Self-released – Release Date: 1/25/19

Last month, AM Taxi released their first new music in over two years and their first full-length since 2010, called Shiver by Me. Recorded by Joe Gac and Shane Hendrickson, and mixed by Sean O’Keefe, the album captures the energy of the band’s live shows and takes elements of their past work and pushes it forward. The record gets underway with “Saint Jane,” an energetic opening track that’s propelled by the skillful bass lines of Jason Schultejann. Its lyrics are slightly self-deprecating, but also talk about making the best of a bad situation. “Harpoon” utilizes a unique back-and-forth tempo to establish its mood, while guitarist Jay Marino delivers an inventive solo that likely represents the album’s best lead guitar work. “Movie About Your Life” is one of the most accessible songs here, with an acoustic intro that naturally transitions to an exceptionally catchy chorus. Its message urges listeners to lead a passion-filled existence, (“If they made a movie about your life, would anybody see it twice? / Are the characters and the plot worth the ticket price?”). At the midway point, a subtle electric guitar lead emerges, welcoming the rest of band to join in and spotlighting the talents of drummer Chris Smith. The whole group goes through the chorus one last time before ending the song at the perfect spot, leaving the listener wanting just a little more.

“Stuck Around” is an up-tempo, Springsteen-esque rocker, led by the urgent and assured vocals of singer/guitarist Adam Krier. Of all the songs on Shiver by Me, it’s probably most similar to their first record, but sounds like more of a natural progression from that point. “Shaken over You” is arguably the most ambitious song on the album, complete with a danceable rhythm, piano accents and creative songwriting. There’s also trombone and saxophone parts included, which are reminiscent of Pleased to Meet Me-era Replacements. The record concludes with “Warsaw Blues,” a somber track that laments a strained relationship, (“Warsaw Blues and the rhythm holds you tight / the melody was there but the timing wasn’t right”). Former members Luke Schmitt, (keyboards and backing vocals) and John Schmitt, (backing vocals) lend a hand to help solidify this climactic closing song.

Shiver by Me contains elements of punk, classic rock and power pop, but it’s really the impressive songwriting and musicianship that shine through most. There’s also plenty of diversity amongst these songs, most of which feature big hooks that were seemingly written with ease. With this album, AM Taxi has taken a significant step forward in evolving their sound. They’ve also produced a collection of songs that are tailor-made for live shows, a setting where this band is at its best.

Wiretap Records – Release Date: 1/11/19

On their debut full-length, Radar State simply exceeds any expectations that one might have had for this album. For those unfamiliar with the band, their lineup includes Matt Pryor and Jim Suptic of The Get Up Kids, Josh Berwanger of The Anniversary, and Adam Phillips of The Architects. While the influence of the aforementioned acts can’t be denied, it’s important to note that Radar State is very much its own unique band, and one that’s far more interested in creating something new than it is rehashing the past. The record fittingly opens with the title track, which highlights Pryor’s signature vocal style and delivers a chorus that’s instantly memorable. “Anywhere” is another quality entry, packed with melodic guitar leads and a sing-along chorus courtesy of Berwanger. “Making Me Feel” finds Suptic assuming lead vocals for what is one of the album’s more pop-influenced songs. It’s not only cleverly written, but also sounds radio-friendly without being contrived.

“Self Hurt Guru” appears towards the middle of the record and with its blistering pace is easily the fastest song found on Strays. Pryor is back on lead vocals for this track, which features dueling guitar leads during the verses and gang vocals in the chorus. Simply put, it’s one of the most up-tempo and fun entries on the album. The pace slows a bit on the next song, “Artificial Love,” a more traditional rock ‘n’ roll number with a slight Tom Petty influence. The call and response vocals during its chorus and the inventive rhythms of drummer Adam Phillips help to solidify this as one of Strays’ strongest tracks. Towards the latter part of the record, three of the most noteworthy songs can be found. “Good Catholic” addresses those who twist religion to fit their own distorted and hateful agendas, (and simultaneously sounds like a sped-up version of The Get Up Kids). “Leather Dye” has a distinct ‘80s rock vibe and boasts one of the album’s catchiest choruses, while “Victims of Fashion” offers arguably Strays’ best guitar solo, complete with Eddie Van Halen finger-tapping.

