Upstarter – Page 44 – PUNK | SKA

BAD RELIGION STREAMS TRUE NORTH TODAY

BAD RELIGION STREAMS TRUE NORTH TODAY

Band Announces North American Spring Tour

LA’s legendary punk heroes Bad Religion are streaming their new album True North in its entirety starting today, in front of their January 22nd album release date. In anticipation of their new release, Bad Religion have announced a North American tour starting in March of 2013 with support from Against Me! and Polar Bear Club. Tickets for the tour go on-sale starting this Thursday, January 17th.

To stream the new record, please go to: http://bit.ly/VGb3O1

True North celebrates the power of cogent punk in the face of personal pain and adversity. It is one of the band’s most emotionally accessible albums to date. Beneath the bristling guitars and surging drums exists one of the most cathartic works of the band’s career. With True North, Bad Religion deliberately revisits and refines the fast melodic Southern California sound they helped to define on albums such as Suffer, No Control and Recipe For Hate.

With a new album around the corner, Bad Religion cements their place in punk rock history with 16 studio albums, worldwide critical acclaim and countless world tours and will continue the celebration of their distinguished career with extensive touring in 2013, a rare intimate show in Los Angeles on January 23^rd at The Echo in Los Angeles and their first ever appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon this January 30th.

Fans can pre-order True North by going here: http://www.kingsroadmerch.com/bad-religion/region/ and can check out the single “True North” via YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKflTc_RT6U

Bad Religion Tour Dates:

1/23/2013	The Echo	Los Angeles	CA
3/8/2013	OC Fair & Event Center	Costa Mesa	CA
3/9/2013	Soma	San Diego	CA
3/12/2013	Backstage Live	San Antonio	TX
3/13/2013	House of Blues	Houston	TX
3/14/2013	House of Blues	Dallas	TX
3/16/2013	The Ritz Ybor	Tampa	FL
3/17/2013	House of Blues- Orlando	Orlando	FL
3/19/2013	The Masquerade	Atlanta	GA
3/20/2013	War Memorial Auditorium	Nashville	TN
3/22/2013	9:30 Club	Washington	DC
3/23/2013	The Wellmont Theatre	Montclair	NJ
3/24/2013	Electric Factory	Philadelphia	PA
3/26/2013	Terminal 5	New York	NY
3/28/2013	House of Blues	Boston	MA
3/29/2013	State Theatre	Portland	ME
3/30/2013	Metropolis	Montreal	QC
3/31/2013	Kool Haus	Toronto	ON
4/2/2013	St. Andrews Hall	Detroit	MI
4/4/2013	Newport Music Hall	Columbus	OH
4/5/2013	Congress Theatre	Chicago	IL
4/6/2013	Pops Nightclub	Sauget	IL
4/8/2013	Granada Theater	Lawrence	KS
4/10/2013	The Fillmore	Denver	CO
4/11/2013	In The Venue	Salt Lake City	UT
4/13/2013	Vogue Theater	Vancouver	BC
4/14/2013	Roseland Theater	Portland	OR
4/15/2013	Showbox SoDo	Seattle	WA
4/18/2013	Hollywood Palladium	Hollywood	CA
4/20/2013	TBD	Pheonix	AZ
5/26/2013	Punk Rock Bowling	Las Vegas	NV

For more information:
www.epitaph.com
www.badreligion.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/true-north-single/id583717513
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/f**k-you-single/id572758248

Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso – Curse of the Unsinkable Ship

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Ah ah Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso. (known further as JCFHA) what wacky blend of ska/funk/punk/calypso have you crafted for us? Well, I suppose that actually rather describes it. The new release by Tampa’s JCFHA, “Curse of the Unsinkable Ship” is, in fact, a blend of Ska, Funk, Punk, and Calypso.

The album holds 15 tracks. This includes both a prologue and epilogue, so consider it 13 musical numbers and some guidance. Conceptually it reminds me of the ska classic, Full Trucker Effect, by Johnny Socko. The tracks are often a bit lower tempo, but that story telling vibe is there. Granted, the storyline is slightly less cohesive. JCFHA seems to be a bit more focused on the comedic elements of their “theme” album. That’s fine. Not judging. Just saying.

