Ben Weasel has revealed some more details about his upcoming sophomore solo album, These Ones Are Bitter. The record is due out June 26, 2007 and is his first solo outing since 2002’s Fidatevi.

As reported, the disc will be released via Ben’s own digital-only Mendota and will be available via digital download from iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, downloadpunk.com, Napster, and many other digital retailers. That said, the site notes that a limited edition vinyl version of the album will be released later in 2007 on Edmond Records. (We all know how Ben feels about CDs.)

For the record, Weasel has recruited bassist Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio as well as two members of he All-American Rejects: Mike Kennerty and Chris Gaylor. Kennerty also acted as producer.

Source Continue reading Ben Weasel details “These Ones Are Bitter” →

Famous U.K. based footware maker Dr. Martens has fired the ad agency responsible for the recently unveiled print / poster campaign featuring deceased punks Kurt Cobain, Sid Vicious, Joey Ramone and Joe Strummer. The posters, created by Saatchi & Saatchi London, depicted the iconic personalities as angels wearing the famous boots. A statement David Suddens, CEO of Airwair Ltd, reads:

Dr Martens is very sorry for any offense that has been caused by the publication of images showing dead rock icons wearing Dr Martens boots. Dr Martens did not commission the work as it runs counter to our current marketing activities based on FREEDM, which is dedicated to nurturing grass roots creativity and supporting emerging talent. As a consequence, Dr Martens has terminated its relationship with the responsible agency.

An earlier article at the Daily Swarm claimed that the images have been cleared for use in the U.K. only, in an arrangement with Corbis (the supplier of the original photographs). The images were created enhanced by photographer Dimitri Daniloff and retoucher Christophe Huet. You can view the originals here.
Source Continue reading Dr. Martens apologizes for “unauthorized” dead punks campaign, fires advertising agency →

Cartel‘s bubble special begins tonight at 11pm EST. The promotion was announced in April and earned a fair amount of criticism and debate. As originally reported, the band will be recording their next album in a giant transparent bubble on Pier 54 in New York City. The entire affair is being sponsored, this time by soda company Dr Pepper. The entire ordeal will air as a four-episode reality show starting May 24 on MTV, and at drpepperbubble.com, which will offer around-the-clock surveillance via 23 webcams.

The show will be available on MTV while the official site will host various videos from the recording session.
Source Continue reading Cartel “bubble” special tonight →

Green Day performed their cover of John Lennon’s track “Working Class Hero” last night on American Idol. The track is available for preview or purchase via iTunes and is set to benefit Amnesty International’s campaign for Darfur.

This cover, along with others from Black Eyed Peas, The Cure, Jack Johnson and Willie Nelson will appear on Instant Karma, a new benefit for Amnesty International’s campaign to end the Darfur genocide. Though the United Nations has not been willing to describe the Darfur conflict as a genocide, it is well established that at least 400,000 people have been killed, with an addition 2.5 million displaced by the conflict between the Janjaweed and Fur, Zaghawa, and Massaleit ethnic groups.

A studio version of the song is also available for preview or purchase the song via this link.
Source Continue reading Green Day performs John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” →

The White Stripes have posted the first video from their upcoming debut for Warner. The record is titled Icky Thump and is due out June 19, 2007.

You can check out the video for the title track, “Icky Thump” right here.
Source Continue reading White Stripes: “Icky Thump” →

An industrious (and dedicated punk zine fan) has assembled a pretty incredible archive of classic punk zines Focusing on early output from Maximum Rock’n’Roll, Flipside, HeartattaCk and Suburban Voice, the site has complete scans of issues dating back to the late 70s.

You can check it out here.
Source Continue reading Zine archive with Flipside, MRR, Heartattack back to ’77 →

Divider has announced a summer tour with Blues, Furnace, and Capsule on various legs. The tour comes in advance of their upcoming full -length which is set to be recorded early in 2008. Following the tour, the band will be headed out on an East Coast tour.

They are supporting their 2006 EP, At Twilight.

Source Continue reading Tours: Divider / Furnace / Capsule / Blues →

Electro-punk act Dance for Destruction has debuted some music online.The band features former members of A-F record’s Pipedown and promises female-fronted, politically charged hardcore-electro-punk-fury. Their debut self released EP is available at www.interpunk.com. You can check out the music on their myspace page

PA-based hardcore/punk act Life Set Disaster has debuted some music online.The band is wrapping up work on their full length debut, Clifton Heights Punk Rock. The disc will be available on the band’s upcoming tours and also directly via their myspace page. Some early demos are available for streaming. You can check out the music on their myspace page

Cleveland’s One Reason has debuted some music online.The band most recently released a split 7-inch with the Japanese band The Because. The record is being released via Salinas Records of Detroit in the United States. The Japanese version is out on Snuffy Smile Records out of Kyoto, Japan. You can check out the music on their myspace page

Source Continue reading Dance For Destruction (ex-Pipedown), Life Set Disaster, One Reason →

Emanuel have released a new song from their upcoming album. The record is titled Black Earth Tiger and is due out July 17, 2007. It is the follow-up to Soundtrack To A Headrush which was released in 2005

You can check out the song on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading Emanuel debut new track →

The Spill Canvas has posted the track “Staplegunned” online. The song was featured on their recent EP and Warner debut Denial Feels So Good. You can check out the streams below:

Quicktime (high)
Windows Media (high)
Quicktime (low)
Windows Media Player (low)
Source Continue reading The Spill Canvas’ "Staplegunned" posted →

Portugal. The Man have announced a summer tour in support of their upcoming album. The record is titled Church Mouth and is due out July 24, 2007. It is the follow-up to Devil Say I, I Say Air which was released in 2006.

For the tour, the band has enlisted a variety of acts including The Photo Atlas, Russian Circles, This Will Destroy You, Tera Melos and many more.

Source Continue reading Tours: Portugal. The Man / The Photo Atlas with Russian Circles, more →

Paint It Black have announced some more details about their upcoming third album. The band had this to say in an update:

We’ve been hard at work polishing up the new songs for our next album, and we finally have all the logistics mapped out. This album will be co-produced by J. Robbins and Oktopus (aka Alap Momin). The initial tracking with be done in Baltimore at the Magpie Cage by Mr. Robbins, who in addition to recording/producing our last album, “Paradise,” and being the founding member and primary songwriter of Jawbox, has numerous production credits to his name, including the soon-to-be-released new Modern Life is War album, the Black Cross full-length, and emo-pop masterpeices such as Braid,

We’re especially excited to be joining forces with Oktopus, who for the uninitiated, is the genius behind the apocalyptic wall-of-sound that is Dalek (Ipecac Recordings). As a producer/engineer, he’s pioneered an innovative sound in independent music, forging a unique synthesis of sounds that is equal parts Swans, Public Enemy, My Bloody Valentine, and Sonic Youth.

For those of you who are getting worried that this is sounding too wierd or experimental, rest assured that the backbone of this album is still straight-ahead Hardcore Punk,

Source Continue reading Album plans from Paint It Black; producers include J.Robbins, Oktopus (Dalek) →

Against Me! front man Tom Gabel has launched a tour diary documenting his experiences on the band’s ongoing tour with Mastodon. The first episode is online now, and more episodes will appear over the next few days. You can check them out via Vice.

The band’s drummer also participated in a video interview at the Phoenix night club in Toronto, Canada. Warren discussed the band’s new album, New Wave, his reactions to their increasing “fame” and when not to wear short shorts. You can check out the interview right here.

The band is gearing up for their upcoming Sire debut, titled New Wave which is due out July 10, 2007.
Source Continue reading Tom Gabel launches tour diary, Warren Oakes does video interview →