Holding Absence played Gramercy Theater in New York City on February 14th. Love (and crowd-surfers) were in the air. There was much speculation leading up to the show, if the concert would even happen. Vocalist of the band Lucas Woodland has been battling an illness which left his voice extremely raw. He had to cancel their […]
Holding Absence played Gramercy Theater in New York City on February 14th. Love (and crowd-surfers) were in the air. There was much speculation leading up to the show, if the concert would even happen. Vocalist of the band Lucas Woodland has been battling an illness which left his voice extremely raw. He had to cancel their Baltimore date in order to rest. The day of, there was anticipation and nervousness. Would they even play? If they did, would it sound good? Upon seeing the performance we can confidently state it was one of the most fun shows all year. Lucas himself said during the show, “This morning I woke up and didn’t have my voice. I shouldn’t play a show but it’s fucking Valentine’s Day in New York City!” The band gave it their all and committed to their performance 100% despite the obstacles. Being at this show was the best way to spend the holiday in the tri-state area.
The main aspect we noticed was the overall energy and enthusiasm the band had on stage. They were electric. Lucas was jumping up through the air, kicking his feet, head-banging. If no one told us he was sick, we would not have guessed it on our own. Guitarist Scott Carey was playing complicated riffs while dancing and grooving to the rhythm. Ashley Green was furiously slamming away on the drums and never lost his intensity. Bass-wise, Ben Elliot also created a memorable performance. He had a clear and commanding stage presence. The band didn’t have a weak link. Despite it being a slightly abridged show, they removed any uncertainty we had by the end of the first song.
The band played a career-spanning set. It was fantastic to hear tracks off their first album [self titled 2019] which is now half a decade old. I do wish we got to hear more of the new record. 2023’s The Noble Art of Self Destruction was a defining moment in the emo scene. Not only did it help break the band into the mainstream of rock more but it was also a refreshing genuine record. Through its 42-minute run-time there isn’t a single second that’s wasted. Holding Absence is getting better and honing their craft with each record. The only complaint I have of the set was I would have liked to hear more new material.
It was also very clear the band did not take their success for granted. In the middle of the set Lucas grinned and said, “I didn’t even know if I would ever be in New York on holiday. Now I’m playing a show here!” Seeing the hoards of people at Gramercy all jumping in unison proved to us this band unlike no other. Their music resonates with people in such a profound way. Even though they have 1 million monthly listeners on spotify, it still feels like they’re on the verge of a breakthrough.
It being Valentine’s Day in New York City, everyone was there with their significant other. It was beautiful to see so many happy couples choosing to spend their night embracing emo punk. The band even played a deep cut off their new record, “Honey Moon” in honor of the holiday. Couples were holding each other screaming the lyrics. Even single people all had nothing but euphoric smiles. It didn’t matter where you were in life or who you were with, the night just felt so wholesome.
Overall, it was a fantastic concert. Holding Absence showed perseverance, talent, and a deep respect to their fans. They may have needed to cancel this show, but refused to. This showcases the kind of people they are. It’s not about the money, the fame, or any superficial reasons. They do it for the fans and the music. Another quote from the night is when Lucas asked the audience of people who were seeing Holding Absence for the first time, “I insist you come back when I can actually sing!” The show was 10/10; a truly stellar night.
Punk rock’s newest singer/songwriter Mirko Liang’s life has taken him many places. Born in Italy, relocated to Australia, and now living in Taiwan, Mr. Liang has led a much more adventurous life than yours truly; I’ve lived in the same area code my entire life. His next adventure is in music, and he’s off to […]
Punk rock’s newest singer/songwriter Mirko Liang’s life has taken him many places. Born in Italy, relocated to Australia, and now living in Taiwan, Mr. Liang has led a much more adventurous life than yours truly; I’ve lived in the same area code my entire life. His next adventure is in music, and he’s off to a great start with his debut album Art of the Wheel, just released today and streaming on Spotify and probably everywhere you might listen to music.
Your friends at DyingScene.com are bringing you the exclusive premiere of the music video for the album’s lone single “Inferno”, which features backup vocals from Mirko’s friend Andrew Jackson. Fun fact: Andrew used to be in Good Riddance and played drums on the band’s first recording, the 1990 Santa Cruz Hardcore demo.
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!
Four score and seven years ago, DyingScene.com was brought forth with one goal in mind: to introduce the unwashed masses to awesome new punk bands. Today we’re carrying on that proud tradition by introducing you to Rum Luck! You’re probably asking yourself, “Who is Rum Luck? What is Rum Luck? Why is Rum Luck?”. Well, […]
Four score and seven years ago, DyingScene.com was brought forth with one goal in mind: to introduce the unwashed masses to awesome new punk bands. Today we’re carrying on that proud tradition by introducing you to Rum Luck! You’re probably asking yourself, “Who is Rum Luck? What is Rum Luck? Why is Rum Luck?”. Well, lucky for you, I had the band type a brief paragraph introducing themselves:
“Rum Luck is a four piece punk band from St. Louis, Missouri. We’re bringing the nostalgic sound of all your favorite 90’s punk bands rolled into one! The sound of our debut EP Land of the Fools is a mix of all our favorite genres of punk: ska-punk, skate-punk, pop-punk and a hint of rockabilly.”
