February 1, 2005

Hello All, My name is John Joseph Minardi Jr. but you can call me Johnny. I moved from Chicago, IL to Tampa, FL in October of 2004 to work here at Fueled By Ramen Headquarters. Ok, picture this. Ever seen the movie 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory'? Yeah, we got that Factory off ebay! My office is the bubble room. And yes, of course the oompa loompas came with it. Anyways, 2005 is going to be huge for Fueled By Ramen. Fueled By Ramen is the new Donald Trump. On to the news...WE'VE SIGNED A NEW BAND!!!!!!

- Johnny

Featured Merch

The Academy Is??¦ CD

Gym Class Heroes CD

Punchline CD

Days Away

I'm very honored to be able to welcome our newest band, Days Away to Fueled By Ramen. From now on they will be calling FBR home and we couldn't be more excited. We will be releasing their new amazing record, "Mapping An Invisible World". The record will be available in stores May 10th but to hold you over until then, we'll be releasing a 5 song EP that the band will sell on the road and we'll have in our web store DIRT CHEAP beginning in March. The band will be touring with The Starting Line and Further Seems Forever in February. The band has also been named one of the top 100 bands in Alternative Press and will also be performing at Bamboozle this year along with Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is, Punchline and Gym Class Heroes! Best show ever? I think so...

02.15 New Have, CT @ Toad's Place
02.16 Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
02.17 Towson, MD @ The Recher Theatre
02.18 Wilmington, DE @ Kahuna Concert Hall
02.19 Richmond, VA @ Alley Katz
02.20 Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall
02.22 Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
02.23 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Music Park
02.24 Tampa, FL @ Masquerade
02.25 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ The Factory
02.26 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds
02.27 Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco
03.01 Little Rock, AR @ Vino's
03.02 Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note
03.03 Davenport, IA @ Quad City Live
03.04 Urbana, IL @ The Canopy
03.05 Des Moines, IA @ House Of Bricks
03.07 Fargo, ND @ Playmaker's
03.08 Minneapolis, MN @ The Quest
03.09 Green Bay, WI @ Riverside Ballroom
03.10 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
03.11 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
03.12 Toledo, OH @ Headliner's
03.13 Cleveland, OH @ House Of Blues

daysawaymusic.com
purevolume.com/daysaway
myspace.com/daysaway

The A.K.A.s

The A.K.A.s are out on the road with The Kinison and Scatter The Ashes. They have finally made it through the terrible weather and made it to the west coast safely. In traditional A.K.A.s fashion, the band will be staying on the road forever. Next, they??™re heading over to the UK with Lola Ray. Make sure you get out to those shows and give them those big UK hugs. Make sure to sign up for their sweet street team because they have some sweet missions for all of you sweet fans out there.

They also need your help to get on this year??™s Warped Tour. Sign the petition to do your part.

02.01 Austin, TX @ Emo??™s
02.02 San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
02.03 Dallas, TX @ The Door
02.04 Jonesboro, AR @ Ghostown
02.05 Birmingham, AL @ Cave 9
02.06 Marietta, GA @ Swayze??™s
02.07 Nashville, TN @ The Muse
02.08 Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern
02.09 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
02.10 Farmingdale, NY @ Crazy Donkey
02.11 Syracuse, NY @ The Furnace

theakas.com
purevolume.com/theakas
myspace.com/theakas

Gym Class Heroes

The Gym Class Heroes record "The Papercut Chronicles" will drop on the world on February 22nd. I love this record so much, it's honestly one of the most original records I've ever heard. My favorite song is actually on their e-card for your listening pleasure. Make sure you check it out no matter what style of music your into, they'll convince you. Once you've checked it out head over to the web store to pre order your copy for only $9! GCH will be playing the "Take Action" Tour tomorrow with a bunch of great bands. They'll also be on the ENTIRE Fueled By Ramen & Friends Tour with Fall Out Boy and The Academy Is.... They will also be playing a bunch of dates with Val Emmich, Brandston, Number One Fan andEmanuel leading up to the FBR tour. Make sure you stop by their shows and tell Travis you'd like to learn a new hand shake.

02.02 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
02.16 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
02.17 New York City, NY @ Knitting Factory
02.18 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell??™s
02.19 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
02.20 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
02.25 Orono, ME @ Ushuala
02.26 Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
02.17 Providence, RI @ Century Lounge

gymclassheroes.com
purevolume.com/gymclassheroes
myspace.com/gymclassheroes

The Academy Is...

The e-card for The Academy Is... 'Almost Here' has finally launched. Their debut full ??“length CD will be on store shelves across the nation on February 8th. This band has been working their asses off, touring the country since October and have no plans of stopping until they've met each one of you. Make sure you get their record right away, learn the words (don't worry it's impossible not to) and come sing your little hearts out at them. They're on the road right now with Something Corporate, Straylight Run and Armor For Sleep. After that they'll be on the ENTIRE Fueled By Ramen + Friends tour alongside Fall Out Boy and Gym Class Heroes. They've even been recognized by Alternative Press as one of the top 100 bands to watch in 2005!

ATTN CHICAGO FANS: Click HERE for details on a special home town show!

