By: Anthony Cannella
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Sleep Signals recently dropped some massive news with the announcement of their next EP ‘2020’ coming out on May 8th! Along with that announcement, Sleep Signals gave us a taste of what’s to come with putting out the second song on the new EP “Fireproof” with an insane music video to follow. Check out the music video for “Fireproof” below!

With hearing this news, we knew that we had to know more about this outstanding project. We shared words with Sleep Signals vocalist Robert Cosgrove about everything. Check out below on what he had to say!
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HeadRush Tv: Hello Sleep Signals, first off it’s amazing to hear from you guys! Your new EP is dropping in 2020 along with a new song “Fireproof” that is on it and being release February 28th! With you guys being in the studio working on this project since May of 2019, how does it feel that the release date is finally here and the first song is being released?

Robert Cosgrove: It’s amazing to finally get some new music out! We’ve been working hard in the studio between tours for months and it’s great to finally see a finished product. We’d never spent that much time in the studio on a release, so it feels really good to finally have a tangible product in our hands!
 
HeadRush Tv: Following up 2017’s “At the End of the World” which was a huge success for you guys! What things did you take from that project that you converted into this one? And How did the process differ on this EP than “At the End of the World”?

Robert Cosgrove: ATEOTW was a really big EP for us, we grew a lot musically. I think we’ve pulled a lot of that growth forward into “2020”. The way we wrote this EP was a lot different than the last few. We worked with a local producer, Ian Combs, so we were able to spend a lot more time on the writing and pre-production for this album. The past few albums we had done in Kansas City and Memphis, so we had a timeframe to get in and do everything all at once. I think having the ability to let some of the music simmer for a while really helped the overall product. There was a lot less pressure to just “get it done” and really focus on writing the best songs we could. Everyone in the band was a lot more involved with the writing on this album too, so that was really cool. I think it allowed us to pull inspiration from a lot more angles than anything we’d done in the past.
 
HeadRush Tv: With you guys working non-stop on this new EP, What was your guys motivation and inspiration during this creative time period?

Robert Cosgrove: Our main motivating factor was really just putting out some great music for everybody who has been with us through this crazy 5 years. It was long overdue! We did 4 major US tours over the past 14 months and met a lot of awesome people and we wanted to make this record for them. We’re proud to be an independent band and our fanbase is the only thing that keeps us doing what we love to do, so this album is for everybody who has come out to see us live or come up to us after a show to get to know us. That is what motivated us.
As far as inspiration and the creativity with this album, we thought it would be fitting to do something special for the year 2020. When we were kids, everybody talked about the year 2020 and what we thought it would be like. Media and film and everything growing up always made 2020 stand out as this year where technology would be so advanced that we’d have flying cars and robots and everything. We wanted to make something that reminded us of that nostalgia, something of a “80s rendition of what we thought the year 2020 would be”. We really took the idea and ran with it. All the artwork, the music videos, the orchestration and synth in the tracks, everything...
 
HeadRush Tv: So, there is a song that is being released off the EP, “Fireproof”, along with a killer music video for it. We had a chance to view a snippet of it before it came out and we couldn’t wait to see it all! What was filming this video like and what statement were you guys trying to get across with the song/video?

Robert Cosgrove: We had a blast filming the music video for “Fireproof” and worked with some very talented individuals putting it together. Conceptually, the song is about the girl who is “Just too cool,” but everybody wants to be with. Everybody who touches her gets burned, but the protagonist is like, “I can handle this.” So in the music video, we just really tried to express that visually and show the frustration and depression that the protagonist was going through. Everybody can relate to this one way or the other, so it was a cool concept. We tried something new with this video where we shot the whole band individually instead of as a group and I think it turned out really cool!
 
HeadRush Tv: Sleep Signals thank you so much for everything and congratulations on the song/music video release and the announcement of when your EP will drop! For your fans reading this, what more can they expect from you guys this year aside from this release?

Robert Cosgrove: As always, our fans can expect us to hit the road hard. We love to meet fans, so we always urge people to just come up and talk to us at a show! We want to get to know you and see you next time we come back through your city! You can expect a lot of tour dates this year supporting the new EP and we can’t wait to get back out on the road to play these new tunes for all of you!
 
As Robert said in the interview, Sleep Signals will be hitting the road hard this year and to back that statement up, they released a bunch of dates for the EP Release Tour! We assure you that you do not want to miss out on these shows as Sleep Signals will be giving you everything they got. See tour dates below!

