After 26 years of music, Edmonton, AB’s historic local venue The Sidetrack Cafe has closed due to financial difficulty. Opened in 1981, the club’s historic legacy was cemented with the addition of a railcar, The Cowley. It was built in 1887 by Pullman works, and had a rich history before parking itself at the Sidetrack; including Playboy photo shoots, Gangster transportation and campaign cars for former prime ministers.

A number of large-name bands that started at the Sidetrack stage include the Weakerthans, the Constantines, kd lang, Sarah MacLachlan and Barenaked Ladies.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22283. Continue reading The Sidetrack Cafe shuts its doors →

Josh Homme’s Queens Of The Stone Age have announced that their new record will be titled Era Vulgaris (Latin for “Common Era”) and will arrive in June. It follows up 2005’s Lullabies To Paralyze.

Lullabies saw Homme fire former Dwarves bassist Nick Oliveri from the band, a period which also saw him scuffle with Dwarves frontman Blag Dahlia (a court has since ordered that Josh must stay 100 yards from Dahlia at all times). Since that album’s release Homme and wife Brody Dalle have had a daughter named Camille. It’s unknown if the former Distillers frontwoman will collaborate on the new QOTSA record, nor has the band’s ever-revolving line-up been finalized (MySpace currently lists Troy Van Leeuwan, Joey Castillo and “New Guy”).

Possible song titles suggested by the band include “Into the Hollow,” “Sick, Sick, Sick,” “Misfit Love,” and “Battery Acid.”
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22282. Continue reading Queens Of The Stone Age to release “Era Vulgaris” in June →

Pastepunk has launched a new feature with it’s Reissue Wishlists and to kick things off Punknews.org founder Aubin Paul and resident Alpha Flight fanboi Adam White have each contributed lists. The choices range from hardcore to third wave ska, metal, dub/punk and everything in between. The piece gives you a chance to peer inside the heads of our two favorite Canadians.

You can check out their choices here, at Pastepunk.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22281. Continue reading Punknews.org staffers contribute to Pastepunk’s “Reissue Wishlist” →

Doghouse Records act Weatherbox has posted the first track from their upcoming album, American Art.

The album is due out May 9th, 2007 and the band was recently a selection in our MP3 of the Week series.

You can check out “Trippin’ The Life Fantastic” on their purevolume page.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22280. Continue reading Weatherbox post new song from “American Art” →

Selkirk, Manitoba’s the Resistance have called it quits. The band posted the following message via their MySpace site.

I guess this is long overdue but it is my sad duty to inform you that The Resistance is no more. We’ve had a great run, the people we’ve met, the times we’ve shared won’t be forgotten. I still can’t believe we were able to accomplish what we did, coming from a small town playing to no one, to playing across our great country with amazing bands… it was a dream come true.

Thanks to the people who’ve helped (you know who you are) and thanks to everyone for the amazing memories! I guess this is long overdue but it is my sad duty to inform you that The Resistance is no more. We’ve had a great run, the people we’ve met, the times we’ve shared won’t be forgotten. I still can’t believe we were able to accomplish what we did, coming from a small town playing to no one, to playing across our great country with amazing bands… it was a dream come true.

The band most recently released Revenge On The Riverside via the Union Label Group.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22279. Continue reading The Resistance (2000-2007) →

Youth Group have announced a five week US tour in support of their new record, Casino Twilight Dogs. The record is the band’s third studio release and released via Anti- Records.

The new album is the follow-up to last year’s Epitaph release Skeleton Jar and was poduced by Wayne Connolly (The Vines, You Am I), and mixed by Rob Schnapf (Elliot Smith, Guided By Voices),

Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22278. Continue reading Tours: Youth Group →

Jena Berlin has signed with Jump Start Records. The label will release the band’s sophomore full-length, Quo Vadimus, later this year.

Quo Vadimus was recorded by Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right’s Steve Poponi and follows up 2005’s Passion Waits as the Program Keeps Going (Watch the City Burn).

The band, who was an MP3 of the Week selection last August, recently unveiled the song “Motion Sickness” from the forthcoming effort on their MySpace page and is planning a May tour with Nakatomi Plaza.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22277. Continue reading Jena Berlin signs to Jump Start →

Five days in the working week – five new streams from Punknews.org. Today we’re bringing you a selection of music from the Riptides‘ Red Scare debut Hang Out. The Ottawa, Ontario band plays a dynamic mix of classic pop punk a la Screeching Weasel and the Queers intertwined with tougher street anthems that just scream for audience participation.

Head to the Riptides’ Punknews profile to stream four songs from the record.

This marks our fifth brand new stream this week. You can still check out new music from Nothington, Statues, Sounds Like Violence and a joint project between Reel Big Fish and Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22276. Continue reading The Riptides →

The Ergs! have posted some new music online. These include “Linus and Lucy,” a popular jazz piano piece written by Vince Guaraldi and popularized in the Peanuts animated television specials, and a track from their upcoming split 7″ with the Grabass Charlestons. The former is an online exclusive while the latter is expected later this year from No Idea. You can find both on their myspace page.

The band released Dorkrockcorkrod in 2005 and Jerseys Best Prancers last year. They’ll release their upcoming album, Upstars/Downstairs in April via Dirtnap Records.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22275. Continue reading The Ergs! post new music →

Jesu has posted a full stream of their upcoming album Conqueror at this website.

The album is the first of three releases schedule this year by Justin Broadrick. The LP will be followed by a limited edition, 12″ EP with 2 “experimental compositions” is planned for release on Aurora Borealis. The other release is a limited edition 12″ split EP with Temporary Residence experimental ambient act Eluvium.

All of the above follows the outfit’s 2006 EP, Silver, as well as 2005s self-titled full-length, both of which were received with some critical acclaim.

Plans for a U.S. tour in support of Conqueror are expected, to be followed shortly by tours of Japan and Europe.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22274. Continue reading Jesu posts full album stream of “Conqueror” →

Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has announced he will be leaving the group due to "irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences". There has been no further word on whether the band will continue without him, and if so, who would take over vocal duties.

Meanwhile, the remaining members of Audioslave will be taking part in the "knockout blow" reunion of the year, with their prior vocalist Zach de la Rocha, in the form of Rage Against the Machine at this year's Coachella festival. Guitarist Tom Morello has stated that the reunion is a one-shot deal.

Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22273. Continue reading Chris Cornell leaves Audioslave →