Just How Dumb Are Mean Jeans?

Today, Mean Jeans release their brand new album Blasted, out via Fat Wreck Chords. The album finds the band saluting partying, reveling in wake of the destruction caused by partying, and also how awesome the Troma classic Class of Nukem High is. Oh, also, they sort of contemplate their place in the universe and ponder whether or not punk rock has guided them for the better.

But, despite this deep cosmic contemplation, they still insist that they are a dumb pop-punk band. Punknews' John Gentile spoke to MJ guitarist/singer Christian Blunda to see if the Mean Jeans kuncklehead pop-punk image is a facade, hiding something deeper and infinitely more Aristotelian, or if they really are stupid. You can read the interview below.

Alannagh and Hannah of CHERYM talk their debut LP, 'Take It Or Leave It'

Exactly one week from now Derry-based CHERYM will be releasing their excellent debut album Take It Or Leave It. The album shows the band truly coming into their own as they perfect their pop-punk sound and deliver sincere personal lyrics that rip into misogyny and misogynistic institutions such as the Catholic Church, celebrate queer love, and open the discussion around neurodivergence over the course of ten kick-ass tracks. Take It Or Leave It will be out everywhere on February 16 via Alcopop! Records. CHERYM kick off their tour of Ireland, Europe, and the UK tonight with their debut album show in Derry.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Hannah Richardson and drummer and vocalist Alannagh Doherty to talk about the new album, getting more political in their music, world domination, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore, Hannah Richardson, and Alannagh Doherty took place in February 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Jeffrey Everett and Shawna Kenney - 'REFLEXXIONS' at the Punk Rock Museum

Shawna Kenney, author, zinester, and overall bad ass punk from the DC Area. Author of the memoir, I Was A Teenage Dominatrix, who just got a reissue with a new cover by Rockets Are Red’s Jeffrey Everett. Everett, a jack of so many artistic trades, designer, illustrator, and also author has been working the last twenty-plus years on art pieces for so many bands featured on Punknews as well as a plethora of work for corporate and non-profit organizations. The two will be exhibiting items at the The Punk Rock Museum with an all new temporary exhibition for the titled Reflexxions. The exhibit is showing now in Vegas and is running for a limited amount of time. Contributing Editor Samantha Barrett spoke with the two about the collaboration.

Nathan Spainhower of meth. talks the band's new album, 'SHAME'

It’s only February 2 but Chicago-based meth. have already put out one of the heaviest records of the year with their second album SHAME. An ominous feeling permeates the record as the band takes you to new depths of bleakness with stellar rhythm-driven instrumentation, hard-hitting lyrics that tackle religious trauma, guilt, addiction, and lost innocence, and visceral vocals that you can feel on a molecular level. SHAME is out now via Prosthetic Records. meth. are currently touring North America and will be touring the Western US in the spring.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with bassist Nathan Spainhower to talk about the album, becoming part of the band, ghosts, the purple curse, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Nathan Spainhower took place in February 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Talking all things Bitch Fest with Lexy Robidoux and Ashley Cachia

Bitch Fest formed three years ago with the goal of highlighting women, trans people, non-binary people, two-spirit people, and queer people in bands and their mission is still going strong as they prepare to take over Toronto this March for their third and largest edition to date. 53 bands and artists will be playing 12 shows across 9 different venues, filling Toronto with the sounds of anaracho-punk, hardcore punk, ska punk, folk punk, power pop, synth punk, and so much more every weekend in March. Save Toronto Music Venues and STMV Promotions owner Ashley Cachia and owner of Ryot Booking and booking manager for STMV Promotions Lexy Robidoux have been working hard to put Bitch Fest 2024 together and you can get your tickets right here.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Ashley and Lexy over Zoom to talk about the festival, the importance of community, making sure shows are safe, books, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Burning it all down with Eevie Echoes of Eevie Echoes and the Locations

Earlier this month, Brooklyn-based punk band Eevie Echoes and The Locations released their excellent debut album, The Cons of Being a Wallflower. The album follows the band as they explore the hardships and triumphs that go along with coming out and detail the journey to self-love and self-acceptance with honest, heartfelt lyrics that open discussions around parental acceptance, religious trauma, anxiety, trust, and community. Throughout the album, they make use of dynamic arrangements that take cues from ska-punk, garage rock, emo, spoken word, and chiptune to create a killer sound that is uniquely their own. Along with centering around a journey of self-discovery, The Cons of Being a Wallflower is also a perfect example of a band coming into their own.

