara, Andy Rourke (The Smiths-DJ SET),
DJ Rekha (Bhangra Brunch), Turntables on The Hudson's Rich Medina,
Mister Saturday Night, Pocketknife, DJ Pierre, RLDJ, Small Change,
Reid Covington, Eli and Fur, DJ Arman, Regent, Dhundee + many more!!

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Main Stage Lineup:

Friday, August 5th: PATTI SMITH, Best Coast, Chairlift, Lissy Trullie, The Ettes, The Postelles, The Static Jacks

Saturday, August 6th: EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS, The Vaccines, The Psychedelic Furs, White Rabbits, Au Revoir Simone, The Submarines, Graffiti 6

Sunday, August 7th: OF MONTREAL, The Jolly Boys, Mates of State, Reptar, Hank & The Cupcakes, Tiger Love, Savoir Adore

Last night at the 2011 CMT Music Awards, top nominee Jason Aldean and rapper Ludacris brought the house down with an unexpected collaboration of Aldean’s current Top 10 hit “Dirt Road Anthem.”  The remix of the song is now available on iTunes for download.  Additionally, the performance video will be available on Mon., June 13.

"Ludacris absolutely killed his verse of the song," said Aldean.  "He name checks Kenny Rogers and talks about drinking cold beer…that's pretty country, if you ask me!   I think Luda said it best last night at the close of the song when he told the crowd 'History has been made.'  It really did feel like one of those one-in-a-lifetime television moments, and the CMT Music Awards was the perfect show for it.  The fans were crazy!"

To watch Aldean and Ludacris’ performance of “Dirt Road Anthem” from last night’s CMT Music Awards, click here.

Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” is currently the No. one song on the iTunes Country Songs chart, and it plowed its way into the Top 10 on the radio charts this week.  The fan-favorite track is the third single off MY KINDA PARTY that has already spawned two smash hits ( “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson and "My Kinda Party).  The album hit big out of the gate, setting a record as the highest first week debut by a male artist in 4 years, and the now PLATINUM disc it has remained planted at the top of the chart since its Nov. release. 

The Unified Field: Denver - a Sonic Bloom pre-party featuring Alex & Allyson Grey has been scheduled for a two-night celebration on April 29 & 30 in Denver, CO. The launch party will feature some of the nation's hottest live electronic acts and DJ's alongside an array of visual arts performers, live painters and local vendors for what has gained the event the reputation of being one of Denver's premier underground indoor music and art showcases.

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Over the last five years, Sonic Bloom has helped launch the careers of dozens of emerging artists in the eletro-jam, glitch, house and dub-step genres including Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, The Glitch Mob, EOTO and Beats Antique. This year, the two-night Unified Field pre-party taking place in Denver, CO will feature live performances with renowned and up-and-coming electronic artists and producers such as Eskmo, Heyoka, An-ten-nae, Octopus Nebula, DJ Vadim, Janover, Nadis Warriors, R/D, Dr. Israel, The Great Mundane, The Polish Ambassador, Miraja, Resident Anti-Hero, Etheric Double, Grimace Federation, Project Aspect and Zobomazé.

Each event developed under the Sonic Bloom umbrella has been aimed to help bring increased awareness to a blossoming underground music scene encompassing live performance, improvisation and the basic principals of electronic music in all of it's guises. With a strong foundation in the visual arts each event features live projection arts as well as dancers, performers and painters from around the globe. And, for the Denver based pre-party, the legendary Alex Gray and his partner Allyson Grey will each be painting live each night and Alex will be doing a multi-media presentation of his work as well.

Step into the 2011 Sonic Bloom pre-party and enter a glowing world that seems to have blossomed within the Sonic Bloom community itself. A world filled with eclectic costumes, live visual arts and the earth-shattering electronic music that made this non-stop dance party internationally known and respected.

Of course, this is just the precursor event to the outdoor festival that will follow on June 24-26th. For more information about Sonic Bloom, Sponsorship opportunities or for ticket information check out http://www.sonicbloomfestival.com or get your tickets directly:

Friday Tickets (4/29/11)

Saturday Tickets (4/30/11)