“Melodic garage-punk […] about letting go of the things that don’t matter.” –NPR
“Sharp, polished piece of driving, guitar-centric power-pop” – Stereogum
“All the bad vibes are immediately being dashed away, replaced with something cheerier and sometimes downright saccharine.” – Noisey
Today marks the release of Bay Dream, the sophomore album from Culture Abuse. Bay Dream is the band’s first full-length release for Epitaph Records. Listen to Bay Dream at Spotify now.
Bay Dream includes the recently released single “Dip.” In creating the track’s high-concept yet lo-fi video (which premiered on Tuesday), director Ryan Baxley built a human-sized photocopy machine, and essentially turned the clip into an animated zine. Watch the video for “Dip” by Culture Abuse here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVTiKdTTOjE
Having just completed a tour with Turnstile and Touché Amoré, Culture Abuse are on tour now with The Bronx in Europe. Culture Abuse will return to the US in July for three record release shows in New York, Los Angeles, and Oakland, with special guest appearances. In addition, Culture Abuse will join Nothing for a co-headlining tour in the US in September.
CULTURE ABUSE TOUR DATES:
Jun 15 Nickelsdorf – Nova Rock
Jun 16 Hamburg – Logo
Jun 18 Leipzig – Conne Island
Jun 19 Prague – Eternia
Jun 20 Berlin – So 36
Jun 21 Karlsruhe – NCO Club
Jun 22 Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
Jun 23 Schessel – Hurricane Festival
Jun 24 Neuhausen ob Eck – Southside Festival
Jun 25 Poitou-Charentes – La Mars
Jun 26 Decines-Charpieu – Warm Audio
Jun 29 Antwerp – Sommer Glom @ Kavka
Jun 30 Munster – Vainstream Rockfest
Jul 2 London, UK – Rough Trade East
Jul 3 Bristol, UK – Rough Trade
Jul 4 Nottingham, UK – Rough Trade
Jul 19 Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade (Record Release Celebration)
Jul 27 Los Angeles, CA – The Echo (Record Release Celebration)
Jul 28 Oakland, CA – Good Mother (Record Release Celebration)
Sept 7 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
Sept 8 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
Sept 9 Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
Sept 11 Detroit, MI – The Shelter
Sept 12 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
Sept 13 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
Sept 14 Kansas City, KS – Record Bar
Sept 15 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
Sept 18 San Jose, CA – The Ritz
Sept 19 San Francisco, CA – GAMH
Sept 20 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent
Sept 22 San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Sept 23 Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
Jun 16, Jun 25, Jun 26 with The Bronx
Jun 18 – Jun 21 with Modern Life is War and Cro-Mags
THE FILAMENTS have released a new track called “Rip-Off World” from their new LP “Look To The Skies,” out June 15th. You can listen to the new song HERE.
The band previously released the title track, “Look To The Skies,” which can be listened to HERE.
Since The Filaments reformed in 2009, they’ve taken their long-established track record of amazing songwriting and energetic stage performances to new heights, and have been steadily attracting swaths of new fans across England, Europe and the world. With multiple full-lengths and countless tours under their belts, these veterans are still full of drive, and roaring to deliver this amazing new album to the world.
This music, like the band, is really one-of-a-kind. Almost like UK ’82 style punk battered by a barrage of dub, 2-tone ska, psychobilly and even a bit of traditional Oi!/streetpunk. It creates an overall sound that is like nothing else; it has something for everyone, and a general appeal that gets people from all segments of the punk community dancing and singing along.
The Filaments are now absolute staples in the punk world, especially at the essential European festivals like Rebellion and Punk ‘n’ Disorderly; but they have also graced the stage at larger outdoor getups like Glastonbury (UK), and others. They are as punk as it gets, but because their music is so unique and SO FUN, and their positive message is so clear, they are by no means ‘too punk’ to scare off the masses. In fact, their very clear message rings even louder, and they stand out even more amidst a backdrop of so much banality.
TRACK LISTING:
1. Fuck The “Alt”-Right
2. Look to the Skies
3. Rip-Off World
4. No Men to Parade
5. Living in the Crosshairs
6. Underdogs
7. Tread Carefully
8. Ask No Favors
9. All We’ve Ever Known
10. The Verge
11. Killing Machine
CATCH THE FILAMENTS ON TOUR!
