The Skies Revolt Release Some Kind of Cosmonaut
On Feb. 18, Some Kind of Cosmonaut will become the fifth line on The Skies Revolt's discography. The release celebration will be held at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids and the band will be supported by an assortment of area rock acts — The Bangups, The Better Fight, Fine Fine Titans, and The Heartside Hooligans.
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The Skies Revolt
CD Release Show
The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids Feb. 18, 8:30 p.m. $7 for 21+, $8 for under 21 pyramidschemebar.com, (616) 272-3758 |
"All of our other recordings happened at a much faster pace," said Vocalist Dave Pringle, of the year-long stretch it took the band to complete Some Kind of Cosmonaut. "It is really different, and I don't expect everyone to like it, but the people who have heard parts of it think it's one of our best. We did a 48-hour sneak preview of the new album and got so many hits it crashed our website. So we are really hoping that it sits well with people."
If fans want to grab a physical copy of the album before the band departs on tour, the release show is probably the best way to do that.
"We'll most likely be selling the album cheaper at the show," Pringle said. "Maybe half off or something like that."
Some Kind of Cosmonaut was recorded at The Foxboro Studio in Grand Rapids, with producer Mike Cervantes, and will be available through digital retailers.
Ultraviolet Hippopotamus wins Homegrown Music's Album of the Year
When Ultraviolet Hippopotamus' album Square Pegs, Round Holes was nominated for 2011 Album of the Year by the Homegrown Music Network (a national organization which helps promote and support independent bands), guitarist/vocalist Russell Olmsted did not expect to win.
"We knew that if we could stay on top of the voting that it would help us out, but we figured that the award would go to one of the other bands on the list," Olmsted said.
But to his surprise, after voting ended and the top five nominees were announced - Ultraviolet Hippopotamus was still on the list. After that, it was up to the Homegrown Music judges to choose a winner.
"All of our competition was incredible," Olmsted said. "I just didn't see it coming. For example, Moksha[‘s Here to Go] - not only are they talented musicians, but it's a fantastic album. And Strange Arrangement[‘s Polygraph] was on that list too - that album rarely leaves my CD player."
Olmstead called it "surreal," when the band received the news that they'd taken first place.
"It was really ultimately thanks to the fans who voted us into the top five," he said. "Without them, we wouldn't have had a shot at all."
The album was recorded by Rob Savage at Waveform Studios in Lowell, Mich. The band will re-enter the studio this year to record the follow up to Square Pegs, Round Holes.
CD Releases
By Dwayne Hoover
Life Size Ghost CD Release Show
wsg Elliott Street Lunatic & Wavvy Hands
Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids
Feb. 2, 9:30 p.m.
Free! foundersbrewing.com, (616) 776-1195
Indie rock outfit Life Size Ghost out of Kalamazoo/Grand Rapids will release its newest album, Magnify, at Founders Brewing Company with Elliott Street Lunatic (Lansing) and Wavvy Hands (Mt. Pleasant). The event will actually be the third of three release shows, following earlier performances in both Saginaw and Mt. Pleasant.
