Richard Patrick, and I have so much in common. We’re both from Cleveland. I was friends with Chris Vrenna, the original drummer for Nine Inch Nails. Patrick was in Nine Inch Nails. Richard is the frontman for Filter. I am writing about Filter for Popdose. Filter’s new guitarist, Jonny Radtke used to be in Chicago goth/punk band, Kill Hannah. I used to live in Chicago. Suck on that Kevin Bacon.

Filter is currently on a Scorched Earth campaign across America, headlining a monster club tour with Local H and Helmet. Filter is promoting their 6th album, Radtke’s debut, The Sun Comes Out Tonight. The album is a return to form and a giant leap forward from the Short Bus heyday. They sound as young, angry, whip smart and cathartic as ever — in many ways this album scratches my “Remember when Ministry was fun?” itch more than Al Jorgensen’s last half dozen long players.

Now don’t let Filter’s beautiful new single, ‘Surprise’, fool you. Most of the Sun LP is packed blistering, thundering rock and roll. But if this pop track gets em on the radio, so be it.

”We’re beyond excited to present this tour with Helmet and Local H,” Jonny Radtke tells Popdose. “Both bands bring so much energy while they plow through their arsenal of hits. Our show is no different. Filter fans, old and new, will love hearing songs from every studio album.” Patrick adds, ”The set is perfectly orchestrated to cover all the records we’ve done including Amalgamut, The Trouble with Angels, Title of Record, Short Bus and a lot of the soundtrack stuff. We don’t just focus on The Sun Comes out Tonight. The big surprise with this tour is the crowds. We have had amazing audiences and packed houses.”

Today, Filter premiered a new, unreleased track via ArtistDirect. Check out, ‘The Hand That’s Dealt’:

Just as Patrick is to Filter what Chrissie Hynde is to the Pretenders, Scott Lucas is the same to Local H. Long before The White Stripes and The Kills, Local H proved you can blow the roof off an arena, and score hit records, with just a guitarist and a drummer. While most fans are familiar with the big hits from the Joe Daniels era (‘High-Fiving MF’ — and we’re not talking Mick Fleetwood — is a personal favorite), the band kept busy for another 13 or so years with drummer Brian St. Clair (most notably, the stellar 12 Angry Months concept album and most recent Hallelujah! I’m a Bum). A new era with Ryan Harding beating the shit out of the skins is upon us, and it begins with a crackling cover of Lorde’s ‘Team’:

‘Team’ anchors a new EP that you’ll only be able to get at the shows — this exclusive disc marks first recorded work with Harding. The tour set brings heavy doses of hits and other fan favorites.

As for the third band on the bill, Helmet, I discovered them the hard way. Am I the only person who actually bought their third album thinking it was a lovely, ONJ-era Olivia Newton John artist named Betty? Anyhoo, it rocked, as does their latest Seeing Eye Dog (get the bonus-packed deluxe edition here). Dog is chok full of the band’s signature guitar assaults that will please the die-hards. Newbies will appreciate a left field cover of the Beatles’ ‘And This Bird Can Sing” that surprisingly works — will they include it in their setlist? Gotta see for yourself. And if you’re lucky, you can be part of the Popdose guest list (see below).

FILTER Contest Details

Popdose is giving way one pair of tickets to EVERY stop on the remaining dates of the tour. To enter, e-mail the subject line:

Filter + the city of your desired tour stop

Send it to me here:

keithatpopdose@yahoo.com

One Grand Prize winner (drawn from all entries) will receive the FILTER TOUR BUNDLE pictured above: An autographed CD + Vinyl + Poster. US entries only. Concert tickets are non-transferrable and cannot be exchanged. 2 tickets will be in the winner’s name at the box office Will Call booth. Immediate shows on the horizon will be drawn on or before the day of show. Tickets for all remaining tour stops will be drawn no later than August 10th at 11:59 AM.

Is the Filter/Local H and Helmet tour heading your way? Check out the dates here:

If you miss out on the free tickets, buy your tour tickets here before the show sells out.