If any of you Less Than Jake fans head on over to their website, you’ll be treated to a fun little video that is essentially a preview of their TV/EP that’s coming out next week. For those of you who don’t know what this EP is all about, Less Than Jake is putting out a cover release, covering 16 television theme songs/advertisements spanning the years. It is entertaining, not gonna lie. Watch it and feel like a kid again.

The TV/EP will be coming out October 12th on Sleep It Off Records.

Virginia’s Friday Night Boys are calling it quits after almost four years. Vocalist Andrew Goldstein says how it was a choice the whole band agreed on, and continues his note to the fans by wanting to reflect on the positive experiences the band had (*cough cough* bad breakup). Drummer Chris Barrett is doing a solo album, Guitarist Mike Toohey is starting a new project/band, and bassist Robby Reider is working in a congressman’s office–? Interesting.

Well, if you guys are heartbroken over this, do what Goldstein did and remember the positive experiences. Check out their last music video for Stupid Love Letter here. The song appears on their album Off The Deep End, released on Fueled By Ramen last year.

…to disband.

I find this absolutely hilarious. Whether or not you like this band, this is a truly entertaining story. Apparently, a group of people (henceforth referred to as “haters”) were so disappointed by Weezer‘s latest release that they are getting together to raise $10,000,000 to put an end to this Los Angeles rock band. The haters have this to say:

I have never been a fan of this band. I think that they are pretty much horrible, and always have been. Even in the early 90’s.But this isn’t about me. This is about the Weezer fans. They are our brothers and sisters, our friends, our lovers.Every year, Rivers Cuomo swears that he’s changed, and that their new album is the best thing that he’s done since “Pinkerton,” and what happens? Another pile of crap like “Beverly Hills” or “I’m Your Daddy.”This is an abusive relationship, and it needs to stop now.

Looks like someone is not getting enough Justin Bieber on the music charts.

I am tired of my friends being disappointed year after year.I am tired of endless whimsical cutesy album covers and music videos.I’m sick of hearing about whatever this terrible (and yes, even if you like the early stuff, you should be able to admit that they are wretched now) excuse for a band is up to these days.If all 852,000 of you (really?) who bought “Pinkerton” pitch in $12, we will meet our goal.I beg you, Weezer. Take our money and disappear

I think this is a win-win situation for Weezer. Either they don’t agree to this and continue to make their millions playing music, or they get $10 mil to do nothing! If I were them, I’d “disband”, collect my $10 mil, and then “come back” under a new name: “Rezeew” (Weezer backwards).

Anybody else find the absurd humor in this?

***UPDATE***

Weezer drummer Patrick Wilson tweeted “if they can make it 20, we’ll do the ‘deluxe breakup’!”

**The Album Reviews published on Dying Scene are written and submitted by regular users of the site. These users are not professional music critics nor are they paid for what they write. If you disagree with an album’s rating, feel free to voice your opinion and give it your own rating in the comments. If you’d like to submit your own review do it here.

Hostage Calmis a band that saw how generic the pop/rock scene was, and got some ideas. With their latest self-titled effort, they’ve released 12 self sufficient songs: each of them being worthy of their own single. They’ve put the word diversity to use by shifting genres, whether it be taking influence from the Latin culture with Wither On The Vine, or the 50’s swing intro that opens and layers Ballots and Stones. Hostage Calm has proven they understand other musical cultures, putting them to use nearly flawlessly on their self titled.

Along with diversity, Hostage Calm also employs a heavy, yet uplifting vibe throughout the album. Heavy power chords matched with octave runs reminding you that pop/rock is the true backdrop of the album. There are, of course, catchy choruses, but they’re deeper than the usual jumpy tempo of most pop punk bands. Where The Waters Call Home exemplifies the deep chorus through its build up . Quickening his palm mutes, the guitarist works towards the chorus from the slow, dramatic verse, building tension and anticipation, and right before the whole thing breaks, the drum sticks roll over the snare, kick and bass drum before exploding into a short, melodic and hook laden chorus. The chorus, rich in harmony and complimentary guitars, holds its own due to the satisfaction it brings after the tension.

