.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 The mainstream media's coverage of the current spike in fuel prices found an unlikely case study this week, looking into the toll put on independent band tours. We had the shocking story that Christopher Johnson, singer for the band Useless Wooden Toys, was stabbed to death after a show in Bloomington, Indiana. Boots Riley of hip hop act The Coup was charged for using "abusive language" during a recent performance. Following their public admonishment of the summer tradition it's not too much of a surprise that Be Your Own Pet has dropped off of the Warped Tour. Devo's taking fast food giant McDonalds to court over some American Idol themed toys that co-opt the band's image. This week also brought news of dancing punk robots with adaptive neural networks, which is a step up from the inefficient and oft stupid human variety.
On the new release front Pinhead Gunpowder (members of Green Day and Crimpshine) announced a new 7-inch. The Hold Steady further detailed their upcoming release. Less Than Jake released and streamed their new record GNV FLA. Alkaline Trio gave fans a preview of Agony & Irony and the Gaslight Anthem took their place at the head of the Punknews readership hyperbolic hype parade with the song "The '59 Sound." Former parade leaders Against Me! played Leno and we have footage to prove it. The Loved Ones also premiered their video for "The Bridge." Look for the 2008 Afro-punk Festival to take place from July 5th to 13th in Brooklyn. Teenage Bottlerocket, the Riptides and the Sidekicks are heading to Canada while Rancid's heading to the UK. None More Black also added a second reunion show in Philadelphia.
This week we said goodbye to comedian and counterculture icon George Carlin (1937-2008). I Can't Control My Fingers I Can't Control My Brain New feature content, weekly columns and exclusives This week we spoke with Toby Morse of H2O about his band's recent comeback (interview). The 40th edition of Vinyl File featured a look at upcoming releases. This week also brought new Streaming Music from the Saint Alvia Cartel, which features members of Boys Night Out, Grade and Jersey, the final effort from the recently departed LaGrecia, and a sampler from Think Fast Records.
So what's coming up this week? Look for releases from Alkaline Trio and the Riptides with tours kicking off from Jimmy Eat World (US / Can), and the trio of Comeback Kid, Shai Hulud and Crime in Stereo (Europe).
Check the Punknews Music page to stream all sorts of anticipated new music including Philadelphia's Jekylnhyde, Mark Lind and The Unloved, a full album stream from Austin, TX-based Driver F, eclectic Ohio-based act nsdwhoa, 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!, and two new full lengths from former Groovie Ghoulies frontman Kepi Ghoulie.
Saint Alvia Cartel
Burlington, ON's Saint Alvia Cartel released their new self-titled album in the United States for the first time. The ska/punk outfit includes members of notable Canadian acts like Boys Night Out, Grade and Jersey. We've got three prize packages to give away with music, apparel and posters.
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.
Weezer - "The Red Album"
So, by now we've figured out that Weezer dig colors. Their newest record, The Red Album, was recently released, and the band is giving away some free stuff. We've got some CD's, a vinyl single and some posters to give away to a few lucky winners.
Win stuff from A Wilhelm Scream, Living With Lions
New Bedford Massachusetts' A Wilhelm Scream are embarking on the "Famoose Friends & Fashion Pelts Tour" across Canada this summer with special guests, Living With Lions For every Canadian show on the tour, the bands will be providing two tickets, a copy of Career Suicide and an AWS shirt, a copy of Living With Lion's Make Your Mark and a big of Atticus Merch. At the end, each winner will be part of a grand prize draw for an even bigger Atticus prize package.
Win a record player from Less Than Jake Less Than Jake, who are about to release GNV/FLA on their own Sleep it Off Records want to offer one reader the opportunity to take home not only a copy of the record, but also a portable record player to play it on. Wait, it gets better. Tthe portable record player is hand-painted by Richard Minino, the artist responsible for the new album's artwork. Just to make the deal even sweeter, Less Than Jake will be throwing their signatures onto the record packaging.
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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