Just caught this amazing video for “Wrong Way Kids” that dropped a couple days ago by one of my all-time favorite punk rock bands. Bad Religion never ceases to amaze me…
A little bit about the video from Epitaph:
Influential punk rockers Bad Religion have released a moving video for the new single, “Wrong Way Kids” from the group’s critically heralded album, The Dissent of Man. The song is an up-tempo, powerfully melodic tribute to the band and their fan’s shared histories as rebellious yet durable outsiders.
The footage begins in present day with lead singer Greg Graffin offering a knowing message of hope for Bad Religion’s many fans: “Even though they’re misfits,” he states, “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” A subsequent shot reveals a defiantly unconventional Graffin on stage with the band back in 1984 counting down the song intro. From there it’s a surging beat, powerful guitars and signature sing-along chorus set against a stirring non stop montage of found footage showing the band’s remarkable rise from teen rebels to international punk luminaries.
Seriously, how cool is that video? Young and old Bad Religion footage really shows how far 30-years can go.
The grandfathers of punk will actually be playing a show in Cleveland on May 7th. Sadly they are opening for Rise Against. If you ask me, Rise Against should be opening for them.
Sadly I will not be attending the show. I want to, I really want to. This will be the first Bad Religion show I have missed since they played the Rock Hall a couple years ago as a suprise guest. This is one of those bands I make sure I am present at every show, but sometimes I can’t make them all.
Detroit’s Fireworks have just posted a free track available for download in anticipation of their May 24th release of Gospel.
CLICK HERE to check it out the track called “Summer”.
Guitarist Chris Mojan had this to say about the upcoming release:
“Gospel represents Fireworks better than anything we’ve done in the past. I think it really is the photo for the fundamentals we started this band on. The songs came so naturally and working with Brian (McTernan) pushed them and us to a level we’ve never came close to reaching in the past. Fireworks Lives.”
After an 11-year hiatus, Atari Teenage Riot is back. Is This Real? will be dropping in June on Dim Mak Records.
This. Is. The. Awesome.
I can not tell you how excited I am. This is like a dream come true. Many of my friends know of my obsession with this band. I was lucky enough to catch them once in my lifetime.
To make this dream a reality, I have two songs from the upcoming release and I must say, wow. These guys (and gal) have not changed a bit.
“Activate!” starts the album with Atari Teenage Riot’s most concise statement of intent yet. On a backing of explosive 1991 hardcore jungle synths, super collider bass kicks, and guitar shrapnel Alec, Nic, and Kidtronik spurn us into a campaign of equality, activation, and eradication of ignorance.
“Blood In My Eyes” features Nic Endo on lead vocal. She speaks out for the multitude of women who have become the victims of human trafficking, their sexuality exploited for financial gain right under the gaze of the ineffectual governments of the self-proclaimed civilized west. Nic, wholly in tune with her trademark Japanese face-paint depicting “Resistance,” makes her point in the inimitable Atari way.
Southern California’s Unwritten Law once used to be a skate punk band that was a ritual in my ears. I popped in their cassette in my trusty Walkman daily and used them as a soundtrack to my life. As the years went by, they kept dropping albums and thier songs followed me around.
The first time I ever saw Unwritten Law was at a Warped Tour in some stone-covered parking log in Cleveland in the mid-nineties. They were just what my young ears were looking for. Weeks later they opened for Bad Religion at the infamous Agora. That was all I needed, I was an instant fan. From there on I made a point to see them live every time they came to Cleveland.
I can sit here and recall portions of my life that included an Unwritten Law song. I remember having a first kiss to “Catlin” in my beat up Cutlas Calais and years later hearing a girl admit their love to me in some dindgey-ass Kent State apartment while “Because Of You” played in the background. The songs pose as prompts to personal memories that will last for a lifetime thanks to a band that I have seen live easily over 12 times.
After battles with drugs and alcohol as well as with a brush with death due to a fire that claimed all of lead singer Scott Russo’s possessions (but not family), the band took all of their problems and issues and used them as fuel to write an all new album. Recently the band, including original members Russo and bassist Pat “PK” Kim, dropped Swan, their sixth studio album on Breaksilence Recordings/Suburban Noize Records.
“Starships and Apocalypse” started off the 11-track album with a more rock driven feel with Russo in singing about some Gucci knock-off glasses wearing woman who clearly is out of this world. “Nevermind” followed with a more Killers synthesizer sound going on in the background. “Dark Dayz” slightly hinted to older sounding Unwritten Law making for a good track to listen to. I love the way how Russo can still tell a story while singing.
Out of nowhere came “Sing” an acoustic song that just put the breaks on the entire album. For those of you that have heard Music In High Places you can agree with me that UL plays great acoustical songs. Gentle and just beautiful to listen to, this was one of my favorite cuts on the album.
“Let You Go” was more of a ballad than a song. The track lead up to an explosion of group vocals that laid behind Russo’s vocals. Just by listening to it you can tell there was a lot of effort put into it. I loved the change up when the bass took over only for it to build up again.
“Chicken (Ready To Go)” featured hip-hop god Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. The first time I listened to this song I just shook my head and wondered why in the hell did there have to be a hip-hop/rock song on this album. The truth is, the track is actually kind of catchy. I loved Del’s raps (as always) and really got a kick about half way though the song when Del steps back and lets Russo do his thing for the chorus.
“Love Love Love” was a touching track that I am positive will land on a mix for that next special someone out there that steals my heart. It was a ballad by a punk rock back with a lot of heart and a ton of talent.
Unwritten Law leans more towards a rock act these days, but still they have not completely lost that punk rock edge I adored the first time I heard them. A lot can happen in fifteen years and this band is proof of that. From playing side stages to headlining their own shows, Unwritten Law has paved their way to rock-stardom their own way. Swan is continued proof that this foursome still has what it takes to make it in the music world.
Ok, I really need to get to Vegas now. Fat Mike, you know – that guy from NOFX with the freshly styled hairs, bought a sweet house just outside of Las Vegas and is renting it out to the public.
So why should you rent a huge ass, punk rock house when staying in Vegas? I’ll let Fat Mike explain himself (taken from http://vegaspunkhouse.com):
Hi, I’m Fat Mike and this is my house. My punk house. This isn’t the house that I live and sleep in; it’s the house that I visit and don’t sleep in. It’s my house that’s for adults that live like teenagers.
This is why it’s awesome:
It has 3 bedrooms, but it sleeps 10 cuz one bedroom has 6 bunk beds. There’s a full kitchen, sunken living room with an even more sunken bar, poker table room, game room with pinball, record player with a shitload of records, a pool table, and walls covered in thousands of old school flyers that I’ve collected over the years.
The outside has a salt water pool, a cave hot tub, a water slide, a tiki hut, and a 9-hole putting green. That’s a lot of cool shit… for a foreclosure.
The house is 4 miles from the strip (10 minutes) and is on a cul de sac in a really nice neighborhood (used to be till I moved in). That’s about it. Check out our gallery to get a better feel for the place. Have a really good/hedonistic time! The first case of PBR is on me.
Cheers, Fat Mike
The rates for staying are provided upon request. The place sleeps 10 so if you and a bunch of your punk rock buddies split the fee, it will not be that bad and you will have plenty of money to spend on hookers and blow.
I am thinking I need to crash here one day very soon. It looks like it would be an absolute riot.
CLICK HERE for more photos. The place is acutally very nice looking… Who’s game for a punk rock Vega weekend?
