Good morning and happy Friday! What better way to kick off the weekend than with new Papa Roach music!?
Papa Roach has released two new songs called “Who Do You Trust?” and “Renegade Music,” the first tunes to see the light of day from the California band’s upcoming 10th studio album. “Who Do You Trust?” is accompanied by a video as well, in which the band is disguised as the members of an ethically questionable news team.
Singer Jacoby Shaddix explained about the track, “This song is a statement of engagement. In this day and age, who do you trust? The message of the song is to think for yourself and to trust in yourself, and the imagery of the song matches that. It’s the sea of information, all of if slightly out of focus — and you’re left floating in trying to decide for yourself. Who do you trust?”
The band has yet to finalize a title or release date for its next effort, but Shaddix said that the follow-up to last year’s Crooked Teeth will continue the band’s musical evolution. He explained, “It’s a little frightening in a sense at times — like, ‘Oh, man. Are people gonna get it?’ But then we still have the core sound of the band on the record as well. There’s a few songs that we’re challenging our fans, like, ‘Hey, are you gonna come down this road with us?’”
Shaddix told us a while back why it was important for his band to evolve beyond its nu metal and rap-rock roots: “Rap-metal just kinda puts like a time limit on your band, you know? If you just go, ‘OK, we’re a rap-metal band,’ then that’s the time limit for your band, you know? And like even since we started we just, like, kinda wanted to know ourselves as like a rock band, you know? I think that will give us a little more longevity with the band.”
Papa Roach will finish out 2018 with a brief run of October dates that will finish up on the 16th at the Austin City Limits festival in Texas. The group will then hit the road next February and March with Shinedown and Asking Alexandria.
Bad Wolves singer Tommy Vext was hospitalized after falling ill on Tuesday night, October 2nd, after a show in Nottingham, England. According to LouderSound, Vext was advised by doctors to skip the band’s next gig, in Birmingham on Thursday night, October 4th, which instead found As Lions frontman Austin Dickinson and Bang Bang Romeo vocalist Stars filling in for Vext.
Vext was diagnosed with a “severe viral bronchial infection” and at press time it was unclear when Vext would get the green light to perform again. Bad Wolves’ next scheduled stop is Bristol on Friday, October 5th.
In a statement, Vext said in part, “This is our first trip to play shows in Europe as a band . . . So imagine my disappointment when a few days ago I began feeling ill to the point I knew something was wrong enough that I had to seek medical treatment — and to accept the doctors’ advice that I not play the show in Birmingham.”
After the European run is over, Bad Wolves will return home to North America for a fall tour with Five Finger Death Punch, Breaking Benjamin and more. The band is supporting its debut disc, Disobey, which features the monster hit “Zombie.”
Pearl Jam announced on Thursday, October 4th, that its Home Shows initiative raised $10.8 million to be distributed to nearly 100 organizations working to fight homelessness in Seattle and King County.
The money was raised with the help of more than 170 partners — corporations, philanthropies, restaurants and small businesses — along with thousands of individuals, who were inspired by Pearl Jam’s Home Shows concerts on August 8th and August 10th in Seattle.
Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard said, “From the start, we hoped businesses, foundations and individuals would see themselves in this work. The Home Shows initiative is about bringing the issue of homelessness closer to all of us — increasing our understanding of a complex issue, our empathy for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, and our resolve for working together. We’re proud of what our city has done. Now we need to stay inspired. There’s a lot more to do.”
Most Home Shows partners have designated the organizations that will receive their financial commitments, which total nearly $7.8 million. More than $1.3 million is being distributed to nonprofits selected by Pearl Jam with guidance from a 19-member advisory group of service providers, issue experts and funders.
Those funds will be targeted to two areas: diversion, a strategy to reduce the length of time families and individuals experience homelessness, and youth homelessness. In addition, $1.7 million remains to be granted by partners, the band and advisory group, based on future needs assessment.
Throwing beer at an A’s fan after their season just ended??? This is why everyone hates the Yankees. #ScrewYouYankees pic.twitter.com/VfmfLxHDHN
— Thomas Arend (@Thomas_Arend_22) October 4, 2018
Green Day‘s Billie Joe Armstrong took to Instagram to offer comfort to an old friend after the latter was hit with a cup full of beer at a baseball game. Oakland native John Spencer was out at Yankee Stadium in New York to support his home team, the Athletics, but after the Yankees defeated the As, an overly-enthusiastic idiot disguised as a Yankees fan poured his beer on Spencer’s head.
Spencer told For The Win, “I was being totally respectful, I knew I was in enemy territory, I was also sitting in the bleachers, which probably wasn’t the best idea. I made friends with Yankees friends around me and (talking trash) here and there. And that took it to the next level.”
But it turns out that Spencer, who plays in the New York punk act Stringer, is also a childhood friend of Armstrong, who wrote online, “I’ve known this kid since he was in middle school. His name is John and he was hit with a cup of beer by a moron at the A’s/Yankee game last night . . . He’s also one of the most kick-ass drummers I’ve ever heard and he’s been a great influence to my sons as musicians. Let’s make him feel awesome and show him some love.”
The Oakland Athletics also took to Twitter to track down Spencer and after finding him, hooked up the diehard fan with some new A’s merch.
Finally, we’d like to wish a Happy Birthday to a legendary voice, former AC/DC singer Brian Johnson! Have a great weekend everyone!
