The New

        To quote our illustrious Chief Ed in her previous issue's Ed's Note, "With the end of an era, rises a new epoch."

        Thanks, Sin, couldn't have said it better ourselves.

        Indeed, with the new millennium, came the evolution of the music industry, with artistes and fans alike thriving on the benefits of the Digital Age. The Internet suddenly became the place to be discovered, after the phenomenal success of the Arctic Monkeys, and soon, a MySpace band page was the new black.

        So to the children of the Millennium, this is for you.

Gym Class Heroes

        If you've never heard of Gym Class Heroes, then you ought to stay by your radio more. Hailing from Geneva, New York, this hip-hop band is infamous for their little ditty, "Cupid's Chokehold", or as my mom calls it, "the one where that Fall Out Boy guy sings the chorus, right?"    

        Unlike most hip-hop acts, the boys of Gym Class Heroes employ live instruments in their music, reminiscent of other bands like Stetsasonic and The Roots. Signed to Decaydance Records, owned by Pete Wentz (of Fall Out Boy fame), these boys are no strangers to music festivals, having appeared on Warped Tour since 2003.

        Consisting of lead vocalist Travis "Schleprok" McCoy, bassist Eric Roberts, guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo, and drummer Matt McGinley, GCH released their third studio album "As Cruel As School Children" in July 2006.

        "Cupid's Chokehold" is featured on the album "Papercut Chronicles" (2005).

Can't get enough of them? Check out their latest album over at www.gymclassheroes.com or at their MySpace.

The Academy Is...

        ... Is what? What is The Academy? Most are puzzled by this band's moniker, amusing fans as they struggle to complete the sentence. Originally, the band was known as "The Academy", but soon added "Is..." in the face of legal complications with established bands of the same name. We wonder if the Backstreet Boys had the same problem.

        Signed to Fueled By Ramen, everyone who's anyone knows that bands of this label are close, tight-knit, and nigh inseparable, and TAI, as they are more affectionately termed, is no different.

        Frontman William Beckett lent his vocals to Fall Out Boy's "Sophomore Slump (Or Comeback Of The Year)", off the latter's From Under The Cork Tree album.

        He also appeared alongside members of Panic! At The Disco (another Fueled By Ramen band) and Gym Class Heroes in Fall Out Boy's vampire-themed MV "A Little Less Sixteen Candles".

        Music-wise, TAI echoes the styles of Panic! and Fall Out Boy, with their clever lyrics and catchy riffs. Crowd favorites include "The Phrase That Pays" and "Checkmarks" - and true to FBR-song-writing-style, these words never appeared in the actual songs.

The Academy Is... on MySpace, and on the web. (Sorry, we couldn't resist.)

Cobra Starship

        Also signed to Decaydance Records, this band is probably best known for their song "Bring It (Snakes On A Plane)", infamous for the fact that it was written well before the movie actually came out - and yes, it was featured on the film's soundtrack.

        Cobra Starship was originally dreamed up by Midtown's bassist/lead vocalist Gabe Saporta as a side project. Other members include Victoria Asher (keytar), Ryland Blackinton (guitar), Alex Suarez (bass) and Nate Navarro (drums).

        And surprise, surprise, Cobra Starship's music video for "Bring It (Snakes On A Plane)" features, yup, you guessed it, the other Fueled By Ramen bands - William Beckett from The Academy Is..., Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes, and Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy. Phew. Told you they were nigh inseparable.

        We wouldn't put it past the FBR bands to crash each other's sets when they play on Thursday, a sight many fans are hoping for. And personally, so are we.

Check them out at www.cobrastarship.com and www.myspace.com/cobrastarship!

       Told ya we weren't joking about the essential MySpace band pages. hooked

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