Godsmack & Staind at Walnut Creek, NCGodsmack & Staind kicked off their summer tour last week with shows in St. Louis, Missouri, Raleigh, North Carolina and Virginia Beach, Virginia. I had the opportunity to cover the second show of the tour last Thursday night in Raleigh, NC at Coastal Credit Union Music Pack at Walnut Creek. The show was loaded with hard rock, crazy fans, powerful vocals, aggressive guitar riffs and a signature drum battle (but more about that later).

Godsmack and Staind are touring in support of their new albums. Godsmack’s 8th and final studio album Lighting Up the Sky released earlier this year in February of 2023 via BMG. The 11 song album was co-produced by vocalist/guitarist Sully Erna and Andrew Murdock (Avenged Sevenfold, Alice Cooper). Musicians Tony Rombola on guitar, Robbie Merrill on bass and Shannon Larkin on drums.

“Soul On Fire” official music video from the new album Lighting Up the Sky (2023)

Godsmack’s live set included 4 singles from the new album “Soul on Fire” , “Surrender” , “You and I” and “What About Me”. Godsmack’s set had a classic heavy sound which features “high-voltage and high-energy” as Sully Erna mentions. It wouldn’t be a Godsmack show without massive pyro and 20 feet high flames shooting out of the back of the stage. Godsmack is bad ass.

The set also included classic hits like “When Legends Rise” , “Voodoo” , “Bulletproof” and “Under Your Scars” before finishing with their iconic closer “I Stand Alone”.

I mentioned a drum battle earlier. For years, Godsmack has a mid-show drum battle that shows off the skills of drummer Robbie Merrill and singer Sully Erna (yes Sully) on the drums. It’s a really unique part of the show. Sully Erna emerges from back stage on a custom Yamaha drum set. Both Erna and Merrill’s drum set’s literally spin around while they guys play back in forth on AC/DC covers and other classic rock jams. It’s a nice break in the set that really show’s off the talent of the band we know and love as Godsmack.

Staind’s upcoming album, Confessions of the Fallen is set to release on September 15, 2023 via Alchemy Recordings/BMG. Staind actually opened their set in Raleigh, NC with the new single “Lowest in Me” which is the only track currently released on the new album. Starting their set with the new single was exciting way to start the show and get the fans jumping.

Aaron Lewis, lead vocalist of Staind mentioned he wanted to “modernize the sound and bring us up to date” with the new album. Let’s be honest, it’s been 12 years since Staind has released any new music so fans are eagerly anticipating any new music. Guitarist Mike Mushok, Johnny April on bass and Sal Giancarelli on drums.

Staind’s live set featured hits like “Right Here” , “So Far Away” , “It’s Been A While” and finally closing out with “Mudshovel”. Fans were also treated to an acoustic version of “Epiphany” by Aaron Lewis.

Nothing More was originally slated to provide opening support for this tour but dropped out last minute due to personal issues within the band. Fortunately for us, Mix Master Mike of notorious hip-hop group Beastie Boys stepped in and provided an opening DJ/turntablist set as well as a custom mashup of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” as the walk out song for Godsmack.

Godsmack and Staind have also announced additional tour dates for this Fall with opening support from hard rock legends like I Prevail, Atreyu and Jason Hook (formerly Five Finger Death Punch) new band Flat Black.

You can view additional tour dates on Godsmack’s website.

godsmack.com/tour

VSL Synchron Duality Strings & M1/M2 updates VSL have extended the introductory pricing offer on their recently released Synchron Duality Strings, as well as announcing native M1 and M2 support for three more of their products.

