411 Underground Presents the “Rock Is Alive” Summer Series in Collaboration with FlashWounds

 

 

411 Underground and FlashWounds, no strangers to collaborating with each other in the past, have again joined forces, this time for 411 Underground’s “Rock Is Alive” Summer Series. The collaborative effort will present a diverse range of talented musicians as each week, the 411 Underground program will feature a full interview with guests from the rock genre (and its many sub-genres!) and an extended showcase of their music. The series runs from June 15 – August 31.

 

“Rock Is Alive” is 411 Underground’s 3rd Annual Summer Guest Series and this year, in addition to partnering with FlashWounds’ Owner Lara Dean, has taken on a new name and theme that intentionally counter the “Rock Is Dead” mantra (and sadly, belief) that has gained so much momentum.

 

“We decided on the name for this year’s series for a couple of reasons,” shares Madame Rockstress, host/producer of 411 Underground. “The decision stems from my numerous interviews and subsequent discussions on behalf of 411Underground and FlashWounds, not to mention the countless social media debates I’ve witnessed. This ridiculous notion that ‘Rock Is Dead’ almost always seems to rear its ugly head in some form, either directly or indirectly.”

 

She continues, “Another factor that influenced it was a comment submitted by a first time listener of the show late last year ~ and we placed the quote on our site. It resonated in my mind and we received a significant amount of feedback from other listeners and site visitors. It has sort of become a new show tagline. The comment stated that ‘Rock is alive and well on 411 Underground’ and inspired subsequent listener feedback like ‘411 Underground plays independent music that truly rocks,’ ‘Now this is a rock show,’ and ‘These guys know how to rock.’  We even had a listener submit a Gene Simmons meme that has Gene saying, ‘My bad, rock simply moved. It now lives at 411 Underground.’ However, that initial comment is still our favorite and still addresses our mission ~ to show that rock indeed remains alive and kicking ~ and, we hope, inspires people to rethink their belief to the contrary.”

 

 

Lara Dean adds, “A quote which should have been nothing more than a sound byte that disappeared after a day or two has somehow turned into a smear campaign against rock, and thus against those who create/listen to/support/LOVE it…and, like 411 and FlashWounds, proudly continue to bring it to you. We’ll never know if Gene, even if there hadn’t been/weren’t still so much backlash against his proclamation, were surprised or perhaps a bit dismayed that an off-the-cuff remark launched an almost vitriolic campaign against a genre that, for over 4 decades and counting, KISS’s music was widely considered a part.”     

 

In the past, 411 Underground’s summer series hosted appearances by a stream of guests including Surrender The Fall, Sunflower Dead, Rachel Lorin, and Hellspeak, and “Rock Is Alive” will be bringing in even more names you won’t want to miss. And as is the annual tradition, along with the series comes Madame Rockstress’s birthday celebration ~ the one time each year she actually programs a show that is a present to herself, inviting on special guest who is one of her personal favorites: the first special saw an appearance by Tony Harnell, the second year brought us Jackson of Hed p.e. (who appeared on the pages of FlashWounds several times including here and here and just like the series, this year’s special will also for the first time have a name and theme ~ “Madame Rockstress’s Guitar Gods Birthday Special.” Whom did Madame R choose as her “birthday gift?” None other than Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, so do NOT miss the broadcast on Monday, July 20.

 

 

 

The “Rock Is Alive Series” is brought to you by 411 Underground Radio and FlashWounds, two outlets which, although they present music and the artists who make it in two very different formats, share a passion for that music and a common vision of how musicians and audiences should be treated within the industry.  Each brings to the table separate and well as overlapping strengths and years of experience that simply…clicked and will offer listeners a whole new combined experience of audio, print, and photography!  “We are extremely excited about this collaboration,” says Madame Rockstress.

 

 

“We have worked, in various forms, with FlashWounds in the past but never to this extent. For quite some time, we have discussed numerous ways to join forces with our mutual goal and love of promoting music to more beneficially meet and expand on the growing and changing media needs of today’s artists. By combining our varying efforts, styles and formats ~ while creating new ones ~ we hope to reach a wider audience, thus providing more exposure for artists.  It’s very rewarding to see our ideas coming to fruition! This is only the beginning!”

 

The “Rock Is Alive” Summer Series schedule, already in progress, is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About 411 Underground: 411 Underground is a weekly show that began on FM radio in early 2009 and fully transitioned to internet radio in fall 2012. Hosted by Madame Rockstress, who also contributes to FlashWounds, 411 Underground showcases the best independent music and cutting edge artists in today’s rock arena. The show airs Mondays at 9pm EST at www.411underground.com. It is rebroadcasted via radio affiliates and the podcast is available Wednesdays via numerous streaming services. For more information, visit 411underground.com and connect via Facebook at /411underground and Twitter @411underground.

 

 

About FlashWounds:  FlashWounds.com, focused on music (with a healthy measure of horror, MMA, and various other topics added to the mix) and its mission of delivering “Backstage News, Front Row Pics” to its devoted readers thanks to an extensive industry network, is a self-described enigma, seldom following any tried and true formula but instead sticking to a substantive and entertaining style all its own ~ one that, with the contributions of music journalists, writers, and photographers from all over the country, keeps both the industry’s respect and their international readership’s attention with coverage of a variety of genres, yet-unknown bands to the biggest names in music today, festivals and conventions to local shows…none ever presented in a predictable manner and always with a little wink and nudge. Check out the folks they’ve worked with here and visit them on Facebook at /flashwounds and /poulin.frank.