Icons of Punk News/Updates

Anyone familiar with Long Island knows that Club Loaded offers an array 
of shows eclectic enough to please any pallet. Anti-Flag, Shadows 
Fall, God Forbid, Explosions in the Sky...just a few of their upcoming 
shows.

Over the summer months, Club Loaded @ The Crazy Donkey will be hosting 
Open Mic Night on Monday's (starting 06/02).  The Open Mic is All Ages
 and All Styles, so bands, go visit their website and get to practice!

Check out clubloaded.com! 

Posted by robg at 10:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Come join Icons of Punk on Saturday, 03/29, at Club Gravity, Levittown, NY. IOP's own Kristin will be Guest Bartending all night, KROCK will be
 hosting the evening, drink specials, go go dancers...the list goes on!
  If you live in the NY area, send us an email at: list@iconsofpunk.com 
 and we will add you on our list.  Make sure to put your name, plus
 however many guests you are bringing along with you in the Subject line.

For more information, please visit: myspace.com/clubvoltage

Posted by robg at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Gorilla Biscuits have been playing shows here and there, most recently in 2006 for a US tour, followed by a European tour last year.  CIV reportedly has not played since 2000, the year they disbanded. 

This is gonna be one hell of a show.

 
Also playing at the show of the year:

Agnostic Front
Madball
Terror
Breakdown
Fahrenheit 451
Backfire
Death Before Dishonor
Bloodclot
Setback  
EGH
Inhuman
Tears of Frustration
Brick by Brick

Posted by Kristin at 06:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Pennywise guitarist, Fletcher Dragge, while discussing their decision to release the new album, 'Reason to Believe' for free:

"It's all about the vehicle that delivers the message - and this time the vehicle is a Ferrari." 

Speaking with the OC Register, the foursome discussed why they choose to make the decisions they did, and how although giving away album's for free is an amazing opportunity, it is also walking a fine line.

I really enjoyed how they addressed such issues, as most people are looking only at the benefits of giving away an album.  Yes, it's incredibly awesome and there is, without a doubt, the opportunity to reach many, many, many more people...much more than you would in the old fashioned get-off-your-ass-and-go-to-the-local-record-store kind of way, but there are ever present downfalls, also.  Like, people are lazy and selfish.  This could easily set up little minds to expect more than they already do.

Gotta love the Catch 22. 

Posted by Kristin at 02:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by robg at 08:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"...the 160-square-mile chunk of ice — which may have formed more than 1,500 years ago — began collapsing late last month, but now it’s begun a fast dissolve, due in no small part to the effects of global warming, scientists say...Basically it’s more evidence of global warming...Essentially our runway just fell off.”

A lot of people have had plenty to say about the attempted trip, but I have to hand it to those Fall Out Boy's; when they speak, the kids listen.  Over the past few years, they have drawn attention to a few different charities and causes, most notably, Invisible Children and Pete Wentz hosting a fundraiser for Presidential Candiate, Barack Obama, in his home state of Chicago.  While other artists are happy to reap the benefits of being "rock star status" by ordering up some hookers and blow, these guys seem to want to use their caliber to benefit the greater good.  I can not tell you how much I respect that.  Seriously, they could be the biggest jerks and I would still respond "Yeah, but look what they're doing.  They're proably just tired..."

While the Antarctica trip has been delayed (canceled?  Not quite sure.) you can not say that they did not succeed with at least one portion of their mission.  If Fall Out Boy had not announced this trip, how many people do you honestly believe would have been privy to the fact that the ginormous chuck of ice collapsed?  How many kids would be looking at different websites, gathering information on the state of the Antarctica during the wrath of Global Warming?  I mean, Leonardo DiCaprio and Al Gore sure have had some things to say, but let us admit that even they have not reached these kids on a level that FOB has. 

So, to Fall Out Boy I offer my congratulations.  You may not have set a World Record, but you did make tons of people aware.  In my opinion, that's better than any award...except for maybe Greg Graffin's.  Come on, it makes Devil Dog's! 

And to George W. Bush:  "...???!!??..." 

Posted by Kristin at 07:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Press Release:

Harvard University's prominent community of atheists and agnostics is poised to honor a rock star and scientist whom they argue is an ideal role model for the nation's millions of non-religious youth.