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!
Rum Luck is playing some shows, you should go to them:
March 30 @ the Heavy Anchor April 20th @ 420 SMOD Fest May 18th @ the Rude Dog Pub June 15th @ the Cooler BnB June 29th @ Platypus July 12th @ the Duck Room
Dying Scene sat down with Matt Hamilton (aka Pickle) to discuss his long involvement in the punk rock scene. Matt has been playing drums for many years and many bands, including Produkt, S.O.S., the Coffin Boys, the Worms, the Sex Pickles, Trash Idols, Blanket of M, and Slash City Daggers. He’s also been a roadie for […]
Dying Scene sat down with Matt Hamilton (aka Pickle) to discuss his long involvement in the punk rock scene. Matt has been playing drums for many years and many bands, including Produkt, S.O.S., the Coffin Boys, the Worms, the Sex Pickles, Trash Idols, Blanket of M, and Slash City Daggers. He’s also been a roadie for Eleventh Hour and Total Chaos and currently plays drums for Diskount Vodka and the Dead End.
Dying Scene: So Matt, tell me about yourself. Who are you? Where are you from? When did you get into punk rock? When did you decide to become a drummer and why?
P: My name is Matt Hamilton. Everybody calls me Pickle. I play drums. I started playing…well, I got into punk rock when I was about 15 years old. I didn’t start playing drums ‘til I was 17 and I’ve been playing punk rock ever since, for 30 plus years. I’ve played in tons of different bands through the years but right now, I’m playing in Diskount Vodka and the Dead End in Pueblo, Colorado. But I’m originally from from East Texas.
DS: Why did you decide to become a drummer?
P: Because I skateboarded from the summer of fifth grade all the way ‘til the beginning of 10th grade and I messed up my knee and I needed to do something so I didn’t lose my mind. So, I started playing drums and all my friends were musicians. So, I got a friend of mine named Kevin Fender (Eleventh Hour, Employer Employee, AUNTIE) to show me a little tempo and I built off of that. Here I am, to this day, it’s the only lesson than I ever had. I also played with tons of people through my lifetime but finally just got my life back together. So, now I’m actually making a dent in society, I think a little bit. So, that’s good.
DS: So, what other bands were you in?
P: Let’s see, way back in the day, I was in a band called The Coffin Boys. I was in band called Blanket of M, the Worms, and I was in a real big band in Arizona called The Slash City Daggers. We went worldwide with that. It was like a trashy, glammy, punk rock and roll band. It was fun. You could find that stuff online. I sat in and played drums with Jeff Dahl and Freddy Lynxx at a live show back in the mid or late 90s back in Arizona. That was pretty badass.
DS: That’s a lot to be proud of for sure.
P: Yeah, definitely.
DS: So, what brought you to Pueblo, Colorado?
P: I needed to get off of drugs and I had friends here and could smoke all the weed I wanted to. So, here I am and I got a little bit right-minded again and started craving drums. So, my old roommate used to talk about this guy at the plasma center who played guitar named Carlos. So, I went and found him and here I am playing music eight years later with him in the Dead End.
DS: You’re currently in Diskount Vodka and the Dead End. How would you describe your bands? And, how do you manage your time in both bands?
P: Diskount Vodka is just straight up old school punk rock. Some of it kind of sounds like street punk, a little Oi-ish, kind of poppy…just a little bit all over the place. We have a split seven inch with Tv Tragedy coming out on January 13th on Split Personality Records out of Las Vegas. That’s a fun one and Diskount keeps releasing singles. February, we’ll release an album. Then as far as the Dead End goes, we are a psychobilly band with punk rock influences. I’m a punk rock drummer but I play a little bit of rock and roll in that band, too. So, a little bit all over the place also as well. Hopefully we have some new music coming out soon, too.
Diskount Vodka (left to right) Cuauhtli, Pickle, and Ellie.
DS: Cool. So, what are you up to right now?
P: Just getting ready to release more material with both bands, but Diskount Vodka for sure. We have new material coming. So, we also have a video that came out on December 1st, a little live video with a song that we’re about to release.
DS: So, with your two bands, have you achieved what you sought out to do as a drummer?
P: I’ve made goals and hit those goals but now I have new goals. So, I’m just going to keep moving up the ladder. Never stop. It takes forever to get anywhere being a musician, for some reason, but it’s worth it.
The Dead End (left to right) Pickle, LJ, and Carlos.
DS: Who are your biggest influence and inspirations? Tell me about your patches on your jacket.
