If you’ve never had the pleasure of listening to an album where every track is brilliant, then you really need to hear ‘Inflammable Material’ by Stiff Little Fingers. You’ll find yourself singing along to and air guitaring to it. ‘Inflammable Material’ is an album well worth investing some time and money into.

Recorded way back in 1978/79, this is and was Stiff Little Fingers greatest achievement. 30 years on and this band is still selling out average sized venues on the back of this album. The recording is raw and in your face. No over production here. Singer/frontman Jake Burns barks over the tunes like a rabid mongrel dog.

I had the pleasure of seeing this band live on a number of occasions when they were in their prime. Every song a belter. One time a few of us met them after a gig and they said they were going to the fun fair at Southsea the next day. So we met up and went on the fair rides with Jake, Ali, Henry and Jim. This band from Northern Ireland had one of the best sense of humors I’ve seen. What a great bunch of people and easily one of the best ever punk albums to be produced – you could put that album up there with anything The Ramones produced!

Here’s one track which will have you punching the walls of your caravan:

Watch “Johnny Was” video:

Now go buy the album and pay for Jake’s next beer!

Stiff Little Fingers on amazon.co.uk

Stiff Little Fingers on amazon.com

For more music, tour dates and information, go to:

Stiff Little Fingers Official Website

By: Dave Tommo

Oi Oi it’s Christmas!

Welcome to the Punk Rock Advent Calendar. In the true spirit of Punk Christmas we present you with Twenty Five completely FREE Punk Rock Christmas songs for your listening / downloading delectation!

Punk on amazon.com

Punk on amazon.co.uk

Each song comes with its very own classic punk intro/riff/solo “borrowed” from a variety of all-time punk classics. Singalong with your turkey to the festive noise, whilst at the same time playing “Spot The Punk Cliché”. The Ruts, The Ramones, The Pistols, The Jam and many, many more – they’re all in there somewhere!

Jimmy Severe, whose punk guitar and shouty voice spread his fame throughout the pop music world of Coley Park and the rest of West Reading, was born and brought up in the small flats. The story goes that he traded a bushel of Beano comics for his first guitar. When Severe attended the School of Hard Nuts, the guitar went along with him and helped pay for his beer. When an injured leg ended his career as a centre-back it was only natural for him to turn to his guitar as a means of support.

He found out early on that playing the songs of others, especially good old singalong classics, was far more fun than writing his own self-indulgent dirges, and soon joined up with the Blue Christmas Boys, a bunch of local punks who specialised in bringing vitriolic cheer to the local estate at Christmas time with their very special interpretations of Yuletide classics.

In putting together The Punk Rock Advent Calendar, Jimmy & The Boys picked the ones that portray all sides of the season – from revelry to irreverence – from “White Christmas” to “Mary’s Boy Child” – with strictly for drinking songs like “Senor Santa Claus” and “The Merry Christmas Polka” for good large measures.

For music and more, go to:

Punk Christmas – Advent Calendar – Official Website

Plastic Punk Records MySpace

The new Jailhouse! Records Teenage Rehab E.P. street release is set for March 25th, 2008. The release will be available two months early exclusively at any tour dates!

Also The Moral Crux s/t re-release of their 1986 album has a street date of April 15th, 2008. It comes in four different colors vinyl, hand numbered, with a full length CD of previously unreleased material.

Below are the tour dates. More west coast dates filling up February 2008 are TBA with Moral Crux within the next couple of weeks.

Teenage Rehab 2008 tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Jailhouse! Records or Teenage Rehab’s Website for the latest tour dates and information.

