Anti-Flag getting Busy for 2010

Anti-Flag
Originally uploaded by Kawahara 4am Photo

I just checked out Anti-Flag's website a while ago. Good news is that they have a bunch of gigs coming up. They have been busy recording and should have new material out soon. The tour looks like some midwest and west coast gigs so everyone will get a chance to check them out. One of my other favorites Against All Authority has been dormant for awhile, so maybe A-F can keep things stirred up til they return. These are some of the bands that are real throwbacks to the original spirit of punk.

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!
    
    
    

2009 Warped Tour Bands - Still Ironing Out the Details

These bands have been mentioned as Warped Tour 09 participants. We have some good ones. There are the classics like Anti Flag, NOFX, Bad Religion, Bouncing Souls, Less than Jake... These are the MUST SEE's... There are a lot of others on the list that are more specialized, such as ska-meisters Big D and the Kids Table, and the celt punk Flogging Molly, the more metal-tinged acts like Underoath and Thrice. Alot of the other bands are up and comers you will be better off for having seen as well. The Tour looks to be a nice primer for the school of punk, with something for every taste. From the ska, the old school, the emo's, the metallic, and the celt/folk punks. Get there early and take notes. School's out.

The list:
3OH!3
A Day to Remember
A Skylit Drive
Alexisonfire
Anti-Flag
Bad Religion
Bayside
Big D and the Kids Table
Black Tide
Bouncing Souls
Breathe Carolina
Brokencyde
Cash Cash
Chiodos
Dance Gavin Dance
Dear and the Headlights
Dirty Heads
Escape the Fate
Every Avenue
Flogging Molly
Gallows
Hit the Lights
I Set My Friends on Fire
Jeffree Star
Less Than Jake
Lights
Meg & Dia
Millionaires
NOFX
Outernational
P.O.S.
Saosin
Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Senses Fail
Shad
Silverstein
Sing it Loud
Streetlight Manifesto
Tat
The A.K.A.s
The Architects
The Ataris
The Devil Wears Prada
The Maine
The White Tie Affair
There For Tomorrow
Therefore I Am
Thrice
TV/TV
Underoath
Valencia
Westbound Train

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!

Anti-Flag Playing Free Show at Republican Convention

I gleaned this little bit of info from Anti-Flag's website:

Tue. Sep. 02 in St. Paul, Minnesota @ Minnesota State Capitol @ 1:00 pm FREE!***Republican National Convention*** Appearing with Wookie Foot, Matisyahu, Dead Prez, I Self Devine, B Dolan, Prolyphic, and Michael Franti & Spearhead...

If you are going to be in the Twin Cities, sounds like a great show. What better way to scare the Conservatives than a great punk show? They are doing a paid show the following day at the Target Center with Rage Against the Machine.

"These events will be exciting and important, we look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible as we push for progression, for accountability, equality, and justice. http://www.rippleeffect08.com

Sept. 03 Minneapolis, Minnesota @ Target Center With Rage Against the Machine

Much respect.

Anti-Flag"