In a lengthy update about what’s going on in his life, Jesse Michaels has posted some information including what is going on musically around him. He included:

I am working on a new cycle of songs. I am going to either start a band or else just record with hired guns later this year. The sound of the songs is raw, traditional punk rock ala SLF, The Adverts, The Buzzcocks etc. but with modern influences also.Of course I am trying to make something original sounding so these comparisons are just for descriptive purposes. On a personal note, one consideration in this process is whether or not I still have vocals. This may be shocking to some young and still invincible people but as you get older, your voice tends to change and sometimes weaken. So if it doesn’t sound right I’ll switch to guitar and back ups but still play music for sure because the songs are coming regardless.

Jesse’s mid-90’s act, Big Rig, planned on having their Lookout EP, Expansive Heart re-released late last year on CD/LP via 1-2-3-4 Go! Records, including demo’s and b-sides from the session, but plans fell apart for undisclosed reasoning.
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Just prior to the release of their upcoming EP, Universal will be releasing a new hits compilation from New Found Glory. The twelve song album will include 10 of the band’s most popular songs and “Constant Static,” a track previously available only on a digital single. It will also include “Situations,” a song that previously was available only for streaming on warpedtour.com. The record is titled Hits and is due out March 18, 2008

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Epitaph has signed Minneapolis-based power pop act Sing It Loud. The group recently entered the studio with producer and labelmate Josh Cain of Motion City Soundtrack to begin work on their forthcoming debut album, which will be released in fall 2008.

You can check out some of the band’s music on their myspace page.
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After a three-year hiatus, seminal punk rock band Ann Beretta has announced plans for a few reunion shows this year. Formed in 1996 after the break-up of guitarist/vocalist Rob Huddleston and drummer Russ Jones’ prior endeavor, Inquisition, the band released their debut album, Bitter Tongues. Several full-lengths were released after, followed by an unannounced break, allowing Rob Huddleston to focus on his solo project, Foundation, and the recent Inquisition reunion shows.

The band will play a hometown show in Richmond, VA on April 26 with fellow Richmonders Landmines and RPG at the Canal Club. Additional dates and festival appearances scheduled for this year will be announced soon.

Ann Beretta has also launched a MySpace page, which will be updated with more information and media soon.
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Smartbomb will be taking their new EP, Chaos and Lawlessness on the road next month for a US tour with Hit The Switch and Hour of the Wolf.

If you haven’t heard Smartbomb yet, the EP is still available to stream on their Punknews.org Profile.
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Eoin from Silver Sprocket recently sat down with Kepi, former front-man of The Groovie Ghoulies, to discuss his first new musical projects since the Ghoulies called it quits. In the works are two full-length albums for Asian Man Records, an acoustic solo-record and an electric rock record with full band.

I’m making two records that come out May 6th on Asian Man. A full rock record that’s completely done, and a solo record with acoustic songs recorded all over town with (guest musicians) Kevin Seconds, Anton Barboe, (and) David Houston.

Kepi’s rock project, Kepi The Band, features notable Sacramento musicians Danny Secretion (of the Secretions), Jazz Brown (of The Helper Monkeys), Dino, and Lys Mayo (of Isonomy). The group is planning a summer tour to follow up on Kepi’s solo appearance on the recently announced Asian Man Records tour with The Queers, Lemuria, Bomb the Music Industry!, and Andrew Jackson Jihad. Check out the Silver Sprocket website for the full interview, which also deals with the serious topics of space aliens and breakfast cereal.
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Goth/punk outfit Blase Debris and electro-punk act Casket Architects have been confirmed for this summer’s Warped Tour.

Blase Debris will release their second album entitled Morfiend in April of this year. The band was recently dubbed ‘the new kings of horror punk’ by Amp Magazine. Some music from their previous album is available on their myspace page. Blase Debris will appear from July 24th through July 30th on the Kevin Says stage.

Casket Architects will pick up immediately after with shows beginning on July 31st and running till August 3rd.
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Mike Herrera’s (MxPx) country-tinged solo project, Tumbledown, has released another new music video, this time for “Ballad of a Factory Man.”

You can check out the video by clicking Read More.
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From First To Last have detailed their upcoming Suretone/Universal debut. The self-titled record is due out April 15, 2008. It is the follow-up to Heroine which was released in 2006 via Epitaph.

Since that last record, the band parted ways with vocalist Sonny Moore. He has since been replaced by guitarist Matt Good. The album was recorded with producer Josh Abraham..

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The Casualties have announced an East Coast tour this May with support from Krum Bums.

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Suburban Noize has announced the signing of long-running Southern California punk/rock act Unwritten Law. The band will be filming their upcoming March 7th, 2008 performance at the Key Club in Hollywood, CA for an upcoming live DVD release later this year through Suburban Noize Records.

Later this year the band will be recording and releasing their sixth studio album. It will be their first studio outing since 2005’s Here’s To The Mourning. The band’s most recent release was the retrospective anthology, The Hit List released in 2007.
Source Continue reading Unwritten Law signs With Suburban Noize & films Live DVD →