Ryan's Punk Music Blog

This is a news story that I’m incredibly saddened to relate.

After 19 years, Profane Existence Records is closing down due to financial reasons.

In 1989, Profane Existence was founded with the simple ideal of helping to build a stronger and more politically active punk movement. For nearly two decades they have been involved in helping to motivate and mobilize the DIY and anarchist punk movements.

And they’ve also managed to put out some amazing records.

Thanks to Profane Existence, I know about Appalachian Terror Unit and Mouth Sewn Shut. I am also a member of their Vinyl Retentive Series. The label has been essential in introducing some of the best hardcore and crust punk bands to the world – and they weren’t afraid to be politically educational at the same time.

Profane Existence will be releasing all of the records they currently have in production, then that’s it. Fortunately, this includes the full-length from Appalachian Terror Unit that I have been patiently waiting for – at least the label is going out on top.

I’m already feeling a void in the DIY crust scene coming up. Profane Existence was one of those essential labels for producing and releasing bands with that sound. The number of crust releases is definitely going to take a hit in the near future.

Thanks for making punk a threat again, PE. We’ll miss you.

Essentially, what’s known is this: some sort of altercation took place Saturday between Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon and Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke, and Okereke was left with severe facial bruising and a split lip.

After that, details get fuzzy.

In two conflicting statements to the UK publication Guardian, the singers have stated their cases.

Okereke alleges it was a racially charged incident. The singer who is of Nigerian descent says he approached Lydon backstage and asked him about the possibility of a PIL reunion, which erupted in a racially charged assault that resulted in Okereke’s injuries.

Lydon’s statement alleges that the incident was not racially motivated, that it was instigated by Okereke, and that the Bloc Party vocalist is a liar seeking publicity.

Okereke’s version of the events is reported here, and Lydon’s response is reported here.

Obviously, it would be irresponsible and in bad form for me to hazard a guess as to what actually took place. I wasn’t there. I don’t know if it’s a matter of a racial incident, a simple disagreement or a few musicians who can’t play nicely together.

However, if I were pressed to make a judgment call based on a gut feeling, I don’t think Lydon is a racist. He can be called many things, and he can be accused of many more. Many would accuse him of staging an incident such as this for the resulting publicity, but the racial allegations simply don’t ring true.

To make that call, I stand on history. After the Sex Pistols, Lydon’s musical career spread to so many different realms, and he experimented with a lot of different sounds. For example, he did work with the legendary hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa, and their collaboration, 1984’s “World Destruction,” remains a great piece of music (Listen/Download).

Essentially, this racial charge doesn’t sit right with me. Had they made the argument that Lydon had picked a fight with Okereke because he was a jerk, I may not have batted an eye; but saying the attack was racially motivated doesn’t sit right with me.

Who knows? I may be proved wrong. One thing is for sure, though; the full story hasn’t played out yet, and we’re probably in for a lot more coverage of this. Lydon wouldn’t want it any other way, would he?

Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

Following the sudden passing of band member Johnny Schou, Tickle Me Pink has announced that they are planning on moving forward. Singer Sean Kennedy released this statement:

Johnny always wanted to bring purpose to other people's lives. He had a quiet leadership that lives in all of us as a band. His legacy is in his music and every show we play we are sharing a piece of Johnny's heart with our listeners. Not only would he want us to carry on, but we owe it to him.

We have had to do some major soul searching as a band. We not only have lost a band member, but our best friend. The process is just beginning. We will never be able to replace Johnny, but through this tragedy we have all grown even closer together and are going to make him proud.

The band enlisted long-time friend Joey Barba to join them on the road as guitarist. Barba’s old band, The Brotherhood of Dae Han, and Tickle Me Pink have a history of playing shows together, and Barba was in the studio with Tickle Me Pink for some of their recent recordings. In moving towards the future, Kennedy concludes, "It is somewhat ironic that many of our songs deal with death and a higher purpose. We don't think it is a coincidence that these songs came about on our record. We want to let the world know how short life is; embrace the ones you love and treasure each moment without regret."

