It was just a couple years ago when this preview wasn’t very long at all. In fact, there weren’t that many festivals the entire summer, let alone enough to break them down by month. But with tour costs rising and bands paying more for gas, hotels, and groupies, more bands are opting for the festival circuit this year, more so now than ever. This year offers a slew of festivals that cover nearly every major market in the country. At first glance, it looks like Jack Johnson and the Flaming Lips are hellbent on playing every one of these festivals this year. Here's what's going on in July.

Rothbury Festival - July 3-6, Muskegon, MI

The hippies and jam bands that passed on Bonnaroo will be heading to MCB’s homestate of Michigan for a 4^th of July weekend festival on the west side of the state. The first year for this festival will be an interesting affair, mixing a diverse lineup and trying to be the first sustainable festival in Michigan. Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer and current jam kings, Widespread Panic, will headline the bill. Primus and Snoop Dogg are two of the more puzzling names on the bill, but will be different enough to get plenty of fans for their sets. The Crystal Method will host a DJ set one of the nights, while 311 plays their first festival in well…forever. Expect a full preview here, later this week.

What to expect: The Bonnaroo crowd from 2003, and lots of green activities, including green plants in baggies.

Tickets: Four day passes for $224.75 are available and limited number of VIP Weekend passes at $475 each available.

Website: www.rothburyfestival.com

Pitchfork Music Festival- July 18^th-20^th, Chicago, IL

Yeah, Bohb had a tough time getting to Pitchfork last year, so we’re hoping he can make it this year. The first night promises to be a classic night in hip-hop where Public Enemy performs their iconic It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back album in its entirety. Saturday will feature ex-Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker and the indie band du jour of the moment, Vampire Weekend. Definitely check out British rapper Dizzie Rascal that day as well, as well as the Wu-Tang combo of Ghostface and Raekwon and the humorously titled F—k Buttons. Spoon and Dinosaur Jr. headline the final night of the festival.

What to Expect: Hopefully no women trying out for “Flavor Of Love 4” and plenty of tributes to Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

Tickets: One day passes are $30, three day passes for $65.

Website: www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com

After a quick mini-tour back in May, Richard Patrick and company is criss-crossing the Midwest on some upcoming dates behind the release of their new album, Anthems For the Damned. The album keeps things modern enough, but keeps Patrick’s vocals in the forefront and the signature Filter sound. First single “Soldiers Of Misfortune” is obviously a dig at the current war, but sympathizes with the soliders on their plight overseas. The single did well on rock radio, but there are plenty of other songs worth talking about: Tracks like “What’s Next” and “The Take” sound damn good live, as evident with their early songs on tour and harkens Patrick’s first band he played in... something called Nine Inch Nails (Heard of it? Yeah, thought so).

Songs like “Cold” and “Kill The Day” give listeners a taste of the softer side of the band, and recalls one of the band’s biggest songs, “Take a Picture.” After not releasing an album since 2002, Patrick was done with his record contract and decided to release “Anthems” on his own, on Pulse Records, a label he created. The band is zeroing back in on the Midwest in the next couple of weeks, with a show on June 30^th at Gatorz in Toledo and the Machine Shop in Flint on July 3^rd. Filter plans on being on the road throughout most of the year, as the band gets in full swing with a re-energizing album and a tour that’s just as good. Make sure you celebrate the 4^th of July week with Filter in between the fireworks.

Filter has two shows in the area coming up; June 30^th at Gatorz in Toledo (near University of Toledo), tickets are $20 and are available through www.ticketmaster.com. The July 3^rd show at the Machine Shop in Flint are $15 and are available through www.etix.com. Additional dates can be found at www.official-filter.com

Brendon Small, creator of the Cartoon Network/Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse is a busy man these days. Not only in the midst of the second season of the show, but he is out touring behind the multimedia experience that is Dethklok “Deth Tour” rolling through the States right now. The fans of the hit cult show on Adult Swim went out in droves and bought the cartoon band’s  The Dethalbum which became one of the top selling metal records of the past year. During the interview with Brendon, we discussed the inner workings of the show, as well as what to expect on the tour. Here is my interview with Brendon:

MyCityBuzz: Where did the influences for the look and mannerisms of the band come from?
Brendon Small: The influence of the band in general came from death metal and those type of bands. When thinking up the lead singer on the show (Nathan Explosion), we thought about the band Cannibal Corpse and their lead singer (George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher) and thought he was large enough and had that presence to make it work. When we thought of Skwisgaar (Skwigelf; guitarist in Dethklok), we looked at Swedish guitar shredders like Yngwie Malmsteen and people like that. Him and Toki (Wartooth; rhythm guitarist) are always battling because in the metal world, the Swedes look down upon the Norwegians. With Pickles (The Drummer), we looked to the archetype of guys like Roger Taylor of Queen; kind of his look, not so much in his actions. You want to make the characters look human and their actions believable, instead of having abstract looking characters and cardboard cutouts, things like that.

MCB: With the band’s toys (helicopter, etc), did you want the band to seem like superheroes as well?
BS: Not really, with these guys we wanted to show that money buys everything. They kinda have a Howard Hughes situation going on. They can buy everything that they want and do just about anything they want. They come off as spoiled f---ing brats at some points. Some of the ideas that they have on the show are completely insane. These guys aren’t superheroes, they’re super ego-maniacs. The show is as much about the life of celebrities as it is about metal.

MCB: How do you feel the show fits in with the rest of the shows on Adult Swim (Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken)?
BS: I’m not too sure. I haven’t paid too much attention to the other shows on the network. I’ve seen Robot Chicken once and it looked like more sketch related versus an actual show with characters. I think Aqua Teen is great because it is always as weird as it wants to be. When I finish an episode, that’s it, very rarely do I ever go back and watch it when it's on TV. Maybe if there was a movie, it might be a different story, but I feel that the when the show is completed, that is the way I want it to be like.

MCB: As a music fan, what were you influences when you were growing up?
BS: When I was younger, I always loved Queen. It was big, epic and bombastic rock. It was always filled with drama and immediacy and pulled me off. I was always a big Who fan as well, but got into the thrash stuff like Metallica and shredders like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. I even got into movie score music from John Williams (“Star Wars,” “Raiders Of the Lost Ark,” etc) and rock operas like “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

MCB: Has it been difficult to translate the characters to a live setting?
BS: When putting something like this together, the only thing that is difficult is getting the time and money to make it right. With something like this, you have to be comfortable about the vision for the show. We have a large screen of the band, with the four guys in the band playing below it. Our drummer has a click-set, which matches the actions and scenes of the characters with the songs. We’re scoring a movie, more or less. I would rather try to do it this way than try to have a real human version of Dethklok out there. If we did that, it would just be embarrassing for me. Doing it the way we have done it, it has been really satisfying and the guys in the band are great to play with.

MCB: Will there be any new unreleased material during the shows?
BS: All the songs in concert will be from The Dethalbum. I’ve written tons of new songs, but between the tour and the second season running right now, it's been tough to get back into the studio to do it. I am going to have to block off some time in the near future to record the new songs for the next season or another album.

MCB: On the show, the economy around Dethklok has the 12th highest GDP in the world, right below Belgium. When you see the band cracking the Top 10?
BS: (laughs) Probably after their next record. Right now on the season, the band is trying to record an album underwater. If that’s huge, I can see them going to number 10.

MCB: What should people not familiar with the show expect if they come to the live show?
BS: True metalheads will love it, there’s enough death metal for them. But if someone’s never been to a metal show, there is a energy unmatched with any other type of music. Plus, there’s a lot of comedy thrown in with the music during the set as well. And there’s always a curiosity factor thrown in there as well, but in the end it's not all about metal, it's about comedy and most can relate to that.

Don't miss Brendon Small and the animated guys in Dethklok on The Deth Tour this summer. For dates and tickets checkout Ticketmaster.com. The second season of  Metalocalypse is currently running on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block, check local listings. Additional dates can be found at MySpace.com/dethklok.

It is rare that I share a story about someone else, but this one could not be ignored. It happened to my friend, or perhaps my friend happened to it… his name is John Louse. This is my recap of how he relayed it to me:

Voicemail #1 from John Louse: "Dude, call me I need to talk to you."
Voicemail #2 from JL: "Call me as soon as you can, we have things to discuss."
Voicemail #3 from JL: "Dude, I have a serious situation to discuss with you."

