March 2013 – Upstarter

RETOX RELEASE BLOODY NEW VIDEO FOR ‘MATURE SCIENCE’

(March 27th, Los Angeles, CA) The provocative SoCal band RETOX have unleashed a brand new video, a heart – stopping thriller that portrays the band’s kinetic, challenging energy in their latest track release, “MATURE SCIENCE.” Combining the jagged edges of stripped down/back-to-basics rock n’ roll with bombastic attitude and art-rock intelligentsia, using the prism of the past to look toward the potential brilliance of the future, RETOX’s YPLL arrives via Epitaph Records on May 7th, 2013.

Directed by Simon Chan, the new video features the band in a riot-like scenario, where the band kidnaps a police officer and brings him to an undisclosed location. The disturbing story unfolds in 2:47 minutes, ending in an intense, bloody scene that can only be fully realized by watching the video.

Check out the new video via Lambgoat.com here: http://lambgoat.com/features/69/Retox-Mature-Science-video-premiere

Guitarist Michael Crain offers, “Retox does not in any way condone or advocate the harming of police officers. We do however feel that our society as a whole would be far safer and not as unjustly regulated if local, state, and federal law enforcement were required to memorize the lyrics to Black Flag’s “Police Story” and N.W.A’s “Fuck tha Police!”

Retox deliver a mission statement in 12 blistering tracks, the vast majority of them clocking in at two minutes or less. It’s the type of rallying battle cry that inspires lingering and dormant primal urges and too-long-suppressed societal dissatisfaction in those who encounter its punk rock lineage and postmodern crash-and-ban.

In May, the band will take their energetic live performance across North America.

PRE-ORDERS are now live for RETOX’s YPLL, which will arrive in-stores and online on May 7th. Please go to: www.kingsroadmerch.com/epitaphrecords

RETOX Tour Dates:

5/8/2013	Moonroom	Denver	CO
5/9/2013	Brother’s Lounge	Omaha	NE
5/10/2013	The Hexagon	Minneapolis	MN
5/11/2013	Township	Chicago	IL
5/12/2013	Smalls	Hamtramck	MI
5/15/2013	The Middle East Upstairs	Cambridge	MA
5/16/2013	The Acheron	Brooklyn	NY
5/17/2013	Pianos	New York	NY
5/19/2013	Golden West Cafe	Baltimore	MD
5/20/2013	The Milestone	Charlotte	NC
5/23/2013	Rudyards	Houston	TX
5/25/2013	Train Yard	Las Cruces	NM
5/26/2013	Trunk Space	Phoenix	AZ
5/27/2013	Punk Rock Bowling	Las Vegas	NV

ALKALINE TRIO STREAM NEW ALBUM VIA SPIN.COM

My Shame Is True Out April 2nd

Band To Play Live At The 98-7fm Penthouse at The Historic Hollywood Tower Next Week

US Tour Starts April 25th

March 26th, 2013 – Los Angeles, CA – Chicago’s celebrated punk rock cult heroes, Alkaline Trio, are set to return with the exhilarating new album My Shame Is True out April 2nd via Epitaph Records. Fans are invited to stream the album in full starting today via Spin.com by going here: http://www.spin.com/articles/alkaline-trio-my-shame-is-true-album-stream-matt-skiba-interview-epitaph

On April 1st, Alkaline Trio will play an exclusive live set at the 987FM Penthouse at The Historic Hollywood Tower in Los Angeles. In addition, the band will hit the road at the end of the month with brooding punk rockers Bayside and Off With Their Heads for an exuberant live tour which already has numerous sold out dates throughout the country, including Chicago LA, and NYC.

Since emerging in 1996, Alkaline Trio have become one of the punk rock’s most progressive and unique bands of the last decade, rousing a dedicated legion of passionate supporters with eight fan-adored albums and relentless world-wide touring. My Shame Is True is the next chapter in the band’s celebrated career.

What’s being said about Alkaline Trio?

“Rockers show their punk bite is as strong as ever…” – Rolling Stone

“ A gnarled, zeitgeisty gem from the beloved Chicago outfit’s forthcoming ‘My Shame Is True…”– Spin

“…the band finds itself in its most vital place in years.” – Billboard

My Shame Is True is now available for pre-order via Epitaph by going to www.alkalinetriostore.com.

Alkaline Trio Tour Dates:

