Forest Life Records, a young label from the midwest specializing in vinyl, has issued it’s first release: a 7 inch vinyl of recent No Sleep Records signees La Dispute. This is the band’s final independent release before their upcoming full length, “Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair,” out on No Sleep Records November 11, 2008.

Also slated for summer release are a 12 inch vinyl from Valparaiso, Indiana indie band Native and a 7 inch vinyl from Grand Rapids, Michigan’s Victor! Fix the Sun (Friction Records). The two bands will be touring the midwest and east coast in support of their respective records in July.

More updates, including a current release schedule, are available at the label’s myspace.
Source Continue reading Forest Life Records Celebrates Inaugural Release →

Russ Rankin, vocalist for Only Crime and formerly Good Riddance, has announced a solo project. His first post song is a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Walk The Line.” According to the MySpace page, Rankin “is currently working on a brand new collection of his own songs which will be released as a solo project sometime in the near future.”

You can find the track at his MySpace page.
Source Continue reading Russ Rankin (Only Crime, Good Riddance): “Walk The Line” →

Against Me! recently visited The Interface to record an acoustic set and interview for the Spinner program. Along with the performance of “New Wave,” “Thrash Unreal,” and “The Ocean,” the band talks about reinventing Axl Rose and touring with the Foo Fighters.

Source Continue reading Against Me! record acoustic set, interview on The Interface →

Star Fucking Hipsters, the new project from Sturgeon of Leftover Crack have posted an update on progress towards their next full length. The band also includes Slackers drummer Ara Babajian and Frank Piegaro of New Jersey’s Degenerics.

All tracking (aka music, vocals, subliminal messages demanding your undying obedience) have been recorded and will be mixed at Motor studio with Mr. James Mcmann in S.F. in the early half of June. These electronically “shamed” replicated discs will end up being shoved into containers with similarly abused art, lyrics and song titles and in one final vile humiliation they will bare the stamp of their unhuman sociopathic oppresors: FAT WRECK CHORDS.

And yes, this was basically a blog to announce that we have signed our debut record over to FAT and it should be out by October if all goes smoothly.

The band has also booked two shows at the end of this month. The first at The Silent Barn in Brooklyn on May 29th and the second at the Meatlocker in Montclair, New Jersey on the 30th.
Source Continue reading Star F*cking Hipsters complete album, talk fall release on Fat →

Even though we claimed this was the final list of Warped Tour bands, the Kevin Lyman-run machine continues to confirm acts and have added a number of new acts to the list. Among them are Gaslight Anthem, Be Your Own Pet and Black President as well as several others.

Source Continue reading Gaslight Anthem., Be Your Own Pet, Black President added to Warped →

According to a new group formed by independent promotors in Chicago, the city wishes to pass a law that claims to rid the city of shady promoters but the strict rules enacted in the law will make many DIY shows impossible.

The new law will require that promoters are over 21, and creates new rules for standing room venues as well as steep insurance requirements that will inevitably be passed along to showgoers.

For more information, you can visit this page.

A commenter points out this Chicago Tribune article which provides some independent criticism of the bill:

It requires any independent promoter hoping to do business with city clubs to buy a license for $500 to $2000 (depending on the size of the venue) plus acquire at least $300,000 in general liability insurance. In effect, this would impose a double layer of regulations on any independent event at a club that already holds a public place of amusement license but which has fewer than 500 “fixed” seats.

The ordinance in effect singles out some of the city’s most respected clubs and theaters, including Metro, Schubas, Park West, the Vic, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Martyrs, the Hideout, the Riviera, Uncommon Ground and dozens more establishments with a history of running safe, well-managed events. Many of these venues rely on independent promoters to bring them events and help keep them in business.

Source Continue reading Proposed Chicago law to make DIY shows illegal, promoters claim →

Influential Scottish act The Vaselines will be reuniting for the upcoming 20th Anniversary of Sub Pop Records and the celebratory festival. The band was a notable influence on bands like Nirvana and released music on K Records, 53rd & 3rd, Rough Trade and Sub Pop.

