We have been working around the clock lately, sleeping about 3 hours a night (no joke!) all in the efforts to promote the abundance of artists that are blessing the Combat Rock Promotion stable. We are truly thankful for all of the clients we work with and are equally thankful for the stations that support them.

 

Here is a brief rundown with what's happening with each:

 

Salvador Santana Band- On Over 50 stations! On tour now!

Kevin Elliot & The Broken- On over 150 stations! Tour announcement soon!

Late Nite Access- On over 20 stations! Playing SXSW!

Idiot Pilot- On over 15 stations! On Taste of Chaos Tour now!

Honey Honey- Video Channel online now! On Tour with Lifehouse now!

Billy Boy on Poison- Impacting now! Touring soon!

CRUNK !!! Energy Drink- Setting up giveaways at SoCal stations!

 

 

 

Honey Honey Youtube Video Channel can be seen here. (Looks great on the iPhone for those of you who have one)

 

Off to SXSW next week... stay tuned for the recap!

Congratulations to my former Intern Jason Reitman who was just nominated for an Academy Award for Best Directing this year for his excellent film "Juno"! Jason was a star even back in 1997 when I had the pleasure to have him in my office, but I like to think that a little bit of me rubbed off on him as he rose to the top. I have a simple code that I live by: Accomplish goals, kick ass, live life, have fun; and I have expressed those ideals to everyone I have worked closely with my entire life. Apart from Jason, my other former interns have gone on to get jobs at various labels (Warner Bros, Universal, Maverick), some have started clothing lines, and one other fine example, the lovely and talented Kristy Kruger, has gone on to become a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter. Yes, people... dreams can come true. I see it happen! Kudos to all my fine former interns wherever they may be. Keep living the dream...

Happy New Year! The Holidays really charged up my batteries and now I’m off and running... Hope everyone else out there had a happy and safe holiday season.  Already this year is looking amazing with some great new music and some awesome success stories:

 

Late Nite Access  A Combat Rock Promotion IMPORT from Australia. Consisting of 2 guys and 1 crazy chick, this power trio combines elements of the Hoodoo Gurus, the Wonderstuff, Midnight Oil and AC/DC. US tour starts March 2008. More to come…

 

Kevin Elliot and the Broken  With the first leg of his US tour in the can, Kevin is ready to hit the road again, starting with three impressive shows in and around the Sundance Film Festival…. Live on air appearance at KWCR in Ogden, UT on Jan 22… Sales approaching 1000 units. US distro deal just secured with Burnside Distribution. More to come…

 

Via Audio  These guys are STARS! Led by lovely and charismatic Jessica Martins, this band is going straight to the top…. short East Coast/Midwest tour starting Jan 20… More to come…

 

Oslo  Currently charting at #98 on the CMJ charts! Shipping soon to Commercial radio… US Tour starts Feb 20….This record will sell 10,000…More to come…

 

Grooove vol 1  This band is really making headway! With strong spins at WMNF/Tampa, KOOP/Austin, and a current #1 record at KRCC/Colorado Springs (even beating out Radiohead on the charts!) More to come…

 

Salvador Santana Band  US tour starts mid-Feb. Nine shows opening for John Popper in Colorado is thisclose from being confirmed. Slowly picking up stations with current EP. Full CD in stores and Adds at College Radio Feb 26. More to come…

 

Ron Armstrong  Amazing Roots rock…Spinning at WWOZ/New Orleans and KZMU/Moab, UT… Live shows to be announced soon in 2008… More to come…

 

Billy Boy on Poison  Brand new band made up of five energetic youngsters (only 2 of which are finished with high school!) flying the glam flag in an homage to early Bowie. New EP Exclusively available at CIMS stores nationwide. More to come…

 

Is that enough bands for ya? OK, back to the phones now.  In the words of Daft Punk (via Kanye West): "Work it harder make it better, do it faster makes us stronger, more than ever, hour after hour work is never over..." Amen!