Phone Call from Bohb Blair: Hey, sorry it took me so long to get back to you, what’s up?

JL: Dude, I am dealing with a situation here. I had a run-in with a police ocifer (dialect note: JL pronounces the word ‘Officer’ as ‘Ocifer’ for some reason. I have always assumed it was a posturing of disrespect to the role of the police as JL has issues with government mandated authority figures.)

BB: Oh no… what happened?
JL: I was standing in my yard the other day and a police car pulled up and the cop asked me to come over to his window. Of course I refused as I was on private property and was not legally bound to leave my private property without a warrant. I know my rights.
BB: Ummm, yeah…

JL: So the cop demands my name and address and to see photo ID. I gave him my name and address, my address being the very property I was standing on, and told him I had no photo ID on me. Which was true. This is the mistake I made, because in actuality I did not have to provide him with my address, only my name.
BB: OK…

JL: Then he tells me that if I do not have photo ID that I need to come stand in front of his car for video identification. Of course I again refuse citing my previously stated knowledge that I do not have to leave my private property without a warrant. Also, I know that I am intoxicated and that if I leave my private property then he COULD arrest me for public intoxication, so this was a very strategic move on my part.
BB: Sounds wise…

JL: Yeah. So, this cop is getting visibly annoyed. I know you haven’t seen my place, but I have a fence around the yard that is about waist high.
BB: OK…

JL: So this cop, he starts RUNNING towards me! Now Bohb, I don’t know what his intentions were. I’m not sure if he was planning on attacking me, if he was going to jump on me, if he was just trying to cover ground quickly or maybe he was going to jump the fence. But, the next thing I know the cop is on the ground. I swear Bohb, I didn’t touch him.
BB: Oh no…

JL: I think maybe he tripped over a root
BB: Oh no…

JL: So now the cop is really mad and he is yelling at me and telling me I have to come over to his squad car and I have to provide ID. I told him again that I was NOT going to leave my private property and that I had no photo ID to provide. That I had given him my name and address and that was all he would receive without a warrant.
BB: Oh no…

JL: So this cop, he’s getting really mad now and he continues to yell at me as he goes back to his squad car.
BB: OK…

JL: So, he’s gone for a while and then he comes back
BB: And?

JL: Bohb, you won’t believe it. This cop, he gave me a CITATION for having a BONFIRE in a RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD! (in total disbelief)
BB: Ummmm, John? Did you have a bonfire going in your yard?

JL: Yeah
BB: What were you burning?
JL: My mail.

BB: What? (Incredulous) John, did you have a shirt on at this time?
JL: No.
BB: Do you still have that huge beard and unkempt hair? (ed. note: Some may call this particular style of unkempt hair a mullet.)
JL: Yes.

BB: So, you are trying to tell me that you were burning your mail in a bonfire in the yard of your residential neighborhood and that a cop came by, probably because he got a call from a concerned neighbor, where he encountered a shirtless crazy looking man who refuses to show ID and is completely uncooperative?!
JL: I was completely within my rights. I was using the fire to cook food, which is legal. I checked.

BB: John, you are insane.
JL: I was doing nothing illegal

Note: John Louse is now pursuing this in court. Rather than pay the $75 fine he is risking 90 days in jail and a $750 fine to have this heard by a jury of his ‘peers’. If they can find any.

Well, after the eccentric electronic rock band released their fourth album, If, late in April, most fans weren’t expecting the album to make as big of a splash as it did on the Billboard Album Charts. To most fans’ delight, If, debuted at #27 on the charts in the first week.

After a decade of touring with everyone from System of A Down to Insane Clown Posse; this could be seen as a pinnacle of this band's long career. But actually, If carries on the flag for their intriguing and off the wall music. And may be an even more unusual twist of fortunate luck for the band, their first single off the record Never Wanted to Dance, reached the top of Billboard’s Hot Dance Singles. This sort of spot is usually reserved for either world renowned DJ’s or pop acts; not for a band with a lead singer named Jimmy Urine.

Urine’s frantic, yet poppy lyrics provide the backbone for the new album, on songs like “Issues” and the highly humorous “Get It Up.” With the latter of the two songs, I think you can figure on where the lyrical content of the song is going and ends up being the highlight of If.

