Neville Staple the legendary co-vocalist formerly of the Specials, has been confirmed for the 8th annual Victoria Ska Festival. The 2007 incarnation of the festival will include Staple, the participants of the Canadian Fat Wreck Chords tour (Mad Caddies, the Sainte Catherines, the Real McKenzies), Mexico’s Los Rastrillos, Ghana’s Paapa Wastik and many, many more.

The event has grown over the past eight years from a one day seven act show to a four day multi venue festival with 21 acts from six different countries. “We are now the largest annual ska event in North America” says Dane Roberts, the festival founder and Creative Director “and interest keeps growing each year, from both musicians and fans alike.”

More information including tickets can be found on the event’s official website.
Source Continue reading Neville Staple of The Specials confirmed for Victoria Ska Fest →

There’s nothing worse than going back to school/work after a three-day weekend. Every simple task is enough to give you a splitting headache, and minutes turn to hours as you wait for the clock to pass the time. So, in the spirit of being non-productive, what better way to waste time than on the internet? Did you know we posted some new reviews today? Of course you did, but just to keep everyone on the same page:

• Tim Armstrong‘s (Rancid) solo debut, A Poet’s Life
• Punk n’ Roll group the Gaslight Anthem‘s debut LP, Sink or Swim
• Pop-punk sweethearts the Ergs! new full-length, Upstairs/Downstairs
• Hardcore upstarts (and famed Moral Kombat character) Johnny Cage‘s new record, The Motions
• Several more over at the Punknews Review page
  Source Continue reading Tuesday, May 29, 2007 →

Classic punk revivalists Cultivator have four demo recordings posted for streaming. You can check them out on the band’s myspace page.

Hardline Entertainment act Phathom have announced the release of their new album Zombie Love on June 12th, 2007. It is the follow-up to their self-titled record which was released in 2006. In support of the new release the band has been booked once again on the entire Vans Warped Tour. This year starting on the Famly Line Stage sponsored by Famly Clothing (Kevin Lyman and Fletcher of Pennywise’s clothing line) and doing several dates on the Kevin Says stage. You can check out three new songs on their Myspace.

Denmark’s The National Shut Up have some new music posted online. You can check out four songs from the punk band on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading Cultivator, Phathom, The National Shut Up →

Here we are with this weeks iteration of the top 15 for GR2.  We are a day late with this one due to the holiday and my general laziness by the time I managed to get near my computer last night after a day of hard labor on the old homestead.  By the way, I'll be working on a station update soon.  It will likely go live early in June so stay tuned.  Enjoy!

1. The Falcon – The La-Z-Boy 500
2. One Am Radio – Pipe Bomb Rebels –
3. The Loved Ones – Jane
4. Social Distortion – Ball and Chain
5. Rise Against – Black Masks and Gasoline
6. No Use for a Name – Fields of Agony
7. The Mad Caddies – All American Badass
8. Stiff Little Fingers – Guitar & Drum
9. Bad Trip – Something More
10. Bad Religion – Fuck Armageddon, This is Hell
11. Strung Out – Bring Out Your Dead
12. Rancid – Black Lung
13. Agent Orange – Bloodstains
14. The Vandals – Go
15. Social Distortion – Ring Of Fire 

Pseudo Heroes have posted a few new songs online via MySpace. The new tracks were mixed at Colorado’s Blasting Room by Bill Stevenson (Black Flag, Descendents).

Pseudo Heroes last released Nostalgic Lies in 2005. The band features members of Down By Law and the Pink Lincolns.
Source Continue reading New Pseudo Heroes songs online →

While hanging out at a mall in Augusta, GA on their now infamous and appropriately titled Snacksidents Happen tour, pop-punk/hardcore hybrid Set Your Goals were arrested for disturbing the public. The band, along with members from supporting act Fireworks, were serenading a couple of fans who had provided the group with some fruit smoothies.

Punknews spoke with vocalist Jordan Brown, who explained that after briefly singing, they were exiting the mall when a few sheriff’s deputies approached, and took them into custody for seven hours. After a lengthy stay, and over $2,000 in bail to get all members out of the pokey, everyone piled into their respective vans and continued on the tour to the next date. Jordan is working on finding an online source for the mugshots taken, as we here at the ‘Org know how much you love to discuss bands that end up in the slammer.

**Much thanks to Punknews contributor ThreeChordsandtheTruth from ScenePointBlank.com for the quick photoshop job.
Source Continue reading Set Your Goals experience “Snacksident”, arrested in Georgia →

Country troubadours Saw Wheel have found a home for their album End Of The Line on the UK-based No Division Records. End Of The Line is the followup to 2005’s The Next Train and features the track “Call it Home” that was featured as an Editor’s Pick here at the ‘Org.

We’ve also been streaming the album here for a while, you can check it out at Saw Wheel’s band profile.
Source Continue reading Saw Wheel finds a label for album, calls it home →

High On Fire has entered the Avast II studios in Seattle, WA with legendary producer Jack Endino (Nirvana, Mudhoney) to record their follow-up to the critically-acclaimed Blessed Black Wings. This still-as-yet-untitled record will be mixed at Soundhouse Studios and is expected to see an early Fall ’07 release.

The band has also announced a number of tour dates following the recording session. The band of three will perform a number of shows throughout the Mid-West U.S. during the later part of July. Also included in this run of dates is an appearance at the city of Chicago’s annual Wicker Park Summer Fest.
Source Continue reading Tours: High on Fire →

Aubin: After being denied by Bill Watterson last week, I make my triumphant return to the world of picking MySpace pages and telling you about them. This time, it’s the thoroughly peculiar Battles. The group includes former members of Don Caballero, Helmet and performs something that could be described as math rock or dance punk, but neither of those descriptions really does justice to the band’s wild fusion of sounds. You can check out the entire album on their MySpace page.

Chris: Yes, the band name is from the title of a Grade song. Moving on, Italy’s Stolen Bikes Ride Faster play a brand of melodic hardcore similar to their namesake, yet are hardly a carbon copy. Go check out the tracks “I Result Impatient” and “Eyesblinder” over at the group’s MySpace page.
Source Continue reading MP3 of the Week: Battles, Stolen Bikes Ride Faster →

The second Berea Fest has announced it’s date, location and bands.

Set to take place on July 14th, 2007, doors will open at 11:30 and music will start at 12 noon. It will take place at St. Pauls Lutheran Church of Berea on the corner of Bagley Rd.and Eastland Rd.

Source Continue reading Second Annual Berea Fest with The Ergs, Slingshot Dakota, Lemuria →

Jesse Raub recently talked to Seth Hubbard, Head of Publicity at Polyvinyl Records over email. The two talked about press campaigns, the limits of a small label and of course the drama surrounding illegal downloads. On that subject particularily Hubbard says:

I don’t think people getting music for free is a new concept by any means. Granted it is easier now then ever before but I can remember as a kid getting tapes from friends, or even taping things off the radio. Then once CD burning started to happen I would get new music that way too. People have always shared music with friends and it is how a lot of people find out about new bands.

Source Continue reading Interviews: Seth Hubbard, Press Liason for Polyvinyl Records →

Fake Problems and Look Mexico have announced a tour together this summer. Both bands are touring in support of new records, with Look Mexico gearing up for the release of This is Animal Music and Fake Problems touring on their debut full length, How Far Our Bodies Go.

Source Continue reading Tours: Fake Problems / Look Mexico →

Teenage Bottlerocket have announced some summer tour dates surrounding their appearance at Insubordination Fest. The band will also be in the studio this summer to record the follow-up to 2005’s Total.

Source Continue reading Tours: Teenage Bottlerocket →