STICK TO YOUR GUNS ANNOUNCES HEADLINE “BETTER ASH THAN DUST TOUR”

Fresh off announcing their signing to Pure Noise Records, Orange County hardcore titans Stick To Your Guns have announced a fall headline outing, the “Better Ash Than Dust Tour.” The run will include support from Stray From The Path, Expire and labelmates Knocked Loose.

Fans can purchase VIP tickets for the tour right now at http://www.showstubs.com/styg, and tickets for the general public will go on sale Friday, July 22nd at 10:00AM local time. Dates are listed below.

Stick To Your Guns are expected to release a highly anticipated EP later this year. Follow the band at https://www.facebook.com/STYGoc for more updates.

Stick To Your Guns Tour Dates:
09/08 - Seattle, WA at Studio Seven
09/09 - Vancouver, BC at The Rickshaw Theatre
09/10 - Portland, OR at Hawthorne Theatre
09/11 - Orangevale, CA at The Boardwalk
09/12 - Salt Lake City, UT at The Complex
09/13 - Denver, CO at Marquis Theater
09/15 - Chicago, IL at The Bottom Lounge
09/16 - Detroit, MI at Shelter
09/17 - Toronto, ON at The Opera House
09/18 - Montreal, QC at La Tulipe
09/19 - Howell, NJ at GameChanger World
09/20 - Worcester, MA at The Palladium
09/21 - New York, NY at The Gramercy Theatre
09/22 - Philadelphia, PA at Voltage Lounge
09/23 - Richmond, VA at The Canal Club
09/24 - Jacksonville, FL at 1904 Music Hall
09/25 - St Petersburg, FL at Local 662
09/27 - Houston, TX at Walter's
09/28 - San Antonio, TX at Alamo City Music Hall
09/30 - Mesa, AZ at Nile Theater
10/01 - San Diego, CA at SOMA
10/02 - Anaheim, CA at Chain Reaction

ISLANDER DEBUT NEW LYRIC VIDEO “THINK IT OVER” FEATURING HR OF BAD BRAINS New Tour Dates Announced Power Under Control Pre-Orders Available on Limited Edition Colored Vinyl, Digital, CD Formats

ISLANDER and Metal Sucks are premiering “Think It Over,” the blistering new anthem from the upcoming album Power Under Control. The track features guest vocals from Bad Brains mouth piece HR, and is the follow up to the recently released single “Bad Guy.” Last night ISLANDER kicked off their first tour in support of Power Under Control at the Chicago Open Air Pre-Party, and newly announced headlining and festival dates are below with more coming soon.

Frontman Mikey Carvajal explains the track, “’Think It Over’ is a rally cry anthem to encourage the youth of today to think about their lives and to make good decisions. We are all born with a type of youthful wildness that if we allow to be tamed, will flourish into harnessed power rather than wasted energy. The idea is to be like a saddled horse instead of a frustrated stallion. To have Power Under Control.”

Founding ISLANDER member and vocalist Mikey Carvajal was joined by Love And Death/Korn wunderkind guitarist J.R. Bareis in 2015, leading the band on a powerful new path. The seeds of this relationship were planted during 2014’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest, when word of ISLANDER’s explosive performances quickly spread to the tour’s headliners Avenged Sevenfold and Korn - who flocked to watch the band almost daily. Bareis, who was then guitar tech for Korn’s Brian “Head” Welch, soon found himself in the role as ISLANDER’s new guitar player. Shortly thereafter, ISLANDER recruited bassist Zeke Vasquez (ex-ForeverAtLast), and after  a couple revolving seats behind the drum throne, newly exited Avenged Sevenfold skinsman Arin Ilejay became a permanent fixture snapping sticks and cymbals behind the kit.

Rolling Stone premiered “Darkness,” the first video from Power Under Control, and Loudwire premiered the follow up video for “Bad Guy.”

ISLANDER ON TOUR

JULY
16 OSHKOSH, WI @ Ford Festival Park (Rock USA)
28 ST LOUIS, MO @ The Firebird
29 SPRINGFIELD, MO @ Outland Ballroom
 
AUGUST
3 ERIE, PA @ BT Lounge @ Basement
4 LANCASTER, PA @ Chameleon Club
5 POUGHKEEPSIE, PA @ The Chance
14 STANHOPE, NJ @ Stanhope House
17 WINCHESTER, VA @ Blue Fox Billiards
18 SPARTANBURG, SC @ Ground Zero
23 HOUSTON, TX @ Scout Bar
24 LUBBOCK, TX @ Jake’s
25 GALLUP, NM @ The Juggernaut
26 SCOTTSDALE, AZ @ Pub Rock Live
27 LAS VEGAS, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl
28 SAN DIEGO, CA @ Brick By Brick
 
SEPTEMBER
4 MADISON, WI @ Taste Of Madison
10 DENVER, CO @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater (High Elevation Festival)
24 DALLAS, TX @ Texas Motor Speedway (Texas Mutiny Festival)

POWER UNDER CONTROL TRACK LISTING:
1. Darkness
2. Bad Guy
3. Green Slime Man
4. Better Day
5. All We Need
6. Devil Red
7. A Boat Going By
8. Beelzebub
9. Think It Over (feat. HR)
10. Last Forever
11. Casket
12. Wait For It

Various pre-orders for Power Under Control include limited edition colored vinyl (green, clear, fuchsia), a variety of merchandise, CDs and more and are available now at VictoryMerch.com. All packages include instant downloads of songs “Think It Over,” “Bad Guy” and "Darkness". All three songs are available now on Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon Music and everywhere digital music is available.

CAN’T SWIM PREMIERES NEW VIDEO FOR “COME HOME” AT ROCKSOUND.TV

New Jersey rock band Can’t Swim has premiered a new video for their song “Come Home” today at RockSound.tv. The track is featured on the band’s recently released EP, Death Deserves A Name, which is available now from Pure Noise Records. Fans can purchase the album now at iTunes and http://cantswim.merchnow.com/.

