January 2006 News

COMBAT ROCK
In London the week of December 8, a film festival opened to honor Joe Strummer’s work in independent film (both acting and composing). “Charlie Don’t Surf” featured screenings of such films as Alex Cox’s STRAIGHT TO HELL (which also starred Miss Courtney Love) and GROSSE POINTE BLANK (for which John Cusack got The Clash frontman to do the soundtrack). And screened for the first time was the documentary LET’S ROCK AGAIN. Made by Dick Rude, it chronicles Strummer on tour in the U.S. with his last band, The Mescaleros and happens to be their last-ever tour before his untimely death in December ’02.

FROM THE ASHES
Members of (the dearly missed) From Ashes Rise, have joined forces with guys from Brutal Fight and Thirty3 to form a new band, which according to them sounds “sorta like, but completely different than our other bands,” and are actually looking for a new singer. Anyone interested is asked to e-mail chrisxspencer@gmail.com. They’re looking to put out an EP and, inevitably, tour tour tour.

DEFIANCE IN EUROPA
In support of their fourth full-length album, RISE OR FALL, and with the addition of guitarist Mark Fosco (formerly of Action), Portland punks Defiance will be touring Europe in early 2006-January 20 to February 9, to be exact.

RISE OR FALL-THE BAND!
Belgium’s Rise or Fall have signed with Deathwish. Their next record is INTO OBLIVION, which was recorded at CCR Studios and mixed by Kurt Ballou at Godcity Studios, to be released March 14 on Deathwish. And to round out the Converge links, Jake Bannon designed the album artwork. To learn more and hear an MP3 for “The Void”, go to www.deathwishinc.com.

WISE DAD HANDBOOK
Mtvnews.com has reported that Pennywise vocalist Jim Lindberg, a father of three, has signed a book deal with Collins to write a post-punk fatherhood guide called PUNK ROCK DAD. The band’s latest (totally sick) album is on Epitaph (of course…) and titled THE FUSE.

FEAR NOT, LOTS MORE TERROR FOR ‘06
Hardcore stalwarts Terror have begun compiling footage for their first DVD, which is to feature live and behind-the-scenes footage. Set for a May 30 release, the DVD will also document the making of their next album (to be produced by Zeuss), which is expected to come out this year as well.

LIVE AT ERNESTO’S-KIND OF…
The Slackers, recently named the “best reggae/ska” band in NYC by AFRICAN BEAT, release their next album, PECULIAR, February 21. Using the stage as their studio, the guys returned to Ernesto’s in Sittard, Holland to record most of the album. In front of a packed house of sweaty, skanking Dutch ska freaks, the band performed a batch of new tracks. After stripping out the rhythm tracks from Ernesto’s, they overdubbed vocals, horns and guest spots from the likes of Alex Desert of Hepcat back home at ex-Slacker Jeff “King Django” Baker’s NJ studio, and in L.A. where they used some of the very instruments heard of some on Motown’s later-era classics. Consequently, the album has a nice balance between a studio record and the spirit and energy they’ve generated onstage across the globe for nearly 15 years.

SOME GIRLS HAVE ALL THE FUCK
The wonderful Some Girls will be touring with Das Oath in support of their debut LP for Epitaph, HEAVEN’S PREGNANT TEENS (coming out January 24). They head out January 21 in San Diego and are out till February 17. www.epitaph.com for details. Das Oath’s latest was a self-titled affair.

EUROPE TO WITNESS MODERN LIFE IS WAR
In support of WITNESS, Deathwish hardcore punk act Modern Life Is War have lots ‘o’ dates set for the new year. Following their East Coast tour that took place January 6 to the 15, they head out to Europe from the 27 to February 26. WITNESS is their follow-up to ’03’s MY LOVE. MY WAY (Martyr). www.deathwishinc.com

HONESTY? NO F*%#ING WAY!
Speaking of war, on the eve of the Iraqi national elections, President Bush was a bit more candid about errors he made in justifying and prosecuting the war in Iraq. On December 14, he admitted sending the U.S. to war on the basis of faulty intelligence on Hussein’s programs for weapons of mass destruction. Said the prez, “It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong.”

IN THE FLESH
Whilst on the U.K. part of their Phasm 8 tour (in November and December), Blondie were to be followed by a British film crew who were to make a documentary of the legendary band that should see a release this year. The film is to focus on the relationship of singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein, who were romantically entangled during the band’s career, but in the early ’80s broke up after the guitarist was stricken with a rare skin disorder and Miss Harry restored him back to health.

DBD AND SOS
The UK’s old-school punk influenced dBd (death by decibels) signed to SOS Records. Their next recording will be titled NOBODY’S HEROES and follows their pair of EPs (THIS TIME and RISE AS ONE). Hear some tunes at: www.myspace.com/deathbydecibels.

ATREYU BACK FOR ROUND THREE
With 2005’s touring coming to a close, Orange County metalcore stalwarts Atreyu have entered the studio to record their third Victory Records release (following 2002’s SUICIDE NOTES AND BUTTERFLY KISSES and 2004’s THE CURSE) with producer Josh Abraham (Velvet Revolver, Courtney Love, Korn). The album is to be released March 28.

