September 30th, 2007

It's Sunday, September 30th, 2007. I've made it a tradition that I don't actually write intro blurbs on the last day of September. Look into it, I'm not lying. , Universal or Starbucks? Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon voiced her opinion, responding to fans riled by the band's partnership with the coffee giant on an upcoming favorites collection. I suppose that's no less weird than the Sex Pistols reuniting to re–record "Anarchy in the UK" for the video game Guitar Hero III. My Chemical Romance turned a few heads when Gerald Way riled against the "emo" label that his band's often stuck with. The peer–to–peer war escalated this week as well, with BitTorrent site The Pirate Bay going on the offensive and launching lawsuits against the European divisions of the major labels. Does it make you feel old to know that the Beastie Boys are now eligible for the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame. The band was indeed recently nominated.

We had word on a number of new records this week. NOFX provided the first details on their upcoming live album, unveiling the cover art and nailing down a release date. Anti–Flag is set to enter the studio soon with producer Tony Visconti to record their sophomore major label full length. The band also released the track "Corporate Rock Still Sucks." Paint It Black wrapped up their new full length and chatted about it and, well, us. Asian Man also announced plans to reissue work from the Lawrence Arms and the Broadways on vinyl. We saw new videos this week from the Gaslight Anthem ("I'da Called You Woody, Joe") and Avenged Sevenfold ("Almost Easy"). A Wilhelm Scream released a batch of new media promoting their new record, but lost a guitarist along the way. Streetlight Manifesto announced a tour alongside Suburban Legends and the Stitch Up. Finally, because we enjoy horrifying you, we have Fall Out Boy performing Green Day's "Basket Case" and Paramore tackling At The Drive–In's "One–Armed Scissor." Our Video of the Week featured part four of our video countdown to the Fest 6. This week we checked out a video interview with Dan Yemin of Lifetime and event founder Tony Weinbender of No Idea Records . The ninth edition of Vinyl File featured the second and final part of our look at the vinyl output of modern punk favourites the Alkaline Trio. We also streamed music from Teddy Duchamp's Army, a Pittsburgh, PA–based band that saw members go on to form/join Anti–Flag, Don Caballero and Voice in the Wire.

September 23rd, 2007

It's Sunday, September 23rd, 2007. Now that the Canadian dollar has reached parity with the greenback we can reverse the brain drain of Canuck talent to the States. That goes for Punknews editors too. Chris, Brian, Justin, Meg: come home to Tuktoyaktuk. Your mother misses you.

September 16th, 2007

It's Sunday, September 16th, 2007. We're really dipping into the surreal with the names of our massive killing machines lately. MOAB and FOAB are really only a step away from MODOK. Anyways… evolution of Warped, punk rock and more. The end of the road for Chicago's Spitalfield is in view, as the Victory act embarks on their final tour this fall.

I don't really want to keep making fun of your new band, Tom, but the art for the new Angels and Airwaves record looks like the movie poster to some 80s space opera, with you in the role of the galactic chosen one. A Wilhelm Scream had a bit less of a star–messiah vibe with the cover to Career Suicide. We had hints from No Doubt about their upcoming record, which may just turn out to be more ska and less BANANAS. it also seems that Panic! At the Disco have scrapped their new LP. They're trying again though, which is good or bad news depending on how you look at. On the video front we had footage of the Foo Fighters and Serj from System of a Down performing "Holiday in Cambodia", Bad Religion performing live on Conan O'Brien and Fall Out Boy's new clip for "I'm Like a Lawyer…". Looking for a show? This week we had news of Pansy Division's October tour and Against Me!'s upcoming November trek with Sage Francis, World Inferno Friendship Society, and Cobra Skulls. Our Video of the Week featured part two of our video countdown to the Fest 6. This week we checked out the some footage of Org favourites the Lawrence Arms. The eighth edition of Vinyl File featured a look at the ultimate in early punk collectables from the Sex Pistols and previewed lots of upcoming wax. Our Editors Picks featured audio from Cleveland's Sidekicks and Cincinnati's 500 Miles to Memphis. We also streamed new music from former Marathon frontman Aaron Scott's new act Attica! Attica!, the new full length Doublecross from Vancouver's Riff Randells, and the entirety of Andrew Jackson Jihad's new folk–punk debut for Asian Man.

