Ep. 155 Nick Tieder (Frontiers Music) – Talk Toomey: The Metal Nexus Podcast

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Nick Tieder is the GM of Frontiers Music and he joins the show this week. Nick has a great story in the music industry starting with Roadrunner Records and now with Frontiers Music. Nick is a fan first and an industry vet last. Nick and I discuss the Stryper vs Walmart debacle, working with the Dokken reunion and he tells us about the new bands they are championing.

I begin this episode with an announcement from the Rock N Pod Expo and my thoughts on Vinnie Vincent backing out.

Music on this episode from Stryper, Lords of Black and Animal Drive

ROCK N POD TICKET LINK

INKCARCERATION Festival Announces ReverbNation Battle Of The Bands Winners & More

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The inaugural  Inkcarceration Music and Tattoo Festival (July 13-15 in Mansfield, OH at the Historic Ohio State Reformatory) is quickly approaching! At Inkcarceration, not only will attendees rock out to three days of live music from 30+ of today’s greatest rock bands, they can also be tattooed by acclaimed local and regional artists, tour one of the most famous haunted reformatories of all time, enjoy great tasting food and snacks and refreshments of the alcohol and non-alcohol variety from 15+ food trucks onsite, browse goods from a number of vendors, and experience a full rock n’ roll circus sideshow (brought to you by Hellzapoppin), and more.

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GHOST Live At Andrew Jackson Hall In Nashville [Review & Photo Gallery]

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Ghost

Less than five blocks away from the Mother Church of Country Music, there was a sermon being delivered from the stage of the Andrew Jackson Hall that was polar opposite of what most people would expect from Nashville, TN. Just up the street from country twang filled honky-tonks on Broadway, throngs of fans descended upon the Tennessee Performing Arts Center to spend an evening with Ghost who brought their Rats! On the Road tour to Music City USA on May 23rd. Continue reading →

An Interview With Matt McJunkins (A Perfect Circle, The Beta Machine & More) [Video]

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Palm Springs, CA native, Matt McJunkins has become quite familiar amongst music fans everywhere – and for good reason. Matt has played, and still plays, for several bands including A Perfect Circle, Ashes Divide, Puscifer, The Beta Machine, Eagles of Death Metal, the list goes on. In 2008, Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle, Ashes Divide) approached Matt with an offer to join Ashes Divide, which he kindly accepted. After extensive touring in support of their debut album ‘Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright’, as well as touring with Puscifer, Matt was asked to hit the road with A Perfect Circle following the announcement of the band’s reunion in 2010. Matt has also sparked his own project alongside Jeff Friedl (A Perfect Circle, Puscifer), The Beta Machine, who joined A Perfect Circle on their recent tour in 2017.

 

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EXMORTUS Unveil North American Dates For ‘The Summer Of Steel Tour’!

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With the new album release date just around corner and inching closer as days roll by, EXMORTUS have come up with yet another killer announcement. The neo-classical thrash metal outfit will celebrate the release of their upcoming record, ‘The Sound Of Steel‘ by following it up with a massive headlining tour of North America. This would also be the group’s maiden voyage as headliners, after having released three albums already in their short but illustrative career. So, EXMORTUS will hit the road this summer headlining ‘The Summer of Steel Tour!’ Featuring support from THE ABSENCE and HATCHET alongside IMMORTAL GUARDIAN, BLACK FAST and label mates MICAWBER on select shows; EXMORTUS will embark on tour dates beginning June 28th in San Diego. Take a look at the dates below and see if you’re in the lucky draw.

