HUB CITY STOMPERS TO RELEASE DRINKING RAGE ON JUMP START

Long mainstays in the American ska/punk scenes, the Hub City Stompers return with their long awaited forthcoming LP, Drinking Rage, out December 6th on Jump Start Records. The band is excited to bring you the first single from Drinking Rage that shows the band delivering with a renewed sense of energy and urgency.

“Bloodstream” is an unrelenting burst of over two decades of Dirty Jersey ska, driving and infectious while lyrically delivering with the band’s patented in your face and pull no punches attitude.

Long known for blending ska with punk attitude and socially conscious lyrics that reflect their working-class roots, the band has built a reputation for their high-energy live shows garnering them a loyal fanbase and reputation. With a discography that includes albums such as Dirty Jersey, Haters Dozen, and Life After Death, Hub City Stompers continue to push the boundaries of ska and punk while staying true to their New Jersey roots.


A limited pressing of custom 7” lathe cuts featuring “Bloodstream” and an unreleased live version of the Stomper’s classic, “Skinhead Boi.” Both the single and seven-inch lathe cuts will be available Friday, September 6th through the label’s on our Bandcamp page and the band.

THE BAD UPS DEBUT LP ‘LIFE OF SIN’ OUT SEPTEMBER 27TH

It’s been a little sleepy around these parts, but we’ve got some exciting releases slated for the remainder of 2024, so grab some popcorn because we’re about to drop some shit on you real quick.

The Bad Ups are a four-piece outfit from the Philly burbs, but don’t let that fool you because their debut LP, Life of Sin, is anything but suburban. Life of Sin is chock full of EpiFat and Lookout! goodness that’s rarely done well these days, but Travis and the guys have been able to harness the energy and passion from that era and make it all their own. Driving and melodic, Life of Sin is also driven by the storytelling, which truly makes it not just a personal record, but one that’s more than relatable.

Life of Sin drops September 27th on your favorite streaming service, but you can check out the first single from the LP, “Ego Trip”, over on our Bandcamp page right now. While you’re there, do yourself a favor and pick up some of the super slick vinyl that’s up for Pre-Order now. The first pressing is available on Yellow/Black splatter and standard Black variants.

TWENTYTWO. RELEASE SURROUNDED SINGLE

Formed in 2019, Twentytwo. is a dynamic melodic punk band hailing from the Philadelphia area that has quickly made a name for themselves delivering more than a throwback sound. With Tony Conner on vocals, Bryan Fischer on bass, Jason Mack on guitar, Justin Mondschein on drums, and Mike Wrigley on guitar each member brings their own unique style and energy to the band. Drawing inspiration from everyday life experiences, Twentytwo.’s songwriting is both raw and authentic with lyrics reflecting on personal struggles, triumphs and a sincere sense of community they hope to continue building through releases and live shows.

With the release of the single “Surrounded” the band has teamed up with Jump Start Records for the upcoming release of their debut LP that the band will begin tracking in late 2024. The band joins labelmates Bad Planning, You Vandal, and Wes Hoffman & Friends who continue to fly the modern melodic punk flag that is reminiscent at times of late 90s and early 2000’s Fat Wreck and Epitaph’s ‘golden years’ without being derivative and unoriginal.

When asked about the creative process behind some of the band’s songwriting, Tony is quick to point out that “I mostly try to write from others perspectives and minimally of my own,” showing an extrospective world view that has had a lasting impression on the band’s output.

Having recorded their debut EP with Pete Steinkopf of The Bouncing Souls, 2020’s 505 Palomar Place was followed up with a series of post-Covid released singles in 2023 recorded with Matt Brasch of The Wonder Year that has proven the band as adept in the studio as they are on stage. With the band delivering passionate and engaging performances, their energetic live shows are not to be missed.

Twentytwo. hopes to contribute to the resurgence of the local scene by bringing a sense of fun, excitement, and community to their music while feeling part of something special, bigger than the sum of their parts.

