Boots Riley on 'Sorry to Bother You'

Boots Riley has arrived. For almost 30 years, the Bay Area native has been kicking out some of the most fiery, most clever, most radically left Hip Hop there is with his group The Coup. But, now, after years of hammering away, Riley has released his cinematic masterpiece, Sorry to Bother You.

The film follows Oakland's Cassius Green as he takes a job as a lowly telemarketer just to make ends meet. But, Green doesn't start making the Green until he, at the advice of Danny Glover, adopts a "white voice" in order to set his customers at ease. But from there, Riley then sends the whole thing into another planet as the film morphs into a magical realism journey that includes biting commentary on the modern capitalistic system. We'd tell you more but… you really do have to see this for yourself.

To see what Riley has to say about the film, Punknews' John Gentile rang him up to talk about telemarketing, working with Tessa Thompson, and what's up with the Coup in 2018. Check it out below.

Back From Hell with Satanic Surfers

Forming almost three decades ago in Sweden, Satanic Surfers have been serving up hard driving and melodic punk. After disbanding in 2007, the band returned for a few festivals in 2015. After making their return, Satanic Surfers released their new album Back From Hell in April of 2018. Back From Hell picks up right from where the band left off, which combines their classic fast and technical brand of skatepunk. While the release doesn’t abandon their classic sound, the album shows off a matured worldview. Punknews contributor Christopher Barrett got a chance to chat with guitarist Magnus Blixtberg about their reunion, writing a new record, trying to tour on a more part-time basis, and what he looked forward to with their upcoming appearance at the 77’ Montreal Festival later this month.

Getting existential with Jason Lubrano of Iron Chic

Iron Chic have been around for a decade now. And in those ten years, they’ve released a prolific amount of music. Now on their third full-length and first for Side One Dummy Records, Iron Chic have continued their steady and understated rise as one of punk’s most authentic and endearing bands. You Can’t Stay Here doesn’t simply pick up where their previous releases left off. Rather, it shows the band moving into more mature and melodic sonic areas. This past year has also seen Iron Chic take their DIY ethic to bigger stages, having completed runs with Propagandhi, The Movielife, and Off With Their Heads. Punknews contributing writer Mike Musilli had a chance to chat with singer Jason Lubrano about the new record, touring, existentialism, and more ahead of their appearance at the 77’ Montreal festival.

Dicky Barrett of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Dicky Barrett is a busy man right now. While acting as the gravelly voiced announcer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the Rhode Island native is fronting the The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, one of the few groups in the small but thriving ska scene who have broke into mainstream success.

While working on set of his small side project, the sarcastic rude boy took the time out of his busy schedule to chat with Punknews interviewer Gen Handley about the Bosstones’ new album - While We’re At It - and why the world needs ska music right now.

Mickey Rickshaw on being a “professional” band

Mickey Rickshaw, an 8-piece band from Boston, has been making waves in the Celtic Punk scene (and beyond) over the past few years. Soon after returning from Flogging Molly’s annual Salty Dog Cruise, the band headed to Asbury Park, NJ to record their new album with Pete Steinkopf of the Bouncing Souls. Punknews Pete Vincelli sat down with Mike Rivkees (who can spit out facts and folklore in any conversation he as), Jimmy Donovan (who made a girl cry ‘cause he snores so loud) and Kyle Goyette (definitely the coolest bouzouki player we know) in Asbury to discuss the cruise and their new record. And with a clink of a few beer mugs, the interview began:

Dog Party on Beatles, Breakups, and their new album

The three chord, high energy duo Dog Party are about to release their sixth record, Hit & Run. As before, sisters Gwendolyn and Lucy Giles stick to a sharp guitar/drum attack that is reminiscent of the Ramones and the first wave of west coast punk. But this record is their shortest, fastest, and meanest one to date- and that's a good thing!

Because the record is out this Friday, Punknews' John Gentile spoke to the band about the LP, the Beatles, and keepin' it DIY. Check it out below.

Discourage on modern hardcore, being socially conscious, and the importance of reading

Discourage, from Oakland, are a hardcore band that seeks to confront their listeners. While their music isn’t necessarily breaking any sonic boundaries, they play with a purpose and energy that draws from the socio-political issues of the day- theirs is a socially conscious aggression. Drawing on a combination of contemporary hardcore and the more classic youth crew pedigree, Discourage cultivate a sound that is at once passionate and aggressive. And, agree or disagree with their beliefs, they very much have something to say. Punknews' Mike Musilli sat down with Eric and Matt to talk the band, their self-titled EP, the climate of our country, and their penchant for literary allusions.

Jason Hall of Western Addiction on writing thinking man's hardcore

Western Addiction is on a high right now, having recently released the well-received Tremulous in 2017. On top of that, the band is playing Punk rock Bowling tomorrow night (We're Sponsors!). So, Punknews' own Gen Handley called up frontman Jason Hall to chat about the band, their writing process, and heavy metal. Check out the interview below.

Johnny Bonnel of Swingin' Utters talks PRB 2018, latest comp

Swingin’ Utters have been a “must-listen” Fat Wreck band since their inception. The band’s sound is so varied that with each new release that it is totally up in the air as to what direction they will go in next. And that is pretty clearly shown with their most recent release 2017’s Drowning in the Sea, Rising with the Sun , a thirty-three track compilation that spans the Utters’ decades-long career. Other than that, the band has been relatively quiet aside from the release of Darius Koski’s solo album What Was Once Is By And Gone earlier this year. But Swingin’ Utters will be performing at Punk Rock Bowling 2018 (Pssst… we’re sponsors!) and at a few other places in California (see the full list of shows below) this coming May. So we thought now would be a good time to catch up with one of the members. Contributing editor Ricky Frankel talked with lead vocalist Johnny Bonnel about the band’s latest compilation, his song-writing style, what it’s like working with Lars Fredriksen of Rancid in the studio, Punk Rock Bowling 2018 and more. Read or listen to their conversation below or on iTunes.

Photo Credit: John Paul Allen / PunkWorldViews.com

Oliver Ackermann of A Place to Bury Strangers

A Place to Bury Strangers is one of the most creatively noisy post-punk bands out there. Goth-influenced baritone vocals recall the ghost of Ian Curtis, carried in on a wave of pummeling, eardrum-scraping fuzz guitars recalling the best of the best shoegaze bands Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. Podcast producer, Best Midwestern co-host and occasional reviewer and interviewer Greg Simpson sat down with the band’s guitarist and lead vocalist Oliver Ackermann digitally via Skype once again (he spoke with him about their last album, Transfixiation, in 2015) to talk about the band’s brand-new aural assault, Pinned. Read the interview below or listen via iTunes.

Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz

Peter Hook on conflict, Substance, and long lost songs

Peter Hook has survived. After years and years of legal battles with his former New Order bandmates, everything is settled and finished. When he first started touring behind Joy Divison and New Order's music, there was some boo-hoo-hooing on the Internet. But you know what? No one's making sour faces now. Why? It's because Hook and his band the light have proven themselves time and time again by touring non-stop, kicking out incendiary, raw, explosive versions of the entire JD catalogue and most of the ND discs. That is to say, the Hook and the Light versions of these songs are punk as hell- even the dance stuff! Hook has persevered and it's a damn good thing he did.

In fact, right now, he's crossing the USA and playing the entirety of both Substance releases- that's right, all of the JD tracks AND all of the NO tracks. So, to see how Hook's victory march is going, Punknews' John Gentile rang him up to talk about the Substance albums, his mental space these days, and the concept of never not finishing a song, even if you don't like it. check out the interview below.