The album holds together quite nicely and surprisingly, even past track nine. Jerry Rumspringer (track 11), has the same energy and feel that the beginning of the album holds. It has the quick paced punk pop upstroke strumming with enough breaks and tempo changes to keep your head on straight, yet stays similar in terms of energy, sound, and feel as Affidavit (track 2). Though there are so many genre experiments, Hostage Calm stay in a comfortable pop rock feel throughout the album, keeping everything smooth and connectible. Each song flows nicely from one to the other, and as a whole, the album doesn’t miss a beat.

Hostage Calm may be fairly new, but they have the sound and song writing ability to stick around for years to come. They are chameleon-like, having enjoyable music for  everyone; not just teenybopper teenagers looking for the next Four Year Strong. There is an intelligence in Hostage Calm’s music worth investigating.

Canadian screamo act Silverstein has been talking about their new album since this summer, apparently really excited about it. According to Wikipedia, Silverstein has titled their fifth album Set This All Ablaze. No, wait. They’ve confirmed it. It must be true.

It seems like Silverstein is continuing the theme of fire, especially that of last year’s A Shipwreck In The Sand. It makes me wonder if this is going to continue the concept seen–or heard, rather–in that release. Well, the only new song of theirs has only been played live a few times. Check it out here, if you want a glimpse of what Set This All Ablaze is going to sound like.

Silverstein’s last release, A Shipwreck In The Sand, came out in March 2009 on Victory Records.

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Travis Shettel of Piebald fame has released his newest project entitled “TS & The Past Haunts“. It was recorded with his friends in The Duke Spirit this past August . It contains eight songs that he had been writing and promises more to come.

You can stream and download these songs on his Bandcamp page.

Cheap Girls are streaming “Kerosene,” their contribution to the Bad Religion tribute album, “Germs Of Perfection,” on their MySpace page.  The original version appears on Bad Religion’s 1993 album “Recipe For Hate.”

Germs Of Perfection is an exclusive Bad Religion tribute album featuring 15-or-so contributing artists.  Over the next three weeks, MySpace will be posting one song a day (barring weekends) to stream.  On 19 October, the entire album will be available as a free download through both MySpace Music and SPIN.com.

So far, additional contributions can be streamed by Polar Bear Club (Better Off Dead), Tegan And Sara (Suffer), Frank Turner (My Poor Friend Me), Cobra Skulls (Give You Nothing feat. Fat Mike),  New Politics (Generator), Riverboat Gamblers (Heaven Is Falling), Ted Leo And The Pharmacists (Against The Grain), William Elliott Whitmore (Don’t Pray On Me), and Weakerthans (Sanity).

Suburban Home Records has announced a bevy of new artists who will be contributing to the label’s “Under The Influence” 7-inch series.

If you are not familiar with the series, it features different punk acts covering songs that have influenced their songwriting. The artwork is done by the very talented Mitch Clem and Nation of Amanda who has been asked to make their own renditions of the album art that the song being covered originally appeared.

Here’s what they’ve got planned:

Already Recorded (awaiting artwork and mastering)
Ruiner / Attica Attica
Franz Nicolay / Mischief Brew
Limbeck (no partner for Limbeck, they have 2 songs)
Cheap Girls / Noise By Numbers

Coming Soon (will be recording soon or waiting to confirm the flipside partner)
Sainte Catherines / Nothington
Riot Before (partner will be announced soon)
Sidekicks (partner will be announced soon)
Flatliners (partner will be announced soon)

Listen to past volumes of the Under the Influence series, check out the artwork, and listen to the tracks here.

Every Friday the punk rock geniuses here at Dying Scene unleash some punk rock trivia. Today’s “fun factoid” is about Heather Gabel, the wife of Against Me! vocalist Tom Gabel.

Some of you may be surprised to know that Heather has done cool design work for some well known musicians in the punk scene, and not just for Against Me!.  She’s done work for Green Day, Hot Water Music, My Chemical Romance, Sundowner, Rancid, Lifetime, Alkaline Trio (I’m tired of making links), and more. You can check her work here.

Know an interesting story or bit of punk rock trivia? Share it with us here and if we publish it, we just might send you a reward.

Swedish punk act Venerea are releasing a brand new album titled “Lean Back In Anger” October 15th on Concrete Jungle Records.  If you’re unfamiliar with the band head over to their MySpace where they’re streaming 2 new songs from the coming album (“Molokai” and “Heads They Win, Tails You Lose”).

The band was a staple of the mid 90’s Swedish punk scene and has just recently returned from hiatus.