“The music video for “Come Home” came together in a rather accidental way. We were shooting ideas back and forth with Brendan Walter (the director of the video) in hopes that our schedules would some day link up. A shoot of his wound up getting canceled on the same day we played LA, so we capitalized knowing this was our only chance at it. From waking up at 5am, an actress canceling last minute, and almost not getting the location, I’m so impressed with what Brendan was able to do in such short notice. During the day, we kept telling ourselves that we were going to “make it work” and not let the mishaps set us back. I think it ties in quite ironically with the lyrical content of the song, trying to convince someone it’s going to be alright even when the situation looked pretty doomed. I am very happy with how it came out and excited for people to see it." - Chris Loporto (vocals/guitars)

The New Jersey based band was formed in early 2015 and is comprised of Loporto, Chez (guitar), Greg (bass) and Danny (drums). The group melds elements of alt-rock, pop-punk and indie rock for a unique sound that will be an impacting force on the rock scene in 2016.

 Follow the band at https://www.facebook.com/cantswim for additional updates.

Can’t Swim Tour Dates:
July 16 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean
July 17 - Detroit, MI - The Shelter
July 19 - Lakewood, OH - Mahall’s
July 20 - Pittsburgh, PA - Cattivo
July 21 - Allston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
July 22 - New York, NY - The Studio @ Webster Hall
July 23 - Freehold, NJ - GameChangerWorld
July 24 - Philade

 

CROWN THE EMPIRE PREMIERES NEW VIDEO FOR “HOLOGRAM”; NEW ALBUM OUT JULY 22ND

Rising rock band Crown The Empire is on the cusp of major mainstream breakout success with their upcoming album, Retrograde, which will be released on July 22nd via Rise Records. In anticipation today, the band has premiered a video for a brand new song called “Hologram.” Fans are also invited to pre-order the record now at iTunes and cte.merchnow.com.

“”Hologram” could only be written after touring 200+ days a year for half a decade. It’s a self-examination of the people we’ve become and the relationships that we’ve carried through this period of growing up while a part of something more than ourselves.” - Andy Leo

The video for “Hologram” follows the band’s recent video and track releases for “Weight of the World” and “Zero,” which have stirred up an abundance of excitement for the record in the last few weeks. The band’s forthcoming record Retrograde is their third studio album and follow-up to 2014’s Billboard Top 10 charting record The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways.

Fans can catch Crown The Empire on the Vans Warped Tour all summer long. Follow the band at https://www.facebook.com/Crowntheempire for updates.

Crown The Empire Tour Dates:
July 15 - Burgettstown, PA - Warped Tour @ First Niagara Pavilion
July 16 - Columbia, MD - Warped Tour @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 17 - Holmdel, NJ - Warped Tour @ PNC Bank Arts Center
July 19 - Noblesville, IN - Warped Tour @ Klipsch Music Center
July 20 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Warped Tour @ Blossom Music Center
July 21 - Cincinnati, OH - Warped Tour @ Riverbend Music Center
July 22 - Auburn Hills, MI - Warped Tour @ The Palace of Auburn HIlls
July 23 - Tinley Park, IL - Warped Tour @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
July 24 - Shakopee, MN - Warped Tour @ Canterbury Park
July 26 - Milwaukee, WI - Warped Tour @ Marcus Amphitheatre
July 27 - Maryland Heights, MO - Warped Tour @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July 28 - Bonner Springs, KS - Warped Tour @ Providence Medical Center Amphitheater
July 30 - Salt Lake City, UT - Warped Tour @ Utah State Fairpark
July 31 - Denver, CO - Warped Tour @ Pepsi Center Arena Lot
Aug 1 - Albuquerque, NM - Warped Tour @ Balloon Fiesta Park
Aug 2 - Scottsdale, AZ - Warped Tour @ Salt River Fields
Aug 5 - San Diego, CA - Warped Tour @ Qualcomm Stadium at Jack Murphy Field
Aug 6 - Mountain View, CA - Warped Tour @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Aug 7 - Pomona, CA - Warped Tour @ Pomona Fairplex
Aug 9 - Las Vegas, NV - Warped Tour @ Hark Rock Hotel & Casino
Aug 11 - Nampa, ID - Warped Tour @ Ford Idaho Center
Aug 12 - Auburn, WA - Warped Tour @ White River Amphitheater
Aug 13 - Portland, OR - Warped Tour @ Portland Expo Center

KNOCKED LOOSE TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, ‘LAUGH TRACKS,’ ON SEPT 16TH; WATCH VIDEO FOR NEW SONG “DEADRINGER” NOW!

Kentucky hardcore band Knocked Loose will release debut, full-length album titled Laugh Tracks on September 16th with Pure Noise Records. They’ve also premiered the record’s first new track, “Deadringer,” today via a tumultuous video and have launched a pre-order for the record at http://smarturl.it/LaughTracks.

Named one of AltPress.com’s “16 Bands To Watch In 2016,” Knocked Loose is on track to takeover underground hardcore this year with one of the most intensely delivered records in recent memory. The band’s debut features 11 catastrophic tracks, as witnessed with “Deadringer,” that bleed with unfiltered passion and precise rage.  

"Laugh Tracks is a long time coming for Knocked Loose, a new chapter so to speak. A project we all equally put time into, something we are extremely proud of. We hope you enjoy it." - Bryan Garris

Knocked Loose is currently on tour in the United States with The Acacia Strain, Oceano, To The Wind and Culture Killer. Follow the band at https://www.facebook.com/KnockedLoose for more updates.

Laugh Tracks Track List:
1. Oblivions Peak
2. Deadringer
3. The Rain
4. Blood Will Have Blood
5. Counting Worms
6. My Heroes
7. Billy No Mates
8. Last Words
9. No Thanks
10. A Fetish
11. Laugh Tracks

