New record deal, new album for CCM hitmakers Relient K

AMERICAN rock hitmakers Relient K have fulfilled their contract with Gotee Records, have signed with Mono Vs Stereo and begun recording. Read a statement from the band's frontman Matt Thiessen, "We started recording the new record! Right now we're working at Dark Horse Recording with our favourite producer, Mark Lee Townsend, and after we get some tracks recorded, we're going to travel back to California to make some tunes with John Feldmann at the helm. After we turned in 'The Bird And The Bee Sides' we fulfilled our first record deal (six albums) with Gotee Records. This made us free agents. Our plan? Matt Hoopes and I just signed up to begin positions as A&R for the soon to be resurrected Mono Vs Stereo Records. We'll sign a few bands a year and also release Relient K's material through the label. We'll set up some email addresses soon with the specific purpose of receiving demos from unsigned artists. All this to say, we may eventually end up partnering up with the least evil of majors that expresses interest in giving us a helping hand. We'll just have to see."

Christian Music News Source

Three 6 Mafia and Relient K scheduled for Spring Concert

Two mainstream artists are close to signing a contract for this year's Ultimate Spring Concert, scheduled for April 24 at the Titan Stadium, but nothing is official yet.

The gritty hardcore hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia might be the headliner along with Relient K, a Christian rock band turned pop rock.

But Joseph Lopez, Associated Students Inc. Productions administrative director, said contracts for the artists have not been signed yet, and he hopes the lineup will be made official by this weekend.

"One thing is we don’t want people to get excited and then let down," he said. "In the past it doesn’t end up always working out."

Coordinators decided to go with a "multi-genre" show this year to appeal to both hip-hop and rock fans.

"Last year was both rock, we wanted to go with multi-genre this year," Lopez said.

Last year, bands New Found Glory and The Academy Is... performed for the concert and the show has previously brought out the likes of Rage Against the Machine and Kanye West.

ASI President Curtis Schlaufman said he is "pretty sure" the artists will follow through, but the artists were found later than expected.

"Theoretically, they could back out before they sign the contract," said ASI President Curtis Schlaufman. "Once the contract’s finalized it will be official. Hopefully pretty soon, because we did sign the artists later than we hoped to. I can pretty much bet we will have the concert with these artists."

The event is expected to cost about $115,000 for publicity, sound, lighting, security, police and other arrangements, said Lindsay Qwek, spring concert coordinator for ASIP. The artists will cost $65,000.

ASI approved a contract for $3,000 to go toward the budget during a board meeting Tuesday.

If the artists fall through, however, then ASIP has a backup plan with the hip-hop group The Cool Kids, Qwek said.

But Qwek said the current lineup is the most well-known artists available.

"No one is as prominent as the one's we've pitched to you right now," she told ASI.

The show is expected to dazzle a crowd of 3,000 people, with 2,500 expected students and 500 guests.

Tickets are free for students and $10 for guests and are expected to be distributed next month.

The first black music group to win an Academy Award for Best Song in 2006 for the jam, "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp," from Hustle & Flow soundtrack, Three 6 Mafia is known for its hardcore lyrics and members who decorate their "grills" (teeth) in gold.

A few hit songs have been "Stay Fly" and "Poppin' My Collar." The original six-member group is from Tennessee.

Relient K, from Canton, Ohio, began its career in the Contemporary Christian Music circuit and has since become popular with the pop rock album "MmHmm," released in 2004.

Signed with Capitol Records label, the band has recently been featured on the Warped Tour and will be touring this fall with Katy Perry, Qwek said.

ASIP will continue promoting the event with spring concert fairs at the center quad, leading up to the performance.

Christian Music News Source

Relient K Studio Update 1 of 4

Christian Music News Source

Relient K NorVa Concert Part 2

Various live clips of a Relient K concert for the Uncle Fest Tour at NorVa Theatre in Norfolk, Virginia on October 23, 2008. This video includes clips of:
"Mood Rings"
"Head Over Heels"
"The Addams Family Theme Song"

Christian Music News Source

New concerts announced this week

NEW CONCERTS

CHRIS CORNELL March 28 at 9 at House of Blues. $35-$60. Ticketmaster.

