Hanson - Thinking 'Bout Something

You may know High Voltage has always been a supporter of 1997's pop-sensation Hanson. We've followed those long-haired teens through their various label deals into the formation of their own label and continue to watch them develop innovative ways to keep their fans interest. When we heard the announcement for their 5th studio album, Shout It Out, you can only imagine how excited things got in the office as we turned on our speakers to preview "Thinking 'Bout Something" their first single off the upcoming release.

"Thinking 'Bout Something" just might be the best Hanson track we've heard since 2005. The arrangement is dynamic and powerful and the final product leaves you anticipating more gems.

Shout It Out will be released on June 8th, 2010 and there's currently four options for packaging. The ultimate package (Platinum) costing a mere $800 and includes a custom record player, custom Hanson headphones, a painting made by the band, a DVD making of, and the album on both CD and vinyl (plus a few other perks). With other packages priced at $250, $25 and regular CD cost. Now that's something to think about!

Stream the new track here:



Twitter | Official Site

Music Video: Elefant - Lou

NYC's Elefant just finished recording their 3rd studio album and have released this video/new song teaser for all of us to long-time fans to get pumped up on. The song is called "Lou" and the music video is encouraging a brand new drinking game. So bust out your PBR, Miller High Life or whatever you're preferred beer to pound is and drink whenever you hear the word "Lou"!



Also, if you're lucky enough to be in the Las Vegas, Los Angeles or San Diego area make sure you venture out in November to catch Elefant live. Check their tour dates for more information, links below.

MySpace | Official Site

SXSW 2009

We had a great time this year at SXSW 2009 and in case you missed it, make sure you click below to read all the fun we had last week... we were blogging live all week long! Also, coming soon - the official High Voltage SXSW Photo Gallery. Stay tuned.



HIGH VOLTAGE @ SXSW 2009

FREE MP3: Metric - Help I'm Alive (Acoustic)

Hey all you groovy cats. Preview a new track from Metric below and then, if you enjoyed it, you can click to download it absolutely FREE!

Also, Pre-Order the new CD, Fantasies, on Metric's Official Site now.

P.S. Once again High Voltage will be attending this years SXSW. Whose else is going? Leave us a comment and let us know which parties/bands you're excited to see! And follow us on twitter, so you can meet up with us while we're there!

Jon McLaughlin - Beating My Heart Video

Naimah's Top 5 of 2008

Just realized we never got Naimah's Top 5 list up, so here it is. Better late than never.

5. Adele - 19
This lady has so much soul! Enough that I feel as though I could croon just as well as she does, even if it's just in the car. Of course what I do pales in comparison to her lovely voice, but you can't blame me for trying.

4. John Mayer - Where the Light Is: Live in Los Angeles
With this release John Mayer allows fans new and old to experience every aspect of his sound. From his days of solo acoustic shows in Atlanta, his pop music that got him into the public eye, the jazz outlet of the John Mayer Trio, and lastly the full band sound of his singer/songwriter style.

3. Panic at the Disco - Pretty Odd
This was a total surprise to me. The theatrics of what PATD do is still present. What they've done is to round out their sound to make the focus be not so much what happens around them, but what it is they have to say. Their lyrics are still as strong and as confident as ever.

2. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
I'll admit that I was late to the Death Cab party and yet I can hear a change occurring for their last album to Narrow Stairs. This is their most cohesive work to date. Each song relates perfectly to the next, a thirty-somethings life.

1. Forgive Durden - Razia's Shadow: A Musical
I ADORE this album... and band! Now repeat that 1,000 times fast. This album is a story of love, passion, and fate. I listened to this 6 times in a row after opening it... did I mention that I ADORE this album?

Izzy's Top 5 Albums of 2008

5. The Sort
Resentment, Despair, & Other Amusements


4. The Ettes
Look at Life Again Soon




3. Civet
Hell Hath No Fury

2. Maggie Walters
Midwestern Hurricane


1. Horrorpops
Kiss Kiss Kill Kill

~ Izzy Cihak

Chelsea's Top 5 Albums of 2008

I'm not sure I can really shed light on why the following albums had such an impact for me this year, but truth of the matter is - they did! Here are my Top 5 Albums (that wouldn't leave my CD player) in 2008:


5. Motley Crue
Saints of Los Angeles


4. The Vacation
Get Used



3. Counting Crows
Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings


2. AC/DC
Black Ice


1. Kings of Leon
Only By The Night


And a special THANK YOU to all the musicians and music industry folks that kept 2008 alive and well for the music biz! Here's to a highly motivational, inspirational and successful 2009!!

Nashville Star 6: Pop Goes Country?

This week on Nashville Star 6, get ready as the 10 remaining contestants perform songs by such artists as Madonna, Michael Jackson and Cyndi Lauper...

POP GOES COUNTRY AS THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT "NASHVILLE STAR" CONTINUES WITH A TWO-HOUR EPISODE FEATURING APPEARANCES BY SALT N PEPA, DANITY KANE AND AN ALL SING BACKED BY A 50 PERSON CHOIR -- BILLY RAY CYRUS HOSTS -- Ten acts remain all competing be named the next "Nashville Star." Special guests Salt n Pepa add a little spice in week three of the competition and the sexy girl group Danity Kane heats things up when pop goes country. Hear cross-over versions of your favorite top 20 hits interpreted by the competing artists topped off with an all sing featuring a 50 person choir. This is the biggest episode yet! Host Billy Ray Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") joins celebrity judges/mentors, singer-songwriter and acclaimed producer John Rich, multi-platinum singer-songwriter and three-time Grammy nominee Jewel and acclaimed industry heavy weight and BMI Songwriter of the Year (2006) Jeffery Steele in the search for a true artist.

