Against Me! has new trax due on July 7th!

Against Me at Warped Tour
Originally uploaded by tomkclarke.com

At least somewhat new, to us. The new disc is called "The Original Cowboy" and it features hard rocking demos from circa 2003. Hailing from Gainesville, they manage to NOT sound like Lynryd Skynrd, and blaze their own musical trail. Just last year, Against Me! was named best punk band by Rolling Stone mag. As if they know punk, but I agree with them on this one. This band IS a great punk band. Not derivative of earlier punks, and forging a new sonic trail through the murky swampland. I love the vocals and the bass work of this band. Every great punk band needs that low end and the raspy vocals. Against Me! never disappoints...

The Dirty Dozen Year End Round Up: The Twelve Most Popular Stories on The Dissident Times for '08

These are the most popular stories voted on by your little mouse-clicking fingers. A little schizo, but so is our blog, our readers and that's okay. Man does not live by punk and politics alone! In a world where Al Franken is a maverick, and John McCain is on Saturday Night Live, anything can happen. What a great year.
Drum Roll please:

1. Henry Rollins Spoken Word Tour of 2008 There seemed to be mucho interest in what Henry has to say, as this was the top article of the year. Henry is a rennaissance man and all-round interesting character. Little did I know during his Black Flag days that he would go on to have a successful career as a talk show host and spoken word artist. I was lucky enough to meet Henry back in '86. He was "intelligent and intense". That is how I always describe him. He has a busy mind, a great sense of humor, and a vitality that is always refreshing.
2. Ten Essential Punk Albums You Should Own. This article was one of my "Ten Essential" series that I like to write to help expose people to new music and artists. I tried to get 30 years of punk and boil it down to the 10 best albums. I could have made it the Top 100, as it was hard to narrow down the list. I tried to pay homage to as many styles of punk from different locales and eras as I could.
3. Anti-Flag Playing a free show at the Republican National Convention. A lot of hits on this came from ground zero itself, Minneapolis. Don't be confused, they were not doing a gig at the RNC, but at a different venue. The concert also featured Rage Against the Machine and others, and was great by many accounts.
4. Story of the Year Releases New Album. This seems like it should be number one, as "story of the year", but it managed a respectable #4 on the list. The St. Louis band turns out tasteful licks with just enough hard edge, good lyrics and hummable melodies to keep you tuning in. The new cd satisfies in several categories. Buy it.
5. New Release of Eva Cassidy material. Who is Eva? She is a jazz/folk/pop singer from DC that died 10 years ago. She had such a powerful voice that it will haunt you. Why else would bloggers like me be talking about her 10 years after her death. She had a purity and natural talent that stands tall even after all these years. Celebrate her life and get some Eva. I know this is a punk blog mostly, but give in to your tender side, bro. I think I love her.
6. Fender's New Joe Strummer Telecaster. Here is an amalgam of everything I love. Punk-The Clash-Fender guitars-Street art. The only way it could be more appealing to me is if it had a picture of my kids on it, got 50 miles per gallon and smelled like pizza.
7. MXPX celebrates 16 years in-yer-face. This article was a nice little howdy do to a punk band that I have always liked. They are straightforward, melodic, classic punk and a nicer bunch of boys you will not find. Happy 16th, MXPX!
8. Live CD: The Clash at Shea Stadium. The Clash at their best in a live concert cd at Shea Stadium. The band sounds tight, vibrant and as important as ever. Buy this disc too or ask Santa to get it for you. I love the Sandinista and London Calling era, and I love this too.
9. Unknown Hinson's Live CD in the works. For the uninitiated, Unknown Hinson is half vampire, half pyschobilly master of the Telecaster. He comes to town a couple of times a year looking for fresh blood. Nice sparse tunes done full-blown rockabilly style, with Unknown's unique delivery. This is priceless stuff!
10. Camper Van Beethoven retrospective Camper Van was there before indie had a name. Their stuff was quirky and different. This article was just a little roundup of a band that I remember fondly from the late 80s and early 90s. I think I accused an old roomy of stealing that CD, but I found it again in a cd folder since the article was written. What is the statute of limitations on libel?
11. Ten Essential Reggae Artists to Know. I never claimed to be a reggae expert, but I do like the music. Here, I just wanted to pay respect to some Reggae artists I felt have had a big influence on the genre over the years. I always loved how bands like Black Uhuru could sound so hopeful and so sad at the same time. There are tons of great reggae bands out there, and this was my list of ones I found worth the listen.
12. The Urges- Psych Ward New cd that merges the atonal and tuneful, the straight ahead with the psychedeilc. It is nice to see newer bands coming out with worthy takes on classic genres, and taking the music to new places in the process.
    
