Kyle Kinane

The internet has turned the entirety of the industrialized world into something surprisingly similar to the DIY punk scene. For those who remember a world before the internet became a household utility, you might recall a time when people found out about bands almost entirely through word of mouth. In the days before Punknews was a thing, and MRR and HeartattaCk were hard to find, people learned about their bands from friends and voices within the culture. Punk scenes since the late '70s have functioned on tribalism. Read American Hardcore, and notice how it's organized: There are different sections for different regions and different chapters for different states, each with their own bands, venues, slang, style of dress and general milieu. There is still a mainstream--a collection of "normal" interests--but it's far more facile and fickle than ever before. There's often more power in the many cultural tribes that now thrive in the small venues and message boards and blogs. It's the reason why seeing Kyle Kinane's Death of the Party on the Best New Music section of Punknews had such a powerful effect.

It often seems that the people for whom the DIY punk scene was an integral part of their growth are often now following interesting and less-traveled paths, almost as if the scene gave them an advantage in this new world, or ingrained in them some kind of crucial value. Kyle Kinane came up in the small punk venues and comedy clubs of Chicago and his success has paralleled that of the fellow Chicago comics with whom he shared those small stages, comics like Matt Braunger and Kumail Namjiani. While Kinane's narrative, grown-up slacker brand of standup has resonated with comedy enthusiasts, it seems to have especially resonated with those who came from similar beginnings. Perhaps touring with no money and sleeping on couches was good practice for a world where even major label bands are sometimes expected to pay their own way on tour.

Punknews staff writer Jon Reiss caught up with Kinane to find out the extent to which punk has played a part in his adult life, and how it does-or does not-reconcile itself with the comedy lifestyle.

Following Mikey Erg on the Campaign Trail for the drummer seat in Against Me!

Unbeknownst to him on March 11, 2013, Mikey Erg found himself as a candidate for the currently empty drummer's seat in Against Me!. An online petition was started, now with 800 signatures and counting, that was addressed to AM! asking them to instate the pop-punk legend behind the kit. Though the campaign wasn't his doing, Erg decided to ride the wave and now finds himself gunning for that number one spot.

In order to see how the campaign is going, Punknews features editor John Gentile met up with Erg where they discussed the rigors of a political campaign, what he can bring to Against Me! and whether his past record of doing hard time will hurt his chances of getting the drummer's seat.

Ron Reyes (Piggy / Red Cross / Black Flag)

There is no modest way to say it. Ron Reyes is a pivotal part of West Coast punk. He played drums in Redd Kross when they were still called Red Cross. He got a Germs Burn directly from The Germs. He cut the vocals for Black Flag's Jealous Again. He was one of the main subjects in The Decline of Western Civilization. He once harassed David Lee Roth.

After tearing it up on the sunset strip, Reyes moved to Vancouver where he continued to write and perform with various bands, including the Stooges meets punk of Crash Bang Crunch Pop. But now, he's got a brand new band called Piggy. For the first time ever, and after some 30 years of hoping, Reyes plays guitar in a band and they rip. Piggy is combination of hard rock, punk and that unquantifiable ingredient Ron Reyes, baby. On top of that, Reyes has once again joined up with guitarist Greg Ginn to reunite Black Flag, which will be touring and releasing a new album this year.

In order to learn a little history and to get the scoop on all of Reyes' current projects, Punknews features editor John Gentile phoned up Reyes and the two spoke about Piggy, a band called the Happy Tampons, Black Flag and just what the deal was with DLR.

Allison Weiss

Allison Weiss's 2009 Kickstarter campaign to make …Was Right All Along launched the DIY musician's career and cemented her reputation as a savvy and hard working self-promoter. In the months that followed, she toured with Lou Reed, spoke at SXSW and moved to Brooklyn, where she recorded her second full-length Say What You Mean (out April 16, 2013). She signed with No Sleep Records and has headed south for a months-long tour, with stops again at SXSW (where she will perform at a showcase for the first time) and a lengthy stint on the Vans Warped Tour.

Punknews staff writer Allyson Rudolph caught up with Weiss on day one of her tour to learn more about her move to No Sleep, her commitment to talking about pizza on the Internet, her first ever AOL screen name and how she's feeling right this second.

Johan Wieth (Iceage)

Iceage are a threatening band. They're threatening because of their chaotic, metallic, shambling mass of sound. They're threatening because their latest album, You're Nothing is thirty minutes of ice cold cathartic destruction. They're threatening because they seem to have appeared out of the ether. They're threatening because people can't quite wrap their heads around them.

In some ways, this threat has caused the band to be thrust in the spotlight. Just why are these 21 year old Danes making such a berserk racket? How could dudes so young have the ability to write from such a detached distance? But in other ways, the threat has caused Iceage strife. Allegations of the most vile sort has been launched in the band's direction.

