I See Stars to release ‘Treehouse’ this summer

I See Stars has announced that they will be releasing a new album this upcoming summer. On Wednesday (May 4), the Michigan-based band revealed that their brand new record will be titled Treehouse and is set to be released on June 17 via Sumerian Records. In addition to the new record announcement, the band also released a clip which may or may not be one of the new tracks. The minute and 15 second clips features a white 3D background and black 3D trees while instrumentals play in the background. The short video can be seen below.

Treehouse marks the band’s first record since 2013’s New Demons. In addition to being the band’s first new album in three years, it also marks the band’s first album without screamer/keyboardist Zach Johnson and guitarist Jimmy Gregerson who were asked to leave the group last year. While everyone was hearing about the departure in December of 2015, Gregerson had clarified by telling the band’s fans that he had left months prior. “I am no longer in I See Stars,” he posted. “I did not choose to leave, I was asked to leave. Why? I’m not really sure. I guess the rest of the guys felt they needed a change.”

Johnson also mirrored Gregerson’s clarification by revealing that he was also let go months prior as well. “I was let go months ago. I don’t know why.”

Earlier this year, I See Stars hit the road alongside Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! for a spring tour. This summer, the band will once again hit the road, this time on the Vans Warped Tour where they will play on the Poseidon stage throughout the complete tour.

I See Stars Ask Guitarist, Keyboardist to Leave Band

‘Tis the season for bands to be losing members. Hot on the heels of Paramore’s Jeremy Davis leaving the band he co-founded and all members of Emmure leaving their own group, another band has been added to that growing list. On Wednesday (Dec. 23), it was revealed that I See Stars had asked their screamer/keyboardist Zach Johnson and guitarist Jimmy Gregerson to leave the group . Taking to Instagram, both musicians confirmed the revelations.

According to Gregerson, the departure actually happened months ago but the reason behind the decision is still unknown. “I am no longer in I See Stars,” he posted. “I did not choose to leave, I was asked to leave. Why? I’m not really sure. I guess the rest of the guys felt they needed a change.” In a similar, short statement, Johnson mirrored Gregerson’s news. “I was let go months ago. I don’t know why.”

While both musicians admit that they don’t know what lies in the future for them, they do reveal that each has been keeping busy. “As for my future plans, they are up in the air right now,” Gregerson writes. “I have been bouncing around the country working for various bands. As of late, I have been working exclusively with Metro Station.”

Johnson, on the other hand, announced that he has been writing and is planning on putting together a new group very soon. Through the negative outcome, one thing is for sure, both Gregerson and Johnson admit that there is no bad blood between them and the remaining members of I See Stars. Both Instagram posts can be seen below.

A photo posted by ZACH JOHNSON (@zachyyyj) on Dec 22, 2015 at 4:22pm PST

I need to just clear the air since this continues to be awkward for me months after the fact and I just want it to be over with. I am no longer in I See Stars. I did not choose to leave, I was asked to leave. Why? I'm not really sure. I guess the rest of the guys felt they needed a change. I felt it was necessary to make this clear because as someone who was with I See Stars since day one I thought the fans deserved to know that I did not turn my back on them and walk away. I had every intention of riding I see stars out until the day it was done and I think 9 years of being in the band is proof of that. I have no bad blood and don't wish anything bad for those guys. We grew up together from a really young age and have been through some of the best times of my life together. they will always be considered my family no matter where they are in life and what the circumstance is. As for my future plans, they are up in the air right now. I have been bouncing around the country working for various bands. as of late i have been working exclusively with @metrostation. I have been lucky enough and extremely thankful to have people like @tracecyrus and @themasonmusso step in and kind of look after me as I make this transition. Thank you to everyone who was a fan and supported me while I was in I See Stars! You all will be missed! ❤❤❤ happy holidays!

A photo posted by Jimmy Gregerson (@jimmyjuiceboxx) on Dec 21, 2015 at 1:48pm PST

The news of Johnson and Gregerson’s “departure” comes a few days after I See Stars announced a co-headlining tour with Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! for 2016. The tour is scheduled to kick off on Feb. 17, 2016 at Soundstage in Baltimore and wrap up on March 25, 2016 at The Crofoot in Pontiac, MI. The complete list of tour dates can be seen below.

I SEE STARS/ CHUNK! NO, CAPTAIN CHUNK! 2016 TOUR DATES:

02/17 Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage
02/18 Richmond, VA @ Canal Club
02/19 Freehold, NJ @ Gamechanger World
02/20 Philadelphia, PA @ Voltage
02/21 New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre
02/23 Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground
02/24 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
02/25 Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall
02/26 Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar
02/27 Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom
02/29 Chicago, IL @ Portage Theater
03/01 Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theater
03/02 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
03/03 Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre
03/04 St. Louis, MO @ Fubar
03/05 Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street Collective
03/06 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
03/08 Hollywood, CA @ The Whisky
03/09 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
03/10 Sacramento, CA @ The Boardwalk
03/11 Reno, NV @ Jub Jub’s
03/12 San Diego, CA @ Lampost Warehouse
03/13 Phoenix, AZ @ Pub Rock
03/18 Corpus Christi, TX @ House Of Rock
03/23 Kansas City, KS @ Aftershock
03/24 Iowa City, IA @ Gabe’s
03/25 Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot

South By So What? Unleash Second List of Bands

South By So What? have released the second list of artist who will be taking the trip to Texas in late March.

The second unveil of the annual festival which will be turning eight in 2015, recently announced bands such as Atreyu, Chiodos, For Today, Hatebreed, I See Stars, Motionless in White, Superhaven, This Wild Life, and many more.

One of the treats to come from the newly revealed list comes courtesy of Cartel. The Georgia-based band will be performing their debut album, 2005’s Chroma in full during their set. That’s one way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of your break-out record.

Check out the up to date list of artists which includes over 100 bands, and the final list hasn’t even been revealed yet.

New bands announced:

Atreyu
Capsize
Cartel performing Chroma in its entirety
Chiodos
Conquer Divide
Dear You
Driver Friendly
Fallujah
Fear & Wonder
For The Win
For Today
Gideon
Hatebreed
Hotel Books
Invent, Animate
I See Stars
Jesse Lawson
Motionless In White
Mouth Of The South
Oceano
Silent Screams
Superheaven
The Last Ten Seconds Of Life
This Wild Life

First group of bands:

Black Tongue
Boris The Blade
Dayseeker
Enter Shikari
Ghost Atlas
He Is Legend
Lydia
Mayday Parade
Monuments
Outline in Color
Parables
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The Alchemy Index
The Browning
The Maine
The Ongoing Concept
We Came As Romans
Yesterday As Today

South By So What? will take place during the weekend of March 20-22 at the QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie, TX. Tickets are currently on sale, so maybe it’s time to start buying them.