Guitar Hero: Dawnrise .... too easy!!

I've been pondering what playing Guitar Hero: Dawnrise would be like. As there seems to be a tendency within some more recent songs to cut lose a little with some actual riffs, it could actually work. It wouldn't be very difficult though ... not even on expert. But seeing as bands like Aerosmith actually make more money on computer game tie-ins than actual record sales, there's gonna be someone somewhere saying, 'Guys, could you maybe include a couple more riffs in there?' Really cool would be some sort of widget which turns ANY tune into a Guitar Hero song ... endless fun!

Tracks to stream on Facebook!

After no small effort, we've got Facebook's Music Player up and running - "It Shows What We Are" can be heard there right now, and we'll adding three more tracks over the next few days. These songs WON'T BE AVAILABLE AT MYSPACE - so, if you want to check out what we sound like, the Facebook page is the way to go!

Analyse This

Facebook automatically provides data on the people who become fans of a band and interact on its Facebook page - our page has only been up for three days, but already interesting points are emerging.

For a start, despite the fact we're based in Berlin, the most site activity is happening in the UK. And, apparently, our fans are 45% male and 53% female. Fair enough. I do wonder what the remaining 2% are though ... Moreover, nearly 60% of fans are aged between 24 and 34, and seem not to have a single fan over 45. Need to work on that.

The Rage and The Music

I’ve been in Denmark now for about a week and I’m missing the band horribly - So much that I start dreaming about it.

After our double gig marathon in Nykøbing Falster and Møn on one of the Islands just off of Denmark, I made my way to Copenhagen to visit my Girlfriend who is staying here for six months for her studies. Everything was fine until yesterday when Steve gave our entire web presence a new makeover and I couldn’t help but have the feeling that I’m missing out a little bit. I didn’t think much about it until last night when I woke up very mad: mad at everything and no one. Why was I so mad? And at whom?

It turns out my subconscious had turned up the heat a little and made me confront my feelings once again.

It was a practice session. Somehow I had the feeling that a lot of people were hanging around and the band was practicing as usual: playing the songs and arguing about certain parts, drinking beer, etc. At one point I remember that Steve, Dennis and Jason suddenly started playing cover songs – Foo Fighters and Oasis and whatnot.

Now there is one thing you have to know about me. I make up about 70 per cent of the bands anger, rage and similar feelings. I get mad easily! Maybe its my red hair, my ineptitude to express myself which leads to frustration, having two older brothers…what I’m trying to say is, Freud would be very interested in my anger problems. Ok, back to the dream…

I couldn’t believe it! I was furious! I stood their shocked that the boys would even consider just switching from our songs to covers. I tried to express my rage, but it felt like I was drunk out of my mind and all the words sounded like garble. I tried to wave my hands around, but it was like I was under water. As I was frantically trying to direct attention toward me I saw Jason say to Steve: “Maybe we should practice our songs for half an hour, than switch to covers.”

That was the last straw. I was desperate here and the lads would not see reason. I had to resort to something altogether more drastic. I decided (heaven knows why) to break a beer bottle on the ground. That would certainly do the trick. Everyone would be so stunned they would certainly understand what I was trying to say. The violence would portray meaning onto them, I was sure.

The bottle in my hand went into the air.

My arm came down (remember, it was like I was in water).

As the bottle hit the ground it sort of cracked but didn’t break. I took up another bottle that was lying next to me and suddenly realized that they were all made of plastic. And I woke up.

Damn, I miss the band.

Vox Recording Last Night

Good session last night. Dennis put down vocals for PrenzlauerFlowerPower and Softly Spoken. Here's what we got up to:

Jason getting the mic sorted (we already did it, but he does it again to check we did it right. In fairness, we often don't).

Dennis and Steve on the computer. We think we know what we're doing, though others have been known to doubt us. Fools.

One-take Bengtson laying down the vocal.

We should have the tracks mixed and on MySpace and Facebook in the next few days, plus they'll be available on CD for 3€ at our gig at the Junction Bar next Thursday!