Well then... just a few short days left til we put 2007 in the history books. What a year it's been! Let's take a quick look at where we're at with our fine bands:

 

Kevin Elliot and the Broken- album released in September, garnished airplay at almost 100 college stations thus far, building slowly and steadily, toured like crazy, touring will continue in the new year. This guy will be as big as Dave Matthews someday- Mark my words!

 

The Rentals- What more can be said? A very successful Fall Tour, airplay at over 50 commercial stations, 3 full rotation adds, #1 Specialty Show record, live on air appearances everywhere. New material in 2008....can't wait!

 

 

Oslo- Currently at #115 on the CMJ charts, airplay at over 100 college stations, Strong early sales, touring in the new year.

 

 

Salvador Santana Band- Album out Feb 26, EP at radio now, building new believers. Just completed 50 city Myspace tour with B-Side Players. New tour next year. Yes, it's Carlos Santana's Son. Yes, Sal is totally cool. And Yes... it's great music! Sounds like Ozomatli.

 

Tokyo Rose- Airplay at over 20 commercial stations, sold out tour, and strong sales. Any band from New Jersey has to be cool!

 

Via Audio- With props from Spoon's Jim Eno and Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla, this band can only be successful. On West Coast tour right now (LA show is tomorrow night!) and they are enjoying airplay at over 40 commercial radio stations.

Ron Armstrong- This guy plays Roots-Rock, Blues, and Americana like no other. Story building, touring in the new year.

 

Grooove Vol 1- Amazing music project of instrumental downtempo electronica from Los Angeles musicians Tal Bergman and Ron Dejesus. Touring in the new year.

 

2008 will see a new release from Australia's Late Nite Access. Keep your eyes open. 

 

Finally, a big heartfelt note of thanks goes out to everyone involved with Combat Rock Promotion this year.  Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all. We'll keep it rockin for you in the new year.

 

Rock update: Oslo has shipped! Let the games begin! In a few days you will all receive the amazing new Oslo album The Rise & Fall of Love & Hate. This will be a campaign lasting well over a year and the band will sell 10,000 records. The band has some dates set:

 

Nov 14 2007   Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's
Nov 15 2007  NYC @ The Cutting Room
Nov 16 2007  Philly @ World Cafe Live (Upstairs room)
Nov 29 2007  Los Angeles @ The Viper Room
Nov 30 2007  San Diego @ The Beauty Bar

 

 

Kevin Elliot and the Broken keeps making new fans constantly!  With just under 40 gigs under his belt now and some great new touring plans in the new year to be announced soon, we are witnessing the birth of a brand new artist! You heard it from me, first! Here are his curret tour dates:

 

4-Nov   Nashville, TN @ The End
6-Nov   St Louis, MO @ Cicero's (Playback:stl night)
9-Nov   Indianapolis, IN @ U of Indianapolis
13-Nov   Charleston, SC @ Cumberlands
15-Nov   Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
27-Nov   Philly, PA @ The Khyber
29-Nov   Asbury Park, NJ @ The Saint
4-Dec   Baltimore @ 8x10
6-Dec   NYC @ Knitting Factory
   
Via Audio has been garnishing praise everywhere from Spin.com to Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla, who proclaims them his favorite new band.  Produced by Spoon's Jim Eno this album contains many indie pop gems.  Getting spun now at: WXRT/CHICAGO, WLZX/Springfield, MA, Woxy.com, KSWI/Des Moines, IA, KFMA/TUCSON, AZ, WCNR/Charlottesville, VA, WHHZ/Gainesville , FL, WBTZ/Burlington, VT, KJEE/SANTA BARBARA, KUCI/Irvine, CA, WFNX/BOSTON, WOCL/Orlando, KPFT/Houston, KEDJ/PHOENIX, KQRA/Springfield, MO & KKCK/Marshall, MN. On the road now:

 

Nov 3 2007 Millvale,PA (pittsburgh) @ Mr.Smalls
Nov 4 2007 State College, PA @ Chronic Town
Nov 6 2007  New York City @ Great Scott
Nov 7 2007  New York City @ Great Scott
Nov 8 2007  Westport, CT @ Toquet Hall
Nov 9 2007  Washington DC @ Rock N Roll Hotel
Nov 19 2007  Hamden, CY @ The Space

 

Also- West Coast Dates Coming Soon!