P: As far as my biggest influences, of course the Ramones influenced me playing drums at a younger age. But here recently, Scott Churilla (Reverend Horton Heat, Supersuckers) who played with Three Bad Jacks, that dude was super inspiring to watch. So, I’d say that gave me a little bit of inspiration in my life to beef up my drums some. I like listening to a bunch of Oi bands. They’re pretty inspiring. Rancid always inspires me. I like all kinds of styles of music, so I listen to psychobilly music, too. I like The Meteors, The Peabrains, The Quaranteds, and Rezurex. There’s a bunch of good bands like that. I like everything from the New York Dolls to Johnny Thunders, all kinds of stuff.
DS: So, you’ve been performing locally and touring regionally for years now. What is the biggest show you’ve played? And, what is the best show you’ve played? Tell me about the most memorable show you’ve played.
P: The biggest show I’ve played is Hot Rod Rock & Rumble because there were hundreds of people in front of us and then thousands of people in the whole place that heard us. So, it was pretty wild. As far as memorable shows, I could go all the way back to when I lived in Arizona and played shows with David Gardner with the Trash Idols and those shows were very memorable. Playing with Jeff Dahl was something that was super crazy in my lifetime. Raymond Burton Estes (…And We All Die) told me to buy a Jeff Dahl tape at Camelot Music in the mall for a buck. So, I did and I fell in love with it. Years later, I got to play drums with him on stage and played his songs. I was super amazed. But he’s also recorded stuff for the Trash Idols and recorded stuff for Slash City Daggers also through the years for me. So that was pretty cool. I still keep in touch with the guy. He’s awesome. So, much inspiration comes from him, too.
DS: So, what would you say your proudest moments are?
P: My whole career. I like it all. It’s never been a dull moment, that’s for sure. Playing with the Fat Skins. They’re a really good Oi band and those guys are really good guys. So, I’ve played with a lot of good bands.
DS: What advice do you have for young musicians who want to start a band?
P: You don’t want to play music. Don’t ever play an instrument! No, I’m just kidding. I don’t know…just learn that instrument and feel it. If you don’t feel it, definitely don’t play it. Just keep moving forward. You’ve got to put in the work. You can’t just sit there and expect somebody to come give it to you. You’ve got to go do it.
DS: So, what’s next for you? What are some of the goals you have for 2024?
P: Just put out as much music as I possibly can and maybe tour some and who knows, shoot some videos for both bands. So, just do as much as I possibly can. I only live once.
For the first time, Dying Scene is heading to Copenhell, a festival in Denmark! We are so excited to be among the crowd and give you everything from daily reports and reviews to some festival BTS. Let’s examine some background on the festival and how we were lucky enough to be accredited for Copenhell. Copenhell […]
For the first time, Dying Scene is heading to Copenhell, a festival in Denmark! We are so excited to be among the crowd and give you everything from daily reports and reviews to some festival BTS.
Let’s examine some background on the festival and how we were lucky enough to be accredited for Copenhell.
Copenhell was started in 2010 by Live Nation and takes place in an area of Copenhagen called ‘Refshaleøen’. Back in 2010, when it began, the festival took place for two days with bands like Suicidal Tendencies, The Damned Things, Deftones, and Hatebreed, to mention a few. They only had two stages at the time. As time has progressed, Copenhell has expanded into more days, added a few more stages, and had some big names visit their festival, like Bad Religion, Danzig, Rise Against, Code Orange, Dropkick Murphys, Fever 333, Terror, Dog Eat Dog, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Kiss. Now it’s 2024, and while Copenhell has grown, one would expect a festival like this to lose its touch. I understand that some might say something else. And to that, I say, to each their own and move on, but I think this year might be one of the best I get to attend because of the lineup and the vibe surrounding it.
In this guide, I will also share my daily festival essentials and what happens in Biergarten afterward. I will explain why bringing a light jacket is essential because Danish weather changes faster than a toddler’s taste in food. And while speaking of toddlers, is it a good festival for kids?
So, let’s look at the lineup. Because it is a rock and metal festival, some might question why Dying Scene, a punk ‘zine, will spend time and effort at Copenhell. Well, friends, because of other the years, they’ve added more and more punk, hardcore, and for that, I’m so fucking thankful.
To the bands I’m watching and those I’m giving a chance because I’m open to new music and experiences:
Body Count
You’re probably thinking, “Karina, seriously? Body Count???” and the answer is, duh? Body Count is a band I’ve wanted to see for a long time, but sadly, I didn’t attend when they played at Copenhell the last time. Body Count is a rap metal group that Ice-T started in 1990, and they have some awesome tunes. You can find me on Saturday, June 22nd, absolutely rapping along.
Chelsea Wolfe
I fell for Chelsea Wolfe before she was announced for Copenhell via a colleague who told me she was set to release a new album in 2024. From there, I took any suggestions on what of hers I needed to listen to and have in my life. My buddy Troels even came with a whole album and told me to listen. Chelsea Wolfe has such a beautiful voice, and her newest album, “She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She,” became the main reason you can find me at her concert on Friday, June 21st.
