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Photo Showcase: We The Kings 10 Year Tour!

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Words & Images from guest photographer: Rae Blaiyr

It was a packed evening at the Playstation Theater as fans, both young and old, lined up to see We The Kings on their 10-year anniversary tour. Playing off the trend of nostalgia, there were fans who had been with the band since their hit single ‘Check Yes Juliet’, those who found the band much later, and casual fans looking to rehash the fun of their youth. To go with the evening of fun, the band chose opening acts Astro Lasso and Plaid Brixx to keep fans dancing through the night.

Astro Lasso, a duo of Jordan Davis and Tristan Martin from PA, opened the night with a refreshing bit of indie pop. Danceable and well put together, it was hard to believe it when Davis announced that the band was only a month old. With a great sound and a fantastic response from the crowd, Astro Lasso was a stronger first act than most—holding their own in a high-energy lineup.

The second act, Plaid Brixx, proved to be another small ensemble with a larger-than-life sound. Front-man, Chris Duggan, seemed to be a performer straight out of the 80’s from a theatric nature to his presence on stage. With no shortage of poses and dramatics, Duggan commanded the stage and the attention of the crowd, even at the end of their set—to which he ended with a handstand. The interesting Pop-Rock sound, combined with the trio’s high energy on stage, left the crowd jumping through the set in an incredible wave of ecstasy.

We The Kings had, in my opinion, the funniest of sets I had seen in quite a while. As the voice on the overhead instructed fans to take their clothes off and party, the intro embodied the energy of the crowd and even the good memories associated with their music. Going right into ‘Check Yes Juliet’ the band came out of the gate with a high energy performance that was mirrored by the crowd, who belted every lyric like it was still 2007. Following up with ‘Woah’, the crowd stayed enthusiastic as they sang back the woah-filled chorus to Frontman Travis Clark, who kept the jokes rolling and the energy on stage at a 10. Like perfect bookends, the band ended their set with ‘Check Yes…’ once more—proving how timeless their music is, and how even after 10 years, we still love singing along.

 

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18th & Addison / June Divided, Bedlam Barrio, and Moonfall at Gold Sounds Brooklyn (Feb 12, 2017)

Photo Showcase: Keys N Krates – 2/3 @ Webster Hall in NYC

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Words & Images By James Dicks

On February 3rd Webster Hall Girls and Boys night had one of EDM Hottest acts hit the stage to bring the roof down with some special friend to help them out

Opening up the night in the Marlin room was the bayside tigers a 90’s cover band who covers song from Blink 182 to Spice Girls to whoever you can think, and I personally love this group always fun and interactive with the crowd

As we make are way to the grand ballroom opening up the main stage was Aries Atlantica as i did not catch his full set the parts of his set i did catch seem this kid has a bright future in this scene

Last but not least to the stage keys n krates playing a rare Dj set. With the new single “Right Here” featuring  Krane just being released they were coming to bring a party and that is just what they did playing everything they could from there song “keep it 100” with grandtheft to there Midnight Mass EP and even further back to Old school fans in the crowd but know matter what these guys always bring an amazing  live show weather they have there instruments or just a turntable

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Photo Showcase: The Paradox Tour – 3/4 @ Playstation Theater in NYC

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Words & Images by James Dicks

On March 4th Dubstep superstar, Excision brought the powerhouse of lights and sound to the Playstation Theater.

Starting off the night was a microwave that goes by the name barely alive.From the moment he came on the speaker was vibrating like it say in his song Ca$h on his most recent EP release Domain. The energy he brought was perfect for and opening act everyone in the room was dancing and having fun as much as Barely was performing for everyone

Next up was cookie monsta. The only artist on this line up I was not aware of coming out of England. Bring the drop and crazy clowns but was disappointed there were no cookies anywhere but moving on from that I enjoyed what I saw out of his crowd control proving he fits in with the newcomers of the dubstep world