January 17 2008 NYC ? w/ Electric Frankenstein
January 19, 2008 Alley Katz Richmond, VA w/ The New Threat, So Damn Thirsty/ElectricFrankenstein
January 20, 2008 SPAZZATORIUM GALLERIA! Greenville, NC w/ The New Threat
January 22, 2008 Transition Art Gallery Tampa, FL w/ The New Threat/Pink Lincolns/The Attack
January 23, 2008 Back Booth Orlando, FL w/ The New Threat/The Attack
January 24, 2008 The Pit Jacksonville, FL w/ The New Threat/The Attack/Social Disease
January 25, 2008 The Atlantic Gainesville, FL w/ The New Threat/The Attack
January 26, 2008 Springwater Supper Club Nashville, TN w/ Middle Class Trash
January 27, 2008 Lanhuck’s Evansville, IN w/ Middle Class Trash
January 28, 2008 The Dame Lexington , KY w/ Middle Class Trash
January 29, 2008 Berlin Fort Wayne, IN w/ Middle Class Trash
January 30, 2008 Poison Room Cincinatti, OH w/ Middle Class Trash
February 01, 2008 Aldos Altoona, PA w/ Middle Class Trash
February 02, 2008 Bernie’s Distillery Columbus, OH w/ Middle Class Trash/Joey & The Blackhearts
February 04, 2008 Now That’s Class Cleveland, OH w/ Middle Class Trash/ Hollywood Blondes
February 05, 2008 Reggie’s Rock Club Chicago , IL w/ Middle Class Trash/The Infected
February 06, 2008 The Annex Madison, WI w/ Middle Class Trash
February 07, 2008 Melody Inn Indianapolis, IN w/ Middle Class Trash/ Gay Black Republican
February 08, 2008 Off Broadway St. Louis , MO w/ Middle Class Trash/ The Haddonfields
February 09, 2008 Roadhouse Saloon San Antonio, TX w/ Middle Class Trash
February 13, 2008 Brick by Brick San Diego, CA w/ Moral Crux
February 16, 2008 Blue Lamp Sacramento, CA w/ Moral Crux /The Secretions

For more information go to:

Teenage Rehab on Myspace

The New Threat on Myspace

Moral Crux on Myspace

Jailhouse! Records Official Website

Age 0 – Winnipeg, Canada, the coldest major city in the world. I’m born in the dead of winter 1987. My birth completes the band lineup of Dave 4, and Kyle 2.

Age 5 – Because there’s not much else to do when it’s -40C, my brothers and I become obsessed with our Dad’s old vinyls in the basement. The Rolling Stone’s “Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out” is our introduction to rock n’ roll, followed by “Who’s Next”, “London Calling”, and “Something Else” by The Kinks.

Age 8 – We discover a cassette of Green Day’s “Dookie”, and buy our first guitar! It’s a cheap old Yamaha Spanish guitar. This crappy little orange instrument becomes a hot commodity in the house and we lose interest in anything else…we sell our Nintendo. With that guitar in our hands we begin writing our own songs, one of which was called “inward eye”, the song is scrapped but the name sticks.

Age 9 – After saving up our money from clearing snow from driveways and mowing lawns all year we buy our first electric guitar, it’s made in Korea so you know it is good. A Fender bass soon follows. Dave and Kyle, being older, manage to keep the guitars away from me so I’m forced to be the drummer. I beat on plastic kitchenware, pots and pans as we jam in our basement. Due to the amount of broken cookware and splintered wooden spoons in the house, our parents break down and buy me a drumset for Christmas!

Age 12 – We play our first show at our community center’s winter carnival in February 1999. We play five 40-minute sets playing originals and classic rock covers. I can barely see over my drumset. They pass around a hat at the end of the night and we get a hundred bucks, we like being a band. We quit hockey.

Age 16 – We realize we’ve been playing in this band for most of our lives and we’ve only ever played with each other…no member changes! The musical chemistry and genetic pre-disposition to like the same music makes our band special. As a 3-piece, there’s nowhere to hide so we perfect our technique and learn to fill out our sound. We start gigging heavily in our hometown and build a local following. I become an expert at sneaking into clubs underage. I have especially fond memories of opening up for amateur strip nights at a Winnipeg Club called “the Zoo”. The gigs get better from here…

Age 18 – By the time I get to my senior year in high school, they want to kick me out of school for always being away on tour. I manage to convince the school principal to allow me to study while on tour and I squeak by and graduate. Dave and Kyle are patient and wait for me to finish high school while holding down part-time jobs. We keep the band going by playing any and every show we can find. Two months after my final exam, we go into the studio.

Age 19 – We write and demo songs for a year with our friend and mentor Arnold Lanni. We get to open for our musical idols the Who on their Canadian tour! We keep touring across North America and road-test our material.

Age 20 – In the fall of 2006 we set up home base in Temecula, California for the next year while making our record and touring wherever they’ll take us. Now the album’s finished and we’re heading back out on the road!!

