MC Lars: Post Punk Laptop Rap

If someone came up to you and asked you to listen to a group that was "post punk laptop rap" you'd laugh right? Maybe your first thought would be what the hell is post punk laptop rap? Personally, that was my frist thought when someone mentioned MC Lars to me in a conversation. Being a musician is hard enough, but trying being an artist who's pioneering their own genre when the current musical fad revolve around who can write the most insane lyrics titled wtht vwls (without vowls) - we all know who's guilty of it guys; Brand New not being it.

In steps MC Lars, someone who isn't holding back on what he thinks is happening to every music scene, and world - from the Hot Topic take over, to downloading music, and record labels sueing those twelve year olds who can't buy albums "legally". Not to mention they've called out the quickly evolving, and over saturated market that involes the "emo" fad, which in entertaining with lyrics like;

"The label pres. calls and yells, 'Sign more emo!' How about screamo? 'If it sells, sign Nemo, we're down 2%, and BMG knows, my Daughter likes Dashboard, so get me one of those!"

Lars has spent the last 2-3 years building up a strong fans base comprisied of kids with a misfit taste for music, and selling 10,000 copies of his "Laptop EP" and touring around the world with just his trustee laptop gaining a outlet, most unexpected I'd like to think in the "golden" magazine Rolling Stones, and MTV News, both of which usually have a nack for picking future big hitters. It was after all of this; selling an EP to thousands of different fans, being in various outlets Lars decided to do something a bit...different than most musicians. Instead of waiting for a major, or even a small indie label to notice him Lars made the choice to form his own label, Horris Records.

The official release off Horris was The Graduate, a 14-track exploration into the "post-punk laptop rap" field and does it well. One thing about the album that really sticks out are the topics being rapped about, like internet relationships it's laughable but gets a point across: you're not talking to a 21 year old from the UK who likes going to shows alright guys? Then you have the random topic of a time machine, I'm not exactly following and I don't particularly enjoy that track - I skip it everytime on my ipod but it's entertaining. Although, I have to say if I were to pick two tracks that impress me the most, it would be "Download This Song!" and "iGeneration", both tracks have good beats and if I must say are addicting like you wouldn't believe.

RIP Down to Earth Approach

One of my favorite bands are breaking up as they annouced it offically today (I knew actually last Friday, ruined my whole weekend) on their myspace, Down to Earth Approach. This is from their myspace:

"As much as I hate to have to say this, DTEA is going to be breaking up after our current tour. We will have a final show on August 29th in our hometown of Batavia. Thank you so much to everyone who believed in us and supported us in any way. We've had an amazing run that we won't ever forget.

Love,
Jonathan and DTEA"

Way to break my heart guys. I saw DTEA live back in the spring break of '06 when they opened for Flyleaf and the Showdown for $1 at Orlando's club The Social - I had no idea who they were, I mean what the hell, what if they sucked? Or what if they sounded horrible and were a studio band? But I do remember asking their bass player John for a bottle a water, again, I had no idea who the guys were and I ended up getting some free pins out of it. Needlessly to say, the band grew on me. They blew me away, they were an amazing live band and were much better than the headliner Flyleaf.

As you can see, I even have the setlist I was given after we shoved the guys into the photobooth - too bad I don't have the photos. I saw them Wednesday night at Orlando's Backbooth for the last time ever, a sad moment both as a fan and a Vagrant ST member. Their newest album Come Back to You was my summer album of 2007.

I loved this band and I wish them well in the future, if music is involved or not.

Chris Carrabba, John Ralston & Thrice

I realize this whole article is based around Vagrant but give me a break for the obivious reasons.


I have to give my love to Chris, one because he's a Florida kid like me, and two he's signed to Vagrant, who I do work for; obiviously this gets him pretty high up in my book. Anyway, as Vagrant has announced Dashboard's new cd, "The Shade of Poision Trees" is slated to release 10/02, along with the first solo tour in two years with label mate, and Boca friend John Ralston and Augustana. You can hear the first promo single from Poision Trees, 'Thick as Thieves" on the band's myspace, which if it any indication the album is gonna be suhweets.

Speaking of John Ralston, besides him being one of my favorite solo artist Vagrant has signed his new album "Sorry, Vampire" is slated for realease 10/02 - the same as Dashboard hmmm smart or dumb move Vagrant? Promotion for album is based around a headline tour with the ATL's own Manchester Orchestra (who are amazing) at the end of his own tour he'll be joining up with Chris and Augustana for Dashboard's headline stunt.