Tokyo Rose is also on the road and are getting radio airplay! Spins at: WFNX/BOSTON, KUPD/Phoenix, Q101/CHICAGO, WPBZ/West Palm Beach, FL, KRZQ/RENO. WHTG/Monmouth Ocean, NJ, KUCI/Irvine, CA. KDJE/Little Rock, KPPC/Idaho Falls, ID, KACV/AMARILLO, TX.  Be sure to catch them here:

 

11/02 - Manchester, NH @ Legion 79
11/03 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Saints and Sinners
11/04 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Saints and Sinners (Day Off)
11/05 - Pompton Lakes, NJ @ Mainstage
11/06 - Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
11/07 - Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
11/08 - Raleigh, NC @ The Brewery
11/09 - Wilmington, NC @ The Soapbox
11/12 - Orlando, FL @ Island Oasis
11/13 - Tampa, FL @ Orpheum
11/14 - Jacksonville, FL @ The Pit
11/15 - Baton Rouge, LA @ The Darkroom
11/16 - Houston, TX @ Java Jazz
11/17 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
11/18 - Lewisville, TX @ Fat Daddy's

 

Also just arriving to you is an advance copy of the Salvador Santana Band.  Full release coming in February 2008. The band is wrapping up some dates now with the B Side Players and Cipes and the People. Here are the last dates of those:

 

November 2nd, 2007   Austin @ La Zona Rosa
November 3rd, 2007  Lubbock, TX @ Bash Riprocks #2
November 4th, 2007  Albuquerque @ Launch Pad
November 6th, 2007  Tucson @ Club Congress
November 8th, 2007  Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theatre
November 9th, 2007  Los Angeles @ The Roxy Theatre
November 10th, 2007  San Diego @ House of Blues

 

Coming soon: Late Nite Access... Musica,  musica,  musica!

So yes, I think we all agree that the new Radiohead album In Rainbows is pretty awesome, and the way in which they are rolling out the marketing of it is revolutionary indeed.  I won't say anymore that's already been said to death, but I will make a note of something just because no one else has thus far. (Which kind of surprised me).  Did anyone notice the orchestral sample of theWings song "Silly Love Songs" at the tail end of the seventh track of In Rainbows: "Reckoner"? Investigate and discuss. You heard it here first. And oh yeah, in case you didn't know, Radiohead take their name from track 6 of this album.  We now return to calling, uh, radio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rentals July shows at Spaceland was a huge success! All told, they sold almost 2,000 tickets to all four shows. That's almost 500 per show...and the place only holds 250..hey, how does that work ?!? Guess they sold extra tickets to more people as others left early.  Why not, eh? The shows were a lot of fun, and the band even blasted out a cover of the Weezer b-side "I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams" with Rachel Haden covering the Rivers Cuomo vocal duties. The Rentals tour starts today in San Francisco. Go see them. You MUST see this show.  Be listening to your local station to hear the band on air.  They will be on air everywhere out on the road.  In other news, arriving this week is the new release from Jersey boys Tokyo Rose.  Track 3 ("We Can be Best Friends Tonight, But Tomorrow I'll Be..." ) is a little different sound for them and the stand-out track.  Check them out on the warped tour all summer! Dates below. Finally, on a personal note, checked out Godsmack here in LA last night, and they definitely brought the rock. The capacity crowd at the Wiltern Theater knew every word to every song. Great show! Props to the two Gary's (Gary Marella and Gary Spangler) at Universal who hooked me up.