In 1992, Sub Pop released The Way of the Vaselines, an album containing 19 of the Vaselines’ tracks and the indie label plans to re-issue the album soon. The band garnered much attention after Nirvana covered the Scottish band’s song’s “Molly’s Lips” and “Son of a Gun” on Incesticide and “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam” on MTV Unplugged in New York.

Along with the Vaselines, the Sub Pop show will include Fleet Foxes, Flight of the Conchords, Foals, Grand Archives, the Helio Sequence, Iron & Wine, Kinski, Low, Mudhoney, No Age, Wolf Parade, Pissed Jeans, Eric’s Trip and Les Thugs.
Source Continue reading The Vaselines reunite for Sub Pop festival, Tigerfest →

Less Than Jake have announced summer headlining dates in support of their upcoming Sleep It Off debut. The record is titled GNV FLA and is due out June 24, 2008.

The shows will feature Goldfinger, who are also celebrating their first independent release in many years. Their record, Hello Destiny dropped last month.

Source Continue reading Tours: Less Than Jake / Goldfinger →

Bad Religion has revealed the artwork for the upcoming deluxe reissue of New Maps of Hell. Due out July 08, 2008, the original album will be bolstered with seven acoustic tracks and a DVD featuring two music videos, the entirety of the band’s The List performance and other media.

Source Continue reading Bad Religion post new “New Maps of Hell” artwork →

In an effort to tie a real tragedy to a misunderstood pop culture movement, British news media are blaming emo for the suicide of a 13-year old British girl.

Hannah Bond hanged herself from a bunk bed in her bedroom with a tie which authorities claim she did to impress fellow followers of the “emo” movement. Roger Sykes, the coroner who recorded a verdict of suicide, found aspects of the youth movement, noted:

A girl of 13 years old has taken her own life for no reason that by anyone could be found to be justifiable. It is a terrible and tragic explanation to what happened. It is not glamorous, just simply a tragic loss of such a young life.

While Punknews.org is hesitant to editorialize; the attribution of this tragic situation to emo ignores the very real issues of depression and anxiety disorders which are common in suicides and rarely made clear to parents. Trying to find a superficial cause like taste in music is a disingenuous and dangerous way of avoiding real mental illness problems. People facing depression or suicidal thoughts should consider calling 1-800-SUICIDE where they can speak to a counselor.

You can find the Telegraph article here.
Source Continue reading Emo blamed in suicide of 13-year old →

Thursday has announced that they will be replacing Good Charlotte on the upcoming Groezrock Festival. They will also be headed to the Philippines for a show:

We are currently packing our bags for a last minute trip to Belgium, replacing Good Charlotte on this year’s amazing Groezrock Festival (where we get to play alongside some of our favorite bands), as well as a tour of the Philippines! It’s an honor and a pleasure to be asked to perform at Groezrock, as well as be the first American band asked to play The Kagoma Festival. We’ve received many letters from listeners in Manila, Quezon and other areas for many years. To all of you– WE CAN’T WAIT TO FINALLY MEET YOU!!!! Our friend, Manny, will be coming with us to lend a little fill-in bass-guitar action.

Bassist Manuel Carrero (Glassjaw / Saves The Day) will be filling in for the shows.
Source Continue reading Good Charlotte: out, Thursday: in for Groezrock →

North Lincoln and the UK’s You Me and the Atom Bomb have announced a tour together beginning next month.

The two bands released a split together last year on Yo-Yo Records. North Lincoln will release Midwestern Blood this year on No Idea. Their tourmates released Shake Up in 2006.

Source Continue reading Tours: North Lincoln / You, Me and the Atom Bomb →

Legendary hardcore/post-rock/etc. act Neurosis recently did two nights at The Brooklyn Masonic Temple. Since the band tours so rarely, VBS.TV recorded the set and are putting up selections from the performance all this week.

You can find the performance here.
Source Continue reading Neurosis records live show for VBS.tv →