Download “You Know I Know” MP3 by Inward Eye

Inward Eye on Myspace

Click the logo to hear the brand new track “The Fall” from ‘Abandoned’ – the new album by PaRaDoX!!

PaRaDoX – Established in 1992, this Kent based band are bringing you a sensational mix of Rock and Progressive Punk. The guys pride themselves on writing all their own music and lyrics, they have recorded two outstanding albums and taken their tours across Europe.

Four guys, a never ending stream of original material, a united sense of humour and an army of fans, PaRaDoX is a powerful and unstoppable force that guarantees the ultimate live show!

Join us over on myspace – Paradox on Myspace

Or over on our brand new forum

Emerging from the ruins of this lost decade of rock comes a band that holds the gas can to the bonfire saluting the history of rock music. With a sound as vast at the Midwestern rust belt, created and developed through living and breathing Rock and Roll circa late 60’s through the massive explosion of 70’s rock, 70’s/80’s punk, and old school singer songwriter/Americana roots, Chicago’s Javelinas have crafted a traditionally familiar sound all their own. Using guitars and stories with a sound strong as a steel-belted radial tire – skidding, screeching and in control – Javelinas are a requisite fresh injection to modern Rock and Roll music.

Listen: “Red Shoes” MP3

Their new single “Red Shoes” reaffirms the hope that there is Rock and Roll in the tradition of Rock and Roll, not Whine and Roll. Twenty-plus year Chicago music veteran (Simple Simon, Blackmaker, and recently Michael McDermott) and true to tradition, guitarist Spiv’s crushing opening riff and the thundering rhythm section of drummer Chris Glynn and bassist Dan Postlewait are the perfect backdrop for imposing lead singer Chris McInnis and his tales that spin on the desperation, addiction, and stamina while going through the roller coaster of living in the trenches of the independent music world.

The new album ‘Seven Sisters’ (Kentland Records), the follow-up to their 2005 debut ‘Dirtbath’ (Kentland Records), taps into the psyche and history of Midwestern hard-living truths lived and inked by Chris McInnis. A Detroit native and singer/songwriter straight out of the absolute hell of the Detroit punk rock scene, McInnis offers a mature glimpse into the life of being fueled by music, reflects on past hard times, and comes out of it standing strong.

The title track “Seven Sisters” sheds light on the crumbling facade of the “unsung structures” in American workers’ history, while the Hendrix-esque barnburner “SSA” rips through the administrative red tape of his youth. Although true to Rock and Roll form by instrumentation, the inspiration of creating ‘Seven Sisters’ spawns sonic diversity in tracks like the twangy “High Horse”, the somber game of “Didn’t Hurt”, and the rootsy cabaret “The 102″.

Their album previews throughout the 2007 summer festival circuit and live performances on radio and on tour have foreshadowed the excitement that the songs of ‘Seven Sisters’ and the performances of Javelinas are bringing back to Rock and Roll.

Javelinas 2007 live shows:

Dates could change! Go to Javelinas website for the latest show dates and information.

26 October 2007 Uptowner, Charleston, Illinois
27 October 2007 Cranky Pats, Neenah, Wisconsin
31 October 2007 Skrine chops, FOREST PARK, Illinois
1 November 2007 WLUW live on air performance, Chicago
1 November 2007 Elbo Room CD RELEASE SHOW! Chicago
2 November 2007 Brauerhouse, Hillside, Illinois
3 November 2007 IQ’s, Green Bay, Wisconsin
10 November 2007 The Verve, Terre Haute, Indiana
7 December 2007 Mary’s Place, Rockford, Illinois
14 December 2007 Points East Pub, Milwaukee
22 December 2007 Crystal Corner Bar, Madison, Wisconsin

Javelinas on Kentland Records
Javelinas on Myspace

I became aware of Joe Strummer way back in 1977. I was about 13 years old and at the right age for a teenage rebellion.

Yeah, punk rock came along and killed any chance of educational qualifications. I was going to gigs in Portsmouth, England. The Locarno was my favorite haunt. At the age of 14 the door supervisors would turn a blind eye and let us under agers in. This is when I saw The Clash live for the first time. It is hard to explain with words the energy and positiveness and passion of that night. An explosion is the best way to describe it. The anger of Joe Strummer on stage I always thought left the cabaret of the Sex Pistols standing.