MSI has had the luxury of a very rabid fanbase that has stuck with them all these years. With highly generous doses of the band on MySpace and YouTube, it really shouldn’t be much of a surprise the new album did so well. The band is currently touring behind the record and be on the road through June 28th. This will include a massive hometown show in New York on the 27th with groups like Combichrist opening up for them.

Until then, watch the group “Get It Up” at maybe the only place that could contain their brand of shock and humor in Detroit, Harpo’s.

Tickets are $20 and are available at Ticketmaster.com. Additional dates can be found at mindlessselfindulgence.com

Following up the band’s debut “In the Dead Of Sleep”, the new EP is five songs of crushing and thunderous guitarists that leans in a metal direction at times, but also develops into something more melodic at times as well. With songs like “Descend From The Wind” and “Until First Light”, the band kicks out their prog-rock more in the vein of Neurosis and Isis versus the straight pummeling of MeShuggah. There is a definite Scott Kelly (Neurosis) influence in lead singer Kenneth McNabb’s lyrics, whose vocals don’t try to overpower the riffs, courtesy of Greg Heaney and Ryan Toohey.

The Famine with Demon Hunter St. Andrew’s Hall

Dallas based band the Famine has something in common with headliner Demon Hunter- they are both bands out on their first national tours. Due to the day job commitments of Demon Hunter, they are finally getting time off to get cross the country. As for The Famine, they are hopping on their first national tour, behind the release of their debut record “The Raven and the Reaping”, which came out May 27th.

The band’s blistering brand of metal owes a bit to their Southern roots. Lead singer Ryan McCaddon says the some of the bands’ material sounds like “Suffocation (long time death metal band) covering Pantera”. The band’s riffs, courtesy of guitarist Andy Godwin sounds does in fact take elements of the latter band mentioned. The tracks on the record, such as “The South Will Rise” and “Scar The Earth” have a groove to them much like Pantera’s Dimebag Darrell did, and transition with each other better than a lot of metal records out there today.

The entertaining and often wild on stage antics of lead singer Trevor Strnad, plus the band’s evolving and far improved production value has helped the band rise up the ranks and plans on delivering the quintessential set of the evening. Long time Montreal band Kataklsym backs up BDM, with the band out supporting their new record, Prevail .The band prides themselves on consistently tight riffs and the lineup of their band. Another import on the bill this year is Polish band Vader. They were one of the first bands on the scene and are celebrating their 25^th year of existence with a best-of compilation, XXV.

One of the early bands from Tennessee, White Chapel, has started to gain a hardcore following and proved that they could hang with bigger bands in metal when they opened for Darkest Hour earlier this year.

Other bands on the bill include Cryptospy, The Faceless, Despised Icon, Born Of Osiris and Aborted.

The tour, sponsored by Sumerian Records, starts right here in Detroit on June 20^th at the Majestic Theatre and runs through July 28^th in Chicago. So, if you are in the mood for break neck beats and mosh pits that most wouldn’t dare to approach, the Summer Slaughter Tour will live up to its name.

The Summer Slaughter Tour begins in Detroit on Friday, June 20^th. Tickets are $20 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Additional dates can be found at www.myspace.com/summerslaughtertour.

On the band’s updated lineup: “It’s felt pretty good so far with the lineup, we have probably toured the most with this new lineup. I think it’s the tightest group that has ever played in this band. Our new bass player used to play in a band with our drummer, and when we lost our last bass player, the drummer wanted to play in a band with him again”.

On issues with faith on the new record: “A lot of our older material attacked more social issues. The new record deals more with personal issues with myself. The song “Lion of Judas” deals with my loss or questioning my faith in things and its something that I haven’t really tackled in the past.”

On silencing early critics of their music: “We’ve definitely silenced those people who thought our lyrics seemed misogynist. For the new record, we wrote two songs about the issues with sexism. We are writing songs about how we really feel and we feel that the early stuff is completely irrelevant now. Things I wrote years ago do not share the same beliefs I have now.”

Elysia will be headlining the “Ferret Young Guns” tour, coming to the Magic Stick on Monday, June 16^th. Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com. Additional dates can be found at www.myspace.com/elysia.