Knocked Loose Tour Dates:
July 14 - Indianapolis, IN - Emerson Theater
July 15 - Springfield, MO - Outland Ballroom
July 16 - Lubbock, TX - Jake’s Sports Cafe
July 18 - Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole
July 19 - San Diego, CA - Soma
July 20 - Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction
July 21 - Van Nuys, CA - White Oak Music & Art
July 22 - Kingsburg, CA - Bullfrogs Bar & Grill
July 23 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst
July 24 - Orangevale, CA - The Boardwalk
July 25 - Reno, NV - The Holland Project
July 28 - Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue
July 29 - Colorado Springs, CO - Black Sheep
July 31 - Wichita, KS - Rock Island Live
Aug 1 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground
Aug 2 - Crest Hill, IL - Bada Brew
Aug 3 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
Aug 4 - Louisville, KY - The New Vintage
Aug 5 - Nashville, TN - The End
Aug 6 - Jacksonville, FL - 1904 Music Hall
Aug 7 - Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern
Aug 8 - Wilmington, NC - Ziggy’s by the Sea
Aug 9 - Philadelphia, PA - The Voltage Lounge
Aug 10 - Amityville, NY - Revolution Bar and Music Hall
Aug 12 - Derry, NH - The UVH
Aug 13 - Providence, RI - Fete Music Hall
Nov 9 - Oberhausen, Germany - ResonanzWerk
Nov 23 - Prague, Czech Republic - Futurum
Nov 24 - Wien, Austria - Viper Room
Nov 25 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
Nov 26 - Aarau, Switzerland - Kiff
Nov 27 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
Nov 28 - Haarlem, Netherlands - Patronaat
Nov 29 - Southampton, United Kingdom - Talking Heads
Nov 30 - Plymouth, United Kingdom - The Hub
Dec 1 - Cardiff, United Kingdom - Clwb Ifor Bach
Dec 2 - Glasgow, United Kingdom - The Cathouse
Dec 3 - Manchester, United Kingdom - Sound Control
Dec 4 - Huddersfield, United Kingdom - The Parish
Dec 5 - Colchester, United Kingdom - Owl Sanctuary
Dec 6 - London, United Kingdom - The Underworld Camden
Dec 7 - Hasselt, Belgium - Muziekodroom
Dec 8 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo
Dec 10 - Leipzig, Germany - Fesenkeller
Dec 11 - Berlin, Germany - Lido

CROWN THE EMPIRE PREMIERES NEW TRACK “WEIGHT OF THE WORLD”

Breakout rock band Crown The Empire has premiere a new song, “Weight of the World,” from the band’s forthcoming album, Retrograde, that’s due out on July 22nd via Rise Records. Fans can pre-order the record now at cte.merchnow.com.

“Everyone has something to say and an opinion to give (thanks internet!) Weight of the World is about living under the unblinking eyes and scrutiny of social media, whether you are in a band, a public figure or just a kid trying to belong. It's about feeling the pressure of trying to please EVERYONE all the time, but only to not please anyone at all.” – Andy Leo (Vocalist)
 
Crown The Empire’s new anthemic single “Weight of the World” follows the band’s recent video release of “Zero,” which has ignited a firestorm of anticipation for what is lining up to be the band’s mainstream breakout record, Retrograde. The band’s previous release, The Resistance: Rise of The Runaways was released in 2014 and debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.
 
Fans can catch Crown The Empire on the Vans Warped Tour all summer long. Follow the band at https://www.facebook.com/Crowntheempire for updates.
 
Crown The Empire Tour Dates:
July 13 - Mansfield, MA - Warped Tour @ Xfinity Center
July 14 - Darien Center, NY - Warped Tour @ Darien Lake PAC
July 15 - Burgettstown, PA - Warped Tour @ First Niagara Pavilion
July 16 - Columbia, MD - Warped Tour @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 17 - Holmdel, NJ - Warped Tour @ PNC Bank Arts Center
July 19 - Noblesville, IN - Warped Tour @ Klipsch Music Center
July 20 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Warped Tour @ Blossom Music Center
July 21 - Cincinnati, OH - Warped Tour @ Riverbend Music Center
July 22 - Auburn Hills, MI - Warped Tour @ The Palace of Auburn HIlls
July 23 - Tinley Park, IL - Warped Tour @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
July 24 - Shakopee, MN - Warped Tour @ Canterbury Park
July 26 - Milwaukee, WI - Warped Tour @ Marcus Amphitheatre
July 27 - Maryland Heights, MO - Warped Tour @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July 28 - Bonner Springs, KS - Warped Tour @ Providence Medical Center Amphitheater
July 30 - Salt Lake City, UT - Warped Tour @ Utah State Fairpark
July 31 - Denver, CO - Warped Tour @ Pepsi Center Arena Lot
Aug 1 - Albuquerque, NM - Warped Tour @ Balloon Fiesta Park
Aug 2 - Scottsdale, AZ - Warped Tour @ Salt River Fields
Aug 5 - San Diego, CA - Warped Tour @ Qualcomm Stadium at Jack Murphy Field
Aug 6 - Mountain View, CA - Warped Tour @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Aug 7 - Pomona, CA - Warped Tour @ Pomona Fairplex
Aug 9 - Las Vegas, NV - Warped Tour @ Hark Rock Hotel & Casino
Aug 11 - Nampa, ID - Warped Tour @ Ford Idaho Center
Aug 12 - Auburn, WA - Warped Tour @ White River Amphitheater
Aug 13 - Portland, OR - Warped Tour @ Portland Expo Center

PURE NOISE RECORDS WELCOMES STICK TO YOUR GUNS TO THE LABEL

Bay Area independent label Pure Noise Records is proud to announce the signing of Orange County, CA based hardcore band Stick To Your Guns. The band joins the company’s stellar roster of bands that includes Four Year Strong, Masked Intruder, Senses Fail, State Champs and The Story So Far among others.

"I can say with a straight face and whole heart that for the first time STYG now belongs to a label that not only we believe is one of the very few relevant labels in underground music, but a label that truly believes in us and what we do. We can talk about logical next steps for the band and we can talk about what an opportunity it is for us, but none of that really matters to me. What matters is that we work with someone who gets what we are trying to do and who will nurture and support those goals. Jake and Pure Noise have always done that. Even before we were part of the "PN Family" he made us feel like we were. I guess it's just official now. I'm very much looking forward to what we can accomplish together." - Jesse Barnett

Formed in 2003, Stick To Your Guns has become a juggernaut in the hardcore underground with seminal records like The Hope Division, Diamond, and their 2015 release: Disobedient. The band now enters the next chapter of their career with signing to Pure Noise Records and a highly-anticipated EP due later this year.

Follow the band at https://www.facebook.com/STYGoc for more updates.

MASKED INTRUDER RELEASES NEW EP, ‘LOVE AND OTHER CRIMES’ TODAY

Madison, Wisconsin’s incognito pop-punk band Masked Intruder has released their new EP, Love And Other Crimes, today via Pure Noise Records. The record is now available for purchase at iTunes and at http://maskedintruder.merchnow.com/. 

