March 11, 2012

Hello everyone and welcome to Navel Gazing: your look back in the week in Punknews. I'm Brittany Strummer and I'll be your guide through some of the juiciest, most popular and otherwise noteworthy stories from the last seven days. Remember, every Punknews story is built from tips from our wonderful, good-looking readers, so get to submitting. Here's what got the strange, slow and old community talking this week:

• Henry Rollins expressed his views on the upcoming presidential election, same-sex marriage, and why he no longer performs music.
• Rush are taking the Rush out of Rush Limbaugh by preventing him from using their song.
• Taking Back Sunday's Adam Lazzara was attacked by a tree.
• Pennywise announced the details for their new album, All Or Nothing.
• We posted an exclusive stream of a new Dropkick Murphys song from their recently announced Fenway Park Bonus Edition.
• Warped Tour announced plans for an acoustic stage for this year's tour.
• Rancid and Cock Sparrer will be releasing a limited edition split 7-inch.

With that, we hand over this Sunday evening to the Punknews community, where anything is possible, from the next amusing-then-overwrought meme, to the creation of bands and message boards, to alienating sports chatter. So talk amongst yourselves, spin some tracks in the Navel Gazing turntable.fm room and we'll see you Monday morning.

The People Must Have Something Good To Read

In the past few weeks we've spoken with a number of bands. Don't miss out on these interviews

• Anthony Anzaldo of Ceremony
• Dave Williams of Crusades
• Mariel Loveland of Candy Hearts
• The Story So Far
• Anders Friden of In Flames
• Fat Mike of NOFX

Tonight We're Going To Give It 35%

Punknews content is syndicated to a handful of your favorite social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. Add your photos to our Flickr Pool and they'll appear in the sidebar here on Punknews. Join our Last.fm group and contribute your listening habits to our weekly charts. All of our high definition video footage can be found at Vimeo.

Here's your question and answer of the week from the Punknews Formspring:

Q: The term "sellout" seems to get throw around loosely nowadays; what is your definition of a band that "sells out" and/or can you give an example of a band that, in your opinion, is a "sellout?"

A: To me the term "sellout" feels like it thrown around a lot more in the few years after Blink-182 broke than now. Think back to when H2O and the Explosion signed to majors and dramatically cleaned up their sound. The criticism seems to have burned itself out after Rancid went to Warner / Sire and started hanging out with the Osbournes. None of these bands ended up really making anything of their big major label jump. The emperor had no clothes.

These days I don't feel like I hear it that much. The major labels have been so crippled by the Internet, a fragmented audience and horrible business decisions that signing to one today hardly amounts to a get rich quick scheme. It's just a different kind of risk.

I don't think anyone's under the illusion these days that bands make much money in any situation. If they're going to take some wild swing at making money I'm less inclined to get angry about it than I did when I was a teenager.

- Adam

Of course your day wouldn't be complete without knowing every inane detail of your humble editors' lives. Follow @aubinpaul, @adamwhite, @justinaugust, @brian_shultz, @dante3000, @amilianne, @kiraface, @mcflynnthm, @kidecono, @MsApocalypse, @mattycantfail, @wackymondo, and @BrittStrummer's every move at Twitter.

Where else are you online? Share your links below and keep connected with the Punknews community.

Radio Free Punknews

Check out the Punknews Music page to stream all sorts of new music from recent or upcoming releases. Our latest additions include:

• A new song from Boston, MA's Dropkick Murphys
• The latest EP from Malvern, PA's Spraynard
• The latest release from Tempe, AZ's Seas Will Rise
• The newest EP from Tokyo, Japan's Cleave
• The newest EP from Portland, OR's Lost City

Also, don't forget to check out the latest EP from Gainesville, FL's Less Than Jake and a new song from Lowell, Ma's The Fake Boys

We've also expanded our podcast empire to something that will eventually resemble a network. Be sure to check out the original Punknews Podcast (subscribe via RSS or iTunes), Jesse and Goodrich's metal/hardcore/jokes bonanza The Wizard's Beard (subscribe via RSS or iTunes), Bryne Yancey's Florida music podcast Overheated (subscribe via RSS or iTunes), First World Problems, hosted by Ray Harkins (peta2/Sound & Fury, ex-Taken, Mikoto, Century Media), Joey Cahill (6131 Records/Sound & Fury) and Scott Arnold (subscribe via RSS or iTunes), Matt and Mondo's Punk Rock Power Hour, and Greg Simpson and Greg Moore's Two Gregs One Podcast.

