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Powerspace announce break-up

Alternative Press - Tim Karan on 2/18/10 @ 1:40 AM - altpress.com

Chicago powerpop outfit Powerspace have revealed that they've called it quits. In a MySpace blog, drummer Kevin Kane said, "Powerspace is no more--the name and everything that it signified."

The band spent much of last year working on the follow up to their debut full-length, 2007's The Kicks Of Passion.

Read Kane's statement below:

This explanation's been a long time coming, I know. I started making jokes about Powerspace "falling off the face of the planet" over a year ago! So here:

A lot has changed in the last year, and the unfortunate result is that Powerspace is no longer a band. We've had to make some heartbreaking decisions and like any breakup, it's a complicated and private matter.

I set out to write a tl;dr version for anyone that might care to hear more than the standard band breakup letter--thanks for the memories, thanks for the support, that sorta thing--but I'm realizing that there's not much else I can say. Nothing new and interesting, anyway. It's true that Powerspace is no more--the name and everything that it signified. And yeah, like I'm sure Tom said elsewhere on the internet, we really are thankful for the memories and the support--it's a shame that things like this always come off as trite and insincere, that I can't think of a word that packs more of a punch than "thankful"--but we are, from the bottom of our hearts. The cliches turn out to be true, one by one--that we couldn't have done it without you, that we wouldn't have wanted to anyway if it weren't for you, that most of our memories from the last three years were built on your kindness and generosity and that sorta thing. That you were with us through it all, when we were (it has to be admitted) clumsy, inexperienced chumps. That you bought our tacky t-shirts (and snap bracelets, of course) so we could put enough gas in the van to get to the next city. That you were, in a lot of very subtle ways, wiser than us--again, something that sounds unbearably cheesy, but trust me, I'm thinking about the Kevin that used to have short hair and that tiny gray hoodie and the first of maybe 25 beanies that I lost on tour, and I've changed so much in just three years, and most of those three years were spent around you. Seeing all of the states for the first time (having only previously visited, what, like two states?), going to Canada, going to Japan... in short, taking what amounts to a three-year dream vacation (with less frequent showers, maybe) with your best buds--and all because of you. So thank you, a thousand times.

That being said, this isn't -quite- the teary-eyed goodbye I might've made it out to sound. Throughout all of its iterations, there was a lot of talent in Powerspace--prime stuff, really, which I feel like I'm in a privileged position to say, for some reason (my talents don't really extend past drumming, but one thing I'm -really- good at is respecting and even revering my fellow bandmates--don't tell them I said that). Powerspace as everyone knows it is 100% gone, and speaking about it in the past tense is still a very new thing for me, but for these guys to give up music entirely would be a crime. And they're not, and I'm not, and that's about all I can say. So keep tabs.

But again, and most importantly, thank you. If I kept rambling on, it'd just be a recap of all those cheesy things I said up there, so I'll just say the two words again and hope that, by virtue of repetition, you'll believe me this time: thank you! We wish you all the best and hope that we see you all again, in one way or another.

~ Kevin Kane and Powerspace

Watch Paramore's video for "The Only Exception"

Alternative Press - Tim Karan on 2/18/10 @ 12:58 AM - altpress.com

Paramore have unveiled their video for "The Only Exception," the third video from their latest full-length, brand new eyes. Check out the video below.

Minus The Bear sign to Dangerbird

Alternative Press - Tim Karan on 2/17/10 @ 6:57 PM - altpress.com

Minus The Bear have revealed that they've signed a deal with Dangerbird Records and that the band will release their upcoming full-length via the label this spring. Bassist Cory Murchy said, "After months of looking under rocks and in dark caves, we've found a nice place to nest with Dangerbird Records. They are a label of artists for artists and we are very excited to work with their creative minds to continue to bring you quality craftsmanship and the very best we can provide for our fans, both old and the newly educated."

The album will be the band's first since 2007's Planet Of Ice and their first not to be released by Suicide Squeeze.

Pete Wentz wheeled out as Hannibal Lecter at Clandestine fashion event

Alternative Press - Tim Karan on 2/17/10 @ 3:29 PM - altpress.com

When Pete Wentz announced last week that he was throwing an off-the-wall fashion event for his clothing line, Clandestine Industries, he warned it could get crazy. The Fall Out Boy bassist (or is he?) was wheeled onstage after the show as an homage to Silence Of The Lambs character Hannibal Lecter. Check out more images and photos from the Clandestine line here.

Photo: Theo Wargo, WireImage

Killswitch Engage to continue tour with All That Remains frontman on vocals

Alternative Press - Tim Karan on 2/17/10 @ 1:55 PM - altpress.com

Last week, Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones had to unexpectedly return home while the band are in the middle of a headlining tour. KSE released this statement: "It became overwhelmingly obvious to all of us around Howard that he is in no condition to be on tour right now and that he needed to get off the road and get himself better. It's a personal matter and while we understand everyone's curiosity and concern for Howard and the band, we appreciate everyone respecting Howard's privacy at this time."

All That Remains frontman Phil Labonte--who stepped in after Jones' departure--will continue to fill in on lead vocals for the remainder of the tour, which runs through March. The band also released this statement: "We seriously considered cancelling the tour since we don't want to give fans that paid good money anything less than KsE at full-strength. But after trying a few shows with Phil, and after feeling the love and support that we were getting from the crowd, it became increasingly apparent to us that the shows came across as fun and unique, and the fans seemed to be enjoying it. We quickly realized that we had to keep going and that we couldn't possibly stop."

Refunds will be available to fans who have already purchased tickets. Check out video of KSE with Labonte on vocals from this past weekend's show in Baltimore:

Butch Walker and Brendon Urie create American Psycho spoof

Alternative Press - Tim Karan on 2/17/10 @ 1:17 PM - altpress.com

Butch Walker and Panic! At The Disco frontman Brendon Urie teamed up with video director Shane Valdes to create a parody of the Christian Bale film, American Psycho. In the video, Urie plays a super-fan who purchased a $25,000 pre-order of Walker's upcoming album, I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart, and as part of the deal, Urie gets to spend the day with Walker. But if you've seen American Psycho, you know things won't go all that well.

The album drops Feb. 23 and you can check out the video here.