.ng-section1 { font-size: small; border-bottom: 1px solid #C5C5C5; width: 70%; font-weight: bold; padding: 1em 0 0em 2em; } .ng-section2 { font-size: xx-small; padding: 0 0 2em 3em; } Hello everybody and welcome to Navel Gazing: your look back at the week in Punknews. I'm Adam White and I'll be your guide through some of the most popular, notable, and otherwise attention getting stories of the past seven days. Each and every Punknews story is built from tips contributed by you fine folks, and here's what got the community talking… The People Must Have Something Good To Read On A Sunday This week's most popular stories While chatting about the new Bad Religion reissue, guitarist, songwriter and Epitaph head Brett Gurewitz was optimistic about the future, claiming that the music industry is about to enter a golden age. Mr. Brett will also be part of a panel soon with the Vandals' Joe Escalante and Angels & Airwaves' Tom Delonge chatting about the annual Warped Tour. Warped patrons however shouldn't look for an appearance by the OC's Avenged Sevenfold this year. Despite previous appearances the band boasts current levels of badasstitude that are much to scary for the fest. Speaking of scary, we had a disturbing report that Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten was being sued for hitting a female producer. On the flip side of the coin we have some unwarranted police attention inflicted upon the Star Fucking Hipsters. It seems the authorities are simply not fans of poor Stza and the Leftover Crack frontman's looking at legal options. UK tabloid the Daily Mail has responded to the backlash caused by their "emo" demonizing articles, and they're not apologizing. Thomas from Strike Anywhere spoke out this week about politics, film, and major labels. The Riot Before spoke out as well, coming out in defense of record labels. Fans of Swedish luminaries Refused take notice: Dennis Lyxzén and David Sandström are set to unveil a new hardcore project.
Hawthorne Heights and Victory Records have made up, thrown out the lawsuits, and are partnering up to release the album Fragile Future. This all has something to do with Obama, at least according to the press release. We're not sure what. Lagwagon have announced a 7 song EP titled I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon. Against Me! have a deluxe edition of New Wave on the way for mail order and the French. Dragonforce also has a new record on the way. Ska punk jokesters Reel Big Fish have some sort of "epic" new project in the hopper, but that's all we know about it. Hot Water Music detailed the support for their Philly show and are set to reissue the Forever and Counting LP. H2O posted the video for "What Happened" while the Offspring's Rise and Fall was previewed. Finally, Microsoft has unveiled it's Joy Division Zune. Punknews videographer Chris Moran, the only Zune owner I've confirmed to exist, is undoubtedly stoked.
This week we said goodbye to the legendary, pioneering blues and early rock'n'roll musician Bo Diddley (1928-2008). I Can't Control My Fingers I Can't Control My Brain New feature content, weekly columns and exclusives This week we spoke with Jason LaRocca of the Briggs, who are gearing up for their new record Come All You Madmen (interview). We also sat down for a chat with Lana Davies, musician and daughter of the Kinks' Dave Davies (interview). Mark Lind of the Ducky Boys talked to us about his new record (interview), as did Germany's long-running punk band Donots (interview). This week also brought new Streaming Music from eclectic Ohio-based act nsdwhoa.
So what's coming up this week? Look for releases from Terror, Throw Rag, Mouthbreather and that hits collection from Sonic Youth with tours kicking off from Rancid (North America), Rival Schools (UK), and a Canadian tour featuring Strike Anywhere, the Flatliners and Hostage Life.
Check the Punknews Music page to stream all sorts of anticipated new music including Vicenza, Italy's Sun Eats Hours, Richmond, VA's Mouthbreather, the debut full length from pop punk act Lipona, Kevin Seconds' new solo album Rise Up, Insomniacs!, two new full lengths from former Groovie Ghoulies frontman Kepi Ghoulie, Manchester ska act Sonic Boom Six, Amarillo, TX-based surf/punk outfit The Mag Seven, the long-awaited new album from The A.K.A.s on industrial powerhouse Metropolis Records, and the new full length from In The Red.
Win stuff from Killing The Dream
In a few days, Killing the Dream will be releasing their second Deathwish, Inc full length. The record is titled Fractures and is due out June 10, 2008. It is the follow-up to In Place, Apart which was released in 2005. To celebrate, the label has given us some CDs and vinyl to give away as well as some of Deathwish's famous posters.
The Black Lungs (Alexisonfire)
Today we've got a contest from The Black Lungs, the side project from Alexisonfire guitarist, Wade MacNeil. Along with Wade, the band includes Jordan "Ratbeard" Hastings of Alexisonfire & Jersey on drums, and Sean McNabb, formerly of the band Jersey and now in The Creepshow, on guitar. The contest is to celebrate the band's debut album. The record is titled Send Flowers and is due out May 20, 2008. The prize package includes a copy of the album and a poster. The band will be hitting the road throughout Canada beginning May 21st and feature City and Colour and Sleepercar.
Win a Bomb the Music Industry! test pressing
To Celebrate the long awaited release of the original Bomb the Music Industry! album, Album Minus Band on vinyl Asbestos Records and Punknews are hosting the "Congratulations John on Helping Me win a BTMI! Test Pressing Contest!" The Rules are simple, attend one of the dates on the Asian Man Tour, and take a picture with yourself and John in it. Creativity counts, and the funnier or more awkward the photo is, the better. The only catch is, you can't let him know why you're taking the picture, as he has no idea about this contest existing. Best picture wins a test pressing of the Album Minus Band LP. Two runners up will get a prize pack from Asian Man including the newest CD release of all five bands on the tour. You can email your photos to Flood@asbestosrecords.com.
Win tickets to S.C.E.N.E.
The thirteenth annual S.C.E.N.E. Music Festival is set to take place in downtown St. Catharines Ontario on Sunday June 29 and Punknews.org wants to give five readers a pair of free tickets to the festivities. With 150 bands playing a series of all-ages shows through the city's downtown, it'll be hard to chose where to spend your time. However, you'll be able to catch sets from Silverstein, illScarlett, Cancer Bats, Teenage Head, Black Lungs, Hostage Life, Dead and Divine and more. For more information on S.C.E.N.E. and to order tickets, click here.
Your trusty Punknews staffers and reviewers have all sorts of projects on the go, everything from poorly spelled and oft neglected blogs to big official world domination schemes. Make sure to check out editor and videographer Chris Moran collection of recordings online at Vimeo, editor Justin August's actually updated blog Kinder Words, editor Adam White's blog 2:59, and editor Jesse Raub's webzine Bitter Press.
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