The Boxer Rebellion
- Location: London,
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- Bio: HMV AND THE BOXER REBELLION UNITE IN GROUNDBREAKING PARTNERSHIP
Physical Release of Band’s New Album, "Union," Set for September 14 Release; Album To Be Produced and Distributed Through HMV ... (more) - Bio: HMV AND THE BOXER REBELLION UNITE IN GROUNDBREAKING PARTNERSHIP
Physical Release of Band’s New Album, "Union," Set for September 14 Release; Album To Be Produced and Distributed Through HMV
In an unprecedented move, UK & Ireland retailer HMV and International Rock band The Boxer Rebellion recently announced a groundbreaking collaboration that will see the music and entertainment specialist act as a lead outlet and strategic partner for the physical release of the band's second album "Union."
What makes the deal significant is that The Boxer Rebellion have, by choice, accepted no record label backing and remain unsigned – a fact they are openly proud of. Instead, the four-piece band – comprised of US vocalist Nathan Nicholson, Aussie guitarist Todd Howe and Brits Adam Harrison on bass and Piers Hewitt on drums, are on a mission "to find innovative and meaningful ways to distribute their music and engage directly with their fans, on their own terms".
As joint partner with The Boxer Rebellion in this venture, HMV is advancing the costs of manufacturing the CD, while also supporting the promotion and marketing of the product, in return for a share of the revenues. As part of this activity HMV will deliver significant in-store and online visibility leading up to the album's release and will also leverage its growing presence in the ticketing and live music sectors. The Boxer Rebellion received much media attention in January this year when they pre-released "Union" digitally through the iTunes Music Store. Lead track "Evacuate" became the first simultaneous iTunes "Single of the Week" across its stores and was downloaded a staggering 560,000 times in just seven days. The band subsequently topped the US iTunes Alternative Charts, and by the end of their first week of sales "Union" entered the US Billboard Album Charts at No 82, an unprecedented feat for an unsigned band on a digital-only release.
"Union" will be released on CD on September 14 (Sept. 11 in Ireland) across HMV's 270 stores nationwide as well as in select independent music stores, and can also be pre-ordered/purchased via HMV.com and other online stores in both physical and digital formats. The release will be supported with a week of live in-store performances and album signings at HMV stores around the country, including the flagship Oxford Circus store.
The Boxer Rebellion will commence a UK tour on September 22, for which HMV has an exclusive window on ticket sales (see tour dates in full below). Tickets will go on sale from Thursday, July 23 priced £9 plus booking fee (£10 in London) – although they will also be available with the CD as part of a special album bundle for just £15 (inclusive of the ticket booking fee). The band most recently performed on Glastonbury’s Other Stage and will be playing thelondonpaper’s Headliners Festival on September 17 and Brighton’s White Air Festival on September 19.
Sumit Bothra, Manager of The Boxer Rebellion comments, “To have succeeded in creating this groundbreaking deal with HMV is a testament to their passion for discovering and genuinely supporting world-class artists on behalf of their customers.
"The Boxer Rebellion are unlike any band of musicians I have ever worked with, capable of creating deeply emotional, accessible, and powerful albums while, crucially, possessing an incredible live reputation. These qualities were enough to approach HMV for their support and to ultimately secure their commitment – which, I’m proud to say, is exactly the way it should be.”
The collaboration is consistent with HMV's 'get closer' brand vision; an approach that is becoming increasingly '360' in character where customers are engaged through core channels comprising stores, online digital and live, to get them closer to the music, films and games they love.
HMV's Head of Music, Rudy Osorio, adds: “We're very excited to be working with The Boxer Rebellion, and believe this will be a fruitful partnership. We see this as a bit of a unique opportunity for the time being – it’s really just about finding new ways to engage with customers, and, of course, The Boxer Rebellion are already well-established and have a core fanbase that we can connect with. However, if this initiative proves successful, as we believe it will, then it could well create a template for future activity.
“There are now so many different ways for fans to discover and purchase the music they love, and we see HMV's role as an enabler of choice in an increasingly multi-channel world, whether, as in the vast majority of cases, that means working with our longstanding supplier partners to promote their artists and music or, as in this case, collaborating directly with exciting unsigned acts to give them vital access to our customer base.”
The CD of "Union," unlike the pre-release digital version, will contain the bonus track, "Broken Glass," and will be powered by Opendisc? - allowing access to a private Web site hosting a further bonus track, "Murder Ballad," as well as album instrumentals, never-before-seen interviews, and a wealth of original and exclusive material. The album will be preceded by a AA-side single/remix package on 10" limited edition vinyl and digital formats, which will be released on September 7 through HMV, the band’s own Web site, and independent stores.
