Tours: Drug Church (Ireland)

New York based post-hardcore band Drug Church is probably going to have a very busy 2024 with the already announced tour dates with Alkaline Trio. The band will also be heading to Ireland for the first time this February for two special nights in Dublin and Belfast. Tickets for these shows are already on sale, see below to check out the dates

Let's Go announce new album, release "Our Song"

Kamloops, BC-based skate-punkers Let's Go have announced that they will be releasing a new album. It is called Smile and will be out on November 24 via High End Denim Records. The band has also released their first single from the album called “Our Song”. Let’s Go released their album Disposable Year in 2022. Check out the song and tracklist below.

Green Day debut new song during When We Were Young set

Green Day debuted a new song during their set at When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas on October 22. The song is called “Look Ma, No Brains!”. The band debuted another new song called “The American Dream Is Killing Me” (which is set to be released officially on October 24) at their show at Fremont Country Club in Las Vegas on October 19. Vinyl records with both of the new songs on them were also handed out to fans during that show. Green Day released their album Father of All Motherfuckers in 2020. Check out the video below.

Blink-182 announce US and Toronto tour

Blink-182 have announced a full tour to support the release of their latest album One More Time. They will be bringing Pierce The Veil with them on this run of dates. Tickets go on sale this Friday.

Like a Doll elevates its voice via lullaby-rock on ‘Don’t Throw Your Words’

<p>Brooklyn’s Like a Doll takes its moniker from “the anxiety of feeling like a doll” and an effort to reclaim a childhood fraught with trauma and spin it into something positive. The project of musician Emma Stacher, the Like a Doll sound is billed as lullaby-rock, and it’s easy to hear why: New single “Don’t Throw Your Words,” which streams today (October 23), echoes the sentiments above with an ethereal, floating propulsion, hanging overhead like all the thoughts that race through […]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://vanyaland.com/2023/10/23/like-a-doll-elevates-its-voice-via-lullaby-rock-on-dont-throw-your-words/">Like a Doll elevates its voice via lullaby-rock on ‘Don’t Throw Your Words’</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://vanyaland.com">Vanyaland</a>.</p>

Tours: Beach Fossils and Turnover supports for Fall tour

Beach Fossils and Turnover have announce the supporting acts for their 2023 North American tour. Mary Jane Dunphe, Being Dead, Provoker, Sword II and MSPAINT will be joining them on select dates, see below to check out the dates and supports. Beach Fossils will be touring to support the release of Bunny.

Tours: Elephant Gym announce world tour

Taiwanese experimental band Elephant Gym have announced a string of dates starting at the end of this year to the new year to celebrate the 10th anniversary. More dates to be announced soon. See below to check out the dates. The band last released Dreams in 2022.

DS Record Radar: This Week in Punk Vinyl (Frenzal Rhomb, Strung Out, Link 80, Alkaline Trio & More)

Greetings, and welcome to the Dying Scene Record Radar. If it’s your first time here, thank you for joining us! This is the weekly* column where we cover all things punk rock vinyl; new releases, reissues… you name it, we’ve probably got it. Kick off your shoes, pull up a chair, crack open a cold […]

Greetings, and welcome to the Dying Scene Record Radar. If it’s your first time here, thank you for joining us! This is the weekly* column where we cover all things punk rock vinyl; new releases, reissues… you name it, we’ve probably got it. Kick off your shoes, pull up a chair, crack open a cold one, and break out those wallets, because it’s go time. Let’s get into it!

Check out the video edition of this week’s Record Radar, presented by our friends at Punk Rock Radar:

17 years after its original release on CD, Frenzal Rhomb‘s Forever Malcolm Young is getting its first ever vinyl release. SBÄM Records has three snazzy splatter variants on their US and EU webstores. Our Australian readers (or anyone willing to pay a slight premium for shipping) can get the record on “Goon Wolf Red” colored vinyl from Artist First and/or very cleverly marketed “Johnny Ramone Punk Rock Black” vinyl from JB Hi-Fi.

