Dying Scene

In Memoriam: Chon Travis

I, like most of you, was absolutely devastated by the news of Love Equals Death frontman Chon Travis’ passing this morning. It goes without saying that everyone at Dying Scene’s thoughts are with Chon’s family, friends, and bandmates. Love Equals Death is currently on tour in Europe and released the following statement this morning: “It’s […]

I, like most of you, was absolutely devastated by the news of Love Equals Death frontman Chon Travis’ passing this morning. It goes without saying that everyone at Dying Scene’s thoughts are with Chon’s family, friends, and bandmates. Love Equals Death is currently on tour in Europe and released the following statement this morning:

“It’s with heavy hearts we tell the world this news: Yesterday at around 5pm, England time, we were getting ready to leave our hotel for our show in Stafford. We hadn’t heard from Chon in about an hour or so.

He wasn’t answering his phone and we knocked on his door for 10 minutes before the hotel staff let us in.

When we opened the door we found him on his bed with his guitar and unresponsive. We administered CPR for about 15 minutes before paramedics arrived. They continued to attempt to revive him. After another 45 minutes or so they let us know that Chon had passed.

He did not use drugs and was in very good spirits for this entire tour. We are obviously in a complete state of shock and trying to figure things out right now. We will have more to say in coming days but right now we are asking for privacy as we process this and try to navigate our way back home.

Please keep Chon’s family in your prayers.”

Chon Travis performs with Love Equals Death live at Brakrock Festival 2024

Chon formed Love Equals Death in 2003 and the band would go on to sign with Fat Wreck Chords for the release of their stellar debut album Nightmerica in 2006, followed by their 2022 comeback LP Gravity and Grace on SBAM Records. Bay Area locals will remember his original band Loose Change (featuring future AFI guitarist Jade Puget), who released a split 7″ with AFI in 1993 along with two full-length albums. He also released a solo album called Life Atop the Trees during Love Equals Death’s 10 year hiatus.

Chon Travis’ 2009 solo album Life Atop the Trees

Outside of his storied career as a punk musician, Chon was a father and husband. His bandmates have set up a GoFundMe campaign in support of his wife and daughter. If you’d like to donate, you can do so here.

A Wilhelm Scream was scheduled to play a show with Love Equals Death in Kassel, Germany tomorrow night. They’ll be going forward with the show, and will be donating all proceeds from the show to Love Equals Death:

“We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Chon, a beloved member of Love Equals Death. His infectious energy, undeniable talent, and unwavering passion for music made him a true inspiration. Fat Mike was captivated by their live show and quickly signed them to FAT, resulting in the iconic 2006 album, Nightmerica. We were fortunate to share a part of his journey, and our hearts go out to his family, friends, and bandmates.” –Fat Wreck Chords

“We’ve just received the very sad news that Chon Travis (Love Equals Death) has passed away. We’re deeply shocked and lost of words. Chon was one of the nicest people we’ve ever met and we never thought that our last conversation a few days ago would be the last. Life is short and precious. So hug your loved ones and make the most of it. Our love and condolences go out to his family and friends!” –SBAM Records

“Rest in Peace to my friend Chon Travis. We grew up like brothers and some of my earliest musical experiences were shared with you. You were funny, smart, and talented and you will be missed.” -Jade Puget

Chon Travis performs with Loose Change in 1999
by Staff Writer Screeching Bottlerocket
Tags: 
chon travis Fat Wreck Chords loose change love equals death news

  1. I grew up (teenager)with Chon and his brothers. He was a dream that I shared with the 95482. If anyone was going to bust though it would be Chon. I remember going the the Wilson’s brothers half pipe being super self-conscious.

    Those boys were so amazing. When Ben pasaway… Was awful and Chon being his soul brother makes this so difficult..

    We love you beautiful people …

    Reply

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DS Show Review & Gallery: The Bollweevils and Sludgeworth, Together In Chicago

After about three decades since the last time they put out new music, Sludgeworth makes their way back into the scene with their new EP Together Not Together. Backed by the Chicago-based record label Red Scare Industries and the beloved suburban punks The Bollweevils, friends, fans and family showed up to celebrate the much anticipated […]

After about three decades since the last time they put out new music, Sludgeworth makes their way back into the scene with their new EP Together Not Together. Backed by the Chicago-based record label Red Scare Industries and the beloved suburban punks The Bollweevils, friends, fans and family showed up to celebrate the much anticipated EP.

