We're back after taking a few busy weeks off of podcasting! In this episode we cover how to handle a last minute tour announcement with all hands on deck re: Lorna Shore, fun new content releases, new music releases from the label starting with Night Argent's new single "Dreamcatcher" which dropped today off of their upcoming EP The Fear out July 14. Also, Ice Nine Kills is up for an AMPA award, Darkest Hour and DC Brau are re-releasing Savor the Swill, and hear updates about Mike's Sixty Days To Signable course via Outerloop Coaching!

Our latest inspirations: Suzie's reading The Moth's "All These Wonders" book. Mike is continuing to meet new and interesting people. Lance has been going to a ton of shows and found all the pop-punk kids in Austin!

Check out the Lorna Shore commercial featuring Megosh as actors: https://youtu.be/VdQZpNNbxY4

Listen/Pre-order Night Argent's new EP The Fear: https://NightArgent.lnk.to/TF

O Marks The Spot is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. Learn more at www.jabberjawmedia.com

Mike and Nikhil recap their time at Launch Music Conference in Lancaster, PA last weekend where they were both panelists. The intimate setting of the conference allows for participants and industry professionals alike to mingle without constraints. Having been to many major conferences himself Nikhil covers ground on how to keep panels interesting and attendees excited and passes on some knowledge to Lance on how to network effectively in the conference setting. How did the industry work before email? We can't even imagine! But the documentary Inventing David Geffen might answer that question.

Weekly Inspiration:

Lance says the new Kendrick Lamar album Damn is "straight fire"

Suzie is obsessed with Lore the podcast

Nikhil is revisiting Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper

Stephanie Maksimow of Catalyst Publicity joins the podcast this week. Catalyst handles all of the PR for Outerloop Records and has worked with Mike for many years outside of the label. Steph brings a fresh perspective of what has worked well with our artists creatively through press, the changing rules of editorial and PR, and what people overlook when working with a publicist. Stay tuned for what's to come from Outerloop Records and Catalyst Publicity Weekly inspiration: Mike checked the sandwich shop Taylor Gourmet has opened across from the Outerloop office. Suzie is buried in wedding planning but is stoked on a new beer caddy from Sota Shoppe, Lance wakes up to the new American Football LP2. O Marks The Spot is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. For more information and podcasts like ours please visit jabberjawmedia.com Use the coupon code: omarksflag to get $30 off your next order at ArtistFlags.com.

We're feeling the pressure as it is the, somewhat, calm before the storm but ask Mike says, we are armed for battle! The battle that is our impending summer schedule. Affiance have announced their farewell tour Say Goodbye-Ance for April-May. Ice Nine Kills launched their third music video for "The Nature of The Beast", a unique take on George Orwell's Animal Farm, which premiered on Alternative Press . The Law of Diminishing Returns in relation to music videos - is it too much to have a music video for every song on an album? Today we released the new single "Dead" from New Jersey band VANISH! Head over to AllInMerch.com to pick up the shirt and get a free digital download of the new song or download/stream via iTunes and Spotify.

Outside of work, Suzie is listening to The Black Tapes podcast, Lance is listening to the new Drake album and Mike is too busy to listen to Drake but is enjoy the podcast Promoter 101 hosted by an agent and a manager about the music world.

Like what you hear? Don't forget to rate us and leave a review!

Get $30 off your next order at ArtistFlags.com using the code: omarksflag

Mike and Lance recap their SXSW experience. We do a quick rundown of the Vans Warped Tour lineup. And for the main course, Chef Brian Tsao joins the show to talk food and metal. Brian tells the serendipitous story of how he met Nikhil and subsequently became involved with Outerloop. Did you know he beat Bobby Flay on the show Beat Bobby Flay? Mike was able to sample a vegetarian version of the dish Brian created to win the battle. Make sure you check out Taste of Metal on Metal Injection, a heavy metal cooking show featuring Brian and a guest metal musician. http://www.metalinjection.net/channels/taste-of-metal

Looking to get new banners, backdrops, or flags for your band? Use the code: OMARKSFLAG at ArtistFlags.com for $30 off your next order!

