Punknews has been informed that Rainier, OR pop-punk trio Broadway Calls have given bassist/vocalist Matt Koenig the boot. Koenig gave us the following statement verbatim:

“Hello today, it’s Matt Koenig here to break the sad sad news that i am no longer in Broadway Calls. I was asked to leave the band on the basis that I was decidedly no longer friends with the other band members, that my playing was “barely passable” and my “lack of song writing contribution”. So that’s that. People change, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. i find the whole thing unfortunate. My opinion is that i was an equally contributing member of the band i loved so much. I now get to focus on better things in my life.

I’m in no way done playing music, as I’ve already started a few bands with my friends around Portland. I’ll be attending this years Fest in Gainsville, sure I’ll see plenty of you there. But for now I’ll put the focus of my life on my family and my wonderful new wife.

Over the past 4 and a half years I’ve met countless amazing people, too many to name but some of which are now my closest friends. Played hundreds of shows. Had dreams come true by touring with some of my favorite bands, and seeing more of the US and Canada then I would have ever hoped. Also, visiting Europe 4 times over was equally astounding as it was humbling. Getting to work with Adeline and Side One Dummy Records as well as Blasting Room Studios was an honor. An especially large ‘thank you’ to all of the people at those camps, without you this would have been a much different trip. And to anyone and everyone i met along the way, Thank you. I am forever changed. I now leave you with this, a fitting quote that i believe describes my time in BC perfectly, said by a much more well spoken man than myself…

Jeff Goldblum – “God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs.” Thanks friends.“

We reached out to drummer Josh Baird, who confirmed the situation. “That is 100% correct,” Baird said, adding that Koenig was actually kicked out in early June. “We talked over phone. We were going to do it in person but decided it would be better for everyone via phone. The main reasons were (1): Matt and I haven’t really been friends the past few years–just two guys that happened to be in the same band. And (2): Once we got home from the last tour we were planning on writing a new record and wanted a third member to contribute with the songwriting instead of just [frontman] Ty [Vaughn] and I writing the records. Matt wasn’t a part of the writing process.”

Koenig has already been replaced with Adam Willis, who played with Vaughn and Baird in Countdown to Life. The band is currently writing for a new full-length.

Koenig was a founding member of the band, having played on the band’s debut EP as well as their following two full-lengths, the most recent being Good Views, Bad News in 2009.
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Jimmy Eat World have premiered the first single from their upcoming full-length, Invented. “My Best Theory” can be streamed at the band’s website.

Invented is due out September 28, 2010 and will follow up 2007’s Chase This Light. The album was produced by Mark Trombino, who previously worked with Jimmy Eat World on 1996’s Static Prevails, as well as 1999 fan-favorite Clarity and the band’s 2001 breakthrough, Bleed American. The group will be touring behind the album in the fall.
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For fifteen years the Mad Caddies have been combining genres with their ska roots to bring music to people all across the world. They’ve accomplished a lot, most notably becoming a hit internet meme on Punknews. The band recently released Consensual Selections. A collection of their best songs as voted on by the fans. Interviewer Alex Eschbach sat down with the Caddies guitarist and founding member Sascha Lazor to discuss their newest record, future plans and what it’s like to be in a band for fifteen years.

Source Continue reading Interviews: Sascha Lazor (Mad Caddies) →

Cheap Girls have posted tour dates leading them from the beginning of September down to this year’s Fest in Florida. The dates include legs with Cobra Skulls in Canada, Laura Stevenson and the Cans on the East Coast and several one off shows with bands like Lightning Bolt and Two Cow Garage. You can see the dates below.

The band released My Roaring 20’s in 2009 and there were plans for a split release with Lemuria.
Source Continue reading Tours: Cheap Girls post tour to Fest, dates with Cobra Skulls and Laura Stevenson →

Leading up to this year’s KOI Music Festival in Kitchener, Ontario, Blacklist Royals will be hitting the road with Windsor, ON’s Orphan Choir for a week of dates in September.

Blacklist Royals continue to support their recent Paper and Plastick debut Semper Liberi, while Orphan Choir last released their eponymous debut in 2009 via Art of the Underground. A singles collection from Orphan Choir will be released for free download by Juicebox Recording Co.
Source Continue reading Tours: Blacklist Royals / Orphan Choir (Canada) →

Orlando, FL power trio VRGNS (née Virgins) have detailed their sophomore full-length. The record is titled Manimals and it’s due out August 31, 2010 via Kiss of Death, following up 2008’s Miscarriage. Click Read More for the cover art and track listing.

We recently premiered a track from Manimals entitled “No Longer Entertainment” on our podcast. The song is now also streaming at the band’s MySpace page. VRGNS notably features Sam Johnson and Alex Goldfarb, formerly of New Mexican Disaster Squad and currently of No Friends. Goldfarb is also a member of Gatorface.
Source Continue reading VRGNS detail ‘Manimals’ →

It appears as though Crime In Stereo have broken up. The band has offered little information other than identical “CRIME IN STEREO IS DEAD (2002 – 2010)” status updates on their twitter and Facebook pages. We’ll keep you updated as more details surface.

Recently the band was forced to cancel a handful of shows after vocalist Kristian Hallbert had to undergo emergency oral surgery. According to this post to the group’s twitter, Hallbert had to have some teeth removed as well as part of his jawbone sanded down. There’s been no official word on whether or not complications from the surgery influenced the breakup, but we’ll keep you updated on Hallbert’s condition and we certainly wish him a speedy recovery.

Over the years, Crime in Stereo issued four full-lengths, two EPs, one split and one compilation. The band last released I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone earlier this year.
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Our stream today comes from the First Annual. The band features ex-members of Boston hardcore act Guns Up!, but listeners might notice a slight stylistic departure.

We’ve got two new songs streaming on their Punknews.org Profile. The tracks will appear on the band’s forthcoming debut full-length, as yet untitled and due out later this year. They recently released the Carolina EP.
Source Continue reading The First Annual: “Chain Us Down,” “Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em” →

It looks like The Aquabats have gotten their superhero garb back from the dry cleaners and are gearing up to record a new album. A recent post to the band’s twitter account confirmed as much:

“just finished the 1st production meeting for the new album, I can’t wait to get into the studio and record this album – mcbc”

“mcbc,” of course, stands for MC Bat Commander (née Christian Jacobs), the band’s frontman. More details are expected soon; the Aquabats last released Charge!! way back in 2005 via Nitro Records. In the interim, the group has been involved with the popular children’s show Yo Gabba Gabba!, co-created by Jacobs, as well as a pilot dubbed The Aquabats Super Show! that’s been in production since 2008.
Source Continue reading The Aquabats preparing to record new album →

Floral Park, CA hardcore outfit Ceremony are in the midst of an extensive tour in support of their new full-length for Bridge Nine Records, Rohnert Park. The band will play dates around the US for the rest of August (including a handful of shows with Punch) before heading to Europe in October for gigs alongside Sabertooth Zombie.
Source Continue reading Tours: Ceremony (USA / Europe) →