From the get-go, everyone at the Beat Kitchen felt cheerful and friendly. It seemed like everybody knew each other despite the fact that it was a sold-out show. Though the venue was packed to the brim, the atmosphere was reminiscent to a house party or a basement show, but with better lighting and sound quality.

Very few bands in the Chicagoland area are better openers than The Bollweevils. They do a terrific job getting everyone in the audience engaged, they truly make every single person feel like they are not just spectating, but also a part of the show. Their live performances are a masterclass for anybody wanting to learn how to keep the crowd active and energized.

After seeing The Bollweevils live a few times, some of the faces in the crowd start becoming familiar, it is as if the biggest fans of the band are also their friends, which speaks volumes about the synergy the band creates with the audience, it is a celebration, a party every single time.

Their frontman, Daryl Wilson, with an intimidating build towering over most at the venue, could not be more inviting and friendly. He’s jumping up and kicking all throughout the show and even jumped into the moshpit so the crowd could join in and sing with him. The rest of the musicians, Ken, Pete and Joe, complement Daryl’s style best; they’re laser-focused, keeping the show grounded and allowing the punk rock doc to jump around the stage.

What a fun treat it is to see The Bollweevils perform live. From their classic suburban punk rock songs, to the way they engage with the crowd, and the banter amongst themselves, it is always a riot. This is without a doubt one of the Chicago punk bands that everyone must see perform, at least once.

In a swift and seamless transition, Sludgeworth took over the stage and even though they had been performing for the past couple of years, the excitement about sharing their new music with their fans and friends was palpable. After thirty years, the excitement of both the crowd and the musicians is just expected.

The performance was everything you would want from a punk band of the caliber of Sludgeworth. The music was fast, it was loud, and felt quite fresh and relevant, which goes to show how good music really does not have an expiration date. 

Dan Schafer, also known as Dan Vapid, who has been previously involved with punk household names such as The Queers, Riverdales, and Screeching Weasel truly showcased his skills as a vocalist. From the moment he got on stage to the moment the show ended, it was a full-force, all-gas-no-brakes show. This is the reason it was a sold-out show, that kind of performance is worth every penny.

This show felt like a celebration of the Chicago punk scene. Two beloved bands got together under the incredible production work of the label Red Scare Industries to bring together friends, family, fans, and other members of the scene. It was a special thing to witness, most everyone there singing the lyrics of every song and watching the band-audience barrier disappear.

It was like a trip back in time to simpler days going to a basement show to see a friend of a friend’s band, where everyone was a stranger but with a deep sense of familiarity. Shows like this one are a fantastic opportunity to experience both the nostalgia of what shows were like, and celebrating that these bands are still around putting out new music and incredible live performances.

by Staff Writer Andral
Tags: 
chicago pop punk Punk punk rock skate punk

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DS In Case You Missed It: Phoenix’ Ashes – “Oceans”

EXTRA EXTRA! Phoenix’ Ashes releases their first new single after five years! With the single ‘Oceans’, post-hardcore formation Phoenix Ashes officially ends a period of silence. With this, the band from Southern Netherlands wants to put themself back on the musical map. The band was hard at work before the global pandemic threw its veil […]

EXTRA EXTRA! Phoenix’ Ashes releases their first new single after five years! With the single ‘Oceans’, post-hardcore formation Phoenix Ashes officially ends a period of silence. With this, the band from Southern Netherlands wants to put themself back on the musical map.

The band was hard at work before the global pandemic threw its veil over the world. They opened for their musical heroes Funeral For A Friend (UK) and played at festivals such as Jera on Air and the Liberation Festival Limburg. In addition, tours were done through Southern Europe, Russia and Indonesia. Along with their release of their live album. Due to burnout, of several members of the band ended up in a hiatus from the music scene.

Five years after the release of ‘Live & Unplugged’, plans were made and the group dove into the studio to record an EP. Together with producer Erwin Hermsen from Toneshed Recording Studio, they worked on Oceans to make a statement to the world of their return to the music life and into the spotlight.

