UnderOATH is Set to Take on the World.

In an age where the most popular radio hits are those that follow the trends and give in to what they know is safe, those artists are rarely remembered when the trends evolve. Thankfully there are still some bands that stay true to their beliefs and make an album condensed with raw emotion that unless used in a creative context would never be uttered as words and blend together a perfect mess of transcending creative mayhem. That is just what UnderOATH has done with their latest full-length success, Lost in the Sound of Separation, they achieved and went above and beyond.

This album is a collaboration of naked emotion that reveals both triumph and defeat and the pursuit of devastatingly furious instrumentals to accompany the audacious and guttural screams of vocalist Spencer Chamberlain. The sound on this album is bombastic and hard-rocking yet it’s crisp and refined. This album will crawl under your skin and entice your senses.

Without a doubt Lost in the Sound of Separation is one of the top 3 albums of 2008.

After selling out shows in 8 different countries around the world, UnderOATH is back on American soil to do similar. The ‘American Siege Tour’ (covering 34 dates nationwide) is being supported by two of the biggest alternative/hardcore bands out there right now, Saosin (who just released a new full length on Capital Records) and The Devil Wears Prada (whom this week had the major re-release of their sophomore success, Plagues). Only about two weeks into the tour many of the dates thus far have been selling out.

Terminal 5 in New York City, which has a capacity of 3,000, hosted one of the stops on the tour. Even though the show was on a Sunday night and school was being anticipated the next day, kids came out and brought illuminating energy.

Spencer’s vocals throughout the entire set were memorizing. His intense screams boosted by his melodic singing parts gave their live performance such depth. Every aspect of the instrumentals are tight enough to make the sounds cohesive yet loose enough to make the music full. UnderOATH’s performance is well rounded and jaw dropping but it’s the gall they put behind the delivery that makes the walls around you shake.

At one point in their set Spencer’s mic cut out and what were we left with? Those lucky enough to be standing up against the barrier and close to the stage were able to hear his voice in the raw, never once did he let up or draw attention to the fact that there was some equipment failure. Some of those kids that got to experience it passed by me as they were walking out. I could see them grabbing the sides of their heads and blinking heavily as if they had seen a ghost, they described Spencer in those few moments as “God-like” and “one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen in my life.”

UnderOath give’s kids a hardcore/rock concert they will not soon forget.

POS, a ‘hip-hopper’ out of Minnesota, was such a cool way kick off a night of hardcore rock. He is a one-man show, do not underestimate him just because he doesn’t travel with a posse (but now he has the support and friendship of the rockers on this tour), he brings it to the stage and draws the crowd in with his REAL lyrics and catchy beats. If you have not had a chance to check him out, or he is not going to be playing at the UnderOATH tour date you are attending, check our his MySpace and give him a listen.
www.myspace.com/pos

“Planet Verge’s Warped Tour Band of the Year,” The Devil Wears Prada is also an opener on this tour. They have been drawing out a solid crowd every night of the tour and have been selling mountains of merchandise, which you will be seeing on the streets any minute now. The Devil Wears Prada’s live performance is full of life and has matured and grown since their summer on Warped Tour. In between Warped Tour and now they took some time to write and refine themselves as musicians, it shows instrumentally, vocally, and is evident through the performance of a brand new song. They are one of the strongest bands in the genre today. There impact is immeasurable and their music is fast becoming an IPod essential. Spring 2009 has been slated for the release of their next studio album. Keep your eyes and your ears open.
www.myspace.com/thedevilwearsprada

For the past two years Saosin has been riding the train of success generated by their self-entitled album, they came to this tour with a newly released LP and a rejuvenated and awe-inspiring performance. Lead singer, Cover Reber, has such a versatile vocal range. He is able to achieve deep guttural screams and then sing with a crisp and unique tone capable of giving anyone goose bumps. While there old songs were the obvious crowd favorite, their new ones were greeted with open arms and given positive feed back.
www.myspace.com/saosin



This tour, without a doubt, is one of the most talent packed we will see over the next year. Each band is linked together by their alternative roots yet each band has their own interpretation and creative take on the music making art form. The entire concert was like reading a book, each band a chapter and each song kept you wanting to read more.



**By Amanda, who is listening to Interpol.

Get the new Kooks song, "Brooklyn," at Planet Verge.com

A lot show reviews often note that the band of subject is so much better live than on the CD. That usually translates to "The CD isn't really that good, but don't judge them on that. Just see the live show and you'll like them."

In the case of Brighton, England's The Kooks, the band is SO MUCH BETTER LIVE. In a totally unbelievable way because both their albums are so insanely amazing, no one would ever imagine that they surpass even the recordings during the live show. They could have blasted a hole in the solar system or something because as soon as the members stepped on stage, it's like the world changed. Time could have stopped because the only thing that mattered was watching the songs fans have been playing over and over and over again come to life.



The tracks on The Kooks' debut, Inside In/Inside Out and its recently released follow-up, KONK, are catchy. They'll stick in your head as soon as you hear them. But when they're played on stage, they just POP.

Vocalist, Luke Pritchard, moves around the stage channeling Jim Morrison. His voice is just as clean live as it is recorded, so you know that there's not much correction during production. It's all pretty much organic with The Kooks and that's what's going to give them longevity.



The rise of The Kooks seems to have happened all very suddenly. One day the band is slowly leaking over to the USA through streaming BBC Radio stations, the next "She Moves in Her Own Way" is sweetening up modern rock radio and before anyone knew what was happening, the band has two sold-out shows in New York City. If things keep up-- and there's no doubt they will--- hysteria is not too far off. Right now, the "cool" crowd is all over these guys. But as soon as MTV and all the Pop radio stations start playing The Kooks, all the young screaming girls are going to start lining up before shows chanting their names. It might just be the next Beatlesque invasion. It's probably happening in the UK already, if any of the magazine covers and features in Men's Vogue have anything to do with it.



Unfortunately for the show's opening act, The Morning Benders, the same cannot be said. It's understandable the band was placed on this tour because its sound is so similiar to The Kooks. But this California-based act seems so new and nervous, it just didn't fly. These songs are actually better on the album then live.

To play Terminal 5, a band's really got to have a huge sound because the soundsystem is so bad. So that could also have something to do with The Morning Benders not totally winning over the crowd. Hopefully, the band members are taking notes from The Kooks and will end the snorefest that happens as they play. Towards the end of the set, things did pick up. The band told fans to dance, and so they did. But it was only during the single, "Waiting for a War."


Now for a few complaints:

What is up with....

* People actually talking on their cell phones during the show?

* The jerks who are waving their hands up in the air but TEXTING with one finger as they're screaming?

* The friggin' tall as hell man who decided it was a good idea to stand in front of short people?

* The security guard escorting me over to Will Call and holding my camera hostage until I picked up my photo pass?

* The venue pulling an Irving Plaza and not allowing flash photography? Grr...

* The hurricane/tornado that happened in Essex County, NJ while we were in the show and we had to come home to!?


** By Joelle, who along with her friend Theresa, ran into The Kooks new bass player Daniel and the band's guitar tech Adam, at a bar before the show. They chatted about Bon Jovi, explained what NJ guidos are like and learned about the UK's version- trackies.

PLANET VERGE PRESENTS A BONUS TRACK FROM THE KOOKS-- "Brooklyn"
You can get it off the CD that accompanies KONK, or listen to it RIGHT NOW at www.planetverge.com

MEET THE KOOKS- BEHIND THE SCENES FOOTAGE FROM KOOKSTV




THE KOOK's new video, "Shine On," from KONK