Amazon Music, Bandsintown join forces to help artists sell more merchResponding to the growing importance of merch as an income stream for musicians, Amazon Music and Bandsintown have collaborated to launch a new merch integration. Starting today, fans can shop. Continue reading
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Amsterdam pledges €2.2 million over the next four years to boost nightlife sceneOfficials in Amsterdam have pledged €2.2 million over the next four years in a bid to boost the city’s nightlife scene.
According to the city’s deputy mayor Touria Meliani, the fund is to address the problems of lack of suitable space, rising costs and short-term leases. She adds that nightlife plays a “significant role in the renewal of Amsterdam’s culture” [per NLTimes].
The money will be used to find and nurture alternative venues for nighttime spaces, including empty tunnels, old bomb shelters and unused garages.
In 2024, organisers of the scheme will work alongside the Amsterdam Fonds de Kunst, a fund for culture and arts in the city, allocating €1.2 million of the total funds to help young creatives “who want to organise, create, and do business at night”.
Additionally, there will be funds set aside for sound insulation to limit noise complaints in residential areas.
The announcement comes shortly after the government in Berlin announced a €947 million culture fund to support new clubs and cultural spaces in the German capital.
These initiatives are positive not only in the sense that European cities are getting investment to improve their nightlife, but also in that they’re indicative of a growing appreciation by public officials of the importance of nighttime culture, both economically and in terms of the wellbeing of their constituents.
And while Amsterdam’s €2.2 million pledge pales in comparison to Berlin’s €947 million, the fact officials are increasingly allocating funds to nighttime culture is, no doubt, a positive thing for the industry.
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Amazon Music partners with Bandsintown for new merch integrationFans can now shop for merch via artist profile pages on the Bandsintown website and app
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Tame Impala and Thundercat release limited cheetah print 7” vinyl record of No More LiesThundercat and Tame Impala have released a limited edition 7” vinyl of their collaboration track, No More Lies.

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The limited-edition record, whose album artwork depicts a photo of a cheetah, fittingly dons a single-sided cheetah screenprint 7” disc. It can be pre-ordered now but won’t be released until 29 September on Brainfeeder.
The song, released in April 2023, is the first new Thundercat music the musician has released in three years. It’s a roaring pairing between the two, with their respective styles complimenting one another well; Thundercat’s synth noodling works well with Kevin Parker’s vocals.

On the track, Thundercat reflects on a failed relationship, admitting, “But it’s not your fault, I’m just kind of ass”. The track concludes with a raw monologue where he ponders the paradox of honesty and care in relationships: “I speak the truth because I care, yet I also deceive for the same reason.”
“I’ve wanted to work with Kevin since the very first Tame Impala album,” Thundercat writes in the release bio. “I feel that I knew that us working together would be special. I’ve been excited about this song for a long time and hope to create more with Kevin in the future.”
One fan comments on Bandcamp: “The world needs a whole album of this collaboration… soundtrack of the summer 2023…”
He also recently told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1: “For me personally, this is one of the greater moments. I don’t even know where to begin with this,” he gushed. “This is me and Kevin Parker. And from the day I heard Kevin’s music, I knew me and him could do something. I knew it from the minute I heard it, I was like, ‘Man, I would’ve been in his band.’”
The limited cheetah print 7” record of No More Lies can be purchased via Thundercat’s Bandcamp page.
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TuneCore partners with MBW as exclusive supporter of ‘Trailblazers’ interview seriesTrailblazers highlights forward-thinking entrepreneurs in all corners of the globe, from North America to Latin America, Europe to Asia-Pacific, Africa and beyond
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Baby Audio’s BA-1 expansion packs are a retro producer’s dreamBaby Audio has launched four mighty expansion packs for its BA-1 synth plugin that are just begging to be snapped up by any retro-loving producer.
Each pack has a vintage game card aesthetic, and hosts 64 presets of classic soundscapes from the 1980s.

READ MORE: Baby Audio’s BA-1 is like the legendary Yamaha CS-80’s baby brother

These style-specific preset expansion packs have been designed for the BA-1 synth plugin, and have been designed and crafted by “industry-leading” sound designers. And if you’re looking to go all out, you can even buy a bundle of all four packs.
Those available are:

Neon Black – Created with film composer The Unfinished (Matt Bowdler), this pack offers dark retro soundscapes and is described as offering ‘80s “horror movie magic” but with a modern twist. The presets are inspired by the work of John Carpenter, and sort of give off Stranger Things soundtrack vibes.
City Pop Vol. 1 – Baby Audio teamed up with Ryuichiro Yamaki for this one. “Arguably, no one mastered Japanese 80s synths better than the Japanese producers themselves,” writes the brand on its official website. This pack is described as being more colourful, stylish and reminiscent of Tokyo in the ‘80s.
City Pop Vol. 2 – Also created with Yamaki, Vol. 2 explores the origins of JPOP and Kawaii. These presets are much brighter and bubbly.
Electro Elixir – Created by Bastiaan Barth (Solidtrax), this pack is inspired by and aims to capture the magic of the first encounter you have with a synthesiser. It explores the roots of electro and synth pop.