March 4, 2012

Hello everyone and welcome to Navel Gazing: your look back in the week in Punknews. I'm Brittany Strummer and I'll be your guide through some of the juiciest, most popular and otherwise noteworthy stories from the last seven days. Remember, every Punknews story is built from tips from our wonderful, good-looking readers, so get to submitting. Here's what got the strange, slow and old community talking this week:

• Fall Out Boy lead singer, Patrick Stump, addressed his "haters" and his hiatus from performing in a recent essay to which The Lawrence Arms' Brendan Kelly released a response in defense of Stump.
• Brendan Kelly also released the details from his highly anticipated solo effort, Brendan Kelly and the Wandering Birds.
• Staff writer, John Gentile, sat down with Fat Mike of NOFX to discuss his recent work on a pornography soundtrack.
• Green Day released yet another update from recording of their upcoming album.
• Hot Water Music announced the title and release date for their Rise Records debut.
• The Sex Pistols signed to Universal Records for the 35th anniversary re-release of Nevermind the Bollocks.
• Joe Escalante of The Vandals announced a campaign to become a judge in L.A. County.

With that, we hand over this Sunday evening to the Punknews community, where anything is possible, from the next amusing-then-overwrought meme, to the creation of bands and message boards, to alienating sports chatter. So talk amongst yourselves, spin some tracks in the Navel Gazing turntable.fm room and we'll see you Monday morning.

The People Must Have Something Good To Read

In the past few weeks we've spoken with a number of bands. Don't miss out on these interviews

• Anders Friden of In Flames
• Fat Mike of NOFX
• Katy Goodman of Vivian Girls
• Phil Hotis of Sacred Love
• Patrick Kindlon of Self Defense Family and End of a Year
• Damian Abraham of Fucked Up

Tonight We're Going To Give It 35%

Punknews content is syndicated to a handful of your favorite social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. Add your photos to our Flickr Pool and they'll appear in the sidebar here on Punknews. Join our Last.fm group and contribute your listening habits to our weekly charts. All of our high definition video footage can be found at Vimeo.

Here's your question and answer of the week from the Punknews Formspring:

Q: Did Epitaph have the singer of The Menzingers take voice lessons? Is that why on the new album he sounds weaker/less passionate? Because he's trying to sing "good" instead of just belting it out from the heart?

A: Which singer?
Greg has been working on his singing voice since the beginning. Tom was sick during the recording of Chamberlain Waits so that plays into some of the change. As people grow, so do their musical stylings. The guitar playing, bass lines and drumming is different too - its only natural. Epitaph didn't ask them to change - they did it because people grow and change.

-Justin

Of course your day wouldn't be complete without knowing every inane detail of your humble editors' lives. Follow @aubinpaul, @adamwhite, @justinaugust, @brian_shultz, @dante3000, @amilianne, @kiraface, @mcflynnthm, @kidecono, @MsApocalypse, @mattycantfail, @wackymondo, and @BrittStrummer's every move at Twitter.

Where else are you online? Share your links below and keep connected with the Punknews community.

Radio Free Punknews

Check out the Punknews Music page to stream all sorts of new music from recent or upcoming releases. Our latest additions include:

• The latest EP from Gainesville, FL's Less Than Jake
• A new song from Lowell, Ma's The Fake Boys

Also, don't forget to check out the latest full length from Lansing, MI's Cheap Girls.

We've also expanded our podcast empire to something that will eventually resemble a network. Be sure to check out the original Punknews Podcast (subscribe via RSS or iTunes), Jesse and Goodrich's metal/hardcore/jokes bonanza The Wizard's Beard (subscribe via RSS or iTunes), Bryne Yancey's Florida music podcast Overheated (subscribe via RSS or iTunes), First World Problems, hosted by Ray Harkins (peta2/Sound & Fury, ex-Taken, Mikoto, Century Media), Joey Cahill (6131 Records/Sound & Fury) and Scott Arnold (subscribe via RSS or iTunes)., and Matt and Mondo's Punk Rock Power Hour.

