2012 “BRASS BASS” AWARDS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s that time of year again!  2012 is about to wrap up and that means it’s time to take a look back at this past year in rock music.  With so many great songs, albums, tours, and bands, it’s hard for us here at FM89 to choose which ones are the best, that’s why we’ve handed off the responsibility to you, the fans!  We have four categories, with three nominees in each category.  So let’s get it started!

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BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR

VOLBEAT:  This Danish band really made their statement in 2012,  coming from out of nowhere to chart three top 10 and two #1 singles (“A Warrior’s Call” and “Still Counting”) as well as peaking at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart with their latest album “Beyond Hell/Above Heaven”.  Their current single “Heaven Nor Hell” is climbing the charts as we speak.

OTHERWISE: It’s tough to come out of the bright lights of Las Vegas and make it with rock music in Sin City, but that’s just what this band did.  Breaking on to the airwaves earlier in the year with their single “Soldiers”, they immediately gained attention from rock fans all over the U.S.  They played many major festivals over the summer (including Rock on the Range and the Rock Vegas Fest) and are currently impacting rock radio again with their 2nd single “I Don’t Apologize” from their 2012 album “True Love Never Dies”.

AWOLNATION: Alternative rock has never, and probably will never see another band like this five piece from Los Angeles.  This mix of electronic and pure rock sound is enough to get anyone who hears them to bob their head.  Originally released in 2011, their first two singles “Sail” and “Not Your Fault” picked up major steam in the early part of 2012 and soon any rock fan could recognize either song.  Throw in their 3rd single “Kill Your Heroes” and you have the total package.

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TOUR OF THE YEAR

ROCKSTAR UPROAR FESTIVAL (Shinedown, Godsmack, Staind, Adelitas Way, & more): The 3rd annual nationwide tour did it again this year, rocking fans from coast to coast.  The tour could have sunk after Papa Roach had to pull out due to Jacoby Shaddox’s throat surgery, but instead Jon Oakes and everyone involved turned it into a positive by using it as an opportunity to give the remaining bands longer set times.  This truly was an amazing tour and one those who attended won’t forget for a long time.

CARNIVAL OF MADNESS (Evanescence, Chevelle, Halestorm, Cavo, & New Medicine): Also the 3rd run through with this tour, this lineup proved too irresistible for any rock fan.  Despite the monsoon in Chicago, this tour went off without a hitch.  Also making a statement for female fronted bands everywhere, Amy Lee of Evanescence and Lizzy Hale from Halestorm proved that women definitely deserve the opportunity to headline and be a major part of even the largest tours/festivals.

HONDA CIVIC TOUR (Linkin Park, Incubus, and Mutemath): It was only a matter of time before Grammy Award Winning/Platinum recording rock icons Linkin Park took back to the road in support of their latest album “Living Things”.  This would have been sufficient in of itself, but to add another meteoric band in Incubus, this tour was a “can’t miss”.  Both bands played lengthy sets and both bands wowed the fans with sets that included a lot of classic tunes and only a handful of new ones.

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ALBUM OF THE YEAR

“TRANSIT OF VENUS” THREE DAYS GRACE: Adam Gontier and the boys from Ontario definitely impressed with their fourth studio album.  It all started in July when the lead single “Chalk Outline” was released and spent 10 weeks at #1 on the rock charts.  The album itself dropped October 2nd and debuted at #5 on the Billboard Hot 200 and #1 on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums charts.

“HATS OFF TO THE BULL” CHEVELLE: The local Chicago guys sixth studio effort was much anticipated and lived up to the billing.  The first two singles (“Face to the Floor” and “Hats Off to the Bull”) both reached #1 on the rock charts and spent multiple weeks there.  The current single “Same Old Trip” is on the way up the charts as well.

“UNO! DOS! TRE!” GREEN DAY: The hard rock veterans took a unique route in what combines to be the bands ninth release in the studio.  Three separate albums in less than four months is reason enough to put the band on this list, but add in a #1 (“Oh! Love”) and another top 15 (“Let Yourself Go”) single from the first album alone, along with a single from the second (“Stray Hearts”) that’s climbing it’s way into the top 40 alternative and hard rock charts already, and you have the recipe for a masterpiece.  Or in this case, series of masterpieces.

