According to a new interview, The Get Up Kids original plan for a series of EPs has been scrapped. The band is now planning a new full length instead. Matt Pryor explained:

I think we’ve scrapped the multiple EP idea, in lieu of doing a full-length album instead. We are working on it, as we are putting out an album in January/February; or in the Spring at the latest. We’ve been working on a lot of new songs, went to Australia and Japan, had a couple of months off, and came here [to London].

The band released Simple Science earlier this year. Check out the interview here.
Source Continue reading Get Up Kids plan new album, scrap EP plans →

In a new letter, Conor Oberst addresses some of the arguments that have been presented against a boycott of Arizona due to their controversial immigration law. Oberst specifically addresses promoter Charlie Levy, the owner of Stateside Presents, who asked musicians reconsider the boycott and to use Arizona performances to register opposition to the law.

Conor had this to say:

A boycott is, inherently, a blunt instrument. It is an imperfect weapon, a carpet bomb, when all involved would prefer a surgical strike. I agree with you in part, and the radio host you quoted, that the authors and supporters of SB1070 could give a shit whether or not my band, or any other Artist, ever plays Arizona again. The only thing, clearly, that these people care about is Money and Power, that and the creation and preservation of an Anglo-Centric Police State where every Immigrant and Non-White citizen is considered subhuman. They want them stripped of their basic human rights and reduced to slaves for Corporate America and the White Race. They are engaged in blatant class warfare. It is evil, pure and simple.

Just this past week, the little town of Fremont Nebraska passed a very similar, almost more radical, city ordinance. It was co-authored and championed by Kris Kobach of Kansas who helped write SB1070. I was outraged, saddened and embarrassed for their town and my state. I am already in the process of organizing a fund-raiser for the NE chapter of the ACLU who is suing the town of Fremont. Our situation requires immediate legal action and a campaign for public awareness (there has been very little press on this). Charlie, I promise you, if this Fremont law had been passed Statewide instead of in a rural town of 25,000 people, I would be the first to call for a boycott of my home state. This way of thinking and legislating is so dangerous, and such a threat to our basic ideals as Americans and Humans, that we cannot stand by and do nothing. We cannot play on as if nothing is wrong. This is not just about Arizona. I am not just skipping a tour date. This is not going to be easy for anyone.

The Saddle Creek Records co-founder and long-time musician is among the many artists who have joined the Sound Strike campaign. Other participants include Anti-Flag, Billy Bragg, Gogol Bordello, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine, Rise Against and Sonic Youth.

Source Continue reading Conor Oberst comments on Arizona boycott in new open letter →

Our stream today comes from Hamburg, Germany’s Small Town Riot. The band is making their North American debut with the album on Warbird Entertainment and it compiles 19 of the bands favourite tracks so far spanning the period from 2000 – 2010. The label describes the band as “punk rock straight from the heart, it’s basically fast punk rock with lot’s of melodies, catchy choruses and tons of energy. ” We’ve got a stream of Fuck Those Who Go Untried.

You can check it out on their Punknews.org Profile
Source Continue reading Small Town Riot: “Fuck Those Who Go Untried” →

Recent Topshelf Records signing Big Kids have announced a run of dates this month along side 1994. They will also perform a few shows with Dead To Me.

Source Continue reading Tours: Big Kids / 1994 →

Hydra Head Records will be releasing a new 8-song album from sludge/pop heroes Torche. The record, Songs for Singles, is due out September 21, 2010.

The record is the follow up to 2008’s Meanderthal. The band will be hitting the road later this month for a two week tour with Beings.
Source Continue reading Torche to release “Songs For Singles” →

The first official trailer has been posted for Beijing Punk, a new documentary by filmmaker Shaun Jefford. Jefford toured China and met a number of fiercely (and legally) underground Chinese punk and hardcore acts including Misandao, Demerit, Hedgehog, The Gar, PK14, Candy Monster and Joyside.. As the trailer notes, the entire movement is forbidden by the communist government which has banned rock from television and most live performances since the 1990s.

Jefford described the film:

When the Olympics came to China the world spotlight turned to a country synonymous with human rights abuses and a totalitarian police state. But under the surface is a growing movement of punks and misfits, the irony of which is not lost on Jefford as he roams this rebellious sub- culture a scratch under the surface of bustling Beijing.

Source Continue reading Trailer for Beijing Punk released →

Vancouver’s Living with Lions have posted the new video for “Later is Better.” The track comes from the band’s Adeline Records album, Make Your Mark. The video was directed by Cody Fennell.

Last month, the band toured with Polar Bear Club, Lemuria and Moving Mountains.

Source Continue reading Living WIth Lions: “Later Is Better” →

As with previous releases, No Idea Records‘ Defiance, Ohio have posted a free download of their upcoming new album, Midwestern Minutes. The official release is due out July 6, 2010. It follows The Fear, The Fear, The Fear in 2007.

Grab the album (or any older material) here as VBR MP3s.

If you do opt to download the album, don’t forget to check out the band on their ongoing tour.
Source Continue reading Defiance, Ohio posts free download of “Midwestern Minutes” →

Some promising news from yesterday’s upsetting story which saw Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone severely injured after courageously intervening in the beating of a woman in Chicago, IL. According to a MTV report, Matthew’s brother Nathan said this:

I’ve been there for about 72 hours, next to him, constantly, and I basically just took an hour to go home and take a shower. I’m going back [to the hospital] now. Matthew] had all kinds of injuries, and his brain was swelling, so doctors had to remove part of his skull and put it on ice while we wait for the swelling to stop and the hematoma to stop leaking. It was touch and go for a while there, but at this point, things are starting to turn around, which is wonderful, The first couple of days, he couldn’t recognize me or say anything coherent, but this morning he did. And now he’s aware and talking and moving around a little, which is wonderful. So the prognosis is getting better by the hour.

Unfortunately, the band currently does not have health insurance but “will deal with that when we have to.”

The article also notes that Chicago police have already made an arrest in connection Matthew’s assault. The “man” has so far been charged with simple domestic battery, a misdemeanor, but has not been charged in connection with the attack on Leone, officials said. More can be found in a Chicago Tribute.
Source Continue reading Madina Lake bassist recovering, suspect in beating arrested →

Ambience Records, a Japanese punk label, have announced plans to release a new tribute to Lagwagon. The record is titled Let’s Talk About Origins: A Tribute to Lagwagon and is due out July 14, 2010 . The album will feature fifteen bands from Japan covering material from Lagwagon’s catalog including Dustbox, Secret 7 Line, Meat Buns, Locofrank, Too Close to See, Fam, First of All, Sorry for a Frog, Specialthanks, Live Clean Stay Young, Slime Ball, Scream, S.M.N., No Hitter and Bravo★Brothers.

The label previous released a Japan-band focused tribute to ALL called “It’s Gonna Be ALLright!-A Tribute to ALL.

Source Continue reading Japanese bands to pay tribute to Lagwagon →