Read our review of the album here.
 
Fans can also stream the record in its entirety now at Spotify and at http://maskedintruder.merchnow.com/.
 
Love And Other Crimes is Masked Intruder’s debut record for their new label Pure Noise Records, and follow up to their 2014 full-length album, M.I.. Their latest effort features 6 anthemic tracks like “Take What I Want” and “Beyond A Shadow Of A Doubt” that exemplify why the band has become one of pop-punk’s most beloved emerging bands.
 
Masked Intruder is currently supporting Love And Other Crimes on the Vans Warped Tour. Follow them at https://www.facebook.com/maskedintruder for more information.

Masked Intruder Tour Dates:
July 8 - Camden, NJ - Warped Tour @ BB&T Pavilion
July 9 - Wantagh, NY - Warped Tour @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
July 10 - Hartford, CT - Warped Tour @ The Xfinity Theatre
July 11 - Scranton, PA - Warped Tour @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
July 13 - Mansfield, MA - Warped Tour @ Xfinity Center
July 14 - Darien Center, NY - Warped Tour @ Darien Lake PAC
July 15 - Burgettstown, PA - Warped Tour @ First Niagara Pavilion
July 16 - Columbia, MD - Warped Tour @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 17 - Holmdel, NJ - Warped Tour @ PNC Bank Arts Center
July 19 - Noblesville, IN - Warped Tour @ Klipsch Music Center
July 20 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Warped Tour @ Blossom Music Center
July 21 - Cincinnati, OH - Warped Tour @ Riverbend Music Center
July 22 - Auburn Hills, MI - Warped Tour @ The Palace of Auburn HIlls
July 23 - Tinley Park, IL - Warped Tour @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
July 24 - Shakopee, MN - Warped Tour @ Canterbury Park
July 26 - Milwaukee, WI - Warped Tour @ Marcus Amphitheatre
July 27 - Maryland Heights, MO - Warped Tour @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
July 28 - Bonner Springs, KS - Warped Tour @ Providence Medical Center Amphitheater
July 30 - Salt Lake City, UT - Warped Tour @ Utah State Fairpark
July 31 - Denver, CO - Warped Tour @ Pepsi Center Arena Lot
Aug 1 - Albuquerque, NM - Warped Tour @ Balloon Fiesta Park
Aug 2 - Scottsdale, AZ - Warped Tour @ Salt River Fields
Aug 5 - San Diego, CA - Warped Tour @ Qualcomm Stadium at Jack Murphy Field
Aug 6 - Mountain View, CA - Warped Tour @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Aug 7 - Pomona, CA - Warped Tour @ Pomona Fairplex
Aug 9 - Las Vegas, NV - Warped Tour @ Hark Rock Hotel & Casino
Aug 11 - Nampa, ID - Warped Tour @ Ford Idaho Center
Aug 12 - Auburn, WA - Warped Tour @ White River Amphitheater
Aug 13 - Portland, OR - Warped Tour @ Portland Expo Center

 

Heavy Static and Terrorist Glam Rock

Heavy Static are a young, upstart band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Labeling themselves as a "terrorist glam rock" band, we had no idea what to expect. With a Queens of the Stone Age sound and "fuck you" message in the lyrics Heavy Static's sophomore EP "Here Comes the Fear" is something you definitely need to hear.

Crowdsurf Central: How did the band form?
Heavy Static: I had to distract myself from all the reverb-laden garbage emanating from the stages in and around Toronto. I was literally sick of modern indie music. I had to show people how guitars should be played and help people to rediscover vocal melodies that stick in your head for days. Dave (bassist) hounded me for close to a year in hopes of convincing me to form a band together. I never felt ready. I didn't feel like I had anything to say. I hadn't experienced a crisis in quite some time, so it was difficult to feel inspired. A good crisis always inspires. When things started to crumble in my life, only then did I begin writing music again. I wrote a bunch of songs in a matter of days and then I called up Dave and said "It's time."

CSC: What is terrorist glam rock?
HS: It's a term I coined about Heavy Static early on. It's a call to arms and a revolution. It's a jihad on those that are content with middle-of-the-road bullshit music. It's also an ironic term in that it implies a much heavier sound than we actually have. But that irony is the dichotomy of our sound in general. We don't represent one single genre, but are part of something bigger and unilateral in the world of rock and roll.

CSC: What was the recording process like with HCTF?
HS: To put it mildly, it was a nightmare. The kind of nightmare you have but are pleasantly surprised when you wake up to find it's over. It was a very difficult EP to record in that I did it almost entirely myself in my living room over two months in January and February earlier this year. It was difficult because I didn't have anyone to police my crazy ideas. It was a free-for-all in terms of being able to explore ALL of my ideas. Although I'm super happy I got to experiment wholeheartedly without watching the clock at a real studio, it made things difficult and frustrating because it took far longer to record than it really should have. That being said, it's exactly what I hoped it would be - so the nightmare turned into a pleasant dream in the end.

CSC: Where was it recorded?
HS: I'd say most of it was recorded and edited at my home, while vocals and drums were recorded at Morph Productions in Toronto with Ashton Price. Ashton is more of a synth/electro/pop kind of guy, but I saw a kindred spirit when I worked with him on the first EP Face The Night. He seemed to get what we were trying to do and he knew how to properly hone our guitars in just the right way. He's also very honest about shutting me down if my ideas are stupid. I like that. Though I could have used him for shutting some of my ideas down when I was alone at home, it all worked out in the mix.

CSC: What's the local scene like in Toronto?
HS: Saturated. Some years back, there were only a handful of bands in Toronto. It's blown up to the point that everyone who thinks they can DJ thinks they can and should be in a band. It sullies it for real musicians, but if you can fake it ... why not? Chicks dig a dude in a band. And dude's dig a chick plugging away at an instrument on stage. If it helps you get laid, why not? That being said, if there is a "scene" in Toronto we aren't part of it. I can name one or two bands who kind of do what we do, but even then that's stretching it. We are the only terrorist glam rockers in town!

