Joseph Pepin - Strokes Show Review
Bill Shouldis - Patent Pending, A Wilhelm Scream, Say Anything Photos
Erick Boustead - Top 10 of 2005
Ann Marie Cagnazzi - Stretch Arm Strong Photos
Dan Schwalbach - Every Time I Die
Chris Pacifico - Death Cab For Cutie Review
Jessica Bailis- String Cheese Incident Show Story
Chris Pacifico - My Morning Jacket Review
Kim Maroon - Stretch Arm Strong Pics
Lisa Marie Rueda - Static X Pics
Alix Piorun - Motion City Soundtrack Pics
Lauren Hrehovcik - TREOS Interview
Matt Johnson - Tourgasm Show Review
J.P. Alferos - 2 CD Reviews
Kim Maroon-Taste of Chaos Pics
Alix Piorun- Take Action Tour Pics
Lisa Hrichison- Bane Show Photos
James Cross - Taste of Chaos Show Review
Matt Johnson- Hed P.E. Review
Matt Johnson- Stephen Kellogg photos
Holly Barron - Folly photos
Lisa Hrichison- TREOS photos
Drew Purcell-Silvertide Photos
Matt Johnson- Todd Barry CD Review
Aaron J. Tyunatis- Brother Ali CD Review
Lauren Hrehovcik- Like Yesterday Article
Matt Johnson- Day of Fire CD Review
Matt Johnson- The Village Movie Review
Melissa Bowen- Silvertide Article
Julia Burrell- The Killers Show Review
Marcella Volpintesta-Blindside Photos
Aleesha McGuire-Blood Brothers Photos
Kim Maroon- Kinison Photos
Lisa Hrichison- Various Band Photos
Drew Purcell-HSF Nutcraker Festival

NEWEST SYNNER CONTRIBUTIONS

Strokes Show Review by Joseph Pepin (NY)
On Tuesday April 25th I witnessed one of the best arena performances I have ever seen. I had the opportunity to see The Strokes live in Boston at the sold out Agganis Arena and the show exceeded all of my expectations. The group played a jam-packed two-hour set, one song after another, with very little time in between songs. Their stage set up was phenomenal, with vintage Tetris-esc lights shooting around every color you could imagine. There were two large rectangular light set-ups on each side of the stage, lighting in-between the drum risers and behind the stage. The guys played songs from their entire catalog and had the crowd going nuts the entire night. Julian's vocals were dead on throughout the evening and he came prepared with enough cool New York City attitude for all of Manhattan. The band ended every song dead on with the arena going pitch black on four and then coming back to life on one with the light spectacle starting all over again. After about an hour and forty-five minutes the band left the stage un- announced and the venue without a trace of light. Five minutes the later the guys returned to play on encore consisting of "New York City Girls," "Is This It" and then closed the night with "Take It or Leave It." Overall this show was spectacular and I strongly urge anyone who has not seen The Strokes to get out there and see them on this tour.

Every Time I Die - Photos by Dan Schwalbach (Milwaukee)
Check out some photos from Every Time I Die's recent tour with A Life Once Lost, It Dies Today and Haste The Day by clicking here.


Death Cab for Cutie - Plans Review by Chris Pacifico

Normally when I hear that such a band as Bellingham, Washington's Death Cab For Cutie are going to go from a rather prominent independent label such as Barsuk to a major like Atlantic, I tend to get a little worried that their trademark vibe will be hindered. But such a scenario is not the case here. Having proved what a renaissance man he was last year with his poptronica side project, The Postal Service, and an appearance on The O.C. Benjamin Gibbard is back with Death Cab For Cutie as they have released their fifth effort, Plans. While not as stellar as their previous masterpiece Transatlanticism, Plans is most assuredly a worthy follow up. Gibbard's songwriting and lyrical deliverance is a bit more morose but it is that feature in and of itself in which gives the songs a rather intricate sense of endearment.

