My American Heart

Things have come seemingly easy for My American Heart, most of whom were all of 16 or 17 when they signed to Kevin Lyman's Warcon Entertainment Label four years ago. This rock crew cut their teeth playing Lyman's Taste of Chaos tour and have since been on the bill of three Warped tours, including the current edition. And now, they have just scored their first Billboard chart in with a No. 28 Heatseekers entry for their sophomore album, "Hiding Inside the Horrible Weather." There has, however, been some bumps along the way."Our first real tour was [2005's] Taste of Chaos and we had only put an EP out. We weren't even ready to tour yet," frontman Larry Soliman, now 20, tells Billboard.com. "And we played acoustic. Not exactly our thing..."Between dates, the band managed to make only a little time to craft its first album, "The Meaning in Makeup," which had a much more typical screamo/hard rock feel. "We had a month to write it. [It's] [retty raw stuff, we didn't have time to add sh*t," Soliman says). The San Diego-based five piece's modern rock mix of angular, dark guitar rhythms and Soliman's emotional sing-song yowl on "Horrible Weather" is significantly more accessible to new fans' ears, though it wasn't exactly what old fans were expecting. "Kids were like 'You aren't hard anymore, you're not part of the scene anymore,'" Soliman explains. "We were like, 'what does that even mean?' I feel like we made something we were all definitely proud of.... So what if it's good for a broader audience? My mom likes the CD and my mom hated our music before. And my mom is 49. It's been interesting to see that. We'll even hear that same story on tour. 'Hey man, I love your album, and my mom likes it too!"Having gained more experience on the road and more time at home to write, the band's musicianship has also grown significantly and even resulted in too much new material. Whittling their work down to songs that fit was one of the new challenges of making the album. "We'd sit in a room for 12 hours and go over every single melody we could possible muster for a piece of music. It was a situation where I had to take charge of what I wanted, with everyone counting on me to pick a path and roll with it. Which is very intimidating," Soliman says.
Fine-tuning their craft on stage has also been hard work for My American Heart. The group, which is rounded out by guitarist Jesse Barrera, bassist Dustin Hook, drummer Steven Oira and guitarist Matthew VanGasbeck, really had to earn their keep on tour, particularly on Warped -- despite the Kevin Lyman connection. "Kevin is an original punk/ska kid," Soliman says. "And the way he does his job has stayed the same. People around him have to work hard and he never gives hand-outs, and I appreciate that. We couldn't play the big stage at Warped, we had to put in our time and build a crowd and fanbase. He wanted us to have our fans locked in. He wanted us to earn it." And earned it they have. My American Heart will play the main stage for the first time ever during the Warped stint this summer, which kicked off last week.

Kany Garcia

Singer-songwriter Kany Garcia's journey to the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart was fraught with drama.You could say it started when her father, who came from a family of flamenco guitarists, abandoned the priesthood to be with her mother, a music teacher.Or when Garcia, who spent all her life studying at conservatories in Puerto Rico, made the cut for reality singing competition "Objetivo Fama" in 2003. After she taped her first episode, she fell asleep at the wheel on her way home and hit a lamppost, fracturing her pelvis, clavicle and requiring 40 stitches on her face. She spent two months recuperating; her reality TV break was done for.But Garcia wasn't about to give up. "Obviously something like that adds a lot to you as a human being in the sense that you value everything more," says Garcia, 25. "You want to be totally sure you reach people. You're much more determined. When it comes time to record, you expect a lot more of yourself."She had initially sent her demo to Sony BMG, home to famed Venezuelan singer-songwriter Franco de Vita, who at the same time went to his label looking for a local singer with whom to duet when he came to Puerto Rico to perform.
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document.write('');The label set up a rehearsal with de Vita and Garcia, and the audience reaction was so positive that de Vita invited her to perform on several dates of his U.S. tour. In time, Garcia also recorded her first album, "Cualquier Dia," released on Sony BMG.The first single from that effort, Garcia's piano- and guitar-driven breakup song "Hoy Ya Me Voy," debuted at No. 42 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart. (The song, and Garcia herself, are also featured in a commercial for wireless company Centennial Puerto Rico).What has set Garcia apart from other pop divas on the charts, other than writing her own songs and ability to play guitar, is her blend of commercial melodies with lyrics that are sometimes bracingly personal, even if the story isn't always about her."I always write about things that happen to me, and also a lot of stories that people tell me," says Garcia. She wrote her album track "Adonde Fue Cecilia?" about a missing girl, after meeting rape victims and parents whose daughters had been kidnapped during a volunteer trip to El Salvador.Garcia's material is serious but not always heavy; a crowd favorite at a recent L.A. showcase was "Amigo en el Baño," an uptempo tune about a spurned woman who has just bought a vibrator."It's been pretty cool because it's a song that a lot of women identify with -- and that a lot of people laugh at, and don't say they identify with, but they do." The singer is set to open for Mexican pop blockbuster act Camila in Mexico City's Auditorio Nacional Aug. 31, though Garcia hopes word-of-mouth will further propel her career 'Stateside."People need something a little deeper than a chorus that everyone knows," says Garcia. "It's [about] trying to make space for things that are a little less superficial."

