Hello everybody and welcome to Navel Gazing: your look back at the week in Punknews. I’m Adam White and I’ll be your guide through some of the most popular, notable, and otherwise attention getting stories of the past seven days. Each and every Punknews story is built from tips contributed by you fine folks, and here’s what got the community talking…

The mainstream media’s coverage of the current spike in fuel prices found an unlikely case study this week, looking into the toll put on independent band tours. We had the shocking story that Christopher Johnson, singer for the band Useless Wooden Toys, was stabbed to death after a show in Bloomington, Indiana. Boots Riley of hip hop act The Coup was charged for using “abusive language” during a recent performance. Following their public admonishment of the summer tradition it’s not too much of a surprise that Be Your Own Pet has dropped off of the Warped Tour. Devo‘s taking fast food giant McDonalds to court over some American Idol themed toys that co-opt the band’s image. This week also brought news of dancing punk robots with adaptive neural networks, which is a step up from the inefficient and oft stupid human variety.

On the new release front Pinhead Gunpowder (members of Green Day and Crimpshine) announced a new 7-inch. The Hold Steady further detailed their upcoming release. Less Than Jake released and streamed their new record GNV FLA. Alkaline Trio gave fans a preview of Agony & Irony and the Gaslight Anthem took their place at the head of the Punknews readership hyperbolic hype parade with the song “The ’59 Sound.” Former parade leaders Against Me! played Leno and we have footage to prove it. The Loved Ones also premiered their video for “The Bridge.” Look for the 2008 Afro-punk Festival to take place from July 5th to 13th in Brooklyn. Teenage Bottlerocket, the Riptides and the Sidekicks are heading to Canada while Rancid‘s heading to the UK. None More Black also added a second reunion show in Philadelphia.

This week we said goodbye to comedian and counterculture icon George Carlin (1937-2008).

This week we spoke with Toby Morse of H2O about his band’s recent comeback (interview). The 40th edition of Vinyl File featured a look at upcoming releases. This week also brought new Streaming Music from the Saint Alvia Cartel, which features members of Boys Night Out, Grade and Jersey, the final effort from the recently departed LaGrecia, and a sampler from Think Fast Records.

So what’s coming up this week? Look for releases from Alkaline Trio and the Riptides with tours kicking off from Jimmy Eat World (US / Can), and the trio of Comeback Kid, Shai Hulud and Crime in Stereo (Europe).
Source Continue reading June 29th, 2008 →

Jello Biafra has recorded two new songs backed by three of the members of the Zen Guerillas. The 7″ is available in the Alternative Tentacles store and features two covers: The A-side is their take on the classic rockabilly song “Jezebel” while the B-side is a cover of Reverehed Horton Heat’s “Speed Demon!”.

Biafra recently celebrated his 50th birthday in San Francisco.
Source Continue reading Jello Biafra does rockabilly on new 7″ with Zen Guerillas →

Bridge and Tunnel have posted another track from their upcoming debut. “Down for My People Like Joe Carroll” comes from East/West and you can hear it at their MySpace page.

You can also check out the coverart for the album here. It is the follow-up to their self-titled 7″ which was released in 2007.
Source Continue reading Bridge and Tunnel: “Down For My People Like Joe Carroll” →

Me First and The Gimme Gimmes have launched a stream of their new album. The record is titled Have Another Ball and is due out July 08, 2008.

You can check it out on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading Me First and the Gimme Gimmes: “Have Another Ball” →

The third annual Mauled By Tigers Fest will go down this August 7th to 10th, with a number of bands taking over several Chicago venus. The event will feature performances by the Ergs!, Chinese Telephones, This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb, the Arrivals, This Is My Fist, Vivian Girls, Das Kapital and the Used Kids among others.
Source Continue reading Ergs, Arrivals, Chinese Telephones, This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb at Mauled By Tigers Fest →

Vermont-based hardcore skate punk act My Revenge will play their final show on July 19th. The gig will double as the record release party for their final Thorp released LP Strength Through Nonviolence. The show will take place on July 19th at the Bristol Hub Skatepark in Bristol, Vermont with guests Black SS, Unrestrained, ANS, and Fight Back. The band commented on their coming finale:

Just like the spirit of Mr. Rogers will never die, neither will My Revenge. But sometimes the tide changes and you gotta put your surfboard away for a little while and go explore something else, which means that it’s time for My Revenge to ride one more wave for one last show and release one final record. Hopefully our spirit of magnificent dysfunctionalism, ridiculous nonsense, and bufoonery will everlastingly glow bright like the Uni-Brow from the Swedish Chef on the Muppet Show.