Comparisons aside, the album is fun. It has an exceedingly casual vibe and is very very party. However, I’m only halfway through. Things could take a darker turn. I’ll go get a refreshing beverage and let you know.

…

Ok, so the album does take a darker and a bit unusual turn around track 10, Suburban Wasteland. If you’re from the suburbs, then you know the specific kind of hell the song speaks of. I suspect that in their haste to escape the ‘burbs, JCFHA took a wrong turn and ended up in the sticks as track 11 gets decidedly country. Humor still intact, the release travels on.

At the end of the day, what you in Curse of the Unsinkable Ship is a none-too-serious, but seriously fun blend of ska heavy rock-n-roll. If you’re at all curious, check ‘em out here: http://www.reverbnation.com/johnnycakes Seriously check ‘em out. This band has a steel drum player. How cool is that?

-Jerry Actually

Up For Nothing – In Trance

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Up For Nothing - In Trance Brooklyn’s best kept secret, or so I’m lead to believe by their bio, is a little band called Up For Nothing. Perhaps you remember them from last year’s “Twelve Stories Down”. If not, never fear as there is always time to pick up on what you’ve been missing out on. 2013 brings us a new batch of tunes, five to be exact, in the form of “In Trance” The new EP brings more beloved punk rock sounds with a bit more polish that only comes with hard earned time.

The tracks have a positive vibe, even in situations where the content may be squarely in the opposite direction; up-tempo and nicely orchestrated. Part of this overall goodness must surely due to incredible production. From the band’s bio, “these songs were recorded and mixed by Pete Steinkopf (The Bouncing Souls) and mastered by Stephen Egerton (The Descendents)”. If that doesn’t pique your interest right there, you might wanna just keep on walking.

At the end of it, you get five new punk rock tracks by a solid punk rock band. If you’d like to hear more, check out some of the band’s tracks here: http://www.reverbnation.com/upfornothing

–Jerry Actually

NOFX CELEBRATE 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH LP BOX SET

January 3rd, 2013 – Los Angeles, CA – Quintessential California punk band NOFX celebrate their monumental 30th anniversary by announcing the release of a limited edition deluxe LP collection of every studio album they have released, from 1988’s Liberal Animation through 2012’s Self Entitled on February 19th 2013. This limited edition collection will be available for preorder today at: www.nofxboxset.com.

The must-have collection of only 2500 pressings will include all of NOFX’s studio albums, as well as the 2xLP for the “7 Inch of the Month Club,” which has never been available before. Liberal Animation, S & M Airlines, Ribbed, White Trash, Two Heebs & A Bean, Punk In Drublic, Heavy Petting Zoo , So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes, Pump Up The Valuum , The Decline, War On Errorism, 7-Inch of the Month Club, Wolves in Wolves Clothing, Coaster and Self-Entitled are packaged in a beautiful hardbound anniversary box and pressed on colored vinyl with exclusive colors available through both Fat Wreck Chords and Epitaph Records.

In addition, all box sets will include a life-size version of the band’s infamous stage banner and 500 LPs will be signed by the band. As a perfect gift for vinyl fans, collectors, and NOFX fanatics alike, the LP Box Set is limited edition and will undoubtedly sell out fast.

Formed in Los Angeles back in 1983, NOFX have sold well over 6 million albums in their illustrious career. Forged in the same fiery furnaces of the L.A. punk rock scene that gave us Bad Religion, Suicidal Tendencies, Germs and Descendents. NOFX emerged as punk rock juggernauts when they joined forces with Epitaph in 1989 and went on to release a string of crucial punk records. Their first major breakthrough came in the form of 1990’s Ribbed, still a fan favorite, followed up by now-classics White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean and Punk in Drublic, the latter selling well over a million copies. That was a wildly successful decade for NOFX as the band popularized the Warped Tour and was the flagship band for the skate/surf/snow culture of the 1990’s.