THRU IT ALL’S FOUR SONG EP NOW AVAILABLE DIGITALLY

There’s a lot more for me to say about this release, but the proper words to give this release any justice are proving hard to find. Through the years the guys from Thru It All have been good friends, but not without our ups and downs, which is typical of any relationship when you’ve known someone for as long as we have. I’ve missed these songs, especially their youthful energy and the times spent with three wide-eyed near twenty-something year old ‘kids’ living life on the road for the first time. At nearly 50 I think of these days often… time spent seeing the Milky Way in South Dakota brighter than I’ve ever seen before or since, the Northern Lights from the rooftop of a garage in Fort McMurray, Canada, and almost being arrested by local cops in Midland, Texas for playing lazer tag in a large shopping center parking lot. Those are but just a few of many that I’ll never forget (especially breaking my ankle jumping off a boat onto hard concrete at a DIY Storage Lot/Unit show outside Tampa, Florida). I’m happy these songs are seeing the light of day again. It helps the faded memories burn a little brighter again.

Back in 2006 three Philly hardcore kids recorded a four song EP with a, at the time, relatively unknown producer named Will Yip, then piled into a van and hit the road with Giving Chase for a 50 day tour across US and Canada. After seven weeks on the road filled with broken down vans, killer shows and random garage and basement shows, THRU IT ALL returned to Philly with zero in the gas tank and bank accounts. Luckily they had this gem of an EP under their belts that sounds as fresh today as it did when the band worked with Will before he became a Grammy nominated Producer and Engineer.

Four songs of youthful hardcore that wouldn’t be unfamiliar to fans of bands like Comeback Kid, With Honor, and fellow Philly standouts Kid Dynamite. Sing-alongs, pile-ons, and all the mosh you could ask for now available on your favorite streaming service or ‘Name Your Price’ (zero dollars if you feel inclined) on our Bandcamp page right now.

Time to two-step it into the weekend.

FAINTEST IDEA PRE-ORDER NOW AVAILABLE

Fresh off the heals of an appearance at Random Hand’s 20th Anniversary bash, Hand Fest, Jump Start and TNS Records are excited to launch the pre-order for Faintest Idea’s upcoming March 31st release The Road to Sedition. To celebrate we’ve got four killer vinyl variants to choose from. Exclusive to the States we have 100 copies each available in Orange Ghostly and Transparent Orange Crush. Both Jump Start and TNS have copies available on Randomly Mixed Color vinyl as well.


UK and European fans can grab the exclusive Half Orange/Half Green split color vinyl from our good friends from TNS Records. Head on over to TNS Records and pick up a copy!

Don’t miss Faintest Idea on their first US Tour with The Slackers this April including dates with The Pietasters and Fishbone as well!

Mon, Apr 17th – Atlanta, GA at The Masquerade
Tue, Apr 18th – Charleston, SC at Tin Roof Alley
Wed, Apr 19th – Charlotte, NC at Neighborhood Theatre
Thu, Apr 20th – Blacksburg, VA at The Lyric w/The Pietasters
Fri, Apr 21st – Baltimore, MD at Soundstage w/Fishbone
Sat, Apr 22nd – Bensalem, PA at Broken Goblet Brewing/This Is Not Croydon Fest 4
Sun, Apr 23rd – Pittsburgh, PA at The Crafthouse

TITLE HOLDER RELEASE FIRST SINGLE FROM WHAT BETTER TIME

If necessity is the mother of invention, then it’s no surprise that Title Holder’s creation was born at the height of the Covid pandemic. Formed in 2020 by then Queens-based singer/songwriter Matt Sullivan, Sullivan’s take on ska and pop-punk is an honest and earnest take on two genres that have seen their fair share of silly fads and trends. The result is Title Holder’s undeniable energy and pop sensibility that quickly gained the attention of Chris DeMakes of Less Than Jake who produced and helped arrange several of the tracks from Sullivan’s first recorded effort, the six song EP The Story of My Life.

The band’s diligent work ethic and creative music videos helped the band build a supportive following coming out of the pandemic. Ready and eager to bring their energetic live show on the road the band followed the release of The Story of My Life by sharing the stage and supporting the likes of The Pietasters, Mustard Plug, Catbite, Spring Heeled Jack, J. Navarro & The Traitors and more. Milwaukee based Interstate Music also chose Title Holder as their 2022 pick as ‘Best New Band’ giving the band even more momentum going into 2023.

With that momentum the band is excited to announce the release “Going Insane”, the first track from What Better Time, their first vinyl release which includes for the first time a physical release of The Story of My Life EP along with seven new tracks recorded with Nik Bruzzese at The Gradwell House and mastered at Sun Room Audio by Dan Coutant. Slated for a June 2nd release, What Better Time shows Sullivan’s keen pop sensibilities and lyrical wit on full display.

