San Diego-based skate punk group Skipjack are allowing fans to stream their latest single. The effort is titled, “Safe Spaces” and will appear on a soon-to-be-released EP from the band. Further details of this release are currently unknown. You can check out “Safe Spaces” below. The previous release from Skipjack was the 2017 album, Songs […]
San Diego-based skate punk group Skipjack are allowing fans to stream their latest single. The effort is titled, “Safe Spaces” and will appear on a soon-to-be-released EP from the band. Further details of this release are currently unknown.
You can check out “Safe Spaces” below. The previous release from Skipjack was the 2017 album, Songs From The Great American Bargain Bin.
Bowling For Soup and Reel Big Fish will be hitting the road together this summer. Starting June 19, the two bands will perform a total of 19 shows together across the US. Joining the pair at select shows will be California’s Nerf Herder and Illinois’s Mest. You can check out the full list of dates […]
Bowling For Soup and Reel Big Fish will be hitting the road together this summer. Starting June 19, the two bands will perform a total of 19 shows together across the US. Joining the pair at select shows will be California’s Nerf Herder and Illinois’s Mest.
You can check out the full list of dates on the tour poster below.
The previous release from Bowling For Soup was the 2016 album, Drunk Dynasty. Meanwhile, the equivalent for Reel Big Fish was 2018’s Life Sucks… Let’s Dance.
Friday, March 8th, on the North side of Chicago, almost but not quite directly across the street from Wrigley Field saw a night all about love. Love for Jerry Bryant, love for his creation, JBTV, which ranks the longest running music television program in the US. And by extension love for all those fighting or […]
Friday, March 8th, on the North side of Chicago, almost but not quite directly across the street from Wrigley Field saw a night all about love. Love for Jerry Bryant, love for his creation, JBTV, which ranks the longest running music television program in the US. And by extension love for all those fighting or have fought cancer. Love this night was expressed by two words, “Fuck Cancer.” A chant repeated multiple times throughout one of the city’s most famous music venues, Metro.
Jerry Bryant founded JBTV in 1984 and since that time has been awarded Billboard Music Awards for “Best Local/Regional Alternative Modern Rock Show,” as well as numerous Emmy Awards. Performances are taped in front of a live audience and then broadcast. Green Day and Chicago’s own Smashing Pumpkins were among the countless acts who gained some initial exposure on JBTV. In fact, the latter band made its very first television appearance on JBTV.
On August 20, 2018, JBTV announced that its founder, Bryant, had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer. The diagnosis was followed by six months of chemotherapy. And so there was never any doubt that there soon would be a benefit for Jerry Bryant and this one was a joyous celebration of the man who has done so much for music. The MC for the night was Lauren O’Neil, Q101 personality. It was a night to give him thanks. Another chant heard throughout the night was “Jerry, Jerry.” And when the guest of honor took to the stage, he spent the majority off his time urging everyone to take care of their health, get their tests done and most importantly stay positive in the face of a cancer diagnosis.
Bryant urged everyone in attendance to make sure that last action was taken. He did spent his entire time on stage with a huge smile and as JBTV President Michael Harnett told me by email a few days after the show, “Jerry was thrilled by the turnout and the support of the Chicago Music community.” Harnett added his own take on the night, “It was a great evening and event, very pleased.” JBTV’s partner in making this night such a success was the event, Charity Bomb. Harnett of JBTV credited Charity Bomb with having “…produced the great event.”
A few days after the show I spoke with Charity Bomb founder Matthew Leone by email. In 2010, Leone, bass player for Madina Lake, was brutally assaulted in Chicago near his bandmate/twin brother Nathan’s apartment while attempting to help a woman being beaten by her husband. He suffered brain swelling, a broken jaw, a broken nose and a fractured skull, and was in and out of consciousness for several days. His attacker was later acquitted of the resulting attempted murder charge in a bench trial. Leone described the founding of Charity Bomb. “We launched Charity Bomb because I was severely injured a few years back was the recipient of the same magnitude of love and that we were able to procure for Jerry. In my case, the Smashing Pumpkins stepped up and did a benefit show at the Metro for me.”
