June 2006 Punk and Indie News

RETURN OF THE GIANT SLITS
Recently-reunited reggaefied U.K. punk legends (and original riot grrrls) The Slits have revealed they plan to release their first new material in over two decades. Original Slits Ari Up and Tessa Pollitt came together earlier this year to play a few shows in the U.K. and last year met in the studio to record new material. The three-song REVENGE OF THE KILLER SLITS EP will be out October 17 on SAF Records. Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook and Adam & the Ants guitarist Marco Pirroni guest on “Number One Enemy”, while Cook’s daughter Holly, Pollitt’s daughter Phoebe, Lauren Jones (daughter of The Clash’s Mick Jones), and Miquita Oliver (British television presenter and daughter of Rip Rig & Panic singer Andrea Oliver) all contribute backing vocals to the song “Slits Tradition”. Moreover, The Slits are planning a U.S. tour this fall, to coincide with the CMJ Music Marathon in NYC. http://theslits.co.uk

HOT CONVERGE NEWS
Converge have been tapped to be the special guest on select Sounds of The Underground dates this summer. They’ll be with the tour from July 9 to July 17. Converge will also be playing some select shows around this timeframe as well. Look for those dates to be announced shortly. The band are at the moment writing and recording the follow up to YOU FAIL ME, to be released on Epitaph in the fall. www.convergecult.com

SCARRED FOR LIFE
U.K. punk veterans The Skeptix are planning on returning to these shores in August. Dates are from the 3rd to the 13th. Looking like West Coast only. Check www.myspace.com/theskeptix or www.theskeptix.com for more. Their last studio release was HATE & FEAR (Thunk) and LIVE AT CBGB’S, recorded at their show there July 27, 2003 (which happens to feature some liner notes from this here news compiler).

R.I.P.
Jamaican singer Desmond Dekker, whose song “Israelites” reached the top of the charts in 1968 and ’69 and first introduced many people to a new musical genre, ska, died in London in late-May at what is believed to be the age of 63. The cause of death was a heart attack.

SEXY VEGGIES
The results of PETA’s “world’s sexiest vegetarian” annual online poll were announced last month, with Prince and VERONICA MARS star Kristen Bell taking top prize. Past winners include Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Tobey Maguire, Josh Hartnett, and Shania Twain. Runners up this year included Natalie Portman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Nicollette Sheridan.

LEFT ALONE ALBUM
L.A.’s Left Alone (who’ve been around for a decade now) release their sophomore album DEAD AMERICAN HERO via Hellcat Records August 8. Recorded at Love Juice Labs and produced by vocalist/guitarist Elvis Cortez on a modest budget, the LP follows 2005’s LONELY STARTS AND BROKEN HEARTS. The album features guest appearances from Patricia Day (Horrorpops) and Mr. Tim Armstrong.

THE FORECAST LOOKS GOOD
The Forecast hit the highway in June to celebrate the release of IN THE SHADOW OF TWO GUNMEN (Victory). The Peoria, Illinois band are joined by Tourmaline, Socratic, and Mashlin for shows in the West, and the tour goes through June 28. The video for the album’s first single, “And We All Return To Our Roots”, was directed by Darren Doane (AFI, Thursday, Jimmy Eat World). The video is up in its entirety at the MySpace video page.

REBEL YELL
Sacramento punks Whiskey Rebels are on tour now, playing with such acts as The Messengers, The Boils, Turbo A.C.s, Bad Reaction, The Heart Attacks, and Red Invasion, among others. For all show info check www.whiskeyrebels.com. The band’s last album was 2004’s CREATE OR DIE (GMM).

GORE’S WAR
Al Gore, on the heels of the release of his global warming documentary AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, has publicly announced he will not run for the presidency in 2008. The former Vice President and Democrat candidate of the 2000 presidential election says instead he will spend his time educating people about global warming. “I can’t imagine any circumstances in which I would become a candidate again,” says Gore. “I’ve found other ways to serve. I’m enjoying them.”

SCARY KIDS’ SCARY NEW DRUMMER
Scary Kids Scaring Kids have announced that after months of touring with the band, Justin Salter has been officially named as the new drummer. Salter replaces Pete Costa, the band’s original drummer. Prior to joining Scary Kids Justin worked as a recording engineer and drum tech at a sound studio in Mesa, AZ, and his friendship with the band dates back to middle school. SKSK are currently writing new songs in Phoenix, preparing for an October release for their follow-up to THE CITY SLEEPS IN FLAMES (Immortal). The band will perform on the Warped Tour beginning in June, followed by an August tour with Haste the Day. www.scarykids.com

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Last month during a 27th birthday party in Manhattan for actress Rosario Dawson, Axl Rose and designer Tommy Hilfiger got into a bit of a scuffle. Trouble went down when Rose moved a drink belonging to Hilfiger’s girlfriend. “I moved his girlfriend’s drink so it wouldn’t spill,” said the Guns N’ Roses vocalist, who was there to play a surprise set for Dawson. He alleged Hilfiger kept hitting him in the arm and told him to put the drink back. “It was the most surreal thing, I think, that’s ever happened to me in my life,” said Rose. After all the commotion, the frontman did perform, and dedicated “You’re Crazy” to “my good friend Tommy Hilfiger.”