The tender serenade of the opener "Marching Bands of Manhattan" brings back memories of indie greats such as Sebedoh, as the sugar sweet "Soul Meets Body" is one of the most catchiest and warm songs of the year. The band members exhibit their knack for being at the helm of a semi-jazzy and melancholy flow on "Summer Skin" while "Different Names for the Same Thing" morphs into a spacey sway. Gibbard equates Catholic school to Roman rule on "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" which tells me that Plans might not make the Pope's top ten indie rock albums of the year list. Nonetheless, Death Cab for Cutie has exhibited stamina and staying power with Plans and must be given credit for an album that is tepidly vibrant and wholesomely enchanting.


My Morning Jacket - "Z" Review by Chris Pacifico

Artist: My Morning Jacket | Album: Z | Label: ATO

Those hairy boys from Kentucky are back on their fourth full length with an album that takes kind of a slight turn away from their organic alt-country bliss as heard on their 2003 breakout It Still Moves. However, Z will still manage to bedazzle even the most seasoned of MMJ fans on an album that will no doubt remain a pinnacle of their careers. Even though members Johnny Quaid and Danny Cash skipped out in early 2004, replacements Bo Koster (keyboards) Carl Broemel (guitar) have obviously adjusted comfortably.

Of course we all know that the foundation of MMJ is the haunting echoes emitted from frontman Jim James voice are still as spine tingling as ever as he coos his "ooohs" and " ahhhs"? on "Wordless Chorus"; a delightful number delicately peppered with electronica. "Gideon" is so epical that is comes off as more of a mini opus more so than a song as the track has with a nature induced ringing that may just convince some that it was recorded atop Mt. Everest. The two-tone guitar skiffle in "Off the Record"? goes into a jazzy jam mode much like Steve Winwood used to do when he was making records with Traffic while the barroom pop of "What a Wonderful Man"? contains a peculiar treble which is abrasive with an effervescent twinkle as the bands members" exhibit a precise vocal precision that results in a sort of caroling chant. "Into the Woods"? has that little taste of Brian Wilson that pops up in My Morning Jackets sound from time to time and the minimally super-charged "Into the Woods"? is tinged with delicate stadium-rock guitar bridges which make for an enchanting ditty.

In a nutshell, Z is utterly amazing. My Morning Jacket has managed to evolve as a band on a creative and artistic level without alienating their legacy which is something that a lot of bands are hard-pressed to do in this day and age. Be sure to catch My Morning Jacket on their fall tour and in the upcoming film Elizabethtown where the band plays the part of the fictitious act Ruckus as they perform Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird".

www.mymorningjacket.com

Stretch Arm Strong Pics by Kim Maroon (New Jersey)
Click here for some awesome Stretch Arm Strong pics from the purple door fest

Static X Photos by Lisa Marie Rueda (El Paso, Tx)
Click here to check out some live photos of Static-X.

Motion City Soundtrack Photos by Alix Piorun
Check out some awesome photos of Motion City Soundtrack by clicking here.