Strung Out‘s Twisted By Design is the latest record in Fat Wreck’s 25th Anniversary reissue series. The original mix/master of this album has been out of print since 2010, so that’s notable as well. As always, Fat divulges absolutely nothing about the color variant because they know we’ll buy it regardless. So head on over to their webstore to grab a copy and find out what color the rekkid is when it shows up in the mail.

Needless to say, there were a lot of awesome reissues announced this week. Next up to bat is Asian Man Records with new pressings of both Link 80 albums, 17 Reasons and The Struggle Continues. Both are limited to 800 copies; the latter is back in print for the first time since its original release 20+ years ago. Get ’em here.

New release! Yes, we sometimes have those on the Record Radar. Matt Skiba attempts to steal the spotlight from his ex-Blink 182 bandmates with an announcement of his own. Alkaline Trio will release their 10th album Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs on January 26th, 2024. They’re pressing like 30 color variants for this fuckin’ thing and they’re all exclusive to different retailers… someone on Reddit was nice enough to make a post aggregating links to all the places you can buy each variant, so check that out.

Here’s another new release I’m really excited about; one of my most anticipated records of 2023, actually. Bri’ish skate punks Making Friends just launched pre-orders for their new album Fine Dying, which is due out November 3rd. Check out the new single “Broken” below and pre-order the record at one of these places: Punk Rock Radar (US), High End Denim Records (CA), Cat’s Claw Records (UK), Pee Records (AUS), Waterslide Records (JP).

Known for their recent reissues of some classic Pulley records, DustyWax Records adds another feather in their cap with a first ever vinyl release of 88 Fingers Louie‘s 88 Fingers Up Your Ass. Not much more to share on this right now; stay tuned for pre-orders coming soon on the label’s webstore.

Real Gone Music adds to their recent run of Donnas reissues with new pressings of Get Skintight and Turn 21. Each has an Indie variant (not so limited) and a webstore exclusive variant (very limited). These join the recently reissued self titled LP and American Teenage Rock ‘N’ Roll Machine, bringing all of The Donnas’ Lookout! Records catalog back in print for the first time in over a decade. All of the records are available here.

New Orleans ska-punks Joystick have a new record coming out November 14th on Bad Time Records. It’s a 12″ EP with four new songs on Side A and a “20 minute mystery side” on the flipside. Check out one of the new songs down there and get the record here.

Minneapolis’ Partial Traces (members of Banner Pilot, the Soviettes, Dead Landlord, Riverhead, etc.) just released a new record. It’s called Stay Dreaming and it sounds absolutely nothing like any of those other bands. Listen below, buy the record here.

Cal-gary, Alberta’s Territories have a new record out now on Pirates Press Records. Check out the latest single below and get it on neon orange (700 copies) and/or neon violet (300 copies) here. Only $18! (that’s USD, not CAD).

Revelation Records has an exclusive variant of the new Youth Brigade – Sound and Fury reissue from Trust Records. 1,000 copies on yellow colored vinyl; get it here.

Joyce Manor covered a Tigers Jaw song. Tigers Jaw covered a Joyce Manor song. Hopeless Records released a 7″ containing both of these cover songs and you can buy it here. There’s a tour variant, too, so if you’re one of the rich MFs at that When We Were Young Fest this weekend you can probably pay $20 for it at either band’s merch tent.

Speaking of When We Were Young Fest, during their performance at that very Las Vegas festival yesterday, New Found Glory allegedly announced their 2004 album Catalyst will be getting its first ever vinyl release, with pre-orders going live this coming Friday. These NFG reissues always sell out fast as hell, so keep your eyes on the band’s social media for an official announcement.

In a last minute addition to this week’s column, Chase the Glory Records has announced a big time repressing of SNFU’s 1996 FYULABA LP. There are 1,000 copies spread across four beautiful color variants. Pre-order just went up today; get your copy here.

