OFF! + Trash Talk Tour

This tour sounds like a match made in heaven. OFF! (Keith Morris' new band) and Trash Talk will be hitting the road together this spring for an east coast run. I know that I say to go to all the tours that I post here, but this is the one you really, truly and honestly can't miss, ok? Ok. Cool.

3/22 Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
3/23 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
3/24 Washington, DC @ The Red Palace
3/25 Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar
3/26 New York, NY @ Santos Party House
3/28 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
3/30 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
3/31 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
4/1 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
4/2 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
4/3 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club

Let's Go! Music Fest NW - Portland

I will be trucking it on up to Portland tomorrow for MFNW 2010. The plan for the weekend is to go see dozens of bands and drink gallons of Stumptown. The set up is a little like CMJ and a little like SXSW in that you walk from venue to venue. It's not all in one spot. There are official shows and non-official ones happening throughout the city. About 100 of the best bands currently touring will be there. Here are a few friends that will be there.

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Frank Turner 11pm-11.45pm at Berbati's Pan SW 3rd and SW Ankeny - This guy kills it. Everyone in the UK knows about him. Take a hint. He's heading out on a tour back home shortly & will be on the road with Social Distortion for a full US tour this fall, too. Watch his newest video, The Road, on youtube & follow Frank Turner on Twitter.


Friday, September 10th, 2010

Death by Stereo 10-10.45pm at Satyricon 125 NW 6th Ave

Trash Talk 11pm-12.30am at Satyricon 125 NW 6th Ave - Follow them @trash_talk.


Man Man 11pm-12.30am at Hawthorne Theatre 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd - I just saw the guys play at FYF Fest in LA last weekend. They are too good live; weird and freaking out wearing warpaint as always. Fortunately, singer Honus Honus didn't break his leg. Follow them @wearemanman.


Saturday, September 11th, 2010

Cheap Girls - 9-9.45m Doug Fir 830 East Burnside St. - They are not girls so that means they are either hilarious, or they prefer inexpensive dates. Pick your poison. I just heard about them today from a trustworthy source. I'm in. They're playing with Japandroids & Jeff The Brotherhood. Follow them @cheap_girls.


Suckers - 11-11.45pm Berbati's Pan SW 3rd and SW Ankeny - After listening to Cheap Girls kill it, hopefully I'll be able to catch a bit of Suckers' set. They are a good time. Black Sheep is the jam. So is that tight lion blanket. Follow them @sssuckersss.


People Under the Stairs 11pm-12.30am at Hawthorne Theatre 3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

The big closer is The National from 7.30-9pm at Pioneer Courthouse Square SW Broadway and SW Yamhill

Full schedule for the festival is on MusicfestNW: Full Event List.

Trash Talk & Cancer Bats - New Tour Dates

The UK is totally going to get lucky in October & November. Trash Talk & Cancer Bats are touring together. Trash Talk has been keeping busy in the meantime. The band isn't farting around doing nothing. They keep a good blog with nice photos of everywhere they've been touring. Have a look. Trash Talk just played some crazy festival on a cliff. Look at that photo, America. No guard rails. That's how they thin the herd over there.





I'm starting a rumor via their twitter, too. Look who they've been hanging out with. Trash Talk <3's Surfer Blood. Awww.

Pre-Order Trash Talk's "Eyes & Nines"

The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings
And why the sea is boiling
And whether you have been insane and not pre-ordered this album yet because it rules

(That's how it actually is supposed to go)

Trash Talk's latest release Eyes & Nines is finally available for pre-order- and you have 5 different packages to choose from.

You can grab a CD + Digital Download, a Digital Download only, a 12" vinyl + Digital Download or, and get this, vinyl set with 4 records (limited to 100 pressings). The 5th option? You can add a shirt to any order for only $10. Oh yes- they went there. Plus all orders come with an immediate download of the video and mp3 of "Explode."

So pre-order. It's not really a request, but more that I'm telling you to do so. Not so sure what you are waiting for. Maybe you'd like to have a taste of what you'll be getting? Look no further:

FREE Song from Trash Talk's New Album

You can download the track "Explode," yes for free, from Trash Talk's newest album Eyes and Nines directly from their website. The full album will be released digitally on May 18th and you can find it on shelves starting June 8th. Since I know everyone reading this right now is going to buy this album (if you aren't, I may have to track you down), you might as well get a jump kick and grab this song!

The band's sophomore album will feature guest appearances from Bad Religion's Greg Heston as well as Matt Caughthrah of The Bronx.

To round out the release, the band will be heading out on the road in late April with Alexisonfire, Therefore I Am and La Dispute:

April 21st Cleveland, OH - Peabody's Down Under
April 22nd Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's Hall
April 23rd Buffalo, NY - The Town Ballroom
April 24th Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
April 25th Richmond, VA - Canal Club (Downstairs Lounge)
April 27th West Palm Beach, FL - Ground Control
April 28th Orlando, FL - The Social
April 29th St. Petersburg, FL - State Theatre
April 30th Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
May 01st Greensboro, NC - Greene Street Club
May 03rd Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
May 04th Dallas, TX - The Door
May 05th Austin, TX - Emo's
May 07th Mesa, AZ - The Nile
May 08th Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction
May 09th West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour
May 10th San Francisco, CA - Slim's
May 12th Portland, OR - Peter's Room
May 13th Seattle, WA - El Corazon
May 14th Boise, ID - The Venue
May 15th Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue's Club Sound
May 16th Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
May 18th Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
May 19th Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
May 21st New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
May 22nd Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
May 23rd Worcester, MA - The Palladium

Vans Exclusive: Trash Talk

I recently caught up with Trash Talk's front man Lee Spielman to catch up with what's going on now, the US punk/hardcore scene compared to the US and exactly why you should check out his band. And who listens to Lady GaGa!? Thanks again Lee for taking some time out of touring to talking with us!

