August 2005 News

MILLIONS OF DEAD CONCERT-GOERS
Almighty hardcore punk legends MDC will be on tour once again, in support of their latest opus, MAGNUS DOMINUS CORPUS (Sudden Death), September 8 through October 22. Check www.myspace.com/mdc for details.

BLACKEST OF THE BLACK
The annual Blackest of the Black Tour (which started in 2003) is set to begin late-September, featuring (as always) Danzig supported this time around by Chimaira, Behemoth, Mortiis, Himsa, and The Agony Scene. And as even more of an incentive to attend, Doyle von Frankenstein will be joining Glenn onstage for a 30-minute set of Misfits goodness, something experienced earlier this year by lucky fans at two of Danzig’s tour stops. It was brilliant… Go to www.blackestoftheblack.com for dates.

RUFIO IS OUT OF CONTROL
You can watch a video for Rufio’s “Out of Control” at: www.nitrorecords.com/video.php?video_id=9, which was directed by Nick Carbonaro (Underoath, Copeland). Their latest album for Nitro came out July 12.

TOURING MACHINES
Suicide Machines will be on tour throughout August in support of their latest record, WAR PROFITEERING IS KILLING US ALL, which came out on SideOneDummy August 9. Check www.sideonedummy.com/tours.php?band_name=The_Suicide_Machines for details.

SCARY MEDICINE
Scary Kids Scaring Kids’ new Darren Doane directed video (for “The Only Medicine”) can be viewed at: www.scarykids.com/site/download_files/video/only_medicine.mov. Their debut album, THE CITY SLEEPS IN FLAMES is out now.

Q NOR U NO MORE
In break-up news, Q and Not U have called it quits after being around seven years and releasing three albums, with their most recent being 2004’s POWER (Dischord). They’re set to play final shows in NYC at Knitting Factory (September 20⎯a double-header), Philly at First Unitarian Church (September 21), and Washington, D.C. (September 22 and 23 at Black Cat).

SETTING SUN
After 10 years together and three albums, Auckland, New Zealand’s Sommerset (not to be confused with Somerset!) have disbanded. They bid farewell by playing four shows in Australia and NZ.

PIPEDOWN
Sacramento politically-charged punk act Pipedown have disbanded after eight years of existence and releasing two albums: ENEMIES OF PROGRESS and MENTAL WEAPONRY. They recorded two new songs, which will be available on-line soon.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR
You can check out Daphne Loves Derby’s new video for “Hammers and Hearts” off their Outlook Music debut, ON THE STRENGTH OF ALL CONVINCED (which was released July 26), at: http://www.outlookmusic.com/downloads/DLD_FinalColorWMed_Prog001.mov.
The band also has a new Website: www.daphnelovesderby.com.

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM
After NASA deliberately crashed its probe, Deep Impact, into the Tempel 1 comet to unleash a spray of material formed billions of years ago in the hope that it’ll lend more information on the composition of the solar system, a Russian astrologist, Marina Bai, in legal documents submitted before the collision on July 4 claimed, “It is obvious that elements of the comet’s orbit, and correspondingly the ephemeris, will change after the explosion, which interferes with my astrology work and distorts my horoscope.” Appropriately, she is suing NASA for $300 million.

GO BETTY GO UPDATE
Go Betty Go’s next album, NOTHING IS MORE (SideOneDummy), will be out September 13. One track from the album, “Saturday” is featured on the official 2005 Warped Tour compilation, and speaking of Warped, the gals will be playing the second half of this year’s traveling festival.

FUCKED UP IN EUROPE
Fucked Up will be laying waste to Europe throughout August and early-September whilst on tour. Check www.derangedrecords.com/tours.php for details.

VIDDY THE AQUABATS
The Aquabats have a new video online for “Fashion Zombies” off their latest album, CHARGE. Co-directed by Christian Jacobs (MC Bat Commander himself) and Jason deVilliers, it can be viewed at: www.nitrorecords.com/video.php?video_id=12.

WAKING ASHLAND TOURING
Waking Ashland, back from headlining Japan’s New Blood Tour, are in the midst of a two-month long tour with bands like JamisonParker and Veda in support of their debut LP, COMPOSURE, in the US for the rest of August and September. For all dates, go to: www.wakingashland.com.

I FARM 4
I Farm began recording their new record, titled I FARM 4, in July at The Blasting Room with Bill Stevenson producing once again. The band says, “It will be packed with thrash and enough twist, turns, and melody to keep you guessing while you fall in to a chaotic trance of mind melting compositions...” No release date has been set, but the band plans to tour Europe, Japan, and North America to support their new album.