4/25/2013	The Observatory	Santa Ana	CA	SOLD OUT
4/26/2013	House of Blues	San Diego	CA	SOLD OUT
4/27/2013	Fremont Country Club	Las Vegas	NV
4/28/2013	Marquee Theatre	Tempe	AZ
4/29/2013	Sunshine Theater	Albuquerque	NM
5/1/2013	Cains Ballroom	Tulsa	OK
5/2/2013	House of Blues	Dallas	TX
5/3/2013	House of Blues	Houston	TX
5/4/2013	Emo’s East	Austin	TX
5/8/2013	Revolution	Ft. Lauderdale	FL
5/9/2013	The Florida Theater	Gainesville	FL
5/10/2013	House of Blues- Orlando	Orlando	FL
5/11/2013	Center Stage	Atlanta	GA
5/12/2013	Marathon Music Works	Nashville	TN
5/14/2013	Cats Cradle	Carrboro	NC
5/15/2013	The National	Richmond	VA
5/16/2013	The Norva Theater	Norfolk	VA
5/17/2013	Rams Head Live	Baltimore	MD
5/18/2013	House of Blues	Boston	MA
5/19/2013	Toads Place	New Haven	CT
5/21/2013	Irving Plaza	New York	NY	SOLD OUT
5/22/2013	Chameleon Club	Lancaster	PA
5/23/2013	Electric Factory	Philadelphia	PA
5/24/2013	Best Buy Theater	New York	NY	SOLD OUT
5/25/2013	Water Street Music Hall	Rochester	NY
5/26/2013	Newport Music Hall	Columbus	OH
5/28/2013	House of Blues	Cleveland	OH
5/29/2013	Clutch Cargo’s	Pontiac	MI
5/30/2013	Metro	Chicago	IL	SOLD OUT
5/31/2013	Metro	Chicago	IL	SOLD OUT
6/1/2013	The Rave	Milwaukee	WI
6/2/2013	Pops	St. Louis	MO
6/4/2013	The Summit Music Hall	Denver	CO
6/4/2013	The Venue	Salt Lake City	UT
6/7/2013	Showbox Showroom	Seattle	WA
6/8/2013	Hawthorne Theater	Portland	OR
6/9/2013	The Regency Ballroom	San Francisco	CA
6/11/2013	House of Blues	West Hollywood	CA	SOLD OUT
6/12/2013	House Of Blues	Anaheim	CA

For more information:
www.epitaph.com

Touch My Rash – Destined for Disaster

[ad]

Here’s a little freakin’ slice of awesome for ya. I’m listening to “Destined for Disaster” by a charming little trio called Touch My Rash. The name alone draws you in. It’s like a car wreck. You can’t not look, or in this case, listen.

Here’s the skinny. 12 tracks of multi-vocal layered punk rock and roll. A good time feel while the bad times roll. The songs are peppy and poppy but infused with guts and power. The trio makes great use of their respective abilities. The vocals are sweet yet snotty. The guitar riffs are solid. The bass thumps. The percussion pops. The use of the the call/report vocals are used to quite excellent effect. What more could you ask for?

The one sheet indicates that Touch My Rash is most likely a Ramones-core band with a RIYL of “Ramones, Screeching Weasel, Copyrights, Teenage Bottlerocket, Masked Intruder”. Sure there is some of that, but what modern pop punk bands don’t owe a bit to bands like the Ramones? I say that the band is more than a pigeonhole derivative reference list can define though. This group has charisma. I should add, this band reminds me a shit-ton of The Acrobrats. Shared/past members? I don’t know. Either way both great.

With that I say, check this band out. Check the hell outta them. They’re a lot of fun and a refreshing blast of energy in what can be a pretty stodgy punk rock scene these days. http://www.touchmyrash.com

-Jerry Actually

Hemorrhage – Chapter One E.P.

[ad]

Hey you! Yeah, you. You like new CA hardcore that sounds a little old school but not quite, right? I thought so. Well here’s something for you. Hemorrhage is a badass little combo out of Huntington Beach, CA. You’ve heard of that place right? I think you have.

Following in the veins of, well, I’m not sure. This new EP from Hemorrhage is pretty freakin’ brutal. If I had to describe the sound, I’d say, aggressive. To further clarify, I’d say it’s somewhere between Helmet and Snapcase or even more so, a combination of the two. I don’t want you, the reader, to think that this band is entirely derivative though, they got their own mojo going on. I’ve been rocking the CD in my car for the past few days and I can say with certainty that Hemorrhage has some songcraft skill. Songs are brief; two minute style, which we all know I prefer. They vocals aren’t so filled with broken glass that you can’t pick out the words. The music is artfully complex without being pompous. All and all, a solid start from a energetic upcoming band.

The gist of it is seven tracks of crushing music filled with both angst and spirit. (By spirit I’m talking about the fact that the band didn’t bother with labels. They made their own. They have that much dedication.) So seriously, if you like west coast hardcore (or any fast heavy music) check this band out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

www.hemorrhage.bandcamp.com

-Jerry Actually

Broadway Calls-Comfort/Distraction

Since the beginning of the year many of my favourite bands have either announced release dates or have released a new record. I have to admit Comfort/ Distraction was probably the album I have anticipated most. It was worth every second I waited for it.

Broadway Calls are not a group that is ashamed of their influences and it shines through on numbers like “Minus One”, the Green Day influence is unmistakable as well as undeniable. At the same time they are not afraid to add their own voice to the punk rock conversation with the Jimmy Stadt referencing lyric from Zombie World “James was only half correct. Year our friends are saints, but their all toxic train wrecks.”

While their sound is firmly rooted in those that have come before them, they still manage to create music that doesn’t become too derivative. The vocals and melodies heard on Comfort/Distraction make the music stand out from their peers and create a style that is their own.

People who have followed the band’s previous efforts have long considered them among the best but Comfort /Distraction will further establish Broadway Calls as pop punk heavyweights and create a place for them among the elite of the genre all the while embracing where they come from as they move forward.