 

 

1-Aug Orland Park, Illinois  @  Mojoes w/Bedlight for BlueEyes, Sound The Alarm
2-Aug La Crosse, Wisconsin  @  The Warehouse w/Bedlight For Blue Eyes, Sound The Alarm
3-Aug Madison, Wisconsin  @  The Loft w/Bedlight For Blue Eyes, Sound The Alarm
4-Aug Kansas City, Missouri  @  The Torn Curtain w/Bedlight For BlueEyes, Sound The Alarm
5-Aug Saint Louis, Missouri  @ Creepy Crawl w/Bedlight For Blue Eyes, Sound The Alarm (EARLY SHOW)
7-Aug Greensboro, North Carolina  @  Greene Street w/Bedlight For Blue Eyes, Sound The Alarm
8-Aug Virginia Beach, Virginia  @  Peppermint Beach Club w/Bedlight For BlueEyes, Sound The Alarm
10-Aug Wilmington, Delaware  @  Harmony Grange w/Bedlight For Blue Eyes, Sound The Alarm
15-Aug Kansas City, Missouri  @  Warped Tour-Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre-Kevin Says Stage
17-Aug Boise, Idaho  @  Warped Tour- Idaho Center-Kevin Says Stage
18-Aug Seattle, Washington  @  Warped Tour-Gorge Ampitheatre-Kevin Says Stage
19-Aug Portland, Oregon  @  Warped Tour-Columbia Meadows-Kevin Says Stage
22-Aug Fresno, California  @  Warped Tour-Selland Arena-Kevin Says Stage
23-Aug Sacramento, California  @  Warped Tour-Sleep Train Ampitheater-Kevin Says Stage
24-Aug San Diego, California  @  Warped Tour-Coors Ampitheater-Kevin Says Stage
25-Aug Los Angeles, California  @  Warped Tour-Home Depot Center-Kevin Says Stage
26-Aug Anaheim, California  @  Chain Reaction w/The Fold
7-Sep Phoenix, Arizona  @  One Place
10-Sep El Paso, Texas  @  Lucky Devils
11-Sep San Antonio, Texas  @  Rock Bottom
13-Sep Dallas, Texas  @  House of Blues
19-Sep La Crosse, Wisconsin  @  The Warehouse
22-Sep Cleveland, Ohio @  Agora Theater&Ballroom

This Rentals project is going like gangbusters! Here's a brief rundown:

 

The Rentals have taken over the #1 spot on the MediaGuide Specialty Show Singles chart with their hit "Little Bit of You in Everything."  They are also #1 on the FMQB album and single chart.  Good music will prevail. US tour starts Aug 1. Go see them live.

What an amazing month this has been! Started out with a night at the Museum courtesy of Indie 103. They took over LA's Museum of Natural History for their First Fridays series, and had a couple of bands play in the African Mammal Hall. I met up with the guys from Oslo and we caught Deerhoof and Autolux jamming right near the stuffed elephants. It was wild! In other news, The Rentals new EP "Last Little Life" ships this week and we already have 3 spins at KROQ and a spin at the aforementioned Indie 103. This one is going to be MASSIVE folks! Be sure to hit me up for tix to the tour that starts August 1. (See below for dates). Took a brief jaunt to Wine Country a couple weeks ago for a few days off, but leave it to me to mix business and pleasure, so I had to jump over to San Fran's Live 105 to say what's up to Aaron and play him the new Rentals, which he did indeed like. (NICE!) New project I have taken on is the annual Corndog-o-Rama Festival in Atlanta, which is happening this year from July 12th through July 15th. Tons of bands will be there, making the event a veritable who's who of indie rock (such as The Winter Sounds, Snowden, etc).  Check out the schedule here. We've already got them a nice promotional push from Atlanta's powerhouses 99X and WRAS, so this should be a big hit. LA's very own Ride On Rides will be performing there, so go check them out! And the icing on the cake? The club this is being held at this year is called... I kid you not: Lenny's Bar. Yes, I swear. Perhaps that is synchronicity. Finally, the end of June brings two noteable events: my birthday, which oddly, happens once every year (imagine that, eh?) and a screening of the new Joe Strummer flick "The Future is Unwritten." The show will also feature Epitaph's The Aggrolites playing Clash covers, so all in all it looks like as perfect an evening as you can get. In case you are new to this site: the Clash are my favorite band and I named my company after them in homage. In case you are new to music: the late, great Joe Strummer was the frontman/genius behind the Clash. In case you are new to the world: the Clash are the greatest punk rock band ever. OK, class dismissed! Coming soon: new albums from Oslo and Kevin Elliot and the Broken.