The band will resume touring tomorrow in San Diego, California. Here’s the full tour schedule:

• 7/18 – San Diego, Soma
• 7/19 – Pomona, CA, The Glass House
• 7/20 – Pomona, CA, The Glass House
• 7/22 – St. George, UT, The Electric Theater
• 7/23 – Las Vegas, The House Of Blues
• 7/24 – Los Angeles, The Key Club
• 7/25 – Ventura, CA, Majestic Ventura
• 7/26 – San Jose, CA, PBSJ
• 7/27 – San Francisco, Slim’s
• 7/28 – Sacramento, CA, The Boardwalk
• 7/30 – Portland, OR, Hawthorne Theater
• 7/31 – Seattle, El Corazon
• 8/1 – Boise, ID, The Big Easy
• 8/2 – Salt Lake City, UT, Avalon Theater
• 8/3 – Denver, CO, Cervante’s Masterpiece Ballroom
• 8/4 – Albuquerque, NM, Sunshine Theatre
• 8/5 – Tempe, AZ, The Clubhouse
• 8/15 – Louisville, CO, Downtown Street Fair
• 8/16 – Fort Collins, CO, Bohemian Nights @ New West
• 8/25 – Lawrence, KS, The Bottleneck
• 8/26 – Omaha, NE, Sokol Aud
• 8/27 – St. Paul, MN, Station
• 8/28 – Chicago, IL, Metro
• 8/29 – Detroit, St. Andrew’s Hall
• 8/30 – Cleveland, OH, House of Blues
• 8/31 – Buffalo, NY, Xtreme Wheelz
• 9/2 – Cambridge, MA, Middle East
• 9/3 - New York, Irving Plaza
• 9/4 – Baltimore, Rams Head Live!
• 9/5 – Sayreville, NJ, Starland Ballroom
• 9/6 – Philadelphia, PA, Trocadero Theater
• 9/7 – Norfolk, VA, Norva Theater
• 9/9 – Charlotte, NC, Tremont Music Hall
• 9/10 – Nashville, TN, Rocketown
• 9/11 – Atlanta, GA, Masquerade Music Park
• 9/12 – Lake Buena Vista, FL, House of Blues
• 9/13 – St. Petersburg, FL, State Theater
• 9/14 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Culture Room
• 9/16 – Metaire, LA, The High Ground
• 9/17 – Houston, Meridian
• 9/18 – Dallas, House of Blues
• 9/19 – San Antonio, White Rabbit
• 9/20 – Austin, Antones

Photo courtesy of Total Assault

Let's face it. not every punk band needs to a powerful political tour de force. If that were tha case, everyone would be Anti-Flag. And great as they are, everyone doesn't need to be Anti-Flag.

Sound and Fury recognize this. This Canadian powerhouse simply plays great party punk, blending the Misfits, The Ramones, Motorhead and even AC/DC with a host of other influences to simply ensure you have a good time listening to it.

It all falls into the area occupied by bands like Towers Of London, Andrew WK and the Wednesday Night Heroes - music made for fist-pumping, singing along and not worrying about the government for day. It's fun and necessary.

Check out my review of Sound and Fury by Sound and Fury and get ready for the high level of rocking contained within.

Cover art courtesy of Rebel Youth Recordss

Vans Warped Tour goers in a particular stretch of the tour are in for an old-school flavored treat, as Vans has opted to add an Old Skool stage for four select dates.

If I were in attendance for one of these dates, there’s a really good chance I’d be camping out in front of this stage the entire time. Which leads me to wonder - maybe it’s time for a full-blown old school package tour!

These are the bands they’ve assembled for the Old Skool stage on the Warped Tour for each of the respective dates. (Take note that this changes the earlier report that Fear would only be on the tour for one date.):

• 8/14, San Diego/Chula Vista: The Germs, T.S.O.L., Big Drill Car, D.I., MIA, H2O, Fear
• 8/15, Mountain View: The Dickies, The Germs, T.S.O.L., Agent Orange, H2O, D.I.
• 8/16, Sacramento/Marysville: The Dickies, The Germs, T.S.O.L., H2O, Agent Orange
• 8/17, Home Depot Center/Carson: The Dickies, MIA, The Germs, T.S.O.L., Big Drill Car, H2O, D.I., Fear

The complete Warped Tour lineup is listed here.

This Old Skool stage begs an obvious question, though – if you were to book the ultimate old school tour lineup, who would you include?

If you’re taking a break from the Steer Clear lockdown on the 12, there’s another webcast worth checking out.

On that night, Less Than Jake will be broadcasting their show from The Chance in Poughkeepsie, New York live on Woozyfly.

If you’ve never been to a Less Than Jake show, this is a great way to see what you’ve missed. If you have been to one, well, I don’t need to tell you to tune in.

Less Than Jake is currently in the middle of this year’s incarnation of the Shout It Loud Tour with Goldfinger, Big D and the Kids Table, and Suburban Legends, supporting their new album GNV FLA, which was recently released on their own label Sleep It Off Records. (Full dates of the tour are listed here.)