Phoenix Ashes already made their live appearance at metal festival The Rock Circus last autumn, and their single Oceans will be the final proof that they are back, and ready to take the world by storm.

Onto the review! These guys have been near and dear to my heart since I started shooting concert photography back in 2017. Arnout Lie (guitarist and backing vocals) and I have been friends for years and keep in touch so I can attempt to get them over to the US (specifically to my home state of Alaska) for a tour! When he reached out to tell me they were releasing a NEW song, I just about died. I eagerly waited for him to send me the press release for it so I could put it on repeat. These guys have NEVER missed their mark with a song, lyrically or instrumentally.

In the press release, they mention “The lyrics describe the feeling of drowning on one hand and the encouragement to find your steady ground on the other. This is a metaphor for the mental problems that various band members suffered during that period. With this track the band wants to draw more attention to the subject in a broader sense.” This was done BEAUTIFULLY by some of my favorite lines in the song. “Am I to drown in the deep // Or do I find the shores to steady my feet”. The instrumentals behind this line and the haunting intro and vocals to start this had me HOOKED. Easily one of my favorite lines due to its intense relatability. Having experienced single motherhood and drowning in the responsibility of keeping other humans alive while simultaneously trying to provide everything they need is seemingly never ending in that moment.

Leading into the first verse of being torn apart, the instrumentals get an electronic beat to break up that haunting feel and give you this anticipated buildup into a drop that had me head banging and hair swinging. “Collapsing under the weight // The weight that I was supposed to hold”, another relatable line for a cornucopia of situations, not just single motherhood. We all may feel some sort of crushing obligation to hold everything for everyone, to push our own well-being and health aside to make sure those we love around us are cared for, happy and healthy first. In the reality of it all, you can’t help others if you’re too sick to get out of bed. The heaviness is almost transformed into the energy of a mosh-pit (at least for me) and instead of putting me in my head, it gives me a much more uplifting and energetic feel. Also, the intense feeling of hope I feel when “You’ll find a way // Break out // Rise and be free” hits your ears. The song’s lyrics almost talk to each other, too, if you listen closely. There’s the side of them that’s drowning, struggling to break free from depression’s grip, and the other side that’s encouraging them to see they will break free and can be who they want to be (and be happy) they just have to fight for it. The fight won’t be easy, but “Change // Shifting winds on the horizon” tells us, the work is in how you move with the winds. Choose your own fate, before you’re convinced it’s too late to change. Heaviness aside, this song is written beautifully and the instrumentals are incredible.

Even if I’m partially biased with these guys having been friends with them, it’s undeniable that their music is good and everyone needs to RUN to streaming platforms to listen to Phoenix’ Ashes’ newest single in 5 YEARS, “Oceans, which dropped on June 21st.

by Staff Writer Emily Bradford
Tags: 
metalcore Netherlands phoenixashes post hardcore

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DS Record Radar: This Week In Punk Vinyl (Green Day “American Idiot” 20th Anniversary, Keep Flying, Groovie Ghoulies & 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:

Green Day‘s American Idiot celebrates its 20th birthday this year and is getting the same box set treatment its older brother Dookie received last year. This 8 LP set features plenty of B-Sides, bonus tracks, and previously unreleased demos and live recordings. And as if that wasn’t enough, you also get two Blu-Rays (one of which includes a brand new American Idiot 20th Anniversary documentary), a 36-page book, and a flag. 1-2-3-4 Go! Records has the best deal I’ve seen on this box set, at $189.99 with free shipping, and if you buy it through the Shop app you’ll get an extra 5% off your order.

But wait, there’s more! If box sets aren’t your thing, or if you need to collect every variant, there’s also a standalone 20th Anniversary American Idiot double LP on red and black splatter vinyl (sans demos, bonus tracks, etc.). Honestly this looks cooler than the 50/50 split color variants in the box set. If you’re gonna get this and the box set, you may as well get both from 1-2-3-4 Go! since shipping over $75 is free. If you’re just getting the 2xLP and don’t qualify for free shipping, Amazon will be cheaper.