Combat Rock Promotion is proud to announce that we will be promoting the Summer/Fall tour for the Rentals! What a story here!  Last year Matt Sharp and Rachel Haden put together the Rentals after a six year hiatus and had a wildly successful tour that brought them all over the globe.  This year, they are doing it again…this time with NEW MUSIC.  That’s right… an EP of new music will be released on August 14^th on Canadian indie Boompa Records thru Caroline/EMI here in the States. This will be supported by a 47 city tour (!!!), of which Combat Rock Promotion will handle the commercial radio promotion.  This is going to be a lot of fun… Music coming soon, tourdates below. Come check out the band as they pass through your town!

 

 

26-Jun  The Dome, Bakersfield, CA

27-Jun  Downtown Brew, San Luis Obispo, CA

28-Jun  The Belmont, Fresno, CA

29-Jun  Club Underground, Reno, NV

30-Jun  Art Bar, Las Vegas

7-Jul     Spaceland, Los Angeles

14-Jul   Spaceland, Los Angeles

21-Jul   Spaceland, Los Angeles

28-Jul   Spaceland, Los Angeles

1-Aug  Great American Music Hall,  San Fran, CA

3-Aug  Hawthorne Theatre, Portland, OR

4-Aug  Neumos, Seattle, WA

5-Aug  The Big Easy, Spokane, WA

7-Aug  The Big Easy, Boise, ID

8-Aug  Club Sound, SLC, UT

9-Aug  Gothic Theatre, Englewood (Boulder), CO

10-Aug            Slowdown, Omaha, NE

11-Aug            First Avenue, MN

12-Aug            Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI

14-Aug            Metro, Chicago, IL

15-Aug            Pop's, Sauget, IL (St Louis)

16-Aug            House of Blues, Cleveland, OH

17-Aug            Madison Theatre, Covington, KY (Cincinatti)

