It's Sunday February 26th, 2006. Well, it's over. I watched more curling in the past few weeks than I ever thought possible. The Tournament of Hearts just started though so it looks like the obsession has some fuel to continue. I think it's high time for someone to organize us a Punk Rock Curling Tournament. Get the Sterns on the phone.
Stories you were talking about this week
We all knew it was coming, but the Sex Pistols just can't be in the news without putting their own personal spin on it. See their letter to the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame to join in on the fun. Jumping forward a few eras, a lot of you had something to say when Finch announced their "indefinite break" this week. Looks for headlines in March when acts like Bright Eyes, Chuck D and Michael Stipe appear at the Bring 'Em Home Now event in New York. Joining a long list of ridiculous border incidents faced by North American bands, Further Seems Forever managed to get themselves blacklisted from Canada. Epitaph signed a pair of bands, including hip hop act Busdriver and post-Hot Water Music project The Draft. New songs that had you talking this week included the first track released by Punknews Records act Ryan's Hope, new demos from the good sir Ted Leo, and music from the upcoming Less Than Jake release. Other big stories this week included the upcoming release from Good Riddance and the upcoming tour featuring Teenage Bottlerocket, the Epoxies and the Phenomenauts.
This week we posted the second half of the joint Punknews / Pastepunk interview with Dr. Dan Yemin of Lifetime. We also bid farewell to Brent Dowe of pioneering rocksteady act the Melodians.
Current contests Win original Lawrence Arms lyrics sheets
The Lawrence Arms' forthcoming full length Oh! Calcutta! arrives on March 7th and to celebrate Punknews.org and Fat Wreck Chords are giving away one of a kind pieces of the band's history. We've got twelve handwritten lyrics sheets for twelve winners. This is an opportunity you won't find anywhere else!
Win a Thrasher skate deck Thrasher Magazine recently released the 12th instalment of their long running Skate Rock compilation series featuring songs from Alkaline Trio, Millencolin, Only Crime, the Riverboat Gamblers, Die Hunns and many more. To celebrate we're giving away two limited edition skate decks.
Win some kicks from the Loved Ones Loved Ones recently released their debut full length Keep Your Heart and to celebrate Fat Wreck Chords and Draven Shoes are giving away some merch.
See the Taste of Chaos at Long Beach Arena
Punknews.org and the Taste of Chaos Tour will give one lucky winner a chance to see the tour stop in Los Angeles, California on March 30th, 2006. Besides putting you on a plane, the package will include a Nintendo DS, accommodations when you arrive, backstage passes, a year's supply of Rockstar energy drink, and a guitar signed by Thrice, The Deftones, Atreyu, Story of The Year and American Eyes.
Take Action Tour 2006
To celebrate the upcoming 2006 Take Action! Tour we're giving three winners a selection of albums by bands featured on the tour.
Sponsored tours Take Action Tour Matchbook Romance, Silverstein, Chiodos, Amber Pacific, Paramore, The Early November, I Am Ghost and Hit The Lights are among the bands playing this year's Take Action Tour. The Sub City organized event provides support and resources for young people to turn to when in need through the National Hopeline Network and 1-800-SUICIDE(784-2433).
Shameless self promotion
Punknews' head honcho Aubin recently took part in a roundtable interview along with Latterman drummer Pat Schramm and the staff of Wreck The Place Fantastic. Check it out.