Last order of business this week, I wanna give a quick shoutout to a longtime supporter of the Record Radar, Dan Jones aka @punkrock_vinyl on Instagram. Dan’s account was actually one of the main sources of inspiration for me starting this column. He recently launched his own distro with a bunch of awesome records (such as Love Equals Death‘s Nightmerica, which I snatched up with no hesitation, alongside the new Contra Code record Friday Junior). The prices are great and even though he’s based in the UK, shipping to the states is very reasonable. Head over there and check it out!

Well, that’s all, folks. Another Record Radar in the books. As always, thank you for tuning in. If there’s anything we missed (highly likely), or if you want to let everyone know about a new/upcoming vinyl release you’re excited about, leave us a comment below, or send us a message on Facebook or Instagram, and we’ll look into it. Enjoy your weekend, and don’t blow too much money on spinny discs (or do, I’m not your father). See ya next week!

Wanna catch up on all of our Record Radar posts? Click here and you’ll be taken to a page with all the past entries in the column. Magic!

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Navel Gazing for October 22, 2023

Welcome to Navel Gazing, the Punknews.org commenter community's weekly symposium, therapy session, and back-alley knife-fight. Chime in below with your latest playlists, record store finds, online time wasters, and site feedback.

DS Review and Gallery: Violent Femmes Celebrate 40th Anniversary of its Debut Album at the Riviera Theatre; with Elizabeth Moen in support. Chicago (10.05.2023)

Violent Femmes, the legendary folk punk group out of Milwaukee, WI, returned to Chicago’s Riviera Theatre. The band is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of its self-titled debut album Violent Femmes. Lending support was Elizabeth Moen, originally from Iowa, now of Chicago. Violent Femmes, founded in Milwaukee WI in 1981, originally consisted of Gordon Gano on […]

Violent Femmes, the legendary folk punk group out of Milwaukee, WI, returned to Chicago’s Riviera Theatre. The band is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of its self-titled debut album Violent Femmes. Lending support was Elizabeth Moen, originally from Iowa, now of Chicago.


Violent Femmes, founded in Milwaukee WI in 1981, originally consisted of Gordon Gano on lead vocals and guitar, Brian Ritchie on bass, and drummer Victor DeLorenzo. Gano and Ritchie remain part of the present line-up, with multi-instrumentalist Blais Garza and drummer John Sparrow joining in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

As mentioned above, this concert tour celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the band’s self-titled debut, Violent Femmes. The group kicked off its set with what is arguably its most famous and likely most popular tune, “Blister in the Sun.” It seems not often that a band will play its biggest tune right out of the chute. But when those iconic first notes hit, the crowd was immediately thrilled and that feeling appeared to never let up. Gano’s unique voice is as strong as ever.

Violent Femmes is immensely suited to sing-alongs by the audience. Sure, audience members singing along is pretty much standard operating procedure at many concerts. However, at a Violent Femmes show, the art is a bit elevated. Seemingly every word is sung in great unison by, often sold out crowds. At one point Brian Ritchie, if I recall correctly, raised an arm in the same manner as association football aka soccer, players do, to urge fans on. It might not technically fall under the call-and-response definition but was pretty cool to witness.


Speaking of Brian Ritchie, he was a charismatic presence throughout the show. Moving to the edge of the stage several times, he delighted those in close proximity. If there was a leader on stage among the band members, it was clearly Ritchie.

Zooming through the track listing, the energy level from band and audience never waned. The crowd did understandably appear to skew older, many likely discovering the debut album when it actually debuted, or soon thereafter. It was refreshing, however, to see younger fans scattered throughout, a family affair for some. Highlights included the aforementioned “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” “Gone Daddy Gone,” “I Held Her In My Arms,” and “I’m Nothing.”