The Last Goodnight

Enfield, Connecticut isn't exactly a musical mecca, but the tiny New England city has spawned pop rock act the Last Goodnight, who have just scored their first ink on the Billboard charts. With their major label debut on the horizon, the six-piece troupe's "Pictures of You" advances 40-37 this week on the Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks tally."We grew up close to both Boston and New York," frontman Kurtis John says of Enfield. "Not only were we one of the few bands in town that played original music, but we could drive either place to find shows. We'd save our pennies from our dumb day jobs and hit the road." Eventually the group signed to Capitol/Virgin allowing John to quit his gig at TGIFriday's entirely.The Last Goodnight, whose size contributes to its epic sound, grew out of high school friendships between John (piano, vocals) and fellow Enfield natives Mike Nadeau (guitar), Leif Christensen (bass) and multi-instrumentalist Anton Yurack. Drummer Larone McMillan and keyboardist Ely Rise round out the large group."I don't think it's a 'too many cooks in the kitchen' scenario," John says. "I'm the primary songwriter and Mike and Ely help flesh those ideas out. At the end of the day, we all punch in our contributions. We have a job to do, so it helps that we're all friends with each other." The band's "job" over the last year has been completing "Poison Kiss." Due Aug. 28, the album is comprised of 12 tracks whittled down from an "organized chaos" of 120 songs, many of which were composed on piano. John adopted an affinity for the instrument from his father, a musician who picked up tunes by ear for a very specific reason. "My dad was blind starting from before I was born," John explains. "Other kids bonded with their dads playing sports. He and I would just listen to records and jam together."
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John's soulful, melodic vocals can also be attributed to his upbringing, pouring over records from Etta James to Guns 'N Roses.As "Poison Kiss" nears release, the Last Goodnight are out on an extensive North American tour, which runs through early September. Dates can be found at the band's Web site. Fans can also look forward to a tour with a "pretty big-name act" this fall.

Architecture In Helsinki

The artwork for Architecture In Helsinki's new album "Places Like This" is, in a word, busy. It's dominated by line-drawings of skyscrapers, people and robots milling around on the sidewalk in washes of yellows, pinks and blues. A greener, more natural, less urban setting lurks below the streets. The dichotomy evokes an organic past being covered over by technology. It's a fitting image for the band."The art was done by a lad from London called Will Sweeney. He is one of our favorite artists in the universe, so we were pretty damn excited that he was up for it," frontman Cameron Bird tells Billboard.com. "Basically the art was his interpretation of the music, so hopefully, looking into the cover creates some mystical psychedelic reactions.""Places Like This," which according to Bird is named after the 1990 Robbie Nevil album "Place Like This," takes the verse-chorus-verse pop song and amps it up with steroids. With all six members contributing something to the colorful chaos, the bombastic, sing-along nature of AIH's music is enhanced by Bird's wacky yowl and it's boisterous rhythm section. Word of the group has now spread to enough "places" to earn the troupe its first chart ink, with this fourth full-length flying in at No. 7 on Top Heatseekers, No. 5 on Top Electronic Albums and No. 31 on Top Independent Albums. Architecture in Helsinki are not, as you might suspect, from Scandinavia. The Australian group began in the late '90s with "drawn-out, eight-minute atmospheric wig-outs," and a revolving door of personnel. But when Bird returned down under following an extended stay in the United States, he brought with him a new appreciation for "sub-2.5 minute pop songs, sharp and catchy, with no time to look at your shoes." The group is now rounded out by Jamie Mildren, James Cecil, Sam Perry, Gus Franklin and Kellie Sutherland. "Six [people] is just right. It means when you buy a 6 pack no one gets left out," Bird quips, "...though it'd be nice to add an electric sitar virtuoso."The band's accessibility – keeping songs short and to the point -- has won them fans, as has their inimitable live show. But Bird avvers, "I guess it all depends what you call accessible. We are always gonna divide people, [whether we're] too pop, not pop enough... making people happy is a full time job."
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And when he says, "full time" he means it. AIH has what Bird describes as a "nomadic" tendency to tour worldwide almost constantly, and to craft their music wherever they happen to be. While the members hail from Australia, "We are based all over the place. [We're] perennial nomads if you will, so maybe that has affected our psyches and ideas and the flow of vibes," says Bird of the way the group writes. "I think as soon as [travel] starts affecting us too much, we will probably implode in a really spectacular fashion."