FAINTEST IDEA TO RELEASE THE ROAD TO SEDITION SPRING 2023

Man, it’s been a busy, busy month. I have no clue where September went. Between a busy work travel month back and forth between Tennessee and my upcoming work related travel for the paying gig back to Germany this week, September was flat out INSANE and the next three weeks show no signs of slowing down either. I can tell you this though… Hard Mountain Dew is a thing, and while it may have ‘Zero Sugar’, it’s not worth the price of admission if you ask me. But, I digress…

During my travels through the hills of Eastern Tennessee our good buddies over the UK, Faintest Idea, dropped the first single, “Nose Dive” from the forthcoming LP, The Road to Sedition, due out Spring of 2023 on Jump Start here in North America and TNS Records in the UK/Europe.

Those unfamiliar with this hard charging UK outfit would be well served to check out their Bandcamp page for a heavy dose of Oi! and 2-Tone influenced ska-punk with a heavy Chomsky-vibe. It’s been a while since a ska-punk band with not so subtle social commentary has gained my attention, but these guys certainly did.

“Nose Dive” is available on all your favorite streaming platforms right now and to have a bit of fun with it all the band has also dropped a lyric video for the track which you can check out right below.

Be on the lookout for more from Faintest Idea in the coming months before the new LP drops including their first ever trek across the Atlantic for some dates in early 2023.

NO ECHO TIME ‘IN YOUR HEAD’ PREMIERE

Time are excited to present “In Your Head,” the latest single to be lifted from the Friday, July 22 release of the band’s debut album, Hydrangea (pre-order some super sick limited vinyl RIGHT HERE). The fine folks over at No Echo are premiering “In Your Head” and you can also stream the track on your favorite digital platform.

Time’s ‘90s-inspired grunge-pop presents the question, “How much damage do you have to inflict on yourself before you’re reminded you’re still alive?” and bring you “In Your Head”, a self-deprecating song about our tendency to rely on vices or dependencies as excuses to avoid acceptance or accountability. “My writing has always been extremely self-critical,” said guitarist Jon Hunt of Time. “‘In Your Head’ ended up being the output of what happens when frustration and exasperation turn into self-reflection, and the grappling with the unintended self-destruction that brings about. Life is messy, and that is OK.” Stream “In Your Head” on YouTube HERE and via No Echo HERE.

While its core members are veterans of Philly’s hardcore scene via bands such as Kill Verona, No Roses and Shark Attack, Time’s own inspiration and sound is derived from the dark and heavy shoegaze/noise-pop of touchstones such as My Bloody Valentine, Sugar, Swervedriver and Catherine Wheel but with its own blushing melody and shine.

BAD PLANNING ET FORTES OUT TODAY

Happy release day to the fellas from Bad Planning! Oh yeah, it’s also BANDCAMP FRIDAY! Head on over to Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, or any of your favorite digital and streaming services or grab a copy of Et Fortes on vinyl from our Limited Run webstore or Bandcamp page. Did we mention that it’s BANDCAMP FRIDAY too? Et Fortes is available on Randomly Mixed color vinyl, Translucent Gold with Black Splatter (Subscription Club only), and audiophile Black and showcases the band’s love of riff heavy hardcore, skate punk, and pop punk.

BAD PLANNING PREMIERE FIRST VIDEO FROM ET FORTES

With one week to go the fellas from Bad Planning just dropped their first video for the track “A Year Without Sleep” from their upcoming LP Et Fortes. The fine folks over at Punk Rock Theory were kind enough to premiere it, so smash the link below and head on over to check it out!

ET FORTES VINYL SHIPPING NOW

PRE-ORDERS for Et Fortes are NOW SHIPPING and feature some of the slickest vinyl we’ve ever had pressed. Slated for a May 6th release, Et Fortes is available on Randomly Mixed color vinyl, Translucent Gold with Black Splatter (Subscription Club only), and audiophile Black showcasing the band’s love of riff heavy hardcore, skate punk, and pop punk.

UPCOMING BAD PLANNING SHOWS

Bad Planning is keeping busy with a slew of shows in the coming weeks to celebrate the release of Et Fortes. They’ll also be playing some shows with labelmates You Vandal around the Midwest. Details below…

05/13/2022 – Indianapolis, IN at Hoosier Dome with Cold Streets, Action-Adventure, C-Rex and The Day After

05/27/2022 – Franklin, WI at JJ’s with Kule, Telethon, You Vandal and Honey Creek

05/28/2022 – Aurora, IL at Halfway House with Backroom, Life Looks Good and You Vandal