Dropkick Murphys
Long-standing Friends of Dying Scene. Dropkick Murphys is one of the bands I’ve watched most in concert. I am a sucker for catchy songs, and DKM has undoubtedly made a career out of them. You can catch me at their concert on Friday, June 21st at 9 pm.
Empire State Bastard
I need to find out what this band’s music genre is. But Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro has teamed up with Mike Vennar from Oceanside to create something that sounds like they are having much fun. Either way, I’m excited to see what it’s about! Catch me, humaning, at their concert on Wednesday, June 19th.
Fu Manchu
Isn’t Fu Manchu stoner rock? You’re probably asking yourself. And the answer is yes, but it’s the finest stoner rock. It’s the kind where you vibe with every song and likely end up in a mosh pit. Or at least, that’s my plan for their set. Find me on Saturday, June 22nd, living my best life.
Hatebreed
I’ll admit, I’ve only heard their first album. But I really want to see them. And from the videos I’ve seen on social media, they put on a fun and brain-dead concert! You can catch me there on Saturday, June 22nd.
JJ And The A’s
I saw them open for Civic last November, and that was entertaining. They have a great sound, and I look forward to seeing the band take the stage at Copenhell. I’m hoping they don’t clash with other bands. But you can catch me there on Saturday, June 22nd.
JOHN CXNNOR
I’ve never seen them perform, but nearly everyone I know has, and they all say the same. It’s the best thing ever, and I’m curious enough to see what this industrial metal band can do and if I join their fan club. You can catch me feeling the music on Friday, June 21st.
Karnivool
I’ve seen them live! They have blown me away! I love this band, and it’s a prog band. If you don’t have anything to watch when they are performing, I highly recommend catching them in action. They are unique, and you become a fan so quickly. You can see me chilling at their set on Friday, June 21st.
Lack
A Danish hardcore band that initially went their separate ways in 2008, they quickly reunited in 2021 for some shows. This year, they reunited for a few shows, and we are lucky to have Copenhell to give people what they want, which is Lack. I want Lack. Watch me get my mind blown on Thursday, June 20th. This is an important show for me.
Limp Bizkit
THIS ISN’T A DRILL; IT’S HAPPENING. Limp Bizkit is coming to Denmark, AND I’M THERE. I know, Limp Bizkit—really? Really. They aren’t even a guilty pleasure. I like this band. But they are playing Thursday, June 20th, and I’m there, likely in a mosh pit.
Madball
Don’t sleep on the New York hardcore band when they entertain the crowd on Friday, June 21st.
Mr. Bungle
I’ve slept on this band my whole life. Now, I’ll be amongst their audience on Thursday, June 20th.
The Hives
I slept on the fact that they visited Copenhagen in 2023 and kicked myself for that. But there’s always Copenhell, and that’s precisely where I’ll be seeing the band for the first time. I’m excited about it, honestly. Come dance with me on Thursday, June 20th.
The Offspring
Didn’t I see them at Slam Dunk in 2023? Yeah, I did. And it was something, BUT it’s The Offspring, and I grew up listening to them; I need always to attend their gigs when I can. Plus, I love dancing along to their songs… And singing along. Get over it.
Tool
I saw Tool for the first time in 2022, two weeks after I turned 30. From what I remember, I had the best time of my life at their concert. But I am attached to Tool’s music and look forward to their Saturday, June 22nd show.
Underoath
UNDEROATH, FRICKING UNDEROATH. Enough said, I’m there, and I’m ready for this. Catch us vibing on Wednesday, June 19th.
ZULU
Sorry, we can’t be friends if you don’t like Zulu. Since they started in 2019, Zulu has gone from strength to strength on the hardcore scene. Their debut album, “A New Tomorrow,” was an eye-opener with how they perfected the most challenging art in music. How cross-genres without it sounding cluttered and out of place. I think it is one of the best hardcore albums of 2023, and the intensity you hear on the album makes you leave wanting more. Find me on Thursday, June 20th, kicking it in the pit.
Here’s a list of bands I’ve never heard of or seen. I’ll attend blindly, so I will not listen beforehand because I sometimes like to do that.
DVNE
Escuela Grind
Sanguisugabogg
Twin Temple
There’s probably more, but I’ll leave it alone now and move on.
Next up, here’s my essential packing list for the festival that I’ve found necessary over the years.
Sunblock: It’s summer in Copenhagen, and even though our weather can go from sunny to cloudy in 0.6 seconds, the sun hits hard when it is there. Don’t neglect your skin; bring some!
A light jacket: I’ll refer to the above, but the evenings can get chilly, and you don’t want to catch a cold.
Wear comfy shoes: Your feet will love you!
Bring a power bank: That explains itself.