September 9th, 2007

It's Sunday, September 9th, 2007. Well, it's been a week without anonymous comments and the world is still turning, so far, so good. Since we're in constant search of improvement here's another change for you: I'd like to welcome Ben Conoley to the editorial staff. Ben's been volunteering reviews and news for some time now, and he's the one responsible for our new hit Vinyl File column every Wednesday. To top it off, the provincially New Brunswick resident's sitting on the final jury for this year's Polaris Music Prize (like the Mercury, only in loonies), which we think is pretty wild. If he gives Plaskett the cheque then maybe we'll keep him on board. early 2008 Saves the Day gave fans a taste of their next with the song "Get Fucked Up" while the Ataris promised a return to their End is Forever and Blue Skies era. Avenged Sevenfold posted their album cover, a new webisode and even a NOFX cover to get their fans excited. Speaking of excited, there's life in the Dillinger Four camp! The band chatted about comics and their new record this week. On the touring circuit we had dates for a Thursday / Circle Takes the Square trek. The Misfits may not be what they used to be, but they're celebrating 30 years nonetheless. In the pop field Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, Plain White T's and Cute Is What We Aim For further fleshed out their tour. On a decidedly lower budget note, 'Org favourites Bomb the Music Industry! will be on the road as well. Our Video of the Week featured part one of our video countdown to the Fest 6. This week we checked out the supergroup Armalite. The seventh edition of Vinyl File featured a chat with Justin Schwier of Underground Communiqué and previewed lots of upcoming wax. Our Editors Picks featured audio from Germany's Deny Everything and Richmond's Cloak/Dagger. We also streamed new music from Young Livers, featuring members of Glass and Ashes, Fiya and Towers of Hanoi. Everyone with a soul will fall in love

All of the staff would like to extend a massive internet hi–five to community member, contributor, good friend and overall rad dude Richard "Dante3000" Verducci for managing not only to find a woman who can deal with his massive internet addiction but also to convince her to marry him on Saturday. Congratulations Rich and Katie, here's to you.

September 2nd, 2007

It's Sunday September 2nd, 2007. Well this is called Navel Gazing, so let's talk Punknews. After literally years of debating the issue we finally took the plunge this weekend and disabled anonymous commenting. From here on, only registered users can post comments. You can find the full explanation and initial reaction in our announcement. A lot of you have asked if this was the result of any one single band complaining to us, and it wasn't. It's more an effort to pull our staff from the brink of going mad like Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. That's just bad for productivity. The people must have something good to read on a Sunday Yet another piece of punk history was lost this week, as Hilly Kristal of legendary scene-fostering New York City venue CBGB died at age 75. His club of course helped launch the careers of the Ramones, Television, Patti Smith and many others. To add to the retrospective mood, Time Magazine launched a multimedia feature celebrating the 30th Anniversary Of Punk. Against Me! continues to support the New Wave juggernaut, performing "Stop" live on the Late Show, releasing a digital EP and announcing the rest of their fall tour. Now the Gainesville act has some nutty fans, but hopefully they're less sensitive than those of Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance. The guyliner was flying when both acts missed out on Kerrang! awards. There was a different type of drama in the I Am Ghost camp, as the band revealed the religious conflicts that lead to their recent lineup shift.

There were lots of news on the touring front this week. The Bouncing Souls announced a handful of fall tour dates while Less Than Jake charted out a globe trotting few months in the UK, Japan and Australia. Hellogoodbye, Say Anything and Japan's Polysics will soon embark on the Myspace Tour. Out on the mainstream pop punk front you'll find Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, Plain White T's and Cute is What We Aim For. How about some new music? American Steel continued their triumphant return with the killer Sons of Avarice" while Jimmy Eat World previewed their new full length Chase the Light and Angels & Airwaves teased "Everything's Magic." Every Time I Die also unveiled their video for "We'rewolf." Our Video of the Week featured Dead To Me performing at last year's edition of The Fest. The sixth edition of Vinyl File featured a chat with No Idea Records head Var Thelin and previewed lots of upcoming wax. We also streamed new music from Arsonists Get All The Girls latest full length The Game of Life, Young Livers, which features members of Glass and Ashes, Fiya and Towers of Hanoi, and half of the new full length from Toronto ska-punks the Flatliners.

