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

PRETEND I DON’T EXIST OUT TODAY

Today’s the day! Head on over to your favorite digital service like BandcampiTunes, or Spotify and grab a copy or stream the band’s brand new LP Pretend I Don’t Exist. If you haven’t grabbed a copy of the vinyl, what are you waiting for? Limited White with Evergreen splatter vinyl now shipping as well!

Limited White with Evergreen splatter vinyl is also shipping now as well! Grab a copy over on our Bandcamp or Limited Run webstores! You Vandal takes the best parts of punk and pop-rock and delivers the antithesis; songs full of melodies, and well polished vocals begging you to sing-a-long but with a gruffness and enough riffage to keep them grounded in a scene like Gainesville, Florida’s. This band has more in common with New Found Glory than Hot Water Music, but also manage to stay clear of any cringe-inducing clichés that come along with the pop-punk genre. Their sophomore release I Just Want to Go Back to Hell helped put the band on the map and Pretend I Don’t Exist delivers even more riffage and melody with earnest lyrics and honest delivery.

 

YOU VANDAL SINGLE PREMIERE ON NEW NOISE

The fine folks over at New Noise Magazine are now premiering the first single from You Vandal’s upcoming LP release Pretend I Don’t Exist. “Hold for Applause” is the first single and drops tomorrow on all your favorite digital services while Pretend I Don’t Exist is slated for a February 11, 2022 release.

Pretend I Don’t Exist is the follow up to 2017’s I Just Want to Go Back to Hell and features more of the band’s signature infectious pop punk that’s familar just as much in their hometown of Gainesville (think No Idea Records and Fest, duh) as it would be in a Midwest VFW hall show. Super catchy harmonies layered with the right amount riffage and grit that’s sometimes lost in what passes for pop punk these days.

In the coming weeks we’ll be dropping a new video from the LP as well as announcing some super fun release shows and tour dates. In the meantime, check out the track over on New Noise and cop the single when it drops tomorrow!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! HOW ABOUT SOME FREE MUSIC?

Happy New Year! Thanks again for taking the time to support this lil’ old label. I can’t express in words how crazy it is and how much I have appreciated everyone’s support for last 25 years. The last two years in particular were pretty crazy. The new found interest in what the label has released over the past 25 years in addition to some new releases from the likes of Attic Salt, Broadcaster, Off With Their Heads, Mind Power, and The Readymen has really recharged the batteries here. Can’t thank everyone enough. It’s very much appreciated. There’s still a lot of work to do to get things to a consistent level, but how much I’ll be able to do that, who knows? Lots of potential changes in the future, but regardless, a lot of great releases coming down the pipe in 2022. We can’t wait to announce them!

To celebrate the New Year as well as continuing to celebrate 25 years of making bad decisions, here’s a little something from the ol’ Jump Start way back machine…

Back in 2001 I was living in State College, Pennsylvania, 3 years removed from graduating college and living the dream playing in a notoriously fun punk-ska band called No On 15. Jump Start was only five years removed from it’s first release, but I’d like to think I was finally getting my sea legs under me when I decided to reach out to other Pennsylvania punk bands about participating in a PA band only comp. At the time Pittsburgh and Philadelphia had well established scenes, but there were also a lot of great bands playing throughout the state. No On 15 was lucky enough to have played with almost all the bands that eventually ended up on this comp. The only problem was that by the time I had the artwork and all the audio ready, a half dozen bands on the comp had broken up.

Bummer.

Fast forward two more years and I’ve now updated the comp with new bands to replace the ones that had broken up. But again, same as before, by the time all the tracks were compiled and the artwork was updated several of the bands again broke up putting me back at square one.

Well, it’s 2022. The last two years have been a total shitshow. Let’s get weird.

Here’s this long, lost compilation of 24 Pennsylvania punk/emo/whatever bands from over 20 years ago. It’s not a complete picture by any means, as you’ll notice an apparent lack of bands from the Philly scene at the time, but that makes sense considering this was a snapshot of the Pennsylvania scene at large in 2001 as seen by and through me and my travels playing every and each corner of the state.

GRAB SOME FREE MUSIC RIGHT HERE

FUCK THE EAST BAY… WE’RE FROM PA!

I want to point out that I have nothing but love for East Bay punk. If it weren’t for Lookout! Records and bands like Op Ivy, Dance Hall Crashers, and Green Day there’s a chance this label would never exist.

The name of the comp was merely a tongue in cheek way of saying “Hey, that stuff is cool, but we’re doing cool shit too.” So much attention was being directed at bands from the East Bay scene, and California at large at the time as well I just felt like people should know about all the fun and crazy shit going down in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania. I think this original tracking of the compilation does a great job of showing you what the scene across the state was like. Standouts include Wormbath (my personal favorite track on the comp), Wonderdog, Dutchland Diesel, The Overdrives, Fire in the Radio, The Peabodys, Digger, The Commercials, One Up on Lucy, and The Mad Cows, but honestly, I love all the bands on this compilation for one reason or another. Ken Adams, or better know as K3N from the Victory Records Victory Style comps, delivered some equally awesome yet ridiculous artwork.

Head on over to our Bandcamp page and download a copy of this 2001 audio snapshot for FREE. Nodda. Zilch. Name your price… how about FREE dollars? Sounds good if you ask as me.

Thanks again for your continued support! Take care and have a Happy New Year!