The brothers Leone and their Madina Lake bandmates also performed at the benefit, and he also related to me the genesis of this particular event. “Greg from Kill Hannah contacted me and asked for help. This occasion exemplifies our purpose for existing, so it was in immediate yes. It should also be stated that Chicago is a very supportive scene. Everyone in the room was either friends or fondly aware of each other.”
After the benefit for Matthew Leone’s recovery, he was inspired to keep it going. “Subsequently we devoted our lives to giving back for that wonderful experience. We have done several shows in Los Angeles and have five in the calendar for a variety of causes and constituents. Namely our Strange 80s annual benefit for mental health sufferers in the music realm.”
Head below to check out our photos and rundown of the truly memorable night.
London based pop punk quintet Fintan Stack (featuring members of Hull punks Less Deceived, London pop punks Spineless Yes Men and solo artist Duncan Ewart) have announced some shows in March and April in the UK. Have a look below to check the dates out.
London based pop punk quintet Fintan Stack (featuring members of Hull punks Less Deceived, London pop punks Spineless Yes Men and solo artist Duncan Ewart) have announced some shows in March and April in the UK.
Have a look below to check the dates out.
Buckle up, punk fans, Southern California skate-punk act Chaser are taking Europe by storm the Spring/Summer! Thanks to the tremendous work of Merit-Based Booking and Management you’ll be able to catch the guys at festivals like Groezrock in Belgium, SBAM in Austria, Polite Riot in London, and Jera On Air in Netherlands with a smattering of gigs […]
Buckle up, punk fans, Southern California skate-punk act Chaser are taking Europe by storm the Spring/Summer! Thanks to the tremendous work of Merit-Based Booking and Management you’ll be able to catch the guys at festivals like Groezrock in Belgium, SBAM in Austria, Polite Riot in London, and Jera On Air in Netherlands with a smattering of gigs across the continent in between. Check out the dates and locations below.
Chaser’s new album “Sound The Sirens” was released digitally through Dying Scene Records and physically through Effervescence Records on July 20th, 2018. Stream/purchase the digital release on bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes and pick up the vinyl/CD through Effervescence Records.
Dark and brooding. Angry and loud. Belgium’s DEPTHS. are everything you’re looking for in a post-hardcore band, and their new EP “Until Sleep Narrows My Conscious Mind” is every bit as complicated and epic as its name implies. I must admit, I wasn’t too familiar with these guys until this very moment but as I […]
Dark and brooding. Angry and loud. Belgium’s DEPTHS. are everything you’re looking for in a post-hardcore band, and their new EP “Until Sleep Narrows My Conscious Mind” is every bit as complicated and epic as its name implies. I must admit, I wasn’t too familiar with these guys until this very moment but as I write this on a foggy fall morning in the Southern Hemisphere they’re a very welcome new discovery. Discover them yourself below.
There are just too many bands now. Too many albums releasing every week, everything streaming on bandcamp and spotify. We just can’t cover them all anymore. You don’t need that. What you need is somebody you trust to tell you which of the many new punk albums released every week are worth your time. Here’s […]
There are just too many bands now. Too many albums releasing every week, everything streaming on bandcamp and spotify. We just can’t cover them all anymore. You don’t need that. What you need is somebody you trust to tell you which of the many new punk albums released every week are worth your time. Here’s one for you:
I’m not entirely sure what Luxembourg is known best for but I would not have guessed pop punk to be one of them. Versus You are here to defy that. The four-piece from one of Europe’s smallest countries know how to write catchy pop-punk songs and after the very first track of their new album “Worn And Loved” I knew the entire release was going to stand out from the pack. Proof is a click away below.