The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard has gained considerable national attention in the past year for its unique approach to building a culture and community for the non-religious, and this April 26 it will give its highest honor, the "Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism," to a unique figure: Dr. Greg Graffin, frontman of the influential punk rock band Bad Religion. Graffin, whose "day job" since 1980 has been recording and extensive worldwide touring with a band boasting such hits as "How Could Hell be Any Worse" and "American Jesus," earned his PhD in Zoology at Cornell and is a member of the UCLA's Faculty in Biology, teaching Life Sciences courses covering Darwin and natural selection. Graffin will give an acoustic performance after accepting the award.

"I always put education high on my list of priorities because I thought, wouldn't it be neat if you can have a singer of your favorite band who also has something more to offer than looking cool -– which I don't -– or dressing cool -– which I don't;" Graffin said. "Those are the things that I try to inspire young people to do, whether it is in the lecture hall or on stage on the Warped Tour."

But Bad Religion, considered among the most influential modern punk bands, has been known for inspiring young people towards a particular set of ideas: those of atheism and Humanism. Graffin's lyrics make plain his passionate disbelief in God. Yet the Harvard Humanists cite his faith in the ability of music and science to improve the world as making the singer unique.

"So much attention gets heaped onto polemicists like Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens, but Graffin is a truly deserving candidate for the face of atheism,'" said Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain of Harvard University.

The award, intended to honor a Humanist or atheist having made a lasting impact on US culture, was presented last year to renowned novelist Sir Salman Rushdie before a sold-out audience of 1100 that Rushdie likened to a celebration of "Atheistmas," and will once again be conferred at Harvard's Memorial Church, the official University Chapel. Graffin was selected for this year's award by the Harvard Secular Society, an undergraduate student group affiliated with the Humanist Chaplaincy.

Posted by Kristin at 07:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Don't forget to check out the IOP interview with 2* Sweet bassist, Dave Cronin, and to bring them tasty snack treats during their upcoming tour.

Posted by Kristin at 08:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

First off, whenever this guy threw out the term "bro-core", I was reminded of that chick in Mean Girls who was so anxious to have the word "Fetch" take off...August, stop trying to make bro-down work! It's not going to happen!

Anyway, this article did have a few valid points and opinions that I was happy to read about, but one of the problems that I have is that too many people are so quick to throw Pete Wentz and Gerard Way in an article about emo, to the point where their names being mentioned completely takes away from any story relevence...follow what I am saying?  For example, I am not a Fall Out Boy fan.  I don't hate the band, it's just not my thing.  The amount of people that are like "blah blah blah, Pete Wentz, blah, blah, blah, suck" is really getting on my nerves.  In fact, I believe that the FOB bassist is actually being smart about things.  He knows that the music is probably not going to be around forever and is exploring other avenues.  How people can question that is beyond me, but, I digress.

Maybe it's me, but I don't think that Pete Wentz or Gerard Way are comparable with, say, someone like Chris Carrabba...who is an expert on singing about all things whiny.  Then again, I suppose I just mentioned someone all too predicatable, also, didn't I?  Whatever.  The way I see it, it's not unlike asking a high school student to write up an essay on World War II.  Odds are, you're going to get an essay written about D-Day or Concentration Camps.  It's not that they're not important, but there was other shit going on, too.  When these journalists throw out the most obvious names, I question how much they know about what they are writing about.  It seems so lazy to me.  I will give August some credit, though.  He shares his love of Bad Religion and also (sort of) makes fun of Blink 182.  He faltered again with even mentioning Paramore, at all (I don't care if he was being sarcastic or not), but he picked right back up when I re-read and noticed that he admitted to liking the new Panic at the Disco album; It really is good...I know, it surprised me, too. 

Check it out for yourselves and let me know what your opinions on the article are.

Posted by Kristin at 07:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Like we need any more reasons to be lazy, right?  I know I don't, but I am sure that at some point or another I will be using this as an excuse...like I don't already have all of the seasons two rooms over. 

Someone make me popcorn.

Posted by Kristin at 06:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

And the best part?  The show is FREE!  Check their MySpace page for further details: 

I love Anti-Flag; I do not love the fact that I will probably miss this show.  The rest of you NY and NJ peeps should high tail your asses to the City, though.  Seeing Anti-Flag at the Knitting Factory is something you probably do not want to miss.