The Clash were the real deal live, even though most gigs the guitars were out of tune. “I’m just gonna tune up so it sounds like it does on the record. Who wants it to sound like the record? Me neither,” said Joe at one of the gigs.

To explain how The Clash educated me politically and musically is hard in these days of bland bands singing about love and boogying. To quote one of Joe’s lyrics from “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais”: “The new groups are not concerned with what there is to be learned. They got Burton suits, ha, you think it’s funny turning rebellion in to money.”

I bunked off school and followed The Clash with some friends. We were always on the guest list, got to hang out with Joe and Paul Simonon mainly. They gave us food and booze and shelter occasionally. This was a man who didn’t want to be a pop star (I think Mick Jones did). He would take the pi** out of you and you could take the pi** back. Joe always had time for other people.

To lose Joe Strummer (real name John Mellor) back in 2002 was probably one of the biggest losses to popular music. Joe’s spirit will always be with me.

The picture above was created by a good friend of mine Milek Jakubiec.

Joe Strummer – Strummerville Official Website

By: Dave Tommo

The Priscillas are a London based punk/pop/rock band that we have been admiring from afar for sometime now. They’ve been making waves around the live music circuit here in England and have been turning heads with their latest release, “Superhero”.

Their colorful and quirky videos are also noteworthy, creating a late 70’s underground vibe. If The Priscillas are playing in a town near you, we highly recommend getting out to one of their shows for a great night of music and entertainment! – Jenny May

The Priscillas interview with Band Weblogs
Compiled by: Dave Tommo

Why the name The Priscillas?

Guri: Move over King of Rock and make space for the Queen(s)!

Your song Y.O.Y. was mysteriously placed on the B side of the Klaxons single release. Are the Klaxons your mates? If so, how did you meet?

Jen: Nope. All is still a mystery. Don’t know them.
Guri: We don’t know the boys – but they are very welcome to be our friends!
Hege: Have never met the lads before, apart from when I saw them at Hyde Park miles away. Would love to meet them though! Would be great to play a gig or seven with them!
Kate: We like their music. Weren’t we lucky to be on the flipside of their platter?

Who is your favourite superhero?

Guri: Bananaman
Jen: Catwoman (Julie Newmar) and Underdog.
Hege: Clark Kent, of course.
Kate: I have a crush on Batman.

Where is the best place to go clothes shopping?

Jen: I like Camden Stables Market because there are a lot of mom and pop shops. But stupidly, that’s being torn down to put up giant chain stores. Ick! Also, I like the malls in New York and New Jersey…where they have really good giant chain stores, haha!
Guri: Any TK Maxx.
Kate: The eBay.

We love your Christmas song “One Christmas Wish” here at BandWeblogs.com. What is the best Christmas song ever?

Guri: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).
Hege: Last Christmas, Wham, is a great tune and a pompous and sad video. Lovin’ it!
Kate: One Christmas Wish by The Priscillas, of course. Otherwise, all of the Phil Spector’s A Christmas Wish For You, Walking In The Air by the Snowman, and Oh Come All You Faithful (with descant harmonies).
Jen: One Christmas Wish. There are a lot of great Christmas songs. Bowie and Bing Crosbie doing Little Drummer Boy, The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl’s Fairytale of New York…

How do you write your songs?

Kate: Together.
Hege: It varies, but most of the times it comes like a shooting star and hits us in our heads, and there you go, we have a new song!
Jen: We channel all of our favourite composers and thoughts and sounds, mix them in a big bowl and lob it at a giant fan and watch it splatter.
Guri: By utilising three chords and the truth!

Your songs give me a late 70’s vibe. Who is your favourite band or artist from that era?

Hege: ABBA were a great glamorous band and are still alive and kicking!
Jen: Buzzcocks, Blondie, Kate Bush, Siouxsie, Pistols,
Guri: Burt Bacharach.
Kate: ELO, The Damned, Squeeze, Adam and his Ants, CRiME, Madness, The Rezillos, Blondie, Can, The Clash, Supertramp.

Where is your favourite place to play music?

Kate: On stage. Loudly and well.
Jen: A good sized stage where we can run around like idiots.
Guri: Loud and proud in a steaming, dark club with drunk and disorderly people dancing their rocks off.
Hege: Anywhere where we are treated well, where we are fed and given a nice little rider including hot men and cider.

