Toymaker Mattel has announced plans to release three Ladies of the 80s dolls featuring Joan Jett, Debbie Harry of Blondie and Cyndi Lauper. The dolls will be released in December and run at collector-level pricing around $35.
Source Continue reading Mattel is issuing Joan Jett, Debbie Harry dolls
The Boston-based Fox affiliate has put together a fairly thoughtful and non-reactionary look at the significant straight edge scene in the city. The articles talks to Bridge Nine Records owner Chris Wrenn, Have Heart vocalist Patrick Flynn and In My Eyes vocalist Pete Maher. The article acknowledges some of the more violent tendencies in the scene, but avoids the kind of fear-mongering that has typified coverage of the scene.
Flynn added:
It’s very aggressive, rambunctious style of music. And sometimes, on the surface it looks very chaotic, but underneath, the message is very positive, very forward thinking. A good example to the outside world that straight edge isn’t this gang and it’s really about just a positive way of living your own life, and giving back to society
Check out the feature here.
Source Continue reading My Fox Boston looks at Straight Edge
Screeching Weasel have announced another one-off show, this one in their original hometown of Chicago, IL. The band will be performing at Reggie’s on February 26th, 2010 with support from Lemuria and The Seething Coast (ex-Resident Genius).
Tickets can be found here.
Source Continue reading Screeching Weasel announce Chicago show
Seattle-based hardcore outfit Furious Styles is stoking controversy with a new shirt that refers to the alleged killer of a police officer as a “hero.” Officer Timothy Brenton was sitting in his car with a student officer on October 31, 2009 when a car pulled up and – unprovoked – opened fire. The suspect, Christopher J. Monfort, was shot several days later in an altercation with police, leaving Monfort paralyzed.
The shirt shows a picture depicting Monfort on the front with a blood splatter and a Seattle police badge under the words “Deliver Us From Evil.” The back of the shirt quotes Public Enemy‘s “Fight The Power” and says: “Most of my heroes don’t appear on no stamp.”
You can find a picture of the shirt via Seattle Crime who first reported this one. Frontman Michael Torres justified the shirt with this statement on a message board:
Over the last week, I saw a lot of support for this dead officer, and a lot people who alledgedly hate the police putting their opinions aside in the wake of this supposed “tragedy”.[…] That doesn’t excuse the actions of police in general and I refuse to change my opinion on the subject. When police die, I feel that the streets are just a little bit safer. So with that being said, I’m in no way embarrassed that we made this shirt. A lot of people took a stance on the situation….now I’m taking mine.
Some more discussion can be found via Seattle Weekly.
Source Continue reading Furious Styles stokes controversy with shirt honouring cop killer
Taco Bell has named 100 bands in their 2009 Feed the Beat lineup. The plan provides free food and marketing support to touring bands. Bands apply for the spots which are chosen by a panel of judges based on “performance and musicianship, originality and material selection, and overall appeal and personality.”
Some notable selections include The All-American Rejects, Atreyu, The Bouncing Souls, Broadway Calls, Defeater, Fake Problems, Less Than Jake, Municipal Waste, Red Collar, The Chariot, William Elliott Whitmore, and many others.
You can find more details here.
Source Continue reading Taco Bell to provide free food to 100 bands
Cave In have posted some footage from the DVD portion of their forthcoming CD+DVD package, Planets of Old. The release follows the 12-inch only release from 2009 and is due out January 26, 2010.
The video features the band’s performance of their fan favorite, “Juggernaut,” from their 1999 album Until Your Heart Stops.
Source Continue reading Cave In: “Juggernaut (Live at Great Scott)”
Past Lives, one of the new projects from The Blood Brothers have announced their debut full length. The record is titled Tapestry of Webs and is due out February 23, 2010. It is the follow up to their EP, Strange Symmetry, which was released in 2008.
Source Continue reading Past Lives (ex-Blood Brothers) announce “Tapestry of Webs”
Nathen Maxwell of Flogging Molly has posted the new video for “Working For The Man”. The song comes from his debut solo album White Rabbit.
Source Continue reading Nathan Maxwell and the Original Bunny Gang: “Working for the Man”
Caspian have announced a headlining tour with support from The Sainthood Reps. Caspian is supporting their acclaimed 2009 full length, Tertia. The Sainthood Reps features Derrick Sherman, who acts as third guitarist for Brand New on most tours.
Rise Records has signed Detroit, Michigan’s Legend. The band features former For The Fallen Dreams vocalist Chad Ruhlig and they will be hitting the studio in January to record their debut in April 2010.
Check out some music on their MySpace page.
Source Continue reading Rise Records signs Legend
Fans of Mad Caddies know that their music defies categorization. Their unique blend of punk, ska, reggae, and jazz, has been pleasing ears for the last 15 years. The band recently began a several week U.S./Canada tour that promises to deliver set-lists filled with many of the Mad Caddies’ staple songs, as well as some new ones from their yet-to-be-released full-length. Sean Jain spoke with singer Chuck Robertson to get the latest on the Caddies’ upcoming U.S./Canada tour, their forthcoming album, and the best way to distract Serbian border-guards from finding one’s hidden stash.
Westbound Train has announced that they will be going on hiatus following two east coast shows in December.
The two remaining shows we have on the books — The Middle East (Downstairs) in Boston on Friday, December 4 and The Highline Ballroom in NYC on Saturday, December 5 — will be the last Westbound Train shows scheduled in the foreseeable future. Don’t worry – we’re not breaking up by any means – but we don’t have any shows booked after December 4 and 5 and, extraordinary circumstances aside, it looks like it might stay that way for a while.
Many members of the band are transitioning into different phases in their lives – personal, professional, etc – and some time off the road will help to ensure smooth transitions for each member and for the future of the band as a whole.
The band released Come and Get It this year.
Source Continue reading Westbound Train going on hiatus
Paducah, KY’s Teenage Rehab have posted a video for “Sunday Night Blackout”, a song from their recently released, Joe Queer-produced full-length Let’s Be Enemies.
Source Continue reading Teenage Rehab: “Sunday Night Blackout”