Tampa Calling

Good news for every independent musician in the World. MTV (owners of the Rock Band franchise) just announced its own new distribution platform through the immensely popular musician-simulation game Rock Band.

The Rock Band Network is a revolutionary system that will allow bands, studios and record labels to create and sell playable game content from their master recordings using the same professional tools used by Rock Band developers. Rock Band Network, currently in closed beta, should launch to the public in August (with in-game sales later in the year).

MTV has infused Rock Band Network with professional utilities to enable a community of music makers to get their work to the masses and profit by it. Paul DeGooyer, a senior VP with MTV games, tells Billboard that “We’re talking about a set of serious professional tools to allow people on the front line of writing and recording songs to completely control their destiny with respect to interactive products and then giving them direct access to the download store.”

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The mid-90’s Britpop feud between Oasis and Blur has become the stuff of legend. Noel Gallagher once famously hoped Blur frontman Damon Albarn would “catch AIDS and die” (he since recanted, blaming drugs for the outburst).  Surprisingly, he’s 100% behind the current Blur reunion: “I’m right into the Blur reunion, ’cause it’ll finish off the Kaiser Chiefs and put them to bed. There’s nothing worse than a shit Blur. And at least the original shit Blur are back to finish off all these other shit Blurs. I’m bang into the Blur reunion.”

From an old reunion to a possible new one: Nine Inch Nails‘ Trent Reznor no longer thinks very highly about former friend and collaborator Marilyn Manson.  Reznor calls Manson “a malicious guy and will step on anybody’s face to succeed and cross any line of decency … Seeing him now, drugs and alcohol now rule his life and he’s become a dopey clown. He used to be the smartest guy in the room.  And as a fan of his talents, I hope he gets his shit together.”

Lots of news on the Flaming Lips, The Cult, STP, Moz, and more after the jump!

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What: The First Ever Something Planet Birthday Extravagganza

When: Saturday, May 9 @ 7pm

Where: Gasoline Alley, 14042 66th St., Largo FL 33771

Who: Rise of Saturn, Badda Skat w/ Tribal Style and Geri X

Why: The podcasting comedy troupe is turning one-year old and celebrating with a concert, Rock Band 2 tournament, beer chugging contest and a celebrity-judged jump rope contest.

How much: $6 for 21+ | $9 for under 21 (All Ages Welcome)

For more info: http://www.somethingplanet.com/

Clearwater-based Mohawk Bomb Records announces the release of No Lip Vol. 2. Available through www.mohawkbomb.com and via all major online music services (iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody and Napster), the compilation features 14 songs from 14 artists spanning the entire Rock music spectrum.

No Lip Vol. 2 celebrates independent bands from all over the World, with bands from Florida, California, Texas, Canada, England and Australia. Among the songs featured are previously unreleased tracks by Soulfound, The Redlight Stare, Ascending to Avalon and Soul Destroyer. Also, returning are 900 Pound Gorilla, Bull Lee and Drew Street Mary (along with Soulfound) who were all featured on No Lip Vol. 1.

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Click here to download podcast version of this press release ››

Soulfound’s newest release, “Live at Zen Recording,” drops February 17 on all major online music retailers Worldwide. CDs will be handed out as promo by each of the participating bands and the Mohawk Bomb Records Street Team.

This five-song EP is the latest release from Florida’s Soulfound on Mohawk Bomb Records. The EP was recorded live at Zen Recording Studios in Pinellas Park, Florida in November 2008. The five tracks are from Soulfound’s last studio album, 2008’s “Is a Rock Band”. The tracklist is as follows:

1. You Only Get One
2. Occupation
3. King of the Sandbox
4. My Kind of Thing
5. Looking for Me

This is a raw snapshot of Soulfound doing what they do. No trickery, tracks or gimmicks here, just pure, unrefined rock music.

Soulfound has been touring the Florida circuit since 1999. Originally formed in Gainesville, Florida, this Clearwater four-piece prides themselves in their sing-along songs and strong live performances.

To listen to “Live at Zen Recording” click here.

Mohawk Bomb Records, the award-winning, Clearwater-based independent record label, announces its release schedule for spring 2009.

Soulfound “Live at Zen Recording”: features 5 songs performed live at Zen Recording from their “Is a Rock Band” album, released in September 2008. There are 5 video companions to the songs available on Soulfound’s YouTube channel. The EP will be  available as a digital release on February 17, 2009.

No Lip Vol. 2 Compilation: This 14-song eclectic mixed bag of Rock music anthems is the second release in Mohawk Bomb’s No Lip series. Although leaning towards Punk and Pop Rock, No Lip pulls samples from the Florida, California, Texas, Ontario (Canada), UK and Australian music scenes as a survey course of the caliber of independent music. Profiles on each of the contributing bands will be posted on the label’s Website at www.mohawkbomb.com over the next month. The compilation will be available for sale online after February 24, 2009. Physical CDs will be passed out as free giveaways and sent to music press around the USA.

Mohawk Bomb Records is a new kind of record label, focused on sharing all music with the World using social networking and Web 2.0 technologies.