August 26th, 2007

It's Sunday August 26th, 2007. Now that Moz has turned down the 75 million dollar reunion payday I'd like to offer to step in and manage the redistribution of those funds. I know it's a burden, but I'm pretty sure we could find 75 bands that would each take a million to reunite. Well, maybe 73 and then the staff here could get some sweet hovercrafts. Yeah.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday Morrissey was in the news a few times this week, as the temperamental and influential singer / songwriter not only announced a fall US solo tour but turned down a $75 million offer to reunite the Smiths. After the PR blitz and last week's fiasco we figured Against Me! might want to lay low and give fans a breather, but they forgot to let Australian indie rocker Ben Lee in on the plan, and he launched an entire cover album that reproduced New Wave acoustically. Rolling Stone's bewildering mix of serious journalism and pop culture garbage touched on a familiar scene this week, as the mag investigated hardcore "crew" FSU and the James Morrison murder. The digital music scene continues to shift and evolve, with retail mega-weight Wal-Mart now launching a DRM-free online store. Fans of All and the Descendents were shocked to hear that bassist Karl Alvarez had suffered a heart attack this week and is now facing mounting medical bills.

On the touring front Big D and the Kids Table are planning to hit the road with Whole Wheat Bread and China's Brain Failure opening various legs of the jaunt. NOFX is heading to Israel, and while there will play shows with several Israeli punk bands including Useless ID and Man Alive. What's coming down the pipe? How about a double DVD live set from the legendary Ramones, a new studio album from Sweden's Millencolin, and Streetlight Manifesto's Somewhere In The Between LP. The next Tony Hawk skateboarding game will feature music from Gorilla Biscuits, Paint It Black and Snapcase among others, and Warped Tour head Kevin Lyman is set to produce the new movie "Endless Bummer." This week also brought new media from Atreyu, who streamed a few new songs, and Avenged Sevenfold who put up "Critical Acclaim" for the world to preview.

This week we were thrilled to announce the now sold out Mutiny PR / Punknews.org CMJ showcase with the Loved Ones, Tim Barry, Smoke or Fire, the Falcon, American Steel, Fake Problems and Sundowner.

The fifth edition of Vinyl File featured a chat with Team Science Records head Aaron Danger and previewed a ton of upcoming wax. Our Editor's Picks this week featured music from Halfway To Hell Club and the Sadies. We also streamed new music from longstanding DC ska act the Pietasters with the full album All Day. and a new track from third wave ska mainstays Mustard Plug.

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

August 19th, 2007

It's Sunday August 19th, 2007. Nothing much happened this week. See you next Sunday!

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

Alright, alright. I'll concede that a few things of note were announced, primarily tours. The hearts of the Punknews audience continue to beat irregularly as the thought of the Lawrence Arms upcoming tour with American Steel and Larry Arms offshoots the Falcon and Sundowner. The first slate of dates for the trek were announced this week. Squat punks Leftover Crack are touring as well, talking along with them a motley crew of bands that includes Toxic Narcotic, I Object and Introp5pect. Silverstein, From Autumn To Ashes and Strike Anywhere have their own tour in the works, set to kick off this October. Bad Religion and UK labelmates Gallows will support their respective recent records with a tour alongside the Briggs. Tiger Army's got that same thing in mind, teaming up with the Street Dogs for a jaunt of their own.

John Reis of Rocket From The Crypt and Drive Like Jehu fame will return to the stage and studio soon with his new act Speedo. He's teaming up with bandmates from Hot Snakes and Swami act CPC Gangbangs this time out. The Loved Ones are in the studio as well, set to record under the loving direction of Pete and Bryan of those Jersey mooches the Bouncing Souls. We had details on a number of upcoming releases this week. This includes the title and recording details on NOFX's live record They've Actually Gotten Worse, a release date for Angels and Airwaves' I-Empire, and track listings for both the Dropkick Murphys' The Meanest of Times and Coheed & Cambria's next album for which I refuse to memorize the title. Epitaph announced their first signing in a while, with the addition of New Hampshire's Our Last Night to their roster. Aiden posted a full album stream of their new record Conviction, and you can thank me for not re-posting their nightmare inducing press photo here again. Finally this week we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the compact disc by spinning a Screeching Weasel tune on the subject. That's it.

