Band To Tour In Support Of Anticipated Epitaph Records Debut

Rising punk rock band The Menzingers create a rousing sound featuring crashing power chords, rock steady drumming and anthemic sing-along choruses alongside powerfully poetic everyman lyrics. The group is set to release their Epitaph Records debut album On The Impossible Past this February 21st. Fans are invited to pre-order the album by going to www.themenzingersstore.com.

On The Impossible Past was recorded at Atlas Studios in Chicago with longtime collaborators Matt Allison (Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms) and Justin Yates. While the record retains all the raucous spirit of the band’s earlier efforts sonically, it’s a monumental step forward. “I think that ‘Gates’ is one of the most mature songs on the album,” guitarist/vocalist Tom May explains, referencing the tender rock song sung by Barnett that truly transcends genres. “I hope it surprises people because it’s not a straight-forward punk song with gang vocals or anything like that but it still definitely sounds like us.”

It’s undoubtedly been an exciting time for The Menzingers, touring with acts like Against Me! and The Gaslight Anthem as well as playing their own headlining shows to enthusiastic audiences and the band wouldn’t change it for the world. “I get a lot of personal emails that say something to the effect of ‘my girlfriend broke up with me or my dad died and I listen to your music and it makes me feel really good’ and that validates what we’re doing and the time and effort we put into the new album,” May summarizes. “When people hear the songs from On The Impossible Past, I just hope people can relate to it and it makes them feel the way we do when we sing it.”

The Menzingers will be on tour with Rise Against starting January 17th and will release a 7 inch single for the track “The Obituaries” available here.

Menzingers’ Tour Dates:
Jan-12 Greenville, NC Tipsy Teapot
Jan-13 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
Jan-14 Charlotte, NC Milestone Club
Jan-15 Birmingham, AL God’s Butt
Jan-16 Little Rock, AR Downtown Music Hall
Jan-17 Dallas, TX The Prophet Bar
Jan-18 Austin, TX Austin Music Hall w/ Rise Against
Jan-19 San Antonio, TX Illusion Theater at Alamodome w/ Rise Against
Jan-20 New Orleans, LA House of Blues w/ Rise Against
Jan-22 Orlando, FL UCF Arena w/ Rise Against
Jan-23 Columbia, SC The Township Auditorium w/ Rise Against
Jan-25 Norfolk, VA Constant Convocation Center w/ Rise Against
Jan-26 Harrisonburg, VA The Blue Nile
Jan-27 Kent, OH Memorial Athletic and Convocation w/ Rise Against
Jan-28 Chicago, IL UIC Pavilion w/ Rise Against
Jan-30 University Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center w/ Rise Against
Jan-31 Poughkeepsie, NY Mid Hudson Civic Center w/ Rise Against
Feb-02 Lowell, MA Paul E. Tsongas Arena w/ Rise Against
Feb-03 Hartford, CT Webster Underground
Feb-04 Uniondale, NY Nassau Veterans Mem. Col. w/ Rise Against
Feb-05 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center w/ Rise Against
Feb-06 Fairfax, VA Patriot Center w/ Rise Against

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Toh Kay, perhaps better known to the masses as Tomas Kalnoky, frontman for Warped Tour favorites Streetlight Manifesto, will be releasing his debut solo album, titled Streetlight Lullabies on November 22, 2011 via Pentimento Music Company. The album features 10 Streetlight Manifesto songs stripped down to their acoustic bones, offering a rare glimpse into Toh Kay’s creative process. While Toh Kay began as a series of acoustic shows, it has since evolved into a fully developed musical project which strives to intimately connect listeners with the songs they treasure.

Toh Kay’s first release, You By Me: Volume 1, which came out almost exactly a year ago this November, was a split with friend and labelmate Dan Potthast and featured each covering, rearranging, and changing five of each other’s songs for the album. After select dates around the United States and the world in support of the release, Toh Kay sat down to record Streetlight Lullabies in May of 2011 at The Pentimento Recording Company, the label’s in-house studio in Southern California. The album features sparse, personal arrangements of Streetlight Manifesto favorites such as Watch it Crash, The Big Sleep and A Better Place, A Better Time.

Pre-order for Streetlight Lullabies is available through Pentimento Music at www.theriscstore.com.

