It's Sunday August 5th, 2007. Now I don't know about the rest of the world, but this is a long weekend in Canada for the mysterious August holiday that nobody knows the name of. Regardless of what it's called, I'm hitting the cottage. That means this article was written on a Saturday. I trust then that the punk world has stopped spinning in my absence to respect the fact that this column won't include Sunday's news. Streetlight Manifesto you better just sit on that "big big news" until next week. Ok? Good.
The people must have something good to read on a Sunday
MTV has declared Against Me!'s New Wave the best punk album of the year, and the real question is why we care what they think in the first place. Call it a cultural echo from back when they mattered. The internet levels things out a bit, so it was great to see just as many people discussing the 25 Most Influential Punk Bands as decided by Shoutmouth (who?) as there were debating MTV. Speaking of online masses, you all managed to get Chris Hannah the runner up spot on the Worst Canadian poll. In the end he was beat by a politician, and that oppression will surely lead to a stinging rebut on the next Propagandhi disc.
Warped Tour head Kevin Lyman apologized to the Osbournes for his remarks about the "free" Ozzfest. Maybe they can all learn from the sea of goodwill that Gainesville's The Fest 6 is riding, as that event thrilled our readers by announcing a lineup that includes Naked Raygun, Seaweed, the Draft, Dillinger Four and many others. It's been fascinating to get into the head of Less Than Jake drummer and lyricist Vinnie, and this week he mused about the band's next label an gave his stamp of approval to pre-Lawrence Arms ska-punk act Slapstick. This busy week say a preview of My Chemical Romance frontman Gerald Way's upcoming comic The Umbrella Academy and more bands announced for Guitar Hero III (the Beastie Boys, AFI and Weezer among them). On the touring circuit we had Australian dates from Bad Religion and Strung Out, southern US dates from New Found Glory, Senses Fail and Set Your Goals, and the remainder of the dates for Brand New, Thrice and mewithoutYou's tour announced.
There was lots of new media online this week. The legendary Bad Brains released their video for "Give Thanks And Praises/Jah Love" while Canuck indie-pop act Tegan and Sara unveiled "Back in Your Head". Alkaline Trio debuted a new song live and a familiar face caught it on video, while Green Day's Tre Cool performed internet meme "Chocolate Rain." We had a full album stream from Hot Water Music alum Chuck Ragan and a new song available from the anticipated new Weakerthans record. Finally Bomb the Music Industry have made their new album Get Warmer available for download Our Video of the Week featured Richmond folk-punk act the Riot Before performing a track from their upcoming 7". We chatted with Jeff Davis of Boys Night Out (interview) as well as Rachel Minton of Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer (interview). The second edition of Vinyl File arrived, looking at a Get Up Kids oldie and checking out the upcoming releases. We also streamed new music from Dear Tonight's debut We're Not Men, and UK based melodic hardcore act called the Steal on the eve of their US tour.
Click Read More to see this week's contests, streaming music and more.
Radio Free Punknews
Check the Punknews Music page to stream all sorts of anticipated new music including songs from Cobra Skulls' new Red Scare full-length Sitting Army, six songs from the new Menzingers full-length, Guff's new full-length Symphony of Voices, an exclusive remix of the Static Age, a reading from Ronen Kauffman's new book, the full-length from country-punk act Two Cow Garage and and the new record from Sacramento pop-punks Secretions Suntans are for Winners Win a Guitar Hero II prize pack from Aiden, From Autumn to Ashes, I Am Ghost, Night Kills the Day
Aiden, From Autumn to Ashes, I Am Ghost and Night Kills The Day recently kicked off their West Coast Revival tour together and to celebrate, the bands have teamed up to produce a fancy Guitar Hero II prize package. Besides the game, winners can win a pile of stuff from each band including full discographies, merch and accessories.
Win a skateboard and swag from Rooney
The contests don't stop at Punknews.org, apparently, as we've got another neat little giveaway for you guys. We've got a unique little package from Rooney which coincides with the release of their new record, Calling the World. The band has given us a signed longboard and a Rooney prize pack (tote bag, t-shirt, Calling the World CD) for one winner and a prize package for an additional four others. A longboard is something we've never given away but I keep seeing people using them to get around the city so they're pretty useful and hey, it's a long skateboard.
Win a Nintendo Wii from Fuse
It's critically acclaimed, impossible to find and people get pretty enthusiastic about it. Of course, we're talking about the Nintendo Wii. You can wait in line and drop $250.00 on one, or you can simply fill out a form and win one, courtesy of Punknews.org and everyone's favorite music television network, Fuse. Along the Wii, runner ups will win CD prize packages from Warped Tour acts including Family Force 5, The Starting Line, Amber Pacific, Kaddisfly, The Human Abstract, and All Time Low. You can drop you entry into the virtual ballot box right here.
Fly to Las Vegas with Atreyu Atreyu will launch their new album, Lead Sails Paper Anchor, on August 28, 2007 and the band would like you to be their guest to celebrate the release with them in Las Vegas. Atreyu is giving away a trip for two to Las Vegas where you and a friend will get an autographed copy of the new album, a special meet and greet with the band, and will watch the whole show right from the stage.
Staff Blogs
When not writing about music on the internet, many members of the Punknews staff find time to write about music on the internet. You can check out the depraved musings of Adam White at 2:59, Justin August has some Kinder Words for you, while Chris Moran's all over the place with content rocking both MySpace and Flickr. Reviewer Jesse Raub posts short fiction and web comics to Things That Go Bump In My Head and his zine Bitter Press.
Super Powers Enable Me To Blend In With Machinery
We've theorized that you visit other websites out there, and we know it can be tough to leave the calming blue glow of the `Org, so we'll help by infecting the rest of the web with Punknews content. Waste some time on the Punknews.org and Punknews Records MySpace pages, the Punknews.org Facebook Group, and contribute your listening habits to the weekly charts Last.fm group.
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