06/08/2018 – Dijon, France – Maloka Fest
06/09/2018 – Opwijk, Belgium – Loco Fest
06/16/2018 – London, UK – Underworld Camden (Record release show)
08/04/2018 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Rebellion Festival
08/09/2018 – Bristol, UK – Boomtown Festival
09/14/2018 – Derby, UK – Hairy Dog
10/06/2018 – Rennes, France – The Bobbleshop Rennes
Today, Alkaline Trio announce US tour dates in August and October. The August dates begin August 3 in Dallas, TX at The Bomb Factory and go throughout August 26 in Orlando, FL at House of Blues. The second leg picks up on October 4 in Santa Ana, CA at The Observatory and will conclude on October 18 in Santa Cruz, CA at The Catalyst.
Matt Skiba explains, “Seems like ages since we’ve properly toured and we couldn’t be more excited to get back out and play for the best fans a band could ask for. If people are half as psyched as we are then it’s gonna be a party!”
Fan club ticket pre-sale begins Monday June 11 at 10 am PST at http://alkalinetrio.shofetti.com. Public pre-sale begins Thursday June 14 at 10 am local time.
SQUIDHAT RECORDS WELCOMES BAY AREA SKA LEGENDS MONKEY TO THEIR ROSTER WITH THE RELEASE OF “INTERMITTENT” ON CD & LIMITED EDITION ORANGE VINYL
Las Vegas, NV, April 14, 2018 –SquidHat Records is proud to announce the release of Intermittent waves, the new album from Monkey. Available digitally, on CD or limited edition orange vinyl nationally and internationally through MVD Entertainment. The street date is 5/5/18.
The hardest working band on the West Coast is back with their sizzling sixth album! This 5 piece high-energy ska group from the SF Bay Area is famous for intense live shows and rock-steady rhythms that not only get the crowds dancing but have won them several awards, including the prestigious California Music Award. Monkey sets the pace for in-your-face ska, performing over 200 shows per year, while constantly recording and touring.
Songs From The Lodge Out 4/20 on Dirty Water Records (pre-order)
Archie and The Bunkers is the Cleveland-based duo of Emmett and Cullen O’Connor, brothers who have been playing music together for as long as they can remember. With Cullen on organ and Emmett on drums, they play “hi-fi organ punk” and have made a big splash since forming in 2013, sharing stages with everyone from Iggy Pop and The Sonics to Echo and the Bunnymen, Black Lips, and Thee Oh Sees and releasing music on Norton, In The Red, and Jack White’s Third Man Records.
Today, they share a cover by one of their biggest influences, LA synth-punk band The Screamers. Dangerous Minds caught up with the O’Connors to chat about their journey — which started when they were just thirteen and fifteen years old — and their new album, Songs From The Lodge, due out next week on Dirty Water Records. You can read the piece (which also includes anecdotes from former Cramps member Nick Knox & Norton Records founder Miriam Linna) here, and stream the duo’s take on “122 Hours of Fear” via SoundCloud.
Archie and The Bunkers will celebrate the release of their new album with a hometown show at Mahall’s on April 28th — more info here.
Songs From The Lodge is currently available for pre-order.
Track Listing:
1. Bill’s Bad Day
2. You’re My Pacemaker
3. She’s A Rockin’ Machine
4. The Cutting Edge
5. Riot City
6. Fire Walk With Me
7. The Roaring ’20s
8. Laura
9. Lost in Today
10. Midnight Attraction
11. 122 Hours of Fear
STRUNG OUT U.S. & CANADA WITH PENNYWISE ANNOUNCED!
We’re fired up to finally share with you the details of the new Strung Out EP, Black Out the Sky, to be released on May 11th. While Strung Out has made their name on intense, frenetic slabs of metal-influenced tech-punk, there is more to the band than meets the eye. It might come as a shock to learn that the band’s new eight-song release is an acoustic affair, but as vocalist Jason Cruz explains, it’s not nearly as surprising for the band members.
“Every song starts on an acoustic guitar for the most part,” Cruz begins. “If it’s a good song, it can be played acoustic. For about the past five years, I’ve been pushing the band to release a record in this format.”
