The good news is that Quebec punks The Real Deal just recently announced they will be playing a bunch of shows stateside. The bad news is that they will only be playing the east coast. Je ne peux pas croire qu’ils ne vont pas visiter le soleil de California! The band had this to say to fans in those regions,

“If you’re planning to come to a show, we highly encourage you to please bring hockey sticks and all other necessary apparel for a pre-show-parking-lot hockey game! Heck’ if you’re not coming to a show, meet us before hand for a pre-show-parking-lot hockey game!

Seriously, if anyone wants to set up a hockey game, e-mail us: band@therealdealhatesyou.com”

The band’s most recent album, Fun, was released last May on Stomp Records.

Find out when and where they’re playing on the band’s Dying Scene Shows page.

Japanese synth/ska/punk group Polysics have announced tour dates around the US beginning in a couple weeks. The band plans to head out on the road to support their most recent album, Absolute Polysics, which was released last September on MySpace Records.

For information on tour dates and locations, go to Polysic’s MySpace page.

Heroes of pop punk, Blink 182 have just recently posted a video teaser from their movie The Blinkumentary. The band announced the film with a trailer video this summer, and has continued to randomly post teaser clips of the movie.

Find out what is in store for you by checking out the video here.

[Read more…]

The 80% mark has been reached for Alesana’s studio video updates for their upcoming album, The Emptiness.  In this episode: vocal tracking galore!  Also: honey guzzling and other voice-saving tips.  Check the video out here.

As for the contest, Alesana will be giving away copies of The Emptiness, a poster, and a signed copy of 2008’s Where Myth Fades To Legend every day until The Emptiness’ 26 January release.  Read their blog post for the details on how to enter yourself.

The Emptiness will be released on Fearless Records. [Read more…]

The title-track to Alkaline Trio’s 23 February release, This Addiction, is now available for download through iTunes by clicking here.

Pre-order the various CD/DVD/vinyl/T-shirt packages for the premier Heart & Skull release, This Addiction, now!  Alk3’s tour kicks off 16 February at the Fox Pomona Theater.  Can’t wait!

Get your dancin’ shoes on because Tuscon’s The Bled have uploaded new tracks from their upcoming album, Heat Fetish.  Venture on down to their MySpace page to get a listen to Smoke Breaks and Mouthbreather.  I’ll tell you one thing, these dudes never cease to impress.

Heat Fetish is due out on 2 March 2010 on Rise Records and is a follow-up to the 2007 release of Silent Treatment.  The Bled is currently on tour with This Time Next Year and Title Fight.  More info on the Shows section of Dying Scene.

Ontario two-toners, The Expos, have announced that they are now officially in the studio (as of last Friday) to record an album for summer 2010 release.  The band has a title for the new disc but won’t be sharing the name of it with the public just yet.  Christopher says that the album took the band but a few weeks to write then shipped off to a waterless, electricityless cabin to get down to the business.

The Expos’ last album, Blackwater, was released on Stomp Records last October.  The band has a few upcoming tour dates scheduled, so hit up Dying Scene’s Shows machine to get more info on that.

PS – The Expos’ MySpace URL has changed, so update your bookmarks!

Drummer for The Wonder Years, Mike Kennedy, has made the tough decision to leave the band.  Here’s what he had to say:

No bullshit, that is how Wonder Years handles everything. So, here it is.

This fall life presented me with a choice to make and I made it. I am leaving The Wonder Years because I decided to continue with my education and enroll in a graduate program in Washington D.C.. Josh, Casey, Soupy, MattBrasch and Mikey still are, and always will be, my best friends and my brothers. The Upsides is the record I always wanted to help write. There is no underlying bullshit or anything like that. I am just trying to live my life the best way I can, and that sadly means no more thunder deers for me.

On the upsides (lolz) the super awesome Nick Steinborn, previously of The Premier fame, will be replacing me on both drums and lackluster facial hair. I have been at practices with him and I gotta say, Wonder Years sounds better than ever. Give him a warm welcome this spring, he deserves it.

Also, to all of the people around the world who I have had the privilege to hang with and make memories with, thanks. I love you, and I will still be around. I am in no way settling down. Once I start my field work I should be on the road more than ever.

I just MattBrasch-ed out so hard. Damnit haha. These upcoming record release shows will be my last ever with the guys. If you can, please come out. I promise to cry like a 17 year old at a Have Heart show.

Thank you to everyone,

Love,

Michael Dominic Kennedy

Needless to say, members of The Wonder Years are super bummed and want you to come say goodbye to Kennedy for his last few shows with the band.  During the five-date album release tour, limited edition shirts (see this article’s picture) can be purchased (w/ a CD for $12) only during these release shows (26 Jan – 31 Jan) which are also the last dates that Kennedy will be playing with the band.  Then go show your support for the new drummer at the upcoming Therefore I Am/Man Overboard tour.  Check out our Shows page for the dates and locations.

The Wonder Years’ upcoming album, The Upsides, will be released on 26 January on No Sleep Records.

Tooth & Nail four-piece, Showbread, will soon be releasing a DVD called Nothing Matters Anymore.  The video disc will feature a documentary of the band’s recent Fear Of God tour with some music videos, interviews, studio footage, etc., sprinkled throughout.  Peep the two videos (a minute-long trailer and a longer clip from the DVD) here!

Showbread released The Fear Of God last August on Tooth & Nail Records. [Read more…]

Alright, Swellers!  Almost back-to-back video posts!  This time, they get their interview on with Flint, Michigan’s, ABC12 morning news then give us a little acoustic love.  The video can be viewed here.  Lookin’ good, dudes!

Again, The Swellers are about kicking off their tour with Motion City Soundtrack in just a couple of weeks.  Get their September release, Ups And Downsizing, on Fueled By Ramen and check Dying Scene’s Shows page for all of the tour dates.