Punknews.org

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
This week some idiot stole the grave stone marking the final resting place of Joy Division's Ian Curtis. Speaking of idiots, some enlightened individual at the St. Louis Warped Tour date thought it best to shot racial slurs at Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy. In the resulting confrontation the singer was arrested on a charge of third-degree assault. This incident got a response from Fall Out Boy bassist and Decaydance head honcho Pete Wentz, which was quite understandably miffed. Hawthorne Heights spoke out this week about the music industry's problems, the same week that one prominent UK record company boss urged bands to avoid labels entirely . If you ask me, the major problem with the record industry is this delayed Dillinger Four record. The band may or may not be in the studio this month, but I believe nothing. Classic punk act the Damned is in also in the studio.

This weekend we posted the date for the Revival Tour featuring Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, Tim Barry of Avail and Ben Nichols of Lucero with appareances by Tom Gabel of Against Me!, Chris Wollard of Hot Water Music / The Draft, Kevin Seconds of 7Seconds, Chris McCaughan of the Lawrence Arms and others. Aside from the Fest this is the greatest concentration of Punknews reader approved acts that you'll find anywhere. Speaking of the Fest, the upcoming 7th edition now has itself a teaser video. Also look for an upcoming tour from Streetlight Manifesto, the Swellers and the AKA's. Plus 44's Travis Barker recorded drums for The Game's Dope Boys. He was also named one of the "Best Punk Drummers" by Drum Magazine along with Green Day's Tre Cool, Bad Religion's Brooks Wackerman and All / Descendents' Bill Stevenson. This week brought footage of the Dropkick Murphys in the Blue Room and a video for "Help Me" from the Alkaline Trio. Streaming music arrived in the form of My Chemical Romance's live record and a cut from Panic At The Disco's Abbey Road sessions .
I Can't Control My Fingers I Can't Control My Brain
New feature content, weekly columns and exclusives
As it's midway through the year we unveiled your Favourite Albums of 2008, as based on your album ratings. Voting continues so make sure you've got a Punknews account and that you're clicking those stars.

This week we spoke with Dan Andriano of the Alkaline Trio (interview). We also had a hospital journal (in leiu of a tour journal) from Nat Coghlan of Transistor Transistor (journal). Our Video of the Week featured Smoke Or Fire performing "What Separates Us" at last year's Fest in Gainesville, FL. This week's edition of Vinyl File featured a look at upcoming releases. This week also brought new Streaming Music from, Applewood, ON-based ska/punk outfit Keepin’ 6, and Fort Collins, CO's Tickle Me Pink. Click Read More to check out our ongoing contests, recent streaming music and more.

So what's coming up this week? Look for releases from Street Dogs, Wire, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes and Have Heart with tours kicking off from Dillinger Escape Plan (dates), A Wilhelm Scream (dates) and much anticipated shows featuring Dropkick Murphys and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones (dates) and Dillinger Four and the Circle Jerks (dates).



Radio Free Punknews
Streaming music
Check the Punknews Music page to stream all sorts of anticipated new music including the Saint Alvia Cartel, which features members of Boys Night Out, Grade and Jersey, the final effort from the recently departed LaGrecia, a sampler from Think Fast Records, 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, and the debut full length from pop punk act Lipona.
It's Funny, I Don't Feel Like a Winner
Contests
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.

Killswitch Engage Merch Bonanza
Killswitch Engage have launched a brand new merch store and to celebrate this new endeavour, they want to give away a bunch of merch in what we're calling the "Killswitch Engage Merch Bonanza" mainly because "bonanza" is an awesome word.

Check out Circles Jerks, D4, Matt & Kim at F*ck Yeah Tour
We've got three sets of two tickets to give away for dates on the 2008 edition of the F*ck Yeah Tour. The shows take place in Philadelphia, PA, New York City and Brooklyn, NY. Since the prizes don't include a plane, you'll need to find a way to get there but when you do, you'll be treated to highly anticipated sets from the Circle Jerks, Dillinger Four, Matt & Kim and more. Philadelphia includes Paint It Black, New York City and Brooklyn include Team Robespierre. Since these shows are coming up very soon, this is a short contest so you have better odds of winning than ever.

Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35%
Staff blogs and side projects
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.

Of course your day wouldn't be complete without knowing every inane detail of your humble editors' lives. Follow Adam White and Justin August's every move at Twitter.
Super Powers Enable Me To Blend In With Machinery
Social networking links
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