Now on Fat Mike’s own label, Fat Wreck Chords, their third decade was even more fruitful, which again speaks to NOFX’s indomitable longevity. The band’s decade-long ban on doing the mainstream press and media was lifted as they sought to actively share their dissent for the Bush Administration and speak out against the invasion of Iraq. And once the floodgates were open, NOFX and their “Rock Against Bush” movement were everywhere: Newsweek, Rolling Stone, New York Times, Howard Stern, and network television. All that high profile interest and hype was reflected in the success of their 2003 record, The War on Errorism, which was the #1 independent record in the country at the time if its release and topped Billboard’s Indie chart. The new NOFX full-length, Self Entitled, released on September 11th, is their 12th studio record. A return to their aggressive roots, the 12 tracks embrace the hostile early LA punk sound while maintaining the trademark technical and melodic sound that NOFX is renowned for.

For more information:
www.nofxboxset.com
www.epitaph.com
www.fatwreck.com

Best of 2012

I have to be honest, 2012 did not blow me away when it came to music. It almost disappointed me, I couldn’t even bring myself to listen to, let alone buy, the three records from one of my all-time favourite bands. The year started off well, and there were some releases that I really enjoyed, but there were some lulls at times. I may have missed a lot, but the ones that made my list would have probably made it either way.
1) Jesse Lebourdais-I Go By The Sound. I reviewed this one when it came out, the record is awesome. He’s a Canadian singer, and definitely doesn’t receive the fanfare he deserves.
2) The Menzingers-On The Impossible Past. I liked this album instantly. While this album isn’t in constant rotation, I put it on when the time is right.
3) The Gaslight Anthem-Handwritten-I will be driving along sometimes and just catch myself saying “*&%$, this guy is cool!”
4) Cobra Skulls-Eagle Eyes 7”-“Eagle Eyes” has to be my favourite song this year. I wasn’t even a fan until I read a blog post about them, then took a listen for myself and got hooked.
5) Teenage Bottlerocket-Freak Out! This was also an album that turned me on to this band. I always liked them, but I couldn’t say no to this one.
6) The Magnificent-Bad Lucky. I really enjoyed this album, and out of all the ones to make this list, it is one that deserves more air time than it gets.
7) Pennywise-All or Nothing. As a big Pennywise fan, I was skeptical of this one at first, but Zoli Teglas filled in wonderfully. With that said, I am more than excited for Jim Lindberg’s return to the band.
8) Anti-Flag-The General Strike. This is also a good album, that deserves to be taken off the shelf more than it is.
9) Operation Ivy-Hectic and Energy. I know these aren’t technically albums from 2012, but to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group’s inception, Epitaph reissued both records, and these albums still hold up nicely in today’s musical landscape.
10) Riverboat Gamblers-The Wolf You Feed. I bought this when it first came out, out of loyalty and not really hearing much. Up until about 6 weeks ago, I would have considered this for a worst of 2012 list. But I put it on, and got into it a bit more. It isn’t what I expected from them, but it is a bold evolution for the group that doesn’t cheapen the final product.

Top 10 of 2012

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Wow, would you look at the time? Just do it, ok? By it I mean take a look at a calendar. It is almost 2013. Seriously, what happened to 2012? I’m old. I comment on the passage of time. Get over it. Truly though I wish I had been a little more productive here at !upstarter in 2012. I’m sure that a great number of awesome tunes slipped through my tenuous grasp.

