RENOWNED INDEPENDENT RECORD STORE DESTROYED BY FIRE

Long-running New York independent record store, Looney Tunes, located in West Babylon, Long Island, was destroyed by a severe fire Wednesday night that may have resulted from a faulty extension cord, according to an article in today’s Newsday.

The 4,000-square-foot, 35-year-old store, where upcoming in-store performances and signings by hardcore outfit Chiodos and indie-rockers Manchester Orchestra were to take place in the coming weeks, was described by Jamie and Karl Groeger, the two brothers who run Looney Tunes, as “decimated,” according to the article. The article goes on to site that among the loss of merchandise were 57 autographed guitars, and several gold and platinum records.

Chicago-based Victory Records announced on their web site plans to donate, for the next two weeks, 10 percent of all web store sales to help support the rebuilding efforts of the Groegers, who hope to rebuild Looney Tunes “as soon as possible.”

THURSDAY NAME UPCOMING ALBUM

New Jersey screamo outfit Thursday have named their yet-to-be released CD/DVD set, Kill the House Lights – Live and Unreleased , available Oct. 30, 2007 on former label Victory Records.To read more about the release, click here.

“BEASTS OF THE EAST” TOUR CANCELLED

The remaining dates for the Beasts of the East Tour, featuring Permanent ME, Bedlight for Blue Eyes, and Scenes from a Movie, have been cancelled. Long Island, NY Indie ensemble Permanent ME released the following statement via their MySpace blog explaining why:

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, we can no longer continue the tour. Basically, the Junior Varsity was suppose to play the dates with us, then bailed to jump on another tour and then bailed off of that. The problem with this was that they were supposed to be the headliners and when they dropped, the rooms downsized as well. On top of that, Scenes from a Movie had then dropped off last night in Jacksonville due to some personal issues…so us and Bedlight for Blue Eyes had no other choice but to cancel the remaining dates on the tour because it turned into a two band package. We really didn’t want to do this, and we are not the type of band to just drop off of a tour unless there is a valid reason. Sorry to anyone who went down to the Social in Orlando tonight thinking there would be a show…We promise to try to make it up to you guys in the Midwest ASAP!!!”

Plans are still in tact for the east coast band’s tour with The Starting Line, running from September 13 to September 28. The band also announced east coast dates for their tour with Secondhand Serenade, starting October 4, and plan to announce additional dates in the future. Dates below:.

Sep 13 2007- Toad’s Place (w/ The Starting Line, Sound the Alarm, Four Year Strong) New Haven, CT
Sep 14 2007 – Higher Ground (w/ The Starting Line, All Time Low, Four Year Strong) South Burlington, VT
Sep 15 2007 – Lupo’s (w/ The Starting Line, Sound The Alarm, Four Year Strong) Providence, RI
Sep 16 2007 – The Station (w/ The Starting Line, All Time Low, Four Year Strong) Portland, ME
Sep 17 2007 – Chameleon Club (w/ The Starting Line, All Time Low, Four Year Strong) Lancaster, PA
Sep 18 2007 – Toad’s Place (w/ The Starting Line, All Time Low, Four Year Strong) Richmond, VA
Sep 20 2007 – University Of Georgia (w/ The Starting Line) Athens, GA
Sep 21 2007 – The Wind Jammer (w/ The Starting Line, Four Year Strong, Meriweather) Isle Of Palms, SC
Sep 22 2007 – Headliners (w/ The Starting Line, Four Year Strong, Meriweather) Columbia, SC
Sep 23 2007 – Monkey Business (w/ The Starting Line, Four Year Strong, Meriweather) Hilton Head, SC
Sep 24 2007 – Floyd’s Music Store (w/ The Starting Line, Four Year Strong, Meriweather) Tallahassee, FL
Sep 26 2007 – Workplay Theatre (w/ The Starting Line, Four Year Strong, Meriweather) Birmingham, AL
Sep 27 2007 -Varsity Theatre (w/ The Starting Line, Four Year Strong, Meriweather) Baton Rouge, LA
Sep 28 2007 – Skate Park (w/ The Starting Line, Four Year Strong, Meriweather) Cordova, TN
Oct 4 2007 – State Theatre (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of the Year) St. Petersburg, FL
Oct 5 2007 – Culture Room (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of the Year) Fort Lauderdale, FL
Oct 6 2007 – The Social (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of the Year) Orlando, FL
Oct 8 2007 – The Masquerade (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of the Year) Atlanta, GA
Oct 9 2007 – Rockettown (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of the Year) Nashville, TN
Oct 11 2007 – Recher Theatre (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of the Year) Towson, MD
Oct 12 2007 – Tremont Music Hall (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of the Year) Charlotte, NC
Oct 13 2007 – The Norva (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of the Year) Norfolk, VA
Oct 14 2007 – Asbury Lanes (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of the Year) Asbury Park, NJ
Oct 16 2007 – Club Infinity (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of the Year) Williamsville, NY
Oct 18 2007 – The Trocodero (w/ Secondhand Serenade, Rookie of The Year) Philadelphia, PA

Pick up Permanent ME’s latest album, After the Room Clears, out now on Stolen Transmission. Read the review here.