CSC: A lot of Canadian bands (like Pacific, Rarity, Seaway) have recently found success in the US - do you wish to follow in their footsteps?
HS: I'd be lying if I said I didn't. But I'd love to etch our story on European soil first. I think we are a really European sounding rock band. Everything we do is based in melody - from the vocals to the chord structures to the guitar solos. It comes from my many years living abroad and touring with Swedish bands and artists. That being said, it's rare for a Canadian act to really break it without breaking it somewhere else first. Just look at friends of ours in Crystal Castles; if they didn't resonate in Europe and the UK I don't think they'd have the same clout if they just remained local. It's a classic Toronto music problem. No one ever takes you seriously when you're a local band here. That's why we try to play outside of Toronto as much as possible. I could set myself on fire on stage in Toronto and I'd be lucky if someone uncrossed their arms long enough to hand me a fire extinguisher.

CSC: What's your reaction to being named "Artist of the month" by The Deli Magazine?
HS: It's super cool and it was a really nice gesture. Hopefully there are more accolades to come!

New Album From I Prevail

Detroit rock band I Prevail has announced they will be releasing a new album later this year. The album, Lifelines, will be released via Fearless Records. You can read the full release here. We had the chance to talk with vocalist and frontman Brian Burkheiser about the album, tour, and life.

Crowdsurf Central: What was it like working with BJ and John at Wall of Sound?

Brian Burkheiser: Amazing.  Two of the hardest working, most talented people I've had the chance to work with in music.  There is a chemistry in the room that is hard to find. At the end of the day, they understood our vision and were able to help us execute and enhance it.  That's all you can ever hope for in a producer.
 
CSC: What was the recording and writing process like?

BB: It was intense to be honest.  We spent almost a year writing.  We just refused to settle on anything that wasn't our best.  The recording process was just as intense.  We wanted perfection.  I don't think you ever reach it, but you have to try.  That's we spent 10 or 12 hour days in the studio for the better part of 3 months.  It was all worth it.  I am so proud of what we created.  Can't wait to share it with the world.

CSC: What can we expect from Lifelines?

BB: I think we stayed true to our core sound but really just matured as song-writers.  The choruses are bigger, the heavy parts are heavier and we found a really focused message for the album.  We threw some curveballs in as well.  I can say that if you liked the EP, you're gonna love the album.  If you've never heard of us, give it a shot.  It's a diverse group of songs with something for everyone. 

CSC: What does it feel like to be nominated as a “Breakthrough Artist” at the AMPAs?

BB: It's a huge honor.  We all grew up reading Alt Press articles and seeing our favorite bands featured in different editions.  The other bands nominated for this category are all really good.  We're definitely in great company.  We went to the APMAs last year and it was a blast.  Great to hang out with so many different bands. It's gonna be a fun night whether we win or not.

CSC: Who thought to cover “Blank Space?”

BB: It was really a group decision.  We were looking for something to cover around the time we were releasing our EP 'Heart vs. Mind'.  T Swift had just dropped her album.  We all listened through and heard something special in Blank Space.

CSC: Did you expect that big/successful of a reaction from fans?

BB: Not at all.  I mean we had some high hopes, but nobody could ever predict the level of success it grew to.  We're grateful for it.  It brought a lot of exposure to our band and to our original music.  

CSC: What are you looking forward to most while on tour?

BB: Just playing again.  We've been locked in the studio for the past six months writing and recording.  It's time to get back out and do what we love to do.  We're gonna be playing new some songs and bringing a totally new show to the fans.  I'm as excited as I've ever been.  It's gonna be a fun summer.

I PREVAIL Tour Dates:
July 14 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
July 15 - South Bend, IN - Cheers Pub
July 16 - Cadott, WI - Rock Fest
July 19 - Saginaw, MI - The Red Room at the Dow Event Center
July 20 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
July 22 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
July 23 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground
July 24 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly’s
July 26 - Little Rock, AR - The Metroplex
July 27 - Clarksville, TN - The Warehouse
July 29 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart’s
July 30 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrew’s Hall
July 31 - Pittsburgh, PA - Altar Bar
Aug 2 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
Aug 3 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
Aug 5 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
Aug 6 - Bangor, ME - Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
Aug 7 - Montreal, QC - Parterre Parc Jean Drapeau
Aug 9 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
Aug 10 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
Aug 11 - Charlotte, NC - The Underground
Aug 12 - Jacksonville, NC - Hooligans Music Hall
Aug 13 - Bristol, TN - Patton-Crosswhite VFW Post 6975
Aug 16 - Memphis, TN - New Daisy Theatre
Aug 17 - New Orleans, LA - The Parish at House of Blues
Aug 18 - Houston, TX - House of Blues - Bronze Peacock
Aug 19 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues - Cambridge Room
Aug 21 - Scottsdale, AZ - Pub Rock
Aug 22 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
Aug 23 - Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction
Aug 24 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
Aug 26 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre
Aug 27 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep

PVRIS Added to July 10 Hartford, CT Warped Tour

 PVRIS have announced that they will be performing at the Hartford, CT date of Warped Tour this summer. Those attending on July 10, be sure to catch the band’s set and say hello to Crowdsurf Central!

PVRIS are gearing up to head into the studio this fall to record their highly anticipated sophomore album to follow their 2014 LP, White Noise, which they re-issued earlier this year on Rise Records.

Seconds to Stand

Boston area punks Seconds to Stand are still new to the scene. Their Facebook page makes a bold statement saying, "Seconds to Stand lives by the notion that when you get knocked down, you have to get back up, like in a boxing match you cannot stay down or you'll lose the match, you need to stand back up and finish your battle. Our music represents that, we find the positives that come out of the negatives and put those experiences into song for everyone to yell at the top of their lungs."

Their debut single "Burnt" is a kick to the mouth. The riffs, harmonies, and beat are everything that's good about pop-punk right now. Recently signing to Transplant Records, Seconds to Stand is excited to "get back out in the field," and start playing shows again. You can catch them August 27th at Sammy's Patio in Revere with Red Light Overtime and a handful of other local bands. 

One thing is for sure, we can't wait to see what these guys do. Listen to "Burnt" here.