READ WITH ME MICHAEL
Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos will have a book titled SOUND BITES published later this year. A compilation of the food columns he’s written for THE GUARDIAN newspaper as well as including some new articles, the tome shall be illustrated by the band’s drummer, Andrew Knowles. As for Franz Ferdinand, they play T in the Park, Oxegen, and The Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds festivals this summer.

GAY MARRIAGE BANNED?
Earlier this month, President George W. Bush called on the Senate to approve a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and woman, thus bringing back the debate on same-sex marriage, the first time he’s addressed the issue since his re-election. At press time, both sides believed sponsors of the amendment would not have the 67 votes necessary for approval.

THE FALL OF IDEALS
All That Remains are set to release their new album, THE FALL OF IDEALS (Prosthetic), on July 11. The album, produced by Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage), is the follow-up to their 2004 debut THIS DARKENED HEART. Of the band’s new album, vocalist Phil Labonte said, “People have a certain idea of what this band is. When they hear the new stuff, they will notice a new approach integrated with our original style. The riffs sound familiar, but with the new layers of song dynamics, it’s now a completely different animal. It’s almost like a new way to look at an old friend.” An mp3 for “This Calling”, the first single off the album, is available at: www.prostheticrecords.com. All That Remains have also been confirmed for a second-stage slot on this summer’s Ozzfest. In addition to the official Ozzfest tour dates, the band will be playing “Offfest” dates with Unearth, Norma Jean, The Red Chord, A Life Once Lost, Walls Of Jericho, and Full Blown Chaos.

SICK TOUR
Modern Life Is War are heading out on tour this summer from June 9 to July 4 with Bane, This Is Hell, and Outbreak. Outbreak are supporting their 2005 album WITNESS. This Is Hell are supporting their new album, SUNDOWNING (CD on Trustkill, LP on Deathwish). The reissue of Modern Life Is War’s debut LP, MY LOVE, MY WAY, will be out on Deathwish in the summer some time. See www.deathwishinc.com for info.

THORP SIGNING
Thorp Records recently welcomed Cleveland metal mavericks Years of Fire to the fold. Formed by Jason Hager (co-founder and ex-guitarist for Chimaira) and also featuring ex-members of Ringworm (Ben Hollowell) and Ascension (Chris Wood), Years of Fire have a lot of experience in metal songwriting. Years Of Fire embodies the spirit of true American metal and will appeal to fans of Chimaira, God Forbid, Lamb of God, and Slayer. Their Thorp debut, VISCERAL DEPARTURE, is out August 8. www.thorprecords.com

SCHOOL OF ROCK
Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo, who lived this year in a Harvard dorm, graduated earlier this month from the noted university, after alternating between his band and being an English and American lit undergrad for many years. And to add to the good news, Cuomo marries his fiancée Kyoko Ito on the 18th. Said the frontman, “Graduation is huge for me. Obviously I’m not 21 and I don’t have my whole life ahead of me, and I do already have a stable career [but] I’m really excited about doing the smart and responsible thing…finishing what I started after 15 years of work.”

WHITE TRASH DOUBLE HEADER
Nashville bastard Hank III has teamed up with the original sons of the savage South ANTiSEEN for a limited picture disc 7”. On the A-side Hank gives us a country-fied cover of ANTiSEEN’s classic horror-rock tune “Ruby, Get Back To The Hills”, which is from the upcoming EVERYONE LOVES ANTISEEN tribute album, due out later this summer. On the flip side, ANTiSEEN pay tribute to themselves with “F.T.K.” This release is strictly limited to 2,000 copies and is out June 27.

FARE THEE WELL
Bleed the Dream have said goodbye to frontman Brandon Thomas. From their Website, we get this: “We’re sorry to inform you, but due to personal and creative differences between the band and Brandon, we will no longer have him singing…We are currently working with a new singer and are already back in the rehearsal space getting ready to go on tour this summer. We want to thank our fans for their incredible support and can’t wait to see you this summer!”