CENSORING WILLIE
The artwork of Willie Nelson’s latest album, COUNTRYMAN, comprising reggae versions of some of his songs like “One in a Row” and came out in July, features artwork not fit for Wal-Mart. The “real” album comes with marijuana leaves over a red and yellow background, but the Wal-Mart version, in lieu of the objectionable leaves, features a palm tree⎯a change made by Universal Music Group Nashville out of respect for Wal-Mart’s strict guidelines pertaining to lyrics and packaging.

R.I.P.
On July 17, “The Godfather of Ska,” Mr. Laurel Aiken, died of a heart attack in Leicester, England. He was 78 years old.

SPREADING THE WEALTH
Lorene Drive will be on tour throughout August in support of their just-released album ROMANTIC WEALTH. After playing a few Warped Tour dates, the band headed out August 10 with A Change of Pace and So They Say. Check www.lorenedrive.com for dates.

THROWDOWN ARE TO DIE FOR
Throwdown are headlining the first-ever “To Die For” tour (a series of dates with The Agony Scene, Remembering Never, and Sinai Beach sponsored by Orange County clothing line of the same name and Pure Volume taking place in August and September) and will be the band’s premier headlining jaunt in support of their latest album, VENDETTA, which debuted at #156 on the Billboard 200, breaking a Trustkill record as the label’s highest charting metal band.

HOT SAUCE OF GLORY
You too will be able to taste the revolution when (and if) the Huey P. Newton Foundation (named after the co-founder of the ’60s militant group, the Black Panthers) obtains a trademark for a hot sauce called “Burn Baby Burn: A Taste of the Sixties Revolutionary Hot Sauce”, which would be available later this year to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party. Other items the group has in the works as a “way to raise money and bring attention” to the foundation is through salsa and a clothing line called “Spirit of the Sixties”.

MIKE PARK/PLEA FOR PEACE NEWS
Mike Park’s latest opus, NORTH HANGOOK FALLING, will be released August 23 on Sub City Records (“Hangook” means the country of Korea in Korean). Park says the album “is my hope to unify Korea.” Also, after his “Living Room Tour” there will be a fall Plea for Peace tour, “Bike for Peace,” which will commence September 9 in Seattle. For more info see www.pleaforpeace.com.

SNAKES BREAK
Certainly many will be saddened by the disbanding of Hot Snakes. Yes, in July the band decided that after they played festivals in Norway and Sweden (August 12 and 13, respectively), they’d break up. After three LPs and one Peel Session EP, they reached the inevitable point where they felt it was time to move on.

THE “RIGHT” MAN?
On July 19, President George W. Bush nominated appeals judge John Roberts to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by outgoing Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who announced her retirement July 1. If confirmed by the Senate, the 50-year-old Roberts, a solidly conservative favorite of Republicans, would most likely shift the court rightward by replacing O’Connor, the swing vote on crucial decisions like abortion and affirmative action. And, as the justices don’t have term limits, could very well be influential in the direction of the court for the next 30 to 40 years.

WIPED CLEAN
A felony drug charge against oft-troubled former Stone Temple Pilots/present Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland stemming from a 2003 arrest for heroin and cocaine possession was dismissed following his stint in rehab. Good news, as Weiland could’ve faced up to three years in jail.

BUSY BAYSIDE
Long Island’s Bayside’s on tour now through September 5 with Vendetta Red and Schoolhouse Heroes. Their second Victory album (following 2004’s SIRENS AND CONDOLENCES), a self-titled affair, will be out August 23.

GAY MARRIAGES OK’D
On July 20, Canada became the fourth country⎯along with Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain⎯to legalize gay marriage. The bill grants same-sex couples the same legal rights as those in traditional male-female unions.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME
Seminal NJ hardcore act Lifetime are reuniting for a one-off show. Yup, they’re playing Hellfest August 20 and are making donations to the Save CBGB’s fund as well as another foundation not stated at press time. You can help out too at www.savecbgb.org.

DYN-O-MITE!!
In other reunion news, Kid Dynamite are re-banding for a gig at CB’s as well in August. They’re set to play with NY’s own Grey Area. Tickets for all the benefit shows to save CB’s throughout August and into September can be purchased through www.ticketweb.com. Other bands set to appear are Gorilla Biscuits (August 14), The Vandals (August 20), two nights of Dead Boys (August 26 with Flipper/Peter and the Test Tube Babies/Adrenalin O.D./Furious George, and August 27 with Anti-Nowhere League/Nihilistics/SFA, and more. Check Ticket Web for details.

