Twin Cities Hardcore (TCHC)

www.myspace.com/charis

www.mypace.com/yourmemorial

Last night, Charis and Your Memorial headlined the Pit of Snakes Fest at the Anoka Armory, bringing many people in.

As a pretty consistent Charis and Your Memorial fan, I would say I am very familiar with each of the bands, and each of their music sets.  Last night, Charis and Your Memorial demonstrated something I have not seen in many bands in the past.

First off, Your Memorial brought an unbelievable energy with them onto the stage, which is completely new for them.  This  took their performance for me to a new level, and caused fans to become more involved in the music.  This changed everything from the pit to the merch sales for Your Memorial.

Secondly, Charis, performing songs off of their new E.P., performed them in a more connected manner than in the past.  When I say connected, I mean spiritually.  Although they usually express their Christian beliefs, this performance proved to be much different.  Seemingly incorporating Jesus Christ into each of their very measures, brought new life to their music.

Charis will be playing their next show at the Barfly on the 24th of May, also with Your Memorial, and others.

About 

Your Memorial:

Your Memorial is:
Guitar- Willy
Drums- Tom
Bass- Joel
Vocals- Blake
Guitar- Dennis 

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for Monday, April 28, 2008

http://www.myspace.com/charis

After months of waiting, the long awaited Charis cd called Creation, Disruption, Restoration is finally completed. Today, one of the tracks from the cd, or more technically referred to, E.P., was released on Myspace.

Listening to the song (A Prayer of Release) we’ve all been waiting for, for months, is a much needed pleasure that can’t be found anywhere else. The unique combination of sound and lyrics makes this song one very much worth hearing.

The lyrics are deep, laced with the message of Christ and His redemptive power. The sound brings people who may not know about Christ into the atmosphere where it can be shared. Although Kyle, the vocalist screams throughout most of the songs, when the vocals become more melodic, the beauty of the voice shines through all else.

Charis, from the twin cities, is a band who’s purpose is to glorify God through their music. Playing many shows with band For Today only reiterates the message of Christ and His saving grace.

Charis will be playing their next show at The Armory, in Anoka, MN, at the Pit of Snakes Festival. Doors open at 5pm. Although they won’t be releasing their E.P. at this show, they will be releasing it a few weeks later at The Barfly in Minneapolis.
About Charis:

Charis is:

Kyle: Vocals, Jesse: Bass, Tyler: Drums, Ben: Guitar and Zach: Guitar, Vocals

Charis’ sound is a blend of Metal and Hardcore with melodic choruses and heavy breakdowns.

failed to post on April 21, 2008

http://www.myspace.com/ligeia

Ligeia, as noted in the last blog, has had some problems in the past with musical technicalities when it comes to tuning.  This hardcore band, that mixes in melodic metal, proved that they have improved since the last time they toured the cities.

Attending the show, to be honest, for the other bands and what they had to offer (such as different talent and musical capabilities) was well worth the 10 dollars that was charged.  Since the Flood, Unholy, It Prevails and Your Memorial, all local hardcore bands from in or around the cities displayed their tremendous musical talent before Ligeia took the stage.

After Ligeia took the stage, many left, but most of the crowd stayed around to hear what they had done with their sound (in a live sense). Many including myself were shocked at the difference in sound.  Normally, live performances will bring poor sound in comparison to the album, but in this case, it was quite the opposite.

Driving to The Vault, in Buffalo, MN may not have been the smartest decision while gas prices are soaring, but it was definitely a one worth while.

About

Ligeia is made up of:
Keith Holuk – Vocals
Ryan Ober – Guitar
Brandon Whipple – Bass
Nick Neumeister – Drums
Bruce Lepage – Tour

As a part of Ferret Records, Ligeia considers themselves a mix between the hardcore and metal genres.

This Friday, April 19, Ligeia is doing something they haven’t done in quite a while.  Quite possibly it was the lack of fans, or maybe the atmosphere?

Many times, bands get misplaced on tours with genres not the same as their own.  When this happens, a lot of the times fans will leave because they have no desire to see the headlining band, which in this case, will be Ligeia.

This tour, Ligeia will be coming twice, giving the Midwest another shot to accept their style.  Their hardcore roots are good, but when it comes to vocals, they’re nothing but out of tune and terribly sung.

Although some may not prefer the sound of Ligeia, multitudes will show for the bands preceding Ligeia in the line up.  Since the Flood, It Prevails, Unholy and Molotov Solution will draw crowd enough for Ligeia to be content.

Ligeia will be playing this Friday, April 19, at The Vault in Buffalo MN.  The show will start at approx. 5pm.

 Technorati.com:

http://oboeinsight.com/2008/04/07/you-bet-your-classical/

http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/04/07/backstage-at-the-tmcm-opera/

 TruthLaidBear.com

http://www.conversationalreading.com/2008/04/friday-classica.html

http://collaborativepiano.blogspot.com/2008/03/rip-cbc-radio-orchestra.html

public.asu.edu 

http://offtrackmanders.blogspot.com/2006/11/jetting-for-indie-success.html

Monday, April 7, 2008

Sunday the 6th, For Today brought one of their biggest crowds to Minnesota’s Showcase Venue.