This record is very much a complete work that incorporates a variety of genres in its overall sound. Compared to the members’ previous bands, Radar State embraces more of a punk-leaning, straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll approach. Having three singer-songwriters is also a definite advantage, especially when they’re not trying to outshine one another and instead just do what’s best for each song, (as is the case here). In short, Strays is a quality album from start to finish, with first-rate musicianship displayed throughout.

Catch Radar State w/ Archie Powell & The Exports and Wet Tropics on 2/2/19 at Cobra Lounge.

Photos by Katie Hovland

Artwork by Frank Okay // Photos by Katie Hovland

We’re happy to unveil the single day lineups for this year’s Ian’s Party, which kicks off on Friday, January 4th. Opening night will feature Salvation, Montrose Man, Fitness, Absolutely Not, ONO, Ganser, and others at Subterranean. Bands will be playing both upstairs and downstairs stages. On the same evening, Chop Shop will host Toys That Kill, Drilling For Blasting, The Brokedowns, Bust!, The Slow Death, Butcher’s Union and more. Chop Shop will divide its stage in half for the event, with bands playing on either side to limit downtime between sets. There’s also a late show on Friday at Chop Shop with Canadian Rifle and others. Click here to view…

Earlier this month, Jason S. Thompson released his latest EP and first for Paper + Plastick, called Half Empty. Thompson previously played in The Sky We Scrape and is a current member of Little Teeth. The record was written throughout his move from Chicago to Germany and was recorded entirely in Thompson’s home. When detailing the writing process, he said “Some of these songs are older songs that I reworked for the album because I thought they would be a good fit, and others are only a few months old. The most recent is ‘Timezones’ and I wrote that one during the recording of Half Empty. The overall writing process for more ‘solo’ stuff was during the swan song phase of my old band, The Sky We Scrape. I had a small batch of songs that weren’t a great fit for TSWS, and since that band was breaking up, I decided to rework them into something I could do on my own.” He continued, “Another large factor for Half Empty was my move to Germany. Focusing on a solo album is a much easier way to create when you move away from your social and musical circle that you’ve been with your entire life, so that made it an easier transition.”

Recording at home had both advantages and difficulties, according to Thompson. It allowed him to learn more about engineering while simultaneously taking his time, but it also didn’t provide a distraction-free environment that a typical studio often does. In terms of the finished product, he said “My favorite aspect of how Half Empty was recorded is probably the fact that I let myself make mistakes and not make it a ‘perfect’ album. I wanted it to be more of a reflection of what a small living room show might be like. I make some flubs at times and sometimes you’ll hear some fret buzz or scraping. Sometimes the notes aren’t perfect, but for this album I didn’t want to stress about that. When I play live, I’m not going to be perfect and this is sort of a reflection of that mentality.”

We’re streaming one of the album’s tracks below, which Thompson wrote when he was at a crossroads in life. He explained, “I was working at a job where I wasn’t feeling creatively fulfilled and my old band was offered our second tour of Europe, so I had to make the decision to either stay at that job or to take the tour. I quit my job and made the jump to freelance so that I could go on tour, and the song is basically me working through that at the time.” He added, “It was one of the best decisions I ever made and after a year of freelance the same company I left offered me a new job where I’d be able to live half the year in Germany and half the year in Chicago. I ended up going back to them after a year off and that’s what ultimately led me to moving to Germany full-time. Now I’m over here in Munich and whenever I play that song I always laugh because this is not how I expected it to all play out when that song was written.”

Check out the song now and order a digital copy of the record here, (this version has an optional enamel pin). The record is also available with custom whiskey rocks glasses and those can be ordered here. Lastly, 25% of all Bandcamp proceeds will go to Hope for the Day, an organization that is committed to suicide prevention and mental health education.

On November 23rd, The Eradicator will release its new EP, called The Court’s Closed on Christmas. It will be made available by three different labels: Underground Communiqué Records, Programme Skate & Sound, and Stonewalled. For those unfamiliar with the band, their identity is centered around a sketch from Kids in the Hall by the same name. According to singer/guitarist Andy Slania, the idea for this EP stemmed from a desire to put out new music between LPs, as they plan on releasing their second full-length next year. He further detailed the EP’s concept, stating “I’ve had the idea for a while in terms of approaching this character doing cover songs, but adapting the lyrics to fit the character. I only had one or two songs off the bat that I was looking to interject into the live show, but then with the idea of doing a ‘midterm’ release and the concept of the holiday song, it just made sense to record a bunch of covers and continue the build out of the character as to why he wants to do cover songs.”