AVAIL DOC
A documentary of RVA hardcore punks Avail has commenced through production company Day by Day. According to Day by Day’s Myspace page, they say they “did a few days with them on their most recent tour and will be heading out with them again in the near future. They have sweet library footage through the years. [The film is] gonna start when Avail started and end at present...which will be a ways down the road. I can’t tell you how excited we are. These guys have been my favorite band since high school (about 9 years). Plus they’re the most humble, sincere group of Southerners you could meet.” Avail have a few Florida shows with Rancid lined up from July 18 to 23.

RELEASE THE BATS (FROM OUT OF THE CLOSET)
In July (as part of its weekly series that launched earlier this year) DC Comics is resurrecting Batwoman, who was first introduced in 1956 and killed off in 1979, as a 5-foot-10 lesbian, no less. “We decided to give her a different point of view,” said DC’s Dan DiDio, adding, “We wanted to make her a more unique personality than others in the Bat-family.” Batwoman’s alter ego is still Kathy Kane and she’s a Gotham socialite who has “had a past love affair with one of our lead characters, Renee Montoya.”

XDEATHSTARX UPDATE
xDEATHSTARx are currently recording at NJ studio Trax East where they have teamed up with producer Eric Rachel for their Facedown debut. Rachel has worked with such bands as Hatebreed, Atreyu, and Facedown alums Sinai Beach. xDSx are the newest addition to the Facedown Family and the label says they “couldn’t be more proud of this furious SoCal eight-piece.” WE ARE THE THREAT should be out this September.

I AM THE HUNTED
A Life Once Lost are set to release the deluxe edition of HUNTER on Ferret Music June 27, just in time for Ozzfest. The album will be repackaged in a limited edition digi-pak with expanded artwork by Paul Ramano and includes a DVD featuring A Life Once Lost’s live performances from Hellfest, Sounds Of The Underground 2005, and more.

CLAYPOOL, RENAISSANCE MAN
Between finishing a new studio album and consistent touring, Primus bassist/vocalist Les Claypool found time to finish his first book, SOUTH OF THE PUMPHOUSE, which will be out in July through Akashic Books. Moreover, the man’s movie, ELECTRIC APRICOT: QUEST FOR FESTEROO, has been viewed at recent film festivals. The movie is a comedic send up of the jam band scene that has embraced Claypool of late, and features cameos from Phish’s Mike Gordon, The Dead’s Bob Weir, Warren Haynes, actor Seth Green, and SOUTH PARK co-creator Matt Stone. Of the movie, Claypool said, “It was the most difficult undertaking I’ve ever been involved in in my life,” even saying during filming they “had a guy who went crazy and threatened to throw all the footage into a fire.” He says the film was “influenced by the Ricky Gervais stuff, like THE OFFICE. It’s extraordinarily dry. Some people have thought it’s a real documentary.” No word yet on any wide release.

UNKNOWN PLEASURES
Unknown Instructors have announced a release date for the tentatively-titled album BETTER YOU THAN ME, as October 17 on Smog Veil Records. The band comprises Minutemen/fIREHOSE rhythm section George Hurley and Mike Watt, Saccharine Trust guitarist Joe Baiza, and frontman Dan McGuire. The album features tracks by David Thomas (Pere Ubu, Rocket From The Tombs) and Raymond Pettibon (renowned contemporary American visual artist).

AND AS FOR PERE UBU…
The legendary proto-punks Pere Ubu release WHY I HATE WOMEN (Smog Veil) on September 19. Of the album, singer Dave Thomas says, “It is my take on the Jim Thompson pulp fiction of the ’50s. In some ways I believe it to be startling. It is dark. It is obsessed. It hurts. The production is violent and different.”

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
The Catholic League is up in arms after, at the opening concert of her world tour in May, Madonna crucified herself on a mirrored cross, adorned in a crown of thorns. “Knock off the Christ-bashing,” said the League, referring no doubt to her “Like a Prayer” video in which Madge sang whilst crosses burned and made out with a black Jesus. “I guess you really can’t teach an old pop star new tricks,” they said, thinking her newfound Kabballah kick would’ve changed the way she views all religions. Apparently not.

YES, SMOGTOWN ARE ALIVE AND KICKING!
Smogtown have just finished up recording a new three-song EP, due out this summer on TKO. This will be the first material available with new guitarist John Poddy (ex-U.X.A., The Hags, Fag Rabbit, etc.). Also in the works is the GUITARDO’S LAST STAND live album. For more info, visit www.smogtown.tripod.com.

