Becoming 'Feral' with Adam Davis of Omnigone

Tomorrow Omnigone will unleash their gloriously chaotic third album Feral into the world. The band are at the very top of their game as they rip through thirteen hardcore ska punk tracks chock full of incredible riffs, ferocious vocals, and their signature propulsive energy. Whether they are discussing the futility of war, tearing capitalist ideology to shreds, taking a deep dive into what it means to grieve, pointing out the unjustness of history, or calling for unity, the band’s lyrics resonate long after each song is finished. Omnigone prove in 23 minutes that ska is needed now more than ever. Feral will be out everywhere July 26 via Bad Time Records. Omnigone are currently touring the UK, will be playing their album release show in September, will be playing Fest in October, and will be touring the US supporting Suicide Machines in November.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist Adam Davis to talk about the new album, the correlation between visual art and music, honouring fallen friends, escape rooms, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Adam Davis took place on July 10, 2024 over Zoom. This is a transcription of their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Hitting record with Jarod and Dale of The Readys

Last month Newmarket and Barrie-based punk rockers The Readys released their second album I Don’t Know, I’m High, Let’s Just Hit Record and Hope for the Best. The band welcomes you into their world for the next 22 minutes with their metal-infused frenetic punk, hilarious song titles, and signature wit. The 10 tracks find the band talking about defunding the police, dealing with mental health, celebrating their friendship, and examining what it means to get older with some of their best lyrics to date that are at turns sentimental, contemplative, angry, and humourous. I Don’t Know, I’m High, Let’s Just Hit Record and Hope for the Best is out digitally and physically via Tarantula Tapes.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist Jarod Semple and drummer Dale Semple to talk about the album, working with their friends, which potluck foods reign supreme, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore, Jarod Semple, and Dale Semple took place over Zoom on July 9, 2024. This is a transcription of their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Diving to the world of Donny Crosswell with Graham Isador

Donny Crosswell came on the scene a few years ago with a mission to make country music fun and gay. Now backed by members of Pkew Pkew Pkew, Donny is set to take the stage on July 3 for the Orville Peck pre-show at the Budweiser Stage. Toronto-based writer and Punknews contributor Graham Isador caught up with Donny Crosswell and Mike Warne to talk about the band’s origins and so much more. Read his article below and enter for a chance to win tickets to their July 3 show!

Ray Yao of The Noname talks the band's new album 'Fortress Besieged'

For over 20 years, Chinese punk rockers The Noname have been playing incredible punk rock and they will not be stopping any time soon. The band are getting ready to release their new album Fortress Besieged which finds them referencing Chinese literature, collaborating with friends from all over the world, paying tribute to Joe Strummer, and staying true to their punk ideals. Fortress Besieged will be out everywhere on July 12 via Smith and Miller Records, Abbruch Records, and Pasidaryk Pats Records. The Noname will be touring Europe and the UK starting later this month.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist Ray Yao through the power of the internet (email) to talk about the new album, finding community, the importance of collaboration, legacy, and so much more. Read the interview below!

M.C. and Zach of The Dreaded Laramie talk their debut LP 'Princess Feedback'

In a little over a week, Nashville-based rockers The Dreaded Laramie will be releasing their excellent debut album, Princess Feedback. The album sees the band pushing their signature blend of power pop, rock, and punk to new heights as co-lead guitarists M.C. Cunningham and Zach Anderson sharpen their amazing guitarmonies (guitar harmonies for those yet to be initiated) and lead singer M.C. showcases her incredible vocal range. The band’s songwriting prowess is on full display on each of the 10 tracks as they explore the nonlinear nature of healing, embrace the messiness of fully feeling their feelings, and wrestle with self-doubt with introspective lyrics that are at turns vulnerable and humorous. They also work in several pop culture references so keep your ears peeled. Princess Feedback will be out everywhere on July 5 via Smartpunk Records. The Dreaded Laramie will be playing their album release show on June 29 and will be hitting the road this summer with Pinksqueeze, Teens In Trouble, and Bat Boy.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with M.C. and Zach to talk about the new album, working with Dave Schiffman, how their guitarmonies came into being, what has helped them to embrace their emotions, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore, M.C. Cunningham, and Zach Anderson took place over Zoom on June 4, 2024. This is a transcription of their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Talking all things 'Bad Jazz' with Casey Crawford of Virginity

In three days, Central Florida-based Virginity will be releasing their super third album Bad Jazz. The album finds the band leaning into their more improvisational side as they imbue their blend of indie rock, power pop, emo, and punk rock with the innovative and collaborative spirit of jazz. You can hear the band letting loose and having fun throughout the album as they tackle topics such as existential dread, loss of sense of self, self-doubt, and love with lyrics filled with sincerity and plenty of humour. Bad Jazz will be out everywhere on June 28 via Smartpunk Records and Virginity will be playing Fest in Gainesville in October.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Casey Crawford to talk about the new album, adding humour into songs, coming-of-age stories, getting revenge on the stage that murdered his knee, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Casey Crawford took place over Zoom on June 18, 2024. This is a transcription of their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Anthony Green talks his new solo album 'Doom. Spun.'