DASHBOARD, AUGUSTANA, & JOHN RALSTON:

09/28/07 Baltimore, Maryland @ Ram's Head Live

09/29/07 Norkfolk, Virginina @ Norva
09/30/07 Raleigh. N. Carolina @ Meymandi

10/02/07 ATL, Georgia @ Center Stage
10/03/07 Nashville, TN @ Ryman

10/05/07 Orlando, Florida @ HOB: Orlando

10/08/07 Austin, Texas @ La Zona Rosa

10/09/07 Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live

10/10/07 Dallas, Texas @ Palladium

10/12/07 Las Vegas @ HOB: Las Vegas

10/13/07 Tempe, Arizona @ Marquee

10/14/07 San Diego, CA @ SOMA

10/16/07 LA, CA @ Orpheum

10/19/07 San Fran, CA @ Warfield

10/20/07 Portland, Oregon @ Wonder Ballroom
10/25/07 Denver, Colorado @ Ogden

10/26/07 Kansas City, Missouri @ Uptown Theater
10/29/07 Chicago, Illinois @ HOB: Chicago
10/30/07 Chicago, Illinois @ HOB: Chicago
11/01/07 Toronto, Ontario @ Kool Haus

11/02/07 Pontiac, Michigan @ Clutch Cargo
11/03/07 Columbus City @ Newport Music Hall

11/05/07 New York City, NY @ Webster Hall
11/06/07 New York City, NY @ Highline Ballroom

11/08/07 Worcester, Mass @ Palladium

11/09/07 Worcester, Mass @ Palladium

11/10/07 Atlantic City, NJ @ HOB: Atlantic City

11/12/07 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ Electirc Factory

11/13/07 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ Electirc Factory

11/14/07 New York City, NY @ Blender Theater at Gramercy


There's this little-known band from the OC out in California, I don't know if you know them but their name is Thrice, have you heard of them? They recently split with Island Records and are slated to realease their ambitious 4-part "The Alchemy Index" on Vagrant Records. The first two parts called, what else - vols 1&2: Fire and Water are coming out 10/16. The band also is going out on tour with Brand New, and mewithoutYou starting October 18th.

THRICE, MEWITHOUTYOU, & BRAND NEW:

10/18/07 Detroit, Michigan @ Filmore

10/19/07 Detroit, Michigan @ Filmore
10/21/07 St Louis, Missouri @ The Pageant

10/23/07 Maplewood, Minnestoa @ Myth
10/25/07 Kansas City, Missouri @ Uptown Theatre
10/27/07 Denver, Colorado @ Fillmore Auditorium

10/28/07 Magna, Utah @ Great Salt Air

10/29/07 Seattle, Washington @ Felix Underground

10/30/07 Seattle, Washington @ Felix Underground

10/31/07 Portland, Oregon @ Salem Armory

11/02/07 San Jose, CA @ San Jose Event Center
11/03/07 Los Angeles, CA @ Wilterm Theatre

11/04/07 Los Angeles, CA @ Wilterm Theatre
11/05/07 Los Angeles, CA @ Wilterm Theatre
11/09/07 Los Vegas, Nevada @ Pearl Concert Theatre

11/10/07 Phoenix, Arizona @ Dodge Theatre

11/12/07 Tulsa, Oklahoma @ Cains Ballroom

11/14/07 Dallas, Texas @ HOB: Dallas

11/15/07 San Antonio, Texas @ Sunset Station

11/16/07 Austin, Texas @ Stubbs BBQ

11/17/07 Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live
11/18/07 Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live

11/20/07 New Orleans, Louisiana @ HOB: New Orleans

11/21/07 ATL, Georgia @ The Tabernacle

11/23/07 Miami Beach, FL @ Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theatre

11/24/07 Orlando, FL @ HOB: Orlando

11/25/07 Orlando, FL @ HOB: Orlando

11/27/07 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina @ HOB: Myrtle Beach

11/28/07 Raleigh, North Carolina @ Disco Rodeo

11/30/07 Norfolk, Virginia @ Norva
12/01/07 Atlantic City, NJ @ HOB: Atlantic City

12/03/07 Baltimore, Maryland @ UMBC
12/04/07 New York, New York @ Hammerstein Ballroom

12/06/07 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ Electric Factory
12/07/07 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ Electric Factory

12/08/07 Pittsburg, Pennsylvania @ AJ Palumbo Center
12/09/07 Lowell, Massaschusetts @ Tsongas Arena

12/11/07 Cleveland, Ohion @ HOB: Cleveland

12/13/07 Toronto, Ontario @ Arrow Hall

12/14/07 Rochester, NY @ Gordon Field House at RIT

12/15/07 Albany, NY @ Washington Ave Armory

It seems like October is shaping up to be a big month for Vagrant with the Thrice vol 1&2, Dashboard, and John Ralston realeasing plus all this touring? Finally the label's getting out there.