But wait, there’s still more! And this one’s for all you fart huffing audiophiles. Because Sound Matters‘ One-Step Edition of American Idiot costs nearly as much as the box set, coming in at $119.99 for the double LP alone (if you buy from 1-2-3-4 Go! Records) ($124.98 elsewhere)). Here’s some words from the fart huffers at Because Sound Matters:

“American Idiot was recorded in the digital domain and mixed to analog tape. Those original flat master tapes were then carefully transferred to 192/24 wav files that ended up being our audio source for the One-Step pressing.

We used Neotech VR900-D2 180g vinyl compound which is the same as what is known as Super Vinyl or Clarity Vinyl – the best in the world.

Levi Seitz at Blackbelt Mastering (Linkin Park,Metallica, Pearl Jam, Beyonce etc) cut the multiple sets of lacquers required. Being a massive Green Day fan himself – Levi already knew every little sound on this iconic album.

Dorin Sauerbier at Record Technology, Inc (R.T.I.) has been plating records for decades and is considered the best in the world – he also has done more One-Step processing than anybody. This is a vital step in the process to ultimately delivering the absolute best sounding version of American Idiot ever.”

I think that’s enough American Idiot for now; let’s move on to something else. A little ska perhaps? Keep Flying has released a live version of their latest EP Daylight, simply titled Daylight Live. This is very limited and 1/3 of the variants has already sold out, so head over to Smartpunk Records and grab the record while you still can. And if you get a chance to, catch these guys live! Check out their upcoming tour dates here.

The Groovie Ghoulies’ 2001 Freaks on Parade EP is being reissued as an LP with 6 bonus tracks and brand new cover art by Tom Neely. You can get this on Godzilla Green colored vinyl from Eccentric Pop (US) and Stardumb Records (EU), and Fiery Orange colored vinyl from 1-2-3-4 Go! Records (I swear they’re not paying me – maybe they should be!).

German Ramonescore powerhouses, Germany’s Haermorrhoids and Italy’s Proton Packs, have joined forces for a bad ass new split 7″ out now on Mom’s Basement Records in the US and Striped Music in Europe. Both of these bands are sick as fuck; don’t sleep on this!

A new(?) clear variant of Blink 182’s Enema of the State has popped up on their webstore. I’m not 100% sure if this is a brand new pressing because Discogs lists a clear variant released in Europe last year, but at the very least it’s the first time this has been available in the US. On a related note, it looks like a good chunk of Blink’s back catalog – including Dude Ranch, Cheshire Cat, the self-titled album, TOYPAJ, and Neighborhoods, is back in print and available on their online store, all sharing the same August 14th street date.

A similarly suspect “new” translucent yellow color variant of MxPx’s Panic has popped up on Amazon. Earlier this year, the same thing happened with an opaque yellow variant of the same record popping up, unannounced, on Amazon and shipping in April. It was real, I got it, and it showed up with the center label for a Casualties record on the A Side (lol). That one’s still in stock at a few record stores. Maybe this one’s the same, maybe it’s different, only one way to find out!

Well, that’s all, folks. Another Record Radar in the books. Short one this week! 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 time!

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!

by Staff Writer Screeching Bottlerocket

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DS Record Radar: The Putz releasing new LP “Too Little, Too Late” on Mom’s Basement Records

Attention fellow discerning punk rock record collector nerds! Indiana pop-punk favorites The Putz are releasing their new record Too Little, Too Late this coming Friday, August 16th on the venerable Mom’s Basement Records. And this special edition of the Dying Scene Record Radar is all about it! Let’s review the facts, shall we? Too Little, […]

Attention fellow discerning punk rock record collector nerds! Indiana pop-punk favorites The Putz are releasing their new record Too Little, Too Late this coming Friday, August 16th on the venerable Mom’s Basement Records. And this special edition of the Dying Scene Record Radar is all about it!

Let’s review the facts, shall we? Too Little, Too Late boasts 16 brand new songs! You’ll have three colors too choose from when the record goes up for pre-order on Friday, including classic black, white, and black w/ white splatter. Mom’s Basement will have bundles with t-shirts, slipmats, and pint glasses! And if you have no self control you can get the Putz Nutz bundle with one of everything! Also! Everyone who pre-orders will get a free sticker and button.

Your homework: Listen to the album’s first two singles “Sleeping In” and “Elise Called the Police” down below. After you’ve completed that assignment, set alarm for Noon Eastern on Friday, August 16th, at which time you’ll visit the Mom’s Basement Webstore and purchase this bad ass new Putz record! Class dismissed.

