Crazy Arm - live in March 2012

CRAZY ARM
MARCH MINI-TOUR 2012

Devonian roots-punk ensemble, Crazy Arm, embark on a short UK stint ‘The Leap Of Faith tour’ in March alongside good friends, Apologies I Have None and Great Cynics. They also hook up with Indiana US country singer, Austin Lucas, for a couple of shows, with Crazy Arm appearing as Austin's backing band on a number of songs.

The band’s second album, 'Union City Breath', was released in October last year. Much like its predecessor, 'Born To Ruin', it has been very well received nationwide and throughout mainland Europe by fans and critics alike. Produced and engineered by Peter Miles (The King Blues, The Computers, Sonic Boom Six), the album is a triumph of punk rock energy, alt. country vitality and rabble-rousing honesty.

Not easy to categorise, and all the better for it, Crazy Arm's sound is an accumulation of decades of influence and inspiration: rooted in hardcore/punk, ‘60s protest folk/country and Springsteen-esque classic rock’n’roll. They combine this with a grass-roots political overview that embraces anti-war, anti-fascist and pro-community activism.

FEBRUARY 2012
29th – White Rabbit, Plymouth (with Austin Lucas + Apologies I Have None + Great Cynics)

MARCH 2012
1st – Croft, Bristol (with Austin Lucas + Apologies I Have None + Great Cynics)
2nd – The Hydrant, Brighton (with Apologies I Have None + Great Cynics)
3rd – Firebug, Leicester (with Apologies I Have None + Great Cynics)
4th – Fighting Cocks, Kingston (with Apologies I Have None + Great Cynics)
5th – Norwich (with Apologies I Have None + Great Cynics)

Reviews for 'Union City Breath':
'Blisters with energy' – KKKK Kerrang!
'You need Crazy Arm' – 5/5 Big Cheese
'A triumph from start to finish' – 9/10 Punktastic
'Delivered with a fired-up passion' – Rock Sound
'Never faltering from the pinnacle it attains from the off' – Punk News
'A patchwork blanket of musical bliss' – Room Thirteen
'This is the band to watch at the moment' – Rhythm Circus
'Supremely confident' – Sputnik Music
'Album of choice to represent Britain on the punk scene' – Alter The Press

www.facebook.com/thecrazyarm

I Am The Avalanche - Euro Headline tour w/ The Xcerts & dates w/ Brand New

I Am The Avalanche

Following the release of their incredible album ‘AVALANCHE UNITED’ in October 2011 and a successful run of headline shows in December, the Brooklyn quintet return to the UK in 2012 to tour with their friends and peers, Brand New and label-mates The Xcerts.

Rapidly selling out, this highly anticipated tour will be one to remember. Preceded by a small run of headline European dates with The Xcerts in support, full details are as follows:

FEBRUARY – European headline shows w/ The Xcerts
1 Vienna Arena, Austria
2 59 to 1, Munich Germany
3 Kofmehl, Solothurn, Switzerland
4 Ex Haus, Trier, Germany
5 Logo, Hamburg, Germany
FEBRUARY – SUPPORTING BRAND NEW w/ The Xcerts
8 O2 Academy Bristol
9 Manchester Academy SOLD OUT
10 Southampton Guildhall
11 London Roundhouse SOLD OUT
12 London Roundhouse
14 O2 Academy Glasgow
15 O2 Academy Birmingham
16 O2 Academy Newcastle
17 University Great Hall, Cardiff

The release of ‘AVALANCHE UNITED’ through new home Xtra Mile Recordings, was met with universal acclaim. Addictively melodic and blisteringly raw to its very core, the album was produced by the band, and executive produced and engineered by Avalanche’s prolific drummer Brett “The Ratt” Romnes, and mixed by Machine (Fall Out Boy, Every Time I Die, Four Year Strong). Featuring 12 anthemic songs, including ‘Brooklyn Dodgers’, the bold ‘Holy Fuck’, the epic and somber ‘Dead Friends’ and ‘The Gravedigger’s Argument’ featuring Anthony Raneri from Bayside. Throughout, Caruana’s distinctive voice drips with defiance, humor and proud vulnerability as he sings about hope, heartbreak, death, defying adversity and the bonds between family, lovers and friends.

Coinciding with the Brand New tour dates the release of the life affirming, feel-good single ‘Brooklyn Dodgers.

ROCK SOUND 8/10:
“…the result is a fiery, honest and raw state of affairs as he confronts his demons. Diving straight into the abyss with album opener and single ‘Holy Fuck’, sharp, melodic hooks prevail through the gloom, ramping up energy levels and providing an anthemic sky-puncher for another generation.”