Whether you’re familiar with Anthony Green from Circa Survive, Saosin, L.S. Dunes, The Sound of Animals Fighting, or his solo music there is no question that he pours his entire being into every single thing he creates and that is especially true on his upcoming solo record Doom. Spun. The 13 tracks find him at some of his most experimental as he dives into noise rock, brings intimacy to electronic music, delivers a poignant recitation of a poem by French Surrealist poet Robert Desnos, and reimagines three tracks from 2022’s Boom. Done. A sense of connection also permeates the album and serves to drive home the fact that it is impossible to create without it. Whether Anthony is working with collaborators, involving the audience, telling a story, or exploring how certain songs make him feel, you feel like you are along for the ride with him. Doom. Spun. will be out everywhere on June 26 via Born Losers Records. Anthony Green will be hosting two listening parties (one in-person and one virtual) next week and will be playing solo shows around the US starting in September.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Anthony to talk about the new album, what goes into reimagining songs, his creative process, finding connection through music, frogs, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Anthony Green took place on June 12, 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

In conversation with Aki and James of Nu House Studios Part 2

Earlier today, Nu House Studios announced that they will be releasing their third benefit compilation album called Trans Rights II: WE ARE NO LONGER ASKING. They released their first comp, Nu House Studios Trans Musician Fund Compilation, in 2022 and their second one, Trans Rights Or Else!, in 2023. Trans Rights II: WE ARE NO LONGER ASKING features tracks from 13 artists including The Holy Ghost Tabernacle Choir, Deafening, bottom surgery, rotting in dirt, Vi Viana, Yagrum Bagarn, and ameokama.The base $10 from the comp will go to the Doctors Without Borders Emergency Relief Fund with any additional proceeds going into the studio’s Trans Musician Fund, which was touched on in part 1 of our interview with Aki McCullough and James Goldmann (read that right here!). The Trans Musician Fund aims to make recording and audio engineering services more accessible for trans musicians and you can read more about it in our conversation below. The comp will be out on July 12 and you can pre-order it right here.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Aki and James to talk about the upcoming comp, the Trans Musician Fund, manager Raven (R.I.P), mixing the live sets from New Friends Fest 2023, nu-metal, and so much more. Read part 2 of the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore, Aki McCullough, and James Goldmann took place on March 5, 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity. All photos used in this interview are credited to Sheri Furneaux except for Aki holding Raven which is credited to Jared Shute.

A look at this weekend's Punk Rock Tattoo Expo in Vegas

The Punk rock Tattoo expo is this weekend at the Punk rock Museum in Las Vegas. It shows the connection between punk rock and body art… and you can get some fresh ink, too. Punknews writer Jason Murray spoke to Vinnie Fiorello and tattooist Tokyo Hiro about the event. You can check it out below.

In conversation with Aki and James of Nu House Studios Part 1

Nu House Studios was brought into being in Central Massachusetts in 2019 by longtime friends and bandmates Aki McCullough and James Goldmann. The duo have brought their years of audio engineering, recording, production, and music composition experience to many projects since they began including Victory Over the Sun, Arón Speer, Embrasa, Blade of Marrow, Jisei, Sludge Bunny, Vivid Illusion, Thrashing Mossdog, Necroplanet, Dreamwell, and their own band A Constant Knowledge of Death. While there is no doubt they have tremendous technical skill Aki and James also work hard to provide a safe and comfortable space for trans and queer musicians to create their art. In addition to providing support and knowledge, Nu House Studios has a Trans Musician Fund (more on that in part 2 tomorrow) that helps cover the cost of their services in order to make high-quality recordings and studio time more accessible for trans musicians. Aki and James prove that when community comes first, everybody benefits.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Aki and James to talk about how Nu House Studios came into being, making the studio a safe space, the importance of sharing knowledge, uplifting trans and queer voices, and so much more. Read part one of the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore, Aki, and James of Nu House Studios took place on March 5, 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity. All photos used are credited to Sheri Furneaux with the exception of the photo of the studio which is credited to Jared Shute.

Talking 'All Hard Feelings' with Tracy, Mark, and Mikey of Cross Dog

Tomorrow Peterborough, Ontario-based hardcore punk band Cross Dog will unleash their excellent third album, All Hard Feelings, into the world. The band comes out of the gate swinging on opening track “Hard Feelings”, showcasing their hard-hitting lyrics and wonderfully heavy instrumentation that will have you banging your head and singing along within seconds. If you think that they are going to calm down from there, think again! The album zips by in a blur of incredible vocal delivery, killer basslines and bass effects, and superb drums. Throughout the ten tracks, the band delivers on the album’s title and dives into a multitude of hard feelings including dealing with depression, fighting against apathy, and overcoming burnout along with fiercely advocating for reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and an end to systemic oppression in all its forms. Cross Dog proves that even though the feelings may be hard at times, no matter what there is always hope. All Hard Feelings will be out everywhere on June 7 via Stomp Records. Cross Dog will be playing their record release party the same day at Bar 379 in Peterborough.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist Tracy A, bassist Mark Rand, and drummer Mikey Reid to talk about the new album, working with Scott Middleton, finding catharsis through songwriting, being inspired by Gen Z, the ongoing fight for reproductive rights, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore, Tracy A, Mark Rand, and Mikey Reid took place on May 27, 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.