February 26, 2012

Hello everyone and welcome to Navel Gazing: your look back in the week in Punknews. I'm Brittany Strummer and I'll be your guide through some of the juiciest, most popular and otherwise noteworthy stories from the last seven days. Remember, every Punknews story is built from tips from our wonderful, good-looking readers, so get to submitting. Here's what got the strange, slow and old community talking this week:

• Canada's Propagandhi announced that they will be releasing new music this year.
• Streetlight Manifesto asked their fans to not to purchase their music from their record label, Victory Records, due to conflicts with the label.
• Motörhead have also advised their fans to not purchase their music in the form of their expensive new box set.
• Punknews.org staff writer, John Gentile, sat down with Vivian Girls' Katy Goodman to discuss her solo project, La Sera.
• Joyce Manor released a new song from their highly anticipated sophomore release.
• The Gaslight Anthem completed recording and announced the title for their upcoming major label debut.
• Asian Man Records owner, Mike Park, launched a new record label, Fun Fun Records, that specializes in kids music.

With that, we hand over this Sunday evening to the Punknews community, where anything is possible, from the next amusing-then-overwrought meme, to the creation of bands and message boards, to alienating sports chatter. So talk amongst yourselves, spin some tracks in the Navel Gazing turntable.fm room and we'll see you Monday morning.

The People Must Have Something Good To Read

In the past few weeks we've spoken with a number of bands. Don't miss out on these interviews

• Katy Goodman of Vivian Girls
• Phil Hotis of Sacred Love
• Patrick Kindlon of Self Defense Family and End of a Year
• Damian Abraham of Fucked Up
• Randy Yost of Weekend Nachos
• Ampere

Tonight We're Going To Give It 35%

Punknews content is syndicated to a handful of your favorite social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. Add your photos to our Flickr Pool and they'll appear in the sidebar here on Punknews. Join our Last.fm group and contribute your listening habits to our weekly charts. All of our high definition video footage can be found at Vimeo.

Here's your question and answer of the week from the Punknews Formspring:

Q: Other than Roger from Less Than Jake's notorious drug dealing, what are your favorite punk rock day jobs?

A: I think the most common day job is some sort of restaurant job, simply because it lends itself to touring life. But I'd say the best day job is the carpenter (a trade I know is practiced by Mike Hale and Chuck Ragan). There's something both inherently masculine and independent about carpentry. You have a skill that involves working with your hands and you're able to hire yourself out as available.
You're not out selling soda to kids, or going over orders for some large client or some other bean counter job (to be clear, the only jobs I've had as an adult are white collar, bean counter jobs), you're going out and building something. A house, a desk, a table anything. That's pretty damn impressive, from an outsider standpoint but maybe I'm just romanticizing about Chuck Ragan making me a desk…shirtless.

-Rich

Of course your day wouldn't be complete without knowing every inane detail of your humble editors' lives. Follow @aubinpaul, @adamwhite, @justinaugust, @brian_shultz, @dante3000, @amilianne, @kiraface, @mcflynnthm, @kidecono, @MsApocalypse, @mattycantfail, @wackymondo, and @BrittStrummer's every move at Twitter.

Where else are you online? Share your links below and keep connected with the Punknews community.

Radio Free Punknews

Check out the Punknews Music page to stream all sorts of new music from recent or upcoming releases. Our latest additions include:

• The latest full length from Lansing, MI's Cheap Girls

Also, don't forget to check out the latest full length from Scranton, PA's The Menzingers and the latest full length from Philadelphia, PA's Kite Party.

We've also expanded our podcast empire to something that will eventually resemble a network. Be sure to check out the original Punknews Podcast (subscribe via RSS or iTunes), Jesse and Goodrich's metal/hardcore/jokes bonanza The Wizard's Beard (subscribe via RSS or iTunes), Bryne Yancey's Florida music podcast Overheated (subscribe via RSS or iTunes), First World Problems, hosted by Ray Harkins (peta2/Sound & Fury, ex-Taken, Mikoto, Century Media), Joey Cahill (6131 Records/Sound & Fury) and Scott Arnold (subscribe via RSS or iTunes)., and Matt and Mondo's Punk Rock Power Hour.