Rev Theory lights up the road

Hard rockers Rev Theory kicked off an extensive US tour last week, just ahead of dropping their sophomore effort, "Light It Up."

The band has a few fair and festival performances in and around a week-long stint opening for Shinedown and a seven-week run supporting Puddle of Mudd. Dates stretch through September; details are listed below.

New York-based Rev Theory (previously known as Revelation Theory) is scheduled to release "Light It Up" June 10. The set marks the inaugural offering from Maloof Music, a joint venture between the famed businessmen (best known as the owners of the Palms hotel/casino in Las Vegas and the NBA's Sacramento Kings) and Interscope Records.

"We're music buffs and music fans, and Rev Theory blew us away with their presence and power," label chief Phil Maloof said in a statement.

The new album's lead single, "Hell Yeah," has been making waves on mainstream rock charts over the past eight weeks. It was also chosen as the official theme song for the WWE's "One Night Stand" Pay-Per-View event, and it will be part of the soundtrack for EA Sports' "Madden '09" video game, which will be available Aug. 12, according to a press release. The video for the song is streaming at Rev Theory's website.

"Light It Up" was produced by Brian Howes (Hinder, Daughtry) and Josh Abraham (Linkin Park, Velvet Revolver). The set follows 2005's "Truth is Currency," which got Rev Theory on the road opening for the likes of Evanescence, Papa Roach, Buck Cherry and Saliva.