The Zone Insider

by Leroy Grey

So I got some attitude from a Maggot (that's a term of endearment for a Slipknot fan) because I don't feel like going to Ozzfest this year. Yeah, I know it's their show for the year, and Priest, Slayer, and a bunch of others'll be there, but I personally got a problem with shows that cost more than amusement parks to attend. I mean, slamming in a parking lot for an hour in the sun? For the same price last time, I paid for my girl, got some gear, and drank plenty of fluids, if you know what I mean. If I gotta pay more than $50 bucks to get in, I want roller coasters.

The one show I was genuinely looking forward to was Lollapalooza. $35 for two days of bands I'd never seen before did sound awesome. But, in my first bit of news, Lollapalooza 2004 has been cancelled. The word is that festival organizers didn't expect to break even with the shows, so they cancelled about six weeks early.

I think there might be more to the story. A week after that announcement came the news that festival mastermind Perry Farrell's band Jane's Addiction had broken up, and the remaining members had reunited, with a new lead singer (ex-MTV VJ Steve Isaacs.)

On the plus side, several of the Lollapalooza bands are touring anyway, and the Flaming Lips have gone back to the studio. They even recorded a song for the SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS movie...

Quick Evanesence News: The website's redesigned, to reflect the current lineup and official history. Also, since it looks like the Fallen album has finally run out of steam (Are we going to play "Everybody's Fool" or not?), check out their latest video on their website. It's funny, as Evanescence videos go.

Looks like Evanescence's tour plans changed, as well. They're in Texas on August 4th; Louisville's cancelled. But there's better news. Q's already got his tickets: Evanescence is playing in St Louis on August 13th.

Korn News: Johnathan Davis and his wife, Devon Davis, are getting into the movie-making business. Of course, these movies are for adults. That's okay; Johnathan Davis is starting to look like Ron Jeremy, anyway...

They have a new animated video for "Everything I Own", which is awesome. They've recorded Pink Floyd and Public Enemy covers for their new Greatest Hits album (what, is it the end of their contract already?), and, of course, they're on the Projekt Revolution tour this summer...

Linkin Park News: Linkin Park's also got a new animated video for "Breaking the Habit," which is awesome. (I like cartoons. Back off.) They're wrapping up their South East Asia tour, and kicking right into the Projekt Revolution tour after that.

Here's the current lineup for the August 25th show:

MAIN STAGE: Linkin Park, Korn, Snoop Dogg, the Used, Less Than Jake

SECOND STAGE: Helmet, Ghostface, Funeral for a Friend, Downset, MOP

Have you noticed that Cape's Only Modern Rock is actually getting more 'altenative'? Let me throw in some words about this year's latest, and get you up to speed:

FRANZ FERDINAND hail from Glasgow, Scotland. Their penchant for minimalist rock with a dancy beat follows from a long line of art-school bands (Roxy Music, U2, Talking Heads). Their first EP came out in 2002, and "Take Me Out" is part of that song set. That set got the band signed with Domino Records in Scotland, then with Epic Records, then with a top 30 album on the US charts.

SNOW PATROL are another Glasgow band; their current album is their first US release, and their third album overall. Their song, "Spitting Games," is currently spinning on the Zone. Snow Patrol's from the same piece of Scotland as Travis and The Jesus and Mary Chain, but it's better for me to mention the peers of their current scene: bands such as Idlewilde, Arab Strap, Belle & Sebastian, and Mogwai that you'll probably be searching the bins for in a few years. Glasgow is the new Seattle.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE have been around since 1998 and are originally from Washington state. Originally, Death Cab was the pseudonym of one man, Ben Gibbons. But the response to his first cassette encouraged him to recruit bandmates and play live.

The name led to several confused metalheads showing up for their rather un-moshable shows. But for the moment, more people know them as the fave band of that hottie geek from "The O.C." The Zone's playlist features "The Sound of Settling."

THE POSTAL SERVICE is a collaboration project that Gibbons worked on the side with the lead singer of Dntel, and some other friends. They ended up making enough songs for an album. In 2003, the album "Give Up" became Sub Pop Records' biggest seller since they released Nirvana's debut. I'm personally proud of sneaking "Such Great Heights" on the airwaves for you.

MODEST MOUSE are from Issaquah, Washington; they've been together since '93, and they made it to the big leagues in 2000. Isaac Brock's the chief songwriter, and he doesn't like talking about the meanings of his songs. That's a shame, because the songs from the latest album, "Good News for People Who Love Bad News," sounds like he lost a close friend, and life really put him through the wringer.

Actually, I've had a chance to listen to the whole album, and it's the first ambitious album I'd heard in a while. I spent the first half of the album naming influences ("That song sounds like the Flaming Lips!" "That sounds like a Cure song." "They're channeling Tom Waits!" "They've been listening to the White Stripes!"), but by the end, they've got the Modest Mouse sound locked up. The single "Float On", by the way, is the identifier for the Modest Mouse sound.

The original trio split up between '93 and now, but reunited in the wake of their present success. In fact, they were looking to be the star band for the Lollapalooza tour... before... (sob...)

I can't wrap this up without mentioning the Back to School Bash. Tabatha just sent me an e-mail with all the deets:

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28TH:

TONE DEF ALL-STARS

FRAGILE PORCELAIN MICE

Plus Save Yourself Records recording artists

SQUADCAR

STEERJOCKEY

THE CAMP

18+ SHOW

$1.07 TO GET IN

She also wanted to thank Save Yourself Records, and to direct you folks to their website, saveyourselfrecords.com. I'll prop them because they're the first local record label that I know of, and they have good musical taste.

More details on the show next month...

...but maybe not from me. I'm starting to stretch thin, especially with new work. That's why Off! Magazine was late this month, y'know; they were waiting for me. Anyway, I've been looking for someone to take over this gig, and be the new Insider.

If I'm still around next month, I'll tell you why Omaha, Nebraska is going to rock your world...