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The final act of the night excision brought his world famous Paradox tour back to PlayStation theater for the second year along with the 150,000 watts of sound and the crazy light show and visuals and a dinosaur vaping super clouds on everyone from the moment the curtain dropped everyone’s faces melted and the head banging begins. The bass was so loud it shook some wires loose in the middle of his set stopping the show for a few seconds. If you still having a chance to experience this tour it’s nothing like you will ever experience with a hand full of artist out that still try and make a show as memorable for the fans just as much as the crew and everyone involved

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Photo Showcase: You Me At Six – 3/20 @ LMH in Germany

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Let’s be honest. Sometimes you go to show only for the headliner. If you went to into this show intending to do that just that, you did not leave the way you came in. You left falling just as in love with the support. All three UK bands brought the heat, giving the fans quite a show.

The Scottish trio The Xcerts took the stage, taking it by storm. Getting the crowd going and off their feet with songs like “Slackerpop.” Even if you didn’t know them, it was hard not to at least bop your head to the catchy “Shaking In The Water.” Their bassist, Jordan Smith, showed off his talent by switching to a keyboard as their set slowed down with coming to a close with “There Is Only You.” Coming straight from their lyrics “if you’ve got something to say then just say it,” I’ll say it: The Xcerts are a band to check out.

With hair almost as beautiful as their music, The Amazons are honestly a hidden gem, and I am so thankful for this tour. They put on a great set mixed with dark riffs and cool vibes; that combined with singers husky voice set the mood. They went off from the first note; The Amazons are truly a force to be reckoned with. I can’t lie, days after the show their songs are still stuck in my head; especially “Little Something” and “In My Mind.”

You Me At Six crowned this tour the biggest headlining tour to date that they have done in Germany. At the Cologne date, the band emphasized on the fact that Cologne was the largest night of the tour so far, sold out, meaning that they expected nothing but the best from the crowd. Fans had their fun; jumping, clapping, dancing, singing and even getting asked to get on someone’s shoulder during No One Does It Better. Birthday bassist, Matt Barnes, had some fun of his own, receiving a lot of love from the fans. The crowd serenaded him with “Happy Birthday,” some fans at the barrier came prepared and held up birthday signs.

It’s no secret that YMAS’ new album, Night People has fans a little torn regarding the new sound, but the crowd did not shy away from the handful of new songs, keeping the energy going. Towards the end of the set, Josh took a moment about to not only sway those still strongly opinionated about it but also to remind the crowd of a valuable lesson. “Take on the World” was introduced as a song Josh Franceschi originally wrote for someone he loves very much, but now has transcended into something bigger. He now sees the song as a call for empathy and understanding, asking the crowd to love people who are different from ourselves; concluding the speech with “love is wise, hate is foolish.” Aside from their newest album YMAS played songs off Cavalier Youth and Sinners Never Sleep. And of course, throwing it back to Hold Me Down for the fan favorites “Underdog” and “Stay With Me.”

 

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Photo Showcase: Real Friends – 4/01 @ MTC in Germany

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Holly Would Surrender practically bleed pop-punk. Repping an “in pizza we trust” shirt, showing off a few tattoos here and there; even one saying “skate fast, die punk,” as well as sporting a backwards snapback. But considering that they have they have an excellent sound and catchy lyrics to back them up; there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It was quite obvious that the punks, hailing from Hamburg, have already been making a name for themselves. They engaged well with the crowd, got a lot of feedback and singing. Holly Would Surrender has a great stage presence. This is the second German local band I’ve seen during my stay, and I am very impressed with the German scene has to offer. Holly might surrender, but I don’t think this band is anytime soon. With a sound inspired by bands like Blink, they were a fantastic opener for a pop-punk headliner.