Interview with TREOS By Lauren Hrehovcik

Nate changed, tuned, and re-tuned the strings on his guitar. "So how did you think of such an unnecessarily long name, and what exactly does The Receiving End of Sirens mean?" Both Nate and Brendan laughed, I can imagine this was not the first time hearing the question. "Well," Nate spoke, "We were sitting on a bunch of names and that one just seemed to stick out." Brendan picked up there with, "Plus, if you have a weird name... you get to say it twice. People are like, 'What's your name?' and we repeat it. We've been mistaken as so many other things ranging from The Receiving End of Stars to The Receding Ends of Sirens." Any way you'd like to say the name, get used to hearing it- this is Triple Crown's new favorite child. So how did this band come to be? Through college and hometowns, of course- what would a band be without the sob story of quitting school early to enjoy the road and poverty? Pen in hand, the entire band was geared up to sign with Atlantic, when the (former) front man, "decided to be a pansy. He wanted to stay in school and write poetry, when this was our excuse not to stay in school." The contributor of the last statement will remain anonymous. So, there they were, down one lead singer and now a contract. One member, Alex went back to school, while Brendan picked up a co-op at Atlantic and a side job at Urban Outfitters. Lucky enough, the man of TREOS' dreams walked through UO's doors, and so became the full line-up of the band. Casey more than filled the spot of vocalist Originating from Massachusetts, the band (Andrew, Alex, Brendan, Casey and Nate) jumped headfirst into the touring circuit alongside bands such as Orange Island and As Tall As Lions (both AMAZING), and is now due to appear with Gatsby's American Dream and on the new England dates of Warped tour. Their style of music can be appreciated and interpreted in numerous ways. On one hand, their debut album, Between the Heart and the Synapse, resembles the catchiness of New Jersey's Thursday (particularly Asleep in the Chapel on the album War All the Time), with physically stronger vocals and a punch of experimental/progressive quality. As entertaining as their album is, their live show is out of this world; in fact- I much rather prefer their live performance to the album. The epic feeling of every single song (try Broadcast Quality on for size, and maybe Flee Factory, and maybe all of them...) is completely intensified when blended with stage performance and pumped up volume. When you see TREO on stage I guarantee, you will be absolutely blown away. As long as The Receiving End of Sirens dodges the "talent curse" (when you are destined to never make it because you actually possess talent) they will become a household name. Put your money where your mouth is, you rock star, and go buy a ticket and the new album. Yeah, I said it. Go buy it- I promise, it's worth every cent spent. In effort to reserve my credibility as an album reviewer, I must note something negative about The Receiving End of Sirens. I've always partially remembered the saying "'i' before 'e'," and ignored the rest. For anyone who does the same, remember, the full saying is "'i' before 'e' except after 'c'!" Damn that C. But, then again, I supposed that's not very negative at all, because they, "made a shirt: 'I before E except after C'." So... there goes my credibility?

Tourgasm f/ Dane Cook Show Review by Matt Johnson (PA)

It had finally arrived.  Tourgam hit the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State on Sunday April 24th.  The show opened up with Jay Davis talking about how he looks like a cross between Ryan Cabrera and Ellen DeGeneres to the sold out crowd of over 10,000.  Going through a very quick paced, 1/2 hour set, Jay got the crowd very revved up for what was to be an extraordinary event.  As Jay ended his set, Robert Kelly took the stage, even with a bum leg suffered from an accident earlier in the tour.  Robert brought the house to tears with his unbelievable set.  Touching on subjects such as obesity, different techniques to scare people, children "exploring" themselves, orgasmic deserts and what it would be like to have a personal midget at your disposal.  Not wasting anytime Gary Culman took the stage.  His set was a little more laid back and cleaner than some of the previous acts.  Talking about the difference between Hanukah and Christmas, "The Pill", famous Jewish inventors, and why Jewish people are great lovers.  After the crowd had laughed so hard that they didn't think they could laugh anymore, Dane Cook took the stage with a standing ovation.  Dane immediately started telling a story of one of his recent adventures, seeing a person get hit by a car.  Dane does not deliver stand up comedy, he delivers true comedy by moving around the stage and getting into every single joke he does.  Dane amused the crowd with demonstrations of passing out from drinking to much, vomiting after a night of heavy drinking, his obsession with The Price Is Right, and his love for jingles.  As Dane's set came to an end, a hilarious story about a recent one night stand was the perfect way to leave the crowd wanting more.  As he talked about pick up lines, taking the girl back to his apartment, luring her up to the bedroom, sexual exploration, and a new game he invented which involved taking a cashew and using a certain sexual organ to flip the cashew into his mouth, everyone in the crowd was literally laughing so hard they couldn't breathe.  As Dane left the stage to another standing ovation from the over 10,00 in attendance, everyone that was at the show knew they had all been a part of something special.  Penn State will never be the same after Tourgasm made its visit.  This show is an absolute must see for anyone that wants to laugh so hard they cant breath.  There are only a few more dates left on the tour, so be sure to check it out if its near you.  You can find more information on the tour and all the performers at http://www.tourgasm.com. 

