Good Charlotte Talk With Rolling Stone

Good Charlotte

Good Charlotte talked with Rolling Stone:

We all feel that way sometimes. It’s OK to feel that way. When I say, “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t born at all,” I don’t mean it where I want to be gone. I am not suicidal and, thank God, I’m not depressed. But I’ve had times in my life where I was, and I had to figure that out, and it was a lot of work to figure out my own mental health and self-esteem. I’m still working on all of it all of the time. We’re all a work in progress.

Sometimes you have moments in life where it’s really fucking hard. It has nothing to do with your family or your success or your failure or whatever. But it’s a moment of aloneness, and you question stuff, and even have to give yourself the room to feel OK with those moments. That line, that just came out of me. I feel like everyone can relate to it, no matter who they are. They have those moments where they have to take a knee or let out a deep sigh or whatever, and then just keep getting on with it. 

Review: West Friends – Junk Drawer

West Friends - Junk Drawer

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.

Read More “West Friends – Junk Drawer”

Interview: NAMAZU

NAMAZU

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.

Read More “NAMAZU”

Rise Against to Release ‘Transistor Revolt’ Demos

Rise Against

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).
Read More “Rise Against to Release ‘Transistor Revolt’ Demos”

Interview: Melissa Locker

Melissa Locker

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.

Read More “Melissa Locker”