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October 4, 2011 – Los Angeles, CA – Detroit based punk band Koffin
Kats ( http://www.koffinkatsrock.com/ ) have signed a deal with punk
label Sailor’s Grave Records ( http://www.sailorsgraverecords.com/
).  The trio, which consists of Vic Victor (Vocals/Upright Bass), EZ
Ian (Vocals/Guitar) and Eric “E Ball” Walls (Drums), will release
their new album, Our Way and The Highway, on January 24.  The band is
currently on a three month long US tour giving fans a taste of the new
record along the way.

Watch Koffin Kats’ special announcement here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJc5SD3RhFI

Formed in 2003, the Motor City trio has worked their way up from
Detroit gutter punks to champions of the psychobilly scene with their
toxic blend of booze, tattoos and rip-roaring punk rock ‘n’ roll.
Since their inception, the Koffin Kats have amassed a rapid fanbase
throughout North America and Europe with five studio albums, The
Koffin Kats (2003), Inhumane (2005), Straying from the Pack (2006),
Drunk in the Daylight (2008) and Forever For Hire (2009) and tours
with the likes of Mad Sin, Nekromantix and The Meteors.

2011 marks a turning point for the Koffin Kats as they rise from the
psychobilly underground to infiltrate the mainstream with Our Way and
The Highway, a culmination of the band’s rich history, road scars
and outlaw psycho punk blood running furiously through every
ear-ripping track.

“The inspirations for this new record, musically and ideally, are as
broad as distance we have traveled since the last release two years
ago,” says Victor.  “Our Way and The Highway is a further melding
of punk rock n roll with our psychobilly roots.”

Stay tuned to Koffinkatsrock.com (
http://www.koffinkatsrock.com/fr_home.cfm ) for more information in
the coming weeks!

###

Our Way and The Highway Track Listing:
1.      Riding High
2.      The Way Of The Road
3.      It Happens Every Night
4.      Severing Ties
5.      For The Good Times
6.      The Devil Asked
7.      Keep It Coming
8.      Choke
9.      A Terrible Way
10.   The Bottle Called
11.   Locket of Sin
12.   Baby Don’t Love You
13.   Boozincrossanation
14.   Don’t Waste Your Time

Koffin Kats Tour Dates:
Oct 3 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
Oct 4 – Green Bay, WI – Crunchy Frog
Oct 5 – Davenport, IA – River Music Experience
Oct 6 – Terre Haute, IN – The Verve
Oct 7 – St. Louis, MO – Crack Fox
Oct 8 – Springfield, IL – Chaser’s Ironhorse Saloon
Oct 10 – Springfield, MO – Outland Ballroom
Oct 12 – Joplin, MO – Black Thorn
Oct 13 – Tulsa, OK – Downtown Lounge
Oct 14 – Dallas, TX – La Grange
Oct 15 – Austin, TX – Freakshow Festival
Oct 18 – Albuquerque, NM – Burt’s Tiki Lounge
Oct 21 – Denver, CO – Moe’s BBQ
Oct 22 – Colorado Springs, CO – Union Station
Oct 23 – Fort Collins, CO – Surfside-7
Oct 26 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
Oct 27 – Billings, MT – Rail Yard
Oct 28 – Missoula, MT – The Palace
Oct 29 – Spokane, WA – The Hop
Oct 30 – Moses Lake, WA – Broadway Bar & Grill
Oct 31 – Seattle, WA – Studio 7
Nov 1 – Spanaway, WA – The Y Sports Bar & Grill
Nov 2 – Portland, OR – Rotture (w/The Sawyer Family)
Nov 3 – Eugene, OR – John Henry’s
Nov 4 – Arcata, CA – Redwood Raks
Nov 5 – Redding, CA – Bombay’s
Nov 6 – Lake Tahoe, CA – Whiskey Dick’s
Nov 9 – Fresno, CA – The Bell Tower
Nov 10 – Stockton, CA – Plea For Peace Center
Nov 11 – Berkeley, CA – Gilman 924
Nov 12 – Santa Clara, CA – The Avalon
Nov 13 – San Luis Obispo, CA – The Z Club
Nov 14 – Lompoc, CA – Johhny’s
Nov 15 – Bakersfield, CA – The Dome
Nov 17 – Banning, CA – Paddy O’Reilly’s
Nov 18 – Anaheim, CA – Juke Joint
Nov 19 – Reseda, CA – Weber’s Place
Nov 20 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
Nov 22 – Victorville, CA – Victorville Events Center
Nov 23 – Las Vegas, NV – The Bunkhouse
Nov 25 – Fort Defiance, AZ – Fort Defiance Chapter House
Nov 26 – Scottsdale, AZ – Chaser’s
Nov 27 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
Nov 29 – El Paso, TX – Lips Lounge
Nov 30 – San Angelo, TX – The Deadhorse
Dec 1 – San Antonio, TX – White Rabbit
Dec 2 – Brownsville, TX – Chapas Bar “The Pit”
Dec 9 – Cocoa Beach, FL – The 321 Local
Dec 14 – Newport, KY – Southgate House
Dec 15 – St. Louis, MO – FireBird
Dec 16 – Chicago, IL – Reggie’s