Trick Daddy Arrested After Strip Club Brawl

Rapper Trick Daddy was arrested after a fight at a strip club early today (Sept. 11) in Miami. The rapper (real name: Maurice Young) was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest, according to police.Authorities responded to a fight at Tootsie's Cabaret just after 1 a.m. and found Young, who smelled of alcohol, cursing and "threatening staff at the club," the police report said. Police repeatedly asked Young to leave the club, but he refused.When they tried to handcuff him, he also refused and started moving his arms around, according to the report.He was taken to a hospital where he was treated for injuries from the fight and later transported to Miami-Dade County jail. The rapper's mug shot shows a bloody nose and cheek. He posted bond of $1,500.It was not immediately known if Young had legal representation. His label, Slip-N-Slide Records, declined to comment.

White Stripes Cancel Fall U.S. Tour

The White Stripes have abruptly canceled their fall U.S. tour, after it was revealed that drummer Meg White "is suffering from acute anxiety and is unable to travel at this time." The trek was to have begun tonight (Sept. 13) in Albuquerque, N.M., and wrap Oct. 10 in Honolulu.Refunds are available at points of purchase. For now, a nine-date tour of the United Kingdom, beginning Oct. 24 in Glasgow, is still on the books.On Sept. 18, the Stripes will release a new single, "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)," on CD and digitally. Both versions include a "frat rock" version of the track as well as an acoustic version of "A Martyr for My Love for You," while the 7-inch vinyl, due Sept. 25, has just the latter cut as its B-side.Here are the White Stripes' canceled tour dates: Sept. 13: Albuquerque, N.M. (Kiva Auditorium)Sept. 15: Austin, Texas (Austin City Limits)
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Sept. 16: Austin, Texas (Stubb's BBQ)Sept. 18: Chula Vista, Calif. (Coors Amphitheatre)Sept. 19: Inglewood, Calif. (the Forum)Sept. 21: Berkeley, Calif. (Greek Theatre)Sept. 24: Anchorage, Ala. (William A. Egan Civic Center)Sept. 26-27: Seattle (Paramount Ballroom)Sept. 28: Boise, Idaho (Idaho Center Theatre)Sept. 29: Salt Lake City (E CenteR)Sept. 30: Jackson Hole, Wy. (Snow King Center)Oct. 2: Rapid City, S.D. (Rushmore Plaza)Oct. 3: Fargo, N.D. (Civic Auditorium)Oct. 4: Lincoln, Neb. (Pershing Auditorium)Oct. 6-7: Chicago (Aragon Ballroom)Oct. 10: Honolulu (Blaisdell Center)
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'Play' On

Patti Scialfa admits the prospect of releasing her third solo album just in front of husband Bruce Springsteen's next project is "challenging." "It's just the way it worked out," says Scialfa, who releases "Play It As It Lays" this week via Columbia."When we came off 'The Seeger Sessions,' I had already started this record and had three or four things cut. I was dying to get back to work and I stared working and (Springsteen) started working ... and then we knew we were coming close together and he wanted me to be able to put mine out before his. When I was younger I would probably have wanted more room to myself, but at this point it doesn't matter."What it has meant, Scialfa says, is that "it's been an exciting time at home because we're both pretty busy. It feels like a great, creative time. It just feels very positive." As part of the E Street Band, of course, Scialfa appears on Springsteen's new album, "Magic," due Oct. 2, while Springsteen plays guitar and organ on four "Play It As It Lays" tracks, including the first single, "Town Called Heartbreak."
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Scialfa wrote all 10 songs on the album, her first since 2004's "23rd Street Lullaby," and co-produced it with Steve Jordan and Ron Aiella. Besides Springsteen, players include E Streeters Nils Lofgren and Soozie Tyrell, as well as Jordan, bassist Willie Weeks and keyboardist Clifford Carter.
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