Sunglasses: Maybe put one of those cool strings in them so you don’t lose them.
Lip Balm: Yes, your lips will thank me later.
AND for those camping, you’re pros. Hit up the comment section to add your festival essentials! Kids at the festival; I have done that for those bringing children for the first time. My son’s sixth birthday was at Copenhell, and he had a blast. I felt safe, seeing him start his little mosh pit while those older than him looked on. But Copenhell has a section on bringing kids to the festival that you can find here, along with other IMPORTANT information.
Food
With the drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) flowing, it’s very important to eat, and Copenhell has a lot of variety when it comes to food! While there’s no word on what will be served (yet), I hope to see Naturli’ this year and have falafel and fries. A girl’s got to eat!
Other entertainment
Once again, Copenhell is bringing back Copenhell Con, which is fun and worth visiting! There are Q&A’s and loads of other great stuff to look at.
Once the music is over for the night, you don’t need to go into Copenhagen to have a grand ol’ time. You can visit Biergarten, where the afterparty doesn’t end until sunrise! A DJ will likely be spinning some records, but you can find all the bangers there—and likely most of your friends!
Last year, Copenhell had karaoke; that’s one thing I hope they will bring back. And what about football? This summer, we have the Euro Cup. Will it be shown in the hall behind the big bad Copenhell wolf? Time will tell!
Are you visiting Copenhell this year? If so, what are you really excited about? We are just happy to be part of a wholesome festival this year.
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:
This week’s first record is from The Yum Yums, a great bubblegum pop-punk band from Norway. They have a new record called Poppin’ Up Again due out next month on Screaming Apple Records. It’s available to pre-order on black wax (limited to 500 copies) right here, and shiny red vinyl (100 copies) right here. Unfortunately, no tracks are streaming yet, but if you haven’t already heard of the Yum Yums just know that they have my ringing endorsement. If you don’t trust my opinion, just check out their last record:
2 hours down I-4 from yours truly, Orlando, Florida’s Suck Brick Kid are releasing a new record on local label Smartpunk Records. If you enjoy newer pop-punk, you’ll wanna pick up a copy of The End is What I Want on one of these pleasantly named color variants: Urinal Cake Vinyl (ltd. 100), and/or Shit ‘n Piss Vinyl (ltd. 400). Check out a few tracks below and pre-order the record here – it’s due out May 17th.
New Jersey pop-punk veterans The Ergs have announced a 2xLP 20th Anniversary reissue of the cult favorite dorkrockcorkrod. LP1 is the original mix, remastered by Justin Perkins (Screeching Weasel, the Riverdales, the Manges, etc.) at Mystery Room Mastering. LP2 is a brand new 20th Anniversary remix of the album, completed by Steve Albini using the original master tapes. This one’s due out June 5th on Don Giovanni Records; not sure how many copies were pressed but the splatter variant looks pretty sweet. Get it here.
Rancid‘s B Sides and C Sides compilation LP seems to be getting its first official repress in a decade, as a random pre-order has popped up on Amazon with a listed street date of May 3rd. Details are nebulous at the moment; aside from the cover art looking pink instead of red, I’ve seen some conflicting information. Amazon and this store both list Pirates Press as the label, but one says its a Double LP and the other does not. There also seems to be some debate about the release date. I rolled the dice and pre-ordered it, surely Bezos won’t disappoint.
The Circle Jerks and Descendents are on tour with the Adolescents right now (no, you did not just step out of a time machine in the mid-80’s). They celebrated the tour’s kickoff with a 7″ on which they cover a few of each others’ classic songs. The Descendents take on “Red Tape”, “I Want Some Skank”, and “Beverly Hills”; the Circle Jerks put their spin on “Kabuki Girl” and “Hope”.
Like a lot of the shows on the tour, literally every variant of this 7″ sold out fast as hell. The (potentially) good new is, you can (potentially) get a copy from the bands’ merch tables on tour. There’s a tour exclusive splatter variant, limited to 500 copies and signed by both bands (it seems these are limited to 20 per show), and it sounds like they’ll both have the red color variant as well. Peep the dates here.
Denver punks SPELLS have a new record coming out on April 11th on Rad Girlfriend, Shield Recordings, and a few other venerable labels. Check out the lead single from Past Our Prime below and pre-order the record on “Snowy White” and/or “Blade Bullet” colored vinyl right here. The first 80 people to pre-order will get a hand numbered alternate cover art print. Cool!
