Steve Ciolek (The Sidekicks)

Over the past six years The Sidekicks have put out three full-length albums as well as a handful of splits & EPs - they show no sign of slowing down. The band is currently on tour with Hop Along which will last about two weeks after which they will join up with the The Gaslight Anthem for a short run across the East Coast.

Their last release was Awkward Breeds which was released in February of 2012. The band is currently working on new material set to be released sometime next year. Contributing editor Armando Olivas was able to sit down with lead singer and guitarist, Steve, to discuss a plethora of topics including, but not limited to, leather jackets, college, The Fest , and Elvis Costello.

Dog Party

If you ain't hip to Dog Party yet, you need to get hip to Dog Party. Composed of sisters Gwendolyn and Lucy Giles, (both of whom aren't even out of high school yet) Dog Party takes one and a half chords from the Ramones songbook and one and a half chords from classic LA punk and then just completely rocks the hell out. Seriously. These gals kick out the jams.

Even though they aren't even old enough to buy cigarettes, the girls just released their THIRD album on Asian Man Records, called Lost Control. It is about their dog and it is wonderful. But, quite masterfully, like their other songs, the song is written in such a way that when really chewed over, is as mature a statement as one by a rock and roller that has been in the biz for decades. (Honestly, it's so well written that I thought it was along the lines of Joy Divison's somber "She's lost control.")

In order to get the scoop on this rising band, Punknews contributing editor John Gentile spoke to the girls about the new album, being mentored by Kepi Ghoulie, and how to start beefs with just two minutes and three chords.

Ryan Morgan (Misery Signals)

Midwest metalcore group Misery Signals recently released their first new album since 2008's Controller. Since then, members have worked on other projects, joined, quit, rejoined, and crafted the new album Absent Light (released July 30, 2013), the band's first self-released full-length record. The band launched a successful crowdsourcing campaign which doubled their target goal, and used the proceeds to produce and release the album themselves. Punknews staff interviewer Gregg Harrington recently talked to Misery Signals guitarist Ryan Morgan about the band's history, crowdsourcing and working on both sides of Absent Light.

Zach Lind (Jimmy Eat World)

Having just released their eighth studio album Damage, Jimmy Eat World returned to the road on a North American tour to play a mix of songs, both new and old, for fans across the country. Punknews interviewer Jason Epstein spoke to Jimmy Eat World drummer Zach Lind about Damage, touring and the way that albums and songs age.

Blag Dahlia (The Dwarves)

The Dwarves call themselves "Rock Legends." They've never played Madison Square Garden but they have done a lot of drugs, beat up a lot of dudes, and banged a lot of girls. Also, they make some really kickass punk rock that ranges from hardcore to pop-punk to whacked-out pschadelic-electro-hop(?). So, if you want to evaluate whether the claim is true, you have to investigate what "rock and roll" truly is.

That's exactly what The Dwarves" have been doing for over 25 years. On their seminal Blood Guts & Pussy they reduced rock down to its three primordial driving factors via minute-long hardcore bursts. Their latest album, The Dwarves Are Born Again found them continuing the study, albeit through different filters of electro, classic punk, and teeny bop music.

Yet, their detractors label them as sexist meatheads. Meanwhile, their supporters argue that The Dwarves represent the human drive itself- the id manifest. To understand this thing called The Dwarves, Punknews editor John Gentile spoke to founding Dwarves member Blag Dahlia about his three favorite topics.

Click Read More to see what those topics are… as if you didn't already know.

Dylan Mattheisen (Tiny Moving Parts)

Although Tiny Moving Parts have been together for about five years the band is just now releasing their debut album This Couch Is Long & Full of Friendship via a joint collaboration between Kind of Like Records and Black Numbers Records.

The band is currently set to tour with The Front Bottoms starting today and will be playing The Fest in Gainesville, not to mention several tours in the works. The band has is illustrating with this new record that they've hit the ground running and they aren't stopping anytime soon. Hit Read More to catch Punknews contributing editor Armando Olivious chat Dylan Matheison about what it's like to be related to one another, touring with The Front Bottoms and the band's influences.

Joey Cape (Scorpios)

"Do you have any coffee," Joey Cape asks, squinting at the long rows of bottles behind the bar at the Media Club in Vancouver.

"No, sorry - we have lots of booze though," the bartender replies with a laugh.

Joey rubs his now slightly graying beard, looking defeated.

"No dude…I need some coffee."

The woman behind the bar shrugs.

The Lagwagon singer had just gotten off the road after driving more than five hours from Portland with his other band, Scorpios, an acoustic troupe made up of Drag the River's Jon Snodgrass and piano player Brian Whalstrom. This is the first Scorpios tour without No Use For A Name's Tony Sly, who passed away jarringly last August. The band is back on the road to pay homage to their fallen friend touring across Canada and the U.S., performing mellowed versions of songs from all respective bands as well as tracks from the Scorpios' 2011 album.

Still a bit melancholy about losing his good friend, but optimistic about the music ahead, the ever-affable Joey Cape sat down with Punknews interviewer Gen Handley to talk about his relationship with Tony and what the No Use singer left behind, when we can hear some new Lagwagon and the status of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.

Check out Read More to get the scoop.

Brian Sella (The Front Bottoms)

The Front Bottoms are currently on their first headlining tour across North America and most, if not all, the dates have sold out. The tour is in support of their latest effort, Talon of the Hawk, which is the bands sophomore release. Later in the year the band will be embarking on a headlining tour of Europe. To say The Front Bottoms are busy would be quite the understatement.

Contributing editor Armando Olivas and photographer Jackie WIlding were lucky enough to sit down with vocalist/lead guitarist Brian Sella to chat about the band during the Santa Ana date of the tour. The duo were asked him about recent line up changes within the band, Kevin Devine, and Brian's impending debute into the WWE.

Chris Cresswell (The Flatliners)

It has been a busy year for Toronto-based The Flatliners. This year they will hit the road once again while putting out their fourth full-length album entitled Dead Language. A full three years since their last release, Dead Language will be released on September 17, 2013 on Fat Wreck Chords. Punknews interviewer Samantha Barrett spoke with vocalist Chris Cresswell about tour and the new album.

Sam Russo

On the heels of his 2012 debut, Storm from Red Scare Industries native brit Sam Russo is not slowing down. Juggling full-time jobs alongside a music career is tough, but with U.K dates with Tim Barry that started on June 21st and his first hefty U.S tour the rest of the summer with fellow Red Scare artists Masked Intruder and Elway, it look's like it's paid off. Staff interviewer Laila Hanson spoke to Russo about songwriting, working day jobs and getting a record deal by way of a good word from Dan Andriano.

Night Birds

Featuring ex-members of the seminal bands Ergs, For Science and (for a while) Hunchback, Night Birds exploded on the scene about three years ago with the killer full length The Other Side of Darkness. Abounding with songs that don't sound so much like their early eighties West Coast influences, but like something fresh, new, and above all, fun. Live they zip through a set so fast and tight and energetic that you end up so exhausted you would have sworn it had been two hours instead of thirty minutes. The band is joining the legendary Zero Boys for some upcoming shows in August, but before that, long-time Punknews interviewer, Brian Cogan, caught up with Brian, Joe and PJ of the band to talk about tour plans, the new EP and new full length LP and… their love of Jermaine Stewart.

Hit Read More to catch the conversation.