SEARCH AND DESTROY
In the wake of the second wave of terrorist bombings of London’s transit system in two weeks, the New York mass transit network (starting July 22) has installed a new policy to “ensure” riders’ safety: random searches of would-be passengers’ bags, becoming the first state to institute such a practice. NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly assured there’d be no racial profiling. Still, police searches of persons who aren’t suspected of wrongdoing has led the New York Civil Liberties Union to immediately criticize the move (one of many resulting from our country’s endless⎯and seemingly futile⎯quest for protection from terrorism) and were considering a suit against it.

WHAT PRICE SAFETY?
And in London after these attacks, the police have enforced a shoot-to-kill policy (in a country where 90 percent of the police force aren’t even armed) that will still remain active even though just days after the second transit bombing an innocent Brazilian-born electrician residing in Britain was mistaken as a terrorist and shot five times at point-blank range.

OLD SKARS NEVER DIE…
Die Hunns will be on tour with Kings of Nuthin’, Black Halos, and Angel City Outcasts from September 2 to October 8 for Disaster Records’ Old Skars & Upstarts Tour. Disaster’s also putting out the 30-track OLD SKARS & UPSTARTS 505 comp in September. Visit www.alive-totalenergy.com/OS_505.html for more.

NO USE FOR A USELESS I.D.
Useless I.D. will be touring Europe with No Use for a Name throughout August. NUFAN’s latest, KEEP THEM CONFUSED (Fat Wreck) came out in June, while Useless ID’s REDEMPTION (Kung Fu) was released in July.

GOTTA LOVITT
Arlington, VA-based Lovitt Records are celebrating their tenth anniversary with a show at Black Cat in D.C. Saturday, September 3. Bands playing include Des Ark, Bella Lea, Ben Davis, Navies, Del Cielo, and Fin Fang Foom. Lovitt also has promised some surprises as well. Richmond’s Engine Down will be headlining the show, making the anniversary celebration the band’s second-to-last show ever after a decade-long stint.

REMAINS UNSEEN
As of July 31, The Unseen have embarked on a major North American tour. The band, who recently released their Epitaph/Hellcat debut STATE OF DISCONTENT, will be touring through October 16, finishing up in Boston. They’ll be hitting the stage with such bands as A Global Threat, China’s Brain Failure, and Career Soldiers. For more info, see www.unseenpunks.com.

AU REVOIR, LANCE
Unfathomably but still all too oddly predictably, Lance Armstrong won his unprecedented seventh straight Tour de France. Admittedly the last tour of his career, the cancer survivor endured the annual three-week-trial in July and can now retire happily to his three children and girlfriend Sheryl Crow knowing he’s an inspiration to us all.

GETTING TO BOTTOM OF LEAK
On July 25, a number of Democratic senators beseeched Congress to look into the leak of a CIA officer Valerie Plame’s identity. In the letter sent to Senate Majority leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, they said the disclosure of her name probably compromised her safety, and cited information suggesting that the ones guilty of exposing her identity were White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and Lewis Libby, VP Dick Cheney’s chief of staff.

GREAT GATSBY
Gatsby’s American Dream will be shooting a video for the song “Theatre” off their latest album, VOLCANO in mid-August. Jay Martin (Plain White T’s, Matchbook Romance) will direct and Justin Cronkite (Coheed and Cambria, Killswitch Engage) will produce.

BRILLIANT RED LIGHTS
Agent Records has signed Davis, California’s Brilliant Red Lights. Their new CD, TOUCH LIKE YOU WANT IT, produced by Alex Newport (The Mars Volta, System of a Down, At the Drive-In), will be out October with a national tour to follow.

WE HAVE LIFTOFF
The launching of the space shuttle Discovery July 26 marked NASA’s first manned space mission in two-and-a-half years, after the Columbia disaster of 2003. The shuttle was originally set to launch July 13 when faulty readings from a hydrogen fuel level sensor forced its delay. The seven-person team’s mission is to deliver critical supplies and equipment to the international space station and test ways to repair the shuttle in orbit⎯not to mention help gain people’s confidence in the space program and its credibility once again if all goes as planned during the 13-day scheduled flight. But this will prove difficult, as it soon became apparent foam had fallen off the shuttle during liftoff (foam hitting the wing of Columbia doomed it on re-entry), and as a result, NASA is grounding the fleet until it can figure out how to fix the problem.

PEDRO THE LION SNEAK-PEAK
While working on their fifth full-length album, Pedro The Lion decided to make public some of the progress thus far. Feel free to take this opportunity to whet your appetite for the 2006 Jade Tree album with a sneak peak at what the band’s up to at: www.jadetree.com/+mp3/Pedro_The_Lion-The_Devil_is_Beating_His_Wife-DEMO2.5.mp3.

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