An interesting label has popped it’s head above ground. Red Star Records is planning on focusing on the release of demos and other low-fidelity releases from established and (according to their email) broken-up acts. The releases will be free via their website and they purportedly have two heavyweights on board already.

We’ve all purchased ‘remastered’ version of albums that come with additional material like demos or b-sides in the package. Lots of times, this material is actually outstanding and one wonders where it’s been all this time and why it hasn’t been released. This is where Red Star records comes in.

The first two releases should be from Jon Snodgrass (Drag The River) and Ted Leo (Chisel). Expect them soon.
Source Continue reading Red Star Records promises demos from established acts like Ted Leo and Jon Snodgrass →

Scarlett Johansson has outlined more details of her upcoming Tom Waits-cover-dominated album. The album, Anywhere I Lay My Head was produced by Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio and features vocal work from David Bowie on tracks like “Fannin’ Street” and “Falling Down.” Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner and members of the band Celebration serve as the backing band on most tracks, including the one original composition “Song For Jo.”

Apparently Mr. Waits has signed off on the affair having said “Go ahead,” after Johansson sent him some early recordings. Expect the album on May 20th.
Source Continue reading Scarlett Johansson’s Tom Waits cover album takes shape with title, Bowie guest appearance →

The odd grouping of folks known as World/Inferno Friendship Society have laid out some plans for March. They’ll be exploring the Western Coast and making their way back East via the Southwest, including a stop at SXSW in Austin.

The band released Addicted to Bad Ideas last year.
Source Continue reading Tours: World/Inferno Friendship Society →

Big D and the Kids Table will embark on a month long tour of the UK this May. They’ll be touring with Sonic Boom Six and Random Hand.

Big D is currently on the road in the US with the Dropkick Murphys. The band is supporting their latest full length Strictly Rude.
Source Continue reading Tours: Big D & The Kids Table / Sonic Boom Six / Random Hand (UK) →

The track listing for the new Pennywise record Reason To Believe has been announced. This info comes courtesy of Epitaph, who will be releasing the record in Europe. MySpace Records will handle the US release on March 25, 2008.

The track listing reveals a CD / vinyl only track and a vinyl exclusive. It’s unknown at this time if those exclusives will apply in North America or if they’re European-only. As previously announced MySpace Records will offer up the album as a free digital download via a Textango promotion. Anyone who adds Textango’s profile as a friend on the social networking site MySpace will get access to the songs.
Source Continue reading Pennywise “Reason to Believe” track listing →

Shook Ones have posted a new video for the song “Order Form.” The clip was directed by Andre and Dan of Dress Code Design this past fall.

The band recently released a Split with Japan’s Easel. The full length Facetious Folly Feat hit in 2006 via Revelation.
Source Continue reading Shook Ones: “Order Form” →

Lowell, Massachusetts ska-punk act In The Face have posted their first new recordings in 18 months. The new music includes two staples of their live set, and a new acoustic track. You can check them out at the band’s MySpace page. Tour dates across New England can be found there as well.

Savannah, GA’s A Girl A Gun A Ghost have posted a new track online titled “Pangolin Dreams”. This song will appear on their upcoming album Through The Eyes of AhaB, due out March 18th from SOA Records. You can check out the music at PureVolume.

Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania punk rock act Live Set Disaster has released a new full length titled, appropriately, Clifton Heights Punk Rock. Six songs from the record are streaming free at MySpace for your sampling pleasure.
Source Continue reading In The Face, A Girl A Gun A Ghost, Live Set Disaster →

Jeff Rosenstock sent us these tour dates from Bomb The Music Industry‘s MySpace page and we thought you’d like them. The band will be out on tour with Pegasuses XL until the beginning of March and then will be doing some dates with the Slackers.

The collecti-band will also be part of the Asian Man Records 2008 Tour alongside The Queers, Lemuria, Andrew Jackson Jihad, and Kepi Ghoulie.

The dates are below if you click Read More.
Source Continue reading Tours: Bomb The Music Industry: legs with Pegasuses XL and the Slackers →

Insubordination Records will be documenting their 2007 Fest just in time for their 2008 one via DVDs and CDs. The label will offer 13 live CD/DVD sets from the following bands: The AV Club, Beatnik Termites, Dead Mechanical, Ergs!, Guts, Wimpy & the Guts, Leftovers, Paper Dragons, Short Attention, The Steinway’s, Teenage Bottlerocket, Varsity Weirdos and one unannounced party.

Some of the sets are for sale now, including a 95 dollar “The Full F*&^%ing Experience” set for completists.

This year’s edition of the fest will feature The Queers and a reunion from 80s-era Lookout! act Sweet Baby
Source Continue reading Insubordination to releasing 13 live CD/DVDs documenting 2007 fest →

Buffalo, NY natives Unwelcome Guests have posted dates for their March tour of the Midwestern US. They will be doing ten days in support of two split 7″:” Art of the Underground has released a split with This Is My Fists‘ Annie Saunders, while Salinas records has released a split with Orphan Choir from Windsor, ON..
Source Continue reading Tours: Unwelcome Guests (Midwest) →

Ye Olde Tim Version have a full stream of their newest album Decline of the Southern Gentleman up at No Idea. You can hear the stream here.
Source Continue reading Tim Version: “Decline of the Southern Gentleman” →

San Francisco’s The Action Design, which features ex-members of Tsunami Bomb, Pipedown and The Rum Diary, have posted a demo of the song ‘Santa Barbara’ on their MySpace page. The song will appear on the band’s upcoming full length.
Source Continue reading The Action Design posts new demo →