New York/Philly act HIGHER GIANT feature the legendary Ernie Parada on guitar and vocals (TOKEN ENTRY, BLACK TRAIN JACK, GREY AREA, THE ARSONS), and Dave Wagenshutz on drums (LIFETIME, KID DYNAMITE, PAINT IT BLACK, NONE MORE BLACK, GOOD RIDDANCE), plus a couple of other dudes who were also in some of those bands, plus WARZONE. The melodic punk rock group has posted five high-quality new songs to their MySpace page. There are no scheduled shows on their agenda, but hopefully that will change.

A few days ago I did a brief Q&A with Aversion.com about Pastepunk’s 10th Anniversary. Some of the topics discussed include personal highlights over the years, the void left with the decline of newsprint zines, and how to stay relevant in a situation where I keep getting older, but the music we cover continues to skew younger. You can check it out here. Much thanks to Aversion for letting me run my mouth!

- I love stuff like this. One of the Punk-O-Rama CD/DVD sets includes a documentary about Epitaph Records and it includes a really cool look at Epitaph’s office and its changes over the years as the label grew and grew. Bridge Nine also posted a video of a tour of their space earlier this year. I think these kinds of videos validate the belief that punk and hardcore culture is simply different – that a fun work space can exist, even though work is the primary objective.

From the inbox:

In a first for the [CIRCLE JERKS], a 12″ vinyl picture disc has been released on Porterhouse Records of the band’s debut album Group Sex. This will be a collectors item to be sure. In fact an extremely limited group of the initial pressing have been autographed by the surviving original band members Keith Morris, Greg Hetson and Lucky Lehrer. The signed copies are available exclusively through Aural Exploits so check their online store at auralexploits.com

The band has also releasing limited edition colored vinyl of the Group Sex LP. The run included various colors including pink, clear and clear blue. The skinny on the blue vinyl is that it will be exclusively available through retailer Hot Topic while pink and clear will be in mom and pop stores. Red and yellow clear vinyl will be available in the new year, so check porterhouserecords.com for availability or to order online.

Itunes has just posted a ton of the CIRCLE JERKS back catalog so you can finally complete your collection and fill your iPod up, check the iTunes store today and avail yourself to the bands recorded history in the worlds most popular format.

- How long before we see a rash of new BLACK FLAG vinyl releases?

After several years of dormancy, Connecticut’s East Coast Empire returns to the label scene with a re-release of the debut full-length from local rockers CURTAIN HITS THE CAST. For a label that made its name during the 90s for putting out some of the more terrorizing hardcore around (INTEGRITY, FEAR TOMORROW, SUM OF ALL FEARS, [...]

VAUX is a dark band. Not dark in the sense of “Oh, my eyes bleed black for her spite” or in the sense of a screamo band going through MARYLIN MANSON’s garbage, but in the jaded sense. A group grown up in the Midwest looking at the East and West coast thinking “we can do [...]

From the Live-wire Message Board:

ANEURYSM RATS: Members of ONE UP, PAINT IT BLACK, NONE MORE BLACK

download: Sendspace Link

Album’s called Dying To Live

… this link includes the artwork and lyrics…

First show 11/14 with THE ERGS and LIGHTEN UP

Best 14.6 minutes of your day, maybe???

Recorded at the same studio as KRISS KROSS’ Totally Krossed Out AND URGE OVERKILL’s Saturation!

This record will not be available on CD, but when the vinyl comes out, if you like it BUY IT!

- myspace.com/aneurysmrats

Enjoy!

- THURSDAY / ENVY – Split CD (Temporary Residence)

- DEAD TO ME – Little Brother EP (Fat Wreck)

- POISON THE WELL – “Purple Sabbath” (Ferret, on the band’s upcoming 7″)

- BLOC PARTY – Intimacy

- JESSE MALIN – On Your Sleeve

And for good measure… our release of the day: REACH THE SKY – So Far From Home