Microwave is one of my favorite bands, and one of my favorite bands to see live. Their performance was anything but “Dull,” and that is quite the understatement. Credit has to be given where it is earned, and believe me; these guys deserve every ounce of it. They have risen to the top of the scene quite fast, showcasing their talent, especially with their newest album. Which of course they treated us with, playing a few bangers off of it. From started to finish they played a fast paced setlist; full of emotion, even playing my favorites “Stovall” and “Trash Stains.” There is just something raw and genuine about Microwave’s music. They are the type of band that you can listen to all day without getting tired of them. I would like to take a moment to congratulate Microwave on their first overseas tour, also well deserved. Such great dudes with great tunes.
When I first entered the venue, I must say I was a little surprised. The last few time I’ve seen Real Friends, it was all in bigger venues, and MTC is rather small. But as soon as the headliners hit the stage, I realized that the size of the place wouldn’t be a problem at all. The show’s atmosphere ended up being incredibly intimate with a lot of crowd interaction. As many knows, Real Friends postponed this tour; it was supposed to be in December. But the band was rather open about the reasoning behind the cancellation, needing some time to focus on themselves, especially their mental health. And during their show at MTC, the boys were just as open. Dan took a moment to discuss his battle with mental health, that he was now getting help, and that, that’s perfectly okay. Stating that getting help is not a sign of weakness, it takes courage, urging people to reach out if they need. As their set came to an end, the fan’s begged for another song, not letting Real Friends off the hook that easily. So with the intimate setting in mind, Real Friend’s allowed the fans to choose the closing song, taking requests. Unfortunately, my request for “I Think I’m Moving Forward,” one of my favorites, was decline by Dan. Instead, the band and the crowd soon agreed on “Sixteen,” which totally made up for it. Shortly after picking the song, we all had a good laugh as Dan confessed that he would have to look up the lyrics before they played it, proving the not everyone’s perfect, humanising the Lost Boy pop-punk giants. But that did not hinder the emotional performance of “Sixteen,” whatsoever. A beautiful set, with a sick line up. Another Real Friend’s tour for the books, they never disappoint.

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Photo Showcase: Galantis @ Hammerstein Ballroom

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At last year’s Coachella, a duo appeared by the name of Galantis. Tonight they returned to NYC for their second night in a row at one of Manhattan’s biggest venues, Hammerstein Ballroom, with Hook n Sling as support.

Hook n Sling opened up the night, and even though I only caught the last 20 min of his set, he had the crowd bumping and jumping. The Atmosphere was electric. Even after Hook n Sling’s set ended the crowd’s energy carried over in the preparation of Galantis.

Finally to the stage Galantis; a super duo from Sweden that made up of three coming to the stage with their large led boards and light show illuminating the venue like the sky had awaken. They played all the hits from their Pharmacy album to their newer singles “Pillow Fight” and “Rich Boy”. I had learned on that Thursday that at the AOL Build event most of their vocals were done by young kids to get that sound of “Rich Boy”. Let us not forget about the special guest making her way from Sweden was the lovely SEAFOX.  The crowd could not get enough of her dazzling the crowd with her beauty and elegance. It is always a fun experience with these guys and the Seafox nation; I would see them live again and I think you should too. Now it’s time to get that new album because I could always use more Galantis in my life. The message these guys speak is amazing going back to the AOL build they said; “we was different we did not wanna be the same cause if you’re just like everyone else what’s the point it been done already so always do things your way even if you get hate for it.” Galantis thank you for coming to NYC and giving us some sweet love.

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Photo Showcase: New Found Glory 20 Years of Pop-Punk

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If you enjoy pop-punk, chances are you’ve heard of New Found Glory. If you’re an avid fan of pop-punk, chances are you’ve experienced New Found Glory. And if you haven’t, where the hell have you been for the last 20 years? Hitting a major milestone in their musical career, the guys of NFG knew they needed to do something huge; 20 years, 6 full length albums, [a minimum of] 2 dates per city & countless memories. They brought out pop-punk newbies, Trash Boat, along for this monumental tour. I hit up the New York dates at the famous Irving Plaza to make for an unforgettable weekend.