The result is six brand new songs, as well as two re-worked older songs, “Matchbook” and “UnKoil.” Today, you can hear the first new track from the EP, “Town of Corazon,” over at Brooklyn Vegan. It’s a surprisingly subdued song from a band who is usually anything but that. As if that weren’t enough, Strung Out is touring the US and Canada with Pennywise, which kicks off this week!
Cruz and his bandmates—Kiley, Ramos and bassist Chris Aiken—began working on Black Out The Sky in January 2017 with producer Kyle Black, who they had previously teamed up with on 2015’s blistering Transmission.Alpha.Delta, and who played a role in the band deciding to re-work two older songs, “Matchbook” and “UnKoil,” for the release.
“Kyle is a fan of the band,” the singer says. “I am the kind of person who wants to stray and go out into the unknown when I’m in the studio, but Kyle represents our fans. He didn’t let me stray too far with the melody or the music—just far enough to keep it fresh.”
With no set deadline on the release, the recording process went on for nearly the entirety of 2017, allowing for song arrangements to bloom in ways Strung Out songs never had before. “The songs came out really super-dark, not jingly-jangly acoustic stuff,” Cruz says. “We had to get other musicians involved. Some of it is sparse and intimate, and some of it has a lot going on.”
During the recording process, the band decided they needed to part ways with Jordan Burns, the band’s drummer since 1993. Cruz stresses that this decision was not an easy one to make, but it had to happen for the continued existence of Strung Out. “I think the band needed it,” Cruz admits. “It needed to happen for the band to survive and grow. We got to a point where we were going to break up if it didn’t.”
While in the studio, Strung Out realized some of the acoustic songs still needed drums. So the band enlisted their friend Sean Winchester, an accomplished drummer who has played with Everclear, Buckcherry and more, to fill out their sound. For their upcoming live shows, Strung Out will enlist RJ Shankle of California skate-punk band (and former tourmates) Runaway Kids to man the throne. Cruz is ecstatic about not only the fresh blood in his band, but what it means moving forward.
“Really, the whole theme of this record is rebirth,” he explains. “It’s the rebirth of our brotherhood and being a band. It’s astounding when you can keep a relationship together for three decades. There’s something so special about the music we write. We’re brothers beyond any kind of blood. It vindicates that we’re doing something right.
“I always ask myself, ‘What nerve do I have to get in front of a microphone?’” Cruz continues. “The fact that I kept this relationship together for 30 years says we worked through some shit. In our darkest times, we always came out with something beautiful because of it. In my mind, that gives me the right to get in front of that microphone.”
On Black Out The Sky, Cruz continues to dig deep internally, exploring parts of himself he’s yet to fully understand, taking the listener along for the ride, no matter how bumpy it may get.
“When we were kids, we all said, ‘Fuck God, fuck religion, fuck the government, let’s destroy it all,’” the frontman states. “Great. We did that. Punk rock did that. What are you gonna replace it with? Black Out The Sky is all about looking inward and finding what’s always been there, that intuition, that something to all of us. I don’t know what it is, but it’s the journey to find it and acknowledge it.”
Musically, the EP careens from songs that could be ported to full-band electric arrangements easily (“Requiem,” the title track) to mid-tempo grunge indebted to Alice In Chains (“The Architect”) to a full-on rollicking country song (“Duke Of Sorrow”). Cruz’s favorite number is “Town Of Corazon,” a surprisingly fragile song from a band who is usually anything but that. “’Town Of Corazon’ has the most balls we’ve ever displayed because it’s sweet and tender,” he admits. “It brings reference to spring and a new awakening. I’m so tired of screaming, the same riff, the same breakdown… I can’t stomach it anymore. Slipping in a sweet melody is the punkest thing we could do.”
Nearly three decades in, Strung Out is not driven by trends but instead by each other. As Cruz relays, “There is no ‘me’ in this band. It’s us. Whatever we think of, we’re gonna do it. Sometimes, people want to maintain a youthful aura about their band. That’s gone. We’re old dudes. But we’ve learned a thing or two. There’s nothing wrong with being an old dude. Lemme show you a road that I found; come with me.”