---

So let's start out with what you guys are doing at the moment! You are on tour with my friends Gallows in the UK and they tell me the tour is going well. What's it like for you guys?

We actually just got home to California last night from the UK just in time for Christmas with our families! The tour with Gallows was so rad. We got to play to a bunch of new people who probably would have never heard of us if it wasn't for that tour. Playing to a new audience is the best. It's like starting over from scratch. We went down pretty well with all of their fans and what not so it worked out perfect. Touring with Gallows was super easy too because we all clicked right off the bat. It was like we've known each other forever or something haha. Touring with people you actually like to hang out with/get along with makes tour so much better.



I've also heard your live show is intimidating even Gallows fans. I know their antics are pretty intense, so what is it you guys are bringing to the table?

Haha we definitely scared a few people over there in the UK. When we play we just go for it 100%. There is no reason not too. It's hard for me to get into a band that doesn't give it their all when they are playing. Why should anyone be into a band that doesn't even seem to be into the music they are playing? We all feel that we should put 100% into everything we do with this band. Live show included... even if that means flipping your body off of everything in the building and throwing your guitar to the back of the room.



I've seen you have a release Eyes & Nines planned for 2010. Can you tell us a little more about that? What else do you have going on for next year?

We just finished recording our new LP "Eyes & Nines" with Joby Ford of The Bronx right before we left for the UK. The record is in the mixing stages right now. The final recording should be in our hands within the next few days. We are all super excited about this record. It's the first time that we have actually taken longer than 2 days to record a record! We took our time writing this record/recording it and I think it'll show. There are tons of surprises all over the record that will throw you for a loop. I think it is our best shit to date. It should be out sometime early [this] year. Keep your eyes and ears open for more details on that as they come. After the record comes out we plan on hitting the road full force like we always do. In 2010 I would love to hit Australia/Japan/Europe again plus some new places like Afghanistan and Africa.

What's the hardcore/punk/music scene like in Sacramento? Seems like you've been in the UK for the most part lately as well- how does that compare to the music scene in the States in general?

I honestly can't speak on the music scene in Sacramento that much because I'm barely ever here! We are on the road more than we are home as of late but there are tons of shows that go on here in Sacramento. There seems to be a solid scene with a good amount of bands and people working hard to keep it afloat. Northern California in general is always on top when it comes to hardcore/punk in California! The music scene in the UK/Europe is so different than the scene over here in America. It seems like people over in Europe are so much more pumped when bands come through because it doesn't happen all the time. Here in America it seems like people kinda take shit for granted sometimes cause they get to see every band they want too all the time. Both places are awesome in their own ways.

On a personal note, what music are you guys into? Do you typically listen the type of music you write?

Haha our music tastes are all over the board. It's insane! Our guitar player Garrett listens to a lot Soul/R&B/Rap. He actually just made a sweet soul mix tape for our friends clothing company Actual Pain(www.actualpain.org). You can download it for free from our blog(www.trashtalkca.blogspot.com). I highly recommend checking it out if you like groovin. Our bass player Spencer only listens to David Bowie/Little Boots. Our drummer Sam listens to a lot of different music. It's hard to put my finger on all of the shit he listens too. I exclusively listen to Tegan & Sara/Lady GaGa haha (joking.. kinda). It's pretty wild that our band sounds the way it does with all of the shit we listen too. I would like to think that we take influence from tons of different styles of music and create our own sound out of that.

Who are some of your favorite people you've worked it? Be it label-mates, who you've toured with, became friends, etc. etc.

This is such a hard question! I love most of the people we have worked with in one way or another. I would have to say my favorite person we have worked with would be Keith Morris (Circle Jerks/Black Flag). Having that dude sing on our record was gnarly. I've been listening to his music for a long time so to have him come into the studio and work with us was insane.

And of course I have to ask- if you could pick one style of Vans to live in the rest of your life, which would it be?

Vans Half Cabs! My favorite skate shoe of all time! Real shredders know what's up.

Let's wrap up with 3 reasons someone should check out your band.

1. It's a different experience every time. No two shows are the same when it comes to the crowds and us.
2. We are on tour for about 80% of the year so there is no reason you shouldn't come check us out when we come through your town!. Chances are we will probably be coming through pretty soon.
3. We know how to party.


As always, give them a listen. And luckily for you, Trash Talk will be heading out again soon (in the US) with Anti-Flag and Cancer Bats. It's a small run, but that's a tour you don't want to miss if it's coming near you.

1/19/2010 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
1/20/2010 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
1/22/2010 - Hollywood, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater
1/23/2010 - San Diego, CA @ Soma
1/25/2010 - Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse
1/27/2010 - Austin, TX @ Red 7