I the Mighty Announce Fall Headline Tour with Dayshell, Artifex Pereo, and Picturesque

San Francisco rockers I the Mighty have been taking 2016 by storm and are showing no signs of slowing down now. The band, who spent the winter touring with Coheed & Cambria and recently wrapped a three week run as direct support for Pierce The Veil, is thrilled to announce that they will be hitting the road this fall for a US Headline Tour. The tour kicks off September 9th in Sacramento and wraps in the band's hometown of San Francisco on October 15th. Support includes Dayshell, Artifex Pereo, and Picturesque. General admission tickets go on sale Friday, July 8th at 10am local time. VIP tickets are available now, here: ithemighty.vip. For additional information, please visit: www.ithemighty.com.

On the upcoming tour, lead singer Brent Walsh shares: "We're beyond excited to announce our Fall 2016 headline tour with support from Dayshell, Artifex Pereo, and Picturesque. This last year has been a dream, from touring U.K. for the first time and the U.S. alongside bands such as Coheed & Cambria, Glassjaw, and Pierce The Veil. We couldn't think of a better way to finish off 2016 before we go away for a little bit and work on a new album for you all."

I the Mighty, consisting of Walsh (vocals/guitar), Ian Pedigo (guitar), Chris Hinkley (bass), and Blake Dahlinger (drums), came together in 2007. Since then the band has built up an impressive following of fans nationwide by tirelessly touring with the likes of Coheed And Cambria, Balance & Composure, Say Anything, Hands Like Houses, letlive., Architects, Enter Shikari, Dance Gavin Dance, Vans Warped Tour 2014, and more. They have also been in regular rotation on local modern rock station Live 105.

The band released their highly anticipated sophomore LP Connector via Equal Vision Records on June 2nd, 2015. Connector, which features lead single "Playing Catch with .22," has earned them acclaim from outlets including Fuse, Guitar World, Rock Sound, Alternative Press, New Noise Magazine, and more.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
9/9 - Sacramento, CA @ The Boardwalk
9/10 - Portland, OR @ Analog Café
9/11 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
9/13 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
9/14 - Denver, CO @ Cervantes
9/15 - Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot
9/16 - St. Louis, MO @ Fubar
9/17 - Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest
9/18 - Detroit, MI @ The Shelter
9/20 - Columbus, OH @ The Basement
9/22 - Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck
9/23 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
9/24 - New York, NY @ The Marlin Room at Webster Hall
9/25 - Philadelphia, PA @ Voltage Lounge
9/26 - Baltimore, MD @ Sound Stage
9/27 - Charlotte, NC @ The Rabbit Hole
9/28 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
9/30 - Jacksonville, FL @ 1904 Music Hall
10/1 - Orlando, FL @ Backbooth
10/2 - St. Petersburg, FL @ Local 662
10/4 - Nashville, TN @ The End
10/5 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues (Parish Room)
10/7 - Houston, TX @ Walter's
10/8 - San Antonio, TX @ Jack's Patio Bar
10/9 - Dallas, TX @ Sons of Hermann Hall
10/11 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
10/12 - Phoenix, AZ @ Pub Rock
10/13 - San Diego, CA @ The Irenic
10/14 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
10/15 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill

 

Chasing Down Sunset

Chasing Down Sunset, a young upstart band from New Jersey, is ready to take on the music world. 

June 2015 saw the band, consisting of Jill Beckett (guitar/vox), Dan McCool (drums), and Zion Dixon (guitar) release their debut EP "And A Step Forward." Chasing Down Sunset sold over 200 copies of the EP and cemented the band as a new face in the scene that should not be taken lightly.  You can listen to the album on their bandcamp page here. 

The band added Jimmy Fasulo on vocals and Ryan Ross on bass and now feel they are finally ready to move forward and are planning on releasing their sophomore album "A Proper Introduction" this July. 

Produced by Rob Chiarappa of The Stolen, "A Proper Introduction" took longer than expected. "We originally had plans to release a split with another band in late 2015 and planned to re-release Dear You, and release Copper Pulse," the band told us. "Once Jimmy joined, we ended up creating “Words/Phrases," the first song on API, which took about two months to finish writing the entire song since it was such a collaborative song between all five of us." Rob later sat down with the quintet in late January and came up with a plan to release their second EP this summer, along with a music video and 10-day tour.

"Noisy Cricket Studios, Rob Chiarappa’s home studio, is where all of our recording memories of Chasing Down Sunset have happened," we were told. "We’ve been recording here for as long as we have been a band and cannot be happier." The band continued to say, "Rob has done so much for us as a band and has helped us grow and developed and has believed in us since our first show we played at Brighton Bar when we had absolutely no idea what we were doing. He’s such an awesome person to work with as your producer because he’s so open to any idea you have and will always help us with new ideas for certain parts, and most importantly he never judges anyone or gets annoyed with anyone no matter how many times you can’t get something or keep messing a simple part up or don’t understand something. You will never feel uncomfortable or judged going to Rob for recording and he’s just such an awesome person to work with, and has such a ridiculous amount of talent with the greatest personality you can come across. We’re so thankful we have such an awesome producer."

The band is planning a short tour that includes stops in Poughkeepsie and Syracuse, NY, Columbus, OH, Philly, Pittsburgh, and Strudsburg, PA, Long Island, and a homeshow in New Jersey.

 

 

Andrew McMahon in Providence

This show is in the top five best shows I’ve ever been to. That was easy to start with, the ending was more difficult. We’ll get to that. 

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, the subject of my piece from last week, performed in Providence, Rhode Island on Monday night and it was a show. 

McMahon took advantage of a day-off from opening the Weezer/Panic at the Disco Summer Tour 2016 to perform in a location the main tour did not reach at the Fete Music Hall, somewhere Crowdsurf Central HAD reached before, as one can tell from multiple stickers planted throughout the venue. . 

The night started off with a line way around the block from the doors to the venue, people of all ages managed to sell the show out, even on a Monday night in a B-rate location. Along this walk around the block to the end of the line, I noticed the first of many features from McMahon’s production to the show, what is known as #amchalk on the sidewalk outside the music hall. AM Chalk is a show tradition started in 2012 by McMahon and has carried on since. 

 

With only one opening band, Civil Twilight from all the way in South Africa, McMahon took the stage by 9pm and it was well worth the wait from a 6:30pm door time that felt like forever in between. 

