Wednesday

Bits And Pieces

People, I work hard. Seriously. And I do it all for you. Hey now stop laughing, I really mean it. I spend hours everyday scouring chat-rooms, forums, Myspace pages and porn sites (wait scratch that last one) in an effort to bring you the stories others can’t.
Well as you all (should) know, Social D. went and released a greatest hits album. While I may frown on this practice, I do understand and will not hold it against Mr. Ness and company. As is required for any greatest hits collection, they capped it off with a new song, and a rather good one at that. “Far Behind”, the bands current single aggressively goes after those treacherous and two faced back-stabbers we all deal with in life. With Social D. celebrating the big 3-0 next year I’d imagine they’ve seen more than their share of coat-tail riders and hangers on, something tells’ me this song was a long time coming. On the same note, Mike Ness recently took the time to sit down with the folks over at Billboard, among other subjects tossed around was the impending follow-up to 2004’s Sex, Love and Rock ‘N’ Roll. Don’t be surprised if the content spans all three decades.
While we’re waxing old school, Suicidal Tendencies is on tour! Kinda. The Kings of Cali Thrash are hitting the road in early August. First playing the Sounds Of The Underground Tour, and then steaming to Japan, just in time to headline a few dates on the Summer Sonic Festival. Anyone else thinking these might be warm-up dates?
Summer Sonic Festival – 2007
August 11th Osaka, Japan
August 12th Tokyo, Japan
For more information check out – www.summersonic.com
Stateside the band is headlining three shows.
Sounds Of The Underground Tour 2007
August 3rd San Jose, California
August 4th Irvine, California
August 5th Mesa, Arizona
Check out www.soundsoftheundergroundtour.com for the complete lineup.
Also on tour this summer, a band even Jesus loves’ (according to the their website) The Smut Peddlers! This Huntington Beach based quintet may just be the most politically incorrect band on earth. Totally tasteless, proverbially polluted and playing an all ages show near you. With lyrical content along the lines of an N.A. meeting, these partying punx aren’t for the faint of heart. These guys (and one girl) are pure punk rock. They tour in a Ford van, play dive bars all over California, and once accused me of driving a Volvo to a Pennywise concert. For the record, it was a Subaru and it belonged to my woman. If you’re lucky enough to catch one of the shows, be on the lookout for new tracks from the soon to be released (August 27th) disc featuring digitally remastered content from their first two demo’s originally released in 1993 and 1994 (previously available only on cassette). The Shows are as follows:
August 10th Studio 99, Bakersfield, California – all ages
August 11th The Distillery, Sacto, California – over 21
August 25th The Alley, Fullerton, California – CD Release Party – all ages
Check out www.smutpeddlers.net for a cool picture of Jesus and oh so much more.
Now playing…Fletcher Says. Hard hitting Pennywise strummer Fletcher Dragge has taken the gloves off and is giving hollywood big-wigs the pounding they deserve. B-listers beware lest you find yourselves in the ring with the big man at www.movieweb.com. Yeah you heard it right, movieweb.com home to Fletcher Says, Dragges’ own outlet to bask or bash the powers that be in Hollywood. Well written, and so far batting a thousand. Accoding to the newest (and only post) the The Fantastic Four were anything but. Way to go big guy.
While we’re singing the praises of the silver screen, we might as well mention my must see movie of the summer; Punks Not Dead The Movie. Now playing on a limited basis across the states, the rockumentary was produced by Susan Dynner an aging punk rocker by her own admission. Prior to launching into this “five year labor of love,” Dynner was VP of Creative Affairs at Ventura Films (owned by Charlie Sheen and Nick Cassavettes) co-produced Brick, a 2005 Sundance Film Festival award winner and at one point functioned as the VP of Development at Prairiefire Films.
Production and Direction credits also go to Todd Traina, founder of Red Rover Films and Producer of 2006’s “What We Do Is Secret” which centered on punk – icon Darby Crash and his band The Germs. Tim Armstrong (Op. Ivy/Rancid) is credited as well, garnering the title of Co-Producer. You go Tim.
It should be interesting, comparing Punks Not Dead with 2006’s “American Hardcore” which was a Sundance and Toronto Film Festival selection as well. Strangely enough, both movies focus on many of the same bands, though “Not Dead” continues past 1986 which is where “Hardcore” left us. In perusing the “cast” I’ve noted the obligatory Henry Rollins/ Jello Biafra credits. Great. We all know these two were instrumental parts of the scene back then, but come on they are both so tired it’s not funny. Rollins is nothing more than a sheep in wolves clothing, jumping on any VH1 special he can get his little hands on and Jello is an absurd self – serving egomaniac. Christ most of his contemporaries can’t even stand him. Ranting aside, I’ve got high hopes, the film was done in true old-school DIY fashion, the bands (Rancid, UK Subs, Sub Humans, NOFX, The Damned and many others) were not compensated, Dynner in fact actually had to hold down a day job to help finance production (which took five years). You can sink your teeth into all the juicy details at www.punksnotdeadthemovie.com. Can’t wait to hear what Fletcher Says.