Oh… wait… there was also a minor incident in a coffee shop. Tom Gabel of Against Me! may or may not have been involved. Something about a cruller.

Our Video of the Week featured live footage of Colorado's Signal To Noise, the third part of our feature from our recent Gaslight Anthem tag along. We talked to MU330 frontman and solo artist Dan Potthast this week as well (interview) The fourth edition of Vinyl File was a doozy. We chatted with Billy Hamilton of Silverstein about his Hot Water Music collection, and dude -- it's epic. We also streamed new music from Philadelphia's the Low Budgets, featuring Joe Jack Talcum of the Dead Milkmen, a new track from third wave ska mainstays Mustard Plug, the new full length from Philadelphia's Jena Berlin, and the new record from Toronto's reggae-influenced three piece Bedouin Soundclash.

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

August 12th, 2007

It's Sunday August 12th, 2007. Does anyone find it entirely surreal that we're squabbling over ownership of the the North Pole now? Particularly since it involves rushing to plant flags like it's the 1500s? If we're going to be fighting the Battle of Hoth we could at least get some walkers or tauntauns or something…

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

Given the amount of acclaim they've garnered it seemed strange to have Thrice unsigned, and they didn't remain that way for long. This week we learned that the band signed to Vagrant Records and we saw a teaser video for their upcoming album. Despite what Big D and the Kids Table revealed, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are refusing to comment on news that they've planning a series of reunion shows. We're hoping it's going to happen of course. Bad Brains remain in the media following the release of their new album, tackling the heavy issues of homophobia and race in a recent interview. A debate over censorship arose this week as alt rock act Pearl Jam had lyrics cut from a corporately sponsored webcast.

A ton of new media arrived this week including the new single "The Running Free" from Coheed & Cambria, the video for "Thrash Unreal" from Against Me!, Plus 44's pro skater directed video for "155", Chiodos' new song "Is It Progression If A Cannibal Uses A Fork?", new music from Mustard Plug in the form of "Hit Me Hit Me", and a streaming full length from Blaqk Audio. Speaking of the AFI side project, Blaqk Audio will take their odd spelling and electro beats on the road in September. Upcoming tours will see Propagandhi visit South America, NOFX, Mad Caddies and the Loves Ones tour Europe and Dropkick Murphys in the US with the Horrorpops. We had news on upcoming releases from A Wilhelm Scream. They're preparing to release Career Suicide on Oct 9th. Avenged Sevenfold announced details on their new album while Panic! at the Disco mused about their next. Finally that oft delayed reissue of Operation Ivy's classic Energy looks set for November.

Our Video of the Week features the second segment of our "On The Road with the Gaslight Anthem" feature. We also had the pleasure of chatting with Casey Royer of long running punk act D.I. (interview). The third edition of Vinyl File arrived, looking at a rare and much sought after Judge 12" and checking out the upcoming releases. We also streamed new music from Asian Man band The Hot Toddies, The Riot Before's upcoming EP, the return full length from 3rd wave ska act Buck-O-Nine, and three songs from celebrated hardcore band Modern Life Is War.

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

August 5th, 2007

It's Sunday August 5th, 2007. Now I don't know about the rest of the world, but this is a long weekend in Canada for the mysterious August holiday that nobody knows the name of. Regardless of what it's called, I'm hitting the cottage. That means this article was written on a Saturday. I trust then that the punk world has stopped spinning in my absence to respect the fact that this column won't include Sunday's news. Streetlight Manifesto you better just sit on that "big big news" until next week. Ok? Good.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

MTV has declared Against Me!'s New Wave the best punk album of the year, and the real question is why we care what they think in the first place. Call it a cultural echo from back when they mattered. The internet levels things out a bit, so it was great to see just as many people discussing the 25 Most Influential Punk Bands as decided by Shoutmouth (who?) as there were debating MTV. Speaking of online masses, you all managed to get Chris Hannah the runner up spot on the Worst Canadian poll. In the end he was beat by a politician, and that oppression will surely lead to a stinging rebut on the next Propagandhi disc.