When it comes to opening for a tour as anticipated as this one, there’s quite a bit of pressure from starting artists to ensure they get the crowd ready for the headliner. Hailing out of the U.K., Trash Boat came ready for the challenge. Night one the guys came out ready to throw down, complete with all the leaps, jumps & foot stomps. With a sound similar to that of The Story So Far & Neck Deep, the crowd was quick to get with it.

When it comes to tours like this, the ones who really benefit (besides the fans), are new and unknown openers. When you only have one night to appeal to a crowd of fresh faces, it’s [usually] not until the end of your set where people start to get into it. However, Trash Boat was gifted with 2 nights, back to back, to not only gain new fans but heighten the experience as a whole. Night 1 was like a practice run (that went amazing by the way), but when it was time for night 2 you could see and feel their confidence had jumped astronomically. The mass majority of the crowd had been there for night 1 which meant they now had time to go home, learn the songs, and tell their friends who couldn’t make it for the first night about this new pop-punk hit. Trash Boat rocked it the first night but killed it the second night, for that they should be more than happy with their performance.

When you think of Pop-Punk legends, New Found Glory better pop into your head real quick. For 20 years these guys have put out hits like, “My Friends Over You”, “Head On Collision”, “Such a Mess”, “All Downhill From Here”, “Hit or Miss” and so many more that if I list them all I’d just be pasting the track lists.

Night one consisted of all the tracks from both Sticks & Stones and Coming Home. One of the best things the guys did was mix up the order in which the tracks were preformed. Doing that heightened the excitement throughout the night, keeping fans guessing as to which song was coming next. The night came to a pause with the last song ending in confetti; after the hall was cleared out, fans were checked back in to enjoy a sold out Emo Night featuring New Found Glory. The guys got wild and crazy on stage while they bumped their favorite tracks into the late hours of the night.

Night 2 brought us Catalyst and Self Titled, keeping with the same rhythm as the first night with mixing up the tracks from the two albums. Having both nights filled with gratitude from both fans and NFG. New Found Glory is made up of the most down to earth, humble guys who know that at any moment anything can happen that could end their career. They never stop thinking about their fans and what they could do to show how grateful they are for all the support over the last 20 years. So for this tour the guys decided to do something special in anticipation of their upcoming album that comes out April 26; they are currently selling a shirt that says “NFG makes me sick” and with the purchase of that tee you get a limited edition laminate that gives you access to the new album the moment it drops. So if you can, make sure to pick up the special edition tee.

After having another unforgettable night end in confetti, I ran into Cyrus outside the venue (who is always so awesome to talk to) so of course I had to pick his brain a bit about the tour. I was curious to know how exactly the guys decided what albums to play each night.

Cyrus– “We made sure to always have Sticks & Stones, Catalyst or Self Titled [on each of the 2 nights]. You gotta make sure each night had the “big ones”. Yea, we could have done a night with Coming Home & Nothing Gold Can Stay, but they don’t have My Friends Over You or All Down Hill From Here. So if you look at like the Boston dates, there wasn’t originally supposed to be 3 shows. So you’ll notice some of the albums over lap. We did that because the first two nights sold out so fast, we wanted to make sure people would get a chance to see their favorite songs.”

At that point a local fan chimed in with the wondering of what his [Cryus’s] favorite album was.

Cyrus– “Asking me to pick [a favorite album] is like asking me to pick a favorite kid. I mean I only have one [kid] so that’s easy haha. But if I had to choose it would be Catalyst. [Catalyst] was the first record we had record label money [backing us] and we could do what we wanted that we couldn’t try before. For the other [albums] we saved up the money ourselves and went to local recording studios, usually late at night cause it was cheaper. Actually, no one really knows this, for Catalyst I was in the big room recording all my drum parts but when we started recording Failure’s Not Flattering, it had a very Linda Carlyle vibe, so we moved my drum kit into a small side room because that’s what they did in the 80s. We had a guy that makes it all pretty much sound the same but there are some parts where you can hear the slight riffs in tempo and, at least to me, it makes that [track] very special.”