This premiere is brought to you in part by Punk Rock Radar. If you’d like your band’s music video to be premiered by Dying Scene and Punk Rock Radar, go here and follow these instructions. You’ll be on your way to previously unimagined levels of fame and fortune in no time!

by Staff Writer Screeching Bottlerocket
Tags: 
Moms Basement Records pop-punk punk rock ramonescore record radar

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DS Show Review: H.R. / Swingin’ Johnny / Ganda (The Observatory Constellation Room – Santa Ana, Ca 7/28/2024)

Paul “H.R.” Hudson played the Observatory in Santa Ana to a small crowd in the Constellation Room, the small offshoot from the main club. The room holds about 250 people, but was sadly only half full. The crowd seemed split in their expectation of what type of set H.R. would be performing. After seeing the […]

Paul “H.R.” Hudson played the Observatory in Santa Ana to a small crowd in the Constellation Room, the small offshoot from the main club. The room holds about 250 people, but was sadly only half full. The crowd seemed split in their expectation of what type of set H.R. would be performing. After seeing the opening bands, it was clear, this was going to be a mellow night.

First band on stage was Ganda, a five-piece from Huntington Beach, California. They played dirty reggae in a style similar to Sublime, but their message seemed much more positive. Ganda rides the line of being a jam band, but are smart enough to not let their songs go on too long. The inclusion of a trumpet player gives the band the little extra most of the bands like this don’t have. A couple of the songs feature one of guitar players on keys, but it would be nice to see what they could do with a full-time keyboardist. While Ganda doesn’t do much to forward the genre, they do a great job holding it up. 

Swinging Johnny, led by John Griffin, was up next. Their original songs were a little all over the place. They were dark, surfy, mod, ska, and even a little old country. The band powered through some covers, including the Specials “Concrete Jungle”, Peter Tosh’s song “Stepping Razor”, and Bad Brains “Stay Close To Me”. They could’ve had the set of the night, but technical issues plagued their time on stage. They also seemed a little too focused on how they looked rather than how the songs sounded. It’s unclear if it was an off night for the band, but it’s been a minute since I’ve seen a band start a song then stop thirty seconds in to see how much time they had left in the set.  

It’s good to see H.R. touring after not being able because of health reasons. His participation with Bad Brains has been on and off throughout the years. In that time away from the band his solo material has mostly focused on reggae. This set highlights those songs. Gone is the lead singer once described as “James Brown gone berserk,” who had spent years doing back flips and dives off stages. It’s not to say this wasn’t good. It was a career-spanning set with songs from his solo albums released thru SST and the music he’s released in the last few years. We did get some Bad Brains as “I + I Survive” and “I Luv I Jah,” but it was clear most of the people were expecting a much more intense set. 

His backing band was pretty solid. H.R.’s vocals sound good after years of screaming. The frantic impatience that was once present has been replaced with a calm demeanor. He was very thankful to perform and said so multiple times. Those looking for the old H.R. may be disappointed, but if you like Bad Brains reggae songs, give the show a chance.

by Staff Writer Forrest Gaddis
Tags: 
bad brains H.R. Punk reggae

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DS Exclusive: Australian melodic punk band All Hope Remains release video for new single “Standing By”

Australian melodic punk band All Hope Remains are gearing up to release their new record Finding My Way; it’s due out September 20th on Pee Records (AUS), Double Helix Records (US), and Disconnect Disconnect Records (UK). We’re fanning the flames with this exclusive premiere of the music video for their brand new single “Standing By”. […]

Australian melodic punk band All Hope Remains are gearing up to release their new record Finding My Way; it’s due out September 20th on Pee Records (AUS), Double Helix Records (US), and Disconnect Disconnect Records (UK). We’re fanning the flames with this exclusive premiere of the music video for their brand new single “Standing By”. Check it out below!

