Late Nite Wars, Grammar Not Included

Can you remember a time when bands were just out to make music for the sake of making music? A time when fashion and overnight internet success meant nothing to those who called themselves punk. It's tough, right? 

In a scene that seems to have lost all sense of itself one band stands apart, hoping to bring punk back to punk. Late Nite Wars. They're a group of five friends doing what they love, playing music for people, and astronauts, who appreciate it.

"We try to stay true to our roots," said LNW lead singer Kevin Quinn. "We play what we love to play, and grew up listening to. All of us have different styles, but where we overlap is what makes us unique."

LNW are certainly different in their style of pop-punk infused hardcore. It's easy to hear their influences, The Movielife, Piebald and even blink-182, when listening to anything off their EP. Coming from the Massachusetts hardcore scene, could we really expect anything else? Gang vocals, melodic buildups and a live show that makes you want to mosh like it's 1999. This is what punk is supposed to be.

Currently, the boys are on a month long tour across the US with local friends Furnace. All this coming in the wake of LNW guitarist Joey Rozmus' short stint on the hit MTV show, The Real World Cancun. Needless to say, the publicity 

from the corporate giant has helped fuel the band's popularity.

"We have had many people come out to shows that wouldn't normally come to a hardcore show," said Rozmus. "We also have gotten exposure to people across the country that would not have known about LNW, and that has been a huge help for us."

Less than a week into the tour and the band are finding their groove. It seems that their only setback so far has been their close call with not having a van. Luckily, mere days before leaving LNW were able to find a ride and get moving. 

They've got their futures in mind, too. LNW will be releasing a 7" vinyl comprising of three new songs sometime in the

coming months. "It will be cool to have something on vinyl," said Quinn. "I think it shows a little bit more of us and it's a good release to lead up to the full length [album].

As for where all this work is going to take them, LNW have high hopes. "I want this band to take us to Space," said bassist Aaron Bernard. "We want to be the first band on the moon." (Get the astronaut reference now?)

Be sure to check out Late Nite Wars on tour this summer/fall.

Thanks for the interview guys, and best of luck on the rest of tour!

One Night Only!

The dust is just starting to settle from the 2009 Vans Warped Tour. The two month long traveling punk-rock circus called it a summer this past Sunday in San Diego, California. The culmination of the tour has once again marked the end of summer and outdoor music festivals in general, leaving many of us crawling back to the dimly lit club scene to catch a show.

This scenario has played out every year for the past 15 years, except this year the fun doesn't end just quite yet. In honor of Warped's unexpected longevity the tour's founder, Kevin Lyman, is bringing us a one night only event that will cap off a decade and a half of well spent, punk infused summers.

On September 17 the Vans Warped Tour 15th Anniversary Celebration will take place across the country. Movie theaters in over 400 cities will broadcast a two hour compilation of exclusive Warped footage for fans. The documentary will include performances from bands like Bad Religion, NOFX, blink-182, Underoath, Rise Against, The All-American Rejects, 3OH!3 and more.

 

Tickets are already on sale through NCM Fathom Events. There are only a handful of theaters in the Northeast doing this, so you might be driving a little way to catch this one. Check out the full list of participating theaters here.

I'd like to urge all of you to go check this out, and pick up tickets as soon as possible. I'll be missing it due to my graduate school obligations. Yes, I know... Lame. But seriously, if you've got a free night, GO!

Whether you've been to Warped Tour or not, you know the validity and influence that this tour has on our whole scene. That should be reason enough to hit this up. So grab your popcorn and soda, and don't forget to fill me in on what I missed.

Tips To Look Hip

It seems that every show I go to I end up having the same conversation with the person I'm with. Well, that is if you can consider us criticizing everyone else's fashion choices as a conversation. Nevertheless, I've decided to give you all some tips on what to wear, and more importantly, what not to wear, to your next show.

We've all been to a concert that's overrun with teenage kids, thus seeing the horrors of the "fashion" world in first person. I can distinctly remember going to a Hawthorne Heights show a few summers ago where one girl decided she'd wear giant angel wings on her back, combat boots on her feet and more make-up on her face than Jacko had on when he "faded to blacko."

All these years later and I still remember exactly what she looked like that night. It got me wondering, why? 

Why would you wear $600 worth of Hot Topic threads at any point in time? Or why would you dress like a complete whore at an Escape The Fate concert? Maybe you can explain why zebra striped jeans and a bright purple shirt look good on anyone. No? Well I can't

either.

Believe it or not, it gets worse. Every now and then, mostly while attending a pop-punk show, you'll run into a one tool

wearing Ed Hardy clothing. Now, the actual Ed Hardy was a tattoo artist, yes. And yes, traditional Americana and Japanese tattoos are an excepted part of the scene, but under no circumstances should you be allowed to wear one of those overpriced pieces of filth on your body. Especially to a punk show!

But perhaps the most common fashion faux pas has got to be the kids wearing the t-shirt of the band they are going to see that night. I never quite understood this. Are you exclaiming that you are their fan? Because I thought by showing up to the concert was enough. Guess I was wrong.

