It's Sunday September 17th, 2006. Chewbacca's appropriate for at least two reasons this week, not that we need a reason to feature such a fine wookiee here on the site. Most obviously, Supernova's back in the news and their tribute to Chewy is really their claim to fame. However with so many music lawsuits going on, at least one has to make use of the Chewbacca defence. Tony Victory, I'm looking at you.
The people must have something good to read on a Sunday
Every three weeks or so is lawsuit week here at the Org. Victory Records struck back at popular act Hawthorne Heights with a countersuit and their own set of allegations. Universal Music CEO Doug Morris lashed out at YouTube and MySpace, claiming the popular website infringe on his company's copyrights and are headed for their own court battles. Pop punk act Supernova triumphed over their televised doppelgangers, as a judge ruled the fabricated "Rock Star" act could not use the name. While legal action isn't involved yet, there were some stern (if tongue in cheek) words from New Found Glory for the moustachioed Lionel Richie due to similarities in their upcoming releases. Speaking of that album (the NFG one, not Richie's) it's now streaming online for your listening pleasure.
Poor Against Me! is a lightning rod for controversy at the best of times, and when Tom Gabel refers to the "punk ghetto" you know people are going to react. Pop-punk act MXPX are helping promote their hometown of Bremerton, WA and were awarded the key to the city as part of the proceedings. We had information on several new records this week, including info on the next Panic! At The Disco album and the upcoming record from My Chemical Romance. Word even leaked that Bad Religion is demoing new material for their 2007 release. We'll cap this update with some tour dates from Dan Andriano of the Alkaline Trio / the Falcon and some signature Clash kicks.
This week our Video Of The Week featured part two of our footage of Strike Anywhere on the opening date our their monster tour with Ignite, A Global Threat, Modern Life Is War and New Hampshire State Motto. We also spoke with the folks from Daggermouth (interview) and Gym Class Heroes (interview).
Click Read More to see this week's streaming music, contests and other highlights.
Radio Free Punknews
Check the Punknews Music page to stream new music from classic Canadian punk act the Subhumans, up and coming Milwaukee punk three piece the Modern Machines and French hardcore act Amanda Woodward among others.
Suntans are for Winners Envy contest Temporary Residence recently released the awe-inspiring new full length from Japan's Envy. To celebrate, we managed to convince the label and internet retailer Insound to pony up some goods including a vinyl version of Insomniac Doze, an Envy shirt, a $30 Insound gift certificate and more.
American Hardcore contest
With the film version of American Hardcore set to open later this month, Punknews.org is excited to bring you a contest featuring Steven Blush's controversial 2001 book American Hardcore. The film features the length and breadth of American hardcore personalities including Mike Watt, Vic Bondi, Brett Gurewitz, Kira Roessler (Black Flag), Keith Morris, Tony Cadena, Ian MacKaye, Steve Soto and many, many more. We've teamed up with the film producers to give 10 winners a copy of the book and the posted both autographed by author and director.
Strike Anywhere - Dead FM Contest Richmond's melodic hardcore masters Strike Anywhere released their Fat debut Dead FM this week. To celebrate, Fatty Warbucks and the band have teamed up to give one lucky Punknews.org reader a copy of said album and a patch to attach to your stinky jean jacket and Up the Punxtm or whatever it is that you kids these days do. Ten runners-up will receive a poster of the bonafide hunks in the band along with a similarly rad patch.
Hope Conspiracy / Modern Life Is War contest
This month, Deathwish will be releasing two high profile hardcore albums which have many fans among both the editors and readers of this site. The first is a brand new album from the Hope Conspiracy, their first full length since 2002. Titled Death Knows Your Name, the record is due out September 19th. The second is the long-awaited reissue of Modern Life Is War's acclaimed out-of-print debut, My Love, My Way which is remastered and features bonus material from the band. To celebrate both spectacular releases, Punknews.org and Deathwish have teamed up to give away a bunch of cool swag from both bands.
New Found Glory (Guitar) New Found Glory are set to release their fifth studio album, Coming Home September 19, 2006 on Geffen Records. To commemorate it's release, New Found Glory and Punknews.org have teamed up to bring you a chance to a brand new autographed Fender Squier Stratocaster guitar or an autographed Coming Home poster.
Win an iPod Nano from The Distance The Distance will be soon hitting the road for a tour with Set Your Goals and No Trigger in support of their new record, The Rise, the Fall, and Everything in Between. To celebrate this perfect pairing of melodic hardcore acts, the band is offering one lucky Punknews.org reader an iPod Nano which is all the rage these days and functions using a combination of wind power and ancient voodoo magic.
Life at Disconnect
We've theorized that you visit other websites out there, and we know it can be tough to leave the calming blue glow of the `Org, so we'll help by infecting the rest of the web with Punknews content. Waste some time on the Punknews.org and Punknews Records MySpace pages or contribute your listening habits to the weekly charts Last.fm group.
The Call Up
Why register on Punknews.org? Registered users can rate bands and reviews, building recommendations and links between artists for the whole community to share and discover. Users get their own profile page showing recent comments, top rated bands and favourite records and more. So go ahead, cast off the cloak of anonymity and create your account today - it's free, easy and private.