The Bouncing Souls completed an amazing series of shows recently in Hollywood. They played 8 albums, 2 albums each night, 4 nights in a row, in 4 different cities. That’s something like 106 songs. I mean, sure they have been around now 20 years. And sure they are on the road constantly. And sure, they are great at what they do. But keeping all those songs straight…its kind of an epic achievement even for the consummate professional.
No matter how you slice it, the Foo Fighters have earned their reputations as the nicest guys in rock n roll. Currently on tour in the US, but heading to Australia later this year, I caught up with them in both Columbus and my hometown of Pittsburgh PA. They threw down a 2 hour and 40 minute set of the loudest, proudest rock from the past 15 years. In a word…EPIC!
Lead singer (as if I have to introduce him), Dave Grohl told me that its like hosting a cocktail party every day at your office. Everyone is there to party and its his job to show them a good time. I can only imagine it being exhausting, but that’s why I’m an Editor, and he’s a Rock Star.
The Mean Jeans are a good ol’ fashioned, party hard and get rowdy on stage, punk band from Portland. The trio, consisting of Billy Jeans (guitar/vocals), Jean Wilder (drums/vocals), and Howie Doodat (bass, vocals) recently played the Dark Horse (formerly Bordello) in Los Angeles.
After finishing up on stage and toweling off the sweat, Billy Jeans and Jean Wilder “attempted” a serious interview with ChinaShop. The guys told us all about how they are able to create such a powerful sound with only 3 members (a lot of it, according to Billy Jeans, comes down to the fact that they are too lazy to search for additional members), as well as discussed filling up swimming pools with Red Bull plus Jager and amazing parties they don’t quite remember.
One of the best things about Summertime is the abundance of pool parties. But if that pool party is in Las Vegas and Old Man Markley is playing, then it’s possibly the Best Pool Party Ever!
Iron Fist Clothing hosted the Punk Rock Pool Party and Bikini Contest at the Goldspike Hotel in Vegas, just off historic Freemont Street in Old Las Vegas. The pool area itself is classic mid-century motor inn, far from the shadow of the McHotels on the strip. Perfect for sunbathing! And an afternoon invasion from punks around the globe (including Canada and Australia!) which didn’t seem to bother the hotel staff one bit.
The Take Action Tour is an annual spring punk rock tour that raises money for good causes. For over 10 years, the tour, created by Sub City and Hopeless Records has worked get people alerted about various teen issues. Past tours have brought awareness to and worked to prevent teen suicide. This year, the Take Action Tour supports and a new beneficiary - Sex, Etc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising teen awareness for sexually transmitted diseases and the benefits of practicing safe sex. A portion of the ticket sales and compilation CD sales are donated to the nonprofit.
Check out the video for a closer look and click here for tour dates.
There’s a lot of you out there (you know who you are) who long ago consigned yourself to the age-old credo “punk is dead.” You’d probably be hard-pressed to believe that even Social Distortion‘s recent Music Box performance could be the best argument in years to such a hastily-conceived notion. In addition to the debut of their newest and most raucous album in years, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, the boys really raised that punk bar a bit more: it wasn’t just a great concert with a tight band, it was a glorious punk rock/rockabilly/cinematic spectacle.
Dropkick Murphys will release their seventh full-length studio album, Going Out In Style, March 1, 2011 on their own Born & Bred Records (ILG). Produced by Ted Hutt, Going Out In Style features the group’s signature blend of punk rock energy, folk soul, Irish spirit and American rock ‘n roll on tracks like “Memorial Day” (streaming now at www.RollingStone.com), “Going Out In Style,” “The Hardest Mile,” “Cruel,” “Climbing A Chair To Bed,” and a rousing rendition of “Peg O’ My Heart” with guest vocals by Bruce Springsteen.
Riot Fest started the five-day celebration of punk music last night by hosting seven legendary Chicago punk bands at the infamous Double Door. The highlight of the evening was Naked Raygun’s performance. The most anticipated act of the night, the sold-out crowd went wild when Santiago Durango joined Raygun on stage. After 24 years without playing a Raygun song, he exploded onto the stage, his trademark booming guitar sounding the same as it did in 1986.
Today’s bloggin best…
- Lupe x Pharell x Kanye project was just a wet dream after all. HipHopWired
- It’s Suicide’s time to shine. Forty year retrospective. The Quietus
- LA muggers won’t mess with Captain Jack Sparrow. Brobible
- 140 prom fails. Coed Magazine
- Chuck D and DJ Spooky fight the power in Arizona. DJSpooky.com
- Hella dick move, dude. Roger Waters covers up Elliott Smith memorial wall with street art marketing campaign. LA Weekly
- Condemned music site BBC6 is gaining listeners fast. Prefix Mag
- Johnny Rotten must be laughing: EMI will default on their loans in less than 10 days. Hypebot
- Jack White thinks Meg’s anxiety issues are beat. NME
- Oh Yoko? Hear Trent Reznor’s first track with his wifey. Pitchfork
- Henry Rollins and Glenn Danzig are a loving gay couple. Robot6
If you ever dipped your toe into the punk rock stew, you inevitably got a little Bouncing Souls on you. This band has been around the scene for 20 years now and they are holding steady as one of the most hard working, rocking, always relevant bands out there. It was my pleasure to interview bass player, Bryan Kienlen to hear how the years have been treating him as an icon of the scene.