What colour wellies did you wear at Glastonbury?

Guri: Not for me, I’m afraid! I had some sensible peep toe plastic shoes for the occasion. Glamour over comfort, people!
Jen: Ugh! Perish the thought! I had an array of PVC (that’s waterproof, people!) boots in various colours and heel sizes. Never substitute style for comfort. Sometimes you can have both.
Hege: Heavy trekking boots of leather
Kate: See through PVC with golden tassles and Swarovski crystal laces. With a little mice in silver crowns standing on each toe, waving.

How do you relax when not near music?

Hege: Relaxing at our castle by the sea in Italy.
Guri: Knitting and watching a B-horror or science fiction film.
Kate: Shouting loudly though a megaphone. Hatching eggs. Watching Midsummer Murders.
Jen: TV or just silence with my cats.

Do The Priscillas have a say in the making of your videos? Are they your ideas?

Guri: We have been very lucky to work with Paul McCloone and Clare Sparra for our videos. They are very competent, have great ideas and we have complete faith in their creativeness.
Hege: Yes we do have a say, and we are also very open for ideas from the directors. The last video was a blast! When our director, Claire Brookes, presented her idea, we realized that her idea was exactly the same as ours! What a coincidence…
Kate: We collaborate with very talented people.
Jen: For our next one, the director wants us in little bikinis with a rap video feel, but we’ve opted for a barrel with straps and blacked out teeth look. The next hottest trend!

Can you give us a good cocktail recipe?

Guri: 25ml Vodka
25ml Malibu
Crushed Ice
Squeeze half lime
fill to top with banana and Strawberry smoothie.
YUM!
Hege: 2/5 Vodka Smirnoff
2/5 Soda Water
Dash of lime and a squeezed lime
Served in a pint glass, and the day after you have absolutely no hangover! If you want it to look like a proper cocktail, why don’t you apply an umbrella and a big strawberry?
Kate: 1/2 pint of advocaat (Lidl do a good cheap one)
Lemonade to top
Splash of lime juice
Cherry on a stick and
Umbrella to garnish.
Mix it all in a pint glass. Serve with crisps. I call it a Snowman’s Revenge
Jen: Go to off-licence
Buy one very large bottle of cider
Chill
Twist off cap
Garnish with straw (and a sprig of mint optional)
And enjoy

Which of your songs would you get people to listen to first who have never heard you before?

Jen: We’ve just written a few gems. Fly In My Drink, Y.O.Y., The King Is Dead…
Guri: Brain surgeon, Y.O.Y., Holloway. To start with.
Hege: Y.O.Y and Fly In My Drink (which is not released yet).
Kate: Fly In My Drink. Y.O.Y. Brain Surgeon.

Is the X-Factor a good platform for new talent? How do you feel about the show?

Hege: Avoiding watching that kind of thing as it makes me absolutely incandescent. It generates a silly amount of wanna-be’s. The attendants have never had to climb the ladder like everybody else, and they have a short way to stardom. Thank god they are not alive in the picture for that long. I’d say NO!
Guri: I think it’s a waste of time and space.
Kate: I absolutely adore watching the early rounds, but it’s all a sham, isn’t it? I feel sorry for the deluded fools, and for the untalented kids not cushioned for the fall by their thick as a brick parents. But let them have their fun and let me watch their downfall. I’d love to be a judge.
Jen: I get them all mixed up. What’s the difference between that and Pop Idol? It’s all reality TV, isn’t it? Just another Big Brother.

Do you play any cover songs in your set? If so, which ones?

Jen: Monster Mash once or twice at Hallowe’en.
Guri: The Norwegian National anthem on Norway’s constitution day and once the wedding march “Here Comes the Bride” for a friend’s wedding.
Hege: It would be wonderful to do Surfin Bird!
Kate: We might one day do All Night Long by Lionel Ritchie.

Listen to The Priscillas – “Superhero” MP3

For more information, go to The Priscillas Official Website
The Priscillas on Myspace

London all girl band The Priscillas have been turning heads with their latest single “Superhero” and B-side “Y.O.Y.” by touching the heartstrings of those nostalgic for late 70’s punk. They also bring to the table their own style and pop sass and something tells me, their live shows are not to be missed if you’re looking for a fun night out on the town.