STRUNG OUT Tour Dates:
03/09/18 Boise, ID at Knitting Factory w/ Pennywise
03/10/18 Bend, OR at Midtown w/ Pennywise
03/11/18 Spokane, WA at Knitting Factory w/ Pennywise
03/13/18 Victoria, BC Canada at Capital Ballroom w/ Pennywise
03/14/18 Vancouver, BC Canada at Commodore w/ Pennywise
03/16/18 Costa Mesa, CA at OC Fair & Event Center Musink w/ Descendents, Blink 182
03/17/18 Edmonton, AB Canada at Union Hall w/ Pennywise
03/19/18 Saskatoon, SK Canada at O’Brians Event Center w/ Pennywise
03/20/18 Winnipeg, MB Canada at Garrick w/ Pennywise
03/22/18 Des Moines, IA at Woolys w/ Pennywise
03/23/18 Omaha, NE at Sokol w/ Pennywise 05/18/18 Los Angeles, CA at Regent Theater w/ Strife, La Armada, Twilight (Record Release Show)
BLACK OUT THE SKY track listing:
1. The Architect
2. Black Out the Sky
3. Town of Corazon
4. Unkoil (from An American Paradox)
5. Requiem
6. Duke of Sorrow
7. Matchbook (from Twisted by Design)
8. Presidio
Matching witty, tongue-in-cheek lyrics to jagged guitars, GRAVVES are noise merchants bar none.
They occupy a space where punk fury, alt-rock hugeness and truly infectious songs coexist. Blasts of vicious feedback live alongside a swagger ladened with naggingly catchy hooks.
This Spring will see the emerging trio from North Wales release their new EP Oh, The Joy through Loner Noise Records on the 27th April. The EP is loud, infectious and downright cataclysmic – The 6 songs of Oh, The Joy showcases a band taking aim at bigger things.
“We’re super excited for people to finally hear the new songs we’ve been working on.” said vocalist Adam Hughes. “The EP took us a bit longer than it should of to finish, but we couldn’t be happier with the outcome. We are now just looking ahead to losing our voices and breaking our bodies on the road.”
In support, GRAVVES will take to the road, including appearances at Wrong Festival, Sound City and Focus Wales.
28 APR 2018 – Liverpool UK, Wrong Festival
06 MAY 2018 – Liverpool UK, Sound City
10 MAY 2018 – Wrexham UK, Focus Wales Festival
11 MAY 2018 – Preston UK, The Ferret
12 MAY 2018 – Wrexham UK, Focus Wales Festival
26 MAY 2018 – Llanidloes UK, Kingsfest
27 MAY 2018 – Birmingham UK, Die Das Der
Oh, The Joy follows the bands 2017 debut EP Rattle, also released through Liverpool-based Loner Noise Records. Singles ‘Tribes’ and ‘My Pet Rihanna’ received widespread airplay by the likes of BBC Radio 6, BBC Radio Wales, Amazing Radio and Kerrang! Radio. The release also received numerous gleaming reviews online, being described as “a bratty, scuzzy brand of balls-out grunge rock, bursting with snarling punk attitude.”
Oh, The Joy will be available on CD and Digital Download from the 27th April 2018
GRAVVES are:
Adam Hughes – Bass, Vocals
David Thomas – Guitar, Vocals
Tom Williams – Drums
Liam and Mark from Booze & Glory are fanatical about Jamaican music. From Ska to Rocksteady, from Calypso to Reggae. From Trojan Records, Studio 1 to Crab Records. From Desmond Dekker, The Maytals to Jimmy Cliff, from Alton Ellis, Kingstonians to Derrick Morgan. From Pressure Drop to Liquidator, from Long Shot Kick De Bucket to Skinhead Revolt…
Just before completing their new (punk) full length “Chapter IV” (Burning Heart), Mark and Liam, and THE LONDONIANS (UK) laid down these amazing tracks with VESPA, from Poland.
These “Jamaican” versions of “London Skinhead Crew”, “Only Fools Get Caught” and “Leave The Kids Alone” are just the start – they were as much fun to record as they are going to be for all of us to dance to for years to come. And the best part is that it is called “Volume 1” for a reason.