The EP was recorded by Pete Grossmann at Bricktop Recording, who also recorded the band’s debut album. When asked to describe their time in the studio, Slania said “Recording with Pete is always a treat, especially since this band is made up of people from different locations with different schedules. Our songwriting process is me writing everything in my practice space and then emailing it out to everyone to learn, so the majority of the time we don’t actually play the song as a band before it’s recorded. Pete has a lot of patience for us to learn songs as we’re recording them. If we went with someone who wasn’t patient with us, it would be way more difficult and a downer.”

We’re streaming the title track off the EP below, which was inspired by Slania wondering how the Eradicator character would feel about Christmas. He explained, “I just imagined him going on with his usual day and then realizing on his way to the squash court that it was closed, and focusing on that moment in time and writing the song about his reaction to that. I also thought the melody of ‘Frosty the Snowman’ would fit, so I went with that from a structural perspective.” The band’s next scheduled show is December 22nd at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee, followed by a special Christmas Day show in Union, IL. Take a listen to the song now and preorder the record here.

All photos by Katie Hovland. Click on a photo to enlarge!

Below photos by Katie Hovland

Earlier this month, Smoking Popes released their latest full-length, called Into the Agony. We recently met up with lead guitarist Eli Caterer and discussed the new album at length. We spoke about the return of original drummer Mike Felumlee and how his involvement in many ways sparked the band to write new material. We also talked about the manner in which the album was recorded and their desire to capture more of a live feel. In doing so, there are moments on Into the Agony that are suggestive of the Popes’ first two LPs, but at the same time there’s a host of new influences present, including several political songs. Additionally, we addressed their upcoming show with Jawbreaker and Naked Raygun, their November tour dates and more. Click here to view…

All photos by Katie Hovland

On Friday, January 4th – Sunday, January 6th, the 12th annual Ian’s Party will take place at Chop Shop and Subterranean. Nearly 40 bands have been confirmed for the event so far, including The Brokedowns, Canadian Rifle, Drilling For Blasting, Elephant Gun, The House That Gloria Vanderbilt, Meat Wave, Sincere Engineer, Toys That Kill and many others. Also, we’re proud to announce that The Arrivals will be playing Ian’s Party 2019, marking their first hometown show in over five years. Beginning today, weekend passes are available at the presale price of $40 and can be purchased here. As of November 1st, weekend passes will be $60. Check back for further details as more announcements will be made soon.

Tiny Engines – Release Date: 9/28/18

Within seconds of listening to the opening track on LP5000, it’s plainly evident that Restorations have found a new sense of focus and made significant strides since their last full-length. And that’s not to say anything derogatory about their previous work. Rather, this album is simply confirmation of a really good band turning the corner and becoming great. The first song, “St.,” establishes a mood of disillusion and disconnect that’s present throughout, yet there’s also a sense of resistance that’s never too far out of reach. Singer/guitarist Jon Loudon’s vocals are nothing short of commanding, leading the charge of an empathetic chorus, “I’ll tell you what you already know / Can’t do this all on your own.” “Nonbeliever” deals with the inevitable ways in which relationships change over time, as well as societal changes that are perhaps unavoidable too. It features interwoven guitar leads and inventive rhythms, both of which collaborate to make for one of the record’s most memorable tracks. “The Red Door” is an indie rock-leaning entry that’s exceedingly catchy, but in a manner that’s unique and unpredictable. It addresses the ongoing gentrification in the band’s hometown of Philadelphia, a theme that surfaces multiple times on the record.

The production, courtesy of Jon Low, (The National, Frightened Rabbit) draws attention to the subtleties of the songwriting, while simultaneously making complex arrangements sound effortless. And as much as LP5000 is about Restorations reaching their apex, it’s also centered on observations, both in terms personal connections and what it’s like to be living in today’s America. In that sense it’s very much rooted in the present, yet this record is also somewhat timeless as it’s one of the best examples of anthemic rock ‘n’ roll to come along in years.

