If you’re familiar with the MD/DC/VA music scene, then the words, “featuring former members of MAJORITY RULE and PG.99,” should be enough alone for HARAM to develop a fanbase. These guys could have made an entire album of a bunch of dudes smashing rubber chickens on a pair of bongos and it still would have [...]

Engadget.com has covered a cool story from a recent post on Popular Science, which discusses the future of Office supplies and Office furniture from a technology angle. One of the more intriguing concepts? RFID tagged supplies like staplers and pens. As an office dweller myself, I would love to have the ability to track down the various pens that I have undoubtedly left in the offices of others, or in conference rooms in faraway places… or in other pairs of pants. I would also like a chair that won’t contribute to a condition of eternal back pain… but I guess we can’t have everything. Anyway, check out the feature here.

From the inbox:

“Our family just got bigger! We are proud and excited to announce the addition of Richmond, VA based rockers TODAY AND EVERYTHING AFTER. TAEA will enter Wired Wrist studios in Baltimore, MD in March to record their debut full length CD entitled Hell Is Here.”

link: newagerecords.com

- We reviewed TAEA’s debut EP No Place Like Home here.

Uprising Records’ THIS MOMENT are back with their second full-length, Star-Parallel. The Paul Miner produced affair covers twelves songs of intense, groove-driven metalcore, and is a sharp turn in a heavier direction from their debut Finding A Voice. THIS MOMENT will be on tour with BLOODLINED CALIGRAPHY in mid-March. You can check out a couple of songs from Star-Parallel on the group’s myspace page.

From the inbox:

“The last week has been insane. After a few months of writing and sending songs to one another across the US we finally got into the studio to record our first record for Deathwish Inc. with Kurt Ballou (Converge) at Godcity Studios. As I type this we have officially completed the recording and mixing of 13 new songs which will appear on the LP which is aptly titled A new beat from a dead heart. The LP is scheduled to come out at the end of June in time for some dates around the US as well as a three week trip to Europe to celebrate the release of the new LP.

Kurt and everyone at Deathwish Inc. made this week both very productive and fulfilling and we thank each of them for being so amazing and facilitating the creation of this new record. Needless to say we are all totally stoked on the songs and how everything came together and when all is said and done we think you will be stoked too.

We have started to post some of the upcoming US dates and will have a bunch more up over the coming weeks as more get finalized.”

link: myspace.com/108music

While the non-sampler CD compilation is a dying form, it’s not down and out just yet. Awake/Strong & Define The Meaning Magazine have announced a brand new compilation CD set to be released this summer, and the line-up is already shaping up to be something special. Here’s the word, via MySpace:

“Awake/Strong and Define The Meaning Magazine have announced that they will be releasing a hardcore compilation that will be released on June 26th, 2007. ‘Music By People Like Us,‚Äô will feature the following bands: Agnostic Front, Ambitions, Blacklisted, Deathcycle, Deathkiller, District 9, Fahrenheit 451, Flashlight Arcade, H20, Ignite, Kill Your Idols, Madball, Modern Life Is War, My Turn To Win, Olde York, One4One, Sick Of It All, The Pledge, Walter Schreifels and Wisdom In Chains.

You can expect unreleased tracks by District 9, Flashlight Arcade, H20, Skare Tactic, The Pledge and Walter Schreifels.

‘Music By People’ Like Us will be available in the US, Europe and Japan.”

link: definethemeaning.com

Aaron Gillespie’s new project, THE ALMOST, have made available another new song from their upcoming debut album Southern Weather. You can listen to the song “I Mostly Copy Other People,” on the group’s myspace page. The tune includes guest vocals from THE STARTING LINE’s Kenny Vasoli.

From the inbox:

Washington DC’s OLYMPIA, which is comprised of former members of FAIRWEATHER and BRAND NEW DISASTER, have announced April 3rd as the release date for their Hope Division/Equal Vision Records debut, Emergencies.

This month, OLYMPIA will be on tour with DANCE GAVIN DANCE as they make their way down to The SXSW Music Conference in Austin, TX where they’ll be hanging on beautiful 6th Street for a few days. On March 15th, they’ll perform at Equal Vision Records SXSW showcase at Sprio’s, and on March 17th, they’ll play Alternative Press Magazine’s annual show, party, and funfest at Emo’s. Following the SXSW extravaganza, the band will be touring with THE DEAR HUNTER and HOUSE OF FOOLS on their way home, before heading out with HE IS LEGEND and CLASSIC CASE in April.

2/28 – Boise, ID @ The Venue

3/1 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon

3/2 – Bellingham, WA @ Rymar Studios

3/3 – Portland, OR @ Satyricon

3/4 – Orangevale, CA @ The Boardwalk

3/6 – Bakersfield, CA @ The Dome

3/8 – Hollywood, CA @ The Knitting Factory

3/9 – Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction

3/10 – Victorville, CA @ Trilogy Theatre

3/12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Phix Gallery

3/13 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad

3/14 – El Paso, TX @ Chic’s Bar and Billiards

3/15 – Austin, TX @ Spiro’s (Equal Vision Records showcase)

3/17 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s (Alternative Press party)

3/18 – Houston, TX @ Java Jazz

3/20 – Baton Rouge, LA @ The Darkroom

3/21 – LIttle Rock, AR @ Vino’s

3/22 – Joplin, MO @ The Foundry Music Theatre

3/23 – Nashville, TN @ The Anchor

3/25 – Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern

3/26 – Augusta, GA @ Sector 7G

3/27 – Charleston, SC @ Cumberland’s

3/28 – Charlotte, NC @ The Casbah / Tremont Music Hall

3/29 – Vienna, VA @ Jammin’ Java

3/30 – Harrisonburg, VA @ Captain Tee’s

4/11 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle

4/13 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Peppermint Beach Club

4/14 – Wilmington, NC @ The Soapbox Laundrolounge

4/15 – Augusta, GA @ Sector 75