From the inbox:

Hello everyone! We here at Sound and Fury wanted to clear the air about what happened on Sunday night and why the fest was shut down after 2 days of amazing bands and fun.

Based on what we saw ourselves and were told by others, here’s what, as best we can tell, happened: During BACKTRACKs set, one person was dared/challenged to take his motorcycle into the venue and ride around. We were immediately alerted, and for everyone’s safety, security escorted the person out while he was still on the cycle. Once outside the security guards wanted the person to get off his cycle in order to speak with him. Seeing this some onlookers encouraged the person on the cycle to run as he might get in trouble if he stayed. As he attempted to flee, security reached for him, some of the bystanders considered the act to be a hostile one and a mob began to surround security. Joey and Ray immediately called the police. The primary concern was for the safety of the attendees and because of the “mob mentality” that was being witnessed (thrown trash cans/bottles/punches), before the situation got any worse we decided to shut down the show.

At the end of the day, no one was hurt or arrested and property damage was minimal (one broken window). The staff, venue, security and police were all absolutely incredible to Sound and Fury as a whole. Their actions helped to stop any potential fight that could have broken out, which would have caused unwanted repercussions for all parties involved with the festival (promoters, bands, venue, attendees).

We want to apologize to all the kids and bands who made special efforts and traveled so far to be there for the weekend. We were very sorry to see that the weekend ended as it did. It crushed us to see months of work and anticipation get flushed down the drain in less than 20 seconds. Realize that it is just two people putting on this fest and we are held directly liable for anything that happens.

Rumors and hearsay will exist, but based on all the information we have gathered, this is pretty much the extent of what happened. We choose instead to focus on the positives of the weekend, most importantly that the first two days went by with minimal incidents, proving that as a scene, we can put something like this together.

Sound and Fury is an amazing opportunity for us as a community of hardcore kids to get together and have fun at a perfect location. Fighting, assumptions, or petty disagreements will only ruin our chance to recreate this event. It deeply hurt us that someone thought this would be alright to do.

We are hoping to reach a compromise with the Earl Warren Fairgrounds so we will have the opportunity to host Sound and Fury 2011 at such an excellent venue. You will see us again next year.

- Joey Cahill and Ray Harkins

It’s less than two months before the release of TORCHE’s new full-length, Songs For Singles. Whooo! The band has a number of live shows announced from now until October, with plenty of quality bands joining them along the way.

• 7/28 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In w/ Beings
• 7/29 Louisville, KY @ Skull Alley w/ Beings and High on Fire
• 7/30 Indianapolis, IN @ Vollrath Tavern w/ Beings
• 7/31 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean w/ Baroness
• 8/01 Chicago, IL @ Wicker Park Festival w/ Baroness and Yakuza
• 8/03 St. Louis, MO @ Fubar w/ Beings
• 8/05 Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree w/ Beings
• 8/06 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Boris and Russian Circles
• 8/07 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum w/ Beings
• 8/09 Tallahassee, FL @ Big Daddy’s w/ Beings
• 8/11 Miami, FL @ Churchill’s w/ Beings
• 10/29 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds (THE FEST 9)

… when spam bots target the word “salad” and send torrents of comment spam to any Pastepunk post involving the phrase “Salad Days”. Make a reference to the classic MINOR THREAT song/EP and huzzah, comment spam about potato salad, chicken salad, and how the spam bot “just loves to eat all kinds of salad.” What would Iam MacKaye think?

From Suburban Home Records:

We are proud to announce that THE GAMITS’ new album not only has a new title, Parts, it has a new partner. Parts will be co-released by Paper and Plastick, the label owned and operated by Vinnie Fiorello (of LESS THAN JAKE). Our good friend Matt Yonker (of Teen Idols/Bullets to Broadway) reminded us that Vinnie was a big fan of the Gamits and he originally suggested the possiblity of doing a split 7″ with BULLETS TO BROADWAY on Paper and Plastick. As the discussion continued, it was proposed that Paper and Plastick be involved with the release of The Gamits’ new album.