Along with the bringing forth of awe-some music as always, this time around, For Today’s merch-guy shared his blatant and powerful love of Jesus Christ after asking the crowd to take a seat.

After attending 10+ shows headlined by For Today, I was very impressed to see them taking their mission to the next level. Seeing the band whole-heartedly depend on God for guidance is setting a sort of model of behavior for the fans who faithfully attend.

For Today played wonderfully as always, and will be returning sometime in May.

Friday, April 4, 2008

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=7684873

This weekend will bring much excitement to many awaiting fans of the group For Today.

The show, set for Sunday the 6th of April, will draw one of the biggest crowds For Today has seen in years.  Finally playing a CD Release show after drawing people in for multiple years is something to be desired by anyone in their position.

Playing the show with other local bands from around the area, this Sioux City, Iowa band will bring attention to other bands from the Twin Cities that may have otherwise been looked over.

The show will be held at the ShowcaseVenue,  in Rogers, MN, and will start at approx. 5pm.

 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/fashion/03Fitness.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

UNTIL nine years ago, Dr. Neal Grossman didn’t make a habit of parading around his bedroom in his skivvies and admiring his physique in the mirror. Nor did he ever imagine that his oldest son, then a teenager, would take one look at his father midflex and cry out, “Dad, put your clothes back on!”

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Jessica Kourkounis for The New York Times

Ed Cole, 72, also entered his first bodybuilding contests last year.

But now that Dr. Grossman, a 60-year-old Baltimore dentist, is a competitive amateur bodybuilder, an extra ounce of flab makes the difference between a sizable trophy and going home empty-handed. “The minute you start winning, that’s all the validation people need to accept what you do as legitimate and something to be appreciated,” said Dr. Grossman, who is 5-foot-2 and a chiseled 121 pounds.

He is one of a small but growing number of 60- and 70-year-old bodybuilders stripping down to Speedos, slathering on bronzer, and strutting their stuff onstage in natural, or drug-free, competitions. The season for amateur and pro-level events begins this month.

Last year, the World Natural Sports Organization, one of about a dozen bodybuilding groups devoted to drug-free contests, had 44 competitors older than 60, up from two in 2000, said Jeffrey Kippel, a founder.

Many bodybuilding contestants are not tested and steroids use is rampant. But most natural bodybuilding contests require participants to complete urinalysis and polygraph tests before events.

In the last five years, the number of men and women in their 60’s and 70’s competing in United States Bodybuilding Federation shows has doubled to 16, said Brian Washington, the commissioner of the federation, another drug-free group. Those figures will not put senior softball leagues out of business any time soon, but in an age in which athletes are publicly flogged for using steroids and human growth hormones, it is heartening to find a cohort of older Americans hellbent on getting cut the old-fashioned way. Or so they say.

Skeptics believe that natural bodybuilders may not be entirely drug-free.

Still, the oldest age group of natural bodybuilders has drawn enough interest that last year the Fame World Tour, a series of physique competitions sanctioned by Mr. Kippel’s organization, hired Scott Hults, a retired Naval officer-turned-bodybuilder to be in charge of promotions for the 60-plus division.

“Age is a statistic, not a burden and there is no reason a man or woman can’t get into and maintain the best shape of their lives at any age,” said Mr. Hults, 64, who has competed in 26 shows since 2005 and last year won an age-group title.

Some older bodybuilders were weight lifters or wrestlers in their youth; others are fitness buffs who want to test their mettle; still others are retirees who refuse to go gently anywhere.

Audio (Audio link in side margin, Criminal Defense Attorney speaks of legal issues)

Resignation of Spitzer Announced by Aids
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/nyregion/12cnd-spitzer.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

– After federal agents discovered New York’s Governor, Elliot Spitzer, attempting to work a prostitution ring, they brought it to the public. Elliot Spitzer is now declaring his resignation from his position.

Video

Simple Weather Flash Video

http://www2.foxnews.com/weather/weather_local.asp

– Weather for March 13, 2008 as well as the upcoming week.

Downloads

Download the College Basketball Bracket, or fill it out online.

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/index.html

Blogs

These blog entries are written every so often by the editors of the BBC News of Britain.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/

Opinion/Reader Feedback

Primary Choices: Hillary Clinton

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/opinion/25fri1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

- Article summarizes the publics’ feelings about Hillary Clinton in comparison to Obama. One point says that just because one might choose Clinton, it does not mean Obama is without appeal or gifts.

Comments

Responses to the article on the internet and the youth of today.

http://themedium.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/in-this-weeks-magazine-my-wired-youth/#respond

- The internet is becoming increasingly part of children’s lives as they grow up. They are encountering things they would likely never have encountered otherwise. The public offers their feelings about children and teens growing up online.