All of the band members are adept at playing multiple instruments, as is the case with many groups. Gordon Gano, for example, plays the violin along with the guitar. However, some of the instruments are, to say the least, non-traditional. Ritchie plays not only bass, but a conch shell as well, and a box he slaps as he sits upon it. I don’t know of any other punk bands in which a conch shell is used. (It also made me regret not taking home one of the beautiful conch shells I saw during my time spent in Belize years back.)

But eliciting cool sounds from unusual sources is just one of the things that makes Violent Femmes music unique.


John Sparrow, plays an instrument more unusual even than a conch shell. As in a Weber Grill in the role of one of his drums. Yes, that American barbecue grilling classic. The first sight of it is always amusing, but it’s played it to great effect.

Sparrow plays roughly along the same onstage line, as Gano and Ritchie. With the exception of briefly trading box slapping duties with Ritchie, he performs standing, slightly hunched over a simple set-up. Sparrow was one of the most animated of the performers on stage.

Also, because he was not obscured by a combination of factors: distance from the photo pit, blocked by an expansive kit and/or a high stage, and poor lighting in the back area, it was refreshing to be able to actually grab some pretty decent drummer photos. His deft playing was fun to witness as well, especially when he was let loose for an occasional solo. On stage, Ritchie described Sparrow as a “Grill Master.” Fitting. Hey Weber Grill, give this guy a sponsorship if he does not have one already.


When attending a Violent Femmes show, it is hard to not immediately notice another thing set toward the rear of the stage. A giant saxophone, known as a Contrabass Saxophone.

Played by Blais Garza, the instrument made its first appearance with the group in 2004 and has been used on subsequent Violent Femmes recordings.

The manner in which Garza plays the instrument, towering high above him, leaves no doubt he has complete command of it, evoking lovely and compelling sounds.

At first glance, those unfamiliar with Violent Femmes’ music and shows might dismiss instruments such as conch shells, Weber Grills, and supersized saxophones, as gimmicky. And yes, there are many gimmicks to be found in punk music. Way too many for me personally. Schtick Punk is not really my jam. Violent Femmes are not that at all.

However quirky Violent Femmes is, the band is not given to cheap and easy artifices. This is a band, decades on, with some personnel changes, which remains, at its core, a band of great musicians. They put on a clinic of how to stage a show the attendees will long remember and leave, looking forward to the next time Violent Femmes hit their towns.


I would be remiss if I failed to mention that Violent Femmes is also backed by a formidable horns section, integral to the show and the music. Add it up (hey, I had to do this at least once) and the show was a blast. All of the band members seemed to be enjoying themselves if the wide smiles they sported during much of the performance were any indication. Gano, in particular, kept a never-fading look of joy on his face. The smiles of those in the crowd indicated the same. I might have grinned a bit as well.

Oh, and a quick note, one of songs off that debut album, “To The Kill,” references Chicago and a certain legendary mobster. The Riviera Theatre sits across the street, just yards away from the historic Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, where Al Capone held court in his booth, facing the entrances of course. Having myself enjoyed a night of jazz with friends in that very same booth, though no fan of the murderous Chicagoan, I found myself trying to contain slight chuckle.

Ending the show with “American Music” the second of a two-song encore, made for a rousing capper to a kicker of an evening.

Violent Femmes U.S.tour continues through November 18, 2023, closing out in Huntington Beach CA.


Opening up for Violent Femmes was Elizabeth Moen, from Vinton, Iowa, but now of Chicago.

Moen and her band provided the crowd a terrific start to the evening as her powerful vocals spread through the venue.

Elizabeth Moen’s most recent recordings include the album Wherever You Aren’t, from 2022; and For Arthur in 2023. That latter is an album of covers of Arthur Russell‘s music. Moen has pledged all of the Bandcamp proceeds from “For Arthur,” to One Iowa, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ Iowans.

Moen will be headlining at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, on November 4, 2023.


Please check out more photos from the show. Thanks & Cheers!



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