The Cons of Being a Wallflower is out now via Ska Punk International. Eevie Echoes and the Locations will be playing their album release show on January 27 (this Saturday!) in Brooklyn, will be playing around Brooklyn next month, and will be hitting some festivals in the spring.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead guitarist and vocalist Eevie Echoes over Zoom to talk about the album, working with Reade Wolcott, protecting your energy in a capitalist society, the importance of using your voice, and so much more. Read the interview below!

This interview between Em Moore and Eevie Echoes took place in January 2024 over Zoom. This transcription documents their conversation and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

The Melvins reflect on the 40th Year of The Melvins

2023 was the FORTIETH year of the Melvins. They've released 30+ albums. They've played thousands of shows. They've changed the landscape of rock music itself.

And yet, in the year 40 A.M., the band, instead of running around saying "We're 40! We're the best! Give us praise!", they decided to put out a TON of new releases and played a special tour. But, just before the band was set to jump off and play their iconic album Bullhead in full on the road, drummer Dale Crover had to have emergency back surgery. how could the tour go on without their crucial, illustrious drummer?! And yet, the Melvins, ever the artists and workmen, smashed forward through the tour and through the hurdles and through the year.

Punknews' John Gentile spoke with Melvins Buzz Osborne and Steven McDonald and some of the band's compatriots about the band's 40th year… and their place in history. You can read that below.

Blag Dahlia talks art, violence, and the new Dwarves album

The Dwarves have just released their latest masterpiece- the sprawling The Dwarves Concept Album . The album finds the band dipping their toes in everything from punk to pop to dance to whatever the feel like. Yet again, it shows that they Dwarves are a band that just can;t be pigeonholed, all they while walking the line between camp and serious dissection of the modern American artist… or something like that. Punknews' John Gentile just interviewed Dwarves frontman Blag Dahlia and you can read his very deep thoughts below.

Lizzie from Teens In Trouble and Bailey from Desert Mambas talk their new split EP

Raleigh’s Teens In Trouble and Los Angeles’ Desert Mambas have created something wonderful together on their new split EP. Teens in Trouble kick out two gloriously fuzzy punky indie tracks that explore what it means to live in the moment and what to do when your therapist ghosts you. Those are followed by Desert Mambas’ two brilliantly bluesy rock songs that dive into longing, identity, and mental health. The strong friendship between Lizzie Killian of Teens In Trouble and Bailey Moses of Desert Mambas can be felt in every aspect of the EP as they highlight the importance of creating art with your friends and the joy that collaboration can bring. Teens In Trouble / Desert Mambas is available everywhere today via Asian Man Records and Kill Rock Stars. Teens In Trouble and Desert Mambas will be touring the US together in December.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with Lizzie and Bailey over Zoom to talk about the new EP, songwriting, The Artist’s Way, Elvis, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Photo credit: Rochelle Shipman

Mandy and Lindsey of Death Cassette talk their new EP 'Get Rid Of It'

Winnipeg’s Death Cassette are just days away from releasing their excellent new EP Get Rid Of It. The band’s electric energy is present on all six tracks as they refine their grunge punk sound. From the short, fast punk ripper “Get Gone” to the deep, grunge-y slow burn that is “Solstice” the band are on top of their game. Get Rid Of It will be available everywhere on November 17 via High End Denim Records and Cat’s Claw Records. Death Cassette will also be playing a release show for the EP at Good Will Social Club in Winnipeg on November 17 with Screaming At Traffic, MOSA, and howtoboilwater.

Punknews editor Em Moore caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Mandy and guitarist Lindsey to talk about the new EP, Evil Dead, wanting to play Pouzza Fest, and so much more. Read the interview below!

Marc Whelan talks Fuming Mouth's new album

PN staffer Sam Houlden spoke to Fuming Mouth’s Marc Whelan in the hours leading up to the new Fuming Mouth album(Last Day of Sun)’s release about the complex development of the record and what it has resulted in.