POST- Out Now on Polyvinyl & Quote Unquote Records
Winter Tour Dates
“The magnetic Jeff Rosenstock stays fully armed with his power-pop anthems, as full of indomitable hooks as they are of paralyzing doubt and cynicism.” –Ian Cohen, Pitchfork
“His most accomplished album yet.” –Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune
“A record that feels like a generous gesture, an invigorating beacon of hope amid so much despair.”
–Steven Hyden, Uproxx
“Ultimately Jeff Rosenstock is an avowed pessimist constantly surrendering to creative optimism.” -Ken Tucker, NPR’s Fresh Air
Jeff Rosenstock certainly knows how to start 2018 the right way – by surprise releasing his brand new album POST- on New Year’s Day for free download/donation on Bandcamp via Quote Unquote Records. He also announced his new label home – Polyvinyl Record Co. – who will give POST- a physical release on vinyl, cassette and CD on March 23, 2018. Pre-order is currently available.
After receiving rave reviews almost everywhere imaginable (NPR, Pitchfork, Uproxx, The Ringer, Stereogum, MTV, VICE, Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, Paste, BrooklynVegan, Billboard, AV Club, the list goes on…), Jeff is dropping a new video today for the song “Melba” off POST-. Directed by Ben Epstein and David Combs, the video packs the kinetic, off-kilter, destructive punch that’s everything you’d expect in a Jeff Rosenstock video.
Co-director David Combs says of the concept, “Jeff wanted to make a video featuring a character who, consequence free, carelessly destroys everything around them. The idea of such a character reminded me of how often the abuse of power is a thoughtless exercise for those who hold it, so we decided to expand on the idea and make it a commentary on how abusive patterns get replicated — where the effects are passed downward hierarchically and the people with the least power experience the consequences most intensely. You know, also it’s fun to watch people smash shit, so we tried to have a good time with that too.”
Upcoming tour dates (tour starts today!) and a full bio on Jeff and the record can be found below. Get ready for more exciting news – 2018 promises to be a big year for Jeff.
Fuck white power, fuck the NRA, viva punk rock, viva Jeff Rosenstock!
POST- Tracklisting:
01) USA
02) Yr Throat
03) All This Useless Energy
04) Powerlessness
05) TV Stars
06) Melba
07) Beating My Head Against A Wall
08) 9/10
09) Let Them Win
2018 Tour Dates:
02/15 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge %^
02/16 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room %^
02/17 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA San Diego @ You’re Going To Hate This Fest
02/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom %^ [SOLD OUT]
02/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall @ Noise Pop %^
02/24 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst Atrium %^
03/06 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger #$
03/07 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada #$
03/08 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda #$
03/09 – Houston, TX @ Secret Group #$
03/10 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa @ Community Records Block Party
04/07 – Las Vegas, NV @ Emerge Music & Impact Conference
Epitaph Records is pleased to welcome surf-punk band The Frights to its roster. The San Diego-based band features Mikey Carnevale (vocals/guitar), Richard Dotson (bass), Marc Finn (drums) and Jordan Clark (guitar).
Today, The Frights share their new song “Valentine’s Sux.” With its sticky melody and bouncy rhythm, the sing-along-ready breakup anthem touches on everything from bummer dinners at Benihana to bad barber-shop-quartet-related life decisions.
“‘Valentine’s Sux’ was really fun to write mainly because I was in the middle of writing our next record,” says Carnevale. “I’d been on that every day for a long time, so it was a good break to write something funny. Is this what is feels like to be Weird Al? Just constantly happy? So sick.”
On February 14, The Frights will headline The Fonda Theatre in L.A. for a special Valentine’s Day show celebrating the release of this track. Thee Commons will join as support.
Formed in 2012, The Frights made their debut with 2013’s Dead Beach EP and released their self-titled full-length later that year. Their sophomore album You Are Going To Hate This arrived in 2016, debuting on the CMJ Top 200 chart. Produced by FIDLAR’s Zac Carper, You Are Going To Hate This earned acclaim from outlets like Brooklyn Vegan (who praised the title track as a “super catchy blend of Weezer, SoCal pop punk, and Burger-y garage rock”).
“We couldn’t be more excited to start a new path with Epitaph,” says Carnevale. “Some of our favorite bands have been on this label and it seems pretty bizarre that we’re joining them. Super, super stoked.”
