Guitars, Drums, Tones, and Saxophones

Hey there! If you’re going to THE FEST this year, and use an Android-based smartphone, have I got news for you! I’ve posted my FEST 10 schedule app to the Android Market, and you– YES YOU– can download it to your phone now! Hey wow, right? So hit the link below, and give it a look.

Click here to download the application!

And if you run into any bugs or weird issues, please let me know! I hope to get updates up fairly quickly.

2000 Miles b/w The Drone

So the contest is over, and I’d like to congratulate Vanessa for winning The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – “2000 Miles”/”The Drone” 7″!

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest, and to everyone who reposted/shared/retweeted this! Look forward to a return to regularly-scheduled content, and hopefully more contests down the line!

2000 Miles b/w The Drone

That’s right! I’ve got a copy of the new 7″ single from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, featuring their cover of “2000 Miles” by the Pretenders, and the Bosstones original “The Drone” on the b-side, and I want to give it away to one lucky reader!

What do you need to do? Simple! Just email gdts.blog@gmail.com with the subject line “I wanna win!” to be entered. The deadline to enter is January 14th.

Repost! Retweet! Share on Facebook! Good luck to everyone!

Here you go, a video of a quick little song Frank Turner did in a hotel room, Sunday night (Monday morning) at Fest 9. Enjoy!

Hometown Throwdown 13

Huzzah! The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have announced their annual Hometown Throwdown series of concerts, to be held, as you can see above, December 26th – 28th at the House of Blues in Boston, MA. Tickets are on sale through LiveNation this Saturday, October 23rd. I plan to be there for all three nights. How about you? Who would you like to see open the shows?

Fest!

Most people already know this, but if you’re just waiting for that Punknews.org post, get with it, people! Fest 9 is on, Halloween weekend in sunny Gainesville, FL. This will be my first Fest. The plane tickets have been purchased, and it’s time to start training my liver. The event is sponsored by Pabst, after all.

If you’re going, sound off! More details will be coming as they’re known. If you want to scoop as it happens, go hit up the Fest message board. I’m there as mcflynnthm.

Off With Their Heads

I feel like a news site up in here or something. Anyway! According to their Twitter, and this here article, Minneapolis’s favorite manic-depressive punks, Off With Their Heads, have signed to Epitaph Records, home of Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, the Weakerthans, Frank Turner, and a shit-ton of really terrible bands. I’m looking at you, Escape the Fate.

The move is somewhat surprising. I kinda figured them for a Fat Wreck-bound act, maybe doing one more on No Idea before moving on up. But hey, regardless, good for them! They’re one of the best bands out there now, and deserve to get as big as possible.

According to the linked article, they’ve got a new record dropping June 1st. It’s looking to be a good year.

Spring Heeled Jack

I almost never use the “News” category, because, well, this isn’t a news site, but if you haven’t heard the news:

Connecticut-based ska heroes Spring Heeled Jack are doing some reunion shows! And reissuing their albums Static World View and Songs From Suburbia on vinyl! If you’re not familiar with the band, they were awesome, and home to such fine folks as Chris Rhodes, who plays in the Mighty Mighty Bosstones these days, and JR of Less Than Jake before he was snorting PEZ with those lads.

Speaking of JR, he writes about the history of the band briefly in his blog, before making the big announcement. You can check out that post here.

Get stoked!

Update: Punknews.org has the story now, too. Only new detail is that Connecticut’s Asbestos Records will be handling the aforementioned re-releases. Check the story here. And while you’re at it, go take a look at the Asbestos Records site, and their offerings. The vinyl reissue of Big Daddy Multitude, in particular, is excellent.

The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem

My dad called me up to tell me that Liam Clancy, the last surviving original member of the Clancy Brothers, died today. Liam was perhaps my favorite singer of all time. If you haven’t heard The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem’s In Person at Carnegie Hall, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy. It shows the foursome at its finest, before a live audience.

This is really sad to hear. Liam made some wonderful music, as part of the group and solo, and he will be missed.

Have a strong pint for one of Ireland’s finest troubadours.

Further reading: NPR’s story on Liam.

Riot Fest 2009 promo poster

Chicago’s Riot Fest Records are once again putting on Riot Fest, a multi-day festival of awesome punk rock and ska. Last year’s festival featured ALL, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the Ergs!, Mustard Plug, the Methadones, the Lawrence Arms, the Bouncing Souls, and so many more awesome bands.

This year’s lineup includes:

• Screeching Weasel
• NOFX
• The Alkaline Trio
• Murder City Devils
• The Dead Milkmen
• Cock Sparrer

I went last year, just to the Sunday show, and it was truly excellent. I will definitely be back for 2009. Hell, Screeching Weasel alone would be enough to merit the trip.