Up and coming Dublin-based hard rock/metal band Jet Fuel Chemistry are about to release their debut EP. Doing so in lockdown (albeit partial) is a bold move, but the band are keen for people to hear what they’ve been working on. Punknews staffer Sam Houlden spoke to bassist Lorcan Macken and vocalist Dan Cusack about the release.
The great quarantine of 2020 has rendered most of the human race desperately grabbing at new hobbies or long desired projects in an attempt to shine some light through the monotony. This includes Naked Raygun's Jeff Pezzati, who dedicated some days of stay-at-home orders to tie a few loose ends, and release two EP's of solo material that he has been tinkering with for years. The result is a bizarre, fun, collection of tunes that venture all over the place, but never waver from Pezzati's keen vocal melodies. Punknews' Mike Elfers recently spoke to Jeff on the phone about the release of the first solo EP, the future of Naked Raygun, and the unadulterated truth of running a raccoon animal rescue out of your own house in the middle of a pandemic.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of DFL's Proud to Be LP!
When the album was originally released, the band had just migrated from the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label to Epitaph, and were ready to cut an album that, while quickly recorded, became one of their definitive statements. Released at the height of pop punk slickness, Proud to Be was a rough, raw, ragged hardcore record. While it threw back to the damaged geniuses of the late '70s and early '80s, the record sounded distinctly fresh when it was released. The strange thing is that the record rocks so hard that it sounds timely, or even timeless today. This record kicks!
To that end, Punknews' John Gentile spoke guitarist Monty Messex about the album and its meaning to him today. You can check out the record here and you can read the interview below!
Today, Frank Turner and NoFX release their split covers LP West Coast vs Wessex. so, Punknews' Steven Farkas spoke to Frank Turner about his reaction to working with a band that was such an influence on his life and what it was like seeing them bring their own take to his songs. We also delve into his process to the seemingly impossible talk of selecting five songs from NOFX’s long career to record himself as well as why Fat Mike could have had him banned from the USA and what it’s like making videos in lockdown.
Ways Away is a band you already know, even though you might not have heard of them. While the group doesn’t really want to be coined a “supergroup,” Ways Away boasts members of Samiam, Stick To Your Guns, BoySetsFire, Paint It Black, Knapsack, Trade Wind, and Racquet Club just to name a few. The band only has few shows under their belt, and like everyone else, has been managing the pandemic in their own fashion. Their self-titled debut album is out now, and Punknews interviewer Chris Barrett sat down with singer Jesse Barnett and guitarist Sergie Loobkoff to talk about coming together, managing as a “side project,” and shifting focuses during the pandemic.
(Editor’s note: This interview took place right before the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests.)
Well, our The Lawrence Arms three-day rampage is wrapping up! But, we've got one final treat for you! Punknews' David Wilkins spoke with the band's Neil Hennessy! Check it out below!
The first time Punknews’ Eric Rosso saw The Lawrence Arms was at The Agora Theater in Cleveland, Ohio sometime around 2003 with one of his still-to-this-day best friends. The band, like for many readers of Punknews, has been a continued thread with some of his best friends. That’s why when the chance to interview Brendan Kelly, Rosso jumped at it and immediately hit his group chat with those same friends to tell them about it.
Interviewing someone is always hard, but when it’s a member of one of your favorite bands, it’s almost impossible not to want to list off all the times you’ve seen them live. It’s the same feeling when a member of your favorite band is hanging out selling merch and you can’t fight the impulse to say, “remember that time I saw you” at X club X years ago? Fortunately for Rosso after getting through that impulse, Kelly was, as always, earnestly honest and appreciative about the continued interest in his band and new album.
A month before the release of The Lawrence Arms’ new album Skeleton Coast and in the midst of the shutdown and following uprisings, rosso and Kelly discussed how all of this impacted the record, his favorite parts of the record, and a little about the state of the world while letting Rosso geek out a little about his own fandom and history with the band. Check it out below.
This week, The Lawrence Arms release their new album, Skeleton Coast. We're running interviews with all three of the boys. Today, we're running the first in the series. Punknews' Gen Handley spoke with Chris McCaughan. Check it out below.
High energy Toronto punk trio The OBGMs recently shared the second single from their upcoming record. "Not Again" follows the June-released "Cash" in previewing the group's forthcoming LP for Black Box. Longtime Punknews' contributor Adam White spoke with the band in the most recent edition of his Canadian punk newsletter Some Party, discussing the raucous new single and the group's fire-spitting promotional approach. We've shared that chat with you below.
Recently, Long Beach Dub Allstars released their first album in almost twenty years. The self-titled record calls back to the bands Sublime roots, but also reaches even further to early '80s dancehall, roots reggae, and ska. Really, it's one of their strongest efforts.
To see what the band is up to, Punknews' David Wilkins spoke to Opie and Marshall from the band. You can checkout the interview below.
Jennie Cotterill is often busy doing many things, but she is best perhaps known for being one of the vocalists and guitarists of Bad Cop/Bad Cop. Although she is often busy out on tour around the world, the many events of 2020 have brought that to a halt. Nevertheless, Bad Cop/Bad Cop persisted in releasing their new album, The Ride, on June 19th. Punknews writer Chris Barrett sat down and spoke with Jennie about a myriad of topics including emotions regarding the pandemic, mental health awareness, touring and coming home early because of the pandemic, as well as the process of creating the new album.
(Editor’s note: This interview took place before the events involving police violence and the subsequent Black Lives Matter demonstrations.)