CD Reviews from JP Alferos (San Diego)

Avila Brothers - The Mood: Soundsational



The second album of the producers/artists, The Avila Brothers, The Mood: Soundsational is amazing. It involves backgrounds from hip hop, jazz, blues and soul. It is a wonderful combination which incorporates the genres above, with many guest artists including Little Brother, Sly Boogie, Shelea, Lauren Evans, Dirty Birdy, and Ahmad Jones. This album is a great cd for work, school, in the car and in the club. The beats, sounds and melodies are pleasant to the ear and give way for even more musical influence in the future. Bringing back the soul, R&B, and purely soulful sounds give this CD in my opinion, a must have. more information on abexperience.com.

Toshi - Time To Share



Toshi, the Japanese wonder has come back with the album, Time To Share. The unique way of singing and the voice stylings of Toshi are a treat in itself, but combined with producers and artists such as Mos Def and Angie Stone, Time To Share makes for an album that explores and combines sounds for listening pleasure. Time to Share combines jazz, soul, hip-hop and R&B in a way and style that only Toshi can accomplish. The unique melodies and way Toshi sings is a wonder and treat for artists and musicians alike. Time to Share is a must have, and it is about TIME TO SHARE this album with friends and family.

Photos From "Taste of Chaos" by Kim Maroon (New York)

*NEW PHOTOS JUST ADDED TO SLIDESHOW*
Really awesome looking pics including Killswitch Engage, MCR, Senses Fail and Atreyu. Click to view Slideshow

Photos From "Take Action Tour" by Alix Piorun (Boston)

Check out pics of Sugarcult, Hawthorne Heights, Melee and Anberlin. Click to view Slideshow

Photos from Bane Show by Lisa Hrichison (Wilkes-Barre, PA)

Taste of Chaos Show Review by James Cross (Maryland)

The night was actually a freezing night and parking was extremely hard to find. A static lullaby opened up the night on the main stage and were absolutely amazing. i think they're stand out songs were actually the ones from their new cd. A static did really well on their light show, it really added to the atmosphere. Next up as Underoath, in my opinion one of the best bands of the night. they played mostly songs from "They're only chasing safety" and maybe one song from their old cd's but everyone still enjoyed the show. the singer kept spitting up into the air and catching his spit as it came down. pretty nasy but really funny. The next band that came out was Senses Fail, personally i think they played really well but at times the singer of the band was off at places but all in all still a good show. Next was the heaviest band of the night Killswitch Engage, great show, they played a good mixture of their old stuff with the old singer and new stuff with the new singer. Then the headlining band came out the used. Everyone rushed down to the floor and squshed up near the front. the used came out and opened up with their song "take it away" very good set i'd say they were one of the better bands of the night also. Also during this whole set were bands on the acoustic stage. i got to see bleed the dream and My American Heart. both did extremely well, especially my american heart. seeing them live and acoustic was definitley unforgettable.

Matt Johnson is a CD reviewing machine

Hed P.E. "Only In Amerika"

After a few years and millions of rumors about the band, Hed p.e. has delivered their new CD "Only In Amerika". For die hard Hed p.e. fans, the wait is finally over. This CD is definitely not a disappointment to fans of the band. Those who are not familiar with the band, or their style of lyrics, may find this CD a little hard to swallow. From the very first track, appropriatley titled "Foreplay", the tone of the CD is set, drugs, sex, drinking and cursing. This is just a warm up for the 12 tracks to follow. The CD officially starts out with their new single "Represent", which gets you moving and waving your middle finger in the air. This CD has some definite political influence embedded in the lyrics and in some titles such as "War" and "American Beauty", but this record is a definite head bangers dream. If you are a fan of the band and their music, this is a must for you. You may just want to turn it down a little bit when your parents walk into the room.


Photos From Folly and We.re All Broken Show by Holly Barron
click on thumbnail for larger picture