For More Information:
Koffinkatsrock.com ( http://www.koffinkatsrock.com/fr_home.cfm )
Facebook.com/koffinkats ( https://www.facebook.com/koffinkats )
Twitter.com/koffinkats ( http://twitter.com/koffinkats )
Myspace.com/koffinkats ( http://www.myspace.com/koffinkats )
Last.fm/music/Koffin+Kats ( http://www.last.fm/music/Koffin+Kats )
Sailorsgraverecords.com ( http://www.sailorsgraverecords.com/home.php)

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Last July 30th, Red Hot Chili Peppers held a late afternoon jam session on a California rooftop near Venice Beach, to record the official music video for “The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie,” the first single from their forthcoming album “I’m With You” to be released on August 30th.
Today august 17th they invited fans from internet to enjoy the video on MSN, the video has a Beatles atmosphere, when they played the last time together on the rooftop for everybody who were close by.

For the Peppers, this wasn’t a goodbye, but a hello, we’re back!!

cheers!

Stella

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July 28, 2011 – Los Angeles, CA – Andrew Jackson Jihad have announced the release of their fourth studio album, Knife Man, on September 20 via Asian Man Records.  The band has debuted a new track, “Hate, Rain on me,” today exclusively at Altpress.com:

http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/exclusive_stream_andrew_jackson_jihads_hate_rain_on_me/

At their core, Andrew Jackson Jihad is a band made up of a social worker and a gravedigger. Starting in 2004 and hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, these two men have been making music that attempts to understand and explain human nature. The music focuses on the horrid and beautiful ways that people treat each other, as well as the possibility that one day we will be able to reconcile this.

Typically playing live as a two-person band (Sean Bonnette: guitar, vocals. Ben Gallaty: upright bass, vocals), Andrew Jackson Jihad’s show is a cathartic experience that invites the audience to sing along. With the energy of a punk band, they blaze through song after song, stopping occasionally to interact with their audience. Their lyrics are tragic yet humorous, crass yet intelligent, heartbreaking yet uplifting. One listener has described the music as “sad in the key of happy.”

Their new album, Knife Man, is a record about love, poverty, violence, luck, discrimination, homelessness and Phoenix, Arizona. Recorded by their longtime engineer jalipaz at audioconfusion, Andrew Jackson Jihad formed an Arizona all-star band, borrowing members from ROAR, Doth, French Quarter, Swell… Adios, and Malakai. The Knife Man sessions have yielded Andrew Jackson Jihad’s most cohesive and driving album yet.

Andrew Jackson Jihad has played shows with The Gaslight Anthem, Xiu Xiu, Titus Andronicus, Against Me!, and Deer Tick among many others. They are about to embark on a six-week full U.S./ full Canada tour as the main support act for Frank Turner.

Knife Man Tracklisting:

1.      The Michael Jordan of Drunk Driving

2.      Gift of the Magi 2: Return of the Magi

3.      American Tune

4.      Back Pack

5.      Distance

6.      Fucc the Devil

7.      Hate, Rain on me

8.      If you have Love in your Heart

9.      No One

10.   Sad Songs (intermission)

11.   Zombie by the Cranberries by Andrew Jackson Jihad

12.   People II 2: Still Peoplin’

13.   Sorry Bro

14.   Skate Park

15.   Free Bird

16.   Big Bird

Tour Dates:

Sept 20 – Danbury, CT – Heirloom Arts Theater

Sept 21 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

Sept 22 – Millvale, PA – Mr Smalls

Sept 23 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar

Sept 24 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club

Sept 25 – West Colombia, SC – New Brookland Tavern

Sept 27 – Orlando, FL – The Social

Sept 28 – Gainesville, FL – Double Down

Sept 29 – Ft. Laouderdale, FL – Culture Room

Sept 30 – Tampa, FL – Crowbar

Oct 1 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade

Oct 3 – Austin, TX – Emo’s

Oct 4 – Dallas, TX – The Loft

Oct 5 – Oklahoma City, OK – Conservatory

Oct 6 – Kansas City, MO – The Record Bar

Oct 7 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater

Oct 8 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad

Oct 10 – Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room

Oct 11 – Pomona, CA – Glass House

Oct 12 – San Diego, CA – Soma

Oct 13 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theater

Oct 14 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s

Oct 15 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater

Oct 16 – Seattle, WA – Neumos

Oct 17 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Caberet

Oct 19 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room

Oct 20 – Calgary, AB – Republik

Oct 21 – Regina, SK – The Exchange

Oct 22 – Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Center

Oct 23 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock

Oct 25 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall

Oct 26 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge

Oct 27 – Detroit, MI – Magic Stick

Oct 28 – Toronto, ON – The Phoenix

Oct 29 – Montreal, QC – Corona

Oct 30 – Ottawa, ON – Maverick’s

Oct 31 – Quebec City, QC – Cercle

Nov 2 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East

Nov 3 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

Nov 4 – Philadelphia, PA – Theater of Living Arts

For More Information:

http://www.andrewjacksonjihad.com/

http://www.andrewjacksonjihad.tumblr.com

https://www.facebook.com/andrewjacksonjihad

http://twitter.com/ajjtheband

http://www.myspace.com/andrewjacksonjihad

http://www.asianmanrecords.com/

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NEKROMANTIX UNLEASH “WHAT HAPPENS IN HELL, STAYS IN HELL” AUG 2nd

North American Tour Begins July 26^th/VIP Packages Available May 26th
Revered psychobilly trio Nekromantix have emerged from the depths of isolation to unleash their latest sonic creation, a monstrous slab of demonic rock and roll entitled “What Happens In Hell, Stays In Hell.” This dangerously hypnotic album careens into stores on August 2, 2011 via Hellcat Records and includes thirteen songs of blistering death defying rock. In anticipation, the band will be offering special VIP Packages to their most dedicated fans on May 26^th through the website below.

Led by charismatic rock and roll rebel Kim Nekroman and his legendary coffin bass, the Nekromantix have emerged as preeminent purveyors of a powerful and haunting psychobilly sound, an intoxicating mixture of surging anthemic punk and seductive reverb soaked rockabilly. The new record What Happens In Hell, Stays In Hell offers up frantic energetic romps like lead off track “Bats In My Pants,” the riotous revelry moves along with the ominous anthem “Sleepwalker With A Gun,” followed by a tribute to the immortal Hollywood horror legend with “Bela Lugosi’s Star.”

In support of the new album, Nekromantix will be loading up their hot-rod hearse to blaze across North America, igniting the festivities with a performance in the scorched desert landscape of Southern California on July 26^th.

The band will also be offering special presale VIP packages for their most dedicated fans. These packages will include:

- A CD copy of What Happens In Hell, Stays In Hell
- One general admission ticket
- Access to meet & greet Nekromantix
- One Nekromantix 3D Laminate
- An autographed Nekromantix tour poster
- Anyone who pre-orders tickets and the VIP package or tickets and CD will get a free       download of “Bats In My Pants”
- VIP packages are limited 30 per market

Purchase presale tickets for the tour at:  http://tixx1.artistarena.com/nekromantix

Nekromantix Tour Dates:

TUE, JUL 26, 2011 VICTORVILLE CA VVEC
WED, JUL 27, 2011 SAN LUIS OBISPO CA Downtown Brew
THU, JUL 28, 2011 SANTA CRUZ CA The Catalyst- The AtriumRoom
FRI, JUL 29, 2011 OAKLAND CA Oakland Metro Operahouse
SAT, JUL 30, 2011 SACRAMENTO CA Ace of Spades
SUN, JUL 31, 2011 RENO NV Knitting Factory – Reno
TUE, AUG 2, 2011 SEATTLE WA El Corazon
WED, AUG 3, 2011 PORTLAND OR Hawthorne Theater
TUE, AUG 9, 2011 BOISE ID Knitting Factory
WED, AUG 10, 2011 SALT LAKE CITY UT The Complex- Grand Room
THU, AUG 11, 2011 LAS VEGAS NV House of Blues – Las Vegas
FRI, AUG 12, 2011 LOS ANGELES CA House of Blues Los Angeles
SAT, AUG 13, 2011 SAN DIEGO CA Epicenter
SUN, AUG 14, 2011 SANTA ANA CA Yost Theater
WED, AUG 24, 2011 TUCSON AZ The Rock
THU, AUG 25, 2011 EL PASO TX Badland Billiards
FRI, AUG 26, 2011 AUSTIN TX Red Seven
SAT, AUG 27, 2011 CORPUS CHRISTI TX Theo’s
SUN, AUG 28, 2011 SAN ANTONIO TX , White Rabbit
TUE, AUG 30, 2011 DALLAS TX LaGrange
WED, AUG 31, 2011 HOUSTON TX Warehouse Live
THU, SEP 1, 2011 NEW ORLEANS LA House Of Blues NO-Parish
FRI, SEP 2, 2011 PENSACOLA FL Vinyl Music Hall
SUN, SEP 4, 2011 TAMPA FL The Local 662
TUE, SEP 6, 2011 ORLANDO FL The Social
WED, SEP 7, 2011 JACKSONVIILLE FL Jack Rabbits
THU, SEP 8, 2011 GREENSBORO NC Green Street
FRI, SEP 9, 2011 VIRGINIA BEACH VA Jewish Mother
SAT, SEP 10, 2011 BALTIMORE MD Otto Bar
SUN, SEP 11, 2011 WEST CHESTER PA The Note- West Chester
TUE, SEP 13, 2011 NEW YORK NY The Lounge @ Gramercy
WED, SEP 14, 2011 ASBURY PARK NJ Asbury Lanes
THU, SEP 15, 2011 ALLSTON MA Great Scott
TUE, SEP 20, 2011 CLEVELAND OH Beachland Ballroom
WED, SEP 21, 2011 DETROIT MI Small’s
THU, SEP 22, 2011 NEWPORT KY The Southgate House
FRI, SEP 23, 2011 CHICAGO IL Reggies Rock Club
SUN, SEP 25, 2011 DES MOINES IA House Of Bricks
MON, SEP 26, 2011 ST. LOUIS MO Firebird
WED, SEP 28, 2011 DENVER CO Bluebird Theater
THU, SEP 29, 2011 ALBUQUERQUE NM Launchpad
FRI, SEP 30, 2011 TEMPE AZ Club House

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The Bay Area’s busiest pop punk heroes, Set Your Goals will release their highly anticipated new album, Burning At Both Ends on June 28th via Epitaph Records.  Produced by Brian McTernan, the album features thirteen powerful tracks available now for pre-order at  www.sygstore.com. Check out their newest song “Exit Summer” here.

Back in full force, Set Your Goals will keep the momentum going with the follow-up to their infectious and dynamic album, This Will Be The Death of Us. Duel vocalists Matt Wilson and Jordan Brown’s flawless delivery on the opening track “Cure For Apathy” captures the SYG sound and energy we know so well as they trade off singing duties. “Certain,” a soon to be fan favorite, highlights Joe Saucedo’s solid bass lines with passionate lyrics and engaging guitar solos.

Keeping it real for die hard fans, Burning At Both Ends has a definitive Set Your Goals sound with their energetic, head-bobbing riffs and gang vocals while staying completely fresh with sing-along choruses and lyrics everyone can relate to.  The album delivers with the fast and hard-hitting track, “Trenches”  that showcases Dan Coddaire and Audelio Flores’  catchy melodies  and guitar riffs.  “Exit Summer,” brings back 90’s hardcore with a melodic twist, an irresistible combination.  SYG finishes the album with  “Not As Bad” where  Mike Ambrose demonstrates his tightknit drumming with crazy fills on top of pleasant harmonies – a great way to close out the album.

Don’t miss your chance to see one of the most energized performances of the summer as Set Your Goals will hit the road for the entire Vans Warped Tour this year.

CD Track Listing:

1. Cure For Apathy- 2:22
2. Start The Reactor- 2:42
3. Certain- 3:02
4. Happy New Year- 3:16
5. London Heathrow- 2:59
6. Trenches- 3:03
7. The Last American Virgin- 3:07
8. Exit Summer- 2:25
9. Unconditional- 3:26
10. Product Of The 80′s- 2:42
11. Raphael- 3:12
12. Illuminated Youth- 2:48
13. Not As Bad- 18:53

For more information please visit:
www.epitaph.com
www.sygstore.com

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Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

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Finally! For the first time in 11 years, you can listen to a brand new Screeching Weasel song. Culled from the new album First World Manifesto, out March 15th, head over to Spin to download “Beginningless Vacation”.