Versus You last released Times Of War/Let’s Make Love in August 2018.
Simple Creatures, the new project from Mark Hoppus of blink-182 and Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low have announced their first live dates. The pair will be playing four dates in the US and one in the UK (which can be found above). Their debut EP ‘Strange Love’ was produced by Zakk Cervini who came up […]
Simple Creatures, the new project from Mark Hoppus of blink-182 and Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low have announced their first live dates. The pair will be playing four dates in the US and one in the UK (which can be found above).
Their debut EP ‘Strange Love’ was produced by Zakk Cervini who came up working with John Feldmann and is now in high demand. In case you have not heard either of the singles released so far, the video for the title track (arguably more ‘punk’ sounding than the first single) is streaming below.
California’s Graduating Life have announced that they are joining the Pure Noise family. To celebrate, they’ve shared ‘Grad Life‘, a re-release of the band’s previous album, originally released last September and have also released a music video for ‘Carry A White Flag‘. Graduating Life began as a solo project for Bart Thompson in 2017. They […]
California’s Graduating Life have announced that they are joining the Pure Noise family. To celebrate, they’ve shared ‘Grad Life‘, a re-release of the band’s previous album, originally released last September and have also released a music video for ‘Carry A White Flag‘. Graduating Life began as a solo project for Bart Thompson in 2017. They have become a full band over the last year or so. Thompson, along with a few other members of Graduating Life, is also a member of bands such as Mom Jeans. and Just Friends.
‘Grad Life‘ was part of Dying Scene writer Carson Winter’s end of year picks. Check out the new video below.
Crywank are an anti-folk/folk-punk act based in Manchester who have just released their latest album Wearing Beige On A Grey Day, and they’re one of the most important voices in the genres today. With their encapsulation of depression and anxiety, combined with incredible creative imagery and unique wordplay, Crywank have consistently created haunting and addictive […]
Crywank are an anti-folk/folk-punk act based in Manchester who have just released their latest album Wearing Beige On A Grey Day, and they’re one of the most important voices in the genres today. With their encapsulation of depression and anxiety, combined with incredible creative imagery and unique wordplay, Crywank have consistently created haunting and addictive music. Wearing Beige On A Grey Day is the band’s sixth full length album, and third studio album.
Wearing Beige On A Grey Day takes the Crywank sound, often slightly understated and at times rather haunting, and adds new instrumentals and layering with some ominous brass on the tracks “I’ll Have Some In A Bit” and towards the end of “Unassimilated Normie.” The multilayered instrumentals combine quite well with the backing of moody acoustic music that’s akin to their first album James is going to die soon. There’s signature peaks of emotional explosion, something Crywank do quite well, notably in the almost deranged moments during “Drippy Droopy Pidgeonhole.”
The band has always had some incredibly strong lyrical work from James Clayton, both in writing and his emotion fueled performances. This album is no exception, with Clayton finding even more provocative angles to approach discussion of his own mental space as well as those around him. There’s a heartbreaking relevance to the album, with unique and strong imagery and metaphor combining to make a relatable experience. There’s new ground tread with “Blood,” separating from, yet still keeping relevance with, the general concept of the album; about not being able to feel alright. Blood discusses tragedy and society’s insistence on glossing it over, redirecting blame and to forget rather than find respect for those involved. James’ incredibly powerful lyrics are in full force for the entirety of the album, and here the lines carry real weight; “This is not a call for guilt, this is just a request for respect, the blood may not be on our hands, but we sleep in their beds, oh we sleep in their beds.”
The album feels a lot more directed than their previous, Egg on face. Foot in mouth. Wriggling Wriggling Wriggling. The more compact runtime gives a more solid concept to build around. It’s also nice to see the band has kept up with their trend for uncomfortable hand drawn album art. From front to back Wearing Beige On A Grey Day is terrific, another step forward for the ever growing Crywank.
You can give the album a listen down below.