2 nights, 4 albums, so much screaming, countless memories; I’m not gonna bullshit you, it was dope af. New Found Glory are legends in their own right within the pop-punk scene and with their promises of not leaving us anytime soon, we’re holding them too it. I for one am beyond excited to see what they come up with for their 25 and 30 years of Pop-Punk, until that time though catch them on their annual NYC stop of their tours.

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Photo Showcase: Uncle M Fest ft. The Menzingers and The Flatliners – 04/28 @ Skaters Palace

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Mirko Gläser, the creator of Uncle M, helped manage SideOneDummy Records in Germany for over ten years when he decided to start his company in January 2012. His business is referred to as being a label as well as a publicist, booking agent and management for Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. I just want giving a big, well-deserved shout-out and thank-you to Mirko and the rest of the Uncle M team for organizing such a great evening. This year’s fest celebrated five years of Uncle M, definitely a birthday party for the books. With a stacked lineup consisting of an American, Canadian, and British band, along with two local German bands; the team treated the crowd to talent from all parts of the world. For a punk show like this, there was no venue that could top Skater Palace with its punkish charm thanks to graffiti and half pipes. Besides the band’s merch stands, other great causes were being promoted throughout the night. Sea Shepherds helps promote marine conservation. Storm Before The Calm sells fair and eco-friendly clothing. PETA ZWEI is PETA’s youth campaign in Germany. Kein Bock Auf Nazis help education people on the modern day Nazi movement within Germany and worldwide as well as resisting the AFD, which is Germany’s right-wing political party. Lastly, Skate-aid, whose goal is to bring skateboarding to disadvantaged communities across the world. Before the doors opened, Chris Cresswell of The Flatliners gave an acoustic performance, which was quite a highlight, but also just the start. So again, a big props to the Uncle M team, they did everything right, and their effort did not go unnoticed.

A band whose sound that is just as impressive as their as their name, Abramowicz started off the show, and it would be a lie to say that I was not highly impressed by them. Bluesy vocals cut through the foggy lighting setting the stage for a beautiful and fast set. The punk rock music infused with a keyboard created a fun sound that makes you want to get off your feet. They dedicated a fitting song called “Celebration Day” to Uncle M as their set came to an end. Another show, another band added to my growing list of fantastic German bands.

Considering that The Dirt Nil walked on stage to Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back,” my expectations were pretty high. But as their set continued with the same swagger that they came on with, it was hard not to like them. They kept the fast paced music theme going, and bought a lot of fun to the table. They did their thing on stage, and let loose. Half of the fun was just watching them enjoy themselves, while the other was getting lost in their rhythmic music.

Tell me what you want, but it is impossible to host a punk music festival in a skating venue, without inviting the skateboarding kings, Gnarwolves; who even brought their board on stage. Whether they play a slow jam such as “Community, Stability, Identity,” or something fast tune like “Smoking Kills,” the venue ate up every last bit of their set, getting super into it. Gnarwolves played some tracks off their newest release Outsiders, obtain a lot of love from the crowd.

What is a punk show without an activism band? Loud and proud KMPFSRT took the stage next. Once they got the ball rolling, there was no stopping; playing one banger with another. But, they did take a break from their set to remind everyone in the venue, that there is absolutely no room for racism, homophobia, fascism, xenophobia, etc. within the punk community. Then going on to emphasize the importance of how many people came out and protested against the AFD, Germany’s right wing party, in the last few weeks; especially because elections are coming up soon. Not only did they bring the noise, but also fans as well. Many in the crowd wore their merch, and some even pushed their way to the front so that they could sing the lyrics right back to the band; lots of passion came from their fans. I have a lot of respect for KMPFSRT’s music and message.

After four bands, the crowd was already pretty hyped up, pretty surprised that they could still muster so much energy, but they went nuts for The Flatliners. I mean who could blame them? It was hard to believe that the night could even better. The crowd got rowdier,  and the lyrics “count your bruises one by one and laugh it off and stick around down here with us,” was meant for every single person in the crowd to sing along. And of course, everyone stayed with The Flatliners through another great set of the night which included classics like “Monumental” and newbies like “Hang Your Head.”