UNPHATHOMABLE
La Crescenta rockers Phathom (formerly Section 8) perform on Famly Clothing Stage on Warped Tour this summer. The stage will be at the entrance of the Warped Tour show grounds and Phathom will be entertaining the fans as they enter the gates. Phathom’s sound is dynamic modern rock, for fans of Unwritten Law, Incubus, and Thrice. Famly Clothing is the new company formed by Pennywise’s Fletcher Dragge, Kevin Lyman, and Ken Seaton of Hardline Entertainment. www.myspace.com/phathomsound

A STATIC LULLABY GO FEARLESS
Fearless Records has signed A Static Lullaby and will be releasing the band’s new album September 26. Vocalist Joe Brown said, “We have always been as passionate about our music as the people we choose to work with,” and that the band and the label are “both equally ambitious [and] creatively on the same page.”

PALUMBO AS PORN STAR
A nude picture of supposedly Glassjaw/Head Automatica frontman Daryl Palumbo surfaced on a porn blog last month. The shot Palumbo presumably took himself, features him flexing his bicep while his other arm holds the camera. There was no comment from his label Warner Bros. on whether the photo was meant to get out to the public, but interestingly it was featured on a blog that showcased his band’s name and a video for “Graduation Day”.

SETTLE DOWN
Emerging from the dissolution of Breather Resist, Louisville’s Young Widows lay claim to a new vision steeped in dark, brooding grooves and moody post-punk. From the reverb-drenched inspiration of Regulator Watts/Hoover to the bass and drums lock-groove perfected by Shellac and the Jesus Lizard, Young Widows wears their influences on their proverbial sleeve. The signature inventive guitar work of vocalist/guitarist Evan Patterson (Black Cross, The National Acrobat) is at its peak here, while the rhythm section of Nick Thieneman and Geoff Paton lays down syrup-thick grooves, recalling Pacific Northwest heavyweights (think Melvins, Karp, even Nirvana), and British post-punk, a la Gang of Four. Their 11-track album, SETTLE DOWN CITY (Jade Tree), will be released September 12.

SIEGE!
Deranged Records say that Siege, that Boston genre-defining band, are back at it again. Said the label, “After two years of not hearing back from them, I had pretty much given up on this project but finally made contact with them last month and the wheels are back in motion for the legit CD format of their recording discography.” The CD will include their demos and CLEANSE THE BACTERIA compilation tracks (released on Pusmort Records back in ’85!), remastered from the original masters, full lyrics, and new pictures. Expect the CD later this month.

STAMPEDING MACHINES
After completing the first leg of the Stampeding Machines Tour with HORSE the band, Portugal. The Man, and Forgive Durden, headliners Gatsby’s American Dream now pick up My American Heart, Waking Ashland, and This Providence until July 2. Find details at www.myspace.com/thetampedingmachinestour. Expect to hear some new songs from GAD off their upcoming album, which is out August 8.

KNOCK YER ZOX OFF
Zox is the latest addition to the growing SideOneDummy roster. Said the label, “We are proud to be working with these guys and releasing their album THE WAIT on June 6th. It’s hard to classify them, but the closest we can get is a mix of Sublime, Guster, Pixies, and The Cure,” adding, “Not to mention their live show is unbelievable.” www.sideonedummy.com

AS IN, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE PART 2?
Santa Cruz rockabilly band The Chop Tops will be touring with psychos The Nekromantix and Shark Soup to promote the release of the their latest album, TRIPLE DEUCES (Split 7 Media). They’re out till June 25 and then hit up three dates in California for the Warped Tour July 8, 9, and 13. The band, whose material encompasses rockabilly, teddy boy, psychobilly, surf, and old-school punk, coined their sound “revved-up rockabilly.” The Chop Top’s third album, EVIL SIX, caught the attention of Brian Setzer, who included them on his ’68 COMEBACK SPECIAL.

ON THE ROAD WITH AAA
Against All Authority are presently out on the road in support of their new album THE RESTORATION OF CHAOS & ORDER, their follow-up to last year’s split with Hopeless labelmates Common Rider, for a round of dates. The guys are out until July 6. Check www.aaaonline.org for all info.

RISE AGAINST MP3
Rise Against have released a second song, following “Chamber the Cartridge”, called “Injection”, from their soon-to-be released LP THE SUFFERER & THE WITNESS (Geffen), out July 4. Hear the new MP3 at www.interpunk.com.

G-A-M-B-L-E-R!
Texas punk powerhouses Riverboat Gamblers, who recently released TO THE CONFUSION OF OUR ENEMIES (Volcom), are on tour all summer, first with The Bronx and Priestess, starting June 18 to 27, then hook up with Only Crime and Los Dryheavers July 14 to 22, and THEN will have fun with Cali punk legends X and Rollins Band July 28 to August 19.

A7X COVER PANTERA
Avenged Sevenfold have a brand new studio version of Pantera’s “Walk” streaming at their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/avengedsevenfold. The band is playing Europe with Metallica and Guns N’ Roses this month.

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