The Priscillas formed in 2004 and as mentioned on their Myspace page, they’ve played shows with “Art Brut, The Pipettes, The Subways, and, uh, James Blunt” and have supported “all-time heroes such as The Damned, The Cramps, The Seeds, The Monks, and The 5.6.7.8s at bigger venues, including London’s Astoria.” This past weekend The Priscillas played the BBC Introducing Stage at the Bestival Music Festival and went down a storm.

They have a few videos available on YouTube and they’re quite a treat to watch. The video for “Superhero” features dancing Barbie dolls, red and blue satin superhero-like outfits and Superman. It’s great to see a band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously and yet are able to convey the talent to entertain.

I know it’s not the time of year to bring up Christmas, but The Priscillas have a great Christmas song called “One Christmas Wish”. The video for it is in their YouTube Profile. I see that it was added one year ago, but hopefully they’ll release it as a Christmas single later this year and if they do, I would look forward to watching it climb the pop charts.

Trivia: Top designer Anna Sui mentioned The Priscillas in a recent interview with Metro New York. She saw them play in Cornwall, England while she was there for a literary festival.

Watch The Priscillas video for new single “Superhero”:

The Priscillas band members are:

Jenny Drag (vocals), Guri Go-Go (guitar), Kate Kannibal (bass) and Hege Hotrod (drums).

The Priscillas Official Website
The Priscillas on Myspace
YouTube video link for “Superhero”
The Priscillas Fan Forums

Related: Klaxons mystery song hijack solved – The Priscillas

By: Jenny May – Band Weblogs

Related: The Priscillas interview

Schoolyard Heroes’ new album ‘Abominations’, their Stolen Transmission debut, is set for release on September 18, 2007 and is now available for pre-order through SmartPunk.

With every pre-order, you’ll also receive an autographed poster from the band (while supplies last).

Pre-order ‘Abominations’ on SmartPunk

Here’s what people are saying about ‘Abominations’ and Seattle punk/horror band Schoolyard Heroes:

“…Lead singer (Ryann Donnelly) has a voice that can be charming and endearing one minute and then out of nowhere attack you with dark and violent imagery that this band does so well with.” – TruePunk.com

“Like the Misfits, they have that horror movie vibe to them and adds an eerie factor as well. Even with the album cover you know your in for some creeps. I would highly recommended this to fans of punk rock.” – Melodic.net

“Opening up with the danceable “Dude, Where’s My Skin?” Abominations is an eerie roller coaster ride of horror punk, merging the technical aspects and lightning fast guitar riffs of Protest The Hero with the synth melodies of The Epoxies and the general eeriness of The Creepshow and AFI.” – ThePunkSite.com

If you missed Bumbershoot this weekend, Schoolyard Heroes pretty much rocked the whole festival. The band was given the opportunity to play the festival twice, with one performance on the Main Stage with Gym Class Heroes in front of thousands of adoring fans. Here’s a shot of Ryann Donnelly getting close with the crowd…

Schoolyard Heroes’ video for their single, “Plastic Surgery Hall of Fame” will be released soon.

Schoolyard Heroes 2007 tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Schoolyard Heroes Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

With The Birthday Massacre:

September 10 – Miramar Theater – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
September 13 – Grand Emporium – Kansas City, Missouri
September 14 – Club Roxbury – Omaha, Nebraska
September 15 – Marquis Theatre – Denver, Colorado
September 16 – Avalon – Salt Lake City, Utah
September 17 at 11 PM – Sonic Boom Records In-Store – Seattle, Washington
September 18 – El Corazon – Seattle, WA (RECORD RELEASE)

With SUM 41:

September 21 – Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA
September 22 – Rochester Institute of Technology – Rochester, NY
September 23 – Headliners – Toledo, OH
September 26 – St. Andrews Hall – Detroit, MI
September 27 – The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
September 28 – Metro – Chicago, IL
October 2 – Cain’s – Tulsa, OK
October 3 – Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK
October 4 – Beaumont Club – Kansas City, MO
October 7 – Big Easy – Boise, ID

Schoolyard Heroes Official Website
Schoolyard Heroes on Myspace

The Love Kills Theory is a New York City-based punk group, who deals with philosophical and social issues on its debut and current album, HAPPY SUICIDE JIM. Between now and August 31 2007, songs from the album will be added each week for free MP3 downloads for fans who subscribe to the band’s newsletter here.