Warped Tour head Kevin Lyman apologized to the Osbournes for his remarks about the "free" Ozzfest. Maybe they can all learn from the sea of goodwill that Gainesville's The Fest 6 is riding, as that event thrilled our readers by announcing a lineup that includes Naked Raygun, Seaweed, the Draft, Dillinger Four and many others. It's been fascinating to get into the head of Less Than Jake drummer and lyricist Vinnie, and this week he mused about the band's next label an gave his stamp of approval to pre-Lawrence Arms ska-punk act Slapstick. This busy week say a preview of My Chemical Romance frontman Gerald Way's upcoming comic The Umbrella Academy and more bands announced for Guitar Hero III (the Beastie Boys, AFI and Weezer among them). On the touring circuit we had Australian dates from Bad Religion and Strung Out, southern US dates from New Found Glory, Senses Fail and Set Your Goals, and the remainder of the dates for Brand New, Thrice and mewithoutYou's tour announced.

There was lots of new media online this week. The legendary Bad Brains released their video for "Give Thanks And Praises/Jah Love" while Canuck indie-pop act Tegan and Sara unveiled "Back in Your Head". Alkaline Trio debuted a new song live and a familiar face caught it on video, while Green Day's Tre Cool performed internet meme "Chocolate Rain." We had a full album stream from Hot Water Music alum Chuck Ragan and a new song available from the anticipated new Weakerthans record. Finally Bomb the Music Industry have made their new album Get Warmer available for download Our Video of the Week featured Richmond folk-punk act the Riot Before performing a track from their upcoming 7". We chatted with Jeff Davis of Boys Night Out (interview) as well as Rachel Minton of Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer (interview). The second edition of Vinyl File arrived, looking at a Get Up Kids oldie and checking out the upcoming releases. We also streamed new music from Dear Tonight's debut We're Not Men, and UK based melodic hardcore act called the Steal on the eve of their US tour.

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.

July 29th, 2007

It's Sunday July 29th, 2007. With this week's revelations I give it a few months until we have a reactionary straight-edge xASTRONAUTx movement emerging from the basements of Houston and Florida's Space Coast. The real challenge would be to incorporate the generic black hoodie and cargo shorts into the next spacesuit design.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

So in a move that's sure to make several of our readers spontaneously combust, the Lawrence Arms, American Steel and Larry Arms offshoots the Falcon and Sundowner announced plans for a tour dubbed the 8th Annual Unbelievable Self-Indulgence Fest. There are no dates yet, but that didn't stop you all from losing it and screaming things like "I'm gonna fucking blow something apart if they dont [sic] make it down south." On the other hand, we have an announcement that mall-punkers Good Charlotte are touring soon with pop star Jusitin Timberlake. The things you said about this tour were less enthusiastic, all things considered. The Warped Tour is rolling on, and this week head honcho Kevin Lyman spoke with the press a few times, criticizing the supposedly "free" Ozzfest and musing on last year's feuds and this year's attendance numbers.

The Offspring have lost drummer Atom Willard, as the former Rocket from the Crypt member is giving all his time to messiah-core act Angels and Airwaves. He's been replaced by Pete Parada, who has Saves the Day, Alkaline Trio and Face to Face on his resume. Canuck pop-punk act Sum 41 was apparently in some trouble over lyrics, as it's been reported that Deryck Whibley was threatened with deportation from the US. So was that legit or just some clever PR on the eve of their new album?

A number of bands spoke about their next record this week. Dave Grohl talked about the upcoming Foo Fighters disc, also chatting about his experience in the nascent DC "emo-core" scene. Anti-Flag spoke about their upcoming benefit EP and looked ahead to their next full-length. We had album updates from across the spectrum this week, with everyone from elder statesmen Social Distortion to popsters Fall Out Boy discussing their next release. It's not just new music in the pipe, as reissues of classic material from both Fat Wreck Chords and punk pioneers the Sex Pistols were announced.

Our Video of the Week featured the Swellers performing music from their new record My Everest. We chatted with Josh Berwanger, formerly of the Anniversary and currently of the Only Children (interview). We also streamed new music from Cobra Skulls' new Red Scare full-length Sitting Army.

Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.