The Boxer Rebellion Tour Dates: Tues, 22 Sept – CARDIFF - Barfly Wed, 23 Sept – SOUTHAMPTON - Joiners Sat, 26 Sept – BRISTOL - Thekla Sun, 27 Sept – BIRMINGHAM - Hare & Hounds Mon, 28 Sept – LIVERPOOL - Masque Tues, 29 Sept – DUBLIN - Whelan’s Wed, 30 Sept – BELFAST - Auntie Annie’s Thur, 01 Oct – GLASGOW ABC 2 Fri, 02 Oct – NEWCASTLE - Other Rooms Sat, 03 Oct – MANCHESTER - Roadhouse Mon, 05 Oct – LEEDS - Faversham Tues, 06 Oct – LONDON - Relentless Garage
http://www.theboxerrebellion.com http://www.myspace.com/theboxerrebellion
For more information on the The Boxer Rebellion, please contact:
Tito Belis Big Hassle Media tito@bighassle.com
UNSIGNED BRITISH BAND 'THE BOXER REBELLION' BREAK ITUNES US AND UK TOP TEN ALBUM CHARTS IN 24 HOURS!
No. 6 - iTunes US Albums Chart
No. 2 - iTunes US Alternative Chart
No. 10 - iTunes UK Albums Chart
No. 3 - iTunes UK Alternative Chart
Unsigned London-based band, The Boxer Rebellion, are celebrating an amazing achievement as 100% completely independent artists. Four years since the birth of their magnificent debut album, EXITS , The Boxer Rebellion digitally released their self-produced sophomore record, UNION , through iTunes on Tuesday January 13 th . 24-hours later the band and their fans have officially entered the iTunes US and UK Top 10 Albums Charts. They are also enjoying the No. 2 position in the iTunes US Alternative Chart (behind My Morning Jacke t) and No. 3 in the iTunes UK Alternative Chart (behind Kings of Leon and MGMT ). The Boxer Rebellion are expected to announce the release of a souped-up fan-friendly set of physical albums later in the year as well as a North American tour.
UNION is produced by The Boxer Rebellion - mixed by Chris Sheldon, and mastered by Kevin Metcalfe.
THE PAST:
Formed in London through a chance meeting between Tennessee native Nathan Nicholson (vox/guitar) and Australian Todd Howe (guitar), the line-up was made complete with college friends Piers Hewitt on drums and Adam Harrison on bass. Following the release of an acclaimed debut EP in 2003, and on the eve of a potentially career-breaking tour with The Killers, Nicholson found himself deftly ill and on life-support, putting the band on indefinite hold.
Post-recovery the band released limited copies of EXITS, their debut album in 2005 to a rapturous response: Kerrang magazine proclaimed, "If you're crying out for substance in your music, The Boxer Rebellion are here to soothe your soul," while the NME stated, "This band can alter your life." Both The Fly magazine and MusicOMH considered the album "flawless."
THE NOW:
In UNION, The Boxer Rebellion have produced a follow-up of epic proportions that somehow manages to surpass the vertiginous ambitions of its predecessor. While retaining the uniquely charged live sound that has won them a feverishly devoted following throughout Europe, UNION sees the band taking their already lofty ambitions to subliminal levels. From the tribal-drum explosion of opener 'Flashing Red Light Means Go' , through the wintry atmospherics of enigmatic 'The Gospel Of Goro Adachi' to live favourites 'Evacuate' and 'Semi-Automatic' , UNION is an album that transcends convention in a seismic blast of unfettered invention.
The Boxer Rebellion's albums are completely non-disposable bodies of work - perfectly balanced in exemplary song-writing, epic performances, and wide-ranging creativity that reward the listener time and time again.
Currently being championed by KCRW Music Director and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic, Jason Bentley, UNION will be serviced nationwide to non-commercial and college radio stations in the coming weeks.
The band are currently preparing their Spring 09 tour schedule - dates soon to be released.
Album Release Information:
"Union" LP (Jan. 2009)
"Exits" LA (re-release)
North America: Jan. 13, 2009
iTunes Free Global Single of the Week
"Evacuate"
Jan. 13, 2009
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theboxerrebellion Official Website: http://www.theboxerrebellion.com
For More Information on The Boxer Rebellion, please contact:
Tito Belis
Big Hassle Media
tito@bighassle.com
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