Vinnie said of the Gamits, “.. .Antidote came out and it caused a tidal wave in my music collection. It eclipsed every other cd in its way – I fell in love with the band all over again – it took all the hooks from their previous records and mixed it with tension and depression- all the things mixing in my head at the time. The Gamits always have been a gem among the music i own and when I had the chance to help out with the new record, how could I not jump at the chance to work with a band that has been my soundtrack…”

We are honored to be able to work with Vinnie and Paper and Plastick. Parts is going to blow you away.

The Gamits have finished recording their new album and we expect to have it out in October. The Gamits will be playing their first show in over 5 years on Friday, August 6th and the Bluebird Theater with Only Thunder (one of their last shows).

Absolutepunk.net is streaming the new six song EP from melodicore artists LATIN FOR TRUTH. You can check out Diatribe or Die here. The digital only release hits stores on 8/3 via Mightier Than Sword.

- It’s like LAGWAGON trying to cover SET YOUR GOALS. Modern fastcore…

From the inbox:

MOUNTAIN MAN has emerged as not only the next chapter of the underground Worcester music scene, but as an entire movement. Featuring members of the budding hardcore band LAST LIGHTS, whose career was cut short by the untimely death of their singer, Mountain Man has picked up where Last Lights left off and has garnished similar acclaim in their young existence.

Beginning in 2009, Mountain Man jumped out to a furious start. Shows were booked with everyone from Strike Anywhere to Set Your Goals, cementing the fact that the band did not set any genre limitations for themsleves. After delivering an impressive self-released demo, it wasn’t long before the band signed a deal with up and coming indie label, Mightier Than Sword. The 10″ EP One was released in March 2010 to rave reviews. The record showcased the band’s influences from genre pioneers like Neurosis to modern metallic heros like Converge.

[More after the jump, with bonus Label Owner quotes!]

• 1. New RUFIO full-length is out today. Just snagged it on eMusic. Missed this band. “Under 18″ isn’t Science Fiction, but it’s close…
• 2. Why isn’t the new AVENGED SEVENFOLD streaming anywhere?
• 3. What happens when a festival/weekend of shows event like Sound and Fury gets cancelled before the headliners play? I’ve always presumed that the bigger bands at least are under contract for the show, but I have no firsthand knowledge on this. Does BANE or EARTH CRISIS still get paid? Not to make light of a shitty situation with the way that S&F ended (at least for the promoters), but this is really is one of the more incredible photos I’ve ever seen of a pit… What does the guy do though during the mosh part? Can you two-step a motorcycle?
• 4. The super sweet streaming media player/widget on our page for ULTIMATE FACEBOOK is from the company Topspin. The hype and chatter behind this company seems justified.
• 5. Anyone have an original SONS OF ABRAHAM demo they are willing to part with?
• 6. Real life headline right now on Engadget: “Justin Bieber attempts daring Segway escape from mob of screaming tweens”
• 7. New BAD RELIGION song “The Devil In Stitches” was sent out to members of the band’s email list. Mid-paced, extra focus on the vocals. Take a listen below. Bad Religion – The Devil In Stitches by Epitaph Records

Way back in the late 90s I saw ULTIMATE FAKEBOOK open for JIMMY EAT WORLD at a show in College Park, Maryland. Admittedly, I didn’t really care for their breezy emo/power-pop and didn’t think much about them, except that they had cool looking merch and a band name that I was sure to remember. I figured they were just another band to add to the list of live acts witnessed, and that would be it… but these guys were persistent on the DIY show circuit, and amassed an impressive number of recordings during their run. I didn’t ignore them for much longer and eventually turned into quite the fan with the release of their Open Up and Say Awesome full-length on Initial. The band broke up in 2003 and seven years later, they’ve put together a high-quality collection of unreleased tunes and rarities titled Daydream Radio Is Smiling Static. We’ve got it streaming below and it’s also a free download in exchange for an email address.