Another leak from big dawg Bezos at Amazon.com – looks like The Dwarves are releasing a new “mini LP” not even 6 months after their latest record Concept Album. Keep It Reel features 7 new songs, 2 remixes, and “All for You” from the band’s aforementioned 2023 LP. Here’s the tracklist:
1. One Musketeer 2. Voodoo 3. Kinda Konsensual 4. Nobody Fucked You 5. I Had a Dream 6. Blast Off 7. Parasite 8. Invisible People 9. We Won’t Skate 10. All For You
Pop-punk supergruppe The Phase Problem‘s lineup includes members of Squirtgun, The Murderburgers, City Mouse, and a bunch of other great bands. Their 2023 debut album was 10 years in the making. Luckily the wait for album #2 was not nearly as long; The Power of Positive Thinking is due out next month on Lavasocks Records (US), Brassneck Records (UK), and Stardumb Records (EU). The record features guest appearances from Heather Tabor from the Teen Idols and original Squirtgun frontman Matt Hart, among others. It’s limited to 250 copies on red w/ yellow splatter colored vinyl. Pre-order this shit!
One of the marquee releases featured on the last Record Radar was NOFX‘s new EP Half Album. At the time, all the color variants were sold out, but since then a new variant on “green-gold” colored vinyl (whatever that means) has popped up on some European distros including Green Hell Records, Coretex Records, and Cruise Records. Supposedly this is limited to 500 copies and exclusive to German indie stores. I guess if you missed out on all the others (or you’re sick in the head and collect every NOFX variant) this is a good option for you to import.
Israeli punks Free Sergio new record The Nail in the Coffee is being released on vinyl by our friends at Punk Rock Radar, Cat’s Claw Records and High End Demin Records. Limited to 100 copies on yellow wax, this is a highly recommended pickup for fans of melodic punk with a harder edge (No Fun At All, Satanic Surfers, Belvedere, etc.). There’s even some ska-core sprinkled in here and there. Check the record out below and pre-order it here (US), here (Canada), or here (UK).
Washington State melodic punks Hilltop Rats are back with a new record for the first time in a long time. I’m about halfway through my first listen as I’m typing this and can confidently proclaim this is a god damn banger. Life You Lead is out now on Felony Records, with three bitchin’ color variants; one of those already sold out so quit fucking around and get your copy.
Everyone’s favorite Green Day album Warning is back in print on colored vinyl for the first time in a decade. The new Florescent Green color variant is up for pre-order everywhere but ol’ reliable Amazon is probably the cheapest place you can get it.
Dutch pop-punks Jetlag Jenny have a new 3-song EP called Animal Escapades due out April 19th on White Russian Records. Check out one of the tracks below and click this link to grab the 7″ on green and/or blue colored vinyl (each limited to 125 copies).
Days N Daze are releasing an LP of demos from recording session for their latest album Show Me the Blueprints. That includes five (5) never-before-heard songs. Very cool! The record is streaming now but the physical release won’t be out on SBÄM Records ’til May 31st. Get it here on one (or all three) of the following color variants: Dopamine, Cosmic Green, Dirty Orange. Limited to 200 copies each.
German punks Resolutions are releasing their sophomore album Monster Mirror on May 24th via End Hits Records. The lead single “Drop Dead” is great and the record comes in a pretty sweet looking reflective silver jacket. 3 variants: 50x lobster red, 200x black / white swirl (get both of those here), and 50x dewdrop (get it at the band’s shows).
New York pop-punk band Egghead (whose existence I’m just now being alerted to) released a compilation album called Dumb Songs for Smart People on Mutant Pop Records in 1999. 25 years later, it’s being released on vinyl for the first time thanks to the friendly people at Dead Broke Rekerds and Mom’s Basement Records. And as I finished writing this and went to look for links to pre-order I realized this shit is not up for pre-order lmaooooo. Well, when it is, it’ll be available on red and white color variants. Also probably worth noting these guys are playing some shows with the Ergs and Boris the Sprinkler in July.
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!
The Bouncing Souls returned to Chicago for a three-day stand recently. Night Two had the Garden State legends playing its albums Hopeless Romantic and The Gold Record. Bouncing Souls were joined by Chicago’s own Blind Adam and the Federal League, as well as Bronx, NY’s Vic Ruggiero, of the Slackers, performing a solo set. The […]
The Bouncing Souls returned to Chicago for a three-day stand recently. Night Two had the Garden State legends playing its albums Hopeless Romantic and The Gold Record. Bouncing Souls were joined by Chicago’s own Blind Adam and the Federal League, as well as Bronx, NY’s Vic Ruggiero, of the Slackers, performing a solo set.
The Bouncing Souls, formed in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1989, is hitting four cities this year for 3-night, 5-record celebrations. Brooklyn, NY will welcome the band in April; Denver, CO in August; and Garden Grove, CA, in December. First up was Chicago with the band playing a full band acoustic set at Epiphany Center for the Arts on night one. The next two nights took place at The Bottom Lounge where the band played the records How I Spent My Summer Vacation from 2001 and 2003’s Anchors Aweigh on the final evening.
Night two featured the seminal 1996 album Hopeless Romantic and The Gold Record from 2006. The Bouncing Souls was in fine form, as energetic as ever, as it drove through its signature bursts of up-tempo and buoyant songs. Singer Greg Attonito roaming the stage as he belted out the songs; Pete Steinkopf, dynamic on guitar; Bryan Kienlen’s muscular bass playing; and George Rebelo’s potent work on drums added up to an outstanding set. Highlights for me included “Fight to Live,” Bullying The Jukebox, and “¡Olé!,” all off Hopeless Romantic.