Baby Audio’s BA-1 was launched in April this year, it is the brand’s first ever soft synth and is modelled after the 80s cult favourite CS01 analogue monosynth by Yamaha.
Each pack is available for $10 as part of an intro sale, or you can buy the whole bundle for $29.
Find out more at Baby Audio.
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Songwriters are using AI Generated voices for song pitchesSome may see it as cheating while others find it genius, however no matter what you think AI will not be stopped by creating new strides for music professionals. by. Continue reading
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How to film a music video on a small budgetNot everyone has access to fancy high-tech recording equipment to make a music video, but luckily you don’t have to. This easy-to-follow guide gives helpful tips and strategies to produce. Continue reading
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Qobuz partners with Soho Radio to curate and broadcast DJ mixes, playlists and live sessionsMusic streaming platform and digital music store Qobuz has partnered with Soho Radio to deliver its own series of live shows, exclusive mixes, playlists, and live sessions to the global broadcaster’s listeners.

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Over six months, a dozen live sessions will capture exclusive performances, paired with video content for both the Soho Radio and Qobuz platforms. James Endeacott, who hosts Soho Radio’s daily morning show Morning Glory, will lead this campaign, showcasing a weekly mix curated by Qobuz. He’ll also curate exclusive Qobuz playlists.
This partnership will encompass Soho Radio’s influential presenters, artists, and industry ties, including DJ Norman Jay MBE and dub legend Dennis Bovell, collaborating to craft genre-spanning playlists for Qobuz.
“Soho Radio’s audience is a perfect fit for Qobuz, and vice-versa,” says Qobuz Managing Director, Dan Mackta. “I got a great response when I guested on Morning Glory earlier this year, and working with James and the team is always fun and exciting”.
“We are thrilled to partner with Qobuz – as pure music lovers and enthusiasts ourselves, this is a tailor-made fit to join forces and create some really unique content for our listeners. We can’t wait to get going!” adds Soho Radio Station Manager, Rachael Bird.
For those who don’t know, Qobuz, founded in 2007, offers high-quality music streaming and downloads. It operates in 26 countries and has an impressive catalogue of 100 million tracks, all in high-resolution quality.
Soho Radio, established in 2014, gives a global platform to music communities through radio shows, podcasts, artist management, and live events, with 200+ monthly coming from Soho and New York.
While Soho Radio is hosted by a wealth of talented human DJs, it was recently revealed that new AI tech can run a radio show and even emulate presenters’ voices. Spotify also now has a AI-powered DJ feature that mixes music together while ‘hosting’ the show like a real DJ.
Explore the Qobuz streaming platform at www.qobuz.com.
Experience Soho Radio’s live broadcasts from London and New York at www.sohoradiolondon.com.
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Black Octopus Sound Imaginate – Foley Dubstep Black Octopus Sound and Imaginate have released 'Foley Dubstep', a collection of natural of organic foley combined with the alien-like sounds of heavy bass music. What's inside:... Read More

Xfer Records Dimension Expander Dimension Expander is a free expander plugin for macOS and Windows. Read More

IK Multimedia unveil UNO Synth PRO X The latest addition to the UNO range packs three oscillators, two filters, a 64-step sequencer, built-in effects and more into a compact, portable chassis that weighs less than a kilo.

IK Multimedia’s new UNO Synth PRO X promises the “sweet spot” between a versatile sound engine and portabilityIK Multimedia has unveiled the newest synthesizer to the UNO line, the UNO Synth Pro X, in the hopes to bring “new dimensions of sound design, control and portability”.

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According to the manufacturer, the paraphonic dual filter analogue synthesizer represents “the sweet spot” between a versatile sound engine with 256 presets, and a 64-step sequencer, and portability; the unit weighs less than a kilo.
The synth also boasts easy to use controls – with over 30 hands-on controls plus a 16-slot modulation matrix – and has the option to be powered by USB-C as well as the standard power supply unit.

In addition to this, the synth offers ten effects, including a new shimmer reverb and modulators, in three slots: modulation, delay and reverb.
External signals can also be routed through the filters and the effects in addition to UNO’s original thru-put for daisy-chaining multiple units together without using a mixer.
New features also include the new Bassline mode, in addition to legato, mono and paraphonic modes. This modifies the behaviour and interaction between core parts of the synth like the filter and envelopes.
Regarding connectivity, there is a USB-C and 5-pin DIN MIDI In and Out, as well as assignable CV/Gate connections for Eurorack and other modular systems.
The UNO Synth PRO X is available now from retailers for $499.00.
For more information, you can head to IK Multimedia.
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