MusicDish is also sponsoring a competition for fans of the Love Kills Theory to write a review of album to win prizes, including a CD signed by the band.

Visit http://www.musicdish.net/tlkt/

Other writers have proclaimed their feelings on HAPPY SUICIDE JIM. CASHBOX’s Justin Scro wrote the band is “somewhere between Ween and Zappa…The Love Kills Theory are not a band, but a cult.” Opening Band’s Joseph M. Pense says, “It’s great to see a band so capable of both writing fun songs and lyrically developing them on their own terms.”

Neo-Zine’s Adam Bernard was so inspired to review the band with, “If music–in general–would take a hint from this band and write like they are doing something worthwhile, the world would be a better and more artistically significant place to live. This is a beautifully odd album,” and he is finishing a profile of the group’s leader, Cevin Soling for BEYOND RACE magazine.

Cevin Soling, whose first name is pronounced “Kevin,” is a New York City-based musician, label owner, filmmaker, writer, world traveler. A&E TV has chosen his song, “Buffalo” by a former band–the Neanderthal Spongecake for the closing credits of their series, CONFESSIONS OF A MATCHMAKER. He runs the record company, Xemu Records, which is experiencing a renaissance of its album, WHEN PIGS FLY, which features unique covers including Don Ho’s version of Peter Gabriel’s “Shock the Monkey,” the Oak Ridge Boys’ harmonic rendition of Kansas’ “Carry on My Wayward Son,” and Lesley Gore’s primal belting of AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.”

Soling’s current movie DVD is THE WAR ON THE WAR ON DRUGS available through Disinformation, Ltd. This fall he plans on showing a new documentary, THE WAR ON KIDS, about oppression in education at film festivals. In production is JOHN FRUM: HE WILL COME about his adventures as cargo cult Messiah for the people of the Island of Tanna, off the coast of Australia.

***Read a wild interview with Cevin at www.readjunk.com; it includes the question, “If society was perfect, would there be a need for punk rock?”

http://www.readjunk.com/interview.php?rv=235

Most members of Gogol Bordello are immigrants from eastern Europe and the band hails from New York. They’ve been playing the festival circuit with many more shows to go this year, so they’ll most definitely be gaining more fans along the way.

Watch Gogol Bordello – “Start Wearing Purple” video:

Gogol Bordello 2007 tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Gogol Bordello’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

July 8 2007 Ruisrock Turku
July 8 2007 Oxegen Dublin, Dublin
July 12 2007 Festival D’ete d’Youville Square Quebec City, Quebec
July 13 2007 Ottawa Cisco Systems Bluesfest Ottawa, Ontario
July 14 2007 Majestic Theatre Detroit, Michigan
July 15 2007 Vic Theatre Chicago, Illinois
July 17 2007 House of Blues – Cleveland Cleveland, Ohio
July 18 2007 9:30 Club Washington DC, Washington DC
July 19 2007 Trocadero Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 20 2007 Irving Plaza New York, New York
July 21 2007 Iriving Plaza New York, New York
July 25 2007 Fel Sziget Tag Mures
July 26 2007 Storsjoyran Ostersund
July27 2007 Storas Festival Trondheim
July 28 2007 Festival Musicas do Mundo Portugal
July 29 2007 Festival Paleo
August 9 2007 Oya Festival Oslo
August 10 2007 Sziget Festival Budapest
August 11 2007 Heitere Zofingen
August 12 2007 Festival Taubertal
August 14 2007 Parades de Couraua Portugal
August 16 2007 Pukkelpop Hasselt
August 17 2007 Openair Gampel
August 18 2007 Beautiful Days Exeter
August 20 2007 Radio Onda Durto Festival Brescia, Brescia
August 21 2007 Ariano Folk Fest Ariano
August 22 2007 Ippodromo Firenze, Firenze
August 24 2007 Reading Festival Reading
August 25 2007 Leeds Festival Leeds
August 27 2007 House of Blues – San Diego San Diego, California
August 28 2007 Henry Fonda Theatre Los Angeles, California
August 29 2007 The Fillmore San Francisco, California
August 31 2007 Crystal Ballroom Portland, Oregon
September 1 2007 Bumbershoot Festival Seattle, Washington

