| Home of the Iron Brigade, US Army Garrison Baumholder is settled among the green rolling hills of Central Germany. Most compare it to the setting for the famed movie, The Sound of Music. But the sound of the music from the festival tent on June 4 will forgo the soft, sultry folk voice of Julie Andrews for heavy guitar riffs and booming base. Rock pop artists Hinder, along with Austin-based rockers Ember, bring the Armed Forces Entertainment “Freedom Rocks” tour to more than 3,000 soldiers returning home to Baumholder after 15 months of active duty on the frontlines in Iraq.
“Being part of such a grand welcome home celebration for the 2nd Brigade Combat team—it’s what our organization is about. We bring a piece of Americana to our troops serving overseas—and there’s nothing like good, old rock-n-roll to make the troops feel like their home again,” said Chief of Armed Forces Entertainment, Air Force Colonel Edward Shock.
Emerging Austin-based rock band Ember was selected to open for Hinder as part of Armed Forces Entertainment and Navy Entertainment “Freedom Rocks” tour. More than 250 bands auditioned for the opportunity.
“When we got the call, I was blown away,” said Chris Martinez, Ember’s lead singer. “We are a bunch of good old boys from San Angelo, Texas ---but man, we support our troops. Our song ‘American Hero’ says it all. Our troops on the frontlines deserve all of our respect—they are the heroes.”
Hinder toured with Navy Entertainment in November 2007, performing for sailors on ships at sea.
About Ember
Since their inception, Ember has performed at venues across Texas, the Midwest, and California. In the latter part of 2004 Ember recorded their first EP "Take Everything" with the Pipes brothers (Drowning Pool), Following the release of the album, the band was offered a recording contract with a small independent label, but declined the offer heeding the words of a fellow friend and professional colleague, Justin Furstenfeld (BLUE OCTOBER). They have since recorded a follow-up EP, titled "Under Pressure" under the direction of Grammy award winning producer Sylvia Massy Shivy (Tool, Deftones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Powerman 5000) at Radiostar Studios in Weed California. "Under Pressure" boosted EMBER into the modern rock market as one of the hottest up-and-coming bands.
About Hinder
Combining raw riffs with big hooks and vocal harmonies, Hinder take their cues from rock legends
like Aerosmith, AC/DC, KISS, and Guns N’ Roses, and update them with modern guitar sounds. Their triple platinum debut Extreme Behavior documented the decadence and strained relationships of these retro rock juggernauts, whose subsequent cover of Steppenwolf’s "Born To Be Wild" for NASCAR last year was a natural extension of their lives on the road. Hinder’s latest album “Take it to the Limit” was released in November 2008. It debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200. For more information or to listen to their new singles Up All Night and Best is Yet to Come, check out Hinder’s website or Hinder’s MySpace page.
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Armed Forces Entertainment is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment. Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
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