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BAND OF THE YEAR

SHINEDOWN

– Headlined Avanlanche Tour, Rockstar Uproar Festival, and Co-Headlined Rock on the Range (with Incubus)

– Released “Amaryllis” March 27th, debuted at #4 on Billboard Hot 200 and #1 on Billboard Rock Albums

– Two #1 singles (“Bully” and “Unity”), “Enemies” is on it’s way up the charts.

LINKIN PARK

– Headlined Honda Civic Tour

– Released “Living Things” June 20th, debuted at #1 on Billboard Hot 200, Alternative, and Rock Albums

– “Burn It Down” was a #1 single in both Alternative and Hard Rock charts, “Lost in the Echo” is climbing both charts.

SOUNDGARDEN

– Reunited to release their first album in 16 years, “King Animal”, November 13th.  Debuted at #5 on Billboard Hot 200

– New single “Live to Rise” was featured on the “Avengers Assemble” soundtrack and reached #1 on the rock charts.  “Been Away Too Long”, the first single from “King Animal”, is climbing into the top 3.

St. Louis Cardinals Hold Benefit Show for Drummer with Leukemia

Photo Courtesy of ThinkLeigh.

 

When it was first announced that Greek Fire drummer Johnny Venus was diagnosed with Leukemia last year, the news shocked both the band and everyone around them.  Without insurance, Venus was left with rounds of rigorous chemotherapy and no real way to pay the six figure hospital bills that were coming his way.  The St. Louis rock band starting searching far and wide for an answer.

Enter David Freese.

The St. Louis Cardinals third baseman, and avid rock music fan, heard about Venus’ situation and decided to step in and help.  A few months ago, it was announced that September 18th would be “Johnny Venus Day” at Busch Stadium.  Complete with a pre-game concert from St. Louis bands Story of the Year, Cavo, and of course Greek Fire.

The pregame show was held in Busch Stadium’s “Ford Plaza” beyond the center field bleachers and tickets were only $20, with half of each purchase going to Johnny’s medical bills.  With 1,000+ tickets sold, over $10,000 went towards his treatments.

The fans got their money’s worth when they saw the man they were there for, Johnny Venus, step onto the stage and sit behind those drums in front of a crowd for the first time since his chemotherapy started.  There were cheers, signs, and a lot of tears spreading through the crowd Tuesday night.  It was a moment Johnny and everyone there will never forget.

After the concert, Johnny made his way to the field where he threw out the first pitch for the Cardinals game that evening.  The catcher?  Who other than the man who helped with this entire event, David Freese.

Carnival of Madness Rained Out in Chicago

photo courtesy of 616 Photography

 

There was much anticipation for this year’s Carnival of Madness tour, which features bands like Evanescence, Chevelle, Halestorm, Cavo and more.  The tour rolled into Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL on Sunday looking to give Chicago fans a shows they’ll never forget.  Well, they got that, but not the way the bands nor fans expected.

New Medicine took the stage in the early afternoon to a slight drizzle, but nothing major.  They got through their set no problem and the Chicago crowd got quite the show.  Next was Cavo, the St. Louis natives played in the same conditions as New Medicine and rocked Toyota Park and the crowd of 10,000+.  Then the fun started, the drizzle turned into a torrential downpour by the time Halestorm took the stage.  Lead single Lizzy Hale even had an umbrella to protect herself, and her microphone, from the conditions.

Once the rain really started to come down, many people headed for the exits.  Halestorm finished their set, and Carnival of Madness officials decided the conditions were too dangerous for the bands, the equipment, and the fans to stay in.  The plug was pulled before Chevelle and Evanescence got a chance to hit the stage.

A statement was issued saying there would be a chance that the show could be rescheduled so fans should hold onto their tickets (if the rain didn’t completely ruin them.)

For more information on that developing story and everything Carnival of Madness go to http://www.carnivalofmadness.com.