Punk! #625

Okay, so Soundwave 2016 seems to be a goer after all. The first announcement finally dropped, almost two full months later than speculated, and only three months before the festival is due to take place. Who exactly IS joining the previously drip-fed acts? None other than L7, NOFX, Disturbed, the Prodigy, Hatebreed and Frenzal Rhomb. It’s a ’90s kid’s dream! As we all know, the second announcement is usually a game changer, and it can’t come soon enough.
Other bands filling out the first announcement include Nothing But Thieves (can’t say I know too much about them, other than that they have a stupid name!), ’80s rap legends Public Enemy, Sepultura spin-off Soulfly, Devil You Know and Frnkiero and the Cellabration. As you may be aware, Frank Iero is best known as the guitarist from the now-defunct emo outfit My Chemical Romance. Quite fitting, as former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way played a solo set at LAST year’s Soundwave…
So who exactly can we expect to see announced next? Rumours circulating the interwebs include Suicidal Tendencies (yes please, somebody make it happen!), Weezer (again, yes please!) and Slayer (yes, again, could be interesting to hear the new record live, though) and UK duo Royal Blood, who are just incredible… Modern rock bands Paramore (who have a new album in the works) and Twenty One Pilots (who haven’t really taken off here yet but are HUGE everywhere else in the world) are also at the top of many people’s wish lists.
Twenty One Pilots would certainly be an interesting choice, because Soundwave exposure could be just the thing to introduce them to Australian audiences in a huge way and help them cement a following here. Rock duos like Twenty One Pilots seem to be the hottest new thing now… The rise of the White Stripes back in the day has opened doors for the likes of The Black Keys, Death From Above 1979, Royal Blood, and local lads DZ Deathrays, among others.
And Public Enemy? Wowsers. That’s a ballsy move and an interesting one. It’s doubtful that they’d be the lone hip hop or rap act on the bill, giving weight to the Kanye West rumours I told you guys about last issue. Still can’t wrap my head around it, but it could be cool. I’m open minded, and his song ‘Black Skinhead’ was frickin’ FIRE.
But enough about Soundwave 2016 for this issue! Lots of other stuff has been happening!
Like Good Charlotte getting back together. No word of a lie. The band that nobody admits to liking but manages to rack up platinum albums, hit singles and sold out arena tours just posted a brand new promo pic on Facebook and have started work on a new record. I’d go see them if they toured, I have no shame!
I mean, it’s not like they’re as lame as Simple Plan or 5 Seconds of Summer, who just won’t go away…
Parkway Drive are killing it in the US, with their new album for Epitaph Records, Ire, debuting safely inside the Billboard Top 40. The guys are presently on tour over there with Miss May I.
Escape The Fate are back with a new album; could we see THEM at Soundwave next year? The thought only just popped into my head! Maybe even Atreyu! Damn it!
Huge news to finish off with… old school legends and all round top blokes GBH are heading back out here for another tour! Hit the band’s Facebook page for venue, date and ticket info before it’s too late!
Until next time, enjoy the schizophrenic weather that is spring this year!
Written by Christopher Cruz