Having been in A Perfect Circle, one would expect frontman Billy Howerdel do be the stereotypical rockstar. This couldn’t have been any further from the truth. He humbly thanked the crowd for showing up early to see his “little band of merry music makers.” Most were unfamiliar with his material, but near the end of his set, it appeared that he had won the crowd over. Later, at his signing at the Island Def Jam tent, there was a long line waiting to talk to the band, take pictures, or just shake his hand. He could have left early, but he stayed for nearly an hour talking to everyone who wanted to talk.
View the full review and photo set by clicking the above image
Posted in Media, Reviews, Tour
Following the Street Drum Corps, rock band Ashes Divide cranked up the lights and turned up the amps. Led by lead singer Billy Howerdel, the group rocked with finesse and style.
Head over to keithmokris.com to view the entire set and review
Posted in Media, Reviews, Tour
Onstage, the backdrop and lighting, the use of the fog machine, all lends nicely to the “feel” of Howerdel’s music, and I really enjoyed Ashes Divide’s set. His chosen touring band is excellent, and they lend a nice charisma to the stage without overshadowing the more serene Howerdel as he plays and sings his songs. With the past popularity of A Perfect Circle, and the never-ending love of Tool, I can easily see how Ashes Divide has quickly gained a foothold in the music scene, and I feel it’s well-deserved.
Head over to their site to read the entire review.
Artistdirect.com posted a favorable review of ASHES dIVIDE’s set at the Projekt Revolution show that took place at the Verizon Wireless Ampitheater in Irvine, CA.
“After Street’s tribal drumming finished, Ashes Divide flew the crowd back to outer space. Helmed by A Perfect Circle mastermind Billy Howerdel, Ashes Divide played a set filled with slow, warm guitars and intriguing, strange choruses. The band kicked things off with “The Stone” from their debut, Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright. Howerdel has certainly come into his own as a frontman; he stood center stage smoothly playing and singing simultaneously. He gyrated to the hazy melodies the band created, while vocally carrying the choruses of “Prey” and “Stripped.” To his left, guitarist Andy Gerold simply shredded, providing the perfect technical complement to Billy’s “feel”-based style.”
Source: artistdirect.com
Simon Fraser University’s Independent newspaper The Peak has posted a fantastic review of the headlining show that took place at Richards on Richards in Vancouver on July 3rd.
Please head over to their site to read the full review.
Fazer.ca has posted a couple pictures and a very small review of ASHES dIVIDE’s set from Edgefest in Toronto on Saturday.
The EdgeFest 08 Page over at Edge.ca has also put up quite a few pictures from the event. There are sections for user submitted videos/reviews/pictures so keep an eye on it in the upcoming days for more content.
Last but not least a video of Denial Waits from Edgefest has shown up on youtube
The lovely ladies over at Planet Verge have posted a glowing review of ASHES dIVIDE’s set at the PNC Bank Arts Center.
“The band opened on a pretty mellow note that set the tone of sophistication. Ashes Divide is not your general loud party rock band playing a 92.3 KRock sponsored show.
That’s not to say they aren’t catchy, though. “Denial Waits” has a chorus that will be glued to heads upon first listen. Those who were wise enough to show up early and catch the band’s set did not stop applauding.”
Please visit Planet Verge for the full review and more pictures. They also mention that an interview with ASHES dIVIDE will be posted there in the future so we will keep an eye out.
Special thanks to Reed for the heads up
Looks like the UK based Kerrang Magazine has jumped in on the review action
“A Perfect Circle’s Other Half Steps Out
If great bands are more than the sum of their parts, none more so than A Perfect Circlle, the 1999-2006 partnership between Tool’s Maynard James Keenan and former Guns N’Roses/NIN guitar tech Billy Howerdel, who birthed two fantastic albums of lush, gothic rock melodrama to then dissolve when Keenan returned to Tool and his own new project Puscifer. ASHES dIVIDE is Billy Howerdel alone, helped out by the Official Drummer Of Everyone, Mr Josh Freese, ex-NIN man Danny Lohner and none other than Keenan’s 13-year-old son Devo on cello.
Of course there are plenty moments here which can’t help calling to mind APC, most noticeably Howerdel’s instantly recognisable shimmering guitar sound, and production-wise this debut sounds as huge and dense as you’d expect. Coming forth from under the shadow of the finest rock singer of his generation can have been no easy task and while Howerdel does a decent enough job at complementing these frequently haunting, stirring tracks of dark ’80s-yearning alt-rock with an adequate vocal accompaniment, his at-times reedy voice dosen’t always hit the mark. Defamed harks back to Smashing Pumpkins and Howerdel’s lovelorn persona, like Ad’s sound in general, is graced with a vague, indistinct quality fans of 30 Seconds To Mars, or even HIM may appriciate. Good in places.
Download: Stripped Away
For fans of: 30 Seconds To Mars, The Cure”
Special thanks to Ellz for the heads up!
Posted in Reviews
Ex-APC and current QOTSA member Troy Van Leewun was recently interview by ultimate-guitar.com and had good things to say about Billy and ASHES dIVIDE.
“Speaking of Billy Howerdel he has been working on some new music.
Yes, it’s a new project called Ashes Divide and if you like A Perfect Circle you’re going to like it. A Perfect Circle was really his music. I don’t play on the album but I really like it and back it totally. We did get together a couple of times over the last couple of years but he really takes his time. And rather than force something to happen, we just decided to hang out. I listened to a bunch of his new music but it seemed he had it pretty much covered if you know what I mean. He likes to pick the parts and then divide amongst the musicians. He is such a well rounded player. “
Read the full interview here
Posted in Reviews
Yet another review, this time on Decoymusic.com
“Howerdel’s obscure signature guitar playing style is easy to notice several times throughout the record. He has this knack for writing melodies where you almost guess their outcome and end up being completely wrong. They start off sounding normal and pleasant, and just crash toward the end in an odd, yet somehow good sounding way.”
Go here to read the review in it’s entirety.
Posted in Reviews