Bosstones reunion status: “Not that we know of”

The Mighty Mighty BosstonesAs several astute readers pointed out, in their recent interview and performance on Alternative Press’s AP Show, Big D and the Kids Table let slip that Boston ska-core pioneers the Mighty Mighty Bosstones may be reuniting this winter for a series of five shows reminiscent of their “Hometown Throwdown” events from years past. Donning our investigative hats, we contacted Nate Albert, original guitarist for the Bosstones. Albert had the following to say:

I cannot confirm nor can I deny any such rumor.

Not quite the “yes” or “no” that we were expecting.

Punknews.org also contacted the guitarist for Big D, Sean P Rogan, who expressed his interest in the Bosstones getting back together, but could also not confirm said rumor at this time, quite a different tune than he and his bandmates were singing during their interview with former Org staffer and current AP Music Editor Scott Heisel.

We’ll keep our fingers crossed and update you all if and when we get more info.

Since going their separate ways in 2003, members from the Bosstones have been keeping busy. Joe Gittleman had his band Avoid One Thing, which took a break in 2005 while Albert’s Kickovers had a handful of releases before starting his dub project Cry Tuff Council. Chris Rhodes found touring partners in Less Than Jake and the Toasters while Lawrence Katz has been playing solo.For the astute, you can hear Chuck Ragan thank him for opening in the midst of Los Feliz. Drummer Joe Sirois has sat behind the kit for everyone from Frank Black to the Street Dogs since the hiatus, although he currently appears to be taking a break. Frontman Dicky Barret has taken his trademark gravel-filled voice and used it to procure shifts as announcer for Jimmy Kimmel and at 103.1 out of Los Angeles.

The band has had a bit of activity this year, posting unreleased, rare and other assorted tracks via their new MySpace page run by bass fiddleman Joe Gittleman.

Please note that Punknews.org is not in the business of reporting rumors. In this instance we felt clarification was needed by all, especially in order to stop one of us from convulsing in joy.
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Video of the Week: Punknews.org Feature: On the Road With The Gaslight Anthem (Part 2)

In the second installment of our video tour journal with The Gaslight Anthem, we bring you some true “SLC Punx”. The video comes from Salt Lake City, UT; and features the band performing a new track titled “Say I Won’t (Recognize)” from their upcoming EP on Sabot Productions titled Señor & the Queen.

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Settlefish: “The Second Week of Summer” (re-recorded)

Settlefish has posted their first “new” music in some time. The track is a re-recorded version of “The Second Week of Summer,” which will appear on their long-delayed EP, The Quiet Choir, which may finally see a release in the next few months. The original version appeared on the band’s last release, 2005’s The Plural of the Choir.

You can check the song out at the band’s MySpace page.
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Contests: F*ck Yeah Fest!

On August 25th and 26th. Echo Park in Los Angeles, California will be coming alive with the 2007 edition of Fuck Yeah fest As with previous years, the show is curated by Keith Morris and promoter Sean Carlson. The bill is a big one, particularly for fans of bands who rarely play live. Saturday will feature The Explosion’s final West Coast show, American Steel, Partyline (ex-Bratmobile), The Fleshies, Busdriver and more. The Sunday will include Deerhunter, Pissed Jeans, Jay Reatard, the Nice Boys and many others.

To celebrate this, the promoters handed us some free stuff to give to one lucky winner. To ensure you’ll have a good time, you’ll get two passes to the shows, two of the extra special silkscreened Raymond Pettibon posters and a 12 pack of “age appropriate” drinks.

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Thrice joins Vagrant Records

Thrice Thrice has joined Vagrant Records. The band will be releasing their four EP cycle as two separate releases in 2007 and 2008. The first, The Alchemy Index: Volumes 1 & 2: Fire & Water is due on October 16, 2007. The second, The Alchemy Index: Volumes 3 & 4 – Earth & Air will follow next year.

The band got their start on Hopeless Records with Identity Crisis in 2001. It was followed by the fan favorite The Illusion of Safety in 2002. The band made the jump to major label Island records and released The Artist In The Ambulance to some acclaim before polarizing fans with the more experimental Vheissu in 2005.
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Cartel: “Lose It”

Though it may have been somewhat overshadowed by an unusual publicity stunt, Cartel will actually be releasing an album soon and to that end, they’ve launched the first video from their major label debut. The record is titled Cartel and is due out August 21, 2007. It is the follow-up to Chroma which was released in 2005.

You can check out the video for “Lose It” right here.
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Modern Life Is War: 3 songs from ‘Midnight in America’

Modern Life Is WarIn less than two weeks one of the most anticipated albums in hardcore finally drops: Modern Life Is War‘s Midnight in America, slated for release August 21 via their new label, Equal Vision Records.

The band’s previous record, the Deathwish, Inc.-released Witness received numerous accolades and found the band touring in support of it non-stop with the likes of Converge, Strike Anywhere, Bane and others.

Greasing the wheels of the hype machine, we’ve got three songs from Midnight in America streaming for you at the band’s Punknews profile page.
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Pearl Jam webcast censored, provokes debate

While Pearl Jam doesn’t make many appearances on this site, a recent incident involving the editing of a live performance and the band’s ensuing reaction is quite significant. The band was performing during Lollapalooza and the always political Eddie Vedder took a moment to criticize George W.Bush. While live attendees heard the words, those watching the webcast saw only a censored version, without the criticism.

The band released a lengthy statement, pointing to the monopoly powers of telecommunications companies, and the ensuring effect on the public:

This troubles us as artists but also as citizens concerned with the issue of censorship and the increasingly consolidated control of the media. AT&T’s actions strike at the heart of the public’s concerns over the power that corporations have when it comes to determining what the public sees and hears through communications media.

“Any provider that blocks access to content is inviting customers to find another provider.” (Marguerite Reardon, Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published: March 21, 2006, 2:23 PM PST).

But what if there is only one provider from which to choose? If a company that is controlling a webcast is cutting out bits of our performance—not based on laws, but on their own preferences and interpretations —fans have little choice but to watch the censored version.

When pressed on the issue, AT&T quickly deflected, claiming the censorship was the work of an outside (unnamed) company. Regardless of whether the blame falls on AT&T or the other company, the issue is nonetheless the same. In a consolidated market, should telecommunications companies by allowed to affect content or should they act as neutral carriers of information?
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Foo Fighters: “The Pretender”

Foo Fighters have posted the first new track from their upcoming sixth album. The record is titled Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace and is due out September 25, 2007. The artwork for the record can be found on the album’s release profile. The new record is the follow-up to In Your Honor which was released in 2005.

You can find “The Pretender” on their myspace page.
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New Age signs Last of the Believers (Ignite, ex-Rise Against)

New Age Records has announced that they have signed Last of the Believers. The band consists of Chris Chasse of Reach the Sky and Rise Against fame, Brett Rasmussen of Ignite, drummer Phillip Lee, and Nik Pitcitello and Steve Jennings formerly of Spark of Life.

The band released Paper Ships Under a Burning Bridge this month.
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