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:



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Band of the Day: Viva City

Have you heard Viva City yet? An UK electronic-rock band that will blow your mind. Currently we only have their 2010 music sampler with six tracks, but those six tracks provide a dance party you can't resist. They played our HIGH VOLTAGE event last night at The Viper Room and if their recorded music wasn't enough, their live show took the band to a whole new level in our eyes. With a high energy stage presence, glam rock style and electronic flare it's possible this band might be music's best kept secret at the moment. However, that won't last long... SPREAD THE WORD - VIVA CITY ROCKS!



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OK Go - This Too Shall Pass

A real life Rude Ginsberg machine. OK GO, we love you.

Free Music for Change!

Artists are banding together daily to produce a call to action for various efforts. The latest? Musicforaction.org! It's a site that provides free music in exchange for urging you to take action. Currently you can download a "Best of Bonnaroo" compilation (17 tracks!) for FREE. The site will only just encourage you to write your Senator, the President and local newspapers about climate change. Whether you do it or not, the music is still free. However, wouldn't you like to help make the world a better place at the same time?

Visit http://www.Musicforaction.org to download this killer playlist:

Wilco - Bull Black Nova
Pearl Jam - Animal
Jack Johnson - Inaudible Melodies
Dave Mathews Band - Rapunzel
Death Cab for Cutie - Cath...
Ani DiFranco - Fuel
Phish - Kill Devil Falls
Gov't Mule - Banks of the Deep End
O.A.R. - Delicate Few
moe. - Not Coming Down
Raphael Saadiq - 100 Yard Dash
Bob Weir & RatDog - Throwing Stones
The Disco Biscuits - And The Ladies Were the Rest of the Night
The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid
My Morning Jacket - Oh! Sweet Nuthin'
Guster - Happier
Phil Lesh and Friends - Box of Rain

Tom Petty is the man!

If an email announcing Tom Petty and The Heartbreaker's first new album in 8 years entitled Mojo wasn't exciting enough this morning, it also came with a tour announcement. Now if you're not familiar with Tom Petty and his history of standing up against the music industry, read this article from 2002 real quick: The Ten Things that Piss Off Tom Petty

Needless to say, Tom Petty is fully aware that concert ticket sales are dropping every month. With that he has announced a special gift to everyone who purchases a ticket to an upcoming show in advance. The gift? Well, all 2010 tour tickets purchased online will include an MP3 download of, Mojo. You'll get two tracks upfront ("First Flash Of Freedom" and "Good Enough") and then, on the album release day, ticket buyers will be sent a download of the rest of the album. But wait, there's more! Also included with your ticket purchase, to be delivered at the end of the 2010 tour, will be a selection of live tracks recorded during the tour. Now those are some killer incentives!

So,

We'll see you at the ticket counter!

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New Music Tuesday

Got a treat for all you Magic Wands & The xx fans. A free download of "Warrior" by Magic Wands remixed by The xx. Oh yeah! Just click here.

Also, if you haven't been following our twitter (@highvoltagemag) we announced our SXSW party yesterday (we're working with The Viper Room & SUPERGOODMUSIC) for Friday, March 19th with headliner Andrew W.K.! The party will also feature Foster The People, Imagine Dragons, Glint, Little Girls, The Binges and Steriogram. We'll be posting the RSVP link here shortly...

In terms of other new music recommendations, make sure you check out Daniel Merriweather! Killer voice, solid tunes.

More to come...

MJ Subway Stop

23 years ago Michael Jackson stood the Hoyt-Schermerhorn stop in downtown Brooklyn filming his classic music video for "Bad". The NY Post reported today that this same stop will soon officially become a Michael Jackson-themed subway stop. The stop might include a full-size mural, lights and projection at night. Passengers will be expected to dance like MJ as they exit the subway car... Ok, so we made that last sentence up, but the rest is true.

Bonnaroo Announcing 2010 Line-Up!

Bonnaroo announced yesterday what might be our biggest excitement of the year, in terms of a festival line-up. Ok, we'll admit it - not extremely impressed with Coachella this year and still waiting to hear about Lollapalooza. Bonnaroo 2010 will take place June 10th to 13th. If you haven't seen the line-up yet, check this:

Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Tenacious D, Weezer, The Flaming Lips with Stardeath and White Dwarfs perform "Dark Side of the Moon", The Dead Weather, Phoenix, Norah Jones, Michael Franti & Spearhead, LCD Soundsystem, Thievery Corporation, The Black Keys, Bassnectar, The xx, Gaslight Anthem, Miike Snow, Dr. Dog, OK Go, Mayer Hawthorne and the County, Japandroids, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Manchester Orchestra, Tokyo Police Club, Local Natives, Here We Go Magic, and many more.

See you there!

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The Hounds Below - 12.10.09

The Hounds Below
Beat Kitchen (Chicago, IL)
photography: Jade Amey

Recognize The Hounds Below lead man? He is also the front man for the Detroit rock outfit, the Von Bondies. Are they just as good? Oh yes, of course. I wouldn't say this band is as energetic and electrifying live as the Von Bondies are, but that's really not a bad thing. I'm sure not a lot of people would know this from listening to the Von Bondies, but if you happen to see a Hounds Below show, I bet the first comparison for Jason Stollsteimer's voice will be Roy Orbison. Not only is there a very clear presence of Orbison in his voice, but there is also a distinct presence of early rock 'n' roll in the music with a tinge of a jumpy blues-folk-soul mix. However you want to describe it, 'it' is good. And they even win without a drummer (which was the case at this Chicago show). Besides this band being so damn great live, it also shows how versatile of a musician Stollsteimer can be. I have a feeling this won't be a short lived project, so keep your eye on this band.







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