And here's some exclusive rehearsal video of last weeks eliminated contestants, Third Town, performing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody - the song they were talked out of performing live on the show by mentor Jeffrey Steele during rehearsals the previous week.



Tune in Monday on NBC, 9/8c.

MySpace | Official Site

The Vacation - Get Used

Get Used, by Los Angeles' own The Vacation, will instantly become one of your favorite rock albums of 2008. Released digitally on May 20th, Get Used is the answer to our rock n roll resurrection prayers. From the dirty ballads to the raging guitar solo's, The Vacation know what rock n roll is about and High Voltage recently got to spend a few minutes with frontman Ben Tegel... (read more)

MySpace

New Contest : David Bowie Box Set!

Holy music crystals, Batman, new year and we've got new goodies!!! What a way to kick off a new year, right? We're happy to announce a new contest! Enter to win the David Bowie Box Set! With more than 60 bonus tracks on five albums, this box set is for collectors and any mega Bowie fan!

Contest ends January 21!

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The Walk

There's a little known fact about High Voltage and that's our love for Hanson. We've all been fans since 1997 (that's a decade of fandom) and got a catch to see them up close and personal a few days ago in Los Angeles. They played a show at Viper Room and didn't cease to amaze us. Playing songs from all of their albums up until this point and even a couple covers.

Their newest studio release, The Walk, came out on July 24th. If you haven't picked it up already - whatcha waitin' for? Highlights include "Blue Sky", "Tearing It Down", "Been There Before", and "Watch Over Me." And of course, their singles too... but those speak for themselves.

Here's a 15 second video clip from Viper Room, courtesy of my digital camera before the always pleasant Viper Room staff asked me (the rest of the room) to stop or they'd throw us out. Gotta love the Viper Room!



Hanson.net

The Format

High Voltage got an exclusive mini photo shoot with these guys, The Format, as they were recording in their studio in Hollywood just a few weeks ago and getting ready for their summer tour. So, check them out near you!



www.theformat.com/
/www.myspace.com/theformat

The Format Summer Tour Dates
Jul 13 2007 6:30P Orpheum Theatre Phoenix, Arizona
Jul 14 2007 6:30P Orpheum Theatre Phoenix, Arizona
Jul 16 2007 6:00P House of Blues Dallas, Texas
Jul 17 2007 6:30P Antones Austin, Texas
Jul 18 2007 8:00P Meridian Houston, Texas
Jul 20 2007 5:30P The Club @ Firestone Orlando, Florida
Jul 21 2007 6:00P Fuel Coffeehouse Jacksonville, Florida
Jul 22 2007 6:00P Jannus Landing St Petersburg, Florida
Jul 24 2007 7:30P Culture Room Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Jul 25 2007 6:30P Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia
Jul 26 2007 6:00P House of Blues New Orleans, Louisiana
Jul 27 2007 6:00P New Daisy Theatre Memphis, Tennessee
Jul 28 2007 8:00P D-Fest Tulsa, Oklahoma
Jul 29 2007 6:00P Sunshine Theatre Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 31 2007 6:30P SOMA San Diego, California
Aug 1 2007 6:00P Avalon Hollywood, California
Aug 2 2007 6:00P House of Blues Anaheim, California
Aug 3 2007 8:00P Great American Music Hall San Francisco, California
Aug 4 2007 6:00P Hawthorne Theatre Portland, Oregon
Aug 5 2007 6:00P Neumo's Seattle, Washington
Aug 7 2007 6:00P Croatian Cultural Centre Vancouver, British Columbia
Aug 9 2007 6:00P The Warehouse Calgary, Alberta
Aug 10 2007 6:00P Dinwoodie Lounge @ University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta
Aug 11 2007 6:00P Louis Pub @ University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Aug 12 2007 6:00P Ramada Theatre Winnipeg, Manitoba
Aug 16 2007 6:00P The Opera House Toronto, Ontario
Aug 18 2007 6:30P Higher Ground Burlington, Vermont
Aug 19 2007 5:00P Avalon Boston, Massachusetts
Aug 21 2007 6:00P Webster Hall New York, New York
Aug 22 2007 8:00P Starland Ballroom Sayerville, New Jersey
Aug 23 2007 6:00P The Trocadero Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aug 24 2007 6:00P Norva Norfolk, Virginia
Aug 25 2007 6:00P 930 Club Washington, Washington DC
Aug 26 2007 6:30P Cats Cradle Carrboro, North Carolina
Aug 28 2007 6:00P Bogarts Cincinnati, Ohio
Aug 29 2007 6:00P Agora Theatre Cleveland, Ohio
Aug 30 2007 6:00P Intersection Grand rapids, Michigan
Aug 31 2007 5:00P St Andrews Hall Detroit, Michigan
Sep 1 2007 6:00P The Vic Chicago, Illinois
Sep 2 2007 5:00P Station 4 St Paul, Minnesota
Sep 4 2007 6:00P The Picador Iowa City, Iowa
Sep 5 2007 6:30P Pops Sauget, Illinois
Sep 6 2007 6:00P The Granada Lawrence, Kansas
Sep 7 2007 6:00P Gothic Theatre Englewood, Colorado