AFI release two new songs

AFI have released two new songs. The songs are called “Twisted Tongues” and “Escape From Los Angeles”. The songs are available digitally and on 7-inch vinyl. The band will be releasing their eleventh album later this year via Rise Records. AFI released AFI (The Blood Album) in 2017. Check out the songs below.

Counterpunch release “We, The Role” lyric video

Chicago based skate punk band Counterpunch have released a lyric video for their song “We, The Role”. The song is off of their upcoming 7-inch along with “Handbook of the Recently Debriefed”. The 7-inch will be available January 29 via Thousand Island Records and SBAM Records. Counterpunch released Bruises in 2014. Check out the video below.

Sylvain Sylvain has passed away

Sadly, on January 13, Sylvain Sylvain of The New York Dolls passed away. He had been battling cancer for about two and a half years. David Johansen, the last living original New York Doll, released a short statement: "My best friend for so many years, I can still remember the first time I saw him bop into the rehearsal space/bicycle shop with his carpetbag and guitar straight from the plane after having been deported from Amsterdam, I instantly loved him. I’m gonna miss you old pal. I’ll keep the home fires burning. au revoir Syl mon vieux copain. February 14, 1951 /January 13, 2021".

You can see a statement by Sylvains family and friends below. Punknews sends our condolences to all pf those affected.

Good Friend talk their new EP

Good Friend, who were recently named "Ireland’s sexiest punk band," are not letting any of the multiple global crises slow them down- Pandemic, Brexit, and fascists be damned. You’ll find Adam Carroll, Andy Reid, and Izzy Curran in the ring banging out lion-hearted punk rock with an unyielding resolve. With the release of the Erin Rose EP and a rescheduled tour with Red City Radio, Good Friend are ready for 2021. Punknews Contributor Ida Eskamani interviewed singer Adam Carroll about the band's newest release and what’s ahead.

Lookout Zoomout to feature many Lookout! artists

On January 31, 2021, the Lookout Zoomout will take place. The online streaming event will be a show with many artists coming from the Lookout! records roster. Artists playing the event include Dr. Frank from The Mr. T Experience, The Queers, Lisa Marr from Cub, Jon Ginoli of Pansy Division, Raf Classic from The Crumbs, and Grant Lawrence from The Smugglers. That starts Noon pst via the "Side Door Access" platform.

Chris Gethard to start 'New Jersey is the World' podcast

Comedian Chris Gethard is launching a new podcast. It's called New Jersey is the World. Gethard describes it as: "It's a new monthly podcast that celebrates my favorite place on earth, my home state, the Garden State. Each month you'll get a free episode that comes at you with insane stories of growing up in this unmoored place, listener interaction, tons of stuff."

Initial subscribers also get a free digital stand-up EP of unreleased Gethard material. You can check it out here.

Descendents release new song

Descendents have released a lyric video for their new single “That’s The Breaks”. The video was created by Jason Link. The song is available digitally through Epitaph Records. The band released their two-song single Suffrage in 2020 and released their album Hypercaffium Spazzinate in 2016. Check out the video below.

Ariel Pink accused of abuse, loses bid for restraining order

As reported by Pitchfork, on August 10, 2020, Ariel Pink filed a petition for a restraining order in Los Angeles County Court against Charlotte Ercoli Coe, who had previously been in his band. On January 6, the same day that Pink attended traveled to Washington DC to support Trump, the Court ruled against him and dismissed the petition. The dismissal was based of an Anti-SLAPP argument brought by Coe. Anti-SLAPP claims allow a party request the Court to dismiss a defamation claim, and certain other actions, if the party relying on the Anti-SLAPP statute can show that the speech at the root of the suit was constitutionally protected. Here, the court ruled that Coe had made a threshold showing that her speech was constitutionally protected, and therefore denied Pink's restraining order petition.

Pink initially filed the petition alleging that Coe sent a letter to his record label, Mexican Summer, “falsely claiming he was a sexual ‘predator’ and falsely claiming to mutual friends and to [Pink] that he committed sexual offenses almost three years ago for which she has threatened to report [Pink] to police authorities.” Pink also claimed that Coe had “directly threatened” him and “attempted to blackmail him with false allegations of sexual misconduct to his record label and financial supporters, to the media, including Pitchfork and Variety, and to the general public.” Pink also alleged other defamatory actions were taken by Coe and requested that Coe be ordered to not contact Media Outlets about the issue.

Coe filed a motion to strike the restraining order on October 14. In that motion, she filed a declaration stating that she did send a letter to Mexican summer, that she began dating Pink when he was 38 and she was 19, and that Pink “physically attacked” her on stage during an October 2017 concert in San Francisco. Coe also admits that she had tweeted about the incident, in that tweet saying the two were “just having fun,” but now says that tweet was made at the forceful insistence of Pink. Coe alleged that Pink “physically and mentally abused [her] during [their] relationship." Pink previously addressed the San Francisco incident stating that “my behavior onstage was gross and I can’t defend it.” Coe also alleged that Pink shared naked pictures of her with people without permission and had unprotected sex with her without permission, thereby giving her herpes.

Coe's aunt also attached a declaration to the motion. That declaration included a screenshot of a text that Pink had sent to Coe's Aunt. That text message read: "i fucked up with charlie on dozens of fronts and deserve what i got as a consequence. i gave her herpes (kills me more than anythng [sic]) and that alone would have been grounds enough for a break up. i flirted w people online, thinking it harmless, and that it wouldn’t get back to her- i even sent private nude pics of charlie like a fucking idiot, convincing myself that it wasn’t inappropriate because i was ‘bragging’ about how hot my gf was.”

In response to Coe's Anti-Slapp claim, Pink denied most of Coe's allegations. He specifically denied that he ever coerced Coe into unprotected sex and also stated that at the time of the unprotected sex, he was not aware that he had herpes. He also stated that the shared picture at issue showed Coe clothed and was only shared to one friend that "Was a fan."

Note that the Court's ruling does not comment to the truth or falseness of either party's claim. Rather, the ruling determined that Pink had not produced enough evidence to warrant a restraining order and that Coe had met a threshold level of evidence to show that there was possibility of her right to free speech was being restricted by Pink's petition.

Pink's attorneys issued a response to the ruling: "The pending matter is now on appeal and the subject of a separate lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court. It is [Pink’s] position that the speech and communications at the heart of the case are not protected and [are] defamatory.”

Coe's attorneys did not issue a statement. Following Pink's attendance at the events in Washignton DC, Mexican Summer dropped Pink from its label.

The Anti-Queens demoing new material with Dave Baksh of Sum 41

On Instagram, the Anit-Queens stated that they are demoing new material. They also stated that they were working with Dave Baksh of Sum 41. Baksh appears to be serving as a producer. The band released a self-titled LP in 2019.

Kitty Kat Fan Club release new song

Indie punk band Kitty Kat Fan Club have released a new song. The song is called “Choked by the Weeds”. Kitty Kat Fan Club released Dreamy Little You in 2019 via Asian Man Records. Check out the song below.

Bracket to Re-Release 2006 'Requiem' LP

Bracket are going to re-release their 2006 album Requiem. That will be out via Bearded Punk Records (Belgium), People of Punk Rock (Canada/North America), and Cat’s Claw (UK) on February 5th. The re-release is remastered and will be on vinyl and cassette format. Meanwhile, the band has stated that they lan on re-releasing more material later this year and have rough plans to record a new album as well.