YONAS MEDIA BRINGS BACK BAY RISING

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There's nothing like a good old fashioned battle of the bands to bring out the competitive spirit. And nothing fuels that desire to pummel your opponent into the ground more than $10,000 in prizes. OK, this isn't American Gladiators, but there will be a panel of judges, scrutinizing each performance like a bunch of drugged up Paula Abduls. For the second year in a row, Oakland-based production company—Yonas Media—brings back "Bay Rising." Bands will battle it out at two semifinal shows: scheduled for 8/4 at Cafe du Nord and 8/5 at The Uptown. The finals will be held on 8/27 at the Great American Music Hall. Prizes include a five-day recording package at Yonas Media's new Oakland Recording Studio. All genres are welcome. Submissions...  > more

RCA SIGNS AUDRYE SESSIONS

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East Bay darlings Audrye Sessions have officially signed to RCA/High Sea records, confirming the rumors sprouted from the underground as far back as January. Audrye Sessions have been re-recording their lush-laced rock tunes in Los Angeles for nearly a month with Andrew Scheps, who can name-drop works with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, and The Rolling Stones. The label re-release version of Braille includes a few new arrangements and three new tracks. What's the biggest perk of being on a major label? "A record label gets you a booking agent. And the booking agent is what I care about... Touring full-time and playing everyday," says guitarist Mike Knox. Audrye Sessions begins...  > more

AMPLIVE TACKLES MGMT

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And now for your DJ Amplive (Zion I) remix update. The Oakland producer, whose Rainydayz Remixes album—an interpretation of Radiohead's In Rainbows—caused such a legal snafu, is at it again. But this time there won't be any cease & desist letters (we assume). Fresh off the heels of a recent MGMT/Of Montreal mashup, Amplive releases a second remix from MGMT's Oracular Spectacular, and we think it's better than the first. On the track, "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters," Amplive builds off of the song's heavy synth vibe, pushing the drums to the front and compressing the vocals, which happen to be spat by Oakland's own Mistah...  > more