…At this point in time, members of My Revenge are no longer in a position to continue doing this band. Having become older, we learned how to tune the instruments, and that’s utterly not acceptable for this band. Mike Halvorsen has 7 children. (All with red Opie hair); Ryan and Phil recently got a Civil Union and are touring with the first ever Kiss/Misfits tribute band “Walk Among Kiss;” Heaven’s Bakery is starring in his own movie: “Coming To A Buffet Near You;” and I, Spencer am the skateboarder version of Dwight from “The Office.

Source Continue reading My Revenge (2001-2008) →

Lagwagon frontman Joey Cape has finished his new acoustic album:

Throughout the past 2 years I would work on it from time to time for short periods but I could never quite complete it. I lost major portions of the record to drive failures and insufficient back up. Many songs on this record were tracked entirely, then guitar or vocals were re-recorded, and eventually the whole song was trashed and re-tracked. It seems funny now. It was hard to let go. It’s hard to commit to the idea that your “work in progress” will be forever set in stone. I began to think I couldn’t finish it. I felt like the boy who cried wolf, telling friends and the label it was near completion over and over. Well, I woke up about a month ago and decided I would give myself an actual deadline that would prevent me from further obsessing and a 2 weeks later it was done. The strange part of all this is, now that it is done, I’m not sure how to feel. It is my first attempt at making a solo record, something I am totally unfamiliar with. I know this, I will never make a record this way again. From now on, no second guessing or obsessing. Ultimately, I am proud of this record. I made something I like and it’s time to move on. I hope most of you will appreciate it.

I have decided to call it “Bridge”. I think the musical metaphor is appropriate because it is something new for me and it will lead me to another place as a songwriter, weather it be a better appreciation of my craft or the butt of another songwriter’s joke. Either way, I’m on my way. I have a label in Europe (Bad Taste Records) that plans to release it in October.

Source Continue reading Joey Cape finishes new acoustic record “Bridge” →

The Cutting Edge Music Festival will take place on August 1st to the 4th at the Grad Bend Motorplex in Grand Bend, Ontario. The event, billed as “4 days of camping, 3 nights of parties and 2 days of concerts” will be headlined by Alexisonfire and Mixmaster Mike of Beastie Boys fame. Saturday will feature Mixmaster Mike along with Fear Before The March Of Flames, the Johnstones, Arkells, USS and more. Alexis headliens Sunday and will be joined by Poison The Well, ill Scarlett, the Flatliners, Hostage Life, Ten Second Epic, Keepin 6 and more. Ontario punk label Underground Operations will operate a lounge at the fest that will feature acoustic encore sets, BBQs and more.
Source Continue reading Alexisonfire, Poison The Well, Flatliners, Hostage Life, Johnstones at Cutting Edge Fest →

The Ataris have posted another update as they continue demoing for their next full length at The Gallows Recording Studio. The studio is owned and operated by Chris and Bryan from The Widow Jenkins(ex Emery/Brazil), and is based in Muncie, IN. The band plans to begin the formal recording process later this summer and are aiming for an early 2009 release.

The band also recently promised that the new album would see return to their Blue Skies, Broken Hearts – Next 12 Exits…/End is Forever-era sound. Last year, they released Welcome the Night.

Source Continue reading The Ataris post video studio update →

Coventry’s The Enemy (UK) have announced their first ever North American tour in support of their upcoming debut, We’ll Live and Die in These Towns. The record is out digitally now and a physical release will follow in late July.

Source Continue reading Tours: The Enemy UK →

Technical metalcore outfit Into the Moat have hit the studio to begin work on the follow up to 2005’s Metal Blade debut, The Design:

We are currently in Mana studios in St. Petersburg, FL with Erik Rutan recording our second full length for Metal Blade records. The record is entitled “The Campaign” and will be 8 new songs, to clock in at just over 40 minutes. At this point I am entirely done recording drums, and Kit is just about to start guitars. We should be done by around July 6th, so check the site for new tunes.

Source Continue reading Into the Moat hits the studio →

I Am Ghost and Eyes Set to Kill will be hitting the road together at the end of July.

Source Continue reading Tours: I Am Ghost / Eyes Set to Kill →