Press Release: ONE OK ROCK Returns to Los Angeles for Back to Back Shows August 11 & 12

Fueled By Ramen recording group ONE OK ROCK has announced details of a massive North American headline tour. The “AMBITIONS U.S. TOUR 2017,” which will also feature a series of stops throughout Canada, is set to kick off July 6th at Las Vegas, Nevada’s Brooklyn Bowl. The coast-to-coast tour will feature support from special guests Set It Off and Palisades, and will continue through mid-August.

Furthermore, the band has been announced to perform at the 2017 Journeys Alternative Press Music Awards, Fueled by Monster Energy where they are also nominated for “Best Breakthrough Band.” The awards are set take place July 17th at Cleveland, Ohio’s Quicken Loans Arena. Fans can visit http://www.altpress.com/vote up until the deadline of June 30th to cast their vote.

Earlier this year, ONE OK ROCK returned with their widely acclaimed Fueled By Ramen debut, “AMBITIONS.” The album, which features “We Are,” “Taking Off,” “Bedroom Warfare,” and “I Was King,” arrived atop the “Global Album Chart” with 315,000 equivalent sales making it the best-selling album on the planet in its first week. “AMBITIONS” is available now at all DSPs as well as via the official Fueled By Ramen store.

“AMBITIONS” – which follows ONE OK ROCK’s chart-topping seventh album, 2015’s “35xxxv (Deluxe Edition)” – is the iconic hard rock band’s milestone second all English language release. Comprised of vocalist Taka, guitarist Toru, drummer Tomoya, and bassist Ryota, ONE OK ROCK is among Japan’s most popular and beloved rock outfits, with each of their last five releases debuting in the nation’s Top 5, including the #1 blockbusters “AMBITIONS” and “35xxxv.” “35xxxv (Deluxe Edition)” marked the band’s official U.S. début and first all-English language release which features the worldwide hit single/video “Mighty Long Fall,” now boasting over 40 million views at YouTube alone.

Known for their thrilling live shows, the band recently completed a sold-out headline run in the United States and performed two massive concerts at Shizuoka, Japan’s Nagisaen before a cumulative audience of more than 110,000. The colossal performances were captured in the official live video for their single “Taking Off.” No strangers to the road, ONE OK ROCK have also toured extensively in the U.S., teaming with such like-minded acts as All Time Low, Sleeping With Sirens, Issues, and 5 Seconds of Summer. As if that weren’t enough, ONE OK ROCK has made explosive main stage appearances at rock festivals in Europe, South America, Australia, and the U.S., including a well-received run on the 2014 Vans Warped Tour.

2017 AMBITIONS U.S. TOUR
With Special Guests Set It Off & Palisades

** Tickets available now **

*ONE OK ROCK Supporting Linkin Park, without Set If Off & Palisades
# Festival Appearance, without Set It Off & Palisades
** With Palisades only

JULY
6 Las Vegas, NV Brooklyn Bowl
7 Tempe, AZ The Marquee
8 Albuquerque, NM El Rey Theater
10 San Antonio, TX Aztec Theatre
11 Dallas, TX House of Blues
12 Houston, TX House of Blues
14 Atlanta, GA Buckhead Theatre
15 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s
17 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena – Alternative Press Music Awards#
19 Pontiac, MI The Crofoot
21 Ottawa, ON Algonquin College Theatre
22 London, ON London Music Hall
24 Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
27 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center*
28 New York, NY PlayStation Theater
29 New York, NY PlayStation Theater

AUGUST
1 Camden, NJ BB&T Pavilion*
2 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live*
4 Clifton Park, NY Upstate Concert Hall
5 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena*
6 Millvale, PA Mr. Smalls Theatre
8 Lawrence, KS Granada Theater
9 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre
11 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
12 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
14 Sacramento, CA Ace of Spades
15 San José, CA City National Civic
17 Portland, OR Roseland Theater**
18 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo**
19 Vancouver, BC The Vogue Theatre**

Hero in Me

Professional cosplayer Santana has released an album featuring nerdy music, Hero In Me, and now I am going to review it.

The whole thing is about empowering yourself and following your own loves.  The album mixes country, pop, and a bit of rock into a unique sound.  Though only three songs on the album are really nerd related.

Cosplaying Just for Me, which has its own video shot by Flashbang Cosplay Capture, is about cosplaying and empowering yourself.  Bit a nice rock vibe to it.  Personally I have a hard time believing someone who sells prints of herself and has a Patreon page for people to give her feed back on what to cosplay next is really “cosplaying just for me.”  Though the song is more than just about cosplaying and is a fun listen.

Gamer Boy, is a love song .  Though I am not sure if she is singing to a boy who play games or an actual Nintendo Game Boy.  I like it either way.

Hero in Me is about another empowering song drawing some geeky related imagery and lyrics.

Three of the other songs on this album are from a previous non nerdy album, nice songs to listen to just not why I am here for.  The other song is Winder Soldier, which as much as I want to believe is most likely not about Bucky Barnes.  Again nice romantic song, just not what I am looking for.

The music and singing are both top-notch though.  Something even non nerds can enjoy.  I recommend it for anyone wanting something a little different from most.

You can get the album as a CD or digital download from Santana’s store, CDBaby, iTunes, or Amazon.

I would love to see more work from Santana in the music genre especially some more nerdy songs add to her repertoire.

FuMPFest 2017

The Funny Music Project‘s (FuMP) comedy music festival/convention, FuMPFest, returns this Friday June 16th to Sunday June 18th at the Holiday Inn Chicage-Elk Grove in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

The Guest of Honor for this year is Henry Phillips.  Henry is a comedy musican and actor who has appeared on Comedy Central Presents, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Billboard magazine, worked with Moby, his YouTube channel “Henry’s Kitchen” and his own film “Punching the Clown.”  Featured Guests are Bad Teenage Moustache, chiptune-rock band Boy Meets Robot, Carla Ulbrich, Insane Ian, Nuclear Bubble Wrap, Peter Wildman, Reformed Whores, Smashy Claw, The Gothsicles, Tom Tuerff, Worm Quartet, and the great Luke Ski.  Also appearing this weekend but with no featured concert are Carrie Dahlby, Devo Spice, Holy Bongwater, Lauren Mayer, Power Salad, the Library Bards, and TV’s Kyle.

Events for the con will be several concerts throughout the weekend, but there is more to the event then just them.  The Opening Ceremonies will screen the entries this year’s Video Contest, karaoke, Q&A and autographs with Henry Phillips,  State of The FuMP, Live Podcasts, the FuMP Showcase, and special showing of Punching Henry, Henry Phillip’s latest mocumentary.  Friday will host the Logan Whitehurst Memorial Awards for Excellence in Comedy Music ceremony, all the nominated songs will be performed or presented at the ceremony.  There will be a dealer’s room for shopping as well.

Pre-registration is opened until June 12th, tomorrow.  Registration at the door is the same price.  Adult weekend is $50, Friday or Sunday only $20, and Saturday only $30.  Children twelve and under can get in for $30 for the weekend or any single day for $15.  Children three and under are free.

Fans of the FuMP, Dr. Demento, and comedy music in general should keep the FuMPFest are their list of events to try to hit up some time to see and hear their favorite acts and hang with fellow fans.