After such an eventful evening, it was questionable if the crowd could handle any more. But still, they seemed to have the hunger that only the headliners could satisfy.  The Menzingers honestly are such a feel good band. It is impossible to stand still through their set, and of course, the crowd knew that, because as soon as their set started, it seemed as if the entire venue put on their dancing shoes. There is something indescribable about their sound that makes them such a fun band to listen to, and I could never get tired of them. They played through hit after hit as crowd surfers greeted them on stage, and people had arms around each other singing the lyrics. After starting off with some fan favorites like “I Don’t Wanna Be an Asshole Anymore” and “Mexican Guitars,” then they threw some of their newest into the mix like my personal favorite “After the Party,” and then “Bad Catholics.” But that doesn’t mean that they left out the classics off of On the Impossible Past. 

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Photo Showcase: Frank Iero and The Patience

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Words & Images By: Samantha Odice

At the end of 2016 Frank Iero and the Patience had been involved in a very serious bus accident, which meant the rest of their 2016 tour dates were cancelled. While fans were disappointed they wouldn’t be seeing Frank and the guys live in 2016, we were more concerned with making sure everyone made a full recovery. We knew they would go back on tour when they were ready but making sure everyone was physically and emotionally recovered was priority #1. As promised, though, Frank Iero and The Patience made quite a speedy come back. The stopped by Hamden, CT at the Outer Space with Dave Hause and The Mermaid and Babetalk’s got the coverage.

Opening for such a well-known musician, such as Frank, to say there is pressure and a certain amount of expectation is an understatement. Yet, Dave Hause and The Mermaid were up for the challenge. A 5-piece, Alternative Rock group with a sound hailing from the early 2000s, it was amazing to see the crowd’s reaction to them. What was most interesting is the fact that a band that would easily appeal to a crowd made up of 35+ year olds was able to capture the attention of a room filled with tweens & teens (because only 1 in 10 MCR fans actually age). While, yes, Dave and guys (and gal) all had years of experience, both equally, in music and life; what they sang and said on stage rang true for everyone in that room, regardless if you were a child or parent; “Music is the thing that can save your life. It can save you from all the dark things. It doesn’t let you down.” When you’re in your adolescent years we forget that our parents often turned to music, much like we do, whenever they were upset. When Dave said that you really felt the whole room connect on a different level. In that moment it wasn’t a room full of people ranging in age from 11 to over 60. It was a room of music lovers who could never forget what music has done for each of them. For an opener who may not be as well known as Frank Iero to be able to accomplish such a thing it absolutely awe inducing. Dave Hause and The Mermaid should be more than please with the set they played at the Outer Space; they opened young minds to a new wave of music they may had not been familiar with before and they connected parents to their kids on a level that’s quite hard to reach.

And finally, from My Chemical Romance to Frank Iero and The Celebration (with everything in between), it was time for Frank Iero and The Patience. Once everyone had recovered and everyone was ready to tackle the open road again tickets sold fast. In fact, the Hamden date was the first show on the tour to sell out. So with almost 300 fans and parents filling the ballroom, Frank Iero and The Patience graced the stage with both new and old material. You hear such a strong influence from the White Stripes with much of their music. When it comes to people saying Frank’s still putting out the same emo stuff he had this to say, “People always say ‘why do you guys always write such depressing songs?’ And it’s like aw man you just don’t get it.” And he’s right. It’s not just about it being ‘another sad song’, it’s the fact that it comes from such a personal place and his fans can connect to that.

As the years drone on from MCR’s end, Frank’s solo sound is becoming more developed as its own entity verses a sub-band of MCR’s early years. While certain riffs flash back to MCR nostalgia, he is his own musician with his own musical styling. Yes, he will always be one of the original members of one of the more influential emo rock bands in the music industry, but he’s no longer just ‘Frank from MCR’, its finally just, Frank Iero [and The Patience].

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