Music Chevelle “Hats Off To The Bull”

December 12, 2011 - 10:20 am

The Chicago alternative hard rock trio Chevelle is celebrating the release of their sixth album “Hats Off to the Bull” Tuesday, December 6 via Epic Records. “Hats Off to the Bull” is charging full-speed ahead and garnering early critical acclaim. The album’s first single “Face To The Floor” continues its ascent at radio nationwide reaching #1 at Active Rock and Top 10 at Altternative Rock radio. Billboard magazine stated, “’Face To The Floor’ delivers nearly four minutes of the cathartic alt-metal fans have come to expect from Chevelle. This time, though, the band wants to stir their minds, not just tempers.”

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Music ChinaShop Presents ROCK at the Viper Room Nov 18th

November 15, 2011 - 4:01 pm

Every now and again an idea comes along that is so outstanding that you have to say to yourself… OF COURSE that’s BRILLIANT! We have had such an idea…

ChinaShop presents ROCK at The Viper Room this coming Friday Nov 18th. We have partnered with the infamous establishment to host a variety of seriously good rock bands. Every other month in 2012 we are going to take over a night and have our way with it. And Friday is NOT to be missed…

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Featured Gallery Music Broken Heart Still Beating: The Darlings

October 20, 2011 - 11:15 am

During their recent gig at The Roxy Theatre, The Darlings treated their audience to an impersonation of the creepy noise that the half-man/half-pigeon, which haunted them during a recent stay in Nevada City, uttered outside their hotel window. The fans seemed amused but had more fun singing along to their hit single “Broken Heart Still Beating.” Perhaps they needed the full story behind the eerie war cry, as we were lucky enough to be privy to.

In an interview with ChinaShop, the Los Angeles rockers told us all about this hybrid creature, which they decided had to be something worthy of a role on the X-Files. They also discussed their wide array of influences, bizarre childhood incidents involving mannequins, and their quest to bring real rock and roll back to the music scene.

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Featured Gallery Music Punk Rock Mariachi: Mariachi El Bronx

August 4, 2011 - 9:01 am

Mariachi El Bronx celebrated the release of their second self-titled album at La Cita in downtown Los Angeles with a two night sold-out stand.

Taking on an artistic challenge, ChinaShopMag was there rockumenting with the aid of the Instagram app.

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Gallery Music Trouncing The Troubadour: Alkaline Trio

July 26, 2011 - 11:32 am

Without spelling out the fact that Los Angeles concert audiences can be smug, which I might have just accidentally done, I’ll admit that we can be a tough crowd. In our defense, we’re spoiled; there is just so much good music around that it can be tricky to impress us enough to uncross our arms and let loose at a show.

Every now and then, a band will roll through town, however, that makes us throw all inhibitions out the window and rock out; that makes us show off our best dance moves, throw out energetic fist pumps, and convinces us that we will lose face if we go home without participating in the mosh pit or attempting to crowd surf. For many, this band is Alkaline Trio.

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Music Lit Goes Live

July 22, 2011 - 10:59 am

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After a 7 year absence, Orange County’s Multi-Platinum recording artists LIT have returned to the studio with producer Matt Wallace (Faith No More, OAR, The Replacements, Maroon 5). Lit plans to release new music by the end of the year, but in the meantime, have posted a brand new demo with exclusive video footage for the song “You Tonight” on www.LitBand.com.

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Gallery Music The Strokes Leave Them Numb

June 24, 2011 - 9:47 am

When The Strokes formed in 1998 they were a bunch of privileged New York kids with famous friends. Their sound was irreverent and admittedly unpolished and both critics and fans alike couldn’t get enough.

The casual vocal stylings of lead singer Julian Casablancas soon incited a movement. Considered creators of some of the best pop songs ever recorded, I have to admit I originally wanted to hate them. I first learned of The Strokes and their ilk by watching bad reality TV. After hearing their massive pop smash, “Last Night” I secretly purchased This Is It and begrudgingly listened to it…again…and again.

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Music The 5 Best Rock Bands You’ve Never Heard

June 23, 2011 - 9:41 am

Automatic Static Z Rokk

A very wise friend of mine once said, “Don’t ever be afraid to admit to your influences.” When you’re a young artist, you always want to be different, and can often times find yourself doing interviews in which you proclaim your band or your music seem unlike anything anyone else has ever heard. The truth is, comparisons to your peers (and more popular artists) are complimentary, and your influences inform who you are.

I began my professional music career during one of the greatest movements in American rock ‘n’ roll: 1992-1999. From grunge to nu-metal to rap rock and the birth of emo, I saw bands like Nirvana and Green Day become household names. Music that didn’t sound like it belonged on the radio helped inform what made it to the radio in years to come. As an artist, I always found it inspiring to discover a band that no one really knew, or stumble across music that wasn’t on the commercial radar. Thus, allow me to present my list of the five best rock bands you’ve never heard…but should. Immediately.

Editor’s Note: Zac Diebels, the author of this piece and the one-man production juggernaut that is Automatic Static, has a track from his new album for you to download and listen to while you check the list. It’s called “Clique,” and you can grab it here.

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Music Shonen Knife Cut Into The Ramones

June 16, 2011 - 10:35 am

Shonen Knife Osaka Ramones

Shonen Knife have been the most internationally recognized name in Japanese Rock music since their entrance onto the alternative rock scene in the early 90s seeing them become the indie darlings of hipsters and rock stars alike. 2011 celebrates thirty years since Naoko and the band began releasing albums of their joyous mixture of pop, punk, food and fantasy for the world to enjoy. Since their inception in Osaka in 1981 (featuring Naoko’s sister Atsuko and their friend, bassist/vocalist Michie) to their current lineup featuring members Ritsuko (bass,vocals) and Emi (drums,vocals), Shonen Knife have maintained their rightful place in the ever changing indie rock scene.

In celebration of this milestone Shonen Knife is paying tribute to one of their biggest musical inspirations since the infancy of their still vibrant career 3 decades ago… NYC’s legendary Ramones.

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Featured Gallery Music Forever The Sickest Kids: Things ARE Getting Pretty Serious

May 6, 2011 - 11:37 am

Forever the Sickest Kids put the final smack down on their Spring Break Your Heart Tour by playing 2 nights at Bamboozle 2011. After jumping off the road with friends, Breathe Carolina, Before Their Eyes, This Century and We Are The In Crowd they unleashed their particular flavor of rock n roll for wildly excited crowds in New Jersey.

This American Pop Punk Band from Texas signed to Universal Motown Records Group in 2007 and has been gaining momentum ever since. Although a lot of people are only now just hearing about FTSK, they have built a solid following of the young and impressionable. With a respectable web presence and endless touring, these guys aren’t going away anytime soon.

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