02.01 Dallas, TX @ Gypsy Tea Room
02.02 Austin, TX @ Emo??™s
02.04 Tucson, AZ @ Coconuts
02.05 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
02.07 San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
02.08 Chico, CA @ Cali State University
02.09 Sacramento, CA @ University Ballroom
02.11 Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
02.12 Las Vegas, NV

theacademyis.com
purevolume.com/theacademyis
myspace.com/theacademyis

Punchline

Punchline is still truckin' with their new six-stringer Mr. Greg Wood. Go to an upcoming show and get kicked in the face! They'll be on tour with my beloved friends Hidden In Plain View and that dance machine that goes by the name of 'Hellogoodbye'. In this month's Alternative Press they have a glamour shot by Deb in the "100 bands you need to know about in 2005" section. Get it and hang it out your wall with a heart around it, Scott Baio style baby!

02.02 Houston, TX @ Mary Jane??™s Fat Cat
02.05 San Antonio, TX @ Atomix
02.07 Phoenix, AZ @ Mason Jar
02.08 Las Vegas, NV @ Gameworks
02.09 San Diego, CA @ Epicentre
02.12 Bakersfield, CA @ Jerry??™s Pizza
02.13 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
02.15 Salt Lake City, UT @ Lo-Fi Caf?©
02.16 Denver, CO @ Rock Island
02.17 Kansas City, MO @ El Torreon
02.18 Des Moines, IA @ House Of Bricks
02.19 Toledo, OH @ Headliners
02.20 Buffalo, NY @ The Icon
02.21 Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre

punchkids.com
purevolume.com/punchline
myspace.com/punchline

The Fueled By Ramen & Friends Tour 2005

I hope you've got your tickets to the first ever "Fueled By Ramen & Friends Tour" because I know I sure did! With Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is??¦, Gym Class Heroes, Midtown and Silverstein, it's honestly going to be the best tour of the year. We just finished packing up all the new pyro gear that we've blown all our money on for this tour. We'll have tons of new cool merch and we'll be sure you have the time of your life!

03.10 Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall
03.11 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
03.12 Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo's
03.13 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
03.15 Sauget, IL @ POPS
03.16 Kansas City, MO @ The Beaumont Club
03.17 Oklahoma City, OK @ Green Door
03.19 Dallas, TX @ Tree's
03.20 San Antonio, TX @ The White Rabbit
03.22 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
03.23 Los Angeles, CA @ House Of Blues
03.24 Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues
03.25 San Diego, CA @ Soma
03.26 San Francisco, CA @ The Grand
03.17 Sacramento, CA @ Colonial Theatre
03.29 Portland, OR @ Meow Meow
03.30 Seattle, WA @ Graceland
03.31 Boise, ID @ The Big Easy
04.01 Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
04.02 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
04.03 Omaha, NE @ Ranch Bowl
04.05 Minneapolis, MN @ The Quest
04.06 Des Moines, IA @ Skate North
04.07 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
04.08 Urbana, IL @ The Canopy
04.10 Wilmington, DE @ Kahuna Concert Hall
04.12 Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
04.13 Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall
04.14 Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird Cafe
04.15 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ The Factory
04.16 Orlando, FL @ House Of Blues
04.17 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Music Park
04.19 Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
04.20 Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's
04.21 Reading, PA @ The Silo
04.22 Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
04.23 Lewisburg, PA @ Uptown Nightclub
04.24 Boston, MA @ Avalon
04.26 Toronto, ONT @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
04.27 Montreal, QUE @ La Tulipe
04.28 Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights
04.29 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
05.01 Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance

myspace.com/fbrtour

Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy is invading the UK in a few weeks with Spitalfield! Don't worry America, they'll be headlining the entire FBR & Friends Tour beginning in March. On January 25th we released "The Directors Cut" version of 'Take This To Your Grave' and that thing is flying off shelves so be sure to get one of the 5,000 copies out there!

02.19 Leeds, UK @ Cockpit
02.20 Glasgow, UK @ Cathouse
02.21 Manchester, UK @ Roadhouse
02.22 Oxford, UK @ Zodiac
02.23 London, UK @ Mean Fiddler
02.24 Birmingham, UK @ Academy 2
02.25 Swansea, UK @ Escape Club
02.26 Leicester, UK @ Charlotte

falloutboyrock.com
purevolume.com/falloutboy
myspace.com/falloutboy

Less Than Jake

Less Than Jake's at it again. They are currently writing their new full length record which I'm sure will be another classic LTJ record. They'll also be announcing some new tour dates very soon, stay tuned!

lessthanjake.com
purevolume.com/lessthanjake
myspace.com/lessthanjake

Contest

This week, Adam from Fueled By Ramen will be giving away a signed copy of Less Than Jake??™s ???Limted Tour EP??? with tracks from LTJ, Yellowcard, Rufio, Fall Out Boy and Punchline. Email your name, address and answers to the following questions to him at adam@fueledbyramen.com with the subject ???MINARDI.??? Answers can be found on the Fueled By Ramen web site and in this newsletter.

1) What song is playing on The Academy Is??¦ ecard?
2) Have you signed The A.K.A.s Warped Tour Petition?
3) How many songs does the Gym Class Heroes "The Papercut Chronicles" CD have?
4) What can brown do for you?

Last week's contest winner was Michael Mockensturm of Maumee, Ohio. Congratulations to him and good luck this week!

-Johnny FBR