18-Aug            The Majestic Theatre, Detroit, MI

19-Aug            Newport Music Hall, Columbus OH

21-Aug            Mr Smalls Theatre, Millvale, PA

22-Aug            Sonar, Baltimore, MD

23-Aug            Nokia Theater, NYC

24-Aug            Middle East, Cambrige, MA

25-Aug            TOA, Philly, PA

26-Aug            9:30 Club Washington, DC

28-Aug            Ziggy's, Winston Salem, NC

29-Aug            The Orange Peel, Ashville, NC

30-Aug            Amos Southend, Charlotte, NC

31-Aug            City Hall, Nashville, TN

1-Sep   Masquerade, Atlanta, GA

2-Sep   Free Bird Live Jacksonville, FL

4-Sep   House Of Blues, Lake Buenevista, FL

5-Sep   Revolution, Fort Lauderdale, FL

6-Sep   Jannus Landing, Saint Peterburg, FL

7-Sep   Beta Bar, Talahassee, FL

8-Sep   House of Blues, New Orleans

9-Sep   Warehouse Live, Houston, TX

10-Sep House of Blues, Dallas, TX

12-Sep Emo's, Austin TX

14-Sep The White Rabbit, San Antonio, TX

15-Sep Club 101, EL Paso TX

16-Sep Albuquerquee, or Tuscon

18-Sep House of Blues, Anaheim, CA

20-Sep House of Blues, San Diego, CA

21-Sep Henry Fonda, LA, CA

CRP has come across some amazing new talent recently and we’d like to be the first to tip you off: Kill the Complex from Los Angeles is like watching the best parts of AFI, My Chemical Romance, and Tool (complete with Cello player accompanying the rock…yes!).  Australia’s Late Nite Access is kind of like a combination of Midnight Oil, the Hoodoo Gurus and the Wonderstuff.  The Early Strike, from San Antonio, is picking up where Cheshire Cat-era Blink 182 left off, and with Blink on permanent hiatus there seems to be a void for this sound right now that TES are happy to fill. CRP clients The Lift have completed an amazing new album called “It is What it Is.” Touring to follow. The punk rock/hip hop hybrid of Hollywood's Lexicon continues to tear it up live, as was evidenced by their recent set at the Roxy. The band now features my old buddy DJ C-Minus on turntables and making the beats for them in the studio as well.  Their cover of The Ramones classic "I Wanna Be Sedated" is truly inspired.  You can find it on the very hard to find soundtrack for the movie Rising Son: The Legend Of Christian Hosoi. Well, actually it's not that hard to find.  You can get it right here. More great new music I'm digging is from San Diego’s The Stranger’s Six  who have just released a great punk rock record on the studly Orange Peal Records label and will also tour throughout the summer. Finally, Kevin Elliot is a fresh new artist recently transplanted to Los Angeles from Kentucky.  He and his band, the Broken, deliver a strong set of songs and show real promise. It will be fun to see him grow in his career.  Remember, with all these bands… you heard about them here first!

So much has been happening here at CRP HQ lately.  Here is the brief rundown:  April saw two back-to-back music events: Coachella and Musexpo. What more can be said about Coachella that hasn’t already been written? To anyone who still doesn’t know, this 3-day festival takes place in Indio, CA (just outside of Palm Springs) and the experience of seeing bands in a festival setting is melded with a weekend in the desert. In layman’s terms, that means you lay out by the pool in the day and then go check out the bands in the afternoon. There are many festivals all over the world (Fuji Rock in Japan, the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, the Reading Festival in England to name but a few)  but none of them can boast that kind of experience. Awe yeah…. Only in California!  The bands were a treat as well, and I caught stellar performances by the likes of: Interpol, a reunited Jesus and Mary Chain, the Arcade Fire, the Decemberists, Peter Bjorn & John (with the Concretes' Victoria Bergsman singing backup on their hit single), the also reunited Rage Against The Machine, Willie Nelson, the Roots, Crowded House, Explosions in the Sky, Lily Allen, and Against Me! The greatest set had to have been by the Happy Mondays, who were introduced by the still-kicking Tony Wilson of Factory Records fame. Somewhat shocking were the two twenty-somethings who came up to me asking who this band was (?!?!) It was great seeing many old friends at Coachella like Warner Bros' Xavier Ramos and Sonya "Skincare to the Stars" Dakar's Yigal Dakar. WB CEO Tom Whalley threw a post-Coachella get together at his hotel suite and saw a lot of friendly faces there like manager extraordinaire Mark Kates who's band the Cribs just signed to Warner Bros. All around, another fun Coachella... Then, with no rest for the wicked we hit the road back to Los Angeles and went straight to Musexpo which was held at the fabulous Bel Age Hotel on the Sunset Strip. Now three years strong, this music convention continues to be, in my humble opinion, one of THE best out there. I like to describe it as "the flip side to South By Southwest" in that South By gives you QUANTITY and Musexpo gives you QUALITY.  It is a smaller event (about one tenth the size of South By) and offers an intimate setting for networking and live music showcases.  This year the bands we saw at Musexpo were amazing, and as always were the cream of the crop from all over the world: Denmark’s Dune, Australia’s Pete Murray, Sweeden’s The Teddybears, Finland’s Rubik, France’s