That’s not all. Ben Weasel was recently interviewed by the MTV Music Book Club about his favorite piece of literature. And of course Screeching Weasel is hitting the road throughout 2011, with announced stops in Texas, the East Coast, and the Screeching Weasel 25th Anniversary weekend in Chicago. More dates to come!

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The Frustrators, the longstanding, bi-coastal punk rock 4-piece, featuring New England punk-rock hustlers Jason Chandler (vocals, artwork), Terry Linehan (guitar, backing vocals) and Art Tedeschi (drums), and Cali-raised fourth man and bassist, Green Day’s Mike Dirnt, are set to release the Griller EP on Adeline Records on February 15 (available digitally Feb 22.)

To celebrate the band’s first new record since 2002, they’ve lined up a string of West Coast dates; their first in 8 years (see dates below).

While the guys first met Dirnt on the West Coast while travelling with their other bands (Hope Anchor, Waterdog, etc) the newly allied foursome wasted no time knocking out their inaugural, riotous Bored in the USA EP in 2000 and its follow-up full-length, 2002’s poppier Achtung Jackass.

Fast forward a veritable generation, and it’s been nine long years since Dirnt and the Frustrators have found room in their collective schedules to plug back in for a round of insurgent power chords and gleefully adolescent punk-pranksterism, resulting in 2011’s charged-up Griller EP. Not that there was ever consideration of carrying on without their rhythm-setting four-stringer during the intervening years.

“I don’t think it would be something we’d be comfortable doing without Mike,” says Linehan. “He’s a big part of what makes us tick. It wouldn’t be the same, and would be probably a disappointment to the kids who come out to see us if he wasn’t there.”

Consistent with that consideration for their patient, loyal audience, Griller won’t alienate the group’s core fans. Its quartet of tidy gems clock in at around a dozen minutes, and bring to mind Bay Area peers like American Steel and scratchy ‘90s melody makers Jawbreaker (whom Linehan also cites as a personal influence). The EP’s furthest sonic experimentation might be the languid, reverb-y surf licks on “West of Texas (Part 2),” a sequel of sorts to Achtung Jackass’ “Part 1” that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Hoodoo Gurus record.

But these guys aren’t kids anymore. Outside of having a goof with their fans via meta-breakup closer “We Need to Talk (It’s Not You, It’s Us”) or recalling Achtung Jackass’ Cars cover by tackling the The Neighborhoods’ teen-longing anthem “Prettiest Girl,” there are flashes of genuine, introspective struggle in Griller’s lyric sheet. On “Stigma,” a jangly powder-keg of an album opener and closest the Frustrators get to a love song, Chandler tries to “Walk away from your attack/Dodging bullets but she just keeps coming back,” before giving up and urging, “Lightning strike me where I stand/You put my heart in rehab and I haven’t got a plan.”

“We definitely don’t overthink or overstress it, but there’s gotta be the creative element,” explains Linehan about picking up where Achtung Jackass left off. “If we just wanted to get together and have beers and play music, that wouldn’t take as much arranging as getting together to record. We always want to better ourselves, and I feel like the new batch of songs was actually worth getting together to record and put out.”

It is, of course, all about the songs. And Dirnt’s signature, concentric bass lines will ring with immediacy to new and incoming Frustrators fans alike. But Griller, and the Frustators as a whole, represents the cohesive sum of Dirnt and Tedeschi’s sturdy rhythmic foundation supporting Chandler’s tune-carrying, self-assured vocals and Linehan’s proto-punk thrust on guitar. Griller is pop-punk without the polish, pretense or preening, and exactly the kind of de-glammed, good-spirited experience music needs in 2011.

“It has all the elements that make the Frustrators the Frustrators,” Linehan confirms. “It has a pop sensibility and is a little bit outside of the punk confines. We’ve all matured as musicians and songwriters. Any time any of us record we want it to be the best that we can be.” And as for whether that involves striving toward the standard of Dirnt’s other, more famous band, Linehan laughs and confesses, “The bar’s pretty high. We’re not trying to jump over the bar or just shimmy under it. But we at least want to be five feet under looking up at it.”

Griller EP Track Listing:

1. Stigma
2. West of Texas (Part 2)
3. Prettiest Girl
4. We Need to Talk (It’s Not You, It’s Us)

Pre-order The Frustrators’ Griller EP here: http://store.adelinerecords.net/products/the-frustrators-griller

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