Punk Column [#596]

Don’t forget, Saturday, October 11 is the Up the Punx festival at The Tote in Collingwood, featuring a huge line-up of Aussie punk, ska, rockabilly and hardcore bands. It’s gonna be huge!
Former My Chemical Romance vocalist Gerard Way may be out there forging a solo career, but he’s still performing MCR songs as part of his live show. Interesting! Of all the emo crap that was so popular last decade, MCR did it the best by a mile.
Okay, as promised last issue, here’s the full rundown of the bands playing Nevermind the Warp’d Tour at the Brunswick Hotel on Saturday, December 6: Dreamkillers (QLD), Kill the Apprentice (QLD), Obserd (QLD), Rather Be Dead (NSW), Admiral Ackbar’s Dishonourable Discharge, Agent 37 (Ballarat), Australian Kingswood Factory, All We Need, Bombs Are Falling, Bottlecaps, Dirty Harriet and the Hangmen, Hopes Abandoned (Geelong/Melbourne), Jay Wars, Liquor Snatch, Makeshift Believers, New Age, Poison Fish, Postscript, Sarge and the Nuked, Stoned to Death, Strawberry Fist Cake, The Balls, The Cruntburgers, The Legionnaires, The Mantelopes, The Resignators, The Solicitors, Vendetta (Geelong) and Where’s Grover?. Not too shabby, hey? Two stages, skate ramp, BBQ – the works!
Philly indie-pop-emo rock combo Modern Baseball has just dropped their new record You’re Gonna Miss It All. It’s like pop-punk for people who shop at Cotton On.
Seems a few people got a little butt-hurt about my views on what is and isn’t punk rock in a recent column, but TS, ladies. There is nothing anti-establishment or confronting about hipsters, boy bands or acoustic guitars. Build a bridge and get over it.
We’re getting closer and closer to the release of New Found Glory’s brand new record, Resurrection. It’s a total killer – heavy, melodic and vital. Proof that pop-punk bands don’t have to mellow with age or experiment (read “chasing trends”). Blink-182 could really have taken a leaf out of NFG’s book, coz they are sounding like some lame, stale, limp balls. Bring on the Soundwave set, guys!
Speaking of balls, the GOOD kind, The Murderballs and Where’s Grover? are heading over to Perth for a string of shows (three, to be exact) at the end of October, so if you know anybody over there, warn them! And tell them to get to a show!
Frankston thrash/punk blokes Public Liability are on the lookout for a new lead guitarist.
Might Melbourne punks Strawberry Fist Cake be looking to relocate? Hmmm…
Hey, remember those I Know What You Did Last Summer movies that dominated the late ’90s? Well, they’re being rebooted. Already! I guess news of that Scream TV show going ahead got studio execs thinking!
And that’s a wrap (geddit?). Get out there and enjoy the sunshine! Um, so long as you remember to come back next issue, of course…
By Christopher Cruz