I will add a personal note on that last mentioned song. As a long-time Arsenal FC, I find it to be fantastic pump-up jam play it on repeat when headed to cheer on my favorite football club. It’s also our second song on Dying Scene’s 2022 World Cup Playlist. Steinkopf and Bad Religion’s Brian Baker have been “football teammates” for a while. But I’ll have to wait until there is a Gunners-style kit as the one in the above link is an obvious take-off of Manchester City, FC, and that’s a hard no from me.
The Bouncing Souls (and Bad Religion) however, is always a hard yes.
Blind Adam and the Federal League, out of Chicago, is staunchly anti-fascist. Frontman Adam Gogola, who for a while ran a charitable organization called the People’s Pizza Party, is not shy about expressing his views and putting those words into action. This was made clear by the “Free Palestine” shirt he wore on stage. During the set, he also spoke of Nex Benedict, the 16-year-old Oklahoma transgender student who died a day after they were brutally beaten by three girls at school. Gogola urged the crowd members to do what they can to fight transphobia, homophobia, and other vulnerable communities, as well as to fight back against rights being taken away from women and others.
In addition, it was a family affair for Gogola, with his parents in attendance, and his wife, Jessica Ever, joining him onstage for a song.
Gogola, his bandmates Alex Simotes and Nick Cvijovic, and Sean McGill filling on drums for Athen Erbter, drove through a powerful set. It was heavy with songs from the band’s most recent record, 2023’s The Fields We Know, including “The Sower,” “Before It Gets Better” (with Jessica Ever), “Meet Me at George Floyd Square,” “One for the Bootlickers,” and “Cold Dead Hands.” It is worth noting that Pete Steinkopf of Bouncing Souls produced The Fields We Know.
Members of Blind Adam and the Federal League will be continuing their regular “Pick a Side” DJ night at The Native in Chicago on March 28, 2024. The event takes place every last Thursday of the month.
Vic Ruggiero, best known as a member of NYC’s ska/rock-steady The Slackers, hails from the Bronx. However, as he told me post-set, he hasn’t spent much time there as of late due to extensive touring.
On this night (he also opened up night 3) Ruggiero was a one-man band, holding his guitar; harmonica at mouth level, playing a kick drum with his left foot and a tambourine with his right. Ruggiero, as solo troubadour, looks as if he would fit in perfectly at the Greenwich Village coffee houses of the 1960s. Venues such as The Gaslight where Bob Dylan and others could be found. The casting agents of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel missed the opportunity to cast him in a cameo at The Gaslight Café where the eponymous character started her comedy career.
The charismatic Ruggiero jammed through an entertaining set that included “Vacant Stare,” “Junkie Parents,” and a terrific cover of the Ink Spots’ “I Don’t Want to Set The World on Fire.”
Ruggiero rejoins his Slackers bandmates for numerous upcoming shows across parts of North America. The band will then head to Europe just a few days short of the start of Fall for several weeks of shows.
Located along the banks of the Mystic River, maybe a half-dozen miles north of the ever-increasingly gentrified heart of Boston, Massachusetts, lies the traditionally working-class city of Medford. Once the home of Amelia Earhart and Elizabeth “The Black Dahlia” Short and the guy who wrote “Jingle Bells,” it’s now the home to one of yours […]
Located along the banks of the Mystic River, maybe a half-dozen miles north of the ever-increasingly gentrified heart of Boston, Massachusetts, lies the traditionally working-class city of Medford. Once the home of Amelia Earhart and Elizabeth “The Black Dahlia” Short and the guy who wrote “Jingle Bells,” it’s now the home to one of yours truly’s favorite new venues…Deep Cuts! Once the site of one of the region’s 729,038 Italian restaurants, it’s now an ever-evolving sandwich shop/brewery/record shop/pinball arcade/240-cap music venue, the likes of which the area so desperately needed after the shuttering of so many similarly sized venues in the big city. It was the perfect sort of venue for a high-octane three-band-bill as The Drowns brought their rock-and-roll roadshow through the area last Wednesday night, with regional support from Worcester’s Michael Kane and the Morning Afters and newly-reformed River City Rebels, who I suppose hail from parts all-over at this point given the number of moving parts who have spent time in RCR over the last couple of decades.
