Wanna hear the brand new @officialband3 album live with others? A Thousand Torches is kickin’ off a listening party around 8:30pm EST in http://turntable.fm/a_thousand_torches

the main pages of aKt are offline due to a surge in visitors to the site this month. We need $ to get back online and stay up! Please make a donation (seriously, even 2 cents helps)

While it’s really exciting that there’s been so much traffic to the site, we are unable to personally afford the few bucks it takes to double aKt’s bandwidth to ensure this doesn’t happen again.  Either way, thanks again for supporting thefamily3’s homebase on the web!  <3

Thank you for a great year!  Though conceived in early 2008, A Thousand Torches was born in April 2010.  Our glimmering presence existed as merely a tumblelog, but with donations contributed, we’ve been able to bring aKt closer to the complete vision of the website.  Our Den (resource / archive) and Campsite (community bulletin board forum) are in development, and we’ve been in the habit of posting a rare thefamily3 song for download each month.  Over 300 pages currently exist in the Den and over 500 snippets have been shared on the Tumblelog!  During that time we’ve also begun to build an extensive collection of interviews, lyrics, detailed discographies…  there’s a wealth of information just waiting to be uncovered!  And plenty more to come!  As 3 goes into their 18th year of being a band and gets ready to release their 7th album, www.athousandtorches.com is prepared to be there!

We here at aKt look forward to spending another year with YOU as well as our favorite music!  Stay safe and have a healthy new year!  A Thousand Torches wouldn’t exist without its community.  <3

1. TERRIBLE THINGS release eponymous track – the journey so far
2. 3 Discussion - New Album 2011?
3. Video - Coheed and Cambria - “Time Consumer” and “Delirium Trigger - live at Vassar College on November 11, 2001
4. thefamily3 News - Nightmares For A Week release debut Music Video (and it’s an Alternative Press exclusive!)
5. Past Concerts - Dec 11, 2010 - EGO - Harmony (Wok N Roll) - Woodstock, NY, USA
6. Project Thread - Session 606
7. Nightmares For A Week release album details
8. Project Thread - A Scream For The Memory
9. Audio - Anadivine featuring Claudio Sanchez - “Cross Your Heart” 
10. Interview - Bad Brains from NY Rocker 50 (1982)
11. John The Baker BANNED in Germany
12. Photo - Coheed and Cambria by Jeremy Saffer (2006)
13. thefamily3 at NYC’s CMJ Marathon 2010
14. A Benefit for the Jason Foster Tribute Concert
15. Interview - Now What: H.R. & Dr. Know (1981)
16. Interview - Mic Todd with KSUB
17. About
18. Audio - Counterfeit Disaster featuring Travis Stever - “Devil’s Handshake”
19. Interview - Claudio Sanchez with Jim Ward
20. Photo - Claudio Sanchez, Charlie Errante, Jimmy Eppard, Travis Stever, and the Babicz hookup
21. Project Profile - The Flatline Symphony
22. Video - Terrible Things - “The Song Remains The Same” (Led Zeppelin cover song) into “The Hills of Birmingham” - live at Gramercy Theater on October 20, 2010
23. Project Profile - Divest
24. What is a Tumblelog?
25. Special aKt Media

So here’s what’s up with thefamily3 right now.

3 is in the studio recording their 7th record.  It is, as of yet, untitled. They shared via twitter that the songs they began performing live in 2008- “You Are The Alien” and “One With The Sun” will appear on the album.  On May 21st they posted a song title that one can only assume we haven’t heard live yet, “Afterglow.”  This time around the band is working at Applehead Recording & Production with producer extraordinaire and original bass player, Chris Bittner (CJB), at the helm.  In an email sent out to the mailing list Joey divulged, “Its been a personal dream of mine to record in the room my father [Jimmy Eppard] designed and built. Its almost like having him play on the record.”  Also in that email Joey let us know that 3 will be debuting some new material for us at their only show this summer.  On Saturday, August 28th, 3 will be gracing the acclaimed stage of Woodstock’s Bearsville Theater with support from original drummer, Josh Eppard’s latest musical endeavor, Terrible Things.

