Name Your Favorite Song

Do you have a favorite punk rock song? If so, let me know. What is the best punk rock song of all time? Name the song, band, and album title. Go!

Mine?
"Degenerate" by Blink-182, from "Take Off Your Pants And Jacket"

Photo: Blink-182 performing at their summer 2009 tour in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, taken by me.

Blink-182 in studio!

Back together again since a little before their summer 2009 tour, Blink-182 is currently in the studio recording for their new album. Check out some more details at www.himynameismark.com, where Mark Hoppus (find out more about him through the previous link), explains how Blink is going about recording their new album, how the songs are coming along, which instruments they are using, and more.

Blink-182 is a band that defines punk with their own unique style through their music, lyrics, and attitude. The members of Blink-182, bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker, all collaborate together musically to form Blink, along with working on other side projects. Mark produces other bands while hosting A Different Spin, Tom also belongs in Angels And Airwaves and takes a major part in the Macbeth Footwear company, and Travis recently created his own drum CD and runs Famous Stars And Straps clothing company. Along with these, each artist does much more.

Blink-182 just finished their European tour and plan to be recording their new album in the studio until late spring or early summer 2011.

Photo: Blink-182 on their summer 2009 tour in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, taken by me.

Fake Problems Updates

Fake Problems has an RSS feed that leads to their Tumblr, which is a social networking site used for blogging, updates, and latest news. Anyone can use Tumblr, from professional bands, groups and organizations, to aspiring writers, to people just looking to post and have fun. Follow Fake Problems' RSS feed to keep posted on their most recent updates. You can also follow them on Twitter: @fakeproblems.

Photo: Fake Problems' latest album, "Real Ghosts Caught On Tape," taken by me.

Not Quite Southern Rock

Check out an unusual style of punk rock through Fake Problems, a band that adds a little bit of home to their music. They take southern rock, and give it a new punk meaning.

Southern rock is a style of music, that by definition, incorporates a "down south" tone with repetitive beats, singing with tough and raspy vocals, banjo-sounding guitars, and southern-living themes. This genre can be found upon classical rock, in bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Fake Problems, a band from Naples, Florida, created their own type of southern sounds, mixing it with punk rock, and keeping their music modern as well. Like the southern rock style, Fake Problems use a tough southern-style vocal, but also incorporate soft singing in the mix. They keep a punk sound with two guitars, a bass guitar, and drums, but also add keyboards at times, making the music more upbeat. Their lyrics speak of love, challenges, and life in general. A southern hint lies within the lyrics when they mention religious aspects such as Heaven and hell.

Fake Problems play a variation of fast- and slow-paced songs. Their fast-pace songs incorporate some of that southern sound that's heard in some classical music, as mentioned before, but also maintains that quick, upbeat punk sound. Their slower songs are more relaxing and soft, but still incorporate all instruments. Altogether, Fake Problems show a different and unique kind of style with a mixture of their southern home and punk rock.

Fake Problems will be touring throughout the month of December on the East Coast. Check out the dates here.

Photos: (top left) Lead singer, Chris Farren, of Fake Problems, (bottom right) Fake Problems performing Warped Tour  2009 in Cleveland, Ohio, taken by me.

Talking With Relic 2

Here is part two of Talking With Relic. In this segment, Rick shares how punk rock has influenced and inspired him to play music. Relic's song, "Say It Again," off their album, "Nothing Sacred," is featured in this podcast. Check back soon to see how life is for Rick and Relic, touring on the road.

Relic podcast 2 sound clip

Keeping You Posted

If you didn't already notice, I added an RSS feed to Alternative Press magazine's website for anyone who read my post about the AP and is interested in staying up-to-date with the music. Keep reading!

Photo: Another one of my AP magazines from the collection, taken by me.

Top 10 Punk Bands

Let me know what you think! List your top ten favorite, most influential punk bands, one being the best on your list. If you have your own photos, feel free to add them as well, along with your name. If you listen to other genres of music, feel free to incorporate them too.

Here's mine:

1. Blink-182
2. Angels And Airwaves
3. Alkaline Trio
4. Less Than Jake
5. Anti-Flag
6. Street Dogs
7. Big D And The Kids Table
8. Gallows
9. Bad Religion
10. Flyleaf

There's much more, but here's a few that I love.

Photo: Less Than Jake performing Warped Tour 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio, taken by me.