“Standing By” is a song that nearly never happened and yet it inspired its own existence. A piece of music buried away, and overlooked for years. Eventually a phrase landed which inspired review, rearrangement and eventual completion with the chorus proclaiming itself as (the) “best kept secret, hidden away from the world.” Ironically enough, the track finds itself as a feature single on the forthcoming album and we couldn’t be happier with it.” -All Hope Remains frontman Mark Gilmore

Go here to pre-save “Standing By” on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. and keep your eyes glued to the labels’ webstores for Finding My Way colored vinyl pre-orders coming very soon.

This premiere is brought to you in part by Punk Rock Radar. If you’d like your band’s music video to be premiered by Dying Scene and Punk Rock Radar, go here and follow these instructions. You’ll be on your way to previously unimagined levels of fame and fortune in no time!

by Staff Writer Screeching Bottlerocket
Tags: 
all hope remains DISCONNECT DISCONNECT RECORDS double helix records melodic punk Pee Records

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Dying Scene Album Review: X – “Smoke & Fiction”

Los Angeles punk rock pioneers, X, have released their album, Smoke & Fiction on Fat Possum Records. John Doe, Exene, D.J. Bonebrake and Billy Zoom have given us one last album to tie a bow on a career that highlights their early roots and ending the band on their own terms after forty-seven years. The […]

Los Angeles punk rock pioneers, X, have released their album, Smoke & Fiction on Fat Possum Records. John Doe, Exene, D.J. Bonebrake and Billy Zoom have given us one last album to tie a bow on a career that highlights their early roots and ending the band on their own terms after forty-seven years. The result is nothing short of spectacular. 

A follow-up to 2020’s Alphabetland, Smoke & Fiction feels like a big thank you from X to their fans and supporters. Songs like “Ruby Church” and “Big Black X” give the band a chance to reflect on their time as pillars of the Los Angeles punk rock scene, including the success and problems that came with it. If there is one song that encapsulates the band’s love for their fans it would be “Sweet til the Bitter End”. If “Sweet til the Bitter End” is a thank you note, “The Way It Is”, is a Dear John letter, talking us down from the disappointment of why X can’t continue. There’s definitely a tint of melancholy to the track, as if the band is telling the fans, it’s not you, it’s us. “Smoke and Fiction” does this great job of reckoning the past and the memories associated with it as you continue to walk through a world you grew up in. This album acknowledges the past, but keeps it firmly in its place and does not apologize for it.  

The band itself sounds fantastic. There’s always this double-edged sword when older punk bands release albums later in their career. It’s no secret you get softer as you get older and your taste changes. That raw energy or feeling that you had isn’t the same as it was in your teens or twenties, which is what attracted a lot of us to punk to begin with. Look at the discographies for bands like Social Distortion and Offspring. It’s not to say their later work is horrible, but it’s a far cry from the entry points that made us take the ride. I never feel this is the case with X. While the members of X have dabbled in other genres, you always know what you are getting when it’s the four of them together. John Doe’s bass lines walk up and down this album only kept in line by D.J. Bonebrake’s beats on the drum and Billy Zoom’s rockabilly and surf-tinged buzzsaw guitar; melding this with Exene and John Doe’s duetted vocals makes an inadvertent system of checks and balances that made X special. 

It sounds weird to call this a retirement record, but being paired with their farewell tour, it’s essentially just that. The album is a celebration for many reasons. A celebration of the band, their longevity, and its amicable end. Smoke & Fire‘s ten songs clock in under thirty minutes, the way an old school punk rock album should. It delivers some of the strongest material they’ve put out in years. X is on an extensive farewell tour, giving their fans one last chance to see them before they officially call it a day, but with an album this strong you’ll wish you didn’t have to say goodbye. 

by Staff Writer Forrest Gaddis
Tags: 
Fat Possum Records Los Angeles Punk Rock

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DS Show Review & Gallery: Bowling For Soup, Eternal Boy and Keep Flying – Chicago (07.26.2024)

Bowling For Soup stopped at The Vic on its A Hangover You Don’t Deserve 20th Anniversary Tour. Eternal Boy and Keep Flying were on hand and stage for support duties. Bowling for Soup, hailing from Witchita Falls, TX, is on the road celebrating the anniversary of its 2004 release A Hangover You Don’t Deserve. Unfortunately, […]

Bowling For Soup stopped at The Vic on its A Hangover You Don’t Deserve 20th Anniversary Tour. Eternal Boy and Keep Flying were on hand and stage for support duties.