Next month, Asian Man Records will release Colossal’s debut album, Welcome the Problems, for the first time on vinyl. The label initially released the full-length on CD in 2004. Colossal formed in Elgin, Illinois in 2001 and at the time of this recording their lineup consisted of singer/guitarist Pat Ford, guitarist/singer/trumpet player Jason Flaks, drummer/singer Rob Kellenberger and bassist Eli Caterer. When asked as to why this album is now being re-released, label owner Mike Park said “People kept asking me about it. The band never said a thing. It was strictly folks messaging me and asking if it would be released on vinyl. Originally, I didn’t do the vinyl for this. A small, now defunct label called Grey Flight Records did, so I wanted to have this in our discography.”

As part of this re-release, the record was fully remastered by Carl Saff. A total of 600 copies were pressed, with 300 on white vinyl and 300 on black. When speaking about why this album is special to him, Park said “Because I slept on it. When I first put this out, I wasn’t a big fan to be honest. I think I mostly originally put this out just because of my relationship with Rob Kellenberger and Slapstick. Basically, any member of Slapstick I would say ‘yes’ to whatever they brought to the table. And so that was the case with Colossal. I didn’t love it and that makes me angry because I listen to it now and go ‘geez…this shit is insane.’”

We’re streaming the album’s second track below, “The Serious Kind,” which exemplifies the band’s progressive arrangements and penchant for melody. Pre-order the record here and expect it to ship by mid-October.

Fat Wreck Chords – Release Date: 8/31/18

With Peace and Love, Swingin’ Utters continue to defy the notion that long-running bands can’t compose songs that are on par or better than their early material. Since returning from a seven-year hiatus in 2010, Swingin’ Utters have repeatedly challenged that perception, with Peace and Love likely being the strongest of their recent output. One reason for this is the latest additions to their lineup. Bassist Tony Teixeira and drummer Luke Ray represent the new rhythm section, and some will no doubt recognize them as members of Cobra Skulls. Their involvement adds layers of new influences and an energetic spirit that can’t be overlooked. Guitarist/singer Jack Dalrymple, (Dead To Me, One Many Army, toyGuitar) has been part of the group since 2006 and continues to lend his talents in a variety of areas, while singer Johnny “Peebucks” Bonnel and guitarist/singer Darius Koski represent the unwavering founding members.

Despite its title of Peace and Love, this is perhaps Swingin’ Utters’ most political record to date. According to Koski, “We don’t generally write very pointedly political songs. We tend to be a little more vague and abstract. But this one is pretty pointedly disgusted and pissed off and really directly attacking these fuckin’ people in office.” For further evidence, reference the song “Yes I Hope He Dies.” Another interesting aspect of this album is the fact that many of its best songs are found on the second half, including “Demons of Springtime,” “Human Potential” and “Drinkist.” The record concludes with “H.L.S.,” a touching tribute penned by Dalrymple for his One Many Army bandmate Heiko Schrepel, who passed away in 2015. It begins with only acoustic guitar and Dalrymple’s vocals, which are equally chilling and beautiful, before the rest of the band kicks in, providing both a fitting end to the song and the album.

Peace and Love straddles the line between old school punk and contemporary inspirations. It’s filled with vigor, angst and a notable level of musicianship. It also benefits from the production of Grammy-winning engineer Chris Dugan, (Green Day, Iggy Pop). Whether you’re a longtime fan or relatively unfamiliar with the band, you owe it to yourself to check this out now.

Last month, Still Alive released a new EP, called Assemble. We caught up with singer/guitarist Dan Alfonsi and discussed the band’s decision to put out the record themselves, as well as how recording went and the meaning behind some of the songs. We also talked about the EP’s cover art, the origins of its title and what else Still Alive has planned for this year. Assemble finds the band, (also consisting of guitarist/singer Dom Burdi, bassist Bryan Schroth and drummer Mikey Cervenka) experimenting with the boundaries of their sound and embracing a heavier tone. In addition, there’s still a wide range of influences present, but also increasingly intricate songwriting and a greater sense of overall cohesion. Be sure to check out the EP in its entirety here. Click here to view…

Photos by Katie Hovland

On August 25th, 350 Fest 4 will take place at the Tinley Park Convention Center. The Descendents, Less Than Jake, Smoking Popes, A Wilhelm Scream, Mest, Sincere Engineer and Burn Rebuild are all playing the event. In addition, over 25 different 350 Brewing Company beers will be available, with each beer priced at only $5. There’s also live wrestling, a hot wing challenge and more. We recently spoke with 350 Brewing employee Justin Maynard regarding the details of this year’s fest. Click here to view…