Right away, McMahon blew the roof off the place. Playing songs stretching from every corner of his catalog, including b-sides from his breakthrough group Something Corporate and fan favorites from Jack’s Mannequin, McMahon had a well deserved hour-and-a-half set that was nothing short of perfection. This was just the first difference between his set on Monday and his set from the rest of his summer tour. Being the opening band on such a massive tour, McMahon played an 18-song set on Monday, but usually only plays a 6-song set when opening for Panic! and Weezer. McMahon took advantage of his control of the stage. 

Known for a large production in his show, McMahon pulled out all the tricks he might not normally be able to as the opening band. From his rainbow parachute dance-party during the song Synesthesia, to closing the set with radio-hit Cecilia and the Satellite with a synced confetti explosion, and a new trick: surfing the audience on a raft sized rubber ducky. Yup, you heard that right. McMahon never seems to leave audience members unshocked by the end of the show. 

All in all, this was a fantastic performance; from all points of view. But there were two points I wanted to emphasize that made this show especially remarkable. And this was my obstacle in writing, which to end on. 

 

McMahon made a point during the show that really struck me. He said that his life, for surviving cancer, being so lucky as to be an entertainer, was a gift. But as well, this show was a gift to us all. At first, I was shocked he would talk so highly about himself. But I was quickly corrected when he finished saying: Shows like this are a gift because we all get to take a break from the outside world of horrors and hang out with like-minded people and sing songs that we all love. I agree with this with all of my being, and have felt this way for all the years that I have been going to shows. It helps me know I’m in good company when I know someone else feels the same way. Andrew McMahon is good company. 

Finally, the real reason this was a phenomenal show. I attended the show with my girlfriend, whom of which knows Andrew McMahon as her favorite artist. I’ve taken her to see him once already, but this time was even better. During one of McMahon’s particularly heart-wrenching songs, I noticed how she was genuinely smiling and singing with all her heart and I could tell this was a special moment she’ll never forget. And as I was singing myself, I looked around and saw the same emotions and reactions on countless other people. I don’t write this to tell plug for Andrew McMahon, I don’t write this to tell people to bring their girlfriends to an Andrew McMahon show to get some action. I write this because I have been the person ripping their heart out at a show damn nearly at tears, and everyone should be able to have that moment in their lifetime. On this night, it was Andrew McMahon that did that to a good number of people. If an artist can do that, there is no need to explain why they do their job or why they can stay relevant for years and years. If you would, if you can, go see Andrew McMahon. Listen to his music. It won’t be a waste of time. 

Crowdsurf Central Exclusive: At the Heart of it

At the Heart of it, an emotive post-hardcore band from Manchester, NH have teamed up with Wide Eyed Noise for a two song release titled “you couldn’t stay.” Due out August 19, frontman Richie Downs told us that their main goal was to reintroduce the band and to accentuate the ways in which [the] band has evolved over time. “These two songs seem to encompass that evolution while also staying rooted in a concept that seems to work perfectly as a smaller, more intimately scaled release,” he said in our interview.

“We started writing the songs about a year ago,” guitarist Andrew Castellucci told us. “It was really exciting as these were some of the first songs we had written together as a band in our practice space. In the past our typical process consisted of me writing up the skeleton of the song and then the band piecing it together afterwards.”  He continued to say, “For this release my parts were more a response to what was going on in the room, depending more on instinct and my ears. I feel this way of writing was much more organic and cathartic for us which really shows in the recordings as well as in our live performances.”

“I remember very vividly what was it like to write Sunspots, the first of these tracks to be written,” Richie said. “I had just lost one of the most important people in my life, someone that inspired me and kept me going all of these years. I was legitimately shaken and for the first time I didn’t over think or over analyze what I was feeling.” Richie paused for a moment but continued, “ The guys played their hearts out and I just let what I was feeling pour over it all. I wrote almost the entire song within the confines of that single practice. It’s the most honest snapshot of a moment in my life that I have ever created. Currents was entirely the opposite. It took me weeks of finding just the right words and arranging them in a way that engaged me on an emotional level. Finally getting that one finished took everything I had.”

When we talked more about the recording process Andrew he told us that the recording sessions were much more streamlined that what he was used to. “Drums were done in one night , guitars took two days with vocals taking another two on top of that. We didn’t get too adventurous on these recording sessions as we had done during the Self-Titled EP.”

“you couldn’t stay” was recorded with Keith Gentile at Labyrinth Audio in Billerica, mastered by Mike Watts of VuDu Studios on Long Island and will be released through Wide Eyed Noise based out of Boston.

“Wide Eyed Noise started as a result of a few things I noticed in the New England hardcore scene,” founder Eric Pocock told us. “I kept seeing the same bands getting all this hype and putting out music and playing shows with only each other. I have nothing against these bands, they’re all pretty good, but there is so much great music coming out of New England right now and most of it is going largely unnoticed. I wanted to do something to help bands get a little more of the recognition they deserve.”

“We’ve known Eric for a while now through his band Kimachi,” Andrew told us. “When we found out Eric started a label, it only seemed fitting that we would contact him about putting this out once we had the tracks where we wanted them.”

“I love Eric,” Richie laughed. “I love everything that guy stands for. It didn’t make sense to work with anybody else. Wide Eyed Noise is doing this for all the right reasons and that’s very refreshing in today’s music climate. We wanted to stand behind that and support it just as much as they wanted to stand behind us.”

“Working with ATHOI is great,” Eric said. “When I’m deciding whether or not to work with a band I ask myself three questions: ‘Do I like the music? Is the band active? Do I agree with the band’s message?’ I can’t think of many bands that exemplify these qualities better than AHTOI. Their message of inclusion and LGTBQ rights resonates with a lot of people and their genuine passion for equality and social justice is infectious.”

“Hope,” Richie says of the message ATHOI sends through their music. “We all get torn apart by this world. On the outside, on the inside… Far too many kids are taking their own lives because they can’t see a way through it. This about showing people that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve all been through some of the most awful shit a person can go through but we are okay. You can find a way to be okay. That’s what this band has always been about.”

 “For me it’s always been about honesty,” Andrew told us when talking about the message ATHOI sends. “Conveying what we truly feel and doing so without any type of preconceived notion of what the songs should sound like. There are far too many bands out there that consistently follow a paint-by-numbers plan and it really waters down the genre and the communities those bands are a part of.”

 “you couldn’t stay” will be out on digital release and cassette on August 19th. Until then At the Heart of it has a number of shows lined up, most notably NHB Fest 2016 on July 23 &24 in Derry, NH. To stay updated on the bands activity, follow their Facebook page and like NHBooking for inside information on local shows.