    So that, my friends, is it. Have a great new year, keep your ears open to new music, and contact us with your favorites and opinions on our favorites. May 2009 rock and rock hard!
    
    
    

Against Me Involved in Bus Accident on Current Tour

Against Me
Originally uploaded by [re:petephotography]

Against Me! Involved in Bus Accident
Against Me! was involved in a bus while traveling between dates in Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah last night. Tom Gabel discussed yesterday's bus accident on his blog: “Everyone was asleep when it happened. I didn't want to wake up. Moments before I was sleeping so deeply. I was annoyed. I woke to the sound of my friends screaming, various expletives, inarticulate gasps, the sensation of spinning, and the sound of crashing inside and outside the bus. My eyes opened to blackness. I immediately pressed my hands and feet into the roof of my bunk as hard as I could, bracing for what I did not know.”

The band is currently touring with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Future of the Left. The show in Salt Lake City was cancelled but there is no word yet on if further tour dates will be postponed.
New Solo Album from Front man Tom Gabel
Tom Gabel of Against Me! has posted a stream of his new full length, Heart Burns. You can check out the entirety of the EP here. It is due for release on October 28, 2008.He has also unveiled the fourth in a series of videos to coincide with tracks on the upcoming EP.
Other news
Against Me! drummer Warren Oakes recently spoke to Billboard about their plans for the rest of the year. According to Warren:
“I know Tom [Gabel] has been writing this whole time. We'll probably take a little holiday break, then just get together and start collaborating and start fleshing those songs out and work on writing for most of the early part of next year. We'll probably do some shows some time in the spring, perhaps; to road test some of those new songs.
We'll get in the studio when the time is right, when we have a batch of songs that are ready to go. The biggest pressure that's ever been put on this band has come internally, every step of the way. So we're just gonna take the time to get it right.”

Anti-Flag Benefit for the Pittsburgh Food Bank and Other Tour News

Anti-Flag.jpg
Originally uploaded by kingpinphoto

Anti-Flag has announced a benefit for the The Pittsburgh Food Bank, who is in dire need of food, money and volunteers. 100% of the 5 dollar ticket will be donated to the Food Bank. Everyone is also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the door that will be collected and delivered to the food bank. Everyone who brings a non-perishable food item to the door will be entered to win prizes such as, cd's shirts, stickers, skateboard decks, and "Vegan" dinner with Anti-Flag drummer Pat Thetic. Yum!
Taking Back Sunday and Envy on the Coast will be hitting the road in December for a two week tour. TBS recently wrapped up work on their next full length and follow up to Louder Now.

Los Angeles, CA's Shiny Toy Guns have posted a new video from their November 4th album, Season of Poison. The band will be out on the road soon in a run up to the release of the album.
Old School punk funk pioneers Fishbone have announced the dates for their 2008 fall tour. The band is supporting their 2007 album, Still Stuck In Your Throat. I saw Fishbone with Primus back in the 90's in Chicago. My ears are still ringing from that one...

Venice Beach, California thrash/punk band Suicidal Tendencies will embark on a US tour in November. On various parts of the tour, the bill will include Madball (Whose tune "Collosal Man Was a Skinhead" has a high play count on my mp3 player), Whole Wheat Bread, Terror and Death By Stereo.
After wrapping up the Revival Tour, Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel has booked a few solo shows this November in support of his solo EP, Heart Burns. The EP is due out October 28, 2008.
NOFX have announced a series of shows in the UK next spring. Contrary to the title of their live album. they don't suck live. The we will play punk anytime anywhere band will be hitting venues in the UK and also one show in Dublin, Ireland. Times are tough, so get out there and listen to some tough tunes to ease the pain!

Against Me! Ted Leo Tour Full Force

Against Me! #09220
Originally uploaded by Elbow In Your Eye

http://www.againstme.net/am.php/shows/index

Masters of smart folk punk, Against Me! are currently on tour with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Future of the Left. Looks like the dates are primarily on the East Coast through October with some forays into this part of the world. They will play Bogarts in Cincinnati on October 14. In the new year they head for Europe for a couple of months of gigs. Looks like they are staying busy.