JAKE OWEN April 10 at 8:30 at Southern Junction Nightclub & Steakhouse, Rockwall. $10-$18. www.southernjunctionlive.com.

CHRISTIAN YOUTH WEEKEND With Relient K, Needtobreathe and Run Kid Run on April 10. With Skillet, Red and Decyfer Down on April 11. Concerts at 7. Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington. $8 plus amusement park admission. Ticketmaster.

DALLAS INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL With George Lynch, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Rick Derringer, Jimmy Wallace & the Stratoblasters, Andy Timmons, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights and others. April 17-19. Dallas Market Hall. $20-$45. For times, visit www.guitarshow.com.

TRACY BYRD April 18 at 10:30 at Billy Bob's Texas, Fort Worth. $12-$15. Ticketmaster.

MARCH

THE REFUGEES March 27 at 8 at Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse. $15-$18. www.unclecalvins.org.

DANNY WRIGHT March 27 at 8 at Majestic Theatre. $18-$98. Ticketmaster.

CRAIG MORGAN March 28 at 10:30 at Billy Bob's Texas, Fort Worth. $12-$18. Ticketmaster.

BRITNEY SPEARS March 31 at 8 at American Airlines Center. $39.50-$125. Ticketmaster.

APRIL

LEONARD COHEN April 3 at 8 at Nokia Theatre, Grand Prairie. $57.50-$254.75. Ticketmaster.

MERCYME, JEREMY CAMP, HAWK NELSON AND OTHERS April 3 at 7:30 (doors at 6:30) at American Airlines Center. $10. www.therockandworshiproadshow.com.

BILL GAITHER AND FRIENDS April 3 at 7, April 4 at 1 and 6 at Fort Worth Convention Center Arena. $19.50-$39.50. Ticketmaster.

THE WAILERS April 4 at 8:30 as part of KNON-FM (89.3) benefit concert at Poor David's Pub. $20. www.knon.org.

SOULJA BOY, CHAMILLIONAIRE, BUN B, MIKE JONES AND OTHERS During "The Beat" KBFB-FM (97.9) Custom Car Show and Concert. April 5 at noon at the Dallas Convention Center (Halls D, E and F). $15 in advance, $25 at the door. www.979thebeat.com.

MORRISSEY April 10 at 7:30 at Palladium Ballroom. $39.50-$45. Ticketmaster.

THE BEACH BOYS April 11 after horse racing (gates open at 11:30 a.m.) at Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie. $5-$15. www.lonestarpark.com.

NICKELBACK April 11 at 7 at Superpages.com Center. $35-$75. Ticketmaster.

JOAN SEBASTIAN April 12 at 5 at American Airlines Center. $35-$125. Ticketmaster.

JULIE FOWLIS April 16 at 8 at Poor David's Pub. $20. www.poordavidspub.com.

TIERNEY SUTTON April 16 at 8, as part of the North Texas Jazz Festival (for a schedule, visit the Web site). Concert at Greenhill School, Addison; festival at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Addison. $40. www.addisontexas.net.

MAIN ST. FORT WORTH ARTS FESTIVAL With Jimmie Vaughan, Shemekia Copeland, George Duke,

Del Castillo and others. April 16-19 (see Web site for detailed concert times). Along Main Street from Weatherford to Ninth, Fort Worth. Free. www.mainstreetartsfest.org.

FALL OUT BOY, 50 CENT, COBRA STARSHIP AND OTHERS April 17 at 6:30 at Nokia Theatre, Grand Prairie. $32.75-$40. Ticketmaster.

JIMMY BUFFETT April 18 at 7:30 at Pizza Hut Park, Frisco. $44.50-$126. Ticketmaster.

IRIS DEMENT April 24 at 8 at Poor David's Pub. $27.50-$28. Front Gate Tickets.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, SEVENDUST, DOPE April 25 at 6:30 at Palladium Ballroom. $38. Ticketmaster.

Christian Music News Source