Band Members: Eugene Hutz (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Fire bucket) – Ukraine, Eliot Ferguson (Drums, Backing Vocals) – Florida, USA, Oren Kaplan (Guitar, Backing Vocals) – Israel, Sergey Ryabtsev (Violin, Backing Vocals) – Russia, Yury Lemeshev (Accordion, Backing Vocals) – Russia, Pamela Jintana Racine (Percussion, Backing Vocals, Dance, General Performance) – Thai-American, Elizabeth Sun (Percussion, Backing Vocals, Dance, General Performance) – Chinese Scottish, Thomas “Tommy T” Gobena (Bass) – Ethiopia.

Gogol Bordello Official Website
Gogol Bordello on Myspace

By: Jenny May – Band Weblogs

Heartbreak Club’s 2007 tour dates are as follows:

August 7th – Viper Room (Los Angeles) *acoustic
August 11th – On The Rox at the Roxy (Los Angeles)
August 12th – KZFR in-studio performance (Chico)
August 13th – 15th Street Pub (Vancouver)
August 15th – Jewel Box Theatre (Seattle)
August 16th – Red Room (Portland)
August 17th – Brain Wash (San Francisco)
August 26th – Wise Fools Pub (Chicago)
August 31st – Garfield Artworks (Pittsburgh)
September 2nd – Baseball Tavern (Boston)
September 4th – Club Midway (New York)

Heartbreak Club came together in late 2005 to record ‘Lamecore’ with Luke Garfield (Lout). Rick O’Neil (U2, Faith No More) helped to master. ‘Lamecore,’ currently available in stores in Australia via Reign Records, is now also available for purchase everywhere online at stores such as iTunes, eMusic, Real, Rhapsody and Audio Lunchbox. They are currently in pre-production of their debut album.

Heartbreak Club
Reign Records

Who would have thought that a 60 year old performer could upstage Glastonbury acts young enough to be his great-grandchildren? Iggy Pop can move on stage. No doubt about it. He entertained the crowd while singing his classics that included “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and “Down on the Street”.

Driving the set from behind was Mike Watt on bass, probably one of the coolest, craziest looking bass players out there. Wearing a jumpsuit and with his legs spread wide, Mike Watt looked as though we would all be safer if he was playing in a cage. The Stooges, brothers Ron Asheton (guitar) and Scott Asheton (drums) rounded up the lineup which also included Steve Mackay on saxophone later in the set.

I couldn’t believe it when during “Real Cool Time” Iggy Pop, the Godfather of punk rock, invited the crowd up on stage with him. One by one the Glastonbury festival goers began to jump the security barrier. I’m not sure if this has ever happened at Glastonbury before.

The fun lasted for about a song while the fans danced along to “No Fun”. The song that was, incidentally, covered by the Sex Pistols. Of course, then Iggy Pop tried to take his stage back from his new invited guests and asked the crowd to leave. I could only shake my head and think, “Well, this is what you asked for. Now what are you going to do?”

At first the crowd wasn’t having any of it, and continued to stand where they were or they were trying to get as close to Iggy Pop as they could. Meanwhile, Iggy was trying to coax everyone off in a deep calm voice on the microphone, reminiscent of a Vegas show host. “We’re coolin’ it out. Alright… Thin it all out, baby… Alright. Have mercy… How ’bout some standards… Popcorn, get your popcorn. Ice cream…”

Eventually everyone left the stage and the band played on.

This was one of those cringe-worthy, peer from under the covers, train wreck moments that I couldn’t tear my eyes away from. But it was one of the best festival moments that I’ve ever seen on TV.

Watch video of Iggy and The Stooges + fans at Glastonbury 2007:

Iggy Pop and The Stooges Official Website
Iggy Pop and The Stooges on Myspace

Check out the Official Mike Watt website. “Mike Watt’s Hoot Page”. He’s got tons of information, pictures, blog (news page, tour diary), links and more.

By: Jenny May – Band Weblogs

Lamecore released worldwide to online stores such as iTunes, eMusic, Real, Rhapsody and Audio Lunchbox this week and  is currently available in stores in Australia via Reign Records.

For more information on Heartbreak Club, please visit www.heartbreakclub.org, and or Reign Records:  www.reignrecords.com.au.