Bowling for Soup, hailing from Witchita Falls, TX, is on the road celebrating the anniversary of its 2004 release A Hangover You Don’t Deserve. Unfortunately, it was down one member. Chris Burney, still recovering from a foot/leg injury, was still resting on his doctor’s orders. The band released a statement making one thing clear,

“We will not be enlisting a sub guitar player…you cannot replace a legend.”

However, the band still brought the good times as it ripped through the tracklisting of AHYDD. It was a fun set with the highlights being “1985,” “Ohio (Come Back to Texas)” performed with Eternal Boy, “Shut Up and Smile,” “Next Girlfriend,” and “High School Never Ends.” BFS also invited an audience member onstage to spin a wheel which determined which non-AHYDD tune the band would play. In this case, the winner was “Emily.”

Scanning the audience revealed a crowd of multiple generations and it appeared in many cases a family affair. And it seemed those families sure were having a blast.

There are still many chances to catch Bowling For Soup on the road through October in the United States. The band then heads to the UK in February 2025.

Eternal Boy, from Pittsburgh, PA provided strong support as it ran through its set. That set included, “Freak Show,” “Awkward Phase,” “Version Of Myself,” and “Katie.”

The band also did a respectable and cheeky cover of Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”

Solid set, solid band.

Keep Flying, from the Northeast region of the United States, barreled onto the stage and through its performance. Several members of the band took its name seriously as they repeatedly went airborne.

The high-energy, entertaining set included, “Late Reply,” ”Left Behind,” “Candy Cane Forest,” “High Cholesterol,” and “Miranda,” among others. I was exhausted watching Keep Flying, but a good version of exhausted.

Thanks and Cheers!

by Staff Writer MerGold
Tags: 
bowling for soup chicago Eternal Boy keep flying Ska

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DS Record Radar: This Week In Punk Vinyl (Less Than Jake, The Dopamines, The Jasons, Sum 41 & 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:

Less Than Jake‘s got a new 7″ coming out September 1st on Pure Noise Records. It features the band’s two new singles “Broken Words” and “Walking Pipebomb”. The only way you can get the “Easter Yellow w/ Heavy Black Splatter” colored 7″ right now is in a $35 bundle with a T-shirt ($36-37 for my fellow girthy boys and girls). This is likely the first of many new 7″s to come from LTJ. Get it here.

Fat Wreck’s 25th Anniversary series rolls on with Me First and the Gimme Gimmes‘ Are a Drag! Bad news: This has already sold out on Fat Wreck’s US store. Good news: It’s still in stock on their UK store! So I guess if you missed out, suck it up and take it up the ass on that shipping. Or perhaps you’re Bri’ish and you’ll save on shipping!

Speaking of the British, our mates at Brassneck Records have a bunch of cool new releases out now and/or coming soon. Up first is the a new LP from Orlando, FL power-pop-punk band Vicious Dreams! Turn Off My Brain comes out next Friday, August 9th, and is available on three color variants (and black vinyl) from Brassneck in the UK, and Swamp Cabbage, Dirt Cult, and GC Records in the US of A. Also noteworthy, this is the cheapest record I’ve seen in like 10 years. $12 for an LP!!! How the fuck? Don’t sleep on this one.

Also out now on Brassneck Records: two new 7″s! The first of which is the bad ass debut EP from Nottingham, UK punk band Reduced (members of TV Crime, Scene Killers, The Hip Priests, etc.). I could type paragraphs upon paragraphs trying to convince you to buy this, but I’ll save my breath and tell you to just listen to the thing. I guarantee halfway through the first song you’ll be clicking Add to Cart on the Brassneck store. This shit is great, by far my favorite release of the year so far.

The pride of Dayton, Ohio, The Raging Nathans are celebrating their debut album Losing It’s 10th birthday with a big time reissue. Recess Records has and exclusive translucent orange color variant, while Rad Girlfriend has their own uranium glass variant (as well as black vinyl). Other things of note: the cover art is new and improved! This has been out of print since 2014! PagMan.