By: Anthony Cannella

On February 20, The Lonely Generation Tour took us on an emotional rollercoaster at Park West in Chicago, Illinois with the one and only Echosmith along with support from Weathers and Jayden Bartels. This is such a killer tour as each artist brings such an incredible vibe that flows and builds up into the next act. Weathers hits the stage ready to rock as their set is very in your face, which forces the crowd to get extremely hyped! Their set goes so hard and leaves you with no choice, but to rock out and dance along with the band.
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As Weathers finishes their set, the oh so talented family that forms Echosmith takes over! The Sierota family that consists of Graham (drums), Noah (bass, vocals) and Sydney (lead vocals) are a site to see, due to the fact that what can’t this family do! Echosmith pulls out all the tricks during their set leaving you to question what is to come next at all times. Talent even runs deeper in the family as they showcase their Father on the piano for a song that falls mid set. With that being said, Echosmith takes you on an emotional journey throughout their show. They come out with positive fun vibes that truly sets a party setting, but before you know it, they bring it down with some of their powerful songs. As soon as they are done getting you all in your feels, they bring it right back up and end it on a high note with their hit song “Cool Kids”!
This show fell on a Thursday, but they were completely right when they said every night with Echosmith is a weekend party! Check out the photos below to see what we witnessed.

By: Anthony Cannella
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As this tour kicked off, we caught it right away as the Riviera Theatre got taken over by the Swedish Progressive Rock/Metal icons, Opeth, along with the support from Graveyard. With Graveyard setting the tempo for the night, they absolutely killed it with their Heavy Rock style that had a major hint of Blues in the mix. Graveyard complements Opeth to perfection on this tour as both bands are extremely unique in their own way. These bands are a must see together as the show doesn’t even give off a concert vibe. It is more like an invitation to one hell of a jam session and all you have to do is watch these Rockstar’s take over! As Opeth closes you can truly witness why this band has been topping charts and touring the world since 1990. Their melodic Metal vibe will have you mesmerized from start to finish. Check out the photos below to witness what we got to see from these legends!

​When this tour wraps up, Opeth and Graveyard are nowhere close to being done as they are set for more dates and numerous festivals. Check below to see those tour dates of theirs and go to their social medias to see what festivals they will be appearing at! Trust us, you will now want to miss out!

FESTIVAL APPEARANCES CAN BE FOUND AT LINKS ABOVE 
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By: Anthony Cannella

​Recently, the Winter Tour 2020 with Korn, Breaking Benjamin and Bones UK came through Rockford, Illinois at the BMO Harris Bank Center and it was a celebration that will never be forgotten! It was a celebration of two powerhouse bands that have taken over the game with their two completely different styles. Korn being together for 25+ years and Breaking Benjamin being together for 20 years, they proved to us yet again on why they still sell out the massive venues they book. Also, proving to the fans that they are here to stay for many more years to come. With both bands dropping all their top hits along with their newer music, it ignited the crowd forcing it to be an amazing set. Check out the photos below to have a glimpse of how much this show rocked!

This Winter Tour has a handful of dates still left so if they are coming to your city, we suggest that you get your tickets now and have yourself an incredible night of Rock/Metal with some legendary talented bands. See below for new tour and project info on Korn and Breaking Benjamin!
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Just before this tour, Breaking Benjamin graced us with an outstanding project that they put together. The band released a full acoustic album called ‘Aurora’, which includes all their fan favorites along with special guests that feature on the album such as: Adam Gontier, Michael Barnes, Scooter Ward, Spencer Chamberlain and Lacey Sturm. ‘Aurora’ goes down as their seventh full length album and it is a must listen. The collaborations go unmatched and gives you an opportunity to hear these songs like you never have before! The link to order ‘Aurora’ can be found below the album cover.