Sometime between a day job and a band project of my own I managed to squeeze in time for 25 reviews this year. That’s one per fortnight, I guess I shouldn’t sell myself short on production. I’m sure that last year wasn’t much different. But down to the guts and glory, if you made the list, a big round of applause. If you sent something in for review and I missed out on something awesome, there is no penalty for re-submission. Without further adieu, I present the best of 2012:

1. Morning Glory – Poets Were My Heroes

2. The Downtown Struts – Victoria!

3. Classics of Love

4. The Atom Age – The Hottest Thing That’s Cool

5. Masked Intruder

6. Harrington Saints – Pride & Tradition

7. The Real McKenzies – Westwinds

8. The Ducky Boys – Chasing The Ghost

9. Problems – Make It Through The Night

10. Eli Whitney & The Sound Machine – Mickey

The Caulfield Cult – Winter Tour 2012

The Caulfield Cult formed in early 2011 and are influenced by bands like Alkaline Trio, Hot Water Music, The Promise Ring, The Get Up Kids, etc. , and self-released our debut full length “Leaving Cemetery Junction” on October 29th 2011. We have toured south east asia extensively and also the UK earlier this year in march and april.

Here are the dates:
13th December 2012 – Cornwall, UK
14th December 2012 – Brighton, UK
15th December 2012 – Brugge, Belgium
16th December 2012 – Amsterdam, Netherlands
17th December 2012 – Hengelo, Netherlands
18th December 2012 – Hamburg, Germany
19th December 2012 – Nuremberg, Germany
20th December 2012 – Geneva, Switzerland
21st December 2012 – Paris, France
22nd December 2012 – Gloucester, UK

all venues are on and will be updated on www.leavingcemeteryjunction.blogspot.com

Masked Intruder

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I’m big time late to the game. That generally seems to be the case. I’m finally getting around to listening to Masked Intruder. I’m speaking, of course, about the self-title release on Red Scare. I know they have some new stuff coming out in cooperation with Fat, but I’m not talking about that right now ok?

Anywhat, this new release busts 13 tracks of pop punk that is way too Descendents for a band named Masked Intruder, especially a band bedecked in a rainbow of ski masks, with songs of felonious intent. I was seriously expecting to hear some Blood for Blood style hardcore come pummeling out of my speakers. Instead I was gently assaulted by pleasant pop punk sounds that have a feeling of Descendents, Queers, Teenage Bottle Rocket and other bands that in essence sound zero like hardcore.

This is not a bad thing by any means. I’m fully digging on this disc and like the subtle trickery that I really brought on myself by making name based assumptions. I, as usual, like the fact that the songs are geared for short attention spans. Nothing hits the three minute mark, though some do come damn close, but never at or over … that is the key, right?

Ok, so bottom line, pop punk as only pop punk can be. The legacy of Buddy Holly and the Beach Boys lives on in a new form that has more distortion and guitar riffery, yet charmingly still has coordinated outfits, which as we all know, is critical.

–Jerry Actually

NOFX – Self Entitled

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NOFX has a new album out. I’m sure you’ve all heard it by now, or at least heard people talking about it. I know I have. People have said things, and I’m paraphrasing, like “back to their roots” and “sounds like ribbed”. In retrospect, that person could have easily said, “smells like ribs”. I’m not sure. I haven’t been really paying attention lately.

At any rate, NOFX have been at it a while; not quite the elder statesmen of punk rock, but damn if their not a heartbeat or two away from that title. So, grizzled and well into middle age, the gentlemen dusted themselves off and kicked out their 12th studio album.

Self Entitled give you twelve tracks of music that sounds a damn lot like NOFX. It’s snotty punk rock with a mix of social commentary, self-deprecation and politics all entwined. So I suppose you could say, “back to their roots” or “these guys are still around?”, because the new release really kind of works on all those levels.

I guess the sum of it is that if you’re a NOFX fan, you’ll likely enjoy this. If you’re out of loop, you’ll probably stay out of the loop, unless of course you’re in faraway lands where the band seems to like to tour a bunch nowadays.

Seriously though, Self Entitle is a fine record that undoubtedly no one but NOFX could have put out. It’s got their scent all over it.

–Jerry Actually

Schecter Amps

So, it looks like Schecter, as in Schecter Guitar Research is going to be introducing a new line of amps. I’ve got limited details at this point, but as a big fan of their guitars, I’m extremely excited about the upcoming products. I hope to check them out first hand at the upcoming 2013 NAMM show.