The live broadcast will run from 8PM to Midnight EST, including interviews, to backstage coverage, exclusive band interviews and finally the band’s 75-minute live performance, which is promised to include live debuts of some new material along with their classic stuff.

You can tune into the show here.

Photo © Nicole Lucas

As of today, the guys in Steer Clear are in lockdown.

As part of the recording process for their new album, the pop punk band from Belfast has agreed to be locked into their studio, where, aside from the usual reality show hijinks associated with this sort of event, the band will need to follow a set of strict rules.

First, they will have no outside contact for the week, other than online chats. Second, they need to write a song every day. Third, they must sing for their supper every night (which I am assuming to mean that the people watching the site will be treated to a live performance from the guys).

At the end of it all, assuming that the band hasn’t killed one another, the band will record their next album, live in the studio, on July 14.

Along with the basic premise, the band is also promising a load of opportunities for fan interaction and contests. Plus, for those that can’t coordinate their schedules with that of a band locked up in a nameless location somewhere, the band will be also be keeping a video diary.

All in all, I’m just pretty stoked that the band is doing so well. When I saw them at SXSW this year, I expected big things from them, and it looks like it’s happening already.

You can take a look at the band in lockdown here. Just don’t tap on the glass – you’ll only smudge your monitor and they can’t hear you anyway.

Photo © Nicole Lucas

They're a band responsible for one of the best records of the year, and they could use a little help.

Spark is a Diamond, touring to support Try This On For Size, ran into a mishap on the road that lead to the cancellation of their remaining tour dates and left them in need of some funds.

In their words:

Hello everyone. We are extremely sorry to inform you that we have to cancel the rest of our tour dates this month. We had engine failure in Indiana and were forced to leave the van. It is going to be over $2000 for parts and labor for a new engine. Unfortunately, we don't have the money for that right now so we had to rent a U-haul truck to get us and all of our gear back home safely.

Due to this enormously large bill for the van engine, the $900 for the U-haul truck, and over $300 in gas we had to pay to get all of our gear home, we are in some financial trouble.

If you could or would like to help us out at all, please do by buying a t-shirt, or even just by donating a dollar or two, or even pennies.

Every little bit helps and we would greatly appreciate it.

We can't thank you enough for all of the support you have already given us. It is why we are able to do what we do.

Hope everyone is well and hope to see you all very soon.

If you want to help, you can pick up a t-shirt from the band's Web store, or even donate a little bit of cash through PayPal using the email sparkisadiamond@gmail.com.

Also, if you've yet to pick up Try This On For Size, you can order it here.

And check out these links for video goodness from Spark is A Diamond:

1. Video: "Check Your Lease, You're in F**k City"
2. Video: "President of the Wrong Crowd"
3. The band's video tour diary

Cover art courtesy of Pluto Records

Tickle Me Pink bassist Johnny Schou was found dead this morning at home in Colorado.

The four-piece punk band from Fort Collins, who had just made a few appearances on the Vans Warped Tour, was to celebrate the release of their debut album, Madeline, with an in-store appearance in Denver today. Further information regarding the band's plans, and dates that have been previously announced, will be forthcoming in due time. Johnny Schou was 22 years old.

We’d like to extend out condolences to the band and Schou’s friends and family.

Photo courtesy of Total Assault

With just days until their new album Agony & Irony comes out, Alkaline Trio is entering a typical publicity blitz that includes shows, in-store appearances and… shoes?

As part of the push for their latest record, the Trio has teamed up with Nike 6.0 to create the Heart and Sole Air Zoom Crush, a sort of punk rock looking sport shoe.

The Heart and Sole Air Zoom Cush will be released in a limited number tomorrow, June 27, exclusively at Jacks Retail Shop in Huntington Beach. The first 200 folks who pick up a pair will also get a pass to see an intimate acoustic performance by the band at noon on Sunday. If you’re not in the area, however, you’re not out of luck; you’ll just have to wait a bit. The Heart and Sole Air Zoom Cush will be available at select retailers nationwide on July 11th.

It’s not the first time a punk band has slapped their name on a pair of shoes, but I do think it’s the first time a company like Nike has been behind it. Seriously guys, the shoes are cool and all, but couldn’t it have been a pair of Vans? That has a bit more cred.

Links:

• Video on the making of the Heart and Sole Air Zoom Cush
• Preorder Agony & Irony

Cover art courtesy of Sony