BIG CHEESE 4/5:
“This collection of uplifting, honest and energetic pop punk songs is I Am The Avalanche’s first in six years and follows years of writing and recording…AVALANCHE UNITED has been worth the wait.”

KERRANG! 4/5:
“More upbeat and up-tempo than its self-titled predecessor…it’s (mostly) a barreling, positive message and poppy post-hardcore. It’s also music that makes you want to grab a drink, grab your friends and celebrate life. An excellent comeback.”

www.avalancheunited.com
www.facebook.com/iamtheavalanche
Twitter @iatanyc
www.xtramilerecordings.com

Fighting Fiction - Brand new debut album ‘Fighting Fiction’ and single ‘Turning Rebellion into Money’

Fast-rising Brighton quartet Fighting Fiction release their eponymous self-titled debut album and new single 'Turning Rebellion into Money' through Xtra Mile Recordings on 27th February 2012.

An infectious punk rock record, ‘Fighting Fiction’ is full of politically charged articulate lyrics, powerful driving rhythms and catchy refrains. Featuring the single ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll is Dead and its Corpse is for Sale’ – which received strong support from fan Radio 1’s Mike Davies – all ten tracks pack a powerful punch, hitting you the head as well as the heart. Recorded and produced by friend and highly credited producer Mark Williams, (Oceansize, Million Dead, Yourcodenameis:milo, Biffy Clyro & Enter Shikari) ‘Fighting Fiction’ perfectly captures the band’s honesty, integrity and knack for writing a great pop punk song.

With a DIY approach, their keen touring ethic has seen them play alongside Frank Turner, This Town Needs Guns, The Riot Before, The Xcerts, Laura Marling and Crazy Arm; as well as festival appearances at The Lock Up Stage at Reading and Leeds Festival, The Isle of Man TT, The Isle of Wight and 2000Trees.

With support coming in thick and fast from all corners of the industry the band are set for a fantastic 2012. Ones to watch!

Full UK and Europe tour to be announced soon.

www.fightingfiction.com
www.xtramilerecordings.com

“(with) Fighting Fiction, in whose sharp songwriting there is something identifiably British, like The Clash, and they cling to their songs by their fingernails giving them a careering thrill.” KKKK from Great Escape

“Upbeat yet disheartened political messages are delivered with a rough, raw, Billy Bragg-esque brogue, and suggest that they’re a band who could make a big dent – politically and musically – in the future.” The Fly 4/5

Straight Lines - Return with Canterbury support tour and new single ‘Half Gone’ on 13th February through Xtra Mile Recordings

Having ended 2011 supporting Funeral for a Friend and The Subways; STRAIGHT LINES are now ready to welcome in 2012 with the release of their new single ‘Half Gone’ and a UK tour with southern rockers Canterbury. Straight Lines spent much of last year writing and recording their second full length record ‘Freaks Like Us’ which is set for release in April. ‘Half Gone’ is the first single to be taken from the album being released on 13th February through Xtra Mile Recordings (Frank Turner, Against Me!, Far…).

As with the band’s first album, ‘Freaks Like Us’ was recorded by the band’s bassist and producer Todd Campbell. The single is an infections nugget fraught with frustration and passion that bridges the gap between the band’s debut album and their new material. ‘Half Gone’ will also feature the B-sides ‘Watch It Blow Away' and 'Half Gone (acoustic)'.

Catch the band on tour in January and February with Canterbury at the following shows:

JANUARY
26th - Clwb Ifor Bach, CARDIFF
27th - Sin City, SWANSEA
28th - The Hydrant, BRIGHTON
29th - The Cavern, EXETER
31st - Joiners, SOUTHAMPTON

FEBRUARY
1st - Central Station, WREXHAM
2nd - Slade Rooms, WOLVERHAMPTON
4th - Corporation, SHEFFIELD
5th - Cockpit, LEEDS
6th - ABC 2, GLASGOW
7th - Sound Control, MANCHESTER
9th - Kings College, LONDON

www.straightlinesband.com
www.xtramilerecordings.com

Here’s what the press had to say about the bands debut album ‘Persistence In This Game:
"Sure to follow in their friends' footsteps, Straight Lines are heading straight up." - 4/5 Big Cheese
“Runaway Now' and 'Say It For Your Sake' will smash into your memory within seconds, while the aggressive riffs will carry the package into your heart.” - 8/10 Rocksound