 
8/07 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center*
8/09 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre*
8/11 – Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre*
8/13 – Sacramento, CA @ Toyota Amphitheatre*
8/14 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre At Mountain View*
8/16 – Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheatre*
8/17 – Phoenix, AZ @ Ak-Chin Pavilion*
8/19 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater*
8/21 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion*
8/22 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater*
8/23 – The Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion*
8/25 – Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre*
8/27 – Scranton, PA @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain*
8/29 – Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion^
8/30 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live^
9/01 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Centerr^
9/02 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Centerr^
9/03 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center^
9/05 – Burgettstown, PA @ S&T Bank Music Park^
9/06 – Darien Lake, NY @ Live Nation Concerts at Darien Lake Amphitheater^
9/09 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage^
9/10 – Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre^
9/12 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center^
9/13 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center^
9/15 – Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Chicago^
9/17 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre St. Louis^
 
* with Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway + Spotlights
^ with Helmet + 68

Photos by Josh Justice

90's college rockers Soul Asylum brought their Dead Letter Tour with Local H to St. Andrew's Hall in downtown Detroit, Michigan. The month-long tour hits both coast before ending in Austin, Texas on March 20.

By Anthony Cannella

We had the honor and opportunity to check out Dragged Under’s debut album ‘The World Is In Your Way’ and when we were done, we just had to know more about it. We got in contact with vocalist Tony Cappocchi; Check out below on what he had to say!

HeadRush Tv: So, this tour that you’re on right now with The Used just kicked off about 10 days ago. Every show on this tour is literally SOLD OUT! How has it been so far and how have the crowds been responding to the new music?

Tony Cappocchi: The shows have been insane. As a small / newer band, to walk out on stage every night to a roaring crowd and a full room, it's more than we could ask for. Truly we feel blessed. The crowds have been overwhelmingly positive, They seem to be really locking onto the nostalgia in our music of the early 2000's skate punk that we've been trying to bring back. We always hang out at our merch booth after each show and some of the people are saying some things that blow our minds daily. People who have never heard us that say things like "you're going to be huge" or "I thought you were a feldman band based on the song writing" that will never get old.
 
HeadRush Tv: Speaking of new music, you guys recently released your debut album ‘The World Is In Your Way’ on January 17! For your debut album I’m sure you guys wanted to come out strong so what was the creative process like for this album?

​Tony Cappocchi: This process was different than anything we've ever done, For the first time we just said, "fuck what people think, we're doing what we want on this release" that on top of the fact that we worked with an amazing producer (Hiram Hernandez). Having that impartial ear in the room and someone who’s got a LOT more songwriting experience that us was a big help. He was the perfect missing piece to push us over hurdles and help us navigate the writers block that we would experience from time to time. It's something that I recommend to everyone now. We also started writing for the stage, and for the live show. We decided we wanted songs that would come across as sing along / crowd participation songs, more than what we thought radio DJ's wanted to hear. 
 
HeadRush Tv: ‘The World Is In Your Way’ is already putting you guys on the charts on Billboard with stats like #18 Top Alternative New Artist, #45 Top Current Hard Music, #79 Top New Artist and more! It has also received over a million streams! With your music being heard all over, what meanings were you trying to get across with this album? And has it sunk in yet that all your hard work on this album is paying off now?

Tony Cappocchi: The response for the album is crazy. I don't think we thought it would be this well received, this time it feels "real". All we wanted with this album was to make people feel something, or help them understand the mindset of different people with different problems. From interpersonal conflict, to self-doubt, to relationships and even business partnerships with industry people, this album is us screaming, bleeding and sweating out our frustration from the last 10 years of grinding and making it nowhere, into 9 songs.
 
HeadRush Tv: So, getting into tour life, you guys are on this tour and also on your headlining No Days Off Tour. Which is funny cause you guys are literally getting no days off! How do you keep up and stay sharp while on the road and does anything change between this tour and the headlining one?

​Tony Cappocchi: It's tough, this is literally the hardest part of being in a band, the start. We all have jobs, girlfriends, etc back home and being gone every day and trying to find ways to earn on the road is a task by itself. We are big on sleep and the dudes understand that we need to stay as rested as possible, which is why we commit to staying in a hotel, even if we're crammed in there it beats the hell out of the van. They've also been really supportive of me, especially being that I have a biological instrument. They can go out there sick and limp along and no one will notice, if I get sick, we're in for a rough show and a long recovery. We also work on out diet a lot on the road, avoid junk and sugar and drink LOADS of water.
the only change that we make on the off day shows is how much time we commit to the venue, usually they like us there around 3 or so to sound check, but we have been showing up late to try and get a few extra hours outside the venues whenever possible. Venues at our size often don't have a green room, or a quiet place for us to hang out, and I try not to fight the noise. Trying to talk to fans over the noise of the PA / other people can be a real strain. If we have to be at the venue early I try to leave the venue between our sound check and set to go somewhere quiet, and clean just to avoid the possibility of overworking my voice, even if that is just the van for a cat nap.