While the Bearsville show is the only 3 concert this summer, the members continue to contribute their talents to live music.  10 days ago (on Father’s Day) Joey performed at Bearsville Theater opening up for King Crimson’s Adrian Belew.  Last month (on Mother’s Day) Gartdrumm opened up for King Crimson side project, STICK MEN, the spectacular group composed of stickmaster Tony Levin, his teacher- Michael Bernier, and the eight-handed Pat Mastelotto.  Gartdrumm performed with his new project- Gartdrumm/Orchid, which features the Duchess of Funk herself, Alana Orr.  The duo are also scheduled to perform at the public-supported Rosendale Street Festival on Saturday, July 24th.  Daniel has been performing with The Ricochet and played bass on their debut EP, Don’t Feel.

Terrible Things have been touring nationally non-stop since the completion of their debut record.  A few days ago Spin Magazine posted a write-up that included the only in-studio videos to surface from the sessions.  More recently Alternative Press Magazine posted the cover art for the self-titled album due out August 31st on Universal-Motown, as well as some back-story on the cover and theme of the record (which was recorded at Synchromesh Studios in Birmingham, Alabama with Jason Elgin).  Terrible Things (one of AltPress’ bands you NEED to know in 2010) are currently sharing the stage with Minus The Bear in Canada and The Offspring in the US.  They even played an off-date with Uncle John The Baker in Berkeley, CA.  In late July-early August they will be performing on select dates of the Vans Warped Tour.  Today the band posted a second studio track from their record, “Up At Night.”  Their first single, “Revolution” has already received some airplay on various radio stations and is available for purchase on iTunes.

When 3 is not in Applehead Studio, it appears Mours’ Anthony Masington has been in there recording his debut record (being referred to as “H&R”) for his project, Session 606.  In a blog posted on myspace Anthony shared that the record (which was begun in 2008 at Darkworld Studio with David “Wavis” Parker at the helm) will feature a slew of guest musicians including CJB who in addition to engineering, mixing and producing the album is performing bass guitar on the songs.

Elsewhere in the family, Nightmares For A Week have entered Nada Recording Studio with John Naclerio to embark on their debut LP.  NFAW were also a pick for Alternative Press’ Bands You NEED to Know in 2010 and just inked a deal with Academy Fight Song Records. Their still untitled album is slated for an October release and, according to facebook, will have 12 songs.  Nightmares For A Week have posted 2 in-studio videos thus far and invited fans to ask questions about the album on facebook.

Back to the concert tip, three bands in thefamily3 have paired up to tour the US in August.  Porcupine Tree, Coheed and Cambria and The Dear Hunter have announced that they’re hitting up a bunch of cities from Hollywood to Cleveland. ( more info from our friends at Cobalt and Calcium )

Elysium Theory is celebrating the release of their debut LP, Modern Alchemy at Keegan Ales in Kingston on July 3rd.  Many of the band members had cameos in the music video for “Rabid Animals.”

Dead Unicorn (who supported 3 at The Basement’s 3 Year Anniversary celebration) will be honoring the release of their second LP, Global Thermonuclear War, at Keegan Ales with Nightmares For A Week on July 30th.

Saturday, July 3rd will be the 11th The Broken Radio show.  It is an hour long show based in Rhode Island that also streams on the web (and iPhones).  The playlist is entirely composed of all sorts of rare, live, and album versions of songs by Coheed and Cambria plus the various projects involved.  It’s a great way to get a taste of Coheed and Cambria’s touring partners as well.  While the show airs, there is a live chat room for listeners to connect with each other and a t-shirt (unavailable for purchase) is given away weekly to one lucky caller.  This week in celebration of the Kill Audio Hardcover release, TBR is also giving away 12 Kill Audio comics (Issues 1-6 A&B variation covers) AND the Kill Audio Preview Book signed by Claudio Sanchez!  The Broken Radio airs at 10pm EST every Saturday.

unreleased beats (for Weerd Science) by David Parker (Wavis)

June

Tue. 29 – Minus The Bear, Terrible Things – The Distrikt – Regina, SK, Canada
Wed. 30 – Stick Men – 30 – Factoria de les Arts – Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain

July

Thu. 01 – The Offspring, Terrible Things – Summerfest: Harley Davidson Stage – Milwaukee, WI, US
Fri. 02 – Joey Eppard – Port of Call – Catskill, NY, US
Fri. 02 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Fridays At Sunset @Browns Island – Richmond, VA, US
Fri. 02 – Stick Men – Sala Rockstar – Bilbao, Biscay, Spain
Sat. 03 – Elysium Theory – Keegan Ales – Kingston, NY, US
Sat. 03 – By Land or Sea – The Green – Woodstock, NY, US
Sat. 03 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Showcase Live – Foxborough, MA, US
Sat. 03 – Stick Men – Warsaw Summer Jazz Days – Warsaw, Poland
Sun. 04 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Nateva Festival – Oxford, ME, US
Mon. 05 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Métropolis – Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Wed. 07 – By Land or Sea – Lutheran Church Hall – Red Hook, NY, US
Wed. 07 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Hampton Beach Casino – Hampton Beach, NH, US
Thu. 08 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Northern Lights – Clifton Park, NY, US
Fri. 09 – By Land or Sea – The Grange – Jefferson, NY, US
Fri. 09 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Chene Park Amphitheatre – Detroit, MI, US
Sat. 10 – The Ricochet, By Land or Sea – Muddy Cup – New Paltz, NY, US
Sat. 10 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – All Good Music Festival – Masontown, WV, US
Sat. 10 – Nightmares For A Week – Bacchus – New Paltz, NY, US
Mon. 12 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – M.L.K. Jr. Concert Series at Wingate Field – Brooklyn, NY, US
Wed. 14 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Bottle and Cork – Dewey Beach, DE, US
Thu. 15 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Alive@5 at Columbus Park – Stamford, CT, US
Fri. 15 – Stick Men – Festa della Birra di Misinto – Misinto, MB, Italy
Fri. 16 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ, US
Sat. 16 – Stick Men – Rockville Calstellarano – Scandiano, RE, Italy
Sat. 17 – Joey Eppard & Friends, Bergkamp Brothers Band – Harmony – Woodstock, NY, US
Sat. 17 – George Clinton and the P-Funk – Trump Taj Mahal Arena – Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
Sat. 17 – Stick Men – Afraka Festival – Afragola, NA, Italy
Thu. 22 – Stick Men – CICCA – Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Fri. 23 – Stick Men – Alatri in Blues Festival – Alatri, FR, Italy
Sat. 24 – By Land or Sea – Cake Shop – New York, NY, US
Sat. 24 – Gartdrumm/Orchid – Rosendale Street Fest @ Mountain Stage, US
Sun. 25 – Stick Men – Sestri Levante, Province of Genoa, Italy
Tue. 27 – Stick Men – Villa la Cinquantina – Cecina, LI, Italy
Wed. 28 – Stick Men – Rock On Festival – Martirano Lombardo, CZ, Italy
Thu. 29 – Terrible Things – Vans Warped Tour @ Marcus Amphitheater – Milwaukee, WI, US
Thu. 29 – Stick Men – Blues Sotto le Stelle – L’Aquila, Italy
Fri. 30 – Dead Unicorn, Nightmares For A Week – Keegan Ales – Kingston, NY, US
Fri. 30 – Terrible Things – Vans Warped Tour @ Comerica Park – Detroit, MI, US
Fri. 30 – The Flatline Symphony - The Pulse – Berlin, MD, US
Sat. 31 – Terrible Things – Vans Warped Tour @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL, US

August

Sun. 01 – Terrible Things – Vans Warped Tour @ Canterbury Park – Shakopee, MN, US
Mon. 02 – Terrible Things – Vans Warped Tour @ Sandstone Amphitheatre – Bonner Springs, KS, US
Thu. 05 – Terrible Things – Vans Warped Tour @ Northlands Grounds – Edmonton, AB, Canada
Fri. 06 – Nightmares For A Week – The Party Expo – Brooklyn, NY, US
Sat. 07 – Terrible Things – Vans Warped Tour @ Utah State Fairgrounds – Salt Lake City, UT, US
Sun. 08 – Terrible Things – Vans Warped Tour @ Invesco Field – Denver, CO, US
Thu. 12 – California Guitar Trio with Tony Levin – G-TARanaki @ Puke Ariki – New Plymouth, New Zealand
Fri. 13 – California Guitar Trio with Tony Levin – G-TARanaki @ TSB Stadium – New Plymouth, New Zealand
Sat. 28 -  3, Terrible Things – Bearsville Theater – Woodstock, NY, US

September

Sat. 04 – Gartdrumm/Orchid – The Green – Woodstock, NY, US
Sat. 18 – For The Record, The Ricochet, Praedicare, Silence The Feedback – The Loft – Poughkeepsie, NY, US