Have you or someone you know fallen into this horrifying group? If so, no worries. I've got your rehab covered. Read on my friends, it will all be okay.

First rule for scene cred. Do dress like your favorite band... unless your favorite band is Cobra Starship. 

In that case, kill yourself. But seriously, there's nothing a double breasted button-up western shirt or plain colored v-neck can't fix. Trust me.

Also, skinny jeans work so long as they fit. Please don't make yourself look uncomfortable in them. There is such thing as too tight. No one wants to end up like Ross in that episode of "Friends" where he couldn't get those leather pants back up. Yikes!

If you're feeling like taking a bit of a risk, break out an old tee of some band that either doesn't exist anymore or no one has ever heard of. Major points! Examples: Try wearing an Influents shirt to a Green Day show, or sport a Goodnight Caulfield shirt to Warped Tour. People will automatically view you as legit.

Keep the accessories to a minimum. This means instead of angel wings, try an anchor necklace. Instead of that belt of machine gun bullets, just rock a old school white belt. And no combat boots. Any color of Vans Slip-Ons will work wonders.

So there you have it. A minimalist and simplistic approach to the indie scene. Maybe if we pass the word along, we can put an end to the crimes against fashion once and for all.

Thoughts?

Hot Tours This Fall

If you've managed to venture out to any book, craft or grocery store in the last few weeks you've probably noticed all the Halloween crap that's already adorning the shelves. Well, I've decided to join that bandwagon and get you avid readers ready for what I like to call, Rocktober. (That would be the words "rock" and "October" combined, duh!) There are a ton of cool shows to look forward to this fall, and now you've got fair warning to grab some tickets.

The Used - October 23, Venue TBA

The Used are back and touring this fall with a stop in Boston. They'll be playing in support of their new record Artwork, due out September 1. Supporting acts include The Almost and Drive A. This show needs no description other than that it's going to be badass. Check out some of The Used's new stuff here.

AFI - October 13, Hartford, CT, Webster Theater; October 14, Providence, RI, Lupo's; October 25, Boston, MA, House Of Blues

The goth rockers are back in full force this fall promoting their much anticipated new album, Crash Love, which will hit stores on September 29. There are no opening acts listed as of yet. Tickets are already on sale at various locations, so get 'em before they're gone.

Gaslight Anthem/Murder By Death - October 17, Boston, MA, House Of Blues

With Broadway Calls and Jesse Malin supporting the two main acts, we're in for a show that's going to break down the wall between generations of punk. This will be a show for hipsters of all sorts. I have a feeling you won't be seeing too many tweens rocking tight neon colored clothing at this one. Thank God.

Paramore - October 19, Boston, MA, House Of Blues

Okay, so this is the show where all the hideously dressed tweens will be. Consider yourself warned. Now you have a choice to make. Steer clear altogether or risk a statutory rape charge by getting tickets for this punk-rock princess concert. Hooray for Hayley!

Well those are all the shows I'm even going to bother getting into any depth with. Here are a listing of a few other acts to catch during the few weeks before All Hallow's Eve. Check 'em out:

Relient K with Barcelona & Copeland - October 4, Boston, MA, Paradise Rock Club

Poison The Well & Billy Talent - October 9, Boston, MA, Paradise Rock Club

Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin *SOLO TOUR* - October 14, Sommerville, MA, Arts at the Armory

Blink 182 Boston Show Preview

Well people, the time has come. After five long and arduous years since they last played an east coast show, Blink-182 will take the stage Thursday at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA for a spectacle that none of us will soon forget.

It's just about two weeks into the tour and Blink have been taking North America by storm. With a brief west coast run and Canada behind them, the boys are all warmed up for our Boston show. And from all the buzz across the web, it looks like we'll be in for a two hour set.

So what can we expect? Well, from what I've read it seems that we will see Travis Barker and his drum set flying through the air above our heads, a shower of confetti during the encore and enough potty jokes to write a book with.

But that's not all. Blink are also planning on playing some songs too, and boy does the set list look amazing. Sure, we're going to get all the hits like What's My Age Again?, First Date and Adam's Song, but they've also been making sure to play some of their hidden gems such as Stockholm Syndrome and Not Now. What more can we really ask for?

It gets better though. Lucky for us, we also get to see Fall Out Boy, Panic At The Disco and Chester French filling the opening spots. It's kind of funny to think about it because just a few years ago Hoppus' side project, +44, was opening for Panic and Fall Out Boy on the Honda Civic Tour. Guess the guys really got along well.

It's looking like a good night people. Personally I'm stoked, as I'm sure most of you are (if you were able to get tickets to this sold-out event). Let's just hope this lives up to all the hype, and of course, past Blink shows.

Oh, and if you weren't lucky enough to score seats in the pavilion, don't worry. The forecast looks great for Thursday; high 70s and clear at night. Of course that means nothing to me, I'll be nice and cozy down front. See ya there, suckas!