1. You can listen to the new THE OFFSPRING full-length, Days Go By,  via Rolling Stone. I think it’s a lot better than I feared after reading some of the band’s own commentary about the release and listening to “Cruising California (Bumpin’ in my Trunk)”. As for the latter, it can’t possibly be a coincidence that the song was released right before a new discovery of a case of Bubonic Plague in Oregon, can it? Notably, the title track has been written off as  FOO FIGHTERS clone… I wonder what RISE AGAINST will think of the intro to the opener “The Future Is Now”?

2. Speaking of days (but of THE OFFSPRING), here’s  a true sign of getting older: you actually like it when a band’s new release is ‘softer’ than their last one.

3. Another true sign of getting older: when someone comments about how lucky you were to see a particular band live when they were around… and it was in the year 2000.

4. Punknews is going to have more stories about Laura Jane Grace than the number of reviews I’m going to write for all of this year. Some things change. Some don’t.

5. My pre-ordered copy of IGNITE’s new DVD/CD Our Darkest Days Live should arrive today. I’ve checked the mailbox three times today, even though the mail doesn’t usually arrive until after 4pm and it’s not even 2 yet. #ForeverAFanboy.

6. Is it a faux pas to order the Revelation Records 25th Anniversary package and ask in your order note if a download card comes with the special, limited edition compilation LP? Embrace the past, live for the present :)

7. Sound Supply Drop #3 was released on Monday and is available for another nine days. I think this is my favorite one yet (and thankfully, I only already owned one of the titles in this batch), and by far, their most diverse collection. It is a tremendous deal at $15 for the 10 full-lengths (plus bonus material if you order in the first 48 hours), and if you have any hesitation on it, you can stream all of the music beforehand from Soundsupp.ly. Some of the bands included are HELLOGOODBYE, THE GET UP KIDS, PIANOS BECOME THE TEETH, TALL SHIPS, ASOBI SEKSU, VIA AUDIO, and THE DEAR HUNTER.

8. Severe Weather Alerts from Weatherbug are sponsored by Servpro. Maybe I should see if my allergist can sponsor their pollen reports…

- OK… so the song is pretty cool, but c’mon dudes, OVER YOUR THRESHOLD. Who will possibly be intimidated by that name, even in all of its glorious whirly metal fontness? My threshold remains strong.

• SMASHING PUMPKINS – Oceania
• LIT – The View From The Bottom
• LOSTPROPHETS – Weapons
• MAKE DO AND MEND – Everything You Ever Loved
• MAREN PARUSEL – Tightrope Walker
• TONY SLY / JOEY CAPE – Acoustic #2
• IHSAHN – Eremita

- (1) I only included LIT on my pickings because the title of their new album seems wildly accurate; (2) Can’t SMASHING PUMPKINS and SILVERSUN PICKUPS merge already into the SMASHING SILVER PICKUP PUMPKINS and tour as an 11 piece band where everyone whines about how they don’t sound whiny? Alright, alright, this new release ain’t too bad;  (3) AOL’s band comparison for MAKE DO AND MEND is “P.O.D. and RISE AGAINST”. If that’s not a computer generated result, then there’s a human at AOL that needs to be fired. Today. It’s not “End Measured Mile”, and that’s OK. (4) IHSAHN is totally new to me, and the comparison for them was “DAUGHTRY and METALLICA”, but since I learned not to give a shit about AOL’s recs, it turns out that they sound a bit like a more metal COHEED AND CAMBRIA with ominous, bellowing vocals, a nice surprise, great drumming; (5), the LOSTPROPHETS are still a chameleon band, thought at least it seems like they’re done aping MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE for a time; for as much as I once wrote and listened to this band, I’m convinced they’ve written one single ‘excellent’ song in their entire existence. (6) Please, please, please, listen to the version of “Soulmate” on the Cape/Sly release. One of my favorite tunes of all time, and this version is straight out of the left-field bleachers.   