RIP
Tim Jordan, formerly of Welton and Number One Fan and most recently All-American Rejects’ touring keyboardist committed suicide in December. He was 24.
Snapdragon, the label Welton was on, announced they would donate 20 percent of all Welton sales to the Take Action Plan Tour to increase knowledge on suicide.

EVILIVE PART DEUX
The second leg of Avenged Sevenfold’s “Cities Of Evil” tour have been announced. The band will be joined by CKY and it begins in Tucson January 19 and wraps up in Fresno February 19. For dates: www.avengedsevenfold.com.

NAME SWITCH
The Kansas City band formerly known as Veda has changed their name to Vedera so as not to be confused with another group with a similar moniker. The change comes at a tough time for the band, which recently released THE WEIGHT OF AN EMPTY ROOM (Second Nature), just starting to make a name for themselves. Singer/guitarist Kristen May commented, “We are happy with the new name. Ultimately our music is the most important thing and we are confident in the loyalty our friends and fans show us. Only good can come from moving forward.” After committing almost all of 2005 to sharing the road with bands like mewithoutYou, Dredg, and Copeland, Vedera finished off ’05 sharing the stage with Thrice. They’ll be heading out with Mute Math, and then Owen from January to March 2006. To learn more see: www.myspace.com/vedera.

WELCOME TO THE SEEN
Facedown signed Kansas City’s Flee the Seen. The band’s debut LP DOUBT BECOMES THE NEW ADDICTION comes out March 14 and full-U.S. tours are being planned as well as a spot on Facedown Fest 2006. To hear some tunes, check out www.myspace.com/fleetheseen.

DAMAGED GOODS
One of Punk Core’s recent signings, Damage Case, announced they’ll be appearing on the soundtrack to the upcoming independent horror film POT ZOMBIES. The soundtrack is to feature Electric Frankenstein, The Dwarves, D.O.A., and Blitz, to name a few. You can check out the trailer for the film at http://www.myspace.com/potzombies. At the moment, Damage Case are working on their debut full-length slated for an early-2006 release, which follows up their EP on Slab O Wax Records, and is said to be full of Motorhead-meets-Broken Bones-type hardcore punk.

SOUND AND THE FURY
From the lips of The Jealous Sound themselves: “We have been locked away in a studio with no lines to the outside world finishing the writing of our upcoming record for The Militia Group. Tim O’Heir will be producing once again and Adam is back to play the part of our drummer. We will keep you posted with some pictures and other things when we actually start recording in January. Thank you to everyone that has written us and kept the message boards alive while we have been in seclusion…” Check www.thejealoussound.com.

SING, BROTHER, SING-THEY GOT U.S. DATES
According to www.fatwreck.com, seems U.K. anarcho-punk greats Subhumans will be touring North America around March. Keep checking the site for details. And while you’re there, have a look around. The site is all-new and quite perty.

CB’S NEWS
In the ongoing saga of what will become of CBGB, the venerated venue will be allowed to stay at its original 215 Bowery home until October. After that, owner Hilly Kristal must relocate (he’s thinking of Times Square or Las Vegas). The whole snafu began with the expiration of the club’s lease last August and the landlord’s (BRC) intended upping of the monthly rent from $19,000 to a massive $40,000. Under this new agreement, Kristal must shell out $35,000 in rent.

HALLELUJAH!
Well, seems our friends in Dover, PA won’t be learning about intelligent design any time soon, as U.S. District Judge John E Jones III decided that the concept is inherently religious in nature and may not be introduced into high school biology classes. “A mere re-labeling of creationism,” he deemed the concept, which questions evolution, adding that it “aspires to change the ground rules of science to make room for religion, specifically, beliefs consonant with a particular form of Christianity.” And though the ruling has no binding precedent on other districts, there’s a good chance school districts across the nation will take note of the decision and perhaps sway them from trying to implement this anti-evolution concept into their science classes.

PULL MY…TRIGGER
No Trigger’s debut album, CANYONEER, comes out March 21 on Nitro. The Dudley, Massachusetts band recorded the album at the Blasting Room with producers Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore. Hear “The Honshu Underground” from CANYONEER at: www.nitrorecords.com. They plan to do some extensive touring throughout the year in support.

IRON MAIDEN FOR THE LITERATI
Paul Stenning (author of GUNS N’ ROSES: THE BAND THAT TIME FORGOT and AC/DC TWO SIDES TO EVERY GLORY) is working on a biography of metal legends Iron Maiden, which will be out this summer. Anyone with an interesting story, anecdote, contacts of members past, and such, can get in touch with Stenning at: czechzebra@yahoo.com.

CAUGHT IN A TRAP 2.0
Brooklyn/Queens hardcore act Caught in a Trap are back with a few line-up changes, a new sound, and a new demo. MP3’s can be heard at www.myspace.com/caughtinatrap and the demo can also be procured there for a mere three bucks, you cheap thangs.

