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Review: West Friends – Junk Drawer

West Friends - Junk Drawer
Adam Grundy

There’s something great that happens to your brain when you wrap your ears around a fun, summer pop-punk album. Is it that feeling of endless possibilities as you cruise in your car with the AC on full blast to the beach? Maybe. Is it the burst of nostalgia that reminds of the early Vans Warped Tour routing that we all looked forward to. Could be that too. West Friends have offered a nice reminder of these feelings on their debut album called Junk Drawer. West Friends are the duo of vocalists/songwriters Jordan Renshaw and Isaiah Dominguez, while Jordan shared, “Junk Drawer represents the accumulation of life experiences, eras, and memories that shape who I am today. It’s also how I can best visualize and process growth and maturity—by carrying all these experiences with me, I’m able to integrate them into my current self while also making room for new ones to be added along the way.” By putting out the shimmering vibes as we all begin planning out our vacations, Junk Drawer offers to be the soundtrack to your summer.

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Interview: NAMAZU

NAMAZU
Adam Grundy

Recently I was able to connect with the band called NAMAZU to discuss their latest music. Their new single, called “ICE 800” is a slick mix of big rock hooks paired with tight musicianship. In this interview, I asked the band about where they got their name from, the bands they’ve shared billings with, and what is coming next for NAMAZU. If you’re enjoying the new music video, please consider supporting the band here.

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Rise Against to Release ‘Transistor Revolt’ Demos

Rise Against
Jason Tate

Rise Against are releasing the “Transistor Revolt” demos on vinyl.

In June 1999, after the demise of 88 Fingers Louie, I was looking to start a new project. It took some time, but after several months, we settled on a lineup we were confident in. Once solidified, we recorded nine songs in our hometown of Chicago, but struggled to find a name. We eventually settled on Transistor Revolt. Our demo made its way to several independent record companies, including Fat Wreck Chords, who initially weren’t interested. We asked Mike to spend some time with it, and he eventually came around with the caveat that we change the name. Our drummer at the time suggested the name “Rise Against”, and it stuck. Soon after, we wrote, recorded, and released The Unraveling, marking the humble beginnings of Rise Against.

Joe Principe (Rise Against).
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Interview: Melissa Locker

Melissa Locker
Adam Grundy

Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with author Melissa Locker to discuss everything that went into her newly released book, And After AIl: A Fan History of Oasis. In this interview, I asked Melissa about the number of Oasis fan interviews she conducted for research for the book, the coolest Oasis memorabilia she came across in fans’ collections, and a bit of a discussion on fan/”stan” culture today. The book is out today via Gallery Books at all major retailers here.

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Good Charlotte Talk with Kerrang

Good Charlotte
Jason Tate

Good Charlotte talked with Kerrang:

“Watching my little sister, this woman who I’ve known since she was seven and has loved Good Charlotte, and I love her husband – it was such a beautiful moment for our family,” he smiles. “And to be a part of it with Good Charlotte was not something I expected. Of course we would do anything for them, and so we went and played – and the band showed up. I fucking love these guys. They dropped everything, came, put effort into it, and we had this amazing time, which makes me love those guys. And we would all do that for each other. We were just laughing and hanging around and we were like, ‘We should make another record.’

Warner Music Group Announces Mass Layoffs

Warner Music
Jason Tate

Digital Music News:

Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced a significant new round of layoffs as part of a sweeping restructuring and cost-savings initiative. The news comes from a staff memo from CEO Robert Kyncl that went out to staff today, July 1.

This move marks yet another major workforce reduction at the company, which has undergone several rounds of layoffs and reorganization since Kyncl assumed his leadership role in 2023.

While the exact number of employees affected in this latest round has not been disclosed, a Securities & Exchange Commission memo details that WMG aims to achieve approximately $170 million in savings through workforce reductions. This is part of a broader plan to cut annual costs by $300 million, with the remaining $130 million coming from reductions in administrative and real estate expenses.

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