It truly wouldn’t be the Record Radar without at least one NOFX record, and on tap this week is the 10 millionth Punk in Drublic. I believe is the first to bear the “30th Anniversary” branding, however. The NOFX merch store doesn’t list a color variant but this looks like it’s the “Beer White Black Splatter” variant from their Brooklyn pop-up store a few weeks ago. Get it here. Also shoutout to NOFX for charging $12 to ship a single record. Keep on keeping punk rock elite!

It also wouldn’t be the Record Radar without one or two new records from the friendly people at Mom’s Basement Records. We’ve got a few this week, and they’re good ones! First up is the long awaited reissue of The Jasons‘ debut album Get Fucked, back in print for the first time since 2017 and very soon to be out of print once again. There were five variants to choose from, but now your choices are down to red vinyl and black wax. These are selling fast; get yours here.

Next up from Mom’s Basement: A brand new split 7″ from The Jasons and Italy’s Ratbones! Blitzkrieg Blasphemy features 2 tracks from each band and it, too, is available on 5 color variants limited to 100 copies each. Buy it with your money here.

Beloved Italian punk festival Punk Rock Raduno‘s new compilation LP Punk Rock Raduno Vol. 7 features 28(!) songs from awesome bands like 7 Years Bad Luck, Mean Jeans, Jagger Holly, The Zatopeks, The Odorants, and many others! There are 500 copies on black vinyl and you can get it from Mom’s Basement in the US, Punk Rock Raduno and Radiation Records in Italy, Monster Zero in Austria, and Stardumb Records in the Netherlands. It probably would have been easier to tell you all the places you can’t get this record.

Atlanta street punk band Rotten Stitches‘ new record Above the Ashes is out now on Charged Records. You can get it on the very pleasantly named “Punk Puke Splatter” (330 copies) or “Panama Canal Splatter” colored vinyl (170 copies) right here. Also available in Europe from Voltage Records. Recommended if you like The Casualties, The Exploited, Total Chaos, etc.

The Dopamines will be releasing their new album 80/20 soon on Rad Girlfriend Records (US), Bearded Punk Records (EU) and Brassneck Records (UK). Pre-orders begin this coming Friday, August 9th, with four color variants to choose from, along with black vinyl and 50 test press copies. This will be their first new record in 7 years!

Sum 41 finds their way back onto the Record Radar yet again with some snazzy new color variants of 2016’s 13 Voices and their latest and final record Heaven :x: Hell. Each of these is limited to 500 copies on “100% Eco-Friendly, zero-impact, carbon-neutral” vinyl; you can get both of them from Rude Records.

And New Found Glory is following Sum 41’s lead with new color variants for 2020’s Forever & Ever x Infinity (neon yellow / 1,000 copies / get it here) and their 2004 kinda-sorta-ish fan favorite Catalyst. The latter is limited to 1,000 copies on Baby Blue/Sea Blue/Highlighter and will be available exclusively on The Catalyst 20 Years Later Tour.

Revelation Records is reissuing Sick of it All‘s self-titled debut 7″ as a benefit to frontman Lou Koller, who was recently diagnosed with cancer after a tumor was discovered in his esophagus. Pre-orders will be open through August 14th and they’ll be pressing as many copies as there are orders for this purple 7″, with all proceeds helping Lou in his fight against cancer. You can get the 7″ here.

And we’re keeping it sooper hardcore with this new live record from Counterparts. Live in Toronto was recorded in, well, Toronto in 2022 and it’s available on four quite wordily named color variants. These include: Oxblood Glitter (250 copies), Brown & Electric Blue with Heavy White & Oxblood Splatter (400 copies), Oxblood in Milky Clear with Heavy Brown & White Splatter (1,350 copies). All of those can be purchased right here. There’s also the Clear / Half Brown with Heavy Oxblood Splatter on Clear Side Only variant (holy fuck that’s a long one) which is exclusive to the band’s webstore.

Remember Simple Plan? They’re reissuing all of their record on super duper not-so-limited colored vinyl (in fact, I believe this is the first time quite a few of these albums have been released on vinyl). The standalone LPs are available on a slew of variants; there’s also a box set (which has its own exclusive color variants) and even more exclusive splatter variants exclusive to Alternative Press. I’m (not) just a kid and (I presume) life (as a Simple Plan superfan who has an insatiable urge to buy every variant of these records) is a nightmare!

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 time!

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!

by Staff Writer Screeching Bottlerocket
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