For the first time ever, Mike is opening up his knowledge base of the business to aspiring musicians through the webinar "Sixty Days To Signable" available now at signup.outerloopcoaching.com

Follow us online:

Mike on Instagram and Twitter: @mikeoloop

Lance on Instagram and Twitter: @lancedontdance

Suzie on Instagram: ms.suzielee

After about a year of working on Darkest Hour's new release, starting with their Indiegogo campaign, the album is out today (March 10th) licensed exclusively through Southern Lord. This podcast joined the Jabberjaw Media Network (also a sister company of Outerloop) along with 5 other new shows The Ex Man with Doc Coyle, Pour Taste, Too Old to Date, The Future of What, and The Metal Podcast! NPR's All Things Considered did a segment on Bad Christian. Mike found himself blown away by Ghostbath's live show. If you're at SXSW next week make sure to check out the panel The Role of Podcasts in the Music Industry in 2017. A little scoop on Good Tiger. And if you're in DC check out the Yayoi Kusama exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum.

Mike recaps his recent trip to Chicago, speaking at Columbia College, visiting Dark Matter Coffee HQ, and catching Darkest Hour on tour. Outerloop Records released of A Wake In Providence's single "A Darkened Gospel" last week on 2/24 and Lorna Shore and Youth In Revolt both charted on Billboard, respectively. New Ghost Bath album and tours. What is the new "it" sound? How do bands grow musically and retain their fanbase? Plus: You need to hear the hidden Megosh track "Bill Murry 5".

Use the coupon code: OMARKSFLAG to get $30 your next order from ArtistFlags.com

We are joined by Lorna Shore guitarist and writer Adam Di Micco. The band is currently on tour with Carnifex and Despised Icon and have just released their second full-length album Flesh Coffin on February 17th. We discuss the writing and recording process for Flesh Coffin, what it's like for the band to work with Outerloop as management and label, and the New Jersey "Get out of my way" attitude that comes across in their music. Mentions: Chef Brian Tsao's Metal Injection series "Taste of Metal" featuring Bill Kelliher of Mastadon, Lance went to see Every Time I Die and encounters a guest list fail, Suzie gets a parking ticket, and working with Terry Bezer of That's Not Metal Podcast.

Music in this episode: Lorna Shore - FVNERAL MOON, from the album Flesh Coffin, available now.

Darkest Hour drops a new song "Those Who Survived" which kind of snuck up on everyone. For the main event, we are joined by long time Outerloop Management client Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills. We learn about how Spencer approaches music, his vision for storytelling, the mentality that helped the band become who they wanted to be, and should Spencer start his own podcast? Also, we learn the depth of Mike and Spencer's sarcasm.

Notables: Mike's friend Mike Ziemer, promoter of So What Fest, curates the playlist Unsigned Spotlight on Spotify that is worth a listen. Lance is going to see the new ring movie Rings and Spencer notes the great pranks promoting the movie. Suzie plays a character based off of The Ring in a commercial for the horror-themed board game Mixtape Massacre. Spencer met Randy from Finch and Haunted Houses at a bar and ended up recording some music together.

Also, check out Safe Is Just A Shadow Podcast by Ice Nine Kills!

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Mike is on the eve of his annual charity 5k, Leo's Run. That time we launched VIPs at the wrong time. Our client Cover Your Tracks goes up against Mastodon on SiriusXM Octane's Test Drive with their song "Striking Matches". And for the main event, our good friend Mike Schleibaum of Darkest Hour joins the show to discuss the DC Brau Brew, how Schleibaum and Mowery's relationship pre-dates Myspace, the band's new album Godless Prophets and the Migrant Flora, and Darkest Hour Radio.

Music in this episode:

Cover Your Tracks - Striking Matches

Darkest Hour - Knife In The Safe Room