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An Interview With DIAMOND HEAD’S Brian Tatler

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Formed in 1976 Diamond Head have been one of the most iconic yet underrated New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands in the history of music. The band has influenced a long list of musicians and bands around the world but some of those topping the list would be Metallica, and Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine. You may have heard Metallica’s cover of “Am I Evil”, which they have also performed with the Big 4 during their tour. The song was originally written and recorded by Diamond Head in 1980 on the bands album ‘Lightning to the Nations’. The band has released 7 studio albums, 5 live albums, and several EPs, singles and splits. The bands most recent album released in 2016 and is self titled. The album was the debut of the bands new vocalist Rasmus “Ras” Bom Andersen. Ras is the third vocalist the band has had since their formation over 40 years ago. The bands original vocalist was Sean Harris who last left the band in 2004 and from then until 2014 the bands vocalist was Nick Tart. Though both the former singers released great material with the band I do feel that the vocal style Ras delivers in the bands new album is exactly what the band needed, and I believe it’s some of the best material the band has released to date. Diamond Head has been working on a follow up to the self titled album with plans to have it released during the winter of this year.

 

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THE VINTAGE CARAVAN Announce 2018 ‘Gateways’ European Tour

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Icelandic classic rock trio THE VINTAGE CARAVAN recently announced the release of their upcoming 4th studio album ‘Gateways‘ (August 31st, 2018 through Nuclear Blast). The included tracks need to be presented live on the world’s stages, of course. That’s why the band is pleased to announce their supporting ‘2018 Gateways Tour’ today. Leading THE VINTAGE CARAVAN through 25 cities in 10 European countries, the run stretches from mid October to early December. Get ready to go full retro with the new tunes on the upcoming tour. The full itinerary can be found below.

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SuckerPunch Set to Release “Underground Anthem” on June 1st!!!

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After taking some time off to secure a new position after being laid off, I hope to return to Metal Nexus and share my continued love of music with you guys with some regularity. I have sincerely missed writing and supporting bands locally and all over the world. I would like to thank our editor, Fist, for his unfaltering support and patience during my hiatus. It has meant a lot and given me something to look forward to once the dust settled. For those looking for meaningful employment, I pray that everything works out well for you. Definitely a trying time and a soul-crusher. Horns up to all of you!

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HELMET & PRONG Enchant Hometown Fans In New York City [Review & Photo Gallery]

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There is nothing better than watching the two iconic bands Helmet and Prong play to their hometown fans in New York City. I was fortunate enough to be in The Big Apple when these two powerhouse bands were playing at the Highline Ballroom. I arrived early, as I always do, and managed to catch Prong during sound check playing “Beg to Differ” which was just a tease for what they had in store for the rest of the night. There were only a few people queuing outside so I thought it was going to be a pretty quiet night, I was completely wrong! When the doors opened people started arriving so I got straight up the front to guarantee a spot to capture photos of the band and within 15 minutes the venue filled up. Continue reading →

An Interview With Senior Vice President of Festival Talent At Danny Wimmer Presents, Gary Spivack!

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Gary Spivack has one of the toughest jobs in American when it comes to the music industry. He is the Senior Vice President of Festival Talent At Danny Wimmer Presents. He is responsible for finding and booking all of the bands that play the DWP Festivals all across the country that we so passionately look forward to year after year. Those festivals include: Fort Rock, Welcome To Rockville, Carolina Rebellion, Rock On The Range, Northern Invasion, Chicago Open Air, Aftershock, Louder Than Life, Bourbon & Beyond and Rock Allegiance. It is nearly impossible to please every fan that attends these festivals. There are always going to be bands there that they don’t like, or possibly even hate, and in return there are also going to be bands there that they absolutely love. Regardless how amazing the lineup is there will always be complaints along with the praise. However, year after year Gary Spivack is able to book not only some of the most iconic or nostalgic acts in the country but also book those up and coming bands that we instantly become new fans of. New bands are given the opportunity of a lifetime when they get booked on these festivals. They take the stage and have the chance to instantly gain thousands of new fans if their performance impresses the crowd. Gary is not only the person in charge of festival talent he is also a fan, and immensely passionate about music. Gary Spivack and the entire Danny Wimmer Presents team continue to impress us year after year with the wide variety of acts they bring to the stage to entertain us.

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