Irish Punk Legends The Mahones to Release Greatest Hits Record

 Pioneers of Irish punk rock, The Mahones, have announced plans to release a greatest hits compilation called The Very Best: 25 Years Of Irish Punk on August 26th with Sailor’s Grave Records. The album will feature newly, re-recorded versions of the band’s most popular songs spanning their celebrated 25+ year career. Today, the band has partnered with PunkNews.org to unveil their updated version of their classic Irish punk anthem “A Great Night On The Lash.”

"This song is about the night Shane MacGowan came to see The Mahones in Montreal, and then we went out drinking...for three days." - Finny McConnell

 

Formed on St. Patrick’s Day in 1990 in Kingston, ON by Irish born McConnell, The Mahones have become an institution of Irish punk rock for the last 25 years. Their list of accolades and achievements during that time is nearly endless, from having their track “Paint The Town Red” featured in a pivotal part of Academy Award winning film “The Fighter” to being awarded Celtic Rock Album of the Year by Punk.ie (Ireland) for their 2014 record The Hunger & The Fight..

 

The Mahones are comprised of McConnell (lead vocals/guitar/mandolin), Katie Kaboom (accordion/keyboards/mandolin/vocals), Sean Winter (banjo/mandolin/harmonica/vocals), Sean “Riot” Ryan (bass guitar/vocals), Michael O’Grady (accordion/tin whistle/guitar/vocals) and Scruffy Wallace (bagpipes/tin whistle/guitar/vocals) who has re-joined the band after spending 2003-2015 with Dropkick Murphys and rounds out the group. Together, the band is revisiting and re-recording some of their most beloved songs from the last two decades and half for 25 Years of Irish Punk!

 

The Very Best: 25 Years of Irish Punk Tracklist:

01. Scruffy's Intro
02. A Great Night On The Lash
03. Paint The Town Red
04. Shakespeare Road
05. GIve It All You Got
06. A Drunken Night In Dublin
07. Ghost Of A Whiskey Devil
08. Across The USA
09. Streets Of New York
10. Queen And Tequila
11. One Last Shot
12. Down The Boozer
13. Angels and Devils
14. Is This Bar Open 'Til Tomorrow
15. Teenage Kicks
16. Drunken Lazy Bastard
17. The Hunger & The Fight*
18. Punk Rock Saved My Life* 
19. Last One To Die*
20. Alternative Ulster*
21. Wild Rover (Live In Italy)
 

The Mahones - New Tour Dates Announced:

THE MAHONES - IRISH PUNK BRIGADE TOUR 2016

  • July 10 - Colorado Irish Festival - Littleton, CO USA
  • July 30 - George Street Festival - St. John, NF Canada
  • Aug 13 - Fergus Highland Games - Fergus, ON Canada
  • Sept 10 - Fort Henry Celtic Festival - Kingston, ON Canada
  • Sept 23 - Get Shamrocked Festival - Murrieta, CA USA
  • Oct 20 - Bugerweeshuis - Deventer, Netherlands
  • Oct 21 - Ex-Haus - Trier, Germany
  • Oct 22 - MTC - Cologne, Germany
  • Oct 23 - Musik & Frieden - Berlin, Germany
  • Oct 25 - Derur Kert - Budapest, Hungary
  • Oct 26 - Arena - VIenna, Austria
  • Oct 27 - Dynamo - Zurich, Switzerland
  • Oct 28 - Officine Sonore - Vercelli, Italy
  • Oct 29 - Dublin House - San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy
  • Oct 30 - Swamp Club - Massa, Italy
  • Oct 31 - Centrale Rock Club - Erba, Italy

More date in USA, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, UK and Europe TBA.

The Split Seconds: DC Punk

When you think of Washington, D.C. images of The White House, Washington Monument, and Lincoln Memorial pop into your head. Before the Civil War, DC encompassed land in both Maryland and Virginia, but when the south split and formed the Confederacy, the nation's capital was split and the Potomac River was the newly formed southern border creating the DC we know today. 

Government buildings, senators, congressmen and a plethora of other political jargon make our nation's capital a perfect place for the budding young professional. "DC isn't a great town for bands to get a foothold," members of The Split Seconds told us.  "Because of the career focus of the people, the high prices, and the transient population, it seems like a cohesive scene never seems to gel. We’ve found it pretty easy to stick out.  But still hard to get anybody to care that you’re sticking out." 

Inspired by classic punk rockers like The Clash, Generation X, The Buzzcocks, and The Damned, The Split Seconds transport us back to a time long gone with their fuzzy guitar sounds and warm harmonies. 

The album was tracked at Lady of Noise studio with Jason Hiner.  "The studio has a lot of old-school gear and a tape machine," we were told, "And Jason was really compatible with us.  I was really adamant about having a raw, brash sound rather than the overprocessed sound of a lot of newer pop punk records," the band continued. "Jason was right there with [us]. We went back and listened to The Damned and Buzzcocks and Stiff Little Fingers records and figured out how to capture that raw vibe, while still making the record sound good." And what a job they did. When we first listened to the album we had to double check that it was in fact written in 2016; the 1970's punk sound comes through loud and clear.

The Split Seconds will be releasing their self-titled album on July 8 and tell us they have some great shows coming up. "We'll be playing Fort Reno" they told us, "Which is a free concert series in DC and it's a dream come true." The band also plans on releasing two more videos for the album and have some more music in the works.

 

 

Punk Goes 2000

Jimmy Eat World, Brand New, Panic! At the Disco. Those are just some of the bands featured on "New England Punk Goes 2000" a cover album put out by members of Caster, From States Away, Sic Vita, The Press War, and Novelty. 

The album transports us back to a time when life was simpler and all we had to worry about was finding a girl to dance with when Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day came on at the end of the school dance. You can find the track listing and full album below.

  1. Bleed American - Jimmy Eat World (Caster)
  2. Mixtape - Brand New (From States Away)
  3. I Write Sins Not Tragedies - Panic! At the Disco (Sic Vita)
  4. Big Girls Don't Cry - Fergie (The Press War)
  5. Plane vs. Tank vs. Submarie - Tigers Jaw (Novelty)

Listen to the full album here.