Such Gold

Such Gold had to make some re-arrangements recently. Their longtime guitarist Skylar Sarkis left the band a little while back, and afterwards people were pretty sure Such Gold was over. But, that wasn't the case at all. In fact, they took it in stride and moved forward. Rather than searching for a replacement, they looked at what they already had inside the band and decided to have vocalist Ben Kontin take over as the second guitarist. Then they went quiet. For a second it seemed like Such Gold wasn't doing anything at all. The truth is they were working harder than ever on a new record that would, and now has, introduce us to the new Such Gold. While not exactly a departure, their latest record, The New Sidewalk, shows a band who've taken the core elements of their sound and had it grow with them as people, rather than grow with the changing trends. Some people weren't stoked on it, some people were more satisfied with Sidewalk than any other of Such Gold's previous releases.

When Such Gold stopped through Chicago, Punknews contributing editor Xan Mandell decided to treat guitarist Nate Derby and bassist Jon Markson to Korean BBQ to chat about the record. Their conversation over dinner hit various topics, and we got the inside story on why Skylar left and how awesome eating Pho will Bill Stevenson is. At this point, we're pretty sure the term Such Gold is really just their way of describing great food, "Man, those dumplings were Such Gold, they hit the spot." No word from the band if this is true or not though…

Andrew Low (The Jazz June)

The Jazz June are an influential emo band, active in the late '90s and early 2000s. Now, a decade later, after a couple of shows here and there, the band are finally back as a full-fledged band.

New record After the Earthquake has recently been released via Topshelf Records and shows the band picking up where it left off. Punknews staff writer Max Qayyum had a chat with lead singer/guitarist Andrew Low about the reunion, their views on the so-called “emo revival” and their plans now that they’re back together.

Domenic Romeo (A389 Records)

Domenic Romeo is a dealer of the dark arts. As the head of A389 Records, he puts out the heaviest, blackest, meanest, nastiest, most brutal hardcore and metal. In fact, he’s put out pitch-black tunes by bands including Integrity, Full of Hell, Haymaker, Bloodlet, Iron Reagan, Weekend Nachos, as well as his own band, Pulling Teeth.

And every year, he convenes his dark accomplices and organizes the annual A389 bash, which features the baddest of the brand new bands and returning legends. Last year featured the insane reunion of the Dwid Hellion/Melnick version of Integrity. Before that, mighty weightlifter/musician Thor played a set backed by Pulling Teeth.

To learn about the label and the 2015 bash, which starts on January 15 in Baltimore, features editor John Gentile spoke to Romeo about running a label in the download age, this year’s shindig and moshing.

Edward Colver

If you don’t know who Edward Colver is, chances are you’ve seen his pictures of the LA hardcore scene, some of the iconic punk album covers that he took the pictures for, or maybe you even saw him in the documentary American Hardcore.

Edward Colver is a self-taught photographer who documented punk rock history. Between 1978-1984 he went to shows five nights a week to take pictures of the LA hardcore scene. What he documented is absolutely fascinating and is an essential part of punk rock and even American music history.

But don’t take my word for it. Here’s what Jello Biafra said about his photography in Edward Colver’s book Blight at the End of the Funnel: “Anyone even slightly interested in LA’s underground has seen it through an Edward Colver photo. Edward shined a light on the underlying darkness in a way that would make Weegee proud. The menace, the alienated kids, they’re on again off again camaraderie, and the fright behind macho eyes. The threads of disturbance in Edward’s work stitches together live fast die young no hope suburbia with hardcore homeless of dying downtown Los Angeles; before their ranks mushroomed as Reagan-Clinton America abandoned its misfits and disadvantaged. Edward brings out the Fellini in almost anything that steps into his lens.”

Punknews staffer Ricky Frankel met Edward at his gallery showing in Los Angeles, which you can read a review of here, and interviewed him about a week after first meeting him.

His exhibit ran from September 20, 2014 to November 21, 2014 in downtown Los Angeles. There’s more information about it here. And you can check out some of Edward Colver’s work here, or you can buy his awesome book Blight at the End of the Funnel.

Scott Ian (Anthrax)

Scott Ian of Anthrax is spilling his guts. On his new spoken word disc, Swearing Words in Glasgow, he covers his first time partying in the UK, getting wasted with Lemmy and hanging out with Dimebag Darrell.