The bottom line is rest, water, repeat. That's the only way to stay sharp with minimal off days.
 
HeadRush Tv: Lastly, I want to give you guys the full platform here for your incredible following and fans. What can they be expecting in the near future and for the rest of this year?

Tony Cappocchi: 2020 is all about getting in front of the fans, our and other bands fans. We want to spend a good majority of this year on the road. that's what it takes to grow as a small band so that's what we intend to do. Kissing a lot of frogs until one turns into a prince so to speak. It's likely we won't do many musical releases in 2020, we want our album to have some time to breathe.

‘The World Is In Your Way’ is currently out on all platforms so make sure you give it a listen as soon as possible if you haven’t already! Also, do NOT miss Dragged Under on their tour right now with The Used and their headlining shows. As we said before, the tour with The Used is sold out so better figure out quickly what you can do! Check out upcoming dates below!

By: Anthony Cannella

​Recently, the icon from Sumerian Records, Poppy, came to the sold-out Vic Theatre in Chicago, Illinois and completely took over. With a line that stretched along a couple Chicago roads, you could tell the fans were anticipating this night! With that being said, Poppy did not disappoint as she rocked The Vic with her unique style and flawless onstage live performance. Check below to have a glimpse of Poppy in Chicago!

​With a solid 15 song set, Poppy gave the crowd everything that they could have wanted. Starting off the set with “Concrete” and ending it with “I Disagree”, she never gave The Vic a break from her killer breakdowns that seriously go unmatched. With her new album ‘I Disagree’ that came out January 10 via Sumerian Records, Poppy is utilizing this tour to perfection as she showcases these songs to her fans. In addition to these songs that have been taking over the music industry, Poppy threw in a cover of t.A.T.u.’s song “All The Things She Said” mid set! This song really fits her type of style and is honestly performed very well by her, with her unique voice that leaves you wanting more. 

​Poppy is currently an artist that you do not want to miss out on while she is on tour! There is a reason why she has been taking the music industry by storm and we suggest you find out for yourself. For a preview, check some of the music videos below. Also, check the tour dates at the top and see if Poppy will be at a venue near you soon!

​Poppy Website
Poppy Facebook

Author and Photographer:  Jonathan Stark (Stark Raving Mad Photography LLC.)

​Ah, Dropkick Murphys….. A band I’ve been listening to since “Give’ Em the Boot” came out in 1997.  The Dropkick Murphys had a song on there titled “Barroom Hero” and it was absolutely incredible. Pretty sure I’m not the only one who felt that way.  Totally original, compelling, raw and rowdy.  I was playing rugby at that time for The University of Central Florida and the song fit the bill; got a lot of play on the pitch and at the pub.

Dropkick Murphys and others have the power to take me back. They are part of a soundtrack to my life, a soundtrack to our lives.  They are still hammering it out, refusing to fade and they certainly have not lost their relevance and impact.

​Last year they toured with Clutch and Hatebreed and I was fortunate enough to catch the show.  Side note here, Clutch puts on an awesome show.  You can catch them on tour with Volbeat starting in April.

​I shot a multitude of outstanding shows in 2019 from Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Killswitch Engage, Korn, After the Burial, As I Lay Dying, and Within Temptation to Switchfoot and Lecrae.  However, I’m not sure anyone can touch the energy of the boys in Dropkick.  It was just me and one other photographer in the photo pit and we were absolutely hustling.  I mean sweaty, heavy breathing Crossfit style workout.  Ken and Al had us running as they moved from the stage to the crowd and back again.  To add to the fun they swapped sides of the stage on the regular.  I was amazed that we all worked together in a nice almost choreographed fashion.  It was an honor.

​I had a few magic captures in 2019, one came during the All That Remains concert at The Oriental Theater in Denver when Phil sung "What If I Was Nothing" to a woman in the audience.  Another, I felt was when a fan in line at the Unashamed Forever Tour in Tampa gave me a high-five.  The last was during the Dropkick Murphys show in Denver when Ken gave the microphone to a young fan in the audience.  These moments are some of my proudest.

​Ken and the guys honoring their fans, especially the young fans was something that I’ll never forget.  It shows their humility and how much they make their concerts into an organic event, almost one body, band and fan moving as one.  I was very impressed.  Having been a fan since before their first LP was released, shockingly I had never attended a Dropkick concert.  For shame.

