In pants-pissingly good news, (yes, people are THAT excited) San Francisco skate punk royalty NOFX are finally heading back our way for the first time in four years! Tuesday, November 18 sees the band annihilate Forte territory with a huge show at the Barwon Heads Hotel. Miss this and miss the hell OUT!
Looks like Hopes Abandoned is no longer the smelly boys’ club it’s been for the past decade of on/off existence – their new drummer, Stiffy, is a girl!
Yellowcard are back with a brand new album! Featuring the first single ‘One Bedroom’, Lift a Sail is out now via Razor & Tie Records. Expect tour dates in support of it any time now.
Ballarat Ramonescore heroes The Savages have changed their name to the rather spiffy Agent 37! Their debut album, Reporting for Duty, is out now! Go stalk their Facebook for more!
In extremely sad news for many (including Mork & Mindy-loving ’80s punks), actor Robin Williams lost his battle with depression last week. He was just 63.
Orange County pop-punk/goth/metal/emo types Avenged Sevenfold will re-release their landmark breakthrough album Waking the Fallen this month with bonus demo tracks and a DVD. Pity they haven’t released anything even HALF as good since. I’m a huge fan of the album, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t know that I need the extras! Head on over to the Hopeless Records website for more information.
US hipster pop-punks The Wonder Years are teaming up with local lads Anchors for an Australian tour. September 4 at the Hi-Fi Bar, with special guests Strickland and The Playbook. Either you’ll be there or you won’t!
Speaking of pop-punk, the hands down best pop-punk band on the face of the planet, New Found Glory, is back, back, BACK. Their brand new single ‘Selfless’ is a scorcher that their peers would give their left nuts to be able to replicate. Resurrection, their first new studio album since Radiosurgery over three years, hits stores on October 7 via new label, Hopeless Records.
Rad as f*** punk rockers The Briefs may have broken up half a decade ago but rumour has it that they’ll play a string of dates across Texas with punk veterans 7 Seconds. Woot!
So, no Australian Vans Warped Tour this year – sweet! Nobody wants to see a bunch of shit emo/screamo bands anyways! Even if there IS a token punk headliner thrown into the mix.
Weezer tour whispers are getting stronger. I’d actually like to see them rock a Soundwave stage, myself. Speaking of Soundwave, the first official act has been confirmed – Japanese screamo-pop punk outfit Coldrain. Erm, okay! Not up to us, I guess! Stay tuned for further updates/disappointments.
Queensland punk/grunge combo The Unprettier, locals Hopes Abandoned and Melbourne’s The Murderballs are amongst the acts taking part in the Melbourne leg of the Up The Punx juggernaut. Date, line-up and venue info next issue.
Going to River Rocks this year? Yeah, you are! Tumbleweed is playing! That’s all the excuse you could need! Kim Salmon & the Surrealists are on the bill, too. That’s a LOT of rock!
And just like that, we’re done – just like winter!
By Christopher Cruz