In order to get the scoop behind some of Ian’s exploits, features editor John Gentile spoke to him about Lemmy, being a young dude on a UK tour and The Sex Pistols.

Photo by Andy Buchanan

Jesse Michaels

Jesse Michaels is a man whose creativity knows no boundaries. He's created some of the very greatest punk rock ever recorded with Operation Ivy and Classics of Love. He expanded his vision to the canvas, creating visual art using classic noir imagery as tools for looking into the human psyche. He put pen to paper and wrote a novel that examines relations and paranoia. And now, he has expanded his vision to filmmaking.

Michaels' two new short films, Horizon Bastard and Strikeforce: Condor are weird and hilarious. Starring a misfit named Yunkie, the films follow the poor man as he struggles with day-to-day tasks all while trying to conceal his secret power -- the ability to projectile vomit neon-colored slime. The films also have a break out star -- a hairless cat named Patti Smith.

To learn about the films features editor John Gentile spoke to Michaels, the new king of all media, about the movies, Nickelback and how to properly care for a hairless cat.

Pat Kennedy (Light Years)

Light Years keeps moving and growing, slowly and steadily. But, maybe that's the best way to do it. Blowing up overnight brings fame, but rarely does it bring longevity. Pat Kennedy, the frontman of Light Years, has been pushing his band forward and evolving the sound at a rate that keeps fans comfortable without boring them with an identical release as their last one. This past summer, they got a little heavier and rougher on their EP, Temporary, while retaining the pop sensibility that defines Light Years. The trajectory will most likely stay consistent, and with perseverance so will growth.

Kennedy spoke with contributing editor Xan Mandell while the band was out on tour with Turnover.

Johnny Bonnel (Swingin' Utters)

The Swingin' Utters aren’t getting any younger, says frontman Johnny Bonnel, but that doesn’t mean the band is looking to call it a day. In fact, if anything, the band is ramping up its output, the latest of which is a new full-length on Fat Wreck Chords called Fistful of Hollow. Across 15 tracks, the band continues to maintain its signature sound, with a few new elements thrown into the mix. In advance of the record’s release, Punknews editor Adam Eisenberg caught up with Bonnel to talk about the new album, learn about the band’s songwriting process and discuss the Swingin’ Utters/Lagwagon double bill that’s coming to a town near you.

Big Awesome

Big Awesome is most likely isn't name you've come across much, if at all. But, the South Carolina kids have a massive sound worth giving a shot. Their last EP, Birdfeeder, was a touch rock, a touch math and a touch emo. According to them, their upcoming release will see the band honing on their strengths in those sonic elements to further distill their sound, and will show off exactly why they are talented.

Punknews contributing editor Xan Mandell was a big fan of Birdfeeder, so he decided to sit guitarist Colin Czerwiński and bassist/vocalist John Blackman down to see what was the next for the band.

Reed Michael Wolcott (We Are The Union)

Sometimes when bands say they're going on hiatus, it really just means they're breaking up, but aren't ready to accept it. But, that was not the case with ska/pop punk band We Are The Union. After announcing a hiatus and two years of silence, it was back to the grindstone of being a full-time band. And not only will they be touring again, they're going into the studio to record an EP, with the hopes to do a full length soon afterwards. This time around though, it won't be the band we're used to: They've dropped their horn section. It's a little confusing, seeing as how the ska aspect was what set them apart from the over-saturated pop-punk scene, but as frontman Reed Michael Wolcott explains, they may actually be more ska then ever.

During their stop in Chicago, contributing editor Xan Mandell took some time to speak with Wolcott about becoming a band again and what the future holds for We Are The Union.

Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order)

Peter Hook, the bassist of Joy Division and New Order, is about to start one hell of a gambit. On his Fall tour of the states, Hook, along with his band The Light, are going to play the entirety of New Order's Low-Life and Brotherhood albums in addition to a Joy Division set.

It's a particularly daring maneuver because while Joy Division's catalog is some of the world's most heralded music, and New Order's Power, Corruption, and Lies was where the band hit it big, both Low-Life and Brotherhood are trickier releases. Those LPs found Hook merging his trademark low, rumbling, dread-bass with lighter, gossamer sounds. The result is some of New Order's most cherished, and most obscure, songs. After years in suspension, the tunes are finally getting a live workout.

To learn about the new tour, features editor John Gentile spoke to Hook about the LPs, hanging out with Quincy Jones and the ever-brittle band member relations of New Order.