Do you have HOT WATER MUSIC withdrawl? Do you need that Remedy or feel the shaking when Driving Home? Well, I’ve got the cure for you. It’s called We’ve All Been Down, and it synthesizes most of the great portions of that band’s discography into something a little less powerful, but then again, it’s a generic, what do you expect? Yeah, this release is both a keeper and incredibly promising.

BLACKFIRE, a native-American DIY punk band, has been around since 1989. Their brand of punk rock is influenced by traditional native american music, laced with the heaviness of BLACK FLAG, SICK OF IT ALL, and HOT WATER MUSIC. As my girlfriend noted, it’s kind of a weird combination. However the article is never-the-less interesting, and their story is heartening, and proof as to the universality of punk rock music. You can check out that article here. If you want to hear the band’s music, click here.

I just got back from watching SLEEPY SUN at a club called Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. The band put on a great show. It’s heavy rock n’ roll mixed with beautiful psychedelic flourishes, and the music’s many peaks and valleys made for a never-boring evening. I strongly suggest checking out the band at one of the stops below. From the band’s myspace page: Feb 25 2009 8:00P Bottom of the Hill – NOISE POP San Francisco, California Mar 10 2009 8:00P The Echo Los Angeles, California Mar 11 2009 8:00P Bar Pink San Diego, California Mar 12 2009 8:00P Modified Phoenix, Arizona Mar 13 2009 8:00P Plush Tuscon, Arizona Mar 14 2009 8:00P Monte Vista Lounge Flagstaff, Arizona Mar 17 2009 8:00P TBA Austin, Texas Mar 18 2009 8:00P Leafy Green SXSW Showcase at Emo’s Jr. Austin, Texas Mar 19 2009 8:00P SXSW – TBA Austin, Texas Mar 20 2009 8:00P SXSW – TBA Austin, Texas Mar 21 2009 8:00P SXSW – TBA Austin, Texas Mar 22 2009 8:00P Lounge on Elm Street Dallas, Texas Mar 23 2009 8:00P The Conservatory Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mar 24 2009 8:00P Record Bar Kansas City, Missouri Mar 25 2009 8:00P Replay Lounge Lawrence, Kansas Mar 26 2009 8:00P Mojo’s Columbia, Missouri Mar 27 2009 8:00P Vaudeville Mews Des Moines, Iowa Mar 28 2009 8:00P The Picador Iowa City, Iowa Mar 30 2009 8:00P Empty Bottle Chicago, Illinois Mar 31 2009 8:00P PC Club Green Bay, Wisconsin Apr 1 2009 8:00P Stonefly Brewery Milwaukee, Wisconsin Apr 2 2009 8:00P 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, Minnesota Apr 3 2009 8:00P Aquarium Fargo, North Dakota You can check out the band’s music on their myspace page.

Originally formed as a side-project with members of OUTBREAK, the fellas in CRUEL HAND have turned the corner and have made the band a priority endeavor. Prying Eyes is the hardcore/metal band’s second full-length, and the follow-up to 2007′s Without A Pulse, on 6131 Records. Similarities between the two releases are hard to find, as [...]

Quietly, LIPONA has released what might just be the debut melodic punk/hardcore breakout album of the year. While I’ve been wasting time stewing over how RISE AGAINST has gone medium, and why there’s no new A WILHELM SCREAM full-length coming out any time soon (or not sooner than say, next week), I should have just [...]

Sadly they are not headlining, but any chance to see TORCHE is better than nothing. Check them out as they hit the road with DREDG and FROM MONUMENT TO MASSES. The group also has an upcoming 12”/DVD release that will feature 2 brand new songs which you can pick that up on March 10th at any place that carries Hydra Head releases. 4/3 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre 4/4 – Bellingham, WA @ Nightlight 4/5 – Seattle WA @ Neumo’s 4/7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Avalon Theater 4/8 – Denver, CO @ The Marquis Theater 4/10 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater 4/11 – Des Moines, IA @ Vaudville Mews 4/12 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle 4/13 – Pontiac, MI @ Eagle Theater 4/15 – Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs 4/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of Living Arts 4/17 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club 4/18 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar 4/19 – New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom 4/21 – Raleigh, NC @ The Brewery

From the inbox: Stage dive into spring with the Jägermeister Music Tour! Jägermeister is teaming up with legendary American punk band, Pennywise and dub rock trio, Pepper for this year’s spring Jägermeister Music Tour. The tour kicks off on April 13th in Seattle, Washington. Dates are below: 4/13/09 Showbox SoDo Seattle, WA 4/14/09 Roseland Theater Portland, OR 4/16/09 In The Venue Salt Lake City, UT 4/17/09 The Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO 4/18/09 Beaumont Club Kansas City, MO 4/19/09 Pop’s Sauget, IL 4/20/09 The Blue Note Columbia, MO 4/22/09 Verizon Wireless Theater Houston, TX 4/23/09 Palladium Ballroom Dallas, TX 4/25/09 Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre Austin, TX 4/27/09 Tabernacle Atlanta, GA 4/28/09 House of Blues North Myrtle Beach, SC 4/30/09 House of Blues Lake Buena Vista, FL 5/2/09 Jannus Landing Saint Petersburg, FL 5/3/09 Plush Jacksonville, FL 5/13/09 9:30 Club Washington, DC 5/14/09 The Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA 5/15/09 Starland Ballroom Sayerville, NJ 5/16/09 Terminal 5 New York, NY 5/17/09 House of Blues Boston, MA 5/19/09 Agora Theatre Cleveland, OH 5/20/09 The Crofoot Ballroom Pontiac, MI 5/21/09 House of Blues Chicago, IL 5/22/09 The Eagles Club Milwaukee, WI 5/23/09 Myth St. Paul, MN – Doesn’t this tour have a history of a metal bands? Either way, it sounds like it’ll be a good time.

Stoner-pop kings TORCHE are set to release a new 12″/DVD combo with two songs from 2008′s totally awesome Meanderthal and two NEW songs! That’s right – NEW TORCHE!! In addition, the DVD will feature music videos for the selected songs from Meanderthal. Details below: Tracklist for Healer / Across The Shields 12″ + DVD Side A: Healer / Across The Shields <------These are arguably the two best songs on Meanderthal Side B: Mash It Up / Sugar Glider DVD: Healer (Music Video) / Across The Shields (Music Video) For tour dates, see Jason’s post below! (We clearly love TORCHE quite a bit here)