Posted by Kristin at 06:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Congratulations from the IOP staff go to 2* Sweet for being named the
 Unsigned Band of the Month!  Check out our interview with 2* Sweet
 bassist, Dave Cronin, and make sure to check their My Space for some awesome
 music, tour dates and general good times.

Posted by Kristin at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Holy fucking hell, it's true!  Earth.ling Mass.ive have decided to appease all of us fans who have been foaming at the mouth for the past few years, anxiously awaiting news of a reunion show.  On Saturday, June 7th, the Earth.ling crew will take the stage at Mulcahy's in Centereach, NY, for an evening that is sure to go down as one of the best reunion shows, ever.

Further details when I get 'em.


-Thank you to George Reynolds for making my world a little brighter with that news.

Just added! An IOP exclusive interview with CHARLIE BENANTE, drummer of ANTHRAX! Upon receiving the phone call that informed me of an opportunity to interview Charlie Benante, you would have thought that a 15 year old girl had just entered my kitchen.  I yelled into the phone “are you fucking kidding me?!?”  I was being offered, what I knew to be, a highlight of my career...and that’s when the reality set in.  After more than 25 years together, what would one ask a member of Anthrax that has not already been asked, hundreds of times over? - By Kristin - 3/08

Posted by Kristin at 04:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just added! An IOP exclusive interview with CHRIS GUTIERREZ! Every once in a while you come across someone whose will and determination to go “against the grain” are so strong you can not help but sit up and take notice. When such an uncompromisable desire is so great, it demands recognition; meet Christopher Gutierrez. At 33 years old he has managed to self publish two books (‘A Life Deliberate’ and ‘On the Upswing of Life, Love and Regret’) is recognized and well received as a spoken word artist, and a champion advocate for all of the outcasts and underdogs.

Recently, I had an opportunity to speak with Chris and, admittedly, I was stoked. Chris is notorious for being completely candid and honest. Hoping to find out how a less than calm childhood and such a staunch love of music parlayed into a life deliberate; I was anxious.

The interview took an interesting and incredibly meaningful turn, and it ended up being one of my favorite conversations with an artist, to date. - By Kristin - 3/08

Posted by Kristin at 04:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just added! An IOP exclusive interview with DOUG ROBINSON of THE SLEEPING! As a music enthusiast, there are (unfortunately) few moments in time where you feel blown away by the industry and what it has presented. In order for me to consider calling a band “good”, it takes a lot more than just producing music that catches me. I want to know that you are willing to work for it and there need to be assurances that you are decent human beings.

I recently met up with Doug Robinson of The Sleeping, and the hour or so that we spent talking about their albums, motivations and unforeseeable tragedies left me knowing and feeling that there are still artists out there getting it right and who truly do want to make a difference. - By Kristin - 3/08

Posted by Kristin at 04:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just added, an IOP exclusive interview with DAVE CRONIN of 2 * SWEET! These days, finding bands that make me not want to roll my eyes is a rarity. Even harder to find, are bands that are able to showcase a sound that has many influences, and hear them pull it off sounding tight rather than confused…know what I mean?

Fortunately, my constant internet perusing led me to 2* Sweet. Made of up five guys from Chicago, 2* Sweet have flipped the proverbial bird to anyone who has stated that you can’t make “heavier” music sound fun. They’re unbelievably catchy and with a style range that would stop any seasoned veteran dead in their tracks.

Some time after dancing around our office to their music (it warrants such antics, trust me) and quite a few declarations of “you have to hear this band”, I set out to speak with someone…anyone from 2* Sweet. I had a strong feeling that these are the guys to watch out for and I was all over it. I get excited anytime I come across a band that is not getting the proper amount of attention. It gives me a chance to promote a band that deserves it and maybe find a few new fans for them, that’s pretty much as sweet as it gets.

Dave Cronin was kind enough to speak with me in betweens the bands tours, having just returned from trekking through the winter weather of the East Coast. The conversation that took place between us was rather fun, honest and light-hearted. As such, I decided to take the interview a step further. Not only do I truly believe in this band, but the entire time I talked with Dave it was apparent that this band has heart, determination and spirit. No, really, it’s true.

And so, I give you: 2* Sweet, the first ever Icons of Punk Unsigned Band of The Month. I hope you all enjoy the interview and make sure to check out 2* Sweet via MySpace or whenever they roll through a town near you. - By Kristin - 3/08

Posted by Kristin at 04:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Kristin at 04:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)