Bassist blogging about the Danish dude

Hey ya,

If you guys are thinking, like: "What the F***!!! Since when do bassists have anything to say!?" I wouldn't feel hurt. I'm only writing something cause Steve told me to ;) Not that he can boss me around. I'm just doing him a favour.

No but seriously, today we're gonna get cosy in the practice room and re-record the vocals to PrenzlauerFlowerPower and ... uh ... I forgot the other one ... but it's gonna be awesome to let you know what the Danes can do. If anyone is interested I'm pretty sure Steve will have the songs mixed and up on Myspace or on our homepage in no time, like!

See ya'll later

Jason

Dawnrise & Alex Amsterdam in the Junction Bar

We're playing on Thursday the 3rd of September together with Alex Amsterdam in Kreuzberg's Junction Bar.

Alex is coming over from Dortmund to do an unplugged show of the finest indie pop you'll hear anywhere in Germany right now, while Dawnrise showcase new vocalist Dennis Bengtson's talents for his his show as solo frontman in Germany.

Be cool to see you there.

JKS

We've invented a new principle of web design: JKS (Just Keep Scrolling).

We don't want to complicate our nicely minimal website with links and other confusing things, so we're imploring visitors to JKS - you will find everything you need!

Have a look at www.dawnrise.de :)

Integration, online-style

We're trying to get everything linked up online ... it's not easy! Theoretically, you should be able to get anywhere and see anything from anywhere else. So clicking from Twitter to the blog to Facebook to Myspace should all be possible. We're getting there.

Facebook will be the hub though: the integration that it makes possible is way ahead of MySpace, though it's far from easily implemented (which is one reason why a whole load of fans got two invites to the same event a couple of hours ago).

We'll keep working on it!

Steve

Dawnrise rock Denmark (from www.dawnrise.de)

On 21.08.09, we took the first steps toward domination of the world’s stages with a trip to Denmark for a double-concert weekender: home turf for new singer Dennis fronting the band for the first gigs after Jonny’s departure. Kulturfabrikken in Nykøbing Falster was the packed venue for Saturday night’s double headliner gig – Dawnrise followed by Dennis’ former band Rebellionaire. A crowd in the mood for dancing, and two bands with a determination to party, Danish-style. We took full advantage of the unusually large stage and cooked up what was probably our most frenetic show so far. The beer flowed freely; the mood was relaxed. And people liked the tunes, so we were happy.

On Sunday afternoon the scene was changed to the picturesque island of Møn, where our task was to round off a three-day regatta with an afternoon performance. There may not have been quite as many party-hungry Danes this time (apparently many were recovering from another party the night before), but we had a lot of fun, especially when approached to give autographs by our first Danish fans. With a bit of luck we’ll be back next year to start the party off, rather than finish it!

We’d like to thank everyone who came and supported us, the regatta organisers, and of course the mighty Rebellionaire, who put things in motion for the Kulturfabrikken concert – we’ll be seeing you guys in Berlin!

Welcome ...

... to The Rising Blog, the official Dawnrise weblog.

Band members and our management team will fill this with news, announcements, gossip, musings and generally everything about Dawnrise's music, lives shows, promo and recordings.

I can tell you right now that the band just got back from a double concert weekend in Denmark, and we're currently busy recording vocals from Dennis for a new demo CD. And here's the first Rising Blog exclusive - the demo will feature two new tracks: 'It Shows What We Are' (which you can listen to at www.myspace.de/dawnriseband) and 'I Won't Let You Fall', the track we currently use to end our sets. Joining them on the demo will be singalong favourite 'PrenzlauerFlowerPower' and the deceptively-titled 'Softly Spoken'. You can get your hands on the band-produced demo for three euros at out next gig at the Junction Bar, Berlin Kreuzberg on Thursday the 3rd of September. And don't forget that 'PrenzlauerFlowerPower' and 'Wait by the Water' are available as FREE high quality downloads at www.dawnrise.de.

Hope to see you soon - I'll bang up some recording pics after tonight's session!

Love, Steve