D.C. LEGENDS COLLECTION!
Dr. Strange released the essential 26-song discography from Black Market Baby, COULDA…SHOULDA…WOULDA, January 10. Re-mastered by Tom Lyle of Government Issue and featuring liner notes by GI vocalist John Stabb, the album is a necessity for anyone into the old D.C. hardcore scene. The band, which formed in 1980 and paved the way for bands like Minor Threat, GI, and SOA, “were a great band and enormously important to many of us in the early D.C. scene,” related Ian MacKaye, and Mr. Henry Rollins had this to say: “I had forgotten how damn good Black Market Baby was. I used to see them play all the time in D.C. and they were always great. This cd really proves it.”

THE END IS NIGH
On January 24, Queens-based metallic hardcore outfit Sworn Enemy release their Abacus debut, THE BEGINNING OF THE END, which was produced by As I Lay Dying vocalist Tim Lambesis. This month, they join fellow NY metal icons Anthrax as well as God Forbid and Manntis on tour from January 6 to the 21.

SICK OF IT ALL/DROPKICKS TOUR
Dropkick Murphys, following their dates in December in the U.K. with The Pogues (!) and an appearance on CONAN February 28, will be heading out with Sick of It All, Horrorpops, and The Tossers. The dates run from March 1 to the 17. The two last dates are part of their annual multi-night stand in Boston for a St. Patrick’s Day bender, which goes through the 19 but includes different bands on the bills for the 18 and 19 shows. www.dropkickmurphys.com

TAKE ACTION!
The nationwide Take Action! Tour, featuring Matchbook Romance, Silverstein, The Early November, and others, takes place from March 1 to April 23. Coinciding with the tour is the release of the fifth edition of the TAKE ACTION! COMPILATION, due out February 21 on Hopeless/Sub City. It features 45 tracks from artists such as Lagwagon, The Briefs, Hawthorne Heights, Against Me!, As I Lay Dying, HORSE The Band, and Riverboat Gamblers. Five percent of the suggested retail price for each Take Action! CD sold and 10 percent of the gross door receipts from each Take Action! Tour show are donated to the Kristin Brooks Hope Center (http://www.hopecenter.com), operators of The Youth America Hotline 1.877.YOUTHLINE and 1.800.SUICIDE. Over the past four years, Sub City Records and Take Action! have raised over $220,000 for the center.

WARRIORS FORGING ON
Genghis Tron enters the studio this month to start recording for their follow-up to the much-acclaimed CLOAK OF LOVE EP (Crucial Blast). A tentative release date is set for late May.

HIDE YOUR DAUGHTERS
Spastic grindcore maniacs Daughters are presently writing and recording for their upcoming 2006 release on Hydra Head. This record follows up their blistering debut album CANADA SONGS (Robotic Empire).

BREAKING THE SILENCE
The Silence posted rough mixes of two of their new songs for their Japan release coming out this month on Nutcase Entertainment. The songs are called “Gun In My Hand” and “Better Off” and can be heard at www.purevolume.com/thesilence.

TRES CHIC VINYL
SideOneDummy has some cool news: they’re releasing MxPx’s latest full-length, PANIC, on gold vinyl January 24, and Gogol Bordello’s album, GYPSY PUNKS: UNDERDOG WORLD STRIKE, on vinyl in a special double-gatefold sleeve on February 7. So go and get ‘em when they’re on sale. www.sideonedummy.com

MMM…
French psychos, Hellbats, who play psychobilly of the moody, atmospheric, psychedelic type, will release DARK N’ MEATY on Valentine’s Day. For related info: www.psychobilly.us.

CONGRATS!
Kung Fu artists Useless ID have been nominated for “Best Band of 2005” by the Israeli Music Channel (think of it as MTV Israel). This nomination comes for their latest release, REDEMPTION, which was produced by the master himself, Bill Stevenson.

GARY GLITTER CHILD MOLESTER?
Glam rock icon Gary Glitter (a.k.a. Paul Gadd) will be formally charged by Vietnamese police with child molestation. Glitter has been in detention since mid-November in the province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau after he was arrested while trying to leave Vietnam. A more serious charge of child rape, which can carry the death penalty and was brought up when police said tests on girls who claimed they had sex with Glitter, was dropped.

O LORDY
The dastardly huge hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica will take longer than expected to recover. Researches surmise it’s because of all the old-model refrigerators and car A.C.s in the U.S. and Canada that are still releasing chemicals that deplete the ozone. Current computer models say the hole should recover in 35 to 40 years, but the new analysis suggests it won’t until 2065, in turn exposing us to ultraviolet rays for an even longer time to come. Meanwhile, the smaller hole over the Arctic should recover by 2040.

BRING ON THE BURDEN
Thorp has signed SoCal’s The Final Burden, a metalcore band that formed in ’01 and released an EP on This City Is Burning Records. The label says their debut LP should be out in the spring or summer. But before then, you can check out a demo track at: http://www.thorprecords.com/mp3s.

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