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:

• Bill Ward announced that he will not be present at the upcoming Black Sabbath reunion.
• Dropkick Murphys spoke out against Wisconsin state representative, Jeff Fitzgerald, for using "Shipping Out To Boston" as his walk-on song.
• We compiled Part 2 of our guide to Bamboozle.
• The Gaslight Anthem announced the dates for an upcoming US tour.
• SPIN magazine and Dr. Frank of The Mr. T Experience listed the top 20 essential Lookout Records songs.
• Comadre released their entire discography for free download.
• Planes Mistaken for Stars will be performing together again for a handful of shows in August.

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.

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

• Pouzza Fest organizer Hugo Mudie
• The Max Levine Ensemble
• Gnarboots
• Your Demise
• Staffan Snitting of Sectarian Violence / Stay Hungry
• Josh Waters Rudge of The Skints

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: What goes through your head when a local band breaks up?


A: It depends on a lot of factors, how long they were together, how much I liked them, if I had any personal connections. I know when San Francisco based Low Red Land broke up I was pretty bummed. They were a great band, making great music and who sold me both of their albums for the price of one because I drunkenly said, "I'll review it for punknews," at a show.
However, there are tons of really small local acts who have probably formed and disbanded without me even knowing.
It varies.

-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.

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

• The new EP from Bayonne, NJ's The Scandals
• A new song from Bethesda, MD's Boardroom Heroes
• The latest full-length from Pittsburgh, PA's Lilith
• The latest full-length from San Pedro, CA's Toys That Kill

Also, don't forget to check out the new EP from Switzerland's Cancer, the latest release from Lansing, MI's Homelife, and the new 7-inch from Toronto, ON's Burning Love.

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.

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:

• The lead singer of Against Me! announced she is transgender and received an overwhelming amount of support from the punk community.
• Fat Mike of NOFX weighed in on Gabel's announcement and also revealed the release date for the new NOFX record.
• Hot Water Music released a stream of their upcoming record, Exister .
• Brendan Kelly recently performed a new Lawrence Arms song.
• Teenage Bottlerocket will be heading out on tour through the US and Canada.
• A video of The Offspring's full set at the KROQ Weenie Roast 2012 found its way online.
• No Doubt are active once again and will be releasing a new record this year.

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.

Punknews would like to wish all the awesome moms out there a Happy Mother's Day!

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

• Gnarboots
• Your Demise
• Staffan Snitting of Sectarian Violence / Stay Hungry
• Josh Waters Rudge of The Skints
• Steve Ciolek of The Sidekicks
• Randy Bradbury of Pennywise

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: Why do The Menzingers sing about waitresses so much? I don't want to serve them food.

A: I'm pretty sure you do. They are excellent tippers...If you know what I mean.
I mean they regularly tip over 15%.
-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.

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

• The new EP from Switzerland's Cancer
• The latest release from Lansing, MI's Homelife
• The new 7-inch from Toronto, ON's Burning Love

Also, don't forget to check out a new song from Durham, NC's Red Collar.

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.

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:

• Adam "MCA" Yauch of the Beastie Boys passed away at the age of 47 after a long battle with cancer.
• The Gaslight Anthem released a new song entitled "45".
• The Paramedic released a statement regarding their controversial t-shirt design.
• NOFX announced that they have finished their new record.
• The Menzingers were robbed in Manchester after a recent show.
• We sat down and had a chat with Keith Morris of OFF!, Circle Jerks, and Black Flag.
• Terror's Scott Vogel expressed his disapproval of Refused's recent reunion.

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.

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

• Steve Ciolek of The Sidekicks
• Randy Bradbury of Pennywise
• Keith Morris of OFF! / Circle Jerks / Black Flag
• Lipstick Homicide
• Romeo Romeo
• Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister of Motörhead

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: What do you think of the website "absolutepunk.net?"


A: They're good for covering a different section of music than we cover. Personally (and this is in no way reflective of anyone but myself) I've never liked their site in terms of design and appearance. It has always been hard for me to really look at for any period of time.

But, they are good at what they do and I hear they make more money than we do...So I'm jealous.

-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.

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 Durham, NC's Red Collar.

Also, don't forget to check out the latest release from Brooklyn, NY's Man The Change, the new 7-inch from Chicago, IL's The Downtown Struts, the latest EP from Boston, MA's Ape Up, and the latest release from Fullerton, CA's Death By Stereo.

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.

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:

• Jaded Punk Hulk conducted an interview with Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem over his current comments that caused a stir last week.
• The Gaslight Anthem also discussed their new album.
• Sublime With Rome announced the dates for a summer tour.
• Speaking of summer tours, System of a Down and Deftones announced that they will be heading out on the road together.
• The vocalist for Trivium shared his views on piracy.
• The Offspring released the first song off their new album, Days Go By.
• The Bouncing Souls added more dates with The Menzingers and Luther.

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.

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

• Lipstick Homicide
• Romeo Romeo
• Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister of Motörhead
• The Dopamines
• Tony Lovato of Mest
• Blag Dahlia of The Dwarves

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: I find it alienating that it's now the norm for bands to release exclusive songs through a myriad of outlets. If I'm a fan of your band and want to pay for your music, why make it so hard for me to find? I don't want to have to work to find your songs.


A: I fully understand this feeling. I had no idea The Menzingers had released an online exclusive of "I Was Born" which had acoustic songs not on "Chamberlin Waits". I'm not 100% sure why bands/labels do this but I imagine it's in part to keep a band in the news cycle. Your album comes out, that's news. You have an exclusive track somewhere else, also news. I think it's just a way to keep people aware (which is increasingly difficult in the 24 hour news cycle of punk rock).

-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.