From the inbox:

I’ve probably said to myself a thousand times, “I wish Plow would get back together. I’d put out a record with that band in a heartbeat.” Most likely I’ve even said it to anyone around me while listening to any of the band’s records. Little did I ever believe that one day I’d be saying it for real.

Founded in 1992 by Brian, Joel, and Sean, Plow became a mainstay in the punk scene with releases like their 1995 Self-Titled debut and 1996 fan favorite Goodnight Sellout, both released by the influential then West Chester-based label Creep Records. They soon found themselves sharing the stage and playing shows and tours with the likes of The Bouncing Souls, Lagwagon, and Good Riddance. By the end of 1997 the band had decided to call it quits and the three went their separate ways. Shortly after Creep released the posthumous full-length Narcolepsy in 1998, further solidifying the band’s status in the scene for years to come.

Records are exactly that: a record. The recorded musical output of Plow United became something highly sought after in the years since their split, and offers to reunite and play shows persisted. Finally, in 2011 the band, with members now living in three different cities as far as 3,000 miles away, felt the time and circumstances were right and agreed to play the inaugeral Riot Fest East in Philadelphia, followed soon thereafter by shows with longtime friends The Bouncing Souls and a short run of dates with Less Than Jake and Samiam in early 2012. Paper and Plastick released the comprehensive discography Sleepwalk: A Retropsective in conjunction with the bands shows and featured highlights from the band’s discography on a beautiful gatefold double LP vinyl release.

Talk about a new record quickly followed the band as one date after another was confirmed seeing the band becoming more of an active unit then even they had anticipated. Since the Mayans predicted the world’s going end in six months anyway, why the heck not, right?

Following their upcoming appearance at Insubordination Fest and headling show at The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia this month, Plow United with be entering Gradwell House Studios with Dave Downham to record Marching Band, their first new material in nearly a decade and a half to be released by Jump Start in early 2013!

“Man, I really wish Plow would get back together again.” Sometimes shit happens for a reason.

- Jeremy, Kevin, and Alec at Jump Start

Extra: Jump Start Bandcamp page, go listen to something!

From the inbox:

Rochester, NY’s POLAR BEAR CLUB is set to release a 9-song acoustic live collection from their hometown show last July at the Montage Theater. Titled Live At The Montage, this album features songs spanning from all over Polar Bear Club’s musical career thus far – tracks off of their debut album Sometimes Things Just Disappear, from their first B9 album Chasing Hamburg, and to their most recent masterpiece Clash Battle Guilt Pride. Recorded and engineered by Jay Maas of Getaway Recordings (Defeater, Bane, Cruel Hand), this collection truly captures the energy and urgency of Polar Bear Club’s live show.

Polar Bear Club will spend June, July and the beginning of August out on the Vans Warped Tour alongside bands like Rise Against, New Found Glory, Taking Back Sunday, and countless others while canvassing North America. Following their Warped Tour run, Polar Bear Club will head overseas for festival appearances and shows in Germany and the UK. Earlier this week, the band premiered their new video for the song “Screams In Caves” and that can be seen below.

Track list, song premieres and pre-order information coming soon.

- Let’s see… that’s an acoustic album from POLAR BEAR CLUB, one coming from STRIKE ANYWHERE… Hey, AGNOSTIC FRONT, you’re on the clock!

- Four song compilation EP which includes BEYOND and SWIZ covers, an unreleased TORCHBEARER song and a remastered tune from NY powerviolence legends C.R. Digital downloads come with a 16 page PDF zine. Information about Volume 2 is here, which feature INDECISION, HARVEST, WHEN TIGERS FIGHT, and BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY. Physical copies are available from AAFF’s BigCartel store.

Starting a band doesn’t seem very hard. If you’ve got four members and one of them isn’t holding their own, you can generally still get by, unless it’s the drummer. You can’t hide a bad drummer. In stand-up comedy, there’s no protection, and there’s less distractions. John-Michael Bond, editor of music zine The1stFive began doing [...]