​Besides the aforementioned, the show was invariably charged for so many reasons.   The tech guys and soundboard hustlers (Forgive me; I’m a layman in the industry speak.) were topnotch.  As a photographer the lighting was on point from the opening notes on the bagpipe.  That is such a blessing to a photographer operating under the first three songs rule.  Additionally, everyone in the band was engaged, not just going through the motions.  It was obvious they are truly enjoying the performance just as much if not more so than the fans in attendance.  I had taken my oldest son, Brody, who’s a fan as well.  He informed me that based on his learned opinion, Dropkick Murphys and August Burns Red were tied for the best performances of the year.  He’s right; August Burns Red does put on one heck of a show too.

​The Dropkick Murphys are headed overseas. Likely as I type this sub-professional sub-par article they are in flight.  January 28th they will be playing Madrid, Spain.  I’m a little jealous as they will be hitting Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Denmark and so on. You can see it for yourself here, those lucky bastages.  Whether you’re an avid fan, kinda fan, or just like a live performance, go see Dropkick Murphys perform live….. Maybe you can catch their show in Oslo, Norway on February 3rd.  I’m thinking vacation.    

By: Anthony Cannella

Recently, The Medicine Tour kicked off and made its stop at the sold out, The Forge, venue in Joliet, Illinois with the stacked lineup of Sleeping With Sirens, Set It Off, Belmont and Point North! With the line wrapped around the block before the show even started, you could tell these fans were ready for an insane night of Rock. Right from the beginning, the crowd wasted no time as they presented a high energy environment throughout Point North’s set. As time went on, the people kept pouring in, which indicated it was only going to crazier as the show went on!
After Point North set the standard of the night, Belmont took it up a notch as they got the crowd surfers going with their Punk/Bounce style. With Belmont being from Chicago, they definitely felt the love from the hometown crowd as they even gave us a taste of some new music!

With Belmont’s set wrapping up, Set It Off and Sleeping With Sirens concluded the night as they completely took over the venue back to back. With The Forge being a compact venue, they utilized it to their advantage as they forced the crowd to do whatever they wanted to with their high energy performance. Sleeping With Sirens is honestly a band that is a must see when they are at a venue near you. Their style goes unmatched as they present you a set that ranges throughout their years. As a fan, they leave you completely satisfied mixing the old bangers with the hits from their newest album ‘How It Feels To Be Lost’ that was released in 2019 via Sumerian Records. Kellin Quinn is absolutely flawless in his vocals, but is perfectly complimented by his Rockstar’s behind him that include: Jack Fowler, Gabe Barham, Nick Martin and Justin Hills! One moment they have you moshing, crowd surfing, doing a wall of death and then the other moment before you know it, they bring it down as they play their cover of IRIS by the Goo Goo Dolls acoustically.
The Medicine Tour is an absolute must-see tour and there are still plenty of shows left on this tour. If it is coming to your city, we suggest that you get tickets immediately if you haven’t already. Lucky for you, if you missed this tour or if you simply would like to see Set It Off or Sleeping With Sirens again, check out their tour dates that will occur once this tour is over! All info can be found below!

Set It Off, Photos by Anthony Cannella ​

By: Anthony Cannella

All Time Low’s Ten Years Later And It’s Still Nothing Personal Tour rolled through Chicago, Illinois at the House Of Blues and we were there! All Time Low had the sold-out crowd going insane as they performed their third studio album ‘Nothing Personal’, that was released via Hopeless Records on July 7, 2009, in its entirety. In addition, they threw in one of their crowd favorites “Dear Maria” as their closing song for the encore. These Pop-Punk bangers from 2009 literally made the venue shake as everyone sang along while jumping with the crowd surfers. From start to finish, All Time Low had the girls going wild as they covered the stage with bras that were thrown at them. We could easily say they made security earn their money that night! To see how incredible this show was, check the photos below!

Alex Gaskarth, Jack Barakat, Rian Dawson, Zack Merrick also had their families there in the VIP boxes, which made for a special night all around for everyone. All Time Low has recently released a remaster of ‘Nothing Personal’ and it is available now! We highly suggest that you check it out and start blasting this album as it is timeless music that will never get sick of. It is truly an amazing album, so definitely give this tribute some attention! Check out the links below to order it and find out more info about the album!