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The Playing Favorites (Lagwagon, Sugarcult) plan debut shows

Suburban Home Records alt-punk dream band the Playing Favorites (featuring members of Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut, Sugarcult, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes) have announced four shows in support of their debut release. The record titled I Remember When I Was Pretty will be hitting shelves on Dec. 4.

The Plain Favorites' Joey Cape:

"It all started in December, 2005. It took us 2 years to complete because we are all busy with our day jobs. I have to say, I am so proud of this record. It was a lot fun to make, especially because the members are some of my oldest and closest friends. We all grew up together in Santa Barbara, California, playing in various other bands, sometimes together. There are 4 singers and 4 songwriters in this band so the sound is somewhat eclectic."

Show dates are as follows:

12/7 - Los Angeles, CA - the Viper Room
12/8 - Silver Lake, CA - Spaceland
12/9 - San Marcos, CA - Loser Kids (acoustic show with Angels Airwaves)
12/9 - Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction

Hawthorne Heights speak out, confirm band will continue

Scott Heisel on 11/29/07 @ 3:17 PM

In our continuing coverage of the death of Hawthorne Heights guitarist Casey Calvert, it's nice to bring a piece of good news to the table, no matter how small: The remaining members of the band have pledged to carry on in Calvert's memory.

The band, along with Calvert's widow, Ashley, sat down with MTV News last night to discuss Calvert's life, the circumstances surrounding his death and their future plans. In the video below, the band re-affirm that Calvert's death was not drug-related; they also discuss Calvert's mother calling them as they drove home from Washington, D.C., and making them promise to continue the band because "that's what Casey would've wanted." The band also said they would not replace him, with drummer Eron Bucciarelli commenting, "We don't need another guitarist. We don't need another screamer. If the fans want screaming, they can provide it themselves."

Casey Calvert will be laid to rest this Friday in Middletown, Ohio. His family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Animal Friends Humane Society in his name.

Saddle Creek announces street team openings

Ben Sailer on 11/29/07 @ 1:03 PM

Omaha, Nebraska indie label Saddle Creek Records, home to Bright Eyes, Cursive, and a wealth of other fine artists, are looking for help with their street team in select cities. The label posted the following via MySpace:

We are looking for people in some areas to help us spread the word about our releases and shows. For more information about our street team, or to apply, visit....

http://www.saddle-creek.com/contact/streetteam.html

The following is a list of areas in which we are looking for people. If your town is not on the list but you feel like it could use some help, drop us a line.

United States
Phoenix, AZ
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco/Bay Area, CA
Ft. Collins, CO
Jacksonville, FL
Orlando, FL
Boise, ID
Des Moines, IA
Iowa City, IA
Ames, IA
Newport, KY
Detroit, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
St. Louis, MO
Columbia, MO
Lincoln, NE
Manhattan, NY
Long Island, NY
Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC
Fargo, ND
Cincinnati, OH
Norman, OK
Portland, OR
Eugene, OR
Providence, RI
Columbia, SC
Salt Lake City, UT
Milwaukee, WI

Canada
Calgary, AB
Montreal, QC

thanks!
sc

TWLOHA post t-shirt design in memory of Casey Calvert

To Write Love On Her Arms have posted a t-shirt design in memory of Hawthorne Heights guitarist, Casey Calvert.

TWLOHA's Michael Schneider:

"Casey was open with me about his struggles with depression, and so I knew when he asked if he could support To Write Love On Her Arms, he supported it with his heart. Our conversations furthered, and Casey quickly became one of my favorite people to talk to. I remember laughing with him when we both showed up to watch Paramore's last set on the tour, and we were both wearing LOVE hoodies, probably looking quite silly standing next to each other."

UPDATE: The t-shirt is now available for purchase. All proceeds will go to Casey's family and funeral expenses.

As I Lay Dying confirm another date

Rachel Lux on 11/29/07 @ 11:11 AM

As I Lay Dying have added to their upcoming tour a Jan. 27 date in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the Crocodile Rock Cafe. The second leg of the band's tour in support of Metal Blade Records release An Ocean Between Us kicks off Jan. 8 in San Luis Obispo, California. Complete dates can be seen here.

Cobra Starship announce headlining run

Rachel Lux on 11/29/07 @ 10:59 AM

The Gabe Saporta vehicle Cobra Starship have released dates for their upcoming headlining tour, which begins mid-January and runs through the first week of March. Cobra Starship recently released their sophomore full-length, Viva La Cobra!, on Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen. Supporting the Ship across the U.S. and Canada are Metro Station, We The Kings and the Cab.

Dates & Venues
Jan 16 2008 The Chance Poughkeepsie, NY
Jan 17 2008 Revolution Hall Troy, NY
Jan 18 2008 Highline Ballroom New York, NY
Jan 19 2008 Trackside Teen Centre Wilton, CT
Jan 20 2008 Middle East Downstairs Cambridge, MA
Jan 22 2008 Studio JPR Montreal, QC
Jan 23 2008 The Mod Club Theatre Toronto, ON
Jan 24 2008 Mohawk Place Buffalo, NY
Jan 25 2008 Grog Shop Cleveland Heights, OH
Jan 26 2008 Magic Stick Detroit, MI
Jan 27 2008 The Basement Columbus, OH
Jan 29 2008 Subterranean Chicago, IL
Jan 30 2008 The Eagles Club Milwaukee, WI
Jan 31 2008 Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
Feb 1 2008 Creepy Crawl Saint Louis, MO
Feb 3 2008 Grand Emporium Kansas City, MO
Feb 5 2008 The Marquis Theatre Denver, CO
Feb 6 2008 Club Sound Salt Lake City, UT
Feb 7 2008 The Big Easy Boise, ID
Feb 8 2008 Hawthorne Theatre Portland, OR
Feb 9 2008 Chop Suey Seattle, WA
Feb 10 2008 Richards on Richards Vancouver, BC
Feb 12 2008 The Boardwalk Orangevale, CA
Feb 13 2008 Slim's San Francisco, CA
Feb 14 2008 Soma San Diego, California
Feb 15 2008 Glass House Pomona, CA
Feb 16 2008 Troubadour West Hollywood, CA
Feb 17 2008 Jillian's of Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
Feb 18 2008 The Rock Tucson, AZ
Feb 19 2008 The Clubhouse Tempe, AZ
Feb 20 2008 Launchpad Albuquerque, NM
Feb 21 2008 House of Blues Dallas, TX
Feb 22 2008 Emo's Austin Austin, TX
Feb 23 2008 Warehouse Live Houston, TX
Feb 24 2008 House of Blues New Orleans, LA
Feb 26 2008 State Theatre Saint Petersburg, FL
Feb 27 2008 The Culture Room Fort Lauderdale, FL
Feb 28 2008 The Social Orlando, FL
Feb 29 2008 The Masquerade Atlanta, GA
Mar 1 2008 Tremont Music Hall Charlotte, NC
Mar 2 2008 The Norva Norfolk, VA
Mar 4 2008 930 Club Washington, DC
Mar 5 2008 Diesel Pittsburgh, PA
Mar 6 2008 The Fillmore Philadelphia, PA
Mar 7 2008 Chameleon Lancaster, PA
Mar 8 2008 Crazy Donkey Farmingdale, NY

For posterity's sake, check out the Cobra Starship (and friends) video from Snakes On A Plane. You know you wanna...