I’ve been a fan of the hard-working, blue-collar Drowns since one of those first flexis showed up in a care package from the inimitable Pirates Press probably 4/5 years ago. I think it was “The Sound” maybe, and it was printed on an old shot of Kingdome-era Seattle and it was just another example of one of the endlessly creative things that label spits out. ANYWAY, this somehow marked the first time I’d seen them in this neck of the woods, and let me tell you…I liked them before, but I love them now. The Drowns are solid on record, but Rev and the gang (stalwarts Andy Wylie on bass and Jake Margolis – who I had last seen with the Shell Corporation easily a decade ago – now joined by Josh Dale on 2nd guitar) are at their best on a live stage. They are consummate road dogs, and they are dyed-in-the-Fred-Perry unapologetic anti-fascist, anti-racist punk rock lifers. On this night, they blazed through a set that peppered a healthy dose of tracks from their latest record, Blacked Out, with a bunch of the classics. Personal favorites included “Ketamine & Cola,” “Just The Way She Goes,” and the new album’s title track. Also thrown in for good measure were a rousing cover of The Sweet’s “The Ballroom Blitz” – which is a song I’m old enough to remember, and a pit-inducing cover of Cock Sparrer’s “Riot Squad” that brought festivities to a rousing conclusion.
Michael Kane & The Morning Afters opened about a week’s worth of The Drowns’ northeast dates, including this one (naturally). They might not play 200 dates a year like The Drowns do, but in many ways, the two bands are very much kindred rock-and-roll spirits. Appearing as a keyboardless four-piece on this run, Kane and his longtime wingmen Franklin Siplas (guitar), Timmy Weagle (bass) and Jeff Hoey (drums) have carved out a pretty solid Petty-meets-Replacements niche for themselves, meaning they are right at home on a wide variety of bills. The setlist on this particular night was pretty raw and rocking, including “Carol Kaye” and “Cooking The Books” and personal favorite “Dark Nights,” all from their last full length, Broke But Not Broken. Oh, and of course there was a cover of Petty’s “American Girl” that was pretty true to the original, killer guitar solo included. I just wish Franklin had busted out the Yamaha Revstar!
The opening slot on this night was occupied by none other than the River City Rebels. Originally from Vermont (I think), the band have taken on a few different iterations with more than a handful of different members in between hiatuses over the years; Dying Scene’s own Dan McCool even did a stint back around the turn of the century. There was a sort of ska-punk era and there was a more rockabilly era in there. The current era of River City Rebels consists of Dan O’ Day at the helm with Marc Coutu and Izze De Simone on guitar, Kody Samborn on bass and Adam Allard on drums, and they’ve locked in on a more late-70s, Lower East Side, New York Dolls sort of vibe, only if New York Dolls also grew up on 80s Boston street punk.
All in all, it was the kind of raw and fun and working class rock and roll party that I’ve often lamented doesn’t really exist in this capacity and in this area anymore. And maybe it still doesn’t down the road in the “big city.” But it certainly does in places like Deep Cuts in Medford. Bonus points for me not even having to take the highway. Trying something a little different with the slideshows below, so keep scrolling and check out some more shots of the evening’s festivities!
Dying Scene’s week of exclusive premieres rolls on with the music video for “Bookends”, the brand new single from Manchester, UK’s Chloe Hawes. Check it out below and lookout for Hawes’ debut album Remains/Reminders, due out April 12th on Nasty Cut Records (EU), Mt. Crushmore Records (US), and UTB Manchester (UK). Here is a paragraph […]
Dying Scene’s week of exclusive premieres rolls on with the music video for “Bookends”, the brand new single from Manchester, UK’s Chloe Hawes. Check it out below and lookout for Hawes’ debut album Remains/Reminders, due out April 12th on Nasty Cut Records (EU), Mt. Crushmore Records (US), and UTB Manchester (UK).
Here is a paragraph with words about the song you’re likely watching the music video for right now if you followed my instructions in the paragraph above:
“Bookends started as a song criticizing the commodification and sexualization of the queer community, by people that do nothing but make it difficult for us to exist. From there it grew into something more positive, and the joy to be had in finding your community, chosen family, and casting off anyone that brings negativity around who you are, and/or who you love. It’s a celebration of queerness, as well as a fuck you to a society that doesn’t always let you be yourself.”
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!
Pre-order Chloe Hawes’ debut album Remains/Reminders! The LP is limited to 200 copies – my fellow Americans can purchase it here, my Bri’ish mates can acquire it here, and my European friends can obtain it here.
Listen up, ska-punk appreciators! We’ve got a bitchin’ premiere for you today. It’s the new music video from San Diego’s Late for Life, for their brand new single “M357” (pronounced Em, three, five, seven). Check that shit out below! “M357” depicts the prying cycle of addiction in the mind. The song was written, recorded and […]
Listen up, ska-punk appreciators! We’ve got a bitchin’ premiere for you today. It’s the new music video from San Diego’s Late for Life, for their brand new single “M357” (pronounced Em, three, five, seven). Check that shit out below!
“M357” depicts the prying cycle of addiction in the mind. The song was written, recorded and produced by Late for Life. The band worked with TJ Rivera for mixing and mastering. The music video was written, shot and directed by Rick Galli and produced by Richard W. King.
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!