AP Magazine

Here is a magazine that focuses on different genres of alternative music such as punk, pop-punk, metal, hardcore, and others, including news, features, tours, album releases, and more. This magazine is great for up to date information in the alternative music world and is personally one of my favorites, and has been for a pretty long time.

Alternative Press Magazine, also known as the AP Magazine, creates monthly issues for subscribers and the general public from its headquarters located in Cleveland, Ohio. They also keep an updated website that allows fans to navigate to find their latest magazine information, the AP Tour, podcasts, AP online store, and even more. It also allows fans to subscribe for the first time, or renew their subscriptions right at home. Fans can also order past issues off of their site.

Punk bands that AP Magazine has featured in the past are Blink-182, Green Day, and AFI. Along with featuring bands, AP also releases issues focusing on tours, such as Warped Tour, and special issues focusing a certain genre of bands, like punk. Their most recent issue features Anberlin.

Fans can follow AP Magazine on Twitter: @AltPress, which I strongly recommend because they post exclusive interviews and more.

Photo: Four of my AP Magazines, taken by me.

Talking With Relic

Meet Rick Pollo, bassist of Relic, a band from Youngstown, Ohio that recently toured through parts of the East Coast of the U.S. Listen to "Taking With Relic" part one, and stay tuned to hear how punk rock influenced Rick and Relic as a whole. Relic's song, "Break Through," from their most recent album "Nothing Sacred," is featured throughout the interview.

Relic podcast sound clip

Define Punk

Okay, here's a definition...Alkaline Trio.

Alkaline Trio, a band from Chicago, Illinois, consisting of Matt Skiba, Dan Adriano, and Derek Grant, are a great example of a punk band. They have a hard punk sound on many songs, and on others, a mellow sound unlike any other. Their most recent album, This Addiction, supported by Epitaph records includes lyrics that dig deep into love, addiction, and life experiences. The music carried that strong, defined AK3 sound and also added a new, refreshing chapter, as every CD expresses a different, unique style. This band proves that unique punk rock music still thrives.

Check out these AK3 songs: "Dead On The Floor," "I'm Dying Tomorrow"

Photo: Matt Skiba performing at Warped Tour 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio, taken by me.

A Different Spin

Tonight on Fuse TV the fourth episode of A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus premieres. 'A Different Spin,' hosted by major punk band Blink-182's Mark Hoppus, takes "a different spin" on musical interview shows by presenting cool interviews with new and up-coming artists, mainstream bands, and current and past musicians. While having a band member with years of experience interviewing the guests, along with hosting the show, also makes it different. Mark Hoppus has a co-host during each show too, Amy Schumer.

Mark Hoppus, if you don't already know, is the bassist and vocalist of Blink-182. While playing in Blink-182, he also works producing other bands and recently started up 'A Different Spin' with Fuse. Mark Hoppus expresses his musical talent in many ways, and does an awesome job balancing all of his work and taking on more projects. 'A Different Spin' just shows that artists can express their talents in numerous ways. Catch 'A Different Spin' on Fuse tonight at 7 p.m.

Blink-182 currently are working on recording for their new album, and recently returned from a European tour, while playing only one show in the United States, in California.

Photo courtesy of keepwaiting.net.

Ska Punk

Check out this style of punk through Less Than Jake.

Ska punk, another twist to punk rock music, sounds fast paced and up-beat, unless presenting a slower song, but includes unique instruments beyond the guitar, bass guitar, and drums. For example, ska bands may include instruments such as the saxophone, trombone, trumpet, and occasionally keyboards, along with the guitar, bass guitar, and drums. These instruments help create the punk sound, and also a type of sound that will most likely get you to move around and dance in the crowd.

An awesome example of a ska punk band is Less Than Jake, from Gainesville, Florida. The instruments that Less Than Jake use include a guitar, bass guitar, drums, saxophone, and trombone. Their music is mostly up-beat and comical with a punk rock sound, incorporating the feel of ska. They also play live music that gets the crowd jumping and moving around. These videos are some of their most popular songs, and more videos of LTJ are available on YouTube.

After their last show in the United States, at the Riot Fest in Chicago, Less Than Jake will be touring overseas in Japan, the UK, other venues throughout Europe, and more.

If you like Less Than Jake, a couple other ska bands you might be interested in include Big D And The Kids Table and Reel Big Fish.

Photo: Less Than Jake performing Warped Tour 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio, taken by me.