To see why the band is so threatening to some people and to get behind some of their imagery that is so powerful yet so mysterious, Punknews features editor John Gentile recently phoned up Iceage guitarist Johan Wieth, where they talked about You're Nothing, emotions themselves and whether or not they are part of a secret fascist cult.

Henry Rollins

You could say that Henry Rollins is constantly on the move, but you'd be wrong. To be 'on the move' suggests that the subject has the ability or inclination to stop at some point. By contrast, Rollins seems to be in a state of constant motion, by turns visiting the four corners of the globe, writing a new book, or talking about important stuff on stage in the Nation's capital. So really, Rollins isn't so much in a state of constant progression as he is an infinity symbol divided by zero… or something like that.

Just recently Rollins wrapped up his tour of all 50 capital cities, ending the tour in washington DC on election night. He's also re-releasing the ripping End of Silence demos on vinyl, spinning the wildest and weirdest cuts on KCRW every week, as well as narrating a documentary about graffiti, go go music, and a hip cat named Cool "Disco" Dan. In order to see what Rollins thinks of some of his projects, Punknews Features Editor John Gentile fired up his Delorean to 1.21 gigawatts, and met Rollins in his own rapid timestream, where they had a brief chat.

Jim Lindberg (Pennywise)

The three years leading up to Pennywise's 25th anniversary have been turbulent to say the least. Lead singer Jim Lindberg left the band unamicably and started another band, while the remnants of Pennywise found a replacement in Zoli Téglás from Ignite. In spite of having a respectable replacement, having someone other than Lindberg singing such personal, almost autobiographical songs like "Bro Hymn" was a bit awkward.

And when all hope was lost for a reunion to ever happen, Lindberg returned to the band for its silver anniversary - but not without any resentment for the past few years. Sounding upbeat and excited about being back, Lindberg also sounded a bit dubious - almost like a buddy who's working things out with his girlfriend after she cheated on him during a drunk night out.

Lindberg recently sat down with Punknews staff interviewer Gen Handley to talk about his thoughts on the Lindberg-less, Pennywise album, why he decided to come back and what the band is doing to move forward.

After the Fall

After three long years Albany, New York's After The Fall's new record is just around the bend. Having drawn influences from the sound of Propagandhi to Descendents, their new album Unkind is a medley of the same After The Fall sound with more depth and an aggressive edge. Unkind is set to come out March 19, 2013 on Paper and Plastick and will be followed by a tour. Punknews staff interviewers Christopher and Samantha Barrett sat with the whole band to discuss goals and plans for the new album.

The Story of the Crassical Collection

Crass didn't define punk as much as show punk had no set definition. Through a string of six albums and many, many singles, the band used boot boy rocking, expressionist soundscapes, and straight up screaming to not only express a point, but to engage in direct action.

Now, twenty-six years later, Crass have finished re-releasing their six studio LPs, entitled The Crassical Collection. The reissues did not come easy. Just as founding member Penny Rimbaud was planning to improve the sound of the original releases and update the art of the albums, a few members of Crass became strongly opposed to Rimbaud's plan.

Punknews features editor John Gentile recently spoke to founding members Steve Ignorant and Rimbaud about what Crass was, what Crass is, and what the reissues mean.

Rachel Taft (Feed the Scene)

Feed the Scene is the original "Band & Breakfast" started by Charm City resident Rachel Taft. Taft is the founder and essentially the one-woman show behind the organization that feeds and houses bands touring through Baltimore, all completely free of charge. Her house features a hostel-like bunk bedroom and depending on the night, you can find her serving up everything from bacon wrapped scallops to herb roasted frenched racks of lamb (recipe below!) to vegan friendly spicy citrus asparagus. Punknews contributing editor Kira Wisniewski spoke to Rachel about her organization, what she does and how she's doing her part as the "Jewish mother of punk rock."

Mark Rose (Ex-Spitalfield)

As a veteran of the pop/rock scene of the early 2000s, ex-Spitalfield frontman Mark Rose has quite a few years of touring experience under his belt. Apparently though, he doesn't need a break. Rose has been on the road extensively since before his solo LP debut, 2011's Wonderful Trouble, and recently finished performing 33 shows in 26 days alongside longtime friend JT Woodruff of Hawthorne Heights in support of his latest EP, The Sound of a Turnaround.

These days, Rose has gone a more singer-songwriter route compared to his Spitalfield tenure. With that being said, he's an advocate for creating new outlets for struggling musicians. Enter Downwrite.com, where you can request a custom song from Rose and Bob Nanna (of Braid and Hey Mercedes fame) for the time being, but with more musicians and plans on the horizon. Punknews staff writer Laila Hanson had the chance to sit down and discuss his recent ventures.